Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of oxytocics on the blood pressure of normotensive Nigerian parturients

Background. The single most common direct obstetric disorder accounting for 25% of all maternal deaths globally is severe hemorrhage, generally occurring postpartum. Nearly all these deaths occur in the developing world. The role of oxytocic drugs in the management of the third stage of labor as a strategy to reduce maternal mortality has been emphasized. However, the adverse effects of these oxytocic agents, in particular ergometrine, have not been properly evaluated in our environment. Objectives. To evaluate the effect of ergometrine and oxytocin on the cardiovascular system when used for active management of the third stage of labor. Study design. A double-blind, randomized controlled study was carried out at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi over 24 months. Five hundred and ten patients were randomized to treatment with either 0.5 mg of intramuscular ergometrine or 10 IU of intravenous oxytocin, respectively, as single injections. Their effects on the cardiovascular system were observed using blood pressure as a marker. Results. Ergometrine unlike oxytocin was observed to cause a significant rise in blood pressure, and this effect was most marked in the first 24 hours of the puerperium. Conclusions. These results suggest that ergometrine may be safe in normotensive parturients but hazardous in hypertensive parturients in whom oxytocin would be a safer option.
Achieving Global Cooperation on Economic Recovery and Long-Term Sustainable Development

The global financial crisis results from three factors: overly expansionary US monetary policy; inappropriate financial deregulation; and a financial panic following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. Asia is now experiencing a serious downturn as the result of falling consumption and exports, and an intensifying credit squeeze due to global deleveraging. Through appropriate monetary, financial, and public-investment policies, Asia can lead the world to recovery, in essence by replacing the declining consumption spending with increased public spending on critical goods and services (such as health and education) and public investments in sustainable infrastructure, including pollution control, sustainable energy systems, efficient water use, broadband connectivity, and other priority areas.
Labour demand in the EU and returns to scale: A production function approach

The paper tests the hypothesis that small member states of the European Union (EU) experience economies of scale constraints. This study adopts a production function approach, utilising data from the 27 differently sized EU member countries. The results confirm the hypothesis and indicate that larger EU member countries incur lower costs per unit of output produced when compared to the smaller ones. This finding has important implications for small EU member states, including that smaller countries have to overcome their economies of scale constraint in order to attain and maintain international competitiveness. This disadvantage is particularly relevant for small states, because these states tend to be highly dependent on international trade, in which case international competitiveness is a major issue.
Synergistic, p160 Coactivator-dependent Enhancement of Estrogen Receptor Function by CARM1 and p300*

Members of the p160 coactivator family (steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1 (GRIP1), and activator of thyroid and retinoic acid receptors (ACTR)) mediate transcriptional activation by nuclear receptors. After being recruited to the promoter by nuclear receptors, the p160 coactivator transmits the activating signal via two C-terminal activation domains, AD1 and AD2. AD1 is a binding site for the related coactivators cAMP-response element binding protein binding protein (CBP) and p300, whereas AD2 binds to another coactivator, coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1), a protein-arginine methyltransferase. The current study explored the cooperative functional and mechanistic relationships among GRIP1, CARM1, and p300 in transient transfection assays, where they enhanced the ability of the estrogen receptor (ER) to activate transcription of a reporter gene. The coactivator functions of p300 and CARM1 depended on the co-expression of GRIP1. Simultaneous co-expression of all three coactivators caused a synergistic enhancement of ER function. Deletion of the AD1 domain of GRIP1 abolished the ability of p300 to potentiate ER activity but had no effect on CARM1-mediated stimulation. In contrast, when the AD2 domain of GRIP1 was deleted, p300 still stimulated ER function through the mutant GRIP1, but CARM1 failed to do so. Thus, both binding of p300 to AD1 and binding of CARM1 to AD2 are required for their respective coactivator functions and for their synergy. Furthermore, CARM1 and p300 function independently through different activating domains of GRIP1, and their synergy suggests that they enhance transcription by different, complementary mechanisms.
The Impact of Excluding Nonfinancial Exposure on the Usefulness of Foreign Exchange Sensitivity-Analysis Risk Disclosures

This paper investigates whether the exclusion of nonfinancial items from the scope of sensitivity-analysis disclosures hinders the usefulness of this quantitative information for predicting exchange rate exposure. We focus on foreign exchange (FX) risk because a large volume of nonderivatives FX exposures is in transactions that are nonfinancial in nature. We review the sensitivity-analysis disclosures of a sample of FX derivatives and find that more than half of these firms chose to exclude nonfinancial exposure from their quantitative disclosures. Hence, the reported sensitivity-analysis loss estimates include mainly the exposures of the derivatives positions and do not reflect the net exposure to FX risk. We further find that entity-level sensitivity, but not derivatives-level sensitivity, exhibits incremental predictive power for exchange rate exposure. This is consistent with the notion that exclusion hinders the usefulness of the sensitivity-analysis disclosures for predicting exchange rate exposure. These results are obtained after controlling for potential sample selectivity bias, traditional risk measures, lagged exchange rate exposure, and other derivatives-related disclosures.
An algorithm for detecting EMG onset/offset in trunk muscles during a reaction- stabilization test.

BACKGROUND Most of the EMG analysis algorithms developed to date don't detect the whole sequence of rhythmic and subtle changes that take place during the process of trunk stabilization. Indeed, the few recent methods that are capable of assessing these important EMG characteristics are highly complex and not accessible in most applied clinic contexts. OBJECTIVE To validate and disseminate a software program suitable for detecting multiple and relatively small EMG bursts during a trunk stabilization response. METHODS Ninety EMG recordings randomly selected from 50 individuals (24 with chronic low back pain) were analysed by our algorithm based on means and standard deviations and an experienced examiner (as a gold standard). Concordance, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were considered to analyse reliability. RESULTS Results showed a high degree of concordance between the two methods (87.2%), high sensitivity and specificity rates (79.5 and 89.2%), a moderate-low positive predicted value (66.9%) and a high negative predicted value (94.4%). CONCLUSION The program provided is flexible and useful to detect EMG activity. The selected parameters of the program were able to detect onset/offset EMG bursts and were valid for the purpose of this study with a small tendency to over-detect bursts.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Depression Questionnaires in a College-Age Sample

The authors evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; A. T. Beck, R. A. Steer, & G. K. Brown, 1996) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CESD; L. S. Radloff, 1977) questionnaires for a college-student sample. Results indicate that the BDI-II and CES-D evidenced satisfactory levels of specificity and positive predictive value for current, past-year, and lifetime depressive disorder ratings on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Researchers can use the questionnaires as valid initial screens in a two-stage process designed to identify individuals meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (American Psychiatic Association) criteria for depressive disorders. However, if the questionnaires are the only method used to select participants, the resulting sample may include a number of false positives.
A Proposed Modification of Taylor's Demand Analysis: Comment

In estimating demand functions for electricity, it is inappropriate to use as a variable (in addition to marginal price) either average price for blocks other than the final one or total payment for blocks other than the final one. It is appropriate to use (in addition to marginal price) a variable equivalent to a lump-sum payment the customer must make before buying as many units as he wants, at the marginal price.
West African Single Currency and Competitiveness

This paper compares different nominal anchors to promote internal and external competitiveness in the case of a fixed exchange rate regime for the future single regional currency of the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS). We use counterfactual analyses and estimate a model of dependent economy for small commodity exporting countries. We consider four foreign anchor currencies: the US dollar, the euro, the yen and the yuan. Our simulations show little support for a dominant peg in the ECOWAS area if they pursue several goals: maximizing the export revenues, minimizing their variability, stabilizing them and minimizing the real exchange rate misalignments from the fundamental value.
Effects of counseling for late stage cancer patients

Much has been written about working with the dying. Few, if any, controlled studies have examined the application of principles set forth. The authors evaluate the effectiveness of working with dying cancer patients by assessing changes in quality of life, physical functioning, and survival. One‐hundred twenty men with end‐stage cancer were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups; the 62 experimental group patients were seen regularly by a counselor. Patients were assessed before random assignment and at one, three, six, nine, and 12 months on quality of life and functional status. Experimental group patients improved significantly more than the control group on quality of life within three months. Functional status and survival did not differ between groups. A subsample of lung cancer patients provided cross‐validation of findings. Although survival was not expected to differ, it was predicted that functioning would be enhanced if quality of life improved. One interpretation is that little can be done to alter physical function and survival when intervention occurs late in the progression of a fatal disease. This in no way reduces the value of improving overall quality of life, since enhancing the quality of survival for end‐stage cancer patients is a high priority medical goal.
Challenging Professional Self-Regulation

This study examines how professionals contend with threats to self-regulation from social movements outside the profession by providing an analysis of rule development by the Washington State Board of Pharmacy. A case study method using interviews, observations, and content analysis examines how pharmacists and pro-choice groups affected a “pharmacists’ responsibility” rule dictating whether pharmacists can refuse to dispense medications they morally oppose. Findings suggest that movements can influence rulemaking by framing professional responsibilities and enlisting allies, thereby turning a relatively closed process of self-regulation into a contentious one, resulting in a settlement that favors the movement over the profession.
Size reduction and harmonic suppression of rat-race hybrid coupler using defected ground structure

In this letter, a defected ground structure (DGS) is applied to design a compact microstrip rat-race hybrid coupler. The proposed structure can achieve both a significant reduction of size and harmonic signal. By embedding the DGS section, it is observed that the resonant frequency of the hybrid coupler is significantly lowered, which can lead to a large amount of size reduction for a fixed frequency operation. Besides, the third harmonic signal is suppressed to -30 dB with respect to a conventional rat-race hybrid coupler. In this case, the measured insertion loss is comparable to that of a conventional hybrid coupler.
Just‐in‐time and performance measurement systems

The objective of this paper is to assess the use of performance measurement systems in firms implementing just‐in‐time (JIT). A mail questionnaire, with a response rate of 85 percent, was sent to larger New Zealand manufacturing companies. A total of 36 percent of the sample of companies had implemented a JIT programme. JIT firms were found to use non‐financial performance indicators to a greater extent than non‐JIT firms. For JIT firms there was a significant positive correlation between use of non‐financial performance indicators and organisation performance. A significant positive correlation was also found between the use of non‐financial performance indicators and organisation performance for all firms in the survey. Results from this study suggest that there are benefits in adapting the accounting performance measurement system to support and enhance JIT implementation. The study indicates potential benefits from the use of non‐financial performance measures for both JIT and non‐JIT firms.
Gender differences in knee kinematics and its possible consequences.

AIM To analyze anatomic and kinematic characteristics of male and female knees in the sagittal plane. METHODS Ten healthy male and 10 healthy female participants performed extension of their right lower leg in non-weight bearing and weight bearing conditions. The centers of knee joint motion were obtained by videographic motion analysis, and radii of condylar curves were calculated from digitalized X-ray scan. The Knee Roll software was made for this purpose. RESULTS The extension of the knee in non-weight loaded and weight loaded conditions is a combination of rolling and sliding joint surface motion with 6:5 ratio, in both genders. During the last 20 degrees of the extension of weight loaded male knee, rolling/sliding ratio changed to 8:1 (P<0.05). Average radii of condylar curves were between 4.5 and 1.7 cm medially, and between 3.2 and 1.8 cm laterally, for 0 degrees and 90 degrees flexion contact point, respectively. Gender differences in the radii of condylar curves, after the adjusting to body height were insignificant. CONCLUSION A higher proportion of joint surface sliding with consecutive anterior tibial displacement in women indicates more strain during knee extension, potentially making the female anterior cruciate ligament tend and susceptible to injury. The gender differences in the knee kinematics are probably the consequence of different soft tissue structure or its activity, because no difference in the sagittal shape of femoral condyles was noted.
An algorithm for detecting the exact regions of moving objects in video frames

Motion detection is of paramount importance in video surveillance systems. In this paper, a novel algorithm is proposed to extract the exact boundaries of moving objects in video frames. Using the concepts of Cross-Correlation and Edge Detection, we combine two well-known motion detection methods to extract the moving regions more accurately. Also, we modify these two methods in terms of accuracy and processing time in order to make them suitable for algorithm. The experimental results prove that the proposed method significantly outperforms the other state-of-the-art schemes in terms of both objective and subjective performance. Another advantage of the suggested method over the others is its relatively low computational complexity and high implementation speed.
Molecular Basis for Increased Risk for Late-onset Alzheimer Disease Due to the Naturally Occurring L28P Mutation in Apolipoprotein E4*

Background: The apoE4 mutant apoE4[L28P] is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer disease (AD) in addition to the known effect of apoE4. Results: ApoE4[L28P] displays folding defects and aberrant functions associated with AD pathogenesis. Conclusion: The structural integrity of apoE4 is an important component of its role in AD pathogenesis. Significance: We provide insights into the molecular basis for the added risk for AD in apoE4[L28P] carriers. The apolipoprotein (apo) E4 isoform has consistently emerged as a susceptibility factor for late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD), although the exact mechanism is not clear. A rare apoE4 mutant, apoE4[L28P] Pittsburgh, burdens carriers with an added risk for late-onset AD and may be a useful tool for gaining insights into the role of apoE4 in disease pathogenesis. Toward this end, we evaluated the effect of the L28P mutation on the structural and functional properties of apoE4. ApoE4[L28P] was found to have significantly perturbed thermodynamic properties, to have reduced helical content, and to expose a larger portion of the hydrophobic surface to the solvent. Furthermore, this mutant is thermodynamically destabilized and more prone to proteolysis. When interacting with lipids, apoE4[L28P] formed populations of lipoprotein particles with structural defects. The structural perturbations brought about by the mutation were accompanied by aberrant functions associated with the pathogenesis of AD. Specifically, apoE4[L28P] promoted the cellular uptake of extracellular amyloid β peptide 42 (Aβ42) by human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells as well as by primary mouse neuronal cells and led to increased formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species that persisted for at least 24 h. Furthermore, lipoprotein particles containing apoE4[L28P] induced intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and reduced SK-N-SH cell viability. Overall, our findings suggest that the L28P mutation leads to significant structural and conformational perturbations in apoE4 and can induce functional defects associated with neuronal Aβ42 accumulation and oxidative stress. We propose that these structural and functional changes underlie the observed added risk for AD development in carriers of apoE4[L28P].
Differential expression of slitrk family members in the mouse nervous system

The Slitrk family of transmembrane proteins is composed of six members that are highly expressed in the nervous system. To date, the function of Slitrks during development of the nervous system has yet to be defined. The high homology between the extracellular region of Slitrks and the repulsive axon guidance molecules Slits suggests that Slitrks may regulate axon outgrowth during development. To begin to evaluate their role during development, we have examined the expression of the Slitrk genes in the developing murine nervous system using in situ hybridization. Here, we show that despite some overlap in expression, the Slitrks display distinct patterns of expression in the olfactory system, the eye, forebrain structures, the cerebellum, the spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. These diverse patterns of expression suggest that Slitrk family members may have different functions during development of the nervous system. Developmental Dynamics 238:3285–3296, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Reappraisal of State-Owned Banks

We revisit the public banks debate, survey the theoretical arguments and test the robustness (and expand) the existing empirical evidence. While we find some support for the view that public banks do not allocate credit optimally, we also report indicative evidence that they exert a positive influence on private bank efficiency, and may contribute to reduce credit procyclicality. Ultimately, we find that the recent criticism to public banks has generally been based on inconclusive cross-country evidence. More specific bank-level research is still needed to substantiate a case for or against public banks in developing economies.
Philosophy : who needs it

What do you do to start reading philosophy who needs it ? Searching the book that you love to read first or find an interesting book that will make you want to read? Everybody has difference with their reason of reading a book. Actuary, reading habit must be from earlier. Many people may be love to read, but not a book. It's not fault. Someone will be bored to open the thick book with small words to read. In more, this is the real condition. So do happen probably with this philosophy who needs it .
The distributions of slip rate and ductile deformation in a strike-slip shear zone

SUMMARY A simple mechanical model and dimensional analysis are used to derive a scaling law for the partitioning between slip rate on a strike-slip fault and distributed deformation in the far-field. The depth of the fault, the distributions of stress, strain rate and slip rate are solved for a given far-field force or displacement in a 2-D medium with a linear temperature-dependent viscous rheology. At the shear zone axis, a mixed boundary condition is used to account for the presence of both an active fault and a ductile zone below. Over the vertical extent of the fault, the boundary condition is one of a fixed shear stress distribution dictated by a friction law. In the ductile zone below, the boundary condition is one of zero velocity. A deep fault or large vertical rheological variations are required to localize deformation on the fault with small amounts of regionally distributed deformation. In this model without thermal or strain softening, strain localization occurs naturally beneath the fault. For large rheological variations, the slip rate remains approximately constant over half the fault vertical extent and progressively decreases to zero below. Thus, there is a thick transition zone between block motion at the surface and distributed ductile deformation at depth. The nearsurface deformation field depends weakly on stress and strain in the lower ductile region and the key controlling parameter is the vertical rheological variation over the depth of the fault. A scaling law relates the far-field strain rate to the slip rate and depth of the fault independently of frictional strength. For typical parameter values, the far-field strain rate is found to be 10 x15 s x1 or less, showing that strike-slip faults separate blocks that can be considered rigid for all practical purposes. For the large vertical rheological variations of relevance to geological examples, shear heating is mostly a result of friction on the fault plane and is maximum at a small distance above the base of the fault.