Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bank underwriting of corporate bonds evidence from Japan after the financial system reform of 1993

In 1993, the corporate bond primary market in Japan underwent a major change. The Financial System Reform Act allowed banks to enter the underwriting business by setting up securities subsidiaries. This paper analyzes yield differentials between issues underwritten by bank subsidiaries and those underwritten by securities houses. By estimating a regression model with correction for self-selection bias, we can distinguish between several hypotheses concerning the effect of bank underwriting of corporate bonds on their yields. We show that investors discount corporate bonds underwritten by bank-owned subsidiaries because they suspect conflict of interest. Bank-owned subsidiaries, on the other hand, try to avoid this conflict by underwriting bonds intended for institutional investors and bonds issued by firms with weak main bank ties. While investors’ suspicions of conflict of interest may put bank-owned subsidiaries at a disadvantage with respect to incumbent security houses, this study suggests that an aggressive entry strategy on the part of bank-owned subsidiaries has offset the disadvantage so far. In light of the recent repeal of the Glass Steagall Act, these findings will be of particular interest to observers of the changing nature of the securities business in the United States.
Social Capital, Knowledge Quality, and Online Brand Community Success

Submitted:April 2, 2014 1 Revision:September 9, 2014 Accepted:September 12, 2014 * 국립목포대학교 경영학과 교수 ** 광운대학교 경영학부 강사, 교신저자 *** 광운대학교 경영학부 교수 **** 아던트컨설팅 수석컨설턴트 Online brand communities have become a major component of marketing strategy given that these communities encourage participation and share the culture of Web 2.0 core concepts to Internet users. This study investigated the effects of social capital and knowledge quality on the success of online brand communities. A research model suggests that trust among members and the identification derived from social capital theory and knowledge quality influence individual community participation; knowledge quality also influences brand trust. In turn, community participation and brand trust develop brand loyalty. The model was empirically analyzed using structural equation modeling with data from online brand community members in Korea. The results indicate that identification and knowledge quality significantly affects brand trust and brand loyalty through community participation. This study provides a basis for developing a success model for online brand communities. Also, this study identifies a new role of knowledge quality in an online brand community context. Keyword:Online Brand Community, Social Capital, Knowledge Quality, Brand Trust, Brand Loyalty, Identification, Community Participation 韓國IT서비스學會誌 第13卷 第3號 2014年 9月, pp.183-200 184 Cheolho Yoon.Changkyu Kim.Sanghoon Kim.Il-Kyu Park
The impact of sport-hunting on the population dynamics of an African lion population in a protected area

Between 1999 and 2004 we undertook an ecological study of African lions (Panthera leo) in Hwange National Park, western Zimbabwe to measure the impact of sport-hunting beyond the park on the lion population within the park, using radio-telemetry and direct observation. 34 of 62 tagged lions died during the study (of which 24 were shot by sport hunters: 13 adult males, 5 adult females, 6 sub-adult males). Sport hunters in the safari areas surrounding the park killed 72% of tagged adult males from the study area. Over 30% of all males shot were sub-adult (<4 years). Hunting off-take of male lions doubled during 2001–2003 compared to levels in the three preceding years, which caused a decline in numbers of adult males in the population (from an adult sex ratio of 1:3 to 1:6 in favour of adult females). Home ranges made vacant by removal of adult males were filled by immigration of males from the park core. Infanticide was observed when new males entered prides. The proportion of male cubs increased between 1999 and 2004, which may have occurred to compensate for high adult male mortality. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mitochondrial DNA characterization of two Partamona species (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) by PCR+RFLP and sequencing

Le genre Partamona comprend 33 especes et sa large repartition s'etend du sud du Bresil et du Paraguay jusqu'au Perou et au sud du Mexique (Pedro et Camargo, 2000). On a essaye de tirer des conclusions sur levolution de ce groupe d'abeilles, bien que le faible niveau de variabilite trouve n'autorise que la determination des groupes phylogenetiques principaux au sein du genre. Les analyses d'ADN mitochondrial (ADNmt) ont pourtant ete utilisees dans des etudes de parente genetique que parmi les especes appartenant a la tribu des Meliponini et ont monte une variabilite aux niveaux intergenetique, interspecfique et intraspecifique. Le but du present travail etait de caracteriser l'ADNmt de deux especes d'abeilles du genre Partamona. En utilisant comme modele la sequence de l'ADNmt de Melipona bicolor, nous avons pu amplifier 12120 pb de d'ADNmt de P. mulata et 10300 pb de celui de P. helleri, ce qui correspond respectivement a 65,5 % et 55,7 % de leur genome mitochondrial total (Tab. I et Fig. 1). L'absence de region intergenique entre les genes cytochrome oxydase I (COI) et cytochrome oxydase II (COII) a ete confirmee par le sequencage. Cette absence chez Partamona et chez d'autres Meliponini suggere qu'il s'agit d'un caractere phylogenetique conserve parmi les abeilles sans aiguillon. Des cartes partielles ont ete construites d'apres la digestion par 8 enzymes de restriction des fragments amplifies par PCR. Les tests de digestion ont montre l'existence de 16 sites de restriction pour P. mulata et de 20 pour P. helleri (Fig. 1), certains sites etant limites au genre alors que d'autres sont partages avec d'autres especes de Meliponini. Nous pensons que les analyses moleculaires d'ADNmt fourniront d'autres donnees afin de mieux etablir la relation genetique au sein des especes de Partamona et entre elles.
Signaling environmental stewardship in the shadow of weak governance: The global diffusion of ISO 14001

This article examines how the quality of domestic regulatory institutions shapes the role of global economic networks in the cross-national diffusion of private or voluntary programs embodying environmental norms and practices. We focus on ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 14001, the most widely adopted voluntary environmental program in the world, which encourages participating firms to adopt environmental stewardship policies beyond the requirement of extant laws. We hypothesize that firms are motivated to signal environmental stewardship via ISO 14001 certification to foreign customers and investors that have embraced this voluntary program, but only when these firms operate in countries with poor regulatory governance. Using a panel of 129 countries from 1997 to 2009, we find that bilateral export and bilateral investment pressures motivate firms to join ISO 14001 only when firms are located in countries with poor regulatory governance, as reflected in corruption levels. Thus, our article highlights how voluntary programs or private law operates in the shadow of public regulation, because the quality of public regulation shapes firms' incentives to join such programs.
Sierpinski-Zygmund functions and other problems on lineability

We find large algebraic structures inside the following sets of pathological functions: (i) perfectly everywhere surjective functions, (ii) differentiable functions with almost nowhere continuous derivatives, (iii) differentiable nowhere monotone functions, and (iv) Sierpinski-Zygmund functions. The conclusions obtained on (i) and (iii) are improvements of some already known results.
Pecking order of four plant species from pastures of different ages

The rank order of competitive effects ('pecking order') was studied for four species collected as seeds from each of three different-aged pastures. Based on all pairwise comparisons of performance in mixtures, species rank order was linear for plants from each pasture but the position of species was not identical for each pasture. These rank orders showed no relationship to the rank orders of abundance in the field. Rank orders in four-species mixtures were similar, but not identical to those based on pairwise mixtures for plants from the two younger pastures. The extent to which one species was able to deny resources to another was generally independent of the age of the pasture from which the plants were collected. The extent to which the two components of a mixture made demands on the same resources decreased with increasing pasture age for two pairs of species. These results are contrasted with results from an earlier study involving the same four species collected as neighbouring clones, rather than as seeds. Rank order of suppressive effects on a given target differed depending on which species was the target and generally differed from rank orders based on all pairwise comparisons of performance in mixtures. 'Constancy' of rank order (with different targets) decreased with increasing age of the pasture from which plants were collected. The data suggest that a variable rank order of species against different targets may be a consequence of: 1) different degrees to which species make demands on the same resources when the target is changed, and/or 2) different degrees of beneficial effects on different targets, and/or 3) different relative competitive abilities against different targets.
2D Snowdrift Modeling and Validation

One of the objectives of the Centre d’Etudes de la Neige (Snow Study Centre of MeteoFrance) is to improve the modeling of snow cover evolution and avalanche risk forecasting. A numerical simulation of snow transport, related mechanical effects and snow distribution has been developed over the last years. The objective is to incorporate the wind effects in the Meteo-France operational chain Safran-Crocus-Mepra (SCM) for avalanche risk forecasting. At present, an evaluation version of the model is applied to a well instrumented site (Col du Lac Blanc 2700m, French Alps) in order to assess its performance and to validate its applicability. At this place, in addition to automatic weather stations, several specific snowdrift sensors and a range of snow poles, a novel remote sensing technique based on land-based photography is being applied. This paper describes the current state of snowdrift modeling and the new technique of result validation.
UMBELLIFERONE EXTENUATES THE ABNORMALITIES IN LIPID METABOLISM DURING D-GALACTOSAMINE AND LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE INDUCED FULMINANT HEPATIC FAILURE IN RATS.

Objective: Coumarins and coumarin-related compounds are a plentiful source of potential drugs candidate in relation to its safety and efficacy. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the protective nature of Umbelliferone (UMB), a coumarin derivative on alterations in lipid metabolism during D-Galactosamine (D-GalN) and Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Methods: Male wistar rats were challenged with a single intraperitoneal injection of D-GalN/LPS, and the protective nature of UMB was examined with reference to Total Cholesterol, Phospholipids, Triglycerides, free fatty acids(plasma, liver, and kidney), lipid metabolizing enzymes and lipoprotein fraction. Results: Anomalies in lipid status, lipid metabolizing enzymes and lipoprotein fractions induced by D-GalN/LPS was restored to near normal levels upon pretreatment with UMB which was further confirmed by Transmission electron microscopic observations. Conclusion: The outcome of the above findings evidenced the protective nature of UMB on alterations in lipid metabolism during D-GalN/LPS induced FHF in rats. Keywords: Umbelliferone, D-Galactosamine, Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), Lipid metabolism, Liver failure, Lipid metabolizing enzymes, Lipoproteins, Transmission electron microscope.
The Rise and Fall of Western Homohysteria

In this essay, I draw upon my pro-feminist background to describe the formulation of the concept of homohysteria and explain its heuristic utility in conceptualizing historical shifts in heterosexual men’s gendered regimes. I suggest that in times of high homohysteria, heterosexual men are compelled to align their identities and behaviors with orthodox (hypermasculine) notions of men’s masculinity. This is in order to avoid homosexualization. Conversely, heterosexual men retain considerably more gendered freedom in times of low or no homohysteria. I describe this as a cultural process related to homophobia and define the term homohysteria as men’s fear of being homosexualized, through association with feminized behavior. I suggest that there are three elements necessary in its production: (1) mass awareness that homosexuality exists as a static sexual orientation, (2) a cultural Zeitgeist of disapproval of homosexuality, and (3) the conflation of femininity with homosexuality. I then show how, through identity politics, homohysteria can eventually give way to less homosexually panicked masculinities, something I describe as inclusive masculinities.
PHOTOMETRY’S BRIGHT FUTURE: DETECTING SOLAR SYSTEM ANALOGS WITH FUTURE SPACE TELESCOPES

Time-series transit photometry from the Kepler space telescope has allowed for the discovery of thousands of exoplanets. We explore the potential of yet improved future missions such as PLATO 2.0 in detecting solar system analogs. We use real-world solar data and end-to-end simulations to explore the stellar and instrumental noise properties. By injecting and retrieving planets, rings, and moons of our own solar system, we show that the discovery of Venus and Earth analogs transiting G dwarfs like our Sun is feasible at high signal-to-noise ratio after collecting 6 yr of data, but Mars and Mercury analogs will be difficult to detect owing to stellar noise. In the best cases, Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons will be detectable even in single-transit observations. Through the high number (>1 billion) of observed stars by PLATO 2.0, it will become possible to detect thousands of single-transit events by cold gas giants, analogs to our Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Our own solar system aside, we also show, through signal injection and retrieval, that PLATO 2.0 class photometry will allow for the secure detection of exomoons transiting quiet M dwarfs. This is the first study analyzing in depth the potential of future missions and the ultimate limits of photometry, using realistic case examples.
Determinants of Related and Unrelated Export Diversification

This paper contributes to the literature on determinants of the export diversification by introducing related variety (RV) and unrelated variety (UV) in the analysis in addition to the traditional entropy based measure at three-digit Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) level, overall variety (OV). RV measures variety in cognitively related industries, while UV measures variety in industries that are unrelated to each other. Studies on RV and UV have shown that the dynamics of their relationship with economic growth and innovation may differ and one would expect that the determinants of RV and UV may also be different. Therefore, using data on manufacturing sector exports for 130 countries from 1996 to 2011, this paper identifies the determinants of export diversification with primary focus on foreign direct investment as an external source of knowledge and a stimulus to entrepreneurship and human capital as a measure of productive capabilities. Considering the concern of endogeneity bias, estimations of the econometric models were performed using generalized method of moments. Findings show that some of the determinants of diversification affect RV, UV and OV differently. For instance, foreign direct investment (FDI) negatively affects RV while it has no significant relationship with OV and UV. Moreover, interaction of human capital with FDI appears to be positive and significant for UV and RV while interaction of human capital with trade openness is significant and positive for RV only, showing the importance of knowledge through external sources in the process of related diversification.
In vitro multiple shoot induction through axillary bud of Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels: A threatened medicinal plant

In this study, we describe a method for rapid in vitro multiplication for conservation of a threatened medicinal plant, Cocculus hirsutus (Menispermaceae) via enhanced axillary bud proliferation from nodal explants collected from young shoots of a mature elite plant. The physiological effect of different plant growth regulators such as 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (Kn), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on in vitro multiplication was studied. Multiple shoots were induced in vitro from the nodal segments of stem on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium containing BAP or Kn alone or in combination. Maximum number of shoots (45 ± 0.69 shoots per explant) was observed on the medium containing BAP (0.5 mg/L) along with additives like adenine sulphate (50.0 mg/L) and glutamine (150 mg/L). The shoots were best elongated on medium containing 0.25 mg/L BAP along with additives. Elongated shoots were rooted on ¼ MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA. The rooted in vitro raised plantlets were acclimatized in growth chamber. The method described here can be successfully employed for large-scale multiplication, long term in vitro conservation and for further investigation of medicinally active constituents of C. hirsutus . This is the first report on in vitro multiplication of C. hirsutus. Key words: Cocculus hirsutus , in vitro multiplication, threatened, nodal explants.
Effects of ingestion of a biotin-binding protein on adult and larval honey bees

The insecticidal properties of biotin-binding proteins (BBPs) have recently been exploited in transgenic plants. As BBPs have a broad spectrum of insect toxicity, their potential impacts on non-target in- sects such as honey bees need to be assessed. In this study, the effects of feeding a purified BBP, avidin, to honey bee larvae and adults were determined. A realistic larval dosing regime was developed by estimating the pollen content of brood food in the field and adding avidin to artificial diet at rates that simulated the pres- ence of avidin-expressing transgenic pollen in brood food. Larval survival and development were unaffected by avidin in assays which simulated larvae receiving pollen expressing 0, 4 or 40 µM avidin at concentrations of 164 µg pollen per mg food for the first 2 days and 880 µg pollen per mg food thereafter. Food consumption and survival of adult bees were also unaffected by avidin added to pollen-candy at levels corresponding to pol- len expression of 0, 6.7 or 20 µM avidin. Apis mellifera / biotin-binding protein / avidin / transgenic plant
Optimization of feeding frequency in Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758).

Feeds and feed delivery represent major economic costs in intensive fish culture. Juvenile fish grow rapidly during this period and their feeding preferences can often be affected by ontogeny. Feed management plays a major role in the economical and environmental status of fish farms. This study was conducted for 6 weeks in the Sijual Bony Fishes Reproduce and Cultivate Center (Bandarturkmen, Golestan, Iran). Four feeding frequencies of three (A), four (B), five (C) and six (D) times per day were evaluated as treatments in triplicate for a period of six weeks. Carp fingerlings (2.97 cm/1.5 g) stocked at 30 numbers per replicate were fed with a commercial fish diet containing 32% crude protein at 5% of the biomass daily for the culture period. Chemical factors including dissolved oxygen 5.5-6 ppm, the temperature 26±2 °C and pH 7.5 to 8 were measured during of experiment. The highest growth was recorded in treatment D, the final length (4.15±0.02 cm) and weight (3.285±0.064 g) but did not differ significantly in different treatments (P>0.05). According to the results of this study, it was shown that feeding frequency was not affect body weight and body length gain of carp and there is no significant differences in the rate of feed conversion ratio, body weight index and survival (P>0.05). The results showed that there are significant differences with regard to the amount of specific growth rate, growth rate and condition factor in different treatments (P<0.05). Results of this study showed that increasing of feeding frequency was not affect growth and survival in Cyprinus carpio.
Effect of various concentrations of zinc on chlorophyll, starch, soluble sugars and proline in Naked pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo)

Naked pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is planted as a medicinal plant in Iran. This herb is effective against prostate cancer and its seeds are a rich source of zinc. It has been demonstrated anti- parasitic and anti-fungal effects. Zinc is one of the micronutrients essential for plant growth and development. In addition, zinc is a heavy metal and too much zinc can cause toxicity in most plants. Currently, environmental pollution, especially pollution from heavy metals due to industrial activities and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers cause irreparable damage to the plants. In this study examined the effect of different concentrations of Zn 2+ (control (zero), 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 mM) on chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, starch, soluble sugars and proline in naked pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo). Plants were treated for 14 days and after this time will be tested. Experimental design was a completely randomized design with four repetitions. Data were analyzed using software MSTAT-C, SPSS and Excel and mean comparisons were performed using the least significant difference test (LSD). The results showed that that high zinc concentrations decrease of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. However, soluble sugars and proline increased. These compounds are used in various stress for osmotic adjustment, preserve the enzymes and membranes in plant cells. Reduced starch is related to degrade it to soluble sugars. Correlations between traits showed a positive correlation exists between photosynthetic pigments and starch and their correlation with soluble sugar and proline is negative.