Macroeconomic trade-offs and external vulnerabilities of human development in Nicaragua

Nicaragua is making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, but is set to miss a number of targets in 2015. This paper’s general equilibrium analysis shows that it is unfeasible for the government to step up spending in order to meet these targets by the 2015 deadline. Any boost to public spending and financing would have to be front-loaded, which would entail pernicious macroeconomic trade-offs. A more realistic scenario would be to postpone meeting the goals until 2020. In that case, the allocation of public spending would spur economic growth without causing macroeconomic hardships, although the country would nevertheless remain highly vulnerable to external shocks.

Influence of Tapered and External Hexagon Connections on Bone Stresses Around Tilted Dental Implants: Three-Dimensional Finite Element Method With Statistical Analysis

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the tension distribution on bone tissue around implants with different angulations (0 degrees, 17 degrees, and 30 degrees) and connections (external hexagon and tapered) through the use of three-dimensional finite element and statistical analyses.Methods: Twelve different configurations of three-dimensional finite element models, including three inclinations of the implants (0 degrees, 17 degrees, and 30 degrees), two connections (an external hexagon and a tapered), and two load applications (axial and oblique), were simulated. The maximum principal stress values for cortical bone were measured at the mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual regions around the implant for each analyzed situation, totaling 48 groups. Loads of 200 and 100 N were applied at the occlusal surface in the axial and oblique directions, respectively. Maximum principal stress values were measured at the bone crest and statistically analyzed using analysis of variance. Stress patterns in the bone tissue around the implant were analyzed qualitatively.Results: The results demonstrated that under the oblique loading process, the external hexagon connection showed significantly higher stress concentrations in the bone tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the tapered connection. Moreover, the buccal and mesial regions of the cortical bone concentrated significantly higher stress (P < 0.005) to the external hexagon implant type. Under the oblique loading direction, the increased external hexagon implant angulation induced a significantly higher stress concentration (P = 0.045).Conclusions: The study results show that: 1) the oblique load was more damaging to bone tissue, mainly when associated with external hexagon implants; and 2) there was a higher stress concentration on the buccal region in comparison to all other regions under oblique load.

Endovascular Treatment of Spontaneous Isolated Common and External Iliac Artery Dissections with Preservation of Pelvic Blood Flow

Spontaneous isolated dissection of iliac arteries is very rare, with few reports in the literature. Medical, surgical, and endovascular treatment modalities have all been used to manage iliac artery dissections. We report a case of symptomatic, isolated, spontaneous dissection of the common iliac and external iliac arteries. Both dissections were successfully treated by separate percutaneous stent-graft placement, preserving hypogastric artery flow. This technique is interesting because it provides adequate sealing of proximal and distal dissection sites while preserving hypogastric artery and pelvic flow.

Quantitative trait loci with sex-specific effects for internal organs weights and hematocrit value in a broiler-layer cross

Rapid growth in broilers is associated with susceptibility to metabolic disorders such as pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites) and sudden death. This study describes a genome search for QTL associated with relative weight of cardio respiratory and metabolically important organs (heart, lungs, liver and gizzard), and hematocrit value in a Brazilian broiler-layer cross. QTL with similar or different effects across sexes were investigated. At 42 days of age after fasted for 6 h, the F2 chickens were weighed and slaughtered. Weights and percentages of the weight relative to BW42 of gizzard, heart, lungs, liver and hematocrit were used in the QTL search. Parental, F1 and F2 individuals were genotyped with 128 genetic markers (127 microsatellites and 1 SNP) covering 22 linkage groups. QTL mapping analyses were carried out using mixed models. A total of 11 genome-wide significant QTL and five suggestive linkages were mapped. Thus, genome-wide significant QTL with similar effects across sexes were mapped to GGA2, 4 and 14 for heart weight, and to GGA2, 8 and 12 for gizzard %. Additionally, five genome-wide significant QTL with different effects across sexes were mapped to GGA 8, 19 and 26 for heart weight; GGA26 for heart % and GGA3 for hematocrit value. Five QTL were detected in chromosomal regions where QTL for similar traits were previously mapped in other F2 chicken populations. Seven novel genome-wide significant QTL are reported here, and 21 positional candidate genes in QTL regions were identified.

Contribution and perspectives of quantitative genetics to plant breeding in Brazil

The purpose of this article is to show how quantitative genetics has contributed to the huge genetic progress obtained in plant breeding in Brazil in the last forty years. The information obtained through quantitative genetics has given Brazilian breeders the possibility of responding to innumerable questions in their work in a much more informative way, such as the use or not of hybrid cultivars, which segregating population to use, which breeding method to employ, alternatives for improving the efficiency of selection programs, and how to handle the data of progeny and/or cultivars evaluations to identify the most stable ones and thus improve recommendations.

X-ray densitometry to assess internal seed morphology and quality

Non-destructive procedures are desirable for a precise internal seed morphology assessment. In this research the efficiency of X-ray densitometry for internal seed morphology analysis and physical quality of squash, melon and watermelon was evaluated. Seeds were submitted to X-ray densitometry and a typical density profile for each seed was generated. Based on the detailed densitometry profiles it was possible indicate density values for specific seed regions of the seeds and identify causes of poor germination. X-ray densitometry was considered as a promising non-destructive procedure to evaluate internal seed morphology of squash, melon and watermelon and demonstrated a strong potential for further research in seed testing.

Reversed shoulder arthroplasty with modified L'Episcopo for combined loss of active elevation and external rotation

In patients with a rotator cuff-deficient shoulder, a combined loss of active elevation and external rotation (CLEER) can occur when both the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles are absent. A reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) can restore active elevation in these patients but cannot restore active external rotation because there are no other external rotator cuff muscles. We hypothesized that a modified L'Episcopo procedure (latissimus dorsi [LD] and teres major [TM] transfer) with a simultaneous RSA would restore shoulder function and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Clinical endpoint adjudication in a contemporary all-comers coronary stent investigation: methodology and external validation

Globalisation in coronary stent research calls for harmonization of clinical endpoint definitions and event adjudication. Little has been published about the various processes used for event adjudication or their impact on outcome reporting.

Differences and similarities between spontaneous dissections of the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery

Background and Purpose—To compare potential risk factors, clinical symptoms, diagnostic delay, and 3-month outcome between spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (sICAD) and spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD). Methods—We compared patients with sICAD (n=668) and sVAD (n=302) treated in 3 university hospitals. Results—Patients with sICAD were older (46.3±9.6 versus 42.0±10.2 years; P<0.001), more often men (62.7% versus 53.0%; P=0.004), and presented more frequently with tinnitus (10.9% versus 3.4%; P<0.001) and more severe ischemic strokes (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 10±7.1 versus 5±5.9; P<0.001). Patients with sVAD had more often bilateral dissections (15.2% versus 7.6%; P<0.001) and were more often smokers (36.0% versus 28.7%; P=0.007). Thunderclap headache (9.2% versus 3.6%; P=0.001) and neck pain were more common (65.8% versus 33.5%; P<0.001) in sVAD. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.0% versus 0.6%; P<0.001) and ischemic stroke (69.5% versus 52.2%; P<0.001) were more frequent in sVAD. After multivariate analysis, sex difference lost its significance (P=0.21), and all other variables remained significant. Time to diagnosis was similar in sICAD and sVAD and improved between 2001 and 2012 compared with the previous 10-year period (8.0±10.5 days versus 10.7±13.2 days; P=0.004). In sVAD, favorable outcome 3 months after ischemic stroke (modified Rankin Scale, 0–2: 88.8% versus 58.4%; P<0.001), recurrent transient ischemic attack (4.8% versus 1.1%; P=0.001), and recurrent ischemic stroke (2.8% versus 0.7%; P=0.02) within 3 months were more frequent. Conclusions—sICAD and sVAD patients differ in many aspects. Future studies should perform separate analyses of these 2 entities.

Different vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in the human internal mammary artery and the saphenous vein. Implications for bypass graft disease

BACKGROUND: The remarkable patency of internal mammary artery (MA) grafts compared to saphenous vein (SV) grafts has been related to different biological properties of the two blood vessels. We examined whether proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from human coronary artery bypass vessels differ according to patency rates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Proliferation rates to serum or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB were lower in VSMC from MA than SV. Surface expression of PDGF beta-receptor was slightly lower, while that of alpha-receptor was slightly higher in MA than SV. Cell cycle distribution, expression of cyclin E, cdk2, p21, p27, p57, and cdk2 kinase activity were identical in PDGF-BB-stimulated cells from MA and SV. However, apoptosis rates were higher in MA than SV determined by lactate dehydrogenase release, DNA fragmentation, and Hoechst 33258 staining. Moreover, caspase inhibitors (Z-VAD-fmk, Boc-D-fmk) abrogated the different proliferation rates of VSMC from MA versus SV. Western blotting and GSK3-beta kinase assay revealed lower Akt activity in VSMC from MA versus SV, while total Akt expression was identical. Adenoviral transduction of a constitutively active Akt mutant abrogated the different proliferation rates of VSMC from MA versus SV. CONCLUSIONS: Higher apoptosis rates due to lower Akt activity rather than different cell cycle regulation account for the lower proliferation of VSMC from MA as compared to SV. VSMC apoptosis may protect MA from bypass graft disease.

3-D Audio in Mobile Communication Devices: Effects of Self-Created and External Sounds on Presence in Auditory Virtual Environments

This article describes a series of experiments which were carried out to measure the sense of presence in auditory virtual environments. Within the study a comparison of self-created signals to signals created by the surrounding environment is drawn. Furthermore, it is investigated if the room characteristics of the simulated environment have consequences on the perception of presence during vocalization or when listening to speech. Finally the experiments give information about the influence of background signals on the sense of presence. In the experiments subjects rated the degree of perceived presence in an auditory virtual environment on a perceptual scale. It is described which parameters have the most influence on the perception of presence and which ones are of minor influence. The results show that on the one hand an external speaker has more influence on the sense of presence than an adequate presentation of one’s own voice. On the other hand both room reflections and adequately presented background signals significantly increase the perceived presence in the virtual environment.