Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Maternal Position During Induction of Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE) is a popular technique for cesarean delivery. Regional blocks in obstetrics are often performed with the parturient in the sitting position because the midline may be recognized more easily than in the lateral decubitus position. When conventional spinal anesthesia is performed in the sitting position, the patient is placed supine immediately after drug injection. In contrast, when CSE is performed with the woman sitting, there is a delay in assuming the supine position because of epidural catheter placement, which may affect the incidence of hypotension. Healthy women, at term of pregnancy, about to undergo an elective cesarean section under CSE, were randomly assigned to the sitting or lateral recumbent position for initiation of the block. All parturients were given 1000 mL of lactated Ringer's solution in the 15 min preceding induction and an additional 300-500 mL while the actual block was being performed. On completion of the CSE, they were turned to the supine position with left uterine displacement. A second anesthesiologist, blinded to the woman's position during CSE, evaluated the sensory level of anesthesia, maternal heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, need for ephedrine, and occurrence of nausea and vomiting. Results are expressed as mean +/- SD. Twelve women were studied in the sitting group and 10 were studied in the lateral recumbent group. The severity and duration of hypotension were greater in those parturients who had CSE induced in the sitting (47% +/- 7% and 6 +/- 3 min, respectively) compared with the lateral recumbent position (32% +/- 14% and 3 +/- 2 min, respectively). Women in the sitting group also required twice as much ephedrine (38 +/- 18 mg) to correct hypotension compared with the other group (17 +/- 12 mg). In conclusion, the severity and duration of hypotension were greater when CSE was induced in the sitting compared with the lateral decubitus position. Implications: We studied the induction of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE) in the sitting versus lateral recumbent positions in healthy women undergoing a scheduled cesarean delivery. The severity and duration of hypotension were greater when CSE was induced in the sitting position. Thus, the position used for induction of CSE should be among the factors considered when there is greater maternal or fetal risk from hypotension. (Anesth Analg 1998;87:614-8)
Taxation of D ividend I ncome and E conomic G rowth : The C ase of Europe

More recently researchers have turned to analyze how the tax structure, rather than the overall tax level, affects economic performance. For instance, several papers have investigated how taxation on corporate and individual (labor) income influences growth. Taxation of dividend income may also influence growth via its impact on investments and firm behavior. Within the academic community there is conflicting views about the impact taxation of dividends has on firm behavior and, hence, on economic performance. According to the “traditional view”, taxation of dividends is distortionary and increases the cost of equity. According to the “new view”, taxation of dividends does not influence the marginal cost of capital and consequently has no impact on investment decisions. To our knowledge, this paper is the first study to explore how tax rates on dividends affect economic growth, by using panel data from 1990 till 2008 for 18 European countries. We find that taxation of dividend income negatively influences economic growth, a result that corroborates the old view of dividends taxation as distortionary and also has some policy implication for the European countries in question. JEL classification: H21 ; H24 ; H25 ; O40
Acoustic activation of targeted liquid perfluorocarbon nanoparticles does not compromise endothelial integrity

Perfluorocarbon nanoparticles consisting essentially of liquid perfluoro-octyl bromide (PFOB) core surrounded by a lipid monolayer can serve as highly specific site-targeted contrast and therapeutic agents after binding to cellular biomarkers. Based on previous findings that ultrasound applied at 2 MHz and 1.9 mechanical index (MI) for a 5-min duration dramatically enhances the cellular interaction of targeted PFOB nanoparticles with melanoma cells in vitro without inducing apoptosis or other harmful effects to cells that are targeted, we sought to define mechanisms of interaction and the safety profile of ultrasound used in conjunction with liquid perfluorocarbon nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, as compared with conventional microbubble ultrasound contrast agents under identical insonification conditions. Cell-culture inserts were used to grow a confluent monolayer of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Definity in conjunction with continuous wave ultrasound (2.25 MHz for 1 and 5 min) increased the permeability of monolayer by four to six times above the normal, decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (a sign of reduced membrane integrity), and decreased cell viability by /spl sim/50%. Histological evaluation demonstrated extensive disruptions of cell monolayers. Nanoparticles (both nontargeted and targeted) elicited no changes in these different measures under similar insonification conditions and did not disrupt cell monolayers. We hypothesize that ultrasound facilitates drug transport from the perfluorocarbon nanoparticles not by cavitation-induced effects on cell membrane but rather by direct interaction with the nanoparticles that stimulate lipid exchange and drug delivery.
Low Complexity Hybrid Precoding Strategies for Millimeter Wave Communication Systems

Millimeter communication systems use large antenna arrays to provide good average received power and to take advantage of multi-stream MIMO communication. Unfortunately, due to power consumption in the analog front-end, it is impractical to perform beamforming and fully digital precoding at baseband. Hybrid precoding/combining architectures have been proposed to overcome this limitation. The hybrid structure splits the MIMO processing between the digital and analog domains, while keeping the performance close to that of the fully digital solution. In this paper, we introduce and analyze several algorithms that efficiently design hybrid precoders and combiners starting from the known optimum digital precoder/combiner, which can be computed when perfect channel state information is available. We propose several low complexity solutions which provide different trade-offs between performance and complexity. We show that the proposed iterative solutions perform better in terms of spectral efficiency and/or are faster than previous methods in the literature. All of them provide designs which perform close to the known optimal digital solution. Finally, we study the effects of quantizing the analog component of the hybrid design and show that even with coarse quantization, the average rate performance is good.
Multiple ink nanolithography: toward a multiple-Pen nano-plotter

The formation of intricate nanostructures will require the ability to maintain surface registry during several patterning steps. A scanning probe method, dip-pen nanolithography (DPN), can be used to pattern monolayers of different organic molecules down to a 5-nanometer separation. An "overwriting" capability of DPN allows one nanostructure to be generated and the areas surrounding that nanostructure to be filled in with a second type of "ink. "
A Study on the Relation between Auditor Rotation and Audit Quality in Iranian Firms

Audit quality is a popular topic in accounting and auditing research because recent decades’ financial crises reduce the reliability of financial reports to public investors and cause significant doubt about the audit profession. Therefore, doing research to identify effective factors in improving audit quality is necessary for bringing back public investors’ trust to financial statements as well as audit reports. In this study, we explore the relationship between audit rotation and audit quality. For this purpose, we employ the Duff (2009) model of audit quality to measure audit quality and use a questionnaire survey of 27 audit service quality attributes. Our results show that there is a negative relationship between auditor’s rotation and audit quality as we consider the auditor’s reputation, capability, assurance, experience, and responsiveness as surrogates for audit quality. There is no evidence for verifying a same relationship when we use the auditor’s independence and expertise for measuring audit quality. Keywords—Audit quality, auditor’s rotation, reputation, capability, assurance, experience, responsiveness, independence, expertise.
Selection and Structure of Ion-selective Ligands for Platelet Integrin αIIbβ3 * 210

Integrins contain a number of divalent cation binding sites that control ligand binding affinity. Ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ bind to distinct sites on integrin and can have opposing effects on ligand binding. These effects are presumably brought about by alterations of the shape of the ligand binding pocket. To gain insight into the nature of these structural differences, we probed the integrin ligand binding site with an RGD-based library of unparalleled complexity. A cysteine-constrained phage library containing six random amino acids and the RGD motif present in seven different registers was used to select for ligands that exhibit ion-selective binding to integrin αIIbβ3. The library was used to select for peptides that bind to the integrin αIIbβ3 preferentially in Ca2+ versus Mg2+. Peptides were identified which bound selectively in each ion. The Ca2+-selective peptides had a range of sequences, with the only obvious consensus involving a motif that had four cysteine residues bonded in a 1,4:2,3 arrangement. Interestingly though, the Mg2+-selective peptides exhibited a well defined consensus motif containing Cys-X-aromatic-L/G-R-G-D-hydrophobic-R-R/K-Cys. As a first step toward understanding the structural basis for this selectivity, solution NMR structures were obtained for representatives of both sets of peptides. All peptides formed turns, with the RGD motif at the apex. The Mg2+-selected peptides contained a unique basic patch that protrudes from the base of the turn.
Chemical analysis and anti-bacterial effect of essential oils from three different species of Dracocephalum in Iran

Dracocephalum is an herbaceous plant that has been recommended in the Persian traditional medicine for its amazing effects on the nervous system, the Heart, and the digestive system. Perylla aldehyde (PAH) is one of the main constituents of this genus. PAH has a lot of biological effects such as anti-depression, anticancer, antimicrobial and vasodilative effects. In this research, we compared the amount of the PAH in three species of Dracocephalum that grow in Iran to see which of them has the highest amount of PAH and the highest anti-bacterial effects. Our results indicated that D. polychaetum has the highest amount with 90.88% Of PAH in its essential oil also has the highest percentage of essential oil. D. kotschyi has the lowest MIC: 200 μg/ml against positive gram bacteria S. epidermidis. This is the first report of antibacterial activity of D. multicauleae essential oil.
The morphogenesis of the thigh of the mouse with special reference to tetrapod muscle homologies

In order to provide an ontogenetic basis for the establishment of tetrapod muscle homologies and for the analysis of complex mammalian muscle states, a descriptive analysis of the morphogenesis of the thigh of Mus musculus has been made. The pattern and sequence of muscle cleavage and the migrations of individual muscle primordia are characterized from the eleventh day of gestation, when cleavage begins, through early neonatal stages. Observations on skeletal differentiation and lumbosacral plexus formation are also included. Thigh muscle morphogenesis is compared to that in the lizard, Lacerta, (Romer, '42) and the chick (Romer, '27) and homologies identified. An ontogenetic basis for the definition of ancestral and derived muscle states is provided in muscles that are morphologically variable in mammals. These include the gluteus minimus, gracilis, adductor brevis and several hamstring muscles. Certain muscles that show variable innervation patterns in adult mammals, i.e., pectineus, quadratus and adductor magnus, typically develop from premuscle regions that separate muscle anlagen innervated by different nerves. Two muscle anlagen appear in the embryonic mouse thigh and then disappear late in prenatal or early postnatal development. Comparisons with other mammals, especially the marsupial, Marmosa, reveal that these muscles are phylogenetic vestiges that degenerate before maturity. A sartorius vestige is identifiable through the thirteenth day of gestation. A tenuissimus anlage is present until shortly after birth and is clearly innervated by a branch of the peroneal nerve.
Reproductive strategies of Ethmalosa fimbriata in Ebrié Lagoon ( Southern Côte d ’ Ivoire ) in Response to Acute Pollution

Original Research Article This investigation was carried out in order to know the fitting responses of the reproductive potential of Ethmalosa fimbriata, a heavily exploited fish species in Ebrié lagoon face to anthropogenic pollution. Three sites were prospected, Bietry and Cocody bays in most anthropized area and M’Braté far from city disturbances, the reference site. Results showed that, as abiotic parameters are concerned, pollution was more severe at Biétry and Cocody bays than at M’Braté. Regarding E. fimbriata reproductive parameters, length at first maturity for both males and females were significantly higher at the less disturbed site M’braté (109.71 mm LS for females; 106.97 mm LS for males) than in the most polluted sites Cocody bay (97.53 mm LS for females; 91.36 mm LS for males) and Biétry bay (81.24 mm LS for females; 74.25 mm LS for males). Absolute fecundity revealed that E. fimbriata females were less fertile in the most disturbed locations (3800 and 11683 eggs respectively for Biétry bay and Cocody bay) than in the less polluted site M’Braté (median value = 15262 eggs). Investigations on relationships between some biotic parameters of the fish and environmental variables through canonical analysis showed that the studied reproductive parameters were negatively correlated to abiotic variables such as nitrates, nitrites and phosphates. Ultimately, this study showed that when living environment becomes austere in Ebrié lagoon, E. fimbriata reproduces earlier with a reduced number of offspring.
Impact of deficiency in CCR 2 and CX 3 CR 1 receptors on monocytes trafficking in herpes simplex virus encephalitis

The role played by resident microglia and by the infiltration of peripheral monocytes/macrophages in the innate immune response during herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis was evaluated in mice deficient for the CCR2 and CX3CR1 receptors. CCR2, CX3CR1 and C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) male mice were infected intranasally with 7 10 p.f. u. of an HSV-1 clinical strain and monitored for signs of encephalitis and survival. In addition, brain viral DNA load and cytokine levels were evaluated by RT-PCR and magnetic bead-based immunoassay, respectively. The cellular response was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting of blood and brain leukocytes. Infected CX3CR1 mice had a significantly lower mean life expectancy than WT mice (P,0.05, log-rank test) and demonstrated an increased infiltration of Ly-6C ‘inflammatory’ macrophages in the brain (P,0.05). Infected CCR2 mice had fewer monocytes (P,0.05), with a lower proportion of Ly-6C ‘inflammatory’ monocytes in the blood than the other groups (P,0.05). Brain viral DNA loads were only slightly higher in knockout mice than in WT mice (P-value not significant). These data suggest that CCR2 and especially CX3CR1 receptors are necessary to initiate a proper immune response during HSV encephalitis. More precisely, CCR2 is crucial for the emigration of monocytes from the bone marrow to the blood, whereas CX3CR1 is mostly implicated in the regulation of infiltrating cells from the blood to the site of infection and in the control of the immune homeostasis of the brain.
Impacts of Roads and Hunting on Central African Rainforest Mammals

Abstract: Road expansion and associated increases in hunting pressure are a rapidly growing threat to African tropical wildlife. In the rainforests of southern Gabon, we compared abundances of larger (>1 kg) mammal species at varying distances from forest roads and between hunted and unhunted treatments (comparing a 130‐km2 oil concession that was almost entirely protected from hunting with nearby areas outside the concession that had moderate hunting pressure). At each of 12 study sites that were evenly divided between hunted and unhunted areas, we established standardized 1‐km transects at five distances (50, 300, 600, 900, and 1200 m) from an unpaved road, and then repeatedly surveyed mammals during the 2004 dry and wet seasons. Hunting had the greatest impact on duikers (Cephalophus spp.), forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus), and red river hogs (Potamochoerus porcus), which declined in abundance outside the oil concession, and lesser effects on lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and carnivores. Roads depressed abundances of duikers, sitatungas (Tragelaphus spekei gratus), and forest elephants (Loxondonta africana cyclotis), with avoidance of roads being stronger outside than inside the concession. Five monkey species showed little response to roads or hunting, whereas some rodents and pangolins increased in abundance outside the concession, possibly in response to greater forest disturbance. Our findings suggest that even moderate hunting pressure can markedly alter the structure of mammal communities in central Africa. Roads had the greatest impacts on large and small ungulates, with the magnitude of road avoidance increasing with local hunting pressure.
Exporters and Exchange Rates

We document the patterns of entry and sales growth for Irish plants in both domestic and export markets. Our findings are similar to those for other countries. Entrants in both domestic and export markets have a high hazard of exit, though survivors grow more rapidly than incumbents. We find a quantitatively important role is played by plants that are "born exporters. " We investigate the effect of exchange rate movements on the extensive and intensive margins of exporting, controlling for these patterns.
Selector devices for 3-D cross-point ReRAM

To integrate cross-point (4F2) ReRAM device array, we need to develop bi-directional selector device to suppress the sneak current path through the unselected devices. Although various candidates with selector properties have been recently reported, several problems such as insufficient current density at set/reset operations for nano-scale devices, low selectivity, and poor endurance have been remained. In this talk, we report two types of selector devices, threshold switching device based on insulator-metal transition (IMT) and multi-layered tunneling oxide device for cross-point ReRAM application. We propose the feasibility for 3-D vertical 1S-1R type ReRAM for future ultra-high density memory applications.
Synthesising meaning and processing approaches to prosody: performance matters

Words vary in acoustic prominence; for example, repeated words tend to be reduced, while focused elements tend to be acoustically prominent. We discuss two approaches to this phenomenon. On the message-based view, acoustic choices signal the speaker's meaning or pragmatics, or are guided by syntactic structure. On the facilitation-based view, reduced forms reflect facilitation of production-processing mechanisms. We argue that message-based constraints correlate systematically with production facilitation. Moreover, we argue that discourse effects on acoustic reduction may be at least partially mediated by processing facilitation. Thus, research needs to simultaneously consider both competence (message) and performance (processing) constraints on prosody, specifically in terms of the psychological mechanisms underlying acoustic reduction. To facilitate this goal, we present preliminary processing models of message- and facilitation-based approaches and outline directions for future research.
Improving estimation accuracy of particle filter by efficient interpolation based on crossover

This paper presents a new particle filter (PF) that efficiently works with the smaller number of particles than the original one. PF is one of the most promising sequential data assimilation methods because it can be applied to nonlinear and/or non-Gaussian systems. However, PF has a problem in that its estimation accuracy deteriorates when the number of particles in the ensemble is small. We believe that the deterioration is caused because PF is hardly able to create new particles in high-likelihood regions if no particles are created in the regions in initialization. In order to remedy the problem of PF, we propose a new PF named the particle filter with interpolation by crossover (PF-IC) that is able to create new particles in the high-likelihood regions during estimation. PF-IC generates new particles by means of a real-coded crossover operator developed for real-coded genetic algorithms. In order to investigate the effectiveness of PF-IC, we applied PF-IC and the original PF to a benchmark problem. As the result, we confirmed that PF-IC showed 20% better performance than the original PF in terms of the root mean squared error.
Biochemical and Molecular Roles of Nutrients Dietary Oxidized Linoleic Acid Modifies Lipid Composition of Rat Liver Microsomes and Increases Their Fluidity 1 , 2

The effect of dietary oxidized oil on the lipid composition, fluidity and function of rat liver microsomes was studied. Male growing rats were fed diets containing 10 g/100 g of a fresh (control) or oxidized (experimental) linoleic acid–rich preparation for 4 wk. High levels of fluorescent compounds and of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances indicated the occurrence of substantial lipid peroxidation in the microsomes of the experimental rats. The fluidity of the liver microsomes derived from rats fed the experimental diet was significantly higher than that of the membranes of the controls. This was due to profound differences in lipid composition of the liver microsomes, namely, a lower cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio and a greater arachidonic acid content in the phospholipids of the rats fed the experimental diet. The fluidity differences were accompanied by greater activity of the microsomal enzymes, aldehyde dehydrogenase and NADPH cytocrome C reductase. The study demonstrated that ingestion of oxidized lipids caused profound alterations in membrane composition, fluidity and function. These alterations are likely to be associated with an enhanced cholesterol turnover, as indicated by the greater cholesterol excretion observed for the experimental rats. J. Nutr. 127: 681–686, 1997.