Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Labor Market Regulations and Productivity: Evidence from Chilean Manufacturing Plants

This paper analyzes the effect of minimum wage and labor market regulations on productivity. The main hypothesis to be tested is that an increase in the relative minimum wage could have a negative effect on total factor productivity (TFP) if there are important costs of adjustment like firing costs. Using data for the Chilean manufacturing industry for the period 1992 2005, we find that the effect of relative minimum wage is negative and significant. The quantitative effect on cumulative TFP for an industry in the 25th percentile of relative minimum wage increase was a decline of 5.3% for the period 1998-2005, but for an industry in the 75th percentile of relative minimum wage increase, the cumulative reduction in TFP was 10.2%, over the same period. We also find that the continuous reduction in unilateral trade restrictions and through free trade agreements has been productivity enhancing. This is especially true for those sectors with larger exposure to international trade.
An Action Learning Model to Increase Critical Thinking Skills in an ALN Masters Information Systems Capstone Course

Critical thinking and problem solving skills are essential for Information Systems (IS) graduate students, but these skills can be difficult to teach, particular in asynchronous learning network (ALN) environments. Emphasis to teach or reinforce these skills is usually concentrated in an IS capstone course. The capstone is commonly taught with the case method using interactive, argumentative case discussions in class to develop critical thinking skills. However, at one university a new challenge is introduced: how to offer the capstone course in an asynchronous delivery mode, where interactivity is difficult to achieve. This paper details efforts to deliver the capstone via an alternative approach drawing on principles from action learning theory. The course emphasizes analysis and research to integrate theoretical IS concepts with practice. Preliminary data on student perception of learning is presented comparing the method delivered in synchronous and asynchronous modes.
Twisted K-theory and TQFT

1 Introduction 22 Calculation of twisted K-theory of Lie groups 52.1 Connections, gauge groups, and twists . 52.2 Orientations . 72.3 Construction of twisted K-theory . 132.4 Detection of elements of twisted K-theory . 222.5 The identity . 272.6 The anti-diagonal . 333 Moduli spaces and trivializations of twists 413.1 Stacks associated to polarized Hilbert spaces . 413.2 Moduli spaces . 443.3 The product . 51
Measurement of odour and greenhouse gas emissions in two swine farrowing operations

AU -1 (AU – animal unit) from farrowing rooms and 113 OU s -1 AU -1 from gestation rooms. Odour emission from the NAP EMS was negligible in comparison with the open EMS. The open EMS contributed 57% to the total odour emission from the operation; whereas the NAP EMS contributed only 2% to the total emission. The total odour emission from the farm with NCP EMS was 58% of that from the farm with open EMS. The CO 2 emission rates from the building exhaust ranged from 4.8 to 16.6 kg d -1 AU -1 and the rate from farrowing rooms was significantly higher than that from gestation rooms. The CH 4 emission rates from the building exhaust ranged from 73 to 351 g d -1 AU -1 . Both CO 2 and
Learning with Labels of Existing and Nonexisting

We study the classification or detection problems where the label only suggests whether any instance of a class exists or does not exist in a training sample. No further information, e.g., the number of instances of each class, their locations or relative orders in the training data, is exploited. The model can be learned by maximizing the likelihood of the event that in a given training sample, instances of certain classes exist, while no instance of other classes exists. We use image recognition as the example task to develop our method, although it is applicable to data with higher or lower dimensions without much modification. Our method can be used to learn all convolutional neural networks for object detection and localization, e.g., reading street view house numbers in images with varying sizes, without using any further processing.
Operational Value Creation following Levered Buyouts : Domestic and Cross-Border LBO ’ s Compared

This study examines whether operational value is created for target companies in the first three years following a Levered Buyout (LBO) as compared to their public peers. It further investigates if there are differences in value creation between domestic and foreign Private Equity (PE) acquirers. A novel and hand-collected dataset, consisting of 317 Levered Buyouts in Great Britain, France and Sweden during the 2000-2012 period, is used. This paper provides evidence that PE backed firms do experience better operating performance in the first three years following the buyout than their matched non-buyout peers. Most notably, PE firms are able to increase the Return on Assets and Revenue growth of their portfolio companies as compared to their matched peers. No conclusive evidence is found that supports the existence of operational value creation differences between domestic and crossborder PE acquirers.
Evidence that viral abundance across oceans and lakes is driven by different biological factors

SUMMARY 1. Samples from 16 lakes in central (n = 145) and western (n = 12) North America, the coastal northeast Pacific (n = 302) and the western Canadian Arctic Oceans (n = 142) were collected and analysed for viral, bacterial and cyanobacterial abundances and chlorophyll-a concentration. 2. Viral abundance was significantly different among the environments. It was highest in the coastal Pacific Ocean and lowest in the coastal Arctic Ocean. The abundances of bacteria and cyanobacteria as well as chlorophyll-a concentrations also differed significantly among the environments, with both bacterial abundance and chlorophyll-a concentration highest in lakes. As a consequence, the association of these variables with viral abundance varied among the environments. 3. Discriminant analyses with the abundance data indicated that the marine and freshwater environments were predictably different from each other. Multiple-regression analysis included bacterial and cyanobacterial abundances, and chlorophyll-a concentration as significant variables in explaining viral abundance in lakes. In regression models for the coastal Pacific Ocean, bacterial and cyanobacterial abundances were significant variables, and for the coastal Arctic Ocean viral abundance was predicted by bacterial abundance and chlorophyll-a concentration. 4. The relationship of viral and bacterial abundance differed between the investigated freshwater and marine environments, probably because of differences in viral production and loss rates. However, freshwaters had fewer viruses compared to bacteria, despite previously documented higher burst sizes and frequencies of infected cells, suggesting that loss rates may be more important in lakes. 5. Together, these findings suggest that there are different drivers of viral abundance in different aquatic environments, including lakes and oceans.
Origins of weak lensing systematics, and requirements on future instrumentation (or knowledge of instrumentation)

The first half of this paper explores the origin of systematic biases in the measurement of weak gravitational lensing. Compared to previous work, we expand the investigation of point spread function instability and fold in for the first time the effects of non-idealities in electronic imaging detectors and imperfect galaxy shape measurement algorithms. Together, these now explain the additive A(l) and multiplicative M(l) systematics typically reported in current lensing measurements. We find that overall performance is driven by a product of a telescope/camera's absolute performance, and our knowledge about its performance. The second half of this paper propagates any residual shear measurement biases through to their effect on cosmological parameter constraints. Fully exploiting the statistical power of Stage IV weak lensing surveys will require additive biasesA 1.8 × 10-12 and multiplicative biases M 4.0 × -3. These can be allocated between individual budgets in hardware, calibration data and software, using results from the first half of the paper. If instrumentation is stable and well calibrated, we find extant shear measurement software from Gravitational Lensing Accuracy Testing 2010 (GREAT10) already meet requirements on galaxies detected at signal-to-noise ratio = 40. Averaging over a population of galaxies with a realistic distribution of sizes, it also meets requirements for a 2D cosmic shear analysis from space. If used on fainter galaxies or for 3D cosmic shear tomography, existing algorithms would need calibration on simulations to avoid introducing bias at a level similar to the statistical error. Requirements on hardware and calibration data are discussed in more detail in a companion paper. Our analysis is intentionally general, but is specifically being used to drive the hardware and ground segment performance budget for the design of the European Space Agency's recently selected Euclid mission. ©2012 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Case-Specific Sociological Inference

This essay responds to comments on our earlier paper discussing the American Sociological Association’s amicus brief in the Wal-Mart v. Dukes case. We identify areas of agreement and disagreement with the commentators and close with proposed meta-norms that should govern experts who seek to apply social science research to the facts of a particular case.
Ảnh hưởng các đặc tính của hội đồng quản trị đến sai sót trọng yếu trên báo cáo tài chính: Bằng chứng thực nghiệm tại Việt Nam

Nghien cứu xem xet cac đặc tinh của hội đồng quản trị (HĐQT) co ảnh hưởng thế nao đến sai sot trọng yếu (SSTY) tren bao cao tai chinh (BCTC) ở cac doanh nghiệp (DN) niem yết tại VN. Sử dụng mẫu nghien cứu la 216 DN niem yết tại cac Sở Giao dịch Chứng khoan TP.HCM va Ha Nội trong giai đoạn từ 2011–2014, tac giả phân tich hồi quy Logitics thong qua phần mềm R để xem xet mối quan hệ noi tren va kiểm định độ tin cậy của mo hinh. Kết quả cho thấy khả năng xảy ra SSTY co ý nghĩa thống ke với 5 nhân tố thuộc đặc tinh của HĐQT, đo la: Quy mo HĐQT, tỉ lệ thanh vien khong điều hanh, số thanh vien co quan hệ gia đinh, thanh vien HĐQT co chuyen mon tai chinh va nhiệm ki của thanh vien HĐQT khong điều hanh. Ngoai ra, tỉ số nợ cao cũng la dấu hiệu cảnh bao về SSTY tren BCTC. Kết quả nay co thể giup DN hoan thiện về mặt quản trị; đồng thời co thể giup kiểm toan vien (KTV) va cong ty kiểm toan dự bao SSTY tren BCTC. http://jabes.ueh. edu.vn/Home/SearchArticle? article_Id=f0aa0e58-0b7a-45fb-aaf6-194e5e96862d
THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF SMALL CRACK GROWTH IN FIBER-REINFORCED CERAMIC COMPOSITE MATERIALS

This research program investigates matrix crack initiation and subsequent propagation in fiber-reinforced ceramic materials for use in high-temperature structural applications. Though it presents a formidable manufacturing challenge, the inclusion of ceramic fibers promises to increase fracture toughness and improve failure modes through crack deflection, fracture bridging, and frictional interface slip. Experimental observations show that ceramic composites initially fail at several points in the matrix and along the interfaces. These small cracks and inherent processing flaws propagate and coalesce, forming large cracks that lead to component failure. Therefore, an understanding of small crack growth is necessary for the design of composite systems which delay critical crack formation and which fail in a desirable manner. The Surface Integral and Boundary Element Hybrid (SIBEH) method, supported by experimental observations, has been developed to model crack growth in brittle composite systems. The surface integral method models fractures as a piece-wise continuous distribution of displacement discontinuities. When combined with traditional boundary element methods, the technique provides an efficient tool for modeling three-dimensional crack growth. This approach has been used to model matrix crack initiation in a lithium alumino-silicate (LAS) glass-ceramic that has been reinforced with continuous silicon carbide fibers. By modeling the effects of crack pinning and bridging, interfacial debonding, and frictional interface slip, this investigation aims to determine the stresses required for matrix crack initiation and the material parameters which promote 'graceful' failure modes. These results have been compared to existing analytical solutions for small crack growth. Results of this investigation are expected to be useful in developing guidelines for the manufacture and design of ceramic materials for high-temperature structural applications. Thesis Supervisor: Michael P. Cleary Title: Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The Economics of Trade, Biofuel, and the Environment

The introduction of renewable biofuels was associated with global food crisis and unintended environmental consequences. This paper incorporates energy environment and agricultural sector to the classic Hecksher-Ohlin model to address these issues. A household production function model was introduced to model consumer energy choices and concern about externalities related to climate change and open space. The conceptual model links energy and food markets and derives guidelines for the development of climate change and land-use policies. The results suggest that globalization and capital flows increase demand for energy, leading to decline in food production, increase in food prices, and loss of environmental land. Globally optimal outcomes may require introducing an emission tax and a land-use tax. The introduction of these policies may undermine the factor price equalization theorem. Policies that allow enhancing either agriculture productivity (e.g., agriculture biotechnology) or biofuel productivity (e.g., second-generation biofuels), are shown to lessen the resource constraint associated with the cost of introducing renewable energy.
The radiation impedance of orbiting conductors

The dispersion relation for waves in a cold, magnetized plasma is discussed using the potential for the longitudinal part of the electric field. This clarifies wave emission from a conductor in low Earth orbit and should be useful in considering the far field and both hot plasma and nonlinear, near-field effects. General formulas for radiation impedance are directly obtained. For tethers a fundamental dependence on contactor size is discussed. Spherical and ellipsoidal contactors and an (anodeless) bare tether are considered. Simple arguments on nonlinear contactor effects lead to a surprisingly simple result for impedances off the Alfven branch.
Anatomical and histological study of the thymus gland in native rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The aim of this study is to add the available information of the anatomy and documenting the normal microscopic features of the thymus gland in rabbits, for this reason ten rabbits from the local breed aged between (5-7) weeks breeding in animal house. After anesthetic the healthy animals intramuscularly in the thigh, the thoracic cavity opening by surgical scissor, to entering the thymus to study it anatomically and collected the specimen for histological study. The animals divided into two groups: first group for the anatomical a study and the second group for histological study, the results appear that thymus of rabbit occupy most the thoracic inlet, pyramid in shape, white to yellowish in color, located rostral of the mediastinum area which covered the large vessel of the heart and aortic arch. The thymus is lobulated organ invested by capsule contain from loose connective tissue each the lobe consist of two different area, peripheral area was deep stain called cortex and inner pale area called the medulla, which contain different cells of lymphocyte and epithelial cells which noted arranged in concentric layers forming Hassall ś corpuscles.
Physical Properties of Copper Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Sol–Gel Spin–Coating Method

In this study, copper oxide thin films prepared by the sol–gel method, have been deposed onto glass substrates by the spin coating technique. Our target was to study their properties and improve them for photovoltaic use. These properties were optimized by varying the temperature annealing and the molar concentration of the precursor solutions. The effects of the annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of the thin films are studied. It was found that the film treated at 550°C shows a higher absorbance. Then by using this optimized temperature, CuO thin films of various molar concentrations, were deposited at the same experimental conditions. The structural analysis by X- ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all the samples are polycrystalline with monoclinic crystal structure. Raman scattering measurements of all thin films confirms the structure of CuO. The optical properties of the films were characterized by UV–Visible–NIR spectrophotometry, which shows that the films show high absorbance in the visible region. Their optical band gap decreases from 3.68 to 2.44 eV when the molar concentration of precursor solutions increases from 0.1 to 0.5 M. The electrical measurements show that the resistivity of the films varies slightly from 84 Ω cm to 124 Ω cm as the molar concentration increases.
Impact of Te and ne on edge current density profiles in ELM mitigated regimes on ASDEX Upgrade

ELM resolved edge current density profiles are reconstructed using the CLISTE equilibrium code. As input, highly spatially and temporally resolved edge electron temperature and density profiles are used in addition to data from the extensive set of external poloidal field measurements available at ASDEX Upgrade, flux loop difference measurements, and current measurements in the scrape-off layer. Both the local and flux surface averaged current density profiles are analysed for several ELM mitigation regimes. The focus throughout is on the impact of altered temperature and density profiles on the current density. In particular, many ELM mitigation regimes rely on operation at high density. Two reference plasmas with type-I ELMs are analysed, one with a deuterium gas puff and one without, in order to provide a reference for the behaviour in type-II ELMy regimes and high density ELM mitigation with external magnetic perturbations at ASDEX Upgrade. For type-II ELMs it is found that while a similar pedestal top pressure is sustained at the higher density, the temperature gradient decreases in the pedestal. This results in lower local and flux surface averaged current densities in these phases, which reduces the drive for the peeling mode. No significant differences between the current density measured in the type-I phase and ELM mitigated phase is seen when external perturbations are applied, though the pedestal top density was increased. Finally, ELMs during the nitrogen seeded phase of a high performance discharge are analysed and compared to ELMs in the reference phase. An increased pedestal pressure gradient, which is the source of confinement improvement in impurity seeded discharges, causes a local current density increase. However, the increased Zeff in the pedestal acts to reduce the flux surface averaged current density. This dichotomy, which is not observed in other mitigation regimes, could act to stabilize both the ballooning mode and the peeling mode at the same time.
HIV is not for me: A study of African women who have sex with women's perceptions of HIV/AIDS and sexual health

Women who have sex with women face a unique, yet under-researched set of HIV/AIDS-related risks in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings of this study highlights a tension that, on the one hand, exists between the heteronormativity of healthcare providers and broader society, and the ways in which this silences lesbians and other women who have sex with women in their healthcare interactions and, on the other, the totalising view of WSW sexualities within this community, which silences conversations about HIV because such conversations may expose or accuse a person of 'not being a real lesbian'. The women within the African lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community who participated in our study had scant access to credible HIV/AIDS and safe-sex information, resulting in various and dangerous (mis)conceptions proliferating. The vulnerability of lesbians and other WSW to HIV infection is a complicated public health issue that is perplexing to some and ignored by many, not only on the African continent, but globally. Our research indicates that some WSW engage in high-risk behaviour that places them at an increased risk for HIV transmission. Furthermore, a lack of access to inclusive prevention and healthcare services and an unwillingness to seek treatment are often the consequence of stigma and discrimination and point to distinct inequalities for female-identified LGBTI persons. The study explored the prevailing perceptions of women within the LGBTI community on HIV/AIDS, using various fora, including social media sites, anonymous surveys and anecdotes shared anonymously with the organisation, and which highlights the urgent need for specifically-tailored sexual health and HIV-preventative and coping strategies toward improved health outcomes and an understanding of this vulnerable group. In addition, the experience of our participants demonstrated a strong demand for LGBTI health needs training for healthcare professionals, with a specific focus on the depathologisation of LGBTI identities on the continent. Potential strategies and further research in this community are suggested.
Synergistic renoprotective effect of a compiled branched-chain amino acids and Cymbopogon schoenanthus extract against experimentally induced oxido-nitrosative renal insult

Objective: To better investigate the protective role of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and Cymbopogon schoenanthus (CS) extract against the potassium dichromate (PDC)-induced oxido-nitrosative nephrotoxic insult in the experimental rat model. Methods: Thirty male rats were randomly divided into five equal groups: The 1st group served as control; the 2nd was injected with a single dose of PDC (15 mg/kg b.w i.p.); the 3rd, 4th, and 5th groups were respectively treated with BCAAs, CS, and their combination for 15 d prior to induction of renal insult via PDC single dose (15 mg/kg b.w s.c.). The experimental period was terminated in all groups 2 d after induction of renal insult. The harvested kdney samples were divided for biochemical assays and histological examination. Results: The PDC-induced nephrotoxic effect caused a depletion of renal oxidative scavengers glutathione, superoxide dismutase with consequent lipo-oxidative cellular membrane deterioration manifested by a rise in malonaldehyde, oxidized glutathione, myeloperoxidase and the concomitant increase in inflammatory response elements tumor necrosis factor α, nitric oxide, and interleukin 1 β. Moreover, the comet assay and increased 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine proved an accelerated apoptotic DNA fragmentation. These local renal changes were met with global altered blood biochemistry. The BCAAs and CS or their compiled administration showed an ameliorative effect against PDC-induced nephrotoxic in a synergistic pattern. Conclusions: Both BCAAs and CS or their combined administration afford potential competitors against renal insult induced by polyvalent anion pollutants in experimentally studied animals model. As a route for novel drug discovery, further investigation should be attempted to optimize their augmenting reno-protecting potential.