Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling Micro-Level Tourism Expenditure: Recommendations on the Choice of Independent Variables, Functional Form and Estimation Technique

Marcussen (2011a) distinguished between the vital and the not-so-vital determinants of micro-level tourism expenditure. Arguably, the lessons learned from Marcussen's study, combined with best practice in recent econometric modelling, have set a new higher standard for future research on this topic. Against this background, this paper gives practical advice on how to improve the modelling of micro-level tourism expenditure in the future. Three issues are discussed: (a) the choice of independent variables; (b) the choice of functional form; and (c) the choice of estimation technique. Empirical illustrations are provided.
Shareholder Democracy in Play: Career Consequences of Proxy Contests

This paper shows that proxy contests have a significant adverse effect on careers of incumbent directors. Following a proxy contest, directors experience a significant decline in the number of directorships not only in the targeted company, but also in other nontargeted companies. The results are established using the universe of all proxy contests during 1996–2010. To isolate the effect of the proxy contest, our empirical strategy uses within-firm variation in directors׳ exposure to the possibility of being voted out and exploits the predetermined schedule of staggered boards that allows only a fraction of directors to be nominated for election every year. We find that nominated directors relative to non-nominated ones lose 58% more seats on other boards. The evidence suggests the proxy-contest mechanism imposes a significant career cost on incumbent directors.
The N-terminal Region of the Prion Protein Ectodomain Contains a Lipid Raft Targeting Determinant*

The association of the prion protein (PrP) with sphingolipid- and cholesterol-rich lipid rafts is instrumental in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative prion diseases. Although the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor is an exoplasmic determinant of raft association, PrP remained raft-associated in human neuronal cells even when the GPI anchor was deleted or substituted for a transmembrane anchor indicating that the ectodomain contains a raft localization signal. The raft association of transmembrane-anchored PrP occurred independently of Cu(II) binding as it failed to be abolished by either deletion of the octapeptide repeat region (residues 51–90) or treatment of cells with a Cu(II) chelator. Raft association of transmembrane-anchored PrP was only abolished by the deletion of the N-terminal region (residues 23–90) of the ectodomain. This region was sufficient to confer raft localization when fused to the N terminus of a non-raft transmembrane-anchored protein and suppressed the clathrin-coated pit localization signal in the cytoplasmic domain of the amyloid precursor protein. These data indicate that the N-terminal region of PrP acts as a cellular raft targeting determinant and that residues 23–90 of PrP represent the first proteinaceous raft targeting signal within the ectodomain of a GPI-anchored protein.
An Investigation on Network Relationship of Elderly Nursing Home

All developed countries have been facing the trend of aging population and view it as an importance social policy which has to plan care and nurse senior citizens. The elderly caring and nursing organizations are obligated to provide more comfortable and suitable environment for a high quality life of elders. Based upon Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, there is a hierarchy of five needs within each individual, including physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love Needs, self-esteem needs and self-actualization needs. Individuals would acquire emotional support, materiality and service through social network. This study investigates two main issues related to network relationship of elderly nursing home. First, this study demonstrates the network relationship between elderly nursing home and other related groups, including family and friends of elderly resident, exclusive volunteers, neighborhood community centre, religion groups and other welfare associations. Second, this study investigates what the network relationships would influence the satisfaction of five elderly residents’ needs. To better understanding the real connection among groups related to nursing home, this study uses case study with the perceptions of social network to know the network relationship in the nursing home and what it influences their residents’ needs.
Business Models In The Commercialization Processes Of Innovation Among Small High-Technology Firms

Small technology firms are currently facing increasingly severe competition in a dynamic business environment where an effective commercialization process may secure the survival of a venture and provide key benefits such as increases in turnover, profits and market share. However, technology firms have to be able to create the suitable business model for a new product commercialization in order to realize the economical potential and value. Therefore, it is important to increase our knowledge about the utilized business models in high technology sectors and their role as a part of new product commercialization and innovation management. Using data from 12 small technology firms, this study shows that business model creates an operational level of commercialization process and it can help managers to plan the value delivery through the process phases. Despite the trend toward opening up research and development and commercialization processes in the high technology fields, small high technology firms in this study seems to pursue more closed approaches to R&D than in other business functions such as marketing and sales.
The role of real options analysis in the design of a greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme

Analysing the effect of a greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme (ETS) on energy-intensive industries using a simple model of the long-run equilibrium fails to fully capture the design implications of a scheme. When we allow for imperfect market structures and uncertainty, it is more useful to focus on how an industry is affected by the scheme’s design in moving to its long-run equilibrium. A real options modelling approach that analyses how firms in these industries are likely to respond to an ETS through their investment behaviour is proposed as a more insightful method for public policy analysis.
SAR variation study from 300 to 5000 MHz for 15 voxel models including different postures

An extensive study on specific absorption rate (SAR) covering 720 simulations and 15 voxel models (18–105 kg) has been performed by applying the parallel finite-difference time-domain method. High-resolution whole-body models have been irradiated with plane waves from 300 MHz to 5 GHz by applying various incoming directions and polarizations. Detailed results of whole-body SAR and peak 10 g SAR are reported, and SAR variation in the dB scale is examined. For an adult, the effect of incoming direction on whole-body SAR is larger in the GHz range than at around 300–450 MHz, and the effect is stronger with vertical polarization. For a child (height ∼1.2 m), the effect of incoming direction is similar as for an adult, except at 300 MHz for horizontal polarization. The effect of the phantom (18–105 kg) on whole-body SAR is larger at around 2–5 GHz and at vertical 300 MHz (proximity of whole-body resonance for the child) than at around horizontal 300–900 MHz. Body posture has little effect on whole-body SAR in the GHz range, but at around 300–450 MHz, one may even expect a 2 dB rise in whole-body SAR if posture is changed from the standing position. Posture affects peak 10 g SAR much more than whole-body SAR. The polarization of the incident electric field may have an effect of several dB on whole-body SAR. Between 2 and 5 GHz for adults, whole-body SAR is higher for horizontal than for vertical polarization, if the incoming direction is in the azimuth plane. In the GHz range, horizontal polarization gives higher whole-body SAR, especially for irradiation from the lateral direction. A comparison between homogeneous and heterogeneous models was done. A homogenized model underestimates whole-body SAR, especially at ∼2 GHz. The basic restriction of whole-body SAR, set by ICNIRP, is exceeded in the smallest models (∼20 kg) at the reference level of exposure, but also some adult phantoms are close to the limit. The peak 10 g SAR limits were never exceeded in the studied cases. The present ICNIRP guidelines should be revised by lowering the reference levels, especially at around 2–5 GHz.
Growing Unequal? Changes in the Distribution of Earnings across Canadian Cities

This paper investigates changes in the distribution of earnings across 87 metropolitan areas in Canada. It does so using micro data taken from the 20 per cent long-form sample of the census for the years 1996, 2001 and 2006. Results point to overall increases in urban inequality and to greater heterogeneity in inequality across the urban hierarchy, with larger cities growing particularly unequal over time. Cross-sectional and panel regression models suggest that city size, unemployment, deindustrialisation and the percentage of a city’s population composed of visible minorities contribute to increased inequality. In contrast, a city’s level of economic development has a mitigating effect on inequality, although this effect appears to fade away over time. The effects of changes in a city’s age, education and gender profiles on inequality are mixed.
Structure of Maiduguri cattle market, Borno State, Nigeria

Market structure is an important factor that influences the performance and efficiency of a market. The study aimed at determining the structure of Maiduguri cattle market. Primary data were collected, from questionnaires randomly administered to the respondents. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse product differentiation and market information. Gini coefficient was used to determine market concentration, while scale economics was used to determine case of/or barrier to entry or exist. The results showed that information transfer was timely and satisfactory and some degree of product differentiation exist in the market. Cattle are differentiated in terms of age, breed, weight and sex. The concentration of sellers is low while entry is free. The market is thus an imperfectly competitive market of oligopolistic nature. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 159-164
A keyword selection method for mapping technological knowledge in specific sectors through patent data: the case of biofuels sector

In this paper, we propose an innovative methodology that aims to solve drawbacks related to how patent data are allocated and organized in international databases. We propose as a case study in the biofuels sector, in order to evaluate the validity of such a method. Starting with a systematic mapping of biofuels production value chain, we have built a comprehensive description of the biofuels technological domain. The resulting list of keywords relies on an iterative selection approach, based on an analysis of recent scientific literature combined with the keyword search tool developed by Scopus. The final patent database, BioPat, has been finalized by a validation procedure with the help of expert interviews, revealing improved accuracy compared with standard International Patents Classification-based codes. Collected information in BioPat allows us to derive more intriguing insights on the characteristics and evolution of technological patterns in the biofuels sector with respect to standard classification methods.
Brucella abortus HtrA Functions as an Authentic Stress Response Protease but Is Not Required for Wild-Type Virulence in BALB/c Mice

ABSTRACT A second mutation has recently been identified in the previously described Brucella abortus htrA mutant PHE1. As a result of this finding, a new B. abortus htrAmutant, designated RWP11, was constructed to evaluate the biological function of the Brucella HtrA protease. RWP11 is more sensitive to oxidative killing in vitro and less resistant to killing by cultured murine neutrophils and macrophages than the virulent parental strain 2308 but is not attenuated in BALB/c mice through 4 weeks postinfection. The in vitro phenotype of B. abortusRWP11 is consistent with the proposed function of bacterial HtrA proteases as components of a secondary line of defense against oxidative damage. The in vivo phenotype of this mutant, however, indicates that, unlike the corresponding Salmonellaand Yersinia proteins, Brucella HtrA does not play a critical role in virulence in the mouse model.
Long-Run Relationship Between Imports And Exports: Evidence From Asian Countries

We used Engle–Granger cointegration test to investigate and compare the long-run performance of imports and exports in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Korea and Thailand. Graphical analysis demonstrates an inherent tendency of imports and exports to move together in the long run. Cointegration and error correction results support the graphical analysis that these countries do not violate on the average the international budget constraint, and trade disequilibrium is a short-run phenomenon that is sustainable in the long run. Macroeconomic policies in the sample countries have been adequately effective to affect long-run equilibrium between imports and exports. The international events had differential impact on each country of our sample.
Nature-Based Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Impacts of Private Sector and Parastatal Enterprises In and Around Kruger National Park, South Africa

International programmes and national policies around the world have identified tourism as an appropriate mechanism for sustainable development, poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. To evaluate the impact of nature-based tourism on the poor, socio-economic assessments were undertaken at enterprises based within South African protected areas. Comparisons were made between local economic interventions reported by enterprises and neighbouring community member's perceptions of their initiatives. Socioeconomic impacts evaluated included employment, gender equality, procurement, corporate social responsibility, dependency on tourism and access to markets. The studies demonstrate that isolated efforts from individual tourism companies have little tangible impact on the majority of people living in highly populated rural communities but impacts are substantial for the few people who directly benefit. Implications of these findings for future socio-economic initiatives through tourism, and options to increase net benefits to the poor are explored.
Policy Implications of Projecting the Multiplier Effects of Social Safety Net Programs Using IMPLAN

This study employs input–output (I/O) modeling at the state and county level to compare national estimates of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The results show that more localized economies cannot achieve the results predicted by national models likely because of leakage of economic activity outside the boundaries of a single state or county. This study sheds light on methodological tools that forecasters and policy makers can use in making decisions based on economic impact of social safety net programs.
Matrix metalloproteinases, IL‐8 and glutathione in the prognosis of workers exposed to chlorine

To cite this article: Maghni K, Malo J‐L, L’Archevêque J, Castellanos L, Gautrin D. Matrix metalloproteinases, IL‐8 and glutathione in the prognosis of workers exposed to chlorine. Allergy 2010; 65: 722–730.
A 3-D indoor location tracking and visualization system based on wireless sensor networks

This paper describes a 3-D location tracking and visualization system using wireless sensor nodes in indoor environment. The system is based on modified radio-location fingerprinting algorithm and it uses inexpensive, programmable wireless embedded platforms operating in ZigBee wireless network protocol. The main emphasis of this study is on the ability to estimate the location of mobile wireless nodes in 3-D indoor spaces, without any costly infrastructure. The wireless nodes have been deployed in an experimental test bed, for location tracking and motion estimation. K-nearest neighbor algorithm has been implemented for location estimation over a set of radio location fingerprints collected in a 3-D space. A 3-D visualization interface has been generated in VRML in order to display the real-time sensor positions and the data in the 3-D world. Preliminary experimental results show that the proposed scheme can achieve accurate and stable location tracking in indoor environments.
Mining E-Mail Messages: Uncovering Interaction Patterns and Processes using E-Mail Logs

Increasingly information systems log historic information in a systematic way. Workflow management systems, but also ERP, CRM, SCM, and B2B systems often provide a so-called "event log" (i.e., a log recording the execution of activities). Thus far, process mining has been mainly focusing on structured event logs resulting in powerful analysis techniques and tools for discovering process, control, data, organizational, and social structures from event logs. Unfortunately, many work processes are not supported by systems providing structured logs. Instead, very basic tools such as text editors, spreadsheets, and e-mail are used. This article explores the application of process mining to e-mail (i.e., unstructured or semi-structured e-mail messages are converted into event logs suitable for application of process mining tools). This article presents the tool EMailAnalyzer, embedded in the ProM process mining framework, which analyzes and transforms e-mail messages to a format that allows for analysis using our process mining techniques. The main innovative aspect of this work is that, unlike most other work in this area, our analysis is not restricted to social network analysis. Based on e-mail logs, we can also discover interaction patterns and processes.
Performance measurement of research and development activities

Purpose – This paper aims to study the problem of designing a Performance Measurement System (PMS) for R&D. In particular, it aims at investigating the influence exerted by the type of activity being measured (i.e. Basic and Applied Research or New Product Development) on the design of the PMS constitutive elements. Design/methodology/approach – First, a literature review made it possible to build a theoretical model that identifies the constitutive elements of the PMS for R&D. Second, a survey involving 129 Italian firms (with a response rate of 33 per cent) was performed to unearth a number of similarities and differences between PMSs used in Research and New Product Development settings. Finally, a follow-up multiple case study investigation made it possible to understand the reason underlying the dissimilarities which emerged from the survey. Findings – The analysis suggests that a specialisation of the performance measurement practices in research and development is pursued by the Italian firms in the sample, especially when a number of conditions are in place (e.g. high level of uncertainty in R&D, availability of resources, organisational separation between the research and development functions). Research limitations/implications – The empirical analyses reported here focus on R&D-intensive firms, because they invest more heavily in R&D and hence are more interested in measuring its performance. The generalisability of these results to other empirical settings is discussed and represents a promising avenue for future research. Practical implications – The paper provides R&D managers with a number of criteria they should employ to design more effective PMSs for the R&D activities for which they are responsible. Moreover, it suggests that designing and using two different PMSs for research and new product development can be a valuable alternative but only under specific circumstances. Originality/value – The paper is one of the first contributions that empirically assess the differences in the approaches employed to measure performance of research and new product development activities.
Efficient, Fair, and Incomprehensible: How the State 'Sells' Its Judiciary

Socio-legal scholars often approach dispute resolution from the perspective of the disputants, emphasizing how the resources on each side shape the course of conflict. We suggest a different, "supply-side", perspective. Focusing on the state's efforts to establish centralized courts in place of local justice systems, we consider the strategies that a supplier of dispute resolving services uses to attract disputes for resolution. We argue that state actors often attempt to "sell" centralized courts to potential litigants by insisting that the state's services are more efficient and fair than local courts operating outside direct state control. Moreover, we argue that state actors also invest significant energy in claiming that the local courts are incomprehensible. Thus, in its efforts to introduce and advance centralized courts, the state argues not only that it offers the best version of what the citizenry wants, but also that it is impossible to conceive that people would want something other than what the state offers. We illustrate our argument and explain its significance by examining judicial reform in New York, where there has been a decades-long effort to displace local justice systems.
Hepatitis B virus subtypes and hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with chronic liver disease in Nepal

A total of 145 patients with chronic liver disease, including 20 with chronic hepatitis, 63 with cirrhosis and 62 with primary hepatocellular carcinoma from Nepal were tested for markers of hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection. HBsAg was detected in 57 (39%) and hepatitis C virus RNA in 12 (8%); the cause of liver disease was not known in the remaining 76 (52%). HBsAg was found in 5 (1.3%) of 379 normal controls, whereas hepatitis C virus–associated antibodies were detected in 13 (3.4%), none of whom was positive for serum hepatitis C virus RNA. Subtypes of 102 HBsAg samples, from patients and asymptomatic carriers, were adw in 35 (34%), adr in 4 (4%) and ayw in 48 (47%); the remaining 15 (15%) were of atypical subtypes such as ad, ay and a. Of 12 hepatitis C virus RNA samples, genotype I was detected in 1, genotype II in 5 and genotype V in 1; the remaining five samples were not to be classified by polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for genotypes I to V deduced from hepatitis C virus core sequences, despite high hepatitis C virus RNA titers in all of them. Sequences of 192 amino acids in the entire E1 region of unclassifiable hepatitis C virus isolates from five patients differed from each other in 17% to 23%, and varied from reported isolates of defined genotypes in 13% to 44%. These results indicate that atypical subtypes of hepatitis B virus and novel genotypes of hepatitis C virus would prevail in Nepal. (HEPATOLOGY 1994;19:805–809.)