Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Institute of Medicine Guidelines for Gestational Weight Gain after a Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to assess the impact of gestational weight gain outside the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations after the diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) on perinatal outcomes. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Women were classified as gestational weight gain (GWG) within, less than, or greater than IOM recommendations for body mass index as calculated by gestational weight gain per week after a diagnosis of GDM. Outcomes assessed were preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, A2 GDM, birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), macrosomia, and preterm delivery. Groups were compared using analysis of variance and chi-square test for trend, as appropriate. Backward stepwise logistic regression was used to adjust for significant confounding factors. Results Of 635 subjects, 92 gained within, 175 gained less than, and 368 gained more than IOM recommendations. The risk of cesarean delivery and A2 GDM was increased in those gaining above the IOM recommendations compared with within. For every 1-lb/week increase in weight gain after diagnosis of GDM, there was a 36 to 83% increase in the risk of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, A2 GDM, macrosomia, and LGA, without decreases in SGA or preterm delivery. Conclusion Weight gain more than the IOM recommendations per week of gestation after a diagnosis of GDM is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Productive Performance of Rajasri Bird at Farmer’s Backyard: A Study in Southern State of India -

Backyards poultry farming is an age old practice among rural people especially women with desi birds in India. Under Rastriya Krishi Vikasa Yojana of Government of India,an improved variety for backyard i.e. Rajasri birds were distributed among the rural poor in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh to uplift the socio-economic status through backyard poultry which is an age old tradition in among rural Indian masses. In this context, a study was carried out to assess the performance of birds at farmer’s backyard and its impact on the livelihoods of farmers. The results revealed a significant (p
Four trematode cercariae from the New Zealand intertidal snail Zeacumantus subcarinatus (Batillariidae)

Abstract The cercariae and sporocysts (or rediae) of four trematode species are described from the intertidal snail Zeacumantus subcarinatus: a distome xiphidiocercaria assigned to the genus Renicola (family Renicolidae); a monostome xiphidiocercaria belonging either to the genus Microphallus or Megalophallus (family Microphallidae); a magnacercous cercaria of the genus Galactosomum (family Hetero‐phyidae); and a cercaria of the genus Philophthalmus (family Philophthalmidae). The morphological features of these cercariae are compared to previously described cercariae of the same genera. In addition, since the philophthalmid cercaria encysts readily on artificial substrates in the laboratory, the metacercaria of this species is also described. These cercariae are part of a diverse community of at least six digenean species parasitising the snail Z. subcarinatus that, together, have a major impact on the ecology and evolution of this snail.
Chronic periodontitis and pre-term labour in Brazilian pregnant women: an association to be analysed.

AIM To investigate the association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and pre-maturity in a group of Brazilian pregnant women from the State of São Paulo. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and twenty-four women were investigated consecutively in a cross-sectional study, between December 2003 and May 2005. Sixty-eight women had pre-term labour (PTL) and 56 had term labour. A periodontal examination was carried out to identify the presence of CP. Statistical analysis used the Fisher's exact test or chi(2) for the discrete variables and the Mann-Whitney test for the non-parametric variables. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI), to evaluate the relation between CP and pre-maturity. RESULTS Periodontal indicators, such as clinical attachment loss (p<0.0001) and bleeding on probing (p=0.012), were observed more in the PTL group. The presence of CP increased the risk for PTL (OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.9-11.9), pre-term birth (PTB; OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.9-12.8) and low birth weight (<2500 g; OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.3-13.3). The pregnant women with PTL presented low levels of schooling (p=0.029) and the lowest number of pre-natal appointments (p=0.0001) when compared with those with term labour. CONCLUSION CP is strongly associated with PTL, PTB and low birth weight in a group of Brazilian pregnant women. These data point to the necessity of regularly investigating CP during pregnancy.
Real-Time Fire Detection for Video Surveillance Applications Using a Combination of Experts Based On Color , Shape and Motion

Fire causes irreversible damage to fragile natural ecosystems and greatly affects the socio-economic systems of many nations especially in the tropics where forest fires are more prevalent. Early detection of these fires may help reduce these impacts. Conventional point smoke and fire detectors are widely used in buildings. They typically detect the presence of certain particles generated by smoke and fire by ionization or photometry. Alarm is not issued unless particles reach the sensors to activate them. Therefore, they cannot be used in open spaces and large covered areas. Video based fire detection systems can be useful to detect fire in large auditoriums, tunnels, atriums, etc. The strength of using video in fire detection makes it possible to serve large and open spaces. In addition, closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems are currently installed in various public places monitoring indoors and outdoors. Such systems may gain an early fire detection capability with the use of fire detection software processing the outputs of CCTV cameras in real time.
High prevalence of overweight and obesity in homeless Baltimore children and their caregivers: a pilot study.

CONTEXT In the past, nutritional deficiencies were common among homeless families. Because obesity is currently a major public health issue in the United States, it is possible that obesity has supplanted nutritional deficiencies as the "new malnutrition" of the homeless. OBJECTIVE To perform a pilot study to determine the nutritional status of homeless caregivers and their children in the Baltimore City, Maryland. DESIGN Determination of weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) (weight in kg/height in m2) of all subjects and correlation with demographic variables. SETTING Six homeless shelters and transitional houses in Baltimore City. PATIENTS Thirty-one caregivers and 60 children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Relationship between caregiver BMI and child BMI and comparison of our data to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) norms. RESULTS Forty-two percent of the children (25 of 60) had a BMI-for-age classifying them as at risk for overweight (18%) or overweight (23%). None were underweight. One hundred percent of girls and 88% of boys under age 7 years were in the normal range for BMI. There were no caregivers in the underweight range for BMI. Seventy-seven percent were either overweight (26%) or obese (51%). When the weight categories of the largely African-American homeless Baltimore caregivers and their children were compared with national data from NHANES 1999-2002 for both African-American poor and nonpoor adult females and children, the Baltimore subjects had the lowest proportion in the healthy range and the highest proportion in the obese (adults) and overweight (children) categories. Caregiver BMI correlated with child BMI: r = 0.43, P = . 0002. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that overweight and obesity are the major forms of malnutrition in homeless families.
Outsourcing Versus Integration at Home or Abroad

Using data on a sample of Italian manufacturing companies, this paper analyzes the location (at home or abroad) and the mode of organization (outsourcing versus integration) of intermediate inputs production. We find evidence of a productivity ordering (largely consistent with the assumptions in Antri? ½s and Helpman 2004) where foreign integration is chosen by the most productive and domestic outsourcing by the least productive firms; those with medium-high productivity choose domestic integration, those with medium-low productivity foreign outsourcing. We also find that the preference for integration over outsourcing is positively related to some indicators of headquarter intensity, notably capital intensity, as predicted by Antri? ½s (2003) and Antri? ½s and Helpman (2004).
Assessment of Early Thromboelastometric Variables from Extrinsically Activated Assays With and Without Aprotinin for Rapid Detection of Fibrinolysis

BACKGROUND:Although thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) and thrombelastography can be used for bedside diagnosis of fibrinolysis, the time needed for detection is often prolonged. Since untreated fibrinolysis can result in consumption of coagulation factors and bleeding, early diagnosis and decision making are desirable. Accordingly, we assessed ROTEM variables from extrinsically activated assays with (APTEM®) and without (EXTEM®) addition of aprotinin for their ability to rapidly identify fibrinolysis. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that prolonged clotting time, clot formation time, low clot firmness (at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes, designated A5, A10, A15, and A20, respectively), low maximum clot firmness (MCF) in EXTEM assays, and differences in these variables from parallel APTEM and EXTEM assays (designated as &Dgr;variables) predict fibrinolysis. METHODS:Data from 411 thromboelastometric measurements (obtained from 352 patients) with fibrinolysis and from 2537 measurements without fibrinolysis (obtained from 1605 patients) were assessed and analyzed using receiver operating characteristics. Data were analyzed as a pooled fibrinolysis cohort, and subanalyses were performed from sets assigned to categories of fibrinolysis related to the timing of thrombus lysis (i.e., a decrease of clot firmness to <15% of MCF within 30, 45, and 60 minutes, respectively). A lower 95% confidence limit of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC [SE] <0.6) was considered a failure to substantially improve detection of increased fibrinolysis. AUCs were compared to identify the variable providing the best predictive association with fibrinolysis. As a secondary end point, optimum cutoff values at the point estimate corresponding to the greatest Youden index were calculated along with the respective sensitivities and specificities. RESULTS:In the pooled cohort, clot formation time (AUC: 0.652 [0.016]), &agr;-angle (AUC: 0.675 [0.015]), A5 (AUC: 0.718 [0.013]), A10 (AUC: 0.734 [0.0.13]), A15 (AUC: 0.752 [0.013]), A20 (AUC: 0.771 [0.013]), and MCF (AUC: 0.799 [0.012]) predicted fibrinolysis. Fibrinolysis was also predicted by &Dgr;A15 (AUC: 0.675 [0.016]), &Dgr;A20 (AUC: 0.719 [0.015]), and &Dgr;MCF (AUC: 0.812 [0.013]). AUCs increased in a time-related fashion. The ability to predict subsequent fibrinolysis based on thromboelastometry was higher when it occurred early rather than later during testing. However, for prediction of late fibrinolysis, only MCF (AUC: 0.655 [0.025]) appears to be potentially clinically useful. CONCLUSIONS:Low early values of clot firmness in extrinsically activated thromboelastometric assays are associated with fibrinolysis and improve its early detection. Additional assays with aprotinin fail to improve the early diagnosis of fibrinolysis compared with assays without aprotinin.
Laminar fate of cortical GABAergic interneurons is dependent on both birthdate and phenotype

Pioneering work indicates that the final position of neurons in specific layers of the mammalian cerebral cortex is determined primarily by birthdate. Glutamatergic projection neurons are born in the cortical proliferative zones of the dorsal telencephalon, and follow an “inside‐out” neurogenesis gradient: later‐born cohorts migrate radially past earlier‐born neurons to populate more superficial layers. GABAergic interneurons, the major source of cortical inhibition, comprise a heterogeneous population and are produced in proliferative zones of the ventral telencephalon. Mechanisms by which interneuron subclasses find appropriate layer‐specific cortical addresses remain largely unexplored. Major cortical interneuron subclasses can be identified based on expression of distinct calcium‐binding proteins including parvalbumin, calretinin, or calbindin. We determined whether cortical layer‐patterning of interneurons is dependent on phenotype. Parvalbumin‐positive interneurons populate cortical layers with an inside‐out gradient, and birthdate is isochronous to projection neurons in the same layers. In contrast, another major GABAergic subtype, labeled using calretinin, populates the cerebral cortex using an opposite “outside‐in” gradient, heterochronous to neighboring neurons. In addition to birthdate, phenotype is also a determinant of cortical patterning. Discovery of a cortical subpopulation that does not follow the well‐established inside‐out gradient has important implications for mechanisms of layer formation in the cerebral cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 501:369–380, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of the Four DNA Ligases of Mycobacteria*

Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes an NAD+-dependent DNA ligase (LigA) plus three distinct ATP-dependent ligase homologs (LigB, LigC, and LigD). Here we purify and characterize the multiple DNA ligase enzymes of mycobacteria and probe genetically whether the ATP-dependent ligases are required for growth of M. tuberculosis. We find significant differences in the reactivity of mycobacterial ligases with a nicked DNA substrate, whereby LigA and LigB display vigorous nick sealing activity in the presence of NAD+ and ATP, respectively, whereas LigC and LigD, which have ATP-specific adenylyltransferase activity, display weak nick joining activity and generate high levels of the DNA-adenylate intermediate. All four of the mycobacterial ligases are monomeric enzymes. LigA has a low Km for NAD+ (1 μm) and is sensitive to a recently described pyridochromanone inhibitor of NAD+-dependent ligases. LigA is able to sustain growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in lieu of the essential yeast ligase Cdc9, but LigB, LigC, and LigD are not. LigB is distinguished by its relatively high Km for ATP (0.34 mm) and its dependence on a distinctive N-terminal domain for nick joining. None of the three ATP-dependent ligases are essential for mycobacterial growth. M. tuberculosis ligDΔ cells are defective in nonhomologous DNA end joining.
Theory of attractive quality and the Kano methodology – the past, the present, and the future

The theory of attractive quality and the Kano methodology were introduced about 30 years ago. Since then, research and practitioner communities have adopted both the theory and the methodology, as they help to explain the roles different quality attributes play for customers. This paper reviews 147 research papers published between 1984 and 2012 and identifies three distinct phases in the development of the research field; Emergence, Exploration, and Explosion. In addition to the review of existing literature, the present paper sets the scene for the next phase of the research – Explanation – to further develop the field.
Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases

Financial statements are the basis for a wide range of business analysis. Managers, securities analysts, bankers, and consultants all use them to make business decisions. There is strong demand among business students for course materials that provide a framework for using financial statement data in a variety of business analysis and valuation contexts. BUSINESS ANALYSIS & VALUATION: USING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, TEXT & CASES, 5E allows you to undertake financial statement analysis using a four-part framework--(1) business strategy analysis for developing an understanding of a firm's competitive strategy; (2) accounting analysis for representing the firm's business economics and strategy in its financial statements, and for developing adjusted accounting measures of performance; (3) financial analysis for ratio analysis and cash flow measures of operating; and (4) prospective analysis. Then, you'll learn how to apply these tools in a variety of decision contexts, including securities analysis, credit analysis, corporate financing policies analysis, mergers and acquisitions analysis, and governance and communication analysis. This text also offers one Harvard case per chapter as well as an entirely separate section (Section 4) for additional cases!
Monte Carlo Methods for Estimating Failure Probabilities

We develop efficient Monte Carlo methods for estimating the failure probability of a system. An example of the problem comes from an approach for probabilistic safety assessment of nuclear power plants known as risk-informed safety-margin characterization, but it also arises in other contexts, e.g., structural reliability, catastrophe modeling, and finance. We estimate the failure probability using different combinations of simulation methodologies, including stratified sampling (SS), (replicated) Latin hypercube sampling (LHS), and conditional Monte Carlo (CMC). We prove theorems establishing that the combination SS+LHS (resp., SS+CMC+LHS) has smaller asymptotic variance than SS (resp., SS+LHS). We also devise asymptotically valid (as the overall sample size grows large) upper confidence bounds for the failure probability for the methods considered. The confidence bounds may be employed to perform an asymptotically valid probabilistic safety assessment. We present numerical results demonstrating that the combination SS+CMC+LHS can result in substantial variance reductions compared to stratified sampling alone.
Energy Expenditure in Critically Ill Elderly Patients: Indirect Calorimetry vs Predictive Equations

Background: Predictive equations (PEs) are used for estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) when the measurements obtained from indirect calorimetry (IC) are not available. This study evaluated the degree of agreement and the accuracy between the REE measured by IC (REE-IC) and REE estimated by PE (REE-PE) in mechanically ventilated elderly patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: REE-IC of 97 critically ill elderly patients was compared with REE-PE by 6 PEs: Harris and Benedict (HB) multiplied by the correction factor of 1.2; European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) using the minimum (ESPENmi), average (ESPENme), and maximum (ESPENma) values; Mifflin–St Jeor; Ireton-Jones (IJ); Fredrix; and Lührmann. Degree of agreement between REE-PE and REE-IC was analyzed by the interclass correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman test. The accuracy was calculated by the percentage of male and/or female patients whose REE-PE values differ by up to ±10% in relation to REE-IC. Results: For both sexes, there was no difference for average REE-IC in kcal/kg when the values obtained with REE-PE by corrected HB and ESPENme were compared. A high level of agreement was demonstrated by corrected HB for both sexes, with greater accuracy for women. The best accuracy in the male group was obtained with the IJ equation but with a low level of agreement. Conclusions: The effectiveness of PEs is limited for estimating REE of critically ill elderly patients. Nonetheless, HB multiplied by a correction factor of 1.2 can be used until a specific PE for this group of patients is developed.
Interferon-γ Down-regulates Gene Expression of Cathepsin K in Osteoclasts and Inhibits Osteoclast Formation

The cytokine, IFN-γ, has been shown in vitro to inhibit bone resorption, but the mechanisms responsible for this inhibition have not been clearly defined. Cathepsin K is a major protease responsible for bone resorption. IFN-γ may inhibit bone resorption through down-regulation of osteoclast genes, including cathepsin K. To test the hypothesis, we investigated the effect of IFN-γ on cathepsin K expression in the MOCP-5 and wild-type mouse bone marrow co-culture systems by Northern blot as well as osteoclast formation at different stages of differentiation. The results show that IFN-γ down-regulates mRNA levels of cathepsin K in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Consequently, cathepsin K protein production is also reduced by IFN-γ. Moreover, our results indicate that IFN-γ inhibits osteoclast formation only early in osteoclast differentiation. IL-6 and TNFa did not significantly affect cathepsin K gene expression in osteoclasts. However, IL-la stimulated gene expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that the actions of IFN-γ on osteoclastic bone resorption may be mediated by its effects on both osteoclast formation at an early stage and osteoclast gene expression in mature osteoclasts.
Association between Accounting Earnings and Stock Returns as a Measure of Value Relevance of Accounting Standards: Empirical Evidence from the Swiss Market

This study compares the informational content of accounting earnings reported by Swiss companies under the standards generally accepted in Switzerland and earnings reported under the International Accounting Standards and US GAAP. I examine the relative explanatory power and earnings response coefficients in regressions of reported numbers on market returns of the companies listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange and presenting financial statements under these different accounting frameworks. After controlling for firm size, foreign market listing, audit quality and sensitivity to some variable specifications, the obtained results suggest that a claim of compliance to IAS by a listed Swiss company does not necessarily imply that its earnings numbers are more value-relevant than if reported under Swiss standards. The company size and audit quality proved to be significant factors for the quality of reported numbers. The empirical results also confirm the hypothesis that firms reporting under US GAAP provide more informative earnings numbers. This confirmation, however, must be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size and high presence of these US GAAP firms on foreign stock markets.
Fraudulent Financial Reporting: 1987-1997 An Analysis of U.S. Public Companies

The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) sponsored this research project to provide an extensive updated analysis of financial statement fraud occurrences. While the work of the National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting in the mid-1980s identified numerous causal factors believed to contribute to financial statement fraud, little empirical evidence exists about factors related to instances of fraud since the release of the 1987 report (NCFFR, 1987). Thus, COSO commissioned this research project to provide COSO and others with information that can be used to guide future efforts to combat the problem of financial statement fraud and to provide a better understanding of financial statement fraud cases.