Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antecedents of Technology-Based Self-Service Acceptance: A Proposed Model

Technology-based self-service (TBSS) facilities have been widely implemented in the service industry, and it is therefore vital to understand how customers arrive at decisions to adopt them. This article presents and tests a model assessing the antecedents of customers' acceptance of TBSS facilities by merging the technology acceptance model (TAM) with self-service attributes. The findings show that intention to use TBSS facilities is an ultimate function of customers' perceived usefulness of the self-service technology, their attitude towards using it, and their perceived enjoyment of using it. Managers who wish to employ TBSS should therefore first obtain a good understanding of the factors that drive their customers' attitude towards the self-service. They should investigate how to make the self-service more enjoyable in addition to focusing on the traditional usability and usefulness-enhancing features. Recommendations for future research are also provided.
Consumer-based brand equity for Australia as a long-haul tourism destination in an emerging market

Purpose – Although the branding literature emerged during the 1940s, research relating to tourism destination branding has only gained momentum since the late 1990s. There remains a lack of theory in particular that addresses the measurement of the effectiveness of destination branding over time. The purpose of this paper is to test the effectiveness of a model of consumer‐based brand equity (CBBE) for a country destination.Design/methodology/approach – A model of CBBE was adapted from the marketing literature and applied to a nation context. The model was tested by using structural equation modelling with data from a large Chilean sample (n=845) comprising a mix of previous visitors and non‐visitors. The model fits the data well.Findings – The paper reports the results of an investigation into brand equity for Australia as a long‐haul destination in an emerging market. The research took place just before the launch of the nation's fourth new brand campaign in six years. The results indicate Australia is .
Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation from Circulatory Death Donors With Increased Terminal Creatinine Levels in Serum

Background To alleviate chronic renal graft shortages in Japan, donation after circulatory death (DCD) is an increasingly used organ resource. Organs from DCD donors with progressively increased terminal creatinine (t-Cr) levels are frequently used, but the effects of this condition on kidney transplantation (KTx) remain unclear. Methods Between 1996 and 2013, 99 KTx from DCD donors were conducted in our department. Recipients were grouped according to the t-Cr (in mg/dL) of donors: group 1, t-Cr less than < 1.5; group 2, 1.5 ⩽ t-Cr < 3.0; and group 3, t-Cr ≥ 3.0. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of KTx from DCD donors retrospectively in terms of donors' terminal renal function. Results The respective mean donor t-Cr in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 0.73 ± 0.28, 2.02 ± 0.40, and 6.69 ± 3.68. The respective death-censored graft survival rates (%) in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 90.2, 96.2, and 86.7 at 1 year and 70.3, 86.2, and 73.4 at 10 years after transplantation. Group 1 exhibited lower incidence of delayed graft function than either group 2 or group 3 (80.5% vs 100% and 93.3%). Nevertheless, no significant difference was found between groups for several measures: Cr levels 1 month after KTx and lowest Cr levels throughout the observation period, prevalence of biopsy-proven acute rejection, and graft survival. Cox proportional hazard regression showed that donor age, cerebrovascular event, terminal urine output, and history of hypertension were significantly associated with graft survival. Conclusions Results suggest that, under certain conditions, kidneys from DCD donors with progressively increased t-Cr can be used safely with promising long-term outcomes.
An Investigation on the Influence of Hyaluronic Acid on Polidocanol Foam Stability

BACKGROUND Foam sclerotherapy is an effective treatment strategy for varicose veins and venous malformations. Foam stability varies according to foam composition, volume, and injection technique. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the stability of polidocanol (POL) foam with the addition of hyaluronic acid (HA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Group A: 2 mL of 1% POL + 0 mL of 1% HA + 8 mL of air; Group B: 2 mL of 1% POL + 0.05 mL of 1% HA + 8 mL of air; Group C: 2 mL of 1% POL + 0.1 mL of 1% HA + 8 mL of air. Tessari's method was used for foam generation. The half-life, or the time for a volume of foam to be reduced to half of its original volume, was used to evaluate foam stability. Five recordings were made for each group. RESULTS The half-life was 142.8 (±4.32) seconds for 1% POL without the addition of HA, 310.6 (±7.53) seconds with the addition of 0.05 mL of 1% HA, and 390.4 (±13.06) seconds with the addition of 0.1 mL of 1% HA. CONCLUSION The stability of POL foam was highly increased by the addition of small amounts of HA.
Extending the brand: controllable drivers of feedback effects

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how companies can leverage brand image through brand extensions without harming their image. It specifically seeks to analyse the influence of three variables: communication policy, brand breadth and extension‐brand fit.Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained from 599 individuals who took part in an experiment. The proposed hypotheses were tested by means of ANOVA methodology.Findings – The results show that brand extensions far from the current markets damage the brand associations, although the use of advertising focused on the new product can reduce this negative effect. Moreover, feedback effects are less negative when the brand has not been over‐extended in the past.Research limitations/implications – With the aim of increasing the external validity of results, non‐fictitious products and ads should be analysed. Moreover, the conceptual framework does not consider other communication tools like sponsorship or publicity.Practical implicatio.
Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with cirrhosis: a longitudinal study before and after liver transplantation

Abstract Objective. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in cirrhosis and have an impact on quality of life. Their pathophysiology and their relation to energy intake have not been fully elucidated and the effect of liver transplantation on GI symptoms has not been studied. We aimed to prospectively evaluate GI symptoms and their determinants before and after transplantation and their potential relation with energy intake in cirrhosis. Methods. A total of 108 cirrhotic liver transplant candidates completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Fasting serum glucose and insulin were measured in all patients. Serum thyrotropin, free T3/T4, cortisol, free testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured in a subgroup of 80 patients. Transplant recipients were followed for 1 year. A separate cohort of 40 cirrhotic patients underwent a high-caloric satiation drinking test (SDT). Results. GI symptoms were more severe in cirrhotics compared to controls from the general population. In regression analysis, the total GSRS score was independently related to lactulose, anxiety and low free testosterone (p < 0.05 for all). Four out of six GSRS domain scores improved significantly 1 year post-transplant (p < 0.05) but the total GSRS score remained higher compared to controls. GI symptoms predicted ingestion of fewer calories at SDT compared to other patients and controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Psychological distress, lactulose treatment and low testosterone are predictors of GI symptoms which are common among cirrhotic transplant candidates. They are also associated with decreased energy intake as measured by a SDT. GI symptoms remain of concern post-transplant.
A Novel Administration Route of Edaravone – II: Mucosal Absorption of Edaravone from Edaravone/Hydroxypropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Complex Solution Including L-Cysteine and Sodium Hydrogen Sulfite

We examined the pharmacokinetics of edaravone when edaravone/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) complex solution, including L-cysteine (L-Cys) and sodium hydrogen sulfite (SHS), was administered intravenously, rectally and via the oral mucosa. In oral mucosal administration, atomized edaravone/HPβCD complex solution that contained L-Cys and SHS was sprayed into the mouth of Wistar rats. Oral mucosal and rectal administration of edaravone/HPβCD complex solution that contained L-Cys and SHS was compared with that for edaravone/HPβCD complex solution without L-Cys and SHS. When edaravone 0.25–1.0 mg was administered intravenously, C₀ and AUC0–60 were linear. In oral mucosal and rectal administration, Cmax and AUC0–60 of edaravone/HPβCD with L-Cys and SHS were significantly higher than those of edaravone/HPβCD without L-Cys and SHS. On the other hand, bioavailability of oral mucosal, rectal and oral administration was about 100, 63.5 and 26.6%, respectively. This study suggested that L-Cys and SHS were useful for the oral mucosal and rectal administration of edaravone.
Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer with MR Imaging Importance of Serum HE 4 and CA 125 Levels in the Extent of Disease at Evaluation Endometrium ve Over Kanserinde MR Görüntüleme ile Serum HE-4 ve CA 125

Objective: Currently, no clinically useful tumor marker is available for primary diagnosis in endometrial cancer. Human epididymis protein-4 (HE-4) has high sensitivity and specificity as a tumor marker. Further, HE-4 has been shown to be elevated in early stage endometrial cancer and is more sensitive than CA 125. In our study, CA 125 and HE-4 reputation as a tumor marker for diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancer with the use of both the availability and affect the way we investigated the rate of diagnosis.
Acquisitions as Entrepreneurship: Asymmetries, Opportunities and the Internationalization of Multinationals from Emerging Economies

We investigate the rapid internationalization of many multinationals from emerging economies through acquisition in advanced economies. We conceptualize these acquisitions as an act and form of entrepreneurship, aimed to overcome the ‘liability of emergingness’ incurred by these firms and to serve as a mechanism for competitive catch-up through opportunity seeking and capability transformation. Our explanation emphasizes unique asymmetries (and not necessarily advantages) of emerging multinationals due to their historical and institutional differences with advanced economy multinationals, as well as a search for advantage creation when firms possess mainly ordinary resources. The argument shifts the central focus from advantage to asymmetries as the starting point for internationalization.
Multichannel marketing: the operational construct and firms’ motivation to adopt

Multichannel marketing has been gaining attention to its importance in both practice and research in the recent years with the rapid diffusion of Information Communication Technology. Due to the relative recency and rapid proliferation of research in the subject, the literature lacks a well-defined construct of multichannel marketing generalizable to different types of firms, and lacks understanding of the actual reasons that firms adopt multichannel marketing. Through comparing and complementing the extant literature with practitioners’ perspectives from interviews with 32 Italian firms, the authors propose a comprehensive and generalizable framework of the multichannel marketing construct, and identify and categorize the firms’ motivations to adopt the multichannel marketing practice. Furthermore, some unforeseen but interesting factors emerged from the interviews. Future research opportunities and managerial implications of the study are discussed.
Influence of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea on nocturnal heart rate indices and its association with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE Both heart rate (HR) and blood pressure parameters provide important information on the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms, and are mainly affected by the autonomic nervous system. We sought to clarify whether the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nocturnal HRs and whether there is a relationship between nocturnal HRs and the presence of hypertension. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients who performed nocturnal polysomnography with monitoring of HRs, and examined whether there is a relationship among the nocturnal HRs, the severity of OSA and the presence of hypertension. RESULTS A total of 540 patients were included in the study. Nocturnal mean and maximal HRs were significantly higher in severe OSA group than in moderate (p=0.002 and p>0.05 in females; p<0.049 and p=0.044, in males, respectively) and mild OSA groups (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively in females, p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively in males); and there was a positive correlation between the nocturnal mean HR and apnea-hypopnea index (Pearson's p=0.504, p<0.001 in female group; Pearson's p=0.254, p<0.001 in male group) and again the nocturnal mean HR and the presence of HT (Spearman's p=0.090, p=0.394 in female group; Spearman's p=0.272, p<0.001 in male group) in both gender groups. CONCLUSION We found that nocturnal mean and maximal HRs to be associated with severity of OSA and the presence of hypertension. We speculated that increased nocturnal mean and maximal HRs caused by sympathetic nervous system activation in OSA might be one of the mechanisms in explaining the hypertension and OSA association.
NETWORK CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF FUNCTIONS THEY PERFORM AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH INTERNATIONALIZATION PROCESS OF SMEs IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES---exploratory research on Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to classify the networks according to functions they performed, especially scrutinize their structures. The research concentrates on the influence of these functional networks on the internationalization process of small and medium sized companies (SME) in developing countries. What are the different types of support being provided by network partners? What is the structure of the existing network? The research part is inductive, qualitative and based on case study. The study’s findings illustrate the subtleties of how various network partners interact with entrepreneurs to penetrate, integrate and extend their international markets. Networks can help entrepreneurs expose themselves to new opportunities, obtain knowledge, learn from experiences, and benefit from the synergistic effect of pooled resources. Another contribution of this paper is that it identifies structures of the functional networks, till date networks are classified on the basis of extent of support they provide, not on what support they provide, thus advancing the literature.
Loss of Dynamin 2 GTPase function results in microcytic anaemia

In a dominant mouse ethylnitrosurea mutagenesis screen for genes regulating erythropoiesis, we identified a pedigree with a novel microcytic hypochromia caused by a V235G missense mutation in Dynamin 2 (Dnm2). Mutations in Dnm2, a GTPase, are highly disease‐specific and have been implicated in four forms of human diseases: centronuclear myopathy, Charcot‐Marie Tooth neuropathy and, more recently, T‐cell leukaemia and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, but red cell abnormalities have not been reported to date. The V235G mutation lies within a crucial GTP nucleotide‐binding pocket of Dnm2, and resulted in defective GTPase activity and incompatibility with life in the homozygous state. Dnm2 is an essential mediator of clathrin‐mediated endocytosis, which is required for the uptake of transferrin (Tf) into red cells for incorporation of haem. Accordingly, we observed significantly reduced Tf uptake by Dnm2+/V235G cells, which led to impaired endosome formation. Despite these deficiencies, surprisingly all iron studies were unchanged, suggesting an unexplained alternative mechanism underlies microcytic anaemia in Dnm2+/V235G mice. This study provides the first in vivo evidence for the requirements of Dnm2 in normal erythropoiesis.
Deblurring by Matching

Restoration of the photographs damaged by the camera shake is a challenging task that manifested increasing attention in the recent period. Despite of the important progress of the blind deconvolution techniques, due to the ill‐posed nature of the problem, the finest details of the kernel blur cannot be recovered entirely. Moreover, the additional constraints and prior assumptions make these approaches to be relative limited.
Repeatability of measuring the vessel density in patients with retinal vein occlusion: An optical coherence tomography angiography study

Purpose To determine the repeatability of superficial vessel density measurements using Spectral domain Ocular coherence tomography angiography(SD-OCTA) in patients diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion(RVO). Design Prospective observational study. Subjects Patients who visited our retinal clinic from August 2017 to August 2018, diagnosed with RVO were recruited for the study. Methods Two consecutive 3×3 mm pattern scans were performed using the Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 along with AngioPlex software (Carl Zeiss Meditec) in each eye by single skilled examiner. All scans were analyzed using en face OCTA images to measure vessel density (VD) automatically. For further analysis of the effect of central macular thickness(CMT), eyes were divided into two groups according to CMT of 400μm (Group 1: CMT > 400μm, Group 2: CMT < 400μm). To identify factors affecting the repeatability of VD measurements, linear regression analyses were conducted for the coefficient of variation (CV) of VD by investigating demographics and ocular variables. Main outcome measures The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV) of VD measurements. Results A total of 57 eyes from 57 patients were examined: 35 eyes with BRVO and 22 eyes with CRVO. In all 57 eyes with RVO, the ICC and CV of the full VD(VD of 3mm diameter circle) were 0.800 and 10.61%, respectively. Univariate analyses showed that the mean CMT (B, 0.001; p<0.001) and mean ganglion cell-Inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness (B, −0.002; p = 0.020) were significant factors that affected the repeatability. Multivariate analyses of these two factors showed that only mean CMT was a significant factor. The ICC and CV of the full VD in group 1 (CMT > 400μm) were 0.348 and 22.55% respectively. In group 2 (CMT < 400μm), the ICC and CV of the full VD were 0.910 and 7.76%, respectively. Conclusions The repeatability of VD measurement in eyes with RVO was reasonably comparable to previous studies. Repeatability of VD measurement was significantly affected by central macular thickness.
The Impact of Mechanization on Agricultural Production in Selected Villages of Nueva Ecija

This article is part of the seminar-workshop on the “Consequences of Small Farm Mechanization on Production, Employment and Incomes in the Philippines” sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the International Rice Research Institute held on December 1-2, 1983 at Tagaytay City. It investigates the differences in yield, inputs and cropping intensity for alternative mechanization classes for both rainfed and irrigated areas. Survey area covers Nueva Ecija where a sufficient number of tractors in both areas are found.
Helical Lévy walks: Adjusting searching statistics to resource availability in microzooplankton

The searching trajectories of different animals can be described with a broad class of flight length (lj) distributions with P(lj) = lj–μ. Theoretical studies have shown that changes in these distributions (i.e., different μ values) are key to optimizing the long-term encounter statistics under certain searcher–resource scenarios. In particular, they predict the advantage of Lévy searching (μ ≈ 2) over Brownian motion (μ ≥ 3) for low-prey-density scenarios. Here, we present experimental evidence of predicted optimal changes in the flight-time distribution of a predator's walk in response to gradual density changes of its moving prey. Flight times of the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina switched from an exponential to an inverse square power-law distribution when the prey (Rhodomonas sp.) decreased in abundance. Concomitantly, amplitude and frequency of the short-term helical path increased. The specific biological mechanisms involved in these searching behavioral changes are discussed. We suggest that, in a three-dimensional environment, a stronger helical component combined with a Lévy walk searching strategy enhances predator's encounter rates. Our results support the idea of universality of the statistical laws in optimal searching processes despite variations in the biological details of the organisms.
Correlational Research to Examine the Relation Between Attachment and Sensory Modulation in Young Children.

This study investigated whether a relation exists between attachment and sensory modulation in young children. Participants were 68 children ages 3-6 yr recruited through the local community. Caregivers were asked to complete a standardized behavioral inventory of sensory modulation patterns, and parent-child interactions were observed in their home. The evaluator categorized these interactions on the basis of items related to attachment security and dependency. Results revealed modest correlations between attachment and sensory modulation: rs(66)=. 28, p=. 02. The capacity to predict sensory modulation function by attachment characteristics and the capacity to predict attachment characteristics by sensory modulation function was significant but small (p<.05). These findings supporting a relation between attachment and sensory modulation should be considered when assessing and planning treatment of children with problems in one or both of these areas.