Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IMPACT OF MATERIALISM ON IMPULSIVE BUYING: MEDIATING ROLE OF CREDIT CARD USE AND BRAND LOYALTY

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of materialism on impulsive buying behavior considering credit card use and brand loyalty as mediators between the relationship of materialism and impulsive buying in the Pakistani context. Paper, as well as electronic questionnaires, were used to collect data from consumers. In order to examine the hypotheses, regression analysis was performed. In addition, hierarchal regression method was used to test the mediators. The findings of the study indicated that materialism positively impacts credit card use, brand loyalty, and impulsive buying. Furthermore, credit card usage and brand loyalty mediate the relationship between materialism and impulsive buying. All hypotheses were supported except one regarding the association between brand loyalty and impulsive buying. The study was conducted on consumers of Pakistan. It might be possible that consumers of different regions may have different attitudes. The findings are beneficial for firms and marketers who always try to achieve a match between their offerings and consumer’s dispositions. The study contributes to the existing literature by examining the *The authors are respectively Ex-Member at PPSC, Director General Anti-Corruption and Secretary to the Government and Assistant Professors & Research Scholar at Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan -Pakistan. Corresponding author’s e-mail: talatislam@yahoo.com 24 Pakistan Economic and Social Review mediating role of brand loyalty which was not previously examined at large.
A Psychometric Comparison of Different Health Utility Measures in Patients Affected by Parkinson’s Disease

NURSING ECONOMIC$/September-October 2018/Vol. 36/No. 5 IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAS been an increasing interest in using economic evaluation, particularly cost-effectiveness analysis, as a relevant argument to decide which new healthcare technologies should be publicly financed. A critical element in evaluating health interventions is the measurement and valuation of health outcomes. Clinical measures were used extensively in the past, but now there is a consensus regarding the importance of taking into account more comprehensive measures. In chronic diseases, especially those affecting patients’ quality of life, the subjective perception of their own disease and well-being is crucial and need to be considered both by nursing professionals and by patient associations or family, since sometimes professional opinions differ from the subjective perception of patients (Murray & Lopez, 1997; Pickard & Knight, 2005). This perception, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (Guyatt, Feeny, & Patrick, 1993), is measured through questionnaires. HRQoL shows how a healthcare condition or intervention affects a patient’s health by J.M. Cordero-Ferrera F.I. Sánchez-Martínez J.M. Abellán-Perpiñán B. del Pozo-Cruz D. Collado-Mateo J.C. Adsuar M.A. Garcia-Gordillo
Vibration Fracture Mechanism and Optimization Design of Array Power Supply for Near-Space SAR

The random vibration failure of an array power supply for near-space SAR was analyzed. The fracture mechanism and the fracture reason of fracture formation in the specimen were investigated. The results show that antishock MOS pin breaks first, and the power supply is still in the working state during the process of random vibration. This caused dischargings at the tip of the fracture and melting of the tip of the broken pin which form a river-shaped fracture and granular tissue. The plastic fracture with typical dimple morphology of the pins for the resistor tube occurred during the random vibration. The intergranular fracture appeared at the welding part of the electronic components for array power supply, which presented a brittle fracture mechanism. The fracture was dominated by a ductile fracture for components when the stress produced by the vibration was close to the yield strength of the material. The fracture was dominated by a brittle fracture for components when the stress produced by the vibration was far beyond the yield strength of the material. A simulation evaluation system based on the high-confidence model was proposed. The stress of the electronic components for array power supply and its welding was much lower than the allowable strength of the material by the optimization of the structure and the form of the welding for the array power supply. The sample was successfully tested and verified without any further fracture problems.
Predicting Wheat Futures Prices in India

This paper addresses the question of whether Indian wheat futures prices can be forecast. This would add to our knowledge whether wheat futures market is efficient, and would enable brokers, traders and speculators to develop profitable trading strategy, and would help in hedging against the changes in spot prices. We employ the economic variable model to predict the evolution of wheat futures prices, and employ point out of sample forecasts. We also evaluate the robustness of our results by employing several alternative specifications, viz. ARMA process and artificial neural network technique. The study finds that the random walk model outperforms all the four models, implying that the futures price of wheat cannot be forecast.
Are Personal Electric Vehicles Sustainable? A Hybrid E-Bike Case Study

As the title suggests, the sustainability of personal electric vehicles is in question. In terms of life span, range, comfort, and safety, electric vehicles, such as e-cars and e-buses, are much better than personal electric vehicles, such as e-bikes. However, electric vehicles present greater costs and increased energy consumption. Also, the impact on environment, health, and fitness is more negative than that of personal electric vehicles. Since transportation vehicles can benefit from hybrid electric storage solutions, we address the following question: Is it possible to reach a compromise between sustainability and technology constraints by implementing a low-cost hybrid personal electric vehicle with improved life span and range that is also green? Our methodology consists of life cycle assessment and performance analyses tackling the facets of the sustainability challenges (economy, society, and environment) and limitations of the electric storage solutions (dependent on technology and application) presented herein. The hybrid electric storage system of the proposed hybrid e-bike is made of batteries, supercapacitors, and corresponding power electronics, allowing the optimal control of power flows between the system’s components and application’s actuators. Our hybrid e-bike costs less than a normal e-bike (half or less), does not depend on battery operation for short periods of time (a few seconds), has better autonomy than most personal electric vehicles (more than 60 km), has a greater life span (a few years more than a normal e-bike), has better energy efficiency (more than 90%), and is much cleaner due to the reduced number of batteries replaced per life time (one instead of two or three).
Unpicking Oversimplification: Relief and Flare Studies for Complex Plant using Dynamic Process Modelling

“First-cut” and “bounding” case scenarios have their place early on in safety assessment for hazardous sites. They act to provide a screening tool to help understand where the real hazards may lie with a plant and provide a clear basis for subsequent safety analysis, studies and cases. However, application of simplistic approaches to assessment of process systems in fault conditions can lead to grossly over-engineered systems and worst of all, misunderstanding and dilution of attention and resources from unrevealed hazards and necessary risk reductions.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF THE ATOMIC TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN SILICON AND POLYSILICON AND APPLICATIONS

In the context of the efforts of modelling and simulation of the impurity diffusion and other transport phenomena in silicon and in polysilicon, there are presented our results concerning the boron, phosphorus, antimony, arsenic and gold diffusion in silicon and its influence on the forward characteristic of the p-n junction, the critical conditions for the generation of the misfit dislocations, the gettering process of metallic impurities, the self-limited etching process of silicon boron doped layers and the doping-restructuring of polysilicon during the phosphorus diffusion in polysilicon for the membrane achievement.
ENRICHED TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS ENCODING THE SAME

Ahe, Von der D. , Janich, S. , Scheidereit, C. , Renkawitz, R. , Schutz, G. , and Beato, M. (1985). Glucocorticoid and progesterone receptorS bind to the Same Sites in two hor monally regulated promoters. Nature, 313, 706-709. Baumhueter, S. , Mendel, D. B. , Conley, P. B. , Kuo, C. J., Turk, C. , Graves, M. K. , Edwards, C. A. , Courtois, G. , and Crabtree, G. R. (1990). HNF-1 shares three sequence motifs with the POU domain proteins and is identical to LF-B1 and APF. Genes and Development 4, 372-379. Beato, M. (1989). Gene regulation by steroid hormones. Cell 56, 335-344. Bell, J. Ellis, 1988, Protein Purification: Affinity Chroma tography. Proteins and Enzymes Prentice-Hall Inc. 45-63. Birkenmeier, E.H. , Gwynn, B. , Howard, S. , Jerry, J., Gor don, J.I. , Landschulz, W.H. , and McKnight, S.L. (1989). TiSSue-Specific expression, developmental regulation and mapping of the gene encoding CCAAT/enhancer binding protein. Genes and Development, 3, 1146-1156. Brand, N. , Petkovich.M. , Krust, A. , Chambon, P., de The, H. , Marchio, A. , Tiollais, P., and Dejean, A. (1988). Identi fication of a Second human retinoic acid receptor. Nature, 332, 850-853. Briggs, M.R. , Kadonaga, J.T. , Bell, S.P., and Tian, R. (1986) Purification and biochemical characterization of the promoter-specific transcription factor, Sp1. Science, 234, 47-52
Creaky Joints and Bleeding Gums: The Interactions between Periodontal Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement • Dr. Garner reports no conflicts of interest associated with this course. • Dr. Geisinger has been or is currently a co-investigator and/or principal investigator on research funded entirely or in part by The Procter & Gamble Company. All funds were used for research endeavors and not for personal gain. Dr. Geisinger has not accepted any payment from dentalcare.com for participation in this continuing education course.
NONLINEARITIES IN THE PRESENT VALUE MODEL OF STOCK PRICES; ENHANCED ESTIMATION AND FORECASTING USING EXPONENTIAL SMOOTH TRANSITION AUTOREGRESSIVE MODELS; A MULTI- COUNTRY ANALYSIS

This paper examines whether the present value model of stock prices should be modelled as a nonlinear exponential smooth autoregressive model in sixteen financial markets for the period 1973:012002:02. Using a novel approach that allows for the joint testing of nonlinearity and nonstationarity, we reject the null hypothesis of linearity and that of a nonlinear unit root in thirteen countries. We find evidence of a nonlinear cointegrating relationship. This evidence together with nonlinear impulse response functions indicates that while stock prices may reflect their fundamentals in the long run, they deviate for periods of time.
Popularity, Gender, and Social Inclusion Among Girls in Ethnically Diverse Contexts in Norway

This article discusses the phenomenon of popularity and its implications for gender construction, social inclusion, and gender equality among girls in two ethnically diverse contexts in Norway. At one field site, girls of immigrant origin were a majority, at the other they were a minority. Based on detailed ethnographic methodology and participant observation over time, this study shows that the crucial dimensions of popularity overlap with “economies of dignity” and vary according to whether the ethnic Norwegians are in a minority or majority position. The dimensions of popularity, which include the importance of attracting the male gaze, are connected to consumption. My results suggest that consumption influences girls’ construction of gender, and may have negative consequences for the inclusion of immigrant girls when in a minority, because they often live in low-income families. The article concludes that the overlap between the dimensions of popularity and the tokens of value of the economies of dignity underlines the importance of how power, through popularity, works among children. One implication of this power is that neither ethnic Norwegian girls nor girls of immigrant origin appear to live in a climate of gender equality.
Efficacy of a Treatment for Gonarthrosis Based on the Sequential Intra-Articular Injection of Linear and Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acids

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 SUMMARY Background. This study evaluates the clinical and biochemical effects of sequential intra-articular (IA) injections of linear (LHA) and cross-linked hyaluronic acid (CLHA) in patients with Gonarthrosis (GA). Methods. Thirty-nine (39) patients (age 64.89 ± 8.83) received first the LHA injection (0.8-1.2 MDa, 32mg/2ml) and after 1 week the CLHA (1.0 MDa and 2.0 MDa, 75mg/3ml) one; this round was repeated after 6 months. Clinical assessments i.e. ultrasonography, visual analogic scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index were performed at baseline and at specific time points up to 12 months. Relevant markers were determined in blood and synovial fluid (SF) at selected intervals. SF from patients with recurrent effusion was subjected to proteomic analysis. Results. This schedule improved joint pain and function, and promoted a reduction of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-9 and IL-17) in plasma and SF; cartilage thickness increased at 12 months and the increase negatively correlated with the baseline levels of C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II). SF proteomic revealed that proteins associated with inflammation (Apolipoprotein A-1, α-1 antitrypsin and IgK) decreased, while the IL-1 inhibitor Transthyretin increased. Conclusions. This schedule represents an effective treatment whose benefits persist up to 12 months after baseline.
Factors that Differentiate Preadolescents' Perception-Change of Parental Legitimacy

Whether preadolescents perceive their parents’ authority as legitimate or not depends, in part, on the concerns and issues that they have dealt with before and during their preadolescence. Utilizing data from the first and second waves of the São Paulo Legal Socialization Study (SPLSS), we conducted one-way MANOVAs to analyze the role of procedural justice and the impact of victimization on preadolescents’ perceptions of parental legitimacy across domains. Preadolescents were split into four distinct groups based on their perceptions of parental legitimacy and whether the perception shifted across the two waves of data. The study revealed a significant difference across groups in terms of procedural justice and on preadolescents’ reported victimization levels. The latter indicate that suffering some form of victimization may have resulted in delegitimizing parental authority. The findings broaden the literature on parenting practices in preadolescence and make salient an emerging field of victimization impacting parental legitimacy.
SHOCK TEMPERATURE RECORDED BY GRAPHITE IN UREILITES FROM ALMAHATA SITTA

Anna Barbaro, M. Chiara Domeneghetti Moreno Meneghetti, Lucio Litti, Anna Maria Fioretti, Cyrena Goodrich, Oliver Christ, Frank E. Brenker, Muawia H. Shaddad, Matteo Alvaro, Fabrizio Nestola; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (anna.barbaro01@universitadipavia.it; chiara.domeneghetti@unipv.it); Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; CNR Institute of Geoscience and Earth Resources, Padova, Italy; Lunar and Planetary Institute, USRA, Houston TX USA (goodrich@lpi.usra.edu); Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy (fabrizio.nestola@unipd.it); Geoscience Institute, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan;
Banco Central de Chile Documentos de Trabajo Central Bank of Chile Working Papers

Macroeconomic volatility is the outcome of countries’ exposure to shocks (the magnitude and frequency of shocks that hit their economies) and their vulnerability (the ability to respond to these shocks). This paper conjectures that countries with higher degrees of trade and financial integration are better prepared to withstand shocks to output growth. Theoretically, the impact of trade and financial openness is ambiguous. Hence, our problem becomes an empirical one. Using a sample of 82 countries for the period 1975-2005, we find that the response of growth volatility to rising trade and financial openness depends upon some country characteristics. We find that: (a) trade openness stabilizes output fluctuations in countries with well-diversified economic structures, (b) financial openness mitigates growth volatility in countries with low debt-equity ratios, (c) domestic financial depth helps smoothing out the destabilizing effect of financial openness on growth volatility, (d) countries with higher trade openness are less prone to output drops, and (e) countries with higher financial openness are more likely to experience sharp drops in real output only if their external liabilities are more biased towards debt than equity.
Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Sprouts from Seeds of Citrus Species

Seeds from Citrus species represent a relevant by-product of the juice industry and a potential source of bioactive compounds such as phenols and other antioxidants. Sprouting could be an intriguing idea to enhance the content of these compounds, as explored for other fruittree species. In this experiment, the sprouting performance, the concentration of total phenols and phenolic acids, and the antioxidant activity of seeds and sprouts were evaluated for bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L. seedlings), blonde orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv.Biondocomune), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck seedlings), lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck cv.Femminello), and mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv.Tardivo di Ciaculli). The germination was high for all genotypes except for mandarin, but it took 4–8 weeks. Sprouts did not differ among genotypes for size and generally had hard consistency of cotyledons and a bitter taste. The concentrations of total phenols and phenolic acids of seeds and sprouts varied with the genotype, while the antioxidant activity was not statistically different among treatments. Sprouting increased both the concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity but no correlation was found between them, suggesting that other antioxidants, besides phenols, are present. Given the slow germination and the bitter taste, Citrus sprouts appear unsuitable for homemade production aimed at direct consumption, while they may have perspectives for extraction of food additives, cosmetics, and pharmaceutics.
Seroepidemiological and Molecular Study of Toxoplasmosis in the Blood Donors and Applicants for Marriage peoples in the Babylon Province, Iraq

Identification and seroepidemiological and molecular study were conducted for blood donors and applicants for marriage to investingate the infected person with Toxoplasmosis in the Babylon province for two sexes during the period from November 2014 till February 2015, ELISA technique for 140 serume samples for blood donors and 166 serume samples for Applicants for marriage and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for 66 blood samples (where positive with ELISA technique ), according to epidemiological criterions (area region , Sex ,age group ). The results showed that the total toxoplasmosis samples positive using the ELISA antibody IgG (34%) and antibody IgM (% 3) for blood donors and antibody IgG (24%) and antibody IgM (% 5). polymerase chain reaction technique was 8(21.6%) for blood donors while was 12(41.37%) for Applicants for marriage the results showed that Prevalence of toxoplasmosis was slightly higher in rural area than compared to cities when using the three detecting methods, infection in male highly frequency when using ELISA and PCR technique compared with females . all age groups and ages generally more than 35 years more vulnerable to infection .
QUANTITATIVE FINANCE RESEARCH CENTRE QUANTITATIVE F INANCE RESEARCH CENTRE QUANTITATIVE FINANCE RESEARCH CENTRE

This paper presents an empirical study on hedging long-dated crude oil futures options with forward price models incorporating stochastic interest rates and stochastic volatility. Several hedging schemes are considered including delta, gamma, vega and interest rate hedge. Factor hedging is applied to the proposed multi-dimensional models and the corresponding hedge ratios are estimated by using historical crude oil futures prices, crude oil option prices and Treasury yields. Hedge ratios from stochastic interest rate models consistently improve hedging performance over hedge ratios from deterministic interest rate models, an improvement that becomes more pronounced over periods with high interest rate volatility, such as during the GFC. An interest rate hedge consistently improves hedging beyond delta, gamma and vega hedging, especially when shorter maturity contracts are used to roll the hedge forward. Furthermore, when the market experiences high interest rate volatility and the hedge is subject to high basis risk, adding interest rate hedge to delta hedge provides an improvement, while adding gamma and/or vega to the delta hedge worsens performance.
Anti-inflammatory effects of two platelet-rich gel supernatants in an in vitro system of ligament desmitis

1 Grupo de Investigación Terapia Regenerativa, Departamento de Salud Animal, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No 26-10, Manizales, Colombia 2 Grupo de Investigación en Medicina Veterinaria GIVET, Corporación Universitaria Lasallista, Carrera 51 No 118Sur-57, Caldas, Antioquia, Colombia 3 Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Veterinarias, Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja S/N, Valdivia, Chile. Becario Doctorado Nacional CONICYT