Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitude toward internet web sites, online information search, and channel choices for purchasing

Purpose – This study aims to examine the influence of attitudes toward particular clothing web sites, specifically favorite ones, on information search at those web sites and on the choice to purchase items from those web sites and from non‐internet channels after finding the items at the web sites.Design/methodology/approach – Using survey data from 414 US college students who had online shopping experience and favorite clothing web sites that they especially like to visit, hypothesized relationships among attitude toward internet web sites, online information search and channel choices for purchasing were tested using path analysis.Findings – Results showed that participants' attitudes toward their favorite clothing web sites had a direct, positive effect on their intentions to search for information at those web sites as well as intentions to purchase clothing items from those web sites after finding the items there. Additionally, operating through information‐search intentions at the web sites, partic.
1. RELATIONSHIP OF SPIRITUALITY AT THE WORKPLACE, JOB SATISFACTION AND ORGANISATIONAL COMMITMENT WITH JOB PERFORMANCE

Introduction Job performance has been widely studied and has become an established field of research especially in the area of operation management, human resource, as well as industrial and organizational psychology. Job performance is very important for organizations because it is considered as central to organizational effectiveness. In addition, job performance is also a critical factor for both viability of organizations and the well being of their employees (Ilgen & Pulakos, 1999). Considering the importance of job performance for organization, improving employee’s job performance is a must for every company. Many factors have been proposed and shown as factors influencing job performance. Human relationship in the workplace is one example. Research has shown that employee performance will improve as the employment relationship improves (Tepper, 2003). This relationship was explained in social exchange theory proposed by Blau (1964). This theory explains that employees show positive attitudes at work more than what a company expects because of a good social relationship with the employer. Literature in social exchange have proved how social exchange can encourage job satisfaction, commitment and other work-related attitude. There are many job related attitudes that can enhance performance which have been studied by psychologist. Among job related attitudes, job satisfaction and organizational commitment have been commonly studied by researchers (Aamodt, 2004). According to Judge, Thoresen, Bono, and Patton, (2001), employees who are satisfied and committed are more likely to perform well than the employees who are not satisfied and not committed. In addition, job satisfaction and organizational commitment also lead toward improvement in performance because lack of these attitudes are more related to desire to quit, miss work, and reduce effort which can lead to decrease in job performance (Aamodt, 2004). Although researchers agreed on the importance of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in enhancing job performance, inconsistent findings still occur on the relationship between these variables. Several researches have noted there is a relationship between job satisfaction and job performance while others found there is no relationship between those variables. Similarly, there are also inconsistent findings in the relationship between organizational commitment and job performance. Whilst several studies have found relationship between organizational commitment and job performance, other studies did not find any relationship between these two variables. Job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance as the three main variables in this research, were studied cross culturally. For example Yousef (2001)
SEM preparation and observations of the hen's oviduct

The surface patterns of the oviduct of Gallus domesticus were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using several preparatory techniques. Ciliated epithelial cells predominate throughout the oviduct with nonciliated cells approaching an equal proportion in the magnum and isthmus. Short, randomly oriented mucosal folds which characterize the infundibulum increase in height and longitudinal orientation as they approach the magnum. Here and in the isthmus they broaden and become dimpled with glandular apertures. The folds narrow again in the uterus and vagina. Cryofracture followed by SEM demonstrate the deeper mucosal folds and submucosal tubular system.
European Productivity, Innovation and Competitiveness: The Case of Italy

In Italy, price-based competitiveness measures are not always an accurate predictor of trade outcomes. This paper offers a more comprehensive assessment of Italian competitiveness, focusing on the role of innovation and the evolution of Italy’s export market share. Overall, Italy maintains a high-quality export mix, and the adaptability of small-scale specialized firms is still a source of strength. But, small firm size is becoming less of an asset, and even the most innovative sectors are weighed down by the structural barriers that have depressed productivity more broadly. Italy’s future competitiveness will depend on full implementation of a comprehensive structural-reform agenda.
Comparative efficacy of an injectable vaccine and an intranasal vaccine in stimulating Bordetella bronchiseptica-reactive antibody responses in seropositive dogs.

OBJECTIVE To compare antibody responses to intranasal and SC Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines in seropositive dogs. DESIGN Randomized controlled study. ANIMALS 40 young adult Beagles vaccinated against B bronchiseptica. PROCEDURE Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (intranasal vaccine, SC vaccine, intranasal and SC vaccines, no vaccine) and vaccinated on day 0. Serum and salivary B bronchiseptica-reactive antibody responses were measured on days 0 through 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. RESULTS Dogs that were vaccinated with the SC vaccine, alone or in combination with the intranasal vaccine, had a significant increase in serum concentration of B bronchiseptica-reactive IgG beginning on day 5 and persisting through day 28. Dogs that were vaccinated with the intranasal vaccine alone had a significant increase in serum concentration of B bronchiseptica-reactive IgG beginning on day 10 and persisting through day 28, but serum IgG concentration in these dogs was significantly less than concentration in dogs that received the SC vaccine. Neither vaccine had a demonstrable effect on salivary concentrations of B bronchiseptica-reactive IgA or IgG. On day 10, all vaccinated groups had significantly higher serum IgA concentrations than did unvaccinated control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that the SC B bronchiseptica vaccine may be used to stimulate antibody responses in seropositive dogs. There was no apparent benefit to administering these vaccines simultaneously. Intranasal vaccines may not be effective for booster vaccination of dogs previously exposed to or immunized against B bronchiseptica. Dogs should be vaccinated at least 5 days prior to exposure to B bronchiseptica.
Optimization of bone engineering by means of growth factors in a three-dimensional matrix.

The direction and acceleration of differentiation by administering growth factors is one of the ways of optimizing bone engineering. The present study considered the influence of the growth factors factor XIII, TGF-beta 1, and b-FGF on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of porcine periosteal cells in a three-dimensional carrier matrix (bead), consisting of a fibrin-alginate-hydroxyapatite composite. F XIII, TGF-beta 1, and b-FGF were added to the culture medium of monolayer culture and fibrin beads in different concentrations. The monolayer culture was assessed on the basis of cell counts, while DNA, osteocalcin, osteonectin, and collagen content and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined, and microscopic and immunohistologic evaluations were performed for the beads. In the monolayer, the addition of b-FGF led to a significantly shorter time up to the confluence of the cells. In the bead, cell proliferation was accelerated by b-FGF and TGF-beta 1. With regard to alkaline phosphatase activity, factor XIII led to significantly higher values, while b-FGF and TGF-beta 1 resulted in lower activities. Osteocalcin content was significantly increased by the application of b-FGF. For the osteonectin content the addition of growth factors did not produce any changes. The application of TGF-beta 1 during the monolayer culture significantly increased the primary collagen content of the beads. The administration of different growth factors opens up new ways of optimizing cell growth in vitro and of directing the osteogenic differentiation of periosteal cells, without one universally applicable factor having been demonstrated. It will be the task of further studies to analyze the interaction of individual factors and the chronologic dependency of the action, on the way to in vitro bone generation.
Teams, Compulsory Competitive Tendering and Employee Burnout

This paper examines the attempt to develop a self-managing team in the Building Control Unit of an outer Melbourne council. This occurred in the context of the implementation of Compulsory Competitive Tendering at the council in the late 1990s. A unique feature of the situation was an agreement with the Australian Services Union, which represented the staff involved, for there to be a form of gainsharing, not based on productivity improvement, but as it turned out on excessive working hours. This combined with the inward focus of the team, conflicts within it and peer pressure exacerbated the situation and led eventually to employee burnout.
Debt and Firm Vulnerability

Debt introduces firm vulnerability to insolvency as cash flow must be available to make interest payments. This paper reviews the empirical evidence on a sample of more than 6,000 real sector firms in 41 countries and their ability to service debt, as measured by the ratio of cash flow to interest expense, for the period 1994-01. Firm-specific, sector-specific and macroeconomic factors all influence this ratio. The analysis specifically shows a strong link between macroeconomic conditions and ability to service debt; as GDP growth slows, cash flow becomes constrained, more than offsetting any impact from lower interest rates. This business cycle effect would account for much of the distress observed in the East Asian economies following the 1997 crisis. It also provides a basis for estimating the impact of a business cycle or macroeconomic shocks on loan or bond portfolios.
The Impact of New Major Offerings on Student Retention

ABSTRACT A strategy used by industry to retain customers and remain competitive is the design and launch of new products. One might then question whether the launch of new courses and new majors by colleges and universities has the potential of reducing student attrition. Combining survey data from matriculating freshmen with administrative data taken from student records, this study examines this potential. A logistic regression analysis with student attrition as the dependent variable reveals that undergraduate students enrolling in a newly launched major are less likely to drop out of college before graduation.
Histomorphologic investigations on the effect of cyclophosphamide on dentinogenesis of the rat incisor.

— Cyclophosphamide in doses of 25, 50, 75. 100, 125, and 150 mg/kg was administered to 60 rats in 6 groups. Histomorphologic investigations of maxillary and mandibular incisors two weeks later revealed the following dose-dependent reactions: (1) interruped odontogenesis, (2) circular and mesio-distal dental constrictions, (3) niche-like dentinal defects, (4) differentiation of a postexperimental tooth, and (5) cyst formation and circulatory disturbances. Differences were observed in the frequencies of lesions in maxillary and mandibular incisors, and between labial and lingual aspects of the teeth. The results were related to roentgen irradiation effects, with which they largely concur
Craniofacial Morphology of Dutch Patients with Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate and Noncleft Controls at the Age of 15 Years

Objective: Comparison of craniofacial morphology in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients to that of a noncleft control group at the age of 15 years. Design: A cross-sectional study of cephalometric data. Subjects and Methods: Cephalometric records of 41 consecutive patients (32 boys and 9 girls) with nonsyndromic complete bilateral cleft lip and palate born between 1973 and 1987. The patients were treated by the cleft teams of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam and the VU University Amsterdam. The control group of normal Dutch subjects was followed in the Nijmegen Growth Study. From this population, mean cephalometric data were used. Differences in cephalometric measurements and other variables were calculated between the bilateral cleft lip and palate group and the control group. Results: Independent-sample t tests indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean of the cephalometric values of the bilateral cleft lip and palate patients and the control group with respect to all cephalometric variables. Pearson correlation coefficients calculated between angle ANB and the number of operators, number of surgical procedures before 15 years of age, and the year of birth were not significant. Conclusions: Bilateral cleft lip and palate patients treated in the Amsterdam and Rotterdam cleft centers differed significantly from the control group in all measurements. A Class III development due to a less forward positioned maxilla was observed. The vertical measurements indicated a more divergent growth pattern in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients (Ans-Me/N-Me, GoGn-SN, and SN-FFH).
Cash Holdings, Firm Size and Access to External Finance - Evidence for the Euro Area

This paper investigates the empirical determinants of corporate cash holdings in the euro area as a function of firm size. The results show that there are significant differences in investment in liquid assets for firms of different size. More specifically, liquid assets for smaller firms in the euro area are more strongly linked to firm cash flow and its variability than cash holdings for larger firms, possibly as a result of their more restricted access to external funds and the need to provide for future investment needs. Likewise, results show that the link between cash holdings and tangible assets, which facilitate access to external finance, is stronger for small and medium-sized firms than for large firms. In contrast, cash holding sensitivity to variations in the spread between the return on liquid assets and alternative uses of these funds (debt repayment, in the empirical specification presented in this paper) is higher for larger firms, something that might be linked to their better access to capital markets and their lower need to keep a cash buffer for precautionary reasons.
Perceived risk and Chinese consumers' internet banking services adoption

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors that discourage Chinese consumers from adopting internet banking services (IBS). This market is experiencing fast growth; however, an in‐depth understanding of Chinese consumers within this is lacking. Perceived risk is a key construct in Western consumer decision making, whereas whether this is true in China's IBS market is rarely researched. An exploration of this dynamic market is therefore critical to develop theoretical and practical implications.Design/methodology/approach – To maximise the comparability with existing Western findings, the current research adopts a quantitative approach to measure Chinese consumers' risk perception. However, as the existing literature provides limited guidelines associated with the current context, exploratory research was conducted to establish a general understanding and to identify additional elements of this particular market. A detailed instrument was developed and examined Chinese consumers' risk .
INCUBATORS BEST PRACTICES IN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: QUALITATIVE APPROACHES

This paper aims to investigate and identify the best practices of incubators in developed and developing countries based on the incubators outcomes such as economic growth, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The study nature of this research is mainly qualitative approaches (multi-case studies, literature review). This investigation uses ten case studies, and the data was mainly collected by direct interview with four international incubator managers and organizational documents from the United States, Europe and other developing countries. The authors’ professional experiences on the topic provide the foundation for the paper. Results will provide incubators a roadmap for the development of new economies based on technology, as well as value added in technology transfer, innovation development, and an entrepreneurial climate. The finding of this research can help incubator managers, policy makers and government parties for successful implementation. Also, add new knowledge for academic literature incubators best practices in developed and developing countries. The authors believe that this paper has proven successful implementation of incubators in developed and developing countries and demonstrates a weight study to the current literature on incubator’s as a tool for economic growth, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Its beneficial outcomes provide useful information about developed and developing countries for both academicians and practitioners who are interested in incubators model.
Replicating effective supported employment models for adults with psychiatric disabilities.

Introduction by the column editors:Many barriers must be overcome for the successful dissemination and adoption of model programs in mental health (1). Generally, the more complex and demanding of resources the model program is, the more obstacles are encountered in its effective "transplantation. " Some facilities or agencies simply lack the fertile fields required by resource-rich model programs. For example, the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) requires a staff-to-patient ratio of one to 20 or less. Few mental health agencies can afford that level of staffing.Another obstacle to successful dissemination is the resistance of staff at the receiving site to adopt a new model that might be philosophically incongruent with their previous approach to clients. One example is Maudsley Hospital's attempt to implement the home-based, PACT model of service delivery in a poor section of London (2). Even at this resource-rich, academic hospital—the premier psychiatric hospital for training and resear.
Detection of bone metastases: assessment of integrated FDG PET/CT imaging.

PURPOSE To retrospectively evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the identification of malignant bone lesions when the PET and CT findings are discordant and concordant. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study conformed to HIPAA standards, and the need for informed consent was waived by the institutional review board that approved the study. FDG PET/CT reports of 712 patients were reviewed to identify patients with malignant bone lesions. Fifty-nine patients (30 female and 29 male patients; age range, 10-82 years) with 113 lesions were analyzed. With use of confirmation from histopathologic examination or clinical follow-up, the PPVs of the integrated examination and of the stand-alone CT and PET components of the examination were calculated. The results were stratified according to cancer type, chemotherapy status, and number of bone lesions and were compared by using Fisher exact tests. RESULTS Of 47 lesions with positive findings at both PET and CT, 46 were malignant and one was benign, for a PPV of 98%. Of 31 lesions with positive findings at PET and negative findings at CT, 19 were malignant and 12 were benign, for a PPV of 61%. Of 35 lesions with negative findings at PET and positive findings at CT, six were malignant and 29 were benign, for a PPV of 17%. Independently, the PPV of all lesions with positive findings at PET was significantly higher than that of all lesions with positive findings at CT. Chemotherapy status for lesions with positive findings at CT and the number of lesions per patient had a statistically significant effect on the PPV of examinations (P = .02 and P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION PET/CT has a very high PPV for bone metastases (98%) when the findings at PET and CT are concordant; however, in lesions with discordant PET and CT findings at the integrated examination, PPV is markedly diminished.
Supplier management and its relationship to buyers' quality management

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to focus on dyadic buyer‐supplier relationship as part of supply chain management (SCM) and to relate implementation of supplier management practices to intra‐firm implementation of quality management (QM) practices. The aim is to identify possible relationships between the two sets of management practices.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted in the Greek manufacturing industry, with the use of questionnaires, examining the relationship between supplier management in the SCM context and intra‐firm QM implementation.Findings – Research findings, which represent buyers' point‐of‐view, reveal a positive correlation between supplier management practices and QM practices, providing an empirical support to the basic research hypothesis.Research limitations/implications – There was only one respondent in each buyer company. Also, only a mail survey was used as a research technique and only buyers' perspective was reflected in the data. Future research can .
IFRS Adoption in Research and Development Companies

Globally, the use of the IFRS in financial reporting is the requirement in many countries. However, the question of whether such a global transition towards a single set of accounting standards has been met by the presumed benefits of higher accounting quality and comparability yet remains unanswered. This paper primarily examines the effect of the mandatory IFRS adoption in Canada by the research and development companies. It was a comparative study between the Canadian GAAP financial reporting from 2008 to 2010 and IFRS financial reporting from 2011 to 2012. Since this research is an empirical study, the quantitative research method is applied. The research question of this research study is: Does IFRS adoption improve accounting quality in research and development companies? This research finds that lower persistency and predictability in earnings; decrease in earnings influence to shareholder value; weak volatility in market price; better predictability of cash flow and financial forecasts; increase in accruals and timeliness loss of recognition; and decrease in research and development expenditures.
Fuzzy-Model-Based ${{\cal D}}$-Stability and Nonfragile Control for Discrete-Time Descriptor Systems With Multiple Delays

This paper is concerned with the problems of D-stability and nonfragile control for a class of discrete-time descriptor Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems with multiple state delays. D-stability criteria are proposed to ensure that all the poles of the descriptor T-S fuzzy system are located within a disk contained in the unit circle. Furthermore, a sufficient condition is presented such that the closed-loop system is regular, causal, and D-stable, in spite of parameter uncertainties and multiple state delays. The corresponding solvability conditions for the desired fuzzy-rule-dependent nonfragile controllers are also established. Finally, examples are given to show the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed techniques.