Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A fumicultura em pequenas propriedades: Uma análise com produtores de tabaco sob a perspectiva da Teoria dos Custos de Transação

O objetivo do presente trabalho e compreender o relacionamento entre os envolvidos no processo de cultivo do tabaco no municipio de Rio Azul-PR, a partir da perspectiva dos produtores rurais. O tabaco possui importante participacao na economia do municipio estudado. O estudo foi conduzido a partir da Teoria dos Custos de Transacao levando em consideracao os pressupostos comportamentais e a natureza do ativo. A pesquisa tem carater descritivo, de natureza quantitativa e qualitativa, viabilizado a partir de aplicacao de questionarios aos produtores rurais. Os principais resultados apontam para a influencia dos aspectos relativos ao pressuposto de racionalidade limitada nas acoes e decisoes dos produtores, decorrentes da assimetria de informacao, o que gera sua dependencia deles nas empresas fumageiras. Porem esta dependencia e aceita pelos produtores para usufruirem dos conhecimentos tecnicos e de planejamento para reducao da incerteza feito pelas fumageiras. Tambem identificou-se que a concorrencia entre empresas fumageiras e compradores intermediarios reduz a especificidade do ativo, beneficiando o produtor rural. No entanto, a maior parte dos produtores formaliza contratos de venda, antecipadamente a safra, que desconsideram este beneficio.
Unipolar depression in adolescents: clinical outcome in adulthood.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the longitudinal clinical course and adult sequelae of adolescent unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) using a controlled longitudinal design. METHOD Subjects were 28 adolescents (15.4 +/- 1.3 years) with systematically diagnosed unipolar MDD and 35 group-matched control subjects who participated in a cross-sectional electroencephalogram sleep and neuroendocrine study. Using standardized instruments, interviewers who were blind to subjects' initial diagnoses conducted follow-up clinical assessments 7.0 +/- 0.5 years later in 94% of the original cohort. RESULTS The depressed group showed high rates of recurrence of MDD episodes during the interval period (69%). They also had elevated rates of new-onset bipolar disorder (19%). Twenty-three percent of subjects with an initial diagnosis of MDD had no additional depressive episodes after the index assessment. The rate of new onset of depression in the controls was 21%. Low socioeconomic status predicted recurrence of depressive episodes in the MDD group. MDD subjects with recurrence(s) and controls with new onset of depression during the follow-up period had significant psychosocial morbidity, as evidenced by disruption in interpersonal relationships and dissatisfaction with life and decrease in global functioning, compared with both MDD subjects with no further episodes and control subjects who had never been psychiatrically ill. These psychosocial deficits persisted remission from depressive episode(s). CONCLUSIONS Adolescent unipolar MDD predicts continued risk for recurrences with persistence of depressive episodes and psychosocial morbidity into adulthood. A sizable minority, however, have sustained periods of remission associated with good social adjustment.
Lack of p53-Mediated G1 Arrest in Response to an Environmental Carcinogen

The environmental carcinogen, 5-methylchrysene, is a component of cigarette smoke. Its reactive metabolite, anti-5-methylchrysene-1,2-dihydrodiol-3,4-epoxide (5-MeCDE) mainly reacts with the N2-position of guanine residues in the DNA molecule. In this study, we demonstrate that the tumor suppressor protein p53 is stabilized in response to DNA damage by 5-MeCDE but fails to induce the cells’ protective mechanism of G1 arrest in the human breast carcinoma cell line, MCF-7. In contrast, actinomycin D treatment of these cells did lead to G1 arrest. Western analyses revealed that, though both actinomycin D and 5-MeCDE treatment stabilized p53, only trace levels of p21waf1/cip1 were seen in the latter case. This lack of p21waf1/cip1 expression in 5-MeCDE-treated cells is attributed to a stealth characteristic of this environmental carcinogen that allows it to damage DNA and still escape the p53-mediated cellular defense mechanism of G1 arrest.
The Peptidyl-prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Up-regulation and Proapoptotic Function in Dopaminergic Neurons

Background: Pin1 regulates several signaling proteins by isomerizing the cis/trans conformation of the Ser(P)-Pro peptide bond. Results: Pin1 is up-regulated in dopaminergic neurons in cell culture, animal models, and human PD brains. Pin1 inhibition protects dopaminergic neurons in PD models. Conclusion: Pin1 up-regulation plays a proapoptotic function in PD. Significance: Pin1 inhibition may be a viable translational strategy in PD. Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by a slow and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD remain unclear. Pin1, a major peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, has recently been associated with certain diseases. Notably, Ryo et al. (Ryo, A., Togo, T., Nakai, T., Hirai, A., Nishi, M., Yamaguchi, A., Suzuki, K., Hirayasu, Y., Kobayashi, H., Perrem, K., Liou, Y. C., and Aoki, I. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 4117–4125) implicated Pin1 in PD pathology. Therefore, we sought to systematically characterize the role of Pin1 in PD using cell culture and animal models. To our surprise we observed a dramatic up-regulation of Pin1 mRNA and protein levels in dopaminergic MN9D neuronal cells treated with the parkinsonian toxicant 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) as well as in the substantia nigra of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model. Notably, a marked expression of Pin1 was also observed in the substantia nigra of human PD brains along with a high co-localization of Pin1 within dopaminergic neurons. In functional studies, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Pin1 almost completely prevented MPP+-induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation, indicating that Pin1 plays a proapoptotic role. Interestingly, multiple pharmacological Pin1 inhibitors, including juglone, attenuated MPP+-induced Pin1 up-regulation, α-synuclein aggregation, caspase-3 activation, and cell death. Furthermore, juglone treatment in the MPTP mouse model of PD suppressed Pin1 levels and improved locomotor deficits, dopamine depletion, and nigral dopaminergic neuronal loss. Collectively, our findings demonstrate for the first time that Pin1 is up-regulated in PD and has a pathophysiological role in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system and suggest that modulation of Pin1 levels may be a useful translational therapeutic strategy in PD.
A Decentralized Robust Control Strategy for Multi-DER Microgrids—Part I: Fundamental Concepts

This paper presents fundamental concepts of a central power-management system (PMS) and a decentralized, robust control strategy for autonomous mode of operation of a microgrid that includes multiple distributed energy resource (DER) units. The DER units are interfaced to the utility grid through voltage-sourced converters (VSCs). The frequency of each DER unit is specified by its independent internal oscillator and all oscillators are synchronized by a common time-reference signal received from a global positioning system. The PMS specifies the voltage set points for the local controllers. A linear, time-invariant, multivariable, robust, decentralized, servomechanism control system is designed to track the set points. Each control agent guarantees fast tracking, zero steady-state error, and robust performance despite uncertainties of the microgrid parameter, topology, and the operating point. The theoretical concept of the proposed control strategy, including the existence conditions, design of the controller, robust stability analysis of the closed-loop system, time-delay tolerance, tolerance to high-frequency effects and its gain-margins, are presented in this Part I paper. Part II reports on the performance of the control strategy based on digital time-domain simulation and hardware-in-the-loop case studies.
Magnetic Maps in Animals: A Theory Comes of Age?

The magnetic map hypothesis proposes that animals can use spatial gradients in the Earth’s magnetic field to help determine geographic location. This ability would permit true navigation—reaching a goal from an entirely unfamiliar site with no goal‐emanating cues to assist. It is a highly contentious hypothesis since the geomagnetic field fluctuates in time and spatial gradients may be disturbed by geological anomalies. Nevertheless, a substantial body of evidence offers support for the hypothesis. Much of the evidence has been indirect in nature, such as the identification of avian magnetoreceptor mechanisms with functional properties that are consistent with those of a putative map detector, or the patterns of orientation of animals exposed to temporal and/or spatial geomagnetic anomalies. However, the most important advances have been made in conducting direct tests of the magnetic map hypothesis by exposing experienced migrants to specific geomagnetic values representing simulated displacements. Appropriate shifts in the direction of orientation, which compensate for the simulated displacements, have been observed in newts, birds, sea turtles, and lobsters, and provide the strongest evidence to date for magnetic map navigation. Careful experimental design and interpretation of orientation data will be essential in the future to determine which components of the magnetic field are used to derive geographic position.
High Resolution Computed Tomography Scoring Systems for Evaluating Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Interstitial lung disease commonly develops in patients with Systemic sclerosis (SSc). High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has become the gold standard for detection and evaluation of lung involvement in SSc. Several HRCT scoring methods have been described and used to characterize and quantify the disease. This article reviews the different scoring systems and how they have been validated clinically and applied to prognosticate patients, assess disease progression and evaluate response to treatment.
Pathophysiology of Iron Overload a

Abstract: In thalassemia, iron overload is the joint outcome of excessive iron absorption and transfusional siderosis. While iron absorption is limited by a physiologic ceiling of about 3 mg/d, plasma iron turnover in thalassemia may be 10 to 15 times normal, caused by the wasteful, ineffective erythropoiesis of an enormously expanded erythroid marrow. This outpouring of catabolic iron exceeds the iron‐binding capacity of transferrin and appears in plasma as non‐transferrin‐plasma iron (NTPI). The toxicity of NTPI is much higher than of transferrin‐iron as judged by its ability to promote hydroxyl radical formation resulting in peroxidative damage to membrane lipids and proteins. In the heart, this results in impaired function of the mitochrondrial respiratory chain and abnormal energy metabolism manifested clinically in fatal hemosiderotic cardiomyopathy. Ascorbate increases the efficacy of iron chelators by expanding the intracellular chelatable iron pool, but, at suboptimal concentrations is a pro‐oxidant, enhancing the catalytic effect of iron in free radical formation. NTPI is removed by i.v. DFO in a biphasic manner and reappears rapidly upon cessation of DFO, lending support to the continuous, rather than intermittent, use of chelators. Unlike DFO and other hexadentate chelators, bidentate chelators such as L1 may produce incomplete intermediate iron complexes at suboptimal drug concentrations.
Skin thickness in different menopausal status.

It is well known that skin thickness will decrease in the years after menopause. Women may have climacteric symptoms including those associated with skin alterations as early as during the perimenopausal period. This study was performed to compare the skin thickness of women in their premenopause (N = 31), perimenopause (N = 35) and early postmenopause (N = 46). The mean skin thickness in each group was 2.28 +/- 0.39 mm. , 2.18 +/- 0.35 mm. and 2.02 +/- 0.36 mm. respectively. The skin thickness of women in the early postmenopausal group was significantly lower than those in the premenopausal group, but no difference was found between premenopausal and perimenopausal group nor between perimenopausal and early postmenopausal group. Furthermore, we found no correlation between skin thickness and chronological age. In conclusion, the decline in skin thickness of women entering menopause requires a period of time to undergo significant alterations and the study revealed a significant reduction of skin thickness as early as in the course of the early postmenopausal period.
Speech recognition evaluation: a review of the U.S. CSR and LVCSR programmes

Abstract The ARPA1CSR programme was initiated in 1984 and the first full-scale evaluation began in 1989. This initiative subsequently developed into two parallel strands in the form of the CSR2and LVCSR3programmes. Overall they have encompassed interactive inquiry, read speech dictation, spontaneous speech transcription and broadcast news transcription. This paper describes these programmes, their design, the mechanics of their operation, the results scoring and analysis and the experiences gained from them.
Trend of a population of Wild Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) in relation to Domestic Sheep Ovis aries aries (Linnaeus, 1758) grazing within a small insular protected area

The wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Leporidae) if present at high density can cause significant damages to crops and natural vegetation. The aim of this study, carried out from 2002 to 2008 in the Natural Reserve "Complesso Immacolatelle e Micio Conti", in the foothills of Mount Etna, was to investigate the relationship between the wild rabbit and the presence of grazing domestic sheep Ovis aries aries (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Bovidae), considering also the possible synergistic effect of these two herbivores on the natural vegetation in a small protected area. Precipitation during the month of Sep- tember correlated statistically significantly with the density of rabbits. A comparison between the density values obtained during the period under study did not show statistically signifi- cant differences with the exception of 2006 and 2007 when, within the area, was present a flock of sheep (200-250 individuals), free to graze in the reserve. The abundance of rabbits in 2002-2005 and 2008 is equal to 6.97% more than the expected value; in the absence of the grazing sheep flock (2006-2007) instead the population assumed density values signifi- cantly higher than expected. Since grazing of rabbits, especially in summer, is critical for the subsequent composition of herbaceous vegetation, for the purposes of conservation and protection of natural or semi natural environments, especially with a small extension, it is desirable to properly assess and manage the presence of the wild rabbit, especially in areas where it is not original, for the effects it may have on plant communities and populations of arthropods, and to control sheep grazing as well to contain the caused damages. Oryctolagus cuniculus; Ovis aries aries; over grazing; small protected area.
Community‐Acquired Pneumonia and Do Not Resuscitate Orders

OBJECTIVES From a cohort of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who required admission to hospital, to describe the subset of patients having a do not resuscitate (DNR) order and to compare them with those who did not have such an order. DESIGN Retrospective subset analysis of data from the pneumonia patient outcomes research team study. SETTING Three hospitals in the United States and one in Canada. PARTICIPANTS Hospitalized patients aged 18 and older with CAP. MEASUREMENTS Sociodemographic features, severity of illness, antibiotic therapy, length of stay, mortality, admission to special care units, and mortality attributable to pneumonia. RESULTS The 199 (14.9) of 1,339 inpatients with CAP who had a DNR order written within 24 hours of admission and an additional 96 (7.2) patients who had such an order written later were compared with the 1,044 who never had a DNR order. The 199 patients with an initial DNR and 96 later DNR were older (median age 81 and 78 vs 65 years, respectively; P< .001), more likely to be white (92.5 and 90.6 vs 84.8; P = .007), and more likely to have come from a nursing home or chronic care facility (53.8 and 31.3 vs 4.5; P< .001). The two DNR groups received more antibiotics for a longer time than the never DNR patients. The DNR patients had longer lengths of stay than the never DNR patients (medians 9 and 12 vs 7 days). There were 89 in-hospital deaths among the 1,339 patients, but only 11 of these were among patients who did not have a DNR order during the first 30 days (sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a DNR order for in-hospital mortality were 87.6, 82.6, 26.4, and 98.9, respectively). The 90-day mortality rates were 43.2 for the initial DNR group, 61.5 in the later DNR group, and 4.7 for the never DNR group (P< .001). Pneumonia-attributable mortality accounted for most of the in-hospital deaths but did not differ by DNR status. Only 31.7 of the initial DNR patients and 24.0 of the later DNR patients were discharged home, versus 82.6 of the other patients (P< .001). In a multivariate analysis, the following were predictive of initial DNR: age, nursing home care, active cancer, dementia, neuromuscular disorders, altered mental status, low systolic blood pressure, tachypnea, abnormal hematocrit, abnormal blood urea nitrogen, and absence of alcohol or intravenous drug abuse. In similar analyses of DNR at any time, additional predictors included aspiration, low white blood count, chronic pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, and congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION Most in-hospital pneumonia deaths occur in patients who have a DNR order. DNR orders written within 24 hours of admission primarily reflect comorbid status, whereas DNR orders written later during hospitalization reflect the futility of care plus comorbidity.
Data mining: Efficiency of using sequence databases for polymorphism discovery

An open question in research on Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) is, what is the percentage of true SNPs found by in silico pre‐screening? To this end, we selected 13 genes, and determined the complete collection of “true” polymorphisms, or polymorphisms experimentally detected, existing in these genes in our laboratory using Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC) and fluorescent sequencing, or in other laboratories using comparable methods. The genes studied by our group were PTGS2, IGFBP1, IGFBP3, and CYP19. GenBank sequence information was then aligned using two methods, and sequence differences termed “candidate” polymorphisms. We then compared the series of SNPs obtained experimentally and in silico and we have found that in silico methods are relatively specific (up to 55% of candidate SNPs found by SNPFinder have been discovered by experimental procedure) but have low sensitivity (not more than 27% of true SNPs are found by in silico methods). Hum Mutat 17:141–150, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low Voltage Low Power Dynamic Differential Difference Operational Amplifier EE 8185 Design Project Proposal

The idea is using advanced analog design methodology for LVLP to push the basic analog circuit design toward LVLP applications. It is necessary to point out that this report is just an outline of what the final project will accomplish. Those parameters mentioned above are subjected to be changed during the design process to achieve higher performance or more realistic. Parameter Name Value Parameter Name Value
Prevalence of Actinobacillus seminis in the semen of rams in the United Kingdom

A survey was conducted to establish the prevalence of Actinobacillus seminis in ovine semen and the possible importance of the organism as a cause of ram infertility. A seminis was isolated from three of 16 infertile rams and the infected animals had lesions of the genital tract and produced poor quality semen. A seminis was also isolated from two of 96 fertile rams used as donors of semen for artificial insemination programmes. The strains of A seminis could be identified on the basis of their API ZYM profiles. The results suggest that in the United Kingdom A seminis should be considered as a common cause of infertility in rams.
Mass Casualty Incidents: Planning Implications for Trauma Care

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. While it may seem a daunting, even hopeless task, planning for disasters or mass casualty events is essential. It may be true that disasters defy planning and that the best for which one might hope is controlled chaos, but the success of a well-crafted and exercised disaster plan is measured by its ability to facilitate the restoration of order from the chaos. Although disasters are unpredictable and sudden, they are not necessarily random, and they can be anticipated (1). In certain geographic areas, the form of disaster (e.g. tornado, wildfire, earthquake, nuclear power plant events etc.) can be expected. Disasters, even from terrorism, follow patterns from which we can learn strategies to mitigate the damage. What is certain, however, is that disasters will be recurrent in one form or another. Factors that predispose to increasing the risk of disaster include an increase in population density, including an increasingly aging population in industrial countries, increased settlement in high risk areas, an increase in hazardous materials and technological hazards, environmental degradation, emergence of new infectious diseases, and the increased threat of terrorism (2). DEFINITIONS: DISASTER AND MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT
Contrast‐Enhanced Diagnostic Ultrasound Causes Renal Tissue Damage in a Porcine Model

Objective. Glomerular capillary hemorrhage (GCH) has been reported and confirmed as a consequence of contrast‐enhanced diagnostic ultrasound (CEDUS) imaging of rat kidney. This study assessed renal tissue injury in the larger porcine model. Methods. The right kidneys of anesthetized pigs were imaged in 8 groups of 4 pigs. A Vingmed System Five ultrasound machine (General Electric Co, Cincinnati, OH) was used at 1.5 MHz in the B‐mode to intermittently scan the kidney at 4‐second intervals. An Acuson Sequoia 512 machine (Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA) was used in the 1.5‐MHz Cadence contrast pulse sequencing mode with intermittent agent clearance bursts at 4‐second intervals. Kidneys were scanned transabdominally or after laparotomy through a saline standoff. The second machine's probe was placed in contact with the kidney for 1 group. A perflutren lipid microsphere contrast agent (Definity; Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc, North Billerica, MA) was infused at 4 μL/kg/min (diluted 33:1 in saline) for 4 minutes during scanning. Results. Blood‐filled urinary tubules were evident on the kidney surface for all groups except the group with the probe in contact with the kidney. Glomerular capillary hemorrhage was found by histologic processing in 31.7% ± 9.8% (mean ± SD) of glomeruli in the center of the scan plane for 1.7‐MPa transabdominal scanning and 1.5% ± 2.9% of glomeruli in sham samples (P < .05). In addition, hematuria was detected after scanning, and tubular obstruction occurred in some nephrons. Conclusions. Renal tissue damage was induced by CEDUS in the porcine model. This result, together with previous studies in rats, support a hypothesis that GCH would occur in humans from similar CEDUS exposure.