Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Monetary Policy Shocks in India

We present new measures of monetary policy shocks for India using high-frequency data, creating a publicly available event study dataset as a byproduct. In addition to capturing surprises to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) policy rate, our shocks suggest that financial markets infer substantial information about the future path of the policy rate from RBI communication. We conduct a narrative analysis of official statements and corresponding media discussion on prominent RBI announcement dates to help understand how markets use RBI communication to update their expectations. Bond and stock markets react strongly to these monetary shocks, but exhibit notable heterogeneity across governor regimes. Finally, we use the monetary shocks as external instruments to identify the impact on macroeconomic variables in a structural vector autoregression. We find some evidence of the conventional transmission of monetary policy to prices but not to output.
DAYA ANTIBAKTERI EKSTRAK ETANOL TUNAS BAMBU APUS TERHADAP BAKTERI Escherichia coli dan Staphylococcus aureus SECARA IN VITRO

Latar belakang: Penyakit infeksi bisa disembuhkan dengan pengobatan tradisional, salah satu contoh tanaman yang memiliki daya antibakteri yaitu tunas bambu apus. Tujuan: Menguji daya antibakteri dari ekstrak etanol tunas bambu apus terhadap bakteri Escherichia coli mewakili bakteri Gram negatif (-) dan Staphylococcus aureus mewakili bakteri Gram positif (+). Metode: Ekstrak etanol tunas bambu apus didapatkan dari hasil maserasi dengan menggunakan pelarut etanol 70%. Selanjutnya ekstrak etanol yang diperoleh dibuat pengenceran konsentrasi 12,5 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml dan 150 mg/ml. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode difusi kertas cakram NA(Natrium agar). Aktivitas antibakteri ditunjukkan oleh adanya kadar hambat minimum (KHM) yang terbentuk dan dilakukan uji kualitatif untuk membuktikan senyawa yang berkhasiat sebagai antibakteri. Hasil: Hasil uji kualitatif yang diduga sebagai antibakteri adalah saponin dan flavonoid. Data hasil uji antibakteri dianalisa statistika dengan menggunakan Anova satu arah (One away) dilanjutkan dengan uji kruskal walis. Kesimpulan: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak etanol tunas bambu apus mempunyai daya antibakteri terhadap Escherichia coli dan Staphylococcus aureus dengan konsetrasi 150 mg/ml
Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman Maritime Trade Relations

Sri Lanka had maritime trade relations even in the 6 century BC and we had famous naval ports used for maritime trade especially for maritime ‘Silk Road’ used by people who were in Greco-Roman, China, India, Persia for their foreign trade. Therefore, Sri Lanka was able to make new economic relationships. In this study, we mainly focused on Sri Lankan maritime trade relationship with Greco-Roman. Our research problem is, what was the trade relationship between Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman? Our objective is to identify the importance of Sri Lanka along with the GrecoRoman trade. This study was conducted under the qualitative research method using a library survey. From these three sources Literary sources, especially foreign texts have many records about Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman trade. Some of those authors were Cosmos, Pliny, Ptolemy and Strabo. Some archaeological evidence was found from ports like Mahathittha, Godawaya and Kingdoms like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa. The main archaeological evidence is Roman and Indo-Roman coins for the trade relationship between Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman. Certain Indian factors were also important in conducting this research because Sri Lankan trade had a close relationship with the Indian trade also. From this research we understood that there was an internal transport system in Sri Lanka, Roman trade was spread many places in Sri Lanka, in some times India and Persia acted as intermediaries between Sri Lanka and Greco-Roman trade and the main point we identified was, Sri Lanka was a core in the ancient trade system and by the fifth century AD, Sri Lanka was one of the main trade centres in the Indian Ocean.
Perceived Relative Wealth and Risk Taking

We show that perceptions of relative rank in the wealth distribution shape individuals’ willingness to take risks. Using a representative large-scale survey, we manipulate perceptions of relative standing by randomly varying response categories when asking respondents about their wealth level. Respondents who are induced to perceive their relative position as low display more tolerance towards risk in a subsequent incentivized lottery task. This effect is mainly driven by individuals who more firmly believe that life outcomes are beyond their control. This interaction between risk preferences and underlying beliefs spotlights the benefits of incorporating personality traits into economic analysis.
Identification of FtsW and Characterization of a New tsW

The product of theftsW gene has been identified as a polypeptide that, like the related RodA protein, shows anomalous mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. FtsW is produced at low levels that can be increased by altering the translation initiation region of the mRNA. Overproduction ofFtsW strongly inhibits cell growth. A new mutant allele, ftsW201, causes a temperature-dependent block in the initiation stage of cell division which is similar to the division block inftsZ mutants. The block in initiation of division in theftsW201 allele is shown to be independent of FtsZ or the FtsZ inhibitor, SulA. In addition, the ftsW201 mutant is hypersensitive to overproduction of the division initiation protein FtsZ at the permissive temperature. Our results suggest a role for FtsW in an early stage of division which may involve an interaction with FtsZ.
Major Outer Membrane Protein of Proteus mirabilis

Our previous studies have shown that a major protein isolated from purified cell walls of Proteus mirabilis (39-kDa protein) is a strong modulator of the specific immune responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from this bacterium. When the protein is mixed with LPS before immunization of mice, the responses of antibodyproducing cells specific for LPS are greatly enhanced and converted predominantly to the immunoglobulin G isotype. In the present study, the immunomodulating effects of the 39-kDa protein were tested at the level of interaction of LPS with macrophages. Activation of macrophages was determined by measuring the production of oxygen radicals in a chemiluminescence assay with lucigenin as the amplifier. LPS from P. mirabilis induced strong oxidative metabolism in both peritoneal and bone marrow-derived murine macrophages. These responses were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by mixing LPS with increasing amounts of the protein. In contrast, bovine serum albumin and methylated bovine serum albumin enhanced the response of macrophages dramatically when complexed with LPS. The inhibiting activity of the 39-kDa protein was also observed with LPS from Escherichia coli K-12.
Stated Farmers’ Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Climate Resilient Potato Varieties in Kenya: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Despite sustained efforts by various research organizations in developing and disseminating climate resilient varieties, adoption of climate resilient potato varieties (CRPVs) remains low in Sub-Saharan Africa. This has been majorly attributed to limited coordination between formal research institutions and farmers hence sidelining farmers’ preferences especially smallholder farmers. Considering farmer preferences in the breeding process may yield optimal combination of varietal attributes hence increasing adoption. Therefore, this study used a discrete choice experiment to investigate farmers’ preferences and mean Willingness to Pay (WTP) for various attributes of CRPV. Results indicate that farmers have a strong preference for high resistance to pests and diseases as compared to other attributes which include low water requirements, short maturation period and high yield. Despite farmers preferring low prices for CRPV attributes, we also note that they were low price responsive. This study emphasizes on the need for participatory breeding efforts that embed traits preferred by farmers hence satisfying the demands of different population segments based on age, gender and education level.
Characterization of rcsB and rcsC from Escherichia coli 09:

In Escherichia coil K-12, RcsC and RcsB are thought to act as the sensor and effector components, respectively, of a two-component regulatory system which regulates expression of the slime polysaccharide colanic acid (V. Stout and S. Gottesman, J. Bacteriol. 172:659-669, 1990). Here, we report the doning and DNA sequence of a 4.3-kb region containing rcsC and rcsB from E. coli 09:K30:H12. This strain does not produce colanic acid but does synthesize a K30 (group I) capsular polysaccharide. The rcsB gene from E. coil K30 (rcsBK30) is identical to the rcsB gene from E. coli K-12 (rcsBK.12). rcsCK30 has 16 nucleotide changes, resulting in six amino acid changes in the predicted protein. To examine the function of the rcs regulatory system in expression of the K30 capsular polysaccharide, chromosomal insertion mutations were constructed in E. coli 09:K30:H12 to independently inactivate rcsBK, and the auxiliary positive regulator rc&4.30. Strains with these mutations maintained wild-ype levels of K30 capsular polysaccharide expression and still produced a K30 capsule, indicating that the rcs system is not essential for expression of low levels of the group I capsular polysaccharide in lon+ E. colt K30. However, K30 synthesis is increased by introduction ofa multicopy plasmid carrying rcsBKm. K30 polysaccharide expression is also markedly elevated in an rcsBKm-dependent fashion by a mutation in rcsCKm,, suggesting that the rcs system is involved in high levels of synthesis. To determine whether the involvement of the rcs system in E. coli K30 expression is typical of group I (K antigen) capsules, multicopy rcsBK30 was introduced into 22 additional strains with structurally different group I capsules. All showed an increase in mucoid phenotype, and the polysaccharides produced in the presence and absence of multicopy rcsBK,0 were examined. It is has been suggested that E. coli strains with group I capsules can be subdivided based on K antigen structure. For the first time, we show that strains with group I capsules can also be subdivided by the ability to produce colanic acid. Group IA contains capsular polysaccharides (including K30) with repeating-unit structures lacking amino sugars, and expression ofgroup IA capsular polysaccharides is increased by multicopy rcsBK30. Group EB capsular polysaccharides all contain amino sugars. In group IB strains, multicopy rcsBK30 activates synthesis of colanic acid.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment services—Experiences from the Tongren eye center in Beijing

Purpose To investigate the impact on services for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients during the COVID-19 (2019coronal virus disease) pandemic in one tertiary center in Beijing. Methods A retrospective cohort study. Two reviewed consecutive RRD patients cohorts of the same length were treated during two different periods: the COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-COVID-19 group. The characteristics of patients, surgery, anesthesia methods, length of hospital stay, and the latest follow-up were recorded and analyzed. Results There were 79 patients in the COVID-19 pandemic group with a 55.9% reduction (179). Compared to patients in the pre-COVID-19, patients in the COVID-19 pandemic had a longer presurgical waiting times (28days, 3days, p<0.001), a higher percentage of patients with presurgical poor (less than 0.02) visual acuity (55.7%, 32.4%, p = 0.009), and a higher percentage of patients with presurgical choroidal detachment (34.2%, 19.6%, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the severity of presurgical proliferative vitreoretinopathy between the two groups (p = 0.64). Surgeries on pathological myopia patients with macular hole retinal detachment were postponed in the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a lower percentage of scleral buckling (27.8%, 41.3%, p = 0.02) and a lower rate of subretinal fluid drainage (45.4%, 75.7%, p = 0.01) in the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no significant difference in either postoperative visual acuity (p = 0.73) or the rate of single-surgery retinal attachment (p = 1) between the two groups. Patients in the COVID-19 pandemic had a shorter length of hospital stay (3hours, 35 hours, p<0.001), and a lower percentage of patients received general anesthesia (48.1%, 83.2%, p<0.001). None was infected with COVID-19 disease during the pandemic. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown caused prolonged presurgical waiting times, shorter hospital stays, less general anesthesia, and a significant reduction of RRD surgeries. The RD were more complicated, the surgeons were more conservative on procedures and patients selection, while the surgery outcomes were comparable.
An application of the ensemble Kalman filter in epidemiological modelling

Since the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China, and due to the open accessibility of COVID-19 data, several researchers and modellers revisited the classical epidemiological models to evaluate their practical applicability. While mathematical compartmental models can predict various contagious viruses’ dynamics, their efficiency depends on the model parameters. Recently, several parameter estimation methods have been proposed for different models. In this study, we evaluated the Ensemble Kalman filter’s performance (EnKF) in the estimation of time-varying model parameters with synthetic data and the real COVID-19 data of Hubei province, China. Contrary to the previous works, in the current study, the effect of damping factors on an augmented EnKF is studied. An augmented EnKF algorithm is provided, and we present how the filter performs in estimating models using uncertain observational (reported) data. Results obtained confirm that the augumented-EnKF approach can provide reliable model parameter estimates. Additionally, there was a good fit of profiles between model simulation and the reported COVID-19 data confirming the possibility of using the augmented-EnKF approach for reliable model parameter estimation.
Suppression in Escherichia colit

Escherichia coli strain NCR30 contains a cya lesion and a second-site cya suppressor mutation that lies in the crp gene. NCR30 shows a pleiotropic phenotypic reversion to the wild-type state in expressing many operons that require the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-cAMP receptor protein (CRP) complex for positive control. In vivo 3-galactosidase synthesis in NCR30 was sensitive to glucose-mediated repression, which was relieved not only by cAMP but also by cyclic GMP and cyclic CMP. The CRP isolated from NCR30 differed from the protein isolated from wild-type E. coli in many respects. The mutant protein bound cAMP with four to five times greater affinity than wild-type CRP. Protease digestion studies indicated that native NCR30 CRP exists in the cAMP-CRP complex-like conformation. The protein conferred a degree of cAMP independence on the in vitro synthesis of P-galactosidase. In addition, the inherent positive control activity of the mutant protein in vitro was enhanced by those nucleotides that stimulate in vivo P-galactosidase synthesis in NCR30. The results of this study supported the conclusion that the crp allele of NCR30 codes for a protein having altered effector specificity yet capable of promoting positive control over catabolite-sensitive operons in the absence of an effector molecule.
HIV and antiretroviral treatment knowledge gaps and psychosocial burden among persons living with HIV in Lima, Peru

This study aims to describe knowledge on HIV and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and psychosocial factors among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Lima, Perú, to explore characteristics associated to this knowledge, and determine its impact on sustained viral suppression. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 171 PLWH at the largest referral health care center in Lima. The psychosocial factors measured were depression, risk of alcoholism, use of illegal drugs and disclosure. A participant had “poor knowledge” when less than 80% of replies were correct. Sustained viral suppression was defined as two consecutive viral loads under 50 copies/mL. A total of 49% and 43% had poor HIV and ARV knowledge respectively; 48% of the study population screened positive for depression and 27% reported feeling unsupported by the person they disclosed to. The largest gaps in HIV and ARV knowledge were among 98 (57%) that did not recognize that HIV increased the risk of cancer and among 57 (33%) participants that did not disagree with the statement that taking a double dose of ARV if they missed one. Moderate depression was significantly associated to poor HIV and ARV knowledge. Non-disclosure and being on ARVs for less than 6 months were associated with not achieving sustained viral suppression. Our findings highlight important HIV and ARV knowledge gaps of PLWH and a high burden of psychosocial problems, especially of depression, among PLWH in Lima, Peru. Increasing knowledge and addressing depression and disclosure could improve care of PLWH.
Friend or Foe? Spontaneous Portosystemic Shunts in Cirrhosis—Current Understanding and Future Prospects

Portal hypertension (PHT) in cirrhosis results from increased resistance to splanchnic blood flow secondary to parenchymal and vascular changes within the liver. In an attempt to counteract the increased portal pressure, two mechanisms simultaneously occur: splanchnic vasodilatation and formation of spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS). Long considered to be a compensatory mechanism to decompress the portal venous system, it is now well established that SPSS are not only inefficient in decreasing the portal pressure but also contribute to reduced hepatocyte perfusion and increased splanchnic blood flow and resistance, associated with worsening PHT. Recent studies have described a high prevalence of SPSS in cirrhosis patients, increasing with liver dysfunction, and observed an association between the presence of SPSS and worse clinical outcomes. In cirrhosis patients with preserved liver functions, the presence of SPSS independently increases the risk of hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and ascites, and reduces transplant-free survival. Moreover, the presence of SPSS in patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting and liver transplant has been shown to variably affect the postprocedural outcome. This article provides an overview of the current understanding of the role of SPSS in the natural history of liver cirrhosis and their status as a therapeutic target and an imaging biomarker to identify patients at higher risk of developing complications of PHT.
Perinatal outcomes of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Jimma Medical Center, southwest Ethiopia: Retrospective cohort study

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) increases adverse perinatal outcomes in women with the disorder. About 16% of all still births and 10% of early neonatal deaths are accounted by HDP. In Ethiopia, HDP complicates about 6% of all pregnancies. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes among women with HDP in Jimma Medical Center, southwest Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on a total of 777 women who gave birth from June 2017 to March 2020 at Jimma Medical Center, southwest Ethiopia. Women with HDP and normotensive women who gave birth at or after 28 weeks of gestation were enrolled as exposed and unexposed respectively. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were reviewed using structured data collection performa that was prepared after reviewing relevant literatures. Data were entered to Epi-Data then exported to STATA version 13 for analysis. The adverse perinatal outcomes risk were examined using log binomial and modified Poisson regression model with robust standard errors. Results In this study, the overall incidence of adverse perinatal outcome was higher among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) than normotensive women (64.1% versus 32.8%). After adjusting for confounders, women with HDP were at higher risk of babies with low birth weight (adjusted RR = 2.88 (2.2, 3.75)), preterm birth(aRR = 2.31(1.7, 3.14)), fifth minute low Apgar score (aRR = 2.6(1.53, 4.42)), admission to neonatal intensive care unit (aRR = 1.77(1.32, 2.37), stillbirth (aRR = 2.02(1.11, 3.01)), and perinatal mortality (aRR = 3.88(1.97, 7.66)) than normotensive women. Conclusion Women with hypertensive disorder of pregnancy were at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes than normotensive women who gave birth at Jimma Medical Center, southwest Ethiopia. Therefore, health care providers should strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and prompt management of HDP in order to reduce adverse perinatal outcomes.
Health extension service utilization and associated factors in East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Introduction Health Extension Program is a preventive, promotive, and basic curative service targeting households to improve the health status of families with the effective implementation of 16 health extension packages. We, therefore, did this study to assess health extension package utilization and associated factors in the East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based mixed cross-sectional study was conducted on households of East Gojjam Zone, from January 1 to April 30, 2020. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 806 study participants in this study. We used EPI info version 7 for data entry and SPSS version 24 software for cleaning and analysis. Variables having a P-value of less than 0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were fitted into the multivariable logistic regression model. The 95% confidence interval of odds ratio was computed and a variable having P-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis was considered as statistically significant. Results The study showed that 119 (14.8%) respondents have utilized health extension packages. Knowledge health extension package (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.79), residence (AOR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.99,6.33),visited health post(AOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.054,2.50), home visited by health extension worker (AOR = 1,68, 95% CI: 1.025,2.74) and involving in model family training(AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.38,3.215) were significant factors for health extension service utilization. Conclusion The magnitude of health extension service utilization was low since the Ethiopian government recommends 100% health extension service utilization coverage. Knowledge of health extension package, residence, health post-visit, home visit, and model family training were significant factors for health extension service utilization. So expanding the model family training and strict home-to-home visit especially in rural areas may increase the health extension package utilization.