bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal turnover of the flora of lake islands: The island of Lake Pamvotis (Epirus, Greece)
Authors: Sarika Maria , Papanikolaou Alexandros , Yannitsaros Artemios , Chitos Theodoros , Panitsa Maria
Published: August 2019

Lake Pamvotis is one of the Balkan "ancient" lakes, a Quaternary refugium of great environmental importance and ecological value, that is under various anthropogenic pressures. It belongs to a Natura 2000 Special Area for Conservation and Special Protection Area. Almost in the middle of the lake, there is an inhabited island - one of the two lake islands in Greece – that also attracts touristic interest. Τhe main objectives of the present study are to provide a floristic inventory of the protected island, combining data of two different sampling periods, within a 25 year interval, in order to estimate temporal beta diversity and species turnover of the island’s plant diversity. The value of the absolute and relative turnover rates of the floristic diversity of the island studied are 4.24 and 1.72, respectively and are amongst the higher rates reported for plants. The absolute difference between extinct (E) and immigrant (l) taxa is to a great extent accounted, concerning life forms, by therophytes (1.86), hemicryptophytes (1.56) and geophytes (1.04) and, for habitats, by taxa preferring agricultural and ruderal forms (2.52).
The Development of Single-Document Abstractive Text Summarizer During the Last Decade
Authors: Al-Numai Amal M. , Azmi Aqil M.
Published: August 2019

As the number of electronic text documents is increasing so is the need for an automatic text summarizer. The summary can be extractive, compression, or abstractive. In the former, the more important sentences are retained, more or less in their original structure, while the second one involves reducing the length of each sentence. For the latter, it requires a fusion of multiple sentences and/or paraphrasing. This chapter focuses on the abstractive text summarization (ATS) of a single text document. The study explores what ATS is. Additionally, the literature of the field of ATS is investigated. Different datasets and evaluation techniques used in assessing the summarizers are discussed. The fact is that ATS is much more challenging than its extractive counterpart, and as such, there are a few works in this area for all the languages.
Summarization in the Financial and Regulatory Domain
Authors: Leidner Jochen L.
Published: August 2019

This chapter presents an introduction to automatic summarization techniques with special consideration of the financial and regulatory domains. It aims to provide an entry point to the field for readers interested in natural language processing (NLP) who are experts in the finance and/or regulatory domain, or to NLP researchers who would like to learn more about financial and regulatory applications. After introducing some core summarization concepts and the two domains are considered, some key methods and systems are described. Evaluation and quality concerns are also summarized. To conclude, some pointers for future reading are provided.
A Systematic Literature Review on Risk Assessment and Mitigation Approaches in Requirement Engineering
Authors: Chandani Priyanka , Gupta Chetna
Published: August 2019

Risk assessment and management practice is an organized way to identify, analyze, and assess the impacts of risks and mitigate them when they arise. Risk can occur in any phase of software development and is a significant step for better supervision of threats. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze existing risk assessment and management techniques from a historical perspective that address and study risk management and perception of risk. The chapter presents extensive summary of existing literature on various techniques and approaches related to requirements defects, defect taxonomy, its classification, and its potential impact on software development as the main contributions of this research work. The primary objective of this study was to present a systematic literature review of techniques/methods/tools for risk assessment and management. This research successfully identifies and discovers existing risk assessment and management techniques, their limitations, taxonomies, processes, and identifies possible improvements for better defect identification and prevention.
A “La” Shape Antenna for High Frequencies Applications
Authors: Saxena Anurag
Published: August 2019

In this chapter, a ‘ला' shape antenna for high frequencies is designed which has been simulated under CST software using copper material (i.e., FR-4). The dielectric constant of this material is 4.4. The return loss of ‘ला' shaped antenna is -28 dB at 6.774 giga-hertz and -19 dB at 7.7 GHz resonant frequencies. It covers the bandwidth from 6.555 GHz to 7.122 GHz and 7.38 GHz to 8.07 GHz. In this chapter, simulated results like polarization, smith chart, return loss graph, 2-D pattern, 3-D pattern, and polar plot are presented.
A Hammer Type Textile Antenna With Partial Circle Ground for Wide-Band Application
Authors: Saxena Anurag , Khare Bharat Bhushan
Published: August 2019

In this chapter, a partial circle ground textile patch antenna for wideband applications with better bandwidth is presented. The simulated antenna is proposed on textile jeans substrate having dielectric constant of 1.7. The radius of textile jeans substrate antenna is 15 mm. The overall simulation of partial circle grounded shaped antenna has been done using CST simulation tool. The simulated antenna resonates at frequency 9.285 GHz with the reflection coefficient of -28 dB. It covers a bandwidth from 7.008 GHz to 9.64 GHz. It has maximum directivity of 4.540 dBi.
Instructional Technology an Effective Panacea for Dynamic Education Transformation in Learning
Authors: Olusola Ogunlade Bamidele
Published: August 2019

The chapter appraised the effectiveness of instructional technology in learning environment. The application of instructional technology will impact positively in a group context within given environment to satisfying the needs of the learners. Thus, the integration of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in teaching and learning of general studies. A sample of 120 students were drawn from the students in Veritas University Abuja using simple random sampling techniques. One research question and three hypotheses were stated to guide the study. The instrument used was instructional technology on students performance test (ITSPT) to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to answer the research question, while ANOVA and ANCOVA were used for hypotheses. The study revealed that when lecturer used instructional technology in general studies this will significantly enhance their understanding of general studies. It is recommended that to make learning meaningful, a lecturer should always integrate instructional technologies in their classroom to enhance the understanding of general studies effectively.
Quality Management Systems in Sub-Sahara Africa Business Schools
Authors: Randa Isaac Okoth
Published: August 2019

In Africa globalization and massification of higher education have aided the establishment of foreign and private business schools across the continent. Concomitantly, quality and accountability issues have taken center stage regarding quality of business schools' programs. The dire situation of scarce quality management talent in the continent emphasizes the need for an overarching systemic approach for developing quality management education in the continent. This chapter descriptively investigates existing Sub-Sahara Africa Business Schools' quality management systems using documentary secondary data on purposively selected business schools aimed at identifying an integrated quality management system. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) and the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model, are widely used frameworks for TQM implementation. It is argued that business schools seeking AABS accreditation could benefit if they also implement elements of ISO-9001, a TQM based quality management system as a foundation for continuous improvement.
Barriers for Quality Management Implementation in Higher Education
Authors: Dzingirai Mufaro
Published: August 2019

To survive in a highly-competitive higher education sector, institutions of higher learning are focusing on quality management principles. Therefore, a strong need emerges for a deeper understanding of quality management. Despite a substantial, growing interest from scholars, policymakers, and educationalists in quality management as a common phenomenon in higher education, many obstacles remain in the implementation process. This chapter captures the worldwide quality issues and a controversy related to implementation of quality management in higher education, identifies the barriers for successful implementation of quality management in higher education, reviews the key barriers that deter the efforts to effectively execute quality management in higher education so that quality management strategies can be formulated by the top management and policymakers accordingly, and presents directions for future research.
Rating Assessment of Students' Knowledge vis-a-vis Rating Evaluation of University Teachers
Authors: Burdenko Elena Viktorovna
Published: August 2019

This chapter focuses on the problem of assessing the quality of higher education. It has been identified that the quality assessment of higher education consists of external and internal assessment of educational services quality. External assessment of educational services quality is carried out by all economic entities that are consumers. Internal assessment of educational services quality should be carried out by the university itself. For these purposes, the university develops a quality management system and organizes a department responsible for organizing and monitoring the quality of educational services. Internal assessment of educational services quality includes such parameters as the quality of student training and the quality of teaching at university. A rating assessment of students' knowledge is developed at university to control the quality of students' training. A rating assessment of the university academic staff is carried out to maintain the quality of teaching.
We Are All Digital Tourists, but Are All Digital Tourists the Same?
Authors: González-Reverté Francesc , Liviano-Solís Daniel
Published: August 2019

As the sharing economy is transforming the profile, preferences, and expectations of travel and tourism demand, technology becomes an essential element in understanding how tourists change their behavior and consumption patterns. The digital nature of tourism is determined by 1) analogical by digital tourism useful equipment (TUE), 2) a high acceptance of technology, and 3) a high assessment of the tourist experience obtained through mobile devices (MD). Using a sample of 450 tourists in Barcelona, this chapter tries to identify profiles of digital tourists with different degrees of TUE usage. Findings show that digital tourists are characterized by the combination of the use of MD with other TUE. This method could be of great value for managers that want to gain understanding of the characteristics of digital tourists. The study makes a contribution by proposing a classification of digital tourists based on the use of technology supporting the tourist experience. Besides, different patterns of tourist behavior are distinguished depending on the use they make of their mobile devices.
New Economy, E-Commerce Businesses, and E-Businesses
Authors: Yaşlıoğlu Duygu Toplu
Published: August 2019

Electronic commerce and electronic business concepts are highly researched in recent management literature. Network economy has revealed e-commerce, a new trade route that is carried out over the interlinked computers and mobile devices. E-commerce is a method used by almost all businesses that are physically processing. Therefore, there should be a significant distinction between e-business and e-commerce. With the development of e-commerce, new ways of doing business have emerged. Thus, many e-commerce companies have emerged, traditional businesses have started trading in electronic networks, and new business models have begun to be created in digital environments. In order to understand how e-businesses make money, many business models have been studied. For this reason, the concept of business model in the new economy and the transformation of business models into e-business models are examined. In line with this, it is aimed in this chapter to examine e-businesses, to clarify e-business models, and to explain e-commerce types and e-business model types in detail, with examples.
A Proposed Partnership Model for University Libraries in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chiparausha Blessing , Chisita Collence Takaingenhamo
Published: August 2019

Literature suggests that partnerships among libraries are important as they help with resource sharing and cost-cutting in the areas of expertise, information and communication technologies, library resources, subscriptions, publications, and library space. The chapter explores the literature on how libraries have been partnering for strategic reasons. Challenges and opportunities related to partnerships were also identified. The article seeks to find out whether there is a need to conduct further studies on the reception of the proposed Creative Library Partnership model by ZULC. Borrowing from success stories realized elsewhere, the authors make recommendations for the Zimbabwe University Libraries Consortium (ZULC) and other library consortia to adopt the Creative Library Partnership model. A follow-up survey asks: how Zimbabwe university libraries have been partnering, challenges, and opportunities associated with those partnerships.
Promoting Open Educational Resources Through Library Portals in South African Universities
Authors: Mncube Lancelord Siphamandla
Published: August 2019

In the South African context, there is still a lack of development of OER, and it is not well noted if library portals are a relevant place for hosting OER. There is a significance need for further scientific investigation about the appropriate channels of hosting OER in library portals. To further investigate the problem, this study opted for website content analysis to determine if library portals within the academic libraries accommodate OER in their portals. Out of 26 Institutions, so far only three institutions have accommodated OER in their repositories. This study concludes that policymakers and academics should play a significant role in engagement in promotion of OER to higher education institutions' digital libraries. This chapter concludes that library portals should strive to keep up with international initiative of openness. This study recommend that all South African universities and their academic library portals should have a common OER TAB (space) within the institutional repository.
The Role of the Librarian in the Research Life Cycle
Authors: Chigwada Josiline Phiri
Published: August 2019

This chapter documents the role that is played by the librarians in the research life cycle and how they collaborate with researchers. Initially, librarians were regarded as service people who provide research support services during the research process. A literature review was done to unpack how this role was affected by the digital technologies and examine the partnering role that is now being displayed by librarians. It was noted that although there are some challenges that are encountered, researchers are collaborating with librarians from idea generation to the dissemination of research findings and evaluating the impact of the research. It was recommended that librarians should move along with these changes and should continuously develop themselves so that they are aware of the services that they are supposed to provide during the research process.
Examination of the Relationship Between Perceived Risk for Private Label Products and Consumers' Personality Traits
Authors: Semiz Buket Bora
Published: August 2019

This chapter aims at demonstrating the relationship between perceived risk for private label products and consumer's personality traits. Because of that reason, the data was collected from 462 respondents who bought and used a private label food product at least one time in Bilecik between 15 March and 01 April 2019. This data was collected via convenience sampling methods. According to the findings, perceived risk for private label products and consumer's personality traits are statistically significant. There is a statistically significant relationship between perceived risk for private label products and consumer's personality traits.
The Impact of Private Label Brand Personality Perception on Consumers' Buying Intentions
Authors: Cinar Dilaysu
Published: August 2019

The aim of this research is to demonstrate the impact of private label brand personality perception on consumers' buying intentions. For that reason, it has been made in order to reveal which type of brand personality dimension is more effective on purchasing of private label product. For this purpose, the research has been carried out between October 2018 and January 2019 in Istanbul and 516 respondents have been interviewed by using convenience sampling method. In this context, it is concluded that there is no statistically significant difference was found between perceived brand sincerity, perceived brand excitement and buying intention of private label product. On the other hand, it has been found that there is a statistically significant relationship with perceived brand competence, perceived brand sophistication, and perceived brand ruggedness and buying intention of private label product.
Effect of Mo Addition on Room and High Temperature Tensile Behavior of Al-Si-Cu-Mg Alloy in As-Cast and Heat-Treated Conditions
Authors: Zamani Mohammadreza , Toschi Stefania , Morri Alessandro , Ceschini Lorella , Seifeddine Salem
Published: August 2019

This study focuses on the role of Mo addition on the mechanical properties of an Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy in as-cast and heat-treated condition at ambient and elevated temperature. Addition of 0.4 to 0.6 wt.% Mo forms Mo-bearing dispersoid particles which have a relatively high melting point and improve high temperature tensile strength. Ductility suffered in the presence of Mo-bearing particles. Trace addition of Mo up to 0.6 wt.% has a negligible influence on the yield strength and hardness of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy in as-cast and heat-treated conditions at ambient temperature and 250 °C.
Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Functionally Graded Material Plate under Transverse Loading for Varying Volume Gradation
Authors: Shah Vyom , Shah Darshita , Shah Dhaval B.
Published: August 2019

Functionally graded material (FGM) has a unique design in which material properties vary smoothly and continuously which leads to having better thermal and mechanical performance. Functionally graded material has a wide area of application from the pressure vessel to aerospace due to its tailoring properties. The main emphasis has been made here, to present a structural mechanical and steady-state thermal analysis of functionally graded flat plate made up of aluminum and ceramic. The flat plate is subjected to various boundary and loading condition. Material properties of FGM is calculated across the thickness using power law with the help of MATLAB programming. An analysis is performed for various volume gradation using MACROS in ANSYS APDL. The analysis results for functionally graded materials are compared with a composite sandwich plate for the same boundary conditions. It was found that von-Mises stress generated in FGM is 14.6% less than compared to sandwich structure, the stress in x and y-direction is 16.5% less, XY-Shear is 13.5% less and deflection is 33% less than a sandwich plate of aluminum and ceramic.
The effect of posture on ventilatory muscle function and lung function
Authors: Gounden P.
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of posture on ventilatory muscle strength and on lung function.Maximum static inspiratory pressures (MIPS), maximum static expiratory pressures (MEPS) and lung function measurements (FVC, FEV1, PEFR) were obtained in three different body positions in 57 normal subjects and in 16 asthmatic patients.Statistical analysis of the data obtained showed that changes in position influence the ventilatory muscle function and lung function values.The sitting lean forward and the sitting erect positions were the better positions in the normal group. The findings revealed that the sitting lean forward position was the optimum position for the asthmatic group (p 0,001).
Apoptosis gene reprograming of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by radioiodine-131 (131I) irradiation
Authors: Li Jian-Fang , Xie Liang-Jun , Qin Lu-Ping , Liu Yi-Fei , Zhang Ting-Jie , Huang Yong , Cheng Mu-Hua
Published: August 2019

Background & objectives:

The nature of adaptable change of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) and/or Bcl2-associated X protein (BAX) gene expression in the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) irradiated by radioiodine in thyroid diseases therapy is not fully understood. In this study, the alternation of apoptotic gene expression was evaluated while the PBMCs collected from healthy volunteers were irradiated by the radioiodine-131 (131I).

Methods:

Fasting blood samples were obtained from healthy volunteers. PBMCs from group 0 to 6 were incubated and exposed to different doses of 131I in cell suspension for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. The apoptosis rates and expression of BCL-2 and BAX genes of PBMCs were examined.

Results:

The apoptosis rate in the human PBMCs was gradually enhanced after six hour irradiation. The values of BCL-2 and BAX gene expression in groups 1-6 were higher than in group 0 within 6 h of irradiation, and then, these were decreased gradually from 6 to 12 h. BCL-2 gene expression increased in groups 1-3 after 12 h irradiation, but there was no difference in groups 4-6. The ratio of BCL-2/BAX gene expression among groups 4-6 gradually decreased during the period from 6 to 12 h, and it was significantly lower than in the group 0 at 12, 24 and 48 h.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The expression of BCL-2 and BAX genes was initially upregulated following irradiation. Later, the balance of BCL-2/BAX genes expression was adjusted, and then, PBMCs underwent apoptosis at higher doses of radiation.
Cloning, expression & evaluation of potential immunogenic recombinant capsid premembrane protein of West Nile virus
Authors: Kumar Jyoti S. , Rathinam Sivakumar , Karothia Divanyshi , Parida Manmohan
Published: August 2019

Background & objectives:

West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic flavivirus that has emerged globally as a significant cause of viral encephalitis. The early confirmatory diagnosis of WNV infections is important for timely clinical management and in areas where multiple flaviviruses are endemic. Diagnosis of WNV infection is primarily based on serodiagnosis, followed by virus isolation and identification. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a highly sensitive and specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) ELISA using the recombinant CprM protein (rWNV-CprM) for rapid, early and accurate diagnosis of WNV.

Methods:

The gene coding for the CprM protein of WNV was cloned and expressed in pET 28a vector followed by purification. An indirect IgM microplate ELISA using purified rWNV-CprM protein was optimized having no cross-reactivity with healthy human serum and serum samples obtained from patients with dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses infection.

Results:

The comparative evaluation of this rWNV-CprM protein-specific IgM ELISA with plaque reduction neutralization test using 105 blood samples collected from patients suspected to have acute WNV infection revealed 98 per cent concordance with sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 97 per cent, respectively.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The recombinant CprM protein-based WNV-specific ELISA reported in this study may be useful for rapid screening of large numbers of blood samples in endemic areas during outbreaks.
Paediatric chronic myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Pushpam Deepam , Bakhshi Sameer
Published: August 2019

Paediatric chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) has biological and clinical differences from adult CML. Management of paediatric CML presents unique challenges in growing children, and there are no specific guidelines for paediatric CML. This review focusses on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic issues and management of paediatric CML. Major studies that provide the basis of managing paediatric CML are summerized here. Studies conducted on adult CML patients were used to guide the management of places where studies were lacking in paediatric CML. Recently, dasatinib and nilotinib have been approved for treatment of paediatric CML, and their role has been discussed in the current management perspective. Allogeneic transplant, fertility and vaccination in paediatric CML, have also been discussed.
Conditions aux limites pour le modèle du drainage de sables en une et deux dimensions
Authors: Esrael Daoud , Laafar Amin , Kacem Mariem , Benadda Belkacem
Published: August 2019

The study of soil pollution and treatment need a good knowledge of hydrodynamic properties. Therefore, models and drainage experiences are commonly used. In order to valid the models, boundary conditions are required. Drainage modelling in sand has been performed and compared with experimental results obtained in one-dimension column (1D) and in two-dimension pilot (2D). Comparison was established by testing different boundary conditions at the device outlet and by using concordance indicators. The studied experimental results are : outlet flow, cumulated volume at the pilot outlet, hydraulic load values and saturation at different levels of the pilot. Experiments indicate that a Neumann condition at the outlet is more suitable than a Dirichlet constant pressure condition whether for 1D or 2D experiences.

L’étude de la pollution/dépollution des sols nécessite une bonne connaissance de leurs propriétés hydrodynamiques. Pour ce faire, l’utilisation de modèles et d’expériences de drainage constitue un outil couramment utilisé. Afin de valider les modèles, il est nécessaire de fixer des conditions aux limites (CL). La modélisation du drainage dans un milieu sableux a été effectuée et confrontée à des résultats d’expériences obtenus en colonne à une dimension (1D) et en pilote à deux dimensions (2D). La comparaison est réalisée en testant différentes CL à la sortie du dispositif et avec l’utilisation d’indicateurs de concordance. Les résultats expérimentaux étudiés sont ceux du débit de sortie, le volume cumulé à la sortie, les valeurs de la charge hydraulique et de la saturation à différents points des dispositifs. Les tests ont montré qu’une condition de sortie de type Neumann était plus adéquate qu’une condition de pression constante de type Dirichlet, que ce soit dans le cas d’une expérience en 1D ou en 2D.
Failure Management Approaches and Public Service Quality: Empirical Evidence from Serbia
Authors: Milanović Nemanja , Milosavljević Miloš , Milošević Nela
Published: August 2019

Failure of public services has been a vividly debated topic in both theory and practice of public administration. Surprisingly, only a handful of scholarly papers have empirically examined the failure management practices and provided any useful tools and techniques for managing the failure. The aim of this paper is to explore the ways in which central government administration manages the failure and how it affects the quality of their services. The study collected 568 responses from the political appointees and career civil servants across a wide range of ministries and central government agencies in the Republic of Serbia. The results indicate that the analysis of failure plays a pivotal role in the learning process and ultimately leads to the improvement of public service quality.
The Nostalgianomics and Living Preference in Slovakia
Authors: Murray Svidroňová Mária , Cole David , Gubalová Jolana
Published: August 2019

The paper is focused on town planning from different point of view thancurrent urban and economic development which stresses the need of building metropolises and smart cities as a cure for urban problems. The paper is a counter-balance to this statement, especially in the conditions of Slovakia. The objective of this paper is to analyse living preferences of 496 respondents and to discuss a new term of nostalgianomics. Nostalgianomics explains that nostalgic sentiment can be used as an economic and creative force, as an incentive for investment, housing and urban planning. Main conclusion proves this statement, most respondents chose a place to live that is less crowded and less urban.
International Fiscal-financial Spillovers
Authors: Choi Sangyup , Furceri Davide , Yoon Chansik
Published: August 2019

This paper sheds new light on the degree of international fiscal-financial spillovers by investigating the effect of domestic fiscal policies on cross-border bank lending. By estimating the dynamic response of U.S. cross-border bank lending towards the 45 recipient countries to exogenous domestic fiscal shocks (both measured by spending and revenue) between 1990Q1 and 2012Q4, we find that expansionary domestic fiscal shocks lead to a statistically significant increase in cross-border bank lending. The magnitude of the effect is also economically significant: the effect of 1 percent of GDP increase (decrease) in spending (revenue) is comparable to an exogenous decline in the federal funds rate. We also find that fiscal shocks tend to have larger effects during periods of recessions than expansions in the source country, and that the adverse effect of a fiscal consolidation is larger than the positive effect of the same size of a fiscal expansion. In contrast, we do not find systematic and statistically significant differences in the spillover effects across recipient countries depending on their exchange rate regime, although capital controls seem to play some moderating role. The extension of the analysis to a panel of 16 small open economies confirms the finding from the U.S. economy.
Public Investment in Bolivia
Authors: Endegnanew Yehenew , Tessema Dawit
Published: August 2019

Bolivia’s “Patriotic Agenda 2025” sets targets for social and economic development propelled by state-led industrialization under a five-year development plan (2016–2020). Large-scale public investment has aimed to fill infrastructure gaps and raise productivity to ensure sustained medium-term growth. Pursuit of these goals in a period of lower hydrocarbon revenues has, however, contributed to widening fiscal and external current account deficits. The paper uses a structural model to outline different scenarios for the level of public investment in the face of declining hydrocarbon revenues. It finds that if public investment is sustained at current levels as a share of GDP while hydrocarbon revenues continue to decline, the sustainability of the public debt could be called into question.
Criteria for Broadening the SDR Currency Basket
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

The paper explores the pros and cons of maintaining the current “freely usable currency” criterion, and clarifies indicators for assessing it. The freely usable concept and its two key elements—currencies should be "widely used" and "widely traded"—are set out in the Articles and serve important operational purposes. A formal requirement for a currency to be freely usable was adopted for SDR valuation only in 2000, although considerations relating to this concept had been taken into account earlier. Indicators for assessing freely usable currencies were first discussed in 1977, and are updated to reflect subsequent developments in financial markets and data availability. The paper suggests as indicators for "wide use" the currency composition of foreign exchange reserves, international debt securities, and international bank liabilities; and for "wide trading" it proposes foreign exchange spot market turnover.
Modernizing the Framework for Fiscal Policy and Public Debt Sustainability Analysis
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Modernizing the framework for fiscal policy and public debt sustainability analysis (DSA) has become necessary, particularly in light of the recent crisis and rising sustainability concerns in some advanced economies. While recognizing the inherently challenging nature of such analysis, this paper highlights areas where improvements are needed and makes both general and specific proposals on how this could be achieved. It also proposes to move to a risk-based approach to DSAs for all market-access countries, where the depth and extent of analysis would be commensurate with concerns regarding sustainability, while a reasonable level of standardization would be maintained.
Amendment of the Instrument to Establish the SCA-1/Deferred Charges Administered Account - Extension of Termination Date
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

To help fulfill its purposes, the International Monetary Fund (the “Fund”) has adopted this Instrument to establish the SCA-1/Deferred Charges Administered Account in accordance with Article V, Section 2(b) (the “Account”), which shall be governed and administered by the Fund in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Instrument.
Assessing Reserve Adequacy
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

The dramatic increase in reserves holdings over the past decade has resumed since the global financial crisis, even at an accelerated pace. While the crisis has heightened perceptions of the importance of holding adequate reserves, there is little consensus on what constitutes an adequate level from a precautionary perspective: traditional metrics are narrowly-based and often provide conflicting signals; while newer approaches tend to be hostage to stylized modeling assumptions and calibrations. As a result, assessments tend to rely on comparisons with peers, probably amplifying the upward trend as perceived needs rise in line with actual holdings.
The SDR Interest Rate Basket--Proposed Change of the Representative Interest Rate for the Euro and Amendment to Rule T-1(C)
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

The three-month Eurepo interest rate, the euro component of the SDR interest rate basket, will be discontinued as of the end of 2014. The three-month Eurepo rate, administered by the European Money Market Institute (EMMI), has been the representative interest rate instrument of the euro area in the SDR interest rate basket since 2006. However, faced with a significant shrinking in the number of banks participating in the rate-setting panel, the EMMI announced last month that the Eurepo interest rate will be discontinued after December 31, 2014.

This paper proposes to replace the three-month Eurepo rate in the SDR interest rate basket with a transactions-based three-month interest rate. Staff has consulted with the European Central Bank (ECB), which recommends to replace the Eurepo rate with a three-month spot rate derived from the secondary market yield curve covering euro area government bonds rated either investment grade or AA and above. In staff’s view, the latter option (AA and above) would be most comparable to the other instruments in the SDR interest rate basket and would have characteristics that are most consistent with previous Board guidance for selection of financial instruments in the SDR basket. The proposed change would be implemented by an amendment to Rule T-1(c), requiring a 70 percent majority of the total voting power.
Progress Report on the Activities of the Independent Evaluation Office
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This progress report presents key conclusions and recommendations from an IEO evaluation of the IMF’s response to the global financial and economic crisis and an update of the IEO evaluation of the IMF’s approach to capital account liberalization, both issued since October 2014. It also describes ongoing IEO activities.
Review of the Fund's Income Position for FY 2015 and FY 2016
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

FY 2015 net income is now projected at SDR 1.5 billion. Lending continues to be the main source of income, although advance repurchases have lowered projected lending income in FY 2015 by SDR 0.3 billion. Investment income remains constrained in the low interest environment but the returns were somewhat stronger than projected. A revaluation of pension obligations, required under accounting standard IAS 19 and stemming from a further fall in the discount rate, is projected to entail an adjustment to FY 2015 net income of about SDR 0.8 billion.

The paper proposes that GRA net income of SDR 1.3 billion, which excludes the retained earnings of the gold endowment, be placed to the special reserve.* After the placement to reserves, precautionary balances are projected at SDR 14.0 billion at the end of FY 2015.

The paper further proposes to retain currencies available for transfer to the Investment Account in the GRA, pending completion later this year of the Board’s review of the mandate for the Fixed-Income Subaccount.
2016 Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust - Review of Interest Rate Structure
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

This paper reviews the interest rate structure that would apply to the PRGT in 2017–18. Based on the interest rate setting mechanism agreed in 2009, the interest rate for the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) would be zero and the rate for the Standby Credit Facility (SCF) would be 0.25 percent. The interest rate for the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) was set permanently at zero in July 2015.

Since the current mechanism was agreed, the Executive Board has granted successive exceptional interest waivers on all outstanding Fund concessional credit, setting all interest rates charged at zero percent. These waivers have been extended three times, providing interest rate relief to many low-income countries at a time when they faced considerable headwinds from the global economic environment.

A strong case remains for maintaining zero rates on Fund concessional credit at the current global economic juncture. The global outlook for LICs has not significantly improved since the last review and downside risks remain significant. At the same time, many Directors noted at the last review in 2014 that the possibility of a prolonged period of very low interest rates warrants an early re-examination of the mechanism, including an exit strategy from repeated application of the waiver, with the objective of safeguarding the self-sustaining capacity of the PRGT.

The paper seeks to respond to this call. It proposes that the PRGT interest rate mechanism be amended to accommodate anomalies created by a prolonged period of very low interest rates. Specifically, a new threshold is proposed whereby both the ECF and the SCF rate would be set at zero when the 12-month average SDR rate is less than or equal to 0.75 percent. This proposal will likely keep all PRGT interest rates under the mechanism at zero through at least 2020 given current market expectations while incurring only minimal subsidy costs and eliminating the need for continual waivers. In addition, staff proposes to waive interest rate charges on outstanding legacy balances under the Exogenous Shocks Facility (ESF), which are not determined via the interest rate mechanism, until the next review.
Staff Note for the G20 - The Role of the SDR - Initial Considerations
Authors:   International Monetary Fund
Published: August 2019

Following the recent diagnostic of the international monetary system (IMS), the IMF will explore whether a broader role for the SDR could contribute to its smooth functioning. The economic rationale for or against broader use of the SDR will be examined, focusing in particular on identifying any gaps and market failures the SDR could help address in light of the increasingly multi-polar nature of the global economy and growing financial interconnectedness.

This note sets out some initial considerations on this matter. The note sketches some key issues bearing on the role of the SDR in each of three concepts: (i) the official SDR, or “O-SDR”, the composite reserve asset issued and administered by the IMF; (ii) SDR-denominated financial market instruments, or “M-SDRs,” which could be both issued and held by any parties; and (iii) the SDR as a unit of account.

M-SDRs reduce foreign exchange and interest rate risk relative to single-currency instruments, but there are some drawbacks and challenges. The basket nature of M-SDRs would allow the volatility of returns to be lower than for a similar singlecurrency instrument.
However, the SDR only represents one of many possible sets of portfolio weights, and issuers or investors could use existing instruments to replicate their preferred weights at a relatively low cost. There are also challenges to market development, including settling and clearing of M-SDR transactions, dealing with potential basket redefinition, and fostering secondary market trading in order to generate liquidity and market depth.

There are potential benefits to using the SDR as a unit of account, which have to be weighed against other considerations. Publishing economic statistics and financial statements in SDR terms could help users identify valuation changes. Statistical authorities would need to invest in communicating the rationale for any change in practices.

While the official SDR under its current framework is not playing a significant role in the IMS, a re-examination of its role is expected to inform whether any specific reform options should be pursued. The evolution of the IMS has given rise to an active debate on how much concern is posed by high rates of reserve accumulation, global imbalances, and rising claims on reserve issuers, and on whether the O-SDR could contribute to addressing these issues.
Review of the Fund's Strategy on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Legal Dept.
Published: August 2019

The staff report provides an overview of the Fund's AML/CFT program, since the last review conducted in 2014 and seeks the endorsement of the Executive Board to continue on the basis of the directions given in 2014, with one minor adjustment proposed in relation to Fund-led AML/CFT assessments.
The Impacts of Biomass Burning Activities on Convective Systems in the Maritime Continent
Authors: Lee Hsiang-He , Wang Chien
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Convective precipitation associated with Sumatra squall lines and diurnal rainfall over Borneo is an important weather feature of Maritime Continent in Southeast Asia. Over the past few decades, biomass burning activities have been widespread during summertime over this region, producing massive fire aerosols. These additional aerosols brought to the atmosphere, besides influencing local radiation budget through directly scattering and absorbing sunlight, can also act as cloud condensation nuclei or ice nuclei to alter convective clouds and precipitation in the Maritime Continent via the so-called aerosol indirect effects. Based on four-month simulations with or without biomass burning aerosols conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with chemistry package (WRF-Chem), we have investigated the aerosol-cloud interactions associated with the biomass burning aerosols in the Maritime Continent. Results from selected cases of convective events have shown significant impacts of fire aerosols on the weak convections in hydrometeors and rainfall amount either in the Sumatra or Borneo region. Statistical analysis over the fire season also suggests that fire aerosols have substantial impacts on the nocturnal convections associated with the local anticyclonic circulation in the western Borneo. In addition, near surface heating from absorbing aerosols emitted from fires could weaken land breezes and thus the convergence of anticyclonic circulation. Therefore, the rainfall intensity of the nocturnal convections has been significantly decreased during the fire events.
AMPERE Polar Cap Boundaries
Authors: Burrell Angeline G. , Chisham Gareth , Milan Stephen E. , Kilcommons Liam , Chen Yun-Ju , Thomas Evan G. , Anderson Brian
Published: August 2019

Abstract. The high latitude atmosphere is a dynamic region with processes that respond to forcing from the Sun, magnetosphere, neutral atmosphere, and ionosphere. Historically, the dominance of magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions has motivated upper atmospheric studies to use magnetic coordinates when examining magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling processes. However, there are significant differences between the dominant interactions within the polar cap, auroral oval, and equatorward of the auroral oval. Organising data relative to these boundaries has been shown to improve climatological and statistical studies, but the process of doing so is complicated by the shifting nature of the auroral oval and the difficulty in measuring its poleward and equatorward boundaries. This study presents a new set of open-closed magnetic field line boundaries (OCBs) obtained from Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) magnetic perturbation data. AMPERE observations of field aligned currents (FACs) are used to determine the location of the boundary between the Region 1 (R1) and Region 2 (R2) FAC systems. This current boundary is thought to typically lie a few degrees equatorward of the OCB, making it a good candidate for obtaining OCB locations. The AMPERE R1/R2 boundaries are compared to the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program Special Sensor J (DMSP SSJ) electron energy flux boundaries to test this hypothesis and determine the best estimate of the systematic offset between the R1/R2 boundary and the OCB as a function of magnetic local time. These calibrated boundaries, as well as OCBs obtained from Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) observations, are validated using simultaneous observations of the convection reversal boundary measured by DMSP. The validation shows that the OCBs from IMAGE and AMPERE may be used together in statistical studies, providing the basis of a long-term data set that can be used to separate observations originating inside and outside of the polar cap.
Explosive instability due to flow over a rippled bottom
Authors: Guha Anirban , Raj Raunak
Published: August 2019

Abstract. In this paper, we study Bragg resonance, i.e., the triad interaction between surface and/or interfacial waves with a bottom ripple, in the presence of background velocity. We show that when one of the constituent waves of the triad has negative energy, the amplitudes of all the waves grow exponentially. This is very different from classic Bragg resonance in which one wave decays to cause the growth of the other. The instabilities we observe are “explosive” and are different from normal mode shear instabilities since our velocity profiles are linearly stable. Our work may explain the existence of large-amplitude internal waves over periodic bottom ripples in the presence of tidal flow observed in oceans and estuaries.