Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumer Perceptions on Service Quality of Telemarketing in Malaysia

Abstract According to a recent study undertaken by the WEFA Group of Direct Marketing Association Inc. of US, it was found that the US Consumers spent an estimated amount of 5.41 billion US $ in telemarketing purchases during the year 1999-2000. With the introduction of Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS) the consumers can make the hassle free buying by using toll free 800 number to place the telemarketing orders in response to television and radio advertisements, and direct mail or catalogues. The other type is Outbound telemarketing which involves making calls to the prospective customers, either “cold” or as “follow-up call” by direct mail package or by written communication, they also use the telephone lines to sell directly to consumers and business people. In Malaysia the telemarketing is still in its infancy stage. The inbound telemarketing was aimed at the TV viewers through advertising and aims to get some orders. Some good examples in this category are the SMARTSHOP and MAIL ORDER GALLERY. The outbound marketing is mainly focused on the financial markets particularly by “Investment advisors”. The importance to service quality in telemarketing services is also justified due to the changes that are taking place in the industry and also the existence of competition in the telemarketing. The current study has been undertaken with the objective of evaluating the service quality existing in the Malaysian Telemarketing Industry. The SERVQUAL instrument developed by Parasuraman and others was used in the current study to a sample of 120 telemarketing consumers throughout Malaysia. The mean difference between the consumers’ perception of service quality and achievement of performance of service quality was obtained on all the aspects of the service quality such as reliability responsiveness, assurance and empathy. It was found that for some of the quality aspects the difference exists between the two, at 5% level of significance.
Diseño y control de un sistema balancín con motor y hélice de bajo costo

The present work is about the design and construction of a test bench known as a rocking system. As well as the implementation of a proportional, integral, derivative control (PID) law for the stabilization of the system. The test bench consists of two bars (one horizontal and one vertical) anchored to each other as a rocker with a degree of freedom. In order to manipulate the angular position of the horizontal bar a motor with propeller was installed as an actuator. For the construction of the bank, materials of low cost and relative accessibility were used. The sensor for measuring the angular position is a potentiometer placed on the rotational axis that functions as a voltage divider providing a voltage according to the movement. On the other hand, the stabilization of the system is achieved by the application of a PID control law tuned by the method of pole assignment. The control was implemented using the LabVIEW tool, while a NI MyRIO card was used for data acquisition.
Analysis of Spelling Errors Made by Average Ability and Reading Disabled Children: Evidence for a Developmental Lag?.

A developmental lag hypothesis was contrasted with a developmental difference hypothesis in this exploratory analysis of spelling ability. Third grade regular class students were matched on spelling with fifth grade reading disabled students (achieving two years below grade level); average and below average spellers were identified in each class. Hypothesized underlying cognitive processes of memory access, memory span, simultaneous, and successive processing, and phonological processing were examined and related to spelling performance. In addition, spelling errors made by the different groups on words differing in word familiarity and spelling predictability were analyzed using a developmental model of spelling. To a certain extent, the results obtained ft:: the . underlying cognitive processing supports the developmental lag . hypothesis. The analysis of spelling errors much more strongly supports the notion that poor spellers are learning to spell according to a normal developmental pattern but at a much slower rate.
A Comparative Study of Global Software Development Tools Supporting Project Management Activities

For the last few years,Global Software Development (GSD) has been gaining attention of experts and researchers. Because of distance, communication and cultural issues GSD is creating hurdles for performing effective project management. In this regard, GSD provides a large number of tools and technologies to facilitate and simplify the work for project managers. To accomplish this task we have used a framework.The results of the study of 21 existing tools reveals that although GSD tools show dominating strengths in achieving some Project Management (PM )goals, yet much work needs to be done. Comprehensively, there is an ultimate need of a single GSD that could facilitate every aspect of PM.
Status of the HAYSTAC Experiment

Dark matter axions may be detected by their resonant conversion to photons in a tunable microwave cavity permeated by a strong magnetic field. HAYSTAC (Haloscope At Yale Sensitive To Axion Cold dark matter) incorporates a dilution refrigerator and Josephson parametric amplifier and has thus achieved a system equivalent noise temperature of twice the Standard Quantum Limit. First data run results exclude axion models a factor of ∼ 2.3 above the benchmark KSVZ model over the mass range 23.55 − 24.0 μeV. These are the first limits within the axion model band in the 10−100 μeV mass decade. Ongoing R&D is oriented to significantly increase the detector sensitivity through application of a squeezed vacuum state receiver, distributed Bragg reflectors, and photonic band-gap resonators.
The measurement of a single-mode thermal field with a microwave cavity parametric amplifier

In this paper, we present the experimental study of a single-mode thermal field carried out using a microwave parametric amplifier tuned at 1.5 GHz and working at room temperature. The parametric amplifier is based on a variable capacitance diode placed inside a microwave resonant cavity. The measured distribution of the thermal photons inside the resonator follows the expected Bose–Einstein distribution probability.
The possibility of in vitro multi-enzymatic method application for the assessment of the influence of thermal treatments on organic matter digestibility of feed for ruminants

In vitro multi-enzymatic method is a two-step procedure that uses exogenous enzymes for incubation of feed that aim to imitate digestive processes in the animal. It is used for determination of organic matter digestibility (OMD) of various feedstuffs and complete mixtures used in ruminant nutrition. The aim of the present work was to determine whether this in vitro multi-enzymatic method can be applied for the assessment of the influence of thermal treatments on OMD of feed for ruminants. Samples of corn and complete mixture for cows (based on corn) were subjected to pelleting, steam flaking, micronization and extrusion. Statistical analysis of the results did not show significant increase of corn and complete mixture OMD after various thermal treatments compared to untreated samples, which can be explained by high digestibility of corn itself (exceeds 90%). Based on obtained results it can be concluded that applied in vitro method is not suitable for the assessment of the influence of thermal treatments on OMD of corn and corn based mixture, while future research should be broadened to analysis of samples with lower OMD, such as sorghum, oats and barley.
Leaf nitrogen thresholds ensuring high antioxidant features of Vaccinium corymbosum cultivars

Deficiency or excess of nitrogen (N) supply can promote formation of reactive oxygen species in plants, inducing oxidative stress. Otherwise, plants may enhance phenolics biosynthesis and antioxidant capacity under N deficiency, but this effect is plant species-dependent. There is no information about influence on phenolics and antioxidant activity in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), in which quality and commercial importance depend on high phenolics concentration. We studied the effect of variable N supply (0 to 38 mM) on N uptake and antioxidant responses in two highbush blueberry cultivars (Legacy and Bluegold) hydroponically grown at the long-term. Nitrogen leaves concentration was enhanced for both cultivars at increasing N supply. Bluegold decreased CO2 assimilation at 0 N treatment, possibly due to both, insufficient N concentration and a decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In contrast, SOD was activated in Legacy at 0 N, and interestingly only this cultivar maintained CO2 assimilation rates across all N treatments. Both cultivars showed higher phenolics and antioxidant activity levels at 9 mM. Despite the differential responses among the cultivars, we propose a threshold of 15 g N kg-1 DW to ensure high antioxidant activity and quality in blueberry leaves.
The degradation of distorted performance measures: An application to residual income based measures like EVA

Baker (2002) has demonstrated theoretically that the quality of performance measures used in compensation contracts hinges on two characteristics: noise and distortion. These criteria, though, will only be useful in practice as long as the noise and distortion of a performance measure can be measured. Courty and Marschke (2007) have recently developed an elegant empirical test to detect distortion, based on the degradation of a performance measure subsequent to increasing its weight in the remuneration contract. We apply their test to assess the distortion of the often used class of performance measures that are based on 'Residual Income' (RI), such as 'Economic Value Added' (EVA). Residual income is widely used to measure and reward the performance of management boards. We use a difference-in-difference approach to account for (a) changes in economic circumstances in the period studied and (b) the self-selection of firms into the treatment and the control groups. Our results show that RI has degraded and is, therefore, a distortionary performance measure that can be gamed.
Can Thermal Water Be an Alternative Treatment Method for Wound Healing

The research is carried out to determine the effect of thermal water on wound healing. The research is carried out on twenty experimental rats. The rats are divided into two groups as control group (10 units) and study (10 units) group. Both groups were worked synchronous. The study (10 units) group was treated with thermal water and it was provided to contact with water of the wound surfaces. Control group was fed with normal water. As a result of the research, it was revealed that there are differences between two groups in histological and observational surveys. The findings that are obtained were analyzed statistically. It was observed that is statistically significant wound healing differences between the groups. According to the results and observations, it can be said that this thermal water is an effective role in wound healing.
Study of Lipid Profile in Patients of Hypothyroidism And Correlation with Incidence of Gallstone 1

Background: Thyroid hormones influences lipid metabolism, rise in serum cholesterol in hypothyroidism causes supersaturation of bile leading to depressed gall bladder contractility, hence risk of gall stone formation so we tries to correlate these changes. Material and methods: The present study has been conducted in Department of Medicine, J.A. Group of Hospitals, G.R. Medical College, Gwalior (M.P.) from period of January 2011 to January 2012. Present study comprised of 105 patients with hypothyroidism attending OPD and medicine ward. They were examined thoroughly after history taking and then subjected to routine investigation with special emphasis on lipid profile, thyroid profile and USG abdomen especially gall bladder and hepatobiliary. Association of gall bladder stone and hypothyroidism was also observed. Patients with TSH level > 5.5 were considered to having hypothyroidism, thus cases were divided into two groups. Group I with TSH level between 5.5 to 10 IU/ml (Subclinical hypothyroidism) and Group II with TSH level above 10 IU/ml (Overt hypothyroidism). Results: Prevalence of hypothyroidism was maximum between 20-60 years age group patients (77.23%). Most cases occurred in females (82 females and 23 males). Most common symptoms in female was tiredness (58 i.e. 70.73%) then weight gain (52 i.e. 63.41%), cold intolerance (47 i.e. 57.31%), constipation. Most common sign dry coarse skin (79.26%) followed by edema (67.0%). While in male patients most common symptom is tiredness (16 i.e. 69.56%) followed by cold intolerance (11 i.e. 47.82%), weight gain (10 i.e. 43.47%). Most common sign was edema (69.56%) and then dry coarse skin (60.86%). These clinical features were more in overt hypothyroidism compared to subclinical hypothyroidism in both sexes. Abnormal lipid profile was seen in both overt hypothyroidism (29/49 i.e. 59.18%) and subclinical hypothyroidism patients (28/56 i.e. 50%). Abnormal total cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL was seen in 35.1%, 27.0%, 8.1% and 13.5% respectively in overt hypothyroidism female patients while in subclinical hypothyroidism female patients it was 28.8%, 24.4%, 8.8%, 11.1% and 15.5% respectively. There is significant increase in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and decrease in HDL cholesterol. Prevalence of cholelithiasis was more in subclinical hypothyroidism compared to overt hypothyroidism which was 15/56 (26.78%) and 7/49 (14.28%) respectively, that too more in female compared to male, thus showing strong association between them. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is associated with dyslipidemia, cholelithiasis is significantly associated with subclinical hypothyroidism.
OBESITY AND LOW BACK PAIN IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN Original Article

Both low back pain (LBP) and obesity are common public health problems, yet the relationship between them remains controversial. Twice as many postmenopausal women suffer from LBP,as compared to pre-menopausal women. AIM: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of LBP in postmenopausal women, aged 51-63 years who have sought help from their GPs in Pleven and the specialized clinics of the University Hospital Stara Zagora. METHODS: Chronic pain patients were divided into three weight categories, based on body mass index (BMI): 2 normal (BMI < 25 kg/m ), overweight (BMI between 25 2 2 2 kg/m and 30 kg/m ), and obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m ). The data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, LBP, medical and reproductive history, health status and menopausal status. The women completed questionnaires designed to measure pain severity. RESULTS: 23.7% of the investigated women reported chronic LBP and 73.5% of these women were obese and overweight. For menopausal women, among all weight-related factors, only waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were related to LBP. CONCLUSIONS: Obese postmenopausal women often suffer from LBP. We found that in a population of postmenopausal women the abdominal obesity might increase the risk of LBP.
Selection and Analysis of Minimal Sets of Enzyme Levels and Regulatory Structures for Optimization of Microbial Overproduction Using Large-Scale Kinetic Models of Cellular Systems

We introduce a hybrid deterministic/stochastic optimization modeling framework to identify minimal sets of enzyme levels and enzyme regulatory structures to meet significant overproduction requirements using large-scale kinetic models of microbial metabolism and essential protein machinery. Specifically, a simulated annealing algorithm is used to navigate through the discrete space of enzyme levels and regulatory structures, while a sequential quadratic programming method is utilized to identify optimal enzyme levels and regulatory kinetic parameters. The framework is demonstrated on a large-scale and chemically-detailed kinetic model of central metabolism in Escherichia coli (wild-type strain W3110) for the optimization of the glucose uptake through the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and serine biosynthesis. Computational results show that by optimally modulating enzyme levels and carefully altering enzyme regulatory properties, a stable 8fold increase in the PTS uptake rate and a stable 22-fold increase in serine biosynthesis can be achieved. Importantly, substantial improvements in the targeted fluxes can be predicted by manipulating only small subsets of enzyme levels and regulatory structures. For example, the modulation of only three enzyme levels leads to a flux increase, which is almost 50% of the best predictions, and the manipulation of only six enzyme levels already leads to a flux increase of 80% of the best predictions. Remarkably, by optimally modulating 10 enzyme levels, the total central metabolism’s enzyme overexpression capability is reached and any further increase in the targeted fluxes can be only possible if the pathway regulation is additionally altered, though at the expense of the loss of the pathway’s steady state stability properties (i.e., no steady state can exist or oscillatory regimes may be encountered). The developed framework has also demonstrated a strong synergism between the redesign of control architectures for tightly regulated reaction steps (e.g., phosphofructokinase) and the overexpression of those enzymes which lack any type of regulatory properties (e.g., glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). Although the nonlinear optimization predictions are found in a good agreement with Metabolic Control Analysis (MCA) and large control coefficients can be indicative of the corresponding “rate limiting” enzymes and critical feedback regulatory parameters, the non-linear stable optimization predictions could not be found from the MCA alone. The proposed optimization framework thus provides a new versatile modeling strategy and computational tool for systematic optimal elucidation of minimal sets of controlling enzymes and their critical regulatory properties with broad implication in biotechnological studies. Optimal Selection of Enzyme Subsets and Regulations 3
Efectos del consumo de café para la salud cardiovascular, la diabetes y el desarrollo de cáncer

Se revisan y analizan las relaciones entre consumo de cafe y riesgo para la salud en los tres grupos de trastornos primeras causas de muerte prematura: trastornos cardiovasculares, diabetes y cancer. Se revisan los estudios epidemiologicos y experimentales existentes, y aquellos que han explorado los agentes o mecanismos responsables del efecto de riesgo o protector para la salud del consumo de cafe. Los resultados indican que existen evidencias de aumento del riesgo de trastornos cardiovasculares por consumo de cafe, mientras que los datos no son concluyentes respecto a las relaciones entre riesgo de diabetes y consumo. Las relaciones entre consumo de cafe y riesgo de cancer parecen probables en el caso de los canceres de pancreas y de ovario, mientras que el consumo de cafe se muestra como un factor protector del cancer de colon y recto y los datos no son concluyentes para el cancer de vejiga. En todos los casos se indican las hipotesis disponibles sobre mecanismos responsables del efecto y se senalan posibles formas de consumo saludable que reduzcan los riesgos. Effects of coffee consume on cardiovascular health, diabetes and cancer. This paper presents a revision of the relationships between coffee consumption and health across the three groups of diseases that are the first causes of premature death: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Epidemiological and experimental studies show relative evidences of increasing cardiovascular risk correlated to coffee consumption while no clear relationship is found concerning diabetes. Relationships between coffee consumption and cancer risk are likely in the case of pancreas and ovarian cancers while coffee consumption appears as a protector factor in colorectal cancer with no concluding data in the case of bladder cancer. This paper also presents the available hypotheses concerning the mechanisms that might be responsible of coffee consumption as a risk or protector factor for the diseases revised, and healthy forms of coffee consumption that minimize risk are indicated.
A Simulation-Based Approach for Evaluating Gene Expression Analyses

A SIMULATION-BASED APPROACH FOR EVALUATING GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSES Carly R. Pendleton Department of Statistics Master of Science Microarrays enable biologists to measure differences in gene expression in thousands of genes simultaneously. The data produced by microarrays present a statistical challenge, one which has been met both by new modifications of existing methods and by completely new approaches. One of the difficulties with a new approach to microarray analysis is validating the method’s power and sensitivity. A simulation study could provide such validation by simulating gene expression data and investigating the method’s response to changes in the data; however, due to the complex dependencies and interactions found in gene expression data, such a simulation would be complicated and time consuming. This thesis proposes a way to simulate gene expression data and validate a method by borrowing information from existing data. Analogous to the spike-in technique used to validate expression levels on an array, this simulation-based approach will add a simulated gene with known features to an existing data set. Analysis of this appended data set will reveal aspects of the method’s sensitivity and power. The method and data on which this technique is illustrated come from Storey et al. (2005).
The correlates of public housing satisfaction in Lagos, Nigeria

This study examined the correlates of public housing satisfaction in Lagos, Nigeria, specifically to identify relevant factors which are external to the dwelling but combine with those of the dwelling to provide satisfactory housing in Nigeria. For this purpose, the study employed a conceptual model which identified three housing components consisting of the environment, dwelling and management subsystems. For the survey, 1,232 (10%) households out of a total of 12,323 households in six randomly selected public housing estates in Lagos were systematically sampled. The information obtained from 1,022 questionnaires retrieved from the respondents - indicating their levels of satisfaction with their housing were analyzed using correlation, multiple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The significant levels of association were determined at either 0.01 or 0.05 probability level. The results indicated that tenants’ satisfaction level with both the environment and dwelling components of housing was above average, while the satisfaction level with the management component was below average. The results showed significant correlations between tenants’ satisfaction levels and the environmental, dwelling and management components of housing (p < 0.01). The need to consider relevant factors of the environment, dwelling and management in housing design and development is highlighted. Key words: Evaluation, correlates, public housing, satisfaction, Nigeria.