Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Service Quality, Perceived Value and Customer Satisfaction on Behavioral Intentions

Abstract Service quality, perceived value and customer satisfaction are variables of high interest to marketers. These variables have been suggested to have an influence on customers' post-purchase behavior. The research presented in this article aims to examine the crucial role these variables play in shaping post-purchase behavior within the context of restaurant industry. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Customer satisfaction was found to be more strongly correlated with perceived performance than disconfirma-tion. In addition, the results of structural equations modeling revealed that customer satisfaction had the strongest effect on behavioral intentions, followed by perceived value. The effect of service quality on behavioral intentions was mediated through customer satisfaction. Managerial implications of these findings are discussed.
Native Low-Density Lipoprotein Uptake by Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor-Differentiated Human Macrophages Is Mediated by Macropinocytosis and Micropinocytosis

Objective—To examine the pinocytotic pathways mediating native low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake by human macrophage colony-stimulating factor-differentiated macrophages (the predominant macrophage phenotype in human atherosclerotic plaques). Methods and Results—We identified the kinase inhibitor SU6656 and the Rho GTPase inhibitor toxin B as inhibitors of macrophage fluid-phase pinocytosis of LDL. Assessment of macropinocytosis by time-lapse microscopy revealed that both drugs almost completely inhibited macropinocytosis, although LDL uptake and cholesterol accumulation by macrophages were only partially inhibited (approximately 40%) by these agents. Therefore, we investigated the role of micropinocytosis in mediating LDL uptake in macrophages and identified bafilomycin A1 as an additional partial inhibitor (approximately 40%) of macrophage LDL uptake that targeted micropinocytosis. When macrophages were incubated with both bafilomycin A1 and SU6656, inhibition of LDL uptake was additive (reaching 80%), showing that these inhibitors target different pathways. Microscopic analysis of fluid-phase uptake pathways in these macrophages confirmed that LDL uptake occurs through both macropinocytosis and micropinocytosis. Conclusion—Our findings show that human macrophage colony-stimulating factor-differentiated macrophages take up native LDL by macropinocytosis and micropinocytosis, underscoring the importance of both pathways in mediating LDL uptake by these cells.
Globalization and Internal Corporate Organization: Evidence from Japanese Firms

Recent years have witnessed that firm hierarchies are becoming flatter amid globalization. Span of control ( Span ) has broadened and the number of levels ( Layer ) within firms has declined. Motivated by these changes in the world, international trade theory has recently incorporated a rich organizational model into trade and heterogeneous firm contexts. However, empirical evidence for this theory has been so far limited because of the constrained data availability. This paper fills a part of this gap by exploiting a unique firm-level organization data in Japan, by which we can ascertain the relationship between a firm’s organization and its characteristics. Globalization, which is measured by the firm’s foreign sales ratio, has a positive link with Span , but has a negative link with Layer . This finding implies that organizational change is one source of learning effects of globalization.
An organizational learning approach to product innovation

This article examines product innovation as an organizational learning process. It provides a framework allowing managers and scholars to relate product-innovation learning skills to organizational goals. Daryl McKee shows how different types of organizational learning skills are involved in incremental innovation, discontinuous innovation and institutionalization of innovation within the organization. This conceptualization can help scholars and managers diagnose an organization's learning skills and how they relate to new product management; direct the organization toward learning more efficient and effective product innovation; and provide scholars with a structure for future research.
Rat strain differences in flap tolerance to ischemia

The rat epigastric island flap model is commonly used to explore ischemia‐related phenomena. We sought to evaluate strain differences in tolerance to ischemia using two commonly used rat strains: Sprague‐Dawley and Lewis. Epigastric flaps (3 × 6 cm) based on the superficial epigastric artery and vein were raised bilaterally in each rat (2 flaps/rat). Ischemia was induced for 10, 12, 14, or 16 hours by placing temporary occlusion clamps on each vessel of the vascular pedicle. Surviving flap areas were assessed planimetrically after 7 days. The average area of surviving flap tissue was greater in the Lewis rats for all ischemia times; this achieved significance for 12 hours and 14 hours of ischemia (P<0.005). These findings indicate that comparisons among studies on rat flap ischemia must take into account the particular strain used. Furthermore, these findings suggest an inherent capacity of Lewis rat tissue to withstand ischemia better than tissue of the Sprague‐Dawley rat strain. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Histological and morphometric study of the epididymus of Chinchilla lanigera Grey under controlled conditions in captivity

Summary Chinchilla lanigera, native to the Andean Mountains of Perú, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, is a specimen of great economic importance because of its fur. In mammals, spermatozoa originate in testes and are transported to the epididymis, where they undergo morphological and biochemical modifications known as sperm maturation, a basic step in the acquisition of their fertilizing ability. The aim of this work is the macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the epididymis of Chinchilla lanigera Grey and its sectorization based on a histomorphological study. The epididymis presents a clear segmentation into four regions: initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda. The epithelium lining the seminiferous tubules is pseudostratified, with principal cells with stereocilia and basal, clear, apical, narrow and halo cells. The histological analysis showed that principal and basal cells are the prevailing populations in all regions, also revealing narrow cells and the absence of clear cells in the initial segment. Each segment presents its different histological and morphometric characteristics, which supports the idea of the specific behaviour of each region, giving a segment-specific character to the process of sperm maturation in this species. No significant differences were found in the morphometric measurements or in the histological evaluation of the epididymis of samples collected in April and October. The fact that no differences were found between the samples collected during the two periods when the reproductive ability in nature is different suggests the importance of external factors in the control of the reproductive cycle of Chinchilla lanigera.
Cognitive Performance of Current Methamphetamine and Cocaine Abusers

Abstract Forty currently using methamphetamine (MA) abusers. 40 currently using cocaine (COC) abusers, and 80 comparison participants who did not use psychostimulants received a cognitive battery and questionnaires covering medical history and stimulant use patterns. Forty comparison participants were matched to the 40 MA users on age. education, ethnicity, and gender. The other 40 comparison participants were matched to the cocaine users on the same variables. This design was chosen because there were significant differences in age and ethnicity between COC and MA users that precluded a direct comparison between the groups. The COC group was older and predominantly African American compared to the predominantly Caucasian MA group. When compared to their matched non-using control groups, both MA and COC abusers were impaired on cognitive measures, but the type and degree of impairments were somewhat different.
The Influence of Organizational Culture, Servant Leadership, and Job Satisfaction Toward Organizational Commitment and Job Performance Through Work Motivation as Moderating Variables for Lecturers in Economics and Management of Private Universities in East Surabaya

The purpose of this research find out the effect of organizational commitment, servant leadership and job satisfaction toward organizational commitment and job performance through work motivation as moderating variables for lecturers in economics and management of private universities in east surabaya. The result of this research tell that organizational culture, servant leadership and job satisfaction have a positive effect to organizational commitment and job performance. Job satisfaction has influence to organizational commitment and job performance.
Tariff Liberalisation, Labour Market Flexibility and Employment: Evidence from India

While it can be hypothesised that domestic labour market characteristics influence the impact of trade liberalisation, the evidence base in this context is thin. This paper examines the extent to which differences in regional labour market flexibility shaped the impact of tariff liberalisation on employment in both formal and informal manufacturing firms in India in the 1990s. Controlling for other reforms undertaken in the same period, and for a range of firm, industry and state characteristics, the analysis finds appreciable links between tariff liberalisation and firm level employment. Declines in downstream and input tariffs are found to be of particular significance relative to reductions in final goods tariffs. Ceteris paribus, following tariff liberalisation, employment in the average formal firm increased by 9 per cent in states with relatively flexible labour markets in the 1985-2004 period, but declined by up to 17 per cent in states with less flexible labour markets. In the same period, in association with the tariff declines, average informal firm level employment fell by close to 36 per cent in states with flexible labour markets, while no statistically significant corresponding change was registered in states with inflexible labour markets. The results suggest that a consideration of forward and backward linkages should be integral to any analysis of the firm level effects of trade reform.
Trusted operational scenarios - Trust building mechanisms and strategies for electronic marketplaces

This document presents and describes the trusted operational scenarios, resulting from the research and work carried out in Seamless project. The report presents identified collaboration habits of small and medium enterprises with low e-skills, trust building mechanisms and issues as main enablers of online business relationships on the electronic marketplace, a questionnaire analysis of the level of trust acceptance and necessity of trust building mechanisms, a proposal for the development of different strategies for the different types of trust mechanisms and recommended actions for the SEAMLESS project or other B2B marketplaces.
A post-mortem study of gastric and duodenal peptic lesions

The frequency of peptic lesions of the stomach and the duodenum in post-mortem material of the Central Pathological Laboratory of the Municipal Hospitals of Rotterdam, Netherlands, has been investigated. From May 1940 to January 1959 11,125 necropsies were performed on persons of 20 years and older. The overall incidence of peptic lesions was 24.3 %. The frequency of acute peptic lesions was about the same in males and in females, i.e., 6.3 % and 5.60% respectively. The frequency of chronic peptic lesions was much higher in males (229%) than in females (122 %). A chronic peptic lesion in a male is more often related to death than a chronic peptic lesion in a female, i.e., 1-3 times as often. This is in part due to the fact that a chronic peptic lesion in a male necessitates a gastric resection about 2.5 times as often as a chronic peptic lesion in a female, thus causing more postoperative deaths in males. The frequency of chronic peptic lesions in males increased gradually during the period of study from 1960% in 1940-43 to 26.5 % in 1956-58. The incidence of chronic peptic lesions in females showed an increase in the last few years only. It is too early to say whether this represents a real increase or just a fluctuation caused by unknown factors. In both sexes the incidence of acute peptic lesions suddenly increased after 1949. No explanation could be found for this phenomenon.
CREDIT DEPOSIT RATIO AND OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE IN THE INDIAN BANKING SECTOR: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

For an emerging economy like India, it is vital to have sound financial intermediaries and commercial banking sector, which effectively mops up the savings available with the public and disburses credit to the productive sector in an efficient manner helping India to progress on the path of steady growth and prosperity. The study is an attempt to assess whether some bank groups are better at delivering the required outcome. Using the econometric techniques over the time horizon of 1991 to 2006 and controlling for certain structural characteristics, it is revealed that the foreign bank group has exhibited the best credit deposit ratio, whereas some attention is still required in case of public sector banks where further scope for improvement exists. The paper provides a brief overview of banking structure in India, explains the model and the methodology, which has been applied in the study followed by empirical results. The summary of major findings and policy implications is provided in the paper as well.
Effects of supplementing laying hens diets with organic selenium on egg production, egg quality, fertility and hatchability.

This study was carried out at El Takamoly Poultry Project, Fayoum, Egypt,. A total number of 498 (450 breeder hens and 48 cocks) birds of Golden Montazah (GM) and Fayoumi (F) strains at 42 wks of age were used to evaluate the effects of two dietary levels of Se as Sel-Plex (0.1 or 0.2 mg/Kg diet) on breeder hens performance. Birds were divided randomly into 3 equal treatment groups of 83 birds each (75 breeder hen and 8 cock each). Birds were placed in 6 floor brooder pens, the 1 st group was fed the basal diet, while the 2 nd and 3 rd groups were fed on the same diet but supplemented with one of the two levels (0.1 or 0.2 mg/Kg diet) of selenium (Se) as Sel-Plex. The experimental period was lasted for 23 weeks (from 42 to 65 wks of age). Results obtained could be summarized in the following: 1The eggs from GM hens were higher EN, EM and EP% as will as heavier EW than those from F hens, Golden Montazah hens fed diet containing 200 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had higher EM value. Laying hens fed diet containing 100 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had lower FI while, those fed control diet had higher FI value. Fayoumi hens fed diet containing 200 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had higher LBWG. 2The eggs from GM hens were heavier than those from F hens with more albumen% but less shell thickness, shell%, yolk index (YI%) and shape index%. As the layer age increased, yolk color, shell thickness and yolk% increased significantly, however, the YI% and Haugh unit score decreased. 3Fayoumi hens had higher fertility and hatchability%, as the age of hen increased, fertility and hatchability% decreased significantly. F hens fed diet containing 200 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had higher fertility and F hens fed diet containing 100 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had higher A.M.R. , Osman; et al. 894 hatchability%, while, hens (F and GM) fed control diet had lower fertility and hatchability%. 4Fayoumi hens fed diet containing 200 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had higher WBCs, MCV and MCH. 5Eggs F hens fed diet containing 200 mg Se/ton diet as Sel-Plex had higher moisture, fat and Se concentration in the yolk, and gave the best economical and relative efficiency. Fayoumi hens fed control diet had lower moisture, ash and Se concentration in the yolk.
Places going viral: Twitter usage patterns in destination marketing and place branding

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse how Twitter is utilized by five prominent American destination marketing projects (Illinois, San Francisco, Idaho, Texas, and Milwaukee) to understand the overall trends and usage patterns of microblogging, and the relation of social media ecology and place branding. Design/methodology/approach – This is a comparative study of five Twitter accounts belonging to five destination marketing offices (@enjoyillinois, @onlyinsf, @visitidaho, @texastourism, and @visitmilwaukee). This research looks at two different types of communication activities on Twitter: one-way communication (i.e. broadcasting messages), and two-way communication (i.e. conversing with other users). A total of 5,582 tweets created between October 10, 2011 and October 10, 2012 were analyzed in terms of main topics and subjects covered, and main communication activities engaged. Findings – The research found that destination marketing projects tend to use Twitter pre-dominantly to share about.
Projections from the pelvic nerve to the periphery of the cat's thalamic ventral posterolateral nucleus and adjacent regions of the posterior complex.

1. Mapping experiments were performed in the region of the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the lateral thalamus in pentobarbitone-anesthetized cats with the aim to locate foci with input from the electrically stimulated pelvic nerve. The locations of the recording sites were verified in Nissl-stained histological sections with reference to electrolytic lesions. 2. Of the 68 visceroceptive thalamic neurons identified, 63% were located in the periphery of the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPLp) and 34% in the dorsal, lateral, and medial aspects of the posterior complex (POd, POl, and POm, respectively) directly adjacent to VPLp. The region surrounding the middle and caudal part of the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) received a much denser input from the pelvic nerve than that around the rostral pole of VPL. 3. The response latencies of the thalamic neurons to pelvic nerve stimulation ranged from 10 to 65 ms (median: 16 ms; interquartile distance: 12-20 ms) indicating a transmission of information from the pelvic space via small and large diameter myelinated fibers. 4. Seventy-nine percent of the visceroceptive neurons tested (n = 58), in addition, had low threshold somatic receptive fields that were located in 67% of the cases in regions of the lower back, the thigh, the tail and/or the heel and in 26% of the cases on the hindfoot. None of the 40 visceroceptive neurons tested with noxious mechanical stimulation of the skin responded to this kind of stimulus. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Executive Compensation Controversy: A Transatlantic Analysis ∗

The recent financial crisis has created a public uproar over top-executive pay packages and has led to calls for reform of executive pay in Europe and the United States. The current controversy is not the first – nor will it be the last – time that executive compensation has sparked outrage and led to regulation on both sides of the Atlantic. In this report, we trace the evolution of executive compensation, its controversies and its resulting regulations, which have typically come in the form of tax policies, disclosure rules, and accounting standards. We show that many features of current executive compensation practices reflect the oftenunintended consequences of regulatory responses to perceived abuses in top-executive pay, often stemming from relatively isolated events or situations. Based on a comprehensive comparison of pay spanning six years and covering approximately 1,500 US firms and 900 firms from nine European countries, we show that US CEOs are paid only modestly more than their European counterparts after controlling for firm, ownership, and board characteristics. Moreover, we find that pay is more tightly linked to performance in the United States than throughout most of Europe, and that American executives hold more wealth in company stock and options than do their European counterparts. Indeed, we conclude that most of the difference in cross-continental pay levels is attributable to the higher use of stock and options in the United States, which in turn is related to a variety of tax, accounting, and social policies that have encouraged option grants in the United States. The “bright spot” for incentives for European CEOs occurs in an unlikely place: the banking sector. We document a statistically strong relation between bonuses and shareholder returns for European banks, and an insignificant relation in non-banks. We also find that banking executives on both sides of the Atlantic suffered large personal losses during the recent crisis compared to their non-banking counterparts. Our evidence is inconsistent with claims that excessive risk taking in that sector was caused by the “banking bonus culture. ” While pay design can always be improved and there will always be isolated abuses, we urge governments to resist temptations to further regulate pay in both banking and nonbanking sectors. Part of the problem is that regulation – even when well intended – always creates unintended (and usually costly) side effects. Moreover, regulation is often designed to be punitive rather than constructive, and is inherently driven by politicians more interested in their political agendas rather than creating shareholder value. Ultimately, we conclude that improvements in executive compensation will best emanate through stronger corporate governance, and not through direct government intervention.
Generation Y Students’ Product Colour Preferences

This study reports on the colour preferences of 409 Generation Y students from two higher education institution campuses located in South Africa’s Gauteng province for certain consumer products. The preferences were indicated using a self-administered questionnaire. These respondents aged 18 - 24 years claimed that blue as their favourite colour. In addition, the respondents indicated having a strong preference for consumer products coloured black. These findings, the first of their kind to be reported on in South Africa, offer important insights for marketers targeting this cohort and may be used as a guideline to incorporate colour into the design of products in such a way as to appeal to Generation Y students. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n21p69
Return Attribution in Mid-Market Buy-Out Transactions – New Evidence from Europe

In this study we use a sample of 332 European mid-market buy-out transactions initiated by private equity firms over the period 1990 to 2011. The focus of this research is to identify and quantify the value creation drivers in buy-out transactions. For that purpose we use a novel methodology for decomposing the returns into a fraction driven by earnings enhancement, by multiple enhancement and by the leverage effect. Our results support the view that returns in buy-out transactions for the largest part originate from strategic and operational activities increasing the target firm’s earnings. In fact, we estimate that about two third of the overall deal IRR is due to these earnings enhancement activities. Moreover, we find the impact of sales growth on deal returns to be not only economically but also statistically highly significant. The return contribution stemming from multiple enhancement is negligible. For the leverage effect the results are rather inconclusive. Even though we estimate that on aver- age about one third of the deal IRR may be contributed by the leverage effect, we do not find statistically robust evidence that deal returns are effectively increased by the leverage. This finding is in accordance with the view that if there is any benefit to leverage, it may be reaped by the seller instead of the buyer in a buy-out transaction.