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1. Manoela N. Morais 1. is a graduate student in the department of finance at Pace University in New York. (mm78341n{at}pace.edu) 2. Matthew R. Morey 1. is professor in the department of finance at Pace University in New York. (mmorey{at}pace.edu) 1. To order reprints of this article, please contact David Rowe at d.rowe{at}pageantmedia.com or 646-891-2157. The file drawer problem is a publication bias where journal editors are much more likely to accept empirical papers with statistically significant results than those with statistically nonsignificant results. As a result, papers that have nonsignificant results are not published and relegated to the file drawer, never to be seen by others. In a previous paper, Morey and Yadav (2018), examined the file drawer problem in finance journals and found evidence that strongly suggests that such a publication bias exists in finance journals. In this follow-up study, we examine the prevalence of the file drawer problem at finance conferences. As such we are the first article in finance that we know of to attempt such an analysis. To do this, we examine every single empirical paper presented at the annual Financial Management Association (FMA) conference from 2014–2018. In an examination of 3,425 empirical papers, we found less than one-half of one percent of these papers had statistically nonsignificant results. These results suggest that there is also a significant file drawer problem at finance conferences. TOPIC: [Statistical methods][1] Key Findings [1]: https://www.iijournals.com/topic/statistical-methods

Background: Evidence from epidemiological studies on the role of tea drinking in gastric cancer risk remains inconsistent. We aimed to investigate and quantify the relationship between tea consumption and gastric cancer in the Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project consortium. Methods: A total of 9438 cases and 20,451 controls from 22 studies worldwide were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of gastric cancer for regular versus non-regular tea drinkers were estimated by one and two-stage modelling analyses, including terms for sex, age and the main recognised risk factors for gastric cancer. Results: Compared to non-regular drinkers, the estimated adjusted pooled OR for regular tea drinkers was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85–0.97). When the amount of tea consumed was considered, the OR for consumption of 1–2 cups/day was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.94–1.09) and for >3 cups/day was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.80–1.03). Stronger inverse associations emerged among regular drinkers in China and Japan (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49–0.91) where green tea is consumed, in subjects with H. pylori infection (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58–0.80), and for gastric cardia cancer (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49–0.84). Conclusion: Our results indicate a weak inverse association between tea consumption and gastric cancer. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

The environmental and health risks associated with the application of synthetic chemical inputs in agriculture increased the demand for technologies that allow higher performance and quality of vegetable crops by implementing synergistic materials with the principles of sustainability. In this work, the seed coating with the biomass of Dunaliella salina incorporated in a bioplastic film of Manihot esculenta (cassava) was evaluated as an initial growth and secondary compounds stimulator of Coriandrum sativum (coriander) plants. The obtained results demonstrated that the coating stimulated an increase in the germination percentage (28.75%) and also in concentration of bioactive compounds, such as the six-fold increment of caffeic acid (13.33 mg 100 g-1). The carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins present in the microalgae biomass seem to be responsible for these increments once they are known for providing energy to the seedling development and coordinating the secondary metabolites synthesis. As conclusion, we consider the coating with biomass of D. salina an alternative for crop improvement that contributes to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

This paper describes a real case study combining two different approaches to optimize the logistics performance in a rent-a-car company, leading to the improvement of the vehicle delivery process, reducing the transport costs, and subsequently increasing the customer's satisfaction. The first approach involves the shortest path determination, using the Dijkstra algorithm applied to a parking lot layout using two scenarios named general and specific approaches, whose result was compared to the solution obtained by the application of the Floyd-Warshall algorithm. The second is related to the maximum flow determination by applying and comparing the Ford-Fulkerson and the Goldberg algorithms considering an operational bottleneck due to the seasonality and oscillatory nature of demands. Both approaches were simulated in MATLAB and analysed as a global decision support model.

Phenolic compounds may exert a favorable effect on the risk of several cancer types, including gastric cancer (GC). However, selected polyphenol classes have not been adequately investigated in relation to GC. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between the intake of polyphenols in relation to GC risk. We used data from the Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, including 10 studies from six countries (3471 GC cases and 8344 controls). We carried out an individual participant data pooled analysis using a two-stage approach. The summary odds ratios (ORs) of GC for each compound, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), were computed by pooling study specific ORs obtained through multivariate logistic regression, using random effect models. Inverse associations with GC emerged for total polyphenols (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54–0.81, for the highest versus lowest quartile of intake), total flavonoids (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.55–0.90), anthocyanidins (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56–0.92), flavanols (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66–0.88), flavanones (OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.44–0.69), total phenolic acids (OR = 0.75, 95%CI = 0.55–0.94), and hydroxybenzoic acids (OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.57–0.89). Results were consistent across strata of age, sex, social class, and smoking habit. Suggestive inverse associations were also found for flavonols (OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.51–1.01) and hydroxycinnamic acids (OR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.58–1.06). Further investigations from longitudinal data are needed to confirm this association. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Nature-based tourism is gaining extensive popularity, increasing the intensity and frequency of human-wildlife contacts. As a consequence, behavioral and physiological alterations were observed in most exposed animals. However, while the majority of these studies investigated the effects of punctual exposure to tourists, the consequences of constant exposition to humans in the wild remains overlooked. This is an important gap considering the exponential interest for recreational outdoor activities. To infer long-term effects of intensive tourism, we capitalized on Odontostilbe pequira, a short-lived sedentary Tetra fish who spends its life close to humans, on which it feeds on dead skin. Hence, those fish are constantly exposed to tourists throughout their lifecycle. Here we provide an integrated picture of the whole phenomenon by investigating, for the first time, the expression of genes involved in stress response and neurogenesis, as well as behavioral and hormonal responses of animals consistently exposed to tourists. Gene expression of the mineralocorticoid (and cortisol) receptor (mr) and the neurogenic differentiation factor (NeuroD) were significantly higher in fish sampled in the touristic zone compared to those sampled in the control zone. Additionally, after a simulated stress in artificial and controlled conditions, those fish previously exposed to visitors produced more cortisol and presented increased behavioral signs of stress compared to their non-exposed conspecifics. Overall, nature-based tourism appeared to shift selection pressures, favoring a sensitive phenotype that does not thrive under natural conditions. The ecological implications of this change in coping style remain, nevertheless, an open question.

Poster presentation at the V International Conference on Analytical Proteomics (ICAP 2017).

We report on the experimental observation of quasi-phase matching in a homogeneous waveguide. By fabricating a monolithic snake-shaped suspended AlGaAs nanowire on a (001) GaAs wafer, we demonstrate the unraveled version of a chi((2)) whispering-gallery-mode microdisk, obtaining second-harmonic generation in the optical telecom wavelength range. With a radius of curvature of 50 mu m and four spatial oscillations along the (110) average direction, a splitting of the second-harmonic spectrum occurs around the phase-matching wavelength of the corresponding straight waveguide. This splitting, which increases as the radius of curvature decreases, provides a useful degree of freedom for the design of small-footprint nonlinear photonic devices on-chip. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America

Digit ratio (2D:4D: the relative lengths of the second and fourth digits) is widely used as a correlate of prenatal sex steroids. There are two common methods of measuring 2D:4D, the direct method and the indirect method. The modern interest in 2D:4D began 16 years ago when finger lengths were measured directly, but many studies now report 2D:4D calculated from indirectly measured fingers from photocopies or scans. However, there are concerns about the accuracy of the latter in comparison to the former. The purpose of this article was twofold: to review these concerns and to add new data to the debate. Our review shows that in 2005, directional effects in indirect 2D:4D were reported such that direct 2D:4D > indirect 2D:4D. This finding was challenged by a 2006 report that direct 2D:4D was lower (not higher) than indirect 2D:4D for male right-hand 2D:4D. Two further studies from the same group have claimed that indirect 2D:4D may be lower, higher, or comparable to direct 2D:4D. More recent comparisons of direct 2D:4D versus indirect 2D:4D and a meta-analysis of Chinese studies have replicated the finding of direct 2D:4D > indirect 2D:4D. We considered an additional sample and found significant direct 2D:4D > indirect 2D:4D for three of four ratios. The overall literature is discussed within the context of standards of research (sample size) and publishing (clarity of report). It is concluded that direct 2D:4D does tend to be greater than indirect 2D:4D. Implications for comparative studies and other aspects of research in 2D:4D are discussed.

As abóboras (Cucurbita spp, Cucurbitaceae) são muito utilizadas na alimentação humana devido seu elevado valor nutricional, porém nem todas as suas partes são aproveitadas, como as sementes. São utilizadas há muito tempo na medicina popular como vermífugo. Fatores como propriedades nutricionais, sabor agradável ao paladar, fácil acesso e baixo custo são alguns fatores que contribuem para que sementes de abóbora façam parte da alimentação diária da população seja ela na forma de complemento ou como snacks. Pensando nisso verificou-se a composição química e nutricional da semente de abóbora (Cucurbita spp) comercializadas salgadas, para comprovar dados da literatura em relação aos seus efeitos, e a quantidade de sódio presente. O elevado teor de fibras encontrado (29,01g±0,28) sugere a eficácia das sementes de abóbora na ação hipoglicemiante e laxativa e o baixo teor de carboidratos (5,36g) sugere seu consumo como benéfico para diabéticos, visto que necessitam de dietas com baixos teores de carboidratos. No entanto, por serem estas comercializadas salgadas, seu consumo deve ser de forma moderada uma vez que uma porção perfaza 23% do valor diário permitido de sódio.

The Solid Waste National Policy (SWNP) established by Law No. 12.305/2010 and regulated by Federal Decree No. 7404/2010 indicates advances in solid waste management in Brazil. The main one is the implementation of shared responsibility for the life cycle of products, operationalized through the Reverse Logistics system. This system seeks the restitution of solid waste to the business sector for reusing in the production chain or for environmentally appropriate disposal. The challenge and successful implementation of the SWNP requires the government’s strategic vision and a change in the behaviour of the Brazilian population. This process needs to be built through social debate and engagement of all stakeholders, from the social and economic inclusion of waste pickers in the recycling chain to the real commitment of entrepreneurs, transforming degrading jobs in entrepreneurship, combined with innovation. Despite the fact that the SWNP and other regulatory instruments generically indicate a stimulus to the incorporation of non-virgin raw materials in the production process of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), no concrete step in this direction has been found yet. The complex nature of the productive chain of electrical and electronic products gives an indication of the interlinked network of inter-relationships of the industrial system involved in it, once it depends on the integration of several industries. In this context, it is important to structure a management model for the reuse of industrial waste, based on the creation of a network – 5Rs Network – that allows to Reduce, Redesign, Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose the waste generated throughout the production cycle of the EEE in the country. This paper reveals which industrial sectors are related to the EEE

A monitorização fetal eletrônica (MFE) tem sido o método mais amplamente utilizado para a vigilância fetal direta, especialmente durante o trabalho de parto. Na tentativa de elucidar o efeito da MFE sobre os índices de cesárea (IC), um estudo retrospectivo foi realizado no Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM). Estudamos dois grupos de pacientes perfazendo um total de 2.114 gestantes: um grupo (n=517) com MFE e outro (n=1.597) com ausculta intermitente (AI). No grupo MFE observamos um IC de 38,0%, contra 27,2% do grupo AI. Para todas as pacientes, o IC foi de 29,9%. O sofrimento fetal agudo foi a indicação mais comum de cesárea no grupo MFE (40,6%), ao passo que a cesárea prévia foi a terceira causa (10,1%). No grupo AI, o sofrimento fetal foi a terceira causa de cesárea (14,3%), ao passo que a cesárea prévia foi a indicação mais comum (32,4%). Baseados no presente estudo, acreditamos que a MFE não tem efeito, por si só, sobre as taxas de cesárea, se considerados todos os nascimentos no HUSM. Com uma educação adequada dos obstetras e uma correta interpretação dos traçados, a MFE não aumenta os índices de cesárea, ao contrário permite mais acuracidade na descrição das condições fetais intraparto.Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (EFM) is the most widely used method of direct fetal surveillance especially during labor. In an attempt to elucidate the effect of EFM on cesarean section (CS) rates, a retrospective study was performed at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM). We studied two groups of patients, consisting of 2114 pregnant women: EFM group (n=517) and intermittent auscultation (IA) group (n=1597). In the EFM group we observed 38.0% of CS vs. 27.2% in the IA group. For all patients, the CS rate was 29.9%. Fetal distress was the most common indication for CS in the EFM group (40.6%), while previous CS was the third cause (10.1%). On the IA group, fetal distress was the third cause in CS (14.3%), while previous CS was the most common cause (32.4%). On the basis of this study, we believe that EFM has no effect in itself on cesarean section rates considering overall deliveries at HUSM. With proper education of the clinician and correct interpretation of the findings, EFM would not increase cesarean section rates, but rather should allow for a more accurate description of intrapartum fetal well-being.

Primary spinal glioblastoma (GBM) is a rare disease, with an aggressive course and a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 19-year-old male with a 4-week history of progressive weakness in both lower limbs, which progressed to paraparesis with a left predominance and difficulty in initiating urination over a week. Spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intramedullary expansile mass localised between T6 and T11. We performed a laminotomy and laminoplasty between T6 and T11 and the tumour was partially removed. Histopathological study was compatible with GBM. The patient was administered focal spine radiotherapy with chemotherapy with temozolamide. Serial MRI performed after the initial surgery demonstrated enlargement of the enhancing mass from T3 to T12 and subarachnoid metastatic deposits in C2 and C4, the pituitary stalk, inter-peduncular cistern, left superior cerebellar peduncle and hydrocephalus. We review the literature with regard to the disease and treatment options, and report the unique features of this case. Primary spinal GBM is an extremely rare entity with a poor prognosis and a short survival time. An aggressive management of the different complications as they arise and improvement of current modes of treatment and new treatment options are required to improve survival and ensure better quality of life.

The reproductive effects of the coadministration of di-2-(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP) were studied in both foetal and adult male rat offspring exposed in utero. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated by oral gavage from gestation day 13 to 21 with vehicle control, 150 mg DEHP/kg body weight (bw)/day, 100 mg DBP/kg bw/ or a combination of the two compounds (DEHP 150 + DBP 100 mg/kg bw/day). An additional group of dams received 500 mg DBP/kg bw/day. A significant decrease in foetal testicular testosterone levels was observed in animals exposed to 500 mg DBP/kg/day or the phthalate mixture. Similarly, histological analysis of the foetal testis revealed that the coadministration of DEHP and DBP was able to increase the diameter of seminiferous cords and induce gonocyte multinucleation at doses that individually had no significant effects on these variables. However, in the phthalate mixture group, no significant changes were observed in anogenital distance and nipple retention, variables that are used to indicate possible anti-androgenic effects. Also, the adult endpoints investigated, that included reproductive organ weights and the number of spermatids per testis, were unaffected by any treatment regimen. Overall, coadministration of DEHP and DBP in utero significantly reduced testicular testosterone levels and resulted in misshapen seminiferous cords and gonocyte multinucleation in rat foetal testis. Our results also confirm that these foetal endpoints seem to be the most sensitive markers of prenatal phthalate exposure.

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Gliosarcomas are rare tumours of the central nervous system, with a well-known capacity for metastasis. When they metastasise, the dissemination occurs more frequently via the haematogenous route to extraneural sites. Metastasis-spread through the cerebrospinal fluid is extremely rare. We present the case of a 58-year-old man who underwent a gross total resection of a lesion in the left temporal lobe. The histological findings revealed a gliosarcoma and the patient received radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy. Seven months after surgery, while the patient remained neurologically intact, brain and spinal cord MRI revealed tumour recurrence and neuroaxis metastases through the traffic routes of the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient died 8 months after the diagnosis. A PubMed search regarding metastatic gliosarcoma up to June 2015 was also carried out. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of gliosarcoma metastases to the brain and spinal cord leptomeninges.

Background: Cavernous malformations (CMs) confined to the cranial nerves (CN) are extremely rare lesions. Case Description: The authors report 2 cases of CMs, one involving the trigeminal nerve presenting with a 3 years history of a refractory right trigeminal neuralgia that was microsurgically resected by a retromastoid approach with resolution of the neuralgia; and another CM involving the chiasma with an abrupt onset of vision loss with acute intralesional bleeding that was removed through a right pterional approach with vision improvement. Conclusion: Surgical resection is recommended in the context of progressive significant neurological deficit, emergency decompression as a result of recent hemorrhage for symptomatic relief or increase in size on serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Alkaline reflux gastritis is a clinical syndrome that results from a mucosal injury by duodenal contents. In this study, the amount of duodenogastric reflux was assessed in patients who previously underwent proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV group; n = 11) and PGV plus duodenoplasty (PGV+D group; n = 10) as a treatment for duodenal ulcer. The control group (A) consisted of 11 healthy volunteers without endoscopic abnormalities. A quantitative index of duodenogastric reflux was obtained in each case by determining the percentage of the injected dose of 99mTechnetium-DISIDA that was recovered by continuous aspiration of gastric juice in fasting subjects. In the PGV group, the percentage of administered 99mTechnetium-DISIDA recovered from the stomach (median: 0.69%; range: 0.09%-3.61%) did not differ significantly (P0.05) from that of the PGV+D group (median: 0.49%; range: 0.09%-3.91%) and from that of the A group (median: 1.47%; range: 0.22%-3.01%). The results show that proximal gastric vagotomy plus duodenoplasty did not increase duodenogastric reflux.

A comparative study on the gestational, neonatal, and perinatal death rates between September 1979-August 1980 and September 1980-August 1981 at the University Hospital, Federal University of Santa Maria was conducted. A significant difference was found between these 2 periods with regard to gestational and perinatal death rates. There were more deaths, gestational and neonatal, in fetuses less thann 38 weeks gestation. The majority of neonatal deaths occurred within 72 hours after birth (75.0%). Apgar scores of 7 at the 1st and 5th minutes were registered for 70.3 and 59.5% of the infants, respectively. Autopsy was not performed in the 1st study period while 70.0% of the cases in the 2nd period were examined postmortem. The number of perinatal deaths from those among the previous controls was significantly lower than from those patients otherwise treated. The increase in the number of outpatient cases, the adoption of new routines, as well as the reformulation of existing ones, the purchase of equipment to better evaluate fetal well-being, as well as other changes during the 2nd phase, are responsible for the lowering of perinatal mortality. (author's modified)