Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE ROLE OF RELATIONSHIP SCOPE IN SUSTAINING RELATIONAL CONTRACTS IN INTERFIRM NETWORKS Nicholas Argyres

Abstract: The strategy and related literatures suggest a number of ways in which a buyer can benefit by concentrating its supplier base. Extant theories, however, suffer from one or more of the following limitations: they focus on dyads and therefore do not consider networks; they focus on suppliers and hence do not consider concentration of partnerships with commercial buyers or producers of complementary goods (complementors); they consider cooperation by one side of an exchange relationship only; they rely on strong assumptions about the presence of “non-calculative trust”. We develop a general theory of partnership scope in interfirm networks that addresses these deficiencies. We show how, by broadening the scope of business it conducts with a partner (supplier, complementor or commercial buyer), a firm can sustain a self-enforcing exchange relationship with that partner (a “relational contract”) in which both parties cooperate with each other repeatedly, thereby maximizing the value created by the relationship. We provide several examples of settings in which our model applies, and discuss suggestive evidence consistent with it from franchising, and from supply chains in the automobile industry.
Growth and development of common vetch ( Vicia sativa L.) in a gasoline-polluted soil amended with organic or inorganic amendments

The ability of various crops to grow and maintain its average yield when they are cultivated in contaminated soils should be better explored to choose the most appropriate crop when suddenly a gasoline-pipeline collapse on soils of subsistence agricultural systems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of organic or inorganic amendments on plant characteristics, biomass yield, colony-forming units (CFU), and on biological and chemical soil characteristics when it was cultivated, under greenhouse conditions, in a soil artificially polluted with gasoline and amended or not with sludge, compost, manure or inorganic fertilizers. Our results suggest that the electrolytic conductivity, organic matter, inorganic N, extractable P and exchangeable K were strongly influenced by the organic or inorganic amendments but not by the gasoline. Gasoline contamination reduced seedling emergence, shoot length, root volume, root dry weight, shoot dry weight and abundance of nodules but organic or inorganic amendments increased them. In addition, gasoline-polluted soil amended with sludge had the highest seedling emergence, shoot length, root volume, root dry weight and shoot dry weight. The soil used in this experiment contains autochthonous microorganisms able to grow in a gasoline-polluted soil while gasoline-spiked soil amended with manure or compost maintained their CFU and even increased using gasoline as a sole carbon source, suggesting that manure or compost contains indigenous microorganism that uses gasoline as a sole carbon source. Plant characteristics and yield were increased in the order of sludge > compost = manure > inorganic fertilizer > unamended and unpolluted soil > unamended polluted soil. Hence, a gasoline-spiked soil amended with sludge can be successfully cultivated with common vetch. Key words: Biomass yield, colony-forming unit, greenhouse conditions, indigenous microorganisms, organic or inorganic amendments, plant characteristics.
Truncating English and Arabic Onset Cluster by a Bilingual Child: An Optimality Theory Perspective

This study investigates the process of truncating English and Arabic onset cluster in the early speech of a bilingual child within the framework of Optimality Theory Model. It specifically proposes the child’s hierarchical grammar(s) responsible for the child’s process of simplifying English and Arabic consonantal sequences into singletons in onset position. The importance of this research stems from the absence of research on truncating Arabic onset cluster within the Optimality Theory perspective. Therefore, it is the first to put this theory into practice as far as reducing Arabic clusters is concerned. The data for this research were collected through parental diaries. Only data collected between the ages of 1;9 and 2;5 were analysed. The results reveal two different hierarchies of the grammar each of which is responsible for truncating the clusters into singletons in one particular language. The results also reveal a conformity with the universally fixed onset constraint hierarchy in the child’s English production. However, a deviation from this universally fixed onset constraint hierarchy is detected in the production of the sequence formed by fricative followed by stop or vice versa in Arabic.
Small Changes, But Huge Impact? The Right Anterior Insula's Loss of Connection Strength during the Transition of Old to Very Old Age

A major contribution to our understanding of the aging brain comes either from studies comparing young with older adults or from studies investigating pathological aging and using the healthy aging older adults as control group. In consequence, we know relatively well, what distinguishes young from old brains or pathological aging from healthy but that does not mean that we really understand the structural and functional transformations characterizing the healthy aging brain. By analyzing task-free fMRI data from a large cross-sectional sample of 186 older adults (mean age = 70.4, 97 female), we aimed to elucidate age-related changes in the intrinsically active functional architecture of the brain in our study group covering an age range from 65 to 85 years. First, we conducted an intrinsic connectivity contrast analysis (ICC) in order to detect the brain regions whose degree of connectedness was significantly correlated with increasing age. Secondly, using connectivity analyses we investigated how the clusters highlighted by the ICC analysis functionally related to the other major resting-state networks. The most important finding was the right anterior insula's loss of connectedness in the older participants of the study group because of the region's causal role in the switching from the task-negative to the task-positive state of the brain. Further, we found a higher functional dedifferentiation of two of the brain's major intrinsic connectivity networks, the DMN, and the cingulo-opercular network, caused by a reduction of functional connection strength, especially in the frontal regions. At last, we showed that all these age-related changes have the potential to impair older adult's performance of working memory tasks.
Synchrony of Clinical and Laboratory Surveillance for Influenza in Hong Kong

Background Consultation rates of influenza-like illness (ILI) in an outpatient setting have been regarded as a good indicator of influenza virus activity in the community. As ILI-like symptoms may be caused by etiologies other than influenza, and influenza virus activity in the tropics and subtropics is less predictable than in temperate regions, the correlation between of ILI and influenza virus activity in tropical and subtropical regions is less well defined. Methodology and Principal Findings In this study, we used wavelet analysis to investigate the relationship between seasonality of influenza virus activity and consultation rates of ILI reported separately by General Out-patient Clinics (GOPC) and General Practitioners (GP). During the periods 1998–2000 and 2002–2003, influenza virus activity exhibited both annual and semiannual cycles, with one peak in the winter and another in late spring or early summer. But during 2001 and 2004–2006, only annual cycles could be clearly identified. ILI consultation rates in both GOPC and GP settings share a similar non-stationary seasonal pattern. We found high coherence between ILI in GOPC and influenza virus activity for the annual cycle, but this was only significant (p<0.05) during the periods 1998–1999 and 2002–2006. For the semiannual cycle high coherence (p<0.05) was also found significant during the period 1998–1999 and year 2003 when two peaks of influenza were evident. Similarly, ILI in GP setting is also associated with influenza virus activity for both the annual and semiannual cycles. On average, oscillation of ILI in GP and of ILI in GOPC preceded influenza virus isolation by approximately four and two weeks, respectively. Conclusions Our findings suggest that consultation rates of ILI precede the oscillations of laboratory surveillance by at least two weeks and can be used as a predictor for influenza epidemics in Hong Kong. The validity of our model for other tropical regions needs to be explored.
Track Location Enhancements for Perspective View Displays

Abstract : Three-dimensional (3-D) perspective view displays are being developed for naval air warfare consoles. Because of the inherent ambiguities of perspective projection and the lack of depth cues available in flat-screen 3-D displays, it is difficult to correctly identify the position of tracks. Our objective was to test the potential performance benefits of adding depth cues and other augmentations to 3-D displays to improve track localization. Participants viewed tracks in augmented 3-D displays or a two-dimensional (2-D) top-down display, and then reconstructed track positions on blank paper maps with track symbol pins. We found the following: Drop-lines and drop-shadows significantly improved the localization of aircraft over no augmentations for 3-D displays. Augmenting 3-D displays with drop-lines and drop-shadows improved ground-plane localization performance to the level of 2-D displays. Drop-lines led to the best overall localization performance for 3-D displays. Varying the size of track symbols with distance for 3-D displays improved localization only when there were no drop-lines or drop-shadows present.
Some breeding traits of the pied wagtail (Motacilla alba) in NW Croatia

Dolenec, Z. : Some breeding traits of the pied wagtail (Motacilla alba) in NW Croatia. Nat. Croat. , Vol. 20, No. 1. , 209–214, 2011, Zagreb. In this study, some key aspects of the breeding performance of the pied wagtail are reported for the first time in northwestern Croatian. Only first clutches are included. The average egg length was 20.04 mm, breadth = 14.96 mm, volume = 2276.41 mm3 and egg shape index = 1.34. Egg dimensions and shape index did not vary significantly among the years in the study period (2006 to 2008). Egg size differences of the pied wagtail in different clutch size classes were also not significant. Egg length and egg breadth had the significant positive correlation. Average full clutch size for three years combined was 5.29, ranged from four to six eggs and modal clutch size was five (63.1 %). There was no significant difference in clutch size across the three years. We did not find any evidence for negative or positive relationships between clutch size and egg size in the researched bird species.
Genesis and tectonic implications of cumulate pyroxenites and tectonite peridotites from the Nagaland–Manipur ophiolites, Northeast India: constraints from mineralogical and geochemical characteristics

The Nagaland–Manipur ophiolites (NMO) of Northeast India forms a part of the Tethyan ophiolites and comprises a suite of tectonite peridotites and cumulate mafic–ultramafic sequence with mafic extrusive–intrusive rocks, felsic intrusives and oceanic pelagic sediments along with minor podiform chromitites. However, sheeted dykes, which are considered as a significant component of ophiolites, are absent in the NMO. The tectonite peridotites are distinguished from the cumulate pyroxenites by the presence of pyroxene lineation, deformed bands and strained extinction in olivine, kink twin lamellae in pyroxene. Both the tectonite peridotites and cumulate pyroxenites contain aluminous spinel with Cr number [Cr# = Cr/(Cr + Al)] in the range of 0.14 to 0.29 and 0.27 to 0.48, respectively. Mg number [Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe2+)] in Cr‐spinel is higher in tectonite peridotites (0.71–0.76) than cumulate pyroxenites (0.44–0.53). Chondrite‐normalized rare earth elements (REE) patterns of cumulate pyroxenites exhibit depleted at light REEE (LREE) (LaN/SmN = 0.380–0.759) but flat middle REE (MREE) to heavy REE (HREE) (SmN/YbN = 0.622–0.756). However, the tectonite peridotites show gradual decrease in concentrations from HREE to MREE (SmN/YbN = 0.285–0.460) and slight increase in LREE (LaN/SmN = 0.721–2.201). The cumulate pyroxenites show strong enriched PPGE patterns and higher PGE concentrations (∑PGE = 85.8–163.5 ppb) compared with the tectonite peridotites (∑PGE = 34.8–113.0 ppb). The estimated equilibration temperature ranges from 890 to 931 °C for cumulate pyroxenites and 971 to 1156 °C for tectonite peridotites. The olivine–spinel equilibrium along with Cr‐spinel chemistry and PGE data suggests that the tectonite peridotites represent the residual mantle left after limited extraction of basaltic melts by low‐degree partial melting (<15%). Conversely, the presence of highly magnesian orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in the cumulate pyroxenites in conjunction with their geothermometry suggests that they were formed at high pressure and temperature by magmatic fractionation from the basaltic melt. The geochemical data together with field and petrographical evidences indicate that both the tectonite peridotites and cumulate pyroxenites are essentially spinel‐bearing and devoid of plagioclase, suggesting their derivation in the mantle beyond the stability limit of plagioclase in a mid‐oceanic ridge tectonic setting. We conclude that the ultramafic sequence of the NMO was initially generated at a mid‐oceanic ridge tectonic setting close to the eastern boundary of the Indian passive margin and then thrust over the continental margin of the Indian Plate towards the west during its collisional and subduction process with/beneath the Myanmar Plate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Web-Based Virtual Learning Environments: A Research Framework and a Preliminary Assessment of Effectiveness in Basic IT Skills Training

Internet technologies are having a significant impact on the learning industry. For-profit organizations and traditional institutions of higher education have developed and are using web-based courses, but little is known about their effectiveness compared to traditional classroom education. Our work focuses on the effectiveness of a web-based virtual learning environment (VLE) in the context of basic information technology skills training. This article provides three main contributions. First, it introduces and defines the concept of VLE, discussing how a VLE differs from the traditional classroom and differentiating it from the related, but narrower, concept of computer aided instruction (CAI). Second, it presents a framework of VLE effectiveness, grounded in the technology-mediated learning literature, which frames the VLE research domain, and addresses the relationship between the main constructs. Finally, it focuses on one essential VLE design variable, learner control, and compares a web-based VLE to a traditional classroom through a longitudinal experimental design. Our results indicate that, in the context of IT basic skills training in undergraduate education, there are no significant differences in performance between students enrolled in the two environments. However, the VLE leads to higher reported computer self-efficacy, while participants report being less satisfied with the learning process.
The growth of the central Andes, 22°S–26°S

We synthesize geologic observations with new isotopic evidence for the timing and magnitude of uplift for the central Andes between 22°S and 26°S since the Paleocene. To estimate paleoelevations, we used the stable isotopic composition of carbonates and volcanic glass, combined with another paleoelevation indicator for the central Andes: the distribution of evaporites. Paleoelevation reconstruction using clumped isotope paleothermometry failed due to resetting during burial. The Andes at this latitude rose and broadened eastward in three stages during the Cenozoic. The fi rst, in what is broadly termed the “Incaic” orogeny, ended by the late Eocene, when magmatism and deformation had elevated to ≥4 km the bulk (~50%) of what is now the western and central Andes. The second stage witnessed the gradual building of the easternmost Puna and Eastern Cordillera, starting with deformation as early as 38 Ma, to >3 km by no later than 15 Ma. The proximal portions *quadej@email.arizona. edu Quade, J., Dettinger, M.P., Carrapa, B. , DeCelles, P., Murray, K.E. , Huntington, K.W. , Cartwright, A. , Canavan, R.R. , Gehrels, G. , and Clementz, M. , 2015, The growth of the central Andes, 22°S–26°S, in DeCelles, P.G. , Ducea, M.N. , Carrapa, B. , and Kapp, P.A. , eds., Geodynamics of a Cordilleran Orogenic System: The Central Andes of Argentina and Northern Chile: Geological Society of America Memoir 212, p. 277–308, doi:10.1130/2015.1212(15). For permission to copy, contact editing@geosociety.org. © 2014 The Geological Society of America. All rights reserved. on January 15, 2015 memoirs.gsapubs. org Downloaded from
HOST SPECIFICITY OF DNA PRODUCED BY ESCHERICHIA COLI. VI. EFFECTS ON BACTERIAL CONJUGATION.

BACTERIAL host cells endow the DNA of bacteriophage h and that of the transducing phage hdg with host specificity (ARBER and DUSSOIX 1962; ARBER 1964). This label on the DNA plays an important role in phage infection. In the absence of the required host specificity, the bacteria degrade the DNA of the infecting phage, which is then said to be restricted (DUSSOIX and ARBER 1962). Preliminary evidence has been given by ARBER and DUSSOIX (1961) and ARBER (1962) that bacterial DNA is also subject to this same control mechanism. The enzymatic system endowing h DNA with host specificity would thus act on the host DNA as well, and the host specificity could play a role in the decision of whether DNA transferred in conjugation from male to female bacteria is accepted or rejected. This last action can be checked by measuring the frequency of formation of recombinants, provided other factors antagonistic to genetic integration, such as nonhomology of the male and female DNA molecules, are also considered. The present paper gives an account of experiments carried out to investigate restriction in bacterial conjugation involving Hfr, F+, F-gal+, F-lac+ and (RTF)f donor strains. Since our first experiments the results have been confirmed and extended by various other investigators (BOICE and LURIA 1963; HOEKSTRA and DE HAAN 1963; GLOVER, SCHELL, SYMONDS and STACEY 1963; PITTARD 1964; BOYER 1964).
Chariocrinus japonicus, a new species of isocrinid crinoid (Articulata) from the Lower Cretaceous of Takayama City, central Japan

A specimen, originally described as ‘Pentacrinus’ from the Middle–Upper Jurassic of central Japan, is re-analysed and now recognised to be a new species of the genus Chariocrinus Hess, 1972, from the Lower Cretaceous. Chariocrinus japonicus sp. nov. has nine columnals per noditaxis, low columnal height, a pentalobate to sub-pentagonal articular facet and an impersistent median ridge on the latera. Chariocrinus was originally described from the Middle Jurassic of Switzerland, and has also been recognised from elsewhere in Europe, Antarctica and North America. The Japanese specimen represents the first report of Chariocrinus in the Cretaceous of Asia, thereby significantly extending both its temporal and eastern geographical range. This specimen suggests Chariocrinus had a global distribution and, as such, conforms with the distribution of other Mesozoic and modern isocrinine genera.
Catalytic effect of Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires and Fenton process on carbamazepine removal from aqueous solutions using response surface methodology

Carbamazepine is one of the hydrophilic compounds identified in aquatic environments. Due to toxicity and bio-stability of this psychotropic pharmaceutical in the environment and humans, its removal efficiency and mineralization are important. In this study, synthesized Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires were applied to improve Fenton oxidation process using FeCl3.6H2O and NaBH4. The effects of different parameters such as initial pH, H2O2, FeSO4.7H2O, carbamazepine concentrations, oxidation time, and nanowires dose were evaluated using response surface methodology. After scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffract meter analysis, Fe@Fe2O3 morphology was synthesized in the form of nanowires with diameters of about 40-80 nm. The optimum oxidation conditions for carbamazepine were established at pH= 4.3, reaction time of 45.9 min, nanowire dose of 179.4 mg/L as well as H2O2, FeSO4.7H2O and carbamazepine concentrations of 22, 52.2 and 7.7 mg/L, respectively. The oxidation efficiency (99.5%) achieved under the optimum condition, which was determined by the model, was consistent with the efficiency predicted by the model. The multi-parameter models showed good calibration and prediction abilities with R2= 0.922, R2adj= 0.907, R2pred= 0.868. According to the results, the carbamazepine degradation rate increased with the increase of Fe2+ due to the synergistic effect between Fe@Fe2O3 and Fe2+ on the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 and generation of OH•. It was concluded that the Fenton process based on the Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires can increase the carbamazepine oxidation rate in aqueous solutions. This method can also be used as an effective and pre-treatment process in the conventional treatment plants.
Blame Recovery: Modeling the Effec ts Of Personality, Religious-spiritual Belief, and Gender On Blame Attr ibutions and Psychological Wellbeing Aft er A Failed Romantic Relationship

Blame attribution (BA) is the complex cognitive-affective process through which individuals feel negative feelings of internalized self-blame/guilt or externalized otherblame by varying degrees. High BA is accompanied by distress, anxiety, depression and reduced health outcomes, while low BA indicates healthful release from negative affect and direction of attention toward past transgressions or negative events. Previous research has demonstrated a multitude of personality and individual difference associations with BA and psychological wellbeing (PWB) in cross-sectional samples, but little focus has been directed at determining if such traits affect changes in (i.e. recovery from) BA and PWB over time. The present study seeks to address this knowledge gap using a widespread blame context: romantic breakup. It was hypothesised that the personality traits of neuroticism (N) and extraversion (E), as well as the individual difference characteristics of trait emotional intelligence (EI), religious-spiritual belief (RSB), and gender would affect blame recovery and PWB change over time. A sample of 302 undergraduates completed measures of BA, PWB, E, EI, N, and RSB in two online sessions approximately 28 days apart. Hierarchical regression results indicate that only EI was influential, leading to increased PWB growth over time and greater reduction in self-blame/guilt. Modelled together, the traits did not explain BA or PWB change, despite various significant correlations with the three outcome variables at the single time point level.