Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Birth in triplet pregnancies Vaginal delivery ‐ how often is it possible?

OBJECTIVE To compare cesarean section with vaginal delivery in triplet pregnancies. DESIGN Medical records of 16 triplet pregnancies were retrospectively reviewed. SETTING One hospital where planned, vaginal delivery of triplet gestations is the preferred policy. SUBJECTS Sixteen women giving birth to triplets in the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. RESULTS Nine women were delivered vaginally, seven with cesarean section. The corrected mortality was 3.3% in the group delivered vaginally and zero in the cesarean section group. Twenty-three percent of the babies in the vaginally delivered group were without any morbidity and 6% in the corresponding cesarean section group. CONCLUSIONS In terms of fetal outcome cesarean section in triplets is not superior to a policy of vaginal delivery. Vaginal delivery may be suggested when there are no obvious obstetrical contraindications.
THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

This paper reviews the performance of the National Health Service under the Labour government of Tony Blair. It shows that there have been some dramatic increases in resources going into the service, but also that these do not seem to be delivering the improvements in activities that might have been expected. The paper argues that this is partly because of capacity constraints, but also because the mixture of organizational forms introduced by the government has resulted in misdirected and conflicting incentive structures for the key actors. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
The Dynamic Effects of Commodity Prices on Fiscal Performance in Latin America

The recent boom and bust in commodity prices has raised concerns about the impact of volatile commodity prices on Latin American countries’ fiscal positions. Using a novel quarterly data set-which includes unique country-specific commodity price indices and a comprehensive measure of public expenditures-this paper analyzes the dynamic effects of commodity price fluctuations on fiscal revenues and expenditures for eight commodity-exporting Latin American countries. The results indicate that Latin American countries’ fiscal positions react strongly to shocks to commodity prices, yet there are marked differences across countries. Fiscal variables in Venezuela display the highest sensitivity to commodity price shocks, with expenditures reacting significantly more than revenues. At the other end of the spectrum, in Chile expenditure reacts very little to commodity price fluctuations, and the dynamic responses of its fiscal indicators are very similar to those seen in high-income commodity-exporting countries. This distinct behavior across countries may relate to institutional arrangements, which in some cases include the efficient application of fiscal rules amid political commitment and high standards of transparency.
External Sources of Knowledge, Governance Mode, and R&D Performance

This article examines how the choice of governance mode for external R&D, along with openness to new ideas and codifiability of knowledge, affects R&D performance. Superior R&D performance is therefore viewed as arising through (a) the choice of approaches used by the firm to access knowledge from outside (university partnering, alliance partnering, and contracting), (b) the knowledge context of the firm (its openness to new ideas and the codifiability of its knowledge assets), and (c) the interactions between these two sets of factors. These arguments are tested, and mostly supported, using data on the R&D activities of 107 large firms based in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
Cooperation, Productivity, and Profit Sharing

Firm-specific assets generate an ex post bargaining problem over surplus-division, and rational workers may collude to obtain a surplus-share in nonpecuniary form through restriction of effort. Conversely, profit sharing should motivate cooperation to increase productivity when work organization facilitates interaction and horizontal monitoring, since productive effort yields positive externalities to workers under contractual surplus sharing. In simultaneous Tobit estimates we find a strong influence of profit sharing on factor productivity in a sample of medium-sized metalworking capitalist firms in West Germany. Proxies for human capital and organizational factors were included.
Poverty, human development and growth : an emerging consensus?

This paper considers several issues relevant to the debate on the extent to which poverty, or development progress in general, should be measured by income or by a broader set of objectives. Issues covered here are: practical implications of the two approaches for poverty reduction efforts; the impact of growth on basic social indicators; and how national achievement on social indicators is best measured. Sri Lanka and Pakistan, countries often cited in this debate, are used as examples.
Circulating melanoma cells as a potential biomarker to detect metastasis and evaluate prognosis

TNM staging is mainly used to evaluate the prognosis of melanoma patients. Serum biomarkers such as 5‐S‐cysteinyldopa (5‐S‐CD) have occasionally been used but most do not respond until the tumour burden becomes high. Recently, circulating melanoma cells (CMC) have been reported as a possible new biomarker to detect metastasis, monitor treatment response and predict prognosis. The object of this exploratory study was to evaluate the efficacy of CMC to detect metastasis and predict prognosis by cross‐sectional and prospective observational analyses, respectively. Altogether 15 patients with stages II–IV melanoma were enrolled and CMC were enumerated by CellSearch system with cut‐off values of two cells/7.5 mL. Serum 5‐S‐CD and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also measured. The sensitivity of CMC and 5‐S‐CD for the detection of metastasis was 33 and 50%, respectively. The combination of CMC and 5‐S‐CD showed a sensitivity of 67%, the best performance among CMC, 5‐S‐CD, LDH and any combination of two of the markers. Additionally, a 30‐month prospective observation showed that CMC could segregate patients with poorer prognosis. The median survival time for the patients with <2 CMC and those with ≥2 CMC was 19.5 and 4.5 months, respectively. The limitation of this study is the small sample size. These preliminary results indicate CMC may complement the efficacy of 5‐S‐CD to detect metastasis and can be a prognostic marker. Although there is still room for improvement to maximise the sensitivity, the CellSearch system is reproducible, standardised and suitable for multi‐centre studies.
Association of hyperuricemia with renal outcomes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for mortality, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease in general population. However, the relationship between hyperuricemia with clinical outcomes in CKD remains controversial. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS The study investigated the association between uric acid with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, renal replacement therapy, and rapid renal progression (the slope of estimated GFR was less than -6 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)/y) in 3303 stages 3-5 CKD patients that were in the integrated CKD care system in one medical center and one regional hospital in southern Taiwan. RESULTS In all subjects, the mean uric acid level was 7.9 ± 2.0 mg/dl. During a median 2.8-year follow-up, there were 471 (14.3%) deaths, 545 (16.5%) cardiovascular events, 1080 (32.3%) participants commencing renal replacement therapy, and 841 (25.5%) participants with rapid renal progression. Hyperuricemia increased risks for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events (the adjusted hazard ratios for quartile four versus quartile one of uric acid [95% confidence interval] were 1.85 [1.40-2.44] and 1.42 [1.08-1.86], respectively) but not risks for renal replacement therapy (0.96 [0.79-1.16]) and rapid renal progression (1.30 [0.98-1.73]). CONCLUSIONS In stages 3-5 CKD, hyperuricemia is a risk factor for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events but not renal replacement therapy and rapid renal progression.
Antepartum Screening and Non‐selective Intrapartum Chemoprophylaxis for Group B Streptococcus

Summary: The efficacy of antibiotic chemoprophylaxis in labour for all maternal carriers of Group B streptococcus with respect to the neonatal mortality and morbidity was analyzed. The intervention consisted of a policy of maternal screening for Group B streptococcus at 28 weeks' gestation by a low vaginal swab, cultured on to nonselective media. If positive, all carriers were treated with intrapartum ampicillin regardless of other obstetric risk factors. The main outcome measures were studied prospectively for 16 months before and for 32 months after instituting the intervention. These included the incidence of early‐onset Group B streptococcal infection as defined by either a blood culture or a symptomatic neonate with a positive urinary streptococcal antigen test, the mortality and the morbidity.
Hydrocortisone Counteracts Adverse Stress Effects on Dual-Task Performance by Improving Visual Sensory Processes

The impact of acute stress on executive processes is commonly attributed to glucocorticoid-induced disruptions of the pFC. However, the occipital cortex seems to express a higher density of glucocorticoid receptors. Consequently, acute stress effects on executive processes could as well be mediated by glucocorticoid (e.g., cortisol)-induced alterations of visual sensory processes. To investigate this alternative route of stress action by demarcating the effects of acute stress and cortisol on executive from those on visual sensory processes, 40 healthy young men completed a standardized stress induction (i.e., the Trier Social Stress Test) and control protocol in two consecutive sessions. In addition, they received either a placebo or hydrocortisone (0.12-mg/kg bodyweight) pill and processed a dual and a partial report task to assess their executive and visual sensory processing abilities, respectively. Hydrocortisone administration improved both partial report and dual-task performance as indicated by increased response accuracies and/or decreased RTs. Intriguingly, the hydrocortisone-induced increase in dual-task performance was completely mediated by its impact on partial report performance (i.e., visual sensory processes). Moreover, RT measures in both tasks shared approximately 26% of variance, which was only in part attributable to hydrocortisone administration (ΔR2 = 8%). By contrast, acute stress selectively impaired dual-task performance (i.e., executive processes), presumably through an alternative route of action. In summary, the present results suggest that cortisol secretion (as mimicked by hydrocortisone administration) may counteract adverse residual stress effects on executive processes by improving visual sensory processes (e.g., the maintenance and amplification of task-relevant sensory information).
Optimal Power Allocation With Delay Constraint for Signal Transmission From a Moving Train to Base Stations in High-Speed Railway Scenarios

Widespread deployment of high-speed railways in recent years has created huge demand for high-mobility broadband wireless communications. To provide broadband wireless access for passengers on the train, a well-acknowledged approach is to apply a two-hop architecture, under which passengers communicate with base stations (BSs) via an access point (AP) installed in the train. We consider the uplink transmission from the AP to the BSs on the ground along the railway. The key problem we discuss is how to match user-data arrival process and time-varying channel service process with a delay constraint at the AP. We first assume the constant-rate data arrival and the wireless channel affected only by large-scale fading in high-speed railway scenarios. We present the optimal power-allocation policy given the delay constraint. Based on the policy, we show that there exists a power-delay tradeoff in our system model, with the delay within a limited range. Besides, we find that the average transmit power and the train velocity have a tradeoff, which is similar to the power-delay tradeoff. Besides, given average transmit power constraint, the delay constraint is inversely proportional to the train velocity. Finally, when small-scale fading is considered, we modify the optimal power-allocation policy and provide a convenient approach to counteract Nakagami-m fading in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes. The modified power-allocation policy can be well adapted to different fading statistics in different terrestrial environments experienced by the high-speed train.
Mudança da composição agrícola em duas regiões de Minas Gerais

This work analyzes the changes in area under cultivation that occurred between 1985 and 1995/1996 in the meso-regions Triângulo Mineiro/Alto Paranaiba and Zona da Mata in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The analysis was conducted in two methodological stages. First, variation in the area under cultivation for a particular crop was disaggregated into variation due to change in regional agricultural scale and variation due to the substitution effect. Second, an econometric model of the crop that had the greatest growth in cultivated area and highest substitution effect index was developed to identify the main factors responsible for these high figures. It is observed that the area under rice cultivation was reduced in all regions, a fact related to the high cost of production. Coffee cultivation expanded in Manhuacu, due mainly to the area’s favorable climate and topography, and the area devoted to pasture expanded the most. It is stressed that the amount of land devoted to pasture increased as labor became more scarce: a 1% reduction in labor availability lead to a 0.8% increase in pasture.
Linkage between international trade and economic growth in GCC countries: Empirical evidence from PMG estimation approach

This paper explores the empirical evidence of the links between economic growth and openness to international trade by controlling for auxiliary variables in the model for the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries over the annual sample period 1980–2010. After testing for cointegration based on a recent bootstrap panel test, we employ the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimation technique of M.H. Pesaran, Y. Shin, and R. Smith (1999. “Pooled Mean Group Estimation of Dynamic Heterogeneous Panels”. Journal of the American Statistical Association 94: 621–634) that is appropriate for drawing sharper conclusions in dynamic heterogeneous panels by considering long-run equilibrium relations. The results show evidence of cointegration relationship between the variables of interest, and reveal that economic growth responds positively to trade openness over both the short run and long run. The evidence is robust to using various trade openness measures and to alternative model specifications, suggesting thus the non-fragility of the linkage between economic growth and openness to international trade for the GCC region. Our findings are then promising and support the view that economic growth is directly and robustly linked to trade openness for the GCC countries.
Family SMEs' Internationalization: Disentangling the Influence of Familiness on Spanish Firms' Export Activity**

This paper studies the relationships between family involvement and internationalization of family small and medium enterprises (), examining the effects exerted by the three main dimensions that comprise the concept of familiness: power, experience, and culture. Disentangling the influence of familiness dimensions lead us to discover the combined effects of family's governance, generation, and culture on ' export activity. The results, using the ‐ scale over a sample of 500 Spanish firms, show that this multidimensional approach better identifies the determinants of the family ' internationalization. Specifically, we find that the family experience and its culture orientation positively affect the firm's export activity, whereas family governance/management does not have any significant influence.
Long-term change in incidence and risk factors of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Crete, Greece: a 25-year study

Background No sequential long-term data exist for Greece on the etiological evolution and incidence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, we studied their etiological evolution over a period of 25 years in the island of Crete. Methods We studied 812 cases of cirrhosis (561 male, median age 69 years) and 321 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (234 male, median age 70 years) from the database of our Center. Cases were classified into five-year periods according to incidence and etiology (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcohol, alcohol plus viral, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Results Overall, there was an increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. A significant fourfold reduction in the incidence of hepatitis C-related cirrhosis was observed, which was degraded from first to third place as a risk factor for cirrhosis. Alcohol gradually became the first risk factor in cirrhosis (1990-94: 36.1%, 2010-14: 52.3%) and carcinoma, while the steepest increase in incidence of cirrhosis and carcinoma was associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions The incidence of cirrhosis remained constant over the years, but the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma increased during the last decade. Risk factors for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma have changed over the past 25 years in Crete. The initial high hepatitis C virus association has significantly decreased, with alcohol now ranking first among risk factors. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is continually increasing and is a prominent risk factor for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Out before the Game Begins: Hispanic Leaders Talk about What's Needed to Bring More Hispanic Youngsters into Science, Technology and Math Professions.

Introduction Hispanics are not only the largest minority in the United States but also one of the fastest growing. One out of every two of the 1.4 million people added to the nation's population between 2005 and 2006 was Hispanic 1 or Latino. As of July 1, 2006, there were 44.3 million Hispanics living in the United States, making this country home to the third largest Hispanic population in the world. Alongside this trend is another equally compelling one. The United States will need 1.75 million engineers by 2010. 2 That's a 20 percent increase from the current number of practicing engineers. Moreover, the demand for engineering talent is increasing at three times the rate of other professions. Despite the growing number of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers in the American economy, education statistics suggest that far too few Hispanic students are being encouraged and equipped to take advantage of opportunities in technical disciplines. American business and industry and the nation's Hispanic communities would both benefit from addressing this mismatch. In summer 2007, The IBM International Foundation asked Public Agenda to interview Hispanic and Latino leaders in a variety of fields, asking for their views on what will be needed to bring more Hispanic students into the technical and scientific disciplines. Our report is based on 19 30-minute telephone interviews conducted in the summer and fall of 2007. Public Agenda spoke with Hispanic scientists and inventors, officers at technology corporations, leaders from prominent non-profit and corporate entities, as well as government and educational institutions. All had a strong interest in Hispanic and Latino affairs and were able to speak on the challenges of improving math and science education for Hispanic youngsters. A complete list of the individuals we spoke with is on page 14. Issues related to science, technology, engineering and math education in the Hispanic community are as varied and complex as Hispanic communities themselves. Each region, each stage of education and each field carries with it a unique set of opportunities, conditions and problems. In this report we have divided our observations into three main categories, all connected and intertwined. The first portion of our report focuses on basic education issues such as high-poverty schools, problems for English language 1 For the purpose of this report, Hispanics are identified as Latin American individuals, and their descendants, living in the United States, regardless of race. We recognize …
Influence of micro-environments on pre-school children's energy balance-related behaviours and weight status

Based on the KOALA Birth Cohort Study and child-care observations, the home and child-care environment were examined as potential determinants of overweight in young children (age 0-7). Breast-feeding protected against overweight, probably through affecting later snacking. Parental stimulation of children’s healthy behaviours was more effective than restriction of unhealthy behaviours. Furthermore, diet and physical activity already clustered (co-occurred) at a young age. Children attending child-care appeared to be more often overweight. Observations showed the importance of child-care staff and physical environmental factors regarding diet and physical activity. The findings can be used to inform future childhood overweight prevention interventions.
Characteristics and outcomes of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma presenting in leukaemic phase

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) occasionally presents with circulating malignant cells. The clinical characteristics and long‐term outcomes of these patients have not been described. Twenty‐nine newly diagnosed DLBCL presenting in leukaemic phase were identified between 1996 and 2010, at two institutions. Median age was 48 years, and patients presented with leucocytosis, high lactate dehydrogenase levels, B symptoms, and high International Prognostic Index score. Extra nodal site involvement was observed in all patients and affected the bone marrow (100%), spleen (62%), pleura/lung (41%), liver (21%), bone (17%), bowels (7%) and cerebrospinal fluid (14%). Blood lymphomatous cells co‐expressed CD19, CD20, CD22, CD38, CD45, HLA‐DR and FMC7 in >90%, and kappa or lambda light chain restriction in >50%. Ninety per cent received rituximab and anthracycline‐based chemotherapy. Overall, remission was complete in 54% and partial in 31%; 15% had resistant disease. Median follow‐up was 47 months; 13 (45%) patients remain alive in complete remission. Median progression‐free and overall survivals were 11·5 and 46·7 months, respectively. In summary, patients with DLBCL in leukaemic phase present with high tumour burden and frequent involvement of extra nodal sites. In this uncommon DLBCL subgroup, anthracycline‐based regimens with rituximab are associated with early morbidity and mortality, but yield approximately 50% 4‐year survival.
The cytoskeleton and the secretory pathway are not involved in targeting the cowpea mosaic virus movement protein to the cell periphery.

The movement protein (MP) of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) forms tubules on infected protoplasts and through plasmodesmata in infected plants. In protoplasts the MP fused to GFP (MP-GFP) was shown to localize in peripheral punctate structures and in long tubular structures extending from the protoplast surface. Using cytoskeletal assembly inhibitors (latrunculin B and oryzalin) and an inhibitor of the secretory pathway (brefeldin A), targeting of the MP to the peripheral punctate structures was demonstrated not to be dependent on an intact cytoskeleton or functional secretion pathway. Furthermore it was shown that a disrupted cytoskeleton had no effect on tubule formation but that the addition of brefeldin A severely inhibited tubule formation. The results presented in this paper suggest a role for a plasma membrane host factor in tubule formation of plant viral MPs.