Ependymomas and ependymoblastomas in children

1976 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Dohrmann ◽  
Jacqueline R. Farwell ◽  
John T. Flannery
Keyword(s):  
Operative Mortality ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Difference ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Previous Decade ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
The Difference

✓ The authors analyze histologically verified cases of ependymoma and ependymoblastoma (malignant ependymoma) occurring in children in Connecticut from 1935 to 1973. Of the 488 central nervous system tumors diagnosed in that period, 44 (9%) of the 467 intracranial neoplasms and five (24%) of the 21 intraspinal tumors were of ependymal origin. An increase in the incidence of ependymomas was noted since the mid-1950's. The mean ages at diagnosis of ependymomas and ependymoblastomas were 5.6 and 5.0 years respectively. The male to female ratio was 0.6:1 for ependymomas and 1.7:1 for ependymoblastomas. Ependymomas were found above and below the tentorium with similar frequency; however, virtually all of the ependymoblastomas occurred supratentorially. Presenting symptoms and physical findings were reviewed. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was noted in the seizure rates of supratentorial ependymomas (9%) and ependymoblastomas (38%). A significantly increased survival (p < 0.05) was associated with supratentorial ependymal neoplasms relative to infratentorial from 42 months following diagnosis onward. Contrary to the reports of no clinical difference between ependymomas and ependymoblastomas, children with supratentorial ependymomas were noted to have a significantly longer survival (p < 0.05) than those with similarly situated ependymoblastomas, with the difference noted from 18 months following diagnosis onward. The children treated by operation and irradiation had a significantly greater survival (p < 0.05) than those treated by other methods; furthermore, with this treatment, longer survivals were noted in the ependymoma patients as compared to those with ependymoblastomas. This difference became significant (p < 0.05) at 27 months after diagnosis. Operative mortality decreased from 40% to 17% in the last decade of the study as compared to the previous decade. Steroid therapy may have contributed to this decreased operative mortality, but it had no statistically significant effect on length of survival. The clinical course of intracranial ependymal neoplasms in adults and children was compared and appeared to be essentially the same.

Students’ satisfaction with hostel accommodations in higher education institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 652-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Marcia M. Raphiri
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Higher Institutions ◽  
Students Satisfaction

Purpose There are several types of accommodation available to students of higher education institutions, and it is the responsibility of the institutions to focus on factors that can attract and retain students to their residences. This study aims to investigate satisfaction of higher institutions students with on-campus accommodation with an emphasis on the ethnicity of the students. Design/methodology/approach Using convenience sampling method, questionnaires were administered to students of selected residences in the study area. Mean item score was used to rank identified factors, whereas mean gap and Kruskal–Wallis K-test were adopted to examine the difference in opinion of students from various ethnic groups. Findings Overall, major features that make students dissatisfied with university-owned accommodations are enforcement of rule that compels all students to move out with their belongings during each recess, the effectiveness of the lift system, the size of wardrobe and closet, laundry service in the residence, numbers of electrical sockets and window quality. Considering dwelling unit features, neighbourhood, environmental, building quality and services provided by residence management, this study reveals that there is a significant difference in the satisfaction of students of diverse ethnic groups with their accommodation. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to on-campus residences owned by higher education institutions in South Africa. However, the findings of the study can be adopted for off-campus residences, and such owned by private individuals, agencies and other bodies provided are approved by the institutions. Originality/value The findings of this study will help management of higher education institutions to improve quality of services in their residences for the satisfaction of their students. Developers, contractors and other stakeholders involved in construction of these residences will also find the findings useful in designing and construction of the facilities.

Reporting human resources in annual reports

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Kansal ◽  
Mahesh Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Training Programmes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of corporate disclosure on human resources (HR) in the annual reports of top performing Indian companies. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explores the extent to which top 82 companies from India present information about HR in their annual reports. This study examines the annual reports of each of the top Indian firms listed on the Bombay stock exchange, using the “content analysis” method. Statistical tests have been performed to analyse the difference between the HR disclosure score across public and private sectors and disclosure variations among various industrial sectors. Findings – In-house training programmes has been noticed to be the favourite item of disclosure followed by safety awards/certifications and statements regarding cordial relations with the employees/unions. A majority of the Indian firms have ignored significant HR issues such as employee welfare fund, maternity/paternity leaves, holiday benefits, employee loans and adopting old age homes, etc. Overall, the study reflects low HR related disclosures. No statistically significant difference has been found between the mean HR disclosure from one industry to another and disclosure practices of the private and the public sector companies. Practical implications – The disclosure pattern of the Indian companies suggests that they only a few companies are concerned about employees’ welfare than the rest. This may motivate a change of the disclosure policy of the rest of the firms who may follow the reporting pattern of the most disclosing ones. Originality/value – This is first study on the disclosure of HR by the Indian corporate sector in the CSR domain with a disclosure analysis for a period of nine years . This research provides new directions for the literature in this area and may promote comparative studies on HR-based studies from different perspectives.

The relationship between CSR disclosure and competitive advantage

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 547-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Cheng Yu ◽  
Lopin Kuo ◽  
Mao-Feng Kao
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Signaling Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Csr Strategies ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Strategic Csr ◽  
Environmentally Sensitive ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to apply signaling theory to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure can deliver effective signals to stakeholders to increase a firm’s competitive advantage in China. Whether ownership patterns or environmental sensitivity causes a significant difference in the relationship between a firm’s CSR disclosure and competitive advantage is also examined. Design/methodology/approach Data analysis is based on a regression model. Content analysis is performed to convert qualitative CSR information of Chinese firms into quantitative data, while intellectual capital (IC) is used as a proxy variable for competitive advantage. Findings The difference in competitive advantage impairment between environmentally sensitive industries (ESIs) and non-environmentally sensitive industries (NESIs) is significant. Further comparisons on the relationship between overall CSR disclosure and competitive advantage among state-owned enterprises, privately owned enterprises, ESIs and NESIs suggest that the relationship is negative. Research limitations/implications The study extends research of strategic CSR to signaling theory and competitive advantage. In particular, a research using IC as a proxy for competitive advantage is rare. It also contributes to the literature on competitive advantage and strategic CSR by examining the effects of both CSR disclosure and IC. Originality/value This paper provides evidence related to stakeholders’ reaction to managers’ various CSR strategies in China. The contribution of this study is that it confirms that different CSR initiatives have different effects on the competitiveness of enterprises in China.

Superior economic performance in developed and developing countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Ruiz ◽  
Paulo Arvate ◽  
Wlamir Xavier
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Kolmogorov Smirnov ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data

Purpose The extant literature on emerging economies states that the development of the institutional context contributes to the creation of hypercompetitive conditions. The purpose of this paper is to test this assertion by using data from both developing and developed countries. Design/methodology/approach The study used a probit model, Kolmogorov Smirnov tests and propensity score matching to determine the difference in persistent superior economic performance. Panel data from 600 firms in 26 different countries were used for the period from 1995 to 2011. Findings The empirical results support the proposition that there is a significant difference in superior economic performance and persistent superior economic performance sustainability between firms in developed and developing countries. Originality/value This study contributes by fostering other theories related to competitive advantages and giving special emphasis to the comparison between developed and developing countries.

Bottom-up rather than top-down: evidence from Middle Eastern and North African educational institutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-690
Author(s):  
Osama Mah'd
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
North African ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Managerial Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference

PurposeEducational institutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are striving for better resource management and finance. The bottom-up budgeting approach plays an important role in motivating executives' performance. The main aim of this paper is to discover whether there is a significant difference between bottom-up and a top-down approaches to budgeting in terms of managers' performance.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires were distributed to 453 university executives in 21 MENA educational institutions. The Kruskal–Wallis test was utilized to test the difference between the three groups (bottom-up, top-down and consultative approaches). Further analysis was conducted to test the difference between the two groups using the Mann–Whitney test.FindingsThe results show that there is a significant difference between a bottom-up and top-down approach in terms of managerial performance. The study's findings indicate that the bottom-up approach to budgeting leads to higher performance indicators than a top-down approach to budgeting.Originality/valueThe current study contributes to the research as it increases awareness of budgeting approaches that are used in higher education institutions, specifically in terms of the effect of these differences on executives' performance.

Epidemiology and survival of metastatic gastrointestional stromal tumor: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database review.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
Srinath Sundararajan ◽  
Abhijeet Kumar ◽  
Mohammed Nawaf Kanaan ◽  
Haiyan Cui ◽  
Emad Elquza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Stromal Tumor ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Seer Database ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Age Of Diagnosis ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Regression

86 Background: Metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (MGIST) is a rare disease with limited data available on its epidemiology and survival. We aimed to study the epidemiology and survival pattern of M-GIST by reviewing the Survival, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database. Methods: SEER database was reviewed for patients (pts) with histologically confirmed GIST between 2002 and 2007. Variables included were age, race, gender, date of diagnosis (DOD), stage, location of primary tumor, and disease specific survival (DSS). The association between survival and race, gender, and site of disease for metastatic GIST patients was investigated. Primary outcome was 3-year DSS. Survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and the difference in 3-years survival was tested by log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression model was employed to test the association between survival and age. Results: A total of 653 patients with MGIST pts were identified and 602 were included for analyses. The distribution of MGIST according to primary site was as follows: gastric (42%), small intestine (26.2%), colorectal (4.6%), peritoneal (4.5%), NOS (17%) and other sites (5.9%). The mean age of diagnosis was 61 years. Caucasians to African-American (AA) ratio was 3.5:1 and male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Three-year DSS was 56.5% for Caucasians compared to 62.9% in AA (p = 0.25). Three-year DSS was 57.8% for males compared to 58.6% in females (p = 0.88). Small intestine MGIST had the best 3-Year DSS of 73.8% compared to gastric MGIST, which had a 3-year DSS of 50.7%(p < 0.0001). Peritoneal MGIST had the worst prognosis with 3-year DSS of 34.4%. Conclusions: MGIST had significant difference in survival based on the location of primary tumor. In contrary to the findings of previous studies, small intestine MGIST had superior 3-year DSS compared gastric primary M-GIST. There was no statistically significant difference in survival based on gender or race. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Mental health, human rights and social inclusion for adults and children

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
National Study ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Third ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
The Difference

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider three recent papers relating to human rights and applicable to adults or children given mental health diagnoses. Design/methodology/approach – The first paper discussed how to measure progress in different countries in their policy changes to abide by the UN Convention on rights of persons with disabilities, and discussed how all relevant groups could be involved. The second paper considered the problem of children’s rights being eroded by overuse of the mental health diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when they are restless. The third paper reported on an evaluation of how well advocacy services are enabling people who are sectioned to have a say in their care. Findings – When assessing how well countries are doing in ensuring the rights of people with disabilities, the first paper’s authors concluded that all groups must participate in the evaluation, even though there are many different agendas. The second paper reported on how professionals and parents could come to a shared understanding of how children might be wrongly given a diagnosis of ADHD and jointly suggested some solutions. The third paper illustrated how important advocacy is, and the difference it can make to the lives of people who are sectioned. Originality/value – The first paper’s authors are engaged in ground-breaking research to assess whether disabled people’s rights under the UN Convention are being honoured. The second paper raised vital questions about the misuse of diagnosis, contravening the UN Convention on the rights of the child, and illustrated how parents and professionals can come together in support of these rights. The third paper reported on the first systematic national study on the implementation of advocacy services to defend the rights of people who are sectioned to have a say in their care.

Impact of personality traits on information needs and seeking behavior of LIS students in Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamshad Ahmed ◽  
Farhat Rehman ◽  
Arslan Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Openness To Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Library Professionals

Purpose This paper aims to identify the personality traits (agreeableness, openness to experience, extraversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism) of library and information science (LIS) students in Pakistan. The difference among the personality traits of LIS students toward their information needs and seeking behavior is also analyzed. Design/methodology/approach Two instruments, namely, BFI scale and a self-structured instrument were used to collect the data. Kruskal–Wallis test was applied to find out differences among the personality traits of LIS students toward their information needs and seeking behavior. Findings Findings of the study revealed that out of 320 respondents, 186 possessed openness to experience, while only 7 possessed extraversion personality trait. Moreover, the students having extraversion personality trait were, generally, more concerned toward information needs. On the other hand students having conscientious trait were increasingly more seekers of information. Overall, the conscientiousness was identified as the most suitable personality trait for LIS students. A significant difference was also observed among all the personality traits of LIS students. Practical implications The findings of this study will help in the identification of LIS individual’s personality. The library managers can use these personality traits for the selection of suitable library professionals for their libraries. Originality/value This study can be valuable for the induction of new library professionals and also help managers in assigning the duties based on these personality traits.

scholarly journals Attenuated Phenotype of a Recent House Finch-Associated Mycoplasma gallisepticum Isolate in Domestic Poultry

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Pflaum ◽  
E. R. Tulman ◽  
J. Beaudet ◽  
X. Liao ◽  
K. V. Dhondt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Mycoplasma Gallisepticum ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
House Finch ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
House Finches ◽  
Domestic Poultry ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma gallisepticum, known primarily as a respiratory pathogen of domestic poultry, has emerged since 1994 as a significant pathogen of the house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) causing severe conjunctivitis and mortality. House finch-associated M. gallisepticum (HFMG) spread rapidly and increased in virulence for the finch host in the eastern United States. In the current study, we assessed virulence in domestic poultry with two temporally distant, and yet geographically consistent, HFMG isolates which differ in virulence for house finches—Virginia 1994 (VA1994), the index isolate of the epidemic, and Virginia 2013 (VA2013), a recent isolate of increased house finch virulence. Here we report a significant difference between VA1994 and VA2013 in their levels of virulence for chickens; notably, this difference correlated inversely to the difference in their levels of virulence for house finches. VA1994, while moderately virulent in house finches, displayed significant virulence in the chicken respiratory tract. VA2013, while highly virulent in the house finch, was significantly attenuated in chickens relative to VA1994, displaying less-severe pathological lesions in, and reduced bacterial recovery from, the respiratory tract. Overall, these data indicate that a recent isolate of HFMG is greatly attenuated in the chicken host relative to the index isolate, notably demonstrating a virulence phenotype in chickens inversely related to that in the finch host.

Monitoring of 57Co-bleomycin delivery to brain metastases and their tumors of origin

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dov Front ◽  
Einat Even-Sapir ◽  
Galina Iosilevsky ◽  
Ora Israel ◽  
Alex Frenkel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Lung Tumor ◽  
Single Photon ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Lung Tumors ◽  
Drug Uptake ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Brain

✓ The concentration of cobalt-57 (57Co)-labeled bleomycin delivered to three brain metastases and to their tumors of origin in the lungs was measured using a single-photon emission computerized tomography technique. In two brain metastases the 57Co-bleomycin concentration measured at different times after the intravenous injection was significantly lower than that in the originating lung tumors (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). In these two patients, the tumor cumulative concentration (TCC) of drug in the brain neoplasm compared to the lung carcinoma was 12.92 versus 15.12 and 10.30 versus 19.74 µg/cc/min. In the third patient there was no significant difference in drug concentration between the tumor in the brain and in the lung (TCC 16.02 vs. 15.09 µg/cc/min). There was a significant difference in the drug TCC between the three brain metastases: the difference between the lowest and highest concentrations was more than 50% (10.3 vs. 16.02 µg/cc/min). When the concentration in the tumor over time (CT(t)) of the 57Co-bleomycin was compared in the brain and lung tumors, a good correlation was found in each of the three cases (r = 0.93, 0.99, and 0.97). This suggests that the difference in drug uptake between brain metastases and their originating lung tumor is a quantitative rather than a qualitative phenomenon. The results show that the amount of drug to which brain metastases are exposed varies and may be very low in some tumors; therefore, effectiveness of drug delivery may play a role in the nonresponsiveness of brain metastases to treatment.

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