Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Log Real Value Monthly Housing Per Capita Log Real Value Monthly Durables Per Capita Log Real Value Livestock Per Capita

Food Security and Wheat Prices in Afghanistan: A Distribution-Sensitive Analysis of Household-Level Impacts We investigate the impact of increases in wheat flour prices on household food security using unique nationally-representative data collected in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008. We use a new estimator, the Unconditional Quantile Regression (UQR) estimator, based on influence functions to examine the marginal effects of price increases at different locations on the distributions of several food security measures. UQR estimates reveal that the negative marginal effect of a price increase on food consumption is two and a half times larger for households that can afford to cut the value of food consumption (75 quantile) than for households at the bottom (25 quantile) of the food-consumption distribution. Similarly, households with diets high in calories reduce intake substantially, but those at the bottom of the calorie distribution (25 quantile) make very small changes in intake as a result of the price increases. In contrast, households at the bottom of the dietary diversity distribution make the largest adjustments in the quality of their diets, since such households often live at subsistence levels and cannot make large cuts in caloric intake without suffering serious health consequences. These results provide empirical evidence that when faced with staplefood price increases, food-insecure households sacrifice quality (diversity) in order to protect calories. The large differences in behavioral responses of households that lie at the top and bottom of these distributions suggest that policy analyses relying solely on OLS estimates may be misleading. JEL Classification: D12, I3
Distinct distribution of HPV types among cancer-free Afro-Caribbean women from Tobago

Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus causes cervical carcinomas, and is associated with ∼36% of oropharyngeal tumours where HPV16 is the predominant genotype. The cervical cancer incidence rate in Trinidad and Tobago is about two times higher than the worldwide rate. We have for the first time determined the prevalence and type distribution of cervical HPV infections among cancer-free Afro-Caribbean women from Tobago, and compared it with the HPV subtypes observed in their oral cavity. Thirty-five per cent of the women were cervical HPV positive. The most common high-risk type detected in the cervix was HPV45 rather than HPV16 and 18. The prevalence of HPV infection in the oral mucosa was 6.6%. The distribution of HPV genotypes in healthy Tobagonian women is different from that reported in studies conducted in European and North American populations. This may have important implications for vaccine introduction in this and other Afro-Caribbean countries.
The prevalence and aetiology of molar-incisor hypomineralisation in a group of children in Istanbul.

AIM To our knowledge, the prevalence and aetiology of molar-incisor hypomineralisation has not been discussed nor investigated in Turkish children in Istanbul. Therefore the aim of the present study is to investigate the prevalence and aetiology of MIH in a group of children in Istanbul. DESIGN Between April and July 2007, a retrospective clinical study was initiated at the Dept. of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 147 children aged 7-9 years visiting our clinic were examined by two calibrated paediatric dentists (kappa: 0.89). The examiners used the criteria for the diagnosis of demarcated opacities, post-eruption breakdown, atypical restorations, and extracted PFMs due to MIH developed by Weerheijm et al. RESULTS In the present study, prevalence of MIH was 14.9%. Of the 22 children affected with MIH, 17 (77.2%) had only demarcated opacities, but no breakdown or atypical restorations. Regarding diseases in the first 3 years of life, 55% of MIH and 19.4% of non-MIH children had a disease history. 27% of MIH children had suffered from upper and lower respiratory tract infections including bronchitis. This was significantly different from non-MIH children (p<0.001). CONCLUSION MIH was common among a group of 7-9 years old children, Istanbul.
Uveal coloboma: clinical and basic science update

Purpose of review To integrate knowledge on the embryologic and molecular basis of optic fissure closure with clinical observations in patients with uveal coloboma. Recent findings Closure of the optic fissure has been well characterized and many genetic alterations have been associated with coloboma; however, molecular mechanisms leading to coloboma remain largely unknown. In the past decade, we have gained better understanding of genes critical to eye development; however, mutations in these genes have been found in few individuals with coloboma. CHD7 mutations have been identified in patients with CHARGE syndrome (coloboma, heart defects, choanal atresia, retarded growth, genital anomalies, and ear anomalies or deafness). Animal models are bringing us closer to a molecular understanding of optic fissure closure. Summary Optic fissure closure requires precise orchestration in timing and apposition of two poles of the optic cup. The relative roles of genetics and environment on this process remain elusive. While most cases of coloboma are sporadic, autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked inheritance patterns have been described. Genetically, colobomata demonstrate pleiotropy, heterogeneity, variable expressivity, and reduced penetrance. Coloboma is a complex disorder with a variable prognosis and requires regular examination to optimize visual acuity and to monitor for potential complications.
In vitro cellular radiosensitivity in relationship to late normal tissue reactions in breast cancer patients: a multi-endpoint case-control study

Abstract Purpose: A minority of patients exhibits severe late normal tissue toxicity after radiotherapy (RT), possibly related to their inherent individual radiation sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate four different candidate in vitro cellular radiosensitivity assays for prediction of late normal tissue reactions, in a retrospective matched case-control set-up of breast cancer patients. Methods: The study population consists of breast cancer patients expressing severe radiation toxicity (12 cases) and no or minimal reactions (12 controls), with a follow-up for at least 3 years. Late adverse reactions were evaluated by comparing standardized photographs pre- and post-RT resulting in an overall cosmetic score and by clinical examination using the LENT-SOMA scale. Four cellular assays on peripheral blood lymphocytes reported to be associated with normal tissue reactions were performed after in vitro irradiation of patient blood samples to compare case and control radiation responses: radiation-induced CD8+ late apoptosis, residual DNA double-strand breaks, G0 and G2 micronucleus assay. Results: A significant difference was observed for all cellular endpoints when matched cases and controls were compared both pairwise and grouped. However, it is important to point out that most case-control pairs showed a substantial overlap in standard deviations, which questions the predictive value of the individual assays. The apoptosis assay performed best, with less apoptosis seen in CD8+ lymphocytes of the cases (average: 14.45%) than in their matched controls (average: 30.64%) for 11 out of 12 patient pairs (p < .01). The number of residual DNA DSB was higher in cases (average: 9.92 foci/cell) compared to their matched control patients (average: 9.17 foci/cell) (p < .01). The average dose response curve of the G0 MN assay for cases lies above the average dose response curve of the controls. Finally, a pairwise comparison of the G2 MN results showed a higher MN yield for cases (average: 351 MN/1000BN) compared to controls (average: 219 MN/1000BN) in 9 out of 10 pairs (p < .01). Conclusion: This matched case-control study in breast cancer patients, using different endpoints for in vitro cellular radiosensitivity related to DNA repair and apoptosis, suggests that patients’ intrinsic radiosensitivity is involved in the development of late normal tissue reactions after RT. Larger prospective studies are warranted to validate the retrospective findings and to use in vitro cellular assays in the future to predict late normal tissue radiosensitivity and discriminate individuals with marked RT responses.
Evaluating the effectiveness of health belief model interventions in improving adherence: a systematic review

Lack of adherence to health-promoting advice challenges the successful prevention and management of many conditions. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was developed in 1966 to predict health-promoting behaviour and has been used in patients with wide variety of disease. The HBM has also been used to inform the development of interventions to improve health behaviours. Several reviews have documented the HBM's performance in predicting behaviour, but no review has addressed its utility in the design of interventions or the efficacy of these interventions. A systematic review was conducted to identify interventional studies which use the HBM as the theoretical basis for intervention design. The HBM has been used continuously in the development of behaviour change interventions for 40 years. Of 18 eligible studies, 14 (78%) reported significant improvements in adherence, with 7 (39%) showing moderate to large effects. However, only six studies used the HBM in its entirety and five different studies measured health beliefs as outcomes. Intervention success appeared to be unrelated to HBM construct addressed challenging the utility of this model as the theoretical basis for adherence-enhancing interventions. Interventions need to be described in full to allow for the identification of effective components and replication of studies.
Progressive pulmonary tuberculosis is not due to increasing numbers of viable bacilli in rabbits, mice and guinea pigs, but is due to a continuous host response to mycobacterial products.

Tuberculosis (TB) kills more people in the world today than any other infectious disease. A better vaccine to prevent clinical tuberculosis is greatly needed. Candidate vaccines are often evaluated by infecting rabbits, mice and guinea pigs by an aerosol of virulent tubercle bacilli and culturing their lungs for viable bacilli at various times thereafter. In all three species, however, the number of viable bacilli usually does not continuously increase until the host succumbs. The number of viable bacilli increases logarithmically for only about 3 weeks. Then, the host develops delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and cell-mediated immunity (CMI), which keep the number of viable bacilli rather constant during the subsequent weeks. In the immunized host, DTH and CMI stop the logarithmic increase sooner than in the unimmunized controls, so that the stationary bacillary levels that follow are lower. This review analyzes host-parasite interactions in the lungs of rabbits, mice and guinea pigs. All three species cannot prevent inhaled fully virulent tubercle bacilli from establishing an infection, but they differ markedly in the type of the disease produced once it is established.
PDGF‐A and PDGFR‐α regulate tooth formation via autocrine mechanism during mandibular morphogenesis in vitro

Platelet‐derived growth factor A (PDGF‐A) binding to the PDGF receptor alpha (PDGFR‐α) mediates signal transduction processes related to DNA synthesis, cell migrations, cytodifferentiation, and wound healing. Recent studies indicate that PDGFR‐α functions during cranial neural crest cell migrations and first branchial arch morphogenesis (Stephenson et al. [1991] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:6–10; Morrison‐Graham et al. [1992] Development 115:133–142; Hu et al. [1995] Int. J. Dev. Biol. 39:939–945; Soriano [1997] Development 124:2691–2700). The present studies were designed to test the hypothesis that PDGF‐A, interacts with its cognate receptor PDGFR‐α via an autocrine mechanism that regulates the timing, rates, and size of embryonic mouse tooth morphogenesis. Both PDGF‐A and PDGFR‐α transcripts were coordinately expressed in mandibular prominences prior to and during tooth formation using reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). During the dental lamina stage, ligand and receptor were present in both enamel organ epithelium and adjacent mesenchymal cells. During the bud stage, ligand and receptor were localized mainly to the enamel organ epithelium. Exogenous PDGF‐A at 20 ng/ml enhanced tooth development to reach the cap stage with increased tooth size (P < 0.05) using embryonic day (E)10 mandibular explants cultured in serumless, chemically defined medium. A significant increase in DNA synthesis was observed within enamel organ epithelium at E10+4 when the mandibular explants were treated with PDGF‐A at 20 ng/ml. These data suggest that PDGF‐A and its cognate receptor (PDGFR‐α) regulate the size and stage of tooth development via an autocrine mechanism during odontogenesis in vitro. Dev. Dyn. 1998;213:500–511. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of cytochrome P450 2E1 genetic polymorphisms with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus

Abstract Squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus is one of the most common cancers among black males in South Africa. Genetic polymorphism in the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) gene, coding for one of the main enzymes involved in the bioactivation of tobacco- and alcohol-related substances, was investigated for its role in the development of oesophageal cancer. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms −1053C→T, −1293G→A (both give rise to CYP2E1*5) and 7632T→A ( CYP2E1*6) in the 5′-untranslated region of CYP2E1 were investigated in 189 patients and 198 control individuals in South Africa. The mutant variants occurred between patients and controls at frequencies of 1% and 2% (−1053C→T), 1% and 3% (−1293G→A) and 18% and 7% (7632T→A), respectively. In comparing patients with controls, the heterozygous CYP2E1*6 genotype was associated with increased risk of the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (odds ratio, 5.90; p<0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, smoking and alcohol consumption. In contrast, we did not find a significant association between CYP2E1*5 and oesophageal cancer. Six novel mutations, −1371G→A, −1359C→G, −1342C→G, −1261T→del, −1189T→C and −1103C→G, were identified by DNA sequence analysis of the CYP2E1 promoter region. In summary, our case-control study of oesophageal cancer revealed an elevated risk associated with the CYP2E1*6 allele in South Africans.
Antibacterial Activity of Coumarins

Abstract The antibacterial activity of coumarin per se and other 45 coumarin derivatives was tested against strains of Bacillus cereus MIP 96016, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The inhibitory effects of coumarins were affected by their substitution patterns. Osthenol (44) showed the most effective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria with MIC values ranging between 125 and 62.5 μg/ml. These results suggested that the prenyl chain of 44 at position 8 and the presence of OH at position 7 of the benzenic ring are required for the antibacterial activity against these strains.
Impact of IT Capability on the Performance of Port Operation

Based on the resource‐based view (RBV) and the transaction cost economics (TCE) theories, we study the impact of IT capability on the performance of port supply chain using an IT‐enabled transaction cost frontier model where the IT capability is modeled as a unique production input and as an endogenous transaction attribute as well. By examining the optimal levels of IT capability for different port systems from the viewpoint of production cost and transaction cost, we find theoretical evidence to explain why a port system with a horizontal competitive governance mode is less successful at integrating a port IT system in practice. Moreover, we find that the optimal IT capability of an individual port operator is lower than the IT capability in an integrated heterogeneous system. We further investigate how to improve IT capability to the desired system level through different forms of an incentive system that includes a subsidy offered by the port authority to coordinate the entire port system. The fixed subsidy is found to be the most cost‐effective and the easiest to implement. In addition, considering that information about effort cost for IT capability can be private under a market or hybrid governance mode, we study the performance of a direct revelation mechanism when revealing the port operator's private information and true cost to the port authority.
Cholesteatoma Recidivism: Comparison of Three Different Surgical Techniques

Objective To compare cholesteatoma recidivism rates after exclusive transcanal technique (ETC), combined transcanal and mastoidal technique (TCM, both subsets of intact canal wall technique, ICW), and canal wall down surgery (CWD). Study Design Retrospective case review and clinical case study Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients 406 cholesteatoma surgeries (2007–2009), 116 ears in clinical re-examination at least 1 year postoperatively. Intervention Sequential cholesteatoma surgery with ETC, TCM, or CWD. Main Outcome Measures Cholesteatoma recidivism, residual and recurrent disease, localization of recidivism, validity of clinical findings. Results Out of 406 patients, ETC was performed in 227 (56%), TCM in 122 (30%), and CWD in 57 (14%) cases. Recidivism rates after ICW (15%) and CWD (16%) were almost similar. Recidivism was more frequent after ETC (11%) than after TCM (25%). Residuals were observed in 2% after ETC, 6.5% after TCM, and 7% after CWD. Incidence of recurrent disease was 9% for ETC, 18% for TCM, and 9% for CWD. Preferred localization of recidivism was the tympanic cavity after ETC (92%) and CWD (56%) and the mastoid cavity after TCM (53%). The clinical re-examination showed no further recidivistic disease. Conclusions Sequential surgery is an effective and successful strategy in cholesteatoma eradication, providing a similar recidivism rate compared to following cholesteatoma retrograde and resection of the posterior canal wall. Lower recidivism after ETC was observed as a consequence of limited disease and the postoperative middle ear status determined the higher rate of recurrence after TCM. Therefore, the restricted visualization of the middle ear during ICW surgery does not increase the rate of recidivism, compared with CWD, as described in other studies. Cholesteatoma recidivism is mainly attributed to the surgeon’s experience that outweighs the chosen strategy.
Evaluation of a modified version of the index of Oral Impacts On Daily Performances (OIDP) in elderly populations in two European countries.

OBJECTIVE To examine the psychometric properties of a modified version of the index of Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) in elderly populations in two European countries, namely Great Britain and Greece. The psychometric properties examined in this study refer to internal consistency and face, content, criterion and construct validity. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional epidemiologic surveys of independently living people aged 65 years or older. Data were collected by interviewers through structured questionnaires. The British sample consisted of the randomly selected independently living persons that participated in the dental component of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of adults aged 65 years or over. The Greek sample is an opportunity sample drawn from eligible people living in two municipalities of the Athens region. SUBJECTS 753 people participated in the British and 681 in the Greek sample. RESULTS Through pilot work in both countries, the OIDP index was modified and both Greek and British modified versions demonstrated satisfactory face and content validity. In the main studies, Cronbach's alpha of the modified OIDP was 0.77 for the Greek and 0.69 for the British sample. In both samples, the index showed very significant associations with perceived dental treatment need (p<0.001), perceived general health (p<0.001 in Greek, p=0.002 in British) and intermediate oral impacts (p<0.001), as well as with satisfaction with oral health in the Greek sample (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study has demonstrated that the modified OIDP is a valid and reliable measure of oral health related quality of life in elderly people in Great Britain and Greece.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Novel Non-invasive Technique for Diagnosing Brain Tumors.

OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of MR Spectroscopy (MRS) in diagnosing brain tumors. STUDY DESIGN Analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Neurosurgery Department, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from November 2010 to April 2011. METHODOLOGY Fifty cases with brain tumors, who presented to Neurosurgery Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, during the study period, were included in the study. All patients underwent MRS and later brain. Those with recurrent disease were excluded. Data was collected with the help of proforma. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Comparison of MRS findings and biopsy diagnosis was done. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) were determined keeping histopathology as the gold standard. RESULTS Out of the 50 patients, there were 20 (40%) females and 30 (60%) males with mean age of 37 ± 13.24 years. The commonest presenting complaint was headache (76%) followed by weakness (62%) and seizures (30%). MRI had diagnosed 27 (51%) as neoplastic lesion. Spectroscopy reported 44 (88%) as neoplasms, while on histopathology, 42 (84%) were confirmed to have neoplasm. The accuracy of MRS was 94%, with 97.6% sensitivity, 71.42% specificity, 95.45% PPV and 83.3% NPV. CONCLUSION Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can readily help in differentiating neoplasm from non-neoplastic brain tumors, thus an invasive brain biopsy procedure can be avoided.
On the Power Spectral Density of Self-Synchronizing Scrambled Sequences

We derive a closed-form expression for the power spectral density of amplitude/phase-shift keyed bit sequences randomized through self-synchronizing scrambling when the source sequence is a stationary sequence of statistically independent bits. In addition to the dependence on the symbol pulse shape, duration, and the signal space values with which symbols are represented, we show that the power spectral density is dependent only on the probability of logic ones in the source bit stream, the period of the impulse response of the scrambling shift register, and the number of logic ones in this period. Our results confirm that optimum randomization results with use of primitive scrambling polynomials and poorest randomization occurs with "two-tap" polynomials of the form x/sup D/+1.
Corporate social responsibility and communication

Corporate activities are increasingly scrutinized for their effect on society and the environment. It is unthinkable that a corporation today will declare publicly that its only goal is to make money for its shareholders. Instead, corporations typically claim to balance the needs of society and the environment against the need to make a profit. That is, corporations say they practice corporate social responsibility (CSR). This edited volume explores the complexities of this seemingly simple claim.As such it is an essential resource to complement the latest academic thinking from management and communication research on how corporations communicate about CSR This chapter presents an overview of the book.