Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
My Colleague Just Left! A Knowledge-Based Perspective on Co-Worker Departures

How is the performance of a knowledge worker affected by the departure of a colleague? While prior research has highlighted the aggregate impact of knowledge worker mobility on firms, in this theory paper we look inside the firm, to explore the individual-level impact of a co-worker’s departure on the performance of a remaining employee. We propose that the departure of a co-worker can change the remaining employee’s access to knowledge, but the implications of such changes will depend on the nature of the co-worker’s relationship with the employee: the employee’s performance will be negatively affected to the extent that the relationship is collaborative, but it will be positively affected to the extent that the relationship is competitive. Moreover, these effects will be magnified to the extent that the employee was dependent on the co-worker for knowledge access to prior to the move, but weakened to the extent that the relationship persists after the move. Our knowledge-based perspective on co-worker departures advances research on employee mobility and knowledge flows by highlighting the variety of changes in knowledge access that may result when a colleague leaves the firm, and illuminating the implications of these changes for the performance of employees who remain behind.
Inequality, Redistribution and Optimal Trade Policy: A Public Finance Approach

In this paper, we explore the relationship between optimal trade and redistributive policies when the gains from trade are unequally distributed. We use a competitive trade model with input-output linkages where trade affects relative wages and the reallocation of workers across various sectors is frictional. We study how income taxes and trade policies should be designed in order to balance the efficiency gains from trade with the costs associated with the resulting increased inequality. We show that for a large class of global production structures, the global trade of goods and services must be undistorted even when personal taxes are incomplete. In other words, barriers to trade such as tariffs are never optimal. In contrast, producer taxes in the form of value-added taxes (VAT) that are differentially levied on different sectors play a crucial role in redistributing the gains from trade. We provide formulas that highlight the main determinants of optimal VAT and non-linear income taxes. Finally, in a quantitative version of our model, we study the optimal response to the rise of China in international trade. Our quantitative analysis establishes that differential VAT taxes play the main role of redistributing the gains from trade, while income taxes do not.
Biology of the Northern Shrimp, Pandalus borealis, in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract Northern shrimp from offshore waters in the Gulf of Maine were studied to determine their occurrence and to learn some major features of their life history. The area sampled extends from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Long Island, New York. Northern shrimp were found only in the western portion of the Gulf of Maine, where they were present throughout the year, and at two isolated localities southeast of Nova Scotia. Abundance was highest in moderate depths in the vicinity of Jeffrys and Cashes Ledges and southeast of Mount Desert Island, Maine, and lowest in the deeper, offshore areas in the west-central part of the Gulf. High water temperatures appear to limit the southward extension of this species off New England. Within the Gulf of Maine this shrimp occurs on fine-grained bottom sediments, such as clay, silty sand, and glacial till, which contain relatively large amounts of organic matter. Average life span is about 3 1/2 years and may extend to 4 1/2 years for a small portion of the population. Nor.
Sustainability Practices and Sustainable Financial Growth

This paper concerns the issue of the financial sustainability of a corporation within the conditions of risks and opportunities. The paper also sheds light the possibilities of bankrupt corporations. The financial sustainability issue becomes acute and critical when it comes to the global level of competition within an industry. Therefore, the purpose of the research is to identify, analyze, and categorize the possible steps to develop the financial sustainability of a company and study the possible risks, which are likely to encounter. In such systemic approach, it would be easier to predict the weaknesses and deal with them in the most successful manner. Hence, the paper aims also to employ the qualitative methods of research to analyze the scholar literature devoted to this topic. The experiences of the scholars proficient in finance would surely provide a clear vision of how the business stakeholders in financial climate assess, control, and maintain sustainability in order. Thus, one of the proposed approaches in this paper properly shapes the decision-making process united with the audits to monitor the development of the firm’s financial situation.
Site- and species-specific fuel load of European–Afrotropical passerines on arrival at three oases of southeast Morocco during spring migration

Capsule Arrival fuel load of migratory passerine birds after the Sahara crossing in spring varied between oases of different habitat quality. Aims To test: (1) if spring migrants reaching northern Africa with low fuel stopover in oases of species-specific suitable habitat; (2) whether migrants have sufficient fuel loads to reach southern Europe; and (3) if there is local variation. Methods We collected data from passerines caught at three different oases in southeast Morocco during the spring of 2011. Results In species typical of mesophilic vegetation in Europe, birds carrying lower fuel loads occurred at a stopover site with lusher vegetation than two oases located further south. By contrast, in species adapted to xerophilic vegetation, birds carrying high fuel loads were found in drier habitat. Conclusion When arriving in northern Africa, migrants stopover in oases of different habitat quality in a species-specific fashion. Fuel load is, except for a few Mediterranean species, sufficiently high to reach the south of Europe without needing to refuel. Significant differences between oases suggests that fuel loads of birds from a single site are non-representative of the entire region.
Stability of Lactobacillus reuteri in Different Types of Microcapsules

This study was designed to find the most suitable method and wall material for microencapsulation of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri to maintain cell viability during gastric challenge. Five L. reuteri strains were individually encapsulated using alginate, alginate plus starch, K-carrageenan with locust bean gum, or xanthan with gellan by extrusion or phase separation (emulsion). The morphology of the microcapsules was studied using phase contrast and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM). The resistance of these microcapsules and the viability of contained L. reuteri to simulated gastric juice were studied. The shape and size of the microcapsules produced varied with the preparation method and type of wall material. Extruded microcapsules were larger and more uniformly shaped. Survival of microencapsulated L. reuteri was significantly better than that of planktonic cells and varied with the strain, method of microencapsulation, and wall material used. In general, microencapsulation using alginate and alginate with starch by both extrusion and phase separation were found to provide bacteria significantly greater protection (P < 0.05) against simulated gastric juice.
Summer and autumn movements of white whales Delphinapterus leucas in Svalbard, Norway

Fifteen adult white whales Delphinapterus leucas were fitted with satellite relay data loggers (SRDLs) in order to study their distribution and movement patterns in Svalbard. A total of 844 d of tracking data was recorded. The average longevity of the SRDLs was 56 ± 30 (SD) d (range 7 to 120 d). The tracking data were analysed using a computer visualisation system, which allowed the movement patterns to be animated against a background map of the study area. This enabled classification of the whales' tracking data into 4 major activity patterns: (1) glacier front stationary (55.6 % of the time), (2) in-fjord movements (10.6 % of the time), (3) coastal movements (26.0 % of the time), and (4) coastal stationary (7.8 % of the time). The whales spent most of their time relatively sta- tionary, close to different glacier fronts in the area. These areas are known to have a high abundance of potential prey species for white whales, so foraging is the probable reason for this behaviour. When the whales changed location, they did so in an apparently directed and rapid manner. Average hori- zontal swimming speed was at least 6 km h -1 during long-distance movements. Movements between glacier fronts were extremely coastal in nature and took place in shallow waters. This behaviour has probably developed as a means of avoiding predators.
Price-Matching Guarantees: An Equilibrium Analysis in Dual-Channel Supply Chain

Traditionally, competing retailers offer price-matching guarantees (PMGs) whereby they promise their consumers that any lower price offered elsewhere within a specific period will be matched. Recently, a growing number of suppliers have opened their direct sales channel and started to match downstream retailers' prices. In this paper, we investigate the efficacy of PMGs on channel coordination and competition in the dual-channel setting. We find that the interaction of the relative channel power and channel substitutability moderates the effectiveness of PMGs by supply chain entities. More specifically, when the relative channel power of the retail channel over the direct channel is small, unilateral PMGs by the supplier decreases both supply chain entities' profits; when the relative channel power of the retail channel over the direct channel is medium and channel substitutability is not high, unilateral PMGs by the supplier benefits both supply chain entities. The intuition behind these results hinges on the trade-off between price competition and revenue allocation. In addition, we investigate the Nash equilibrium outcome when both the supplier and the retailer have the option to offer PMGs. We show that, the retailer weakly prefers not to offer PMGs, the supplier weakly prefers to (not to) offer PMGs when the relative channel power of the retail channel over the direct channel is high (low). Our findings not only complement the PMGs literature, but also provide a new channel coordinating mechanism concerning the channel members' pricing strategies.
Bank Foreign Currency Funding and Currency Markets: The Case of Mexico Post GFC

Foreign exchange funding in the banking sector is a key financial stability concern. The paper examines the role of foreign currency hedging demand in the foreign exchange market, the key market where banks manage business model driven currency mismatch. First, the paper documents substantial and persistent deviations from covered interest parity for Mexico. Next, granular data from regulatory filings on derivatives transactions and bank balance sheets are used to assess the impact of two variables: 1. the FX funding gap of domestic bank balance sheets and 2. external foreign currency hedging demand. The two currency hedging demand measures are each included in an econometric model of covered interest parity (under limits to arbitrage) with tenures from 1 month to 12 months, and then interacted with arbitrageur balance sheet constraint variables to test whether these amplify the impact of hedging demand. The main result of the paper is that both hedging variables directly influenced CIP deviations in Mexico, while interaction effects varied across hedging measures. The direct effect was robust to including relative arbitrage funding costs, and foreign exchange bid/ask spreads in the regression model. These results from the Mexican case suggest hedging demand can be a more significant factor in foreign exchange forward markets than has so far been documented, and an important factor even at shorter maturities and in an emerging economy's financial markets. One implication is that Mexican domestic banks' abilities to manage currency mismatch is influenced by external hedging demand. This paper adds to the literature on CIP deviations after the Global Financial Crisis by analyzing the case of an emerging market, with the unique advantage of using regulatory filings data and actual FX derivatives transactions data.
Testing and Estimating Nonlinear Long-Run Relationships between Economic Growth and Passenger Air Transport in Four South American Countries

This short paper analyzes the dynamic relationship between air transportation and economic growth in four South American countries, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, investigating the linkages without imposing a priori any parametric model to represent them. A set of free-model tests (unit root, cointegration and causality non-parametric tests) are applied to annual data (from 1970 to 2015) of per capita GDP and air transport indicators (passengers and cargo) to examine the existence of linear and nonlinear relationships between these variables. Real exchange rate is introduced in each country model in order to account for the price-effects. Results show that only Uruguay and Chile show a cointegration relationship between economic growth and air transport (and when number of air passengers represents this variable). Linearity (of the long-run relationship) was rejected for both countries, which means that the relationship between air transport and growth may have some kind of asymmetry or non-linear behavior. Nor for Argentina or Brazil and neither when air transport is represented by air cargo indicator, cointegration was found. Furthermore, nonparametric causality tests, confirm bidirectional causality from air transport to growth in Uruguay and Chile.
State Control as a Substitute for Environmental Regulation? Evidence from Chinese Cities

We investigate the role of state control of industry following an increase in the stringency of an environmental policy in a large developing country. Focusing on a national sulfur dioxide (SO2) cleanup campaign in China, we find that the pre-existing extent of state control over the primary targeted industry, coal-fired power and heat generation, predicts superior cleanup performance in cities. We find this effect is specific to state capital controlled by higher (central and provincial) levels of government, while the state capital share controlled by lower (prefectural cities and below) levels of government is negatively correlated with cleanup performance. Our results suggest that in China’s incomplete contractual environment, central state control partly substitutes for regulatory enforcement, providing an important societal benefit but ultimately implying limits to the impact of environmental campaigns.
The importance of scavenging reactive oxygen species in anti‐aging medicine

In a pilot study, we had reported on the beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on arteriosclerotic nanoplaque formation and size in cardiovascular high‐risk patients who had undergone an aortocoronary bypass operation. Briefly, nanoplaque formation and size, the ratio oxLDL/LDL, and the highly atherothrombotic lipoprotein(a) concentration were substantially reduced, while superoxide dismutase activity and the blood concentration of the vasodilating substances cAMP and cGMP were upregulated. Since the arteriosclerosis prophylactic and well‐aging promotive impact of Ginkgo extract has been proven in this pilot study, we wanted to confirm these beneficial effects through a second observational clinical trial. The measurable variables formerly used were additionally supplemented by a wide, novel biomarker spectrum, through which the latest parameters and markers of plaque stability and progression, oxidative stress, and inflammation were available. In eleven patients with metabolic syndrome in the initial stage, the reduction of arteriosclerotic nanoplaque formation amounted to 14.3±2.9% (p<0.0077) and of nanoplaque size to 23.4±3.7% (p<0.0004), respectively, after 2‐months of treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract. Additionally, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were upregulated by 19.6±10.0% (p<0.0785) and 11.6±2.3% (p<0.001), respectively, the quotient oxLDL/LDL lowered by 21.0±4.3% (p<0.002), and lipoprotein(a) concentration decreased by 26.3±4.8% (p<0.001) in the patients' blood. The concentration of cAMP and cGMP was augmented by 43.5±12.0% (p<0.001) and 32.9±10.4% (p<0.001), respectively. Surprisingly, we found a lowering of the serum Ca2+ concentration by 5.4±1.6% (p<0.0076) from 2.37±0.03 to 2.24±0.04 mmol/L (p<0.0069). Apart from an additional vasodilatory effect, the lowered extracellular Ca2+ concentration affects nanoplaque formation restrictively, since this is a Ca2+ driven process. Furthermore, we could show a favourable development of the biomarkers 8‐iso‐PGF2α, oxLDL/LDL, SOD, GPx (oxidative stress), hs‐CRP, MPO, TNFα, TGFβ1 (inflammatory status) and MMP‐9 (plaque stability). The markers selected here are suited to provide a comprehensive risk profile for the prevention of arteriosclerosis. Finally, a multiple regression analysis reveals a basis for a mechanistic explanation of nanoplaque reduction under Ginkgo treatment. The arteriosclerosis inhibiting effect is due to an attenuation of the risk factors oxLDL/LDL, Lp(a), and [Ca2+]o as well as to a significant increase in the vasodilator cAMP and cGMP concentration. Thus, Ginkgo with its pleiotropic effects should be assigned a fixed rank among the anti‐aging medical therapeutics as a prophylactic measure, especially in patients with early‐stage metabolic syndrome.
The Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Intercropped Strawberry and Broad Bean

ABSTRACT To determine different aspects of intercropping strawberry (Fragaria xananassa L. Duch.) with broad bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Lara) and their similarities to different nitrogen concentrations, this field study was conducted for three years. The overall efficiency of intercropping was measured by using Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs). In intercropping plots, broad bean seeds were sown in the middle of strawberry rows. Meanwhile strawberries and broad beans were also grown as sole crops based on identical experimental design. Nitrogen was applied at three different rates (0, 80, and 160 kg/ha) in both sole and intercrop plots of strawberry. Sole cropping broad beans grown with no fertilizer-N application were considered the control. As a result of these studies, it was reported that the chemical characteristics such as ascorbic acid, total soluble solid, and titratable acidity of strawberry fruits were not significantly affected by either intercropping or nitrogen fertilization. While cropping system did not have any negative effects on fruit weight, fruit weight per plant, and yield of strawberry, nitrogen application rate did significantly affect these parameters. The 80 kg/ha nitrogen application gave maximum amount of marketable fruits for strawberry in both sole cropping and intercropping. Cropping system interaction with nitrogen application showed significant differences in fruit weight per plant and total fruit weight of strawberry. Intercropping caused some phenotypic alteration such as increasing height and growth habits of broad bean. However, there were no significant reductions in pod numbers, pod weight per plants and total yield of intercropped broad bean at 80 kg/ha nitrogen application as compared with sole cropping. Strawberry intercropped with broad bean at 80 kg/ha nitrogen gave the best LER values, indicating that intercropping might be more productive than sole cropping especially in case of 80 kg/ha nitrogen application.
Health Indices of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Along the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. I. Blood Biochemistry Values

Abstract The green sea turtle (also known locally as black turtle; Chelonia mydas) is 1 of 5 species of sea turtles found along the coast of the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico, where several bays and lagoon systems provide an important growth and feeding habitat. We characterized blood biochemistry values of 67 green turtles captured at 2 mangrove estuaries along the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, from 2005 to 2007. Blood samples were collected from live turtles for biochemical analysis of 18 parameters and analyzed by physical state (healthy, injured), size classes, season, and geographic location. Green turtles showed differences in the variability of the biochemical parameters between the 2 sites. In Punta Abreojos, injured sea turtles had lower calcium (28%), potassium (28%), and inorganic phosphorus (34.5%) levels and higher cholinesterase activity (16%) compared to healthy turtles. Juvenile turtles collected in Bahía Magdalena had higher glucose levels (34%) than subadults. Levels of triglycerides, total proteins, and albumin correlated positively with size. During the summer and during the years 2005 (Bahía Magdalena, BMA) and 2006 (Punta Abreojos, PAO), individuals had significantly higher concentrations of lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides), glucose, uric acid, and protein. Differences in the habitat, food availability, and environmental conditions between BMA and PAO were reflected in the variability of the biochemical parameters when compared by different factors, such as physical state, size, and seasonality. This is the first report of blood biochemical values of green sea turtles in the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico. All serum chemistry values of green sea turtles were within published reference ranges of healthy sea turtle population.
Forecasting Foreign Guest Nights in Colombo and Greater Colombo of Sri Lanka

The forecasting occupancy guest nights is an essential discipline in Marketing Strategy, Yielding across various channels, purchase decisions, expansion plans and various decisions about staffing and hotel maintenance in tourist hotels. Colombo city and Greater Colombo is the highest regions of night occupancy by international tourist in Sri Lanka. The high occupancy will increase the demand for accommodation. Therefore the hotel industry should adopt revenue management practices to maximize profits and optimize operations. This study was focused on identifying suitable forecasting techniques for occupancy guest nights of international tourist. Monthly data of foreign guest nights for the period of January 2008 to December 2016 were obtained from Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). The Decomposition additive and multiplicative models and Seasonal Auto-regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) were tested for forecasting. The Anderson–Darling test, Auto-Correlation Function (ACF), Durbin-Watson test, and Ljung-Box Q (LBQ)-test were used as the goodness of fit tests in model validation. The best fitting model was selected by comparing the relative measurements of errors and the absolute measurements of errors. The residuals of both Decomposition; additive and multiplicative models were found normally distributed, but not independent. Both relative and absolute measurements of errors of the model ARIMA (1,0,1)(2,1,1)4 are very low in model fitting. The residuals of ARIMA (1,0,1)(2,1,1)4 were found normally distributed and independent. Therefore, future night occupancy by the foreign guest in Colombo city and Greater Colombo can be forecast ed by past night occupancy by foreign guest, past errors and seasonal components. The study concluded that SARIMA performs better than Decomposition models in forecasting occupancy guest nights. However, the SARIMA model is not capable in capturing the cyclical variations. Therefore, it is recommended to test the Circular Model for de-trended data for better forecasting.