Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does the Policy Lending of the Government Financial Institution Mitigate the Credit Crunch? Evidence from the Loan Level Data in Japan

Using the contract level data, we find that the lending by Japan Finance Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprise (JASME), a state owned lending institution, mitigated a firm’s loss of borrowing from its main bank during the credit crunch. We further find that the JASME’s lending instrumented by the main bank’s lending supply growth as explained by the bank’s capital adequacy, which captures the lending to mitigate the loss of borrowing, had negative effects on the investment rate and that the JASME’s lending had an weak effect to mitigate the cash sensitivity of cash that captures the firm’s financial constraint.
Determinants of brand value in the software products market

Lack of attention to concepts and strategies of marketing is one of the main reasons of sweeping success of companies producing software competitively in internal, external and international aspects. In few past years, marketing activists and academic researchers have paid attention to it and studying it has been recognized as a useful effective matter for business entities. Unfortunately, this concept has been short-changed among domestic software producers. In the present study, various aspects of brand equity have been investigated according to Aaker's model in Iranian market of business accounting software. To do so, a sample was selected among business accounting software users in Isfahan city and data has been analyzed using structural equations modeling method. The results imply the direct effect of brand loyalty and perceived quality on brand value. Also, high correlation between Aaker's model aspects in business accounting software market has been validated.
Structure of the murine Thy‐1 gene.

We have cloned the murine Thy‐1.1 (AKR) and Thy‐1.2 (Balb/c) genes. The complete exon/intron structure and the nucleotide sequence of the Thy‐1.2 gene was determined. The gene contains four exons and three intervening sequences. The complete transcriptional unit gives rise to a tissue and developmental stage‐specific mRNA of 1850 bp. The 5′ end of the gene has multiple initiation sites and a non‐TATA box promoter. The 3′ end shows a single polyadenylation site after a very long untranslated region.
Third‐Party Logistics: Is There a Future?

In this article, the authors describe the results of a study on strategies of third‐party logistics (TPL) providers. The size of the TPL industry and the different requirements placed on logistics as opposed to basic services, such as transportation or public warehousing, justify the need to treat TPL as a separate industry. The authors describe three waves of entrants into the TPL industry and a taxonomy for value creation by logistics providers. Empirical findings for a strategic segmentation of the industry are presented. The strategic segmentation is connected to the waves of entrants and the taxonomy by an evaluation of required skills of TPL players. The TPL industry will soon reach an initial stage of maturity, but further changes are to be expected.
Mergers and the Performance of the Acquiring Firm.

Do mergers provide real benefits to acquiring firms? If not. as empirical studies completed mostly in the field of finance conclude, then why do firms continue to merge? If mergers do provide real benefits, as the literature of industrial organizations and strategic management suggest, then why haven't the empirical studies found any evidence of real benefits? By integrating the conclusions on mergers from the above three disciplines, these questions are addressed.
The Relationship between Retail Price Promotions and Regular Price Purchases

Retailers offer temporary price promotions to attract shoppers to stores and encourage them to purchase regular price merchandise. Existing research has found little evidence that price promotions affect regular price sales, possibly because published studies have not directly examined individual purchase baskets to determine if shoppers buying promoted items also purchase regular price items. The authors match actual purchases of individual shoppers with an in-store survey to determine the relationship between regular price and promotion purchasing. The results show a significant, positive relationship between regular price and promotion purchases. Among shoppers who identify the promotion as one of their reasons for visiting the store, three-fourths make regular price purchases. On average, these shoppers spend more money on regular price merchandise than on promotion merchandise. Also, the results show that shoppers visiting the store for the promotion are no less profitable to the store than other shoppers.
Anandamide Amidohydrolase Activity in Rat Brain Microsomes

An amidohydrolase activity present in rat brain microsomes catalyzes the hydrolysis of N-arachidonoyl[3H]ethanolamine ([3H]anandamide), an endogenous cannabimimetic substance, forming [3H]ethanolamine and arachidonic acid. Amidohydrolase activity is maximal at pH 6 and 8, is independent of divalent cations, has an apparent K for [3H]anandamide of 12.7 ± 1.8 μM, and has a Vmax of 5630 ± 200 pmol/min/mg of protein. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, a serine protease inhibitor, and p-bromophenacyl bromide, a histidine-alkylating reagent, inhibit the activity, whereas N-ethylmaleimide and various nonselective peptidase inhibitors (EDTA, o-phenanthroline, bacitracin) have no effect. Brain amidohydrolase activity exhibits high substrate specificity for [3H]anandamide; N--linolenoyl-, N-homo--linolenoyl-, and N-11,14-eicosadienoyl- are hydrolyzed at markedly slower rates. Moreover, N-11-eicosaenoyl- and N-palmitoyl-[3H]ethanolamine are not hydrolyzed. [3H]Anandamide hydrolysis is inhibited competitively by nonradioactive anandamide and by other N-acylethanolamines with the following rank order of potency: anandamide > N-linoleoyl- = N-cis-linolenoyl- = N--linolenoyl- = N-homo--linolenoyl- > N-11,14-eicosadienoyl- > N-oleoyl- > N-docosahexaenoyl- > N-docosatetraenoyl > N-linoelaidoyl- > N-eicosaenoyl- > N-palmitoyl ≥ N-elaidoyl- = N-eicosanoyl-ethanolamine = no effect. Amidohydrolase activity is high in liver and brain and low in heart, kidney, intestine, stomach, lung, spleen, and skeletal muscle. Within the central nervous system, highest activity is found in globus pallidus and hippocampus, two regions rich in cannabinoid receptors, and lowest activity is found in brainstem and medulla, where cannabinoid receptors are sparse. The results, showing that brain amidohydrolase activity is selective for anandamide and enriched in areas of the central nervous system with high density of cannabinoid receptors, suggest that this activity may participate in the inactivation of anandamide at its sites of action.
Firm Innovation in Emerging Markets: The Roles of Governance and Finance

The authors investigate the determinants of firm innovation in over 19,000 firms across 47 developing economies. They define the innovation process broadly, to include not only core innovation such as the introduction of new products and new technologies, but also other types of activities that promote knowledge transfers and adapt production processes. The authors find that more innovative firms are large exporting firms characterized by private ownership, highly educated managers with mid-level managerial experience, and access to external finance. In contrast, firms that do not innovate much are typically state-owned firms without foreign competitors. The identity of the controlling shareholder seems to be particularly important for core innovation, with those private firms whose controlling shareholder is a financial institution being the least innovative. While the use of external finance is associated with greater innovation by all private firms, it does not make state-owned firms more innovative. Financing from foreign banks is associated with higher levels of innovation compared with financing from domestic banks.
On Brain Drain in New Countryside Construction——From the Perspective of ERG Theory

New countryside construction is a long-term sustained process,which requires a large number of talented people.However,the rural areas are now facing a serious brain drain.Therefore,measures have to be taken to increase the added value of agricultural land,promote modernization of the rural life,enhance farmers' spiritual life,adjust the distribution of education to talents so as to meet the their need of existence,of relationship,and of development,thus truly realize the concept of "attracting external talents and retaining internal talents," and promote the all-round development of rural economy and society.
Evaluation of Basal Serum Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol Levels and Their Relationship with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Male Patients with Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

Background:Prolonged gonadal hormone deficiency in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) may produce adverse effects on the endocrine homeostasis and metabolism. This study aimed to compare basal serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels between male IHH patients and healthy controls. Moreover, this study compared the basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and also evaluated the relationship between basal HPA axis and NAFLD in male IHH patients. Methods:This was a retrospective case-control study involving 75 Chinese male IHH patients (mean age 21.4 ± 3.8 years, range 17–30 years) and 135 healthy controls after matching for gender and age. All subjects underwent physical examination and blood testing for serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, ACTH, and cortisol and biochemical tests. Results:Higher basal serum ACTH levels (8.25 ± 3.78 pmol/L vs. 6.97 ± 2.81 pmol/L) and lower cortisol levels (366.70 ± 142.48 nmol/L vs. 452.82 ± 141.53 nmol/L) were observed in male IHH patients than healthy subjects (all P <0.05). IHH patients also showed higher metabolism parameters and higher prevalence rate of NAFLD (34.9% vs. 4.4%) than the controls (all P < 0.05). Basal serum ACTH (9.91 ± 4.98 pmol/L vs. 7.60 ± 2.96 pmol/L) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (2123.7 ± 925.8 &mgr;g/L vs. 1417.1 ± 498.4 &mgr;g/L) levels were significantly higher in IHH patients with NAFLD than those without NAFLD (all P < 0.05). We also found that basal serum ACTH levels were positively correlated with NAFLD (r = 0.289, P <0.05) and triglyceride levels (r = 0.268, P < 0.05) in male IHH patients. Furthermore, NAFLD was independently associated with ACTH levels in male IHH patients by multiple linear regression analysis. Conclusions:The male IHH patients showed higher basal serum ACTH levels and lower cortisol levels than matched healthy controls. NAFLD was an independent associated factor for ACTH levels in male IHH patients. These preliminary findings provided evidence of the relationship between basal serum ACTH and NAFLD in male IHH patients.
Key Drivers Affecting Customer Intention to Purchase Financial Services Online

Numerous studies have analyzed customer intention to purchase financial services. Literature analysis suggests that various drivers can have an influence on retail bank customer intentions to purchase financial services online. This study investigated key drivers that affect customer intentions to purchase financial services online in a transitional economy. A survey data were collected from 185 adult visitors of several popular websites in Lithuania. Hypotheses were tested using correlation and regression analyses. The findings suggest that “usefulness”, “easy to use”, “security”, “trust” and “confidentiality” are key drivers that influence customer intention to purchase financial services and therefore are important in Internet banking. The research demonstrates how these five drivers affect customer intention to purchase financial services online in transition economy, and reveals relationships among the drivers. The results that were obtained supported all five hypotheses. “Usefulness” and “easy to use” emerged as the main reasons for using financial services online. “Security”, “trust” and “confidentiality” drivers also appear to be important factors affecting customer intentions to purchase financial services by the Internet. This study is of interest to bank managers, as they can apply the key drivers offered in this study to evaluate a usage of financial services and to increase customer intention to purchase financial services online. This study is limited to one transitional economy under investigation and further research needs to be extended to other economies. Researchers might also evaluate other e-banking drivers. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ee. 25.2. 6427
Antidepressant Activity of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine in Mice and Rats

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), main methyl donor, was tested in mice and rats in several models which are predictive of possible antidepressant activity. In the forced swimming test in rats the effect of SAM was compared with that of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline. SAM decreased dose-dependently immobility time in the forced swimming test in mice and rats, these effects being antagonized by haloperidol and prazosin (the latter only in rats). Locomotor or exploratory activity in mice and rats was not increased by SAM. D-Amphetamine-induced locomotor hyper-activity in rats was increased by repeated (14 days, twice daily) treatment with SAM. Behavioural stimulation induced by D-amphetamine or L-dopa (given with benserazide) in mice was not changed by a single dose of SAM. The drug reduced hypothermia induced by apomorphine in mice. Hypothermia induced by reserpine or clonidine in mice was not antagonized. SAM increased the amplitude of the acoustic startle reflex. The above results indicate that the psychopharmacological profile of SAM resembles that of antidepressants in only some tests. The mechanism by which SAM produces its antidepressant effect needs further investigation.
Twin pregnancy with a chimeric androgenetic and biparental placenta in one twin displaying placental mesenchymal dysplasia phenotype

The aim was to report an unusual trizygotic pregnancy that resulted in live‐born twins. The placenta of one twin had placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD), which resulted from a chimeric fusion of an androgenetic zygote and a normal biparental zygote. The literature review was summarized.
Credit Card Selection Criteria: Singapore Perspective

This study used factor analysis to examine credit card selection criteria among Singaporeans. The results showed that convenience of use and protection, economics, and flexibility were the main drivers, while the reputation of card was the least important in determining credit card selection in Singapore. Demographic results showed that high-income earners, the better educated, the elderly, married and the professional preferred the convenience-protection factor to the economic-promotional factor. Females were shown to value the promotional factor more, while males preferred the economic factor. The ethnic Malays placed a greater emphasis on the economic factor than did the ethnic Chinese. The results also showed that the number of credit card owned in Singapore is positively related to education, income, age group, and marital status. Those holding a single credit card stressed the economic factor more than those holding many cards. In Singapore, the higher income earners, the better educated, older adults, females, married, and both Chinese and Indians are more receptive to paying their monthly credit card balances in full. The results demonstrated that Singaporeans do not view the credit card selection criteria much differently from respondents from other developing and advanced nations.
Importance of Wild Species Kept in Captivity as Reservoirs of Salmonella Serotypes for Human in Petting Exhibitions and Zoo in Iran with Focus on Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract Salmonella spp. is the leading cause of zoonotic enteric diseases wich represents a public health concern worldwide. The incidence of zoo-associated salmonellosis is rather high due to the high prevalence and shedding of this bacterium from wild animals specially kept in stressful conditions. To determine the potential public health risk presented by zoo animals in Semnan, we investigated the prevalence of Salmonella serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium among wild animal species kept in the zoo and pet shops. Totally, 152 fecal samples from species in the zoo and pet shops were collected and Salmonella prevalence and identification was assessed via standard bacteriologic culture methods, serotyping, multiplex-PCR and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Overall, 21% (32/152) of the samples were confirmed positive for Salmonella and serotyping showed 12.5% (19/32) Salmonella serovar Enteritidis and 8.5% (13/32) serovar Typhimurium, respectively. All the Salmonella isolates were sensitive to Chloramphenicole, Flurefenicole, Meropenem, Ceftizoxime, Imipenem and Ampicillin, while resistance was observed in the case of Nalidixic acid (78%) as the highest resistance, Streptomycin (28%), Oxytetracycline, Neomycin, Furazolidone (each one 15%) and Lincospectin (9.3%). The high occurrence of multidrug resistance Salmonella in zoo and pet animals represents a potential threat to public health and requires strict surveillance and application of hygienic criteria.
A Case for Definition: Key Features Guiding the Conception of Social Enterprise in South Africa

In recent years, there has been a meteoric rise in the number of social enterprises entering the non-profit sector landscape in South Africa. Anecdotal evidence points towards a growing realisation of the significant contribution of social enterprises to socio-economic development in the country. Despite social enterprises’ rise to prominence and importance within the non-profit sector in South Africa, there is no legal form for social enterprise and as such no clarity of the definition of social enterprise in the country. Using qualitative data from a multiple case study research project, this paper explores the various meanings of what practitioners and experts within the social enterprise space in South Africa conceive social enterprises to be. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n14p593
Improving the quality of rheumatoid arthritis patients' education using written information.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the quality of patient education could be improved by using written education materials. METHODS Seventy-five inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were provided with individual education sessions during their inpatient stay. The education sessions were supported with written educational materials. A patient education quality instrument was used to assess the sufficiency and implementation of the education and the readiness of nurses and doctors to deliver the education. A Mann-Whitney U-test and content analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in the sufficiency of education concerning the disease, medication and treatment after the revised material was introduced (p < 0.005). The quality of interaction improved significantly during the intervention (p = 0.004). The strengths of the education included individual treatment, two-way interaction, the opportunity to receive patient education and its sufficiency. CONCLUSION Clear, readable and understandable written education material improved the quality of the education of RA patients in terms of implementation, sufficiency and the readiness of nurses and doctors to deliver the education.
Customer Satisfaction and Stock Returns Risk

Over the past decade, several studies have argued that customer satisfaction has high relevance for financial markets because it has a significant impact on stock returns. However, little attention has been given to understanding the impact of customer satisfaction on the risk of stock returns. The finance literature suggests that investors that judge performance only in terms of returns place more resources than warranted in risky opportunities, forgo profitable opportunities, and apply misguided performance evaluations. Accordingly, this study develops, tests, and finds empirical support for the hypotheses that positive changes (i.e., improvement) in customer satisfaction result in negative changes (i.e., reduction) in overall and downside systematic and idiosyncratic risk. Using a panel data sample of publicly traded U.S. firms and satisfaction data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the study demonstrates that investments in customer satisfaction insulate a firm's stock returns from market movements (overall and downside systematic risk) and lower the volatility of its stock returns (overall and downside idiosyncratic risk). The results are robust to alternative measures of risk, model specifications, and concerns related to sample composition criteria raised in some recent studies. Therefore, the results indicate that customer satisfaction is a metric that provides valuable information to financial markets. The robust impact of customer satisfaction on stock returns risk indicates that it would be useful for firms to disclose their customer satisfaction scores in their annual report to shareholders.
Farmers' Adoption of Best Management Practices in Kentucky

This article explores farmers’ adoption of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Kentucky, and the factors affecting their choices of BMPs through a proposed Water Quality Trading (WQT) program. We introduce a two-step framework to estimate farmers’ current and future choices of BMPs using a bivariate probit model. The first step is to investigate the factors influencing farmers’ current usage of BMPs, and the second step is to estimate their willingness to implement BMPs given different levels of compensation offered through a survey. The results show that farmers who participate in the conservation programs are more likely to currently be using BMPs. Farmers’ previous experience with BMPs is one of the most important contributors affecting farmers’ future choices of BMPs. The results also find that increasing compensation will encourage farmers to implement the practices of animal fences and waste storage facilities. Finally, applying the coefficient results, we calculate the probabilities that farmers would likely use BMPs at different levels of compensation, and conclude that the emission credits in WQT markets are able to be supplied in Kentucky.