Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Examination of Treasury Term Investment Interest Rates

In November 2003, the Term Investment Option (TIO) program became an official cash management tool of the U.S. Treasury Department. Through TIO, the Treasury lends funds to banks for a set number of days at an interest rate determined by a single-rate auction. One reason why the Treasury introduced TIO was to try to earn a market rate of return on its excess cash balances. This article studies 166 TIO auctions from November 2003 to February 2006 to determine how TIO interest rates have compared with market rates. The author investigates the spread between TIO rates and rates on mortgage-backed-security repos, a close benchmark for TIO rates. He finds that aside from offerings with very short term lengths, the Treasury receives an interest rate on TIO auctions comparable to market rates. He also documents a negative relationship between an auction's size and the spread between TIO and repo rates. Furthermore, the Treasury's announcement and auctioning of funds on the same day does not adversely affect rate spreads, a finding that suggests that banks are indifferent to more advance notice of TIO auctions.
Movement control in clumsy children : visuoperceptual ability and hemispheric specialisation in aimed reaching

The major aim of the study was to assess visuoperceptual ability in a group of clumsy children and a control group, and examine the relationship between visual perception and reaching performance. Visuoperceptual ability was assessed by examining the children's ability to make visual judgements about the direction of reaching targets. In the same experimental environment as the visuoperceptual task, visuomotor performance was investigated by analysing the early and late stages of aimed reaching under three different viewing conditions (full vision, restricted view of hand, restricted view of hand and target). A second aim of the study was to examine hemispheric specialisation for visual perception and motor control in clumsy children. This was achieved by comparing left and right visualfield performance for the visuoperceptual task (judgement of target direction), and by assessing reaching performance in different left and right target/hand combinations. The study found that clumsy children performed more poorly than controls in the visuoperceptual task. Analysis of the reaching task showed that the clumsy children were more variable in the initiation of reaching movements, independent of the viewing conditions. However, these group differences in initial error variability were not related to differences in visuoperceptual ability. The clumsy children were also more variable than the controls at the end of the reaching movement with the difference being greatest under restricted viewing conditions. In contrast to movement initiation, the group difference in end-point variability was related to visuoperceptual performance for the full vision condition, but not for restricted viewing conditions. Other results showed that control children performed equally well regardless of hand or target used, however, the clumsy children were less accurate in the predominantly right hemisphere conditions of left hand and left hand/left target.
Dietary fibre intake and risk of stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and is a major source of disability in developed countries. Dietary fibre intake has been associated with stroke risk reduction in several studies but, to our knowledge, no meta-analysis of data has been previously undertaken. We have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the results of existing studies. Medline and several other databases were searched for prospective studies of intake of dietary fibre and fatal or non-fatal stroke up to May 2012. Summary relative risks (RRs) were calculated using a dose response, random-effects model. Seven cohort studies from the United States, Northern Europe, Australia and Japan were included in the meta-analysis. Total dietary fibre intake was inversely associated with stroke risk (the summary RR for a 7 g/day increment was 0.93, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.88 to 0.98) although there was some evidence of heterogeneity between studies (I = 59%, 95%CI, 7% to 82%) (Fig. 1). Results were similar when stratified by gender, cohort location and whether fibre was reported as non-starch polysaccharide or total dietary fibre. Using data from 4 prospective studies, the summary risk estimate in association with water-soluble dietary fibre per 4 g/d, was 0.94 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.01). The estimate of heterogeneity between studies was low (I = 21%, 95% CI, 0% to 92%). Heterogeneity between studies was too high to provide a meaningful pooled estimate for intakes of insoluble dietary fibre.
Medienkompetenz messen: Die Entwicklung des Medienprofis-Tests in der Schweiz

Trotz intensiver theoretischer Diskussionen uber den Begriff Medienkompetenz liegen bis anhin kaum empirisch validierte Messinstrumente zur empirischen Erfassung dieser Kompetenzen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen vor. Die bestehenden Angebote lassen sich in drei Typen gliedern: 1) Kommerzielle Prufungen im Kontext von Weiterbildungsangeboten, 2) wissenschaftliche Tests im Kontext empirischer Studien sowie 3) spielerische Tests und Quizzes im Kontext von Sensibilisierungskampagnen. Ausgewahlte Angebote werden vorgestellt und in Bezug auf ihre Brauchbarkeit fur praktische Medienarbeit diskutiert. Als Erganzung und Erweiterung des bestehenden Angebots wird der schweizerische Medienprofis-Test vorgestellt. Dabei handelt es sich um einen spielerischen Test, der frei zuganglich und empirisch validiert ist. Der Test umfasst funf Themenbereiche: 1. Digitalisierung und Computerisierung, 2. Informationsfreiheit und Glaubwurdigkeit, 3. Sex, Gewalt und Jugendschutz, 4. Neue Geschaftsmodelle und Kommerz sowie 5. Personalisierung und Datenschutz. Die abgefragten Kompetenzen orientieren sich daruber hinaus am Modullehrplan «Medien & Informatik» des neuen deutschschweizerischen Lehrplans 21. Die von Experten validierten Items wurden anhand einer Stichprobe von Schulerinnen und Schulern der 3. bis 8. Klassen erprobt und mittels Raschmodell skaliert. Lehrpersonen konnen den Test im Klassenverband durchfuhren und erhalten dabei neben aggregierten Ergebnissen auch Empfehlungen fur passende Unterrichtsmaterialien. Der Medienprofis-Test ist ein erster Schritt, ein standardisiertes und validiertes Messinstrument zur Verfugung zu stellen und die Diskussion um die Auspragungen der Medienkompetenz mit empirisch Daten zu bereichern.
The Problem of Fracture Fixation Augmentation and Description of a Novel Technique and Implant for Femoral Neck Stabilization

Fracture augmentation for osteopenic bone is a widely accepted concept but not commonly used due to the difficulty with application of the materials in conjunction with surgical implants in fracture repair. Until recently there was little choice of materials for augmentation, but new formulations of structural orthobiological matrix (SOM) have been developed, which have better flow and setting properties than the original polymethylmethacrylate and calcium phosphate ceramics materials. In addition, a new class of injectable implants with the ability to deliver some of these newer SOMs has been designed and received regulatory clearance as fracture fixation devices. This cadaveric study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of using the N-Force Fixation System in a femoral neck fracture model with 6 different SOMs. A new property of SOM was discovered regarding the flow characteristics of the tested materials within the proximal femur. Intrusion and extrusion characteristics were observed and were SOM specific. C-arm fluoroscopy and CT studies revealed the ability of intrusion-type SOM to intrude into cancellous bone trabeculae and minimize the chance of joint extrusion through fracture lines, whereas extrusion-type SOM would not intrude into trabecular spaces and demonstrated a tendency for fracture site extrusion and fracture contact interposition, risking compromise of fracture healing and angiogenesis. The instrumentation and implants gave reproducible implant placement and SOM delivery with low-pressure application and circumferential augmentation from the near cortex extending into the femoral neck and head in a tapering cone-type pattern.
Decision Making About Treatment of Hypothetical Prostate Cancer

Abstract Men diagnosed with prostate cancer must make decisions about medical treatment in a context of high uncertainty. However, when making decisions about treatment, many men prefer to defer decision-making responsibility to their physician. Because the reason has not been explained well, an exploratory study investigated the effect of varying ambiguity and risk and relevant psychological and sociodemographic variables on men's desire for involvement in decision making in a hypothetical treatment scenario. A self-report questionnaire was administered by mail to a community sample of 705 men who were part of an ongoing study into men's health. Measures included the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale, the Revised Scale for Ambiguity Tolerance, and the Desire for Involvement Scale. In addition, the men were randomly allocated to four experimental groups for a 2 3 2 manipulation of high and low ambiguity with high and low risk for one of four scenarios for choices of treatment. Varying risk and ambiguity did not affect men's desire for involvement in decision making. Deferral of decision-making responsibility to the physician was predicted by high powerful others (p <.0001), low internal locus of control, a preference for black-and-white thinking, and lower levels of education (p's > .05). The results provided preliminary support for the conceptualization of deferral of decision-making responsibility to the physician as a shortcut-the expert-opinion heuristic.
Pulmonary Hypertension in Interstitial Lung Disease: A Review

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an often devastating comorbidity in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The prevalence of PH varies widely across the spectrum of ILDs, and it is thought that there are common pathobiological processes, which contribute to both progressive interstitial fibrosis and vascular remodeling. Right heart catheter study remains the diagnostic procedure of choice, with echocardiography the recommended screening investigation. Treatment of PH in ILD includes treatment of the underlying disorder, its associated comorbidities, and reversing resting hypoxemia. There have been no placebo-controlled trials of advanced PH therapies in patients with PH and ILD, and thus targeted PH therapy cannot be recommended for ILD patients until controlled studies have been performed.
Labrumläsionen und acetabuläre Dysplasie bei Erwachsenen

Thirty-seven operatively treated patients with residual acetabular dysplasia without arthritis had a labrum tear in the antero-lateral quadrant. A sensation of hip locking, or of a "dead leg" and episodes of "giving-way" were found to predict the presence of the tear. 95% of patients had an acute onset of pain. We treated the patients with a peri-acetabular osteotomy and in 12 cases the tear was repaired with a transosseous suture. We excised the labrum lesion in 21 cases with an extended avulsion from the bony rim and 4 tears were not severe enough to require attention. Twenty-two patients were available for a 4.5-year follow-up (range 2-8 years): 18 patients had no pain, 3 had mild pain and one had severe pain. Final pain outcome was not influenced by intraarticular treatment of the tear. The labrum tear is responsible for a well-defined clinical presentation of hip dysplasia and precedes secondary arthrosis. Early diagnosis helps to define the time to perform reconstructive surgery. The treatment consists of improving the coverage and stability of the femoral head by means of a multiplanar peri-acetabular osteotomy. The osteotomy unloads the torn fibrocartilage and allows it to heal by moving it out of the weight-bearing area.
Maternal cigarette smoking, metabolic gene polymorphism, and infant birth weight

This study sought to clarify the relation, if any, between genetic susceptibility to cigarette smoke and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The working hypothesis was that the risk of reduced birth weight (or increased risk of low birth weight [LBW], <2500 g) is modified by maternal genetic susceptibility as defined by polymorphisms for two genes regulating the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the most important carcinogens in tobacco smoke. A case-control study enlisted 741 women delivering live singleton infants, 567 had never smoked, whereas 174 had smoked at some time. The series included 207 preterm or LBW infants. All three possible genotypes for the CYP1A1 Mspl polymorphism (AA, homozygous wild type; Aa, heterozygous variant type; aa, homozygous variant type) were analyzed, as was the presence or absence of the GSTT1 deletion polymorphism. The mean birth weight in women who had smoked at some time in their lives was 280 g lower than for those who had never smoked, and the mean gestational age was 0.8 week shorter. The odds ratio (OR) for preterm birth was 1.8 in the smokers. Continuous smoking during pregnancy carried an OR for LBW of 2.1; the mean birth weight was reduced by 377 g compared with nonsmokers. When analyzing CYP1A1, the reduction in birth weight was 252 g for the AA genotype (OR, 1.3) and 520 g for the Aalaa genotype group (OR, 3.2). Birth weight was reduced by 285 g (OR, 1.7) when the GSTT1 was present and 642 g (OR, 3.5) when it was absent. Birth weights were most reduced, by a mean of 1285 g, in smoking mothers bearing the CYP1A1 Aalaa and GSTT1 absent genotypes. Similar effects were noted for gestational age. Genotype had no independent adverse effect on women who had never smoked. Comparable results emerged when allowing for maternal ethnicity. Maternal genotypes for enzymes participating in metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons alter the association between cigarette smoking and birth weight. This finding raises the question of whether metabolic genes interact with smoking, and it may in time help to identify high-risk women who might be persuaded not to smoke.
Does China Have an Impact on Foreign Direct Investment to Latin America?

We analyze empirically whether the emergence of China as a large recipient of FDI has affected the amount of FDI received by Latin American countries. For the longest time span possible given data availability (from 1984 to 2001), we do not find a substitution from Latin American inward FDI to China, when other relevant factors are taken into account. However, concentrating on the last few years (from 1995 to 2001), when FDI boomed worldwide and negotiations for China’s WTO membership accelerated, the “Chinese” effect becomes highly significant. Assessing the impact country by country, China’s inward FDI appears to have hampered that of Mexico and Colombia.
Urinary Incontinence After Stroke: Evaluation and Behavioral Treatment

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and disabling problem after stroke. Clinical practice guidelines have been developed outlining assessment parameters and identifying treatment options for incontinence in adults. Research on UI after stroke reveals the need for interventions to treat urge and stress incontinence as well as manage or prevent urinary retention and overflow incontinence. Strategies need to be tailored to individuals with varying levels of physical and cognitive ability. This article describes the nature of voiding problems after stroke, explores the impact on recovery and life after stroke, and outlines recommendations for evaluating and treating UI based on the continence literature.
The Important Roles of C4d in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of various autoantibodies and the injury of multiple systems. It is well known that the complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE. Complement activation product C4d is a marker of the classical complement activation and hence can be used to reflect the tissue injury as well as therapeutic effects. Besides its important role in antibody-mediated rejection, C4d has been increasingly recognized as a potential biomarker in SLE. Here we will summarize the recent advances of C4d in SLE.
UPPER ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE POST CHEMOIRRADIATION IN PATIENTS WITH CARCINOMA HYPOPHARYNX

BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemo irradiation is the standard treatment for patients with head & neck cancer (HNC). Dysphagia is a common late toxicity of treatment. 7-21% of these patients have treatment induced stricture of the upper esophagus causing dysphagia, with a high incidence of the same in cases of carcinoma hypopharynx. The objective of the present study was to identify the incidence of treatment related stricture of the upper esophagus in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer in our institution. METHODS: A retrospective analysis on patients treated for carcinoma hypopharynx, in the department of Radiotherapy at our Institute, between 2008-12 was conducted. All patients who had received chemo irradiation were included Patients who had developed upper esophageal stricture post treatment diagnosed by upper GI endoscopy and required periodic dilatation were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: 377 patients of HN mean age 57yrs); out of which 10 patients developed treatment related stricture in the proximal esophagus (20%) (4 females, 6 males). Post cricoid primary had a higher incidence of stricture (7/10) (p=0.0012** two-tailed), followed by primary of the pyriform sinus (3/10). Posterior pharyngeal wall malignancies did not have treatment induced strictures. The mean interval between completion of treatment and endoscopic diagnosis of stricture was 4 months. 5 out of 10 patients underwent periodic dilatations up to an average of 13mm. CONCLUSIONS: Upper esophageal stricture is an important late effect of chemo irradiation in patients with carcinoma hypopharynx. Post cricoid cancers have a higher incidence of treatment induced strictures.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Erkrankungen

Zusammenfassung Die Gruppe der hereditären Neuropathien (Charcot-Marie-Tooth-Erkrankungen, CMT) ist eine klinisch und genetisch heterogene Gruppe von peripheren Neuropathien. Die Prävalenz beträgt 1:2 500, womit die CMT zu den seltenen Erkrankungen zählen. In der klinischen Neurologie stellen sie die häufigste neurogenetische Erkrankung dar. Die CMTFormen mit sensiblen und motorischen Symptomen sind am häufigsten. Neben diesen Formen gibt es rein sensible Formen, mit oder ohne autonome Symptome (HSAN), rein motorische Neuropathien (dHMN) und die besondere Form der hereditären Neuropathie mit Neigung zu Druckparesen (HNPP). Die molekulargenetische Diagnostik wurde zunehmend weiterentwickelt. Die Gendiagnostik ist integraler Bestandteil der Diagnostik für Patienten mit dem klinischen Verdacht auf das Vorliegen einer hereditären Neuropathie. Die klinische und genetische Zuordnung ist durch die große Heterogenität des Phänotyps bei über 80 potenziell krankheitsverursachenden Genen oft sehr erschwert. Trotzdem werden über 90% aller genetisch gesicherten CMT durch Mutationen in vier Genen (PMP22, Cx32, MPZ und MFN2) geklärt. Diese stellen die klinisch relevanten Kandidatengene im klinischen Alltag dar.
Efficacy and safety of glucarpidase for routine use after high dose methotrexate in patients with bone sarcoma

Background: High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is an essential component of osteosarcoma treatment. Despite supportive measures MTX-related toxicity results in delays in subsequent chemotherapy administration and potentially reduced treatment efficacy. Alternative rescue regimens utilising glucarpidase in addition to folinic acid may be of benefit in reducing MTX-induced toxicity. Patients and methods: A double blind randomised crossover clinical trial, GLU 1, was designed and activated to determine the efficacy and safety of routine use of glucarpidase after HD-MTX. To establish the frequency of MTX-induced toxicity so that bespoke study endpoints and sample size could be determined, the medical records of 56 patients with bone sarcoma treated with HD-MTX between 2004 and 2005 at University College Hospital (UCH) were studied. Data were collected on MTX-related toxicity and treatment delays. In a separate review, similar data from 17 patients aged . 40 years, and 25 patients aged < 40 years treated with HD-MTX between 2002 and 2007 at UCH were compared. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was validated for the evaluation of plasma MTX and DAMPA concentrations for trial participants. In GLU 1, patients were randomised to receive two HD-MTX courses with folinic acid rescue (cycle FA) followed by two HD-MTX courses with folinic acid and glucarpidase (cycle glu/FA), or cycle glu/FA first followed by cycle FA. The data of 16 patients enrolled up to the interim analysis of the trial were analysed. Results: MTX-related toxicity resulted in delays in half of subsequent chemotherapy cycles (58% in the ≥ 40 years group and 52% in the < 40 years group). In GLU 1, MTX toxicity resulted in delays in 43% of glu/FA cycles and 77% of FA cycles. The use of glucarpidase was not associated with a reduction in MTX AUC. The incidence and grade of MTX-induced toxicity were similar in glu/FA and FA although more severe grades of mucositis were less frequent in glu/FA cycles. No glucarpidase toxicity was observed. Conclusions: Glucarpidase offers a promising addition for rescue from MTX toxicity and continued clinical evaluation to determine its most effective use is warranted.
Medications to Treat Arthritis

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, accounting for over 9,000 deaths and over 750,000 hospitalizations in 2006. About 1 in 3 adults, or 66 million Americans, experience arthritis. There are over 100 types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being two of the most common. OA is a degenerative joint disease leading to pain and joint stiffness. It affects most persons over the age of 65 years, both male and female. RA is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting multiple joints, and often resulting in lifelong treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation. The cost for treatment of arthritis in this country is about $86 billion (Arthritis Foundation, 2006). The prevalence of arthritis affects rehabilitation practice in several ways, including the care necessitated by disability over time and the management of arthritis pain. This article will review some of the common medications used to treat arthritis.
Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders Eosinofilik gastrointestinal hastaliklar

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders are caused by excessive levels of eosinophils in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. There are several subcategories of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders including eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis and eosinophilic colitis. These diseases has become increasingly recognized recently in both pediatric and adult populations. Symptoms of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, poor growth or weight loss and dysphagia. Main therapeutic options are steroids and dietary modification. In this article we tried to review eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases under the highlight of the recent studies