Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combination Treatment With Comprehensive Cryoablation and Immunotherapy in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Objective The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the effect of comprehensive cryosurgery (ablation of intrapancreatic and extrapancreatic tumors) plus immunotherapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Methods We divided 106 patients (57 men, 49 women; median age, 65 years) into the cryoimmunotherapy (31 patients), cryotherapy (36 patients), immunotherapy (17 patients), and chemotherapy groups (22 patients). Pretreatment immune function was tested in patients who underwent immunotherapy. Overall survival (OS) after diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer was assessed after a 4-year follow-up. Results Median OS was higher in the cryoimmunotherapy (13 months) and cryotherapy groups (7 months) than in the chemotherapy group (3.5 months; both P < 0.001) and was higher in the cryoimmunotherapy group than in the cryotherapy (P < 0.05) and immunotherapy groups (5 months; P < 0.001). In both the cryoimmunotherapy and cryotherapy groups, median OS was higher after multiple cryoablations than after a single cryoablation (P = 0.0048 and 0.041, respectively). In both groups, the median OS was higher in patients with normal immunologic function than in those with immune dysfunction (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0004, respectively). Conclusions Cryoimmunotherapy significantly increased OS in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Multiple cryoablations and normal pretreatment immunologic function were associated with better prognosis.
Statistical Evaluation and Analysis of Road Extraction Methodologies Using a Unique Dataset from Remote Sensing

In the scientific literature, multiple studies address the application of road extraction methodologies to a particular cartographic dataset. However, it is difficult for any study to perform a more reliable comparison among road extraction methodologies when their results come from different cartographic datasets. Therefore, aiming to enable a more reliable comparison among different road extraction methodologies from the scientific literature, this study proposed a statistical evaluation and analysis of road extraction methodologies using a common image dataset. To achieve this goal, we setup a dataset containing remote sensing images of three different road types, highways, cities network and rural paths, and a group of images from the ISPRS (International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) dataset. Furthermore, three road extraction methodologies were selected from the literature, in accordance with their availability, to be processed and evaluated using well-known statistical metrics. The achieved results are encouraging and indicate that the proposed statistical evaluation and analysis can allow researchers to evaluate and compare road extraction methodologies using this common dataset extracting similar characteristics to obtain a more reliable comparison among them.
Financial Development and Economic Growth: Role of Institutional Quality

The objective of our work is to show the importance of a healthy institutional framework in the finance-growth relation. In this context, we start by presenting, a theoretical lighting on this subject while trying to define the concept of the governorship and to determine its various measurements. Then, we empirically test a model of growth of Solow increased by the human capital, treating relation between financial development, institutions and economic growth. The various estimates were made by Panel data Methods over the period of 1990 to 2006 for 22 developing countries. Following these estimates, it seems that the quality of the institutions is regarded as an important factor which must not be neglected in the study of the relation between the financial sphere and the real sphere.
Applying Moral Principles to Growth Management

Abstract Different growth management programs provide different levels of benefits to any given community group. Planners must understand the way their growth management programs' goals determine the distribution of benefits among the community's populations. This article presents several possible goal orientations for growth management and argues that programs should be guided by the theory of justice expounded by John Rawls. Using that theory, the planner considering various growth management programs would select the one that provided more benefits to the least-advantaged group than any other program could provide, regardless of its benefits to other groups. After explaining that concept, the author extends it to include equity outside the community's own jurisdiction and proposes an approach that growth managers can use in deciding what their communities owe to people elsewhere who are affected by their decisions.
50 Million Years of Genomic Stasis in Endosymbiotic Bacteria

Comparison of two fully sequenced genomes ofBuchnera aphidicola, the obligate endosymbionts of aphids, reveals the most extreme genome stability to date: no chromosome rearrangements or gene acquisitions have occurred in the past 50 to 70 million years, despite substantial sequence evolution and the inactivation and loss of individual genes. In contrast, the genomes of their closest free-living relatives, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. , are more than 2000-fold more labile in content and gene order. The genomic stasis of B. aphidicola, likely attributable to the loss of phages, repeated sequences, and recA, indicates thatB. aphidicola is no longer a source of ecological innovation for its hosts.
Professional Employer Organizations and Their Role in Small and Medium Enterprises: The Impact of HR Outsourcing

While effective HR services and programs can help firms gain competitive advantage, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often lack the internal resources required to develop and deliver these services and programs. As a result, SMEs increasingly are outsourcing HR activities to professional employer organizations (PEOs). Questions remain, however, about the conditions under which SMEs will benefit from outsourcing HR to a PEO, as well as about the type of benefits that are potentially available. The very nature of many HR activities raises questions about the risks associated with market governance and a PEO's ability to ensure service quality for SMEs. In order for these questions to be addressed, it is necessary to understand the process by which PEO utilization affects SME outcomes. In this article, we use transaction cost economics, social exchange theory, and the strategic HR literature to develop a framework for understanding the factors and conditions likely to affect whether and how an SME will benefit from using a PEO.
Hepatitis C Tested Prevalence and Comorbidities Among Veterans in the US Northwest

Goals (1) Investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection among patients seen in the Veterans Administration Northwest Network; (2) examine time trends in testing practices and results; and (3) estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among active patients. Background Hepatitis C virus infection causes chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease. Hepatitis C virus antibodies are estimated to be present in 1.8% of the US population, but reports of its prevalence among US veterans range from 1.7 to 35%. Study Retrospective review of computerized medical records of veterans tested for hepatitis C from October 1994 through December 2000 (n = 37,938) at 8 Northwest Veterans Administration Medical Centers. Results Among tested veterans, 8230 (21.7%) had evidence of hepatitis C virus infection. The number of patients tested increased annually from 2335 to 18,191, while the proportion with first-time positive hepatitis C test results decreased from 35 to 10%. This drop in tested prevalence was associated with a shift away from testing individuals at highest risk—those with positive hepatitis B serostatus, repeatedly elevated alanine transaminase levels, and drug use disorder diagnoses. We estimate that 11.4% of the Northwest Network veteran users are hepatitis C virus seropositive, with a lower bound of 4.0% and upper bound of 19.5%. Conclusions Although estimates of hepatitis C virus infection rates among veteran users of the Veterans Administration system remain higher than those for the general population, changes in testing practice make generalizations from earlier studies hazardous.
Research on the psychotherapy of bulimia nervosa: half empty or half full.

OBJECTIVE The current status of the research knowledge on the psychotherapy of bulimia nervosa is reviewed. METHODS Published studies using randomization to treatment are discussed. RESULTS The existing research data speak convincingly to the efficacy of cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT); however, certain important questions remain unanswered. DISCUSSION The current deficiencies in the field are underscored.
Endoscopic Management of Biliary Complications After Adult Living-Donor Versus Deceased-Donor Liver Transplantation

Background. Although data about the incidence and management of biliary complications after deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT) are well defined, those pertaining to adult living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are conflicting. Methods. We retrospectively compared endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) findings in 30 LDLT vs. 357 DDLT consecutive adult recipients with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. LDLT and DDLT recipients were followed up for median durations of 30.5 and 36.0 months after the last ERCP, respectively. Results. Postoperative biliary complications were more frequently identified at ERCP after LDLT versus DDLT (10/30 [33.3%] vs. 34/357 [9.5%]; P<0.001). Complications mainly consisted of anastomotic biliary strictures (10/30 [33.3%] vs. 27/357 [7.6%]; LDLT vs. DDLT recipients, respectively; P<0.001) and biliary leaks (4/30 [13.3%] vs. 6/357 [1.7%]; LDLT vs. DDLT recipients, respectively; P=0.005; some patients had both complications). Stricture dilation was successful in 4/10 (40%) LDLT vs. 27/27 (100%) DDLT recipients (P<0.001), and bile ducts remained patent up to the end of follow-up without further intervention in 2/10 (20.0%) vs. 21/27 (77.8%) patients, respectively (P=0.002). Endoscopic treatment of bile leaks was successful in 3/4 (75.0%) vs. 5/6 (83.3%) LDLT versus DDLT recipients, respectively (NS). Conclusions. Biliary complications were more frequent after LDLT compared with DDLT. Endoscopic treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures was successful in a minority of patients after LDLT, in contrast with DDLT. Most biliary leaks were successfully treated at endoscopy after LDLT or DDLT.
AN examination of short QQQ option trades

This study shows that unconditional QQQ option selling strategies from January 2001 through November 2004 are generally significantly profitable after transactions costs. However, when straddle and strangle sales are combined with purchases of out of the money puts, few of the strategies are significantly profitable. Profits improve when the QQQ Volatility Index is high relative to time series volatility forecasts, but only when actual volatility is forecast to be moderate. Active delta‐hedging reduces profitability, whereas stop loss/take profit orders enhance profitability. Overall, QQQ short volatility trades appear to be less compelling than what others have found with S&P options. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 27:739–770, 2007
Epicardial Mapping of Chronic Atrial Fibrillation in Patients: Preliminary Observations

Background—The mechanisms of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) are not well understood. We performed epicardial mapping of chronic AF in patients undergoing open heart surgery to test the hypothesis that chronic AF is due to a left atrial “driver” with a regular, short cycle length, resulting in fibrillatory conduction to the rest of the atria. Methods and Results—Nine patients with chronic AF (1 month to >15 years’ duration) were studied at open heart surgery, 8 before and 1 during cardiopulmonary bypass. During AF, atrial electrograms (AEGs) were recorded for 1 to 5 minutes from 404 epicardial electrodes arranged in bipoles along with ECG lead II or ventricular electrogram. Four-second segments of each bipolar AEG were also subjected to fast Fourier transform analysis. Two patterns of atrial activation were present during AF. In pattern 1 (7/9 patients), AEGs from parts of the atria demonstrated a short, regular cycle length with identical beat-to-beat morphology, and the rest of the atria were activated irregularly, and AEGs that demonstrated constant morphology and cycle length were localized to parts of the left atria (5/7), the right atria (1/7), or both atria (1/7). In pattern 2 (2/9 patients), AEGs showed no evidence of regular activation or constant morphology. Conclusions—In 9 patients with chronic AF, the commonest recorded AEG pattern showed an area of regular, rapid rhythm, consistent with the possibility that a driver causing fibrillatory conduction is one mechanism of AF in these patients.
Polar Wavelets in Space

Recent work introduced a unified framework for steerable and directional wavelets in two and three dimensions that ensures many desirable properties, such as a multi-scale structure, fast transforms, and a flexible angular localization. We show that, for an appropriate choice for the radial window function, these wavelets also have closed form expressions for, among other things, the spatial representation, the filter taps for the fast transform, and the frame representation of the Laplace operator. The numerical practicality and benefits of our work are demonstrated using signal estimation from non-uniform, point-wise samples, as required for example in ray tracing, and for reconstructing a signal over a lower-dimensional sub-manifold, with applications for instance in medical imaging.
Kantorovich's Theorem on Newton's Method in Riemannian Manifolds

Newton's method for finding a zero of a vectorial function is a powerful theoretical and practical tool. One of the drawbacks of the classical convergence proof is that closeness to a non-singular zero must be supposed a priori. Kantorovich's theorem on Newton's method has the advantage of proving existence of a solution and convergence to it under very mild conditions. This theorem holds in Banach spaces. Newton's method has been extended to the problem of finding a singularity of a vectorial field in Riemannian manifold. We extend Kantorovich's theorem on Newton's method to Riemannian manifolds.
An 89 nW instrumentation amplifier for IoT in 65 nm CMOS technology

This paper presents a low power instrumentation amplifier (IA) for the use in Internet of Things (IoT). A modified topology based on the INA321 by Texas Instruments of the two-opamp IA is used for its higher CMRR. The main design constraints are low power consumption and low noise. Two stage topology opamp is used for its capability of operating from a low supply voltage. Self-cascode technique enhances the open loop gain and allows the use of indirect compensation reducing the capacitor size. The drawback is reduced bandwidth however not a concern as many IoT applications exhibit narrow bandwidth. Post layout simulation is performed using Cadence Virtuoso 6.1. 5 and TSMC 65 nm node. The designed opamp consumes 28.8 nW from a 0.4 V supply. Exhibits an open loop gain of 52 dB with phase margin 90 degrees. The IA has a fixed gain of 24 dB and bandwidth of 11 kHz. Common mode rejection of 83 dB is achieved. Total power dissipation is 89 nW.
Optimal ergodic chaos under slow capital depreciation

It has been known that, in a standard two-sector dynamic model, slow capital depreciation may result in a unimodal system with a kinked peak and that this system may be topological chaos, which is unobservable in Grandmont's sense. However, whether or not slow capital depreciation can cause observable chaos has not been examined in the existing literature. The present study demonstrates that slow capital depreciation may cause ergodic chaos, which is observable, by using a recent result of Sato and Yano (2012).
Ne tworking capability, networking outcomes, and company performance A nomological model including moderation effects

(corresponding author)Maciej MitregaThe Karol Adamiecki University of EconomicsUl. Bogucicka 14, Katowice, 40-226, Polandmaciej.mitrega@ue.katowice. plCarla RamosManchester Business SchoolUniversity of Manchester, Booth Street West, M15 6PB, UKandFaculdade de Economia do Porto,Universidade do Porto Rua Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugalcarla.ramos@mbs.ac. ukSebastian ForkmannManchester Business SchoolUniversity of Manchester, Booth Street West, M15 6PB, UKsebastian.forkmann@postgrad.mbs.ac.ukStephan C. HennebergManchester Business SchoolUniversity of Manchester, Booth Street West, M15 6PB, UKstephan.henneberg@mbs.ac. ukSubmitted for Review2011 IMP Conference, GlasgowJuly2011
Regional differences in small firm entry in manufacturing industries: Lower Saxony, 1979–1991 †

This paper is an empirical study of inter-regional and inter-temporal variations in entry of new firms using longitudinal data covering all manufacturing establishments in Lower Saxony between 1979 and 1991. Patterns of entry are reported for sixteen regions based on gross rates of entry (number of new firms) and entry intensities (shares of employees). An empirical model is applied to detect regional characteristics that are highly correlated with entry. Pooling of cross-section and time-series data allows for control of influences of varying macroeconomic conditions and unobserved regional characteristics that turned out to be important. Small firm entry tends to be positively related to high overall economic growth, and to be higher in regions where both the small firm employment share and the level of wealth are high while the wage rate is low. We find no evidence for a negative impact of the business tax rate or for a positive effect of regional subsidies.
Public Disclosure, Reputation Sensitivity, and Labor Law Compliance: Evidence from Better Factories Cambodia

Public disclosure of labor conditions has been suggested as one way to encourage compliance with labor law and improvements in working conditions. Analyzing labor law compliance data in the apparel industry from Better Factories Cambodia, this paper finds that after the elimination of public disclosure of factory‐level noncompliance the rate of increase in compliance slowed, but did not return to the baseline, even in the absence of a reputation sensitive buyer.
Competitiveness of Lebanese wine: new shoots from ancient roots

Since the Phoenicians inhabited the land of Canaan (the modern Lebanon), wine earned historical, cultural, social and economic dimensions in the life of its population. Through their trade network, evidence shows that the Phoenicians distributed wine, wine grapes and the winemaking technology that they had acquired from the east, throughout the Mediterranean region. However, the Lebanese wine sector did not take the required attention of the scientific community. Thus, this study gathers agri-food trade data, from national and international sources to analyse the Lebanese wine sector and evaluate its competitiveness in the international market using the revealed trade advantage and the revealed competitiveness indicators. Both indicators show that Lebanese wine has average competitiveness in the world market. This level of competitiveness can fluctuate depending on the political situation and the trade region and is highest for America and Asia. Finally, the study urges a long-term, general political fram.
Single dexamethasone injection increases alveolar fluid clearance in adult rats*

ObjectiveEpithelial Na+ channels and Na+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in alveolar epithelium have a very important role in the absorption of excessive fluid from the alveolar space. We examined whether single dexamethasone injection at therapeutic doses would modulate lung epithelial Na+ channels and Na+/K+-ATPase and increase alveolar fluid clearance in adult rats. DesignControlled laboratory study. SettingUniversity research laboratory. SubjectsAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 138). InterventionsRats were intraperitoneally injected with dexamethasone at a dose ranging from 0.02 to 2.0 mg/kg, and allowed free access to food and water. Measurements and Main ResultsAlveolar fluid clearance was determined by measuring the increase in albumin concentration in the lung instillate solution. We discovered a significant increase in alveolar fluid clearance at 48 and 72 hrs after dexamethasone treatment. The effect of dexamethasone was dose dependent. In addition, increased alveolar fluid clearance was associated with a faster recover from hypoxemia, which was induced by filling the alveolar space with instillate solution. The dexamethasone-induced increase in alveolar fluid clearance was inhibited by amiloride and ouabain. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed that dexamethasone treatment increased lung &bgr;-epithelial Na+ channel mRNA levels. The expression of &ggr;-epithelial Na+ channel mRNA was also increased slightly. In contrast, &agr;-epithelial Na+ channel mRNA levels did not differ from control levels. There was no change in &agr;1- or &bgr;1-Na+/K+-ATPase mRNA levels over 72 hrs after dexamethasone treatment. However, we found that lung Na+/K+-ATPase hydrolytic activity, determined by monitoring the ouabain-sensitive ATPase hydrolysis, was increased at 48 and 72 hrs after dexamethasone treatment. ConclusionsSingle dexamethasone injection at therapeutic doses is capable of modulating lung epithelial Na+ channels and Na+/K+-ATPase and increase alveolar fluid clearance, thereby accelerating recovery from pulmonary edema.
An optimized NLMS algorithm for acoustic echo cancellation

In order to improve the overall performance of the normalized least-mean-square (NLMS) algorithm, there is the need to control its main parameters, i.e., the normalized step-size and regularization terms. In this context, the variable step-size and variable regularized versions of the NLMS algorithm are designed to address the conflicting requirement of fast convergence and low misadjustment. In this paper, we propose an optimized NLMS algorithm for acoustic echo cancellation (AEC). This algorithm is based on a joint-optimization on both the normalized step-size and regularization parameters, in the context of a state variable model (similar to Kalman filtering). The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm can be a reliable choice for AEC applications, since it achieves fast convergence and tracking, low misadjustment, and double-talk robustness.
Feasibility of riskless hedged portfolios in imperfect markets

The Black–Scholes model (1973) is developed under the concept of the riskless hedged portfolio by hedging the call option against the underlying stock. If the riskless hedged portfolio is feasible, investors’ preference is independent of option pricing and the implied growth rate of stock price will be the riskless interest rate. Noticeably, the feasibility of this concept is based on the perfect market assumptions and no riskless arbitrage opportunity. However, none of the conditions of perfect capital markets is true in real capital markets. Therefore, whether the growth rate of the hedged portfolio is the riskless interest rate is an interesting and challenging topic. The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical relationship between the return of the hedged portfolio and risk in imperfect markets. This theoretical foundation can be viewed as a supplementary work to Hsu and Wang (2004) and Wang and Hsu (2006).