Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mainland Chinese market for nature tourism in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Nature tourism has been emerged as an ecologically sensitive form of tourism in developed and developing countries. A large influx of tourists would have both benefits and adverse impacts on these destinations. With an increasing influence of Chinese market in many destinations and tourism activities worldwide, it is important to understand the perceptions and preferences of Chinese tourists toward natural attributes so that proper approaches to destination planning and marketing can be derived to better attract these segments of tourists and sustainably manage tourism resources. The results of an empirical study of a sample of Mainland citizens (n = 430) to Hong Kong's nature areas show that (1) they exert a high degree of interest in participating in nature tourism; (2) female and older people are more interested in visiting natural environment; (3) these potential nature tourists from China prefer going to places in association with sea views, and engaging in photo-taking, non-commercial activities and less artificial elements; and (4) the nature tourism attributes form two factors related to aspects of educational needs and relaxation (an experiential factor), and nature-oriented but also convenient (a functional factor). These considerations can lead to the development of ecotourism products that are better suited to meeting the interests of mainland Chinese tourists, while also enriching the host experience.
O-Glycosylation of glycine-serine linkers in recombinant Fc-fusion proteins

A xylose-based glycosaminoglycan (GAG) core was recently identified at a Ser residue in the linker sequence of a recombinant Fc fusion protein. The linker sequence, G-S-G-G-G-G, and an upstream acidic residue were serving as a substrate for O-xylosyltransferase, resulting in a major glycan composed of Xyl-Gal-Gal-GlcA and other minor intermediates. In this paper, a portion of an unrelated protein was fused to the C-terminus of an IgG Fc domain using the common (G4S)4 linker repeat. This linker resulted in a heterogenous population of xylose-based glycans all containing at least a core Xyl. Commonly observed glycan structures include GAG-related di-, tri-, tetra-, and penta-saccharides (e.g., Xyl-Gal, Xyl-Gal-Gal, Xyl-Gal-Gal-GlcA, and Xyl-Gal-Gal-GlcA-HexNAc), as well as Xyl-Gal-Neu5Ac. Following alkaline phosphatase or sialidase treatment combined with CID fragmentation, low-level glycans with a mass addition of 79.9 Da were confirmed to be a result of phosphorylated xylose. A minute quantity of phosphorylated GAG pentasaccharides may also be sulfated (also 79.9 Da), possibly at the HexNAc moiety due to non-reactivity to alkaline phosphatase. The xylose moiety may be randomly incorporated in one of the three G-S-G sequence motifs; and the linker peptide shows evidence for multiple additions of xylose at very low levels.
PCA3 score and prostate cancer diagnosis at repeated saturation biopsy. Which cut-off: 20 or 35?

PURPOSE To compare PCA3 score cut-off of 35 vs 20 in PCa diagnosis in patients undergoing repeated saturation prostate biopsy (SPBx). MATERIAL AND METHODS From January 2010 to May 2011, 118 patients (median 62.5 years) with primary negative extended biopsy underwent a transperineal SPBx (median 30 cores) for persistent suspicion of PCa. The indications for repeated biopsy were: persistently high or increasing PSA values; PSA > 10 ng/mL, PSA values between 4.1-10 or 2.6-4 ng/mL with free/total PSA ≤ 25% and ≤ 20 %, respectively; moreover, before performing SPBx urinary PCA3 score was evaluated. RESULTS All patients had negative DRE and median PSA was 8.5 ng/mL (range: 3.7-24 ng/mL). A T1c PCa was found in 32 patients (27.1 %): PCA3 score was 59 (median; range: 7-201) in the presence of PCa and 35 (median; range: 3-253) in the absence of cancer (p < 0.05). In the presence of ASAP and HGPIN median PCA3 score was 109 (range: 42-253) and 40 (range: 30-140), respectively. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of PCA3 score cut-off of 20 vs 35 in PCa diagnosis were 44.9 vs 50 %, 90.6 vs 71.9 %, 27.9 vs 41.8 %, 31.9 vs 31.5 % and 88.9 vs 80 %, respectively. ROC analysis demonstrated an AUC for PCA3 ≥ 20 vs ≥ 35 of 0.678 and 0.634, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that PCA3 is more useful as an exclusion tool; moreover, setting a PCA3 cut-off at 20 vs 35, would have avoided 22.9 vs 38.1 % of biopsies while missing 9.4 % and 28 % diagnosis of PCa.
Does continuous positive airway pressure for extubation in congenital tracheoesophageal fistula increase the risk of anastomotic leak? A retrospective cohort study

Immediate post‐operative care of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and oesophageal atresia (EA) requires mechanical ventilation. Early extubation is preferred, but subsequent respiratory distress may warrant re‐intubation. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a well‐established modality to prevent extubation failures in preterm infants. However, it is not favoured in TEF/EA, because of the theoretical risk of oesophageal anastomotic leak (AL). The aim of this study was to find out if post‐extubation CPAP is associated with increased risk of AL.
Multidimensional scale of perceived social support: Psychometric properties in a South Asian population

Aim: The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was developed to assess perceived social support, and has been widely used in Western samples. We attempted to translate and adapt this scale into the Urdu language, and herewith report on its psychometric properties in a rural Pakistani setting.
Assembly of the peripheral domain of the bovine vacuolar H+‐adenosine triphosphatase

The biosynthesis and assembly of the peripheral sector (V1) of the vacuolar protontranslocating adenosine triphosphatase (V‐ATPase) was studied in a bovine kidney epithelial cell line. Monolayer cultures of cells were metabolically radiolabeled with Tran 35S‐label and the V‐ATPase subsequently immunoprecipitated using a monoclonal antibody raised against the bovine brain‐coated vesicle proton pump. The V‐ATPase immunoprecipitated from the bovine kidney cell line has a subunit composition very similar to that of the bovine brain‐coated vesicle proton pump and the V‐ATPase prepared from other kidney tissues. Radiolabeling the cells for increasing times showed that the V1 or peripheral portion of the V‐ATPase is assembled within 10–15 min; the intact V1V0 complex is also detectable within 10–15 min. Fractionation of the cells into cytosolic and membrane components prior to immunoprecipitation revealed that there is a significant pool of V1 in the cytosol; a similar complex is also found in bovine brain cytosol. Pulse‐chase studies suggest that this cytosolic pool is not an obligate precursor for membranebound V1V0 and does not exchange with the membrane V1 population at later times. No qualitative differences in assembly were observed when pulse‐chase studies were performed at 15°C or in the presence of brefeldin A. This suggests that assembly of V1V0 is probably completed in the endoplasmic reticulum prior to distribution of the enzyme throughout the cell, with a cytosolic pool of V1 of unknown function existing in parallel with the fully assembled complex. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long-term impacts of parliamentary gender quotas in a single-party system: Symbolic co-option or delayed integration?

In recent years scholars have shifted their attention from the causes behind parliamentary gender quotas to their consequences for women’s descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation. We contribute to this literature by focusing on long-term effects of gender quotas in the context of an authoritarian one-party system. Here we contest dominant theoretical explanations which posit that gender quotas in authoritarian states primarily serve the goals of symbolic co-option and window-dressing. Rather, we argue that while authoritarian adaptation may motivate the introduction of gender quotas, these quotas may result over time in what we call a delayed integration process featuring a gradual rise of women into arenas of power alongside increasing professionalization and capabilities of women within parliament. This argument is tested and supported via a 72-year longitudinal analysis of over 6000 female and male representatives of the Vietnamese National Assembly, a single-party parliament with long-standing gender quotas.
Global gene expression in skeletal muscle from well-trained strength and endurance athletes.

PURPOSE We used gene microarray analysis to compare the global expression profile of genes involved in adaptation to training in skeletal muscle from chronically strength-trained (ST), endurance-trained (ET), and untrained control subjects (Con). METHODS Resting skeletal muscle samples were obtained from the vastus lateralis of 20 subjects (Con n = 7, ET n = 7, ST n = 6; trained [TR] groups >8 yr specific training). Total RNA was extracted from tissue for two color microarray analysis and quantative (Q)-PCR. Trained subjects were characterized by performance measures of peak oxygen uptake (V x O 2peak) on a cycle ergometer and maximal concentric and eccentric leg strength on an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS Two hundred and sixty-three genes were differentially expressed in trained subjects (ET + ST) compared with Con (P < 0.05), whereas 21 genes were different between ST and ET (P < 0.05). These results were validated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for six differentially regulated genes (EIFSJ, LDHB, LMO4, MDH1, SLC16A7, and UTRN. Manual cluster analyses revealed significant regulation of genes involved in muscle structure and development in TR subjects compared with Con (P <or= 0.05) and expression correlated with measures of performance (P < 0.05). ET had increased whereas ST had decreased expression of gene clusters related to mitochondrial/oxidative capacity (P <or= 0.05). These mitochondrial gene clusters correlated with V x O 2peak (P < 0.05). V x O 2peak also correlated with expression of gene clusters that regulate fat and carbohydrate oxidation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION We demonstrate that chronic training subtly coregulates numerous genes from important functional groups that may be part of the long-term adaptive process to adapt to repeated training stimuli.
Crystal Structure of the Galectin-9 N-terminal Carbohydrate Recognition Domain from Mus musculus Reveals the Basic Mechanism of Carbohydrate Recognition*

The galectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding animal lectins with a conserved carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). They have a high affinity for small β-galactosides, but binding specificity for complex glycoconjugates varies considerably within the family. The ligand recognition is essential for their proper function, and the structures of several galectins have suggested their mechanism of carbohydrate binding. Galectin-9 has two tandem CRDs with a short linker, and we report the crystal structures of mouse galectin-9 N-terminal CRD (NCRD) in the absence and the presence of four ligand complexes. All structures form the same dimer, which is quite different from the canonical 2-fold symmetric dimer seen for galectin-1 and -2. The β-galactoside recognition mechanism in the galectin-9 NCRD is highly conserved among other galectins. In the apo form structure, water molecules mimic the ligand hydrogen-bond network. The galectin-9 NCRD can bind both N-acetyllactosamine (Galβ1–4GlcNAc) and T-antigen (Galβ1–3GalNAc) with the proper location of Arg-64. Moreover, the structure of the N-acetyllactosamine dimer (Galβ1–4GlcNAcβ1–3Galβ1–4GlcNAc) complex shows a unique binding mode of galectin-9. Finally, surface plasmon resonance assay showed that the galectin-9 NCRD forms a homophilic dimer not only in the crystal but also in solution.
Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Reduced Calcineurin Inhibitors Exposure Versus Standard Cyclosporine-Based Immunosuppression

Background. Immunosuppressive regimens based on low doses of cyclosporine A (CsA) or tacrolimus (TAC) may improve short-term outcome after kidney transplantation (KT), but the optimal immunosuppressive protocol is currently unknown. Methods. This study compared the 24-month efficacy and safety of two immunosuppressive regimens using reduced calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) exposure with standard dosage of CsA in 240 patients who were randomized into three groups: group A (n=80): Thymoglobulin, CsA (4 mg/kg twice daily) plus azathioprine (1.5 mg/kg once daily); group B (n=80): basiliximab, CsA (2 mg/kg/ twice daily) plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; 1 g twice daily); and group C (n=80): basiliximab, TAC (0.05 mg/kg/ twice daily) plus MMF (1 g twice daily). Steroid administration was identical for all groups. Results. A significantly better creatinine clearance at 12 months, estimated by Cockcroft-Gault (57±12, 65.2±20, 73.5±27 ml/min, P=0.044), the Jelliffe-2 (51.5±16, 56±19, 59.4±19 ml/min/1.73 m2, P=0.041) and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equations (53±17, 58.5±20, 61.6±22 ml/min/1.73 m2, P=0.035), was observed in group C compared with group A. No significant differences were observed between groups B and C. The incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was similar between groups (15%, 13.8%, and 16.3%). In addition, patient and graft survival at 24 months were not different between groups. Adverse effects were similar among groups, but cytomegalovirus infections was significantly higher in group A (41% vs. 20% vs. 25%; P=0.008). Conclusions. Immunosuppressive regimens with reduced CNI exposure provide similar preservation of renal function compared with standard dose of CsA after KT and do not lead to underimmunosuppression.
Exploring educational leadership in New Jersey: A case study of AchieveNJ and principal practice in a public school setting

vi List of Figures . xiv List of Tables . xv Chapter1: Introduction . 1 Statement of the Problem . 3 Purpose . 5 Research Questions . 5 Theoretical Framework . 6 Philosophical Framework . 7 Significance of the Study . 9 Definition of Terms . 11 Summary . 12 Chapter 2: Literature Review . 13 Role of a School Leader . 13 The Standards Based Movement . 17 Value-Added Evaluation Models . 21 AchieveNJ . 23 Leadership capacity: Vision . 27 Leadership Capacity: Culture . 28 Leadership Capacity: Professional Development . 29 Leadership Capacity: Empowerment . 30 Reflective Practice . 32
Short-Term Return Reversals and Intraday Transactions

I examine whether a short-term reversal is attributed to past intraday or overnight price movements. The results show that intraday returns significantly reverse in the following week, while overnight returns do not, indicating that the short-term reversal is attributed to past intraday price movements. In addition, the reversal of intraday returns is stronger for more illiquid stocks and during more volatile market conditions, while the reversal is unaffected by fundamental news. This result supports the view that short-term reversals are attributable mainly to price concessions for liquidity providers to absorb intraday uninformed transactions, rather than intraday price reactions to fundamental information.
The effect of platelet-rich plasma in vitro on primary cells: rat osteoblast-like cells and human endothelial cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of standardized platelet-rich plasma (PRP) concentrates from 10 human donors on cellular behavior. The standardized PRPs used were fivefold average and fivefold maximum baseline values in whole blood. Both these standardized PRPs were characterized by determining platelet numbers and subsequently growth factor concentrations in activated PRPs, called PRP derivatives. Platelet numbers in both types of standardized PRPs were significantly increased compared with whole blood. Further, both PRP derivatives contained significantly higher concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor-AA, platelet-derived growth factor-AB, and transforming growth factor-beta 1. Vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations were significantly elevated in only the most concentrated PRP derivative. Cell culture experiments with osteoblast-like cells showed that both PRP derivatives stimulated cell proliferation without inducing cell differentiation, whereas tube formation in endothelial cell cultures was significantly increased by adding low volume percentages of PRP derivative (2%–8%). Consequently, it can be concluded that there is no direct relationship between the number of platelets and the level of growth factors released from these platelets. PRP derivatives have the potency to stimulate angiogenesis dose dependently, while lacking the capacity to induce osteogenic differentiation. Yet, the proliferation of osteoblast-like cells can significantly be enhanced by supplementation of PRP derivatives.
Postoperative Serum CEA Level is a More Significant Prognostic Factor than Post/Preoperative Serum CEA Ratio in Non-small Cell Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with preoperative high serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, patients with a persistently high serum CEA level after surgery have been reported to have a poor prognosis. In addition, in other cancers, the post/preoperative serum CEA ratio has been reported as a useful parameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS We enrolled 123 NSCLC patients with preoperative high CEA levels (≥ 5 ng/mL) who underwent curative surgery between 2004 and 2011. Prognostic significance of postoperative serum CEA level and the CEA ratio was examined. RESULTS The 5-year survival of patients with persistently high serum CEA level after surgery was poor. On the other hand, patients with normal postoperative serum CEA levels had significant favorable prognosis. The patients with CEA ratio>1 had poor prognosis, however the number was only 7 (5.7%). The 5-year survival rates of patients with other subgroup based on the CEA ratio (0.5 ≥ CEA ratio and 0.5 ≤ CEA ratio ≤ 1) was similar. Multivariate analysis revealed prognostic significance for the postoperative serum CEA level but not the CEA ratio. CONCLUSIONS For NSCLC patients with preoperative high serum CEA level, their postoperative serum CEA levels is a more significant prognostic factor than the post/preoperative serum CEA ratio.
Effect of apolipoprotein E genotype on apolipoprotein B-100 metabolism in normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic subjects

The effect of apolipoprotein (apo) E genotype on apoB-100 metabolism was examined in three normolipidemic apoE2/E2, five type III hyperlipidemic apoE2/E2, and five hyperlipidemic apoE3/E2 subjects using simultaneous administration of 131I-VLDL and 125I-LDL, and multi-compartmental modeling. Compared with normolipidemic apoE2/E2 subjects, type III hyperlipidemic E2/E2 subjects had increased plasma and VLDL cholesterol, plasma and VLDL triglycerides, and VLDL and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) apoB concentrations (P < 0.05). These abnormalities were chiefly a consequence of decreased VLDL and IDL apoB fractional catabolic rate (FCR). Compared with hyperlipidemic E3/E2 subjects, type III hyperlipidemic E2/E2 subjects had increased IDL apoB concentration and decreased conversion of IDL to LDL particles (P < 0.05). In a pooled analysis, VLDL cholesterol was positively associated with VLDL and IDL apoB concentrations and the proportion of VLDL apoB in the slowly turning over VLDL pool, and was negatively associated with VLDL apoB FCR after adjusting for subject group. VLDL triglyceride was positively associated with VLDL apoB concentration and VLDL and IDL apoB production rates after adjusting for subject group. A defective apoE contributes to altered lipoprotein metabolism but is not sufficient to cause overt hyperlipidemia. Additional genetic mutations and environmental factors, including insulin resistance and obesity, may contribute to the development of type III hyperlipidemia.
Essays on behavioral determinants of earnings quality

The neoclassical economic view of the firm – upon which most of the empirical financial accounting research is based – assumes that managers are rational wealth optimizers. Therefore, managers are considered homogeneous and selfless inputs into the production process, and this implies that different managers are perfect substitutes for one another. Although managers might have differences regarding their preferences, risk profiles, and skills, neoclassical economic theory assumes that none of these individual characteristics reflects upon actual corporate policies; the implication here is that individual managers are not able to influence corporate decisions through managerial discretion. On the other hand, upper echelons theory suggests that individual managers do matter when it comes to corporate decisions and outputs, and that top executives’ experiences, values, and personality influence their subjective interpretations of the situations they face, and thus affect their decisions. Based on the assumptions inherent in upper echelons theory, this Ph.D. dissertation investigates the potential effect of top executives’ personal characteristics on financial reporting decision-making; in particular, it focuses on those of chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs). The underlying objective of the dissertation is to determine whether the individual-level characteristics of CEOs and CFOs explain earnings quality in firms. Additionally, this dissertation also considers the economic characteristics of users of financial information as determinants of earnings quality. The empirical findings of the studies carried out within the scope of this dissertation show that managerial characteristics indeed explain earnings quality. Specifically, CEO marital status and the gender of a CEO’s first-born child are found to significantly determine accruals quality – and by implication, earnings quality – among firms. Likewise, CEO personality traits such as hubris are also significant determinants of accruals (i.e., loan loss provisions) quality in banks. Meanwhile, CFO gender has been found to influence earnings quality in terms of the usefulness to investors of earnings information. Finally, the results indicate that the economic characteristics of users of financial information also determine the usefulness of earnings.
Innovation risk in digital business models: the German energy sector

Purpose Past research demonstrated that novel IT-based business models generate tremendous returns for innovators. However, the risks associated with these innovations remain under-explored. This paper aims to address this critical gap analyzing risks and offering important insights particularly for practitioners. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted an exploratory multiple-case study research design. It draws on 22 semi-structured interviews with managers from leading energy utilities, as well as leading providers of virtual power plants technology within the German energy industry. Findings The research reveals that main risks in new digital business models in the energy sector are associated with three forms of interdependence between innovation actors: the regulatory, the technological and the collaborative. To deal with these interdependencies, the authors propose an original multi-step risk management framework. This framework considers the outreach as a critical dimension for risk assessment and offers a new risk response matrix to draw individual and collective mitigation activities for specific types of risks. Practical implications This paper offers a framework for the management of interdependence risks that are fundamental for business model innovations based on IT. Thus, it is applicable in companies both inside the energy sector and beyond. Originality/value This paper analyzes an important digital business model innovation that has not yet been explored in management literature – the virtual power plant (VPP). It is based on original and current empirical work and proposes a novel risk management framework for business organizations.