Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
USE OF INTERPOSITIONAL BONE GRAFTS FOR FIRST METARSOPHALANGEAL ARTHRODESIS : A Review of Current Literature

Surgical procedures for fi rst metarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) arthritis have been well outlined in podiatric literature. The fi rst MPJ fusion is a procedure that is commonly used for initial treatment of this condition or subsequent treatment, after another surgical procedure has failed. A failed arthroplasty may result in an excessively shortened fi rst metatarsal or an overly resected proximal phalanx, which may necessitate the use of an interpositional boneblock graft to restore adequate length. The preservation of length can pose a surgical challenge, however, it is integral in preventing complications that may result from altered biomechanics, such as inadequate propulsion and lesser metatarsalgia. Although the literature on this procedure is not extensive, the fi rst MPJ arthrodesis with bone graft is revered as a technically demanding procedure. Thoughtful presurgical planning should be given to determine the best type of graft, the appropriate size, and positioning for the patient.
The Invariant Strain Scaling Function for the Strain Dependence of Composite Nb 3 Sn Superconductors

It has long been known that the critical properties of Nb3Sn are sensitive to strain in a very generally way, with dependence on hydrostatic strain and on deformation strain induced in a variety of forms. The strain dependence data for the effective upper critical field is often presented in normalized form, being normalized by the maximum value obtained in a uniaxial tensile test. This normalized strain dependence is here called the strain function. The general invariant analysis gives a physical explanation for the origin of the strain dependence of Nb3Sn, and suggests a form of invariant strain function. In order to compare the invariant strain function with measured strain dependence, the invariant strain function is compared to empirical strain functions that have been used to fit the experimental data.
MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SOME EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL STRUCTURES OF RICE WEEVIL, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE), A MAJOR PEST OF THE STORED CEREALS IN EGYPT

The morphology and anatomy of some important structures of S. oryzae have been described. All major differences between the two sexes, in respect of habitus, rostrum, olfactory sensilla of antenna, eyes, pronotum, mesonotum, metanotm, metendosternite, abdomen, propygidium, pygidium, proventriculus, male and female genitalia have been fully discussed and figured. The main differences between male and female of S. oryzae are, in a side view, the ventral surface of the female is in a straight line, but in the male it is curved posteriorly; the rostrum in the male is smaller and thicker and less curved than in the female and is dorsally, dull and closely punctured, but in the female, shining and sparsely punctured and The number of ommatidia in male (~ about 167) is more than female (~ about 154). Other differences in the rest of structures are shown below.
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF MICROLEAKAGE IN CLASS II RESTORATION USING FLOWABLE RESIN COMPOSITE AND RESIN MODIFIED GLASS IONOMER CEMENT USING STEREOMICROSCOPE

Aim and Objectives: To evaluate whether the intermediate layers of Flowable Resin Composite and Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Cement used prior to packable composite resin restoration would eliminate or significantly decrease microleakage at the gingival floor and which is the most suitable intermediate layer under packable composite resin restoration . Materials and Methods: Standarized Class II box only cavities (1.5mm mesio-distal extension, 3.0 mm buccal-lingual extension and the gingival seat placed at the CEJ) were restored as follows: Group A Restortion with packable composite alone, Group B 1mm flowable composite liner + packable composite, Group C 1mm resin modified glass ionomer liner + packable composite. The specimens were thermocycled, stained with methylene blue dye, sectioned to evaluate the dye penetration. Data were analysed using one way ANOVA and Bonferroni test. Results: There was no statisticaly significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: None of the groups was able to eliminate microleakage completely. Flowable resin composite when used as a 1mm thick liner under a packable resin composite at the gingival margins showed overall less microleakage than the other two groups to some extent.
Robust adaptive sliding mode admittance control of exoskeleton rehabilitation robots

A nonlinear robust adaptive sliding mode admittance controller is proposed for exoskeleton rehabilitation robots. The proposed controller has robustness against uncertainties of dynamic parameters using an adaptation law. Furthermore, an adaptive Sliding Mode Control (SMC) scheme is employed in the control law to provide robustness against disturbances (non-parametric uncertainties) with unknown bounds. For this purpose, another adaptation law is defined for the variation of the SMC gain. The proposed scheme is augmented with an admittance control method to provide compliance for the patient during interaction with the rehabilitation robot. The stability of the proposed controller and the tracking performance of the system are proven using the Lyapunov stability theorem. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed control method, some simulations are conducted for a nonlinear lower-limb exoskeleton robot interacting with a patient leg via some braces. Based on the obtained results, the controller is able to provide a flexibility for the patient and appropriately respond to his/her non-compliant interaction torques. Moreover, the proposed controller significantly reduces the chattering of the input torques in comparison with a previous adaptive control method with a constant SMC gain, while it maintains a similar tracking performance.
THE EFFECTS OF RATTAN FILLER LOADINGS ON PROPERTIES OF RATTAN POWDER-FILLED POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES

This study investigates the effects of filler loading on the properties of rattan powder-filled polypropylene composites. The composites were prepared by incorporating rattan powder of average size 180 µm into polypropylene matrix using a Polydrive Thermo Haake internal mixer. Filler loadings of the rattan powders ranged between 0 and 40 parts per hundred parts of resin (phr). Mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties were studied. The tensile strength, elongation at tensile failure, and impact strength decreased, while stabilization torque, thermal stability, and water absorption increased with increasing filler loading. Tensile modulus increased with addition of rattan powder and eventually decreased at 40 phr filler loading due to the weakening adhesion between the filler and the matrix. The morphological studies of fractured surfaces using SEM confirmed the deterioration in tensile properties.
Low‐frequency waves in asymmetric magnetized relativistic pair plasma

ABSTRA C T The properties of waves in a pulsar magnetosphere are considered in the most general case of a non-neutral, current-carrying pair plasma with arbitrary distribution functions for electrons and positrons. General dispersion relations are derived for a strong but finite magnetic field, including gyrotropic terms caused by the deviations from quasi-neutrality and the relative streaming of electrons and positrons. It is shown how the ellipticity of the wave polarization depends on the plasma parameters and angle of propagation. Two examples of plasma distributions are analysed numerically: a waterbag distribution and a piecewise distribution that models the numerical result for pair cascades. A possible application to the interpretation of the observed circular polarization of some pulsars is discussed.
Towards the development of an evaluation questionnaire for academic conferences

Each year, academic conferences are held at destinations throughout the world. These conferences provide benefits to the host destination's economy as well as to the conference participants. Involving travel and accommodation, academic conferences can be classified as business tourism. Academics often have a range of conferences from which to choose. The conference experience therefore may be important in the decision to reattend or recommend a conference to other potential attendees. While many conference organizers distribute a "conference evaluation sheet" at the end of a conference, there is no evidence of a standardized questionnaire that evaluates the entire conference experience. The objective of this work is to make such a contribution by identifying the attributes that are deemed to be important to the academic conference attendee and assigning a measurement scale for each attribute. The attributes are identified by way of a review of the services and tourism literature, and through semistructured interviews with academics. In addition to evaluating the entire conference experience, the questionnaire can be used to make longitudinal comparisons of a conference, and comparisons between
Study of Piezoelectrically Actuated Micropumps with Multiple Parallel Chambers

This study investigated the performance of the piezoelectrically actuated parallel micropumps. The displacement of the piezoelectric (PZT) actuator and the flow rate of the micropump were studied in terms of operating parameters. Using a nonlinear regression technique, empirical models of the micropumps were established based on the experimental data. The experimental results indicated that the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator increased with actuating voltage but decreased with frequency. The flow rate of the micropump was proportional to the applied voltage and demonstrated that the maximum flow rate occurred at an adequate frequency. When operated at a voltage of 140 V and a frequency of 20 Hz, the single micropump delivered a maximum flow rate of 91 µ 1/min. At the same input signal, the maximum flow rate of the double parallel micropump was 1.5 times that of the single micropump, and approximately twice that of the single micropump for triple parallel operation. Furthermore, the obtained non-linear regression formulae can be utilized to predict the flow rate of the micropump with multiparallel chambers.
Spot 2 . 0 — a framework for LTL and ω-automata manipulation

We present Spot 2.0, a C++ library with Python bindings and an assortment of command-line tools designed to manipulate LTL and ω-automata in batch. New automata-manipulation tools were introduced in Spot 2.0; they support arbitrary acceptance conditions, as expressible in the Hanoi Omega Automaton format. Besides being useful to researchers who have automata to process, its Python bindings can also be used in interactive environments to teach ω-automata and model checking.
An Arabic Morphological Analyzer and Generator with Copious Features

We introduce CALIMA-Star, a very rich Arabic morphological analyzer and generator that provides functional and form-based morphological features as well as built-in tokenization, phonological representation, lexical rationality and much more. This tool includes a fast engine that can be easily integrated into other systems, as well as an easy-to-use API and a web interface. CALIMA-Star also supports morphological reinflection. We evaluate CALIMA-Star against four commonly used analyzers for Arabic in terms of speed and morphological content.
An Investigation into Energy Loss in Bends for Pneumatic Conveying of Fly Ash

An accurate estimation of the total pressure drop of a pipeline is important to the reliable design of a pneumatic conveying system. The present paper presents results from an investigation into the modelling of the pressure drop at a bend in the pneumatic conveying of fly ash. Seven existing bend models were used (in conjunction with solids friction models for horizontal and vertical straight pipes, and initial acceleration losses) to predict the total pipeline pressure drop in conveying fly ash (median particle diameter: 30μm; particle density: 2300kg/m3; loose-poured bulk density: 700kg/m3) in three test rigs (pipelines with dimensions of 69mm inner diameter (I.D.)x168m length; 105mm I.D. x168m length; 69mm I.D. x554m length). A comparison of the pneumatic conveying characteristics (PCC) predicted using the seven bend models and experimental results shows that the predicted total pipeline PCC and trends depend on the choice of bend model. While some models predict trends that agree with the experimental results, other models predicted greater bend pressure drops for the dense phase of fly ash than for the dilute phase. Models of Pan, R. (1992). Improving scale-up procedures for the design of pneumatic conveying systems. Doctoral dissertation, University of Wollongong, Australia, Pan, R. , & Wypych, P.W. (1998). Dilute and dense phase pneumatic conveying of fly ash. In Proceedings of the sixth International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation (pp. 183-189), Wollongong, NSW, Australia and Chambers, A.J., & Marcus, R.D. (1986). Pneumatic conveying calculations. In Proceedings of the second International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation (pp. 49-52), Wollongong, Australia reliably predicted the bend losses for systems conveying fly ash over a large range of air flows.
Some theoretical perspectives of co-creation and co-production of value by customers

Orientation: The initial introduction of co-production and co-creation in the marketing literature in all likelihood was in 1986 when Kotler used the term ‘prosumer’ (initially coined by Toffler in 1980) to refer to customers who produce some of the goods and services they consume. Kotler also noted an increase in people’s propensity to act as a prosumer of some of the goods and services they bought. Motivation for the study: No real attention was paid to the concepts of co-production and co-creation by marketing academics after the initial introduction of the concepts. Only after the year 2000 did co-production and co-creation begin to receive the attention of marketing academics, with a substantial increase in publications over the past few years. Contribution/value-add: The objective of this article was to present an overview of the origin and development of co-creation and co-production in marketing, to draw a distinction between the two concepts and to address the implications of these concepts for various decision areas in marketing.
Expression and localization of inhibin a , inhibin/activin b A and b B and the activin type II and inhibin b -glycan receptors in the developing human testis

inhibin/activin the the a subunit in the data the presence and localization of expression of the b subunits. In situ hybridization expression of the b A subunit in the interstitium and the b B subunit in the tubules In contrast, both b A and b B subunits were localized to the interstitium but were not detected in the tubules in a study involving Inhibins and activins have roles in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in a variety of tissues. This study investigated the distribution of the three inhibin/activin subunits ( a , b A and b B ) and their receptors in the human testis between week 13 and week 19 of gestation using RT–PCR and immunohistochemistry. mRNA for all three subunits and for the activin type II receptors ActRIIA and ActRIIB was detected at all stages of gestation examined. Sertoli cells showed intense immunostaining for the a subunit and some staining for the b B subunit, whereas only the b B subunit was detected in gonocytes. No b A subunit staining was detected within the tubules. All three subunits were localized to interstitial Leydig cells. Cells of the Leydig and Sertoli
Willingness to pay for ecosystem conservation in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest: a choice modeling study

Forest ecosystems contribute to human welfare in important ways, but because of the nonmarket nature of many of the goods and services produced, both markets and governments fail to optimize their production commensurate with their economic and ecological significance. Despite the recent proliferation of nonmarket environmental valuation in the literature, the incorporation of nonmarket values into public forest decision making has been limited by institutional and methodological barriers. To address this disconnect, we conducted a case study to quantify conservation values for the Tongass National Forest in a manner conducive for public forest planning. A choice experiment featuring proposed forest management alternatives with changes in critical attributes relative to their levels in the status quo was used to generate the requisite data. Econometric analysis suggests that Alaskans have strong preference for conservation management, including both preservation and ecological restoration, over status quo or exploitation management. However, there is significant heterogeneity among Alaskans in terms of bias toward the status quo depending on their socioeconomic characteristics, e.g., gender, age, place of residence, household income, whether or not they have dependent children. The findings of this study can be helpful to forest managers in the preparation of resource management plans consistent with maximization of total economic value of forest ecosystem services.
Clustering Ranked Preference Data Using Sociodemographic Covariates

Abstract Ranked preference data arise when a set of judges rank, in order of their preference, a set of objects. Such data arise in preferential voting systems and market research surveys. Covariate data associated with the judges are also often recorded. Such covariate data should be used in conjunction with preference data when drawing inferences about judges. To cluster a population of judges, the population is modeled as a collection of homogeneous groups. The Plackett-Luce model for ranked data is employed to model a judge's ranked preferences within a group. A mixture of Plackett- Luce models is employed to model the population of judges, where each component in the mixture represents a group of judges. Mixture of experts models provide a framework in which covariates are included in mixture models. Covariates are included through the mixing proportions and the component density parameters. A mixture of experts model for ranked preference data is developed by combining a mixture of experts model and a mixture of Plackett-Luce models. Particular attention is given to the manner in which covariates enter the model. The mixing proportions and group specific parameters are potentially dependent on covariates. Model selection procedures are employed to choose optimal models. Model parameters are estimated via the ‘EMM algorithm’, a hybrid of the expectation–maximization and the minorization–maximization algorithms. Examples are provided through a menu survey and through Irish election data. Results indicate mixture modeling using covariates is insightful when examining a population of judges who express preferences.
Informing consumers about 'hidden' advertising. A literature review of the effects of disclosing sponsored content

This chapter provides an overview of what is currently known in the scientific literature about the effects of disclosures of sponsored content on consumers' responses. Methodology We provide a qualitative literature review of 21 empirical studies. Findings Awareness of disclosures is rather low, but when consumers are aware of a disclosure, it successfully activates persuasion knowledge and can increase brand memory. The literature shows inconclusive findings with respect to the effects of disclosures on attention paid to sponsored content, critical processing, brand attitudes, and purchase intentions. In addition, the literature shows that modality of the disclosure has no significant effects, but the content of the disclosure, its timing, its duration, receivers' moods, and their perceptions of the sponsored content or the endorser are important moderators.
Stochastic evaluation of robust portfolios based on hierarchical clustering and worst-case scenarios

The objective of this paper is to present a proposal to form robust portfolios using a stochastic efficiency analysis of assets from companies in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange, focusing on the worst market state. In order to do this, information about the market in all of its phases and information from low market periods were employed in a stochastic efficiency analysis using the Chance Constrained Data Envelopment Analysis method, along with a Hierarchical Clustering approach. Then, the portfolios underwent a capital allocation model to obtain the ideal participation of each share. The portfolios formed in both scenarios were analyzed and compared. The joint application of the approaches supplied with information about the worst market state was able to form robust portfolios that lead to a higher accumulated return in the validation period than portfolios optimized from information about the entire period, and still resulted in portfolios with smaller beta values.
Experiences of multidisciplinary gastric cancer treatment at the National Cancer Center, Korea

Multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) is considered to be beneficial for patients undergoing complex treatments for cancer. The efforts of MDT led to the initiation of nowadays well known trials in gastroesophageal cancer treatment. Here we report the experience of MDT of the Center for Gastric Cancer of the National Cancer Center, Korea. We show the management not only of oncologic treatment plans but also treatment decisions on perioperative oncologic therapy and multimodal management of postoperative and various treatment-related complications. Six cases from gastroenterology, hemato-oncology and surgery parts were presented to show function and effect of MDT conference. Those examples typically showed that even final pathological diagnosis was chnged after MDT conference for some cases, gives adequate decision for further treatment after compications, and offered optimal treatment decision for difficult metastatic disease. Also, management of complications are now more effectively resolved with multidisciplinay intervention with close communication. The local MDT conference can be considered as a fast and effective tool for adequate treatment and improving quality of the treatment. Therefore MDT is an essential component of cancer care to improve patient’s outcome.