Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacterial Contamination and Public Health Risk Associated with the Use of Banks’ Automated Teller Machines (Atms) in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Contamination of environmental objects and surfaces is a common phenomenon. Human beings have a marked tendency to pick up microorganisms from environmental objects, and specially the hand has been shown to play a role in the transmission of organisms. The ATM machine is likely to be contaminated with various microorganisms due to their vast contact by multiple users. This study was aimed to investigate ATM as a potential source of bacterial contamination. The study was conducted from August to October, 2013 and it involved collection of samples by using cotton swabs, culturing on different media such as nutrient agar, MacConkey as well as identifying the isolated organisms using its colonial, morphological and biochemical characteristics. The results of the study indicated that some of the Automated Teller Machines were positive for the presence of microorganisms as indicated: Staphylococcus auerus 4 (28.57%), Coagulase-negative staphylococcus 3 (21.43%), Streptococcus species 2 (14.29%), Pseudomonas species 1 (7.14%), Enterobacter species 1 (7.14%) and Escherichia coli 3 (21.43%). The antibiogram study was done using Kirby Bauer disc- diffusion method and the results showed that majority of the bacteria were highly resistant to standard antibiotics. Susceptibility of isolates ranged from 6.25% to of 25.0%, indicating that most of the antibiotics used were ineffective. Staphylococcus. aureus, Streptoccus spp and P. aeruginosa showed 68.75% resistance to the antibiotics, whilst E. coli (56.25%), Enterobacter spp (50%) and CNS showed 18.75% susceptibility each. Overall, Gentamicin was the most effective antibiotic, while Ofloxacin, Clindamycin, Cefixine, Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin were least effective. Hand washing after ATM usage and proper cleaning regimen should be practiced to reduce contamination on the ATMs.
The Effects of Ingredient Branding Strategies on Host Brand Extendibility

A decision of increasing importance is how ingredient attributes that make up a product should be labeled or branded, if at all. The authors conduct a laboratory experiment to consider how ingredient branding affects consumer acceptance of a novel line extension (or one that has not been introduced before) as well as the ability of the brand to leverage that ingredient to introduce future category extensions. The authors study two particular types of novel line extensions or brand expansions: (1) slot-filler expansions, in which the level of one existing product attribute changes (e.g., a scent in Tide detergent that is new to the laundry detergent category) and (2) new attribute expansions, in which an entirely new attribute or characteristic is added to the product (e.g., cough relief liquid added to Life Savers candy). The authors examine two types of ingredient branding strategies by branding the target attribute ingredient for the brand expansion with either a new name as a self-branded ingredient (e.g., Tide with its own EverFresh scented bath soap) or an established, well-respected name as a cobranded ingredient (e.g., Tide with Irish Spring scented bath soap). The results indicate that with slot-filler expansions, a cobranded ingredient facilitates initial expansion acceptance, but a self-branded ingredient leads to more favorable subsequent category extension evaluations. With more dissimilar new attribute expansions, however, a cobranded ingredient leads to more favorable evaluations of both the initial expansion and the subsequent category extension. The authors offer interpretation, implications, and limitations of the findings, as well as directions for further research.
Constructing a BSC model for evaluation of photovoltaic industry performance

This research presents an optimal model to evaluation solar photovoltaic industry operation performance. The proposed model was applied the Balance Scorecard (BSC) model to construct a framework for solar photovoltaic industry. The BSC model is helps to define the hierarchy with five perspectives that are customer, financial, internal business process, learning and growth and risk. Next, the relative weights of evaluative criteria are then determined by using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Finally, followed by ranking of the photovoltaic industries operation performance can to assist decision makers evaluating in solar photovoltaic industry. BSC and AHP-based decision-making method for constructing evaluation methods, which can provide solar photovoltaic industry decision makers or investor with a valuable reference for evaluating the operation performance. Importantly, the proposed model can assist the administrators to assess the operation performance of solar photovoltaic industry, improving applicability for academic and commercial purposes.
Customer Engagement Behavior: Theoretical Foundations and Research Directions

This article develops and discusses the concept of customer engagement behaviors (CEB), which we define as the customers’ behavioral manifestation toward a brand or firm, beyond purchase, resulting from motivational drivers. CEBs include a vast array of behaviors including word-of-mouth (WOM) activity, recommendations, helping other customers, blogging, writing reviews, and even engaging in legal action. The authors develop a conceptual model of the antecedents and consequences—customer, firm, and societal—of CEBs. The authors suggest that firms can manage CEBs by taking a more integrative and comprehensive approach that acknowledges their evolution and impact over time.
Marine mammal bycatch in gillnet and other entangling net fisheries, 1990 to 2011

Since the 1970s the role of fishery bycatch as a factor reducing, or limiting the recov- ery of, marine mammal populations has been increasingly recognized. The proceedings of a 1990 International Whaling Commission symposium and workshop summarized fishery and bycatch data by region, fishery, and species, and estimated the significance of the 'impacts' of bycatch in passive gear on all cetacean species and subspecies or geographically defined populations. A global review of pinniped bycatch in 1991 concluded that incidental mortality in passive gear had contributed to declines of several species and populations. Here we update the information on cetacean gillnet bycatch, assess bycatch data on marine mammals other than cetaceans (i.e. pin- nipeds, sirenians, and 2 otter species), determine where important data gaps exist, and identify species and populations known or likely to be at high risk from bycatch in gillnets. We found that at least 75% of odontocete species, 64% of mysticetes, 66% of pinnipeds, and all sirenians and marine mustelids have been recorded as gillnet bycatch over the past 20-plus years. Cetacean bycatch information in some areas has improved, facilitating our ability to identify species and populations at high risk, although major gaps remain. Understanding of the scale of pinniped and sirenian bycatch has also improved, but this bycatch remains poorly documented, especially at the population level. This study reveals how little is known about marine mammal bycatch in gillnets in much of the world. Even as other significant threats to marine mammals have become better documented and understood, bycatch remains a critical issue demanding urgent attention if there is to be any hope of preventing further losses of marine mammal diversity and abundance, and of protecting, or restoring, ecological health.
Management Development in Iranian Academic Libraries: Performances and Obstacles

This paper aims to investigate the current status of management development in academic libraries and it identifies the deterrent factors in administering management development programs. In order to fulfill the aim of the study, 268 managers from 73 academic libraries answered the questions on their need to management development and the current performance of their organizations. They also prioritized the organizational obstacles to their development. The results revealed that, in general, almost all academic library managers express the need for managerial development. In spite of that, in more than half of libraries no management development program has been held. As the results showed, the three most important obstacles to management development include “Not recognized as a need”, “Inappropriate appraisal system” and “Lack of suitable program” respectively.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: DETERMINANTS AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION

This paper analyzes the factors of FDI inflows to countries in Southeast Asia over the period 1991 to 2009. The results indicate that the market size, openness of the economy, quality infrastructure, human capital, labor productivity are the main factors that have a positive impact on FDI flows. Additionally, exchange rate policy, real interest rates, political risk and institutional quality also affect FDI flows. Surprisingly, the cheap labor does not help to attract FDI to the region, because foreign investors are particularly interested in labor productivity. This study also showed that the Asian financial crisis in 1997 affects the amount of FDI inflows, but not on the nature of FDI inflows in the region.
Bank Selection Process and Market Segmentation: Evidence from Indian Exporting SMEs

Liberalization, privatization and globalization caused by economic reforms have induced severe competition in Indian banking sector. To survive in this contemporary, highly competitive business environment, banks should be able to attract new customers by identifying what is valuable to them and how they make bank selection decision. Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exporters have been found to be a very important segment of banks’ market because of profit and revenue opportunities presented by them. For appropriate positioning in exporting SMEs’ market, banks are not only required to be aware of their bank selection criteria rather they should also be aware of their different segments. In the present study, an effort has been made to identify the bank selection criteria of exporting SMEs as well as to segment them on the basis of the same. Findings revealed timeliness in services and accommodation of credit needs as critical factors considered by exporting SMEs while selecting a bank. Further, two types of SMEs customers have been identified, namely, transaction-oriented and relationship-oriented SMEs. Transaction-oriented SMEs who are newly established and more price-sensitive should be targeted with transaction-oriented strategy which aims at offering better-quality services at lower costs than competing banks. Conversely, relationship-oriented SMEs who are established focus more on bank features as well as on need accommodation; a relationship-oriented strategy can be followed to acquire such customers.
Fluorescence and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Chitosan / DNA Nanoparticles for Biological Applications

Polysaccharides and other cationic polymers have been recently used in pharmaceutical research and industry for their properties to control the release of antibiotics, DNA, proteins, peptide drugs or vaccines and have been also extensively studied as non viral DNA carriers for gene delivery and therapy. Among them, chitosan is one of the most used because it promotes long term release of incorporated drugs. The preparation of chitosan and chitosan/DNA nanoparticles of definite size and shape by using a novel and simple osmosis-based method is reported. The average diameter (measured by DLS) of chitosan nanoparticles is 45 ± 9 nm while that of chitosan/DNA is 38 ± 4 nm. The chitosan/DNA nanoparticles have a spherical morphology as also revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Varying solvent, temperature and membrane cut-off several nanostructured systems with different size and shape may be obtained for further use in biotechnological applications.
Regional Differences in Rehabilitation Needs, Rehabilitation Access, and Physical Outcomes Among Multiple Trauma Survivors

Sirois M-J, Dionne CE, Lavoie A: Regional differences in rehabilitation needs, rehabilitation access, and physical outcomes among multiple trauma survivors. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2009;88:387–398. Objectives:The aims of this study were to compare regional differences in perceived needs for postacute rehabilitation services, perceived barriers to postacute rehabilitation services, and long-term functional and physical health outcomes among multiple trauma survivors. Design:A population-based cohort study with retrospective measures of exposure and cross-sectional health outcomes measures was conducted in regions with different levels of rehabilitation services availability in the province of Quebec, Canada. The study included 435 participants, aged 18–65 yrs, admitted to level I or level II trauma centers in 2000–2001, who required rehabilitation services. The participants were interviewed by telephone 2–4 yrs postinjury. Needs for (yes/no) and perceived barriers (yes/no) to obtain 18 posttraumatic rehabilitation services were assessed. Physical health was measured with the medical outcome study SF-12 and functional status with the functional independence measure. Results:There were no significant regional differences in the proportions of perceived barriers to functional rehabilitation (39.4%), to social/vocational rehabilitation (52.2%), and to community integration services (46.5%). Adjusted-SF-12 and functional independence measure scores were similar across regions. Conclusion:Contrary to expectations, there were no regional differences in perceived barriers to rehabilitation services for multiple trauma survivors. Rather, surprisingly high proportions of barriers were reported across the province.
Crossing the border: testing a negotiation model among Canadian exporters

The interdependence of economies has led many researchers to examine whether US business practices are universal. Various models and scenarios have been investigated in an attempt to further understand foreign business counterparts. This paper utilizes a previously developed US‐based model on the problem‐solving approach in negotiation and tests its applicability among Canadian industrial exporters. The authors found that the sample’s problem‐solving orientation was highly influenced by two sets of factors: individual as well as organizational factors. Consequently, it seems that within the context of the problem‐solving orientation, Canadian exporters share similar patterns of behavior to those of their US counterparts.
Do statins protect the kidney as well as the heart?

Statins are widely prescribed for the prevention of vascular disease, based on a large body of evidence showing that they reduce mortality and the risk of vascular events [1]. The idea that dyslipidaemia might promote progressive kidney disease was first advanced more than 100 years ago [2], and is supported by experimental and clinical evidence [3]. It has been suggested that lipid-modifying treatment reduces proteinuria and prevents kidney function loss—especially statins that have been the most extensively studied class of agent for this indication. A recent systematic review of 27 randomized trials (with a total of 39 704 participants) suggested that statins reduce the rate of kidney function loss by 1.2 ml/min/year (95% CI 0.4, 2.0) or � 76% [4]. A second systematic review of 15 randomized studies (1384 participants) found that statins reduce albuminuria by 47 (95% CI 26, 67) and 48% (95% CI 25, 71) in people with >300 mg/24 h and 30–300 mg/24 h of albumin excretion at baseline, respectively. However, statins did not significantly influence urinary albumin excretion when baseline levels were <30 mg/24 h [5]. An article from the PREVEND group, in this issue of NDT, seeks to evaluate the effects of statins on the rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin excretion. Atthobari et al. take the unconventional approach of presenting results from both an observational cohort study and a nested randomized controlled trial in the same paper. The randomized trial (PREVEND-IT) used a 2 � 2 factorial design to evaluate the effects of pravastatin 40 mg and/or fosinopril 20 mg daily compared with placebo in 864 normotensive people with microalbuminuria (but not overt proteinuria), who were identified by a screening program in the general population. The main results of this trial have been previously reported [7] and the current article focuses on the 392 subjects who did not receive fosinopril, among whom the rate of change in albumin excretion and eGFR were similar in pravastatin and placebo recipients. At first glance, the findings of PREVEND-IT appear to conflict with the meta-analyses described above. The discrepancy cannot be accounted for by disparaging the quality of the carefully conducted PREVENDIT study, which was relatively large and had good internal validity, apart from a high frequency (25%) of loss to follow-up. Instead, differences in population characteristics may be responsible for the different findings compared with previous work. PREVEND-IT participants who received neither fosinopril nor statin had relatively preserved kidney function at baseline (mean eGFR 76 � 12 ml/min). These people were at low renal risk, since the average loss of eGFR was only 0.7 ml/min decline over 4 years, and few had clinically relevant declines in kidney function during the study period. This low event rate reduces statistical power to show an effect of statin on kidney
Effects of Saturated and unsaturated fats in starter and grower feeds on performance and carcass traits of broilers

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of saturated and unsaturated fats in starter and grower feeds on performance and carcass parts of broilers. In this experiment 288 day old broiler chicks (Ross- 308 strain) were used in a completely randomized design for 42 days with 8 treatments in 3 replicates and 12 chicks in each replicate. The experimental groups included: T1) control group, T2) 4% canola oil in starter and grower feed, T3) 4% beef tallow in starter and grower feed, T4) 4% canola oil in starter feed and 4% beef tallow in grower feed, T5) 4% beef tallow in starter feed and 4% canola oil in grower feed, 6) 4% canola oil in starter feed and 4% canola oil and beef tallow blend (2% canola oil + 2% beef tallow) in grower feed, 7) 4% beef tallow in starter feed and 4% canola oil and beef tallow blend (2% canola oil + 2% beef tallow) in grower feed, 8) 4% canola oil and beef tallow blend (2% canola oil + 2% beef tallow) in both starter and grower feeds. The results showed that using saturated and unsaturated fats in starter and grower feeds significantly affected the performance of broilers (P<0.05). The highest amount of daily weight gain (47.59g) and the best feed conversion (1.77) were resulted in group7 by using 4% of beef tallow in starter feed and 4% of canola oil and beef tallow blend (2% canola oil + 2% beef tallow) in grower feed, however there were not observed significant difference between group 4, 7 and 8 about the performance. About carcass percent, except liver percent, there were not significant difference between treatments. The addition of canola oil to starter diets significantly decreased the percent of liver, also the lowest percent of liver (1.97%) was resulted in group 2 by using 4% of canola oil in starter and grower feeds. The overall results showed that using 4% of saturated and unsaturated fat in broiler diets, especially 4% beef tallow in starter diets and blend of canola oil and beef tallow in grower feeds significantly improve the performance of broilers.
Why Has the Cyclicality of Productivity Changed?: What Does It Mean?

US labor and total factor productivity have historically been procyclical—rising in booms and falling in recessions. After the mid-1980s, however, total factor productivity became much less procyclical with respect to hours while labor productivity turned strongly countercyclical. We find that the key empirical “fact” driving these changes is reduced variation in factor utilization—conceptually, the workweek of capital and labor effort. We discuss a range of theories that seek to explain the changes in productivity's cyclicality. Increased flexibility, changes in the structure of the economy, and shifts in relative variances of technology and “demand” shocks all play key roles.
Título artículo / Títol article: The demand for structured products: an experimental approach Autores / Autors:

Guaranteed investment funds are showing an important growth in the mutual fund industry. We analyze this type of fund’s demand using the experimental methodology. Different types of structured guaranteed funds, with certain combinations of secured and additional benefits, are sequentially offered to university students who act as investors. Subjects also have the possibility to buy bonds. Our results show that information available to investors, and particularly the order in which it is presented, generates significant biases in their decision making which can have both positive and negative effects on their financial behavior. In fact, when the investment alternatives are made easier to compare, “too good to be true” investment offers get more easily spotted, while “guaranteed” investment products with a positive evolution result overvalued in comparison to bonds.
Multiple developmental pathways of highly aggressive breast cancers disclosed by comparison of histological grades and c‐erbB‐2 expression patterns in both the non‐invasive and invasive portions

To determine the developmental stages at which the highly malignant phenotype of breast carcinoma is acquired, the histological grade and c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein expression status were examined for both the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and Invasive components of 437 separate Invasive breast carcinomas. In 218 invasive carcinomas with high‐grade atypla (grade 3), the DCIS components were grade 2–3 In 158 cases (73%). Twenty‐seven (12%) showed an obvious stepwise Increase from grade 1 DCIS to grade 3 invasive carcinoma, and 25 of these tumors had DCIS components covering > 325% of their area. Ductal carcinoma in situ components were undetectable In 33 (15%) of invasive carcinomas. The Incidence of c‐erbB‐2 overexpression was higher in grade 3 carcinomas with grade 2–3 DCIS components (55%, 80 of 146) than in those with grade 1 DCIS components (5%, one of 25). The Incidence was also higher in grade 3 carcinomas with DCIS components covering ≥ 25% of the tumor area (71%, 39 of 55) than in those with DCIS over > 325% of the total area (36%, 42 of 116) or without DCIS components (6%, two of 33). There appeared to be three prototypic pathways to high‐grade breast carcinoma: (i) invasion by a high‐grade DCIS regardless of the extent of DCIS spread; (II) invasion by a low‐grade DCIS during the microscopic stages, accompanied by an obvious enhancement of the grade; and (iii) development of an invasive carcinoma ab inltlo. c‐erbB‐2 overexpression appeared to be frequently involved in the early development of the first group but showed little relation to the invasive process in any of these three pathways. The histological grade and c‐ertB‐2 overexpression appeared to be largely established during the early microscopic stages of a DCIS or invasive carcinoma.