Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Servitization of manufacturing: the effect of economic context

Purpose Following the identified need for more explicit contextual studies in servitization research, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between and among economic context, service provision and service return, including the service paradox. Design/methodology/approach Firm-level and macroeconomic (country competitiveness) data are combined to operationalize the constructs considered in the study. Structural equation modeling and cluster analysis are used to investigate the direct relationships between economic context, service provision and service return, and the negative association between the development of economic context and the service paradox. Findings The analyses confirm the general assumption that service provision has a positive direct effect on service return. Economic context seems to have no direct effect on service return and, contrary to what was expected, it has a negative impact on the intensity of service provision. Thus, service provision fully mediates the negative impact of context on service return. Finally, the service paradox occurs more frequently in less-developed economic contexts, where the probability of a relatively low service return coupled with high service provision is significantly higher. Practical implications The study identifies five key elements of economic context that have to be incorporated into the strategic decision-making process regarding product-related services offered by manufacturers. Originality/value The paper contributes to the contextual research of services offered by manufacturers. Subject to future empirical testing, it is proposed that a more favorable economic context offers more possibilities for manufacturers to cooperate with other business actors to provide services.
Evaluating the Impact of Manufacturing Extension Services on Establishment Performance

This study examines the effects of receipt of business assistance services from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) on manufacturing establishment performance. The results generally indicate that MEP services have had positive and significant impacts on establishment productivity and sales per worker for the 2002 to 2007 period with some exceptions based on employment size, industry, and type of service provided. MEP services have also increased the probability of establishment survival for the 1997 to 2007 period. Regardless of econometric model specification, MEP clients with 1 to 19 employees have statistically significant and higher levels of labor productivity growth. The authors also observed significant productivity differences associated with MEP services by broad sector, with higher impacts over the 2002 to 2007 period in the durable goods manufacturing sector. The study further finds that establishments receiving MEP assistance are more likely to survive than those that do not receive MEP assistance.
Nonresponse Bias in a Survey of Patient Perceptions of Hospital Care

Background:Incomplete participation is of particular concern for surveys of patient perceptions of care because patients who have negative opinions may be least likely to participate. Objective:We sought to examine indirect evidence of nonresponse bias. Design:We re-analyzed data from a cross-sectional patient survey. Subjects:Our subjects were patients discharged from a Swiss hospital (n = 2156). Measures:We measured the following: (1) an observed problem score, based on 15 key items of the Picker Patient Experience questionnaire, (2) a predicted problem score, and (3) a participation propensity score. The latter scores were computed for all eligible patients, including those who did not return the survey, from routinely available baseline data. Results:The participation rate was 70% (n = 1518), and the mean problem score was 29.9 (SD 23.8). Early respondents reported significantly fewer problems than late respondents (28.6 versus 32.9, P = 0.001). Participation propensity scores were progressively lower in early respondents (mean 74.2), late respondents (70.7), and nonrespondents (63.9, P < 0.001); the pattern was similar for predicted problem scores (early respondents: 29.5; late respondents: 30.5; nonrespondents: 33.4, P < 0.001). The propensity to participate was negatively associated with the problem score (Pearson r = −0.19). Finally, predictors of participation were similar to predictors of problem scores. Conclusions:The tendency to participate in the survey was negatively associated with the report of problems during hospitalization. Nevertheless, increasing participation from 30% to 70% had only a modest influence on the final conclusions of the survey.
Effects of dietary vitamin D3 on concentrations of vitamin D and its metabolites in blood plasma and milk of dairy cows.

To determine the effect of supplemental dietary vitamin D3 on concentration of vitamin D and its metabolites in milk, 20 Holstein cows were assigned to four groups and fed either 0, 10,000, 50,000, or 250,000 IU of vitamin D3/d beginning approximately 2 wk prepartum and continuing through wk 12 of lactation. Samples of blood plasma and milk were assayed for concentrations of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Only the daily dosage of 250,000 IU caused significant increases of concentrations of vitamin D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D in plasma. Concentrations of vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in milk were approximately equal and averaged . 2 ng/ml. Little 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and no 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D could be detected in milk from any of the four treatment groups. Cows fed 250,000 IU of vitamin D3/d produced milk containing 54 IU of vitamin D activity per liter, whereas unsupplemented cows produced milk containing 17 IU/L. Oral supplementation with up to 250,000 IU of vitamin D3/d does not increase effectively vitamin D activity of milk.
Classification of objects in polarimetric radar images using CNNs at 77 GHz

Due to their outstanding performance in image recognition, the application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for classification of polarimetric radar images is investigated in this paper. At first, several artificial radar targets that differ in physical dimensions and polarimetric properties are designed and constructed. These targets are mounted on a rotary table in an anechoic chamber and are rotated in front of a fully polarimetric radar operating at 77 GHz. For each rotation angle step, the targets are measured, where all measurements are taken at several distances. Then, a CNN is used to classify the measurement results into one of three superordinate classes of the constructed radar targets, each containing two different subordinate targets (sub-targets). Focus is lied on class decisions and not identification of specific sub-targets. A decision is taken for each single rotation angle step measurement and also for a majority vote on five consecutive rotation angle step measurements. Promising accuracy results demonstrate the validity of the approach but also reveal several open issues for future research.
Sources of Weight Discrimination and Health

Individuals who perceive weight discrimination tend to be less healthy. The correlates of weight discrimination, however, may vary by source of the discrimination (e.g., from a health care provider, stranger, family member, etc.). The present research used a large national sample (N = 4,990) to examine the prevalence and demographic predictors of sources of weight discrimination and whether subjective health and depressive symptoms associated with discrimination varied by source. Approximately 13% of the respondents reported experiencing discrimination based on their body weight. Of these participants, the prevalence across sources ranged from 4% from educators to 52% from strangers. Women and younger participants were more likely to experience bias from their families; participants with higher body mass indexes (BMIs) were more likely to experience discrimination from a service industry professional or a stranger. Participants had lower subjective health when the source of weight discrimination came from either a stranger or a family member, whereas depressive symptoms were higher across all sources of discrimination except for from a service professional or a stranger. These results support previous research that indicates weight discrimination is common and comes from many sources and further suggests that the health correlates may differ depending on who is the source of the unfair treatment.
Role of Magnetic Resonance Enterography in Differentiating between Fibrotic and Active Inflammatory Small Bowel Stenosis in Patients with Crohn's Disease

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in prospectively differentiating between fibrotic and active inflammatory small bowel stenosis in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Materials and Methods: A total of 111 patients with histologically proven CD presenting with clinical and plain radiographic signs of small bowel obstruction underwent coronal and axial MRI scans after oral administration of polyethylene glycol solution. A stenosis was judged present if a small bowel segment had >80% lumen reduction as compared to an adjacent normal loop and mural thickening of >3 mm. At the level of the stenosis, both T2 signal intensity and post-gadolinium T1 enhancement were quantified using a 5-point scale (0: very low; 1: low; 2: moderate; 3: high; and 4: very high). A stenosis was considered fibrotic if the sum of the two values (activity score: AS) did not exceed 1. Results: A small bowel stenosis was identified in 48 out of 111 patients. Fibrosis was confirmed at histology in all of the 23 patients with AS of 0 or 1, who underwent surgery within 3 days of the MRI examination. In the remaining 25 patients (AS: 2–8), an active inflammatory stenosis was suspected and remission of the obstructive symptoms was obtained by means of medical treatment. One of these patients (AS: 2), however, underwent surgery after 14 days, due to recurrence. MRI had 95.8% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 97.9% accuracy in the diagnosis of fibrotic stenosis. Conclusion: MRI is reliable in differentiating fibrotic from inflammatory small bowel stenosis in CD.
Insights into the relation between mrna and protein expression patterns: ii. Experimental observations in Escherichia coli 1

There is a need for improved appreciation of the importance of genome‐wide mRNA and protein expression measurements and their role in understanding translation and in relation to genome‐wide mathematical frameworks for gene expression regulation. We investigated the use of a high‐density microarray technique for mRNA expression analysis and a two‐dimensional protein electrophoresis–tandem mass spectrometry method for protein analysis to monitor changes in gene expression. We applied these analytical tools in the context of an environmental perturbation of Escherichia coli cells—the addition of varying amounts of IPTG. We also tested the application of these tools to the study of a genetic perturbation of Escherichia coli cells—the ability of certain strains to hypersecrete the hemolysin protein. We observed a lack of correspondence between mRNA and protein expression profiles. Although our data do not include measurements on all expressed genes (because the ability to measure protein expression profiles is limiting), we observed that the qualitative and quantitative behavior of the measurements of a subset of expressed genes is similar to the behavior of the entire system. The change in observed average mRNA and protein amplification factors for 77 and 52 genes coincided with the observed change in mRNA amplification factor for the entire system. Furthermore, we found that the use of relative changes in expression could be used to elucidate mechanisms of gene expression regulation for the system studied, even when measurements were made on a small subset of the system. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Proactive Error Analysis of Ultrasound-Guided Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Performance

Background: Detailed description of the tasks anesthetists undertake during the performance of a complex procedure, such as ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blockade, allows elements that are vulnerable to human error to be identified. We have applied 3 task analysis tools to one such procedure, namely, ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus blockade, with the intention that the results may form a basis to enhance training and performance of the procedure. Methods: A hierarchical task analysis of the procedure was performed with subsequent analysis using systematic human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA). Failure modes, effects, and criticality analysis was applied to the output of our SHERPA analysis to provide a definitive hierarchy to the error analysis. Results: Hierarchical task analysis identified 256 tasks associated with the performance of ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus blockade. Two hundred twelve proposed errors were analyzed using SHERPA. Failure modes, effects, and criticality analysis methodology was applied to the output of SHERPA analysis to prioritize 20 errors. Conclusions: This study presents a formal analysis of (i) the specific tasks that might be associated with the safe and effective performance of the procedure and (ii) the most critical errors likely to occur as trainees learn to perform the procedure. Potential applications of these data include curricular development and the design of tools to teach and assess block performance.
Platelet reactivity and thrombogenicity in postmenopausal women

ObjectiveAge-adjusted incidence of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, is significantly lower in premenopausal women than in men, which is thought to be caused by the cardioprotective effects of estrogen. However, there is a consistent increase in the incidence of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women in comparison with premenopausal women. The protective benefit of hormone therapy has not been observed in postmenopausal women. It is unknown whether measures of platelet reactivity and clot strength contribute to the disproportionate incidence of cardiovascular disease between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. MethodsFifty healthy volunteers, including 25 premenopausal women and 25 postmenopausal women, aged between 40 and 65 years were enrolled. Total estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were measured for confirmation of menopausal state and comparison testing. Platelet reactivity was assessed using light transmission aggregometry and P-selectin, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor expression was assessed using flow cytometry. Thrombelastography was used to measure clot strength, clotting time, and fibrinogen activity. Serum cholesterol, C-reactive protein, complete blood count, and comprehensive metabolic panel were also measured. ResultsPlatelet reactivity did not differ among menopausal states or hormone levels. Clotting time was increased in postmenopausal women (6.6 ± 2.0 vs 7.8 ± 1.2 min, P = 0.013) and significantly correlated with estradiol levels (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). A significantly higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was observed in postmenopausal women (P = 0.05). Mean C-reactive protein levels were numerically higher in the postmenopausal group. ConclusionsThe thrombotic risk profile between premenopausal and postmenopausal women is similar. However, improved management of cholesterol may be of clinical benefit. Large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.
Variety Is the Spice of Life: Irrational Behavior as Adaptation to Stochastic Environments

The debate between rational models of behavior and their systematic deviations, often referred to as “irrational behavior”, has attracted an enormous amount of research. Here, we reconcile the debate by proposing an evolutionary explanation for irrational behavior. In the context of a simple binary choice model, we show that irrational behaviors are necessary for evolution in stochastic environments. Furthermore, there is an optimal degree of irrationality in the population depending on the degree of environmental randomness. In this process, mutation provides the important link between rational and irrational behaviors, and hence the variety in evolution. Our results yield widespread implications for financial markets, corporate behavior, and disciplines beyond finance.
The Body-Inversion Effect

Researchers argue that faces are recognized via the configuration of their parts. An important behavioral finding supporting this claim is the face-inversion effect, in which inversion impairs recognition of faces more than nonface objects. Until recently, faces were the only class of objects producing the inversion effect for untrained individuals. This study investigated whether the inversion effect extends to human body positions, a class of objects whose exemplars are structurally similar to each other. Three experiments compared the recognition of upright and inverted faces, houses, and body positions using a forced-choice, same/different paradigm. For both reaction time and error data, the recognition of possible human body postures was more affected by inversion than the recognition of houses. Further, the recognition of possible human body postures and recognition of faces showed similar effects of inversion. The inversion effect was diminished for impossible body positions that violated the biomechanical constraints of human bodies. These data suggest that human body positions, like faces, may be processed configurally by untrained viewers.
Nurse bullying: organizational considerations in the maintenance and perpetration of health care bullying cultures.

AIM To examine bullying within nursing from a micro-sociological perspective and elucidate interactive mechanisms contributing to its causes and continuation within the nursing profession. BACKGROUND The paper is part of a doctoral research study into bullying within nursing. It considers issues pertinent to management, and in the role of negotiated interactions within the National Health Service when dealing with bullying problems. The complex dynamics involved can be problematic for management when dealing with bullying, while often managers have been targets of bullying themselves and not infrequently accused of it. Features of bullying activity are explored, along with issues of target and bully awareness, a central feature in bullying negotiations. Issues of awareness and emergence of bullying behaviour have been identified through vignettes and unstructured interviews, and the research has identified complex interactive events in the creation and maintenance of nurse bullying activity. It is hoped that with a clearer understanding of such mechanisms and manifestations that bullying in the workplace can be reduced or eliminated. The paper is of practical use to nurse managers in illuminating such mechanisms and bringing bullying awareness to the fore. Such activity is ultimately damaging to the organization in both cost and time; and significant for professional practice by its impact upon the nurse and their work in supportive and safe environments. It will also to allow managers to consider their own practice and reactions to bullying activity within the profession. CONCLUSIONS The overall findings from the research point strongly to bullying activity being essentially 'learned behaviour' within the workplace rather than any predominantly psychological deficit within individual perpetrators and targets.
Immigration and anti-immigrant sentiments: Evidence from the 2017 German parliamentary election

We empirically examine the relationship between shares of foreigners in a district and the share of votes cast in that district for the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), the major anti-immigrant party in the 2017 German parliamentary election. The classic theory on the political economy of migration supposes that immigration fosters opposing sentiments among the natives due to fiercer competition for jobs, housing and public goods. Notably, the vote distribution in the 2017 election suggests that AfD vote shares are higher in districts with fewer foreign inhabitants. We exploit administrative data on election results and district-specific features to study a potentially causal effect. As the share of foreigners in a district may be endogenous, we apply an IV approach, using the number of working permits as an instrument for the share of foreign residents. Our results corroborate the Contact Theory, which states that more intensive exposure to and contact with immigrants reduce the propensity for anti-immigrant voting. We find that a 10 % increase in the population share of foreigners is associated with a 2.6 % lower vote share for the AfD. By contrast, a strong increase in the number of asylum seekers positively adds to AfD support.
Effects of glycaemic control on cardiovascular disease in diabetic American Indians: the Strong Heart Study

Aims Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Only part of this excess risk is explained by diabetes‐associated hypertension, obesity, and lipid disorders. Poor glycaemic control may help explain the residual CVD risk. The aim of this study was to determine whether variations in glycaemic control are associated with CVD risk in diabetic individuals.
Relationships between job embeddedness and employees’ life satisfaction

The purpose of this paper is to explore relationships between organisation embeddedness and life satisfaction, and community embeddedness and life satisfaction. The study also examined relationships between each sub-dimension of organisation embeddedness and community embeddedness and life satisfaction. These sub-dimensions are “links”, “fit” and “sacrifice”. ,Data were collected from 549 employees in organisations located in four major business centres in South Africa. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling. ,Both organisation embeddedness and community embeddedness were positively related to life satisfaction. Regarding the sub-dimensions of organisation embeddedness, only organisation fit and sacrifice were positively related to life satisfaction. As regards the sub-dimensions of community embeddedness, only community fit was positively related to life satisfaction. ,Adopting practices which embed employees in the organisation and communities where they live is potentially beneficial for both organisations and employee well-being. ,The bulk of research on job embeddedness (JE) and work-related outcomes has focussed on benefits for the organisation. The effects of embeddedness on employee well-being have been largely overlooked. The current study is an attempt to redress this imbalance in JE research.