Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymptomatic reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted infections among HIV positive women

This study aims to highlight the importance of screening all HIV positive women for various reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted infections (RTIs/STIs) irrespective of symptoms and to determine its occurrence in asymptomatic HIV positive women. Relevant specimens were collected for diagnosis of various RTIs/STIs. STIs were diagnosed in nearly one-third of the HIV positive asymptomatic patients which is quite high. The national strategy for STIs/RTIs control misses out large number of asymptomatic RTIs/STIs in HIV positive women which is responsible for silently transmitting these infections in the community. So this strategy should be modified to include screening of all HIV positives women irrespective of symptoms of STIs/RTIs.
A Pipeline Strategy for Grain Crop Domestication

In the interest of diversifying the global food system, improving human nutrition, and making agriculture more sustainable, there have been many proposals to domesticate wild plants or complete the domestication of semidomesticated orphan crops. However, very few new crops have recently been fully domesticated. Many wild plants have traits limiting their production or consumption that could be costly and slow to change. Others may have fortuitous preadaptations that make them easier to develop or feasible as high-value, albeit lowyielding, crops. To increase success in contemporary domestication of new crops, we propose a pipeline approach, with attrition expected as species advance through the pipeline. We list criteria for ranking domestication candidates to help enrich the starting pool with more preadapted, promising species. We also discuss strategies for prioritizing initial research efforts once the candidates have been selected: developing higher value products and services from the crop, increasing yield potential, and focusing on overcoming undesirable traits. Finally, we present new-crop case studies that demonstrate that wild species’ limitations and potential (in agronomic culture, shattering, seed size, harvest, cleaning, hybridization, etc.) are often only revealed during the early phases of domestication. When nearly insurmountable barriers were reached in some species, they have been (at least temporarily) eliminated from the pipeline. Conversely, a few species have moved quickly through the pipeline as hurdles, such as low seed weight or low seed number per head, were rapidly overcome, leading to increased confidence, farmer collaboration, and program expansion.
The Internationalisation of Retailing in Asia

1. International Retailing in Japan John Dawson and Roy Larke 2. The development of foreign retailing in Taiwan: The impacts of Carrefour Tsuchiya Hitoshi 3. Moves into the Korean market by global retailers and the response of local retailers: Lesson for the Japanese retailing sector? Sang Chul Choi 4. Structural changes in the retail industry: The Korean Government's Industrial Policy subsequent to opening the domestic market Seong Mu Suh 5. The impact of World Class Distributors on the retail industry in Thailand Jirapar Tosonboon 6. Globalising retailing in Singapore: Cultural commodification and economic change Victor R Savage 7. Internationalization of retailing in China Shuguang Wang 8. International transfer of retail know-how through foreign direct investment from Europe to China Amelia Yuen Shan Au-Yeung 9. The reform of the distribution system in China: Opening the system to the outside world Han Jinglun 10. The role of government in creating competitive advantage in the globalized economy: The case of Shanghai, China Wen Hong and Roger C. K. Chan 11. Towards a model of the impacts of retail internationalisation John Dawson 12. Conclusion: The direction of future research on the internationalisation of retailing Masao Mukoyama
Dynamics of Knowledge Leverage in ERP Implementation

This paper reports the results of an in-depth investigation of the knowledge management (KM) activities of an ERP implementation project within a dynamic business setting. Using a case study approach, this research examines the challenges faced by the ERP project team with respect to KM and the effectiveness of KM strategies. In addition to gaining insights into typical KM activities within the ERP project lifecycle, the research reveals that major barriers for effective KM are created by external business changes and the business process life cycle. These changes trigger a chain reaction resulting in the weak performance of key KM activities such as knowledge capture, sharing and retention. The need for a comprehensive array of KM initiatives that are capable of managing such changes by recognizing the dynamics of all three life cycles is highlighted.
Mismatch repair (MMR) and base excision repair (BER) protein expression correlates with clinical response to dacarbazine (DTIC)/temozolomide (TMZ) therapy of patients with metastatic melanoma.

8015 Background: The non-classical alkylators DTIC and TMZ exert their cytotoxic effect through methylation of DNA bases. DNA damage is repaired by direct reversal of the O6-MeG lesion by the protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT/AGT); recognition of alkylation-damage-induced replication errors by the MMR pathway and excision repair of alkylated bases (N7-MeG and N3-MeA) conducted by the BER pathway. We report the results of a study evaluating the correlation between MGMT, MMR and BER protein expression in tumor tissue of patients (pts) with metastatic melanoma and documented clinical response to chemotherapy. METHODS Frozen tumor tissue was obtained from 17 pts with metastatic melanoma treated with DTIC/TMZ. Tumors were classified as sensitive (S) if pts showed stable disease (SD), partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) by RECIST criteria; and resistant (R) if progressive disease (PD) was observed after 2 cycles of treatment with DTIC/TMZ. Immunohistochemical staining for MGMT, MLH1 (MMR), and DNA polymerase-ß (pol-ß, BER) was performed. Levels of expression were assessed by a pathologist blinded to response data. Fisher's Exact and Wilcoxon Rank Sum statistical tests were used to assess correlations. RESULTS 9 tumors were considered to be sensitive (S) and 7 resistant (R). Clinical response was found to significantly correlate with functional MMR (increased MLH1 expression): 7 of 9 S tumors had high MLH1 expression as compared to 1 of 7 R (p-value=0.015). Clinical response was also found to be inversely correlated with pol-ß expression: 6 of 9 S tumors expressed low levels of pol-ß as compared to 1 of 7 R tumors (p-value=0.08). MGMT expression did not seem to correlate with response. CONCLUSIONS The presence of a functional MMR pathway is a requirement for the cytotoxic effect of alkylating agents and was significantly correlated with clinical response. Decreased BER potential (pol-ß expression) was correlated with increased sensitivity to alkylator-based chemotherapy. These findings lend additional support to the view that DNA repair status correlates with response to alkylator-based chemotherapy for melanoma. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Listening to the Voice of the Market: How to Increase Market Share and Satisfy Current Customers

Defining the VOM Customers or Markets? The Product/Market MatrixIdentifying Which Voice to Listen to Customer Value versus Customer Satisfaction How To Listen Collecting the VOM Questionnaire Basics Building the VOM Architecture Modeling Market Value Understanding Your Competitive Value Proposition Loyalty and Vulnerability Analyses How to Use the VOM Driving Competitive Planning with the VOM Identifying SS Projects with the VOM Monitoring Change Effectiveness with the VOM Managing Your Net Promoter Score with the VOM
Behavioral weight loss and physical activity intervention in obese adults with asthma. A randomized trial.

RATIONALE The effect of weight loss on asthma in obese adults warrants rigorous investigation. OBJECTIVES To examine an evidence-based, practical, and comprehensive lifestyle intervention targeting modest weight loss and increased physical activity for asthma control. METHODS The trial randomized 330 obese adults with uncontrolled asthma to receive usual care enhanced with a pedometer, a weight scale, information about existing weight management services at the participating clinics, and an asthma education DVD, or with these tools plus the 12-month intervention. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome was change in Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) scores from baseline to 12 months. Participants (mean [SD] age, 47.6 [12.4] yr) were 70.6% women, 20.0% non-Hispanic black, 20.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 8.2% Asian/Pacific Islander. At baseline, they were obese (mean [SD] body mass index, 37.5 [5.9] kg/m(2)) and had uncontrolled asthma (Asthma Control Test score, 15.1 [3.8]). Compared with control subjects, intervention participants achieved significantly greater mean weight loss (±SE) (intervention, -4.0 ± 0.8 kg vs. control, -2.1 ± 0.8 kg; P = 0.01) and increased leisure-time activity (intervention, 418.2 ± 110.6 metabolic equivalent task-min/wk vs. control, 178.8 ± 109.1 metabolic equivalent task-min/wk; P = 0.05) at 12 months. But between-treatment mean (±SE) differences were not significant for ACQ changes (intervention, -0.3 ± 0.1 vs. control, -0.2 ± 0.1; P = 0.92) from baseline (mean [SD], 1.4 [0.8]), nor for any other clinical asthma outcomes (e.g., spirometric results and asthma exacerbations). Among all participants regardless of treatment assignment, weight loss of 10% or greater was associated with a Cohen d effect of 0.76 and with 3.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.72-8.31) times the odds of achieving clinically significant reductions (i.e., ≥0.5) on ACQ as stable weight (<3% loss or gain from baseline). The effects of other weight change categories were small. CONCLUSIONS Moderately and severely obese adults with uncontrolled asthma can safely participate in evidence-based lifestyle intervention for weight loss and active living. The modest average weight and activity improvements are comparable to those shown to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors in studies of similar interventions in other populations but are not associated with significant net benefits for asthma control or other clinical asthma outcomes in the current population. Instead, weight loss of 10% or greater may be required to produce clinically meaningful improvement in asthma. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT00901095).
Organisation of selection programmes for dairy goats.

INTRODUCTION According to FAO (2002), world goat population increased from 677 million animals in 1995 to 720 million in 2000, and world goat milk production increased from 11.8 millions tons in 1995 to 12.3 million tons in 2000. In 2000, 95.8% of world goat population was in developing countries and 4.2% in developed countries. Developing countries produced 80.5% of world goat milk production, and developed countries 19.5%. The five countries with higher goat milk production in 2000 were India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Pakistan and France accounting for 55.4% of total world goat milk production. Southern Asian countries and the Mediterranean region of Europe are particularly important regarding milk production and goat milk products (Boyazoglu and Morand-Fehr, 2001). In the Americas, Brazil and Mexico account for about 80% of total regional production. Evolution of milk production (1995-2000) was positive for India (9.9%), Bangladesh (11.7%) and Sudan (0.5%), but negative for Pakistan (10.7%) and most European countries excepting France, with an increase of 12%. In Latin-America, Brazil registered no change and Mexico a decrease of 5.1%.
Hybrid architecture for hardware-accelerated query processing in semantic web databases based on runtime reconfigurable FPGAs

Nowadays it is a fact that more and more (unstructured) data is generated, stored and analyzed in several areas of science and industry – motivated by political and security reasons (surveillance, intelligence agencies), economical (advertisement, social media) or medical matters. Besides a flood of machine-generated data due to technological advances, e.g., in ubiquitous internet-of-thing products and increasing accuracy of sensors, a large amount of data is produced by humans in various forms. In order to enable machines to automatically analyze (possibly not well or completely defined) data the idea of the Semantic Web was created. Besides suitable data structures, optimized hardware is necessary to store and process this vast amount of data. Whereas persistently storing these massive data is hassle-free, the processing and analysis within a reasonable time frame becomes more and more difficult. In order to cope with these problems, in the last decades intensive work was done to optimize database software and data structures. Furthermore, technological advances enabled shrinking feature size to increase clock frequency and thus the overall performance. However, nowadays these approaches are reaching their limits (power wall) and in the last years the trend evolved to multi/manycore systems in order to increase performance. Additionally, these systems are not assembled with homogeneous cores, but rather are composed by heterogeneous and specialized cores which compute a specific task efficiently. The main issue of such systems is that these specialized cores can not be used in applications showing a huge variety in processing. Widely available Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) with the capability of (partial) runtime reconfiguration are able to close the gap between the flexibility of general-purpose CPUs and the performance of specialized hardware accelerators. In this work, a fully integrated hardware-accelerated query engine for large-scale datasets in the context of Semantic Web databases is presented. The proposed architecture allows the user to retrieve specific information from Semantic Web datasets by writing a query which is automatically adapted and executed on a runtime reconfigurable FPGA. As queries are typically unknown at design time a static approach is not feasible and not flexible to cover a wide range of queries at system runtime. Our proposed approach dynamically generates an optimized hardware accelerator in terms of an FPGA configuration for each individual query and transparently retrieves the query result to be displayed to the user. The benefits and limitations are evaluated on large-scale synthetic datasets with up to 260 million records as well as the widely known Billion Triples Challenge with over one billion records.
Monitoring blood glucose changes in cutaneous tissue by temperature-modulated localized reflectance measurements.

BACKGROUND Most proposed noninvasive methods for glucose measurements do not consider the physiologic response of the body to changes in glucose concentration. Rather than consider the body as an inert matrix for the purpose of glucose measurement, we exploited the possibility that noninvasive measurements of glucose can be approached by investigating their effects on the skin's thermo-optical response. METHODS Glucose concentrations in humans were correlated with temperature-modulated localized reflectance signals at wavelengths between 590 and 935 nm, which do not correspond to any near-infrared glucose absorption wavelengths. Optical signal was collected while skin temperature was modulated between 22 and 38 degrees C over 2 h to generate a periodic set of cutaneous vasoconstricting and vasodilating events, as well as a periodic change in skin light scattering. The method was tested in a series of modified meal tolerance tests involving carbohydrate-rich meals and no-meal or high-protein/no-carbohydrate meals. RESULTS The optical data correlated with glucose values. Changes in glucose concentrations resulting from a carbohydrate-rich meal were predicted with a model based on a carbohydrate-meal calibration run. For diabetic individuals, glucose concentrations were predicted with a standard error of prediction <1.5 mmol/L and a prediction correlation coefficient 0.73 in 80% of the cases. There were run-to-run differences in predicted glucose concentrations. Non-carbohydrate meals showed a high degree of scatter when predicted by a carbohydrate meal calibration model. CONCLUSIONS Blood glucose concentrations alter thermally modulated optical signals, presumably through physiologic and physical effects. Temperature changes drive cutaneous vascular and refractive index responses in a way that mimics the effect of changes in glucose concentration. Run-to-run differences are attributable to site-to-site structural differences.
The Effectiveness of Electronic Word-of-Mouth Communication: A Literature Analysis

Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) communication has been one of the most exciting research areas of inquiry. There is an emerging attention on the effectiveness of eWOM communication. The scope of published studies on the impact of eWOM communication is rather broad and the studies appear relatively fragmented and inconclusive. In this study, we focused on the individual-level eWOM research. We conducted a systematic review of eWOM research and identified key factors that are specific to the context of eWOM communication. We believe that this literature analysis not only provides us with an overview of the current status of knowledge within the domain of eWOM communication, but also serves as a salient guideline for future research directions.
Targeting histone deacetylases for heart failure

Background: Stresses such as chronic hypertension and myocardial infarction can trigger the heart to undergo a remodeling process characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, myocyte death and fibrosis, often resulting in impaired cardiac function and heart failure. Recent studies suggest key roles for histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the control of pathological cardiac remodeling. Objective/methods: Here, we review these target validation experiments and highlight non-cardiac functions of HDACs that will need to be addressed during development of HDAC-directed therapies for heart failure. Results/conclusions: HDACs are unique and attractive therapeutic targets for heart failure because of their positions far downstream in pathological signaling cascades. Confirmation of the validity and viability of approaches aimed at HDACs awaits in vivo proof-of-concept testing with novel small molecule regulators of these enzymes.
Cardiac function in trisomy 21 fetuses

Trisomy 21 is associated with an increased nuchal translucency thickness (NT), abnormal ductus venosus (DV) flow at 11–14 weeks' gestation and congenital heart defects (CHD), and cardiac dysfunction has been hypothesized as the link between them. We therefore aimed to investigate whether cardiac function is altered in trisomy 21 fetuses.
Erfolgsfaktoren von On-Demand-Enterprise-Systemen aus der Sicht des Anbieters - eine explorative Studie

Diese Arbeit thematisiert erfolgsrelevante Aspekte fur On-Demand-Enterprise-Systeme aus Sicht eines Serviceanbieters. Auf Basis der Forschungsfrage: "Inwiefern bieten in Abgrenzung zu konventionellen On-Premise-Losungen On-Demand-Enterprise-Systeme Vorteile fur Unternehmen" reduziert die Studie die Wissenslucke bezuglich der Erfolgsfaktoren dieses speziellen Serviceangebotes. Anhand 12 explorativer Interviews mit Experten des fuhrenden deutschen Softwareherstellers werden 17 Erfolgsfaktoren identifiziert und detailliert erlautert. Zur Kategorisierung der Erfolgsfaktoren werden diese dem "IS-Success Model" von DeLone und McLean zugeordnet. Dabei wird verdeutlicht, dass das Potenzial von On-Demand-Enterprise-Systemen sich nicht nur auf reine Kostensenkungsmassnahmen reduzieren lasst. Wesentliche Erfolgsfaktoren finden sich vielmehr in dem Wirkungsfeld von hoherer Flexibi litat und Einfachheit. Dem Kunden respektive den Unternehmungen konnen sich somit durch den Einsatz von Cloud-Applikationen neue strategische Optionen bieten.
ro-apoptotic and anticancer properties of Thapring – A Tibetan herbal ormulation

Aim of the study: To evaluate the pro-apoptotic and anti-tumorigenic properties of Thapring – a Traditional Tibetan Medicine – in hepatoma cells and in a transgenic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Material and methods: The pro-apoptotic action and growth inhibition property of Thapring were assessed in Huh7, HepG2 and A549 cell lines using flow cytometry and MTT assay, respectively. Confocal microscopy for colocalization of cytochrome c and mitochondria was done using dsRed mitotracker in Huh7 cells. The activation of p38 MAP kinase and p53 pathway was evaluated by Western blotting. Serological studies for liver function, vascular endothelial growth factor and superoxide dismutase were assessed in the serum of X15-myc transgenic mice. Immuno-histochemical studies for Bcl2 and p21Waf1 expression were also carried out in the liver section of the above mice. Results: Treatment with Thapring inhibited proliferation and accumulation of hepatoma cells in G1 phase. There was increased cytochrome c release from mitochondria and decreased Bcl2 levels – the key markers of apoptotic cell death. Besides activation of p38 MAP kinase and increased p53 expression were also observed. Oral administration of Thapring in transgenic mice lowered serum VEGF levels and conferred hepatoprotection as evident from normal serum ALT levels. Further, immunohistochemical analysis of the liver samples revealed reduced expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 and over-expression of cell cycle regulator p21Waf1. Conclusions: The ability of Thapring to impose growth arrest and trigger pro-apoptotic death in cell culture as well as ameliorative effects in vivo provides scientific basis for its usefulness as traditional medicine and its clinical application in adjunct/combination therapy along with other known anticancer drugs. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Diabetes in South Asians

Economic, dietary and other lifestyle transitions have been occurring rapidly in most South Asian countries, making their populations more vulnerable to developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Recent data show an increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in urban areas as well as in semi‐urban and rural areas, inclusive of people belonging to middle and low socio‐economic strata. Prime determinants for Type 2 diabetes in South Asians include physical inactivity, imbalanced diets, abdominal obesity, excess hepatic fat and, possibly, adverse perinatal and early life nutrition and intra‐country migration. It is reported that Type 2 diabetes affects South Asians a decade earlier and some complications, for example nephropathy, are more prevalent and progressive than in other races. Further, prevalence of pre‐diabetes is high, and so is conversion to diabetes, while more than 50% of those who are affected remain undiagnosed. Attitudes, cultural differences and religious and social beliefs pose barriers in effective prevention and management of Type 2 diabetes in South Asians. Inadequate resources, insufficient healthcare budgets, lack of medical reimbursement and socio‐economic factors contribute to the cost of diabetes management. The challenge is to develop new translational strategies, which are pragmatic, cost‐effective and scalable and can be adopted by the South Asian countries with limited resources. The key areas that need focus are: generation of awareness, prioritizing health care for vulnerable subgroups (children, women, pregnant women and the underprivileged), screening of high‐risk groups, maximum coverage of the population with essential medicines, and strengthening primary care. An effective national diabetes control programme in each South Asian country should be formulated, with these issues in mind.