Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing effective knowledge acquisition in outsourcing alliances: A supplier's perspective

Knowledge acquisition through international outsourcing alliances often plays a key in increasing a firm’s technology capability. However, knowledge acquisition is not an easy process, as it relates to the firm’s learning ability, the quality of the partnership, cross-national communication, and knowledge ambiguity, etc. Few studies discuss knowledge acquisition from the perspective of suppliers in newly industrialized economies, and often overlook the usefulness of information technology in the learning process. As a result, there are still some research gaps on this topic. Therefore, this study adopts the supplier point of view to explore the differences between suppliers with more or less effective knowledge acquisition. Using a sample of 204 cases of international outsourcing alliances, this study shows that learner characteristics, partnerships, and the use of information technology are the primary factors affecting supplier knowledge acquisition. This study also investigates the different learning patterns of tacit knowledge acquisition and explicit knowledge acquisition. Key words: suppliers, international outsourcing alliance, knowledge acquisition, learner characteristics, partnership, informational technology.
Developmental Stage and Growth Regulator Concentration Differentially Affect Vegetative Propagation of Select Clones of Taxodium Rich.

In previous studies, baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. ) clones were selected for improved field tolerance to alkaline soils, drought, foliar or soil salinity exposure, and for ornamental traits. Objectives of the current research were to 1) determine the clonal responses to potassium salt of indole-3-butyric acid (K-IBA) across seasonal developmental stages of cuttings; and 2) to determine whether rooting and callus percentagesand rootedcutting quality (rootnumber, length,and mass) wouldbesufficient forcommercialproductionshouldtheseclonesbereleasedtoindustry.Cuttingsweretaken from 24 clones at three distinct stages of stem maturity (softwood, semihardwood, and hardwood). Three concentrations of K-IBA were tested (0, 7,500, and 15,000 mgL -1 (0, 31.1, 62.2 mM, respectively)) on each clone at each stage. Rooting percentages ranged from '94% (clone MX1MC33) at the softwood stage to 0% for several clones at the hardwood stage.Someclones suchasMX5MC17rootedatstatisticallysimilar percentages in the softwood and semihardwood stages (88% and 83%, respectively). Clone EP3DC16 rooted at low levels (less than 20%) in all stages. Significant (P # 0.05) interactions occurred between growth stage and clone in some cases. Clone EP8DC14 rooted at 59% at the softwood stage but only 37% at the semihardwood stage. Root number and length exhibited three-way interactions (P # 0.05) among clone, developmental stage, and K-IBA concentration. Mean total root length ranged from 2 cm per cutting on semihardwood cuttings of MX2MC31 treated with no growth regulator to 81 cm per cutting on softwood cuttings of TX8DC38 treated with7500 mgL -1 K-IBA.Mean root lengthvaried from 2 cm for several clones at the semihardwood stage to 11 cm for softwood cuttings of MX2MC31 treated with 15,000 mgL -1 K-IBA. The greatest rooting percentages across K-IBA concentrations were typically at the softwood stage. Cuttings treated with either 7,500 or 15,000 mgL -1 K-IBA rooted at the greatest percentages across stem maturity stages. No clone rooted well in the hardwood stage. The high concentration of K-IBA (15,000 mgL -1 )
Paying for the Ageing Crisis: Who, How and When?

In many countries population ageing creates an implicit public debt. That is, if policies remain unchanged, the public debt will ultimately become unsustainable. This paper explores the optimal way to achieve debt sustainability. In particular, it asks when policy reforms should be made, how policies should be changed and which generations should make which contributions. As regards timing, we find that policy reform should anticipate future demographic change. As regards policy instruments, we find that optimal policy reform features changes in all available instruments. This implies less consumption of all types of goods; only pure public goods consumption may escape a reduction. The labour supply functions of the young and the old determine the allocation over policy instruments. In particular, the more elastic is the labour supply of the young, the smaller should be the increase in the tax rate on labour income; the more elastic is the labour supply of the old, the larger should be the reduction in transfers to the elderly. As regards generations, we find that the old share relatively little in the fiscal burden; future generations share more or less than the young, depending on future population size. In addition, we find that the change of the public debt is not a given, but a feature of optimal policies. In general,
Temporalities at sea: Fast time and slow time onboard ocean-going merchant vessels

There have been claims about how social acceleration affects us in different ways. However, such claims are mainly based on temporalities ashore. As such, we fail to grasp in their complexities the differentiated conflicted experiencing of temporalities in contemporary life. This article hopes to fill in this gap and in effect provides a more nuanced rendering of experiencing temporalities based on a particular social group who live and work in the fringes of our society and yet play a hugely important role in the global economy – the ocean-going merchant seafarers. Based on a fieldwork on board four merchant vessels, the experiencing of both fast time and slow time by seafarers is explicated here. It highlights how place (the ship and its work and living arrangements) and its available resources (or the paucity of them) and power relations with those ashore (shoreside personnel) shape the experiencing of time onboard.
Carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars: a window on AGB nucleosynthesis and binary evolution. II. Statistical analysis of a sample of 67 CEMP-$s$ stars

Many observed CEMP stars are found in binary systems and show enhanced abundances of $s$-elements. The origin of the chemical abundances of these CEMP-$s$ stars is believed to be accretion in the past of enriched material from a primary star in the AGB phase. We investigate the mechanism of mass transfer and the process of nucleosynthesis in low-metallicity AGB stars by modelling the binary systems in which the observed CEMP-$s$ stars were formed. For this purpose we compare a sample of $67$ CEMP-$s$ stars with a grid of binary stars generated by our binary evolution and nucleosynthesis model. We classify our sample CEMP-$s$ stars in three groups based on the observed abundance of europium. In CEMP$-s/r$ stars the europium-to-iron ratio is more than ten times higher than in the Sun, whereas it is lower than this threshold in CEMP$-s/nr$ stars. No measurement of europium is currently available for CEMP-$s/ur$ stars. On average our models reproduce well the abundances observed in CEMP-$s/nr$ stars, whereas in CEMP-$s/r$ stars and CEMP-$s/ur$ stars the abundances of the light-$s$ elements are systematically overpredicted by our models and in CEMP-$s/r$ stars the abundances of the heavy-$s$ elements are underestimated. In all stars our modelled abundances of sodium overestimate the observations. This discrepancy is reduced only in models that underestimate the abundances of most of the $s$-elements. Furthermore, the abundance of lead is underpredicted in most of our model stars. These results point to the limitations of our AGB nucleosynthesis model, particularly in the predictions of the element-to-element ratios. Finally, in our models CEMP-$s$ stars are typically formed in wide systems with periods above 10000 days, while most of the observed CEMP-$s$ stars are found in relatively close orbits with periods below 5000 days.
Inequality, ICT and Financial Access in Africa

This study investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) on income inequality through financial development dynamics of depth (money supply and liquid liabilities), efficiency (at banking and financial system levels), activity (from banking and financial system perspectives) and size, in 48 African countries for the period 1996 to 2014. The empirical evidence is based on Generalised Method of Moments. While both financial depth and size are established to reduce inequality contingent on ICT, only the effect of financial depth in reducing inequality is robust to the inclusion of time invariant variables to the set of strictly exogenous variables. We extend the analysis by decomposing financial depth into its components, namely: formal, informal, semi-formal and non-formal financial sectors. The findings based on this extension show that ICT reduces income inequality through formal financial sector development and financial sector formalization as opposed to informal financial sector development and financial sector informalization. The study contributes at the same time to the macroeconomic literature on measuring financial development and responds to the growing field of addressing post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inequality challenges by means of ICT and financial access.
A metal–polymer composite with unusual properties

Electrically conductive composites that contain conductive filler dispersed in an insulating polymer matrix are usually prepared by the vigorous mixing of the components. This affects the structure of the filler particles and thereby the properties of the composite. It is shown that by careful mixing nano-scale features on the surface of the filler particles can be retained. The fillers used possess sharp surface protrusions similar to the tips used in scanning tunnelling microscopy. The electric field strength at these tips is very large and results in field assisted (Fowler–Nordheim) tunnelling. In addition the polymer matrix intimately coats the filler particles and the particles do not come into direct physical contact. This prevents the formation of chains of filler particles in close contact as the filler content increases. In consequence the composite has an extremely high resistance even at filler loadings above the expected percolation threshold. The retention of filler particle morphology and the presence of an insulating polymer layer between them endow the composite with a number of unusual properties. These are presented here together with appropriate physical models.
Do remittances dampen the effect of natural disasters on output growth volatility in developing countries?

This article examines whether or not remittance inflows help mitigate the effects of natural disasters on the volatility of the real output per capita growth rate. Using a large sample of developing countries and mobilizing a dynamic panel data framework, it uncovers a diminishing macroeconomic destabilizing consequence of natural disasters as remittance inflows rise. It appears that the effect of natural disasters disappears for a remittance ratio above 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, remittances aggravate the destabilizing effects of natural disasters when they exceed 17% of the GDP. Finally, the article shows that current and lagged remittance inflows significantly reduce the number of people killed by natural disasters and the number of people affected, respectively.
A low Lyman Continuum escape fraction of <10 per cent for extreme [O III] emitters in an overdensity at z ̃ 3.5

Recent work has suggested extreme [OIII] emitting star-forming galaxies are important to reionization. Relatedly, [OIII]/[OII] has been put forward as an indirect estimator of the Lyman Continuum (LyC) escape fraction ($f_{esc}$) at $z\gtrsim4.5$ when the opaque IGM renders LyC photons unobservable. Using deep archival U-band (VLT/VIMOS) imaging of a recently confirmed overdensity at $z\sim3.5$ we calculate tight constraints on $f_{esc}$ for a sample (N=73) dominated by extreme [OIII] emitters. We find no Lyman Continuum signal ($f_{esc}^{rel} 3$, but we establish here that [OIII]/[OII]$>3$ does not guarantee significant LyC leakage for a population. Since even extreme star-forming galaxies are unable to produce the $f_{esc}\sim10-15\%$ required by most theoretical calculations for star-forming galaxies to drive reionization, there must either be a rapid evolution of $f_{esc}$ between $z\sim3.5$ and the Epoch of Reionization, or hitherto observationally unstudied sources (e.g. ultra-faint low-mass galaxies with $\log(M/M_\odot)\sim7-8.5$) must make an outsized contribution to reionization.
First Cosmology Results using Type Ia Supernovae from the Dark Energy Survey: Constraints on Cosmological Parameters

We present the first cosmological parameter constraints using measurements of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program (DES-SN). The analysis uses a subsample of 207 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia from the first three years of DES-SN, combined with a low-redshift sample of 122 SNe from the literature. Our “DES-SN3YR” result from these 329 SNe Ia is based on a series of companion analyses and improvements covering SN Ia discovery, spectroscopic selection, photometry, calibration, distance bias corrections, and evaluation of systematic uncertainties. For a flat ΛCDM model we find a matter density . For a flat wCDM model, and combining our SN Ia constraints with those from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), we find a dark energy equation of state , and . For a flat w0waCDM model, and combining probes from SN Ia, CMB and baryon acoustic oscillations, we find and . These results are in agreement with a cosmological constant and with previous constraints using SNe Ia (Pantheon, JLA).
The effects of IMF programs on poverty, income inequality and social expenditure in low income countries: an empirical analysis

ABSTRACT This paper examines the effect of IMF programs on poverty, income inequality and government expenditure on education and health. It distinguishes between non-concessional and concessional programs and examines the effect of contingent factors; program completion, IMF resources, the size of the initial economic problems and aid dependency. Our findings suggest that, in general, IMF programs have not significantly increased poverty and income inequality; in some instances they are associated with reduced poverty and income inequality. Moreover, we find little evidence that IMF programs lead to severe cuts in social expenditure.
Factors associated with the technology adoption in dairy agribusiness

The adoption of adequate technologies is essential to improve the performance of different kinds of companies. Although there is literature related to the adoption of technology in dairy agribusiness in developed countries, information about it is scarce in developing countries. The objective of this study was to explore the factors associated with the adoption of technology by dairy agribusiness. A structural analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the internal variables of Antioquia province farms, Colombia, and their technology adoption process. This process was explained by two factors: production-related variables and management-dependent traits. The variables resulting in the greatest impact were pasture improvement, genetics, administration, and technical procedures.
Real estate and construction sector investment logic on smart buildings

of master's thesis Author Eerika Janhunen Title of thesis Real estate and construction sector investment logic on smart buildings Master programme Mechanical Engineering Code ENG25 Thesis supervisor Professor Seppo Junnila Thesis advisor(s) D.Sc. Antti Säynäjoki Date 10.9. 2018 Number of pages 70+9 Language English
Effect of Chalara longipes on Decomposition of Humic Acids from Picea abies Needle Litter

The effect of the saprotrophic ascomycete Chalara longipes on the decomposition of humic acids was determined in a cultivation experiment. The fungus was incubated in liquid cultures in a fullstrength (F system) and an organic nitrogen-free medium (F–N system), both amended with pure humic acids isolated from spruce forest litter. Fungal biomass production was highest in the F system with humic acids and lowest in the F–N system, the effect of organic nitrogen and humic acids being significant (p < 0.05). The presence of organic nitrogen seems to be essential for growth. The fungus utilized humic acids; molar mass distribution in media obtained by gel-permeation chromatography showed decrease in the humic acids fraction. Decolorization of the media reached 75 and 64 % in the F and F–N systems, respectively. The molar mass of humic acids probably also decreased as estimated from the increase in the absorbance A465/A665 (A4/A6) ratio. It is assumed that the utilization of humic acids may be mediated by the production of organic acids (as their components) and production of some oxidative enzymes.
AtPRK 2 Promotes ROP 1 Activation via RopGEFs in the Control of Polarized Pollen Tube Growth

The ROP1 GTPase-based signaling network controls tip growth in Arabidopsis pollen tubes. Our previous studies imply that ROP1 might be directly activated by RopGEF1, which belongs to a plant-specific family of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RopGEFs) and in turn may be activated by an unknown factor through releasing RopGEF1’s auto-inhibition. In this study, we found that RopGEF1 forms a complex with ROP1 and AtPRK2, a receptor-like protein kinase previously shown to interact with RopGEFs. AtPRK2 phosphorylated RopGEF1 in vitro and the atprk1,2,5 triple mutant showed defective pollen tube growth, similar to the phenotype of the ropgef1,9,12,14 quadruple mutant. Overexpression of a dominant negative form of AtPRK2 (DN-PRK2) inhibited pollen germination in Arabidopsis and reduced pollen elongation in tobacco. The DN-PRK2-induced pollen germination defect was rescued by overexpressing a constitutively active form of RopGEF1, RopGEF1(90–457), implying that RopGEF1 acts downstream of AtPRK2. Moreover, AtPRK2 increased ROP1 activity at the apical plasma membrane whereas DN-PRK2 reduced ROP1 activity. Finally, two mutations at the C-terminal putative phosphorylation sites of RopGEF1 (RopGEF1S460A and RopGEF1S480A) eliminated the function of RopGEF1 in vivo. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that AtPRK2 acts as a positive regulator of the ROP1 signaling pathway most likely by activating RopGEF1 through phosphorylation.
The impact of testosterone levels on J-wave patterns observed in healthy Turkish males

Objectives: Early-repolarization (ER) and Brugada-type-ECG-patterns (BTEP) have recently been grouped under a common terminology called “J-wave patterns” (JWP) and have been associated with an increased risk of sudden-cardiac-death. Scarce data is present about the male dominance in JWP and the probable effects of gonadal hormones on cardiac ion-channel functions. We sought to evaluate the relationship of testosterone-levels and the presence of JWP in healthy Turkish-males. Methods: One hundred eighty-five healthy male volunteers between ≥18 to ≤50 years old without any cardiac disorders were evaluated. ECG, blood biochemistry and total testosterone levels were obtained together with thorough physical examination. Subjects with complete-bundle-branch-block, non-sinus-rhythms and any abnormality on cardiac examination were excluded from the study. BTEP was searched according to the EHRA/HRS 2016 Consensus Conference on V1-V3. ER on ECG was defined as J-point elevation of ≥ 0.1 mV in ≥ 2 leads in the inferior (II, III, aVF) (Inferior ER), lateral (DI, aVL, V4-6) (Lateral ER) or both (Inferolateral ER). Results: A total of 179 subjects (mean age 34.9 ± 7.9 years) were included in our analyses. Three BTEP (1.7%) and 45 ER (26%) were detected. 22 were lateral (49%), 13 inferior (29%) and 10 were (22%) inferolateral ER. JWP (+) subjects (n = 48, 27%) were demonstrating significantly lower basal heart rates (73.9 ± 11bpm vs 68.4 ± 10.3 bpm, p = 0.001) and longer PR intervals (153.9 ± 20.3 ms vs 163.3 ± 21.6 ms, p = 0.01). JWP (+) subjects had significantly higher testosterone levels compared with the ones without (485.5 ± 128.3 ng/dl vs 559.3 ± 167.7, p 629 ng/dl was significantly predicting a JWP on ECG, even outperforming age and hs-CRP levels with an OR of 4.57 (95% CI 1.910-10.9, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Testosterone might be associated with the male predominance observed in the JWP. More malignant inferior/inferolateral ER seems to be mainly associated with the high testosterone levels in Turkish male population. This finding might be attributed to the previously demonstrated effects of testosterone on cardiac ion-channel functions, especially outward-K channels.
Landsat 8 Based Leaf Area Index Estimation in Loblolly Pine Plantations

Leaf area index (LAI) is an important biophysical parameter used to monitor, model, and manage loblolly pine plantations across the southeastern United States. Landsat provides forest scientists and managers the ability to obtain accurate and timely LAI estimates. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between loblolly pine LAI measured in situ (at both leaf area minimum and maximum through two growing seasons at two geographically disparate study areas) and vegetation indices calculated using data from Landsat 7 (ETM+) and Landsat 8 (OLI). Sub-objectives included examination of the impact of georegistration accuracy, comparison of top-of-atmosphere and surface reflectance, development of a new empirical model for the species and region, and comparison of the new empirical model with the current operational standard. Permanent plots for the collection of ground LAI measurements were established at two locations near Appomattox, Virginia and Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Each plot is thirty by thirty meters in size and is located at least thirty meters from a stand boundary. Plot LAI measurements were collected twice a year using the LI-COR LAI-2200 Plant Canopy Analyzer. Ground measurements were used as dependent variables in ordinary least squares regressions with ETM+ and OLI-derived vegetation indices. We conclude that accurately-located ground LAI estimates at minimum and maximum LAI in loblolly pine stands can be combined and modeled with Landsat-derived vegetation indices using surface reflectance, particularly simple ratio (SR) and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), across sites and sensors. The best resulting model (LAI = −0.00212 + 0.3329SR) appears not to saturate through an LAI of 5 and is an improvement over the current operational standard for loblolly pine monitoring, modeling, and management in this ecologically and economically important region.