Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis and therapeutic strategy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

HYPOTHESIS Total thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine I 131 treatment is effective in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTM) with lymph node or extrathyroid invasion. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Chang Gung Medical Center, Linkou, Taiwan. PATIENTS A total of 227 patients with PTM, categorized into high-risk (n = 12) and low-risk (n = 215) groups according to age, metastases, extent, and size criteria. INTERVENTIONS Diagnosis and treatment of PTM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Time and method of diagnosis, operative method, metastases, and survival. RESULTS In 51 patients, PTM was identified on preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology; in 75 patients, diagnosed in frozen sections during operation; and in 101 patients, diagnosed incidentally in the final histopathological examination. Among these 3 groups, 18% (9/51), 17% (13/75), and 78% (79/101), respectively, underwent subtotal thyroidectomy or lobectomy for tumors. Four cases (1.8%) displayed distant metastases at diagnosis. Only 0.9% of patients with PTM (2 of 227) died of thyroid cancer. One hundred eighty-nine cases of PTM were confined to the thyroid, 22 had lymph node metastases, and 16 showed extrathyroid extension, including soft-tissue invasion and distant metastases. Sex, operative methods, follow-up status, and mortality showed differences in these groups. Five of 227 patients remained in non-disease-free status at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Approximately 10% of PTMs exhibited progressive clinical courses, while less than 1% resulted in mortality. Age, sex, and postoperative thyroglobulin level were the main prognostic factors in the high-risk group of patients with PTM. Conservative treatment of the incidental finding of PTM after suitable postoperative assessment is justified.
Identifying the Household Consumption Response to Tax Expectations using Bond Prices

Although theoretical models often emphasize fiscal foresight, most empirical studies neglect the role of news, thereby underestimating the total effect of tax changes. Measuring the path of expected future tax rates from the yield spread between taxable and tax-exempt bonds, this paper finds that consumption of highincome households increases by close to 1% in response to news of a 1% increase in expected after-tax lifetime income, consistent with the basic rational-expectations life-cycle theory. Using novel high-frequency bond data, I develop a model of the term structure of municipal yield spreads as a function of future top income tax rates and a risk premium. Testing the model using the presidential elections of 1992 and 2000 as two natural experiments, this paper shows that financial markets forecast future tax rates remarkably well in both the short and long run. Combining these market-based tax expectations with consumption data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey shows that households who have lower income, less education, or are more credit constrained respond less to news. However, the same households also respond one-for-one with large news shocks, consistent with rational inattention. Overall, the results in this paper suggest that ignoring anticipation effects biases estimates of the effect of fiscal policy downward. ∗Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley; kueng@berkeley.edu; website https: //sites.google. com/site/lorenzkueng. I am grateful to Alan Auerbach and Yuriy Gorodnichenko for their encouragement and support throughout this project. David Card, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Patrick Kline, Dina Pomeranz, Demian Pouzo, Emmanuel Saez, Adam Szeidl, Mu-Jeung Yang, participants at the Finance, Macro, and Public Finance seminars at UC Berkeley, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, the University of Basel, ETH Zürich, and the Study Center Gerzensee provided valuable feedback. I thank Daniel Feenberg (NBER) for support with mapping the CEX to TAXSIM, Kevin Moore (Board of Governors) for sharing his code for the SCF, and Craig Kreisler (BLS) for patiently answering all my questions about the CEX. Of course, all errors are my own. †First draft: November 23, 2009. This draft: November 14, 2011. HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION RESPONSE TO TAX NEWS 1
Self-Paced Learning for Matrix Factorization

Matrix factorization (MF) has been attracting much attention due to its wide applications. However, since MF models are generally non-convex, most of the existing methods are easily stuck into bad local minima, especially in the presence of outliers and missing data. To alleviate this deficiency, in this study we present a new MF learning methodology by gradually including matrix elements into MF training from easy to complex. This corresponds to a recently proposed learning fashion called self-paced learning (SPL), which has been demonstrated to be beneficial in avoiding bad local minima. We also generalize the conventional binary (hard) weighting scheme for SPL to a more effective real-valued (soft) weighting manner. The effectiveness of the proposed self-paced MF method is substantiated by a series of experiments on synthetic, structure from motion and background subtraction data.
Corporate Dollar Debt and Depreciations: Much Ado About Nothing?

Emerging markets firms often carry foreign-currency debt on their balance sheets. Following a depreciation, the expanding peso value of dollar liabilities could, via a net-worth effect, offset the expansionary competitiveness effect. To assess which effect dominates, we use accounting data (including the currency composition of liabilities) for 450 nonfinancial firms in five Latin American countries in the 1990s. We find that firms holding more dollar debt do not invest less than their peso-indebted counterparts following a depreciation. We also show that these firms match the currency denomination of their liabilities with the exchange rate sensitivity of their profits.
Secure Asynchronous Reactive Systems

We present a rigorous model for secure reactive systems in asynchronous networks. It captures both computational aspects of security as needed for cryptography, and abstractions as needed in typical theorem provers and model checkers, with clear refinement relations within and between the layers of abstraction. The term “reactive” means that the system interacts with its users multiple times, e.g., in many concurrent protocol runs. We define a distributed scheduling scheme that allows both probabilistic executions with realistic adversarial scheduling and the representation of local submachines. Polynomial runtime in the reactive case is defined precisely, to capture polynomially bounded users and adversaries, as well as actions of runtime-restricted machines in the presence of more powerful adversaries. The model captures the strongest possible adversarial behaviors, but is defined in a modular way so that other trust models can be considered, e.g., some secure or authentic channels and static or adaptive adversaries. Security-preserving refinement is different from normal refinement because it includes confidentiality. We capture it by the notion of reactive simulatability, extending existing cryptographic notions from much simpler scenarios to the general reactive case.
Gender/Sex and Sexual Diversity via Sexual Configurations Theory: Insights From a Qualitative Study With Gender and Sexual Minorities

Sexual configurations theory (SCT; van Anders, 2015) provides theoretical and methodological tools for describing, understanding, and studying gender/sex and sexual diversity. It may be of use to sexuality and gender researchers, as well as clinicians, activists, and individuals, but has not been empirically tested. In the present study, we tested the qualitative application of SCT in interviews with 25 gender and sexual minority participants and addressed 2 research questions: RQ1 (“Insights”): what features of partnered sexualities and gender/sex emerge from individuals’ engagement with SCT diagrams? and RQ2 (“Utility”): how might SCT be useful for qualitative research with sexual and gender minorities? We thematically analyzed participants’ engagement with SCT and its diagrams in the interviews. Results showed that SCT and its diagrams allowed participants to represent diverse experiences with their partnered sexualities and gender/sexes, and also to articulate nuanced conceptualizations of the structure and significance of SCT parameters, including gender/sex sexuality, partner number sexuality, and individual gender/sex, in their own lives. We discuss implications of our findings for qualitative research with sexual and gender minorities, social justice, and sexual and gender diversity more broadly.
New data, old tensions: Big data, personalized learning, and the challenges of progressive education

Personalized learning has become the most notable application of big data in primary and secondary schools in the United States. The combination of big data and adaptive technological platforms is heralded as a revolution that could transform education, overcoming the outdated classroom model, and realizing the progressive vision of interest-driven and self-initiated learning. Yet, even supporters concede that, in practice, personalized learning is geared toward behaviorist models of learning. This article explores how this gap between expectation and reality concerning big data can be understood as a reflection of existing tensions within progressive education. To explain the tension, I examine the interplay between Rousseau and Dewey’s theories of education, and the novel opportunities offered by big data. I hold that personalized learning could be understood as an iteration of Rousseau’s vision of well-regulated freedom, in which students’ freedom is perceived as a means toward increasing the effectiveness of their learning. The relegation of decision making to algorithms renders this regulation more feasible and justifiable. Dewey’s critique of Rousseau’s individualized and teleological model of education offers the contours of an alternative role for big data in education, which prioritizes social interaction and the cultivation of democratic citizens. Moreover, due to the increased capacity to operationalize complex learning processes in naturalistic learning environments, big data could allow tackling some of the lingering challenges to implementing Dewey’s approach.
How Representative are Firms that are Cross Listed in the United States? An Analysis of Accounting Quality

We provide evidence on the characteristics of local generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) earnings for firms cross‐listing on U.S. exchanges relative to a matched sample of foreign firms currently not cross‐listing in the United States to investigate whether U.S. listing is associated with differences in accounting data reported in local markets. We find that cross‐listed firms differ in terms of the time‐series properties of earnings and accruals, and the degree of association between accounting data and share prices. Cross‐listed firms appear to be less aggressive in terms of earnings management and report accounting data that are more conservative, take account of bad news in a more timely manner, and are more strongly associated with share price. Furthermore, the differences appear to result partially from changes around cross‐listing and partially from differences in accounting quality before listing. We do not observe a similar pattern for firms cross‐listed on other non‐U.S. exchanges or on the U.S. over‐the‐counter market, suggesting a unique quality to cross‐listing on U.S. exchanges.
Flipping a Chinese University EFL Course: What Students and Teachers Think of the Model

“Flipping” the classroom is an instructional strategy in which students do homework in class and classwork at home, with the ultimate goal of spending more in-class time on problem-solving and individualized instruction (Lage, Platt, & Treglia, 2000). Although this strategy has been embraced by K-12 teachers in the United States, research into applying the “flipped” model in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context at the university level has yet to be published. To address this issue, an experiment was conducted with intermediate level EFL classes at a university in Macau, China. Data from observations and surveys revealed that initially the flipped model did not match learner expectations of teacher roles in the classroom. However, at the end of the 15-week course, students in the experimental classes requested additional flipped materials and appeared more comfortable with the model. Additional findings from teaching journals uncovered that three out of the four teachers recommend the flipped approach for promoting creativity and opportunities for higher order learning in the classroom. The journals also indicated some skepticism among teachers in regards to applying the flipped concept to language instruction and struggles with student engagement with the materials.
Additive and multiplicative effects of working memory and test anxiety on mathematics performance in grade 3 students

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the interplay between test anxiety and working memory (WM) on mathematics performance in younger children. A sample of 624 grade 3 students completed a test battery consisting of a test anxiety scale, WM tasks and the Swedish national examination in mathematics for grade 3. The main effects of test anxiety and WM, and the two-way interaction between test anxiety and WM on mathematics performance, were modelled with structural equation modelling techniques. Additionally, the effects were also tested separately on tasks with high WM demands (mathematical problem-solving) versus low WM demands (basic arithmetic). As expected, WM positively predicted mathematics performance in all three models (overall mathematics performance, problem-solving tasks, and basic arithmetic). Test anxiety had a negative effect on problem-solving on the whole sample level but concerning basic arithmetic only students with lower WM were affected by the negative effects of test anxiety on performance. Thus, students with low WM are more vulnerable to the negative effects of test anxiety in low WM tasks like basic arithmetic. The results are discussed in relation to the early identification of test anxiety.
Consumer Decision-Making Styles in Malaysia: An Exploratory Study of Gender Differences

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the differing approaches of male and female Malaysian consumers toward shopping and buying activities. The research used Sproles and Kendall’s (1986) Consumer Style Inventory (CSI) on a sample of 386 Malaysian males and females. Exploratory factor analysis was used to understand the decision-making styles of both genders. New traits were identified for male and female consumers that were in contrast with the original CSI factors. Implications and directions for future research are provided based on the results. Keywords: Decision-making styles, Consumer Style Inventory (CSI), Malaysia 1. Introduction Market segmentation is an essential element of marketing. Goods can no longer be produced and sold without considering consumer needs and recognising the heterogeneity of those needs (Wedel & Kamakura, 2000). The earliest attempts at market segmentation were usually based on demographics. While there are many ways to segment a market, the marketing of products and services today is still predominantly based on demographic features of consumers. A reason for the popularity of demographic segmentation is the possible correlation between demographic characteristics and specialised consumer activities such as shopping and buying. Products such as clothing and personal care are designed, targeted and promoted with either men or women in mind. Another reason for the popularity of demographic segmentation is that demographics are usually well-defined, and above all, are amongst the easiest to measure (Pol, 1991). A considerable amount of data is readily available from reliable sources such as government agencies which gather demographic information that can be used to segment potential consumers. Several demographic variables may be used to segment consumer markets, among the commonly used by marketers include income, age, gender, ethnicity, marital status and household size. Among these variables, gender has been and continues to be one of the most popular forms of market segmentation for a significant proportion of products and services. Marketing scholars (Meyers-Levy & Sternthal, 1991; Darley & Smith, 1995) argue that gender-based segmentation, especially if it is based on biological sex per se, meets several of the requirements for successful implementation: the
CFD analysis on the lubrication behaviours of journal bearing with dimples

CFD simulation on the lubrication behaviours of journal bearing with dimples was presented. Different from the previous works, the textured surface with dimple moves. The distributions of pressure, friction force and friction coefficient on the sliding surface were obtained. The comparison was made between textured surface sliding and smooth surface sliding. The influence of different dimple depth, dimple density and dimple profile on lubrication performance is discussed. By analysis, the following conclusions can be draw. The friction force and friction coefficient with textured surface sliding are smaller than that with smooth surface sliding. The introduce of dimple is benefit to lubrication performance in term of friction force compare to the smooth plate sliding, even there is some loss of load capacity. The increase of dimple depth and density will result in the decrease of friction force, which be attributed to more thick film lubrication. The profile of dimple has little effect on the friction force and friction coefficient. Some result is consistent with previous experimental facts.
The Evolution and Future of Earth’s Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen's Past and Future Microorganisms have been controlling Earth's nitrogen cycle since life originated. With life evolving around it, nitrogen became both an essential nutrient and a major regulator of climate. Canfield et al. (p. 192) review the major changes in the nitrogen cycle throughout Earth's history. Most of the time, perturbations typically coincided with the evolution of new metabolic pathways in various Bacteria or Archaea. The last century, however, has seen humans push the biological nitrogen cycle into a new stage altogether. The addition of large quantities of fixed nitrogen to crops in the form of fertilizer chokes out aquatic life that relies on runoff and adds significant amounts of N2O—a potent greenhouse gas—to the atmosphere. Although microorganisms may one day restore balance to the nitrogen cycle that they helped shape for billions of years, humans must modify their behavior or risk causing irreversible changes to life on Earth. Atmospheric reactions and slow geological processes controlled Earth’s earliest nitrogen cycle, and by ~2.7 billion years ago, a linked suite of microbial processes evolved to form the modern nitrogen cycle with robust natural feedbacks and controls. Over the past century, however, the development of new agricultural practices to satisfy a growing global demand for food has drastically disrupted the nitrogen cycle. This has led to extensive eutrophication of fresh waters and coastal zones as well as increased inventories of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Microbial processes will ultimately restore balance to the nitrogen cycle, but the damage done by humans to the nitrogen economy of the planet will persist for decades, possibly centuries, if active intervention and careful management strategies are not initiated.
Seasonal patterns in reproductive success of temperate‐breeding birds: Experimental tests of the date and quality hypotheses

Abstract For organisms in seasonal environments, individuals that breed earlier in the season regularly attain higher fitness than their late‐breeding counterparts. Two primary hypotheses have been proposed to explain these patterns: The quality hypothesis contends that early breeders are of better phenotypic quality or breed on higher quality territories, whereas the date hypothesis predicts that seasonally declining reproductive success is a response to a seasonal deterioration in environmental quality. In birds, food availability is thought to drive deteriorating environmental conditions, but few experimental studies have demonstrated its importance while also controlling for parental quality. We tested predictions of the date hypothesis in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) over two breeding seasons and in two locations within their breeding range in Canada. Nests were paired by clutch initiation date to control for parental quality, and we delayed the hatching date of one nest within each pair. Subsequently, brood sizes were manipulated to mimic changes in per capita food abundance, and we examined the effects of manipulations, as well as indices of environmental and parental quality, on nestling quality, fledging success, and return rates. Reduced reproductive success of late‐breeding individuals was causally related to a seasonal decline in environmental quality. Declining insect biomass and enlarged brood sizes resulted in nestlings that were lighter, in poorer body condition, structurally smaller, had shorter and slower growing flight feathers and were less likely to survive to fledge. Our results provide evidence for the importance of food resources in mediating seasonal declines in offspring quality and survival.
Multistationarity, the basis of cell differentiation and memory. I. Structural conditions of multistationarity and other nontrivial behavior.

A biological introduction serves to remind us that differentiation is an epigenetic process, that multistationarity can account for epigenetic differences, including those involved in cell differentiation, and that positive feedback circuits are a necessary condition for multistationarity and, by inference, for differentiation. The core of the paper is comprised of a formal description of feedback circuits and unions of disjoint circuits. We introduce the concepts of full-circuit (a circuit or union of disjoint circuits which involves all the variables of the system), and of ambiguous circuit (a circuit whose sign depends on the location in phase space). We describe the partition of phase space (a) according to the signs of the ambiguous circuits, and (b) according to the signs of the eigenvalues or their real part. We introduce a normalization of the system versus one of the circuits; in two variables, this permits an entirely general description in terms of a common diagram in the "circuit space. " The paper ends with general statements concerning the requirements for multistationarity, stable periodicity, and deterministic chaos. (c) 2001 American Institute of Physics.
State-space digital filters with minimum L/sub 2/-sensitivity subject to L/sub 2/-scaling constraints

The problem of minimizing an L/sub 2/-sensitivity measure subject to L/sub 2/-norm dynamic-range scaling constraints for state-space digital filters is considered. A novel iterative technique is developed to solve the constraint optimization problem directly. The proposed solution method is largely based on the use of a Lagrange function and some matrix-theoretic techniques. Computer simulation results are also presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.