Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative technical efficiency of pond fish production under two management systems in Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study compared the technical efficiency of fish production under two management systems in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun state, Nigeria. Primary data for this study were collected from forty-five fish farmers using earthen pond and thirty fish farmers using concrete pond through simple random sampling technique and complete enumeration techniques respectively. The Stochastic Frontier production function was employed for the determination of the technical efficiency of the fish farmers. Results revealed an average age of 44years and 46years for operators of concrete and earthen pond technologies respectively. They were mostly males and educated. There was a fairly high but almost equal technical efficiency scores in fish production for concrete (0.6429) and earthen pond (0.6432. Significant variables affecting fish production in concrete pond were stock size (α0.01) and feed (α0.05), while the factors affecting inefficiency was gender. For earthen pond technology the factors were pond size (α0.05), stock size (α0.01) and feed intake (α0.01), while the factors affecting inefficiency were age (α0.05), education level (α0.05) and household size (α0.10). Elasticity values for resources used for both technologies indicate that they were allocated and used in the stage II of the production process and that fish production in earthen pond technologies had higher feed conversion efficiency. The study recommended among others that, appropriate government agencies and community-based organisations, should encourage young and educated people to go into fish production as a precursor towards increasing technical efficiency of fish production.
Analysis of Materials Effects on Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields in Human Head

In this paper, we propose to study the variability of speciflc absorption rate (SAR) of a human head due to difierent materials in the vicinity of the handset. We include the efiects of the human hand, handset chassis and additional conductive material particularly hand- ring jewelry. A flnite-difierence time-Domain (FDTD) method was used to analyze difierent positions of the conductive ring materials within the hand model. Furthermore, the impact of this material on the performance of an antenna was considered in this study. We found that including a hand model leads to a signiflcant reduction in SAR. The hand in∞uences not only SAR distribution but also antenna performance. Moreover, adding conductive materials to the hand results in increases in the local SAR values of the head model. The results suggest that the hand model is important in SAR evaluation and that having an additional conductive material on the hand may vary the amount of electromagnetic (EM) energy absorption depending on the position of the material.
Guanxi, a two-edged sword! How Australian accounting professionals view the process within a moral framework

Purpose - – The purpose of this study is to determine how Western business practitioners, specifically Australian accounting professionals, identify with the Chinese value concept of Design/methodology/approach - – A cross-sectional questionnaire based on a survey of 111 usable Australian accounting professionals was completed during 2012. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate each construct of Findings - – Australian accounting professionals associate well with the favour-seeking aspects of Originality/value - – The research provides evidence that Australian accounting professionals relate to favour-seeking
Wage Growth and the Inflation Process: An Empirical Note

A central proposition in the Phillips curve view of the inflation process is that prices are marked up over productivity-adjusted labor costs. If that is true, then long-run movements in prices and labor costs must be correlated. If long-run movements in a time series are modeled as a stochastic trend, then the above noted implication of the 'price markup' view is related to the concept of cointegration discussed in Granger (1986), which says that cointegrated multiple time series share common stochastic trends. The evidence reported here shows that time series measuring rates of change in prices and labor costs are cointegrated. Furthermore, this cointegration appears consistent with Granger-causality running from the rate of change in prices to the rate of change in labor costs, but not vice versa as suggested by the 'price markup' view.
The Influence of Work Culture on Job Satisfaction and Performance: A Study on the Employees of the Bank Jatim in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to test and analyze the influence of work culture on job satisfaction and employee performance of Bank Jatim in Surabaya. This study uses a sample of 170 respondents using a sampling technique based on the 17 indicators observation which is assumed with the data of observation between 5-10. The analysis of this research using model analysis Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with a theoretical explanation through the evaluation criteria of goodness of fit. The results of this study showed that the work culture has positive and significant effect on employee job satisfaction. Then from the analysis of the same working culture has positive and significant effect on employee performance, while job satisfaction has a positive effect on employee performance of Bank Jatim in Surabaya. The magnitude of the influence of a positive work culture significant the employee aware of the value and the behavior that is applied in working the better, so a significant influence of work culture on job satisfaction show the results of the highest compared with the significant influence on employee performance of Bank Jatim Surabaya. While the results of other findings in this study, that the work culture has positive influence on employee performance of Bank Jatim Surabaya through job satisfaction. This indicates, the higher the work culture which is embedded in the self of employees, the higher the person's employees is able to produce a high performance so that employees feel satisfied with the work that is produced. Keywords: Work Culture, Job Satisfaction, Performance, Employees Bank Jatim Surabaya
Numerical modeling of underwater parametric propagation to detect buried objects

In underwater acoustics, detection of buried objects in sediments (cables, mines,.) is a complex problem. One reason is that acoustic attenuation in these sediments increases with frequency. To ensure sufficient penetration depth in marine sediments, low frequencies have to be used, implying a low resolution. A solution proposed to solve this problem is the parametric emission based on the nonlinear properties of the propagation medium. This method can generate a low frequency wave from two directional high frequencies beams. The parametric propagation is simulated in seawater and marine sediments. The model developed is based on the fractional-step numerical method introduced by Christopher and Parker [1]. In this method, the normal particle velocity is calculated plane by plane from the surface of the transducer to a specified distance. The effects of nonlinearity, attenuation and diffraction are calculated independently for each spatial step. Moreover, to reduce the number of spatial steps, a second order operator splitting scheme is used. The diffraction computation is based on a method of angular spectrum in the frequency domain where the field across a source plane is described by a spatial frequency distribution. To improve code stability, the effects of nonlinearity and attenuation are calculated and associated in shorter propagation substeps. At the interface between water and marine sediments, the transmission conditions are applied. Several tests have been carried out in different configurations (changing the primary frequencies, the parametric frequency, the source geometry, the inclination of the source with the interface, the focal distance,.). The 3D velocity field is calculated in each case, thereby allowing to know the directivity of the source, the velocity amplitude in sediments and the performance.
Evaluating arguments and making meta-arguments

This paper explores the outlines of a framework for evaluating arguments. Among the factors to take into account are the strength of the arguers' inferences, the level of their engagement with objections raised by other interlocutors, and their effectiveness in rationally persuading their target audiences. Some connections among these can be understood only in the context of meta-argumentation and meta-rationality. The Principle of Meta-Rationality (PMR)--that reasoning rationally includes reasoning about rationality-is used to explain why it can be rational to resist dialectically satisfying arguments or accept logically flawed ones.
Does managerial signalling behaviour affect conflict during NPD projects: an exploratory study

Cross-functional relationships during NPD projects have received considerable researchattention with an emphasis on achieving successful integration and avoiding harmfulconflict. The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an exploratory model examiningthe effects of managerial signalling behaviour, at top management and functional level,on conflict in cross-functional working relationships. Focussing on working relationshipbetween marketing managers and R&D managers in 184 new product developmentprojects in Australia this study examines the antecedents of conflict as reported by theR&D Manager. This study provides empirical support for the proposition that while topmanagement actions are useful in facilitating integration, the way a manager perceivestheir functional counterparts motives and intentions is a greater predictor of conflictwithin NPD projects.
Shaping corporate entrepreneurship capability: the impact of rewards

The value of entrepreneurial behaviour, within established firms has been established in recent years, however managers still face the challenge of using appropriate motivational incentives that build commitment to entrepreneurial behaviour. This paper reports on a study that investigated which rewards firms utilise to motivate staff (n=225) in both service and informationand communication technology firms to act entrepreneurially. The results indicate that an entrepreneurial reward system tends to focus on formal acknowledgement, social incentives and organisational freedom of employees to encourage corporate entrepreneurship.
Does flexible employment pay? European evidence on the wage perspectives of female workers

The aim of this paper is to explore three issues relating to the financial dimension of female labour market outcomes. Firstly we analyze the gender pay differentials, adding to the existing literature an age - and distribution specific gender pay gaps. Next, we investigate the wage returns associated with two flexible types of employment, namely temporary and part time jobs. Our results show that flexible employment forms offer no consistent pattern of age-specific wage returns. Eastern and Western European countries differ in some aspects: young women in the former experience much larger pay gaps at the beginning of their working careers (compared to men), and their wage penalties associated with fixed term contracts tend to increase with age. Part time work appears to be beneficial mainly for the high paid women.
High toluene exposure risk increases risk of olfactory dysfunction in furniture workers

BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated the impact on olfactory functioning of occupational exposure to toluene, an industrial solvent used in paints and cleaning fluids. The estimated olfactory dysfunction prevalence is 0.5– 5%. Patients frequently do not complain about olfactory dysfunction. However, occupational exposure to chemicals may affect workers’ health and safety, because of their continuous inhalation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between toluene exposure and olfactory dysfunction in furniture workers. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study involving 65 workers. Data collection was by observation and interview on demographic characteristics, history of habits, and symptoms of chronic rhinitis. Risk of exposure scores were evaluated from potential hazard, exposure level, duration of employment, type of work, use of masks, ventilation of work space, and education and training. Olfactory function was tested using Sniffin’ Sticks, and determination of environmental toluene level was by personal sampling. The odds ratio was used to test correlations between variables. RESULTS Only 44 subjects could be analyzed, 37 (84.1%) of whom had olfactory dysfunction. Workers with high toluene exposure had a significantly 12.5- fold risk of olfactory dysfunction in comparison with those with low exposure (OR=12.5; CI 95% 1.35 – 115.79). CONCLUSIONS Toluene exposure increases risk of olfactory dysfunction in furniture workers. Olfactory function testing should be considered for initial screening or periodic testing of furniture workers. Low toluene levels with a high proportion of olfactory dysfunction indicate that olfactory dysfunction is an early negative impact of chemical inhalation.
Cryptic variation and recent bipolar range expansion within the Stumped-Toed Gecko Gehyra mutilata across Indian and Pacific Ocean islands

With an impressively wide distribution, Gehyra mutilata is present on almost all Indian and Pacific Ocean islands and in large regions of southeast Asia and Indonesia. Mitochondrial sequence data (~500 bp) from individuals covering large parts of its (mainly insular) distribution reveals deep cryptic variation and strong geographic structure, with two well differentiated lineages. Molecular data also reveals that the wide Indian and Pacific insular distribution of Gehyra is very recent and, at least across the Indian Ocean islands, most probably the result of human-aided dispersal, as no variation within this lineage was found. Further research is needed to determine geographic patterns of variation across southeast Asia, the level of genetic variation, and possible mechanisms of speciation. If recognized as distinct taxa, the binomen Gehyra insulensis should be resur rected, and applied to the ‘Pacific lineage’.
TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING IN MONITORING OF HYDROTECHNICAL OBJECTS

Developing Terrestrial Laser Scanning technology is provided by modern measuring instruments, i.e. total stations and laser scanners. Owing to these instruments, periodic control measurements of concrete dams carried out as a part of geodetic surveying provide point models characterised by quasi-continuity. Basing on the results of these surveys, it is possible to conduct a number of geometric analyses, as well as to obtain information for detailed analytic and calculative deliberations. A scanner, similarly to a total station, determines spatial coordinates (X, Y, Z) of the surveyed points by identifying distances and angles. Registration of intensity of the reflected laser beam (Intensity) sent out by the scanner provides additional information on the surveyed object. Thanks to high working speed and a large amount of collected data, scanners have become an essential tool for a geodesist.This paper evaluates the possibility of applying Terrestrial Laser Scanning to test deformations and shifts of flagged points of concrete dam construction based on experimental measurements, including object inventory and evaluation of the dam’s concrete structure condition.
Do second-generation Turkish migrants in Germany assimilate into the middle class?

The understanding of career paths of migrants is crucial for gaining deeper insights into assimilation processes. However, previous studies in Germany have paid little attention to middle-class assimilation and the career sequences of the second generation of migrants. This paper focuses on early employment career patterns of the children of guest workers, both men and women and especially those of Turkish origin, in comparison to native Germans. Using the German Socioeconomic Panel data set, I apply sequence analysis and regression analysis techniques to describe and assess differences in their success of middle-class assimilation in early employment careers. The findings are robust for two unique definitions of holding a middle-class position, and suggest that large differences exist between native-born Germans and second-generation Turks, and especially between second-generation Turkish women and native German women. The results for second-generation Turkish men indicate that their differences can be explained entirely by education. In the case of second-generation Turkish women, the causes for their disadvantage are more complex and include their lower education, language skills, and host-country-specific social capital as well as group-specific penalties for marriage and childbirth.
Diagnostic molecular markers to detect and identify primary parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Ericaphis fimbriata on highbush blueberry

This research provides mitochondrial COI sequences and species-specific reverse primers for Aphidius ericaphidis Pike and Starý, Ephedrus incompletus Provencher, and Praon unicum Smith (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), which are primary parasitoids of Ericaphis fimbriata (Richards) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), an important vector of Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) on highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericales: Ericaceae) in the Pacific Northwest. The COI sequences are deposited under accession numbers EU574902, EU574904, GU237131, KC211020-211024, KC211027-211032. The combination of three primers in a multiplex PCR assay detects and differentiates DNA from adults of all three parasitoid species. When individual field-collected aphids were challenged with the multiplex PCR assay, immatures of the two numerically dominant species, A. ericaphidis and P. unicum , were readily detected as was multiparasitism by these two species. The uncommon species, E. incompletus , was detected less frequently by multiplex PCR assay than by rearing from the aphid hosts. The diagnostic molecular markers are useful tools for estimating of rates of parasitism and for identifying immatures of parasitoid species within aphid hosts, particularly if used in combination with rearing and dissection assays of field-collected aphids.
“Order picking system design in an ETO manufacturing firm” A Case Study

Warehouse order picking is the most important activity in a warehousing system since it accounts for more than half of the total cost in a warehouse. Due to this, there have been advancement and introduction of paperless picking systems which can reduce error and decrease the time spent on picking. The aim of this thesis is to examine and propose a suitable picking system in the component warehouses which feeds production at ABB capacitors in Ludvika, Sweden. This purpose led to a framework for an order picking system using ABB capacitors as a case study. The design of this framework is achieved by an extensive literature study, benchmarking at another unit of ABB group in Ludvika and observation made at ABB capacitors. The design framework which is a result of this study focuses on preconditions required prior to the design of an order picking system, design steps that should be considered and performance evaluation of the system. In addition, this thesis proposed the use of a handheld barcode scanner in ABB capacitors warehouse since it is more suitable and can be used as a paperless picking technology in the company. Some benefits of the proposed picking system at ABB capacitors includes substantial cost and time savings as well as error reduction in the picking process. The result of this work can be applicable to similar cases and can serve as a guideline in the design of a picking system in a manufacturing warehouse. Also, this thesis contributes to existing literatures in order picking system design especially in the case of an ETO manufacturing firms.
The Relationship of Exhibition Space Design and the Success of Delivering Messages to Museum Visitors in Jakarta

The research explored exhibition space designs, particularly the interior design elements such as circulation, lighting, and display techniques to find out whether the design elements corresponded the design principles and to find out which museum had the most ideal exhibition design that was able to deliver exhibition messages to the audience. The research applied qualitative method with case study approach in three museums in Jakarta, those were National Museums, Bank of Indonesia museum, and museum of Fine Art and Ceramic as case studies and qualitative data collecting methods through observations to get real-settings information. Data analysis and comparison of various interior elements shows that from the three case studies only Bank of Indonesia Museum has an integrated exhibition space using various interior elements; circulation and lighting design as well as display technique that support the success of a museum to deliver exhibition messages to their visitor. It can stimulate visitors senses visually, auditory, and kinetic.
Distribution of meiobenthos at bathyal depths in the Mediterranean Sea. A comparison between sites of contrasting productivity

In order to study the distribution of meiobenthos (Metazoa and Foraminifera) at bathyal depths along a west-east productivity gradient in the Mediterranean Sea, stations along the continental slopes of the Balearic Sea, west Ionian and east Ionian Seas were sampled during the DESEAS Trans-Mediterranean Cruise in June-July 2001. Standing stock of total meiobenthos differed considerably among the sampling stations, with marked differences occurring between sampling depths and sites. At 600 m depth, meiobenthic abundances were slightly higher over the Balearic continental slope, whereas at the deeper stations (800 m and 1500-1700 m), abundances were significantly higher in the west Ionian Sea. Significant relationships were found between the abundances of major groups and the chloroplastic pigments, indicating that food availability is a major factor controlling the distribution of meiobenthos. Apart from the overall differences in productivity between the western and eastern Mediterranean Sea, local hydrographic features and topographic differences greatly influence the spatial variability of the environmental parameters within each sub-basin and thus the distribution of meiobenthos in the bathyal zone.
TESTING THE WEAK-FORM EFFICIENCY HYPOTHESIS IN THE UKRAINIAN STOCK MARKET VERSUS THOSE OF THE USA, RUSSIA, AND POLAND

Abstract. Objective. This empirical research was made to test a weak-form market efficiency of the stock market index in Ukraine as compared with other countries’ stock indexes. Data. Daily data were investigated for the period from August 2008 to October 2011. Methods. We applied different statistical tests to verify the hypothesis that the Ukrainian stock market follows a random walk. Main results. The main research findings are: the daily returns are not normally distributed; I.I. D. tests and the Kendall test support the random walk hypothesis. Test results on autocorrelation and variance stability were ambiguous. The reported results may be considered as the first approach to the further research on the efficiency of the Ukrainian securities markets. Key words: Ukraine, stock market, efficiency, test