Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cultural Differences in Risk Tolerance

Risk aversion is of great importance on a microeconomic and a macroeconomic level. First of all, risk aversion is an important factor in explaining many everyday decisions. Among these are decisions to invest money in different types of assets, the decision to enter the labour market and others like the decision to move (Guiso and Paiella, 2004). As risk tolerance is so important in life, one asks which determinants can explain different attitudes towards risk. The question is then how risk averse people or special groups are. Several studies show different risk attitudes with respect to gender, age, income, and wealth (see e.g. Dohmen et al., 2011). While these findings are hardly controversial, there is still some uncertainty about the effect of culture on risk tolerance. Thus, the main issue of this survey is to elaborate possible differences in risk preferences that are caused by cultural background. The main question in this context is whether religion or nationality are of importance for explaining risk attitudes. For this purpose, this study employs the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) to figure out differences in risk attitudes with respect to certain characteristics. The estimations show that the cultural background does indeed have some impact on risk taking behaviour. Thus, both Protestants and atheists tend to be less risk averse than people with other religions or denominations. Furthermore, foreigners are less likely to be risk prone. This applies also for specific nationalities like Turks, Italians, Greeks, and Ex-Yugoslavs.
Monitoring as a Motivation for IPO Underpricing

Brennan and Franks (1997) and Stoughton and Zechner (1998) provide contrasting arguments for why monitoring considerations create incentives for managers to underprice their firms' IPOs (initial public offerings). Like Smart and Zutter (2003) , we examine these arguments using a sample of U.S. IPOs. However, we find evidence that the determinants of initial returns, institutional shareholdings, and post-IPO likelihood of acquisition are not consistent with these arguments. Thus, we conclude that monitoring considerations are not important determinants of IPO underpricing. Copyright 2004 by The American Finance Association.
Involvement of macrophages in the eradication of established metastases following intravenous injection of liposomes containing macrophage activators.

Liposomes containing encapsulated lymphokines or muramyl dipeptide (MDP), when injected i.v. into C57BL/6 mice, produced significant destruction of established lung and lymph node metastases from a s.c. highly metastatic B16-BL6 melanoma. We present evidence that eradication of the metastases is mediated by the activation of host macrophages to the tumoricidal state. Results from three separate types of experiments support this conclusion. (a) When macrophage-activating agents such as lymphokines of MDP were delivered in liposomes that were not efficiently retained in the lung, little or no activation of lung macrophages was observed, and growth of metastases was unaltered. (b) Eradication of metastases was not observed when tumor-bearing animals were treated with agents that impaired macrophage function (e.g., silica, carrageenan, hyperchlorinated drinking water) prior to systemic therapy with liposome-encapsulated lymphokines or liposome-encapsulated MDP. (c) Macrophages activated in vitro by liposome-encapsulated MDP and then injected i.v. into mice bearing experimental lung metastases also significantly inhibited lung metastases. These results suggest that the augmented host response against pulmonary and lymph node metastases generated by the systemic administration of liposome-encapsulated lymphokines or MDP is mediated via activated cytotoxic macrophages.
Higher education privatisation, internationalisation and marketisation: Singaporean versus Malaysian models of Asian education hub policy

Abstract The metaphor of an ‘education hub’ was initially promoted as also a policy concept for reversing cross-border student flows to the West in both Malaysia and Singapore. The Singapore version of ‘Asian education hub policy’ represents a distinct economic policy model of higher education which has since also influenced the very Western contexts it was derived from. However, it appears the Singaporeans might have actually borrowed the policy concept from the Malaysians whose aspirations to reverse international student flows to the West was rather aligned to related national capacity development plans as still something of a public good. This paper will use a Malaysia-Singapore contrast to compare distinct developing country (national/regional) vs. developed country (globalised) conceptions of the Asian education hub model. On this exemplary basis, it will also outline an integrated framework to better make sense of the related yet also often conflicting imperatives of privatization, internationalization and marketization.
An Adaptive Approach of Clustering Application in the Intrusion Detection Systems

The present paper introduces an innovative approach for anomaly-based IDS. The main idea is to construct model that characterizes the expected/acceptable behavior of the system using a clustering algorithm based on a 2-means clustering anomaly detection technique and a classification tree. Methods for clustering, training and detection are provided. The applied parameter, considered for performance measurement, is the Rand index. Index Dunn and C-index are used in order to determine whether the clusters are compact and well separated.
The Employment E ects of Credit Market Disruptions: Firm-level Evidence from the 2008-09 Financial Crisis

This paper investigates the e ect of bank lending frictions on employment outcomes. I construct a new dataset that combines information on banking relationships and employment at two thousand non nancial rms during the 2008-09 crisis. The paper rst veri es empirically the importance of banking relationships, which imply a cost to borrowers that switch lenders. I then use the dispersion in lender health following the Lehman crisis as a source of exogenous variation in the availability of credit to borrowers. Comparing rms that had pre-crisis relationships with lenders at the 10th and 90th percentile of the distribution of lender health, the client of the more constrained lender had a one-third lower likelihood of receiving a loan in the aftermath of the Lehman bankruptcy, and reduced employment by an additional four percentage points. Consistent with frictions deriving from asymmetric information, the e ects appear concentrated at small and medium-sized rms and at rms without a credit rating. For these rms, the withdrawal of credit explains roughly one-third of the sample employment decline in the year following Lehman. In contrast, the data cannot reject the hypothesis that bank credit supply had no e ect on employment outcomes at the largest or most transparent rms. ∗UC Berkeley Department of Economics, 530 Evans Hall #3880, Berkeley, California 94720-3880 (gabecr@econ.berkeley.edu). I thank Christina Romer and David Romer for extensive advice and support. I also thank Peter Ganong, Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Joshua Hausman, Ulrike Malmendier, Atif Mian, Michael Reich, Ricardo Reis and Jesse Rothstein for insightful conversations, and seminar participants at the UC Berkeley GEMS and Columbia Summer Workshop for their suggestions. The National Science Foundation and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship provided nancial support. This research was conducted with restricted access to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. The views expressed here do not necessarily re ect the views of the BLS or the U.S. government. I am particularly grateful to Jessica Helfand and Michael LoBue of the BLS for their help with the Longitudinal Database. Any remaining errors are of course my own.
Understanding spot and forward exchange rate regressions

Using the Kalman filter, we obtain maximum likelihood estimates of a permanent-transitory components model for log spot and forward dollar prices of the pound, the franc, and the yen. This simple parametric model is useful in understanding why the forward rate may be an unbiased predictor of the future spot rate even though an increase in the forward premium predicts a dollar appreciation. Our estimates of the expected excess return on short-term dollar-denominated assets are persistent and reasonable in magnitude. They also exhibit sign fluctuations and negative covariance with the estimated expected depreciation.
Person-Environment Fit: A Critical Review of the Previous Studies and a Proposal for Future Research

This article proposes that in the future, P-E fit studies should use objective (as opposed to subjective) measures of the environment, such as the group size, in order to avoid numerous methodological problems. Several hypotheses were formulated in this article. Group size was hypothesised to moderate the following relationships: apprehension, sensitivity, social boldness and extroversion with co-worker satisfaction, sensitivity with pay satisfaction, liveliness with performance, intelligence (g) with pay satisfaction, and, intelligence (g), with overall job satisfaction. This article also proposes that the current supplementary fit model can be extended in the future, to measure superior-subordinate fit also. It was hypothesised that higher superior-subordinate congruence would lead to higher satisfaction and performance of the subordinate.
Gratitude and Life Satisfaction: Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

The relationships between gratitude, satisfaction with life, and stress have been widely examined in different cultures. However, empirical research on these variables is scant in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediation effect of stress in the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction in an understudied population of Arabic student sample. Participants were 141 Arabic-speaking undergraduate students (18 males and 123 females; mean age = 23.8 years, SD = 4.23) and completed self-report measures of gratitude, satisfaction with life, and stress. As expected, regression analysis showed that gratitude positively predicted satisfaction with life, while stress negatively predicted satisfaction with life. Mediation analysis showed that stress fully mediate the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction. Higher levels of gratitude positively predicted higher levels of satisfaction with life though the decreased stress. The emerging results have important implications to research and practice regarding understanding the mechanism underlying gratitude, satisfaction with life, and stress in the context of a non-western country.
Synapse-specific and neuregulin-induced transcription require an Ets site that binds GABPa/GABPb

Localization of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) to neuromuscular synapses is mediated by multiple pathways. Agrin, which is the signal for one pathway, stimulates a redistribution of previously unlocalized AChRs to synaptic sites. The signal for a second pathway is not known, but this signal stimulates selective transcription of AChR genes in myofiber nuclei located near the synaptic site. Neuregulin (NRG) is a good candidate for the extracellular signal that induces synapse-specific gene expression, since NRG is concentrated at synaptic sites and activates AChR gene expression in cultured muscle cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that 181 bp of 5* flanking DNA from the AChR d-subunit gene are sufficient to confer synapse-specific transcription in transgenic mice and NRG responsiveness in cultured muscle cells, but the critical sequences within this cis-acting regulatory region have not been identified. We transfected AChR d-subunit–hGH gene fusions into a muscle cell line, and we show that a potential binding site for Ets proteins is required for NRG-induced gene expression. Furthermore, we produced transgenic mice carrying AChR d-subunit–hGH gene fusions with a mutation in this NRG-response element (NRE), and we show that this NRE is necessary for synapse-specific transcription in mice. The NRE binds proteins in myotube nuclear extracts, and nucleotides that are important for NRG responsiveness are likewise critical for formation of the protein–DNA complex. This complex contains GABPa, an Ets protein, and GABPb, a protein that lacks an Ets domain but dimerizes with GABPa, because formation of the protein–DNA complex is inhibited by antibodies to either GABPa or GABPb. These results demonstrate that synapse-specific and NRG-induced gene expression require an Ets-binding site and suggest that GABPa/GABPb mediates the transcriptional response of the AChR d-subunit gene to synaptic signals, including NRG.
Dimensions of distress tolerance and the moderating effects on mindfulness-based stress reduction

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: This study examined the relationship between distress tolerance and psychosocial changes among individuals participating in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). The objective of the analysis was to discern whether individuals with lower distress tolerance measured before MBSR showed larger reductions in perceived stress following MBSR. Design and Methods: Data were collected from a sample of convenience (n = 372) using a quasi-experimental design. Participants completed self-report measures immediately prior to course enrollment and following course completion. Results: Perceived stress, distress tolerance, and mood states showed favorable changes from pre- to post-MBSR in the current study. Baseline distress tolerance significantly moderated reductions on perceived stress, supporting the primary hypothesis that individuals with lower baseline distress tolerance evidenced a greater decline in perceived stress following MBSR. For a one-unit increase on the self-reported baseline Distress Tolerance Scale, reported perceived stress scores decreased by 2.5 units (p < .0001). Conclusions: The finding that individuals with lower baseline distress tolerance evidenced a greater decline in perceived stress may offer hints about who is most likely to benefit from MBSR and other mindfulness-based treatments. Identifying moderators of treatment outcomes may yield important benefits in matching individuals to treatments that are most likely to work for them.
A prospective study of the relationship between feared consequences of falling and avoidance of activity in community-living older people.

PURPOSE To identify the most common beliefs concerning the negative consequences of falling and determine whether these motivate avoidance of activity. DESIGN AND METHODS A questionnaire assessing feared consequences of falling was completed by 224 community-living people aged older than 75. Beliefs about the consequences of falling were related to demographic characteristics, falling history, and avoidance of activity. The questionnaires were completed again by 166 participants 6 months later. RESULTS Commonly feared consequences of falling were loss of functional independence and damage to identity. These fears were correlated with avoidance of activity (after adjusting for age, sex, and recent falling history) and predicted avoidance in activity 6 months later (after adjusting for baseline levels of avoidance). IMPLICATIONS Concerns about damage to social identity, as well as functional incapacity, are common and may motivate avoidance of activity.
Working Paper Alfred P. Sloan School of Management -a Theory of Conslfmer Promotions: the Model -a Theory of Conswer Promotions: the Model a Theory of Consul'ler Prof<0tions : the Model

Consumers who react to a promotional offer might switch from their preferred brand to the promoted brand, they might stockpile the promoted brand, or they might switch and stockpile. We model the implications of such consumer responses for a manufacturer's profit. Conditions under which a profit maximizing manufacturer should promote its product are then inferred from the aggregated response function. It is never profitable to promote to consumers who only stockpile in response to a promotion. A sufficient number of consumers must switch to the promoted brand to make promoting profitable. Stockpiling behavior on the part of those consumers v;ho switch to the promoted brand will, however, enhance profitability. The paradigm provides further insights which run counter to prevailing theory. Promotion is shown to be more likely to benefit small, rather than large, share brands. And v^e conjecture that there should not be a pronounced trough in market level sales following a promotional sales peak.
Isolation of Antiosteoporotic Compounds from Seeds of Sophora japonica

Chemical investigation of Sophora japonica seeds resulted in the isolation of seven metabolites identified as: genistin (1), sophoricoside (2), sophorabioside (3), sophoraflavonoloside (4), genistein 7,4’-di-O-β-D-glucopyransoide (5), kaempferol 3-O-α–L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)β-D-glucopyranoside (6) and rutin (7). Compounds 1, 2 and 5 showed significant estrogenic proliferative effect in MCF-7 cell in sub-cytotoxic concentration range. Compounds 1 and 2 showed minimal cell membrane damaging effect using LDH leakage assay. Accordingly, compound 2 (sophoricoside, (SPH)) was selected for further in-vivo studies as a potential anti-osteoporosis agent. The anti-osteoporotic effect of SPH was assessed in ovarectomized (OVX) rats after oral administration (15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) for 45 days compared to estradiol (10 µg/kg) as a positive control. Only in a dose of 30 mg/kg, SPH regained the original mechanical bone hardness compared to normal non-osteoporotic group. However, SPH (15 mg/kg) significantly increased the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to normal level. Treatment with SPH (30 mg/kg) increased the level of ALP to be higher than normal group. SPH (15 mg/kg) did not significantly increase the serum level of osteocalcin (OC) compared to OVX group. On the other hand, treatment with SPH (30 mg/kg) significantly increased the level of OC to 78% higher than normal non-ovarectomized animals group. In addition, SPH (15 mg/kg) decreased the bone resorption marker, acid phosphatase (ACP) to normal level and SPH (30 mg/kg) further diminished the level of serum ACP. Histopathologically, sophoricoside ameliorated the ovarectomy induced osteoporosis in a dose dependent manner. The drug showed thicker bony trabeculae, more osteoid, and more osteoblastic rimming compared to OVX group.
Explaining Public Opinion toward Transgender People, Rights, and Candidates

What explains public opinion toward transgender people, rights, and candidates? Drawing on original data from a national telephone survey of US adults, this study explains attitudes regarding (1) the personal characteristics of transgender people; (2) a variety of transgender rights; and (3) transgender candidates for public office, measured through a randomized experiment included in the survey. Results indicate majority support on most policy questions, but more tepid views of transgender people, and solid opposition to supporting a transgender candidate for office. Our analyses reflect and extend previous research on American public opinion. Respondents’ fundamental values (egalitarianism, moral traditionalism, party identity, ideology, and religiosity) and personality characteristics (need for cognitive closure) predict views of transgender people and support for their rights. A significant relationship also emerged between television use and views of transgender people, suggesting that media portrayals may play the the
WHAT ARE THE MOTIVATION OF TAXPAYERS IN USING E-FILLING INFORMATION SYSTEMS?

Abstrak: Apa Motivasi Wajib Pajak dalam Menggunakan Sistem Informasi E-Filing? Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi persepsi wajib pajak menggunakan e-filing dalam melaporkan Surat Pemberitahuan Tahunan (SPT) mereka. Metode yang digunakan adalah analisis Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) terhadap 100 orang wajib pajak pribadi yang terdaftar pada periode 2017 di Kantor Pelayanan Pajak Pekanbaru. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa para pembayar pajak berniat menggunakan e-filing jika sistem yang dirancang memberikan sejumlah kenyamanan bagi mereka. Oleh karena itu, Direktorat Jenderal Pajak harus gencar mempromosikan e-filing kepada wajib pajak. Abstract: What are the Motivation of Taxpayers in Using E-Filing Information System? This study aims to identify the perceptions of taxpayers using e-filing in reporting their annual tax returns. The method used is the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis on 100 personal taxpayers registered in the 2017 period at the Pekanbaru Tax Office. The results of this study indicate that taxpayers intend to use e-filing if the system designed provides them with a number of comforts. Therefore, the Directorate General of Taxes must aggressively promote e-filing to taxpayers.
Inhibition of microglial inflammation by the MLK inhibitor CEP‐1347

CEP‐1347 is a potent inhibitor of the mixed lineage kinases (MLKs), a distinct family of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKK). It blocks the activation of the c‐Jun/JNK apoptotic pathway in neurons exposed to various stressors and attenuates neurodegeneration in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Microglial activation may involve kinase pathways controlled by MLKs and might contribute to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the possibility that CEP‐1347 modulates the microglial inflammatory response [tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1)] was explored. Indeed, the MLK inhibitor CEP‐1347 reduced cytokine production in primary cultures of human and murine microglia, and in monocyte/macrophage‐derived cell lines, stimulated with various endotoxins or the plaque forming peptide Aβ1–40. Moreover, CEP‐1347 inhibited brain TNF production induced by intracerebroventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide in mice. As expected from a MLK inhibitor, CEP‐1347 acted upstream of p38 and c‐Jun activation in microglia by dampening the activity of both pathways. These data imply MLKs as important, yet unrecognized, modulators of microglial inflammation, and demonstrate a novel anti‐inflammatory potential of CEP‐1347.
Factors Influencing Internet Gamblers’ Use of Offshore Online Gambling Sites: Policy Implications

Gambling is a heavily regulated activity, but policies are difficult to enforce in the online context. While governments may attempt to restrict access to licensed providers only, consumers can access offshore sites, creating a potential risk of harm and reducing taxation. This article examines how consumers select Internet gambling sites, and the characteristics of those who use offshore as opposed to domestic sites. Past-month Australian Internet-gamblers (N = 1001, 57.2 percent male) completed an online survey. Participants responded to questions about their online gambling, including use of offshore sites, reasons for site selection, awareness of regulations, preferences for regulated sites, and gambling-related problems. Offshore gamblers (52.7 percent) were a distinct demographic cohort, and were more highly involved in online gambling. Lack of awareness of gambling regulation did not sufficiently explain use of offshore gambling sites; rather, both groups had a relatively low concern for where a site was regulated, choosing sites instead based on ease of use, and cues that they were designed for gamblers in the advertised jurisdiction. Use of offshore gambling sites may be discouraged by focusing on the benefits of domestic sites and ensuring that these can provide a good consumer experience.