Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of consumer traits and demographics on intention to use retail self‐service checkouts

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships among demographic factors (gender, age, education, and income), consumer traits (technology anxiety, need for interaction, and technology innovativeness), and intention to use retail self‐checkouts.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 285 usable responses are obtained through a web‐based survey after excluding non‐qualified respondents. Structural equation modeling is developed and tested.Findings – The results of this paper demonstrate that demographic factors only indirectly influence intention to use retail self‐checkouts through consumer traits and thus the authors conclude that individual differences in the use of retail self‐checkouts can be attributed to consumer traits which are determined by some of the demographic factors.Research limitations/implications – Demographic factors and consumer traits are only included as determinants of intention to use retail self‐checkouts. Therefore, future research could attempt to draw a co.
The Role of Peptide Specificity in MHC Class I‐Restricted Allogeneic Responses

The ability of organisms to discriminate between self and not-self is ancient in evolutionary terms. While this concept has been recently challenged (Matzinger 1994), the overwhelming bulk of the evidence suggests this is true. Although the mechanisms of this discrimination are not well understood in invertebrates, the ability of vertebrates to reject allografts is unequivocal (Klein 1986) and maps to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which was originally defined by its ability to provoke strong tumor graft rejection (Gorer et al. 1948). The effector mechanisms of graft rejection are still not completely understood; however, the genetic basis is much clearer and the central role of the MHC is incontrovertible. AUorecognition is defined as the reactivity of cells from one individual of a species to be stimulated by another and consists of responses directed at both major and minor histocompatibility antigens. Responses can be elicited by both the MHC class I proteins (HLA-A,B>C in human; H2K,L,D in mouse) and the class II proteins (HLA-DR, DP, and DQ in human; H2A and H2E in mouse). As a good first approximation, class I differences stimulate CD8 T-cell responses and class II differences stimulate CD4 T-cell responses. CD4 responses have direct effects on grafts via both fasand TNF-mediated cellular activities (Hao et al. 1990). Perhaps more importantly they can produce active cytokines such as TNFa which can function either directly on target cells (Golstein et al. 1991) or augment the CD8 response with IFN-y and IL-2 (Mosmann & Coffman 1989). CD8 responses comprise the classical cytotoxic T cell response. Cytotoxic T cells (CTL) kill by both the perforin-mediated and fas-mediated pathways (Berke 1994). Like CD4 cells, CD8 cells also secrete cytokines which have both local and distant effects (Sad et al. 1995).
The impact of attitude strength on the use of customer satisfaction information: an empirical investigation

Considering the strategic importance of satisfying customers and the high costs of conducting customer satisfaction research, deeper understanding of the determinants of customer satisfaction information use seems important. In this paper, we aim at predicting intentions of selectively using satisfaction-related information from decision-maker attitude strength by applying latent variable modelling. The results suggest that two dimensions of attitude strength, commitment and embeddedness, contribute directly and indirectly to selective customer satisfaction intelligence use. Indirect effects occur through cognitive processes and selective judgment of satisfaction-related information.
Non-Rating Revenue and Conflicts of Interest

Rating agencies produce ratings used by investors, but obtain most of their revenue from issuers, leading to a conflict of interest. We employ a detailed panel data set on the use of non-rating services, and the associated payments, in India, to test to what extent this conflict affects credit ratings. Rating agencies rate issuers that hire them for non-rating services 0.3 notches higher (than agencies that are not hired for such services). Also, within rating categories, default rates are higher for firms that have paid for non-rating services. Both these effects are larger the larger the amount paid for non-rating services is. These results suggest that issuers which hire agencies for consulting services receive higher ratings despite not having lower credit risk.
Developing customer orientation among service employees

A conceptual framework is proposed that considers the customer orientation of service employees and its relationship with their perceived level of organizational socialization and perceptions of the organizational climate for service, motivational effort and direction, and organizational commitment. Structural equation modeling techniques are applied to data collected from employees in the financial services industry to test the framework. The results of this study indicate higher levels of customer orientation result from favorable perceptions of the organizational climate for service and higher levels of motivational direction and organizational commitment. In addition, organizational socialization was found to have a positive impact on perceptions of climate, levels of motivation, and organizational commitment.
Word-of-Mouth Advocacy

ABSTRACT Marketers are increasingly focused on social marketing, encouraging consumers to share content as well as recommendations, seeking more emphasis on consumer “expressions” and not just “impressions. ” But how should expressions be achieved and measured? The authors argue for a holistic approach, one which recognizes that consumer expressions occur most often face-to-face and are not primarily the purview of online social media. Given research that demonstrates a powerful relationship between word-of-mouth and paid advertising, the authors suggest the need for a new advertising model, one in which a key goal of the ad is to foster conversation; the conversation then persuades the prospect, which leads to purchase.
Perceived risk, usage frequency of mobile banking services

Purpose – This study discusses the effects of diffusion and adopters of mobile banking services (MBSs), perceived risk, brand awareness, and brand image of MBS providers, on attitude toward using MBSs, and on intention to use MBSs. In accordance with sample usage frequency in MBSs, this study subgroups the sample population into several behavioral segments (frequent/infrequent users) to concentrate sample characteristics and the behavioral models.Design/methodology/approach – Data from the 610 valid questionnaires collected in Taiwan were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL. In accordance with sample usage frequency in MBSs, this study subgroups the sample population into several behavioral segments (frequent/infrequent users) to concentrate sample characteristics and the behavioral models.Findings – Analytical results demonstrate that mobile banking users with different behavioral patterns have dissimilar perceptions of innovation benefits and risk. Moreover, brand awareness and brand image of the MBSs provider .
Insider trading and the likelihood of corporate insolvency: Evidence from UK firms

This paper investigates the relation between insider trading and the likelihood of insolvency. Using a unique dataset of 474 UK non-financial firms, of which 117 filed for insolvency between 2000 and 2010, we show that insider trading characteristics increase the predictive power of insolvency prediction models. The results indicate that although insider trading is generally associated with a lower likelihood of insolvency, the relationship is reversed during the six month period before firms file for insolvency. While the earlier trades seem to be motivated by superior information held by insiders, insider trading closer to the insolvency date is possibly initiated by signalling motives to influence market perception in an attempt to avert insolvency.
Paying for Staying: Managerial Contracts and the Retention Motive

Talented managers may leave the firm in order to work elsewhere. Focusing on the portability of managers-resources, we develop a model in which managerial compensation is designed to prevent inefficient departure. The model rationalizes the widespread use of flat salaries in combination with performance-vesting stock options and is consistent with observed differences in compensation contracts across individuals, firms, industries, and countries.
Obituary: Professor Ying-Xiang Wang (1938-2016).

It is with great sadness that I share the sorrowful news that mammalogy and wildlife science lost a respected scientist, patient teacher, and wonderful mentor on 10 February, 2016, when Professor Ying-Xiang Wang died in Kunming, Yunnan Province, due to heart failure following a lung infection. He is survived by his wife Professor Rui-Qing Liu, daughter Li Wang, son Tao Wang, daughter-in-law Qing Sun and gr and daughter Jun-Qi Wang.
Adenosine restores the hepatic artery buffer response and improves survival in a porcine model of small‐for‐size syndrome

The aim of the study is to define the role of the HABR in the pathophysiology of the SFS liver graft and to demonstrate that restoration of hepatic artery flow (HAF) has a significant impact on outcome and improves survival. Nine pigs received partial liver allografts of 60% liver volume, Group 1; 8 animals received 20% LV grafts, Group 2; 9 animals received 20% LV grafts with adenosine infusion, Group 3. HAF and portal vein flow (PVF) were recorded at 10 min, 60 min and 90 min post reperfusion, on POD 3 and POD 7 in Group 1, and daily in Group 2 and 3 up to POD 14. Baseline HAF and PVF (ml/100g/min) were 29 ± 12 (mean ± SD) and 74 ± 8 respectively, with 28% of total liver blood flow (TLBF) from the HA and 72% from the PV. PVF peaked at 10 mins in all groups, increasing by a factor of 3.8 in the 20% group compared to an increase of 1.9 in the 60% group. By POD 7‐14 PVF rates approached baseline values in all groups. The HABR was intact immediately following reperfusion in all groups with a reciprocal decrease in HAF corresponding to the peak PVF at 10 min. However in the 20% group HAF decreased to 12 ± 8 ml/100 g/min at 90 min and remained low out to POD 7‐14 despite restoration of normal PVF rates. Histopathology confirmed evidence of HA vasospasm and its consequences, cholestasis, centrilobular necrosis and biliary ischemia in Group 2. HA infusion of adenosine significantly improved HAF (p < .0001), reversed pathological changes and significantly improved survival (p = .05). An impaired HABR is important in the pathophysiology of the SFSS. Reversal of the vasospasm significantly improves outcome. Liver Transpl 15:1448–1457, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Surprising Robustness of the Self-Explicated Approach to Customer Preference Structure Measurement

The authors introduce customized conjoint analysis, which combines self-explicated preference structure measurement with full-profile conjoint analysis. The more important attributes for each respondent are identified first using the self-explicated approach. Full-profile conjoint analysis customized to the respondent's most important attributes then is administered. The conjoint utility function on the limited set of attributes then is combined with the self-explicated utility function on the full set of attributes. Surprisingly, the authors find that the self-explicated approach by itself yields a slightly (but not statistically significantly) higher predictive validity than does the combined approach.
Marketing Mix Analysis in the Company ORLET služby s.r.o.

This bachelor thesis deals with problems of the marketing mix in the company ORLET služby s.r. o. The aim is to analyse the current situation of the marketing mix in the company and try to recommend suitable suggestions for improvement. The theoretical part is concerned with theoretical knowledge of the marketing mix and a detailed analysis of individual marketing mix tools such as product, price, place and promotion. The practical part describes the company and analyses individual marketing mix tools in the mentioned company. It also includes the SWOT analysis which helps to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the company ORLET služby s.r. o.
Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and its role in insulin resistance

Purpose of review In obesity, there is a strong link between increased adipose tissue mass and development of insulin resistance in tissues such as liver and muscle. Under these conditions, adipose tissue synthesizes various pro-inflammatory chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1. This review provides a summary of recent knowledge on the role of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. Recent findings Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 is a proinflammatory adipokine that is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. New in-vitro data demonstrate that monocyte chemotactic protein-1 has the ability to induce insulin resistance in adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells. By using mice that either overexpress monocyte chemotactic protein-1 or are deficient in monocyte chemotactic protein-1 or its receptor, exciting new insights have been obtained into the role of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. Summary Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 is an adipokine with insulin-resistance-inducing capacity that is related to increased adipose tissue mass in obesity and insulin resistance. It plays an important role in adipose tissue inflammation by recruiting macrophages into fat. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 is thus a therapeutic target, and may represent an important factor linking adipose tissue inflammation, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Behavioral Studies of the Effects of Regulation on Earnings Management and Accounting Choice

We review recent behavioral studies of the effects of regulation on earnings management and accounting choice. Our review examines the impact of financial reporting, auditing, and other corporate governance regulations on the beliefs and choices of managers, auditors and corporate directors. Behavioral studies contribute to the broader literature by shedding light on potential unintended consequences and overall efficacy of proposed regulations, revealing the roles of specific actors and the motives behind reporting choices, and demonstrating what determines managers' preferences for different earnings management methods (both real and accruals based). We also discuss areas that have received less attention that provide promising avenues for future behavioral research involving regulation, earnings management, and accounting choice.
Vaginal fibrosarcoma in cow (A case report)

A five-year-old Holstein cow with a history of vaginal prolapse was admitted to the Large Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz. According to the owner, she had a 5-month history of vaginal prolapse and frequent sanguineous discharge from the vagina. Appetite was normal and its last parturition was two months ago. Clinical examination revealed a tumor like mass that attached to the vaginal roof and partly protruded through the vagina without any vaginal prolapse. After epidural anesthesia, the mass was surgically removed with some of the surrounding tissue. The dimensions of the mass were 5.2 × 4 × 3.4 cm. Macroscopically, it was relatively well circumscribed with a lobulated and ulcerated surface. In cut section, the mass was homogenously creamy in color. There were no foci of necrosis or hemorrhage. Microscopically, the growth was composed of spindle-shaped fibroblastic type tumor cells that formed interlacing and intersecting bundles. The neoplastic cells showed pleomorphism, karyomegaly and slight nuclear hyperchromatism. The mitotic index was less than five. Based on the site, biological behavior, immunohistochemistry results, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, the mass was diagnosed as a well-differentiated fibrosarcoma. This is the first report of cow vaginal fibrosarcoma from Iran.
fMC / FAC : AModel of Similarity-based Retrieval

We present a model of similarity-based retrieval that attempts to capture three seemingly contradictory psychological phenomena: (0) structural commonalities are weighed more heavily thon surface commonalities in similarity judgments for items In working memory; (b) in retrieval. superficial similarity is more impor. tont thon structural similarity; and yet (c) purely structural (anologicol) remindings e sometimes experienced. Our model, MAC/FAC. explains th.se phenomena in terms of (I two-stoge process. The first stoge uses (I computationally cheap, nonstructural matcher to filter candidate long-term memory items. It uses conten' vectors, a redundant encoding of structured representations whose dot product estimates how well the corresponding structural representations will match. The second stage uses SME (structure-mopping engine) to compute structural matches on the handful of items found by the first stage. We show the utility of the MAC/FAC model through a series of computational experiments: (a) We demon. strate that MAC/FAC can model patterns of access found in psychological data: (b) we argue via sensitivity analyses that these simulation results rely on the theory; and (c) we compare the performance of MAC/FAC with ARCS. an ahernate model of Similarity-based retrieval. and demonstrate that MAC/FAC explains the data better than ARCS. Finally, we discuss limitations and possible extensions of the model, relationships with other recent retrieval models, and place MAC/FAC in the context of other recent work on the nature of similarity.
Impact of Private Tutoring on Learning Levels

Despite widespread and substantial household expenditure on private tutoring in many developing countries, not much is known about their effects on learning outcomes. The main challenge in estimating such an effect is that the decision to send the child for private tutoring is endogenous. This paper utilises a large household survey conducted in rural India, and employs fixed effect estimation to control for the effect of unobserved variables. It finds a positive and significant effect of private tutoring on learning outcomes for students in Classes 1 to 8. The effect is stronger for disadvantaged students—those who are less wealthy, and those whose parents are relatively less educated.
Environmental practices and performance and their relationships among Kosovo construction companies: a framework for analysis in transition economies

The environment is an issue of growing global importance and economies in transition need to find a balance between economic growth and sustainable development. This study assessed the relationship between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, pressures and environmental performance in Kosovo's construction industry. A cross-sectional survey design was employed in a sample of 124 Kosovo construction companies. A structured questionnaire was developed based on previous research and assessed GSCM practices, pressures and company performance, as well as respondent and company characteristics. The findings from the regression analysis revealed that GSCM practices and pressures significantly predicted the GSCM performance of the companies. However, GSCM pressures did not moderate the effects of GSCM practices on company performance. Environmental performance of Kosovo construction companies is predicted GSCM practices and regulatory pressures. This research is one of the few studies which examines the relationships between environmental practices and performance in companies in the South-East European region.
Molecular Regulation of Parturition: The Role of the Decidual Clock.

The timing of birth is a critical determinant of perinatal outcome. Despite intensive research, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the onset of labor both at term and preterm remain unclear. It is likely that a "parturition cascade" exists that triggers labor at term, that preterm labor results from mechanisms that either prematurely stimulate or short-circuit this cascade, and that these mechanisms involve the activation of proinflammatory pathways within the uterus. It has long been postulated that the fetoplacental unit is in control of the timing of birth through a "placental clock. " We suggest that it is not a placental clock that regulates the timing of birth, but rather a "decidual clock. " Here, we review the evidence in support of the endometrium/decidua as the organ primarily responsible for the timing of birth and discuss the molecular mechanisms that prime this decidual clock.
Risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease of a grafted heart as detected very early after orthotopic heart transplantation

Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHTx) represents a well established method of end‐stage heart failure treatment. Allograft coronary artery disease (CAD) still remains to be one of the most important limiting factors for OHTx recipients’ long‐term survival. Unfortunately, allograft CAD can be detected very early after OHTx. Our study was designed to identify risk factors for early allograft CAD development. Eighty‐three OHTx recipients (18 females, 65 males, mean age 50.55 ± 11.04 years) with coronary intravascular ultrasound examination performed early after OHTx (29.81 ± 12.45 days) formed the study population. The impact of a number of pre‐, peri‐ and early post‐transplant possible risk factors on early allograft CAD development was studied. By multivariate analysis, only higher donor age (P < 0.001) and higher recipient's body mass index (P = 0.003) were found to represent risk factors for the early development of allograft CAD.
Cholesterol solubility in model bile systems: implications in cholelithiasis.

Studies of cholesterol solubility in a physiologically realistic model bile system as a function of its (crystalline) form revealed significant behaviorial differences in the rate of solution and the approach to equilibrium. The solubility of the equilibrium species, hydrated cholesterol, and of fresh human gallstones was found to be approximately 5 mole %. Anhydrous and coprecipitated cholesterol samples attained metastable solubility values. The lag time for nucleation and growth to occur in these systems could account for lab-to-lab variations in previous studies and could be of extreme importance in vivo when lithogenic bile is present. These studies were extended to measurement of the solubility as a function of the bile salt-lecithin ratio. Evaluation of these data with respect to available clinical data reveals that many normal individuals have bile that is supersaturated with respect to cholesterol. The principles governing the maintenance of supersaturation in these persons are discussed and suggestions for future studies are offered.