Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sinonasal-Type Hemangiopericytoma: A Clinicopathologic and Immunophenotypic Analysis of 104 Cases Showing Perivascular Myoid Differentiation

Sinonasal-type hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon upper aerodigestive tract tumor of uncertain cellular differentiation. We report 104 cases of sinonasal-type hemangiopericytoma diagnosed between 1970 and 1995 from the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. There were 57 females and 47 males ranging in age from 5 to 86 years (mean 62.6 years). The most common clinical presentation was airway obstruction (n = 57) and/or epistaxis (n = 54), with symptoms averaging 10 months in duration. The tumors involved the nasal cavity alone (n = 47) or also a paranasal sinus (n = 26), were polypoid, and measured an average of 3.1 cm. Histologically, the tumors were submucosal and unencapsulated and showed a diffuse growth with fascicular (n = 37) to solid (n = 50) to focally whorled (n = 7) patterns. The tumor cells were uniform in appearance with minimal pleomorphism and had spindle-shaped (n = 82) to round/oval (n = 18) nuclei with vesicular to hyperchromatic chromatin and eosinophilic to amphophilic to clear-appearing cytoplasm with indistinct cell borders. Multinucleated (tumor) giant cells were identified in a minority of cases (n = 5). Mitotic figures were inconspicuous and necrosis was absent. The tumors were richly vascularized, including staghorn-appearing vessels that characteristically had prominent perivascular hyalinization (n = 92). An associated inflammatory cell infiltrate that included mast cells and eosinophils was noted in the majority of cases (n = 87). The immunohistochemical profile included reactivity with vimentin (98%), smooth muscle actin (92%), muscle specific actin (77%), factor XIIIa (78%), and laminin (52%). Surgery was the treatment of choice for all of the patients; adjunctive radiotherapy was given to four patients. Recurrences developed in 18 patients within 1–12 years from diagnosis. Ninety-seven patients were either alive (n = 51, mean 16.5 years) or dead (n = 46, mean 9.6 years) but free of disease. Four patients had disease at the last follow-up: three died with disease (mean 3.6 years) and one patient is alive with disease (28.3 years). Recurrent tumor (17.8%) can be managed by additional surgery. The majority of sinonasal-type hemangiopericytomas behave in a benign manner with excellent long-term prognosis (88% raw 5-year survival) following surgery alone. Sinonasal-type hemangiopericytomas have a characteristic light microscopic appearance with an immunophenotypic profile resembling that of glomus tumors.
Effect of different stages of maturity and postharvest treatments on quality and storability of pineapple

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of different maturity stages and postharvest treatments on the storage behavior of Pineapple fruits. Two distinct maturity stages viz., premature (30 days before attaining optimum maturity) and optimum mature fruits were harvested and placed in the laboratory room. On the same day six postharvest treatments viz., control, preserved in unperforated polyethylene bag, tilt, 100 ppm NAA, 200 ppm NAA, and 300 ppm NAA were assigned to that fruits. The two-factor experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. There was significant variation between two maturity stages and among different treatments in relation to fruit characteristics. At 18 days of storage, premature fruits contained the maximum shelf-life (19.33 days), total weight loss (16.00%), moisture content (92.66%), total titratable acidity (0.77%), ascorbic acid content (17.49 mg/100g fruit) while the minimum (14.5 days), (14.67%), (90.66%), (0.68%), (9.75 mg/100g fruit) in optimum mature fruits, respectively. On the other hand, optimum mature fruits had higher dry matter content (14.78%), edible portion (67.77%), TSS (16.03%), pulp to peel ratio (2.56), total sugar content (13.5%) while these were minimum (12.57%), (65.16%), (14.43%), (2.37), (10.56%) in pre mature fruits, respectively. The fruits treated with 100 ppm NAA treatment showed the highest shelf life (22.83 days), pulp to peel ratio (2.94), total titratable acidity (0.67%), ascorbic acid content (16.78 mg/100g fruit pulp) and the lowest was in total sugar content (10.96%). Fruits treated with unperforated polythene bag gave the maximum edible portion (71.72%), moisture content (88.3%), and the minimum were in weight loss (3.42%), dry matter content (11.7%), TSS (14.68%). On the other hand, fruits with 5% tilt treatment showed the minimum total titratable acidity (0.58%) and ascorbic acid content (12.28 mg/100 g fruit pulp). Fruits with control represented the highest weight loss (19.135%), dry matter content (13.7%), total sugar content (12.75%) and the lowest were in shelf life (12.66 days), edible portion (60.098%), pulp to peel ratio (1.93). Among the treated and untreated fruits, unperforated polyethylene bag and 100 ppm NAA treatment exhibited better storage performance.
Ga+ beam lithography for suspended lateral beams and nanowires

The authors demonstrate the fabrication of suspended nanowires and doubly clamped beams by using a focused ion beam implanted Ga etch mask followed by an inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching of silicon. This method will demonstrate how a two-step, completely dry fabrication sequence can be tuned to generate nanomechanical structures on either silicon substrates or silicon on insulator (SOI). This method was used to generate lateral nanowires suspended between 2 µm scaled structures with lengths up to 16 µm and widths down to 40 nm on a silicon substrate. The authors also fabricate 10 µm long doubly clamped beams on SOIs that are 20 nm thick and a minimum of 150 nm wide. In situ electrical measurements of the beams demonstrate a reduction of resistivity from > 37.5 Ω cm down to 0.25 Ω cm. Transmission electron microscopy for quantifying both surface roughness and crystallinity of the suspended nanowires was performed. Finally, a dose array for repeatable fabrication of a desired beam width was also experimentally determined.
Semi-Analytical Model for the Transient Operation of Gate-All-Around Charge-Trap Memories

We present a detailed semi-analytical investigation of the transient dynamics of gate-all-around (GAA) charge-trap memories. To this aim, the Poisson equation is solved in cylindrical coordinates, and a modification of the well-known Fowler-Nordheim formula is proposed for tunneling through cylindrical dielectric layers. Analytical results are validated by experimental data on devices with different gate stack compositions, considering a quite extended range of gate biases and times. Finally, the model is used for a parametric analysis of the GAA cell, highlighting the effect of device curvature on both program/erase and retention.
Bidirectional relationship between investor sentiment and excess returns: new evidence from the wavelet perspective

ABSTRACT We propose to use the wavelet concept of the phase angle to determine the lead–lag relationship between investor sentiment and excess returns that are related to the bubble component of stock prices. The wavelet phase angle allows for decoupling short- and long-run relations and is additionally capable of identifying time-varying comovement patterns. Based on the monthly S&P500 index and two alternative monthly US sentiment indicators, we find that in the short run (until 3 months), sentiment is leading returns whereas for periods above 3 months the opposite can be observed. Moreover, the initially strong positive relationship becomes less pronounced with increasing time horizon, thereby indicating that the over- or undervaluation in the short run is gradually corrected in the long run.
Characteristics and Distribution of Live-Stock Losses Caused by Wild Carnivores in Maasai Steppe of Northern Tanzania

Agricultural development accelerates the loss of habitat for many wildlife species and brings humans and animals in close proximity, resulting in increased human–wildlife conflict. In Africa, such conflicts contribute to carnivore population declines in the form of human retaliation for livestock depredation. However, little knowledge exists about when and where carnivores attack livestock. Given this need, our objectives were to (1) understand the spatial and temporal variation of human–carnivore conflict and (2) identify conflict-prone areas. We addressed these objectives in 18 Tanzanian villages of the Maasai Steppe using livestock depredation data on lions (Panthera leo), spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and leopards (Panthera pardus) from 2004 to 2007. Over the 4-year period, 1,042 carnivore attacks occurred on livestock, with >50% due to hyenas; shoats (goats and sheep) were the most commonly depredated livestock. Livestock depredation was unevenly distributed across villages. About 39% of all recorded attacks occurred in Selela, followed by Emboreet (16%), and Loiborsoit (11%), while Esilalei, Oltukai, and Engaruka all had >5% of all attacks. Villages with <1% of all attacks on livestock included Losirwa, Terat, Naiti, and Minjingu. Spotted hyenas attacked livestock more during the night and when livestock were in bomas (enclosures where livestock is kept, especially at night), while lions and leopards depredated at similar rates by time of day and location. Livestock depredation was highest during the wet season. Carnivore attacks on livestock could be reduced both by avoiding wildlife migration and dispersal areas during the wet season and by building stronger bomas. Because large carnivore populations are declining, our findings identify possible alternatives to reduce human–carnivore conflicts, thus, facilitating large carnivore conservation efforts in landscapes where large carnivores and livestock co-exist.
A Responsabilidade Social das Empresas e o Desempenho Organizacional

Resumo. A relacao entre a responsabilidade social e o desempenho organizacional das empresas, em concreto o economico-financeiro, tem sido objecto de muita investigacao, sobretudo anglo-saxonica, sem, todavia, se chegar a um consenso relativamente a relacao entre aquelas variaveis. Com o presente trabalho pretendemos realizar uma revisao da literatura relativa ao conceito de responsabilidade social das empresas e ao seu impacto no desempenho organizacional, em particular no desempenho economicofinanceiro.
Title : Social adaptability and substance abuse : Predictors of depression among hemodialysis patients ?

Background: Several aspects linked to social are involved in the onset of depressive feelings. We aimed to find out if social adaptability and substance abuse predict depression among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodia lysis (HD). Methods: We included 145 ESRD patients undergoing HD. Social adaptability was estimated by the Social Adaptability Index (SAI). Substance abuse was defi ned according to SAI. We screened for depression by applying the 20-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A score ≥ 24 classified the patients as depressed. Comparisons between depressed and non-depressed patients were ca rried out and logistic regression was performed to test gender, age, total SAI, SAI wit hout the substance abuse item, only the substance abuse score and substance abuse as a categorical variable (yes/no) as predictors of depression. Results: There were 36 (24.8%) depressed patients. There were no differences regarding demographic and laboratory data between the depressed and non-depressed patients. Mean SAI among depressed and non-depressed patients was, respective ly, 6.1 ± 1.6 vs. 6.2 ± 1.9 (p=0.901). The percentage of patients with or without substance abuse among depressed patients was, respectively, 13.8% vs. 13.9% (p=1.000). Gender, age, total SAI, SAI without the substance abuse item, only the substance abuse score and substance abuse as a categorical variable did not predict depression. Conclusions: Social adaptability and substance abuse did not predict depression in HD patients. We propose that aspects related to socioeconomic status not comprised in SAI items should be ruled out as predictors of depression.
Pedestrian recognition using automotive radar sensors

Abstract. The application of modern series production automotive radar sensors to pedestrian recognition is an important topic in research on future driver assistance systems. The aim of this paper is to understand the potential and limits of such sensors in pedestrian recognition. This knowledge could be used to develop next generation radar sensors with improved pedestrian recognition capabilities. A new raw radar data signal processing algorithm is proposed that allows deep insights into the object classification process. The impact of raw radar data properties can be directly observed in every layer of the classification system by avoiding machine learning and tracking. This gives information on the limiting factors of raw radar data in terms of classification decision making. To accomplish the very challenging distinction between pedestrians and static objects, five significant and stable object features from the spatial distribution and Doppler information are found. Experimental results with data from a 77 GHz automotive radar sensor show that over 95% of pedestrians can be classified correctly under optimal conditions, which is compareable to modern machine learning systems. The impact of the pedestrian's direction of movement, occlusion, antenna beam elevation angle, linear vehicle movement, and other factors are investigated and discussed. The results show that under real life conditions, radar only based pedestrian recognition is limited due to insufficient Doppler frequency and spatial resolution as well as antenna side lobe effects.
Rapid disintegration of Alpine glaciers observed with satellite data

Analyses of multispectral satellite data indicate accelerated glacier decline around the globe since the 1980s. By using digitized glacier outlines inferred from the 1973 inventory and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite data from 1985 to 1999, we obtained area changes of about 930 Alpine glaciers. The 18% area reduction as observed for the period 1985 to 1999 (−1.3% a−1) corresponds to a seven times higher loss rate compared to the 1850–1973 decadal mean. Extrapolation of area change rates and cumulative mass balances to all Alpine glaciers yields a corresponding volume loss of about 25 km3 since 1973. Highly individual and non‐uniform changes in glacier geometry (disintegration) indicate a massive down‐wasting rather than a dynamic response to a changed climate. Our results imply stronger ongoing glacier retreat than assumed so far and a probable further enhancement of glacier disintegration by positive feedbacks.
‘ Aleppo Evil ’ , ‘ White Leprosy ’ , ‘ Busi Yasi ’ : Biological and Clinical Aspects of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with New Insights from Suriname

The parasitic disease Leishmaniasis in its various clinical manifestations is one of the most serious public health threats in many parts of the world, its global prevalence and yearly incidence rates exceeding 12 million and 2.5 million cases, respectively, and its burden estimated at 2.4 million disability-adjusted life years. For these reasons, the World Health Organization has classified Leishmaniasis as a category 1 disease i.e., an emerging and/or uncontrolled disease. In the Republic of Suriname (South America), Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is so far the principal form of the disease. For a long time it was believed that Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis was the only Leishmania species causing CL in the country. Furthermore, the vectors involved in its transmission were not exactly known, and animal reservoirs had not been identified. Lately, however, important new insights have been obtained in these fundamental biological aspects of CL in Suriname. This paper presents a few historical highlights of Leishmaniasis; addresses relevant epidemiological and etiological aspects of this disease; elaborates on the biology as well methods for diagnosis and available forms of treatment of this condition; then focuses on recent insights in these topics in Suriname; and concludes with possible future approaches on the treatment and diagnosis of CL in the country.
Species shifts in response to climate change: Individual or shared responses?1,2

Abstract Individual species are expected to shift their distributions in response to global climate change. Species within existing communities may respond to climate change individualistically, resulting in the formation of novel communities, or may instead shift as intact communities. We examined whether montane plant communities in the northeastern United States have shifted their elevational range as intact assemblages or individualistically in response to recent regional climatic and environmental change. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to examine changes in plant community composition and species distributions using vegetation surveys repeated five times between 1964 and 2006 across an elevational gradient (549–1158 m) on Camels Hump Mountain, Vermont, USA, in conjunction with an analysis of local climate change. We found evidence that species elevational distributions and community compositions have shifted in response to a 0.49 °C per decade warming. These species responses were complex and largely individualistic at some elevations, while at other elevations species in a given community tended to respond similarly. The magnitude of community compositional change was largely dependent on location with respect to the ecotone between northern hardwood and boreal forests. While climate change likely contributed to the large shifts in species within NMDS space, these shifts may also be a response to invasive earthworms at low elevations and to prolonged exposure to acid deposition at high elevations. Though we found evidence of shared species responses within communities, future species responses may become increasingly divergent as the magnitude of climate change increases causing species-specific environmental thresholds to be reached and as the synergistic effects of multiple anthropogenic perturbations rise.
The Role of Serum Ceruloplasmin and Oxidative Stress Markers in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Purpose: The study aimed at evaluation of the role of ceruloplasmin (A protein involved in iron homeostasis and can inactivate free radicals) and other oxidative stress markers as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity (CAT) in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: This observational case control study included 90 persons divided into 3 equal groups: group A of 30 normal persons as a control group, group B of 30 patients of untreated (POAG) (firstly diagnosed) by the clinical characters including measuring intraocular pressure (IOP), optic disc cupping and visual field changes and group C of 30 patients of POAG under medical treatment by topical anti-glaucomatous drugs. Serum ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and catalase activity were measured in all groups, statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results: In a comparison to group A of control, serum ceruloplasmin decreased significantly in group B of untreated POAG (20.95 ± 6.01) mg-dl and in group C of POAG under treatment (22.15 ± 6.14) mg-dl (P 0.05). Also, serum superoxide dismutase increased significantly in group B (2.23 ± 0.4) and in group C (2.19 ± 0.38) U-ml (P 0.05). Serum malondialdehyde increased significantly in group B (3.82 ± 0.74) nmol-ml and in group C (3.55 ± 0.73) nmol-ml (P 0.05). Serum catalase decreased significantly in group B (17.97 ± 2.75) U-ml and in group C (18.75 ± 2.33) U-ml in a comparison to the control group A (22.67 ± 3.05) U-ml (P 0.05). Conclusions: Serum ceruloplasmin level and the antioxidant (CAT) activity significantly decreased, while serum levels of SOD, MDA significantly increased in cases of POAG. This may indicate the need for addition of anti-oxidative stress therapy in combination with the anti-glaucomatous drugs. Monitoring these markers can be considered good indicators for determination of the oxidative stress condition in such cases.
Genetic variation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cultivated by Chibchan Amerindians of Costa Rica

This study focuses on the genetic diversity of the cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) grown by the Chibchan Amerindians of Costa Rica. The authors collected cassava in various locations within two Amerindian Reserves: Talamanca, inhabited by Cabecares and Bribris, and Coto Brus, inhabited by Guaymi. Through the use of isozyme electrophoretic techniques we found variation for six out of nine systems analyzed, namely DIA, EST, IDH, MDH, PGI, and SKD. No variation was found in ADH, PGD, and PGM systems. We analyzed the distribution of variation within and between the reserves, and found most of the variation occurred within reserves (Gst = 0.1084). Only low levels of genetic differentiation were found between reserves (Nei’s genetic distance = 0.0088). The high levels of genetic variation within reserves that we found concur with results of previous studies on cassava grown by South American Amerindians and farmers. The role of the breeding system of cassava and the agricultural practices of Amerindians in the maintenance of high levels of genetic diversity are discussed.
Prognostic Models in Cirrhosis: An Anesthetist Perspective

There has been an increase in the number of patients suffering from liver disease who present for surgery/noninvasive procedures in diverse clinical scenarios and non transplant settings. Risk estimation and prognostication, therefore, becomes very important for the anaesthetist who will encounter such patients in different clinical settings. The knowledge of merits and demerits of various prognostic models is necessary. Apart from estimation of the life expectancy, these models also tell us about the ability of these patients to withstand a particular procedure or whether the therapeutic option offers an acceptable chance of survival. Improved care in the critical care setting has also enabled many patients with decompensated liver disease to undergo liver transplantation successfully. Presently prognostication mainly involves the CTP (Child Turcotte Pugh) and MELD (Modification of End Stage Liver Disease) scores. Various attempts have been made to modify them to overcome the shortcomings of the original scores. Knowledge of merits and demerits of each score is essential for appropriate prognostication. However in the critical care setting the ICU scores have been found to be better indicators of mortality. The SOFA (Sequential organ failure assessment) score has been recently modified for critically ill patients with liver disease. In this review article, we have attempted to summarise the various prognostic scoring systems for risk stratification of patients with liver disease.
Influence of the picosecond defect distribution on damage accumulation in irradiated α-Fe

The importance of the defect distribution produced in the first few picoseconds of a collision cascade on long-term damage evolution is studied with molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) methods. Three different interatomic potentials are used to obtain the primary damage produced by energetic recoils in α-Fe. Contrary to previous results, a dependence of cluster-size distribution with recoil energy is obtained. Moreover, large variations in this distribution are observed depending on the interatomic potential. Using the results for 50 keV collision cascades, damage accumulation is modeled with KMC. The accumulation rate of damage visible under transmission electron microscopy predicted by KMC depends significantly on the database used for cascade damage and, therefore, on the interatomic potential. Based on these results, we show that the comparison of cluster-size distributions with experiments can be used to test the reliability of interatomic potentials.