Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative evaluation and the relationship between quality, satisfaction, and repurchase loyalty

This study evaluates alternative measurement approaches to examining the relationship between perceived quality performance, customer satisfaction, and repurchase loyalty. The authors define and measure the constructs within a relative attitudinal framework and compare these results to a noncomparative or individual evaluation of products. In addition, loyalty is measured and defined as self-reported repurchase behavior instead of purchase intention. The proposed model, with satisfaction as a mediator between quality and repurchase loyalty, was found to be an acceptable representation of the data across four products and for both comparative and noncomparative evaluations. The use of relative attitudes, however, indicated a much stronger relationship between quality, satisfaction, and loyalty than the attitudes toward a product when they are performed as an individual evaluation. With respect to predictive ability, the study findings suggest that quality, satisfaction, and loyalty should be defined and measured within a relative attitudinal framework.
Bond Prices, Yield Spreads, and Optimal Capital Structure with Default Risk

This paper examines the value of debt subject to default risk in a continuous time framework. By considering debt with regular principal repayments (e.g. through a sinking fund), we are able to examine bonds with arbitrary maturity while retaining a time-homogeneous environment. This extends Leland's [1994] earlier closed-form results to a much richer class of possible debt structures. We examine the term structure of yield spreads and find that a rise in interest rates will reduce yield spreads of current debt issues. It may tilt the term structure as well. Duration is also affected by default risk. The traditional Macaulay duration measure overstates effective duration, which for junk bonds may even be negative. While short term debt does not exploit tax benefits as completely as does long term debt, it is more likely to provide incentive compatibility between debt holders and equity holders. The agency costs of asset substitution are minimized when firms use shorter term debt. Optimal capital structure depends upon debt maturity. Optimal leverage ratios are smaller, and maximal firm values are less, when short term debt is used. The yield spread at the optimal leverage ratio increases with debt maturity.
An Investigation of the Effects of Organizational Readiness on Technology Acceptance in e-HRM Applications

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects of level of readiness to electronic human resource management (e-HRM) applications of enterprises to perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioral intention which are placed among the basic variables of Technology Acceptance Model. In the study, the readiness to e-HRM applications of enterprises is examined in five dimensions. These are Perceived Organizational Resources (POR), Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Organizational Information Policy (OIP), Perceived Organizational Innovativeness (POI) and Perceived Employee Technical Competency (PETC). The data of this survey were gathered from the enterprises which are placed among the first 500 industrial enterprises in Turkey prepared by Istanbul Chamber of Industry in 2009. The questionnaire was filled out by the directors or managers who have decisive positions in these enterprises. The questionnaire was prepared by taking the advantages of various studies (Udo et al., 2006; Prajogo and Ahmed, 2006; Alegre and Chiva, 2008; Hansen and Birkinshaw, 2007) for the sub dimensions of Organizational Readiness and for technology acceptance scale questions Davis’ Technology Acceptance Model is used. The data is analyzed by SPSS 18. At the end of the survey, it was found that Organizational Readiness variables positively affect e-HRM applications such as perceived usefulness, ease of use and behavioral intention to use.
Assessment of Accessibility and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Effective Teaching of Biological Science in Secondary Schools

This study investigated information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility and utilization for effective teaching of biological science in secondary schools in Ibadan-north Local Government Area of Oyo State. A 20 item instruments of (ICTFAQ) and (ICTFUQ) were adopted for this study. The study sampled 72 biological science teachers in selected secondary schools in Ibadan-north, Oyo State. The descriptive statistics was adopted in analyzing the data collected for this study, while the generated hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance, using t-test. Hence, the results revealed that ICT facilities were not available, and accessed by teachers in secondary schools in Ibadan-north. In addition, it was revealed that biological science teachers in these schools do not also have the proper skills required to utilize ICT for effective teaching of the subject. Conclusively, recommendations on ways of solving the problem were implemented for further consideration and execution by the government authorities, and the stakeholders. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n23p1439
Role of mitogen‐activated protein kinases in phenethyl isothiocyanate‐induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells

The present study was undertaken to examine the role of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in apoptosis induction by phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a cruciferous vegetable‐derived cancer chemopreventive agent, with DU145 and LNCaP human prostate cancer cells as a model. The MAPK family of serine/threonine kinases, including extracellular signal‐regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), c‐jun N‐terminal kinase1/2/3 (JNK1/2/3), and p38 MAPK play an important role in cell proliferation and apoptosis in response to different stimuli. Exposure of DU145 and LNCaP cells to growth suppressive concentrations of PEITC resulted in activation of ERK1/2 and JNKs, but not p38 MAPK, in both cell lines. In DU145 cells, the apoptosis induction by PEITC was statistically significantly attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of JNKs with SP600125. Adenovirus‐mediated overexpression of Flag‐tagged JNK binding domain (JBD) of JNK‐interacting protein‐1 (JIP‐1), an inhibitor of JNK, also inhibited PEITC‐induced apoptosis in DU145 cells. On the other hand, inhibition of ERK1/2 activation with MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 failed to offer protection against PEITC‐induced apoptosis in DU145 cells. In LNCaP cells, the PEITC‐induced cell death was not affected by either pretreatment with PD98059 or SP600125 or overexpression of JBD of JIP‐1. These results indicate that involvement of MAPKs in apoptosis induction by PEITC in human prostate cancer cells is cell line‐specific. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analyzing media types and content orientations in Facebook for global brands

Purpose – This study aims to examine current practices of social media marketing among major global brands across five product categories (namely, convenience, shopping, specialty, industrial and service). Assessing the frequency, media type and content orientations of corporate Facebook pages, this study aims to isolate the qualitative factors of a brand’s social media message that are most likely to facilitate a consumer response. Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis of 1,086 social media posts was conducted from the corporate Facebook pages of 92 global brands during a one-month (snapshot) time horizon in July 2013. The data collected from each individual post include its media type (i.e. text, photo or video), its content orientation (i.e. task, interaction and self-oriented) and the number and type of consumer response it generated (i.e. likes, comments and shares). Findings – Research findings reveal that global brands actively utilize social media, posting on average three messages per .
Drug Screening for ALS Using Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Anacardic acid attenuates mutant TDP-43–associated abnormalities in motor neurons derived from ALS patient–specific induced pluripotent stem cells. A Stepping Stone to ALS Drug Screening Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an untreatable disorder in which the motor neurons degenerate, resulting in paralysis and death. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology makes it possible to analyze motor neurons from patients with ALS and to use them for screening new candidate drugs. In new work, Egawa et al. obtained motor neurons by inducing differentiation of iPSC lines derived from several patients with familial ALS. These patients carried disease-causing mutations in the gene encoding Tar DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43). The ALS motor neurons in culture recapitulated cellular and molecular abnormalities associated with ALS. For example, the authors found that mutant TDP-43 in the ALS motor neurons perturbed RNA metabolism and that the motor neurons were more vulnerable to cellular stressors such as arsenite. The researchers then used the ALS motor neurons in a drug screening assay and identified a compound called anacardic acid, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, that could reverse some of the ALS phenotypes observed in the motor neurons. The new work provides an encouraging step toward using motor neurons generated from iPSCs derived from ALS patients to learn more about what triggers the death of motor neurons in this disease and to identify new candidate drugs that may be able to slow or reverse the devastating loss of motor neurons. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset, fatal disorder in which the motor neurons degenerate. The discovery of new drugs for treating ALS has been hampered by a lack of access to motor neurons from ALS patients and appropriate disease models. We generate motor neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from familial ALS patients, who carry mutations in Tar DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43). ALS patient–specific iPSC–derived motor neurons formed cytosolic aggregates similar to those seen in postmortem tissue from ALS patients and exhibited shorter neurites as seen in a zebrafish model of ALS. The ALS motor neurons were characterized by increased mutant TDP-43 protein in a detergent-insoluble form bound to a spliceosomal factor SNRPB2. Expression array analyses detected small increases in the expression of genes involved in RNA metabolism and decreases in the expression of genes encoding cytoskeletal proteins. We examined four chemical compounds and found that a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor called anacardic acid rescued the abnormal ALS motor neuron phenotype. These findings suggest that motor neurons generated from ALS patient–derived iPSCs may provide a useful tool for elucidating ALS disease pathogenesis and for screening drug candidates.
The Role of Ego Networks in Manufacturing Joint Venture Formations

This paper develops a network theory based framework of manufacturing joint venture formations and provides an empirical test in the context of the automotive industry. Hypotheses are developed regarding the implications of the network structure for a firm’s partner selection in manufacturing joint ventures. The roles of network theory constructs such as ego network size, ego network density, and ego network betweenness centrality on new manufacturing joint venture formations are explored using a dynamic framework. A comprehensive time series panel dataset with 3,247,124 observations containing the joint venture information of 1,158 automotive firms collectively engaging in 589 manufacturing joint ventures over 19 years is utilized to test the hypotheses. Results provide strong empirical support for the role of network structure in equity based partnership formation. Specifically, ego network size and ego network betweenness centrality of both focal manufacturer and potential partner have significant effects on new manufacturing joint venture formations. Findings regarding the role of ego network density are mixed.
New European Union＇s Requirements and IFRS Practice Statement ＂Management Commentary＂： Does MD＆A Disclosure Quality Affect Analysts＇ Forecasts？

The Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) is a mandatory document under the European Union’s (EU) law. In 2003, the EU issued Directive 2003/51/EC, which broadened the information that firms have to provide in their MD&A, and in 2010 the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Practice Statement “Management Commentary”, a non-binding guidance for the presentation of this document. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between MD&A disclosure quality and properties of analysts’ forecasts. In fact, although most studies found that financial analysts mainly refer to financial statement data in forecasting earnings, there are few researches highlighting the importance of MD&A disclosures for financial analysts. On this basis, Ramnath, Rock, and Shane (2008) called for researches in order to better understand the relationship between the information really used by analysts and their forecasts. To assess the quality of MD&A disclosures, we developed a multidimensional measure on the basis of the EU requirements and the IFRS Practice Statement, and then we regressed this variable on both forecast accuracy and dispersion. The findings show that our measure of MD&A disclosure quality is significantly and positively related to forecast accuracy. We conducted other analyses in order to better understand the previous relationship and we found that, if we analyze the different information contained in the MD&A statement, financial analysts consider useful accounting and financial data in forecasting earnings. These results enhance our understanding of the role of MD&A disclosures in the wide set of information that firms provide to financial statement users.
Relationship of peritoneal membrane transport characteristics to the nutritional status in CAPD patients.

BACKGROUND The study was carried out to evaluate the role of individual peritoneal membrane transport characteristics in the nutritional status expressed as the composite nutritional index (CNI) METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses of the overall nutritional status of 147 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients were performed using the CNI. CNIs based on a scoring system of 10 nutritional indices including subjective global assessment, biochemical parameters and anthropometry were compared according to the results of a standard peritoneal equilibration test (PET) RESULTS: Patients were classified as low (n = 16, 10.9%), low average (n=59, 40.2%), high average (n=54, 36.7%) and high (n=18, 12.2%) transporters based on the D/P(Cr) after 4 h dwells. The mean 4 h D/P(Cr) was 0.65 +/- 0.12 (0.34-0.95), and there was no significant correlation between D/P(Cr) and other demographic parameters such as age, duration of peritoneal dialysis and body surface area. D/P(Cr) was correlated with dialytic albumin loss (r=0.47, P<0.001), serum albumin (r=-0.46, P<0.001), serum creatinine (r= -0.38, P<0.001), serum TGF-1 (r=-0.37, P<0.01) and LBM(Cr) (r= -0.26, P<0.05). In high transporters, the serum albumin was significantly lower while dialysate protein and albumin losses were significantly greater compared with low transporters. Serum creatinine and IGF-1 concentrations as well as LBM(Cr) were also decreased in higher transporters. The mean CNI score was 8.1 +/- 4.9, with a range of 0-24. CNI was positively correlated with age, duration of peritoneal dialysis, incidence of peritonitis, CRP and dialytic protein loss, whereas it was inversely correlated with ultrafiltration volume, haemoglobin and NPNA. The CNI score was significantly higher in high transporters compared with low transporters (11.7 +/- 4.3 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.6, P < 0.01). There was also a significant correlation between D/P(Cr) and CNI (r = 0.29, P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the incidence of peritonitis, duration of CAPD, CRP and D/P(Cr) were the independent factors affecting the CNI. CONCLUSION Peritoneal membrane transport characteristics correlate with the overall nutritional status of peritoneal dialysis patients assessed by the scoring system of the CNI, although it is associated with a different impact on the individual nutritional indices. The results of this cross-sectional study also suggest that a high permeability state is a risk factor for malnutrition in CAPD patients. Prospective studies evaluating the changes in nutritional parameters among patients with different membrane transport rates are needed to understand better the relationship of peritoneal membrane characteristics to the nutritional status of CAPD patients.
A New Cogging-Free Permanent-Magnet Linear Motor

The cogging force of a permanent-magnet linear motor (PMLM) is a major component of the detent force, but unfortunately makes a ripple in the thrust force and induces undesired vibration and acoustic noise. It also deteriorates the control characteristics, particularly in regard to precise speed and position control. In this paper, we propose a new PMLM having a 9-pole 10-slot structure in order to reduce the cogging force. Our PMLM is properly wound for three-phase driving. Through a theoretical and finite-element analysis, we show that the 9-pole 10-slot PMLM removes almost all of the cogging force while giving 10% and 23% larger back-electromotive force and thrust force, respectively, than a conventional 8-pole 12-slot PMLM under the same conditions of exciting current, total number of windings, and total PM volume.
Overweight, adipocytokines and hypertension: a prospective population-based study

Objective: The adipocytokines, leptin, adiponectin, and interleukin-6, which stimulate liver C-reactive protein (CRP) production, are regarded as potential candidate intermediates between adipose tissue and overweight-induced hypertension. Methods: We examined the associations between leptin, adiponectin, and CRP levels with both prevalent and 5-year incident hypertension (IHT) in a general population of Danish adults (n = 5868, 51.3% women, mean age 45.8 ± 7.9 years). Results: We recorded 2195 prevalent and 379 incident cases of hypertension. In models including leptin, CRP, adiponectin, sex, age, lifestyle risk factors, lipids, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and in the incident model also baseline heart rate and blood pressure, only leptin of the three candidate intermediates was significantly associated with both prevalent and IHT [odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.32, P = 0.002, and OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.54, P = 0.044] for one standard deviation increase in log-transformed leptin levels, respectively. Log-transformed CRP was associated with prevalent (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001) but not IHT (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.84–1.14, P = 0.76). Log-transformed adiponectin was neither associated with prevalent nor IHT (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.87–1.02, P = 0.11 and OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.80–1.08, P = 0.33). Comparing the lowest with the highest quintile of sex-specific BMI levels, there was an almost two-fold increase in IHT (OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.10–3.25, P = 0.023) in the fully adjusted model. The population attributable risk estimate of IHT owing to overweight was 31%. Conclusion: Leptin, but not adiponectin or CRP, may play a mediating role in overweight-induced hypertension. However, as BMI was a strong independent predictor of hypertension, other factors than leptin must be involved in the pathogenesis of overweight-related hypertension.
Prevalence and Clinicopathological Features of Triaditis in a Prospective Case Series of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Cats

Background The term triaditis designates the concurrent presence of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cholangitis, and pancreatitis in cats. Hypothesis/Objectives The histopathology of concurrent, but often subclinical, inflammatory processes in the small intestine, liver, and pancreas of cats is poorly described. We aimed to investigate the frequency of enteritis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, or some combination of these in symptomatic and asymptomatic cats, compare clinicopathological features, and correlate histopathological with laboratory findings. Animals Domestic cats (27 symptomatic, 20 asymptomatic, and 8 normal). Methods Prospective study. Physical examination, laboratory variables (CBC, serum biochemistry profile, serum thyroxine concentration, serum feline trypsin‐like immunoreactivity [fTLI], feline lipase immunoreactivity [fPLI, as measured by Spec fPL ®], urinalysis, and fecal analysis), imaging, and histopathological examinations were conducted. Feline liver, pancreas, and small intestine were biopsied during laparotomy. Results Inflammatory lesions were detected in 47 cats (27 symptomatic, 20 asymptomatic). In total, 20 cats had histopathologic lesions of IBD (13/47, 27.7%), cholangitis (6/47, 12.8%), or pancreatitis (1/47, 2.1%) alone, or inflammation involving >1 organ (27/47, 57.4%). More specifically, 16/47 cats (34.0%) had concurrent lesions of IBD and cholangitis, 3/47 (6.4%) of IBD and pancreatitis, and 8/47 cats (17%) of triaditis. Triaditis was identified only in symptomatic cats (8/27, 29.6%). A mild, positive correlation was detected between the severity (score) of IBD lesions and the number of comorbidities (rho = +0.367, P = .022). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Histopathological evidence of IBD or IBD with comorbidities was detected in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cats. The possibility of triaditis should be considered in symptomatic cats with severe IBD.
Effect of intraventricular injection of dopamine, noreprinephrine, acetylcholine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine on immunoreactive somatostatin release into rat hypophyseal portal blood.

The effect of several putative neurotransmitters in the regulation of somatostatin release from the median eminence into hypophyseal portal blood was investigated in male rats under urethane anesthesia. Using a specially designed microfraction collector, hypophyseal portal blood was collected at 15-min intervals into five separate tubes containing 2 N acetic acid. Immunoreactive somatostatin (IRS) in the acid-blood mixtures was extracted with acetone, washed with organic solvents, and determined by RIA. Dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, or acetylcholine in a dose of 10-8 mol/5 μl freshly prepared 5% glucose solution or 5 nl glucose solution alone was injected into the third ventricle immediately after collection of the first blood sample. In 10 control animals, the mean (±SE) secretion rate and concentration of IRS were 3.90=0.66 pg/min and 628 ± 126 pg/ml before injection of 5% glucose, 2.12 ± 0.28 pg/min and 286 ± 22 pg/ml 15 min after the injection, 1.93 ± 0.17 pg/min and 261 ± 18 pg/ml at.
The effects of time pressure and knowledge on key word selection behavior in tax research

This paper considers how time pressure and knowledge separately and jointly affect tax researchers' ability to locate relevant authority. Tax profession- als and graduate tax students participated in a computer interactive experiment in which subjects selected relevant key words relating to a partnership tax issue. The results indicate that declarative and procedural knowledge enhance tax researchers' ability to select relevant key words in a time-restricted task. The most significant finding is that subjects with procedural knowledge responded more positively to time pressure than did subjects without such knowledge, thereby demonstrating an interaction between time pressure and knowledge.