Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex Specific Differences in Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery and Umbilical Venous Doppler

Background The incidence of several adverse pregnancy outcomes including fetal growth restriction are higher in pregnancies where the fetus is male, leading to suggestions that placental insufficiency is more common in these fetuses. Placental insufficiency associated with fetal growth restriction may be identified by multi-vessel Doppler assessment, but little evidence exists regarding sex specific differences in these Doppler indices or placental function. This study aims to investigate sex specific differences in fetal and placental perfusion and to correlate these changes with intra-partum outcome. Methods and Findings This is a prospective cohort study. We measured Doppler indices of 388 term pregnancies immediately prior to the onset of active labour (≤3 cm dilatation). Fetal sex was unknown at the time of the ultrasound assessment. Information from the ultrasound scan was not made available to clinical staff. Case notes and electronic records were reviewed following delivery. We report significantly lower Middle Cerebral artery pulsatility index (1.34 vs. 1.43, p = 0.004), Middle Cerebral artery peak velocity (53.47 cm/s vs. 58.10 cm/s, p = <0.001), and Umbilical venous flow/kg (56 ml/min/kg vs. 61 ml/min/kg, p = 0.02) in male fetuses. These differences however, were not associated with significant differences in intra-partum outcome. Conclusion Sex specific differences in feto-placental perfusion indices exist. Whilst the physiological relevance of these is currently unknown, the identification of these differences adds to our knowledge of the physiology of male and female fetuses in utero. A number of disease processes have now been shown to have an association with changes in fetal haemodynamics in-utero, as well as having a sex bias, making further investigation of the sex specific differences present during fetal life important. Whilst the clinical application of these findings is currently limited, the results from this study do provide further insight into the gender specific circulatory differences present in the fetal period.
Muscarinic Receptor Activation Modulates Granule Cell Excitability and Potentiates Inhibition onto Mitral Cells in the Rat Olfactory Bulb

The olfactory bulb is a second-order brain region that connects sensory neurons with cortical areas. However, the olfactory bulb does not appear to play a simple relay role and is subject instead to extensive local and extrinsic synaptic influences. Prime among the external, or centrifugal, inputs is the dense cholinergic innervation from the basal forebrain, which terminates in both the granule cell and plexiform layers. Cholinergic inputs to the bulb have been implicated in olfactory working memory tasks in rodents and may be related to olfactory deficits reported in people with neurodegenerative disorders that involve basal forebrain neurons. In this study, we use whole-cell recordings from acute rat slices to demonstrate that one function of this input is to potentiate the excitability of GABAergic granule cells and thereby modulate inhibitory drive onto mitral cells. This increase in granule cell excitability is mediated by a concomitant decrease in the normal afterhyperpolarization response and augmentation of an afterdepolarization, both triggered by pirenzepine-sensitive M1 receptors. The afterdepolarization was dependent on elevations in intracellular calcium and appeared to be mediated by a calcium-activated nonselective cation current (ICAN). Near firing threshold, depolarizing inputs could evoke quasipersistent firing characterized by irregular discharges that lasted, on average, for 2 min. In addition to regulating the excitability of the primary interneuronal subtype in the bulb, M1 receptors regulate the degree of adaptation that occurs during repetitive sniffing-like inputs and may therefore play a critical role in regulating short-term plasticity in the olfactory system.
The Neonatal Development of Intraepithelial and Lamina Propria Lymphocytes in the Murine Small Intestine

During early neonatal life, important changes occur in the gut. The intestine is challenged by both milk and a microbial flora. Later on, at weaning, the diet of mice changes from milk to pelleted food leading to changes in microbial contents. This period seems essential for a complete development of the mucosal immune system. We investigated the development of both intraepithelial (IEL) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL), from day 5, and every 5 days, up to day 30 after birth. IEL and LPL were isolated from the small intestine and the phenotype was assessed by FACS analyses, using antibodies for detection of T-cell markers CD3, TCRαβ, TCRγδ, CD4, CD8α, CD8β, CD5, CD18, CD54, and CD49d. Our data show a clear increase in the number of LPL just before weaning, while the number of IEL increased after day 15. A more mature pattern of membrane antigen expression of both IEL and LPL was observed at weaning. The adhesion molecules CD18, CD54, and CD49d, essential for cellular communication of lymphocytes, showed an expression peak at weaning. In conclusion, the mouse mucosal immune system develops during the first 3 weeks of neonatal life leading to the formation of a more mature immune system at weaning.
The gender structure of the nursing hierarchy: the role of human capital

This study investigated the factors contributing to the over-representation of men in senior positions in nursing. A questionnaire was distributed to a stratified random sample of 1536 registered nurses in New South Wales, Australia. The data were analysed using multiple logistic regression and showed that women's greater likelihood of taking breaks from full-time employment was the major variable contributing to the gender segmentation of the nursing workforce. This has implications for those working towards ‘family friendly’ workplaces.
Reversible Immobilization of Free-ranging Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) with Xylazine-Tiletamine-Zolazepam and Atipamezole

Abstract Forty-eight free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) were immobilized with xylazine (X) and tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) by dart injection during winter 2008 in Norway. A follow-up study in five animals during winter 2010 included arterial blood samples analyzed with a portable clinical analyzer in the field. Thirty-five of 48 animals were effectively immobilized and 13 required a second dart. Mean±SD doses were 2.89±0.45 mg X/kg and 2.89±0.45 mg TZ/kg in calves and 2.97±0.66 mg X/kg and 1.91±0.43 mg TZ/kg in adults. Mean induction times for calves and adults were 8.5±5 min and 11.6±5.5 min, respectively. The main physiologic side effect during immobilization was hypoxemia (pulse oximetry, SpO2<85%). All five animals evaluated with arterial blood gas samples were hypoxemic (PaO2<10 kPa). Xylazine was antagonized with 0.43±0.19 mg/kg and 0.27±0.05 mg/kg of atipamezole in calves and adults, respectively. Time to standing/walking in calves and adults was 12±7 min and 12±11 min, respectively. Two capture mortalities occurred.
The displacement effect: Assessing the relation between television viewing and reading performance

TELEVISION'S implications for reading performance and school achievement are examined within the framework of the displacement hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that watching television may affect students' reading achievement by displacing other activities crucial to the development of reading skills, such as leisure reading. A synthesis of eight statewide reading assessments and a secondary analysis of the 1984 National Assessment of Educational Progress, which included measures of scholastic achievement, out-of-school activities, and reported television viewing exposure, are used to analyze four theories of displacement: that television displaces activities with functional similarity, activities in physical and psychological proximity, marginal fringe activities, and activities that have become less appealing due to reorganization of the child's functional needs with age. Results indicate that the differences in reading scores for those students watching 2-4 hours per day are small, but that beyond 4 hours of viewing, the effects are negative and increasingly more deleterious. Analysis of outside activities suggests that television viewing is tied to a different set of needs and gratifications than leisure reading, sports, or spending time with friends. Small but negative relations are reported between television viewing and homework activities. For the vast majority of children, however, time spent television viewing is tempered by the increasing demands of schooling and the onset of social activities as children grow older.
Globalization and the Gains from Variety

Since the seminal work of Krugman (1979), product variety has played a central role in models of trade and growth. In spite of the general use of love-of-variety models, there has been no systematic study of how the import of new varieties has contributed to national welfare gains in the United States. In this paper we show that the unmeasured growth in product variety from US imports has been an important source of gains from trade over the last three decades (1972-2001). Using extremely disaggregated data, we show that the number of imported product varieties has increased by a factor of four. We also estimate the elasticities of substitution for each available category at the same level of aggregation, and describe their behavior across time and SITC-5 industries. Using these estimates we develop an exact price index and find that the upward bias in the conventional import price index is approximately 1.2 percent per year. The magnitude of this bias suggests that the welfare gains from variety growth in imports alone are 2.8 percent of GDP.
The Importance of Anti‐HLA‐Specific Antibody Strength in Monitoring Kidney Transplant Patients

Approximately 25% of patients who undergo kidney transplantation develop HLA‐specific antibodies, the strength of which has not been previously correlated with graft failure. The strength of these de novo antibodies is investigated in this study. Serial dilution of strong HLA‐specific allo‐antibodies (up to 1:25,600) and testing with HLA‐antigen‐coated beads showed that the titer of the reaction to different HLA antigens is directly correlated to maximum fluorescence values and the molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome (MESF) values obtained by Luminex machines. Thus, the strength of antibodies can be measured utilizing maximum fluorescence and MESF. The strength of antibodies in the sera from 39 patients who subsequently had graft failure were markedly higher than those in the sera of 26 patients who continued to have good graft function (p = 0.0084). A clear increase in the strength of antibodies was identified in nine patients with a subsequent increase in serum creatinine levels. If analyzed for donor specificity, a strong association was noted for donor‐specific MESF and failure (p = 0.00000027). Our results suggest that it is important to monitor the strength of antibodies when evaluating patient sera posttransplant.
Managing Climate Change Under Uncertainty: Recursive Integrated Assessment at an Inflection Point

Uncertainty is critical to questions about climate change policy. Recently developed recursive integrated assessment models have become the primary tool for studying and quantifying the policy implications of uncertainty. The first wave of recursive models has made valuable, pioneering efforts at analyzing disparate sources of uncertainty. We decompose the channels through which uncertainty affects policy and quantify them in a recursive extension of a benchmark integrated assessment model. We argue that frontier numerical methods will enable the next generation of recursive models to better capture the information structure of climate change and to thereby ask new types of questions about climate change policy
Individual and Collective Mobility Strategies among Minority Group Members

Abstract Examined were a number of predictions from major intergroup theories concerning factors associated with individual and collective mobility strategies among minority group members. Respondents were first-generation “visible” minority immigrants to Canada. Interviews were conducted by interviewers from the same ethnic group as that of the respondents and in the respondents' preferred languages. Contrary to the five-stage model of Taylor and McKirnan (1984), but in accord with a minority group perspective on intergroup relations, individual action was preferred by less talented minority group members. In support of social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986), individual action was associated with higher belief in the legitimacy of the social system, and, as predicted by relative deprivation theory (Runciman, 1966), collective action was associated with perceived group but not personal discrimination. Support was also found for resource mobilization theory (McCarthy & Zald, 1979), in that resource.
CULTURE, BEHAVIOR, AND NEGOTIATION OUTCOMES: A COMPARATIVE AND CROSS‐CULTURAL STUDY OF MEXICAN AND NORWEGIAN NEGOTIATORS

Previous research on international negotiations has primarily examined cross‐cultural differences in behavioral styles. Supplementing this prior research, we focused on outcome in negotiations. The study examined relationships between culture and outcome in contract negotiations, and analyzed how negotiation behavior mediates between culture and outcome. Sixty Mexican and Norwegian subjects participated in a negotiation simulation with potentially integrative outcomes. The study included 12 Mexican dyads, 12 Norwegian dyads, and 6 cross‐cultural dyads. Two aspects of outcome: joint benefit and distribution of benefit between negotiators, and two aspects of process: progression of offers and verbal communication, were examined Results indicated an effect of culture on integrative results, but not on distribution of benefit. Process differences found were related to the progression of offers over time, and not to verbal communication. Managerial implications are discussed and directions for future research indicated.
Poor Medical Waste Management (MWM) Practices and Its Risks to Human Health and the Environment: A Literature Review

Medical care is vital for our life, health and well being. But the waste generated from medical activities can be hazardous, toxic and even lethal because of their high potential for diseases transmission. The hazardous and toxic parts of waste from healthcare establishments comprising infectious, medical and radioactive material as well as sharps constitute a grave risks to mankind and the environment, if these are not properly treated/disposed or are allowed to be mixed with other municipal waste. In Nigeria, practical information on this aspect is inadequate and research on the public health implications of poor management of medical wastes is few and limited in scope. Findings drawn from Literature particularly in the third world countries highlights financial problems, lack of awareness of risks involved in MWM, lack of appropriate legislation and lack of specialized MWM staff. The paper recommends how MWM practices can be improved in medical facilities.
Automatically constructing multi-relationship fuzzy concept networks for document retrieval

Although the knowledge bases incorporated in existing information retrieval systems can enhance retrieval effectiveness, many of them are built by domain experts. It is obvious that the construction of such knowledge bases requires a large amount of human effort. In this paper, an intelligent fuzzy information retrieval system with an automatically constructed knowledge base is presented; the knowledge base is represented by a multi-relationship fuzzy concept network. The multi-relationship fuzzy concept network can describe four kindsof context-independent and context-dependent fuzzy relationships, i.e., "fuzzy positive association" relationship, "fuzzy negative association" relationship, "fuzzygeneralization" relationship, and "fuzzy specialization" relationship between concepts. The users of the fuzzy information retrieval system can submit a fuzzy contextual query which specifies the search context in the query formula. The fuzzy information retrieval system retrieves documents whose contents are relevant to the user's query by some kinds of fuzzy relationships for the specified search context of the user's query. The proposed fuzzy information retrieval method is more intelligent and more flexible than the existing methods due to the fact that it can construct multi-relationship fuzzy concept networks automatically and it can provide contextual search capability to allow the users to specify fuzzy contextual queries in a more intelligent and flexible manner.
Coercive Diplomacy and Press Freedom: An Empirical Assessment of the Impact of Economic Sanctions on Media Openness

Despite the central role the media play in the domestic and foreign policy-making processes, very little research examines the influence of international factors on media openness. This article investigates the impact of coercive diplomacy (in the form of economic sanctions) on press freedom. It is argued that foreign economic coercion will likely deteriorate press freedom by (1) restricting a sanctioned country’s interactions with the outside world, thereby allowing the target regime to have greater control over the free flows of information, and (2) inflicting significant economic damage on the sustainability and development of independent media outlets. Using time-series, cross-national empirical data over a large number of countries for the period 1980—2000, the findings confirm economic sanctions’ negative effect on media openness. Extensive sanctions, in particular, have a greater negative impact on press freedom than more selective sanctions. Furthermore, multilateral sanctions will likely have a greater corrosive impact on media openness than unilateral sanctions.
Study of blood levels of antioxidant enzymes and erythrocyte Malondialdehyde (MDA) in ovarian, cervical and uterine cancer at stage I

Objectives : To evaluate the status of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in women with genital cancer at stage I. Methods : Erythrocyte malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes levels were estimated in the blood of women with stage I genital cancer (n=94) and the results were compared with the levels in age and socioeconomic status matched healthy women (n=50). Results : There was significant increase in erythrocyte malondialdehyde level (p<0.001) and decrease in antioxidant enzymes (p<0.001) in women with genital cancer. Conclusion : Female genital cancer at stage I is associated with disturbed levels of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxide. This could be demonstrating oxidative damage /injury.
On stability and performance of parallel processing systems

The general problem of parallel (concurrent) processing is investigated from a queuing theoretic point of view. As a basic simple model, consider infinitely many processors that can work simultaneously, and a stream of arriving jobs, each carrying a processing time requirement. Upon arrival, a job is allocated to a processor and starts being executed, unless it is blocked by another one already in the system. Indeed, any job can be randomly blocked by any preceding one, in the sense that it cannot start being processed before the one that blocks it leaves. After execution, the job leaves the system. The arrival times, the processing times and the blocking structures of the jobs form a stationary and ergodic sequence. The random precedence constraints capture the essential operational characteristic of parallel processing and allow a unified treatment of concurrent processing systems from such diverse areas as parallel computation, database concurrency control, queuing networks, flexible manufacturing systems. The above basic model includes the G/G/1 and G/G/ ∞ queuing systems as special extreme cases. Although there is an infinite number of processors, the precedence constraints induce a queuing phenomenon, which, depending on the loading conditions, can lead to stability or instability of the system. In this paper, the condition for stability of the system is first precisely specified. The asymptotic behavior, at large times, of the quantities associated with the performance of the system is then studied, and the degree of parallelism, expressed as the asymptotic average number of processors that work concurrently, is computed. Finally, various design and simulation aspects concerning parallel processing systems are considered, and the case of finite number of processors is discussed. The results proved for the basic model are then extended to cover more complex and realistic parallel processing systems, where each job has a random internal structure of subtasks to be executed according to some internal precedence constriants.
Challenging Temperament, Teacher–Child Relationships, and Behavior Problems in Urban Low-Income Children: A Longitudinal Examination

Research Findings: Racial/ethnic minority low-income children with temperaments high in negative reactivity are at heightened risk for developing disruptive behavior problems. Teacher–child relationships characterized by high levels of closeness and low levels of conflict may protect against the development of disruptive behaviors in school. The present study examined whether teacher–child closeness and conflict moderated the association between temperamental negative reactivity and growth in disruptive behaviors in low-income Black and Hispanic kindergarten and 1st-grade children. Findings revealed that negative reactivity predicted higher overall levels of in-school disruptive behavior problems at the beginning of kindergarten as well as growth in behavior problems over kindergarten and 1st grade. However, the effect of negative reactivity on disruptive behaviors was attenuated when children had relationships with teachers characterized by high levels of closeness and low levels of conflict. Practice or Policy: Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
Developing a writing workshop classroom: Collaboration between a charter school principal, second‐grade teacher, and university professor

Abstract School and university partnerships are not a new concept. The professional development school movement is promoted by a variety of researchers and organizations, such as Goodlad (1990), the Holmes Group (1986), and the Carnegie Foundation (1986), with recommendations for university and public school collaborations. This article describes the ongoing collaborative process in which a charter school principal, a second‐grade teacher, and a university professor encourage students to become thoughtful and confident writers, while developing a writing workshop in East Texas.
A stochastic model for the speech sonority

Nous etudions des familles de chaines quantifiees a valeurs reelles. Ces chaines sont liees par une hypothese d'existence d'une partition universelle de leur image, telle que la loi de chaque chaine conditionnee par l'appartenance a un de ses elements est independante de la chaine. Nous introduisons une nouvelle classe d'estimateurs des points de separation definissant la partition et demontrons la consistance de ces estimateurs. Nous pouvons alors utiliser ces resultats pour modeliser l'evolution de la sonorite des langues naturelles, sur la base d'un corpus linguistique de 1667 propositions en huit langues differentes. Nous montrons qu'un modele avec quatre points universaux de separation decrit bien les donnees. La notion nouvelle de famille de chaines quantifiees liees pourrait s'appliquer a d'autres situations dans lesquelles differents agents stochastiques s'expriment par l'intermediaire du meme genre d'interface.