Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors Associated With Surgical Site Infection After Pediatric Posterior Spinal Fusion Procedure

Objective. To identify risk factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) after pediatric posterior spinal fusion procedure by examining characteristics related to the patient, the surgical procedure, and tissue hypoxia. Design. Retrospective case-control study nested in a hospital cohort study. Setting. A 475-bed, tertiary care children's hospital. Methods. All patients who underwent a spinal fusion procedure during the period from January 1995 through December 2006 were included. SSI cases were identified by means of prospective surveillance using National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system definitions. Forty-four case patients who underwent a posterior spinal fusion procedure and developed an SSI were identified and evaluated. Each case patient was matched (on the basis of date of surgery, ± 3 months) to 3 control patients who underwent a posterior spinal fusion procedure but did not develop an SSI. Risk factors for SSI were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariable conditional logistic regression. Odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and P values, were calculated. Results. From 1995 to 2006, the mean annual rate of SSI after posterior spinal fusion procedure was 4.4% (range, 1.1%—6.7%). Significant risk factors associated with SSI in the univariate analysis included the following: a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile (OR, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.5–8.3]); antibiotic prophylaxis with clindamycin, compared with other antibiotics (OR, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.2 10.0]); inappropriately low dose of antibiotic (OR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.0–6.6]); and a longer duration of hypothermia (ie, a core body temperature of less than 35.5°C) during surgery (OR, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.2–0.9]). An American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of greater than 2, obesity (ie, a BMI greater than the 95th percentile), antibiotic prophylaxis with clindamycin, and hypothermia were statistically significant in the multivariable model. Conclusion. An ASA score greater than 2, obesity, and antibiotic prophylaxis with clindamycin were independent risk factors for SSI. Hypothermia during surgery appears to provide protection against SSI in this patient population.
Immunology of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a brief review of its history

Summary: The history of clinical marrow transplantation since 1968 is reviewed with an emphasis on immunological and immunogenetic aspects. The events leading to the creation of an international network of volunteer donor registries and the implementation of unrelated allogeneic marrow transplantation as a routine procedure are discussed. Current major issues which need to be resolved are addressed in order to set the stage for the topics covered in this volume of immunological Reviews.
Association between habitual physical activity and brown adipose tissue activity in individuals undergoing PET‐CT scan

Augmented brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity lead to higher basic metabolic rate which is beneficial against obesity. Our aim was to investigate whether habitual (i.e. usual weekly participation) physical activity is linked with BAT activity and mass in humans, in a group of patients undergoing 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning.
Shared Analyst Coverage: Unifying Momentum Spillover Effects

Identifying stock connections by shared analyst coverage, we find that a connected-stock (CS) momentum factor generates a monthly alpha of 1.68% (t = 9.67). In spanning regressions, the alphas of industry, geographic, customer, customer/supplier industry, single- to multi-segment, and technology momentum factors are insignificant/negative after controlling for CS momentum. Similar results hold in cross-sectional regressions and in developed international markets. Sell-side analysts incorporate news about linked stocks sluggishly. These effects are stronger for complex and indirect linkages. These results indicate that previously documented momentum spillover effects represent a unified phenomenon that is captured by shared analyst coverage.
Three essays on agricultural supply analysis

The three essays of this dissertation focus estimating agricultural supply response to price. Using country-specific data and estimating both static and dynamic supply models, this dissertation research provides new estimates and perspectives on global agricultural supply response. The first essay examines the endogeneity of futures prices in supply analysis of four main agricultural crops namely corn, rice, wheat, and soybeans, by revisiting the recent literature that finds substantial endogeneity bias when global crop supply is regressed on futures prices. Our results indicate that the endogeneity of futures price does not affect the estimates of global crop supply responses but affects the estimates of the US crop supply responses. The second essay investigates how the shortand long-run global growing area of corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice respond to international crop output futures prices, price volatilities, and production cost changes by adopting a dynamic heterogeneous panel model. The results indicate that the shortand long-run elasticity estimates of growing-area response with respect to price are considerably lower than the estimates obtained using traditional models. The third essay examines the extent to which crop output prices received by producers and other factors explain changes in intensive and extensive agricultural land use of all crops globally produced. We adopt both static and dynamic panel models to analyze land use response and estimate the respective model using a firstdifferenced (FD) estimator and a dynamic panel generalized instrumental variable or generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator. The results from FD and dynamic panel GMM estimators indicate that of the total land use response to prices, the response at the
Nerve fibre layer changes in highly myopic eyes by optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate any correlations that may exist between retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and high myopia by optical coherence tomography (OCT). DESIGN Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS Ten patients (20 eyes) with high myopia and 10 control patients (20 eyes) matched for age and sex were recruited from a database search of 1 vitreoretinal practice in Regina, Sask. METHODS The RNFL thickness of 10 highly myopic patients and 10 control patients matched for age and sex from a clinical practice was determined using the Stratus OCT. All 10 highly myopic patients selected for the study had a spherical equivalent of > or = -10.0 D OU and an intraocular pressure <21 mm Hg OU, and failed to display glaucomatous changes such as disc hemorrhages and glaucomatous cupping in either eye. None of the patients included in the study had evidence of concomitant ophthalmic disease and none had had previous refractive surgery. Axial length measurements were done on all patients using the IOL Master. RESULTS The mean (SD) RNFL thicknesses in the control and myopic groups were 108.8 (10.6) microm and 80.0 (18.6) microm, respectively, with t = 6.0 and p < 0.001. A negative correlation -0.712 with p < 0.001 was found between RNFL thickness and axial length. CONCLUSIONS When interpreting the RNFL thickness of highly myopic patients by OCT, careful attention must be given to the inherently thinner RNFL to avoid a false glaucoma diagnosis.
Importance of Early Diagnosis in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) account for > $20 billion in direct and indirect costs annually, a large portion of which relates to making the diagnosis. The diagnosis of IBS is challenging because symptoms can vary between patients and overlap with those of other disorders. This review examines the current diagnostic approach in IBS and discusses new tools that may improve diagnostic confidence earlier in the process. The prevalence of organic disease among patients who meet symptom-based criteria for IBS (eg, Rome III) is generally low; therefore, in the absence of “alarm features,” the probability for organic disease is very low. Increased public awareness of IBS symptoms and physician awareness of symptom-based criteria for IBS are needed to facilitate earlier diagnosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that fecal and/or serum biomarkers may be helpful in differentiating IBS from non-IBS disorders. These tools may help minimize unnecessary testing and diagnostic delays. As biomarkers are further studied and developed, they are likely to become an integral part of the diagnosis of IBS and reduce the potential for incorrect diagnosis and treatment delays.
Morphological Evidence for Direct Interaction Between Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone Neurones and Astroglial Cells in the Human Hypothalamus

In rodents, there is compelling evidence indicating that dynamic cell‐to‐cell communications involving cross talk between astroglial cells (such as astrocytes and specialised ependymoglial cells known as tanycytes) and neurones are important in regulating the secretion of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), the neurohormone that controls both sexual maturation and adult reproductive function. However, whether such astroglial cell–GnRH neurone interactions occur in the human brain is not known. In the present study, we used immunofluorescence to examine the anatomical relationship between GnRH neurones and glial cells within the hypothalamus of five women. Double‐staining experiments demonstrated the ensheathment of GnRH neurone perikarya by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐immunoreactive astrocyte processes in the periventricular zone of the tuberal region of the hypothalamus. GFAP immunoreactivity did not overlap that of GnRH at the GnRH neurone's projection site (i.e. the median eminence of the hypothalamus). Rather, human GnRH neuroendocrine fibres were found to be closely associated with vimentin or nestin‐immunopositive radial gial processes likely belonging to tanycytes. In line with these light microscopy data, ultrastructural examination of GnRH‐immunoreactive neurones showed numerous glial cells in direct apposition to pre‐embedding‐labelled GnRH cell bodies and/or dendrites in the infundibular nucleus, whereas postembedding immunogold‐labelled GnRH nerve terminals were often seen to be enwrapped by glial cell processes in the median eminence. GnRH nerve button were sometimes visualised in close proximity to fenestrated pituitary portal blood capillaries and/or evaginations of the basal lamina that delineate the pericapillary space. In summary, these data demonstrate that GnRH neurones morphologically interact with astrocytes and tanycytes in the human brain and provide evidence that glial cells may contribute physiologically to the process by which the neuroendocrine brain controls the function of GnRH neurones in humans.
Skeletal Muscle Involvement in Antisynthetase Syndrome

Importance Antisynthetase syndrome, characterized by myositis, interstitial lung disease, skin rash, arthropathy, and Raynaud phenomenon, is a clinical entity based on the presence of aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies in patients’ serum. However, antisynthetase syndrome is not included in the histological subsets of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Objective To elucidate the clinical features of myositis in patients with antisynthetase syndrome. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cohort study, muscle biopsy and blood samples were collected from 460 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis from various regional referral centers throughout Japan between October 2010 and December 2014. Data were analyzed in March 2016. Exposures Six different anti-ARS antibodies were detected in serum by RNA immunoprecipitation. Line blot assay and protein immunoprecipitation were also performed. HLA-DRB1 alleles were genotyped. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcomes were muscle manifestations and histological findings. Predisposing factors, extramuscular symptoms, and follow-up information were also studied. Results Of 460 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, 51 (11.1%) had anti-ARS antibodies. Of this subset, 31 (61%) were women, with a mean (SD) age at disease onset of 60.2 (16.1) years. Among 6 different anti-ARS antibodies, only 1—the anti-OJ antibody—was not detected by line blot assay but by RNA immunoprecipitation. There were no significant HLA-DRB1 alleles associated with anti-ARS antibodies. All 51 patients presented with muscle limb weakness; 14 (27%) had severe limb weakness, 17 (33%) had neck muscle weakness, 15 (29%) had dysphagia, and 15 (29%) had muscle atrophy. Although patients with anti-OJ antibodies showed severe muscle weakness, the clinical presentations of antisynthetase syndrome were relatively homogeneous. In histology, perifascicular necrosis, the characteristic finding of antisynthetase syndrome, was found in 24 patients (47%). Myositis with anti-ARS antibodies responded to the combination of immunosuppressive therapy with favorable outcomes. Interstitial lung disease, found in 41 patients (80%), was more closely associated with mortality than myositis. Conclusions and Relevance Although clinical presentations of antisynthetase syndrome were relatively homogeneous, anti-OJ antibodies were associated with severe muscle involvement. Antisynthetase syndrome is a clinical and histological subset among idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.
The application of magnetization transfer to MR angiography with reduced total power

Magnetization transfer (MT) techniques have been shown to significantly reduce background soft‐tissue signal in time‐of‐flight magnetic resonance angiography. To achieve sufficient suppression, radio frequency (RF) pulses with tip angles on the order of 1000 degrees are typically used, resulting in significant RF power deposition in the patient. Although these power deposition levels do not exceed the FDA guidelines, they are significantly higher than those used in typical imaging techniques. The use of these same magnetization transfer pulses in applications at field strengths higher than 1.5 T will require MT power levels which exceed FDA safety standards. This report demonstrates that the total power deposition required to achieve background tissue suppression can be significantly reduced by the application of the saturation pulses only during the phase‐encoding steps corresponding to the central portion of “k space. ” This technique allows equivalent soft tissue suppression with approximately 10% of the energy deposition of conventional magnetization transfer techniques.
Alcoholism and liver cirrhosis in the etiology of primary liver cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the risk of developing primary liver cancer in patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism, liver cirrhosis, or both. Three population‐based, mutually exclusive cohorts were defined on the basis of hospital discharge diagnoses between 1965 and 1983. Complete follow‐up through 1984—excluding the first year of follow‐up—showed that among 8,517 patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism, 13 cancers occurred, vs. 4.2 expected (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6 to 5.3); among 3389 patients with liver cirrhosis, 59 cancers occurred, vs. 1.7 expected (SIR = 35.1; 95% CI = 26.7 to 45.3), and among 836 patients with both diagnoses, 11 cancers occurred, vs. 0.3 expected (SIR = 34.3; 95% CI = 17.1 to 61.3). Thus, alcoholism alone entailed a moderately increased risk and alcoholism with liver cirrhosis did not increase the high relative risk for liver cancer more than cirrhosis alone. We conclude that alcohol intake may be a liver carcinogen only by being causally involved in the development of cirrhosis; and further, that the risk of developing liver cancer following cirrhosis in this population is similar to or higher than that after chronic hepatitis‐B‐virus infection in other Western countries.
Release of Pentoxifylline from Xanthan Gum Matrix Tablets

Abstract Pentoxifylline-controlled release tablets were prepared using xanthan gum. The effects of polymer concentration, rotation speed, ionic strength, and pH of the dissolution medium on the release of the water-soluble pentoxifylline were studied. The release rate decreased with increasing polymer concentration in the tablet, which was reflected in the increase in the mean dissolution time. A higher rotation speed and increased ionic strength of the dissolution medium resulted in a higher rate of drug release of xanthan-based tablets. A higher release rate of pentoxifylline was also observed using acidic dissolution medium.
A case of cryofibrinogenaemia responsive to stanozolol

Cryofibrinogen is a plasma protein complex whose presence in the peripheral blood is generally asymptomatic, but may sometimes cause multiple thromboembolism in the skin, lung and myocardium. The pathological manifestations associated with cryofibrinogenaemia have been treated with plasmapheresis and fibrinolytic drugs such as streptokinase, streptodornase and/or urokinase. Good results have recently been reported with stanozolol. This prompted us to treat a patient suffering from cryofibrinogenaemia with this androgenic hormone. The patient was a 66‐year‐old woman with rapidly evolving leg ulcers. Stanozolol was orally administered at 4 mg b.i. d. for 5 months and then gradually reduced. Plasma cryofibrinogen disappeared after 45 d from the start of therapy and cutaneous ulcers healed in 5 months.
Electric Arc in Low-Voltage Circuit Breakers: Experiments and Simulation

The aim of this paper is to present a further approach for analyzing the air electric arc in low-voltage circuit breakers (LVCBs). In order to achieve that, a new simulation model and experimental tests have been carried out. The simulation model has been designed using ANSYS CFX, a finite-volume method commercial software. This model has been defined as a 3-D geometry, with a high density structured hexahedral mesh, P1 radiation model and hot air characteristics for thermal plasma properties and transport coefficients. The model is applied to simulate the behavior of an LVCB for 50, 100, and 200 A with different numbers of splitter plates in the arc chamber and different locations for the arc ignition. As result, arc elongation and arc voltage increase have been observed when increasing the splitter plates number. Also faster arcs for higher ignition zones and greater expansion and diffusion for higher input currents have been obtained. These simulation results have been verified and validated. The verification process has been accomplished calculating the numerical errors, by means of the grid convergence index and Courant-Friedrichs-Lewis number. Thus, the most accurate mesh densities, time steps, and radiation models have been selected. Finally, the validation process has been achieved performing real experimental tests in the laboratory, proving that the results of the simulation model are close to real scenarios.
A hybrid information approach to predicting corporate credit risk

This article proposes a hybrid information approach to predict corporate credit risk. In contrast to the previous literature that debates which credit risk model is the best, we pool information from a diverse set of structural and reduced-form models to produce a model combination based credit risk prediction. Compared with each single model, the pooled strategies yield consistently lower average risk prediction errors over time. We also find that while the reduced-form models contribute more in the pooled strategies for speculative grade names and longer maturities, the structural models have higher weights for shorter maturities and investment grade names.
Declining fertility and financial development in high - income and low - income countries

In recent years, studies have found that financial development affect the rate of fertility worldwide. Available theories linking fertility and the banking sector have contended that when financial intermediaries develop the share of employment in the modern sector rises and the fertility rate falls. With a well-developed financial system, firms will have easy access to the credit market, thus, enhanced production efficiency and firm can raise wages in the modern market. Families have a choice to move from the traditional market (high fertility rate, low wages) to work in the modern sector (low fertility, high wages). On the hand, financial development can affect fertility by reducing the importance of the old-age security motive. Families' access to the credit market will renders current consumption less dependent on current income. If current income depends on the number of children that they have, then the development of a banking system would then reduce parents' optimal number of children. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the impact of financial development on fertility forselected developed and developing economies. In this study, we employ the fixed effects and random effects models using annual data ranges from 1980-2010. Our results suggest financial development affect fertility positively for the developed countries, but for the developing countries financial development adversely affecting fertility.
Risk Premia and Preemption in R&D Ventures

Abstract I analyze the impact of competition on the risk premia of R&D ventures engaged in a multiple-stage patent race with technical and market uncertainty. After solving in closed form for the case of a two-stage race in continuous time, I show that a firm's risk premium decreases as a consequence of technical progress and increases when a rival pulls ahead. Compared to the case where firms collude, R&D competition erodes the option value to mothball a project, reduces the completion time and the failure rate of R&D, and causes higher and more volatile risk premia. Numerical simulations reveal that competition can generate risk premia up to 500 annual basis points higher and up to three times more volatility than in a collusive industry.
Does it pay off for museums to foster creativity? The complementary effect of innovative visitor experiences

ABSTRACT This paper aims to explore the link between creativity orientation, investment in visitors’ experience and operating and funding performance in tourist attractions, taking museums as a case study. The empirical work is based on an analysis of the information provided by a sample of Spanish, French, German, British and American museums. The findings highlight the positive impact of creativity orientation on museums’ operating performance, but show a curvilinear effect on funding performance. The use of new technologies and adaptation to the audience proves positive when seeking to attract visitors.