Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medium-Term Asymmetric Fluctuations and EMU as an Optimum Currency Area

Recent studies find that short-term fluctuations in EMU have been symmetric. This finding leads to benign views on the functioning of EMU as an optimum currency area (OCA), that are difficult to reconcile with the sovereign debt crisis. We try to solve this puzzle by looking at medium-term fluctuations instead, and reach five conclusions. First, medium-term fluctuations in EMU are much larger and less symmetric than short-term fluctuations. Second, medium-term fluctuations have become larger and less symmetric over time, while short-term fluctuations have become smaller and more symmetric. Third, medium-term fluctuations in EMU are less symmetric than in the US, while short-term fluctuations are more symmetric. Fourth, medium-term fluctuations in the euro area have become more strongly correlated with financial variables like credit and house prices, and less strongly correlated with real variables like productivity. Finally, medium-term fluctuations are more closely related to imbalances in price competitiveness, current accounts and budget deficits than short-term fluctuations. We conclude that our medium-term perspective has become relevant in the monetary union, due to the increasing importance of financial factors. It leads to less benign views on the functioning of EMU and on the endogenous OCA hypothesis.
Modern information warfare: analysis and policy recommendations

PurposeInformation warfare (IW) is a novel and poorly understood threat to the international community, which may be used more commonly as a foreign policy tool in the future. By identifying the key components of modern IW, this paper seeks to formulate policy recommendations for how best to deal with this new threat. The general overview of the topic that this paper provides contributes to current efforts to develop strategies to counter IW operations around the world.Design/methodology/approachThe goal of this paper is to break down the components of modern IW and provide policy recommendations for domestic and international governance on the issue. These recommendations will be based in part of historical initiatives to counter IW and existing literature on cyber governance. Central to the framework used to analyze the cases of Russian and North Korean IW operations are the seven defining features of “strategic” IW established by a 1996 RAND Corporation report, modified to incorporate the importance of cyberspace to cases of IW in the modern day.FindingsModern IW presents a new, multifaceted threat to states. Because of the value of IW as a tool by weaker states to counter stronger ones and the weakness of existing legal and normative frameworks, use of IW can be expected to be increasingly common. States can take action to promote international governance on the issue and develop policy frameworks for protecting themselves against IW.Practical implicationsIW has historically been a very tricky tactic to define and identify. By analyzing IW’s basic features, this paper provides a framework for breaking down IW into its component parts, which reveals valuable policy implications. Preventative efforts against IW can help restore trust to global information networks and lower the risk of conflict.Originality/valueFormal scholarship on modern IW and related subjects is lacking in comparison with higher visibility threats. Increased awareness of this issue, especially amongst civilian leaders, can augment global efforts to counter IW.
Power Flow Analysis on AC And DC Transmitting Concurrently Along the Same Feeder Line in Distribution Network

In this paper, the idea that the DC generated by distributed generation (DG) transmits concurrently with AC in the same feeder line in distribution network is presented. The basic concept and the circuit topology are also expressed. For the low capacity DG, it is proposed a concept of “suppositional stack bus” which is useful and convenient for AC and DC power flow computation. After decoupling AC and DC network at the place of “suppositional stack bus”, the computation turns to be simple and rapid. Case study shows that network loss is smaller and voltage is more balanced under this way. So the advantage of the operation as well as the availability of the calculation method is proved.
Educational Playability Analyzing Player Experiences in Educational Video Games

—Educational video games constitute some of the main edutainment applications currently on the market. However, the development of video games as educational tools is very difficult due to their multidisciplinary nature (fun and education). Player Experience is a good measure of the level of fun and education presented to players and determines, to some extent, the success of an educational video game. This paper examines the importance of the role of Player Experience in motivating and enhancing the concept of learning through play, and highlights the role of Educational Playability attributes as suitable and effective tools to analyze and measure the experience obtained by a player during a game. The paper also discusses the role of a balanced Educational Video Game that provides a good level of motivation and engagement in order to improve player experience.
Research and Implementation of the Key Technology of UAV Aerial Image Transmission

Abstract With the maturity of UAV technology, especially the cost of the four rotor unmanned aerial vehicle is decreasing, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be a trend in the future. At the same time, because ZigBee has the characteristics of low cost, low speed and short transmission distance, we use ZigBee to achieve the transmission of image files between UAV and ground receiving system computers. This paper introduces the system design and software program module hardware node design, the first use of ZigBee wireless network as a data link, and then collected by the UAV to the ground of the computer image transmission, in the process of transmission by subcontracting, merging, stop and wait Agreement to ensure the correctness of data transmission right. Through experimental test, the correct transmission of image files between UAV and ground end computer can be realized when the image data is less than 1024K bytes.
Architecture, Mapping Algorithms and Physical Design of Mesh-of-Functional-Units FPGA Overlays for Pipelined Execution of Data Flow Graphs

Architecture, Mapping Algorithms and Physical Design of Mesh-of-Functional-Units FPGA Overlays for Pipelined Execution of Data Flow Graphs Davor Capalija Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto 2017 The massively parallel fabric of FPGAs allows them to deliver high levels of performance. However, the widespread use of FPGAs by programmers has been hindered by their programmability wall : FPGAs have low levels of abstraction that require hardware expertise and FPGA CAD tools also have long compile times. In order to tackle this challenge, in this thesis we explore an approach that is based on overlays, which are pre-compiled FPGA circuits that are themselves programmable via a software-familiar model without the need for FPGA CAD tools. We propose, design and evaluate a high-performance mesh-of-functional-units overlay architecture that projects the programming model of the pipelined execution of data flow graphs (DFGs). The overlay architecture consists of cells, with each one containing a functional unit (FU), routing logic with elastic pipelines, and FIFOs in every routing hop. This architecture realizes latency insensitive data-driven execution, facilitates high fMAX and scalability to large mesh sizes and balances pipeline latencies. We design a DFG-to-overlay mapping algorithm that places, routes, and balances DFGs on the overlay for high-throughput operation, and uses internal seed-sweep to hide the seed variability from the programmer. We also propose a tile-based bottom-up CAD
Sector Behavior, Market Efficiency, and the Optimal Risky Portfolio

Stock sector investing has become increasingly popular since the creation of the Global Industry Classification System in 1999, yet little academic research has explored sector behavior. This study begins to fill the void by examining how each sector contributes to the optimal risky portfolio over time. Using a much longer time series than previous studies, a crisp definition of sectors, and the perspective of mean Markowitz optimization, this study provides evidence that investors mostly price return and risk information efficiently. But they find it difficult to price sector-level correlation information efficiently into the optimal risky portfolio. TOPICS: Fundamental equity analysis, portfolio theory, statistical methods
Global Cities and Cultural Diversity Governance: Comparing Doha and Singapore

The rise of global cities has raised multiple questions regarding the governance of diversity. While they are often portrayed as spaces of ungovernable global flows and as catalysts of the disappearance of national identities, this paper aims to analyse these cities’ actions and strategies to govern their cultural diversity and defend a renewed conception of the national. I combine an analysis of outward-looking strategies that promote their cultural diversity on the global cultural field, and of inward-looking strategies that attempt to project their plural identity in the urban space. I compare two cities, Doha and Singapore, which have emerged as major centres of the global economy and offer a perspective that differs from the large Western cities where the notion of global city was initially coined. The affirmation of Doha and Singapore as global cities does not go along with a process of weakening of the nationstate, but on the contrary takes part in a logic of nation building and nation branding. The paper analyses how local actors negotiate this dialectic between the global and the national. Firstly, I show that they have put transnational regional networks and identities at the centre of the promotion of these cities as cultural hub. Secondly, I show that the recognition of these cities’ diverse heritage and its display in the urban landscape, go in parallel with an increasing spatial exclusion of recent migrants.
Environmental vs Social Responsibility in the Firm. Evidence from Italy

Sustainable behavior should necessarily benefit both the environment and society. However, we cannot take for granted that socially responsible firms are also environmentally responsible—e.g., a firm might benefit its stakeholders while degrading the environment—and the reverse applies too—e.g., an environmentally responsible firm might disrespect its employees. Consequently, our purpose is checking whether social responsibility and green investments—proxying for a firm’s environmental responsibility—are complements, substitutes, or unrelated choices. Using a representative sample of Italian manufacturing firms, our econometric estimates uncover the empirical relationship between social responsibility and green investments at firm level. We find evidence of complementarity, since socially responsible firms: (i) Are systematically more likely to make green investments; (ii) identify green investments as a voluntary choice promoting business competitiveness much more than other firms. Finding complementarity between social and environmental responsibility has important implications. Policies favoring the transition to sustainable development should adopt a systemic approach considering the positive spillovers of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on environmental responsibility. Our evidence also suggests that firms indeed tend to behave in ways consistent with the holistic approach of the 2030 UN Agenda for sustainable development. Additional research should study how governance affects the CSR–environmental responsibility nexus.
Creating Interactive Fiction with Inform 7

CREATING INTERACTIVE FICTION WITH INFORM 7 is a jargon-free, step-by-step guide to mastering the basics of creating dynamic, text-based story worlds. Inform 7 is a free multiplatform interactive fiction authoring environment that uses an intuitive natural language syntax. A tool focused on writers, not programmers, Inform allows users construct complex, rich storytelling worlds by writing sentences as simple as "Tom is a person," or as complicated as "Instead of attacking Tom when something lethal is held, now every nearby watchdog owned by Tom hates the player. " No prior programming experience is required. Throughout the book, readers develop a full-length, release-quality example game, exploring the real-world issues involved in authoring participatory narratives and gaining skills that can be applied to the creation of future games and stories.
Detection of Organochlorine and Organophosphorus Pesticides Residues in Water Samples of Taragong Thana in Rangpur District in Bangladesh

This study was undertaken to identify Organochlorine and Organophosphorous pesticides residues in water samples of some paddy fields, ponds and tubewells in Rangpur district (Taragong Thana) of Bangladesh by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Among thirty samples, Organophosphorus (Malathion) pesticide was found in twelve samples while Organocholorine was absent. The level of the pesticide residues (Malathion) were found in the range of 2 to 221 ppm, which were above the maximum acceptable levels of total and individual pesticide contamination.
How Irrationality Works in Indonesia: A Case of Fake Investment

: In the conventional economic perspective, people or investors are assumed to behave rationally when choosing investment alternatives to maximize their profits. Shiller (2000) showed that the Ponzi scheme is a form of irrational exuberance in which people or investors act irrationally. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of psychological biases (optimism bias, overconfidence, representativeness bias, confirmation bias, framing, and herding) to investors’ decisions to get involved in a Ponzi scheme. Regression analysis was employed to see the impact of these biases on the investment decisions. Data was collected through questionnaire from 38 investors (victims) who lived in several rural areas in Yogyakarta. The results of this study revealed that optimism bias, overconfidence, representativeness bias, confirmation bias, framing, and herding behavior have significant impact on investment decisions. However this study still has some limitations and needs further research.
Analysis of Student Entrepreneurship decision making in the Learning Prerspective

The main problem of entrepreneurship education in Indonesia is the mindset of most Indonesian people that the goal of continuing education to higher education to become a civil servant is not to be someone who has an entrepreneurial mentality. Entrepreneurship learning has not been able to change the mind-set of college graduates from finding jobs (job seekers) to creating jobs (job creators). Therefore, the formulation of the problem in this study is, "Is there an influence of entrepreneurial learning on student decision making in entrepreneurship at Makassar State University. This study aims to find out, "The effect of entrepreneurial learning on student decision making in entrepreneurship at Makassar State University. This research is an Explanatory Research with a Survey approach with a population of 654 Makassar State University students who propose a Student Creativity Program (PKM) with a sample of 242 which is done by proportional random sampling technique. Therefore, the formulation of the problem in this study is, "Is there an influence of entrepreneurial learning on student decision making in entrepreneurship at Makassar State University. This study aims to find out, "The effect of entrepreneurial learning on student decision making in entrepreneurship at Makassar State University. This research is an Explanatory Research with a Survey approach with a population of 654 Makassar State University students who propose a Student Creativity Program (PKM) with a sample of 242 which is done by proportional random sampling technique. The technique of collecting data uses observation, questionnaires, and documentation. Data analysis using SEM. The results of the study show; "There is a significant effect of entrepreneurial learning on student decision making in entrepreneurship at Makassar State University.
Interaction design for automation initiated steering manoeuvres for collision avoidance

This paper provides a summary of three experimental studies conducted at DLR research facilities (two simulator studies and a test track study) testing different interaction designs for an automation initiated steering manoeuvre in emergency situations. The results of all three studies are discussed in the light of current technical developments allowing for automated steering interventions on the one hand and human factors issues such as controllability of false activations and overridability of interventions by the driver on the other hand. The results show both the safety potential and the still existing controllability issues of partially decoupling the driver.
Job insecurity and impression management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test competing models of the relationship between job insecurity and two forms of impression management (self- and supervisor-focused) on job performance. Specifically, does job insecurity lead to greater subsequent impression management; or, does preventative use of impression management subsequently lead to reductions in job insecurity? Additionally, how do these both relate to in-role performance? Design/methodology/approach Using two-wave survey data collected from 184 working adults in the USA and the two-step approach recommended by Cole and Maxwell (2003) and Taris and Kompier (2006), the authors tested cross-lagged relationship between job insecurity and both forms of impression management by comparing four different models: a stability model, a normal causation model (with cross-lagged paths from T1 job insecurity to T2 impression management), a reversed causation model (with cross-lagged paths from T1 impression management to T2 job insecurity) and a reciprocal causation model (with all cross-lagged paths described in the normal and reversed causation model). Findings Results were supportive of the reversed causation model which indicated that greater use of supervisor-focused impression management at Time 1 predicted lower levels of job insecurity at Time 2 (after controlling for prior levels of job insecurity); moreover, job insecurity at Time 1 was then significantly associated with more positive in-role behaviors at Time 2. Moreover, the test of the indirect effect between T1 impression management and T2 performance was significant. Originality/value These results suggest that impression management clearly plays an important role in understanding the relationship between job insecurity and job performance. However, employees appear to utilize impression management as a means of pre-emptively enhancing their job security, rather than as a tool to reactively cope with perceived job insecurity.
Versatility of hot-melt extrusion for dosage form design

II DEDICATION.IV ACKNOWLEDGMENT.V LIST OF TABLES.VIII LIST OF FIGURES.IX CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.1 CHAPTER 2: MEFENAMIC ACID TASTE-MASKED ORAL DISINTEGRATING TABLETS WITH ENHANCED SOLUBILITY VIA MOLECULAR INTERACTION PRODUCED BY HOT MELT EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY.13 CHAPTER 3: INVESTIGATIONS OF THE COMBINED EFFECT OF MGO AND PEG ON THE RELEASE PROFILE OF MEFENAMIC ACID PREPARED VIA HOT MELT EXTRUSION TECHNIQUE.42 CHAPTER 4: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MEFENAMIC ACID SUSTAINED RELEASE TABLETS CONTAINING KOLLIDON® SR VIA HOT-MELT EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY.77 CHAPTER 5: SUMMERY AND CONCLUSIONS.99 BIBLIOGRAPHY.102
Re-research.pl: where Humanities Meet Computer Science

The article discusses selected projects from the field of digital humanities realised by the Re-research.pl group. The group consists of researchers from the Institute of Linguistics and the Department of Natural Language Processing at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland. The projects discussed include National Photocorpus of Polish, Discovermat, Korea, Koreans and ‘Koreanity’ in the digitised Polish press of the 20 century, Biography of the Nation, 100,000 ministories, Gonito.net and 50,000 words. Domain and chronologisation index. However, the main focus of the article is the interdisciplinary popular-scientific blog Re-research.pl. The daily blog posts include texts on a variety of subjects, ranging from linguistics, history and folklore to computer science. Selected posts and categories of posts are discussed, such as chronologisational challenges, texts devoted to folklore and materials on the structure of text files. Apart from providing daily analyses, the blog promotes other projects and serves as a dialogue platform for representatives of various fields.
Communication support in multi-core architectures through hardware mechanisms and standardized programming interfaces

The application constraints driving the design of embedded systems are constantly demanding higher performance and power efficiency. To meet these constraints, current SoC platforms rely on replicating several processing cores while adding dedicated hardware accelerators to handle specific tasks. However, developing embedded applications is becoming a key challenge, since applications workload will continue to grow and the software technologies are not evolving as fast as hardware architectures, leaving a gap in the full system design. Indeed, the increased programming complexity can be associated to the lack of software standards that supports heterogeneity, frequently leading to custom solutions. On the other hand, implementing a standard software solution for embedded systems might induce significant performance and memory usage overheads. Therefore, this Thesis focus on decreasing this gap by implementing hardware mechanisms in co-design with a standard programming interface for embedded systems. The main objectives are to increase programmability through the implementation of a standardized communication application programming interface (MCAPI), and decrease the overheads imposed by the software implementation through the use of the developed hardware mechanisms.The contributions of the Thesis comprise the implementation of MCAPI for a generic multi-core platform and dedicated hardware mechanisms to improve communication connection phase and overall performance of data transfer phase. It is demonstrated that the proposed mechanisms can be exploited by the software implementation without increasing software complexity. Furthermore, performance estimations obtained using a SystemC/TLM simulation model for the reference multi-core architecture show that the proposed mechanisms provide significant gains in terms of latency (up to 97%), throughput (40x increase) and network traffic (up to 68%) while reducing processor workload for both characterization test-cases and real application benchmarks.
Impact of fossil fuel emissions and particulate matter on pulmonary health

Abstract In recent decades, several national and international legislative efforts have aimed to improve air quality standards and limit major pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, linked to several public health problems. In recent years, particulate matter sources have become an important cause of several pulmonary and systemic diseases. Specifically, several studies examining cigarette smoke particulates have discovered the important contribution that mast cells play in the pathogenesis and progression of smoking-related lung disease and other particulate matter–related lung injury. By understanding the mechanisms of activation and signaling cascades involved in cigarette smoke and mast cell activation, novel pharmacological therapies for particulate matter–induced lung diseases could be developed.