An Empirical Research on the Impact of E-commerce Enterprise Reputation on Online Consumer Behavior: A Case Study of B2C Websites

As a means of non-price competition, the reputation of enterprises is valued by e-commerce enterprises. From the perspective of consumers, this paper divides corporate reputation into five elements. Corporate reputation will affect consumer behavior. Based on the trust to the enterprise, consumers show satisfaction to the products and services of the enterprise and customer loyalty behavior. Therefore, the paper constructs a theoretical analysis model, and uses data analysis and data processing to verify the relationship between e-commerce enterprise reputation and consumer behavior, and then puts forward relevant suggestions

The Proangiogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Therapeutic Applications

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from many tissue types and following in vitro culture expansion, large numbers of patient-specific or allogenic cells can be produced for clinical applications. MSCs exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and are identified as lacking major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Cellular-based approaches using MSCs to enhance new blood vessel formation have shown promise in preclinical models and preliminary clinical trials. Transplantation of MSCs in vivo has significantly enhanced the formation of new blood vessels and promoted the healing of chronic wounds. The proangiogenic potential of MSCs can be further enhanced through gene delivery such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) providing long-term therapeutic expression. In this chapter, we review recent advances on the isolation and characterization of MSCs and in vivo applications for promoting angiogenesis. Enhancement of angiogenesis is also required for improved healing in myocardial infarction and cerebral ischemia, and the use of MSCs in these areas will also be reviewed. Furthermore, the combination of MSCs with biomaterials has greatly improved their survival and potency with improved vascularization of tissue-engineered constructs and integration within the host. In summary, this chapter provides an overview of both the basic science supporting the proangiogenic properties of MSCs and their translational use

Acculturation is associated with left ventricular mass in a multiethnic sample: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BackgroundAcculturation involves stress-related processes and health behavioral changes, which may have an effect on left ventricular (LV) mass, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the relationship between acculturation and LV mass in a multiethnic cohort of White, African-American, Hispanic and Chinese subjects.MethodsCardiac magnetic resonance assessment was available for 5004 men and women, free of clinical CVD at baseline. Left ventricular mass index was evaluated as LV mass indexed by body surface area. Acculturation was characterized based on language spoken at home, place of birth and length of stay in the United States (U.S.), and a summary acculturation score ranging from 0 = least acculturated to 5 = most acculturated. Mean LV mass index adjusted for traditional CVD risk factors was compared across acculturation levels.ResultsUnadjusted mean LV mass index was 78.0 ± 16.3 g/m(2). In adjusted analyses, speaking exclusively English at home compared to non-English language was associated with higher LV mass index (81.3 ± 0.4 g/m(2) vs 79.9 ± 0.5 g/m(2), p = 0.02). Among foreign-born participants, having lived in the U.S. for ≥ 20 years compared to < 10 years was associated with greater LV mass index (81.6 ± 0.7 g/m(2) vs 79.5 ± 1.1 g/m(2), p = 0.02). Compared to those with the lowest acculturation score, those with the highest score had greater LV mass index (78.9 ± 1.1 g/m(2) vs 81.1 ± 0.4 g/m(2), p = 0.002). There was heterogeneity in which measure of acculturation was associated with LV mass index across ethnic groups.ConclusionsGreater acculturation is associated with increased LV mass index in this multiethnic cohort. Acculturation may involve stress-related processes as well as behavioral changes with a negative effect on cardiovascular health

An acoustical study of fricatives in the speech of dysarthric speakers

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-57).The goal of the present study is to better understand dysarthric speakers' speech production through quantitative acoustical analysis of the speech signals. In the past, two acoustical measurements proven to correlate with speech intelligibility in dysarthric speakers are speech rate and slope of the F2 frequency change for certain consonant vowel syllables. In this thesis, several new spectral parameters from acoustical analysis that reflect neuro motor dysfunctions in production of the fricative /s/ have been devised and are presented. These parameters specify the spectrum shape and relative amplitude of the fricative noise, the presence or absence of voicing, and the time variation of the spectrum preceding, during, and following the fricative. Analysis shows that these parameters are highly correlated with the speakers' overall intelligibility as well as intelligibility of the fricative /s/. The top three parameters that differentiate the intelligibility of speakers are related to the spectral shape (spectral tilt), the amount of variation in spectral energy (time variation within the fricative), and the amount of inadvertent spectral energy present prior to frication (precursor). The long-term aim of the study is to develop methods for quantifying disordered speech and for determining the deviation from normal speech. In the long run, these methods can be used to objectively measure the effectiveness of speech therapy as well as the amount of speech degeneration in dysarthric speakers.by Helen Chen.M.Eng