Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strength use, training and development, thriving, and intention to leave: the mediating effects of psychological need satisfaction

This study investigated the relationships among strength use, training and development, psychological need satisfaction, thriving, and intention to leave of academics in higher education institutions. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with a convenience sample of 276 academic employees from three universities of technology in South Africa. The Strength Use Scale, the High-Performance Human Resource Practices questionnaire, the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, the Thriving at Work Scale, and the Intention to Leave scale were administered. Strength use had direct effects on autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction of academic employees. Training and development had a direct effect on autonomy satisfaction. Furthermore, autonomy satisfaction, strength use, and training and development had direct effects on thriving, while low autonomy satisfaction and inadequate training and development had direct effects on intention to leave. Strength use, as well as training and development, had indirect effects on thriving and intention to leave via autonomy satisfaction.
Combining ability of inbred lines in quality protein maize (QPM) for varietal improvement

Information on the combining ability of elite germplasm is essential to maximize their use for variety development. Sixty-six F1 crosses resulted from diallel crosses of 12 QPM inbred lines and two standard checks BHQP542 and Melkassa6Q were evaluated to determine general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability for yield and yield related traits using alpha-lattice design with two replications during the 2013 cropping season at Mechara. Analysis of variance showed that mean squares due to entries were significant for most traits studied, indicates existence of variability among the materials. Mean squares due to crosses and crosses versus checks were also significant for most studied traits. GCA and SCA mean squares revealed highly significant (p<0.01) differences for grain yield and most yield related traits. Inbred lines P1, P3 and P12 were good general combiners as the lines showed significant and positive GCA effects for grain yield. Among the crosses, P2 x P11 and P6 x P8 manifested positive and significant SCA effects for grain yield, indicating high yielding potential of the cross combinations. In general, this study identified inbred lines and hybrid combinations that had desirable expression of important traits which will be useful for the development of high yielding varieties.
How Could Board Diversity Influence Corporate Disclosure

This paper aims to provide a theoretical analysis on the relationship between diversity and corporate disclosure. A literature review has been conducted to assess the aforementioned relationship. Through the literature, agency theory and stakeholder theory support board diversity. This paper explains how Hofsetde-Gray culture theory could be used to explain the relationship between nationality as one of the diversity characteristics, and corporate disclosure. Presence of a diverse board is expected to positively influence corporate disclosure. On one hand, this paper provides future research an opportunity to empirically assess this relationship. On the other hand, the positive influence that board diversity has on corporate disclosure provides an opportunity to companies to diversify their boards according to different nationalities and gender type.
Concentration in the international construction market

With the involvement of an increasing number of contractors in the international construction market, venturing overseas has been fraught with fierce competition and considerable uncertainties. This underscores the importance of examining the extent to which the intensity of competition (IoC) for international construction business is moderate. Concentration is a conventional IoC measure. By synthesizing four major concentration methods including concentration ratio, entropy, Gini coefficient and the Herfindahl index, a new model for measuring moderate IoC is thus proposed. Using the 28 years ENR‐based data of the top 225 international contractors (TIC 225) in the proposed model, the IoC for international construction business is found to be moderate, if the magnitude of the market shares occupied by the top four international contractors is 0.2735. The finding revises a popular view that international construction competition has been intensifying only since 2002. It is implied that the proposed model favours a better understanding of competition characteristics in the international construction market and provides new insights into the theories about concentration.
Seasonality and time-related aspects of suicides in Greece: an applied time-series analysis

The background that underlies each committed suicide varies among people and constitutes a complex structure of psychological, behavioural and biological risk factors that may be triggered by external conditions. Recent studies have shed new light on the association of suicides with particular days and periods of year, in an attempt to resolve the inconsistencies met in literature regarding this relationship. The aim of this study is to look into any time-related patterns on suicides in Greece and to do so we analyzed the frequency of suicides over a period of 13 years (2000-2012) in terms of day of the week, month, major celebration and season. A seasonal ARIMA model revealed the association between suicide frequency and month of year, with a peak to be reached in May and July and increased numbers of suicides to be reported during spring and summer months. Monday was the most frequent day of suicide occurrence whereas Sunday was the least one. A season pattern of suicides was validated. The increase of suicide occurrences on Mondays could be explained by the “broken-promise effect” which has been described as the consequence of frustrated expectations of the weekend. Suicide peaks in spring and summer may be explained partially by biological factors (e.g. serotonergic alterations) as well as the experience of depressed people perceiving the social and emotional contrast to other people that enjoy outdoor activities at that period.
Microbiological parameters of soil under sugar beet as a response to the long - term application of different tillage systems

Traditional ploughing cultivation can contribute to soil erosion as well as to other symptoms of soil degradation, leading to a decline in its biological and production potentials. An alternative to conventional tillage is offered by simplified cultivation systems consisting of shallower and less intensive interference into the soil physical structure or even complete abandonment of cultivation treatment. The aim of the performed investigations was to ascertain the impact of a long-term application of simplifications in soil tillage on select soil chemical and microbiological properties under sugar beet cultivation employing two watering combinations: natural distribution of precipitation and sprinkling. Conventional ploughing tillage was treated as reference. The research hypothesis assumed that the application of simplifications in the pre-sowing soil cultivation of sugar beets contributes to the increase in soil organic carbon content and soil fertility. Its microbiological activity and sprinkling also can modify this effect. Experiments were carried out for a period of four years in conditions of long-term application of three tillage systems (conventional tillage, simplified cultivation, and direct sowing). Select soil chemical (pH, Corg., total N) and microbiological (total bacterial counts, numbers of oligotrophs, copiotrophs, actinomycetes and fungi, plus activity of dehydrogenases and acid phosphatase) parameters were analyzed. The microbiological indices analyzed in this study nearly always spoke in favour of simplifications in soil tillage or complete abandonment of cultivation treatments. In successive years of experiments, almost all the analyzed parameters assumed the lowest values in conditions of ploughing cultivation and the highest ones in direct sowing. Sprinkling and fertilization modified this rule, whereas the level and directions of this impact varied and depended on weather conditions.
A Review of Research into Venture Capitalists' Decision Making: Implications for Entrepreneurs, Venture Capitalists and Researchers

A recent review of the current literature on how venture capitalists make their investment decisions suggests that the decision-making process adopted by venture capitalists is more an art than a science. The review also highlights the fact that researchers have not been able to identify the key decision-making variables that lead to making a successful investment choice. Nor do venture capitalists understand their own decision-making process. This paper addresses these issues and suggests how entrepreneurs attempting to obtain equity finance from venture capitalists may structure proposals to have a better chance of acceptance. The paper concludes with a discussion of directions for future research.
Will Financial Analysts Mistake Stocks of Good Companies for Good Stocks? Evidence from Taiwan Stock Market

It has been shown that the individual or institutional investors rely on the information provided by the financial analysts. A good stock recommended by financial experts is expected to make profit to the investors. However, due to the cognitive biases, the financial analysts or investors are probably confused in the firm characteristics between the good stocks and the stocks of good companies. Good companies are normally inferred to the company that have good managing and operating systems, however, it is usually though to have good returns as good stocks. The future earning forecasts of these good companies may be thus overestimated as compared with the others. Such cognitive biases probably results in improper investment and investment loss. In this study, the reputation survey results for the companies in Taiwan and the corresponding financial data are used to verify the proposed cognitive biases hypothesis. The empirical evidence in this study shows that financial analysts mistake stocks of good companies for good stocks. However, it is also shown that the average one-year buy-and-hold return of these sample firms (including good companies and good stocks) is still higher than that of the chosen matching firms.
PIV measurements of flow structures in a spray dryer

Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements are made in horizontal planes in a simplified scale model of a spray dryer using water as fluid. The sample rate was sufficient to resolve phenomena at lower frequencies. Data reveal asymmetric velocity fields in both mean fields and dynamics. Data were analysed using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). An important periodic event is an elongation of the jet core cross section that results in a downstream displacement of the jet towards the chamber wall.
3-D lithospheric structure beneath southern Tibet from Rayleigh-wave tomography with a 2-D seismic array

SUMMARY A 3-D shear wave velocity model has been established for the lithosphere of southern Tibet through Rayleigh-wave tomography. The teleseismic data are acquired from a 2-D seismic array selected out of the second phase of the Hi-CLIMB project. We first inverted for a 2-D phase velocity model using two-plane-wave tomography approach, and then inverted for the 3-D shear wave velocity model with the 2-D phase velocity model and the map of crustal thickness derived from receiver functions. The results reveal a pervasive low velocity anomaly in the middle crust of the Lhasa block. We interpret this low velocity anomaly as the presence of wholesale mid-crustal channel flow. Prominent low velocity anomalies from the lower crust to the mantle lithosphere are observed along the north–south trending rifts: the Tangra Yum Co rift and the Pumqu Xianza rift. We propose a possible scenario for the formation of these rifts: the entire lithosphere is involved in the early-stage rifting, while the late-stage rifting is restricted in the upper crust. In the non-rift regions, a slab-like high velocity anomaly is traced beneath both the Himalayas and Lhasa block. Combining all the observations, we suggest that the central part of southern Tibet is currently underlain by the broken Indian lower crust and mantle lithosphere.
Storability of the Resultant Seeds from Higher and Normal Temperture Regimes by Accelerated Ageing

Our various initiatives to transgress the yield barriers are impeded, by high temperature stress. Being grown in narrow temperature range, a slight increase in the temperature will drastically reduce the yield of rice. Studies have been conducted on the influence of high temperature on reproductive phase and seed yield of rice. Storability due to difference in temperature of production area is less explored. Hence, the present investigation was carried out by harvesting five rice varieties viz., MDU 5, ASD 16, CO 51, Anna (R) 4 and ADT 43 from two temperature regimes-high (summer, 2016) and normal (rabi, 2016) and by subjecting the seeds to accelerated ageing. There was significant influence of temperature on germination and seedling vigour. The physiological quality parameters along with the enzyme activities were reduced rapidly, with the advance in ageing period. The rate of deterioration was more in seeds obtained from higher temperature regime.
Identifying and modeling the dynamics of a core cancer sub-network.

Many recent studies have shown that the initiation of human cancer is due to the malfunction of some genes at the R-checkpoint during the G1-to-S transition of the cell cycle. Identifying and modeling the dynamics of these genes has a paramount advantage in controlling and, possibly, treating human cancer. In this study, a new mathematical model for the dynamics of a cancer sub-network concentration is developed. Positive equilibrium points are determined and rigorously analyzed. We have found a condition for the existence of the positive equilibrium points from the activation, inhibition and degradation parameter values of the dynamical system. Numerical simulations have also been carried out. These results confirm analyses in the literature.
Residential Mobility and Labor Market Transitions: Relative Effects of Housing Tenure, Satisfaction and Other Variables

This paper undertakes an investigation of the relationship between housing tenure, residential mobility and job mobility. The analysis is done for Spain, France and Denmark, using data from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP, 1995-2001). The econometric technique consists of a bivariate probit model that allows us to account for the simultaneity of behaviors in housing and labor markets. Our results confirm the Oswald hypothesis only in the case of Denmark, where homeowners are found to be less mobile on the labor market. In contrast, the effect of homeownership on job mobility is small in France and no effect is shown in Spain. Finally, our results reveal that, in all countries, mobility is satisfaction driven: Those less satisfied in their job (housing) are more likely to change job (house), and lower satisfaction in commuting time increases job mobility but not residential mobility.
Pathways of PFOA to the Arctic: variabilities and contributions of oceanic currents and atmospheric transport and chemistry sources

Abstract. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluorinated compounds are industrial chemicals in use for decades which resist degradation in the environment and seem to accumulate in polar regions. Transport of PFOA was modeled using a spatially resolved global multicompartment model including fully coupled three-dimensional ocean and atmosphere general circulation models, and two-dimensional top soil, vegetation surfaces, and sea ice compartments. In addition to primary emissions, the formation of PFOA in the atmosphere from degradation of 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol was included as a PFOA source. Oceanic transport, delivered 14.8±5.0 (8–23) t a−1 to the Arctic, strongly influenced by changes in water transport, which determined its interannual variability. This pathway constituted the dominant source of PFOA to the Arctic. Formation of PFOA in the atmosphere led to episodic transport events (timescale of days) into the Arctic with small spatial extent. Deposition in the polar region was found to be dominated by wet deposition over land, and shows maxima in boreal winter. The total atmospheric deposition of PFOA in the Arctic in the 1990s was ≈1 t a−1, much higher than previously estimated, and is dominated by primary emissions rather than secondary formation.
Understanding the extent and nature of adult-onset offending: Implications for the effective and efficient use of criminal justice and crime reduction resources

Criminologists have traditionally considered adult-onset offending to be a rare phenomenon (Eggleston & Laub 2002). Consequently, little criminological theory, research or policy has focused on adult-onset offending. However, an emerging body of research suggests that a substantial number of offenders have their first contact with the criminal justice system at 18 years of age or older (Block et al. 2010; Delisi & Piquero 2011; Eggleston & Laub 2002; Kratzer & Hodgins 1999; McGee & Farrington 2010). These findings have generated increasing interest in adult-onset offenders in recent years. Despite this, the nature of adult-onset offending is still not well understood (Zara & Farrington 2013). The limited research that has been conducted suggests that adult-onset offenders may perpetrate different types of offences to early-onset offenders (McGee & Farrington 2010) and their offending may be associated with different risk factors (Zara & Farrington 2013). Given these findings, some have questioned whether the same traditional criminal justice responses are appropriate for adult-onset and early-onset offenders (McGee & Farrington 2010; Zara & Farrington 2013). In the current study, the extent, nature and costs of adult-onset offending will be examined in a Queensland population-based offender cohort (1983/1984 Queensland Longitudinal Cohort; 83/84 QLD). Adult-onset offenders will be compared with early-onset offenders to determine if and how their offending profiles differ. In addition, the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of current criminal justice responses to adult-onset offending will be examined.
Mapping Paleo-Fire Boundaries from Binary Point Data: Comparing Interpolation Methods

Abstract Fire history studies have traditionally emphasized temporal rather than spatial properties of paleo-fire regimes. In this study we compare four methods of mapping paleo-fires in central Washington from binary point data: indicator kriging, inverse distance weighting, Thiessen polygons, and an expert approach. We evaluate the results of each mapping method using a test (validation) dataset and receiver operating characteristic plots. Interpolation methods perform well, but results vary with fire size and spatial pattern of points. Though all methods involve some subjectivity, automated interpolation methods perform well, are replicable, and can be applied across varying landscapes.
Evolução Espaço-Temporal do Risco de Degradação da Cobertura Vegetal de Petrolina-PE

Resumo A disponibilidade de imagens de satélites em diferentes resoluções espacial, temporal, radiométrica e espectral estão sendo empregadas para monitorar grandes áreas dos diversos biomas existentes no mundo. O monitoramento por imagens orbitais possibilita detectar, analisar e inferir sobre alterações da superfície da Terra provocadas por processos naturais ou antrópicos. Objetivou-se com o presente estudo monitorar e analisar a evolução espacial e temporal na ocupação e uso da terra no Município de Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brasil, utilizando-se dados de superfície e imagens do Landsat-8, para os anos de 2013 a 2015. Técnicas de sensoriamento remoto foram utilizadas para estimar o índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada (NDVI), albedo da superfície (α) e índice de Desvio Padrão Móvel (MDSI). A técnica de detecção de mudança e a classificação por árvore de decisão baseadas em regras predefinidas no NDVI, albedo e MDSI foram aplicadas para inferir sobre ocupação e uso da terra. Os resultados mostraram que os índices de vegetação e as técnicas de monitoramento da degradação e detecção de mudanças identificaram satisfatoriamente o comportamento da vegetação circundante no Município de Petrolina, destacando-se como indicadores de áreas em processo de degradação no semiárido. Conclui-se que a técnica de detecção de mudança e classificação por árvore de decisão foram eficientes na identificação de áreas antropizadas durante o período de estudo.
Internal Migration of Blacks in South Africa: Self-selection and Brain Drain

Migrations historically have led to fears of “brain drain” from the sending regions because many studies show that the more highly skilled and motivated people are more likely to migrate. South Africa provides a natural testing ground for the study of brain drains because the Apartheid system, which ended in the early 1990s, had long constrained the locational choices of black migrants of all skill levels. As apartheid was being dismantled, new opportunities for movement opened up to black workers, leading to a surge in internal migration. We first analyze whether migration patterns of Black South Africans during the period 1992 to 1996 match the predictions of the two seminal papers, Roy (1951) and Sjaastad (1962), where individuals are hypothesized to be income-maximizers. The results from conditional logit regressions on individual choices among 318 locations show that they do. Individuals prefer localities with higher expected log wages regardless of their educations and skills. More importantly, workers with at least some matriculation tend to favor areas where a higher share of the population attended high school. In contrast, workers who did not attend high school find such areas less attractive. Over the study period, brain drain arose among blacks within South Africa: the share of high-educated residents in areas with high shares of high schooling increased.
Increased risk of multi-crew operations: examining the effect of group polarisation on perceived invulnerability in general aviation pilots

According to the theory of group polarisation, perceived invulnerability could be greater in multi-crew operations than for single pilots. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of perceived invulnerability among general aviation pilots in New Zealand and to examine whether the level of perceived invulnerability was influenced by the presence of other pilots. Whilst it is of some concern that the majority of the pilots exhibited perceived invulnerability, no evidence was found to suggest that the level of perceived invulnerability is affected by a group polarisation effect, although further replication of this study is recommended.