Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food is good for you (and the planet): Balancing service quality and sustainability in hospitality

Purpose of the paper: Although environmental awareness is growing among hospitality customers, some environmental initiatives may lower personal comfort and overall service quality; therefore, hospitality managers need to find a balance between service quality and environmental preservation. The aim of the research is twofold: first, to investigate whether various environmentally sustainable practices affect customers’ behavioral intentions differently, and second, to investigate if customers display more positive intentions toward a specific practice that is supposed to enhance overall service quality (i.e. serving local food). Methodology: The empirical research is conducted through an online survey of 237 respondents. Respondents were asked to rate on a 5-point Likert scale the extent to which different sustainable practices affect their hotel selection process, their expected satisfaction during the stay, and their willingness to pay a higher price. Results: Results show that all environmentally sustainable practices positively influence the hotel selection process and expected satisfaction, though to differing extents, but that few practices positively influence customers’ willingness to pay a higher price. Local food is the initiative that stimulates the most positive behavioral intentions across all the dimensions. Research limitations: The study addresses almost only Italian respondents and, at the moment, examines behavioral intentions rather than actual behaviors. Originality of the paper: The study supports the idea that environmental sustainability is a multidimensional concept, and that different practices have different effects on customers’ intentions. It adds to current knowledge that initiatives such as serving local food, which are also considered to enhance service quality and are connected to personal health, can produce a significantly more positive impact.
Determinants of discontinuation and switching from family planning methods: applying to the Egyptian demographic health survey data 2014

The results of the Demographic Health Survey 2014 showed that around 30% of family planning users in Egypt stop using within 12 months of starting use. Side effects and health concerns are the reasons users most often cite for stopping using (11 percent). Four percent of users stop using due to method failure (i.e., they became pregnant while using the method), 6 percent stop using because they want to become pregnant, and 5 percent discontinue as a result of other fertility-related reasons including marital dissolution, infrequent sex, and the onset of menopause. Considering individual methods, the highest rate of discontinuation is observed for prolonged breastfeeding (44 percent), followed by the pill (42 percent) and injectable (38 percent). The IUD has the lowest discontinuation rate; 14 percent of IUD users stop using the method during the first 12 months of use. The previous results of the Demographic Health Survey are used to perform some secondary analyzes. The study shows many results, the most important of which are that the high cost of the method is not the reason for discontinuation or switching to another method. The factors that reduce the probability of discontinuation of use for method-related reasons are: Women’s education and the effectiveness of using the method. The logistic regression method is also used to determine the most important determinants of discontinuation and switching from the use of family planning 36 H. E. Semary, E. M. Hassneen S. Gamal and A. El-Shabrawy methods. The results of the analysis reveal the significance of six variables and absence of two variables. The study also comes out with some recommendations; the most important of which is the necessity to manufacture the IUD locally in order to reduce the cost of its production.
Characterization of type I and type III collagens in human tissues

Fibrillar type I and III collagens are the major constituents of the extracellular matrix, providing the tissue with tensile strength and influencing cell attachment and migration. The amount of type III collagen and the extent of its processing and cross-link maturation were studied in human atherosclerotic plaques, abdominal aortic aneurysms, colon and ovarian cancer, and finally, colon diverticulosis, using a novel radioimmunoassay for the cross-linked aminoterminal telopeptide of type III collagen. In addition, immunoassays for different structural domains of type I and type III collagens, together with immunohistochemical methods, were applied. In atherosclerotic plaques, the fully cross-linked type III collagen was the major collagen type. Type III collagen was completely processed, since the amount of type III pN-collagen was negligible. The amounts of free type I and III procollagen propeptides in the soluble fraction were small, indicating a low rate of collagen turnover. The proportion of type III collagen was lower in abdominal aortic aneurysms than in atherosclerotic aortic control samples. Furthermore, the amount of type III pN-collagen was significantly increased in aneurysms. Type I and III collagens were also maturely cross-linked in colon diverticulosis, the only difference from normal colon tissue being the increased amount of the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in the soluble tissue extract, indicating a slightly increased metabolic activity of type III collagen. In malignant ovarian tumors, the cross-linking of type I and III collagens was defective. A similar trend was also seen for type I collagen in colon cancer. Even though procollagen synthesis was increased in these malignancies, the total collagen content and the amounts of cross-linked collagens were decreased. The amount of type III pN-collagen was increased in malignant ovarian tumors, whereas no such tendency was seen in colon cancer. These findings suggest a wide variety of changes in the metabolism of type I and III collagens in diseases. Defective processing and cross-link maturation of these collagen types might result in impaired fibril formation or increased susceptibility of collagens to proteolytic attack – both of them processes with a potential role in the pathogenesis of diseases.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours: a clinico-pathological study

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are rare neoplasms. Although they represent only 0.1-3% of all gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, they account for 80% of gastrointestinal mesenchymal neoplasms. In the last 12 years, the understanding and treatment of GIST has witnessed remarkable advances due to two key developments: (1) the identification of constitutively active signals [oncogenic mutation of the c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) gene-encoding receptor tyrosine kinases] and (2) the development of therapeutic agents that suppress tumour growth by specifically targeting and inhibiting this signal (imatinib mesylate, sunitinib malate). These developments in the management of GIST represent a proof of the principle of translational therapeutics in oncology, confirming that specific inhibition of tumour-associated receptor tyrosine kinase activity may be an effective cancer treatment.
Effectiveness of Mannheim peritonitis index scoring system in predicting the morbidity and mortality in peritonitis due to hollow viscous perforation

Background: To study the spectrum and prognostic factor in perforation peritonitis. To evaluate the outcome of patients and identification of high risk patients using Mannheim peritonitis index.Methods: 80 patients with hollow viscous perforation admitted in the Dept. of Surgery Adhichuchanagiri Institute of Medical sciences from January 2019 to June 30 2020 were included in the study. Necessary data was collected; MPI score was calculated for each patient and analysis done.Results: The number of post-operative complications, hospital stay and mortality proportionately increased with the MPI score. In our study Age >50 years, Organ failure at admission pre operatively and MPI scoring found to be statistically significant. Out of the 8 variables used in this scoring system, age more than 50 years and organ failure on admission carried more significance in predicting the morbidity and mortality in the post operative period than the other variables.Conclusions: Mannheim peritonitis index is a simple and effective method in predicting the mortality and morbidity of patients with hollow viscous perforation.
Investigation effect of installation depths and dripper spacing on water productivity and sugarcane yield in subsurface drip irrigation

According to recent droughts and severe water, use of subsurface drip irrigation for sugarcane production was very important approach in Iran. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design, a basic design of complete random block with two factors and three replications. The first factor composed of 50 and 60 cm space in the main plots. The second factor includes different depths of water pipe installation (15, 20 and 30-cm) along with the conventional irrigation method (furrow irrigation). The results of analysis of variance of the effect of different treatments on qualitative traits showed that in both experiment periods, simple and interaction, effects of these treatments on all quality at traits (Pol%, Brix%, Purity% and R. S%) were non-significant at the p<0.01. The highest sugarcane and sugar yield and highest number of stalks obtained in 50-cm space of the drippers and 20-cm depth of drippers. On average, in two years of experiment, in 50-cm space of the drippers and 20-cm depth of the drippers higher WP of produced sugarcane and sugar was 6.6 and 0.73 kg.m-3, respectively. It was about 47 and 43 percent higher than the average of WP per sugarcane and sugar of the control treatment, respectively. Comparing results of qualitative and quantitative yields of subsurface drip irrigation and conventional irrigation showed that most quantitative and qualitative traits of subsurface drip irrigation were higher than the furrow irrigation. Also, the results showed that moisture distribution is similar in both growth stages of sugarcane (Plant and Ratoon1), so that the moisture around the drippers and width of ridge to a depth of 80-cm (the depth of activity of sugarcane root) was appropriate and shape of moisture bulb is oval under the drippers. According to the results of two years and considering other experiment conditions, for regions with similar characteristics to this experiment, 20-cm depth for discharge pipe and 50-cm space of emitters on the lateral pipe are suggested.
Exploring the Link between Environmental Practices and Financial Performance: an Empirical Study

Ongoing environmental deterioration has led governments and other institutions to pay closer attention to pollution problems as pollutant emissions can significantly influence and constrain economic growth. Most countries on the American continent use the ISO 14001 standard and the number of new certifications grows year by year. This work empirically explores the influence of environmental management system based on ISO 14001 certifications upon the financial performance of Colombian companies, 133 ISO 14001 certified and 5,036 non-certified firms. A panel data analysis over three years was the data analysis method. This work studied the financial performance of the companies implementing EMS compared to those that did not in one of the most important Latin American economies (Colombia). It was found that a positive relationship exists between the ISO standard and financial performance measured through the companies’ Return on Assets (ROA).
Evaluation of cost effective natural attractants for fruit fly in snake gourd ecosystem

Tephritid fruit flies are the most economic insect pest in fruits and vegetable ecosystem. It damages the crop from fruit initiation stage to harvesting of the crop. The management of fruit flies in snake gourd ecosystem is troublesome because their partial life time completed within the host and pupates in soil. The only eco friendly and safe method of management of fruit flies is through para pheromonal traps. In the large scale cultivation, depending on commercial lure are uneconomical, moreover most of the farmers are unaware of its availability and utility. Hence, the identification of cost effective, locally available resources may highly helpful to the farming community. Focusing this in view, the low cost and easily available natural sources of banana, grapes, molasses, fishmeal, red pumpkin, snake gourd, ocimum and crucifers in combination with yeast, black jaggery and acetic acid or ammonium acetate (5%) were evaluated in snake gourd field for trapping of both the sexes of fruit flies. The result of the present investigation showed that the male fruit flies were captured maximum (17.67 fruit flies/ trap) in the natural extracts of banana with yeast, black jaggery and 5% acetic acid followed by grapes (15.33 fruit flies/trap). The snake gourd red pumpkin are next in performance. The ocimum and cruciferous leaf extracts to be least in attraction of male fruit flies. The female fruit flies are highly attracted to the ammonium acetate combination of banana and grapes with the fruit fly catches of 11.00 and 6.00 fruit flies/trap. The fruit extracts of red pumpkin and snake gourd was found be next. The synthetic attractants of methyl eugenol and cue lure was found to be least performance of female fruit flies (1.67 and 1.00 fruit flies/trap). On comparing the overall natural attractant sources, banana and grapes was found to be effective in trapping of fruit flies with the highest cost benefit ratio of 1.82 and 1.74. The farmers are advised to use banana or grapes for fruit flies management and to increasing the yield with high benefit cost ratio in snake gourd ecosystem.
UWS Academic Portal The effects of dietary supplementation with inulin and inulin-propionate ester on hepatic steatosis in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Citation for published version (APA): Chambers, E. S. , Byrne, C. S. , Rugyendo, A. , Morrison, D. J., Preston, T. , Tedford, M. C. , Bell, J. D. , Thomas, E. L. , Akbar, A. N. , Riddell, N. E. , Sharma, R. , Thursz, M. R. , Manousou, P., & Frost, G. (2019). The effects of dietary supplementation with inulin and inulin-propionate ester on hepatic steatosis in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 21(2), 372-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13500
THE INFLUENCE OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, PROFITABILITY, AND LEVERAGE ON ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE (EMPIRICAL STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE COMPANIES)

In recent years the impact of industrial activities on environment has increased people’s concern. This situation gives pressure from society to management to develop environmental management and report their environmental activities. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of country of origin, profitability, and leverage on environmental disclosure. This study analyses the disclosure of environmental activities of four industrial sectors in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for 2017 period. The study focuses on four sectors identified as more sensitive to environment namely agriculture, basic and chemical, mining, and consumer goods industry. Forty (40) companies selected as sample, of which 10 companies represent each industry. The environmental disclosure is measured by 34 environmental indicators from GRI 4.0. Multiple linear regression analysis is utilized for the hypothesis testing within the study. The result of this study revealed that all independent variables do not simultaneously influence the dependent variable. There is no influence of country of origin, profitability, and leverage on environmental disclosure
A Multi-Country Study of Factors Affecting Credit Ratings Revisions

This paper reveals findings from extending corporate credit rating studies towards (i) new ratings, affirmation, confirmation, watchlists, and withdrawal, which together represent five out of eight rating types yet to be studied rigorously (there are several papers on upgrades and downgrades); and (ii) identifying key firm-specific factors affecting stock prices around the rating revisions in markets not yet studied. The firmspecific factor effects are measured using the Ordered Probit methodology. Results show that investment and speculation grade issues have the most pronounced effects on price changes. Further findings are: interest-coverage, profitability and leverage ratios, all of which stand out as the most relevant firm-specific factors correlated with stock price changes. An interesting new finding is the discovery of corruption perception scores as a new measure is significantly influencing affirmation, confirmation and downgrade ratings. These new findings are likely to be of interest to investors, corporations wanting to know rating change effects and the external regulators concerned with financial weaknesses/strengths of listed firms facing rating changes.
Selection of cypermethrin resistance in mosquito Culex pipiens larvae in Assiut, Egypt

To induce cypermethrin resistance in Culex pipiens larvae, about 20000 4 instar larvae of Cx. pipiens were collected from Assiut field and exposed to cypermethrin selection pressure for fifteen generations using dipping method. This study revealed that the resistance ratio (RR50) of the parent strain (G0) was 14.49-fold as compared with susceptible strain. This RR50 value increased gradually from each generation to the next one as a result of selection pressure with cypermethrin. The regression line for cypermethrin against the parent field strain showed slope value 2.38 which indicate a moderate level of heterogeneity of parent strain to cypermethrin. The first five generations during the course of cypermethrin selection showed that resistance ratio (RR50) was increased gradually from one generation to the next (The RR50 increased from 14.49-fold in G0 to 135.40-fold resistance in G5). By the 6 generation, the rate of resistance development to cypermethrin was fairly rapid where; the RR50 to cypermethrin increased from 135.40-fold in G6 to 272.00-fold resistance in G11. With the beginning of the 12 generation, the development of resistance to cypermethrin was increased very slowly during the last four generations from 279.92-fold in G12 to 295.52-fold resistance in G15 (plateau phase). Finally, the slope values were volatile until the eleventh generation (2.38 – 3.63) and then relatively proven in the last four generations (4.55 – 4.52). This is evidence of increasing homogeneity of selected strain in the last five generations.
Explicit form of the “modified point mass trajectory model” for the use in Fire Control Systems

The main objective of this article is to obtain equations of motion of the spin–stabilized projectile in the presence of non–constant wind. Introducing models allowing utilization of inhomogeneous wind is dictated by new possibilities created by the use of e.g. lidars in the Fire Control Systems (FCS). Constant feed of wind data can replace meteorological messages, increasing the FCS effectiveness. Article contains results of projectile flight simulations which indicate the positive effect that the derived explicit form of the model has when considering software development for modern Fire Control Systems.
Understanding the interplay of entanglement and nonlocality: motivating and developing a new branch of entanglement theory

A standard approach to quantifying resources is to determine which operations on the resources are freely available, and to deduce the partial order over resources that is induced by the relation of convertibility under the free operations. If the resource of interest is the nonclassicality of the correlations embodied in a quantum state, i.e., entanglement, then the common assumption is that the appropriate choice of free operations is Local Operations and Classical Communication (LOCC). We here advocate for the study of a different choice of free operations, namely, Local Operations and Shared Randomness (LOSR), and demonstrate its utility in understanding the interplay between the entanglement of states and the nonlocality of the correlations in Bell experiments. Specifically, we show that the LOSR paradigm (i) provides a resolution of the anomalies of nonlocality, wherein partially entangled states exhibit more nonlocality than maximally entangled states, (ii) entails new notions of genuine multipartite entanglement and nonlocality that are free of the pathological features of the conventional notions, and (iii) makes possible a resource-theoretic account of the self-testing of entangled states which generalizes and simplifies prior results. Along the way, we derive some fundamental results concerning the necessary and sufficient conditions for convertibility between pure entangled states under LOSR and highlight some of their consequences, such as the impossibility of catalysis for bipartite pure states. The resource-theoretic perspective also clarifies why it is neither surprising nor problematic that there are mixed entangled states which do not violate any Bell inequality. Our results motivate the study of LOSR-entanglement as a new branch of entanglement theory.
Homology and K-theory of dynamical systems I. Torsion-free ample groupoids

Abstract Given an ample groupoid, we construct a spectral sequence with groupoid homology with integer coefficients on the second sheet, converging to the K-groups of the (reduced) groupoid C $^*$ -algebra, provided the groupoid has torsion-free stabilizers and satisfies a strong form of the Baum–Connes conjecture. The construction is based on the triangulated category approach to the Baum–Connes conjecture developed by Meyer and Nest. We also present a few applications to topological dynamics and discuss the HK conjecture of Matui.
Taking No Chances: Lender Monitoring and Managerial Risk-Taking

Using mergers between firms’ existing lenders as shocks to lead-lender monitoring incentives and bargaining power beyond contractual provisions, I find that intensified lender monitoring significantly reduces treated firms’ risk-taking, as revealed by acquisition decisions. However, lender mergers reduce shareholder-value-enhancing acquisitions as well as value-destroying ones. Deals that do happen target cash-rich firms with stable incomes. Lender mergers also reduce leverage, sales/earnings volatility, and earnings management. The results are driven by less bank-dependent firms in which lenders are less subject to bank scrutiny ex-ante. The evidence suggests that lender monitoring deters managerial risk-taking, sometimes inducing behavior that can be over-conservative for shareholders.