Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitudes Towards the Environment and Ecotourism of Stakeholders in the UK Tourism Industry with Particular Reference to Ornithological Tour Operators

The attitudes towards the environment in general and towards ecotourism in particular are assessed for several groups of stakeholders (including ornithological tour operators, members of a conservation group, and potential specialist and general ecotourists) in the UK tourism sector. The New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale is used to measure general attitude and an ecotourism scale (TES) used to measure specific attitudes. A simple model is proposed and tested linking general and specific attitudes to behaviour. All groups score highly on the NEP scale but the scores are lower on the TES scale. Not surprisingly, the conservation group scores most highly on both scales, and although the tour operators score highly on the NEP scale they have the lowest score on the TES scale. It is suggested that this represents a lack of willingness to adopt ecotourism principles if they interfere with business operations. Significant correlations were measured between the NEP and TES scales suggesting that general attitudes affect specific attitudes. No significant relationships were established between attitudes and stated or implied behaviour based on the tour operators' brochures. This again suggests that there is a reluctance to translate good intentions into practice. The ethical positions of the groups are discussed and implications for the tour operators addressed.
A Novel Hybrid Linear/Nonlinear Classifier for Two-Class Classification: Theory, Algorithm, and Applications

Classifier design for a given classification task needs to take into consideration both the complexity of the classifier and the size of the dataset that is available for training the classifier. With limited training data, as often is the situation in computer-aided diagnosis of medical images, a classifier with simple structure (e.g., a linear classifier) is more robust and therefore preferred. We propose a novel two-class classifier, which we call a hybrid linear/nonlinear classifier (HLNLC), that involves two stages: the input features are linearly combined to form a scalar variable in the first stage and then the likelihood ratio of the scalar variable is used as the decision variable for classification. We first develop the theory of HLNLC by assuming that the feature data follow normal distributions. We show that the commonly used Fisher's linear discriminant function is generally not the optimal linear function in the first stage of the HLNLC. We formulate an optimization problem to solve for the optimal linear function in the first stage of the HLNLC, i.e., the linear function that maximizes the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the HLNLC. For practical applications, we propose a robust implementation of the HLNLC by making a loose assumption that the two-class feature data arise from a pair of latent (rather than explicit) multivariate normal distributions. The novel hybrid classifier fills a gap between linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) in the sense that both its theoretical performance and its complexity lie between those of the LDA and those of the QDA. Simulation studies show that the hybrid linear/nonlinear classifier performs better than LDA without increasing the classifier complexity accordingly. With a finite number of training samples, the HLNLC can perform better than that of the ideal observer due to its simplicity. Finally, we demonstrate the application of the HLNLC in computer-aided diagnosis of breast lesions in ultrasound images.
VALUATION OF FINANCIAL LEASE CONTRACTS: A NOTE

provide a valuable contribution to the leasing literature. The authors rigorously derive a simple formula for lease valuation. In addition, they examine the impact on their analysis of different tax rates and of different amounts of debt which may be displaced by the lease. This note makes two points. First, we present a simplified derivation of the valuation formula of MDB. This can be expressed visually, which gives it a definite pedagogical advantage over their recursive algebraic derivation. Second, we generalise the analysis to include the case of a company which is currently in a non-tax paying position, but which expects to resume paying taxes at some (specified) future date. A significant number of companies (both in the US and in the UK) are in this position. We find empirically that the attraction of leasing depends critically on the length of such a non-tax paying period.
Immune complexes in acute and chronic liver disease.

Anti-complementary (AC) activity and C1q-binding are increased in acute type A and B hepatitis, alcohol-induced hepatitis, HB surface antigen-positive and -negative chronic active hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis. In acute type A hepatitis, a large increase in C1q-binding was demonstrated during the period of elevated transaminases. In type B hepatitis, the initial peak was small, but was followed by a further peak during the period of falling serum HB surface (HBs) antigen titre. In both diseases the C1q-binding was associated with >20S particles. In paracetamol-induced necrosis, C1q-binding remained normal. In type A and B hepatitis and in paracetamol-induced necrosis, C4, C3 and factor B concentrations were depressed in the early phase of the disease. This change may reflect either diminished synthesis or increased catabolism. In chronic active hepatitis (HBs-positive and -negative) and in alcohol-induced disease there is a significant correlation between C1q-binding and the severity of hepatitis. C1q-binding and AC activity were also increased in primary biliary cirrhosis. Density gradient studies indicate that the C1q-binding activity in these subjects lies in the 8–14S and >19S particle-containing fractions. These findings suggest the presence of immune complexes in patients with acute and chronic liver disease. In some cases the complexes may contained hepatitis viral antigens, but in alcohol-induced and autoimmune disease other types of complex formation must exist. The accumulation of large and small complexes in subjects with liver disease may be a reflection of an impaired function of the mononuclear phagocytes in these diseases. The potential of these complexes to activate complement will determine their pathological importance, and in this respect those found in primary biliary cirrhosis may have special significance.
A Comparative Analysis of Domestic and International Tourism Spatial Distribution: Trends and Impacts

As one of the most important economic sectors in China, tourism must be supported in a way that will encourage balanced regional economic development. The spatial distribution of tourism should be evaluated to assess the role of growing tourism in regional economic inequality. Unlike previous studies that focus on international tourism, this paper compares the spatial distributions of international and domestic tourism by using the Mean Log Deviation decomposition method, within and between China’s three economic regions over the period from 1997 to 2010. The results show that, compared with regional economic distribution, imbalance in the spatial distribution of tourism is more pronounced. However, from a dynamic and comparative perspective, this paper asserts that tourism, especially domestic tourism, is a more effective instrument for China’s balanced regional economic development than international tourism.
Identification and characterization of a cyclooxygenase-like enzyme from Entamoeba histolytica

The intestinal protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, almost nothing is known about the molecules secreted by the parasite that modulate host immune responses or epithelial barrier function in the colon. Herein, we describe the isolation and characterization of a cyclooxygenase (COX)-like enzyme in E. histolytica that is responsible for the biosynthesis of prostaglandin (PG)E2. PGE2 produced by ameba was constitutive but highly dependent on exogenous arachidonic acid substrate. COX-like activity and the immunoreactive protein were localized to the nuclear fraction of E. histolytica. The COX-like protein (72 kDa) was microsequenced and cloned by reverse transcriptase PCR. Ameba COX showed little homology with COX-1/2 enzymes from different species at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Surprisingly, the arachidonate-binding domain and heme-coordinating and catalytic sites, which are conserved in other species, were absent in ameba. Ameba COX expressed in Escherichia coli demonstrated COX-like enzyme activity in vitro by converting arachidonic acid into PGE2 but not into PGD2 or PGF2α. COX activity was inhibited with 1 mM aspirin but not with indomethacin or COX-1/2-specific inhibitors. Taken together, these studies reveal that E. histolytica produces PGE2, by means of a previously undescribed ancestral COX-like enzyme, which could play a major role in pathogenesis and immune evasion.
Marketing communication efficiency in the Spanish automobile sector: Analysing the role of online advertising through DEA and stochastic frontiers

El objetivo del trabajo es comprobar si la inversion en publicidad en Internet puede ayudar a mejorar la eficiencia publicitaria. La estimacion de modelos de Analisis Envolvente de Datos en una muestra de la industria de automoviles en Espana revela que la inversion en publicidad en Internet mejora el nivel global de eficiencia. Estos resultados quedan confirmados al estimar Fronteras Estocasticas con datos de panel de tres anos
Quality of micro-CT images acquired from simultaneous micro-CT and benchtop x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT): A preliminary Monte Carlo study

Integration of micro-CT with benchtop x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) for multimodal imaging poses challenges due to significantly different operating conditions between the two modalities. This Monte Carlo (MC) study investigated the quality of micro-CT images obtainable with incident x-ray spectra that were optimized for benchtop XFCT and, consequently, considerably harder than those typically used for micro-CT. An MC model was created in MCNP5, featuring a cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate phantom (3-cm-diameter) with cylindrical inserts (6-mm-diameter) containing water loaded with gold nanoparticles (2, 1, and 0.5% by weight). The phantom was irradiated by a polychromatic cone-beam x-ray source operated at various tube potentials and filtration. Transmitted photons were scored while the phantom was rotated to generate projections for axial image reconstruction. Reconstructed micro-CT images were comparable to experimentally-obtained images under similar imaging conditions. For a given dose, the contrast and image quality generally decreased with increasing hardness of the incident xray spectrum. The results suggest that it would be difficult to achieve the contrast typical of micro-CT images with incident x-ray spectra optimized for benchtop cone-beam XFCT. Further optimization efforts and/or developing alternative imaging schemes (e.g., dualenergy scan) will be necessary to improve micro-CT image quality during simultaneous micro-CT/XFCT scanning.
New times for employee voice

In this review, which also serves as an introduction to this special section, we briefly discuss the growing interest in employee voice and how and why interest in this topic has emerged over the last few years. “Employee voice” has been used to summarize several different approaches to employee relations, and numerous other terms have been used interchangeably with “employee voice. ” In this introduction, we discuss the different approaches to voice, and, relying on the literature of HRM, political science, industrial relations, and organizational behavior, we develop a specific conceptualization of voice useful to scholars and HRM professionals. We discuss the direction of research in this area and summarize the papers in this issue. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NBTI Degradation in LTPS TFTs Under Mechanical Tensile Strain

This letter investigates the negative-bias temperature instability (NBTI) degradation of p-channel low-temperature polycrystalline-silicon thin-film transistors (LTPS TFTs) under mechanical tensile stress. Experimental results reveal that the interface state density Nit and grain boundary trap density Ntrap of tensile-strained LTPS TFTs are more pronounced than those of unstrained LTPS TFTs. Extracted density of states and conduction activation energy Ea both show increases due to the strained Si-Si bonds, which implies that strained Si-Si bonds are able to react with dissociated H during NBTI stress. Therefore, NBTI degradation is more significant after tensile strain than in an unstrained condition.
Durable Goods Competition in Secondary Electronic Markets

We develop a game-theoretic framework to investigate the competitive implications of consumer-to-consumer electronic marketplaces, which promote concurrent selling of new and used goods. In many e-marketplaces, where suppliers cannot directly use second-hand goods for practicing inter-temporal price discrimination, the threat of cannibalization of new goods by used goods become significant. We examine conditions under which it is optimal for suppliers to operate in such markets, explaining why used-goods markets may not be predatory for them. While a monopolist supplier is worse off in the presence of a secondary market, competition can in fact make it better off. The presence of used-goods markets provides an active outlet for some consumers to sell their second-hand goods. Such sales lead to an increase in their disposable income. This increased income can then be used to buy an additional new good. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our model predicts the reduction in the price of new goods when there are used-goods markets. We highlight the strategic role that used goods commission plays in determining optimal profits. Overall, for a wide range of parameters, there is an increase in social welfare from establishing such secondary markets.
A Novel ZRS Mutation Leads to Preaxial Polydactyly Type 2 in a Heterozygous Form and Werner Mesomelic Syndrome in a Homozygous Form

Point mutations in the zone of polarizing activity regulatory sequence (ZRS) are known to cause human limb malformations. Although most mutations cause preaxial polydactyly (PPD), triphalangeal thumb (TPT) or both, a mutation in position 404 of the ZRS causes more severe Werner mesomelic syndrome (WMS) for which malformations include the distal arm or leg bones in addition to the hands and/or feet. Of more than 15 reported families with ZRS mutations, only one homozygous individual has been reported, with no change in phenotype compared with heterozygotes. Here, we describe a novel point mutation in the ZRS, 402C>T (AC007097.4:g.105548C>T), that is transmitted through two Mexican families with one homozygous individual. The homozygous phenotype for this mutation, WMS, is more severe than the numerous heterozygous individuals genotyped from both families who have TPT and PPD. A mouse transgenic enhancer assay shows that this mutation causes an expansion of the enhancer's expression domain in the developing mouse limb, confirming its pathogenicity. Combined, our results identify a novel ZRS mutation in the Mexican population, 402C>T, and suggest that a dosage effect exists for this ZRS mutation.
Policy transfer in the development of UK climate policy

The science and politics of climate change has had a strong international dimension. It seems reasonable to expect proactive governments to be cosmopolitan in developing policy in this field. This paper analyses the influence of policy transfer in the development of UK climate policy for controlling business emissions of carbon dioxide. It finds cross-national lessons were drawn by advocates of different policy ideas during domestic policy debates. These informed government and provided policy instrument options, but key choices were influenced as much by interest-based bargaining. Policy instrument settings, crucial for policy outputs, were strongly influenced by industrial lobbying.
The blood-epididymis barrier and inflammation

The blood-epididymis barrier (BEB) is a critical structure for male fertility. It enables the development of a specific luminal environment that allows spermatozoa to acquire both the ability to swim and fertilize an ovum. The presence of tight junctions and specific cellular transporters can regulate the composition of the epididymal lumen to favor proper sperm maturation. The BEB is also at the interface between the immune system and sperm. Not only does the BEB protect maturing spermatozoa from the immune system, it is also influenced by cytokines released during inflammation, which can result in the loss of barrier function. Such a loss is associated with an immune response, decreased sperm functions, and appears to be a contributing factor to post-testicular male infertility. Alterations in the BEB may be responsible for the formation of inflammatory conditions such as sperm granulomas. The present review summarizes current knowledge on the morphological, physiological and pathological components associated with the BEB, the role of immune function on the regulation of the BEB, and how disturbance of these factors can result in inflammatory lesions of the epididymis.
Shareholder Benefits from Corporate International Diversification

This study provides further evidence on the rates of return realized by the shareholders of multinational firms relative to those of purely domestic firms. The results indicate that the risk-adjusted returns realized by the shareholders are identical across the two groups except where the MNC operates in competitive foreign markets. In that case, MNC shareholders experience negative abnormal returns. The study also provides further evidence on the risk-reduction effect of international diversification. The results fail to support the hypothesis that the beta is a convex function of the degree of international involvement. Finally, the paper provides some preliminary evidence on the effect of corporate international diversification on shareholders' returns. It is found that abnormal returns rise by some 18 percent during the 14 months preceding the initial foreign diversification. A NUMBER OF EXPLANATIONS have been proffered for the popularity of inter
Max-Value Stores, Inc.: Financial Reporting of Gift Cards

ABSTRACT: Max-Value Stores, Inc., a discount general merchandise operator, has initiated a program to sell its own gift cards and those of other retailers. This case provides an opportunity to apply your understanding of various financial reporting topics (revenue recognition, liability de-recognition, accounting changes, and deferred tax accounting) to determine the applicable GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) for recognizing gift card “breakage,” the estimated amount of gift cards that is unlikely to be redeemed. You also must evaluate soundness of the proposals that the management of MVS has made during the process of annual audit to recognize estimated gift card breakage and estimated non-redemption of the restricted gift cards issued during the special Thanksgiving promotion. The case provides you an opportunity to examine several technical and conceptual financial reporting issues in a real-world setting, strengthen accounting research capabilities, understand implications of the choi.
The Efficiency of the Italian Banking System Over 2006-2011. An Application of the Stochastic Frontier Approach

The objective of this paper is to analyse the efficiency of the Italian Banking System over the period 2006-2011. The Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) is applied to a panel of 700 Italian Banks. The analysis is based on the joint estimation of a cost function and an efficiency equation (Battese and Coelli, 1995). Following the intermediation approach (Sealey and Lindley, 1977), bank outputs are comprised of loans, the non-interest income and securities. Besides the controlling variables, the efficiency equation includes an indicator of credit quality. The main results are fourfold. First, cost efficiency does not show regular dynamics over time and ranges from 0.86, observed in 2008, to 0.92 in 2011. Secondly, it indicates that the cost efficiency of cooperative banks (CCB) is always higher than that observed for joint-stock companies (LTD) and Popolari banks. Third, the study suggests that cost efficiency tends to decrease as bank size increases. Finally, as regards the role of the determinants of banks efficiency («what makes a bank efficient»), we find that there are positive relationships between efficiency and credit quality, the solvency index, the industry concentration index and the FTSE.
Reliability and Validity of a Japanese Version of the Eating Disorder Inventory

The rapid increase of patients with eating disorders in Japan has made necessary the reliable and valid measurement of psychological factors in eating disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Eating Disorder Inventory. 766 females without eating disorders and 139 female patients with eating disorders responded to the Eating Attitude Test and the Eating Disorder Inventory. Principal factor extraction with promax rotation isolated 9 interpretable factors with satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach alpha range = .74–.90). Compared with controls, patients scored significantly higher on all factors after minimizing the influence of Body Mass Index. There were strong correlations among factor scores and scores on the Eating Attitudes Test, particularly among patients. These results indicate the Eating Disorder Inventory as showing psychometrically sound internal consistency and concurrent validity.
Family Migration Decisions

An economic definition of family ties relevant to migration decisions leads to the exploration of their effects on the probability of migration, on consequent changes in employment and earnings of family members, and on family stability. It is shown that ties represent negative "personal" externalities which are usually, but not always, internalized by the family. ties tend to deter migration, to reduce the employment and earnings of migrating wives, and to increase the employment and earnings of their husbands. The growth of labor market attachment of women creates an increase in migration ties, which both deters migration and contributes to marital instability. Conversely, growing marital instability stimulates migration and reinforces the upward trends in women's labor force participation.
Theorizing Path Dependence: A Review of Positive Feedback Mechanisms in Technology Markets, Regional Clusters, and Organizations

The concept of path dependence has often been criticized as vague and only narrowly applicable. Although we can find some very refined definitions of the concept, we also find a wide range of empirical phenomena being described as path-dependent. We argue that more detailed accounts of the positive feedback mechanisms that form paths can take path dependence beyond this state of being overdetermined, but under-specified. Reviewing three well-described cases of path-dependent dynamics in technology markets, regional clustering, and organizations, we define a core set of positive feedback mechanisms that constitute path dependence at different analysis levels and clarify the relationship between positive feedback and increasing returns. We show that path-dependent processes, that is, processes driven by positive feedback that veer toward rigidity or lock-in, can be (but do not have to be) found under many labels, including structural inertia, coevolution, or institutional persistence. We conclude that a precise definition of path dependence does not need to be at odds with the concept's widespread use in understanding organizational and industrial development processes. Copyright 2013 The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved. , Oxford University Press.