Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revising quality awareness through internal marketing: An exploratory study among French and English medium-sized enterprises

Internal marketing (IM) is emerging as a central theme of increasing importance in both academic and practitioner discourse. Traditionally, marketing and management have tended to focus on external customers and markets, with an emphasis upon attracting and retaining customers at a pro® t (Drucker, 1963; Gremler et al., 1994). IM has evolved in a bid to reshape and stimulate corporate eVectiveness and raise service quality levels in organizations. It implies the need for management to view the organization as a market, where there exists an internal supply chain consisting of internal suppliers and customers (Berry, 1984; Flipo, 1986; Foreman & Money, 1995). This would suggest that by satisfying the needs of internal customers, an organization should be in a better position to deliver the service quality desired to satisfy external customers. The paper acknowledges the IM and service quality literature and reports on the ® ndings of an exploratory research study of medium-sized enterprises (MSEs) in the UK and France. Whilst many public/private sector institutions have primarily targeted large multinational enterprises or small ® rms for their research focus, the MSE exists as an attractive (yet neglected) research entity. The paper reports the ® ndings of an exploratory study which is part of a research programme designed to investigate the importance and signi® cance of IM as a mechanism to promote quality within the MSE. Current literature tends to under-emphasize ® rm size as a factor of IM and total quality management (TQM). It is believed that by examining this area in the context of the MSE our ® ndings will extend the existing literature.
A sustainable urban logistics dashboard from the perspective of a group of operational managers

The aim of this paper is to propose a sustainable dashboard for evaluating the sustainable performance of urban delivery systems, from the perspective of operational logistics managers, one of the categories of stakeholders given less consideration by public authorities in their quest for consensus. First, a synthesis of the main works on the subject is proposed, in order to provide a common grid of economic, environmental and social/societal indicators for Sustainable Supply Chain Management, after which the method for defining the dashboard is presented. This method is derived from a collaborative decision-support approach and applied to a panel of operational logistics managers. Using a co-constructive method, a group of experts is consulted first separately then by small groups, then a group restitution and consensus search process is made to find an agreed set of indicators. The results show a difference between the indicators chosen in the individual phase and those defined in small groups. They show also a gap between classical expert-obtained indicators (mainly made by one or a small group of non-operational experts) and the proposed dashboard, made by and for operational managers. The originality of the paper is that it addresses two issues (urban logistics evaluation and consensus search) by using methods of natural and active pedagogy, and shows by an experimental method the interests and opportunities of collaboration in defining sets of indicators for urban logistics evaluation.
Emotional intelligence at work: links to conflict and innovation

Purpose – This paper aims at exploring, for the first time in the Arab World, the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in affecting work outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – A self‐administered questionnaire was used to survey 500 employees from 19 organizations in the United Arab Emirates. The findings are discussed in the paper along with some recommendations for managers and researchers.Findings – The results revealed significant differences between employees' perceptions of emotional intelligence, conflict and readiness to create and innovate.Research limitations/implications – The sample represented only financial and service sectors. The implications of the findings for researchers together with some future guidelines are discussed in the paper.Practical implications – The paper provides practitioners with some advice about understanding and managing climate and conflict.Originality/value – The paper is the first study in the Middle Eastern context that explores the link between the multifaceted co.
Construction of Quasi-Cyclic LDPC Codes Based on Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic

Quasi-cyclic (QC) LDPC codes play an important role in 5G communications and have been chosen as the standard codes for 5G enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) data channel. In this paper, we study the construction of QC LDPC codes based on an arbitrary given expansion factor (or lifting degree). First, we analyze the cycle structure of QC LDPC codes and give the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of short cycles. Based on the fundamental theorem of arithmetic in number theory, we divide the integer factorization into three cases and present three classes of QC LDPC codes accordingly. Furthermore, a general construction method of QC LDPC codes with girth of at least 6 is proposed. Numerical results show that the constructed QC LDPC codes perform well over the AWGN channel when decoded with the iterative algorithms.
The Terminal Value and Inflation Controversy

This journal recently published what was effectively a debate between Gunther Friedl and Bernhard Schwetzler (hereafter “F&S”), on the one hand, and Michael Bradley and Gregg Jarrell (“B&J”). B&J initiated the first round of the debate by criticizing the constant growth valuation model, commonly known as the “Constant Growth Model” or “Gordon Growth Model. ” The Gordon Growth Model was introduced by Myron Gordon and Eli Shapiro (“G&S”) in a 1956 paper and has long been widely used by corporate and investment practitioners. F&S responded to B&J with a defense of the original G&S formulation. In revisiting this debate, the authors find that the models B&J and F&S advocate are at bottom two different versions of the same G&S constant growth model, but with quite different assumptions about the effect of inflation on the amount of capital reinvestment required to sustain businesses over time. The authors resolve the dispute by showing that both models, when using a consistent set of assumptions about inflation and capital reinvestment, produce identical growth rates and estimates of value. At the same time, however, the authors recognize that the two models (the G&S/F&S model, on the one hand, and the B&J model on the other) are likely to be appropriate for very different kinds of companies, and each for only small subsets of companies.
Interleukin-12 gene polymorphisim in patients with giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE The cytokine profile suggests that giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a Th1-driven disease, in which local IFN-gamma plays a critical role in the development of a systemic arteritis. IL-12 is a potent inducer of IFN-gamma and is critically involved in biasing an immune response towards a Th1 pathway. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between an IL-12 gene polymorphism (-1188 A/C 3UTR) and disease susceptibility for GCA and two other age-related inflammatory conditions, such as polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA). Furthermore, we attempted to correlate such polymorphism with in vitro IL-12 production. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed genotypes at -1188 in the 3UTR of the IL-12 promoter by PCR-RFLP in 68 GCA, 138 PMR, and 72 EORA patients as well as in 465 healthy controls (HC). IL-12p70 levels in culture supernatants after stimulation with PMA+Ionomycin was assessed by ELISA. RESULTS All groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Allelic and gen-omic distribution was not significantly different among the study groups. None of the genetic variants was associated with disease severity. Although the differences were not statistically significant, HC genotypes were associated with distinct IL-12 p70 production. CONCLUSIONS The IL-12 (-1188 A/C 3UTR) gene polymorphism is not associated with disease susceptibility or severity in three age-related chronic inflammatory syndromes. The production of IL-12 p70 is dependent on the genetic background in HC, although in patients such association may be biased by other unknown factors.
A case of sterile pyuria caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis: A diagnostic challenge

Sterile pyuria is a highly prevalent condition with a wide aetiological spectrum, which often challenges the diagnostician. We describe the case of a middle-aged female admitted to the medical Intensive Care Unit for acute gastroenteritis, whose urinalysis revealed persistent sterile pyuria. Polymerase chain reaction assay in urine was positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis. She responded to antimicrobial therapy. We hereby reflect on the approach to a case of sterile pyuria and review the available literature on this entity.
Diffusion of the Digital Health Self-Tracking Movement in Canada: Results of a National Survey

Background With the ever-increasing availability of mobile apps, consumer wearables, and smart medical devices, more and more individuals are self-tracking and managing their personal health data. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the diffusion of the digital self-tracking movement in Canada. It provides a comprehensive, yet detailed account of this phenomenon. It examines the profile of digital self-trackers, traditional self-trackers, and nontrackers, further investigating the primary motivations for self-tracking and reasons for nontracking; barriers to adoption of connected care technologies; users’ appreciation of their self-tracking devices, including what they perceive to be the main benefits; factors that influence people’s intention to continue using connected care technologies in the future; and the reasons for usage discontinuance. Methods We conducted an online survey with a sample of 4109 Canadian adults, one of the largest ever. To ensure a representative sample, quota method was used (gender, age), following stratification by region. The maximum margin of error is estimated at 1.6%, 19 times out of 20. Results Our findings reveal that 66.20% (2720/4109) of our respondents regularly self-track one or more aspects of their health. About one in 4 respondents (1014/4109, 24.68%) currently owns a wearable or smart medical device, and 57.20% (580/1014) use their devices on a regular basis for self-tracking purposes. Digital self-trackers are typically young or mature adults, healthy, employed, university educated, with an annual family income of over $80,000 CAD. The most popular reported device is the fitness tracker or smartwatch that can capture a range of parameters. Currently, mobile apps and digital self-tracking devices are mainly used to monitor physical activity (856/1669, 51.13%), nutrition (545/1669, 32.65%), sleep patterns (482/1669, 28.88%) and, to a much lesser extent, cardiovascular and pulmonary biomarkers (215/1669, 12.88%), medication intake (126/1669, 7.55%), and glucose level (79/1669, 4.73%). Most users of connected care technologies (481/580, 83.0%) are highly satisfied and 88.2% (511/580) intend to continue using their apps and devices in the future. A majority said smart digital devices have allowed them to maintain or improve their health condition (398/580, 68.5%) and to be better informed about their health in general (387/580, 66.6%). About 33.80% of our sample (1389/4109) is composed of people who do not monitor their health or well-being on a regular basis. Conclusions Our study shows an opportunity to advance the health of Canadians through connected care technologies. Our findings can be used to set baseline information for future research on the rise of digital health self-tracking and its impacts. Although the use of mobile apps, consumer wearables, and smart medical devices could potentially benefit the growing population of patients with chronic conditions, the question remains as to whether it will diffuse broadly beyond early adopters and across cost inequities.
CEO Pay For Long-Run Performance: A Dynamic View

This study examines multi-year dynamic response of CEO compensation to firm performance. Multi-period agency theories posit that the CEO's current performance can be compensated both today and tomorrow. This study investigates the dynamic view of CEO pay and firm performance by using partial adjustment models of CEO pay. We find that target pay levels are set on “longrun” past firm performance and that the deviation of the actual pay level causes near-complete convergence to the target in one year. Overall, the findings here indicate that a pay-forcontemporaneous-only-performance relationship significantly understates the incentive effects of CEO pay.
A Case-controlled Investigation of Pain Experience and Sensory Function in Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

Objectives:This case-control study explored pain experience and expression among individuals with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) through parental report, tactile sensory testing, and infrared thermography (IRT). Materials and Methods:Participants with NCL (n=8; M=14.8 y) and their unaffected siblings (n=8; M=23.5 y) were characterized in terms of pain response to a brief tactile sensory test (light touch, Von Frey monofilament). During sensory testing, behavioral expression was measured using the Battens Observational Pain Scale and infrared thermography (IRT) was used to quantify changes in skin/eye temperature. Results:Children with NCL experienced pain frequently and from multiple sources that negatively impacted their lives. Children with NCL were reactive to the sensory testing as indexed by significant increased IRT temperature change (P<0.001). Across combined sensory conditions, individuals with NCL were significantly more reactive (Battens Observational Pain Scale total score) to sensory testing compared with siblings (P<0.05). Similarly, IRT difference scores between sensory conditions revealed a significant increase in temperature for individuals with NCL compared with siblings (P<0.001). Discussion:Ongoing reported pain was a problem for the children with NCL in this sample. Increased pain expression during the repeated Von Frey filament suggests that the pathophysiology of the ongoing pain may be centrally mediated.
A complete system of Engel curves in the Spanish economy

The main goal of this article is the estimation of the consumption–income relationship along with socio–economic factors using cross section data from the Spanish Household Expenditure Survey 1991. The data has been grouped according to exogenous criteria to avoid the problem of null expenditure. First, a non–linear system of equation is estimated, from which the linear form that best fits the used data is tested. Finally, income elasticities are calculated considering three alternative formulations depending on how an initial income increment is distributed among consumers. Income elasticities are shown for the whole income distribution
Ribavirin-Resistant Variants of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus: the Effect of Restricted Quasispecies Diversity on Viral Virulence

ABSTRACT Mutagenic nucleoside analogues can be used to isolate RNA virus high-fidelity RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) variants, the majority of which are attenuated in vivo. However, attenuated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) high-fidelity RdRp variants have not been isolated, and the correlations between RdRp fidelity and virulence remain unclear. Here, the mutagen ribavirin was used to select a ribavirin-resistant population of FMDV, and 4 amino acid substitutions (D5N, A38V, M194I, and M296V) were identified in the RdRp-coding region of the population. Through single or combined mutagenesis using a reverse genetics system, we generated direct experimental evidence that the rescued D5N, A38V, and DAMM mutants but not the M194I and M296V mutants are high-fidelity RdRp variants. Mutagen resistance assays revealed that the higher replication fidelity was associated with higher-level resistance to ribavirin. In addition, significantly attenuated fitness and virulence phenotypes were observed for the D5N, A38V, and DAMM mutants. Based on a systematic quantitative analysis of fidelity and virulence, we concluded that higher replication fidelity is associated with a more attenuated virus. These data suggest that the resulting restricted quasispecies diversity compromises the adaptability and virulence of an RNA virus population. The modulation of replication fidelity to attenuate virulence may represent a general strategy for the rational design of new types of live, attenuated vaccine strains. IMPORTANCE The ribavirin-isolated poliovirus (PV) RdRp G64S variant, the polymerases of which were of high replication fidelity, was attenuated in vivo. It has been proposed (M. Vignuzzi, E. Wendt, and R. Andino, Nat. Med. 14:154–161, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nm1726) that modulation of replication fidelity is a promising approach for engineering attenuated virus vaccines. The subsequently mutagen-isolated RdRp variants also expressed the high-fidelity polymerase, but not all of them were attenuated. Few studies have shown the exact correlation between fidelity and virulence. The present study investigates the effect of restricted quasispecies diversity on viral virulence via several attenuated FMDV high-fidelity RdRp variants. Our findings may aid in the rational design of a new type of vaccine strain.
HRM systems of Indian call centres: an exploratory study

This paper initially highlights the rapid growth in the call centre (CC) sector in developing countries like India. It then makes a case for the investigation of human resource management (HRM) systems of call centres in India. The analysis is based on a two-phase empirical study. Phase one examines the nature and pattern of HRM systems and phase two the emerging issue of attrition in Indian call centres. A mixed research approach comprising in-depth interviews and questionnaire survey was adopted to conduct the investigation. Against the established norms of Indian organizations, the findings highlight the existence of formal, structured and rationalized HRM systems. Core reasons for the increasing levels of attrition are highlighted. The analysis further provides useful information both for academics and practitioners and opens avenues for future research.
The Process by Which the Dollar Will Fall: The Effect of Forward-Looking Consumers

This paper extends the analysis of the forthcoming fall in the dollar by Blanchard, Giavazzi and Sa 2005), using a model which incorporates forward-looking consumers. It provides additional underpinnings for the idea of a rapid adjustment in the value of the dollar. We analyze what will happen to the dollar value when forward-looking consumers, in anticipation of the reduction in the current account deficit, cut their consumption. We show that the real interest rate must fall as a result, and that this causes the exchange rate to fall more initially. However we also show that the interest rate does not fall greatly initially, and so that these effects are not large. But they add to pressures causing a rapid fall in the dollar.
From "ancient" to "modern": a cross-cultural investigation of electronic commerce adoption in Greece and the United States

Globalization and the ubiquitous nature of the Internet facilitate e‐commerce activities across nations. An empirical study was conducted using data from Greek and US consumers in order to obtain a better understanding of cross‐cultural e‐commerce adoption. The results give support for the proposed hypotheses, emphasizing the moderating role of cultural differences on consumer e‐commerce adoption. The unique contributions of this paper are three fold. First, we introduce Hofstede's cultural dimension of uncertainty avoidance to the study of cross‐cultural e‐commerce adoption model. Second, we apply the theory of planned behavior perspective to capture behavioral intentions to transact online in two dissimilar countries – Greece and the US. Finally, the paper discusses several insights from this exploratory study that enrich the cross‐cultural e‐commerce literature.
Organizational and environmental factors as moderators of the relationship between multidimensional innovation and performance

Abstract Primary objectives: This article provides empirical evidence regarding the moderating role of organizational and environmental factors in the relationship between innovation and business performance. Research design and methods: Specifically, it analyses the relationship between different types of innovation and performance and establishes two blocks of hypotheses regarding the possible moderating effects of business factors (e.g., firm size with regard to structure, market orientation with respect to the organizational culture), and the business environment, relative to the sector and competition. The empirical analysis includes 440 Spanish companies and encompasses four sectors of activity: Industry, construction, agriculture, and services. Results and conclusions: Marketing, management, and product innovation actions provide the best performance for companies. Such results are moderated by organizational and environmental factors. The role of market orientation and environmental dynamism are specially significant on relationship. Originality/value: Previous literature on moderates of the innovation–performance relationship is limited. This research contribute on several aspects: (1) Determine the size and market orientation act as moderators of the relationship; (2) differentiate whether the individual moderators differently affect any particular act of innovation (management, organization, marketing, product or production processes); (3) distinguish between various types of business performance indicators and grouping them according to their effectiveness, efficiency or adaptability.
Antimycoplasmal activities of new quinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides against Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Fifty strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were tested for susceptibility to new quinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides. Temafloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin possessed the most mycoplasmacidal activity against these organisms. The MBC for 50% of the strains (MBC50)-to-MIC50 ratio for each of these drugs was 4. The MBC50-to-MIC50 ratios for the tetracyclines and macrolides were markedly higher, within a range of 32 to 2,000. On the basis of these results, temafloxacin and ofloxacin might be promising antimicrobial agents for the treatment of mycoplasmal infection.