Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumers' purchase intention toward foreign brand goods

Purpose – This study aims to understand Indian consumers' purchase behaviors of foreign brand goods as a way to help US companies to explore India's market potential. To this end, the study seeks to propose an integrated behavioral intention model incorporating the two modified Fishbein models (Lee's modified Fishbein model and Ajzen's theory of planned behavior) and empirically test the model.Design/methodology/approach – Data from a total of 210 usable surveys were collected from Indian college students at four universities in Bangalore, India.Findings – The results revealed that attitude toward foreign brand jeans and perceived behavioral control (PBC) had greater influence on Indian consumers' purchase intentions toward foreign brand jeans than did normative influences (i.e. subjective norm and face saving). Research limitations/implications – Generalization of the findings is cautioned because findings may vary by regions and by demographic backgrounds.Practical implications – Since attitude toward fo.
Probability and Utility Estimates for Racetrack Bettors

Subjective and estimated objective winning probabilities are obtained from 20,247 harness horse races. It is shown that subjectively a horse with a low winning probability is exaggerated and one with a high probability of winning is depressed. Various hypotheses characterizing the bettors' behavior to explain the observed subjective-objective probability relation are explored. Under some simplified assumptions, a utility of wealth function of a decision maker is derived, and a quantitative summary measure of his risk attitude is defined. Attitude toward risk of a representative bettor is examined. It is found that he is a risk lover and tends to take more risk as his capital dwindles.
Voluntary Audits and the Cost of Debt Capital for Privately Held Firms: Korean Evidence

Using a large sample of privately held Korean companies that are not required to obtain an external audit, this paper examines the informational value of voluntary external audits of financial statements with respect to the cost of debt. We find that private companies with an external audit pay a significantly lower interest rate on their debt than do private companies without an audit. Further, the interest rate on borrowing is significantly lower for Big 4-audited companies than for non-Big 4-audited companies. Finally, we find that a change in a company's status from no audit to being audited - either voluntarily or because the audit became mandatory - leads to significant savings in the cost of borrowing.
Quantiles of the Realized Stock-Bond Correlation

Abstract: We scrutinize the realized stock-bond correlation based upon high frequency returns. We use quantile regressions to pin down the systematic variation of the extreme tails over their economic determinants. The correlation dependence behaves differently when the correlation is large negative and large positive. The important explanatory variables at the extreme low quantile are the short rate, the yield spread, and the volatility index. At the extreme high quantile the bond market liquidity is also important. The empirical fi…ndings are only partially robust to using less precise measures of the stock-bond correlation. The results are not caused by the recent …financial crisis. Keywords: Extreme returns; Financial crisis; Realized stock-bond correlation; Quantile regressions; VIX. JEL Classifi…cations: C22; G01; G11; G12
Mutations in the HSP27 (HSPB1) gene cause dominant, recessive, and sporadic distal HMN/CMT type 2

Background: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited neuromuscular disorder and is characterized by significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Recently, mutations in both the small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27 or HSPB1) and 22 (HSP22 or HSPB8) genes have been reported to cause autosomal dominant CMT with minimal sensory involvement (CMT 2F/CMT2L) and autosomal dominant distal hereditary motor neuropathy type II (dHMN II). Methods: We analyzed the HSPB1 and HSPB8 genes in a large clinically well-characterized series of dHMN and CMT type 2 (CMT2) cases and families using linkage analysis and direct sequencing of these genes. Results: We identified a novel homozygous mutation in the α-crystallin domain of HSPB1 segregating in an autosomal recessive fashion in a family with distal HMN/CMT2. A further four heterozygous HSPB1 mutations were identified in four autosomal dominant families dHMN/CMT2, and two sporadic cases were identified with probable de novo mutations. In the autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive families, there were no clinical sensory findings, but reduced sural nerve action potential amplitudes were found in some affected individuals, indicating that long sensory axons are mildly affected in this predominantly motor disorder. Conclusions: This extends the clinical and electrophysiologic spectrum of HSPB1 mutations and identifies four unreported dominant HSPB1 mutations and the first family where the HSPB1 mutation acts in a recessive way to cause distal HMN.
Featured CME Topic: Spirituality Religion, Aging, and Health: Exploring New Frontiers in Medical Care

The purpose of this review article is to selectively examine research that was designed to evaluate the relation between religious involvement and health among older people. Four facets of religion are examined in detail: church-based social support, religious coping, forgiveness, and prayer. In addition, potential negative effects of religion on health are discussed. Negative interaction in the church as well as religious doubt are evaluated in this respect. Throughout, an effort is made to show how current research on religion and health may be used to provide more comprehensive care for our aging population.
Mode-localized cantilever array for picogram order mass sensing

The use of vibration mode localization in arrays of mechanically-coupled, nearly identical beam-shaped resonators has been studied for ultra-sensitive mass detection. In this paper, for the first time, we thoroughly summarized and compared different sensitivities of various cantilever structures on mass sensing. Meanwhile, from our analytical results, the expression of the highest sensitivity has been found and can be one order of magnitudes greater than other ones.
Different practice patterns of rural and urban general practitioners are predicted by the General Practice Rurality Index.

INTRODUCTION There are differences between rural and urban general medical practice. However, research in this area has been hampered by the lack of a practical and valid definition of "rural. " This study attempts to validate the General Practice Rurality Index (GPRI) by showing that it can predict the fee-for-service billing patterns of general practitioners in British Columbia. METHODS We obtained one year of fee-for-service billing data for all general practitioners in BC, apportioned by local health area (LHA). The total numbers of each type of service in each LHA were categorized into logical groups and expressed as a percentage of total services for that LHA. Each LHA was given a full GPRI score and a simplified GPRI (GPRI-S) score. We then compared the scores and percentage of services in each fee category. RESULTS We found significant correlations between the degree of rurality and the percentage of certain services. The GPRI-S produced more significant correlations than the full GPRI. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that both the full GPRI and a simplified version can be used to predict practice patterns of BC general practitioners. Further study is needed to prove whether either of these indices will be an accurate and reliable measure of rurality across Canada.
Reassessing the Fiscal Mix for Successful Debt Reduction

This paper assesses the determinants of the duration of debt reduction episodes in a large sample of countries over the last three decades using a survival model. Results show that increases in the primary balances are the main source of debt reduction. Expenditure‐based fiscal adjustments are key for reducing the length of debt consolidation spells, including in the aftermath of financial crises. Political fragmentation and the proximity of elections make debt sustainability more difficult to achieve, while structural reforms that help spur growth decrease the duration of debt reduction. In contrast to previous findings, however, we show that when adjustment needs are large – as in many advanced economies today – fiscal consolidations that rely also on revenue‐enhancing measures are more likely to accelerate debt reduction. We label it as the ‘Rebalancing Adjustment Effect’. This result is particularly strong when countries experience a financial crisis.
Volume, Opinion Divergence and Book-to-Market Anomaly

Ali et al. (2003) argue that the Book-to-Market (B/M) anomaly is explained by mispricing. Using firm-level data from 1976 through 1997, we replicate their results and then test the idea that the anomaly is also explained as reflecting compensation for risk due to heterogeneous expectations (“opinion divergence”). The proxy for opinion divergence is unexpected trading volume, as used by Garfinkel and Sokobin (2006). We show that the B/M effect increases with opinion divergence. We also empirically test the argument advanced by Varian (1985), and find support for the compensation-for-risk to the B/M-based portfolio returns view, as suggested by Fama and French (1992, 1993, 1997). Keywords : Opinion divergence, arbitrage risk, book-to-market
Non-Proportionality and Energy Resolution of NaI(Tl) at Wide Temperature Range ( $-40^{\circ}{\hbox {C}}$ to  $+23^{\circ}{\hbox {C}}$)

The performance of a Nal(Tl) crystal coupled to a Large Area Avalanche Photodiode (LAAPD) was investigated as a function of temperature in the range from -40degC to +23degC. The number of electron-hole pairs created per 1 MeV of gamma-ray energy detected by the scintillator, non-proportionality and the energy resolution for various peaking times were measured. It showed a significant variation of the light output and the energy resolution of a Nal(Tl) crystal at reduced temperatures down to -40degC, as measured with different peaking times in the spectroscopy amplifiers. A large slowing down of the light pulse, caused by the intense slow component of the light pulse, requires long peaking times (up to 48 mus) in order to optimize the energy resolution at the most reduced temperatures. In these conditions of a full integration of the light, a weak variation of the light output of a Nal(Tl) crystal is observed, corresponding to -0.16%/degC. The non-proportionality characteristics and intrinsic resolution are somewhat distorted by a partial integration of the light by too short shaping in the amplifier. It confirms the earlier observations that, for crystals which exhibited two component decays of the light pulse, the best non-proportionality and the lowest intrinsic resolution are achieved for the full integration of the light.
Ageing‐related changes in GABAergic inhibition in mouse auditory cortex, measured using in vitro flavoprotein autofluorescence imaging

Ageing is associated with hearing loss and changes in GABAergic signalling in the auditory system. We tested whether GABAergic signalling in an isolated forebrain preparation also showed ageing‐related changes. A novel approach was used, whereby population imaging was coupled to quantitative pharmacological sensitivity. Sensitivity to GABAA blockade was inversely associated with age and cortical thickness, but hearing loss did not independently contribute to the change in GABAAergic sensitivity. Redox states in the auditory cortex of young and aged animals were similar, suggesting that the differences in GABAAergic sensitivity are unlikely to be due to differences in slice health.
Inter-regional spillover effects in New Zealand international tourism demand

In this paper, we have investigated the linkages between the international tourism demands across tourism regions in New Zealand. The big portion of the international tourists is visiting the big hubs of the New Zealand (namely, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch). However, big bulks of the tourists are also visiting the other parts of New Zealand as well. However, it is not certain whether the tourists visiting other regions are spilled over from these big hubs or they visit these regions as the main destination. To investigate this question, we examined the impact of the spillovers from these hubs to other regions of New Zealand. We employed a multivariate AR-GARCH model to estimate the spillover effects for both New Zealand's North Island and South Island regions. In particular, we quantified and compared the magnitudes of the main hubs on the volatility of the international tourism demand of the other regions. We found that the spillovers from the main centres are by and large important for a number of Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs), thereby suggesting that both expected guest night and volatility spillovers are important in explaining New Zealand's international hotel guest nights. We also quantified that, on average, 52% of the volatility in a South region tourism demand is explained by the volatility in tourism demand of Christchurch, whereas this rate is much lower in North Island which is around 25%. However, this is quite an evidence for the integration of the international tourism demand spillovers among New Zealand regions.
Bibliometric Techniques for Monitoring Performance in Technologically Oriented Research: The Case of Integrated Optics

This paper outlines a low-cost manual-scanning approach for monitoring national and organi- zational research performance using a range of publication and citation indicators. We present the results of a case-study on integrated optics, a subfield of optical physics with potential industrial importance in that it may lead to the development of optical analogues of integrated circuits. It is argued that the assessment approach adopted may be of value in R&D management and strategic planning for both companies and government research-funding agencies.
Innovation in IT outsourcing relationships: Where is the best practice of IT outsourcing in the public sector?

Abstract In recent years IT outsourcing has evolved from a formal contractual-based practice to a relationship-based practice. This new practice is viewed as an innovation in IT outsourcing in the public sector. The main goal of this study is to conduct an empirical investigation on IT outsourcing projects in the public sector to examine the best IT outsourcing practices from the relationship perspective. A four outsourcing relationship types (FORT) framework is applied to 178 IT outsourcing projects initiated by 56 different government organizations in Korea. Data shows that the best practice of IT outsourcing in the public sector can be achieved when strategic impact of the outsourced IT is highest and the extent of substitution by the vendor is large but not fully substituted. This finding can be explained in terms of government organization’s fear of loss of control and conservative organizational culture.
Epidemiological Outbreaks of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Are Not Limited to Kidney Transplant Recipients: Genotyping Confirms Common Source of Transmission in a Liver Transplantation Unit

ABSTRACT Over a 5-month period, four liver transplant patients at a single hospital were diagnosed with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). This unusually high incidence was investigated using molecular genotyping. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) obtained from the four liver recipients diagnosed with PCP were processed for multilocus sequence typing (MLST) at three loci (SOD, mt26s, and CYB). Twenty-four other BALF samples, which were positive for P. jirovecii and collected from 24 epidemiologically unrelated patients with clinical signs of PCP, were studied in parallel by use of the same method. Pneumocystis jirovecii isolates from the four liver recipients all had the same genotype, which was different from those of the isolates from all the epidemiologically unrelated individuals studied. These findings supported the hypothesis of a common source of contamination or even cross-transmission of a single P. jirovecii clone between the four liver recipients. Hospitalization mapping showed several possible encounters between these four patients, including outpatient consultations on one particular date when they all possibly met. This study demonstrates the value of molecular genotyping of P. jirovecii isolated from clinical samples for epidemiological investigation of PCP outbreaks. It is also the first description of a common source of exposure to a single P. jirovecii clone between liver transplant recipients and highlights the importance of prophylaxis in such a population.
The influence of western banks on corporate governance in China

This study draws on in-depth qualitative interviews to investigate the variety of institutional forces which influence the adoption of western corporate governance mechanisms in Chinese banks. Following path dependency models of institutional change it was shown that cognitive and normative institutions, including a ‘who you know’ or guanxi credit culture, mean that the practical influence of western banks on corporate governance reforms was perceived to be ineffectual in most cases. Given the failure of western credit-rating systems in the sub-prime crisis, it is likely that this perception will increase in the future. The majority of western actors believed that the main reason Chinese banks seek to co-operate with western institutions was to enhance the legitimacy of the Chinese bank in the global financial environment, rather than to actively change existing governance mechanisms.
Runx2 in human breast carcinoma: its potential roles in cancer progression

Runx2 has been proposed as one of the pivotal factors in the process of osteogenesis and metastasis in human malignancies including breast cancer, but its details have not been evaluated. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated its expression in human breast cancer using immunohistochemistry. One hundred and thirty‐seven formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded breast cancer specimens were used in this analysis of immunohistochemical study. Immunoreactivity was evaluated using the labeling index (LI). Runx2 immunoreactivity was detected in both carcinoma and stromal cells, as well as non‐pathological ductal cells. The nuclear LI of Runx2 in carcinoma cells was associated with the clinical stage, histological grade and HER2 status of the patients examined. In addition, among the patients not associated with distant metastasis, those with high Runx2 LI demonstrated a significantly worse clinical outcome than those with a low LI. This was more pronounced in the group of estrogen receptor (ER)‐negative cases. In addition, both univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the Runx2 LI in breast carcinoma cells turned out an independent prognostic factor. Results of our present study demonstrated that Runx2 plays very important roles in the progression of breast cancer, especially in those of ER‐negative cases. (Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 2670–2675)
An Application of Arbitrage Pricing Theory to Futures Markets: Tests of Normal Backwardation

Keynes (1923) and Hicks (1939), hypothesized that futures prices are downward biased estimates of expected spot prices. Any empirical study that employs returns on futures contracts is actually a joint test of both the Keynes-Hicks hypothesis and of the assumed model of returns. Models based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model have been used to test the hypothesis, with different models implying different conclusions. As shown in this article, these models are all special cases of a general linear model. Arbitrage Pricing Theory provides the most powerful test for this class of linear models. No other linear model will provide greater explanatory power or account for more systematic risk. An Arbitrage Pricing Theory model is estimated in this article and the results appear inconsistent with the Keynes-Hicks hypothesis.
An approach for exhaustive self testing of LUTs in an FPGA using Walsh configurations

This paper presents a new methodology for achieving an exhaustive testing and diagnosis of one of the main FPGA resources, which is the look-up table (LUT). The proposed methodology utilizes a total of log2(2N+2) Walsh configurations to achieve a 100% fault coverage, including all possible stuck-at and bridging faults for N-input LUTs. The Walsh configurations are derived by using Walsh vectors to construct truth tables for the LUT. A fault compression method has been used in order to test more LUTs in parallel and that is designed in combination of Walsh configurations and with a parallel-in-serial-out (PISO) shift register. This method of fault compression also enables fault diagnosis, where the faulty LUTs can be identified. The proposed methodology was implemented on Spartan series FPGAs via an automated approach utilizing a PC through a parallel port communication. The automation program has been written in PERL and C and by utilising Xilinx tools. It is shown from the test results that total testing time required to exhaustively test 200 LUTs for all possible faults is 7.5 minutes. Moreover this method uses minimal input output blocks (IOBs) and provides 100% fault coverage.
An exploration of food safety culture in a multi‐cultural environment: next steps?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of food safety culture in a multi‐cultural environment. It is the eighth paper in a themed issue of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes presenting international food safety management challenges and solutions.Design/methodology/approach – A literature review brings together theories and practical research in the fields of management, international business, psychology and food safety.Findings – A theoretical framework is developed using a wide range of theories and research findings, with the aim of broadening the current understanding of the concept of food safety culture while also clarifying it.Practical implications – The paper will be of value to practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders involved in the food industry.Originality/value – This paper presents a unique insight into the concept of food safety culture, and presents an in‐depth theoretical framework.
Sustained Exposure to Nicotine Leads to Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in the Spleen

The effect of sustained exposure to nicotine, a major constituent of cigarette smoke, on hematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM) and spleen was evaluated in a murine model. BALB/c mice were exposed to nicotine subcutaneously using 21‐day slow‐release pellets. Exposure to nicotine had no effect on the proliferation of long‐term BM cultures or on their ability to form colonies. However, there was a significant decrease in the generation of lineage‐specific progenitor cells, specifically eosinophil (colony‐forming unit [CFU]‐Eos) progenitors, in the BM of nicotine‐exposed mice compared with control mice. Surprisingly, sustained exposure of mice to nicotine was found to induce significant hematopoiesis in the spleen. There was a significant increase in total colony formation as well as eosinophil‐, granulocyte‐macrophage‐, and B‐lymphocyte‐specific progenitors (CFU‐Eos, CFU‐GM, and CFU‐B, respectively) in nicotine‐exposed mice but not in control mice. Sustained exposure to nicotine was associated with significant inhibition of rolling and migration of enriched hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) across BM endothelial cells (BMECs) in vitro as well as decreased expression of β2 integrin on the surface of these cells. Although sustained exposure to nicotine has only a modest effect on BM hematopoiesis, our studies indicate that it significantly induces extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen. Decreased interaction of nicotine‐exposed HSPCs with BMECs (i.e., rolling and migration) may result in altered BM homing of these cells, leading to their seeding and proliferation at extramedullary sites such as the spleen.