Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The nature of value created by UK online grocery retailers

The UK retail environment is extremely competitive, forcing retailers to constantly develop and enhance both their offerings and their formats. Probably the most significant changes taking place are coming from not the products being sold themselves, but rather when, how and where they are being sold. For example, new technologies such as the Internet, CD-Roms, electronic kiosks and digital television are opening up new opportunities for retailers through remote purchasing and delivery. While a number of large retailers have made heavy investments into electronic retailing, such as Arcadia, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury, it is uncertain how they are going to use this technology to gain competitive or market advantages. Given the media attention which technologies such as the Internet has attracted, there is the danger that businesses may adopt an unfocussed use. This report identifies and evaluates the ways in which major UK grocery retailers are using the Internet to create value for their users over and above that which is offered by bricks and mortar stores. Web sites of three grocery retailers were evaluated via preselected criteria in order to assess how they created value for their customers. Applying Holbrook’s typology of consumer value, the findings of the research suggest that each of the retailers surveyed are similar in terms of the nature of the value they have created for consumers online, these being value-as-convenience and value-as excellence.
Effect of cyclic guanosine-monophosphate on porcine retinal vasomotion.

PURPOSE Vasomotion refers to periodic oscillations in vascular tone that ensure the intermittent supply of blood to adjacent microvascular units. Previous evidence from vessels outside the eye suggests that cyclic guanosine-monophosphate (cGMP) is involved in the regulation of vasomotion, but it is unknown whether this compound has an effect on vasomotion in retinal vessels. METHODS Retinal arterioles from porcine eyes were studied in a wire myograph. After initiation of vasomotion, the vessels were stimulated with increasing concentrations of the cGMP agonist 8-Br-cGMP (n = 6), the phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast (n = 6) and the cGMP synthesis inhibitor L-NAME (n = 6). High concentrations of L-NAME blocked vasomotion, and control experiments (n = 20) using 8-Br-cGMP, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), adenosine and pinacidil were carried out to elucidate whether this effect was related to changes in the general tone of the vessel. Additionally, the relationship between oscillations in vascular tone and intracellular calcium concentration was studied. RESULTS Induction of cGMP agonistic activity with either 8-Br-cGMP or zaprinast lowered the vasomotion frequency significantly, whereas L-NAME-induced inhibition of cGMP increased this frequency. Neither of the agents affected the amplitude of the oscillations. The control experiments indicated that the effect of cGMP on vasomotion frequency was independent of the accompanying increase in tone. The oscillations in tone during vasomotion were accompanied by similar oscillations in intracellular calcium concentration. CONCLUSION Cyclic GMP lowers the frequency without affecting the amplitude of vasomotion in isolated porcine retinal arterioles.
Comparative Analysis of FDI Determinants in Russia and Brics Countries

In recent years changes in direction of foreign direct investments (FDI) started to attract more attention of economists. In this paper different economic indicators and variables as a factor of FDI growth are investigated. In the first part weregiven different classifications of FDI determinants. The second part was based on quantitative analysis of FDI determinants in BRICS countries. Data for analysis was provided by World Bank database of economic statistics. The last part includes polynomial regression model for Russia’s FDI inflows and their dependence on different variables. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015. v6n1s3p304
Plasma fibrinogen and its correlates in adult Saudi population.

OBJECTIVE To determine plasma fibrinogen and its correlates in the adult Saudi population and to investigate hyperfibrinogenemia as a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). METHODS A cross-sectional survey was designed and carried out through multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling of every third house in 6 heterogeneously populated districts of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period 1999 to 2002. Demographic and clinical data of 2263 adult Saudi subjects, consisting of 1934 (85.5%) men and 329 (14.5%) women, was collected through a standard questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and history of smoking were recorded. Plasma fibrinogen, total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins (HDL) and blood sugar were determined in fasting blood samples. RESULTS The majority (84.6%) of the subjects were between 20-50 years of age. The mean plasma fibrinogen was 336 +/- 115 mg/dl, and was increasing with age both in men and women. The mean +/- SD fibrinogen in women (357 +/- 118 mg/dl) was significantly higher (p value of 0.03) than men (332 +/- 114 mg/dl). Hyperfibrinogenemia (>400 mg/dl) was indicated in 554 (24.6%) of the total subjects. Among hyperfibrinogenemic Saudi adults, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 14.3%, hypertriglyceridemia 24%, obesity 26.3%, systolic/diastolic hypertension 11.5% and 11% and hyperglycemia 26% (in women only). A reciprocal relation was observed between HDL and plasm fibrinogen. Significant positive correlation was seen between fibrinogen and BMI, systolic and diastolic BP and total cholesterol. There was no significant difference in the distribution of plasma fibrinogen between smokers and non-smokers (p value of 0.864). The difference in the magnitude of metabolic as well as modifiable CVD risk factors between smokers and non-smokers was not significant, except serum triglyceride which was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers (p value of 0.020). CONCLUSION A significant positive correlation was observed between hyperfibrinogenemia and obesity, systolic/diastolic hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Our results thus support the earlier reports that hyperfibrinogenemia is a potential CVD risk factor. Unlike other reports, we could not find any correlation between smoking and plasma fibrinogen in our studied subjects. The value of hyperfibrinogenemia as a definite risk factor for CVD has to be quantified in future case-control studies comparing its significance between CVD subjects and normal controls.
Book Review: James O. Fiet, Prescriptive Entrepreneurship, Cheltenham and Northampton MA: Edward Elgar, 2008. 296 pp. ISBN 978—1847—20578—0, £69.95 (hbk)

651 to focus on key points would be all valuable additions to this text. Moreover, the volume cannot be used as a stand-alone textbook but rather should be seen as a complementary text to more traditional course manuals. The main target group of this book is science and engineering students who mainly will have no previous background in economics and management. Therefore, one would expect a more gradual and detailed introduction to at least some of the basics in management and economics. Instead, the background part of each chapter is rather short in most chapters, which can be a serious learning obstacle for novices. A glossary of business and economics terms, appendixes or text tables to describe some of the basic concepts, plus lists of additional readings are some more examples of what could have been added to this book. This book has the merit of drawing attention to the specificity of teaching entrepreneurship to technical students and science-based start-ups. As such, it can be useful reading also for other groups such as managers of hi-tech companies and scholars generally interested in entrepreneurship education. Books in general also can trigger new ideas and debates. This one in particular serves as a good starting point to stimulate a discussion on the teaching approaches when it comes to teaching management disciplines, and entrepreneurship in particular, to engineering and science students. It is not uncommon that these students experience a sort of learning shock when passing from the very structured, rigorous and quantitative realm of exact sciences to the more problematic and elusive field of management sciences. Often, they are not able to deal effectively with this cultural and cognitive shift if they are not adequately supported. Consequently, this has an impact on their learning performance and even on their general interest in entrepreneurship courses. In my opinion, there is plenty of unexplored room out there to consider and experiment with new entrepreneurship teaching approaches that might better fit the background, sensibility and learning expectations of this specific audience.
Homelessness and Gender in Out-of-Treatment Drug Users

This study examines 5225 out-of-treatment crack users and drug injectors drawn from five different geographic areas to examine selected factors associated with homelessness. Of these crack users, 27% considered themselves undomiciled, and 60% had previously entered some type of drug treatment. Logistic regression found that substance abusers who were married, female, and persons of color were less likely to be without a home when other variables were controlled. Trading sex for money and perceived chance of getting acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were associated positively with homelessness, while participating in methadone detoxification and methadone maintenance programs seemed to offer some protection from homelessness.
Impairments, disabilities and health related quality of life after treatment for breast cancer: a follow-up study 2.7 years after surgery

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess impairments, disabilities and health related Quality of Life (QOL) after treatment of breast cancer and to analyse the relationship between treatment modalities, impairments, disabilities and health related QOL. Method: Fifty-five patients who underwent a modified radical mastectomy or a segmental mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection were retrospectively assessed with a mean follow up of 2.7 years after treatment. Impairments were assessed by means of measuring active shoulder range of motion, grip strength, arm volume and pain. Disabilities were assessed by means of the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) and health related QOL was assessed by means of the RAND 36-item Health Survey (RAND-36). Setting: University Hospital Groningen (The Netherlands). Results: Pain (60%) and reduction of grip-strength (40%) were the most frequent impairments found. The prevalence of impaired range of motion and oedema was 9 – 16% respectively 15%. Mean group score of the SDQ was 33.7 (sd: 32.1) and mean scores of the RAND-36 differed significantly for physical functioning, vitality and health perception to that of a female norm group. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were significant factors in the prediction of impaired range of motion. Pain and restricted range of motion explained 61% respectively 12% of the variance in disability (SDQ). In the prediction of health related QOL, pain, grip strength and arm volume were significant factors respectively in six, three and two domains. Conclusions: Pain is the most frequent assessed impairment after breast cancer treatment with strong relationship to perceived disability and health related QOL. Disability is mild and health related QOL (RAND-36) differed in three of the nine domains with a female norm group.
Tail use improves performance on soft substrates in models of early vertebrate land locomotors

Animal and robot experiments explore the use of a tail in aiding terrestrial locomotion. In the evolutionary transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment, early tetrapods faced the challenges of terrestrial locomotion on flowable substrates, such as sand and mud of variable stiffness and incline. The morphology and range of motion of appendages can be revealed in fossils; however, biological and robophysical studies of modern taxa have shown that movement on such substrates can be sensitive to small changes in appendage use. Using a biological model (the mudskipper), a physical robot model, granular drag measurements, and theoretical tools from geometric mechanics, we demonstrate how tail use can improve robustness to variable limb use and substrate conditions. We hypothesize that properly coordinated tail movements could have provided a substantial benefit for the earliest vertebrates to move on land.
Pulmonary venous flow and mitral inflow velocity pattern in uncomplicated obesity: evidence for late diastolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Active left ventricular relaxation, assessed by Doppler isovolumic relaxation time, is impaired in obesity. There is little information on left ventricular passive properties during filling. METHODS To evaluate left ventricular late diastolic stiffness in obesity, Doppler echocardiographic interrogation of mitral inflow tract and pulmonary vein flow velocities were obtained from 47 normotensive, young obese subjects (11 males, 36 females) and 43 normotensive, young normal-weight volunteers (13 males, 30 females) of comparable age. RESULTS After controlling the effect of blood pressure and left ventricular mass, isovolumic relaxation time was prolonged in obese subjects (p < 0.0001 vs normal-weight controls). No difference was found in transmitral peak early and late flow velocities. Obese subjects exhibited prolonged pulmonary vein reverse flow velocity during atrial contraction (p < 0.004), and a higher difference or ratio between duration of pulmonary reverse flow and duration of transmitral forward late flow (6 +/- 31 vs -20 +/- 39 ms or 1.06 +/- 0.3 vs 0.84 +/- 0.3, p < 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). These differences were also confirmed after controlling blood pressure and left ventricular mass. Non-invasively estimated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher in obese subjects than in controls (p < 0.002). At multivariate analysis a higher body mass index was the sole predictor of prolonged difference between duration of pulmonary reverse flow and duration of transmitral forward late flow (beta = 0.38, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Obesity is associated with prolonged left ventricular active relaxation and abnormalities of filling pressure not detectable by the sole mitral inflow velocity pattern. These latter abnormalities are consistent with the presence of early increased left ventricular passive stiffness.
Coordination of Monetary and Fiscal Policies in the OECD

Discontent with the functioning of the world monetary system has led to many proposals for international monetary reform. These proposals range from enhanced consultations under the current regime of floating exchange rates to a regime of fixed exchange rates, as proposed by Ronald McKinnon. In this paper we examine the implications of several alternative monetary arrangements for fiscal policy in the world economy. In particular we focus upon two issues. The first is the effects of alternative monetary arrangements on the international transmission of fiscal policy. The second is the implications of the alternative regimes for strategic aspects of fiscal policymaking.As is generally the case in the discussion of exchange regimes we find that the choice of the monetary system is crucially dependent upon the source and nature of the shocks hitting the world economy. In this paper we show that the monetary regime also has important implications for the transmission offiscal policy in the world economy and for the nature of the strategic games played by fiscal authorities. Rigid rules of the game, as under fixedexchange rates, do not necessarily eliminate the inefficient equilibriathat can occur when fiscal authorities behave non-cooperatively.
Financing high-tech SMEs in China: A three-stage model of business development

This article examines the financing of high-tech Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in China at different stages of business development, based on a survey of 74 face-to-face interviews with high-tech SMEs and additional nine informal face-to-face interviews with bank and government officials in the two Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi. Attention is focused on distinguishing different financing methods according to particular stages of an SME's business life cycle. The findings show the importance of informal financial sources from individuals and firms’ employees for high-tech SMEs at all three development stages. Such sources have become a central aspect of the financial infrastructure for the private sector in China. The article distinguishes between the alternative methods or practices used by firms at all three stages, seeking to either overcome particular financial constraints or to avoid the commitment of large capital investments in relatively long-term projects. It identifies the absence of demands and a gap for medium- and long-term funding for high-tech SMEs, placing a serious barrier on the ability of high-tech SMEs to engage in R&D for making more fundamental innovation and developing new/distinctive products. It concludes by making the implications of these findings for China, and internationally.
The management of defective resin composite restorations: current trends in dental school teaching in Japan.

AIM The aim of this article is to investigate the contemporary teaching of the management of defective direct resin composite restorations in dental schools in Japan. METHODS A questionnaire relating to the teaching of the management of defective resin composite restorations was developed and e-mailed to 29 dental schools in Japan in 2010. RESULTS Completed responses were received from 19 of the 29 invited schools (response rate = 66%). Eighteen schools (95%) report that they included the teaching of repair of direct defective resin composite restorations in their dental school programs. Thirteen schools reported that they included both clinical and didactic instruction on the repair of direct resin composite restorations. Fourteen schools did not teach any mechanical roughening of the exposed resin composite restoration surface before undertaking a repair. The most commonly reported treatment was acid etching with phosphoric acid (12 schools). The most commonly taught material for completing repairs was a flowable resin composite (16 schools). CONCLUSION The teaching of repair of defective resin composite restorations is well established within many Japanese dental schools, to a greater extent than in some other regions of the world. The impact of this teaching on subsequent clinical practices in Japan should be investigated. Furthermore, it is concluded that there is a need for much stronger leadership in operative and conservative dentistry, ideally at the global level, to resolve differences in key aspects of operative procedures such as repairs.
Online Social Networking on Campus: Understanding What Matters in Student Culture

Preface Chapter 1 Introduction: Campus Life Online Chapter 2 Emergence and Acceleration: Computer-Mediated Communication and the College Student * The rise of the technological generation and the construction of individual identity and college culture * Internet history and use * Development of online social networking sites * Social networking sites as cultural phenomenon: Generally and on campus * College Student Identity: Issues and research on online social networking sites Chapter 3 Students Speak: Campus Culture, Identity and Facebook * Facebook Primer * What Students Report about Their Facebook Use * Student Portraits * Kris * Jordan * Teresa * Matthew * Our Observations Chapter 4 The New Campus Reality: Facebook and Student Affairs Practice * Do Administrators Belong on Facebook? * Student Leaders as Cultural Translators * Orienting Students to Campus Culture, both Real and Online * Supporting Student Development in the Expanding Campus Community Chapter 5 The Future of the Campus Social Graph * What is the future of online social networking on campus? * Changing demographic of Facebook and Online Social Networks * Global Growth * New Niche Users * Post Script References Glossary Index Author Biographies
Energy Supply Risk Premium: Review and Methodological Framework

Abstract In this article we explain why traditional risk management techniques in the energy sector are not suitable for constructing and quantifying an Energy Security Index which will incorporate all risk parameters that endanger the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies among the numerous energy routes from their destination to European countries. Following an extensive desktop research we present financial techniques and concepts that provide appropriate methods for constructing such an index. Finally, utilizing some of the concepts already discussed, we present the methodological framework in order to develop an Energy Security Index.
Sickness presenteeism: measurement and management challenges

Abstract Since work can be restorative to health, attending work when unwell should not be viewed as an inherently negative phenomenon. However, the functional benefits are likely to depend on the health condition, and the psychosocial quality of the work provided. The current study used a workforce survey to explore differences in the pattern of presenteeism and absenteeism by health condition, the association of psychosocial work factors with presenteeism compared to absenteeism, and their interaction to predict health. Findings indicate that instead of substituting absenteeism for presenteeism, the two tend to coincide, but the balance differs by health condition. Presenteeism is more likely to occur in poorer psychosocial environments, reinforcing the importance of ensuring work is designed and managed in ways that are beneficial rather than detrimental to health. The findings also highlight the methodological importance of differentiating between the act and impact of presenteeism in future research and practice. Practitioner Summary: Effective management of work-related health requires that practitioners manage both sickness absence and presence together, since employees tend to fluctuate between the two when unwell. Interventions should be tailored to the specific health concern, paying particular attention to the psychosocial environment in enabling employees to continue working without exacerbating health.
The foreign exchange exposure management practices of Finnish industrial firms

This study employs questionnaire survey and financial accounting data to extend earlier empirical work on the foreign exchange (FX) exposure management practices of Finnish industrial firms. The paper concentrates on: (i) the form that FX corporate hedging policy takes; (ii) the control of FX procedures and trading; and, (iii) our respondents' perceptions about their ability to predict FX rate changes for hedging decisions. Our results indicate that the extent to which firms hedge FX exposure depends on the type of exposure and the form that FX hedging policy takes. Also, a significant number of the firms pursue FX hedging strategies on the expectation of attaining trading profits and this strategy appears to be accommodated within their FX policies. This feature is not explicitly demonstrated in previous studies. Finnish firms hedge a much higher proportion of both transaction and translation exposures compared to economic exposure. We partly attribute this emphasis to the requirements of the Finnish Accounting Act, which came into effect in 1993. The organisational, historical and financial settings of the firms also have significant impacts on exposure management practices. The overall implication of those results is that firms respond to changes in the financial, economic and regulatory environments in which they operate.