Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of Labour for Improving Birth Outcomes for Women at or Beyond Term

BACKGROUND: As a pregnancy continues beyond term the risks of babies dying inside the womb or in the immediate newborn period increase. Whether a policy of labour induction at a predetermined gestational age can reduce this increased risk is the subject of this review. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the benefits and harms of a policy of labour induction at term or postterm compared to awaiting spontaneous labour or later induction of labour. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (June 2006). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials conducted in women at or beyond term. The eligible trials were those comparing a policy of labour induction to a policy of awaiting spontaneous onset of labour. Trials comparing cervical ripening methods, membrane stripping/sweeping or nipple stimulation without any commitment to delivery within a certain time were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently evaluated potentially eligible trials and extracted data. Outcomes are analyzed in two main categories: gestational age and cervix status. MAIN RESULTS: We included 19 trials reporting on 7,984 women. A policy of labour induction at 41 completed weeks or beyond was associated with fewer (all-cause) perinatal deaths (1/2986 versus 9/2953; relative risk [RR] 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09 to 0.99). The risk difference is 0.00 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.00). If deaths due to congenital abnormality are excluded, no deaths remain in the labour induction group and seven deaths remain in the no-induction group. There was no evidence of a statistically significant difference in the risk of caesarean section (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.12; RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.31) for women induced at 41 and 42 completed weeks, respectively. Women induced at 37 to 40 completed weeks were more likely to have a caesarean section with expectant management than those in the labour induction group (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.99). There were fewer babies with meconium aspiration syndrome (41+: RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.68, four trials, 1,325 women; 42+: RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.81, two trials, 388 women). AUTHORS' CONCLUSION: A policy of labour induction after 41 completed weeks or later compared to awaiting spontaneous labour either indefinitely or at least one week is associated with fewer perinatal deaths. However, the absolute risk is extremely small. Women should be appropriately counseled on both the relative and absolute risks.
Methamphetamine‐Induced Changes in Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in Copper/Zinc‐Superoxide Dismutase Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of methamphetamine (METH)‐induced toxicity on brain cortical and striatal antioxidant defense systems. Because METH‐induced toxicity is attenuated in copper/zinc‐superoxide dismutase transgenic (Cu/Zn‐SOD‐Tg) mice, we sought to determine if METH had differential effect on antioxidant enzymes on these mice in comparison to non‐Tg mice. METH (4 × 10 mg/kg) induced a significant decrease in Cu/Zn‐SOD activity in the cortical region without altering striatal enzymatic activity in non‐Tg mice; whereas homozygous SOD‐Tg mice showed a significant increase in the striatum. In addition, METH caused decrease in catalase (CAT) activity in the striatum of non‐Tg mice and significant increase in the cortex of homozygous SOD‐Tg mice. METH also induced decreases in glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) in both cortical and striatal regions of non‐Tg mice and in the striatum of heterozygous SOD‐Tg mice. Lipid peroxidation was increased in both cortices and striata of non‐Tg and heterozygous SOD‐Tg mice, whereas the homozygous SOD‐Tg mice were not affected. These results are discussed in terms of their substantiation of a role for oxygen‐based radicals in METH‐induced toxicity in rodents.
Rescue of Influenza C Virus from Recombinant DNA

ABSTRACT The rescue of influenza viruses by reverse genetics has been described only for the influenza A and B viruses. Based on a similar approach, we developed a reverse-genetics system that allows the production of influenza C viruses entirely from cloned cDNA. The complete sequences of the 3′ and 5′ noncoding regions of type C influenza virus C/Johannesburg/1/66 necessary for the cloning of the cDNA were determined for the seven genomic segments. Human embryonic kidney cells (293T) were transfected simultaneously with seven plasmids that direct the synthesis of each of the seven viral RNA segments of the C/JHB/1/66 virus under the control of the human RNA polymerase I promoter and with four plasmids encoding the viral nucleoprotein and the PB2, PB1, and P3 proteins of the viral polymerase complex. This strategy yielded between 103 and 104 PFU of virus per ml of supernatant at 8 to 10 days posttransfection. Additional viruses with substitutions introduced in the hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion protein were successfully produced by this method, and their growth phenotype was evaluated. This efficient system, which does not require helper virus infection, should be useful in viral mutagenesis studies and for generation of expression vectors from type C influenza virus.
Uncertainty in the housing market: evidence from US states

Abstract Housing is distinct from other financial assets, since it is a durable consumer good for households. Due to the irreversible nature of housing investment, uncertainty should be an important determinant of housing investment. From a theoretical point of view, though, this impact is ambiguous. This paper extends previous empirical work by employing the techniques of bivariate Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models in a group of forty-eight US states. In particular, we use data on housing permits as a proxy for housing investment and the house price index for the forty-eight contiguous US states and estimate bivariate GARCH models (BEKK) for each state, in order to obtain proxies of housing investment and house price uncertainty. Moreover, we use the Economic Policy Uncertainty index as an alternative measure of uncertainty. This setup allows us to test for the impact of uncertainty on housing investment growth and house price inflation and examine whether the effects differ across the different states. In general, we find that in most states uncertainty tends to increase housing investment growth and to decrease house price inflation. The cross-state differences in results may be due to variation in the degree of speculation in housing markets.
Ecology of Urban Bees: A Review of Current Knowledge and Directions for Future Study

Urban bee ecology is an emerging field that holds promise for advancing knowledge of bee community dynamics and promoting bee conservation. Published studies of bee communities in urban and suburban habitats are fewer than those documenting bees in agricultural and wildland settings. As land lost to urbanization is predicted to increase in coming years the necessity of studying urban bee populations is growing. We reviewed 59 publications on urban bee ecology with the following goals, to assess current knowledge, to highlight areas in need of further research, and to suggest applications of study findings to bee conservation. Identified trends in urban areas included the following, negative correlation between bee species richness and urban development, increase in abundance of cavity-nesters in urban habitats, and scarcity of floral specialists. Future directions for studying urban bee ecology include incorporation of landscape-scale assessments, conducting manipulative experiments and actively designing urban bee habitats.
Induction of mesenchymal cell phenotypes in lung epithelial cells by adenovirus E1A

Epithelial–mesenchymal transformation is now recognised as an important feature of tissue remodelling. The present report concerns the role of adenovirus infection in inducing this transformation in an animal model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Guinea pig primary peripheral lung epithelial cells (PLECs) transfected with adenovirus E1A (E1A-PLECs) were compared to guinea pig normal lung fibroblasts (NLFs) transfected with E1A (E1A-NLFs). These cells were characterised by PCR, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and Western and Northern blot analyses. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed in order to examine nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1 binding activities. E1A-PLECs and E1A-NLFs positive for E1A DNA, mRNA and protein expressed cytokeratin and vimentin but not smooth muscle α-actin. Both exhibited cuboidal morphology and junctional complexes, but did not contain lamellar bodies or express surfactant protein A, B or C mRNAs. These two cell types differed, however, in their NF-κB and AP-1 binding after lipopolysaccharide stimulation, possibly due to differences in the expression of the subunits that comprise these transcriptional complexes. E1A transfection results in the transformation of peripheral lung epithelial cells and normal lung fibroblasts to a phenotype intermediate between that of the two primary cells. It is postulated that this intermediate phenotype may play a major role in the remodelling of the airways in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with persistence of adenovirus E1A DNA.
A Cell‐permeable NFAT Inhibitor Peptide Prevents Pressure‐Overload Cardiac Hypertrophy

The activation of the calcineurin–nuclear factor of activated T cells cascade during the development of pressure‐overload cardiac hypertrophy has been previously reported in a number of studies. In addition, numerous pharmacological studies involving calcineurin inhibitors such as FK506 and cyclosporine A have now demonstrated that these agents can prevent such hypertrophic responses in the heart. However, little is known regarding the roles of the calcineurin downstream effecter – nuclear factor of activated T cells. Our present study has further examined the roles of nuclear factor of activated T cells in pressure‐overload cardiac hypertrophy by employing a recently developed cell‐permeable nuclear factor of activated T cells inhibitor peptide. Rat hearts were subjected to pressure overload attributable by 4 weeks of aortic banding, and then treated with this cell‐permeable nuclear factor of activated T cells inhibitor peptide and a control peptide. Treatment with the inhibitor was found to significantly decrease the heart weight/body weight ratio, the size of cardiac myocytes, and the serum brain natriuretic peptide and atrial natriuretic peptide levels. These results suggest that nuclear factor of activated T cells functions in a key role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy during pressure overload. Inhibition of nuclear factor of activated T cells by a specific inhibitor peptide is a suitable method for characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy as well as in the search for new promising therapies for disease.
Is HIV testing normal or special? Opinions of health professionals in four European countries in 2008

The special norms in testing for HIV infection are not typical of testing or screening for other diseases. In four European countries, we studied health professionals’ views on HIV testing This study is based on cross-sectional surveys of two groups of health professionals: presidents of selected health professional societies and head physicians and nurses of selected hospital clinics in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, and Portugal in 2008. A common structured semi-anonymous questionnaire was used in the four countries. The number of societies responding varied from five to 10 and for hospital clinics from six to 18; the response rates were from 32% to 100% and 41% to 100%, respectively. Opinions on whether HIV testing is like any other test and on the value of specific approaches in HIV testing varied both within and between countries. Some professionals thought that HIV testing is different from the testing of other infectious diseases; others thought that such an exceptional approach may be a disservice to people and to the health system. Many professionals thought that HIV testing should not be thought of only from the point of view of the individual to be tested, but also from that of other people (potential patients). Obligatory testing was considered appropriate in certain circumstances. Generally, more HIV testing in health care was called for. Normalization of HIV testing, i.e., considering it like any other diagnostic test, is unlikely to meet much opposition from health professionals. Larger surveys are needed to confirm the results.
Islamic financial investments and economic growth evidence from emerging economy, United Arab Emirates

The paper examines the role of Islamic banking investments in enhancing the emerging economic growth of United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study uses annual time series data to examine the relationship between the variables. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework is utilised for co-integration along with error correction models. The findings indicate that in the long-term Islamic banks' investments have contributed to the economic growth of UAE. It shows that when Islamic investments increase, the economic growth also increases in a positive way. Granger causality test results depict a positive and statistically significant relationship between economic growth and Islamic banks' investments in both the short-run and in the long-run as well. It reveals that the causal relationship between Islamic banks' investments and the economic growth of UAE is a supply-leading direction. The paper concludes that the United Arab Emirates Government should support the growth of Islamic banks since they approve their impacts on the UAE economy.
Minute mixed ductal‐endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with predominant intraductal growth

We report a rare case of minute (5 mm × 4 mm) mixed ductal‐endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with predominant intraductal growth. A 34‐year‐old Japanese man was admitted because of elevated serum pancreatic enzymes. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed an unidentified material of 18 mm within the main pancreatic duct. Stone or parasite with acute pancreatitis was suspected clinically, and the biopsy revealed malignant cells positive for CA19‐9, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and synaptophysin. No apparent tumor was identified in the pancreas by various imaging techniques. Resection of pancreatic body and tail was performed. Grossly, the main pancreatic duct in the pancreatic body was occluded by as much as 20 mm. The pancreas had minute carcinoma of 5 mm × 4 mm just around the occluded main pancreatic duct. The tumor cells invaded the main pancreatic duct and spread within it as long as 20 mm. Histologically, the carcinoma had biphasic pattern; one was ductal carcinoma with tubular formations and another was carcinoma with neuroendocrine features. These two elements were admixed, and the ductal element comprised 30% while the endocrine element comprised 70%. The ductal element was immunoreactive for cytokeratins, CEA and CA19‐9, while the endocrine element was immunoreactive for chromogranin A and synaptophysin. No immunoreactivity for pancreatic enzymes was noted. Ultrastructural observations showed dense core granules and no zymogen granules. Our case is unique clinically in that the tumor manifested as an intraductal material and no apparent tumor was found by imaging modalities, and pathologically in that the tumor was rare mixed ductal‐endocrine carcinoma and the tumor was very small and mainly grew within the main pancreatic duct.
Analysis Optical Properties of Carbon Dots from Paper Flowers (Bougainvillea spectabilis)

Synthesized carbon dots (CDs) from paper flowers (Bougainvillea spectabilis) was performed by microwave assisted. CDs were characterized by ultraviolet visible light (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL) and time resolved luminescence (TRPL). PL data shows wavelength intensity of CDs paper flowers at 493 nm for 3.9 ns and 512 nm for 4.2 ns respectively for purple and white paper flowers that excited at 420 nm. The absorbance for CDs white paper flower at 262 nm and 350 nm, while CDs purple flower paper at 260 nm, 324 nm, and 530 nm. CDs from paper flower shows excellent optical properties. So, it is mean that method applied to this experiment effectively, cheap and eco-friendly for synthesis CDs from paper flower.
Prolonged Prenatal Hypernatremia Alters Neuroendocrine and Electrolyte Homeostasis in Neonatal Sheep1

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus, and is stored and secreted by the posterior pituitary gland in response to stimuli such as plasma hypertonicity and hypotension. The primary physiologic roles of AVP include plasma osmolality and blood pressure regulation. We have previously demonstrated that chronic prenatal plasma hypertonicity alters the AVP regulatory pathway in newborn lambs. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate prolonged effects of antenatal plasma hypertonicity on neonatal plasma osmoregulation. Pregnant ewes at 119 ± 3 days of gestation were water restricted to achieve and maintain hypertonicity until normal-term delivery. After delivery, ewes were provided food and water ad libitum and lambs were allowed maternal nursing. At the age of 28 days, blood samples were obtained for the analysis of plasma osmolality, electrolytes, and AVP levels from study (n = 5) and age-matched control (n = 6) lambs. Subsequently, lambs were euthanized, and the pituitary and hypothalamus were processed for the determination of pituitary AVP content by radioimmunoassay, and AVP gene expression by Northern analysis. In response to water restriction, maternal plasma osmolality significantly increased (306 ± 1.1 to 326 ±1.2 mOsm/kg, P < 0.001). At the age of 28 days, plasma sodium level was higher in study (prenatally dehydrated) than control lambs (144.6 ± 0.4 vs 142.6 ± 0.3, P < 0.05). Study lambs had higher plasma AVP concentrations than the control lambs (4.1 ± 0.4 vs 1.7 ± 0.4 pg/ml, P < 0.05). Similarly, total pituitary AVP content was higher in the in utero hypertonic lambs than in the control lambs (6.5 ± 1.0 vs 2.8 ± 1.2 μg, P < 0.05). However, there was no difference in hypothalamic AVP mRNA levels between the two groups. The present study demonstrates that chronic maternal and fetal plasma hypertonicity has prolonged effects on pituitary and plasma AVP, as well as plasma sodium in neonatal lambs, providing further evidence suggesting prenatal imprinting of osmoregulation through at least 1 month of age.
Preclinical Safety Evaluation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Cerebrum of Nonhuman Primates

The efficacy of stem cell transplantation for promoting recovery of patients with neurological diseases, such as stroke, has been reported in several studies. However, the safety of the intracerebral transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of hMSCs transplanted in cerebrum of Macaca fascicularis and to provide evidence for clinical application. A total of 24 M fascicularis were assigned to 3 groups randomly: low dose (3.0 × 105 cells/kg), high dose (2.5 × 106 cells/kg), and the control (normal saline [NS]). Human mesenchymal stem cells or NS were injected into each monkey for 2 times, with an interval of 3 weeks. The injection point was located outside of the right putamen, according to a stereotactic map and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the monkeys. Animal health, behavior, biophysical and biochemical parameters, and brain neurological function were routinely monitored over a 6-month period posttransplantation, and the histopathologic examinations were also performed. The results showed that local pathologic damage including local tissue necrosis and inflammation was induced after the injection. The damage of low-dose and high-dose groups was greater than that of the control group, yet over time, the damage could be repaired gradually. No major hMSCs-associated changes were induced from other indicators, and the transplantation of hMSCs in monkeys did not affect total immunoglobulin (Ig) M, total IgG, CD3, CD4, or CD8 values. We therefore conclude that transplantation of hMSCs to the cerebrum represents a safe alternative for clinical application of neurological disorders.
Variables That Influence the Generation of Random Sequences: An Update

This article updates Tune's 1964 review of variables influencing human subjects' attempts at generating random sequences of alternatives. It also covers aspects not included in the original review such as randomization behavior by patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Relevant work from animal research (spontaneous alternation paradigm) is considered as well. It is conjectured that Tune's explanation of sequential nonrandomness in terms of a limited capacity of short-term memory can no longer be maintained. Rather, interdependence among consecutive choices is considered a consequence of an organism's natural susceptibility to interference. Random generation is thus a complex action which demands complete suppression of any rule-governed behavior. It possibly relies on functions of the frontal lobes but cannot otherwise be “localized” to restricted regions of the brain. Possible developments in the field are briefly discussed, both with respect to basic experiments regarding the nature of behavioral nonrandomness and to potential applications of random-generation tasks.
Effects of steroidal and non‐steroidal antiphlogistic drugs on eicosanoid synthesis in irritated skin: studies with the isolated perfused bovine udder

Using the isolated perfused bovine udder as an in‐vitro model of skin inflammation, the effects of topically administered arachidonic acid on prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis have been shown previously. In this study, the effects of indometacin (indomethacin) and clobetasol‐17‐propionate (administered topically) as well as flunixin meglumine and meloxicam (administered via the perfusion fluid) have been studied. Compared with controls, arachidonic acid caused a significant increase in the dermal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and peptidoleukotriene (LTC4/D4/E4) concentration. Topical treatment with indometacin (1.6 mg cm−2) and clobetasol‐17‐propionate (90 μg cm−2), which were administered 60 min before arachidonic acid administration, inhibited the inflammatory reaction. Flunixin meglumine (1 μg mL−1 perfusion fluid) was administered 30 min after and meloxicam (3 μg mL−1 perfusion fluid) was administered 60 min before arachidonic acid application. Three hours after arachidonic acid administration, a significant inhibition of PGE2 synthesis was induced by flunixin. In contrast, meloxicam showed only a slight effect. The effect of flunixin was comparable with in‐vivo results. It is known from animal studies that anti‐inflammatory effects of meloxicam are obvious within up to 6 h after treatment. Therefore, the incomplete effect of meloxicam may be explained pharmacokinetically. In conclusion, the described in‐vitro model seems to be suitable for studies of pharmacological effects on eicosanoid synthesis in the skin.