Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A suggested measure for the quality of corporate governance in Egypt

How to cite this paper: Hassouna, D. , & Ouda, H. (2017). A suggested measure for the quality of corporate governance in Egypt. Corporate Ownership & Control, 15(1), 52-64. http://doi.org/10.22495/cocv15i1art5 Copyright © 2017 by Virtus Interpress
Bloom dynamics of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) in two coastal bays (NW Mediterranean Sea)

The spatial and temporal variations in the composition of Pseudo-nitzschia during bloom events from August 2005 to February 2006 were characterised in two bays of the NW Mediterranean Sea (Alfacs and Fangar Bay) by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study provides detailed records of the Pseudo-nitzschia community at the species level and describes its relationship with both the surrounding environmental conditions and biotic factors such as the accompanying phytoplankton community. The size distributions of several species of Pseudo-nitzschia were monitored during the bloom events. These measurements may serve as indicators of the physiological status of the cells. The species observed in the two bays were Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha, P. delicatissima, P. fraudulenta, P. multistriata , and P. pungens . In Alfacs Bay, a mixed species bloom of P. calliantha and P. delicatissima began in late August 2005 and lasted 11 weeks. In Fangar Bay, the Pseudo-nitzschia bloom was limited to the period from early August to late September 2005 and comprised P. calliantha and P. delicatissima . Commonly, the proliferation of Pseudo-nitzschia was mono-specific or was accompanied by other diatoms. Two objectively defined groups were identified by the statistical analysis in Alfacs bay; the first was made up only of winter samples and the second of summer and autumn samples. The first group was defined by a high concentration of NO 3 ¯ and low concentrations of NH 4+ , conditions associated with a high abundance of P. delicatissima and a low abundance of P. calliantha . The second group expressed the opposite characteristics. A succession of different blooming species of Pseudo-nitzschia lasting months in Alfacs Bay is described.
The role of the peptidyl prolyl isomerase Rrd1 in the transcriptional stress response

La regulation de la transcription est un processus complexe qui a evolue pendant des millions d’annees permettant ainsi aux cellules de s’adapter aux changements environnementaux. Notre laboratoire etudie le role de la rapamycine, un agent immunosuppresseur et anticancereux, qui mime la carence nutritionelle. Afin de comprendre les mecanismes impliques dans la reponse a la rapamycine, nous recherchons des mutants de la levure Saccaromyces cerevisiae qui ont un phenotype alteree envers cette drogue. Nous avons identifie le gene RRD1, qui encode une peptidyl prolyl isomerase et dont la mutation rend les levures tres resistantes a la rapamycine et il semble que se soit associe a une reponse transcriptionelle alteree. Mon projet de recherche de doctorat est d’identifier le role de Rrd1 dans la reponse a la rapamycine. Tout d’abord nous avons trouve que Rrd1 interagit avec l’ARN polymerase II (RNAPII), plus specifiquement avec son domaine C-terminal. En reponse a la rapamycine, Rrd1 induit un changement dans la conformation du domaine C-terminal in vivo permettant la regulation de l’association de RNAPII avec certains genes. Des analyses in vitro ont egalement montre que cette action est directe et probablement liee a l’activite isomerase de Rrd1 suggerant un role pour Rrd1 dans la regulation de la transcription. Nous avons utilise la technologie de ChIP sur micropuce pour localiser Rrd1 sur la majorite des genes transcrits par RNAPII et montre que Rrd1 agit en tant que facteur d’elongation de RNAPII. Pour finir, des resultats suggerent que Rrd1 n’est pas seulement implique dans la reponse a la rapamycine mais aussi a differents stress environnementaux, nous permettant ainsi d’etablir que Rrd1 est un facteur d’elongation de la transcription requis pour la regulation de la transcription via RNAPII en reponse au stress.
Bridging and Bonding Social Capital: Which Type is Good for Economic Growth?

In this paper we develop a model of growth and social capital, and test it using data from the European Value Survey (EVS). Following Putnam’s distinction between bonding and bridging social capital, we model social capital as participation in two types of social networks: first, closed networks of family and friends, and, second, open networks that bridge different communities. Agents have a preference for social interaction, which they trade off against material well-being. Participation in both social networks is time-consuming and comes at the cost of participation in the formal economic sphere and working time. Through this channel, higher levels of social capital may crowd out economic growth. In addition, participation in intercommunity networks reduces incentives for rent seeking and cheating. Through this channel, higher level of bridging social capital may enhance economic growth. Testing the model, we find that regional differences in materialistic attitudes and the value attached to family life significantly reduce the participation in open networks and that this in turn reduces regional output growth in Europe.
Occurrence and control of N-nitrosodimethylamine in water systems engineering

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a typical nitrogen disinfection by-product, which has posed a potential threat to human health during drinking water disinfection. Because of the well-known effects of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and teratogenesis, the high detection rate in water systems engineering (such as coagulation, membrane filtration and biological systems), and difficulty to remove, it has received wide concern in the field of water systems engineering. The NDMA is a low molecular weight hydrophilic organic substance, which is difficult to remove. Also, the mechanism for NDMA formation is also recognized to be complex, and many steps still needed to be further evaluated. Therefore, the mechanistic knowledge on NDMA formation potential and their removal processes is of particularly interest. Few papers summarize the occurrence and control of NDMA in water systems engineering. It is for this reason that the content of this paper is particularly important for us to understand and control the amount of NDMA thus reducing the threat of disinfection by-products to drinking water. Four parts including the mechanisms for the NDMA formation potential, the factors affecting the NDMA formation potential, the technologies for removal of NDMA are summarized. Finally, some definite suggestions are given.
Seasonal and Diurnal Patterns of Singing and Song-Flight Activity in Bluethroats (Luscinia Svecica)

AnSTRCr. --To assess the functions of male song in Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica svecica), seasonal and diurnal patterns of song and song-flight activity were analyzed by using data on individually marked birds. The seasonal patterns of singing and song-flight activity were found to peak shortly after male arrival and before the onset of egg laying. The diurnal pattern of song production peaked in the early morning (0300-0900), with a less clear increase in song rate around 2200. Male singing activity decreased significantly after clutch initiation. Only unpaired males, or males that failed in their breeding attempt, were heard singing after the egg-laying period. Seasonal and diurnal patterns of song-flight activity were strongly correlated with patterns of singing activity. In addition, male pairing speed was positively correlated with song-flight activity. These results suggest that both song and song flights in Bluethroats serve to attract females. Received 27 April 1993, accepted I July 1993. BLUETHROAT (Luscinia svecica) males are both visually and acoustically conspicuous birds compared to most northern European passer- ines. The song of the Bluethroat is complex (Cramp 1989, Sorjonen 1986) and, in contrast to most other passernes, males often perform con- spicuous song flights (Armstrong and Westfall 1953). Bright coloration and complex acoustical displays of males may have evolved by two dif- ferent means: through either intra- or intersex- ual selection, or both (Searcy and Andersson 1986). In this paper we describe seasonal and di- urnal patterns of song production in the Blue- throat. Our aim was to investigate whether the function of Bluethroat song and song flights was to attract females (result of intersexual se- lection) rather than to defend territory (result of intrasexual selection; Catchpole 1973, 1982, Searcy and Andersson 1986). By using data on temporal variation in singing behavior, we test- ed six predictions where the results of each test
Analyst Coverage, Information, and Bubbles

Abstract We examine the 2007 stock market bubble in China. Using multiple measures of bubble intensity for each stock, we find significantly smaller bubbles in stocks for which there is greater analyst coverage. We further show that the abating effect of analyst coverage on bubble intensity is weaker when there is greater disagreement among analysts. This suggests that, in line with resale option theories of bubbles, one channel through which analyst coverage may mitigate bubbles is by coordinating investors’ beliefs and thus reducing its dispersion. Stock turnover provides further evidence consistent with this particular information mechanism.
The perceived role of task difficulty and effort in the expectations and values of A level students

Based on Eccles’ expectancy–value model of achievement motivation this study used questionnaires to explore the relationships between students’ perceived task demands (perceived task difficulty of A levels and required effort) and their expectations and values attached to A level achievement. Although it has been tested extensively in the US, and more recently in other countries such as Germany (Trautwein et al., 2012) and Australia (Guo et al., 2015; Hood et al., 2012), this model has not previously been investigated in the context of high stakes A level examinations in the UK, and the sample in this study therefore comprised of 930 students from 12 Oxfordshire schools. The students in this study perceived A levels to be difficult and thought they would have to apply effort to their studies to do well in them. Expectations and values were influenced by the required effort associated with A levels, although task difficulty was only related to the overall subjective task value in the year 12 sample. Students who perceived A levels to be difficult were less interested in them, and in the year 12 sample found them less useful. When greater effort was perceived to be required students placed more value on attainment and utility. These findings were largely consistent with Eccles’ expectancy–value model. Girls perceived A levels to be harder and require more effort and this is an area for further exploration.
An explanation for the different climate sensitivities of land and ocean surfaces based on the diurnal cycle

Abstract. Observations and climate model simulations consistently show a higher climate sensitivity of land surfaces compared to ocean surfaces. Here we show that this difference in temperature sensitivity can be explained by the different means by which the diurnal variation in solar radiation is buffered. While ocean surfaces buffer the diurnal variations by heat storage changes below the surface, land surfaces buffer it mostly by heat storage changes above the surface in the lower atmosphere that are reflected in the diurnal growth of a convective boundary layer. Storage changes below the surface allow the ocean surface–atmosphere system to maintain turbulent fluxes over day and night, while the land surface–atmosphere system maintains turbulent fluxes only during the daytime hours, when the surface is heated by absorption of solar radiation. This shorter duration of turbulent fluxes on land results in a greater sensitivity of the land surface–atmosphere system to changes in the greenhouse forcing because nighttime temperatures are shaped by radiative exchange only, which are more sensitive to changes in greenhouse forcing. We use a simple, analytic energy balance model of the surface–atmosphere system in which turbulent fluxes are constrained by the maximum power limit to estimate the effects of these different means to buffer the diurnal cycle on the resulting temperature sensitivities. The model predicts that land surfaces have a 50 % greater climate sensitivity than ocean surfaces, and that the nighttime temperatures on land increase about twice as much as daytime temperatures because of the absence of turbulent fluxes at night. Both predictions compare very well with observations and CMIP5 climate model simulations. Hence, the greater climate sensitivity of land surfaces can be explained by its buffering of diurnal variations in solar radiation in the lower atmosphere.
Entrainment in plane turbulent pure plumes

Abstract Turbulent jets and plumes are commonly encountered in industrial and natural environments; they are, for example, key processes during explosive eruptions. They have been the objects of seminal works on turbulent free shear flows. Their dynamics is often described with the concept of the so-called entrainment coefficient, $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\alpha $ , which quantifies entrainment of ambient fluid into the turbulent flow. This key parameter is well characterized for axisymmetric jets and plumes, but data are scarcer for turbulent planar plumes and jets. The data tend to show that the Gaussian entrainment coefficient in plane pure plumes is about twice the value for plane pure jets. In order to confirm and to explain this difference, we develop a model of entrainment in turbulent plane jets and plumes taking into account the effect of buoyancy on entrainment, as a function of the shape of the velocity, buoyancy and turbulent shear stress profiles. We perform new experiments to better characterize the rate of entrainment in plane pure plumes and to constrain the values of the model parameters. Comparison between theory and experiments shows that the enhancement of entrainment in plane turbulent pure plumes relative to plane turbulent pure jets is well explained by the contribution of buoyancy.
Proliferation of intervention programs and poverty reduction: comparative analysis of two programs in Nigeria

Policy duplication accounts for the persistence of poverty in Nigeria.In the quest for the solutions for poverty reduction; this study compares the National Fadama Development Project III and Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS). The paper adopts quantitative design using Partial Least Square (PLS) to establish the statistical relationship between the duo anti-poverty programs and poverty reduction.The findings underscore that National Fadama Development Project III is significant to poverty alleviation and most beneficial to the target beneficiaries.However, the relationship between CACS and poverty alleviation was insignificant as a result of systemic failure especially corruption, manifest disrespect of institutional law, apparent impunity vis-a-vis perpetual evasion of justice among the stakeholders. Since the programs focused on a common objective of poverty alleviation and also generate its funds from the same sources, this paper calls for the harmonization of the duo programs to curtail the waste of scarce resource and accord the phenomenon a more desirable attention. The study also recommend for structural transformation of judicial institution to combat corruption and lead a crusade for the restoration of the good virtues that is rooted in public service to enhance a hitch free application of rule of law as a stepping stone to facilitate economic development and poverty alleviation.
How Do Auditors Increase Substantially Firm Value

This study used Tobin’s Q to examine the relationship between various types of auditors (e.g., industry expert, supply chain auditor) and market participants in order to determine the effects on firm value. Our results indicate that market participants highly value Big 4 supply chain auditors with industry experience and that these impressions are extended to their evaluation of their clients. We also found that only in the subsample of long-term auditor-client relationships were Big 4 supply chain auditor with industry experiences is auditors associated with higher firm value. This is consistent with previous literature indicating that the tenure of auditors does not affect audit quality (Myers, Myers, & Skinner, 2007; Myers, Myers, & Omer, 2003). The inclusion of different supply chain streams revealed that up-stream supply chain auditors are more likely than middle and down-stream supply chain auditors to receive favorable reactions from market participants. This is an indication that market participants are impressed by the specific expertise and knowledge of these professionals.
Use of acoustic telemetry for spatial management of southern calamary Sepioteuthis australis, a highly mobile inshore squid species

The use of temporal and/or spatial fish- ing exclusions is a common approach in managing impacts of squid fisheries targeting spawning aggre- gations, although there are limited data for assessing closed areas as a management tool. We evaluated the degree of protection that 2 closed areas were providing to individual spawning Sepioteuthis aus- tralis and assessed the extent of exchange between these coastal regions, separated by only 25 to 32 km. VR2 acoustic receivers were placed along the bound- aries of closed areas on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia, across smaller bays within these areas, and on individual seagrass beds. Over 77 000 detection events were obtained from 46 individuals over dura- tions of up to 129 d, demonstrating that individuals spawn over several months, traveling 100s of km within the spawning areas during this time. Squid were detected at closed area boundaries; however, most were detected again on other receivers within the closed area, indicating that although squid had moved within boundary vicinities, they had not actually left the protected area. Closures of critical spawning regions during times of heightened repro- ductive activity will therefore achieve the desired effect of protecting spawners and will allow for egg- laying. Clearly, inshore squid species can be highly mobile during an extended spawning phase and any assessment of the management benefits of closed areas needs to explicitly consider the temporal and spatial scales of the closed area in question.
Monetary Policy Matters: New Evidence Based on a New Shock Measure

Conventional VAR and non-VAR methods of identifying the effects of monetary policy shocks on the economy have found a negative output response to monetary tightening using U.S. data over the 1960s-1990s. However, we show that these methods fail to find this contractionary effect when the sample is restricted to the period since the 1980s, apparently due to changes in the policymaking environment that reduce their effectiveness. Identifying policy shocks using Fed Funds futures data, we recover the contractionary effect of monetary tightening on output and find that almost half of output variation over the period appears due to policy shocks.
Aerosols in the CALIOPE air quality modelling system: evaluation and analysis of PM levels, optical depths and chemical composition over Europe

Abstract. The CALIOPE air quality modelling system is developed and applied to Europe with high spatial resolution (12 km × 12 km). The modelled daily-to-seasonal aerosol variability over Europe in 2004 is evaluated and analysed. Aerosols are estimated from two models, CMAQv4.5 (AERO4) and BSC-DREAM8b. CMAQv4.5 calculates biogenic, anthropogenic and sea salt aerosol and BSC-DREAM8b provides the natural mineral dust contribution from North African deserts. For the evaluation, we use daily PM10, PM2.5 and aerosol components data from 55 stations of the EMEP/CREATE network and total, coarse and fine aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from 35 stations of the AERONET sun photometer network. Annual correlations between modelled and observed values for PM10 and PM2.5 are 0.55 and 0.47, respectively. Correlations for total, coarse and fine AOD are 0.51, 0.63, and 0.53, respectively. The higher correlations of the PM10 and the coarse mode AOD are largely due to the accurate representation of the African dust influence in the forecasting system. Overall PM and AOD levels are underestimated. The evaluation of the aerosol components highlights underestimations in the fine fraction of carbonaceous matter (EC and OC) and secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA; i.e. nitrate, sulphate and ammonium). The scores of the bulk parameters are significantly improved after applying a simple model bias correction based on the observed aerosol composition. The simulated PM10 and AOD present maximum values over the industrialized and populated Po Valley and Benelux regions. SIA are dominant in the fine fraction representing up to 80% of the aerosol budget in latitudes north of 40° N. In southern Europe, high PM10 and AOD are linked to the desert dust transport from the Sahara which contributes up to 40% of the aerosol budget. Maximum seasonal ground-level concentrations (PM10 > 30 μg m−3) are found between spring and early autumn. We estimate that desert dust causes daily exceedances of the PM10 European air quality limit value (50 μg m−3) in large areas south of 45° N with more than 75 exceedances per year in the southernmost regions.
Simulation of climate change impact on runoff using rainfall scenarios that consider daily patterns of change from GCMs

This paper compares runoff simulations for historical rainfall (1901-1998) and “2021-2050” climate conditions for six catchments in Australia. Runoff is simulated using the conceptual daily rainfall-runoff model SIMHYD, and climate change impacted rainfall for 2021-2050 is estimated from the CSIRO Mark 2 GCM simulations. The 2021-2050 rainfall is estimated using a scaling method that considers daily patterns of change simulated by the GCM. The results show a decrease in mean annual rainfall and runoff in eastern and south-west Australia, but an increase in the extreme daily rainfall, in 2021-2050 relative to 1961-1990. The results also indicate that climate change impact simulations from scenarios derived using the daily scaling method are more realistic than simulations using scenarios derived by scaling the historical rainfall by monthly average GCM changes. International Congress on Modelling and Simulation Integrative Modelling of Biophysical, Social, and Economic Systems for Resource Management Solutions Jupiters Hotel and Casino, Townsville, Australia 14-17 July 2003
Effect of sequential inoculation (Torulaspora delbrueckii/Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the first fermentation on the foam properties of sparkling wine (Cava)

In a previous study, we reported that sequential inoculation of Torulaspora delbrueckii (strain TD291) and a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the first fermentation increased the protein concentration and improved the foaming properties of a base wine. Since effervescence and foam of sparkling wines are key quality factors, the interest of this practice for sparkling wine industry is obvious. In this paper, we study whether the foaming properties of the sparkling wines produced from the base wines obtained by sequential inoculation with these strains of T. delbrueckii and S. cerevisiae remain better than those of their controls produced from base wines fermented only with S. cerevisiae. The obtained results confirmed that sequential inoculation in the production of the base wine originated sparkling wines with significantly higher maximum heights of foam than conventional inoculation, probably because autolysis of the T. delbrueckii (strain TD291) cells in the base wine released higher amounts of proteins, especially of the low molecular weight fraction.