Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of guar gum on gastric emptying in growing pigs

1. Simple gastric cannulas were surgically fitted to four pigs, initially of 30 kg live weight, to examine the effects of guar gum on gastric emptying. 2. Four semi-purified high-fat diets based on starch, casein, soya-bean oil and tallow were given to each pig. They contained 0 (control), 20, 40 or 60 g powdered guar gum/kg diet. The meals as fed contained 257 g dry matter (DM)/kg. 3. The contents of the stomach were evacuated, with rinsing, before feeding or 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 h after feeding. 4. The mean pH of the digesta was unaffected by guar gum until 4 h after feeding when the value increased as the amount of guar gum in the diet rose. 5. The only significant effects of guar gum on the emptying of digesta and its components (compared with the control diet) were to reduce the rate of emptying of (a) digesta 1 h after feeding (60 g/kg diet) and 4 h after feeding (40 and 60 g/kg diets), (b) dry matter and glucose 1 h after feeding (60 g/kg diet), (c) nitrogen 1 h after feeding (60 g/kg diet) and 4 h after feeding (40 and 60 g/kg diets). 6. When expressed on a half-time (T50) basis, the emptying of digesta and N (but not of DM and glucose) were significantly slower for diets containing 40 and 60 g guar gum/kg than for the control diet. 7. The apparent viscosity of the gastric digesta ranged between 0.5 and 23.7% of the values for the diets as consumed. 8. It was concluded that the effects of guar gum on gastric emptying of high-solid meals were small, and that this was unlikely to be an important aspect of the mechanism by which guar gum reduces postprandial blood glucose concentrations.
Competition among Health Maintenance Organizations

We develop a model of competition among health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to analyze the effects of market power, scale economies, and asymmetric knowledge of health risk on market outcomes. We find that competition among HMOs may, but need not, ensure socially preferred outcomes. Market power or scale economies can sometimes admit socially preferred outcomes when they would otherwise not arise. Asymmetric knowledge of health risk may or may not be constraining. When it is constraining, a variety of patterns of incomplete health insurance can arise, along with excessive or insufficient treatment and preventive care for either high-risk or low-risk individuals. Copyright (c) 1997 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Procedural results and acute complications in stenting native and recurrent coarctation of the aorta in patients over 4 years of age: A multi‐institutional study

Background: We report a multi‐institutional experience with intravascular stenting (IS) for treatment of coarctation of the aorta. Methods and Results: Data was collected retrospectively by review of medical records from 17 institutions. The data was broken down to prior to 2002 and after 2002 for further analysis. A total of 565 procedures were performed with a median age of 15 years (mean = 18.1 years). Successful reduction in the post stent gradient (<20 mm Hg) or increase in post stent coarctation to descending aorta (DAo) ratio of >0.8 was achieved in 97.9% of procedures. There was significant improvement (P < 0.01) in pre versus post stent coarctation dimensions (7.4 mm ± 3.0 mm vs. 14.3 ± 3.2mm), systolic gradient (31.6 mm Hg ± 16.0 mm Hg vs. 2.7 mm Hg ± 4.2 mm Hg) and ratio of the coarctation segment to the DAo (0.43 ± 0.17 vs. 0.85 ± 0.15). Acute complications were encountered in 81/565 (14.3%) procedures. There were two procedure related deaths. Aortic wall complications included: aneurysm formation (n = 6), intimal tears (n = 8), and dissections (n = 9). The risk of aortic dissection increased significantly in patients over the age of 40 years. Technical complications included stent migration (n = 28), and balloon rupture (n = 13). Peripheral vascular complications included cerebral vascular accidents (CVA) (n = 4), peripheral emboli (n = 1), and significant access arterial injury (n = 13). Older age was significantly associated with occurrence of CVAs. A significant decrease in the technical complication rate from 16.3% to 6.1% (P < 0.001) was observed in procedures performed after January 2002. Conclusions: Stent placement for coarctation of aorta is an effective treatment option, though it remains a technically challenging procedure. Technical and aortic complications have decreased over the past 3 years due to, in part, improvement in balloon and stent design. Improvement in our ability to assess aortic wall compliance is essential prior to placement of ISs in older patients with coarctation of the aorta. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
2 Phases , Variables and Dilemmas of Implementing Financial Reform Phases of Implementing a Financial ReformVariables and Dilemmas in Implementing a Financial Reform Design Pilot Operation Variables Resources Interdependence Sequence and timing Dilemmas Comprehensiveness Monitoring

This paper provides three frameworks for understanding the process of implementing a financial reform in an African country that has adopted a policy of devolution. The paper is based on four years of experience in implementing a financial reform under Ethiopia’s Civil Service Reform. The first framework, which we have termed the Framework for Financial Reform, provides an overall conception of financial reform. It has two dimensions: the stages of development of financial systems (external control, internal control, management, planning) and the steps to changing financial systems (comprehension, improvement, expansion). The second framework, the Four Tasks of Managing a Financial Reform, elaborates the steps in changing financial systems. These tasks include: reforming the approach to financial reform, improving the design of the reform, managing the implementation of the reform, and protecting the reform. The third framework focuses on the task of managing the implementation of financial reform and details the phases, variables and dilemmas of implementation. The phases of implementation are design, pilot, and operation. Associated with these phases are variables that affect the implementation (resources, interdependence, sequence and timing) and dilemmas (comprehensiveness and monitoring). These frameworks support the paper’s two theses: 1) that reform of financial systems in Africa must be evolutionary not revolutionary and 2) that evolutionary reform of financial systems is especially needed in devolved African countries. Evolutionary reform is needed because financial systems in the public sector are fragile traditions that need to first be comprehended. Before more complicated financial “management” reforms can be introduced that focus on outputs and outcomes, the existing “administrative” financial systems which control inputs have to be understood, implemented, and improved. “Best Practice” is often the enemy of “feasible” practice in developing countries.
Grouped signed power-of-two algorithms for low-complexity adaptive equalization

With increasing demand for higher data rate, modern communication systems have grown more complex. Equalization has become more and more important as it is effective in mitigating the multipath fading often occurred in high-data-rate communication systems. However, the implementation complexity of adaptive equalizers is usually too high for mobile communication applications. In this paper, a novel adaptive equalization algorithm and its low-complexity architecture are proposed. This algorithm employs a new grouped signed power-of-two (GSPT) number representation. The GSPT algorithm and several enhanced versions are simulated as adaptive equalizers in a phase-shift keying communication receiver for several practical channels and the GSPT-based equalizers perform as well as the least mean square (LMS) equalizer. Moreover, for comparison, two GSPT-based equalizers and two other equalizers are implemented in field-programmable gate arrays. The GSPT-based equalizers require only about 25%-30% of the hardware resources needed in the LMS equalizer. Also the GSPT-based equalizers are more than twice as fast as the LMS equalizer.
After-School Supervision and Children's Cognitive Achievement

Abstract This paper estimates the relationship between after-school supervision and cognitive achievement using a nationally-representative sample of children. The topic has important public policy implications due to the large role assumed by the government in providing childcare. The effects of family and nonfamily supervision are considered separately. Estimates suggest that adult supervision, regardless of whether it is provided by a family or nonfamily member, is not directly related to a child's cognitive performance. Instead, children who are likely to receive after-school adult supervision from a family member possess unmeasured personal- or family-specific traits that induce improved cognitive performance. In contrast, children who are likely to receive supervision from nonfamily members possess unmeasured traits that lead to lower cognitive outcomes.
An economic evaluation of a wind power electricity generating farm in South Africa

Renewable energy projects need to be evaluated from a social standpoint to determine their feasibility and attractiveness. Wind energy is a well developed and internationally traded technology that could present an opportunity to South Africa, because of the country’s substantial wind resources. A 15 MW wind farm, located near Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, has been proposed for development. There are indirect costs imposed on the local residents when a wind farm is established in their vicinity. A contingent valuation study was undertaken to determine the magnitude of these indirect costs for the residents of Wavecrest, Jeffreys Bay, the closest residential community to the proposed wind farm. A Logit regression was used to predict WTA for the wind farm project. The estimated WTA was determined to be R146.52/a per person, or R490’695.48/a in total. Benefits and costs were further investigated so that a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis could be undertaken. Using the direct and indirect costs and benefits presented, the cost-benefit analysis indicated that the wind farm was a socially desirable project, with a net present value of R 108 273 903.67 and a benefitcost ratio of 1.512.
Multilocus phylogeography reveals nested endemism in a gecko across the monsoonal tropics of Australia

Multilocus phylogeography can uncover taxonomically unrecognized lineage diversity across complex biomes. The Australian monsoonal tropics include vast, ecologically intact savanna‐woodland plains interspersed with ancient sandstone uplands. Although recognized in general for its high species richness and endemism, the biodiversity of the region remains underexplored due to its remoteness. This is despite a high rate of ongoing species discovery, especially in wetter regions and for rock‐restricted taxa. To provide a baseline for ongoing comparative analyses, we tested for phylogeographic structure in an ecologically generalized and widespread taxon, the gecko Heteronotia binoei. We apply coalescent analyses to multilocus sequence data (mitochondrial DNA and eight nuclear DNA introns) from individuals sampled extensively and at fine scale across the region. The results demonstrate surprisingly deep and geographically nested lineage diversity. Several intra‐specific clades previously shown to be endemic to the region were themselves found to contain multiple, short‐range lineages. To infer landscapes with concentrations of unique phylogeographic diversity, we probabilistically estimate the ranges of lineages from point data and then, combining these estimates with the nDNA species tree, estimate phyloendemism across the region. Highest levels of phyloendemism occur in northern Top End, especially on islands, across the topographically complex Arnhem escarpment, and across the sandstone ranges of the western Gulf region. These results drive home that deep phylogeographic structure is prevalent in tropical low‐dispersal taxa, even ones that are ubiquitous across geography and habitats.
Impact of body mass index on number of lymph nodes retrieved in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study was to assess the influence of obesity on the number of the dissected lymph nodes in patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODOLOGY Thirty eight Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative gastrectomy at one center between April 2012 and December 2012 were eligible for the study. According to their body mass index (BMI) values before surgery patients with BMI > 24.9 kg/m2 were defined as obese. Patients with BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m2 were defined as normal group. The number of retrieved lymph nodes and metastatic lymph nodes were obtained from pathology reports. RESULTS Among 38 patients there were 17 (45%) patients had BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m2 (normal group), while 21 (%55) patients had BMI > 24.9 kg/m2 (obese group). The median number of retrieved lymph nodes in obese patients who underwent total gastrectomy was significantly higher compared to the normal patients underwent the same procedure. CONCLUSION In this study we showed that the obesity affects the outcomes of surgery in gastric cancer. Furthermore, the total number of retrieved lymph nodes in obese patients who underwent total gastrectomy was higher than that in non-obese patients.
Bettor Misperceptions in the NBA

Systematic bettor misperceptions are found in the NBA point spread gambling market for the seasons of 1995-1996 to 2001-2002. Evidence of the overbetting of favorites is found, with a strategy of betting big underdogs rejecting the null of a fair bet. Betting big home underdogs not only rejects a fair bet but is also shown to reject the null of no profitability. In addition, betting against winning streaks, as first suggested in the “hot-hand” article of Camerer and later tested by Brown and Sauer, is also shown to be profitable.
Cellular manufacturing using virtual cells

Proposes a virtual cellular manufacturing approach to implementing cellular manufacturing systems that combines the set‐up efficiency typically obtained by traditional cellular manufacturing or group technology systems with the flexibility of a job shop. Unlike traditional cellular systems in which the shop is physically designed as a series of cells, cells are formed within a shop utilizing a process layout using scheduling mechanisms. The result is the formation of cells that are temporary and logical (virtual) in nature, allowing them to be more responsive to changes in demand patterns. Simulation runs comparing this approach to production using traditional cellular and job shop approaches indicate that this new approach yields significantly better shop performance over a range of operating conditions.
Temporal Lobe Volumetric Cell Densities in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Summary: Volumetric cell densities in 13 different sub‐fields of the temporal lobe were calculated to test various hypotheses about mesial and lateral temporal lobe sclerosis in patients with complex partial epilepsy. In patients benefitting (primary group) from anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), sclerosis was greater (fewer cells) in anterior than in posterior hippocampus. By contrast, the patients lacking full benefit (nonprimary group) from ATL had decreased numbers of neurons equally distributed from anterior to posterior hippocampus, indicating that zones of mesial temporal cell loss are linked to zones of epilep‐togenicity. These data support a model of focal hippo‐campal epilepsy originating from zones of cell loss and synaptic reorganization that is epileptic. There were no differences in cell densities in gyrus hippocampi or in lateral temporal gyri when patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and controls were compared. Hippocampal cell densities in mesial temporal lobe were not reduced in psychomotor epileptic patients with extrahippocampal foci consisting of foreign tissue. Variables in seizure histories were not correlated with Ammon's horn cell densities, indicating that most of the sclerosis preceded the seizures, which did virtually no significant further damage to hippocampus with repeated partial or generalized seizures.
GROWTH OF SEVERAL HUMAN CELL LINES IN NEWBORN RATS.

When injected intravenously into newborn rats, eight human tissue-cultured cancer cell lines—H.Ep. #2, Detroit 6, J-111, RP 41, RP 212, Adeno Cx 1, Ovary 2, and MAC 21—grew progressively in lung and other organs of more than 50 per cent of the animals and commonly cuased death after 5–8 weeks. Two other human cell lines—the carcinoma H.Ep. #1 and the presumably normal Amnion B—grew less frequently and rarely caused death or illness.
The competitiveness of short sea shipping in multimodal logistics supply chains: service attributes

Much has been written and spoken about short sea shipping within the European Union (EU) as a means of shifting goods from road to sea and of achieving a sustainable economic development. However, this shift is far from being a general reality, despite the few individual, and success stories that have taken place and the EUROSTAT data suggest that the overall effort has contributed very little towards attaining this desired shift. In the light of this, research was conducted to discover how to put short sea shipping on a more competitive level within European multimodal logistics supply chains. This paper aims at identifying service attributes of short sea shipping operations within multimodal transport chains by means of a questionnaire and, for that, examines the short sea shipping environment and contemporary European logistics trends. The analysis is based on empirical research, involving logistics operators, shippers’ associations and intermodal rail operators, and allows an evaluation (based on statistical techniques) of the short sea shipping industry and its competitors. It extends previous work by considering these short sea shipping attributes within a multimodal transport context.
Antimutagenicity of Mono-, Di-, and Tricaffeoylquinic Acid Derivatives Isolated from Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Leaf

The caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, 3-mono-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid, ChA), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,4-diCQA), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4,5-diCQA) and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,4,5-triCQA), and caffeic acid (CA) were isolated from the sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaf. We examined the antimutagenicity of these caffeoylquinic acid compounds to promote new uses of the sweetpotato leaf. These caffeoylquinic acid derivatives effectively inhibited the reverse mutation induced by Trp-P-1 on Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. The antimutagenicity of these derivatives was 3,4,5-triCQA>3,4-diCQA=3,5-diCQA=4,5-diCQA>ChA in this order. There was no difference in the antimutagenicity of all dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives. A comparison of the activities and structures of these compounds suggested that the number of caffeoyl groups bound to quinic acid played a role in the antimutagenicity of the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives. The sweetpotato leaves contained distinctive polyphenolic components with a high content of mono-, di-, and tricaffeoylquinic acid derivatives and could be a source of physiological functions.
Realistic performance measurement for body-centric spatial modulation links

Spatial Modulation is a new transmission mode which increases spectral efficiency by employing information-driven transmit antenna selection. This performance is realized at a reduced hardware complexity and cost because only a single radio-frequency transmit chain is necessary. A measurement campaign is performed to assess the characteristics of spatial modulation over a body-centric communication channel, transmitting from a walking person with textile antennas integrated into the front and back sections of a garment, towards a basestation in realistic conditions. In the transmitted frames, additional spatial multiplexing as well as space-time coded data blocks are included. The off-body communication link is analyzed for line-of-sight as well as non line-of-sight radio wave propagation, comparing the characteristics of the different transmission modes under equal propagation conditions and for an equal channel capacity of 2 bit/s/Hz.
Export‐market participation and productivity performance in Canadian manufacturing

In this paper, we explore the linkages between export-market participation and productivity performance in Canadian manufacturing plants. We also examine differences in the relationship between exporting and productivity for foreign-controlled as opposed to domestic-controlled plants, and between younger and older plants. Export participation is associated with improved productivity. The effect is much stronger for domestic-controlled plants than for foreign-controlled plants and for younger businesses than for older businesses. We interpret this as evidence that there is a learning effect associated with export activity but that the potential for improving productivity with entry to export markets differs across firms.
Flow‐cytometric algorithm on fine‐needle aspirates for the clinical workup of patients with lymphadenopathy

To analyze the value and limitations of flow cytometry (FCM) in the investigation of patients with lymphadenopathy, a retrospective study of 196 patients, referred for fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology, was carried out in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, between 1992–1997. Complete cytological, flow‐cytometric, and outcome (clinical and histological) data were available on all the cases. The FNA appearances were read in conjunction with FCM findings. The following cytological categories were recognized: benign, 78 cases (39.8%); indeterminate, 9 cases (4.6%); and malignant, 109 cases (55.6%). None of the 78 cytologically benign cases had malignant outcome. All 109 cytologically malignant cases had malignant histology, and 8/9 of the cytologically indeterminate FNAs had malignant histology. The cytologically malignant category contained 106 B‐cell lymphomas and three T‐cell lymphomas. All 65 B‐cell lymphomas with K light chain predominance had K/L ratio greater than 3/1, and all 34 B‐cell lymphomas with L light chain predominance had an L/K ratio greater than 2/1. Clonality was therefore established for K/L and L/K at 3/1 and 2/1, respectively. When K/L and L/K ratios were below these figures (7 cases), other parameters, including the proportion of CD20 and the dual expression of CD19/CD10 and CD20/CD5, were used to determine the nature of the aspirate. In the B‐cell lymphomas without demonstrable light chain restriction, CD20 positivity in excess of 85%, CD19/CD10 positivity of more than 18%, or CD20/CD5 positivity greater than 35% were independently diagnostic of B‐cell lymphoma. In the T‐cell lymphomas, greater than 90% of the cells were T cells, and aberrant T‐cell antigen expression with loss of at least one pan‐T‐cell antigen was detected. In conclusion, the sensitivity of diagnosis of malignancy, false‐negative rate, and predictive value of malignant diagnosis with combined FNA cytology and FCM were 99%, 0%, and 100%, respectively. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998; 19:274–278. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
When and Why do Plants Comply? Paper Mills in the 1980s

This paper uses census data for 116 pulp and paper mills over the period 1979-1990 to examine the determinants of compliance with air pollution regulations. Several plant characteristics are significant: large plants, old plants, and pulp mills comply less frequently, as do plants with water pollution or OSHA violations, but firm characteristics generally are not significant. Enforcement activity increases compliance, but in a heterogeneous way: pulp mills are less sensitive to inspections, while plants owned by larger firms are less sensitive to inspections and more sensitive to "other" enforcement actions, consistent with the authors' expectations and prior research results.