Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Surgical Outcomes With the Use of 2 Different Biodegradable Multipoint Fixation Devices for Endoscopic Forehead Elevation

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and rates of inflammatory cyst formation with the use of 2 different biodegradable multipoint fixation devices, Endotine versus Ultratine, for endoscopic forehead elevation. Methods: The charts of 138 patients who underwent endoscopic forehead elevation by the same surgeon (E.H.B.) were reviewed retrospectively. Data regarding patient demographics, type of biodegradable fixation device, loss of fixation in the immediate and late postoperative period, inflammatory cyst formation of the fixation device, additional complications, and reoperation status were collected from the charts. Patients implanted with Endotine and Ultratine were compared postoperatively for early and late loss of elevation (efficacy), inflammatory cyst formation, additional complications, and reoperation rates. Results: Of the 276 fixation devices implanted (117 Endotine and 159 Ultratine), 11 inflammatory cysts were found, all of them in the Ultratine group (p = 0.0037). Four patients required reoperation due to early loss of fixation. Three of these cases were in the Endotine group, and 1 case was observed in the Ultratine group (p = 0.18). A total of 4 patients had late loss of fixation, all of them in the Ultratine group (p = 0.08). Scalp hypoesthesia and/or dysesthesia beyond the sixth postoperative month were observed in 3.62% of the cases. Postsurgical neuralgia was observed in 2.17%, and focal alopecia was seen in 1.44%. Conclusions: The presence of inflammatory cysts with the implantation of the Ultratine device is statistically higher than with Endotine. No statistical significant difference was found in either early or late fixation loss between the 2 groups.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) of social financing institutions and sustainability: An analysis of cases

Sustainable development is the combination of economic, social and business value creation without compromising the needs of future generations. The social financing institutions are undoubtedly playing a vital role for overcoming social challenges towards sustainable development of any nation. But question arises as to how can we understand that a social financing institutions is contributing for sustainable development? This paper makes a modest attempt to identify some key performance indicators (KPIs), both financial as well as nonfinancial, of social financing institutions. By means of analyzing the cases, this study aims to address the issue of sustainability of those financing institutions using the appropriate KPIs.
A Semi-Lethal Mutation in Fowl Affecting Length of the Upper Beak and of the Long Bones.

N 1938 from matings of polydactylous fowl we found newly-hatched I chicks which had an abnormally short upper beak. In some of these chicks the beak gradually became normal, while others developed a cross-beak. The latter type has been referred to in an earlier publication (LAND-AUER 1938, Postscript) as probably representing a new hereditary form of cross-beak in fowl.
Study of the Impact of Introducing Smart Meters in the Spanish Electricity Market

The impact of hourly consumption information provided by smart meters on the operation of a risk averse retailer in the Spanish electricity market is studied. It is assumed the retailer can manage certain amount of consumers’ demand to reduce its operation cost. It can operate in the forward market, day-ahead market and balancing market. Uncertainty in energy price in each market and demand from consumers is taken into account through scenario trees. Conditional Value at Risk is used as a risk measure. Model is posed as a linear two stages stochastic program. The model is applied to real data from the Spanish market.
South Africa: the rainbow nation and prospects for consolidating democracy

Since the 1994 elections ushered in the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress there have been claims that a stable, multi-racial democratic society has finally triumphed in South Africa. This article refutes such thesis; it examines the prospects for consolidating democracy, and argues that the lack of significant progress regarding social (class and race) and economic (ownership) relations under the GNU is likely to precipitate a political crisis. This could produce an authoritarian response and thereby severely compromise the democratic and socio-economic aspirations which inspired the anti-apartheid struggle.
IFRS Adoption and Liquidity: A Comparative Analysis of Canada with Australia and the United Kingdom

In this study, we investigate the impact of countrywide adoption of IFRS on the liquidity of domestic versus international firms listed in a stock market. We consider two competing forces affecting liquidity from IFRS adoption: enhanced comparability of firms within industries that span international boundaries and less tailoring of financial reporting to meet local investor needs. We compare liquidity - bid-ask, zero returns and trading volume - before and after IFRS adoption for domestic and international firms listed on the Canadian exchanges with liquidity before and after IFRS adoption for firms listed on the Australian and U.K. exchanges. These three countries share the British influence on financial reporting historically and have similar legal and institutional settings. We expect that the benefits of global comparability would be relatively greater for firms listed on the U.K. exchanges relative to firms listed on the Canadian and Australian exchanges given the U.K.’s proximity and commerce with other European countries. For Canadian listings, we find that liquidity (bid-ask spreads and zero returns) increased for non-US international firms but decreased (all three variables) for Canadian domestic firms, consistent with trade-offs between international comparability and localization. We find that liquidity increased for both U.K. domestic and international firms listed on the U.K. exchanges but decreased for both types of firms listed on the Australian exchange. For Canadian firms, our exchange level tests indicate that TSX Venture exchange firms lost more liquidity than TSX exchange firms.
Lack of patient risk counselling and a broader provider training affect malaria control in remote Somalia Kenya border: Qualitative assessment

Effectiveness of providing health education solely via mass media and the providers’ targeted training in malaria control needs further exploration. During pre-epidemic season, we conducted a qualitative study of 40 providers and community leaders using focus groups, comprehensive semi-structured interviews and consultation observations. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed for major themes. Community leaders believe that they can acquire malaria from contaminated water, animal products, air or garbage. Consequently, they underutilise bed nets and other protective measures due to perceived continued exposure to other potential malaria sources. Practitioners do not provide individualised health counselling and risk assessment to patients during sick visits, leading to a range of misconceptions about malaria based on limited knowledge from rumours and mass media, and a strong belief in the curative power of traditional medicine. Providers overdiagnose malaria clinically and underutilise available tests due to time constraints, and the lack of training and resources to correctly diagnose other illnesses. Subsequently, misdiagnoses lead them to question the efficacy of recommended treatments. Promoting counselling during clinical encounters to address patient misconception and change risky behaviour is warranted. Wider-ranging ongoing training could enable providers to properly diagnose and manage differential diagnoses to manage malaria better.
Ad Networks, Consumer Tracking, and Privacy

We study the relation between ad networks, consumer privacy and the online advertising market. We consider two publishers that can outsource their ad inventories to an ad network, in a market where consumers and advertisers endogenously multi-home. Differently from publishers, the ad network tracks consumers across websites, limiting wasteful repetition of ads. However, its tracking capability depends on consumer privacy-related choices (e.g., accepting third-party cookies). We show that tracking may increase or decrease the provision of ads, depending on its effect on expected advertising returns and on how audience sizes respond to ad quantities. When they decide whether to allow tracking, consumers exert a positive externality on advertisers. If tracking reduces the provision of ads, there is also a positive indirect externality on consumers. Hence, there may be too little tracking in equilibrium, even from consumers’ perspective. We evaluate several privacy policies, including direct regulatory interventions and the creation of markets for the right to track consumers. Finally, we characterize the conditions such that outsourcing to the ad network expands the provision of ads compared to the case where publishers compete directly for advertisers.
Age‐Associated Alterations in Viscoelastic Properties of Canine Aortic Strips

Many studies have delineated the changes in the elastic properties of arterial tissue as a function of age. Despite the fact that viscoelasticity is a prominent feature of these tissues, there is little information or characterization of age-associated changes in viscoelastic properties, over a wide range of smooth muscle activation, particularly in nonhuman tissue where athero- sclerosis is not a confounding factor. In the present study, using small sinusoidal length pertur- bations, we determined the dynamic stiffness properties across a wide range of lengths (stretch ratios from 100 to 135%) and frequencies (from 0.25 to 35 Hz) in strips excised from ascending and descending aortas from six young (2 to 4-year-old) and 12 senescent (10- to 13-year-old) beagles. Studies were performed with the smooth muscle fully activated with calcium and norepinephrine, as well as fully inactivated with cyanide, iodoacetate, and dinitrophenol. There was a cubic nonlinear dependence of stiffness modulus on length only in senescent tissue and, surprisingly, little frequency dependence in tissue of either age. Compared to the young aortas, the three-dimensional surface representing the dependence of stiffness modulus on length and frequency from both the ascending and descending regions of aged aortas was displaced higher on the stiffness axis both with the muscle fully activated and inactivated. This age difference was accentuated at longer lengths. The phase lag between force and length was greater in the young vs. the old strips only in the activated, ascending aortic tissue. We found no age differences in the content of elastin, collagen, or in the collagen/elastin ratio, to account for these mechanical property differences. Thus, circumferential dynamic stiffness is greater in senescent, compared with young, aortas across a wide range of lengths, both with smooth muscle fully activated, and inactivated.
Effects of precision demands and mental pressure on muscle activation and hand forces in computer mouse tasks

The objective of the present study was to gain insight into the effects of precision demands and mental pressure on the load of the upper extremity. Two computer mouse tasks were used: an aiming and a tracking task. Upper extremity loading was operationalized as the myo-electric activity of the wrist flexor and extensor and of the trapezius descendens muscles and the applied grip- and click-forces on the computer mouse. Performance measures, reflecting the accuracy in both tasks and the clicking rate in the aiming task, indicated that the levels of the independent variables resulted in distinguishable levels of accuracy and work pace. Precision demands had a small effect on upper extremity loading with a significant increase in the EMG-amplitudes (21%) of the wrist flexors during the aiming tasks. Precision had large effects on performance. Mental pressure had substantial effects on EMG-amplitudes with an increase of 22% in the trapezius when tracking and increases of 41% in the trapezius and 45% and 140% in the wrist extensors and flexors, respectively, when aiming. During aiming, grip- and click-forces increased by 51% and 40% respectively. Mental pressure had small effects on accuracy but large effects on tempo during aiming. Precision demands and mental pressure in aiming and tracking tasks with a computer mouse were found to coincide with increased muscle activity in some upper extremity muscles and increased force exertion on the computer mouse. Mental pressure caused significant effects on these parameters more often than precision demands. Precision and mental pressure were found to have effects on performance, with precision effects being significant for all performance measures studied and mental pressure effects for some of them. The results of this study suggest that precision demands and mental pressure increase upper extremity load, with mental pressure effects being larger than precision effects. The possible role of precision demands as an indirect mental stressor in working conditions is discussed.
Network security and fraud detection system and method

시스템 내의 사기를 탐지하고 방지하는 시스템 및 방법이 개시된다. 이 시스템은 네트워크에 연결된 물리 디바이스를 고유하게 식별하고, 고유 디바이스를 등록하고, 엔드유저 로그인을 트래킹하고, 엔드유저 계정과 특정 디바이스를 연관시키고, 복수의 네트워크 서비스 제공자와 정보를 공유할 수 있다. 네트워크 보안 및 사기 탐지 및 방지 시스템, 네트워크 서비스 제공자, 네트워크 디바이스, 클라이언트, 사기 탐지기, 디바이스 식별자, 엔드유저, 계정 정보.
Business Model Innovation: A Bibliometric review

Using bibliometric research, we have analyzed the literature on innovation in Business Models. Concepts like Evolution of Business Models, Open Innovation, Value Acquisition and Architectural Innovation group the articles included in the analysis. Innovation in Business Models is a field of study still under development that lacks unicity and depends on Business and Innovation Models studies. We have concluded that the absence of a research agenda and unicity on the studied concepts generate, besides the collateral effect of field misunderstanding, an opportunity to those that present themselves as icons on Business Models innovation, despite the methodological deficiencies in the proposals they have presented.
The eating disorders medicine cabinet revisited: a clinician's guide to ipecac and laxatives.

OBJECTIVE To describe the frequency of alternative medication use in bulimia nervosa (BN), and to review available nonprescription emetic (ipecac) and laxative products and their potential toxicities. METHOD Survey data were collected from 39 consecutive treatment-seeking patients with BN or subthreshold BN. Survey data of the available nonprescription and herbal products from local retail stores were also collected. Toxicology information was reviewed on these agents from MEDLINE and herbal textbooks. RESULTS Ipecac use occurred in 18% of the 39 patients. Laxatives had been used at some point to control weight or "get rid of food" by 67% of the patients. Of these, 31% had abused laxatives during the month prior to evaluation. In the product survey, 248 laxative-containing products were identified. CONCLUSION There are numerous laxative products readily available to patients, and many of them have significant associated toxicities. Patients with BN tend to endorse high rates of laxative use. While ipecac is used infrequently, it can have deleterious consequences. Patients with BN should be screened for use of both ipecac and laxatives and should be educated about the potential consequences associated with the misuse of these agents.
Prognosis of patients with acute renal failure in the intensive-care unit: a tale of two eras.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether any changes occurred in the complexity of illness or survival of Mayo intensive-care unit (ICU) patients with acute renal failure (ARF) who required hemodialysis between the 1977 through 1979 period and the 1991 and 1992 era. DESIGN A retrospective comparison was done of 71 consecutive ICU patients with ARF during 1977 through 1979 and 71 similar consecutive patients from the 1991 and 1992 period. MATERIAL AND METHODS Each patient was scored for the three components of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II system (acute physiology score, age, and preexisting chronic health problems). Patient gender, postoperative status, presence of diabetes mellitus, presence of chronic renal insufficiency, and factors contributing to ARF were recorded for each patient. Patient survival and renal function at time of hospital dismissal and 12 months after initiation of hemodialysis were determined. RESULTS In comparison with patients in the earlier study period, those in the later study period had a signficantly improved rate of hospital survival (52% versus 32%) and 1-year survival (30% versus 21%). At 1 year, 96% and 78% of survivors in the earlier and later study groups, respectively, had recovery of renal function. The mean total APACHE II score was the same in both study periods, but patients in the later group were older and had more APACHE II points for chronic health problems. In the earlier and later study groups, patients with an APACHE II score of 21 or lower had a mortality rate of 36% and 11%, respectively, and survival among those with a score of 34 or greater was 0% and 15%, respectively. In 1991 and 1992, more patients had two or more factors contributing to the development of ARF, and intravenous administration of a contrast agent and preexisting cardiac prerenal compromise were more frequent causes of ARF than in 1977 through 1979. The occurrence of sepsis and preexisting lung disease were associated with a dismal prognosis in both study periods. In 1991 and 1992, survival was improved for patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus, postoperative status, and contrast-induced renal failure. CONCLUSION The prognosis of ICU patients with ARF has improved in more recent years, despite the fact that patients are now older, have more preexisting chronic health conditions, and have an increasing number of conditions contributing to development of ARF. The APACHE II scoring system demonstrated utility for quantifying the complexity of illness in these patients, but several important shortcomings may limit its usefulness as a comparative or prognostic tool in patients with ARF.
Survival of bull sperm frozen at different rates in media varying in osmolarity.

The effects of freezing procedures, osmolarity, trehalose, and sucrose on survival of bull sperm in whole milk (WM) and egg yolk-Tris (EYT), semen extenders used worldwide, were studied. Sperm were added to extenders at 25 degreesC, cooled slowly to 5 degreesC, glycerolated, packaged in 0.5-ml straws, and frozen. Different freezing rates were accomplished in two steps. Straws were transferred from +5 degreesC to nitrogen vapor at temperatures ranging from -10 to -100 degreesC in the first step and to liquid nitrogen in the second step. Straws were thawed in water at 35 degreesC. A substantial decrease in sperm motility occurred between -10 and -20 degreesC, as abrupt nucleation occurred following supercooling to -13 degreesC. To study the interactions between osmolarity x cooling rate, WM and EYT extenders were prepared to yield media measuring 220 to 420 mOsm/L. The optimal first-step range of cooling in the two-step procedure was -30 to -70 degreesC, and the highest proportions of motile sperm after freezing and thawing were 61 to 62 in 260 to 300 mOsm/L WM and 63 to 64% in 300 to 340 mOsm/L EYT, equivalent to the results with the control procedure used commercially. As the cooling rate increased (first step to -100 degreesC) sperm motility was much higher in hypertonic than in hypotonic extenders (P < 0.05), indicating the importance of partial dehydration before rapid cooling. Replacing part of EYT and WM with equivalent solutions (same mOsm/L) of sucrose or trehalose had no appreciable effect. These results provide a basis for further investigating simple freezing systems that might be more effective in preserving bull sperm than those currently available.
The challenge of adapting grapevine varieties to climate change.

Climate change is expected to advance grapevine phenological stages. After the cali- bration and the validation of a degree-days model, we were able to accurately simulate dates of bud- break, flowering and veraison for Riesling and Gewurztraminer, 2 winegrape varieties grown in Alsace, France. Projected daily temperatures were calculated for the local meteorological station with the ARPEGE-Climat general circulation model using 3 distinct greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. Compared with its timing in 1976-2008, veraison is predicted to advance by up to 23 d and mean temperatures during the 35 d following veraison are projected to increase by more than 7°C by the end of the 21st century for both varieties. Such changes will likely have a significant impact on grape and wine quality. Using the same framework, the genetic variability of phenological parameters was explored with 120 genotypes of progeny from a Riesling × Gewurztraminer cross, along with 14 Euro- pean varieties. In addition, we created a virtual late ripening genotype, derived from a cross between Riesling and Gewurztraminer. This modelled genotype was projected to undergo veraison 2 to 3 d before Muscat of Alexandria, one of the latest ripening varieties studied. Even with this virtual geno- type, or with Muscat of Alexandria, grapes would ripen by the middle of the 21st century under higher temperatures than in the present years. This study highlights the important changes that viti- culture will likely face in a future warmer climate and emphasises the need to create very late ripen- ing genotypes or genotypes able to produce high quality wines under elevated temperatures.
Social Insurance and Health

This chapter reviews the existing empirical evidence on how social insurance affects health. Social insurance encompasses programs primarily designed to insure against health risks, such as health insurance, sick leave insurance, accident insurance, long-term care insurance and disability insurance; and programs that insure against other risks, such as unemployment insurance, pension insurance and country-specific social insurance. These insurance systems exist in almost all developed countries around the world. This chapter discusses the state-of-the art evidence on each of these social insurance systems, briefly reviews the empirical methods for identifying causal effects, and examines possible limitations to these methods. The findings reveal robust and rich evidence on first-stage behavioral responses ("moral hazard") to changes in insurance coverage. Surprisingly, evidence on how changes in coverage impact beneficiaries' health is scant and inconclusive. This lack of identified causal health effects is directly related to limitations on how human health is typically measured, limitations on the empirical approaches and a paucity of administrative panel data spanning long-time horizons. Future research must be conducted to fill these gaps. Of particular importance is evidence on how these social insurance systems interact and affect human health over the lifecycle and in the long-run.