Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First Successful Total Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy and Reconstruction in Turkey: Report of a Case and Technical Details

Although the rapid development in laparoscopic surgery, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is still one of the most discussed and technically demanding surgery performed only at few centers in the world. This report describes a total laparoscopic pylorus-preserving PD for a tumor of ampulla of Vater with a successful outcome, representing the first description of this laparoscopic procedure in Turkey. The patient was a 58-year-old male patient with the diagnosis of ampullary tumor. The operation was performed with 5 ports. Following resection, all anastomoses were made intracorporeally. A double layer pancreaticogastrostomy, an end-to-side choledocho-jejunostomy, a two layer duodeno-jejunustomy and drain placements completed the operation. The operating time was 510 minutes, and estimated blood loss was 350 ml. Surgical margins were negative and number of retrieved lymph nodes was 14. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7 without complication. This case demonstrates that laparoscopic PD is a feasible operative procedure in carefully selected patients. This technique can achieve adequate margins and follow oncological principles. However randomized comparative studies are needed to establish the superiority of minimal invasive surgery over traditional open surgery.
Continuous catchment‐scale monitoring of geomorphic processes with a 2‐D seismological array

Distributed activity of geomorphic processes with different spatiotemporal scales is hard to monitor in detail with conventional methods but might be detected with seismometers. From July to September 2010, we deployed 14 seismometers to evaluate the ability of a two‐dimensional array with small interstation distances (11 km) to continuously monitor geomorphic processes in a mountain catchment (370 km2) in Taiwan. Spectral analysis of seismic records highlights different sources with high‐frequency content (>1 Hz), consistent with hillslope and river processes. Using a common detection algorithm and a location technique based on the timing of seismic amplitude, we have located 314 near‐surface events, most of which (69%) occurred during daily convective storms. Event activity was positively correlated with the precipitation intensity, but this relation was not uniform in the catchment. High‐resolution satellite images and air photos did not show geomorphic change during the study, which did not have any episodes of extreme precipitation. A majority of events (61%) were collocated with preexisting geomorphic features (landslide scars, gullies) within the uncertainty on location (9% of interstation distance). The combination of event location and timing suggests a geomorphic source of recorded signals and most events had the seismic characteristics of rockfall, debris avalanches, or slides. Reactivation of prior erosion sites by such processes is difficult to detect with imagery, but can possibly be resolved by seismic monitoring. When proven, this approach will allow a spatially comprehensive survey of geomorphic activity at the catchment scale, with temporal detail sufficient to evaluate the exact (meteorological) conditions under which process events occur.
EXPLORING THE HIDDEN THREAT OF GASEOUS POLLUTANTS USING RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) PLANTS IN PAKISTAN

Three rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties (Basmati-Pak, Basmati-370 and IRRI-9) of Pakistan were grown for their entire life cycle in open top field chambers to investigate the impacts of ambient ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) on the biomass, growth physiology, and yield. The treatments were charcoal filtered air (FA), unfiltered air (UFA) and ambient air (AA). O3, NO2, and SO2 concentrations recorded at the experimental site were 75, 29 and 18 ppb as 8 h daily mean, respectively. Microclimate conditions inside and outside the chamber environment remained virtually similar. All the rice cultivars showed severe depression in biomass (20-30%) due to reductions in number of tillers (20-27%) and leaves per plant (21-29%) during vegetative growth phase with maximum reductions seen in both Basmati-370 and IRRI-9 in UFA treatments compared with FA. These reductions were primarily due to decreased transpiration rate (10-20%), stomatal conductance (12-23%), net photosynthetic rate (9-22%) and photosynthetic efficiency (6-12%) of plants in UFA. Yield losses in total seed weight per plant in UFA were more or less similar in IRRI-9 (37%) and Basmati-370 (36%), followed by lower reduction in cv. Basmati-Pak (29%). Reductions in number of panicles per plant (18-25%), filled seeds per panicles (8-11%), seeds weight per panicle (13-17%) and 1000-seeds weight (5-8%) in UFA contributed significantly towards greater yield depression. Percent seed sterility was also higher in UFA and AA treatment plants. Starch contents of seeds in UFA were reduced by 14%, 19% and 21% in Basmati-Pak, Basmati-370 and IRRI-9, respectively when compared to FA control.
Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose-silver nanoparticles composite membranes

Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose-silver nanoparticles composite membranes have been obtained by "in situ" preparation of Ag nanoparticles from hydrolytic decomposition of silver nitrate solution using triethanolamine as reducing and complexing agent. The formation of silver nanoparticles was evidenced by the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and absorption in the UV-Visible (350nm to 600 nm). Thermal and mechanical properties together with swelling behavior for water were considered. TEA concentration was observed to be important in order to obtain only Ag particles and not a mixture of silver oxides. It was also observed to control particle size and amount of silver contents in bacterial cellulose. The composite membranes exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
Seasonal forecast of French Mediterranean heavy precipitating events linked to weather regimes

Abstract. Seasonal predictability of local precipitation is rather weak in the mid-latitudes. This is the case when assessing the skill of the seasonal forecast of Heavy Precipitating Event (HPE) extreme occurrence over the French Mediterranean coast during the fall season. Tropics to extra-tropics teleconnection patterns do appear when averaging analyzed fields over the years characterised by a frequency of HPE occurrence in the upper 17% of the distribution. A methodology taking weather regime occurrence into account as an intermediate step to forecast HPE extreme occurrence is presented. For the period 1960 to 2001 and four different sets of seasonal forecast, the Economical Value is doubled, compared to the score obtained with the simulated local precipitation data, when using a linear model (Linear Discriminant Analysis in this case) taking simulated 200 hPa velocity potential–stream function regime occurrences as predictors. Interestingly, larger scores are shown for this couple of fields over a large-scale domain including the tropics than for the 500 hPa geopotential height over an Euro–Atlantic domain, despite a tighter link of the latter field to the local precipitation.
A microphysics guide to cirrus clouds – Part 1: Cirrus types

Abstract. The microphysical and radiative properties of cirrus clouds continue to be beyond understanding and thus still represent one of the largest uncertainties in the prediction of the Earth's climate (IPCC, 2013). Our study aims to provide a guide to cirrus microphysics, which is compiled from an extensive set of model simulations, covering the broad range of atmospheric conditions for cirrus formation and evolution. The model results are portrayed in the same parameter space as field measurements, i.e., in the Ice Water Content-Temperature (IWC-T) parameter space. We validate this cirrus analysis approach by evaluating cirrus data sets from 17 aircraft campaigns, conducted in the last 15 years, spending about 94 h in cirrus over Europe, Australia, Brazil as well as South and North America. Altogether, the approach of this study is to track cirrus IWC development with temperature by means of model simulations, compare with observations and then assign, to a certain degree, cirrus microphysics to the observations. Indeed, the field observations show characteristics expected from the simulated Cirrus Guide. For example, high (low) IWCs are found together with high (low) ice crystal concentrations Nice. An important finding from our study is the classification of two types of cirrus with differing formation mechanisms and microphysical properties: the first cirrus type forms directly as ice (in situ origin cirrus) and splits in two subclasses, depending on the prevailing strength of the updraft: in slow updrafts these cirrus are rather thin with lower IWCs, while in fast updrafts thicker cirrus with higher IWCs can form. The second type consists predominantly of thick cirrus originating from mixed phase clouds (i.e., via freezing of liquid droplets – liquid origin cirrus), which are completely glaciated while lifting to the cirrus formation temperature region (
The Effect of CEOs’ Characteristics on Forward-Looking Information

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of CEOs’ characteristics on the level of forward-looking information (FLI) disclosure. In particular, the study examines the effect of CEO age, gender and overconfidence on the disclosure of FLI in Jordan firms. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses a disclosure index to measure the level of FLI disclosure and employs random-effect and panel data regressions to examine the relationship between CEOs’ characteristics and the level of FLI disclosure. The sample consists of 201 non-financial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the period 2008-2013. Findings - The results of the study show that the CEO age has a significant negative relationship with the level of FLI disclosure in annual reports of non-financial Jordanian companies, whereas gender and overconfidence have a significant positive association with FLI disclosure. Research limitations/implications - The single country context limits the generalisability of the findings. Practical implications - The results of the study could be beneficial for the users of financial information, such as regulators, investors, auditors and lenders. These users might consider the findings of the study when they are using a company’s financial information. Accordingly, they may seek to extend the investigations and verify such reporting practices and consequently make better decisions. In addition, the findings provide empirical evidence that helps managers in assessing their financial transparency and accountability. Originality/value - The relationship between CEO’s characteristics and the level of FLI disclosure is still ambiguous. This study contributes to the FLI disclosure literature by identifying the role of CEO characteristics on the level of FLI disclosure. Thus, it offers evidence that the level of FLI disclosure is driven by specific CEO characteristics.
Measuring Police Climate: The development and evaluation of an instrument measuring police organizational climate.

V Organizational climate 2 Organizational climate and culture 3 Conceptualizing and defining climate 3 Specific and general organizational climate 5 Measuring organizational climate 5 Measuring different climates at multiple levels of analysis 7 An integrated model of organizational climate 7 The Competing Values Framework 8 Why a separate instrument? 10 The present study 10 Method 11 The research project 11 The Norwegian Police Service 11 Ethics 11 Measurement 13 Procedure and administration 15 Statistical methods 16 Results 17 Response rate and missing values 17 Investigation of the dimensionality of the global climate scale 19 Investigation of the dimensionality of the integration scale 22 Individual readiness to organizational change 24 Discussion 26 Individual readiness to organizational change 30 Limitations 31 Implications 33 Future research 33 Conclusion 34 References 35
The Cost of Equity in Canada: An International Comparison

This paper calculates an implied cost of equity for 19 developed countries from 1991 to 2006. During this period, there has been a decline in the cost of equity of about 10-15 bps per year, which can be partially attributed to declining government yields and declining inflation. Analyst forecast inaccuracy, a proxy for firm-level earnings opacity, is positively related to the cost of equity. If this variable captures differences in disclosure across firms, then improvements in disclosure regulation may benefit firms by lowering their cost of equity. I also include countrylevel variables that measure disclosure requirements, director liability, and the ability for shareholders to sue directors. Higher levels of these measures are associated with a lower cost of equity. Previous studies [e.g., Hail and Leuz (2006a)] have found a similar relation, but my study is unique in that it uses a different measure of investor protection, which may better reflect regulatory differences across countries, and it shows this relation holds for developed countries. After controlling for the characteristics of firms that analysts choose to cover in each country, differences in the properties of analyst forecasts across countries, and differences in accounting standards across countries, Canada’s cost of equity is statistically different from a handful of countries and is about 20 to 40 bps higher than that of the United States. Lowering Canadian firms' cost of equity by this amount would have large economic benefits given the size of Canada's capital markets.
Touching Water: Exploring Thermodynamic Properties with Clausius App

Touching Water: Exploring Thermodynamic Properties with Clausius App Dr. Smitesh Bakrania, Rowan University Dr. Smitesh Bakrania is an associate professor in Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University. He received his Ph.D. from University of Michigan in 2008 and his B.S. from Union College in 2003. His research interests include combustion synthesis of nanoparticles and combustion catalysis using nanoparticles. He is also involved in developing educational apps for instructional and research purposes. Mr. Austin Carrig, Rowan University I am currently a student at Rowan University studying mechanical engineering.
Guidelines for Neurologists European Federation of Neurological Societies Task Force on Neurosexology

Background Sexual function can be altered in patients by many neurological disorders affecting the cerebrum, the brain stem, the spinal cord, the spinal roots or the peripheral nerves. It can also be prominently affected in patients with an underlying undiagnosed neurological disease. Traditionally, practising neurologists have not paid much attention to sexual dysfunction in their patients, partly because therapeutic possibilities were scant. Sexual dysfunction, however, is observed in many neurological disorders, and may arise as a primary neurogenic disorder. Although not as obviously limiting as, for instance, paresis and pain, it is most disruptive for patients’ lives. With emerging awareness of the primary importance of quality of life as the most important indicator of good patient management, and with the advent of more effective treatment of sexual dysfunction, it is no longer acceptable to ignore this very important dimension of life. In this review we will present the anatomical and physiological basis of the sexual response, the clinical approach to patients with sexual dysfunction, the characteristics of symptoms in neurological disorders, how to take a case history, diagnostic procedures and the treatment possibilities.
Evolution Models of Helium White Dwarf–Main-sequence Star Merger Remnants

It is predicted that orbital decay by gravitational-wave radiation and tidal interaction will cause some close binary stars to merge within a Hubble time. The merger of a helium-core white dwarf with a main-sequence (MS) star can produce a red giant branch star that has a low-mass hydrogen envelope when helium is ignited and thus become a hot subdwarf. Because detailed calculations have not been made, we compute post-merger models with a stellar evolution code. We find the evolutionary paths available to merger remnants and find the pre-merger conditions that lead to the formation of hot subdwarfs. We find that some such mergers result in the formation of stars with intermediate helium-rich surfaces. These stars later develop helium-poor surfaces owing to diffusion. Combining our results with a model population and comparing to observed stars, we find that some observed intermediate helium-rich hot subdwarfs can be explained as the remnants of the mergers of helium-core white dwarfs with low-mass MS stars.
Petrographic features of oceanic peridotites as reflected by their magnetic characteristics

Petrographic and petromagnetic studies of a representative collection of peridotites from various localities on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge have been carried out. It is shown that secondary magnetization of peridotites comes into being usually prior to the onset of serpentinization, in the course of the preceding medium-temperature metamorphic recrystallization of the rocks. The formative conditions of magnetite in peridotites can be inferred from its integrated grain size, quantified from petromagnetic characteristics. Grain size of magnetite that is formed during serpentinization of oceanic peridotites averages 3-4 µm. Increased mean grain size of magnetite (20 µm or more) is suggestive of its having crystallized in the course of medium-temperature metamorphism of peridotites. Based on our own and published data, an increased mean grain size of the magnetic phase is characteristic of most oceanic peridotites, which provides a further proof of extensive development of medium-temperature metamorphic recrystallization of these rocks both within transform faults and on rift valley slopes. The obtained data aord the conclusion that the thickness of the magnetic layer of the MOR lithosphere ranges from 6 to 15 km, its lower limit being set by the 580 C isotherm, corresponding to the Curie point for magnetite.
The Price Convergence of the Czech Republic and Euro Zone Countries

The subject of the article was to study a price convergence of the Czech Republic (CR) and Euro zone countries in the two aspects: spatial and time aspect. In the first one the convergence of selected economies to the Euro zone average price level was researched. In the second one the convergence or divergence process was studied in the individual years of the analysis. The main aim was to prove the hypothesis that the price level of the CR converged to the average price level of the Euro zone in the selected time period 1995-2010. An analysis was conducted by the panel data regression model. The data of comparative price levels of GDP (CPL) used in the analysis were obtained in the Eurostat database.
Teamwork as a Self-Disciplining Device

We show that team formation can serve as an implicit commitment device to overcome problems of self-control. If individuals have present-biased preferences, effort that is costly today but rewarded at some later point in time is too low from the perspective of an individual’s long-run self. If agents interact repeatedly and can monitor each other, a relational contract involving teamwork can help to improve performance. The mutual promise to work harder is credible because the team breaks up after an agent has not kept this promise, which leads to individual underproduction in the future, reducing future utility. (JEL D11, D71, D86, M54)
Monoclonal antibodies in pediatric allergy

Production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) involving human-mouse hybrid cells was first described in 1970s, but these biologics are now used for a variety of diseases including cancers, autoimmune disorders and allergic diseases. The aim of this article is to review current and future applications of mAbs, in particular focusing on anti-IgE therapy, in the field of pediatric allergy. Proceedings of the 11 th International Workshop on Neonatology and Satellite Meetings · Cagliari (Italy) · October 26 th -31 st , 2015 · From the womb to the adult Guest Editors: Vassilios Fanos (Cagliari, Italy), Michele Mussap (Genoa, Italy), Antonio Del Vecchio (Bari, Italy), Bo Sun (Shanghai, China), Dorret I. Boomsma (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Gavino Faa (Cagliari, Italy), Antonio Giordano (Philadelphia, USA)
IN VIVO ANTI-PLASMODIAL AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF ALSTONIA BOONIE (EWE AHUN) AND ITS EFFECT ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN SWISS ALBINO MICE INFECTED WITH PLASMODIUM BERGHEI NK 65

Malaria is an increasing worldwide threat, with more than three hundred million infections and one million deaths every year.The study was conducted to determine the effect of in vivo anti-plasmodial and in vitro antioxidant activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Alstonia boonie (Ewe ahun) and its effect on some biochemical parameters in Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Swiss albino mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with Plasmodium berghei NK65. The mice were grouped into six groups, five per group. Group I were not infected with P.berghei, Group II and III served both as negative and positive controls respectively, while Group IV, V, and VI were treated with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of A. boonie leaf extract respectively. The phytochemical constituents of the extract showed the presence of secondary metabolites like tannin, flavonoids, steroids and saponin. The extract caused 37.9%, 34.7% and 45.8% suppression in parasitaemia at 200, 400 and 800mg/kg body weight respectively while Chloroquine exerted 100% suppression at 5mg/kg body weight. The curative test shows that the different concentration of the extract exert a growth inhibition of 41.8%, 43.3% and 37.5% at 200, 400, 800mg/kg body weight respectively while Chloroquine, cleared the parasites European Scientific Journal June 2014 edition vol.10, No.18 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e ISSN 18577431 69 by 93.1% at 5mg/kg body weight. The Hematological parameters showed that A. boonie had a significant increase (P<0.05) in HGB, RBC and HCT values while their WBC count reduced significantly when compared to the negative control. Chloroquine and the extract significantly decreases (P<0.05) plasma liver marker enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and GGT in the treated group compared to the untreated group. The total protein values significantly increased (P<0.05) in the group treated with the extract and at a dose of 800mg/kg, the extract was nephrotoxic. In the in-vitro antioxidant assay, the extract significantly increase (P<0.05) the level of CAT, SOD and GSH in the liver homogenate induced with oxidative stress using H2O2 while the MDA values reduced significantly with the administration of the extract.
The Oldest African Eucryptodiran Turtle from the Cretaceous of Angola

A new Late Cretaceous turtle, Angolachelys mbaxi gen. et sp. nov., from the Turonian (90 Mya) of Angola, represents the oldest eucryptodire from Africa. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Angolachelys mbaxi as the sister taxon of Sandownia harrisi from the Aptian of Isle of Wight, England. An unnamed turtle from the Albian Glen Rose Formation of Texas (USA) and the Kimmeridgian turtle Solnhofia parsonsi (Germany), are successively more distant sister taxa. Bootstrap analysis suggests those four taxa together form a previously unrecognized monophyletic clade of marine turtles, herein named Angolachelonia clade nov., supported by the following synapomorphies: mandibular articulation of quadrate aligned with or posterior to the occiput, and basisphenoid not visible or visibility greatly reduced in ventral view. Basal eucryptodires and angolachelonians originated in the northern hemisphere, thus Angolachelys represents one of the first marine amniote lineages to have invaded the South Atlantic after separation of Africa and South America.