Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcanal Approach to the Singular Nerve

Objectives/Hypothesis: Intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is rare, and surgery is indicated in only a very small number of cases. Transcanal singular neurectomy is considered a difficult and risky procedure possibly leading to hearing loss and vertigo. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the singular neurectomy through the external ear canal in an attempt to explain the contradictory results of previous reports of anatomists and of surgeons who abandoned the technique, considering that the singular neurectomy could not be reached via the external auditory canal without damaging the labyrinth. Materials and Methods: Anatomical study on 100 halves of human heads in which the canal of the singular nerve (SN) was identified and opened at its extremities, the internal auditory canal and the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal, via a posterior fossa approach. Next, the canal of the SN was dissected via the external auditory canal, at the floor of the round window (RW) niche. The relation of the SN canal to the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal was evaluated. Results: In 90 cases, the canal was transected medially to and away from the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal, and in 8, at its emergence from the posterior ampullary recess. In these 98 cases, the RW membrane and the bony labyrinth were kept intact. In two cases, the canal of the SN could not be reached at the floor of the RW niche. Conclusion: Singular neurectomy is feasible via the external auditory canal, without damaging the RW membrane or the labyrinth in 98% of the cases. Because singular neurectomy is indicated in a very small number of cases, it is difficult to master this particular surgical procedure. This may explain why most surgeons abandoned the technique after a few attempts, followed by an unacceptable rate of sensorineural hearing loss
Radiotherapy alone versus combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy in nonresectable non-small-cell lung cancer: first analysis of a randomized trial in 353 patients.

We report the results observed in a large, randomized study that compared the effects of radiotherapy alone (the standard therapy) with those of a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in nonresectable squamous cell and large-cell lung carcinoma. The radiation dose was 65 Gy in each group, and chemotherapy included vindesine, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and lomustine. In this study, 177 patients received radiotherapy alone (group A), and 176 patients received the combined treatment (group B). The 2-year survival rate was 14% in group A and 21% in group B (P = .08). The distant metastasis rate was significantly lower in group B (P less than .001). Local control was poor in both groups (17% and 15%, respectively) and remained the major problem.
Monoclonal Antibody AP33 Defines a Broadly Neutralizing Epitope on the Hepatitis C Virus E2 Envelope Glycoprotein

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant threat to the general health of the world's population, and there is a pressing need for the development of new treatments and preventative vaccines. Here, we describe the generation of retrovirus-based pseudoparticles (HCVpp) incorporating a panel of full-length E1E2 clones representative of the major genotypes 1 through 6, and their application to assess the reactivity and neutralizing capability of antisera and monoclonal antibodies raised against portions of the HCV E2 envelope protein. Rabbit antisera raised against either the first hypervariable region or ectodomain of E2 showed limited and strain specific neutralization. By contrast, the monoclonal antibody (MAb) AP33 demonstrated potent neutralization of infectivity against HCVpp carrying E1E2 representative of all genotypes tested. The concentration of AP33 required to achieve 50% inhibition of infection by HCVpp of diverse genotypes ranged from 0.6 to 32 μg/ml. The epitope recognized by MAb AP33 is linear and highly conserved across different genotypes of HCV. Thus, identification of a broadly neutralizing antibody that recognizes a linear epitope is likely to be of significant benefit to future vaccine and therapeutic antibody development.
Towards a reassessment of the private rental market

Abstract An increased reliance on market forces has led to a reassessment of the role of the private rental market in a number of countries. This paper suggests this increased interest shown by governments attempting to withdraw from the housing market and by consumers unable to gain access to owner occupation or social housing is not necessarily shared by investors. It argues there is little to indicate a reversal of the supply side factors which contributed to the widespread post‐war decline of the private rental market and suggests many of the proposals currently under consideration in various European countries may not resolve emerging housing problems. Contrary to experiences elsewhere, the private rental market in Australia has remained robust because of the actions of small‐scale individual landlords. The paper uses survey information on the characteristics and motivations of these landlords to identify the critical factors which have sustained their investment in rental housing. From this it deriv.
Disordered Eating Behaviors Among Italian Men: Objectifying Media and Sexual Orientation Differences

Objectification theory was tested as a suitable framework for explaining sexual orientation differences in disordered eating behaviors in college-aged Italian men. The theory's applicability to 125 homosexual and 130 heterosexual men was investigated using self-report questionnaires. Gay men scored significantly higher on exposure to sexually objectifying media, body surveillance, body shame, disordered eating behaviors, and depression than heterosexual men. Although path analyses support the theory's applicability to both groups, for gay men the path model demonstrated a better fit to the objectification theory for disordered eating and depression. Practical implications are discussed.
Provision of Services and Care for HIV-Exposed Infants: A Comparison of Maternal and Child Health Clinic and HIV Comprehensive Care Clinic Models

Objective:Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV programs require follow-up of HIV-exposed infants (HEI) for infant feeding support, prophylactic medicines, and HIV diagnosis for at least 18 months. Retention in care and receipt of HIV services are challenging in resource-limited settings. This study compared infant follow-up results when HEI services were provided within Maternal and Child Health (MCH) clinics or in specialized HIV Comprehensive Care Clinics (CCCs) in Kenya. Methods:This observational prospective cohort study enrolled HEI at 6–8 weeks of age in 2 purposively selected hospitals with similar characteristics but different models of service delivery. In the CCC model, HEI received immunization and growth monitoring in MCH but cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and infant HIV testing in the CCC. In the MCH model, all services were provided in the MCH. Data were collected at enrollment, 14 weeks, and 6, 9, and 12 months. Results:From April 2008 to April 2009, 184 HEI were enrolled in the CCC cohort and 179 in the MCH cohort. Infants in MCH were 1.14, 1.42, 1.95, and 1.29 times more likely to attend 14-week, 6-, 9-, and 12-month postnatal visits, respectively, and 2.24 times (95% confidence interval: 1.57 to 3.18) more likely to attend all 4 visits. Although infants in MCH were 1.33 times (95% confidence interval: 1.10 to 1.62) more likely to have HIV antibody testing at 1 year than CCC, there were no differences for polymerase chain reaction test or cotrimoxazole initiation at 6–8 weeks. Conclusions:HIV services integrated in MCH yield better follow-up of HEI than CCC.
Efficient Congestion Tolls in the Presence of Unpriced Congestion: A Peak and Off-Peak Simulation Model

Abstract This paper develops a congestion pricing model to examine efficient congestion tolls for an urban highway facility that resembles California State Route 91, the highway that has been subject to congestion tolls since December 27, 1995. Two lanes out of six (each way) are subject to congestion tolls, and the other four lanes are not. The simulation model combines the economic theories of second-best pricing of transportation facilities and peak-load pricing, and considers both welfare-maximizing and profit-maximizing cases. The simulation results show that the second-best peak period toll is quite low and that the welfare gains from the toll are modest compared to a regime in which all lanes are subject to tolls.
Empirical Credit Risk

An empirical model of credit risk is based here on the observed relation between issuer credit quality, measured by yield spreads, and the attribution of issuer bond returns to interest rate changes or the issuer's equity return. High-quality bond returns are largely explained by interest rate changes, while low-quality bond returns are explained primarily by the issuers' equity returns. Intermediate-credit quality bond returns have a substantial bond market-specific component that is unexplained by either interest rate changes or equity returns. The various influences on the bond-equity return relationship allow construction of an exposure model to be used for corporate bond hedging, scenario analysis, and risk forecasting.
Long-term results of carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of the face.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of, and the complications associated with, carbon dioxide laser treatment of rhytidosis and solar aging. METHODS This retrospective report describes our experience with 47 patients who underwent entire facial carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. RESULTS The mean improvement in facial rhytid score at long-term follow-up was 45%. This improvement was consistent in all facial subsites. With the exception of 1 case of hyperpigmentation, which resolved within 2 years of treatment, hypopigmentation was the only long-term adverse effect. This complication was present in 6 patients (13%). The patients who developed hypopigmentation were more likely to have a greater response to treatment. CONCLUSION Our findings show that carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is a safe and effective treatment for facial rhytids.
Environmental regulation of the fim switch controlling type 1 fimbrial phase variation in Escherichia coli K-12: effects of temperature and media

Expression of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli K-12 is phase variable and associated with the inversion of a short DNA element (switch). The fim switch requires either fimB (on-to-off or off-to-on switching) or fimE (on-to-off switching only) and is affected by the global regulators leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp), integration host factor (IHF), and H-NS. Here it is shown that switching frequencies are regulated by both temperature and media and that these effects appear to be independent. fimE-promoted on-to-off switching occurs far more rapidly than previously estimated (0.3 per cell per generation in defined rich medium at 37 degrees C) and faster at lower than at higher temperatures. In direct contrast, fimB-promoted switching increases with temperature, with optima between 37 and 41 degrees C. Switching promoted by both fimB and fimE is stimulated by aliphatic amino acids (alanine, isoleucine, leucine, and valine), and this stimulation requires lrp. Furthermore, lrp appears to differentially regulate fimB- and fimE-promoted switching in different media.
Payments for Watershed Services Supporting Sustainable Agricultural Development in Tanzania

Agriculture affects both quantity and quality of water available for other uses and under current production systems, the impact is often negative. Adopting sustainable land management (SLM) practices can foster more efficient water use and increase agricultural productivity, while reducing environmental risks from water pollution and regulating flows serving downstream communities. However, farmers face barriers to adoption of such practices, especially lack of technical capacity and high upfront costs associated with SLM implementation, which is particularly important where land managers are poor. Drawing on a case study from Tanzania, this article discusses how an emerging policy tool—Payments for Environmental Services (PES)—can bridge this gap by providing technical assistance and financial support, thereby lowering the SLM adoption barriers and investing in an appropriate legal and institutional framework for long-term financing and expansion of SLM to improve watershed management.
Terms of Trade and Supply Response of Indian Agriculture: Analysis in Cointegration Framework

This paper examines the presence of stochastic trend in various domestic terms of trade (TOT) series in India. Results suggest that underlying data generating processes of TOT are non-stationary. Subsequently, we investigate the presence of long-run relationship(s) in the agricultural supply response model through cointegration analysis. The error correction estimates suggest that short-run output adjustments in agriculture are not related to TOT changes in a causal manner. However, short-run deviations in TOT create error-correction in the long-term output adjustments through changes in technology (irrigation). This may imply that agricultural growth can respond better if price incentives are combined with investments in irrigation.
Endodontics in general practice--a retrospective survey.

Thanks are due to Professor A. H. R. Rowe and members of the staff of the Department of Conservative Dental Surgery, Guy's Hospital Dental School, for their encouragement and guidance during the preparation of this paper. Thanks are also due to the secretarial staff of the Department and to the staff of the Departments of Medical Illustration and Dental Photography for their invaluable technical assistance.
Swedish Experience Using Environmental Accounts Data for Integrated Product Policy Issues

This article quantifies and ranks the environmental pressure caused by different product groups consumed in Sweden. This is done using information from economic and environmental statistics. An analysis for the year 1998 is performed for approximately 50 product groups using input‐output analysis. This type of analysis has some major advantages for integrated product policy (IPP) purposes: the underlying data are regularly updated, the data systems are being harmonized by international standards, and the connection between environmental goals and IPP goals can be investigated. This article summarizes two Swedish reports, one for the Producer Responsibility Committee and one for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The results show that the volume of consumption is an important factor in environmental pressure from products as well as impact intensities. The most important product categories for private consumption are petroleum products, electricity, construction, and food and beverages, as well as transport. Possibilities of building indicators for IPP are also discussed.
The Amino-terminal Immunoglobulin-like Domain of Sialoadhesin Contains the Sialic Acid Binding Site

Sialoadhesin and CD22 are members of a recently characterized family of sialic acid-dependent adhesion molecules belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Sialoadhesin is a macrophage-restricted receptor containing 17 extracellular Ig-like domains which recognizes oligosaccharides terminating in NeuAcα2-3Gal in N- and O-linked glycans. CD22 is a B cell-restricted receptor with seven Ig-like domains which selectively recognizes oligosaccharides terminating in NeuAcα2-6Gal in N-glycans. Sequence similarity between these proteins is highest within their first four amino-terminal Ig-like domains. Here we identify the domain(s) containing the binding sites of both molecules by generating a series of extracellular domain deletion mutants fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1. Binding activity was analyzed by solid phase cell adhesion assays and also by surface plasmon resonance using purified glycophorin and CD45 as ligands for sialoadhesin and CD22, respectively. For sialoadhesin, the amino-terminal V-set Ig-like domain was both necessary and sufficient to mediate sialic acid-dependent adhesion of the correct specificity. In contrast, for murine CD22, only constructs containing both the V-set domain and the adjacent C2-set domain were able to mediate sialic acid-dependent binding. These results are consistent with the sialic acid binding site for both proteins residing in the membrane distal V-set domain, but for CD22 a direct contribution in binding from the neighboring C2-set domain cannot be excluded.
Carbon isotope fractionation between graphite and diamond during shock experiments

Abstract— Carbon isotopic compositions were measured for shock‐produced diamond and shocked graphite formed at peak pressures ranging from 37 to 52 GPa. The δ13C values of diamonds produced in a sealed container were generally lower than that of the initial graphite. The differences in the carbon isotopic composition between initial graphite and shocked graphite/diamond may reflect kinetic isotopic fractionation during the oxidation of the graphite/diamond and/or analytical artifacts possibly induced by impurities in the samples. The pressure effect on the isotopic fractionations between graphite and diamond can be estimated from the δ13C values of impurity‐free diamonds produced using a vented container from which gases, including oxygen, in pore spaces escaped during or after the diamond formation (e.g., 0.039 ± 0.085‰ at a peak pressure of 52 GPa). Any isotopic fractionation induced by shock conversion of graphite to diamond is too small to be detected in natural shock‐induced diamond‐graphite systems related to terrestrial impact cratering processes.
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG BERPENGARUH TERHADAP AUDIT DELAY (Studi Empiris pada Perusahaan Sektor Jasa yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Periode Tahun 2011 dan 2012)

Timeliness of financial reporting is one of important qualitative attributes that makes the information provided in financial statements useful to users. The reason that makes researcher interested in research in this field is that audit process can cause delay in reporting financial statements. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of firm size, debt to asset ratio (DAR), earning per share (EPS), type of industry, auditor’s opinion, and reputation of public accountants toward audit delay. Data used is audited financial statements from Indonesian service companies (tertiary sector) that listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2011 and 2012. Sampling method that used is purposive sampling. The samples consist of 157 financial statements from 101 service companies. Multiple linear regression is used to be an analysis technique. The results of this research indicate that earning per share (EPS) and auditor’s opinion have significantly negative influence to audit delay. However, other factors, such as firm size, debt to asset ratio (DAR), type of industry, and reputation of public accountants have no significant influence to audit delay.
Distortions to Agricultural Incentives in the Kyrgyz Republic

The Kyrgyz Republic was one of the poorest Soviet republics and, despite attempts by central planners to locate industries in the republic, outside the capital city and its neighborhood the economy remained predominantly agricultural. When the country became independent in December 1991, agriculture accounted for just under two-fifths of gross domestic product (GDP). During the transitional recession workers moved from the towns to the countryside, and agriculture's share of GDP reached 50 percent in 1996. The share of GDP declined after 1997 as gold production increased, but remains above a third, while at least half of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on the farm sector for their livelihood. This chapter analyses the country's policies towards agriculture since independence, including an attempt to quantify the distortions to agricultural incentives and competitiveness. The Kyrgyz experience is characterized by the most liberal reforms in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and also by the best performance of any farm sector in the CIS. At the same time, establishment of a well-functioning market economy has been a slow process, and corruption and lack of truly competitive markets remain major problems. The first section sets out the historical background, describing overall economic strategy and agricultural development. The next section examines the evolution of policies affecting the farm sector, before quantifying the distortions to agricultural incentives in the third section. The last two sections analyze the political economy of policy choices in the Kyrgyz Republic and future policy reform paths.
Communication Source, Brand Image and Brand Choices of Postgraduate Students

The purpose of this study is to determine post graduate students’ perception of the communication sources, brand image of the university and their brand choices when selecting a university to pursue their graduate studies. Aquantitative research approach in the form of a correlation study was used in this research. This study was conducted in a corporate university of the national telecommunication company in Malaysia. The respondents were post graduate students pursuing master the business management (MBA) program. A total of 41 studentsconstituted the sample. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. University web site was found tohave the greatest reach and influence on students’ decision to study in the university. Published ranking wassecond and friends /family was third. Of the top ten sources having the greatest reach and influence, six were university sources. Quality / reputation of the faculty topped the list on important decision criteria for selecting to study in the university. This was followed by prestige /global recognition of the university; published ranking of its graduate management programme and that it was an accredited program. Accredited programme, quality and reputation of the faculty, global recognition and prestige of the school were among the top reasons given by graduating MBA students for selecting the school. The study was confined to one institution only. Therefore the results are only generalizable to the population from that university. Further research should include samples from other universities so that the results can be generalizable over a larger population. The paper contributes to marketing research for institutions of higher education. The finding could be used to develop effective marketing strategy.
Trust in Business to Business Relationships: An Evaluation of its Status

The concept of trust has been used in a growing number of empirical and theoretical marketing studies of business to business relationships. Examination of a number of influential studies indicates a lack of clarity in their conceptualization of trust. The nature of this lack of clarity is examined and it is proposed that there are a number of features of trust which account should be taken of when conducting such studies.
Time, Price, and Advanced Booking of Hotel Rooms

ABSTRACT The effectiveness of revenue management systems has diminished in recent years due to the systems' inability to address the increasing complication of online deal-seeking behavior. To restore their efficiency, one must first understand the changes in advanced-booking behavior and their implications. This study expands the consumer booking model by addressing the impact of time-before-the-date-of-stay and exploring the implication for the hotel's pricing/marketing strategies. The findings underscore the urgent need for empirical research on timing by showing that the predictions of the advanced-booking model, and consequently the effectiveness of RM systems, depend on the actual patterns over time.