Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current status of malaria in Malaysia.

The Malaria Eradication Program was started in 1967 in Peninsular Malaysia. Since then and up to 1980, there was a reduction in the number of reported malaria cases from 160,385 in 1966 to 9,110 cases for Peninsular Malaysia. Although the concept of eradication has changed to one of control in the 1980, the anti-malaria activities have remained the same. However, additional supplementary activities such as the use of impregnated bednets, and the Primary Health Care approach, have been introduced in malarious and malaria-prone areas. Focal spraying activity is instituted in localities with outbreaks in both malaria-prone and non-malarious areas. Passive case detection has been maintained in all operational areas. In 1990, 50,500 cases of malaria were reported of which 69.7% (35,190) were from Sabah, 27.8% (14,066) from Peninsular Malaysia and 2.5% (1,244) from Sarawak. Until June 1991 a total of 18,306 cases were reported for the country. Plasmodium falciparum continues to be the predominant species, contributing to 69.6% of the parasites involved. The case fatality rate for 1990 was 0.09%. There were 43 deaths all of which were attributed to cerebral malaria. The problems faced in the prevention and control of malaria include problems associated with the opening of land for agriculture, mobility of the aborigines of Peninsular Malaysia (Orang Asli) and inaccessibility of malaria problem areas. There is need to ensure prompt investigation and complete treatment of cases especially in malarious areas. The promotion of community participation in control activities should be intensified. Primary Health Care should be continued and intensified in the malarious areas. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Propagation of a human herpesvirus from AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.

BACKGROUND Although unique DNA sequences related to gammaherpesviruses have been found in Kaposi's sarcoma lesions, it is uncertain whether this DNA encodes a virus that is able to reproduce. METHODS We isolated and propagated a filterable agent whose DNA sequences were found to be identical to those of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We obtained early-passage spindle cells from skin lesions of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had Kaposi's sarcoma and cultured them with cells of the human embryonal-kidney epithelial-cell line 293. We characterized the virus according to its effects on cellular morphology and viral replication and its appearance on electron microscopy. RESULTS KSHV was cytotoxic to 293 cells and was detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in infected cells but not uninfected ones. Cytotoxicity and positive PCR signals were consistently maintained with viral titers of 1 million per milliliter, for about 20 serial infections of 293 cells. The viral copy number was relatively low (1 to 10 copies per cell). Viral replication was confirmed by Southern blot analysis of DNA isolated from the enriched nuclear fraction of infected cells and by a semiquantitative PCR using dilutions of the lysates of infected cells to detect the 233-bp viral DNA fragment originally described in association with Kaposi's lesions. Electron microscopy revealed herpesvirus-like particles in about 1 percent of cells from infected cultures, as compared with none in cells from uninfected cultures. CONCLUSIONS A herpesvirus with DNA sequences identical to those of KSHV can be propagated from skin lesions of patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.
Brefeldin A Effects in Plants (Are Different Golgi Responses Caused by Different Sites of Action?)

During the past decade, BFA, a lipophilic funga1 toxin, has become a major tool of cell biologists interested in studying vesicle-mediated trafficking in animal and plant cells. Its main attractions include its ability to block secretion and to induce profound morphological changes in the organelles of the secretory and endocytic pathways in a totally reversible manner. In the plant literature, however, discrepancies have arisen about the effects of BFA on the Golgi apparatus, with some laboratories reporting a breakdown of Golgi stacks and others finding no such effect (Satiat-Jeunemaitre and Hawes, 1994). The purpose of this communication is to propose a hypothesis that can explain the two types of Golgi responses.
A New Soft-Sensor-Based Process Monitoring Scheme Incorporating Infrequent KPI Measurements

The development of advanced techniques for process monitoring and fault diagnosis using both model-based and data-driven approaches has led to many practical applications. One issue that has not been considered in such applications is the ability to deal with key performance indicators (KPIs) that are only sporadically measured and with significant time delay. Therefore, in this paper, the data-driven design of diagnostic-observer-based process monitoring schemes is extended to include the ability to detect changes given infrequently measured KPIs. The extended diagnostic observer is shown to be stable and hence able to converge to the true value. The proposed method is tested using both Monte Carlo simulations and the Tennessee-Eastman problem. It is shown that although time delay and sampling time increase the detection delay, the overall effect can be mitigated by using a soft sensor. Furthermore, it is shown that the results are not strongly dependent on the sampling time, but do depend on the time delay. Therefore, the proposed soft-sensor-based monitoring scheme can efficiently detect faults even in the absence of direct process information.
A SELF-ORGANIZING QUANTUM NEURAL FUZZY NETWORK AND ITS APPLICATIONS

In this paper, a self-organizing quantum neural fuzzy network (QNFN) is proposed. The QNFN model is a four-layer structure. Layer 2 of the QNFN model contains quantum membership functions, which are multilevel activation functions. Each quantum membership function is composed of the sum of sigmoid functions shifted by quantum intervals. A self-constructing learning algorithm, which consists of the self-clustering algorithm (SCA) and the backpropagation algorithm, is also proposed. The proposed the SCA method is a fast, one-pass algorithm for a dynamic estimation of the number of clusters in an input data space. The backpropagation algorithm is used to tune the adjustable parameters. Simulation results were conducted to show the performance and applicability of the proposed model.
Social Facts and Fabrications: 'Customary' Law on Kilimanjaro, 1880-1980

List of tables List of illustrations Foreword by Alfred Harris Preface Introduction: A time-orientated anthropology: events, processes and history Part I. Precolonial Economy, Politics and Law: 1. the nineteenth century on Kilimanjaro: ivory, slaves, cattle and warfare 2. Practical norms and mystical ideas in Chagga law 3. The powers and obligations of chiefs and commoners Part II. Twentieth-century Transformations: Economy, Government, Courts and Cases: 4. The German period: chiefs, cattle, cash and courts 5. The British colonial period and beyond: an economic overview 6. The formal structure of local government and local courts 7. The case reports Part III. The modern uses of 'customary law': lineage, land and organisational control: 8. The localised patriline in the 1960s and 1970s 9. The chronicle of the M - lineage 10. The local lineage and the larger setting Epilogue: From types to sequences: social change in anthropology Notes Glossary Bibliography Index.
Tocilizumab in refractory aortitis: study on 16 patients and literature review.

OBJECTIVES Non-infectious aortitis is often refractory to standard immunosuppressive therapy. Since IL-6 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aortitis, we assessed the efficacy of the anti-IL6 receptor monoconal antibody tocilizumab (TCZ) in a series of patients with refractory non-infectious aortitis. METHODS Review of 16 patients (14 women/2 men) with refractory aortitis diagnosed by imaging (CT angiography, MR angiography, and/or PET) that were treated with TCZ. RESULTS The mean age±SD was 51.4±20.1 years. The underlying conditions were: Takayasu arteritis (TakA) (n=7 cases), giant cell arteritis (GCA) (n=7), relapsing polychondritis (RP) (n=1), and aortitis associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis (n=1). TCZ was the first biologic drug used in all patients with GCA and in the patient with aortitis associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis but in only 2 of 7 TakA patients. In the remaining cases anti-TNF inhibitors were prescribed before TCZ (standard dose was 8 mg/kg/iv/4 weeks). After a mean±SD follow-up of 11.8±6.6 months most patients experienced clinical improvement, showing reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate from 43±36 mm/1st h to 5±4 mm/1st h at last visit. At TCZ onset, 25% of patients had fever and 19% polymyalgia rheumatica. These manifestations disappeared after 3 months of TCZ therapy. A corticosteroid sparing effect was also achieved (from 27.3±17.6 mg/day of prednisone at TCZ onset to 4.2±3.8 mg/day at last visit). TCZ had to be discontinued in a patient because of severe neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS TCZ appears to be effective and relatively safe in patients with inflammatory aortitis refractory to corticosteroids or to other biologic immunosuppressive drugs.
BMP signalling controls the construction of vertebrate mucociliary epithelia

Despite the importance of mucociliary epithelia in animal physiology, the mechanisms controlling their establishment are poorly understood. Using the developing Xenopus epidermis and regenerating human upper airways, we reveal the importance of BMP signalling for the construction of vertebrate mucociliary epithelia. In Xenopus, attenuation of BMP activity is necessary for the specification of multiciliated cells (MCCs), ionocytes and small secretory cells (SSCs). Conversely, BMP activity is required for the proper differentiation of goblet cells. Our data suggest that the BMP and Notch pathways interact to control fate choices in the developing epidermis. Unexpectedly, BMP activity is also necessary for the insertion of MCCs, ionocytes and SSCs into the surface epithelium. In human, BMP inhibition also strongly stimulates the formation of MCCs in normal and pathological (cystic fibrosis) airway samples, whereas BMP overactivation has the opposite effect. This work identifies the BMP pathway as a key regulator of vertebrate mucociliary epithelium differentiation and morphogenesis. Summary: The BMP pathway controls both morphognenesis of and cell type specification in mucociliary epithelia: the Xenopus embryonic epidermis and regenerating human airways.
Zip4/Spo22 Is Required for Class I CO Formation but Not for Synapsis Completion in Arabidopsis thaliana

In budding yeast meiosis, the formation of class I interference-sensitive crossovers requires the ZMM proteins. These ZMM proteins are essential in forming a mature synaptonemal complex, and a subset of these (Zip2, Zip3, and Zip4) has been proposed to compose the core of synapsis initiation complexes (SICs). Zip4/Spo22 functions with Zip2 to promote polymerization of Zip1 along chromosomes, making it a crucial SIC component. In higher eukaryotes, synapsis and recombination have often been correlated, but it is totally unknown how these two processes are linked. In this study, we present the characterization of a higher eukaryote SIC component homologue: Arabidopsis AtZIP4. We show that mutations in AtZIP4 belong to the same epistasis group as Atmsh4 and eliminate approximately 85% of crossovers (COs). Furthermore, genetic analyses on two adjacent intervals of Chromosome I established that the remaining COs in Atzip4 do not show interference. Lastly, immunolocalization studies showed that polymerization of the central element of the synaptonemal complex is not affected in Atzip4 background, even if it may proceed from fewer sites compared to wild type. These results reveal that Zip4 function in class I CO formation is conserved from budding yeast to Arabidopsis. On the other hand, and contrary to the situation in yeast, mutation in AtZIP4 does not prevent synapsis, showing that both aspects of the Zip4 function (i.e., class I CO maturation and synapsis) can be uncoupled.
An X‐ray Baldwin effect for the narrow Fe Kα lines observed in active galactic nuclei

The majority of active galactic nuclei (AGN) observed by XMM-Newton reveal narrow Fe Ka lines at ∼6.4 keV, due to emission from cold (neutral) material. There is an X-ray Baldwin effect in type I AGN, in that the equivalent width (EW) of the line decreases with increasing luminosity, with weighted linear regression giving EW L -0.17±0.08 (Spearman Rank probability of >99.9 per cent). With current instrumental capabilities it is not possible to determine the precise origin for the narrow line, with both the broad-line region and putative molecular torus being possibilities. A possible explanation for the X-ray Baldwin effect is a decrease in the covering factor of the material forming the fluorescence line.
Moving Patients Forward: Motivational Engagement

Abstract Health care providers recognize that behavioral change does not occur without motivation for change. In hearing health, practitioners often employ external motivators as a means to engage patients within the treatment process. The strongest motivations for change, however, arise from within one's self. This article reviews motivational tools introduced to audiology through the Ida Institute as a means to help patients tap into their own internal motivation to more readily accept and act upon treatment recommendations.
IT Resource and Competitive Advantage: Role of Knowledge Management Capability and Resource Commitment

For decades, scholars have discussed the business value of information technology (IT). The need to examine the relationship between IT and organizational competitive advantage calls for further research on additional organizational variables. By applying the contingency theory to the traditional thinking about IT-based competitive advantages, this study investigates the role of knowledge management capability and resource commitment in the relationship between IT and competitive advantage. Data from 168 organizations in China provides empirical evidence that the positive effects of the three types of IT resource positively affect knowledge management capability, which positively influences competitive advantage. In particular, the effects of IT infrastructure and IT human resources on competitive advantage are mediated by knowledge management capability. In addition, this paper identifies the positive moderating effect of resource commitment in the IT -- knowledge management capability relationship. We then discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the results.
Robust Keyframe-based Dense SLAM with an RGB-D Camera

In this paper, we present RKD-SLAM, a robust keyframe-based dense SLAM approach for an RGB-D camera that can robustly handle fast motion and dense loop closure, and run without time limitation in a moderate size scene. It not only can be used to scan high-quality 3D models, but also can satisfy the demand of VR and AR applications. First, we combine color and depth information to construct a very fast keyframe-based tracking method on a CPU, which can work robustly in challenging cases (e.g.~fast camera motion and complex loops). For reducing accumulation error, we also introduce a very efficient incremental bundle adjustment (BA) algorithm, which can greatly save unnecessary computation and perform local and global BA in a unified optimization framework. An efficient keyframe-based depth representation and fusion method is proposed to generate and timely update the dense 3D surface with online correction according to the refined camera poses of keyframes through BA. The experimental results and comparisons on a variety of challenging datasets and TUM RGB-D benchmark demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system.
The effect of female tobacco smoking on IVF outcomes.

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking is widely believed to be associated with decreased fecundity in naturally conceiving populations; however, the effect of female smoking on pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing IVF is unclear. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 389 consecutive patients undergoing first cycle IVF was performed. Outcomes of peak estradiol (E(2)) levels, log mean ovarian volume, number of oocytes retrieved, oocyte maturity in ICSI, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo quality, percentage of high-quality embryos, pregnancy and live birth were assessed in patients reported as never smokers, past smokers and current smokers. Potential confounding variables evaluated included day 3 FSH, number of oocytes retrieved, embryo quality, caffeine and alcohol consumption. The population was also stratified by female age (<35 and >or=35 years). RESULTS A total of 9.3% of our patients reported current smoking and 12.1% reported a history of smoking. Smoking status did not significantly affect pregnancy outcome, live birth rate or any other indicated outcome. CONCLUSIONS A total of 21.4% of IVF patients in this study had past or present exposure to cigarette smoking with no measurable effect on IVF outcome.
A dynamic model of dissonance reduction in a modular mind.

This article establishes an economic framework to identify the conditions under which an optimizing agent may seek (or not seek) to engage in costly dissonance reduction. We set up a dynamic model of decision-making in which the individual’s mind is composed of a coordinating principal and 2 conflicting agents. We take into account the cognitive dissonance experienced as a result of the conflict between the agents. Each agent (or self) is specialized in perceiving a particular type of signal and performing a task. Dissonance levels in our model are not constant. Instead, the individual’s splitselves are open to habituation, which can lead to a reduction in cognitive dissonance. Therefore, motivated habituation appears as a way to avoid dissonance. We prove the existence of an optimal strategy with a threshold structure. Our results show that the existence of intrapersonal conflict may be a long run phenomenon even in an optimizing mind.
Prokaryotic Community Composition in Arctic Kongsfjorden and Sub-Arctic Northern Bering Sea Sediments As Revealed by 454 Pyrosequencing

Fjords and continental shelves represent distinct marine ecosystems in the pan-arctic region. Kongsfjorden is a glacial fjord that is located on the west coast of Svalbard, and is influenced by both Atlantic and Arctic water masses. The Bering Sea consists of a huge continental shelf in the northeast and a deep ocean basin in the southwest, and is influenced by Pacific water. Microbial community compositions of Arctic sediment samples BJ4 from outer basin and BJ36 from inner basin of Kongsfjorden and sub-Arctic samples NEC5 from shallow shelf and DBS1 from deep basin region of the northern Bering Sea were investigated using 454 pyrosequencing of archaeal and bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Most archaeal sequences in the sediments were related to Thaumarchaeota, though Euryarchaeota were more abundant in the Arctic glacier-influencing inner basin sediment BJ36. Thaumarchaeota Group C3 was the dominant archaeal population in all samples. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated the sediment bacterial communities. Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were also dominant in the northern Bering Sea samples. Alphaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria were the two main classes in Kongsfjorden sediment bacterial communities while Deltaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were dominant in the northern Bering Sea sediments. Differences in the presence and abundance of other dominant archaeal and bacterial populations were observed among sediment samples. In contrast to archaeal community differences that the Arctic BJ36 archaeal community was distinct from the sub-Arctic sediments and the Arctic outer basin sediment BJ4, cluster analysis based on bacterial OTU (operational taxonomic unit) distributions indicated that the Arctic and sub-Arctic bacterial communities segregated from one another. These results suggest that the sediment archaeal and bacterial community compositions can be driven by different environmental factors. Differences in the presence and abundance of particular archaeal species (e.g., Candidatus Nitrosopumilus and Methanococcoides) or bacterial species (e.g., Sulfurimonas, Sulfurovum, and Desulfobulbaceae) involved in biogeochemical cycles were also observed among sediment samples. At the same time, despite the community variation, some phylotypes (e.g., Marinicella) were dominant in all sediments. This study indicates diverse microbial communities inhabiting pan-arctic marine sediments, and highlights potential roles for Archaea and Bacteria in global biogeochemical cycles in these environments.
HilD, HilC and RtsA constitute a feed forward loop that controls expression of the SPI1 type three secretion system regulator hilA in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium invades intestinal epithelial cells using a type three secretion system (TTSS) encoded on Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1 (SPI1). The SPI1 TTSS injects effector proteins into the cytosol of host cells where they promote actin rearrangement and engulfment of the bacteria. We previously identified RtsA, an AraC‐like protein similar to the known HilC and HilD regulatory proteins. Like HilC and HilD, RtsA activates expression of SPI1 genes by binding upstream of the master regulatory gene hilA to induce its expression. HilA activates the SPI1 TTSS structural genes. Here we present evidence that hilA expression, and hence the SPI1 TTSS, is controlled by a feedforward regulatory loop. We demonstrate that HilC, HilD and RtsA are each capable of independently inducing expression of the hilC, hilD and rtsA genes, and that each can independently activate hilA. Using competition assays in vivo, we show that each of the hilA regulators contribute to SPI1 induction in the intestine. Of the three, HilD has a predominant role, but apparently does not act alone either in vivo or in vitro to sufficiently activate SPI1. The two‐component regulatory systems, SirA/BarA and OmpR/EnvZ, function through HilD, thus inducing hilC, rtsA and hilA. However, the two‐component systems are not responsible for environmental regulation of SPI1. Rather, we show that ‘SPI1 inducing conditions’ cause independent activation of the rtsA, hilC and hilD genes in the absence of known regulators. Our model of SPI1 regulation provides a framework for future studies aimed at understanding this complicated regulatory network.
Parental influence on the physical activity of Chinese children

This study aimed to examine the association among parental moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), parental support, and the MVPA of children by gender. Participants comprised of 172 boys and 151 girls aged seven to 11 years old from three primary schools in Shanghai. Their parents were also included as research respondents. Accelerometers were utilized to measure MVPA duration among the children. Questionnaires that focused on parental support and MVPA were completed by the parents. Results indicated that only 4% of the children met the recommended MVPA duration of 60 minutes per day based on objective data. Parental support consisted of two constructs: logistic support and explicit modelling. Boys engaged in more MVPA than girls although no gender differences were noted in terms of the logistic support and explicit modelling of parents and their MVPA. A regression analysis revealed that 23.3% of the variance in MVPA for boys was explained by explicit modelling and MVPA of fathers. Moreover, 10.5% of the variance for girls was explained by the explicit modelling of mothers. Thus, parents should be highly encouraged to support the MVPA of their children by acting as role models. They can also enhance the MVPA of their children using different methods based on gender.