Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Dynamic Panel Cointegration Approach to Model International Arrivals to Australia

The aim of this article is to use dynamic panel data cointegration technique to determine elasticities of tourist arrivals to Australia, using income, real exchange rates, and airfares as demand determinants. Annual data from 1991 to 2007 for arrivals from the 10 main markets are used. Previous studies that applied dynamic panel data sets in the tourism context have used the Arellano—Bond estimation technique. Because this technique produces biased and inconsistent estimates in samples with a small time span, this article uses the corrected least square dummy variable technique to generate unbiased and efficient parameter estimates. The results obtained show that demand is inelastic with respect to its determinants in the short run and elastic in the long run. The main implications of these results are that maintaining destination price competitiveness and consumer satisfaction should be rated very high in the priorities of the Australian tourism industry.
Perceptions of the Hamilton New Zealand casino upon local residents

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an understanding of the influence of a casino on local inhabitants.Design/methodology/approach – The research reports on the findings of a longitudinal study conducted over a period of eight years which consisted of three identical surveys of local Hamilton residents to determine perceptions regarding having a casino in town. It was felt that the longitudinal approach could bring richness and new dimension to a quantitative research.Findings – The study found that over the eight‐year period there were very few changes in the perceptions of local Hamilton residents, both those who had been to the casino and those who had not been to the casino. It was of particular interest to note the gender difference between males and females regarding positive and negative aspects of the casino.Research limitations/implications – The study reinforces the differences in perception of local people between those who have and have not visited the casino. This indicates that promotional .
Mechanisms of hypertension in the cardiometabolic syndrome

Arterial hypertension is often part of a constellation of anthropometric and metabolic abnormalities that occur simultaneously to a higher degree than would be expected by chance alone, supporting the existence of a discrete disorder, the so-called metabolic syndrome. It is the result of interactions among a large number of interconnected mechanisms, which eventually lead to both an increase in cardiovascular and renal risk, and the development of diabetes. Mechanisms involved in the metabolic syndrome are obesity, insulin resistance, and a constellation of independent factors, which include molecules of hepatic, vascular, and immunologic origin with pro-inflammatory properties. At each of these key points are interactions of demographics, lifestyle, genetic factors, and environmental fetal programming. Superimposing upon these are infections or chronic exposure or both to certain drugs that can also make their contribution. Skeletal muscle and the liver, not adipose tissue, are the two key insulin-response tissues involved in maintaining glucose balance, although abnormal insulin action in the adipocytes also plays a role in development of the syndrome. Factors commonly associated with and partly dependent on obesity, insulin resistance, such as overactivity of the sympathetic, stimulation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone systems, abnormal renal sodium handling, endothelial dysfunction, and large vessels' alterations, may play a key role in the blood pressure elevation of the syndrome.
Simulating Fecal Coliform Bacteria Loading from an Urbanizing Watershed

Abstract The fate and transport of fecal coliform bacteria in the urbanizing Polecat Creek watershed, located in Virginia, was simulated using the Hydrological Simulation Program—FORTRAN (HSPF). Both point and nonpoint sources of fecal coliform were included in the simulation. Hydrologic and water quality parameters of HSPF were calibrated and validated using observed data collected from October 1994 to June 2000 at three monitoring stations. The percent errors in total runoff volumes between observed and simulated values ranged from 0.4 to 4.2% for the calibration period, and 0.4 to 6.7% for the validation period. The geometric mean of simulated fecal coliform concentrations at the outlet of the watershed was 10% lower than that of observed values for the calibration period. HSPF moderately under-predicted the geometric mean concentration by 16.4% for one sub-watershed and slightly over-predicted by 7.3% for another. Observed fecal coliform concentrations were compared with the range defined by the minimum and maximum simulated concentrations occurring within a 3-day window centered on the day the water sample was collected. Over 42% of grab sample data collected at the three monitoring sites in the watershed fell within the max–min range of simulated concentrations over the 3-days window for the calibration period. For all monitoring sites, 39.5% of the total samples taken during the validation period fell in the range of simulated concentrations over the 3-day window period. Results presented in this study demonstrate that HSPF reasonably represents the hydrology and water quality of an urbanizing watershed and that it could be utilized as a planning tool for future assessment of land use impacts on fecal coliform on in-stream concentrations.
Risk factors for hepatotoxicity from antituberculosis drugs: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Several risk factors for the development of hepatotoxicity during short course antituberculosis therapy have been suggested. A case-control study was undertaken to assess the role of age, sex, disease extent, nutritional status, past history of liver disease, infection with hepatitis viruses, acetylator status, and high alcohol intake as risk factors in the development of hepatotoxicity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis receiving antituberculosis treatment. METHODS: The cases comprised 86 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having hepatitis induced by antituberculosis drugs and who were negative for any of the hepatitis markers (HAV-IgM, HBsAg, HBc-IgM, and anti-HCV). The control group comprised 406 consecutive patients attending the chest clinic who completed antituberculosis treatment without developing hepatitis. The variables analysed were age, sex, body mass index (BMI), history of high alcohol intake, radiological extent of the disease, acetylator status, and serum proteins. RESULTS: The cases were older and their serum albumin levels were lower than in the control group. High alcohol intake was more common among the cases, they had more extensive disease radiologically, and the proportion of slow acetylators was higher. No differences were observed between the two groups in the other risk factors analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Of the various risk factors analysed, only advanced age, hypoalbuminaemia, high alcohol intake, slow acetylator phenotype, and extensive disease were risk factors for the development of hepatotoxicity. The risk of hepatitis in the presence of one or more of these risk factors may be increased.
TESTING FOR LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR GRANGER NON-CAUSALITY HYPOTHESIS BETWEEN STOCK AND BOND: THE CASES OF MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE

The untested assumption of linear relationship between stocks and bonds in previous empirical studies may lead to an invalid conclusion if the actual relationship is non-linear. The emphasis of this paper is on the effect of non-linearities on causal relationships between stocks and bonds in the cases of Malaysia and Singapore. Results from linearity tests indicate the existence of non-linearities in the dynamic relationship between stocks and bonds. Non-linear causality test results based on Taylor expansion suggest that non-linear causality flows from stocks to bonds and vice versa. The test further confirms that bonds with different maturity dates have different relationships with stocks.
Ascorbate Reduces Mouse Platelet Aggregation and Surface P‐Selectin Expression in an Ex Vivo Model of Sepsis

Compromised perfusion of the capillary bed can lead to organ failure and mortality in sepsis. We have reported that intravenous injection of ascorbate inhibits platelet adhesion and plugging in septic capillaries. In this study, we hypothesized that ascorbate reduces aggregation of platelets and their surface expression of P‐selectin (a key adhesion molecule) in mice.
Improving strategic management with the fundamental principles of system dynamics

A system dynamics perspective has a powerful logic that offers substantial improvements in dealing with issues in strategic management, whether one-off challenges or the continuous direction of enterprise strategy. First, successful strategic management of business and non-commercial organisations requires attention to how performance is changing through time. Since performance reflects the state of resources in any period, steering strategy requires policies and decisions that control the flow rates of those resources. Lastly, this is complicated by the additional dependence of these resource flows on the current state of existing and potential resources at each point in time—a dependence that gives rise to feedback. These principles can be organised into a rigorous approach to strategy that is grounded in solid evidence from the situation of concern. Important implications from this perspective include the unavoidable causal ambiguity caused by accumulating resources, and the value of explicit and quantitative examination of resource development prior to investigating feedback structures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Different effects of respiratory and metabolic acidosis on preganglionic sympathetic nerve activity.

We studied sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) responses, recorded in multifiber preparations of left third thoracic white ramus, to respiratory or isocapnic metabolic acidosis or to CO2 enhancement at constant pH in chloralose-anesthetized paralyzed artificially ventilated cats. Cardiopulmonary, baro-, and peripheral chemoreceptors were denervated by bilaterally cutting vagus and carotid sinus nerves. Acidosis was induced by either decreasing artificial ventilation or infusing HCl (0.5 M i.v.). Both respiratory and isocapnic metabolic acidosis induced a decrease in local extracellular pH, measured directly with pH-sensitive microelectrodes within medulla region containing sympathoexcitatory bulbospinal neurons. The magnitude of changes in medullary pH was independent of the way systemic acidosis was generated. Despite uniformity of changes in local medullary extracellular pH due to systemic respiratory or isocapnic metabolic acidosis, different responses were observed in preganglionic SNA. Isocapnic metabolic acidosis resulted in a slight increase in SNA, averaging 6.4% per 0.05 systemic pH unit decrease. In contrast, respiratory acidosis induced by decreasing artificial ventilation produced a more pronounced increase of SNA, reaching peak changes of approximately 70% compared with control level with normal blood gases, an average increase of 13% per 0.05 systemic pH unit decrease. We conclude that systemic CO2 and H+ concentrations represent different stimuli to sympathetic nervous system. Despite similar changes of local extracellular pH within rostral ventrolateral medulla during systemic acidosis, different responses of SNA suggest other sites or as yet unknown additional effects of CO2 as being responsible for excitation of sympathetic activity.
Do changes in hand grip strength correlate with shoulder rotator cuff function?

Background Shoulder pain as a result of rotator cuff pathology is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints presenting within primary care. Assessment of hand grip strength has been proposed as an indicator of rotator cuff function. This experimental study assessed the relationship between grip strength and shoulder lateral rotator muscle strength in a number of different shoulder positions, aiming to investigate whether such a relationship existed and whether grip strength could be used as a functional assessment tool for the posterior cuff. Methods Twenty-seven healthy, physically active, volunteers (19 males, eight females) with no history of shoulder, upper limb or neck injury comprised the study group. The mean (SD) age was 19.8 (5.7) years (range 18 years to 23 years). Grip strength (measured with hand grip dynamometer) and lateral rotator strength (measured with a hand held dynamometer) was measured at neutral, 90° abduction, and 90° abduction with 90° external rotation. Results The correlation between grip strength and shoulder lateral rotation strength ranged between r = 0.91 (r2 = 0.84) and r = 0.72 (r2 = 0.52) across all positions. Conclusions A strong correlation between grip strength and lateral rotator strength was shown at all positions for both left and right hands, suggesting that assessment of grip strength could be used as a rotator cuff monitor of recruitment function.
The effects of mergers and acquisitions on business performance in Nigerian banking industry: an empirical analysis

This paper provides a holistic view of the mergers and acquisitions (M%As) implementation process, by reviewing the hard and soft factors that cause success and failure for M%As implementation, as well as, examine the impact of M%As on perceived business performance measures (PBPM) in Nigerian banking industry. The aim was achieved through an empirical study involving a survey on 19 Nigerian banks involved in mergers and/or acquisitions. Using SEM, multivariate analyses were mathematically represented in a single equation, and findings from this study confirmed that M%As had significant association on PBPM. The equation could be used by banks, and companies alike, to compose strategies to optimise their management of business performance and mergers and/or acquisition programmes. The model was able to provide predictive implications on business performance, given the activities of key factors manifesting successful M%As, hence, these factors could be adopted by companies wishing to undertake M%As programme in Nigeria. Nonetheless, to improve business performance management, companies could control their M%As programme.
An evaluation of the efficacy of topical application of salicylic acid for the treatment of familial cylindromatosis

Background Familial cylindromatosis is a rare genetic disorder, giving rise to neoplasms of the skin appendages. We have recently shown that loss of the cylindromatosis tumour suppressor gene leads to activation of NF‐κB, a transcription factor having antiapoptotic activity. This provides a possible explanation for the deregulated growth of cylindromas. In cell‐based assays, salicylate can prevent NF‐κB activation caused by loss of the cylindromatosis gene, suggesting that salicylic acid application might be a potential treatment for cylindromatosis.
Event Analysis of Air Carrier Mergers and Acquisitions

This paper offers an event analysis of nine airline mergers proposed in 1986, in an attempt to determine whether firms, if given the opportunity, will merge to gain market power. The Jaffe/Mandelker method of independent event draws is used as the event test. Abnormal returns experienced by competitors to those airlines announcing mergers support the merger for market power hypothesis, contradicting previous literature on horizontal mergers. Copyright 1990 by MIT Press.
What Drives the Returns on Venture Capital Funds?

1. Xiaoqing Eleanor Xu 1. is a professor of finance at Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. (xuxe{at}shu.edu) 1. To order reprints of this article, please contact Dewey Palmieri at dpalmieri{at}iijournals.com or 212-224-3675 . Venture capital (
Prognostic values of B-type natriuretic peptide in severe sepsis and septic shock*

Objective:To investigate the changes in B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock and to investigate the value of B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting intensive care unit outcomes. Design:Prospective observational study. Setting:General intensive care unit. Patients:Forty patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:B-type natriuretic peptide measurements and echocardiography were carried out daily for 10 consecutive days. In-hospital mortality and length of stay were recorded. The admission B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations were generally increased (747 ± 860 pg/mL). B-type natriuretic peptide levels were elevated in patients with normal left ventricular systolic function (568 ± 811 pg/mL), with sepsis-related reversible cardiac dysfunction (630 ± 726 pg/mL), and with chronic cardiac dysfunction (1311 ± 1097 pg/mL). There were no significance changes in B-type natriuretic peptide levels over the 10-day period. The daily B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations for the first 3 days neither predicted in-hospital mortality nor correlated with length of intensive care unit or hospital stay. Conclusion:B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations were increased in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock regardless of the presence or absence of cardiac dysfunction. Neither the B-type natriuretic peptide levels for the first 3 days nor the daily changes in B-type natriuretic peptide provided prognostic value for in-hospital mortality and length of stay in this mixed group of patients, which included patients with chronic cardiac dysfunction.
Economic Explanations of the Behaviour of Universities and Scholars

Surveys, from an American perspective, the existing literature on economic explanations of the behaviour of universities and scholars. The modern literature is put in historical perspective introduced by a brief discussion of the positions of two of the earliest and most distinguished contributors to the literature: Adam Smith and Max Weber. Discusses the human capital and implicit contracts literatures of the behaviour of scholars, the latter elaborated in terms of the issue of tenure. The most common theoretical economic analysis of the university is the view that it is best thought of as a non-profit organization. Discusses variants of this view, with special attention to the literature on rent-seeking in academe. Goes on to the empirical literature on the economics of academe in the areas of academic institutions, academic earnings functions, the earnings and status of minority scholars and academic production functions. Briefly considers the relevance of the current literature to the Althoff system, suggesting that Althoff's able, trusted advisers, and his system of institutes, may have allowed him to avoid several inefficiences that have been identified by economists as present in other academic institutions. Although the centralization of decision making in the hands of one decision maker may be efficient if the decision maker is exceptionally able, more commonly the most efficient system will be a decentralized system that allows for greater diversity and competition. Concludes with a discussion of how hypotheses on the efficiency (and fairness) of various aspects of the Althoff system could, in principle, be tested.
The notion of public value in European public broadcasters: The cases of the United Kingdom, Austria and Germany

Since the publication of the 1995 fundamental work on Public Value Management, Creating Public Value, the theory promoted by Mark H. Moore has generated an interesting academic activity and has been applied to very different public management fields. This paper studies the implementation of public value in three European public broadcasters, paying attention to their context as well as to the definition built around this notion. In order to do so, it was developed a content analysis of the websites and reports from the public broadcasters in the United Kingdom (BBC), Austria (ORF) and the German region of Bavaria (BR).
Neuro-fuzzy based algorithm for online dynamic voltage stability status prediction using wide-area phasor measurements

In this paper, a novel neuro-fuzzy based method combined with a feature selection technique is proposed for online dynamic voltage stability status prediction of power system. This technique uses synchronized phasors measured by phasor measurement units (PMUs) in a wide-area measurement system. In order to minimize the number of neuro-fuzzy inputs, training time and complication of neuro-fuzzy system, the Pearson feature selection technique is exploited to select set of input variables that have the strongest correlation with the output. Study on the network features such as phase angle and voltage amplitude has shown that among two interesting features, phase angle has maximum information about the performance of the network and solely can be used for training purposes. This is extra advantage of the proposed method that minimum data is needed to predict dynamic voltage stability status The efficiency of the proposed dynamic voltage stability prediction method is verified by simulation results of New England 39-bus and IEEE 68-bus test systems. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is accurate, computationally very fast and reliable. Moreover, it requires minimum data and so it is desirable for Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS).
Gender Gap or Gender Gaps? New Perspectives on Support for Government Action and Policies

This paper clarifies the theoretical bases for expecting women to be more supportive of government programs than are men. We identify several factors not developed in past literature: (1) differences in emotional responses to social problems, (2) gendered differences in the awareness of those problems among one's own kin, (3) differences in the perceived fairness of existing social institutions, (4) differences in the perceived efficacy of government programs, and (5) variations in the preferred form that those programs should take. Testing hypotheses using data from a 1995 survey of public opinion covering five policy domains, we find that the gender gap in these domains is substantial, comparable to that associated with race and partisanship. These differences are attributable in part to factors identified previously in the literature-such as gendered differences in perceived opportunity-but are also affected by differences between men and women in the perceived efficacy of government programs (e.g., the extent of fraud and abuse) and differences in the preferred form those programs should take.