Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Service Quality in Development of Tourism Industry

This study aims to investigate the role of service quality in tourists' revisit and the development of tourism industry. It initially reviews the importance of tourism industry and the concept and dimensions of service quality, and then it deals with the impact of service quality in tourism and customer satisfaction. Finally, it presents the theoretical model of the research indicating the dimensions of quality in tourism. The results from the research showed that such dimensions as Quality of accessibility, accommodation, venue and their components contribute directly in satisfaction of tourists, their intend to return and eventually development of tourism industry in a region.
Amantadine for olanzapine-induced weight gain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of amantadine for the treatment of olanzapine-induced weight gain. Methods: Studies were identified using online searches of PUBMED/MEDLINE and Cochrane database (CENTRAL), along with websites recording trial information such as ClinicalTrials.gov, Controlled-trials.com, and Clinicalstudyresults.org. Study eligibility criteria included randomized, double-blind clinical trials comparing amantadine with placebo for olanzapine-induced weight gain with body weight as an outcome measure and study duration of at least 12 weeks. The methodological quality of included trials was assessed using the Jadad Scale. Separate meta-analyses were undertaken for each outcome (body weight and frequency of weight loss >7%) and treatment effects were expressed as weighted mean differences (WMD) and Mantel–Haenszel odds ratio for continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively. Results: A systematic review of literature revealed six studies that had assessed amantadine for olanzapine-induced weight gain. Of these, two studies (n = 144) met the review inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Meta-analysis was performed to see the effect size of the treatment on body weight and frequency of body weight loss >7%. For body weight change, WMD was −1.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] −3.31 to −0.39) kg with amantadine as compared with placebo; the overall effect was statistically significant (p = 0.01). For frequency of body weight loss >7%, Mantel–Haenszel odds ratio for weight loss was 3.72 (95% CI 1.19–11.62), favoring amantadine as compared with placebo, and the overall effect was significant (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Existing data is limited to two studies, which support the efficacy of amantadine for olanzapine-induced weight gain and a significant proportion of patients might lose weight with amantadine compared with placebo.
Technological Capabilities of Chinese Enterprises: Who is Going to Compete Abroad?

The objective of this study is to investigate the relation between increasing Chinese high-tech exports and the technological capabilities of Chinese companies. China s recent innovation policy provides substantial incentives for companies to pursue technological upgrading and internationalization strategies. For our analysis, we extend models of New New Trade Theory to include the aspect of the technological capabilities of companies. We use the share of international patent applications as a proxy for exports and find that companies with higher total factor productivity and more valuable technology, as measured with citations received, are more likely to go international. Considering the implications of transport cost, we find that companies located in China s coastal region are more likely to export. We do not find evidence that the inclination to export is dominated by policy considerations.
Recruiting Diverse Smokers: Enrollment Yields and Cost

To help tobacco control research better include vulnerable populations, we sought to identify effective ways to recruit diverse smokers. In 2014–2015, we recruited 2149 adult cigarette smokers in California and North Carolina, United States, to participate in a randomized trial of pictorial cigarette pack warnings. The most effective means of recruiting smokers were the classified advertising website Craigslist (28% of participants), word of mouth (23%), Facebook (16%), and flyers or postcards (14%). Low-income and African American smokers were more likely to respond to interpersonal contact (including staff in-person recruitment and word of mouth) than were high-income and non-African American smokers (all p < 0.05). Hispanic and gay, lesbian, and bisexual smokers were more likely to be recruited by Craigslist than non-Hispanic and straight smokers (both p < 0.05). Of the recruitment methods requiring cost, the cheapest was Craigslist ($3–7 per smoker). The most expensive methods were newspaper ads in California ($375 per smoker) and staff in-person recruiting in North Carolina ($180 per smoker). Successfully recruiting diverse smokers requires using multiple methods including interpersonal, online, and other media. Craigslist and word of mouth are especially useful and low-cost ways to recruit diverse smokers.
The effect of smoking in pregnancy on maternal serum inhibin A levels

To assess the effect of smoking on maternal serum, second‐trimester inhibin A levels, we studied a database of 1277 women undergoing antenatal serum screening. There were 75 smokers, 1008 non‐smokers and 194 women in whom smoking status was undetermined. All groups were matched for age, gestation and parity. The median level of inhibin A in smokers was 1·47 multiples of the normal gestation‐specific median (MOM) as compared with 1·01 MOM in non‐smokers and 0·95 MOM in the undetermined group. The increase was highly statistically significant (p<0·0001, Wilcoxon rank sum test, two‐tail). On the basis of these results we conclude that if inhibin A is used as a marker, adjustment for maternal smoking status may be necessary. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Empirical Study on the Long-Run Relationships between Lower Exchange Rates and Foreign Direct Investments in Developing Economies; Evidence from Tanzania

The hypothesis that devaluating and depreciating the exchange rate in developing economies will lead to fast growth and economic development has drawn some controversies and debate recently in the area of development economics. Mainly, due to the delayed results in some countries especially in the Sub Sahara Africa region. In this study, the key emphasis is on the stochastic trends of the exchange rate and the net FD inflows into Tanzania. We find a significant long-run relationship between the exchange rate of Tanzanian shilling, which is on the list of weak currencies in the world, and the net FDI inflow. We employ the Augmented Dickey Fuller test (ADF), Vector error Correction Model (VECM) and the Johansen’s cointegration test to measure the time series properties of the two variables. To conclude, this study suggests LDC’s to include the level of the exchange rate on the settings of the policies that will attract more FDI to flow in their market.
Δ9-desaturase polymorphism association with fatty acid profile of Italian PDO dry cured hams

PDO dry-cured ham (prosciutto) is the main product of the Italian pig industry. Fatty acid profile is of major importance for the technological properties of the fresh thigh and for the dietary and sensory quality of the ham. ∆ 9-desaturase (SCD) is a microsomal enzyme required for the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and therefore a potential candidate gene to explain the differences in the MUFA content in meat and fat. Through sequencing, a SNP was observed in the SCD promoter. Forty-six pigs of Italian Landrace x Italian Large White cross breed ("reference hybrids") and 32 Goland, a commercial hybrid, were genotyped by PCR-RFLP for this mutation. Fatty acid profiles were determined by gas chromatography in thigh subcutaneous fat. Single locus genotype association analysis was carried out using the General Linear Model in SPSS. The genotypic frequencies of the SCD polymorphism were different between the two pig hybrids. However, independently of the pig genetic type, significant associations (P < 0.05) were found between the SCD polymorphism and the ratios of palmitoleic to palmitic acids and of oleic to stearic acids, as well as the ratio of MUFA to SFA. These findings confirm our previous results and suggest that the SCD promoter polymorphism is associated with the quality of PDO dry cured Italian hams.
QTL Mapping for Pest and Disease Resistance in Cassava and Coincidence of Some QTL with Introgression Regions Derived from Manihot glaziovii

Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), cassava mosaic disease (CMD), and cassava green mite (CGM) was performed using an F1 cross developed between the Tanzanian landrace, Kiroba, and a breeding line, AR37-80. The population was evaluated for two consecutive years in two sites in Tanzania. A genetic linkage map was derived from 106 F1 progeny and 1,974 SNP markers and spanned 18 chromosomes covering a distance of 1,698 cM. Fifteen significant QTL were identified; two are associated with CBSD root necrosis only, and were detected on chromosomes V and XII, while seven were associated with CBSD foliar symptoms only and were detected on chromosomes IV, VI, XVII, and XVIII. QTL on chromosomes 11 and 15 were associated with both CBSD foliar and root necrosis symptoms. Two QTL were found to be associated with CMD and were detected on chromosomes XII and XIV, while two were associated with CGM and were identified on chromosomes V and X. There are large Manihot glaziovii introgression regions in Kiroba on chromosomes I, XVII, and XVIII. The introgression segments on chromosomes XVII and XVIII overlap with QTL associated with CBSD foliar symptoms. The introgression region on chromosome I is of a different haplotype to the characteristic “Amani haplotype” found in the landrace Namikonga and others, and unlike some other genotypes, Kiroba does not have a large introgression block on chromosome IV. Kiroba is closely related to a sampled Tanzanian “tree cassava. ” This supports the observation that some of the QTL associated with CBSD resistance in Kiroba are different to those observed in another variety, Namikonga.
A NANOFLUIDIC DEVICE FOR SELECTIVE CONCENTRATION AND LABEL-FREE SURFACE-ENHANCED RAMAN DETECTION OF PROTEIN AGGREGATES IMPLICATED IN NEURODEGENERATION

This work demonstrates an advanced method for highly selective concentration and sensitive label-free detection of protein aggregates, using a nanofluidic device with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate. In our previous work [1], we reported proof-of-concept results for a new type of nanofluidic device rapid prototyping using elastomeric collapse. Here, we present a practical application of this system by showing its ability to detect and characterize small amounts of protein aggregates, which are strongly implicated in several clinically and pathologically distinct diseases.
Optimum Message Transfer Rate for Distribution Feeder Protection Operating over Switched Telephone Networks

Distribution feeder protection relays require reliable and low-cost communication channels. The reliability in sending protection messages over a private or a public switched telephone network (STN) and the associated communication time delay are considered in this paper. The reasoning used to determine the optimum message transfer rate for a numerical current differential relay used for distribution feeder protection is described. A communication channel testing facility was developed and used to measure the time delay necessary to reliably send a protection message over an STN channel operating at different modem data rates. The paper presents and discusses the results obtained and shows how they can be validated using an analytical expression for data transfer reliability. For the defined current differential message frame, test results show that the selected data speed maximises channel reliability and minimises channel delay.
A topology visualisation tool for National Research and Education Networks in Africa

Previous research on National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Africa has shown high latency in traffic exchanged between networks, with 75% of this traffic taking circuitous routes through Europe. This paper presents a user-centered creation of a geospatial visualisation tool that can be used to show the network structure of African NRENs, using Traceroute as a method for network topology discovery. The visualisation tool allows multiple Traceroutes for a single IP address to be viewed on a map from various vantage points. The tool's effectiveness and accuracy at communicating the logical network topology of African NRENs and routes of traffic traversal was assessed. Results from usability tests showed that the tool was able to effectively and accurately communicate the logical topology on a country and continental level with over 68% of visual queries having been answered successfully.
Data mining approaches highlighted transcription factors that play role in thermo-priming

Abiotic stresses including heat are major threats to crop plants especially considering the global warming facts. A pre-exposure to heat stress can prime plants and enable them to encounter a severe dose of stress which is lethal to unprimed plants. In this study, in order to identifying potential key elements involved in priming responses to heat stress we analyzed a microarray series in Arabidopsis thaliana. To this end we conducted differential expression analysis, clustering, annotation and network construction by using the publicly available tools. In agreement with experimentally validated results we noticed that different genes were differentially expressed between primed and unprimed plants from which genes encoding retro-elements and proteins involved in chromatin remodeling were noteworthy. The topology analysis of constructed network highlighted the role of TFs including zinc finger and DREB in heat acclimation after priming phase. A total of 33 transcription factors were differentially expressed in primed versus unprimed plants five of which were detected to be hub and bottleneck nodes in genes network that may play a role in heat stress priming and memory additionally as potential targets to discover new insights to improve stress resistance in crop plants.
One-Year Clinical Outcomes of Ultra Long Apollo Polymer-Based Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents in Patients with Complex, Long Coronary Artery Lesions

Background For all the wealth of research comparing the efficacy of the different types of the drug-eluting stent (DES) such as sirolimus-, paclitaxel-, and zotarolimus-eluting stents, there is still a dearth of data on the different brands of each DES type. We aimed to investigate the one-year clinical outcomes, including major adverse cardiac events (MACE), of the use of the ultra long Apollo paclitaxel-eluting stent in patients with long atherosclerotic coronary artery lesions. Methods According to a retrospective review of the Tehran Heart Center Registry of Interventional Cardiology, a single-center nonrandomized computerized data registry in which all adult patients who undergo single or multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are enrolled without any specific exclusion criteria, the mixed use of long Apollo paclitaxel-eluting stents and other types of the DES as well as myocardial infarction within forty-eight hours prior to the procedure was excluded. In total, 122 patients were enrolled in the study, and their baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics were obtained. In addition, the patients’ follow-up data and, most importantly, MACE during a one-year period after intervention were recorded. Results The mean follow-up duration was 14.1 ± 3.8 months. The one-year clinical follow-up data were obtained in 95.9 % of all the patients. The incidence of MACE was 5.7% during the entire study period. There was 1 death, which occurred during the initial days after PCI. The incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction was 2.5% (3 cases), including one patient who underwent target vessel revascularization seven months later. Also, 3 patients with single-vessel disease and in-stent restenosis underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between five to ten months later. Conclusions Our results showed that the Apollo paclitaxel-eluting stent might be regarded as a safe and effective treatment for long coronary lesions.
Transactional Leadership and Job Performance: An Empirical Investigation

Present study investigates the relationship between transactional leadership and job performance in the six large banks of Pakistan. The survey method was used to collect data from the middle managers of six large banks of Pakistan. The data was analyzed and reported using Smart-PLS and its standard reporting style. The findings of the study reveal that transactional leadership has significant relationship with job performance. The last part of the paper presents insights on future research.
The Myth of China as a Single Market – the Influence of Personal Value Differences on Buying Decisions

China. is. a. large. heterogeneous. market. with. diversified. consumer. behaviour. in. different. regions . This. study. aims. to. examine. personal. value. differences. between.consumers. in.China’s. inland.and. coastal.regions,. and.further. examine. their. influence.on. retail.buying.decisions . Data.are. collected.from. coastal.cities. (Shanghai. and. Guangzhou). and. inland. cities. (Chengdu. and. Harbin). using. the. matched. sampling. method . Statistical. analyses. reveal. that. China’s. coastal. consumers.are.more.individualist. in.their. value.priorities. than.inland.consumers,. while. inland. consumers. are. more. collectivist. than. coastal. consumers . As. a. consequence.of. these.value. differences,. we.find. that.functional. product.attributes. are.more. important.to. coastal.consumers. than.to. inland.consumers,. while.social. attributes. appeal. more. to. inland. consumers. than. to. coastal. consumers . This. study. adds. to. the. body. of. knowledge. of. marketing. in. China. by. contrasting. coastal–inland.consumer. buying.decisions. as.influenced. by.within-country.values. variation,. and.has. implications.for. both.academics. and.practitioners .
A Cross-Comparison of Reengineering Teams Undertaking Business Process Change

Reengineering teams are viewed to be important for Business Process Reengineering, but little information has been published about this area. The research presented here intends to fill the gap identified in the literature. A subsequent aim of this research is to promote further research into this matter. This paper illustrates several issues that are associated with the reengineering teams that undertake business process change, using three case studies that were undertaken in the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom. The issues identified include the contents of a reengineering team, the human and organizational aspects, the role of Information Technology, and project management. The human and organizational aspects that are identified within the paper are such topics as conflict, trust, communication, and motivation. This paper also provides a discussion regarding the research methods that were used to obtain the results.
Resources and Student Achievementevidence from a Swedish Policy Reform

This paper utilizes a policy change to estimate the effect of teacher density on student performance. We find that an increase in teacher density has a positive effect on student achievement. The baseline estimate – obtained by using the grade point average as the outcome variable – implies that resource increases corresponding to the class-size reduction in the STAR-experiment (i.e., a reduction of 7 students) improves performance by 2.6 percentile ranks (or 0.08 standard deviations). When we use test score data for men, potentially a more objective measure of student performance, the effect of resources appears to be twice the size of the baseline estimate.
Corporate Social Responsibility in the UAE Construction and Education Sectors ةدحتملا ةيبرعلا تاراملإا يف ميلعتلاو ءاشنلإا يعاطق يف تاسسؤملل ةيعامتجلإا ةيلوؤسملا

Society, environment and community in the United Arab Emirates have experienced the impact of industrialization and globalization over the last few decades. This has provided grounds for businesses in the United Arab Emirates to construct a close relationship between corporation, state and society which implies the relevance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This dissertation investigates the perception, policies and practices and the relevance of CSR which is a relatively new concept to the country. The samples selected for the study are taken from the construction and education sectors with a combination of local, expatriate and joint venture businesses. The research focuses on stakeholder management as well as investigates topics such as benchmarking, factors that motive individuals and businesses to practice CSR including small and medium enterprises operating in the UAE. In-depth interviews are the main method of data collection. Thematic and quantitative content analysis was used to evaluate selected research propositions designed by the researcher to explore and understand the new CSR policies and practices and identify how they are implemented in the organizations studied. The dissertation concludes there is evidence for some CSR practices and CSR policies being promoted and supported within the region.
Bis[μ2-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane]bis(μ2-ethane-1,2-dithiolato)-μ4-sulfido-μ2-sulfido-disulfidodimolybdenum(V)disilver(I) dimethylformamide trisolvate

Treatment of [Et4N]2[(edt)2Mo2S2(μ-S)2] (edt = ethanedithiolate) with two equivalents of Ag(CH3CN)4ClO4 in the presence of bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) ligand gives rise to the title tetranuclear cluster, [Ag2Mo2(C2H4S2)2S4(C25H22P2)2]·3C3H7NO. The complex molecule and one of the dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent molecules occupy special positions on a mirror plane. The molecular structure of the complex may be visualized as being built of [Mo2S2(μ-S)2(edt)2]2− dianions and [Ag2(dppm)2]2+ dications connected by two Ag—μ-Sedt and two Ag—μ4-S bonds.
Soft X-Ray Single-Photon Detection With Superconducting Tantalum Nitride and Niobium Nanowires

We have fabricated ultrafast dark count-free soft X-ray single-photon detectors (X-SNSPDs) from TaN with various conduction path widths, and we compare their properties with corresponding data from a Nb X-SNSPD. The TaN X-SNSPDs offer an improved detector performance regarding device detection efficiency, latching, and pulse amplitudes. Wide conduction paths allow for a certain energy-resolving capability in contrast to narrow TaN conduction paths. However, wide paths also limit the detection efficiency at low temperatures, which can be explained within a hot-spot model.
Reducing congestion through persuasive gaming

In this paper we provide an overview of the I-GEAR (incentives and gaming environments for automobile routing) project that is intended to reduce traffic congestion in Luxembourg through the use of persuasive gaming. In order to illustrate some of the issues involved we also present an outline concept of a live game in which we propose to encourage the workshop participants to take part. If a sufficient number of workshop participants take part, this real life game could even be used as a small scale study within the project. Author