Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Transmission of Price Trends from Consumers to Producers and Tests of Market Power

This study examines the competitiveness of four Canadian agricultural industries (eggs, milk, chicken and turkey) using a general equilibrium farm to retail pricing model developed by Wohlgenant (1989). The model generates retail and farm pricing equations that are estimated using maximum likelihood developed by Johansen (1992). The results indicate that in all cases, long-run constant returns is rejected, indicating market power within the Canadian retail to farm marketing sector. The model also finds more cointegrating vectors than predicted by theory, also inconsistent with competitive markets. Results are based on commercial disappearance as a proxy for consumer demand and therefore confounding between uncompetitive markets and quality differences may be indicated. Less ambiguous results would be obtained if consumer expenditures rather than commercial disappearance data were available. Still, results are rather emphatic in rejection of competitive markets in food markets in Canada. More competitive markets are indicated in the United States using similar methods.
Trust, Decision Rights Delegation, and Performance—The Case of Franchising

Previous research has not examined the relationship between trust, decentralization, and franchisor performance. Complementary to the literature on autonomy and relational governance from franchisees’ perspective, this study focuses on the franchisor's perspective on the impact of decentralization and trust on performance. Consistent with the embeddedness view, the results show that trust is a facilitator of decentralization in franchise networks, thereby increasing the positive performance effect of decision rights delegation. Overall, the study offers a new perspective on the relationship between formal governance—through decision rights allocation—and trust as a relational variable in interorganizational networks.
Medical Image Compression Using Quincunx Wavelets and VQ Coding

In the field of medical diagnostics, interested parties have resorted increasingly to medical imaging. It is well established that the accuracy and completeness of diagnosis are initially connected with the image quality, but the quality of the image is itself dependent on a number of factors including primarily the processing that an image must undergo to enhance its quality. This paper introduces an algorithm for medical image compression based on the quincunx wavelets coupled with VQ coding algorithm, of which we applied the lattice structure to improve the wavelet transform shortcomings. In order to enhance the compression by our algorithm, we have compared the results obtained with those of other methods containing wavelet transforms. For this reason, we evaluated two parameters known for their calculation speed. The first parameter is the PSNR; the second is MSSIM (structural similarity) to measure the quality of compressed image. The results are very satisfactory regarding compression ratio, and the computation time and quality of the compressed image compared to those of traditional methods. Copyright © 2010 Praise Worthy Prize S.r. l. All rights reserved.
A Study of Kindergarten 2 Students’ English Phonics Achievement and Their Perceptions towards the Use of English Phonics Online Games at St. Mark’s International School, Thailand

This study aimed to compare the Kindergarten 2 students’ achievement in English Phonics before and after the use of English Phonics online games and to find out their perceptions towards such games. Eleven Kindergarten 2 students of St. Mark’s International School in the academic year 2015-2016 participated in the two-month study. This research used a mixed method design. A one-group pretest-posttest experiment was conducted to determine if there was a significant difference in the students’ English Phonics achievement before and after using English Phonics online games. In addition, an interview on how the students’ perceived the use of English Phonics online games was done. Analyses showed that Kindergarten 2 students’ English Phonics achievement was very good before the use of online games, and it increased to excellent after the use of online games. Paired Samples t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the pre- and post-tests scores of Kindergarten 2 students before and after using English Phonics online games at the level of 0.05. The interview results revealed that: 1) all Kindergarten 2 students had positive perceptions towards the use of online games in English Phonics; 2) the students had positive perceptions towards the use of English phonics online games because the games helped them learn how to spell and read and featured animations, colorful and attractive common objects, and interactive/hands-on and game/challenge components. Based on the findings, the use of online games in English Phonics is recommended in teaching and learning English Phonics, especially for young learners. Further relevant studies are also recommended.
RAPESEED MEAL IN NON-RUMINANT NUTRITION

Nutritive value of rapeseed meal and possibility of replacment of soybean meal by rape meal in the nutrition of pigs and poultry use are given in this paper. Rapeseed meal low in antinutritional factors is possible to be applied up to 5% in nutrition of piglets and 10% in nutrition of sows and fattening pigs. There is also the possibility that the rapeseed meal replaces totally soybean meal in the nutrition of sows and pigs in the second phase of fattening without any negative effects to animals. The limited level of rapeseed meal in the nutrition of young categories of pigs is caused by their higher needs of energy and aminoacids. In broilers nutrition usage of rapeseed meal of different cultivars in amount of 5% did not significantly effect the body weight in the first period of fattening. Effect of cultivar was very significant. The best results were obtained with the cultivar Slavica, then NS-07 and Banacanka, respectively on the performances of the chickens in all the groups in comparison with the control group. Feed conversion ratio was increased in both periods of fattening as well as in the entire experiment.
Are Natural Disasters Different? Determinants of International Emergency Aid

In this paper we analyze the determinants of bilateral emergency relief payments using an original data set with 459 natural disasters in the period from 1992 to 2004. While aid flows partially reflect the severity of natural disasters, we find socioeconomic and strategic factors to critically affect the allocation of international emergency aid. On average, donors show a significant bias in favor of less distant countries and former colonies. Small, ethnically homogeneous as well as oil exporting countries receive significantly more emergency aid than others. More importantly, the set of aid determinants displays large variation across donors. The US, Germany and Sweden provide significantly more aid to more democratic countries. Germany and the US appear positively biased towards their own trade partners, and the UK strongly favors its former colonies in the allocation of emergency aid. We also find evidence of vote buying, which appears most relevant for the US, France and Sweden; all three donors provide significantly more aid to recipient countries historically not aligned in their UN General Assembly votes.
Who benefits from social assistance in the Philippines? Evidence from the latest national household surveys

This note discusses two of the Philippines' biggest social assistance programs the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the government's first conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, and the rice subsidy program of the National Food Authority (NFA), one of the country's long-standing food-based social assistance programs with a focus on targeting efficiency and the benefits to the poor. The goal of the CCT program, which has an explicit poverty targeting mechanism embedded in the program, is to provide short-term cash assistance to poor households while helping to strengthen human capital of their children with the long-run vision of breaking the cycle of poverty. The goal of rice subsidy program is to ensure that low-priced rice is available in the markets to all consumers. Using benefit incidence analysis on the latest official household surveys of 2009, results suggest that both programs benefit poorest households the most. This has implications for the CCT program given the program was only launched with limited coverage in 2008. Despite having been implemented for one year as captured by the data, the program had already reached 12.4 percent of poor households in 2009. Moreover, about 71 percent of its beneficiaries in 2009 belonged to the poorest 20 percent of the population and accounted for 74 percent of total program benefits.
Honesty in the Digital Age

Modern communication technologies enable efficient exchange of information but often sacrifice direct human interaction inherent in more traditional forms of communication. This raises the question of whether the lack of personal interaction induces individuals to exploit informational asymmetries. We conducted two experiments with a total of 848 subjects to examine how human versus machine interaction influences cheating for financial gain. We find that individuals cheat about three times more when they interact with a machine rather than a person, regardless of whether the machine is equipped with human features. When interacting with a human, individuals are particularly reluctant to report unlikely and therefore, suspicious outcomes, which is consistent with social image concerns. The second experiment shows that dishonest individuals prefer to interact with a machine when facing an opportunity to cheat. Our results suggest that human presence is key to mitigating dishonest behavior and that self-selection into communication channels can be used to screen for dishonest people. This paper was accepted by Axel Ockenfels, decision analysis.
THE ROLE OF CONSTRAINTS IN GREEK COMPOUND FORMATION

In this paper, we address the issue of constraints in word formation. We claim that the absence of derivational suffixes within Modern Greek compounds is due to the operation of the so-called Bare-stem constraint, which applies to output configurations. Our analysis builds on different types of compounds from Standard Modern Greek and its dialects. However, we focus mostly on dvandva [V V] compounds, which are unique in Modern Greek from all Indo-European languages. We also discuss a limited number of counter-examples, and show that they are only apparent exceptions to the operation of the constraint. We argue that most of them result from a reanalysis procedure, or refer to lexicalizations and loan words, which do not usually obey the rules of the language. Τhe paper also adds to the discussion about the interaction between derivation and compounding. It is argued that the two processes intermingle in such a way that compounding cannot be treated separately from derivation. This conclusion is advocated by the postulation of a morphologically proper constraint restricting the form of compounds with a derived item as left-hand constituent, as well as by the unclear order according to which the two processes occur.
Combining Abilit y Analysis for Drought Tolerance in S ome European and Mediterranean Faba Bean ( Vicia faba L.) Genotypes

The main objective of this study was to estimate the genetic variability due to general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for drought tolerance in faba bean using 12 parental inbred lines crossed in a 3 (testers) x 9 (lines) factorial mating design. The parents and F1 hybrids were evaluated for yield under well-watered (Yw) and drought (Yd) conditions, in 1995 and 1996, at two locations in Germany. The parental lines differed significantly in the investigated drought tolerance parameters. The parental lines ILB938 and Condor showed, respectively, the lowest and the highest values for the studied parameters, except Yd. The F1 hybrids exhibited higher drought tolerance than the parental lines. Effects due to GCA related to the testers were significant for all parameters. The differences among the lines in GCA effects were significant for the parameters based on productivity (Yd) and geometric mean of productivity (GMP) but were not significant for the parameters measuring drought tolerance per se [Yd/Yw and absolute reduction (AR)]. In all parameters, the variation due to GCA was higher than that due to SCA. The tester ILB938 had the highest (5.15%) positive GCA effect for Yd/Yw. Among the lines, Condor exhibited the largest positive value of GCA effect for Yd and Yd/Yw. Since most of the genetic variation in the hybrids was attributed to GCA, caused by additive gene action, selection is expected to be effective in improving drought tolerance, and the cross LB938 x Condor could be a suitable material.
Non-market valuation of beach recreation using the travel cost method (TCM)in the context of the developing world

This thesis focused on using the travel cost method (as a non-market valuation technique) to value beach recreation in a developing country (Cameroon) where little or no previous works of this kind have been conducted before. The Ngoe beach was used as a case study based on the fact that a reasonable number of visitors and tourists visit the beach and also because Kribi is a popular resort town in Cameroon. Given the nature of the work, an onsite survey was inevitable. The questionnaire used for the onsite survey was designed to capture socio-economic variables about visitors (such as age, monthly income, level of education, employment status, gender and nationality), travel cost component variables (such as round trip travel cost, travel time, time spent onsite, onsite expenses, number of trips undertaken in the past year, just to name a few) and the willingness to pay (WTP) of visitors (in the form of access or entrance fee). The count data (with sample size of 242) that was generated from the survey was modelled with the left truncated Poisson and negative binomial models as well as the zero-inflated negative binomial model. The econometric estimations (carried out with the use of the TSP 5.0 software) showed that the zero-inflated negative binomial model produced better results and based on these econometric results, consumer surplus (CS) estimates per trip per visitor per day were computed for different categories of visitors. These CS estimates are equivalent to the recreational value of the beach per trip per visitor per day and ranged from €2.56 to €41.51. Although different CS estimates were obtained for the different categories of visitors, CS estimates per trip per visitor per day ranging from €9.86 to €37.11 were considered as more appropriate and consistent with the results of other works. Also, a possible access fee to the beach of €2.0 was suggested based on the stated willingness to pay of visitors. The reason for this suggestion is that the Ngoe beach is an open access beach and it was thus interesting to estimate a likely access fee, should someone (probably the municipal authorities) be thinking of implementing an access fee. Another important finding is that tourists had the highest spending propensity than any other category of visitors. Also, visitor’s income was found to have a very small impact on the CS estimates of visitors whereas the stated willingness to pay of visitors was found to largely correlate with their CS estimates. Key Words: Non-market valuation, travel cost method, consumer surplus, recreational value.
PARTICIPATIVE BUDGETING - THE EFFECTS OF RISK-AVERSION AND ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION ON BUDGETARY SLACK

A number of behavioral studies have attempted to determine the kinds of influences participative budgeting has on such aspects as a subordinate's job satisfaction and job performance. Participative budgeting allows a subordinate to bring his1 information to the task of specifying standards of performance and as such may lead to higher job performance and higher job satisfaction. The evidence is generally mixed on the former, but reasonably consistent on the latter (Locke and Schweiger [1979]). The existence of information asymmetry on the part of subordinates has recently gained importance in agency theory, where concern is focused on obtaining true revelations of subordinates' inside information (e.g., see Baiman [1982] and Christensen [1982]). The problem is that the existence of private information coupled with participation may give rise to situations in which subordinates intentionally build excess
Cloud vertical structure over a tropical station obtained using long-term high-resolution radiosonde measurements

Abstract. Cloud vertical structure, including top and base altitudes, thickness of cloud layers, and the vertical distribution of multilayer clouds, affects large-scale atmosphere circulation by altering gradients in the total diabatic heating and cooling and latent heat release. In this study, long-term (11 years) observations of high-vertical-resolution radiosondes are used to obtain the cloud vertical structure over a tropical station at Gadanki (13.5∘ N, 79.2∘ E), India. The detected cloud layers are verified with independent observations using cloud particle sensor (CPS) sonde launched from the same station. High-level clouds account for 69.05 %, 58.49 %, 55.5 %, and 58.6 % of all clouds during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter seasons, respectively. The average cloud base (cloud top) altitudes for low-level, middle-level, high-level, and deep convective clouds are 1.74 km (3.16 km), 3.59 km (5.55 km), 8.79 km (10.49 km), and 1.22 km (11.45 km), respectively. Single-layer, two-layer, and three-layer clouds account for 40.80 %, 30.71 %, and 19.68 % of all cloud configurations, respectively. Multilayer clouds occurred more frequently during the monsoon with 34.58 %. Maximum cloud top altitude and cloud thickness occurred during the monsoon season for single-layer clouds and the uppermost layer of multiple-layer cloud configurations. In multilayer cloud configurations, diurnal variations in the thickness of upper-layer clouds are larger than those of lower-layer clouds. Heating and cooling in the troposphere and lower stratosphere due to these cloud layers are also investigated and peak cooling (peak warming) is found below (above) the cold-point tropopause (CPT) altitude. The magnitude of cooling (warming) increases from single-layer to four- or more-layer cloud occurrence. Further, the vertical structure of clouds is also studied with respect to the arrival date of the Indian summer monsoon over Gadanki.
Violence and growth in colombia : a review of the quantitative literature

ABSTRACTThis is a critical review of the empirical literature on the relationship between violence and economic growth in Colombia: an interesting case study for social scientists studying violence, conflict, crime and development. We argue that, despite the rapid development of this literature and the increasing use of new techniques, there is still much room for research. After assessing the contribution of the most influential papers on the subject, we suggest directions for future research.
Stability of the shear-thinning boundary-layer flow over a flat inclined plate

In this study, we consider the boundary-layer flow of an inelastic non-Newtonian fluid over an inclined flat plate. Using two popular generalized Newtonian models, we determine base flow profiles and associated linear stability results for a range shear-thinning fluids. In addition to neutral stability curves, we also present results concerning the linear growth of the Tollmien–Schlichting waves as they propagate downstream. Furthermore, to gain an insight into the underlying physical mechanisms affecting the destabilization of the disturbances, an integral energy equation is derived and energy calculations are presented. Results from all three analyses suggest that the effect of shear-thinning will act to stabilize the boundary-layer flow. Consequently, it can be argued that the addition of shear-thinning agents could act as a passive control mechanism for flows of this nature.
Do We Expect Too Much? Reflection on Chemistry Content in Higher Education †

Learning Science Education research in the 1970s, like other related areas, was dominated by quantitative work1 during an era for which social sciences sought to draw upon the successful scientific approach typically used in the physical sciences (in particular) to investigate teaching and learning.1,2 So if we felt a cohort of students did not understand some concept, we tried to find out whether or not a different teaching approach could fix their misconceptions.3 But how to do this? Well, drawing on a scientific approach, we would divide the class or classes up, teach one cohort the same way we always had, and the other cohort in our new way, and evaluate any differences in conceptual understanding using, e.g. a standardized topic test. Differences would be examined for statistical significance of evidence that our new approach to teaching had worked. And this is the way much research was done at the time. Control of variables, randomized sampling, and so on, were all embedded in such an approach to educational research.
Water Ice on Kuiper Belt Object 1996 TO66

The 1.40-2.45 μm spectrum of Kuiper Belt object 1996 TO66 was measured at the Keck Observatory in 1998 September. Its spectrum shows the strong absorptions near 1.5 and 2.0 μm that are characteristic of water ice—the first such detection on a Kuiper Belt object. The depth of the absorption bands and the continuum reflectance of 1996 TO66 suggest the presence of a black- to slightly blue-colored, spectrally featureless particulate material as a minority component mixed with the water ice. In addition, there is evidence that the intensity of the water bands in the spectrum of 1996 TO66 varies with rotational phase, suggesting a "patchy" surface.
Incidence of depression in Epilepsy patients

Epilepsy and depression are frequent pathologies especially in the developing countries where the level of health facilities and the standards of living are very low. Scholars have stated the relationship between epilepsy and depression but with less precision on symptoms and socio-demographic variables difference. The study assessed the co-morbidity between the two different diagnostic entities, one neurologic (epilepsy) and the other psychiatric (depression). From a purposive sample of 392 people consulting for epilepsy, only 105 patients whose EEG diagnosis was positive were recruited in accordance with the inclusion criteria. Screening for depression, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) was used for the depression prevalence assessment. Results from the study showed that epilepsy patients are likely to present with depression symptoms with significant odds for all symptoms like depressive mood, insomnia, work and activities poor performance, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Patients with generalized seizure are likely to suffer from severe comorbid depression as compared to patients with partial seizure. Epilepsy treatment should incorporate depression diagnosis and management to ensure better management of the epilepsy burden. Key words : Depression, Epilepsy, morbidity, diagnosis, Rwanda