Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Author ' s personal copy Identifying Ecologically or Biologically Signi fi cant Areas ( EBSA ) : A systematic method and its application to seamounts in the South Paci fi c Ocean

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has adopted a scheme of using scientific criteria for identifying ‘Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas’ (EBSAs) in need of protection in openocean and deep-sea habitats. To date, expert opinion collated during regional workshops has been the main method to identify regional EBSAs. In this paper, we propose a newmethod that could complement this process by adding more objective and transparent analyses. There are four main steps: 1) identify the area to be examined, 2) determine appropriate datasets and thresholds to use in the evaluation, 3) evaluate data for each area/habitat against a set of criteria, and 4) identify and assess candidate EBSAs. The method can be applied to any habitat, but offshore seamounts were chosen as a test habitat to develop and evaluate it. Several options for various combinations of criteria are presented, with one being proposed as the most appropriate to identify a tractable number of seamounts that satisfied the EBSA criteria and which could be combined into larger areas that represent meaningful ecological and practicable management units. This option selects seamounts that meet any one of the 5 “biological” criteria (i.e. unique/rare, diverse, productive, threatened species, critical habitat) and which contain environmental features that are vulnerable to human activities but not yet significantly impacted by them. This selection process resulted in 83 seamounts being identified from over 3000 evaluated in the South Pacific Ocean. The priority seamounts group into 10 areas, consisting of 5 clusters of seamounts, and 5 individual seamounts. The primary strength of the method is the adoption of a transparent, and logically sequential, selection process that is conceptually transferrable to other habitat types and regions beyond our model system. We contend that in a global EBSA context it can be a useful tool to assist deep-
Improving Market Power Tests: Does it matter for the Dutch Banking Market?

In this paper, I investigate whether improving the traditional SCP model gives additional insights in the existence of market power in the Dutch banking market. I first improve the measurement of market structure. Then, I introduce a simple Cournot-model, which results in a more flexible measure of market power for different market structures. Finally, I include the Efficiency hypothesis and modify it to more accurately test it jointly with the market power tests. Theoretically speaking, the Cournot model provides a better test for the existence of market power than the SCP model. Likewise, explicitly correcting for and including efficiency results in a more correct test of the Efficiency hypothesis. Empirical results confirm that the introduced improvements based on the Cournot models are the only ones resulting in tests that are consistent with the underlying models. Evidence from the Cournot model suggests that we cannot reject the existence of market power, although its impact on performance may be small. It also formalizes the need for additional research into the importance of strategic interaction among banks.
The Corporate Bankruptcy Decision

A central tenet in economics is that competition drives markets toward a state of long-run equilibrium in which those firms remaining in existence produce at minimum average costs. In the transition to long-run equilibrium, inefficient firms, firms using obsolete technologies and those producing products that are in excess supply are eliminated. Consumers benefit because in the long run, goods and services are produced and sold at the lowest possible prices. The legal mechanism through which inefficient firms most often are eliminated is that of bankruptcy. In 1984, around 62,000 business firms filed for bankruptcy. Two-thirds of them filed to liquidate in bankruptcy and the rest filed to reorganize in bankruptcy (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 1985). The total liabilities of firms that filed for bankruptcy in 1985 came to approximately $33 billion (Dun & Bradstreet, 1986). 1 Economic theory suggests that bankruptcy should serve as a screening process designed to eliminate only those firms that are economically inefficient and whose resources could be better used in some other activity. However, firms typically file for bankruptcy voluntarily. When they do, creditors are not all repaid in full and large redistributional effects occur. Managers of firms do not take creditors' losses fully into account in deciding either how to run the firm or whether and when to file for bankruptcy. This suggests that firms in bankruptcy might not always be economically inefficient and that inefficient firms might not always end up in bankruptcy. Rather, firms may shut down and file for bankruptcy versus continuing to operate because managers respond to the potential for redistribution from creditors to equity, rather
Tourism and poverty reduction: theory and practice in less economically developed countries

This paper analyses the evolution of the theory and practice of tourism development aimed at poverty reduction in less economically developed countries (LEDCs). It critically reviews two central early themes in this area: community-based tourism projects, and the focus on structural conditions and power relations between global players and local communities. The paper considers the potential strengths of tourism development for LEDCs and summarises the many new subject area developments. A review of papers within the Journal of Sustainable Tourism's special issue on tourism and poverty reduction follows and four main themes are explored: development agency strategies and approaches, governance and biodiversity conservation, the assessment of tourism impacts and value chain analysis and inter-sectoral linkages. Key potential topics for future research and action are outlined, including: (1) the use of new techniques measuring tourism impacts, (2) the roles of development agency governance and operational practices, (3) how inequitable power relations and weak governance can undermine efforts, (4) the importance of private-sector business practices that contribute to poverty reduction, (5) the value of multidisciplinary quantitative and qualitative research tools and (6) the need for linkages between academic research and practitioner interventions.
Measuring how risk tradeoffs adjust with income

Efforts to reconcile inconsistencies between theory and estimates of the income elasticity of the value of a statistical life (IEVSL) overlook important restrictions implied by a more complete description of the individual choice problem. We develop a more general model of the IEVSL that reconciles some of the observed discrepancies. Our framework describes how exogenous income shocks, such as unexpected medical expenditures, may affect labor supply decisions which in turn influence both the coefficient of relative risk aversion and the IEVSL. The presence of a consumption commitment, such as a home mortgage, also alters this labor supply adjustment. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study to explore the responsiveness of labor force exit decisions to spousal health shocks and the role of a home mortgage as a constraint on this response.
Forecasting Interest Rates and Yield Spreads: The Informational Content of Implied Futures Yields and Best‐fitting Forward Rate Models

Forecasts of interest rates for different maturities are essential for forecasts of asset prices. The growth of derivatives markets coupled with the development of complex theories of the term structure of interest rates have provided forecasters with a rich array of variables for predicting interest rates and yield spreads. This paper extends previous work on forecasting future interest rates and yield spreads using market data for T-bills, T-Notes, and Treasury Bond spot and futures contracts. The information conveyed in technical models that use market data is also assessed, using a recent innovation in interest rate modelling, the maximum smoothness approach. Forecasts from this model are compared with predicted yields and yield spreads derived from futures prices as well as with those of the random walk model. The results show some evidence of market segmentation, with more arbitrage evident for nearby maturities. Market participants appear to show a greater degree of consensus on short-term interest rates than on longer-term interest rates. There is some indication that forecasts from the futures markets are marginally better than those provided by those of the maximum-smoothness approach, consistent with the informational advantages of futures markets. Finally, futures and maximum-smoothness market forecasts are shown to outperform those of the random walk model. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
La motivación de las transmisiones lucrativas entre generaciones de una familia: modelos teóricos y evidencia empírica

El objetivo de este trabajo es ofrecer una revision sintetica y actualizada de la literatura economica sobre las transmisiones lucrativas de bienes entre generaciones de una familia. Primero se desarrollan los distintos modelos explicativos de la motivacion de este tipo de transmisiones. Seguidamente se sintetizan los trabajos empiricos que han tratado de discriminar entre modelos. En tercer lugar se analiza la influencia de la fiscalidad en la eleccion de cuando transmitir. Se concluye que nos encontramos ante un fenomeno plural tanto si atendemos a los individuos (los ricos y ancianos presentan un comportamiento diferenciado del resto de individuos: desean transmitir y atienden al coste fiscal) como al tipo de transmisiones (las «inter vivos» muestran matices redistributivos y las «mortis causa» se reparten igualitariamente entre hermanos).
Standards-based Assessments in the Classroom

In the new millennium, the Indian education system has experienced a major shift and the issue of the quality of education has taken centre stage in policy discussion fora. Globally, assessment has become an important means of improving the quality of education, both at the systemic level and at the level of individual students. It necessitates innovation, exploration and implementation of world-class assessment standards to augment the efforts aimed at realising quality education and improved learning achievement. School education, being the foundation of the education system of any country, has witnessed the adoption of a number of innovative models of assessment that have the potential to improve the learning levels of students. But the most debated questions are: What is the purpose of assessment? What type of assessment is the most suitable? Standards-based assessment (SBA), a system of referencing students’ achievement against predetermined standards, offers a great opportunity to improve classroom practices and to enhance the achievement level of students. It has played a pivotal role in mobilising educational reforms through assessment reforms in a number of systems. It is often argued that standards are limited to measuring the level of achievement or to the assessment of learning. This point, in turn, has implications for system monitoring or evaluation, and has little relevance for classroom practices. This article argues that the practices of SBA, if they were allowed to percolate to the classroom, would facilitate learning and would enable the use of assessment for improving learning.
Comparative Evaluation of 15-kV SiC MOSFET and 15-kV SiC IGBT for Medium-Voltage Converter Under the Same dv/dt Conditions

The 15-kV silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET and 15-kV SiC IGBT are the two state-of-the-art high-voltage SiC devices. These high-voltage SiC devices enable simple two-level converters for a medium-voltage (MV) voltage source converter (VSC) topology compared with the complex three-level neutral point clamped and other multilevel topologies, which, otherwise, is required to realize for MV VSC with silicon devices. This paper characterizes the 15-kV SiC MOSFET module at 10- and 12-kV dc bus for two different configurations of the device under test. This paper also presents endurance test (continuous switching-mode experimental demonstration) of 15-kV SiC MOSFET for 10-kV output voltage for both a bidirectional and unidirectional dc–dc boost converter. Furthermore, this paper presents: 1) the switching loss comparison of 15-kV SiC MOSFET with 15-kV SiC IGBT for the same dv/dt condition; 2) the switching frequency limits of 15-kV SiC MOSFET for a dc–dc boost converter with a phase leg configuration at 10-kV output voltage; and 3) comparative evaluation of 15-kV SiC MOSFET and 15-kV SiC IGBT in a unidirectional dc–dc boost converter for 10 V output voltage.
Differential control and calcium‐dependence of production of endothelium‐derived relaxing factor and prostacyclin by pig aortic endothelial cells

1 Production of endothelium‐derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by primary cultures of pig aortic endothelial cells was assessed indirectly by measuring endothelial cyclic GMP content, and prostacyclin production was measured by radioimmunoassay of 6‐keto prostaglandin F1α (6‐keto PGF1α). 2 The resting level of cyclic GMP fell significantly following removal of extracellular calcium (1 mM EGTA present), but elevations of cyclic GMP content induced by sodium azide (10 μm) or atriopeptin II (10 nm) were similar in the absence and presence of extracellular calcium. 3 Haemoglobin (10 μm) reduced the resting level of cyclic GMP in the presence, but not the absence of extracellular calcium. M&B 22,948 (100 μm), superoxide dismutase (30 u ml−1), bradykinin (0.1 μm), ATP (10 μm) and ionophore A23187 (0.1 μm) each induced an increase in endothelial cyclic GMP content that was reduced in the absence of extracellular calcium. 4 In cascade bioassay experiments using endothelial cells on microcarrier beads and perfused in columns, continuous infusion of bradykinin (0.1 μm) induced release of EDRF, assayed on rabbit aortic rings, that was maximal after 2 min and still detectable up to about 16 min. 5 In the presence of extracellular calcium, the time course of bradykinin (0.1 μm)‐stimulated production of EDRF, assessed as endothelial cyclic GMP content was maximal within 1 min, declined thereafter, but was still significant after 30 min. Production of 6‐keto PGF1α, measured simultaneously, rose rapidly but was complete within 3 min. 6 In the absence of extracellular calcium the resting endothelial content of cyclic GMP fell, but resting production of 6‐keto PGF1α was unaffected. The rise in cyclic GMP content stimulated by bradykinin (0.1 μm) was lower than when calcium was present and was complete within 3 min, but the magnitude and time course of bradykinin (0.1 μm)‐stimulated production of 6‐keto PGF1α was unaffected. 7 In the presence of TMB‐8 (100 μm) resting endothelial content of cyclic GMP rose slightly, but production of 6‐keto PGF1α fell. The bradykinin (0.1 μm)‐stimulated increase in cyclic GMP content was augmented, but the stimulation of 6‐keto PGF1α production was blocked. Results from cascade bioassay experiments confirmed that TMB‐8 (100 μm) did not inhibit bradykinin‐induced production of EDRF. 8 The data suggest that resting production of EDRF but not prostacyclin is dependent upon the presence of extracellular calcium. Bradykinin‐stimulated production of EDRF is sustained and requires the presence of extracellular calcium, but stimulated production of prostacyclin is transient and may result from discharge of an intracellular pool of calcium. 9 The vascular endothelial cell appears therefore to control differentially production of EDRF and prostacyclin.
Conditional Political Budget Cycles

This Paper uses a large new panel data set to examine the relationship between elections and fiscal policy. We find clear evidence of political business cycles in macroeconomic policy: spending increases before elections while revenues fall, leading to a larger deficit in election years. We also show that there are large systematic differences between developed and developing countries in the size and composition of the electoral policy cycles. We propose a moral hazard model of electoral competition to explain these differences. In the model, the sizes of the electoral budget cycles depend on the rents of remaining in power and the share of informed voters in the electorate. Using suitable proxies, we find that these institutional features explain a large part of the difference in policy cycles between developed and developing countries.
A Comparative Analysis of Three Consumer Decision Strategies

This study compared three alternative decision-making strategies in the consumer behavior literature: (1) minimization of expected negative utility (perceived risk); (2) maximization of expected positive utility (perceived return); and (3) maximization of expected net utility (net perceived return). The results of this study indicated that the net perceived return model could explain more variance in brand preference than the other two models.
Changes in gap junction protein (connexin 32) gene expression during rat liver carcinogenesis

A rat liver gap junction (GJ) cDNA probe that detects mRNA encoding the 32 Kd GJ‐protein (connexin 32) was employed to study GJ‐protein gene expression in rat liver tumors induced by a single exposure to diethylnitrosamine (DEN) followed by exposure to 2‐acetylaminofluorene (AAF)/CCL4/AAF or induced by systemic administration of N‐ethyl‐N‐hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN). All carcinomas generated by these carcinogens showed markedly reduced levels of GJ‐protein mRNA. This may indicate that GJ‐protein levels and gap‐junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) capacity are also severely compromised. Moreover, all hyperplastic nodules also showed a reduced level of GJ‐protein mRNA. Taken together with our earlier finding that the liver tumor promoter phenobarbital inhibits GJ‐protein gene expression, these results suggest that deranged GJIC is a relatively early event in liver multistage carcinogenesis. A range of other cDNA probes was also used to characterize gene expression in the DEN‐induced tumors. Induction of expression was seen for glutathione S‐transferase (placental form) (GST‐P), γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and c‐raf but not for c‐Ha‐ras or c‐myc.
Inflation-Target Expectations and Optimal Monetary Policy

In countries with credible inflation targeting, it seems plausible to suggest that instead of forming a rational expectation, some firms (inflation-targeters) might simply expect future inflation to always equal its target. This paper analyses the implications of this for optimal monetary policy in a standard new-Keynesian model. Under discretion, we show that if shocks have any persistence, inflation is more stable, loss is reduced, and the optimal policy frontier is improved as the proportion of inflation-targeters increases. Considering the commitment case, we show that the benefits of commitment are diminished (stabilisation bias is reduced) in the presence of inflation-targeters, but overall loss is still reduced relative to the rational expectations benchmark for plausible parameter values and mild persistence in the shock. Taken together, these results formally illustrate how policies which encourage expectations anchoring may be beneficial for the economy.
Regulations of essential amino acids and proteomics of bacterial endophytes Sphingomonas sp. Lk11 during cadmium uptake

Endophytic bacteria have been recently known for their potential to bioaccumulate metal from contaminated mediums. However, little is known about the physiological responses of phytohormone producing (gibberellins and auxins) endophytes during metal stressed environment. Endophytic bacteria Sphingomonas sp. LK11 was assessed for metals bioaccumulation and its physiological responses towards metal stress. The endophyte was grown in cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) contaminated mediums. The results revealed significantly higher endophytic growth potentials in Cd, Cu and Zn contaminations; however, the bio‐accumulation rate of Cd was more prolific as compared to Zn and Cu. Interestingly, the SDS‐PAGE profile showed increased expressions of proteins in Zn and Cu than in Cd. A similar attenuate response of amino acids was also observed for Cd than in case of Zn and Cu. Only asparagine, glutamate and proline showed significant impact in Cd while Cu and Zn had significantly higher responses of almost all amino acids. Detailed protein profile showed the activation of chaperone, antioxidative and detoxification proteins. Increased regulations of oxidoreductases, superoxide dismutase, thioredoxin, malate dehydrogenase, 2‐oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, 2‐oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase were observed. The cellular defense‐related protein responses were potent against Cd stress. The results conclude that Sphingomonas sp. LK11 reprogram its amino acids and proteomic expressions and maintain a steady growth during Cd stress. Using such phytohromones producing endophytic bacterium can be ideal approach to increase the phytoextraction potential of metal remediating plants. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 887–896, 2016.
A novel 3D structure for synchronous buck converter based on nitride Gallium transistors

In this paper a novel power loop structure design is proposed and analyzed for converters based on Nitride Gallium transistors. Thanks to its innovative way to place the decoupling capacitors and the GaN devices, the proposed structure shows better results in terms of parasitic loop inductance than a classical 2-D power loop structure, leading to lower voltage stress over the GaN transistors (1.46 nH for the 3-D structure against 5,82 nH for the 2-D one). Moreover, this design generates lower common mode disturbances, which is experimentally demonstrated with EMC tests. Eventually, efficiency is investigated making comparison for the same experimental conditions.
Performance Evaluation of Finite-Life Real Estate Investment Trusts

This study analyzes the investment performance of real estate investment trusts, comparing the finite-life trusts (FREIT) with traditional REITs and stock returns. The results indicate that the FREITs performed more poorly than the REITs, with both the FREITs and REITs underperforming the market index over the period studied. It was also found that while portfolio risk diversification benefits may exist for the REITs and FREITs, it is not clear that the reduced risk is warranted by the large reduction in returns. Finally, this research shows that little total or unanticipated inflation hedging capability exists for the REITs or FREITs over the period studied, although anticipated inflation hedging capabilities were found.
Presence of lactate dehydrogenase and lactate racemase in Megasphaera elsdenii grown on glucose or lactate

Activity of D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) was shown not only in cell extracts from Megasphaera elsdenii grown on DL-lactate, but also in cell extracts from glucose-grown cells, although glucose-grown cells contained approximately half as much D-LDH as DL-lactate-grown cells. This indicates that the D-LDH of M. elsdenii is a constitutive enzyme. However, lactate racemase (LR) activity was present in DL-lactate-grown cells, but was not detected in glucose-grown cells, suggesting that LR is induced by lactate. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate were produced similarly from both D- and L-lactate, indicating that LR can be induced by both D- and L-lactate. These results suggest that the primary reason for the inability of M. elsdenii to produce propionate from glucose is that cells fermenting glucose do not synthesize LR, which is induced by lactate.