Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
O ACOMPANHANTE NO MOMENTO DO TRABALHO DE PARTO E PARTO: PERCEPÇÃO DE PUÉRPERAS

Estudo descritivo, qualitativo, realizado em hospital publico de nivel secundario em Fortaleza – Ceara, com 14 puerperas, com o objetivo de analisar sua percepcao acerca da presenca/participacao do acompanhante durante o trabalho de parto e o parto. A coleta de dados aconteceu entre agosto e setembro de 2009, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada gravada e as falas foram organizadas e analisadas com base na analise de conteudo. As atividades desempenhadas pelos acompanhantes foram conversar, proporcionar apoio e seguranca e explicar eventos desconhecidos. A importância da participacao do acompanhante se centrou na minimizacao dos sentimentos de solidao que se somavam as dores das parturientes. Verificou-se o valor atribuido a escolha de pessoas conhecidas, com destaque para as maes. Concluiu-se que o cuidado proporcionado pelos acompanhantes se mostrou imprescindivel para garantir conforto e bem-estar as mulheres no momento da parturicao.
Welfare effects of downstream mergers and upstream market concentration

We consider a dominant upstream firm selling an input to several downstream firms through observable, non-discriminatory two-part tariff contracts. Downstream firms can alternatively buy the input from a less efficient source of supply. In this setting, we analyze the relationship between the competitive effects of downstream mergers and the level of concentration at the upstream level. We show that a downstream merger leads to lower wholesale prices. This translates into lower final prices only when the upstream market is sufficiently concentrated. In this case, a downstream merger tends to be both procompetitive and profitable.
In Vitro Effects of Sodium Benzoate on Th1/Th2 Deviation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACT Interleukin 4 (IL-4) can improve the clinical manifestations in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Sodium benzoate (NaB) deviates the cytokine profile to Th2 (or IL-4 producing) cells in EAE and thus might be effective in the treatment of MS. Therefore, in this study the effect of different concentrations of NaB on the percentage and mRNA levels of IL-4 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 20 Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients and eight healthy controls was evaluated in the presence of mitogen (phytohemagglutinin, PHA) or specific antigen (myelin basic protein, MBP). Our results showed that in the patient’s group the percentage of CD4+IL-4+ cells was significantly increased in the presence of all concentrations of NaB when PBMCs were stimulated by MBP (p = 0.001) or PHA (p < 0.03). The same results were obtained for normal donors in the highest concentration of NaB, 1000 µg/ml (p = 0.02). Moreover, in the patient’s group the percentage of CD4+IFN-γ+ cells was decreased significantly when the PBMCs were stimulated by PHA and NaB (p < 0.004) or by MBP and 1000 µg/ml of NaB (p < 0.03). The effect of NaB on IL-4 and IFN-γ production was also documented at the mRNA levels. In conclusion, our data suggest that NaB is able to induce IL-4 production by human PBMCs and therefore might be a useful candidate for conjunctive therapy in RR-MS.
Maximum Likelihood Frequency Offset Estimation &amp; Cramer Rao Bound for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Multi-Band OFDM Systems

The maximum likelihood (ML) estimator and the Cramer Rao Bound (CRB) for frequency offset estimation are derived and compared against each other in a multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) ultra-wideband (UWB) system. A total of 100 UWB channel realizations, as proposed by IEEE 802.15 channel modeling sub-committee, for each channel model (CM) 1: line-of-sight for 0-4 m and CM2: non-line-of-sight for 0-4 m are simulated to demonstrate the convergence of the ML estimator variance with the CRB for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
High quality multi-focus polychromatic composite image fusion algorithm based on filtering in frequency domain and synthesis in space domain

A novel multi-focus polychromatic image fusion algorithm based on filtering in the frequency domain using fast Fourier transform (FFT) and synthesis in the space domain (FFDSSD) is presented in this paper. First, the original multi-focus images are transformed into their frequency data by FFT for easy and accurate clarity determination. Then a Gaussian low-pass filter is used to filter the high frequency information corresponding to the image saliencies. After an inverse FFT, the filtered images are obtained. The deviation between the filtered images and the original ones, representing the clarity of the image, is used to select the pixels from the multi-focus images to reconstruct a completely focused image. These operations in space domain preserve the original information as much as possible and are relatively insensitive to misregistration scenarios with respect to transform domain methods. The polychromatic noise is well considered and successfully avoided while the information in different chromatic channels is preserved. A natural, nice-looking fused microscopic image for human visual evaluations is obtained in a dedicated experiment. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm has a good performance in objective quality metrics and runtime efficiency.
The Meaning and Measurement of Ethnicity in Malaysia: An Analysis of Census Classifications

In Peninsular Malaysia, the conventional ethnic divisions are “Malay,” “Chinese,” “Indian,” and “Other. ” At first glance, this classification seems to represent the popular conception of “race” (the everyday term) as well as the “official” definition. According to the Malaysian constitution, a Malay is a person who was born locally, habitually speaks Malay, follows Malay custom, and professes Islam (Mohammed Suffian bin Hashim 1976:291). The Chinese and Indian communities are supposed to consist of the descendants of immigrants from China and the Indian subcontinent. “Other” is a catchall category for the small number of Eurasians, Thais, Europeans, and other persons who do not fit into the three major categories.
Oestrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms relationship with semen variables in infertile men

This study aimed to assess the association of oestrogen receptor alpha (ER‐α) gene polymorphisms and semen variables in infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men. In all, 141 men were grouped into fertile men (n = 60) and infertile OAT men (n = 81). They were subjected to assessment of semen analysis, acrosin activity, serum reproductive hormones and genotyping of ER‐α gene. Frequencies of p and x alleles in ER‐α gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms were more prevalent among fertile men compared with infertile OAT men. Presence of P and X alleles was associated with increased incidence of male infertility for genotypes PP, XX compared with genotypes pp and xx (OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 2.36–6.97; P = 0.001 and OR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.49–11.39; P = 0.001, respectively). The mean of semen variables and sperm acrosin activity were significantly higher in cases associated with pp than PP and in xx than XX genotypes of ER‐α gene. Mean levels of all serum reproductive hormones demonstrated nonsignificant differences in different ER‐α genotypes except oestrogen that was elevated in PP and XX ER‐α gene genotypes. It is concluded that as oestrogen is concerned in male gamete maturation, ER‐α gene polymorphisms might play a role in the pathophysiology of male infertility.
Adjusting the Measurement of the Output of the Medical Sector for Quality: A Review of the Literature

The Bureau of Economic Analysis recently created new price indexes for health care in its health care satellite account and now faces the problem of how to adjust them for quality. I review the literature on this topic and divide the articles that created quality-adjusted price indexes for individual medical conditions into those that use primarily outcomes-based adjustments and those that use only process-based adjustments. Outcomes-based adjustments adjust the indexes based on observed aggregate health outcomes, usually mortality. Process-based adjustments adjust the indexes based on the treatments provided and medical knowledge of their effectiveness. Outcomes-based adjustments are easier to implement, while process-based adjustments are more demanding in terms of data and medical knowledge. In general, the research literature shows adjusting for quality in the measurement of output in the medical sector to be quantitatively important.
Comparison of Transport Properties Models for Flowfield Simulations of Ablative Heat Shields

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of different models for calculating the mixture transport properties on flowfield predictions of ablative heat shields. The Stardust sample return capsule at four different trajectory conditions is used as a representative environment for Earth entry. In the first part of the study, the results predicted using Wilke’s missing rule, with species viscosities calculated using Blottner’s curve fits and species thermal conductivities determined using Eucken’s relation, are compared to the results obtained using Gupta’s mixing rule with collision cross-section data. The heat transfer to the vehicle predicted using the Wilke/Blottner/Eucken model is found to be larger than the value obtained using the Gupta/collision cross-section model by as much as 60%. The Wilke/Blottner/Eucken model also produces a larger mass blowing rate due to the oxidation of bulk carbon by as much as 25% compared to the Gupta/collision cross-section model. In the second part of the study.
Neuroticism and the Effect of Stress on the Pupillary Light Reflex

The pupillary light reflex was recorded under control, stress and fatigue conditions for 30 subjects equally divided into groups low, moderate, and high in Neuroticism. The effects of stress were distinguished by a decrease in both latency and extent of pupillary constriction during the initial light stimulation trials, as well as by a greater magnitude of redilation. Latency to maximum constriction and extent of constriction and redilation progressively decreased during the fatigue condition. No differences between Neuroticism groups were observed although it was noted that Neuroticism was negatively correlated with magnitude of redilation during the post-stress condition.
Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with recombinant human erythropoietin

Abstract: 12 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (r‐epo). 5 patients had stable anemia, 78–92 g/l, and 7 were transfusion‐dependent. In 11 patients, r‐epo was given intravenously three times a week, with dose escalation after 4 and 8 wk if hemoglobin did not increase more than 15 g/l. The doses were 600, 1500 and 3000 U/kg body weight/wk. The 12th patient was treated subcutaneously with a dose of 560 U/kg/wk. 3 patients showed a significant response with an increase in hemoglobin of ≥ 15 g/l. 2 of these had stable anemia before treatment and increased in hemoglobin from 87 to 116 g/l and from 80 to 99 g/l, respectively. The 3rd patient was transfusion‐dependent and rose to a stable hemoglobin level between 76 and 80 g/l without transfusions. 2 patients showed a reduction of their transfusion need. Mean initial serum erythropoietin in the responding group was 366 U/l compared to 1049 among the non‐responders (p = 0.367). Response was observed in 5/7 patients without bone marrow sideroblasts and in 0/5 patients with sideroblasts (p = 0.027). Erythropoietin seems to be an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for a certain proportion of patients with MDS. A larger patient material might provide a model for predicting responses.
An Uncommon Cause of Posterior Knee Pain: Diagnosis and Injection for Popliteus Strain Using Ultrasonography.

Dear Editor, A 52-year-old man with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma was admitted for chemotherapy. Due to immune suppression, he had been instructed to stay in his room and rest in bed during the whole treatment course. After 3 weeks of activity restriction, as he was getting prepared for discharge, he noticed severe left knee pain. He stated long-term discomfort on his left posterior knee, never causing difficulty in weight bearing like this episode. Based on his past history, he was referred for ultrasound (US) evaluation for gouty arthritis attack. Physical examination did not yield any swelling or redness but tenderness near the lateral tibial plateau. Substantial US assessment showed …
The relationship of breast density, BMI, and menopausal status in mammography and MRI.

36 Background: Mammographic breast density (BD) is associated with a 4- to 6-fold increased risk for developing breast cancer. A previous study has shown that background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) as measured on MRI can be correlated with breast cancer risk. Being overweight or obese is also an established risk factor for breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between BD, BPE, FGT (assessment of fibroglandular tissue with contiguous MR images), and BMI in pre- and post-menopausal women. METHODS The Breast Cancer Database at NYU Langone Medical Center was queried and a total of 187 women had completed both screening mammograms and MRIs. Variables of interest included BD, BPE, FGT, BMI, and menopausal status. BD was defined by ACR classifications 1-4. FGT was assessed on a similar scale 1-4. BPE was categorized as minimal, mild, moderate, or marked. BMI (kg/m2) was grouped as underweight (≤18), normal (19-24), overweight (25-29), and obese (≥30). Statistical analyses were performed using Spearman Correlation Coefficients and Cochran Mantel Haenszel tests. RESULTS The median age in our cohort was 51 years (range 22-87 years). The majority were Caucasian (71%) with early stage breast cancers (75%). There was no correlation between BD and BPE (r=0.132) and a weak correlation between BPE and FGT (r=0.312). However, there was a strong positive correlation between BD and FGT (r=0.733). After adjusting for menopausal status, these correlations remained the same. When we stratified by BMI, we found the strongest positive association between BD and FGT among women with BMI≥25 (r=0.715). CONCLUSIONS In our cohort of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, BD and BPE were not correlated, even after adjusting for menopausal status. This implies that BD and BPE may represent different characteristics of breast tissue and may have different implications. We found a strong correlation between FGT and BD. This association was strongest in women who were overweight and obese. FGT is a more objective and quantitative measurement of breast density and may be more useful in quantitative breast cancer risk assessment.Further studies are necessary to determine if BPE and FGT are independent risk factors for breast cancer.
Proline 78 Is Crucial for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nef To Down-Regulate Class I Human Leukocyte Antigen

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Nef down-regulates human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) in T lymphocytes, and the down-regulation involves the Nef proline-rich domain (PRD) containing four prolines at positions 69, 72, 75, and 78. We used a Sendai virus vector with nef and examined regulation by Nef of HLA-I and CD4 in suspension cultures of cells such as T lymphocytes. Analyses of a series of PRD substitution mutants indicated that, because the substitution of Pro78 with Ala abolished down-regulation of HLA-I but not of CD4, Pro78 is important for HLA-I down-regulation in T lymphocytes.
The Werther effect and assisted suicide.

In the course of a large epidemiological study in the region of Basle, Switzerland, from 1992 to 1996, a considerable rise in suicides assisted by the right-to-die society EXIT was uncovered after wide press coverage of an assisted double suicide of a prominent couple in that region in March 1995. Further investigation revealed that the rise of assisted suicides for a period of 2 years after the critical event was statistically significant compared to the 2 years previous to the double suicide. This was especially true for women older than 65 years. Hence, the almost enthusiastic kind of reporting about this event was apt to induce imitation suicides or a "Werther-effect. "
The effect of HIV infection on overdose mortality

Objectives:To quantify the association of HIV infection with overdose mortality and explore the potential mechanisms. Design:A prospective cohort study. Methods:A total of 1927 actively injecting drug users who were HIV seronegative at baseline, of whom 308 later HIV seroconverted, were followed semi-annually for death from 1988 to 2001. Survival analyses using marginal structural and standard Cox models were used to evaluate the effect of HIV infection on the risk of overdose mortality. Results:Overdose death rates were higher in HIV-seropositive than HIV-seronegative drug users: 13.9 and 5.6 per 1000 person-years, respectively (P < 0.01). The hazard ratio (HR) was 2.54 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47, 4.38] for the marginal structural model and 2.06 (95% CI 1.25, 3.38) for the standard Cox model, both adjusted for demographics, drug injection characteristics, alcohol abuse, substance abuse treatment, and sexual orientation. Adjusting for possible time-varying mediators (i.e. drug use, medical conditions and healthcare access) in extended marginal structural models reduced the effect of HIV on overdose mortality by 30% (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.01, 3.30). Abnormal liver function was associated with a higher risk of overdose mortality (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.05, 3.84); adjustment for this further reduced the effect of HIV on overdose mortality. Conclusion:HIV infection was associated with a higher risk of overdose mortality. Drug use behavior, systematic disease and liver damage associated with HIV infection appeared to account for a substantial portion of this association. The data suggest a group to target with interventions to reduce overdose mortality rates.
Molecular Characterization and Typing of Chicken and Turkey Astroviruses Circulating in the United States: Implications for Diagnostics

Abstract Avian astroviruses were detected by reverse transcriptase and polymerase chain reaction in intestinal contents collected from commercial chickens and turkeys from throughout the United States from 2003 through 2005. Astroviruses were detected in birds from both healthy and poorly performing flocks with or without enteric disease. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with sequence data from the polymerase (ORF-1b) genes of 41 turkey-origin astroviruses and 23 chicken-origin astroviruses. All currently available avian astrovirus sequence data and selected mammalian astrovirus sequence data were included in the analysis. Four groups of avian astroviruses were observed by phylogenetic analysis: turkey astrovirus type 1 (TAstV-1)-like viruses, turkey astrovirus type 2 (TAstV-2)-like viruses, both detected in turkeys; avian nephritis virus (ANV)-like viruses, detected in both chickens and turkeys; and a novel group of chicken-origin astroviruses (CAstV). Among these four groups, amino acid identity was between 50.1% and 73.8%, and was a maximum of 49.4% for all avian isolates when compared with the mammalian astroviruses. There were multiple phylogenetic subgroups within the TAstV-2, ANV, and CAstV groups based on 9% nucleotide sequence divergence. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no clear assortment by geographic region or isolation date. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between the detection of a particular astrovirus and the presence of enteric disease or poor performance. Based on these data, a revision of the present taxonomic classification for avian astroviruses within the genus Avastrovirus is warranted.
Environmental History of Mangrove Vegetation in Pacific West-Central Mexico during the Last 1300 Years

Abstract Mangroves are a highly threatened ecosystem due to climate change and human activity, which increases coastal vulnerability. Knowledge about the ecological dynamics of mangroves on a centennial timescale can reveal the different responses in vegetation, which is useful for implementing basic actions for mangrove restoration, conservation and management. A mangrove ecosystem in the Cuyutlan Lagoon area along the Pacific coast of west-central Mexico is significantly altered as a result of industrialization, salt extraction, and road construction. The long-term dynamics of the mangrove ecosystem has also been controlled by Holocene climatic variability. This study reconstructs the environmental history of mangrove vegetation around the Cuyutlan Lagoon during the last ~1300 years in response to periods of human activity and climate change. The reconstruction was performed using paleoecological techniques in sediment cores that include the use of fossil pollen as a proxy for vegetation and magnetic susceptibility and geochemical data (determined by loss-on-ignition and X-ray fluorescence) as a proxy for past environmental changes. The chronology was determined using 14C dating and the age-depth model was constructed by linear interpolation. Redundancy analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were used to discern patterns of distribution of the different proxies. Results revealed that the mangrove pollen assemblage of the Cuyutlan Lagoon was dominated by the arboreal taxa Rhizophora mangle, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae and Pinaceae, herbaceous taxa like Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, and aquatics such as Typhaceae and Cyperaceae. NMDS showed a clear separation between two events of human activity—the Spanish Occupation of Colima (~AD 1523-1524) and the opening of the Manzanillo port (~AD 1824-1825). Climate change events such as the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (~AD 800-1200) and the Little Ice Age (LIA) (~AD 1350-1850) were also successfully identified. The main responses were mangrove expansion (driven by R. mangle) during the LIA and the Manzanillo Port Opening, while the MCA was a highly perturbed period marked by multiple hurricane events and low or no pollen deposition in the sediment. During the Spanish Occupation, the aquatic taxa Typhaceae expanded together with an increase in Ca, Sr and carbonate contents.
Postural control in patients with total hip replacement.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the balance of the standing position and the motor responses by means of dynamic posturography (DP) in patients affected by hip osteoarthritis and treated by total hip replacement (THR). METHODS Data obtained from THR patients were compared with those of control adult groups ofage-matched subjects with normal hearing and no history of audio-vestibular symptoms. The statistical tests used were paired and unpaired Student's t-test. Significance was set for P<0.05. The study was carried out at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Department of Physiatrics and Rehabilitation of the A. Gemelli University Hospital of Rome (Italy). Twenty-three consecutive patients, without cochleo-vestibular or neurological pathologies (screened by accurate case-history), affected by hip osteoarthritis and treated by THR were enrolled. The main outcome measure were Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Motor control test (MCT) and Adaptation test (AT) obtained by means of Equi-Test Dynamic Posturography System by NeuroCom (Int. Inc., Clackamas, OR, USA). RESULTS When analysing the SOT and MCT, no statistically significant differences were observed between patients and controls. In the AT, the sway energy score decreased in the course of the test in an up and down perturbation both in healthy and in THR patients. CONCLUSIONS These data confirm a normal postural control and symmetrical responses in THR patients and confirm the absence of a detectable relationship between balance problems and fall risk. These results could be justified by an irrelevant role of intracapsular proprioceptors in maintaining balance. Moreover DP could be useful in osteo-articular diseases for understanding balance, evaluating surgical outcome and monitoring the rehabilitation program.