Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Term Labor Induction Compared With Expectant Management

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changing the definition of the group to which induction is being compared (ie, noninduced delivering during the same week as those induced compared with two definitions of expectant management) changes the association of labor induction and increased cesarean risk. METHODS: A New York State birth-certificate database was used to estimate odds ratios for cesarean delivery associated with labor induction at term. The analyses used three definitions of controls: cesarean delivery after induction compared with after spontaneous labor by week (week-to-week), induction at a given gestation age compared with expectant management of all other women after gestational age (all above), or induction at a given gestational age compared with expectant management of all other women at or after that gestational age (at or above). Chi-square logistic regression was used for comparisons and adjustment for possible confounders. RESULTS: All variations of comparison groups were associated with increased unadjusted cesarean risk after induction, although not after 39 weeks in the all-above group. After adjustment, increased risk persisted from 37 to 41 weeks using the week-to-week group and from 38 to 41 weeks in the at-or-above group (odds ratios 1.24 to 1.45) but was no longer significant in the all-above group. The excess cesarean delivery risk associated with labor induction is between 1 and 2 per 25 inductions. CONCLUSION: Labor induction is associated with increased cesarean risk whether using a week-to-week comparison group or an expectant group that includes women the same week or beyond that of the index induction, even after adjustment for parity, high-risk factors, and demographic variables. Although the magnitude of increased risk for a given woman undergoing induction is not large, women nonetheless should be informed of this increased risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Treatment of refractory blistering autoimmune diseases with mycophenolic acid

Background: Immunosuppressive drugs are used as steroid‐sparing agents in the management of blistering autoimmune diseases. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a relatively new adjuvant drug that selectively inhibits T and B lymphocyte proliferation by suppressing de novo purine synthesis. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of MPA in refractory blistering autoimmune diseases and the safety profile of a recent formulation, enteric‐coated mycophenolate sodium (EC‐MPS), in comparison with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Patients and methods: Twelve patients with various bullous dermatoses (three pemphigus vulgaris, one pemphigus herpetiformis, three bullous pemphigoid (BP), two cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) and three epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA)) were enrolled in the study. In 10 cases, MPA was administered in combination with systemic corticosteroids, while in two patients with severe diabetes mellitus MPA was employed as monotherapy. The total time on MPA varied from 2 to 8 months. Four patients were given MMF (2000 mg daily), seven received EC‐MPS (1440 mg daily) and one received both sequentially. Results: Complete remission, lasting for a mean time of 6.1 months, was achieved in 10 patients. Partial remission was obtained in two patients with disseminated CP and EBA. Both MMF and EC‐MPS were well tolerated, but the latter was better in terms of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Conclusions: MPA may be proposed as a first‐line adjuvant agent for pemphigus as well as for refractory BP and CP. MPA monotherapy has to be considered in selected cases of BP and pemphigus. The highly promising results obtained in EBA suggest a future key role for MPA in the management of this disease.
Retrospective analysis of long‐term defunctioning stoma complications after colorectal surgery

Objective Defunctioning stoma is a common surgical procedure, but the choice of stoma remains controversial. The preference for colostomy or ileostomy depends on the type of surgery and on the surgeon who performs the procedure. Stoma reversal is often performed a few weeks after colorectal resection but few studies have analysed the long‐term complications of different types of stoma. This study aims to determine which type of stoma is associated with a lower rate of long‐term complications.
The ultrastructural aspects of neoplastic myoepithelial cell in pleomorphic adenomas of salivary glands

The purpose of this study has been to establish the major ultrastructural aspects of the myoepithelial cell and the myoepithelial‐like cells proliferated in the pleomorphic adenomas of salivary glands. Thus, twelve benign pleomorphic adenomas of salivary glands have been studied by electron‐microscopy transmission techniques. Our analysis has proved the proliferation of two major cellular populations, one of ductal type and one of myoepithelial type, which tried to reproduce the tubulo‐acinar cytoarchitecture from the normal salivary glands. We have also noticed the key role of the so‐called ‘modified’ myoepithelial cells from the periphery of the proliferating epithelial units in the genesis of the myxoid and chondromyxoid tumoral stromal areas. All these ultrastructural aspects have explained the great histological diversity of these salivary gland neoplasms as well as the key role of the myoepithelial cell in its histogenesis.
Comparison between transport and degradation of leucine and glutamine by peripheral human lymphocytes exposed to concanavalin A

Transport and pathways of leucine and glutamine degradation were evaluated in resting human peripheral lymphocytes and compared with the changes induced by concanavalin A (ConA). Cells were incubated with [1‐14C]leucine (0.15 mM), [U‐14C]leucine (0.15 mM), or [U‐14C]glutamine (0.4 mM) after culture with or without 2, 5, 7, or 10 μg/ml ConA for 2, 18, or 24 hours, respectively. Initial rates of transport of leucine and glutamine were augmented 2.7‐fold and threefold by the mitogen. Leucine transamination, irreversible oxidation, and catabolism beyond isovaleryl‐CoA were increased by 90%, 20%, and 60%, respectively. Glu‐tamine utilization increased threefold; accumulation of glutamate, aspartate, and ammonia increased by 700%, 50%, and 100%, respectively, and 14CO2 production by about 400% in response to ConA. The results indicate that ConA stimulates to about the same extent transport of leucine and glutamine into lymphocytes. Glutamine is mainly channeled into catabolic pathways, while leucine remains largely preserved. It is suggested that these metabolic changes provide more leucine for incorporation into protein and more N‐ and C‐atoms required for the synthesis of macromolecules and energy from glutamine.
Gait evaluation of the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with solid versus dorsi flexion assist ankle foot orthoses in paraplegic patients

Background: Mechanical orthoses are used for standing and walking after neurological injury. Most orthoses such as the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis typically use solid ankle–foot orthoses. Objectives: The goal of this study was to test the effects of ankle dorsiflexion assistance in patients with spinal cord injury when ambulating with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis compared to walking with fixed ankles. Study Design: Quasi-experimental. Methods: Four patients with spinal cord injury were fitted with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis equipped with solid and dorsiflexion assist-type ankle–foot orthoses and walked at their self-selected speed. Joint angles and spatial–temporal parameters were measured and analyzed. Results: The mean walking speed and stride length were both significantly increased along with cadence by the volunteer subjects when ambulating using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis fitted with dorsiflexion assist ankle–foot orthoses compared to the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with solid ankle–foot orthoses. The mean ankle joint ranges of motion were significantly increased when walking with the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with dorsiflexion assist ankle–foot orthoses compared to when using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with the solid ankle–foot orthoses. Knee joint ranges of motion were reduced, and hip joint ranges of motion were increased but not significantly. Conclusion: The advanced reciprocating gait orthosis fitted with the dorsiflexion assist ankle–foot orthoses had the effect of improving gait parameters when compared to the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with solid ankle–foot orthoses. Clinical relevance The advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with dorsiflexion assist ankle–foot orthoses has the potential to improve hip and ankle joint kinematics and the temporal–spatial parameters of gait in spinal cord injury patients’ walking.
SINR and Throughput Analysis for Random Beamforming Systems with Adaptive Modulation

In this paper, we derive the exact probability distribution of post-scheduling signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) considering both user feedback and scheduling. We also develop an optimized adaptive modulation scheme in orthogonal random beamforming systems with M transmit antennas and K single-antenna users. The exact probability distributions of each user's feedback SINR and the exact post-scheduling SINR are derived rigorously by direct integration and multinomial distribution. It is also shown that the derived cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the post-scheduling SINR happens to be identical to the the existing approximate CDF for SINR higher than 0 dB. The closed form expressions of system performance, such as average spectral efficiency (ASE) and average bit error ratio (A-BER), are derived using the CDF of the post-scheduling SINR. The optimal SINR thresholds that maximize the ASE with a target A-BER constraint are solved using the derived closed form CDF and a Lagrange multiplier. Key contributions of this paper include the derivation of the exact CDF of post-scheduling SINR by direct integration, and its application to an optimized adaptive modulation based on a Lagrange multiplier. Simulations show the correspondence between theoretical and empirical CDF's, and the performance improvement of the proposed adaptive modulation method in terms of ASE.
Genetic variability and interrelationships of phenological, physicochemical and cooking quality traits in chickpea

Eighty-six chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes, including 44 Kabuli type and 42 Desi type, were evaluated for their phenological, physicochemical and cooking quality traits. There were significant differences among the genotypes for days to 50% flowering (34–81 d), days to maturity (85–122 d), number of pods per plant (13–66), number of seeds per plant (15–85), 100-seed weight (10.5–58.6 g), seed yield (561–1852 kg/ha), hydration capacity (0.11–0.68 g water/seed), hydration index (0.80–1.21), swelling capacity (0.11–0.7 ml/seed), seed volume (0.1–0.52 ml/seed) and cooking time (38–125 min). The Desi and Kabuli types of chickpea differed significantly from each other for all the traits except for hydration index, swelling index and cooking time. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for 100-seed weight, hydration capacity, swelling capacity and seed volume in both Desi and Kabuli genotypes. Seed size (100-seed weight and seed volume) showed significant positive correlations with hydration capacity and swelling capacity. Cooking time did not show any significant positive or negative correlation with any of the traits studied, including seed size, indicating that other additional factors may be involved in controlling cooking time. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to develop cultivars with faster cooking time in both Kabuli and Desi types and in all seed size categories.
Family Ownership, Women in Top Management and Risk Taking: Evidence from Indonesia

Family firms were widely recognized to have a substantial contribution to the economy, especially in emerging economies. However, some previous studies reveal that family firms tend to be conservative and unwilling to take more risks. We extended the literature by investigating whether there was a difference in risk-taking behavior between family and non-family firms in the context of Indonesia. Moreover, the presence of women in the top management also considered negatively correlated with risk-taking strategy. Therefore, this study empirically examined the effects of family ownership and women in top management on a risk-taking strategy of firms. Using data of 336 publicly traded firms in Indonesia over 2012-2016, this study confirmed the negative effect of family ownership and women in top management on corporate risk-taking. Family ownership and involvement as the CEO of the firms negatively associated with the level of risk taking. Moreover, our results reveal that the presence of women was a matter more to decrease corporate risk-taking when they served in the board of directors rather than in the board of commissioners. JEL Classification: G32, M14 DOI : https://doi.org/10.26905/jkdp.v22i4. 2452
A collagenase gel/physical defect model for controlled induction of superficial digital flexor tendonitis.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY A consistent and clinically relevant model for the induction of core lesions confined to the mid-metacarpal superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) has not been previously reported. Injection of bacterial collagenase is commonly used but often results in large, irregular and inconsistent lesions that disrupt the superficial tendon layers and epitenon. OBJECTIVE To develop and evaluate a new injection technique for collagenase induction of SDFT injury. METHODS Collagenase gel was injected into a physical columnar defect created by longitudinally placing a curved 16 gauge 8.89 cm needle in the mid-metacarpal SDFT in a randomly selected forelimb of 10 horses. A placebo treatment injection was performed 1 week later. Serial ultrasound examinations were performed. Horses were subjected to euthanasia at 2 (n = 2), 4 (n = 2), 8 (n = 4) and 16 (n = 2) weeks post treatment injection. Post mortem magnetic resonance imaging and histological analysis were performed. Gene expression (18S, SCX, TNC, TNMD, COL1A1, COL3A1, COMP, DCN, MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13), total DNA, glycosaminoglycan and collagen content were determined for experimental tendons (n = 10) and unaffected tendons (n = 9). RESULTS Mid-metacarpal SDFT core lesion induction was successful in all tendons with consistent lesion cross-sectional area and minimal epitenon disruption. Histology confirmed loss of normal tendon architecture after tendonitis induction and subsequent healing of the tendon core lesion. Compared with gene expression in unaffected tendons, several tested genes were significantly upregulated (COL1A1, COL3A1, TNMD, SCX, TNC, MMP13), while others showed significant downregulation (COMP, DCN, and MMP3). CONCLUSION Compared with the previously used direct injection of collagenase, this injection technique was easily performed and induced more consistent lesions that were mid-metacarpal and did not disrupt the epitenon. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE This model will allow for objective assessment of therapies for tendon regeneration in the mid-metacarpal SDFT prior to clinical trials and routine clinical application.
Fast Monte Carlo simulation of DNA damage formed by electrons and light ions

The passage of ionizing radiation through living organisms initiates physical and chemical processes that create clusters of damaged nucleotides within one or two turns of the DNA. These clusters are widely considered an important initiating event for the induction of other biological endpoints, including cell killing and neoplastic transformation. Monte Carlo simulations of the DNA damage formation process are a useful adjunct to experiments because they provide additional information about the spatial configuration of damage within a cluster. In this paper, the fast Monte Carlo damage simulation (MCDS) algorithm is re-parameterized so that yields of double-strand breaks, single-strand breaks and sites of multiple base damage can be simulated for electrons, protons and α particles with kinetic energies on the order of GeV. The MCDS algorithm provides a useful, quasi-phenomenological scheme to interpolate damage yields from computationally expensive, but more detailed, track-structure simulations. The predicted characteristics of various classes of damage produced by electrons, protons and α particles, such as average number of lesions per DNA damage cluster and cluster length in base pairs, are presented. A study examining the effects on damage complexity of an extrinsic free radical scavenger, dimethyl sulfoxide, is also presented. The reported studies provide new information that will aid efforts to characterize the relative biological effectiveness of high-energy protons and other light ions, which are sometimes used in particle therapy for the treatment of cancer.
Characterization of the normal temporal pattern of plasma corticosteroid levels.

ABSTRACT The present studies had 2 objectives: I. To delineate more precisely the time course of adrenal secretory activity in the normal human and patients with Cushing's syndrome, by measurement of plasma corticosteroid and ACTH levels half-hourly throughout the 24 hr cycle. II. To describe hitherto lacking clinically optimal and suitable conditions for determination and definition of the normal circadian pattern of plasma corticosteroid levels (CPOHCS). 1. I. Four control subjects with normal activity sleep and meal time patterns were studied: 3 were restudied during “constant feeding,” 1 was restudied during constant glucose administration and again under different dexamethasone regimens. CPOHCS consisted of 5–10 peaks in a given subject. Fifty to 75% of peaks occurred in a 9 hr period (midnight to 9:00 am) describing a gradual upward course with maximum plasma corticosteroid levels occurring 1/2–2 hr following awakening. A downward trend followed with other peaking activity occurring between 11:30 am.
The Lived Experiences of HIV-Positive, Pregnant Women in Thailand

The purpose of our study was to examine the lived experiences of 10 pregnant women in Thailand following their HIV diagnosis. Principles of interpretive phenomenology were applied to guide the study. In-depth interviews with open-ended questions were conducted during 2000–2001. Each participant met with the research team from 5 to 12 times. “Struggle” was the main theme that emerged from participants’ lived experiences, with four subthemes: struggling alone, sharing one's struggling, struggling for the baby, and struggling through ups and downs. Findings from our study resulted in helpful implications for health professionals.
Immune Responses to HSP65/60 in Periodontal Disease

Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a chronic inflammatory condition which destroys the supporting tissues of teeth and increases in prevalence with age. Immune responses against heat shock proteins (HSP) can be cross-reactive among bacterial and human antigens. There is evidence that microbial HSP65 and human HSP60 are involved in periodontal disease. The aim of this study is to investigate immune responses to the human HSP60 and microbial HSP65 in patients with CP and relate these to the level of inflammation and smoking status. We collected serum samples from 30 patients with chronic gingivitis (CG) and 30 patients with CP. In each group, eight subjects were current smokers. ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum anti-HSP and C-reactive protein (CRP) in each group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also isolated and stimulated with HSPs. Significant lymphoproliferation was seen in CP when stimulated with human HSP60. CRP and serum anti-human HSP60 IgG were elevated in CP compared to the CG, but not serum anti-microbial HSP 65 IgG. In view of the potential confounding effects of smoking in CP, a group of current smokers (n = 16) was also recruited to investigate whether smoking affects HSP immune responses. There was no significant difference in HSP-induced lymphoproliferation between smokers and non-smokers in either the CG or CP. There was a significant correlation between CRP and lymphoproliferative responses to Human HSP60 irrespective of smoking status. This study shows that serum anti-human HSP60 IgG and serum CRP are raised in untreated CP. In CP, serum CRP levels correlated significantly with human HSP60-induced lymphoproliferation, but not with anti-HSP antibody levels.
Impact of Ethical Practices on Corporate Performance: Evidence from India

Ethical business behaviour is a way to a better world and may ultimately improve profits. Ethical corporate identity has become an important aspect of the global nature of the business. This study is an attempt to establish a link between different dimensions of ethical corporate identity and empirically test to develop existing limited evidence between business ethics and financial performance of the company in Indian context. Taking corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting as vogue for business ethics it was found that ethics and financial performance represented by financial ratios are significantly and positively correlated however only sustainability reporting has a significant impact on marketing ratios (Tobin Q and Price to Book Value) and accounting ratios (Return on Sales, Return on Capital Employed and Return on Equity) in case of selected Indian companies. The moral and ethical sensitivity needs to be developed and implemented through corporate ethics policy.
What’s in a name? Cross-national distances and subsidiary’s corporate visual identity change in emerging-market firms’ cross-border acquisitions

Addressing the unique challenge facing emerging-market firms (EMFs) of branding and marketing in their foreign subsidiaries, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the foreign subsidiary’s corporate visual identity (CVI) transitions during the post-acquisition period. ,Data on 330 cross-border acquisitions from five emerging markets, namely, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) are used. The cross-sectional multivariate analyses are used to test the hypotheses. ,Utilizing a sample of worldwide acquisitions conducted by EMFs originated from BRICS, this study establishes that various cross-national distances do not consistently cause the targets to take on the parent’s CVI. While economic distance and formal institutional distance increase the likelihood of an acquired subsidiary’s CVI change, cultural distance decreases the likelihood of CVI change. ,Lacking international experience and shaped by national differences between the host and home markets, EMFs often grant foreign subsidiaries substantial autonomy to respond to diverse stakeholder demands in subsidiary branding. Contrary to extant literature, the findings show that some distances are more pertinent to CVI transformation in the subsidiaries than others in the context of the EMFs. ,This research shows that the formal institutional distance and economic distance will increase the likelihood of CVI changes in the subsidiaries, whereas, the cultural distance requiring soft skills like the cultural adaptability from the EMFs will decrease the CVI change possibility. The findings presented in the paper have significant implications for future research and strategic application.