Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Buying Behavior of Western European Food Retailers

Abstract The aim of this study has been to analyze important aspects of buying behavior of food retailers, i.e., trade buyers' evaluation of product and vendor attributes, based on a number of background variables, when choosing a new supplier of an already well-known product category. The study encompassed the retailers' buying behavior for pork, fish and cheese products. By conducting a conjoint analysis in sixteen Western European countries (15 'old' EU Countries (except Luxemburg), plus Norway and Austria), it is demonstrated that the traditional four Ps are losing ground to some previously neglected attributes, and that it is possible to generalise retailers' buying behavior for different food products across countries, retail organizations, and buyers.
Consortium for osteogenesis imperfecta mutations in the helical domain of type I collagen: regions rich in lethal mutations align with collagen binding sites for integrins and proteoglycans

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a generalized disorder of connective tissue characterized by fragile bones and easy susceptibility to fracture. Most cases of OI are caused by mutations in type I collagen. We have identified and assembled structural mutations in type I collagen genes (COL1A1 and COL1A2, encoding the proα1(I) and proα2(I) chains, respectively) that result in OI. Quantitative defects causing type I OI were not included. Of these 832 independent mutations, 682 result in substitution for glycine residues in the triple helical domain of the encoded protein and 150 alter splice sites. Distinct genotype–phenotype relationships emerge for each chain. One‐third of the mutations that result in glycine substitutions in α1(I) are lethal, especially when the substituting residues are charged or have a branched side chain. Substitutions in the first 200 residues are nonlethal and have variable outcome thereafter, unrelated to folding or helix stability domains. Two exclusively lethal regions (helix positions 691–823 and 910–964) align with major ligand binding regions (MLBRs), suggesting crucial interactions of collagen monomers or fibrils with integrins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), fibronectin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). Mutations in COL1A2 are predominantly nonlethal (80%). Lethal substitutions are located in eight regularly spaced clusters along the chain, supporting a regional model. The lethal regions align with proteoglycan binding sites along the fibril, suggesting a role in fibril–matrix interactions. Recurrences at the same site in α2(I) are generally concordant for outcome, unlike α1(I). Splice site mutations comprise 20% of helical mutations identified in OI patients, and may lead to exon skipping, intron inclusion, or the activation of cryptic splice sites. Splice site mutations in COL1A1 are rarely lethal; they often lead to frameshifts and the mild type I phenotype. In α2(I), lethal exon skipping events are located in the carboxyl half of the chain. Our data on genotype–phenotype relationships indicate that the two collagen chains play very different roles in matrix integrity and that phenotype depends on intracellular and extracellular events. Hum Mutat 28(3), 209–221, 2007. Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epitaxial Optimization of 130-nm Gate-Length InGaAs/InAlAs/InP HEMTs for Low-Noise Applications

The epitaxial structure of 130- nm gate-length InGaAs/InAlAs/InP high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) has been studied in order to optimize the device performance when biased under low-noise conditions. Three essential epitaxial parameters have been varied: the In channel content ([In]: 53%, 70%, and 80%), the delta-doping concentration (delta: 3, 5, and 7 times 10<sup>12</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>), and the Schottky layer thickness (d<sub>SL</sub>: 9,11, and 13 nm). All HEMTs exhibited low gate-leakage current I<sub>G</sub> below 1 muA/mm at a low-noise bias, except d<sub>SL</sub> = 9 nm due to a too thin Schottky layer thickness. It was verified that the lowest noise figure NF was achieved when the square root of the drain-to-source current I<sub>DS</sub> over transconductance g<sub>m</sub> exhibited a minimum. A clear optimum for both d<sub>Sl</sub> and delta was observed with respect to minimum noise figure NF<sub>min</sub>. Increasing [In] only provided a slight reduction in N-F<sub>min</sub>. In contrast, the RF performance was much more affected by increasing [In]. The lowest NF<sub>min</sub> was achieved with a delta doping of 5 times 10<sup>12</sup> cm<sup>2</sup> and a d<sub>SL</sub> of 11 nm.
Disability, employment and earnings: an examination of heterogeneity

This article uses information from an ad hoc module on disability in the 2002 UK Labour Force Survey to identify the heterogeneity that exists within the disabled group and examine its impact on labour market outcomes. After controlling for a range of personal characteristics, the type, severity, duration and cause of the disability are found to be important determinants of employment, but there is less evidence to support the influence of within group heterogeneity on earnings.
Underestimating the bullwhip effect: a simulation study of the decomposability assumption

We investigate the assumption of decomposability as it pertains to modelling the bullwhip effect in multi-stage supply chains. Decomposing a multi-stage supply chain into a set of node pairs, each of which can be efficiently represented with a two-stage model, is a common modelling technique when analysing the bullwhip effect in supply chains. This approach depends on the validity of the decomposability assumption since most supply chains are coupled systems that are a logical fit for singular, or ‘monolithic’, multi-stage models. We utilise a simulation study to compare decomposition-based supply-chain models with monolithic models and determine if decomposition modelling significantly alters the predicted severity of the bullwhip effect. We find decomposition-based models exhibit a significantly lower level of bullwhip effect than monolithic models of the same supply chain. The systematic underestimation of the bullwhip effect by decomposition-based models indicates that the assumption of decomposability is flawed. Our study also confirms previous work showing the significant benefit of using actual, instead of approximate, lead-time demand information. We discuss implications for supply-chain modelling, supply-chain design, and data collection.
Prolonged Ventilation in Acute Severe Asthma Caused by the Guillain-Barré-Strohl Syndrome

Discussion Accidental ingestion of Clinitest by adults is, unlike the ingestion of other strong alkalis, more common than suicidal ingestion. It can occur when the tablets are mistaken for an oral medication by a patient with dementia, or a diabetic with impaired vision. The swallowed tablet mixes with saliva and usually sticks in the upper third of the oesophagus because of thermal coagulation of the mucosa. This results in ulceration and characteristically rapid (1-3 weeks) stricture formation (Mallory & Schaefer 1977). In our case ulceration progressed to an oesophago-aortic fistula over the three weeks following ingestion and this, to our knowledge, is the first reported death following accidental Clinitest ingestion. Fibreoptic endoscopy is the preferred method of evaluating a patient after ingestion of a corrosive agent like Clinitest, and the examination should proceed only to the proximal margin of injury to avoid further trauma to the compromised tissue (Lowe et al. 1979). Cold milk has been proposed as the antidote of choice as milk protein forms a coagulum that envelops the tablet and insulates against further thermal and caustic damage (Burrington 1975). However, coating the tablet is unlikely to help if it is already lodged. The most important immediate measure is to get the patient to swallow 3 or 4 glasses of milk or water, whichever is more readily available. Increased awareness by physicians and patients of the caustic properties of Clinitest is needed in order to minimize the chance of accidental ingestion. Alternative methods of urine testing should be prescribed for those patients who would be likely to ingest Clinitest accidentally patients with visual or language problems, demented or alcoholic patients, and those already taking many tablets. Changes in the size and shape of Clinitest tablets to make them less like many oral medications would also be a helpful preventive measure, and the label should contain instructions on what to do if a tablet is swallowed.
Consumer complaints and redress: an important mechanism for protecting and empowering consumers1

This paper explores a consumer complaint programme as a tool for empowering consumers, using the consumer complaint programme of a United States federal agency as a case study. After describing the structure and role of the Federal Reserve System (the central bank of the United States) in handling complaints, the paper follows a complaint through the System, looks at trends in complaints and provides a profile of consumers who complain. The paper concludes with information on the economic impact of complaint resolution and consumer satisfaction with third-party complaint investigation.
Evaluation of an online postgraduate education programme

Information technology supporting training in medicine is unstructured and critical evaluation of its use is lacking. The objective of the paper was the evaluation of an Internet-delivered postgraduate training course in medicine. The work took place in the Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Institute for Learning and Research Technology, University of Bristol. Postgraduate trainees were invited to participate in an Internet delivered training programme over 5 months. Tutors and the participants were interviewed, inter-participant emails were collected and post-course evaluation of all trainees was undertaken at 2 and 6 months. Of 18 enrolled participants, 11 actively participated (mean: five each month). Participants were more likely to view other participants' responses or tutor feedback than respond themselves. The Internet is a suitable medium for courses of this nature. Satisfaction levels with the content of the course and with the medium used were high. Constructive criticism was incorporated into future courses.
Muscle as a secretory organ.

Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body. Skeletal muscles are primarily characterized by their mechanical activity required for posture, movement, and breathing, which depends on muscle fiber contractions. However, skeletal muscle is not just a component in our locomotor system. Recent evidence has identified skeletal muscle as a secretory organ. We have suggested that cytokines and other peptides that are produced, expressed, and released by muscle fibers and exert either autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine effects should be classified as "myokines. " The muscle secretome consists of several hundred secreted peptides. This finding provides a conceptual basis and a whole new paradigm for understanding how muscles communicate with other organs such as adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, bones, and brain. In addition, several myokines exert their effects within the muscle itself. Many proteins produced by skeletal muscle are dependent upon contraction. Therefore, it is likely that myokines may contribute in the mediation of the health benefits of exercise.
A Subpopulation of Platelets Responds to Thrombin- or SFLLRN-stimulation with Binding Sites for Factor IXa*

Strong agonists cause platelets to expose a procoagulant surface supporting the assembly of two important coagulation enzyme complexes. Equilibrium binding has determined the density of high affinity saturable factor IXa binding sites to be 500–600 sites/platelet. We have now used flow cytometry to visualize the binding of factor IX and IXa to thrombin- or SFLLRN-activated platelets. Concentrations of these agonists that are half-maximal or maximal in kinetic studies resulted in only a small subpopulation (4–20%) of platelets binding factor IX or IXa with the density of binding sites for factor IX being about half of that for factor IXa, consistent with previous equilibrium binding studies. A small subpopulation (5 ± 1.5%) of platelets stimulated with either agonist also exposed annexin V binding sites, and this subpopulation of platelets also bound factor IXa. Annexin V decreased factor IXa binding in the presence or absence of factor VIIIa, and factor IXa could also decrease annexin V binding on some platelets indicating a common binding site in agreement with previous studies. All platelets binding factor IXa were positive for glycoprotein IX, at the same glycoprotein IX surface density as seen in platelets negative for factor IXa binding. These studies refine the results from equilibrium binding studies and suggest that, on average, only a small subpopulation (∼10%) of PAR 1-stimulated platelets expose ∼6000 factor IXa binding sites/platelet.
China's Generation Y's Expectation on Outbound Group Package Tour

This paper aims to identify China's Generation Y's (Gen Y) preference toward joining group package tour (GPT) when traveling abroad and explore their expectations on a number of service attributes. Six service attribute dimensions were identified through factor analysis, including: group leader/local guide(s), optional tour and shopping arrangement, safety, cleanness, and comfortableness, accommodation, activities, and shopping length and frequency. This study confirmed the importance of group leader/local guide(s) with a special emphasis on their honesty. It is found that current group and non-group travelers of Gen Y shared similar expectations on six service feature dimensions, while having different expectations on four service attributes: food hygiene, tour leader's emergency handle ability, Chinese food offering, and park as attraction choice. Results also showed that potential group travelers had higher concern over the factor of group leader/local guide(s) than non-group travelers.
The BARI 2D study: A randomised trial of therapies for type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease

The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial randomized 2368 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and coronary artery disease to either prompt revascularization or intensive medical therapy alone; and to either insulin-sensitization or insulin-provision diabetes therapy. Randomization was stratified by proposed revascularization method. Five-year survival and major cardiovascular events (MACE) were similar in study subgroups except in the coronary bypass surgery (CABG) stratum where there were fewer MACE after revascularization. There was less hypoglycaemia and weight gain, and greater apparent benefit from CABG in the insulin sensitization group. BARI 2D has provided important data for clinicians.
The influences of new employee development practices upon role stressors and work-related attitudes of temporary employees

Understanding what influences temporary employee attitudes toward their work is becoming an increasingly significant managerial concern in organizations employing temporary workers. In this empirical study, we examine the relationship between new employee development (NED) practices, role stressors and employee work-related attitudes. It was hypothesized that NED practices will be negatively related to the role stressor variables and that the role stressor variables will be related to employee work-related attitudes. It was further hypothesized that role stressors will mediate the relationship between NED practices and temporary employee work-related attitudes. Since temporary employees receive new employment practices at both the client organization and the temporary agency, the relationships were hypothesized to exist for both the client organization and temporary agency. Data were collected from temporary employees (N = 1,261) across the United States. Results indicate that NED practices at the temporary agency and client organization were both negatively related to role ambiguity and role conflict. Role stressors were positively related to intention to quit and negatively related to job satisfaction and organizational commitment in relation to both client organization and temporary agency. Role ambiguity and role conflict partially mediated the relationship between NED practices and temporary employee work-related attitudes for both the client organization and temporary agency. Theoretical and practical implications for managing temporary employees are discussed.
Illiberal democracy and the future of opposition in Singapore

There are quite a number of ways by which politics in Singapore can be meaningfully approached. One perspective is to focus on the guiding beliefs and values of the People’s Action Party (PAP) governing elite and its nature of state governance since its assumption of power in 1959; it has ruled the state continuously since then. Its success in turning Singapore into a modern metropolis the envy of many has helped to buttress and legitimise its rule. Despite the growing criticisms, especially by the opposition parties, of the highly regulated manner by which the country has been managed, the PAP government, led by its first and former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, and now by Goh Chok Tong, has unrepentantly stuck to its long-held world-view and governing paradigm. To the government, Singapore’s rapid economic growth and political stability could not have been achieved if the country were to follow the Western liberal democratic path and its attendant notions of development. While gradually allowing for greater citizen participation in the formulation of policies in more recent times, the present leadership, mindful of opening up a Pandora’s box, is still cautiously wary of the growth of a more pluralistic political environment; hence, its preference for what can be described as an illiberal, (soft) authoritarian democratic culture. Given this particular regime mindset and its parameters of governance, it is indeed a Herculean task for Opposition parties to make any significant inroads in the Republic’s future politics. However, all may not be lost for opposition parties and for those aspiring to see the evolution of a civil society. If they can capitalise on some probable future happenings—such as intra-party PAP factionalism consequent to the departure of the ‘old guard’, a prolonged economic downturn, and the rise of a new educated, IT generation—then their political future may hold some promise.
Duration as a link between yield and value*

lJY c 2 m you can’t beat them, join them. That might well be the subtitle of this article. The internal rate of return, despite its well-known shortcomings, continues to be more widely used than any other measure of investment worth. It appears as the Yield to Maturity on fixed-income securities, as the Annual Percentage Rate on personal loans, as the Discounted Cash Flow rate of return in capital budgeting, and as the Marginal Efficien’cy of Capital in economics. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to show that Macaulay’s duration is a kind of missing link between this popular measure of investment worth and the more nearly correct measure of present or future value. The linkage is so direct that it shows why and where we can use the internal rate of return as a standalone measure of investment worth. It also shows that the internal rate of return is only one of four elements that determine the value of an investment. In this article we measure value by future value and we use Realized Compound Yield (RCY), which is a rate of growth to the future value, to rank alternative investments. Such a measure of investment worth is fully equivalent to the present value index, but we show that it has a distinct advantage, because
Analysis of volatility spillover in Indonesia, USA and Japan capital market

Globalization and advanced information technology easing us for obtaining information from global stock markets. With that condition, volatility in domestic capital market could be affected by volatility from global stock markets. That concern will be answered in this research, about volatility spillover in Indonesia, USA, and Japan capital market. This research using daily return data from each country indices from January 2004 until December 2008 employing econometric model GARCH (1,1). The result showing us that there is one way volatility spillover between Indonesia and USA (USA effecting Indonesia). Meanwhile, there is bidirectional volatility spillover between Indonesia and Japan (Japan influnced Indonesia, and vice versa).
The elite ethic of fiduciarity: The heraldry of the Jack Wills brand *

The Jack Wills brand claims to be Outfitters to the Gentry. This article argues that Jack Wills’ marketing ethos institutes a means to achieve this promise. This promise is investigated as instituting a form of heraldry through its corporate program of Seasonnaires and monopolising the spaces and symbols of elite social standing for their branded products. Heraldry is concerned with making the symbols of the peers of the realm distinctive and within an exclusive set. I call this enterprise ‘fiduciary’ as the heralds are persons trusted to preserve the symbols’ sanctity. Overall I claim that the Jack Wills brand seeks this through its corporate program. Imitation-heraldry is a means to create the value of the brand as ‘fiduciary value’, community trust in the products and its worth. The ethic and politics that accompany the brand-ethos is concerned with making the name ‘Jack Wills’ come to stand as an eponymous character that embodies the social actions and unity of the social group the brand outfits. Jack Wills institutes an ethical economy that allocates the branded goods to those within the Seasonnaire economy of distribution, an economy that centres upon upholding fiduciary value.
Volatility of accounting earnings

The theoretical derivation of the volatility of accounting earnings is an important topic. Not only does it concern the uncertainty in earnings measurement, but it also allows for an objective comparison between different accounting allocation procedures. An accounting allocation that yields a lower volatility of earnings can be desirable because it makes periodic earnings better estimates of underlying long-term earnings of a firm over time. Based on this information, accounting professionals can make more rational judgements of the most appropriate accounting method to be used in preparing financial reports. This paper shows how to calculate the volatility of earnings under uncertainty across a range of different scenarios.
The Role of Asset Structure, Ownership Structure, and Takeover Defenses in Determining Acquisition Likelihood

Abstract This paper extends the Palepu (1986) acquisition likelihood model by incorporating measures of insider and institutional shareholdings, by examining the deterrent effect of various takeover defenses, and by considering the effect of varying proportions of fixed (tangible) assets in a firm's total asset structure. We find that the probability of receiving a takeover bid is positively related to tangible assets, and negatively related to firm size and to the net change in institutional holdings. Blank-check preferred stock authorizations are the only common takeover defense significantly (negatively) correlated with acquisition likelihood.