Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risks and Effects of IS/IT Outsourcing: A Securities Market Assessment1

Abstract CEOs are ultimately responsible to investors for firm performance, including the results of IS/IT outsourcing. CIOs, while responsible for implementing the outsourcing contract, do not share that same level of motivation or responsibility as the CEO. Although previous studies examine market effects of outsourcing on firm stock, and of IS technology investment on firm value, no published IS research ties outsourcing to financial performance or examines its effects on firm risk. This study addresses these issues with a securities market assessment of outsourcing. It examines outsourcing announcement effects on firm value and firm risk, using empirical data. The findings of this research are: large-company IS/IT outsourcing has a value-neutral, but risk-changing effect on the firm, as measured by initial reactions in company stocks and listed options. Over time, firm value improves following outsourcing. Weak firms experience increased risk with outsourcing, while all other firms experience a reduction in risk. Given these findings, outsourcing is a tool the CEO can use to signal investors that steps are being taken to improve firm performance. By examining outsourcing from this perspective, we conclude that CEO and CIO perceptions of outsourcing differ, as do their motivations and job responsibilities. Outsourcing appears to benefit the entire firm, the investors, and the CEO, far more than it benefits the IS department and the CIO.
Customer Empowerment to Co-Create Service Designs and Delivery: Scale Development and Validation

ABSTRACT This study developed a scale to measure customer psychological empowerment. Focus group and in-depth interviews were used to generate items. Three separate studies were undertaken with different sampling methods in different service industries to refine the scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to identify and confirm the factor structure. Convergent, discriminant, nomological, and criterion validities were reported prior to testing internal and external validities. The customer psychological empowerment scale was determined to be a second-order factor model consisting of three subdimensions: service choice, information attainment, and impact. The scale generates high reliability and validities.
Modelling of phase shift Bragg grating biosensor for non invasive detection of blood components

In this article Bragg grating waveguide with phase shift cavity biosensor is proposed for diagnosis of a various blood components. Analysis is performed for blood plasma, hemoglobin, blood glucose, biotin streptavidin and bovine serum albumin. Detection is done by observing shift in resonant wavelength due to the alteration in refractive index of different components of blood. Finite difference method is employed for analytical analysis of device.
Gold Nanowires: Their Synthesis and Surface Plasmon Resonances

The objective of the project was to fabricate gold nano-rods and study the optical properties of gold nano-particles when coupled to Indium Arsenide quantum dots. The gold nano-rods were synthesized by a seed-mediated growth method using CTAB and BDAC as the surfactants, and the feasibility of changing the aspect ratio of the rods and their Plasmon resonance frequency was studied by varying the concentrations of these two surfactants. Finally, gold nano-rods with longitudinal Plasmon resonance of 940 nm were synthesized. Next, we studied the feasibility of coupling gold nano-wires to indium arsenide quantum dots for investigating their optical properties and studying the spontaneous emission enhancement of InAs QDs in the presence of the plasmon resonances of gold nano-wires. The sample containing nano-wires coupled to quantum dots was excited by red laser, and the emission was passed through a spectrometer and the spectrum was obtained.
Pulsatile and steady-state hemodynamics of the human patella bone by diffuse optical spectroscopy

The cardiac cycle related pulsatile behavior of the absorption and scattering coefficients of diffuse light and the corresponding alterations in hemoglobin concentrations in the human patella was studied. The pulsations in scattering is considerably smaller than absorption. The difference in amplitude of absorption coefficient pulsations for different wavelengths was translated to pulsations in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, which leads to strong pulsations in the total hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation. The physiological origin of the observed signals was confirmed by applying a thigh-cuff. Moreover, we have investigated the optical and physiological properties of the patella bone and their changes in response to arterial cuff occlusion.
Service Quality Attributes Specific to the Performance of Officials (umpires and referees) at an Australian Recreation Center

Abstract The performance of officials is often a cause for dissatisfaction that influences customers to discontinue their involvement with sports competitions. Recreational sports conducted by Australian public recreation centers in particular often utilize inexperienced officials who are criticized by participants. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify specific attributes of officials' performance and to examine their impact on participants at an Australian public recreation center. A questionnaire administered to a sample of team sport participants at the center indicated that attributes of greatest concern were those relating to the officials' consistency, ability to control games, and perceived bias. In turn, most of these attributes were strongly related to the respondents' willingness to recommend the center to others (an indicator of their own future support for the center). This exploratory study adds another dimension to the current dearth of research that deals with the performance of sport officials, and provides information relevant to the recruitment and training of officials.
Conductance and kinetics of delayed rectifier potassium channels in nodal cells of the rabbit heart.

1. The delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) of single pace‐maker cells from the sino‐atrial node and the atrioventricular node of the rabbit heart was investigated using the whole‐cell and cell‐attached configurations of the patch‐clamp technique. 2. The activation kinetics of the macroscopic IK were not altered by varying the extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o) between 5.4 and 150 mM. The amplitude of the tail current of IK, however, was about 10‐fold larger at a [K+]o of 150 mM than that at a [K+]o of 5.4 mM. 3. By using a high‐[K+]o solution, inward single‐channel currents were observed on repolarization from potentials positive to ‐40 mV. The current‐voltage (I‐V) relation was linear over the negative potential range and the reversal potential estimated by extrapolating the I‐V curve was shifted by about 60 mV for a 10‐fold increase in [K+]o, indicating that the channel was highly selective for K+. 4. The single‐channel conductance was 11.1 pS at a [K+]o of 150 mM and varied in proportion to the square root of [K+]o. The total number of channels was estimated as approximately 1000 per cell (0.7/micron 2). On repolarization, the averaged single‐channel current disappeared with a time constant similar to that of the macroscopic tail current of IK. 5. At potentials between ‐50 and ‐100 mV, the open and closed times of the single channel fitted well with single‐exponential and biexponential distributions, respectively. As the membrane was progressively depolarized, the open time was shortened while the closed time was prolonged, suggesting a decrease of open probability. These changes were in the opposite direction to those expected from the delayed rectifier K+ current which progressively increases in magnitude at more positive potentials. 6. At the beginning of the macroscopic tail current, a transient increase of the inward current was found to precede the time‐dependent decrease. This rapid initial change can be attributed to a quick removal of inactivation of IK which had occurred during the depolarizing pulse. This inactivation gate of the channel has very fast kinetics and could be responsible for the inward‐going rectification observed in the 'fully activated' IK.
Constructed Advantage: The Next Paradigm After Competitive Advantage?

5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 6 LIST OF FIGURES AND LIST OF TABLES 7 1 INTRODUCTION 8 1.1 Background 8 1.2 Research Gap 10 1.3 Purpose of the Study 11 1.4 Scope and Limitations 12 1.5 Key Concepts 13 1.6 Structure of the Dissertation 14 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 16 2.1 Theoretical Context of the Study 16 2.2 Absolute Advantage 18 2.2.1 Introduction 18 2.2.2 Definition and Assumptions 20 2.2.3 Example and Implications 22 2.2.4 Discussion and Conclusions 25 2.3 Comparative Advantage 28 2.3. 1 Introduction 28 2.3. 2 Example, Definition and Implications 29 2.3. 3 Definition in Terms of Opportunity Cost 32 2.3. 4 Introducing Demand 34 2.3. 5 Discussion and Conclusions 35 2.4 Competitive Advantage 37 2.4. 1 Introduction 37 2.4. 2 The Industrial Organization School 40 2.4. 3 The Resource-Based View School 43 2.4. 4 The IMP Group: A Network View 45 2.4. 5 Discussion and Conclusions 49
Factors Associated With Multiple Versus Single Episode Suicide Attempts in the 1990–1992 and 2001–2003 United States National Comorbidity Surveys

This study sought to examine psychiatric and childhood traumatic event correlates of multiple suicide attempts (MSA) compared with single suicide attempts (SSA) in 2 nationally representative samples of the United States general population. Data came from the National Comorbidity Survey (n = 5,401; age 18–54; response rate = 82.4%) and the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (n = 4,083; age 18–54; response rate = 70.9%). Multiple logistic regressions were used to compare individuals with MSA to those with a SSA on the variables of interest after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Individuals with a history of MSA had significantly higher odds of experiencing several traumatic events in childhood in the 2 surveys. Most notably, comorbidity of 3 or more mental disorders and the presence of at least 1 anxiety disorder distinguished individuals with MSA from those with a SSA in both surveys, suggesting the potential importance of these variables in association with multiple suicide attempts.
Personality Disorders: Conceptual Issues and Responsibility

Abstract: The historical roots of the concepts of abnormal personality, social deviance, delinquency and penal responsibility are described, demonstrating that former concepts of psychopathic personality often included negative social evaluations. Modern classification systems such as DSM‐III‐R and ICD‐10 prefer a behavior‐oriented definition of personality disorders, which increases reliability but may lead to a reductionistic and purely criteriological assessment of personality. A checklist for the assessment of personality disorders (AMPS) according to ICD‐10 and DSM‐III‐R is presented, including four subaffective forms derived from the typology of personality disorders described by Kurt Schneider and Kretschmer. To justify statements of diminished legal responsibility or irresponsibility under the German Penal Code, a differentiation between psychopathological phenomena in personality disorders and pure social deviance is needed. The three notions of psychopathy, sociopathy and dissocial behavior are suggested to guide necessary decisions concerning prognosis and therapy chances.
‘Mum, can I play on the internet?’

Research about the role of parents in children’s consumption of online advertisements is scarce. Parents are viewed as having a responsibility to deter children from invasive marketing, yet with the rise of non-traditional marketing it is unclear whether they have the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake this role. The authors address this research gap and demonstrate that parents have limited understanding of the effectiveness of online advertising and this restricts their ability to protect their children from online marketing endeavours. Parents recognize online persuasive techniques only when they themselves have been exposed to them (e.g. banners, pop-up advertisements) and are often unable to appreciate more subtle marketing techniques in their persuasive capacity (e.g. advergames). In addition, they erroneously believe that children respond to online marketing the same way adults do. Finally, parents display naivety in their conviction that their children would never be taken in by marketers.
Agoraphobic Behavior in Daily Life: Effects of Social Roles and Demographic Characteristics

Agoraphobia is related to demographic characteristics and social roles. To unravel behavioral aspects from demographic characteristics, daily life situations were registered with the Experience Sampling Method for 65 panic patients with and without agoraphobia. Surprisingly, panic patients with and without agoraphobia did not differ as hypothesized in reported frequencies of visits to public places. Panic subjects with agoraphobia did, however, spend significantly more time at home and with their families than did panic patients without agoraphobia and normal controls. When adjusted for demographic variables such as sex, marital status, family life, and employment, no significant differences between panic patients with and without agoraphobia emerged on the avoidance variables of remaining at home or being with a family member. The lack of discrimination of the diagnosis on these crucial behavioral variables highlights the influence of demographic characteristics and social roles on agoraphobia in daily life. Such findings challenge current diagnostic conceptualizations that rely on retrospective reports by patients of the avoidance of public places. Moreover, reliance on retrospective reports obscured the important role of significant others for understanding etiology and course.
Age at First Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: The Role of Birth Cohort, Demographic Factors, and Clinical Features

Objective: This study sought to identify factors that may be associated with delays in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, including birth cohort, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical features. Methods: Participants included 1716 children and adolescents with ASD enrolled in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (AS-ATN) between the years 2008 and 2011. Data were collected at enrollment using AS-ATN parent- and clinician-report forms and standardized measures of I.Q. , ASD symptoms, adaptive function, and psychiatric symptoms. Results: Age at first ASD diagnosis was positively correlated with current age, suggesting a birth cohort effect. Sociodemographic and clinical features were also associated with age at diagnosis, even after controlling for current age. Hierarchical linear regression results showed that older current age, lower socioeconomic status (SES), higher I.Q. score, and lower levels of autism symptoms were associated with later age at initial diagnosis. There was also a significant interaction between current age and I.Q. , with higher functioning children being diagnosed at younger ages than in previous years. Conclusions: Early diagnosis of ASD is critically important for improving access to interventions; however, many children experience diagnostic delays. In this sample, children from the most recent birth cohorts were diagnosed earlier, suggesting that early signs of ASD are being increasingly recognized. However, socioeconomic barriers to diagnosis still seem to exist. Children with less severe ASD symptoms and with higher I.Q. are also diagnosed at later ages. Efforts are still needed to reduce diagnostic disparities for families of low SES and to improve early recognition of more subtle symptoms.
On the localization of acetylcholine receptors

The presence of special chemoreceptor substances at the motor end-plate was recognized when Langley (1907) showed that the junctional region of a muscle is highly sensitive to cerain chemical stimulants. With the use of single fibres, Buchthal & Lindhard (1937) and Kuffler (1943) demonstrated that the stimulating action of acetyl4holine (ACh) is restricted to the synaptic area of the muscle membrane, or at least that the potency of ACh at the end-plate greatly exceeds that at nerve-free regions. More recently, it became possible to use micropipettes for very localized applications of ACh+ ions to single endplates. This method was employed by Nastuk (1951, 1953, 1954) who showed that a pipette of less than 0-5 , tip diameter can be used, either as a continuous point source from which ACh is allowed to diffuse at constant rate towards a nearby end-plate, or, even more effectively, as a momentary source from which ACh+ ions are released electrophoretically, the quantity of the discharge being controlled by the strength and duration of an outward-passing current pulse. This method offers further advantages, for the pipette is small enough to be inserted into the interior of the muscle fibre. Thus, given amounts of ACh can be applied to both sides of the end-plate membrane either in the conventional manner, to the outer surface of the membrane which faces the nerve endings, or to the inner surface which faces the sarcoplasm. Experiments will be described which show that intracellular application of ACh is, relatively or completely, ineffective (see also Castillo & Katz, 1954c). The evidence supports the view that specific chemoreceptors are located on the external surface of the end-plate, that is on the side of the muscle membrane which makes contact with the nerve endings, while the internal surface of that membrane is insensitive to applied ACh.
Haptoglobin, inflammation, and tumorigenesis in the MIN mouse

Abstract We have determined that the MIN mouse, which is predisposed to adenomas of the small and large intestine, exhibits chronic inflammation characterized by the induction of haptoglobin (HP), as well as other acute phase proteins. Inflammation is initiated at about 40–70 days of age, and is maintained throughout the life of the animal. Delayed onset of inflammation brought on by dietary means is associated with a reduction in tumor number and longer life-span. Knockout mice that lack haptoglobin exhibit an increase in tumor number, indicating that the acute phase reactant suppresses tumorigenesis, perhaps through inhibition of the inflammatory response. The MIN mouse is, therefore, a useful model for studying the roles of HP and inflammation in tumorigenesis in vivo.
THE EFFECT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MECHANISM ON EARNINGS MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (Case Study on Indonesia Manufacturing Industry)

The purpose of the research is to get empirical evidence about institutional ownership, management ownership, directors’ size, audit committee, independent commissioner, leverage, profitability, firm size, auditor’s independency and auditor’s reputability on earnings management practice. This research used 53 manufacturing companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange and the data were collected through purposive sampling method during the research period 2009 until 2011. The result of the research showed that audit committee, independent commissioner and debt to equity ratio had influence on earnings management practice. The results of this study indicate that the audit committee and independent commissioner overseeing management in reporting of company performance through financial statements. In addition, companies that source of funding more debt than equity is more likely to make an earnings management.
The relationship between marketing communication constituents, perceived benefits and information system adoption

The influence of marketing communication in decision making is not a new idea, however, the impact of marketing communication constituents on drawing business customers' attention and intention towards information system (IS) adoption has not been widely studied. The current paper develops and empirically tests the potential relationship between marketing communication constituents, perceived benefits and IS adoption. The study suggests that marketing communication impact should be investigated by considering the effect of several marketing communication constituents for sustainable IS adoption. Empirical results from the study of IS adoption among retailers in Australia, confirms that marketing communication constituents are imperative in enticing business customers' perception and intention towards IS adoption. The paper concludes with implications of the study for theory and practice.
Variation of Fatty Acid Content in Zamorano-Type Ovine Cheese According to the Milk Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content

A total of 30 Zamorano-type cheeses were manufactured in order to study the effects of milk conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content, ripening time, and interactions between both effects on fatty acid (FA) profile. Cheeses elaborated from milk with a high CLA content showed higher contents of vaccenic, oleic, alpha-linolenic (ALA), CLA, monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) FA, and lower contents of capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, estearic, linoleic, and saturated (SFA) FA than cheese from milk with a low CLA content. Content of unsaturated C18 FA along with MUFA and PUFA groups increased throughout the ripening, while SFA content decreased. The interactions between milk CLA content and ripening time were significant for palmitic, linoleic, CLA, SFA, and omega-6/omega-3 ratio in Zamorano-type cheese. Decreases in cheese omega-6/omega-3 ratio were obtained from milk with a high CLA content; this ratio worsened over ripening in cheeses from low-CLA milk. In conclusion, these results emphasize the importance of the initial CLA content in milk with regard to improve the lipid profile in cheese for consumption.
MISPERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL NORMS ABOUT TAX COMPLIANCE (1): A PRESTUDY

Taxpayers may justify non-compliant behaviour with the perceived high prevalence (descriptive norm) or high acceptability (injunctive norm) of tax non-compliance in the population. However, their perception may be distorted: their taxpaying behaviour may follow misperceived norms and reflect ‘pluralistic ignorance’. In an experimental questionnaire study focusing on the injunctive norm, psychology students were asked, in a first step, about their personal tax-related beliefs and behaviour and the perceived beliefs and behaviour of others. The results confirmed the divergence between average personal beliefs and perceived beliefs of the average. In a second step, participants were given feedback about either this divergence or about a norm-irrelevant finding (control). The intervention significantly improved the perceived tax beliefs of others (injunctive norm) and, mediated by this effect, increased hypothetical tax compliance. The findings encourage tax-regulatory measures based on these theoretical considerations. Misperceptions of social norms about tax compliance (1): A prestudy Michael Wenzel
Determination of the Maximal Lactate Steady State in Obese Zucker Rats

Abstract This study aims to identify the maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) in obese rats in order to provide a more effective tool in the exercise training prescription for this important animal model. To make such determination, obese (Zucker, n=5) (390.0±18.8 g) and lean (Wistar, n=5) (227.3±26.2 g) rats were studied. After adaptation of animals to treadmill, the MLSS was determined by using 3 different velocities (10 m.min − 1, 12.5 m.min − 1 and 15 m.min − 1 for Zucker and 15 m.min − 1, 20 m.min − 1 and 25 m.min − 1 for Wistar). The MLSS was defined as the highest blood lactate concentration that increased up to 1 mmol.L − 1 during constant exercise. In obese rats, the MLSS was found in a velocity considerably lower than in lean controls (12.5 m.min − 1 and 20 m.min − 1), respectively (p<0.05). Therefore, the identification of MLSS in obese Zucker rats is an important tool for exercise prescription and evaluation in obese rat models.