Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethical reputation and value received: customer perceptions

Purpose – This research seeks to explore the role played by ethical reputation in amplifying the positive impact of value received by the customer on satisfaction with the supplier and ultimately loyalty.Design/methodology/approach – Survey responses derived from 299 customers, concerning two large financial institutions within Chile, are used to test relationships among ethical perceptions, customer value, satisfaction, and loyalty. Hypotheses are tested with a structural equation model.Findings – Results show that ethical perceptions about the organization amplify the impact of customer value on customer satisfaction and eventually loyalty.Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to the existing literature by showing that ethical perceptions from customers can help financial institutions achieve higher levels of satisfaction and loyalty. Study findings rely on customer survey responses collected in one country and one industry. Generalizability of findings is yet to be tested.Practical.
Impact of depression and disability on quality of life in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can influence all aspects of a patient's health. This study determines the main factors affecting quality of life (QoL) in Iranian MS patients. QoL (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale; MSIS-29), disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI) were assessed in 106 MS patients. EDSS, clinical course and MS duration significantly correlated with physical MSIS-29. Depression highly correlated with both physical and psychological MSIS-29. Regression analyses showed that depression and EDSS predicted physical health. Psychological health was predicted by depression. These findings highlight that depression and physical disability strongly influence QoL in Iranian MS patients. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 275–277. http://msj.sagepub. com
Assessing the environmental impact of logistics in online and offline B2C purchasing processes in the apparel industry

This paper presents an activity-based model for the assessment of the environmental impact of the purchasing process in the apparel industry, comparing traditional in-store and B2C e-commerce channels with a focus on logistics activities. Interviews with company managers and secondary sources were used to develop and validate the model. A base case was selected and a sensitivity analysis was carried out. The impact of logistics is generally very high in both the online and offline purchasing processes (i.e., 99% and 62% of total CO2e emissions respectively). In the online case, the location of the consumer house (i.e., inside or outside the city centre) is the parameter with the greatest environmental impact, whereas in the offline case the distance between the consumer house and the store was the most significant factor. From a managerial viewpoint, the model helps practitioners understand the environmental consequences of their business and supports internal monitoring procedures.
Small noncleaved, non-Burkitt's (Burkit-Like) lymphoma: cytogenetics predict outcome and reflect clinical presentation.

PURPOSE To correlate cytogenetic abnormalities with clinical presentation and outcome in Burkitt-like, small noncleaved non-Burkitt's lymphoma (SNC-NB). PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-nine patients with SNC-NB lymphoma and a clonal karyotype were evaluated between January 1989 and January 1996. All were from British Columbia, Canada, underwent uniform clinical staging, and were treated on investigational protocols by a small group of clinicians. RESULTS Three groups of patients were identified by clonal karyotype on cytogenetic analysis: (1) those with a c-myc translocation (n = 11); (2) those with dual translocation of c-myc and bcl-2 (n = 13); and (3) those with other cytogenetic abnormalities (n = 15). The c-myc group was younger, presented with earlier stage de nova disease, and had a better clinical prognostic factor profile. The dual-translocation and other groups were older and presented in advanced stage with poorer prognostic features, and a larger proportion of the dual-translocation group patients had transformed from previously diagnosed follicular lymphoma. The median overall survival (OS) time for all patients was 5 months. The median OS time for the dual-translocation group was only 2.5 months, as compared with 7 months and 8 months for the c-myc and other group, respectively (P < .001). There were no survivors beyond 7 months among the dual-translocation group, as opposed to 32% and 25% 2-year OS rates in the c-myc and other group. CONCLUSION SNC-NB lymphoma is a clinically and cytogenetically heterogenous disease. Dual translocation of c-myc and bcl-2 is characterized by a rapid clinical course and extremely poor outcome. This latter entity may represent the most clinically aggressive lymphoma thus far characterized and warrants intensive investigational treatment where feasible.
Prognosis of Small Adenocarcinoma of the Lung Based on Thin-Section Computed Tomography and Pathological Preparations

Objective: We investigated the relationship between findings from tumor opacity in the mediastinal window image and solid lesions in pathological preparations and related the results to tumor recurrence. Methods: The subjects were 115 patients with a lung adenocarcinoma of 20 mm or smaller who underwent surgical resection. The proportion of the reduction in the tumor opacity in the mediastinal window image maximum diameter to the maximum diameter of the tumor opacity was calculated as the reduction percentage, and the proportion of the maximum solid lesions in pathological preparation diameter to the maximum tumor diameter was calculated as the pathological ratio. Results: The incidence of relapse was significantly higher in patients with a reduction percentage of less than 50% and in patients with a pathological ratio of less than 50%. Conclusions: Measurement of the reduction percentage and the pathological ratio may allow prediction of prognosis of small adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Prediction of the 3D Structure of FMRF‐amide Neuropeptides Bound to the Mouse MrgC11 GPCR and Experimental Validation

We report the 3D structure predicted for the mouse MrgC11 (mMrgC11) receptor by using the MembStruk computational protocol, and the predicted binding site for the F‐M‐R‐F‐NH2 neuropeptide together with four singly chirally modified ligands. We predicted that the R‐F‐NH2 part of the tetrapeptide sticks down into the protein between the transmembrane (TM) domains 3, 4, 5, and 6. The Phe (F‐NH2) interacted favorably with Tyr110 (TM3), while the Arg makes salt bridges to Asp161 (TM4) and Asp179 (TM5). We predicted that the Met extends from the binding site, but the terminal Phe residue sticks back into an aromatic/hydrophobic site flanked by Tyr237, Leu238, Leu240, and Tyr256 (TM6), and Trp162 (TM4). We carried out subsequent mutagenesis experiments followed by intracellular calcium‐release assays that demonstrated the dramatic decrease in activity for the Tyr110Ala, Asp161Ala, and Asp179Ala substitutions, which was predicted by our model. These experiments provide strong evidence that our predicted G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) structure is sufficiently accurate to identify binding sites for selective ligands. Similar studies were made with the mMrgA1 receptor, which did not bind the R‐F‐NH2 dipeptide; we explain this to be due to the increased hydrophobic character of the binding pocket in mMrgA1.
Cycles of organizational change

Much of the theory and research about change in organizations, by being presented free of rich context, creates a certain amount of confusion in the literature. This paper seeks to help remedy that situation by developing a comprehensive framework of change by organizations, built on various cycles: concentric to represent the contents and levels of change, circumferential to represent the means and processes of change, tangential to represent the episodes and stages of change, and spiraling to represent the sequences and patterns of change. This framework is fleshed out in conclusion by developing three models of change experienced by major world religions, labeled enclaving, cloning, and uprooting.
First evidence of multiple paternity in the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)

The present study assessed the occurrence of multiple paternity in four litters of bull shark Carcharhinus leucas (n¼5, 8, 9 and 11 embryos) sampled at Reunion Island in the Western Indian Ocean. Using 21 microsatellite loci, we revealed that two litters were generated from two sires each, demonstrating for the first time multiple paternity for this species. We also reported a high paternal skew (10 : 1 in Litter 1 and 7 : 1 in Litter 3), which may be because of postcopulatory or post-zygotic selection processes. These results contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive behaviour of the bull shark, which remains poorly documented. The present study must be expanded to assess the frequency of multiple paternity in this species, and to test for genetic or cryptic benefits (convenience polyandry), which is important for long-term conservation and management plans.
Cerebral ischemia after filter-protected carotid artery stenting is common and cannot be predicted by the presence of substantial amount of debris captured by the filter device.

PURPOSE Protected carotid artery stent placement is currently under clinical evaluation as a potential alternative to carotid endarterectomy. The current study was undertaken to determine the incidence of new ischemic lesions found on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in nonselected patients after protected carotid artery stent placement using a filter device and to determine the potential relationship between these new ischemic lesions and the presence or absence of a clear amount of debris captured by the neuroprotection filter device. MATERIALS AND METHODS A nonrandomized cohort of 52 patients (40 men, 12 women) presenting with carotid occlusive disease underwent protected carotid artery stent placement using a filter device. DWI obtained 1 day before stent placement was compared with that obtained 1 day after stent placement. In addition, the macroscopic and microscopic analysis of debris captured by the filter device during the carotid stent placement procedure was assessed. RESULTS Neuroprotected carotid stent placement was technically successful in all 53 procedures but was complicated by a transient ischemic attack in 3 patients (5.6%). In 22 patients (41.5%), new ischemic lesions were found on DWI, and in 21 filter devices (39.6%), a substantial amount of atheromatous plaque and/or fibrin was found. No clear relationship between the presence of debris captured by the filter device and new lesions detected by DWI was found (P = .087; odds ratio 3.067). CONCLUSION Neuroprotected carotid artery stent placement will not avoid silent cerebral ischemia. Systematic microscopic analysis of debris captured by the filter device has no predictive value for potential cerebral ischemia after carotid artery stent placement.
Aligning teaching and practice: a study of SME marketing

Purpose – This study aims to explore the role of marketing in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and to consider how amendments can be made to the UK higher education (HE) teaching curriculum to inform marketing teaching and learning around a small business context.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative, exploratory approach using semi‐structured in‐depth interviews amongst ten owners of SMEs in the East Midlands region of the UK was used.Findings – Marketing in SMEs is centred on customer engagement, networking and word of mouth communication. HE academic institutions should take account of these findings and work towards introducing SME‐specific marketing material in its teaching and learning curricula.Research limitations/implications – This study uses a small number of SME companies in one region and therefore the generalisability of the findings may be limited. Further research could extend the number of SME companies and to other regions of the UK.Practical implications – The findings ha.
Family planning and fertility in Bangladesh.

This study examines the trends in contraceptive use and fertility levels in Bangladesh using national-level data from 1975-97. It also considers the major factors affecting contraceptive use and fertility. Data from the 1993/94 and 1996/97 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey were also used for the multivariate analysis of the determinants of contraceptive use and fertility. It was found that between 1975 and 1996/97 the use of family planning methods increased 5-fold, rising from 13.6% to 69.2%. Also, contraceptive prevalence rate increased by over 6 times during the same period, rising from 7.7% to 49.2%. The sharp increase in contraceptive prevalence led to an appreciable decline in fertility, with total fertility rate dropping from 6.3 during the period 1971-75 to 3.3 during the period 1994-96. Except for the 15-19 year age group, fertility declined substantially in all other age groups, especially among women aged 35 years and older. Results of the analysis indicate that six factors account for the reproductive change in Bangladesh. These include interspousal communication on family planning, desire for children, women's education and employment status, access to mass media, and program efforts. The policy and programmatic implications of the findings are discussed.
Implementation of the physical development strategy in Iskandar Malaysia

Assessing the relationship between planning and implementation is often hampered by insufficient methodologies, deficiencies in plans’ contents and resource limitations. There is however the need to review the efficacy of plans and degree of plan implementation to indicate whether plans achieved their goals in guaranteeing sustainable development on a territorial level. This paper reviews the effectiveness of the physical development strategies and their implementation by examining the spatial pattern of land use development in the South Johore Economic Region (SJER). SJER, also known as Iskandar Malaysia (IM), is the new corridor for development in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia which has been structured through a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) to enhance the physical and economic development of the region. Specifically the study compares the original physical development strategies outlined by the CDP with subsequent development activity. Using overlay analysis, it identifies the extend of plan implementation by deriving the level of conformance between the proposed land use plan in the CDP and actual land use of 2006 and 2010. It applies three indices: accordance, unfulfilment and deviation to measure the conformance level between the plan and actual land us e of five major land uses that are residential, commercial, public facilities, industrial and open space. The finding shows that the accordance level is relatively high for industry and open space while relatively low for residential and public facilities. Based on the results, the paper discusses the outcomes of implementation of selected strategies
Comparing the SFI peculiar velocities with the PSCz gravity field: a VELMOD analysis

We compare the peculiar velocities derived from the I-band Tully-Fisher (TF) relation for 989 field spiral galaxies in the SFI catalogue with the predicted velocity field derived from the IRAS PSCz galaxy redshift survey. We assume linear gravitational instability theory and apply the maximum likelihood technique, VELMOD to SFI galaxies within a redshift cz(LG) = 6000 km s(-1). The resulting calibration of the TF relation is consistent with a previous, independent calibration for a similar sample of spirals residing in clusters. Our analysis provides an accurate estimate of the quantity beta (1) = Omega (0.6)(m)/b(1), where b(1) is the linear biasing parameter for IRAS galaxies. Using the forward TF relation and smoothing the predicted velocity field with a Gaussian filter of radius 300 km s(-1), we obtain beta (1) = 0.42 +/- 0.04 (1 sigma, uncertainty). This value, as well as other parameters in the fit, are robust to varying the smoothing radius to 500 km s(-1) and splitting the sample into spherical shells in redshift space. The one exception is the small-scale velocity dispersion, sigma (v), which varies from similar to 200 km s(-1) (within cz(LG) = 4000 km s(-1)) to similar to 500 km s(-1) at larger distance. For beta (1) similar or equal to 0.42, the residuals between the TF data and the PSCz gravity field are uncorrelated, indicating that the model provides a good fit to the data. More generally, a chi (2) statistic indicates that the PSCz model velocity field provides an acceptable (3 sigma) fit to the data for 0.3 <(1) <0.5.
Designing the service guarantee: unconditional or specific?

When designing a guarantee, service firms have a choice ‐the unconditional that guarantees customer satisfaction or the specific, which guarantees a major aspect of the service such as on‐time delivery. To date, this decision has been based primarily on anecdotal observations. This investigation examined consumer reactions to unconditional versus specific service guarantees in terms of risk reduction, preference, and trust in the service provider. In an experimental setting, respondents preferred firms which offered an unconditional guarantee. However, specific guarantees were favoured when subjects considered the ease of getting their money back. For a service firm, the implementation of an unconditional guarantee with a specific payout would have the broadest appeal in the market.
Pathway engineering of plants toward astaxanthin production

Astaxanthin responsible for the red color of red fish and crustacean has beneficial effects on human health as well as its utility as a pigmentation source in aquaculture. Astaxanthin biosynthetic pathway from β-carotene needs two enzymes, a carotenoid 4,4′-ketolase (oxygenase) and a carotenoid 3,3′-hydroxylase. β-Carotene is usually one of dominant carotenoids in higher plants, which lack the former enzyme. This mini-review elucidates in the earlier section the catalytic functions of a series of the ketolase and hydroxylase enzymes that have been isolated up to now. For the last ten years, pathway engineering approaches of plants including staple crops toward astaxanthin production have been undertaken by introducing and expressing in the plants a ketolase gene sometimes along with a hydroxylase gene. Several successful results have been achieved to produce large amounts of astaxanthin together with other ketocarotenoids in plant tissues such as carrot roots and tobacco leaves.
A Structural Equation Model for Measuring the Impact of Employee Retention Practices on Employee’s Turnover Intentions: An Indian Perspective

The role of human resource management practices dealing with employee turnover has been widely explored and examined in the existing literature. The majority of human resource management researchers have focused on the role of policies and practices in different sectors related to employee retention. However, less attention has been given to identify the practices and policies common across all industries and sectors. The present study attempts to identify and examine the most important practices of employee retention management and proposes a comprehensive structural equation model to measure the impact of these practices on employee’s turnover intentions. After an extensive review of literature, compensation, job characteristics, training, career opportunities and work–life balance have been identified as five important practices dealing with employee turnover and are common across all industries. These practices constitute the component factors of an employee retention management predicting employee’s turnover intentions. A five-factor scale with a 33-item measurement model has been validated in the study. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed in the light of the findings.
Novel Major Bacterial Candidate Division within a Municipal Anaerobic Sludge Digester

ABSTRACT In a previous study, we analyzed the molecular diversity of Planctomycetales by PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA clone libraries generated from a municipal wastewater plant, using planctomycete-specific and universal primer sets (R. Chouari, D. Le Paslier, P. Daegelen, P. Ginestet, J. Weissenbach, and A. Sghir, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:7354-7363, 2003). Only a small fraction (4%) of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the digester clone library corresponded to the Planctomycetales division. Importantly, 85.9% of the digester clone sequences are grouped into two different clusters named WWE1 (81.4% of the sequences) and WWE2 (4.5%) and are distantly affiliated with unidentified bacterial sequences retrieved from a methanogenic reactor community and from a termite gut, respectively. In phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence representatives of the main phylogenetic bacterial divisions, the two clusters are monophyletic, branch apart from each other, and are distantly related to Planctomycetales and other bacterial divisions. A novel candidate division is proposed for WWE1, while the WWE2 cluster strongly affiliates with the recently proposed Lentisphearae phylum. We designed and validated a 16S rRNA probe targeting WWE1 16S rRNA sequences by both fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and dot blot hybridization (DBH). Results of FISH analysis show that WWE1 representative microorganisms are rods or filamentous shaped, while DBH shows that WWE1 accounts for 12% of the total bacterial rRNA within the anaerobic digester. The remaining 16S rRNA gene sequences are affiliated with Verrucomicrobia or recently described candidate divisions with no known pure culture representatives, such as OD1, BRC1, or NBL-UPA2, making up less than 3.5% of the clone library, respectively. This inventory expands the known diversity of the latter bacterial division-level lineages.
The impact of supply‐chain management capabilities on business performance

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to empirically test the impact of supply‐chain management (SCM) capabilities on business performance so as to determine to what degree customer‐oriented SCM issues influence competitive position and organizational performance.Design/methodology/approach – A rigorous methodology is employed to generate a reliable and valid measurement instrument. Responses from 474 manufacturing managers are then utilized to test a causal model using LISREL®. Findings – The results indicate significant positive relationships exist among three types of SCM capabilities (outside‐in, inside‐out, and spanning) and business performance (perceived customer value, customer loyalty, market performance, and financial performance). Practical implications – The article demonstrates that strategically developing SCM capabilities such as efficient inbound and outbound transportation, warehousing, and inventory control, production support, packaging, purchasing, order processing, and information di.