Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Allergy and Severity of Sinus Disease

Allergy is an important consideration in the evaluation of patients with rhinosinusitis. Several studies have addressed staging systems for rhinosinusitis based on the extent of disease present on computed tomography (CT) scanning. The severity and extent of sinus disease present on CT imaging helps guide decisions regarding medical and surgical treatment options. This study evaluates the severity of sinus disease in allergic and nonallergic patients. A total of 42 patients at our institution underwent both modified RAST and coronal sinus CT scan in the evaluation of their rhinosinusitis symptoms. A single, blinded staff neuroradiologist staged all 42 CT scans using the Lund-Mackay staging system. None of the patients had undergone sinus surgery. Age, sex, co-morbidities, asthma, smoking, RAST score, total IgE, and CT staging score were analyzed. Allergic patients were found to have a higher CT scan score (mean score = 12) when compared to nonallergic patients (mean score = 6), indicating more extensive sinus disease (p = 0.03). We conclude that allergy is a significant factor in the development of rhinosinusitis, and allergic patients are more likely to demonstrate advanced disease on CT scan when compared to nonallergic patients.
Renal cytochrome p450 oxygenases and preglomerular vascular response to arachidonic acid and endothelin-1 following ischemia/reperfusion.

This study tested the hypothesis that cytochrome P450 (P450) metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) contribute to the vascular changes in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat. In this study, P450-dependent omega-hydroxylase-mediated vascular reactivity of the rat renal interlobular and arcuate vessels [preglomerular vessels (PGMV)] was measured in left kidneys subjected to I/R. Clipping the left renal artery and vein for 30 min followed by reperfusion (I/R) for 3, 6, and 24 h markedly reduced renal microsomal omega-hydroxylase-mediated conversion of [(14)C]AA to 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) that amounted to 34, 37, and 58% of the control enzyme activity, respectively. CYP4A protein expression was also reduced. There was no significant change in epoxygenase activity. Despite these changes, constriction of the rat PGMV by AA or endothelin-1 (ET-1) was not different in vessels from the clipped and nonclipped (contralateral) kidney. Clofibrate (250 mg/kg i.p.), an inducer of CYP4A protein and omega-hydroxylase enzymes, did not increase 20-HETE production but selectively enhanced the vasoconstriction produced by AA and ET-1 in the clipped but not the contralateral kidney without affecting the constriction produced by 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxy prostaglandin F(2alpha). On the other hand, administration of 2% NaCl (w/v, orally for 7 days) to induce P450-dependent epoxygenase activity attenuated AA-induced vasoconstriction but enhanced ET-1-induced vasoconstriction only in the clipped kidney. These data indicate that the reduction in CYP4A protein expression and enzyme activity in I/R is an adaptive mechanism to preserve renal vasculature from excessive vasoconstriction. Moreover, the increase in epoxygenase activity following salt loading may account for the diminished vasoconstriction evoked by AA. However, the enhancing effect of salt on ET-1-induced vasoconstriction in I/R appears to result from an overwhelming effect of salt-induced sensitization of the renal vasculature to ET-1 over the enhanced production of dilator epoxygenase products.
Firm Financial Perfomance Prior to Delisting: A Case Study of Intefresh Holdings Limited and the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange

Full Length Research Article,This paper seeks to establish whether Interfresh Holdingâ€™s financials were relevant in signalling there being a probability of delisting prior to managementâ€™s decision at an Extra-Ordinary general meeting. The study makes use of the published financials from as far back as 2009 up to those published a year before the decision to delist. Key financial and performance indicators are analysed and the trend noted and contrasted to other findings in different economic set-ups. In the last two years of operation as a listed entity, Altmanâ€™s z-score is applied to the companyâ€™s financials to establish whether there were any signs of distress. This is done to establish the relevance of such findings in an environment such as Zimbabwe. Key findings suggest an increase in interest bearing debt to total shareholders funds from 21% in 2009 to 179% in 2012. Working capital indicators were signalling some stress as pronounced by the current and acid test ratios. The ability of the entity to raise equity capital through a rights issue was bound to be difficult given that the auditors in 2012 cast a slight doubt on the going concern probability. The capital structure was found to be past the optimal levels in 2012 which hence had an implication on the ability to raise equity through a rights offer.
Efficiency of energy utilization by mixed rumen bacteria in continuous culture.

Mixed bacterial cultures derived from the rumen were grown in a remen fluid medium in a chemostat at three dilution rates (.02, .06, and .12 per h), each at four growth-limiting glucose concentrations (5.8, 9.9, 12.7, and 25.0 mM). Microscopic observations indicated that a relatively complex mixture of bacterial species was maintained and proportions of fermentations products were similar to those of the rumen except for elevated proportions of methane and acetate. Cell concentration increased linearly with increases in glucose concentration. The range of glucose concentrations had little effect on yields of cells or products produced per mole of glucose fermented. With increases in dilution rates, the amount of butyrate and methane produced per mole of glucose fermented decreased and the amount of propionate increased. Yield glucose (grams cells produced per mole of glucose fermented) increased from 42 at a dilution rate of . 02 to 84 at a dilution rate of . 12. These large increases are discussed in relationship to the energy requirements for maintenance of bacteria. A theoretical maximum yield glucose of 89.3 and a maintenance requirement of . 26 mmol glucose per g cells per h were calculated. Moles of adenosine triphosphate produced per mole of glucose fermented and yield of cells produced per mole of adenosine triphosphate are discussed.
PERFORMANCE OF MUTUAL FUNDS- AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

The growth of Mutual Fund industry has been significant since the beginning. Unit Trust of India (UTI) was established in 1963 by an Act of Parliament. The first scheme launched by UTI was Unit Scheme 1964. At the end of 1988 UTI had Rs. 6,700 crores of assets under management . Since then, Many AMC’s has started and the industry is flourishing. Though industry has fallen in 2008, it picked up and has been rising at a significant growth rate. Presently it has about 45 AMC’s and 11798 schemes with a CAGR of 22% over past three years. Though there are several investment options available today, mutual fund is an investment option that has become very attractive for retail investors who are interested in financial markets but do not have the time, expertise and experience in good stock picking. The mutual fund industry in the country has so far been focusing on urban markets and corporate investors. The time has come for the industry top enetrateintorural markets which have been hithertolyinguntapped. There is a greater need for an analysis whether the mutual funds are carrying out the objectives for which they have been started and are performing according to the expectation of the ordinary investors. So performance appraisal of these funds is expected to help the investors in taking respective investment decisions. Moreover, there is a need to examine the perceptions of investors so that mutual funds are able to provide proper schemes suitable to investors. It is with this factin mind that the present study
Media diversity and the global superplayers: operationalising pluralism for a digital media market

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the problem of operationalising diversity to measure pluralism adjusted to the digital media market. Media diversity can primarily be considered at five levels, including the structure, organisation, production, output, and reception of media messages. Framework conditions are considered explanatory features on a structural level, while organisational aspects reveal variations in resource management. Production aspects account for diversity in reporting norms, while output diversity indicates the distribution and frequency of topics and sources. Reception concerns the diversity of media messages audiences are actually exposed to. The article argues that the fast-growing power of global superplayers warrants more consideration for the media’s infrastructure, urging researchers to adjust how structures are accounted for in media diversity analyses.
German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A: Structure, Results, and Future Perspectives

Abstract The German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA) as an international registry for acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) offers a unique opportunity to answer questions regarding acute dissections that cannot be answered by single institution's database alone. GERAADA was started in 2006 by the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVS) and has collected more than 3,300 AADA patients' data from 56 centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland up to now. In the second generated validated dataset comprising the years from 2006 to 2010, 2,137 patients were surgically treated for AADA with an overall 30-day mortality of 16.9%, and a new postoperative neurologic dysfunction of 9.5%. Risk factors for neurologic dysfunction were malperfusion syndromes, dissections of the supra-aortic vessels, and longer operating time. Neuroprotective drugs had no influence on stroke rates. Hypothermic circulatory arrest and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ACP) led to similar results if arrest times were less than 30 minutes while ACP for longer arrest periods is advisable. Septuagenarians had an early mortality rate (15.8%) similar to the whole cohort's, but the mortality rate in octogenarians (34.9%) was much higher. GERAADA with its validated 2,137 patient files (2006–2010) is the largest database on AADA worldwide and continues to collect data. Structured follow-up of more than 5 years will be available in the future.
Evaluation of Response to Radiotherapy in Early Stage Laryngeal Carcinoma

Laryngeal carcinoma accounts for 15.88% cases of cancers in males and 3.57% in females in Bangladesh. Among the two main treatment modalities surgery is expensive, causes loss of voice and needs postoperative rehabilitation; radiotherapy is less costly, less mutilating and can preserve the voice in majority of cases. Thirty two diagnosed cases of carcinoma larynx with stages T1-T2, N0-N1, M0 were included in this study. All were treated with 6600 cGy gamma radiations in 33 fractions over 6.5 weeks by a cobalt-60 teletherapy machine. All patients were reviewed by indirect laryngoscopy every week during treatment and for every 6-weeks up to 6-months after the completion of treatment. The response was considered complete with total or near total regression of local tumour mass and involved lymph nodes, and partial with ≤80% regression of tumour mass and/or involved lymph nodes. Majority of the patients were tobacco smokers, belonged to lower socioeconomic group and were aged between 4th to 7th decades. Histologically all the cases were squamous cell carcinoma. Complete response to radiotherapy was highly significant in glottic variety (p<0.001) and significant (p<0.01) in supraglottic variety. Radiotherapy can be considered as the first choice for treating early stage laryngeal carcinoma in developing countries.
The medical-legal aspects of informed consent in orthopaedic surgery.

BACKGROUND Orthopaedic surgeons routinely obtain informed consent prior to surgery. Legally adequate informed consent requires a thorough discussion of treatment options and risks and proper documentation; however, there is little data to guide orthopaedic surgeons regarding effective methods of obtaining informed consent. METHODS We performed a closed claims analysis on malpractice claims involving an allegation of inadequate informed consent brought during a twenty-four-year period with two malpractice insurers. Relevant malpractice claims were reviewed, and data were abstracted. We then performed statistical analyses to identify factors that positively correlated with a successful defense. RESULTS We identified twenty-eight lawsuits that included a claim of inadequate informed consent. All of the cases involved elective orthopaedic surgical procedures; there were no emergent cases. Three cases involved a disputed surgical site; all three cases involved foot and ankle surgery and resulted in an indemnity payment. Documentation of appropriate informed consent in the office notes of the surgeon was associated with a decreased indemnity risk (p < 0.005). Obtaining the informed consent on the hospital ward or in the preoperative holding area was associated with an increased indemnity risk (p < 0.004). When informed consent was obtained in the office by the operating surgeon, the risk of malpractice payment was significantly decreased (p < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Surgeons may be able to decrease the risk of a malpractice claim by obtaining informed consent in their offices, rather than in the preoperative holding area, and by documenting the informed consent discussion within their dictated office or operative notes.
Failure With Continuity in Rotator Cuff Repair “Healing”

Background: Ten to seventy percent of rotator cuff repairs form a recurrent defect after surgery. The relationship between retraction of the repaired tendon and formation of a recurrent defect is not well defined. Purpose/Hypotheses: To measure the prevalence, timing, and magnitude of tendon retraction after rotator cuff repair and correlate these outcomes with formation of a full-thickness recurrent tendon defect on magnetic resonance imaging, as well as clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that (1) tendon retraction is a common phenomenon, although not always associated with a recurrent defect; (2) formation of a recurrent tendon defect correlates with the timing of tendon retraction; and (3) clinical outcome correlates with the magnitude of tendon retraction at 52 weeks and the formation of a recurrent tendon defect. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Fourteen patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Tantalum markers placed within the repaired tendons were used to assess tendon retraction by computed tomography scan at 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks after operation. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess for recurrent tendon defects. Shoulder function was evaluated using the Penn score, visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, and isometric scapular-plane abduction strength. Results: All rotator cuff repairs retracted away from their position of initial fixation during the first year after surgery (mean [standard deviation], 16.1 [5.3] mm; range, 5.7-23.2 mm), yet only 30% of patients formed a recurrent defect. Patients who formed a recurrent defect tended to have more tendon retraction during the first 6 weeks after surgery (9.7 [6.0] mm) than those who did not form a defect (4.1 [2.2] mm) (P = .08), but the total magnitude of tendon retraction was not significantly different between patient groups at 52 weeks. There was no significant correlation between the magnitude of tendon retraction and the Penn score (r = 0.01, P = .97) or normalized scapular abduction strength (r = −0.21, P = .58). However, patients who formed a recurrent defect tended to have lower Penn scores at 52 weeks (P = .1). Conclusion: Early tendon retraction, but not the total magnitude, correlates with formation of a recurrent tendon defect and worse clinical outcomes. “Failure with continuity” (tendon retraction without a recurrent defect) appears to be a common phenomenon after rotator cuff repair. These data suggest that repairs should be protected in the early postoperative period and repair strategies should endeavor to mechanically and biologically augment the repair during this critical early period.
Study on the relationship between financial performance and leverage: empirical evidence on Bucharest Stock Exchange

This paper seek to investigate the relationship between financial performance of the companies and the companies debt to equity. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of one hundred companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Financial performance of firms is analyzed by return on equity. The dataset is obtained from annual reports for 2010. The results indicate a positive and significant relation between return on equity and debt to equity.
"I got some swords and you're dead!": violent fantasy, antisocial behavior, friendship, and moral sensibility in young children.

Relations between an early interest in violent fantasy and children's social understanding, antisocial and emotional behavior, and interactions with friends were investigated in 40 "hard-to-manage" preschoolers and 40 control children matched for gender, age, and school and ethnic background. Children were filmed alone in a room with a friend, and tested on a battery of cognitive tests, including false-belief, executive function, and emotion understanding tasks. Teachers reported on their friendship quality. At age 6 years, the children's understanding of the emotional consequences of antisocial and prosocial actions was studied. The hard-to-manage group showed higher rates of violent fantasy; across both groups combined, violent fantasy was related to poor executive control and language ability, frequent antisocial behavior, displays of anger and refusal to help a friend, poor communication and coordination of play, more conflict with a friend, and less empathic moral sensibility 2 years later. The usefulness of a focus on the content of children's pretend play-in particular, violent fantasy-as a window on children's preoccupations is considered.
Quantifying lung morphology with respiratory-gated micro-CT in a murine model of emphysema

Non-invasive micro-CT imaging techniques have been developed to investigate lung structure in free-breathing rodents. In this study, we investigate the utility of retrospectively respiratory-gated micro-CT imaging in an emphysema model to determine if anatomical changes could be observed in the image-derived quantitative analysis at two respiratory phases. The emphysema model chosen was a well-characterized, genetically altered model (TIMP-3 knockout mice) that exhibits a homogeneous phenotype. Micro-CT scans of the free-breathing, anaesthetized mice were obtained in 50 s and retrospectively respiratory sorted and reconstructed, providing 3D images representing peak inspiration and end expiration with 0.15 mm isotropic voxel spacing. Anatomical measurements included the volume and CT density of the lungs and the volume of the major airways, along with the diameters of the trachea, left bronchus and right bronchus. From these measurements, functional parameters such as functional residual capacity and tidal volume were calculated. Significant differences between the wild-type and TIMP-3 knockout groups were observed for measurements of CT density over the entire lung, indicating increased air content in the lungs of TIMP-3 knockout mice. These results demonstrate retrospective respiratory-gated micro-CT, providing images at multiple respiratory phases that can be analyzed quantitatively to investigate anatomical changes in murine models of emphysema.
Convection for Prandtl numbers near 1: Dynamics of textured patterns.

Rayleigh-Benard convection in a cylindrical geometry with radius-to-height ratio {Gamma}=40 was studied with the shadowgraph imaging method. The working fluid was CO{sub 2} at 32 bars and at temperatures near 34 {degree}C, with a Prandtl number {sigma}=0.98. The onset pattern of largely straight, parallel rolls went through successive qualitative changes as {epsilon}{equivalent_to}{Delta}{ital T}/{Delta}{ital T}{sub {ital c}}{minus}1 was increased. Quantitative measurements of wave numbers, of spatially averaged roll curvature, and of sidewall roll orientation as functions of {epsilon} are presented. As {epsilon} was increased, pattern dynamics induced by the skewed-varicose instability were first observed at {epsilon}{approx}0.09, and roll-nucleating sidewall foci were seen for {epsilon}{approx_gt}0.15. Spiral defects appeared intermittently at {epsilon}{approx}0.55. The number of spirals fluctuated with time, but the average number increased with {epsilon} until, at {epsilon}{approx}0.8, spirals were present at all times. Coincident with the increase in spiral-defect activity was a decrease in the average wave number, a marked increase in the sidewall-foci roll-nucleation frequency and average roll curvature, and a distinct shape change in the structure factor {ital S}({ital k}). The oscillatory instability was observed at {epsilon}{approx}3.0, in agreement with the stability analysis for straight rolls.
Differential fMRI‐BOLD signal response to apnea in humans and anesthetized rats

Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal intensity (SI) and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) during a 20‐s apnea stimulus in awake humans and pentobarbital‐anesthetized rats were measured to assess the usefulness of apnea in estimating cerebral vasodilatory capacity for functional MRI (fMRI) experiments. Rats were ventilated with either room air or 100% O2. While breathing room air, apnea for 20 s increased the BOLD SI in humans but decreased it in rats. However, in rats ventilated with 100% O2, BOLD SI increased upon apnea for 20 s. CBF measurements in rats using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) showed a 45% ± 8% increase during apnea with room air ventilation, and a 10% ± 3% increase with 100% O2. Arterial blood oxygen saturation fell from 96% ± 1% to 29% ± 5%, and cerebral tissue PO2 decreased from 15 ± 3 mmHg to 6 ± 2 mmHg by the end of 20‐s apnea in rats breathing room air. However, with 100% O2 respiration, apnea produced no change in the arterial blood oxygen saturation, which remained at 99%, but increased tissue PO2 from 35 ± 9 mmHg to 39 ± 10 mmHg. From the results obtained in rats ventilated with room air, it is concluded that apnea induces hypoxia that results in a decrease in fMRI‐BOLD signal. The signal decrease occurred despite an increase in PaCO2 and CBF. This BOLD response is the opposite of that observed in humans, who presumably do not develop hypoxia within the applied apnea period. These studies highlight the importance of the choice of ventilating gas mixture on the outcome of BOLD experiments during systemic perturbations. Magn Reson Med 47:864–870, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Registered Nurses' Unions on Heart-Attack Mortality

Although hospital work organization affects patient outcomes and in some states registered nurses (R.N.'s) are increasingly forming unions, the relationship between R.N. unions and patient outcomes has received little attention. This study examines the relationship between R.N. unionization and the mortality rate for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, in acute-care hospitals in California. After controlling for patient and hospital characteristics, the authors find that hospitals with unionized R.N. 's have 5.5% lower heart-attack mortality than do non-union hospitals. This result remains substantively unchanged when the analysis accounts for possible selection bias—specifically, the possibility that unionized hospitals have certain important but unobservable characteristics, independent of unionization, that affect patient care.