Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Diffusion and Industry Growth: The Case of Japan’s Early Cotton Spinning Industry

The diffusion of technological knowledge is key to industry growth. But not all knowledge is created equal. I use a nanoeconomic approach to examine knowledge-diffusion based growth in the Meiji-era Japanese cotton spinning industry, which enjoyed remarkable success after a decade of initial failure. By tracing sources of technological knowledge to individual engineers, I find that successful technology diffusion required the right kind of human capital embodying and transmitting knowledge, and a competitive environment that rewarded talent while weeding out incompetence.
Exploring the determinants of born‐global firms in Chile

Purpose Although much has been studied about the characteristics of born‐global firms in developed countries, studies about developing economies are far and few between and most tend to be exploratory. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper studies how Chilean born‐global firms behave and examine five distinct factors as compared to enterprises that gradually internationalize. A logistic regression model was applied to a sample of 115 small‐ and mid‐sized enterprises (SMEs) that presented a growing and non‐occasional internationalization to study the change in the probability that a young Chilean exporter will be classified as born‐global. Findings The results show that a foreign capital network, an economic development agencies (EDAs) network, the cultural distance from the countries receiving the exports, the localization of the SME in the capital city, and the company's size are factors that significantly increase the probability that a young Chilean exporter wil.
Interactions of Parent and Adolescent Temperament Dimensions in Relation to the Emotion Regulatory System

Extant research on temperament shows that it may be related to certain developmental outcomes. However, according to the goodness-of-fit hypothesis (Chess & Thomas, 1999), developmental outcomes are the result of how well the biological tendencies of an individual (i.e. temperament) fit with the contextual demands of their environment. Thus, temperament should only affect developmental outcomes as a function of their environmental context. The current study proposes that parent temperament may serve as an environmental context that interacts with adolescent temperament to affect the development of the adolescent emotion regulatory system. Structural equation modeling results revealed parent temperament, specifically parent effortful control, to moderate the relationship between adolescent temperament and the adolescent emotion regulatory system. Several gender differences were also found for both main and interaction effects. Adolescent negative affect was negatively related to emotion regulation for girls only. Parent effortful control moderated the relationship between adolescent effortful control and suppression use also for girls only. Parent effortful control moderated the relationship between adolescent surgency and emotion lability for boys only, and parent effortful control moderated the relationship between adolescent surgency and suppression for both boys and girls, but in opposite directions. The interaction term was negatively related to suppression for girls, and it was positively related to suppression for boys. Results have several implications for potential parenting interventions and may inform programs that teach emotion regulation strategies.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel Modeling and design of an energy-efficient dual-motor actuation unit with a planetary differential and holding brakes

By connecting two drivetrains to a single load, a redundant degree of freedom is created. In this work, we investigate how the redundancy of such a system can be exploited in order to make it more energy e cient. The system under study consists of two drivetrains coupled to a planetary di erential. Both drivetrains are composed of a geared DC motor and a holding brake. First, we derive an accurate semi-empirical model of this system and prove its validity on a test setup. Based on this model, which includes nonlinear friction terms, we analyze how the power ows and energy losses depend on the redundant degree of freedom. Furthermore, we discuss how the design of the actuator can be optimized for energy e ciency. This strategy is applied to a case study, where a 250W geared DC motor is replaced by a more e cient dual-motor actuator. Experiments con rm that a dual-motor actuator succeeds in reducing the energy consumption at various loads and speeds. We also show that the results are very sensitive to friction and other speedand load-dependent losses.
Particle and gaseous emissions from individual diesel and CNG buses

Abstract. In this study size-resolved particle and gaseous emissions from 28 individual diesel-fuelled and 7 compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled buses, selected from an in-use bus fleet, were characterised for real-world dilution scenarios. The method used was based on using CO 2 as a tracer of exhaust gas dilution. The particles were sampled by using an extractive sampling method and analysed with high time resolution instrumentation EEPS (10 Hz) and CO 2 with a non-dispersive infrared gas analyser (LI-840, LI-COR Inc. 1 Hz). The gaseous constituents (CO, HC and NO) were measured by using a remote sensing device (AccuScan RSD 3000, Environmental System Products Inc.). Nitrogen oxides, NO x , were estimated from NO by using default NO 2 /NO x ratios from the road vehicle emission model HBEFA3.1. The buses studied were diesel-fuelled Euro III–V and CNG-fuelled Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicles (EEVs) with different after-treatment, including selective catalytic reduction (SCR), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and with and without diesel particulate filter (DPF). The primary driving mode applied in this study was accelerating mode. However, regarding the particle emissions also a constant speed mode was analysed. The investigated CNG buses emitted on average a higher number of particles but less mass compared to the diesel-fuelled buses. Emission factors for number of particles (EF PN ) were EF PN, DPF = 4.4 ± 3.5 × 10 14 , EF PN, no DPF = 2.1 ± 1.0 × 10 15 and EF PN, CNG = 7.8 ± 5.7 ×10 15 kg fuel −1 . In the accelerating mode, size-resolved emission factors (EFs) showed unimodal number size distributions with peak diameters of 70–90 nm and 10 nm for diesel and CNG buses, respectively. For the constant speed mode, bimodal average number size distributions were obtained for the diesel buses with peak modes of ~10 nm and ~60 nm. Emission factors for NO x expressed as NO 2 equivalents for the diesel buses were on average 27 ± 7 g (kg fuel) −1 and for the CNG buses 41 ± 26 g (kg fuel) −1 . An anti-relationship between EF NO x and EF PM was observed especially for buses with no DPF, and there was a positive relationship between EF PM and EF CO .
Enhancing Metacognitive Skills Using Written Narratives: An Analysis of Pharmacy Student's Negative Health Behaviors in a Behavioral Pharmacy Class

Using content analysis of written narratives, this qualitative study explored the mental representations pharmacy students used to explain their own negative health behaviors. In a behavioral pharmacy recitation class, 150 students wrote narratives in response to a question about their own negative health behaviors. Each narrative was content analyzed. The top three adverse health behaviors were poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption. The three most common modifications included generalized knowledge acquisition or education, being committed to making a conscious effort to change negative behaviors (i.e., will power), and not responding to peer pressure. It appears that students believe they have good reasons for continuing bad behaviors. However, behavior modifications appeared to be too general to be effective. Students offered prescriptive solutions to negative health behaviors. Post assignment student evaluation showed that most students believed that further training in self-awareness (metacognition) in the pharmacy curriculum, would enhance both personal growth and professional abilities as future pharmacists.
Occurrence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in sewage and sludge samples in Toronto, Canada

In recent years, many anthropogenic chemicals occurring in the environment have been shown to mimic the action of endogenous hormones. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can potentially lead to a host of adverse effects on wildlife, such as the feminization of fish, the lack of reproductive success of some species, birth defects, and the development of physical abnormality. In an attempt to establish the levels of contamination by EDCs in municipal sewage and sludge, we have collected samples in the Toronto area and analyzed them for alkylphenols, alkylphenol ethoxylates and carboxylates, 17β-estradiol and its metabolites, testosterone, bisphenol A, as well as butyltin species. Previously developed methods using solvent extraction, solid-phase extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, GC/MS, and HPLC determination have been used for such samples. Levels of these chemicals varied from 500 pg/g for nonylphenol to <0.1 pg/g for bisphenol A. The screening of many of the above EDCs has become an integral part of an on-going wastewater quality monitoring program in Toronto.
The Walrus Auditory Region and the Monophyly of Pinnipeds

Within the customary tripartite division of pinnipeds a grouping of the Odobenidae (walruses) and Otariidae (sea lions) to the exclusion of the Phocidae (seals) has been almost universally recognized. An anatomical review of features, primarily of the auditory region, however, reveals that odobenids share a significant number of derived characters with phocids. The evidence supporting the traditional otariid/odobenid grouping is examined and is found to consist almost exclusively of primitive, and therefore phylogenetically uninformative, characters. A review of characters that have been proposed as supporting the widely accepted alliance ofphocids and mustelids reveals that they fail to provide compelling evidence for pinniped diphyly; the arguments for diphyly are further weakened by acceptance of a phocid-walrus relationship. Some aspects of the cranial morphology of several putative early Miocene otarioids are reviewed, and it is suggested that Pinnarctidion and Allodesmus are actually better regarded as members ofa group including phocids and odobenids. Thus, the major morphological gap between the highly derived phocids and their presumed sister group may largely be filled. A cladogram depicting a sister-group relationship between odobenids and phocids, the monophyly of pinnipeds, and the tenatative relationships of these fossil taxa is presented.
Role of the QBO in modulating the influence of the 11 year solar cycle on the atmosphere using constant forcings

We present a set of six 20 year experiments made with a state-of-the-art chemistry-climate model that incorporates the atmosphere from the surface to the lower thermosphere. The response of the middle atmosphere to the 11 year solar cycle, its impact on the troposphere, and especially the role of an externally prescribed stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is investigated with NCAR's Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM3). The model experiments use either fixed solar cycle inputs or fixed solar cycle together with prescribed QBO phase. The annual mean solar response in temperature and ozone in the upper stratosphere is in qualitative agreement with other modeling and observational studies and does not depend on the presence of the imposed QBO. However, the solar response in the middle to lower stratosphere differs significantly for the two QBO phases. During solar maxima a weaker Brewer-Dobson circulation with relative downwelling, warming, and enhanced ozone occurs in the tropical lower stratosphere during QBO east conditions, while a stronger circulation, cooling, and decreased ozone exists during QBO west conditions. The net ozone increase during QBO east is the combined result of production and advection, whereas during QBO west the effects cancel each other and result in little net ozone changes. Especially during Southern Hemisphere late winter to early spring, the solar response at polar latitudes switches sign between the two QBO phases and qualitatively confirms observations and other recent model studies. During a poleward downward modulation of the polar night jet and a corresponding modulation of the Brewer-Dobson circulation in time, solar signals are detected all the way down to the extratropical troposphere. Possible limitations of the model experiments with respect to the fixed solar cycle conditions or the prescribed QBO phases, as well as the constant sea surface temperatures, are discussed.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Faces of conflict Interventionism and substantiveness in the conflict framing process

the tone of conflict framing in the Netherlands is still mainly characterized by substantive conflicts, or by nonsubstantive forms of conflict framing, such as incivility and personal attacks. By looking at different types of conflict frames in the news coverage, this thesis seeks to address this question. Most of the focus of research on conflict framing has focused on the US-context, which is characterized by only two relevant parties, high levels of polarization and prevalent ad hominem attacks in conflict news. Research on conflict framing in democratic corporatist systems such as The Netherlands is far less common. sum, the aim of this dissertation is to better understand conflict frame building, conflict frame presence in media content, and the effects of different types of conflict frames. Using a variety of research methods, the dissertation shows that two dimensions, interventionism and substantiveness, play an important role across the conflict framing process.
Healthy Benefit of Microalgal Bioactive Substances

Microalgae have been widely used as novel sources of bioactive substances. Along with this trend, the possibility of replacing synthetic preservatives with natural ones is receiving much attention. In general, microalgae are rich in various phytochemicals like carotenoids, phycocayanine, phenolics, amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and sulphated polysaccharides. These compounds are providing excellent various biological actions including, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy effects. Their healthy benefit seemed to be due to different biochemical mechanisms. However, some microalgae species such as Chlorella, Spirulina and Dunaliella species have been used in several areas in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, nutrition and functional quality of foods. In 2006, World Health Organization has been described Spirulina as one of the greatest super-foods on earth serving as an example of the potential of microalgae. This review provides background on current and future uses of microalgae as novel source of health promoting compounds.
Fueter's theorem in discrete Clifford analysis

In this paper, we discretize techniques for the construction of axially monogenic functions to the setting of discrete Clifford analysis. Wherefore, we work in the discrete Hermitian Clifford setting, where each basis vector ej is split into a forward and backward basis vector: ej=ej++ej− . We prove a discrete version of Fueter's theorem in odd dimension by showing that for a discrete monogenic function f(ξ0,ξ1) left‐monogenic in two variables ξ0 and ξ1 and for a left‐monogenic Pk(ξ), the m‐dimensional function Δk+m−12f(ξ01ξ)Pk(ξ) is in itself left monogenic, that is, a discrete function in the kernel of the discrete Dirac operator. Closely related, we consider a Vekua‐type system for the construction of axially monogenic functions. We consider some explicit examples: the discrete axial‐exponential functions and the discrete Clifford–Hermite polynomials. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variability in equatorial Pacific sea surface topography during the verification phase of the TOPEX/POSEIDON mission

L' Abstract. As part of the verification phase of the TOPEWPOSEIDON mission, 10-day gridded fields of altimeter data derived from TOPEX geophysical data records are compared with 10-day gridded fields of dynamic height derived from more than 60 moorings of the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere-Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TOGA-TAO) array in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Access to TAO data in real time permits the first 500 days of the TOPEWPOSEIDON mission to be placed in the context of complementary, in situ measurements of surface winds, sea surface temperatures, and upper ocean thermal structure, as well as the time history of these variables prior to launch. Analysis of the space-time structure in the TOPEX and TAO surface topography data indicates sea level variability primarily due to equatorial Kelvin wave activity generated by intense wind bursts west of the date line in association with the 1991-1993 El Nino. Cross correlations between the two data sets are generally >0.7, witha RMS differences 5 cm north of the equator in the central and eastern Pacific.
Resolution of Policy Uncertainty and Sudden Declines in Volatility

We introduce downward volatility jumps into a general non-affine modeling framework of the term structure of variance. With variance swaps and S&P 500 returns, we find that downward volatility jumps are associated with a resolution of policy uncertainty, mostly through statements from FOMC meetings and speeches of the Federal Reserve’s chairman. Ignoring such jumps may lead to an incorrect interpretation of the tail events, and hence biased estimates of variance risk premia. On the modeling side, we explore the structural differences and relative goodness-of-fits of factor specifications. We find that log-volatility models with at least one Ornstein–Uhlenbeck factor and double-sided jumps are superior in capturing volatility dynamics and pricing variance swaps, compared to the affine model prevalent in the literature or non-affine specifications without downward jumps.
Early seedling development of Medicago truncatula genotypes under salt stress in relationship with seed dry weight and storage protein content

In order to have more information on early seedling development under salinity stress (one of the important factors limiting plant productivity and also crop growth), it will be interesting to examine radicle growth in comparison to plumule elongation under different salinity stress conditions. In this study, we assessed the variability of four genotypes of the plant model Medicago truncatula under four levels of salt stress (distilled water as control 0, 68, 102 and 137 mM) of sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Several studies are focalised in root or radical development because is the most sensitive part of the plant and controls rapid transmission information to other plant parts. In order to evaluate the degree of radicle sensitivity, we measured the plumule length to radicle length ratio (PL: RL ratio). Also, we investigated the relationship between storage protein content, seed weight and salinity tolerance degree. The results show that Tru 131 and Tru 673 genotypes, with a low ratio (radicle more resistant (longer) than plumule) and high storage protein content, are more tolerant to salinity stress than the sensitive genotypes Tru 26 and Jemalong that had a high ratio (radicle more sensitive (shorter) than plumule) and low storage protein content. We concluded that the most tolerant genotype (Tru 131) with rich protein and high seed weight can be cultivated in saline and semi-arid areas in Algeria and Mediterranean regions to improve the legumes productivity. Although, the genotype (Tru 673) that had a low seed vigour, appear tolerant (high PL:RL ratio) despite coming from ‘aged seeds’. This additional data shows the influence of ‘aged seeds’ on seed vigour and root growth because seeds contain all of the genetic resources of the plant. Key words: Medicago truncatula, salt stress, seed weight, storage protein content, seed vigour, aged seeds.
Alpha-glucan acting enzymes in Aspergillus niger

Currently known fungal α-amylases are well-characterized extracellular enzymes that are classified into glycoside hydrolase subfamily GH13_1. This study describes the identification, phylogenetic and biochemical analysis of novel intracellular fungal αamylases. The phylogenetic analysis shows that they cluster in the recently identified subfamily GH13_5 and display very low similarity to fungal α-amylases of subfamily GH13_1. Homologues of these intracellular enzymes are present in the genome sequences of all filamentous fungi studied, including Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. One of the enzymes belonging to this new group, Amy1p from Histoplasma capsulatum, recently has been functionally linked to the formation of cell wall α-glucan (Marion et al., 2006). To study the biochemical characteristics of this novel cluster of αamylases, we overexpressed and purified a homologue from Aspergillus niger, AmyD, and studied its activity product profile with starch and related substrates. AmyD has a relatively low hydrolyzing activity on starch (2.2 U mg) producing mainly maltotriose. A possible function of these enzymes in relation to cell wall α-glucan synthesis is discussed. Alpha-glucan acting enzymes in Aspergillus niger
Would a single regional visa encourage tourist arrivals in southern Africa?

Although many studies have been done of factors impeding Africa's development as a tourism destination, few have focused on southern Africa, and to date none have questioned whether the current visa requirements affect the region's tourism industry. This paper investigates the potential impact of the so-called Univisa, a single visa for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region proposed by SADC and the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa. It examines the possible effect of visa requirements on a destination's accessibility and visitor numbers. Two surveys revealed that inbound and outbound tour operators were relatively positive about the benefits the proposed Univisa would bring, but were concerned about other factors hindering tourism development in the region. The study revealed the complexities of a regional visa and found that even though a regional visa might alleviate some problems, it cannot be seen as an answer to the slow development of tourism in this region.