Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploratory Space–time Analysis of Inbound Tourism Flows to China Cities

The integration of space and time generates much closer interactions between geography and other social sciences in general while providing new perspectives for the role of geography in tourism flow studies. This paper aims to apply exploratory space–time analysis to provide insights into inbound tourism flow patterns in China's cities over the period of 2000–2009 using city-level Geographical Information System datasets. First, this paper ascertains that there exists geographic neighborhood effect at city level by testifying significantly positive spatial autocorrelation. The hot spots and temporal stability are identified. The hot spots are locally concentrated in metropolitan areas. Local Markov matrix has also shown significant transitions with negative or positive influence of geographic neighbors upon a city. Specifically, three-dimensional surface is created to visualize tourism flows. The spatial inequalities have the pattern of ‘the east more dense than the west, the south more dense than the north’. There simultaneously exist spatial agglomeration and spatial dispersion. The intensity of spatial agglomeration has become stronger. At the same time, smaller peaks of tourism flow centers developed around the main cities and spread toward surrounding cities. These potential tourism flow centers have gradually emerged and grown larger. Furthermore, the space–time covariance matrix uncovers correlation, which shows strong regional integration over years. Eight hundred and ninety links are identified and visualized. Two hundred and sixty nine links forming 10 spatial clusters represent strong positive correlation. One hundred and thirty-four links are negative correlation, which is about 15.06 per cent of all links. In conclusion, our comprehensive evidences offer deeper insights and have important policy implications. These enable the tourism-oriented governmental agencies, as well as the tourism industry professionals, to better understand the changes of inbound tourism flows in China's cities and relevant tourism partners/competitors for cities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hypoxia Sensing and Persistence Genes Are Expressed during the Intragranulomatous Survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

&NA; Although it is accepted that the environment within the granuloma profoundly affects Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and infection outcome, our ability to understand Mtb gene expression in these niches has been limited. We determined intragranulomatous gene expression in human‐like lung lesions derived from nonhuman primates with both active tuberculosis (ATB) and latent TB infection (LTBI). We employed a non‐laser‐based approach to microdissect individual lung lesions and interrogate the global transcriptome of Mtb within granulomas. Mtb genes expressed in classical granulomas with central, caseous necrosis, as well as within the caseum itself, were identified and compared with other Mtb lesions in animals with ATB (n = 7) or LTBI (n = 7). Results were validated using both an oligonucleotide approach and RT‐PCR on macaque samples and by using human TB samples. We detected approximately 2,900 and 1,850 statistically significant genes in ATB and LTBI lesions, respectively (linear models for microarray analysis, Bonferroni corrected, P < 0.05). Of these genes, the expression of approximately 1,300 (ATB) and 900 (LTBI) was positively induced. We identified the induction of key regulons and compared our results to genes previously determined to be required for Mtb growth. Our results indicate pathways that Mtb uses to ensure its survival in a highly stressful environment in vivo. A large number of genes is commonly expressed in granulomas with ATB and LTBI. In addition, the enhanced expression of the dormancy survival regulon was a key feature of lesions in animals with LTBI, stressing its importance in the persistence of Mtb during the chronic phase of infection.
Deferasirox Therapy in Children With Fanconi Aplastic Anemia

Thirty-nine children with Fanconi aplastic anemia (FAA) have been followed up in our center between January 2008 and November 2010. Eight of these children (20%) with a transfusional iron overload had been undergoing deferasirox treatment during the study period. In the English literature, transfusional iron overload and the use of an iron chelator in children with FAA has not yet been evaluated. Here, we have presented the effectivity and tolerability of deferasirox in children with FAA and a transfusional iron overload. Before the deferasirox treatment, the mean serum ferritin level was 3377±2200 ng/mL. After a mean 13.6-month treatment duration, the mean ferritin level decreased to 2274±1300 ng/mL (P<0.05). In our series, 3 patients had renal and 3 had hepatic toxicity during the treatment. Two patients had peliosis hepatis and 2 had congenital renal abnormalities before the treatment. There may be differences in the side-effect profiles of deferasirox treatment in patients with FAA. In our series, despite the low number of cases, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity were common side effects instead of gastrointestinal disturbances reported in other studies. Deferasirox is an oral, easily applicable, and effective iron chelator; baseline hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity may increase the development of toxic side effects in children with FAA. Patients with FAA receiving deferasirox treatment should be followed up closely for these side effects.
Integrating Firm Dynamics into the Shift-Share Framework

This article integrates firm birth and death data into a shift-share analysis framework. The proposed methodology can be used when data availability does not allow for the direct association of employment changes to business demographics at the regional level. It may be also used as an exploratory step before any explanatory econometric work is undertaken as a means of identifying classes of potential control variables. Applying the method to Greek data suggests that firm-size heterogeneity should not be ignored, that local conditions matter more than regional economic structure, and that the latter are asymmetrical across sectors when it comes to the effects of business demographics on regional employment or output growth. Copyright 2007 Blackwell Publishing.
REGIONAL CONVERGENCE IN THE EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION

This paper analyzes the effects of European Monetary Union (EMU) on regional convergence. First information is provided about the magnitude and the evolution of regional disparities. Subsequently, the relation between economic integration and long run regional convergence is discussed. Third, regional convergence is shown to be dependent on flexible regional adjustment to changing economic conditions. In the transition to and in the final stage of EMU sufficient regional wage flexibility will be requires to cope with adverse economic shocks. The last part of the paper estimates the reponse or regional labor income to region-shape and national shocks.
Brain derived neurotrophic factor mediated learning, fear acquisition and extinction as targets for developing novel treatments for anxiety

Os transtornos da ansiedade e o transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) e transtornos relacionados sao altamente prevalentes e incapacitantes. Apesar disso, ainda existem lacunas a serem exploradas em relacao ao tratamento desses transtornos. O medo e um sintoma central desses transtornos e sua aprendizagem e altamente dependente da atividade do fator neurotrofico derivado do cerebro (BDNF). Porem, sera que a aprendizagem de medo mediada pelo BDNF deve ser considerada um alvo para o desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos para transtornos da ansiedade, TOC e transtornos relacionados? Revisamos as evidencias que sugerem que a expressao de BDNF e necessaria para a aquisicao do medo condicionado, bem como para a evocacao de sua extincao. Descrevemos os resultados relacionados a aprendizagem de medo, manipulacao genetica e epigenetica da expressao de Bdnf em animais e variantes alelicas de BDNF em seres humanos. Posteriormente, discutimos como a manipulacao dos niveis de BDNF representa um alvo em potencial para o tratamento, o que pode aumentar os beneficios das terapias que extinguem o medo previamente condicionado.
Progress Towards Partnership? The Development of Relations between Primary Care Organisations and Social Services Concerning Older People's Services in the UK

This paper will present evidence from the interim results of a large scale longitudinal project designed to track the development of partnership working between the new primary care organisations (Primary Care Groups and Trusts) entrusted with the commissioning and in some cases provision of health care, and local authority social services departments, regarding health and social care services for older people in the UK. Drawing on theoretical work concerning the role of partnership working in the governance of welfare, the author uses a framework originally devised by the Nuffield Centre for Health at the University of Leeds to analyse the interim data, and to draw conclusions about the feasibility of current policy pushes towards partnership working and service integration around health and social care for older people.
An Analysis of Determinant on Private Investment in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the factors that affect private investment in the province of North Sumatra. The observed variables are the regional gross domestic product (GDP), government investment, interest rate, exchange rate, investment credits, inflation, international interest rate and the economic crisis during the period of 1980-2011. Using an exploratory research survey approach, this study uses the secondary data of a 32-year period that were obtained from various agencies which were then analyzed by the Error Correction Model (ECM) method. The results have shown that in the long and short terms, the GDP, exchange rate and investment credits have a positive and significant effect on private investment, while government investment, interest rates, inflation and economic crisis have a significant but negative effect on private investment. Meanwhile, the international interest rate (LIBOR) has a negative and insignificant effect on private investment in North Sumatra.
The implications of public sector small business advisers becoming strategic sounding boards: England and Scotland compared

Changes have been made to systems of publicly funded business advice to implement a ‘strategic sounding board’ role for business advisers. Previous literature has shown how this role could be modelled in a ‘coupole’. The ‘coupole’ administers a programme but does not deliver it. The shifting of policy towards this strategic sounding role takes place within the context of existing organisations, however. We review three streams of the literature on business advice: small firm policy, critical management consulting, and organisational development consulting. We introduce a triad of producer, process, and client to understand the implications of changes to the business adviser's role. The paper examines two case studies where public policy has changed to shift business advisers into this sounding board role: England and Scotland. The research suggests: (1) that the new role increases the skills demanded of public sector business advisers; (2) that changes to one part of the triad impacts on all the others; (3) the existing organisation contributes to the way in which the producers react to change in the other parts of the triad. The responses in the networked English support organisations have been innovative but fragmented with little evaluation. In the more hierarchical Scottish organisations, the response has been more measured, both in the sense of being cautious and in the sense of being evaluated.
Pricing strategies of service offerings in manufacturing companies: a literature review and empirical investigation

This paper presents the strategies used by manufacturing companies to price service offerings. After reviewing the extant literature on this subject, the paper forwards propositions that are relevant to illustrate the relationships between servitization, pricing strategies, bundling options, revenue models and pricing capabilities. Using multiple case-based research, this study makes three contributions to the literature on servitization of manufacturing firms. It extensively explores the relationship between servitization and pricing practices, it suggests which factors can moderate this relationship and it examines the capabilities demanded to the firm to introduce innovative pricing practices.
A Model of Middle–Level Managers’ Entrepreneurial Behavior

Middle–level managers’ entrepreneurial behavior is linked to successful corporate entrepreneurship. Herein, we integrate knowledge about corporate entrepreneurship and middle–level managers’ behaviors to develop and explore a conceptual model. The model depicts the organizational antecedents of middle–level managers’ entrepreneurial behavior, the entrepreneurial actions describing that behavior, and outcomes of that behavior as well as factors influencing its continuance. Following discussion of the model's contents, we describe its potential value for researchers and those engaging in corporate entrepreneurship.
Effect of Sinus Surgery on Pulmonary Function in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

The impact of sinus surgery on the pulmonary status of cystic fibrosis patients is unknown. This retrospective study reviewed the charts of the cystic fibrosis patients presenting to our institution's cystic fibrosis center with nasal obstruction, recurrent sinusitis, and nasal polyposis. This group subsequently underwent endoscopic ethmoidectomy and antrostomy. Fourteen of the 15 patients, ages 5‐24 years, received preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function testing obtained by spirometry. The data were compiled and analyzed statistically. Our results suggested no significant improvement in the pulmonary function of cystic fibrosis patients after sinus surgery.
CMR Native T1 Mapping Allows Differentiation of Reversible Versus Irreversible Myocardial Damage in ST-segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background— CMR T1 mapping is a quantitative imaging technique allowing the assessment of myocardial injury early after ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. We sought to investigate the ability of acute native T1 mapping to differentiate reversible and irreversible myocardial injury and its predictive value for left ventricular remodeling. Methods and Results— Sixty ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients underwent acute and 6-month 3T CMR, including cine, T2-weighted (T2W) imaging, native shortened modified look-locker inversion recovery T1 mapping, rest first pass perfusion, and late gadolinium enhancement. T1 cutoff values for oedematous versus necrotic myocardium were identified as 1251 ms and 1400 ms, respectively, with prediction accuracy of 96.7% (95% confidence interval, 82.8% to 99.9%). Using the proposed threshold of 1400 ms, the volume of irreversibly damaged tissue was in good agreement with the 6-month late gadolinium enhancement volume (r=0.99) and correlated strongly with the log area under the curve troponin (r=0.80) and strongly with 6-month ejection fraction (r=−0.73). Acute T1 values were a strong predictor of 6-month wall thickening compared with late gadolinium enhancement. Conclusions— Acute native shortened modified look-locker inversion recovery T1 mapping differentiates reversible and irreversible myocardial injury, and it is a strong predictor of left ventricular remodeling in ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. A single CMR acquisition of native T1 mapping could potentially represent a fast, safe, and accurate method for early stratification of acute patients in need of more aggressive treatment. Further confirmatory studies will be needed.
The different impact of a high fat diet on dystrophic mdx and control C57Bl/10 mice.

The absence of functional dystrophin protein in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and dystrophic mdx mice leads to fragile myofibre membranes and cycles of myofibre necrosis and regeneration. It is proposed that both DMD patients and mdx mice have an altered metabolism and impaired energy status and that nutritional supplementation may reduce the severity of dystropathology. This research compares the in vivo responses of dystrophic mdx and normal control C57Bl/10 mice to a high protein (50%) or a high fat (16%) diet. Consumption of a high protein diet had minimal effects on the body composition or muscle morphology in both strains of mice. In contrast, differences between the strains were seen in response to the high fat diet; this response also varied between mdx mice aged <24 weeks, and mdx mice aged 24 - 40 weeks. C57Bl/10 mice demonstrated many negative side effects after consuming the high fat diet, including weight gain, increased body fat, and elevated inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, after consuming the high fat diet for 16 weeks the mdx mice (< 24 weeks) remained lean with minimal fat deposition and were resistant to changes in body composition. These results support the proposal that energy metabolism in dystrophic mdx mice is altered compared to normal C57Bl/10 mice and this enables the mdx mice to better metabolise the high fat diet and avoid fat deposition. However, older mdx mice (24 – 40-week-old), with increased energy intake, exhibited some mild adverse effects of a high fat diet but to a far lesser extent than age-matched C57Bl/10 mice. Benefits of the high fat diet on dystrophic muscles of young mice were demonstrated by the significantly increased running ability (km) of voluntarily exercised mdx mice and significantly reduced myofibre necrosis in 24-week-old sedentary mdx mice. These novel data clearly identify an ‘altered’ response to a high fat diet in dystrophic mdx compared to normal C57Bl/10 mice. Our data indicate that the high fat diet may better meet the energy needs of mdx mice to reduce muscle damage and improve muscle function.
Impact of people management practices on organizational performance: analysis of a causal model

Abstract Although researchers in strategic human resource management have established a relationship between HRM practices and organizational performance, the intervening process connecting HRM system and organizational performance remains unexplored. This paper, based on a study on Indian software companies, is an attempt to develop and test a causal model linking HRM with organizational performance through an intervening process. The study has found that not even a single HRM practice has direct causal connection with organizational financial performance. At the same time, it has been found that each and every HRM practice under study has an indirect influence on the operational and financial performance of the organization. Further, HRM practices such as training, job design, compensation and incentives directly affect the operational performance parameters, viz., employee retention, employee productivity, product quality, speed of delivery and operating cost.
Dependability evaluation of integrated circuits at design time against laser fault injection

Laser fault injection has been proved to be a useful tool for attacks on integrated circuits. Transistors hit by a pulse of photons causes them to conduct transiently, thereby introducing transient logic errors, such as register value modifications, memory dumping, and so on. Attackers can make use of this abnormal behavior and extract sensitive information that the devices try to protect. This paper demonstrates laser fault injection attacks on very-large-scale integration circuits in a semi-invasive way for the purpose of validating fault tolerant design and performance. Then, the paper presents a simulation methodology to evaluate the dependability of the integrated circuit design against laser fault injection attacks at design time. This simulation methodology involves exhaustively scanning the layout, incorporating the exposed cells into a circuit simulator, and examining the response of the circuit in detail. Experiments conducted on the same test chip spot the same vulnerabilities, thus indicating the validity of the proposed simulation methodology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CONVERGENCE CLUBS AND ENDOGENOUS GROWTH

Recent data indicate a wide disparity in the growth performance of different nations. Such disparities have usually been taken to imply that there is to much catching up or convergence taking place. Using a modified version of the endogenous growth approach, we show that convergence is occurring but in a non-equalizing manner. The world appears to be segmented into two mutually exclusive "convergence clubs" with the members of the richer club enjoying a real income per capita which is significantly higher than that enjoyed by those belonging to the poorer club. Copyright 1992 by Oxford University Press.
‘Defense Wins Championships?’ The Answer from the Gridiron

Economists have offered a plethora of studies examining various aspects of professional team sports. Such studies, though, often neglect the playoffs. Given the impact the post-season has on league revenue, as well as the utility generated for both participants and observers of professional sports, such neglect misses much of the story people wish to tell about sports. In an era of free agency and salary caps, teams must determine the optimal strategy for maximizing their probability of success. Is the best offense a good defense, or does defense win championships? The purpose of this paper is to fill in this gap in the literature by examining the relative effects of offense and defense on making and advancing in the playoffs.
Structure of the yeast F1Fo-ATP synthase dimer and its role in shaping the mitochondrial cristae

We used electron cryotomography of mitochondrial membranes from wild-type and mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the structure and organization of ATP synthase dimers in situ. Subtomogram averaging of the dimers to 3.7 nm resolution revealed a V-shaped structure of twofold symmetry, with an angle of 86° between monomers. The central and peripheral stalks are well resolved. The monomers interact within the membrane at the base of the peripheral stalks. In wild-type mitochondria ATP synthase dimers are found in rows along the highly curved cristae ridges, and appear to be crucial for membrane morphology. Strains deficient in the dimer-specific subunits e and g or the first transmembrane helix of subunit 4 lack both dimers and lamellar cristae. Instead, cristae are either absent or balloon-shaped, with ATP synthase monomers distributed randomly in the membrane. Computer simulations indicate that isolated dimers induce a plastic deformation in the lipid bilayer, which is partially relieved by their side-by-side association. We propose that the assembly of ATP synthase dimer rows is driven by the reduction in the membrane elastic energy, rather than by direct protein contacts, and that the dimer rows enable the formation of highly curved ridges in mitochondrial cristae.