Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
South African Manufacturing Industry Structure and its Implications for Competition Policy

This paper surveys the literature on the manufacturing sector in South Africa, focusing on concentration and markup levels, with a view to inform policy. The literature has employed a number of different measures of industrial concentration, namely, the Gini and Rosenbluth indices, the Occupancy Count, the C5% index and, to a lesser extent, Concentration Ratios and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index. Generally, manufacturing industry concentration is found to be high and increasing up to 1996. However, all the measures show decreasing concentration post-1996. In respect of markups, the evidence suggests that markups in South Africa are significantly higher than they are in comparable industries world-wide and they appear to be non-declining. However, there are dissenting voices on this point. We then juxtapose the concentration and price-cost margins findings to industry performance (at the macro level). In particular, we review the literature that examines the relations between concentration and price-cost margins on the one hand and output growth, productivity growth, employment, employment growth, investment and export and import competitiveness on the other. We then draw implications for competition policy in South Africa, pointing out areas that need further research as well as international best practices.
SCREENING FOR RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM WILT IN INDUCED MUTANTS AND WORLD COLLECTION OF SESAME UNDER INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT

Resistance levels of 25 sesame genotypes were evaluated for their reaction to Fusarium oxysporium f.sp. sesami. The evaluation was carried out during two successive seasons (2007 and 2008) in two soil conditions of an area known contaminated by a virulent isolate of the pathogen. All healthy and diseased plants for each row was counted and according to a formula reactions of the plants were recorded on a scale from 1 (� 10% resistant) to 9 (� 51% highly susceptible). Highly significant differences of susceptibility and resistance to the wilt pathogen were observed among genotypes. The level of infection varied in the genotypes. According to the mean of combined results, “Birkan”, Camdibi, WS-143, WS-313 were classified as resistant (R) while WS-131 were categorized as moderately susceptible (MS). These genotypes continued their resistance and susceptibility in both soil types and years, respectively. It was concluded that the genotypes in the resistant category and specifically “Birkan”, a recently released cultivar for large seed and high yield, seems to possess also the resistance to the Fusarium wilt disease. This genotype could be used as the sources of resistance to the wilt in the breeding programmes aiming to develop sesame suitable to intensive management.
Testing the impact of ICT in developed countries during 1980-1995: distributional analysis in Solow’s growth accounting framework

In this paper we study the impact of ICT capital in developed countries during 1980-1995. We use Solow’s growth accounting methodology synthesized with statistical testing about equality of distributions and multimodality of distributions. We test for significance of a contribution from each source of Solow’s decomposition, including contribution of ICT capital, as well as test whether any of the contributions are responsible for a multi-club convergence phenomenon and find interesting results.
Effect of nitrogen addition on the comparative productivity of corn and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti )

Abstract Weeds that respond more to nitrogen fertilizer than crops may be more competitive under high nitrogen (N) conditions. Therefore, understanding the effects of nitrogen on crop and weed growth and competition is critical. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 1999 and 2000 to determine the influence of varying levels of N addition on corn and velvetleaf height, leaf area, biomass accumulation, and yield. Nitrogen addition increased corn and velvetleaf height by a maximum of 15 and 68%, respectively. N addition increased corn and velvetleaf maximum leaf area index (LAI) by up to 51 and 90%. Corn and velvetleaf maximum biomass increased by up to 68 and 89% with N addition. Competition from corn had the greatest effect on velvetleaf growth, reducing its biomass by up to 90% compared with monoculture velvetleaf. Corn response to N addition was less than that of velvetleaf, indicating that velvetleaf may be most competitive at high levels of nitrogen and least competitive when nitrogen levels are low. Corn yield declined with increasing velvetleaf interference at all levels of N addition. However, corn yield loss due to velvetleaf interference was similar across N treatments except in one site–year, where yield loss increased with increasing N addition. Corn yield loss due to velvetleaf interference may increase with increasing N supply when velvetleaf emergence and early season growth are similar to that of corn. Nomenclature: Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medic. ABUTH; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer 33A14’.
Bioactive compounds and quality characteristics of five apples cultivars

The aim of this study was to evaluate bioactive compounds in five apple cultivars and to analyze correlation of their quality characteristics with concentration of bioactive compounds. Phenolic compounds measurements were made in a spectrophotometer compared to a standard curve of gallic acid and expressed as gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per 100g of dry weight. Sugar and organics acids in five cultivars were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using three complementary tests 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). 'GoldRush' had the highest total phenolic compared to the other four cultivars. Additionally, 'GoldRush' had slightly higher, DPPH activity followed by 'Crimson Crisp' and 'Wine Crisp'. 'GoldRush' and 'Crimson Crisp' cultivars also have higher antioxidant capacity based on the ABTS and FRAP methods. The antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated with total polyphenols present in the different cultivars, while organic acids and fruit color showed slightly significant correlation to total phenols
Comparative wood anatomy of species of Psychotria L. (Rubiaceae) in Atlantic Rainforest remnants of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Psychotria is the largest Rubiaceae genus and one of the most abundant in the Atlantic Rainforest of Rio de Janeiro State. The present work aims to characterize and compare the wood of nine of these species. ThePsychotria wood were characterized by: slightly distinct growth rings; diffuse porosity; solitary vessels or on radial multiples of 2-6 or clusters of 3-5 vessel elements, with terminal and lateral simple perforation plates and vestured and alternate intervessel and vessel-ray pits; septate fiber-tracheids; and rare axial parenchyma. Although, the wood anatomy of thePsychotria may be considered homogeneous, the statistical analyses, based on qualitative and quantitative features, allowed the segregation of the species and indicated the importance of habit (arboreous or shrubby) on the wood anatomy of the species. It is worth mentioning that the sampling was realized in only one studied site (Ilha Grande), which contributed to the conclusion that the wood characteristics are more related to the specificities of each studied taxon than to with environmental variations.
Appraisal of the value of selected clays and minerals in diets with and without aflatoxin-contaminated maize fed to young pigs

Three experiments using 345 crossbred weanling pigs were conducted to further assess the value of different clay and mineral products in situations of aflatoxin contamination and, additionally, in noncontaminated diets. In experiment 1, 54 pigs were used in a 34-d trial to evaluate four amendments added at a rate of 0.5% to a diet contaminated with 500 ppb aflatoxin. Pigs fed the contaminated diet had reduced A D G of 27.8%; the sodium bentonite amendment resulted in total growth recovery (P<0.01) and the kaolin amendment resulted in 47% recovery (P<0.05) of the growth loss. A special Mg/Ca mineral blend resulted in a 60% (P<0.05) recovery of the growth loss and maintained feed/gain. A commercial pellet binder provided no amelioration of growth loss. A total of 291 crossbred pigs were used in two experiments, each involving two trials of 28 to 33 d, to assess the response of weanling pigs to amendments evaluated in the first study, plus additional amendments (a zeolite, a calcium bentonite, a saponite, a sepiolite, and another mineral product) in diets that were not contaminated with aflatoxin. Several products enhanced A D G (P < 0.05) through improvements in A D F I . No reduction (P<0.10) in A D G resulted from inclusion of these non-proteinor energy-containing compounds. Results from these studies confirm the utility of clays mitigate the adverse effects of aflatoxin in weanling pig diets and demonstrate occasional enhancement of A D G associated with these amendments in situations when aflatoxin contamination does not occur.
Downloa Statin Treatment Simvastatin Impairs Exercise Training Adaptations

Methods T his study examined the effects of simvastatin on changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and skeletal muscle mitochondrial content in response to aerobic exercise training. Sedentary overweight or obese adults with at least 2 metabolic syndrome risk factors (defined according to National Cholesterol Education Panel Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) were randomized to 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training or to exercise in combination with simvastatin (40 mg/day). The primary outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness and skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) mitochondrial content (citrate synthase enzyme activity).
Zinc-Inhibited MMP-Mediated Collagen Degradation after Different Dentine Demineralization Procedures

Background: Dentine matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the dentine caries process. Aims: To determine if MMP-mediated collagen degradation of acid-demineralized dentine may be inhibited by zinc or zinc chelators. Methods: Human dentine specimens were demineralized by phosphoric acid (PA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Clearfil SE Bond primer (SE), or Xeno V (XE) and stored in artificial saliva. Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), doxycycline, EDTA, or ZnCl2 was added. C-terminal telopeptide determinations (ICTP) were performed by radioimmunoassay after 24 h and 4 weeks. Results: Collagen degradation was prominent in PA-demineralized (ICTP values from 74.01 µg/l at 24 h to 202.46 µg/l after 4 weeks) and EDTA-demineralized dentine (ICTP values from 83.93 µg/l at 24 h to 158.82 µg/l after 4 weeks) stored in artificial saliva. Doxycycline fully blocked proteolysis. CHX and EDTA reduced collagen degradation only at 24 h. Zinc in excess strongly inhibited hydrolysis of collagen in all tested groups (ICTP values were: PA, 13.56 µg/l; EDTA, 11.21 µg/l; SE, 1.52 µg/l, and XE, 2.37 µg/l) and its effect was maintained for up to 4 weeks, except for EDTA-treated dentine (ICTP values were: PA, 40.76 µg/l; EDTA, 79.15 µg/l; SE, 5.29 µg/l, and XE, 6.38 µg/l). Conclusion: EDTA and CHX exerted time-limited MMP inhibition, and excess zinc served as an effective inhibitor of MMP-mediated collagen degradation in strong or mildly demineralized dentine. MMP degradation of collagen was reduced in resin-infiltrated dentine; the presence of excess zinc chloride exerted an additional protective effect.
Evaluation of faecal coliform levels in the discharges from the city of El Jadida, Morocco

In order to assess the fecal coliform contents in the raw sewage from the city of El Jadida, the principal component analysis of these contents coupled with the physicochemical parameters of water (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity and total suspended solids) was carried out. The bacteriological analysis of samples taken at the level of collector SIDI DAWI of the city of El Jadida between May 2008 and June 2010 shows that the effluent were characterized by fecal coliforms contents ranging from 2.22×10 7 and 9.64×10 7 CFU/100 mL with an average of 6.38×10 7 CFU/100 mL. These values were far above the recommended norm by WHO for irrigation water which is 10 3 CFU/100 mL. Fecal coliforms have a positive and highly significant correlation with temperature, pH and total suspended solids. Also, poorly significant and negative correlations were observed with electrical conductivity. Among the physicochemical parameters studied, only the electrical conductivity appeared as the parameter to be monitored during the treatment of wastewater to reduce the load of fecal coliforms. A physical treatment is necessary especially for decantation followed by biodenitrification.
The efficacy of using appropriate techniques and technologies for knowledge capture in small and medium enterprises in architecture, engineering and construction

Knowledge capture techniques and technologies are important for any knowledge management strategy. Organisations that have implemented knowledge management (KM) strategies seem to have realised that if techniques and technologies are not carefully selected, the likelihood of success is very limited. This requires careful selection of techniques and technologies based on the organisations’ needs and the functions that these can perform. There seems to be very few empirical and construction related studies on knowledge capture geared towards small and medium enterprises (< 250 employees). This paper investigates the efficacy of current techniques (informal and/or paper based) and technologies for capturing knowledge (including knowledge of individuals) within organisations in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The paper is based on an-ongoing PhD research study which adopts, inter alia, a grounded theory approach as a systematic means of investigating knowledge capture in SMEs. Forty one architects, engineers and contractors from the UK were interviewed as part of the study. The paper documents and discusses the main challenges which SMEs face with regard to the capture of employees’ knowledge through the use of current and existing techniques and technologies. Attempts were also made to establish which techniques and technologies the participants felt would be helpful to capture knowledge for the future (next five years). The paper concludes that capturing knowledge in SMEs is not easy. It is an integrated and complex social process, which has culture, people, technology, communication, leadership and organisational structures at its core. Similarly, face to face discussion is the most effective technique to capture tacit knowledge and project database is the most effective technology to capture explicit knowledge. It is suggested that a qualitative research has been adopted in this research study is necessary to uncover many of the complex and intricate issues associated with knowledge capture in SMEs.
Sense of smell disorder and health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVES To compare health-related quality of life and depression between individuals with an inability to smell (anosmia) and a comparison group of individuals with a normal sense of smell. METHODS Ninety individuals from an anosmia organization (anosmia based on self-report) were compared to 89 individuals with a normal sense of smell. The SF-36 and Beck Depression Inventory-II-NL (BDI-II-NL) were administered, along with the Questionnaire for Olfactory Dysfunction (QOD) to assess the degree of problems in daily life related to the smell impairment. RESULTS Compared to the comparison group, scores in the anosmia group differed on: the QOD-subscale Life Quality (related to tasting and smelling: p < .001) and Parosmia (Smelling odors as different: p < .001); and the SF-36 subscales of Social Functioning, Vitality, Mental Health and General Health (p's < .05). Persons with anosmia scored higher on the BDI-II-NL than persons from the comparison group (p < .01). DISCUSSION Once a smell dysfunction is recognized, interventions aiming at dealing with the loss of smell as a source of information and enjoyment, as well as at improvement of emotional wellbeing, social interaction, energy, and depression should be considered.
www.econstor.eu Technological Progress and Economic Geography

New economic geography focuses on the impact of falling transport costs on the spatial distribution of activities. However, it disregards the role of technological innovations, which are central to modern economic growth, as well as the role of migration costs, which are a strong impediment to moving. We show that this neglect is unwarranted. Regardless of the level of transport costs, rising labor productivity fosters the agglomeration of activities, whereas falling transport costs do not affect the location of activities. When labor is heterogeneous, the number of workers residing in the more productive region increases by decreasing order of productive e¢ ciency when labor productivity rises. Keywords: new economic geography, technological progress, labor productivity, migration costs, labor heterogeneity JEL Classi cation: J61, R12 We thank K. Behrens, S. Brakman, F. Docquier, Y. Murata and P. Ushchev for helpful comments and discussions. yFaculty of Economics, University of Tokyo and Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry zCORE, Université catholique de Louvain, NRU-Higher School of Economics and CEPR. xCenter for Research of Private Economy and School of Economics, Zhejiang University
Incidence of Strategic Planning in Small Business: an Overview

During the last several years, extensive attention has been paid to the issues relating to strategic planning. Even though practitioners and academicians have been continuing their debates on the merits of strategic planning. The literature on planning in small business has grown considerably over the past decades. With a few notable exceptions, many scholars have recommended that small firms need to use strategic planning as an essential tool for their improved performance. According to Gibb and Scott (1985) strategic planning can almost certainly influence the growth of the company and provide a frame work for enhancing this or it can also help maintain the existing size and capability of the firm. Although, the preconceived notions of strategic planning support the idea that formal strategic planning practices heightens the owner managers’ ability to think strategically (Porter, 1980; Lyles et al., 1993). Hence, the present study is initiated on incidence of strategic planning in small business. Secondary data have come from research monograms, books, and journals etc. Therefore, this study will contribute to the existing stock of knowledge in the literature of strategic planning in small business. Finally, based on the empirical findings strategic planning contributed significantly to the relationship with overall performance of small business under the study.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Recent Work Title Analysis of Field Errors for LARP Nb 3 Sn HQ 03 Quadrupole Magnet Permalink

The U.S. LHC Accelerator Research Program, in close collaboration with CERN, has developed three generations of high-gradient quadrupole (HQ) Nb3Sn model magnets, to support the development of the 150 mm aperture Nb3Sn quadrupole magnets for the High-Luminosity LHC. The latest generation, HQ03, featured coils with better uniformity of coil dimensions and properties than the earlier generations. The HQ03 magnet was tested at FNAL, including the field quality study. The profiles of low-order harmonics along the magnet aperture observed at 15 kA, 1.9 K can be traced back to the assembled coil pack before the magnet assembly. Based on the measured harmonics in the magnet center region, the coil block positioning tolerance was analyzed and compared with earlier HQ01 and HQ02 magnets to correlate with coil and magnet fabrication. To study the capability of correcting the low-order non-allowed field errors, magnetic shims were installed in HQ03. The expected shim contribution agreed well with the calculation. For the persistent-current effect, the measured a4 can be related to 4% higher in the strand magnetization of one coil with respect to the other three coils. Finally, we compare the field errors due to the inter-strand coupling currents between HQ03 and HQ02.
Red Blood Cell Alterations in Systemic Sclerosis: a Pilot Study

Aims: The aim of this work was to investigate whether systemic oxidative imbalance that occurs in patients with systemic sclerosis affects red blood cell integrity. Methods: Reactive oxygen species, intracellular content of total thiols and molecules involved in red blood cell aging (e.g., glycophorin A, band 3, CD47 and phosphatidylserine externalization), have been analyzed in erythrocytes from 39 patients with systemic sclerosis and 30 healthy donors by using flow and static cytometry. Analyses were carried out taking into account the two clinical subsets of scleroderma: diffuse cutaneous sclerosis and limited cutaneous sclerosis. Results: A significant reduction (p<0.05) of intracellular total thiols and a significant loss (p<0.01) of glycophorin A, band 3 and CD47 was found in red blood cells from patients with limited cutaneous sclerosis. Conversely, a significant increase (p<0.01) of reactive oxygen species levels and CD47 expression was found in red blood cells from patients with diffuse cutaneous sclerosis. Phosphatidylserine externalization was significantly increased both in patients with limited and diffuse disease. Importantly, this increase was related with disease severity and nailfold capillaroscopy. Conclusions: Altogether these results suggest a reappraisal of the red blood cells as useful markers in the clinical management of the disease.
The Future of Internet Regulation

Policymakers are at a precipice with regard to Internet regulation. The FCC's self-styled adjudication of the complaint that Comcast had violated the agency's Internet policy principles (requiring reasonable network management, among other things) made clear that the era of the non-regulation of the Internet is over. Equally clear is that the agency has yet to develop a model of regulation for a new era. As explained in this Article, the old models of regulation - reliance on command-and-control regulation and market forces subject only to antitrust law - are doomed to fail in a dynamic environment where cooperation is necessary to effective competition and continued Internet connectivity by a range of actors. Thus, this Article calls for a new model of regulation built around the concept of co-regulation - a self regulatory body subject to public agency oversight and backstop - as the best strategy for Internet regulation going forward. This Article outlines a three-part strategy for the FCC - or any other agency authorized to oversee Internet providers - to oversee Internet connectivity disputes such as those involving network management practices by broadband providers or Internet backbone interconnection. First, it calls on the FCC to act as a norm entrepreneur, identifying areas where cooperation is essential and setting forth the broad terms that should govern that cooperation. Second, it explains how the FCC could use a model of co-regulation, with a private sector collaborative body operating under its oversight. Third, it recommends that the FCC should exercise ex post adjudicative authority (rather than ex ante rulemaking authority) - in tandem with the role played by the private body - to address breakdowns in cooperation and any departures from announced norms. This model, while of particular relevance to the future of Internet regulation, can be applied more broadly, thereby meriting the attention of policymakers and scholars interested in the future of the administrative state.