Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing consumers’ product evaluations through direct product experience

Where traditional mass‐media advertising may perish in the enormous amount of communication messages, the product itself can act as a decisive communication tool and provide consumers with product‐related information in the buying decision situation. For example, the sound the product makes in use and the tactile sensation give an impression of the product’s quality. To complement the little research on the role that durable consumer products can play in marketing communications, we investigated the effects of direct product experience on information processing and product evaluation in a sample of 127 adult consumers. The results showed that direct experience enhanced consumers’ opportunity and ability to process product‐related information, but not their motivation to process the information. Subsequently, the induced levels of motivation, opportunity, and ability influenced both consumers’ attitude toward the product and their attitude confidence. One important implication for product development and marketing communications is that the communicative abilities of products can effectively be employed to enhance positively consumers’ evaluation of the product.
Assessment of quality of cancer-related follow-up care from the cancer survivor's perspective.

PURPOSE We assessed cancer survivors' perceptions of the quality of their follow-up care. METHODS We surveyed a population-based cohort of leukemia, bladder, and colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed 2 to 5 years previously in northern California (N = 623; participation rate, 69.2%; overall response rate, 49.2%). Data were collected between April 2003 and November 2004. Ten scales assessed survivors' perceptions of different aspects of care in the last 12 months, and an eleventh scale measured their overall ratings of care. RESULTS On nine of the 11 scales, mean scores ranged from 88 to 97 on a 0 to 100 response format, indicating very positive experiences. The two areas where quality perceptions were lower were discussions about health promotion and the physician's knowledge of the whole patient. In adjusted analyses, those without private health insurance (P = .02) and Hispanic and Asian survivors compared with whites (P < .001) reported worse timeliness of care. Survivors who had multiple comorbidities reported better scores on timeliness of care (P < .01) and physicians' knowledge (P = .05) than survivors without any comorbidity. Length of the patient-physician relationship was the variable most consistently found to be significantly associated with survivors' quality assessments. Physicians' information exchange had the strongest relationship with overall ratings of care, followed by physicians' affective behavior, their knowledge of the survivor, and survivors' perceptions of coordination of care (P < .001 for all). CONCLUSION Delivery of quality follow-up care to cancer survivors may require efforts to improve patient-centered communication and coordination. Special emphasis may need to be placed on health promotion discussions and adoption of a whole-person orientation.
Impact of Pericardial Effusion on Cardiac Mechanics in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (CDM) is a degenerative disease of the myocardium accompanied by left ventricular (LV) remodeling, resulting in an impaired pump performance. Differently, pericardial effusion (PE) is a liquid accumulation in the pericardial cavity, which may inhibit blood filling of heart chambers. Clinical evidence show that PE may improve pump performance in patients with CDM. Therefore, this study aims to assess wall stress and global function of patients with CDM, PE as compared to healthy patient. These findings suggests that CDM has an important implication in the mechanical changes of LV and right ventricle by increasing wall stress and reducing pump function. Conversely, PE determines lowering myocardial fiber stress and improves global function as compared to those of CDM.
Exploring antecedents and consequences of young consumers’ perceived global brand equity

Purpose With the expansion of globalization, the increased competitive environment has led to the diffusion of brands across borders and cultures. Furthermore, young consumers represent an optimal segment for the proliferation of global consumer culture (GCC). This paper aims to examine the relationship between acculturation to global consumer culture (AGCC), perceived brand equity, attitudes toward the brand and brand resonance in the global sportswear brands context among young consumers in the USA. Design/methodology/approach A total of 394 undergraduate student participants ranging in age from 18 years to 24 years completed a multisectional structured survey. Model construct validity was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis. A structure equation model was used to test hypotheses and relationships. Findings Results showed that while cosmopolitan and self-identification with GCC dimensions of ACGG had a positive association with perceived brand equity, exposure to marketing activities of MNCs and global mass media exposure dimensions of AGCC had a negative association with perceived brand equity. Perceived brand equity also revealed a positive association with attitudes toward the brand, which in turn, affected brand resonance. Research limitations/implications The research used a sample of 18-24-year-old youth consumers. Future research could be extended to include younger (15-17-year old) sample to provide a broader sample of the youth market. In addition, future replication of findings should seek through cross-cultural investigation of multiple youth segments. Practical implications Findings suggest support multiple dimensions of the AGCC scale as holding significant influence on young consumers’ brand equity consisting of brand image and brand awareness. Managerially, the findings provide support on the youth consumer’s affinity toward self-identification with a GCC and cosmopolitan openness to foreign cultures as being positively related to the adoptions and retention of apparel brands. Social implications Theoretically, the results provide empirical evidence for the debate on the interrelationship between brand equity and attitudes toward brands. The theoretical model guiding the current study reflects the notion of an emerging acculturation process among a segment of the world’s population to a set of global consumer preferences and ideals that are increasingly being embodied in global brands. Originality/value This is among one of the first studies attempting to explore the applicability of Cleveland and Laroche’s (2007) AGCC concepts in predicting young consumers’ attitudes and behavioral responses toward global brands.
Using a Multi-Agent Evidential Reasoning Network as the Objective Function for an Evolutionary Algorithm

A culturally diverse group of people are now participating in military multinational coalition operations (e.g., combined air operations center, training exercises such as Red Flag at Nellis AFB, NATO AWACS), as well as in extreme environments. Human biases and routines, capabilities, and limitations strongly influence overall system performance; whether during operations or simulations using models of humans. Many missions and environments challenge human capabilities (e.g., combat stress, waiting, fatigue from long duty hours or tour of duty). This paper presents a team selection algorithm based on an evolutionary algorithm. The main difference between this and the standard EA is that a new form of objective function is used that incorporates the beliefs and uncertainties of the data. Preliminary results show that this selection algorithm will be very beneficial for very large data sets with multiple constraints and uncertainties. This algorithm will be utilized in a military unit selection tool
Combining Reusable Test Cases and Continuous Security Testing for Reducing Web Apps Security Risks

In network communication age, information technology is being at the continuous and rapid evolution process. Network access equipment, information system and Web Apps must rapidly and continuously update to meet the user interested requirements. Major challenge of Web Apps frequent changes is the security of user personal data and transactions information. Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are the routine methods to improve the security of Web App. However, these two ways not only timeconsuming, but also require too many resources. For coping the continuous changes, in the limited resources, security testing not only need to be timely completed, but also should concern testing quality. Otherwise, every change maintenance cannot avoid to cause the security risk of new version App. Based on reusable test cases, this paper proposes the continuous security testing procedure (CSTP), using test cases reusability to increase security test efficiency. In Web Apps maintenance process of limited resources, CSTP can timely handle security testing and quickly identify Web Apps vulnerabilities and defects. Assisting Apps maintainer effectively repair security defects and concretely improve the security of user personal data and transaction information.
Perception, Expression, and Social Function of Pain: A Human Ethological View

The Argument Pain has important biomedical socioanthropological, semiotic, and other facets. In this contribution pain and the experssion of pain are looked at from the perspective of evolutionary biology, utilizing, among others, cross-cultural data from field work in Melanesia. No other being cares for sick and suffering conspecifics in the way humans do. Notwithstanding aggression and neglect, common in all cultures, human societies can be characterized as empathic, comforting, and promoting the health and well-being of their members. One important stimulus triggering this caring response in others is the expression of pain. The nonverbal channel of communication, particularly certain universal — i.e., culture-independent facial expressions, gestures, and body postures, convey much of the message from the painstricken person to the group. These behaviors signal the person's physical and psychical pain, sadness, grief, and despair in ways very similar to the signs given by infants and small children: the body loses tonus and sinks or drops to the ground, the gestures are those of helplessness. Pain and grief may be so strong that control is lost not only over the body's posture but also over the mind's awareness. In such cases the afflicted person may carry out actions endangering himself or others. In general, these behavior patterns resemble those of infants in situations of distress and danger, and it is not surprising that the response of the members of the group is basically parental: taking care, assisting and consoling. Perceptive and behavioral patterns which developed in the course of avian and mammalian phylogeny to serve the well-being of the young have proven, as was shown by Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1989), to be powerful building blocks for actions in other spheres of human interaction. Love is one such field, the reactions to a conspecific suffering pain is another.
Key determinants of virtual store acceptance among Malaysians consumers

The Internet has evolved from a communication tool for a select group of people to a commercially that is predicted to change the way people buy and sell things across a number of industries. In the last few years, we have witnessed phenomenal growth in the business activities on the Internet. One of the most significant phenomena is the emergence of a new form of business called virtual store. By making use of the advantages if the Internet, virtual store provides greater efficiency in the retail value chain and their existence has tremendously paved the way for the diffusion of the electronic commerce concept into the general public. However, little systematic research had been conducted to study the new form of business especially in Malaysia. This research intends to investigate the virtual store phenomenon to some extent. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is used to study the acceptance and use of virtual stores by consumers. This will lead to the explanation of a large portion of factors that lead to a userâ€™s behavioral intention to use the virtual store. This research is conducted using as the primary methodology. The results from the survey indicate that the proposed theoretical model is able to explain and predict consumer acceptance of virtual stores substantially well.
Calculated PRA: Initial Results Show Benefits for Sensitized Patients and a Reduction in Positive Crossmatches

The calculated panel reactive antibody (CPRA), which is based upon unacceptable HLA antigens listed on the waitlist form for renal transplant candidates, replaced PRA as the measure of sensitization among US renal transplant candidates on October 1, 2009. An analysis of the impact of this change 6 months after its implementation shows an 83% reduction in the number of kidney offers declined nationwide because of a positive crossmatch. The increasing acceptance and utilization of unacceptable HLA antigens to avoid offers of predictably crossmatch‐positive donor kidneys has increased the efficiency of kidney allocation, resulting in a significant increase in the percentage of transplants to broadly sensitized (80+% PRA/CPRA) patients from 7.3% during the period 07/01/2001–6/30/2002 to 15.8% of transplants between 10/1/09–3/31/10. The transplant rates per 1000 active patient‐years on the waitlist also increased significantly for broadly sensitized patients after October 1, 2009. These preliminary results suggest that ‘virtual’ positive crossmatch prediction based on contemporary tools for identifying antibodies directed against HLA antigens is effective, increases allocation efficiency and improves access to transplants for sensitized patients awaiting kidney transplantation.
THE EFFECT OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ON COMPANY’S PROFITABILITY IN THE HOSPITALITY (HOTEL) INDUSTRY

According to the British laws, a hotel is a place where a “bonafied” traveler can receive food and shelter provided he is in a position for it and is in a fit condition to receive. Hotels have a very long history, but not as we know today, way back in the 6th century BC when the first inn in and around the city of London began to develop. They first catered for travelers and provided them with a mere roof to stay under. This condition of the inns prevailed for a long time, until the industrial revolution in England, which brought about new ideas and progress in the business at inn keeping. The invention of the steam engine made traveling even more prominent. More people traveling not only for business but also for leisure reasons. This had lead to the development of hotel industry as we know of today. Hotels today not only cater for the basic needs of the guests, like food and shelter, but provides much more. Hotels today are a “Home away from home”.
Central command and the increase in middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity during static arm exercise in women

We examined the role of central command in static exercise‐induced increase in middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity (VMCA). Eleven young female subjects performed static elbow flexion for 2 min at 30% maximal voluntary contraction without (control exercise; CONT) and with vibrations to the biceps brachii tendon (EX+VIB) in order to reduce the effort needed to maintain the set contraction intensity. The rating of perceived exertion in exercising muscle (Arm RPE) at the end of EX+VIB was lower than that of CONT (mean ±s.d.; 4.8 ± 1.1 for CONT versus 3.5 ± 1.0 for EX+VIB; P < 0.05). The increases in mean arterial pressure (36 ± 8 versus 22 ± 7%; P < 0.05), heart rate (36 ± 16 versus 21 ± 7%; P < 0.05) and cardiac output (56 ± 26 versus 39 ± 14%; P < 0.05) during EX+VIB were also lower than those during CONT. Similarly, the increase in the VMCA during EX+VIB was lower than that during CONT (29 ± 5 versus 17 ± 14%; P < 0.05). These results suggest that the influence of central command contributes to cerebral blood flow regulation during static exercise and the decrease in VMCA is likely to be caused by attenuated brain activation in the central command network and/or by the reduction in cardiac output.
Colorectal cancer chemoprevention by 2 β‐cyclodextrin inclusion compounds of auraptene and 4′‐geranyloxyferulic acid

The inhibitory effects of novel prodrugs, inclusion complexes of 3‐(4′‐geranyloxy‐3′‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐trans propenoic acid (GOFA) and auraptene (AUR) with β‐cyclodextrin (CD), on colon carcinogenesis were investigated using an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model. Male CD‐1 (ICR) mice initiated with a single intraperitoneal injection of AOM (10 mg/kg body weight) were promoted by the addition of 1.5% (w/v) DSS to their drinking water for 7 days. They were then given a basal diet containing 2 dose levels (100 and 500 ppm) of GOFA/β‐CD or AUR/β‐CD for 15 weeks. At Week 18, the development of colonic adenocarcinoma was significantly inhibited by feeding with GOFA/β‐CD at dose levels of 100 ppm (63% reduction in multiplicity, p < 0.05) and 500 ppm (83% reduction in the multiplicity, p < 0.001), when compared with the AOM/DSS group (multiplicity: 3.36 ± 3.34). In addition, feeding with 100 and 500 ppm (p < 0.01) of AUR/β‐CD suppressed the development of colonic adenocarcinomas. The dietary administration with GOFA/β‐CD and AUR/β‐CD inhibited colonic inflammation and also modulated proliferation, apoptosis and the expression of several proinflammatory cytokines, such as nuclear factor‐kappaB, tumor necrosis factor‐α, Stat3, NF‐E2‐related factor 2, interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐1β, which were induced in the adenocarcinomas. Our findings indicate that GOFA/β‐CD and AUR/β‐CD, especially GOFA/β‐CD, are therefore able to inhibit colitis‐related colon carcinogenesis by modulating inflammation, proliferation and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in mice.
Specific Location of Disc Hemorrhage is Linked to Nerve Fiber Layer Defects.

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects and the quadrant and proximal location of disc hemorrhages (DHs) in a large population examined for health screening. METHODS A total of 168,044 subjects older than 20 years underwent a single screening ophthalmic examination with color fundus photography as part of a comprehensive health screening program. The presence and location of DHs and RNFL defects were assessed. The DH locations were defined according to the quadrant location (inferotemporal, superotemporal, inferonasal, or superonasal) and the most proximal end of DHs relative to the disc center (cup base, cup margin, disc rim, or extrapapillary region). Using these two location descriptors as independent variables, a logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the effects of DH location on RNFL defects. RESULTS Two hundred twenty-six eyes had DH and 120 (53.1%) of them had RNFL defects. After adjusting for proximal location, DHs located in the inferotemporal quadrant accompanied RFNL defects 12 times more frequently than those in the superonasal quadrant (odds ratio [OR], 11.81; P = .004). Conversely, after adjusting for quadrant location, the ORs for an associated RNFL defect were 3.73 (P < .001), 16.54 (P < .001), and 8.91 (P = .002) for DHs with the proximal end at the disc rim, cup margin, and cup base, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Among the four quadrants and four proximal locations, DHs were identified most frequently in the inferotemporal quadrant and outside the disc, respectively. Some DH locations, such as the inferotemporal quadrant and the cup margin, were associated with RNFL defects, whereas others were not.
IPPRED: Server for Proteins Interactions Inference

SUMMARY IPPRED is a web based server to infer protein-protein interactions through homology search between candidate proteins and those described as interacting. This simple inference allows to propose or to validate potential interactions. AVAILABILITY IPPRED is freely available at http://cbi.labri. fr/outils/ippred/.
Cutting Edge: Cell Surface Expression and Lipopolysaccharide Signaling Via the Toll-Like Receptor 4-MD-2 Complex on Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages1

The human MD-2 molecule is associated with the extracellular domain of human Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and greatly enhances its LPS signaling. The human TLR4-MD-2 complex thus signals the presence of LPS. Little is known, however, about cell surface expression and LPS signaling of the TLR4-MD-2 complex in vivo. We cloned mouse MD-2 molecularly and established a unique mAb MTS510, which reacted selectively with mouse TLR4-MD-2 but not with TLR4 alone in flow cytometry. Mouse MD-2 expression in TLR4-expressing cells enhanced LPS-induced NF-κB activation, which was clearly inhibited by MTS510. Thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages expressed TLR4-MD-2, which was rapidly down-regulated in the presence of LPS. Moreover, LPS-induced TNF-α production by peritoneal macrophages was inhibited by MTS510. Collectively, the TLR4-MD-2 complex is expressed on macrophages in vivo and senses and signals the presence of LPS.
'The Phenomenal Cat': Firms Clawing the Goods of Others

Using results collected for the first time through interviews with Italian manufacturing firms, this work shows that around a quarter of aggregate manufacturing sales are not sold by the actual producer. This circumstance, known as carry along trade (CAT), means that the comparative advantage of some manufacturing firms lies in activities other than crafting, with important consequences for the interpretation of productivity measures. CAT firms hold a 3% productivity premium compared with the average firm, which does not disappear controlling for size, export and multinational status, geographical location and sector. This premium increases to 10% when CAT involves mainly packaging and to 20% when goods produced by third parties are sold under the brand or associated with the brand of CAT firms. Furthermore, CAT firms specializing in downstream activities earn higher profit margins on sourced than on in-house production. CAT can thus be conceived as an example of functional upgrading of some firms towards more valuable downstream activities. Usual productivity measures disregard the CAT phenomenon and bundle a firm's ability to combine factors within a physical production process with other sources of profitability, such as proximity to consumers, access to foreign markets through well-established distributional channels, and marketing skills. The existence of CAT calls for a methodological refinement of productivity measurement.