bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of perceived service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction, trust, and loyalty in e‐commerce settings
Authors: Kassim Norizan , Asiah Abdullah Nor 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to empirically investigate the relationship between perceived service quality, satisfaction, trust, and loyalty in e‐commerce settings in two cultures – Malaysian and Qatari – at the level of construct dimensions.Design/methodology/approachA survey method approach was used in this study. To test the dimensionality of the perceived service quality, all 20 items were analyzed using oblique rotation and varimax rotation. The hypotheses were tested using the structural equations modeling and general linear model of univariate analysis of variance.FindingsPerceived service quality was found to have a significant impact on customer satisfaction. In turn customer satisfaction was found to have a significant effect on trust. Both customer satisfaction and trust have significant effects on loyalty through word of mouth (WOM) while WOM is an antecedent of repeat visits or repurchase intentions. Interestingly, trust does not directly influence the latter. With the exception of the effect of satisfaction on trust, we found no significant difference between the effects of perceived service quality on satisfaction, satisfaction on loyalty, and trust on loyalty among the Qatari and Malaysian customers indicating that the relationships in the model did not hold across the two cultural groups because the respondents have similar cultural background.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suffers from a limitation in that it uses a convenience sampling technique without a fully matched profile of the respondents. However, the satisfactory fit of the estimated model allows for the study to be a basis of a reliable comparison for future research.Practical implicationsIn an e‐commerce setting companies can increase customer loyalty directly by improving the ease of use, the attractiveness, and the security of their website. Thus, marketers should tailor their marketing strategies to fit each marketing environment because overseas success of their business is very much a function of cultural adaptability.Originality/valueThe major contribution of this study is that it is the first attempt to investigate the impact of word of mouth on trust and intention.
Assessing post occupancy evaluation in higher education facilities
Authors: Riley Mike , Kokkarinen Noora , Pitt Michael 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to summarise the main post occupancy evaluation (POE) techniques currently available and illustrate which method would be the most appropriate as a performance enhancement tool within higher education (HE) facilities.Design/methodology/approachThe history of, and barriers to using POE as a performance enhancement tool are analysed through an extensive literature review.FindingsDespite a historic resistance to POE by construction professionals, interest has emerged in recent years, particularly with government clients and public funded projects, with a focus on the outputs of a project as opposed to the inputs. While plenty of methods exist, only a few are specifically suited to evaluate the building performance of educational facilities to maximise student success and productivity.Research limitations/implicationsPractitioners and academics who are interested in the various POE methods will find this review relevant in order to choose which method is most appropriate for the assessment needs of HE facilities.Originality/valueResearch on POE has been emerging in the field of facilities management for commercial and domestic buildings, but little attention has been drawn to HE buildings; although they are a great contributor to individual success and society. This paper provides an historic overview of POE while also assessing its scope, identifying drivers and barriers to it, and outlining the various methods by which it can be conducted.
Technological innovation progress in Central China: a survey to 42 firms
Authors: Ren Liqin , Zeng Deming , Krabbendam Koos 
Published: July 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report a recent technological innovation investigation to the Chinese enterprises with different ownerships. The goal of this research is to discuss whether there are innovation mechanisms in place, and to test the influence of the innovation mechanisms and the government policies to the Chinese enterprises' innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation and analyses are based on a survey to the firms (n=42) from different sectors in central China, for which a research framework and analytical model of firm‐level innovation in China was developed.FindingsThe paper finds that the innovation mechanisms in the Chinese firms are to a certain extent in place, and the market factor has become the driving force for the enterprises' innovation. By using the pooled‐variancet‐test for comparing means, the authors further tested that innovation mechanisms and the government innovation policies have positive influences on the innovation performance of the Chinese enterprises.Originality/valueThe first‐hand technological innovation situation of the Chinese firms are evaluated by the relevant firm leaders (insiders) and analyzed by a Western research team (outsiders), which is of great significance to the Western academic and practitioners.
Education and human resources management in high‐tech organisations in China
Authors: Rovai Serena 
Published: July 2010

PurposeAt present, in the increasingly global markets, one of the main challenges to international business is how to effectively manage human resources across cultural boundaries. In particular, high‐tech MNCs demand a specific pool of talented individuals with specific technical expertise and personal skills to be adapted to operate in an international arena. That is especially true in the case of China, which has attracted a significant variety of foreign investments from diverse countries and whose people management policies and managerial staff technical and personal skills are reported in some cases to be at a primary stage. The purpose of this paper is to explore the educational context development in China and its related influence on the recruitment and selection process in Western high‐tech MNCs in the People's Republic of China (PRC).Design/methodology/approachThis is a research paper based on multiple case studies and direct face‐to‐face interviews.FindingsChina needs highly trained and highly educated individuals who can work in a dynamic domestic and global marketplace. Under the centrally planned system, the curricula in different universities are not associated to diversification in response to China changing economic needs and scenario. In most of the Chinese universities, many of the disciplines are very narrowly defined because these institutions are responsible for the job assignment of graduates. Despite the unprecedented growth of Chinese higher education thanks to the recent government reforms, the educational system in China still needs to be further restructured in its curricula to provide a sufficient number of qualified managers but however it will take time.Originality/valueNowadays, China needs highly trained and highly educated talents who can work in a domestic highly globalised marketplace. The underlying study will provide insight into those education related factors and their impact on the labour market in China with a specific focus on the search for appropriate technomanagement talents. The paper also provides insights into those educational factors, which produce satisfactory and less‐satisfactory results in recruitment of local talents in foreign technology companies. It also suggests the need for further research in the talent management area and education in PRC in relation to the current lack of data. Recommendations for the possible integration of appropriate educational projects aiming at developing highly talented individuals into those foreign corporations are provided.
Clinical trial: 2‐L polyethylene glycol‐based lavage solutions for colonoscopy preparation – a randomized, single‐blind study of two formulations
Authors: Cohen L. B. , Sanyal S. M. , Von Althann C. , Bodian C. , Whitson M. , Bamji N. , Miller K. M. , Mavronicolas W. , Burd S. , Freedman J. , Aisenberg J. 
Published: July 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 637–644SummaryBackground  The 2‐L polyethylene glycol (PEG) lavage solutions provide efficacy similar to that of standard 4‐L PEG formulations in spite of the reduced volume. The comparative efficacy and tolerability of two formulations of 2‐L PEG solution remain unknown.Aims  To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of PEG + Bis compared with PEG + Asc, and to study the effect of bowel cleansing quality on adenoma detection rates.Methods  Patients were randomized to receive either 2‐L PEG with ascorbic acid (PEG + Asc) or 2‐L PEG plus bisacodyl 10 mg (PEG + Bis). The primary endpoint was overall colon cleansing score, assessed by blinded investigators using a validated four‐point scale. Secondary endpoints included adenoma detection rate, patient tolerability and compliance and adverse events.Results  Fifty‐two patients received PEG + Asc and 55 patients received PEG + Bis. Overall colon cleansing scores (±s.d.) were 1.40 ± 0.69 and 1.75 ± 0.70 (P < 0.003) in the PEG + Asc and PEG + Bis groups, respectively. Excellent and good ratings were recorded in 69% and 23% receiving PEG + Asc compared to 38% and 51% (P = 0.01) of patients receiving PEG + Bis. More adenomas were detected in colonoscopies performed with PEG + Asc (39%) than in those performed with PEG + Bis (20%) (P = 0.04). Patient tolerability and safety were similar with both preparations.Conclusion  The use of PEG + Asc resulted in better colon cleansing and higher adenoma detection rates compared with PEG + Bis.
Tanespimycin with bortezomib: activity in relapsed/refractory patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Richardson Paul G. , Badros Ashraf Z. , Jagannath Sundar , Tarantolo Stefano , Wolf Jeffrey L. , Albitar Maher , Berman David , Messina Marianne , Anderson Kenneth C. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryTanespimycin (17‐allylamino‐17‐demethoxygeldanamycin, 17‐AAG) disrupts heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a key molecular chaperone for signal transduction proteins critical to myeloma growth, survival and drug resistance. In previous studies, tanespimycin monotherapy was well tolerated and active in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Preclinical data have shown antitumour synergy between tanespimycin and bortezomib, with more pronounced intracellular accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins than either drug alone, an effect attributed to the synergistic suppression of chymotryptic activity in the 20S proteasome. HSP70 induction has been observed in all Phase 1 tanespimycin studies in which it has been measured, with several separate reports of HSP70 overexpression protecting against peripheral nerve injury. In this Phase 2, open‐label multicentre study, we compared 1·3 mg/m2 bortezomib + three doses of tanespimycin: 50, 175 and 340 mg/m2 in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed and refractory MM and measured HSP70 expression and proteasome activity levels in plasma of treated patients. The study was closed prematurely for resource‐based reasons, precluding dose comparison. Nonetheless, antitumour activity was observed, with promising response rates and promising severity of peripheral neuropathy.
Quantifying phenological plasticity to temperature in two temperate tree species
Authors: Vitasse Yann , Bresson Caroline C. , Kremer Antoine , Michalet Richard , Delzon Sylvain 
Published: July 2010

Summary 1. Phenotypic plasticity allows large shifts in the timing of phenology within one single generation and drives phenotypic variability under environmental changes, thus it will enhance the inherent adaptive capacities of plants against future changes of climate. 2. Using five common gardens set along an altitudinal gradient (100–1600 m asl.), we experimentally examined the phenotypic plasticity of leaf phenology in response to temperature increase for two temperate tree species (Fagus sylvatica and Quercus petraea). We used seedlings from three populations of each species inhabiting different altitudes (400, 800 and 1200 m asl.). Leaf unfolding in spring and leaf senescence in autumn were monitored on seedlings for 2 years. 3. Overall, a high phenological plasticity was found for both species. The reaction norms of leaf unfolding date to temperature linearly accelerated for both species with an average shift of −5·7 days per degree increase. Timing of leaf senescence exhibited hyperbolic trends for beech due to earlier senescence at the lowest elevation garden and no or slight trends for oak. There was no difference in the magnitude of phenological plasticity among populations from different elevations. For both species, the growing season length increased to reach maximum values at about 10–13 °C of annual temperature according to the population. 4. Since the magnitude of phenological plasticity is high for all the tested populations, they are likely to respond immediately to temperature variations in terms of leaf phenology. Consequently the mid‐ to high‐elevation populations are likely to experience a longer growing season with climate warming. The results suggest that climate warming could lengthen the growing season of all populations over the altitudinal gradient, although the low‐elevation populations, especially of beech, may experience accelerated senescence and shorter growing season due to drought and other climate changes associated with warming.
Sentence imitation by adolescents and young adults with Down's syndrome and other intellectual disabilities
Authors: Marcell M. M. , Ridgeway M. M. , Sewell D. H. , Whelan M. L. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractSentence imitation performance was evaluated longitudinally in 26 adolescents and young adults with Down's syndrome (DS), and 26 age‐ and IQ‐matched non‐DS individuals with other causes of intellectual disability (ID). In each of three annual assessments, the DS group began sentence repetitions more slowly and imitated sentences less accurately than the ID group. DS sentence repetition accuracy was equivalent to the ID group only for two‐word sentences and was poorer for every other sentence length. Comparisons of sentence imitation and auditory digit span scores suggested that only ID subjects benefitted from the additional meaning and structure provided by sentences. Correlational analyses performed between each year's sentence imitation score and a set of language, memory and hearing measures revealed that sentence imitation was related to grammatical comprehension, auditory short‐term memory and IQ in both groups, and to expressive language ability, speed of spoken word processing, speech discrimination and acoustic reflexes in the DS group only. A significant relationship between sentence imitation and middle‐ear functioning was further supported by a categorical analysis in which DS subjects with bilateral abnormal tympanograms tended to perform more poorly on sentence imitation tasks than DS subjects with at least one normal tympanogram. It was concluded that sentence imitation is a task that is sensitive to the auditory‐perceptual, cognitive and expressive difficulties evidenced by individuals with DS.
Personality profiles of youngsters with Prader‐Willi syndrome and youngsters attending regular schools
Authors: Curfs L. M. G. , Hoondert V. , van Lieshout C. F. M. , Fryns J.‐P. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractFor the study of the personality profile of youngsters with Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS), a PWS group was compared with a matched group of youngsters attending regular school. The PWS group consisted of 28 youngsters (12 males and i6 females; mean age 11 years, 11 months). These youngsters were matched on gender and age level with 28 youngsters out of a group of 333 youngsters in regular school. Behaviour and personality characteristics of each youngster in both groups were described by both parents, using a Dutch version of the California Child Q‐set (CCQ; Block & Block 1980). The present authors compared the scores of both groups on eight personality dimensions, derived from the aggregated CCQ‐descriptions for fathers and mothers. The personality dimensions were Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Openness, Motor Activity, Irritability and Dependency. The authors investigated further individual differences of PWS youngsters on the same eight CCQ personality dimensions, considering gender and age level as well as IQ level and the presence or absence of a I5qii‐qi3 deletion. The personality profile of PWS youngsters was markedly different from youngsters in regular school. Some personality characteristics were related to gender and IQ. The lower level of physical activity in PWS girls without 15911–913 deletion needs further study.
Norfloxacin‐induced DNA gyrase cleavage complexes block Escherichia coli replication forks, causing double‐stranded breaks in vivo
Authors: Pohlhaus Jennifer Reineke , Kreuzer Kenneth N. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryAntibacterial quinolones inhibit type II DNA topoisomerases by stabilizing covalent topoisomerase‐DNA cleavage complexes, which are apparently transformed into double‐stranded breaks by cellular processes such as replication. We used plasmid pBR322 and two‐dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis to examine the collision of replication forks with quinolone‐induced gyrase‐DNA cleavage complexes in Escherichia coli. Restriction endonuclease‐digested DNA exhibited a bubble arc with discrete spots, indicating that replication forks had been stalled. The most prominent spot depended upon the strong gyrase binding site of pBR322, providing direct evidence that quinolone‐induced cleavage complexes block bacterial replication forks in vivo. We differentiated between stalled forks that do or do not contain bound cleavage complex by extracting DNA under different conditions. Resealing conditions allow gyrase to efficiently reseal the transient breaks within cleavage complexes, while cleavage conditions cause the latent breaks to be revealed. These experiments showed that some stalled forks did not contain a cleavage complex, implying that gyrase had dissociated in vivo and yet the fork had not restarted at the time of DNA isolation. Additionally, some branched plasmid DNA isolated under resealing conditions nonetheless contained broken DNA ends. We discuss a model for the creation of double‐stranded breaks by an indirect mechanism after quinolone treatment.
Impact of the bacterial type I cytochrome c maturation system on different biological processes
Authors: Cianciotto Nicholas P. , Cornelis Pierre , Baysse Christine 
Published: July 2010

SummaryIn the α‐, β‐ and γ‐Proteobacteria, the so‐called cytochrome c maturation (Ccm) system is known to promote the covalent attachment of the haem to periplasmic apocytochrome c. However, in species of Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Paracoccus and Legionella, mutations in ccm genes result in phenotypes that cannot be readily explained by the simple loss of a c‐type cytochrome. These phenotypes include loss of siderophore production and utilization, reduced abilities to grow in low‐iron conditions and in mammalian and protozoan host cells, and alterations in copper sensitivity and manganese oxidation. These various data suggest that Ccm proteins may perform one or more functions in addition to Ccm, which are critical for bacterial physiology and growth. Novel hypotheses that should be explored include the utilization of Ccm‐associated haem for processes besides attachment to apocytochrome c, the export of a non‐haem compound through the Ccm system, and the negative effects of protoporphyrin IX accumulation.
Recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis Expressing an ESAT6‐CFP10 Fusion Protein Induces Anti‐Mycobacterial Immune Responses and Protects Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Challenge in Mice
Authors: Zhang H. , Peng P. , Miao S. , Zhao Y. , Mao F. , Wang L. , Bai Y. , Xu Z. , Wei S. , Shi C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe currently used vaccine against tuberculosis, Bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG), has variable efficacy, so new vaccine development is crucial. In this study, we evaluated a recombinant vaccine prepared from non‐pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis (rMS) that expresses a fusion of early secreted antigenic target 6‐kDa antigen (ESAT6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP10). C57BL/6 mice were immunized with the rMS expressing the ESAT6‐CFP10 fusion protein (rM.S‐e6c10) or with BCG. The mice in the rM.S‐e6c10 group had a significantly higher titre of anti‐ESAT6‐CFP10 antibodies than did animals in the BCG or saline groups. Spleen cells from rM.S‐e6c10‐immunized mice exhibited a cytotoxic response to ESAT6 and CFP10‐expressed target cells, but spleen cells from animals in the other groups did not. Levels of IFN‐γ and IL‐2 production by purified T cells from spleens were significantly higher in rM.S‐e6c10 group than in BCG group. Finally, after M. tuberculosis (MTB)‐challenged mice, dramatic reduction in the numbers of MTB colony‐forming units (CFUs) in the lungs was observed for the mice immunized with the rMS. The protective efficacy of rM.S‐e6c10 and BCG vaccination was similar based on measures of MTB burden and lung pathology. Our data indicate that the recombinant M. smegmatis vaccine expressing the ESAT6‐CFP10 fusion protein has potential in clinic application.
Variance‐Sensitive Green Woodhoopoes: A New Explanation for Sex Differences in Foraging?
Authors: Wright Jonathan , Radford Andrew N. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractStudies of cooperatively breeding birds rarely benefit from the extensive research on adaptive foraging behaviour, despite the potential for concepts such as state‐dependent foraging to explain many aspects of behaviour in social groups. For example, sex differences in preferred foraging techniques used by green woodhoopoes, Phoeniculus purpureus, have previously been explained by sexual dimorphism in bill length and the benefits afforded by foraging specialization and niche differentiation within cooperative groups. Contrary to this argument, there were no sex differences in mean foraging success and/or prey size captured when males and females used the same foraging techniques. Subordinates of both sexes did experience lower and more varied foraging success compared with dominants, but probably only as a consequence of competition or inexperience. However, dominant males experienced greater variance in individual foraging success compared with dominant females, and dominant males also experienced greater variances in prey size when using their preferred foraging techniques. Dominant males therefore appeared to specialize in foraging techniques that provided more variable rewards, whilst dominant females consistently chose to minimize variation in reward. Dominant females also experienced less variance in foraging returns when using the same techniques as males, suggesting a possible link with sexual dimorphism in bill length. Partitioning of foraging niches in dominant green woodhoopoes therefore appears to be better explained by sex differences in variance (risk) sensitivity to foraging rewards. We suggest that this kind of detailed analysis of state‐dependent foraging has the potential to explain many of the crucial age and sex differences in behaviour within cooperative groups.