Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shedding New Light on Intrinsic Motivation to Work: Evidence from a Discrete Choice Experiment

In this paper, we evaluated the determinants of the decision utility of workers from the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In our setting, decision utility is the weight assigned by workers to the expected benefits of different job offers. We used a conjoint analysis method based on experimental data on workers' stated preferences towards hypothetical job offers that were characterised by ten attributes. The intrinsic motivation of nonprofit workers was investigated by specifically analysing the influence of three of these attributes, specifically wages, working time, and loyalty of the employer, on decision utility. The results showed evidence of motivational differences between the for-profit and nonprofit groups. First, nonprofit workers attained their maximum decision utility after a longer working time, showing superior intrinsic motivation for work. Furthermore, they were ready to give up a higher percentage of their wages in order to work for another extra hour than were for-profit workers, as long as the working week was less than 33 hours. Finally, our findings show that for-profit workers placed more value on job offers with a labour contract including an explicit clause stating that higher effort will be exchanged for the employer's loyalty. In contrast, nonprofit workers did not obtain higher utility from such a deal. We interpret this result as evidence for the intrinsic motivation of people employed in the nonprofit sector. As the nature of the implicit goals pursued in the nonprofit sector provides employees with high work morale, nonprofit workers do not obtain any gain in utility from an explicit clause regarding the employer's loyalty.
Board Characteristics and Chinese Bank Performance

Using a sample of 50 largest Chinese banks during the period of 2003–2010, we explore a comprehensive set of board characteristics (size, composition and functioning of the board) and analyze their impacts on bank performance and bank asset quality in China. We find that the number of board meetings and the proportion of independent directors have significantly positive impacts on both bank performance and asset quality while board size has a significantly negative impact on bank performance. We find new evidence that the degree of bank boards’ political connection is negatively correlated with bank performance and asset quality. The findings suggest that the board of directors plays a significant role in bank governance in China.
Pre-Clovis occupation 14,550 years ago at the Page-Ladson site, Florida, and the peopling of the Americas

Page-Ladson, Florida, provides evidence of the oldest human occupation in the North American Gulf Coastal Plain at 14,550 B.P. Stone tools and mastodon bones occur in an undisturbed geological context at the Page-Ladson site, Florida. Seventy-one radiocarbon ages show that ~14,550 calendar years ago (cal yr B.P.), people butchered or scavenged a mastodon next to a pond in a bedrock sinkhole within the Aucilla River. This occupation surface was buried by ~4 m of sediment during the late Pleistocene marine transgression, which also left the site submerged. Sporormiella and other proxy evidence from the sediments indicate that hunter-gatherers along the Gulf Coastal Plain coexisted with and utilized megafauna for ~2000 years before these animals became extinct at ~12,600 cal yr B.P. Page-Ladson expands our understanding of the earliest colonizers of the Americas and human-megafauna interaction before extinction.
Employee-focused research in HRM: the case of dairy processing

There is an emerging consensus that HRM research should pay greater attention to employee interests and concerns. This paper argues that employee-focused research should examine the prospects for ‘employment upgrading’ in sectors characterised by poor job quality. Previous research on this topic is reviewed and new case study evidence presented from the dairy processing industry. The findings show that although low-wage, low-skill employment remains prominent, the emergence of differentiation-focused market segments is leading to higher job quality at a number of firms. These findings are consistent with previous research examining the employment consequences of market segmentation. The implications of the study for HRM research programmes are discussed.
Microbial Consortium for Sustainable Rice Production

A microbial consortium-based sustainable and economic bionutrient package for rice has been developed to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizer. The components of the package include Pseudomonas-enriched mycostraw, Azospirillum, and cyanobacteria for different niches. Enriched mycostraw had thrice the amount of nitrogen and sulfur, twice the amount of phosphorus and 1.3–1.9 times potash and micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn) than rice straw and showed a 17.3 C:N ratio. Such bionutrient package application for four consecutive years resulted in an increase in fertilizer use efficiency (5–10%), ARA activity, Azospirillum preponderance, and soil nutrients like total nitrogen (4–5%), total phosphorus (0.7–1%), organic carbon (14–16%) compared to the initial value. Improvement in all the above parameters was reflected in augmentation of grain yield (17%) and straw yield (14.1%). The bionutreint package, when tested at farmers’ sites, showed an increase of 6–20% and 10–35% rice grain yield in resource rich and resource poor farmers, respectively, over the farmers’ conventional practice. Varietal difference did not have any influence on benefit derived from the bionutrient package. A novel approach for the conversion of rice straw into mycostraw (organic manure) and its enrichment with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is also proposed.
Gains to Mutual Fund Sponsors Offering Multiple Share Class Funds

Although the number of mutual funds grew during the 1990s, much of the growth is attributable to the introduction of multiple share class (MS) funds. Proponents argue that the MS structure leads to cost savings, which can be passed onto investors as lower expenses. However, if the structure lowers costs, sponsors are likely to profit from it. Though investors are concerned about the base expense ratio, the sum of administrative and management fees, fund sponsors generate profits from the management fees. As such, they would prefer to increase the management fee if they can simultaneously lower administrative fees. Our results indicate that MS fund investors pay lower administrative fees, but management fees are approximately 7 basis points higher than single-class funds. Overall, base expense ratios are higher than for single-class funds, suggesting fund sponsors capture the cost benefits the MS structure provides. Our results are robust to different model specifications and different estimation techniques.
The role of nitric oxide in cerebrocortical laser Doppler flow response to halothane in the rat.

Laser Doppler flowmetry was utilized to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in the cerebrocortical hyperemic effect of halothane in rats. A particular objective was to elucidate whether the increased vascular tone or the removal of basal NO secondary to NO synthase inhibition influenced the response to halothane. The animals were anesthetized with i.p. pentobarbital for surgery and 90 min later were ventilated with 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) halothane for 1 h to achieve a steady-state baseline. The control group was infused with either 1 ml of saline or 20 mg/kg of D-NAME, and the treatment group received 20 mg/kg of L-NAME intravenously. In a subset of the treatment group, we restored baseline flow and vascular tone using i.v. sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was maintained constant with an infusion of phenylephrine (0.5-5 micrograms/kg/min). Then, 30 to 45 min later, inspired halothane was raised to 1.7 MAC in each group, and the increase in laser Doppler flow (LDF) was measured. On increasing halothane MAC in the control group, LDF increased by 28 +/- 4%. L-NAME increased MAP by 21 +/- 4% and reduced baseline LDF by 26 +/- 2%. In the L-NAME-only treated group, 1.7 MAC halothane increased LDF by 12 +/- 3%, significantly less than control. The decrease in cerebrovascular resistance induced by increasing inspired halothane MAC was similar in the control group and in the L-NAME treated group at 23 +/- 6% and 22% +/- 7, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
ECONOMIC GROWTH, CONVERGENCE CLUBS, AND THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

This paper aims to show and test the existence of a poverty trap linked to the development of the banking sector. The authors' theoretical model exhibits multiple steady state equilibria due to a reciprocal externality between the banking sector and the real sector. Growth in the real sector causes the financial market to expand, thereby increasing banking competition and efficiency. In return, the development of the banking sector raises the net yield on savings and enhances capital accumulation and growth. The aim of the authors' econometric tests is to check the existence of multiple steady states associated with financial and educational development. Copyright 1996 by Royal Economic Society.
The value of switching inputs in a biodiesel production plant

There has been a growing concern in recent years about the quality of the environment and dependence on fossil fuels to supply the world's energy needs, which has created an interest in the development of renewable and less polluting energy sources. One of these alternatives is the biodiesel fuel, which has many advantages over the fossil based diesel, or petro diesel. In this paper we use the real options approach to determine the value of the managerial flexibility embedded in a biodiesel plant that has the option to switch inputs among two different grain commodities. Our results indicate that the option to choose inputs has significant value if we assume that future prices follow stochastic processes such as Geometric Brownian Motion and Mean Reversion Models, and can be sufficient to recommend the use of input commodities that would not be optimal under traditional valuation methods. We also show that the choice of model and parameters has a significant impact on the valuation of this class of projects.
Usefulness of Value Added and Abnormal Economic Economic Earnings: An Empirical Examination

This paper investigates the usefulness of two alternative measures of performance: value added and abnormal economic earnings. Using earnings as the benchmark, firm value analysis, levels analysis, and changes analysis were performed to evaluate their explanatory power. Results show that value added is a statistically significant variable; its explanatory power is higher than that of earnings. Abnormal economic earnings, however, are not a significant variable. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1998.
Systematic Share Price Fluctuations after Bankruptcy Filings and the Investors Who Drive Them

Abstract Beginning in the 1990s, firms often continue to trade on the major national exchanges after Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. For bankruptcies filed from 1993–2003, we find that the more negative the filing period price reaction, the more favorable the immediate post-filing returns, on average. This reversal is not attributable to bid-ask bounce, it holds after controlling for other factors associated with post-filing returns, and it appears more attributable to the activities of large traders than to small traders. Supplementary tests reveal that the pattern of post-filing returns differs significantly for bankruptcies filed in bull versus bear markets. Bankruptcies filed during the 1993 to 1999 bull market enjoy substantial but short-lived reversals averaging one-third of the filing period price plunge. These reversals are inconsistent with efficient assimilation of the bankruptcy information. In contrast, we find no evidence of post-filing reversals for bankruptcies filed from 2000 to 2003.
UNDERSTANDING SMALL FIRM RESPONSES TO REGULATION:

This article aims to contribute to our understanding of the varied responses of small and micro enterprises to regulation and their implications for regulatory policy, using statutory occupational health and safety requirements as an example. Particular emphasis is given to the relevance of an understanding of business responses to regulation that is informed by a wider range of evidence and perspectives than that which has tended to dominate recent policy developments around regulation. Evidence is presented on small firms’ awareness of, and attitudes towards, the health and safety legislation and their responses to the enforcement activities of health and safety inspectors. A framework for understanding owner-manager attitudes and organisational stances towards health and safety regulation and enforcement is advanced which emphasises their varying characteristics and motivational bases, including a regard for the different contexts in which firms operate. The framework supports the view that most small firms have a reactive stance towards regulation, but also that attitudes and motivations can range from overt avoidance to more positive and even proactive stances. This understanding points to the need for a multidimensional approach towards encouraging compliance that accords a central role to direct contact and enforcement in stimulating improvement in practices. The perspective developed is related to the debate around the role of regulation in general in shaping the performance and development of enterprises, particularly with respect to the potential wider economic role that can be played by well-implemented regulation and associated mechanisms of support.
Impact of Qualified Worker Emigration on Poverty: A Macro–Micro-Simulation Approach for an African Economy

Thisstudyassessestheeffectofinternationalemigrationofskilledworkerson poverty in an African economy. The empirical analysis relies on three main steps: (i) an econometric analysis based on a sample of developing countries showsthatskilledmigrationhasasignificantnegativeimpactonproductivity in the country of origin, while unskilled migration has a significant positive effect on the same indicator; (ii) using these estimates within a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, calibrated on Cameroonian economy data, we simulate the impact of emigration on macroeconomic indicators and (iii) relying on the 2007 Cameroonian household survey, the CGE model maps consistent changes of commodity and factor prices across households for a micro-simulation analysis. We find that the current pattern of emigration from Cameroon has contributed to an increase in the number of the poor by 0.8 percentage points. The negative effect of skilled emigration on productivity turns out to be more important than the combined positive effects related to remittances transferred and productivity gains from unskilled emigration. This outcome strongly supports actions by developing countries to optimise contributions from their skilled workers living abroad.
Ethno-cultural diversity and organizational effectiveness: a field study

This paper examines the relationship between ethno-cultural diversity and attitudinal and non-attitudinal measures of organizational performance in a field setting. Data were collected from ninety-eight respondents in seven branches of a leading Canadian bank. As compared to culturally homogeneous branches, the culturally heterogeneous branches experienced lower levels of absenteeism and achieved higher productivity and financial profitability despite their lower scores on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and workplace coherence, and higher rates of turnover. These relationships were moderated by age, job tenure, organizational position, children's age, location of education and previous employment, birthplace and education level.
A Comprehensive Look at the Empirical Performance of Moving Average Trading Strategies

Despite the enormous current interest in market timing and a series of publications in academic journals, there is still lack of comprehensive research on the evaluation of the profitability of trading rules using methods that are free from the data-snooping bias. In this paper we utilize the longest historical dataset that spans 155 years and extend previous studies on the performance of moving average trading rules in a number of important ways. Among other things, we investigate whether overweighting the recent prices improves the performance of timing rules; whether there is a single optimal lookback period in each trading rule; and how accurately the trading rules identify the bullish and bearish stock market trends. In our study we, for the first time, use both the rolling- and expanding-window estimation scheme in the out-of-sample tests; study the performance of trading rules across bull and bear markets; and perform numerous robustness checks and tests for regime shifts in the stock market dynamics. Our main results can be summarized as follows: There is strong evidence that the stock market dynamics are changing over time. We find no statistically significant evidence that market timing strategies outperformed the market in the second half of our sample. Neither the shape of the weighting function nor the type of the out-of-sample estimation scheme allows a trader to improve the performance of timing rules. All market timing rules generate many false signals during both bullish and bearish stock market trends, yet these rules tend to outperform the market in bear states.
Response process and test–retest reliability of the Context Assessment for Community Health tool in Vietnam

Background The recently developed Context Assessment for Community Health (COACH) tool aims to measure aspects of the local healthcare context perceived to influence knowledge translation in low- and middle-income countries. The tool measures eight dimensions (organizational resources , community engagement, monitoring services for action, sources of knowledge, commitment to work, work culture, leadership, and informal payment) through 49 items. Objective The study aimed to explore the understanding and stability of the COACH tool among health providers in Vietnam. Designs To investigate the response process, think-aloud interviews were undertaken with five community health workers, six nurses and midwives, and five physicians. Identified problems were classified according to Conrad and Blair's taxonomy and grouped according to an estimation of the magnitude of the problem's effect on the response data. Further, the stability of the tool was examined using a test–retest survey among 77 respondents. The reliability was analyzed for items (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and percent agreement) and dimensions (ICC and Bland–Altman plots). Results In general, the think-aloud interviews revealed that the COACH tool was perceived as clear, well organized, and easy to answer. Most items were understood as intended. However, seven prominent problems in the items were identified and the content of three dimensions was perceived to be of a sensitive nature. In the test–retest survey, two-thirds of the items and seven of eight dimensions were found to have an ICC agreement ranging from moderate to substantial (0.5–0.7), demonstrating that the instrument has an acceptable level of stability. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the Vietnamese translation of the COACH tool is generally perceived to be clear and easy to understand and has acceptable stability. There is, however, a need to rephrase and add generic examples to clarify some items and to further review items with low ICC.
Effects of Acute Simulated Microgravity on Nocturnal Sleep, Daytime Vigilance, and Psychomotor Performance: Comparison of Horizontal and 6° Head-Down Bed Rest

This study examined the effect of acute simulated microgravity on nocturnal sleep, daytime vigilance, and psychomotor performance. Each of 7 volunteers were maintained for 3 days of head-down and horizontal bed rest in a counterbalanced design. Assessment measures were polysomnographic recordings on the first night and performance on psychophysiological tasks on the second day involving subjective and objective vigilance, P300, simple reaction time tasks, and dual performance tasks. No clear difference in sleep structure was observed between the head-down and horizontal conditions, except for a slight decrease in Stage 4 for head-down. Both subjective and objective daytime vigilance, P300, and the simple RT task showed no statistical difference, although tracking performance on the dual task showed deterioration at 10:00 for the head-down condition. These results suggest that nocturnal sleep, daytime vigilance, and psychophysiological functions were not disturbed in head-down sleep conditions, although there was a mild deterioration of higher attentional function in the morning.
A Review of Research on Environmental Education in Non-traditional Settings in Turkey, 2000 and 2011

The purpose of the present study was to collect and analyze the research on environmental education in non-traditional settings in Turkey undertaken with various subjects (e.g. students, graduates and teachers) and published over the years of 2000-2011. For systematic analysis, selected data-bases and journals were scrutinized across five pre-determined criteria. The close examination resulted in 11 studies reporting the effects of the interventions (e.g. hands-on practices, field trip activities) and 4 studies reporting participants’ views on the effects of the interventions in general. Field trips, ecology-based nature education programs, nature camps and science education instruction in non-traditional settings were used as educational intervention in the selected studies. Later, these studies were subjected to content analysis to present the trends and to synthesize the common findings of the selected studies. The techniques and instructions used as the intervention in these selected studies were observed to contribute to development of participants’ gains associated with knowledge of the environment and nature, perception of nature, environmental affect, responsible environment behaviors and conception and understanding of science.
A Causal Relationship and Macroeconomic Activity: Empirical Results From European Union

This study investigates the relationship among macroeconomic variables using quarterly data for European Union covering the period from 1970 I to 2000 IV. The purpose of this study is to estimate the dynamic interrelation among macroeconomic variables such as money, gross domestic product, interest rates, level of price and exchange rates. For the empirical analysis of this investigation, we employ the Johansen multivariate cointegration technique as well as Granger causality tests. The empirical results provide evidence for the existence of important causality relations between variables that describe macroeconomic activity.
Do investors really value derivatives use? Empirical evidence from France

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the valuation effect of derivatives use in the French market using a sample of 250 non-financial firms over the period 2000-2002. Design/methodology/approach - The approach taken is application of linear regression framework and panel data techniques. Findings - The paper finds that the decision to use derivatives has no effect on firm valuation. However, the extent of derivatives use is associated with lower firm value. Hence, it seems that French investors do not assign a premium value to derivatives use. Practical implications - The findings imply that managers should explain to investors that firms truly use derivatives for hedging purposes and how such a financial policy creates shareholders value. Originality/value - It is believed that this is the first study that examines the valuation effect of derivatives use in France.