Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internet usage by international travellers: reasons and barriers

Despite the growing importance of the Internet as an information source for international travellers, as a marketing tool and as a way of doing business, there is a general lack of information on how these travellers use the Internet for information, booking and purchase of travel products and services. Understanding how travellers behave is of critical importance to travel marketers in formulating appropriate marketing strategies so as to fully exploit the developing potential of this new channel. This study attempts to identify the levels of usage of the Internet as an information source and product‐purchasing tool by international travellers across seven countries. A survey of 1,114 international travellers shows that approximately 30 percent of travellers use the Internet for reservation or purchase of any travel products or services. Findings also indicate that those travellers, predominantly from Western countries with higher education levels and higher annual household income, are more likely to use the Internet for online purchase of travel products.
Leadership Profiles, Situation and Effectiveness

The paper provides a research report on leadership styles studied in a range of countries, industry types and organization levels. Unequivocal evidence has been found for a three factor model of style, incorporating the well-known, task-oriented/people-oriented factors, and a change-oriented factor. The new factor is presumed to be a consequence of more turbulent environments. Further analysis of the leader reports (supplied by 3,857 respondent ‘followers’) found ten clusters of ‘blends’ of style, of which three - labelled super-leaders, gardeners and MBO leaders - were consistently rated more effective and most liked by subordinates. A significant theoretical implication is that the results showed no evidence of contingency effects, i.e. variations in effectiveness, across broad contexts such as branch, function or hierarchic level, although the clusters differed with regard to representation in the different contexts.
Does the alternative investment market nurture firm growth? A comparison between listed and private companies

The creation of stock market segments with low admission requirements was welcomed in the 1990s as an essential move to release small- and medium-sized enterprises from their dependency on banks for external funding, thereby removing the financial barriers that hinder their growth and competitiveness. But does easier access to public equity really translate into superior real performance? We explore this issue by focusing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), a "junior" segment of the London Stock Exchange that has experienced long-lasting growth in capitalization. (.)
Delirium in older patients in surgical intensive care units.

PURPOSE To examine the frequency and course of delirium in older adults admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (SICU). DESIGN AND METHODS Prospective, observational cohort study of 114 English-speaking participants and their surrogates, aged 65 and older, admitted to an SICU, and managed by a surgical critical care service. Chart reviews and surrogate interviews were conducted within 24 hours of SICU admission to collect information regarding evidence of dementia using the short form of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. Participants were also screened for delirium daily throughout their hospitalization with either the Confusion Assessment Method-ICU (CAM-ICU) while in the SICU or the CAM while on medical/surgical units. RESULTS In this population of older adults, 18.4% had evidence of dementia on admission to the SICU. Few older adults (2.6%) were admitted to the hospital with evidence of preexisting delirium, but 28.3% developed delirium in the SICU and 22.7% during the post-SICU period. A total of 52 of 114 (45.6%) participants were delirious sometime during their hospital stay or 24 hours before hospital admission. Episodes of deep sedation and nonarousal were uncommon, occurring in only 9.7% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS Older adults admitted to SICUs were at high risk for developing delirium during hospitalization. Further research is needed to elucidate the risk factors for, and outcomes of, delirium in this uniquely vulnerable population.
Treatment of drug-induced psychosis with quetiapine and clozapine in Parkinson's disease

Drug-induced psychosis is a major problem that complicates the treatment of PD, and occurs in up to 22% of patients.1 Because conventional neuroleptics are poorly tolerated in patients with PD, most authors recommend a two-step approach, consisting first of a reduction of dopaminergic drugs to the minimum level required, followed by the initiation of an atypical antipsychotic drug if necessary.2 Clozapine has been shown to significantly improve psychosis without worsening motor symptoms of parkinsonism.3 However, frequent monitoring of the white blood cell count makes the use of this drug cumbersome and expensive. Risperidone and olanzapine have been shown to worsen PD symptoms.4,5⇓ Quetiapine has been recently suggested as a possible treatment for PD because it reduces psychosis without worsening motor symptoms, and because its use does not require blood monitoring.6,7⇓ We performed a retrospective review of our own use of quetiapine in drug-induced psychosis of PD to evaluate its …
Learning from each other: collaboration processes in practice research

Practice Research is a meeting point between practice and research where both common understandings and different interests meet. Therefore, Practice Research has to be understood as a process in which negotiation is a central part of developing research initiatives. In these negotiations, neither practice nor research must fully give up their special interests. Both partners must maintain equal share so as to make it possible for them to hold on to their interests; to open up new understandings, new traditions, and new learning processes; and to make it possible for them to learn from each other as a part of the process. Although the overall goal in Practice Research is to qualify social work, the balance – or the conflicts – between the different partners is both an interesting and a challenging issue in Practice Research. Based on the position of Practice Research, the article connects the theoretically based definitions and described methodological approaches with concrete experiences from Practice Research, and answers such questions as: ‘How is it possible to plan the research together, to agree on the research questions, to discuss findings? ’, ‘How is it possible to have a critical discussions and to define and discuss the concept of Practice Research? ’ Such discussions are normally carried out only among researchers but, in practice, research goes together with practice. To establish the meeting point between research and practice in social work, researchers and practitioners must be open to having their traditional understandings of what social work entails disturbed, to accept ‘the other’, and to work with ‘otherness’ as a positive part of the collaboration.
Commercialization of agriculture in the Himalayas

Increased market integration and commercialization of traditional agriculture in the Himalayas is part of a development strategy towards growth and better standard of living. More than 97 percent households depend upon agricultural and allied activities for livelihood which constitutes 30 percent of the household income. Given the importance of commercialization of agriculture to improve the productivity, per capita income and thereby the standard of living in the Himalayas, we examine the factors affecting the commercialization of agriculture on the basis of primary survey data. The results reveal that the land size, gender of the household head, livestock assets, ethnicity, education and location are important determinants of commercialization. Although commercialization of agriculture is considered as stimulated private-sector activity, public policy is essential to facilitate driving forces viz., trade and market reforms, rural infrastructure, and the institutional framework for legal and contractual arrangements between farmers and processors.
Subordinates as the First Line of Defense against Biased Financial Reporting

ABSTRACT: Managers who generate financial reports often rely on subordinates who possess private information to provide inputs. When managers have incentives to manipulate reports, they may request biased inputs from subordinates. However, subordinates can act as informal controls and constrain managers' opportunism. We experimentally examine two potential determinants of subordinates' willingness to serve as informal controls: their perception of the subordinate-manager relationship quality and their beliefs about the ethical nature of the task. Subordinates who perceive a high-quality relationship with their manager provide more bias, despite a compensation scheme that makes compliance costly. This result suggests that managers who cultivate close working relationships with subordinates may undermine the control system. Subordinates' beliefs about the ethical nature of the task also reduce compliance, but more so when the manager requests income-increasing estimates. Our findings contribute to the manag.
The Processes of Public Accountability

There is a sameness to writing on public accountability which does not always do justice to the subject. With responsibility and accountability conflated and an idealised version of the Westminster model held up as the only test, ministers constantly appear irresponsible. Yet a more complex account of public accountability is possible, one which acknowledges that no single institution can undertake the important work of ensuring accountability from ministers, the parliament and public servants.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Deficiency in Whole Body or Bone Marrow–Derived Cells Increases Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor−/− Mice

Objective—The renin-angiotensin system contributes to atherosclerotic lesion formation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) catabolizes angiotensin II (Ang II) to angiotensin 1–7 (Ang-(1–7)) to limit effects of the renin-angiotensin system. The purpose of this study was to define the role of ACE2 in atherosclerosis. Methods and Results—Male Ace2−/y mice in an low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient background were fed a high-fat diet for 3 months. ACE2 deficiency increased atherosclerotic area (Ace2+/y, 17±1; Ace2−/y, 23±2 mm2, P<0.002). This increase was blunted by losartan. To determine whether leukocytic ACE2 influenced atherosclerosis, irradiated low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient male mice were repopulated with bone marrow–derived cells from Ace2+/y or Ace2−/y mice and fed a high-fat diet for 3 months. ACE2 deficiency in bone marrow–derived cells increased atherosclerotic area (Ace2+/y, 1.6±0.3; Ace2−/y, 2.8±0.3 mm2; P<0.05). Macrophages from Ace2−/y mice exhibited increased Ang II secretion and elevated expression of inflammatory cytokines. Conditioned media from mouse peritoneal macrophages of Ace2−/y mice increased monocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Incubation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with Ang II promoted monocyte adhesion, which was blocked by Ang-(1–7). Coinfusion of Ang-(1–7) with Ang II reduced atherosclerosis. Conclusion—These results demonstrate that ACE2 deficiency in bone marrow–derived cells promotes atherosclerosis through regulation of Ang II/Ang-(1–7) peptides.
Intake of fish oil during pregnancy and adiposity in 19-y-old offspring: follow-up on a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND It is well established that obesity tends to track from early childhood into adult life. Studies in experimental animals have suggested that changes in the peri- and early postnatal intake of n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated acids can affect the development of obesity in adult life. OBJECTIVE The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of daily supplementation with 2.7 g long-chain n-3 fatty acids during the third trimester of pregnancy on adiposity in 19-y-old offspring. DESIGN The study was based on follow-up of a randomized controlled trial from 1990, in which 533 pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive fish oil, olive oil, or no oil. At ≈19 y of age, the offspring of subjects from the randomized controlled trial were invited to undergo a physical examination, including anthropometric measurements and fasting blood sampling. The blood sample was analyzed for insulin, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, leptin, adiponectin, insulin-like growth factor I, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Multiple linear regression modeling, adjusted for sex, smoking, and parental overweight, was used to estimate the effect of fish oil relative to that of olive oil on BMI (in kg/m(2)), waist circumference, and biochemical measures. RESULTS A total of 243 of the offspring were followed up. We found no difference between the fish-oil and olive oil groups in BMI (0.13; -0.92, 1.17) or waist circumference (0.7 cm; -2.1, 3.4 cm). Overall, results of the biochemical analyses supported the finding of no difference between the groups. CONCLUSION We detected no effect of fish-oil supplementation during pregnancy on offspring adiposity in adolescence.
SOLVING DYNAMIC WILDLIFE RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS USING REINFORCEMENT LEARNING

ABSTRACT. An important technical component of natural resource management, particularly in an adaptive management context, is optimization. This is used to select the most appropriate management strategy, given a model of the system and all relevant available information. For dynamic resource systems, dynamic programming has been the de facto standard for deriving optimal state‐specific management strategies. Though effective for small‐dimension problems, dynamic programming is incapable of providing solutions to larger problems, even with modern microcomputing technology. Reinforcement learning is an alternative, related procedure for deriving optimal management strategies, based on stochastic approximation. It is an iterative process that improves estimates of the value of state‐specific actions based in interactions with a system, or model thereof. Applications of reinforcement learning in the field of artificial intelligence have illustrated its ability to yield near‐optimal strategies for very complex model systems, highlighting the potential utility of this method for ecological and natural resource management problems, which tend to be of high dimension. I describe the concept of reinforcement learning and its approach of estimating optimal strategies by temporal difference learning. I then illustrate the application of this method using a simple, well‐known case study of Anderson [1975], and compare the reinforcement learning results with those of dynamic programming. Though a globally‐optimal strategy is not discovered, it performs very well relative to the dynamic programming strategy, based on simulated cumulative objective return. I suggest that reinforcement learning be applied to relatively complex problems where an approximate solution to a realistic model is preferable to an exact answer to an oversimplified model.
Sectorial variation in the quality of environmental impact statements and factors influencing the quality

This paper assesses the overall quality of the EISs of four major sectors and the variation in quality of the EISs among the four sectors in Bangladesh. While there are ample studies on the overall quality of EISs irrespective of sectors, there is a lack of research focus in Bangladesh or elsewhere on how the quality of EISs varies by sectors. This study reviews 40 EISs of four major sectors in Bangladesh by using the Lee-Colley method. The review findings indicate that, in general, the quality of EISs in Bangladesh is satisfactory. However, there is a variation in the quality of EISs by sectors where EISs for two sectors are found to be below the satisfactory level. The reasons behind the variation in the quality of EISs by sector are analysed. Furthermore, this paper analyses the factors influencing the overall quality of EISs in Bangladesh as 35% of EISs are still poorly prepared. The factors responsible for the poor performance of EISs include inadequate study time, the lack of baseline data, weak EIA teams, the lack of EIA experts, inadequate funds and weak Terms of Reference.
The Risk-Return Attributes of International Real Estate Equities

This paper examines the risk and return attributes of international real estate equities over the 1980-1988 time period. The empirical results indicate that international real estate equities offer higher returns as well as greater total and systematic risk than U.S.-based REITs. The results also indicate that international real estate equities are weakly positively correlated with the return on REITs. International real estate equities achieve higher values for both the Treynor and Jensen measures than either the S&P 500 Index or the World Equities Index. International real estate equities also outperform domestic real estate companies on a risk-adjusted basis. However, international real estate equities underperform the World Equities Index using the Sharpe Index which suggests that international real estate equities carry significant unsystematic risk.
Effects of photoperiod on food‐storing and the hippocampus in birds

Birds that store food have a relatively large hippocampus compared to non-storing species. The hippocampus shows seasonal differences in neurogenesis and volume in black-capped chikadees (Parus atricapillus) taken from the wild at different times of year. We compared hippocampal volumes in black-capped chickadees captured at the same time but differing in food-storing behaviour because of manipulations of photoperiod in the laboratory. Differences in food-storing behaviour were not accompanied by differences in the volume of the hippocampus. Hippocampal volumes also did not differ between two groups of a non-food-storing control species, house sparrows (Passer domesticus), exposed to the same conditions as the chickadees.
Monetary Policy, Secrecy, and Federal Funds Rate Behavior

The behavior of the Federal Reserve System can be characterized as secretive with respect to its control of monetary aggregates. One common justification for this secrecy is that markets will overreact to information, causing undue variability in interest rates. However, the consequences of keeping policy objectives hidden has received little formal attention. This paper takes an initial step by examining the variability of the federal funds rate and total reserves under nonborrowed reserve targeting. The major result is that the disclosure of operating procedures will generally increase the unconditional variability of both the funds rate and total reserves, but will decrease the variance of the forecasting error of the federal funds rate.
Acidic bile salts induces mucosal barrier dysfunction through let-7a reduction during gastric carcinogenesis after Helicobacter pylori eradication

Gastric cancer (GC) after eradication for Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) increases, but its carcinogenesis is not elucidated. It is mainly found in acid non-secretion areas (ANA), as mucosal regeneration in acid secretory areas (AA) after eradication changes the acidity and bile toxicity of gastric juice. We aimed to clarify the role of barrier dysfunction of ANA by the stimulation of pH3 bile acid cocktail (ABC) during carcinogenesis. We collected 18 patients after curative endoscopic resection for GC, identified later than 24 months after eradication, and took biopsies by Congo-red chromoendoscopy to distinguish AA and ANA (UMIN00018967). The mucosal barrier function was investigated using a mini-Ussing chamber system and molecular biological methods. The reduction in mucosal impedance in ANA after stimulation was significantly larger than that in AA, 79.6% vs. 87.9%, respectively. The decrease of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and let-7a and the increase of snail in ANA were significant compared to those in AA. In an in vitro study, the restoration of ZO-1 and let-7a as well as the induction of snail were observed after stimulation. High mobility group A2 (HMGA2)-snail activation, MTT proliferation, and cellular infiltration capacity were significantly increased in AGS transfected with let-7a inhibitor, and vice versa. Accordingly, using a mini-Ussing chamber system for human biopsy specimens followed by an in vitro study, we demonstrated for the first time that the exposure of acidic bile salts to ANA might cause serious barrier dysfunction through the let-7a reduction, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition during inflammation-associated carcinogenesis even after eradication.
Chinese Donkey Friends in Tibet – Evidence from the Cyberspace Community

The aim of this paper is to provide insights into Chinese backpacking tourism in Tibet. Chinese backpackers, also referred to as “donkey friends” in China, are distinctively Generation Y born in the 1980s and 1990s. They grew up at a time when China shifted political power to Deng Xiaoping’s explorations with capitalism and greater openness. Aided in part by the diffusion of the internet and web-based donkey friend associations, backpacking flourished in China. Through a virtual ethnography of a leading internet travel forum, it has been found that Tibet appeals to Chinese backpackers mainly because of its natural environment. Backpackers in Tibet emphasize the “donkey friend” spirit and self-actualization as an important part of their trip. There is a gap between supply and demand for donkey friends’ travel in Tibet, particularly in terms of accommodation facilities. Attention should also be paid to managing the relationship between the local community and backpackers.
Compartmentalization of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-2, but not Cytokine-Induced Neutrophil Chemoattractant, in Rats Challenged with Intratracheal Endotoxin

An important feature of the pulmonary inflammatory response is that the production of certain cytokines and chemokines is largely confined to the lung. This study investigated the local and systemic responses of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) in rats administered with either intratracheal or intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Intratracheal LPS induced a significant increase in MIP-2 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid with no detectable MIP-2 in the plasma. In contrast, CINC was significantly increased in both BAL fluid and the plasma after intratracheal LPS challenge. Cell-associated MIP-2 was increased in the pulmonary-recruited neutrophils (PMNs) but not in the circulating PMNs in rats given intratracheal LPS. Cell-associated CINC was increased in both the recruited and circulating PMNs in these animals. Intravenous LPS caused a marked increase in plasma MIP-2 and CINC, whereas only a small elevation of both MIP-2 and CINC concentrations in BAL fluid was observed. The lack of CINC compartmentalization compared to MIP-2 implies that these C-X-C chemokines are regulated differentially and may have different effects upon polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) recruitment into the alveolar space in response to intrapulmonary LPS or bacterial challenge.
Work Absence - A Signalling Factor for Temporary Workers?

This paper investigates whether low levels of absence increase the probability of permanent employment and reduce that of unemployment for Swedish temporary workers. We investigate two reasons for absence: worker sickness and sickness of a dependent child. Using a competing risk estimation model, we find that sick leave reduces the probability of permanent employment for women and increases the probability of unemployment for men. Absence due to child sickness increases the risk of unemployment for women. Although the influence of sick leave varies substantially among different temporary jobs, replacement and probation workers are generally the most affected.