Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insights into willingness to pay for organic cotton apparel

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for organic versus conventionally produced cotton apparel, and to explore the role of purchase behaviors, apparel attributes and consumer beliefs about organics in purchase decisions.Design/methodology/approach – A 2nd priced auction was used to estimate WTP, along with a follow‐up survey to collect information on participants’ demographics, attitudes and behavior.Findings – On average, participants were willing to pay a 25 percent premium for an organic cotton t‐shirt over the visibly similar t‐shirt made from conventionally produced cotton. Participants who pay for their own clothing or make purchase decisions alone were not willing to pay a premium. Previous history of purchasing organic foods, perceived product quality, fit and the participant's race were also significant predictors of WTP.Research limitations/implications – A more representative sample and the inclusion of other product categories are necessary to.
Characterizing Global Financial and Economic Integration Using Cash Flow Expectations

We propose a new approach, based on cash flow expectations, to measuring a country’s financial and economic integration with world markets. Results show that economic integration has advanced significantly in developed countries, but has remained relatively low in emerging markets for the period 1989-2009. Financial integration, however, has slowed down considerably in developed countries, but has surged among emerging markets in the past decade. We find that a country’s information environment and its market openness play important roles in explaining both forms of integration, but business cycle indicators drive exclusively economic integration and the institutional environment affects solely financial integration.
The process of managerial work in the hospitality industry

The study aimed to illuminate two fields of study, that relating to work in the hospitality industry and to the wider field of managerial work. The fundamental questions to which It addressed itself were; what Is the nature of managerial work in hotels? Is that work similar or different for managers in the same position In a given company? What are the determinants of that work? In terms of work In the hospitality Industry the study showed that managerial work followed distinct patterns and was evenly paced, not very hectic and largely under the control of the manager. Managers spent a large percentage of their time In their offices undertaking managerial functions, particularly those concerned with information processing and control. In all these respects the work and behaviour of managers was broadly similar. To understand the determinants of this similarity It was necessary to consider managerial work within the context In which it occurred. Although managers faced direct, work demands from the working situation and had limited areas of apparent discretion, the overriding influence on ma(Ug rial work came from the culture and managerial strategies which dictated the context In which ma nagerial work was performed. These were passed to each manager through the process of socialisation and effectively bound the work and behaviour of each manager within the prescribed norms of the s-ituation.
Linking Obesity and Pancreatic Cancer

Cancer of the pancreas is the tenth most common form of cancer in the United States and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death with a stunningly low 5-year survival rate of less that 6% [1-4]. Although there are genetic links with pancreatic cancer (10-15% of patients diagnosed will have a family history) [5], chronic pancreatitis [6], cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco [7, 8], obesity [9-11], and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [12-14] are the strongest environmental risk factors linked to this malignancy. Recently high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption which also contributes to obesity, T2DM, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has also been directly linked to pancreatic cancer [15]. The development of the industrial age and subsequent loss of the “hunter-gatherer” life-style has resulted in a world-wide epidemic of obesity and its associated chronic diseases including: atherosclerotic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and multiple obesity-associated malignancies including cancer of the pancreas. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that as underdeveloped countries progress into industrialized economies and life-styles change (especially consumption of high density fat/carbohydrate diets coupled with decreased physical activity), the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases increases. The direct link between obesity, chronic inflammation, and oncogenesis is becoming increasingly more appreciated and the underlying cellular mechanisms involved this process are currently intensively being investigated and reviewed [16, 17]. In addition to the direct role of obesity in oncogenesis, obese individuals also demonstrate worse outcomes and shorter cancer survival compared to persons with normal body mass indexes (BMIs) [16]. These observations suggest that the abnormal hormo‐ nal and inflammatory milieu of obesity is directly involved in oncogenesis, promotes tumor growth, spread, and metastasis while possibly also increasing resistance to therapeutic intervention [16]. This chapter is meant to review the links between obesity, abnormal adipose tissue function, induction of abnormal hormonal and chronic inflammatory signaling path‐
Novel mutations in 13 probands with galactokinase deficiency

Galactokinase is an essential enzyme in the metabolism of galactose. Patients with deficiencies in galactokinase exhibit early‐onset cataracts. We examined the sequence of the human galactokinase gene (GK1) from 13 patients exhibiting galactokinase deficiency and identified 12 novel mutations. One of the mutations occurred in six of the 13 probands examined, and the remaining 11 were unique mutations. Expression of each of the mutant GK1 genes in Xenopus oocytes resulted in very low galactokinase activity levels. These results provide important information regarding the types of GK1 mutations that occur in the human population. Hum Mutat 15:447–453, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oxalate consumption by lactobacilli: evaluation of oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase and formyl‐CoA transferase activity in Lactobacillus acidophilus

Aims: This study was undertaken to evaluate the oxalate‐degrading activity in several Lactobacillus species widely used in probiotic dairy and pharmaceutical preparations. Functional characterization of oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase and formyl‐CoA transferase in Lactobacillus acidophilus was performed in order to assess the possible contribution of Lactobacillus in regulating the intestinal oxalate homeostasis.
The Relationships of Factors Affecting Post-purchase Behavioral Intentions in Tourism Sector

AbstractThe purpose of this research was to study the relationshipsof factors affecting post-purchase behavioral intentions in tourismsector on the basis of the investigated variables from recent relevantliterature. The exploratory results of this study led to identification ofdirect and indirect factors affecting post-purchase behavioral intentions,including corporate social responsibility, destination image, servicequality, perceived value, tourist satisfaction and tourist complaints forthe development of proposed model. Key words: Post-Purchase Behavioral Intentions; Tourist Complaints;Tourist Satisfaction; Perceived Value; Service Quality;Destination Image; Corporate Social Responsibility
A SARIMA forecasting model to predict the number of cases of dengue in Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION Forecasting dengue cases in a population by using time-series models can provide useful information that can be used to facilitate the planning of public health interventions. The objective of this article was to develop a forecasting model for dengue incidence in Campinas, southeast Brazil, considering the Box-Jenkins modeling approach. METHODS The forecasting model for dengue incidence was performed with R software using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. We fitted a model based on the reported monthly incidence of dengue from 1998 to 2008, and we validated the model using the data collected between January and December of 2009. RESULTS SARIMA (2,1,2) (1,1,1)12 was the model with the best fit for data. This model indicated that the number of dengue cases in a given month can be estimated by the number of dengue cases occurring one, two and twelve months prior. The predicted values for 2009 are relatively close to the observed values. CONCLUSIONS The results of this article indicate that SARIMA models are useful tools for monitoring dengue incidence. We also observe that the SARIMA model is capable of representing with relative precision the number of cases in a next year.
Comparing economic development corporation and internal department models: Service delivery in Southern Ontario

An increasing number of communities are investing in formal economic development departments or organizations, leading to debate over where the effort should be housed. The purpose of this study is to undertake a systematic investigation of two models of economic development service delivery: internal municipal department model and external corporation model. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used, including in-depth interviews with economic development practitioners and empirical analysis. The findings show that senior economic development professionals generally believe that the service delivery model matters, but there is disagreement on what operational areas are affected and how. Empirical analysis of the program areas and financial and staffing resources shows substantial overlap between internal and external organizations. However, comparing experiences in partnerships, governance, decision-making, and accountability indicates that there are differences between the two models. The research also indicates that there are factors beyond the model that may be more influential: the size of the organization or where the decision-making power lies for the given situation may influence the speed of decision-making more than the model. Participants also identified the important role of leadership and people in creating a successful economic development organization. Key words : Economic development organizations, corporations, departments, service delivery models
Synthetic small interfering RNA targeting heat shock protein 105 induces apoptosis of various cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo

We previously reported that heat shock protein 105 (HSP105), identified by serological analysis of a recombinant cDNA expression library (SEREX) using serum from a pancreatic cancer patient, was overexpressed in various human tumors and in the testis of adult men by immunohistochemical analysis. In the present study, to elucidate the biological function of the HSP105 protein in cancer cells, we first established NIH3T3 cells overexpressing murine HSP105 (NIH3T3‐HSP105). The NIH3T3‐HSP105 cells acquired resistance to apoptosis induced by heat shock or doxorubicin. The small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐mediated suppression of HSP105 protein expression induced apoptosis in human cancer cells but not in fibroblasts. By a combination of siRNA introduction and doxorubicin or heat shock treatment, apoptosis was induced synergistically in a human colon cancer cell line, HCT116. In vivo, siRNA inoculation into the human gastric cancer cell line KATO‐3 established in the flank of an NOD SCID mouse suppressed the tumor growth. This siRNA‐induced apoptosis was mediated through caspases, but not the p53 tumor suppressor protein, even though the HSP105 protein was bound to wild‐type p53 protein in HCT116 cells. These findings suggest that the constitutive overexpression of HSP105 in cancer cells is involved in malignant transformation by protecting tumor cells from apoptosis. HSP105 may thus be a novel target molecule for cancer therapy and a treatment regimen using synthetic siRNA to suppress the expression of HSP105 protein may provide a new strategy for cancer therapy. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 623–632)
Relationship marketing and customer retention lessons for South African banks

21Banking industries are very competitive, and banks are facing service delivery challenges. Relationship marketing is a strategy for building and maintaining relationships with clients, and customer retention is important for banks as it refers to the maintaining of profitable banking clients. Therefore, this article addresses the need for further understanding of relationship marketing and customer retention of banks, and related lessons that can be learned from banks in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK). A self-developed, structured questionnaire was distributed via convenience snowball sampling to banking clients in South Africa, Canada and the UK. The findings revealed that six banking service delivery variables influence banks’ relationship marketing and customer retention. Fee structures and the ethical behaviour of banks are regarded as the most important focus areas for banks. Canada was identified as The country with the most highly regarded banks in terms of relationship marketing, customer retention, empowerment of bank employees and personalisation of banking services. UK banks were highlighted as superior in setting fee structures, communication strategies and ethical behaviour. Therefore, strategies implemented by Canadian and UK banks relating to the variables were adapted to fit South African banks as well as institutions in other developing countries. The implementation of the recommendations of the Article may lead to improved client relationships and increased customer retention rates, which will be beneficial to banks, their clients and the countries in which they operate. The study also resulted in the development of a conceptual model that could be used in future relationship marketing research.
The impact of store flyers on store performance: a format and customer related approach

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of store flyer characteristics on store performance for different formats (hypermarket and supermarket) and customer segments (additional and regular shoppers). Specifically, the paper tests propositions on how flyer duration, variety of featured purchasing options, the category and brand mix on feature and the method used to communicate the deal price affect store traffic and sales. Loyalty cards and scanner data from a grocery chain covering a 52-week period indicate that optimal store flyer configuration is related to store format. Moreover, the response to flyer promotion programs varies across customer segments according to the degree of store loyalty. Implications for retailers are discussed with suggestions for future research.
Lost in Transition: Knowledge Acquisition and Knowledge Loss in Interpersonal Exchanges

In this paper, focusing on 3,429 knowledge sharing ties among 330 employees in a data solution company, we study knowledge loss by considering network features associated with incomplete transfers of knowledge from a source to a recipient. Results indicate that that while strength of direct ties does reduce the amount of knowledge lost in interpersonal exchanges, network range (i.e. ability to connect with otherwise disconnected others) increases it. Tie strength further moderates the relationship between network range and knowledge loss. By observing a “cost” to network range in terms of lost knowledge, we suggest that more attention should be paid not only to the advantages, but also to the liabilities associated with different network positions. Theoretical and practical implications for knowledge management are discussed.
Studies on the mechanism of the immunological paralysis induced in mice by pneumococcal polysaccharides.

Immunological paralysis has been defined as that condition produced in the host by an antigen given in such amount that a subsequent immunizing dose fails to stimulate active immunity. With the preparations of polysaccharide used in C3H mice the amounts included: For type I 500 μg or more, and for types II and III 50 μg or more. In white mice, one-tenth of these doses was sufficient to “paralyze” the defense. In both strains of mice, smaller amounts immunized the animal. The type-specific immunological paralysis persisted for at least 15 months following a single injection with type I or III polysaccharide and for 18 months with type II polysaccharide. For all three types studied, the reaction was essentially type-specific. Immunological paralysis was produced by 500 μg of type I polysaccharide by intraperitoneal, intravenous, or intradermal administration; but by the oral route the largest does given, 5.0 mg, immunized the mouse. For types II and III the 50 μg dose “paralyzed” the defense whether introduced intraperitoneally, intravenously, or intradermally; orally 5.0 mg immunized against type II, but not against type III infection. By subcutaneous route the “paralyzing” dose of 50 μg was the same for all three types. Repeated daily doses of smaller amounts “paralyzed” the defense when the total reached the above doses. With type I, this “paralysis” was not found in all mice; but with types II and III all mice so injected were unable to respond to a subsequent immunizing dose. Mice which had been previously immunized required four times as much antigenic polysaccharide to produce immunological paralysis as was required by normal mice. “Paralyzed” mice were found to be hypersusceptible to pneumococcus infection and required two to four times as much antibody to give passive protection as normal animals. The only successful means found for counteracting the “paralysis” in mice was the use of whole-cell vaccine, and this was applicable only to type I but not to types II and III.
What Do Women With Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Understand About the Condition?

Introduction: Little is known about patients' understanding of the causes, treatments, and implications of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Clinical observation suggests that such health literacy is limited. We report on the perceptions of causes and treatment of GTD and its impact on fertility and reproductive outcomes. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 176 Australian women previously diagnosed with GTD (no longer receiving follow-up/treatment) recruited from a state-wide registry. Participants comprised 149 (85%) women with GTD who did not require chemotherapy and 27 (15%) women who required chemotherapy for malignancy or persistent molar disease. Data were collected from medical records and via self-report questionnaire. Results: Participants were 94 women (53%) with partial mole, 75 (43%) with complete mole, 4 (2%) with choriocarcinoma, and 3 (2%) with hydatidiform mole not otherwise specified. Mean (SD) age at diagnosis and time since diagnosis were 32.1 (6.3) and 4.7 (3.3) years, respectively. Chance/bad luck was the most endorsed cause (n = 146, 83%); 23 (13%) thought GTD was hereditary and 10 (6%) identified a chromosomal etiology. Between 24% and 32% were unsure of the role of alcohol/drugs, venereal diseases, smoking, pollution, contraceptives, and lowered immunity. Surgical/medical procedure (n = 127, 72%) and healthy diet (n = 53, 30%) were the most endorsed treatments. Between 18% and 23% were unsure of the treatment effectiveness of diet, vitamins, exercise, complementary therapy, and contraception. All women treated with chemotherapy understood the rationale thereof; 23 (85%) perceived chemotherapy to be successful, and 19 (70%) could name the agent. Few women perceived a negative impact on their fertility (n = 28, 16%); 52 (30%) were reluctant to conceive again and 100 (57%) questioned their ability to have healthy children. After diagnosis, 111 (63%) had at least 1 live birth. Conclusions: Notwithstanding limitations, this study is the largest of its type to date. These descriptive data enhance our understanding of patients' experience on GTD, highlight the scope of GTD health literacy, and may be useful for clinicians to adjust the content of their patient education.
Blacklist Ecosystem Analysis Update: 2014

This report compares the contents of 85 different Internet blacklists, also known as threat intelligence feeds or threat data feeds, to discover patterns in shared entries. It is an update to a 2013 report that compared 25 such Internet blacklists [1]. The methods and motivations of this report are similar to those employed in the earlier report. However, this update provides an expanded scope by increasing the number of lists and the duration of the investigation by another year. This report does not contain the same depth of detail as the 2013 report, especially where details have not changed. See the prior report at http://url.sei. cmu.edu/BL-13. Lists are compared directly and indirectly, based on data type. Direct intersection comparison is straightforward; the list contents are compared temporally to determine if any list consistently published shared indicators before another list. Indirect comparison analyzes, for example, whether the existing intersection is random or has a pattern. These multiple methods indicate a range for how often a list provides an indicator with unique information and value to computer network defense (CND). Domain-name-based indicators are unique to one list between 96.16% and 97.37% of the time. IP-address-based indicators are unique to one list between 82.46% and 95.24% of the time. These 2014 results support our 2013 results and conclusions, and are generally consistent. Namely, there is surprisingly little overlap between any two blacklists. Though there are exceptions to this pattern, the intersection between the lists remains low, even after expanding each list to a larger neighborhood of related indicators. Few lists consistently provide content before certain other lists, but more often there is no intersection at all. When there is an intersection, many times there is no pattern to which list came first. These results suggest that each blacklist describes a distinct sort of malicious activity. The lists do not appear to converge on one version of all the malicious indicators for the Internet. Network defenders should be advised, therefore, to obtain and evaluate as many lists as practical, since it does not appear that any new list can be rejected out-of-hand as redundant. The results also indicate that there is no global ground truth to be acquired, no matter how many lists are merged. Therefore, the study supports the assertion that blacklisting is not a sufficient defense; an organization needs other defensive measures to add depth, such as gray listing, behavior analysis, criminal penalties, speed bumps, and organizationspecific white lists. This analysis provides a collective view of the whole ecosystem of blocking network touch points and blacklists. Many practitioners lament the fatigue of playing “whack-a-mole” against very resilient adversary resources. This tacit knowledge must be formalized before a better collective strategy can be enacted.