How can Restaurant Waiting Time Experience Influence on Different Customer Groups’ Waiting Time Satisfaction?

In the perfect world, people do not have to wait to get anything. Business operations have the exact capacity available to serve every customer when the customer wants to be served, and no idle capacity. But in the real world, service providers have to match demand and capacity, especially when customers do not arrive at the service operations in perfect timing. In the restaurant setting, waiting time influenced customers’ repeat-purchase intentions. Previous studies examined how the purpose of dining impacts customers’ expectation of waiting time. Nevertheless, according to the authors’ knowledge, there are no studies evaluated how the composition of the dining members influence customers’ expectation of waiting time. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the composition of group members influences customers’ expectation of the waiting time

Quantifying the ki-67 heterogeneity profile in prostate cancer.

BackgroundKi-67 is a robust predictive/prognostic marker in prostate cancer; however, tumor heterogeneity in prostate biopsy samples is not well studied.MethodsUsing an MRI/US fusion device, biopsy cores were obtained systematically and by targeting when indicated by MRI. Prostate cores containing cancer from 77 consecutive men were analyzed. The highest Ki-67 was used to determine interprostatic variation. Ki-67 range (highest minus lowest) was used to determine intraprostatic and intralesion variation. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were evaluated in relation to Ki-67.ResultsInterprostatic Ki-67 mean ± standard deviation (SD) values for NCCN low (L), intermediate (I), and high (H) risk patients were 5.1 ± 3.8%, 7.4 ± 6.8%, and 12.0 ± 12.4% (ANOVA P = 0.013). Intraprostatic mean ± SD Ki-67 ranges in L, I, and H risk patients were 2.6 ± 3.6%, 5.3 ± 6.8%, and 10.9 ± 12.3% (ANOVA P = 0.027). Intralesion mean ± SD Ki-67 ranges in L, I, and H risk patients were 1.1 ± 0.9%, 5.2 ± 7.9%, and 8.1 ± 10.8% (ANOVA P = 0.22). ADC values at Ki-67 > and <7.1% were 860 ± 203 and 1036 ± 217, respectively (P = 0.0029).ConclusionsHigh risk patients have significantly higher inter- and intraprostatic Ki-67 heterogeneity. This needs to be considered when utilizing Ki-67 clinically

A Novel Index Portefolio Model by Minimizing the Absolute Tracking Error -- Empirical Stusies in the Taiwan Stock Market

The index portfolio model attempts to form a portfolio whose time series in the market can trace the selected index as much as possible. The traditional index portfolio model, estimated coefficients models proposed by Salkin, established the portfolio by minimizing the square tracking error. In this paper, a novel index portfolio model formed by minimizing the absolute tracking error is proposed. In addition to preserving the characteristics of Salkin’s model, the proposed model can guarantee obtaining the global optimum solution and, in contrast to Salkin’s model, it can avoid the effect of the extreme value, which Salkin’s model may not. Also in contrast to the traditional model, the proposed one is a linear programming model and can then include practical constraints in the models, including the transaction cost constraints and limited stock catalog constraints. How the improved models address these constraints would be discussed as well. Moreover, different empirical studies in the Taiwan Stock Market are provided to demonstrate the proposed model’s effectivenes

The Effect of Preozonation on the Anaerobic Biodegradability of Resistant Phenolic Compounds

Ozone pretreatment studies of four model phenolic compounds were conducted to evaluate the effects of ozonation on the anaerobic biodegradability and toxicity of these compounds. Two types of batch studies, the Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) and the Anaerobic Toxicity Assay (ATA), were performed on samples ozonated upon phenol, o-cresol, 2,5-dichlorophenol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Experimental results showed that toxic and refractory phenolic compounds were converted to methane gas by means of preozonation. In general, the biodegradable fraction of the oxidation products increased as the ozone dose was increased. However, ozonation to achieve at least 60% COD reduction was necessary to faciliate methane production. Ozonation reduced the toxicity of 2,5-DCP and 2,4-DNP on both acetate utilization and phenol degradation. The early ozonation products of o-cresol and phenol, however, were more toxic than the initial compounds. The rates of COD and DOC reduction through ozonation were faster and products formed were less inhibitory in the basic pH range than in the acid pH range

Effects of Aromatic Concentration on Methane Fermentation

The anaerobic biodegradability and toxicity of fourteen aromatic compounds were evaluated over a wide range of concentrations using a serum bottle technique. Benzene, toluene, and all three isomers of xylene were not significantly degraded to methane in a phenol-enriched culture. Complete degradation of 1000 mg/L phenol, 800 mg/L catechol, 100 mg/L 2-NP, 100 mg/L 3- NP, and 100 mg/L 4-NP was observed within two months while depletion of 100 mg/L resorcinol and 1000 mg/L hydroquinone required more than six and eight months incubation, respectively. None of the three isomers of chlorophenol were degraded in the phenol-enriched culture. Batch toxicity assay revealed that the phenol-enriched culture was more susceptible to inhibition caused by substituted phenols than the acetate-enriched culture. In general, the inhibitory effects on both phenol degradation and acetate utilization did not vary significantly with the isomer but rather with the substituted group. The degree of inhibition was in the order of nitrophenols \u3e chlorophenols \u3e hydroxyphenols. The Haldane inhibition model was used to fit experimental data from phenol and catechol. The inhibition of phenol degradation by chlorophenols, resorcinol, and hydroquinone was described rather well by a Monod-type, noncompetitive model

Safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy in the treatment of pulmonary metastases from high grade sarcoma.

Introduction. Patients with high-grade sarcoma (HGS) frequently develop metastatic disease thus limiting their long-term survival. Lung metastases (LM) have historically been treated with surgical resection (metastasectomy). A potential alternative for controlling LM could be stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We evaluated the outcomes from our institutional experience utilizing SBRT. Methods. Sixteen consecutive patients with LM from HGS were treated with SBRT between 2009 and 2011. Routine radiographic and clinical follow-up was performed. Local failure was defined as CT progression on 2 consecutive scans or growth after initial shrinkage. Radiation pneumonitis and radiation esophagitis were scored using Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) version 3.0. Results. All 16 patients received chemotherapy, and a subset (38%) also underwent prior pulmonary metastasectomy. Median patient age was 56 (12-85), and median follow-up time was 20 months (range 3-43). A total of 25 lesions were treated and evaluable for this analysis. Most common histologies were leiomyosarcoma (28%), synovial sarcoma (20%), and osteosarcoma (16%). Median SBRT prescription dose was 54 Gy (36-54) in 3-4 fractions. At 43 months, local control was 94%. No patient experienced G2-4 radiation pneumonitis, and no patient experienced radiation esophagitis. Conclusions. Our retrospective experience suggests that SBRT for LM from HGS provides excellent local control and minimal toxicity

Health-Related Quality of Life After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: Results From a Multi-institutional Consortium of Prospective Trials

PurposeTo evaluate the early and late health-related quality of life (QOL) outcomes among prostate cancer patients following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).Methods and MaterialsPatient self-reported QOL was prospectively measured among 864 patients from phase 2 clinical trials of SBRT for localized prostate cancer. Data from the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) instrument were obtained at baseline and at regular intervals up to 6 years. SBRT delivered a median dose of 36.25 Gy in 4 or 5 fractions. A short course of androgen deprivation therapy was given to 14% of patients.ResultsMedian follow-up was 3 years and 194 patients remained evaluable at 5 years. A transient decline in the urinary and bowel domains was observed within the first 3 months after SBRT which returned to baseline status or better within 6 months and remained so beyond 5 years. The same pattern was observed among patients with good versus poor baseline function and was independent of the degree of early toxicities. Sexual QOL decline was predominantly observed within the first 9 months, a pattern not altered by the use of androgen deprivation therapy or patient age.ConclusionLong-term outcome demonstrates that prostate SBRT is well tolerated and has little lasting impact on health-related QOL. A transient and modest decline in urinary and bowel QOL during the first few months after SBRT quickly recovers to baseline levels. With a large number of patients evaluable up to 5 years following SBRT, it is unlikely that unexpected late adverse effects will manifest themselves

Image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy: preliminary outcomes and toxicity of a joint interventional radiology and radiation oncology technique for achieving local control in challenging cases.

PurposeTo determine the ability of image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IG-HDR) to provide local control (LC) of lesions in non-traditional locations for patients with heavily pre-treated malignancies.Material and methodsThis retrospective series included 18 patients treated between 2012 and 2014 with IG-HDR, either in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT; n = 9) or as monotherapy (n = 9). Lesions were located in the pelvis (n = 5), extremity (n = 2), abdomen/retroperitoneum (n = 9), and head/neck (n = 2). All cases were performed in conjunction between interventional radiology and radiation oncology. Toxicity was graded based on CTCAE v4.0 and local failure was determined by RECIST criteria. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for LC and overall survival.ResultsThe median follow-up was 11.9 months. Two patients had localized disease at presentation; the remainder had recurrent and/or metastatic disease. Seven patients had prior EBRT, with a median equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) of 47.0 Gy. The median total EQD2s were 34 Gy and 60.9 Gy for patients treated with monotherapy or combination therapy, respectively. Image-guided high-dose rate brachytherapy was delivered in one to six fractions. Six patients had local failures at a median interval of 5.27 months with a one-year LC rate of 59.3% and a one-year overall survival of 40.7%. Six patients died from their disease at a median interval of 6.85 months from the end of treatment. There were no grade ≥ 3 acute toxicities but two patients had serious long term toxicities.ConclusionsWe demonstrate a good one year LC rate of nearly 60%, and a favorable toxicity profile when utilizing IG-HDR to deliver high doses of radiation with high precision into targets not readily accessible by other forms of local therapy. These preliminary results suggest that further studies utilizing this approach may be considered for patients with difficult to access lesions that require LC

InGaN-based light-emitting diodes with an embedded conical air-voids structure

The conical air-void structure of an InGaN light-emitting diode (LEDs) was formed at the GaN/sapphire interface to increase the light extraction efficiency. The fabrication process of the conical air-void structure consisted of a dry process and a crystallographic wet etching process on an undoped GaN layer, followed by a re-growth process for the InGaN LED structure. A higher light output power (1.54 times) and a small divergent angle (120o) were observed, at a 20mA operation current, on the treated LED structure when compared to a standard LED without the conical air-void structure. In this electroluminescence spectrum, the emission intensity and the peak wavelength varied periodically by corresponding to the conical air-void patterns that were measured through a 100nm-optical-aperture fiber probe. The conical air-void structure reduced the compressed strain at the GaN/sapphire interface by inducing the wavelength blueshift phenomenon and the higher internal quantum efficiency of the photoluminescence spectra for the treated LED structure

Neuromagnetic amygdala response to pain-related fear as a brain signature of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by impaired emotional regulation. This study explored the brain response to pain-related fear as a potential brain signature of FM