Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bubbles, Bank Credit and Macroprudential Policies

We explore the ability of a macroprudential policy instrument to dampen the consequences of equity mispricing (a bubble) and the correction thereof (the bubble bursting), as well as the consequences for real activity in a production economy. In our model, producers are financed by both bank debt and equity, and face a mix of systematic and idiosyncratic uncertainty. Positive/negative bubbles arise when prior public beliefs about the aggregate productivity of producers (business sentiment) become biased upwards/downwards. Economic activity in equilibrium is influenced by the bubble size. The presence of macroprudential policy is represented by a convex dependence of bank capital requirements on the quantity of uncollateralized credit. We find that this kind of policy is more successful in suppressing equity price swings than moderating output fluctuations. Economic activity declines with the introduction of a macroprudential instrument in this model, so that the ultimate welfare contribution of the latter would depend on the aggregate default costs. JEL Classification: G01, G21, G12, E22, D82
Effect of Statins on the prognosis of cerebral ischemia

Background: Statins may be effective in reducing the risk of cerebral ischemia. This study aimed to examine the effect of Statins on the short-term prognosis of cerebral ischemia. Materials and Methods: This cohort study was performed on 230 patients, whose cerebral ischemia had been confirmed by the neurologist. Eighty patients were treated with Statins at least three months before the onset of disease, and 150 patients had no history of Statin treatment. Demographic and background data and motor ability of the patients were evaluated based on the modified ranking scale (MRS). The patient's motor status on admission was compared to that of the discharge time. A case was considered as poor prognosis if the motor condition would not change or become worse and as better, if it would become better on discharge. Results: Among 230 patients (mean age, 71.59 years), 103 cases were women (44.8%) and 127 men (55.2%). On admission, fifty-five (68.8%) patients in the Statin group and 26 (17.3%) in non-Statin group and on discharge, 70 patients (87.5%) in the Statin group and 43 (28.7%) in non-Statin group had better motor status (MRS Conclusion: Short-term prognosis in the Statin group before the onset of disease is better than that in the non-Statin group.
Vulnerability, resilience, hazard, risk, damage, and loss: a socio-ecological framework for natural disaster analysis

Abstract. Evaluating socio-economic losses due to natural disasters is a challenging task because of the combined complexity of the social and ecological systems affected. However, also under pressure from the expected effects of climate change, evaluating the socio-economic costs of natural catastrophes has become a vital need for policy makers, urban planners, and private agents (such as insurance companies and banks). This paper suggests a general framework encompassing all the important concepts which should be taken into account by the above agents in the assessment of natural disasters. In particular, we propose a simple and consistent set of relationships among vulnerability, resilience, hazard, risk, damage, and loss which can guide socio-economic assessment.
Growth and Demographic Change: Do Environmental Factors Matter?

We incorporate health-damaging pollution into a three period overlapping generations model in which life expectancy, fertility and economic growth are all endogenous. We show that environmental factors can cause significant changes to the economy’s demographics. In particular, the entrepreneurial choice of less polluting production processes, induced by environmental policy, can account for such demographic changes as higher longevity and lower fertility rates.
Face Image Denoising Method Based on Fourth-Order Partial Differential Equations

In order to improve the effect of face image denoising, this paper put forward several face image denoising methods based on partial differential equations, including P-M non-linear diffusion equations and fourth-order partial differential equations. We use those two methods by establishing non-linear diffusion equations and fourth-order anisotropic diffusion partial differential equation. The P-M non-linear diffusion denoising method can remove noise in intra-regions sufficiently but noise at edges can not be eliminated successfully and line-like structures can not be held very well.While the fourth-order partial differential equations denoising can retain the local detail characteristics of the original face image. Finally, through the experimental results we can see the effect of the fourth-order partial differential equations denoising is better, which makes the later face image processing more accurate and promotes the development of face image processing.
Conflict between work and nonwork roles of employees in the mining industry: Prevalence and differences between demographic groups

Orientation: International researchers have increasingly recognised the interaction between work and nonwork roles as an interesting and important topic. Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of different work–nonwork conflict subscales and differences between demographic groups in work– nonwork conflict. Motivation for the study: Several studies have shown that demographic groups differ in their experiences of the interaction between work and family life. This may also be true of conflict between work and nonwork roles. The prevalence of work–nonwork conflict and nonwork– work conflict is also very important for organisations that may find the results very valuable for developing organisational and individual interventions and performance management in organisations. Research design, approach and method: The researchers chose a random sample of mining employees ( n = 245) from a platinum mine in Rustenburg. The researchers used self-developed items similar to items developed in the Work–nonwork Interference Scale of Koekemoer, Mostert and Rothmann (2010) to measure conflict between work and various nonwork roles. The researchers used descriptive statistics, paired-sample t -tests, multivariate analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance to analyse the data. Main findings: Work–nonwork conflict was more prevalent than nonwork–work conflict. Work–family conflict was more prevalent than work–domestic conflict and work–religion/ spirituality conflict. The researchers found significant differences for marital status and language groups about work–nonwork conflict. Results showed that participants who spoke African languages experienced higher levels of private–work conflict. Practical/managerial implications: Organisations need to recognise the negative interference or conflict between work and nonwork roles for different demographic groups and address the prevalent work–nonwork conflicts in their organisations. Contribution/value-add: Organisations are able to focus interventions and programmes that specifically address the problem of work–nonwork conflict in specific roles and for different demographic groups.
ight-to-quality with Granger-causality tail risk networks

We introduce an econometric method to detect and analyze events of ight-to-quality by nancial institutions. Specically, using the recently proposed test for the detection of Granger causality in risk (Hong et al. 2009), we construct a bipartite network of systemically important banks and sovereign bonds, where the presence of a link between two nodes indicates the existence of a tail causal relation. This means that tail events in the equity variation of a bank helps in forecasting a tail event in the price variation of a bond. Inspired by a simple theoretical model of ight-to-quality, we interpret links of the bipartite networks as distressed trading of banks directed toward the sovereign debt market and we use them for dening indicators of ight-to-quality episodes. Based on the quality of the involved bonds, we distinguish dierent patterns of ight-to-quality in the 2006-2014 period. In particular, we document that, during the recent Eurozone crisis, banks with a considerable systemic importance have signicantly impacted the sovereign debt market chasing the top-quality government bonds. Finally, an out of sample analysis shows that connectedness and centrality network metrics have a signicant cross-sectional forecasting power of bond quality measures.
Dynamic Risk Management: Investment, Capital Structure, and Hedging in the Presence of Financial Frictions

This paper develops a dynamic risk management model to determine a firm's optimal risk management strategy. The risk management strategy has two elements: first, until leverage is very high, the firm fully hedges its operating cash how exposure, due to the convexity in its cost of capital. When leverage exceeds a very high threshold, the firm gambles for resurrection and stops hedging. Second, the firm manages its capital structure through dividend distributions and investment. When leverage is very low, the firm fully replaces depreciated assets, fully invests in opportunities if they arise, and distribute dividends to reach its optimal capital structure. As leverage increases, the firm stops paying dividends, while fully investing. After a certain leverage, the firm also reduces investment, until it stop investing completely. The model predictions are consistent with empirical observations.
Further Solutrean evidence in El Mirón Cave (Ramales de la Victoria, Cantabria)

In 2010 and 2011, the area of the test pit in which Solutrean levels originally had been exposed in El Mirón Cave was doubled. These deposits, in sharp contrast with the overlying Initial and Lower Magdalenian levels (which lie relatively flat and are extraordinarily rich in organic matter and all manner of cultural debris–artifacts of many types, features and faunal remains–indicative of major, repeated, multi-functional, residential occupations of the cave), follow the 15 degree slope of the erosional face of the alluvial fill of the inner cave and are culturally rather poor. The Solutrean levels are radiocarbon dated between 19,230 and 18,390 BP (uncal.), although the topmost level (121) is ambiguous due to the lack of Solutrean points in the small area (now 4 m2) in which it has been dug. The other Solutrean levels (122-127) are particularly rich in foliate and shouldered point fragments of diverse types (including concave base points) and lithic débitage, but relatively few other retouched tools, suggesting that the successive occupations may have been related to brief hunting expeditions in the montane interior of eastern Cantabria in part during times of slight climatic amelioration within the Last Glacial Maximum (sensu lato– specifically soon after Heinrich Event 2, during or immediately after Greenland Interstadial 2), when ice sheets nonetheless still covered the upper slopes of the adjacent Cordillera. Other indicators of hunting include broken antler points (sagaies), some of which are shaped and decorated in ways that are classic for this period in Cantabria. On the other hand, these levels are unusually rich in marine shells (of diverse species), many of which are perforated. These are accompanied by other perforated objects (red deer canines, bones and stones fashioned to resemble such canines), confirming the pattern observed in the initial test pit. Faunal remains are present, but are not very abundant, suggesting that carcasses were either butchered and the bones deposited elsewhere in the cave or removed for consumption at other sites, perhaps in the more habitable lower reaches of the Asón River valley.
In silico genome-wide identification and phylogenetic analysis of the WRKY transcription factor family in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in several biological processes, especially in defense against different biotic and abiotic stresses. An extensive in silico characterization of the CitsWRKY gene family was performed. In this study, 77 WRKY genes from the Citrus sinensis genome were identified. Based on sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, these 77 proteins were classified into three main groups, with most WRKY proteins placed in group I (36 CitsWRKY), group II (35 CitsWRKY), and group III (6 CitsWRKY). Analysis of conserved motifs showed that most identified CitsWRKY proteins carry a conserved WRKY domain. Structural analysis of the genes showed that the number of introns in CitsWRKY genes varied from zero to five. CitsWRKY genes were found to be randomly distributed on all nine chromosomes. The expansion of this gene family may have resulted from 14 tandem and five segmental duplication events. Evaluation of synteny events suggested that some WRKY genes emerged before the divergence of C. sinensis and Arabidopsis. Expression analysis demonstrated that these genes frequently occur in developing tissues such as fruit, flowers, ovaries, meristem, and phloem (65%, 66%, and 85% in groups I, II , and III, respectively), and are stimulated by biotic or abiotic stresses (15%, 16%, and 10% in groups I, II, and III, respectively). The characterization and analysis of these genes will aid in the selection of candidate genes for future functional analyses of the WRKY family in citrus, which will expand our understanding of genetic determinants of stress tolerance.
THE THIRD EYE OF SOLDIERS: PORTABLE UAVS IN BATTLE FIELDS

This paper presents a novel adaptive sampling method using intelligent UAVs in battlefields to help soldiers with awareness of environments. A UAV can perform as a robotic wingman in soldier formations, compensating for that cannot be scouted by soldiers, even being exposed to enemy fire. With portable size, the UAV is easily carried and flown for scouting tasks anytime. The flexibility of UAVs makes it possible to collect measurements sequentially. Each measurement is adaptively designed and determined from the Bayesian perspective to increase the fidelity of battlefields. Wavelet structure is considered to optimize measurement projections to substantially reduce the number of measurements based on compressive sensing framework. More specifically, each measurement is optimized by maximizing the posterior variance inferred from existing informative data. A motion planning algorithm for UAVs is designed based on the distribution of optimal measurements, striking a balance between moving cost and measurement value. Simulation results and future experimental environments are presented at last.
Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?

One of the main activities of the International Institute of Sociology of Law (IISL) is its International Master’s program in Sociology of Law. This program is highly innovative, in that rather than having any in-house teachers, the program is delivered by leading scholars from around the world. In 2014, the IISL celebrated its 25th anniversary, which provided an ideal opportunity to reflect upon the Master’s program. Teachers were invited to provide their views on teaching at the IISL, and the strongest theme that emerged was student diversity. This paper considers why student diversity struck teachers so strongly, and how has the IISL achieved such a highly diverse student body.It then explores teachers’ perceptions of diversity, revealing responses ranging from seeing diversity as a barrier to embracing diversity as enriching for students and teachers alike. Teaching was largely conceived as a form of ‘engaged pedagogy’ (hooks 1994), which involved drawing on a genuine dialogue with students, embracing multiple perspectives, challenging that challenge hegemonic understandings of sociology of law, and interaction beyond the classroom walls. We argue that this model of teaching produces a global community of cosmopolitan, reflective, self-aware, critical, culturally sensitive and caring sociology of law scholars.Una de las actividades principales del Instituto Internacional de Sociologia Juridica (IISJ) es su programa de Master Internacional en Sociologia Juridica. Este programa es muy innovador, en el, en lugar de tener profesores propios, son destacados academicos de todo el mundo los que imparten el programa. En 2014, el IISJ celebro su 25 aniversario, lo que supuso una oportunidad ideal para reflexionar sobre el programa de Master. Se invito a los profesores a que ofrecieran su punto de vista sobre la ensenanza en el IISJ, y el tema mas importante que surgio fue la diversidad del alumnado. En este trabajo se analiza por que la diversidad del alumnado llamo la atencion de los profesores, y como ha logrado el IISJ un alumnado tan diverso.A continuacion, explora las percepciones de los profesores sobre la diversidad, mostrando respuestas que van desde ver la diversidad como una barrera, hasta contemplar la diversidad como enriquecedora para estudiantes y profesores. En gran medida, la ensenanza se concibio como una forma de "pedagogia comprometida" (hooks 1994), que implicaba establecer un verdadero dialogo con los estudiantes desde multiples perspectivas, desafiando la vision hegemonica de la sociologia juridica, y continuar la interaccion mas alla de las paredes del aula. Se defiende que este modelo de ensenanza produce una comunidad global academicos sociojuridicos cosmopolitas, reflexivos, conscientes de si mismos, criticos, culturalmente sensibles y solidarios.
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE SHIELDING EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENT OF THE PANI-CSA FILMS AT BROAD BAND FREQUENCIES

A material sample of Camphour Sulphonic Acid doped Polyaniline (PANI-CSA) is contemplated towards its conceivable use as a microwave shield. Shielding towards electromagnetic interferences (EMI) is measured over various frequency bands by the waveguide method. Plane wave electromagnetic theory is used to generalize the overall reflection and transmission coefficients of the polymer. EMI shielding of the polymer, in the form of Shielding Efficiency (SE), is analyzed over the microwave frequency range from 2 to 18 GHz, demonstrating the potential value of the polymer as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield for commercial purposes. The shielding film is fabricated using standard procedure with CSA as the dopant and m-cresol as the solvent. The shielding effectiveness as high as 45 dB for the sample of PANI doped with CSA is observed.
Heavy Metals and Antibiotics Susceptibility Profiles of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Several Points Receiving Daily Input from the Bodija Abattoir in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Indiscriminate and unguided discharge of untreated wastewater especially from abattoirs can constitute a public health threat and also stimulate the onset of co-resistance to metal and antibiotics in environmental microorganisms. It has been shown that microorganisms especially bacteria that have the capacity to resist antibiotics and heavy metals, may constitute a public health threat. This study was therefore conducted to determine the susceptibility and tolerance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from abattoir effluent flowing into a receiving river around Bodija market in Ibadan to a range of antibiotics and heavy metals. Ten points were selected for sampling, and the samples were cultured on nutrient agar and mannitol salt agar. A total of 22 Staphylococcus aureus strains were obtained. They were subjected to increasing concentration of six heavy metals [lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni)] and five antibiotics. Of the total isolates, 41% were resistant to all the six metals at 1500μg/ml concentration, while the others showed various degree of resistance. A percentage resistance of 22.7% was observed for tetracycline, 100% to ceftazidime, 9.1% to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin while 63.6% of the strains were resistant to oxacillin. All the strains but two showed resistance to all the metals tested, while multiple resistance to antibiotics was also observed. Further studies need to be carried out on the mechanisms of resistance of these strains.
Effects of selected herbs and vegetables on the nutritional quality of beef burger and rat bioassay

Rat bioassay was used to evaluate the nutritional quality of beef burger as influenced by the addition of selected herbs and vegetables. The selected herbs and vegetables used were pucuk ubi (Mannihot esculenta), pucuk gajus (Anacardium occidentale), pegaga (Centella asiatica) and jantung pisang (Musa paradisiaca) as treatment group with casein and skimmed milk as reference. The rats were fed with herbs and vegetables at the rate of 0.5 (low dose) and 25 (high dose) g/kg body weight. The samples were analyzed for proximate analysis, protein quality and protein digestibility. The rats fed with pucuk ubi (high dose) (364.30 ± 25.34 g) indicated the highest mean of increased body weight (121.05 ± 14.65 g) while rats fed with skimmed milk (310.98 ± 18.92 g) showed the lowest mean increase in body weight (88.33 ± 14.25 g). As for the Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) value, all the rats fed with herbs diet showed PER values that were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the casein. As for the in vivo apparent protein digestibility test, casein showed the highest digestibility value (86.33 ± 4.20) while pucuk gajus (high dose) (59.59 ± 5.41) showed the lowest. As for the in vitro digestibility analyses, casein indicated the highest value for in vitro digestibility (93.84 ± 0.33). Administration of herbs and vegetables at low and high doses show significant effects (p<0.05) on nutritional quality of beef burger. In conclusion, it was found that antinutritional factors in selected herbs and vegetables might affect the nutritional quality of beef burger.
The impact of cold deformation, annealing temperatures and chemical assays on the mechanical properties of platinum

In order to form the necessary data base on platinum and platinum metals, certain tests were carried out on platinum samples of different purity of 99.5%, 99.9% and 99.99%. The degree of cold deformation, annealing temperature and chemical assays were tested as well as their impact on the mechanical properties of platinum. The Vickers hardness (HV) values were determined with different deformation degree, starting from annealing temperatures for platinum of different purity and tensile strength (Rm), flow limit (Rp0,2) and elongation (A) in the function of annealing temperatures and annealing time at a constant deformation degree.
HEALTH AND MUSIC IN EVERYDAY LIFE – a theory of practice

Denne artikel er baseret på især to undersøgelser foretaget af medlemmer af Kunst-sociologi-gruppen ved Exeter University (UK). Undersøgelsernes fokus er almindelige menneskers anvendelse af musik (‘lay-musicking’) [Begrebet ‘musicering’ (musicking) refererer til C. Small m.fl. s tolkning af ‘musik’ som en interpersonlig aktivitet mere end et objekt]. Data fra undersøgelserne bruges som afsæt for udvikling af en teori om musikkens psyko-kulturelle rolle og funktioner som et kommunikations- og regulerings-medie, og som et redskab til at skabe mening i dagliglivets specifikke, tidslige kontekster. Der trækkes forbindelser mellem de processer, der kan observeres i ‘læg-musicering’, og musikterapeutisk teori og praksis, og dette sker på en måde, der understreger, hvad musiksociologien kan lære af musikterapien og af lægfolks musicering inden for sundhedsområdet.