Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is the "Dominant Firm" Dominant? An Empirical Analysis of AT&T's Market Power

In this article, we estimate the degree of market power held by AT&T in the interstate long-distance market in the postdivestiture period. Our approach makes use of the dominant firm/competitive fringe model to impose the structure needed both to obtain estimates of the relevant structural parameters and to translate these parameters into an estimate of AT&T's residual demand elasticity and associated Lerner index. Because of the continued presence of regulation and other considerations, however, a direct estimation of the residual demand elasticity is not feasible. Consequently, we take a more indirect approach that combines estimation of the elasticity of fringe firm supply, market demand estimation, and extant market share data to generate estimates of the desired elasticity. The resulting estimates strongly support the conclusion that AT&T lacks significant market power in the postdivestiture long-distance market.
(economic) behavior of individual traders in experimental asset markets

In this paper influence of behavioral factors (overconfidence and risk aversion) on financial decision making of economic subjects is analyzed. For this purpose two kinds of experiments were conducted: asset market and risk aversion experiments. In conducted asset market sessions subjects, based on their pre-experimental overconfidence scores, were assigned to two types of markets: the least overconfident ones formed five “rational” markets and the most overconfident ones formed five “overconfident” markets. Data collected from ten experimental sessions revealed that individual performance and trade activity were overconfidence dependent. Even small variations in miscalibration among players of the same “type”, comprising each of the asset markets, were sufficient to cause this effect. In the second part of experiment, post hoc assessment of risk aversion was implemented in a sample of former participants of the asset market experiment (32 persons). The presented evidence suggests that risk aversion was not among the factors that had influence on individual engagement in trade activity or performance. It was concluded that in the sample, for which risk aversion measurements were obtained, experimental market outcomes were overconfidence and not risk aversion driven.
Does the capital structure affect banks’ profitability? Pre- and post financial crisis evidence from significant banks in France

This paper studies the effect of banks’ capitalization on banks’ Return on Equity (ROE). A debate has emerged on the costs for banks of the increase in capital requirements under Basel III. We bring empirical evidence on this issue by analyzing the effect of different capitalization measures on banks’ ROE on a sample of large French banks over the period 1993-2012, controlling for risk-taking as well as a range of variables including the business model. We find that an increase in capital leads to a significant increase in ROE, albeit the economic effect is modest. Furthermore, the method chosen by a bank to increase capitalization (i.e. raising equity) does not alter the result. Over the period, we find some evidence of a negative relationship between the share of credit activities and ROE, which is driven by the 2002-2007 sub-period, characterized by a significant increase in other business line activities. Looking at revenue and cost components, the positive effect of capital on the ROE appears to be driven by an increase in efficiency.
A Review of Recent Investigations on Medicinal Herbs Possessing Anti-Diabetic Properties

Globally, the pervasiveness of chronic, non-communicable disease diabetes mellitus is growing by leaps and bounds. It is one of the major causes of premature morbidity and mortality worldwide. Almost 3.2 million people die of diabetes across the world every year. The worldwide prevalence of diabetes is 6.4% (corresponding to 285 million people); this varies from 10.2% in the Western Pacific to 3.8% in the African region and expected to grow up to 7.4% (439 million) of the adult population by 2030. In the last 20 years there has been a threefold increase in the prevalence of diabetes. It is estimated that there are 30 to 33 million diabetics in India now, and every fourth diabetic in the world today is an Indian. Indians are genetically more susceptible to diabetes and the WHO predicts the number of diabetics in India would go up to 80 million by 2030. WHO has also issued a warning that India is going to be the diabetes capital of the world with Chennai emerging as the diabetic capital of India. Many plants possessing hypoglycemic principles/ properties are known to exist in nature. Also a large number of polyherbal formulations (PHF’s) derived from these plants are presently being prescribed as medicinal/dietary supplements for diabetes mellitus. Even the WHO (World Health Organization) approves the use of plant drugs for different diseases, including diabetes mellitus. However, these formulations lack proper standardization of the active constituents. There is an urgent need to address to the issues of scientific authenticity about their efficacy, safety and their interaction with modern allopathic drugs. The paper reviews composition, active principles and pharmacological effects of some important plants which are widely used in commercially available herbal and polyherbal formulations and provides a detailed list of plants reported to possess potential anti-diabetic activity.
Onset of calving at supraglacial lakes on debris-covered glaciers of the Nepal Himalaya

Abstract Field surveys of supraglacial ponds on debris-covered glaciers in the Nepal Himalaya clarify that ice-cliff calving occurs when the fetch exceeds ∼80 m. Thermal undercutting is important for calving processes in glacial lakes, and subaqueous ice melt rates during the melt and freeze seasons are therefore estimated under simple geomorphologic conditions. In particular, we focus on the differences between valley wind-driven water currents in various fetches during the melt season. Our results demonstrate that the subaqueous ice melt rate exceeds the ice-cliff melt rate when the fetch is >20 m and water temperature is 2–4°C. Calculations suggest the onset of calving due to thermal undercutting is controlled by water currents driven by winds at the surface of the lake, which develop with expanding water surface.
Preparedness to Teach: The Perspective of Saudi Female Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers.

This study investigates how well Saudi pre-service teachers feel prepared to teach mathematics at secondary or middle schools through an interview-based exploration. The participants, a sample of 16 female mathematics pre-service teachers, were near the end of the final year of their 4-year education degree. Key findings show that these graduate teachers felt prepared in teaching methods and strategies, but less prepared about some aspects, namely classroom management, lesson preparation, and integration of technology. Findings from this study will contribute to the current drive to improve teacher and teaching quality, including initial teacher education in Saudi Arabia.
What Drives Client Satisfaction at Non-profit Thrift Stores?

While thrift stores are associated with the idea of thrift, it does not follow that they attract only clients with limited resources who are highly price sensitive. Today thrift stores are becoming less stigmatized and are attracting middle class clients and the better off as well. This suggests that beyond low prices, the clientele may be sensitive to other aspects of the thrift store experience, including good old customer service. The purpose of this paper is to measure and assess the drivers of client satisfaction using quantitative and qualitative data. The paper relies on a client survey implemented among the clientele of Martha’s Outfitters, a highly successful non-profit thrift store located in Washington, DC, in order to assess through basic statistics, regression analysis, as well as responses to open ended questions what drives the high level of satisfaction observed among the clientele. The results suggest that the principal factor leading to high satisfaction among the clientele is the quality of the store’s customer service. Low prices, variety in the available stock of merchandize, quality of the available merchandize, and convenience (including in terms of location) also play a role, but a less important one.
Forest Fragmentation Affects the Behavioral Response of American Redstarts to the Threat of Cowbird Parasitism

Defensive behavior of American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) in response to models of a female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) and a control (Spizella passerina, Passerella iliaca, or Melospiza melodia) placed near their nests was investigated in fragmented and contiguous boreal forest of western Canada. Female redstarts usually discovered and responded first to models but males also participated in nest defense. Based upon several behavioral measures, which included distraction displays, close passes or striking the model, and alarm chip or buzz vocalizations, female redstarts reacted more intensely or aggressively to the cowbird model in fragmented compared with contiguous forested landscapes. We interpret these differences as evidence that redstarts are more familiar with cowbirds in fragmented landscapes because cowbirds are more common there and pose a greater threat to this host's reproductive success. Our findings have implications for interpretations of the demography of redstart populations and the fixation of antiparasite behavioral responses within populations. We suggest that tests using models provide a viable means of evaluating the influence of landscape matrix on the severity of cowbird exposure to host populations.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Egalitarian Risk Sharing under Liquidity Constraints

Undertaking joint projects in practice involves a lot of uncertainty, especially when it comes to the final costs. This paper addresses the problem of sharing realized costs by the participants, subject to their individual liquidity constraints. If all cost levels can be accounted for, and if the individual agent’s liquidity is at least the fair share of the average risk-adjusted costs, then it is possible to find an egalitarian solution to this problem. We characterize this rule by means of properties that are defined for solutions in the context of rationing problems. The rule we propose is reminiscent to the constrained equal award rule in rationing models. First, there is a vector of transfers allocated to the agents if there are no costs of the project. The constrained equal award rule is applied to the variable component, i.e., when the liquidities are corrected for the transfers.
The X-ray activity of the slowly rotating G giant δ CrB

δ CrB is a single G giant whose distinctive characteristics include an X-ray luminosity exceptionally high for a slowly rotating star. δ CrB was observed in March 2003 by the XMM−Newton observatory. The X-ray spectra of δ CrB are described by a MEKAL plasma model with two components at 6.5 × 10 6 K and 10 7 K. Series of lines of highly ionized Fe and several lines of the Ly series are visible in RGS spectra, most notably from O and Ne. The oxygen abundance is similar to the average abundance of the other elements but the Ne/O ratio found for δ CrB seems higher than in the solar photosphere, reminiscent of a similar anomaly observed in a subset of solar flares and in active stellar coronae. The spectral fitting of the EPIC and RGS spectra of δ CrB suggests a corona configuration with little contribution from quiet regions similar to the Sun. On the contrary the temperature T ≈ 6.5 × 10 6 K of the "cool" plasma component is reminiscent of solar type active regions, while the hot (T ≈ 10 7 K) component may be caused by disruptions of magnetic fields associated with a permanent flaring activity. The analysis results of the XMM−Newton observation of δ CrB were compared with those of other single G giants with similar spectral type, mass and evolutionary status but with higher rotation rates. The comparison suggests that rapid rotation (P < 9 days) could increase the surface coverage with active regions and the flaring rate on G giants as expected from classical, helicity related, dynamo-driven activity. We argue that the X-ray emission of δ CrB and slowly rotating giants could be related to the existence of magnetic fields induced by turbulent motion.
Employment Effects of the 2009 Minimum Wage Increase: New Evidence from State-Based Comparisons of Workers by Skill Level

Abstract In July, 2009, when the US Federal minimum wage was increased from $6.55 to $7.25, individuals in nearly one-third of all states were unaffected, since the state minimum wage already exceeded $7.25. We use this variation to make comparisons of the employment of low-skill workers with their peers across states and with workers within states who were arguably unaffected by the increase, using DID and DIDID methods. Our data come from the 2009 Current Population Survey, 4 and 5 months before and after the increase. We find little evidence of negative employment effects for teens or less-educated adults. Further control for demographic characteristics and state fixed effects have relatively small effects on the size and significance of estimated effects.
Subjects Background and Nursing Education

Traditionally, Nursing students study human bioscience e.g. pathophysiology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology in their first and second year course. Nursing students are facing difficulties with bioscience learning. Hence, it’s essential for nursing students to keep in mind that bioscience understanding is very important throughout the research, and clinical practice. The PURPOSE of this study was to assess BSN students’ experiences regarding bioscience subject’s background and nursing education. A cross-sectional analytic study was done among 183 BSN (Generic) students February 2018 to May 2018. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect the required sample size. Data on individual characteristics of Bioscience learning experiences was collected by distributing semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical tool SPSS 21.0 was used for the analysis of collected data. Person correlation test used to determine the relationship between variables. In this study majority of BSN (Generic) students were considered bioscience subjects more challenging and time consuming. About 45.36% participants were agreed with there is more content required for bioscience compared with nursing subjects. BSN students (59.56%) were reported that bioscience related to nursing practice to gain better understanding for assessment. Majority of participants were reported that bioscience subjects more difficult as compared to nursing subjects. Bioscience relationship with nursing practices significantly correlated with clinical-relevant employment. In this type of research the area of improvement have been reviewed further knowledge available for those who will conduct the research on this topic in future.
Rice field for the treatment of pond aquaculture effluents

-1 d -1 potassium chloride application (RK) and rice planted and mineral fertilizer (N: P2O5: K 2O = 0.6: 0.5: 0.8) applied before the experiment (RF). Inflow and effluent water from the treatments were monitored weekly. The water quality parameters monitored in this study included: total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (PO 4 3-P), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia-nitrogen (NH 4 + -N),
Physical underpinnings of privacy

One of the remarkable features of quantum mechanics is the ability to ensure secrecy. Private states embody this effect, as they are precisely those multipartite quantum states from which two parties can produce a shared secret that cannot under any circumstances be correlated with an external system. Naturally, these play an important role in quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum information theory. However, a general distillation method has heretofore been missing. Inspired by Koashi's complementary control scenario [M. Koashi, e-print arXiv:0704.3661 (2007)], we give a new definition of private states in terms of one party's potential knowledge of two complementary measurements made on the other and use this to construct a general method of private state distillation using quantum error-correcting codes. The procedure achieves the same key rate as recent, more information-theoretic approaches while demonstrating the physical principles underlying privacy of the key. Additionally, the same approach can be used to establish the hashing inequality for entanglement distillation, as well as the direct quantum coding theorem.
The sharp threshold for jigsaw percolation in random graphs

Abstract We analyse the jigsaw percolation process, which may be seen as a measure of whether two graphs on the same vertex set are ‘jointly connected’. Bollobás, Riordan, Slivken, and Smith (2017) proved that, when the two graphs are independent binomial random graphs, whether the jigsaw process percolates undergoes a phase transition when the product of the two probabilities is $\Theta({1}/{(n\ln n)})$. We show that this threshold is sharp, and that it lies at ${1}/{(4n\ln n)}$.
Comparative Study of Injection Systems in Vapor Phase in the Remediation of Soils Contaminated by Diesel

Gasoline and diesel leaks in underground storage tanks contaminate soils with petroleum hydrocarbons. Various techniques using surfactants have been proposed to remedy this type of contamination. This study presents the application of different systems containing surfactants in vapor phase. It compares the removal efficiencies of diesel contaminated soils using vapor injection systems: surfactant water solutions, micro-emulsions, and nano-emulsions. The surfactant used in the experiments was ethoxylated alcohol UNTL-90 in aqueous solution, in nano-emulsion, and micro-emulsion systems. Among the systems investigated, the nano-emulsion showed the highest removal efficiency (88%), being environmentally friendly and technically feasible with a system that has a lower content of active matter.
Title Influence of invasive Spartina growth stages on associated macrofaunal communities Permalink

In coastal wetlands, invasive plants often act as ecosystem engineers altering flow, light and sediments which, in turn, can affect benthic animal communities. However, the degree of influence of the engineer will vary significantly as it grows, matures and senesces, and surprisingly little is known about how the influence of an ecosystem engineer varies with ontogeny. We address this issue on the tidal flats of San Francisco Bay where hybrid Spartina (foliosa · alterniflora) invaded 30 years ago. The invasion has altered the physico-chemical properties of the sediment habitat, which we predicted should cause changes in macrofaunal community structure and function. Through mensurative and manipulative approaches we investigated the influence of different growth stages of hybrid Spartina on macrobenthos and the underlying mechanisms. Cross-elevation sampling transects were established covering 5 zones (or stages) of the invasion, running from the tidal flat (pre-invasion) to an unvegetated dieback zone. Additionally, we experimentally removed aboveground plant structure in the mature (inner) marsh to mimic the ’unvegetated areas’. Our results revealed four distinct faunal assemblages, which reflected Spartina-induced changes in the corresponding habitat properties along an elevation gradient: a pre-invaded tidal flat, a leading edge of immature invasion, a center of mature invasion, and a senescing dieback area. These stages of hybrid Spartina invasion were accompanied by a substantial reduction in macrofaunal species richness and an increase in dominance, as well as a strong shift in feeding modes, from surface microalgal feeders to subsurface detritus/ Spartina feeders (mainly tubificid oligochaetes and capitellid polychaetes). Knowledge of the varying influence of plant invaders on the sediment ecosystem during different phases of invasion is critical for management of coastal wetlands.
Synoptic weather patterns associated with intense ENSO rainfall in the southwest United States

La Niña winters exhibit significant local enhancement of heavy rainfall in the southwest United States, relative to El Niño. This contrasts with average daily rainfall intensity, which is instead increased during El Niño winters. The present study explores the relationship between heavy rainfall and associated atmospheric circulation patterns. Using composite analysis, we find that heavy rainfall events in the southwest arise from the presence of a persistent offshore trough and simultaneous emplacement of a strong source of subtropical water vapor. Greater intensity of these storms during La Niña is consistent with a deeper offshore trough leading to strengthened moisture fluxes. Composite circulation patterns survive amongst a large degree of synoptic variability, highlighting the importance of understanding this variability when making regional climate predictions.
Education and fertility in the context of rising inequality

Two main factors arguably account for the fact that the negative gradient of fertility by educational attainment, which has been prevalent in developed countries in most of the 20th century, has recently become weaker in most Western countries: rising inequality and educational composition shifts that change the selectivity of educated mothers in terms of their preferences regarding career and children. In this paper I review how four drivers of inequality mediate the childbearing behavior of women of different educational backgrounds: first, the impact of rising employment polarization; second, the slowdown in gender convergence in labor participation and wages since the late 1990s; third, the fertility behavior of newly-arrived immigrants contingent on economic opportunities in destination countries; and fourth, widening gaps in resources children receive from parents with different levels of educational attainment. These gaps can have lasting intergenerational impact both in economic and social outcomes such as fertility and union formation.
Heavy metals and toxic trace elements contents in soils of selected areas of the Kavala prefecture, Northern Greece

In the present study a total of sixteen samples (3 surrounding rocks and 13 uncultivated top- soils) from the industrial zone east of the city of Kavala, Northern Greece, was collected and ana- lyzed for their content in 41 elements. The extraction of the elements was based on the digestion of 0.1 g of each sample with 2 ml HNO3 and the soil fraction used was the < 200µm. The analytical methods used were ICP-OES for the elements Ca, Mg, K, B, Sr, Fe, Na, Si, S, P, and Al and ICP- MS for the elements Mn, Zn, Cu, Ti, V, Cr, Rb, Ba, Th, La, Ce, As, Sn, Co, Se, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Cs, W, Sb, Li, U, Ag, Ni, Hg, Ga, Ge and Pb. The mean element concentrations of the thirteen topsoil samples were compared with the mean values for soil types Fluvisols and Leptosols. The results showed that they are enriched for the elements Ag, As and Pb by 21, 15 and 3 times, respectively. Moreover, the topsoils were compared with the three surrounding rock samples. The results showed that the concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Si, S, Al, P Na, B, Ce, Co, Cs, Ga, Ge, Hg, La, Li, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, U and W in the topsoils are mainly influenced by their concentrations in the surrounding rocks. The elements Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sb, Ti, Y, V, Zn, and Zr are enriched in the topsoils. The enrichment of Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sb, and Zn is mainly due to the widespread presence of PBG sulphides, Mn, Cd, and As in the surrounding mineralizations. The enrichment took place, quite possibly, during the formation of Drama and Nestos basins, during Tertiary, and is possibly being continued until today. However, the human activities that take place in the area are also, at least partially, responsible for this enrichment.