bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A phenomenology of university service quality experience
Authors: Sean Chong Yit , Ahmed Pervaiz 
Published: December 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore the complex nature of perceived quality by employing a phenomenological study to understand the meaning of University Service Quality (USQ) as experienced by the business undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper employs a phenomenological study to understand the meaning of USQ from the undergraduate students’ perspective. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 business undergraduates from public universities, local private universities and a foreign branch campus in Malaysia. Data gathered were analysed using the procedure suggested by Colaizzi (1978) for descriptive phenomenological analysis.

Findings
– From the qualitative data, the essential structure of the USQ experience was constructed based on five major themes which are “USQ as a luxury”, “USQ as citizenship rights”, “USQ as nurturing apprentices”, “USQ as administrative relief” and “USQ as utility consumption”. The findings suggest that students’ service quality experiences could be understood as a multi-faceted phenomenon with students expressing context-dependent service expectations and outcomes.

Practical implications
– The outcome of the paper highlights the nature of students’ expectations which may vary according to service contexts, and their perception of self. Therefore, an integrated effort in various service domains is necessary to enhance service quality experience in higher education.

Originality/value
– Although previously explored by Dabholkar et al. (1996) in the retail services, the phenomenological-based methodology is rather uncommon in the service quality inquiry, particularly in the higher education context. The insights gathered from the phenomenological study provided access to understanding some persistent issues in USQ such as standards of expectations and perceived role by students in the higher education.
Services branding: is it a matter of gender?
Authors: Maria Ugolini Marta , Cassia Fabio , Vigolo Vania 
Published: December 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to verify whether gender traits of brand personality (masculinity vs femininity) are able to differentiate services brands belonging to the same service industry. Second, this paper intends to assess the validity of Grohmann's scale (that measures the masculine and the feminine dimensions of brand personality) among Italian consumers.Design/methodology/approach– Empirical research was conducted on a sample of 200 consumers. Participants were asked to rate their perceptions of the masculinity vs femininity dimensions of four different service brands (two brands of food retailers and two brands of airlines).Findings– The findings show that Grohmann's scale reaches high levels of validity in the Italian context, as well and that femininity and masculinity measured by that scale are able to register differences in services brand positioning for brands belonging to the same service industry.Research limitations/implications– The services category includes very heterogeneous services with different degrees of interaction and consumer's involvement. Further studies are needed to isolate the impact of the perceived MBP and FBP associated either with the service industry/category or with the specific brand.Practical implications– Marketing managers can actively try to influence consumer's perceptions of FBP and MBP through the brand logo colors, brands slogans, masculine or feminine spokespeople, etc. to obtain their desired positioning.Originality/value– The paper is the first to specifically study brand personality's gender dimensions within services environments. The paper also supports the validity of Grohmann's scale outside the German context.
Facies and Depositional Sequences of the Asmari Formation, Shajabil Anticline, North of the Izeh Zone, Zagros Basin, Iran
Authors: SALEH Zahra , SEYRAFIAN Ali 
Published: December 2013

AbstractOutcrop and microscopic studies have been applied in this research paper in order to find out the Asmari Formation depositional sequences in the Shajabil Anticline section located at the north of the Izeh Zone, Zagros Basin, Iran. Five depositional sequences were identified based on 11 facies types (bioclast Nummulitidae Lepidocyclinidae packstone, bioclast perforate foraminifera Nephrolepidina Miogypsinoides wackestone‐packstone, bioclast perforate foraminifera Corallinacea wackestone‐packstone, bioclast echinoid Neorotalia Brachiopoda wackestone‐packstone, coral floatstone‐rudstone, bioclast Corallinacea imperforate foraminifera wackestone‐packstone, bioclast imperforate foraminifera Archaias wackestone‐packstone, bioclast imperforate foraminifera Dendritina wackestone‐packstone‐grainstone, bioclast imperforate foraminifera Borelis wackestone‐packstone and very fine sandy mudstone) corresponding to the tidal flat, restricted and semi‐restricted lagoon and open marine environments of an inner and middle shelf areas.Well‐exposed outcrop horizons of Thalassinoides at the study section are a favorable tool for the regional outcrop sequence stratigraphy. Thalassinoides is considered as an outcrop key‐bed for recognition of the Rupelian‐Chattian maximum flooding depositional sequence. Coral remnants (small colonies) in outcrop exposures also are associated with the HST depositional sequence (Chattian) for the Asmari Formation. The most important achievement of this research is use of associated maximum flooding surfaces (Pg30, Pg40, Pg50, Ng10 and Ng20) in the Arabian plate. These maximum flooding surfaces could be recorded as an isochrones surface.
Biostratigraphic Study of the Paleocene–Eocene Boundary in Northern Tunisia, North Africa
Authors: ZILI Lamia 
Published: December 2013

AbstractA new section at Jebel Gorraa, in northern Tunisia, contains the Paleocene–Eocene transition interval. Sample analysis of the section delivers abundant and diverse microfauna of planktonic and benthic foraminifera. Biostratigraphically, the Acarinina sibaiyaensis index‐species is identified for the first time in this region, which allows us to specify the location of the Paleocene–Eocene boundary as well as the first E1 biozone of the lower Eocene. Samples from this biozone contain calcitic tests poorly preserved with an enrichment of iron oxide signifying a period of upheaval in local marine environments linked to the global warming of the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), the marker for the P/E boundary.
Tectono–sedimentary Evolution of the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin
Authors: LUO Liang , JIA Dong , QI Jiafu , WEI Guoqi , DENG Fei 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe early stage of Sichuan Basin formation was controlled by the convergence of three major Chinese continental blocks during the Indosinian orogeny that include South China, North China, and Qiangtang blocks. Although the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation is assumed to represent the commencement of continental deposition in the Sichuan Basin, little research is available on the details of this particular stratum. Sequence stratigraphic analysis reveals that the Xujiahe Formation comprises four third‐order depositional sequences. Moreover, two tectono–sedimentary evolution stages, deposition and denudation, have been identified. Typical wedge‐shaped geometry revealed in a cross section of the southern Sichuan Basin normal to the Longmen Shan fold–thrust belt is displayed for the entire Xujiahe Formation. The depositional extent did not cover the Luzhou paleohigh during the LST1 to LST2 (LST, TST and HST mean lowstand, transgressive and highstand systems tracts, 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent depositional sequence 1, 2, 3 and 4), deltaic and fluvial systems fed sediments from the Longmen Shan belt, Luzhou paleohigh, Hannan dome, and Daba Shan paleohigh into a foreland basin with a centrally located lake. The forebulge of the western Sichuan foreland basin was located southeast of the Luzhou paleohigh after LST2. According to the principle of nonmarine sequence stratigraphy and the lithology of the Xujiahe Formation, four thrusting events in the Longmen Shan fold–thrust belt were distinguished, corresponding to the basal boundaries of sequences 1, 2, 3, and 4. The northern Sichuan Basin was tilted after the deposition of sequence 3, inducing intensive erosion of sequences 3 and 4, and formation of wedge‐shaped deposition geometry in sequence 4 from south to north. The tilting probably resulted from small‐scale subduction and exhumation of the western South China block during the South and North China block collision.
Metallogenic Model of Bauxite in Central Guizhou Province: an Example of Lindai Deposit
Authors: LING Kunyue , ZHU Xiaoqing , WANG Zhonggang , HAN Tao , TANG Haoshu , CHEN Wenyi 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe bauxites in central Guizhou are hosted by the Lower Carboniferous Jiujialu Formation. Geochemistrial characteristics of the Lindai bauxite deposit indicate that the underlying Shilengshui Formation dolomite is the precursor rock of mineral resources. Weathering simulation experiments show that Si is most likely to migrate with groundwater, the migration rate of which is several magnitude higher than Al and Fe under nature conditions (pH=3–9). The neutral and acid non‐reducing condition is the most conducive to the Al rich and Si removal, while the acid reducing conditions is the most conducive to the Al rich and Fe removal. In the process of bauxite formation, coal beds overlying the Al‐bearing rock series or other rock formation rich in organic materials can produce acid reducing groundwater, which are important for the bauxite formation. Finally, propose the metallogenic model of the bauxite in central Guizhou Province and put forward three new words which are “original bauxite material”, “bauxite material” and “original bauxite”.
Characteristics of Late‐Quaternary Activity and Seismic Risk of the Northeastern Section of the Longmenshan Fault Zone
Authors: WANG Mingming , ZHOU Bengang , YANG Xiaoping , XIE Chao , GAO Xianglin 
Published: December 2013

AbstractFollowing the 2008 Wenchuan M8 earthquake, the seismic risk of the northeastern section of the Longmenshan fault zone and the adjacent Hanzhong basin has become an issue that receives much concern. It is facing, however, the problem of a lack of sufficient data because of little previous work in these regions. The northeastern section of the Longmenshan fault zone includes three major faults: the Qingchuan fault, Chaba‐Lin'ansi fault, and Liangshan south margin fault, with the Hanzhong basin at the northern end. This paper presents investigations of the geometry, motion nature, and activity ages of these three faults, and reveals that they are strike slip with normal faulting, with latest activity in the Late Pleistocene. It implies that this section of the Longmenshan fault zone has been in an extensional setting, probably associated with the influence of the Hanzhong basin. Through analysis of the tectonic relationship between the Longmenshan fault zone and the Hanzhong basin, this work verifies that the Qingchuan fault played an important role in the evolution of the Hanzhong basin, and further studies the evolution model of this basin. Finally, with consideration of the tectonic setting of the Longmenshan fault zone and the Hanzhong basin as well as seismicity of surrounding areas, this work suggests that this region has no tectonic conditions for great earthquakes and only potential strong events in the future.
Surgical treatment for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma: A retrospective study of 60 patients
Authors: Ji Chunyu , Zhong Chenxi , Fang Wentao , Zhao Heng 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundPleomorphic carcinoma is a rare epithelial malignant tumor. Because the clinical characteristics and behavior of the disease remain unclear, we investigated the clinicopathological findings and prognosis of 60 patients with pleomorphic carcinoma.MethodsThe clinicopathological characteristics of 60 cases of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma identified between 1999 and 2011 were studied. Of these, 55 patients had peripheral disease and five had central disease. The tumor size in all patients was 1–9.5 cm (mean, 5.8 ± 4.5 cm), while 30 had lesions with a diameter larger than 5 cm. All patients underwent pulmonary resection.ResultsThere were no in‐hospital deaths. The three and five year survival rates of all patients were 47.2% and 25.6%, respectively. The three and five year survival rates were 57.3% and 32.5% for N0 patients, and 25.4% and 17.1% for N1‐2 patients, respectively. Overall survival was significantly different between the radical resection and incomplete resection groups. Multivariate Cox regression analyses of overall survival for all 60 patients indicated that radical resection (P = 0.041), tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage (P = 0.044), and nodal status (P = 0.029) were significant independent prognostic factors.ConclusionPleomorphic carcinoma is a rare type of lung cancer. In our study, pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung was often found as a peripherally located large mass and was associated with a poor prognosis. Radical resection, TNM stage and nodal status were significant independent prognostic factors.
Executive Summary: Global Health and Emergency Care—What Do We Need to Know to Address the Burden of Illness and Injury?
Authors: Hargarten Stephen , Martin Ian B.K. , Hauswald Mark , Hirshon Jon Mark 
Published: December 2013

AbstractEmergency physicians are uniquely poised to address challenges in health services, health care systems development and management, and emerging global disease burdens (both communicable and noncommunicable). This special issue of Academic Emergency Medicine reports the results of the 2013 consensus conference, which included eight focus areas that are intended to advance emergency care research. Advancing our understanding of cardiac and injury resuscitation, ethics of research, health systems development, and the education of our future leaders in global health will ultimately affect the populations of all nations across the globe.
Global Health and Emergency Care: An Undergraduate Medical Education Consensus‐based Research Agenda
Authors: Martin Ian B. K. , Devos Elizabeth , Jordan Jaime , Malya Rohith , Tupesis Janis P. , Bentley Suzanne , Flemister Akeem , Kapur G. Bobby 
Published: December 2013

AbstractGlobal emergency medicine (EM) is a rapidly growing field within EM, as evidenced by the increasing number of medical students desiring global health and emergency care experiences. Despite this growing popularity, little is known of the effect of undergraduate medical education in global health on learners and patients in the United States and abroad. During the 2013 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference, a group of leading medical school educators convened to generate a research agenda on priority questions to be answered in this arena. This consensus‐based research agenda is presented in this article.
Clinical and Translational Research in Global Health and Emergency Care: A Research Agenda
Authors: Runyon Michael S. , Sawe Hendry R. , Levine Adam C. , Pousson Amelia , House Darlene R. , Agrawal Pooja , Osei‐Ampofo Maxwell , Weiner Scott G. , Douglass Katherine 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAs policy‐makers increasingly recognize emergency care to be a global health priority, the need for high‐quality clinical and translational research in this area continues to grow. As part of the proceedings of the 2013 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference, this article discusses the importance of: 1) including clinical and translational research in the initial emergency care development plan, 2) defining the burden of acute disease and the barriers to conducting research in resource‐limited settings, 3) assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of local and global acute care guidelines within the local context, 4) studying the local research infrastructure needs to understand the best methods to build a sustainable research infrastructure, and 5) studying the long‐term effects of clinical research programs on health care systems.
Do vouchers improve government fertilizer distribution? Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Liverpool‐Tasie Lenis Saweda O. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractGovernment distribution of subsidized fertilizer in Sub‐Saharan Africa is often characterized by cumbersome administrative processes and diversion of the product from the proclaimed beneficiaries. This study uses propensity score matching techniques to analyze an input voucher program in Nigeria that was meant to demonstrate an alternative and more efficient distribution mechanism for subsidized fertilizer. We find that participants in the 2009 voucher program received more bags of subsidized fertilizer than nonparticipants and also paid significantly lower prices compared to those who purchased directly from the market. On average, however, participating in the voucher program did not improve the timeliness of fertilizer receipt or the quality of the product. Where statistically significant, participating in the program increased the likelihood that the product was received late and that some complaint about the product's quality was made. As many developing countries; particularly in Sub‐Saharan Africa adopt the use of input vouchers or scale up already existing programs, this study demonstrates when the distribution of subsidized fertilizer via vouchers improves farmers’ timely access to good and more affordable fertilizer. It highlights some key issues to be considered in order to expand the dimensions of success of well‐targeted input voucher programs
The long term effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of initiating treatment for ocular hypertension
Authors: van Gestel Aukje , Schouten Jan S. A. G. , Beckers Henny J. M. , Severens Johan L. , Hendrikse Fred , Webers Carroll A. B. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the long‐term health and economic consequences of direct treatment initiation in ocular hypertension patients.MethodsA cost‐effectiveness analysis with a societal perspective and a lifelong horizon was performed. The primary outcomes were the incremental quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs of direct pressure‐lowering treatment for ocular hypertension, compared to a strategy where treatment is postponed until conversion to glaucoma has been observed. We used a decision analytic model based on individual patient simulation to forecast disease progression and treatment decisions in both strategies in a representative heterogeneous patient population and in 18 patient subgroups stratified by initial intraocular pressure and additional risk factors for conversion.ResultsThe incremental discounted health gain of direct treatment was 0.27 QALYs, whereas the incremental discounted costs were −€ 649 during an average lifetime of 26 years. In the simulations of patient subgroups, the model outcomes moved towards higher health gains and lower incremental costs with increasing risk of conversion in the patient population. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of direct treatment ranged from € 15,425 per QALY gained in the lowest‐risk subgroup to dominance in the highest‐risk subgroup. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that uncertainty surrounding the model input parameters did not affect the conclusions.ConclusionDirect, early, pressure‐lowering treatment is a dominant cost‐effective treatment strategy over a strategy to start the same treatment approach later, after glaucoma has occurred for patients with ocular hypertension. Its implementation and consequences should be discussed with ophthalmologists and individual patients.
International guidelines on tackling community‐acquired pneumonia show major discrepancies between developed and developing countries
Authors: Berti Elettra , Galli Luisa , de Martino Maurizio , Chiappini Elena 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimThe goal of this study was to compare the current guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of paediatric community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) in developing and developed countries.MethodsA literature search was performed consulting the Medline, Embase, Current Contents, National Guideline Clearinghouse and Cochrane database, from January 2000 to March 2013.ResultsTwelve guidelines were selected: six from developed countries and six from developing countries. Major discrepancies between the diagnosis and treatment approaches recommended by guidelines covering developing and developed countries were revealed. The search also highlighted differences between recommendations issued in similar settings.ConclusionThe guidelines show wide variations and weak recommendations and further research is needed to improve clinical outcomes and make better use of resources.
The contribution of VEGF signalling to fostamatinib‐induced blood pressure elevation
Authors: Skinner M , Philp K , Lengel D , Coverley L , Lamm Bergström E , Glaves P , Musgrove H , Prior H , Braddock M , Huby R , Curwen J O , Duffy P , Harmer A R 
Published: December 2013

Background and PurposeFostamatinib is an inhibitor of spleen tyrosine kinase (TK). In patients, fostamatinib treatment was associated with increased BP. Some TK inhibitors cause BP elevation, by inhibiting the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Here, we have assessed the mechanistic link between fostamatinib‐induced BP elevation and inhibition of VEGF signalling.Experimental ApproachWe used conscious rats with automated blood sampling and radio telemetry and anaesthetized rats to measure cardiovascular changes. Rat isolated aorta and isolated hearts, and human resistance vessels in vitro were also used. NO production by human microvascular endothelial cells was measured with the NO‐dependent probe, DAF‐FM and VEGFR2 phosphorylation was determined in mouse lung, ex vivo.Key ResultsIn conscious rats, fostamatinib dose‐dependently increased BP. The time course of the BP effect correlated closely with the plasma concentrations of R406 (the active metabolite of fostamatinib). In anaesthetized rats, infusion of R406 increased BP and decreased femoral arterial conductance. Endothelial function was unaffected, as infusion of R406 did not inhibit hyperaemia‐ or ACh‐induced vasodilatation in rats. R406 did not affect contraction of isolated blood vessels. R406 inhibited VEGF‐stimulated NO production from human endothelial cells in vitro, and treatment with R406 inhibited VEGFR2 phosphorylation in vivo. R406 inhibited VEGF‐induced hypotension in anaesthetized rats.Conclusions and ImplicationsIncreased vascular resistance, secondary to reduced VEGF‐induced NO release from endothelium, may contribute to BP increases observed with fostamatanib. This is consistent with the elevated BP induced by other drugs inhibiting VEGF signalling, although the contribution of other mechanisms cannot be excluded.