Objective Overproduction of cell-free fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in the preeclamptic placenta has been recently implicated as a new etiological factor of preeclampsia. In this study, maternal serum levels of HbF and the endogenous hemoglobin/heme scavenging systems were evaluated as predictive biomarkers for preeclampsia in combination with uterine artery Doppler ultrasound. Study design Case-control

We investigated the relationship between the affective component (A: the level of offensiveness/intensity) and the behavioral component (B: the frequency of usage) of taboo words that are part of an individual’s natural language (C: the cognitive component). In Study 1, 900 US-residents generated the 10 most common taboo words they use in their daily lives (C). In Study 2, 1000 US-residents were pWe investigated the relationship between the affective component (A: the level of offensiveness/intensity) and the behavioral component (B: the frequency of usage) of taboo words that are part of an individual’s natural language (C: the cognitive component). In Study 1, 900 U.S. residents generated the 10 most common taboo words they use in their daily lives (C). In Study 2, 1,000 U.S. residents w

This paper investigates the evolution of income inequality in Spain during its transition to democracy, suggesting a method for the correction of under-reporting of earnings and profits in the Household Budget Surveys’ data. The contribution is twofold: the methodological proposal, based on income-expenditure discrepancy and scaling-up to National Accounts, improves on previous work, and can be co

Purpose – Scenarios have become a vital methodological approach in business as well as in public policy. When scenarios are used to guide analysis and decision-making, the aim is typically robustness and in this context we argue that two main problems at scenario set level is conservatism, i.e. all scenarios are close to a perceived business-as-usual trajectory and lack of balance in the sense of

Background Although associated with severe clinical complications, phosphate remains a neglected ion. Additionally, phosphate balance during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is complex and multifunctional. The present retrospective study investigated the effects of phosphate-containing CRRT fluid on phosphate homeostasis. Methods We retrospectively analysed 112 patients treated with CRR

The need for a scientific formalism for product realization is the translation of a need onto a product which is developed right in time, at the right costs, and fulfills the specifications set out for the product. To achieve this, most existing methods focus on the customer, or on a key technology as the backbone of product development. In this paper, we claim that efforts must be directed toward

Purpose: Outcome after lumbar disc herniation (LDH) surgery in middle-aged patient is usually reported to fulfill the criteria for successful outcome. It is also known that women in these years have an inferior outcome compared to men. This study evaluates whether the same gender differences exist in elderly. Method: In the national Swedish register for spine surgery (SweSpine) we identified 1668

Our preliminary data show high levels of adenosine in the blood of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, positively correlating to their prematurity (i.e. body weight class). This prompted us to look for a mechanism promoting such impressive adenosine increase. We hypothesized a correlation with oxygen challenge. In fact, it is recognized that either oxygen lack or its excess contribute to the pat

Introduction: Assistive technology is required to implement the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities which asserts that all people with disabilities have the right to personal mobility and available and affordable assistive technologyAim: Investigate patients’ satisfaction with their lower-limb prosthetic or orthotic device and related service delivery in Malawi and Sierra Leone and t

Introduction: Few studies have investigated overall satisfaction with prostheses fabricated using low-cost technology. Evidence-based recommendations for prosthetic and orthotic services in low-income countries are needed in order to more effectively provide services. Detailed analysis of variables which influence patient satisfaction with assistive devices are therefore of interest to investigate

This paper presents a holistic approach to perform energy renovations of office buildings. A real case study is used to demonstrate how different software can be used to facilitate the work of architects and engineers during different design stages. Initially, the moisture safety of the building is coupled to its energy performance to define the optimum insulation level. The new interior layout is