Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A General Framework for International Conflict under Incomplete Information

The crisis bargaining literature identifies the incentives and constraints that states face in an international conflict. It shows that the size of and the relation between economic cost resulting from engaging in a coercion and domestic audience cost resulting from issuing empty threats determines states’ prospects to succeed at the threat stage and engage in coercion. This article further develops the crisis bargaining framework by providing a specification of uncertainty about the economic and domestic audience cost. Specifically, we introduce uncertainty by modelling economic and domestic audience costs as probability distributions, instead of fixed values as in earlier studies. We develop our argument with the use of a game theory model, expanding the current crisis bargaining framework. In contrast to earlier work, we find that an increase in uncertainty decreases the effectiveness of threats of coercion and decreases the probability of engagement in coercion.
Intergenerational Acculturation of Moroccan Immigrants in the Netherlands

In this paper the interaction between receiving societies’ integration ideologies and Moroccan immigrants’ socio-cultural adaptation patterns are examined. A large bulk of research on acculturation has been done in immigrant receiving societies in the last decades. In spite of the huge amount of research in the field, immigrant integration continues to dominate the social, political, and scientific agenda of immigrant receiving societies. Integration requires the mutual co-ordinated efforts of both the host and the immigrant groups. In that respect, there are two sides to this whole matter: 1) Receiving society institutions – policies and host community members’ acculturation attitudes 2) Immigrant minorities’ acculturation attitudes and their actual integration patterns. The second dimension has been investigated extensively but the research on the first dimension in combination with the second is almost nonexistent. In spite of certain conceptual and methodological problems inherent in acculturation research, social integration of various immigrant groups in different national contexts have been researched at length. Integration is multidimensional and host community’s attitudes towards immigrant integration have certain effects on the immigrant groups’ acculturation attitudes. In order to identify the link between acculturation patterns of immigrants and the receiving society’s integration ideology, a survey study has been carried out. One hundred Moroccan immigrants participated in the study. 63 of the informants were born in Morocco while 37 were born in the Netherlands. They completed the Multiculturalism Index survey and Acculturation orientations survey. The global results show that there are very small differences between the generations with respect to their sociocultural orientations and acculturation patterns.
Emotional Response Analysis Using Electrodermal Activity, Electrocardiogram and Eye Tracking Signals in Drivers With Various Car Setups

In the automotive industry, it is important to evaluate different car setups in order to match a professional driver’s preference or to match the most acceptable setup for most drivers. Therefore, it is of great significance to devise objective and automatic procedures to assess a driver’s response to different car settings. In this work, we analyze different physiological signals in order to evaluate how a particular car setup can be more or less stressful than others. In detail, we record an endosomatic Electrodermal Activity (EDA) signal, called Skin Potential Response (SPR), the Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, and eye tracking coordinates. We eliminate motion artifacts by processing two SPR signals, one from each hand of the driver. Tests are carried out in a company that designs driving simulators, where the tested individuals had to drive along a straight highway with several lane changes. Three different car setups have been tested (neutral, understeering, and oversteering). We apply a statistical test to the data extracted from the cleaned SPR signal, and we then compare the results with the ones obtained using a Machine Learning algorithm. We show that we are able to discriminate the drivers’ response to each setup, and, in particular, that the base car setup generates the least intense emotional response when compared to the understeering and the oversteering car setups.
Understanding the Relationship between Country of Origin Image and Brand Equity-Case of Cosmetic Brands in Ho Chi Minh City

This study investigates into the reflections of “country of origin image” on consumers’ brand equity through consumer-based brand equity model. The objectives of this paper are: (1) examining of current customerbased brand equity on cosmetic brands through Country of origin effect; (2) understanding the Country of Origin image and customers’ brand equity relationship through three dimensions: brand awareness/brand association, brand loyalty and perceived quality; (3) providing applicable recommendations for domestic brands in improving competitive advantages against foreign brands regarding to country of origin effect. In this context, a research design was formed to measure the perceptions towards cosmetic products in Ho Chi Minh City. The data was collected from 350 female respondents at several malls located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam through mall intercept survey by using structured questionnaires. The results proposed a model where extrinsic cue, Country of origin (COO), was shown direct positive and significant influence on consumers' brand equity through some intrinsic values like Perceived quality (PQ) and Brand loyalty (LO). Besides that, it was hypothesized that brand awareness/brand association had an insignificant influence on Overall Brand Equity (OBE) through COO effects.
Abnormal returns to acquirers and their determinants in the global personal luxury goods industry

Tous les documents placés en accès ouvert sur le site le site MatheO sont protégés par le droit d'auteur. Conformément aux principes énoncés par la "Budapest Open Access Initiative"(BOAI, 2002), l'utilisateur du site peut lire, télécharger, copier, transmettre, imprimer, chercher ou faire un lien vers le texte intégral de ces documents, les disséquer pour les indexer, s'en servir de données pour un logiciel, ou s'en servir à toute autre fin légale (ou prévue par la réglementation relative au droit d'auteur). Toute utilisation du document à des fins commerciales est strictement interdite.
Educational Standards in EFL and their Attainability: An Austrian Case Study

In 2004, the Austrian Ministry of Education stipulated an English proficiency of B2 (Independent User/Vantage) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Council of Europe, 2001) as the exit standard for upper secondary education. The present study examines whether this B2 target represents a reliable entrance standard for tertiary education. For this purpose, first-year students (n=3,186) from three Austrian tertiary institutions were subjected to an English placement test. The findings indicate that only about half the test-takers attained the required B2 level, with freshmen from exclusively English-taught study programmes reaching substantially higher scores. Nonetheless, the figures suggest that tertiary institutions cannot rely on the majority of freshmen meeting the expected standard. The study also finds that graduates of secondary academic schools score significantly higher results than those from secondary vocational schools. The results therefore indicate that the required B2 standard is not equitable for the different school types involved, nor is it attainable for a clear majority of school leavers. This implies that two of four criteria for appropriate target-setting laid down in Juran’s Quality Handbook (Juran & Godfrey, 1998) are not met, which in turn suggests that a revision of Austrian educational standards for English at the upper secondary level may be in order.
HOW DOES ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION INFLUENCES EXPLOITATION OF KNOWLEDGE?

The processes for exploitation of knowledge became an essential element for firms to adapt to changes in the competitive environment. The exploitation of this knowledge should be undertaken with proactivity, innovation and risk-taking. Building on well established theories, our research explores the influence of entrepreneurial orientation in exploitation of knowledge of Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of footwear associated to the Portuguese Footwear, Components and Leather Goods Association (APICCAPS). Based on survey data from 42 firms, our empirical results indicate that globally entrepreneurial orientation have a positive and significant influence on exploitation of knowledge, and that the entrepreneurial orientation’s dimensions that most contribute to this end are innovation and risk-taking.
The Effect of Self Efficacy on Perceived Job Insecurity in the Nigerian Banking Industry: the Mediating Role of Employee Self Esteem

Based on the assumption that the construct of self-esteem should acts as a major factor in the self- evaluation model and it’s often given a consideration whenever the objective is determining the nature of human behavior including the coping styles usually adopted by employees as a result of exposure to insecure job perception, this study extends on previous research by employing the use of Lazarus transactional stress theory and Korman social construction theory to present a research model which highlights employees self-efficacy as an antecedent of perceived job insecurity with employee’s self-esteem acting as a mediator in this relationship. To advance our line of theoretical reasoning, we elicit responses from a total of one hundred and fifty three (153) randomly selected bankers in four major Nigerian Banks to empirically prove that employee self-esteem represents a core construct whenever the objective is centered on reducing the perception of job insecurity from the perspective of job related efficacies. Specifically, two key findings were uncovered: 1) while increase in self-efficacy will directly lead to a significant increase in self-esteem, it will however lead to an insignificant decrease in perceived job insecurity. 2) An improvement in self-esteem exercises a direct, negative and statistically significant influence on perceived job insecurity. Hence, with the view that managers and practitioners can advance their course in reducing employee’s self-perceived job insecurity through self-efficacy by focusing on improving self-esteem, we conclude by proposing relevant personality based interventions in addition to those organizational and institutional based interventions which may be employed in advancing this course.
Physical quality of a yellow latossol under integrated crop-livestock system

A qualidade fisica do solo e fundamental para a sustentabilidade global dos agroecossistemas, pois esta relacionada com processos fundamentais para o desenvolvimento das culturas agricolas. Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar os atributos fisicos de um Latossolo Amarelo sob diferentes sistemas de manejo no Cerrado piauiense. O trabalho foi desenvolvido no municipio de Urucui, no sudoeste do Estado do Piaui. O solo da area foi classificado como Latossolo Amarelo distrofico textura areia franca. Foram estudados tres sistemas de manejo do solo: Preparo convencional (PC) com uso de aracao e gradagem e monocultivo de soja; sistema de plantio direto, com milheto como cultura de cobertura (SPD + M); e sistema de integracao lavoura-pecuaria, com pastejo de cinco meses e cultivo de soja e com pastejo continuo (SILP + S e SILP + P). Estudou-se, ainda, uma area sob Floresta Nativa de Cerrado (FN). As profundidades estudadas foram: 0,00-0,05, 0,05-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m. Os atributos fisicos do solo avaliados foram a densidade do solo, a porosidade e a estabilidade de agregados do solo. A acao antropica modificou os atributos fisicos do solo, em profundidade, na maioria dos sistemas estudados, em comparacao a FN. Na camada de 0,00 a 0,05 m, o SILP + P apresentou o maior valor de densidade do solo. Quanto a macroporosidade, nao houve diferenca entre os sistemas de manejo e a FN. Os sistemas de manejo estudados modificaram a estrutura do solo, resultando em menor proporcao de solo nas maiores classes de agregados (DMP). A conversao da floresta nativa de Cerrado em sistemas agricolas de producao altera a qualidade fisica do solo. O sistema de integracao lavoura-pecuaria nao promoveu a melhoria da qualidade fisica do solo.
Pengaruh Persepsi Manfaat, Persepsi Kemudahan, Fitur Layanan Dan Kepercayaan Terhadap Tingkat Kepuasan Pelanggan Linkaja Di Indonesia

The study was conducted to knows the impact of Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Service Features, and Trust on LinkAja's Customer Satisfaction in Indonesia. Data collection in this study is done with questionnaires and data analysis is using quantitative analysis. This research uses purposive sampling kind of non-probability sampling technique and coonsist of 100 respondents. The analysis tools in this study used SPSS version 20. This research uses The Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Test and descriptive analysis. Result of this study describes that Perceived Usefulness (X1), Perceived Ease of Use (X2), Service Features (X3), Trust (X4), and Customer Satisfaction (Y) are in the poor category. While result of multiple linear regression in this study can be conducted the impact of Perceived Usefulness (X1), Perceived Ease of Use (X2), Service Features (X3), Trust (X4) has a positive and significant influence of LinkAja's Customer Satisfaction (Y) both partial and simultaneous.The other results obtained variables that influence LinkAja’s Customer Satisfaction in Indonesia is trust variable, it means the better the trust of the customer, the level of customer satisfaction will increase. Thus, companies must always strive to improve customer trust.
Households’ Demand for Fruits and Vegetables in Urban Nigeria

This study investigated households’ demand for fruits and vegetables in urban Nigeria using data from 2012/13 Living Standard Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMSISA). The demand for bananas, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, onions, fresh okra, and pepper was estimated using Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS). There was high quantity response to movements in relative prices. Households’ demographic characteristics significantly influenced fruits and vegetables demand. All the fruits and vegetables considered were normal goods. Tomatoes, banana, citrus, and pineapple are luxury items while onion, okra, and pepper are necessities. Nigerian urban households respond more than proportionately to changes in the prices of almost all the fruits and vegetables. There was significant income effect in the responsiveness of all the fruits and vegetables demand to changing fruits and vegetable prices. The Marshallian Cross Price Elasticities revealed a mix of complementary and substitution relationship among the fruits and vegetables. Policy interventions should be geared towards improving production of fruits and vegetables as well as households’ income in Nigeria. (
THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

This study investigates the impact of Big Five personality traits on the academic performance of university students in terms of their CGPA by using 20 item short Mini-IPIP Five-Factor personality test developed by Donnellan, Oswald, Baird, and Lucas (2006). The purpose of using this short measures test is to come up with a generalized and effective quick personality test for predicting academic performance (in terms of CGPA) in students. The study was conducted on undergraduate college students at Forman Christian College, Lahore (N = 406). The results affirm the predictive validity of the Big Five personality traits. Openness (0.169) was most positively related to academic performance followed by agreeableness (0.148) and conscientiousness (0.128). However, neuroticism (.054) and extraversion (.061) were found to have no significant correlation with academic performance. Implications of these results are discussed in context of career and academic counseling and university administration.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES OF PETROGRAPHICAL & PETROPYHSICAL PROPERTIES OF SANDSTONES: AN APPROACH FOR PREDICTING CONSTRUCTION SUITABILITY

Understanding and estimating the material behavior of sandstones is an important consideration from the viewpoint of conservation and the natural stone industry. This study utilizes different sandstone types for developing constraints on the material behavior, especially in regards to weathering. Approximately 300 samples from historical and presently mined sandstones in Germany and ones described worldwide are used for a comprehensive statistical analysis of their petrographical and petrophysical properties. Particular attention was paid to the mineralogical composition and fabric characteristics (e.g. maturity, degree of alteration, grain contact, type of cement and intergranular volume). The statistical analyses tested for normal distributions and calculated the linear regression of the basic petrophysical parameters of density, porosity, water uptake as well as the strength. Weathering behavior like hygric swelling and salt loading tests were also done. Identifying similarities between sandstones and defining specific groups of sandstone types was done by principle component and cluster analyses. The statistical results clearly confirm an interaction between composition, depositional environment and diagenesis, which leads to a particular material behavior in the sandstones. Of importance are the pore space characteristics, since strength, water uptake and storage show a linear relationship to these parameters. Within these correlations, confidence regions of different composition and stratigraphcial association are clearly recognizable. Three different pore size distributions were identified, whereby each particular group shows distinct dependencies to water uptake, strength, salt loading and hygric dilatation. Most of the sandstones containing swellable clay minerals show a maximum of capillaryand micropores with a distinct hygric swelling. Some sandstones exhibit high dilatation even when no swellable clay minerals are present. The strength of sandstones results from the interaction between grain contacts, compaction, intergranular volume, porosity and degree of alteration. Four different sandstone types and their associated materialand weathering behavior are definable from the results of the confidence regions and component analysis and can be used to predict the construction suitability.
YIELD AND SPAWNER BIOMASS-PER-RECRUIT ANALYSIS OF LETHRINOPS GOSSEI (MORECHAL 1991) (CHISAWASAWA) IN THE SOUTH EAST ARM OF LAKE MALAWI

A study to assess the yield and spawner biomass-per-recruit of Lethrinops gossei (Morechal 1991) (locally known as Chisawasawa) in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi was conducted using length data collected from December, 2006 to January, 2007 by Malawi Fisheries Research Institute, Mangochi, Malawi. Length and age-based growth, mortality and sexual maturity parameters for L. gossei were estimated and used in per-recruit models. The yield-per-recruit and spawner biomass-per-recruit models were run using per-recruit Tony Excel work sheet. Results suggest that L. gossei species is over-exploited with spawner biomass-per-recruit at 49 % of pristine levels. It is recommended that the current fishing level (0.48 year) be reduced by 6 % to attain F0.1 target reference point level which should subsequently reduce the exploitation rate by 18 % to attain the recommended optimum exploitation rate of any fishery of 0.5. This will lead to sustainable exploitation of L. gossei in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi.
BEHAVIOR AND DESIGN OF STRUCUTRAL WALLS – LESSONS FROM RECENT LABORATORY TESTS & EARTHQUAKES

Design and construction practice for structural walls has evolved significantly over the last 20 years and engineers have pushed design limits in recent years, optimizing economy and design, and in many practices producing walls with higher demands and more slender profiles than have been verified in past laboratory testing or field experience. Wall performance in recent earthquakes and laboratory tests is reviewed and US code provisions are reassessed to identify possible shortcomings and improvements.
The effectiveness of external financing sources on economic growth case of the developing countries of the MENA Region

Face to the difficulty of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), due to lack of sufficient funding and the dramatic drop of the Official development assisstance (ODA). One wonders about how to overcome this decline through the exploitation of other international financing resources for development, for example through the use of financial transfers from emigrants (remittances) and foreign direct investment (FDI). Building on this new basis of international development finance and given the trend decline in ODA, we seek in this work to test the effectiveness of the external financing resources on economic growth in developing countries of the MENA region . JEL Classification :F35 ;B2 ;F22 ;F23 ;F24
THE PRINCIPAL’S SUPERVISORY STRATEGIES AND TEACHER’S EFFECTIVENESS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AKWA

The paper seeks to investigate the influence of principal’s supervisory strategy on teacher’s effectiveness in secondary schools. Three research questions guided the study. 86 principals from all the schools in Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial district were used for the study. A nine item structured questionnaire was developed and used for the collection of data. The questionnaire was vetted by experts in research methods; while the reliability coefficient yielded an “r” value of 0.83 level of significance after a test re-test method was adopted on some principals outside the senatorial district used for the study. Simple percentage was adopted for data analyses. The result revealed that delegation of supervisory function strategy, effective record keeping strategy and teacher’s monthly assessment strategy enhances teacher’s effectiveness in secondary schools. The paper therefore recommended the adoption of these supervisory strategies by principals for teacher effectiveness in secondary schools Supervision of teacher’s performances is one of the administrative functions of school administrators. Okoroma (2000) described administrative functions as a number of activities, which are interdependent and referred to collectively as administrative process. Therefore as part of the administrative function, supervision of teacher’s performance resides equally with the management of the school.