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Due to the complexity and diversity of infectious diseases, diagnosis based solely on symptoms and imaging manifestations is associated with a high rate of misdiagnosis, so it is particularly important to find reliable and accurate biomarkers. Four inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL‐6, PCT and SAA) have different manifestations and roles in different infectious diseases and stages of infection, and the diagnosis and identification of infectious diseases can be realized through quantitative analysis of these four biomarkers simultaneously. In this study, we developed a colloidal gold nanoparticle (AuNP)‐based multiplex LFA strip using eight highly‐sensitive monoclonal antibodies that simultaneously detected CRP, IL‐6, PCT and SAA in serum within 15 min. And quantitative analysis was achieved with a portable strip reader, the LODs were 2.5 μg/mL, 25.3 pg/mL 0.87 ng/mL and 8.8 μg/mL for CRP, IL‐6, PCT and SAA, while detection ranges were 2.5–200 μg/mL, 25.3–8000 pg/mL 0.87–100 ng/mL and 8.8–200 μg/mL. Moreover, the quantitative colloidal gold assay correlated well with the results of a chemiluminescence immunoassay when testing clinical serum samples. Our developed method was reliable and accurate according to the recovery test results. Therefore, the strip can be used as an alternative method for the simultaneous monitoring of CRP, IL‐6, PCT and SAA in serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant development in the electronic commerce market has led to new issues in commerce in general and e-commerce in particular, especially in the trade of purchasing gold with paper currency. Therefore, it has become necessary to explore the Islamic rulings related to this type of trade. The research aims to: • Clarify the Islamic ruling on purchasing gold with paper currency through the internet. • Examine the principles that determine the ruling on purchasing gold with paper currency through the internet. • Describe the various methods of purchasing gold with paper currency through the internet. Research Methodology: Inductive and analytical methods. Among the most prominent findings of the researcher are: • Money is anything that is generally accepted in trading, used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, and a store of wealth. • There are three types of money: commodity money, metallic money, and paper money. The first to use paper money were the Chinese. • It is permissible to purchase gold with paper currency with the authorization of receipt at the time of the contract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amazonian tropical forests host the highest bat diversity in South America. The central area Brazilian Amazon encompasses one of the largest pristine areas within this biome, where Amanã and Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserves (SDRs) are located. These two reserves hold the status of Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation due to their high biological relevance. The aim of this study was to identify the bat species richness within these SDRs to minimize the Wallacean shortfall of the chiropterofauna in the Amazon. A total of 274 specimens, collected 20 years ago and housed in the mammal collection at the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, were sorted and identified. They are distributed across four families, 18 genera, and 26 species: Artibeus planirostris and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant vouchers. We identified a range extension for Carollia benkeithi and a possible new taxon for the genus Micronycteris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that US dollar purchasing power has been diminishing against both Oil and Gold in the past hundred years, we examine the extent to which Germany could decrease its import costs by pre-financing oil with gold for the period 2005-2023. To account for this the study develops five models (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) of pre-financing strategies. The research proposes the most effective model that decreases oil import both in terms of costs and volatility. The findings suggest that both costs and volatility in monthly import values decrease across all models. Results show that the most capital-efficient is the model, which has an initial lump sum pre-financing of three times the yearly oil demand prior to the start date. M3 achieves to reduce costs by 25% and volatility by 35%. This paper reiterates gold nature -- acting as a safe haven and hedge against inflation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MR‐guided focused ultrasound (FUS) thermoablation is an established therapy for movement disorders. FUS candidates must meet a predefined threshold of skull density ratio (SDR), a parameter that accounts for the efficiency in reaching ablative temperatures. Randomized sham‐controlled trials to provide definitive therapeutic evidence employ pure randomization of subjects into active treatment or control arms. The latter design has several general limitations. Objective: To demonstrate that SDR values are not associated with clinically and demographically relevant variables in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This in turn would allow using SDR as an arm‐allocation parameter, separating patients who will receive active FUS treatment and best medical management treatment (BMT). Methods: We studied a cohort of 215 PD patients who were candidates for FUS subthalamotomy to determine if the SDR was correlated with demographic or clinical variables that could introduce bias for group allocation in a controlled trial. Results: SDR was unassociated with age, gender, and clinical motor features nor with levodopa daily dose in our cohort of PD patients. A negative association with age was found for the female subgroup. Conclusions: Our results show that in a PD population considered for FUS subthalamotomy treatment, the SDR may be a valid group‐allocation parameter. This could be considered as the basis for a controlled study comparing FUS subthalamotomy vs BMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De-dollarization is a "significant reduction in the use of dollars in world trade and financial transactions, [as well as] decreasing national, institutional and corporate demand" for United States dollars. (Goldman Sachs 2023; Li Yuefen 2024) De-dollarization has been a persistent theme since the collapse of the Bretton Woods Gold System in 1971 and the rising US national debt. (Cohen 2015) Efforts to minimise reliance upon the US dollar, such as the 1976 introduction of the IMF Special Drawing Right and the 2002 introduction of the Euro, failed to displace dollar dominance. (Eichengreen 2011) The Euro is a currency without a Nation State and the IMF SDR is not a currency used to invoice and settle international trade and financial transactions. However, the decision of the United States to "weaponize" the use of the dollar and to impose restrictions on global payment systems have impelled countries to construct an alternative to the dollar system.1(Sen 2019) This article first examines the adverse effects of using the US dollar as a global reserve currency. Second, the article examines the application of economic sanctions, specifically against the Russian Federation, to illustrate the probable development of an alternative reserve and invoice currency to co-exist with the dollar. Third, the article posits the conditions necessary to establish a viable alternative to the dollar and then examines efforts to promote alternatives to global payment systems such as SWIFT, and to build a new reserve currency.2 The article concludes: [1] the imposition of economic sanctions compels target countries to create alternative financial systems and settle international trade in national currencies; [2] establishing a new reserve currency out of whole cloth is a formidable task and lacks a recent historical counterpart, [3] the renminbi is the likely currency to rival, not displace, the US dollar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the absence of unified global regulations, defining the service and legal role of freight forwarders is challenging. This, as well as the lack of a standardized limit to the freight forwarder's liability for loss or damage to the cargo, introduces misunderstandings into his relationship with the client. The purpose of this study is to analyze the most widely used limit for freight forwarder's liability, set in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) units, and to adjust it, which will allow for maintaining the purchasing power of the compensation amount over different periods of time. Methods: In this study, two methods of adjusting the liability limit were proposed. In accordance with the first one, the limit was adjusted considering the impact of dollar inflation on the SDR unit. The second method involves changes in the limit of liability, taking into account changes in world prices for goods. Results: The result of this study showed that the second method is more functional, helping to preserve the purchasing power of the liability limit most effectively over time. Conclusions: This study revealed the fluctuating purchasing power of the forwarder's liability limit over time and suggests utilizing a methodology tied to changes in global goods' prices for adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically examines the role of USD, EUR, and CNY as international payment currencies in Korea, China, and Japan. Our survey of business people in those countries finds that higher convertibility and stability of these currencies in the SDR enhance their acceptability and usability for international payments. However, even during times of instability, USD remains highly accepted and usable as a trade payment currency unlike the cases of EUR and CNY. Therefore, maintaining exchange rate stability is essential for improving the acceptability and usability of EUR and CNY as international payment currencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foreign reserves sufficiency is important to maintain macroeconomic stability. The main objective of this paper is to model the behaviour of the central bank in accumulating the foreign reserves in the case of Indonesia. Unlike the previous empirical studies, this paper disaggregates the components of foreign reserves into foreign currency, securities, gold, and special drawing rights. This paper relies on the Almost Ideal Demand System combined with the Error Correction Model. The estimation result for monthly data over the period 2010(1)-2020(12) reveals that the own-price coefficients are negative and statistically significant which is consistent with the standard theory of demand. While the foreign currency-securities pairwise is substitutive, the foreign currency-gold and the foreign currency-special drawing rights pairwise are complementary or even independent. However, the wealth effect is inelastic except for securities reserves. These results imply that the central bank of Indonesia can re-balance its reserves. The securities holding which have the highest proportion of foreign reserve scan be switched to foreign currency, gold, and/or special drawing rights. The rebalancing measures would remain having an optimal level of foreign reserves holding in terms of its opportunity cost. Therefore, the monetary authority can conduct a further macroeconomic stabilisation without substantially losing the returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article relies on an original institutional economics perspective of the international monetary system to argue that contrary to what is generally maintained in international relations literature, China's effort to internationalize the renminbi has not stalled after its inclusion in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Drawing Rights in 2015. This argument rests upon on the evaluation of the global petroleum market as a possible reinforcement of China's establishment of the renminbi as an international unit of account and means of payment through its participation in both fossil and renewable energy markets. To that end, we analyze China's energy-yuan strategy aimed at both fostering renminbi internationalization and securing energy provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reveals the inherent characteristics behind the statistical phenomena of exchange rate interactions and co‐movements, corroborated empirically by exploring a range of currencies with varied degrees of flexibility. It then studies purposely the historical evolution and development prospects of the RMB exchange rate regime. The RMB exchange rate behaviour and statistical patterns are contrasted with the freely floating currencies in this context. Taking up alternative policy positions, the expected developments in RMB characteristics are deliberated, projecting a trajectory for further RMB regime reforms. How the RMB would fulfil the significant role on the global currency market as signified by its position in the SDR basket is contemplated, beyond a conventional policy shift and under the paradigm that the global currency market tends to be tri‐polar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global public goods and the contrast to global public bads require a dramatic change in the international monetary system, enforcement capacity, democratic legitimation, the return to regionalism and multilateralism. Pending the emergence of a more equitable global reserve and payments system, an increased use of the Special Drawing Rights, channeled through Multilateral Development Banks, may help managing the transition towards the provision of such global public goods. This would also provide a guidance for the reduction of Central Banks’ balance sheets, the financialization of the economy and an increase of real investment, thus anchoring the whole international economy to a less vulnerable and volatile monetary structure.

Extant research finds that exchange rate pegs do little to reduce firms' exposure to exchange rate risk in emerging markets. We study whether exchange rate risk exposures under a pegged/controlled floating currency regime can be priced in asset returns using unique data on exchange rate regime changes in China. As the only currency in the basket of International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Drawing Rights that is not fully market-driven for its exchange rate formation, the Chinese RMB (renminbi) offers an ideal case to study the pricing of exchange rate risk in pegged and controlled floating regimes. We find a negative stock market reaction to the announcement of changes from a pegged exchange rate to a controlled floating regime, suggesting a negative stock valuation effect of expectation of increased exchange rate exposure to currency appreciation. Under the managed floating exchange rate regime, the volatilities of accounting performance measures are significantly greater for the companies with stronger exposure to foreign-exchange rate risk. More importantly, foreign-exchange rate risk is priced in equity returns under the controlled floating regime but not under the strictly pegged regime. Furthermore, the pricing is stronger for firms with higher sensitivity to economic channels transmitting the exchange rate risk exposure to risk premiums. Overall, our results suggest that currency hedging for a multinational corporation with foreign-exchange exposure is warranted under a controlled floating currency regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The up‐and‐coming influence of the RMB on currency co‐movements is examined in this paper, in the context of a transpiring tri‐polar international monetary system advocated in prior studies. The study is empirically conducted against the backdrop of a more variable RMB exchange rate regime, which enables the integration of the RMB into the international monetary system. The influence of the RMB is found most evident in Asia, being modest in Latin America while reaching Africa. The RMB co‐moves most with the currencies of countries that have large shares in trade with China considerably. Meanwhile, a residual‐based instrumental variables model is proposed in this study purposely for dealing with issues of common factor dominance, which prevails in currency co‐movements. The emerging influence of the RMB on currency co‐movements arises at the time when a multiple‐reserve currency system is coming, and the RMB is included as the third largest currency in the SDR basket. It is shored up by the improved infrastructure, strengthened central bank cooperation and expanded networks for cross‐border RMB payments and settlements. It is concluded that the RMB has increasingly integrated into the international monetary system as one of the major players, effecting currency market movements actively alongside the US dollar and euro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold ornaments are always been seen as a metal of pride and happiness. It is also considered to be one of the auspicious costliest metals. Gold rate is found at an increasing rate from an early period. This paper analyzes the gold rate at six different cities in India. For each of the cities, neutrosophic mean and coefficient of variation have been calculated. The analysis results have been presented. In addition to that the neutrosophic analysis based on each month also has been calculated. The results help to know the beneficial month and city for the purchase of gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the actual and potential resources derived from the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative and the actual and potential resources from International Monetary Fund’s 2021 allocation of Special Drawing Rights. These programs were two main sources of support for 73 vulnerable countries during height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For these countries, Special Drawing Rights provided much greater potential support when compared to the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Special Drawing Rights deployed more actual resources as well. When these programs are evaluated from the perspective of the countries receiving assistance, Special Drawing Rights are found to have several characteristics that are more desirable. As such, as a tool, Special Drawing Rights have several advantages that should be taken into account during discussions about policy responses to global challenges in the future.

The purpose of this study was to develop a laboratory model that enables the monitoring of communications carried out through mobile phones and their blocking in cases where it is prohibited. The main goal was to realise an intelligent jammer that blocks only illicit communications. The jammer was built with a software-defined radio (SDR) that can be found on the market and is accessible from a financial point of view. This study consisted of an analysis of the behaviour of mobile phones and mobile networks using the long-term evolution (LTE) of UMTS technologies so that the jamming technique can disrupt the communication of the cellular mobile system by using the software-defined radio and Python ecosystem. Because the 5G standalone (5G SA) is not yet implemented in Romania, we could not start developing a laboratory model for jamming this technology. When 5G SA is implemented, we will adapt this intelligent jamming solution to the new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to facilitate monitoring of cannabidiol (CBD), we devised a gold immunochromatographic sensor based on a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb). To prepare the antigen, a novel hapten with CBD moiety and a linear carbon chain was employed. By utilizing hybridoma technology, a specific mAb was screened and identified that exhibited a 50% maximal inhibitory concentration against CBD ranging from 28.97 to 443.97 ng/mL. Extensive optimization led to the establishment of visual limits of detection for CBD, achieving a remarkable sensitivity of 8 μg/mL in the assay buffer. To showcase the accuracy and stability, an analysis of CBD-spiked wine, sparkling water, and sports drink was conducted. The recovery rates observed were as follows: 88.4–109.2% for wine, 89.9–107.8% for sparkling water, and 83.2–95.5% for sports drink. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation remained impressively low, less than 4.38% for wine, less than 2.07% for sparkling water, and less than 6.34% for sports drink. Importantly, the developed sensor exhibited no cross-reaction with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In conclusion, the proposed paper sensor, employing gold nanoparticles, offers a user-friendly and efficient approach for the precise, rapid, and dependable determination of CBD in products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an in-depth analysis of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), focusing on their definition, purpose, design considerations and recent developments. We also delve into the potential advantages of CBDCs for Asia, such as enhancing convenience, precisely quantifying economic metrics, managing anonymity, catalyzing innovation, and promoting financial inclusion. Moreover, we examine how CBDCs can fortify monetary and fiscal policies, ensure safe distribution, reduce costs and combat corruption. We also address the risks associated with CBDC adoption in Asia and explore potential outcomes such as substitution effects, valuation fluctuations, and foreign currency dependence, while highlighting the importance of managing financial imbalances, holdings concentration and public apprehension toward digital currencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's world is characterised by competitive environments, optimal resource utilization, and cost reduction, which has resulted in an increasing role for metaheuristic algorithms in solving complex modern problems. As a result, this paper introduces the gold rush optimizer (GRO), a population-based metaheuristic algorithm that simulates how gold-seekers prospected for gold during the Gold Rush Era using three key concepts of gold prospecting: migration, collaboration, and panning. The GRO algorithm is compared to twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms on 29 benchmark test cases to assess the proposed approach's performance. For scientific evaluation, the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are used. In addition to these test cases, the GRO algorithm is evaluated using three real-world engineering problems. The results indicated that the proposed algorithm was more capable than other algorithms in proposing qualitative and competitive solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has further raised concerns about viral transmission. A fundamental understanding of the intermolecular interactions between the coronavirus and different surfaces is needed to address the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through respiratory droplet-contaminated surfaces or fomites. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein is a key target for the adhesion of SARS-CoV-2 on the surface. To understand the effect of mutations on adhesion, atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) was used to quantify the interactions between wild-type, Omicron, and XBB with several surfaces. The measurement revealed that RBD exhibits relatively higher forces on paper and gold surfaces, with the average force being 1.5 times greater compared to that on plastic surface. In addition, the force elevation on paper and gold surfaces for the variants can reach ∼28% relative to the wild type. These findings enhance our understanding of the nanomechanical interactions of the virus on common surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion that the international monetary system is hierarchical has become increasingly common, but the nature, causes, and shape of international monetary hierarchy remain vague. In this article, we develop a monetary theory of international hierarchy based on the "key currency" approach. We perceive the international monetary system as a world-spanning payment system that is inherently hierarchical because it needs central nodes for clearing and settlement. The centrality of the US-Dollar (USD) as global key currency places the US at the apex and makes the Federal Reserve (Fed) the system's hierarchically highest institution. Other monetary jurisdictions are pushed into peripheral positions and rely on both using and creating USD-denominated credit money instruments "offshore." Based on this approach, we explain international monetary hierarchy through different mechanisms to supply emergency USD liquidity from the Fed to non-US central banks. Currently, there are three different public mechanisms for non-US central banks to access the Fed's balance sheet and attain emergency USD liquidity. The first-layer periphery may receive emergency USD liquidity via the Fed's central bank swap lines. The second-layer periphery can make use of the Fed's new repo facility for Foreign and International Monetary Authorities to access emergency USD liquidity. The residual mechanism for the third-layer periphery to access emergency USD liquidity is the Special Drawing Rights system, administered by the International Monetary Fund, in which the Exchange Stabilization Fund acts as gatekeeper for the Fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U.S. and Europe-based banks and international financial institutions including the IMF have been central to critical accounts of Africa's place in global capitalism. And yet since 2008 these institutions have been in retreat on the continent, partially replaced by Pan African Banks. Putting ethnographic work with Africa-based finance professionals into dialogue with heterodox economic thinking on banks and currency sovereignty, I argue that we must not only analyze the geographic shift in where banks are headquartered and who owns them, but also generate empirical and theoretical shifts in what a bank is, what it does, and to what effect, especially in terms of the relationship between currencies, social violence, and imperial and racial power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We empirically investigate whether the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) economies are more financially integrated with global economies, particularly the U.S., or with each other. For this purpose, we utilize the gravity framework and the IMF's Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS) data on cross-border holdings of portfolio investment (equities and debt securities) for 2001-2019. We find that the intra-regional integration of financial markets among RCEP economies is limited and has not deepened even after the GFC of 2008. Instead their overinvestment in the U.S. equity market has increased since the GFC. In addition, we find that an increase in bilateral trade does not lead to an increase in bilateral equity investment. Instead, an increase in bilateral equity investment brings about an increase in bilateral trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While technological innovation and financial development are broadly credited as important drivers of economic growth of developed nations, their impact on inequality (especially in emerging economies) remains understudied. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the impact of technological innovation and financial development on income inequality in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries using panel dynamic ordinary least squares (PDOLS) and panel fully modified ordinary least squares (PFMOLS) with annual data sourced from the Standardized World Income Inequality Database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (1990–2017). The results suggest that technological innovation increases income inequality in the BRICS nations, while financial development has an income reducing effect on inequality. Our results are robust, using alternative estimation with various sub-indicators of financial development (such as financial markets and financial institution), including other measures proxied by access to credit provided by commercial banks. The study's results have important implications for policy and practice in the BRICS countries. By providing a nuanced understanding of the relationship between technological innovation, financial development and inequality, the study will inform the design and implementation of policies aimed at reducing inequality and promoting inclusive growth in these emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article recounts China's renminbi (RMB) internationalisation experiences since the 2009 RMB cross-border trade settlement initiative. In the first few years, the RMB made inroads into global financial markets and had a few remarkable accomplishments, including the Special Drawing Right currency status. Since the 2015 market turmoil, RMB internationalisation has levelled off – possibly due to changes in both domestic and geopolitical conditions. The RMB is currently under-represented in the global market. China's deliberate and schematic policies will elevate the RMB's global stature in a gradual manner but there will not be a leapfrogging in the near term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of frictions, the existing literature shows that currency substitution is detrimental for domestic aggregate stability. This paper singles out the role of currency substitution and shows that diversified currency holdings operate as an automatic stabilizer that mitigates belief-driven cyclical fluctuations in Farmer's (1997) indeterminate monetary economy. When the foreign inflation rate is lower than the domestic inflation rate, the model's steady state always displays saddle-path stability. Hence, equilibrium indeterminacy originally present in the domestic country is entirely removed in the presence of diversified currency holdings. When the foreign inflation rate is higher than the domestic inflation rate, then depending on the degrees of currency substitution and relative risk aversion, indeterminacy is either impossible or the requisite level of the foreign inflation rate for indeterminacy is too high to square with data. The stabilizing effect of diversified currency holdings on domestic aggregate stability is robust to whether domestic and foreign currencies display as Edgeworth substitutes or complements, or are additively separable in the household's preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special drawing right (SDR) is issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The SDR has the potential to strengthen dramatically the international monetary system. Established in 1969 and allocated twice during its first decade, the SDR was in the institutional closet from 1980 until 2009 when $250 billion in SDRs were allocated to members of the IMF to help address the global financial crisis. In 2021, another $650 billion in SDRs were allocated to help address the Coronavirus pandemic. The SDR has proved itself as a crisis instrument. This paper proposes regular annual SDR allocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: to study and characterize the modern world economy, to identify the actual goals of the sanctions war, and to propose measures to mitigate sanctions.Methods: in the course of the research, such methods of abstract-logical approach were used as: analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, analogy, deduction, induction, and prediction.Results: the actual causes, prerequisites and goals of the world sanctions war were revealed that caused the emergence of the world sanctions economy. It is proved that the current state of the economy can be viewed as a global sanctions economy. The concept of the world sanctions economy is given and the features of the world sanctions economy are revealed: the contradiction between political goals and socio-economic ones; the rocketing energy prices; the noticeable increase in prices for all raw materials and foods; the sharp increase in the cost of products; the transition to the production of lower-quality analogues of common goods; the ideological connotation of the consumption of goods (works, services); the decrease in the living standards of the population; the increase in the requirements of the state to the society members; the reduction in investment; the redistribution of investments to the areas in need of import substitution; the temporary paralysis of interstate trade; the intensification of trade between physical persons. The introduction of energy currency is substantiated. A number of other anti-sanctions measures are proposed.Scientific novelty: firstly, the concept of “world sanctions economy” is proposed. Secondly, the stages of the world economy development are determined and the factors influencing it are identified. Thirdly, the features of most national economies under sanctions are revealed. By the example of Russia, the application of the revealed stages of the world economy development is demonstrated and their connection with sanctions is shown. A forecast of the world economy development is made (two scenarios are given). An additional argument is given for the introduction of a new world currency – an energy ruble. It is proposed to implement a number of other measures relevant under the current economic situation: to specify the country of origin and the form of its participation in the sanctions war for all goods; to increase the level of future problems forecasting; to accelerate the construction of the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline and to increase its export capacity; to activate and popularize the work of charitable organizations to support low-income citizens; to develop an energy index. Foreign goods for Russian counter-sanctions are named: building materials, metal and plastic products, biofuels, tobacco raw materials and cigarettes.Practical significance: the study results will help to better understand the essence and process of the world sanctions economy, to more accurately predict its interim results and consequences, and to take the necessary measures in a timely manner. All the proposed measures will ease the sanctions pressure on Russia. The theoretical results obtained will also be useful in the long term, when the world faces an actual shortage of natural resources.

This document is a response to a letter discussing whether all individuals with Dravet syndrome have intellectual disability. The authors of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) position paper on Epilepsy Syndromes in Neonates & Infants argue that intellectual disability is an important criterion for distinguishing Dravet syndrome from other epilepsy phenotypes within the genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) spectrum. The ILAE developed position papers to provide consensus and guidance for clinical practice and research in epilepsy syndromes. The authors suggest that diagnostic prediction scores based on age at onset and genetic data could improve the accuracy of diagnosing Dravet syndrome at an earlier stage. [Extracted from the article]

This paper investigates the joint uplink–downlink resource allocation in time-varying device-to-device (D2D) underlay wireless cellular networks. Specifically, we formulate the joint optimization problem of the joint uplink–downlink subcarrier assignment and power allocation (SAPA) of D2D pairs, with the purpose of maximizing the sum data rate (SDR) of all D2D pairs while ensuring the basic data rate requirements of both cellular users and D2D pairs. To accommodate the high dynamics of wireless networks, we develop an effective joint uplink-downlink SAPA scheme based on distributed deep reinforcement learning (DRL), wherein each D2D pair acts as an agent and adopts the model-free double-deep Q-network (DDQN) algorithm to solve the joint optimization problem. Moreover, in our proposed DDQN scheme, we assume that all agents maintain the same reward, thus collaborative behavior between agents is inspired to alleviate the mutual interference incurred by subcarrier reuses between the cellular users and D2D pairs. Numerical results show that our proposed DDQN method could quickly converge to the near-optimal performance, has low computational complexity and thus could be adopted in large-scale D2D underlay wireless cellular networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the effects of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) monitoring activities? We argue that IMF surveillance exercises – known as Article IV consultations – move financial markets. Our argument is based on the design of the IMF's surveillance function, which is a relatively strong form of monitoring by the standards of most international organizations (IOs). We test this argument using an event study analysis of 428 IMF Article IV consultations. We find that the average surveillance mission has a substantial impact on sovereign debt with much greater impacts in emerging than high income economies. Interviews with market participants support and help to contextualize these findings. By illustrating the effects of surveillance, this article contributes to our understanding of whether, and to what extent, international institutions are a source of vital public information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermodynamically favorable selective electrooxidation reactions coupled with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising strategy for simultaneous production of value-added chemicals and hydrogen. In this work, a binder-free gold nanoflowers electrode based on carbon paper is prepared and used as anode catalyst, which results in good charge transfer, high stability and superior catalytic activity for electrooxidation of glycerol. We develop an integrated system of glycerol electrooxidation with HER, and the effect of potential on the distribution of anodic electrooxidation products and cathodic hydrogen production are investigated. At 1.0 V, the overall reaction reaches 10 mA cm−2 and the selectivity of glyceric acid (GLA) reaches 97.2%. At 1.2 V, hydrogen production reaches the highest value of 960 μmol L−1 and the anode product consists of a mixture of glyceric acid, glycolic acid (GA) and formic acid (FA). At 1.3 V, the selectivity of FA reaches 87.3%. Operando technique in situ infrared spectroscopy is used to monitor the immediate evolution and study the pathway of controlled glycerol electrooxidation. This work demonstrates carbon paper is a promising substrate material of binder-free electrode applied in thermodynamically favorable electrocatalytic reactions boosting hydrogen evolution. [Display omitted] • A binder-free electrode based on carbon paper is developed. • Hydrogen production is increased by 24 times with the addition of glycerol. • The selectivity of glyceric acid on carbon paper supported gold nanoflowers is 97.2%. • In situ FTIR reveals the pathway for electrooxidation of glycerol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy policy investments are usually evaluated using a cost-benefit analysis (CBA), which requires an estimation of the social discount rate (SDR). The choice of SDR can be crucial for the outcome of the appraisal, as energy-related investments generate long-term impacts affecting climate change. Once discounted, these impacts are highly sensitive to slight changes in the value of the SDR. Some countries (the UK and France) switched from a constant SDR to the declining rate scheme—a solution that limits the impact sensitivity. To our knowledge, none of the CEE countries apply DDR in CBA. While a constant SDR is a relatively well-established approach, declining SDRs are estimated to be used much less frequently, particularly for CEE EU member countries and energy policies. The rationale for the decline can rest on uncertainty over future discount rates, as shown by the approach developed by Weitzman and Gollier, which extends the classical Ramsey model. We applied this approach in our paper, as the Ramsey formula is the prevailing formula for EU countries' SDR estimates. We estimated a flat SDR via the Ramsey formula with Gollier's "precautionary term", and next, we calculated Weitzman's certainty equivalent rates for the 500-year horizon. Ramsey's SDRs, obtained using consumption growth rates dating back to 1996, varied between 6.77% for Lithuania and 2.95% for Czechia and declined by 0.15% on average (Gollier's term). Declining SDRs for the longest horizon dropped to approx. 0.5% (from 0.35% for Bulgaria to 0.67% for Poland), and the descent is deeper and faster when forward SDRs (following the UK Green Book approach) were considered (0.01% to 0.04%). The results are important for long-term policies regarding energy and climate change in CEE EU member countries, but they are still dependent on fossil fuels and experience an investment gap to fulfil EU climate goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines opposition to colonial forest control and forest legislation in the Gold Coast Colony between 1889 and 1927. In the Gold Coast, forest legislation allowing the constitution of forest reserves, came late compared to other British colonies. The paper explains why. It describes the alliance between Gold Coast customary rulers (chiefs), the indigenous educated elite and British interests that came together to oppose, first, colonial plans of land control, subsequently forest control. This alliance put together an effective, long-standing and sophisticated opposition, but eventually it collapsed, and this allowed the Gold Coast Forests Ordinance to be enacted in 1927. The paper attributes the collapse to the emergence of conflicting interests within the coalition. This was – at least partly – the result of a revised colonial policy in the Gold Coast after WWI which resulted in closer collaboration between the colonial authorities and the traditional authorities (paramount chiefs) at the expense of the educated elite. The Gold Coast Forests Ordinance confirmed customary ownership over forests and the role of traditional authorities. The paper and the Gold Coast case illustrates the limits of the colonial state and that empire forestry was not everywhere a project of seamless control and implementation, but one in need of adaptation and compromise. • Empire forestry came late to the Gold Coast. • Legislation laying the ground for forest reserves could only be enacted in 1927. • An alliance of domestic and British groups opposed colonial forest control. • Earlier resistance to colonial land control shaped opposition to forest control. • The alliance eventually broke down because of diverging interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the actual and potential resources derived from the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative and the actual and potential resources from International Monetary Fund's 2021 allocation of Special Drawing Rights. These programs were two main sources of support for 73 vulnerable countries during height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For these countries, Special Drawing Rights provided much greater potential support when compared to the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Special Drawing Rights deployed more actual resources as well. When these programs are evaluated from the perspective of the countries receiving assistance, Special Drawing Rights are found to have several characteristics that are more desirable. As such, as a tool, Special Drawing Rights have several advantages that should be taken into account during discussions about policy responses to global challenges in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Conformity to the system of natural relations is the benchmark adopted by Ricardo in his evaluation of alternative monetary systems. • Commodity money is at the top of his normative hierarchy because it equates the value of money to the natural value of gold, namely the relative price of gold for "commodities in general". • In commodity money systems, the money supply is endogenous. The quantity theory of money only comes in operation in malfunctioning systems. • Ricardo's ideal monetary model substitutes cheap paper for gold, but otherwise replicates the adjustment mechanism of commodity money. • Methodologically, this paper builds on Pasinetti's insights on the role of natural relations in Classical economists, and develops Ricardo's own type-of-economy approach to monetary analysis. Ricardo studied the effects of alternative institutions on natural relations and ranked alternative monetary systems according to their ability to equalise the value of money to the natural value of gold. Pure commodity money is at the top of his normative hierarchy, only surpassed by his own "perfect" system. In commodity money systems, the price level is equal to the relative price of gold for "commodities in general", and money is endogenous. The quantity theory, by contrast, comes in operation in monetary system where the gold anchor is lost or works imperfectly. The supposed contradictions of Ricardo's monetary theory disappear within the interpretative framework adopted here. This framework builds on Pasinetti's insights in the role of natural values in Classical economics; develops Ricardo's own type-of-economy approach to monetary analysis; and shows that, far from being a commodity like any other, commodity money is a specific, complex institutional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies China's recent exchange rate policy for the renminbi (RMB). We demonstrate empirically that a two‐pillar policy is in place, aiming to balance exchange rate flexibility and RMB index stability via market and basket pillars. We further extend and validate the formulation that incorporates the so‐called countercyclical factor. Theoretically, we develop a flexible‐price monetary model for the RMB in which the two‐pillar policy arises endogenously as an optimal response of the government. We estimate the model by generalized method of moments and quantitatively assess various policy trade‐offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exchange rate is a rate at which one currency can be exchanged into another currency. This paper will concentrate on the exchange rate policy, policy reforms and measures undertaken by India. It also will deal with the INR appreciations and depreciations from 1993-1994 to 2010-2011. It will give the clear comprehensive literature and measure of exchange rate policy and various reforms adopted by India, chronology of money, INR fluctuations and RBI interventions to curb volatility. This study is historical, descriptive and analytical which concentrates for a period of 10 years starting from 2000 to 2010. The various policy measures issued by RBI to contain the volatility in the domestic foreign exchange market and also to prevent speculative sentiments to build up pressure on the orderly functioning of the market are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents results of a research on an application of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) units of account when determining the value of administrative fines imposed for violation of norms of the Maritime Safety Law. Application of Special Drawing Rights in this area of regulation does not affect only state revenue from these fines, but it may also be important when determining a degree of a repressive effect on a punished entity and on their financial situation. A place of administrative fines in the catalogue of public measures is presented in an introductory part of this article. This part of the text also discusses the extent of the use of SDRs in the Polish maritime law. Detailed analysis of Article 126 of the Maritime Safety Law and on its practical use in 2014–2019 is made in the subsequent part of this paper. The last section analyses statistical data obtained from selected institutions – the Maritime Office in Gdynia and the Maritime Office in Szczecin. The study mainly uses an analysis of the law in force and statistical data. However, the reflection on the latter method is limited to 2014–2019 due to the pandemic which took place in 2020 and in subsequent years. The state of epidemic affected Poland’s public finances and since the paper intends to operate on comparable data (in the period of a relatively stable financial situation of the state) it was deemed necessary to limit the time frame covered by this research. The analysis of the law in force and statistical data were used to examine Polish legal order to verify views expressed in relevant (Polish and foreign) literature and to discuss data which have been obtained by the author under access to public information. The study reflects the legal status as of 28 March 2022.