Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of internal marketing on job satisfaction and organizational commitment in Taipei sports centers

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among internal marketing, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of employees in the context of the sports service industry. All employees of public sports centers in Taipei City participated in this study, and the data (n = 261) were subsequently analyzed. The results show that internal marketing has a positive influence on job satisfaction among employees, and that job satisfaction in turn has a positive influence on the organizational commitment of employees. Although a direct relationship between internal marketing and organizational commitment among employees was not found, a full mediation effect of job satisfaction between the factors was revealed. The findings of this study clarify the relationships and verify the mechanisms at work among internal marketing, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of employees. Academically, the study fills the gap in sports management literature regarding the role of internal marketing for sports services. The study also provides practical implications for sports center managers to implement internal marketing in sports centers, and thereby provide better-quality service for customers.
Free-living Heterotrophic Flagellates from Freshwater Sites in Tasmania (Australia), a Field Survey

In order to contribute to an understanding of the geographic distribution of free-living freshwater flagellates, we have investigated the diversity of heterotrophic flagellates occurring in a number of freshwater sites in Tasmania (Australia). This community of organisms has not previously been studied in Tasmania, and the isolation of the freshwater habitats from like habitats elsewhere in the world increases the probability of the emergence of an endemic community. Forty-four species are described with uninterpreted records based on lightmicroscopy of living cells in natural communities. The records include an account of one new species: Ploeotia tasmanica sp. n. Of the 44 species (excluding unidentified taxa), 23 species are new to Australian freshwater sites but the majority of the species encountered here have also been found at other locations worldwide including Australian marine sites. The new records for Australian freshwater sites are: Adriamonas peritocrescens, Ancyromonas sigmoides, Astasia cfr. gomphonema, Bodo saltans, Ciliophrys infusionum, Colpodella vorax, Goniomonas truncata, Gyromonas ambulans, Heteromita globosa, Heteronema exaratum, H. globuliferum, Microcometes paludosa, Neobodo designis, N. saliens, Parabodo caudatus, Petalomonas poosilla, Ploeotia tasmanica sp. n. , Protaspis obliqua, P. simplex, Reclinomonas americana, Rhynchomonas nasuta, Trepomonas agilis, Urceolus cyclostomus. The relative lack of novelty provides little support for the existence of endemic biota among this group of organisms, as has been shown to also be the case with marine species. This suggests that contiguity of habitats has not been a major determinant of the distribution of heterotrophic flagellates.
Firm Characteristics, Corporate Governance and Firm Value

This study aimed to examine the effect of firm characteristics that proxies by size, firm age, profitability, leverage and firm growth on the governance quality which represented by IBCG Rating, and its impact on firm value. This research has two results, first, only firm size that affects the governance quality, and four other variables such as firm age, profitability, leverage and firm growth does not affect the corporate governance quality. The larger companies will encourage companies to implement better corporate governance, and better corporate governance quality will increase shareholder value. Second, corporate governance quality that measure with IBCG Rating, have an influence on firm value. Keyword: firm characteristics, governance quality, firm value
Analysis of the Th1/Th2 Paradigm in Transplantation: Interferon-γ Deficiency Converts Th1-Type Proislet Allograft Rejection to a Th2-Type Xenograft-Like Response

The rejection mechanisms for fetal proislet allografts and pig proislet xenografts in mice are characterized by different intragraft cytokine mRNA profiles and cellular responses. Allograft rejection is predominantly CD8 T-cell-dependent and is associated with a Th1-type cytokine pattern (i.e., IFN-γ, IL-2 but no IL-4 or IL-5 mRNA). In contrast, xenograft rejection is CD4 T-cell-dependent and is accompanied by a strong Th2-type response (i.e., enhanced expression of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA) and by marked eosinophil accumulation at the graft site. We have now examined and compared the regulatory role of IFN-γ in both proislet allograft and xenograft rejection processes. The histopathology and intragraft cytokine mRNA profile of BALB/c (H-2d) proislet allografts were examined in IFN-γ-deficient and wild-type C57BL/6J recipient mice. The survival of pig proislet xenografts was also assessed in IFN-γ –/– and wild-type hosts. Both proislet allografts and xenografts were acutely rejected in IFN-γ –/– and wild-type mice. Unlike the conventional allograft reaction, which lacks eosinophil infiltration, the rejection of proislet allografts in IFN-γ-deficient hosts correlated with intragraft expression of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA (i.e., a Th2-type response) and eosinophil recruitment. The rejection of proislet allografts and xenografts can therefore occur by IFN-γ-independent pathways; IFN-γ, however, regulates the pathology of the allograft reaction but not the xenograft response. The immune destruction of proislet allografts is not prevented by Th2 cytokine gene expression; instead, the latter correlated with the recruitment of unconventional inflammatory cells (eosinophils), which may play an accessory role in effecting graft injury. Significantly, the Th1-to-Th2-like switch resulted in the novel conversion of an allograft rejection reaction into a xenograft-like rejection process.
Endogenous Structure of Cities: Trade, Commuting, Communication

The purpose of paper is to investigate how the interplay of trade, commuting and communication costs shapes economy at both inter-regional and intra-urban level. Specifically, we study how trade affects the internal structure of cities and how decentralizing the production and consumption of goods in secondary employment centers allows firms located in a large city to maintain their predominance. The feature of approach is using of two-dimensional city pattern instead of the “long narrow city” model.
Array enhanced stochastic resonance and spatiotemporal synchronization.

We enhance the response of a “stochastic resonator” by coupling it into a chain of identical resonators. Specifically, we show via numerical simulation that local linear coupling of overdamped nonlinear oscillators significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio of the response of a single oscillator to a time-periodic signal and noise. We relate this array enhanced stochastic resonance to the global spatiotemporal dynamics of the array and show how noise, coupling, and bistable potential cooperate to organize spatial order, temporal periodicity, and peak signal-to-noise ratio.
MS People’s Performance and Satisfaction With Daily Occupations: Implications for Occupational Therapy

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) face difficulties in performing daily occupations. The objectives of this study were to assess the performance of and level of satisfaction with daily occupations among people with MS, and to explore factors associated with their performance and satisfaction. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 MS individuals. The Arabic version of Satisfaction With Daily Occupations (SDO) scale was used. Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. SDO performance and satisfaction median scores were 10/14 and 51/70, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that unemployment and cognitive symptoms were associated with poor occupational performance. Furthermore, unemployment, being married, visual problems, and low endurance were significant correlates of poor satisfaction with performing daily occupations. Social and clinical factors contributed to dissatisfaction with the poor performance of daily occupations among people with MS. Intervention studies are needed to investigate the role of occupational therapy in improving the performance of daily occupations in people with MS.
Service Quality: Gaps in the College of Business

This study investigated the discrepancy between students' expectations and their perceptions towards the quality of services in the college of business of a public university in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Using the SERVQUAL instrument, this study collected data from 141 students. To test the dimensionality of the instrument, all 22 items were analyzed using oblique rotation and varimax rotation. The results indicate that according to students, the faculty and the college are not currently delivering quality service. However, this study is limited to the result from only one small public college. Future study that can assess continuous performance using a larger sample should be conducted.
Finite-Difference Methods and the Eigenvalue Problem for Nonselfadjoint Sturm-Liouville Operators*

In this paper we analyze the convergence of a centered finite-difference approxi- mation to the nonselfadjoint Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem ()(u) - (a(x) u')' - b(x)u' + c(x)u = Xu, 0 0 on (0, 1). We show that the rate of convergence is O(LAx2) as in the selfadjoint case for a scheme of the same accuracy. We also establish discrete analogs of the Sturm oscillation and comparison theorems. As a corollary we obtain the result
Antecedents and Consequences of Trust in Using Mobile Banking

Because large amount of literature identifies trust as a crucial factor in the success of mobile banking, this study aims to illuminate the link from trust's precursors, itself, to its outcome in the context of mobile banking. After surveying 356 potential customers and 247 current customers, the empirical results indicate that trust significantly influences potential users' intention to use mobile banking and current users' commitment to use mobile banking. Regarding current customers, the results reveal that situational normality, structural assurance, knowledge-incurred trust, personal-incurred trust, and calculative-incurred trust, in that order of relative power, considerably affect trust belief in mobile banking. As for potential customers, the results reveal that personal-incurred trust, knowledge-incurred trust, structural assurance and situational normality, in that order of relative influences, considerably affect trust belief in mobile banking. Given that the level of influence of trust's antecedents in generating consumers trust varies across potential customers and current customers, banks are advised to strengthen different trust resources to meet the main concerns of different customer groups.
Use of respiratory biofeedback and CLAWS for increased navigator efficiency for imaging the thoracic aorta

A novel technique to guide a subjects' breathing pattern using a respiratory biofeedback (rBF) “game” to improve respiratory efficiency is presented. The continuously adaptive windowing strategy, a fully automatic and highly efficient free‐breathing navigator gated technique, is used to acquire the data as it ensures that all potential navigator acceptance windows are possible. This enables the rBF to be fully adaptable to a subject's respiratory pattern. Images of the thoracic aorta acquired using balanced steady‐state free precession with continuously adaptive windowing strategy respiratory motion control, with and without rBF, were compared in 10 healthy subjects. Total scan time was reduced by using rBF. The mean scan time was reduced from 7 min 44 s (463 cardiac cycles, ±127cc) without rBF to 5 min 43 s (380 cardiac cycles, ±118cc) with the use of rBF (P < 0.05). Respiratory efficiency was increased from 45% without rBF to 56% with rBF (P < 0.01). Image quality was the same for both techniques (P = ns). In conclusion, rBF significantly improved respiratory efficiency and reduced acquisition duration without affecting image quality. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development and Validation of A C0–C7 FE Complex for Biomechanical Study

In this study, the digitized geometrical data of the embalmed skull and vertebrae (C0-C7) of a 68-year old male cadaver were processed to develop a comprehensive, geometrically accurate, nonlinear C0-C7 FE model. The biomechanical response of human neck under physiological static loadings, near vertex drop impact and rear-end impact (whiplash) conditions were investigated and compared with published experimental results. Under static loading conditions, the predicted moment-rotation relationships of each motion segment under moments in midsagittal plane and horizontal plane agreed well with experimental data. In addition, the respective predicted head impact force history and the S-shaped kinematics responses of head-neck complex under near-vertex drop impact and rear-end conditions were close to those observed in reported experiments. Although the predicted responses of the head-neck complex under any specific condition cannot perfectly match the experimental observations, the model reasonably reflected the rotation distributions among the motion segments under static moments and basic responses of head and neck under dynamic loadings. The current model may offer potentials to effectively reflect the behavior of human cervical spine suitable for further biomechanics and traumatic studies.
PRICE, BRAND EQUITY, AND PERCEIVED QUALITY ON PURCHASE INTENTION OF HONDA SCOOTER MOTORCYCLE IN MANADO

The trend of using scooter motorcycles nowadays is crucial to support consumer daily activity; the increasing number of national whole sales shows a good sign for motorcycle industry, this research specialized explores the effect of three important variables that according to author gives significant effect on Purchase Intention of Honda scooter motorcycles in Manado, the three variables are: Price, Brand Equity, and Perceived quality. This research tried to prove that the three variables are the most suitable variables to explain consumer basic attitude on purchasing scooter motorcycle. Research method that had been used for this research is associative with multiple linear regression analysis technique. The population is Honda scooter users in Manado city and Primary data used Questioners base on sample size of this research which is 120 respondents. Secondary data collection which is used Journal, Internet, and Text book. The result of this research shows positive impact for these three variables which are Price, Brand Equity, and Perceived Quality generally give the significant influence for the Customer Purchasing Intention for Honda Scooter Motorcycle in Manado. Keywords: price, brand equity, perceived quality, purchase intention.
Time, Tastes and Technology: The Economic Evolution of Eating out

Eating out is part of the pattern of food production and consumption by individuals in their household context. Changes in the importance and pattern of eating out indicate changes in its economic function. These changes reflect variations in household organization stemming from long‐term increases in income per head reinforced by significant changes in technology. Consumers will switch towards simpler eating habits and meals bought out will reflect commercially provided time‐intensity or skill‐requirement reduction. With changing technology, consumers will constantly upgrade the kinds of meals that they buy outside. Patterns of experimentation and cellularization of household members in eating out are influenced by economic factors. Re‐examines the concepts of social and convenience eating in the light of economic variables, particularly changes in work and leisure activities that affect food consumption.
Relationship marketing in private banking in South Africa

Deals with the success of relationship marketing in the private banking sector. A comprehensive literature review of relationship marketing was undertaken. A study was undertaken among a sample of 118 high net worth individuals, 53 with personal bankers, and 65 without, to establish whether relationship marketing was working in this banking sector. The results show that relationships are an important criterion in the selection of a private bank. A comprehensive analysis of the various stages a client has in a relationship with a bank are discussed. Lastly, the implications for the private banking industry are dealt with in a comprehensive manner.
Flow-cytometric light scattering measurement of red blood cell volume and hemoglobin concentration.

A light scattering technique for simultaneously determining the volume (V) and hemoglobin concentration (HC) of individual sphered red blood cells (RBCs) is described. Light scattered into two angular intervals yields measurements S1 and S2, respectively. Since a sphered RBC is essentially a homogeneous dielectric sphere having a complex refractive index that is linear in HC, with a proper choice of detector acceptance angles, tables relating V and HC to S1 and S2 can be computed via Mie theory. Absolute calibration is possible using droplets of water-immisible oils of accurately known refractive index. Results of experimental tests of the method are compared with those obtained from hematological reference measurements.
Multiple sourcing strategies and order allocation: an ANP‐AUGMECON meta‐model

Purpose – The strategic importance of sourcing is inherent in the positioning of the purchasing operation in a supply chain and supplier evaluation – a crucial step in sourcing – is a complex multicriteria decision making (MCDM) problem. The purpose of this paper is to provide a meta‐model for supplier evaluation and order quantity allocation, based on a MCDM method, namely the Analytic Network Process (ANP) and a multiobjective mathematical programming method (MOMP), the AUGMECON.Design/methodology/approach – The proposed approach consists of two parts. The former develops and applies the ANP method in order to evaluate the suppliers in qualitative terms. The latter implements the AUGMECON method in order to find the Pareto optimal solutions for the allocation of order quantities in a multiple sourcing environment. The integrated meta‐model is exposed through an illustrative case concerning the parapharmaceutical enterprise cluster in Greece.Findings – The proposed meta‐model constitutes an efficient met.
Asset Fire Sales, Liquidity Provision, and Mutual Fund Performance

This paper identifies managerial ability by looking at extreme liquidity events. Forced trades by distressed funds – those that are experiencing severe money outflows – generate temporary downward price pressure on securities held in common by these funds and therefore create trading opportunities for other investors. This paper shows that some fund managers are able to consistently identify and purchase these fire-sale stocks and that they benefit from providing liquidity to distressed funds. Moreover, these managers exhibit overall investment skills beyond identifying fire-sale stocks, which lead to superior performance for the rest of their portfolios. The performance results remain robust after adjusting for risk and controlling for fund attributes, such as fund flows and turnover.
Entrepreneurial dynamics and higher education institutions in the post-Communist world

ABSTRACT Entrepreneurial dynamics and higher education institutions in the post-Communist world. Regional Studies. This study draws on the institutional and regional entrepreneurship literature to develop a conceptual framework that analyses the impact of higher education institutions on entrepreneurial dynamics. It is used to examine the cities of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) during the period 1995–2008. Extending the multi-pillar institutional concept, it is found that higher education institutions play a prominent role in fostering entrepreneurial dynamics in CIS cities through multiple channels, including human capital development, cultivating a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, affecting the perceptions of the knowledge and skills needed to start up a successful business, and knowledge spillovers.
[Key point of moxibustion, arrival of qi produces curative effect].

OBJECTIVE To expound a new viewpoint about the clinical main points of moxibustion. METHODS Starting from study on the heat-sensitivity phenomenon of points, establish a new therapy based on the rule of heat-sensitivity of points and approach whether moxibustion can trigger the sensation propagated along the channel like acupuncture and moxibustion and whether need invigorating the sensation propagated along the channel to increase clinical effect with clinical therapeutic effects of moxibustion used as the test criterion. RESULTS Moxibustion, just like acupuncture, can high-effectively invigorate the sensation propagated along the channel; moxibustion must trigger the moxibustion sensation propagated along the channel, can the curative effect be increased. CONCLUSION Arrival of qi produces the effect of moxibustion.
Change in Tensile Properties of Neoprene and Nitrile Gloves After Repeated Exposures to Acetone and Thermal Decontamination

This study investigated the change in tensile properties of neoprene and nitrile gloves after repeated cycles of exposure to acetone, followed by thermal decontamination. The glove was exposed to acetone (outer surface in contact with chemical), subjected to thermal decontamination, and tested for the tensile strength and the ultimate elongation. Thermal decontamination was carried out inside an oven for 16 hours at 100°C. The exposure/decontamination procedure was repeated for a maximum of 10 cycles. For neoprene versus acetone, the mean tensile strength consistently decreased after each exposure/decontamination cycle. Multiple comparisons indicated that the mean tensile strengths between the new swatches and each exposure/decontamination group were significantly different (p < 0.05). The loss of either tensile strength or ultimate elongation was less than 23% compared with new swatches after four exposure/decontamination cycles. Swatches with out acetone exposure were then cycled through the oven in the same manner. It was found that both the heat used for thermal decontamination and acetone exposure significantly affected the tensile strength and ultimate elongation. For nitrile gloves exposed to acetone, the mean tensile strength remained virtually unchanged (p > 0.05). The mean tensile strength for the new swatches was 37.1 MPa and the mean tensile strength after nine exposure/decontamination cycles was 36.0 MPa, with a loss less than 3%. The largest single cycle loss for ultimate elongation occurred during the first exposure/decontamination cycle for both glove materials. In our previous study, decisions regarding the effectiveness of the decontamination process were based on having no discernible change in the breakthrough time and steady-state permeation rate. The results of this study indicate that the effectiveness of the decontamination process cannot be based on permeation parameters alone but must also take into account the change in physical properties.