Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exploratory investigation of the theorized levels of consumer fanaticism

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for the behaviors of consumers engaged in fan activity and test to see if that model simulates the movement of consumers among the proposed levels of fan behaviors.Design/methodology/approach – Support for the proposed model is examined through the literature, a series of structured interviews with fans are evaluated using first qualitative, then quantitative methodologies for evidence of the hypothesized model.Findings – The research indicates moderate support for the three‐level model first proposed by Hill et al.Research/limitations/implications – Given the moderate support found for the model, further research could serve to offer stronger evidence, as well as to examine the extinguishing process by which a fan exits the subculture.Practical implications – The research identifies members and levels of the fan subculture that marketing professionals should target when offering products and services aimed at those segments.Originality/value – Thi.
Emotion Regulation in Adulthood: Timing Is Everything

Emotions seem to come and go as they please. However, we actually hold considerable sway over our emotions: We influence which emotions we have and how we experience and express these emotions. The process model of emotion regulation described here suggests that how we regulate our emotions matters. Regulatory strategies that act early in the emotion-generative process should have quite different outcomes than strategies that act later. This review focuses on two widely used strategies for down-regulating emotion. The first, reappraisal, comes early in the emotion-generative process. It consists of changing how we think about a situation in order to decrease its emotional impact. The second, suppression, comes later in the emotion-generative process. It involves inhibiting the outward signs of emotion. Theory and research suggest that reappraisal is more effective than suppression. Reappraisal decreases the experience and behavioral expression of emotion, and has no impact on memory. By contrast, suppression decreases behavioral expression, but fails to decrease the experience of emotion, and actually impairs memory. Suppression also increases physiological responding in both the suppressors and their social partners.
Porphyromonas gingivalis Minor Fimbriae Are Required for Cell-Cell Interactions

ABSTRACT Two distinctive types of fimbriae have been identified in Porphyromonas gingivalis. In this report, we demonstrate that minor fimbriae are involved in P. gingivalis autoaggregation and colonization. A mutant with a deficiency in minor fimbriae can bind to a saliva-coated surface but does not form microcolonies as the wild-type strain does.
Key performance indicator disclosures by large UK private and public listed companies

This study aims to investigate the degree of compliance by large UK private and public listed companies with the Companies Act 2006 section 417 (6) requirement to disclose KPIs in their annual reports. Specifically, the study investigates the extent of KPI disclosures by 410 UK companies comprising the largest 205 private limited and largest 205 public listed companies. The study also examines whether corporate governance mechanisms and company specific characteristics influence the extent of KPI disclosures in the annual reports of these companies. The extent of KPI disclosures in this study is measured using three indices to quantify KPI disclosures. Some hypotheses for the independent variables were developed and tested using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression method to determine whether corporate governance and company specific characteristics are associated with the extent of KPIs disclosure by private, public listed and the pooled companies. In terms of the extent of disclosure, the results suggest that approximately 51% of private companies and 90% of public listed companies disclose at least one KPI in their annual reports. The OLS regression results indicate that corporate governance mechanisms (proportion of non-executive directors, board size and director share ownership) and company specific characteristics (company size and profitability) are significantly associated with the extent of KPI disclosures by private, public listed and the pooled companies. The frequency of board meetings and multinationality do not significantly explain disclosure extent and comprehensiveness. The overall conclusion of this research is that private companies do not seem to comply with the requirements to disclose KPIs and that corporate governance mechanisms are important in ensuring compliance with the requirement to disclose KPIs. The results have important implications for policy makers and accounting regulators such as the Accounting Standards Board in general, and in particular the Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) which is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that large private and public listed companies comply with extant regulatory framework.
Human Resource Management Practices as Predictors of Organisational Innovations: An Analysis of Manufacturing SMEs in Japan

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are prevalent across the Japanese economy, accounting for the lion‘s share of its GDP. Their importance is indicated not only by the large share of GDP, but also by the number of companies, total number of employees, and value of shipments etc. However, since last two decades, this sector has no longer been a thriving source of growth. The business failure rate remains high while firm entry rate has slipped downward. One of the reasons for high rate of business failures in SMEs is the lack of attention they are paying to the Human Resource Management (HRM) practices of their businesses when compared with their large counter parts. Therefore, the broad aim of this study is to investigate HRM practices in SMEs in Japan. Specifically, this study aims to investigate whether HRM practices are significant predictors of innovations in SMEs, as measured by the number of new products, process and administrative developments which are crucial to face global competition. Further, this study attempts to examine the relationship between HRM practices and organizational innovations shedding some light on the link between the two. A structured questionnaire was developed and sent to 436 SMEs in Aichi Prefecture and 144 firms responded to the questionnaire resulting in 32 per cent response rate. Based on the data analysis, it was found that there is a strong positive relationship between HRM practices and organizational innovations in manufacturing SMEs in Japan.
CRM and Business Performance

CRM is a business strategy which aims to create value for both organization and customers through initiating and maintaining customer relat ionships. As a core strategy, CRM is based on using a market ing info rmation system and the company's IT infrastructure. CRM technology plays an important role in creating customer knowledge, which is the core of any CRM initiat ive. The CRM strategy will not yield the expected results without the proper use of informat ion technology in the CRM processes. Organizational CRM read iness is related to the level of available technological resources which may be oriented towards CRM imp lementation. This paper examines the direct outcomes of the CRM activit ies, as well the relationship among these outcomes and business performance. We also analyzed the effect of the level of o rganizat ional CRM readiness on the degree to which companies implemented CRM activit ies. We conducted a survey on 50 co mpanies operating in the Armenia, which revealed that CRM imp lementation generates superior business performance.
Understanding fashion consumers’ attitude and behavioral intention toward sustainable fashion products: Focus on sustainable knowledge sources and knowledge types

Abstract Companies in the fashion industry recognize sustainability as a major issue and are placing intensive efforts to incorporate it into their marketing strategies. Yet they face a stumbling block as most fashion consumers still have limited knowledge or clarification about sustainability. In addition, there is a lack of in-depth research regarding sustainable knowledge in the fashion industry, especially considering its importance in this field. Therefore, this study, analyzes sustainable knowledge to better understand which sources and types of knowledge are effective. Thus, the purpose of this study is as follows: (1) to examine the influence of sustainable knowledge sources on different types of sustainable knowledge; and (2) to examine the impact of these types of knowledge on sustainable consumer behavior. A total of 245 responses are collected in South Korea through an online survey for the final analysis. The proposed model and research hypotheses are tested using AMOS and SPSS programs. Results indicates that fashion consumers have a positive effect on corporate marketing information. Effectiveness and social knowledge also play an important role in forming attitude toward sustainable fashion products. In conclusion, fashion brands must identify and incorporate effective sources and types of sustainable knowledge into their marketing strategies to expand their business scope. Moreover, this study stands out for examining the specific role of sustainable knowledge in the fashion industry, thus providing a direction for future research.
Determinants of mobile coupon service adoption: assessment of gender difference

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically examine a comprehensive model describing the effects of perceived characteristics of mobile coupon services on attitudes and the effects of personal innovativeness and subjective norm (SN) on behavioral intention (BI) to use such services. Gender differences in the process of mobile coupon service adoption were also investigated. Design/methodology/approach – The online survey was distributed to US adult consumers (age 19 and over) recruited through an online sampling service company. A total of 657 useable responses were obtained. Findings – The results showed that in general, compatibility and enjoyment are stronger determinants of attitudes toward mobile coupon adoption than ease of use and usefulness of mobile coupon services. Innovativeness and SN showed strong effects on BI to use mobile coupon services. Furthermore, the results demonstrated gender differences in the relative strength of perceived characteristics that affect attitudes.
Innovation Management in SMEs: Active Innovators in New Zealand

Abstract Since innovation is a key driver of economic growth and social development, research on innovation activities and processes is vital for policy makers, practitioners and scholars. This paper reports key findings from an empirical study of innovation processes in 95 New Zealand SMEs which are active innovators. Results include the characteristics of innovative New Zealand SMEs, the types of innovations they are developing, and their perceptions of the context for innovation in New Zealand. The status of their innovation management processes were also evaluated using indices for Srategy, Market, Innovation, and Resource factors. These companies are well established, demonstrating significant growth, high propensity to innovate and a portfolio of innovations. Further, they are well organised to commercialise their innovations. However, significant inhibitors to growth were identified and these have specific policy implications which are important given the imperative for economic growth and productivity improvements in New Zealand.
Brand image strategy affects brand equity after M&A

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the variance of two brand images and dimensions of brand equity after M&A, especially when the acquirer‐dominant is affiliated to a weak brand image and the acquired one has a stronger brand image.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 409 responses were collected through random sampling from an internet survey platform in Taiwan (weak image differences were gathered from 209 respondents and strong image differences were gathered from 200 respondents). Findings – This study uses an experimental design to discuss how the variance of two brand images (this study uses two kinds of M&A: a company with an inferior brand image acquires one with a superior or average brand image) affects the acquirer's brand equity (perceived quality, brand association, and brand loyalty). This study also examines how brand equity of an acquired brand changes after M&A. Results from the MANOVA and paired‐sample t‐test methods show that the greater the per.
Sentiment and the Performance of Initial Public Offerings

It is found that underpricing increases with the optimism expressed in the IPO prospectus. Underpricing is almost fully realized at the opening price, and, during the first day of trading, the market does not further update the listing firm’s value. In addition the share turnover on the first day of trading is found to be positively related to both prospectus sentiment and the pre-market return. If the prospectus is considered as public information the efficiency of the IPO process should be called into question.
Novel determinant (comA) essential for natural transformation competence in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the effect of a comA defect on pilin variation

A novel genetic determinant (comA) has been identified and found to be required for the transformation of piliated Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Mutants in comA of strain MS11 grow normally and are DNA‐uptake proficient but blocked in the translocation of DNA into the cytoplasm. Here we show by site‐specific mutagenesis and genetic complementation that only one of two open reading frames identified in comA is essential for competence: it encodes a protein (ComA) with a predicted size of 74kDa. The comAgene maps upstream of the iga locus and is transcribed in the opposite orientation, probably under the control of a putative σ;54 type promoter. While DNA probes specific for the N. gonorrhoeae iga locus reveal only a little cross‐reactivity with commensal Neisseria species, the neighbouring comA gene appears to be present in most of them. ComA fusion proteins were obtained by in vitro translation. The synthesized gene products migrated atypically in SDS gels indicating its strong hydrophobicity. Several transmembrane α‐helices were predicted from the amino acid sequence of ComA which, in the context of an observed sequence similarity with other inner membrane proteins, suggests a location for the protein in the inner membrane. Using piliated and non‐piliated comA mutants the consequences of transformation deficiency on pilin phase variation were assessed. We show that the comA defect affects some but not all types of DNA rearrangements associated with pilE variation. The results are in agreement with previous observations supporting the notion that multiple recombination pathways contribute to the variability of pilE.
Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 Interacts with Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 (NRF-1) and Plays a Role in NRF-1 Transcriptional Regulation*

Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) is one of the key transcriptional activators for nuclear-coded genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function as well as for many housekeeping genes. A transcriptional co-activator PGC-1 and its related family member PRC have previously been shown to interact with NRF-1 and co-activate NRF-1. We show here that NRF-1 can also directly interact with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and co-purify the PARP-1·DNA-PK·Ku80·Ku70·topoisomerase IIβ-containing protein complex. Our in vitro binding experiments show that DNA-binding/dimerization domain of NRF-1 and the N-terminal half of PARP-1, which contains two Zinc fingers and the auto-modification domain, are responsible for the interaction, and that this interaction occurs with or without PARP-1 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation). DNA-bound NRF-1 can form a complex with PARP-1, suggesting that NRF-1 can recruit the PARP-1·DNA-PK·Ku80·Ku70·topoisomerase IIβ-containing protein complex to the promoter. PARP-1 can also PARylate the DNA-binding domain of NRF-1 and negatively regulate NRF-1·PARP-1 interaction. Transient transfection and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that PARP-1 plays a role during transcriptional activation by NRF-1. Our finding identifies a new aspect of transcriptional regulation used by NRF-1.
The Dialogical Self: Toward a Theory of Personal and Cultural Positioning

The dialogical self proposes a far-reaching decentralization of both the concept of self and the concept of culture. At the intersection between the psychology of the self in the tradition of William James and the dialogical school in the tradition of Mikhail Bakhtin, the proposed view challenges both the idea of a core, essential self and the idea of a core, essential culture. In apparent contradiction with such a view, the present viewpoint proposes to conceive self and culture as a multiplicity of positions among which dialogical relationships can be established. Particular attention is paid to collective voices, domination and asymmetry of social relations, and embodied forms of dialogue. Cultures and selves are seen as moving and mixing and as increasingly sensitive to travel and translocality. Three perspectives for future research of self and culture are briefly discussed: the shifting attention from core to contact zones; increasing complexity; and the experience of uncertainty.
Innovation Offshoring: Asia's Emerging Role in Global Innovation Networks

Most analysts agree that critical ingredients for economic growth, competitiveness and welfare in the United States have been policies that encourage strong investment in research and development (RD2. Support corporate innovation by (1) providing tax incentives to spur early-stage investments in innovative start-ups and (2) reforming the U.S. patent system so it is more accessible to smaller inventors and innovators; 3. Upgrade the U.S. talent pool of knowledge workers by (1) providing incentives to study science and engineering, (2) encouraging the development of management, interpretive, cross-cultural and other “soft” capabilities, and (3) encouraging immigration of highly skilled workers; 4. Improve access to and collection of innovation-related data to inform the national policy debate.
Commonality In Liquidity: Lessons From An Emerging Stock Market

This study investigates commonality in liquidity in Tunisia, an order-driven, emerging stock market. We analyze the impact of information flow on the relationship between market liquidity and liquidity of securities, in addition to firm size and industry determinants. The effect of liquidity commonality on the liquidity of securities depends on firm size. The effect of market-wide commonality on liquidity is found to be stronger than that of industry-wide commonality. Our results show that public and private information flows improve liquidity. Systematic trading volume dominates systematic order imbalance in explaining liquidity; however, this effect is lesser compared to that of market liquidity.
Associations of urinary levels of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) with kidney function decline in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

BACKGROUND Whether elevations in levels of urinary biomarkers of tubular injury (urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL] and kidney injury molecule 1 [KIM-1]) are associated with future risk of kidney disease has not been investigated. STUDY DESIGN 1:1 nested case-control study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 686 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). PREDICTOR NGAL and KIM-1 were measured at baseline, expressed as log-transformed continuous variables, and categorized into deciles. OUTCOMES Kidney function was estimated by cystatin C level using the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation. Incident CKD stage 3 was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and an eGFR decrease >1 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per year, and rapid kidney function decrease was defined as decrease ≥3 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per year. MEASUREMENTS Cases were defined as persons with eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) who subsequently developed incident CKD stage 3 and/or had rapid kidney function decrease by the MESA year-5 visit. Controls were matched for age, sex, race, diabetes, and baseline eGFR. We adjusted for age, hypertension, and presence of albuminuria (albumin-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g). RESULTS Of 343 cases, 145 had incident CKD stage 3, 141 had rapid kidney function decrease, and 57 had both. Mean eGFR for controls was 81 ± 10 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at baseline and 80 ± 10 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at follow-up compared with 82 ± 13 and 58 ± 10 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for cases. Each doubling of KIM-1 level (in picograms per milliliter) was associated with an OR of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.02-1.29) for incident CKD stage 3 and/or rapid kidney function decrease. Compared with the lowest 90%, the highest decile of KIM-1 level was associated with an OR of 2.02 (95% CI, 1.15-3.56) for the outcome; these associations were independent of albuminuria. NGAL levels (in nanograms per milliliter) were not associated with incident CKD stage 3 and/or rapid kidney function decrease (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99-1.10). Results were similar when KIM-1 and NGAL levels were standardized for urine creatinine. LIMITATIONS The case-control design limits the ability to account for persons who died or were not available for follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Urinary KIM-1 level is associated with future risk of kidney disease independent of albuminuria. Urinary biomarkers of tubular injury are a promising tool for identifying persons at risk of CKD.
Validation of the [1,2‐13C]acetate recovery factor for correction of [U‐13C]palmitate oxidation rates in humans

1 The validity of estimations of plasma fatty acid oxidation using tracers has often been questioned. The appearance of isotopic markers in breath CO2 is delayed and incomplete. Recently suggestions have been made that substantial amounts of tracer are incorporated into products of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (e.g. glucose, glutamine and glutamate) and that an acetate correction factor can be used to correct for tracer fixation. In the present study we investigated whether the appearance of 13CO2 during a separate infusion of [1,2‐13C]acetate could be used for correction of [U‐13C]palmitate oxidation rates in studies lasting <2 h and we quantified the appearance of tracer in the glutamine, glutamate and glucose pools of the body. 2 An infusion of either [1,2‐13C]acetate (0.104 μmol min−1 kg−1) or [U‐13C]palmitate (0.013 μmol min−1 kg−1) was given to eight male subjects and continued for 2 h at rest. In six subjects the infusion of [1,2‐13C]acetate was repeated to determine reproducibility of the acetate recovery. 3 Fractional recovery in breath from [1,2‐13C]acetate gradually increased during the infusion period at rest from 14.1 ± 0.6 % at 60 min to 26.5 ± 0.5 % at 120 min after the start of the infusion. Intersubject coefficient of variance was 8.3 ± 0.6 % and intrasubject coefficient of variance of the acetate recovery tests was 4.0 ± 1.5 %. After 2 h of [1,2‐13C]acetate infusion, 12.4 ± 0.8 and 10.3 ± 0.9 % of infused 13C was incorporated in the glutamine and glutamate pools, respectively. 4 In conclusion, the [1,2‐13C]acetate recovery factor can be used for correcting the rate of [U‐13C]palmitate oxidation in infusing studies of 2 h in resting conditions. Failure to use this recovery factor leads to a substantial underestimation of the rate of plasma free fatty acid oxidation. The extent of label fixation could largely be explained by accumulation of tracer carbon in glutamine and glutamate, and the accumulation in glucose is negligible.