Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of E-commerce adoption for small and medium enterprise in developing country: A case study Uganda

In order to attain achievement in this 21st century and capability facing more complex challenges, the small-medium enterprise (SMEs) in developing country needs to progress ideas based on economic and community. E-commerce has many benefits for SMEs in terms of faster communication within the firm and more efficient for managing resources of the firm. SME in developing countries has more challenges than from those developed countries in adopting e-commerce. E-commerce initiation by SMEs is still lesser in a figure, insufficient and only at the initial stages such as having email or website. The aim of this study is to focus on the ability to understand the knowledge regarding the SMEs’ adoption of e-commerce in developing countries such as Uganda, and at the same time developing an e-commerce adoption model for SMEs and then validating the model. This study runs into two phases by doing the preliminary study and the survey. During the preliminary study phase, the e-commerce adoption model is developed based on TAM model of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived trust and intention to use. While in the survey phase as a quantitative method, the questionnaire is developed and then the sample is identified. After conducting the survey, the questionnaire is analyzed using the multiple linear regression analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis found that the factors of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are significantly and positively contributed to the factor of perceived trust. While perceived trust significantly and positively contributed to the factor of intention to use. This shows that perceived trust has great contribution in clarifying intention to use e-commerce in Uganda SMEs. The developed e-commerce adoption model is expected to help the Uganda SMEs towards the developing and accelerating of the e-commerce implementation. Thus, the developing country especially Uganda will be improving in terms of the e-commerce sectors.
The relevance of green practices worldwide: an overview

Purpose The paper consists of a literature review about the green supply chain management (GSCM), a concept which has been gaining ground around the organizations worldwide. The traditional supply chain (SC) was forced to evolve in GSCM as an option for companies to improve their economical, operational and environmental performance. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how green practices (GP) have a powerful dependence to the SC execution from companies around the world. A GP can be briefly defined as the actions being consciously done being responsible to the environment. Design/methodology/approach The paper is exploratory. The topic was delimited through a review of similar papers, analyzing the different type of tools and the GP considered in each paper. For last, a conclusion will be exposed. Findings The “green movement” within the SC is increasing fast around the world, since the increasing awareness of industrialized countries are recurring in practices that impact directly to the environment. Therefore, costs of extra energy consumption are generated, as well as the imminent worrying reputation among customers due to the lack of responsibility to the environment. Research limitations/implications The document only covers the topic from a theoretical aspect through a literature review. Originality/value This paper covers not only strategies related to GSCM and GP from European and Asian countries are approached, but also Latin American performance, exposing briefly the adoption of GSCM.
Intranasal Immunization with Killed Unencapsulated Whole Cells Prevents Colonization and Invasive Disease by Capsulated Pneumococci

ABSTRACT A whole-cell killed unencapsulated pneumococcal vaccine given by the intranasal route with cholera toxin as an adjuvant was tested in two animal models. This vaccination was highly effective in preventing nasopharyngeal colonization with an encapsulated serotype 6B strain in mice and also conferred protection against illness and death in rats inoculated intrathoracically with a highly encapsulated serotype 3 strain. When the serotype 3 challenge strain was incubated in the sera of immunized rats, it was no longer virulent in an infant-rat sepsis model, indicating that the intranasal immunization elicited protective systemic antibodies. These studies suggest that killed whole-cell unencapsulated pneumococci given intranasally with an adjuvant may provide multitypic protection against capsulated pneumococci.
MR arthrography: impact of steroids, local anesthetics, and iodinated contrast material on gadolinium signal intensity in phantoms at 1.5 and 3.0 T.

PURPOSE To determine if gadolinium signal intensity at direct magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography is affected by the addition of steroids, anesthetics, or iodinated contrast material. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study did not require approval by the institutional review board because no patients or patient data were involved. An in vitro study was performed to evaluate various concentrations of three gadolinium contrast agents (gadopentetate dimeglumine, gadobenate dimeglumine, and gadofosveset trisodium) diluted in either saline or iodinated contrast material (50% and full-strength iohexol 300). Three steroids (betamethasone, triamcinolone, and methylprednisolone) and three local anesthetics (lidocaine, ropivacaine, and bupivacaine) were added to solutions in clinical doses. T1-weighted fat-suppressed MR imaging sequences were performed in phantoms at 1.5 and 3.0 T. Signal intensities were measured. All experiments were repeated in full for a total of three replications each. The data were analyzed by using two-way factorial analysis of variance. RESULTS Dilution of gadolinium into iohexol reduced the signal intensity in all samples compared with dilution in saline alone. Peak signal intensities were at 0.625 and 1.25 mmol/L of gadolinium in iohexol at both magnet strengths. At 1.5 T, the addition of steroids and anesthetics to the saline solutions had no impact on the signal intensity curves, with the peak signal intensity at gadolinium concentrations of 2.5 and 1.25 mmol/L. At 3.0 T, the addition of steroids and anesthetics had minimal effect on signal intensity curves, with the peak signal intensity at 1.25 mmol/L of gadolinium. CONCLUSION The addition of steroids and/or anesthetics to gadolinium solutions for MR arthrography does not substantially impact signal intensity. When gadolinium is diluted into a 50% or greater strength of iohexol, the signal intensity curve shifts so that the maximum signal intensity is obtained with lower gadolinium concentrations (0.625-1.25 mmol/L).
Consumer acceptance of sports wearable technology: the role of technology readiness

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate consumers’ acceptance and use of sports and fitness wearable devices based on technology readiness (TR). In addition, the technology readiness and acceptance model (TRAM) will be used to investigate consumers’ intention to use sports wearable devices (for simplicity, sports wearable devices will be simplified to the term “sports wearables”). Design/methodology/approachConvenience sampling was conducted from Korean consumers (n=247). Data were analyzed by partial least squares–structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 3.0. FindingsThe results found that positive TR has a positive influence on perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU), and negative TR had a negative influence on PEOU and PU. PEOU had a positive influence on perceived usefulness (PU). Both PEOU and PU led to intention to use sports wearable devices. Also, the multi-group analysis found a positive correlation between TR and PEOU for especially male users.Originality/valueThe findings of this study provide a better understanding of consumers’ behavioral intent to use sports wearables. Particularly, it also provides evidence that the TRAM is an appropriate framework for predicting users’ intention to use sports wearables. This study also stresses the important role of TR in consumers’ psychological processes leading up to the actual use of novel sports wearables.
Adiponectin and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Introduction. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has a prevalence of 5—8% in women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and associated comorbidities. Adiponectin is a circulating protein produced by adipocytes. Circulating levels of adiponectin are inversely related to adipocyte mass. Low levels occur with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity-related cardiovascular disease. This article reviews the literature on the link between adiponectin and PCOS and the potential use of adiponectin as a biomarker for PCOS. Method. Data-based studies on adiponectin and PCOS and adiponectin measurement were identified through the Medline (1950—2009) and ISI Web of Knowledge (1973—2009) databases. Results. Fifteen studies related to adiponectin and PCOS met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These studies present evidence that adiponectin is linked to insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, body mass index (BMI), and adiposity. In women with PCOS, lower levels, as opposed to higher levels, of adiponectin occur in the absence of adiposity. Conclusion. The relationships between adiponectin and insulin resistance and sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, and BMI in women with PCOS suggest that adiponectin potentially could serve as a marker for disease risk and provide opportunity for earlier intervention if knowledge is successfully translated from laboratory to clinical practice. However, further study of the relationship between adiponectin and PCOS is required before there can be direct application to clinical practice.
Impact of the antecedents of electronic word of mouth on consumer based brand equity: a study on the hotel industry

ABSTRACT This paper has measured the effects of antecedents of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on Consumer Based Brand Equity (CBBE) for branded hotels. The hypotheses and a conceptual framework were developed based on the review of extant literature and qualitative study which were empirically tested using structural equation modelling. The findings of this study indicate that information quality, trust, satisfaction, loyalty, and social relationship act as the antecedents of eWOM for hotels. This study also revealed that out of the five antecedents of eWOM, mentioned above, satisfaction, loyalty, and trust on online reviews enhance CBBE and encourage a person to pay a price premium for the hotels. This study contributes to the eWOM literature by identifying eWOM as a mediating variable between satisfaction, loyalty, and trust in online reviews and CBBE.
International trade and firm performance

This dissertation is a collection of three essays that study the effect of opening to trade, especially opening to the import market, on firm performance. The first essay (Chapter 2) explores the link between innovation and import competition in China, a country that during the period we study (2000-2007) saw both a rapid increase in patenting and a lowering of import barriers due to accession to the WTO. Combining manufacturing firm survey data with customs and patent data, we find that import competition encouraged innovation, but only for the most productive firms. These top firms saw an increase in patenting rate of 3.6% for every percentage point drop in import tariffs. The result is quantitatively similar whether we use a sector-wide tariff on output or a weighted tariff at the firm level as a measure of import competition. Consistent with the main finding, top firms also feature increased R&D expenditures and an increase in domestic sales following import liberalization. To analyze the mechanism and welfare implications underlying our empirical findings about China, the second essay (Chapter 3 and 4) builds a model. Firms engage in monopolistic competition across varieties and neck-and-neck competition within each variety. An increase in the neck-and-neck competition reduces the expected profit of not innovating, thus encouraging firms to innovate more to escape the competition. We analyze the efficiency and utility implications using a simple version of the model in Chapter 4. The third essay (Chapter 5) examines the relationship between Canadian manufacturing firms’ import behavior and their performance. The focus is on two aspects of import structure, input variety and the dynamics of import relationships. Firms importing more products from a larger set of suppliers tend to be larger, more productive, and more successful in export markets. Not only the number, but also the duration of supply relationships matters. Firms maintaining a higher share of continuous supply relationships also benefit in size and productivity. These results suggest that the breadth and depth of the import network are relevant factors for the performance of Canadian manufacturers.
Innovations in banking : the syndicate's experience

Innovations introduced by the Syndicate Bank in India, which seem to account for its development from a small town bank in 1925 to one on the big ten nationalized banks, are investigated. Accelerated growth of the Syndicate Bank began in the early 1960s, resulting in a growth path that resembles an exponential growth curve. The Syndicate Bank has used innovative techniques to gain new business, strengthen its market share in the face of stiff competition, and gain small savers and enterprises, those classes of customers not sought after by conventional bankers. The financial implications of these innovations appear to be positive, and the cost of the services has not increased significantly as a result of the innovative approach. The major lesson to be learned from the Syndicate Bank's experience is that banking innovations can be effective only if operational costs are kept low and large segments of the population are involved as customers. The small savings schemes, the small advances, and the lending to agricultural and other small enterprises need not be a drain on the bank's profits. Rather, they can provide sustenance to a growing bank in its early stages. Financial data tables are appended.
The Role of Intellectual and Spiritual Capital in Developing Halal Tourism

The trend of Islamic tourism shows an immense improvement not only in Indonesia but also worldwide. In Indonesia alone, development of Islamic tourism relies on the human factor (intellectual capital) which works in tourism departments as the source of organization. The aim of the research is to test and analyses the role of intellectual capital and spiritual capital in improving the organization performance of tourism department of Aceh. The design of the research is a survey which uses multiple regressions as the data analysis method. The research object is The Tourism Department of Banda Aceh in Aceh Province. Research subjects (respondents) are 75 employees who work at the Department of Tourism City Banda Aceh. The questionnaire (Likert scale) is used as the instrument of data collection with a convenience sampling. The results show that intellectual capital and spiritual capital have a positive and significant impact on the performance of organization. Moreover, spiritual capital plays as the most pivotal in increasing the performance of tourism department of Banda Aceh
The Economic Considerations of a Sustainable City Logistics-based Business Model

City logistics initiatives are often conceived as enablers to address the challenges related to the supply and disposal of goods in city centres. Several such city logistics initiatives have been tested to address these challenges. A majority of these initiatives have used urban consolidation centres to bundle deliveries within cities, and several of the initiatives include environmental zones, access restriction schemes, use of environmentally sound vehicles and non-road modes such as light rail systems for freight movement. Despite their potential, a large proportion of the city logistics initiatives have failed to become permanent. The lack of sustainable business models and the limitation of their components are barriers to implementing city logistics initiatives in the long run. The research consists of the findings of two studies presented in three appended papers. This constitutes the basis of the thesis. The first study is a literature and practice review that provides insights on the content of the components of a conceptual city logistics-based business model and on the components’ interrelations. The study also provides a graphical representation of such a model. The second study is a participant observation study that examines an actual initiative, SamCity, in Malmo, Sweden. It investigates the stakeholder groups involved in SamCity and the potential of obtaining an economically sustainable business model. The research contributes to the area of city logistics by specifically describing and explaining the components of a conceptual city logistics-based business model and their interrelations. The research takes the generic logistics business model of Osterwalder and Pigneur (2010) and adapts it to apply to city logistics. The research reports the changes/adaptions that were carried out to come up with a proposed city logistics-based business model and some of its components. The graphical representation of the model maps the components and allows one to see possible changes that may occur. The business model components and their interrelations can be seen as a starting point to broaden and unify the research for sustainable city logistics initiatives. Future research areas are proposed to extend and complement these findings.
Independent genetic control of early and late stages of chemically induced skin tumors in a cross of a Japanese wild-derived inbred mouse strain, MSM/Ms.

MSM/Ms is an inbred mouse strain derived from a Japanese wild mouse, Mus musculus molossinus. In this study, we showed that MSM/Ms mice exhibit dominant resistance when crossed with susceptible FVB/N mice and subjected to the two-stage skin carcinogenesis protocol using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)/ 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). A series of F1 backcross mice were generated by crossing p53(+/+) or p53(+/-) F1 (FVB/N × MSM/Ms) males with FVB/N female mice. These generated 228 backcross animals, approximately half of which were p53(+/-), enabling us to search for p53-dependent skin tumor modifier genes. Highly significant linkage for papilloma multiplicity was found on chromosomes 6 and 7 and suggestive linkage was found on chromosomes 3, 5 and 12. Furthermore, in order to identify stage-dependent linkage loci we classified tumors into three categories (<2mm, 2-6mm and >6mm), and did linkage analysis. The same locus on chromosome 7 showed strong linkage in groups with <2mm or 2-6mm papillomas. No linkage was detected on chromosome 7 to papillomas >6mm, but a different locus on chromosome 4 showed strong linkage both to papillomas >6mm and to carcinomas. This locus, which maps near the Cdkn2a/p19(Arf) gene, was entirely p53-dependent, and was not seen in p53 (+/-) backcross animals. Suggestive linkage conferring susceptibility to carcinoma was also found on chromosome 5. These results clearly suggest distinct loci regulate each stage of tumorigenesis, some of which are p53-dependent.
The Impact of Nonelective Abdominal Surgery on the Residential Status of Older Adult Patients

Objective:To describe the change in residential status at discharge and 6 months after hospitalization among older adults who have undergone nonelective abdominal surgery and to identify risk factors associated with discharge to institution. Background:Surgery in older adults may lead to a loss of independence that prevents them from returning to their preadmission residential status. Understanding the impact of surgery on residential status and risk factors for institutionalization is important for patient counseling, discharge planning, and resource allocation. Methods:Community-dwelling patients aged 70 years and older who underwent nonelective abdominal surgery over a 15-month period were prospectively enrolled. Residential status before admission, at discharge, and 6 months after admission was assessed. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with discharge to institution. Results:Of the 197 patients who underwent surgery and survived to discharge, 30% were living alone before admission and 70% were living with others. At discharge, 72% of patients returned to their preadmission residential status and 22% were institutionalized. Six months after hospitalization, 55% of institutionalized patients had returned to community-living, and 79% of all patients had returned to their preadmission residential status. Change in residential status was associated with decreased quality of life. Increasing American Society of Anesthesiologists score, frailty, surgery for malignancy, and postoperative complications were associated with discharge to institution. Conclusions:The majority of older patients, including those who were discharged to an institution, returned to their preadmission residential status 6 months after nonelective abdominal surgery.
Socio-economic determinants of the adoption of improved yam production technologies in Imo State, Nigeria

This study was designed to investigate the adoption of improved yam production technologies by farmers in Imo State during the 2012 /2013 cropping season. 60 Yam farmers were selected from the three agricultural zones in the state using multi-stage random sampling technique. The mean age of yam farmers was 55.6 years, mean number of members of the family available for yam production was 5.4 , their mean farm size was 2.53hectares, mean farm size devoted to improved yam production was 1.08 hectares, mean farming experience was 32.2 years, while mean income per annum was ₦ 121,217.00. The rate of adoption of the improved yam production technologies in the state was 42.1%. The results of the linear multiple regression analysis showed that educational level was negatively and significantly associated with adoption. The farm size was positively and significantly associated with adoption. There was no clear cut relationship that existed between adoption and age of farmers, gender, farming experience, family labour, and frequency of extension visits. The R 2 was 0.742 indicating that the independent variables in the model can explain about 74.2% of the variability in adoption of improved yam production technologies in the study area. The F-ratio was 16.00 and significant at 1% level which implies goodness of fit of the regression line. Formal education should be encouraged among yam farmers to enhance adoption of improved technologies and also yam farmers should increase their farm size as this will improve their productivity and income. Keywords: Socio-economic, Adoption, Improved, Production technologies, Imo State