Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Environmental Performance in the Tourism Accommodation Sector

While environmental legislation in Australia regulates tourism development, it is less effective in operational areas because of the dependency of tourism on environmental resources that are not managed by operators, and the small but incremental nature of operational impacts. The absence of functional environmental standards for tourism means that little guidance exists: a problem compounded by variability in the diversity of operation types and receiving environments, as well as the accessibility of information by a non-technical audience. While legislation and economic considerations may provide impetus to adopt environmental practices, it is proposed that an environmental philosophy is necessary for tourism businesses to seek out and maintain alternative sustainable modes of operation. Review of the environmental audit process used by a Queensland resort suggests commitment to continual improvement in environmental performance is attributable to individual and corporate ethics. While the case is an ecotourism operation, the literature indicates that these factors have relevance to tourism generally. Although client satisfaction and return on investment objectives are constraints, environmental auditing can provide impetus for practical expression of environmental objectives. Facilitation of ethically-motivated voluntary action may be more effective in achieving tourism's environmental objectives than codifying standards in static legislation.
Unemployment Insurance and Unemployment Spells

This paper tests the effects of the level and length of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits on unemployment durations. The paper particularly studies individual behavior during the weeks just prior to when benefits lapse. Higher UI benefits are found to have a strong negative effect on the probability of leaving unemployment. However, the probability of leaving unemployment rises dramatically just prior to when benefits lapse. When the length of benefits is extended, the probability of a spell ending is also very high in the week benefits were previously expected to lapse. Individual data are used with accurate information on spell durations, and the level and length of benefits. Semiparametric estimation techniques are used and compared to alternative approaches. The semiparametric approach yields more plausible estimates and provides useful diagnostics.
Differential effects of antiepileptic drugs on steroidogenesis in a human in vitro cell model

Objectives– To better understand the interaction of antiepileptic drugs and production of sex hormones, possible effects of valproate (VPA), levetiracetam (LEV) and carbamazepine (CBZ) on steroidogenesis were investigated in the human adrenal carcinoma cell line H295R. Materials and methods– H295R cells were exposed to different concentrations of VPA, LEV or CBZ for 48 h. Sex hormone concentrations and mRNA expression levels were analyzed via radioimmunoassay and quantitative real time (RT)‐PCR, respectively. Results– In VPA‐exposed cells estradiol levels decreased in a dose‐dependent manner, while testosterone and progesterone levels were unaffected. Expression of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl‐CoA reductase (HMGR), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), CYP11a, CYP17, CYP21, 3βHSD2, 17βHSD1 was downregulated and expression of CYP11β2 was upregulated. No effect on sex hormone production was observed under influence of LEV or CBZ. Expression of StAR, CYP17, CYP19 and 3βHSD2 was downregulated in LEV‐exposed cells, and expression of HMGR, CYP11β2 and CYP17 was downregulated in CBZ‐exposed cells. Conclusions– VPA exposure resulted in a decrease in estradiol levels and a general downregulation of expression of genes encoding for enzymes early in steroidogenesis. No consistent changes were seen with LEV or CBZ exposure.
Does work engagement mediate the relationship between job resources and job performance of employees

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which the engagement of employees in their work mediates the relationship between their performance and the job resources that organisations provide. A primary survey of 341 working adults from the Klang Valley in Malaysia revealed the direct and indirect relationships between the availability of job resources and employee performance. Work engagement partially mediates between them. The results highlight the importance of providing employees with appropriate resources so that they would be engaged in their work and perform well in their jobs. This article also discusses some of the theoretical and managerial implications and provides suggestions for future research.
Influence of the Quality of Food, Service, and Physical Environment on Customer Satisfaction and Behavioral Intention in Quick-Casual Restaurants: Moderating Role of Perceived Price

This study examined the relationships between three determinants of quality dimensions (predictors: food, service, and physical environment), price (moderator), and satisfaction and behavioral intention (criterion) in quick-casual restaurants. Despite the importance of foodservice quality, academics and managers know relatively little about how the combined effects of quality (food, service, and physical environment) elicit customer satisfaction which, in turn, affects behavioral intention. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis with interactions showed that quality of food, service, and physical environment were all significant determinants of customer satisfaction. In addition, perceived price acted as a moderator in the satisfaction formation process. Finally, the results indicated that customer satisfaction is indeed a significant predictor of behavioral intention. The findings may provide restaurateurs with a guideline for enhancing customer satisfaction and behavioral intention level.
Pharmaceutical New Product Development: Why Do Clinical Trials Fail?

A high percentage of new drug candidates fail to reach the market during clinical trials, and these failures imply massive financial losses for the pharmaceutical companies. Clinical trials have distinctive characteristics and additional complexity compared with the late stages of product development in many other industrial sectors. Although the current literature on clinical trial has offered explanations for why a drug is abandoned during clinical trials (e.g., toxicity, lack of efficacy, and economics), studies investigating non‐drug‐related causes of failure are scarce. New product development (NPD) failures also differ from one another; however, no comprehensive conceptual framework in the NPD literature describes how to classify failures. This study suggests a conceptual framework for explaining NPD failures in the pharmaceutical industry by drawing on clinical trial literature combined with an exploratory empirical approach based on 17 interviews with industry experts. The initial interviews were used to identify managerial issues related to clinical trial failure, and the later interviews had a more iterative character to validate the issues identified in the previous round. We identified seven critical management issues causing failures in clinical trials. Our findings indicate that chaotic and slow patient recruitment, lack of experience in choosing and monitoring partners, lack of feasibility of the study protocol, low quality of the registered data, too high incidence of serious adverse events and severe incidents, unmanageable level of portfolio complexity, and incorrect assessment of the market potential or returns cause the failure of clinical trials. The conceptual framework for failures proposed in this paper combines project and product failures while acknowledging relevant specificities in clinical trials. Clinical trial managers are also supported in their decision making in clinical trials with an identified list of critical management issues that require attention to reducing the chance of failure. This study provides a basis for future empirical testing, including measuring interdependencies among the critical management issues and their adequacy for predicting failure.
Biased access? Exploring selection to advisory committees

The existing literature on bias in interest group access faces the challenge that there is often no clear benchmark for judging whether a given distribution of interest groups involved in policy making is biased. To tackle this challenge, we link two new data sets on registered European Union (EU) interest groups and membership of the advisory committees of the European Commission and examine the factors affecting selection to these committees. Our approach allows us to qualify the conclusions of the existing literature. We see that, even if business interests dominate advisory committees, they are not generally privileged over other group types in the selection processes and their degree of access varies considerably between policy areas. Instead, supranational interest groups enjoy selection privileges, which are particularly pronounced on permanent committees. Finally, we find some evidence that, even though lobbying budgets are important for getting access, their value varies across group types. In this way, our study has implications for future theory building on resource exchanges between interest group types and decision makers.
Maternal and family characteristics associated with the Healthy Eating Index among low socioeconomic status Brazilian children.

BACKGROUND The assessment of the factors that influence children's diets is important for supporting the development of public health policies for the prevention of diet-related diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the diet quality of preschoolers by using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and to identify maternal and family characteristics associated with this score and its components. METHODS The present study comprised a cohort study conducted with 345 low socioeconomic status children from São Leopoldo in southern Brazil aged 6 months and 3-4 years old. Dietary data were collected through 24-h recalls and diet quality was evaluated according to the HEI. RESULTS The mean (SD) total HEI score was 65.7 (11.2). Only 9.6% (n = 33) of the children had a good diet. No significant association was detected between the overall diet quality of children and the characteristics. The prevalence of children who achieved the 75th percentile of the scores for grains [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.43-0.98] and total fat (PR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.69-0.93) was lower among children whose families had higher incomes, whereas the prevalence for grains was lower in those whose fathers were employed (PR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.34-0.81). The prevalence for diet variety (PR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.01-2.05) and milk (P = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.04-1.35) was higher and for total fat (PR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.70-0.98) and saturated fat (PR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.59-0.98) was lower among children whose mothers had higher levels of education. CONCLUSIONS The total HEI score in these children indicates that compliance with dietary guidelines is generally poor. Although the overall diet quality did not show variation across maternal and family characteristics, some components of the diet were affected by these features.
Zone III Fractures of the Sacrum: A Case Report

Study Design Case reports. Objectives To define the radiologic characteristics, management, and results of Zone III fractures of the sacrum. Summary of Background Data Zone III fractures of the sacrum are rare. There are few case reports of longitudinal fractures of the sacrum involving Zone III. Method The authors report eight (four transverse, four longitudinal) Zone III fractures of the sacrum. Seven patients were treated surgically by posterior sacral decompression with or without transiliac bar fixation, and one neurologically intact patient with undisplaced longitudinal fracture was treated conservatively. Results Two neurologically compromised patients had return of normal bladder and rectal function, and another had bladder recovery only. The rest continued to show neurogenic bladder and required intermittent self‐catheterization. The patient with bilateral foot drop had partial motor recovery and did not require an ankle‐foot orthosis. Conclusions These fractures may be difficult to diagnose in polytraumatized patients and require a high index of suspicion. The longitudinal fractures may not be apparent on anteroposterior radiographs, and computed tomography scan may be necessary for establishing the diagnosis. The transverse fractures may show a characteristic step ladder sign on anteroposterior radiographs when the fracture is displaced severely. Proper lateral radiographs often are difficult to obtain, particularly in obese polytraumatized patients. Routine computed tomography scan may overlook the diagnosis. Therefore 2‐ to 3‐mm computed tomography cuts are recommended, which may show double neural foramina in presence of significant anteroposterior displacement and overriding of the fracture fragments. Sagittal computed tomography reconstructions are useful in evaluating the transverse fractures. Posterior sacral decompression is safe and probably promotes nerve root recovery. Longitudinal fractures may be stabilized satisfactorily by transiliac rod fixation.
Dimensions of price satisfaction: a replication and extension

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to replicate and extend the findings of Matzler et al.'s recent paper on the dimensionality of price satisfaction. Furthermore, a test is performed to ascertain whether the relationship between satisfaction with the individual price dimensions and overall satisfaction is symmetric or asymmetric, as the three‐factor theory of customer satisfaction suggests.Design/methodology/approach – Based on a random sample of 406 bank customers, the impact of five price dimensions (price‐quality ratio, price fairness, price transparency, price reliability, and relative price) on overall satisfaction is tested using structural equation modeling with Partial Least Squares (PLS). The asymmetric relationship is tested using regression analysis with dummy variables.Findings – The results confirm Matzler et al.'s findings and show that price satisfaction can be conceptualized as a multidimensional construct and that the five price dimensions have a strong and significant impact on overa.
Prognostic implications of miR-146b expression and its functional role in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

CONTEXT Recent studies suggest that miR-146b deregulation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was associated with advanced tumor characteristics. However, the influence of miR-146b expression on the prognosis of PTC remains unknown. We sought to correlate tumor expression levels of miR-146b with the prognosis of a previously reported PTC cohort and reveal the underlying mechanisms via a PTC cell line model. METHODOLOGY Expression levels of miR-146b were assessed via quantitative real-time PCR in 71 cases of PTC with distinct clinico-pathogenetic characteristics. All patients were classified into the disease-free or active disease group, based on their medical records at the end of the follow-up period. In vitro gain-of-function experiments were performed in a BCPAP human papillary thyroid cancer cell line model, which harbored the homozygous mutation of BRAF. BCPAP cells were transfected with a mimic-miR-146b and nonspecific microRNA (miRNA) control to determine whether miR-146b overexpression promotes cell migration and invasion. Proliferation assay, colony formation assay, and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis were also determined. RESULTS Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated advanced tumor stage, presence of cervical lymph node metastasis, and miR-146b expression were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in PTC. Patients with higher miR-146b expression levels had significantly poorer overall survival compared with those with lower miR-146b levels. The associated hazard ratio was 3.92 (95% confidence interval, 1.73-8.86, log-rank P < .05). Overexpression of miR-146b significantly increased cell migration and invasiveness. Furthermore, miR-146b also increased resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that miR-146b is a novel prognostic factor of PTC. Furthermore, in vitro functional studies provided the mechanistic explanation for miR-146b in tumor aggressiveness. These results enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor aggressiveness in PTC, provide new prognostic biomarkers, and ultimately offer new leads for developing therapies for PTC.
Epidural Analgesia With Bupivacaine Reduces Postoperative Paralytic Ileus After Hysterectomy

This study was undertaken to compare the effects of postoperative bupivacaine epidural analgesia with those of intermittent injections of ketobemidone (a synthetic opioid) on postoperative bowel motility in patients who had had hysterectomies. The epidural group (N=20) received continuous epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine postoperatively for 26–30 hours and the control group (N=20) received intermittent injections of ketobemidone for postoperative pain relief. Postoperative bowel movements and propulsive colonic motility were estimated from the first passage of flatus and feces and by following radiopaque markers by serial abdominal radiographs. In the epidural group, the times for first passing of flatus (31 ± 22 hours; mean ± SD) and feces (70 ± 44 hours) were significantly shorter than in the control group (flatus 58 ± 14 hours and feces 103 ± 26 hours). The average position of the markers was significantly more distally in the epidural group immediately after operation and the markers continued to move forward during the first postoperative day. In the control group, the markers did not move during this period. The results demonstrate that postoperative bowel peristalsis returned earlier in the patients given epidural analgesia with bupivacaine for pain relief than in patients given a narcotic.
Religion and the rate of return to human capital: evidence from Australia

We estimated the relationship between religion and the rate of return to human capital for Australia. Data from the Household Income Labour Dynamics Survey were analysed for men aged between 25 and 54 years. Conventional human capital functions were estimated using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). Our results suggest that Catholic men benefit from a wage premium of 6.7%, controlling for an extensive range of controls.
Testing Various Metrics for the Description of Vowel Distortion in Dysarthria

This study compares different acoustic metrics suitable for characterizing distortions in the articulation of vowels in the speech of dysarthric speakers with ASL. Metrics are tested for their performance in distinguishing patients vs. control speakers, and according to their relationship with speech intelligibility and perceived vowel alteration. Results support the need for different acoustic metrics in order to capture the large inter- speaker and inter-sex variation observed, and to reflect the various types of alteration possible.
STUDENT ATTRITION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMS

In the United States, foreign language immersion programs are K-8 voluntary programs wherein children are instructed in the core subjects in a language other than English. Even though these programs are quite popular, many parents, having purposefully chosen immersion for their child‟s education, change their mind and transfer their child in a regular non-immersion program. What factors guide parents‟ decisions to enroll their child, keep him in, or withdraw him from a foreign language immersion program? Because student attrition is detrimental both for the student (Wiss, 1989) and the institution he leaves (Louisiana Consortium of Immersion Schools, 2006), it is equally important for researchers and school administrators to explore the extent of the phenomenon, investigate the reasons for student withdrawal from foreign language immersion programs, and attempt to identify trends within these reasons. Research from higher education (Tinto, 1073) offers an attrition/persistence model transferable to the immersion setting. Additionally, immersion research from abroad, especially Canada (Cadez, 2006), has yielded quantitative and qualitative findings, even though those cannot be directly transposed into the United States setting. Still, 36 years after the opening of the first U.S. foreign language immersion elementary school program, the issue of student attrition here is still unclear.
Reframing international conflict after 9/11

One of the obvious questions emerging after September 11 was if and how the 'war on terror' would influence the framing of political conflicts in the world, particularly those involving groups targeting civilians and/or involving Muslims. The political geographers O'Loughlin, Ó Tuathail and Kolossov (2004) took up the question with a study on Russian political 'storylines' in which the events in New York are pictured as an act of aggression of international terrorism, 'the plague of the 21st century', that threatens the US just as much as it does Russia (Chechen insurgence). This 'official storyline' had to compete with other interpretations, the 'sceptical' storyline and the 'American imperialism' storyline. The influence of 9/11 on framing has inspired many studies. Framing started already with the live coverage of the events by C N N . The use of words such as 'Pearl Harbor', 'war', 'God', 'pray' and 'America' in comments by TV reporters evokes the image of a people involved in a struggle of cosmic dimension (Reynolds & Barnett 2003). A n article on 'Framing of 11 September in the Turkish media' reveals that the media emphasised the Arab (non-Turkish) background of the attackers (liter 2003). In an article about attitudes to the US in the wake of 9/11, the author showed that media in Quebec feel the need to distance themselves from the US (Adams 2004). What is the common denominator among such different studies? The most obvious conclusion is that events such as 9/11 shed a new light on a framer's national identity or on local problems. This implies either a call for defence in the face of an ominous international event or an opportunity for political action and self-justification. C N N reporters invoked the sacrosanct mission of America; Russian politicians wanted to imagine Russia as involved in the respectable war of the civilised world with terror; Turkish media emphasised the innocence of a particular Islamic society