Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Your Language or Mine

Do languages matter beyond their communicative benefits? We explore the potential role of preferences over the language of use, theoretically and empirically. We focus on Catalonia, a bilingual society where everyone is fully proficient in Spanish, to isolate linguistic preferences from communicative benefits. Moreover, we exploit the language-in-education reform of 1983 to identify the causal effects of language skills. Results indicate that the policy change has improved the Catalan proficiency of native Spanish speakers, which in turn increased their propensity to find Catalan-speaking partners. Hence, the acquisition of apparently redundant language skills has expanded cooperation across speech communities.
Physiological Determinants of Invasive Success Linking Distribution Patterns to Metabolic Physiology in Native and Invasive Blue Mussels (genus Mytilus)

In the early 20th century, a blue mussel species from the Mediterranean invaded the California coast and subsequently out-competed the native species south of Monterey Bay. Like other invasive species, Mytilus galloprovincialis has physiological traits that make it successful in habitats formerly occupied by the native M. trossulus, namely its adaptation to warm sea surface temperatures. This study looks at the current genotype distributions and enzymatic activities of field-acclimatized mussels within the hybrid zone where the species co-occur as well as mussels that have been acclimated for four weeks to different temperature and salinity conditions. In the field-acclimatized and laboratory-acclimated mussels, the native species exhibited significantly higher enzyme rates, which may reflect an evolutionary adaptation to compensate to low habitat temperatures. Indeed, the results of the laboratory acclimation indicate that these differences are genetically based. Whether an acclimation capacity exists may require even longer-term acclimation to different temperatures. Current findings suggest that the further spread of the invasive species is likely to be governed in large measure by the potentially counteracting effects of rising temperatures, which would favor the northerly spread of M. galloprovincialis, and increased winter precipitation, which would favor the persistence of M. trossulus. However, the success of M. galloprovincialis during acclimation to ‘dilute’ salinity (25 ppt) suggests that the invasive species can tolerate a greater salinity range than previously thought. Thus, further investigation is needed to build a comprehensive predictive model of the movement of M. galloprovincialis and the hybrid zone along the California coast.
Consumer Demand for Fair Trade: Evidence from a Multistore Field Experiment

Abstract We provide new evidence on consumer demand for ethical products from experiments conducted in a U.S. grocery store chain. We find that sales of the two most popular coffees rose by almost 10% when they carried a Fair Trade label as compared to a generic placebo label. Demand for the higher-priced coffee remained steady when its price was raised by 8%, but demand for the lower-priced coffee was elastic: a 9% price increase led to a 30% decline in sales. While consumers attach value to ethical sourcing, there is significant heterogeneity in willingness to pay for it.
Study of the preparation of compact materials by methods based on severe plastic deformation

The dissertation addresses the development of microstructures and mechanical properties of selected Aland Ti-based alloys prepared by severe plastic deformation. Materials processed by severe plastic deformation techniques have been extensively investigated during the past decades because of their ultra-fine-grained structure, superior yield stress and tensile strength. The dissertation is well written, organized according to standards and based on a high volume of experimental data. After “Introduction” the theoretical base is given in the next three paragraphs. In these paragraphs the author summarizes the basic knowledge on the powder metallurgy (PM) processes, compaction methods of powders, severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes and powder consolidation using SPD. After the theoretical part the aims of dissertation are clearly summarized. Five alloying systems were selected in the experimental part of the work: Al, Al-Cu, Al-CuMg, Ti-Ta and Ti-Nb-Zr. The preparation processes included cold isostatic pressing of powders, sintering, rotary swaging and high pressure torsion. The prepared samples were subjected to structural analysis including analysis of porosity, grains by EBSD, chemical microanalysis by EDS. Mechanical properties were characterized by Vickers microhardness testing. The author has obtained a large volume of important experimental data and discussed the results in relation to those reported in the scientific literature. The development of refined microstructures due to the severe plastic deformation which is associated with increased microhardness is well documented in the work. Relationships between chemical composition of initial powders, consolidation processes, resulting structural development and mechanical properties are provided.
Immigrants' Location Choices, Geographic Concentration, and Employment in New Zealand

Immigrants’ location choices can play an important role in determining their employment outcomes. While it is generally accepted that new immigrants may initially face disadvantages in finding a job in their host country, a less-studied factor is the role of location choice, which includes major existing ethnic and cultural capital (networks and resources of the ethnic enclave) on reducing barriers to employment. In this paper, we examine the impact of ethnic enclaves on the location choices and employment outcomes of recent immigrants to New Zealand, a country where immigrants comprise a significant part of the labour force. We apply the new longitudinal individual-level Statistics New Zealand data, the Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand (LisNZ), which allows an in-depth analysis based on a wide range of important variables. We find that stronger ethnic networks significantly influence the settlement decisions of recent immigrants and assist their employment integration. We also find that, as hypothesised, migrant networks have a greater impact on the settlement decisions of recent migrants from non-Englishspeaking countries compared with the immigrants from English-speaking backgrounds. Our empirical evidence strongly suggests that existing ethnic enclaves play a significant positive role in immigrants’ employment integration in New Zealand. he location choices and employment outcomes of immigrants are important factors that influence their post-migration integration and economic success. An important but less studied factor that also influences these outcomes is the strength of social networks and resources that immigrants can access within broader ethnic diasporas.
Interactive comment on “ SACRA – global data sets of satellite-derived crop calendars for agricultural simulations : an estimation of a high-resolution crop calendar using satellite-sensed NDVI ” by

The idea of using simple (and thus easily globally applicable) remote sensing techniques for the derivation of crop cycles is not entirely new. Especially the use of simple multispectral vegetation indices such as the NDVI is very critically discussed among the remote sensing community, because VIs only provide relative estimations and must rely on a high degree of empiricism, if land surface information shall be provided by them. However, the authors have compiled a data set that holds some potential for future applications. Due to reasons of data scarcity, the authors resort to averaged data from three consecutive years (2004-2006). The data product generated from this study therefore is of limited use for the direct parameterization of global growth models. However, taking the current development in Earth Observation into account (e.g. the development of ESA’s Sentinel series), data scarcity will soon be less critical compared to now. The proposed method represents a simple and thus easily applicable approach that can potentially make use of large amounts of temporally highly resolved global optical Earth Observation data and may provide interesting input parameters for global land surface models.
Leaf anatomy of rubber-tree clones

Rubber trees are easily recognizable for being woody, medium to large-sized plants, having a typical deciduous behavior, and especially because they produce latex. The purpose of this work was to study the anatomy and morphology of the leaf, comparing rubber tree &91;Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell. -Arg. &93; clones (RRIM 600 and GT 1) grafted on the same root stock (Tjir 1), grown under the same climatic and soil conditions. This study allowed clones to be differentiated and also provided information on the location and disposition of laticifers in the leaf tissue. Cross sections of the mesophyll, center ribbing and petiole regions were made, followed by usual permanent histological blade methods. Biometric analyses of tissue extensions in the palisade and spongy parenchymas were carried out, and the number of cells in the spongy parenchyma were counted. At the same time, biometrical analyses were made for stomata. The comparison between the clones showed that there were no significant differences in epidermal cell height, spongy parenchyma height, number of cells in the spongy parenchyma layer, and size and width of leaflets. However, variation was observed for cell thickness in the palisade parenchyma. The clone GT1 presented greater thickness as compared to the RRIM 600 clone. GT1 had also a greater number of stomata in comparison to RRIM 600, but they were smaller. GT1 presented greater petiole and center ribbing diameters in the leaves and a greater amount of sclerenchyma fibers than RRIM 600.
Determinants of residential water consumption: Evidence and analysis from a 10‐country household survey

Household survey data for 10 countries are used to quantify and test the importance of price and nonprice factors on residential water demand and investigate complementarities between household water‐saving behaviors and the average volumetric price of water. Results show (1) the average volumetric price of water is an important predictor of differences in residential consumption in models that include household characteristics, water‐saving devices, attitudinal characteristics and environmental concerns as explanatory variables; (2) of all water‐saving devices, only a low volume/dual‐flush toilet has a statistically significant and negative effect on water consumption; and (3) environmental concerns have a statistically significant effect on some self‐reported water‐saving behaviors. While price‐based approaches are espoused to promote economic efficiency, our findings stress that volumetric water pricing is also one of the most effective policy levers available to regulate household water consumption.
Soil fertility and upland rice yield after biochar application in the Cerrado

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar made from Eucalyptus on soil fertility, and on the yield and development of upland rice. The experiment was performed during two years in a randomized block design with four replicates, in a sandy loam Dystric Plinthosol. Four doses of NPK 05-25-15, annually distributed in stripes (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1), and four doses of biochar (0, 8, 16 and 32 Mg ha-1), applied once in the first year - alone or with NPK - were evaluated. In the first year, biochar positively affected soil fertility [total organic carbon (TOC), Ca, P, Al, H+Al, and pH], at 0-10 cm soil depth, and it was the only factor with significant effect on yield. In the second year, the effect of biochar diminished or was overcome by the fertilizer. TOC moved down in the soil profile to the 0-20 cm depth, influencing K availability in this layer. In the second year, there was a significant interaction between biochar and the fertilizer on plant growth and biomass dry matter accumulation.
Differential Rain Attenuation Statistics Including an Accurate Estimation of the Effective Slant Path Lengths - Abstract

The differential rain attenuation is considered to be one of the main propagation factors causing interference between adjacent Earth-Space paths. In the present paper, an existing method to predict the differential rain attenuation statistics is properly modified to include a more complicated but accurate estimation of the slant path lengths affected by the rain medium. The modified method is oriented to be generally applicable, particularly in the case of satellite paths operating under low elevation angles in the Ku-band, where the accurate estimation of the effective slant path lengths is very critical. The present results are compared with a set of available simulated data for the differential attenuation over pairs of paths located in Montreal. The influence of various other parameters such as the geographic latitude and climatic zone is also examined.
Measuring Teacher Effectiveness through Hierarchical Linear Models: Exploring Predictors of Student Achievement and Truancy

This study explored significant predictors of student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) and truancy (days absent), and also determined teacher effectiveness based on proportion of variance explained at teacher level model. We employed a two-level hierarchical linear model (HLM) with student and teacher data at level-1 and level-2 models, respectively. Using the data from one of the largest urban school districts in the United States, the analysis identified several significant intervening and demographic predictors at the student level and two significant predictors at the teacher level. The percentages of variance explained at the teacher level ranged from 12% to 15% with ‘small’ to ‘medium’ effect sizes.
The Autograph Man, by Zadie Smith: the long way to heal trauma

Zadie Smith’s second novel, The Autograph Man (2002), was severely reviewed by several critics who expected another ‘multicultural novel’ after her first literary success, White Teeth (2000). This paper aims to reflect on the importance of this second novel and to highlight the relevance of trauma in contemporary culture, which negates and is fascinated by this phenomenon. Through an analysis of the main character of the novel, this work reflects on how human beings try to escape the psychological effects of traumatic events, instead of facing the painful feelings they provoke and the changes they produce on the human psyche. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.17576/3L-2014-2002-02 Keywords: trauma; simulacrum; postmodernity; healing; spiritual; Judaism
Dividends, Executive Compensation, and Agency Costs: Empirical Evidence from Germany

While researchers have found that dividend payout ratios are negatively related to executive compensation in North America, a relevant question remains as to whether such relationships hold in other institutional environments. Evidence from this study suggests that, as in North America, there is a negative relationship between dividend payout ratios and executive compensations in Germany. This study shows, that the role of dividends in resolving agency issues, is relevant not only in market based systems like that in North America but also in bank based systems like Germany. Agency issues also appear to be partially mitigated by the influence of banks. Bank influence is also found to be positively related to dividend payout ratio and thus consistent with the Free Cash Flow Hypothesis of Jensen (1986) and Easterbrook (1984).
To whom and why should I connect? Co-author recommendation based on powerful and similar peers

The present paper offers preliminary outcomes of a user study that investigated the acceptance of a recommender system that suggests future co-authors for scientific article writing. The recommendation approach is twofold: network information (betweenness centrality) and author (keyword) similarity are used to compute the utility of peers in a network of co-authors. Two sets of recommendations were provided to the participants: Set one focused on all candidate authors, including co-authors of a target user to strengthen current bonds and strive for acceptance of a certain research topic. Set two focused on solely new co-authors of a target user to foster creativity, excluding current co-authors. A small-scale evaluation suggests that the utility-based recommendation approach is promising, but to maximise outcome, we need to (a) compensate for researchers' interests that change over time and (b) account for multi-person co-authored papers.
Effects of globalizing a consumer-friendly firm into an asymmetric mixed duopoly

We study the effects of uniting two separated markets, each monopolized by a producer, into a single globalized duopoly market. When one of the firms is consumer-friendly before and after globalization, we examine certain conditions under which globalization turns out to be beneficial. Consumers in the local market which the consumer-friendly firm is from may have their surplus reduced under certain conditions. We also find conditions under which welfare of one market or the other can be reduced, even that of both simultaneously. If these conditions were met, it would be better, in a globalizing context, that the firm is friendly only with the consumers of its original market and not with those of the global market.
Onchocerciasis Amongst Children Of An Endemic Community In Edo State, Nigeria

Onchocerciasis among 278 children (0-15yrs) of Ekpan village, a hyperendemic community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria was investigated using the prevalence of nodules as index. The overall prevalence of palpable nodules was 26.3%. Nodule prevalence increased with age and the association was found to be statistically significant (P 5yrs) to the treatment programme is advocated. Keywords : Onchocerciasis, children, Nigeria, nodules, prevalence, ivermectin African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 9 (2) 2008 pp. 97-102
Performance Effects of Organizational Learning in a Transitional Economy

Organizational learning has emerged as one of the most promising concepts in strategic management literature in late 1980s. Starting from initial conceptually oriented research, the focus has recently shifted towards more empirical studies. Thus, the paper aims to study the influence of organizational learning (OL) on the financial perfomance (FP) as well as the non-financial performance (NFP) at the empirical level. Based on the previous theoretical and empirical research, the structural equation model was conceptualized and tested. Three latent constructs (OL, FP, and NFP) were operationalised using eight measurement variables and 42-item self-administered questionnaire. We utilized a sample of 867 Slovenian companies with more than 100 employees and members of top management teams as respondents and received 220 fully administered questionnaires. Analysis has revealed that (1) the impact of OL on FP is statistically significant, positive and strong, and that (2) influence that OL has on NFP is statistically significant, positive, and even stronger than in the first case. One of the main contributions of the paper is that it provides empirical support for the notion that higher level organizational learning is beneficial from business performance point of view. It also evaluates performance from owner’s, employee’s, customer’s and supplier’s perspective.
Ethnicity and self-esteem as predictors of work-family conflict among Nigerian workers

This study investigated the impact of ethnicity and self-esteem on work-family conflict of Nigerian employees. Five hundred and three volunteered workers (202 Hausa ethnic group workers and 301 Igbo ethnic group workers) drawn from four Federal institutions in Nigeria participated in the study. A multiple regression analysis showed that ethnicity significantly predicted work-family conflict of Nigerian employees. The result further revealed that self-esteem significantly predicted work-family conflict. It was concluded that shared values and beliefs about work and family, as well as immediate socio-contextual circumstances, shape the potential for individuals to experience work-family conflict. Keywords : Ethnicity, self-esteem, work-family conflict and Nigerian workers.
Compatibility of Pasteuria penetrans with fungal parasite Paecilomyces lilacinus against root knot nematode on Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

A B S TR A C T Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) crop is highly susceptible for the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and every year this nematode causes great loss to the crop. The present study investigated the cumulative effect of two biocontrol agents viz. Pasteuria penetrans and Paecilomyces lilacinus against M. incognita. Two doses of P. penetrans i.e. 50g/Kg and 100g/Kg infested soil were applied either alone or in combination with two doses of P. lilacinus i.e. 4g spore culture/Kg and 6g spore culture/Kg of soil. Application of P. pene‐ trans with P. lilacinus resulted into relatively better improvement in various growth attributes of chilli when compared with the individual application. Amongst the various treatments tested combined application with the higher dose of both bioagents (i.e. 100g P. penetrans infested soil with 6g of P. lilacinus/Kg) showed maximum improvement in fresh and dry weight of shoot and root over the nematode check and it was almost at par with that of the absolute check. The combined application of both the bioagents at higher dose resulted in 139 and 84% increase in dry weight of shoot and root over the nematode check respectively. The combined application of both the bioagents was also observed to cause higher reduction in gall number and nematode population than their individual application except for the treat‐ ment having lower dose of the P. penetrans with P. lilacinus where reduction in both the parameters was observed to be at par with that of the either dose of P. penetrans or higher dose of P. lilacinus. Combined application with higher dose of P. penetrans and P. lilacinus showed maximum reduction of 62.6 and 82.2% in gall numbers and nematode population over the nema‐ tode check.
Extension theorems for external cusps with minimal regularity

Sobolev functions defined on certain simple domains with an isolated singular point (such as power type external cusps) can not be extended in standard but in appropriate weighted spaces. In this article we show that this result holds for a large class of domains that generalizes external cusps, allowing minimal boundary regularity. The construction of our extension operator is based on a modification of reflection techniques originally developed for dealing with uniform domains. The weight involved in the extension appears as a consequence of the failure of the domain to comply with basic properties of uniform domains, and it turns out to be a quantification of that failure. We show that weighted, rather than standard spaces, can be treated with our approach for weights which are given by a monotonic function either of the distance to the boundary or of the distance to the tip of the cusp.
A Giambelli formula for the $S^1$-equivariant cohomology of type A Peterson varieties

The main result of this note is a Giambelli formula for the Peterson Schubert classes in the $S^1$-equivariant cohomology ring of a type $A$ Peterson variety. Our results depend on the Monk formula for the equivariant structure constants for the Peterson Schubert classes derived by Harada and Tymoczko. In addition, we give proofs of two facts observed by H. Naruse: firstly, that some constants which appear in the multiplicative structure of the $S^1$-equivariant cohomology of Peterson varieties are Stirling numbers of the second kind, and secondly, that the Peterson Schubert classes satisfy a stability property in a sense analogous to the stability of the classical equivariant Schubert classes in the $T$-equivariant cohomology of the flag variety.