Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Boundedly Rational Expectations in Insurance Decision Making: Experimental and Field Evidence

We examine a type of behavioral regularities in insurance decision making, namely instances when consumers do not fully take into account the informational value of the insurer’s offered premium. Specifically, we study scenarios when the consumer is less informed about the loss probability than the insurer. We examine basic violations of rational expectations, with which the consumer overestimates the loss probability beyond what could be inferred from the premise that the insurer must seek to break even or earn a profit over the risk to be covered. We report a field study and an experiment that reveal systematic occurrence of such violations. Violations were especially frequent at low premium levels, and the demand for insurance had an inverted-U dependence on the premium. Our findings suggest that, when consumers form beliefs over the loss probability, they take into account the offered premium to some extent, but often insufficiently so.
Relevance of sinonasal anatomical variations in the preoperative evaluation by computed tomography for endonasal surgery

Endonasal surgery is utilized in diagnosis, biopsy, management and follow-up of several sinonasal diseases. In order to perform this procedure with the appropriate safety, preventing iatrogenic lesions, it is essential that the surgeon can preoperatively rely on an appropriate mapping of bone structures involving the nasal fossae, paranasal cavities and their drainage pathways. The imaging method of choice for this evaluation is computed tomography (CT), considered as the golden-standard, based on the evaluation of axial, coronal and sagittal images. Coronal images can be directly acquired, preferentially with the patient in ventral decubitus, or otherwise being reconstructed from axial images. Spiral, and especially multislice CT equipment allow multiplanar image reconstruction with a quality similar to the images directly acquired in the coronal plane, with the advantage of eliminating artifacts originated by eventual dental restorations. Sagittal reconstructions supplement the anatomical detailing of paranasal cavities provided by coronal images, especially of frontal sinuses and frontal recess. Anatomical variations involving the ethmoid sinuses are very frequently found. Earwaker, evaluating 800 patients, has observed 52 types of variations involving the nasal fossae and paranasal cavities, with 93% of patients presenting one or more of these variations. Some of the variations have no clinical significance; however, other should be valorized and described, considering that they may be related to the genesis of sinusopathy or even may affect endonasal
Inventory Management and Small Firms Growth: An Analytical Study in Supply Chain

Inventory management augments business operations by effective flow of goods and services. It adds to profitability, competitive ability, service optimization, market diversification, etc. This article investigates the role of inventory management in fostering small firms’ growth. The research framework and hypotheses were examined by the empirical analysis of primary data collected from 44 functional manufacturing units sub-divided into ten lines of operation in district Udhampur, in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Validity and reliability of the scales in the construct were assessed through Bartlett’s Test of Sphercity (BTS) and Cronbach-alpha test. The results of regression model and analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that proper inventory management leads to economy and efficiency, nurtures competitive ability and paves way for cost reduction. Further results divulged that managers of different age group don’t significantly differ with regard to inventory control techniques. To promote inventory management, integrated strategic planning encompassing logistics, promotional-mix, technological capabilities and industrial promotion campaigns by government are needed.
Remuneration committee independence and CEO remuneration for firm financial performance

Purpose - – As a result of the Australian Government Productivity Commission's recommendation to mandate remuneration committee independence for ASX300 companies, this study aims to investigate whether voluntary remuneration committee independence aligns chief executive officer (CEO) total pay and bonuses with firm financial performance. Design/methodology/approach - – A series of hypotheses test the research question using multiple regressions for a sample of 143 ASX300 companies during 2001. This time was prior to strengthen corporate governance regulation, but after mandated executive remuneration disclosure, thus capturing varying levels of voluntary remuneration committee independence. Findings - – This study shows firm size is an influential factor in the relationship under investigation. ASX300 large firm remuneration committees link CEO total remuneration and bonuses to firm financial performance. Smaller ASX firm remuneration committees do not link either type of CEO remuneration to performance despite remuneration committee independence. Findings are mixed for medium-sized ASX300 firms. Research limitations/implications - – Limitations include the necessary time restriction to 2001 for sampling the ASX300 firms. The implication of this study's findings is that the proposed public policy for mandatory remuneration committee independence is not universally effective in linking CEO remuneration to firm financial performance for ASX300 firms. Originality/value - – This study contributes to the limited research on voluntary remuneration committee independence in relation to CEO remuneration and firm financial performance in the Australian context.
The Role of Press Freedom in Economic Development: A Global Perspective

In this study, the authors explore the role of press freedom in the development of an economy, both in terms of economic growth and foreign direct investment. The relationship between press freedom, foreign direct investment, and economic growth is analyzed using a balanced panel of 115 countries. The existence of a bidirectional relationship between press freedom and economic growth is established using the generalized method of moments technique. We also find a bidirectional relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth using the analysis. Our results are not contradicted by similar indices produced by Reporters Sans Frontières and Freedom House.
Effects of Opioid Peptides Containing the Sequence of Met5‐Enkephalin or Leu5‐Enkephalin on Nicotine‐Induced Secretion from Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Abstract: Eighteen endogenous opioid peptides, all containing the séquence of either Met5‐ or Leu5‐enkephalin, were tested for their ability to modify nicotine‐induced secretion from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. ATP released from suspensions of freshly isolated cells was measured with the luciferin‐luciferase bioluminescence method as an index of secretion. None of the peptides affected 5 μM nicotine‐induced ATP release at 10 nM. Three peptides inhibited secretion at 5 μM dynorphin,1‐13, dynorphin1‐9, and rimorphin inhibited by 65%, 37%, and 29% respectively. Use of peptidase inhibitors (bestatin, thiorphan, bacitracin, or 1,10‐phenanthroline) did not result in any of the other peptides showing potent actions on the nicotinic response, although bestatin and thiorphan did enhance the inhibitory actions of dynorphin1‐3 and dynorphin1‐9 by 20–30%. Nicotine‐induced secretion of endogenous catecholamincs from bovine chromaffin cells cultured for 3 days was also studied to assess any selective actions of the peptides on adrenaline or noradrenaline cell types. Dynorphin1‐13 was 1,000‐fold more potent than Leu5‐enkephalin at inhibiting endogenous catecholamine secretion. Dynorphin1‐13 was slightly more potent at inhibiting noradrenaline release than adrenaline release whereas Leu5‐enkephalin showed the opposite selectivity. The structure‐activity relationships of opioid peptide actions on the chromaffin cell nicotinic response are discussed in relation to the properties of the adrenal opioid binding sites.
SLO3 auxiliary subunit LRRC52 controls gating of sperm KSPER currents and is critical for normal fertility

Significance Mammalian sperm fertility depends on coordinated activation of two sperm-specific ion channels, the alkalization-activated Ca2+-permeable sperm channel and a sperm pH-regulated K+ current (KSPER) channel; both are required for fertility. In the mouse, the KSPER channel is thought to involve a complex of a pore-forming ion channel protein and subunit encoded by the slo3 gene subunit and the leucine-rich-repeat-containing protein 52 (LRRC52) auxiliary subunit. We now show that KO of LRRC52 results in severely compromised fertility and shifts KSPER current activation away from the physiological range. Furthermore, utilizing genotypes with differing average amounts of KSPER current, we show that sperm fertility exhibits a steep dependence on the amount of available KSPER current. The results establish that LRRC52 is a critical determinant of sperm KSPER function and essential to support normal fertility. Following entry into the female reproductive tract, mammalian sperm undergo a maturation process termed capacitation that results in competence to fertilize ova. Associated with capacitation is an increase in membrane conductance to both Ca2+ and K+, leading to an elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ critical for activation of hyperactivated swimming motility. In mice, the Ca2+ conductance (alkalization-activated Ca2+-permeable sperm channel, CATSPER) arises from an ensemble of CATSPER subunits, whereas the K+ conductance (sperm pH-regulated K+ current, KSPER) arises from a pore-forming ion channel subunit encoded by the slo3 gene (SLO3) subunit. In the mouse, both CATSPER and KSPER are activated by cytosolic alkalization and a concerted activation of CATSPER and KSPER is likely a common facet of capacitation-associated increases in Ca2+ and K+ conductance among various mammalian species. The properties of heterologously expressed mouse SLO3 channels differ from native mouse KSPER current. Recently, a potential KSPER auxiliary subunit, leucine-rich-repeat-containing protein 52 (LRRC52), was identified in mouse sperm and shown to shift gating of SLO3 to be more equivalent to native KSPER. Here, we show that genetic KO of LRRC52 results in mice with severely impaired fertility. Activation of KSPER current in sperm lacking LRRC52 requires more positive voltages and higher pH than for WT KSPER. These results establish a critical role of LRRC52 in KSPER channels and demonstrate that loss of a non-pore-forming auxiliary subunit results in severe fertility impairment. Furthermore, through analysis of several genotypes that influence KSPER current properties we show that in vitro fertilization competence correlates with the net KSPER conductance available for activation under physiological conditions.
The Sbi Protein Is a Multifunctional Immune Evasion Factor of Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The second immunoglobulin-binding protein (Sbi) of Staphylococcus aureus has two N-terminal domains that bind the Fc region of IgG in a fashion similar to that of protein A and two domains that can bind to the complement protein C3 and promote its futile consumption in the fluid phase. It has been proposed that Sbi helps bacteria to avoid innate immune defenses. By comparing a mutant defective in Sbi with mutants defective in protein A, clumping factor A, iron-regulated surface determinant H, and capsular polysaccharide, it was shown that Sbi is indeed an immune evasion factor that promotes bacterial survival in whole human blood and the avoidance of neutrophil-mediated opsonophagocytosis. Sbi is present in the culture supernatant and is also associated with the cell envelope. S. aureus strains that expressed truncates of Sbi lacking N-terminal domains D1 and D2 (D1D2) or D3 and D4 (D3D4) or a C-terminal truncate that was no longer retained in the cell envelope were analyzed. Both the secreted and envelope-associated forms of Sbi contributed to immune evasion. The IgG-binding domains contributed only when Sbi was attached to the cell, while only the secreted C3-binding domains were biologically active.
Democracy in Nigeria: Practice, Problems and Prospects

The purpose of this paper is to attempt a critical appraisal of the pace, practise, pattern, priorities, problems and prospects of Nigerian democracy. While it remains true that Nigeria is governed by democratically elected leaders at the federal and state levels, Nigeria is yet to institutionalise democracy after a century of existence as a political entity. The paper discusses some of the impediments to the institutionalisation of democracy in Nigeria after more than half a century of political independence. Some of these are the country’s colonial background interspersed by vagaries engendered by deep-rooted ethnicity; complacent and spendthrift leadership; incessant intervention of the military in the democratic process; electoral fraud; wide spread poverty and high illiteracy level. The paper argues that the pivot around which most of the factors listed above revolve is corruption which has virtually become a way of life in Nigeria. The paper however contends that the above notwithstanding, the prospect of a politically stable and democratically viable nation is marked by people’s eagerness to participate in the electoral process; the relative stability and sustenance of multi-party system and the general realisation in the country that the only acceptable and popular route to the acquisition of political power is the ballot box. The paper obtains its data from primary and secondary source materials and employs the historical method of data analysis - simple descriptive collation and analysis of historical data.
How do Additional Alternatives Affect Individual Choice under Uncertainty?

We show, in an artefactual field economics decision-making experiment, that the addition of an alternative to a choice set can affect the measurement of farmers' risk preferences in rural Peru. We found that an alternative that would normally be considered irrelevant was chosen in Peru, and that it affected choice between other alternatives. In Montreal, the irrelevant alternative was not chosen, but also affected choices between other alternatives. Comparing choices made in Peru with those made in Montreal, we identify beliefs and cultural characteristics that are likely to lead to these results.
Examination of Nocturnal Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Oviposition on Pig Carcasses in Mid-Michigan

ABSTRACT The most common application of forensic entomology involves estimating a portion of the postmortem interval (PMI), which usually assumes that blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) do not oviposit nocturnally. Research objectives were to (1) investigate blow fly nocturnal oviposition in relation to sunrise and sunset in Michigan; (2) evaluate abiotic variables postulated to affect blow fly oviposition; and (3) conduct laboratory experiments testing blow fly activity under complete darkness. In 2006, nocturnal oviposition was evaluated in relation to sunset by exposing pigs to fly colonization at 1-h intervals, beginning 2 h before and ending 2 h after sunset. This test was replicated in 2007; however, replicate pigs were placed in the field 2 h after sunset, and hourly observations were made into the following morning. Oviposition was never observed at night. In a laboratory experiment, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), never oviposited on liver hanging above or placed directly on the ground in a completely dark room, Another dark room laboratory study documented that adult flies launched into the air could not fly. This study documents that the probability of nocturnal oviposition on pig carcasses in Michigan was extremely low to nonexistent. These results should be considered when estimating a portion of the PMI in forensic entomological investigations.
School and County Characteristics as Predictors of School Rates of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Offenses∗

Despite evidence that school factors are associated with differences in various types of student behavior, little research has explored the predictive utility of school factors for school-level substance offense rates. Using data from the State of Florida Department of Education and the Census, we explore the associations between school climate and school substance offense rates, controlling for county level characteristics. Results from a multilevel analysis show that school culture, school organization, and social milieu predict variation in school substance incident rate. We interpret the findings as consistent with research utilizing the “school culture/school effectiveness” model.
Are Japanese Nominal Wages Downwardly Rigid? (Part II): Examinations Using a Friction Model

This paper confirms the existence of downward nominal wage rigidity in Japan as presented in Kuroda and Yamamoto (2003) and quantifies the extent of this downward nominal wage rigidity by applying econometric methods to Japanese longitudinal data. Using 1993-98 data, we find that downward nominal wage rigidity does exist in Japan even after controlling the individual characteristics and the measurement errors in reported nominal wages. In addition, we find that the extent of the downward nominal wage rigidity is sensitive to the choice of wage measures. While the hourly wages of part-time female employees exhibit almost complete downward rigidity, the extents of the downward rigidity are limited for the regular monthly salaries and annual earnings of full- time employees. For example, our estimates show that the regular monthly salaries of full-time male and female employees will not be cut as long as the notional wages do not decline by more than about 7.7 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively. However, when the notional wage change rates exceed these threshold values, nominal wage cuts do occur.
Development and in vitro evaluation of insulin-loaded buccal Pluronic F-127 gels

Insulin-loaded buccal Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) gel formulations were fabricated to study the effect of PF-127 concentration, insulin concentration, presence of salt, addition of polymer, and permeation enhancer on their gelation time, mucoadhesion force, release and permeation characteristics of insulin from the gels. Thereafter, the principle of statistical optimization to prepare a gel formulation having the potential for buccal delivery of basal insulin in diabetic patients was employed. The gelation time decreased as the concentration of PF-127 increased. Presence of salts as well as addition of polymer, such as methyl cellulose (MC) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) decreased the gelation time. An increase in PF-127 concentration and addition of MC and HPMC increased the mucoadhesion force of the gel formulations. Release and permeation of insulin from the gel formulations decreased with increased concentration of PF-127, presence of salts, and addition of MC and HPMC. Permeation of insulin from the optimized gel formulation was 93.17 (± 0.058, n = 3) μg/cm2 which was not only found in close agreement with predicted results from the model equations used for the formulation optimization but also considered comparable to clinical setting. Therefore, the development of optimized buccal insulin-loaded Pluronic F-127 gels using a statistical experimental design is feasible.
Exploring the Personal Histories of the Top Executives of US Firms Using a Quantitative Approach: Is There a Geographical Relationship with Corporate Headquarters, and Does It Influence Firm Performance?

This paper analyses where top executives were born and where they attended university to uncover regional groupings of the most influential executives that shape corporate culture and strategy in the United States. Within the context of this paper, it is argued that the personal histories of top executives influence their decision-making abilities, and thus corporate culture. It was found that intra-regional, intra-state, and intra-city links were noteworthy factors in executive selection. Distances were higher, and percentages of intra-regional links were lower for more profitable and higher growth firms. This indicates that more competitive firms acquire executives that have experienced different institutions during their lives and university educations. On the other hand, less profitable and lower growth firms are more likely to obtain executives embedded in similar institutions that already exist within the firm. The results suggest that key choices made by corporate America are influenced in part by geography far more complex than its own operations.
Experiences and lessons learned for delivery of micronutrient powders interventions

Abstract An effective delivery strategy coupled with relevant social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) have been identified as central to the implementation of micronutrient powders (MNP) interventions, but there has been limited documentation of what works. Under the auspices of “The Micronutrient Powders Consultation: Lessons Learned for Operational Guidance,” three working groups were formed to summarize experiences and lessons across countries regarding MNP interventions for young children. This paper focuses on programmatic experiences related to MNP delivery (models, platforms, and channels), SBCC, and training. Methods included a review of published and grey literature, interviews with key informants, and deliberations throughout the consultation process. We found that most countries distributed MNP free of charge via the health sector, although distribution through other platforms and using subsidized fee for product or mixed payment models have also been used. Community‐based distribution channels have generally shown higher coverage and when part of an infant and young child feeding approach, may provide additional benefit given their complementarity. SBCC for MNP has worked best when focused on meeting the MNP behavioural objectives (appropriate use, intake adherence, and related infant and young child feeding behaviours). Programmers have learned that reincorporating SBCC and training throughout the intervention life cycle has allowed for much needed adaptations. Diverse experiences delivering MNP exist, and although no one‐size‐fits‐all approach emerged, well‐established delivery platforms, community involvement, and SBCC‐centred designs tended to have more success. Much still needs to be learned on MNP delivery, and we propose a set of implementation research questions that require further investigation.
PENGARUH CELEBRITY ENDORSER DAN KUALITAS PRODUK TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN MELALUI CITRA MEREK PADA KOSMETIK WARDAH DI KOTA SEMARANG

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of direct and indirect celebrity endorser, product quality and brand image as an intervening variable on purchase decisions. The population of research are users Wardah cosmetics in the city of Semarang. Total sample of 116 respondents with asidental sampling. Data obtained by questionnaire. Celebrity endorser study variables (X1), product quality (X2), brand image (Z), and purchasing decisions. Data were analyzed by descriptive persentif percentage and path analysis. The results showed that the variables celebrity endorser (X1) and product quality (X2) directly influence the purchase decision. Variable celebrity endorser (X1) and product quality (X2) indirect effect on purchasing decisions. Test results from path analysis showed that the celebrity endorser (X1) influence on purchase decisions through brand image and product quality (X2) effect on purchase decisions through brand image, so that it can be said that the brand image mediates the influence of celebrity endorser and product quality on purchasing decisions.