Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A five-year retrospective statistical analysis of maxillofacial injuries in patients admitted and treated at two hospitals of Mysore city.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to provide a five-year retrospective statistical analysis of maxillofacial injuries in patients admitted and treated during 1 st January 1998 and 31 st December 2002 in two hospitals of Mysore city; to determine the age and sex distribution, etiology, type of injury, day and time of accident, and the influence of alcohol and other drugs; and to suggest measures to prevent such injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS After obtaining permission from the concerned authorities, a pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data from the two hospitals. The data was then computerized and statistical analysis was done using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) windows version 10. RESULTS Road traffic accident (RTA) was the common cause for maxillofacial injuries. Men sustained more injuries compared to women. The injuries were mostly sustained in the age group of 11-40 years, constituting about 78% of all the injuries. Two wheelers were the most commonly involved compared to other vehicle types. Influence of alcohol at the time of injury was found in about 58% of the patients with maxillofacial injuries. The most number of accidents occurred in the weekends. Mandibular fractures were the most common. CONCLUSION RTAs are the most common cause for maxillofacial injuries. If RTAs are considered an epidemic of modern times, then prevention is its vaccine.
The politics of water in rural China: a review of English-language scholarship

Politics is about access and power, and access to freshwater resources in rural China is complicated and understudied. China's massive size and diverse climate make it hard to generalize about freshwater resources in rural areas of the country. On balance, China is not water-scarce, yet geographic and temporal variations in water availability are dramatic, with China's driest areas receiving far less precipitation than the wettest areas. Rural areas are the locus of competition among freshwater users including agriculture, power companies, industry, households and ecosystems. Additionally, while peasants may hold usage rights (not title) to farmland, it is not a given that they will hold rights to water that will guarantee the productivity of that farmland in areas where precipitation is low. Finally, water quality is, unfortunately, an increasingly important factor affecting the availability of ‘fresh’ water, as is evident in the notion of quality-induced scarcity (shuizhixing queshui). This contribution reviews a small but important body of scholarship on rural water politics in China, identifying existing themes and suggesting new directions where scholarship is currently lacking.
Involvement of integration host factor (IHF) in maintenance of plasmid pSC101 in Escherichia coli: mutations in the topA gene allow pSC101 replication in the absence of IHF

Integration host factor (IHF), encoded by the himA and himD genes, is a histonelike DNA-binding protein that participates in many cellular functions in Escherichia coli, including the maintenance of plasmid pSC101. We have isolated and characterized a chromosomal mutation that compensates for the absence of IHF and allows the maintenance of wild-type pSC101 in him mutants, but does not restore IHF production. The mutation is recessive and was found to affect the gene topA, which encodes topoisomerase I, a protein that relaxes negatively supercoiled DNA and acts in concert with DNA gyrase to regulate levels of DNA supercoiling. A previously characterized topA mutation, topA10, could also compensate for the absence of IHF to allow pSC101 replication. IHF-compensating mutations affecting topA resulted in a large reduction in topoisomerase I activity, and plasmid DNA isolated from such strains was more negatively supercoiled than DNA from wild-type strains. In addition, our experiments show that both pSC101 and pBR322 plasmid DNAs isolated from him mutants were of lower superhelical density than DNA isolated from Him+ strains. A concurrent gyrB gene mutation, which reduces supercoiling, reversed the ability of topA mutations to compensate for a lack of him gene function. Together, these findings indicate that the topological state of the pSC101 plasmid profoundly influences its ability to be maintained in populations of dividing cells and suggest a model to account for the functional interactions of the him, rep, topA, and gyr gene products in pSC101 maintenance.
Wheat- and barley-based diets with or without additives influence broiler chicken performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microflora.

BACKGROUND To our knowledge, there is scant literature on comparative broiler response to cereal diets high in soluble non-starch polysaccharides without or with enzyme, prebiotic, probiotic or synbiotic supplementation. In the present study, the effects of a wheat- and barley-based diet with or without supplemental xylanase plus β-glucanase, inulin, Enterococcus faecium or inulin plus Enterococcus faecium, on bird performance, digesta viscosity, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microflora were compared to a maize-based diet. RESULTS In comparison to a maize-based diet, the wheat- and barley-based diet reduced (P < 0.05) body weight gain and feed intake, but did not affect to the feed-to-gain ratio. Apparent digestibility of crude fat and various fatty acids were decreased (P < 0.05) as well as apparent metabolisable energy corrected to zero nitrogen retention content. There was an increase (P < 0.05) in the viscosity of jejunal digesta and in the caecal numbers of Escherichia coli and lactobacilli, and a decrease in the ileal numbers of E. coli and lactobacilli. Performance parameters and nutrient digestibility were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary inclusion of the additives used, with the exception that exogenous enzyme improved (P < 0.05) the apparent digestibility of crude fat and decreased the viscosity of jejunal digesta. Enzyme and Enterococcus faecium supplementation increased intestinal lactic acid bacteria, whereas inulin addition reduced the number of E. coli (P < 0.05). Addition of inulin-Enterococcus faecium decreased E. coli and increased bifidobacteria numbers in the caeca. CONCLUSION Enzyme supplementation to a wheat- and barley-based diet significantly improved the apparent digestibility of dietary fat. All four additives had a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora of broilers.
On inferring individual behaviour from market behaviour in a predetermined quantities model

This article develops the theoretical basis of individual behaviour recovered from market behaviour in a predetermined quantities model. As applied economists argue, an inverse demand system may be empirically sound within the framework of classical demand theory. However, it should not lead to the conclusion that the market responses for changes in quantity should be used to see welfare effects instead of the individual responses by price changes as far as the market is concerned. It shows theoretically and empirically how individual responses can be recovered from market responses in a predetermined quantities model. It suggests that the fundamental results of this article should be used on interpreting empirical results from the predetermined quantities models.
Automated Detection of Optic Disk Boundary by a New Deformable Model Technique

A new algorithm to detect the exact optic disk boundary, based on deformable model, is proposed in this paper. The energy function for deformation is defined as a combination of local energies. The proposed method modified the original snake technique in two aspects: clustering the contour points into edge-point group or uncertain-point group after each deformation, and updating the contour by variable updating-sample numbers. The modifications not only directly solve the blood vessel problem, but also make this algorithm more accurate and robust to noises, weak edges and fuzzy contour shapes. Based on 100 randomly-selected testing images, the success rates are 94% for the proposed method, as compared to 12% for the GVF-snake and 82% for the modified ASM algorithm, which show the effectiveness of the proposed method
Services Regionalism in the WTO: China's Trade Agreements with Hong Kong and Macao in the Light of Article V(6) GATS

In 2003, China entered into two regional trade agreements (RTAs) with its newly re-gained territories of Hong Kong and Macao - the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangements (CEPA). This commentary examines whether the CEPA complies with a specific rule of WTO law - Article V(6) GATS. That article makes the establishment of an RTA subject to the condition that RTA benefits are made available to service providers from all WTO members, as long as they have substantive business operations in Hong Kong or Macao. The CEPA establishes several specific criteria to add flesh to the terms substantive business operations: the scope of business activities, a minimum duration of establishment, the payment of taxes, local presence and employment of local staff. In essence, this commentary aims at analyzing whether the CEPA's criteria can be accommodated within the ordinary meaning of the terms substantive business operations, read in their context and in the light of the object and purpose of GATS. The examination is equally guided by the findings of the WTO's Appellate Body in the Turkey - Textiles case.
Economic reforms and bank efficiency in developing countries: the case of the Indian banking industry

Using the Indian banking industry as a case study, this paper proposes and tests hypotheses regarding the possibility of a relationship between three elements of the Economic Reforms (ERs) – namely, fiscal reforms, financial reforms, and private investment liberalisation – and bank efficiency in developing countries. Bank efficiency is measured using data envelopment analysis (DEA); the relationship between the measured efficiency and various bank-specific characteristics and environmental factors associated with the ERs is examined using the OLS and the GMM estimations. Our results show an improvement in the efficiency of banks, especially that of foreign banks, after the ERs. We find a positive relationship between the level of competition and bank efficiency. However, a negative relationship between the presence of foreign banks and bank efficiency is found, which we attribute to a short-run increase in costs due to the introduction of new banking technology by foreign banks. Furthermore, we find that fiscal deficits negatively influence bank efficiency.
Quo vadis public procurement of innovation?

Governments are actively looking for ways to use public procurement so that it would become more effective in facilitating innovation across public and private sectors. However, a shift towards public procurement of innovation (PPI) has proven to be difficult. Whereas the contemporary debate has mostly focused on how to reduce the barriers of PPI through re-conceptualizing the procurement process, there is a need to take into account also wider strategic factors through which governments create capacity to undertake PPI. By revisiting historic and contemporary policy initiatives, four strategies for the future can be envisioned: PPI as experimental innovation policy, from fiscal policy under austerity to PPI, mission-oriented PPI and shifts in administrative culture towards PPI. Each of the strategies demands different capacities from the entrepreneurial sector, as well as state, policy and administrative capacities from the public sector. These issues should be an inherent part of future policy-making and offer new avenues for PPI-related policy analysis and academic research.
On Somatic Symptoms Measurement: The Scale for Assessment of Somatic Symptoms Revisited

Background: Scale for assessment of somatic symptoms (SASS) has been widely used for assessing somatic complaints since many years. With impending changes in the classificatory system on somatoform disorders, we re- assessed the test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability of SASS. Materials and Methods: SASS was administered twice with a gap of 24 h on 20 subjects for test retest reliability. Two clinicians assessed inter-rater reliability on 20 subjects. Kendall tau B and Cronbach's alpha were calculated from the data. Results: All of the items except burning sensation, weakness of mind and trembling had strong correlation with values >±0.40 on both test retest and inter-rater reliability; burning sensation and trembling were not reported by any subject. On inter-rater reliability the items constipation, diarrhea, lack of libido weren’t scored by any subjects. Cronbach's alpha for test retest was 0.982 and 0.840 indicating good internal consistency. Conclusion: Majority of the symptoms in SASS had high correlation in both test retest reliability as well as inter-rater reliability, however few items needs revision.
Multiple sclerosis is associated with genes within or close to the HLA‐DR‐DQ subregion on a normal DR15, DQ6, Dw2 haplotype

The HLA class II haplotype DR15, DQ6, Dw2 is associated with an increased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). It has previously been shown that this haplotype extends to the HLA-DQA2 locus but not to the HLA-DP subregion. We report the distribution in 148 MS patients and 158 healthy controls of Taq I restriction fragments of the C4, cytochrome P-21 (CYP21), and HLA-B genes. Approximately 90% of the DR15,DQ6, Dw2 haplotypes extend to the C4/CYP21 loci and 50% to the HLA-B locus, indicated by a significant association of the haplotype with restriction fragments of these loci. However, there was no independent association in MS patients with these genes. This indicates that the susceptibility to MS is coded for by genes within or close to the HLA-DR-DQ subregion. Furthermore, the delineation of the DR15, DQ6, Dw2 haplotype is very similar in MS patients and control subjects. This observation supports the hypothesis that “normal” genes, common to all carriers of the DR15, DQ6, Dw2 haplotype, confer the increased genetic susceptibility to MS associated with this haplotype.
A Quick Introduction to Quantitative Models That Discard Estimation of Expected Returns for Portfolio Construction

In recent years both equity and bond markets have been afflicted by high volatility. In order to build up a portfolio on a quantitative basis, several models may be used, such as minimum variance portfolio or equally weighted portfolio. In 2008/09 another way to deal with diversification came up, the equally-weighted risk contribution portfolio. We give an introduction of some quantitative models in which expected returns are not an input. Expected returns estimation is a challenging procedure and we want to figure out how models that discard it can perform. We, also, provide a way to achieve maximum diversification using Expected Shortfall as risk measure and Filtered Historical Simulation as a way to estimate it. We take as a benchmark procedure the evergreen 1/n portfolio, while other methods are minimum variance, minimum Expected Shortfall, Equally Risk Contribution, Maximum Diversification and risk parity portfolio as in Maillard-Roncalli-Teiletche in order to study their characteristics, properties and implementation problems. We use an evaluation methodology that consider risk adjusted return, Ulcer index, thickness of the tail and portfolio turnover. We test modelsperformances against the 1/n by using robust Sharpe Ratio proposed by Ledoit and Wolf. We notice that the benchmark model has a poor risk adjusted performance while the Minimum Variance and Minimum Expected Shortfall models have good results, although in equity markets none of models can produce a statistically different Sharpe ratio.
Antipsychotic Medications and Cardiac Conduction Risks

Many non-cardiac medications as well as non-medicinal substances (caffeine to cocaine) can affect cardiac conduction. Certain antihistamines, antifungals, and antibiotics have been of concern, several have even been removed from the market. For example, terfenadine (Seldane ©R ), one of the first secondgeneration “non-drowsy” antihistamines, was removed in 1991, after it was linked to cardiac sudden death when taken with another medication. In 1963 the first documented case of an antipsychotic agent-related sudden cardiac death occurred in conjunction with thioridazine (Glassman & Bigger, 2001). As evidence accrued regarding thioridazine’s potential to increase risk for ventricular dysrhythymias, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning of this increased cardiac risk and suggested reserving this medication for patients who have not had an acceptable response to other antipsychotics (Taylor, 2003). Time and continued research have revealed that both first and second generation antipsychotics (as well as antidepressants) can effect a prolonged QTc interval on electrocardiogram(ECG), denoting a conduction change that sets the stage for serious arrhythmias. Although these occurrences are rare, the competent prescriber must understand what the QTc interval represents in cardiac conduction, and how medications and other cooccurring factors may increase the risk for QTc prolongation, which might lead to serious cardiac conduction changes that, although rare, could prove to be fatal.
A Private-Public Strategy for International Marketing Through Collective Brands: Canada Brand Foods

A country brand for agrifood products requires managing quality across a range of products and firms while recognizing the potential pitfalls in linking a brand's image with a country's image. Understanding the incentives for firms adopting the brand to use and contribute to the brand's equity informs the choice of brand management mechanism. The challenges in managing a country brand for international agrifood exports are discussed. This case is used to illustrate a strategy based on the obstacles faced by a collective brand that is used by many firms. The article highlights how a successful strategy will produce a brand that is unique, robust to impersonators, and has quality assurance mechanisms that are in line with firm's incentives to produce high-quality products.
Transit Paradise Lost

Among the ways the pursuit of social justice by transit administrators can be thwarted are a lack of support by local elected and unelected leaders; funding mechanisms and budget reductions, which prevent the transit agency from fully achieving its objectives; and zoning and development decisions, which take urban development continually farther from the dense, transit-friendly urban core and frustrate the ability of transit providers to reach spread-out destinations. Although such intentional or negligent obstructions can have a chilling effect on transit service provision and pursuit of social justice concerns, other actions, such as an outright refusal to allow a transit agency to operate, perpetuate the injustices of a stratified society, evidence a disregard of transportation equity by local leaders, and constitute the social oppression some transportation scholars decry. By interviewing 30 transit administrations across the United States, this article will consider how transit agency administrators report their pursuit of social justice agendas is hindered by local political or societal obstacles.
An in Vitro Assay to Study Regulated mRNA Stability

The examination of posttranscriptional regulation of mRNA in mammalian cells is critical to discovering the role that mRNA plays in the initiation and maintenance of cellular processes. The complexity of the system defies a holistic approach and, therefore, we have devised an in vitro mRNA turnover assay that enables us to elucidate the factors involved in mRNA deadenylation and degradation. Our system, using an S100 HeLa extract and in vitro transcribed RNAs, accurately mimics the end products of mRNA turnover, which have been previously described using in vivo studies and, in addition, allows for the detailed study of factors that may play a role in regulated deadenylation and degradation. Another important aspect of our system is the ease with which it can be manipulated. We can provide any synthetic RNA molecule to the assay to test for specific sequence activity. Furthermore, the results are clear and accurately interpretable. We have demonstrated that our in vitro system accurately deadenylates and decays a capped and polyadenylated RNA molecule in a processive manner without nonspecific nuclease activity. Finally, we have demonstrated regulated instability in vitro using the AU-rich elements (AREs) from tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) embedded within the RNA molecule. The presence of the AREs increased the deadenylation and the decay rates seen in vivo. We feel that this system can be expanded and adapted to examine a variety of mRNA regulatory events in mammalian cells.
Estimates for ELF effects: noise-based thresholds and the number of experimental conditions required for empirical searches.

Interactions between physical fields and biological systems present difficult conceptual problems. Complete biological systems, even isolated cells, are exceedingly complex. This argues against the pursuit of theoretical models, with the possible consequence that only experimental studies should be considered. In contrast, electromagnetic fields are well understood. Further, some subsystems of cells (viz. cell membranes) can be reasonably represented by physical models. This argues for the pursuit of theoretical models which quantitatively describe interactions of electromagnetic fields with that subsystem. Here we consider the hypothesis that electric fields, not magnetic fields, are the source of interactions, From this it follows that the cell membrane is a relevant subsystem, as the membrane is much more resistive than the intra- or extracellular regions. A general class of interactions is considered: electroconformational changes associated with the membrane. Expected results of such as approach include the dependence of the interaction on key parameters (e.g., cell size, field magnitude, frequency, and exposure time), constraints on threshold exposure conditions, and insight into how experiments might be designed. Further, because it is well established that strong and moderate electric fields interact significantly with cells, estimates of the extrapolated interaction for weaker fields can be sought. By employing signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio criteria, theoretical models can also be used to estimate threshold magnitudes. These estimates are particularly relevant to in vitro conditions, for which most biologically generated background fields are absent. Finally, we argue that if theoretical model predictions are unavailable to guide the selection of experimental conditions, an overwhelmingly large number of different conditions will be needed to find, establish, and characterize bioelectromagnetic effects in an empirical search. This is contrasted with well-established chemical dosimetry, which is much simpler. Because of the large number of possible electromagnetic field conditions, we also conclude that in vitro studies, rather than in vivo studies, should be emphasized in studies aimed at discovering and characterizing mechanisms for bioelectromagnetic effects.