Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimalarial Activity of Cordia africana (Lam.) (Boraginaceae) Leaf Extracts and Solvent Fractions in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

Background Malaria remains a major worldwide public health problem leading to death of millions of people. Spread and emergence of antimalarial drug resistance are the major challenge in malaria control. Medicinal plants are the key source of new effective antimalarial agents. Cordia africana (Lam.) is widely used for traditional management of malaria by local people in different parts of Ethiopia. The present study aimed to evaluate in vivo antimalarial effects of leaf extracts and solvent fractions of Cordia africana on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Methods The leaf extracts were prepared and tested for oral acute toxicity according to the OECD guideline. In vivo antimalarial effects of various doses of C. africana extracts and solvent fractions were determined using the four-day suppression test (both crude and fractions), as well as curative and chemoprophylactic tests (crude extracts). Results The acute toxicity test of the plant extract revealed that the medium lethal dose is higher than 2000 mg/kg. The crude extract of the plant exhibited significant parasitemia suppression in the four-day suppression (51.19%), curative (57.14%), and prophylactic (46.48%) tests at 600 mg/kg. The n-butanol fraction exhibited the highest chemosuppression (55.62%) at 400 mg/kg, followed by the chloroform fraction (45.04%) at the same dose. Conclusion Our findings indicated that both the crude leaf extracts and fractions of C. africana possess antimalarial effects, supporting the traditional claim of the plant.
Systemic eosinophilia with skin and pulmonary infiltrates in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report

We report on a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) under treatment with fludarabine who developed skin ulcers, systemic eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrates. Despite extensive diagnostic investigations, no cause of the clinical findings could be detected. After unsuccessful treatment with prednisone and hydroxyurea, the patient died. Autopsy revealed a surprising diagnosis, explaining all symptoms and findings.
Is Wound Complication a Deterrent to Lateral Extensile Approach in Calcaneus Fracture?

Introduction: The lateral extensile approach has been a widely accepted surgical approach in treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fracture. It provides good exposure for fixation by correcting the hindfoot varus, fracture reduction and restores calcaneal height but it has a high wound complication rate. Methods and materials: 36 intraarticular calcaneal fractures (Sanders II, III and IV) treated using the lateral extensile approach in 34 patients presenting between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Wound complication in the early stage (day 1 to day 3), intermediate (2 weeks) and late (6 weeks) were documented. Results: We found early (Day 1 - Day 3) infection rate of 5.6%, intermediate (2 weeks) at 17.6% and late wound complication (6 weeks) at 2.9%. Conclusion: Lateral expansile approach is a reliable surgical exposure for fracture reduction of calcaneal fractures with acceptable wound related complication rate. Minimally invasive techniques and the sinus tarsi approach are being used for less comminuted fractures, but those techniques are technically more demanding. Smoking, long duration of surgery and soft tissue handling also play a role in increasing wound complication rates.
An integrated approach for securing electronic transactions over the Web

The decentralised nature of Web‐based information systems demands a careful evaluation of the pantheon of security issues in order to avoid the potential occurrence of business risks that could not be easily mitigated. Understanding that information security is not merely a technical solution implemented at each endpoint of the inter‐organizational application, this paper describes an integrated approach based on a rigorous, multi‐level and multi‐dimensional model. Having as a starting point the overall business goals and objectives, the model drives the development of a strategy from the lower levels of securing data in storage and transition to the higher levels of business processes. Its use and applicability is demonstrated over “Billing Mall” – a system for electronic bill presentation and payment.
Eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori by classic triple therapy in Lebanon: Is it still effective?

Background: Helicobacter pylori is considered the most common bacteria worldwide with a prevalence about 50% in developed countries and can reach up to 80-90% in developing countries. The first line agent for eradication of H. pylori has always been the classic triple therapy. However, recent data has shown the decline of the efficacy of this regimen due to antibiotics resistance. In Lebanon, due to the scarcity of data over the resistance rate of antibiotics and the efficacy of triple therapy, our study proposed a retrospective analysis of the eradication rate of H. pylori by classic triple therapy in the South of Lebanon between 2007 and 2014. Materials and methods: A total of 168 patients were found eligible for the inclusion criteria in an 8-year data retrieval. The factors studied were (obesity, age, gender and smoking). The included patients received either one of the classic triple therapy regimens for 7, 10, or 14 days with no previous eradication, and followed up by at least one month after treatment with Urea breath test. Results: 61.9% of patients were found to be sensitive to triple therapy, whereas 38.1% were resistant. There was no statistical significance between gender, age, and smoking history, method of diagnosis or type of triple therapy with p > 0.05. Adherence to treatment was good. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: Our results showed suboptimal eradication rate by triple therapy. Thus, triple therapy should no more be considered the first line therapy for H. pylori eradication in Lebanon. *Correspondence to: Malak Noureddine, Gastroenterology Department, Najdeh Hospital, Nabatieh, Lebanon, E-mail: malak.noureddine87@gmail.com
Uncovered Interest Parity: Are Empirical Rejections of It Valid?

There is a vast empirical literature rejecting uncovered interest parity(UIP) on the basis of regressions of the actual exchange rate change against the forward premium/discount. In this paper, whilst we confirm the conventional regression analyses, we argue that they constitute only an indirect test of UIP and that there are serious econometric flaws in such regressions that make them an unreliable means of testing for UIP. Instead, we propose a two new profitability based tests of the UIP condition based on actual dollar returns of being in the domestic and foreign currency and we find evidence that in fact the UIP condition in fact seems to be holding for three of the four parities studied even though the conventional test would have rejected UIP in all four cases. Not only do our economically more meaningful profitability based tests lead us to accept the UIP condition for three of four currencies studied but they also seem to offer superior econometric properties compared to the conventional regression analyses.
1 Market Structure and Price Formation at Market Openings and Closings : Evidence from Nasdaq ’ s Calls 1

Call auctions are currently being used by markets around the world to open and close trading, but capturing their impact on the informational efficiency of price setting at these times requires targeted analysis. Using ultra small measurement intervals, we achieve a sharpened picture of the quality of price discovery in the close neighborhood of market openings and closings, and of the relatively heavy trading volumes that characterize these brief time periods. We find that Nasdaq’s opening and closing calls (introduced in 2004) have significantly re-organized order flow, reduced volatility, and improved price discovery at these critically important times of the trading day.
The stability of transgene expression and effect of DNA methylation on post transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) in birch

In this paper, we selected transgenic birch (Betula platyphylla Suk) plants, which included nonsilencing plants, transcriptional silence plants including TP96, TP74, TP73 and the post-transcriptional silence ones (TP67 and TP72). The transcription of the bgt gene in different tissues and organs were significantly different. The transcriptional level of bgt gene in the different tissues and organs was in the following order: leaf > female flower and male flower > branch bark > phloem > root. The transgenic lines were monitored for foreign gene expression for a long-term period of 8 years during their continuous growth under field conditions. GUS protein expression was not reactivated in the transgene silencing lines TP72 and TP67 when cultured in field conditions for long-term period. Meanwhile, no cases of gene silencing were observed again during the study period in the field conditions. Our results suggest that transgene expression in transgenic birch plants appears to be stable under field conditions. The frequencies of methylated cytosines in the code regions of gus gene was studied. Relation of transgene expression and DNA methylation was analysed. The data of restriction enzyme digestion (HpaII and MspI) indicated that DNA methylation resulted in post transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) in transgenic birch.
Personalized Cancer Therapy: A Perspective

Cancer is different diseases with a common pathological feature of unlimited growth. Aim of this perspective is to update current and future individualized cancer therapy methods and results, and give new directs to improve. Present understanding and predictions of drug responses to tumor growth or metastases and anticancer drug toxicities to patients are not well-formed, but there are two ways of receiving these types of information from tumors; (i) drug sensitivity testing; (ii) the detection tumor genetic, transcription and molecular information—bioinformatics of cancer cells or patients. Individualized Cancer Therapy (ICT) has been designed to meet the requirement of selecting anticancer drugs in clinics and attracting increasing attentions in medical circle and will be irreversible trend in the future. The survival of cancer patients can be improved by many existing specific strategies of ICT, including drug sensitivity testing, cancer molecular biomarker detections, cancer biomarker-oriented therapy, anticancer drug pharmacogenetics, cancer metastasis therapy, drug combinations and cost-effective of ICT.
Success Rates of Clomiphene Citrate and Recombinant Gonadotropin Cycles: A Single-Center Experience

Objective: This aim of this study is to assess the ovulation induction cycles based on clomiphene citrate and gonadotropin administration and specify the factors associated with successful outcomes. Study Design: This is a prospective study of 631 patients who underwent 917 ovulation induction cycles. While clomiphene citrate was used in 680 cycles (74.2%) and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone was administered in 237 cycles (25.8%). Results: A total of 153 pregnancies were achieved in 917 ovulation induction cycles, indicating a clinical pregnancy rate of 16.7%. The ovulation induction cycles which ended up with clinical pregnancy had a significantly lower frequency of smoking (p=0.005), shorter infertility duration (p=0.001), higher basal luteinizing hormone (p=0.021) and lower basal progesterone (p=0.008) than unsuccessful cycles. The clomiphene citrate cycles which ended up with clinical pregnancy had a significantly lower frequency of smoking (p=0.011), shorter infertility duration (p=0.001) and lower basal progesterone (p=0.013) than the unsuccessful cycles. The recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone cycles which ended up with clinical pregnancy had a significantly higher basal luteinizing hormone (p=0.008) than the unsuccessful cycles. Basal luteinizing hormone and progesterone concentrations could significantly distinguish the patients who were able to conceive in ovulation induction cycles (p=0.021 and p=0.008, respectively). Conclusions: Smoking, longer duration of infertility, and elevated basal progesterone are poor prognostic factors for clinical pregnancy in clomiphene citrate and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone cycles.
Parliamentary Democracy in Bangladesh: An Evaluation of the Parliament during 1991–2006

This study of three parliaments in Bangladesh during 1991–2006 argues that parliament has failed to become the centre of political and legislative activities. This is mainly because the ruling parties deliberately bypass parliament, while the opposition deserts it. The parliament has been dysfunctional for more than half of its tenure. For the short periods it has been active, its business sessions were devoted more to party political bickering than legislative activity. Due to the opposition boycott, the ruling party's negligence and the absenteeism of ordinary members, the standing committees of the parliaments were less effective, and parliamentary accountability of government was lacking.
Calculation and Analysis of Shielding Effectiveness of the Rectangular Enclosure with Apertures

─ Based on transmission line theory, an approach which combines the analytical model developed by Robinson et al. and the model which analyses the shielding effectiveness (SE) of enclosure with an off-centre aperture or aperture array is presented. The model is more general than other methods and includes the incident wave with varied polarization angles and incident angles. It is quicker to calculate the SE with this model, which on the other hand enables to investigate the effect of important design parameters on SE. This model is validated by comparing the SE predictions with those from literatures. Different aspects’ effect on the SE are investigated such as aperture dimension, enclosure dimension, position of observation point, number of apertures, polarization angles, and incident angles, etc. Index Terms ─ Analytical method, numerical method, rectangular enclosure, shielding effectiveness, and transmission line theory.
Assessment of Oral Hygiene Level and Periodontal Condition in Brazilian Adolescents

Objective: To evaluate the oral hygiene level and periodontal condition of adolescents aged 15-19 years and socioeconomic factors. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study with 630 adolescents from public schools randomly selected in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. For data collection, a form containing socioeconomic variables and those related to oral hygiene was used. The oral hygiene level was measured through the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and periodontal condition was evaluated by the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Data were descriptively and inferentially analyzed using the chi-square test, adopting significance level of 5%. Results: Adolescents were mostly females (59.5%), aged 16 years (32.4%), non-white (77.8%), with family income lower than US $ 612.00 (55.1%), with parental schooling of up to high school (50%). Periodontal condition showed no significant association with any of the socioeconomic factors (p> 0.05). All participants reported using toothbrush; however, the control of interproximal plaque with flossing was reported by only 44.1%, being higher among females (p = 0.028), and its use has been associated with periodontal status (p = 0.026). The oral hygiene level was satisfactory for 59.7% of adolescents, while CPI showed that only 1.6% of them had healthy periodontium and gingival bleeding (34.4%) and presence of dental calculus (37, 8%) were the most prevalent alterations. Conclusion: Adolescents showed satisfactory oral hygiene condition; however, there was a high prevalence of gingival bleeding and dental calculus. Periodontal condition was associated with flossing; however, association with socioeconomic factors was not observed.
Evaluating the Frequency of Vitamin D Deficiency in the Pediatric Age Group and Identifying the Biochemical Predictors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency

Objective: To determine the frequency of Vitamin D deficiency in the Peadritic population Pakistan. To identify the biochemical predictors associated with Vitamin D deficiency. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in an urban tertiary care hospital, on, infants and children up to the age of 15 years who were seen in inpatient and in the outpatient department. Serum Vitamin D levels were measured along with a biochemical profile which included Serum Calcium, Serum Phosphate, Serum Alkaline Phosphate and Serum Parathyroid Hormone. The results were then analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: Out of the 293 samples included in the study, frequency of children with Vitamin D deficiency was found out to be 77% (n = 227 ). 48% (N = 142) of the total sample had severe deficiency although showed no clinical signs of Rickets. Patients with Vitamin D deficiencies were also found out to have secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypophosphatemia although serum calcium levels were normal. Conclusion: Through our study we found out that Majority of the children coming to Ziauddin were deficient in Serum Vitamin D. We suggest that adequate supplementation of Vitamin D should be started from an early age to prevent clinical effects of the deficiency in the long term.
Solubleproteins and free amino nitrogen content in must and wine of cv . Viura in La Rio ja

S u m m a r y : The protein fraction of white musts and wines obtained from grapes ( Vitis vinifera L. cv. Yiura) grown in northem Spain (Rioja) was investigated by SOS-PAGE. Under different fermentation conditions, e.g. aeration, must nitrogen content and yeast strain, SOS-PAGE pattems showed several bands with molecular weights ranging from 16 to 200 kOa. Higher weight proteins were glycosylated, whereas lower weight proteins were not. Under the experimental fermentation conditions none ofthe proteins showed any chemical modification that would alter the electrophoretical mobility or the covalent binding to their glycosylated moiety.
Differences in survival by race/ethnicity among cutaneous melanoma patients in the United States over a period from 1982 to 2011

Background: Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with a high mortality rate. The incidence of melanoma has increased in recent years from 1:1500 in 1935 to 1:50 in 2011. The aim of this study is to investigate survival by race/ethnicity, taking site into account, among melanoma patients in the United States. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. SEER collects data through a non-concurrent cohort study design. The sample size was 185219 participants. The chi-square test was used to examine the association between categorical variables. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the overall survival curve and to estimate the survival curve per race/ethnicity. Collinearity was assessed using Pearson correlation. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HR). Results: Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Other patients were older in age (70 years or older), while non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic patients were younger (30-39 years). Melanoma in NHW patients was mostly located in trunk whereas melanoma for NHB, Hispanic and Other patients was mostly located in the lower limbs. For all races/ethnicities except for NHB, more individuals were diagnosed between 2002 and 2011. Patients with melanoma in upper limbs lived more frequently. Fewer women died (6.8%) compared to men (17.1%). Patients who were diagnosed between the ages of 30-39 were more likely to die. NHB had an adjusted HR of 3 (95% CI 2.7, 3.3) compared to NHW. The adjusted HR of lower limb was 1.6 (95% CI 1.5, 1,6) compared to the reference group (Head and Neck). The hazard for trunk and lower limb were about the same as the reference. Those who were 70 years or older had an adjusted HR of 2.2 (95% CI 2.0, 2.4). Women had an adjusted HR of 0.4 (95% CI 0.4, 0.5), and diagnosis during the decade 1982-1991 had an adjusted HR of 2.6 (95% CI 2.4, 2.7). Conclusions: NHB patients and patients of ages 30-39 years were more likely to die. The poorest survival was for diagnosis between 1982 and 1991. However, more individuals were diagnosed between 2002 and 2011. The lower limb had a worse prognosis with adjusted HR of 1.6 (95% CI 1.5, 1,6), and more men were diagnosed than women.
The Importance of Social Product Attributes in Consumer Purchasing Decisions: A Multi-Country Comparative Study

This paper examines the role that social attributes--environmental and labour conditions--play in product choice across a range of developed and emerging economies. We use a multi-attribute design to force consumers to not only trade-off social attributes with tangible attributes but also make trade-offs with other intangible attributes, namely brand and country of origin. Our results show that: (1) social attributes are generally more influential in developed than in emerging economies, (2) the importance of social attributes holds across high and low involvement products, and (3) social attributes can influence product choice even when other intangible attributes are included in the design. We believe that our results offer a more accurate picture of the role of social attributes since they are based on a multi-cue, multi-product design that forced consumers to make tradeoffs between tangible and intangible attributes.
Post-discharge Acute Care and Outcomes in the Era of Readmission Reduction

With incentives to reduce readmission rates, there are concerns that patients who need hospitalization after a recent hospital discharge may be denied access, which would increase their risk of mortality.We determined whether patients with hospitalizations for conditions covered by national readmission programs who received care in emergency department (ED) or observation units but were not hospitalized within 30 days had an increased risk of death. We also evaluated temporal trends in post-discharge acute care utilization in inpatient units, emergency department (ED) and observation units for these patients.In this observational study, national Medicare claims data for 2008-2016, we identified patients ≥65 years hospitalized with heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or pneumonia, conditions included in the HRRP.Post-discharge 30-day mortality according to patients’ 30-day acute care utilization. Acute care utilization in inpatient and observation units, and the ED during the 30-day and 31-90-day post-discharge period.There were 3,772,924 hospitalizations for HF, 1,570,113 for AMI, and 3,131,162 for pneumonia. The overall post-discharge 30-day mortality was 8.7% for HF, 7.3% for AMI, and 8.4% for pneumonia. Post-discharge mortality increased annually by 0.16% (95% CI, 0.11%, 0.22%) for HF, decreased by 0.15% (95% CI, -0.18%, -0.12%) for AMI, and did not significantly change for pneumonia. Specifically, mortality only increased for HF patients who did not utilize any post-discharge acute care, increasing at a rate of 0.16% per year (95% CI, 0.11%, 0.22%), accounting for 99% of the increase in post-discharge mortality in heart failure. Concurrent with a reduction in 30-day readmission rates, 30-day observation stays and visits to the ED increased across all 3 conditions during and beyond the post-discharge 30-day period. There was no significant change in overall 30-day post-acute care utilization (P-trend >0.05 for all). The only condition with an increasing mortality through the study period was HF; the increase preceded the policy and was not present among those received ED or observation unit care without hospitalization. Overall, during this period, there was not a significant change in the overall 30-day post-discharge acute care utilization.