Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antecedents of Export Venture Performance: A Theoretical Model and Empirical Assessment

Both the size and the rapid growth of global exporting have focused the attention of marketing researchers on the factors associated with firms’ export performance. However, knowledge of this increasingly important domain of marketing activity remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, the authors draw on the strategy and marketing literature to develop an integrative theory of the antecedents of export venture performance. The interplay among available resources and capabilities, competitive strategy decisions, and competitive intensity determines export venture positional advantages and performance outcomes in the theoretical model. The authors empirically assess predicted relationships using survey data from 287 export ventures. Results broadly support the theoretical model, indicating that resources and capabilities affect export venture competitive strategy choices and the positional advantages achieved in the export market, which in turn affect export venture performance outcomes. In contrast to structure–conduct–performance theory predictions, the data indicate that the competitive intensity of the export marketplace does not have a direct effect on export venture positional advantages or performance. However, competitive intensity moderates the relationship between export venture competitive strategy choices and the positional advantages realized.
Mobile Learning for Colleges of Education in Nigeria: An Educational Analysis

The world has passed through different phases of technology enhanced learning ranging from distance learning to mobile learning, an extension of e-learning. Currently, attention is drawn towards location-aware, context-aware and ubiquitous learning systems. The slow pace of development in Nigeria has hindered technologically enhanced learning in institutions of higher learning. The purpose of this paper was to assess the status of mobile learning in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. The study adopted a theoretical approach by reviewing the possibilities and applications of Mobile Learning System globally and in particular Nigeria. The review showed that despite the huge success stories that have been recorded in the application of mobile learning across the world, the situation is different in Nigeria - as the literature indicated little success in this direction. More specifically no evidence of application or adoption of mobile learning in Colleges of Education in Nigeria could be established from the literature. The study concluded that with the emergence of new learning systems, there is need to conduct an in-depth study, to ascertain the feasibility of developing a model for implementing mobile learning in Colleges of Education in Nigeria. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n16p289
Prevention of postischemic impairment of microvascular perfusion

Two groups of conditioned male mongrel dogs, designated group 1 and group 2, were subjected to 35 minutes of cerebrospinal fluid compression ischemia followed by 30 minutes of recirculation. Animals in both groups were heparinized, but in addition, the blood of group 2 animals was circulated through three glass-wool filters over the course of 1 hour prior to induction of ischemia. Focal zones of impaired perfusion were prevented and general reflow was significantly enhanced in group 2 animals, whose blood had been filtered through glass-wool. Animals in group 1 had focal zones of impaired perfusion and relatively poor general postischemic reflow. A hypothesis concerning blood-damaged tissue interaction in zones of acute tissue damage is introduced.
Multidyadic Industrial Channels: Understanding Component Supplier Profits and Original Equipment Manufacturer Behavior

Industrial component suppliers (CSs) work to enhance profitability by building brand differentiation with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and indirect industrial buyers (IIBs) through their marketing investments to each member. However, as a CS increases its marketing investments to its IIB, the OEM's profit position is threatened, motivating the OEM to respond with aligning or opposing behavior. The results from a three-study, multimethod design indicate that a CS's strategy of allocating its marketing investments between its OEM and IIB increases its brand differentiation, which allows it to capture increased profits subject to conditions of uncertainty. However, the results also demonstrate that the OEM does not sit idly by as its CS invests in building brand differentiation with the IIB; rather, it reacts with both aligning and opposing behaviors to benefit from the CS's investments as well as offset the CS's gains.
Light‐inducible and tissue‐specific expression of a chimaeric gene under control of the 5′‐flanking sequence of a pea chlorophyll a/b‐binding protein gene

We have investigated the regulatory functions of the 5′‐flanking sequences of a chlorophyll a/b‐binding protein gene from Pisum sativum, using the neomycin phosphotransferase (II) activity from Tn5 as an enzymatic reporter. We show that 0.4 kb of the upstream flanking sequences of this gene are sufficient for both organ‐specific and light‐regulated expression of our chimaeric constructs in transformed tobacco plants. In addition, we show that sequences farther upstream have a significant influence on the level of transcription of these constructions.
Behaviour of Implant-Bearing Overdenture Materials with a Change in Number and Position Implants. What Happen with all on Four Protocols?

A bibliographic review was carried out on the evidence published in the last 10 years, 2006-2017 on four alternative therapeutic options for a complete prosthesis in a mandibular toothless patient: overdenture on 1, 3 or 4 implants, and the All on protocol Four. For this purpose, one of the main biomedical sciences researchers was used, such as PubMed, through the library of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Oviedo. Throwing a total of 1539 results, which after the different filters year of publication, percentile of the journal and keywords were bounded to 39 articles.
Dementia special care units: a comparison with standard units regarding residents’ profile and care features

ABSTRACT Background: Unlike other countries, no data about residents and care features in Special Care Units (SCUs) in Spanish nursing homes have been reported to date. The present paper is the first to analyze the characteristics of residents with dementia and the features of provided care in SCUs in comparison to residents with dementia in standard beds, thus not receiving specialized care in nursing homes in Spain. Methods: Data on residents with dementia were collected in 11 nursing homes. Residents with diagnosis of dementia and Mini-Mental State Examination scores of less than 27 were randomly selected in each center. Altogether 197 residents were assessed: 102 (52%) placed in SCUs, and 95 (48%) in standard beds. Analyses of the characteristics of residents in SCUs versus standard beds regarding socio-demographic and clinical variables, features of the care provided, and residents’ quality of life (QoL) were performed using univariate and multivariate tests (binary logistic regression analysis). Results: Residents in SCUs did not differ from those in standard beds in socio-demographic variables. Placement of residents in SCUs seemed to be related with the presence of severe cognitive and functional impairment and aggressive behaviors. Being in an SCU conveyed a higher probability of having individual bedroom and bathroom; nevertheless, there were no differences in the care provided in SCUs, considering use of nappies, and feeding and restraint systems. Patients in SCUs showed lower QoL reported by the staff. Conclusions: Although residents in SCUs present higher levels of impairment, there are no real differences in the care provided besides a higher probability of having individual rooms. Regulations on required features for SCUs in Spain are necessary to guarantee that care provided to residents is truly special.
The effects of morbid obesity on maternal and neonatal health outcomes: a systematic review and meta‐analyses

Morbidly obese (Class III, body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg m−2) women constitute 8% of reproductive‐aged women and are an increasing proportion; however, their pregnancy risks have not yet been well understood. Hence, we performed meta‐analyses following the MOOSE (Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guideline, searching Medline and Embase from their inceptions. To examine graded relationships, we compared Class III obesity to Class I and I/II, and separately to normal weight. We found important effects on all three primary outcomes in morbidly obese women: preterm birth <37 weeks was 31% higher compared with Class I (relative risk [RR] 1.31 [1.19, 1.43]) and 20% higher than Class I/II (RR 1.20 [1.13, 1.27]), large‐for‐gestational age was higher (RR 1.37 [1.29, 1.45] and RR 1.30 [1.24, 1.36] compared with Class I and I/II, respectively), while small‐for‐gestational age was lower (RR 0.89 [0.84, 0.93] compared with Class I, with nearly identical reductions for Class I/II). Morbidly obese women have higher risks of preterm birth, large‐for‐gestational age and numerous other adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, relative to not only normal weight but also Class I or I/II obese women. These findings have important implications for screening and care of morbidly obese pregnant women, to try to decrease adverse outcomes.
Three‐dimensional structure of the bifunctional protein PCD/DCoH, a cytoplasmic enzyme interacting with transcription factor HNF1.

The bifunctional protein pterin‐4a‐carbinolamine dehydratase (PCD)/dimerization cofactor of HNF1 (DCoH) is a cytoplasmic enzyme involved in the tetrahydrobiopterin regeneration and is found in complex with the transcription factor HNF1 in liver cell nuclei. An atypical hyperphenylalaninemia and the depigmentation disorder vitiligo are related to a deficiency of PCD/DCoH activity. The crystal structure of PCD/DCoH was solved by multiple isomorphous replacement and refined to a crystallographic R‐factor of 20.5% at 2.7 A resolution. The single domain monomer comprises three alpha‐helices packed against one side of a four‐stranded, antiparallel beta‐sheet. The functional enzyme is a homo‐tetramer of 222 symmetry where each of the monomers contributes one helix to a central four helix bundle. In the tetramer two monomers form an eight‐stranded, antiparallel beta‐sheet with six helices packing against it from one side. The concave, hydrophobic surface of the eight‐stranded beta‐sheet with its two protruding loops at either end is reminiscent of the saddle‐like shape seen in the TATA‐box binding protein. PCD/DCoH binds as a dimer to the helical dimerization domain of dimeric HNF1 forming a hetero‐tetramer possibly through a mixed four helix bundle.
Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in tertiary care hospitals of Makkah and Jeddah

BACKGROUND The clinical significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has greatly increased due to its ability to rapidly develop resistance to major groups of antibiotics. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine the pattern of antimicrobial resistance of P aeruginosa. DESIGN Prospective, descriptive study. SETTING Four tertiary care hospitals in Makkah and Jeddah. METHODS Clinical isolates of P aeruginosa were processed following standard microbiological procedures. A Microscan Walk Away system was used for the identification and antibiotic susceptibility of P aeruginosa isolates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Percentage of resistance of P aeruginosa to antibiotics. RESULTS The overall drug resistance among 121 strains of P aeruginosa was low to moderate to commonly used anti-pseudomonal drugs (4.9% to 30.6%). Significantly less resistance was exhibited by piperacillin-tazobactam (4.9%; P<.05) and meropenem showed significantly high resistance (30.6%; P<.05) as compared to other antibiotics, followed by ticarcillin (22.3%) and imipenem (19%), irrespective of the site of infection. The antibiotics with <10% resistance were cefepime (8.3%), amikacin (7.4%) and piperacillin-tazobactam, which showed lowest resistance (4.9%). Although, data varied between hospitals, meropenem and ticarcillin had the highest drug resistance in all hospitals. Multidrug resistance was 10.7%. CONCLUSION Low-to-moderate rates of drug resistance among P aeruginosa isolates were observed. Meropenem resistance was high irrespective of the site of infection. This pattern of resistance indicates probable overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics like carbapenems. Overuse needs to be addressed by each institution, and consideration given to regulating use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. LIMITATIONS Results cannot be generalized as the study did not include all tertiary hospitals in these cities.
Public investor perception towards internet financial reporting in Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to identify the most useful components of internet financial reporting (IFR) in Malaysia firms from an IFR’s user point of view. This study uses the public investor from online forum in Malaysia. The components of IFR are compacted to 50 items only to represent the components in IFR for the purpose of optimization. The result of this study indicates that the top five components user’s reading preference and usage are: (1) annual report, (2) dividend, (3) current share price, (4) balance sheet and (5) historical share price. On the contrary, the features deemed unnecessary in IFR consist of: (1) audio-visual (video) recording of meeting, (2) multilingual, (3) external links, (4) site map, and (5) corporate calendar. The researcher extends prior research by conducting a research regarding the user’s opinion on each of the components in IFR. The component of IFR in this research is summarized from the multiple previous researches conducted regarding IFR. The study contributes to this literature on how user rates the components in IFR and it uses a compact checklist of 50 attributes as a proxy for IFR components.
Too Big to Ignore? Hedge Fund Flows and Bond Yields

This paper investigates the information content of aggregate hedge fund flow and its predictive power with respect to bond yields. Using a sample of 9725 hedge funds from 1994 to 2012, we find that fund flow is negatively related to the changes in 10-year Treasury and Moody’s Baa bond yields one month ahead. This relation is still pronounced after controlling for other determinants of yield changes, including the amount of arbitrage capital available in the economy, suggesting a non-trivial effect of flow-induced hedge fund trading on bond yields. Flow impact on corporate bonds is further amplified during periods of decreasing market liquidity, consistent with a fire-sale hypothesis. Hedge fund flow also predicts convergence between constant maturity swap rate and constant maturity Treasury rate, as well as between the TIPS and Treasury bond yields, suggesting that hedge funds exploit arbitrage opportunities in these fixed-income markets.
Genetic and Antigenic Evidence Supports the Separation of Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum at the Species Level

ABSTRACT Recognition of Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum as distinct species was supported by the results of Western immunoblotting of canine anti-H. canis and anti-H. americanum sera against H. canisgamonts. Sequence analysis of 368 bases near the 3′ end of the 18S rRNA gene from each species revealed a pairwise difference of 13.59%.
Involvement of opioid delta (delta)- and kappa (kappa)-receptors in ischemic preconditioning in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

There is controversy in the literature regarding the involvement of opioid delta (DOP, OP1)- and kappa (KOP,OP2)-receptors in ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Previous studies on this subject in our laboratories and elsewhere have been performed on either isolated heart muscles of experimental animals, or in open-heart surgery rats. To highlight this problem, we introduced an in vivo model of myocardial infarction in rats, which not only allowed electrocardiographic and enzymatic evaluation, but also morphometric assessment of myocardial infarction. In addition to these parameters, a direct receptor ligand study was undertaken, using [3H]-DPDPE, a specific opioid delta-receptor ligand. In our pharmacodynamic studies, we used the selective opioid delta-receptor agonist D-Ala2,D-Leu5 enkephalin (DADLE) and antagonist natrindole. For the evaluation of opioid kappa-receptors, the selective opioid agonist U-50488H and antagonist nor-BNI were employed. Ischemic preconditioning showed the best beneficial effect, compared with pharmacological stimulation of either opioid delta- or kappa-receptors. In normal rat myocytes, two types of opioid delta-receptors exist, namely, low-affinity and high-affinity opioid receptors. In acute myocardial infarction (30-min ischemia), the low-affinity type opioid receptors disappeared, most likely as a result of receptor downregulation due to an excessive release of enkephalins. There was no change in the density of the high-affinity opioid receptor type, but their affinity significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 58%. The radioligand receptor studies showed that opioid delta 1-receptor type was involved not only in triggering, but also in maintaining, the preconditioned state. On the basis of our pharmacodynamic studies, we suggest that both opioid delta 1- and kappa-receptors are involved in the phenomenon of IPC, but with different effects. After 30 min of left coronary artery occlusion, opioid delta-receptor agonist DADLE decreased the infarct size/area at risk from 59.80% in control, untreated, infarcted rats, to 20.40% in treated rats, without a significant effect (p > 0.05) on the occurrence of early cardiac arrhythmias. Opioid kappa-receptor agonist U-50488H produced an opposite effect on the myocardium. It decreased the infarct size/area at risk by 44%, decreased occurrence of early arrhythmias by 77% and also decreased ventricular ectopic beats by 80%. The opioid delta- and kappa-receptor agonists used in this study significantly reduced (p < 0.05) early (2 h) postinfarction mortality by 22% and 19%, respectively. Further studies are in progress to differentiate between the role of opioid kappa 1- and kappa 2-receptors and the molecular mechanisms of the effects of both opioid delta- and kappa-receptors.
Comparison of Intravenously Administered Doxofylline and Placebo for the Treatment of Severe Acute Airways Obstruction

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the therapeutic effects of a single dose of doxofylline, a methylxanthine derivative, in 10 patients aged 26–79 years. All patients had acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive airways disease partially reversible with salbutamol inhaler. Doxofylline was administered intravenously at a dose of 200 mg over 15 min on two different occasions separated by at least 24 h. Doxofylline increased forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration compared with baseline as follows: +20% after 2 h (P<0.01); +31% after 4 h (P<0.01); and +13% after 6 h (NS). Changes produced by placebo at these times were −4.4%, −14% and −5% (all NS). The average differences between the groups were significant at all observation times. At the end of the observation period eight out of 10 patients given doxofylline and one out of 10 patients given placebo had improved clinically according to the patients' own opinion. Clinical tolerability of doxofylline proved to be good since no signs of local or general side-effects were observed in any of the patients treated.
Effect of enhanced information, values clarification, and removal of financial barriers on use of prenatal genetic testing: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE Prenatal genetic testing guidelines recommend providing patients with detailed information to allow informed, preference-based screening and diagnostic testing decisions. The effect of implementing these guidelines is not well understood. OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of a decision-support guide and elimination of financial barriers to testing on use of prenatal genetic testing and decision making among pregnant women of varying literacy and numeracy levels. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Randomized trial conducted from 2010-2013 at prenatal clinics at 3 county hospitals, 1 community clinic, 1 academic center, and 3 medical centers of an integrated health care delivery system in the San Francisco Bay area. Participants were English- or Spanish-speaking women who had not yet undergone screening or diagnostic testing and remained pregnant at 11 weeks' gestation (n = 710). INTERVENTIONS A computerized, interactive decision-support guide and access to prenatal testing with no out-of-pocket expense (n = 357) or usual care as per current guidelines (n = 353). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was invasive diagnostic test use, obtained via medical record review. Secondary outcomes included testing strategy undergone, and knowledge about testing, risk comprehension, and decisional conflict and regret at 24 to 36 weeks' gestation. RESULTS Women randomized to the intervention group, compared with those randomized to the control group, were less likely to have invasive diagnostic testing (5.9% vs 12.3%; odds ratio [OR], 0.45 [95% CI, 0.25-0.80]) and more likely to forgo testing altogether (25.6% vs 20.4%; OR, 3.30 [95% CI, 1.43-7.64], reference group screening followed by invasive testing). Women randomized to the intervention group also had higher knowledge scores (9.4 vs 8.6 on a 15-point scale; mean group difference, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.34-1.31]) and were more likely to correctly estimate the amniocentesis-related miscarriage risk (73.8% vs 59.0%; OR, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.39-2.75]) and their estimated age-adjusted chance of carrying a fetus with trisomy 21 (58.7% vs 46.1%; OR, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.22-2.28]). Significant differences did not emerge in decisional conflict or regret. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Full implementation of prenatal testing guidelines using a computerized, interactive decision-support guide in the absence of financial barriers to testing resulted in less test use and more informed choices. If validated in additional populations, this approach may result in more informed and preference-based prenatal testing decision making and fewer women undergoing testing. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00505596.
CUSTOMERS BEHAVING BADLY: COMPLIANCE, RETENTION, AND REVENUE CONSEQUENCES OF PROBLEM CUSTOMERS AND FRONTLINE EMPLOYEE PROBLEM SOLVING

by SOUMYA SIVAKUMAR While an impressive body of work on service recovery and customer retention through problem solving exists, organizations often face situations that involve customers behaving badly—that is, customers who behave in a way that is problematic and violates the exchange contract between the firm and the customer. The premise is that customers who behave badly are not necessarily non profitable. Rather, frontline employee efforts to solve customer problems can yield profitable returns. This dissertation (1) proposes a process-based construct of problem solving derived from multidisciplinary research in education, marketing, economics, and psychology; (2) a model of problem solving processes for capturing the dynamics of frontline employee problem solving and its consequences for customer compliance, retention, and revenue, and (3) explicitly accounts for FLEs’ dispositional tendencies, and the cognitive and emotive problem solving strategies utilized in problem solving. Using data from 54 front line employees and 810 episodes of customers behaving badly, we test the posited hypotheses in a financial services setting. Our results provide support for the influence of FLE problem solving orientations on dynamics of exchanges in problematic episodes, and the effect that exchange dynamics have on customer level compliance and modeled loyalty metrics.