Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between the determinants of executive remuneration in South African state-owned enterprises

Orientation: Research on executive remuneration should be able to indicate the necessary elements and dimensions at work when deciding on an executive’s package. Research purpose: The purpose of this article was to review a correlation of elements as determinants of executive remuneration. Motivation for the study: The limited research on executive remuneration tends to focus on how executive pay varies with performance and less on the determinants of executive remuneration. Research design and method: A quantitative research method was used. The target population consisted of executives from 21 South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The research design was a cross-sectional study. A categorical multiple regression analysis was performed. Main findings: The research results seem to suggest that there is a significant statistical correlation between organisation size and type of industry; job function and type of industry; organisation size and job function; and the level of education and job function as a determinant of executive remuneration within the context of South African SOEs. However, the extent of the correlations between the determinants of executive remuneration is not the same. Practical/managerial implications: The research results create awareness amongst human resources practitioners and consultants of the extent to which some of the determinants of remuneration may apply in practice. Contribution/value-add: This study highlights the importance of probing further with the effect of size correlation in quantitative research in the context of executive remuneration.
PSYRGGU 2020 Psychology of Personality: Real and Virtual Context SELF -DIFFERENTIATION AND INTERPERSONAL DEPENDENCY AT RUSSIAN AND VIETNAMESE YOUNG PERSONS

М. Bowen’s concept of self-differentiation describes the capacity of a person to achieve emotional maturity and to create a reliable connection with others. The fact that it was developed on the basis of the values of individualism and independence let us suppose that collectivist cultures may have some specific mechanisms of secure attachment providing. Very little empirical research has examined it from a crosscultural perspective. The comparative analyses of self-differentiation and its intercorrelations with interpersonal dependency at Russian and Vietnamese young persons were performed. The participants of the study were 101 Vietnamese and 86 Russians of 19 -28 years old. Methods: Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (Hirschfeld et al.), Relationship Profile Test (R. Bornstein), Differentiation of Self Inventory (E. Skowron et al.); Mann-Whitney U-test, Exploratory factor analysis. It was revealed that while the overall level of self-differentiation and most of its indicators are higher among Vietnamese, Russians show a higher ability to recognize their needs in interpersonal relationships (have stronger I-position). Factor analysis shows that Vietnamese self-differentiation is built on emotional regulation and positive attitude to interpersonal dependency. For Russians, the central element of self-differentiation is strong I-position in combination with the low tendency for destructive over-dependence and with the desire for autonomy, combined with a tendency to an emotional cut-off. 2357-1330 © 2020 Published by European Publisher.
Determination of tri- through heptachlorobiphenyls in water samples by SPME-GC-MS-MS: Comparison of PDMS and PDMS-DVB coatings

Solid-phase microextraction technique coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry–mass spectrometry has been applied to the extraction of polychlorinated biphenyls ranging from three to seven chlorine substituents. The behavior of two polymeric coatings, polydimethylsiloxane and polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene was extensively studied. The influence of experimental parameters as extraction mode (direct and headspace approach), temperature, volume of sample, agitation, and sample time were evaluated. The two fibers were adequate for polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) extraction and analytes could be quantified at the subpicogram per milliliter level with extraction times of 60 min. Nevertheless, comparison of extraction efficiencies showed the advantages of working with the mixed coating, specially for less chlorinated PCBs. Linearity was evaluated for a 200-fold concentration range from femtogram per milliliter to picogram per milliliter level. The two coatings were applied to the determination of the target analytes in two different matrices. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 13: 275–284, 2001
Numerical Analysis of Anchor Bolt Pull-out Test by Cohesive Zone Model Combined with Finite Element Method

In this paper, to characterize the pull-out process of anchor in concrete, we combined the cohesive zone model and the finite element method. The embedding cohesive elements simulate the contact effect of the bolt interface. The results show that the numerical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. With the change of pull-out load, the shear stress of anchorage interface changes correspondingly until it is destroyed, which is consistent with the laboratory test. The strengths of the anchorage material and the concrete have a positive correlation with the bond strength of anchor bolt. The radial and lateral stresses acting along the bolt are similar. Therefore, in bolt anchorage, the bond strength increases as the radial (lateral) stresses increase.
Guard cell sizes and ploidy levels in Polylepis (Rosaceae)

ABSTRACT The Andean tree genus Polylepis (Rosaceae) has recently been recognized to include polyploid species, but their occurrence within the genus is still incompletely known, especially in light of a forthcoming taxonomic treatment based on a narrow species concept including morphological, climatic and biogeographic distinctness that recognizes 45 species. We obtained guard cell measurements as proxies of ploidy level from 114 individuals of 33 species of Polylepis, including all species for which no previous measurements were available. In combination with previously published data, also on nucleus mass and chromosome counts, we infer that on current knowledge 19 (42%) species are probably purely diploid, 15 (33%) purely tetraploid, and one (2%) purely octoploid. The remaining eight (18%) species have mixed ploidy levels, with three (7%) being di- and tetraploid, two (4%) di- and hexaploid, and one each tetra- and hexaploid, tetra- and octoploid, and di-, tri-, tetra- and hexaploid. Based on our understanding of the evolutionary relationships in Polylepis, it would appear that polyploidy has originated at least about eight times independently in the genus, sometimes as autopolyploidy, sometimes as a result of interspecific hybridization, and sometimes in relation to cultivation. The taxonomic implications of the ploidy levels are complex, in some cases supporting species-level distinction and in others posing the question whether different ploidy levels within a species should better be treated as distinct species. Ploidy level needs to be taken into account for the conservation of the genus, as for example if different populations of a species have different ploidy levels, mixing these origins in reforestation schemes may lead to the formation of sterile hybrids. Guard cell measurement is a low cost and simple technique that can be readily used on both live and dried plant material for such applications, but it has limitations and further data on chromosome counts and nucleus mass are also needed to fully understand the evolution of ploidy levels in Polylepis and its implications.
Effects of fertilization and irrigation on yield and potassium content of alfalfa and on available soil potassium

Abstract Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) yields were determined for five years on Davidson clay loam at Orange, Virginia. The effects of irrigation and K application on the yield and chemical composition of alfalfa and on the available soil K content were determined. Seven rates of K were applied annually. The available K content of the 0‐to 15‐cm soil depth gradually decreased on irrigated and non‐irrigated plots when 0, 93, and 186 kg K/ha were applied. Available soil K increased over 100% when 556 kg K/ha was applied. Possibly because of leaching, the decrease in available soil K in the 0‐to 15‐cm depth of plots treated with 0 and 93 kg K/ha was slightly greater on irrigated than on non‐irrigated plots. Where K was applied, considerably more available K was present in 1973 in the profile of irrigated plots than in non‐irrigated plots. The K concentration of the alfalfa was unaffected by irrigation but was increased with added K during the last three years. Alfalfa yields were increased each year with irrigat.
Prevalence of overt and occult hepatitis B virus infections among 135 haemodialysis patients attending a haemodialysis centre at Al-Nasiriyah city, Iraq

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among haemodialysis (HD) patients has been well documented. In addition to overt infection, occult Hepatitis B infection exists in which a patient who is diagnosed seronegative for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) shows positive HBV-DNA on using more accurate molecular methods. This study aims to determine the prevalence of overt and occult HBV infection among the HD patients who had attended Al-Nasiriyah dialysis centre during a two-month period. Materials and Methods: Serological qualitative detection of HBsAg by rapid test (strips), enzyme immunoassay (EIA, HBsAg) and molecular (real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR)) was conducted for quantitative detection of HBV in HD patients’ serum. Results: The prevalence of overt HBV infection among HD patients was 3.7%. The viral load of HBV positive patients was ranging from 5.85 × 101 to 2.16 × 106 copies/ml of serum with median (7.4 × 105 copies/ml). Occult Hepatitis B was not detected in any of the seronegative HD patients (0%). Overt infection was found more in males (80%) than females (20%) (P<0.05). Similarly, infection was found to be higher among patients who had blood transfusions (80%) than those who had not (20%) with statistical significant p<0.05. Although not statistically significant, the mean duration of HD was higher among HBV positive HD patients (17.6) than HBV negative HD patients (14.3). A dual infection of HBV and HCV was not detected in this study. Conclusion: Nosocomial transmissions at HD centres and blood transfusion are important risk factors. Besides serological screening, real-time PCR offers a safeguard against the spread of overt and occult HBV infection and determines the viral load of the positive patients.
Fermi surface and kink structures in Sr$_{4}$Ru$_{3}$O$_{10}$ revealed by synchrotron-based ARPES.

The low-energy electronic structure, including the Fermi surface topology, of the itinerant metamagnet Sr$_{4}$Ru$_{3}$O$_{10}$ is investigated for the first time by synchrotron-based angle-resolved photoemission. Well-defined quasiparticle band dispersions with matrix element dependencies on photon energy or photon polarization are presented. Four bands crossing the Fermi-level, giving rise to four Fermi surface sheets are resolved; and their complete topography, effective mass as well as their electron and hole character are determined. These data reveal the presence of kink structures in the near-Fermi-level band dispersion, with energies ranging from 30 meV to 69 meV. Together with previously reported Raman spectroscopy and lattice dynamic calculation studies, the data suggest that these kinks originate from strong electron-phonon coupling present in Sr$_{4}$Ru$_{3}$O$_{10}$. Considering that the kink structures of Sr$_{4}$Ru$_{3}$O$_{10}$ are similar to those of the other three members of the Ruddlesden Popper structured ruthenates, the possible universality of strong coupling of electrons to oxygen-related phonons in Sr$_{n+1}$Ru$_{n}$O$_{3n+1}$ compounds is proposed.
An in situ neutron diffraction measurement of the pressure–temperature evolution of a MgD2:TiD2 mixture

The hydrogen storage capacity of Mg–Ti–H films is approximately five times that of conventional metal hydride electrodes in NiMH-batteries. Mg and Ti are considered to be immiscible in the bulk and the ambient pressure phase diagram of Mg and Ti indicates that no binary stable bulk compounds are formed. However, in the presence of hydrogen, an Mg–Ti–H phase has been obtained by Kyoi et al. using a high pressure synthesis – where magnesium hydride is compacted with different TM-hydrides in an anvil cell at pressures of the order several GPa (4–8 GPa) and at a temperature of 873 K. In this work, we have proved the feasibility of in situ powder diffraction using the Paris–Edinburgh high pressure cell for the observation of structural changes on this system and we propose modifications to improve the output of the experiment.
The H0 tension: Δ GN vs. Δ Neff

We investigate whether the 4. 4σ tension on H0 between SH0ES 2019 and Planck 2018 can be alleviated by a variation of Newton's constant GN between the early and the late Universe. This changes the expansion rate before recombination, similarly to the addition of Δ Neff extra relativistic degrees of freedom. We implement a varying GN in a scalar-tensor theory of gravity, with a non-minimal coupling of the form (M2+β ϕ2)R. If the scalar ϕ starts in the radiation era at an initial value ϕI ∼ 0.5 Mp and with β<0, a dynamical transition occurs naturally around the epoch of matter-radiation equality and the field evolves towards zero at late times. As a consequence, the H0 tension between SH0ES (2019) and Planck 2018+BAO slightly decreases, as in Δ Neff models, to the 3. 8σ level. We then perform a fit to a combined Planck, BAO and supernovae (SH0ES and Pantheon) dataset. When including local constraints on Post-Newtonian (PN) parameters, we find H0=69.08−0.71+0.6 km/s/Mpc and a marginal improvement of Δχ2≃−3.2 compared to ΛCDM, at the cost of 2 extra parameters. In order to take into account scenarios where local constraints could be evaded, we also perform a fit without PN constraints and find H0=69.65−0.78+0.8 km/s/Mpc and a more significant improvement Δχ2=−5.4 with 2 extra parameters. For comparison, we find that the Δ Neff model gives H0=70.08−0.95+0.91 km/s/Mpc and Δχ2=−3.4 at the cost of one extra parameter, which disfavors the ΛCDM limit just above 2σ, since Δ Neff=0.34−0.16+0.15. Overall, our varying GN model performs similarly to the Δ Neff model in respect to the H0 tension, if a physical mechanism to remove PN constraints can be implemented.
Living and dying on the edge of the Empire: a bioarchaeological examination of Otago’s early European settlers

ABSTRACT During the nineteenth century, New Zealand was promoted as a land of plenty, promising a ‘better life’, to encourage families to settle and develop the growing colony. This paper characterises the life-course of early settlers to New Zealand through historical epidemiological and osteological analyses of the St John’s burial ground in Milton, Otago. These people represent some of the first European colonists to Aotearoa, and their children. The analyses provided glimpses into the past of strenuous manual labour, repeated risk of injury, and oral and skeletal infections. Mortality of infants was very high in the skeletal sample and the death certificates outlined the varied risks of infection and accidents they faced. Osteobiographies of seven well-preserved adults demonstrated the detailed narratives that can be gleaned from careful consideration of individuals. The skeletal record indicates childhood stress affecting growth and risk of injury prior to migration. However, the historical record suggests that occupational risks of death to the working class were similar in the new colony as at home. The snapshot of this Victorian-era population provided by these data suggests that the colonial society transported their biosocial landscape upon immigration and little changed for these initial colonists.
Distributed school leadership: Making sense of the educational infrastructure

Distributed leadership focuses on what teachers and school leaders do together, but also on how the situation mediates that interaction. This paper focuses on the importance and function of the situational dimension of practice. By framing situational aspects in terms of local educational infrastructure, it explores organizational components in the educational infrastructure and how they condition teachers’ sensemaking about their instructional practice. Two schools in the same school district in Sweden were purposively chosen to reflect significant variation in student outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, in addition to observations of meetings. The results show that an important function of the infrastructure is to facilitate and guide teachers’ sensemaking about their instructional practice and that these processes are influenced by the clarity of the school’s vision and the principal’s use of the infrastructure for sensegiving purposes. The outcome is an argument for studying school leadership through the lens of organizational components in the educational infrastructure
The effect of financial development on income inequality in Africa

ABSTRACT Extant studies on the relationship between financial development and inequality have largely adopted single financial indicators especially the private credit/GDP. Unlike these works, the present study adopts a robust total financial development indicator based on four mainstays of financial development of financial deepening, efficiency, stability and access following the World Bank recommendation on the measurement of financial development. Using this measure, the paper examines the relationship in 40 African countries. The empirical results confirm the findings of extant studies that the ratio of private credit to GDP increases inequality in high, middle-low and low-income countries. The total financial development, however, reports mixed evidence. While this measure reduces inequality in high and middle-low income countries, it does not affect inequality in low-income countries. Also, the study finds evidence of a nonlinear relationship only among the low-income countries. The paper recommends that policymakers should formulate wholesome policies that cut across all mainstays of financial development to reduce inequality, particularly, in high and middle-low African countries. Also, policymakers are advised to increase growth in low-income countries so that financial development could reduce inequality. At most, these countries should pay less attention to financial development for inequality-reduction policies among low-income countries.
Temperature Dependent Structural Evolution of WSe2: A Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Study

A thorough investigation of the structural parameters of micromechanically exfoliated multilayer WSe2 flakes was undertaken between 400 K to 110 K. Crystal structure of WSe2 remains in the trigonal prismatic structure in this temperature range, however, with a clear difference in the temperature dependence of the in-plane a, and the out-of-plane c, lattice parameters. The linear coefficients of thermal expansion of a and c are 5.132 × 10−6/K and 8.105 × 10−6/K, respectively. The temperature dependence of the unit-cell volume is analyzed using zero-pressure equation-of-state which yielded the Debye temperature of the WSe2 to be 160 K. Following the temperature dependence of the W-Se and W-W bond distances, a nonlinear behavior is observed in the former in contrast to a rather regular behavior of the later. This significant difference in the temperature dependence of the a and c lattice parameters can have consequences in the macroscopic physical properties of the system. A good correlation between the temperature dependence of the W-Se bond distance and Raman E2g1 mode has been observed.
Systemic treatment of penile squamous cell carcinoma—hurdles and hopes of preclinical models and clinical regimens: a narrative review

Despite contemporary research efforts, the prognosis of penile squamous cell carcinoma (PeSCC) has not significantly improved over the past decade. Despite frequently encountered patient-related delayed medical consultations impairing outcomes, several other aspects contribute to the lack of advancement in the treatment of this condition. One essential reason is that translational research, a prerequisite for the clinically successful disease management, is still at an early stage in PeSCC as compared to many other malignancies. Preclinical experimental models are indispensable for the evaluation of tumor biology and identification of genomic alterations. However, since neither commercial PeSCC cell lines are available nor xenograft models sustainably established, such analyses are challenging in this field of research. In addition, systemic therapies are less effective and toxic without decisive breakthroughs over recent years. Current systemic management of PeSCC is based on protocols that have been investigated in small series of only up to 30 patients. Thus, there is an unmet medical need for new approaches necessitating research efforts to develop more efficacious systemic strategies. This review aims to highlight the current state of knowledge in the molecular alterations involved in the etiology and ensuing steps for cancer progression, existing preclinical models of translational research, clinically relevant systemic protocols, and ongoing clinical trials.
Raman scattering of ferroelectric Sr1-xCaxTiO3, x=0.007

First-order Raman scattering of A1g and Eg modes originating from the antiferrodistortive F2u soft mode confirms the cubic-tetragonal (Oh-D4h) phase transition in Sr0.993Ca0. 007TiO3, at T0=125 K. Within the cubic and the tetragonal phase first-order Raman scattering of the soft ferroelectric F1u mode (TO1) and of the hard TO2 and TO4 optic modes evidences the existence of Ca2+-centred polar microregions. Their size increases rapidly on cooling towards the ferroelectric ordering temperature, Tc=18 K. Splitting and incomplete softening of the F1u components is consistent with an order-disorder transition into an orthorhombic low-temperature phase with C2v symmetry.