bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed ischemic neurologic deficit after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Yamaki Vitor , Cavalcanti Daniel , Figueiredo Eberval
Published: August 2019

Delayed ischemic neurologic deficit (DIND) is the main preventable cause of poor outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. Of 50% of survivors from a SAH, approximately 30% of patients will present clinical vasospasm (VS). The cornerstone of the DIND management comprises prevention and early identification. Several diagnostic methods have been proposed differing in efficacy, invasiveness, and costs. Serial neurological examination is the most reliable method to detect a new neurological deficit. On the other hand, comatose patients require advanced monitoring methods which identify changes in the microcirculatory environment, brain autoregulation, and spreading depolarization. Multimodality monitoring with continuous electroencephalography, microdialysis, and intracranial pressure monitoring represents altogether the current state-of-art technology for the intensive care of SAH patients. Moreover, advances in genetic biomarkers to predict clinical VS have shown consistent accuracy which may in the near future allow the early prediction of DIND through a simple blood test. Several clinical trials have tested drugs with theoretical effects on DIND prevention or treatment. Nevertheless, nimodipine remains the Holy Grail in the prevention of clinical VS. Among rescue therapies, the endovascular treatment through intra-arterial vasodilator (verapamil or nicardipine) infusion is the most employed method for DIND reversal; however, there is no good quality evidence comparing results of intra-arterial infusion of vasodilators versus balloon angioplasty. Although we have addressed the most refined technology in the management of SAH and DIND, the clinical experience and strict follow-up in neurointensive care will be determinant for favorable long-term outcomes.
Supraorbital craniotomy for large anterior skull base meningiomas: A technical note
Authors: Khanapure Kiran , Joshi Krishna , Jagannatha Aniruddha , Perikal Parichay , Quryshi Syed , Srikantha Umesh , Verma Ravi , Hegde Alankar
Published: August 2019

Background: Supraorbital craniotomy (SOC) has brought a paradigm shift in approaching anterior skull base lesions. With better understanding of relevant anatomy, the indications are being stretched from highly selected, small-to-moderate-sized tumors to large and complex anterior skull base lesions. Objective: We share our experience and discuss the nuances of surgery for large anterior skull base meningiomas using the SOC. Methods: This is a single institute study using prospectively collected retrospective data from seven cases of large anterior skull base meningiomas (>3 cm) using the SOC. We reviewed the indications, safety, and procedural complications in these cases. Results: Simpson's Grade 2 excision was achieved in all these seven cases, with faster postoperative recovery. Follow-up clinical outcome and cosmesis were satisfactory. Conclusion: SOC is a safe alternative for the standard skull base approaches in treating large anterior skull base meningiomas. The SOC can be effectively used to treat selected large anterior skull base meningiomas.
Cohomology of Modules Over -categories and Co--categories
Authors: Balodi Mamta , Banerjee Abhishek , Ray Samarpita
Published: August 2019

Let$H$be a Hopf algebra. We consider$H$-equivariant modules over a Hopf module category${\mathcal{C}}$as modules over the smash extension${\mathcal{C}}\#H$. We construct Grothendieck spectral sequences for the cohomologies as well as the$H$-locally finite cohomologies of these objects. We also introduce relative$({\mathcal{D}},H)$-Hopf modules over a Hopf comodule category${\mathcal{D}}$. These generalize relative$(A,H)$-Hopf modules over an$H$-comodule algebra$A$. We construct Grothendieck spectral sequences for their cohomologies by using their rational$\text{Hom}$objects and higher derived functors of coinvariants.
Selective Hepatitis B Birth-Dose Vaccination in São Tomé and Príncipe: A Program Assessment and Cost-Effectiveness Study
Authors: Hagan José E. , Carvalho Elizabeth , Souza Vladimir , Queresma dos Anjos Maria , Abimbola Taiwo O. , Pallas Sarah W. , Tevi Benissan M. Carole , Shendale Stephanie , Hennessey Karen , Patel Minal K.
Published: August 2019

São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) uses a selective hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination (HepB-BD) strategy targeting infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen. We conducted a field assessment and economic analysis of the HepB-BD strategy to provide evidence to guide development of cost-effective policies to prevent perinatal HBV transmission in STP. We interviewed national stakeholders and key informants to understand policies, knowledge, and practices related to HepB-BD, vaccine management, and data recording/reporting. Cost-effectiveness of the existing strategy was compared with an alternate approach of universal HepB-BD to all newborns using a decision analytic model. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated in 2015 USD per HBV-associated death and per chronic HBV case prevented, from the STP health-care system perspective. We found that STP lacked national or facility-specific written policies and procedures related to HepB-BD. Timely HepB-BD to eligible newborns was considered a high priority, although timeliness of HepB-BD was not monitored. Compared with the existing selective vaccination strategy, universal HepB-BD would result in a 19% decrease in chronic HBV infections per year at overall cost savings of approximately 44% (savings of USD 5,441 each year). We estimate an ICER of USD 5,012 saved per HBV-associated death averted. The existing selective HepB-BD strategy in STP could be improved through documentation of policies, procedures, and timeliness of HepB-BD. Expansion to universal newborn HepB-BD without maternal screening is feasible and could result in cost savings if actual implementation costs and effectiveness fall within the ranges modeled.
Urogenital Schistosomiasis and Sexually Transmitted Coinfections among Pregnant Women in a Schistosome-Endemic Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Gadoth Adva , Mvumbi Gisèle , Hoff Nicole A. , Musene Kamy , Mukadi Patrick , Ashbaugh Hayley R. , Doshi Reena H. , Javanbakht Marjan , Gorbach Pamina , Okitolonda-Wemakoy Emile , Klausner Jeffrey D. , Rimoin Anne W.
Published: August 2019

Schistosomiasis afflicts an estimated 10 million pregnant women in Africa annually. With mounting evidence of adverse impacts to reproductive health resulting from urogenital schistosomiasis, including increased transmission of HIV, further research on prenatal disease epidemiology is warranted, with implications for maternal and fetal health. Between October 2016 and March 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis and its association with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV among pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics in Kisantu health zone, Democratic Republic of Congo. An extensive sociodemographic and clinical survey was administered to consenting participants, with urine samples and vaginal swabs collected to deduce active schistosomiasis and STIs, respectively. In total, 17.4% of expectant mothers were infected with Schistosoma haematobium, 3.1% with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), 1.4% with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and 14.6% with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). Women infected with urogenital schistosomiasis were at significantly increased odds of harboring a CT, NG, or TV infection (adjusted odds ratio = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5, 6.0), but reports of clinical symptoms were low, ranging from 17.2% of schistosomiasis to 30.8% of TV cases. Laboratory confirmation of schistosomiasis and STIs provided objective evidence of disease in a cohort with low symptomology where syndromic management may not suffice. Shedding light on local risk factors and associated coinfections of urogenital schistosomiasis can identify unique intervention opportunities for prenatal care in trematode-endemic regions and aid in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Integrating Face Washing into a School-Based, Handwashing Behavior Change Program to Prevent Trachoma in Turkana, Kenya
Authors: Tidwell James B. , Fergus Cristin , Gopalakrishnan Anila , Sheth Esha , Sidibe Myriam , Wohlgemuth Leah , Jain Avinish , Woods Geordie
Published: August 2019

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness, and facial cleanliness is associated with reduced odds of trachomatous inflammation and Chlamydia trachomatis infection, but there is little evidence of how to drive this behavior change at scale. We report the results of a program integrating face washing into a school-based handwashing promotion program in Turkana County, Kenya. Children aged 5–15 years participated in an intervention delivered to schools in two phases, along with a third phase receiving the intervention after the evaluation, which served as a control. The primary outcome was the number of face washing events that took place when handwashing occurred, which was measured by a 3-hour structured observation at all 67 schools, and a total of 3,871 handwashing events were observed. Differences in observed in face washing behavior between each phase and the control schools were calculated using log-binomial regression with clustering at the school level, whereas survey responses on knowledge of trachoma transmission and prevention were compared using χ2 tests adjusted for clustering at the school level. Face washing during handwashing events was higher in schools after 12 months (59.3%) and 20 months (44.2%) than in control schools (18.7%, P < 0.001). Trachoma knowledge was higher in schools evaluated after 12 months (80%) and 20 months (70%) than in control schools (42%, P < 0.001), and knowledge of some of key preventive behaviors was higher in intervention schools. Integrating face washing messages into school-based handwashing promotion programs increased face washing, which may help to prevent trachoma when combined with other interventions.
Use of a Blockade-of-Binding ELISA and Microneutralization Assay to Evaluate Zika Virus Serostatus in Dengue-Endemic Areas
Authors: Nascimento Eduardo J. M. , Bonaparte Matthew I. , Luo Ping , Vincent Timothy S. , Hu Branda , George James K. , Áñez Germán , Noriega Fernando , Zheng Lingyi , Huleatt James W.
Published: August 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) serological diagnostics are compromised in areas where dengue viruses (DENV) co-circulate because of their high levels of protein sequence homology. Here, we describe the characterization of a Zika blockade-of-binding ELISA (Zika BOB) and a Zika microneutralization assay (Zika MN) for the detection of ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1)–specific antibodies and ZIKV neutralizing antibodies, respectively. Zika BOB and Zika MN cutoffs were established as 10 and 100 endpoint titers, respectively, using samples collected pre- and post-virologically confirmed ZIKV infection from subjects living in DENV-endemic areas. Specificity of the assays was equally high, whereas sensitivity of Zika BOB was lower than that of Zika MN, especially in samples collected > 6 months post-infection. Immunosurveillance analysis, using combined results from both Zika BOB and Zika MN, carried out also in DENV-endemic regions in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Puerto Rico before (2013–2014) and after (2017–2018) ZIKV introduction in the Americas suggests unapparent ZIKV seroprevalence rates ranged from 25% to 80% over the specified period of time in the regions investigated.
2012 Review of Data Provision to the Fund for Surveillance Purposes
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

The IMF keeps data provision by members under periodic review since timely, accurate, and comprehensive data are essential for fulfilling its surveillance mandate. The previous Review of Data Provision to the Fund for Surveillance Purposes was discussed by the Executive Board in March 2008 (the 2008 Review). The 2008 Review introduced a new classification system for rating the adequacy of data provision by a member to help with this assessment. The present review was expected to be conducted in 2013, but was brought forward to 2012 in the context of the ongoing global crisis. In particular, the Managing Director’s (MD) statement on the 2011 Triennial Surveillance Review (TSR) announced that the Review of Data Provision to the Fund for Surveillance Purposes would be brought forward to 2012 to allow the Board to consider where more and better data could be leveraged to enhance surveillance.
Macroeconomic Developments and Prospects in Low-Income Developing Countries - 2015
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This paper examines macroeconomic developments and prospects in low-income developing countries (LIDCs) against the back-drop of a sharp fall in international commodity prices. The focus here—by contrast with IMF (2014a)—is on recent developments and the near-term outlook, recognizing that the new price environment is likely to remain in place for several years to come. The paper also includes a section examining the experience of LIDCs with capital inflows over the past decade.
Public Debt Vulnerabilities in Low-Income Countries - The Evolving Landscape
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This is the first joint IMF/World Bank report on public debt vulnerabilities in low income countries (LICs). It examines debt-related developments and their underlying causes since the onset of the global financial crisis. The findings will inform the upcoming review of the IMF/WB debt sustainability framework for LICs.

Over this period, improved macroeconomic performance in LICs, combined with HIPC/MDRI debt relief and high demand for commodities, contributed to improved LIC creditworthiness. At the same time, new borrowing opportunities emerged as a result of the accommodative liquidity conditions in international capital markets, the deepening of domestic financial markets for some LICs, and the growing lending activities of non-Paris Club countries. These new financing possibilities helped mitigate the decline in Paris Club lending to LICs and have been associated with a shift toward greater reliance on non-concessional credit. The changing financing landscape has been most significant for frontier LICs.
Structural Reforms and Macroeconomic Performance - Country Cases
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

As a companion piece to the Board paper on Structural Reforms and Macroeconomic Performance: Initial Considerations for the Fund, this paper presents a selection of case studies on the structural reform experiences of member countries. These papers update the Board on work since the Triennial Surveillance Review toward strengthening the Fund’s capacity to analyze and, where relevant, offer policy advice on macro-relevant structural issues. The paper builds on the already considerable analytical work underway across the Fund, setting out considerations to support a more strategic approach going forward.
2015 Spillover Report
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Many countries around the globe, particularly the systemic advanced economies, face the challenge of closing output gaps and raising potential output growth. Addressing these challenges requires a package of macroeconomic, financial and structural policies that will boost both aggregate demand and aggregate supply, while closing the shortfall between demand and supply. Each element of this package is important and one cannot substitute for the other: easy monetary policy will not raise potential output just as structural reforms will not close the output gap. This report studies the impact on emerging markets and nonsystemic advanced economies from monetary policy actions in systemic advanced economies, with a look also at knock-on effects from the decline in world oil prices.
Precautionary and Liquidity Line - Operational Guidance Note
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This note provides general guidance on the use of the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL). After an overview of the instrument, explaining its specific nature, the operational issues are grouped into five areas: an outline of the process and specific steps that need to be followed if a member expresses interest in an arrangement; guidance on access, phasing, and purchases; guidance on determining qualification of a member and appropriate ex-post conditionality; and a guide to the semi-annual review process.
Staff Guidance Note on the Implementation of Public Debt Limits in Fund-Supported Programs
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

In December 2014, the Executive Board approved new guidelines on the use of public debt limits in Fund-supported programs. The new guidelines enter into effect on June 30, 2015. The key changes with respect to the existing debt limits policy include, inter alia, the broadening of the policy to encompass all public debt rather than only external public debt; an integrated treatment of external public debt, covering both concessional and non-concessional debt; and closer links between public debt vulnerabilities and the use and specification of public debt conditionality.

This note provides operational and technical guidance related to the implementation of the debt limits policy. In particular, it sets out how the policy should be implemented in country-specific circumstances.

Full text also available in French
Initial Steps in Implementing the Managing Director’s Action Plan for the 2014 Triennial Surveillance Review
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

In November 2014, the Managing Director set out a five-year Action Plan for Strengthening Surveillance in line with the goals of the 2014 Triennial Surveillance Review (TSR). In response to Executive Directors’ request for an early update, this report outlines the initial steps taken to operationalize the Action Plan. Many initiatives will take time to be fully embedded in the Fund’s surveillance products and its day-to-day dialogue with member countries.

This initial phase focused on putting in place the building blocks to support teams engaging in surveillance. This includes revising guidance to staff in line with the TSR priorities, investing in tools and staff training to boost capacity, and revamping work practices. Ongoing engagement among staff will be critical, both to raise awareness and to understand the issues teams are facing. Managers will play a vital role in implementing changed work practices, and the new leadership framework will support this. While not all initiatives are equally advanced given their different starting points or varying complexity, work is moving forward in all three of the broad pillars of the TSR: Deepening risk and spillover analysis. Staff is making a concerted effort to develop new approaches to macrofinancial surveillance, including through area department led pilot cases, enhanced technical support from functional departments, and a more collaborative approach to build skills and share knowledge. More tailored and expert policy advice. To better adapt our advice to the changing needs of member countries, staff is laying the groundwork for more detailed and tailored macro-structural analysis and ensuring that our fiscal advice continues to be ‘state of the art’. Efforts to leverage cross-country experience have gained momentum. Achieving greater impact. Staff is promoting more client focused communication, including exploring ways for more effective two-way dialogue with member countries, and promoting greater clarity in its multilateral messages. Staff is also developing principles to better understand and address perceptions of evenhandedness.
The Fund's Lending Framework and Sovereign Debt-Further Considerations
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

In discussing the June 2014 paper, Executive Directors broadly supported staff’s proposal to introduce more flexibility into the Fund’s exceptional access framework to reduce unnecessary costs for the member, its creditors, and the overall system. Directors’ views varied on staff’s proposal to eliminate the systemic exemption introduced in 2010. Many Directors favored removing the exemption but some others preferred to retain it and requested staff to consult further with relevant stakeholders on possible approaches to managing contagion. This paper offers specific proposals on how the Fund’s policy framework could be changed, presents staff’s analysis on the specific issue of managing contagion, and addresses some implementation issues. No Board decision is proposed at this stage. The paper is consistent with the Executive Board’s May 2013 endorsement of a work program focused on strengthening market-based approaches to resolving sovereign debt crises.
Macroeconomic Developments and Selected Issues in Small Developing States
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This report builds on the work in the 2013 Board paper on Fund Engagement with Small States, the 2013 background papers on Asian and Pacific small states and Caribbean small states, and the 2014 staff guidance note. It provides a deeper analysis and policy recommendations in respect of three challenges identified in these papers. Looking ahead, the paper also analyses the impact and possible policy responses to two global economic trends—lower oil prices and diverse movements in major currencies.
Extension of the Periods for Consent to and Payment of Quota Increases
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This paper proposes a further six-month extension of the period for members to consent to an increase in their quotas under the Fourteenth General Review of Quotas (“Fourteenth Review”) through June 30, 2017. The current deadline is due to expire on December 30, 2016. However, Board of Governors Resolution No. 66-2 provides that the Executive Board may extend the period for consent as it may determine. An extension under Resolution No. 66-2 will also extend the periods of consent for quota increases under the 2008 Reform of Quota and Voice (Resolution No. 63-2) and the Eleventh General Review of Quotas (Resolution No. 53-2).

This paper also proposes a further six-month extension of the period for payment of quota increases under the Fourteenth Review, and an extension for the payment of the quota increases under the 2008 Reform, through June 30, 2017.
Fifteenth General Review of Quotas - Report of the Executive Board to the Board of Governors
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

In the report, the Executive Board proposes that the Board of Governors adopt a Resolution: (i) noting the Report of the Executive Board and expressing regret that the timetable for completing the Fifteenth Review established under Resolution No. 71-2 is no longer within reach; (ii) calling on the Executive Board to work on the Fifteenth Review expeditiously in line with existing Executive Board understandings and the guidance provided by the IMFC on October 8, 2016 with the aim of completing the Fifteenth Review by the 2019 Spring Meetings and no later than the 2019 Annual Meetings; (iii) requesting that the Executive Board report on progress on the Fifteenth Review to the Board of Governors semiannually, with a first report by the 2017 Annual Meetings; and (iv) urging the remaining members who have not yet consented to their quota increases under the Fourteenth General Review of Quotas to do so without further delay and urging the members who have consented to their quota increases to make their quota payments in a timely manner.
Method of Collecting Exchange Rates for the Calculation of the Value of the SDR for the purposes of Rule 0-2(a)
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This paper proposes modifications to the method of collecting exchange rates for the calculation of the value of the SDR for the purposes of Rule O-2(a). The value of the SDR in terms of the U.S. dollar is determined daily as the sum of the equivalents in U. S. dollar values of the amounts of the currencies that comprise the SDR valuation basket (as provided in Rule O-1), calculated on the basis of exchange rates established in accordance with procedures decided from time to time by the Fund.1 The current procedures are set out in Decision No. 6709-(80/189) S, as amended by Decision No. 12157-(00/24) S, March 9, 2000 (see Annex), which specifies the method for collecting exchange rates for this purpose. Under these procedures, the relevant currency amounts are converted into U.S. dollars using daily exchange rates that are provided to the Fund by the Bank of England (BoE). If rates cannot be obtained from the BoE, they are provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) and, if not available there, by the European Central Bank (ECB). The BoE, FRBNY, and ECB intend to rely on a new, more robust methodology to provide exchange rates to the Fund after November 1, 2016, and the proposed modifications reflect these changes.
Post-program Monitoring - Proposed Decision on Countries
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

On July 1, 2016 the Executive Board adopted a decision to move to a more risk-based and focused framework for Post-Program Monitoring (PPM). The revised decision on PPM, which comes into effect on September 30, 2016, specifies absolute size and quota-based thresholds for establishing expectations as to when members would engage in PPM. Under the new framework, members would be expected to engage in PPM if their credit outstanding exceeds at least one of the applicable thresholds, unless the Managing Director considers that, in her view, the member’s circumstances are such that the process is unwarranted. Against that backdrop, this paper contains proposals to operationalize the new PPM decision.
The Chairman’s Summing Up - The IMF and the Crises in Greece, Ireland, and Portugal - An Evaluation by the Independent Evaluation Office - Executive Board Meeting 16/69 - July 19, 2016
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Executive Directors welcomed the report by the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) on the IMF and the Crises in Greece, Ireland, and Portugal, and appreciated the accompanying statement by the Managing Director. They agreed that the report’s findings provide valuable insights and lessons for handling crises in members of currency unions.

Directors underscored that the work of the IEO continues to play a vital role in enhancing the learning culture within the Fund, strengthening the Fund’s external credibility, and supporting the Executive Board’s oversight responsibilities. Directors broadly shared the general thrust of the IEO’s main findings and broadly endorsed its recommendations, with some caveats.
Group of Twenty - Reinvigorating Trade to Support Growth
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Reinvigorating trade integration should be a key component of the global policy agenda to boost growth. Trade policy’s new frontiers such as services, regulatory cooperation, and trade and investment complementarities carry high potential to bolster efficiency and productivity. But with governments differing on whether to continue the WTO Doha Round, there is an urgent need to identify a path for the global trading system in today’s more complex trade policy landscape. A long interregnum without a path forward would risk fragmenting the global trade system and undermining its governance.
Tackling trade policy issues important to the global economy may require flexible approaches to multilateral negotiations, including modalities such as plurilaterals.
Enhanced coherence efforts are also needed to ensure that regional trade agreements and multilateralism coexist productively.
Extension of the Period for Payment of Quota Increase Under the Fourteenth General Review of Quotas
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This paper proposes a 30-day extension of the initial period for payments to increase quotas under the Fourteenth General Review of Quotas (“Fourteenth Review”) through March 28, 2016. Under Board of Governors Resolution No. 66-2, each member shall pay to the Fund the increase in its quota within 30 days after the later of (a) the date on which it notifies the Fund of its consent, or (b) the date on which all of the general effectiveness conditions for the quota increases under the Fourteenth Review are met, provided that the Executive Board may extend the payment period as it may determine.
Separate Identification of the Chinese Renminbi in the COFER Survey
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Following the recent Executive Board decisions on the determination of the renminbi (RMB) as a freely usable currency, effective October 1, 2016, and its inclusion in the SDR basket on the same date, STA intends to separately identify the RMB in the survey on Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves (COFER) beginning with the survey for the fourth quarter of 2016. Consistent with staff’s commitment to consult the Executive Board before separately identifying additional currencies in the COFER survey, this paper sets out the key considerations for the envisaged inclusion of the RMB in the COFER survey.
Amendment to Steps to Address Excessive Delays in the Completion of Article IV Consultations or Mandatory Financial Stability Assessments and Application to the Case of Argentina
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Management has received a request from the Argentine authorities to publish documents on economic developments in the country prepared by Fund staff for informal Board briefings in 2013–15. The Argentine authorities see publication of these papers as part of their commitment to transparency and accountability in their operations. The documents were prepared pursuant to the Fund’s policy on excessive delays in the completion of Article IV consultations and mandatory financial stability assessments, which requires that staff informally brief Executive Directors every 12 months on the economic developments and policies of relevant members. The objectives of the policy are to promote re-engagement with members with excessively delayed consultations, and to share information with the Board to help it fulfill its surveillance function.
< br />Under current policy, the briefing documents are not published. Instead, a short factual statement is issued in a press release, noting that the Board was given an informal staff briefing on the member’s economy based on available information. Under the policy, the Fund decided against publication of the briefing documents since it was considered that publication could expose the Fund to a significant reputational risk if the analysis set out in the documents missed key vulnerabilities due to large information gaps created by the lack of consultation with the member. Also, outside audiences may not appreciate that the documents represent the views of staff, not the views of the Board, and do not constitute an Article IV consultation. A further concern was that publication could reduce the pressure on members to proceed with an Article IV consultation. In light of the current policy, any publication of these documents would require a change in policy approved by the Executive Board
Adequacy of the Global Financial Safety Net—Review of the Flexible Credit Line and Precautionary and Liquidity Line, and Proposals for Toolkit Reform—Revised Proposals
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

in the Fund’s work stream on the Adequacy of the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN). The paper follows the Executive Board’s discussion of the Adequacy of the Global Financial Safety Net—Review of the Flexible Credit Line and Precautionary and Liquidity Line, and Proposals for Toolkit Reform on June 30, 2017 (the "June paper"),1 and presents revised reform proposals in light of Directors’ views. In the absence of sufficient Executive Board support for a new liquidity facility, the paper proposes to retain the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL). It also proposes to introduce a Time-Based Commitment Fee (TBCF) in light of many Directors’ support for this feature.

2. This work is part of the Fund’s broader work stream to strengthen the GFSN . As such, it complements the new non-financing Policy Coordination Instrument and operational principles and framework for future Fund engagement with Regional Financing Arrangements.2

3. The paper is organized as follows. Section II lays out the revised set of reform proposals. Section III sets forth issues for discussion, and proposes decisions to (i) complete the review of the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) and the PLL; and (ii) introduce a TBCF. The paper also includes an Annex that describes a planned revision to the presentation of the Fund’s Forward Commitment Capacity (FCC) to provide a breakdown between precautionary and other Fund commitments.
Gulf Cooperation Council
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Effective liquidity management is important to promote macro-financial stability in the GCC countries. Fixed exchange rate regimes provide credible nominal anchors in the GCC countries, but combined with open capital accounts, they also entail limited monetary policy independence. At the same time, high dependence on hydrocarbon revenue has made the region vulnerable to oil price-driven liquidity swings. And the latter can affect monetary policy implementation, including by exacerbating credit and asset price cycles. This highlights the importance of frameworks aimed at forecasting liquidity and ensuring appropriate liquidity levels through the timely absorption or injection of liquidity by central banks.

Over the past decade, liquidity management in the GCC countries has been based mainly on passive instruments. Abundant liquidity during times of high oil prices have placed liquidity absorption at the center of the central bank operations. Reserve requirements have helped absorb liquidity but have not been used very actively. Standing facilities, another key instrument, are more passive in nature, with the amount of liquidity absorbed or injected driven by banks rather than monetary authorities. Central banks bills or other instruments have also been used, but issuance has not systematically been based on market principles. In addition, these operations have been constrained by limited liquidity forecasting capability and the shallow nature of interbank and domestic debt markets.
Gulf Cooperation Council
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

growth in expenditure, GCC governments have started to implement significant fiscal consolidation measures, but more needs to be done. Rapid population growth and booming oil revenues led to large increases in government spending in the GCC in the decade to 2014, which now stands high by international standards. This expenditure is dominated by compensation of employees and other current spending which are large in percent of GDP compared to Emerging Market (EM) countries and other oil exporters. This keeps overall spending above levels consistent with long-term fiscal sustainability and intergenerational equity.

The international experience with large fiscal adjustments provides some key lessons for GCC countries. This experience suggests that growth outcomes improve when fiscal adjustments are sustained as part of credible multi-year fiscal plans, rely on expenditure more than revenue adjustment, and lead to improvements in expenditure composition (away from current outlays to more productive spending) and the structure of revenue (away from direct to indirect taxation). Successful fiscal adjustments also tend to be part of wider structural reforms that support growth.
Use of Third-Party Indicators in Fund Reports
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Fund staff use indicators developed by other organizations as input into analysis in surveillance and, to a lesser extent, in program work. While the Fund has been able to rely on data and statistics provided by member countries and compiled internally, continued efforts to foster global economic and financial stability require staff to work with indicators drawn from numerous third-party compilers. These indicators of varied qualities are used to measure concepts such as business environment, competitiveness, and quality of governance.

It is anticipated that staff will continue to draw on other institutions’ expertise and estimates. This practice is consistent with the Executive Board’s guidance in areas where internal expertise is lacking or limited. It also puts a premium on staff’s understanding of the third-party indicators (TPIs) used to add analytical value, avoid flawed conclusions and presentation, and support traction with the membership.

This paper outlines a framework to promote best practice with respect to use of TPIs in Fund reports. The framework will apply to all documents that are subject to the Fund’s Transparency Policy. Staff are encouraged to follow similar guidelines for other Fund documents. It draws on lessons from the current practice in the Fund and other selected international organizations (IOs), and insights from the application of an adapted data quality assessment framework (DQAF) to a subset of TPIs commonly used by Fund staff. Common good practices across IOs include the emphasis on staff judgment, review, and consultation with stakeholders.
Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust?2017 Borrowing Agreements with the National Bank Of Belgium and the Swiss National Bank
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

The Fund, as Trustee of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT or Trust), has entered into new borrowing agreements with the National Bank of Belgium (Belgium) and the Swiss National Bank (Switzerland), effective on August 30, 2017. These new borrowing agreements with Belgium and Switzerland provide new resources equivalent to SDR 350 million and SDR 500 million, respectively, for a total amount equivalent to SDR 850 million in new PRGT lending resources.
Eighth Periodic Monitoring Report on the Status of Implementation Plans in Response to Board-Endorsed IEO Recommendations
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Monitoring Report (PMR) on the Status of Management Implementation Plans (MIPs) in Response to Board-Endorsed IEO Recommendations assesses the progress made over the last year on actions contained in the four MIPs arising from recent IEO evaluations, and another four for which individual management actions were classified as still “in progress” in the Seventh PMR. Overall, 34 of the 77 actions included in the eight MIPs covered in this PMR remain open.

Progress on the actions envisaged in the management implementation plans has been somewhat uneven, with more progress being made on the most recent MIPs. Of the 19 actions that have been implemented over the past year, only three relate to the older management actions. Many of the older actions are more broadly worded, and in many instances have no clear timetable. The actions that are progressing more slowly also tend to involve fundamental changes to institutional culture and practices, and therefore require a continuous, long-term effort.

In spite of the slower progress on the older actions, significant advances have been made in several key areas. These include: Fund-wide risk analysis and management; the mainstreaming of macro financial surveillance; training on financial sector topics and macro forecasting; acknowledgement, discussion, and dissemination of information on IMF forecasts; the shift towards increasing reliance on quota resources, relative to borrowing; and the approval of the new Statement of Principles and Best Practices in Self-Evaluation. In addition, the 2015 Staff Survey showed significant improvements in several indicators related to the Fund’s internal culture and institutional values.

Overall, management and staff appear committed to ensuring that open actions remain on track. Progress on all open actions will be assessed in future PMRs.
If Not Now, When? Energy Price Reform in Arab Countries; April 2017 Rabat, Morocco
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Regulating energy prices has been a common practice around the world. The objective is, generally, to facilitate access to energy products, which are central to people’s well-being and countries’ economic development. However, energy price regulation also leads to wasteful and excessive consumption, discourages investment in the energy sector, and locks in inefficient technologies. Low energy prices also result in subsidies that erode fiscal space, while benefits for the poor are limited. All these effects have been evident in Arab countries, where domestic energy prices are among the lowest in the world. The current environment of low oil prices offers a unique opportunity for change. Lessons from international experience suggest how well thought-out and sequenced reforms can be successful.
Effects of three-dimensional electric field on saltation during dust storms: An observational and numerical study
Authors: Zhang Huan , Zhou You-He
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Particle tribo-electrification being ubiquitous in nature and industry, potentially plays a key role in dust events, including the lifting and transport of sand and dust particles. However, the properties of electric field (E-field) and its influences on saltation during dust storms remain obscure as the high complexity of dust storms and the existing numerical studies mainly limited to one-dimensional (1-D) E-field. Here, we quantify the effects of real three-dimensional (3-D) E-field on saltation, through a combination of field observations and numerical modelling. The 3-D E-fields in the sub-meter layer from 0.05 to 0.7 m above the ground during a dust storm are measured at Qingtu Lake Observation Array site. The measured results show that each component of the 3-D E-field data nearly collapses on a single 3-order polynomial curve when normalized. Interestingly, the vertical component of the 3-D E-field increases with increasing height in the saltation layer during dust storms. Such 3-D E-field data close to the ground within a few centimeters has never been reported and formulated before. Using the discrete element method, we then develop a comprehensive saltation model, in which the tribo-electrification between particle-particle midair collisions is explicitly accounted for, allowing us to evaluate the tribo-electrification in saltation properly. By combining the results of measurements and modelling, we find that although the vertical component of the E-field (i.e. 1-D E-field) inhibits sand transport, 3-D E-field enhances sand transport substantially. Furthermore, the model predicts that 3-D E-field enhances the total mass flux by up to 63 %. This suggests that a truly 3-D E-field consideration is necessary if one is to explain precisely how the E-field affects saltation during dust storms. These results will further improve our understanding of particle tribo-electrification in saltation and help to provide more accurate characterizations of sand and dust transport during dust storms.
Impacts of biological nitrogen fixation on N2O emissions from global natural terrestrial ecosystem soils: An Analysis with a process-based biogeochemistry model
Authors: Yu Tong , Zhuang Qianlai
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Biological nitrogen fixation plays an important role in the global nitrogen cycle. However, the fixation rate has been usually measured or estimated at a particular observational site. To quantify the fixation amount at the global scale, a process-based model is needed. This study develops a biological nitrogen fixation model and couples it with an extant biogeochemistry model of N2O emissions to examine the fixation rate and its effects on N2O emissions. The revised N2O emission model better matches the observed data in comparison with our previous model that has not considered the fixation effects. The new model estimates that tropical forests have the highest fixation rate among all ecosystem types, and decrease from the equator to the polar region. The estimated nitrogen fixation in global terrestrial ecosystems is 61.5 Tg N yr−1 with a range of 19.8–107.9 Tg N yr−1 in the 1990s. Our estimates are relatively low compared to some early estimates using empirical approaches, but comparable to more recent estimates that involve more detailed processes in their modeling. Furthermore, we estimate that the fixation contributes to −5 % to 20 % changes in N2O emissions compared to our previous estimates, depending on ecosystem types and climatic conditions. This study highlights that there are relatively large effects of the biological nitrogen fixation on ecosystem nitrogen cycling and soil N2O emissions and calls for more comprehensive understanding of biological nitrogen fixation and more observational data for different ecosystems to improve future quantification of the fixation and its impacts.
A Double Multiple Streamtube model for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines of arbitrary rotor loading
Authors: Ayati Anis A. , Steiros Konstantinos , Miller Mark A. , Duvvuri Subrahmanyam , Hultmark Marcus
Published: August 2019

Abstract. We introduce an improved formulation of the Double Multiple Streamtube (DMST) model for the prediction of the flow quantities of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT). The improvement of the new formulation lies in that it renders the DMST valid for any induction factor, i.e. for any combination of rotor solidity and tip speed ratio. This is done by replacing the Rankine-Froude momentum theory of the DMST, which is invalid for moderate and high induction factors, with a new momentum theory recently proposed, which provides sensible results for any induction factor. The predictions of the two DMST formulations are compared with VAWT power measurements obtained at Princeton's High Reynolds number Test Facility, over a range of tip speed ratios, rotor solidities and Reyonlds numbers, including those experienced by full scale turbines. The results show that the new DMST formulation demonstrates a better overall performance, compared to the conventional one, when the rotor loading is moderate or high.
Interacting, but not contributing: fruitless news crowdsourcing in Spain
Authors: Appelgren Ester , Salaverría Ramón
Published: August 2019

Trusting the audience to contribute data, a practice called crowdsourcing, is one of several procedures of contemporary data journalism. While previous research has embraced the idea of crowdsourcing as a transparent way of engaging the audience, the journalistic practice of crowdsourcing is currently still limited. The Spanish case is particularly illuminating of the gap between theoretical expectations and reality. Although online news media in Spain stands out because of its commitment to exploring interactive possibilities, and its audience is especially prone to comment on news, this qualitative study presents evidence that Spanish data journalists remain quite reluctant to embrace crowdsourcing as a research method. Based on semi-structured interviews with five Spanish data journalists, this paper explains the motivations behind this reluctance as well as the challenges of activating the audience.