Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Social Counterpositioning: How Attributes of Social Issues Influence Competitive Response

We develop a theory of how firms respond to each other’s CSR activities. We contend that whether a firm will emulate, ignore, or oppose a rival’s CSR efforts depends on attributes of the underlying social issue, the level of market competition, and the substantiveness of CSR. We develop a formal model of CSR as a function of these factors, allowing, in particular, for issues to be socially polarizing. The model predicts several distinct equilibrium outcomes, including the potential for counterpositioning, whereby rival firms mutually boost their profits by taking opposing positions on a social issue. The model shows that such counterpositioning is more likely when issue salience is high but agreement is low, when markets are highly competitive, or when CSR is largely symbolic.
Does Greater Food Safety Consciousness Benefit Smallholder Dairy Farmers? Evidence from Nepal

Food quality and safety have been the central issues of food economics and are considered among the most important food attributes. However, evidence of the impact of food safety consciousness on consumers' food purchasing behavior is limited. This paper studies the impact of food safety consciousness on weekly milk expenditure, milk price paid, milk quantity purchased, and the probability of purchasing milk from modern market outlets in Nepal. We conducted dairy consumer survey in four selected districts of the country and employed an instrumental variable regression and quantile instrumental variable to estimate the heterogeneous treatment effects. The results suggest that education, income, and social network are the major factors that positively influence food safety consciousness. An increase in the food safety consciousness level by 1% increases the weekly milk expenditure, milk price paid, and weekly milk purchased by 1.37%, 0.66%, and 1.27%, respectively. Furthermore, we found that an increase in food safety consciousness by 1% is associated with a 37% higher probability of selecting a modern milk outlet. At higher levels of food safety consciousness, female-headed households are significantly more likely to purchase milk from modern outlets in comparison to male-headed households. Our findings imply that increasing food safety consciousness is likely to improve food security (through more consumption of milk and other healthy food) and the welfare of smallholder dairy farmers (through increased milk demand and higher milk prices paid by consumers).
The cranial morphology of Kayentachelys, an Early Jurassic cryptodire, and the early history of turtles

Gaffney, E.S. and Jenkins, F.A. , Jr. 2010. The cranial morphology of Kayentachelys, an Early Jurassic cryptodire, and the early history of turtles. — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 335–368 The skull morphology of Kayentachelys aprixGaffney et al., 1987, a turtle from the Early Jurassic Kayenta Fm of northern Arizona, demonstrates the presence of cryptodiran synapomorphies in agreement with Gaffney et al. (1987, 1991, 2007), and contrary to the conclusions of Sterli and Joyce (2007), Joyce (2007), Sterli (2008), and Anquetin et al. (2008). Specific characters found in Kayentachelys and diagnostic of cryptodires include the processus trochlearis oticum, the curved processus pterygoideus externus with a vertical plate, and the prefrontal–vomer contact, which are confirmed as absent in the outgroups, specifically the Late Triassic Proganochelys. The Joyce (2007) analysis suffers from the reduction of the signal from skull characters, with a consequently greater reliance on shell characters, resulting in pleurodires being resolved at various positions within the cryptodires. Kayentachelys reveals what a primitive cryptodire would be expected to look like: a combination of primitive and derived characters, with the fewer derived characters providing the best test of its relationships to other turtles. Although incompletely known, the Mid-Late Jurassic Condorchelys, Heckeremys, and Eileanchelys may be early cryptodires close to Kayentachelys. We confirm the Late Triassic Proterochersis as a pleurodire, dating the pleurodire–cryptodire split as Late Triassic or earlier.
How Science Teachers Perceive Mentoring: Focus on Definition and Benefits

This study investigated science teacher’s perceptions of mentoring with respect to definitions and benefits in Zone C area of Benue State. Using purposive sampling technique, 163 science teachers were selected. Perceptions on definition, and benefits were sought using a validated 20 item Likert-scale type questionnaire. Reliability coefficient (r) of 0.86 was obtained using the split-halve method, and the results subjected to Spearman-Brown prophecy formula. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the 2 research questions. Findings revealed that science teachers perceive mentoring essentially as guidance, professional development and role-modelling; science teachers perceive mentoring as a beneficial part of their professional development. Recommendations made include: experienced teachers should be encouraged to avail themselves as role models to provide guidance and create development opportunities for young and less experienced science teachers; novice teachers with less teaching experience should seek out veteran teachers and develop informal mentoring relationships to enhance their professional development and improve their effectiveness; and where schools are unable to offer formal mentoring programmes, administrators should promote cooperation and encourage teachers to develop authentic albeit unofficial mentoring relationships.
Board Diversity, Corporate Governance, Performance and Executive Pay

Departing from previous studies, this paper investigates the impact of corporate board diversity on corporate performance and executive pay within the context of MENA countries. Our sample includes a balanced panel of 600 firm-year observations, consisting of 100 individual firms drawn from 5 Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab of Emirates) over the 2009–2014 period. The findings are three-fold. First, board diversity, as measured by director gender and nationality, has a positive effect on corporate financial performance. Second, the relationship between board diversity and corporate performance is stronger in better-governed firms than their poorly-governed counterparts. Finally, board diversity, as measured by director gender, ethnicity and nationality, enhances the pay-for-performance sensitivity, but not the actual executive pay. Our results suggest that decisions about board diversity are not merely influenced by moral values; they arise because of the cost-benefit considerations of what diversity can bring to the firm. The findings are robust to controlling for different alternatives of board diversity measures, corporate governance proxies, corporate outcomes and types of endogeneities.
Gender Equality and the EU's Economic Governance: The Strategic Use of Women's Employment Within Labor Market Reforms in Italy

Abstract:This article aims to evaluate the political implications of post-crisis governance in the European Union for national gender-equality strategies and policies. It presents a study of recent reforms of the labor market in Italy, where the response to the Eurozone crisis has increased concerns over the low rate of female employment. Through an analysis of policy documents and legislative reforms informed by discursive politics, the article argues that the Italian case provides evidence of the trend toward the further instrumentalization of gender equality, which has been strategically used in order to provide additional legitimation for labor market deregulation.
The nutritional importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their use as trophic markers for herbivorous zooplankton : Does it contradict?

Fatty acids of field caught Daphnia spp. (Phyllopoda) and Eudiaptomus spp. (Copepoda) representing a non-selective and a selective grazer were analyzed and compared to the respective fatty acids of their potential food, i. e. seston < 30 μm. In addition, values in daphniids from the field were compared to D. galeata fed cultured algae (Scenedesmus obliquus, Cryptomonas erosa, Nitzschia palea). In Daphnia spp. from the field their EPA content varied least among all ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-PUFA) and less than in their food. Hence, it can be considered to be more homeostatic than in the food. This becomes especially evident when comparing fatty acid profiles of D. galeata feeding on the cultured algae which had very different fatty acid compositions. However, the variation in daphniids' EPA and co3-PUFA content is much greater than what is observed for phosphorus (P) content in daphniids, owing the fact that PUFA and P are under different physiological constraints. Although the fatty acid pattern of D. galeata was greatly influenced when feeding on the algal cultures in the laboratory, no significant correlations were found between seston and Daphnia spp. and Eudiaptomus spp. for most PUFA and fatty acid ratios used as trophic markers. Thus, different to the laboratory situation when food was superfluous, a more homeostatic (03-PUFA profile occurred under limiting conditions in the field.
Do Central Banks React to House Prices?

The substantial fluctuations in house prices recently experienced by many industrialized economies have stimulated a vivid debate on the possible implications for monetary policy. In this paper, we ask whether the U.S. Fed, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England have reacted to house prices. We study the responses of these central banks by estimating a structural model for each country where credit constrained agents borrow against real estate. The main result is that house price movements did play a separate role in the U.S., U.K. and Japanese central bank reaction functions.
The Gene Transformer of Anastrepha Fruit Flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and Its Evolution in Insects

In the tephritids Ceratitis capitata and Bactrocera oleae, the gene transformer acts as the memory device for sex determination, via an auto-regulatory function; and functional Tra protein is produced only in females. This paper investigates the evolution of the gene tra, which was characterised in twelve tephritid species belonging to the less extensively analysed genus Anastrepha. Our study provided the following major conclusions. Firstly, the memory device mechanism used by this gene in sex determination in tephritids likely existed in the common ancestor of the Ceratitis, Bactrocera and Anastrepha phylogenetic lineages. This mechanism would represent the ancestral state with respect to the extant cascade seen in the more evolved Drosophila lineage. Secondly, Transformer2-specific binding intronic splicing silencer sites were found in the splicing regulatory region of transformer but not in doublesex pre-mRNAs in these tephritids. Thus, these sites probably provide the discriminating feature for the putative dual splicing activity of the Tra-Tra2 complex in tephritids. It acts as a splicing activator in dsx pre-mRNA splicing (its binding to the female-specific exon promotes the inclusion of this exon into the mature mRNA), and as a splicing inhibitor in tra pre-mRNA splicing (its binding to the male-specific exons prevents the inclusion of these exons into the mature mRNA). Further, a highly conserved region was found in the specific amino-terminal region of the tephritid Tra protein that might be involved in Tra auto-regulatory function and hence in its repressive splicing behaviour. Finally, the Tra proteins conserved the SR dipeptides, which are essential for Tra functionality.
Going further on an intricate and challenging group of nudibranchs: description of five novel species and a more complete molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Nembrothinae (Polyceridae)

Nembrothinae is a colourful subfamily of nudibranch polycerids, which despite its large size and striking appearance, needs to be more thoroughly studied. The available scientific information about this subfamily is very recent, and pictures of living undescribed species become available every day. Nevertheless, the lack of associated material for morphological, anatomical, and molecular analysis results in scarce additional studies. In this paper, five novel species are described: Roboastra ernsti sp. nov., Roboastra nikolasi sp. nov., Tambja brasiliensis sp. nov., Tambja crioula sp. nov., and Tambja kava sp. nov. In addition, Tambja divae (Marcus, 1958), a species previously known only from the original description, is redescribed and additional data and comments on Tambja cf. amakusana Baba, 1987 and Tambja marbellensis Schick and Cervera, 1998 are provided. Molecular data (H3, COI and 16S genes) for all these novel species and some additional ones were obtained and included in a previous molecular database. Maximum‐likelihood, maximum‐parsimony and Bayesian analyses were carried out. The phylogeny presented here has revealed Nembrothinae to be an intricate and challenging group of nudibranchs to study. Intermediate missing species seem to be critical to understanding the evolutionary relationships within this group.
Does Corporate Governance Practices Matter: A Case Study of Registered Charities in New Zealand

This study examines whether the charitable organisations in New Zealand have adopted the principle-based corporate governance practices similar to that is adopted by the publicly listed companies and the effect the corporate governance practices have on their financial performance measured by technical efficiency and quick ratio. Our findings indicate that there is no reporting requirement for charities under the Charities Act 2005 to report detail information of the board make-up, board committees etc and therefore, charities have not reported such information. Our results show that board diversity is an important corporate governance mechanism to mitigate agency problem in charitable organisations in New Zealand. However, large board size and large donors have potential to increase agency costs in charitable organisations in New Zealand.
Desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Pattonella intermutans (Thomson) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) em diferentes dietas

Post-embryonary development of Pattonella intermutans (Thomson, 1869) in different diets. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the post-embryonary development of Pattonella intermutans (Thomson, 1969) in artificial diets composed of agar-agar. Diet D 1 : whole dried milk + dried brewer's yeast; Diet D 2 : whole dried milk + dried brewer's yeast+ casein; Diet D 3 : whole dried milk + whole egg; Diet D 4 : bovine meal (control diet). The bovine meat was the best diet (larval weight 195.63mg and viability from larvae to adult 86,5%), when compared to all other artificial diets. The following performances were obtained for experimental groups: diet D 3 : 180.15 mg and 63.5%; diet D 2 : 141.07 mg and 61% and diet D 1 : 147.98 mg e 51.5%.
Fertility life table of Trichogramma pretiosum (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) in eggs of Tuta absoluta and Phthorimaea operculella (Lep., Gelechiidae) at different temperatures

Abstract: The aim of this work was to study the reproductive potential of Trichogramma pretiosum reared on Tuta absoluta and Phthorimaea operculella eggs through fertility life tables at different temperatures. The development cycle and the parasitization capacity of this parasitoid was determined in order to calculate the net reproductive rate (Ro), the infinitesimal increase ratio (rm), the finite increase rate (λ) and the mean duration of the generation (T). The mean duration of one generation of T. pretiosum kept on both eggs was observed to show an inverse relation with the increase of temperature. The net reproduction rate varied according to the temperature variation for both species. The maximum increase in capacity of T. pretiosum on the first host (T. absoluta) was reached at 22°C and on the second host (P. operculella) between 22 and 25°C. The infinitesimal increase rate and the finite increase rate for both moths had a relationship with the increase of temperature ranging from 18 to 30°C. The highest value of λ for both moths occurred at 30 and 32°C according to the lesser duration of a generation.
Compensation or Feedback: Motivating Performance in Multidimensional Tasks

Employees often perform tasks with multiple dimensions. In this study, we examine how employees’ performance on multidimensional tasks differs under different control structures. We conduct two experiments in which we manipulate the presence of compensation controls and the presence of feedback controls on multiple task dimensions. Our findings suggest that when employees are compensated on multiple dimensions they commit to multiple goals and divide their attention among those task dimensions. However, when feedback controls are implemented on one task dimension with compensation controls on another dimension, employees can improve performance on individual dimensions as well as their overall task performance. As a result, we find that employee performance on a multidimensional task can be higher when firms compensate employees on one task dimension and provide feedback on the other task dimension than when firms compensate on both task dimensions. This study highlights the benefits of complementing compensation-based controls (i.e., incentive pay) with non-compensation based controls (e.g., feedback), and provides a theoretical basis to help explain the prevalence of this approach in practice.
Self-Insurance, Self-Protection, and Increased Risk Aversion: An Intertemporal Reinvestigation

This paper studies the effect of increased risk aversion on self-insurance and self-protection in a two-period expected utility framework in which the risk-reducing investment precedes its effect. In contrast to monoperiodic models, self-insurance and self-protection react very similarly to an increase in risk aversion, i.e., increased risk aversion is associated with more effort if and only if current consumption is sufficiently large. Only if savings are endogenized, the classical findings are recouped. Then, increased risk aversion leads to more self-insurance in any case, and increased risk aversion leads to more self-protection if and only if the loss probability is below an endogenous threshold, extending results obtained by Dionne and Eeckhoudt (1985).
13C NMR Characterization of Guaiacyl, Guaiacyl/Syringyl and Syringyl Dehydrogenation Polymers

Summary Dehydrogenation polymers (DHPs) were prepared from coniferyl alcohol (CA), sinapyl alcohol (SA), and a mixture of coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol. The polymers were fully acetylated and their carbon NMR spectra were compared. Comparison of the 13C NMR spectra of the DHPs with those of authentic tri- and tetralignols facilitated the assignment of about 85% of the 117 reported signals. Most of the unassigned signals were those from syringyl units. Major differences between the DHP prepared from CA and a pine milled wood lignin were: a relative deficiency of s-O-4 linkages and a predominance of s-5, s-s, and CA end units in the DHP. In contrast, there was no significant quantity of SA end units in a DHP prepared from SA. A major conclusion of the study confirmed that DHPs prepared from CA are relatively poor models of natural lignins isolated from gymnosperms.
Stated and Revealed Investment Decisions Concerning Structured Products

We analyze the investment behavior of private clients concerning structured products. To ascertain their stated and revealed preferences, we use a questionnaire and a field experiment, respectively. The real product issued in the field experiment is comparable to the hypothetical product in the questionnaire in both payoff and communication. We find that a product described in simple words strongly motivates people to invest in structured products for the first time, and also eliminates gender differences. The latter result also appears under true market conditions for the real product. However, the real product attracts far fewer first-time buyers than we expected from the questionnaire results. The size and distribution of the investment amounts are different in the two set-ups: although the questionnaire participants focus on their annual income situation, field experiment participants focus on wealth.
Phycological studies in lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Superior

An indepth phycological comparison is presented for lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Superior, based on extensive lake-wide surveys carried out during the past 12 years. This comparison was achieved by the application of standard and consistent identification, enumeration, and data-processing techniques. The resulting species composition data are voluminous and present a broad picture of the phytoplankton assemblage. Our data base has enabled us to assess the long-term floristic changes, knowledge of which is lacking in the Great Lakes. The species composition reflects more or less the current trophic status of these lakes. The preponderance of nannoplankton and phytoflagellates is the subject of our current experimental research, which includes the fractionation of chlorophyll a and carbon-14 uptake, toxicity studies of heavy metals upon various size fractions of algae, and the role of microalgae and ultraplankton in the transfer of contaminants via zooplankton grazing. The need for phycological research .
Impact of Cross Cultural Factors on Expatriates’ Effective Execution of International Assignments

Expatriates’ successful assignment has brought very complex and challenging issues currently faced by multinationals. Failed assignments are reported to be very high among expatriates. In light of this, this study provides new empirical evidence of recent expatriation management practices among oil and gas multinationals, and in particular, of the sources of successful performance factors among expatriates. The majority of the expatriates were dissatisfied with their living conditions and wanted an improvement in cross-cultural training. The major factors influencing expatriates’ low performance at work were security, expatriates’ maladjustment and culture shock experience. Furthermore, majority of the expatriates reported that they were provided with host country’s culture and language training and therefore did not experience so much culture shock, but content analysis evidence showed that they did actually experience adjustment issues and culture shock and more focus was to be put in host country preparation. In conclusion, some recommendations for best practice were made.