Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Profiling Service Failure and Customer Online Complaint Motives in the Case of Single Failure and Double Deviation

This study compares the profile of service failure in single-failure and double-deviation situations differentiates the complaint motives in both. It content-analyzed online customer complaints in two popular Malaysian foodservice chains. The first part discusses the four main service failure categories: (a) product related, (b) people related, (c) process related, and (d) physical-evidence related. The second section compares the six different types of complaint motives in single-failure and double-deviation situations. The results revealed that one case of double deviation occurred in every six cases of service failure. In addition, service failure profile and the complaint motive profile in single failures and double deviations were found to be similar. Given the findings, several important recommendations for academicians and industry practitioners were made.
The Analysis of Return Reverse Logistics Management Strategy Based on B2C Electronic Commerce

Under the circumstance of B2C e-commerce, return reverse logistics has become the bottleneck of logistics management, so both businesses and consumers have to establish a sense of return. On the one hand effective return management can improve the business's reputation and image, on the other hand it is an effective way to reduce costs. This paper mainly expounds the concept of reverse logistics, analyzes the reasons for return reverse logistics in B2C e-commerce model, counts and obtains the main reasons for return with questionnaire, and gives a useful return management strategy.
Performance evaluation of various MIMO decoders for IEEE 802.11n WLAN system

In this paper, we present the performance evaluation of MIMO decoders for IEEE 802.11n high-speed WLAN system. The performance of Zero Forcing decoder, Minimum Mean Square Error decoder and Sphere decoder is evaluated by computer simulation in terms of packet error rate. The simulation results show that Sphere decoder has the best performance, Minimum Mean Square Error decoder has intermediate performance, and Zero Forcing decoder has the worst performance.
The Auditor's Objectivity Under a Negligence Liability System

When an auditor's effort is not observable, auditor liability becomes an important mechanism for motivating the auditor to exert an appropriate level of audit effort. However, while the presence of legal liability helps to preserve the value of an audit to investors, some aspects of the liability system may motivate sub-optimal behaviour and perhaps, ultimately, detract from investors' welfare. This paper seeks to contribute to the analysis of litigation-related issues by examining the effects of alternative legal cost allocation systems - the so-called American versus British rules, on the value of audits. Using a game theoretic model, the paper characterizes investors and an auditor's equilibrium strategies in pre-trial negotiation and the auditor's effort decisions. The paper finds that the American system (where the parties pay their own litigation costs) provides a higher audit value than the British system (where the loser of a case pays the winner's litigation cost) while the auditor's total expected costs are higher in the American system than in the British system.
Chronic pain as perceived by older people: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND the practical issues confronting older people who suffer chronic pain may not be tackled in a pain clinic setting and little is known of their strategies for coping. They seem to have little or no information on how to improve the quality of their lives or on resources available to them. AIM the aim of this study was to ascertain from older people the practical, physical and psychosocial limitations they faced because of chronic pain, and the strategies they used to deal with them. METHOD a qualitative approach to generating data was chosen using a Grounded Theory approach and unstructured interviews. Sixty-three people ranging from 60 to 87 years of age participated in the study. Audio-tapes were transcribed verbatim. The material was coded and collapsed into themes. RESULTS two main themes emerged: (i) the desire for independence and control; and (ii) adaptation to a life with chronic pain. The valuing of independence is in line with previous findings. With only three exceptions none of the participants were certain how or where to get help with practical issues and so they lived in fear of loss of their independence. Several sub-categories formed the theme of adaptation. These were acceptance and non-acceptance, pacing oneself, helping other people, the use of prayer and 'looking good and feeling good'. When independence and control is effective, older people may adapt better to chronic pain. CONCLUSION understanding chronic pain sufferers from their own perspective may have important clinical implications. The interview data informed the development of a booklet designed to meet the needs of older patients with chronic pain.
Design and characterization of a novel permanent magnet synchronous motor used in a growing prosthesis for young patients with bone cancer

Approximately 50 child sarcomas are treated with limb salvage surgery each year in the United Kingdom. These children need an extendable implant that can be lengthened periodically to keep pace with the growth in the opposite limb. Surgically, invasive devices have been used for the past 30 years with intrinsic problems of infection and long-term recurrent trauma to the patient. To eliminate problems associated with the invasive device, a non-invasive extendable prosthesis was developed. The magnetically coupled drive technology used for this prosthesis was a synchronous motor with a gear-driven telescoping shaft. In this design the motor configuration was in two parts: a rotating magnet (rotor) that fitted inside the prosthesis where space was limited and the stator, which was an external device used to extend the prosthesis remotely as the patient grew. This compact external drive produced a focused magnetic flux that required no cooling and operated on a single-phase power supply. The extending mechanism in the implant was able to overcome up to 1300 N force, which is the tension force exerted by the soft tissues during the lengthening procedure. The device has been successfully implanted in 50 patients.
Building Sustainable Regional Platforms for Incubating Science and Technology Businesses

The authors explore the role played by science and technology parks (STPs) as regional platforms for incubating science- and technology-based businesses. Using multiple case studies of the more established US and French STP facilities, they provide an analysis of the contributions made by STPs as regional drivers of innovative entrepreneurship. The paper concludes that successful STPs can act as platforms for incubating science and technology businesses. If modern STPs are to emerge as sustainable platforms of incubation, their business models must be responsive to changing contextual needs through the pursuit of realistic goals, providing high-quality value-added services, employing professionally competent management and maintaining financial strength.
[How reliable are data from 3d-gait analysis].

AIM The aim of the present study was to collect preliminary data to determine the test-retest reliability in healthy subjects using 3-dimensional computerised gait analysis. METHOD Ten healthy subjects (6 females, 4 males) were tested using a 3-dimensional computerized gait analysis system (VICON 512, Oxford Metrics). There were two trials within a 2-hour period in which kinetic, kinematic and time-distance data were collected. Markers were removed after the first trial and reapplied for the second trial and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated. RESULTS The correlation coefficients were all positive and high for time-distance (r = 0.86-0.99), sagittal plane kinematics (r = 0.86-0.98) and power (r = 0.90-0.98) parameters, indicating excellent reliability of these measures. Correlation coefficients for frontal and transverse plane kinematics were lower (r = 0.59-0.89). The lowest correlation coefficient values were obtained for transverse plane measures at the hip joint indicating poor reliability of this measure in healthy subjects. CONCLUSION The results suggest excellent test-retest reliability using 3-dimensional computerized gait analysis, especially in the sagittal plane. Therefore this method is a very valuable tool in the analysis as well as in the outcome evaluation of conservative and operative procedures in movement disorders
Super premium efficient line start-up permanent magnet synchronous motor

Induction motors are the workhorses of industry and represent nearly the entire installed base of constant-speed and most variable-speed motors. But the power factor and efficiency of induction motor are limited by its squirrel cage rotor. In the past, the colleagues all over the world tried to research and develop supper premium efficient electrical motor to replace the Premium® efficient induction motor. The supper premium efficient line start-up permanent magnet synchronous motor is the one of choice for industry application. This paper presents the design and development of the supper premium efficient line start-up permanent magnet synchronous motors, including design techniques for key parameters and performances, advanced digital simulation for the design, improvement and verification, prototype build and test, design and test data analysis and comparison. This may increase the motor efficiency level while reducing the size and weight of the motor by reducing the amount of active material used. Also, the comparisons with Premium® efficient induction motor on power factor, efficiency, material consumption, frame size, etc. are presented. The results show that the supper premium efficient line start-up permanent magnet synchronous motor has much better power factor, efficiency and power density, smaller frame size and less material consumption.
Panel Data Unit Roots Tests : The Role of Serial Correlation Working

We investigate the influence of residual serial correlation and of the time dimension on statistical inference for a unit root in dynamic longitudinal data, known as panel data in econometrics. To this end, we introduce two test statistics based on method of moments estimators. The first is based on the generalised method of moments estimators, while the second is based on the instrumental variables estimator. Analytical results for the IV based test in a simplified setting show that (i) large time dimension panel unit root tests will suffer from serious size distortions in finite samples, even for samples that would normally be considered large in practice, and (ii) negative serial correlation in the error terms of the panel reduces the power of the unit root tests, possibly up to a point where the test becomes biased. However, near the unit root the test is shown to have power against a wide range of alternatives. These findings are confirmed in a more general set-up through a series of Monte Carlo experiments.
Modeling of Nonresonant Longitudinal and Inclined Slots for Resonance Tuning in ENZ Waveguide Structures

Novel methods are presented for the independent resonance tuning in rectangular waveguide epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) structures. This kind of tuning is achieved using short longitudinal and inclined slots placed in the middle of the ENZ channel. It is demonstrated that the tunneling frequency and Fabry-Pérot resonance (FPR) can be shifted by as much as 8% and 9.7%, respectively. Equivalent circuits for the tuning slots are given, and their equivalent parameters are extracted and validated. Analytical expressions for the equivalent slot reactances are also provided, and they show very good agreement with the extracted parameters. Experimental verification of both presented tuning methods is provided, and the agreement between simulated and experimental results is excellent (error less than 1%).
[The cost study of first- line treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma with bevacizumab- containing regimen in the Czech Republic].

BACKGROUND Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal IgG antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is reimbursed in combination with chemotherapy for the first and subsequent line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the Czech Republic. However, its high cost is a potentially limiting factor. We assessed the cost of bevacizumab in the treatment of mCRC in a comprehensive cancer center. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 218 patients were included in our analysis. Cost data (examination, medication, hospitalization) were collected since the initiation of bevacizumab treatment to any tumor response (RECIST criteria: complete response - CR, partial response - PR, stable disease - SD, progressive disease - PD) and/ or to death. Minimal followup for all patients was 28 months. Costs were valued in Czech crowns (CZK) and converted to EUR (1€ = 25.14 CZK). RESULTS PD was recorded in 194 patients (89% of patients). The mean cost of treatment to PD (median TTP 9.1 months) was 1,002,076.30 CZK (39,859.84 EUR). The majority of costs to PD was made by medication - 917,048.60 CZK (36,477.67 EUR) per patient. The mean cost to response PR, CR or SD was 1,105,823.10 CZK (43,986.60 EUR) after median 9.8 months of treatment (recorded for 21 patients), medication formed 1,023,827.70 CZK (40,725.05 EUR). During the study, 170 patients (78%) died. The mean of the total costs since initiation of treatment to death (median OS 18.8 months) was 1,338,874.20 CZK (53,256.70 EUR) - out of that, medication was 1,184,251.10 CZK (47,106.25 EUR) per patient. CONCLUSION Targeted bio-logical therapy is the largest part of the costs of mCRC therapy. Cost of bevacizumab made up to 69% of costs to PD - 687,608.20 CZK ( 27,351.20 EUR ) per patient. The majority of the total cost was formed by targeted drug therapy (bevacizumab in 1st line therapy, cetuximab and panitumumab in 2nd and 3rd line therapy); 58% of total costs since initiation of treatment to death - 778,233.80 CZK (30,956 EUR) per patient.
Jasmonate signaling involves the abscisic acid receptor PYL4 to regulate metabolic reprogramming in Arabidopsis and tobacco

The phytohormones jasmonates (JAs) constitute an important class of elicitors for many plant secondary metabolic pathways. However, JAs do not act independently but operate in complex networks with crosstalk to several other phytohormonal signaling pathways. Here, crosstalk was detected between the JA and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways in the regulation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) alkaloid biosynthesis. A tobacco gene from the PYR/PYL/RCAR family, NtPYL4, the expression of which is regulated by JAs, was found to encode a functional ABA receptor. NtPYL4 inhibited the type-2C protein phosphatases known to be key negative regulators of ABA signaling in an ABA-dependent manner. Overexpression of NtPYL4 in tobacco hairy roots caused a reprogramming of the cellular metabolism that resulted in a decreased alkaloid accumulation and conferred ABA sensitivity to the production of alkaloids. In contrast, the alkaloid biosynthetic pathway was not responsive to ABA in control tobacco roots. Functional analysis of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homologs of NtPYL4, PYL4 and PYL5, indicated that also in Arabidopsis altered PYL expression affected the JA response, both in terms of biomass and anthocyanin production. These findings define a connection between a component of the core ABA signaling pathway and the JA responses and contribute to the understanding of the role of JAs in balancing tradeoffs between growth and defense.
Segmenting the UK egg market: results of a survey of consumer attitudes and perceptions

Despite the long‐term decline in per capita consumption, eggs remain an important staple in the British diet. Having recovered from the salmonella scare in 1989, the image of eggs has suffered in recent years due to the growing awareness of (and concern over) diet and health, and bird welfare. Reports the results of a recent consumer survey and concludes that there is a polarization of egg consumers, with free‐range consumers at one extreme, largely influenced by bird welfare, and battery consumers at the other, for whom functional properties (size and shell) and value for money are the major factors determining egg purchasing behaviour.
The shades of gray of the chromatin fiber

The chromatin fiber consists of a string of nucleosomes connected by linker DNA regions. The hierarchy of folding of this fiber within the cell has long been controversial, and the existence of an originally described 30 nm fiber has been debated and reviewed extensively. This review contextualizes two recent papers on this topic that suggest the 30 nm fiber to be an over‐simplification. The idealized model from the first study provides good insight into the constraints and histone participation in the maintenance of the fiber structure. The second paper provides a theoretical description of a more realistic view of the highly heterogeneous and dynamic chromatin organization in the in vivo setting. It is now time to abandon the highly regular “one start” solenoidal 30 nm structure and replace it with a more realistic highly dynamic, polymorphic fiber.
Evaluating daily exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish oil supplements

Fish oil supplements have become a popular means of increasing one's dietary intake of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, there is growing concern that the levels and potential health effects of lipophilic organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may diminish some of the health benefits associated with the daily consumption of fish oil supplements. In this study, ten over-the-counter fish oil supplements available in the United States were analysed for PCBs and PBDEs and daily exposures calculated. Based on manufacturers’ recommended dosages, daily intakes of PCBs and PBDEs ranged from 5 to 686 ng day−1 and from 1 to 13 ng day−1, respectively. Daily consumption of fish oil supplements expose consumers to PCBs and PBDEs. However, in comparison with fish ingestion, fish supplements may decrease daily PCB exposure and provide a safer pathway for individuals seeking to maintain daily recommended levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
H-Ras Regulates Angiogenesis and Vascular Permeability by Activation of Distinct Downstream Effectors

Angiogenesis and vascular permeability occur following endothelium activation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Downstream mechanisms that define these vascular responses remain unknown. H-Ras activation has been associated with the angiogenic response. However, active H-Ras initiates a wide spectrum of other biological responses through multiple downstream effectors. To identify vascular signaling by H-Ras and the immediate effectors we activated the extracellular signal regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways in chicken and mouse endothelial tissues by ectopic expression of the Ras effector mutants H-RasV12S35 or H-RasV12C40, respectively. Constitutive activation of the extracellular signal-regulate kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by H-RasV12S35 was sufficient to induce angiogenesis and not vascular permeability, whereas activation of the PI3K pathway by H-RasV12C40 was required for both angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K (&agr;/&bgr;) suppressed both Ras- or VEGF-mediated vascular response in vivo and survival of primary human endothelial cells in vitro. However, inhibition of PI3K (&ggr;/&dgr;) suppressed Ras- or VEGF-mediated vascular permeability in vivo, with no effect on survival of primary endothelial cells. This was supported by genetic studies because PI3K p110&ggr; knockout mice showed impaired vascular permeability response to VEGF or H-RasV12C40 treatment yet produced a wild-type angiogenic response to H-RasV12S35. We conclude that downstream of VEGF, H-Ras serves as a cellular switch that controls neovascularization and vascular permeability by activation of distinct effectors.
The Characteristics of Independent Chinese Outbound Tourists

The characteristics of independent Chinese outbound tourists are addressed from five aspects: sociodemographic characteristics, motivations, decision-making process, spatial pattern of destinations, and consumer patterns. Comprehensive study methods including a questionnaire, in-depth interview and content analysis of online travelogues are adopted to present a distinct profile of these tourists that is generally absent from former research. Key findings are that these tourists could be categorized as middle class in China and their main motivation remains sightseeing, followed by leisure/holiday and business. “Doing homework” is a seemingly indispensable matter for them to make decisions. The macro spatial pattern is changing with more optional destinations, and the micro spatial pattern distinguishes them from group tourists. Their consumer modes are categorized as frugal, hedonistic and mixed.
Winning customer ownership ‐ the Jaeger service excellence story

Fashion retailer Jaeger is an award winner for customer service. Looks at the background of the company, how that led up to a focus on customer satisfaction, and the efforts ‐ including customer profile cards, local marketing, communications programmes, and more ‐ that were made to get to know the customers and their needs and wants better. Finally addresses the issue of “defectors” (former customers) and how the company set about trying to recapture this group. Ends with a number of lessons the company learned.
A novel sparsity and clustering regularization

We propose a novel SPARsity and Clustering (SPARC) regularizer, which is a modified version of the previous octagonal shrinkage and clustering algorithm for regression (OSCAR), where, the proposed regularizer consists of a $K$-sparse constraint and a pair-wise $\ell_{\infty}$ norm restricted on the $K$ largest components in magnitude. The proposed regularizer is able to separably enforce $K$-sparsity and encourage the non-zeros to be equal in magnitude. Moreover, it can accurately group the features without shrinking their magnitude. In fact, SPARC is closely related to OSCAR, so that the proximity operator of the former can be efficiently computed based on that of the latter, allowing using proximal splitting algorithms to solve problems with SPARC regularization. Experiments on synthetic data and with benchmark breast cancer data show that SPARC is a competitive group-sparsity inducing regularizer for regression and classification.
Decision analysis of hormone replacement therapy after the Women's Health Initiative.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to estimate the quality-adjusted life expectancy with and without hormone replacement therapy. STUDY DESIGN We compared the quality-adjusted life expectancy with and without combination hormone replacement therapy in three cohorts of women with menopausal symptoms over a 20-year period using a Markov decision-analysis model. Women were either at high or low risk for breast cancer and coronary heart disease or at high risk for osteoporosis. RESULTS Hormone replacement therapy decreases life expectancy slightly compared with no hormone replacement therapy if menopausal symptoms are not considered. However, if relief from menopausal symptoms is considered and the usefulness of life with symptoms is worth <0.996 compared with life without symptoms, then 5 years of hormone replacement therapy provides equivalent quality-adjusted life-years. CONCLUSION Combination hormone replacement therapy decreases life expectancy if quality of life with menopausal symptoms is not considered. However, the benefit of hormone replacement therapy can exceed the risk for women with menopausal symptoms.