Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk management in microfinance : identities, perceptions, behaviours and interests of microfinance stakeholders in Plateau State, Nigeria

Studies on microfinance risk management in Nigeria are inclined to quantitative analysis of risk based on business and accounting principles without recourse to understanding and interpreting meanings from the lived experiences of relevant stakeholders. This thesis is an in-depth study of the contexts (economic, political, social and cultural) in which stakeholders interpret and manage risks based on a case study of two microfinance institutions (MFIs)-a microfinance bank (MFB) and a non-bank MFI (NMFI) in Plateau State, Nigeria. It is predicated on the understanding that risks are subjective and interpreted by stakeholders- board members, investors, staff, clients and community leaders as distinct entities. It aligns with the interpretivist philosophy in examining how meanings are created from experiences which are embedded in the contexts in which stakeholders engage with MFIs. Drawing on the Social Theories of Risk and Stakeholder Theory, this study adopts a qualitative approach and case study research design using data obtained from document reviews, observation, 33 individual interviews and 3 focus group discussions with purposefully selected stakeholders. Thematic analysis was facilitated using NVivo, a Computer-Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), to generate and discuss themes based on participants’ perspectives. Its major findings show that risks are conceptualized in terms of unforeseen eventualities underpinned by social complexities in MFIs’ lending to micro clients which make their sustainability and outreach problematic. Major sources of risks for MFIs in the state addressed in this thesis include; low repayment rates, diversion or misuse of loans by clients, low level of knowledge and skills by practitioners, competition with commercial banks, inadequate support by the government, poor customer relationship management, low adoption of financial technology, influence of patriarchy, political interferences, recurring ethno-religious conflicts, poor orientation and awareness of the social mission of microfinance. Furthermore, the study found that risk management in the MFIs studied is hampered by their ownership structures and operating methodologies. The originality and contribution to knowledge of this thesis lie in developing a framework for subjective risk management in microfinance embedded in the identities, perceptions, behaviours and interests of stakeholders within the context of the study.
Antisperm Antibody Binding to Human Sperm Inhibits Capacitation Induced Changes in the Levels of Plasma Membrane Sterols

PROBLEM: Human spermatozoa express mannose ligand receptors (MLRs) over the entire head when incubated under conditions that promote loss of free cholesterol. Binding of IgA, IgG. and/or IgM head‐directed anti‐sperm antibodies (ASAs) to freshly isolated sperm blocks MLR expression in a dose dependent manner.
Phenotype–genotype correlation in a patient with co‐occurrence of Marfan and LEOPARD syndromes

Here we report on a patient with multiple lentigines, hypertelorism, short stature, arachnodactyly, scoliosis, dissecting aneurysm, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and developmental delay, and a family history of Marfan syndrome. The patient is affected with both Marfan and LEOPARD syndromes. Mutational screening of the FBN1 gene showed a c.1464T>A (p.C488X) mutation and screening of the PTPN11 gene showed a c.836A>G (p.Y279C) mutation. We conclude that each mutation contributed independently to individual features in the ocular and cardiovascular systems, although short stature was more significantly influenced by the p.Y279C change in PTPN11 rather than the mutation in FBN1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mutations in both FBN1 and PTPN11 with combined phenotypes of Marfan and LEOPARD syndromes. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Auditory Responses to Vocal Sounds in the Songbird Nucleus Taeniae of the Amygdala and the Adjacent Arcopallium

Many species of animals communicate with others through vocalizations. Over time, these species have evolved mechanisms to respond to biologically relevant vocal sounds via adaptive behaviors. Songbirds provide a good opportunity to search for the neural basis of this adaptation, because they interact with others through a variety of vocalizations in complex social relationships. The nucleus taeniae of the amygdala (TnA) is a structure located in the ventromedial arcopallium, which is akin to the mammalian medial amygdala. Studies on the anatomy and function of this nucleus have led to the speculation that the TnA is one of the possible neural substrates that represents the relevance of acoustic stimuli related to behavior. However, neural responses in this nucleus to auditory stimuli have not been studied in depth. To give a detailed description about auditory responses of the TnA in the songbird, we conducted neural recordings from the TnA and the adjacent arcopallium in adult male and female Bengalese finches under anesthesia. The birds were exposed to auditory stimuli including natural vocalizations as well as synthesized noise. We demonstrated that a substantial population of neurons in the TnA and the adjacent arcopallium responded to vocal sounds and that some neurons were selectively activated to specific stimuli. Proportions of responsive cells and stimulus-selective cells were larger in males than in females. In addition, a larger ratio of selective cells was observed in the arcopallium compared to the TnA. These findings support the idea that neuronal activity in the TnA and the neighboring area represents behavioral relevance of sounds. Further studies in electrophysiology combined with evidence from other fields, such as region-specific gene expression patterns, are required to fully understand the functions of the TnA as well as the evolution of the amygdala in songbirds and vertebrate animals.
Comparison between strictureplasty and resection anastomosis in tuberculous intestinal strictures.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness, safety and morbidity of strictureplasty with resection anastomosis in patients with tuberculous small gut strictures. DESIGN Prospective comparison study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Surgical Unit-I of Rawalpindi General Hospital from March 2000 to February 2002. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty patients who presented with intestinal obstruction due to tuberculous strictures, and underwent either resection anastomosis or strictureplasty were included in the study. Data was collected on a proforma and analyzed using software SPSS (version 8.0). Chi-square and t-test were used to test the hypothesis. Main outcome measures included the presence or absence of postoperative leakage anastomosis, wound infection, recurrence of intestinal obstruction and postoperative stay. RESULTS Chi-square test applied to see the effectiveness showed no significant difference (p>0.5) between the two procedures. t-Test on the score of morbidity also showed no significant difference (p>0.5) between the two procedures. CONCLUSION Both procedures performed were equally effective and had equal morbidity in cases of intestinal tuberculous strictures. Strictureplasty is superior to resection anastomosis in cases of multiple strictures as it conserves gut length and can even be performed safely in cases with coexistent gut perforation.
Broad and adaptable RNA structure recognition by the human interferon-induced tetratricopeptide repeat protein IFIT5

Significance This study defines the biochemical and biological specificity of RNA 5′-end discrimination by the human innate immune response protein denoted IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 5 (IFIT5). Cellular and recombinant protein interaction assays revealed an adaptable RNA binding site that, considering both WT and mutant proteins, can broadly accommodate and distinguish phosphate-containing 5′ ends. Comprehensive profiling of IFIT5-associated cellular RNAs by thermostable group II intron reverse transcriptase sequencing identified a broad spectrum of IFIT5-bound precursor and processed tRNA transcripts and revealed a surprisingly flexible order of human tRNA processing reactions. Our findings for IFIT5 illuminate new structural specificities of protein–RNA recognition important for innate immunity. Interferon (IFN) responses play key roles in cellular defense against pathogens. Highly expressed IFN-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) are proposed to function as RNA binding proteins, but the RNA binding and discrimination specificities of IFIT proteins remain unclear. Here we show that human IFIT5 has comparable affinity for RNAs with diverse phosphate-containing 5′-ends, excluding the higher eukaryotic mRNA cap. Systematic mutagenesis revealed that sequence substitutions in IFIT5 can alternatively expand or introduce bias in protein binding to RNAs with 5′ monophosphate, triphosphate, cap0 (triphosphate-bridged N7-methylguanosine), or cap1 (cap0 with RNA 2′-O-methylation). We defined the breadth of cellular ligands for IFIT5 by using a thermostable group II intron reverse transcriptase for RNA sequencing. We show that IFIT5 binds precursor and processed tRNAs, as well as other RNA polymerase III transcripts. Our findings establish the RNA recognition specificity of the human innate immune response protein IFIT5.
A stochastic geometrical vector model of macro- and megacellular communication channels

This paper describes a physically based stochastic approach that allows to predict the narrowband fading statistics for macro- and megacellular networks operating in urban areas. On one hand, macrocellular channels have been mainly covered in the literature by means of empirical models. On the other hand, megacells are typical of upcoming communication systems, such as broadband wireless access and high-altitude platform-based networks. Generally, the path gain of a wireless fading channel can be statistically characterized by a Ricean distribution, which includes Rayleigh fading as a particular case. The key parameter of the distribution is the K-factor K, defined as the ratio of the dominant component to the scatter contribution. The K-factor is estimated by means of a physical model, conditionally to a set of geometrical parameters, such as the building height, the street width and the base station-to-terminal distance. These parameters are statistically described by analytical distributions. The model is successfully compared with experimental data at 1.6 GHz and typical applications are presented. Finally, because of its physical background, the model performs very well in analyzing polarization (MIMO) multiplexing schemes.
Pharmacokinetics of cobicistat boosted‐elvitegravir administered in combination with rosuvastatin

Statins are commonly used medications by HIV‐1 patients. Elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF is a single tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV. The pharmacokinetic interaction between cobicistat‐boosted elvitegravir (EVG/co) and rosuvastatin was evaluated. Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 and 1B3 inhibition were assessed in vitro. Healthy subjects (N = 12) received a single dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg alone and in combination with EVG/co. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling was conducted and safety was assessed throughout the study. Rosuvastatin pharmacokinetic exposure parameters were evaluated using 90% confidence intervals (CI) of the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of the test (combination) versus reference (rosuvastatin alone) using equivalence boundaries of 70–143% for AUCinf and 70–175% for Cmax. Elvitegravir and cobicistat inhibited BCRP and OATP in vitro, emtricitabine and TDF did not. Clinically, study treatments were well tolerated, with adverse events generally mild. Upon coadministration, rosuvastatin plasma concentrations increased (Cmax 89% higher), while AUCinf changes were modest (38% higher) and clinically nonrelevant, potentially driven by moderate inhibition of intestinal efflux by BCRP, and/or hepatic uptake by OATPs by EVG/co. Elvitegravir and cobicistat pharmacokinetics were comparable to historical data. Rosuvastatin may be coadministered with EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF without dose adjustment.
AnAlysis of Public Policies ThAT uninTenTionAlly encourAge And subsidize urbAn sPrAwl lead

The New Climate Economy (NCE) is the flagship project of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. It was established by seven countries, Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as an independent initiative to examine how countries can achieve economic growth while dealing with the risks posed by climate change. The NCE Cities Research Programme is led by LSE Cities at the London School of Economics. The programme includes a consortium of researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute, the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, the World Resources Institute, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, and Oxford Economics. The NCE Cities Research Programme is directed by Graham Floater and Philipp Rode.
Test systems in drug discovery for hazard identification and risk assessment of human drug-induced liver injury

ABSTRACT Introduction: The liver is an important target for drug-induced toxicities. Early detection of hepatotoxic drugs requires use of well-characterized test systems, yet current knowledge, gaps and limitations of tests employed remains an important issue for drug development. Areas Covered: The current state of the science, understanding and application of test systems in use for the detection of drug-induced cytotoxicity, mitochondrial toxicity, cholestasis and inflammation is summarized. The test systems highlighted herein cover mostly in vitro and some in vivo models and endpoint measurements used in the assessment of small molecule toxic liabilities. Opportunities for research efforts in areas necessitating the development of specific tests and improved mechanistic understanding are highlighted. Expert Opinion: Use of in vitro test systems for safety optimization will remain a core activity in drug discovery. Substantial inroads have been made with a number of assays established for human Drug-induced Liver Injury. There nevertheless remain significant gaps with a need for improved in vitro tools and novel tests to address specific mechanisms of human Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Progress in these areas will necessitate not only models fit for application, but also mechanistic understanding of how chemical insult on the liver occurs in order to identify translational and quantifiable readouts for decision-making.
Understanding the dynamics of accessing chronic medicines in the public sector: Implications for policy in South Africa

Background: Front-line health providers have a unique role as brokers (patient advocates) between the health system and patients in ensuring access to medicines (ATM). ATM is a fundamental component of health systems. This paper examines in a South African context supplyand demandATM barriers from the provider perspective using a five dimensional framework: availability (fit between existing resources and clients’ needs); accessibility (fit between physical location of healthcare and location of clients); accommodation (fit between the organisation of services and clients’ practical circumstances); acceptability (fit between clients’ and providers’ mutual expectations and appropriateness of care) and affordability (fit between cost of care and ability to pay). Methods: This cross-sectional, qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with nurses, pharmacy personnel and doctors. Thirty-six providers were purposively recruited from six public sector Community Health Centres in two districts in the Eastern Cape Province representing both rural and urban settings. Content analysis combined structured coding and grounded theory approaches. Finally, the five dimensional framework was applied to illustrate the interconnected facets of the issue. Results: Factors perceived to affect ATM were identified. Availability of medicines was hampered by logistical bottlenecks in the medicines supply chain; poor public transport networks affected accessibility. Organization of disease programmes meshed poorly with the needs of patients with comorbidities and circular migrants who move between provinces searching for economic opportunities, proximity to services such as social grants and shopping centres influenced where patients obtain medicines. Acceptability was affected by, for example, HIV related stigma leading patients to seek distant services. Travel costs exacerbated by the interplay of several ATM barriers influenced affordability. Providers play a brokerage role by adopting flexible prescribing and dispensing for ‘stable’ patients and aligning clinic and social grant appointments to minimise clients’ routine costs. Occasionally they reported assisting patients with transport money. Conclusion: All five ATM barriers are important and they interact in complex ways. Context-sensitive responses which minimise treatment interruption are needed. While broad-based changes encompassing all disease programmes to improve ATM are needed, a beginning could be to assess the appropriateness, feasibility and sustainability of existing brokerage mechanisms.
User Perception of Electronic Information Resources: A Case Study of Alagappa College of Arts and Science, Tamilnadu, India

This study investigated the use and user perception of electronic Information resources of Alagappa College of Arts and science. It also examined students’ awareness of e-resources and satisfaction level; problems are faced by users while using e-resources. The sample consists of 80 respondents drawn respectively from a population of 120 from the college. Descriptive survey method was used to draw data through the Alagappa College of Arts and Science Library questionnaire on Electronic Information Resources in the study. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages. It was found that majority of respondents have low knowledge of e-resources, they may be use university library it will be get more number of eresources. The study concludes that user low awareness of e-resources and moderate level of satisfaction. Keyword: User Perception, electronic information resources, Internet, Search Engine, User Study.
Long-term survival and immuno-virological response of African HIV-1-infected children to highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens

Background:In Africa, facing the scaling-up of HAART, there is an urgent need to monitor accurately the long-term benefits of these lifelong treatments. Methods:Survival and immuno-virological response were assessed for 78 children in the ANRS 1244/1278 Children's cohort (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire) who were enrolled from October 2000 for treatment with HAART and followed to September 2004. Initial HAART consisted of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with either nelfinavir (NFV) or efavirenz (EFV). For the comparison of immunological and virological responses, CD4 cell counts and HIV-1 RNA viral load were assessed by performing time-point specific and longitudinal data analysis. Results:At baseline, the median CD4 cell percentage was 7.5% and the median HIV-1 RNA viral load was 5.37 log10 copies/ml. The survival probability was high (0.86 at month 42; 95% confidence interval, 0.77–0.92) with no difference according to whether the HAART regimen contained NFV or EFV. At 36 and 42 months of follow-up, an immune recovery was observed with median CD4 cell percentages reaching 23.1% and 24.8%, respectively, with no difference according to the HAART regimen (longitudinal data analysis). At the same time points, a sustained viral suppression was also obtained, with undetectable viral load achieving in 46.5% and 45.0%, respectively, regardless of whether the HAART regimen. Conclusion:This study demonstrates the durability of both clinical and biological response to HAART in African children.
Do the different store formats of the same brand matter to Chinese customers? An International study on a Japanese fashion brand

ABSTRACT Many retailers have recently been building a greater variety of store formats and attempting to provide a superior shopping experience through their store environment in order to increase the possibility of customer revisitation and customer loyalty. However, less research pays attention to the issue of how, and to what extent, the different store formats have on impacting customer satisfaction and loyalty building. In order to improve the understanding of the satisfaction–loyalty link in the context of retail internationalization, we survey a Japanese fashion company – Nice Claup – that segmented the Chinese market by operating multiple retail stores and each retail store plays a discrete role of cultivating customer loyalty. Through 388-customer survey data, the results suggest that while attitudinal loyalty positively and directly influences behavioral loyalty, satisfaction indirectly drives behavioral loyalty through the mediating effects of attitudinal loyalty. The implication is that an application of implementing retail internationalization with adopting multiple store formats on different types of customers and customer behavioral loyalty can be transferred by offering multi-brands store more effectively than the single-brand store in the Chinese fashion market.
Affectionate Same-Sex Touch: The Influence of Homophobia on Observers' Perceptions

Abstract The author extended the proposition (V. J. Derlega, R. J. Lewis, S. Harrison, B. A. Winstead, & R. Costanza, 1989) that the fear of being seen as homosexual accounts for the common finding that U.S. women engage in more same-sex touch than do U.S. men. The author proposed a theoretic model positing that the magnitude of homophobia's influence on behavior and on reactions to behavior is proportional to the likelihood that the behavior is sexual in nature. An experiment involving reactions to same-sex embraces demonstrated that, although homophobia was negatively related to evaluations of same-sex affectionate touch, the magnitude of the relationship covaried with the probability that the touch was sexual. The implications of these findings for longer range theory development are discussed.
Genetic parameter estimates of ultrasound-measured longissimus muscle area and 12th rib fat thickness in Brangus cattle.

Data from 2,101 Brangus calves born from 1986 to 1990 were analyzed with a REML procedure using a derivative-free algorithm in a mixed linear animal model to obtain variance component estimates of ultrasound-measured longissimus muscle area and fat thickness. Direct additive heritabilities (ha2) of . 39 and . 40 were obtained for age-constant weaning and yearling longissimus muscle area (WLMA and YLMA, respectively), with a genetic correlation (rg) of . 66 between them. The rg of YLMA with birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), postweaning gain (PWG), yearling weight (YWT), frame score (FS), and scrotal circumference (SC) were . 17, . 29, . 43, . 38, . 01, and . 19, respectively. The ha2 of age-constant yearling 12th rib fat thickness (FAT) was . 14, and cattle averaged . 44 cm (SD = .19). Positive rg were obtained between FAT and WLMA (.19) and YLMA (.12). Negative rg of FAT with WWT, YWT, and SC were -. 17, -. 53, and -. 33, respectively. Positive rg were obtained between FAT and BWT (.52), PWG (.44), and FS (.14). Maternal heritabilities (hm2) of WLMA, YLMA, and FAT were . 01, . 01, and . 10, respectively. Weight-constant WLMA, YLMA, and FAT ha2 were . 36, . 39, and . 11, respectively. Selection based on either age-constant YLMA or FAT could potentially result in 1.06 cm2 or . 005 cm change per year, respectively, which would be slightly greater than change from selection based on weight-constant YLMA or FAT. Selection based on WLMA or YLMA should be effective, and changes in these traits, growth, and SC should be possible in tandem. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)