Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The fatal enteric cholera infection in the guinea pig, achieved by inhibition of normal enteric flora.

the diffusion of fluid through living semipermeable membranes. Later, Burnet and Stone (1947) found that vibrio mucinase desquamates guinea pig intestine in vitro, and the possible role of this enzyme in the pathogenicity of cholera has also been discussed (Jensen, 1953; Raffel, 1953). Intensive studies have been done by others on the pharmacological action of bacterial endotoxins (literature summarized lately by Burrows, 1951). All these workers, however, used the parenteral injection of endotoxin preparation into animals. Their results are for this reason only partly applicable to conditions in the actual diseases, especially cholera, where endotoxin is liberated mainly into the lumen of the bowel. The relative sever-
A Comparative Study of NBTI and PBTI Using Different Experimental Techniques

Degradation in planar high-k metal gate pand n-channel MOSFETs, respectively, under negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and positive bias temperature instability (PBTI) stress is studied using different characterization methods. Ultrafast measure stress measure (UF-MSM) method with a measurement delay of a few microseconds is used to characterize the threshold voltage shift (ΔVT). Gated-diode or direct current IV is used to directly estimate the trap generation (TG) during BTI, after correcting for the measurement inconsistencies. BTI experiments are performed under DC stress at different stress bias (VG-STR) and temperature (T) values also under AC stress at different pulse duty cycle (PDC) and frequency (f) values. Measured ΔVT as well as TG show remarkable similarities between NBTI and PBTI stress, under both DC and AC stress. It is shown that TG dominates NBTI and PBTI degradation under both DC and AC stress.
Nutritional and Immunological Correlates of Memory and Neurocognitive Development Among HIV-Infected Children Living in Kayunga, Uganda

Objective:To identify the nutritional and immunological correlates of memory and neurocognitive development as measured by the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) and by the Color Object Association Test (COAT) among children in Uganda. Design:This analysis uses baseline data collected between 2008 and 2010 from 119 HIV-infected children aged 1–6 years, participating in a randomized controlled trial of an interventional parenting program in Kayunga, Uganda. Methods:Peripheral blood draws were performed to determine immunological biomarkers. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were used to relate MSEL and COAT scores to sociodemographic characteristics, weight-for-age Z scores (WAZs), antiretroviral therapy status, and immunological biomarkers. Results:In the final analysis, 111 children were included. Lower levels of CD4+ CD38+ T cells (P = 0.04) were associated to higher immediate and total recall scores (P = 0.04). Higher levels of CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells were associated with higher total recall score (P = 0.04) of the COAT. Higher CD4+ CD38+ HLA-DR+ T cells levels were associated with higher gross motor scores of the MSEL (P = 0.02). WAZ was positively correlated to visual reception, fine motor, expressive language, and composite score of the MSEL. Conclusions:Overall, WAZ was a stronger predictor of neurocognitive outcomes assessed by the MSEL. CD4+ CD38+ T cells were more specifically associated with memory-related outcomes. Future research should include immunological markers and standardized neurocognitive tests to further understand this relationship.
Behavioral Aspects of Financial Decision Making: Three Essays

Economic agents are not fully rational machines, but humans with limited capacities, feelings, and subjective perceptions and beliefs. Such less rational aspects of behavior can become extremely important, especially in financial markets. This dissertation aims at quantifying different behavioral aspects of financial decision making. The first behavioral aspect addressed relates to the implementation of practical trading rules. These rules are mostly simplifying and provide only imperfectly accurate information. Nevertheless, this information may induce sufficient asymmetry among market participants in order to affect prices. This holds in a market where imperfectly informed users of practical trading rules meet perfectly informed traders and uninformed liquidity traders. Both the accuracy of practical trading rules and the number of their users can change the trade conditions, primarily the gap between the two prices set for buying and selling the same asset. Particular trading rules of wide practical use appear to be successful in terms of monetary profits. Affective states, in particular emotions, represent the second behavioral aspect analyzed. They impact on traders' beliefs and actions and thus are transmitted into prices. We design a particular agent category, the emotional traders, who exclusively follow their affect and intuition in both thinking and acting. They face rational traders, who form beliefs in a traditional way and maximize the expected utility of wealth, as well as randomly acting noise traders. The presence of emotional traders clearly influences market prices. An appropriate rational strategy requires the adaption to the consequent market conditions. Emotional trade does not necessarily impede market stability and efficiency. Certain emotional profiles are apt to survive, and can even outperform, in terms of profits, rational strategies. Third, we study subjective perceptions of financial risks. These perceptions change the attitude of non-professional investors towards financial investments and the potential losses they generate, as well as their decisions on wealth allocation. Subjective perceptions depend on different behavioral parameters. The past performance of risky investments and the revision frequency of risky portfolios impact investors' perceptions and decisions. Substantial differences result depending on whether or not consumption is regarded as a utility generator, besides financial wealth.
A free-form prediction for the reappearance of supernova Refsdal in the Hubble Frontier Fields cluster MACSJ1149.5+2223

The massive cluster MACSJ1149.5+2223(z = 0.544) displays five very large lensed images of a well-resolved spiral galaxy at z_(spect) = 1.491. It is within one of these images that the first example of a multiply lensed supernova (SN) has been detected recently as part of the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space. The depth of this data also reveals many H ii regions within the lensed spiral galaxy which we identify between the five counter-images. Here, we expand the capability of our free-form method to incorporate these H ii regions locally, with other reliable lensed galaxies added for a global solution. This improved accuracy allows us to estimate when the Refsdal SN will appear within the other lensed images of the spiral galaxy to an accuracy of ∼7 per cent. We predict this SN will reappear in one of the counter-images (RA = 11:49:36.025, Dec. = +22:23:48.11, J2000) and on 2015 November 1 (with an estimated error of ±25 d) it will be at the same phase as it was when it was originally discovered, offering a unique opportunity to study the early phases of this SN and to examine the consistency of the mass model and the cosmological model that have an impact on the time delay prediction.
Do Firms Adjust Toward a Target Leverage Level

This paper studies capital structure adjustment mechanisms of firms that experience substantial changes in leverage. Adjustments appear to be asymmetric among firms with large increases and those with large decreases in debt ratios. The different adjustments are not due to differences in leverage targets or industry distributions between the samples. Speeds of adjustment are found to be affected by market timing opportunities. The persistence of equity market timing opportunities slows some firms' rebalancing process.
Financial Analysis and Fiscal Viability of Secondary Schools in Mukono District, Uganda

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL VIABILITY OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MUKONO DISTRICT, UGANDA Janet J. Tanner Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations Doctor of Philosophy Within the worldwide business community, many analysis tools and techniques have evolved to assist in the evaluation and encouragement of financial health and fiscal viability. However, in the educational community, such analysis is uncommon. It has long been argued that educational institutions bear little resemblance to, and should not be treated like, businesses. This research identifies an educational environment where educational institutions are, indeed, businesses, and may greatly benefit from the use of business analyses. The worldwide effort of Education for All (EFA) has focused on primary education, particularly in less developed countries (LDCs). In Sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda increased its primary school enrollments from 2.7 million in 1996 to 7.6 million in 2003. This rapid primary school expansion substantially increased the demand for secondary education. Limited government funding for secondary schools created an educational bottleneck. In response to this demand, laws were passed to allow the establishment of private secondary schools, operated and taxed as businesses. Revenue reports, filed by individual private schools with the Uganda Revenue Authority, formed the database for the financial analysis portion of this research. These reports, required of all profitable businesses in Uganda, are similar to audited corporate financial statements. Survey data and national examination (UNEB) scores were also utilized. This research explored standard business financial analysis tools, including financial statement ratio analysis, and evaluated the applicability of each to this LDC educational environment. A model for financial assessment was developed and industry averages were calculated for private secondary schools in the Mukono District of Uganda. Industry averages can be used by individual schools as benchmarks in assessing their own financial health. Substantial deviations from the norms signal areas of potential concern. Schools may take appropriate corrective action, leading to sustainable fiscal viability. An example of such analysis is provided. Finally, school financial health, defined by eight financial measures, was compared with quality of education, defined by UNEB scores. Worldwide, much attention is given to education and its role in development. This research, with its model for financial assessment of private LDC schools, offers a new and pragmatic perspective.
Immunohistochemical study of cyclosporin-induced gingival overgrowth in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an immunosuppressant widely used to treat transplant patients and various systemic diseases with immunological components. Gingival overgrowth (GO) is a common side effect of CsA administration; however, the pathogenesis of drug-induced GO is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of Ki-67, activation molecules (CD71, CD98), leukocytes activation antigens (CD45, CD45RA, CD50, CD11a, CD162, CD227, CD231), neurothelin (CD147), and novel endothelial cell antigens (B-F45, SCF87, B-D46, B-C44, VJ1/6) in gingival tissue in renal transplant recipients treated with CsA. METHODS Tissues from 15 renal transplant patients with significant GO and 10 systemically healthy control subjects with gingivitis were studied. Frozen-section biopsies were stained with monoclonal antibodies specific for the above-mentioned antigens using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. RESULTS Comparison of the CsA-treated and control groups revealed no significant differences with respect to expression of Ki-67; CD50; activation molecules; neurothelin; or novel endothelial cell antigens B-D46, B-C44, and VJ1/6. However, expression patterns of CD45, CD45RA, CD11a, CD162, CD227, CD231, B-F45, and SCF87 were significantly different in CsA and control groups. CONCLUSION Leukocyte activation antigens play an important role in CsA-induced gingival overgrowth.
Capsule endoscopy in a network cooperation: assessment of the experience in 822 patients

Abstract Introduction. Capsule endoscopy (CE) is firmly established as a standard procedure in the diagnostic algorithm of occult or obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and Crohn's disease. Despite its excellent diagnostic yield, missing expertise, reading time and financial expenditure limit an area-wide availability. A multicentric cooperation might compensate these disadvantages. Methods. CE device was bought by a central hospital (CH). Requested equipment is transported to the network partner (NP) and the procedure performed at the spot in personal responsibility. Video reading is exclusively done in the CH. Results. Within 10 years, 822 CE (438 m., 384 f.; 63 ± 17 (13–92) years) were performed by 18 cooperating gastroenterological departments. 587/822 (71%) CE were done at NP, 235/822 (29%) in the CH. Between 2002 (n = 39) and 2011 (n = 123) the annual number of CE increased threefold. 95% of the capital investment in each cooperating hospital could be avoided by sharing one workstation within the network. Leading indication for CE was suspected mid-GI-bleeding (80%). Mean latencies between requested date and actual examination were 0 and between equipment's return and report 2 days. 45/191(24%) flexible enteroscopies performed in the CH followed CE findings from NP. Discussion: Our 10 years experience show that mobile use of CE is feasible providing quality parameters similar to a single center solution, increases the number of CE investigations, therefore, improves reading expertise and enables both an area-wide and economic offer for this technique. Additionally, patients with the need for invasive enteroscopy are identified and attracted to that NP who provides an invasive SB endocopy device.
Selected biologic markers of inflammation and activity of Crohn’s disease

Abstract The study aimed to compare the accuracy of selected biologic markers in assessing the disease activity in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). The analysis included serum IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ, hsCRP, peripheral CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + regulatory T cells, as well as fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin. A group of 55 adults with CD was enrolled to the study. Disease activity was assessed using Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS), which currently represents the gold standard for the evaluation of endoscopic activity. For clinical activity scoring, the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was used. Concentrations of investigated markers were estimated by means of flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the results were correlated with both indices. The study demonstrated that both fecal markers, i.e. calprotectin (r = 0.827, p < 0.001) and lactoferrin (r = 0.704, p < 0.001), correlate closely with CDEIS score, and might be used to evaluate the severity of CD in clinical setting. The correlation of those markers with CDAI was also significant, with r = 0.742 for calprotectin (p < 0.001) and r = 0.675 for lactoferrin (p < 0.05). As for the other investigated markers, only hsCRP (r = 0.672, p < 0.001) and IL-17 (r = 0.296, p < 0.005) correlated closely with CDEIS. The correlation of the markers with CDAI was also significant, though weaker, with r = 0.518 for hsCRP (p < 0.001) and r = 0.296 for IL-17 (p < 0.05). The study showed that IL-17, despite its vague role in the pathogenesis of CD, might be a useful marker, comparable with hsCRP, in assessing the activity of the disease.
Leakage-Resilient Certificateless Short Signature Scheme

For a certificateless short signature scheme to be applied in practical applications, it should without various leakage attacks. In this paper, we present a new leakage-resilient certificateless short signature scheme whose security is based on the classical decisional Diffie-Hellman (DDH) assumption. Our scheme is leakage-resilient signature scheme, and leaked information is a maximum value (upper bound). What is more, our scheme also enjoys a higher relative leaked information rate and still semantically secure against adaptive chosen message attack. Besides these good performance features, we have formally proved the security of our scheme in the random oracle model under the hardness of the DDH problem. With these import features, our proposal may have some significant value in the practical applications. Compared to existing schemes, our new scheme has two advantages: (1) Our scheme is leakage-resilient certificateless short signature scheme; (2) Our Scheme is leakage-resilient signature scheme, and leaked information is a maximum value (upper bound).
Preschool-aged children have difficulty constructing and interpreting simple utterances composed of graphic symbols*

ABSTRACT Children who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems while they are in the process of acquiring language face unique challenges because they use graphic symbols for communication. In contrast to the situation of typically developing children, they use different modalities for comprehension (auditory) and expression (visual). This study explored the ability of three- and four-year-old children without disabilities to perform tasks involving sequences of graphic symbols. Thirty participants were asked to transpose spoken simple sentences into graphic symbols by selecting individual symbols corresponding to the spoken words, and to interpret graphic symbol utterances by selecting one of four photographs corresponding to a sequence of three graphic symbols. The results showed that these were not simple tasks for the participants, and few of them performed in the expected manner – only one in transposition, and only one-third of participants in interpretation. Individual response strategies in some cases lead to contrasting response patterns. Children at this age level have not yet developed the skills required to deal with graphic symbols even though they have mastered the corresponding spoken language structures.
The Trend Towards the Right (Proximal) Shift of Colorectal Cancer: Is Not Observed in Sudanese Patients

Background: There is a tendency of colorectal cancer towards a right shift, and increasing incidence among the young age groups. In this study, we aimed to assess the pattern of colorectal cancer among Sudanese patients attending an endoscopy unit in Omdurman Teaching Hospital. Subjects and Methods: This descriptive cross- sectional study conducted among thirty patients referred with the provisional diagnosis of colorectal cancer during the period from August 2015 to June 2016. Participants signed a written informed consent then interviewed to collect demographic data, symptoms related to carcinoma of the colon, the patients were then examined for evidence of anemia, intestinal obstruction, and ascites, colonoscopy with biopsy for histopathology was done. The ethical committee of the Omdurman Teaching Hospital approved the research, and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Results; Out of thirty patients with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, their ages ranged from 18-76 years with a mean of 51.1. The commonest presentations were rectal bleeding, change in the bowel habits, and constipation in 90%, 80%, and 60% respectively. Fourteen (46.7% were ≤ 50 years. The family history of colorectal cancer was evident in 16.7%, the recto-sigmoid area was the commonest site (83.3%), with 100% adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: Colorectal cancer tend to affect the younger age groups, the majority were recto-sigmoid (the proximal shift was not observed). The adenocarcinoma was the commonest histopathology.
Innovation Systems in Nordic Tourism

This research is on tourism and innovation in the Nordic countries. The aim is to outline the constituents of success in the industry and what can be done to facilitate and maintain success through policy measures. The research draws on theories of innovation systems and review of innovation policy in the Nordic countries. This theoretical approach is combined with detailed case studies, two from each country, on a successful tourism venture or destination that has been in operation for a minimum of five years. Over 60 interviews were conducted and subsequently transcribed and analysed, whence emerged a picture of the innovation systems underpinning their success and material that could be used to substantiate a critique on current Nordic tourism policy measures. The conclusion details seven general policy frameworks that need to be further developed and researched. These are of value to both public policy makers, private entrepreneurs and academics as they give an outline for policy making, ideas for corporate development and areas of future research interests for tourism studies in the Nordic context. In addition the research is important to Nordic innovation studies generally, as it places tourism systems as a relevant and worthwhile focus area.
An in vivo study of locking and grasping techniques using a passive mobilization protocol in experimental animals.

An in vivo experimental study was performed on the flexor profundus tendons of adult canines to determine tensile strength differences between locking and grasping technique repairs and to document the tensile strength using a passive mobilization protocol through the first 21 days following surgery. Forty experimental third and fourth flexor tendons of the right forepaws were lacerated and repaired with either of the 2 techniques. The experimental tendons were harvested at days 3, 7, 14, and 21 and were biomechanically tested. The third and fourth profundus tendons of the left forepaws were used as control (day 0) tendons; they were lacerated and repaired with the locking or grasping techniques at the time of harvest and also were biomechanically tested. The locking technique statistically improved tensile strength values at days 0, 3, and 21. The tensile strength decrease was minimal when using a passive mobilization protocol after surgery.
Performance of Actively Managed versus Index Funds: The Vanguard Case

John C. Bogle: “Well I don’t run Vanguard any longer, but I will take plenty of responsibility for having those active funds in all of the years I ran it. And the answer to that is really a couple of things. One, a lot of investors, no matter how persuasive the case for indexing is, and it’s overpoweringly persuasive, just don’t quite get it. They want a little more activity. They want something to watch. Index funds, as you all know, are roughly as exciting as watching paint dry or maybe watching the grass grow. They create great returns but they’re not that exciting. So what we tried to do and what I tried to do personally was pick good managers, and that’s very, very hard to do. I want to be clear on that, and I have some hits and some runs and some errors in that category, have funds with multiple managers, so you get a much broader diversification, which is not unlike an index fund. [for example, take] our Windsor II fund. It’s a large cap value fund. And it has five different managers. I think that’s the number now. And so you are going to tend to have a value average return for that fund. And then, actually, make sure you have the other two big advantages of indexing, or three really, no sales commissions, very low expense ratios, because I negotiated with all those advisors and got those fees as low as I could possibly get them, and hire advisors with low portfolio turnover. An article was done by some professors at Duke University about a year ago and they showed that our active managers in the life of the index fund actually did a hair better than the index fund. [Reinker and Tower (2005)]. On the other hand if we had started the comparison a little bit later, the active managers would have done a little bit worse. But I think it’s a valid strategy. What can I do and tell you? I’m still 80% indexed. ” [Bogle (2006)].