Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Facial Nerve Schwannomas: Meta-analysis and Clinical Review

Objective Although several small individual series on stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for facial nerve schwannomas (FNSs) have been published, we aim to systematically aggregate data from the literature as well as from our institution to better understand the safety and efficacy of SRS for FNS. Data Sources PubMed English language search for keywords “facial nerve schwannoma” AND “radiation therapy” published from January 1995 to 2014. Data from our institution were also included in the analysis. Study Selection Minimum study inclusion criteria included tumor treatment outcomes yielding 10 studies in the literature. In addition, our institution’s data on six patients were included. Data Extraction Data included radiation treatment type, radiation dose, tumor size, tumor control, tumor control definition, FN function, hearing outcome, and duration of follow-up. Data Synthesis In total, there were 45 patients with at least 2-year follow-up. Forty-two patients (93.3%) had tumor control. Of those patients with described growth/shrinkage definitions, 50.0% had no growth, 43.3% had shrinkage, and 6.7% had growth. Of those articles that included FN functional outcomes, 26 patients (66.6%) had stable FN function, 8 (20.5%) had improved function, and 5 (12.8%) had worsened FN function after treatment. In total, there were 30 patients whose hearing outcomes were discussed in the literature. Of those with serviceable hearing before SRS (n = 14), nine (64.3%) had stable hearing and five (36.7%) had worsened function after SRS. The mean posttreatment follow-up period was 42.1 months. Conclusion SRS seems to be effective at either stabilizing or shrinking FNS. However, significant morbidities of FN paralysis hearing loss do exist.
Informalisation of women's work: consequence for fertility and child schooling in urban Pakistan.

The preliminary analysis of data from the 1990-91 Pakistan Household Survey (PIHS) for urban areas yields a profile of working urban women by educational level, sector of the economy, and child's educational activities. Between 1971 and 1988 labor force participation rates (LFPR) for women ranged between 3% and 5%. The hiring of women in temporary positions allows for lower costs, less benefits, and freedom from restrictive legislation. The PIHS data on 4711 households and 2513 urban, ever married women aged 15-49 years indicates a LFPR for women of 17%. Under 20% work in the formal sector. Most work in their homes as unpaid family workers or home-based income earning producers. Many official statistics exclude these women. Informal sector workers in the PIHS data, such as low status domestic workers, receive average wages of 609 rupees monthly compared to home-based workers wages of 240 rupees. Formal sector female workers have completed an average of 11.4 years of schooling, while informal workers have received only 6.5 years. 77% of informal workers have had no formal education compared to 62% of at home mothers and 28% of formal sector workers. Many employed women are single household heads or with an unemployed spouse. Formal sector working women marry 3.4 years later than informal sector women and 2.6 years later than nonworking women. Nonworking women have the lowest contraceptive use followed by informal sector women. Most women regardless of work status desire four children, but achieved fertility was lower among professional and white collar workers. Informal sector women had higher fertility than nonworking women. Preliminary multivariate analyses supported this pattern of work status related fertility. The chances of children attending school was higher among formal sector workers. Girls with nonworking mothers had better chances of gaining an education.
Determinants of Unemployment In Pakistan: A Statistical Study

The current study has been designed to investigate the relationship between unemployment and the different factors having impact on unemployment directly or indirectly. The basic purpose of the study is to check that either their effects are significant or insignificant. At first, normality, independence, homoscedasticity and autocorrelation are checked. Stepwise regression with forward selection technique is utilized for the model selection. Model selection criteria used is to select a best fitted model. For the said purpose, yearly data of Pakistan from 1990 ? 2010 is utilized. In the study, unemployment is the dependent variable and GDP, FDI, Budget deficit, Inflation, Literacy rate, population growth rate and Labor force are taken as explanatory variables. Our results revealed that the Labor force has a positively effect on the unemployment while inflation and FDI has a negative effect on the unemployment. SPSS, E-views, Mini tab and Microsoft Excel software? s are used to analyze the data under study.
PIK3CA Mutation Associates with Improved Outcome in Breast Cancer

Purpose: In breast cancer, somatic mutations in the PIK3CA gene are common. The prognostic implication of these activating mutations remains uncertain as moderately sized studies have yielded variable outcomes. Our aim was to determine the prognostic implications of PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer. Experimental Design: Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary breast tumors, from 590 patients selected for known vital status with a median follow-up of 12.8 years and a tumor >1 cm, were genotyped for PIK3CA mutations. Mutation rates and associations between mutation site and clinicopathologic characteristics were assessed. Progression-free survival, overall survival, and breast cancer–specific survival were examined using Kaplan-Meier or competing risk methodology. Results: PIK3CA mutation is identified in 32.5% of breast cancers. PIK3CA mutation significantly associates with older age at diagnosis, hormone receptor positivity, HER2 negativity, lower tumor grade and stage, and lymph node negativity. Patients with PIK3CA mutated tumors have significant improvement in overall survival (P = 0.03) and breast cancer–specific survival (P = 0.004). Analysis for PIK3CA mutation site-specific associations reveals that the H1047R kinase domain mutation highly associates with node negativity (P = 0.007), whereas helical domain hotspot mutations associate with older age at diagnosis (P = 0.004). Conclusion: This study defines the positive prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutations. This work is clinically relevant, as it will significantly affect the design of clinical trials planned for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–targeted therapy. Future work may define a population of older age breast cancer patients in whom therapy can be minimized. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(16):5049–59)
Organisational Culture and Organisational Impacts of Information Systems: A Review of the Empirical Literature

Organisational culture is an important influence in shaping the organisational impacts of Information Systems. However, the conceptualisation and operationalisation of culture in empirical studies does not reflect the richness of the theoretical literature. In particular, our review finds that the dynamic, emergent and reciprocal nature of the IS-culture relationship has not been adequately examined in the empirical literature. This is partly due to the methodologies employed in existing research. Suggestions for enriching empirical research into the ISculture relationship are discussed.
1 Anger , Sadness and Bear Markets

Can an understanding of mood help us understand aspects of systematic risk, volume and portfolios’ exposure to systematic risk during bear-market regimes? We hypothesize that bear markets are associated with negative emotions: either a lowarousal negative state (e.g., sadness and depression) or a higharousal negative state (e.g., anger and stress). We define a bear market as a stock market regime where the average return is statistically significantly lower than zero and find evidence that the bear market of November 1987 to February 1988 behaved as if it was associated with a pervasive low-arousal negative state amongst investors.
Impact of neurologic signs and symptoms on functional status in peripheral neuropathies

Objective: To determine whether the Neurologic Disability Score (NDS), the Neuropathic Symptom Score (NSS), and the Medical Research Council (MRC) “sumscore” are reliable, and to determine whether they provide information regarding the functional status of patients with peripheral neuropathies. Methods: The authors analyzed homogeneity of the frequently used outcome measures in 97 patients using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and corrected item–total correlations. Their association with functional status (sickness impact profile and modified Rankin score) was analyzed univariately with Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients, and multivariately with linear regression analysis. Results: The NDS and MRC scales were homogeneous (range of Cronbach’s alpha, 0.81 to 0.97) compared with the NSS scales (range, 0.20 to 0.63). The correlation patterns between neurologic signs and symptoms and functional status ranged from 0.13 to 0.65. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that 40% or less of patients’ functional status could be explained by the three tested outcome measures. Conclusion: The NDS and MRC are reliable measures, but these measures do not correlate with measures of functional status.
Advances in antifungal prophylaxis and empiric therapy in patients with hematologic malignancies

Abstract: Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. There have been significant changes in the epidemiology and outcomes of IFI in this patient population, due in part to advances in transplant procedures, supportive care, and use of newer antifungal agents. A thorough knowledge of risk factors, potential causative organisms, and the safety and efficacy of appropriate antifungal agents is required to optimize treatment. Proper diagnosis of IFI is challenging and the correlation of delays in diagnosis and treatment with poor outcome suggest that earlier intervention may result in more effective management of high‐risk patients. Because all risks may not be equal, stratifying high‐risk patients may further help target patients most likely to benefit from prophylaxis. This review focuses on various risk factors specific to patients with hematologic malignancies and discusses the use of preemptive, empiric, and prophylactic strategies in the management of IFI in this patient population.
Allergic Fungal Sinusitis: Learning from Our Failures

For more than five years, patients referred to the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) have been managed using a regimen combining surgery, perioperative corticosteroids, and immunotherapy for relevant antigens (fungal and non-fungal). The initial success of this program has been previously reported. Continued experience with this treatment plan, however, has yielded some cases of recurrence of AFS. Careful review of these cases implicate two major factors associated with treatment failure: (1) lack of compliance with immunotherapy, and (2) inadequate initial surgical extirpation of all allergic mucin. These cases and associated factors will be discussed.
Nerve conduction velocity in human limbs with late sequelae after local cold injury

Cold‐induced neuropathy may play a dominant role in the long‐term sequelae with cold sensitivity after local cold injuries (LCIs). Somatosensory functions were assessed and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and motor distal delay (MDD) were measured in the limbs of 31 Norwegian former soldiers with persistent cold intolerance 3–4 years after the primary LCI. NCV measurements were performed in 24 lower and 16 upper extremities. NCV was related to degree of overall subjective complaints quantified by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS). Motor (MNCV) and sensory conduction velocity (SNCV) in the lower extremities and SNCV in the hands were significantly decreased compared with controls. MDD was pathologically increased in the feet. NCV of the forearms ranged from normal to significant reduction. The more pronounced effect on the lower extremities may be caused by deeper cooling of the calves compared with forearms for several reasons. No significant associations were found between VAS and NCV except for the right median nerve. NCV measurements may provide objective findings in cold‐injured patients and in those with few or no conspicuous clinical signs.
Transmission of signals from the T lymphocyte antigen receptor to the genes responsible for cell proliferation and immune function: the missing link.

Article de synthese sur la lyse des cellules cibles par les lymphocytes T. L'interet est porte ― sur la cytolyse mediee par les granules cytoplasmiques qui contiennent plusieurs esterases a serine qui sont liberees par exocytose ― sur la perforine et son mode d'action
Sometimes It's Good to be Short: The Serotonin Transporter Gene, Positive Parenting, and Adolescent Depression.

In threatening environments, the short (S) allele of 5-HTTLPR is proposed to augment risk for depression. However, it is unknown whether 5-HTTLPR variation increases risk for depression in environments of deprivation, lacking positive or nurturant features. Two independent longitudinal studies (n = 681 and 176, respectively) examined whether 5-HTTLPR moderated associations between low levels of positive parenting at 11-13 years and subsequent depression at 17-19 years. In both studies only LL homozygous adolescents were at greater risk for depression with decreasing levels of positive parenting. Thus, while the S allele has previously been identified as a susceptible genotype, these findings suggest that the L allele may also confer sensitivity to depression in the face of specific environmental challenges.
The local blood flow in human bone marrow in leukemia and neoplastic diseases as determined by the clearance rate of radioiodide (I131).

Although considerable information has been obtained on the rate of blood flow in many organs (1), few data have been reported on the blood flow in human or animal bone marrow (2). The neglect of this aspect of marrow physiology is probably due to the technical difficulties encountered in gaining access to the blood vessels of this diffuse organ in the intact animal or man. The extensive application of the radioisotope clearance technique described by Kety (3, 4) for the estimation of the regional circulation in muscle, liver, subcutaneous tissues, brain tissue, and skin (4-10) suggested its use as a clinically applicable method for the evaluation of the effective local blood flow in the human bone marrow. This method is based on the premise that if a diffusible tracer substance is introduced into a tissue its clearance or removal is a function of all possible factors contributing to the local blood flow at the site of injection. In the present study, the relative rates of clearance of II8' from the bone marrow were determined in patients with various malignant diseases and leukemia. The radioiodide was injected into the bone marrow through a standard bone marrow needle, and the rate of disappearance of the isotope was measured with a GeigerMueller counter. In addition, simultaneous determinations of I'll clearance rates from the gastrocnemius muscle were obtained for comparing the clearance rates obtained in the bone marrow
Experimental production of pigmented villonodular synovitis in the knee and ankle joints of rhesus monkeys

THE aetiology of pigmented villonodular synovitis has long been a subject of controversy. Previously this condition was designated " xanthoma '' because of the peculiar reaction of the synovial membrane. Later many other terms were used, viz., villous arthritis, haemorrhagic villous synovitis, benign and malignant giant-cell tumour, xanthogranuloma, myeloplaxoma, and pigmented villonodular synovitis. The last, a descriptive term coined by Jaffe, Lichtenstein and Sutro (1941) has gained general acceptance. In the typical lesion the synovial membrane shows brownish pigmentation and is covered by villi and coarse nodular outgrowths. The villi and nodules are most numerous in the recesses of the joint, but may involve most of the synovial surface. The exact aetiology of pigmented villonodular synovitis is not known. Jaffe
Liking the Same thingS, but Doing thingS DifferentLy: outcome VerSuS Strategic compatibiLity in partner preferenceS for Joint taSkS

We propose a distinction between two types of interpersonal compatibility in determining partner preferences for joint tasks: outcome compatibility and strategic compatibility. We argue that these two types of compatibility correspond to preferences for similar and complementary task partners, respectively. Five studies support this distinction. A pilot study demonstrates that established scales for measuring attitudes and values (variables associated with similarity effects) capture more information about desired outcomes, whereas established scales for measuring dominance (the variable most widely associated with complementarity effects) capture more information about desired strategies. Studies 1a and 1b demonstrate that framing the same variable as either an outcome variable or a strategic variable can predict partner preference (i.e., similar or complementary). Finally, Studies 2a and 2b address why complementarity may offer a strategic advantage over similarity in task pursuit: complementarity allows two individuals with contrasting strategic preferences to “divide and conquer” tasks that require multiple strategies.
Resin-composite Blocks for Dental CAD/CAM Applications

Advances in digital impression technology and manufacturing processes have led to a dramatic paradigm shift in dentistry and to the widespread use of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in the fabrication of indirect dental restorations. Research and development in materials suitable for CAD/CAM applications are currently the most active field in dental materials. Two classes of materials are used in the production of CAD/CAM restorations: glass-ceramics/ceramics and resin composites. While glass-ceramics/ceramics have overall superior mechanical and esthetic properties, resin-composite materials may offer significant advantages related to their machinability and intra-oral reparability. This review summarizes recent developments in resin-composite materials for CAD/CAM applications, focusing on both commercial and experimental materials.
Caeruloplasmin:plasma copper ratios in cows

SIR, — We refer to the short communication by [Laven and others (2006)][1]. This reinterprets the data of [Scaletti and others (2003)][2] and questions why copper supplementation did not affect the caeruloplasmin:plasma copper ratios. However, there is an alternative interpretation of this data
Turbulence in pneumatic flow focusing and flow blurring regimes.

An important paradigm in pneumatic atomization is the production of droplet sizes in the micron and submicron range, while achieving high energy efficiency by means of simple atomizer designs. Flow focusing (FF) and flow blurring (FB) [A. M. Gañán-Calvo, Appl. Phys. Lett.86, 214101 (2005). ] are advancements toward this goal. Both FF and FB feature a fundamental macroscopic soft length scale, e.g., the diameter of the liquid stream formed at a discharge orifice by conversion of pressure into liquid kinetic energy. Droplet diameter distribution data compiled from many experiments reveal that turbulent flow regimes occur in both FF and FB. In FF, like in other jet-based droplet generation techniques, the jet breakup becomes asymmetric for Weber numbers over a transitional one (approximately 20 in FF), becoming turbulent through nonlinear interactions with the gas, downstream of the discharge orifice, for large enough Weber numbers. In FB, the liquid and gas phases interact inherently in a turbulent manner: air accelerates radially and implosively toward the liquid exiting a feeding tube, and mixes with it in a region immediately preceding discharge into ambient air. In our model, droplets form by the action of turbulent pressure fluctuations present in both phases, and a resulting droplet diameter distribution is obtained when coagulation and breakup events of the liquid blobs equilibrate. When the large scale of the turbulent inertial range is taken to be the fundamental soft scale, the model predicts a lower bound to the experimentally determined droplet volume median diameters. On the other hand, the histograms reflect the existence of additional hard length scales imposed by the atomizer outlet geometry.
Effects of tissue water content on the propagation of laser light during low-level laser therapy

Abstract. This work reports that the laser fluence rate inside porcine skin varied notably with the change of tissue water content under the same laser irradiation conditions. The laser fluence rate inside skin tissue samples with varying water content was measured using an optical fiber sensor, while the target was irradiated either by a low-level 635 or 830 nm laser (50 mW/cm2). It was demonstrated that the distribution of laser fluence rate inside the target is strongly affected by tissue water content and its profile is determined by the water content dependency of optical properties at the laser wavelength.
Social Isolation and Adult Mortality

The health and survival benefits of social embeddedness have been widely documented across social species, but the underlying biophysiological mechanisms have not been elucidated in the general population. We assessed the process by which social isolation increases the risk for all-cause and chronic disease mortality through proinflammatory mechanisms. Using the 18-year mortality follow-up data (n = 6,729) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–2006) on Social Network Index and multiple markers of chronic inflammation, we conducted survival analyses and found evidence that supports the mediation role of chronic inflammation in the link between social isolation and mortality. A high-risk fibrinogen level and cumulative inflammation burden may be particularly important in this link. There are notable sex differences in the mortality effects of social isolation in that they are greater for men and can be attributed in part to their heightened inflammatory responses.
Spacing, population density and nitrogen fertilization in corn grown in an Oxisoil

The objective of this study was to evaluate yield components, leaf nitrogen content and grain yield in corn as affected by row spacing, plant density and nitrogen topdressing. The experiment was conducted with the singlecross hybrid AG 8021, in the municipality of Toledo-PR, in an Oxisoil under no-tillage system, in the crop year 2005/ 2006. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design and treatments in split-split-plots, with four replications. The two row spacings (0.45 and 0.90 m) were allocated in the main plots, the two plant densities (60,000 and 80,000 plants ha -1 ) were allocated in the subplots and the three nitrogen rates (80, 100, 120 and 140 kg ha -1 N) were allocated in the sub-subplots. Topdress nitrogen was applied using urea as N source. The rise of the plant population from 60,000 to 80,000 plants ha -1 and the application of topdress nitrogen resulted in increased production components. The application of topdress fertilization provided increase in leaf N content and grain yield for the spacings 0.45 m and 0.90 m. Yield was higher in the spacing 0.45 m than 0.90 m. Yield was higher with 60,000 plants than with 80,000 plants at 0.90 m, while at 0.45 m there was no dif ference in relation to the plant density .