Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-Thirds Lip Defects: A New Combined Reconstructive Technique for Patients With Epithelial Cancer.

BACKGROUND The lips are a common site prone to squamous cell carcinomas, which arise in the facial region. There are different techniques to reconstruct the excised lip region, according to dimensions, area, and position of the tumor. The authors describe a new technique of lip reconstruction born from a combination between a nasolabial flap and adipose tissue transplant. METHODS The study was lead in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the University of Catanzaro. It includes 10 patients with squamous and basal cell carcinomas that interested lower or upper lip. The authors used a nasolabial flap to reconstruct two-thirds of the excised lip. All patients were staged and resulted free of disease. As a result of surgery, deformities and depressions persisted in 5 patients. This induced the authors to subject them to transplantation of adipose tissue to maximize results. Aesthetic and functional evaluation was performed with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale v 2.0 and drooling rating scale questionnaires. Moreover, an anthropometric analysis was performed in patients treated with fat transplant. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS All patients had an acceptable aesthetic and functional outcome. Oral competence, sensation, and movements of the area were adequate and aesthetic was good. Adipose tissue transplant compared with surgery alone, determine a real modification of various parameters, that was statistically significant (P = 0.043) to our analysis. CONCLUSIONS The inverted nasolabial flap is versatile and simple. This technique allows to repair large lip defects by maintaining the eurythmia of the face. Autologous fat transplant is a favorable filler. Our data show that surgery alone is unable to restore face eurythmia after a tumor excision. Adipose tissue transplant allows to reach this goal. These 2 techniques, together, may significantly modify the functional and aesthetic result of the lip reconstruction, ensuring an optimal long-term result.
The Closed-Loop Effects of Market Integration in a Dynamic Duopoly

This paper develops a dynamic game model of reciprocal dumping to reconsider welfare effects of market integration, i.e. reductions in transport costs. We show that welfare under trade is unambiguously less than welfare under autarky for any level of transport costs, which is impossible in static models where trade is profitable if the transport cost is low enough. This is because the negative effect through closed-loop property of feedback strategies dominates the positive effects.
Consociationalism, corruption and chocolate: Belgian exceptionalism

Governing Belgium is a more complex challenge than governing most other industrialised democracies. The linguistic cleavage and its associated consociationalism, the extremely complex form of federalism, and enduring socio-economic cleavages all pose difficulties for the public sector. Many of the exceptional features of Belgian politics, notably the strength of political parties and perhaps greater clientelism and corruption than found in many other European systems can be seen, however, as means of coping with these complexities and enabling the system to govern.
Correlations among magnetic, electrical and magneto-transport properties of NiFe nanohole arrays

In this work, we use anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates to build NiFe magnetic nanohole arrays. We perform a thorough study of their magnetic, electrical and magneto-transport properties (including the resistance R(T), and magnetoresistance MR(T)), enabling us to infer the nanohole film morphology, and the evolution from granular to continuous film with increasing thickness. In fact, different physical behaviors were observed to occur in the thickness range of the study (2 nm < t < 100 nm). For t < 10 nm, an insulator-to-metallic crossover was visible in R(T), pointing to a granular film morphology, and thus being consistent with the presence of electron tunneling mechanisms in the magnetoresistance. Then, for 10 nm < t < 50 nm a metallic R(T) allied with a larger anisotropic magnetoresistance suggests the onset of morphological percolation of the granular film. Finally, for t > 50 nm, a metallic R(T) and only anisotropic magnetoresistance behavior were obtained, characteristic of a continuous thin film. Therefore, by combining simple low-cost bottom-up (templates) and top-down (sputtering deposition) techniques, we are able to obtain customized magnetic nanostructures with well-controlled physical properties, showing nanohole diameters smaller than 35 nm.
Residual corneal stroma in big-bubble deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty: a histological study in eye-bank corneas

Aim To determine if residual corneal stroma remains on the recipient posterior lamella in big-bubble deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). Methods Pneumodissection using the big-bubble technique was carried out on eye-bank corneas mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. Samples that had a successful big-bubble formation were sent for histological evaluation to determine if any residual stroma remained on the Descemet membrane (DM). Results Big-bubble formation was achieved in 32 donor corneas. Two distinct types of big-bubble were seen: the bubble had either a white margin (30 corneas) or a clear margin (two corneas). The posterior lamellae of all the white margin corneas showed residual stroma on DM with a mean central thickness of 7.0 μm (range 2.6–17.4 μm). The clear margin corneas showed no residual stroma on DM. Conclusion It should no longer be assumed that big-bubble DALK, where the bubble has a white margin, routinely bares DM. True baring of DM may only occur with the less commonly seen clear margin bubble.
Systematic Risk and Diversification in the Equity REIT Market

This paper employs stock market-based data to examine the systematic risk and diversification properties of publicly traded equity real estate investment trusts (REITs). A unique data sample is created by combining firm return data with information on their property type holdings and the location of their investments. The systematic risk of equity REITs appears to vary by the type of property in which they invest, with beta being significantly higher for retail-oriented REITs than for REITs owning industrial and warehouse properties. In addition, the stock market data provides no evidence that REIT diversification across property types or broad geographic regions actually results in meaningful diversification as reflected in a standard market-based measure-the "R"-super-2 from a simple market model regression. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.
A Note on Board Characteristics, Ownership Structure and Default Risk in Taiwan

type="main" xml:id="acfi12045-abs-0001"> This study applies dynamic generalized method of moments estimation to examine the influences of ownership structure and board characteristics on default risk for a full samples and two subsamples (high-tech and conventional) of publicly listed firms in Taiwan. Our findings reveal that certain characteristics of corporate governance have explanatory power for default probability, but the impact is not straightforward. In particular, the impact of internal and external governance structures on default risk is industry dependent. Accordingly, governance proposals that encourage higher ownership among directors and large block shareholdings in high-tech firms or reduce managerial ownership in conventional companies can have a counterproductive effect on corporate governance and result in higher bankruptcy possibility.
On the Design of Economic Constitutions

Constitutional divisions of powers among various levels of governments are of three types: unitary, federal and confederal. A unitary country has a single or multi-tiered government in which effective control rests with the national government. A unitary form facilitates centralized decision making to further national unity objectives. A large majority of countries have adopted this form. A federal form has a multi-tiered structure with decision making shared by all levels of government. It is more conducive to decentralized decision making. In a confederal form, central authority merely coordinates the decisions of sovereign members. Economic theory suggests that decision making should occur at the lowest level of government consistent with allocational efficiency. Thus optimal size jurisdiction would vary with specific instances of economies of scale and benefit/cost spillovers. Achieving the optimal number and size of jurisdictions requires voting with feet, voting by ballots or other community formation processes, and redrawing jurisdictional boundaries. Developing and transitional economies are more centralized than industrial countries were in their early stages. Strong emphasis on central planning in developing countries has contributed to the centralization of authority and worked as an impediment to innovative responses to local issues by local governments. Further, it has stymied private sector development. Experiences of industrial countries suggest that decentralization of authority should be the guiding principle (the so called "subsidiarity principle") unless a convincing case can be made for centralization of a specific responsibility. Fiscal decentralization can contribute to more efficient provision of local public services by allowing a better matching of expenditures with local priorities. Accountability is promoted through a clearer and closer linkage of the benefits of local public services with their costs. These considerations are especially relevant for large and diverse countries. Increased fiscal autonomy could also be instrumental in mobilizing more revenues from local sources, thus contributing to a country's overall fiscal position. More
Recombinant respiratory syncytial virus from which the entire SH gene has been deleted grows efficiently in cell culture and exhibits site-specific attenuation in the respiratory tract of the mouse

The small hydrophobic protein SH of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a short transmembrane surface protein of unknown function. A full-length cDNA of RSV strain A2 (subgroup A) antigenomic RNA was modified such that the entire SH gene, including the transcription signals and the complete mRNA-encoding sequence, was deleted and replaced by a synthetic intergenic region. This reduced the length of the antigenome by 398 nucleotides and ablated expression of 1 of the 10 RSV mRNAs. Recombinant virus containing this engineered deletion was recovered, and the absence of the SH gene was confirmed by reverse transcription in conjunction with PCR. Northern blot analysis of intracellular RNAs and gel electrophoresis of labeled intracellular proteins confirmed the lack of expression of the SH mRNA and protein. The absence of the SH gene did not noticeably affect RNA replication, but two effects on transcription were noted. First, synthesis of the G, F, and M2 mRNAs was increased, presumably due to their being one position closer to the promoter in the gene order. Second, transcription of genes downstream of the engineered site exhibited a steeper gradient of polarity. On monolayers of HEp-2 cells, the SH-minus virus produced syncytia which were at least equivalent in size to those of the wild type and produced plaques which were 70% larger. Furthermore, the SH-minus virus grew somewhat better (up to 12.6-fold) than wild-type recombinant RSV in certain cell lines. While the function of the SH protein remains to be determined, it seems to be completely dispensable for growth in tissue culture and fusion function. When inoculated intranasally into mice, the SH-minus virus resembled the wild-type recombinant virus in its efficiency of replication in the lungs, whereas it replicated 10-fold less efficiently in the upper respiratory tract. In mice, the SH-minus and wild-type recombinant viruses were similarly immunogenic and effective in inducing resistance to virus challenge.
Physical and genetic map of Streptococcus thermophilus A054

The three restriction endonucleases SfiI, BssHII, and SmaI were found to generate fragments with suitable size distributions for mapping the genome of Streptococcus thermophilus A054. A total of 5, 8, and 24 fragments were produced with SfiI, BssHII, and SmaI, respectively. An average genome size of 1,824 kb was determined by summing the total fragment sizes obtained by digestions with these three enzymes. Partial and multiple digestions of genomic DNA in conjunction with Southern hybridization were used to map SfiI, BssHII, and SmaI fragments. All restriction fragments were arranged in a unique circular chromosome. Southern hybridization analysis with specific probes allowed 23 genetic markers to be located on the restriction map. Among them, six rrn loci were precisely located. The area of the chromosome containing the ribosomal operons was further detailed by mapping some of the ApaI and SgrAI sites. Comparison of macrorestriction patterns from three clones derived from strain A054 revealed two variable regions in the chromosome. One was associated with the tandem rrnD and rrnE loci, and the other was mapped in the region of the lactose operon.
Distribution of plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-pump and caveolin in the corneal epithelium during the wound healing process.

PURPOSE Caveolae are small plasmalemmal invaginations which are assumed to play various physiological functions. In the present study, distribution of two caveolae-specific proteins, the plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-pump and caveolin, was examined in the corneal epithelium in the normal state and after artificial wounding. METHODS A central epithelial ablation was made in the mouse cornea by a razor blade. After various intervals, the corneas were excised, fixed, and rapidly frozen. The specimens were subjected to immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy, using antibodies against the plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-pump or caveolin. RESULTS In the normal corneal epithelium, both plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-pump and caveolin were observed along the cell surface by immunofluorescence microscopy, and were localized to caveolae by immunogold electron microscopy. In the regenerating epithelium, 12-18 h after injury, plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-pump was seen as many dots in the cytoplasm by immunofluorescence microscopy; in contrast, caveolin persisted along the cell surface. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the labeling for the plasmalemmal Ca(2+)-pump was located around membranous structures in the cytoplasm and was scarce along the plasma membrane, while caveolin remained in caveolae. The Ca(2+)-pump regained normal distribution when the wound was closed. By quantitation in electron micrographs, the number of caveolae per unit plasma membrane length was found to be decreased in the wounded corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS The present results indicate that caveolae undergo compositional modification during the wound healing process of the corneal epithelium. Considering putative caveolar functions, the phenomenon may be related to possible fluctuations of the intracellular Ca(2+)-concentration in the regenerating epithelium.
Diallyl sulphide, a component of garlic, abrogates ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced oxidative stress and renal damage in rats

Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) induces tissue necrosis as a result of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative damage that leads to high incidence of renal carcinomas. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of diallyl sulphide (DAS) against Fe-NTA-induced nephrotoxicity. A total of 30 healthy male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each: (1) control, (2) DAS (200 mg kg−1), (3) Fe-NTA (9 g Fe kg−1), (4) DAS (100 mg kg−1) + Fe-NTA (9 mg Fe kg−1) and (5) DAS (200 mg kg−1) + Fe-NTA (9 mg Fe kg−1). Fe-NTA + DAS-treated groups were given DAS for a period of 1 week before Fe-NTA administration. The intraperitoneal administration of Fe-NTA enhanced blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels with reduction in levels of antioxidant enzymes. However, significant restoration of depleted renal glutathione and its dependent enzymes (glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase) was observed in DAS pretreated groups. DAS also attenuated Fe-NTA-induced increase in LPO, hydrogen peroxide generation and protein carbonyl formation (p < 0.05). The results indicate that DAS may be beneficial in ameliorating the Fe-NTA-induced renal oxidative damage in rats.
Debates over the 1949 ‘Leningrad Affair’ in the Contemporary Russian Popular Press

Sergei Kremlev, Zachem ubili Stalina? Prestuplenie veka. Moscow: Yauza, Eskmo, 2008, 480pp. , 237 rubles. V. D. Kuznechevskii, ‘Leningradskoe delo’: Naivnaya popytka sozdat’ etnicheski chistoe russkoe pravitel’stvo byla utoplena v krovi. Moscow: Rossiiskii institut strategicheskikh issledovanii, 2013, 84pp. , 207 rubles. Sigizmund Mironin, Stalinskii poryadok. Moscow: Algoritm, 2007, 272pp. , 126 rubles. Elena Prudnikova, 1953—Rokovoi god sovetskoi istorii. Moscow: Yauza, Eksimo, 2008, 416pp. Svyatoslav Rybas, Moskovskie protiv piterskikh: Leningradskoe delo Stalina. Moscow: Algoritm, 2013, 256pp. , 231 rubles.
Two Years Survival Rate of Occlusal ART Restorations Placed Without Tooth Surface Conditioning in a Primary Oral Health Care Centre

The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of ART restorations placed without tooth surface conditioning on occlusal caries in the permanent dentition in a primary oral health care centre in Nigeria. A total of 93 ART restorations were placed without tooth conditioning in children and adolescents aged 13.1 (±3.0) years by a dentist trained in the ART approach. This study was carried out in a primary oral health care centre in a low socioeconomic community, Southwestern Nigeria. The restorations were evaluated every 6 months for 2 years by one independent examiner. The cumulative survival rates were determined by the coded scores and standard criteria for evaluation of ART restorations. Over 95.0% of the children reported that the treatment was not painful and 94.8% responded that they would make recall visits. A similarly high proportion reported that they would encourage others with dental caries to come for the ART. The cumulative 2- year survival rate of single surface occlusal ART restorations placed without conditioner was 88.5% (SE=2.9%). The ART restorations placed without tooth conditioning were shown to be acceptable and effective in the management of single-surface occlusal caries in the permanent dentition of children and adolescents in a primary care setting.
Twittering Public Sentiments: A Predictive Analysis of Pre-Poll Twitter Popularity of Prime Ministerial Candidates for the Indian Elections 2014

Twitter is a useful tool for predicting election outcomes, effectively complementing traditional opinion polling. This study undertakes a volume, sentiment and engagement analysis for predicting the popularity of Prime Ministerial candidates on Twitter as a run-up to the Indian Elections 2014. The results from a survey of 2,37,639 pre-poll tweets finds tweet volume as a significant predictor of candidate vote share, and volume and sentiments as predictors for candidate engagement levels. Higher engagement rates evolve from the horizontality of conversations about the candidate, therefore indicating a high degree of interactivity, but do not translate into a higher vote share.
Opting Out

Voluntary departure from Congress through retirement is the second most common method of opening positions for new members. The susceptibility to retirement is quite predictable. The decision to retire involves assessing one's ability to do the job, the desirability of the job, and one's vulnerability to involuntary departure. Statistical evidence and interview data indicate that a lessened job desirability leads to most retirement from Congress. As a source of change in the system, retirement removes some of the most conservative and least active members while umquely opening the door to the most liberal new members. Retirement is neither random in its antecedents nor its consequences.
An application of the integrated AHP‐PGP model in supplier selection

Purpose – The supplier selection problem has gained great attention in business management literature. The first objective of this study is to determine the required variables in selecting the best suppliers and to develop a supplier selection model based on these selected variables. The second objective is to explain how an integrated AHP‐PGP model can be used in supplier selection decisions while minimizing suppliers' defects rate, rate of late order delivery, purchasing costs, and maximizing suppliers' scores and after‐sales service levels.Design/methodology/approach – An integration of an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and multi‐objective pre‐emptive goal programming (PGP) is used to consider both quantitative and qualitative factors in selecting the best suppliers and allocating the optimum order quantities among them.Findings – The integrated model is presented with a real‐world application using source data provided by the manufacturing firm operating in an automotive industry in Turkey. Findings.
A comparative study of range‐based stock return volatility estimators for the German market

This study investigates the relative performance of various volatility estimators based on daily and intraday price ranges of 25 German equities, with the two-scales realized volatility used as a benchmark. The empirical results show that all estimators based on daily ranges are by far superior to the classical estimator but are severely negatively biased due to discrete trading. The realized range obtained from intraday ranges performs better in terms of both bias and efficiency, although its performance still suffers from discrete trading. In these settings, the bias correcting procedure developed by Christensen and Podolskij (2007) appears to consistently outperform all other alternatives, including the scaled version of Martens and van Dijk (2007), and provides evidence of the relative advantages of the realized range. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 32:560–586, 2012
Semi-Empirical Smooth Fit To The Treasury Yield Curve

PAUL DIAMENT is a professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University in New York. rm structure refers to the dependence of interest rates, prices, and related variables on maturity. The yield curve Y(T) is the function that describes the variation of riskless par bond yields Y with maturity T. This is one example of several functions that furnish equivalent information on the term structure, such as the yields Z(T) of zero-coupon bonds or, most fundamentally, their prices, B(T). Given the Y(T) curve, one can determine such important related functions as the discount factors, the implied forward yield curve, the duration and convexity of bonds of different maturities, the implied forward short rate, and such parameters as the current short rate and long (consol) rate. These functions and parameters are essential to the pricing of fixed-income securities, the calculation of portfolio returns, the analysis of interest rates and yields, and the valuing of futures contracts and contingent claims, as well as for the comparison and assessment of theoretical models of interest rates and bond prices. The term structure of riskless bonds is only partially observable in the market. The prices or yields of Treasuries, strips, futures, POs, IOs, and the like can all furnish data on the term structure. A direct manifestation of the yield curve is the set of prices of the highly liquid on-the-run Treasuries for the various maturities available. These furnish a discrete set ofjust nine values of the yields, for nine maturities, from three months to thirty years. To make use of all the information that the term structure can provide, it is necessary to convert the discrete set of nine Treasury yields into a continuous curve; that is, we need to fill in the yields for maturities other than the quoted ones. To price a con-