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Our aim in this study was to explore women's responses to reported ad-hoc demands for unauthorized user fees during pregnancy and childbirth in Luanda, Angola. Ten focus group discussions were conducted and data were analysed using grounded theory. Women were found to apply six strategies as they "endeavored to cope with demands for unauthorized user fees" (core category): (i) blowing the whistle,
The proposal for quantum computing with rare-earth-metal-ion qubits in inorganic crystals makes use of the inhomogeneous broadening of optical transitions in the ions to associate individual qubits with ions responding to radiation in selected frequency channels. We show that a class of Gaussian composite pulses and complex sech pulses provide accurate qubit pi rotations, which are at the same tim
Tumor hypoxia is associated with cancer invasiveness, metastasis and treatment failure. Recent data suggest that the major target for endocrine treatment in breast cancer, ER alpha, is downregulated during hypoxia, but the mechanism behind this remains unknown. MAPK signaling as well as ER alpha regulation has earlier been independently linked to hypoxia and we now demonstrate HIF-1 alpha and ERK1
OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to validate myocardium at risk on T2-weighted short tau inversion recovery (T2-STIR) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) over time, compared with that seen with perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and to assess the amount of salvaged myocardium after 1 week. BACKGROUND: To assess reperfusion
This article develops the theory of laminar dispersion in finite-length channel flows at high Péclet numbers, completing the classical Taylor-Aris theory which applies for long-term, long-distance properties. It is shown, by means of scaling analysis and invariant reformulation of the moment equations, that solute dispersion in finite length channels is characterized by the occurrence of a new reg
Summary: We examined cross-sectional associations of metabolic syndrome and its components with male bone turnover, density and structure. Greater bone mass in men with metabolic syndrome was related to their greater body mass, whereas hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia or impaired insulin sensitivity were associated with lower bone turnover and relative bone mass deficits. Introduction: Metabo
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, and systemic disease with symptoms that limit activities and affect quality of life. RA is associated with an increased risk of developing comorbidities, some of which are also known to be associated with lifestyle habits such as physical activity, diet, smoking, and alcohol. There has been an augmented focus on the implementation
Background: While the impact of knee pain and knee osteoarthritis (OA) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been investigated in the literature, there is a lack of knowledge on the impact of different definitions of OA on HRQoL. The main aim of this study was to measure and compare the impact of knee OA and its different definitions on HRQoL in the general population. Methods: A random sa
Objective To determine the performance of maternal characteristics, Doppler and a set of biochemical markers for pre-eclampsia (PE) screening at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 and 20 + 1 to 25 + 6 weeks’ gestation. Study design Prospectively enrolled women at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 and 20 + 1 to 25 + 6 weeks. Maternal characteristics, uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), ductus venosus pulsatility index (DV-PI)
Background: In 2014 the Swedish government assigned to The Public Health Agency of Sweden to conduct studies to evaluate optimal use of existing antibiotic agents. The aim is to optimize drug use and dosing regimens to improve the clinical efficacy. The present study was selected following a structured prioritizing process by independent experts. Methods: This phase IV study is a randomized, open-
It is well known that during the suckling period pancreatic secretion is low. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with pancreatic-like enzymes of microbial origin (PLEM) and SiO2, as an antibacterial factor, on the performance of piglets fed creep feed during weaning and thereafter. The experiment was performed on piglets from 30 litters. The piglets were
As part of efforts to identify native herbivores of Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae), as potential biological control agents against this invasive weed in Australia, ten species of Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) were reared from Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela: Amorbia concavana (Zeller), Platynota rostrana (Walker), Platynota helianthes (Meyrick),
The biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays were used as a tool to investigate methane potential of chicken manure (CM) and three co-substrates (chicken processing waste, Miscanthus and seagrass) in mono-digestion and co-digestion studies for selecting regional biomass in a bid to support the expansion of a full-scale biogas plant. Two types of kinetic models (first order and modified Gompertz
A new analysis procedure for fungicides has been developed gearing toward estimation of worker exposure in greenhouses. The procedure includes sampling on leaves, glass, and polymers using vinclozolin and triadimefon as model substances and starts with solvation of the fungicides with ethanol from the surface. It proceeds by collection of the solution on disks of cloth, disk extraction with excess
Activation energy asymptotic analysis and rate-ratio asymptotic analysis of combustion in laminar, nonpremixed flames are often carried out using conserved scalar quantities as independent variables. One such representation of a conserved scalar quantity is the mixture fraction, ξ, based on thermal diffusivity. These analyses are carried out in the asymptotic limit of large Damköhler number, with
Background: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine the feasibility of incorporating blue light flexible cystoscopy (BLFC) and biopsy/fulguration into routine outpatient follow-up of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients. Methods: The study included patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who were scheduled for routine follow-up. Hexaminolevulinate was inst
Background: The intestinal tract is important for development of immune tolerance and disturbances are suggested to trigger autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of Maillard products in skim milk powder obtained after long storage, compared to fresh skim milk powder. Methods: Young rats were weaned onto a diet based on skim milk powder with high concentration of Mai
Background: Long-QT (LQT) syndrome mutation carriers have higher risk of cardiac events than unaffected family members even in the absence of QTc prolongation. Changes in T-wave morphology may reflect penetrance of LQT syndrome mutations. We aimed to assess whether T-wave morphology may improve risk stratification of LQT2 mutation carriers with normal QTc interval. Methods: LQT2 mutation carriers
Early-life lead exposure impairs neurodevelopment and later exposure affects the cardiovascular system. Lead has been associated with reduced global 5-methylcytosine DNA methylation, suggesting that lead toxicity acts through epigenetic mechanisms. The objective of this study is to clarify how early-life lead exposure alters DNA methylation of specific genes, using an epigenomic approach. We measu
