Time-Varying Optimal Hedge Ratio for Brent Oil Market

This paper examines the optimal hedging ratio (OHR) for the Brent Crude Oil Futures using daily data over the period 1990/17/8-2014/11/3. To estimate OHR, we employ multivariate BEKK MV-GARCH model. At last, the efficiency of this approach are compared with the constant OHR captured from OLS through Edrington's index

Kajian impact of emotional intelligence on monolingual and bilingual students’ academic achievement

At the time of entering primary school, language merely a practical value for the child. The first language has a deep root in human being. However, there are children who learn two languages together in their language-learning ages and face no problems. The reason for this difference can be found in the level of these children’s intelligence, parents’ and friends’ attitudes, and also that of the child him/herself towards learning and using the second language. The present study has been started by collecting some questionnaires answered by 94 elementary school teachers. By analyzing the data obtained from questionnaires it has been concluded that the higher the rate of emotional intelligence is in students, the higher is their educational achievement rate and vice versa. Following the analysis in different aspects of emotional intelligence it is concluded that self-awareness aspect is significant in both monolinguals and bilinguals. Self-management aspect and relationship management is significant only in case of monolinguals. Consequently, training special teachers and taking the advantage of native teachers in bilingual regions, also the manner of increasing the emotional intelligence in students should be taught to elementary school teachers

Investigating the Consumer Attitude toward Green Marketing

Recently climate change issues have come to the forefront. Climate change is a global challenge. It is a threat to social and economic stability and sustainable human existence. There is no doubt that climate change affects the fundamental requirement for health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient green food and secured shelter. Many measures have to be planned for and taken into account when adapting to climate changes .As a third world country Bangladesh can place a good phenomena in climate change through adapting consumer attitude towards green marketing . According to the study, consumers are very much sensitive in a few factors. These factors are consumer’s loyalty about green product, Global warming and environmental safety, quality of product, concern about extra price and Luxury and Environmental awareness. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing data. And we distribute 120 questionnaires among the people. And for analyses the data, we use correlation and regression, according to that all of the hypotheses accepted. Keywords: Green product, Green consumer, Corporate Social responsibility, Green marketing

Comparison of Demographic Characteristics of Methamphetamine versus Opioid Users in an Addiction Treatment Center: A Case Study

Background & Objectives: Opioid use has a long history in Iran. In recent years, with the changing pattern of drug use from traditional to industrial substances, the use of stimulants, especially methamphetamine has been increased. The aim of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics of methamphetamine and opioid users in a selected addiction treatment center in Zahedan city. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study that was done in the period from April to March 2015 on the record of 156 users of methamphetamine or opioids referred to the selected addiction treatment center in Zahedan. The required information was collected from patients' records. Data analysis was done using chi-square and logistic regression and through SPSS software (version 21). Results: Most of the participants were male (89.7%), less than 35 years (50.6%), married (59%), employed (60.3%), illiterate or with primary education (35.9%). In terms of age, methamphetamine users were significantly younger than opioid users (P=0.004). The two groups did not have a significant difference in terms of gender (P =0.15), education level (P= 0.6) and marital status (P=0.94). In addition, in terms of job status, the majority of methamphetamine users, unlike opioid users, were unemployed (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that use of methamphetamine, in comparison to opioid, is more prevalent in younger and unemployed people; therefore, through promoting cultural and educational opportunities for youths, this kind of problems can be prevented. Key¬words: Demographic characteristics, Methamphetamine, Opioid, addiction treatment center, Users ¬Citation: Ebrahiminia M, Ebrahiminia M, Azizi M. Comparison of Demographic Characteristics of Methamphetamine versus Opioid Users in an Addiction Treatment Center: A Case Study. Journal of Health Based Research 2017; 3(1): 13-24

CONSUMPTION PREFERENCES, TIME AND UNCERTAINTY: IMPACTS ON RETAIL PRICING TACTICS

My dissertation is a collection of three essays with analytical models at the interface of marketing and operations with a focus on pricing. The common theme in this dissertation is studying the effect of the consumer-driven demand on the optimal operational decisions of a single firm. This dissertation includes co-authored material. In my first essay, I study the role of consumers' opposing perceptions of green quality on the optimal product line decisions, i.e., products, prices and quality by analyzing the firm's optimization problem and incorporating an endogenous demand model that emerges from the consumers' preferences while considering the cost implications of introducing a green product. My second essay is on optimal timing of price discounts. Delaying discounts, i.e., giving discounts on future spending based on current spending is a prevalent retail discounting practice. For a market of rational and forward-looking consumers who repeatedly visit and purchase with the firm, we analyze the relative efficacy of delayed credits vs. a natural alternative of immediate discounts. In my third essay, I explore a firm's optimal pricing strategy when it simultaneously rents and sells a product for which consumers have a priori valuation uncertainty

Effect of Shark Liver Oil on Peritoneal Murine Macrophages in Responses to Killed-Candida albicans

Objective(s)Shark Liver Oil (SLO) is an immunomodulator. Macrophages play a key role in host defense against pathogens like fungi. Candida albicans have mechanisms to escape immune system. We determined the effect of killed-Candida on the in vitro viability of macrophages and the effect of SLO on augmentation of this potency.Materials and MethodsPeritoneal macrophages were separated and cultured (3×105/well). At first, the effect of killed-Candida (200 cells/well) on macrophage viability was evaluated, using MTT test. Then, MTT was performed on macrophages stimulated with killed-Candida in the presence of SLO. ResultsKilled-Candida suppressed the ability of MTT reduction and hence macrophages viability (P=0.026), but addition of SLO (100 mg/ml) significantly enhanced cell viability (P=0.00). So, SLO could neutralize the inhibitory effect of Candida.ConclusionSimultaneous with cytotoxic effect of killed-Candida cells on macrophages viability, SLO augment macrophages viability. So, it can be applied in candidiasis as a complement