Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proactivity routines: The role of social processes in how employees self-initiate change

Proactive work behaviors are self-initiated, future-focused actions aimed at bringing about changes to work processes in organizations. Such behaviors occur within the social context of work. The extant literature that has focused on the role of social context for proactivity has focused on social context as an overall input or output of proactivity. However, in this article we argue that the process of engaging in proactive work behavior (proactive goal-striving) may also be a function of the social context in which it occurs. Based on qualitative data from 39 call center employees in an energy-supply company, we find that in a context characterized by standardized work procedures, proactive goal-striving can occur through a proactivity routine – a socially constructed and accepted pattern of action by which employees initiate and achieve changes to work processes, with the support of managers and colleagues. Our findings point to the need to view proactive work behaviors at a higher level of analysis than the individual in order to identify shared routines for engaging in proactivity, as well as how multiple actors coordinate their efforts in the process of achieving individually-generated proactive goals.
ANALYSIS OF DISTANCES BETWEEN INCLUSIONS IN FINITE ONE- DIMENSIONAL BINARY STOCHASTIC MATERIALS

In this paper we develop a statistical distribution for the number of inclusions present in a onedimensional binary stochastic material of a finite length. From this distribution, an analytic solution for the expected number of inclusions present in a given problem is derived. For cases where the analytical solution for the expected number of inclusions is prohibitively expensive to compute, a simple, empirically-derived, approximation for the expected value is presented. A series of numerical experiments are used to bound the error of this approximation over the domain of interest. Finally, the above approximations are used to develop a methodology for determining the distribution of distances between adjacent inclusions in the material, subject to known problem conditions including: the total length of the problem, the length of each inclusion, and the expected volume fraction of inclusions in the problem. The new method is shown to be equivalent to the use of the infinite medium nearest neighbor distribution with an effective volume fraction to account for the finite nature of the material. Numerical results are presented for a wide range of problem parameters, in order to demonstrate the accuracy of this method and identify conditions where the method breaks down. In general, the technique is observed to produce excellent results (absolute error less than 1×10 -6 ) for problems with inclusion volume fractions less than 0.8 and a ratio of problem length to inclusion length greater than 25. For problems that do not fall into this category, the accuracy of the method is shown to be dependent on the particular combination of these parameters. A brief discussion of the relevance of this method for Monte Carlo chord length sampling algorithms is also provided.
Do Portuguese mutual funds display forecasting skills?: A study on selectivity and market timing ability

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the performance of the Portuguese fund managers by examining the selectivity and market timing skills of 51 Portuguese mutual funds from June 2002 to March 2012. Design/methodology/approach The authors assess empirically the performance of a sample of funds by applying the unconditional and conditional models of Treynor and Mazuy (1966) and Henriksson and Merton (1981). Findings The results suggest that, overall, the Portuguese mutual funds do not possess selectivity or timing skills. However, regardless of the model used, the domestic equity funds exhibit a statistically significant market timing ability. Furthermore, the domestic and North American equity funds display positive selectivity during bull markets and timing skills during bear markets. Additionally, there is some evidence that older funds are better stock pickers than younger funds. Research limitations/implications To address some of the limitations of this study, the authors suggest for further research correcting the Treynor and Mazuy (1966) model for the convexity cost of replicating Merton’s (1981) option approach. Additionally, for further research, we suggest using a bigger sample, higher frequency data, as such data may lead to higher frequency of timing ability as proposed by Bollen and Busse (2001). To overcome some of the limitations of traditional models, future research may consider using Jiang’s (2003) nonparametric test, as it is not affected by manager’s risk aversion, or Ferson and Khang (2002) conditional performance evaluation using portfolios holdings. Originality/value The authors contribute to the current literature by extending the period of study to 10 years in comparison to previous studies; extending the sample of funds to 51; addressing, for the first time in this context, the importance of public information on funds’ performance, through the comparison of unconditional and conditional models of Treynor and Mazuy’s (1966) and Henriksson and Merton’s (1981); and, for the first time in the Portuguese context, analysing the relationship between funds’ size, age and market cycles and selectivity and market timing skills.
Common Value Auctions with Asymmetric Bidder Information

We study common value auctions with two asymmetrically informed bidders using a simple binary model. A unique, generically asymmetric, mixed-strategy equilibrium exists for the first-price auction. Bidders get positive payoffs, with a superiorly informed bidder getting a higher payoff. One of the bidders submits a higher bid than the other on average: aggressive bidding is not necessarily associated with inferiority of information. A continuum of pure-strategy equilibria exist for the second-price auction. If bidders play the unique symmetric equilibrium strategies, second-price auctions are generically revenue-dominant. A change in the degree of asymmetry in general has an ambiguous effect on revenue.
Chemical stability of two dentin single-bottle adhesives as a function of solvent loss

Purpose: Two single-bottle dentin adhesive systems, Single-Bond and Prime and Bond NT, containing ethanol-water or acetone as solvents, respectively, were investigated for their chemical stability regarding solvent loss. Methods: Stability was measured by the adhesive weight changes in accelerated degradation tests under higher room temperature and relative humidity (RH) than normal conditions over 15 days: 25±2oC / 60±5% RH, 30±2oC / 65±5% RH, 40±2oC / 70±5% RH, and 50±2oC / 75±5% RH. For each temperature the slope and the constant rate for weight loss were recorded to obtain the Arrhenius plot. Water content in Single Bond was determined by K Fisher Titration, and total solvent amount was obtained by subtraction from total weight. Results: The results for Single Bond indicated water content of 5.90±0.08% and alcohol content of 39.14±1.19%. For Prime and Bond NT the acetone percentage was 43.08±1.15%. Weight changes after the accelerated degradation tests revealed that solvent loss in Single-Bond adhesive was lower than in Prime and Bond NT adhesive. Conclusion: The results suggest that chemical stability of adhesives containing ethanolwater is greater than formulations containing acetone. Key words: Stability; solvent; dentin adhesive
What is the Economics of Climate Change

A major review of the economics of climate change under the leadership of Professor Sir Nicholas Stern was announced at the end of July 2005, reporting to the United Kingdomâ€™s Chancellor of the Exchequer and to the Prime Minister. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change is due to report in autumn 2006. This article sets out some of the issues the review is considering.
TURBULENT FREE SURFACE FLOW OVER SEMI-CIRCULAR AND CIRCULAR OBSTACLE IN A DUCT

In this paper 2D flow field and free surface analysis around semicircular and circular obstructions in a duct is numerically studied. The governing equations are numerically solved in the domain by the control volume approach based on the SIMPLE technique. Validation of present simulation was performed with several test cases and comparisons show the good agreement with the literature. Final profile of free surface in the vicinity of obstruction is comprised with the profile in a duct without any obstructions. Present results show, as the obstacle size grows, the level of the free surface at the upstream grows and the height of the free surface at the downstream decreases. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.mech. 18.5. 2695
Determinants of Dividend Payout of Financial Institutions in Nigeria: A Study of Selected Commercial Banks

The study examined the various determinants of dividend payout of selected Commercial Banks in Nigeria. Secondary data collected from 1989-2010 were analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression technique. The findings revealed that while current earnings, lagged dividend and lending rate were the major determinants of cash dividend payout in these banks, Inflation rate and liquidity ratio failed to explain the variation in dividend payout. Also, these banks had a lower Average Marginal Propensity (AMP) to pay out of current earnings of 30.67%. This implied a profit retention of 69.33% during the period, indicating the conservative nature of management of these banks. The paper recommended that if informed Nigerians are to be encouraged to buy more shares in the banking sector, management of such banks should strive to reduce their retained earnings. This is necessary due to the axiom of time value of money. Since money invested in shares is part of individual investments, shareholders should have maximum return on their investment, such as dividend. Key words : Commercial banks, Dividend Payout, Determinants, Nigeria.
International Evidence on Understanding the Determinants of Crime

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between crime and economic variables such as income, unemployment, inflation, interest rate, and also the political violence, both domestic and regional. The main motivation of the study was to have a better understanding of crime, finding and suggesting alternative way of approaching crime. We analyzed 21 countries, with data spanning from 1960 to 2001.We started our study on this objective by adapting the model and framework that was introduced by Viren (2001) based on Becker (1968), Block and Heineke (1975) and we made slight modification by rephrasing it in order to not only capture the long run relationship but also the short run adjustment. We employed panel-error-correction based cointegration (Persyn and Westerlund (2008)) to analyze and estimate the model. A number of important findings were extracted from the analysis in accordance to the objectives of this study. Firstly, it determines the negative long run relationship between income and crime, ,positive long run relationship between inflation and crime, unemployment and crime as well as lending rate and crime. As for the political violence variable, domestic political violence seems to be negatively related; on the contrary regional political violence is positively related. We believe this might be attributed to the spillover effect. All these signs are as anticipated and justified in this study and are concurrent with most of the past literatures.
Phosphorus sources to foliar fertilization in common bean crop.

Great part of the phosphorus in the fertilizations tropical soils is lost through fixation. The foliar fertilization, once it uses very lower amounts when compared to the ones applied on soil, it is constituted in an important alternative for the reduction of element losses through fixation in these soils. The objective of this work was to evaluate the applied phosphorus sources to foliar fertilization in commom bean crop, on production components, the grain yield and the amount of the nutrient in the grains. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in pots. The used design was completely randomized with four replications and six treatments: 1- soil fertilization; 2-control treatment (without fertilization); foliar fertilization with the sources 3- potassium phosphite; 4-phosphoric acid; 5-monoammonium phosphate; and 6-potassium phosphate. The P foliar applications were accomplished weekly beginning from the seventh day after the emergence. The grain yield with the P foliar application overcame the witness treatment, but it was inferior the fertilization via soil. The sources were not affected the grain yield, but the potassium phosphate and the monoammonium phosphate provided larger accumulation of P in the grains.
Collusive behavior in noncooperative epsilon-equilibria of oligopolies with long but finite lives

In a game of a finite number of repetitions of a Cournot-type model of an industry, if firms are satisfied to get close to (but not necessarily achieve) their optimal responses to other firms' sequential strategies, then in the resulting noncooperative “equilibria” of the sequential market game, (1) if the lifetime of the industry is large compared to the number of firms, there are equilibria corresponding to any given duration of the cartel, whereas (2) if the number of firms is large compared to the industry's lifetime, all equilibria will be close (in some sense) to the competitive equilibrium.
The Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire – psychometric properties

Abstract The Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire was designed to measure sexual satisfaction. It consists of 10 items. The results of several studies have supported the Questionnaire as psychometrically sound and valid. It may be a valuable tool for measuring one’s attitude (both cognitively and emotionally) to their own sexual activity. Streszczenie Kwestionariusz Satysfakcji Seksualnej został stworzony do pomiaru poziomu satysfakcji seksualnej. Składa się on z dziesięciu itemów. Wyniki badań potwierdzają trafność i rzetelność metody. Kwestionariusz może być wartościowym narzędziem, służącym do pomiaru ustosunkowania podmiotu (poznawczo- emocjonalnego) do własnej aktywności seksualnej.
Partner Selection in R&D Cooperation

In this paper we extend the R&D cooperation model to asymmetric firms, focusing on the incentives for cooperating with firms characterized by different levels of efficiency. Three firms differentiated by their cost levels invest in cost-reducing R&D before competing in output. Firms may cooperate in R&D, which implies both R&D coordination and perfect information sharing. It is found that firms' preferences over whom to cooperate with depend on spillovers and on cost differences between firms. With low (high) spillovers, a firm prefers to cooperate with the most (least) efficient among the remaining firms. As the cost differential between firms increases, efficient (inefficient) firms prefer to cooperate with the most (least) efficient firm more often. For very high spillovers, a firm prefers to be excluded from R&D cooperation. The equilibrium configuration is that the most efficient firms cooperate for low spillovers, while all firms cooperate for intermediate spillovers. For high spillovers, the equilibrium is for all firms to cooperate when the cost differential is sufficiently low, but depends on the bargaining mechanism when the cost differential is high. The model constitutes a generalization of the standard R&D model with symmetric firms.
Effects of CO2 induced seawater acidification on infaunal diversity and sediment nutrient fluxes

A mesocosm experiment was conducted to quantify the effects of short- (2 wk) and long- term (20 wk) exposure to acidified seawater on the structure and diversity of macrofaunal and nema- tode assemblages in 2 different sediment types. The impact of acidified seawater on sediment nutri- ent fluxes was also determined. Using carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, seawater was acidified to pH 7.3 (mimicking ocean acidification), 6.5 or 5.6 (mimicking leakage from a sub-seabed CO2 store site). Control treatments were maintained in natural seawater (pH ≈ 8.0). Exposure to acidified seawater significantly altered community structure and reduced diversity for both macrofaunal and nematode assemblages. However, the impact on nematodes was less severe than that on macrofauna. While the communities in both sediment types were significantly affected by changes in seawater pH, impacts on sandy sediment fauna were greater than those on muddy sediment fauna. Sandy sediments also showed the greatest effects with respect to nutrient fluxes. In sand, the efflux of nitrite, nitrate and silicate decreased in response to increased acidification while the efflux of ammonium increased. In mud, acidification increased the efflux of ammonium but had no effect on the other nutrients. We con- clude that both leakage from carbon storage and ocean acidification could cause significant changes in the structure and diversity of coastal sediment communities. Lowered seawater pH could also affect nutrient cycling directly by altering bacterial communities and indirectly through impacts on the abundance and activity of key bioturbators.
Related Biometrical Changes in the Ovaries and Uterus of the Red Bororo Cattle in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Pregnancy related biometrical changes in apparently normal ovaries and uterus of 30 pregnant and 10 non - pregnant Red Bororo cows were undertaken in Maiduguri using abattoir samples, with the objective of providing baseline data on this aspect. Analysis of the dimensions showed steady increase (P<0.05 to P<0.001) in sizes of the ovaries and uteri along the trimesters of gestation. The right ovary was larger in size and heavier in weight than the left ovary both in pregnant and non – pregnant states. The right uterine horn was larger in size than the left uterine horn, thus suggesting their natural activities. The cervix showed levels of significant reduction (P<0.05 to P<0.01) in length and attendant increases in diameter from first trimester of gestation to full term, signifying the usefulness of the contraction of the sphincter muscles in the sealing of the cervix during pregnancy. In conclusion, the results of this study have established the baseline for the dimensions of ovaries and uterus of the pregnant and non – pregnant Red Bororo cows of Nigeria. This information will make diagnosis of various abnormalities of these organs easier in both physiological states. Key words : Biometry, Ovary, Pregnancy, Red Bororo cow, Uterus
ATR-IR fingerprinting as a powerful method for identification of traditional medicine samples: a report of 20 herbal patterns

Background and objectives: Attenuated total reflectance-inferared (ATR-IR) spectra can be used as a non-invasive fingerprinting approach in quality control of herbal samples. Methods: Twenty versatile herbal samples were subjected to attenuated total reflectance-inferared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy followed by different clustering methods in order to determine by which method more reasonable classifications would be obtained. Results: All classification methods (K-means, HCA, PCA and SOM) were able to discriminate the two medicinal seeds, Hyocyamus niger and Peganum harmala from other herbal samples. Similarly, the starch samples were clustered in a reasonable method. In HCA, one cluster included three types of starch samples: Zea mays, Oryza sativa and Triticum aestivum. All the four classification methods were able to separate Solanum tuberosum starch from other starch samples. HCA and SOM, were able to classify leaf samples Origanum vulgare and Melissa officinalis belonging to Lamiaceae family, in one category. Crocus sativus and its adulterant Carthamus tinctorius flowers were identified by PCA, HCA and SOM as different categories. Conclusion: The result of this study can be utilized for identification and quality control of traditionally used medicinal plant samples in an unknown sample powder. Such data could be the basis for preparing a data bank on Iranian medicinal samples which in turn is used as a simple, fast and reliable method for characterization of herbal powders in Pharmacopoeias.
Assessment of the potential of MERIS near‐infrared water vapour products to correct ASAR interferometric measurements

Atmospheric water vapour is a major limitation for high precision Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) applications due to its significant impact on microwave signals. We propose a statistical criterion to test whether an independent water vapour product can reduce water vapour effects on InSAR interferograms, and assess the potential of the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) near‐infrared water vapour products for correcting Advanced SAR (ASAR) data. Spatio‐temporal comparisons show c. 1.1 mm agreement between MERIS and GPS/radiosonde water vapour products in terms of standard deviations. One major limitation with the use of MERIS water vapour products is the frequency of cloud free conditions. Our analysis indicates that in spite of the low global cloud free conditions (∼25%), the frequency can be much higher for certain areas such as Eastern Tibet (∼38%) and Southern California (∼48%). This suggests that MERIS water vapour products show potential for correcting ASAR interferometric measurements in certain regions.
Economic development – A prerequisite for democratization Case of Kenya and Uganda

Political changes transforming a authoritarian regime into a democratic one is conditional on the ground of factors inciting the process. Economic development of a country is a prerequisite condition to shape democratic changes in a country - modern democracies have come into existence in economically developed countries. For a non-democratic country to become democratized the structure responsible for the shift of regimes is capitalism - responsible for the distribution of the produced wealth and creates middle class so needed for seeking accountability of governance. Wealthier countries have a predisposition to be “more democratic” which allows the average citizen to have access to resources, unlike “less democratic” regimes where access to resources is limited , not merit based and questionable.
THE INFLUENCE OF LARGE PARTICLES AND AGGLOMERATES ON THE MAGNETOVISCOUS EFFECT IN FERROFLUIDS

Investigations were made to prove the influence of large particles and agglomerates on the magnetic field induced changes of viscosity in suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetic liquids from one production batch were subjected to a stepwise refinement process providing samples with different agglomerate content. From magnetic field dependent rheological properties, a clear relation between magnetoviscous effects and the content of large particles and particle agglomerates was obtained.