Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling Inbound Tourism Demand in Shanghai

This paper suggests a first-order autoregressive distributed lag (FADL) model, which estimated base on the data of inbound tourism demand in Shanghai, form 1978 to 2008. The estimated results show the impacts of crisis events on inbound tourism, and the difference of the impacts between "1997 Asian financial crisis" and "2007 subprime mortgage crisis". One of the forecasts for Shanghai is 9.12% growth rate of the number of inbound tourists in 2009. Keywords-inbound tourim; tourism demand; autoregressive model; the impact of crisis events; Shanghai
The Marginal Cost of Capital: A Portfolio Theory Perspective

Modigliani and Miller’s Proposition III asserts that if a firm’s projects are all similar, they should all be discounted at the same marginal cost of capital (MCC), which is also the firm’s average cost of capital (ACC). However, when a firm expands by accepting a new project, its weight in investors' portfolios increases. From a portfolio optimization perspective, investors will be willing to accept this only if the expected return increases. Thus, the new project’s MCC must be higher than the firm’s ACC. We analytically derive the MCC in a portfolio context. The difference between the MCC and the ACC is large and economically significant for large and volatile firms, and for firms that are not widely held. The portfolio theory perspective provides a unified explanation for the price reaction to SEOs, IPOs, and stock repurchases.
EVOLUTION AFTER THE FLOOD: PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE DESERT FISH UTAH CHUB

Abstract The Bonneville Basin and upper Snake River drainage of western North America underwent extensive hydrological changes during the late Pleistocene, potentially influencing the geographic distribution and evolutionary trajectories of aquatic species that occupied this region. To test this hypothesis, I reconstructed the phylogeographic history of the desert fish Utah chub (Gila atraria) by examining 16 populations that span the natural distribution of this species across the Bonneville Basin and upper Snake River. I compared mitochondrial control region sequences (934 bp) among 77 individuals revealing 24 unique haplotypes. Geographic and phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes were explored using parsimony, maximum likelihood, nested clade analysis, and analysis of molecular variance. I found that G. atraria is composed of two distinct clades that represent an early Pleistocene split between the upper Snake River and Bonneville Basin. Within each of these clades, geographic structuring was highly concordant with the hydrological history of late Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and the upper Snake River, suggesting that glacial-induced shifts in climate and unpredictable geological events have played a major role in shaping genetic subdivision among populations. To examine the effects of vicariant events on phenotypic divergence among Utah chub populations, I mapped chub life histories to the control region haplotype network. I found a nonrandom association between haplotypes and life-history phenotypes. These results suggest that historical events responsible for population fragmentation may have also contributed to phenotypic shifts in life histories, both indirectly by limiting gene flow among populations and directly by altering the selective environments where populations persisted. Corresponding Editor: L. Bernatchez
Internalizing MHC class II–peptide complexes are ubiquitinated in early endosomes and targeted for lysosomal degradation

Significance Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) function as the sentinels of the immune system by ingesting foreign pathogens, generating peptide fragments of these pathogens in endo-/lysosomes, where the peptides bind to MHC class II molecules, and expressing these peptide–MHC class II complexes (pMHC-II) on the APC surface. Antigen-specific CD4 T cells scan APC surfaces for appropriate pMHC-II, and, if not recognized by T cells, pMHC-II are degraded. We now show that internalizing pMHC-II are targeted for degradation by ubiquitination by the E3 ligase March-I in early endosomes. The “arrive at the surface, internalize from the surface, become ubiquitinated, then die” life cycle for pMHC-II ensures that APCs have ample opportunity to present a wide variety of foreign antigens to the immune system. As sentinels of the immune system, dendritic cells (DCs) continuously generate and turnover antigenic peptide–MHC class II complexes (pMHC-II). pMHC-II generation is a complex process that involves many well-characterized MHC-II biosynthetic intermediates; however, the mechanisms leading to MHC-II turnover/degradation are poorly understood. We now show that pMHC-II complexes undergoing clathrin-independent endocytosis from the DC surface are efficiently ubiquitinated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase March-I in early endosomes, whereas biosynthetically immature MHC-II–Invariant chain (Ii) complexes are not. The inability of MHC-II–Ii to serve as a March-I substrate is a consequence of Ii sorting motifs that divert the MHC-II–Ii complex away from March-I+ early endosomes. When these sorting motifs are mutated, or when clathrin-mediated endocytosis is inhibited, MHC-II–Ii complexes internalize by using a clathrin-independent endocytosis pathway and are now ubiquitinated as efficiently as pMHC-II complexes. These data show that the selective ubiquitination of internalizing surface pMHC-II in March-I+ early endosomes promotes degradation of “old” pMHC-II and spares forms of MHC-II that have not yet loaded antigenic peptides or have not yet reached the DC surface.
Requirements for different components of the host cell cytoskeleton distinguish ecotropic murine leukemia virus entry via endocytosis from entry via surface fusion

Murine ecotropic leukemia viruses use a common receptor for entry into host cells; however, the site of virus fusion appears to differ with the host cell. Entry in mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts is by endocytosis, whereas entry in rat XC sarcoma cells is by surface fusion. We report here the identification of a step common to both entry pathways, as well as of a step unique to the endocytic pathway. Recent demonstration of the clustering of the virus receptor on rat cells suggested a possible interaction of the receptor with the cellular cytoskeleton (M. H. Woodard, W. A. Dunn, R. O. Laine, M. Malandro, R. McMahon, O. Simell, E. R. Block, and M. S. Kilberg, Am. J. Physiol. 266:E817-E824, 1994). We tested the hypothesis that such an interaction might influence receptor function. We found that entry into NIH 3T3 and XC cells was greatly diminished by the disruption of the actin network before but not shortly after virus internalization, suggesting the actin network plays a critical role in an early step common to both entry pathways. Disruption of microtubules before and shortly after virus internalization markedly reduced entry in NIH 3T3 cells, while entry into XC cells remained efficient. These data suggest that intact microtubules are required in a postpenetration step unique to efficient virus entry via endocytosis. The physiological function of the receptor was not affected by disruption of either the actin network or the microtubules, as the uptake of cationic amino acids in NIH 3T3 and XC cells was comparable to that in control cells even when the cytoskeleton remained disrupted for as long as 3 h.
Degenerate Pump–Probe Photoluminescence Study on Quantum Dots Operating in Linear Recombination Regime

The carrier lifetime of self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) is investigated by a time-resolved degenerate pump-probe photoluminescence (PL) measurement at room temperature. The suitable excitation range for this time-resolved measurement is in the linear recombination regime as determined from the excitation power dependence of the PL intensity. Carrier lifetimes from this time-resolved measurement are consistent with those obtained from the time correlated single photon counting technique. This study suggests a potential application of this technique to measure the carrier lifetime of QDs in the infrared region with wavelength longer than 1.1 mu m where no high-speed and high sensitivity photon counting devices are available.
Genetic susceptibility to bladder cancer with an emphasis on gene–gene and gene–environmental interactions

Purpose of review The present article reviews recent reports on molecular epidemiological studies for exploring susceptibility genes for bladder cancer, with particular focus on gene–gene and gene–environmental interactions. Recent findings Recent large case–control studies and meta-analyses have confirmed that N-acetyl transferase2 slow acetylator and glutathione S-transferase Mu null genotype were modest susceptibility factors for bladder cancer, with probable interactions between N-acetyl transferase2 slow acetylator and smoking. Several interesting studies using a multigenic pathway-based genotyping approach and novel statistical tools showed significant interactions among potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA repair pathway genes and smoking and gene–diet interaction; however, the resultant interactions warrant validation. Summary Previous studies using a candidate gene approach have not only identified a few bladder cancer susceptibility loci but also produced a large number of false positive results. A multigenic pathway-based approach may identify gene–gene and gene–environment interactions and increase predictive power. Several statistical tools have been applied to identify gene–gene and gene–environment interactions, but future efforts should be directed toward integrating results obtained from different statistical tools and validating resultant interactions from different studies.
Influence of Physical Evidence on Service Brand Image Dimensions and Brand Equity

Branding and brand equity benefits have long been established for goods. Services which are said to be unique and different from goods in view of its unique characteristics need a different approach. The marketers have been trying to influence the consumers through the various marketing mix elements. In services, apart from the traditional mix elements, there are additional elements that hold relevance, collectively referred to as extended marketing mix elements. Among the elements, physical evidence has a definitive influence on brand image and subsequent brand equity. Services are high in experience quality, are personal in nature, and the consumers' experience with the service firm is a key determinant to image perception and brand equity. Physical evidence encompasses the overall experience for the consumer and even the people element, another mix element, which includes the employees and the customers, who interact within the physical environment. A positive experience significantly affects the firm's brand equity. There is a dearth of research in the area of marketing mix influence on brand equity in the area of services . The present paper tries to empirically investigate the influence of physical evidence on brand image dimensions like user image, corporate image, and service image and consequently, brand equity in services through a study carried out in the retail banking sector. The findings hold significant value for marketers by aiding them in identifying the influence pattern.
How efficient are pension fund managers in Chile

The paper measures and evaluates technical efficiency among pension fund managers in Chile. Recent pension reform has established pension fund management market in nine countries in Latin America. The new pension providers compete for affiliates on the basis of fees, rates of return, and quality of service, and are subject to extensive regulation. Applying data envelopment analysis to data from Chile 1982-1999, the paper examines issues of efficiency, competition, and regulation. The analysis concludes that pension fund managers operate below the estimated "efficiency frontier", and there is no evidence of a sustained upward trend in technical efficiency over time.
Tourists characteristics and willingness to pay to see the Big Five

Tourism is an engine of growth and development in natural areas, but resources need to be protected and that often involves high costs. The opportunity to view Big Five game in their natural habitat is a common good and it is difficult to determine tourists’ valuation of the Big Five species and their willingness to pay for their conservation. This exploratory study surveyed tourists visiting the Kruger National Park and asked them about their willingness to pay. The objective is to identify the characteristics of those visitors who will pay to view Big Five game in their natural habitat. The study found that visitors to the Kruger National Park assigned a significant amount (34.64%) of total average spending to the opportunity to view the Big Five in the Kruger National Park. The correlates of willingness to pay for conservation include age, marital status and the importance of the Big Five in the decision to visit the Park.
Hybridisation of particle swarm optimisation with area concentrated search

Nature has, over millennia, developed effective strategies for locating and exploiting areas of nutrient rich resources. This work considers one such strategy, Area Concentrated Search (ACS), and uses this to extend Particle Swarm Optimisation. Initial indications are that swarms can benefit greatly from ACS as an aid to the efficient movement of individual particles across difficult optimisation landscapes.
Contribution of violence to health inequalities in England: demographics and trends in emergency hospital admissions for assault

Introduction: Violence is increasingly recognised as a major public health issue yet health data are underutilised for describing the problem or developing responses. We use English emergency hospital admissions for assault over four years to examine assault demography and contribution to health inequalities. Methods: Geodemographic cross-sectional analyses utilising records of all individuals in England (n = 120 643) admitted between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2006. Results: Over 4 years, rates of admission increased by 29.56% across England. Admissions peaked on Saturdays (22.34%) and Sundays (20.38%). Higher rates were associated with deprivation across all ages, including those <15 years, with a sixfold increase in admission rates between the poorest and wealthiest quintiles of residence. Logistic regression analyses indicate males are 5.59 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for assault and such admissions peak in those aged 15–29 years. Modelling based on national assault admissions and limited Accident and Emergency (A&E) data suggest that while more serious assaults requiring hospital admission have increased, assault attendances at A&Es have fallen. Discussion: Hospital admission and A&E data identify a direct contribution made by violence to health inequalities. Levels of violence inhibit other interventions to improve people’s health through, for instance, outdoor exercise or delivery of health-related services in affected areas. With disproportionate exposure to violence in poorer areas even in those under 15, early life primary prevention initiatives are required in disadvantaged communities to reduce childhood harm and the development of adult perpetrators and victims of violence.
Model Misspecification in Multiattribute Parameter Estimation

Most applications of conjoint analysis have emphasized main-effects models, largely because fewer data points are needed to fit that type of model at the individual level. The authors suggest that such simplifications can lead to poor predictions when the underlying utility functions depart from the simplicity of a main-effects model. They also show how compromise designs, which allow orthogonal estimation of selected two-way interactions (as well as main effects), can provide a more general experimental design in cases where a specified set of two-way interactions is suspected.
QoS driven web services assessment and selection

With the proliferation of web services, it is becoming more and more imperative for customers when facing a lot of options to select the 'right' service providers that have the capability of performing similar tasks. In this paper, we propose a new Quality of Service (QoS) model, in which optimised QoS-Vectors are used to assess various web service providers. Furthermore, we show an efficient scheme based on this QoS model for locating appropriate web services under Remote Procedure Call (RPC) approach. A prototypical implementation of our scheme is presented in a business scenario. A simulation study is conducted to verify the performance of our proposed scheme.
The Energy Services Company (ESCO) industry: Analysis of industry and market trends

As retail competition accelerates, energy service companies (ESCOs) are confronting major structural changes in the energy services industry and a business environment in which many large customers are re-thinking their energy-related purchasing practices. This paper analyzes recent trends in the ESCO industry and looks specifically at how traditional performance contracting firms are faring during the transition to a new market structure. The authors also discuss trends in both established and emerging ESCO markets. Key findings include: (1) Independent ESCOs are declining both in number and share of the market for energy-efficiency services; (2) Utility-owned ESCOs and retail energy service companies (RESCOs) are an increasingly significant force in the energy-efficiency services market; and (3) Performance contracting, long a hallmark of the ESCO industry, is being overtaken by other forms of energy service contracts in percentage of total revenue.
Multiagent truth maintenance

The concept of logical consistency of belief among a group of computational agents that are able to reason nonmonotonically is defined. An algorithm for truth maintenance is then provided that guarantees local consistency for each agent and global consistency for data shared by the agents. The algorithm is shown to be complete, in the sense that if a consistent state exists, the algorithm will either find it or report failure. The implications and limitations of this algorithm for cooperating agents are discussed, and several extensions are described. The algorithm has been implemented in the RAD distributed expert system shell. >
Image Search Result Clustering and Re-Ranking via Partial Grouping

Image search result clustering has become an active research topic. However, due to the limitations of current image search engines, the search result always exhibits partial clustering character, which makes the traditional clustering assumption unreasonable. In this paper, we apply Bregman bubble clustering (BBC), which clusters only a fraction of the whole data set, to image search result clustering. We show that relevant and irrelevant images are less mixed in the clusters produced by BBC. Therefore, we are able to incorporate a cluster based relevance feedback scheme to the clustering result and improve the relevance ranking of the search result according to user's feedback. Experiments on animal images from Flickr demonstrate the effectiveness of our clustering and re-ranking algorithms.
On spanning properties of various Delaunay graphs

A geometric graph G is a graph whose vertices are points in the plane and whose edges are line segments weighted by the Euclidean distance between their endpoints. In this setting, a t-spanner of G is a connected spanning subgraph G' with the property that for every pair of vertices x, y, the shortest path from x to y in G' has weight at most L ≥ 1 times the shortest path from x to y in G. The parameter t is commonly referred to as the spanning ratio or the stretch factor. Among the many beautiful properties that Delaunay graphs possess, a constant spanning ratio is one of them. We provide a comprehensive overview of various results concerning the spanning ratio among other properties of different types of Delaunay graphs and their subgraphs.
Towards a framework to evaluate performance of the NoCs

On-chip networks (NoC) emerged as a promising approach to provide a packet-based, structured communication infrastructure to handle the increasing communication requirements of the system on chips. Most applications running on the NoC have to meet a stringent quality of service to perform their normal functionality. Assuring that the manufactured system will satisfy these demands requires binding the non-functional issues to the system speci cation from the early stages of the development. In this paper we have investigated using PEPA and queuing networks to analyze performance of such systems regarding to a widely adopted switching technique, and also offered a few suggestions to enable performance-aware speci cation of systems in di erent levels of abstraction and tools to perform cross-level transitions.
A Simplified Scintillation Proximity Assay for Fatty Acid Synthase Activity: Development and Comparison with Other FAS Activity Assays

Fatty acid synthase (FAS), an essential enzyme for de novo lipogenesis, has been implicated in a number of disease states, including obesity, dyslipidemia, and cancer. To identify small-molecule inhibitors of FAS, the authors developed a bead-based scintillation proximity assay (SPA) to detect the fatty acid products of FAS enzymatic activity. This homogeneous SPA assay discriminates between a radiolabeled hydrophilic substrate of FAS (acetyl-coenzyme A) and the labeled lipophilic products of FAS (fatty acids), generating signal only when labeled fatty acids are present. The assay requires a single addition of unmodified polystyrene imaging SPA beads and can be miniaturized to 384- or 1536-well density with appropriate assay statistics for high-throughput screening. High-potency FAS inhibitors were used to compare the sensitivity of the SPA bead assay with previously described assays that measure FAS reaction intermediates (CoA-SH and NADP +). The advantages and disadvantages of these different FAS assays in small-molecule inhibitor discovery are discussed. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2009:636-642)
On board 3D object perception in dynamic urban scenes

In urban environments, object recognition and road monitoring are key issues for driving assistance systems or autonomous vehicles. This paper presents a LIDAR-based perception system which provides reliable detection of 3D urban objects from point cloud sequences of a Velodyne HDL-64E terrestrial LIDAR scanner installed on a moving platform. As for the output of the system, we perform real-time localization and identification of typical urban objects, such as traffic signs, vehicles or crosswalks. In contrast to most existing works, the proposed algorithm does not use hand-labeled training datasets to perform object classification. Experimental results are carried out on real LIDAR measurements in the streets of Budapest, Hungary.