Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Market orientation and hotel performance: investigating the role of high-order marketing capabilities

PurposeUsing the resource-based view (RBV), the purpose of this paper is to examine the potential mediation effect of customer relationship management capability, branding capability and service innovation capability on the established link between market orientation (MO) and hotel performance. It further investigates the complementarity between these capabilities in relation to hotel performance.Design/methodology/approachThe survey data were collected from 216 UK hotels. AMOS 23 was used to analyse the research data.FindingsThe link between MO and hotel performance appears to be indirect via customer relationship capability, branding capability and service innovation capability. The three capabilities also appear to play different complementary roles when affecting hotel performance.Practical implicationsThe current study offers hotel managers a ranking of the contribution of individual capabilities to hotel performance. It also helps them to make better investment decisions in developing the right capability combinations to enhance their hotel performance.Originality/valueThe research is based on integrating MO and RBV into a single framework to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between MO and high-order marketing capabilities and how these factors shape hotel performance.
Effects of cooling germinal vesicle–stage bovine oocytes on meiotic spindle formation following in vitro maturation

Attempts to cryopreserve bovine oocytes result in low survival because of their sensitivity to temperatures near 0°C. This study evaluates the effects of chilling germinal vesicle‐stage (GV) oocytes on their formation of microtubules and the meiotic spindle. In experiment 1, five groups of GV‐stage oocytes, each consisting of ∼90 oocytes, were held at 39°C as controls, or at 31°C, or cooled to 24, 4 or 0°C for 10 min. After being treated, all oocytes were cultured at 39°C for 24 hr. Compared to the controls, holding oocytes for 10 min at 31 or 24°C did not significantly alter the formation of normal spindles, but chilling them to 4 or 0°C did. After 24 hr of maturation, the respective percentages of oocytes containing normal meiotic spindles observed in the controls or those held at 31 or 24°C were 69.8%, 71.9%, or 69.4% (P > 0.05). In contrast, the percentages of oocytes with normal spindles after they had been cooled to 4 or 0°C were 44.0% or 29.1%, respectively. In experiment 2, ∼90 oocytes/group were cooled to 4°C for various times before being warmed and cultured. Regardless of the time of exposure, cooling oocytes to 4°C reduced the formation of normal spindles. The percentages of oocytes cooled to 4°C for 10, 20, 30, 45, or 60 min with normal spindles were 44.0%, 38.4%, 37.5%, 34.5% and 30.9%, respectively. In experiment 3, ∼60 oocytes per group that had been held at 31°C or cooled to 24, 4 or 0°C for 10 min were allowed to mature for 24 hr before being subjected to in vitro fertilization. The cleavage rates of oocytes subjected to various chilling treatments exhibited the same pattern as that of oocytes with normal spindles. That is, there were no significant differences in cleavage rates among the control oocytes and those held at 31 or 24°C (70.4%, 71.8%, and 72.4%; P > 0.05). However, only 37.0% and 30.4% of oocytes chilled to 4 or 0°C cleaved after fertilization. These results suggest that: (1) chilling bovine oocytes no lower than 24°C does not reduce formation of normal meiotic spindles; (2) however, chilling oocytes to 4°C or lower for as little as 10 min drastically reduces the formation of normal meiotic spindles and of fertilization; (3) the rates of fertilization and cleavage of resultant zygotes mimic that of formation of normal spindles. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 54:388–395, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fatty acid binding protein facilitates sarcolemmal fatty acid transport but not mitochondrial oxidation in rat and human skeletal muscle

The transport of long‐chain fatty acids (LCFAs) across mitochondrial membranes is regulated by carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPTI) activity. However, it appears that additional fatty acid transport proteins, such as fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36, influence not only LCFA transport across the plasma membrane, but also LCFA transport into mitochondria. Plasma membrane‐associated fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) is also known to be involved in sacrolemmal LCFA transport, and it is also present on the mitochondria. At this location, it has been identified as mitochondrial aspartate amino transferase (mAspAT), despite being structurally identical to FABPpm. Whether this protein is also involved in mitochondrial LCFA transport and oxidation remains unknown. Therefore, we have examined the ability of FABPpm/mAspAT to alter mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Muscle contraction increased (P < 0.05) the mitochondrial FAT/CD36 content in rat (+22%) and human skeletal muscle (+33%). By contrast, muscle contraction did not alter the content of mitochondrial FABPpm/mAspAT protein in either rat or human muscles. Electrotransfecting rat soleus muscles, in vivo, with FABPpm cDNA increased FABPpm protein in whole muscle (+150%; P < 0.05), at the plasma membrane (+117%; P < 0.05) and in mitochondria (+80%; P < 0.05). In these FABPpm‐transfected muscles, palmitate transport into giant vesicles was increased by +73% (P < 0.05), and fatty acid oxidation in intact muscle was increased by +18% (P < 0.05). By contrast, despite the marked increase in mitochondrial FABPpm/mAspAT protein content (+80%), the rate of mitochondrial palmitate oxidation was not altered (P > 0.05). However, electrotransfection increased mAspAT activity by +70% (P < 0.05), and the mitochondrial FABPpm/mAspAT protein content was significantly correlated with mAspAT activity (r= 0.75). It is concluded that FABPpm has two distinct functions depending on its subcellular location: (a) it contributes to increasing sarcolemmal LCFA transport while not contributing directly to LCFA transport into mitochondria; and (b) its primary role at the mitochondria level is to transport reducing equivalents into the matrix.
Comparison of outcome of POSSUM, p-POSSUM, and cr-POSSUM scoring after elective resection of the sigmoid colon for carcinoma or complicated diverticular disease

Objective. To compare POSSUM, p-POSSUM, and cr-POSSUM-predicted mortalities with the observed postoperative mortality in patients undergoing elective sigmoid colectomy for diverticular disease (n=121) or carcinoma (n=120). Material and methods. The physiologic and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) was used to identify patient- or disease-related risk factors and to calculate expected mortalities. Results. Patients with carcinoma had significantly higher POSSUM scores, but the observed mortality (1.7%) was lower than that in the diverticular disease group (3.3%). In the carcinoma group, mortality was over-predicted by all the POSSUM systems. In diverticular disease, POSSUM over-predicted mortality while p-POSSUM and cr-POSSUM under-predicted mortality. In the whole group, POSSUM over-predicted mortality. P-POSSUM and cr-POSSUM predicted mortality accurately: observed:expected (O:E) ratio 0.83. Replacing the score for malignancy with a minimum score of 1 gave overall O:E ratios of 0.37 (POSSUM), 1.04 (p-POSSUM), and 0.93 (cr-POSSUM). Conclusions. In a group of patients who underwent elective resection of the sigmoid colon for carcinoma or diverticular disease, postoperative mortality was predicted accurately by p-Possum and cr-POSSUM, especially when used without a score for malignancy. None of the POSSUM scores were predictive of disease-specific mortality.
Role of Energy and Exports in Economic Growth in Ghana

For many years, the quest for sustained economic growth has remained a paramount agenda for developing and emerging economies. However for many of these economies, this goal remains elusive as the myriad of reforms implemented have often failed to yield desired results. The literature is replete with many studies aimed at identifying the sources of growth. Yet the role of energy access and utilization has received little attention, likewise the role of exports. To fill this void and offer direction to policy in emerging economies, this study attempts to investigate the impact of energy use and exports in fostering economic growth and development using Ghanaian data. Findings from this paper reveal that energy consumption and exports are key drivers of economic growth in Ghana. Hence, development policy in the country and beyond must be designed to give careful consideration towards integrating energy policy and export-promotion in order to harness the growth potentials of other sectors of the economy.
Evidence for interference, coinfections, and intertypic virus enhancement of infection by ovine-caprine lentiviruses

The ovine-caprine lentiviruses share nucleotide homology and serological properties in their gag-pol genes and gene products but constitute two distinct biological groups represented by ovine visna virus of Icelandic origin and by caprine arthritis-encephalitis and ovine progressive pneumonia viruses of U.S. origin. Two members of each group, visna 1514 and its antigenic variant LV1-1 in the first group and CAEV/CO and S93, a field isolate virus from a local arthritic sheep, in the second group, were examined in the present study in competitive-binding studies in fibroblast and macrophage cell cultures. The cultures were preinoculated with each of the four viruses and then reinoculated with either 1514 virus or CAEV/CO, labeled with [35S]methionine. Both 1514 and CAEV/CO caused homologous interference. LV1-1 and S93 viruses shared the interference patterns of 1514 and CAEV/CO, respectively. 1514 and LV1-1 did not interfere with binding of CAEV/CO. Similarly, CAEV/CO and S93 did not interfere with binding of 1514. Remarkably, certain combinations, such as S93 plus 1514, resulted in enhanced binding of the second virus. Other experiments showed that the enhancement in binding extended to enhancement in replication of the second virus. These latter data suggested that individual cells supported replication of both viruses. Further testing of this phenomenon showed that goats could be doubly infected with two noninterfering viruses, 1514 and CAEV/CO. The ability of noninterfering related lentiviruses to infect the same cell and also the same host animal may be important in the natural history of these viruses in providing ideal conditions for the development of new recombinant viruses.
Opportunities and Threats of Implementing Drain Water Heat Recovery Units in Poland

In recent years an increase of interest in usage of renewable energy sources as a substitution of fossil fuels is being noticeable. However, the waste heat potential, which can be used as an additional source of energy for heating water in buildings, is being omitted. The sources of this heat can be grey water discharged from such sanitary facilities as showers or washing machines. In response to this issue, we took on the task to define and analyze key factors affecting the development of DWHR (Drain Water Heat Recovery) systems using PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental) analysis. The strengths and weaknesses of these systems were also identified. The studies were based on CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modeling tools. In the Autodesk Simulation CFD software environment, a DWHR unit was made, which was then analyzed for heat exchange efficiency. The obtained results were the basis for preparing the strategy for the development of Drain Water Heat Recovery systems. It was made using the SWOT/TOWS (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats/threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths) method, which precisely orders information and allows presenting the project characteristic in readable way for a recipient. The results of the conducted analysis indicated the lack of acceptance on the part of potential users and the resulting need to promote the use of Drain Water Heat Recovery systems at residential level.
The Effects of Twelve Weeks of Bed Rest on Bone Histology, Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover, and Calcium Homeostasis in Eleven Normal Subjects

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of 12 weeks of skeletal unloading on parameters of calcium homeostasis, calcitropic hormones, bone histology, and biochemical markers of bone turnover in 11 normal subjects (9 men, 2 women; 34 ± 11 years of age). Following an ambulatory control evaluation, all subjects underwent 12 weeks of bed rest. An additional metabolic evaluation was performed after 12 days of reambulation. Bone mineral density declined at the spine (−2.9%, p = 0.092) and at the hip (−3.8%, p = 0.002 for the trochanter). Bed rest prompted a rapid, sustained, significant increase in urinary calcium and phosphorus as well as a significant increase in serum calcium. Urinary calcium increased from a pre‐bed rest value of 5.3 mmol/day to values as high as 7.3 mmol/day during bed rest. Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone and serum 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D declined significantly during bed rest, although the mean values remained within normal limits. Significant changes in bone histology included a suppression of osteoblastic surface for cancellous bone (3.1 ± 1.3% to 1.9 ± 1.5%, p = 0.0142) and increased bone resorption for both cancellous and cortical bone. Cortical eroded surface increased from 3.5 ± 1.1% to 7.3 ± 4.0% (p = 0.018) as did active osteoclastic surface (0.2 ± 0.3% to 0.7 ± 0.7%, p = 0.021). Cancellous eroded surface increased from 2.1 ± 1.1% to 4.7 ± 2.2% (p = 0.002), while mean active osteoclastic surface doubled (0.2 ± 0.2% to 0.4 ± 0.3%, p = 0.020). Serum biochemical markers of bone formation (osteocalcin, bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase, and type I procollagen extension peptide) did not change significantly during bed rest. Urinary biochemical markers of bone resorption (hydroxyproline, deoxypyridinoline, and N‐telopeptide of type I collagen) as well as a serum marker of bone resorption (type I collagen carboxytelopeptide) all demonstrated significant increases during bed rest which declined toward normal during reambulation. Thus, under the conditions of this study, the human skeleton appears to respond to unloading by a rapid and sustained increase in bone resorption and a more subtle decrease in bone formation.
No detection of HTLV‐I proviral DNA in lesional skin biopsies from Swiss and German patients with cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma

Summary The search for an infective agent linked to cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) has also included the human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I). Using sensitive techniques such as Southern blotting under low stringency conditions of hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primer sets designed to match pol, env and pX sequences of HTLV‐I, we have screened lesional skin biopsies of 50 Swiss and German patients suffering from CTCL. No evidence of proviral integration of HTLV‐I could be demonstrated in any of our patients. Our results, as well as a review of the literature, indicate that at least for European patients, HTLV‐I does not seem to play a role in the aetiology of CTCL.
Magnetic sense in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, as determined by conditioning and electrocardiography

SUMMARY Magnetosensitivity of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, was examined by conditioning and electrocardiography. Marine eels, river eels and farmed eels were conditioned to an imposed magnetic field ranging from 12 663 nT to 192 473 nT parallel to the fish body, which was placed along the earth's west-east axis. Electrocardiograms were recorded with electrodes placed close to the fish body inside a PVC pipe shelter. After 10-40 conditioning runs, all the eels exhibited a significant conditioned response (i.e. slowing of the heart beat) to a 192 473 nT magnetic field and even to a 12 663 nT magnetic field, respectively equivalent to 5.92× and 0.38× the horizontal geomagnetic field (32 524 nT) at our laboratory. The west-east vector of the imposed magnetic field (12 663 nT) combined with that of the geomagnetic field and produced a horizontal resultant magnetic field of 21° easterly. Therefore, Japanese eel are magnetosensitive whether they are at sea, in the river or in the farm. Results of the present study were compared with those of past studies that showed no magnetic sense in the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, and the European eel, Anguilla anguilla.
Cadmium affects focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in mesangial cells: Involvement of CaMK‐II and the actin cytoskeleton

The toxic metal ion cadmium (Cd2+) induces pleiotropic effects on cell death and survival, in part through effects on cell signaling mechanisms and cytoskeletal dynamics. Linking these phenomena appears to be calmodulin‐dependent activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMK‐II). Here we show that interference with the dynamics of the filamentous actin cytoskeleton, either by stabilization or destabilization, results in disruption of focal adhesions at the ends of organized actin structures, and in particular the loss of vinculin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) from the contacts is a result. Low‐level exposure of renal mesangial cells to CdCl2 disrupts the actin cytoskeleton and recapitulates the effects of manipulation of cytoskeletal dynamics with biological agents. Specifically, Cd2+ treatment causes loss of vinculin and FAK from focal contacts, concomitant with cytoskeletal disruption, and preservation of cytoskeletal integrity with either a calmodulin antagonist or a CaMK‐II inhibitor abrogates these effects of Cd2+. Notably, inhibition of CaMK‐II decreases the migration of FAK‐phosphoTyr925 to a membrane‐associated compartment where it is otherwise sequestered from focal adhesions in a Cd2+‐dependent manner. These results add further insight into the mechanism of the CaMK‐II‐dependent effects of Cd2+ on cellular function. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1832–1842, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Screening of candidate genes and fine mapping of drought tolerance quantitative trait loci on chromosome 4 in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under drought stress

Abstract Due to severe water resource shortage, genetics of and breeding for DT (drought tolerance) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) have become one of the hot research topics. Identification of grain yield QTLs (quantitative trait loci) directly related to the DT trait of rice can provide useful information for breeding new drought‐resistant and water‐saving rice varieties via marker‐assisted selection. A population of 105 advanced BILs (backcross introgression lines) derived from a cross between Zhenshan97B and IRAT109 in Zhenshan97B background were grown under drought stress in a field experiment and phenotypic traits were investigated. The results showed that in the target interval of RM273‐RM255 on chromosome 4, three main‐effect QTLs related to panicle length, panicle number, and spikelet number per panicle were identified (LOD [logarithm of the odds] > 2.0). The panicle length‐related QTL had two loci located in the neighboring intervals of RM17308‐RM17305 and RM17349‐RM17190, which explained 18.80% and 20.42%, respectively, of the phenotypic variation, while the panicle number‐related QTL was identified in the interval of RM1354‐RM17308, explaining 11.47% of the phenotypic variation. As far as the spikelet number per panicle‐related QTL was concerned, it was found to be located in the interval of RM17308‐RM17305, which explained 28.08% of the phenotypic variation. Using the online Plant‐GE query system, a total of 13 matched ESTs (expressed sequence tags) were found in the target region, and of the 13 ESTs, 12 had corresponding predicted genes. For instance, the two ESTs CB096766 and CA765747 were corresponded to the same predicted gene LOC_Os04g46370, while the other four ESTs, CA754286, CB000011, CX056247, and CX056240, were corresponded to the same predicted gene LOC_Os04g46390.
DID THE 2017 TAX REFORM DISCRIMINATE AGAINST BLUE-STATE VOTERS?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) significantly changed federal income taxation, including limiting SALT (state and local property, income, and sales taxes) deductibility to $10,000. We estimate the TCJA’s differential effect on red- and blue-state taxpayers and the SALT limitation’s contribution to this differential. We find an average increase in remaining lifetime spending of 1.6 percent in red states versus 1.3 percent in blue states. Among the richest 10 percent of households, red states enjoyed a 2 percent increase compared to 1.2 percent in blue states, with the gap driven almost entirely by the SALT deduction limitation.
Thinking About the Outputs of Higher Education.

Both external accountability and the necessities for coherent internal priorities have forced a rapid increase of attention to the outputs of institutions of higher education. This paper offers a purview of some of the areas which need to be considered in conceptualizing'output measures for education. These measures are important for the planning and management of institutions which increasingly find themselves in financial difficulty and under preisure to induce cost efiiciency.The central question posed is: what difference does an exposure to Pighex education make in the life patterns of those who get it? Educatiop is a transformational prowess, both as to the social benefit and the private benefit conferred, and it is argued herein that its transformational character may be even greater on the social benefit Side. Bettet measures are needed to show the nature and extent of this transformation. Some of the indices, available to administrators that will help determine these measures are discussed. The number of degrees produced by program and level is one measure of instructional output. Another is longitudinal data concerning the jobs and . activities of former students to assess what the students have really gained in educational output. Finally, quality measures, based on something more concrete than guesswork and reputation are needed to show with some precision and accuracy the worth of an education. Both external accountability and the necessities for coherent internal have forced a rapid increase of attention to the outputs of institutions of higher education. This paper, prepared as an address to the National Research Seminar on the Outputs of Higher Education, May 3, 1970, offers a purview of some of the areas which need to be considered in conceptualizing output measures for education. These measures are important for the planning and management of institutions which increasingly find themselves in financial difficulty and under pressure to induce cost efficiency. The central question posed is: what difference does an exposure to higher education make in the life patterns of those who get it? Education is a transformational process, both as to the social benefit and the private benefit conferred, and it is argued herein that its transformational character may be even greater on the social benefit side. Better measures are needed to show the nature and extent of this transfor-mation. Some of the indices, which are available to administrators and which will help determine . these measures, are discussed. The number of degrees produced, by program and level, is one measure of instructional output. Another is longitud inal data concerning the jobs and activities of former students to assess what the students have really gained in educational output. Finally, quality measures, based on something more concrete than guesswork and reputation, are needed to show with some precision and accuracy the worth of an education.