Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing a manufacturer's opportunism towards small- and medium-sized suppliers

It is extremely difficult for small- and medium-sized (SMS) suppliers to survive and secure a stable performance without effectively dealing with manufacturer opportunism. Given the strategic importance of safeguarding or reducing manufacturer opportunism for SMS suppliers, our understanding on the issue is very limited. This research develops and tests a conceptual model that describes the linkages of the antecedent variables, such as supplier capabilities (core capabilities, operations capabilities), transaction-specific investments and interpersonal networks to the outcome variable, manufacturer opportunism. The conceptual model proposes that the antecedent variables affect manufacturer opportunism through two important mediating variables, a manufacturer's dependence on a buyer and a manufacturer's trust of a buyer. Seven hypotheses are derived on the basis of our research model and theoretical background. Data were collected through a survey. Participating organizations are SMS suppliers which have had exchange relationships with large manufacturers in Korea. The list of suppliers was obtained from purchasing managers at three large manufacturers, which are each internationally well-recognized organizations in semi-conductors, electronics, and automobile parts, respectively . Covariance structure analysis was performed to test the hypotheses of this research. The major findings can be summarized as follows. First, the path from a supplier's core capability to a manufacturer's dependence as hypothesized in H1a is not significant. The path from the operations capability to dependence as hypothesized in H1b is significant. Second, the path from a supplier's TSIs (Transaction-specific investments) to a manufacturer's dependence is not significant, whereas that from a supplier's TSIs to a manufacturer's trust is highly significant. Thus H2a is not supported, whereas H2b is supported. Third, the path from a supplier's interpersonal networks to a manufacturer's trust is significant, implying that H3 is supported, unlike H4 – a manufacturer's opportunism is not significantly influenced by the manufacturer's dependence. This is consistent with H5: the path from a manufacturer's trust to the manufacturer's opportunism is negative and highly significant. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Experimental performance of methods to estimate the location of legacy handsets in GSM

This paper focuses on the location estimation of legacy GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) handsets. Three network-based software location methods using CI (cell identity), TA (timing advance), and RXLEV (received signal strength) information available in GSM are presented and their implementation is discussed. Experimental performance of the methods in a commercial GSM network is presented and a comparative analysis is carried out. It is shown that the location error of the most accurate method tends to scale according to the average cell size.
The Pathogenesis of Schistosomiasis Is Controlled by Cooperating IL-10-Producing Innate Effector and Regulatory T Cells

IL-10 reduces immunopathology in many persistent infections, yet the contribution of IL-10 from distinct cellular sources remains poorly defined. We generated IL-10/recombination-activating gene (RAG)2-deficient mice and dissected the role of T cell- and non-T cell-derived IL-10 in schistosomiasis by performing adoptive transfers. In this study, we show that IL-10 is generated by both the innate and adaptive immune response following infection, with both sources regulating the development of type-2 immunity, immune-mediated pathology, and survival of the infected host. Importantly, most of the CD4+ T cell-produced IL-10 was confined to a subset of T cells expressing CD25. These cells were isolated from egg-induced granulomas and exhibited potent suppressive activity in vitro. Nevertheless, when naive, naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ cells were depleted in adoptive transfers, recipient IL-10/RAG2-deficient animals were more susceptible than RAG2-deficient mice, confirming an additional host-protective role for non-T cell-derived IL-10. Thus, innate effectors and regulatory T cells producing IL-10 cooperate to reduce morbidity and prolong survival in schistosomiasis.
A Study on the Effects of the Use Intention of Service Robots by Potential Customers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of customer's innovation and usefulness on the use intention of Service Robots by potential customers. Based on Davis(1989)'s Technology Acceptance Model, this study formulated three hypotheses, which were about relationships between customer's innovation, usefulness, and use intention of Service Robots. For this study, structured questionnaires were used and data were collected from the 171 people in Seoul and Cheonan. To test three hypotheses, collected data were analyzed using hierarchical regression technique.The results showed that customer's innovation has no influence on usefulness, whereas customer's innovation and usefulness have effects on use intention. Key Words : Technology Acceptance Model, Service Robot, Consumer’s Innovation, Usefulness, Use Intention * 호서대학교 벤처전문대학원 벤처경영학과 박사과정 ** 호서대학교 글로벌창업대학원 교수 *** JD경영연구원 책임연구원(교신저자)논문접수: 2013년 2월 4일, 1차 수정을 거쳐, 심사완료: 2013년 3월 3일, 확정일: 2013년 3월 20일
The Burberry business model: creating an international luxury fashion brand

The performance of the British fashion brand Burberry has been determined largely by the adoption of business models which, on occasion, have been detrimental to the company's performance. For the financial year ending 31 March 1998, Burberry saw its annual profits drop from £62m to £25m, leading financial analysts to describe it as “an outdated business with a fashion cachet of almost zero”. However, from 1997, at the instigation of a newly appointed chief executive, Rose Marie Bravo, Burberry has radically re‐aligned its business model and has enjoyed, as a result, significant improvements in its business performance. Drawing from extensive documentation that was published by Burberry in support of their initial public offering (IPO), this paper will provide a review of the history of Burberry; evaluate Burberry's re‐positioning strategy as defined by the firm in their IPO prospectus; and critically delineate Burberry's current business model.
The National Beef Quality Audit-2005, Phase I: Views of Producers,Packers, and Merchandisers on Current Quality Characteristics of the Beef Industry1

Abstract Previous National Beef Quality Audits (NBQA) in 1991 and 1995 were conducted to determine beef industry challenges. The NBQA-2000 additionally identified changes made and improvements needed in the beef industry from the producer, packer, and merchandiser viewpoints. The goal of the NBQA-2005 was to provide future direction for Beef Quality Assurance educational activities. The NBQA-2005 used surveys to solicit information from producers, packers, and beef merchandisers regarding management practices and ideals. Addressing quality concerns, seedstock and cow-calf producers identified improved genetics as the top change they had made since NBQA-1991. When questioned about changes in production techniques to improve cattle quality, injection site location was listed first for stocker/backgrounder and feedlot operators. All beefproducing sectors listed genetics as a top issue when referring to changes requested of their cattle suppliers. Greater than 80% of producers indicated results from the past audits had at least a moderate impact on management changes since 1991, and 100% of packers, purveyors, retailers, and restaurateurs indicated at least a moderate impact. For packers, injection site lesions ranked first among traits of greatest improvement since 1991, and reduced tenderness due to implants topped their list for greatest quality challenges. Merchandisers indicated a lack of uniformity in carcass cuts as well as insufficient marbling as 2 of their top concerns facing today's beef industry. With the results of the NBQA-2005, Beef Quality Assurance programs can continue to develop and implement beef quality assurance principles, allowing the beef industry to "stay on track. "
THE ROLE OF DIRECTOR INTERLOCKS, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES IN EXPLAINING STOCKHOLDER GAINS FROM JOINT VENTURES.

Consistent with propositions derived from agency theory and the interlocking directorate literature, incentives provided by long-term performance plans, inside ownership, and the number of interlocks per director were significant predictors of stockholder reaction to 106 joint venture announcements by US firms in 1988. Board composition had no significant impact.
Vascular endothelial growth factor in gingival tissues and crevicular fluids of diabetic and healthy periodontal patients.

BACKGROUND Periodontal disease is one of the major oral problems encountered in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Vascular changes, neutrophil dysfunction, altered collagen synthesis, and genetic predisposition observed in DM may contribute to periodontitis; and the vascular alterations observed in such patients may depend on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) actions. Few reports are available about the mechanism of neovascularization and the angiogenic factors that contribute to the periodontal pathology and the role of VEGF in periodontal diseases. The aim of this study is to compare VEGF expression in healthy and periodontally diseased tissues with gingival crevice fluid (GCF) of healthy persons and diabetic patients. METHODS Gingival tissue and GCF samples were collected from sites of periodontitis in 10 healthy subjects and in 10 type 2 diabetic patients, and from the sites of healthy gingiva within the same groups. Therefore, each patient became his/her own control. Additionally, 10 people without any systemic or periodontal diseases were enrolled, forming a negative control group. Thus, a total of 50 tissue and 50 GCF samples were provided. RESULTS No VEGF staining was observed in the negative control group or in the systemically healthy people's healthy tissue samples, whereas four samples of diabetic patients showed positive staining (P < 0.05). However, VEGF was revealed in two tissue samples of periodontal sites of systemically healthy people and in six samples of the diabetic patients (P > 0.05). In all test groups, GCF VEGF levels were higher in periodontal sites (P < 0.05) than in healthy sites. CONCLUSION The results of this study showed that VEGF is increased in all periodontal tissues of both groups and in the healthy sites of diabetic patients. Additionally, GCF VEGF values increased in periodontal sites of all test groups.
OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS IN HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Haematological diseases encompass a wide spectrum of disorders that can present with ocular manifestations. Indeed, ocular manifestations may be the initial indication of an underlying haematological disorder. Blood disorders are one of the major health problems presenting with variable clinical manifestations. Nutritional anemia remains the common haematological abnormality especially in third world nations. The retinal metabolism is unable to tolerate this deprivation of its essential supplies with impunity for too long in anemia, falling prey to hypoxic damage in the end. Anaemic changes can thus be an indicator for the retinal damage manifesting either as haemorrhage or pallor. Leukaemia while less prevalent, shows ocular manifestations such as roths spots, arteriolar pallor, proptosis 9-90% of the time due to direct infiltration of ocular tissue or due to an opportunistic infection or as an associated haematological abnormality. Sub conjunctival and retinal haemorrhages may occur with thrombocytopenia irrespective of any aetiology. Previous reports indicate that their indeed exists a link between haematological abnormality and ocular manifestations. This study was designed to evaluate the ocular abnormalities in anaemia, platelet disorders and haematological malignancies.
Effects of Standard Heparin and a Low Molecular Weight Heparin (Kabi 2165) on Fibrinolysis

Summary Previous and recent reports have suggested a fibrinolysisenhancing property of standard heparin and low molecular weight heparins, but these observations have never been confirmed in a study fulfilling appropriate methodological criteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of standard heparin and a low molecular weight heparin (Kabi 2165) on fibrinolysis in a randomized cross-over double blind placebo controlled study. Six healthy volunteers received intravenously a bolus dose of the following treatments: placebo; standard heparin, 5,000 I.U. ; Kabi 2165, 5,000 anti-Xa U; Kabi 2165,10,000 anti-Xa U. Before the injection and at established times thereafter, blood samples were collected for the following assays in plasma: t-PA activity, PA inhibitor activity, fibrin plate lysis area (FPLA), plasminogen, α2-antiplasmin, fibrinogen and anti-Xa activity. Placebo and Kabi 2165, 5,000 anti-Xa U, had no effect on t-PA plasma level. Standard heparin and Kabi 2165, 10,000 anti-Xa U, produced a statistically significant increase in t-PA level at 1 hour after the infusion. This increase lasted for at least 1 hour after the infusion. No effect of any treatment on PA inhibitor, plasminogen, FLPA, α2-antiplasmin and fibrinogen was observed. We conclude that an intravenous bolus dose of both standard heparin, 5,000 I.U. and Kabi 2165, 10,000 anti-Xa U produces a delayed and sustained increase in plasma t-PA.
Understanding Customer Value in Business-to-Business Relationships

ABSTRACT Although literature emphasizes the importance of creating value for the customer in business-to-business marketing, our understanding of this concept is limited. Against this background, this paper examines the antecedents of customer value within the context of business-to-business relationships. In a departure from previous conceptualizations of value, the paper introduces the concept of core benefits and add-on benefits as well as purchasing price, acquisition costs, and operations costs to the business-to-business marketing literature. The impact of product, relational, and supplier characteristics on the perceived benefits and sacrifices are examined. Results from a survey of 981 purchasing managers across multiple manufacturing product categories in the United States and in Germany provide support for the hypotheses proposed in this paper. Managerial implications and directions for future research are identified following a discussion of the results.
Risk Factors and Prognosis of Reintubation Following Surgeries under General Anesthesia.

Objective To investigate the independent risk factors and the prognosis of reintubation following surgeries under general anesthesia in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 407 patients undergoing elective surgeries from October 2013 to October 2014 in the China-Japanese Friendship Hospital. Patients were divided into reintubation group and control group according to the application of reintubation (or not) in PACU. Multivariate Logistic analysis was performed for factors showing significant difference between these two groups to screen for risk factors and analyze the prognosis. Results Sixteen patients (0.11%) were reintubated in PACU.The Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for reintubation were as following:preoperative chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)(OR=17.55,95%CI :3.08-59.84,P=0.001) or preoperative coronary artery disease (OR=5.98,95%CI :1.67-21.42,P=0.006),intraoperative blood loss greater than 12 ml·kg-1 (OR=27.83,95%CI :10.75-54.62,P <0.001),and thoracic surgery (OR=22.96,95%CI :12.66-48.19,P=0.004). Conclusion s Preoperative COPD or coronary artery disease,intraoperative blood loss greater than 12 ml·kg-1,and thoracic surgery are the independent risk factors for postoperative PACU reintubation of patients undergoing surgeries with general anesthesia.Although the mortality rate is relative high,most patients have a good prognosis.
Drivers of customer intention to use online banking: An empirical study in Vietnam

Numerous Vietnamese banks have launched online banking services to offer improved service to existing customers and attract new ones. However, online banking new to most people in Vietnam, and rates of adoption of online banking.This study focuses on this issue and attempts to identify the determinants of customer intention to use online banking. A research framework based on the DeLone and McLean Information System Success (D and M IS) model for assessing website quality and the literature on brand credibility was developed to identify the factors that can affect customer intention to use online banking. Thisstudy uses customers of the financial industry in Vietnam as subjects and collects164 valid questionnaires. Partial Least Squares (PLS) method is applied in the investigation. The analytical results indicate that brand credibility can affect customer intention to use online banking. Key words: Online banking, brand credibility, website quality, intention to use.
Health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients with bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction

Abstract Purpose: Bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction are often overlooked symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can be associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim is to explore the association of bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction with HRQoL in MS patients stratified by disease duration (≤5 and >5 years) and controlled for clinical and sociodemographic variables. Methods: The study comprised 223 MS patients (mean age 38.9 ± 10.8 years, 67% female, mean EDSS 3.0 ± 1.5) who filled out the Short-Form-36 Health Survey, the Bladder Control Scale, the Bowel Control Scale and the Incapacity Status Scale. The relationships between the variables were analyzed with multiple linear regression using the SF36’s Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) as dependent variables. Results: More severe bladder dysfunction was associated with lower PCS in both disease duration groups (β = −0.35, p ≤ 0.001 versus β = −0.43, p ≤ 0.001), whereas more severe sexual dysfunction was associated with lower MCS in the group with shorter disease duration (β = −0.23, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Bladder and sexual dysfunction are associated with a poorer HRQoL in MS patients even if they have had MS for a relatively short time. Recognition and proper treatment is needed to prevent the development of more severe dysfunction; this may also lead to a better HRQoL. Implications for Rehabilitation Bladder and sexual dysfunction are associated with a poor health-related quality of life in MS patients. Sexual dysfunction may explain mental health issues among individuals with a short disease duration. Recognition and treatment may prevent the development of more severe sexual and bladder dysfunction and increase physical health-related quality of life.
Development of the organ of corti in horseshoe bats: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy

The late prenatal and early postnatal development of the organ of Corti were studied in the horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus rouxi) by using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Arrangements and dimensions of stereocilia bundles, together with their contacts with the tectorial membrane, were found to be adult‐like shortly before birth, and thus before the biological onset of hearing (3–5 days after birth). During the first postnatal week, there were baso‐apical gradients in disappearing kinocilia on inner hair cells (IHC), microvillis of supporting cells, and marginal pillars. The lower basal cochlear turn was mature with respect to these regressing structures at 3 days after birth, the apical turn at 10 days after birth. At birth, cytodifferentiation was found to be completed, and the tunnel of Corti and innermost spaces of Nuel had opened. The ultrastructure of IHCs was not markedly different from that at later ages. In outer hair cells (OHC), the adult‐like regular arrangement of a single layer of subsurface cisternae and pillars was seen as soon as protrusions of supporting cells had withdrawn from the lateral wall of OHCs (basal turn at birth and throughout the cochlea 2 days after birth). Numerous efferent endings contacted the somata of IHCs up to the second postnatal week. Since the medial olivocochlear system is absent in horseshoe bats, the adult‐like innervation pattern of OHCs was established at the biological onset of hearing. During the first 2 postnatal weeks, the cytoskeleton of pillar and Deiters cells, and the specialized Deiters cups developed. The organ of Corti appeared adult‐like at 14 days, apart from the persistence of a reduced tympanic cover layer attached to the basilar membrane. Morphological data support physiological findings that the first broadly tuned auditory responses arise from the basal turn. The distinct low to high frequency gradient in development of sensitivity during the first 2 postnatal weeks of the horseshoe bat was not, however, matched by morphological gradients, and it would appear that the development of the cytoskeleton of supporting cells contributed to the establishment of tuning in the auditory fovea. Adult‐like morphology of the organ of Corti coincided with the emergence of sharply tuned responses from the auditory fovea, but there was no clear‐cut correlate for the shift in tuned foveal frequency representation that occurred during the following 3 weeks. J. Comp. Neurol. 377:520–534, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exploring Market Knowledge in Product Development of Chemical Firms

Firms can enhance product innovation performance by continuously staying in touch with customers and the market in general. While studies on market oriented product development have identified several general dimensions of market knowledge used in product innovation, the nature of market knowledge that is specifically important in the chemical industry remains unclear. Because firm-relevant knowledge resources are increasingly seen as being industry specific, filling this gap becomes more relevant. This study uses a multiple case study of six product innovation projects in six different companies to identify important market knowledge dimensions in the product development of chemical firms. Aggregated results from the six cases point to segment knowledge, application knowledge, product usage knowledge, and customer knowledge as being important market knowledge dimensions. Implications for theory and practice as well as avenues for further research are included.
Improving Parameter Estimates and Model Prediction by Aggregate Customization in Choice Experiments

We propose aggregate customization as an approach to improve individual estimates using a hierarchical Bayes choice model. Our approach involves the use of prior estimates to build a common design customized for the average respondent. We conduct two simulation studies to investigate conditions that are most conducive to aggregate customization. The simulations are validated by a field study showing that aggregate customization results in better estimates of individual parameters and more accurate predictions of individuals' choices. The proposed approach is easy to use, and a simulation study can assess the expected benefit from aggregate customization prior to its implementation. Copyright 2001 by the University of Chicago.