Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Hepatitis B and Viral Genotype: The Clinical Significance of Determining HBV Genotypes

The global health challenge posed by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) centres around the widespread distribution and the serious complications as a result of persistent infection with the virus. As with other chronic diseases mediated by pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), clinicians are searching for epidemiological, pathological and viral characteristics of HBV infection that may lead to more effective management of patients with chronic infection. Unlike HCV, the role of HBV genotype in disease progression, severity, response to therapy and drug resistance is still under investigation and just beginning to be clarified. This review examines the potential role of HBV genotype determination in the clinic with emphasis on how this genetic information may used to provide effective management for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Mitochondrial DNA characterization of Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations from the USA

Summary We carried out a study which involved DNA sequencing of a portion of the mitochondrial DNA COI-COII region of Africanized honey bees (AHB) from the USA. A total of 12 mitotypes were observed, of which seven have not been previously described. Of the 172 samples, two mitotypes, A1 and A1d, accounted for 77% of the observed mitotypes, while mitotypes A1a, A26c, A26d, A29a, and A30 were only observed once. A possible reason why these new mitotypes have not been described before is because previous studies on AHB in the new world have relied primarily on PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), which is less sensitive than DNA sequence data. Multiple mitotypes of ‘A’ lineage honey bees have previously been observed in South America and Mexico using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequence analysis. Our findings are consistent with previous studies of AHB genetic variation from central Mexico, Columbia, and northern Brazil, in that the A1 mitotype was more common than the A4. Maximum parsimony analysis revealed that all of the ‘A’ lineage Apis mellifera mitotypes formed a distinct clade relative to representatives of the ‘M’, ‘C’, and ‘O’ lineages. Statistical analysis of the mitotype frequencies in the USA revealed an excess of low frequency mitotypes, indicating that the population size is expanding. The amount of genetic variation observed in Africanized honey bees in the USA therefore supports the idea that there have been multiple introductions of AHB into the country.
Greater hydrogen ion‐induced depression of tension and velocity in skinned single fibres of rat fast than slow muscles.

1. The effects of variations in pH between 7.00 and 6.20 on Ca2+ ‐activated tension development and maximum velocity of shortening (Vmax) were examined in skinned single skeletal fibres from rat slow‐twitch soleus and fast‐twitch superficial (s.v.l.) and deep (d.v.l.) regions of the vastus lateralis muscle. 2. At pH 6.50, Vmax was depressed to a similar degree in each of the soleus, d.v. l. , and s.v. l. fibres. Lowering pH to 6.20 resulted in a further decline in Vmax in all fibres; however, differences between the slow fibres, identified by SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and fast fibres were apparent, with soleus retaining a significantly greater proportion of its control Vmax (0.83 +/‐ 0.03 in soleus vs. 0.69 +/‐ 0.03 in s.v.l.; mean +/‐ S.E.M.). 3. Maximum force production decreased significantly as pH was reduced. Peak force at pH 6.50, relative to that at pH 7.00, was significantly greater in soleus (0.80 +/‐ 0.01) than in the s.v. l. (0.75 +/‐ 0.01) fibres. At pH 6.20 these differences between slow and fast fibres were still greater, in that soleus fibres generated significantly greater relative forces (0.73 +/‐ 0.01) than did d.v. l. (0.67 +/‐ 0.02) or s.v. l. (0.63 +/‐ 0.02) fibres. 4. As pH was lowered the tension‐pCa relationship shifted to the right (i.e. to higher [Ca2+]), indicating a reduction in the Ca2+ sensitivity of tension development. The [Ca2+] necessary to achieve half‐maximal tension in both the slow‐ and fast‐twitch fibres increased approximately 5‐fold when pH was lowered from 7.00 to 6.20. Furthermore, in the case of the soleus, the Ca2+ threshold for tension development was 45 times greater at pH 6.20 than at pH 7.00, while in the fast‐twitch fibres, this increase was 4‐fold. 5. Increased [H+] differentially affected the steepness of the tension‐pCa relationship between slow and fast fibres. As pH was lowered, the steepness of the lower portion of the tension‐pCa curve increased in the soleus and decreased in d.v. l. and s.v. l. , suggesting that apparent positive co‐operativity of tension development had increased in soleus and decreased in d.v. l. and s.v. l. fibres. 6. These results (1) demonstrate an increased resistance to H+ ion‐mediated contractile dysfunction in slow‐ compared to fast‐twitch single fibres, and (2) support the hypothesis that muscular fatigue resulting from short‐term, intense muscular contraction may in part be related to elevated H+ ion concentration.
Evolutionary Game Theoretic Approach for Modeling Civil Violence

This paper focuses on the development of a spatial evolutionary multiagent social network for studying the macroscopic-behavioral dynamics of civil violence, as a result of microscopic game-theoretic interactions between goal-oriented agents. Agents are modeled from multidisciplinary perspectives and their strategies are evolved over time via collective coevolution and independent learning. Spatial and temporal simulation results reveal fascinating global emergence phenomena and interesting patterns of group movement and autonomous behavioral development. Extensions of differing complexity are also used to investigate the impact of various decision parameters on the outcome of unrest. Analysis of the results provides new insights into the intricate dynamics of civil upheavals and serves as an avenue to gain a more holistic understanding of the fundamental nature of civil violence.
What determines tourist adoption of smartphone apps?: An analysis based on the UTAUT-2 framework

This study aims to identify factors affecting tourists’ intention of using travel apps installed in their smartphones. ,A questionnaire was developed largely based on the available scales in the published literature. A total of 389 participants responded to the survey, out of which 343 valid responses were obtained for statistical analysis. ,Significant predictors of smartphone app usage intention included performance expectancy, social influence, price saving, perceived risk, perceived trust and prior usage habits. Usage behavior was largely mediated by usage intention, except in the case of habits. Contrary to the expectation, factors such as hedonistic motivation, facilitating conditions or effort expectancy did not impact usage intention or behavior. ,The study gives app developers vital cues on tourist expectations from the apps. Oftentimes, developers tend to focus entirely on the material utility of their apps, neglecting every other factor influencing use. One particular implication is that despite tourism being a hedonistic activity, travel app usage behavior is not a hedonistic activity. ,This is one of the few studies to examine adoption of smartphone travel apps in an emerging economy context by using extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology framework with additional constructs. ,本研究旨在于鉴定游客安装旅游手机APP的影响因素。 ,本论文采用问卷形式进行采样。 在389人的样本中，本研究共获得343有效数据以用于数据分析。 ,经本研究鉴定，影响游客安装手机旅游APP的因素包括：性能预期、社会影响力、节约成本、感知风险、使用习惯。 其中，使用动机为影响因素（使用习惯除外）是作用于使用行为的中间变量。 与原本研究预期相左，诸如享乐主义的动机、便利条件、以及努力期望等因素对使用动机和使用行为并没有显著作用。 ,本研究结果对于APP开发商将如何达到游客期望有着至关重要的启迪。 开发商往往会专注于APP的物理性能方面的开发，忽视了其他影响APP使用的因素作用。 本论文其中一个重要的实际应用价值在于，虽然旅游业是享乐主义的活动，旅游APP的使用行为却大相径庭。 ,本研究是少数几篇以新型经济体为背景，采用延伸整合型科技接受模式(UTAUT2)为理论框架，研究旅游APP使用情况的论文。
An Occupancy Grid Map Merging Algorithm Invariant to Scale, Rotation and Translation

In this paper, we consider the problem of merging occupancy grid maps obtained by different autonomous robotic agents exploring the same environment. These robots may have different sensors, processing power, memory capacities, and mapping features. Maps produced can present variations on scale, accuracy or orientation. Nowadays, merging such maps is a challenge which led us to propose an alternative heuristic approach which considers these variations. The algorithm implemented uses Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) to detect key-points while calculating transformations (rotation, translation, and scale) to merge the maps. Merging is accomplished without a priori information about a robot’s initial position and orientation. Public available data sets were used to test the algorithm, and it produced reliable combined maps. Finally, an analysis based on different tests is presented and discussed.
Examining an extended technology acceptance model with experience construct on hotel consumers’ adoption of mobile applications

ABSTRACT Given the accelerating adoption of apps and mobile technology in the hospitality and tourism industry, it is critical to understand customer experience of mobile apps as emerging marketing platforms to promote services and products. The objective of this research is to develop an integrative model that extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the experience construct and to examine the antecedents that influence hotel consumer behavioral intentions toward mobile app usage. The findings of this study show that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have positive impacts on hotel consumers’ experiences of mobile apps, and perceived usefulness and user experience influence hotel apps acceptance by customers. The findings of this study can be used as valuable input for the development of constructive future smartphone applications within the hospitality industry and for design of strategies for hotel mobile commerce marketing programs to enhance engaging and interactive hotel consumer experiences.
Lipopolysaccharide Cross-Tolerance Delays Platelet-Activating Factor-Induced Sudden Death in Swiss Albino Mice: Involvement of Cyclooxygenase in Cross-Tolerance

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling through Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many infectious diseases. Some believe that TLR-mediated pathogenicity is due, in part, to the lipid pro-inflammatory mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF), but this has been questioned. To test the direct contribution of PAF in endotoxemia in murine models, we injected PAF intraperitoneally into Swiss albino mice in the presence and absence of LPS. PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) caused death within 15–20 min, but this could be prevented by pretreating mice with PAF-receptor (PAF-R) antagonists or PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). A low dose of LPS (5 mg/kg body wt) did not impair PAF-induced death, whereas higher doses (10 or 20 mg/kg body wt) delayed death, probably via LPS cross-tolerance. Cross-tolerance occurred only when PAF was injected simultaneously with LPS or within 30 min of LPS injection. Tolerance does not appear to be due to an abundant soluble mediator. Histologic examination of lungs and liver and measurement of circulating TNF-α and IL-10 levels suggested that the inflammatory response is not diminished during cross-tolerance. Interestingly, aspirin, a non-specific cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, partially blocked PAF-induced sudden death, whereas NS-398, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, completely protected mice from the lethal effects of PAF. Both COX inhibitors (at 20 mg/kg body wt) independently amplified the cross-tolerance exerted by higher dose of LPS, suggesting that COX-derived eicosanoids may be involved in these events. Thus, PAF does not seem to have a protective role in endotoxemia, but its effects are delayed by LPS in a COX-sensitive way. These findings are likely to shed light on basic aspects of the endotoxin cross-tolerance occurring in many disease conditions and may offer new opportunities for clinical intervention.
“You cannot be serious”

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In Vitro Characterization of the Activity of PF-05095808, a Novel Biological Agent for Hepatitis C Virus Therapy

ABSTRACT PF-05095808 is a novel biological agent for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. It comprises a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) DNA vector packaged into an AAV serotype 8 capsid. The vector directs expression of three short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeted to conserved regions of the HCV genome. These shRNAs are processed by the host cell into the small interfering RNAs which mediate sequence-specific cleavage of target regions. For small-molecule inhibitors the key screens needed to assess in vitro activity are well defined; we developed new assays to assess this RNA interference agent and so to understand its therapeutic potential. Following administration of PF-05095808 or corresponding synthetic shRNAs, sequence-specific antiviral activity was observed in HCV replicon and infectious virus systems. To quantify the numbers of shRNA molecules required for antiviral activity in vitro and potentially also in vivo, a universal quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed. The number of shRNA molecules needed to drive antiviral activity proved to be independent of the vector delivery system used for PF-05095808 administration. The emergence of resistant variants at the target site of one shRNA was characterized. A novel RNA cleavage assay was developed to confirm the spectrum of activity of PF-05095808 against common HCV clinical isolates. In summary, our data both support antiviral activity consistent with an RNA interference mechanism and demonstrate the potential of PF-05095808 as a therapeutic agent for chronic HCV infection.
Incessant ventricular tachycardia due to spontaneous automaticity in the Purkinje network inducing reversible left ventricular dysfunction.

This is a report of reversible left ventricular dysfunction due to incessant automaticity in the Purkinje network. The ideal site for ablation was determined by the presence of a spike, which suggested depolarization of some fascicle of the right bundle-branch of the His–Purkinje system or from an atrio-fascicular Mahaim fibre.
Intercellular communication between bone marrow stromal cells and CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells is mediated by connexin 43‐type gap junctions

The existence of functional gap junctions between haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and stromal cells of the haematopoietic microenvironment in the human system is a controversial issue. Primary CD34+ HPCs isolated from leukapheresis products were co‐incubated with the human fibroblastoid bone marrow stromal cell line L87/4 in short‐term liquid culture. Using the highly sensitive double whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique, we found that the majority (91%) of CD34+ HPCs are electrically coupled to L87/4 cells. Importantly, efficient coupling was observed within 1 h of the attachment of CD34+ HPCs to plastic adherent L87/4 cells. By comparison, homologous cell pairs formed by L87/4 cells exhibited a significantly higher electric coupling. Analysis of single‐channel conductances revealed an electric profile characteristic of connexin 43 (Cx43)‐type gap junctions for both homologous and heterologous cell pairs. The Cx phenotype was confirmed using Cx43‐specific monoclonal antibodies in a flow cytometric assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for the detection of Cx43 mRNA. Finally, the electrophysiological studies were complemented by dye‐transfer experiments using the recently described ‘parachute’ technique that allows the monitoring of dye diffusion without disruption of the plasma membrane. Taken together, our data indicate that functional Cx43‐type gap junctions exist between stromal cells and immature HPCs and, thus, may provide an important regulatory pathway in haematopoiesis.
The Effect of Total Abdominal Hysterectomy on Bladder Function in Asymptomatic Women

The effect of total abdominal hysterectomy as treatment for benign conditions on the postoperative incidence of urinary symptoms and abnormal urodynamic findings was evaluated in 16 premenopausal women who lacked urinary symptoms preoperatively. The urodynamic evaluation was performed preoperatively, at 4 weeks, and again at 4 months after surgery. No clinical symptoms of frequency, nocturia, urgency, or urge or stress incontinence were found postoperatively. There were no significant differences from the preoperative values for cystometry, uroflometry, and urethral pressure profiles. Urinary dysfunction should not be a consequence of an uncomplicated total abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions in women who were previously free of urinary symptoms.
Pushing on a String? Public Financial Management Reform and Institutional Transmission in Fragile States

‘Institutions matter because they structure the incentives and constraints facing individuals. However.the same institutions work differently in different circumstances, particularly in the absence or presence of open access systems’ (North et al. 2010, p. 256). Development agencies typically recommend that fragile states adopt a range of standardised public financial management (PFM) ‘good practices’ that reflect the forms and functions of PFM systems utilised in advanced economy settings where strong democratic institutions prevail. Rules are established that limit discretion in decision-making and systems are put in place that generate better information to government officials and the public, with the expectation that this will lead directly to improved outcomes. In fragile states, however, PFM systems work in a very different institutional context to that which is present in advanced economies. The state does not exert a monopoly over violence, the rule of law is weak or contested, and political order is maintained through systems of patronage. In this context ‘good practice’ PFM rules, laws, and practices may be only inconsistently implemented or ignored wholesale. Further, even when such laws are followed, increased transparency and information provision may have only a limited impact on outcomes because the incentives of public servants and policymakers are shaped by patrimonial relationships rather than by performance accountability or policy-based electoral pressures. In this paper I present a conceptual framework showing how the institutional transmission mechanisms linking PFM ‘good practices’ to improved outcomes are typically missing in fragile states. I illustrate the framework through application to the extreme-case fragile state of Afghanistan, where there is an apparent contradiction between strong adoption of ‘good practice’ PFM systems and deteriorating outcomes. I conclude with some implications for the future design of PFM reform efforts in fragile states.
SOCIAL MEDIA AS A STRATEGIC MARKETING COMMUNICATION TOOL IN PALESTINIAN MOBILE TELECOM COMPANIES - BUSINESS TO CUSTOMERS RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVE

The aim of the research is to identifying the role of social media in building customer relationships; the study also aims at using social media as a strategic marketing tool for telecom companies. The researcher used Jawwal as a case study in the aspect of: (brand awareness, knowledge of services and products, and intention to purchase). Through a quantitative approach by designing a survey questionnaire as a tool of collecting data. The sample included (432) of Jawwal Customer’s Mobile Telecom Company in Palestine that used different social media platforms. Results showed that social media affect building customer relationship and its elements: (Brand awareness, knowledge, and intention to buy). The most important recommendation of this research is: To utilize the use of social media in marketing communication mixes strategies for telecom mobile companies, because they have a major role and influence in building customer relationships.
The human dimension of lean: a literature review

ABSTRACT Interest in lean, the managerial system exemplified by the Toyota Production System, has gradually spread throughout different industries since the 1980s. Compared to mass production systems, lean systems ultimately transform the way employees act within their work environment. Despite significant improvements in operations management, the human dimension of lean has received surprisingly limited attention from the academic realm, until recently. This study serves primarily as a literature review of articles at the crossroads between the technical part of lean and its human-related issues. We reviewed 95 articles and our analysis provides a clearer view of the evolution of lean literature with regard to its human elements. The different levels of analysis can be summarised as follows: lean’s impact on working conditions and employee outcomes, HR practices as facilitators of lean adoption, and employee development as a moderator of lean adoption. We conclude with a framework that serves as a potential guide to include the human dimension of lean in research.
Pulp Response to Lyophilized Bone in Rat Teeth

Background: This article will review different materials for the treatment of pulps of primary and young permanent teeth. However, innovations in materials and advances in biology suggest that there may soon be a convergence of therapies for teeth of either dentition needing pulp treatment. Objectives: The objective of this study was evaluated the pulp and liver response to biocompatible agents such as lyophilized bone in comparison with classical formocresol. Materials and Methods: Treatment was applied to the upper right and left first molar of each animal, for a total of 120 teeth. Six groups were established according to the agent used and the time elapsed (30, 45 and 60 days). In each group five livers were selected, and a control group subjected to no treatment was also evaluated. At the end of the study the rats were sacrificed and the samples were processed for histological evaluation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures was used. Results: Dentinal bridge formation and reparative dentin reached higher values in the group treated with lyophilized bone. The formocresol treatment group showed increased inflammation and necrosis. Conclusions: Lyophilized bone afforded improved pulp tissue response. No histological evidence of liver damage was observed in any of the hepatic samples studied.