Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in meniscal injuries of knee joint and its role in selection of patients for arthroscopy.

BACKGROUND Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is frequently advised to evaluate clinically suspected cases of meniscal injuries in our setup. The objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in meniscal injuries of knee joint and its effectiveness in selection of patients for arthroscopy. METHODS A Cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Radiology Department Military Hospital (MH) Rawalpindi in collaboration with Orthopaedic Department Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi from 31 Jan 2007 to 1 Aug 2007. Fifty-seven patients with clinical suspicion of meniscal injuries were subjected to MRI. Arthroscopy was done only in 34 patients while 23 were excluded on the basis of MRI findings. MRI findings were compared with arthroscopic findings. Medial and lateral menisci were considered separately in each case. RESULTS Among 57 patients only 30 showed significant tear on MRI. Arthroscopy was done in these cases. Arthroscopy was considered on clinical grounds only in 4 patients who did not show significant tear on MRI. MRI showed Medial Meniscus (MM) injury in 23 patients and Lateral Meniscus (LM) injury in 10 patients. Arthroscopy confirmed MM injury in 17 patients and LM injury in 7 patients. MRI missed two MM and one LM injuries. This showed that MRI has sensitivity of 89.4% and specificity of 62% in diagnosing injuries of MM, while sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 88% in diagnosing injuries of LM. Diagnostic accuracy of MRI in MM and LM injuries was 76.4% and 88.2% respectively. CONCLUSION MRI is accurate in diagnosing meniscal injuries of knee joint and is effective in selection of patients for arthroscopy.
Mitofusin 1 and optic atrophy 1 shift metabolism to mitochondrial respiration during aging

Replicative and chronological lifespan are two different modes of cellular aging. Chronological lifespan is defined as the duration during which quiescent normal cells retain their capacity to re‐enter the proliferative cycle. This study investigated whether changes in metabolism occur during aging of quiescent normal human fibroblasts (NHFs) and the mechanisms that regulate these changes. Bioenergetics measurements were taken in quiescent NHFs from younger (newborn, 3‐day, 5‐month, and 1‐year) and older (58‐, 61‐, 63‐, 68‐, and 70‐year) healthy donors as well as NHFs from the same individual at different ages (29, 36, and 46 years). Results show significant changes in cellular metabolism during aging of quiescent NHFs: Old NHFs exhibit a significant decrease in glycolytic flux and lactate levels, and increase in oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and ATP levels compared to young NHFs. Results from the Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test show that old NHFs with a lower Bioenergetic Health Index (BHI) are more prone to oxidative stress compared to young NHFs with a higher BHI. The increase in OCR in old NHFs is associated with a shift in mitochondrial dynamics more toward fusion. Genetic knockdown of mitofusin 1 (MFN1) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) in old NHFs decreased OCR and shifted metabolism more toward glycolysis. Downregulation of MFN1 and OPA1 also suppressed the radiation‐induced increase in doubling time of NHFs. In summary, results show that a metabolic shift from glycolysis in young to mitochondrial respiration in old NHFs occurs during chronological lifespan, and MFN1 and OPA1 regulate this process.
Persistence of glaucoma medical therapy in the Glasgow Glaucoma Database

Aims To report the persistence of glaucoma medical therapy in a database of 1006 patients with ocular hypertension (OHT), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) attending the Glaucoma Clinic at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. Method Analyses have been carried out using specially written queries to generate reports relating to initial treatment choice and persistence for individual drugs. Queries were investigated in the database time period from 16 February 1982 to 11 February 2009. When investigating drug persistence, the results from the database were split into two distinct time periods from 1997 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2009 to reflect the available treatment options used. Results The number of patients with each diagnosis was as follows: POAG 608; OHT 246; NTG 152. The Kaplan–Meier estimate for mean persistence from 1997 to 2001 (time to treatment discontinuation) of latanoprost was 58.8±1.95 months, timolol was 41.8±3.94 months, brimonidine was 24.1±3.05 months, and betaxolol was 22.9±2.04 months. The Kaplan–Meier estimate for mean persistence from 2002 to 2009 of latanoprost (time to treatment discontinuation) was 52.0±2.26 months, bimatoprost was 25.8±2.89 months, and travoprost was 23.0±1.27 months. The Kaplan–Meier estimate for mean persistence of latanoprost (time to treatment change) was 37.5±2.47 months, travoprost was 30.2±2.70 months, and bimatoprost was 17.5±2.88 months. Conclusion The introduction of the first prostaglandin analogue, latanoprost, dramatically improved treatment persistence for glaucoma patients. In the current prostaglandin-rich treatment environment, these data do not show any significant differences between prostaglandins with respect to treatment persistence.
Emergency Department Vital Signs and Outcomes After Discharge

OBJECTIVE Vital signs are critical markers of illness severity in the emergency department (ED). Providers need to understand the abnormal vital signs in older adults that are problematic. We hypothesized that in patients age > 65 years discharged from the ED, there are abnormal vital signs that are associated with an admission to an inpatient bed within 7 days of discharge. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from a regional integrated health system of members age > 65 years during the years 2009 to 2010. We used univariate contingency tables to assess the relationship between hospital admission within 7 days of discharge and vital sign (including systolic blood pressure [sBP], heart rate [HR], body temperature, and pulse oximetry [SpO2 ] values measured closest to discharge) using standard thresholds for abnormal and thresholds derived from the study data. RESULTS Of 104,025 ED discharges, 4,638 (4.5%) were followed by inpatient admission within 7 days. Vital signs had a greater odds of admission beyond a single cutoff. The vital signs with at least twice the odds of admission were sBP < 97 mm Hg (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.57-2.60), HR > 101 beats/min (OR = 2.00 95% CI = 1.75-2.29), body temperature > 37.3°C (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.90-2.41), and pulse oximetry < 92 SpO2 (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.55-2.68). Patients with two vital sign abnormalities per the analysis had the highest odds of admission. A majority of patients discharged with abnormal vital signs per the analysis were not admitted within 7 days of ED discharge. CONCLUSION While we found a majority of patients discharged with abnormal vital signs as defined by the analysis, not to be admitted after discharge, we identified vital signs associated with at least twice the odds of admission.
R&D Activity and Cross-Country Growth Comparisons

We use cross-national data on real GDP per capita, obtained from the Penn World Table (Mark V), and on expenditures for R&D and the number of scientists and engineers engaged in R&D per capita, taken from UNESCO Statistical Yearbooks, covering the period 1960-88. We find that R&D activity is significant in explaining cross-national differences in growth only among the more developed countries. Among middle income and less developed ones, the effects are insignificant. Our analysis also suggests that R&D activity has changed in importance over time, with returns to R&D diminishing sharply between the 1960s and 1970s, followed by a modest recovery in the 1980s. (c) 1995 Academic Press, Inc. Copyright 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Taxation by Regulation

Students of the regulated industries often assume that regulation is designed either to approximate the results of competition or to protect the regulated firms from competition. But neither view explains adequately a number of important phenomena of regulation and regulated industries. Foremost among them is the prevalence of "internal subsidies," whereby unremunerative services are provided, sometimes indefinitely, out of the profits from other services. To understand this phenomena, we must assign another important purpose to regulation: we can call it "taxation by regulation. " The purpose of this paper is to explore the dimension of the regulatory process, to demonstrate that it explains some otherwise perplexing features of the process and the industries subject to it, and to compare it with other methods of public finance.
Di-μ2-chlorido-bis[aqua(2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid-κ2 N,N′)(nitrato-κO)copper(II)]

In the title compound, [Cu2Cl2(NO3)2(C12H8N2O4)2(H2O)2], which consists of a chloride-bridged CuII dimer, the Cu atom is in a distorted octahedral environment defined by two N atoms from the 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid ligand (H2bpdca), two bridging chlorido ligands, and two O atoms from an equatorial water molecule and an axial nitrate anion, respectively. The two halves of the dimeric unit are related by an inversion centre at the midpoint between the two Cu atoms. Both carboxylic acid groups in the H2bpdca ligand remain protonated, as confirmed by the two sets of C—O bond lengths. The dinuclear molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network via intermolecular hydrogen bonds.
Effect of stress and stress hormones on the hormone (insulin) binding of Tetrahymena

The unicellular Tetrahymena pyriformis GL produce, store and secrete vertebrate‐like hormones. In earlier experiments the effect of different stressors on the hormone levels of Tetrahymena was studied and an elevation of these was found. In the present experiments the hormone binding was investigated, using flow cytometric method. FITC‐insulin binding was elevated after concentrated (5, 10, or 20 mg ml−1) NaCl or 0.01%, 0.1%, or 0.05% formaldehyde treatment, or after thermal stress (37°C). Serotonin given together with NaCl increased and together with formaldehyde decreased the binding. Histamine always decreased the binding and insulin was indifferent. Four hours after osmotic stress, hormone binding significantly decreased and this was not influenced by hormones. However, 4 h after formaldehyde stress the binding elevated and this was further increased by repeated hormone treatments. The results show that the stress in Tetrahymena provokes an activation of its hormonal system (hormone production and binding), which is differently influenced by exogeneously given hormones. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Severe Impairment of Growth and Differentiation in a Neurospora crassa Mutant Lacking All Heterotrimeric Gα Proteins

Heterotrimeric Gα proteins play a critical role in regulating growth and differentiation in filamentous fungi. No systematic analysis of functional relationships between subunits has been investigated. This study explores the relative contributions of Neurospora crassa Gα subunits, gna-1, gna-2, and gna-3, in directing development by analyzing strains deleted for various combinations of these genes. Although viable, mutants lacking all Gα subunits or gna-1 and gna-3 are severely restricted in apical growth, forming small colonies. These strains form little aerial hyphae during asexual development on solid medium and exhibit inappropriate sporulation in submerged cultures. Similar to all strains carrying the Δgna-1 mutation, these mutants are female sterile. Defects attributed to gna-2 are observed only in conjunction with the loss of gna-1 or gna-3, suggesting a minor role for this Gα in N. crassa biology. Results from analysis of adenylyl cyclase and epistatic studies with the cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit (mcb) indicate separate functions for GNA-1 and GNA-3 in cAMP metabolism and additional cAMP-independent roles for GNA-1. These studies indicate that although Gα subunits are not essential for viability in filamentous fungi, their loss results in an organism that cannot effectively forage for nutrients or undergo asexual or sexual reproduction.
High mortality from cardiovascular disease and analysis of risk factors in Indian and Melanesian Fijians.

BACKGROUND In recent years, developing populations such as the Pacific island nation of Fiji, have seen decreases in infectious diseases and increasing frequency of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes and cancer. However, cohort studies of mortality in these populations are scarce. Here we report 11-year all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates and risk factors for total, CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) for indigenous Melanesian and Asian Indian people of Fiji. METHODS Following a baseline risk factor survey in 1980, mortality surveillance continue until 1991 in a representative cohort of 1325 Melanesians and 1221 Indians from urban and rural areas of Fiji. Date and cause of death were recorded and total, CVD and CHD mortality rates calculated. Baseline predictors of mortality were assessed using Cox regression. RESULTS Total mortality rates in Melanesians were 15.9 and 9.2/1000 person-years, and in Indians were 13.5 and 6.8/1000 person-years, in men and women respectively. Death due to CHD was more common in men than women, and in Indian than Melanesian men, although total CVD deaths were more common in Melanesian men. Deaths due to CHD were more common in the urban than the rural area. After adjusting for other risk factors Indian ethnicity was associated with a significantly reduced risk of total and CVD mortality in men, and total mortality in women. Age and systolic blood pressure were consistently and independently associated with mortality from all causes, as well as CVD and CHD (except in Indian women). In men associations were also identified for total cholesterol with CVD and CHD mortality in Melanesians, and 2-hour plasma glucose with total and CVD mortality in Indians. In women, 2-hour glucose was important for total, CVD and CHD mortality in both ethnic groups as was smoking in Indians. Obesity had inconsistent associations with mortality. CONCLUSION Cardiovascular disease is now responsible for a large proportion of total mortality in both Indian and Melanesian Fijians. The major risk factors identified in Fijians are similar to those observed in developed populations.
Urban agriculture in Ezibeleni (Queenstown): contributing to the empirical base in the Eastern Cape

Although research into urban agriculture (UA) has grown considerably in the last twenty years, its empirical base remains small. Thus, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions from the available knowledge. Adopting a sustainable development framework, the aim is to extend the empirical base by presenting five sets of findings associated with the cultivation of vegetable crops in Ezibeleni. These are : the duration of crop consumption, the value of the produce to the household, the environmental benefits, and the social and psychological benefits. The findings reveal that both the scale of cultivation and the benefits that accrue to the practice are modest. These findings reinforce previous ones associated with studies that focus on the practice of UA rather than its hypothetical potential.
The prothrombotic state in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: a multifaceted source

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a rare acquired hematologic disorder, the most serious complication of which is thrombosis. The increased incidence of thrombosis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is still poorly understood, but unlike many other thrombotic disorders, predominantly involves complement-mediated mechanisms. This review article discusses the different factors that contribute to the increased risk of thrombosis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria leads to a complex and multifaceted prothrombotic state due to the pathological effects of platelet activation, intravascular hemolysis and neutrophil/monocyte activation. Platelet and endothelial microparticles as well as oxidative stress may play a role. Impaired fibrinolysis has also been observed and may be caused by several mechanisms involving interactions between complement activation, coagulation and fibrinolysis. While many factors may affect thrombosis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, the relative contribution of each mechanism that has been implicated is difficult to quantify. Further studies, including novel in vivo and in vitro thrombosis models, are required in order to define the role of the individual mechanisms contributing to thrombosis, impaired fibrinolysis and clarify other complement-driven prothrombotic mechanisms in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.
Numerical and Empirical Studies of Option Pricing

This thesis makes a number of contributions in the derivative pricing and risk management literature and to the growing literature that exploits information embedded in option prices. First, it develops an effective numerical scheme for importance sampling scheme of Fouque and Tullie (2002) based on a 2-dimensional lookup table of stock price and time to maturity that dramatically improves the speed of this importance sampling scheme. Second, the thesis presents an application of this importance sampling scheme in a Multi-Level Monte Carlo simulation. Such combination yields greater variance reduction compared to Multi-Level Monte Carlo or importance sampling alone. Third, it demonstrates how the Greeks can be computed using the Likelihood Ratio Method based on characteristic function, and how combining it with importance sampling leads to a significant variance reduction for the Greeks. Finally, it documents the positive relationship between the risk-neutral skewness (RNS) and future realized stock returns that is driven by the underperformance of highly negative RNS portfolio. The results provide strong evidence that the underperformance of stocks with the lowest RNS is driven by those stocks that are associated with a higher hedging demand, relative overvaluation and are also too costly or too risky to sell short. Moreover, by decomposing RNS into its systematic and idiosyncratic components, this thesis shows that the latter drives the positive relationship with future realized stock returns.
Sodium Fluorescein-Guided Resection under the YELLOW 560 nm Surgical Microscope Filter in Malignant Gliomas: Our First 38 Cases Experience

Objective Sodium fluorescein (FL) had been safely used in fluorescence-guided microsurgery for imaging various brain tumors. Under the YELLOW 560 nm surgical microscope filter, low-dose FL as a fluorescent dye helps in visualization. Our study investigated the safety and efficacy of this innovative technique in malignant glioma (MG) patients. Patients and Method 38 patients suffering from MGs confirmed by pathology underwent FL-guided resection under YELLOW 560 nm surgical microscope filter. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characters, microsurgery procedure, extent of resection, pathology of MGs, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results Thirty-eight patients had MGs (10 WHO grade III, 28 WHO grade IV). With YELLOW 560 nm surgical microscope filter combined with neuronavigation, sodium fluorescein-guided gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 35 (92.1%) patients and subtotal resection in 3 (7.69%). The sensitivity and specificity of FL were 94.4% and 88.6% regardless of radiographic localization. Intraoperatively, 10 biopsies (10/28 FL[+]) showed “low” or “high” fluorescence in non-contrast-enhancement region and are also confirmed by pathology. Our data showed 6-month PFS of 92.3% and median survival of 11 months. Conclusion FL-guided resection of MGs under the YELLOW 560 nm surgical microscope filter combined with neuronavigation was safe and effective, especially in non-contrast-MRI regions. It is feasible for improving the extent of resection in MGs especially during emergency cases.
Fully distributed state estimation with multiple model approach

In this paper, the problem of distributed state estimation using networked local sensors is studied. Our previously proposed algorithm [1], [2] is further extended to the scenario where the underlying model of the state of interest is not known to each agent. Instead the underlying model belongs to a finite set of possible models known to all agents, and switches over time. The switching process follows a homogeneous Markov chain with known transition probabilities. Two algorithms are derived from our previous algorithm by following the frameworks of two well-known multiple model (MM) approaches, namely, the first order generalized pseudo Bayesian and interacting MM approaches. The proposed algorithms have the advantages of being fully distributed and robust against agents not directly sensing the target. More importantly, they require the agents to communicate only once during each sampling interval and hence decrease the burdens in communication. It is also shown for a special case when the underlying model is fixed, all local agents asymptotically identify the true model under certain conditions.
Efficacy and Tolerability Outcomes of a Phase II, Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Study of a New Water-Dispersible Pediatric Formulation of Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in African Infants

ABSTRACT Artemisinin combination therapies are considered the mainstay of malaria treatment, but pediatric-friendly formulations for the treatment of infants are scarce. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new dispersible-tablet formulation of dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine phosphate (DHA/PQP) in comparison to the marketed tablet (Eurartesim) in the treatment of infants with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Reported here are the results of a large phase II, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial conducted in African infants (6 to 12 months of age) from Mozambique, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania. Primary efficacy endpoint was the PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) at day 28. Analysis was performed for the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) populations. A total of 201 patients received the dispersible-tablet formulation, and 99 received the conventional one administered as crushed tablets. At day 28, the PCR-corrected ACPRs were 86.9% (ITT) and 98.3% (PP) in the dispersible-tablet group and 84.9% (ITT) and 100% (PP) in the crushed-tablet group. At day 42, these values were 85.9% (ITT) and 96.5% (PP) in the dispersible-tablet group and 82.8% (ITT) and 96.4% (PP) in the crushed-tablet group. The comparison between survival curves for time to new infections showed no statistically significant differences (P = 0.409). The safety and tolerability profile for the two groups was similar in terms of type and frequency of adverse events and was consistent with that expected in African infants with malaria. A standard 3-day treatment with the new dispersible DHA/PQP formulation is as efficacious as the currently used tablet in African infants and has a comparable safety profile. (This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01992900.)
Exploring Space, Exploiting Opportunities

Industrial ecology (IE) has recognized the relevance of space in various areas of the field. In particular, industrial symbiosis has argued for proximity and the colocation of firms to reduce emissions and costs from transport. But, space is also relevant for industrial ecosystems more widely. These spatial principles have rarely been spelled out analytically and this article does so. From economic geography, we now have frameworks and analytical tools to undertake this kind of analysis. Using the example of ports and their hinterland, we argue for spatial analyses in IE.