Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial Distribution of Tourist Flows to China's Cities

Abstract This paper investigates the spatial distribution of inbound and domestic tourist flows to cities in China and their growth rates using exploratory spatial data analysis. This method is a set of GIS spatial statistical techniques that are useful in describing and visualizing the spatial distribution, detecting patterns of hot-spots, and suggesting spatial regimes. The global Moran's I statistics for inbound and domestic tourist flows reveal strong positive and significant spatial autocorrelation. Furthermore, the Moran significance maps indicate four significant inbound tourism hot-spot areas in 1999 and 2006 (the Beijing-Tianjin cluster, the Yangtze River Delta cluster, the Fujian coast cluster and the Pearl River Delta cluster), and five significant domestic tourism hot-spot areas in 2002 and 2006 (with the addition of the Chengdu cluster). Based on the results, we show that tourism flows are polarized into clusters and remain very stable over time. As has been seen in other countries, hot-spots tend to be in insular and coastal areas, and associated with cities that are higher in China's urban hierarchy. Implications are drawn, such as priority of resource allocations for hot-spot area and the utilization of spillover effects from hot-spots.
The business of product counterfeiting in China and the post-WTO membership environment

China is generally acknowledged to be the world's number one country producer of counterfeit products. After becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) China is now obligated to comply with WTO provisions on protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). However, product counterfeiting operations in China are well entrenched. The postWTO membership environment has changed little, and such illicit operations are unlikely to subside soon. Furthermore, there is not much foreign companies can do because the response strategies recommended in the business literature have limited effect in the Chinese environment. Foreign companies may have to wait until China becomes on balance a victim instead of a benefactor of product counterfeiting before they can hope to see better protection of their IPRs.
ICT in University Education: Usage and Challenges among Academic Staff

This study was a survey which explored ICT usage and challenges among academic staff. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to determine the areas of ICT usage among academic staff; identify the obstacles to their ICT usage and identify their areas of training need in ICT usage. Five research questions were posed to guide this study and a questionnaire was designed to collect data from a sample size of 80 academic staff. From the results, academic staff indicated that ICT is of much help to them in the areas of upgrading of knowledge, research and publication. Weak infrastructure, financial constraints and lack of access to ICT facilities were identified as the major obstacles to ICT usage among academic staff. Furthermore, designing of new learning activities, electronic presentation of materials and making use of internet were identified as their areas of train need in ICT usage. Recommendation made include providing compulsory free, adequate training opportunity for academic staff by the university management.
Evaluating Pollination Deficits in Pumpkin Production in New York

ABSTRACT Potential decreases in crop yield from reductions in bee-mediated pollination services threaten food production demands of a growing population. Many fruit and vegetable growers supplement their fields with bee colonies during crop bloom. The extent to which crop production requires supplementary pollination services beyond those provided by wild bees is not well documented. Pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo L. , requires bee-mediated pollination for fruit development. Previous research identified the common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens (Cresson), as the most efficient pumpkin pollinator. Two concomitant studies were conducted to examine pollination deficits in NewYork pumpkin fields from 2011 to 2013. In the first study, fruit weight, seed set, and B. impatiens visits to pumpkin flowers were compared across fields supplemented with B. impatiens colonies at a recommended stocking density of five colonies per hectare, a high density of 15 colonies per hectare, or not supplemented with bees. In the second study, fruit weight and seed set of pumpkins that received supplemental pollen through hand-pollination were compared with those that were openpollinated by wild bees. Results indicated that supplementing pumpkin fields with B. impatiens colonies, regardless of stocking density, did not increase fruit weight, seed set, or B. impatiens visits to pumpkin flowers. Fruit weight and seed set did not differ between hand- and open-pollinated treatments. In general, we conclude that pumpkin production in central New York is not limited by inadequate pollination services provided by wild bees and that on average, supplementation with B. impatiens colonies did not improve pumpkin yield.
Predictors of thickened carotid intima media thickness among well controlled lupus nephritis patients in a Malaysian tertiary centre.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the prevalence of thickened carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and its associated risk factors in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) who were in remission. METHODS This was a cross sectional study in which consecutive LN patients who were in remission and attending our Nephrology/SLE Clinic were included. Their demographic profile, traditional cardiovascular risk factors and treatment medications were evaluated by clinical interview and review of medical records. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was measured using B Mode carotid ultrasonography. CIMT was considered to be abnormally thickened if it exceeded the 75th percentile matched for age-and sex-matched normal controls. The associated factors for thickened CIMT were examined. RESULTS A total of 39 patients with a mean remission duration of 29 ± 24.3 months and on a mean prednisolone dose of 9.10 ± 7.83 mg daily completed the study. Six patients (15.4%) had thickened CIMT. On univariate analysis, male gender, patient age, older age at diagnosis, higher serum CRP levels, greater proteinuria and higher mean cumulative azathioprine dose were associated with thickened CIMT (P<0.05). Lower mean cumulative doses of cyclosporine A (CyA) and mycophenolic acid (MPA) (P<0.05) each were associated with thickened CIMT. Using regression analysis, the associated factors of CIMT were older age at diagnosis and proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS Lupus factors particularly age at diagnosis and proteinuria were the associated factors of thickened CIMT. Larger prospective trials are indicated to confirm our findings.
Inhibition of STAT 1 Phosphorylation by Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 C Protein

ABSTRACT The P mRNA of the viruses belonging to the subfamily Paramyxovirinae possesses a unique property of giving rise to several accessory proteins by a process that involves the utilization of overlapping open reading frames (the C proteins) and by an “RNA-editing” mechanism (the V proteins). Although these proteins are considered accessory, numerous studies have highlighted the importance of these proteins in virus transcription and interferon signaling, including our previous observation on the role of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV 3) C protein in the transcription of viral genome (Malur et al., Virus Res. 99:199-204, 2004). In this report, we have addressed its role in interferon signaling by generating a stable cell line, L-C6, by using the lentiviral expression system which expresses HPIV 3 C protein. The L-C6 cells were efficient in abrogating both alpha and gamma interferon-induced antiviral states and demonstrated a drastic reduction in the formation of gamma-activated factor complexes in the cell extracts. Western blot analysis subsequently revealed a defect in the phosphorylation of STAT 1 in these cells. Taken together, our results indicate that HPIV 3 C protein is capable of counteracting the interferon signaling pathway by specifically inhibiting the activation of STAT 1.
Undivided Loyalties

This article posits that national identity is an important element in explaining attitudes towards the European Union. A model of support for European integration is developed that suggests that feelings of national identity are highly important in an individual's choice to support the EU. The impacts of three alternative conceptualizations of national identity are tested. These relate to national identity as an intensity of feelings towards one's country, the level of attachment to the nation and other territorial entities, and the fear of other identities and cultures encroaching on the dominant national culture. The results of ordered logit analyses confirm that stronger feelings of national identity lead to lower levels of support for the EU.
Tariffs, Quotas, and International Oligopoly

This paper compares the effects of tariffs and quotas in the presence of quantity-setting international duopolists. With the Cournot-Nash case, a tariff is equivalent to a quota; but with the Stackelberg and consistent conjecture cases, a quota will induce a switching of the domestic conjectural variation and is found to be not equivalent to a tariff. Copyright 1989 by Royal Economic Society.
Determination of Acute Oral Toxicity of Flumethrin in Honey Bees

ABSTBACT Flumethrin is one of many pesticides used for the control and treatment of varroatosis in honey bees and for the control of mosquitoes and ticks in the environment. For the control of varroatosis, flumethrin is applied to hives formulated as a plastic strip for several weeks. During this time, honey bees are treated topically with flumethrin, and hive products may accumulate the pesticide. Honey bees may indirectly ingest flumethrin through hygienic behaviors during the application period and receive low doses of flumethrin through comb wax remodeling after the application period. The goal of our study was to determine the acute oral toxicity of flumethrin and observe the acute effects on motor coordination in honey bees (Apis mellifera anatoliaca). Six doses (between 0.125 and 4.000 µg per bee) in a geometric series were studied. The acute oral LD50 of flumethrin was determined to be 0.527 and 0.178 µg per bee (n = 210, 95% CI) for 24 and 48 h, respectively. Orally administered flumethrin is highly toxic to honey bees. Oral flumethrin disrupted the motor coordination of honey bees. Honey bees that ingested flumethrin exhibited convulsions in the antennae, legs, and wings at low doses. At higher doses, partial and total paralysis in the antennae, legs, wings, proboscises, bodies, and twitches in the antennae and legs were observed.
Do top- and mid-level managers view Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems success measures differently?

We investigated ERP systems success measurement from the perspectives of top- and mid-level managers. Using surveys in two small Northern European countries, we aimed to determine whether differences exist between the two groups. Our results showed that there are no significant statistical differences between the two groups. The implications of the findings for both practice and research are outlined.
Corporate Governance and the Returns on Investment

We analyze the impact of corporate governance institutions and ownership structures on company returns on investment by using a sample of more than 19,000 companies from 61 countries across the world. We show that the origin of a country's legal system proves to be the most important. Companies in countries with English-origin legal systems earn returns on investment that are at least as large as their costs of capital. Companies in all countries with civil law systems earn on average returns on investment below their costs of capital. Furthermore, differences in investment performance related to a country's legal system dominate differences related to ownership structure. We also present considerable evidence that managerial entrenchment worsens a company's investment performance.
Detection of methicillin-resistance gene in Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from patients in Al-Zahra Hospital using polymerase chain reaction and minimum inhibitory concentration methods

Background: In recent years, antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus epidermidis to methicillin has significantly increased, making it essential to study resistance to methicillin, which is a determining factor in the appropriate treatment pattern. The purpose of this study was to identify methicillin-resistant genes in S. epidermidis strains using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to determine their mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to methicillin using E-test method. Materials and Methods: MIC was determined on 146 samples of S. epidermidis using E-test method. Moreover, all samples were tested for the presence of mecA gene using PCR. Results: PCR test showed 75.34% of the samples to contain mecA gene. Methicillin resistance test was performed using E-test on all the samples, which showed resistance in different dilutions. Conclusion: The frequency of mecA gene in S. epidermidis isolates was 75.34%. Among the various applied tests used for determining methicillin resistance, sensitivity and specificity of PCR were the highest and reached 100%. Sensitivity and specificity were found to be 95.3% and 94.7%, respectively, for phenotypic test (E-test) and 86.5% and 80.9%, respectively, for disk diffusion method. Based on the above results, it seems that resistance of S. epidermidis to methicillin is on the rise, and therefore more research is warranted.
Understanding preferences for ascending auctions, Buy-It-Now auctions and fixed prices

This paper experimentally analyzes how consumers decide between entering a fixed price, an ascending auction or a BIN auction. We find that such entry decisions depend both on potential payoffs (price aspects) and consumer characteristics (non-price aspects). For values smaller than or equal to BIN prices, subjects are more likely to enter a mechanism that involves bidding. Conversely, for values greater than BIN prices, subjects are more likely to enter a mechanism that involves immediate buying. We further find that price aspects mainly play a role for values greater than BIN prices, whereas non-price aspects play a role for values smaller than or equal to BIN prices. Impatience makes subjects less likely to enter a mechanism involving bidding, whereas sensation seekingness and regret make subjects more likely to enter such a mechanism. Gender also has an impact on entry decisions.
CORPORATE SOCIAL REPORTING PRACTICES IN WESTERN EUROPE: LEGITIMATING CORPORATE BEHAVIOUR?☆☆☆

This study identifies factors that influence all types of social disclosures. A sample of 150 annual reports from six European countries was examined using content analysis. The results indicate that company size, industrial grouping and country of domicile all influence corporate social reporting patterns. It was found that ‘super-large’ companies are significantly more likely to disclose all types of corporate social information. Industry membership was found to be related to the decision to report environmental and some employee information, but not to ethical disclosures. In addition, while size and industry membership were important in all six countries, the amount and nature of information disclosed varies significantly across Europe. Whilst legitimacy theory can be employed to explain differences related to size and industry membership, an initial analysis indicates that the reasons for differences across countries are much more complex and we offer suggestions as to how these may be explored in further research.
Determination of the maturity and functionality of tumor vasculature by MRI: Correlation between BOLD‐MRI and DCE‐MRI using P792 in experimental fibrosarcoma tumors

Using hypercapnia and carbogen as functional markers of vessel maturation and function, we compared blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) contrast with standard dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE)‐MRI quantitative parameters in murine fibrosarcoma. Our results show that there was no correlation between vessel maturity and contrast‐agent uptake rate (KinTrans) or contrast agent efflux rate (kep). In addition, DCE‐MRI provided higher estimates of the fraction of functional tumor compared to BOLD‐MRI. The two putative markers of regional vascular density, i.e., the magnitude of BOLD signal change during carbogen challenge (VF) and the fractional plasma volume found by DCE‐MRI (Vp), were only weakly correlated (r2 = 0.02–0.14). Furthermore, VF showed no correlation with KinTrans. A positive correlation was observed (r2 = 0.75) between mean tumor VF and kep, but only when averaged over the whole tumor (which includes tumor regions completely unperfused by the gadolinium (Gd) contrast agent). This would merely reveal a relationship between perfusion status and the capacity to respond to carbogen breathing. In conclusion, characterizations of tumor microvasculature imaging using BOLD‐MRI and DCE‐MRI appear to be largely complementary, given the weak correlations between their corresponding derived parameters. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Screening for Psychosocial Risk in Dutch Families of a Child With Cancer: Reliability, Validity, and Usability of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool.

OBJECTIVE The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) was developed to screen for psychosocial risk in families of a child diagnosed with cancer. The current study is the first describing the cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, validity, and usability of the PAT in an European country (Dutch translation). METHODS A total of 117 families (response rate 59%) of newly diagnosed children with cancer completed the PAT2.0 and validation measures. RESULTS Acceptable reliability was obtained for the PAT total score (α = .72) and majority of subscales (0.50-0.82). Two subscales showed inadequate internal consistency (Social Support α = .19; Family Beliefs α = .20). Validity and usability were adequate. Of the families, 66% scored low (Universal), 29% medium (Targeted), and 5% high (Clinical) risk. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the cross-cultural applicability, reliability, and validity of the PAT total score. Reliability left room for improvement on subscale level. Future research should indicate whether the PAT can be used to provide cost-effective care.
Influence of physical mobility and season on 25-hydroxyvitamin D-parathyroid hormone interaction and bone remodelling in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE To investigate influences of physical mobility and season on 25-hydroxyvitamin D-intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) interaction in the elderly. DESIGN We examined 188 frail institutionalized elderly at the expected nadir of their serum vitamin D concentrations (winter). This group was compared with 309 healthy ambulatory elderly at the expected time of maximum vitamin D repletion (summer), to accentuate the influences of season and physical activity. METHODS Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, iPTH and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were measured. RESULTS Vitamin D metabolites were significantly lower in the institutionalized elderly (P<0.0001), with an 82.5% prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D <12ng/ml) in institutionalized elderly in wintertime and 15.5% in ambulatory elderly in summertime. Overall, median iPTH did not differ between groups. However, median iPTH secretion in the presence of low vitamin D serum concentrations (5-30ng/ml) was greater in ambulatory elderly. This could be explained by lower mobility status being correlated with greater serum calcium concentrations (r=0.24, P=0.02 in women; r=0.35, P=0. 001 in men) and greater urinary excretion of DPD (r=0.41, P=0.0001 in women; r=0.42, P=0.0002 in men), independent of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and iPTH. CONCLUSIONS These data support the hypothesis that immobility, even in the presence of vitamin D deficiency, acts as an overriding influence on bone metabolism by promoting bone resorption (measured as urinary DPD) and increasing serum calcium independent of iPTH. Therefore mobility status may substantially affect 25-hydroxyvitamin D threshold values and the degree to which patients benefit from vitamin supplementation.
Effects of Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights in Newly Industrialized Economies: Evidence from Taiwans 1994 Patent Reform

"Does strengthening intellectual property rights (IPR) in terms of a longer patent life induce more patents? This article investigates the responses of high-technology firms to Taiwan's 1994 patent reform. Empirical analyses reveal that firms' patenting propensity rose gradually before patent reform and showed an increase after patent reform, tending to support the viewpoint that stronger IPR can induce more patents. However, this cannot lead to lasting effect. Furthermore, patenting capability can serve as the access ticket for potential entrants to a science park under the circumstance of stronger IPR protections. These new entrants are found to have a better post-entry performance in patenting relative to the incumbents in the short run. "("JEL "O14, O31) Copyright (c) 2008 Western Economic Association International.
The relationship between psychological capital and organizational commitment

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between psychological capital and organizational commitment of employees in a trade organization in Iran. The survey type of research was applied and the research perspective is descriptive-correlational in nature. The population included all employees of the organization in 2011 which amounted to 200. Sampling was done randomly at 5% error level using the Mitchel (2007) table. A population of 132 was sampled. The data was collected using Luthan et al.’s (2007) psychology questionnaire and Allen and Meyer (1990) organizational commitment questionnaire. The reliability in this study was calculated as 0.82 and 0.88, respectively. The results showed that organizational commitment and hope (as one of the dimensions of psychological capital) correlate positively but organizational commitment correlates inversely with resiliency. No significant relationship was found between optimism and self-efficacy (confidence) with organizational commitment. Among the three dimensions of organizational commitment, which includes emotional commitment, continuous commitment and normative commitment, only the relationship between psychological capital and emotional commitment was significant at 0.05. Regression analysis showed that only hope among psychological capital dimensions with a coefficient of 0.335 and resiliency with -0.521 were able to predict organizational commitment.
Human herpesvirus 6 reactivation on the 30th day after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can predict grade 2–4 acute graft‐versus‐host disease

Viral infections and their occult reactivation occasionally cause not only organ damage, but also exacerbation of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD), which may increase transplantation‐related mortality synergistically. To determine correlations between viral reactivation and transplantation‐related complications, we performed various viral screening tests on the 30th day after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and assessed the clinical implications.