Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing People and Organizations in Changing Contexts

This book has been written to help experienced managers and those aspiring to a career in management understand and deal with the problems and opportunities they may face in managing people and organizations in contemporary contexts. It has grown first of all from material originally prepared for a distance learning course on the specialist masters programmes and MBA programme of Edinburgh Business School, Heriot Watt University. Second, it also draws heavily on my research, mostly with my good friends at the University of Glasgow, into management, HRM, organizational behaviour and change. Finally, I have incorporated insights from more than thirty years teaching, consulting and managing people in the UK and a number of countries in Europe, North America and Asia.
Comparison of Serial Hepatitis C Virus Detection in Samples Submitted through Serology for Reflex Confirmation versus Samples Directly Submitted for Quantitation

ABSTRACT Using real-time technology, we reliably identified chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and quantified virus from reflex samples originally submitted for serologic testing. There was no need to process specimens obtained directly for quantitation separately. Whether the initial source is a reflex sample or one obtained directly, a repeat HCV RNA test is needed before starting treatment.
Adoption and Use of Internet Banking in the Sultanate of Oman: An Exploratory Study

The aim of this paper is to explore the drivers and inhibitors of customers's Internet banking adoption in the Sultanate of Oman. Data from 225 respondents were used to address the aim. Our preliminary findings indicate that, in Oman, only two banks offer Internet banking services to customers. The main drivers of adoption appear to be compatibility, usefulness and ease of use. The extent of use is affected by lack of government support, poor quality of connection and page loading speed. Trust and face-to-face personal banking preference have been found as major inhibitors of IB adoption. Some preliminary implications for practitioners are highlighted.
Australian motor sport enthusiasts' leisure information behaviour

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the leisure information behaviour of motor sport enthusiasts, examining: their information needs; their information seeking and sharing; what personal information they had; and their satisfaction with their information seeking and personal information management efforts. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study examined participants’ information behaviour from a postpositivist and inductive research approach. An online survey was completed by 81 motor sport enthusiasts. The quantitative survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics, whilst the qualitative data were analysed using thematic coding. Findings The research findings highlighted that enthusiasts engaged in mixed serious leisure. They required information before, during and after race events, and sought this primarily from online sources, as well as from other individuals. Totally, 90 participants shared information about their interest in motor sport with family, friends and fellow enthusiasts, primarily via e-mails (69 per cent) and Facebook (49 per cent). They also gathered information about motor sport, including photographs and memorabilia. Participants were satisfied with their information management strategies for their personal collections. Research limitations/implications Participants were limited to motor sport enthusiasts in Australia, hence findings cannot be generalised more broadly. Practical implications Understandings of enthusiasts’ information behaviour provide information management professionals with insights to work with this user community. Originality/value This study fills a gap in the literature about leisure information behaviour of motor sport enthusiasts in Australia. It identifies and provides a typology of the 12 categories of information needed by enthusiasts. Provides a preliminary motor sport information behaviour model guided by the conceptual frameworks of the everyday life information seeking model; general models on information behaviour; and the information problem solving behaviour model.
Service quality satisfaction of public bus service: A structural equation modeling approach

The relationships between service quality and satisfaction of public bus service were investigated using structural equation modeling.Customers of a campus bus service were chosen to demonstrate the analysis. Service quality was operationalised along three dimensions, namely the bus itself, its driver and the service per se.The customers’ satisfaction was evaluated in terms of voluntary use, service fee and overall service. The analysis found the existence of significant relationships and supported the notion that service quality influences satisfaction. Although not all dimensions of the service quality had a direct influence on the satisfaction level, the three dimensions of service quality were found to intertwine to achieve a combined effect.
ECTOPARASITE SPECIES FOUND ON DOMESTIC DOGS FROM PATTAYA DISTRICT, CHON BURI PROVINCE, THAILAND

The prevalences of ectoparasites and their densities were determined. A total of 460 ectoparasites were collected from 83 untreated household dogs in Pattaya District, Chon Burl Province. Four hundred and six ticks were found and classified into two species: Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 356, 77.4%), and Boophilus microplus (n = 50, 10.9%). All fleas found on the studied dogs were Ctenocephalides canis (n = 54, 11.7%). Sixty-seven dogs were infested with ticks and the prevalence rate of tick-harboring domestic dogs was 80.7%. Only 21 dogs were infested with fleas, resulting in a prevalence rate of 26.5%. The densities of R. sanguineus, B. microplus and Ct. canis infestations in the dogs were 5.4, 2.6, and 2.6, respectively. The stages of R. sanguineus were larvae (0.6%), nymphs (1.7%), adult males (49.4%) and adult females (48.3%). The stages of B. microplus were nymphs (16%) and adult females (84%). For Ct. canis, only adult stages (5.7% males and 94.3% females) were found. The results indicate that R. sanguineus is the most prominent species of ectoparasite found on household dogs, followed by Ct. canis. B. microplus, which is commonly found on cattle, was also found on dogs. The fleas seemed to be less of a problem than ticks, and flea larvae were not discovered on domestic dogs in this area.
An Introduction to Revenue Management

Revenue management (RM) refers to the collection of strategies and tactics firms use to scientifically manage demand for their products and services. It has gained attention recently as one of the most successful application areas of operations research (OR). The practice has grown from its origins as a relatively obscure practice among a handful of major airlines in the postderegulation era in the United States (circa 1978) to its status today as a mainstream business practice with a growing list of industry users, ranging from Walt Disney Resorts to National Car Rental. The economic impact of RM is significant, with increases in revenue of 5% or more reported in several industry applications of RM systems. Professional practice and research in the area is also expanding. There are now several major industry RM conferences each year, and published research on the methodology of RM has been growing rapidly. This chapter provides an introduction to this increasingly important subfield of OR. It is based on excerpts from our book The Theory and Practice of Revenue Management (75).
Investing in the Livestock Sector : Why Good Numbers Matter, A Sourcebook for Decision Makers on How to Improve Livestock Data

This sourcebook summarizes the outputs and lessons of the Livestock in Africa: improving data for better policies project. It aims to present the challenges facing professionals collecting and analyzing livestock data and statistics and possible solutions. While the Sourcebook does not address all conceivable issues related to enhancing livestock data and underlining statistical issues, it does represent a unique document for a number of reasons. To begin with, it is possibly the first document which specifically addresses the broad complexity of livestock data collection, taking into consideration the unique characteristics of the sector. Indeed, in most cases livestock data are dealt with, if ever, within the context of major agricultural initiatives. Second, the sourcebook is a joint product of users and suppliers of livestock data, with its overarching objective being to respond to the information needs of data users, and primarily the Ministries responsible for livestock in African countries and the National Statistical Authorities. Finally, the sourcebook represents a unique experiment of inter-institutional collaboration, which jointly places the World Bank, the FAO Animal Production and Health Division, the ILRI and the Africa Union, Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources as well as national governments in Niger, Tanzania and Uganda at the forefront of data and statistical innovation for evidence-based livestock sector policies and investments. This sourcebook represents a first step towards a demand-driven and sustainable approach to enhance the livestock information available to decision makers. It is hoped it will provide a useable framework for significantly improving the quantity and quality of livestock data and statistics available to the public and private sector, and also increase the efficacy of investments that country governments and the international community allocate to generate information for livestock sector policies and investments.
Breaking the Ice in B2C Relationships: Understanding Pre-Adoption E-Commerce Attraction

This research proposes that the forming of a business-to-consumer (B2C) customer relationship is part of a multiphased technology adoption process where attraction is the first step in this sequence. A conceptual model, called the electronic commerce (e-commerce) attraction model (eCAM), offers a theoretical foundation for guiding two empirical studies (N = 345 and N = 240, respectively) investigating how initial customer perceptions of a website influence attraction toward this website. The results support the eCAM as a new theoretical lens for understanding electronic commerce-based attraction. Comparisons are made between the proposed eCAM and previously established adoption models (i.e., the Technology Acceptance Model and WebQual) as well as the discriminant validity of the constructs in these models. Results demonstrate that the eCAM provides additional insights for understanding how website design influences e-commerce attraction and adoption. The implications of these results for future research a.
A cross-sectional study of the forearm bone density of long-term users of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

BACKGROUND There are concerns about the effect of hormonal contraceptives on bone mineral density (BMD), but there is currently no information available on the effect of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on BMD. The objective of this study was to compare the BMD of LNG-IUS users with that of controls using the TCu380A intrauterine device (IUD). MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study paired 53 women, aged 25-51 years, who had been using the LNG-IUS for 7 years, with 53 IUD users, according to age (+/-1 year) and body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) (+/-1). BMD was evaluated at the midshaft of the ulna and the distal radius of the nondominant forearm using double X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS Mean age of women was 34 years. BMI was slightly over 25 in both groups. Estradiol was normal. Mean BMD was 0.469 +/- 0.008 and 0.467 +/- 0.009 and 0.409 +/- 0.009 and 0.411 +/- 0.009 at the midshaft of the ulna and distal radius in LNG-IUS and IUD users, respectively, without significant differences. CONCLUSIONS Women aged 25-51 years, using the LNG-IUS for 7 years, had a mean BMD similar to that of the control group of TCu380A IUD users.
Dry matter content and fruit size affect flavour and texture of novel Actinidia deliciosa genotypes.

BACKGROUND Previous studies with commercial kiwifruit cultivars have demonstrated that the taste of fruit with higher dry matter content (DM) is more liked by consumers. A unique replicated trial of kiwifruit genotypes (10 high/low DM × small/large-fruited genotypes) has provided an opportunity to consider how the genetic propensity for a kiwifruit to accumulate DM affects fruit flavour and texture. In the present study, eating-ripe fruit from each of the genotypes were assessed using a trained sensory panel and the relationships between these sensory attributes and fresh weight, DM, flesh firmness and soluble solids content (SSC) were explored. RESULTS The genotypes provided a diversity of flavour and texture attributes, each of which varied in perceived intensity of the sensory experience. High-DM genotypes had higher SSC and were perceived as sweeter than low-DM genotypes. Sweet taste was closely associated with the perception of the tropical flavour and high-DM genotypes were found to have more tropical notes. Fruit size was associated with fruit texture, and small fruit were characterised by a firmer and more fibrous core. Large high-DM fruit were perceived as juicier than those of all other genotypes. CONCLUSIONS Genotypes were perceived differently from one another, and differences in fruit size and DM content were reflected in fruit sensorial properties. This study is unique in demonstrating interactions between fruit size, DM and sensory properties. These findings could be relevant not only to kiwifruit but to fruiting crop breeders in general, because of the demonstrated potential for effects of fruit size and DM content on sweetness, flavour and fruit texture.
Institutional Investors in the Largest Polish Capital Companies – Theory and Practice

The Polish and foreign literature emphasize the role of institutional investors as entities affecting corporate supervision. The objective of the paper is to present and systemize issues related with the definition and classification of institutional investors. The empirical part includes a presentation of the ownership structure of the 20 largest Polish public companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on the WIG 20 Index with the stress on institutional investors.
Biomechanics of baseball pitching

Fifteen professional major league pitchers were filmed with high speed cinematography. One hundred forty- seven pitches were analyzed using an electromagnetic digitizer and a microcomputer. Three phases of throw ing were studied: cocking, acceleration, and follow- through. The cocking phase is the period of time be tween the initiation of the windup and the moment at which the shoulder is in maximum external rotation. This phase occurs in approximately 1500 ms, and the shoulder is brought into an extreme position of external rotation. The acceleration phase and the initial stages of the follow-through phase produce extraordinary de mands on the shoulder and elbow. The acceleration phase begins with the throwing shoulder in the position of maximum external rotation and terminates with ball release. This phase occurs in approximately 50 ms, and peak angular velocities averaging 6,180 deg/sec for shoulder internal rotation and 4,595 deg/sec for elbow extension were measured. The follow-through phase begins at ball release and continues until the motion of throwing has ceased. This phase occurs in approximately 350 ms.
How Much Tracking Is Necessary? - The Learning Curve in Bayesian User Journey Analysis

Extracting value from big data is one of today’s business challenges. In online marketing, for instance, advertisers use high volume clickstream data to increase the efficiency of their campaigns. To prevent collecting, storing, and processing of irrelevant data, it is crucial to determine how much data to analyze to achieve acceptable model performance. We propose a general procedure that employs the learning curve sampling method to determine the optimal sample size with respect to cost/benefit considerations. Applied in two case studies, we model the users’ click behavior based on clickstream data and offline channel data. We observe saturation effects of the predictive accuracy when the sample size is increased and, thus, demonstrate that advertisers only have to analyze a very small subset of the full dataset to obtain an acceptable predictive accuracy and to optimize profits from advertising activities. In both case studies we observe that a random intercept logistic model outperforms a non-hierarchical model in terms of predictive accuracy. Given the high infrastructure costs and the users’ growing awareness for tracking activities, our results have managerial implications for companies in the online marketing field.
Financial Literacy Around the World: An Overview of the Evidence with Practical Suggestions for the Way Forward

Financial literacy programs are fast becoming a key ingredient in financial policy reform worldwide. Yet, what is financial literacy exactly and what do we know of its effectiveness? This paper collects insights from the literature thus far and summarizes global evidence on financial literacy, its correlates, and existing and upcoming causal investigations. The authors conclude with a synthesis of policy advice and practical suggestions for the way forward in this fast growing area of research.
Cell tracking using iron oxide fails to distinguish dead from living transplanted cells in the infarcted heart

Recently, debate has arisen about the usefulness of cell tracking using iron oxide–labeled cells. Two important issues in determining the usefulness of cell tracking with MRI are generally overlooked; first, the effect of graft rejection in immunocompetent models, and second, the necessity for careful histological confirmation of the fate of the labeled cells in the presence of iron oxide. Therefore, both iron oxide–labeled living as well as dead epicardium‐derived cells (EPDCs) were investigated in ischemic myocardium of immunodeficient non‐obese diabetic (NOD)/acid: non‐obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/scid) mice with 9.4T MRI until 6 weeks after surgery, at which time immunohistochemical analysis was performed. In both groups, voids on MRI scans were observed that did not change in number, size, or localization over time. Based on MRI, no distinction could be made between living and dead injected cells. Prussian blue staining confirmed that the hypointense spots on MRI corresponded to iron‐loaded cells. However, in the dead‐EPDC recipients, all iron‐positive cells appeared to be macrophages, while the living‐EPDC recipients also contained engrafted iron‐loaded EPDCs. Iron labeling is inadequate for determining the fate of transplanted cells in the immunodeficient host, since dead cells produce an MRI signal indistinguishable from incorporated living cells. Magn Reson Med 63:817–821, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proactive learning culture: A dynamic capability and key success factor for SMEs entering foreign markets

Purpose – Although small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a significant portion of international trade, little is known about the role of strategic orientation culture in improving their foreign launch success. Three orientations – market, entrepreneurial, and learning are all related to organizational learning priorities and reflect a higher order dynamic capability (DC), proactive learning culture (PLC). The authors assert that PLC is particularly important to SMEs whose lack of market power and resources render them vulnerable in risky foreign market launch. Marketing program adaptation and local integration are examined as behavioral mediators of the impact of PLC on foreign market launch success. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The DC framework guides the study. The authors employ a model with a higher order PLC, two mediating behaviors, and firm foreign market launch success to report on an empirical study of US SMEs that operate in foreign market.
Analysis of Demographic Factors, Internet Usage and Online Shopping for Social Media Users in Saudi Arabia

The Internet usage across the world has increased manifold in the last decade. The trend is the same for the Arab world including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country with its own social and cultural inclinations and heritage. Recent statistics put the number of the Internet users in the kingdom at more than 18 million and the Internet penetration at more than 65% of the population in 2014. This study aims to identify the pattern of the Internet usage in the country. Based on a sample size of 990 respondents recruited through social media across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the study explores the relationship between the Internet usage and various demographic, social, economic, and behavioral factors. The results indicate that the average daily use of the Internet by social media users is significantly correlated to gender, age, marital status, employment and income but no significant relationship is found with the education level of users. Further, it was also investigated if there is any significant relationship between the average daily use of the Internet and online buying behavior. The results confirm that there is a significant relationship between the Internet usage and the online shopping habit of the users. The findings on the usage of the Internet by social media users are of commercial importance to the firms which provide products through online medium. Indeed, the E-Commerce is expected to foster economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness of the firms in the country. Additionally, the research will contribute to the existing literature on E-commerce and attract the interest of researchers mainly in the disciplines of Marketing and Social Sciences.
Priceless? The Costs of Credit Cards

Merchants pay banks a fee on every credit card transaction. These credit card transactions cost American merchants an average of six times the total cost of cash transactions. The variation among credit cards is also large, with some cards, such as rewards cards, costing merchants twice as much as others. The largest component of the fee merchants pay goes to finance rewards programs, which in turn generate more credit card transactions. Although merchants finance the rewards programs, they derive no benefit from them. Rather than generating additional sales, rewards programs merely induce consumers to shift transactions from less expensive payment systems to more expensive rewards credit cards. Why, then, do all consumers pay the same price for purchases, regardless of the means of payment? The answer lies in a set of credit card network rules known as merchant restraints. Merchant restraints prohibit merchants from accepting certain credit cards selectively and from pricing according to cost of payment. Merchant restraints thus prevent merchants from signaling to consumers the costs of different payment methods. Accordingly, consumers never internalize the costs of their choice of payment system. Merchant restraints thus encourage more credit card transactions at higher price than would occur in a perfectly efficient market. The restraints also permit card issuers to externalize the costs of rewards programs to merchants and, ultimately, to consumers who do not use reward cards. Merchant restraints distort competition within the credit card industry and among payment systems in general. Merchant restraints' economic justifications are unfounded, and they should be banned as antitrust violations.