Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of banking sector reforms and credit supply on agricultural sector: Evidence from Nigeria

ABSTRACT:Nigerian government embarked on various banking reforms over a period of three decades with the aim of enhancing competitiveness in financial services, promoting investment, and ensuring efficiency in resource allocation to the real sector and other sectors of the Nigerian economy. One sector of the Nigerian economy that has remained of paramount interest to the government is the agricultural sector. Since the country attained political independence in 1960, the agricultural sector has remained the mainstay of the Nigerian economy contribution significant to GDP and employment generation. Despite the increased role of the agricultural sector in providing the much-needed inputs and raw materials needed for improved productivity in other sectors of the economy, not much has been done in the area of tracking and evaluating the success of discretional credit allocation and commercial bank lending to the agricultural sector. This study examined the impact of the increased discretionary allocation of credit to the private sector due to the banking sector reforms and the various directed funding programs by the regulatory authority on agricultural output in Nigeria over the period of 1986-2013. The study used time series data sourced from World Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin. The method applied to test the impact of banking sector reforms and agricultural sector credit supply on agricultural sector output in Nigeria was the impulse response functions and the variance decomposition of Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Impulse response function explains the reaction of an endogenous variable to one of the innovations while the variance decomposition gives information on the relative importance of each random innovation. The results revealed that both the banking sector reforms and credit supply to agricultural sector have positively affected agricultural output in Nigeria. However, the impact of agricultural credit supply on agricultural output proved to be very weak and insignificant. This study suggests that the discretionary allocation of credit particularly by the monetary authorities or the banking sector, may not necessarily achieve the goal of massive growth in the agricultural sector. There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to embark on institutional and infrastructural reform to remove the various credit supply bottlenecks and make the financing of the agricultural sector more productive.
Monocular focal retinal lesions induce short–term topographic plasticity in adult cat visual cortex

Electrophysiological recording in primary visual cortex (V1) was performed both prior to and in the hours immediately following the creation of a discrete retinal lesion in one eye with an argon laser. Lesion projection zones (LPZs; 21 to 64 mm2) were defined in visual cortex by mapping the extent of the lesion onto the topographic representation in cortex. There was no effect on neuronal responses to the unlesioned eye or on its topographic representation. However, within hours of producing the retinal lesion, receptive fields obtained from stimulation of the lesioned eye were displaced onto areas surrounding the scotoma and were enlarged compared with the corresponding field obtained through the normal eye. The proportion of such responsive recording sites increased during the experiment such that 8 to 11 hours post lesion 56% of recording sites displayed neurons responsive to the lesioned eye. This is an equivalent proportion to that previously reported with long–term recovery (three weeks to three months). Responsive neurons were evident as far as 2.5 mm inside the border of the LPZ. The reorganization of the lesioned eye representation produced binocular disparities as great as 15° suggesting interactions between sites in V1 up to 5.5 mm apart.
Hemispherectomy for the Control of Intractable Epilepsy in Childhood: Comparison of 2 Surgical Techniques in a Single Institution

BACKGROUND: Hemispherectomy is an established neurosurgical procedure for catastrophic epilepsy in childhood. However, the technique used to achieve an optimum outcome remains to be determined. OBJECTIVE: We examined the influence of hemidecortication (HD) vs peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) on patient outcome. METHODS: The medical records of 41 children undergoing hemispherectomy were reviewed for patient demographics, clinical criteria, and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: HD and PIH were performed in 21 and 20 children, respectively. The mean age at surgery for HD was 54 months and 61 months for PIH. The median durations of surgery for HD and PIH were 5 hours and 7 hours, respectively (P < .001). For HD, 6 patients required a second surgery and 3 required a third. One PIH patient required a second procedure. Postoperative shunting was required in 5 HD patients, but only 1 PIH patient. All patients had increased hemiparesis after surgery. The overall mean follow-up time was 72 months. Engel class I or II outcomes after initial surgery were better after PIH (85%) compared with HD (48%) (P < .02). After subsequent surgeries for seizure control, 4 HD patients and 1 PIH patient improved to Engel class I or II. CONCLUSION: Hemispherectomy is an effective surgical procedure for childhood intractable catastrophic epilepsy. In patients with diffuse hemispheric disorder, PIH tends to have fewer major complications, more favorable seizure outcomes, and a decreased need for subsequent surgical procedures, including shunting for hydrocephalus, compared with HD.
Investigations on quenching by transient or instability phenomena in a small DC current vacuum arc

A vacuum arc voltage of rising up like a step establishes transient oscillating currents in a closed circuit with a parallel capacitor and an inductance. From previous investigation, we found that a current zero was realized by the transient oscillating current caused by the transient phenomena or the instability phenomena. This paper presents detailed investigation results of the transient phenomena or the instability phenomena of vacuum arc with AgWC, CuCr and CuW in a small DC currents interruption.
Injection practices in a metropolis of North India: perceptions, determinants and issues of safety.

BACKGROUND At least 50 percent of the injections administered each year are unsafe, more particularly in developing countries, posing serious health risks. An initial assessment to describe injection practices; their determinants and adverse effects can prevent injection-associated transmission of blood borne pathogens by reducing injection frequency and adoption of safe injection practices. AIMS To assess the injection practices in a large metropolitan city encompassing varied socio-cultural scenarios. STUDY SETTING AND DESIGN: Field based cross sectional survey covering urban non-slum, slum and peri-urban areas of a large metropolitan city. METHODS AND MATERIAL Injection prescribers, providers and community members selected by random sampling from the study areas. Pre tested questionnaires assessed knowledge and perceptions of study subjects towards injections and their possible complications. Observation of the process of injection and prescription audit also carried out. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS MS Access for database and SPSS ver 11 for analysis. Point estimates, 95% confidence intervals, Chi Square, t test, one-way ANOVA. RESULTS The per capita injection rate was 5.1 per year and ratio of therapeutic to immunization injections was 4.4:1. Only 22.5%of injections were administered with a sterile syringe and needle. The level of knowledge about HIV and HBV transmission by unsafe injections was satisfactory amongst prescribers and community, but inadequate amongst providers. HCV was known to a very few in all the groups. The annual incidence of needle stick injuries among providers was quite high. CONCLUSION A locally relevant safe injection policy based on multi disciplinary approach is required to reduce number of injections, unsafe injections and their attendant complications.
Local Authority Long Term Plans and Smokefree 2025: How Committed are Councils to the 2025 Goal?

II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . IV TABLE OF CONTENTS . V LIST OF TABLES . IX LIST OF FIGURES . IX LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . X GLOSSARY . X 1 CHAPTER ONE: THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE OF TOBACCO SMOKING. 1 1.1 The health consequences of smoking . 1 1.2 Second-hand smoke . 1 1.3 Normalisation of smoking in the community . 2 1.4 Tobacco smoking in New Zealand . 3 1.5 Smokefree 2025. 3 1.5. 1 Increasing smoking cessation . 6 1.5. 2 Effective legislation and regulation . 9 1.5. 3 Increasing Public Support for the Smokefree 2025 . 12 1.6 Current situation . 14 1.7 Local government’s contribution to public health . 15 1.8 Overview of chapters . 16 2 CHAPTER TWO: SMOKEFREE OUTDOOR AREAS . 18 2.1 Rationale for SFOA policies . 18 2.1.1 Smoking denormalisation . 19 2.1.2 Public support for SFOA policies . 19 2.2 International SFOA Legislation . 21 2.2.1 Australia . 21 2.2.2 United States . 23 2.2.3 Canada . 23 2.3 New Zealand SFOA legislation . 24 2.3. 1 SFOA policies adopted by local councils . 24 2.3. 2 Other SFOA policies . 25
Protective Role of Arginase II in Cerebral Ischemia and Excitotoxicity.

BACKGROUND Arginase (Arg), one of the enzymes involved in the urea cycle, provides an essential route for the disposal of excess nitrogen resulting from amino acid and nucleotide metabolism. Two reported subtypes of Arg (ArgI and II) compete with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) to use L-arginine as a substrate, and subsequently regulate NOS activity. It has been reported that Arg has significant effects on circulation that suggest the potential role of this enzyme in regulating vascular function. However, the role of Arg following brain damage has not been elucidated. In this study, we hypothesize that the deletion of ArgII will lead to aggravated brain injury following cerebral ischemia and excitotoxicity. METHODS AND FINDINGS To test our hypothesis, male C57BL/6 wildtype (WT) and ArgII-/- mice were subjected to permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion and survived for 7 d. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) data revealed a statistically non-significant decrease in CBF in ArgII-/- mice. However, ArgII-/- mice had significantly higher neurologic deficit scores and brain infarctions. The hypothesis was further tested in a more specific N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced acute excitotoxic model. WT and ArgII-/- mice were given a single intrastriatal injection of 15 nmol NMDA. Forty-eight hours later, the excitotoxic brain damage was significantly worse in ArgII-/- mice. The data from both models confirm the neuroprotective effect of ArgII. CONCLUSION Targeting ArgII could be considered an integrative part of a multi-modal approach to fight acute brain damage excitotoxicity, ischemic brain injury, and other forms of brain trauma.
Pretreatment with ibuprofen to prevent electroconvulsive therapy-induced headache.

BACKGROUND Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been widely recognized as an effective treatment for severe depression and various other psychiatric illnesses, adverse effects have been frequently reported, especially a high incidence of headache. Analgesics, such as acetaminophen, narcotics, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are commonly used to treat ECT-induced headache. The objective of this study was to determine whether pretreatment with ibuprofen would prevent the onset or decrease the severity of headache that occurs after ECT. METHOD All inpatients on the psychiatric units who required ECT treatment were asked to participate in the study. Thirty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive either ibuprofen, 600 mg, or placebo orally 90 minutes prior to the initial ECT session, with the alternate treatment given for the second ECT treatment. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire prior to and after the first 2 ECT treatments regarding the pattern, severity, and onset of headache. Severity of the headache was measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS Ten patients experienced headache in neither treatment arm, while 7 patients experienced headache in both treatment arms. Eleven patients experienced headache with placebo but not with ibuprofen, while 2 patients experienced headache with ibuprofen but not with placebo. Ibuprofen was significantly more effective than placebo in preventing the onset of headache post-ECT (p =.022). The mean +/- SD VAS headache scores were 1.49 +/- 1.54 and 0.54 +/- 0.91 in the placebo and ibuprofen arms, respectively. Ibuprofen was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the severity of ECT-induced headache (p =.007). CONCLUSION Ibuprofen premedication reduced the frequency and severity of headache post-ECT and should be considered for appropriate patients who suffer from ECT-induced headache.
Antifungal Activity of Essential Oils against Candida albicans Strains Isolated from Users of Dental Prostheses

Objective The objective of this study was to analyze the antifungal activity of citral, selected by screening natural products, against Candida albicans isolates from subjects who use dental prostheses. Methodology Screening of essential oils, including those from Mentha piperita L. (Briq), Origanum vulgare, and Zingiber officinale L. , and the phytoconstituents citral and limonene, to select an appropriate natural product. Citral, which mediated the best antifungal response, was selected for biological assays. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) for citral and nystatin were determined by the microdilution method. Micromorphological analyses, time-kill curve, and modulation tests were performed. Results The MIC and MFC of citral were established as 32 μg/mL, consistent with fungicidal activity. The clinical strains were resistant to nystatin. Citral caused micromorphological alteration in the strains. In the time-kill curve, the growth of the clinical strain was reduction in growth equal to 3 log10 colony-forming units per milliliter after exposure to the MIC and MIC × 2 of citral for 2 h. Citral did not modulate the resistance of the studied strains to nystatin. Conclusion This study revealed the potential of citral as a fungicidal agent and highlighted the resistance of clinical strains of C. albicans to nystatin.
Radiographic Identification of the Primary Posterolateral Knee Structures

Background It is often difficult to identify the attachment sites of the fibular collateral ligament, popliteus tendon, and popliteofibular ligament for chronic posterolateral knee injuries or during revision surgeries. Descriptions of radiographic landmarks for these attachment sites would assist in the intraoperative identification of their locations and also allow for postoperative assessment of the placement of reconstruction tunnels. Hypothesis Identification of qualitative and quantitative radiographic landmarks for the attachments of the main posterolateral knee structures are reproducible among observers of various experience levels and allow for improved intraoperative and postoperative identification of these attachment sites. Study Design Descriptive laboratory study. Methods Dissections were performed on 11 cadaveric knee specimens. The attachments and locations of the investigated structures were labeled with radiopaque markers. The positions of the attachments relative to other attachment sites, labeled bony landmarks, and superimposed reference lines were quantified on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Measurements were performed by 3 independent examiners. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients. Results Overall intraclass correlation coefficients for intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability were calculated to be 0.981 and 0.983, respectively. On the anteroposterior view, the perpendicular distances from a line intersecting the femoral condyles to the popliteus tendon, proximal fibular collateral ligament, and lateral gastrocnemius tendon were 14.5, 27.1, and 34.5 mm, respectively. On the lateral view, the femoral attachments of the fibular collateral ligament, popliteus tendon, and lateral gastrocnemius tendon were 4.3, 12.2, and 13.1 mm, respectively, from the lateral epicondyle. In addition, the fibular collateral ligament and popliteus tendon were located within 1 mm of a reference line projected along the posterior femoral cortex distally, and also were located within the posteroinferior quadrant bound by the posterior femoral cortex extension reference line and another reference line perpendicular to it at the posterior margin of Blumensaat's line. Conclusion Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative guidelines for assessing posterolateral knee structures on both anteroposterior and lateral knee radiographs were described. Clinical Significance This radiographic information regarding the attachment sites of posterolateral structures can serve as a valuable reference for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative assessments of surgical reconstructions.
Haematologists’ perceptions of palliative care and specialist palliative care referral: a qualitative study

Objectives This study explored the views and perceptions of haematologists towards palliative care, based on their own clinical experiences, focusing on those factors that helped or hindered referral to specialist palliative care (SPC) services. Method We conducted in-depth face-to-face interviews with a purposive sample of eight trainee and consultant haematologists working in tertiary referral centres in the West Midlands. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and subsequently analysed using the principles of the grounded theory approach. Results Data analysis revealed a core category around boundaries alongside four emerging categories: perceptions of palliative care; philosophy of approach; determining roles; and responsibility and control. Positive attitudes towards SPC involvement were expressed by most participants. The role of SPC services was sometimes difficult for participants to define, with timing of referral often determined by their level of confidence in providing end-of-life care. Almost all highlighted a lack of inpatient palliative care unit provision; this was viewed negatively and impacted on referral. Conclusions While positive attitudes towards palliative care were expressed, barriers to collaboration between haematology and SPC services were identified and provided opportunities for improved interdisciplinary working. Suggestions for improvement are focused around: improved training; enhanced mutual respect and understanding; clearer definition of the role of SPC services; and consistency and flexibility in service provision.
Mice That Express Enzymatically Inactive Cathepsin L Exhibit Abnormal Spermatogenesis1

Abstract The finding of large, stage-specific changes in secretion of procathepsin L by rat Sertoli cells has led to the hypothesis that this proenzyme promotes the survival, replication, or differentiation of spermatogenic cells. Experiments described herein used a mouse model to test this hypothesis. To prove that mice are appropriate for this purpose, we first demonstrate that mature mouse Sertoli cells express cathepsin L mRNA in the same stage-specific manner as rat Sertoli cells and they also secrete procathepsin L. To test whether catalytically active cathepsin L is required for normal spermatogenesis, we examined the testes of 110- to 120-day-old furless mice, which express catalytically inactive cathepsin L. Morphologic examination of testes of furless mice revealed both normal and atrophic seminiferous tubules. Enumeration of atrophic tubules in furless and control mice demonstrates that lack of functional cathepsin L results in a 12-fold increase in seminiferous tubule atrophy. To determine whether lack of functional cathepsin L affects the production of male germ cells in apparently normal, nonatrophic tubules, we compared numbers in control and furless mice of preleptotene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids per Sertoli cell. Results demonstrate that the lack of functional cathepsin L causes a 16% reduction in formation of preleptotene spermatocytes and a 25% reduction in differentiation of these cells into pachytene spermatocyte. These results suggest that procathepsin L either directly or indirectly has two distinct functions in the testis. This proenzyme prevents atrophy of seminiferous tubules and promotes the formation of preleptotene spermatocytes and the differentiation of these meiotic cells into pachytene spermatocytes.
Occlusal and skeletal effects of an oral appliance in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVE s: Oral appliances (OAs) are considered to be a treatment option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Although the effectiveness of these appliances has been evaluated in a number of clinical trials, there are few follow-up studies concerning the dental and skeletal side effects that, theoretically, could be caused by OAs. We sought to examine the long-term skeletal and occlusal effects of a nocturnally worn activator in adult patients treated for OSAHS. DESIGN We analyzed the dental casts and lateral radiographs of 34 patients (mean age, 52.9 years; SD, 9.6 years; range, 27.1 to 64.6 years) before initiating treatment and after at least 24 months of treatment (mean length of treatment, 29.6 months; range, 24.1 to 43.5 months; SD, 5.1 months). The OA was worn by each patient 6 to 8 h nightly for > 5 days per week. SETTING Department of Orthodontics, Dental Medical School, Freiburg, Germany. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Follow-up polysomnography studies confirmed improved breathing parameters with the use of OAs. A statistically significant alteration in the occlusion was found. The anteroposterior position of the molars and the inclination of the upper and lower incisors were changed. No skeletal changes in the position of the mandible were noted. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that in addition to control polysomnographic examinations, regular dental follow-up visits are mandatory when lifelong OSAHS treatment with an OA is being considered for patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea.
Paroxetine Increases Steady-State Concentrations of (R)-Methadone in CYP2D6 Extensive but Not Poor Metabolizers

Steady-state blood concentrations of (R)- methadone (i.e., the active form), (S)-methadone, and (R,S)-methadone were measured before and after introduction of paroxetine 20 mg/day during a mean period of 12 days in 10 addict patients in methadone maintenance treatment. Eight patients were genotyped as CYP2D6 homozygous extensive metabolizers (EMs) and two patients as poor metabolizers (PMs). Paroxetine significantly increased concentrations of both enantiomers of methadone in the whole group (mean increase for (R)-methadone ± SD, 26 ± 32%; range, −14% to +83%, p = 0.032; for (S)-methadone, 49 ± 51%; range, −29% to +137%, p = 0.028; for (R,S)-methadone, 35 ± 41%; range, −20% to +112%, p = 0.032) and in the group of eight EMs (mean increase, 32%, p = 0.036; 53%, p = 0.028; and 42%, p = 0.036, for (R)-methadone, (S)-methadone, and (R,S)-methadone, respectively). On the other hand, in the two PMs, (S)-methadone but not (R)-methadone concentrations were increased by paroxetine (mean increases of 36% and 3%, respectively). Paroxetine is a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor, and these results confirm previous studies showing an involvement of CYP2D6 in methadone metabolism with a stereoselectivity toward the (R)-enantiomer. Because paroxetine is a mild inhibitor of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4, increase of (S)-methadone concentrations in both EMs and PMs could be mediated by inhibition of any of these isozymes.