Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pituitary tumors in childhood

Purpose of reviewThis review focuses on recently published literature on pituitary tumors in children with special focus on craniopharyngioma and prolactinoma. Although most pituitary masses are benign neoplasms, they are associated with high morbidity and mortality related to their proximity to vital neurologic structures including the optic chiasm, hypophysis and hypothalamus, resulting in disruption of pituitary hormone secretion. Recent findingsThe role of Wingless/&bgr;-beta catenin signaling and aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein mutations in pituitary tumor formation has been recognized. There is general agreement on optimal treatment of prolactinomas, although duration of medical therapy in children deserves more specific attention. Advances in imaging, medical, surgical and radiotherapy techniques have greatly increased survival rates for all pituitary tumors, but high recurrence rates after attempted complete resection and high progression rates after incomplete resection of craniopharyngioma remain troublesome. Long-term morbidity and late mortality of all pituitary tumors have become better appreciated with recent focus placed on severe obesity. A trend toward a more multidisciplinary approach for craniopharyngioma, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, particularly when tumor burden involves the hypothalamus, continues. SummaryA vast amount of literature has been recently published, focusing on the management and long-term sequelae of all pituitary tumors in children. Craniopharyngioma remains the most challenging mass arising within sellar and parasellar areas, and optimal treatment continues to be hotly debated. Recognizing the rarity of pediatric pituitary tumors, the field would greatly benefit from more prospective multicenter trials, as well as from standardization of the assessment of preoperative function and post-treatment outcomes.
Microelectronic capacitance transducer for particle detection

This paper describes the CMOS circuit design of a sensor for detecting changes of capacitance due, for instance, to the incidence of particles or bubbles on the electrodes. The circuit is based on a simple design originating at the University of California, Berkeley, for measuring crosstalk on integrated circuits. The basic front-end sensor circuit comprises eight MOSFETs and has a sensitivity of 40 mV/fF. A differential amplifier receives the outputs from two sensor circuits each having 20-/spl mu/m square inter-digitated electrodes. The resulting sensitivity of the fabricated sensor is 1 V/fF with a noise level equivalent to 10 aF. Monte Carlo circuit simulations have been used to identify transistor dimensions to yield acceptable yield, and prototype custom silicon chips have been fabricated using a 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process. Static and dynamic tests, using polyamide particles as small as 10-/spl mu/m diameter, verify correct operation of the sensors. The sensor is now being developed for application in miniature electrical tomography systems.
Store-operated Ca 2 (cid:1) entry in porcine airway smooth muscle

Store-operated Ca 2 (cid:1) entry in porcine airway smooth muscle. inﬂux triggered by depletion of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2 stores [mediated via store-operated Ca 2 (cid:1) channels (SOCC)] was characterized in enzymatically dissociated porcine airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. When SR Ca 2 (cid:1) was depleted by either 5 (cid:2) M cyclopiazonic acid or 5 mM caffeine in the absence of extracellular Ca 2 (cid:1) , subsequent introduction of extracellular Ca 2 (cid:1) further elevated [Ca 2 (cid:1) ] i . SOCC was insensitive to 1 (cid:2) M nifedipine- or KCl-induced changes in membrane potential. However, preexposure of cells to 100 nM–1 mM La 3 (cid:1) or Ni 2 (cid:1) inhibited SOCC. Exposure to ACh increased Ca 2 (cid:1) inﬂux both in the presence and absence of a depleted SR. Inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 )-induced SR Ca 2 (cid:1) release by 20 (cid:2) M xestospongin D inhibited SOCC, whereas ACh-induced IP 3 production by 5 (cid:2) M U-73122 had no effect. Inhibition of Ca 2 (cid:1) release through ryanodine receptors (RyR) by 100 (cid:2) M ryanodine also prevented Ca 2 (cid:1) inﬂux via SOCC. Qualitatively similar characteristics of SOCC-mediated Ca 2 (cid:1) inﬂux were observed with cyclopiazonic acid- vs. caffeine-induced SR Ca 2 (cid:1) depletion. These data demonstrate that a Ni 2 (cid:1) /La 3 (cid:1) -sensitive Ca 2 (cid:1) inﬂux via SOCC in porcine ASM cells involves SR Ca 2 (cid:1) release through both IP 3 and RyR channels. Additional regulation of Ca 2 (cid:1) inﬂux by agonist may be related to a receptor-operated, noncapacitative mechanism. Chemicon International), goat anti-TRPC3 (which recognized TRPC3, TRPC6, and TRPC7), and anti-TRPC4 antibodies (1 (cid:2) g/ml in Tris buffer, Santa Cruz Biotechnology). After three washes, peroxi- dase-conjugated anti-rabbit or anti-goat IgG antibody (1:2,000 in Tris buffer) was applied for 2 h at room temperature and ﬁnally washed. Proteins were detected with a peroxidase staining kit (Vector Labs). Appropriate control antigens and rat brain extracts (positive control) were also used.
Do International Investors Enhance Private Firm Value?

We examine the impact of international venture capital investors on private firm success spanning 69 countries over the years 1995-2010. The data examined indicate that, relative to deals in which the investor base is purely domestic, private firms that have an international venture capital syndicate have a higher probability of exiting via IPO and higher IPO proceeds, as well as higher total deal M&A values. These relationships, however, depend on the level of internationalization and hence imply a tradeoff between the strategic benefits associated with international investors and the costs associated with geographic, cultural and legal differences across countries.
Health Psychology in African Settings

African settings provide an important context in which to examine the relationship between cultural beliefs and health. First, research in African settings helps illuminate the sociocultural grounding of health and illness: the idea that beliefs play a constitutive role in the experience of distress. Second, research in African settings helps to illuminate the cultural grounding of health sciences: the idea that theory and practice reflect particular constructions of reality. We examine these ideas in the context of three research examples: the prominent experience of personal enemies; epidemic outbreaks of genital-shrinking panic; and fears about sabotage of vaccines in immunization campaigns.
Canine Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis

In 27 adult dogs with a distinctive chronic granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis there were locomotor problems, cervical meningitis and blindness. Lesions were widespread, but most severe in cerebral and cerebellar white substance and in the cervical spinal cord. Lesions were characterized by the development of epithelioid cell granulomas arising from mononuclear cuffs. There were secondary edema and necrosis in severe cases and eventual fibroplastic repair in chronic cases. The cause is unknown.
O6‐methylguanine DNA methyltransferase repairs platinum‐DNA adducts following cisplatin treatment and predicts prognoses of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Cisplatin (CDDP) is an important anti‐cancer drug commonly used in various human cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). How to overcome the drug resistance of CDDP provides opportunities to improve clinical outcomes of NPC. O6‐methylguanine–DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) has been well‐characterized to be a therapeutic determinant of O6‐alkylguanine alkylating drugs. However, the underlying mechanism and clinical relevance between MGMT and CDDP remain poorly defined in NPC. In this study, we showed that MGMT‐proficient cells were highly resistant to the cytotoxic effects of CDDP as compared to MGMT‐deficient cells. Further studies showed that the platinum level of DNA after CDDP exposure was significantly lower in MGMT‐proficient cells than in MGMT‐deficient cells. Host cell reactivation assay revealed that MGMT protected NPC cells from CDDP‐induced DNA damage by enhancing DNA repair capacity. Importantly, we demonstrated for the first time that MGMT protein directly bound to CDDP‐induced DNA damages. Subsequently, CDDP‐bound MGMT protein became ubiquitinated and was degraded through ubiquitin‐mediated proteasome system. We further analyzed the relationship between MGMT expression and clinical survivals in a cohort of 83 NPC patients. NPC patients who received CDDP‐based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), with high MGMT expression level, exhibited shorter progression‐free survival (PFS; p = 0.022) and overall survival (OS; p = 0.015), than patients with low MGMT expression level. Furthermore, high MGMT expression level remained to be an independent prognostic factor for worse PFS (p = 0.01, hazard ratio 2.23) and OS (p = 0.018, hazard ratio 2.14). Our findings suggest that MGMT protein is important to determine the efficacy of CDDP in NPC.
Aflatoxins , the toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus were detected in over 30 % of melon seed samples from markets and stores in Nigeria (

Experiments were carried out to determine the potential of using the powder and essential oil from dried ground leaves of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) to control storage deterioration and aflatoxin contamination of melon seeds (Colocynthis citrullus L.). Four mould species: Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. tamarii and Penicillium citrinum were inoculated in the form of conidia suspension (approx. 10 conidia per ml) unto shelled melon seeds. The powdered dry leaves and essential oil from lemon grass were mixed with the inoculated seeds at levels ranging from 1-10% (w/w) and 0.1 to 1%v/vt respectively. The ground leaves significantly reduced the extent of deterioration in melon seeds inoculat4ed with different fungi compared to the untreated inoculated seeds. The essential oil at 0.1 and 0.25% (v/w) and ground leaves at 10% (w/w) significantly reduced deterioration and aflatoxin production in shelled melon seeds inoculated with toxigenic A. flavus. At higher dosages (0.5 and 1.0% v/w), the essential completely prevented aflatoxin production. After 6 months in farmers’ stores, unshelled melon seeds treated with 0.5% (v/w) of essential oil and 10% (w/w) of powdered leaves of C. citratus had significantly lower proportion of visibly diseased seeds and Aspergillus spp infestation levels and significantly higher seed germination compared to the untreated seeds. The oil content, free fatty acid and peroxide values in seeds protected with essential oil after 6 months did not significantly differ from the values in seed before storage. The efficacy of the essential oil in preserving the quality of melon seeds in stores was statistically at par with that of fungicide (iprodione) treatment.
Managers, Training, and Internal Labor Markets

We propose a theory that emphasizes the role of managers for the production and allocation of human capital in firms. Managers invest time to train junior employees, and acquire information about the juniors' abilities that is valuable for job assignments. This dual role of managers matters especially in a multidivisional firm, whose internal labor market may be structured in two distinct ways. In a "silo," junior workers are eligible only for a transfer or promotion in the division they currently work in; in a "lattice," they can also be assigned to another division. The prospect of losing a good worker to another division undermines a manager's training incentives, and may encourage her to misrepresent the information she provides about her workers. We show that because of these agency problems, implementing a lattice to achieve better job assignments also leads to higher wage costs for the firm. As a result, either silos or a lattice can be optimal. Our comparative-statics analysis suggests that the recent trend for firms to facilitate cross-divisional mobility may be caused by product market competition, a tight managerial labor market, and skill-biased technological change.
Epidemiology of focal and generalized dystonia in Rochester, Minnesota

The epidemiology of generalized and focal dystonias was investigated in the Rochester, Minnesota, population over the period 1950–1982. The crude incidence of generalized dystonia was 2 per million persons per year, and for all focal dystonias combined, 24 per million per year. The crude prevalence rate was 34 per million persons for generalized dystonia and 295 per million persons for all focal dystonias. Torticollis was the most common focal dystonia; essential blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, and writer's cramp were less common and had roughly equal incidence and prevalence rates.
Gold into Base Metals: Productivity Growth in the People’s Republic of China during the Reform Period

With minimal sleight of hand, it is possible to transform the recent growth experience of the People’s Republic of China from the extraordinary into the mundane. Systematic understatement of inflation by enterprises accounts for 2.5 percent growth per year in the nonagricultural economy during the first two decades of the reform period (1978–98). The usual suspects (i.e., rising participation rates, improvements in educational attainment, and the transfer of labor out of agriculture) account for most of the remainder. The productivity performance of the nonagricultural economy during the reform period is respectable but not outstanding. To the degree that the reforms have improved efficiency, these gains may lie principally in agriculture.
Ghanaian graduates in enterprise

xvii Joinery is offered at TTI as well as in TAT. A field survey and case histories were used. Knowledge of experts was drawn upon to identify the key com- petencies necessary for enterprise success and competencies were related to success indicators that the graduates defined themselves. The thesis draws a number of conclusions, including: 1. Graduates have different initial human capital, or levels of education, and this expresses itself in differences in agency. They followed differ- ent pathways, with most university graduates often going through dual employment before becoming fully self-employed, mostly as entrepre- neurs rather than as own-account workers. 2. The graduates have their own conception of enterprise success, which was used as the basis for assessing their performance instead of the tradi- tional accounting ratios which are less meaningful to micro and small enterprises. 3. Graduates have different initial human capital, which influences their lifelong learning (enterprise learning). The more competent and success- ful enterprises learn through opportunity networks rather than through bonding networks. 4. University graduates are more competent and more successful than the other graduates. 5. One important source of learning for the graduates is on-the-job experi- ence. 6. Technical competencies, though necessary, do not explain the success of the enterprises. Rather, general competencies (management and market- ing) complement each other to ensure an enterprise’s success. 7. It is also clear that the higher the initial human capital endowment and level of education, the higher the number of jobs created. 8. Graduates’ reasons for going into self-employment are more related to psycho-social than economic factors, and reasons for going into dual or wage employment are to gain more exposure, develop professionally and accumulate capital for their own enterprise.
Muscle fat fraction in neuromuscular disorders: dual-echo dual-flip-angle spoiled gradient-recalled MR imaging technique for quantification--a feasibility study.

PURPOSE To prospectively evaluate the muscle fat fraction (MFF) measured with dual-echo dual-flip-angle spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state (SPGR) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique by using muscle biopsy as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS After ethics approval, written informed consent from all patients was obtained. Twenty-seven consecutive patients, evaluated at the Neuromuscular Disorders Center with a possible diagnosis of neuromuscular disorder, were prospectively studied with MR imaging of the lower extremities to quantify muscle fatty infiltration by means of MFF calculation. Spin-density- and T1-weighted fast SPGR in-phase and opposed-phase dual-echo sequences were performed, respectively, with 20° and 80° flip angles. Round regions of interest were drawn by consensus on selected MR sections corresponding to anticipated biopsy sites. These were marked on the patient's skin with a pen by using the infrared spider light of the system, and subsequent muscle biopsy was performed. MR images with regions of interest were stored on a secondary console where the MFF calculation was performed by another radiologist blinded to the biopsy results. MFFs calculated with dual-echo dual-flip-angle SPGR MR imaging and biopsy were compared by using a paired t test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman plots. P value of < . 05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. RESULTS The mean MFFs obtained with dual-echo dual-flip-angle SPGR MR imaging and biopsy were 20.3% (range, 1.7%-45.1%) and 20.6% (range, 3%-46.1%), respectively. The mean difference, standard deviation of the difference, and t value were -0.3, 1.3, and -1.3 (P > .2), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.995; with the Bland-Altman method, all data points were within the ± 2 SDs limits of agreement. CONCLUSION The results show that dual-echo dual-flip-angle SPGR MR imaging technique provides reliable calculation of MFF, consistent with biopsy measurements.
Do patients with rheumatoid arthritis established on methotrexate and folic acid 5 mg daily need to continue folic acid supplements long term?

BACKGROUND It is postulated that some aspects of methotrexate toxicity may be related to its action as an anti-folate. Folic acid (FA) is often given as an adjunct to methotrexate therapy, but there is no conclusive proof that it decreases the toxicity of methotrexate and there is a theoretical risk that it may decrease the efficacy of methotrexate. OBJECTIVES To look at the effect of stopping FA supplementation in UK rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients established on methotrexate <20 mg weekly and FA 5 mg daily, to report all toxicity (including absolute changes in haematological and liver enzyme indices) and to report changes in the efficacy of methotrexate. METHODS In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 75 patients who were established on methotrexate <20 mg weekly and FA 5 mg daily were asked to stop their FA and were randomized to one of two groups: placebo or FA 5 mg daily. Patients were evaluated for treatment toxicity and efficacy before entry and then at intervals of 3 months for 1 yr. RESULTS Overall, 25 (33%) patients concluded the study early, eight (21%) in the group remaining on FA and 17 (46%) in the placebo group (P = 0.02). Two patients in the placebo group discontinued because of neutropenia. At 9 months there was an increased incidence of nausea in the placebo group (45 vs. 7%, P = 0.001). The placebo group had significantly lower disease activity on a few of the variables measured, but these were probably not of clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS It is important to continue FA supplementation over the long term in patients on methotrexate and FA in order to prevent them discontinuing treatment because of mouth ulcers or nausea and vomiting. Our data suggest that FA supplementation is also helpful in preventing neutropenia, with very little loss of efficacy of methotrexate.
Logistics and Time as a Trade Barrier

This paper analyses the relation between time for exports and imports, logistics services and international trade. Time is found not only to reduce trade volumes, but more importantly lengthy procedures for exports and imports reduce the probability that firms will enter export markets for timesensitive products at all. Furthermore, a broader range of products are becoming time-sensitive following the proliferation of modern supply chain management in manufacturing as well as retailing. Labourintensive products such as clothing and consumer electronics are increasingly time-sensitive and many developing countries urgently need to shorten lead time in order to stay competitive in these sectors. The report argues that reforms to this effect can be implemented at relatively low cost also in low-income countries. The study provides case studies as well as econometric estimates of the relation between time, logistics services and trade performance and draws policy implications.
EEG and cognitive impairment in presenile dementia

EEG and psychometric findings were studied in a group of 57 patients consisting of 19 cases of Alzheimer's disease, 7 cases of Pick's disease, 24 cases of cerebrovascular dementia (CVD) and a group of 7 cases with dementia of various other etiology. The diagnoses have so far been confirmed by autopsy in 23 out of 57 cases. EEG was evaluated by means of visual inspection. Psychometric studies enabled a classification into 5 psychometric defect groups according to the degree of dementia. An overall good correlation was found between the degree of dementia and EEG abnormality. A significant correlation between the test score and the EEG was found only for the vocabulary test and paired associates test. However, on the reaction time test, color word test, and Koh's block design test, large patient groups were untestable, and a highly significant correlation was found between non‐testability and severely abnormal EEG. The Alzheimer and the CVD groups differed distinctly, most of the Alzheimer cases showing a severe or moderate degree of EEG abnormality and dementia, whereas in the CVD cases, the dementia was less pronounced and the EEG often normal or only slightly abnormal. Four out of seven cases of Pick's disease had a normal EEG, which distinguished them from the Alzheimer cases which had a comparable psychometric defect.
Age and sex influences on fall characteristics.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate age and sex influences on fall characteristics. METHODS--A total of 1243 subjects (517 males and 726 females) aged 50 years and over and drawn from population based sampling frames were invited to complete an interviewer administered questionnaire concerning descriptive characteristics of falls experienced in the previous four months. Information collected included details about the part of the body to strike the ground, direction of the fall, level of trauma and whether or not injury or fracture was sustained. RESULTS--One hundred and seventy two subjects reported a fall in the previous four months. Restricting analysis to the 142 subjects who fell from a standing height or less, females aged 50-64 years were more than twice as likely to fall onto their hand compared with older females (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8 to 6.2) and at all ages (50+) were more than three times as likely to fall on their hip compared with males (OR = 3.4; 95% CI 1.0 to 11.5). Compared with older males, males aged 50-64 were more likely to fall sideways (OR = 5.1; 95% CI 1.5 to 17.4) and less likely to fall forwards (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.1 to 1.1). CONCLUSION--There is a potentially clinically important variation in fall type by age and sex. In particular, this variation might explain patterns of occurrence of hip and Colles' fracture.