Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does the Confucius institute impact international travel to China? A panel data analysis

This article examines the impact of Confucius Institutes on inbound travel to China. We estimate a panel gravity model of inbound tourism flows to China between 2004 and 2010. We use a Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood estimator to control for heteroscedasticity endemic in gravity models (Santos Silva and Tenreyro, 2006). We find that the presence of Confucius Institute(s) in the source country increases overall tourism in general and business and worker tourists in particular.
Clinical and biochemical heterogeneity associated with fumarase deficiency

Fumarase deficiency (FD), caused by biallelic alteration of the Fumarase Hydratase gene (FH), and a rare metabolic disorder that affects the Krebs cycle, causes severe neurological impairment and fumaric aciduria. Less than 30 unrelated cases are known to date. In addition, heterozygous mutations of the FH gene are responsible for hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). We report three additional patients with dramatically different clinical presentations of FD and novel missense mutations in the FH gene. One patient had severe neonatal encephalopathy, polymicrogyria, <1% enzyme activity, and mildly increased levels of urinary fumarate. The second patient had microcephaly, mental retardation, 20% of fumarase activity, and intermediate levels of urinary fumarate. The third patient had mild mental retardation, polymicrogyria, 42–61% enzyme activity in different cell types and massive amounts of urinary fumarate. In silico analysis predicted minor yet significant structural changes in the encoded proteins. The nuclear translocation of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1alpha (HIF1A) in cultured fibroblasts was similar to controls. These results extend the range of clinical and biochemical variation associated with FD, supporting the notion that patients with moderate increases in fumarate excretion should be investigated for this disease. The tumoral risk in the patients and their relatives requires adequate screening protocols. Hum Mutat 32:1–7, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards a More Well-Founded Cosmology

First, this paper broaches the definition of science and the epistemic yield of tenets and approaches: phenomenological (descriptive only), well-founded (solid first principles, conducive to deep understanding), provisional (falsifiable if universal, verifiable if existential), and imaginary (fictitious entities or processes, conducive to empirically unsupported beliefs). The ΛCDM “concordance model” involves such beliefs: the emanation of the universe out of a non-physical stage, cosmic inflation (invented ad hoc), Λ (fictitious energy), and exotic dark matter. Big Bang cosmology further faces conceptual and pragmatic problems in delimiting what expands from what does not. The problems dissolve after untying inertia from space. The cosmology that emerges appears immediately compatible with the considered observations and the ‘perfect cosmological principle’. Waves and field perturbations that propagate at c expand exponentially with distance (a gravitational effect). The cosmic web of galaxies does not. Potential Φ varies as -H/(cz) instead of -1/r. Inertial forces arise from gravitational interaction with the rest of the universe. Due to dilatation, they are reduced disproportionately at low accelerations. A cut-off value a0 = 0.168 cH is deduced. This explains the successful description of galaxy rotation curves by MoND. A fully elaborated physical theory is still pending. Wider implications are briefly discussed.
Sleep in hospitalized medical patients, part 2: behavioral and pharmacological management of sleep disturbances.

BACKGROUND As described in Part 1 of this article, multiple factors lead to disrupted sleep in hospitalized medical patients. Recognizing and addressing these factors can help clinicians more effectively manage patients' sleep complaints. METHODS A PubMed search was conducted by cross-referencing the terms "sleep deprivation," "insomnia," and "sleep"; "hospitalized," "acutely ill," and "critically ill"; and "medication," "drugs," "hypnotics," "benzodiazepines," and "sedatives. " The search was limited to English-language articles published between 1997 and 2008. Subsequent PubMed searches were performed to clarify the data described in the initial search. RESULTS Few articles addressed the topic of the assessment and management of sleep problems in hospitalized medical patients. In Part 2, we propose an evaluation and treatment algorithm that includes recommendations regarding the use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies as clinicians consider relevant clinical data. The algorithm is accompanied by 5 tables that include pertinent and practical information to assist clinicians as they manage their inpatients' sleep complaints. CONCLUSIONS Assessment of a sleep complaint should include a review of factors that could exacerbate patients' sleep. The treatment could then focus on ameliorating these factors, and the judicious use of nonpharmacologic strategies and psychopharmacologic agents.
Topical Phenytoin Application in Grade I and II Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND India is fast becoming world diabetes capital. Diabetic foot infections are major problems among innumerable complications associated with diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS A randomized control study was conducted to evaluate the effect of topical phenytoin on healing in diabetic foot ulcers. One hundred patients with grade I/ II diabetic foot ulcers were randomly divided into two equal groups. Patients subjected to topical phenytoin dressing were classified under study and those who underwent normal salinewound dressings were classified as control. Both the groups were compared in terms of discharge, slough, wound area reduction and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS Discharge and slough from wound reduced significantly by day 14 in phenytoin group and within 21 days in control group. Mean duration of hospital stay in phenytoin group was 20 days, whereas in control group, it was 26 days. This difference was statistically significant (p value <0.005,df 1). CONCLUSION Hence, Phenytoin proved to be useful as a topical agent in promoting healing and in controlling infections in diabetic foot ulcers.
Migration, Labor, and the International Political Economy

In the field of international political economy, workers are commonly analyzed as objects of global economic forces whose fate is determined by the profit-seeking behaviors of firms and governments. Workers, however, can also assert themselves to protect their rights, and they can emigrate to other countries to find employment. We analyze the literature on the nexus between the international economy and labor with a focus on workers on both the receiving and originating ends of global finance. Beginning with workers as inputs in multinational production, we explore the roles of economic openness, factor endowments, government policy, and unionization as drivers of workers' rights. We then shift to workers as migrant labor and explore the impact of migrants' own cross-border financial transfers—also known as remittances—on political outcomes in their home countries. Our overview not only highlights tremendous progress in explaining the agency and vulnerability of labor in the global economy but also reveal.
VENEZUELA'S GROWTH EXPERIENCE

The standard of living, measured as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, increased dramatically in Venezuela relative to that of the United States from 20 percent in 1920 to 90 percent in 1958, but since then has collapsed to around 30 percent nowadays. What explains these remarkable growth and collapse episodes? Using a standard development accounting framework, we show that the growth episode is mainly accounted for by an increase in capital accumulation and knowledge transfer associated with the foreign direct investment in the booming oil industry. The collapse episode is accounted for equally by a fall in total factor productivity and in capital accumulation. We analyze Venezuela during the collapse episode in the context of a model of heterogeneous production units were policies and institutions favour unproductive in detriment of more productive activities. These policies generate misallocation, lower TFP, and a decline in capital accumulation. We show in the context of an heterogeneous-establishment growth model that distortionary policies can explain a large portion of the current differences in TFP, capital accumulation, and income per capita between Venezuela and the United States.
Performance Manipulation and Fund Flow: Evidence from China

In this paper, we assess the relation between fund flow and fund returns in China's open-ended fund industry. Analyzing quarterly data from the period January 2005-December 2012, we construct a simultaneous equation model that captures the endogeneity of current and past returns and flows and find that contemporaneous returns have a key role in determining fund flows. We then estimate the fund performance "manipulation degree" to further investigate the performance manipulation effect on fund flows. We find that manipulated funds can attract an additional flow of money and that, notably, individual rather than institutional investors are more likely to be deceived by manipulative behavior.
How Persistent is Indian Inflationary Process, Has it Changed?

Using monthly data for the period 1982:4 to 2008:3, the study analyses the inflation persistence in India in terms of autoregressive properties and lag response of inflation to systematic monetary policy. It finds inflation persistence to be on the lower side,particularly when allowed for the break in the mean of inflation observed around the second half of the 1990s. In general, with the decline in mean rate of inflation, persistence in most of the inflation measures also declined. The impact of money supply on various measures of inflation is mostly positive and had its maximum impact with a much longer lag during the higher inflationary period before the mid-1990s than during the succeeding lower inflationary environment. Interest rate have a negative impact on all the inflation series and, in general, had its maximum impact on inflation with a much longer lag than that of change in money supply.
Export Processing Zones in Development and International Marketing: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda

Export processing zones (EPZs) are areas within developing countries that offer incentives and a barrier-free environment to promote economic growth by attracting foreign investment for export-oriented production. The number of zones internationally, countries hosting EPZs, and firms operating in them, and the business volume they handle, are all growing rapidly, suggesting their importance. Yet, business research on EPZs is virtually nonexistent, leading to poor understanding of their role in international marketing. This article draws from the literature in economics, macromarketing, and other disciplines to provide an integrative review of the concept. The authors then adopt a macromarketing perspective to develop a new definition of EPZs, typologies of free export zones and of their benefits for host nations and investors, and the notion of a “virtual network” of free zones as part of the international market system. The authors conclude by highlighting the need and potential directions for new research in this field.
Corporate Social Reporting in Malaysia: an institutional perspective

An increasing trend is observed among Malaysian corporations in disclosing social and environmental information (ACCA, 2002). However, it is unclear as to why Malaysian companies produce Corporate Social Reports voluntarily. Extant literature reveals a gap in identifying an appropriate theory to adequately explain CSR. This study investigates the applicability of Institutional Theory to enable an understanding of the Malaysian CSR phenomenon. Interviews with senior management of ten Malaysian companies practicing CSR provide grounded qualititative data to determine motivations that influence CSR. This exploratory study provides evidence that Institutional Theory demonstrates a feasible explanation of CSR practice in Malaysia.
Corporate governance law effect in Greece

Purpose - Legislators legislate, but how feasible and effective the implementation and enforcement of these laws are and how congruent with the countries characteristics, is under doubt. The paper seeks to argue that the Greek law on corporate governance (CG) had no effect on the fundamental elements of the corporate environment. Design/methodology/approach - Seven hypotheses are tested using three different econometric methodologies (panel data, probit, and ordinal probit regression). Findings - The paper pinpoints the legal disarrays and their impact on the firm and argues that there is a need for a new set of principles and laws that focus on the real issues of CG rather than the size, structure and leadership of the administrating bodies or the disclosure mechanisms. Research limitations/implications - The data used have been collected from the annual reports and not from questionnaires. Furthermore, there is no methodology to integrate all seven models to a structured or nested model. Practical implications - The study provides evidence that there is a need for a different set of provisions than the ones in the Anglo-Saxon countries. Originality/value - The paper uses a variety of methodologies and tests seven hypotheses. It takes a more holistic approach.
Mainstreaming gender in the EU-accession process: the case of the Baltic Republics

Since the early 1990s, the Baltic states have gone through processes of economic transition and liberalization. Although various reports give an overview of gendered impacts of these economic reforms, they fail to elaborate on the more complex relations between gender, citizenship, and social exclusion. This article explores these relations in more detail. The first decade of reforms in the Baltic states resulted in a lack of economic prospects, in particular for women from minority groups and women working in low-pay sectors. This made them increasingly vulnerable to trafficking for sexual purposes: migration to Western Europe was an attractive alternative for those without work, whether through legal or illegal migration channels. The failure to address this issue and other issues effectively cannot be attributed to the European level only. This argues that effective mainstreaming is also hampered by rapid changes in national governments, by political ideologies regarding the role of women, and by a lack of information and expertise within newly established gender-equality units.
Studies in shigellosis. III. A controlled evaluation of a monovalent Shigella vaccine in a highly endemic environment.

Summary and Conclusion One hundred Egyptian village children were immunized with 1.0 ml. of a Shigella flexneri 3 vaccine, given in three divided doses of 0.3 ml. , 0.3 ml. and 0.4 ml. at weekly intervals. A similar group of unvaccinated children were observed as controls. During a six month observation period following vaccination, 25 (26.8 per cent) of the children who received the vaccine were found to be infected with Shig. flexneri 3 organisms as compared with 18 (20.4 per cent) of the children in the control group. The number of infections with other Shigella organisms, and the number of episodes of diarrheal disease, was approximately the same in both groups of children. Immunization with a Shigella flexneri 3 vaccine was not effective in preventing Shigella flexneri 3 infections, or diarrheal disease associated with these organisms, in a group of Egyptian village children living in a highly endemic environment.
Fear and Managing in Las Vegas

This article provides an analysis of the impacts of the events of September 11, 2001, on certain gaming business volume on the Las Vegas Strip. Almost immediately after these events, management teams commenced with layoffs and project postponements, in anticipation of a long and painful recovery period. The authors' intervention analysis, however, reveals an abrupt decline lasting five months, indicating a relatively rapid recovery. Interestingly, this type of recovery appears to be similar to that which has been observed in other literature examining previous terrorist attacks. In the concluding discussion, the authors highlight the lessons of both history and empirical inquiry in hopes of helping managers understand the dynamics of terrorism impacts on the hospitality industry in general and on the gaming industry in particular.
The relationship between growth and volatility in small firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of predictors of growth (entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and environmental hostility) and growth itself on small-firm volatility. The objective is to find out: first, whether growth and volatility possess a similar nature; second, what are the predictors of small-firm volatility. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaire data were collected from CEOs of 433 Spanish small firms (<500 employees) who provided qualitative as well as quantitative information. Findings – The authors find that some of the predictors on growth can also be used to predict firm volatility. Specifically, the authors find that firm volatility is influenced by EO and environmental hostility. Growth also influences firm volatility. The authors also find a strong interaction effect of growth and firm size on firm volatility. The authors conclude that although growth and firm volatility are related concepts, they are different. Originality/value – Growth has concentrated.
Dynamic capabilities, strategic stakeholder alliances and sustainable competitive advantage: evidence from China

Purpose – With increasing research focus paid to dynamic capabilities, there is an increased need to explore how dynamic capabilities can help business firms to realize corporate responsibility with stakeholders for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediation effect of strategic alliance with stakeholders on the relationship between dynamic capabilities and sustainable competitive advantage in China, an emerging market, to give suggestions on how to manage corporate responsibility to address a rapidly changing environment.Design/methodology/approach – The paper tested its hypotheses on a sample in the context of China. Specifically, 700 questionnaires were sent out; 300 were collected, of which 227 were usable. The partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling approach was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.Findings – The paper has incorporated dynamic capabilities view and corporate responsibility perspective to explain the e.
Business Churn and the Retail Giant: Establishment Birth and Death from W al- M art's Entry

Objectives The size and scope of Wal-Mart's operation gives it the potential to noticeably impact the local economies in which it locates. This analysis examines separately the establishment birth and death rate implications of Wal-Mart's entry into a community as a means of reconciling the inconsistency between sizable documented poverty effects and more limited employment and payroll changes from Wal-Mart. Methods I estimate instrumented county and year fixed effects regressions of county establishment birth rate and establishment death rate on the predicted number of Wal-Mart stores and years of operation in a county for the retail sector, the aggregate local economy, and the manufacturing sector, where the latter serves as a falsification test. Results I find that within 15 months of a new Wal-Mart store entry, between 4.4 and 14.2 existing retail establishments and close while at most 3.5 new retail establishments open. Conclusions The article provides new and strong evidence that, through its effect on establishment births and deaths, Wal-Mart's expansion has had a larger impact on the employment situations of those working in retail than net employment and payroll numbers would indicate.
Sex ratios at sexual maturity and longevity: Evidence from Swedish register data

Background: This study tests the recently proposed hypothesis that the contextual sex ratio at sexual maturity is related to longevity. Previous empirical research in the United States has shown that a higher proportion of males at the age of sexual maturity increases the risk of mortality for males both before and after the age of 65. Methods: I use Swedish administrative register data, linking the 1960 census to individual-level mortality data over the period 1960 to 2007. I calculate the sex ratio at two geographic levels, municipalities and parishes. Two different specifications of the sex ratio are calculated: males aged 18 to 27 over females aged 15 to 24, and males aged 18 to 22 over females aged 16 to 20. I conduct piece-wise constant survival analyses over the period from 1960 to 2007 to analyze the risk of mortality before age 65. I run separate analyses for males and females, using cohorts born in 1941 and 1942. Results: For males, the results generally show that for both males and females a higher proportion of males was associated with a lower relative risk of mortality before age 65. The results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The lack of a consistent statistically significant association for either males or females, and the trend for males being in the opposite direction of what was hypothesized, suggests that support for the hypothesis in Sweden is very weak.
THE IMPACT OF HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT (HAART) ON EMPLOYMENT IN KHAYELITSHA

This paper examines the impact of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on labour force participation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Khayelitsha, South Africa. Cox Proportional Hazard Models with stratum effects for three medical clinics, and Accelerated Failure Time Models with individual specific unobserved shared effects (frailty), are estimated for transitions from inactivity to unemployment, and transitions from unemployment into employment, using a longitudinal data set. The findings of this study indicate that HAART leads to greater activity in the labour market, but there was not a strong effect on re-entry into employment.
Forecasting Performance Of Natural Gas Futures Market: An Assessment Of Recent Data

Natural gas has assumed increasing importance in the global energy market. This study evaluates the forecasting performance of futures prices of natural gas in the large market of the U.S. at various time horizons. The results indicate that futures prices are unbiased predictors at the 1-, 6-, and 12- month horizons, but not at the 3- and 9- month horizons. The results further suggest that futures prices of natural gas, although biased at some intervals, significantly outperform naive forecasts in predicting future movements of spot prices. In addition, the information content of the 1-month ahead futures price proves especially useful as a forecasting device. Policy implications are also discussed.