Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular and morphological studies of Paecilomyces sinensis reveal a new clade in clavicipitaceous fungi and its new systematic position

The type materials of Paecilomyces sinensis, including herbarium specimen and ex-type strain, were re-examined to clarify its relationships with other species. Morphological observations on the strain grown in various culture media revealed that the fungus was morphologically related to Polycephalomyces, since it produced conidial mass and lanceolate or narrowly lageniform phialides. Six genes, including ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, tef1, rpb1 and rpb2, were amplified from the type materials and used in phylogenetic analyses to determine the systematic position of the fungus in the framework of clavicipitaceous fungi. The results place P. sinensis with Polycephalomyces formosus, the type species of Polycephalomyces, and Cordyceps ramosopulvinata forming a clade unaffiliated with the known families of clavicipitaceous fungi. Based on both morphological and molecular data, a new combination, Polycephalomyces sinensis, is proposed for Paecilomyces sinensis. The new clade found in this study is designated as Polycephalomyces clade and expands the phylogenetic diversity for clavicipitaceous fungi. The teleomorph–anamorph connection between Berkelella and Polycephalomyces previously conceived cannot be retained as the type species of Polycephalomyces, P. formosus, is closely linked to species of Cordyceps s.l. in the new clade.
The relation of cognitive learning strategies to psychosocial employability attributes amongst black adult learners in the economic and management sciences field

Orientation: Research provides empirical evidence of the importance employers andemployees attach to continuous learning and development opportunities as aspects ofemployees’ employability, retention and job and career satisfaction. Research purpose: The objective of the research was to investigate the relation between adultlearners’ cognitive learning strategies (measured by the examination preparation inventory)and their psychosocial employability attributes (measured by the employability attributesscale). Motivation for the study: Recent research has made important progress in understanding thenotions of cognitive learning styles in learning and psychosocial employability attributes insustaining individuals’ employability in the contemporary world of work. However, researchon how adult learners’ cognitive learning strategies influence the psychosocial attributes theyneed to manage and sustain their employability has been lacking. Research approach, design and method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design wasused, involving a stratified proportional random sample of 1102 predominantly early careerblack female undergraduate level adult learners. The participants were enrolled for distancelearning studies in the economic and management sciences field at a South African highereducation institution. Main findings: Canonical correlation and multiple regression analysis indicated the abstracttheoretical and factual practical cognitive learning strategies as useful predictors of theparticipants’ overall level of psychosocial employability attributes and especially their levelsof career self-management and proactivity. Practical/managerial implications: Learning practitioners should strive to integrate cognitivelearning strategies in the design of learning and assessment activities in order to fosterthe psychosocial employability attributes adult learners need to manage their continuedemployability in the contemporary workplace. Contribution: The study contributes new insights to the employability and learning andeducation literature. The results may potentially inform formal learning and assessmentdesign in order to improve adult learners’ learning performance and employability.
Shelter competition between the invasive western tubenose goby and the native stone loach is mediated by sex

Shelter, regarded as a protection against predators and/or nesting site, constitutes one of the basic resources for which organisms compete in the wild. Ponto-Caspian gobies are a good example of a territorial species, which can have negative impact on native species with similar biology due to competitive interactions. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the potential impact of the invasive Ponto-Caspian western tubenose goby Proterorhinus semilunaris on the native stone loach Barbatula barbatula through shelter competition. We used male and female gobies in their reproductive season to test whether they would be more aggressive towards native stone loach, accounting for different light conditions in a limited shelter competition scenario. The results of our study showed that both tested species occupied the shelter mostly during the daylight. Only male goby reduced the shelter occupancy of stone loach despite the fact that interspecific aggressive acts were very rare. It was associated with the nest guarding by male gobies, considering that the study was conducted during their reproductive season. Based on our results, it is possible that, under natural conditions, male tubenose goby would force stone loach to stay away from the shelter, especially in late spring and early summer, when gobies are in reproductive state. This might affect stone loach populations by devoiding them of optimum sites and increasing their exposure to predators.
Comparisons of Male and Female Broiler Responses to Dietary Threonine from 42 to 56 Days of Age

SUMMARY Females approximate 30% of the broilers marketed for further processing. The need for threonine for females is known to be less than for males during the first few weeks of production; however, information is limited on any difference thereafter. This study examined responses of male and female feather-sexable broilers to diets formulated to contain three concentrations of threonine (0.52, 0.63, and 0.74% total) from 42 to 56 d of age. Male broilers optimized growth rate and feed to gain ratio when threonine approximated 0.74% of the diet; 0.63% dietary threonine was more appropriate for females. Dietary threonine concentration did not influence chilled carcass yield, abdominal fat percentage, or the proportion of “A” Grades. In agreement with live performance, males optimized fillet weight with 0.74% dietary threonine; 0.63% was adequate for females. The need for dietary threonine to optimize live performance and recovery of the breast fillets is less for females than for males during 42 to 56 d of age.
Time Allocation and Performance: The Case of Chinese Entrepreneurs

Abstract This paper analyses the effect of time allocation on the financial performance of entrepreneurial firms. We apply the Lewbel estimator to a pooled data set of Chinese private manufacturing firms that are managed by their owners. Time is allocated between management, networking, and study activities. After accounting for endogeneity, we find an inverted U-shaped relationship between management hours and firm performance and between networking and firm performance. However, no relationship between time spent studying and firm performance is observed. We also find that the managing hours–performance relationship is particularly strong for companies managed by entrepreneurs who own more than 75% of share, for companies that are managed by owners with previous experience, for male entrepreneurs, and for smaller-sized firms.
"Want to" Versus "Have to": Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivators as Predictors of Compliance Behavior Intention

“Worthless,” “money burning,” or “black holes” is how media and professionals describe compliance practices today. Practitioners are unenthusiastic about control systems, codes of conducts, and systems for compliance management that are increasing in volume but not in effectiveness. In order to help practitioners clarify what actually makes employees comply with their compliance program, this study examines intrinsic and extrinsic motivators of 119 employees from procurement and sales. We contribute to the existing motivation literature, testing the self-determination theory in low and high hierarchical levels. Our findings show that intrinsic motivators are more strongly and positively related to compliance intention on higher hierarchical levels than the lower ones. However, employees from higher hierarchies show overall less compliance intention than employees from lower hierarchies. © 2015 The Authors. Human Resource Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gender and Grade Level as Factors Influencing Perception of Geography

Pupils’ perception of any science subject significantly influences their achievement. Identification of perception of some subject is essential part of educational research. This study is focused on finding out differences in the four dimensions of geography perception (1. Geography as a school subject; 2. Geography and environment; 3 Importance of geography; 4. Relevance of geography lessons to pupils life) between gender and grade level of lower secondary school pupils. The research tool was questionnaire with 27 Likert type items; the data were obtained from 540 lower secondary pupils from Czech Republic. The data were analyzed by the method of descriptive (mean score, standard deviation)and inductive (analysis of variance) statistics. The gender had got significant influence in the first dimension and grade level in the fourth dimension. Results are discussed in the conclusion part and there is information about the possibility of future research.
Computationally Efficient 2D DOA Estimation for L-Shaped Array with Unknown Mutual Coupling

Although L-shaped array can provide good angle estimation performance and is easy to implement, its two-dimensional (2D) direction-of-arrival (DOA) performance degrades greatly in the presence of mutual coupling. To deal with the mutual coupling effect, a novel 2D DOA estimation method for L-shaped array with low computational complexity is developed in this paper. First, we generalize the conventional mutual coupling model for L-shaped array and compensate the mutual coupling blindly via sacrificing a few sensors as auxiliary elements. Then we apply the propagator method twice to mitigate the effect of strong source signal correlation effect. Finally, the estimations of azimuth and elevation angles are achieved simultaneously without pair matching via the complex eigenvalue technique. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed method is computationally efficient without spectrum search or polynomial rooting and also has fine angle estimation performance for highly correlated source signals. Theoretical analysis and simulation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Accounting Information and Cost of Capital: A Theoretical Approach

The primary goal of this study is to provide a theoretical model that shows explicit solutions for equilibrium prices and derives the equilibrium required return for the firm’s stock price. In other words, this theoretical study provides a direct link between accounting information, related to the firm’s reports, and the cost of capital within an equilibrium setting. Accounting information is judged to be of high value because it affects the market’s ability to direct firms’ capital allocation choices. The findings showed that an increase in expected cash flows, coming from improvements in the quality of accounting information, leads to a reduction in the firm’s cost of capital.
Impact of employee orientation on retention: A case of service sector organizations in Pakistan

The purpose of this quantitative study is to discover the impact of employee orientation on employee retention. Furthermore, it is a brief review of some relevant approaches which have been used for the measurement of employee retention. It also describes the number of factors which may contribute to affect employee retention in service sector organizations of Pakistan. The aims and objectives of this research are to determine the impact of orientation on employee retention in service sector organizations of Pakistan. This quantitative research was conducted through the responses collected by Pakistani employees with the help of close ended questionnaire developed on Likert scale. Moreover, it was concluded that orientation has an impact on retention and finally recommendation were made to make orientation programs more strong and useful for increasing job satisfaction and retention of employees.
SALMONELLA PREVALENCE IN POULTRY FARMS OF ECUADOR AND SEROTYPE IDENTIFICATION BASED ON MULTIPLEX PCR SYSTEMS

Salmonellosis control is in part based on the reduction of Salmonella presence in primary poultry production. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry farms of Ecuador. In 2014, the first national survey of industrialized poultry farms was done. Salmonella spp. was isolated from manure samples and serotypes were determined by conventional serotyping. Additionally, the ability of multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) systems to identify the Salmonella serotype of the isolates was evaluated and results were confirmed with serological methods. One hundred forty five farms were sampled and a total of 26 isolates of Salmonella spp. were recovered from 16 of them, resulting in a national apparent prevalence at the farm level of 11%; 12.7% in broiler chickens farms, 11.5% in breeder flocks and 8.9% in egg-laying hens farms. The isolated serotypes of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were: Enteritidis, Infantis, Saintpaul and Serogroup O:8:Z4 Complex. A flow diagram for the use of the evaluated multiplex PCR systems is proposed and the potential significances of the identified serotypes for public health are discussed.
Dissolved and particulate primary production and bacterial production in offshore Antarctic waters during austral summer: coupled or uncoupled?

The dependence of heterotrophic bacteria on dissolved organic products released by phytoplankton was estimated in the Weddell and Scotia Seas during austral summer 1998. We used time-course experiments of 14 C-bicarbonate assimilation and compartmental analysis to estimate primary production of total (TOC), particulate (POC) and dissolved (DOC) organic carbon. Three in situ incubations were also performed in Bransfield Strait. Phytoplanktonic biomass and production were within the ranges previously reported for offshore Antarctic waters, with mean values of 0.45 mgchlorophylla m -3 and 0.51 mgC m -3 h -1 for total primary production (0.45 and 0.06 mgC m -3 h -1 of POC and DOC, respectively). Percent extracellular release (PER = DOC/(POC+DOC)) aver- aged 13% (range 5 to 33%), a value comparable with those reported for lower latitudes. The produc- tion rate of DOC correlated positively with TOC and POC production rates, but not with chlorophyll a concentration, suggesting that availability of recently fixed photosynthate was a key factor regulat- ing phytoplanktonic DOC release. As much as 82% of the variance in bacterial heterotrophic pro- duction (BHP), estimated by 3 H-leucine incorporation, was accounted for by dissolved primary production. BHP bore no relationship with other phytoplankton-related variables. Assuming a con- servative bacterial growth efficiency of 14%, as reported by recent work in Antarctic waters, our experiments indicate that phytoplanktonically produced DOC would suffice to meet bacterial carbon demand. These results suggest a strong coupling between phytoplankton and bacterioplankton through DOC release and uptake under non-bloom conditions in the Southern Ocean.
Gap Structure of the Overdoped Iron-Pnictide Superconductor Ba(Fe$_{0.942}$Ni$_{0.058}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$: A Low-Temperature Specific-Heat Study

Low-temperature specific heat (SH) is measured on the postannealed Ba(Fe1−xNix)2As2 single crystal with x = 0.058 under different magnetic fields. The sample locates on the overdoped sides and the critical transition temperature is determined to be 14.8 K by both the magnetization and SH measurements. A simple and reliable analysis shows that, besides the phonon and normal electronic contributions, a clear term emerges in the low temperature SH data. Our observation is similar to that observed in the Co-doped system in our previous work and is consistent with the theoretical prediction for a superconductor with line nodes in the energy gap.
Conodont bioapatite resembles vertebrate enamel by XRD properties

XRD properties of Phanerozoic conodont apatite material were studied. It was found out that in terms of crystallinity the apatite resembles the enamel tissue of modern vertebrates. In terms of crystal lattice, apatite of conodonts is independent of taxa on the one hand and of chemistry of the surrounding rock type on the other hand.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE KAKUM RURAL BANK TO POVERTY REDUCTION IN THE KOMENDA-EDINA-EGUAFO-ABREM MUNICIPALITY IN THE CENTRAL REGION, GHANA

The study was designed to examine the contribution of Kakum Rural Bank (KRB) to poverty reduction in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality (KEEA). The study employed descriptive and evaluative designs. All four agencies in the KEEA municipality were included in the study. The systematic random sampling technique was used to draw 370 customers and 14 members of staff of Kakum Rural Bank who were purposively sampled for the study. Questionnaires were principally used to collect data from respondents. Graphs and tables were used to present descriptive aspects of the results while non-parametric inferential procedure was used to present the evaluative aspect. The results of the study revealed that KRB, with its financial and non-financial services, has helped in poverty reduction in the KEEA Municipality. Data gathered from the respondents showed a significant improvement in most of the poverty indicators, with the exception of provision of potable water and clothing for families. Judging by the potential that KRB has for reducing poverty, it is recommended that the bank should expand its coverage in the municipality.
Von Willibrand Factor Antigen as a Non Invasive Predictor of Portal Hypertension in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

In cirrhotic livers, increased resistance to portal blood flow is the primary factor in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension (PH) and is caused by structural abnormalities in the hepatic vascular architecture and an increased hepatic vascular tone. Von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF Ag) is released by activated endothelial cells (ECs) and therefore represents an indicator of EC activation and plays a crucial role in high shear stress, depending on primary hemostasis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of vWF-Ag to detect clinically significant PH suggested by portal vein velocity (PVV) in patients with liver cirrhosis and to evaluate vWF-Ag levels in the prediction of decompensation. Patients and methods: vWF Ag was measured in thirty patients with liver cirrhosis and twenty healthy control subjects and results were correlated with portal hypertension as suggested by portal vein velocity. Results: Levels of vWF Ag were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than healthy control subjects while levels of PVV were significantly lower. vWF Ag significantly increase in presence of ascites and shrunken liver. Levels of vWF show significant correlation with PVV and the best diagnostic cutoff value for portal hypertension was found to be 270 U/dL. Conclusion: Our study shows an impressive correlation between portal hypertension and vWF levels thus can be used as noninvasive predictor of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Comparative study of age estimation in wild and cultured Octopus vulgaris paralarvae: effect of temperature and diet

The common octopus Octopus vulgaris is a highly valuable species worldwide, but to understand its population dynamics and requirements under culture conditions, it is crucial to improve our knowledge about its planktonic stages. Previous studies validating daily beak growth increments in these stages allowed age estimation and comparison of wild and cultured paralarvae. We aimed to improve age estimations in captivity, addressing the effect of temperature and diet, to obtain an accurate estimation of age in wild specimens collected from the coast to the open ocean off NW Spain and Morocco. We analysed the beak growth increments of reared paralarvae at 14 and 21°C with 2 different crustacean prey taxa (Artemia and spider crab Maja brachydactyla zoeae) over 30 d. Daily increment deposition at 21°C was confirmed, whereas <1 increment d−1 was recorded at 14°C. The width of the reading area grew accordingly with age; therefore, this beak region may be suitable for age estimation. A general linear model (GLM) analysis showed that temperature and the interaction of age × temperature significantly influenced increment deposition, whereas diet did not. The number of growth rings recorded in wild paralarvae beaks ranged from 0−8 on the coast, 7−11 on the continental shelf and 2−28 in the open ocean. Corrected age estimates of wild paralarvae were obtained with the GLM using the mean temperatures recorded in the wild, supporting the hypothesis that O. vulgaris leave the coastal area and develop in the open ocean transported by upwelling filaments.
How Does Product Market Competition Interact with Internal Corporate Governance?: Evidence from the Korean Economy*

In this study, we empirically test whether firms that belong to a business group (chaebol) behave differently from stand-alone firms in their decisions regarding internal corporate governance, given product market competition. The existing literature has ignored the possibility that firm characteristics may differentially affect this relationship. We find that the member firms of chaebol maintain better internal corporate governance in a non-competitive environment, whereas stand-alone firms do so in a competitive environment. We also find that the positive effects of internal corporate governance on firm value are stronger in a non-competitive environment for stand-alone firms, but not for affiliated firms. We ascribe the detected differences in corporate behavior and performance to differences in the level of competitive pressure to which firms are exposed. When we classify the firms by asset size or product market leadership, we observe a similar pattern, which also supports our conjecture.
Technological Entrepreneurship: A Multilevel Study

New technology-based firms play an important role in the business world, as they accelerate innovation processes and increase competitiveness. In the study of these businesses, it is necessary to involve variables of different levels of analysis. With the responses of 103 new technology-based firms, the relationship between variables at the individual, organizational, and contextual level was analyzed. The results show no clear and convincing relationship between entrepreneurial passion and creativity but there is between creativity and innovation. Also, the environmental dynamism showed no moderating influence on the passion-creative relationship but there was in the creativity-innovation relationship. The document presents a discussion of the main findings and conclusion of this work.
Privatisation, State Ownership and Productivity: Evidence from China

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between the transfer of ownership between the public and private sectors of Chinese industry, and its impacts on performance. We link ownership changes to productivity growth, and demonstrate that privatisation contributes significantly. We offer an extension that is generally ignored in the literature, in looking at firms that are taken back into state ownership, and evaluating the productivity growth effects of this. Further, we highlight the well‐understood simultaneity problems, and demonstrate the hazard of ignoring the issue by comparing various estimators, including the modified control function approach. In general, the results stress the importance of allowing for such endogeneity when evaluating the productivity effects of ownership change.