Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Evaluation of the Factors Affects on the Brand Equity of Pars Khazar Household Appliances Based on the Vision of Female Consumers

2 Abstract: Nowadays, lots of organizations are convinced that one of their most valuable assets is their product brands and services. The Brand equity is one of those capitals which preserve company's value and also have the loyalty of customers in follow. The more the Brand equity in customers' mind the more the company can achieve revenues. In this research, David Aaker's customer-based brand equity has been used which has four dimensions of brand awareness, brand association, brand's perceived quality, consumed brand's loyalty, family variables, brand's name, firm's image and the price have been evaluated as the effective factors on brand equity's dimensions. This article aims to evaluate factors affects on the Brand Equity dimentions of Pars Khazar household appliances based on the vision of female consumers. The statistic population includes lady customers of Pars Khazar household appliances in Guilan province which are chosen based on simple random sampling. The results show that family and firm's image of the company have direct effects on brand awareness, brand association and brand's perceived quality. Brand's name has direct effect on brand awareness and the perceived quality of brand and also the price has direct effect on perceived quality of brand. Finally, the awareness, association and perceived quality of the brand have direct effects on brand's equity.
Effects of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance on Corporate Diversification

This study investigates how directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (hereafter D&O insurance) affects corporate diversification and post-diversification performance. Using a sample of 671 Taiwanese listed firms, we find that excessive D&O liability insurance is positively associated with corporate diversification, particularly unrelated diversification. In addition, we find that when diversification does occur, excessive D&O liability insurance worsens the shareholder value destroyed a firm’s diversification. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that excessive D&O liability insurance induces value-destroying empire building. Our results are robust to different model specifications and alternative measures of firm performance.
Travel Agencies' Marketing Orientation with Reference to a 50 Plus Consumer

Purpose – The aim of the article is to present the importance of travel agencies in stimulation of tourism demand of consumers who are over 50 years old. The additional purpose is the analysis of marketing activity of selected travel agencies, their products for seniors and good practices.Methodology – In the paper following methods have been used: critical analysis of literature, desk research, case study and observation.Findings – In the literature there is a paucity of knowledge about travel agency marketing orientation in the field of seniors' and pre-seniors'. The research report "Tourism activity in Poland in 2012" indicates that everybody in the age range 50-59 organized the short term trip by themselves, but only 3.3% used the travel agencies. As regards long-term trips nobody who is over 60 bought buy a trip in the travel agency. The number of the identified travel agencies specialising in servicing the segment of people 50 is not limited but does not also impress. The group of consumers 50 is very varied and it is still increasing. Travel agencies should create different marketing strategies for different age segments.Contribution – Among the main reasons of initiation research we can find the observation of existing trends in the contemporary market, which influence the changes of structure of the demand of touristic services, generated by the elderly, referred to as 'Seniors'. Thus becomes legitimate to say that the elderly and those who are close to this group are the important, promising segment of the tourism market.
Swapping the Lycra for the suit: determinants of cycling for transport among leisure cyclists in Ireland

The main purpose of this study was to investigate levels of cycling for transport among regular cyclists in Ireland and, second, to describe the factors that influence their decision to cycle or not cycle for transport. Ireland's National Cycle Policy Framework 2009–2020 aims to get 10% of all trips to work by bicycle by 2020. There has been very little research in Ireland into what encourages and discourages cycling for transport, particularly cycling for transport among those who already cycle for leisure and fitness and may have more positive attitudes to cycling in general and to cycling for transport. A web-based, self-report survey of participants in a non-competitive cycling event collected information on demographics, usual travel mode, stage of change for cycling for transport and determinants of cycling for transport. The majority cycled for transport either regularly or sometimes. The most popular factors that influenced the decision to cycle for transport were the incentives of cheaper cost (regarding fuel and parking charges), quicker, more reliable journey times and greater health, fitness and well-being. While the biggest disincentives to cycling for transport were the weather and practical concerns (such as dropping children to school and distance), key factors that also discouraged cycling for transport were poor road conditions (surface and width), poor driver behaviour and road safety and traffic concerns.
Service quality, relationship satisfaction, trust, commitment and business‐to‐business loyalty

– The purpose of this study is to establish a theoretical basis for evaluating a strategic increase in customers' perceptions of service/product quality – specifically in terms of an increase in relationship quality and customer loyalty in a B2B environment – and to test this theoretical basis empirically. , – Drawing on the relationship‐marketing literature, the authors empirically test a model of business loyalty in a sample of 234 advertising agencies' clients. , – Using the Gronroos conceptualisation, a clear pattern of service‐quality dimensions is established and several important findings are reported – including empirical verification of the mediating role of overall relationship satisfaction in the formation of loyalty attributes. The effects of trust and commitment are also verified. , – Studies that model attitudinal as well as behavioural relationship outcomes have strong precedence in the relationship marketing area. Although in this study the “intentions” approach is followed rather than a behavioural one, the measurement of the real behaviour of industrial clients proves to be very difficult from a practical point‐of‐view. , – In this service continuum, managers need to clearly define relationship development strategies, service provision policies and develop homogeneous service provision. Towards this direction, it is essential that firms communicate the service and product quality standards to partners so that differences in service provision can be avoided. , – The study integrates the concepts of service/product quality, relationship satisfaction, trust, and commitment in a business‐loyalty model, demonstrating the benefits of investing in relationships based on trust and commitment.
A formalised performance assessment process to improve audit committee performance in South Africa: A conceptual exploration

There is concern worldwide about corporate governance, director liability, litigations and business failures, the economic recession and the quality of fi nancial reporting. Owing to these factors, new regulations and legislation aff ecting organisations and the related responsibilities imposed on audit committees, it is imperative that the performance of audit committees and individual members be enhanced and sustained. The King III Report and other corporate governance principles specify that the board, its committees and individual members should be evaluated regularly, which was not a requirement for individual committee members in King II. This article examines formal guidelines and requirements to identify the factors aff ecting the audit committee and individual members’ performance, to determine whether their performance could be improved by formalising the assessment process and to develop a framework for measuring their performance. The balanced scorecard as a method of assessment or evaluation is examined and proposed to help audit committees to meet their requirements and improve the quality of their oversight responsibilities. This article should be of value to boards of directors, audit committees and regulators in that the contributions of a more formalised performance assessment process as an internal governance mechanism towards facilitating the professional development of audit committee members are demonstrated.
Associations between vitamin K status and haemostatic and inflammatory biomarkers in community-dwelling adults

Summary Vitamin K is integral to haemostatic function, and in vitro and animal experiments suggest that vitamin K can suppress production of inflammatory cytokines. To test the hypothesis that higher vitamin K status is associated with lower haemostatic activation and inflammation in community-dwelling adults, we analysed the cross-sectional association between serum phylloquinone (vitamin K1) with haemostatic and inflammatory biomarkers in 662 participants in the Multi- Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) [mean (SD) age=62 (10) years; 46% female; 37% Caucasian, 25% African-American, 25% Hispanic, 13% Chinese-American]. Following adjustment for demographic and lifestyle characteristics, medication use, triglycerides and body mass index, those in the highest quartile of serum phylloquinone had significantly lower circulating interleukin-6 [adjusted mean (SEM) pmol/l: quartile 4 (Q4)=1.22 (0.07), quartile 1 (Q1)=1.45 (0.07); p-trend<0.01], C-reactive protein [adjusted mean (SEM) mg/dl: Q4=1.57 (0.11), Q1=2.08 (0.18); p-trend=0.02], soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [adjusted mean (SEM) ng/ml: Q4=247 (11), Q1=288 (11); p-trend=0.02], and plasmin-antiplasmin complex [adjusted mean (SEM) nmol/l: Q4=4.02 (0.1), Q1=4.31 (0.1), p-trend=0.04]. We detected an interaction between age and serum phylloquinone with respect to factor VIII and D-dimer (interaction p-values=0.03 and 0.09, respectively). Among participants ≥70 years, serum phylloquinone was inversely associated with factor VIII activity (p-trend=0.06) and positively associated with D-dimer (p-trend=0.01), but was not associated with either marker among participants <70 years (both p≥0.38). In contrast, dietary phylloquinone intake was not associated with any inflammatory or haemostatic biomarker evaluated (all p-trend>0.11). These findings are consistent with laboratorybased studies that suggest a possible anti-inflammatory role for vitamin K. Whether or not these associations predict clinical outcomes linked to elevated inflammation or haemostatic activation remains to be determined.
New Evidence on the Effects of the Insider Trading Sanctions Act of 1984

This paper analyzes the effects of the Insider Trading Sanctions Act of 1984, the first federal level insider trading statute since 1934 which substantially increased the penalties of illegal insider trading. I find that, around the passage of the Act on July 25, 1984, there were positive abnormal returns for stocks heavily traded by insiders in the past. After the passage of the Act, insider trading frequency decreased significantly and insider trading volume also declined once firm characteristics are controlled for. I also explore insider trading behaviors in merger target firms before the merger announcements between 1979 and 1989 and find a significant decline in abnormal pre-announcement insider net purchases. After the enactment the odds ratio of a positive net insider purchase decreased from 0.08 to 0.04. The price run-up before merger announcements also attenuated after the ITSA enactment. The five-day pre-announcement abnormal return accounted for about 48% of the total price increase before the enactment, but only about 27% after the enactment. Overall, the evidence supports the hypothesis that the ITSA effectively reduced informed insider trading.
Serum level of placental growth hormone is raised in pregnancy rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE To describe any relationship between pregnancy rhinitis and weight gain or serum levels of estradiol, progesterone, placental growth hormone, or insulinlike growth factor I. PATIENTS Twenty-seven nonsmoking healthy pregnant women aged 22 to 38 years (mean age, 28 years) who had no history of respiratory allergy or chronic nasal or sinus problems volunteered to enter the study. They had no nasal complaints at entry. METHODS Nasal patency was registered daily from early pregnancy until 1 month after delivery. Nasal and oral peak expiratory flow rates were established, and the subjective blockage was scored from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no blockage. Serum samples were collected and weight was measured on 4 occasions during pregnancy and again at the end of the study. Pregnancy rhinitis was diagnosed if the subjective nasal obstruction score was 1 or higher every morning for at least 6 weeks immediately preceding delivery, then returned to 0 within 2 weeks and remained at 0 until the end of the study. If on any day other signs of respiratory tract infection occurred, that day was excluded. RESULTS Pregnancy rhinitis was diagnosed in 5 women. These 5 women showed significantly higher levels of placental growth hormone than the women without the diagnosis. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups regarding body weight or any of the other serum levels studied. CONCLUSIONS Serum level of placental growth hormone is raised in pregnancy rhinitis and may be involved in its pathogeny. Pregnancy rhinitis does not significantly raise weight gain or serum levels of estradiol, progesterone, or insulinlike growth factor I.
Insights into customer motivations for switching to Internet banking

The main objective of this paper is to provide an insight into some factors which explain why customers in the retail banking sector might consider switching from traditional methods of conducting their banking activities to Internet banking, either partially or fully. In particular, the customers' satisfaction, or otherwise, with various elements of traditional banking offerings, along with various demographic factors, are compared to their propensity to use Internet banking. Results suggest that, perhaps surprisingly, customers' general level of satisfaction with bank charges and overdraft interest rates have no significant influence on their propensity to use Internet banking. Satisfaction with the bank's efficiency and responsiveness to remote enquiries is associated with a higher propensity to use Internet banking, as is satisfaction with availability and reliability of ATMs and lower satisfaction with elements of 'in-branch' service.
Substitute Trading and the Effectiveness of Insider Trading Regulations

US securities laws prohibit insiders from using inside information to trade their own stocks. But it is not illegal for insiders to trade related stocks, such as stocks of their firm's competitors, suppliers, and customers. Borrowing from the law literature (Ayres and Bankman, 2001), we call insiders' trading in related stocks substitute trading. This paper studies the effectiveness of insider trading laws in the presence of substitute trading. We extend Kyle's (1985) model to a (static) model with two correlated firms, each with its own insider. We consider two different trading environments, an opaque one where the market maker observes only the order flow of the asset he makes the market in, and a transparent one where he also observes the order flow of the other (correlated) stock. We find that in transparent markets, insider trading regulations do limit insiders' ability to profit from inside information. However, in opaque markets, the regulations may actually increase insiders' profits.
Effects of Garlic Extract Supplementation on Blood Lipid and Antioxidant Parameters and Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation Process in Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

Objective: Possible effects of garlic extract supplementation on blood oxidant/antioxidant status, blood lipid profile and coronary plaque formation process were investigated in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Methods: Thirty-one male rabbits of New Zealand strain were used. Twenty-two animals were given cholesterol for 4 months. Seven of them were sacrificed to investigate plaque formation and to measure blood parameters. Seven of the remaining 15 animals were fed on normal laboratory diet and others normal diet plus garlic extract for additional 3 months. Blood antioxidant and lipid parameters were measured and histological examination was made. Results: Total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher in the Cholesterol Group relative to controls. In the histological investigation, a dense atherosclerotic plaque formation was observed in the aortas of this group. In the Normal Diet Group, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were higher relative to the control group. No significant differences were observed between plaque surface areas of the Cholesterol and Normal Diet Groups. In the Extract Group however, there were differences with regard to all the analysis parameters. Total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were found to be decreased in this group. There was significant reduction in the plaque surface area in the aortas of this group. Blood antioxidant potential (AOP) was higher than the other groups but, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and, value of susceptibility to oxidation (SO) were lower in the Extract Group relative to the other groups. There were however no significant differences between MDA and SO values of the Control and Extract Groups. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that cholesterol supplementation leads to dense plaque formation in the aortas of the rabbits. Garlic extract supplementation ameliorates blood lipid profile and, Increases antioxidant potential. Extract treatment can significantly reduce plaque surface area in the aorta. Our results suggest that increased blood antioxidant potential due to extract supplementation might be one of the factors leading to this end.
Beautiful exit: how to leave your business partner

Interorganisational buyer‐seller relationships have been primarily studied from the perspective of relationship development and the benefits accrued from relationships. There is a lack of research concerning problems with relationships and relationship dissolution. The dissolution of a business relationship can be either desirable, freeing badly deployed resources, as indicated by the customer portfolio approach, or harmful, involving costly legal disputes and the loss of company reputation. By employing a theory‐driven case study approach we examine the exit strategies available for the disengager in dissolving interorganisational buyer‐seller relationships. We show that the quality of dissolution is affected by the disengager’s choice of exit strategy. Managerial suggestions are provided for achieving “beautiful exits”, i.e. such communication strategies which minimise damages of the dissolution to the disengager, the other party, and the connected business network.
Microcrystalline cellulose membrane for re‐epithelisation of chronic leg wounds: a prospective open study

Treatment of chronic leg ulcers remains a major health care issue. Although many reports have examined different topical dressings, none have specifically looked at microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). We aimed to evaluate in a prospective, open study the safety and performance of a MCC membrane (Veloderm) in a series of chronic leg wounds of different aetiology. Fifty‐five patients participated in this study. The membrane was applied every 5–10 days for 1 month, immediately after surgical debridement. The wound bed was assessed on days 7, 15 and 30 for erythema, pain, exudate level and infection. The wound size change at 30 days was the primary efficacy parameter and any adverse events were collected and analysed. A wound size change of 55% was achieved at the end of follow‐up, with an improvement in all the collected parameters, but the erythema, which showed a mild increase. To date, this is the largest experience with a MCC product in chronic wounds. Our study suggests that this treatment may be safe and useful and deserves further investigation.
Credit Impairment and Housing Tenure Choice

We analyze the relationship between underwriting standards and low-income homeownership rates using the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The survey respondents are a nationally representative sample of Americans mostly 40-48 years of age as of the most recent wave of the survey in 2004. Past research has identified credit impairment, wealth constraints, and income constraints as finance-related barriers to homeownership. Using a model of tenure choice, we find that absent all three constraints, the homeownership rate of low-income households in our sample would increase from 52.5 to 59.3 percent. Approximately half of this differential is attributable to households with impaired credit and those with 'thin-file status,' the lack of a substantial credit history.
Financial Stress and Asymmetric Financial Decisions

Building wealth requires saving, borrowing, and investing. These decisions may depend on stress due to the lack of financial security (low financial assets). Stress should influence personal responses – emotional, behavioral, and cognitive – that in turn could determine financial decisions. The link between stress and financial decisions could be asymmetric, so that fewer financial assets result in larger absolute financial decisions than more assets. We first divide households between stressed (financially insecure) and not stressed (financially secure) ones, using a threshold regression. Comparatively little assets divide stressed and not stressed households. We then show that low levels of financial assets have a larger adverse effect on personal responses among stressed households than among not stressed ones. Personal responses, though, systematically determine financial decisions, such that more stress and lower personal responses lead to a more short-term focus in financial decisions. These linkages between stress, personal responses, and financial decisions indeed give rise to an asymmetric effect. The absolute effect of a stock price decrease of 30%, for instance, is 28% larger than the effect of a 30% stock price increase. Exogenous asset shocks could result in a reduced focus on long-term wealth building among households, because of the asymmetric effect of financial stress.