bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of quantum zero‐point energy constraint in simulations of molecular dynamics
Authors: Tada Shigeru 
Published: June 2011

PurposeIt has been well known that the quantum zero‐point energy (ZPE) cannot be conserved in simulations of atoms and molecules dynamics based on classical mechanics. The purpose of this paper is to examine fundamental issues related to the treatment of quantum ZPE constraint in simulations of atoms and molecules dynamics.Design/methodology/approachThe ZPE is well known to be a quantum mechanical expectation value that is equivalent to an ensemble average when this value is interpreted to classical mechanics. An important point is that the ensemble‐averaged energies on simulations are expected to obey the ZPE criteria rather than those of individual simulation. The point is elucidated using quasiclassical trajectory calculations with a popular hydrogen atom‐diatom direct collision process incorporating a potential energy surface of a triatomic hydrogen system.FindingsThe results obtained by using standard classical trajectory calculations agree well with the quantum calculations. Using them, the author found that the classical results remain valid even if some trajectory calculations have vibrational energies that are less than the ZPE.Originality/valueIt is found that the ensemble‐average of each trajectory calculation can provide results that are consistent with quantum mechanical ones that obey the ZPE criteria, without the introduction of any additional constraint conditions for atoms and simulation algorithms.
Political connections, corporate governance and audit fees in Malaysia
Authors: Aswadi Abdul Wahab Effiezal , Mat Zain Mazlina , James Kieran 
Published: June 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between political connection, corporate governance and audit fees in Malaysia. Specifically, it is argued that politically connected firms are perceived to be riskier and thus require auditors to undertake greater audit efforts which in turn lead to higher audit fee. Furthermore, it is also hypothesised that the demand for better corporate governance practices requires more audit effort exert from the auditors, and the demand for higher quality work is expected to be stronger for politically connected firms as these firms are being perceived to have higher risks. This is turn results in higher fees paid to the external auditor.Design/methodology/approachThis paper employs panel regression analysis. The panel data set consists of 382 non‐financial firms (1,022 observations) for three years from year 2001 to 2003.FindingsBased on 1,022 firm‐year observations for the period of 2001 to 2003, the results reveal that politically connected firms pay higher audit fees, while firms with better governance demand a higher audit quality, leading to higher audit fees. However, there is no evidence to support that corporate governance demands for a higher quality audit especially for politically connected firms.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the corporate governance‐audit fees literature by examining a large number of corporate governance variables based on the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance. In particular, instead of using several individual governance variables such as audit committee, board structure or composition, this study condensed the large number of corporate governance variables into a single index. Furthermore, this study was conducted in Malaysia, which is a unique environment that offers clear identifiable segments based along ethnic line, whereby, politically favoured firms are generally given special privileges by the government.
Macao's potential for developing regional Chinese medical tourism
Authors: Lam Ching‐Chi (Cindia) , du Cros Hilary , Vong Tze Ngai (Louis) 
Published: June 2011

PurposeThis article aims to examine how Macao could become a destination to attract health and medical tourists from the People's Republic of China (China), as since its return from Portuguese control in 1999 it has been capitalising on its position as a cultural link between Portugal and ChinaDesign/methodology/approachA study was conducted recently on the possible demand for Western and traditional Chinese medicine practices by mainland Chinese tourists visiting Macao. A survey was undertaken of their views on consuming health and medical tourism products.FindingsIt was found that there is a definite opportunity for medical tourism in Macao among Chinese tourists. The bodycheck is the medical service most highly sort and word‐of‐mouth together with the internet are the most preferred channels for information. Majority also prefer to package their medical trip with tourism activities.Research limitations/implicationsMacao is the perfect place to study outbound Chinese tourists and their potential desire for special interest tourism activities, because they are entitled to enter on independent visas. Eventually, this will be the case in many more destinations and the results could be seen as predictive.Practical implicationsA mismatch between the requirements of the demand side and supply has been discovered and needs to be remedied with more public sector encouragement of this emerging niche.Originality/valueThe first study of its kind is carried out amongst Chinese outbound tourists, who can obtain independent leisure travel visas to tour outside China.
Health travel motivation and activities: insights from a mature market – Switzerland
Authors: Laesser Christian 
Published: June 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate predictors (stated motivation and reported leisure activities) of health travel as opposed to a control group incorporating all other travel of the Swiss resident population, a well‐matured market.Design/methodology/approachAn a priori segmentation of more than 11,000 trip cases (health travel as opposed to non‐health travel) was chosen as means of methodological concept, and stepwise logistic regressions of 25 types of motivations and 72 types of activities towards group membership served as means of analysis.FindingsThere appears to be a mature perception of health travel in the developed Swiss market, comprising rewarding elements of beauty, indulgence, and regeneration combined with demanding elements such as (challenging and stimulating) sports, including mountain biking, hiking, and golf.Originality/valueThe paper enhances the still slim body of knowledge on health travel.
New perspectives on vacation decision making
Authors: Hyde Kenneth F. , Decrop Alain 
Published: June 2011

PurposeThis paper introduces the seven empirical studies on vacation decision making in this special issue of IJCTHR. The paper compares the findings of these seven studies to traditional models of vacation decision making, and highlights a number of new perspectives for research into vacation decision making.FindingsFive themes appear in these contemporary studies of vacation decision making: the multifaceted nature of the vacation; joint decision making by members of the household; impact of the type of vacation trip on the decision making process; the role of the internet in vacation decision making; and the role of socio‐psychological variables in vacation decision making.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides recommendations for future research in vacation decision making, in light of contemporary changes in the travel and tourism industry.Originality/valueThe value of this paper lies in its review of traditional approaches to researching vacation decision making, and advice provided for future research on the topic.
The souvenir purchase decision: effects of online availability
Authors: Abendroth Lisa J. 
Published: June 2011

PurposePrior to e‐commerce, tourists could only purchase souvenirs at a destination. The goal of this research is to develop and test a theory to explain how adding a retail web site affects tourists' decision‐making for souvenir purchases.Design/methodology/approachThe researcher conducts two experiments using scenarios to simulate a souvenir purchase. The researcher manipulates item type and web site availability, and then measures purchase intent, attitudes toward the souvenir, and regret.FindingsPurchase limitation increases initial purchase intent by increasing the souvenir's reminder value, regardless of item type. Non‐purchase regrets are greater than purchase regrets, which in turn increases purchase intent at a later time.Research limitationsThe stimuli are necklaces, and although the findings do not show gender effects, the stimuli could limit the generalizability to other souvenir types. The research tests hypotheses using scenarios and less‐experienced travelers. Future research should examine different types of souvenirs in a naturalistic setting.Practical implicationsRetailers should not mention web sites until after a tourist decides not to buy in‐store and should do so subtly.Originality/valueThis research contributes to souvenir research by identifying a purchase limitation, available in‐store only, as a new determinant of a souvenir's reminder value. The research also contributes to scarcity research by identifying reminder value as a new and qualitatively different type of valuation affected by scarcity. Lastly, the research extends the regret literature by reversing inaction inertia at a later purchase opportunity while maintaining a regret minimization goal.
Exploring past and possible future investor housing performance in 19 Auckland City suburbs
Authors: Hargreaves Bob 
Published: June 2011

PurposePrivate sector residential property investors aiming to achieve optimal total returns need to be able to identify the best performing suburbs in a city. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the risk‐adjusted investment performance of 19 suburbs within Auckland City and provide some insight into the likely future performance of some of these suburbs.Design/methodology/approachThe annual pre‐tax and unleveraged investment performance of a residential property is a function of the changes in the value of the property plus the net yield. House price data for the suburbs were taken from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. Rental information was obtained from the Department of Building and Housing.FindingsSurprisingly, the suburb showing the highest average yields was also the suburb recording the greatest increase in house prices. This result appears to be a consequence of government intervention in the form of increased rental subsidies for renters, tax concessions for landlords and low‐deposit home loans aimed for first home buyers.Research limitations/implicationsIt is all very well analysing the past performance of suburbs but investors are likely to be more interested in future performance, rather than past performance, when they make buying and selling decisions. In some cases, the characteristics of suburbs that have done well in the past can be useful in identifying suburbs likely to do well in the future.Practical implicationsThe hypothesis advanced in this paper is that suburbs with lower than average household income to house price ratios and house income to rent ratios, combined with a trend for household incomes and rents to be increasing above the city‐wide average, are likely to be the best prospects for future residential investment.Social implicationsThe main social implication appears to be the unintended consequences of rental subsidies increasing rents and house prices more than the average in the lower priced suburbs.Originality/valueThere has been very little published work comparing total returns on investor housing within a city, by suburb. This has been made possible by the combination of real estate sales information and a comprehensive rental database. In addition, census information on households' incomes at suburban level is also integrated into the study.The study also makes a novel contribution by suggesting variables likely to influence future total returns by suburb.
Investigation on housing affordability in Lanzhou, Northwest China
Authors: Duan Mingchen 
Published: June 2011

PurposeWith the rapid increase in both household discretionary income and housing price, how to improve housing affordability is the vital challenge for China, especially for the northwestern region where the household income is lower than that in the eastern region. This paper aims to provide an insight into the housing affordability by analyzing the influence factors of purchasing standard housing in Lanzhou, which is the second largest city in Northwest China.Design/methodology/approachPrice to income ratio (PIR) and housing affordability index (HAI) approaches were applied in this study to measure housing affordability for Lanzhou.FindingsThe results show that the PIR values for Lanzhou range from 6.02 to 7.23 between 2001 and 2008. The value exhibits an increasing trend before 2004 and a decreasing trend after 2004. The HAI values vary between 62.0 and 83.2 and are higher from 2001 to 2003 than those from 2004 to 2008. It was observed that the level of influence of the household discretionary income, housing price and the mortgage interest rate on these two values differs significantly in the different studied periods. This indicates that housing affordability in Lanzhou is lower than the acceptable level.Originality/valueThe paper establishes an understanding of the level of housing affordability in Northwest China, and provides the basis for the formulation of the new government's housing policy for this region.
Risk of meningioma among users of high doses of cyproterone acetate as compared with the general population: evidence from a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Gil Miguel , Oliva Belén , Timoner Julia , Maciá Miguel A. , Bryant Verónica , de Abajo Francisco J. 
Published: May 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT• Information from the spontaneous reporting system raised the hypothesis of an increased risk of meningioma in patients treated with high doses of cyproterone acetate (CPA).• Meningiomas are known to be hormone‐sensitive tumours and express progesterone receptors and CPA has an anti‐androgenic, progestagenic and antigonadotropic effect.• More formal evidence from epidemiological studies is lacking.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• This population‐based cohort study supports the hypothesis that the exposure to high dose CPA increases the risk of meningioma• The increased risk was observed both in men and women and was only relevant for exposures longer than 1 year.AIM Information from the spontaneous reporting system raised the hypothesis of an increased risk of meningioma in patients treated with high doses of cyproterone acetate (CPA). The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis of an increased risk of meningioma among users of high dose CPA as compared with non‐users in a medical records computerized database.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed in a Spanish primary care database (BIFAP). Meningioma incidence rates were compared in patients exposed to high dose CPA (users) with those non‐exposed and with those exposed to low dose CPA. Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the incidence rate ratios after adjusting for age and gender.RESULTS Among 2474 users of high dose cyproterone (6663 person‐years) four meningioma cases were identified, resulting in an incidence rate (IR) of 60.0 (95% CI 16.4, 153.7) per 100 000 person‐years, which was significantly higher than that observed among the non‐users (IR 6.6; 95% CI 6.0, 7.3) and among women users of low dose cyproterone (IR 0.0, 95% CI upper limit 5.5). After adjusting for age and gender, patients exposed to high dose CPA showed an increased risk of meningioma of 11.4 (95% CI 4.3, 30.8) as compared with non‐users.CONCLUSIONS The results of this study support the hypothesis that the exposure to high dose CPA increases the risk of meningioma.
Parents' experiences of caring for a child with a cleft lip and/or palate: a review of the literature
Authors: Nelson P. , Glenny A.‐M. , Kirk S. , Caress A.‐L. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThis review brings together for the first time the existing quantitative and qualitative research evidence about the experiences of parents caring for a child with a cleft. It summarizes salient themes on the emotional, social and service‐related experiences of parents and critiques the literature to date, comparing it with wider, selected literature from the field of children's long‐term conditions, including disability. The review suggests that there are similarities and differences between the literatures, in terms of research focus and approach. Similarities are found across children's conditions in the perspectives of parents on emotional, social and service‐related aspects, although much of the cleft literature is focused on the early stages of children's lives. However, the quality of cleft research to date about parents' experiences has also been variable, with a narrow emphasis on cross‐sectional, deficit‐orientated psychological approaches focused mainly on mothers. Despite a substantial literature, little qualitative research has examined parents' perspectives in‐depth, particularly about their child's treatment journey. This contrasts with the wider children's literature, which has traditionally drawn not only on psychological approaches but also on the broader perspectives of sociology, social policy, nursing and health services research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, often in integrated ways. Such approaches have been able to highlight a greater range of experiences from both mothers and fathers, about caring for a child with a long‐term condition and views about treatment. The review identifies a lack of comparable research in the cleft field to examine parents' experiences and needs at different stages of their children's lives. Above all, research is needed to investigate how both mothers and fathers might experience the long‐term and complex treatment journey as children become older and to elicit their views about decision making for cleft treatments, particularly elective surgeries.
Non polycystic ovary syndrome–related endocrine disorders associated with hirsutism
Authors: Unluhizarci Kursad , Kaltsas Gregory , Kelestimur Fahrettin 
Published: May 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (1): 86–94AbstractBackground  Hyperandrogenism refers to classical androgen‐dependent signs such as hirsutism, acne and androgenetic alopecia. Hirsutism is the main hyperandrogenic symptom, defined as an excess of body hair in the androgen‐sensitive skin regions of the women. In this review, we attempt to focus on the pathogenesis of hirsutism related to disorders other than polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Also, we will discuss their clinical and biochemical features as well as therapeutic options.Design  Several original articles, meta‐analysis and reviews have been screened in the field of hirsutism and hyperandrogenic disorders.Results  Current English literature including our studies suggests that PCOS is the most common cause of hirsutism. The most important purpose for investigation is to identify those women with androgen‐secreting tumours because of their life‐threatening potential. In approximately 1–8% of the women with hirsutism, the underlying cause is nonclassical adrenal hyperplasia because of 21‐hydroxylase deficiency. Depending on ethnicity and the geographic area, idiopathic hirsutism constitutes 5–17% of the patients with hirsutism. Approximately 3% of hyperandrogenic women were observed to suffer from hyperandrogenic‐insulin‐resistant acanthosis nigricans syndrome. More rare causes are glucocorticoid resistance syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome and some drugs. Specific causes of hirsutism such as Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal/ovarian tumours should be treated specifically. In other patients, pharmacological approach is the mainstay of therapy.Conclusions  A number of patients presenting with hirsutism and exhibiting similar features to PCOS may have other underlying diagnoses. Unlike PCOS, some of these disorders can occasionally be life threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Hen harrier management: insights from demographic models fitted to population data
Authors: New Leslie F. , Buckland Stephen T. , Redpath Stephen , Matthiopoulos Jason 
Published: May 2011

Summary1. The impact of hen harriers Circus cyaneus on red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus populations has received much attention. However, little has been done to model the population dynamics of the hen harrier alone. Such a model is needed to help inform the differing aims of conserving harriers and managing grouse moors, which serves as a reflection of human–wildlife conflicts around the globe.2. On Langholm estate in Scotland, intensive studies have resulted in harrier numbers being known without error. We fit a Bayesian population model to these data, using a super‐population model to permit inference in the presence of demographic and environmental stochasticity and in the absence of observation error.3. Hen harriers have a straightforward life history. After fledging, juveniles show little natal site fidelity, often dispersing long distances into breeding areas rich in their preferred prey, the field vole Microtus agrestis and meadow pipit Anthus pratensis. Therefore, any increase in a local population is largely because of recruitment into the area as opposed to fledging success. Once birds have settled in an area, harriers are generally site faithful, with year‐to‐year survival depending, in part, on the density of meadow pipits.4. Our model suggests that temporal patterns in harrier numbers on managed grouse moors, in the absence of illegal persecution, are influenced by vole numbers, whereas meadow pipit density appears to have a limited effect.5. Synthesis and applications. Our modelling approach is a useful way to infer population processes, and the effects of the environment on these processes, for populations censused without error. When used to predict future harrier numbers under alternate management scenarios, our model indicates that harrier numbers on Langholm estate, Scotland, could be reduced without any direct human intervention if the estate can be managed in a way that reduces vole populations. In contrast, there appears little to gain from managing meadow pipit densities. If these conclusions apply to other harrier populations, then management to reduce vole numbers, while maintaining grouse densities, may help alleviate the conflict between conservationists and managers of grouse moors.