Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Labour-Use Efficiency in the Tunisian ' s Manufacturing Industries : A Flexible Adjustment Model

Labour-Use Efficiency in the Tunisian's Manufacturing Industries: A Flexible Adjustment Model This paper investigates the process of adjustment in employment. A dynamic model is applied to a panel of six Tunisian manufacturing industries observed over the period 1971-1996. The adjustment process is industry and time specific. The adjustment parameter is specified in terms of factors affecting the speed of adjustment. Industries are assumed to adjust their labour inputs towards a desired level of labour-use. A translog labour requirement function is specified in terms of observable variables and is used to model the desired level of labour-use. The labour requirement is specified to be function of wages, output, quasi-fixed capital stock and technology. The empirical results show that in the long-run, employment demand responds greatest to value added, followed by capital stock changes, and least by wages. The speed of adjustment in employment and the degree of labour-use efficiency show large variations among the sectors and over time.
Evaluation of plant and animal tea solution fertilizers on the soil fertility and growth of locust bean (Parkia clappertonia) seedlings in the nursery

An experiment was carried out at Akure in the rainforest zone of Nigeria to determine the effectiveness of liquid plant and animal tea solutions as fertilizers on the growth of two cr&/JS of locust bean (Parkia clappertonia) tree seedlings in the nursery. Eight manurial tea solutions were used namely; coffee, cocoa, Cajanus-eajan (Pigeon pea), Cashew, plantain leaf tea fertilizers, goat dung, turkey and duckmanure tea fertilizers, applied at 100 mL/ 10 kg soil filled polybag with NPK 15-15-15 at 1 g NPK/10 kg soil and control (no manure, no fertilizer). They were replicated three times and arranged in a completely randomized design. The soil and manurial tea fertilizers were chemically analysed before planting locust bean seeds. The results showed that the manurial tea solutions increased the plant height, stem girth, number of leaves and number of branches, shoot weight and root length at harvest, leaf chemical composition of locust bean seedlings and the soil nutrient status significantly (P < 0.05). For soil chemical composition, coffee leaf solution increased the soil pH, a.M, N,P,K, Ca and Mg by 4.2%, 10%, 13.6%,58.3%,22%, 91.3% and 84% respectively when compared with cajanus leafsolution while the cashew leaf solution increased the soil pH, a.M, N, P,K, Ca and Mg by 2.8%, 11 %, 48%, 57%, 8.3%, 38.5% and 33% when compared with cocoa leaf solution respectively. Coffee leaf tea solution increased the soil pH, a.M, N, P, K, Ca and Mg by 24%, 74%, 82%, 89%, 96%, 98% and 97% compared with the control treatment respectively. Coffee tea solution increased the soil pH, a.M, K, Ca and Mg by 25%, 69%, 39%, 98.7% and 99% compared to NPK fertilizer treatment respectively. Turkey manure tea solution also increased the soil pH, a.M, N, P and Mg by 2%, 19%, 37%, 42% and 82% respectively compared to the duck manure tea. Concerning the growth parameters of locust bean seedlings, Cashew leaf tea solution increased the plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, stem girth, root length and shoot weight by 33%, 41 %, 33.3%, 12.2%, 36.4% and 16% compared to the NPK fertilizer treatment respectively. It also increased the same growth parameters by 61 %, 71 %, 78%, 62%, 77% and 71 % respectively when compared to the control treatment. In the locust bean leaf chemical composition, the cashew leaf tea solution increased the leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg by 42%, 45%, 4.16%, 85% and 83% when compared with NPKfertilizer respectively. Cashew leaf solution and turkey manure tea solutions increased the growth, leaf and soils of locust bean seedlings most.
The influence of degree of peat decomposition on phosphorus binding forms in fens.

Re-wetting of drained fens can release phosphorus, introducing a eutrophication risk for associated aquatic ecosystems. Characterisation of the different forms of organic and inorganic bound phosphorus in the peat is an important step towards the development of tools for assessing the level of risk attached to individual rewetting projects. In the work reported here, a sequential extraction (fractionation) method was used to distinguish the following P binding forms: 1. labile P, detected by NH4Cl extraction; 2. redox-sensitive P, detected by Na2S2O4/NaHCO3 extraction; 3. P adsorbed to metal oxides, detected by HCl extraction; 4. P bound to humic substances, detected by NaOH extraction; and 5. organic and refractory bound P, detected using H2SO4 and H2O2. Special attention was paid to the degree of decomposition (DPD) of the peat, and metal concentrations were measured in selected fractions. Higher P concentrations were found in completely humified than in little humified peat for all fractions except the NH4Cl (labile P) fraction, where P content increased as DPD decreased. As only 1% of total phosphorus (TP) was present as labile P, the results indicate that the decisive horizons for nutrient release after re-wetting are those that are completely humified due to pedogenetic changes. The principal metal sorption partner for P was Fe.
Neighborhood Social Determinants of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer, which is more frequently diagnosed in African American (AA) women than in European American (EA) women. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of social determinants in racial disparities in TNBC. Data on Louisiana TNBC patients diagnosed in 2010–2012 were collected and geocoded to census tract of residence at diagnosis by the Louisiana Tumor Registry. Using multilevel statistical models, we analyzed the role of neighborhood concentrated disadvantage index (CDI), a robust measure of physical and social environment, in racial disparities in TNBC incidence, stage at diagnosis, and stage-specific survival for the study population. Controlling for age, we found that AA women had a 2.21 times the incidence of TNBC incidence compared to EA women. Interestingly, the incidence of TNBC was independent of neighborhood CDI and adjusting for neighborhood environment did not impact the observed racial disparity. AA women were more likely to be diagnosed at later stages and CDI was associated with more advanced stages of TNBC at diagnosis. CDI was also significantly associated with poorer stage-specific survival. Overall, our results suggest that neighborhood disadvantage contributes to racial disparities in stage at diagnosis and survival among TNBC patients, but not to disparities in incidence of the disease. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which social determinants affect the promotion and progression of this disease and guide efforts to improve overall survival.
Atmospheric PM2.5 and Depositions of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Kaohsiung Area, Southern Taiwan

ABSTRACTKaohsiung County, in southern Taiwan, has both highly industrial and rural areas. In this study, the characteristics of PCDD/Fs in the ambient air of Kaohsiung (urban), Meinong (rural) and Xiaogang (heavy industrial zone) in 2014 and 2015 were modeled based on the prevailing meteorological conditions and the measured ambient air concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and TSP. The yearly average PM2.5 concentrations in the ambient air of the three areas were in the range of 23 to 31 µg m–3, all above the National Air Quality Standard of Taiwan (15 µg m–3). The simulated average concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the whole of Kaohsiung area in terms of toxicity equivalent were in the range of 0.034–0.053 pg WHO2005-TEQ m–3. The average total deposition fluxes of total-PCDD/Fs-WHO2005-TEQ ranged between 155.4 and 276.6 pg WHO2005-TEQ m–2 month–1 with 1,2,3,7,8-PeCCD and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF being the dominant congeners in terms of PCDD/Fs WHO2005-TEQ. Xiaogang area with highly industrial activities had the highest concentrations of PM2.5 and PCDD/Fs and corresponding total-PCDD/Fs WHO2005-TEQ deposition fluxes, while the Meinong in the rural site recorded the lowest. Average dry deposition velocities of total PCDD/Fs WHO2005-TEQ for both 2014 and 2015 were 0.162, 0.148 and 0.161 cm s–1 for Kaohsiung, Meinong and Xiaogang, respectively, while the average scavenging ratios of total PCDD/Fs WHO2005-TEQ were 6232, 4701 and 6802, for Kaohsiung, Meinong and Xiaogang, respectively. The information provided in this work is useful for both further studies and environmental control strategies concerning atmospheric aerosols and dioxins.
Complexity and Narrow Bracketing in Credit Choice

We examine experimentally the eect of complexity on individual decision making. We focus on credit choices, as they have been widely criticized for their complexity in recent years. In a rst study, we nd that complexity in benets leads to random mistakes, while complexity in costs leads to a specic mistake: choosing a high-benet loan, with very costly repayment schemes. In a second study, we show that individuals still (mistakenly) choose the high-benet loan, even if cheaper and simple loans are available. This suggests that, when costs are complex, individuals bracket narrowly, focus on benets and ignore costs, while they do not when benets are complex. Hence, our results show that complexity and narrow bracketing may be deeply intertwined: complexity that makes narrow bracketing cognitively easier is likely to lead to myopic choices, such as choosing complex and expensive loans, despite the presence of simple and cheaper loans.
Ichthyofaunal diversity and status with reference to physicochemical characteristics in Sharavathi Estuary, Uttara Kannada District

Estuaries are an important component of the coastal ecosystem. The current study conducted at three stations of the Sharavathi estuary revealed the presence of total of 32 species belonging to nine orders and 25 families. The members of order Perciformes were dominant with 14 families, of which Carangidae and Gerridae consisted of three species each, whereas Lutjanidae and Stromateidae had two species each. Among non-perciform fish, Pleuronectiformes and Clupeiformes consisted of three species each, whereas other orders had one species each. The distribution of fish species was lower in station 3 compared to other sampling sites. Analysis of physicochemical characteristics indicated that the levels of calcium, nitrate, sulphate and magnesium were higher at station 3 compared to other two sampling stations. Taken together, these results suggest that the decline in fish population might be due to the unfavorable physicochemical characteristics in part of the Sharavathi estuary.
Rheological properties of emulsions stabilized by green banana (Musa cavendishii) pulp fitted by power law model

No presente trabalho, foi estudado o comportamento reologico de emulsoes adicionadas de polpa de banana verde utilizando a metodologia de superficie de resposta e tambem foram investigadas a estabilidade das emulsoes. Foram desenvolvidas cinco formulacoes, de acordo com o delineamento para superficies limitadas e misturas, com as proporcoes respectivamente: agua/oleo de soja/polpa de banana verde: F1 (0,10/0,20/0,70), F2 (0,20/0,20/0,60), F3 (0,10/0,25/0,65), F4 (0,20/0,25/0,55) e F5 (0,15/0,225/0,625). As propriedades reologicas foram realizadas em reometro Haake Rheostress 600, com sensor de geometria cone e placa (60-mm diâmetro, 2o ângulo de cone), usando uma distância de abertura de 1mm. As emulsoes mostraram comportamento pseudoplastico e foram descritas adequadamente pelo modelo Lei da Potencia. O comportamento reologico foi influenciado pelas diferentes proporcoes de polpa de banana verde e tambem pelas temperaturas (10 e 25oC). As formulacoes com alto teor de polpa (F1 e F3) apresentaram maior tensao de cisalhamento e viscosidade aparente. Relativo a metodologia de superficie de resposta, descrita pelo modelo quadratico, pode-se observar que o coeficiente de consistencia aumentou com a interacao entre a polpa de banana verde e a concentracao de oleo de soja e a agua contribuiu com o aumento do indice de comportamento para todas as amostras de emulsoes. A Analise de Variância mostrou que o modelo de segundo ordem nao apresentou falta-de-ajuste com valor F significativo, indicando que o modelo quadratico representou bem os dados experimentais. As emulsoes que apresentaram melhor estabilidade foram as formulacoes F4 (0,20/0,25/0,55) e F5 (0,15/0,225/0,625).
The Cospectrum of Stress-Carrying Turbulence in the Presence of Surface Gravity Waves

AbstractThe cospectrum of the horizontal and vertical turbulent velocity fluctuations, an essential tool for understanding measurements of the turbulent Reynolds shear stress, often departs in the ocean from the shape that has been established in the atmospheric surface layer. Here, we test the hypothesis that this departure is caused by advection of standard boundary layer turbulence by the random oscillatory velocities produced by surface gravity waves. The test is based on a model with two elements. The first is a representation of the spatial structure of the turbulence, guided by rapid distortion theory, and consistent with the one-dimensional cospectra that have been measured in the atmosphere. The second model element is a map of the spatial structure of the turbulence to the temporal fluctuations measured at fixed sensors, assuming advection of frozen turbulence by the velocities associated with surface waves. The model is adapted to removal of the wave velocities from the turbulent fluctuations u.
Canopy Structure in a 650-Year Douglas-Fir Chronosequence in Western Washington: Distribution of Canopy Elements and Open Space

Using within-canopy, side-viewing light detection and ranging (LiDAR), we measured canopy structure in a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) chronosequence. We present foliage profiles, canopy com- position, and a new metric quantifying the vertical distribution of open space, supporting and extending results from other structural studies. Foliage distribution shifted from vertically uniform in the youngest stand (50 years), to a canopy surface peak in mature forests (100-160 years old), to a near-ground maximum in old-growth (650 years). Leaf area index in old-growth and mature forests was similar but was smaller in young forest. Canopy composition changed with age: relatively more dead elements in young, boles in mature, and diversity in old-growth canopies. Older forest had greater mean and variance in open space than younger forests. Open space was vertically uniform in young, unimodal in mature, and greatest in the upper canopy in old-growth forests. Our results provide an integrated description of canopy structure over more than half a millennium, highlighting solid structure and its complement, open space. The unique element we present—open space— provides novel insights into the assessment of forest structure. This study provides a means to compare forests across ages, from immature to old-growth, with an additional canopy variable available for developing relationships between canopy structure and function. FOR . S CI. 57(4):309-319.
Inter-Play Between Saving, Inflation and Economic Growth in Ethiopia: Linkage and Threshold Analysis

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the interplay between savings, inflation and economic growth, and to estimate the threshold level of inflation that is consistent for the economic growth of Ethiopia. 2SLS technique was applied within the framework of Simultaneous equation model using time series data from 1981 to 2015. OLS model was also used for estimating the optimum threshold level of inflation rate for the economic growth. The relationship between domestic saving and economic growth has been found to be one directional and positive; growth causing saving. Foreign aid and final consumption has found positive and significant effect on economic growth. The study has also found significant and positive bi-directional relationship between economic growth and inflation. Inflation has adverse effect on domestic saving and inflation is also negatively affected by Opines to trade. The findings of OLS estimation suggested that 12% threshold level of inflation was consistent for the economic growth of Ethiopia; inflation rates below this threshold level do not have any significant impact on economic growth. These widely deviating findings for Ethiopia requires policy efforts that are relevant for development of a country. In order to achieve high economic growth, policy efforts must be focused on increasing saving, this would eventually induce growth in the economy through widening investment. Keywords : Economic Growth, Saving, Inflation, Threshold Level, Simultaneous
Raising out of finite CP in Nguni: the case of fanele

The Nguni modal verb fanele can select a finite clause in the subjunctive mood as its complement. Typically, the thematic subject of this clausal complement remains in the embedded subject position, in which case the matrix verb fanele is prefixed with the expletive marker ku-. However, in another possible construction with fanele, the thematic subject of the embedded subjunctive clause is realised in the matrix subject position and agrees with both fanele and the embedded verb. In this paper, I provide empirical evidence that the matrix subject in the latter construction originates in the embedded clause but has undergone raising (A-movement) to the matrix subject position. I then offer a theoretical discussion of this type of raising out of finite CPs based on the concept of 'defectiveness' and the theory of phases which underlie the analysis of raising constructions advocated in the Minimalist Program (Chomsky, 2000; 2001; 2005).
Metagenomic and Resistome Analysis of a Full-Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in Singapore Containing Membrane Bioreactors

Reclaimed water provides a water supply alternative to address problems of scarcity in urbanized cities with high living densities and limited natural water resources. In this study, wastewater metagenomes from 6 stages of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) integrating conventional and membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment were evaluated for diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria, and relative abundance of class 1 integron integrases (intl1). ARGs confering resistance to 12 classes of antibiotics (ARG types) persisted through the treatment stages, which included genes that confer resistance to aminoglycoside [aadA, aph(6)-I, aph(3′)-I, aac(6′)-I, aac(6′)-II, ant(2″)-I], beta-lactams [class A, class C, class D beta-lactamases (blaOXA)], chloramphenicol (acetyltransferase, exporters, floR, cmIA), fosmidomycin (rosAB), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (macAB, ereA, ermFB), multidrug resistance (subunits of transporters), polymyxin (arnA), quinolone (qnrS), rifamycin (arr), sulfonamide (sul1, sul2), and tetracycline (tetM, tetG, tetE, tet36, tet39, tetR, tet43, tetQ, tetX). Although the ARG subtypes in sludge and MBR effluents reduced in diversity relative to the influent, clinically relevant beta lactamases (i.e., blaKPC, blaOXA) were detected, casting light on other potential point sources of ARG dissemination within the wastewater treatment process. To gain a deeper insight into the types of bacteria that may survive the MBR removal process, genome bins were recovered from metagenomic data of MBR effluents. A total of 101 close to complete draft genomes were assembled and annotated to reveal a variety of bacteria bearing metal resistance genes and ARGs in the MBR effluent. Three bins in particular were affiliated to Mycobacterium smegmatis, Acinetobacter Iwoffii, and Flavobacterium psychrophila, and carried aquired ARGs aac(2′)-Ib, blaOXA−278, and tet36 respectively. In terms of indicator organisms, cumulative log removal values (LRV) of Escherichia coli, Enterococci, and P. aeruginosa from influent to conventional treated effluent was lower (0–2.4), compared to MBR effluent (5.3–7.4). We conclude that MBR is an effective treatment method for reducing fecal indicators and ARGs; however, incomplete removal of P. aeruginosa in MBR treated effluents (<8 MPN/100 mL) and the presence of ARGs and intl1 underscores the need to establish if further treatment should be applied prior to reuse.
IMPACT OF WORK FAMILY CONFLICT ON JOB SATISFACTION AMONG EMPLOYEES IN A PUBLIC SECTOR

According to the role theory, the expected relationship between Work-Family Conflict and Job Satisfaction is such that an increase in Work-Family Conflict reduces the level of Satisfaction (Frone et al., 1992; Kopelman et al., 1983). This hypothesized negative relationship has been found in most studies. Job Satisfaction is an attitude associated with the degree to which people like or dislike their job. A low level of job satisfaction predicts negative attitudes and behavior in the work context, such as absenteeism, external turnover and reduced productivity (Spector, 1997). This research study was undertaken to identify the impact of Work-Family Conflict on Job Satisfaction among the executives of a public sector organization in Tamil Nadu state. In this study a sample size of 473 executives was selected by adopting proportionate stratified random sampling technique. A well-designed and pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data from the respondents. The researcher has obtained the impact of work family conflict on job satisfaction at 15.90 per cent of the total variation. Suitable suggestions are provided in this study.
Job Insecurity and Mental Health: The Moderating Role of Coping Strategies From a Gender Perspective

Job insecurity is a growing phenomenon, typical of an employment context characterised by high rates of temporary work and unemployment. Previous research has shown a direct relationship between job insecurity and mental health impairment. The present analysis goes into this relationship in depth, studying the moderating role of coping strategies and predicting that men and women implement different types of strategies. A sample of 1.008 workers is analysed, 588 women and 420 men. The Tobin CSI scale was used to analyse the coping strategies, in addition to JIS-8 to assess job insecurity, the MOS Perceived Social Support Survey and the GHQ-28 test to evaluate mental health. Then, a hierarchical linear regression was designed to study the moderating role of 8 coping strategies of job insecurity and 4 mental health subscales in men and women, separately. Results illustrate that coping strategies play a moderating role in the relationship between job insecurity and mental health. However, the aggravating role of disengagement coping strategies is more relevant than the buffering role of engagement strategies. On the other hand, women implement a greater number of coping strategies, with more positive results for mental health. Also, in the relationship between job insecurity and mental health the most important strategies are the ones related to social interaction inside and outside an organisation, and these are the main ones used by women. It therefore follows that strengthening rich social relationships inside and outside the working environment is a guarantee of well-being.