Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pediatric cervical spine injuries: report of 102 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECT To evaluate and review their experience with pediatric cervical injuries and factors affecting outcome, the authors conducted a retrospective clinical study of 102 cases (65% boys, 35% girls) of pediatric cervical spine injuries treated in the last decade. This study is an extension of and comparison with their earlier experience. METHODS Patients were divided into two age groups-birth to 9 years (Group I) and 10 to 16 years of age (Group 2)- and managed according to status at presentation and type of injury. Thirty patients were managed surgically and 72 non-surgically (42 wore a halo brace and 30 wore hard collars or custom-molded braces). Motor vehicle accidents were the most common cause of injury, and 40% were associated with head injury. Patients in the younger-age group (Group 1) sustained more neurological injuries than the older patients in Group 2, and most injuries were in the upper cervical spine. Of the 38 children in Group 1, in 39% a subluxation was present and in 29% a fracture or fracture/subluxation was demonstrated. Of the patients in Group 2, 80% had sustained fractures or fracture/subluxations. Vertebral fractures were the most common radiological findings (32%). At late follow-up review (mean 5 years), solid fusions were demonstrated in all patients. Neurological deterioration did not occur in any patient. The mortality rate was 16%. Compared with the authors' earlier report, the incidence of cases with pediatric cervical injuries increased, as did the number managed surgically. Various fusion techniques were used, and neurological and fusion outcomes improved as compared with the previous report. CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of neurological recovery from pediatric cervical spine injuries is related to the severity of the initial neurological injury. Management must be tailored to the patient's age, neurological status, and type and level of injury. Compared with our earlier experience, fusion and instrumentation procedures were used more frequently. Different types of fusion and instrumentation procedures can be performed safely in children and produce good outcomes.
Adoptive Cell Therapy of Melanoma: The Challenges of Targeting the Beating Heart

The identification of melanoma-associated antigens, the isolation of tumor infiltrating T cells from melanoma lesions, and the significant progress in engineering redirected T cells has favored the development of various strategies in the adoptive immunotherapy of mel‐ anoma. Recent trials in adoptive cell therapy (ACT) have achieved spectacular results in inducing remission in advanced stages of the disease, although produced on-target off-tu‐ mor toxicities, emphasizing the tremendous potential benefit of harnessing the immune system for fighting the disease. Moreover, the identification of so-called melanoma stem cells along with strategies for selectively eliminating subsets of melanoma cells implies that there is a need for redefining therapeutic targets in melanoma. This review discusses current challenges in the rational design of adoptive cell therapy to target “the beating heart” of melanoma.
Reticulocyte subpopulations and reticulocyte maturity index (RMI) rise as body iron status falls

To investigate the influence of body iron status on reticulocyte subpopulations and reticulocyte maturity index (RMI), we measured serum iron markers, fluorescent intensity of reticulocytes, and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentrations in 374 females aged 14–19 years. Reticulocyte subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry, and sTfR concentration was measured by enzyme immunoassay. There were no significant differences in the values of reticulocyte subpopulations and RMI between ferritin alone‐depleted group and healthy controls. However, middle‐ and high‐fluorescence reticulocytes and RMI were significantly higher in both the serum iron‐ and serum ferritin‐depleted groups than in the ferritin alone‐depleted group. Middle‐fluorescence reticulocytes and RMI increased gradually as the body iron store was depleted and were 3.4‐ and 3.6‐fold higher, respectively, than normal controls, when the subjects attained a frank iron‐deficiency anemia. There were no significant changes in the values of red blood cells or total reticulocyte counts during iron‐depleted states. The mean value of sTfR (3.98 mg/l) in the subjects with RMI ≥ 1.5% was significantly higher than that (2.26 mg/l) in the subjects with RMI < 1.5% (P < 0.01). The sTfR concentration correlated significantly with RMI (r = 0.61, P < 0.01) and middle‐fluorescence reticulocytes (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). In short, body iron depletion induces elevation of immature reticulocyte fractions and RMI. Am. J. Hematol. 67:130–135, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measuring the Effect of a Guideline-based Training on Ontology Design with a Competency Questions based Evaluation Approach

OBJECTIVE: (a) To measure the effect of a guideline-based training on the performance of ontology developers compared with the performance after unspecific training by a competency question based evaluation; and (b) to provide empirical evidence for the applicability of competency questions in formal ontology evaluation in general. BACKGROUND: A close connection between ontology development and ontology evaluation as quality management procedure can been attained with the use of competency questions. Competency questions are often used as a semi-formal specification of requirements for an ontology under development. Hence they can also be used as evaluation instruments, in order to check how far an ontology fulfills these requirements. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with two groups of 12 students each. The intervention consisted in a differential guideline-based training on ontology development vs. unspecific training. After a group-specific training focusing on three topics per group, performance of students was assessed with 12 exercises (2 exercises per topic), in which the students had to apply their skills. Different types of competency questions were elaborated for the analysis of the students’ ontologies. We used the proportion of correct answers as a measure of ontology quality. RESULTS: On single topic level, the performance of ontology developers increased after guideline-based training for two out of the six topics: it increased from a proportion of 0.46 to 0.63 for the topic Process & Participation and from 0.44 to 0.53 for the topic Collective Material Entity. In regression analysis, a positive correlation was shown between the performance of students on untrained topics and the performance after specific guideline-based training. Moreover, in multiple regression analysis an overall effect of specific training of 0.09 was calculated (p < 0.1). CONCLUSION: The results show an effect of a specific guideline-based training on the performance of ontology developers compared to the performance after unspecific training by an increase of about 10 % on the rate of correct competency questions. In addition, this study has shown the general applicability of competency questions in a formal ontology evaluation scenario. However, the study also shows that the training of ontology developers and their performance evaluation is a tedious task. The resulting performance of ontology developers is more dependent on the a priori individual competencies than on the specific acquired skills after training. ∗To whom correspondence should be addressed: martin.boeker@uniklinik-freiburg.de 1783
Not Profiting from Precarity: The Work of Nonprofit Service Delivery and the Creation of Precasiousness

This paper examines the impact of precarity on the nonprofit service providing sector (NPSS). Using in depth qualitative interviews, recent empirically-based surveys of the Ontario nonprofit sector and key academic and grey literature, we explore the deeper meaning of p recarity in this sector. We contend that the NPSS is a unique, and in many resp ects, an ideal location in which to explore the workings and impact of precari ty. Looking at the nonprofit sector reveals that precarity operates at various l evels, the: 1) nonprofit labour force; 2) organization structure and operation of n onprofit agencies; and, 3) clients and communities serviced by these nonprofit organizations. By observing the workings of precarity in this sector, precarity is revealed to be far more than an employment based phenomenon but also a force tha t negatively impacts organizational structures as well as vulnerable com munities.
Home Advantage in the Six Nations Rugby Union Tournament

This study examined whether home advantage occurred in the Six Nations Rugby Union tournament. Data were gathered using the final championship standings from the tournament's inception in 2000 to the recently completed 2007 season. Home advantage for each championship season was defined as the number of points won by teams playing at home, expressed as a percentage of all points gained either at home or away. An analysis of home advantage for each of eight seasons of competition ranged from 53% (2005) to 70% (2006). There was an overall statistically significant home advantage of 61% for 120 matches played in the Six Nations tournament between 2000 and 2007. Also analysed were the percentage of points won at home by each country. Again, evidence supported home advantage amongst all competing nations regardless of the team's quality.
Pulmonary rehabilitation program including respiratory conditioning for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Improved hyperinflation and expiratory flow during tidal breathing.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary rehabilitation has generally relieved symptoms, strengthened exercise endurance and improved health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with COPD, but recovery of pulmonary function remains questionable. This analysis of our innovative rehabilitation program is directed at documenting changes in patients' expiratory airflow limitation, pulmonary symptoms and QOL. This program is designed to provide "respiratory conditioning", a physical therapist-assisted intensive flexibility training that focuses on stretching and rib cage mobilization. METHODS Thirty-one patients with COPD who attended rehabilitation sessions at Juntendo University Hospital from 1999 to 2006 were analyzed. Pulmonary function, expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing, six minute walk distance (6MWD), respiratory muscle strength, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were measured before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. RESULTS In participants ages 68±7 years, the FEV(1)% predicted was 39.3±15.7%. 6MWD, SGRQ and respiratory muscle strength were significantly improved after pulmonary rehabilitation. Although neither FEV(1)% predicted nor FEV(1)/FVC was affected to a significant extent, indicating little effect on airflow limitation, expiratory flow limitation in supine as well as seated during tidal breathing improved significantly. Moreover, rehabilitation significantly diminished TLC% predicted, FRC% predicted, RV% predicted and RV/TLC values, thus indicating a reduction of hyperinflation of the lungs at rest. CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest that our rehabilitation program with respiratory conditioning significantly lowered the hyperinflation of lungs at rest as well as the expiratory flow limitation during tidal breathing. In patients with COPD, overall pulmonary function improved, exercise endurance increased and health-related QOL was enhanced.
Correlation between Symptoms and Laryngeal Signs in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Objective/Hypothesis: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is diagnosed by the presence of laryngeal signs and symptoms. Some studies have noted that signs and symptoms may be nonspecific and may have poor correlation. However, many such studies were either observational or had short‐term follow‐up. Therefore, we conducted subgroup analysis of a prospective concurrent controlled study with a 1 year follow‐up to study the correlation between signs and symptoms.
The effect of education in hospice and palliative care on emergency medicine residents' knowledge and referral patterns.

OBJECTIVES To determine: (1) residents' knowledge base in key concepts in hospice and palliative care, (2) residents' comfort level in discussing end-of-life (EOL) care and managing EOL symptoms, and (3) if a brief educational intervention improves residents' knowledge of and comfort in dealing with EOL issues both immediately following and six months after the intervention. METHODS This prospective cohort study was performed at a level-1 community trauma center. A survey was developed regarding knowledge of palliative care and its emergency department (ED) utilization and administered to emergency medicine (EM) residents. Subsequently, residents underwent four hours of palliative care training. An identical post-education survey was administered immediately and then six months later. RESULTS Education improved knowledge of hospice qualifying diagnoses which was maintained at six months. Improvement in residents' ability to convert between oral and intravenous formulations of opioids was not retained at six months. Education was not shown to improve EM residents' comfort in managing pain or dyspnea but it was shown to improve their comfort level in discussing EOL care with patients and families Inpatient hospice admissions from the ED increased 88% after the education. Identified barriers to providing palliative care in the ED decreased. CONCLUSIONS There are gaps in EM residents' hospice and palliative care knowledge. Education is shown to improve and maintain knowledge of hospice qualifying diagnoses, comfort level in discussing EOL care with patients and families, and to increase inpatient hospice admissions from the ED.
What is sustainable fashion

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine what the term sustainable fashion means from the perspective of micro-organisations, experts, and consumers. Design/methodology/approach This research is qualitative in nature, utilising a multi-methods case study approach (semi-structured interviews, semiotics, questionnaires). Grounded analysis was applied to analyse the data. Findings Findings indicate that interpretation of sustainable fashion is context and person dependent. A matrix of key criteria provides the opportunity to find common elements. Research limitations/implications Due to the nature of this research the sample size is limited and may not be generalised. Data were collected in the UK and are limited to a geographical region. Practical implications An important implication is that defining sustainable fashion is vital in order to avoid challenges, such as greenwashing, which were faced in other industries that have a longer history in sustainable practices. Micro-organisations should take advantage of identifying key sustainable fashion criteria, which will enable them to promote their fashion collections more effectively. Social implications The criteria identified provide assurance for consumers that sustainable fashion is produced with social aspects in mind (fair wages, good working conditions). Originality/value The paper proposes a matrix that allows micro-organisations to clearly identify their collections as sustainable.
Automatic Diagnosis Coding of Radiology Reports: A Comparison of Deep Learning and Conventional Classification Methods

Diagnosis autocoding services and research intend to both improve the productivity of clinical coders and the accuracy of the coding. It is an important step in data analysis for funding and reimbursement, as well as health services planning and resource allocation. We investigate the applicability of deep learning at autocoding of radiology reports using International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Deep learning methods are known to require large training data. Our goal is to explore how to use these methods when the training data is sparse, skewed and relatively small, and how their effectiveness compares to conventional methods. We identify optimal parameters that could be used in setting up a convolutional neural network for autocoding with comparable results to that of conventional methods.
Influence of commercial bank characteristics on lending approaches to small and medium enterprises in Kenya

ix ACRONYMS . x DEFINITION OF TERMS. xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.2 Problem Statement . 5 1.3 Research Objectives . 7 1.4 Research questions . 7 1.5 Study Justification . 7 1.6 Scope of the study . 8 1.7 Limitations and delimitations of the study . 8 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 9 2.
Khorana score and histotype predicts incidence of early venous thromboembolism in non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Summary Current data suggests that the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is comparable to that observed in patients with solid tumours, although more robust confirmatory analyses are required. With that in mind, we investigated the occurrence of VTE in a pooled analysis of 12 “Fondazione Italiana Linfomi” (FIL) prospective clinical studies. Specifically, we wished to assess the cumulative incidence of VTE in NHL patients, evaluate the predictive value of the Khorana Score (KS), and identify other potential risk factors for VTEs. Data for VTE occurrence were retrieved from study databases and pharmacovigilance reports. Our analysis includes 1717 patients from 12 prospective phase II and III trials, including newly diagnosed NHL. We observed 53 VTEs (any grade) in 46 patients, with 20 severe VTEs in 17 patients. The cumulative incidences for „all-grade” or grade ≥3 VTEs were 2.9% (95% CI: 2.1–3.8) and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.6–1.6), respectively. KS categories were positively associated with the risk of VTE of any grade, and with severe events (i. e. grade ≥3; Gray’s test p-values = 0.048 and 0.012, respectively). Among NHL patients, those with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) showed a greater risk of (any grade) VTE (HR: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.32–8.84, p-value = 0.011). Our study indicates that 1) VTE is a relevant complication for NHL patients, 2) KS is predictive of VTE events and 3) DLBCL histotype is an independent risk factor for VTE incidence, for which preventative interventions could be considered. Supplementary Material to this article is available at www.thrombosis-online.com.
High-rate ultrasonic communication through metallic barriers using MIMO-OFDM techniques

This paper presents methods to achieve high data transmission rates through metallic barriers using ultrasonic signalling techniques. Due to the frequency selective nature of acoustic-electric channels, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is employed which achieves high spectral efficiency. Multiple parallel channels are used to further increase data rates. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques are used to reduce crosstalk that would otherwise greatly limit performance and achievable data rates. Several crosstalk mitigation techniques are investigated and their theoretical capacity performances are determined for the general case of A transmitters and A receivers (i.e. A×A MIMO). A physical MIMO acoustic-electric channel array is formed using a 40 mm (1.575 in) thick steel barrier with seven pairs of 4 MHz nominal resonant frequency piezoelectric disk transducers, each with 10 mm (0.394 in) diameter. To investigate the effects of crosstalk, the transducers are closely spaced, and each transmitter-receiver pair is coaxially aligned on opposing sides of the metallic barrier. It is shown that, with the use of crosstalk mitigation techniques, the aggregate multichannel capacity performance scales linearly with the number of channels used and approaches 700 Mbps at high average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) levels. Finally, the use of bit-loading techniques are explored using several levels of rectangular quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and the achievable data rates are compared with each other and to the multichannel theoretical capacity performances.
Sodium and potassium in the walls of arterioles in experimental renal hypertension.

In previous studies (1-6) it has been determined that the aortic wall of rats with various forms of experimental hypertension contains an increased amount of sodium, potassium and water per unit of dry weight. The pertinence of these findings to hypertension has always been somewhat in question, since the aorta does not contribute much to the total peripheral resistance. In the normal circulation most of the peripheral resistance is provided by the arterioles, and hypertension is accompanied by a narrowing of these arterioles. Hence an analysis of the arterioles themselves would be expected to give more pertinent information concerning the pathogenesis of hypertension. This was attempted in the present experiment. The present study was also designed to offset another possible cause of misinterpretation. When an animal becomes hypertensive, the walls of the arterioles become thicker; some of this thickening is probably related to an increased content of acid mucopolysaccharides, which are known to bind sodium (7). In the present experiment a large number of rats was made hypertensive and thickening of the arterioles occurred in all of them. Half the hypertensive rats were then "cured" of their elevated blood pressure by removing the clip which narrowed their renal artery. We were then able to compare the arterioles of hypertensive and normotensive rats, both of which had comparable degrees of arteriolar thickening. Thus, the present experiment largely overcomes two weaknesses of previous studies. First, electrolytes are estimated in arterioles rather than arteries. Second, there is a similar degree of hypertrophy in both normotensive and hypertensive arterioles.
Do Value Investors Add Value? Searching for and Finding Value: Canadian Evidence 1999-2007

The purpose of this paper is first to examine whether a value premium exists following a mechanical screening process (i.e., the search process) in the Canadian markets between 1999 and 2007, and second whether value investors add value in the stock selection process by being able to find truly undervalued stocks from the universe of the possibly undervalued stocks identified from the search process. We find that a strong and pervasive value premium exists in Canada over our sample period that persists in a bull and bear market and during a recession/recovery. Value stocks beat growth stocks even when using the very mechanical screening of the search process. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates that value investors do add value, in the sense that their process of selecting truly undervalued stocks, via in-depth security valuation of the possibly undervalued stocks, produces significantly positive excess returns over and above the naive approach of simply selecting low P/E P/BV ratio stocks.
Schizophrenia after prenatal famine. Further evidence.

BACKGROUND Suggestive findings of an earlier study that prenatal nutritional deficiency was a determinant of schizophrenia prompted us to undertake a second test of the hypothesis using more precise data on both exposure and outcome. METHODS Among persons born in the cities of western Netherlands during 1944 through 1946, we compared the risk for schizophrenia in those exposed and unexposed during early gestation to the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944/1945. The frequency of hospitalized patients with schizophrenia at age 24 to 48 years in the exposed and unexposed birth cohorts was ascertained from a national psychiatric registry. RESULTS The most exposed birth cohort, conceived at the height of the famine, showed a twofold and statistically significant increase in the risk for schizophrenia (relative risk [RR] = 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2 to 3.4; P < .01) in both men (RR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.0 to 3.7; P = .05) and women (RR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.0 to 4.7; P = .04). Among all birth cohorts of 1944 through 1946, the risk for schizophrenia clearly peaked in this exposed cohort. CONCLUSION Prenatal nutritional deficiency may play a role in the origin of some cases of schizophrenia.