Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Normal Values on CT Reassessment of the Craniocervical Junction:

J. Whitlow BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As the standard of care for the evaluation of the cervical spine shifts from plain radiographs to multidetector row CT (MDCT), a re-examination of the normal anatomic relationships of the occipitovertebral articulations is needed. We aimed to define the normal anatomic relationships of craniocervical articulations on MDCT and address any discrepancies with currently accepted ranges of normal on plain radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 200 patients underwent an MDCT scan of the cervical spine with multiplanar reconstructions (MPR). We measured the basion-axial interval (BAI), basion-dens interval (BDI), Powers ratio, atlantodental interval (ADI), and atlanto-occipital interval (AOI) in each patient. After statistical analysis, we compared these values to previously accepted data on plain radiographs. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the population was found to have a BDI less than 8.5 mm compared with 12 mm on data from plain radiographs. The Powers ratio demonstrated no significant difference compared with data obtained by plain radiographs. Ninety-five percent of the population was found to have an ADI less than 2 mm, compared with 3 mm previously accepted. The AOI demonstrated 95% of the population ranged between 0.5 mm and 1.4 mm. The BAI was difficult to reproduce on CT images. CONCLUSION: Normal values for the craniocervical relationships on MDCT are significantly different from the accepted ranges of normal on plain radiographs. We propose these values as normal for the adult population.
Providing Advice to Job Seekers at Low Cost: An Experimental Study on Online Advice

We develop and evaluate experimentally a novel tool that redesigns the job search process by providing tailored advice at low cost. We invited jobseekers to our computer facilities for twelve consecutive weekly sessions to search for real jobs on our web interface. For one-half, instead of relying on their own search criteria, we use readily available labour market data to display relevant alternative occupations and associated jobs. The data indicate that this broadens the set of jobs they consider and increases their job interviews especially for participants who otherwise search narrowly and have been unemployed for a few months.
Valorisation de sédiments marins et fluviaux en technique routière

Ce travail de these entre dans le cadre general de la thematique du Departement Genie civil & Environnemental de l’Ecole des Mines de Douai relatif au developpement de solutions alternatives pour une meilleure gestion des sediments de dragage ou de curage. Les travaux menes dans le cadre de ce travail portent principalement sur la valorisation des sediments marins et fluviaux en technique routiere. Apres une identification des caracteristiques physiques et mecaniques, la composition mineralogique, l’impact sur l’environnement des sediments bruts et le potentiel d’utilisation de ces materiaux en technique routiere sont evalues. Pour ameliorer, en particulier, les performances mecaniques des sediments etudies vis-a-vis des contraintes imposees pour une utilisation en technique routiere, des correcteurs granulometriques (sable de dragage et sable du Boulonnais) ont ete utilises. L’etude de formulation de materiaux pour une utilisation en assise de chaussee s’est basee sur deux methodes : l’experience acquise par le laboratoire au travers des etudes sur des sediments issus du port Ouest de Dunkerque et du port de Gravelines et le modele d’empilement compressible largement developpe pour la formulation des betons. Pour cette derniere methode, une nouvelle technique de mesure de la compacite reelle de classes granulaires est developpee. La methode experimentee est conforme a la methode de preparation des echantillons pour l’etude du comportement mecanique de materiaux dans le domaine des travaux routiers. Les melanges granulaires deduits sont ensuite traites au ciment et/ou a la chaux pour ameliorer leurs performances mecaniques. Sur la base de cette demarche, les melanges developpes remplissent les conditions d’utilisation en couches d’assise de chaussees sur le plan mecanique. L’impact sur l’environnement des melanges developpes est egalement explore au travers d’essais de lixiviation. Enfin, le dimensionnement d’une chaussee a base des melanges realises a ete entrepris. L’objectif de cette modelisation est de comparer les epaisseurs de couches obtenues en comparaison d’une structure de chaussee type avec des materiaux standards, mais egalement d’entreprendre une premiere etude comparative entre un outil numerique dedie au dimensionnement des chaussees et un code de calcul generaliste « ABAQUS ». Ce dernier permettra d’integrer des modeles de comportement pour les materiaux developpes plus realiste que les modeles elastiques utilises dans les outils specifiques au dimensionnement de chaussees.
Un campement épipaléolithique de chasseurs dans l’ouest de la France. Le site 1 du Camp d’Auvours à Saint-Mars-la-Brière (Sarthe, France)

Decouverte en 1969, la station prehistorique du Camp militaire d’Auvours a revele, en surface, la presence de cinq sites. La fouille de 141 m² realisee sur le site 1 a livre les restes d’un campement epipaleolithique installe sur un pavement de blocs greseux d’origine periglaciaire. Ces restes ont revele des traces d’organisation comportant des zones de combustion, des zones ocrees ainsi que des accumulations de blocs resultant de remaniements d’un pavement naturel. Le mobilier exclusivement lithique compose d’environ 327 000 silex debites dont 4 200 retouches etait essentiellement contenu dans la moitie nord du site laissant presager d’une prolongation de celui-ci vers le nord. Les principales nappes de mobilier lithique ont toutes temoigne du debitage du silex ainsi que de la fabrication et de l’entretien d’outils a proximite des foyers. Les armatures surtout representees par des pointes (p. des Blancheres et p. a troncature tres oblique) semblent aussi comporter des lamelles a apex naturel decrites ici comme « armatures d’Auvours a apex non amenage ». Les stigmates observes sur leurs fractures pourraient temoigner de l’usage de l’arc. La zone d’installation prehistorique a revele de multiples activites : amenagement de foyers, debitage du silex, preparation de l’ocre, grattage et tannage des peaux. Ce site, temoin pour l’essentiel d’activites cynegetiques, serait donc un important campement de chasseurs. Sa parfaite homogeneite correspond plutot a une longue et unique occupation post-Azilienne.
Phosphorus between soil, soil water and overland flow for established and laser graded, border-check irrigation systems

Agricultural systems contribute to excessive phosphorus (P) additions that are adversely affecting water resources worldwide. The effects of soil disturbance on P exports have not been widely reviewed. In February 2004, four established and four recently laser graded (<4 yrs) border-check irrigation bays on the Macalister Research Farm (38°00'S 146°54'E) were sampled during and after irrigation. Samples were taken at the channel inlet and every 60 m thereafter. Overland flow was sampled at the wetting front and back up the bays, and soil samples were recovered from the sampling locations two days after irrigation. Overland flow was analysed for total P (TP), the soil samples were analysed for soil Olsen P (0-20 and 0-100 mm depths) and soil water, dissolved reactive P (SWDRP) and total P (SWTP) (0-20 mm depth).
THE AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS IN CANADA

In this paper, we empirically investigate Canadian initial public offerings (IPOs) to provide one case on the international evidence on the long-run performance of IPOs. Specifically, we examine whether the choice of a performance measurement methodology directly determines both the size and power of statistical test, as documented in previous studies (Mitchell and Stafford, 2000; Loughran and Ritter, 2000; and Brav, Geczy and Gompers, 2000). Our sample consists of 445 IPOs between January 1991 and December 1998. Using cumulative abnormal returns as an abnormal performance measure, we find that the Canadian IPOs underperform significantly the sample of seasoned firms with the same market capitalization. More specifically, the 3 year and the 5 year underperformances estimated on value weighted (VW) basis are statistically significant. Moreover, using the buy-and hold returns as an alternative measurement for long-run performance, we find that investors who buy immediately after listing and hold shares for five years will make a loss of 24,66%, on equally weighted (EW) basis (15,16% on VW basis) relative to an investment in the control firms. Using the calendar-time returns method, we find that the 5 years underperformance is 25,6% on EW basis (19,22% on VW basis). We have entertained a number of possible explanations for the poor subsequent performance of issuing firms. While, the fads or investors overreactions and divergence of opinions hypotheses do not apply in explaining the aftermarket performance of Canadian IPOs, our evidence is consistent with the hot issue market story.
Prevalence and risk factors for Leptospira spp. in dairy cattle in western Paraná, Brazil

Leptospirosis is caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Leptospira and is considered the most widespread zoonosis worldwide. It is an important agent that causes animal production to decrease. In cattle, it affects especially the reproductive tract. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. , molecularly detect the bacteria in tissues of aborted fetuses, and identify the main risk factors associated with infection in cattle in dairy farms in Western Paraná. For this purpose, 600 bovine serum samples from 60 properties and 17 bovine fetuses from nine properties were collected. Data about the properties were also collected through an epidemiological questionnaire to assess the main risk factors associated with Leptospira spp. infection. The serum samples were analyzed using microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and the fetal tissues using nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR). Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in dairy cattle in Western Paraná was 39.83% (239/600) and none of the analyzed fetuses were positive for Leptospira spp. The main risk factors identified are related to the production system, reproductive management, and the presence of dogs on the property. Leptospira spp. infection is widely spread in the cattle population in Western Paraná.
Hormone therapy associates with better body composition and adipokine/glucose profiles: A study with monozygotic co-twin control design

Objective : To evaluate the possibilities to prevent the metabolic health consequences of postmenopausal hypogonadism with long-term hormone therapy (HT). Methods : We used a monozygotic co-twin control design including ten twin pairs discordant for HT (aged 56-62 years; duration of HT 2-10 years). Additionally, fourteen premenopausal women with no hormone use were studied (aged 29-35 years) in order to evaluate the differences in metabolic health between the pre-and postmenopausal state. Body composition was determined and waist/hip ratio was used as an estimate for fat distribution. Serum sex steroids, sex hormone-binding globulin, and serum lipid and glucose profiles were analyzed. The serum levels of adiponectin, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and leptin as well as their local transcript levels in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and leukocytes were measured. Results : Long-term HT was associated with healthier amount and distribution of body fat. No difference was seen in serum lipid concentrations between HT users and their identical non-using twin-sisters, but fasting serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were 5 and 3% lower in HT users than non-users. Among the adipokines analyzed, the most notable finding was a 15% lower level of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in HT users, particularly with respect to its suggested mediator role between obesity and insulin resistance. Conclusions : Long-term HT is associated with healthier amount and distribution of body fat and better adipocytokine profile with concomitant signs of improved insulin sensitivity.
Are value losses relevant in the context of U.S. net firms

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the anomalous negative price-earnings relation in the context of U.S. net firms. This topic earns especial relevance after the bursting of the technology bubble and the disappearance of many new companies (dot.coms). In fact, investigations about the price-loss relation are scarce and the results controversial. We assume that the negative relation observed in the U.S. net firms, is due to the growth opportunities bias. This hypothesis is in line with the Ohlson (1995) and Feltham and Ohlson (1995) models, who regard current expenses such as R&D and Advertising as generating the potential for future profit growth. Accounting measurements may be misleading, as the GAAP prevailing in the US treat these items as expenses. By contrast, capital markets seem to give a strong value to firms undertaking such investments. Our results are significant and consistent with: i) investors look beyond aggregate earnings, ii) investors value certain components of losses (R&D and Advertising expenditures) positively and, iii) the presence of growing R&D and Advertising expenditures, implies that the persistence of losses has become a weaker indicator of likelihood of liquidation.
ACTIVE CONTROL AND MOTION PLANNING FOR OFFSHORE STRUCTURES

This paper presents an active control dedicated to the positioning of vertical oﬀshore structures. The trajectory planning and the closed loop system use a convenient model given by the Bernoulli’s historical cable equation, completed with a damping factor, that linearly depends on the structure speed. Its solution is directly used in the control design, providing an extension to previous works on control of heavy chains and oﬀshore structures.
ScholarWorks @ UTRGV ScholarWorks @ UTRGV

Hedonic information systems are those that are used primarily for pleasure. Previous research has established that the intention to use hedonic information systems is explained mainly by perceived ease of use and perceived enjoyment, with perceived usefulness to one’s job being given less importance. Facebook could be seen as a hedonic information system. This paper employs a cross-sectional survey of 178 professionals who used Facebook to various degrees. Predictably, the authors’ empirical results show that perceived enjoyment is indeed a much stronger determinant of intended continued Facebook use than ease of use or usefulness to one’s job, explaining a considerable proportion of variance in continued use behavior. The authors also find that ease of use is a strong determinant of perceived en-joyment. Interestingly, their results suggest that intended continued Facebook use is significantly and positively associated with job performance, both directly and indirectly via job satisfaction.
Quid Pro Quo: Technology Capital Transfers for Market Access in China

By the 1970s, quid pro quo policy, which requires multinational firms to transfer technology in return for market access, had become a common practice in many developing countries. While many countries have subsequently liberalized quid pro quo requirements, China continues to follow the policy. In this article, we incorporate quid pro quo policy into a multicountry dynamic general equilibrium model, using microevidence from Chinese patents to motivate key assumptions about the terms of the technology transfer deals and macroevidence on China's inward foreign direct investment (FDI) to estimate key model parameters. We then use the model to quantify the impact of China's quid pro quo policy and show that it has had a significant impact on global innovation and welfare.
Poly(ADP‐ribose)polymerase inhibition decreases angiogenesis.

Inhibitors of poly(ADP‐ribose)polymerase (PARP), a nuclear enzyme involved in regulating cell death and cellular responses to DNA repair, show considerable promise in the treatment of cancer both in monotherapy as well as in combination with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Here, we show dose‐dependent reduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)‐induced proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro by various PARP inhibitors (3‐aminobenzamide or PJ‐34, 5‐aminoisoquinolinone‐hydrochloride (5‐AIQ) and 1,5‐isoquinolinediol (IQD). Moreover, PARP inhibitors decrease the sprouting of rat aortic ring explants in an ex vivo assay of angiogenesis. These results establish the novel concept that PARP inhibitors have antiangiogenic effects, which may have tremendous clinical implications for the treatment of various cancers, tumor metastases, and certain retinopathies.
Bad Smells in Software Analytics Papers

CONTEXT: There has been a rapid growth in the use of data analytics to underpin evidence-based software engineering. However the combination of complex techniques, diverse reporting standards and complex underlying phenomena are causing some concern as to the reliability of studies. OBJECTIVE: Our goal is to provide guidance for producers and consumers of software analytics studies (computational experiments and correlation studies). METHOD: We propose using "bad smells", i.e. surface indications of deeper problems and popular in the agile software community and consider how they may be manifest in software analytics studies. RESULTS: We provide a list of 11 "bad smells" in decreasing order of severity and show their impact by examples. CONCLUSIONS: We should encourage more debate on what constitutes a `valid' study (so we expect our list will mature over time).
Perturbations anthropiques et fonctionnement écologique des cours d'eau de tête de bassin : étude du processus de décomposition des litières

La decomposition des litieres d'origine allochtone gouverne le fonctionnement ecologique des cours d'eau de tete de bassin. Ceux-ci sont exposes a des perturbations anthropiques variees dont les consequences sur le processus de decomposition ont ete etudiees en milieu naturel (23 cours d'eau du sud-ouest de la France) et au laboratoire. La vitesse de decomposition des litieres repond aux alterations des caracteristiques physico-chimiques de l'eau et de la diversite de la vegetation riveraine qui influencent l'activite des organismes decomposeurs. Ainsi, la perte de diversite en essences forestieres reduit nettement la dynamique des reseaux trophiques detritiques en modifiant les interactions entre deux guildes de consommateurs primaires (invertebres dechiqueteurs et champignons aquatiques saprophytes) et la ressource (litieres). La proliferation d'une espece exotique (renouee du Japon) au sein de la vegetation riveraine accelere la decomposition des litieres indigenes suite a des modifications dans les assemblages de dechiqueteurs. Le lien entre diversite des dechiqueteurs et vitesse de decomposition des litieres est egalement mis en evidence dans des cours d'eau representatifs d'un gradient d'eutrophisation (enrichissement en azote et phosphore inorganique dissous). Ce resultat montre les limites de methodes d'evaluation de l'integrite fonctionnelle des cours d'eau basees seulement sur les traits de vie des invertebres. Dans l'ensemble, les resultats obtenus temoignent d'une sensibilite de la decomposition des litieres et des decomposeurs associes, aux perturbations anthropiques des cours d'eau et des zones riveraines adjacentes. A cet egard, ce processus apparait comme un excellent indicateur multimetrique de l'etat de sante des cours d'eau de tete de bassin, capable de discriminer differents types et degres de perturbations.
Isolation And Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern With Esbl Production Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated From Sputum, Pus And Urine Samples In A Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae has been associated with different types of infections and one of the most important aspects of Klebsiella is the emergence of multi drug resistant strains particularly those involved in nosocomial diseases. Materials and methods: A total number of 800 sputum, 148 pus and 850 urine samples from September 2013 to August 2014 were included in the study. Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified by their standard microbiological techniques and were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Of the 1798 samples processed 410 (22%) samples were culture positive for various organisms. A total of 410 organisms were isolated, of them 157 (38%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae. The frequency of ESBL producers in our study was 70 (44%) of all Klebsiella isolates. Conclusion: The present study reveals 8.73% of isolation rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae from various clinical samples with highest sensitivity to amikacin and highest resistance to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. Prevalence of ESBLs among members of Enterobacteriaceae constitutes a serious threat to the current beta-lactam therapy,leading to treatment failure. There is an urgent need to emphasize rational use of drugs to minimize the misuse of available antimicrobials.
Cancer morbidity of professional emergency responders in Korea.

BACKGROUND Many professional emergency responders (ERs) who belong to the Korean National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have been cross-trained and serve multiple roles. As such, firefighters and other ERs in Korea are exposed to similar occupational hazards. This study was conducted to estimate cancer morbidity in male ERs and compare that with Korean men. METHODS The cohort was comprised of 33,416 male ERs working between 1980 and 2007, who were alive on December 31, 1995. Work histories were merged with the Korea National Central Cancer Registry (KNCCR) to assess cancer morbidity between 1996 and 2007. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with reference to Korean men were analyzed. RESULTS SIRs with reference to national cancer rates were not significantly decreased for overall cancer (SIR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.90-1.08) in all ERs. However, colorectal (SIR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.07-1.67), kidney (SIR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.00-2.41), and bladder (SIR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.08-2.73) cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.12-2.76) morbidities were significantly increased among all ERs. In firefighters, significantly increased cancer types were as same as those of all ERs. In non-firefighter ERs, colorectal (SIR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.20-4.61) and bone and articular cartilage cancers (SIR = 9.53, 95% CI = 1.07-34.41) were significantly higher than those of Korean men. CONCLUSIONS Korean firefighters showed excess morbidity in several cancer types, including colorectal and urologic cancers, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, demonstrating similar trends to previous studies for firefighters conducted in other countries. Increased incidence in these cancer types suggests occupational exposure to carcinogens and shift work.