Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Destination Image on the Loyalty of International Tourists to Hanoi

Abstract: The paper aims at enhancing the competitiveness of tourism destinations by taking into account the point of view of tourists. Founded on customer-based brand equity (Keller, 2003 [1]; Aaker, 1991 [2]), our purpose is to build a linkage between tourism destination image and a tourist’s loyalty in their selection of a tourist destination (revisit and/or recommendation to other people), in order to better understand the role of branding tourism destinations. This paper carried out a survey of international tourists who selected Hanoi - Vietnam as their holiday destination. The results indicated that international tourists to Hanoi considered Hanoi’s image as being significant in determining their loyalty. The findings further indicated that the authority needs to expand Hanoi tourism to encourage the current tourists to revisit Hanoi one more time or at least that they recommend Hanoi positively to other people by using destination branding methods.Keywords: Destination image, customer-based brand equity, tourist behaviour, tourists’ behavioral intentions.
An Analysis of Covariance Risk and Pricing Anomalies

This article examines the link between several well-known asset pricing "anomalies" and the covariance structure of returns. I find size, book-to-market, and momentum strategies exhibit a strong, weak, and negligible relation to covariance risk, respectively. A size factor helps predict future volatility and covariation, improving the efficiency of investment strategies. Moreover, its premium rises following increases in both its volatility and covariation with other assets. These effects are amplified in recessions. No such relations exist for book-to-market or momentum. These findings may shed light on explanations for these premia and present a challenging set of facts for future theory. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.
Metabolism Regulates Exposure of Pancreatic Islets to Circulating Molecules In Vivo

Pancreatic β-cells modulate insulin secretion through rapid sensing of blood glucose and integration of gut-derived signals. Increased insulin demand during pregnancy and obesity alters islet function and mass and leads to gestational diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes in predisposed individuals. However, it is unclear how blood-borne factors dynamically access the islets of Langerhans. Thus, understanding the changes in circulating molecule distribution that accompany compensatory β-cell expansion may be key to developing novel antidiabetic therapies. Here, using two-photon microscopy in vivo in mice, we demonstrate that islets are almost instantly exposed to peaks of circulating molecules, which rapidly pervade the tissue before clearance. In addition, both gestation and short-term high-fat–diet feeding decrease molecule extravasation and uptake rates in vivo in islets, independently of β-cell expansion or islet blood flow velocity. Together, these data support a role for islet vascular permeability in shaping β-cell adaptive responses to metabolic demand by modulating the access and sensing of circulating molecules.
Molecular Pathology of Paraffin‐Embedded Tissue Current Clinical Applications

Molecular biology techniques have been adapted to analyze paraffin-embedded tissues, expanding their potential clinical utility. The isolation of intact nucleic acids from tissue blocks is fundamental to the molecular pathology of paraffin-embedded tissues. In vitro amplification with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) promises to be the most useful means of retrospective analysis since it can be performed successfully on DNA that has partially degraded during fixation, paraffin embedding, and the extraction process. Four clinical situations in which DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues can be helpful are: (a) gene rearrangement analysis in lymphoproliferative disorders, where fresh tissue has not been obtained at the time of surgery; (b) identification of infectious agents, particularly viruses; (c) genetic testing of families with a putative inherited disease where the affected member has died; and (d) specimen identification. The PCR and other techniques of genetic analysis are powerful in sensitivity and specificity when performed and interpreted with appropriate precautions and controls. DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues will likely become a fixed part of the future pathologist's diagnostic armamentarium.
Examining the Grassroots Participant Legacy of Major Sporting "Supplemental" Events

For a considerable time, major sporting events have been investigated to explore their "participation" legacy impact (effect on participation in sports at the grassroots level), often with mixed results. In this article, the authors propose an approach to examine not major events themselves, but adjacent, supplemental events, and whether such events can contribute to a participation legacy. The authors do this by developing a "grassroots participation ladder," built on the transtheoretical model, which has been amended to examine the stages of behavior between no involvement in a sport and ongoing sports participation. An initial test of the ladder is conducted via a case study of supplemental events conducted in conjunction with the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and involving interviews with event participants to demonstrate how the ladder might be utilized. Results suggest that previous measurement methods have typically neglected a key constituent, which offers a new recognition of potential participation legacy benefits, and feeds back into suggested methods of planning more effective participation legacy activities in the future.
Two-dimensional transmitarray beamsteering using stacked tunable metamaterials

A new 2D-beamsteering antenna technique using an electronically controlled transmitarray is presented in this paper. When coupled to a conventional horn or an array patch antenna, the proposed transmitarray has the ability to steer the main lobe of the original antenna radiation pattern in both elevation and azimuth planes, with ranges up to 30° and 30°, respectively. The transmitarray is implemented using varactor-diode controlled unit-cells with bandpass filtering characteristics around 5.35 GHz. Electromagnetic simulations are presented to prove the concept.
Noncontrast dynamic 3D intracranial MR angiography using pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) and accelerated 3D radial acquisition

To develop a novel dynamic 3D noncontrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique that combines dynamic pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling (dynamic PCASL), accelerated 3D radial sampling (VIPR), and time‐of‐arrival (TOA) mapping to provide quantitative assessment of arterial flow.
Article in press-uncorrected proof Determinants of blood levels of some thrombogenic biomarkers in healthy Arab adolescent subjects

Background: Acute coronary syndromes present clinically as a consequence of plaque rupture and thrombosis possibly related to altered homeostasis of thrombogenic factors. It is speculated that this vulnerability in adults should be predictable from blood levels of thrombogenic biomarkers in children and adolescents. This study aims to examine the determinants and blood levels of lipoprotein(a) wLp(a)x, fibrinogen (FBG) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in healthy adolescents stratified according to age group, gender and body mass. Methods: A total of 774 (316 males 458 females) healthy adolescent Arab subjects aged 10–19 years and attending secondary schools in Kuwait were interviewed by a validated questionnaire for variables relating to socio-demographic variables, diet and physical activity. They also had anthropometry, BP measurement and determination of fasting blood levels of Lp(a), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B, PAI-1 activity and FBG. Results: The median (interquartile range, IQR) plasma levels of PAI-1 activity, FBG, Lp(a) and apoB were respectively 1.59 (0.58–3.78) U/mL, 296 (190–417) mg/dL, 10.0 (4.8–21.0) mg/dL and 0.72 (0.60–0.85) g/L. Boys had significantly higher PAI-1, FBG and apoB concentrations than the girls, although Lp(a) levels were greater in the latter. The overweight and obese subjects tended to have higher levels of LDL, apoB, FBG and PAI-1 but not Lp(a). Furthermore, the younger adolescent males and females (age -14 years) consistently had higher FBG levels than the older ones (age )14 years). Lp(a) and PAI-1 levels did not appear significantly influenced by this age stratification. Bivariate and multivariate analyses with adjustment for putative body mass index (BMI) confounders indicated that the independent determinants of these biomarkers were (i) Lp(a): apoB, gen*Corresponding author: Prof. Abayomi O. Akanji, Hallett Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Rhode Island Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA Phone: q1 401 261 7454, E-mail: abayomi_akanji@brown.edu Received March 22, 2011; accepted May 13, 2011; previously published online June 13, 2011 der; (ii) PAI-1: BMI, apoB, diet; (iii) FBG: BMI, gender, age, family income; and (iv) apoB: BMI, gender and PAI-1. Conclusions: The blood levels of the prothrombotic biomarkers wLp(a), PAI-1, and FBGx in healthy Kuwaiti adolescent subjects are variably influenced by age, gender, body mass and socio-demographic factors.
Performance of an electro-optical solar compass in partially obscured Sun conditions.

Solar compasses are designed to accurately find true North on sunny days. However, no data on their performance are available when sunlight is partially blocked, e.g., by a cloud. We have measured, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the performance of one of the most accurate electro-optical solar compasses (accuracy better than 0.01 deg) as a function of the solar disk obscuration during the Sun's eclipse on 20 March 2015. The measurements show that the accuracy level is mainly dependent on the asymmetry of the obscuration with respect to the main axis of the optical detection system and, to a lesser extent, on the percentage of the solar disk covered. In particular, azimuth measurement suffered a maximum deviation of 0.08 deg when 35% of the solar disk was asymmetrically obscured. The deviation was smaller when 46% of the solar disk was more symmetrically obscured. This experiment demonstrates that, even in the case of a partially obscured Sun, the electro-optical solar compass maintains an accuracy better than magnetic and electronic compasses.
Evidence of Light Depolarization in Grazing Incidence Germanium Attenuated Total Reflection Prisms

Attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared absorption spectroscopy is a well-known vibrational spectroscopy technique for many different applications. In recent years this technique has been used to detect thin layer(s) lying on a solid substrate. Such a sample needs high pressure to ensure good optical contact between sample and prism and a p-polarization to enhance the signal to be detected. Such conditions have not been detailed in the literature regarding the effect of high pressure on the ATR measurement. This study shows the detrimental effect of high pressure on the ATR spectra. This effect is related to light depolarization induced by the germanium prism under high pressure. Moreover, the importance of polarizer position in the optical bench is highlighted. Indeed, due to the pressure-induced depolarization of the prism, the polarizer has to be placed before the prism to limit undesirable effects on the ATR spectrum baseline.
Reliability and validity of field-based measures of leg stiffness and reactive strength index in youths

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the reliability of a mobile contact mat in measuring a range of stretch–shortening cycle parameters in young adolescents. Additionally, vertical leg stiffness using contact mat data was validated against a criterion method using force–time data. The reliability study involved 18 youths completing a habituation and three separate test sessions, while 20 youths completed a single test session for the validity study. Participants completed three trials of a squat jump, countermovement jump, and maximal hopping test and a single trial of repeated sub-maximal hopping at 2.0 Hz and 2.5 Hz. All tests were performed on the contact mat. Reliability statistics included repeated-measures analysis of variance, intraclass correlation coefficient, and coefficient of variation (CV), while the correlation coefficient (r) and typical error of estimate (TEE) were reported for the validity study. Squat jump height was the most reliable measure (CV = 8.64%), while leg stiffness during sub-maximal hopping, and reactive strength index produced moderate reliability (CV = 10.17–13.93% and 13.98% respectively). Measures of leg stiffness obtained from contact mat data during sub-maximal hopping were in agreement with the criterion measure (r = 0.92–0.95; TEE = 6.5–7.5%), but not during maximal hopping (r = 0.59; TEE = 41.9%). The contact mat was deemed a valid tool for measuring stretch–shortening cycle ability in sub-maximal but not maximal hopping. Although reliability of performance was generally moderate, the tests offer a replicable assessment method for use with paediatric populations.
Exploration autonome et cartographie topologique en environnement inconnu référencées vision omnidirectionnelle

Ce papier propose trois approches iteratives et intelligentes de planification de vue pour la numerisation 3D d'objets sans connaissance a priori de leurs formes. La premiere methode est une approche simple et naive basee sur la generation d'un ensemble de points de vue par echantillonnage regulier de l'enveloppe englobante des donnees acquises. La deuxieme methode est basee sur une analyse de l'orientation des differentes parties acquises. La troisieme methode vise a explorer les parties de l'objet qui figurent dans la limite du champ de visibilite et est basee sur un couplage de la visibilite angulaire avec la visibilite reelle par lancer de rayons. Les resultats de numerisation d'objets de differentes classes de complexite sont presentes et prouvent l'efficacite et la robustesse de nos approches.
Epstein‐Barr‐virus‐infected human T‐cell line with a unique pattern of viral‐gene expression

Epstein‐Barr‐virus(EBV)‐gene expression was analyzed in clonal sub‐lines of the human T‐cell line MT‐2 that are persistently infected by the virus with a positive selection marker. Immunoblot analyses showed the expression of EBV proteins associated with the latent viral cycle, including the EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), whereas EBNA2 was not detected. RT‐PCR further demonstrated the expression of LMP2A, EBV‐encoded small RNA 1 (EBER1), and complementary‐strand transcripts from the BamHI‐A fragment. EBNA2 mRNA was detected at a very low level. In addition to these latent viral functions, the BZLF1 protein, a transcription factor that activates a cascade of replicative‐gene expression in EBV‐infected B cells, was detected in these MT‐2 clones by immunoblot analysis and immuno‐enzymatic staining. Moreover, mRNA from other genes of the early virus‐replicative cycle, such as BRLF1, BSMLF1, and BALF2, as well as BZLF1 was detected by Northern‐blot analysis. Since sub‐lines of the human B‐cell lines BJAB and Louckes infected with similar recombinant EBV did not express these early genes, these data suggest that MT‐2 cells are relatively permissive for expression of early EBV‐replicative functions. Int. J. Cancer 76:587–594, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Co-FQL: Anomaly detection using cooperative fuzzy Q-learning in network

Wireless networks are increasingly overwhelmed by Distributed Denial of Service DDoS attacks by generating flooding packets that exhaust critical computing and communication resources of a victim's mobile device within a very short period of time. This must be protected. Effective detection of DDoS attacks requires an adaptive learning classifier, with less computational complexity, and an accurate decision making to stunt such attacks. We propose a distributed intrusion detection system called Cooperative IDS to protect wireless nodes within the network and target nodes from DDoS attacks by using a Cooperative Fuzzy Q-learning Co-FQL optimization algorithmic technique to identify the attack patterns and take appropriate countermeasures. The Co-FQL algorithm was trained and tested to establish its performance by generating attacks from the NSL-KDD and “CAIDA DDoS Attack 2007” datasets during the simulation experiments. Experimental results show that the proposed Co-FQL IDS has a 90.58% higher accuracy of detection rate than Fuzzy Logic Controller or Q-learning algorithm or Fuzzy Q-learning alone.
Bnip 3 functions as a mitochondrial sensor of oxidative stress during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Kubli DA, Quinsay MN, Huang C, Lee Y, Gustafsson ÅB. Bnip3 functions as a mitochondrial sensor of oxidative stress during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H2025–H2031, 2008. First published September 12, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00552. 2008. —Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19kDa protein-interacting protein 3 (Bnip3) is a member of the Bcl-2 homology domain 3-only subfamily of proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and is associated with cell death in the myocardium. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism(s) by which Bnip3 activity is regulated. We found that Bnip3 forms a DTT-sensitive homodimer that increased after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). The presence of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine reduced I/R-induced homodimerization of Bnip3. Overexpression of Bnip3 in cells revealed that most of exogenous Bnip3 exists as a DTT-sensitive homodimer that correlated with increased cell death. In contrast, endogenous Bnip3 existed mainly as a monomer under normal conditions in the heart. Screening of the Bnip3 protein sequence revealed a single conserved cysteine residue at position 64. Mutation of this cysteine to alanine (Bnip3C64A) or deletion of the NH2-terminus (amino acids 1-64) resulted in reduced cell death activity of Bnip3. Moreover, mutation of a histidine residue in the COOH-terminal transmembrane domain to alanine (Bnip3H173A) almost completely inhibited the cell death activity of Bnip3. Bnip3C64A had a reduced ability to interact with Bnip3, whereas Bnip3H173A was completely unable to interact with Bnip3, suggesting that homodimerization is important for Bnip3 function. A consequence of I/R is the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidation of proteins, which promotes the formation of disulfide bonds between proteins. Thus, these experiments suggest that Bnip3 functions as a redox sensor where increased oxidative stress induces homodimerization and activation of Bnip3 via cooperation of the NH2-terminal cysteine residue and the COOH-terminal transmembrane domain.
Information and Communication for Development 2018 : Data-Driven Development

The Information and Communications for Development report takes an in-depth look at how information and communication technologies (ICT) are impacting economic growth in developing countries. This new report, the fourth in the series, examines the topic of data-driven development, or how better information makes for better policies. The objective is to assist developing country firms and governments to unlock the value of the data they hold for better service delivery and decision making, and to empower individuals to take more control of their personal data. The chapters of the report explore different themes associated with the supply of data, the technology underlying it, and the demand for it. The concluding chapter considers government policies for data, including data protection and privacy.
Product availability in the context of retail service quality

In the conditions of growing competition, retailers are trying to improve the quality of their services in order to meet the growing needs of customers. Accordingly, the emphasis should be placed on product availability, which represents one of the indicators of the level of retail service. In addition, product availability is most often associated with the reliability of retailer's service. With the increase in the level of product availability, customers are facilitated to easily buy the wanted product, which can positively affect the level of their satisfaction. Bearing this in mind, the paper examined the availability of products in the function of the quality of retail services. The RSQS model was applied, by which we analyzed five basic dimensions (physical aspect, reliability, interaction, problem solving and policy). The results showed that all dimensions were significant for the quality of retail service, including reliability, which was partly reflected through product availability.
Functional Identification of Rubber Oxygenase (RoxA) in Soil and Marine Myxobacteria

ABSTRACT The rubber oxygenase (RoxA) of Xanthomonas sp. strain 35Y (RoxA Xsp ) is so far the only known extracellular c-type diheme cytochrome that is able to cleave poly(cis-1,4-isoprene). All other rubber-degrading bacteria described are Gram positive and employ a nonheme protein (latex-clearing protein [Lcp]) for the postulated primary attack of polyisoprene. Here, we identified RoxA orthologs in the genomes of Haliangium ochraceum, Myxococcus fulvus, Corallococcus coralloides, and Chondromyces apiculatus. The roxA orthologs of H. ochraceum (RoxA Hoc ), C. coralloides BO35 (RoxA Cco ), and M. fulvus (RoxA Mfu ) were functionally expressed in a ΔroxA Xanthomonas sp. 35Y background. All RoxA orthologs oxidatively cleaved polyisoprene, as revealed by restoration of clearing-zone formation and detection of 12-oxo-4,8-dimethyltrideca-4,8-diene-1-al (ODTD) as a cleavage product. RoxA Xsp , RoxA Mfu , and RoxA Cco were purified and biochemically characterized. The optimal temperature of RoxA Cco and RoxA Mfu was between 22 and 30°C. All RoxA orthologs as isolated showed an oxidized UV-visible spectrum. Chemical reduction of RoxA Cco and RoxA Mfu indicated the presence of two slightly different heme centers with absorption maxima between 549 and 553 nm, similar to RoxA Xsp . Sequence analysis and modeling of the three-dimensional structures of the RoxA orthologs revealed a high degree of similarity to the recently solved RoxA Xsp structure and included several conserved residues, notably, W302, F317, and a MauG motif at about H517. Lcp-like sequences were not detected in the genomes of the Xanthomonas sp. 35Y, H. ochraceum, M. fulvus, and C. coralloides. No RoxA orthologs were found in Gram-positive bacteria, and this first description of functional RoxA in Gram-negative bacteria other than Xanthomonas proves that RoxA is more common among rubber degraders than was previously assumed.
Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide increases soil carbon

The general lack of significant changes in mineral soil C stocks during CO2‐enrichment experiments has cast doubt on predictions that increased soil C can partially offset rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Here, we show, through meta‐analysis techniques, that these experiments collectively exhibited a 5.6% increase in soil C over 2–9 years, at a median rate of 19 g C m−2 yr−1. We also measured C accrual in deciduous forest and grassland soils, at rates exceeding 40 g C m−2 yr−1 for 5–8 years, because both systems responded to CO2 enrichment with large increases in root production. Even though native C stocks were relatively large, over half of the accrued C at both sites was incorporated into microaggregates, which protect C and increase its longevity. Our data, in combination with the meta‐analysis, demonstrate the potential for mineral soils in diverse temperate ecosystems to store additional C in response to CO2 enrichment.