Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marketing to Chinese consumers on the internet

Purpose – To provide an objective assessment of the current and future potential of China as an environment for the practice of internet marketing.Design/methodology/approach – The findings of a series of biennial longitudinal studies, published by a research centre operating under the auspices of the Chinese government, were analysed and interpreted. Key variables and future trends were inferred from the re‐assembled data.Findings – The online market in China is growing rapidly and has a strong potential, despite many real obstacles and many others based on superficial interpretation of received wisdom now substantially out of date. Although the majority of Chinese consumers are still internet novices, the only concrete concerns among the experimenting minority are product quality and online security. The indications are that the short‐to‐medium term future therefore offers more opportunities than threats to alert market entrants.Practical implications – A comprehensive analysis of the findings of an off.
Tamoxifen-Induced Lupus Erythematosus

Introduction: Anti Nuclear Antibodies are one of the auto antibodies which are involved in screening, diagnosis and pathology of some auto and non autoimmune and drug induced diseases including Lupus Erythrymatosus. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate, if there is any correlation between tamoxifen side effects and the blood levels of Anti Nuclear Antibodies as a consequence of drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Methods: Twenty-eight breast cancer patients under tamoxifen therapy were involved in this study and compared to 11 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who did not receive any therapy. 5 mls of intravenous blood were collected from the subjects after informed consent was obtained. The plasma was separated and the ANA levels were determined using ELISA. Results: Seventeen patients under tamoxifen were found with high level of ANA while 11 patients were with normal levels of ANA. However, the mean ANA plasma level in patients under tamoxifen therapy was 155.39 U/ml (9.4-911.7 U/ml) compared to 11.31 U/ml (0.9-29 U/ml) in the newly diagnosed patients; the ANA level significantly increased (p value was 0.017). The patients under tamoxifen therapy were divided to five groups according to the number of tamoxifen therapies they received. Group 1 of 4 patients: received one tamoxifen therapy, group 2 of 6 patients: received three therapies, group 3 of 5 patients: received 5 therapies, group 4 of 9 patients: received 6 therapies and group 5 of 4 patients: received therapies ≥ 10. When the means of ANA concentration were compared to the mean of the newly diagnosed patients the p values were 0.88, 0.26, 0.09, 0.04 and 0.17 respectively. Conclusions: This study concluded that, although tamoxifen therapy did not affect the ANA level in all the patients, it significantly increased the blood level of ANA.
Recovery of axonal myelination sheath and axonal caliber in the mouse corpus callosum following damage induced by N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate

Disulfiram is an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor used for the treatment of alcohol dependence and of cocaine addiction. It has been demonstrated that subchronic administration of disulfiram or N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC), the main derivative of disulfiram, to rats can produce central–peripheral distal axonopathy. However, few data regarding the axonal effects of these compounds in the central nervous system exist. Our previous studies have revealed DEDTC‐induced axonal damage in the mouse brain during the course of postnatal development, together with alterations in axonal pathfinding and in the myelination process, with partial recovery during the post‐treatment period. In order to gather new data about how this axonal damage and recovery occurs in the central nervous system, we performed an ultrastructural analysis of the axons located in the corpus callosum from mice treated with DEDTC during postnatal development. The axonal caliber throughout the axonal area, the maximum axonal diameter, the maximum fiber diameter, and the axonal circularity, at different postnatal stages [from postnatal day (P)9 to P30], were analyzed. In addition, parameters related to the myelinization process (number of myelinated axons, sheath thickness, and the ratio of myelinated axons to total axons) were evaluated. A reduction in the average value of axonal caliber during treatment and a delay in the axonal myelination process were detected. Whereas early recovery of individual axons occurred after treatment (P22), complete recovery of myelinated axons occurred at late postnatal stages (P42). Therefore, chronic treatment with dithiocarbamates requires periods of rest to encourage the recovery of myelinated axons.
Refining inhaled product testing : A review

Across the pharmaceutical industry there is a strong drive towards greater efficiency, from faster time to market, through to better manufacturing practice. Over the last decade, the regulatory environment has changed, as exemplified by the introduction of Quality by Design (QbD), but so too have the economics of the market place, with a buoyant generics sector intensifying the requirement for cost-effective production. Extending knowledge and understanding to promote best practice is now a primary concern.
LEARNING TO EXCHANGE TIME: BENEFITS AND OBSTACLES TO TIME BANKING

Findings from a qualitative study of Time Bank members from the first Time Bank in New Zealand are reported. Using focus groups, this study identifies benefits of Time Banking in terms of physical, human, social, and cultural capital. Unlike previous research, this study explores Time Banking in a relatively affluent community thus allowing us to understand why those from other populations may participate in Time Banking. This study also identifies a range of obstacles that may prevent individuals from fully utilising Time Banking and may hinder the full development of individual Time Banks. Finally, a number of recommendations for practitioners are discussed.
An exploratory study of strategic acquisition factors relating to performance

This study investigated the relationship of seven common factors of acquisition strategy to the long run financial performance of acquiring firms: relative size, acquisition rate, industry commonality, timing, type of consideration, acquiree profitability and price paid. The factors were analysed individually and in concert using a database of 138 active acquiring firms which had accomplished some 3500 acquisitions during the 1967-1976 study time period. All factors except price paid were found to be individually significantly statistically related to the performance measures. Also, these factors together accounted for most of the post-merger financial performance which can be attributed to the acquisition programme. These results indicate that six key acquisition variables, on the average, largely determine the success of acquisition strategy. Therefore, by means of those variables, guidelines are provided that should improve the effectiveness of an acquisition programme.
Role of Electronic Trust in Online Retailing: A Re-examination of the Commitment-Trust Theory

Purpose: Trust and commitment are the central tenets in building successful long-term relationships in the online retailing context. In the absence of physical interaction between the buyer and the seller, how websites can gain the trust of the buyers and deliver on the promises made have become central issues in online customer relationship management. This paper aims to re-examine the commitment-trust theory (CTT) of relationship marketing in the online retailing context. It seeks to theorize the antecedents and consequences of commitment and trust in the online context and identify how CTT can be adapted in a digitized business environment. Design/methodology/approach: Modified constructs and their measures are developed to understand the antecedents and the outcomes of commitment and trust. Survey data from British online customers (n ¼ 651) are used to test CTT hypotheses with structural equation modelling. Findings: The study suggests a significant modification to the traditional CTT model in the online environment. Privacy and security features of the website along with shared values are the key antecedents of trust, which in turn positively influences relationship commitment. Behavioural intentions of customers are consequences of both trust and commitment. The relationship termination cost has a negative impact on customer commitment. Research limitations/implications: The paper identifies interesting differences between the original work by Morgan and Hunt and the findings presented, but basically concludes that the commitment-trust theory applies to online retailing. Originality/value: Contributions of this study in re-examining the CTT model of relationship marketing in an online context are manifold. This paper proposes a modified model to understand the role of consumer trust and commitment in a digitized environment. The modified constructs and measures truly reflect the dynamism of online business. The extended CTT model can provide better insight into managing customer relationships in online retailing.
Changing profiles of service sectors used for mental health care in the United States.

OBJECTIVE Redesigning the fragmented U.S. mental health care system requires knowing how service sectors share responsibility for individuals' mental health needs. METHOD Twelve-month DSM-IV mental disorders and their severity were assessed in respondents ages 15-54 from the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) in 1990-1992 (N=5,388) and the NCS Replication in 2001-2003 (N=4,319). Six profiles involving potentially multiple service sectors were defined, including those in which pharmacotherapy plus psychotherapy (psychiatry profile, general medical with other mental health specialty profile), single modalities (general medical only profile, other mental health specialty only profile), or neither modality (human services only profile, complementary/alternative medicine only profile) could potentially have been received. The use of profiles was compared between surveys. RESULTS The general medical only profile experienced the largest proportional increase (153%) between surveys and is now the most common profile. The psychiatry profile also increased (29%), as did the general medical with other mental health specialty profile (72%). The other mental health specialty only (-73%), the complementary/alternative medicine only (-132%), and the human services only (-137%) profiles all decreased in use. The elderly, women, minorities, the less educated, and rural dwellers were less likely to use profiles capable of delivering pharmacotherapies and/or psychotherapies. CONCLUSIONS How service sectors share responsibility for peoples' mental health care is changing, with more care falling to general medical providers rather than specialists. Efforts are required to ensure that people who would benefit have access to the necessary treatment modalities.
Market Information Processing and Organizational Learning

Our understanding of how organizations process market information can be advanced substantially on the basis of principles derived from models of organizational learning. Accordingly, the author examines the extant literature on organizational learning, proposes a hierarchy of market sense making, and provides research propositions that will enhance marketers’ understanding of information processing and knowledge creation in organizations.
Development of paints with infrared radiation reflective properties

Large buildings situated in hot regions of the Globe need to be agreeable to their residents. Air conditioning is extensively used to make these buildings comfortable, with consequent energy consumption. Absorption of solar visible and infrared radiations are responsible for heating objects on the surface of the Earth, including houses and buildings. To avoid excessive energy consumption, it is possible to use coatings formulated with special pigments that are able to reflect the radiation in the near- infrared, NIR, spectrum. To evaluate this phenomenon an experimental study about the reflectivity of paints containing infrared-reflective pigments has been made. By irradiating with an IR source and by measuring the surface temperatures of the samples we evaluated: color according to ASTM D 2244-14, UV/VIS/NIR reflectance according to ASTM E 903-12 and thermal performance. Additionally, the spectral reflectance and the IR emittance were measured and the solar reflectance of the samples were calculated. The results showed that plates coated with paints containing IR-reflecting pigments displayed lower air temperature on the opposite side as compared to conventional coatings, indicating that they can be effective to reflect NIR and decrease the temperature of buildings when used in roofs and walls.
An analysis on the efficiency of takaful and insurance companies in malaysia: a non-parametric approach

This study examines the efficiency of general or non-life takaful and insurance industry in Malaysia during the period 2007 to 2009. In order to measure their efficiencies, the outputinput data consists of a panel of 28 general or non-life takaful and insurance companies are used. The most commonly used non-parametric approach, namely, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is adopted to measure the efficiency of the Malaysian takaful and insurance companies. In the DEA technique, efficiency is measured by the Malmquist index. The Malmquist efficiency measures are decomposed into two components: efficiency change and technical change index. Efficiency change is again decomposed into pure efficiency and scale efficiency. It is found that, on average, the TFP of the non-life takaful and insurance industry in Malaysia is mainly due efficiency change and the main sources of the efficiency change are both scale efficiency and pure efficiency.
Patient satisfaction with medical consultations among adults attending Mulago hospital assessment centre

Abstract Background: Patient satisfaction is known to positively influence patients’ compliance with medical advice. In Africa, and specifically Uganda, this interaction has rarely been put to scientific inquiry. This study aimed to determine the level of patient satisfaction and identify factors influencing satisfaction with medical consultations among adults attending Mulago Assessment Centre. Methods: This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study where 384 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire adapted from the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS-21) with a four-point Likert scale. Patient satisfaction was measured using four dimensions namely: information provision, clinicians’ communication skills, perceived consulting time and patient’s confidence in the clinician. Respondents’ mean scores were categorised as satisfied or dissatisfied. Multivariate linear regression analysis assessed the effect of independent variables on the regression factor score of the dependent variable. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Final data analysis was done using STATA version 11.0. Results: Of the sample, 53.9% were satisfied with the medical consultation. Patients’ average scores showed lowest satisfaction for information provision (2.7 points) compared with communication skills (3.22 points), patient confidence in the clinicians (3.22 points) and consultation time (3.05 points). Being older, employed, living further away from the health centre and frequently visiting the centre were positively associated with patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction was largely affected by interpersonal factors. This highlights the need for training of clinicians on the importance of adequate information provision, good communication skills and technical competences like thorough examination of patients and relieving worries about illness during the consultation.
Sleep apnoea in treated acromegaly: relative frequency and predisposing factors

OBJECTIVES Sleep apnoea is common in active acromegaly. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality but can be treated effectively. The objective of this study was to determine the largely unknown relative frequency of, and the predictive factors for, sleep apnoea in treated acromegalic patients.
Cellular Mechanisms in the Regulation of Iron Absorption by the Human Intestine: Studies in Patients with Iron Deficiency before and after Treatment *

An in vitro method for measuring initial rates of iron uptake by mucosal biopsies of human duodenum was used to study control mechanisms for iron absorption. Within the physiological range of intraluminal concentrations (18–450 μmo1/1) iron influx has many features of active, carrier‐mediated transport. In biopsies from six patients with iron deficiency anaemia, uptake rates were increased 2–3–fold at the higher concentrations, when compared with normal controls (P < 0.01) and overall were related inversely to serum transferrin saturation. Uptake was examined in four anaemic patients before and after therapy: the enhanced uptake fell to normal after repletion with iron, but was not reduced in two patients treated initially by red cell transfusion alone. Total mucosal iron in the anaemic patients was significantly lower at 58±7 nmol/mg protein, compared with 129±25 nmol/mg in normal subjects (P < 0.05). In the serial studies, iron therapy for 6 weeks corrected the anaemia but did not restore mucosal iron levels to normal, even though uptake had fallen to control values. The experiments indicate that iron deficiency reversibly induces brush border iron carriers, and suggest that in man initial entry into the enterocyte rather than cellular retention of iron is a major regulatory step in the control of iron absorption.
Comparative analysis of public opinion research in the U.S. and Canada

Bank note producers are working to thwart the threat of counterfeit notes created using high resolution, digital image processing software and color output devices such as inkjet printers, color copiers, and scanners. Genuine notes must incorporate better overt and machine-readable security features that will reduce the chance of counterfeit notes being passed. Recently, Canada and the United States introduced newly designed bank notes that are intended to enable the general public to more easily distinguish genuine notes from counterfeits. The Bank of Canada (BoC) and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) have conducted similar market research projects to explore target audiences' perceptions and attitudes towards currency design and security features. This paper will present a comparative analysis of the two research projects, both of which were conducted using similar methodology. The results of these research studies assist in the selection of security features for future generations of bank notes.
Propionate May Mediate the Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Certain Soluble Plant Fibers in Cholesterol-Fed Rats

Abstract The effects of propionate on serum and liver lipid concentrations were studied in cholesterol-fed rats. Both serum and liver cholesterol levels were significantly lower in rats fed the cholesterol-propionate diet than in rats fed the cholesterol diet without propionate. Liver triglyceride levels were also significantly lower in the propionate-treated group. Serum triglyceride concentrations were not influenced by the propionate feeding. Propionate intake was not associated with histologic changes in liver tissue. This study indicates that 0.5% sodium propionate-sup-plemented diets slightly but significantly reduced cholesterol accumulation in both serum and liver of cholesterol-fed rats. Thus propionate, a metabolic product of fiber fermentation, may mediate some of the hypocholesterolemic effects of certain soluble plant fibers.
The Effects of Chance Correlations on Partial Least Squares Path Modeling

Partial least squares path modeling (PLS) has been increasing in popularity as a form of or an alternative to structural equation modeling (SEM) and has currently considerable momentum in some management disciplines. Despite recent criticism toward the method, most existing studies analyzing the performance of PLS have reached positive conclusions. This article shows that most of the evidence for the usefulness of the method has been a misinterpretation. The analysis presented shows that PLS amplifies the effects of chance correlations in a unique way and this effect explains prior simulations results better than the previous interpretations. It is unlikely that a researcher would willingly amplify error, and therefore the results show that the usefulness of the PLS method is a fallacy. There are much better ways to compensate for the attenuation effect caused by using latent variable scores to estimate SEM models than creating a bias into the opposite direction.
[Gender identity and eating disorders].

BACKGROUND A possible role of the feminine gender role in the genesis of eating disorders is possible, since most patients with these disorders are women. AIM To compare some traits of gender identity between females with eating disorders and a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS An structured clinical interview based on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for eating disorders and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) were administered to 63 patients that fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (ED group) and 63 comparison subjects (C group). RESULTS Forty three percent of patients in contrast with 23.8% of controls were classified within the feminine category. Likewise 19% of patients and 31.7% of controls were qualified as Androgynous; 27% of patients and 43% of controls were qualified as Undifferentiated. There were significant differences between patients and controls in 22 items of the BSRI (p < 0.01). Both groups rejected and were identified with some feminine, masculine and neutral qualities. DISCUSSION Femininity emerged as the main trait of gender identity in patients suffering of eating disorders. In contrast, Androgyny showed by the control group could result in a better adaptability and flexibility to face difficult life circumstances.
Modelling the influence of host community composition in a sylvatic Trypanosoma cruzi system

SUMMARY Species composition of wild reservoir hosts can influence the transmission and maintenance of multi-host vector borne pathogens. The ‘pace of life’ hypothesis proposes that the life history strategy of reservoir hosts can influence pathogen transmission of vector borne generalist pathogens. We use empirical data to parameterize a mathematical model that investigates the impacts of host life history traits on vector transmission dynamics of the vector-borne multi-host parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in habitats characterized by different degrees of deforestation and varying host community structure. The model considers susceptible and infected vector and host populations. When comparing the proportion of vectors infected with T. cruzi predicted by the model with empirical data, we found a trend of increasing vector infection as anthropogenic landscape disturbance increases for both data and model output. The model's vector infection rates were significantly lower than empirical results, but when incorporating host congenital transmission in the model, vector infection approaches field data. We conclude that intervened habitats associated with r-selected host species communities predict higher proportions of infected vectors.