Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trade Agreements with Heterogeneous Firms

Since Melitz (2003), how trade restrictions affect firms within an industry differently has become an important consideration. This paper takes the prediction that a subset of firms actually gain from bilateral trade liberalization and apply it to a lobbying framework. Where conventional wisdom states that the entire import competing industry would lobby against trade agreements, we show that this is no longer the case when firms are heterogeneous. In this instance, because large productive firms gain enough profits in the foreign market to more than offset losses in the domestic market from increased competition, they would support bilateral trade liberalization while small firms that are not productive enough to export prefer autarky. This logic is in line with Henry Ford coming out against the Fordney-McCumber tariff of 1922. We allow for two possible trade barriers (ad valorem tariff and iceberg transport cost) and determine the set of circumstances under which a trade agreement will be reached when firms can lobby the government for the policy that they would prefer.
A METHOD MODEL FOR DISTINGUISHING AND SELECTING OPEN INNOVATION METHODS

In this paper, we present a method model specifically for Open Innovation (OI) methods. In an iterative process, we took three steps to define suitable and usable method attributes: we started with a literature review in OI, refined the resulting attributes by applying them in an academic case study and finally ran two workshops with OI experts. The resulting method model is embedded in an industrial project with the aim to enable inexperienced designers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to apply OI. Based on their OI-situation (represented by OI-situation attributes) the user selects suitable OI-actors (or stakeholders, represented by OI-actor attributes) and finally gets suggestions for OI-methods. These suggestions get automatically calculated from the dependencies between the OI-situation, OI-actors and the OI-methods. For this purpose, we developed the OI-method model with attributes fulfilling requirements regarding a clear distinction of methods in an understandable and usable way. As a further result, we illustrated a set of 11 OI-methods as OnePagers (all metainformation of the method on one sheet) based on the method model.
Effect of Microwave Heating on Potato and Tapioca Starches in Water Suspension

Abstract— The effects of microwave heating on properties of starch were studied on potato and tapioca starches in water suspension at different temperature (50°C and 60°C). Potato and tapioca starches were adjusted to 30% (w/v) and heat-moisture treated in a microwave oven and conventional heating.Conventional heating was carried out by direct heating the moisture heated sample at 50oC and 60oC while the microwave heating was carried out by microwave oven and the temperature was controlled approximately to 50oC and 60oC. The heated starch samples were analyzed for amylose content, pasting properties, swelling and solubility, thermal properties, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. There were present several changes on physicochemical and functional properties of heated starch for both heating methods. However, microwave method gave higher affect on heating treatment rather than conventional heating. Microwave heating was evidenced in affecting pasting properties of potato and tapioca starches by increase the pasting temperature and the paste stability. Microwave heating also significantly increased the amylose content and swelling power but reduced the solubility and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH) of those starches. There were changes in granule structure of starch observed by loss of birefringence and ruptures granule in SEM micrographs in both heating treatment. A change in the X-ray diffraction pattern from B-type to A-type was occurred in potato starch but tapioca starch shows no changes in X-ray pattern.
National Centre of Competence in Research Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 399 Foreign Direct Investment and Exchange Rate Volatility : a Non-Linear Story

This paper sheds light on the inuence of exchange rate volatility on foreign direct investment (FDI), both at the theoretical and the empirical level. The novelty of the empirical analysis, which is based on a panel of 27 OECD countries over the period 1982-2002, is to provide evidence of a U-shaped relation between observed FDI ows and exchange rate volatility: the e¤ect is negative for low levels of uncertainty and positive for higher levels. I also construct a real-options theory of a multinational, which contemplates FDI to relocate production abroad under a stochastic exchange rate. The model provides a theoretical rationale for this nding and o¤ers new insights in the investment-uncertainty relation. Both the predictions and the theoretical approach stand in stark contrast to the real-options literature, which implies a negative relation. Previous studies analyze the option value of investing in a single project and limit their predictions to the current investment level. In contrast, I derive the expected foreign direct investment of an economy over a given time period. To estimate this value, I assume that all exporting rms are proposed a di¤erent o¤shoring project, ranging from loss-making to very pro table. For each rm, I compute the probability of investing abroad over the desired time period. Eventually, I investigate the inuence of exchange rate volatility on the expected investment level. The paper therefore extends the real-options literature and proposes a new framework to analyze the dynamics of aggregate investment. JEL Keywords & Codes: International Investment (F21), Multinational Firms (F23), Foreign Exchange (F31), Uncertainty (D81), Real Option (G13) Acknowledgements: The author is grateful to Bernard Dumas and Jean Imbs for their guidance. This paper bene ted from suggestions provided by Erwan Morellec, René Stulz, and participants of the Economic Society of Australia 2005 Annual Conference of Economists in Melbourne, the 2005 International Conference for Economic Research in London, the 2006 Paris Finance International Meeting, the 2007 In niti Conference on International Finance in Dublin, and the 2007 Swiss Doctoral Workshop in Finance at Gerzensee. Financial support by the National Centre of Competence in Research "Financial Valuation and Risk Management" (NCCR FINRISK) is gratefully acknowledged. The NCCR FINRISK is a research instrument of the Swiss National Science Foundation. I also owe thanks to Julie Lochard and Jose de Sousa (University of Paris 1) for their collaboration on part of the database. All errors, conclusions and opinions contained herein are solely those of the author. ySwiss Finance Institute, University of Lausanne Ecole des HEC, Extranef, Dorigny Lausanne, Switzerland. E-mail: alexandre.jeanneret@unil.ch, Phone: +41(0)787302954
BOARD COMPOSITION IN FAMILY-INFLUENCED FIRMS: A DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE

This paper uses a sample of 76 family businesses in Tunisia to investigate the impact of the family firm dynamic on the composition of their boards of directors. We argue that whether or not a transition in ownership is planned, firms have different governance needs and characteristics depending on the generational phase. The empirical results show that board composition is positively influenced by both generational evolution and succession planning. This study provides evidence of an increase in the appointment of outside directors to boards of family firms from the third generation of ownership. This result implies that it is important to consider the generational phase and succession process of the family firm in order to better understand its governance system.
Vertical Disintegration and the Disorganization of German Industrial Relations

Drawing on case studies from the telecommunications and auto industries, we argue that the vertical disintegration of major German employers is contributing to the disorganisation of Germany’s dual system of in-plant and sectoral negotiations. Subcontractors, subsidiaries, and temporary agencies often have no collective bargaining institutions, weaker firm-level agreements, or are covered by different sectoral agreements. As core employers move jobs to these firms, they introduce new organisational boundaries across the production chain and disrupt traditional bargaining structures. Worker representatives are developing new campaign approaches and using residual power at large firms to establish representation in new firms and sectors, but these have not been successful at re-building coordinated bargaining.
A note on CES Preferences in Age-Structured Models

In a biomass model a CES function generates an exploitation rate that is directly proportional to the scarcity of the resource: resources with less biomass are subjected to lower exploitation rates. In this paper we investigate the implications of introducing invariant intertemporal preferences as to yield stability in age-structured fishery problem. Our results show that a CES function in an age-structured bioeconomic model produces links between the scarcity of the resource (measured as the weighted sum of the size of the cohorts, which is similar to the Shannon index) and the exploitation of the resource over a complete cycle, the duration of which is equivalent to the number of age groups of the resource. Given that multiple paths can be constructed that regenerate the population of the resources (the age pyramid) over the course of the cycle, optimum harvest allocation means selecting the one that permits the biggest catch at the beginning of the cycle. Smoother exploitation path towards the stationary values are achieved by catching more in periods when there is less biomass in exchange for catching less when the biomass recovers, which results in exploitation rates that are not directly proportional to the scarcity of the resource. Moreover, we show that introducing non-constant discount rates into age-structured models enables exploitation rates proportional to the scarcity of the resource to be recouped
Hemangiossarcoma primário intrauterino em um macaco aranha de cara vermelha (Ateles paniscus)

Hemangiosarcoma is a common neoplasm in dogs and less frequently seen in cats. In nonhuman primates, this tumor is rarely reported. A 17 year-old female spider monkey ( Ateles paniscus) was submitted an ultrasound exam due to gestation suspicion, which was seen a circular mass intra-uterine measuring 1.3 cm. New exams shown increase of the mass to 4.4 x 3.0 cm associated with a viable fetus. Was realized cesarean with ovariohysterectomy and excision of the mass; however the animal died in less than 24 hours after the surgery. In the necropsy, severe hemoabdomen was evidenced, although the surgical stumps were properly ligated and the complete sutures. Macroscopically, the uterine mass was soft, dark heterogeneous and measuring 5.0 cm in diameter. Histologically was visualized proliferation of spindle cells that form vascular channels replete of erythrocytes a nd some with thrombus, marked pleomorphism, nucleolus evident, binucleated cells and mitotic figures were rare. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed, using streptavidin-biotin peroxidase technique (Dako Cytomation, USA) with the use of antibodies CD31 (clone JC/70A), CD34 (clone QB-END/10). The IHC showed a specific antigen-antibody reaction for CD31. According to localization, morphology and IHC, the present study reports a primary uterine hemangiosarcoma in a spider monkey that caused hemostatic abnormalities and consequent death of the animal.
Assessment of genetic diversity among some Indian wheat cultivars using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Genetic relationship study was performed with RAPD primers among 20 Indian wheat accessions (17 hexaploids, 2 tetraploids and 1 diploid). A total of 372 bands were observed using 25 RAPD primers, of which 323 (86.8%) were polymorphic. The total number of amplification products per primer ranged from 5 (OPO-02) to 30 (OPH-01) with an average of 14.8±1.15 bands per primer. The size of PCR products ranged from 162 bp to 2529 bp. A significant corelation (0.933, p<0.01) was observed between the total number of bands and the number of polymorphic bands. Sixteen primers amplified 30 unique bands for specific genotypes that would prove to be highly useful in identification of genotype and designing future breeding strategy. The similarity coefficient values ranged from 0.52 to 0.82, indicating high genetic variability among the wheat genotypes. The 20 wheat genotypes were grouped into two major clusters. Cluster I had the diploid genotype T. urartu, tetraploid variety WH 896 and hexaploid variety PBW 175. Rest of the 16 hexaploid varieties and a tetraploid variety (Khapli) were placed in the other major cluster.
Living-arrangement and university decisions of Dutch young adults

This paper analyses the nature of university and living-arrangement decisions at the example of Dutch students with a secondary education academic diploma. A random utility maximization nested logit model of living-arrangement and university decisions is estimated, allowing for distance and rent e¤ects to vary according to the decision on whether to stay at parental home. Estimation results show that distance deters both at-homers and out-homers. Dutch youngsters are guided by consumption motives, rather than investment motives. They appear to attend university where their high school mates do. Tight housing markets lower the probability of choosing a given university. Male and low income students stay longer with parents, as do those with non-Dutch parents.
COLORECTAL CANCER IN MARRAKECH TENSIFT ELHAOUZ, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS, ABOUT 2584 CASES IN 19 YEARS.

Khalid Rabbani, Jihane Hakam, Youssef Narjis, Redouane Benelkhaiat, Abdelouahed Louzi, Hamid El Idrissi Dafali and Abdenasser Finech. Surgical department of Mohamed VI University hospital, Marrakech, Morocco. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History
Downstream baroclinic development among forty‐one cold‐season Eastern North Pacific cyclones

Abstract A quantification of local energy propagation is employed to distinguish cases of downstream baroclinic development, as described by Orlanski and Sheldon (1995), from among 41 cold‐season cyclones that intensified strongly over the eastern North Pacific Ocean. A group of western North Pacific cyclones is employed to confirm that, in a composite sense, the eastern group is relatively less dependent on baroclinic conversion and more dependent on eddy energy that originates upstream. Based on a proposed set of criteria, about half of the individual eastern cyclones are found to be good examples of downstream baroclinic development. Almost all of this subset appears to have been influenced by a propagation of eddy energy from separate cyclones developing over the western North Pacific a day or two earlier. A primary source of energy feeding this propagation appears to be ascent in the warm sector of the upstream cyclones.
Copper Indium Selenides and Related Materials for Photovoltaic Devices

Solar cells based on copper ternary chalcogenide compounds and alloys have emerged over the last 20 years as a promising solution to the problem of high-cost solar cells. Solar power conversion efficiencies exceed 21% in laboratory devices using thin films of these materials, and their characteristic thinness results in negligible direct materials costs per unit area compared with wafers. Photovoltaic devices made from these materials have also been shown to be intrinsically stable, circumventing the historical disadvantage of degradation typical of earlier thin film solar cell technologies. However, these copper chalcogenide devices and materials are relatively complex. This article provides an overview of the current state of our scientific understanding and technological development of them.
Union Influence in Post-Socialist Europe

Examining enterprise-level union influence in post-socialist countries, the authors hypothesize that calculative human resource management (HRM) is more strongly associated with low levels of union influence than collaborative HRM. Using the United Kingdom as a benchmark, they find that in the countries under study, calculative HRM is indeed more damaging to union influence than collaborative, although to a much lesser extent than in the United Kingdom. They also find that union influence corresponds to enterprise union density and is most apparent when the business cycle is unfavorable; they explain their findings by reference to East European members' continued attachment to unionism for nonbargaining reasons.
CO2 Capture by Using Blended Hydraulic Slag Cement via a Slurry Reactor

Mitigation and adaptation are viable strategies for resolving climate change issues which may pose significant challenges to both ecosystems and human populations around the world. Aqueous carbonation is a promising process for mitigating CO2, due to the permanent storage of gaseous CO2 into carbonate precipitations (CaCO3 and/or MgCO3). In this study, aqueous carbonation of blended hydraulic slag cement (BHC) for CO2 sequestration was investigated and evaluated under various operating conditions, i.e., different reaction temperatures and CO2 concentrations, in a slurry reactor. The suspension BHC slurry was strongly alkaline (pH ~11.4) before carbonation, whereas the pH of the slurry dropped rapidly to nearly a weakly acidic solution (i.e., pH ~6.3) after introducing CO2 gas into the reactor. The results show that the maximum CO2 capture capacity was 181 g CO2 per kg BHC at a reaction time of 120 min, a CO2 concentration of 10%, and a gas flow rate of 2.5 L/min at 65°C. The reaction temperature slightly influenced the carbonation conversion of BHC, with an increasing temperature resulting in relatively higher conversion. In addition, the SEM and XRD results suggest that the BHC should be carbonated with CO2 to form CaCO3 in a slurry reactor. It was thus concluded that the CO2 could be successfully captured by the carbonation of BHC in this manner. Furthermore, the experimental data were utilized to determine the rate-limiting mechanism based on the shrinking-core model (SCM), which was validated by the observations of SEM images. The SCM results indicate that the overall carbonation reaction of BHC in a slurry reactor was controlled by the ash-layer diffusion mechanism.
TEXTURAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER(II)-EXCHANGED ROMANIAN CALCIUM BENTONITE

Romanian calcium bentonite was modified by copper(II) ion-exchange, by varying the copper precursors (chloride, sulphate) and synthesis parameters (pH, temperature, time). The quantification of the Cu(II) ions was carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The modified bentonites were characterized by textural analysis (specific surface area by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET) and by nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm), structural composition (X-ray diffraction (XRD)) and morphological analysis (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). Analysis of the nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm shows that ion exchanged bentonites, not only contain mesopores, but micropores in larger quantities too. The values of the specific surface area increased by about 20 m2/g compared with raw bentonite, but the interlamellar distance values do not vary substantially. Scanning electron micrographs were acquired to demonstrate changes in the texture of the clay before and after ion exchange.
Small-scale interactions between prions Pachyptila spp. and their zooplankton prey at an inshore site near Bird Island, South Georgia

We investigated the relationship between surface-foraging prions Pachyptila spp. and their zooplankton prey by comparing counts of foraglng birds with near-surface concentrations of zoo- plankton from net samples. Zooplankton abundance was assessed by employing a new design of sam- pler that combined a frame net with a pump at the cod-end and which was deployed at the sea surface. Six transects using the sampler with concurrent bird observations were made over a short stretch of Stewart Stra~t near Bird Island, South Georgia. Concentrations of a variety of zooplankton species occurred patchily along each transect. Peak numbers of prions were recorded consistently towards the southern end of each transect. These peaks coincided with peaks in zooplankton numbers, but with dif- ferent prey species predormnant on different occasions. Comparison of the distribuhon of foraging and sitting birds with the presence or absence of zooplankton peaks, after pooling zooplankton species into 2 broad classes, showed that birds were consistently observed over copepod maxima, but were not found to be associated with aggregations of larger zooplankton more often than expected by chance.
Role of Adiponectin in Atherosclerosis

Introduction Adipose tissue has traditionally been considered as an energy storage organ but recently, it is also considered as a hormonally active system in the control of metabolism.Adipose tissue secretes a large number of factors with diverse functions. These factors include free fatty acids (FFA) and protein, which act in autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine manners to control various metabolic functions.1,2 The terms ‘adipocytokines’ have been used to refer to a number of adipocyte-derived biologically active molecules which may influence the function as well as the structural integrity of other tissues. Some examples of these substances are leptin, TNF-, resistin and interleukin-6.1,2,3 Leptin is an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone with central and peripheral effects on energy balance.2 Another product of adipose tissue is Tumor Necrosis Factor(TNF-), which is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance through increasing release of FFA by adipocytes, reduction in adiponectin synthesis and impairment of insulin signaling. On the other hand, IL-6 is a pleiotropic circulating cytokine with effect from inflammation to host defense to tissue injury. IL-6 also has glucoregulatory effect and increases circulating FFA.1,3 Adiponectin is a recently discovered adipocytokine, and its plasma level is negatively-correlated with body mass index. Furthermore, the plasma level of adiponectin is also decreased in many obesityrelated diseases like diabetes, insulin resistance and coronary artery diseases. The physiological role for adiponectin and its role in many pathological conditions have not fully established. Adiponectin increases tissue oxidation which leads to decreasing FFA level and tissue trigliserides, and furthermore increases insulin sensitivity. Data from animal studies, adiponectin has anti-diabetic activity4 and anti-atherogenic property in certain species.4,5,6 In populational studies, plasma level of adiponectin can predict incidence of metabolic syndrome in youth,7 also, higher level of adiponectin were associated with lower risk for coronary heart disease.8This brief article will review the current understanding about the structure, function, and effects of adiponectin on atherosclerosis and provide insight into its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevances.
Effect of substrate temperature on structural, optical and thermal properties of chemically sprayed ZnS thin films

Zinc Sulfide thin films were successfully deposited on glass substrates by spray pyrolysis method. The films were grown at different substrate temperatures in the range, 300- 400˚C. The effects of substrate temperature on the structural and optical properties were studied. The XRD profiles showed that the films are polycrystalline with cubic structure grown preferentially along the (111) axis. The optical studies exhibit direct allowed transition. Energy band gap vary from 3.43 to 3.80 eV. The thermal behavior of the material has been investigated by TG/DTA and analyses.