Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Herding behavior in the Egyptian stock market

This paper tests for the existence of herding behavior in the Egyptian stock market using daily and monthly data of listed companies on the Egyptian stock Exchange. We follow the methodology of Christie and Huang (1995) and Chang, Cheng, and Khorana (2000) to test for the presence of herding behavior in general, during up and down times (times of stress in the market), and during bearish and bullish market phases. We also split the sample into prerevolution and post-revolution periods to test the effect of 25 January, 2011 revolution on herding behavior in the market. We found that: first, the Egyptian stock market exhibits herding behavior in general and weak adverse herding in stressful conditions; second, prolonged effects of adverse herding exist in up markets only and herding behavior is a short-lived phenomenon; third, no evidence of herding behavior during bull and bear markets was noticed; fourth, during the pre-revolution period, in pre-post revolution analysis, herding existed in the Egyptian stock market in general and weak adverse herding existed during times of market stress as well as during bullish market phases, however no evidence of herding behavior during bearish market phases was observed; fifth, interestingly, during post-revolution period, adverse herding exists in all market states; stressful conditions, in general, and during bullish and bearish phases; and finally, after modifying the model for multicollinearity and autocorrelation, no evidence of herding behavior in the Egyptian stock market in general for all tested periods was recorded.
Loyalty to supermarkets

We report results form a mail survey of loyalty among supermarket customers. Most findings are consistent with previous research but the study does not support earlier evidence that store loyalty is associated with low economic and educational status. The research shows that store-loyal people more often come from the 25–44 year-old age group and that they prefer large out-of-town supermarkets.
The solidarity of self-interest: Social and cultural feasibility of rural health insurance in Ghana

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Conversion of very low density lipoprotein to low density lipoprotein. A metabolic study of apolipoprotein B kinetics in human subjects.

The interrelationship between apolipoprotein B in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-B) and in low density lipoprotein (LDL-B) was studied in seven normal and hyperlipidemic men and women, with purified radioiodinated VLDL. The time-course of the appearance of radioactivity in LDL was followed. As the specific activity curves intersected at the masimal height of the LDL-B curve, it was inferred that all or most LDL-B peptide is derived from VLDL-B peptide. This transfer was further quantitated in seven normotriglyceridemic subjects by simultaneous i.v. injection of purified 131I-VLDL and 125I-LDL. By a deconvolution method, a quantitative description of the rate of entry of 131Ivldl-b into 131I-LDL-B was derived by analysis of 131I-LDL-B and 125I-ldl-b radioactivity in plasma. The results indicate that approximately 90% of VLDL-B mass is converted into LDL-B in subjects with normal serum triglyceride concentrations. The synthetic rates of VLDL-B and LDL-B peptide were simultaneously measured in six normal subjects, and two patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (type IIa). The turnover rates for VLDL-B and LDL-B peptide were similar in these subjects. The findings in the three parts of this study were consistent with the view that most if not all VLDL-B is converted into LDL-B peptide, and most if not all LDL-B is derived from VLDL-B peptide in normotriglyceridemic subjects.
CONSUMERS' BUYING BEHAVIOR TOWARDS GREEN PRODUCTS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

1* Over the past few years, the demand for green products in Indian has been growing significantly due to the increased interest in the environment. Consumers today are increasingly “thinking green” and are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products. The increasing numbers of consumers who prefer and are willing to buy these products are subjected to the buying process. Consumers have different buying behaviours and these behaviours are constantly changing as a result of the availability of best alternatives to choose from. Products are chosen for numerous reasons. Overall, the buying process is extremely fast-paced today. Hence, the present study is conducted to explore the extent of the impact of consumers’ buying behaviour towards the marketing of green products in Kancheepuram District. The study investigates the relationship between variables that affect consumers’ buying behaviour for green products and identifies the price levels consumers prefer to pay for green products in the district. An attempt has also been made to examine the factors that affect the green products’ buying behaviours of the consumers. Convenience sampling method was used to select 200 respondents living in the district and who make purchases for the products. The primary data was collected from the respondents with the help of pre-tested structured opened and closed-ended questionnaires. In pursuance of the study’s stated objectives, the formulated hypotheses were subjected to regression and chi-square analyzes. The findings of the study reveal that there is significant relationship between the variables which affects consumers’ buying behaviour for green products. Similarly, the factors affecting the consumers’ buying behaviour have major implications on purchasing decisions.Green marketers can therefore understand, identify and design marketing mix strategies to appeal to the preferences of the market segments for green products.
Servicing Customers Directly: Mobile Franchising Arrangements in Australia

This paper analyses operational differences between mobile franchising arrangements and fixed‐site franchises from an agency‐theoretic perspective. Almost 40 per cent of all franchised units in Australia operate as mobile or home‐based businesses, predominantly in service industries where products or services are provided directly to consumers. A two‐stage methodology is reported in this paper, incorporating quantitative and qualitative research methods. In stage one, data obtained from a survey of the population of Australian franchisors in 1998 are analysed to compare operational variables of mobile and fixed‐site franchise units. The second stage of the research employs in‐depth interviews with a sample of mobile franchisors and franchisees to further explore relevant issues. The results confirm the agency theory perspective that start‐up investment risk is lower in mobile units and mobile operations exhibit a higher level of repeat customers than fixed‐site franchises. No significant differences between the two arrangements are revealed in relation to the levels of franchisee monitoring, initial training or essential franchisee experience. This study indicates that agency theory contributes to our understanding of mobile franchising arrangements, yet also suggests the findings are not completely explained by agency theory. The results imply that both monitoring and alignment of incentives have complimentary effects and that both forms of contract are necessary in a franchisor's control system.
Total least squares for affinely structured matrices and the noisy realization problem

Structured rank-deficient matrices arise in many applications in signal processing, system identification, and control theory. The author discusses the structured total least squares (STLS) problem, which is the problem of approximating affinely structured matrices (i.e., matrices affine in the parameters) by similarly structured rank-deficient ones, while minimizing an L/sub 2/-error criterion. It is shown that the optimality conditions lead to a nonlinear generalized singular value decomposition, which can be solved via an algorithm that is inspired by inverse iteration. Next the author concentrates on the so-called L/sub 2/-optimal noisy realization problem, which is equivalent with approximating a given data sequence by the impulse response of a finite dimensional, time invariant linear system of a given order. This can be solved as a structured total least squares problem. It is shown with some simple counter examples that "classical" algorithms such as the Steiglitz-McBride (1965), iterative quadratic maximum likelihood and Cadzow's (1988) iteration do not converge to the optimal L/sub 2/ solution, despite misleading claims in the literature. >
Decreased extracellular-signal-regulated kinase and increased stress-activated MAP kinase activities in aged human skin in vivo.

The ability of human skin to rejuvenate itself diminishes with the passage of time, resulting in increased fragility. This increased fragility reflects both reduced growth of skin cells and loss of collagenous connective tissue. Oxidative damage plays a central role in cellular aging. Cellular responses to growth signals and oxidative stress are mediated, in part, by growth-factor-activated and stress-activated MAP kinases. We report here that the extracellular-signal-regulated MAP kinase pathway is reduced and the stress-activated MAP kinase pathway is increased in old, compared with young, human skin in vivo. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase activity was 45% lower in old skin (mean age 84.3 y) relative to young skin (mean age 23.8 y). This lower extracellular- signal-regulated kinase activity resulted from reduced activation, since total extracellular-signal-regulated kinase protein levels did not differ between young and old skin, whereas phosphorylated (i.e., activated) extracellular-signal-regulated kinase protein was reduced 60% in old skin. Cyclin D2, which is regulated by extracellular-signal-regulated kinase and functions to promote cell cycle progression, was reduced 50% in old skin compared with young skin. In contrast, stress-activated MAP kinase activity was elevated 3.4-fold in old skin compared with young skin. This increased activity resulted from enhanced activation, since total stress-activated MAP kinase protein levels were similar in old and young skin. Transcription factor c-Jun, which is activated by stress-activated MAP kinases and promotes expression of connective-tissue-degrading matrix metalloproteinases, was elevated 2-fold in old skin compared with young skin. Treatment of old skin with vitamin A (retinol) for 7 d stimulated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase activity, consistent with its demonstrated ability to stimulate cell growth in old human skin. Taken together, these data indicate that alterations in MAP kinase activities play a key role in the pathophysiology of human skin aging.
Microalbuminuria, glycemic control, and blood pressure predicting outcome in diabetes type 1 and type 2.

After years of controversy, there is no doubt that poor glycemic control is the main and fundamental basis for development of albuminuria and renal lesions in diabetes. Blood pressure elevation usually comes secondarily, at least in type 1 diabetes, but in type 2 diabetes, microalbuminuria and some blood pressure elevation may be present already with the diagnosis of diabetes, along with dyslipidemia. Genetic factors have been proposed to be important, and so far, analysis of genotypes has no place in clinical practice [1–3]. In many studies, microalbuminuria along with blood pressure elevation, even minor, is crucial to the later outcome of patients, and also regarding strategy for treatment. When microalbuminuria is found along with increased blood pressure, the prognosis is even poorer than with only one of these abnormalities present in the patients. Indeed, high blood pressure may be part of the family history of some patients and, therefore, again emerging as a familiar risk factor, although only relevant to few patients.
Drug‐induced changes in the release of [3H]‐noradrenaline from field stimulated rat iris

1 Isolated rat irides were incubated with [3H]‐noradrenaline [3H‐NA] (10−7m), supervised with buffer and then stimulated by an electrical field. The effect of desipramine, clonidine, phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, GD131, normetanephrine and 4‐tropolone‐acetamide on the stimulation‐induced overflow of [3H]‐NA was tested by adding the drug to the super‐fusing buffer. The effect of pretreatment with phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine on the stimulation‐induced overflow of [3H]‐NA was also studied. 2 The effect of desipramine, clonidine, phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine and GD131 on uptake of [3H]‐NA in isolated irides was determined. 3 Desipramine moderately increased the stimulation‐induced overflow at concentrations which almost completely inhibited neuronal uptake. It was calculated that in the isolated rat iris 30–40% of the released [3H]‐NA is inactivated by reuptake into the nerve terminal. This figure may represent the true reuptake percentage in this preparation. Desipramine‐induced inhibition of [3H]‐NA release from the nerve terminal, possibly via a negative feed‐back mechanism, may also contribute to this low figure. 4 Phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine, in concentrations or doses which did not inhibit neuronal uptake of [3H]‐NA, consistently increased the stimulation‐induced overflow. This increase was further augmented when neuronal uptake was inhibited. 5 The α‐adrenoceptor stimulating drug clonidine decreased the stimulation‐induced overflow. 6 GD131, normetanephrine and 4‐tropolone‐acetamide did not greatly affect the stimulation‐induced overflow of [3H‐NA]. 7 It is concluded that the increased [3H]‐NA overflow obtained after α‐adrenoceptor blockade is due to an increased [3H]‐NA release from the nerve terminals.
Language of dyspnea in panic disorder

Dyspnea is a key symptom in panic attacks. This study investigated different types of dyspnea induced by the 35% CO2 challenge test given to patients with panic disorder (PD). The types of dyspnea provide room for possible conjectures on neurophysiological pathways involved in the experience of breathing discomfort in PD and in the panic‐respiration connection. Factor analysis applied to the Dyspnea Questionnaire identified three main factors: breathing effort, sense of suffocation, and rapid breath. Factor scores for breathing effort and sense of suffocation significantly discriminated between patients who did and those who did not report CO2‐induced panic attacks. Factor scores for breathing effort significantly discriminated between patients whose reaction resembled their unexpected panic attacks and those whose reaction did not. A dissociation between an increased central respiratory command and a decreased mechanical efficiency of the respiratory response in patients with PD may underlie the breathing effort factor during the CO2 challenge. The sense of suffocation factor was found to be linked to chemosensitivity. Although involved in CO2 reactivity, it may not be a central factor in unexpected panic attacks. Depression and Anxiety 00:000–000, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antecedents to client satisfaction in business services

In today’s increasingly competitive environment, it is important to measure the service firm’s performance in the areas which contribute most significantly to the client’s overall satisfaction. Previous research indicates that marketing research clients are concerned with a research provider’s performance in four areas; product quality, service quality, cost management, and timeliness. A survey of 155 marketing research clients indicated that these clients perceive product quality as being most important in accomplishing their research objectives, followed in order by service quality, cost, and timeliness. The results of the study indicate that less than half of the clients were completely satisfied with the ability of their primary research supplier to save them money or to provide them with a useful analysis. A research provider that is capable of improving performance in these two areas may be able to create a competitive advantage that could lead to increased client satisfaction and improved customer loyalty. These research findings provide insights for other business services in assessing client needs and tracking client satisfaction.
Disagreement Costs, Control and Corporate Finance

This paper examines capital budgeting and dividend policy in an environment in which firms need to raise equity financing from new investors to fund projects, and different generations of shareholders may openly disagree over what maximizes value. The standard value maximization objective is incomplete in this setting. I show that the manager’s objective should be to maximize his expectation of the net present value accruing to the current shareholders, thereby attending to the dilution of these shareholders’ claims when equity is sold to new investors. This framework, which isolates the effect of disagreement by abstracting from both agency and asymmetric information problems, generates numerous implications. First, the hurdle rates firms use for project acceptance/rejection decisions will always be higher than the expected rate of return shareholders demand based on asset pricing models. These hurdle rates will vary across firms so that one firm may accept a project that another firm rejects even though shareholders in both firms demand the same expected return. A distinct feature of the analysis is that the hurdle rate is dependent on the firm’s stock price and there is a simple way for managers to implement the calculation of this hurdle rate for use in capital budgeting. Second, despite the absence of agency or asymmetric information problems, the manager faces “disagreement costs,” represented by the difference between the firm’s hurdle rate and shareholders’ expected return. The disagreement costs are increasing and convex in the likelihood of disagreement between existing and new shareholders, and affect the firm’s investment policy. Third, the market value of cash is decreasing in the disagreement. Fourth, the firm’s dividend policy can be used to optimize the allocation of control over investment policy between the manager/existing shareholders on the one hand and the new shareholders on the other. This lowers disagreement costs and the capital budgeting hurdle rate, and allows the manager to achieve a Pareto superior outcome. That is, dividend and investment policies are inseparable and dividends will be correlated with past as well as future cash flows. The paper also contrasts the predictions of the disagreement framework with those of standard agency costs and asymmetric information models.
Brand popularity and country image in global competition: managerial implications

This study examines how brand‐ and country‐related intangible assets influence the market shares of brands and their marketing effectiveness (particularly price effectiveness). Using the case of the small car segment, seems to provide some interesting implications for brand management in global markets where the intangible assets associated with brand and country names are important. Found that a country name (e.g. Japanese name) produces positive value to brands originating from particular countries. Documents that long‐term popularity positively influences brands′ short‐term market shares and marketing effectiveness. Also discovers that a brand can generate positive brand‐specific assets, i.e. brand popularity, without a positive country name equity. Discusses managerial implications and recommendations, within the context of global competition.
The Rhetoric of Chinese Layoff Memos

Arrington, M. (2008, October 21). Jerry Yang email to all Yahooers: 10% of you are fired. Retrieved from http://techcrunch.com/2008/10/21/jerry-yang-email-to-all-yahooers Burgchardt, C. R. (2005). Readings in rhetorical criticism (3rd ed.). State College, PA: Strata. Jasinski, J. (2001). Sourcebook on rhetoric: Key concepts in contemporary rhetorical studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Leff, M. C. (1986). Textual criticism: The legacy of G. P. Mohrmann. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 72, 377-389. Leff, M. C. (1988). Dimensions of temporality in Lincoln’s second inaugural. Communication Reports, 1, 26-31. Lucas, S. E. (1988). The renaissance of American public address: Text and context in rhetorical criticism. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 74, 241-260. Lucas, S. E. (1990). The stylistic artistry of the Declaration of Independence. Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives, 22, 25-43. Slagell, A. R. (1991). Anatomy of a masterpiece: A close textual analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address. Communication Studies, 42, 155-171. Swisher, K. (2008, October 28). The entire Time Inc. layoff and reorg memo from Ann Moore. Retrieved from http://kara.allthingsd. com/20081028/the-entire-time-inc-layoff-memofrom-ann-moore Swisher, K. (2009, January 22). Steve Ballmer’s entire memo to the Microsoft troops about layoffs and weak results. Retrieved from http://kara.allthingsd. com/20090122/steveballmers-entire-memo-to-the-microsoft-troops-about-layoffs-and-weak-results
PROPOSED FIELD EVALUATION OF A RABIES RECOMBINANT VACCINE FOR RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR): SITE SELECTION, TARGET SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS, AND PLACEBO BAITING TRIALS

Prior to a limited field application of an orally-administered vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein (V-RG) recombinant virus vaccine for wildlife, background data were obtained for the proposed site on Parramore Island, Virginia (USA). Mammalian target and nontarget species, potentially at risk for exposure to vaccine were inventoried. Placebo baiting trials with a fishmeal polymer bait resulted in high bait disturbance (88 to 100%), primarily by raccoons (Procyon lotor), with infrequent visitation and no evidence of bait consumption by deer (Odocoileus virginianus), small mammals or avian species. Definitive bait acceptance rates by raccoons (indicative of bait ingestion) were difficult to accurately determine based exclusively on premolar and vibrissae samples collected antemortem from live-trapped raccoons for tetracycline and rhodamine B biomarker analyses, respectively. Bait acceptance rate was more accurately determined during a pilot baiting trial conducted on North Island, South Carolina, when mandibles (postmortem samples) were examined for tetracycline incorporation. Parasitologic findings in raccoons on Parramore Island included Hepatozoan procyonis, Phagicola angrense and Physaloptera rata and a variety of incidental microscopic lesions, and provided baseline pathological data for comparison subsequent to V-RG vaccine application. A population density estimate of one raccoon/2.7 ha was calculated using mark–recapture data for comparison after vaccine deployment. Limited reproductive data, including estimates of pregnancy rates by palpation, the number of live kits/litter live-trapped with previously pregnant raccoons or observed in the dens of radio-collared raccoons, was gathered to assess the effect of proposed oral vaccination with V-RG vaccine. Home ranges were assessed by radio-telemetry of 15 raccoons; all radio-collared raccoons currently reside on Parramore Island. Longest straight line distance travelled by raccoons was <2 km, except when animals were translocated and were found to return to their original range.