Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonographic diagnostic criterion for severe diaphragmatic dysfunction after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND Severe diaphragmatic dysfunction can prolong mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. An ultrasonographic criterion for diagnosing severe diaphragmatic dysfunction defined by a reference technique such as transdiaphragmatic pressure measurements has never been determined. METHODS Twenty-eight patients requiring mechanical ventilation > 7 days postoperatively were studied. Esophageal and gastric pressures were measured to calculate transdiaphragmatic pressure during maximal inspiratory effort and the Gilbert index, which evaluates the diaphragm contribution to respiratory pressure swings during quiet ventilation. Ultrasonography allowed measuring right and left hemidiaphragmatic excursions during maximal inspiratory effort. Best E is the greatest positive value from either hemidiaphragm. Twenty cardiac surgery patients with uncomplicated postoperative course were also evaluated with ultrasonography preoperatively and postoperatively. Measurements were performed in semirecumbent position. RESULTS Transdiaphragmatic pressure during maximal inspiratory effort was below normal value in 27 of the 28 patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation (median, 39 cm H(2)O; interquartile range [IQR] 28 cm H(2)O). Eight patients had Gilbert indexes <or= 0 indicating severe diaphragmatic dysfunction. Best E was lower in patients with Gilbert index <or= 0 than > 0 (30 mm; IQR, 10 mm; vs 19 mm; IQR, 7 mm, respectively; p = 0.001). Best E < 25 mm had a positive likelihood ratio of 6.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4 to 19) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0 (95% CI, 0 to 1.1) for having a Gilbert index <or= 0. None of the patients with uncomplicated course had Best E < 25 mm either preoperatively or postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasonographic-based determination of hemidiaphragm excursions in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery may help identify those with and without severe diaphragmatic dysfunction as defined by the Gilbert index.
Immunology of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) are susceptible to debilitating, persistent, and refractory infections of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes with yeasts of the genus candida, most often by the species Candida albicans . The underlying defect is thought to be an impairment of immune defences but the nature of the defect(s) has not been defined.1 Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast inhabiting, as a commensal, the mucous membranes of > 80% of adults, becoming invasive only if the existing balance is disrupted. Various non-immunological factors are known to predispose to candida overgrowth and thrush (diabetes, obesity, systemic antibiotics, systemic and local steroid treatment, dentures, and occlusion—for example, nappies and tight clothing, etc); however, these infections are characteristically resolved as soon as the predisposing factors are removed and should not be confused with a persistent inability to clear candida, as is seen in CMC.2 Patients with CMC do not constitute a homogenous group and numerous classifications have been proposed, mostly based on the presence or absence of endocrinopathy, juvenile or mature onset, and familial or sporadic occurrence.3 Associated findings include alopecia, vitiligo, malabsorption disorders, and infections with encapsulated microorganisms.4 Patients with CMC and endocrinopathy are now frequently referred to as having the APECED (autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dysplasia) syndrome,5 previously known as APS-1 (autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1). In these patients, a genetic defect has recently been identified showing (various) mutations in the AIRE (autoimmune regulator) gene, which probably encodes a DNA transcription factor. The link between the identified gene defect and the inability to clear candida remains unknown. No gene defect has as yet been identified in patients with CMC without endocrinopathy, although there have been occasional reports of such patients where multiple family members through several generations were affected, again suggesting an …
Autonomy and Control in Australian Agencies: Data and Preliminary Findings from a Cross-National Empirical Study

This article is developed from data gathered through the analysis of a survey of ‘agencies’ at Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) levels of government, undertaken as the Australian component of a cross-national empirical study of autonomy and control in non-departmental public sector organisations. It presents preliminary findings from one part of what is potentially a very important enterprise in comparative research, along with discussion of methodological issues which need to be confronted in many such comparative exercises. The data reveal that Australia agencies have been granted more autonomy than agencies in other countries contributing to this survey, though that autonomy varies markedly across functions such as personnel management and financial management. While the article represents just a snapshot in time in agency autonomy, we believe it provides a robust baseline for future changes in the way agencies are managed in the Australian public sector.
Selection of Nonzero Taps for Sparse Linear Equalizer

The selection of nonzero taps for sparse linear equalizer under the criterion of minimum mean square error (MMSE) is investigated. In some applications such as underwater acoustic communications, the computational resource in terms of the number of nonzero channel taps is given in existing channel equalizers. In this context, the joint determination of positions and weights of nonzero taps of sparse equalizer is considered and then formulated as a subset selection problem. A fast algorithm that uses two levels of loops is proposed to iteratively update each entry of the subset. The computational complexity of the proposed algorithm is analyzed. To make the work comprehensive, the sparse equalizer design where the number of nonzero taps is not given is also investigated. Simulation results show that around 60% equalizer taps can be saved with no more than 1dB of performance loss. Moreover, compared to the OMP algorithm, the proposed algorithm can save 33% equalizer taps achieving the same bit error rate (BER) of 0.001.
Welfare States and the Redistribution of Happiness

We use data from the 2002 International Social Survey Programme, with roughly 42,000 individuals nested within twenty-nine countries, to examine the determinants of happiness in a comparative perspective. We hypothesize that social democratic welfare states redistribute happiness among policy-targeted demographic groups in these countries. The redistributive properties of the social democratic welfare states generate an alternate form of “happiness inequality” in which winners and losers are defined by marital status, presence of children, and income. We apply multilevel modeling and focus on public social expenditures (as percentage of GDP) as proxy measures of state intervention at the macro level, and happiness as the specific measure of welfare outcome at the micro level. We find that aggregate happiness is not greater in the social democratic welfare states, but happiness closely reflects the redistribution of resources in these countries. Happiness is redistributed from low-risk to high-risk individuals. For example, women with small children are significantly happier, but single persons are significantly less happy in the welfare states. This suggests that the pro-family ideology of the social democratic welfare states protects families from social risk and improves their well-being at the cost of single persons. Further, we find that the happiness gap between high- versus low-income earners is considerably smaller in the social democratic welfare states, suggesting that happiness is redistributed from the privileged to the less privileged.
The role of radiotherapy for patients over age 60 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era

Abstract The role of consolidative radiotherapy (RT) in patients ≥60 years old with DLBCL in the rituximab era is controversial. We examined the impact on disease control and overall survival by the addition of consolidative RT after completion of chemotherapy, while adjusting for known adverse risk factors. Retrospective chart review from 2004 to 2012 of 83 consecutive patients ≥60 years old with DLBCL treated in the rituximab era, 68 of which had a complete response to chemotherapy, was performed. Amongst patients with a complete response, consolidative RT use was associated with 100% 5-year local control, improved progression-free survival (p = 0.047), and a trend for overall survival (p = .098) on multivariate analysis. Amongst all patients, the use of consolidative RT was associated with improved overall survival (p = 0.03). The use of consolidative RT should be considered for patients ≥60 years old independent of stage and response to chemotherapy.
Understanding commitment within the leisure service contingent workforce

Over the past few decades, hundreds of empirical investigations have examined the construct of “workplace commitment”. Much of this research is based on the assumption that commitment is tied to longevity within a given organization. However, work patterns, particularly in many leisure delivery systems, are inconsistent with the longevity model. Leisure settings often rely, not on full-time lifelong employees, but on contingent employees, those working part-time, seasonally, or on a temporary basis. This study used qualitative methods to explore the experience of contingent leisure workers. The goal was to discover the level and type of commitment they experienced and to determine variables that most influenced that commitment. Twenty-four contingent employees took part in a semi-structured interview. Critical incident technique was used to examine specific incidents and their subsequent influence on commitment levels and types. Their commitment was based very strongly on enthusiasm and passion for various components (the organization, supervisor, occupation, workgroup, and client) of the work setting. However, participants' attention was focused primarily on the client and on their respective supervisors. Interactions with either could have dramatic implications for their commitment levels. We found too that these employees could be profoundly influenced by the setting in which the work took place and by the activities that dominated their workday. This is the first time setting and activity have been identified in commitment research. We speculate that both may be most salient in leisure contexts.
Interrelationships between Hydrology and Ecology in Fire Degraded Tropical Peat Swamp Forests

Interrelationships between hydrology and ecology are established for the Air Hitam Laut watershed in Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. The developed relational diagram shows how modelled regional groundwater levels and flooding patterns are related to the occurrence of different vegetation types in this endangered peatland watershed. In dry conditions when groundwater levels are deeper than 1 m below soil surface, fire disasters are unavoidable. When areas susceptible to fire actually burn and both vegetation and peat disappear, the total inundated area will expand with a factor five. In wet conditions with groundwater levels of more than 1 m above soil surface for a prolonged period of time, flooding creates lakes where no plant species can regrow. In the intermediate range, rehabilitation of different plant species is promising and is related to the actual hydrological regime.
PRODUCER SERVICES, SCALE, AND THE DIVISION OF LABOR

This paper develops a model in which increasing returns to scale result from increased degrees of specialization at the firm level, and in which services are important to the coordination and control of specialized, interdependent operations. The relationship of the producer services sector to scale, productivity, and the division of labor is then considered. The model lends insight into the growing importance of the producer service sector in industrial economies. It emphasizes the positive contribution of the producer services sector to the realization of returns due to specialization, and highlights services as a complement rather than a substitute to manufacturing. Copyright 1990 by Royal Economic Society.
Fertility Choice In A Model Of Economic Growth

Altruistic parents make choices of family size along with decisions about consumption and intergenerational transfers. The authors apply this framework to a closed economy, where the determination of interest rates and wage rates is simultaneous with the determination of population growth and the accumulation of capital. Thus, they extend the literature on optimal economic growth to allow for optimizing choices of fertility and intergenerational transfers. The authors use the model to assess the effects of child-rearing costs, the tax system, the conditions of technology and preferences, and shocks to the initial levels of population and the capital stock. Copyright 1989 by The Econometric Society. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Post-issue operating performance of firms listing on the JSE

Various studies conducted in the United States (US) have documented several anomalies with initial public offerings (IPOs). Ibbotson (1975) and Ritter (1984, 1991) document short-run underpricing, cyclical "hot issue" markets and long-run underperformance. These findings are not peculiar to the US. Long run IPO underperformance is documented in the United Kingdom (UK) (Levis, 1993), and Brazil (Aggarwal, Leal and Hernandez, 1993). In South Africa research on IPO performance on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) has produced mixed results (Lawson, 1996 and M'kombe and Ward, 2002). These contradictory findings indicate that the long run performance of IPOs varies over time and long-run returns are sensitive to the sample period and methodology used (Ritter and Welch, 2002 and Brav, 2000). This study examines the change in operating performance of 391 firms that listed on the JSE between 1990 and 2003. Using a fixed-effects panel data regression model, factors such as the changes in profitability, investment and growth, tax, leverage and cost of credit are examined over a three year period. Profitability of IPO firms declines significantly in the third year after listing. In addition, tax payments increase permanently and significantly. These results are consistent with findings by Pagano, Panetta and Zingales (1998) and Jain and Kini (1994). Moreover, they are also consistent with M'kombe and Ward (2002)'s results of long-run underperformance of South African IPOs and Ritter (1991) and Loughran and Ritter (1995)'s discovery of long-run IPO underperformance in the US. Similar to Ritter's (1991) results, IPO volume in the South African market fluctuates. The highest concentration of IPOs occurred during the technology fuelled bull market of 1998 and 1999 whereas the lowest concentration occurred during the global recession of 2001 to 2003.
Corporate motivations for environmental sustainable development: exploring the role of consumers in stakeholder engagement

This paper examines the extent to which the end-consumer appears to influence corporate behaviour towards reporting specific environmental management activities, through examination of environmental disclosures by the UK FTSE 100 companies. The paper also explores whether proximity to the end-consumer is associated with particular motivations for environmental management – whether cost-reducing or reputational benefits, hypothesizing that close-to-consumer companies (C2C) will have a greater focus on reputational benefits than their counterparts. The results established that C2C companies were significantly more active in particular environmental measures (climate change and management processes) than their counterparts. They were also more likely to undertake environmental activities for which there was no explicit cost-reduction benefit, suggesting that reputation with consumers/society may be a particular business motivator for them. These findings are important to policy makers, government and investors in terms of identifying which companies are leading particular aspects of the corporate environmental agenda and understanding the driving forces for it. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Market Response to Liquidity Improvements: Evidence from Exchange Listings

The study examines a sample of 895 stocks that moved from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange or to the American Stock Exchange between 1971 and 1994. We show how various measures of liquidity such as the bid-ask spread, trading volume, and stock price precision improve in somewhat different ways upon transfer to NYSE (Amex). We also find that reductions in trading costs (% spread) and in pricing error volatility (Hasbrouck's sigma[subscript s]) can explain most of the stock market's positive response to exchange listing. Thus, liquidity has many facets and cannot be represented by the bid-ask spread alone. Copyright 2000 by MIT Press.
Etiology of septic arthritis in children: an update for the 1990s.

OBJECTIVE To establish the etiology of septic arthritis in children after implementation of HIB immunization guidelines. METHODS A retrospective review of all charts with a discharge diagnosis of septic arthritis (ICD-9: 711) from January 1991 to December 1996 at St. Louis Children's Hospital was conducted. RESULTS Sixty-four patients (male = 58%) were identified, whose median age was 6.0 years. Twenty-one children (33%) were misdiagnosed on initial presentation. An organism was isolated in 38 (59%) of cases. The predominant organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (10 isolates), Group A Streptococcus (4), Enterobacter species (4), Kingella kingae (3), Neisseria meningitides (3), Streptococcus pneumoniae (2), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2), Candida (2), Staphylococcus epidermidis (2). The only isolate of Haemophilus influenzae type B was in 1992 in an unimmunized 14 month old. CONCLUSIONS These data confirm Staphylococcus aureus as a frequent pathogen and suggest that H influenzae type B is no longer the predominant isolate in young children with septic arthritis. In addition, early septic arthritis in children is frequently misdiagnosed on initial evaluation.
Author ' s personal copy Extracting the Ag surface and volume loss functions from reflection electron energy loss spectra

Reflection electron energy loss spectra have been measured for silver using incoming electrons with energies between 5 and 40 keV, in a surface and volume-sensitive geometry. Bulk and surface loss functions are extracted from these data and various consistency checks are applied to the obtained loss functions. Depositing minute amounts of Al onto the Ag surface causes a severe reduction in surface features. The intensity of the surface feature seems now to increase as the probe energy is increased. A mechanism by which this can occur is discussed. The relation between the bulk loss function and the dielectric function is discussed, and a comparison with the results of transmission electron energy loss spectra and optical
Comparison of cyclic fatigue resistance between different NiTi instruments with 4% taper

The aim of this study was to make a comparison between the cyclic fatigue (CF) resistance of F360, twisted files (TF), FlexMaster (FM) and RaCE instruments with 4% taper. A total of 40 instruments were evaluated 8 mm from the tip. A stainless steel block with a simulated canal of 1.5 mm diameter, and a 60° angle of curvature was tested using CF testing. One‐way ANOVA and posthoc Tukey's test (P < 0.05) were used. The F 360 files showed the highest CF resistance while the TF files had greater CF resistance than the FM and RaCE (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the FM and RaCE (P > 0.05). F360 instruments with a double S cross‐section had the highest CF resistance among the group. The TF led the NiTi rotary files to be more resistant to fatigue than the FM and RaCE instruments. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:345–348, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interproximal tissue dimensions in relation to adjacent implants in the anterior maxilla: clinical observations and patient aesthetic evaluation.

OBJECTIVES This clinical study aimed to assess (i) interproximal tissue dimensions between adjacent implants in the anterior maxilla, (ii) factors that may influence interimplant papilla dimensions, and (iii) patient aesthetic satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifteen adults, who had two or more adjacent implants (total of 35) in the anterior maxilla, participated in the study. The study design involved data collection from treatment records, clinical and radiographic assessment, and a questionnaire evaluating aesthetic satisfaction. RESULTS The median vertical dimension of interimplant papillae, i.e., distance from tip of the papilla to the bone crest, was 4.2 mm. Missing papilla height (PH) at interimplant sites was on average 1.8 mm. Median proximal biologic width at interimplant sites was 7 mm. The most coronal bone-to-implant contact at implant-implant sites was located on average 4.6 mm apical to the bone crest at comparable neighbouring implant-tooth sites. The tip of the papilla between adjacent implants was placed on average 2 mm more apically compared with implant-tooth sites. The contact point between adjacent implant restorations extended more apically by 1 mm on average compared with implant-tooth sites. Median missing PH was 1 mm when an immediate provisionalization protocol had been followed, whereas in the case of a removable temporary it was 2 mm. Split group analysis showed that for missing PH<or=1 mm, the median horizontal distance between implants at shoulder level was 3 mm. Patient satisfaction with the appearance of interimplant papillae was on average 87.5%, despite a Papilla Index of 2 in most cases. CONCLUSIONS The apico-coronal proximal biologic width position and dimension appear to determine papilla tip location between adjacent implants. There was a significant association between the provisionalization protocol and missing PH, which was also influenced by the horizontal distance between implants. Patient aesthetic satisfaction was high, despite a less than optimal papilla fill.