Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Investigation of Marketing Innovation Strategy of Travel Agency Businesses in Thailand

Nowadays, as a result of globalization, customer needs as well as the nature of market have drastically altered. In order for businesses to survive and gain competitive advantages, new strategies and practices are needed to be developed and implemented. This research proposes marketing innovation strategy (MIS) as an efficient method in dealing with the phenomenon. The aim of this research is to empirically investigate the effect of each dimension of MIS on marketing outcomes. The data, including opinions of marketing executives regarding each dimension of MIS and the proposed outcomes, were collected from 281 outbound travel agency businesses in Thailand. The data were analyzed using OLS regression, and the results indicated that marketing innovation strategy is necessary for improving a firm’s outcomes such as marketing image, brand trust, customer fulfillment, and marketing performance. การศกษาเชงประจกษถงกลยทธนวตกรรมทางการตลาด ของธรกจตวแทนนำเทยวในประเทศไทย ในยคโลกาภวตนน องคกรธรกจตางๆ ตองเผชญกบการเปลยนแปลงอยางรวดเรว ทงดานลกษณะของตลาดและความตองการของผบรโภค เพอทจะสรางความไดเปรยบในการแขงขนและนำไปสผลการดำเนนงานทดขน ธรกจจะตองพฒนากลยทธและวธการใหมๆ เพอดงดดลกคาใหไดมากขน งานวจยฉบบนไดนำเสนอกลยทธนวตกรรมทางการตลาดซงเปนวธการหนงทธรกจจะสามารถใชรบมอกบสภาพแวดลอมทแปรปรวนไดอยางมประสทธภาพ งานวจยนมจดมงหมายเพอศกษาผลกระทบของกลยทธนวตกรรมทางการตลาดในแตละมต ทมตอผลลพธทางการตลาด โดยศกษาขอมลจากธรกจตวแทนนำเทยวในประเทศไทย จำนวน 281 แหง ซงผลการวเคราะหขอมลทางสถตชใหเหนวา กลยทธนวตกรรมทางการตลาดเปนปจจยสำคญทสงเสรมใหธรกจมผลลพธทางการตลาดทดขน เชน ความเชอถอในตรายหอ การเตมเตมความตองการลกคา ภาพลกษณทางการตลาด ตลอดจนผลการดำเนนงานทางการตลาด
Phenotypic Conversions of “Protoplasmic” to “Reactive” Astrocytes in Alexander Disease

Alexander Disease (AxD) is a primary disorder of astrocytes, caused by heterozygous mutations in GFAP, which encodes the major astrocyte intermediate filament protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Astrocytes in AxD display hypertrophy, massive increases in GFAP, and the accumulation of Rosenthal fibers, cytoplasmic protein inclusions containing GFAP, and small heat shock proteins. To study the effects of GFAP mutations on astrocyte morphology and physiology, we have examined hippocampal astrocytes in three mouse models of AxD, a transgenic line (GFAPTg) in which the normal human GFAP is expressed in several copies, a knock-in line (Gfap+/R236H) in which one of the Gfap genes bears an R236H mutation, and a mouse derived from the mating of these two lines (GFAPTg; Gfap+/R236H). We report changes in astrocyte phenotype in all lines, with the most severe in the GFAPTg;Gfap+/R236H, resulting in the conversion of protoplasmic astrocytes to cells that have lost their bushy-like morphology because of a reduction of distal fine processes, and become multinucleated and hypertrophic. Astrocytes activate the mTOR cascade, acquire CD44, and lose GLT-1. The altered astrocytes display a microheterogeneity in phenotypes, even neighboring cells. Astrocytes also show diminished glutamate transporter current, are significantly depolarized, and not coupled to adjacent astrocytes. Thus, the accumulation of GFAP in the AxD mouse astrocytes initiates a conversion of normal, protoplasmic astrocytes to astrocytes that display severely “reactive” characteristics, many of which may be detrimental to neighboring neurons and oligodendrocytes.
Work productivity loss in patients with dry eye disease: an online survey

Abstract Objective: To assess the impact of dry eye disease (DED) on productivity. Research design and methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was administered to 9034 individuals who are part of the Harris Interactive Online dry eye panel. Patients (≥18 years of age) were included if they were currently employed, a United States resident, had a patient-reported physician-diagnosed dry eye, and scored 13 or higher on the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Work productivity and impairment in daily activity was measured using the validated Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire. Comparisons were made across disease severity groups: mild, moderate, severe. Results: Reduced productivity while at work was reported by patients in all three severity groups. Patients with moderate (18%) and severe (35%) disease had significantly greater reductions in productivity than patients with mild (11%) disease, P < 0.05. Impairment in ability to perform daily activities was significantly greater among respondents with severe disease (34%) than respondents with moderate (19%) or mild (12%) disease, P < 0.05. Conclusion: DED is associated with work productivity loss and impairment of daily activities. These results should be interpreted in the context of limitations related to online survey research.
Diverse roles of intracellular cAMP in early synaptic modifications in the rat visual cortex

The effects of increasing intracellular cAMP concentration were studied using photolysis of caged‐cAMP in layer II/III neurons recorded intracellularly in visual cortex slices. The recorded neurons exhibited either after‐hyperpolarization (AHP) or after‐depolarization (ADP) in response to depolarizing current injection. Depending on which afterpotential appeared, the effects of photolysis differed. In ADP‐generating neurons, photolysis of caged‐cAMP induced long‐lasting depression of postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) evoked by grey matter (GM) stimulation, without altering the size of the ADP. In AHP‐generating neurons, photolysis induced long‐lasting potentiation of GM‐evoked PSPs, with the size of the AHP reduced in the same time course. White matter (WM)‐evoked PSPs showed no change. Extracellular application of bromo‐cAMP depressed both GM‐ and WM‐evoked PSPs in ADP‐ and AHP‐generating neurons. This depression may be due to presynaptic effects of cAMP, since photolysis‐evoked postsynaptic increase in cAMP concentration never induced depression of PSPs in AHP‐generating neurons. This depression was reversible but continued until bromo‐cAMP was washed out, while ADP and AHP in the postsynaptic neurons were depressed only temporarily and returned to the pre‐application level even in the continued presence of bromo‐cAMP. Bromo‐cAMP was applied following photolysis of caged‐cAMP. In the neurons in which the photolysis potentiated GM‐evoked PSPs this potentiation was cancelled out by bromo‐cAMP (depotentiation). In the other neurons, PSPs were depressed only reversibly. Thus, a postsynaptic increase in cAMP concentration exerts more diverse effects on synaptic plasticity than thus far reported, depending on the difference in neuronal intrinsic excitability and probably on how much, or the way in which, cAMP concentration is increased.
C HAPTER 8 ‒ Assessing Persistence in Educational Games

In this chapter, we describe how assessing persistence in educational games can be useful in enhancing learning. We describe Newton’s Playground (NP), a 2D video game aimed at helping students understand qualitative physics. The goal across all of the 74 puzzles in NP is for the player to guide a green ball to a red balloon. The primary way to move the ball is by drawing on the screen with a mouse. Once objects are drawn they are affected by gravity and Newton’s three laws of motion. We describe results from a study where we mined data from NP log files to develop an in-game measure of persistence and report on how persistence in NP predicts learning gains. Finally, we propose various ways to use the detection of persistence to enhance learning in educational games using the GIFT framework.
Computational Analysis of BRCA1 Mutations in Pediatric Patients with Malignancies and Their Mothers

Breast and ovarian cancers are the most prevalent type of malignancies amongst women. Similar incidence appear in childhood malignancies, where the basic ontogenetic mechanisms still remain to be elucidated. Such approaches, of relating mothers cancer mutations with the prevalence of childhood cancer in their offspring could prove useful in the prognosis, early detection and therapy of childhood malignancies. The aim of the present study was to use computational and bioinformatics tools to investigate the incidence of mutations in mothers with children suffering from neoplasms. Genes were examined for mutations and in particular, those were BRCA1, RAS family genes, TP53 and FLT3. Mutations were initially detected using PCR and multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methodologies. Gene expression was detected using quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) methodologies and results have been confirmed with the sequencing method. Following experimental analysis, bioinformatics analyses have been performed. In the case of positive identification of mutations, molecular modelling was used in order to study the effects of the mutations on the BRCA protein and subsequent effects on binding to BARD1, a signaling molecule down-stream of BRCA1, which participates in DNA repair pathways. Concluding, it appeared that the presence of a mutation in the aforementioned genes is not adequate for the disease to progress, yet it can be considered as a serious factor for disease progression. Thus, it appears that this phenomenon is of extreme interest and it should be further investigated in a larger patient cohort.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacovigilance among the Interns in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India-A Questionnaire Based Study

Background: The use of drugs and occurrence of its ADRs go hand in hand. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs is an effective method and needs to be encouraged. Objective: The study was planned to know the perception of interns towards pharmacovigilance and to make them aware of the importance of ADR reporting. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional observational questionnaire based study conducted on 100 interns to gather information about the knowledge of Pharmacovigilance, attitude towards reporting and factors in practice which could act as a deterrent to the reporting of ADRs. Results: Out of the 100 interns, 90 responded. 50 % participants knew the purpose of PV. 67% agreed that it should be mandatory. 59% and 67% said that medical students and nurses have a role to play in PV. Half of the interns had seen an ADR, only 42% knew how and where to report. Very few (9%) were aware of what happens to the information submitted by them. Conclusion: There is a huge gap between knowledge of ADR reporting and pharmacovigilance and the practical reporting of ADRs. Our health care providers need to be well equipped to detect, manage, report ADRs. For this, educational intervention, regular training programmes are the need of the hour to create awareness and take care of the factors responsible for under reporting. Pharmacovigilance programme needs to be strengthened by increasing the rate of ADR reporting by active participation of health care providers.
ARPE-19 retinal pigment epitheliaL CELLS are highly resistant to oxidative stress and exercise strict control over their lysosomal redox-active iron

Normal retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are postmitotic, long-lived and basically not replaced. Daily, they phagocytose substantial amounts of lipid-rich material (photoreceptor outer segment discs), and they do so in the most oxygenated part of the body – the retina. One would imagine that this state of affairs should be associated with a rapid formation of the age pigment lipofuscin (LF). However, LF accumulation is slow and reaches significant amounts only late in life when, if substantial, it often coincides with or causes age-related macular degeneration. LF formation occurs inside the lysosomal compartment as a result of iron-catalyzed peroxidation and polymerization. This process requires phagocytosed or autophagocytosed material under degradation, but also the presence of redox-active low mass iron and hydrogen peroxide. To gain some information on how RPE cells are able to evade LF formation, we investigated the response of immortalized human RPE cells (ARPE-19) to oxidative stress with/without the protection of a strong iron-chelator. The cells were found to be extremely resistant to hydrogen peroxide-induced lysosomal rupture and ensuing cell death. This marked resistance to oxidative stress was not explained by enhanced degradation of hydrogen peroxide, but to a certain extent further increased by the potent lipophilic iron chelator SIH. The cells were also able to survive, and even replicate, at high concentrations of SIH and showed a high degree of basal autophagic flux. We hypothesize that RPE cells have a highly developed capacity to keep lysosomal iron in a non-redox-active form, perhaps by pronounced autophagy of iron-binding proteins in combination with an ability to rapidly relocate low mass iron from the lysosomal compartment.
Private provider networks: the role of viability in expanding the supply of reproductive health and family planning services.

As the private sector plays an increasingly critical role in the delivery of reproductive health/family planning (RH/FP) services donors and public health ministries are turning their attention to business arrangements that offer the potential to increase access to high-quality priority health services. Private provider networks hold the promise of cost effectively expanding the scale of private practice and are increasingly being considered as a way to achieve national public health objectives. Networks are an affiliation of health service providers grouped together under an umbrella structure or organization. They are an attractive mechanism for delivering uniform health services to a broad market with a structure that lends itself to replication. Networks are able to realize efficiencies in training capacity building product distribution procurement and the advertising of health services. This paper distinguishes among three types of networks based on their objectives (social or commercial) and their ownership (individual or integrated). The network types are not-for-profit networks social franchises and purely commercial networks. To date evidence on the effectiveness of networks in achieving RH/FP objectives is scarce and even less is known about the factors that contribute to their long-term viability. This review is intended to address this knowledge gap offering practical guidance to donors and network implementers on how to expand the supply of high-quality priority health services. The paper first assesses whether and how networks achieve viability and second distills lessons that have contributed to network viability. The review also examines the extent to which viability goals conflict with or support the delivery of RH/FP services. By drawing from the business practices of both commercial and donor-supported networks and assessing their relative strengths and weaknesses the paper cross-fertilizes lessons from each and suggests the need for synergies and partnerships across sectors. The methodology consisted of a literature review of publications and resources on over 50 networks the development of a framework to assess network viability followed by in-depth interviews with representatives of 23 networks. All selected networks met the following criteria: they operate through several service delivery points serve low to middle-income populations and provide RH/FP services. (excerpt)
How much social responsibility should firms assume and of which kind? Firms, governments and NGOs as alternative providers of social services

Contemporary public expectations that firms assume responsibility for societal deficiencies are inconsistent with the demand of long-term survival and profit maximization, representing a fundamental shift in the view of firms and their role in society. The economic power and visibility of multinational enterprises (MNEs), combined with their global scope and exposure to multiple and diverse stakeholders, have made them the major targets of these expectations.
Combination therapy in systemic mycosis.

The use of antifungals in combination can clearly improve efficacy, broaden spectrum and reduce the duration of therapy. The availability of more systemic antifungals may lead to an increase in the use of triple combinations, especially against fungal infection in immunosuppressed patients. 5-flucytosine plus amphotericin B is still the most active combination with proven clinical application in cryptococcosis and candidosis. Combinations of 5-flucytosine with ketoconazole or itraconazole have shown promising results and may well play a role in human chemotherapy.
The Reciprocal Relationship between College Major and Values : Family , Careers and Society

Education has long been recognized as an important influence on values. This paper considers not only college attendance, but the content of the curriculum as well. Using longitudinal data from the 1976-1995 cohorts of the Monitoring the Future study, we examine the motivating hypothesis that major in college differentially affects a wide range of values. In addition, we assess the role of values in selecting college major. We group the reported values into importance of family, importance of career, and importance of society. The analyses suggest that attending college—particularly in a humanities, social science, or natural science major— reduces students’ reported importance of family. Attending college, especially in a non-business major, leads students to place more value on contributing to society. Majoring in business appears to foster career values, while not attending college at all leads respondents to rate money and steady work highly, but not other career values. At the same time, the values students come in with affect their choice of major. Placing importance on family is associated with avoiding the humanities, social sciences, education and physical sciences, or avoiding college altogether. Career values are associated with choosing a business major, while being concerned about society seems to discourage students from choosing business, vocational and office majors.
The Challenges of Microfinance Institutions in Empowering Micro and Small Entrepreneur to Implementating Green Activity

This study aims to examine the challenges of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in empowering micro and small entrepreneur to concern and care not only for the business growth but also the environmental sustainability in their surroundings. Indonesia as developing countries also faces the environmental degradation that contributes by micro and small entrepreneurs. Moreover MFIs have substantial relationships in term to preserve the environment because of the objectives are not only achieve the profit but also balancing with the social (people) and environment (planet) achievement and MFIs clients also micro and small entrepreneur who as the majority contributor of environment degradation in developing countries. The discussion of the paper is determined by three research questions (i) What’s the role of MFIs in preserving the environment? (ii) How the role of corporate governance in MFIs? (iii) How the implementation of corporate governance in MFIs in empowering micro to implementing green activity (Indonesia evidence)? In addition, to ensure the commitment of MFIs should exist corporate governance, which supervise the compliance with Act No.1 2013 related to the sustainability concern from MFIs because until now the impact of the act has not given the significant impact yet because of the importance is not only the existence of regulation but also the consciousness all stakeholders related to comply and implementing of green activity.
The Pivotal Role of the Director of Nursing in Nursing Homes

The impending wave of aging boomers heightens long-standing concerns for the quality and cost of nursing home care. As industry and policy leaders continue efforts to remedy substandard nursing home care delivery practices, development of a well-prepared and adequately supported workforce of directors of nursing (DONs) is essential to ensuring the industry's readiness for the aging wave population. Directors of nursing are in pivotal positions to influence nursing home quality and costs; however, research demonstrating the extent of this influence—actual and potential—is lacking, and industry leaders have collectively failed to address the current or future capacity of this workforce. A long history of inattention to the DON position, coupled with low expectations for the competencies and requisite educational preparation, has potentially compromised the capacity of DONs to promote and sustain high-quality, cost-effective nursing home care. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview and discussion of the current and potential capacity of DONs to lead the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective nursing home care from industry, educational and professional development, healthcare policy, and organizational contexts. Proposed strategies and recommendations to enhance and promote the future capacity of DONs are also presented.
Ascorbat neurotoxicity in cortical cell culture

Ascorbate (vitamin C)is believed to act as a neuromodulator that facilitates the release of neurotransmitters and inhibits neurotransmitter binding to receptors, including dopamine and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors. Extracellular levels of ascorbate are known to reach the low millimolar range after ischemic brain injury. This study shows that treatment of cultured cortical neurons with micromolar to low millimolar ascorbate first inhibits total protein synthesis and then results in late neuronal death. Astrocytes are much less vulnerable to ascorbate than neurons. Ascorbate may exacerbate neuronal and glial damage after brain ischemia, and it may play a pathological role in other neurological diseases.
Prevention of Painful Neuroma and Phantom Limb Pain After Transfemoral Amputations Through Concomitant Nerve Coaptation and Collagen Nerve Wrapping.

BACKGROUND Postamputation pain is a debilitating condition that affects almost 60% of transfemoral amputees. Recent appreciation for the contribution of peripheral nerve derangement to the development of postamputation pain has resulted in focus on the role of nerve reconstruction in preventing pain after amputation. OBJECTIVE To propose a method involving tibial and common peroneal nerve coaptation at the time of amputation, as a means to prevent residual limb pain and phantom sequelae resulting from neuroma formation. METHODS Between May 2014 and May 2015, 17 patients underwent transfemoral amputation and nerve management through either (1) common peroneal nerve-to- tibial nerve coaptation and collagen nerve wrapping or (2) traction neurectomy alone. Visual analog scores (VAS) for pain, analgesic requirements, neuroma formation, phantom pain/sensations, and ambulatory status were compared between cohorts. RESULTS Six patients underwent nerve coaptation/collagen nerve wrapping, whereas 11 underwent traction neurectomy. At 2 months, VAS scores were similar between cohorts (3 vs 3.82; P = .88); however, neuroma (0% vs 36.3%; P = .24) and phantom pain (0% and 54.5%; P = .03) were significantly lower after coaptation. After 6 months, VAS scores (0.75 vs 5.6; P = .02) as well as neuroma (0% vs 54.5%; P = .03) and phantom pain (0% vs 63.6%; P = .01) remained lower among patients who underwent coaptation. At follow-up, 67% of coaptation patients were ambulating with a prosthesis vs 9% of neurectomy patients (P = .01). CONCLUSION Preemptive coaptation and collagen nerve wrapping is associated with lower VAS pain scores, phantom symptoms, and neuroma formation, with higher ambulation rates after 6 months when compared with traction neurectomy alone. ABBREVIATIONS CPN, common peroneal nervePAP, Postamputation painPLP, phantom limb painPS, phantom sensationsRLP, residual limb painTN, tibial nerve.