Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Postdisaster Social Capital, Adaptive Resilience and Business Performance of Tourism Organizations in Christchurch, New Zealand

The resilience of tourism organizations is an important issue for destinations. While studies examine the social capital of firms, researchers have yet to understand the relationship between social capital (structural, relational and cognitive) and organizational resilience as predictors of business performance. This study evaluates these relationships at the interfirm level among tourism organizations in the postdisaster context of Christchurch, New Zealand, where business performance for some tourism operations was severely impacted. Surveys of tourism organizations reveal that structural capital has a positive relationship with both cognitive and relational capital. Only relational capital has an influence on adaptive resilience. Adaptive resilience has a significant influence on business performance. By showing which elements of social capital contribute to adaptive resilience, these findings can be used by tourism organizations in their recovery phase to direct investments in building resilience and strengthening interfirm relationships.
Points Mechanisms and Rewards Programs

I study points programs, such as frequent flyer and other rewards programs, as a revenue management tool. I develop a two-period contracting model where a capacity-constrained firm faces consumers who privately learn their valuations over time. The firm cannot commit to long-term contracts, but it can commit to allocate any unsold capacity through a points program. This points scheme creates an endogenous and type-dependent outside option for consumers, which generates novel incentives in the firm’s pricing problem. It induces the firm to screen less ex interim, and to offer lower equilibrium prices, reversing the intuition of demand cannibalization.
Arabidopsis thaliana WAPL Is Essential for the Prophase Removal of Cohesin during Meiosis

Sister chromatid cohesion, which is mediated by the cohesin complex, is essential for the proper segregation of chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis. The establishment of stable sister chromatid cohesion occurs during DNA replication and involves acetylation of the complex by the acetyltransferase CTF7. In higher eukaryotes, the majority of cohesin complexes are removed from chromosomes during prophase. Studies in fly and human have shown that this process involves the WAPL mediated opening of the cohesin ring at the junction between the SMC3 ATPase domain and the N-terminal domain of cohesin's α-kleisin subunit. We report here the isolation and detailed characterization of WAPL in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that Arabidopsis contains two WAPL genes, which share overlapping functions. Plants in which both WAPL genes contain T-DNA insertions show relatively normal growth and development but exhibit a significant reduction in male and female fertility. The removal of cohesin from chromosomes during meiotic prophase is blocked in Atwapl mutants resulting in chromosome bridges, broken chromosomes and uneven chromosome segregation. In contrast, while subtle mitotic alterations are observed in some somatic cells, cohesin complexes appear to be removed normally. Finally, we show that mutations in AtWAPL suppress the lethality associated with inactivation of AtCTF7. Taken together our results demonstrate that WAPL plays a critical role in meiosis and raises the possibility that mechanisms involved in the prophase removal of cohesin may vary between mitosis and meiosis in plants.
RET Cys634Arg mutation confers a more aggressive multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A phenotype than Cys634Tyr mutation.

OBJECTIVE Specific germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are correlated with clinical features in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A); however, data are scarce regarding differences in clinical profiles dependent on the type of nucleotide and amino acid substitution at the same codon. We aimed to analyse differences in clinical risk profiles and outcomes among different amino acids encoded by codon 634. DESIGN The study was retrospective and multicentric. METHODS We collected data included in the Spanish Online National Database from patients with MEN2A carrying a RET proto-oncogene mutation on codon 634. The mean follow-up time was 7.6±6.9 years (1-32). RESULTS Patients (n=173) from 49 unrelated families were C634Y carriers, and 26 patients from eight different families had C634R mutation. We found higher penetrance of medullary thyroid carcinoma, phaeochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism (P<0.001, P=0.007 and P<0.001 respectively) in C634R carriers than in C634Y carriers. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of cumulative lymph node and distant metastases rates showed that these events occurred earlier in patients harbouring the C634R mutation (P<0.001). A multivariate adjusted Cox regression analysis indicated that the C634R mutation was an independent factor for persistent/recurrent disease (hazard ratio, 3.17; 95% CI: 1.66-6.03; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that there could be clinical differences caused by different amino acid substitutions at codon 634; specifically, the C634R mutation was associated with a more aggressive MEN2A phenotype than the C634Y mutation.
Dynamics of Technetium-99m methylenediphosphonate imaging of the femoral head after hip fracture.

A prospective study of the development of necrosis of the femoral head was performed in 34 patients with fractures of the femoral neck. Technetium-99m MDP images of the hip regions were obtained immediately after nailing of the hip and at four, eight and 12 months. There was a good correlation between qualitative and numeric evaluation of isotope uptake in the femoral heads. Comparison of the activity level in the femoral head on the fracture side with that in the contralateral control site showed activity ratios to vary between < 1.0 for those heads showing a general reduction in activity on conventional images to > 1.4 with a mean of 2.0 for those showing increased activity. The initial postoperative images in 2/7 undislocated fractures showed a marked depression in femoral head activity on the fracture side; 13/21 dislocated fractures showed a similar defect suggesting a significant loss of bone remodeling. Normal Tc-99m activity in the femoral head (category 2) was observed in two fracture cases imaged within 24 hours of fracture, just prior to nailing. Repeat studies within one week of fracture and nailing demonstrated a marked depression in activity (category 0). Radiographic evidence of collapse later developed in both patients. The perfusion and blood pool images were useful for identifying femoral heads with deficient circulation. This investigation has demonstrated that the nailing procedure may threaten the vascular condition of the femoral head in hip fracture, that a dead head may be radiographically normal and clinically asymptomatic, and that the metabolic condition of the femoral head may be expressed in numeric terms suitable for statistical analysis.
Openness and Financial Development

This article examines the effect of openness on financial development pertaining to the Rajan and Zingales (2003) hypothesis, namely that simultaneous openness of trade and capital flows has a positive influence on financial development. They hypothesise that when a country's borders are open to both trade and capital flows, it will deliver benefits to the financial markets. The dynamic heterogeneous panel data results based on 68 countries for the period 1980–2001 indicate that simultaneously open product and capital markets do promote better financial development. Openness in terms of trade and capital are most potent in promoting financial development in middle–income countries, whereas its influence is relatively small in low–income and high–income countries.
Finding the Poor vs. Measuring Their Poverty: Exploring the Drivers of Targeting Effectiveness in Indonesia

Centralized targeting registries are increasingly used to allocate social assistance benefits in developing countries. There are two key design issues that matter for targeting accuracy: (i) which households to survey for inclusion in the registry and (ii) how to rank surveyed households. The authors attempt to identify their relative importance by evaluating Indonesia's Unified Database for Social Protection Programs (UDB), among the largest targeting registries in the world, used to provide social assistance to over 25 million households. Linking administrative data with an independent household survey, they find that the UDB system is more progressive than previous, program-specific targeting approaches. However, simulating an alternative targeting system based on enumerating all households, they find a one-third reduction in undercoverage of the poor compared to focusing on households registered in the UDB. Overall, there are large gains in targeting performance from improving the initial registration stage relative to the ranking stage.
Corruption, Causes and Consequences

Corruption is a constant in the society and occurs in all civilizations; however, it has only been in the past 20 years that this phenomenon has begun being seriously explored. It has many different shapes as well as many various effects, both on the economy and the society at large. Among the most common causes of corruption are the political and economic environment, professional ethics and morality and, of course, habits, customs, tradition and demography. Its effects on the economy (and also on the wider society) are well researched, yet still not completely. Corruption thus inhibits economic growth and affects business operations, employment and investments. It also reduces tax revenue and the effectiveness of various financial assistance programs. The wider society is influenced by a high degree of corruption in terms of lowering of trust in the law and the rule of law, education and consequently the quality of life (access to infrastructure, health care). There also does not exist an unambiguous answer as to how to deal with corruption. Something that works in one country or in one region will not necessarily be successful in another. This chapter tries to answer at least a few questions about corruption and the causes for it, its consequences and how to deal with it successfully.
Influence of anthropometry on race performance in extreme endurance triathletes: World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006

Objective: To investigate the influence of anthropometric variables on race performance in ultra-endurance triathletes in an ultra-triathlon. Design: Descriptive field study. Setting: The “World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006” in Monterrey, Mexico, in which everyday for 10 consecutive days athletes had to perform the distance of one Ironman triathlon of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.195 km running. Subjects: Eight male ultra-endurance athletes (mean (SD) age 40.6 (10.7) years, weight 76.4 (8.4) kg, height 175 (4) cm and body mass index (BMI) 24.7 (2.2) kg/m2). Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: Direct measurement of body mass, height, leg length, skinfold thicknesses, limb circumference and calculation of BMI, skeletal muscle mass (SM), percentage SM (%SM) and percentage body fat (%BF) in order to correlate measured and calculated anthropometric variables with race performance. Results: Race time was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the directly measured variables, height, leg length, body mass, average skinfold thicknesses, or circumference of thigh, calf or upper arm. Furthermore, no significant (p>0.05) correlation was observed between race time and the calculated variables, BMI, %SM and %BF. Conclusions: In a multistage ultra-triathlon over 10 Ironman triathlon distances in 10 consecutive days, there was no effect of body mass, height, leg length, skinfold thicknesses, limb circumference, BMI, %SM or %BF on race performance in the only eight finishers.
Effect of misidentification on the estimation of breeding value and heritability in cattle.

For daughter groups of 15 test bulls, controls of paternity were performed by using blood group factors and biochemical polymorphisms. Data of incorrectly assigned daughters influenced the estimation of breeding values, heritabilities and correlations for milk performance traits. Formulae are given that show the effects of variable misidentification rates on estimation of breeding values, selection intensities, heritabilities, and genetic gains. For example, for milk fat yield, the genetic gains drop at a misidentification rate of 15% between 8.7% (for h2 = .5) and 16.9% (for h2 = .2) below values attained without misidentifications. Consequently, decreasing misidentification rates in progeny of test bulls can be used to diminish the progeny size per test bull for constant genetic gain, to achieve more precise ranking of all or distinct test bulls according to their "true" breeding values and(or) to increase the number of test bulls by using the same amount of test inseminations and the same precision of ranking. Actions to reduce misidentification rates in cattle populations are discussed.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Interferon-γ: Fake or Fact?

Immunohistochemistry is a widely accepted tool to investigate the presence and immunolocalization of cytokines in tissue sections at the protein level. We have tested the specificity and reproducibility of IFNγ immunohistochemistry on tissue sections with a large panel of anti-IFNγ antibodies. Thirteen different commercially available anti-IFNγ antibodies, including seven advertised and/or regularly applied for immunohistochemistry/-cytochemistry, were tested using a three-step streptavidin–biotin–peroxidase technique and a two-step immunofluorescence (FACS) analysis. Immunoenzyme double staining was used to identify the IFNγ-positive cells. Serial cryostat sections were used of human reactive hyperplastic tonsils, rheumatoid synovium, and inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms, known to possess a prominent Th1-type immune response. In vitro phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin-stimulated T-cells served as positive control; unstimulated cells served as negative control. Cultured T-cells were used adhered to glass slides (immunocytochemistry), in suspension (FACS), or snap-frozen and sectioned (immunohistochemistry). Immunocytochemistry and FACS analysis on stimulated cultured T-cells showed positive staining results with 12 of 13 anti-IFNγ antibodies. However, immunohistochemistry of sectioned stimulated T-cells was negative with all. Unstimulated cells were consistently negative. IFNγ immunohistochemical single- and double staining analysis of the tissue sections showed huge variations in staining patterns, including positivity for smooth muscle cells (n = 8), endothelial cells (n = 4), extracellular matrix (n = 4), and CD138+ plasma cells (n = 12). Specific staining of T-cells, as the sole positive staining, was not achieved with any of the 13 antibodies. IFNIFNγ-immunohistochemistry appears unreliable because of lack of specificity to stain T-cells in situ. In fact, depending on the type of anti-IFNγ antibody used, a variety of different cell constituents were nonspecifically stained. Consequently, data based on IFNγ-immunohistochemistry must be interpreted with great caution.
Three essays on time-varying parameters and time series networks

This thesis is composed of three essays on time-varying parameters and time series networks where each essay deals with specific aspects thereof. The thesis starts with proposing a 2SLS based test for a threshold in models with endogenous regressors in Chapter 2. Many economic models are formulated in this way, for example output growth or unemployment rates in different states of the economy. Therefore, it is necessary to have tools available which are capable of indicating whether such effects exist in the data or not. Chapter 3 proposes, to my best knowledge, the first estimator for the inverse of the long-run covariance matrix of a linear, potentially heteroskedastic stochastic process under unknown sparsity constraints. That is, the econometrician does not know which entries of the inverse are equal to zero and which not. Such situations naturally arise, for example, when modelling partial correlation networks based on time series data. Finally, in Chapter 4 this thesis empirically investigates how robust two commonly applied network measures, the From- and the To-degree, are to the exclusion of central nodes in financial volatility networks. This question is motivated by the current empirical literature which excludes certain nodes such as Lehman Brothers from their analysis.
Evaluating Programs to Prevent Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in Two Large Bangkok Hospitals, 1999-2001

The 2 largest maternity hospitals in Bangkok implemented comprehensive programs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in 1998. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of post-partum HIV-infected women in 1999 through 2001 to evaluate these programs. Women were given structured interviews at 0 to 3 days, 1 month, and 2 months postpartum. Medical records of women and their newborns were reviewed. Of 488 enrolled women, 443 (91%) had antenatal care: 391 (88%) at study hospitals and 52 (12%) elsewhere. The HIV diagnosis was first known before pregnancy for 61 (13%) women, during pregnancy for 357 (73%) women, during labor for 22 (5%) women, and shortly after delivery for 48 (10%) women. Antenatal zidovudine (ZDV) was used by 347 (71%) women, and intrapartum ZDV was used by 372 (76%) women. Twelve (55%) of the 22 women who first learned of their HIV infection during labor took intrapartum ZDV. All 495 newborn infants started prophylactic ZDV; the first dose was given within 12 hours for 491 (99%) children. Ten (2%) children were breast-fed at least once by their mother, and 10 (2%) were breast-fed at least once by someone else. Although uptake of services was high, inconsistent antenatal care, fear of stigmatization, and difficulty in disclosing HIV status prevented some women from using services.
SPILLOVER SPASIAL NEGATIF PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI ANTAR KABUPATEN/KOTA DI PROVINSI JAWA TIMUR

Various studies have been conducted to conceive the factors of regional economic growth and its nature in order to obtain the right formulation of regional development policy. The main aim of this research is exploring the spatial influence of economic growth in East Java Province. The result of Lagrange Multiplier test shows that the regencies/cities economic growth affects each other in the long term. Parameters estimation on spatial lag model shows that the spatial influence of economic growth inter regencies/cities is negative. These indicate that development activities in East Java Province have not been get synergistic yet.
Finite-Element Modeling for Analysis of Radial Deformations Within Transformer Windings

This paper develops computational models for undeformed and deformed transformers, using the finite-element method (FEM) to calculate frequency dependent parameters accounting for diamagnetic properties. In this manner, properly estimated inductances and capacitances can be derived and applied into a winding model for frequency response analysis (FRA). This research uses a hybrid winding model, so that frequency responses in the high frequency range ( >1 MHz) can be explored for the investigation of radial winding deformation. Meanwhile, computational models with respect to winding radial deformation are constructed, so that corresponding inductances and capacitances in specific radial deformed cases can be obtained by FEM. Therefore, the influence of the capacitances as well as the inductances can be taken into account for FRA of radial deformation in high frequencies. The frequency response in the undeformed case is compared with the experimental data to verify the accuracy of the frequency dependent parameters and mathematical winding models. The analyzed results in radial deformed cases are compared with the fault features derived from experimental studies reported in relevant literatures.
The Multidimensional Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory–English (MPCI–E): Reliability, Validity, and Relationships With Positive and Negative Affect

The Multidimensional Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (MPCI; Kobori & Tanno, 2004) is a promising new instrument developed in Japan to assess perfectionism cognitions regarding personal standards, pursuit of perfection, and concern over mistakes. In this study, we examined reliability and validity of the English version of the MPCI, the MPCI–E (Kobori, 2006), in a sample of 371 native English speakers. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the MPCI–E's 3-factorial oblique structure. Moreover, correlations with measures of dispositional perfectionism and past-week positive and negative affect provided initial evidence of the MPCI–E's convergent and differential validity. Finally, hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that the MPCI–E showed incremental validity in explaining variance in positive and negative affect above variance explained by dispositional perfectionism. Overall, the findings provide initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the MPCI–E as a multidimensional measure of perfectionism cognitions that has the potential to further the understanding of positive and negative cognitions in perfectionism.
Correlated response in plasticity to selection for early flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana

Phenotypic plasticity is an important strategy for coping with changing environments. However, environmental change usually results in strong directional selection, and little is known empirically about how this affects plasticity. If genes affecting a trait value also affect its plasticity, selection on the trait should influence plasticity. Synthetic outbred populations of Arabidopsis thaliana were selected for earlier flowering under simulated spring‐ and winter‐annual conditions to investigate the correlated response of flowering time plasticity and its effect on family‐by‐environment variance (Vg×e) within each selected line. We found that selection affected plasticity in an environmentally dependent manner: under simulated spring‐annual conditions, selection increased the magnitude of plastic response but decreased Vg×e; selection under simulated winter‐annual conditions reduced the magnitude of plastic response but did not alter Vg×e significantly. As selection may constrain future response to environmental change, the environment for crop breeding and ex situ conservation programmes should be carefully chosen. Models of species persistence under environmental change should also consider the interaction between selection and plasticity.
US Immigration Levels, Urban Housing Values, and Their Implications for Capital Share

This article applies previously estimated effects of immigration on housing values to urban counties in the United States. Our findings here also help estimate how much of the increase in the net capital share of income since 1970 as observed by Piketty ([Piketty, T., 2014]) is caused by immigration. We find that in most urban counties in the United States, increased levels of immigration have had a modest but non&#8208;negligible effect on the level of real estate prices and, per Rognlie ([Rognlie, M., 2015]), likely capital share. These estimates provide hard numbers for the public debate over immigration policy in the United States, with implications elsewhere as well.