Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microfinance Institutions’ Criteria on Small Business Financing in Cameroon

This study uses MFIs as a unit of analysis to examine the factors of human, financial and social capital that increase the financing of microenterprises’ identification of opportunities and exploitation in Cameroon . To attain this objective, a questionnaire was used to collect data from 207 MFIs and analyzed using descriptive and multiple linear regression models. The results revealed that when it concerns the financing of opportunity identification, only human capital variables of Prior knowledge and Business training increase the financing of microenterprises by MFIs in Cameroon. Regarding the opportunity exploitation on the contrary, accumulated business knowledge, business skills and customer networks positively and significantly boost the financing of microenterprise owners by MFIs in Cameroon.
Rejecting Opposite Ideologies without Discriminating against Ideological Opponents? Understanding Nonbelievers’ Outgroup Attitudes

Abstract Several people fail to reject opposite ideologies without discriminating against opponents. Do nonbelievers make this distinction? Across two experiments in three cultures (total N = 2064), we investigated participants’ willingness to help a religious target involved in religious anti-liberalism (antiabortion), activism (promoting Christian ideas), or devotion (religious service); or a neutral cause (copying syllabus or visiting family). In comparison to a control condition (neutral target, neutral cause), nonbelievers–except French atheists, to some extent–made this distinction: they were unwilling to help the religious target when acting for any of the three religious causes, but not when acting for a neutral cause. Groups with opposite ideologies, here believers and nonbelievers, seem both similar and qualitatively dissimilar in their outgroup attitudes.
Effect of meloxicam (cyclooygenase-2 inhibitor) versus vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) as ameliorating agents of progressive doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced nephropathy hampered its antineoplastic efficiency. The objective of the current work is to assess the prospective ameliorating effects of meloxicam versus vitamin D3 (Vit D3, cholecalciferol) against progressive DOX-induced nephropathy in rats trying to ascertain the possible mechanism underlying such amelioration. Ninety Male Wistar rats were randomly distributed to five experimental groups for 3 weeks, with saline, meloxicam (daily), DOX (single dose), Vit D3+DOX, or both meloxicam and DOX. We measured levels of urinary protein, serum creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA) and renal reduced glutathione (GSH). In addition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression and renal histopathology were assessed. Meloxicam alone treated group revealed no significant difference in urinary protein and serum creatinine. It also presented non-significant reduction in the MDA content while an increase in the reduced GSH content in contrast to the control group, which is more evident after the first week. Renal sections of rats received meloxicam only showed no significant histological changes and negative immunoreactivity compared to the control group. DOX induced a significant increase in urinary protein, serum creatinine, decrease reduced GSH, increased renal MDA and disrupted renal morphometric parameters and histology with increased TNF-α expression. Combination groups of Vit D3+DOX and meloxicam+DOX showed improvement of all DOX disturbed parameters. Meloxicam showed better results most likely due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities superimposing the immune-modulatory effect of Vit D3. So, it is recommended to use meloxicam in patients receiving DOX as a renoprotective agent in addition to its analgesic effects required by cancer patients.
Nitazoxanide and Doxycycline Sensitivity Among Metronidazole Resistant Helicobacter pylori Isolates from Patients with Gastritis

Background: Antibiotic therapy should be done based on resistance characteristics of Helicobacter pylori strains to commonly prescribed antibiotics in areas with higher resistance rates. Objectives: This study examined antibacterial activity of nitazoxanide and doxycycline against clinical H. pylori isolates showing different metronidazole resistance levels. Methods: A total of 122 patients, who underwent endoscopy were enrolled in this study from 3 hospitals of Tehran, during November 2014 to July 2015. Helicobacter pylori isolates were obtained from gastric biopsies of the patients after culture in specific culture medium and characterization by both biochemical and molecular methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility to metronidazole was detected using the agar dilution method and minimum inhibitory concentrations of nitazoxanide and doxycycline were determined for metronidazole resistant strains. Results: From a total of 122 gastric biopsy specimens, 55 H. pylori strains were recovered (45%). Thirty-three of these strains (60.0%) were resistance to metronidazole. MIC50 and MIC90 values for metronidazole were 32 and 64 µg/mL, respectively. MIC50 and MIC90 values for doxycycline and nitazoxanide were measured as 4 and ≥8 µg/mL, and 8 and ≥32 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Dominance of high level metronidazole resistance H. pylori strains among the studied patients questioned its usefulness for first-line therapy in Iran. Nitazoxanide and doxycycline showed superior activity against H. pylori strains in comparison to metronidazole, which should be considered for alternative therapies.
A one year case control study on oxytocin use in labor and its effect on maternal: fetal outcomes

Oxytocin was isolated and synthesized for the first time in 1953 by Vincent du Vigneaud who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for this discovery two years later. Oxytocin is a commonly used drug in labor and it can be applied in all stages of labor. Oxytocin has been increasingly used over the years, and is currently one of the most common drug employed in obstetrics. Its use in delivery rooms in the Western world has reached epidemic levels, with percentages of use of between 44.5-75% in nulliparous and between 25-40% in multiparous. In a low socio-economic country like India it has often been used as a labor augmentation method to clear out the labor wards as early as possible because of a vast deficiency of doctors as well as infrastructure to accommodate huge number of laboring females, in these kinds of settings its use has been extended universally without even any indication. The association between oxytocin use, hyperstimulation, fetal distress and adverse neonatal outcome are well known. Indeed, adverse perinatal outcome, related to fetal hypoxia due to impairment of gas ABSTRACT
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Severe Illness Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the Early Stage

Background: Severe ill patients with 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection progressed rapidly to acute respiratory failure. We aimed to select the most useful prognostic factor for severe illness incidence. Methods: The study prospectively included 61 patients with 2019-nCoV infection treated at Beijing Ditan Hospital from January 13, 2020 to January 31, 2020. Prognostic factor of severe illness was selected by the LASSO COX regression analyses, to predict the severe illness probability of 2019-CoV pneumonia. The predictive accuracy was evaluated by concordance index, calibration curve, decision curve and clinical impact curve. Results: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was identified as the independent risk factor for severe illness in patients with 2019-nCoV infection. The NLR had a c-index of 0.807 (95% confidence interval, 0.676-0.38), the calibration curves fitted well, and the decision curve and clinical impact curve showed that the NLR had superior standardized net benefit. In addition, the incidence of severe illness was 9.1% in age ≥ 50 and NLR < 3.13 patients, and half of patients with age ≥ 50 and NLR ≥ 3.13 would develop severe illness. Based on the risk stratification of NLR with age, the study developed a 2019-nCoV pneumonia management process. Conclusions: The NLR was the early identification of risk factors for 2019-nCoV severe illness. Patients with age ≥ 50 and NLR ≥ 3.13 facilitated severe illness, and they should rapidly access to intensive care unit if necessary.
Exploring a New Extra Point for Sub-acute Cough: A Case Report

Acupuncture has gained more and more popularity in the past 40 years and considered “essential health benefits” in the US and the West for its effectiveness for relieving pain and partly to the fact that its efficacy has been verified by scientific studies. Extra points are attracting more and more attentions because they cannot only play a key role in treatments, but can amaze and enable acupuncture practitioners and patients to save money and time and stay healthier without side effects of medications.
Exposure to the majority social space and residential place identity among minorities: evidence from Arabs in Israel

ABSTRACT Contemporary urban fabrics are characterized by ethnic diversity in which considerable portions of minority groups reside in ethnic enclaves. These groups are exposed to the majority populations to different extents in various arenas. The current study addresses the association between exposure to the majority and identification with the ethnic residential environment. It examines this question among Arabs in Israel, who live mostly in distinct ethnic localities constituting part of Israel’s metropolitan areas, and are a native minority subjected to social exclusion and political marginalization. The methodology incorporates quantitative (310 questionnaires) and qualitative (25 in-depth interviews) data. Core findings reveal that exposure to the Jewish majority reduces place identity overall, yet has complex effects on place identity formation. These findings indicate that quality-of-life in the locality, including infrastructure upkeep and opportunities to foster community, are more strongly related to place identity than overt political dimensions. These issues are discussed in the context of encounters with difference and segregation.
Effect of Helicobacter pylori-eradication therapy on hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized–controlled pilot study

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study was done to evaluate the effect of H. pylori-eradication therapy (HPET) in patients with NAFLD compared to standard management therapy (SMT). Methods Eighty NAFLD patients with H. pylori co-infection were randomized into SMT (diet and exercise, n = 36) and HPET (SMT plus amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and pantoprazole, n = 44) groups. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), anthropometric parameters, liver enzymes, lipid profile, and glycemic parameters including homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured and compared between two groups at the baseline and 24 weeks. Results Sixty-four participants (SMT group [n = 28] and HPET group [n = 36]) were included in a modified intention-to-treat analysis. Both the SMT group and the HPET group had a significant reduction in CAP scores at 24 weeks (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively), but the change between the groups was insignificant (P = 0.213). Successful eradication of H. pylori occurred in 68% of the HPET group and led to greater improvement in HOMA-IR at 24 weeks compared to SMT or non-responder patients (P = 0.007). The liver enzymes reduced significantly at 24 weeks in both groups, but the changes between the groups were similar. The lipid parameters remained unchanged within the groups and between the groups at 24 weeks. A significant increase in the levels of reduced glutathione was noted in the HPET group, but the change between the two groups was not statistically different. Conclusions HPET was found to be comparable to SMT alone in reducing hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes at 24 weeks in NAFLD patients. However, successful eradication of H. pylori led to greater improvement in HOMA-IR (Trial registration CTRI/2017/05/008608).
MAMMARY mTOR ACTIVITY DURING INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE INFUSIONS INTO LACTATING DAIRY COWS

MAMMARY mTOR ACTIVITY DURING INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE INFUSIONS INTO LACTATING DAIRY COWS Richelle V. Curtis Advisor: University of Guelph, 2013 Professor John P. Cant The effects of glucose on milk protein yield and mammary mTOR activity were studied in eight multiparous early lactation Holstein cows fed a TMR with 40% NDF content. Treatments were jugular infusions of either physiological saline (SAL) or approximately 900 g/d glucose (GLC) in a cross over design for two 6 d periods during which blood, milk and mammary tissue were sampled. GLC infusion increased plasma insulin but did not significantly increase plasma glucose and only tended to increase milk protein yields. NEAA and BCAA plasma concentrations significantly increased and decreased, respectively, with GLC treatments. Furthermore, reduction of the phosphorylation state of mTOR signalling protein 4EBP1, as well as reduction of total and phosphorylated S6K1 abundances resulted from the infusion of GLC. The expected increase in milk protein synthesis due to glucose infusion was not observed, presumably because protein synthesis was stimulated in muscle tissue rather than the mammary glands.
Fathering Styles: Qualities Children Expect in Their Fathers

Abstract Many fathers strive to be better parents. Yet it remains unclear what qualities contribute to effective fathering; less is clear about how such paternal efforts are viewed by their children. Based on theoretical frameworks and previous qualitative studies that assessed father roles, a set of father role items was developed to assess undergraduate students’ views of their fathers (n = 1,208). Factor analysis revealed two distinctive aspects of fathering quality: considerateness (friendly, supportive and child-centered) and traditionalism (authoritarian, disciplinarian and provider). A path analysis revealed directional and relative effects of these two dimensions on perceived fathering quality. Further, based on these two distinctive dimensions, four fathering styles were developed, which predicted children’s developmental outcomes. Ways of improving paternal parenting are discussed.
Network Centrality, Knowledge Searching and Creativity: The Role of Domain

This study aims to determine the role of knowledge searching on creativity in the fields of science research and technology development. Creativity is a process of knowledge combination, thus internal and external knowledge searching is important for creativity in both fields, particularly in the open innovation age. However, the nature of the work across these fields is different. While science research aims to solve theoretical problems and generate new knowledge, technology development aims to apply new knowledge to solve practical problems. Compared to science research, technology development has clear task goals, which make it easier to identify the related external knowledge and integrate this knowledge and in turn improve employee creativity. Thus, employees' attention to external knowledge as well as the influence of external knowledge on creativity might be different in the two fields. Results based on an empirical study of 211 employees from science research and 257 employees from technology development showed that external knowledge searching increased employee creativity in the field of technology development but not in science research. Furthermore, employees' centrality in the intra&#8208;team problem&#8208;solving network moderated the relationship between external knowledge searching and creativity in the science research field. Suggestions about employee creativity management in science and technology fields are discussed.
Control of Communicable Diseases as a Global Public Good

The article aims at giving a comprehensive overview on controlling communicable diseases (CCD) and discusses the implications of providing CCD as a global public good (GPG). After a short introductory summary of the history of CCD, Sections “PUBLIC (COMMON) GOODS” and “GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS” offer a concise definition of the concepts of “public goods” and “global public goods”. Sections “INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS (1969–2005) AS A GPG” and “IHR (2005) AND CCD” critically analyse the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) as a means to provide CCD as a GPG, and argues that it falls short of that goal as (a) many countries are not able to provide the “Core Capacity Requirements for Surveillance and Response” because of severe deficits of their health systems, (b) the IHR do not include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, etc. which are a constant threat in infested regions (and to international transmission) and may be called “chronic infectious diseases” and (c) ignore the issue of fighting antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, full global health security (accepting the highest attainable standard of health as a human right) needs an integrated CCD which implied that CCD is provided as a GPG, including minimal standards of health everywhere, a “One-Health” approach, and the perspective of “Health in All Policies” (Section “TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AS A GPG”). Section “FINANCE OF CCD” discusses the dimension of financing CCD as a GPG and poses the question whether an enhanced transnational norm-building and solidarity can be expected. Improving CCD is not only one step towards the goal of “one healthy world”, but also depends on a comprehensive improvement of health services.
Agility Enabling Practices to Augment the Supply Chain Performance of the Leather Footwear Industry: Developing a Fuzzy QFD based ASCM Model,

The purpose of the research study is to understand the impact of the agility enabling practices onto the Supply Chain Performance Measures (SCPMs) in Indian leather footwear industry by means of fuzzy QFD tool. The agility-enhancing SCPMs specific to Indian leather footwear industry were identified and prioritized through Delphi study. The supply chain practices were then ascertained for the scope to achieve agility in the supply chain through factor analysis. The technical correlation between the SC practices and their relationship with agility-enhancing SCPMs was determined using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) tool. Then the supply chain practices were prioritized using fuzzy logic in QFD and a fuzzy QFD based ASCM model has been developed. Through the present study, about twelve Agility Enabling Supply Chain Practices (AESCPs) are ascertained as relevant and applicable to the Indian leather footwear industry. AESCPs having high crisp values have to be essentially implemented in leather footwear industry to augment its supply chain performance.
Incorporating habitat suitability and demographic data for developing a reintroduction plan for the critically endangered yellow spotted mountain newt, Neurergus derjugini

In reintroduction programmes for amphibians, data on age structure in hosting populations and choices of life stage or age groups in releasing captive bred individuals are often missing. Similarly, employing site selection procedures for selecting appropriate reintroduction locations are often neglected. Here, we obtained data on longevity, age at maturation, and age structure from skeletochronological data in a free living population of the yellow spotted mountain newt, Neurergus derjugini. A maximum longevity of 13 years for males and 12 years for females showed that N. derjugini is a long living newt with a stable age structure. We also employed maximum entropy modelling, geographic information system, and multicriteria decision analysis to obtain ranked suitability scores for reintroduction sites. Finally, we determined post-release survival rates for different life stage and age groups of N. derjugini including 30 eggs and 60 individuals of six-months old larvae, one and three-year old juveniles, and six-year old adults (15 each) born and raised in a captive-breeding facility and released into mesh enclosures in a selected stream. Over 10 visits to the site before and after overwintering, the survival rates for eggs, larvae, one and three-year juveniles and six-year old adults were 25, 80, 86.66, 93.33 and 53.33 % respectively. Applying survival rates obtained from current experimental reintroductions through a static life table suggest that an optimal release strategy to arrive at a numerical target of 100 adults aged three can be achieved by reintroduction of 650 fertilised eggs and fostering them in meshed enclosures in the selected stream.
Crime and Mental Disorders

Objective: Violence and criminality are adverse outcomes for some persons who develop psychotic illnesses. The extent to which treatment can reduce offending has rarely been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether assertive specialised treatment reduces the risk of crime in patients with a first episode of psychotic illness. Method: During 1998 to 2000 a total of 547 patients with a first episode of schizophrenia spectrum disorder were randomised to assertive specialised or standard treatment. The patients were followed up for any or violent offending during a two year treatment period and the three following years for a total of five years of follow-up. Results: No significant reduction in violent or any offending was found in the assertive specialised treatment group (HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.72-1.56) compared with the control group. Prevalence of offending was low and had often commenced prior to inclusion in the trial. Conclusion: While assertive specialised treatment has shown good treatment effects, it had no impact on risk of offending. Declaration of interest: None Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), NCT00157313
Parametric Optimization for Gas Metal Arc Welding Process of SS316L and AISI D2 Steels by Grey-Taguchi Method

The current research work is to optimize the gas metal arc welding parameters on the impact strength, hardness and flexural strength of dissimilar weld joints of SS316L and AISI D2 steels by using Taguchi based grey relational method. The experiments were planned as per Taguchi L8 orthogonal array by considering four input parameters like current (amps), voltage (volt), speed (cm/min) and root gap (mm). The experimental results shows that, the maximum impact strength of 4.36 J/mm 2 , maximum hardness of 49.5 HRC and maximum flexural strength of 583.3 MPa was obtained for the weld joints fabricated under the optimum welding conditions of current 80 amps, voltage 15 volt, speed 45 cm/min and root gap 2.0 mm. Analysis of variance was used to determine the significant contribution of each welding parameter on the output characteristics. The percentage contribution graph shows that, root gap was the most significant parameter on multiple output responses that contributes P-54.64% followed by welding speed of P20.26% and voltage of P11.94%. Original Research Article Alagarsamy and Kumar; JMSRR, 4(3): 1-10, 2019; Article no.JMSRR. 53853 2