Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dega's Transiliac Osteotomy in the Treatment of Spastic Hip Subluxation and Dislocation in Cerebral Palsy

&NA; The study presents the long‐term results of operative treatment of spastic subluxation and dislocation of hip joints in cerebral palsy children with open reduction and pelvic transiliac osteotomy by Dega. The subjects were 25 patients (30 hips) and the follow‐up lasted from 3 to 25 years (average 12 years). Final examinations were carried out after the end of body growth. Detailed analysis covered a patient's function, occurrence and intensity of pain in the hip joint, value of radiological parameters such as angle of centre‐edge of the roof after Wiberg (CE), acetabular index (AI), neck‐shaft angle (NS) and migration percentage (MP). The final evaluation of radiological results was carried out in accordance with Severin's classification. The clinical and radiological results obtained showed gradual deteriorations in comparison with the early postoperative results (dating from 12 months after surgery). In the final examination, in one patient a recurrent dislocation of the hip joint was diagnosed and subluxation was diagnosed in six patients (23%). Only the values of the CE angle went up (from ‐16° in the early postoperative examination to 20° in the final assessment), which we consider to be due to the change of sphericity of the head of femur. The remaining radiological parameters did not change significantly: AI from 22° to 23°, MP from 11% to 23%, NS from 133° to 140°. The surgical method presented is currently applied in a modified form, with a wider release within the soft tissues, more radical varusderotation osteotomy and greater shortening of the femur.
Identification of CD133+ Cells in Pituitary Adenomas

Stem-like cells in tumors are capable of self-renewal and pluri-differentiation; they are thought to play important roles in tumor initiation and maintenance. Stem-like cells in malignant glioma express CD133. We examined samples from human pituitary adenoma, a generally benign neoplasm, for CD133 expression using routine immunohistochemical and biochemical methods. Our study of 70 pituitary adenomas (clinically nonfunctioning adenomas and growth hormone-, prolactin-, adrenocorticotropic hormone-, and thyroid-stimulating hormone-producing adenomas) showed that 18 (25.7%) expressed CD133. This rate was higher in clinically nonfunctioning (33.3%) than functioning adenomas (12.0%) (p = 0.085). Real-time PCR assay revealed the expression of CD133 mRNA in samples immunohistochemically positive for CD133. Neither the patient age and gender, nor the tumor size or postoperative recurrence rate correlated with CD133 positivity. CD133+ cells ubiquitously coexpressed CD34, nestin, and VEGFR2 (KDL1). S-100 and GFAP were not coexpressed with CD133. Chromogranin A, Pit-1, SF-1, and NeuroD1 were immune-negative, indicating that CD133+ cells did not have the potential to differentiate into functional endocrine cells. Our data suggest that the expression of CD133 in pituitary adenomas is related to immature endothelial progenitor cells that may play a role in the neovascularization of pituitary adenomas. Further studies are needed to elucidate the significance of CD133+ cells with respect to neovascularization and their sustainable growth in pituitary adenomas.
How to improve smallholder market access: evaluation of mercados campesinos in Colombia.

This paper presents an analysis of the results obtained in the project called “Mercados Campesinos” carried out in the central region of Colombia between 2004 and 2015. This analysis was performed to evaluate the impacts of this short food value chain experience and its influence on economic, social and political dimensions of smallholders’ market access. The analysis included two complementary research methods: quantitative and qualitative approaches. These methods were stated to identify the benefits accrued to participants using three different methodologies: i) t-test analysis; ii) an impact evaluation known as difference-in-difference and iii) multilevel regressions. On the other hand, qualitative analysis was based on semi-structured interviews and informal dialogues to investigate the perceptions of a selected group of beneficiaries regarding how project goals have been achieved. The results showed that one of the most influential elements in smallholders’market access has been the role of peasant organizations, associations and local farmer committees. These administrative structures greatly affected the economic efficiency, political participation and, to a lesser extent, commercial improvements. Project outcomes have been extremely influenced by participants’ expectations of improvements in wellbeing, life quality, production rates, and income. The project was not able to reach a good level of financial sustainability; however, it provided peasants with well-designed tools to self-coordinate their actions. Proof of that is that farmers started to organize themselves autonomously to exert pressure at municipal and local levels.
The emergence and evolution of City Deals in Scotland

There is a resurgent policy emphasis on the role of city-regions as drivers of economic growth. Officials and leaders in such metropolitan areas, however, are confronted with challenges relating to administrative fragmentation, achieving alignment with national policy objectives, and demonstrating the capabilities to plan, finance and deliver effective policy interventions and investments. As a response to these challenges, policymakers are fashioning new governance arrangements, attached to experimental policy mechanisms, to develop urban policy. Of note, City Deals have recently emerged in the UK, and this paper charts their evolution across the UK, with a focus on the devolved administrations in particular. The paper ends with some reflections and questions about their roll out in Scotland.
Coagulopathy after a liver resection: is it over diagnosed and over treated?

BACKGROUND Prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) is widely utilized to guide plasma therapy and initiation of thromboprophylaxis after a hepatectomy. Thrombelastography (TEG) monitors shear elasticity, which is sensitive to cellular and plasma components in blood, allowing for functional assessment of the life of the clot. The objective of this study was to prospectively compare PT-INR and TEG in liver resection patients. METHODS Forty patients were enrolled before undergoing an elective hepatectomy. Patients underwent a liver resection utilizing a low central venous pressure (CVP) anaesthetic technique and intermittent Pringle manoeuver. PT-INR and TEG were drawn prior to incision, post-operatively, and post-operative days 1, 3 and 5. RESULTS All post-operative PT-INR values increased significantly when compared with pre-operative PT-INR (P < 0.01). The time of onset to clot (R-value) decreased significantly at the post-operative time point (P = 0.04), consistent with a relative hypercoagulability. Subsequent R-values were not different compared with the pre-operative R-value. The strength of the clot (maximum amplitude, MA) was unchanged when comparing pre- and post-operative time points. DISCUSSION In spite of an elevation in PT-INR, patients undergoing a liver resection demonstrated a brief hypercoagulable state, followed by normal coagulation function based on TEG. These data call into question the practice of utilizing PT-INR to guide plasma transfusion and timing of prophylactic anticoagulation after a liver resection.
Combination of a Mean Transit Time Measurement with an Acetazolamide Test Increases Predictive Power to Identify Elevated Oxygen Extraction Fraction in Occlusive Carotid Artery Diseases

Reduced cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity to acetazolamide have been used as predictors for subsequent ischemic stroke in patients with occlusive carotid artery diseases, called type 3 ischemia. However, recent studies have shown that reduced cerebrovascular reactivity to acetazolamide does not always represent elevated oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). The aim of this study was to establish the methodology to improve the validity of an acetazolamide test identifying elevated OEF. Methods: This study included 65 patients who developed transient ischemic attack or minor completed stroke attributable to occlusive carotid artery diseases. Hemodynamic and metabolic parameters in the bilateral middle cerebral artery territories were determined in all patients by 15O-gas PET. Results: Type 3 ischemia alone had 100% sensitivity and 83.2% specificity for identifying elevated OEF, but its positive predictive value and accuracy were low, 47.2% and 0.85, respectively. However, type 3 ischemia and delayed mean transit time combined had an 83.3% positive predictive value and 0.96 accuracy. Conclusion: The results strongly suggest that type 3 ischemia and delayed mean transit time together may be powerful predictors in identifying elevated OEF with high sensitivity and specificity, predictive values, and accuracy. SPECT may be able to define the patients with elevated OEF more easily and at lower costs than PET, although further study would be necessary to compare the results by using SPECT.
The Productivity Gaps of Female-Owned Firms: Evidence from Ethiopian Census Data

This paper provides new empirical evidence on the relative productivity disadvantage of female-owned firms compared with male-owned firms in a developing country setting. We rely on a large panel of manufacturing firms based on an annual census run by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia. Our preferred estimation shows a 12% difference in levels of total factor productivity between female- and male-owned firms. Drawing on novel quantile approaches to formally compare productivity distributions, we also dig deeper into some of the potential mechanisms underlying this gender-based firm productivity gap. Our findings suggest that various forces are at work. Most female-owned firms seem to concentrate in certain less productive subsectors, and only very few succeed in standing out. Moreover, lower productivity of female-owned firms is shown to relate to a combination of observed firm characteristics and unobserved structural factors that varies according to a firm’s position in the overall productivity distribution.
A Time-Domain Collocation Meshless Method With Local Radial Basis Functions for Electromagnetic Transient Analysis

A meshless method with local radial basis functions is proposed for solving the time-domain electromagnetic wave equations. In comparison with the conventional radial point interpolation meshless (RPIM) method that employs and positions dual sets of nodes of both electric and magnetic field nodes, the proposed method uses only one set of the nodes, electric field nodes where electric fields are also collocated in space. With this feature, implementation complexity of the RPIM method is significantly reduced, and conformal modeling and muti-scale capabilities of the RPIM method can now be further explored with higher efficiency. The time-marching formulations of the proposed method are derived and stability analysis of the method is presented. Comparisons of the proposed method with the conventional meshless method are also presented. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated through simulation of an H-shaped cavity and a quarter ring resonator.
Soil organic carbon sequestration as influenced by long-term manuring and fertilization in the rice-wheat cropping system

Abstract Fertilization is a feasible approach to increase the soil organic carbon. To investigate the effect of fertilization on crop biomass carbon, dynamics of soil organic carbon and soil carbon sequestration rate in the (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system under the middle reach of the Yangtze River, central China, a thirty-three years (1981 − 2013) long-term fertilizer experiment was conducted with nine treatments, including no amendment addition treatment (control), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) fertilizer treatments (N, NP, NPK), manure (M) and manure combined with chemical fertilizer treatments (MN, MNP, MNPK, hMNPK). The results indicated that average crop biomass carbon was increased by 39.9 − 77.2% compared to unfertilized control (4.43 t ha−1 yr−1) due to fertilizer application, the highest crop biomass carbon was 7.85 t ha−1 yr−1 in the hMNPK treatment and the lowest crop biomass carbon was 5.21 t ha−1 yr−1 in the N alone treatment. The annual total organic carbon input were 4.14 t ha−1 yr−1 in the M treatment and 5.80 t ha−1 yr−1 in the hMNPK treatment, which was 1.95 − 2.74 times of those in the NPK treatments (2.12 t ha−1 yr−1). Total organic carbon input of soil were increased by 10.2 − 23.3 kg C ha−1 yr−1, and increment rate in the appended manure treatments were much higher than those in the control and inorganic fertilizer treatments. Soil organic carbon retention in the topsoil (0 − 20 cm) decreased by 0.11 − 0.14 t ha−1 yr−1 in the control, N and NP treatments; nevertheless, soil organic carbon sequestration rates varied from 0.03 to 0.20 t ha−1 yr−1 in the NPK and appended organic manure treatments. These results demonstrate that organic manure use or integrated organic manure with chemical fertilizer application can be important strategies for increasing soil organic carbon sequestration and maintaining soil quality in the rice-wheat cropping system of China.
A Field Study of the Relation between Leaders' Anticipation of Targets' Resistance and Targets' Reports of Influence Tactics Used by Leaders in Dyadic Relations

This research explored the relationship between targets' resistance and leaders' behaviors. Barbuto's concentric zones, Preference, Indifference, Legitimate, Influence, and Noninfluence, were used as the independent variables to predict leaders' use of influence tactics. Results from 83 leader-member dyads imply moderate relationships between perceptions of followers' resistance and influence tactics used by leaders. Directions for research are addressed.
Children with disability and complex health needs: the impact on family life.

AIM To identify consistency and differences in parental perceptions of impact, need for support and 'sense making' in children with a disability, children with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness and children who are technology dependent. METHOD A series of in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with parents from 33 families that included one or more child with disabilities. The data arising from these interviews were subjected to a systematic comparative analysis based on three discrete subgroups of children: those with a disability, those with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness, and those with a technology dependence. FINDINGS There were major areas of consistency in parental experience of impact as related in three categories that emerged from the data: time, multiple roles and the disabled family. CONCLUSION There are many effects of childhood disability on the family. In large part, the effects cannot simply be defined or described in the context of a particular 'medical' diagnosis or prognosis. Many elements of impact do not appear to be related to whether or not a child has a life-threatening or life-limiting illness or by whether or not a child is dependent on specific medical devices or ongoing nursing care.
MR molecular imaging of early endothelial activation in focal ischemia

Focal ischemia followed by reperfusion initiates a harmful P‐ and E‐selectin–mediated recruitment of leukocytes in brain microvasculature. In this study, we tested whether a novel magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent (Gd‐DTPA‐sLex A), which is designed to bind to activated endothelium could be detected by MR imaging (MRI) in a focal stroke mouse model. MRIs (9.4T) of the brain were acquired 24 hours after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. T1 maps were acquired repeatedly before and up to 1.5 hours after the intravenous injection of either Gd‐DTPA or Gd‐DTPA‐sLex A. Analysis of images included a pixel‐by‐pixel subtraction of T1 maps from the precontrast T1 maps and quantification of T1 within the ischemic area. After injection of Gd‐DTPA‐sLex A, T1 decreased compared with precontrast levels, and an interhemispheric difference between the pre–post contrast T1 developed within the stroke lesion at a mean time of 52 minutes after injection (p < 0.05). Animals injected with Gd‐DTPA did not exhibit changes in T1 signal intensity between regions of the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres, indicating that the reductions in T1 observed with Gd‐DTPA‐sLex A were unrelated to blood–brain barrier breakdown. Fluorescent‐labeled sLex A administered intravenously was observed to bind to the endothelium of injured but not control brain. The study suggests that the contrast agent Gd‐DTPA‐sLex A can be used to visualize early endothelial activation after transient focal ischemia in vivo with MRI. Ann Neurol 2004;56:116–120
Equity crowdfunding and the role of investor discussion boards

ABSTRACT Start-ups are increasingly using equity crowdfunding to raise necessary funding at an early stage. In this rather new form of financing, potential investors communicate with each other and the entrepreneurs typically through the discussion boards of mediating online platforms. Using a mixed-methods approach, this explorative study analyses the role of investor-initiated discussions in equity crowdfunding. First, we develop a framework and categorize 574 interactions between potential investors and entrepreneurs posted on the project-related discussion boards of the Crowdcube equity crowdfunding platform. The framework is built on deductive criteria from the context of business angels and inductive criteria that are unique to the equity crowdfunding context. Five discussion topics stand out in relevance: valuation, financial snapshot, likely returns, shareholder rights, and market risk. Exploring the qualitative data reveals that investors are concerned about high information asymmetries and agency risks. Second, we use panel data of 2,258 funding days to analyse whether discussions signal endorsement and increase funding success. The econometric results show that discussions generally propel investments. However, discussions on topics like market risk and shareholder rights harm funding success. The study highlights the complementarity of discussion boards as an information source for investors, providing a more nuanced picture of the investor perspective in equity crowdfunding and proposing avenues for future research.
Therapeutic potential of 5‐[125I]iodo‐2′‐deoxyuridine and methotrexate in the treatment of advanced neoplastic meningitis

Purpose: To assess the therapeutic potential of methotrexate (MTX) and 5‐[125I]iodo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (125IdUrd) administered sequentially in rats bearing advanced (ten‐day‐old) intrathecal (i.t.) TE671 human rhabdomyosarcoma tumours. Materials and methods: Nude rats were injected with TE671 cells through an i.t. placed catheter. Ten days later, the animals were injected i.t. over a 12‐day period with (i) saline daily, (ii) MTX every other day, (iii) 125IdUrd every other day, or (iv) MTX and 125IdUrd on alternating days. Onset of paralysis was determined as a function of time, and the medians for onset (M), percentage of cells killed (% kill), and log cell kill were calculated. Results: The data show that (i) injection of MTX leads to a moderate delay in the onset of paralysis (MMTX=29 d versus Msaline=20 d), (ii) administration of 125IdUrd is more effective (MIdUrd=36 d), and (iii) sequential administration of MTX–125IdUrd further increases the therapeutic efficacy of 125IdUrd (MMTX–IdUrd=47 d). Conclusions: Intrathecal injection of MTX–125IdUrd is efficacious in the therapy of advanced intrathecal tumours.
Potassium and risk of Type 2 diabetes

The rising incidence and prevalence of Type 2 diabetes worldwide requires us to try to identify the determinants of this epidemic and to identify improved measures to prevent and treat this condition. While obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, there are other risk factors that could potentially be corrected more easily. Potassium, both serum levels and to a lesser extent dietary intake levels, has been associated with incident diabetes. Lower levels of potassium have been found to be associated with a higher risk of diabetes in some studies. This article will review the literature available describing these associations and will help to identify where further research is needed.
Life, lifestyle and location: examining the complexities of psychological distress in young adult Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

Mental health is fundamental to an individual’s health and well-being. Mental health disorders affect a substantial portion of the Australian population, with the most vulnerable time in adolescence and young adulthood. Indigenous Australians fare worse than other Australians on almost every measure of physical and mental health. Cross-sectional data from young adults (21–27 years) participating in the Life Course Program, Northern Territory, Australia, is presented. Rates of psychological distress were high in remote and urban residing Indigenous and urban non-Indigenous young adults. This rate was more pronounced in young women, particularly in Indigenous remote and urban residing women. Young adults with high psychological distress also had lower levels of positive well-being, higher perceived stress levels, experienced a higher number of major life events and were at an increased risk of suicidal ideation and/or self-harm. This study supports the need for a continued focus on early screening and treatment at this vulnerable age. The significant association seen between psychological distress and other markers of emotional well-being, particularly risk of suicidal ideation and/or self-harm, highlights the need for a holistic approach to mental health assessment and treatment. A concerted focus on improving the environs of young adults by lowering levels of stress, improving access to adequate housing, educational and employment opportunity, will assist in improving the emotional health of young adults.