Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensory function: insights from Wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.

OBJECTIVES Sensory function, a critical component of quality of life, generally declines with age and influences health, physical activity, and social function. Sensory measures collected in Wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) survey focused on the personal impact of sensory function in the home environment and included: subjective assessment of vision, hearing, and touch, information on relevant home conditions and social sequelae as well as an improved objective assessment of odor detection. METHOD Summary data were generated for each sensory category, stratified by age (62-90 years of age) and gender, with a focus on function in the home setting and the social consequences of sensory decrements in each modality. RESULTS Among both men and women, older age was associated with self-reported impairment of vision, hearing, and pleasantness of light touch. Compared with women, men reported significantly worse hearing and found light touch less appealing. There were no gender differences for vision. Overall, hearing loss seemed to have a greater impact on social function than did visual impairment. DISCUSSION Sensory function declines across age groups, with notable gender differences for hearing and light touch. Further analysis of sensory measures from NSHAP Wave 2 may provide important information on how sensory declines are related to health, social function, quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in this nationally representative sample of older adults.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF VENTURE CAPITAL AND PRIVATE EQUITY

This paper investigates the internationalization of venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) investments. We derive flows between countries of VC and PE investments worldwide, relying on comprehensive firm-level data sources, covering three decades and about 100 countries. A gravity analysis indicates that distance, common language, and colonial ties are significant factors in directing these flows. Additionally, the presence of high-end human capital, a better business environment, high levels of military expenditure, and deeper financial markets are important local factors that attract international venture capital. There is also evidence of path dependency and persistence in VC and PE flows, indicating network effects and fixed costs of entry may be at work. Further analysis suggests the internalization of VC and PE is an ongoing story. Prior to the 1990s, VC was primarily a US-only phenomenon. The globalization of IT activities induced the US venture capital industry to mature, and to start exporting its unique skills as VC managers. The US is now a dominant net exporter of deals, though most crossborder deals are still either to or from the US. China has emerged as the dominant net importer, followed by Sweden, Canada, the UK, France and India. For deals outside the US, cross-border participation has been the norm, while US-located deals have been almost exclusively domestic, involving a higher percent of international participation only after 2001. In the past few years, domestic VC capacity has begun to emerge in many countries where it did not exist previously. Joshua Aizenman Department of Economics; E2 1156 High St. University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 95064 and NBER jaizen@ucsc.edu Jake Kendall The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington DC 20433 jkendall1@worldbank.org
Recent developments in gravity‐wave effects in climate models and the global distribution of gravity‐wave momentum flux from observations and models

Recent observational and theoretical studies of the global properties of small‐scale atmospheric gravity waves have highlighted the global effects of these waves on the circulation from the surface to the middle atmosphere. The effects of gravity waves on the large‐scale circulation have long been treated via parametrizations in both climate and weather‐forecasting applications. In these parametrizations, key parameters describe the global distributions of gravity‐wave momentum flux, wavelengths and frequencies. Until recently, global observations could not define the required parameters because the waves are small in scale and intermittent in occurrence. Recent satellite and other global datasets with improved resolution, along with innovative analysis methods, are now providing constraints for the parametrizations that can improve the treatment of these waves in climate‐prediction models. Research using very‐high‐resolution global models has also recently demonstrated the capability to resolve gravity waves and their circulation effects, and when tested against observations these models show some very realistic properties. Here we review recent studies on gravity‐wave effects in stratosphere‐resolving climate models, recent observations and analysis methods that reveal global patterns in gravity‐wave momentum fluxes and results of very‐high‐resolution model studies, and we outline some future research requirements to improve the treatment of these waves in climate simulations. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society and Crown in the right of Canada
TQM Factors and Their Impact on Service Recovery and Service Performance - In restaurant settings -

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of TQM dimensions through service recovery justice on service quality and customer satisfaction. Methods: This study employed structural equation modeling methodology analyzing 265 samples collected. Results: This study found that TQM related factors had positive influence on service recovery justice in general. In specific, top management leadership and employee participation are the most important factors for the service recovery justice. Conclusion: This study reveals that service recovery justice has the positive impact on both service quality and customer satisfaction.
A population‐based study of craniosynostosis in metropolitan Atlanta, 1989–2003

Craniosynostosis is a birth defect characterized by premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. We describe the birth prevalence of craniosynostosis and related risk factors among infants born to residents of metropolitan Atlanta during 1989–2003. Data from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP) were used to identify infants with craniosynostosis. Case records with a code for craniosynostosis were reviewed to substantiate the diagnosis of craniosynostosis and to classify infants as having isolated craniosynostosis (no other unrelated major defects), multiple defects (one or more additional major, unrelated defects), or a syndrome (recognized or strongly suspected single‐gene condition or chromosome abnormality). Vital records data on births of Georgia residents were used to analyze craniosynostosis prevalence by year of birth, maternal race and age, parity, plurality, and infants' sex, birth weight, and gestational age. We identified 281 infants born with craniosynostosis in metropolitan Atlanta during 1989–2003: 84% with isolated craniosynostosis, 7% with multiple defects, and 9% with syndromes. The birth prevalence was 4.3 per 10,000 births, results consistent with findings from other population‐based studies using similar case definitions. Apert syndrome was diagnosed in 40% of the syndromic cases, and sagittal synostosis was diagnosed in 39% of the cases of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. Maternal age 35 years or older, multiple birth, male sex, and birth weight >4,000 g were risk factors for craniosynostosis. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recovery Strategies for Service Failures: The Case of Restaurants

The study objective was to determine the efficiency of recovery strategies for various service failures in the restaurant industry. Efficiency was determined by the customers' willingness to return (WTR) and visit the restaurant. The main findings suggest that recovery strategies that include service interaction with customers were dominant over strategies which include monetary compensation. Furthermore, it has been found that the most problematic service failures are the ones involving inappropriate servers' behavior, slow service, and food/beverage spillage. The study concludes with implications and recommendations for matching each service failure with a recovery strategy which will improve customers' WTR to the restaurant.
Private label personality: applying brand personality to private label brands

Private label brands (PLBs) are an important facet of the retail offering within the supermarket sector. Although research has focused on the risk factors of private label purchasing, there has been little research that explores the brand management of private labels including the development of a brand personality. In this study, we investigate how the Aaker brand personality scale applies to a PLB available in two different retail chains and examine its effect on customer attitudes towards private label quality. A factor analysis of these brand personality measurement items shows that five dimensions, confidence (a new dimension), sincerity, ruggedness, excitement and competence are relevant for PLBs. Although much of the original Aaker scale was included in the analysis, one factor, sophistication, was not evident. A regression analysis shows that all private label personality dimensions influenced the private label quality measure with the confidence and sincerity dimensions having the greatest impact.
Perceived value: a critical examination of definitions, concepts and measures for the service industry

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to provide a literature review of the state‐of‐the‐art and up to date concepts and measures undertaken in the research on perceived value. The purpose especially is to provide a comprehensive and systematic overview of the research on perceived value.Design/methodology/approach – The common perceived value definitions, conceptual and measurement approaches and its close relationship with important and highly researched service industry components such as service quality and customer satisfaction are discussed.Findings – This paper demonstrates underlying and foundational theories, systematises the research streams and addresses the unsolved concerns of perceived value. The paper concludes with recommendations for the future research and application of perceived value as being relevant to the service industry.Originality/value – The contribution of the paper lies in achieving a more profound understanding of the nature of perceived value for, equally, academics and industry.
Global and multi‐scale features of solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling: From modeling to forecasting

The Earth's magnetosphere is a spatially extended nonlinear system driven far from equilibrium by the turbulent solar wind. During substorms it exhibits both global and multi‐scale features which reconciliation has been a long standing issue. This paper presents a data‐derived model of the solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling that combines a nonlinear dynamical description of the global features with a statistical description of the multi‐scale aspects. This approach yields deterministic predictions of the global component of magnetospheric dynamics and probabilistic predictions of its multi‐scale features.
Acute effects of a vibration-like stimulus during knee extension exercise.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to test whether a low-frequency vibration-like stimulus (rapid variable resistance) applied during a single session of knee extension exercise would alter muscle performance. METHODS Torque, knee joint angle, EMG activity of rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles, and VL muscle oxygenation status (near-infrared spectroscopy) were recorded during metronome-guided knee extension exercise. Nine healthy adults completed four trials exercising at contraction intensities of 35% (L) or 70% (H) of one-repetition maximum (1RM) in control (no vibration, Vb-) or vibrated condition (superimposed 10-Hz vibration-like stimulus, Vb+). Maximum voluntary contraction and 1RM were tested pre- and postexercise. RESULTS During 1RM tests, muscle dynamic strength (P=0.02) and power (P=0.05) were significantly higher during vibrated rather than nonvibrated trials, and strength was significantly higher post- than preexercise (P=0.002), except during LVb- trial. Median spectral frequency of VL and RF EMG activity was significantly higher during postexercise than preexercise 1RM test in the vibration trials but unchanged in the control trials (P<0.02). The rate of muscle deoxygenation was 58% faster during H than L exercise (P=0.001), and vibration superimposition tended to speed muscle deoxygenation rate (P=0.065, 36% effect size) particularly during L trials. CONCLUSION Vibration superimposition during knee extension exercise at low contraction intensity enhanced muscle performance. This effect appears to result from adaptation of neural factors such as motor unit excitability (recruitment and firing frequency, conduction velocity of excitation) in response to sensory receptor stimulation. Muscle vibration may increase the training effects derived from light-to-moderate exercise.
Why it is customer loyalty that counts (and how to measure it)

Proposes that no company can stay in business unless it has satisfied and loyal customers. Suggests that there is a critical distinction between making more customers satisfied and making customers more satisfied. Posits that the secret of boosting bottom‐line results is in making some of the customers “much more than just satisfied”. Concludes that customer loyalty cannot be measured by customer satisfaction alone and provides key questions for the company to ask when auditing a customer loyalty programme.
Specific mutations in the enhancer II/core promoter/precore regions of hepatitis B virus subgenotype C2 in Korean patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Recently, hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and mutations have been reported to be related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This cross‐sectional case–control study examined the relationship between HCC and mutations in the enhancer II/core promoter and precore regions of HBV by comparing 135 Korean HCC patients infected with HBV genotype C2 (HBV/C2; HCC group) with 135 age‐, sex‐, and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status‐matched patients without HCC (non‐ HCC group). Age and sex were also matched between HBeAg‐positive and ‐negative patients. The prevalence of T1653, A1689, V1753, T1762/A1764, T1846, A1850, C1858, and A1896 mutations was evaluated in this population. The prevalence of the T1653 mutation in the box α region, the A1689 mutation in between the box α and β regions, and the T1762/A1764 mutations in the basal core promoter region was significantly higher in the HCC group compared to the non‐HCC group (8.9% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.017; 19.3% vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001; and 60.7% vs. 22.2%; P < 0.001). Among HBeAg‐negative patients, the frequency of the T1653 mutation was higher in the HCC group. Regardless of HBeAg status, the prevalence of the A1689, and T1762/A1764 mutations was higher in the HCC group than in the non‐HCC group. However, no association was observed between mutations in the precore region and HCC. Upon multivariate analysis, the presence of the T1653, A1689, and T1762/A1764 mutations was an independent predictive factor for HCC. The addition of the T1653 or A1689 mutation to T1762/A1764 increased the risk of HCC. In conclusion, the T1653, A1689, and/or T1762/A1764 mutations were associated with the development of HCC in Korean patients infected with HBV/C2. J. Med. Virol. 81:1002–1008, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
LOW-DOSE ASPIRIN THERAPY IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED ALLOGRAFT FUNCTION AND PROLONGED ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Background. Aspirin treatment has an undoubted beneficial impact on the progression of cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that aspirin also protects allograft function and survival in the context of chronic renal allograft dysfunction, which displays decisive pathophysiologic features that are similar to those involved in atherogenesis. Methods. A retrospective, multivariate analysis was performed to assess the effect of low-dose aspirin treatment (100 mg/day) on allograft function and survival of 830 renal transplant recipients. Allograft function was evaluated by serum creatinine levels, urine protein levels, and the presence of hematuria. Results. Median allograft survival time was significantly longer in patients receiving low-dose aspirin therapy compared with patients receiving no aspirin treatment (n=205, 13.8±2.6 vs. 7.8±0.3 years, n=625; adjusted relative risk=0.443, 95% confidence interval [0.323–0.608], P<0.0001). Statin treatment and a recent time point of transplantation, reflecting the qualitative advances of the applied immunosuppressive therapy, were further positive determinants of renal allograft survival. The number of antihypertensive agents, representing the extent of hypertension, was a negative determinant of allograft survival. Transplant function was better preserved in aspirin-treated patients, who displayed a slower increase of serum creatinine and less proteinuria and hematuria during the observation period. The duration of aspirin treatment was positively associated with better allograft function. Conclusions. Low-dose aspirin therapy substantially improves renal allograft function and allograft survival. These findings suggest that aspirin should be considered to complement long-term posttransplant medical treatment regimens.
Promotion of E-Technology-Based Services a Case Study of E-Service Quality at a University in Indonesia

In a world increasingly shaped and influenced by information and communication technologies, more and more universities are developing effective e-service quality to enhance their services to students. This paper describes how we used an e-survey to assess service quality development efforts at a school of business and banking in Indonesia. The purpose of the survey was to find out to what degree services at that university are perceived by students and to ascertain which services are in need of improvement by the university. Our survey comprised 45 questions specifically designed to assess the service quality of nine work units within the university, including the campus information system. The survey was administered to 1,319 students. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics. The findings show an average score of 3.4 (out of 5), which indicates that service quality at the case-study university is 'fair. ' Earning the highest score were the library and general affairs units. Our analysis also identified three groups of students (average, high, and low), based on their perceptions of service quality. Managerial implications associated with the e-survey are also discussed in this paper.
Intensive care unit drug use and subsequent quality of life in acute lung injury patients

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between the use of sedative and neuromuscular blocking agents during a patient’s intensive care unit (ICU) stay and subsequent measures of health-related quality of life. DesignCross-sectional mail survey and retrospective medical record abstraction of a prospectively identified cohort of lung injury patients. SettingICUs in three teaching hospitals in a major metropolitan area. PatientsPatients with acute lung injury (n = 24). InterventionsNone—observational study. Measurements and Main ResultsPatients’ charts were reviewed for those patients returning postdischarge quality-of-life questionnaires. Duration, daily dose, and route of administration for sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents were abstracted from ICU flow sheets. Relationships among ICU variables (days of sedation, days of neuromuscular blockade, and severity of illness as measured by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score) and outcomes (symptoms of depression and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder) were assessed. Depressive symptoms at follow-up were correlated with days of sedation (p = .007), but not with days of neuromuscular blockade or initial severity of illness. The composite posttraumatic stress disorder symptom impact score was correlated with days of sedation (p = .006) and days of neuromuscular blockade (p = .035), but not with initial severity of illness. There were no significant differences between the frequency of patients reporting a specific posttraumatic stress disorder symptom in the high sedation group and the low sedation group, and there were no significant differences in specific posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms between the group that had received neuromuscular blockade and those who had not. ConclusionsThe use of sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents in the ICU is positively associated with subsequent measures of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms 6–41 months after ICU treatment for acute lung injury.
Post‐training assessment of HACCP knowledge: its use as a predictor of effective HACCP development, implementation and maintenance in food manufacturing

Purpose – HACCP training is acknowledged as a key requirement for the development of effective HACCP systems. However, there are few measures of the standards of training being offered or of the effectiveness of learning that takes place and no agreed methods to measure HACCP knowledge following training. Sets out to investigate this issue.Design/methodology/approach – A HACCP knowledge questionnaire was developed to measure HACCP team member knowledge following training. Data were collected from 91 individuals in a multinational organisation and predictions were made on likely effectiveness of HACCP systems based on team‐member knowledge.Findings – This paper outlines the preliminary results from a research project investigating the impact of training on effective HACCP implementation in a multinational organisation.Research limitations/implications – Limitations concerning sample size, timing and possible lack of understanding are discussed.Originality/value – A new tool to measure HACCP team member kno.
Effects of Internal Controls, Fraud Motives and Experience in Assessing Likelihood of Fraud Risk

The audit profession has attempted to improve auditors’ ability in assessing likelihood of fraud risk so as to enhance audit quality and increase investor confidence. Malaysian Approved Standards on Auditing, AI 240 on “Fraud and Error” and National Audit Department guidelines on fraud requires the auditor to assess the likelihood of fraud based on the internal control and pressure and opportunity. The purpose of this study is to examine which factor most likely use by auditors in assessing the likelihood of fraud risk. An experimental approach is adopted by sending case scenarios to 63 auditors from the National Audit Department of Malaysia and 67 final year accounting students. Both groups have to complete two different case scenarios which level of internal controls and fraud motivation (i.e., pressures and opportunity) are being manipulated into high and low level. The results indicate that there are significant interaction between internal controls and fraud motivation factors. The findings may provide insights into the auditors’ judgment in fraud risk assessment which could be beneficial to increase the auditors’ awareness and understanding of fraud risk factors and thus, maintain their viability in the auditing profession.