Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leisure Traveler Choice Models of Theme Hotels Using Psychographics

A great variety of partial models exist for explaining con sumer behavior. Model selection, specification, and evaluation often lack theory orientation and sufficient criteria. Compared with demographic or socioeconomic variables, psychographic concepts supposedly offer the highest predictive power for consumer behavior. This study examined four psychographic tools in tourism behavior models: personal values, lifestyle, vacation style, and benefits sought. A rank order of predictive superiority was determined for particular theme hotel choice variables. The second research objective aimed to validate the systematic relationships between the four latent constructs. Several concepts of validity are discussed for evaluating the results claiming a consecutive influence from values to lifestyle, to vacation-style attitudes, and to benefits sought. Path analyses for each of the hotel themes try to condense and summarize the entire result.
Effects of Dietary Neutral Detergent Fiber on Intakes of Dry Matter and Net Energy by Dairy and Beef Cattle: Analysis of Published Data

Meta-analysis was applied to evaluate the relationships between dietary NDF and voluntary intakes of DM and net energy by cattle from 2 databases. The databases were configured from literature publications for dairy (18 experiments) and beef cattle (11 experiments) in which dietary NDF concentration varied as a result of changes in proportions of forage and concentrate, and NDF was not contributed from by-product feeds. In dairy cattle, the relationship with dietary NDF (% of DM) was studied for DMI (% of animal BW and kg/d per animal), NEl intake above maintenance (kcal/kg of BW0.75), NEl intake above maintenance relative to DMI (Mcal/kg of DMI), and milk fat content (%), whereas for beef cattle, relationships were evaluated with DMI (% of animal BW and kg/d per animal), NEg intake (kcal/kg of BW0.75), and NEg intake relative to DMI (Mcal/kg of DMI). Variables were weighted for different pooled SE of treatment DMI (or milk fat) means across trials. Initial models were fit to account for random slope and intercept terms to yield trial-adjusted data, and trial-adjusted dependent variables were regressed on dietary NDF. In dairy cattle, for dietary NDF concentrations ranging from 22.5 to 45.8%, DMI (% of BW and kg DM/d per animal) decreased (r2 = 0.595 and 0.672, respectively) with increasing NDF. The NEl intake above maintenance decreased (r2 = 0.815) more markedly than DMI; however, milk fat increased linearly (r2 = 0.617) with increasing NDF. In beef cattle, dietary NDF (range = 7.5 to 35.3%) was positively related to DMI (r2 = 0.954 for % of BW and 0.965 for kg DM/d per animal) and NEg intake (kcal/kg of BW0.75, r2 = 0.859), but differences in NDF did not account for variation in NEg intake per unit of DMI (r2 = 0.001). Total NDF concentration of diets should be an effective basis of exchanging fiber sources in feedlot diets to achieve equal DMI, and small increases in dietary NDF in feedlot diets might increase NEg intake without major changes in feed efficiency. Conversely, with dairy cattle, total DM and NEL intakes decreased with increasing dietary NDF. Increased NDF resulted in greater percentages of milk fat, which would need to be balanced with potentially lower milk production associated with decreased NEl intake.
Osteoporosis and periodontitis in older subjects participating in the Swedish National Survey on Aging and Care (SNAC-Blekinge)

Abstract Objective. We assessed the relationships between (I) ultrasonography calcaneus T-scores (PIXI) and mandibular cortex characteristics on oral panoramic radiographs in older subjects; and (II) osteoporosis and periodontitis. Material and methods. We examined 778 subjects (53% women) aged 59–96 years. Periodontitis was defined by alveolar bone loss assessed from panoramic radiographs. Results. PIXI calcaneus T-values ≤–2.5 (osteoporosis) were found in 16.3% of women and in 8.1% of men. PIXI calcaneus T-values <–1.6 (osteoporosis, adjusted) were found in 34.2% of women and in 21.4% of men. The age of the subjects and PIXI T-values were significantly correlated in women (Pearson's r = 0.37, P < 0.001) and men (Pearson's r = 0.19, P < 0.001). Periodontitis was found in 18.7% of subjects defined by alveolar bone level ≥5 mm. Subjects with osteoporosis defined by adjusted PIXI T-values had fewer remaining teeth [mean difference 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) –1.1 to –6.5, P < 0.001]. The crude odds ratio (OR) of an association between the panoramic assessment of mandibular cortex erosions as a sign of osteoporosis and the adjusted T-value (T-value cut-off <–1.6) was 4.8 (95% CI 3.1–7.2, P < 0.001; Pearson χ2 = 60.1, P < 0.001). A significant OR between osteoporosis and periodontitis was only found in women for the T-value cut-off ≤–2.5 (crude OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3.3, P < 0.03). Conclusions. An association between osteoporosis and periodontitis was only confirmed in women. The likelihood that the mandibular cortex index agrees with adjusted PIXI T-values is significant.
Erythrocyte Membrane Anionic Content and Urinary Glycosaminoglycan Excretion in Type 1 Diabetes: Association with Retinopathy

Background: In diabetic nephropathy, increased excretion of glycosaminoglycans and loss of basement membrane anionic charge had been documented to be related with diabetic microalbumuniria. There was no study that studied those two factors in clinical settings with a degree of diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetics. Method: Forty subjects (aged 27.3 ± 6.3) with type 1 diabetes with different levels of diabetic retinopathy and 30 healthy subjects (aged 29.52 ± 8.7) were included in the study. Subjects were first divided as patients without (R0) and with (R1) retinopathy. They then were further divided into two subgroups with the help of fundus angiography as diabetic lesions demonstrable with fluorescein angiography (R1A) and early diabetic retinopathy lesions on fundus examination (R1B). Erythrocyte anionic charge (EAC) was determined by the binding of cationic dye, alcian blue, and urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion and (UGAG) was determined spectrophotometrically. Results: UGAG was increased (35.74 ± 14.01 vs 21.25 ± 6.19 μg/mL, 95% confidence intervals [CI], 9.01–19.96, p = 0.02) and EAC (62.14 ± 27.17 vs. 158.53 ± 36.98 ng alcian blue 106 per 106 RBC, 95% [CI] −111.68—81.10, p = 0.0001) was decreased significantly in diabetic patients with respect to controls. As the grade of diabetic retinopathy increased, UGAG increased and EAC decreased within subgroups of diabetic patients (p < 0.005). UGAG pozitively correlated (r = 0.36 and p = 0.03) and EAC negatively (r = −0.695, p = 0.0001) correlated with diabetes duration. EAC and UGAG negatively correlated (r = −0.58 and p = 0.0001) with each other in type 1 diabetics. EAC (p = 0.007) and diabetes duration (p = 0.001) were found to be the two significant factors to have diabetic retinopathy in diabetics with logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Although we need more prospective and larger studies to get a direct conclusion, we found that type 1 diabetic patients with less EAC and more UGAG are more likely to have diabetic retinopathy.
Indicators of Pediatric Malnutrition in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malnutrition at a Canadian children's hospital based on medical records and to identify gaps in current practices and rates/reasons for dietitian consult. METHODS A retrospective chart audit of patients admitted during a winter season was completed. Patients with length of stay <4 days were excluded, as were those with fluid retention diseases. Outcome variables included anthropometrics, diet order, rates and reasons for dietitian consult, and biochemical data. RESULTS Of the 83 charts reviewed (mean ± SD age 7.3 ± 5.6 years of age), weights were recorded less frequently than recommended (45% of patients ≤2 years of age and 85% of patients >2 years of age met or exceeded recommendations). Twenty-nine (36%) patients were identified at potential increased nutrition risk for overweight, 10 (12%) for underweight, and 31 (38%) patients had nutrition-related chart notes. Only 23 patients (28%) received a dietitian consult and, of those, 21 had a nutrition related chart note. Consultation occurred an average 5.4 ± 4.96 days after admission. CONCLUSIONS These data emphasize the need for development of standardized screening and assessment tools to better identify pediatric patients at risk for malnutrition and to improve access to optimal nutrition care.
Gospodarki Danii, Finlandii i Szwecji a globalny kryzys finansowy

W niniejszym artykule zaprezentowano gospodarki Danii, Finlandii i Szwecji w okresie dekoniunktury w latach 2007−2012. Współczesny globalny kryzys finansowy ukazał szereg wyzwań oraz zagrożeń, wobec jakich stoją gospodarki narodowe. Kraje nordyckie charakteryzują się wysokim poziomem rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego oraz trwałą przewagą konkurencyjną. Pomimo że przebieg kryzysu w tych krajach był zróżnicowany i doprowadził do zakłóceń makroekonomicznych, przenosząc się na sferę realną, to wyniki gospodarcze krajów nordyckich na tle innych wysoko rozwiniętych gospodarek Unii Europejskiej były lepsze.
Managerial Incentives for Income Smoothing Through Bank Loan Loss Provisions

We examine alternative underlying motives of bank managers in using loan loss provisions (LLP) to smooth reported income. Based on the analytical results of Fudenberg and Tirole (1995), we predict that for banks with good (poor) current performance and expected poor (good) future performance, managers will save income for (borrow income from) the future by reducing (increasing) current income through LLP. We also analyze three additional variables that could explain cross-sectional differences in the level of income smoothing. Our empirical analysis provides support for our predictions. The difference in LLP between the two groups of banks is positive as hypothesized, indicating that bank managers do save earnings through LLP in good times and borrow earnings using LLP in bad times. Similar results are obtained for analysis using discretionary LLP. When bank managers are saving earnings for the future, we provide evidence that the need to obtain external financing is an important additional variable in explaining cross-sectional differences in the extent of income smoothing. Furthermore, whether or not a bank is well capitalized is also weakly significant in explaining cross-sectional differences in income smoothing.
Exploring the Abstract : Patent Eligibility

Most Americans are probably aware of the patent system. For instance, most people know that someone who develops a new machine or process can seek a patent for it from the U.S. government. Most people are also probably aware that there must be some limits on what things can and cannot be patented. For instance, the idea that one could not patent such things as the moon or the sun, forces of nature such as wind or gravity, or abstract things such as love, trust, or happiness would not be surprising to many. It can become somewhat more difficult to consider whether one should be able to patent more concrete things. For instance, while one might assume that Sir Isaac Newton might not have been able to take out a patent on the concept of gravity, what about his law of universal gravitation or its accompanying mathematical equation – things that took considerable work and effort to develop? Could Albert Einstein have sought a patent for his famous mass energy equivalence equation? Could the Ford Motor Company receive a patent on its process of assembling cars using interchangeable parts on an assembly line? Could someone seek to patent such elementary business practices as double-entry bookkeeping, collective investments through the use of mutual funds, or the use of a clearinghouse to reduce settlement risk? Could someone claim a patent on an improvement on these business methods by, say, introducing the use of a computer? These questions lie at the heart of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International. The decision concerns one of the three longstanding common law exceptions to patent eligibility: abstract ideas. In the course of the decision, the Court attempted to settle an issue that it had seldom addressed. The patents at issue in the case reflect concerns surrounding the patenting of both business methods and
Reduction of lymphocytic β‐adrenoceptor level in chronic alcoholics and rapid reversal after ethanol withdrawal

Abstract. Plasma catecholamine levels, lymphocytic β‐adrenoceptor densities and lymphocytic cAMP production were studied in 10 male subjects attending a withdrawal clinic after prolonged alcohol abuse. On admission the mean β‐adrenoceptor density was 29 ± 9 fmol mg‐1 protein (about 60% of the mean level of healthy control subjects, P < 0.002). The following day a significant elevation of the β‐adrenoceptor level up to 46±19 fmol mg‐1 protein (P<0.05) took place. This was accompanied by a parallel activation of the β‐adrenoceptor‐mediated cAMP production of the lymphocytes. No major changes in β‐adrenoceptor levels or cAMP production took place during the next 7 days. Plasma catecholamine levels were elevated at arrival and decreased steadily during the withdrawal period.
Mechanical factors influencing the holding power of screws in compact bone.

1. Cell differentiation around screws manufactured by two American and two Swiss companies and inserted into seventy femora in forty-one adult mongrel dogs has been observed over periods varying between two weeks and nine months. 2. This study reveals that, despite their excellent holding power, such screws are not everywhere in firm contact with the surrounding bone at the time of insertion. Indeed, only part of the thread surface facing the head of the screw touches the compact bone, all other surfaces being separated by a space up to 150 µ in thickness. 3. These spaces result both from the surgical technique employed and from the inaccurate measurements of drills, screws and taps. 4. Migrating cells invade these spaces during the first two weeks. In the absence of movement, these cells differentiate into osteogenic cells; movement leads to differentiation into fibroblasts, chondroblasts and osteoclasts, and failure of fixation ensues. In contrast, callus formation by osteogenic cells firmly anchors screws in four to five weeks, well before callus uniting the bone fragments has been established. 5. Extremities should be protected from undue stresses during those first few weeks after osteosynthesis, whatever the technique. 6. This study clearly demonstrates the importance oftesting screws in living bone to ascertain their holding power at all stages of fracture healing.
FDG imaging of lung nodules: a phantom study comparing SPECT, camera-based PET, and dedicated PET.

PURPOSE To evaluate 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) imaging of simulated lung nodules in a realistic chest phantom by using attenuation-corrected and non-attenuation-corrected 511-keV single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), camera-based positron emission tomography (PET), and dedicated PET imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Spheres with diameters of 6, 10, 13, and 22 mm were placed in the lungs of an anthropomorphic chest phantom to simulate nodules. The lungs, nodules, chest wall, and mediastinum were filled with fluorine-18 activities based on the average radionuclide concentrations in those structures from analysis of attenuation-corrected dedicated FDG PET scans. The image sets were evaluated visually and quantitatively by using contrast and signal-to-noise ratios. RESULTS Attenuation correction reduced the artificially high apparent uptake in the lungs, restored the spherical shape to the nodules, and provided an accurate outer body contour with appropriate intensity. Dedicated PET depicted all four nodules, camera-based PET depicted the three largest nodules, and SPECT depicted the two largest nodules. Lesion contrast was better on the attenuation-corrected images than on the non-attenuation-corrected images. The signal-to-noise ratio generally was improved with attenuation correction. CONCLUSION Attenuation correction results in many changes in the images and improves lesion detection.
Fiscal Policy in New EU Member States: Go East, Prudent Man!

The European Union accepted 10 new member states (NMS) in 2004, eight of which were former socialist countries. New members have had to adjust their economic policies to EU standards. Perhaps most difficult has been fiscal policy, where NMS must comply with the Stability and Growth Pact rules. Indeed, four of the eight post-communist NMS breached the SGP limits and were put in the Excessive Deficit Procedure. While the SGP is being modified, fiscal policy is set to remain on the agenda for all NMS. This article analyses fiscal policy in the eight NMS, focusing primarily on the period immediately preceding their EU accession. The structure and scale of these countries' fiscal policy are analysed and the main trends in the revenue and expenditure of their public budgets identified. Then the dynamics of fiscal policies in the NMS are explored and the main factors in them isolated. The authors show how much of the consolidation was due to the fiscal authorities' effort and how much was caused by external factors. They also show that most NMS governments have run rather inconsistent fiscal policies and have not consolidated their budgets appropriately, postponing politically difficult consolidation measures. However, they also identify a group of countries characterised by strong reform efforts and responsible fiscal policy making, supported usually by strong economic growth. In this context, room is given to economic as well as political economy factors.
Consumer trust, risk and food safety: A review

Consumers’ attitudes to trust and risk are key issues in food safety research and attention needs to be focused on clearly defining a framework for analysing consumer behaviour in these terms. In order to achieve this, a detailed review of the recent literature surrounding risk, trust and the relationship between the two must be conducted. This paper aims to collate the current social sciences literature in the fields of food safety, trust and risk. It provides an insight into the economic and other modelling procedures available to measure consumers’ attitudes to risk and trust in food safety and specifically notes the need for future research to concentrate on examining risk and trust as inter-related variables rather than two distinct, mutually exclusive concepts. A framework is proposed which it is hoped will assist in devising more effective research to support risk communication to consumers.
An Association of Elevated Serum Gonadotropin Concentrations and Alzheimer Disease?

Alzheimer disease affects almost 4 million Americans and costs $65 billion annually. The disease is more common in women than in men, and studies suggest that oestrogen may have a protective effect. Oestrogen replacement lowers circulating concentrations of gonadotropins. When gonadotropins are added to rat granulosa cells in culture, the number of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and the rate of uptake of low density lipoprotein increases. Many proteins found in Alzheimer disease plaques are ligands for low density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR) on central nervous system (CNS) neurones. This study evaluated whether gonadotropins may be associated with Alzheimer disease. Circulating concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in 40 male residents of long‐term care facilities with the primary diagnosis of dementia were compared to 29 age‐matched controls. Serum concentrations of FSH and LH were significantly higher in dementia patients. We speculate they may play an aetiologic role in the deposition of abnormal proteins, particularly those associated with low density lipoprotein receptors, in CNS neurones.
Patent races and optimal patent breadth and length

This paper reexamines the issue of optimal patent breadth in extending the earlier literature to the case where many firms race for a patent. It also discusses several examples that suggest the relevance of the nature of competition prevailing in the product market to explain the diverse results found in the literature. Loosely speaking, the less efficient is competition in the product market, the more likely it is that broad and short patents are socially optimal. Copyright 1996 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Target state estimation and prediction based standoff tracking of ground moving target using a fixed-wing UAV

To the problem of standoff Ground Moving Target Tracking using a fixed-wing UAV, a novel solving framework is presented, which based on target state estimation, prediction and on-line motion planning. First of all, a solving framework was presented, the formal representation and system model of standoff tracking using Fixed-wing UAV was established; next, the Unscented Kalman Filter was suggested for the estimation and prediction of the target state; then, with a predicted target state, a modified motion planning algorithm was presented, which based on Lyapunov vector field. Simulation results demonstrated that the performance of standoff target tracking was improved with regards to the estimated and predicted target state.
Points of interest detection for map-aided PDR in combined outdoor-indoor spaces

Complementary data are necessary to bind the positioning error growth of Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR). In this paper, absolute position updates are made possible with the online detection of different types of points of interest (POIs) located on the map. The POIs are selected depending on specific motion patterns which are associated to absolute locations on the map. To create the POIs database, the correlation between pedestrian motion and different map locations is first studied and the outcome is a typology of POIs. A K-NN (K nearest neighbors) algorithm is used to train different motion modes, which are further exploited for the detection of POIs in order to update the PDR algorithm with position data. Experimental assessment of the POI-based PDR calibration is conducted in both outdoor and indoor spaces with a focus on the transition between both environments. 90% of the time, motion is correctly classified and the PDR position is corrected with an accuracy that depends on POIs features (width of corridor/door, staircase size…). Therefore, the approach is found to be promising for enhancing PDR positioning using only map data.
Effects of Changes in the Business Cycle on Small Firms in the United States

Dr. Meir Tamari is an economist with the Bank of Israel in Jerusalem. The original research for this paper was conducted on behalf of the United States Small Business Administration. In view of the special characteristics of small firms the paper examines the importance of monitoring their behaviour at various points in the business cycle. Three related aspects of corporate behaviour - sales, profitability, and current liabilities - are studied. The hypothesis tested in the study is that small firms are adversely affected to a greater degree than are large firms in all three aspects. An examination is first made of whether small firms actually do react differently to changes in the business cycle than large firms and then an attempt is made to measure this quantitatively for forecasting purposes.