Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The infectivity of the nucleic acid of aerosol-inactivated poliovirus.

Poliovirus is inactivated rapidly in aerosols at low to moderate relative humidity (r.h.) (Hemmes, Winkler & Kool, 1960; Harper, 1961) and it is of biological and epidemiological importance to know whether the nucleic acid remains infective during this process. De Jong & Winkler (1968) have already reported that whole virus and virus RNA are inactivated in parallel. However, during similar studies with the virus of encephalomyocarditis of mice (EMC-virus) it was found that the RNA was not inactivated in aerosols even when the infectivity of the whole virus decreased rapidly (de Jong, 1969). This difference is remarkable because of the resemblance between these viruses in structure and aerosol survival. Moreover, Dubovi (1971) showed that for the structurally related bacteriophage MS2 the infectivity of the RNA, but not the intact virus, was stable in aerosols. We have reinvestigated this problem for poliovirus.
An adaptive obstacle avoidance algorithm for unmanned surface vehicle in complicated marine environments

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are important autonomous marine robots that have been studied and gradually applied into practice. However, the autonomous navigation of USVs, especially the issue of obstacle avoidance in complicated marine environment, is still a fundamental problem. After studying the characteristics of the complicated marine environment, we propose a novel adaptive obstacle avoidance algorithm for USVs, based on the Sarsa on-policy reinforcement learning algorithm. The proposed algorithm is composed of local avoidance module and adaptive learning module, which are organized by the “divide and conquer” strategy-based architecture. The course angle compensation strategy is proposed to offset the disturbances from sea wind and currents. In the design of payoff value function of the learning strategy, the course deviation angle and its tendency are introduced into action rewards and penalty policies. The validity of the proposed algorithm is verified by comparative experiments of simulations and sea trials in three sea-state marine environments. The results show that the algorithm can enhance the autonomous navigation capacity of USVs in complicated marine environments.
Improved Finite Blocklength Converses for Slepian–Wolf Coding via Linear Programming

A new finite blocklength converse for the Slepian–Wolf coding problem, which significantly improves on the best-known converse due to Miyake and Kanaya, is presented. To obtain this converse, an extension of the linear programming (LP)-based framework for finite blocklength point-to-point coding problems is employed. However, a direct application of this framework demands a complicated analysis for the Slepian–Wolf problem. An analytically simpler approach is presented, wherein LP-based finite blocklength converses for this problem are synthesized from point-to-point lossless source coding problems with perfect side-information at the decoder. New finite blocklength converses for these point-to-point problems are derived by employing the LP-based framework, and the new converse for Slepian–Wolf coding is obtained by an appropriate combination of these converses.
Protective effects of Annona muricata ethanolic leaf extract against Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-Induced Hepatotoxicity

The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective role of ethanolic leaf extract of Annona muricata on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatotoxicity in rat model. DMN administered rats (single dose orally, 12 mg/kg; on day 8) were pretreated with ethanolic leaf extract of Annona muricata (400 mg / kg body weight) for 7 days and sacrificed 48hrs after DMN intoxication. Results showed that DMN caused a marked rise in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), as well as marked decrease in serum total protein (TP), globulin, albumin (ALB), PCV, WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin and platelet compared to controls. However pretreatment with Annona muricata ethanolic leaf extract produced a significant decrease in the ALT and total cholesterol level and an increase in total protein, globulin, albumin and hematological parameters compared to DMN alone group. Taken these data together, it can be concluded that natural plant components such as Annona muricata leaves could protect the liver against dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)induced liver toxicity.
Standards of Reporting of Randomized Controlled Trials in General Surgery: Can We Do Better?

Objective:To evaluate the quality of reporting of surgical randomized controlled trials published in surgical and general medical journals using Jadad score, allocation concealment, and adherence to CONSORT guidelines and to identify factors associated with good quality. Summary Background Data:Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide the best evidence about the relative effectiveness of different interventions. Improper methodology and reporting of RCTs can lead to erroneous conclusions about treatment effects, which may mislead decision-making in health care at all levels. Methods:Information was obtained on RCTs published in 6 general surgical and 4 general medical journals in the year 2003. The quality of reporting of RCTs was assessed under masked conditions using allocation concealment, Jadad score, and a CONSORT checklist devised for the purpose. Results:Of the 69 RCTs analyzed, only 37.7% had a Jadad score of ≥3, and only 13% of the trials clearly explained allocation concealment. The modified CONSORT score of surgical trials reported in medical journals was significantly higher than those reported in surgical journals (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.001). Overall, the modified CONSORT score was higher in studies with higher author numbers (P = 0.03), multicenter studies (P = 0.002), and studies with a declared funding source (P = 0.022). Conclusion:The overall quality of reporting of surgical RCTs was suboptimal. There is a need for improving awareness of the CONSORT statement among authors, reviewers, and editors of surgical journals and better quality control measures for trial reporting and methodology.
Some Misconceptions and Pitfalls in Ultrasonography

There are many misconceptions in the field of ultrasonography. Some are because of poor understanding of anatomy and/or embryological or developmental features of certain organs, which have prevailed over the course of the centuries since the discovery of these entities (e.g., column of Bertin and hypertrophic column of Bertin). Some misconceptions derived from misinterpretation (e.g., double decidual sac sign) or inadequate observation of ultrasonographic findings. (e.g., hyperechoic stroma in polycystic ovarian syndrome).
Study of phase composition in the technologically modified Mgo-Al2O3 nanoceramics using XRD and XPS mehods

The phase composition in the technologically-modified MgO-Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> nanoceramics sintered at 1200 °C and 400 C for 2 h and 9 h are investigated using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is shown that structural perfection of MgO-Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> ceramics increases with sintering temperature and their duration, which manifests reducing the content of the additional phases. Modification of ceramics obtained at 1400 <sup>o</sup>C by increasing the sintering duration leads to increase of MgO phase. The core-level O 1s spectrum in MgO-Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> ceramics allows to identify the chemical state of atoms and makes it possible to obtain confirmation about addition phases in ceramics.
Penumbral tissue alkalosis in focal cerebral ischemia: Relationship to energy metabolism, blood flow, and steady potential

The effect of focal ischemia on tissue pH was studied at various times up to 6 hours after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Tissue pH was imaged by using umbelliferone fluorescence and correlated with cerebral blood flow, ATP content, and recordings of the steady potential. Circumscribed foci of alkalosis (pH 7.32 ± 0.11) were detected with increasing frequency in penumbral regions having near‐to‐normal ATP concentrations and cerebral blood flow values between 20% and 40% of control. Both the infarct core, defined by ATP loss and cerebral blood flow values of less than 20% of control, and the inner peri‐infarct rim were consistently acidic (pH 6.03 ± 0.36 and 6.53 ± 0.24, respectively). Treatment with the glutamate antagonist dizocilpine (MK‐801) suppressed negative shifts of the steady potential and reduced significantly the occurrence of alkalosis observed in 90% of untreated but only in 44% of treated animals. Penumbral alkalosis appeared to be a time‐dependent event occurring 30 to 60 minutes after the passage of peri‐infarct depolarizations. The diversity of penumbral pH changes reflects the local disturbance of pH regulation and, possibly, the differential fate of penumbral subareas. Ann Neurol 2000;47:485–492.
Modality- and Task-specific Brain Regions Involved in Chinese Lexical Processing

fMRI was used to examine lexical processing in native adult Chinese speakers. A 2 task (semantics and phonology) × 2 modality (visual and auditory) within-subject design was adopted. The semantic task involved a meaning association judgment and the phonological task involved a rhyming judgment to two sequentially presented words. The overall effect across tasks and modalities was used to identify seven ROIs, including the left fusiform gyrus (FG), the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), the left ventral inferior frontal gyrus (VIFG), the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), the left dorsal inferior frontal gyrus (DIFG), the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG). ROI analyses revealed two modality-specific areas, FG for visual and STG for auditory, and three task-specific areas, IPL and DIFG for phonology and VIFG for semantics. Greater DIFG activation was associated with conflicting tonal information between words for the auditory rhyming task, suggesting this region's role in strategic phonological processing, and greater VIFG activation was correlated with lower association between words for both the auditory and the visual meaning task, suggesting this region's role in retrieval and selection of semantic representations. The modality- and task-specific effects in Chinese revealed by this study are similar to those found in alphabetical languages. Unlike English, we found that MFG was both modality- and task-specific, suggesting that MFG may be responsible for the visuospatial analysis of Chinese characters and orthography-to-phonology integration at a syllabic level.
Clusters of International EQ-5D Health-States Valuations (Conglomerados de valoraciones internacionales de estados de salud EQ-5D)

PURPOSE: Countries without EQ-5D general-population surveys might use valuations from another country with similar health valuations. This study aimed to identify whether there are groups of countries with similar health-state valuations. METHODS: A cluster analysis was performed for the 242 states of the EQ-5D valuations for 23 studies in 18 countries, excluding the perfect-health state. Clusters were identified by means of the Ward algorithm with the Euclidean measure and hierarchical clustering. RESULTS: 5 clusters were identified. Valuations are sensitive to the preference elicitation methodology. Some countries in the same cluster have cultural similarities but a particular cluster included otherwise dissimilar countries and methodologies. Using the states associated to diabetes and breast cancer, the choice of cluster is shown to be relevant for cost-utility analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Health-state valuations tend to be clustered in a few groups of countries. The clusters found might be useful for performing cost-utility analysis in countries without such valuations.
[Level of serum phosphorus and adult type 2  diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of the serum levels of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS A total of 244 hospitalized patients were enrolled from 2014 to 2015, and they were assigned into a type 2 diabetic group (n=162) and control group (n=82). The serum levels of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium were determined. The correlations between blood levels of glucose and the serum levels of phosphorus, calcium or magnesium were analyzed. RESULTS The serum level of phosphate in type 2 diabetic group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of serum calcium and magnesium between the two groups. In the type 2 diabetic group, there was no significant correlation between the level of blood glucose and the serum level of phosphorus, calcium or magnesium. In the control group, the blood glucose and serum levels of phosphorus were positively correlated (r=0.226, P=0.042), but there was no significant correlation between the level of blood glucose and the serum level of calcium or magnesium. CONCLUSION Serum level of phosphorus is obviously decreased in type 2 diabetes patients, indicating that they may have a disorder in phosphorus metabolism.
A STUDY OF THE TREND IN PREVALENCE OF OPPORTUNISTIC CANDIDAL CO-INFECTIONS AMONG PATIENTS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Five hundred clinical specimens of sputa, bronchial aspirations, and pleural effusions were collected from hospitalized tuberculous patients for the isolation of Candida species. The patients were categorized in two groups. Group A included tuberculous patients having some complications like nonsubsiding fever, marked cough and persistence of other symptoms in spite of taking antituberculous treatment. Group B included turberculous patients having no complications. The Candida species were isolated and identified on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. Candida species were isolated from 15.2% (76/500) specimens. The incidence rate of Candidal co-infection was higher in Group A patients (16.1%) as compared to Group B patients (13.8%). Among the Candida species, Candida tropicalis (8.4%) predominated over Candida albicans (6.8%). Furthermore, the incidence of Candidal infection was higher in male patients (16.3%) as compared to female patients (13.9%).
Chromatin Structure and Expression of a Gene Transcribed by RNA Polymerase III Are Independent of H2A.Z Deposition

ABSTRACT The genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III (Pol III) generally have intragenic promoter elements. One of them, the yeast U6 snRNA (SNR6) gene is activated in vitro by a positioned nucleosome between its intragenic box A and extragenic, downstream box B separated by ∼200 bp. We demonstrate here that the in vivo chromatin structure of the gene region is characterized by the presence of an array of positioned nucleosomes, with only one of them in the 5′ end of the gene having a regulatory role. A positioned nucleosome present between boxes A and B in vivo does not move when the gene is repressed due to nutritional deprivation. In contrast, the upstream nucleosome which covers the TATA box under repressed conditions is shifted ∼50 bp further upstream by the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler RSC upon activation. It is marked with the histone variant H2A.Z and H4K16 acetylation in active state. In the absence of H2A.Z, the chromatin structure of the gene does not change, suggesting that H2A.Z is not required for establishing the active chromatin structure. These results show that the chromatin structure directly participates in regulation of a Pol III-transcribed gene under different states of its activity in vivo.
Evaluating Business Process Improvement Patterns by Simulation

Existing approaches for business process improvement often lack systematic guidelines to transform a business process into an enhanced state, which we refer to as the “act of improvement”. To close this gap, a pattern-based approach has been designed and developed in previous works. In this paper, the usefulness of “Business Process Improvement Patterns” (BPI-Patterns) as a means of improving business processes is analyzed. For this purpose, a simulation experiment is performed in which several BPI-Patterns are applied to evaluate whether their anticipated effects can be confirmed for real-life business processes. From the analysis of the simulation results, i.e. how the application of BPI-Patterns affects the business processes, we investigate enabling as well as hindering factors that influence the implementation of BPI-Patterns. These factors may serve as a means to further specify instances of BPI-Patterns and also contribute to the overall evaluation of the BPI-Pattern approach.
Essays on finance: Drivers of bank performance and the international cost of equity

This dissertation examines how the way banks function relates to their performance before, during, and after the recent financial crisis in an attempt to understand the causes of that crisis and what we might learn from it. It consists of four substantive chapters, 2-5, preceded by an introductory chapter. Chapter 2 analyzes the role of governance and behavioral dimensions in the ability of the largest U.S. banks to withstand the financial crisis independently. While these banks did not differ in terms of formal governance, I document how differences in certain behavioral dimensions, especially a CEO’s socio-economic background, are related to the banks’ crisis performance. Subsequently, Chapter 3 investigates the relationship between bank returns before and after the financial crisis. In the U.S., I document that the strong-performing banks from before the crisis have lagged behind since. Moreover, those banks also demonstrated large pre-crisis loan growth. I conclude that pre-crisis winners have been unable to adapt their pre-crisis, high-risk, business model to the post-crisis lower-risk environment. In Europe, by contrast, pre- and post-crisis performance is positively related. In Chapter 4, I shift my attention to bank performance around CEO turnover. In the initial years of a new CEO, bank performance declines, which can be fully explained by an increase in provisions for bad loans. Finally, Chapter 5 considers a firm’s cost of equity in international markets, a firm characteristic that is crucial for banks when valuing firms and assessing their risk profile. My research shows that it matters materially whether an international or national version of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is used to determine the value of the cost of equity. Considering the increased integration of financial markets, I therefore recommend the use of the international CAPM.
Prefrontal connections of medial motor areas in the rhesus monkey

Several areas on the medial surface of the frontal lobe in both monkeys and humans, including the supplementary motor area and specific areas within the ventral bank of the cingulate sulcus called the cingulate motor areas, have been implicated in the initiation and execution of skiled movements. These areas project directly to the motor cortex and spinal cord, and, on this basis alone, can be considered premotor areas. The present study investigated whether these premotor areas are specific targets of prefrontal cortical projections in the rhesus monkey and thereby provide links between this association cortex and motor effector pathways. Circumscribed injections of wheat germ agglutinin‐conjugated horseradish peroxidase were placed into different cytoarchitectonic subdivisions of prefrontal cortex, and resultant retrograde and anterograde labeling examined with respect to designated premotor targets. Conversely, injections were also made in the supplementary and cingulate motor areas and labeled cells and terminals charted in the prefrontal cortex.
Antecedents and Consequents of Trustworthiness in User-Generated Online Reviews: A case of the Travel Industry

Despite the recent interest in user-generated online reviews, understanding how various dimensions of ‘the message’ (online review) may affect consumers’ perceptions of a review’s trustworthiness, and whether the latter shapes attitudes and subsequent behaviors. To fill this gap, a 2x2x2 scenario-based online experiment was designed exposing participants to real user-generated TripAdvisor.com reviews, and an online questionnaire was used to evaluate antecedents and consequents of review trustworthiness. Using PLS-based structural equation modeling (SEM), our findings offer a comprehensive framework of the review characteristics— timeliness, accuracy, and reviewer credibility—that drive overall perceptions of review trustworthiness and jointly predict nearly 50% of the variance in this construct. Furthermore, our findings show that the mediating role of review usefulness on the relationship between trustworthiness and brand attitude is further moderated by the sentiment of the reviews—positive and negative. Brand attitude ultimately predicts over 80% of the variance in booking intention.
Le fluage à température linéairement croissante : caractérisation des sources de viscoélasticité anisotrope du bois.

Lorsque le comportement differe est regi par des mecanismes thermiquement actives, une experience de fluage a temperature lineairement croissante est proposee. Le principe d'equivalence temps-temperature induit le declenchement successif de chaque mecanisme. Une modelisation permet d'identifier l'energie d'activation, la constante de temps et l'amplitude de chacun d'eux, a partir d'une seule experience de duree limitee. Appliquee a trois essences de bois (peuplier, douglas et hetre), de la pâte a papier et du hetre acethylenise, l'experience met en evidence des anisotropies differees du bois superieures a l'anisotropie elastique. Un accroisssement d'humidite modifie la cinetique des mecanismes. Les anisotropies et les influences des taux d'humidite induisent des hypotheses quant a la localisation des sourcres de fluage dans la matrice, les renforts ou les interfaces de ce composite.
A Type IV Pilin, PilA, Contributes to Adherence of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Virulence In Vivo

ABSTRACT The Burkholderia pseudomallei K96243 genome contains multiple type IV pilin-associated loci, including one encoding a putative pilus structural protein (pilA). A pilA deletion mutant has reduced adherence to human epithelial cells and is less virulent in the nematode model of virulence and the murine model of melioidosis, suggesting a role for type IV pili in B. pseudomallei virulence.
Deep vein thrombosis at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital.

OBJECTIVE To study the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital. To determine the risk factors, use of different diagnostic modalities, treatment given and to compare our findings with those reported in the literature. METHODS Retrospective study which included all cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism admitted to the medical ward of King Abdul Aziz University Hospital during the period between January 1994 till March 1999 were analyzed. RESULTS Total of 75 patients were diagnosed to have deep vein thrombosis with mean age of 44.16 +/- 14.5 years and male:female ratio of 1:2. Doppler ultrasound was used for the diagnosis in 56 of 75 patients (75%). Pulmonary embolism as a complication of deep vein thrombosis developed in 24 of 75 patients (32%). Prolonged immobilization was found to be the most common risk factor 17 of 75 (23%). All the patients were treated with conventional heparin followed by warfarin. CONCLUSION As discussed, our results are comparable with those reported in the literature. Post operative patients who are anticipated to have prolonged immobilization should receive prophylactic anti coagulation with subcutaneous heparin. Thrombophillia screening should be reserved for those with recurrent deep vein thrombosis or patients with positive family history.