Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benefit Duration and Job Search Effort: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Findings of prolonged non-employment spells due to more generous unemployment benefits are commonly seen as an indication of reduced job search effort and moral hazard behavior. However, to date, there is hardly any direct evidence of benefit-induced reductions in search effort. This paper exploits quasi-experimental variation in the potential benefit duration in Germany paired with individual-level data on job search behavior to directly investigate this assumed relationship. The results of this study provide substantial support for strategic job search behavior in response to the generosity of the benefit scheme: the extension of the benefit duration caused job search effort to significantly decrease, lowering the number of filed applications and the probability of applying for a job that requires moving. In line with theory, it is shown that the reduction in search effort is accompanied by a significant decrease in the short-run job-finding rate. Instrumental variables estimates further provide causal evidence on the direct relationship between search effort and unemployment duration: a 10 percent increase in the number of filed job applications is found to increase the short-run job-finding probability by 1.3 percentage points.
Corporate governance structure and firm performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka: A path to access the credit

The purpose of this study is to analyse how the adoption of corporate governance structures affects the performance of SMEs in Sri Lanka. For this purpose, we examine the effect of board composition, board size, board and staff skill levels, board leadership (duality), and family ownership on firm performance. To obtain unbiased estimators for the effects of the independent variables, contextual factors such as firm age, firm size, and debt ratio are included as controls for corporate governance structure and performance relationships. Panel regression analysis is used to estimate the relationship between corporate governance and performance. The results show that all measures including board composition, board size, board and staff skill levels, board leadership (duality), and family ownership have significantly positive impacts on profitability. Corporate governance can greatly assist the SME sector by infusing better management practices. It is also clear that corporate governance structures influence the performance of SMEs in Sri Lanka. The finding also shows the implications of SMEs gaining access to finance as a result of adopting a good governance system.
Influence of litter on herbage production in the mixed prairie.

Lifter (dead plant material) increases production in xeric environments but the nature of this effect is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between liner quantity and herbage production over a 4-year period as well as to determine the effect of repeated removal of lifter on production. The study was made in a Stipa-Bouteloua-Agropyron faciation of the Mixed Prairie association, near Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Litter quantity was altered by mechanical removal before spring growth and the residue separated into coarse and fine components. In Experiment 1, the effect of lifter on herbage production was tested by removing lifter at 0, medium, and high levels that resulted in an average residue of coarse liner of 1,171, 787, and 377 kg ha-1. Coarse litter was related to an increase in herbage production (P < 0.05) in 3 of the 4 years studied. The effects of lifter were related to the growing conditions of each year. The linear regression coefficients describing the response (herbage production related to litter) ranged from 0.114 to 0.802 with the smallest effect under either very dry or very wet conditions. In Experiment 2, lifter was removed at high levels in either 0, 1, 2, or 3 successive years. These treatments resulted in an average residue of coarse litter of 1,300, 164, 149, and 188 kg ha-1. Herbage production was not affected by removing litter for more than 1 year but plant height, tiller weight, and herbage yield of some plant species were.
An Efficient Virtual Machine Scheduling Technique in Cloud Computing Environment

Cloud is a collection of heterogeneous resources and requirements of these resources can change dynamically. Cloud providers are always interested in maximizing the resources utilization and the associated revenues, by trimming down energy consumption and operational expenses, while on the other hand cloud users are interested in minimizing response time and optimizing overall application throughput. In cloud environment to allocate the resources with minimum overhead time along with efficient utilization of available resources is very challenging task. The resources in cloud datacenter are allocated using a virtual machine (VM) scheduling technique. So there is a need of an efficient VM scheduling technique to maximize system performance and cost saving. In this paper two dynamic virtual machine scheduling techniques i.e. Best fit and Worst fit are proposed for reducing the response time along with efficient and balanced resource utilization. The proposed algorithms removes the limitations of the previously proposed Novel Vector based algorithm and minimizes the response time complexity in order of O(logn) and O(1) using Best Fit and Worst Fit strategies respectively. Index Terms—Cloud computing, load balancing, VM scheduling, response time, resource leak.
The Effects of Peso Devaluation on Manufacturing, Export and Tropical Forests in Mexico: A CGE Analysis

This study quantifies the effects of recent peso devaluations on the Mexican exports, imports, domestic production, employment, and economic growth. It also examines the effects on the level of tropical deforestation. We examine whether peso devaluations will lead to immigration from various urban non-agricultural sectors into shifting agriculture and thereby increase tropical deforestation. In addressing this question we employ a CGE model. The results show that the peso devaluation would adversely affect many manufacturing sectors. This in turn forces low skilled workers to the countryside thereby increasing agricultural production at the expense of land now covered by tropical forests. Since many of these migrants have little skill at cultivating such marginal lands, they shift cultivation in a manner which increases runoff and has a negative impact on the size, quality, and value of tropical forests. Indeed, we have shown them to be both environmentally detrimental and economically significant.
Microscopical examination of plant reaction in case of infection with Trichoderma and Mycorrhizal fungi

Trichoderma spp. are active ingredients in a variety of commercial biofungicides used to control a range of economically important aerial and soil borne fungal plant pathogens. The antagonistic activity of biocontrol Trichoderma strains is attributable to one or more complex mechanisms, including nutrient competition, antibiosis, the activity of cell wall-lytic enzymes, induction of systemic resistance, and increased plant nutrient availability. Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic symbioses with a vast majority of land plants, possibly more than 80 % of all land plants. Mycorrhiza represents an important group because they have a wide distribution; may contribute significantly to microbial biomass and to soil nutrient cycling processes in plants. The mycorrhizal fungi are part of biofertilizers, recognized for their beneficial effects: improved plant nutrition, soil fertility improvement, root pest and disease control, improved water usage, amelioration of toxic effects in soils. The objective in this study is to analyze macroscopically and microscopically the interaction between Trichoderma sp. - mychorrizal fungi and plants in a tripartite system, in order to investigate the host behavior of the plant, as well as aspects concerning the interaction between the three organisms.
Protected Apes, Unprotected Forest: Composition, Structure and Diversity of Riverine Forest Fragments and Their Conservation Value in Uganda

Small forest fragments are common in anthropogenic landscapes in the tropics. These have conservation value if they provide habitat for threatened wildlife and maintain connectivity between larger habitats. Riverine forests have particular ‘corridor’ potential due to their linear shape, but are under-studied in many regions. We surveyed trees in riverine fragments in Bulindi, an anthropogenic landscape 25 km south of the Budongo Forest in western Uganda, to determine their condition and assess their value for wildlife, particularly endangered chimpanzees Pan troglodytes. We assessed tree composition, structure and diversity and compared results with a previous survey made in Budongo, the nearest main forest block. Riverine fragments were considerably less species-dense and species-rich than Budongo. Community composition differed markedly between sites and there was virtually no overlap in common species. Common trees in fragments were characteristic of East African swamp and groundwater forests (e.g. the palm Phoenix reclinata) and the dominant tree family was the Moraceae, members of which produce fleshy fruits attractive to frugivores (e.g. figs). Important fruit foods for chimpanzees differed between habitats. While basal area of important fruit trees was comparable, overall density was greater in fragments. Our data suggest the riverine fragments offer a relatively food-dense habitat for chimpanzees and other frugivores. Small riverine forests have little or no protection regionally and are being extensively logged and cleared for agriculture. Species logged for timber in Bulindi included important chimpanzee fruit trees. Unless conservation projects successfully reverse current trends, the value of the riverine corridors for maintaining connectivity between main forest blocks is limited.
Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Mini-balance Evaluation Systems Test in Patients with Subacute Stroke.

Objective The objective of the current study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (J-Mini-BESTest) in patients with subacute stroke. Methods Eighteen patients who had suffered a first hemiplegic stroke (mean age, 59.1 ± 27.0 years) and had been admitted to convalescent rehabilitation wards were enrolled. The J-Mini-BESTest, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the functional reach test (FRT) were used to assess balance. Four physical therapists (PTs) observed and scored the J-Mini-BESTest while another PT conducted the test. The interrater reliability of the J-Mini-BESTest was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC[2,1]) for the total and section scores, and kappa statistics for each item. Internal consistency of the five raters was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent validity of the J-Mini-BESTest was assessed against the BBS and FRT using Spearman's correlation coefficients. Results The ICC[2,1] of the total and section scores were 0.90 (95% confidence interval: 0.81-0.95) and 0.63-0.85, respectively. Cronbach's alphas were 0.80-0.87. The kappa statistics were 0.47-1.00. The scores of the J-Mini-BESTest were significantly correlated with those of the BBS (rho=0.66, p=0.006) but not with those of the FRT (rho=-0.36, p=0.189). Conclusion The J-Mini-BESTest showed excellent inter-rater reliability and internal consistency. Although the J-Mini-BESTest was not correlated with the FRT, it was significantly correlated with the BBS. The J-Mini-BESTest is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating dynamic balance in patients with subacute stroke.
Global angiosperm family richness revisited: linking ecology and evolution to climate

Aim The global richness gradient of angiosperm families is correlated with current climate, and it has been claimed that historical processes are not necessary to understand patterns of plant family richness. This claim has drawn criticism, and there have been doubts about the quality of the data used to quantify the pattern. We revisit this issue using the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) III classification and revised range maps, and we incorporate an evolutionary variable, family age, to explore covariation between evolution and ecology and their links to climate via the tropical conservatism hypothesis (TCH).
Vibration excitation and control of a pedestrian walkway by individuals and crowds

As part of a continuing study on effects of humans on loading and dynamic response of footbridges, a steel frame walkway has been the subject of studies on the effects of multiple pedestrians with respect to loading and response mitigation. Following finite element modeling and experimental modal analysis to identify the low frequency vibration modes likely to be excited by normal walking, the variation of response with pedestrian density and of system damping and natural frequency with occupancy by stationary pedestrians were both studied. The potentially mitigating effect of stationary occupants is still not well understood and the study included direct measurement of damping forces and absorbed energy using a force plate. The various tests showed that energy dissipation measured directly was consistent with the observed change in damping, that vertical and lateral response both varied approximately with square root of number of pedestrians, and that the simple model of a human as a single mass-spring-damper system may need to be refined to fit observed changes in modal parameters with a crowd of humans present. Modal parameter changes with moving pedestrians were small compared to those with stationary pedestrians indicating that within limits, modal parameters for the empty structure could be used in analysis.
Effect of Solution Conditions on the Proportion and Morphology of Goethite Formed from Ferrihydrite

In alkaline media and at 70°C dilute suspensions of ferrihydrite transformed to goethite between pH 11.2 and 14 and to a mixture of goethite and hematite above and below this pH range. Increasing the temperature of the transformation or the concentration of the suspension reduced the pH range in which goethite alone formed. The morphology of goethite was chiefly a function of the pH of the system. Acicular crystals formed at all pHs and exclusively above pH 12.2. Epitaxial twinned crystals predominated at pHs below 11, and twins free from hematite formed at higher pHs. Increasing the suspension concentration, ionic strength, or temperature extended the pH range over which twinned crystals formed. Electron micrographs showed that twins formed mainly during the initial stage of the transformation, whereas acicular crystals formed over a longer period. Thus, the twins appeared to nucleate in the ferrihydrite; nucleation of acicular particles took place in solution.
Pilot study of population density and biodiversity index of Mantodea fauna in El-Fayoum governorate- Egypt

Thepresent work was carried out to make a pilot study of mantis population usingmark release recapture technique in El-Fayoum governorate through the year of2008 to estimate the population density and the biodiversity of some mantis fauna.This study form a nucleus of more extensive studies on mantis ecology which isstill not clear and shed the light on the nature of mantis population and someproblems facing this beautiful insect in Egypt.
Salinity modulates the energy balance and reproductive success of co-occurring copepods Acartia tonsa and A. clausi in different ways

We assessed metabolic balance, RNA content, and egg hatching success (EHS) in Acar- tia tonsa and A. clausi over a wide salinity range (2 to 33 and 16 to 33, respectively). For A. tonsa, the energy partitioning between ingestion, production and respiration was relatively constant with small differences in gross growth efficiency (GGE) and cost of growth (CG). In contrast, A. clausi exhibited significantly reduced ingestion and GGE, and highly elevated CG at salinities ≤20. In both species, RNA levels mirrored egg production. EHS was generally high in both species, but decreased by 80% for A. clausi at 16. These results contribute to the understanding of distribution patterns of both species along salinity gradients. The observed responses would allow the dominance of A. tonsa at low salinities, although its higher energetic requirement and feeding activity subject it to stronger predation pressure than competing A. clausi.
Prevalence of clopidogrel resistance evaluated by the VASP method

BACKGROUND: Despite oral antiplatelet treatment a certain number of patients suffer adverse events while on therapy. Whether patients demonstrating low platelet inhibition in vitro are at increased risk for adverse events is unknown. The prevalence of clopidogrel resistance ranges from 4-60% in the literature and a standardized cut off value for determining resistance, protocol for treatment and testing is lacking. Characteristics of the clopidogrel resistant patient are unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine a comparable, clinically applicable reference cut-off value for clopidogrel resistance with the VASP method in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Furthermore we sought to explore the prevalence of resistance in the same population while on clopidogrel treatment, and within defined patient sub-groups. METHODS: Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) analyses, a standardized flow cytometric assay which yields a VASP platelet reactivity index (PRI) value indicating residual platelet activity, were performed on whole blood samples from 158 patients with angiographically documented CAD on clopidogrel treatment. The cut-off value for resistance was defined by the 5%-percentile in a control group of patients with CAD (n=105) being on aspirin. RESULTS: The cut-off value for clopidogrel resistance was determined to be VASP PRI  55. 29.7% of the patients had a VASP PRI 55 while on clopidogrel treatment. We did not find any correlation between clopidogrel resistance and age (r=0.005, p=0.952). There were also no associations with gender (p=0.596), smoking habit (p=0.523), hypertension (p=0.445) or diabetes (0.498). CONCLUSIONS: VASP analysis could be useful for monitoring response to treatment and tailoring antithrombotic drug regimens for CAD patients. This would be of great importance if future prospective clinical studies show that clopidogrel resistant patients are at higher risk for adverse events than patients with an acceptable platelet inhibition with clopidogrel.
Sul collasso assiale di travi in parete sottile realizzate con adesivi : primi risultati sperimentali

Le giunzioni incollate possono rappresentare una valida alternativa ad altri tipi di giunzioni piu tradizionali, come la saldatura a punti o la rivettatura. L'uso di tali giunzioni nel settore autoveicolistico, pero, e stato sinora limitato a particolari strutturali di secondaria importanza, tra le altre ragioni anche a causa della scarsita di prove sperimentali che determinino l'effettiva capacita di resistenza in condizioni normali di utilizzo e di assorbimento energetico in caso di urto di strutture realizzate per incollaggio. In questo lavoro si confrontano le prestazioni strutturali di uno stesso elemento tipico dei telai automobilistici, realizzato con due diverse tecnologie di assemblaggio: saldatura a punti oppure incollaggio, inoltre per l'incollaggio sono stati considerati un adesivo acrilico ed uno epossidico. Le prove sperimentali svolte hanno determinato l'efficacia della giunzione incollata dal punto di vista dell'assorbimento energetico in caso di sollecitazione assiale quasi-statica, per confronto con l'analoga caratteristica di assorbimento della trave saldata a punti, in particolare con l'adesivo acrilico si e avuto un significativo aumento della forza media (+45%) e della forza massima iniziale (+52%)
Effect of heat treatment on tensile and compression strength of nickel aluminium bronze (Cu-10%Al-5%Ni-5%Fe)

In this investigation two types of heat treatment solutionizing and ageing were employed to nickel-aluminium bronze (NAB alloy) containing Al, Fe and Ni as the alloying elements. Heat treatment was done to access their effect on the mechanical properties e.g. tensile and compressive strength and strain. Solutionizing temperature carried out at 850oC and 900oC for duration of 30 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min. similarly, ageing was carried out at 300oC and 500oC for the duration of 120 min and 180 min. The heat treated samples were subjected to water quenching in order to bring them to ambient temperature. The tensile and compressive strength and ductility of the alloy were determined in different conditions. In this case, the heat treatment was carried out in optimized conditions (temperature and duration) of solutionizing and ageing. Optimization was done based on the best combination of hardness and microstructural homogeneity attained by the samples during the heat treatment. Optimization is not included in this paper.
Assessing Use of Information Communication Technologies among Agricultural Extension Workers in Kenya Using Modified UTAUT Model

Government agricultural extension officers in Kenya are mandated with providing agricultural information to farmers. ICTs have the ability to provide better linkage between agricultural experts and farmers for timely and appropriate technical advice to enhance agricultural productivity. Several models have been developed by various researchers to explain ICT adoption in various fields. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was developed by consolidating eight famous Models/Theories in the Information Systems discipline. This study aimed at investigating the factors that influence use of ICTs by government agricultural extension officers within Kiambu County of Kenya by utilizing the UTAUT model. To achieve this, four hypothesis were proposed to test the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The variables of the study were Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions and Social Influence. The research undertook a survey where a census of agricultural extension officers in Kiambu County was done. Questionnaires were utilized on the target population where 144 questionnaires were distributed and 104 were used in analysis. -----------------------------------------------------------------------* Corresponding author. E-mail address: dorothy@jkuat.ac. ke