Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Travelling Pattern and Preferences of the Arab Tourists in Malaysian Hotels

This study examined the travelling pattern of the Arab tourists in relation to their purpose and frequency of visit, duration of stay, travelling companions and activities engaged in during the vacation. The preferences of these tourists for hotel restaurant food and front office attributes while staying in selected five star hotels were also investigated. The result demonstrated that Arab tourists came to Malaysia mostly for a vacation with their spouse and children, and the majority of them were visiting for the first time. The major activities engaged in were sightseeing and visiting interesting places plus other activities such as shopping, visiting theme parks and beaches. The average length of stay was from 3-10 nights. The findings also revealed that besides other type of cuisines, home cooking (Arab cuisine) was preferred by the Arab tourists. Similarly, the Arab tourists preferred to have a fast check in, friendly and personalized service and courtesy by front office personnel upon arrival at the hotel. The ability to communicate in and understand the Arabic language among the front office personnel also had a profound effect on their fondness. In turn, a strong relationship among government, local authorities, private agencies and hotel operators should be fostered to capture a larger share of this market segment
Reverse-remodeling effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker in a canine atrial fibrillation model.

BACKGROUND The reverse-remodeling effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) on atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Sustained AF was induced in 20 dogs by 4-week rapid atrial pacing. The AF duration, atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and intra-atrial conduction time (CT) were measured every 2 weeks. After 4-week pacing, dogs were randomly assigned to control (n=10) and ARB (olmesartan; n=10) groups. Olmesartan was administered orally (3 mg.kg(-1). day(-1)) after pacing was terminated, and continued for the 4-week recovery period. After 4-week pacing, AERP shortening, CT prolongation and AF maintenance were not significantly different between the 2 groups. During the recovery, AERP recovered to baseline in both groups. CT remained prolonged in the control group during the recovery, but recovered to baseline in the olmesartan group. The mean AF duration in the olmesartan group after 4-week-recovery was significantly shorter than that in the control group (58+/-20 vs 1,337+/-226 s, p<0.001). Olmesartan significantly decreased interstitial fibrosis compared with the control group (9+/-1% vs 15+/-1 at the right atrial appendage, p<0.001). CONCLUSION Olmesartan has a reverse-remodeling effect on AF-induced structural changes, indicating that it may be useful for preventing AF recurrence after the termination of sustained AF.
The impact of either a Meishan or Yorkshire uterus on Meishan or Yorkshire fetal and placental development to days 70, 90, and 110 of gestation.

Straightbred Yorkshire (Y) conceptuses are larger than straightbred Meishan (M) conceptuses throughout gestation and at farrowing. In contrast, when Y and M conceptuses were gestated together in Y recipient females, the birth weight of M pigs was similar to that of their Y littermates. Even though placentae of M pigs remained markedly smaller than placentae of Y littermates, they were significantly more vascular. The objective of this study was to compare and contrast the changes in Y and M conceptus growth and placental-endometrial vascularity throughout late gestation in Y or M uteri. Gravid uteri were recovered at slaughter from M and Y females that were gestating either M or Y conceptuses on d 70, 90, or 110 of gestation. Uterine and conceptus measurements were recorded, and a section of the intact endometrial-placental attachment site for each conceptus was fixed, embedded, and later evaluated for placental and endometrial vascular density. Placental surface area and weight were greater (P < .001) when M or Y conceptuses were recovered from Y uteri compared with M uteri on each day of gestation examined. Further, by d 110, the surface area of Y placentae was greater (P < .001) than that of M placentae, regardless of uterine type in which they were gestated. The vascular density of M placentae and adjacent endometrium doubled (P < .05) between d 70 and 110 of gestation (3.0 and 2.5 vs 6.0 and 5.1%, respectively), with no significant increase in placental surface area. In contrast, the surface area of Y placentae doubled in size (P < .001) between d 90 and 110 of gestation, but placental and adjacent endometrial vascular density remained relatively constant, averaging 3.2 and 3.8%, respectively. These data are consistent with the premise that placental size is largely determined by the uterus in which a conceptus is gestated until approximately d 90. After d 90, fetal breed-specific mechanisms maintain optimal fetal growth. Between d 90 and term, M fetal growth depends on progressive increases in placental blood vessel density and requires no increase in placental size. In contrast, Y conceptuses seem to rely exclusively on placental growth to increase placental-endometrial surface area for nutrient exchange.
Regulation of Bovine Papillomavirus Replicative Helicase E1 by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

ABSTRACT Papillomaviruses maintain their genomes in a relatively constant copy number as stable extrachromosomal plasmids in the nuclei of dividing host cells. The viral initiator of replication, E1, is not detected in papillomavirus-infected cells. Here, we present evidence that E1 encoded by bovine papillomavirus type 1 is an unstable protein that is degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In a cell-free system derived from Xenopus egg extracts, E1 degradation is regulated by both cyclin E/Cdk2 binding and E1 replication activity. Free E1 is readily ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome, while it becomes resistant to this degradation pathway when bound to cyclin E/Cdk2 complexes before the start of DNA synthesis. This stabilization is reversed in a process involving E1-dependent replication activity. In transiently transfected cells, E1 is also polyubiquitinated and accumulates when proteasome activity is inhibited. Thus, the establishment and maintenance of a stable number of papillomavirus genomes in latently infected cells are in part a function of regulated ubiquitin-mediated degradation of E1.
Hyperandrogenism is Associated with Earlier Age of Onset of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Women

Abstract Purpose: Previous reports have connected between Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), obesity and different hormonal states. The aim of this study was to characterize the endocrine profile in women with IIH. Methods: This is a data-based study of 51 IIH patients. We measured anthropometric parameters and assessed hormonal profile including cortisol, testosterone, bioavailable testosterone (BT), prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione, insulin, aldosterone, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Pearson or Spearman rank correlation for non-normally distributed variables were calculated to evaluate the relation among the anthropometric measurements: age, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference and waist to hip ratio (WHR) with hormones levels. Results: Seventy-eight percent of the cohort had WHR < 0.85 and 21.6% had a WHR > 0.85. Increased levels of testosterone, BT and androstenedione were all positively related to younger age of diagnosis in patient who are diagnosed after the age of 25 (R = −1.066, −0.845, −0.735, p < 0.001, =0.024, 0.019, respectively). No correlation was found between any of the analyzed hormones and the duration of the disease, WHR or BMI, except insulin, which was positively related to BMI (R = 0.461, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Increased levels of circulating androgens are associated with earlier age of onset of IIH in women.
ON A NONLINEAR INTEGRAL EQUATION WITHOUT COMPACTNESS

The purpose of this paper is to obtain an existence result for the integral equation u (t) = φ (t, u (t)) + ∫ b a ψ (t, s, u (s)) ds, t ∈ [a, b] where φ : [a, b]×R → R and ψ : [a, b]× [a, b]×R → R are continuous functions which satisfy some special growth conditions. The main idea is to transform the integral equation into a fixed point problem for a condensing map T : C [a, b] → C [a, b]. The “a priori estimate method” (which is a consequence of the invariance under homotopy of the degree defined for α-condensing perturbations of the identity) is used in order to prove the existence of fixed points for T . Note that the assumptions on functions φ and ψ do not generally assure the compactness of operator T , therefore the Leray-Schauder degree cannot be used (see K. Deimling [2, Example 9.1, p. 69]).
Developing a framework for public relations practice : a study of the financial services sector in Ghana

The goal of the study was to develop a framework for public relations practice in the financial services sector. The study was based on four key objectives. In line with the first objective, chapters 2 and 3 reviewed how public relations was conceptualised and practiced by reviewing literature. Three worldviews, the North American, the European and African worldviews, were discussed by looking at their similarities and differences. The literature also reviewed the development of public relations from these three perspectives. Literature revealed that different models influence practices in different cultural settings and that effective PR practice cannot be premised on a single model. Objectives 2, 3 and 4 empirically analysed the conceptualisation and practice of public relations in terms of the purpose (models) and roles (activities). The study employed the one-on-one interview technique to gauge the views of communication managers in the financial services sector. The result of the study was discussed and analysed in chapter 5. Findings showed that PR was not strategic and mostly had a marketing orientation. Significantly, most of the communication managers had marketing backgrounds, which invariably affected their concept and practice of public relations. Another key finding was that public relations measurement and evaluation was based on outputs and outtakes more than outcomes. Moreover, methods used were mostly unscientific in nature. PR strategies were based on audience satisfaction surveys rather than perception and attitudinal research. Practitioners are not part of the dominant coalition. The findings showed that practitioners faced a number of challenges that compromised the effectiveness of their work, including management’s value and perception of their work, lack of in-depth knowledge about the profession itself, budgetary constraints and inability to sometimes influence decisions because of their position in the organisational structure. The findings of the study, together with findings in the literature, were used to develop a framework for effective PR practice in the sector. The framework differs in certain aspects from some of the recommendations made by literature for excellent public relations practice. The
Effects of overweight vehicles on New York State DOT infrastructure.

This report develops a methodology for estimating the effects of different categories of overweight trucks on NYSDOT pavements and bridges. A data mining algorithm is used to categorize truck data collected at several Weigh-In-Motion stations around the state of New York based on the trucks' adherence to the state's legal weight limits. The data indicate that about 11% of the trucks traveling on New York highways may be carrying divisible load permits, 1% may be carrying special hauling permits, while about 6% may be illegally overweight The analysis shows that these overweight trucks are increasing the risk to failure of bridges by causing stresses above those specified in design specifications and by reducing bridge service (fatigue) lives through repetitive overloading. A monetization of the safety margin utilization due to the combined overstress and cyclic fatigue shows that trucks carrying divisible load permits may be responsible for $50M per year in NYS bridge infrastructure cost, trucks with special hauling permits may be responsible for $2M/yr in additional cost while illegally overweight trucks may be responsible for $43M per year for a total of $95M/yr. The cost allocation study performed on the NYS pavement network shows that the cost to NYS pavements due to overweight trucks is about $145M/yr divided into $78M/yr for divisible load permits, $7M/yr for special hauling permits and $60M/yr for illegally overweight trucks. A project of this scope required the input of many colleagues who contributed in various ways to the success of this project. The P.I. is especially grateful for the selfless dedication of the graduate and undergraduate students who served as Research Assistants on the Project and spent long hours to help move this project forward. • The research team is especially grateful to Prof. Yang H. Huang who provided the source code for the program KENPAVE that he had developed and is a standard program for the analysis of flexible and rigid pavements used throughout the world. The objective of this project is to develop models for assessing the cost of overweight vehicles to New York State's highway pavements and bridges. The models are applied to assess the cost of overweight trucks that have been issued permits by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to carry both divisible and non-divisible loads, as well as illegally overweight non-permit trucks that violate the legal limits and trucks that violate their permit limits. In a first …
Communication in the Digital Work Environment: Implications for Wellbeing at Work

This article examines digital communication in the workplace and its association with wellbeing at work. The analysis is based mainly on workshop discussions and is complemented with log data (N = 36). Content analysis was applied to the workshop discussions, while the log data were analyzed by quantifying frequencies. Six themes were found to affect wellbeing at work: the volume of digital communication, expectations of constant connectivity, the quality of the messages, adaptation of new tools, technical problems, and flexibility in communication. In relation to wellbeing at work, digital communication was mostly perceived as demanding. However, some of the factors perceived as demanding could also provide flexibility, which was seen as enhancing wellbeing by increasing autonomy and control. Social factors, such as work habits, practices, and conventions in the workplace, seem to play an important role in the manifestation and management of the digital communication-induced load at work.
THE FIRST HYPER-LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXY DISCOVERED BY WISE

We report the discovery by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) of the z = 2.452 source WISE J181417.29+341224.9, the first hyperluminous source found in the WISE survey. WISE 1814+3412 is also the prototype for an all-sky sample of ∼1000 extremely luminous “W1W2-dropouts” (sources faint or undetected by WISE at 3.4 and 4.6 μm and well detected at 12 or 22 μm). The WISE data and a 350 μm detection give a minimum bolometric luminosity of 3.7 × 1013 L☉, with ∼1014 L☉ plausible. Follow-up images reveal four nearby sources: a QSO and two Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z = 2.45, and an M dwarf star. The brighter LBG dominates the bolometric emission. Gravitational lensing is unlikely given the source locations and their different spectra and colors. The dominant LBG spectrum indicates a star formation rate ∼300 M☉ yr−1, accounting for ≲ 10% of the bolometric luminosity. Strong 22 μm emission relative to 350 μm implies that warm dust contributes significantly to the luminosity, while cooler dust normally associated with starbursts is constrained by an upper limit at 1.1 mm. Radio emission is ∼10 times above the far-infrared/radio correlation, indicating an active galactic nucleus (AGN) is present. An obscured AGN combined with starburst and evolved stellar components can account for the observations. If the black hole mass follows the local MBH–bulge mass relation, the implied Eddington ratio is ≳ 4. WISE 1814+3412 may be a heavily obscured object where the peak AGN activity occurred prior to the peak era of star formation.
Curcumin reduces indomethacin‐induced damage in the rat small intestine

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in clinical medicine. Their utility is, however, often limited by the adverse effects they produce in the gastrointestinal tract. Oxidative stress has been shown to occur in the small intestine in response to the oral administration of indomethacin, an NSAID commonly used in toxicity studies. In view of this, the effect of curcumin, an agent with anti‐oxidant properties, was evaluated on indomethacin‐induced small intestinal damage in a rat model. Rats were pretreated with various doses of curcumin (20 mg kg−1, 40 mg kg−1 and 80 mg kg−1) before administering indomethacin at 20 mg kg−1. Various parameters of oxidative stress and the extent of small intestinal damage produced by indomethacin, with and without pretreatment with curcumin, were measured. Macroscopic ulceration was found to occur in the small intestine in response to indomethacin. The viability of enterocytes from indomethacin‐treated animals was significantly lower than those from control animals. Drug‐induced oxidative stress was also evident as seen by increases in the levels of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl and in activities of pro‐oxidant enzymes such as myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase in indomethacin‐treated rats. Concomitant decreases were seen in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase in these animals. Pretreatment with curcumin was found to ameliorate these drug‐induced changes. Thus, curcumin appears to hold promise as an agent that can potentially reduce NSAID‐induced small intestinal damage. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multidimensional Prognostic Modelling in People With Chronic Axial Low Back Pain

Objectives: To derive prognostic models for people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) (n=294) based upon an extensive array of potentially prognostic multidimensional factors. Materials and Methods: This study entered multidimensional data (demographics, pain characteristics, pain responses to movement, behaviors associated with pain, pain sensitivity, psychological, social, health, lifestyle) at baseline, and interventions undertaken, into prognostic models for pain intensity, disability, global rating of change and bothersomeness at 1-year. Results: The prognostic model for higher pain intensity (explaining 23.2% of the variance) included higher baseline pain intensity and punishing spousal interactions, and lower years in education, while participating in exercise was prognostic of lower pain intensity. The model for higher disability (33.6% of the variance) included higher baseline disability, longer forward bending time, psychological principal component scores representing negative pain-related cognitions and punishing spousal interactions; while exercising was prognostic of lower disability. The odds of reporting global rating of change much/very much improved were increased by participating in exercise, having leg pain as well as CLBP and having greater chronic pain acceptance. The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve was 0.72 indicating acceptable discrimination. The odds of reporting very/extremely bothersome CLBP were increased by having higher baseline pain intensity, longer forward bending time and receiving injection(s); while higher age, more years in education and having leg pain decreased the odds (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve, 0.80; acceptable discrimination). Discussion: The variance explained by prognostic models was similar to previous reports, despite an extensive array of multidimensional baseline variables. This highlights the inherent multidimensional complexity of CLBP.
Effects of absorbing aerosols in cloudy skies: a satellite study over the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract. We present a method for deriving the radiative effects of absorbing aerosols in cloudy scenes from satellite retrievals only. We use data of 2005–2007 from various passive sensors aboard satellites of the "A-Train" constellation. The study area is restricted to the tropical- and subtropical Atlantic Ocean. To identify the dependence of the local planetary albedo in cloudy scenes on cloud liquid water path and aerosol optical depth (AOD), we perform a multiple linear regression. The OMI UV-Aerosolindex serves as an indicator for absorbing-aerosol presence. In our method, the aerosol influences the local planetary albedo through direct- (scattering and absorption) and indirect (Twomey) aerosol effects. We find an increase of the local planetary albedo (LPA) with increasing AOD of mostly scattering aerosol and a decrease of the LPA with increasing AOD of mostly absorbing aerosol. These results allow us to derive the direct aerosol effect of absorbing aerosols in cloudy scenes, with the effect of cloudy-scene aerosol absorption in the tropical- and subtropical Atlantic contributing (+21.2 ± 11.1)×10 −3 Wm −2 to the global top of the atmosphere radiative forcing.
A new parameterization of the effective temperature for L band radiometry

An accurate value of the effective temperature is critical for soil emissivity retrieval, and hence soil moisture content retrieval, from passive microwave observations. Computation of the effective temperature needs fine profile measurements of soil temperature and soil moisture. The availability of a two year long data set of these surface variables from SMOSREX (Surface Monitoring Of the Soil Reservoir EXperiment) makes it possible to study the effective temperature at the seasonal to interannual scale. This study shows that present parameterizations do not adequately describe the seasonal variations in sensing depth. Therefore, a new parameterization is proposed that is stable at the seasonal to interannual scales while retaining simplicity.
Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate in Escherichia coli

The concentration of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (c-AMP) in Escherichia coli growing on different sources of carbon was studied. Cultures utilizing a source of carbon that supported growth relatively poorly had consistently higher concentrations of c-AMP than did cultures utilizing sugars that supported rapid growth. This relationship was also observed in strains defective in c-AMP phosphodiesterase and simultaneously resistant to catabolite repression; in such strains the c-AMP concentration was slightly higher for several sources of carbon tested. Cultures continued to synthesize c-AMP and secreted it into the medium, under conditions that brought about an inhibition of the intracellular accumulation of the cyclic nucleotide. Transient repression of the synthesis of β-galactosidase was not associated with an abrupt decrease in the cellular concentration of c-AMP.