Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital Expenditures, Asset Dispositions, and the Real Estate Cycle

Recent empirical research provides evidence on the asset disposition choices of individual and institutional real estate investors that is consistent with the ‘disposition effect’. We propose a value-add investment strategy as an alternative rational explanation for the observed patterns in disposition choices. The main value-add mechanism in real estate investment is capital expenditures. However, capital expenditure investment is a real option whose exercise depends on its moneyness, which is a function of the economic environment. Therefore, we study the links between economic conditions, building-level capital expenditures, and subsequent transactions throughout the real estate cycle. We present empirical evidence consistent with our proposed rational explanation for the alleged disposition effect in real estate asset disposition decisions. PRELIMINARY PLEASE DO NOT CITE OR QUOTE WITHOUT PERMISSION
Early dinosaurs: A phylogenetic study

Synopsis Early dinosaur evolution has been the subject of several phylogenetic studies and the position of certain basal forms is currently debated. This is the case for the oldest known members of the group, excavated from the Late Triassic Ischigualastian beds of South America, such as Herrerasaurus, Eoraptor, Pisanosaurus, Saturnalia and Staurikosaurus. A new cladistic analysis of the early dinosaur radiation was performed to assess the relationships among the three major clades (Ornithischia, Sauropodomorpha and Theropoda) and to define the phylogenetic position of the basal members of the group. The most parsimonious hypothesis has Silesaurus opolensis as the sister taxon to a dichotomy including monophyletic Saurischia and Ornithischia. The latter includes Pisanosaurus mertii, and the former all other well‐known Triassic dinosaurs. Saurischia is composed of two major monophyletic groups: Herrerasauridae (including Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis and Staurikosaurus pricei) and Eusaurischia (including the theropod and sauropodomorph lineages), while Eoraptor lunensis appears to represent the sister taxon to Eusaurischia. Saturnalia tupiniquim is a stem‐taxon to Sauropodomorpha and Guaibasaurus candelariensis might belong to the theropod branch. Some of these hypotheses are, however, not strongly supported. Especially uncertain are the affinities of Silesaurus and Guaibasaurus. The latter can only be safely regarded as a saurischian, while the former might belong to the ornithischian lineage. The dinosaurian affinities of Eoraptor and Herrerasauridae are strongly supported. Yet, the possibility that they (especially Eoraptor) represent basal theropods, rather than basal saurischians, cannot be dismissed. In fact, basal saurischian evolution is still too poorly understood for a definitive hypothesis of relationships to be presented.
Measuring Business Schools' Service Quality in an Emerging Market Using an Extended SERVQUAL Instrument

Purpose: An extended SERVQUAL instrument is developed, validated and used to measure perceived service quality delivered to students by business schools in an emerging market economy. Design/ Methodology/Approach: The study adopts a quantitative approach. A longitudinal survey is conducted with conveniently selected students in their final year of study from two business schools in an emerging market economy. The study is based on the Gaps model (Parasuraman et al., 1985). Procedures for developing a reliable and a valid multi-item instrument are observed. Pre-testing of the instrument has been conducted before it is administered to the sampled population. Findings: The students’ gap scores on perceived education services from an emerging economy are presented. The use of the extended SERVQUAL model is suggested to monitor student/employee expectations and perceptions during and after the education service delivery process. Students attach different weights to the service quality dimensions. The new Process Outcome dimension is found to substantially add to the SERVQUAL model and is more important than the other dimensions. The validity of the extended SERVQUAL model for practical use is >0.95. Prediction of the level of service quality delivered, using six dimensions, indicates that the level of service quality is explained mostly by Process Outcome and Tangibles dimensions. Research Limitations/Implications: The study was conducted at only two business schools, conveniently selected in an emerging market. This limits the generalization of results. The data were collected at two points in time using the same participants. This may have prompted the participants to remember responses given in the previous survey while responding in the second survey. Practical Implications: It is suggested that using the extended SERVQUAL model as a tool can enable managers of business schools to identify the factors on which students/employees base their quality assessment of the education services they receive. Knowledge of these factors will enable managers in emerging economies to periodically assess, sustain and improve quality of the whole service delivery process. Priorities can be set to allocate scarce resources properly to make effective investment decisions to improve quality per school and in higher education, in general. The paper further suggests that Regulatory bodies make use of this model when comparing performance of business schools, focusing on student experiences as a supplement to the traditional performance measures. Originality/Value: An extended SERVQUAL model has been developed and validated to measure education services quality of business schools from the perspective of students as customers who receive such services in an emerging market economy. A Process Outcome dimension measuring students’ satisfaction with the knowledge and skills received from education services has been added to the original SERVQUAL model. The study is longitudinal making it different from previous studies, which are mostly cross-sectional in nature.
Utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers: A case of Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania

This paper reports on a study done to promote the inquiry about the need for utilising social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing and the adoption of these collaborative tools in higher learning institutions. This study investigated the extent to which social media tools are utilised to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers in the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), United Republic of Tanzania. The study conducted semi-structured interviews with NM-AIST library staff and ICT-RC personnel in 2014. The study found that, the utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers is still in its early stages in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. However, there was much interest amongst respondents for integrating and utilising social media tools to support knowledge sharing within such higher learning institutions in Tanzania. The study also provided a basis for further research on the utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing in higher learning institutions.
Study of the Effect of Intellectual Capital Components and Firm Size

This study examines the relationship between intellectual capital components sizes listed company is enhancing the Tehran Stock Exchange. Using a quasi-experimental research and survey companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange and the research period from 1381 to is 1390. Due to the limitations of the present study, 27 were selected to participate in the relevant period. Also according to the method of data collection, the data collected for this study, 270 years - is now. After the selection of the sample, based on Palyk (Model VAIC «coefficient value added intellectual capital"), the value of intellectual capital in 27 companies over the period of 10 years (1390-1381) were calculated. All activities related to summarize the data using EXCEL spreadsheet software was performed using SPSS software was used to analyze the data. In this study, test hypotheses and determine dependencies between components of intellectual capital and its relationship with the size of regression and Pearson correlation coefficients and variables for normality test of Kolmogorov-Asmynvf used. The results of this study indicate that intellectual capital, human capital and physical capital have positive and significant relationship with firm size; firm size has a significant negative relationship. Also, the capital structure and the company do not have any significant association.
Matching patterns with processes: predicting the effect of size and mobility on the spatial distributions of the bivalves Macomona liliana and Austrovenus stutchburyi

Descriptions of patterns of community or population varlation in space can provide a stepping stone to inferring the relevant processes affecting spatial patterns. However, matching patterns to particular processes has proven difficult. In this study we make a pnori predictions about the form and intensity of spatial patterns in abundance of the infaunal bivalves A4acomona liliana and Austrovenus stutcliburyi based on size, feeding mode and mobility. These predictions are tested by describing Ihe spatial patterns found for a range of scales (5 to 33 cm and 33 cm to 6 m). In order to incorporate environmental variation, patterns were studied at 2 sites of different sediment grain size and hydrodynamic regime. Most of the spatial patterns found were the same in intensity and patch size a t both sites, suggestlng that biological rather than environmental proccsses were important. In particular, patch size appeared to be a function of mobility for all but M. llllana juveniles. Over the scales investigated in this study, individual mobility and inter-individual interactions appeared important processes influencing the observed spatial pdtterns of both juveniles and adults of these 2 functionally different species. This has important implicat~ons, as the ability to predict the reldtive Importance of different processes through an understanding of an organism's natural history allows a much better appreciation of the effects of generalising results from small-scale studies K E Y WORDS: Bivalve. Mollusc. Spatial patterns Mobil~ty Body size
Soil and Winegrape Quality in Biodynamically and Organically Managed Vineyards

Wines produced from biodynamically grown grapes have received increasing attention. Similar to organic agriculture, biodynamics eliminates synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The primary difference between the two farming systems is that biodynamics uses a series of soil and plant amendments, called preparations, said to stimulate the soil and enhance plant health and quality of produce. Whether these preparations actually augment soil or winegrape quality is unclear and controversial. A long-term, replicated, 4.9-ha study was initiated in 1996 on a commercial Merlot vineyard near Ukiah, California, to investigate the effects of these biodynamic preparations on soil and winegrape quality. The study consisted of two treatments, biodynamic and organic (the control), each replicated four times in a randomized, complete block design. All management practices were the same in all plots, except for the addition of the preparations to the biodynamic treatment. No differences were found in soil quality in the first six years. Nutrient analyses of leaf tissue, clusters per vine, yield per vine, cluster weight, and berry weight showed no differences. Although average pruning weights for both treatments in 2001 to 2003 fell within the optimal range of 0.3 to 0.6 kg/m for producing high-quality winegrapes, ratios of yield to pruning weight were significantly different ( p p p
Factors Influencing Salespeople Motivation and Relationship with the Organization in b2b Sector

Motivated and committed sales people could become long-term success and competitive advantage that can be counted on even during life-threatening crisis of the firm. Sales people turnover is one of the key factors influencing negatively productivity, sales, customer loyalty, and unpredicted expenses. Recent year’s survey indicates that almost three quarters of all employees are considering leaving an organization in two years and the majority of these employees are sales people. The opinion prevails that sales people are motivated mainly by financial rewards thus to find other effective motivational factors is crucial as well as link the financial rewards with the results. Survey conducted in 1971 (Jensen, McMullen & Stark, 2008) by RIA (Research Institute of America) showed that 24 % of surveyed organizations changed the sales people financial reward system. Repeated survey in 2000 indicated the fact that organizations are still searching for the appropriate sales people financial reward system. Thus, the objective of the paper is to advance the understanding of the relationship between sales people motivation dimensions and their relationship with the organization in B2B sector. The study was designed to investigate the nature of salespeople-organization long-term relationship dimensions (commitment to the organization and psychological contract) and motivation dimensions’ (personal growth and ability, recognition of effort and results, financial compensation and incentives, leadership support, employee autonomy, and team work) relationship within B2B environment. A survey was conducted involving 105 salespeople working in B2B sector at telecommunication and financial companies. Research findings indicate that salespeople relationship with the organization is determined mainly by two motivation dimensions positive feedback from the immediate supervisor about salespeople behaviour and decision making autonomy. The study extends prior literature highlighting the positive impact of employee autonomy on employees’ psychological contract, their satisfaction with personal growth, and their effort and results. Specifically, the employee autonomy dimension - decision making autonomy - demonstrated the strongest relationship with psychological contract.
Photovoltaic Power System with an Interleaving Boost Converter for Battery Charger Applications

This paper proposes a photovoltaic (PV) power system for battery charger applications. The charger uses an interleaving boost converter with a single-capacitor turn-off snubber to reduce voltage stresses of active switches at turn-off transition. Therefore, active switches of the charger can be operated with zero-voltage transition (ZVT) to decrease switching losses and increase conversion efficiency. In order to draw the maximum power from PV arrays and obtain the optimal power control of the battery charger, a perturbation-and-observation method and microchip are incorporated to implement maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm and power management. Finally, a prototype battery charger is built and implemented. Experimental results have verified the performance and feasibility of the proposed PV power system for battery charger applications.
Boat seines in Greece: Landings profiles and identification of potential metiers

SuMMarY: although boat seines have a significant share in the total fish landings in Greece, there is little information on boat seine fisheries. the present study aims to identify boat seine metiers on a national level and contribute to a better understanding of their operation in Greece. We used boat seine landings data collected from a large number of ports in the aegean and east ionian Sea between 2002 and 2006. the landings profiles were grouped with a two-step procedure: the first step involved a factorial analysis of the log-transformed landings profiles, and the second step was a classification of the factorial coordinates (hierarchical agglomerative clustering). Six metiers were identified in the aegean Sea, and three in the ionian Sea. the ‘picarel-bogue’ metier was the most important in both seas, accounting for 54% and 88% of the fishing trips of the sample in the aegean and ionian Seas respectively. apart from picarel and bogue, other important target species were red mullet, european squid, common pandora, chub mackerel, and european pilchard. varying spatial (within the aegean and ionian Seas) and seasonal patterns were evident for the identified metiers.
Chemical and dynamical discontinuity at the extratropical tropopause based on START08 and WACCM analyses

[1] Using isentropic trace gas gradients of O3 and CO, the discontinuity in the chemical composition of the upper troposphere (UT) and lower stratosphere (LS) is examined on middle world isentropes from 300 to 380 K. The analysis is a follow-up study of the dynamical discontinuity as represented by the potential vorticity (PV) gradient-based tropopause, which is based on the product of isentropic PV gradients and wind speed. Overall, there is fairly good consistency between the chemical discontinuity in trace gas distributions and the PV gradient-based tropopause. Trace gas gradients at the PV gradient-based tropopause are stronger in winter than in summer, revealing the seasonal cycle of the tropopause transport barrier. The analysis of the trace gas gradients also identifies atmospheric transport pathways in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS). Several regions where trace gas gradients are found to be decoupled from the dynamical field indicate preferred transport pathways between the UT and LS. In particular, anomalous CO and O3 gradients above eastern Africa, eastern Asia, and the West Pacific are likely related to convective transport, and anomalous O3 gradients over the North Atlantic and North Pacific are related to isentropic transport connected to frequent wave breaking. The results indicate that the PV gradient-based tropopause definition provides a good identification of the dynamical and chemical discontinuity and is therefore effective in locating the physical boundary in the UTLS.
Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus dietary intake in active and sedentary Polish students

Summary Study aim: To evaluate energy, macronutrient, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate daily intake in young healthy Polish male students. Material and methods: Two hundred and sixteen participants were physical education students engaged in regular physical activity (about 9 h/week) and were recognized as physically active. One hundred and fourteen students were from other specializations participating in 1.5 h/week gymnastics classes and were recognized as sedentary. Body mass and height were measured using standard medical equipment. Body fat was evaluated from four skinfold measurements. In all subjects daily intake of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium and phosphate was briefly assessed from 24-hour food records taken over 4 days. Results: The active students’ diet was characterized by significantly higher energy, macronutrient and mineral daily intake. Moreover, calcium to phosphorus and calcium to magnesium ratios in active subjects were higher than in sedentary ones. There was no significant difference between groups in protein or magnesium intake expressed per 1000 kcal. In contrast, daily intake of fat and phosphate expressed per 1000 kcal was significantly lower in the active students vs. sedentary ones (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for fat and phosphate, respectively). Active students were characterized by significantly higher carbohydrate and calcium intake per 1000 kcal in comparison with their sedentary counterparts (p < 0.001 for both variables). Conclusions: The dietary pattern of active students was found to be slightly but significantly better than that of their sedentary counterparts. However, in both groups it was far from being a healthy one.
Attitude of Voters Towards Elections in Morogoro Municipality: A Reflection on 2015 General Election in Tanzania

This paper examines the attitudes of voters towards elections in Tanzania following an observed trend of having a great proportion of registered voters who did not vote in the General Elections in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 respectively. The study out of which this paper is based on aimed at assessing the voters’ attitudes towards election and their perception on the importance of participating in election in Morogoro municipality, an electoral constituent which recorded voters turn out of 34.6% below the national turnout of 42.8% in 2010 General Election. A cross- sectional study design and multistage sampling techniques were employed; data were collected using a questionnaire through Computer Aided Personal Interviewing [CAPI] platform from proportionate number of male and female respondents from four randomly selected wards from Morogoro urban in Morogoro region. A total of 14 Likert scale statements were used to assess the attitudes of voters towards elections. Cross tabulation was employed to associate attitudes with other variables. Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS] computer software was used for data processing and analysis. The findings reveal that the minimum and maximum Total Attitudinal Scores were 39.0 and 56.0 respectively with mean at 44.2 and Std. Deviation of 4.01. The study findings show that the overall respondents’ attitude towards elections was negative, with 60% of the respondents scoring less than 44.2 points out of 70, whereas 40% had positive attitude whereby they scored 44.2 points and above. The results show that 73% of the respondents perceived participating in election was important. It is recommended that initiatives should be taken to cultivate positive attitudes of citizens to motivate them to turn out to vote.
Mountain Sheep: An Environmental Epidemiological Survey of Variation in Metal Exposure and Physiological Biomarkers Following Mine Development

Problem Statement: Anthropogenic activities, such as mining and industrial operations, are a major environmental source of metal exposure for wildlife. Quantitative data regarding biochemical effects of exposure to mineral extraction on mountain sheep, Ovis canadensis, are limited, although their habitats are becoming increasingly affected by expanded resource development. Decisions relating to environmental protection and wildlife conservation should be based on sound scientific understanding of the interaction of released metals with the biota. Approach: Because understanding of the biogeochemistry, food webs, and metals as stressors was limited for arid environments, scientists and managers need to take a monitoring approach that incorporates a longer time scale using resembling designs. We tested the hypothesis that mountain sheep exposed to mining activities would express elevated levels of biomarkers compared with a reference group that was not directly exposed to mining activities. During this study, conducted in the Mojave Desert of California, USA, from 1995-1997, we analyzed concentrations of selected metals in blood of mountain sheep as biomarkers of exposure using a simultaneous treatment-reference design. We included common physiological biomarkers of effect, such as haptoglobin and interleukin-6. These variables were measured in two subpopulations of female mountain sheep inhabiting distinct geographic areas (mined and non-mined) within a single mountain range over 2 years. Results: Although the sample size was small, metal exposure was significantly higher in mountain sheep inhabiting the mined area. Plasma protein levels in these sheep inhabiting the mined area were also significantly higher than for mountain sheep in the non-mined area. Conclusion: Local biomonitoring studies during mining and other developments were important sources of baseline information about the health of wildlife populations, which allowed managers to establish benchmarks related to exposure.