Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgical Decisions in the Management of Frontal Sinus Osteomas

Background The development of chronic rhinosinusitis, a mucocele, or persistent headaches is a common indication for the removal of a frontal sinus osteoma. The best surgical approach to ensure complete and safe removal of the lesion is less clearcut. The advent of specialized frontal sinus instruments, angled endoscopes, and surgical navigational systems has made removal of frontal sinus osteomas possible through an endoscopic approach. The aim of this study is to review our recent experience with the surgical management of frontal sinus osteomas, and the anatomic features that make specific lesions more or less amenable to endoscopic resection. Methods A retrospective review of all frontal sinus osteomas surgically resected from the years 1999 to 2003 was used. This period was selected to reflect the invention and popularization of surgical navigation systems and specialty instruments designed specifically for the frontal sinus. CT scans, operative reports and postoperative course were reviewed. Results Nine patients were identified. A grading system was devised to reflect the three variables involved in the limitations for endoscopic removal. These are the location of the base of attachment, relative size to the frontal recess, and location in relation to a virtual sagittal plane through the lamina papyracea. Three osteomas were removed through an endoscopic approach. Four were removed by a combined osteoplastic flap and endoscopic dissection of the frontal recess. Two were removed through an osteoplastic flap with obliteration of the sinus. Conclusion The ability to remove a frontal sinus osteoma endoscopically can be determined preoperatively, taking into account the location and size of the lesion. There is still a role for external procedures in the surgical management of these lesions, and such procedures may be combined with endoscopic techniques for optimal results.
Extremely precise free energy calculations of amino acid side chain analogs: Comparison of common molecular mechanics force fields for proteins

Quantitative free energy computation involves both using a model that is sufficiently faithful to the experimental system under study (accuracy) and establishing statistically meaningful measures of the uncertainties resulting from finite sampling (precision). We use large-scale distributed computing to access sufficient computational resources to extensively sample molecular systems and thus reduce statistical uncertainty of measured free energies. In order to examine the accuracy of a range of common models used for protein simulation, we calculate the free energy of hydration of 15 amino acid side chain analogs derived from recent versions of the OPLS-AA, CHARMM, and AMBER parameter sets in TIP3P water using thermodynamic integration. We achieve a high degree of statistical precision in our simulations, obtaining uncertainties for the free energy of hydration of 0.02–0.05 kcal/mol, which are in general an order of magnitude smaller than those found in other studies. Notably, this level of precision is comparable to that obtained in experimental hydration free energy measurements of the same molecules. Root mean square differences from experiment over the set of molecules examined using AMBER-, CHARMM-, and OPLS-AA-derived parameters were 1.35 kcal/mol, 1.31 kcal/mol, and 0.85 kcal/mol, respectively. Under the simulation conditions used, these force fields tend to uniformly underestimate solubility of all the side chain analogs. The relative free energies of hydration between amino acid side chain analogs were closer to experiment but still exhibited significant deviations. Although extensive computational resources may be needed for large numbers of molecules, sufficient computational resources to calculate precise free energy calculations for small molecules are accessible to most researchers.
The Effect of Managerial Ability on Farm Financial Success

The effects of managerial ability on farm financial success are analyzed for a 1990 sample of Pennsylvania commercial dairy farms using structural latent variable techniques. Latent factors related to dairy, crop, and financial management are used with herd size to explain farm financial success, measured by net farm income. Results indicate the relative importance of each management variable toward farm financial success.
Predictors of early dropout from psychotherapy for depression in community practice.

OBJECTIVE Data from a managed care health system were used to examine demographic, clinical, and health system predictors of early dropout from psychotherapy for depression. METHODS A total of 238 members of a mixed-model health plan calling to request an initial psychotherapy visit for depression completed a brief survey regarding depression severity, perceived need for treatment, and expected benefit. Claims records were used to assess therapy visits attended over the following 90 days. RESULTS Dropout rates before the first therapy visit were somewhat higher among women (p=.041) and younger members (p=.017), moderately higher among those with lower depression severity (p=.012), and markedly higher among callers referred to network-model psychotherapists (compared with those given appointments with group-model therapists at health plan clinics) (p<.001). By the second visit, however, cumulative dropout rates were similar for group- and network-model therapists. The only significant predictors of cumulative dropout rates before the second visit were less severe depression at the screening call (p=.004) and lower self-rated importance of initiating psychotherapy (p=.046). CONCLUSIONS Early dropout from psychotherapy for depression was only weakly related to consumers' demographic characteristics. Dropout rates were lower among those with more severe depression, but a significant number of persons with moderate or severe symptoms of depression still discontinued treatment before the second visit. Allocation of visits for individual consumers was markedly different for group- and network-model psychotherapists, but these data did not allow for examination of differences in outcomes for those two treatment models.
Voluntary Adoption of Ifrs by Italian Private Firms: A Study Of The Determinants

Prior literature states that the voluntary adoption of IFRS by private firms is related to some firms’ contracting incentives (for example, the leverage or the firm’ size). In Italy, from the 2006 the private firms that meet the criteria of the Legislative Decree 38/2005 may prepare (voluntary choice) the separate financial statements according to the IFRS. In 2009 we find that some private firms have voluntarily adopted the IFRS. The aim of the paper is to analyze the determinants of voluntary adoption of IFRS by those firms in their separate financial statements. According to prior literature, we find those firms are more likely to adopt IFRS when the ownership is dispersed, there are foreign shareholders and firms are more leveraged. We also find that the likelihood of IFRS voluntary adoption by private subsidiaries firms increases when their parent company complies with IFRS.
Water buffalo for our next generation in Egypt and in the world.

The total number of buffaloes in Egypt reached about 5.317million in 2011, of which 42 percent were dairy cows, 6 percent buffalo bulls, 32 percent heifers less than two years old and 20 percent male calves less than two years old. While the annual growth rate for the buffalo population approached 3 percent over the last two decades, it still only accounts for 1 percent of the cattle population. The aggregate share of buffalo milk, from all types of production systems is about 81 percent of total milk production in Egypt. The cost of milk production from buffaloes is also less than the cost of reconstituted imported powdered milk at the international market price. Most common name: Baladi Other local name: Beheri, Menufi, Egyptian. Livestock population is in great part located in the Nile delta and Nile valle, Total population size 5371000. The distinction between different types of Egyptian buffaloes is only environmental. It is the most important and popular livestock for milk production in Egypt. Buffalo productivity in Egypt is about 210-280 days/lactation, an average of seven lactations and a milk yielding of 1 600 kg. The age at the first calving is 34-41 months. The average animal production per year represented 30.8% of national agricultural production, the average annual red meat production reached 495,000 ton during the same period, contributing by 45% to overall meat produced. Artificial insemination is used in one percent of the medium to large herds. There are six AI stations owned by the Government and one by the University, possessing a total of 70 bulls. Artificial insemination is still performed at research level; usually only one semen dose is offered at each oestrus, conception at the first oestrus being 30 percent. Milking is done by hand, twice a day, mainly by women. Average slaughter weight is 500 kg, at the age of 18-24 months. Carcass yield is 51 percent. Overall growth rate is 700 g/day. Dairy performance: Lactation duration 210-280 days Milk yield 1 200-2 100 kg Milk fat 6.5-7.0 percent. Buffalo exceed cattle in their ability to convert poor quality and forage to meat or milk. The greatest buffalo losses are often among calves. Newborn buffalo calves, like cattle calves, can die in large numbers due to viruses, bacteria, and poor nutrition. Artificial insemination, embryo transfer, cloning. Biotechnology is important to improve feed utilization and disease control for the next generation.
Taxonomic revision of the cellulose-degrading fungus Acremonium cellulolyticus nomen nudum to Talaromyces based on phylogenetic analysis.

The cellulase-producing fungal strain Y-94, isolated in Japan and invalidly described as Acremonium cellulolyticus nom. nud. strain Y-94, seldom forms enteroarthric conidia under nutrient starvation conditions. Phylogenetic analysis using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and RNA polymerase II large subunit gene sequences revealed that strain Y-94 is closely related to Talaromyces, given that these Y-94 sequences showed 100% identity with those of Talaromyces pinophilus NBRC 100533T . By contrast, the identity between β-tubulin-encoding genes from strain Y-94 and T. pinophilus NBRC 100533T was 98.1%. Morphological and phenotypic differences between these strains in colony color, conidiophore formation, and cellulase productivity were observed. Together, these data indicated that strain Y-94 belonged to the genus Talaromyces. We propose that strain Y-94 is a new species, Talaromyces cellulolyticus, on the basis of morphology and molecular evidence. The ex-holotype is Y-94 (= FERM BP-5826, CBS 136886 [holotype] TNS-F-48752).
Cancer and pregnancy.

Cancer complicates pregnancy very rarely (estimated incidence 1:1000 pregnancies), though this co-existence is likely to become more common in view of the prolongation of reproductive age and women’s tendency to delay childbearing. It is estimated that up to 20–30% of malignant tumors occur in women younger than 45 years [1]. The diagnostic and therapeutic management of a pregnant patient with cancer is especially difficult because it involves two persons, the mother and the fetus. Obstetricians and oncologists should strive to offer optimal maternal treatment and safeguard fetal wellbeing (when the two are compatible! ). Management of gestational cancer implicates medical, ethical, psychological and religious issues. The patient and her family should be actively involved in the decision-making process following counseling and adequate information.
A Low Phase Noise Microwave Oscillator with a Miniaturized LTCC Resonator for SIP Design

This paper presents an oscillator employing miniature, high-Q, low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) resonator in conjunction with a novel implementation technique for achieving low phase noise. The reduced-size LTCC resonator is realized with a dielectric material having epsivr = 68, the first ever reported. As well, the oscillator circuitry design exploits the seldom used device-line technique for obtaining the lowest possible phase noise with any chosen component. A free-running, 6 GHz oscillator using GaAs p-HEMT active device is built in a planar hybrid format suitable for system-in-package (SIP) designs. The measured phase noise is -125 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset, with over 8 dBm of output power, which compares favorably with the best C-band oscillators. The technique herein demonstrates the feasibility of miniaturized, low-cost, SIP products
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, UKURAN PERUSAHAAN, DAN LEVERAGE TERHADAP MANAJEMEN LABA PERUSAHAAN MANUFAKTUR INDONESIA

The aims of the research are to find out (1) influence of corporate governance which is arecategorized into managerial ownership, institutional ownership, board size, boardcomposition of independent commissioners, and audit committees on earnings management,(2) influence of firm size on earnings management, (3) influence of leverage on earningsmanagement. This study drew 28 samples from manufacturing companies listed in IndonesiaStock Exchange with a purposive sampling technique. The research data was collected fromannual reports within a period 2006 to 2009 of the Capital Market Reference Centre ofIndonesian Stock Exchange. The method of analysis was multiple linear regressions. Theresults of the study indicated that (1) corporate governance with managerial ownership,board composition of independent commissioners, and audit committee had significantnegative influence on earnings management, while institutional ownership and board size hadsignificant positive influence on earnings management, (2) firm size had significant negativeinfluence on earnings management, (3) leverage had not significant influence on earningsmanagement. Keywords:corporate governance, firm size, leverage, earnings management, annual report
Childhood socioeconomic position and adult mental wellbeing: Evidence from four British birth cohort studies

Background There is much evidence showing that childhood socioeconomic position is associated with physical health in adulthood; however existing evidence on how early life disadvantage is associated with adult mental wellbeing is inconsistent. This paper investigated whether childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with adult mental wellbeing and to what extent any association is explained by adult SEP using harmonised data from four British birth cohort studies. Methods The sample comprised 20,717 participants with mental wellbeing data in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study (HCS), the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), the National Child Development Study (NCDS), and the British Cohort Study (BCS70). Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) scores at age 73 (HCS), 60–64 (NSHD), 50 (NCDS), or 42 (BCS70) were used. Harmonised socioeconomic position (Registrar General’s Social Classification) was ascertained in childhood (age 10/11) and adulthood (age 42/43). Associations between childhood SEP, adult SEP, and wellbeing were tested using linear regression and multi-group structural equation models. Results More advantaged father’s social class was associated with better adult mental wellbeing in the BCS70 and the NCDS. This association was independent of adult SEP in the BCS70 but fully mediated by adult SEP in the NCDS. There was no evidence of an association between father’s social class and adult mental wellbeing in the HCS or the NSHD. Conclusions Socioeconomic conditions in childhood are directly and indirectly, through adult socioeconomic pathways, associated with adult mental wellbeing, but findings from these harmonised data suggest this association may depend on cohort or age.
The International Financial System: Crises and Reform

It is an honor indeed to be invited to deliver these lectures dedicated to the memory of Lord Robbins. And it is an especial honor and a pleasure for me to deliver these lectures at the LSE, where I spent four very happy years from 1962-1966, first as an undergraduate, and then taking the M.Sc. (Econ). At that time Lord Robbins taught a course in the History of Economic Thought. The economics students all read An Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic Science, and we followed with keen interest the recommendations of the Robbins Committee on Higher Education, on which Richard Layard was a Senior Research Officer. And those of us taking Monetary Economics were aware that in the fifties, far ahead of the consensus, Lord Robbins had made the case for the effectiveness of monetary policy, a point that was then much debated but is not now in doubt.
Optimal rates of convergence for estimating the null density and proportion of nonnull effects in large-scale multiple testing

An important estimation problem that is closely related to large-scale multiple testing is that of estimating the null density and the proportion of nonnull effects. A few estimators have been introduced in the literature; however, several important problems, including the evaluation of the minimax rate of convergence and the construction of rate-optimal estimators, remain open. In this paper, we consider optimal estimation of the null density and the proportion of nonnull effects. Both minimax lower and upper bounds are derived. The lower bound is established by a two-point testing argument, where at the core is the novel construction of two least favorable marginal densities f 1 and f 2 . The density f 1 is heavy tailed both in the spatial and frequency domains and f 2 is a perturbation of f 1 such that the characteristic functions associated with f 1 and f 2 match each other in low frequencies. The minimax upper bound is obtained by constructing estimators which rely on the empirical characteristic function and Fourier analysis. The estimator is shown to be minimax rate optimal. Compared to existing methods in the literature, the proposed procedure not only provides more precise estimates of the null density and the proportion of the nonnull effects, but also yields more accurate results when used inside some multiple testing procedures which aim at controlling the False Discovery Rate (FDR). The procedure is easy to implement and numerical results are given.
Transaction Costs and Capital-Structure Decisions: Evidence from International Comparisons

This study examines the effect of transaction costs and information asymmetry on firms’ capital-structure decisions in 40 countries. The findings indicate that transaction costs affect both capital-market timing and capital-structure rebalancing. Past market-timing activity has a significantly negative impact on the current debt ratio, and this impact is stronger for firms facing lower transaction costs of external financing, as defined by legal origin, capital-market development, and securities rules in their home countries. Further analysis indicates that firms in countries with lower transaction costs also rebalance their capital structure more quickly after a deviation from the target, but the rebalancing does not eliminate the market-timing effect on capital structure completely.
Increasing private participation in agriculture through privatization

In reaction to worrisome performance of agricultural sector in Nigeria, the Federal Government has embarked on various programs and projects aimed at returning the sector to its enviable position. The government efforts have not yielded sufficient desired results, as the country still witnessed high cost of food, general cost of living and perpetual poverty. This paper suggested a redirection of the government efforts to privatization of agricultural enterprises, projects and programs, since it has been shown to have capacity to increase the efficiencies of the concerned enterprises. This study relied on secondary data from Malawi and primary data from private cocoa farmers in Oyo state in Nigeria. The empirical evidence from Malawi shows that technical efficiency of agro-allied industries increased from 65% before privatization to 72% after privatization. The determinants of technical efficiency of the agro-allied industries in Malawi are state ownership, monopoly, capital intensity, Multinational Corporation, and structural adjustment program. While state ownership and monopoly reduce the efficiency, the other three determinants increase it. This indicates that agro allied industries can be more efficient under private control than under the State (Government). The result of analysis of the primary data suggests that farmers that pay for their land are more technically efficient (63%) than those who did not (59%). This allay the fear that increased in cost, that is associated with privatization will not reduce the technical efficiency of the farmers. The paper recommends a gradual privatization of agricultural enterprises, projects and programs in Nigeria. This will not only increase their efficiency but also gender active participation and competition.
Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Kebijakan Hutang (Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia)

In the last several years, there has been increased theoretical emphasis on the agent-principal problem as it applies to corporate finance. This paper is an attempt to empirically test for the presence of the agency costs and their relation to the debt policy of corporations.This research analyze the factors influence debt policy at manufacturing firms in Indonesia. Analyzing tools in this research is multiple regression analysis.The result of this research shows firms size, profitability and free cash flow have significant influence to debt policy. But manajer ownership, institutional ownership, dividend policy and structure asset don’t have significant influence to debt policy. The simultant result for the seven variables have significant influence to debt policy 15,2% with p-value=0,000
Perceptual and acoustic analysis of vocal registers in 10-year-old children

Register transitions were identified by a group of five experts on child voices in recordings of 15 10-year-old children who sustained the vowel [a:] at different pitches throughout their vocal range. Two had mutational voices, seven had deviant voices and six were controls with normal voices. The control group had one register transition at a mean fundamental frequency of 511 Hz, or about 25% higher than in adult voices. This difference between adult and child voices may be because of the difference in trachea length, as proposed by Titze (J. Voice 1988; 3: 183-194). Children with either functional or physiological voice deviations exhibited a transition at a mean frequency of 417 Hz. A second transition was found in four voices at a mean frequency of 902 Hz. No correlation was found between the occurrence of register transitions and discontinuities in the upper and lower voice range profile contours.