Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Establishing Profitable Customer Loyalty for Multinational Companies in the Emerging Economies: A Conceptual Framework

It has been observed that some firms succeed in their attempts to achieve business goals in emerging economies, whereas others fail. To understand the reasons for this phenomenon, the authors conduct a qualitative study where they interview 42 managers of multinational companies from the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. From the insights gleaned from these interviews and the available literature, they propose a conceptual framework that identifies the possible factors that would drive the creation of both a profitable and a loyal customer base (termed “profitable customer loyalty” in this study) in the emerging economies. The influencing factors are categorized as customer-specific variables, marketing-mix variables, and firm-specific variables. From these factors, the authors advance research propositions that discuss the potential relationships with profitable customer loyalty. One of this study's key contributions is the proposal that multinational companies monitor the suggested factors and assess a degree of comfort before formulating strategies in the emerging economies. Further research can focus on the empirical validation of the proposed framework.
Measuring the e-service quality of Pakistani banks

E-banking is a recent phenomenon in Pakistan and is a relatively less investigated topic of academic research. This paper sets out to investigate the dimension of e-service quality in Pakistani banks. A quantitative approach was used to identify and capture the e-service dimensions in the Pakistani banking sector. Data were analysed with the help of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results enable us to identify five dimensions of e-service quality in the Pakistani banking industry. Responsiveness, web interface, web quality, reliability and connectivity appear to be the most important dimensions of e-service quality for Pakistani banks.
Working with Non-Government Organisations: A Sustainable Development Perspective

Governments have been developing and applying various approaches to ecological sustainable development (ESD) and sustainability over the last twenty years The broad trend, partly displacing the traditional focus on regulatory standards and consultation, is that governments have increasingly adopted collaborative approaches, in concert with diverse and conflicting non-government organisation (NGO) stakeholders, to address the “big issues”. Tensions and conflicts are not avoided, but are contained as far as possible within broad long-term frameworks supported by inclusive processes and good science. In Australia, management of these major sustainability issues is made more complex through the interplay between three levels of government. This article adds to the emerging literature presenting models of government and NGO relationships by developing the concept of collaborative partnership as participatory co-governance. Two case studies of natural resource management in the state of Queensland (Australia) are used to examine the means by which government-NGO relationships might move from consultation to significant collaborative participation.
Experiments to Reduce the Over-Reporting of Voting: A Pipeline to the Truth

Voting is a fundamental part of any democratic society. But survey-based measures of voting are problematic because a substantial proportion of nonvoters report that they voted. This over-reporting has consequences for our understanding of voting as well as the behaviors and attitudes associated with voting. Relying on the “bogus pipeline” approach, we investigate whether altering the wording of the turnout question can cause respondents to provide more accurate responses. We attempt to reduce over-reporting simply by changing the wording of the vote question by highlighting to the respondent that: (1) we can in fact find out, via public records, whether or not they voted; and (2) we (survey administrators) know some people who say they voted did not. We examine these questions through a survey on US voting-age citizens after the 2010 midterm elections, in which we ask them about voting in those elections. Our evidence shows that the question noting we would check the records improved the accuracy of the reports by reducing the over-reporting of turnout.
Effect of epicardial or biventricular pacing to prolong QT interval and increase transmural dispersion of repolarization.

To the Editor: The recent article by Medina-Ravell et al1 addresses a potentially harmful effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on ventricular repolarization. The authors found that single epicardial and biventricular pacing in patients with congestive heart failure increased the QT interval and the transmural dispersion of repolarization (interval from the peak to the end of the T wave, Tpeak-end). However, probably as a result of the ECG signal quality (the authors did not provide any details about ECG registration and analysis), Tpeak-end was not estimated at baseline and during biventricular pacing. We think that this information is of great importance. In a preliminary study of our cohort of patients with congestive heart failure, we assessed ventricular repolarization with a high-resolution 65-lead surface ECG.2 Using signal-processing techniques, such as the total 65-lead root mean square curves,3,4 even low-amplitude signals (eg, onset and offset of the P wave4) can be precisely determined. With respect to the QT duration, our findings are in accordance with those of Medina-Ravell et al1; any pacing increases QTc. However, with respect to the Tpeak-end interval, we observed a significant decrease after biventricular pacing, as compared with baseline (baseline 100%, biventricular pacing 86±17% [ P <0.05], right ventricular pacing 115±19%, left ventricular pacing 105±13%). We fully agree that the epicardial-endocardial spread of activation during biventricular pacing may be a potential risk in a subset …
Ionic‐complementary peptide‐modified highly ordered pyrolytic graphite electrode for biosensor application

Ionic‐complementary peptides are promising new biomaterials with potential applications in bionanotechnology. In the present investigation, a typical ionic‐complementary peptide, EFK16‐II, was used to modify a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode. Upon modification, peptide nanofibers, parallel or oriented 60° or 120° to each other, were formed on the surface of HOPG electrode. Surface wettability of the electrode was improved as indicated by a significant decrease in the water contact angle. The electrochemical response of the EFK16‐II nanofiber‐modified HOPG electrode for the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide redox couple was characterized. Cyclic voltammograms indicated that the presence of peptide nanofibers on the HOPG electrode did not block electron transfer at slow scan rates (∼2 mV/s), but did so at high scan rates (∼ 100 mV/s). A model enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was covalently immobilized onto this nanofiber‐modified electrode, and its potential as an enzyme‐based biosensor for glucose was examined. At an applied potential of +0.45 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), the current increased linearly with glucose concentration up to 7.5 mM and a relative high sensitivity was obtained at 11.3 ± 1.0 nA/(mM mm2). The immobilized GOx showed high affinity for glucose, with a Michaelis–Menten constant Km of 6.8 ± 0.9 mM. It also exhibited relatively good storage and operational stabilities, and reflected in only a small decrease (13%) in the current response after 1 month storage and negligible changes upon 50 cyclic voltammetric scans. The results presented here demonstrate an excellent potential of the use of ionic‐complementary peptides to modify electrode surfaces for biomolecular sensing and diagnostics.
Bone Mineral Density of Children With Wilson Disease: Efficacy of Penicillamine and Zinc Therapy

Objectives Osteoporosis accompanying chronic liver disease is well known; however, the exact prevalence is unknown. No data on bone mineral density (BMD) of children with Wilson disease (WD) have been published so far. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis in childhood WD and to observe the probable positive effects of penicillamine and zinc therapy on osteoporosis. Methods Thirty-one children with newly diagnosed WD and sex and age-matched 16 healthy children were included. Mean age was 9.0±3.2 years (2 to 16 y). Bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD were measured on admission and in 13 cases they were reassessed after 1 year of treatment with penicillamine and zinc. Results Mean BMD, BMC, and Z scores of the patients were significantly lower than those of healthy children: 0.52±0.09 versus 0.72±0.09 (P=0.001), 19.27±13.01 versus 29.67±14.23 (P=0.009), and −2.33±1.28 versus −0.12±0.31 (P=0.001), respectively. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in children with WD was found as 22.6% and 67.7%, respectively. BMD and BMC levels were higher in children with neurologic involvement. The severity of the disease had no effect on the mentioned parameters. One year under treatment with penicillamine and zinc did not significantly alter the mentioned parameters. Conclusions In this first study investigating the prevalence of osteoporosis in children with WD, we found an extremely high prevalence. Because of nonbeneficial effect of routine treatment of WD on osteoporosis, we emphasize the necessity of screening of bone mineralization and additional therapeutic approach for those children.
A Life Cycle Model of Life Insurance Purchases

by Hakansson [2], Mossin [10], Samuelson [11], Merton [9], Levhari and Srinivasan [6], and others. These either deal with an infinite horizon or take the date of death to be known with certainty. Yaari [12] has studied the problem of uncertain lifetime and life insurance in the context of the expected utility hypothesis using a continuous time model; he characterizes the optimal paths of consumption and savings by two differential equations which must be satisfied on these paths, but does not examine demand functions for consumption or insurance in detail. Hakansson [3], using a discrete-time model, has also considered the problem of consumption and portfolio choices when the lifetime is uncertain. In this paper we use a discrete-time model, which is essentially similar to that of Hakansson [3], in which the length of life is uncertain, to examine life-cycle patterns of consumption, savings and insurance purchases. The emphasis in the present paper is on the comparative statics and dynamics of the insurance demand functions, rather than on the existence of a solution to the problem. For most of the paper, it is assumed that there are only two assets-a bond, and an insurance asset-so that uncertainty is confined to uncertainty over the date of death. A number of simulations of the model are presented in studying its dynamics.
Content and traffic of taurine in hippocampal reactive astrocytes

Taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the mammalian central nervous system, where it is crucial to proper development. Moreover, taurine acts as a neuroprotectant in various diseases; in epilepsy, for example, it has the capacity to reduce or abolish seizures. In the present study, taurine levels has been determine in mice treated with Kainic Acid (KA) and results showed an increase of this amino acid in hippocampus but not in whole brain after 3 and 7 days of KA treatment. This increase occurs when gliosis was observed. Moreover, taurine transporter (TAUT) was found in astrocytes 3 and 7 days after KA treatment, together with an increase in cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (csd) mRNA, that codifies for the rate‐limiting enzyme of taurine synthesis, in the hippocampus at the same times after KA treatment. Glial cultures enriched in astrocytes were developed to demonstrate that these cells are responsible for changes in taurine levels after an injury to the brain. The cultures were treated with proinflammatory cytokines to reproduce gliosis. In this experimental model, an increase in the immunoreactivity of GFAP was observed, together with an increase in CSD and taurine levels. Moreover, an alteration in the taurine uptake‐release kinetics was detected in glial cells treated with cytokine. All data obtained indicate that astrocytes could play a key role in taurine level changes induced by neuronal damage. More studies are, therefore, needed to clarify the role taurine has in relation to neuronal death and repair. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Process of Fit Between the Contingency Factors of the Environment and the Structural Design Parameters

Abstract This paper, using a sample of 150 Spanish companies of large size, aim to corroborate the postulates determined by the contingency models regarding the relationships between the organisational environment and structural design parameters. Our basic aim is to establish the different relative importance of each of the elements characterising the environment to the design parameters. The results obtained show that the first relation to be clearly observed is that between level of complexity of the environment and the degree of organicity of the structure. However, such an evident relationship is not observed between the degree of dynamism of the environment and the level of organicity. As for the relation between degree of hostility of the environment and the design parameters analysed, the contingent hypotheses that predict that the degree of centralisation of the structure increases with the hostility of the environment are confirmed.
Factors affecting use of e-mail by public school principals of the Central Appalachian Region

FACTORS AFFECTING USE OF E-MAIL BY PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPALS OF THE CENTRAL APPALACHIAN REGION by Micheal T. Carter The purposes of this study were to determine the factors that influence the use or non-use of e-mail by principals, the purposes for which e-mail messages were sent and received, and the impact of experience and training in the areas of computers and e-mail. A survey was sent to a stratified random sample of 620 elementary, middle/junior high, and high school principals of the Central Appalachian Region. The respondents were asked to provide descriptive data regarding demographics, accessibility to hardware and software, experience and training on computers and e-mail, uses of e-mail, and items that influence their use or non-use of e-mail. Eleven research questions and 10 hypotheses were addressed. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square, ANOVA, multiple regression, and factor analysis. At the . 05 level of significance eight null hypotheses were retained and two rejected. Factor analysis identified four factors for e-mail users and five factors for non-users. E-mail was used by 59.7% of respondents. There was no relationship between users and non-users with respect to gender, age, highest degree earned, or total years of educational experience. The predictors of e-mail usage were previous computer experience, accessibility to resources, and training. Use of e-mail by superiors, fellow principals, and teachers and keyboarding skills were not indicators of e-mail usage. Principals primarily use e-mail for administrative tasks and secondarily for accessing and retrieving information. Training is essential to the effective implementation and iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. usage of e-mail. The primary methods for both training in computer skills and e-mail skills were self-teaching, local courses, conferences/workshops, spouses or friends, colleagues, and on-site consultants. The factor analysis revealed that e-mail users have hardware and software resources, training, support, and encouragement to use e-mail to obtain educationally beneficial and appropriate information. Non-users were not comfortable with the technology. If principals are to be effective in an information age, they must be cognizant of e-mail's capabilities and potential ramifications upon the educational profession. Principals must provide the role model for the use of technology. E-mail has the potential to break down barriers of geographical isolation and instill a sense of community. If future educational leaders are to be prepared to meet the challenges of an information age, colleges of education need to provide instruction in the use of computers and e-mail.
Internet Stocks: Value-Drivers, Market Irrationality, and Mispricing an Overview of the Emerging Empirical Research Evidence

This monograph provides an overview of the emerging empirical research evidence on Internet stocks. It is primarily intended to serve an informational and educational purpose - as a primer for researchers, investment analysts and managers, financial and technology sector executives, investors, writers, educators, students, policy-makers, etc. It also includes an extensive bibliography of papers, articles, books, and other documents that provide additional details on the issues covered. The monograph covers the following: An overview of perspectives on the valuation of Internet stocks, with particular reference to two valuation approaches that attempt to incorporate the unique characteristics of the Internet industry: (i) "adapted" discounted cash flow (DCF) models and (ii) real options models. The empirical research evidence on the "value-relevance", for Internet stocks, of nonfinancial variables (measures of website traffic and related factors such as strategic alliances, firm visibility, etc.) relative to financial variables (such as earnings, book value of equity, revenues, advertising and marketing expenses, product development expenses, etc.). This includes evidence on the differences in investor perceptions of the relative value-relevance of these factors during the bubble and post-bubble periods. The evidence from empirical studies on market irrationality and the mispricing of Internet and other high technology stocks: (i) the underpricing and performance of Internet IPOs; (ii) over-reaction and irrationality of analysts and investors in the pricing of securities; and (iii) the market valuations of equity carve-outs in relation to those of their parent companies. Some directions for future research on Internet stocks are also provided.
Is There Really a When-Issued Premium?

Abstract We use a unique set of equities in the when-issued market to provide new tests of the law of one price in financial markets. We compare the prices of when-issued and regular way shares of publicly traded subsidiaries and their parents around the time the subsidiaries are fully divested and we find that the when-issued shares of the subsidiary trade at a discount. Pricing differences stem from measurement factors such as exchange location and bid-ask clustering that bias the observed when-issued pricing differential away from zero. The remaining difference is due to asymmetric movements in bid and ask quotes in the two markets. We also find evidence of temporary price pressures on the date of execution of the spinoff of the subsidiary firms that bear resemblance to the pricing in the when-issued market. We interpret the evidence as consistent with the law of one price in the presence of transaction costs and microstructure phenomena.
Anonymity and Order Submissions

We investigate the effect of the removal of broker identities on institutional and individual order submissions on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). We document declines in order aggressiveness and effective spreads for both institutional and individual investors after the switch to the anonymous trading system. Institutions are more willing to improve the best quotes than individuals, especially in the anonymous market. Anonymity also reduces the “picked off” risk for individual limit orders. Overall, our findings highlight the benefits of withholding brokers' IDs in the form of lower transaction costs and higher liquidity supply and thus support the ASX's decision to stop disclosing broker identity information.
Comparative Youth Justice

This volume identifies major international shifts in juvenile justice policy and practice. There is a widespread assumption that the penal population of children and young people is growing worldwide amidst a burgeoning USA inspired "culture of control". Through various measures of "adulteration", young people are also now assumed to be more likely to find a decline in their special status as in need of care and protection and more in need of punishment through which they will be made responsible for their own actions. However, such developments stand in some opposition to numerous counter movements which seem designed to further rather than diminish children's rights. Of note is the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which stresses the importance of incorporating a rights consciousness into juvenile justice reform by, for example: establishing an age of criminal responsibility relative to developmental capacity; encouraging children's participation in decision making; providing access to legal representation for children; protecting children from capital or degrading punishment and ensuring that arrest, detention and imprisonment are measures of last resort. Above all, the Convention emphasises that the well-being of those aged under 18 should be a primary consideration. The UNCRC has been ratified by 192 countries. As a result, it may be singularly misleading to claim that an ethos of child protectionism has all but disappeared from juvenile justice.
Optically determined minority-carrier transport in GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs heterostructures.

We have studied minority-carrier electron and hole transport versus temperature (30-300 K) in a series of undoped, «interface-free,» GaAs/Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As double heterostructures prepared by organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy, with GaAs thicknesses from 0.1 to 10 μm. This was achieved using an all optical, time-resolved photoluminescence-imaging technique with a spatial resolution of 3 μm, temporal resolution of ∼50 ps, and spectral resolution of <1 CM -1
Modeling and Forecasting Egyptian Stock Market Volatility Before and After Price Limits

This paper investigates the impact of price limits on volatility dynamics in the Egyptian Stock Exchange. A variety of mean and variance specifications in GARCH type models (GARCH, EGARCH, GJR, and APARCH), and four different error distributions (Normal, Student-t, GED, and Skewed-t) are utilized. Results from examining a split sample suggest significant changes in the time varying volatility process. In-sample results, prior to the imposition of price limits exhibit leptokurtosis, yet showing no sign of the widely cited leverage effect. In-sample results, after the imposition of price limits display both leptokurtosis and the leverage effect. Out-of-sample forecasts depict the leverage effects, when present, but provide conflicting results regarding the distribution.
WHY DO STOCK PRICES DECLINE IN RESPONSE TO EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS? UK EVIDENCE FROM THE 2008 GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

Employee layoff decisions made during adverse economic conditions are expected to signal poor investment opportunities, but layoffs undertaken during prosperous markets should be efficiency enhancing. We examine layoffs during the global financial crisis of 2008 and compare this with an earlier period of economic prosperity. We find a positive market reaction to layoffs during rising financial markets but stock price declines following employee layoffs during the 2008 financial crisis. These price effects occur irrespective of the stated reason for the layoff and the industry of the announcing firm, and are mirrored in our robustness test of an earlier period.