Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Tanzania.

Despite the significant public health problems associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in sub-Saharan Africa, many countries in this region do not have systematic HBV surveillance or genetic information on HBV circulating locally. Here, we report on the genetic characterization of 772 HBV strains from Tanzania. Phylogenetic analysis of the S-gene sequences showed prevalence of HBV genotype A (HBV/A, n=671, 86.9 %), followed by genotypes D (HBV/D, n=95, 12.3 %) and E (HBV/E, n=6, 0.8 %). All HBV/A sequences were further classified into subtype A1, while the HBV/D sequences were assigned to a new cluster. Among the Tanzanian sequences, 84 % of HBV/A1 and 94 % of HBV/D were unique. The Tanzanian and global HBV/A1 sequences were compared and were completely intermixed in the phylogenetic tree, with the Tanzanian sequences frequently generating long terminal branches, indicating a long history of HBV/A1 infections in the country. The time to the most recent common ancestor was estimated to be 188 years ago [95 % highest posterior density (HPD): 132 to 265 years] for HBV/A1 and 127 years ago (95 % HPD: 79 to 192 years) for HBV/D. The Bayesian skyline plot showed that the number of transmissions 'exploded' exponentially between 1960-1970 for HBV/A1 and 1970-1990 for HBV/D, with the effective population of HBV/A1 having expanded twice as much as that of HBV/D. The data suggest that Tanzania is at least a part of the geographic origin of the HBV/A1 subtype. A recent increase in the transmission rate and significant HBV genetic diversity should be taken into consideration when devising public health interventions to control HBV infections in Tanzania.
Sockeye: A Toolkit for Neural Machine Translation

We describe Sockeye (version 1.12), an open-source sequence-to-sequence toolkit for Neural Machine Translation (NMT). Sockeye is a production-ready framework for training and applying models as well as an experimental platform for researchers. Written in Python and built on MXNet, the toolkit offers scalable training and inference for the three most prominent encoder-decoder architectures: attentional recurrent neural networks, self-attentional transformers, and fully convolutional networks. Sockeye also supports a wide range of optimizers, normalization and regularization techniques, and inference improvements from current NMT literature. Users can easily run standard training recipes, explore different model settings, and incorporate new ideas. In this paper, we highlight Sockeye's features and benchmark it against other NMT toolkits on two language arcs from the 2017 Conference on Machine Translation (WMT): English-German and Latvian-English. We report competitive BLEU scores across all three architectures, including an overall best score for Sockeye's transformer implementation. To facilitate further comparison, we release all system outputs and training scripts used in our experiments. The Sockeye toolkit is free software released under the Apache 2.0 license.
Phenotypic Diversity of Infectious Red Sea Bream Iridovirus Isolates from Cultured Fish in Japan

ABSTRACT Megalocytivirus is causing economically serious mass mortality by infecting fish in and around the Pacific region of Asia. The recent emergence of many new iridoviruses has drawn attention to the marked taxonomic variation within this virus family. Most studies of these viruses have not included extensive study of these emergent species. We explored the emergence of red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) on a fish farm in Japan, and we specifically endeavored to quantify genetic and phenotypic differences between RSIV isolates using in vitro and in vivo methods. The three isolates had identical major capsid protein sequences, and they were closely related to Korean RSIV isolates. In vitro studies revealed that the isolates differed in replication rate, which was determined by real-time quantitative PCR of viral genomes in infected cells and cell culture supernatant, and in cell viability, estimated by the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay for infected cells. In vivo studies showed that the isolates exhibit different virulence characteristics: infected red sea bream showed either acute death or subacute death according to infection with different isolates. Significant differences were seen in the antigenicity of isolates by a formalin-inactivated vaccine test. These results revealed that variant characteristics exist in the same phylogenetic location in emergent iridoviruses. We suggest that this strain variation would expand the host range in iridoviral epidemics.
Factors Affecting Purchase Intentions in Generation Y: An Empirical Evidence from Fast Food Industry in Malaysia

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that influence the purchase intentions of Generation Y students towards the fast food industry in Nilai, Malaysia. Nowadays, purchase intentions are an important aspect of organizational long-term success in the fast food industry. In addition, purchase intentions are the critical element in competing with other competitive environments; hence, it is important for the fast food industry to pay a significant attention to this matter. The present study was conducted to identify the key determinants that impact the purchase intention of Generation Y students towards the fast food industry in Nilai, Malaysia. Employing the quantitative method in this study, a total of 313 questionnaires were distributed with the response rate of 91%. Another purpose of this study was to provide important insights to Nilai fast food restaurants in understanding the purchase intentions of customers. Therefore, the leaders and managers of Nilai local fast food restaurants can enhance customers’ experience, solve their problems, and ultimately obtain high quality business by understanding the key factors of purchase intentions in fast food industry.
DTI measurements for Alzheimer’s classification

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a promising imaging technique that provides insight into white matter microstructure integrity and it has greatly helped identifying white matter regions affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in its early stages. DTI can therefore be a valuable source of information when designing machine-learning strategies to discriminate between healthy control (HC) subjects, AD patients and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Nonetheless, several studies have reported so far conflicting results, especially because of the adoption of biased feature selection strategies. In this paper we firstly analyzed DTI scans of 150 subjects from the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI) database. We measured a significant effect of the feature selection bias on the classification performance (p-value < 0.01), leading to overoptimistic results (10% up to 30% relative increase in AUC). We observed that this effect is manifest regardless of the choice of diffusion index, specifically fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity. Secondly, we performed a test on an independent mixed cohort consisting of 119 ADNI scans; thus, we evaluated the informative content provided by DTI measurements for AD classification. Classification performances and biological insight, concerning brain regions related to the disease, provided by cross-validation analysis were both confirmed on the independent test.
Effects of cytochrome P450 inhibitors on potassium currents and mechanical activity in rat portal vein

1 The effects of the cytochrome P450 inhibitors, proadifen, clotrimazole and 17‐octadecynoic acid (17‐ODYA) on K‐currents in freshly‐isolated single cells derived from rat portal vein and on mechanical activity in whole veins were studied. 2 When cells were stepped from −90 mV to a series of test potentials (from −80 to +50 mV), a delayed rectifier current (IK(V)) and an A‐type current (IK(A)) could be identified. Proadifen (10 μm), clotrimazole (30 μm) and 17‐ODYA (5 μm) each inhibited IK(A) but had little effect on IK(A). 3 When cells were held at −10 mV to inactivate the time‐dependent K‐currents, IK(V) and IK(A), levcromakalim (3 μm) induced a time‐independent outward K‐current (IK(ATP)) which was totally inhibited by clotrimazole (30 μm) and almost fully inhibited by proadifen (10 μm). 17‐ODYA (5 μm) had no effect on IK(ATP) and exerted only a minor inhibitory action on this current at 20 μm. 4 17‐ODYA (5 μm) potentiated current flow through the large conductance, Ca‐sensitive K‐channel (BKCa). In contrast, proadifen (10 μm) had no effect on IBK(Ca) whereas clotrimazole (30 μm) exerted a small but significant inhibitory action. 5 Proadifen (10 μm) and clotrimazole (30 μm) each inhibited the magnitude but increased the frequency of spontaneous contractions in whole portal veins. 17‐ODYA (5 μm) had no effect on spontaneous contractions but these were inhibited when the concentration of 17‐ODYA was increased to 50 μm. 6 The spasmolytic effect of levcromakalim on spontaneous contractions was antagonized by proadifen (10–30 μm) in a concentration‐dependent manner but 17‐ODYA (up to 50 μm) was without effect. 7 These results in portal vein show that cytochrome P450 inhibitors exert profound effects on a variety of K‐channel subtypes. This suggests that enzymes dependent on this cofactor may be important regulators of K‐channel activity in smooth muscle. The relevance of these findings for the identification of the pathway involved in the synthesis of the endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor is discussed.
Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathies: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis

The physiological importance of the right ventricle (RV) has been underestimated over the past years. Finally in the early 1950s through the 1970s, cardiac surgeons recognized the importance of RV function. Since then, the importance of RV function has been recognized in many acquired cardiac heart disease. RV can be mainly or together with left ventricle (LV) affected by inherited or acquired cardiomyopathy. In fact, RV morphological and functional remodeling occurs more common during cardiomyopathies than in ischemic cardiomyopathies and more closely parallels LV dysfunction.
Minimally invasive approach versus traditional open approach for one level posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

OBJECTIVE While over the last ten years minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) has been acknowledged to (i) reduce approach-related morbidity associated with quicker recovery, (ii) require a shorter hospital stay and (iii) deliver similar clinical outcomes when compared to a traditional approach, it is still not the current gold standard. In order to demonstrate the efficacy of the minimally invasive lumbar PLIF approach, a retrospective study was conducted comparing both approaches. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted with 40 patients treated for one level, degenerative lumbar instability. 20 patients received lumbar PLIF though a standard open approach, while another 20 underwent a minimally invasive approach using the "SpiRIT"-system. Spinal pathological features, stabilized segments, number of implanted pedicle screws, surgical time, radiation time, blood loss, complications, radiographic images and standardized patient questionnaires (VAS, ODI) were evaluated. The follow-up period was one year. RESULTS One year after the performed surgery, we found no significant difference between the two groups with regard to clinical and radiographic outcome. However, in the minimally invasive group we noticed less blood loss, less postoperative pain, a shorter recovery time and a shorter hospital stay. Despite these benefits, the minimally invasive group also experienced a longer surgical and radiation time as compared to the "open" group. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed the results of previous studies which advocated the advantages of less blood loss, less postoperative pain, quicker recovery and shorter duration of hospitalization. However, in the long run, one year after surgery, both groups showed no significant difference with regards to clinical and radiographic outcome. Therefore long-term controlled studies are necessary to validate the role of the minimally invasive PLIF in degenerative lumbar instability.
Entrepreneurial support systems: role of the Czech accelerator

The role of institutional context in affecting entrepreneurship and innovation has received scant attention. This paper examines the effect of one such institutional structure, the Czech Accelerator program, in developing entrepreneurial activity and innovation in Czech participating firms. Using a questionnaire and follow up interviews with participants, interviews with Czech Accelerator program and archival data sources, this study provides evidence to the facilitative role of an accelerator on the front end of innovation in firms participating with the accelerator's program. However, the data does not provide any evidence of growth in revenues, growth in sales, or securing venture funding by firms participating in the accelerator's program. These findings have implications for policymakers and business leaders in the Czech Republic and other middle-income economies to support their innovation and entrepreneurial activity.
Epac activation initiates associative odor preference memories in the rat pup

Here we examine the role of the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in β-adrenergic-dependent associative odor preference learning in rat pups. Bulbar Epac agonist (8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, or 8-pCPT) infusions, paired with odor, initiated preference learning, which was selective for the paired odor. Interestingly, pairing odor with Epac activation produced both short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) odor preference memories. Training using β-adrenergic-activation paired with odor recruited rapid and transient ERK phosphorylation consistent with a role for Epac activation in normal learning. An ERK antagonist prevented intermediate-term memory (ITM) and LTM, but not STM. Epac agonist infusions induced ERK phosphorylation in the mitral cell layer, in the inner half of the dendritic external plexiform layer, in the glomeruli and, patchily, among granule cells. Increased CREB phosphorylation in the mitral and granule cell layers was also seen. Simultaneous blockade of both ERK and CREB pathways prevented any long-term β-adrenergic activated odor preference memory, while LTM deficits associated with blocking only one pathway were prevented by stronger β-adrenergic activation. These results suggest that Epac and PKA play parallel and independent, as well as likely synergistic, roles in creating cAMP-dependent associative memory in rat pups. They further implicate a novel ERK-independent pathway in the mediation of STM by Epac.
Hawaii Asian-American Response to the Staying Healthy After Fifty Program

A nationwide project conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons, the American Red Cross, and the Dartmouth Institute for Better Health to disseminate a health promotion program for older adults included a study to test its ability to serve different ethnic minorities. This article reports how the Staying Healthy After Fifty Program, designed for the general United States population, was introduced into the State of Hawaii, how it was adapted for use with two Asian-American groups, the Japanese and Filipinos, and on the benefits reported by participants. To determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the adapted SHAF program, a quasi-experimental design, involving a test group and a comparison group whose members completed ques tionnaires at three points in time, was used. The results of the data collected from the Hawaiian population were consistent with the results of the general U.S. population study. Improvements were made by both groups at a similar rate in the health skills, health activities, and health care cost skills areas. Participants were very pleased with the course and its quality, as noted in the high ratings of course satisfaction.
Effects of structural and chemical disorders on the vis/UV spectra of carbonaceous interstellar grains

The recent spectacular progress in the experimental and theoretical understanding of graphene, the basic constituent of graphite, is applied here to compute, from first principles, the ultraviolet extinction of nanoparticles made of stacks of graphene layers. The theory also covers cases where graphene is affected by structural, chemical or orientation disorder, each disorder type being quantitatively defined by a single parameter. The extinction bumps carried by such model materials are found to have positions and widths falling in the same range as the known astronomical 2175 A features: as the disorder parameter increases, the bump width increases from 0.85 to 2.5 μm −1 , while its peak position shifts from 4.65 to 4.75 μm −1 . Moderate degrees of disorder are enough to cover the range of widths of the vast majority of observed bumps (0.75 to 1.3 μm −1 ). Higher degrees account for outliers, also observed in the sky. The introduction of structural or chemical disorder amounts to changing the initial sp 2 bondings into sp 3 or sp 1 , so the optical properties of the model material become similar to those of the more or less amorphous carbon-rich materials studied in the laboratory: a-C, a-C:H, HAC, ACH, coals, etc. The present treatment thus bridges gaps between physically different model materials.
Are US Mothers Meeting the Healthy People 2010 Breastfeeding Targets for Initiation, Duration, and Exclusivity? The 2003 and 2004 National Immunization Surveys

Using data from the National Immunization Surveys (2003 and 2004), the authors model the influence of child, maternal, and state- or metropolitan-level factors on the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding to determine the characteristics of groups meeting the Healthy People 2010 targets. Analyses indicate that only children of college graduates meet the targets for breastfeeding at initiation, 6 months, and 12 months; no groups meet the target for exclusive breastfeeding. Results indicate a low prevalence of breastfeeding among children of single mothers, less educated mothers, participants in the Women, Children, and Infants program, and those living in nonwestern states and in areas of high newborn risk. Hispanic children, children of college graduates, and children living in the West consistently have higher odds of breastfeeding. Only the prevalence of breastfeeding early postpartum is near the Healthy People 2010 target of 75%, the percentages for 6 or 12 months and exclusive breastfeeding are well below. J Hum Lact. 24(3):278-288. A través de la utilización de datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Inmunización (2003 & 2004), se formularon los factores que influenciaron al niño, madres y estados o areas metropolitanas en la iniciación, duración y exclusividad de la lactancia materna para determinar las características de grupos de acuerdo a las metas de Healthy People 2010. El análisis indica que solo los hijos de personas con grados universitarios cumplen con las metas de iniciación de lactancia, 6 meses, y 12 meses y ningún grupo cumplió con la meta de lactancia materna exclusiva. Los resultados indican una baja prevalencia de lactancia materna en los hijos de madres solteras; menos educadas; participantes del programa WIC; que viven en estados que nos son del Oeste; y que viven en áreas de alto riesgo para el recién nacido. Los niños hispanos, niños de graduados universitarios, y niños que viven en el Oeste tienen consistentemente índices más altos de lactancia materna. Solo la prevalencia de lactancia materna en el postparto temprano esta cerca de la meta de 75% del Healthy People 2010, los porcentajes de 6 o 12 meses y de lactancia materna exclusiva están bastante bajos.
Study of Immune Alterations in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Different Etiologies

The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterized by symptoms lasting for at least six months and accompanied by disabling fatigue. The etiology of CFS is still unclear. At the National Center for CFS Study of the Infectious Diseases Department of Chieti University some immune investigations were performed with the purpose of detecting markers of the disease. CD4+, CD8+, NK CD56+ and B CD19+ lymphocytes were studied in 92 male and 47 female patients and in 36 control subjects. CFS patients were divided in three groups with a post-infectious onset (PI-CFS), a non post-infectious onset (NPI-CFS) and a non post-infectious onset with associated infections (NPT-CFS + AI). Both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were reduced in the CFS patients. However, the CD+/CD8+ ratio was increased in the CFS patients without differences between males and females. CD56+ cells of CFS patients were also reduced. In particular, blood CD56+ cell counts were significantly higher in PI-CFS patients than in NPI-CFS subjects. These data confirm our preliminary results suggesting a key-role of a dysfunction of the immune system as precipitating and/or perpetuating factor of the syndrome.
Entrepreneurship, start-up size and selection: Why do small entrepreneurs fail?

Firm demography has received considerable attention in recent years. There are numerous theoretical and empirical studies that shed light on the dynamics of firm survival and growth. These studies show that new firms start small, small firms are less likely to survive, and small firms grow faster conditional on their survival. These stylized facts on firm dynamics triggered the examination of determinants of survival. The studies in the literature treat start-up size as exogenous to survival. However, in this paper, we develop a counter argument and build up a simple two-period model to analyze the behavior of an entrepreneur. The main implication of our model is that the start-up size and the survival probability are determined simultaneously by the rational decision of the entrepreneur before entry, and, therefore, the start-up size will be an endogenous variable in the survival model. Then we test our model’s implication studying the survival process in the Turkish textile industry. We show that the entrepreneur determines the entry size taking into account the risk of failure, and that decision leads to the observed correlation between the entry size and survival probability.
Arabidopsis CAP1 – a key regulator of actin organisation and development

Maintenance of F-actin turnover is essential for plant cell morphogenesis. Actin-binding protein mutants reveal that plants place emphasis on particular aspects of actin biochemistry distinct from animals and fungi. Here we show that mutants in CAP1, an A. thaliana member of the cyclase-associated protein family, display a phenotype that establishes CAP1 as a fundamental facilitator of actin dynamics over a wide range of plant tissues. Plants homozygous for cap1 alleles show a reduction in stature and morphogenetic disruption of multiple cell types. Pollen grains exhibit reduced germination efficiency, and cap1 pollen tubes and root hairs grow at a decreased rate and to a reduced length. Live cell imaging of growing root hairs reveals actin filament disruption and cytoplasmic disorganisation in the tip growth zone. Mutant cap1 alleles also show synthetic phenotypes when combined with mutants of the Arp2/3 complex pathway, which further suggests a contribution of CAP1 to in planta actin dynamics. In yeast, CAP interacts with adenylate cyclase in a Ras signalling cascade; but plants do not have Ras. Surprisingly, cap1 plants show disruption in plant signalling pathways required for co-ordinated organ expansion suggesting that plant CAP has evolved to attain plant-specific signalling functions.