Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Price sensitivity-consumer satisfaction relationshiptowards electrical appliances.

Consumer satisfaction has been long recognized in marketing thought and practice as a central concept as well as important goal of all business activities. While price sensitivity, has been observed as an important element affecting diffusion of products and services which irrefutable, proved to correlate in consumer satisfaction with other efficiency dimensions. By incorporating price information into the consumer satisfaction framework, this study is aimed to identify the relationship that is germane between the variables, and to investigate the influence of demographical characteristics, effect of ads, consumer loyal and disloyal behaviours towards price sensitivity, by adopting electrical appliances as the medium of this study. Itemized rating scales and multiple choices instrument were used in the questionnaire survey, by gathered opinions and preferences of a total 201 respondents in Klang Valley, Selangor, Malaysia through a quota sampling technique. The variables were tested via Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and the results indicated that price sensitivity-consumer satisfaction relationship is significant in a positive way on electrical appliances purchasing. Meanwhile, effect of ad, consumer loyal and disloyal behaviours also proved to correlate with price sensitivity. Nevertheless, a hypothesis test on these variables via multiple regression analysis is only partially accepted, as the relative importance of affect of ads is below the significant level. As for demographic factors, age is proved to have a negative relationship with price sensitivity and consumer satisfaction whereas other demographic factors indicate differences and indifferences with price sensitivity and consumer satisfaction. In sum, consumer satisfaction depends on value to some extend, which in turn depends on price. The descriptive and inferential analysis of this study provides discernible trends on consumer purchasing behaviours in electrical appliances and a lucid explanation between variables proposed in the study. It also presents a concise and simple measure of price sensitivity that may open the door for more careful and empirical study of other aspects of price sensitivity. At the same time, this study provides a simple idea to marketers, researchers, advertisers and other parties who may interest to know more about the price sensitivity-consumer satisfaction relationship studies.
Title: Communicative Focus on Form and Second Language Suprasegmental Learning: Teaching Cantonese Learners to Perceive Mandarin Tones Running Head: FFI and L2 Suprasegmentals Authors:

The current study examined how form-focused instruction (FFI) with and without corrective feedback (CF) as output enhancement can facilitate L2 perception of Mandarin tones at both the phonetic and phonological levels in 41 Cantonese learners of Mandarin. Two experimental groups, FFI-only and FFI-CF, received a 90-minute FFI treatment designed to encourage them to notice and practice the categorical distinctions of Mandarin tones through a range of communicative input and output activities. During these activities, the instructors provided CF only to students in the FFI-CF group by recasting and pushing them to repair their mispronunciations of the target features (i.e., output enhancement). The control group received comparable meaning-oriented instruction without any FFI. The effectiveness of FFI was assessed via a forced-choice identification task with both trained and untrained items for a variety of tonal contrasts in Mandarin (high level Tone 1 vs. mid-rising Tone 2 vs. high falling Tone 4). According to statistical comparisons, the FFI-only group attained significant improvement in all lexical and tonal contexts, and such effectiveness was evident particularly in the acquisition of Tone 1 and Tone 4—supposedly the most difficult instances due to their identical phonological status in the learners’ L1, Cantonese. The FFI-CF group, however, demonstrated marginally significant gains only under the trained lexical conditions. The results in turn suggest that FFI promotes learners’ attentional shift from vocabulary to sound learning (generalizable gains in trained and untrained items) and facilitates their access to new phonetic and phonological categories. Yet, the relative advantage of adding CF to FFI as output enhancement remains unclear, especially with respect to the less experienced L2 learners in the current study.
Influence of Cold Maceration Time on Chromatic and Microbiological Characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon Wines

The pre-fermentative cold soak (CS) is proposed so as to extract and stabilise polyphenolic compounds in wines. CS is applied empirically to Cabernet Sauvignon in Cuyo, Argentina; however, there is poor scientific background on this technique. The aim was analyse the effect of cold soak time on colour parameters such as total polyphenols, total anthocyanins, tannins, colour and polymerisation indexes. Moreover, Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces populations were studied to evaluate their impact on colour. Cabernet Sauvignon must (Pedernal, San Juan) was distributed into four vessels: CONTROL (CT): simultaneous maceration and alcoholic fermentation (AF) with commercial yeast D254; T1: CS for two days; T2: CS for five days; and T3: CS for seven days. T1, T2 and T3 were maintained at 4 ± 1°C during CS. They were later inoculated with D254 (AF: 22 ± 1°C). The total polyphenol index (TPI), total anthocyanins (TA) and tannins were quantified during CS and AF. The colour index (CI) and polymerisation index (PI) were determined at the end of AF. The total yeast populations of Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces were quantified during CS and AF. The highest values of TA, tannins, TPI and PI were obtained by CT. This treatment also registered the highest total yeast population and the highest total yeast death. The highest CI was observed in T3. When Saccharomyces was found at the end of CS (T1 and T2), it dominated the alcoholic fermentation in the early stages (not observed in CT and T3). The use of the pre-fermentative CS technique in Cabernet Sauvignon wines is promising for young wines due to the increased colour obtained.
EU Enlargement: Economic Implications for Countries and Industries

This paper explores the economic consequences of the enlargement of the European Union with countries from Central and Eastern Europe. We focus on integration aspects that go beyond the reduction of formal trade barriers, namely accession to the internal market and free movement of labour. The economic implications for sixteen industries in several European countries are assessed by using WorldScan, a CGE model for the world economy. The results suggest that the candidate member states will gain substantially from accession to the internal market, although some sectors in these countries will shrink. Most EU countries will experience small welfare increases. We also find that the internal market effects are large compared to the economic effects of removing formal trade barriers and migration.
Second order homogenization of the elastic wave equation for non-periodic layered media

In many cases, in the seismic wave propagation modelling context, scales much smaller than the minimum wavelength are present in the earth model in which we wish to compute seismograms. For many numerical methods these small scales are a challenge leading to high numerical cost. The purpose of this paper is to understand and to build the effective medium and equations allowing to average the small scales of the original medium without losing the accuracy of the wavefield computation. In this paper, only the simple layered medium case is studied, leaving the general 3-D medium case for future work. To obtain such an effective medium and equations, we use high order two scale homogenization applied to the wave equation for layered media with rapid variation of elastic properties and density compared to the smallest wavelength of the wavefield. We show that the order 0 homogenization gives the result that was obtained by Backus in 1962. Order 0 homogenized models are transversely isotropic even though the original model is isotropic. It appears that order 0 is not enough to obtain surface waves with correct group and phase velocities and higher order homogenization terms up to two are often required. In many cases, the order one and two simply require to correct the boundary conditions of the wave equation to obtain an accurate solution, even for surface waves. We show how to extend the theory from the periodic case to the non-periodic case. Examples in periodic and non-periodic media are shown. The accuracy of the results obtained by homogenization is checked against the normal mode solution computed in the original medium and shows good agreement.
Concentrations of heavy metals in effluent discharges downstream of Ikpoba river in Benin City, Nigeria

Various effluent samples were collected from their sources of discharge to the Ikpoba river in Benin City, Edo State between September and October, 2008. Six heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc) in the effluents and receiving water were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique (AAS) in separate experiments. The concentrations of heavy metals in the effluents were compared with corresponding heavy metal values in the water. The results show that metal concentrations were higher in the effluents than in the water. Total mean metal concentrations (mg/l) recorded in the effluents were as follows: Cd = 0.072; Cr = 0.079; Cu = 0.194; Ni = 0.122; Pb = 0.125 and Zn = 0.174 while corresponding mean values recorded in the water were Cd = 0.043; Cr = 0.072; Cu = 0.152; Ni = 0.091; Pb = 0.110 and Zn = 0.128. Significant differences (P 0.05) were recorded between the concentrations of cadmium in the water procured from the four sampled stations. Significant correlations (P < 0.05) were recorded between metals in effluents and water. The concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in urban run-off effluents exceeded the limit recommended in effluent discharges to surface waters by the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV).
Do Parent Units Benefit from Reverse Knowledge Transfer?

Emerging market multinationals resort to knowledge acquisitions from their overseas subsidiaries to springboard and realise their global ambitions. Drawing from the knowledge-based view and social capital perspective, this study explores the effects of organisational collaboration and tacitness on multiple dimensions of reverse knowledge transfer (RKT). Data were collected through a survey, from senior and middle level managers of parent Indian multinationals, pertaining to RKT from their overseas subsidiaries. The hypotheses are analysed using PLS modelling. The results demonstrate positive effects between the extent and benefits of RKT. Collaboration was found to have a positive influence on both dimensions of RKT. Tacitness also has a positive impact on the benefits from RKT. The implications of the findings and the limitations of the study are discussed along with suggestions for future research.
Metabolism in blue mussel: intertidal and subtidal beds compared

Mytilids occur worldwide, and mussel beds are a prominent intertidal and subtidal system feature. Brittany (France) has a complex population structure in which pure genotypes alternate with hybrids of Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis, referred to here as 'mussels'. Mussels live attached to the substrate in subtidal and intertidal areas and are regularly exposed to strong environmental variations (e. g. desiccation, light, and temperature). The resistance of mussels to emersion is based on a combination of different strategies, such as metabolic rate depression, anaerobic metabolism and air breathing. In the present study, we have evaluated the differences in aerial and underwater mussel metabolism between an intertidal mussel bed and a subtidal one. Metabolism was measured seasonally for small (shell length 24 to 26 mm) and large (43 to 66 mm) individuals. Mussel aerial respiration fluxes were directly correlated with air temperature. In contrast, underwater carbon (DIC) fluxes seemed to be influenced by additional factors such as food availability and/or reproduction period. Underwater metabolism was higher in small mussels (intertidal: 35.9 mu mol DIC g AFDW(-1) h(-1); subtidal: 51.4 mu mol DIC g AFDW(-1) h(-1)) than in large mussels (intertidal: 26.4 mu mol DIC g AFDW(-1) h(-1); subtidal: 21.3 mu mol DIC g AFDW(-1) h(-1)). In contrast, aerial respiration showed different adaptations: small intertidal and subtidal mussels had similar respiration under emerged conditions, while large intertidal individuals showed higher carbon fluxes during emersion compared to subtidal individuals. These data suggest that while underwater fluxes were similar for the 2 mussel beds, all small and large intertidal mussels are far better able to tolerate emersion than large subtidal animals. Subtidal mussels seem thus to lose their ability to respire in air after becoming adult.
The Relationship among Infection Intensity of Viscum album with some Ecological Parameters of Host Trees

We investigated the relations among infection intensity of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) with host tree features in Nour Forest Park, located in Caspian Forests in North of Iran. The number of 30 circular plots with an area of 0.1 ha were sampled in all places have an aggregation of infested trees. Parameters including DBH, height, distance to stand edge, distance to conspecific tree, bark diameter and the number of adult mistletoe per tree for all infected individuals were recorded. Results showed that the mistletoe abundance and infection intensity in Parrotia persica was more than the other host species and also, have positive significant relation with DBH, distance to conspecific and locating in the stand edge, but no significant relation observed about height of host trees. Results of this study suggest that individual differences among host trees (specially DBH) play an important role in explaining local abundance and distribution of mistletoe plants.
Shear‐wave velocities in shallow marine sediments

Shear-wave velocities in shallow (0 to 130 m deep) marine sediments are obtained from offshore Brazil. The data, acquired in-situ, consisted of both direct velocity measurements and indirect (geotechnical) predictions. Expressions to correlate VS and depth for shallow marine sediments were derived empirically. We find that VS=48z 0.44 (z is in m and VS in m/s) fits the data closely. This equation describes the sediment shear velocity in the 130 m directly below the ocean floor. This expression predicts values similar to those by Hamilton (1976), but matches very shallow data more closely.
Anti inflammatory property of salbutamol on acute and chronic models of inflammation

Background: β2-Adrenergic receptor agonist agents were able to suppress the immune response by inhibiting release of IL-12 and production of TNF-α by the direct stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors on inflammatory immune cells. In addition to bronchodilator action, salbutamol could exert anti-inflammatory action. Aims and Objective: To find the anti-inflammatory effect of salbutamol in acute and chronic models of inflammation. Materials and Methods: Wistar albino rats of either sex weighing 200250 g were used. Anti-inflammatory activity of salbutamol (2 mg/kg) was evaluated and compared with aspirin (300 mg/kg) using acute carrageenan method and formalin-induced arthritis method of inflammation. The result was statistically analyzed by one -way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni test. Results: The tested drug salbutamol at a dose of 2 mg/kg was found to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity in both acute and chronic methods of inflammation as compared to control but lesser than that of aspirin in carrageenaninduced paw edema and comparable with that of standard drug aspirin at a dose 300 mg/kg in formalin-induced arthritis. Conclusion: Salbutamol possesses anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic methods of inflammation. Stimulation of β2-adrenergic receptors may have a predominant role in modulation of anti-inflammatory activity.
Vitamin D or Flu Vaccine-Benefits over Adverse Effects

Available data suggests that calcitriol has a role in controlling pulmonary inflammation by inducing the production of natural broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, the so-called cathelicidin. Randomized clinical studies reported that vitamin D supplements in a daily-wise manner caused a significant risk reduction in acute respiratory tract viral infections and participants who were given vitamin D supplementations were half less infected with flu than those who were not given the vitamin. Hence, vitamin D3 supplementation may be advantageous when compared with flu vaccine especially when we put in consideration morbidities and complications caused by this vaccine as well as the conditions in which influenza vaccine may be contraindicated like in patients who receive cancer immunotherapies targeting the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or its receptor, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1).
Why Firms Use Currency Derivatives

The authors examine the use of currency derivatives in order to differentiate among existing theories of hedging behavior. Firms with greater growth opportunities and tighter financial constraints are more likely to use currency derivatives. This result suggests that firms might use derivatives to reduce cash flow variation that might otherwise preclude firms from investing in valuable growth opportunities. Firms with extensive foreign exchange-rate exposure and economies of scale in hedging activities are also more likely to use currency derivatives. Finally, the source of foreign exchange-rate exposures is an important factor in the choice among types of currency derivatives. Copyright 1997 by American Finance Association.
The Effects of Functional Task Training versus Progressive Resistance exercises on OA Knee.

Krishna Kumar Singh. Aims & Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of functional task training in decreasing pain, and increasing functional mobility in Osteoarthritis Knee. Study design: Comparative case control study. Methodology: Thirty subjects with a diagnosis of OA Knee were selected directly from Physiotherapy outpatient door of Jaipur Physiotherapy College, MVGU, Jaipur. These individuals were randomly assigned into two groups: FTT Group [Functional task Training (n = 15)] and PRE Group [Progressive Resistance Exercise (n = 15)]. FTT Group Functional tasks included sit to stand box lift, standing star exercise, walking up and down a ramp while holding a weight, ascending/descending stairs while holding a weight in the preferred hand, and walking indoors while passing a weighted ball from hand to hand. Subjects performed the exercises for one minute with (when indicated) a one-pound weight. Progressions included either an increase in weight or time to perform the activity. Subjects in the PRE program performed three exercises (two exercises for quadriceps strengthening and one for hamstrings strengthening), for the first 6 weeks all the exercises were given with 1kg weight and for the next 6 weeks exercises were given with 1.5kg weight. Patients were instructed to do each exercise Twenty five to thirty repetitions in one set and single set is done by patient in one treatment session. Both the groups were given exercises supervised by physiotherapist on regular basis for 12 weeks. Data for measurements of pain on VAS scale, Balance & mobility on Step Test & Walking speed Test was collected on day 1 (pre treatment session), at 6 weeks, and at week 12. Results: Results indicate that both groups improved in all measures of pain, Balance and functional outcomes. However, upon intergroup analysis the mean changes in the score of VAS, Step Test & Walking Speed Test was highly significant across the two testing periods (at 6 week & 12 week) for the functional task training group (FTT). Conclusion: Functional task training on regular basis is an effective rehabilitation program and is better than PRE for improving functional mobility, balance and decreasing pain in OA Knee.
Efficiency and productivity of the Slovak agricultural investment support beneficiaries

In this paper we estimate the effects of the farm investment support provided under the Rural Development Program (RDP) on efficiency and productivity of the Slovak farms. We used panel data of 631 Slovak farms over 2007-2013 RDP SR programming period. The overall effects of investment support on farm efficiency and productivity we estimated by non-parametric method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), using output-oriented CCR and BCC models. Total factor productivity changes were estimated by Malmquist indices and their decomposition. We found, that productivity of both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the investment support slightly decreased over time. This decline could be mostly attributed to technological regression. On average, the farms, nonbeneficiaries of investment support, were more technically efficient than beneficiaries. Investment support however, enabled beneficiaries specialised on crop production significantly improve their performance towards the best farms. The investment support provided under the RDP should be more targeted towards smaller farms with low capital endowment.
Economic cost of HIV and AIDS in India.

According to the latest available estimates, there are currently about 2.5 million people living with HIV or AIDS in India, corresponding to a HIV prevalence rate of 0.36 percent for the population ages 15–49 (IIPS 2007). While HIV prevalence thus remains relatively low, there are several factors that are unique to India’s HIV epidemic, and need to be taken into account when assessing the impact of HIV and AIDS. (1) The scale of the epidemic and patterns of infection differ across states, and even between neighboring districts (see Wilson, this volume). Together with the fact that some of these states and districts are larger than many African countries affected by HIV and AIDS, this illustrates the complexities of the response to HIV and AIDS in India. (2) Of the two types of HIV virus—a slow-progressing one and a fast-progressing one that kills within six to nine years without any antiretroviral therapy—the latter type of virus is the predominant one in India. (3) India is a predominantly poor country with low levels of nutrition and high exposure to various types of bacteria and viruses, including tuberculosis—factors that exacerbate the morbidity and mortality of HIV and AIDS. Economic Cost of HIV and AIDS in India
Gene technology and drought: A simple solution for a complex trait?

The successful use of gene technology for complex crop traits and responses to stress environments remains a challenging approach despite its potential. Stable crop yield in drought prone environments has been one of the most studied complex traits in recent years and transgenic crops with better performance have been repeatedly reported. We reviewed the experimental approach of contrasting case studies that report the enhancement of drought resistance in rice using various strategies. If the overall gene technology method is very similar in the different studies analyzed, the limited number of transgenic lines evaluated remains often a pitfall from a breeding perspective since it does not provide a robust assessment of the strategy. The protocols for plant evaluation and the parameters used to assess stress resistance are very different, which is a major limitation to literature mining. This clearly emphasizes the urgent need to define or redefine the major steps and criteria to meet better crop performance in the field, in particular for less favorable environments. We summarized some of these key parameters and we proposed some enabling solutions that can address crop breeding challenges.