Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IMPACT OF BATH SOAP’ ATTRIBUTES ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION-AWAY TO ENHANCE OF BRAND LOYALTY

Customer satisfaction has been widely accepted as an important issue for many marketing managers especially for FMCG like bath soaps. It is commonly used as a marketing standard of a company's performance. It is generally believed that a satisfied customer is more likely to display loyalty behavior, i.e. repeat purchase and willingness to give positive opinion. This paper aims to examine the relationships between product attributes of bath soap and customer satisfaction, loyalty intention in the context of bath soap products.
Quantitative Assessment of Pubertal Development among Rural and Urban Adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria: A Comparison of Two Standard Instruments

Introduction: Pubertal development is a critical element in adolescents’ life and is affected by several factors. Studies with quantitative assessment of pubertal development of Nigerian adolescents are rare. Concerns about valid and practical assessment of pubertal development have led to the development of several instruments, but the possibility of differences in the rating of the instrument exists. This study compared the pubertal development of rural and urban school-based adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria,
Is the sovereign risk channel e¤ective under scal retrenchments? Evidence from the eurozone periphery

Sovereign and private sector default probabilities are introduced in a labor search monetary model to evaluate whether the consideration of a sovereign risk channel can a¤ect the sign and size of output and unemployment scal multipliers, an hypothesis recently appeared in the literature. The model is estimated using data of EZ peripheral countries and simulated conditional to di¤erent policy measures. We show that i) in the short term, the risk channel can operate in a pro-cyclical direction, amplifying the contractionary e¤ects of scal retrenchments; ii) the relation between government and credit interest rate spreads is weak, such that the risk channel is quantitatively ine¤ective, irrespective of the direction of change in the sovereign default probability. Key Words: default risk, interest rates, scal policy, monetary policy, Bayesian estimation. JEL Classi cation: E52, E62, E63, C11 * Corresponding author: massimiliano.tancioni@uniroma1.it. Department of Economics and Law Sapienza University of Rome. Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161, Rome, Italy. Tel. +39 0649766777. The authors are grateful to Efrem Castelnuovo, Jordi Gali, Salvatore Nistico, Alessandro Piergallini, Morten O. Ravn, Kenneth D. West for useful comments. All errors our own.
Stock Liquidity and Stock Return: The Moderating Role of Financial Constraint Using Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Objective – The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between stock liquidity and stock returns with a focus on the moderating role of financial constraints. Methodology/Technique – A structural equation modeling approach is applied in this research. The sample of this study consists of companies that were consistently listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2017. Findings – The results indicated that the financial constraints associated with stock liquidity and stock returns play a moderating role, and in particular, the relationship of these variables in firms with no financial constraints is much stronger than those with limited constraints. The results indicate that the effect of stock liquidity on stock returns in companies with financial constraints is different from that of the companies without financial constraints in a way that the effect of stock liquidity on stock return in health companies is stronger than that of the companies with financial constraint. Novelty it is suggested that capital market activists, financial analysts and potential and actual investors of stock exchanges, take into consideration the conditions and financial constraints of the companies.
Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Hospitals of Kohat District , Pakistan

Received: 2013-02-21 Revised: 2013-03-03 Accepted: 2013-03-09 The study was conducted to determine prevalence and analyze antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in two hospitals of District Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Staphylococcus strains (n = 434) comprising of 191 (44 %) MRSA and 243 (56 %) coagulase negative were isolated from different clinical samples and identified using conventional microbiological procedures. Majority of the isolates (15.55%) were identified from surgical ward followed by outdoor patient department (OPD, 14.70%). The percentage of MRSA in wound samples was highest (24.08 %) followed by pus samples (21.46 %) and vaginal swab (3.14 %). MRSA strains (n = 191) isolated from two hospitals of Kohat were resistant to amoxycillin (100%), followed by cefotaxime (76.43 %), ofloxacin (74 %), levofloxacin (70.15 %), erythromycin (69.10 %) and chloramphenicol (34.03 %). Highest sensitivity was found against vancomycin (99.55 %). A potentially alarming prevalence and multi drug resistance pattern found in MRSA isolates indicates major health concerns in remote district Kohat. All copyrights reserved to Nexus® academic publishers
WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE SHADOW ECONOMY IN ROMANIA? A COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT ESTIMATION APPROACHES

The paper aims to estimate the shadow economy (SE) in Romania using quarterly data covering the period 2000–2014 by some most utilized macro econometric approaches: the currency demand approach, the MIMIC model and the labor approach. Principal component analysis and dynamic factor models are applied to construct a composite index of the estimated series. Taking into account that all macro econometric methods produce inaccurate outcomes in terms of absolute estimates of the SE, we find that the three estimated series showed evident similarities as concern trends. Accordingly, a composite index of SE can be considered a useful tool to grasp the development of the informality.
Cytotoxic mechanism of Bothrops jararaca venom mediated by mitochondrial depolarization

Background: Snake venoms are natural sources of proteins and peptides with several biological activities. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro toxicity of crude Bothrops jararaca (B. jararaca) venom on different human tumor cells and investigate its action mechanism. Material and methods: The crude venom from B. jararaca was provided by State Foundation for Health Research and Production and Center of Toxicological Information of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. To investigate different sensitivities of normal and cancer cell lines, cell viability was measured by using the MTT and neutral red uptake assays.
The Role of Programmed Cell Death in the Reorganization of Bovine Corpus Luteal Cells

| The precise timing of the synthesis and degradation of steroid hormones is crucial for reproductive success. Despite its importance, the luteolytic phenomenon is not well understood, as there is little information regarding the process of luteal cell death during the development of the corpus luteum. In this study, we investigated factors associated with apoptosis during corpus luteum formation according to luteal stage. To determine the function of programmed cell death at the early stage of corpus luteum development, we examined the expression patterns of apoptosisand autophagy-related genes, which play important roles in the structural regression of the corpus luteum, and found that they were similar to or slightly different from the expression pattern of 20α-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase. The levels of TNF and Casp-3, which induce apoptosis, were decreased at early luteal stages (CH2 and CH3), while the expression of autophagy genes was high between the CH3 and CL3 stages, and the expression of ATG5, P62, and MAP1LC3A-II, which are autophagy-activating factors, began to increase substantially in theca cells, which are later transformed into luteal cells. Based on the results of these experiments, luteal cells are not simply reorganized by cell apoptosis but instead, a yet unknown hormone control mechanism affects autophagy in early luteal cells and apoptosis at later stages, and plays an important role in the increased hormone synthesis and reorganization of luteal cells.
Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of oral hypoglycemic drugs available in Indian market

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Various drugs are available in market with different brand names and with wide variations in the prices. This study is done to find out the percentage variation of cost among different brands of oral hypoglycemic drugs available in Indian market. Methods: The cost of a particular oral hypoglycemic drug being manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms, was referred from ‘‘Indian Drug Today (January March 2017) ’’. The difference between the maximum and minimum prices of same drug was analyzed and percentage variation in the prices and cost ratio were calculated. Results: In Single drug therapy, among sulfonylurea group of drugs, Glimepiride (1 mg) shows maximum price variation of 892%. The price variation of Metformin (500 mg), Pioglitazone (15 mg) and Vildagliptin were 492%, 486.1% & 1.91% respectively. In α-glucosidase inhibitors Voglibose showed maximum price variation of 151.4 %. Among meglitinides, Regaglinide (0.5mg) showed maximum price variation of 93.1%. In combination therapies, Glimepride + Metformin (1 mg + 500 mg) combination showed the maximum variation of 346 % Conclusion: This study shows a wide variation in the prices of most of the oral hypoglycemic drugs available in India. Physicians have to select cost effective drug reducing the economic burden on population.
Proportion, etiology and recurrence of urinary tract infections in females of reproductive age attending out-patient clinics in Kwale and Kinango sub-county hospitals

Background information: Community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur mostly in women and are commonly caused by Escherichia Coli. Objective and Study design: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Kwale and Kinango Sub-county hospitals aimed to determine the proportion and etiology of UTI among female attending the outpatient department for a period of twelve months (September 2014September 2015). Methods: Mid-stream urine samples (MSU) were collected from 766 no-pregnant female who consented in our study and fulfilled other study criteria. For identification of uropathogens, we employed both quantitative culture techniques and antibiotic sensitivity tests using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique where 14 antibiotics were used. Results: Women aged between 15-29 years old were the most affected, 152(19.8%) with those living in rural area having the disease more than those in urban area. Disease status was high among the married women 141(18.4%), single, 66(8.6%) and divorced, 13(1.6%) than the single or divorced female who took part in the study. Out of the 766 samples collected, 220 (28.9%) had significant bacterial growth, thus having urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli the most predominant uropathogen isolate. Other microbial agent isolated included Pseudomonas aureginosa 28(12.8%)>26(11.8%) Staphylococcus aureus >20(9.1%) Staphylococcus saprophiticus and 20 (9.1%) Proteus mirabilis. Candida albicans was also isolated in 29(13.18%) of the samples suggesting candidiasis. Overall, in vitro susceptibility drug tests were: Doxycycline (85%), Minocycline (83.3%) and Ciprofloxacin (78%) as the most sensitive drugs while the drug with the lowest sensitivity was Ampicillin (31%). An overall urinary tract infection proportions of 28.9% observed in this study shows the clinical and epidemiological significance attained by urinary tract infection. Conclusion: Doxycycline was the most sensitive antibiotic to uropathogens isolated but Ampicillin had the lowest sensitivity. We do recommend for an evidence based management of urinary tract infections, for both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases by making microbial screening including culture as a compulsory investigation for all patients suspected to have urinary tract infections. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 12-05-2018 Date of acceptance: 29-05-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Sweet Home : ( Mis-) Beliefs About the Extent to Which Home Ownership Makes Happy ∗

“Home sweet home” or the belief that home ownership makes people happy is probably one of the most widespread intuitive theories of happiness. However, whether home ownership delivers what it promises is an open question. Based on individual panel data, we explore whether homebuyers systematically overestimate the happiness associated with living in their privately owned property. To identify potential prediction errors, we compare people’s forecasts of their life satisfaction in five years’ time with their actual realisations. We find that while moving into a purchased dwelling is associated with higher life satisfaction, people systematically overestimate the long-term satisfaction gain. Moreover, misprediction seems most pronounced for people who follow extrinsically-oriented life goals. In sum, our results suggest that people, on average, hold inaccurate beliefs about the extent to which home ownership makes them happy.
An Agent-Based Model of the Automobile Insurance Market with an Endogenous Underwriting Cycle

We develop an agent-based model of the automobile insurance market, characterized by heterogenous and boundedly rational insurers in a monopolistically competitive market differentiated by non-price characteristics over which buyers have preferences. This contrasts with conventional economic models with homogeneous, representative insurers, sharing a common goal of profit maximization. Our model is calibrated and validated on UK insurance data. Time series analysis demonstrates that cycles in market loss ratios emerge endogenously, even in the absence of factors such as capital shocks and interest rate fluctuations.
Capital Structure and Profitability of Insurance Firms Listed At Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

Recent trends indicate a decline in profitability of insurance firms in Kenya mainly attributed to poor investment and financing decisions. According to the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Kenya, the combined industry profit before tax (PBT) declined from 14.1 billion in 2015 to 12.8 billion in 2016 which represented a decline of 9.21 percent. The poor state of profitability does not exempt firms listed in Nairobi Securities Exchange. While capital structure decision has been fronted as one of the determinants of profitability, there is scarcity of empirical evidence on this subject especially with regard to the insurance industry. To thrive, the insurance firms should adopt financing decisions that best places them in a position to compete and survive in the ever changing business environment. Whereas studies have been done on this area, gaps remain unresolved on the need to consider other components of capital of firms in the analysis such as gearing level, the need to replicate the study locally and expand the indicators of equity financing embraced in the analysis. Specifically, the study sought to establish the effect of short term debt ,long term debt, internal equity and external equity capital on profitability of insurance firms listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya as well as the moderating role of capital intensity on the relationship between capital structure and profitability of insurance firms listed at Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya. The study adopted positivist research philosophy and causal research design. The target population comprised of all the 6 insurance firms listed in Kenyan Securities Exchange over the period 2011 to 2018. The study used secondary data which was collected using a document review guide. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The study found that long-term debt had a significant effect on profitability (p<0.05), short term debt had a significant effect on profitability (p<0.05), internal equity had a significant effect on profitability (p<0.05), external equity had a significant effect on profitability (p<0.05) and lastly capital intensity did not have moderating effect on the relationship between capital structure and profitability (p>0.05). Hence, capital structure financing sources significantly predicted profitability; however, the joint effect of the capital structure sources had an insignificant effect on profitability of the firms studied. Hence, the study recommended that companies should combine financing sources that contribute positively towards profitability. Keyword: Short-term debt, long-term debt, internal equity, External equity and Capital intensity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 26-10-2019 Date of Acceptance: 11-11-2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MIX DESIGN AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SELF-COMPACTING COCONUT SHELL AGGREGATE CONCRETE

This paper presents report of experimental works on the mix design and fresh properties of self-compacting lightweight aggregate concrete (SCLWC) blended with fly ash using coconut shell as coarse aggregate. After 35 initial trial mixes, 5 final mixtures were prepared with various amount of cement replacement with fly ash (0 – 25% by weight of cement) at the same water/binder ratio of 0.33 and same percentage of superplasticizer (1.75% by weight of binder). The fresh properties of SCLWC were investigated by means of slump flow, T500, V-funnel, L-box, wet sieve segregation and wet density. Results showed that fly ash blended SCLWC with coconut shell as coarse aggregate performed satisfactorily in flowability, viscosity and passing ability. In particular, mixtures with15% and 20% cement replacement with fly ash gave very good results. Keyword: coconut shell, concrete, fly ash, self-compacting, mix design, lightweight aggregate.
Efficacy of sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulphate in the treatment of pyogenic granuloma

Objective To determine the efficacy of sclerotherapy in treating pyogenic granuloma. Methods The present study was conducted at outpatient Department Dermatology, Unit I, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. 35 patients were enrolled and were injected with 0.1ml of 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate with the help of an insulin syringe, without local anesthesia, till the point of blanching. Patient was called weekly for two weeks for follow up to see clearance of the lesion and then after 3 months to see any recurrence using a caliper. Results The mean age of the patients was 28.48±11.64 years. 42.9% patients were males and 57.1% patients were females. Complete clearance of lesion was found in 30 (85.7%) patients whereas 2 (5.7%) patients showed no reduction. Conclusion Sclerotherapy is an effective procedure for the treatment of pyogenic granuloma patients.
Synthetic Salicylates and / or Pioglitazone Ameliorative Effect in Type 2 Induced Diabetic Rats

| Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance followed by pancreatic islet Beta-cell failure. Inflammation plays a crucial role in both insulin resistance and pancreatic Beta-cell failure. Salicylates and pioglitazone are known to have antidiabetic effect and are used for treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This experiment was designed to investigate the antidiabetic effect of low and high doses of salicylates either alone or in combination with pioglitazone. Seventy male albino rats were randomly divided into seven groups: control, untreated diabetic, diabetic treated with low dose of salicylates (10 mg /kg/day), diabetic treated with high dose of salicylates (120 mg/kg/day), diabetic treated with pioglitazone (10 mg /kg/day), diabetic treated with both low salicylates and pioglitazone and diabetic treated with both high salicylates and pioglitazone. T2D was induced following 12 weeks high fat and high fructose (HFHF) dietary protocol. Both low and high doses of salicylates alone or in combination with pioglitazone ameliorate hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, reduced the level of proinflammatory cytokines and increased adiponectin with activation of PPAR-γ and inhibition of NF-kβ. Co-administration of salicylates and pioglitazone was more effective in improving overall metabolic parameters compared to each of the monotherapy. Collectively, administration of acetylsalicylic acid, even at low doses, has the ability to potentiate the PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone suggesting a new combination for therapeutic applications.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR DISCLOSURE QUALITY AND INVESTOR RESPONSIVENESS TO EARNINGS NEWS

This study investigates whether there is a relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure quality and investor responsiveness to earnings news. The notion is that CSR disclosure quality can signal earnings quality. Given that investors recognise and react to the signal, this would lead to a stronger (weaker) market reaction for firms with good CSR disclosure quality announcing good (bad) earnings news. A sample of 68 Large and Mid Cap industrial firms listed on Nasdaq Nordic is used. Looking into the Annual and CSR Reports for fiscal year 2014 for each of the sample firms, CSR disclosure quality aims to measure the perceived underlying CSR performance. The disclosure quality is graded based on economic, environmental and social indicators suggested by the Global Reporting Initiative as well as the reporting quality criteria auditability, business model relevance and comparability. An event study methodology is used to observe the Earnings Response Coefficients (ERCs) for different levels of CSR disclosure quality. The results provide no strong evidence for a relationship between CSR disclosure quality and investor responsiveness to earnings news. The results, however, give some indication that there is a positive (negative) relationship between CSR disclosure quality and investor responsiveness to good (bad) earnings news. The relationship is more evident for bad news, and is amplified for CSR disclosure quality that only captures business model relevant CSR activities.