Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smallholder compliance with private standard certification: the case of GlobalGAP adoption by mango producers in Peru

The prevalence of food quality standards in international trade is constantly increasing and has a growing influence on developing countries. A wide range of literature in development economics has focused on the debate of whether international standards exclude small-scale farmers from high-value food markets. In fact, the evidence is mixed. New debates arise on what conditions small farmers can really comply with, pointing out both threshold capital requirements, on the one hand, and industry structure and institutional environment, on the other hand. Drawing on a microeconomic approach, our paper is a contribution to the literature exploring the patterns and determinants of smallholders' adoption of the food standard. We focus our case study on GlobalGAP adoption by small-scale fresh mango producers in Peru. Based on an analysis of primary data collected on the Peruvian mango sector, we show empirically that a few smallholders are engaged in GlobalGAP certification for a maximum of 3 years. They comply with the standard thanks to the support of exporting companies. Exporters offer the farmers contract farming, which includes technical advice and the annual certification cost. Nonetheless, farmers who are integrating into this high valueadded supply chain seem to be selected on the basis of their proximity to the exporter plant (reducing transaction costs) and their ability to become reliable suppliers over the long term (experienced, specialized, and used to respecting contracts). These farms also must demonstrate their ability to deliver with short lead times (presence of mobile phone, distance to the plant). Finally, the paper underlines the key role of exporters in Peru as intermediaries and organizers in the way smallholders may participate in private standards in agrifood value chains. (Resume d'auteur)
Corporate Governance and Capital Structure Interactions in New Technology-Based Firms. The Effects of Ownership Structure and Board of Directors on Firm's Leverage 1

The paper aims to explore the effect of some corporate governance features on the capital structure of NTBFs in term of firm’s leverage. It was hypothesized that different ownership and board of directors structures can negatively affect the debt-financing choices of this type of firm. Based on a sample of 303 Italian firms’ observations over the period 2004-2013, the results suggest that NTBFs with a concentrated ownership denote a reduction of firm’s leverage. In addition, also manager shareholders prefer to reduce the level of firms’ debt. Nevertheless, the board size seems to have no effects on the capital structure of NTBF’s, as well as the presence of independent directors in the board does. The paper offers some contributions on literature and extends the understanding of corporate governance effects on capital structure in NTBFs.
Introduced status of Cyclope neritea (Gastropoda, Nassariidae) in the NW Iberian Peninsula confirmed by mitochondrial sequence data

Confined to a single enclave for more than a decade, the nassariid gastropod Cyclope neritea has expanded its range along the NW Iberian Peninsula (NWIP) region, forming dense popu- lations in several locations. Unintended introductions from imported live shellfish seemed to be the probable vector for this recent proliferation. However, the relative proximity to the edges of the native range of this snail, together with some recent findings in areas similarly invaded by C. neritea (French Atlantic coast), raised the possibility that the species might be present in the NWIP for rea- sons other than human-mediated transfer. Moreover, it was unknown whether the recent prolifera- tion was due to new independent re-introductions or to the spread from the earlier population. To provide some insight into these questions, we utilized the mitochondrial marker cytochrome oxidase I (533 bp) from individuals collected in 3 localities thought to cover the current known range of the spe- cies in the NWIP. Our results strongly confirm the non-native status of C. neritea, pointing to human- induced introductions as the probable cause for its presence in the NWIP. The Veneto region (Adri- atic Sea) is the likely source for the introduced snails, while Manila clam transfers might be the major, even unique, vector of introduction, at least for the more recently settled localities. Recent indepen- dent re-introductions, rather than spread from an earlier introduction, appear to be the likely cause for the current proliferation of C. neritea within the region.
Quasi-elastic scattering under short-range order: the linear regime and beyond

Incoherent quasi-elastic scattering of neutrons or gamma rays determines the jump vectors of diffusing single atoms. Coherent quasi-elastic scattering beyond that contains additional information on the interaction between atoms. Here we firstly derive the influence of weak interactions (i.e. the high-temperature limit) on the correlation times taking an analytical approach via transition state theory, different from and, in our opinion, easier to follow than the lattice dynamics approach by Sinha and Ross. As de Gennes had already argued earlier, short-range order increases the correlation time (or equivalently narrows the quasi-elastic line) proportional to the diffuse intensity at the corresponding wavevector transfer. Secondly we show by way of Monte Carlo simulations that for strong interactions the deviations from the analytical theory bear additional information about the jump processes. We compare our theory with the results of a recent XPCS experiment.
Corruption, Trade Costs, and Gains from Tariff Liberalization: Evidence from Southern Africa

This paper exploits quasi-experimental variation in tariffs in southern Africa to estimate trade elasticities. Traded quantities respond only weakly to a 30 percent reduction in the average nominal tariff rate. Trade flow data combined with primary data on firm behavior and bribe payments suggest that corruption is a potential explanation for the observed low elasticities. In contexts of pervasive corruption, even small bribes can significantly reduce tariffs, making tariff liberalization schemes less likely to affect the extensive and the intensive margins of firms' import behavior. The tariff liberalization scheme is, however, still associated with improved incentives to accurately report quantities of imported goods, and with a significant reduction in bribe transfers from importers to public officials.
Differences in Teleconnection over the North Pacific and Rainfall Shift over the USA Associated with Two Types of El Nino during Boreal Autumn

This work investigates the teleconnection patterns over the North Pacific/North America sector and regional rainfall variability over the southwestern USA during boreal autumn, associated with two types of El Nino. These two types, called cold tongue (CT) and warm pool (WP) El Ninos, have an opposing impact on atmospheric circulation over the eastern North Pacific. When CT El Nino occurs, a strong cyclonic anomaly tends to appear over the North Pacific, and the associated southwesterly winds bring unusually moist air and thereby enhance rainfall over the southwestern USA. However, during WP El Nino autumns, a tripolar anomaly develops over the North Pacific. The associated northerly and northeasterly winds transport unusually dry air to the southwestern USA causing a reduction in rainfall. In this region, the rainfall response to WP El Nino is similar to that of La Nina, but opposite to that of CT El Nino. Since the early 1990s, the WP El Nino event has occurred more frequently, while the CT El Nino events has become less. The La Nina events remain roughly unchanged in terms of the zonal location. Autumn rainfall defi cits over the southwestern USA have also been more frequent after the 1990s. The El Nino regime change thus appears to contribute to a decadal difference in the regional autumn rainfall.
Has the New Bail-In Framework Increased the Yield Spread between Subordinated and Senior Bonds?

This paper investigates the impact of the introduction and implementation of the new EU bail-in framework on the banks subordinated bond yield spreads over senior unsecured bonds, and links the bond yields developments with the characteristics of the issuing entities and the economic and financial environment. The analysis does not show evidence of a significant and generalized increase in the spreads as a result of a higher risk perception in the sample under review. The results reinforce the relevance of the Tier 1 capital ratio for making subordinated debt safer, while markets price the higher risk of banks with less stable sources of funding in their liability/capital structures. Market conditions and economic environment variables also play a key role in explaining bond spreads. Interestingly, after the introduction of the new bail-in framework, there is a convergence between the bond yields of the GSIBs and the non-GSIBs, which could point out to a reduction in the market perception of the so called “too big to fail” public implicit guarantee. Nonetheless, this convergence is mostly driven by the reduction of the yields of bonds issued by banks not categorized as GSIBs, and not by significant increases in the GSIBs’ bond yields.
Analyzing the relationship of organizational trust and organizational culture with knowledge sharing behavior in teachers of second intermediate period

The present paper aims to study the relationship of organizational trust, organizational culture with knowledge sharing behavior among teachers of Second Intermediate Period in the City of Isfahan. Research method was correlation and statistical population included all teachers of Second Intermediate Period of Isfahan in academic year 2013-2014 (N=3016). Sample size was 340 people according to Krejcie and Morgan Table (1970). Sample members were selected by multistage random sampling method. The required data were collected using 3 questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, stepwise regression, and regression-enter). The findings of this study showed that organizational trust and organizational culture have a significant relationship with knowledge sharing behavior (p<0.01). According to the results of stepwise regression analysis, in the first step (trust between employees), in the second step (mission) and the third step (organizational trust) have the ability to predict the behavior of knowledge sharing. Results of regression-enter analysis showed that trust between employees and organizational trust, of the three components of trust, and mission, among the components of organizational culture, can significantly predict knowledge sharing behavior (p<0.01). Key words: Organizational trust, organizational culture, knowledge sharing behavior, high school teachers.
Elusive drought: uncertainty in observed trends and short- and long-term CMIP5 projections

Abstract. Recent years have seen a number of severe droughts in different regions around the world, causing agricultural and economic losses, famines and migration. Despite their devastating consequences, the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) of these events lies within the general range of observation-based SPI time series and simulations from the 5th phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). In terms of magnitude, regional trends of SPI over the last decades remain mostly inconclusive in observation-based datasets and CMIP5 simulations, but Soil Moisture Anomalies (SMAs) in CMIP5 simulations hint at increased drought in a few regions (e.g., the Mediterranean, Central America/Mexico, the Amazon, North-East Brazil and South Africa). Also for the future, projections of changes in the magnitude of meteorological (SPI) and soil moisture (SMA) drought in CMIP5 display large spreads over all time frames, generally impeding trend detection. However, projections of changes in the frequencies of future drought events display more robust signal-to-noise ratios, with detectable trends towards more frequent drought before the end of the 21st century in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Central America/Mexico. Other present-day hot spots are projected to become less drought-prone, or display non-significant changes in drought occurrence. A separation of different sources of uncertainty in projections of meteorological and soil moisture drought reveals that for the near term, internal climate variability is the dominant source, while the formulation of Global Climate Models (GCMs) generally becomes the dominant source of spread by the end of the 21st century, especially for soil moisture drought. In comparison, the uncertainty from Green-House Gas (GHG) concentrations scenarios is negligible for most regions. These findings stand in contrast to respective analyses for a heat wave index, for which GHG concentrations scenarios constitute the main source of uncertainty. Our results highlight the inherent difficulty of drought quantification and the considerable likelihood range of drought projections, but also indicate regions where drought is consistently found to increase. In other regions, wide likelihood range should not be equated with low drought risk, since potential scenarios include large drought increases in key agricultural and ecosystem regions.
Effects of Feeding Licury (Syagrus coronate) Cake to Growing Goats

The objectives of this study were to determine the highest inclusion of licury (Syagrus coronate) cake in the diet of growing Boer goats without adverse effects on intake and digestibility and to determine its effects on ingestive behavior and physiological responses. Twenty entire, one year old 3/4 Boer goats, 18.1 kg (DS = 2.2) average body weight (BW), were allocated to dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Each animal was confined in a 1.0 m 2 pen with a suspended floor and given ad libitum access to clean, fresh water. Diets were formulated to meet NRC (2007) requirements and the ingredients were: 50% of Tifton-85 (Cynodon sp.) hay, corn meal, soybean meal, mineral and vitamin premix, and licury cake. The treatments were: i) no addition of licury cake to the diet, ii) 15% (DM basis) addition of licury cake, iii) 30% licury cake and, iv) 45% licury cake. The experiment lasted for 17 days; the first 10 days were used to adapt the animals to the diets and facilities. The inclusion of licury cake increased the fiber concentration of the diets; however, there was no effect on either dry matter (DM) or organic matter (OM) intake. There was a linear increase (p 0.05) between treatments. The digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) decreased with increasing inclusion of licury cake, as did NFC intake. The efficiency of ingestion of DM and NDF presented a negative quadratic effect with the inclusion of licury cake. Results from this study indicate that licury cake can be fed to goats at up to 45% of the diet without adverse effects on either intake or digestibility.
A revision of the lower Pennsylvanian Alethopteris lonchitica (auctorum) and its identity with Alethopteris urophylla

One of the most common lower Pennsylvanian (upper Namurian, lower Westphalian) pteridosperms is a species commonly recorded as Aletho pteris lonchitica Schlotheim, 1820 ex Sternberg, 1825. However, the photographic illustration of the lectotype of Aletho pteris lonchitica by Zodrow & Cleal (1998) has allowed a clear distinction from Aletho pteris lonchitica (auctorum) which corresponds, in the main, to Aletho pteris urophylla (Brongniart, 1834) Göppert, 1836. This species is redescribed here, and its holotype is illustrated photographically for the first time. The published records, backed up by illustration, are analysed with reference to lists of synonymy. The geographic and stratigraphic distribution of Aletho pteris urophylla is discussed, and illustrations of this species are provided from Nova Scotia, Scotland, England, Wales, the North of France, and NW as well as SW Spain. Aletho pteris lonchitica was identified with Aletho pteris lonchitifolia Bertrand, 1932 by Zodrow and Cleal, but the present writers prefer an identification with Aletho pteris friedelii Bertrand, 1932. The corresponding taxonomic implications are discussed.
Effect of job characteristics on satisfaction and performance: A test in Egyptian agricultural extension system

The current study tested core dimensions of the job characteristics model (JCM) among extension agents in Egyptian agricultural extension system. Agricultural extension system was chosen due to its importance in achieving sustainable agricultural strategy 2030. The paper examines the effect of core job dimensions on both affective responses represented by satisfaction, and behavioral responses represented by performance. Core job dimensions are skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback. 230 extension agent were selected by formula. Data were elicited from extension agents who attended the weekly meeting which had been held in the sub-directorates in administrative districts during the period from September to October 2008 in Dakahalia and Qena governorates. Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, reliability coefficient, multiple correlation, and multiple regression were used to analyze data statistically. Regression analysis revealed that performance was not related to the core job dimensions while satisfaction was. The findings of this study offer several implications for the JCM as a theory especially, in agreement with most research, due to ability of job characteristics to predict levels of job satisfaction. The managers of Egyptian agricultural extension system should put job characteristics into consideration for job redesign to enhance satisfaction and performance of extension agents.
Effect of growth regulators on in vitro morphogenic response of tomato

A series of experiments were conducted to explore the in vitro morphogenic response of tomato genotypes viz., Castle Rock, Punjab Upma, VFN-8 and IPA-3, under different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators. The analysis of variance at 5% level of significance indicated that the differences among different genotypes, hormonal regimes as well as their interactions were statistically significant. The MS medium supplemented with BAP @ 3.0 mg L -1 and IAA 2.5 mg L -1 was optimum for callus induction, plant regeneration and number of shoots per explant. The maximum per cent callus induction and plant regeneration in the genotypes Castle Rock, Punjab Upma, VFN-8 and IPA-3. was 81.23, 76.69, 68.13 and 65.12%; and 46.91, 48.02, 57.14 and 60.23%, respectively, The respective average number of shoots per culture were 7.03, 6.92, 8.19 and 9.19. At higher and lower levels of hormones, a considerable decline was recorded in per cent callus induction, plant regeneration and number of shoots per explant. The best rooting was found to be in the ½ MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg L -1 IBA. Among the four soil mixtures studied viz., vermiculite, perlite, coco-peat and mixture of three (vermiculite, perlite and cocopeat in the ratio of 1:1:1), maximum plantlet survival rate was recorded in the mixture of three for genotypes Castle Rock and Punjab Upma and in vermiculite for genotype VFN-8.
Rate-based pacing for small buffered optical packet-switched networks

Feature Issue on Transmission in Optically Transparent Core NetworksOne of the difficulties of optical packet-switched (OPS) networks is buffering optical packets in the network. O(1) reading operation is not possible in the optical domain, because there is no equivalent optical RAM available for storing packets. Currently, the only available solution that can be used for buffering in the optical domain is using long fiber lines called fiber delay lines (FDL). However, FDLs have important limitations and may cause high packet drop rates due to the burstiness of Internet traffic. We propose an architecture using an explicit congestion control protocol (XCP) based utilization control algorithm designed for OPS wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) networks with pacing at the edge nodes for decreasing the buffer requirements at core nodes. We evaluate the FDL requirements on a meshed network with multiple-hop paths and show how FDL requirements change with slot size, utilization, FDL granularity, scheduling, and packet size distribution.
Does Venture Capital Investment Lead to a Change in Start-Ups’ Intellectual Property Strategies?

This paper examines the influence of venture capital (VC) funding on start-ups’ intellectual property (IP) strategies. More specifically, the number of additionally filed patent and trademark applications after subsequent VC funding rounds is investigated. The results from the analysis of 531 start-ups show that VC funding has a strong influence on consecutive IP strategy. Already first funding rounds lead to a remarkable growth of start-ups’ IP portfolios. Yet, although VCs especially promote product commercialization of start-ups, a greater growth of trademark compared to patent portfolios cannot be identified. However, this changes during the progress along the venture cycle.
Chromosomal Q-Heterochromatin Variability in Neonates Deceased During First Year of Age

Abstract There is analyzed the amount of chromosomal Q-heterochromatin regions (Q-HR) in a genome of neonates deceased during first years of life. Chromosome preparations were made from umbilical-cord blood with the subsequent Q-staining in 145 Kyrghyz and 37 Russian neonates. During the first 3 years of life 17 Kyrghyz and 5 Russian neonates have died of various diseases. Mean numbers of Q-HRs per one individual (x) in newborn population were 3.16 ± 0.13 in Kyrgyz and 3.59 ± 0.23 in Russian, whereas in neonates died 4.58 ± 0.23 and 4.80 ± 0.37 respectively. In no group there was not preferential Q-HRs localization on seven Q-polymorphic autosomes. It is supposed that individuals with the greatest amount of Q-HRs in the newborn population have greater probability to die in the first years of life other conditions being equal.
Novel protocol to identify true hybrids in normal oleate x high oleate crosses in peanut

A novel hybrid identification protocol was developed for F 0:1 peanut seeds resulting from crosses between normal oleate cultivars with wild type FAD2B gene and high oleate genotypes with an A insertion in FAD2B gene. Presence of a series of overlapped peaks in trace file of the PCR product amplified with bF19/R1 primers was an indication of hybridity. This protocol may facilitate high oleate breeding and genetic studies in peanut.
Towards good governance of heritage management systems : possible role of accounting

* Corresponding author Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Ghent University (UGent); Ghent; Belgium Contact details: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Ghent University (UGent), Sint-Pietersplein 7, 9000 Gent, Belgium ** Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Ghent University (UGent); Ghent; Belgium *** Faculty of Management Technology, German University in Cairo (GUC); Cairo; Egypt **** Adjunct Faculty of Engineering, Arab Academy for Science and Technology; Cairo; Egypt
Exploring Fragmentation in Mathematics Education Research

This paper reports on a study which uses techniques from social network analysis to explore patterns of research collaboration within the mathematics education research field, focusing on English language publications. The results suggest that the perceived theoretical or methodological fragmentation in mathematics education does not translate in a straightforward way into a fragmentation between researchers. This result is used to argue for a method for connecting research practices complementary to some of those discussed in previous papers in the CERME working group. Namely, that existing collaborations could be used to promote increased theoretical or methodological coherence across the research field when combined with the strategies already developed by the group.