Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of selected socio-demographic, travel-related and psychographic variables on travel expenditures

Several researchers have attempted to understand the tourism expenditure patterns from the traveler’s perspective (Cai, Hong, and Morrision, 1995; Dardis, et al., 1981; Prais and Houthakker,1971; Sheldon and Mak , 1987; Jang, et al.,2003). However, an examination of the previous studies indicates that only limited understanding of the traveler’s expenditure patterns has been provided either because of only anecdotal evidence in the studies, or because of their failure to examine the impacts of the factors affecting expenditure patterns. This study examined the effects of socio-demographic, travel-related, and psychographic variables on travel expenditures. The expenditure patterns included lodging, meals and restaurants, attractions and festivals, entertainment, shopping, transportation, and total expenditures. From a theoretical perspective, this study contributes to the body of literature in relation to travel expenditure by examining the variables under each of the three constructs identified in predicting travel expenditures. The results of the study provide a more comprehensive and holistic picture in the search of travel expenditures based on multiple independent variables. This study found that travel-related variables (i.e. number of adult(s) and length of stay) were the most influential variables affecting tourism expenditures per person per day. From a practical standpoint, this study sheds light by providing information about how the traveler’s characteristic effects travel expenditure patterns and destination marketers may use this information to better segment their target market, allocate their marketing dollars more effectively, and tailor their products to compete for tourist’s dollars. Since consumer dollars and tourism organizations’ marketing budgets are limited, this study may provide information which
Soil Fungi-Plant Interaction

One of the main European agricultural problems is the decline in soil fertility due to the reduction of the natural soil harmony. When natural soil composition is altered, few cultivated plants replace spontaneous populations of numerous species. Man becomes the only regulator of a new fragile equilibrium between the simplified biocenosis elements. Agronomic techniques (fertilisation, irrigation, soil tillage, etc.) become instruments to achieve such an improbable equilibrium. Frequently, these techniques are just the ones responsible for environmental pollution, disequilibrium among mineral elements and the general decrease in soil fertility. They are based on simplification of the relationships between the plant and other components of the natural habitat. This simplification should make agricultural systems easier to be controlled, but, indeed, it creates conditions of extreme weakness for plant life. It is clear that life on emerged lands has been possible thanks to complex relationships and, for plants in particular, to microorganism symbiosis. On the other hand, decreasing relationships between cultivated plants and other components of the natural habitat give rise to environmental degradation and pollution (due to the need of using high amounts of chemical inputs).
Evaluation of Market Performance of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and Its Determinants: Evidence from Australian IPOs

To determine whether Australian initial public offerings (IPOs) underprice in the short run and underperform in the long run, and to identify their determinants, this study investigated the short-run and the long-run stock market performance of 254 IPOs listed during 2006 to 2011 by industry and year (listing and issue). To measure their short-run performance, the first listing day returns were divided into the primary market, which was calculated based on the first-day beginning prices and issue prices; the secondary market, which was estimated based on the first-day closing and opening prices; and the total market, which was calculated based on the first-day closing prices and issue prices. The investigation was then extended to a post-day listing analysis that included returns of up to nine trading days. To measure their long-run market performance, the return measures were calculated under equally weighted and value-weighted schemes up to the three post-listing years using an event-time approach. To identify the determinants of short-run and long-run market performance, this study estimated binary and multiple regression models with offer, firm and market characteristics. Marginal probability analysis was also carried out to estimate the associated probability of each determinant that indicated a directional change in market performance.
The Impact of Parcel Structure on the Efficiency of Finnish Dairy Farms

In Finland, expanding dairy farms often face the problem of additional fields being geographically distant and only available as small parcels. We develop a stochastic production frontier model to estimate the technical efficiency of Finnish dairy farms and simulate the effect of parcel distance and parcel size on the efficiency of an average farm for 2000 through 2009. The overall development of technical efficiency is positive during the study period but increases in distance and decreases in parcel size both significantly reduce farm efficiency. Therefore, efforts to improve the parcel structure are justified.
Multiple-dose therapy with bovine colostrum confers significant protection against diarrhea in a mouse model of human rotavirus-induced gastrointestinal disease

Abstract Rotavirus is the most important etiologic agent of severe gastroenteritis. Previously, we reported that skimmed and concentrated bovine late colostrum (SCBLC) obtained from normal unimmunized cows at 6 to 7d after parturition effectively prevented against human rotavirus (HRV)-induced severe gastroenteritis in vivo, when administered as a single dose 60min before viral inoculation. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of multiple administrations of SCBLC at smaller dosages after viral inoculation in vivo. We demonstrate that multiple administrations within 24h after virus inoculation resulted in earlier recovery from diarrheal symptoms, in an administration frequency-dependent manner. Furthermore, we investigated whether isolated IgG anti-HRV activity in SCBLC was equivalent to that of IgG isolated from bovine mature milk as measured by in vitro activity assays. We found that IgG-containing fractions from SCBLC and mature milk exhibited approximately the same level of anti-HRV activity. We concluded that the SCBLC contains a high level of IgG against HRV-induced severe gastroenteritis, which will be possible to use in protective effects in immunocompromised hosts, such as children and the elderly. Multiple doses of SCBLC during the early stages of infection or lower dosage of SCBLC given as a single dose both resulted in relief of diarrheal symptoms.
World Wild Fund Malaysia on the World Wide Web: Save Orangutan Campaigns through the Power of Photographs

The objective of this paper was to investigate how a website utilized photographs as powerful tools to conveyorangutan campaigns and potentially persuade people to take action. A content analysis was employed to analyzeWorld Wild Fund Malaysia (WWFM) website as it is the only environmental NGOs that advocate “SaveOrangutan” online campaigns in Malaysia. The results indicated that WWFM utilised the photographs well forconveying “Save Orangutan” campaigns on its website. With its mission “paving the way towards a future wherehumans live in harmony with nature”, it also focuses on wild life issues. The photographs have enticedindividuals and organizations to form a strong alliance in order to instill awareness among Malaysians in thepreservation of Malaysian resources. This study is beneficial for environmental organizations in planningstrategies for a more persuasive campaign. Future research should focus on rhetoric elements of photographs andtheir perpetual potentials.
Possibility of Li-Mg and Al-Mg hydrides being metallic.

Within the framework of the local-density approximation and the ab initio pseudopotential theory, it is shown that alloying of ${\mathrm{MgH}}_{2}$ with Li or Al may be described in terms of the rigid-band model. Metallization of insulating ${\mathrm{MgH}}_{2}$ upon doping with Li or Al should therefore be possible. Doping with Li appears to be more favorable both from a thermodynamic point of view as well as from the objective of obtaining a high density of states at the Fermi level.
Physical work capacity and maximum oxygen uptake in treadmill and bicycle exercise.

The metabolic, heart rate and ventilatory patterns and physical work capacity in bicycle and treadmill exercise were compared in 23 male college students. The average reduction in max Vo2 of . 324 l/min (9.9%) observed during bicycle work was highly significant (P < 0.01). The standard error of the prediction for max Vo2 on the treadmill from observed values on the bicycle ergometer was ± . 291 l/min (r=0.82). Minute ventilatory volume was similar at all measured work levels in both forms of exercise with the respiratory exchange ratio being significantly higher on the bicycle at submaximal heart rates and at max Vo2 A significantly larger percentage of the max Vo2 was elicited at submaximal heart rates on the bicycle when compared to similar heart rates on the treadmill. At max Vo2 the heart rate was significantly lower in the bicycle test. PWC150 and PWC170 on the bicycle ergometer correlated fairly well with similar measures on the treadmill. However, when PWCmax was compared in both tests the relationship was significantly reduced (r=0.34). PWC on the bicycle was favored more by a high absolute max Vo2 (l/min), whereas the relative max Vo2 (ml/kg/min) was highly related to treadmill exercise. This was particularly demonstrated at PWCmax on the treadmill with work capacity correlating r=0.92 and r=0.37 with relative and absolute max Vo2, respectively. However, when the effect of body weight was held statistically constant the partial correlation between max Vo2 (l/min) and PWCmax on the treadmill increased to r12.3=0.91. Expressing the oxygen uptake in terms of lean body weight did not improve its relationship to PWC on the bicycle or treadmill.
Dehiscence of Corticosteroid-Induced Abdominal Striae in a 14-Year-Old Boy Treated With Bevacizumab for Recurrent Glioblastoma

Corticosteroids have been the mainstay for management of cerebral edema caused by leaky angiogenic vessels associated with high-grade brain tumors since the early 1960s. Chronic corticosteroid use can cause iatrogenic Cushing syndrome, which is associated with weight gain and abdominal striae (striae distensae). The anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, bevacizumab, has recently been introduced for the management of recurrent glioblastoma. Vascular endothelial growth factor plays multiple roles in wound healing, including promoting angiogenesis, acting as a chemo-attractant for inflammatory cells, and stimulating collagen production. We report the first pediatric case of a 14-year-old boy with corticosteroid-induced abdominal striae who developed ulceration and dehiscence of the striae following the introduction of bevacizumab therapy. The combination of high-dose corticosteroids and anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy may cause significant complications, especially in children who are susceptible to abdominal striae and therefore should be avoided.
Effect of polymyxin on the ultrastructure of the outer membrane of wild-type and polymyxin-resistant strain of Salmonella

The effect of polymyxin on two sets of Salmonella mutants was studied by thin-section and scanning electron microscopy. Polymyxin (in increasing concentrations, starting just below bactericidal effect) caused the appearance of the previously described rodlike projections on the cell surface of wild-type (smooth, polymyxin-sensitive) bacteria. These projections seemed to involve the outer membrane of the cell wall. In rough mutants, which are deficient in lipopolysaccharide, the projections were much smaller and flat. Higher concentrations of polymyxin were required to produce morphological effects in polyxmin-resistant mutants of both smooth and rough forms. Furthermore, in these mutants polymyxin caused vesicle-like bulging of the total outer membrane quite different in appearance from the rodlike projections of the wild type.
Anticancer function of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid

Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyi:c) is a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA and an agonist of toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs), including RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5). The effect of polyi:c on tumor immunotherapy has been well explored for several decades. The accumulated evidence suggests that polyi:c could be used as a vaccine adjuvant to enhance innate and adaptive immune responses, and to alter the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have also shown that activation of TLR3 and RLR signaling by polyi:c can directly trigger apoptosis in some cancer cells. This review focuses on polyi:c-induced signaling pathways and the applications of polyi:c in cancer treatment.
Aliso 22, pp. 28–51 2006, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF MONOCOTS BASED ON THE HIGHLY INFORMATIVE PLASTID GENE ndhF: EVIDENCE FOR WIDESPREAD CONCERTED CONVERGENCE

We used ndhF sequence variation to reconstruct relationships across 282 taxa representing 78 monocot families and all 12 orders. The resulting tree is highly resolved and places commelinids sister to Asparagales, with both sister to Liliales–Pandanales in the strict consensus; Pandanales are sister to Dioscoreales in the bootstrap majority-rule tree, just above Petrosaviales. Acorales are sister to all other monocots, with Alismatales sister to all but Acorales. Relationships among the four major clades of commelinids remain unresolved. Relationships within orders are consistent with those based on rbcL, alone or in combination with atpB and 18S nrDNA, and generally better supported: ndhF contributes more than twice as many informative characters as rbcL, and nearly as many as rbcL, atpB, and 18S nrDNA combined. Based on functional arguments, we hypothesized that net venation and fleshy fruits should both evolve—and thus undergo concerted convergence—in shaded habitats, and revert to parallel venation and dry, passively dispersed fruits in open, sunny habitats. Our data show that net venation arose at least 26 times and disappeared 9 times, whereas fleshy fruits arose 22 times and disappeared 11 times. Both traits arose together at least 15 times and disappeared together 5 times. They thus show a highly significant pattern of concerted convergence (P 10 9) and are each even more strongly associated with shaded habitats (P 10 10 to 10 23); net venation is also associated, as predicted, with broad-leaved aquatic plants. Exceptions to this pattern illustrate the importance of other selective constraints and phylogenetic inertia.
Riemann hypothesis for period polynomials of modular forms

Significance Critical values of modular L-functions are objects of central importance in arithmetic geometry and number theory. These numbers are predicted to encode deep arithmetic information by the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture and the Bloch–Kato conjecture. Here we consider the generating functions for these values, the so-called period polynomials. The Riemann hypothesis for these polynomials is the assertion that the zeros of these polynomials are located on the circle of symmetry that arises from the standard functional equations. The truth of this hypothesis places strong constraints on the size of the critical L-values. This assertion is proved here. The period polynomial rf(z) for an even weight k≥4 newform f∈Sk(Γ0(N)) is the generating function for the critical values of L(f,s). It has a functional equation relating rf(z) to rf(−1Nz). We prove the Riemann hypothesis for these polynomials: that the zeros of rf(z) lie on the circle |z|=1/N. We prove that these zeros are equidistributed when either k or N is large.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Adipose-specific Phospholipase A2 (AdPLA)*

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) catalyze hydrolysis of fatty acids from the sn-2 position of phospholipids. Here we report the identification and characterization of a membrane-associated intracellular calcium-dependent, adipose-specific PLA2 that we named AdPLA (adipose-specific phospholipase A2). We found that AdPLA was highly expressed specifically in white adipose tissue and was induced during preadipocyte differentiation into adipocytes. Clearance of AdPLA by immunoprecipitation significantly decreased PLA activity in white adipose tissue lysates but had no effect on liver lysates, where expression was hardly detectable. In characterizing AdPLA, we employed radiochemical assays with TLC analysis of the enzyme activity of lysates from COS-7 cells overexpressing AdPLA. For kinetic studies, we produced purified recombinant AdPLA for use in a lipoxidase-coupled spectrophotometric assay. AdPLA generated free fatty acid and lysophospholipid from phosphatidylcholine with a preference for hydrolysis at the sn-2 position. Although we found low but detectable lysophospholipase activity, AdPLA showed no significant activity against a variety of other lipid substrates. Calcium was found to activate AdPLA but was not essential for activity. Studies with known phospholipase inhibitors, including bromoenolactone, methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphate, AACOCF3, 7,7-dimethyl-5,8-eicosadienoic acid, and thioetheramide, supported that AdPLA is a phospholipase. Mutational studies showed that His-23 and Cys-113 are critical for activity of AdPLA and suggested that AdPLA is likely a His/Cys PLA2. Overall, although AdPLA is similar to other histidine phospholipases in pH and calcium dependence, AdPLA showed different characteristics in many regards, including predicted catalytic mechanism. AdPLA may therefore represent the first member of a new group of PLA2s, group XVI.
Which service quality dimensions are important in inbound tourism

Purpose – Based on a conceptual framework drawn from the original SERVQUAL model, the purpose of the paper is to explore the question of which service‐quality dimensions are deemed to be important by inbound tourists visiting a peripheral tourist location in Sweden.Design/methodology/approach – Using questionnaires and interviews, Italian and British tourists visiting a peripheral tourist location in northern Sweden are studied in three phases: before the tourist experience, during the experience, and after return home.Findings – Difference in the tourists' perceptions of the importance of various quality dimensions are identified before and after the tourism experience. Many similarities are identified between the needs and expectations of Italian and British tourists, although some differences also emerge.Practical implications – Tourism managers should recognise that the needs of their customers can be influenced by: the time at which these needs are assessed; and cultural differences between nationali.
What Drives the Initial Market Performance of Italian IPOs ? An Empirical Investigation on Underpricing and Price Support

The pricing of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the short-run has been analyzed by several theoretical and empirical studies referring to the major international stock markets; recently this topic has been particularly popular in Europe due to the high-tech and Internet stock IPOs euphoria (partially flopped in 2000) and to the increasing number of firms going public as well. This paper presents an empirical study conducted on a unique survey of 164 IPOs on the Milan Stock Exchange between January 1985 and August 2000. In particular we aim at determining the driving forces of IPOs initial and short-run market performance. First, we analyze the first-day abnormal return. We find a significantly positive underpricing, equal to 23.94%; nonetheless, 25% of IPOs in our sample are initially overpriced. Second, we separately consider fixed-price IPOs (basically between 1985 and 1994) and IPOs with book building (mostly between 1995 and 1999): we find significantly different levels of underpricing (28.33% vs. 8.12%), and an informative role of revisions in the filed price range, this supporting the “information gathering” and “partial adjustment” theories. Thus we stress the importance of choosing adequate IPO placing strategies in order to reduce information asymmetries between the market and the investors. Third, we try to point out proxies of information asymmetries influencing the initial underpricing. For fixed-price IPOs we find a negative correlation between the underpricing and the age and systematic risk of the firm, and a positive correlation between the underpricing and the market index momentum and volatility. Coherently with the findings above, with book building the correlation with the market sentiment still remains, but the age of the firm is no more significantly correlated; all information collected by the offering parties are endogenized in the revision of the file price range, which is informative for investors. Therefore, we contend that book building allows investors to gather information at a lower cost: they obtain public information by looking at the market momentum and may extract private information from the revision of the prospectus price range as to require a lower underpricing. Finally, we look at the IPOs performance and trading volume in the first weeks of listing. We find that the initial returns contain almost all the underpricing. While the buy-and-hold performance of "hot" IPOs does not sensibly change after the listing, we highlight that "cold" IPOs move to negative returns, this suggesting temporary price support activity by underwriters. We verify that underwriters manage over-allotment and green shoe options and buy IPOs shares in the after-market in order to avoid negative initial returns. J.E. L Classification codes: G30, G32.
Board Independence, Board Connections and US Government Troubled-Asset Relief Program (TARP) Funding for Banks

Interconnectedness, or the ‘too connected to fail’ phenomenon has been used to explain the severity of the recent global financial crisis (GFC). Realising that the traditional linear approach to assessing risk is not sufficient, many firms are shifting their attention towards understanding how they are related to other firms. One method by which researchers are examining this is by establishing links between firms based on director connections. In this paper we add to this growing body of literature. We ask the question of whether financial institutions that received capital infusions under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) had less independent boards, after accounting for director connections, than other institutions (financial and non-financial). Our results provide strong evidence that this was the case. Specifically, TARP banks as we refer to them, had more independent boards prior to accounting for director connections, but less independent boards after accounting for concurrent and historic connections. Further examination into whether this relationship has any bearing on weak corporate governance is needed.