Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lassa fever: epidemiology, clinical features, and social consequences

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by rats. It has been known since the 1950s, but the virus was not identified until 1969, when two missionary nurses died from it in the town of Lassa in Nigeria. Found predominantly in west Africa,1 it has the potential to cause tens of thousands of deaths. Even after recovery, the virus remains in body fluids, including semen.1 The years of civil unrest in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) halted the investigation (through international collaboration) of Lassa fever at a specialist unit in Kenema. Increasing international travel and the possibility of use of the Lassa virus as a biological weapon escalate the potential for harm beyond the local level. Access to the country is improving, so renewed efforts to understand it are feasible. The information presented comes from a strategic document produced in 2002 for Merlin (Medical Emergency Relief International, a London based nongovernmental aid organisation which manages the Lassa unit in Kenema (http://www.merlin.org.uk/). This document, ‘Licking’ Lassa fever ,2 was created through collaboration with experts in infectious disease, community development, clinical management of viral haemorrhagic diseases, and qualitative research. The sources of information were a literature review using Ovid and PubMed (search term “Lassa fever”), case analysis and surveys undertaken in the field, and relevant websites (such as those of the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Lassa fever is caused by a single stranded RNA virus and is a disseminated systemic primary viral infection.3 4 The main feature of fatal illness is impaired or delayed cellular immunity leading to fulminant viraemia.5 The prevalence of antibodies to the virus in the population is 8-52% in Sierra Leone,6 4-55% in Guinea,7 and 21% in Nigeria.8 Seropositivity has also been found in the Central …
Ets-dependent Regulation of Target Gene Expression during Megakaryopoiesis*

Megakaryopoiesis is the process by which hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow differentiate into mature megakaryocytes. The expression of megakaryocytic genes during megakaryopoiesis is controlled by specific transcription factors. Fli-1 and GATA-1 transcription factors are required for development of megakaryocytes and promoter analysis has defined in vitro functional binding sites for these factors in several megakaryocytic genes, including GPIIb, GPIX, and C-MPL. Herein, we utilize chromatin immunoprecipitation to examine the presence of Ets-1, Fli-1, and GATA-1 on these promoters in vivo. Fli-1 and Ets-1 occupy the promoters of GPIIb, GPIX, and C-MPL genes in both Meg-01 and CMK11-5 cells. Whereas GPIIb is expressed in both Meg-01 and CMK11-5 cells, GPIX and C-MPL are only expressed in the more differentiated CMK11–5 cells. Thus, in vivo occupancy by an Ets factor is not sufficient to promote transcription of some megakaryocytic genes. GATA-1 and Fli-1 are both expressed in CMK11-5 cells and co-occupy the GPIX and C-MPL promoters. Transcription of all three megakaryocytic genes is correlated with the presence of acetylated histone H3 and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II on their promoters. We also show that exogenous expression of GATA-1 in Meg-01 cells leads to the expression of endogenous c-mpl and gpIX mRNA. Whereas GPIIb, GPIX, and C-MPL are direct target genes for Fli-1, both Fli-1 and GATA-1 are required for formation of an active transcriptional complex on the C-MPL and GPIX promoters in vivo. In contrast, GPIIb expression appears to be independent of GATA-1 in Meg-01 cells.
Capital Structure and Corporate Performance: A Case of Nepal

The objective of this study is to analyze the capital structure factors affecting the financial performance of commercial banks in Nepal. This study is based on pooled cross sectional data analysis of 19 commercial banks listed in NEPSE for the period of 2007/8-2013/2014 with 133 observations. The sample includes all sorts of commercial banks operating in Nepal like public sector, joint venture and privately owned banks. The performance measures in terms of return on assets, earnings per share and net interest margin are selected as dependent variables. Total debt to total assets ratio, long term debt to total debt ratio, short term debt to total debt ratio, size and credit risk are taken as independent variables.The study revealed that total debt to total assets ratio, long term debt to total assets ratio, short term debt to total assets ratio and size are negatively related to returns on assets whereas credit risk is positively related to returns on assets. It indicates that higher the debt in capital mix lower would be return on assets. Similarly, increase in credit risk leads to an increase in returns on assets. The result also shows that the total debt to total assets ratio, long term debt to total assets ratio and short term debt to total assets ratio are negatively related to earning per share whereas size and credit risk is positively related to earnings per share which reveals that increase in debt decreases in earnings per share. Likewise, total debt to total assets ratio, long term debt to total assets ratio and short term debt to total assets ratio are negatively related to net interest margin which indicates higher the debt in capital mix lower would be net interest margin. The result shows that there is positive relationship between bank size and net interest margin which reveals that increase in bank size will increase the net interest margin. The beta coefficients for total debt to total assets ratio, long term debt to total assets ratio and short term debt to total assets ratio were negative, while beta coefficients were positive for size and credit risk. However, the coefficients were significant for size and credit risk only at 5 percent level of significance. Thus, this study concludes that size and credit risk are the major factors affecting the financial performance of commercial banks in the context of Nepal.
In people with hand osteoarthritis, chondroitin sulphate therapy for 6 months improves pain and function compared with placebo

Commentary on: Gabay C, Medinger-Sadowski C, Gascon D, et al. Symptomatic effects of chondroitin 4 and chondroitin 6 sulfate on hand osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial at a single center. Arthritis Rheum 2011;63:3383–91. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Osteoarthritis of the finger joints is present in about 10% of individuals aged 40 to 49, rising to 92% in individuals over 70 years of age.1 However, knowledge and research in the field of hand osteoarthritis are limited. Therefore, the Disease Characteristics in Hand OA initiative was founded in 2005 with the aim of addressing key issues and facilitating research into hand osteoarthritis. This group concluded that future research in hand osteoarthritis is warranted.2 Whereas … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DArthritis%2Band%2Brheumatism%26rft.stitle%253DArthritis%2BRheum%26rft.aulast%253DGabay%26rft.auinit1%253DC. %26rft.volume%253D63%26rft.issue%253D11%26rft.spage%253D3383%26rft.epage%253D3391%26rft.atitle%253DSymptomatic%2Beffects%2Bof%2Bchondroitin%2B4%2Band%2Bchondroitin%2B6%2Bsulfate%2Bon%2Bhand%2Bosteoarthritis%253A%2Ba%2Brandomized%252C%2Bdouble-blind%252C%2Bplacebo-controlled%2Bclinical%2Btrial%2Bat%2Ba%2Bsingle%2Bcenter. %26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1002%252Fart.30574%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F21898340%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1002/art.30574&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=21898340&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F17%2F5%2F152.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=000297221100022&link_type=ISI
Calcium and diabetic vascular dysfunction. Focus on "Elevated Ca(2+) sparklet activity during acute hyperglycemia and diabetes in cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells".

DIABETES MELLITUS (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia associated with either reduced insulin secretion (type I DM) or reduced target-cell insulin sensitivity (type II DM). The incidence of type II diabetes has risen sharply in Western countries in recent years—particularly in children and teenagers—as a result of lifestyle choices that promote obesity. Vascular dysfunction is a key phenotype of diabetes, and the resulting cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in individuals with diabetes (2, 9). Vascular dysfunction is responsible not only for increased risk of stroke and heart attack, but also for diabetic end-organ damage, including retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Since vascular cells are the first to encounter the elevated levels of plasma glucose in diabetes, it follows that the vasculature is particularly vulnerable to diabetic injury. Hyperglycemia is associated with atherosclerosis, vascular calcification, and increased vascular tone in a variety of vas
Antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors in human immunodeficiency virus type 1– and human herpesvirus 8–coinfected patients

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and possibly in other proliferative disorders often associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) infection. Recent case reports have indicated resolution of KS and clearance of HHV‐8 DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in HIV‐1–infected subjects following highly effective antiretroviral therapy, including HIV‐1 protease inhibitors (PI), suggesting a possible activity for these compounds on HHV‐8 replication. In the present study, the time course of PBMC HHV‐8 DNA levels, plasma HIV‐1 RNA load, and CD4+ T‐cell counts were followed up in six coinfected subjects (four with and two without KS) under antiretroviral therapy with PI. A specific anti–HHV‐8 role for PI was not consistently found, since fluctuation of HHV‐8 viral load over time appeared to be independent of treatment. Nevertheless, our data support the hypothesis that KS patients may significantly benefit from PI therapy as an indirect consequence of partial restoration of immune functions following effective anti–HIV‐1 combination therapy. J. Med. Virol. 57:140–144, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of a three degree-of-freedom testbed for an unmanned helicopter and attitude control design

To provide a safe and efficient test for the autonomous control design of the unmanned helicopter, a 3 degree-of-freedom (DOF) helicopter testbed is developed in this paper. The testbed uses a small electric hobby helicopter as the main body, a digital signal processsor (DSP) is employed as the on-board micro control unit (MCU) for the attitude control of the helicopter, a micro attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) is utilized as the main on-board sensor for attitude states feedback and a Bluetooth module is mounted on the testbed to provide realtime wireless communication between the helicopter and the ground control station (GCS). This paper investigates the servo actuators coordinated control method with separate channel of the new-style electric helicopter, which is named as electronic collective-cyclic pitch mixing (ECCPM). A modified digital incremental PID control algorithm which is free of servo actuators saturation issue is proposed for the attitude control of the helicopter. Finally, experiment results are provided to verify the testbed and control design.
Methods for Extracting Flat Band Voltage in the InGaAs High Mobility Materials

Accurate determination of the flat band voltage (VFB) is very important for extracting the effective work function of metal, and it will affect the prediction of the threshold voltage of the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices. A modified method to accurately determine VFB of the In0.53Ga0. 47As n-type MOS device is presented. The effects of capacitance voltage hysteresis and interface trap density at the oxide/semiconductor interface on the accuracy of the extracted VFB values are discussed. The results are also applicable to other MOS devices with high mobility channel materials.
Melanopsin-Expressing Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells in Retinal Disease

&NA; Melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are a class of photoreceptors with established roles in non–image-forming processes. Their contributions to image-forming vision may include the estimation of brightness. Animal models have been central for understanding the physiological mechanisms of ipRGC function and there is evidence of conservation of function across species. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells can be divided into five ganglion cell subtypes that show morphological and functional diversity. Research in humans has established that ipRGCs signal environmental irradiance to entrain the central body clock to the solar day for regulating circadian processes and sleep. In addition, ipRGCs mediate the pupil light reflex (PLR), making the PLR a readily accessible behavioral marker of ipRGC activity. Less is known about ipRGC function in retinal and optic nerve disease, with emerging research providing insight into their function in diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and hereditary optic neuropathy. We briefly review the anatomical distributions, projections, and basic physiological mechanisms of ipRGCs and their proposed and known functions in animals and humans with and without eye disease. We introduce a paradigm for differentiating inner and outer retinal inputs to the pupillary control pathway in retinal disease and apply this paradigm to patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In these cases of patients with AMD, we provide the initial evidence that ipRGC function is altered and that the dysfunction is more pronounced in advanced disease. Our perspective is that with refined pupillometry paradigms, the PLR can be extended to AMD assessment as a tool for the measurement of inner and outer retinal dysfunction.
Preserving competences and dealing with institutional distance: A comparison between the entry mode of multinational firms from emerging and from advanced countries

This article is about Emerging Market Firms (EMFs) acquiring firms in advanced economies. We claim that EMFs adopt a different entry behavior from that of Advanced Market Firms (AMFs). Namely, as a first hypothesis we claim that, AMFs undertake a partial (rather than a complete) acquisition when they wish to avoid the dispersion of the bundle of information and knowledge residing in the target company, while EMFs are more likely to prefer a greater degree of ownership and control as they lack the needed experience to deal with the relevant complexity and to manage partnerships. Furthermore, we claim that EMFs experience a higher propensity to control the local partner the higher the institutional distance with the host country, since they enjoy a better institutional environment when they invest in advanced countries and, hence, they are less likely to need a local partner. To test our hypothesis, we developed an econometric analysis applied to foreign acquisitions in Italy along the decade 2001-2010 and we study the entry mode of AMFs and EMFs. Our result confirm the first hypothesis and shows that distances in property rights and investment freedom effectively increase the probability to undertake full acquisition for EMFs.
A computational study of injury severity and pattern sustained by overweight drivers in frontal motor vehicle crashes

The objective of this study was to examine the role of body mass and subcutaneous fat in injury severity and pattern sustained by overweight drivers. Finite element models were created to represent the geometry and properties of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the torso with data obtained from reconstructed magnetic resonance imaging data-sets. The torso adipose tissue models were then integrated into the standard multibody dummy models together with increased inertial parameters and sizes of the limbs to represent overweight occupants. Frontal crash simulations were carried out considering a variety of occupant restraint systems and regional body injuries were measured. The results revealed that differences in body mass and fat distribution have an impact on injury severity and pattern. Even though the torso adipose tissue of overweight subjects contributed to reduce abdominal injury, the momentum effect of a greater body mass of overweight subjects was more dominant over the cushion effect of the adipose tissue, increasing risk of other regional body injuries except abdomen. Through statistical analysis of the results, strong correlations (p < 0.01) were found between body mass index and regional body injuries except neck injury. The analysis also revealed that a greater momentum of overweight males leads to greater forward torso and pelvic excursions that account for higher risks (p < 0.001) of head, thorax and lower extremity injury than observed in non-overweight males. The findings have important implications for improving the vehicle and occupant safety systems designed for the increasing global obese population.
Enumerating bone marrow blasts from nonerythroid cellularity improves outcome prediction in myelodysplastic syndromes and permits a better definition of the intermediate risk category of the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS‐R)

The Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS‐R) has been recognized as the score with the best outcome prediction capability in MDS, but this brought new concerns about the accurate prognostication of patients classified into the intermediate risk category. The correct enumeration of blasts is essential in prognostication of MDS. Recent data evidenced that considering blasts from nonerythroid cellularity (NECs) improves outcome prediction in the context of IPSS and WHO classification. We assessed the percentage of blasts from total nucleated cells (TNCs) and NECs in 3924 MDS patients from the GESMD, 498 of whom were MDS with erythroid predominance (MDS‐E). We assessed if calculating IPSS‐R by enumerating blasts from NECs improves prognostication of MDS. Twenty‐four percent of patients classified into the intermediate category were reclassified into higher‐risk categories and showed shorter overall survival (OS) and time to AML evolution than those who remained into the intermediate one. Likewise, a better distribution of patients was observed, since lower‐risk patients showed longer survivals than previously whereas higher‐risk ones maintained the outcome expected in this poor prognostic group (median OS < 20 months). Furthermore, our approach was particularly useful for detecting patients at risk of dying with AML. Regarding MDS‐E, 51% patients classified into the intermediate category were reclassified into higher‐risk ones and showed shorter OS and time to AML. In this subgroup of MDS, IPSS‐R was capable of splitting our series in five groups with significant differences in OS only when blasts were assessed from NECs. In conclusion, our easy‐applicable approach improves prognostic assessment of MDS patients.
The small RNA SraG participates in PNPase homeostasis

The rpsO-pnp operon encodes ribosomal protein S15 and polynucleotide phosphorylase, a major 3′–5′ exoribonuclease involved in mRNA decay in Escherichia coli. The gene for the SraG small RNA is located between the coding regions of the rpsO and pnp genes, and it is transcribed in the opposite direction relative to the two genes. No function has been assigned to SraG. Multiple levels of post-transcriptional regulation have been demonstrated for the rpsO-pnp operon. Here we show that SraG is a new factor affecting pnp expression. SraG overexpression results in a reduction of pnp expression and a destabilization of pnp mRNA; in contrast, inhibition of SraG transcription results in a higher level of the pnp transcript. Furthermore, in vitro experiments indicate that SraG inhibits translation initiation of pnp. Together, these observations demonstrate that SraG participates in the post-transcriptional control of pnp by a direct antisense interaction between SraG and PNPase RNAs. Our data reveal a new level of regulation in the expression of this major exoribonuclease.
Silicon LSI-based smart stimulators for retinal prosthesis

In this article, the authors report on a retinal prosthesis smart stimulator that is biocompatible and fully compatible with a standard large-scale-integration (LSI) structure and that provides high-stimulation efficiency. Our stimulator is based on multimicrochip architecture. The stimulator has been specifically developed for retinal prostheses, but it could be applied to other neuroscience and clinical neuroengineering fields
Further observations on tubulobulbar complexes formed by late spermatids and sertoli cells in the rat testis

The present study extends earlier findings (Russell and Cler‐mont, '76) by describing additional details of the structure, relationships, distribution, origin, and fate of tubulobulbar complexes. Freeze‐fracture and thin section observations reveal few membrane associated particles and no appreciable cell coat in the membranes forming the tubulobulbar complex. The opposing plasma membranes of the complex do not appear to form a junction, although junctional formation might be expected by the close proximity (4.0 nm apart) of the Sertoli and spermatid plasma membranes. Sertoli filaments of the network which encircle the tubular portion of the complex measure 5.0‐7.0 nm across and appear to insert into the Sertoli plasma membrane. Tubulobulbar complexes initially form in association with a cell surface modification (bristle‐coated pit) of the Sertoli plasma membrane. The first tubulobulbar complexes develop large bulbous components (up to 2.5μm across), which soon lose connection with the spermatid and become incorporated into large phagocytic vacuoles (secondary lysosomes). As bulbs undergo dissolution, newly formed tubulobulbar complexes are observed to replace these structures. Thus, the data indicate that more than one generation of tubulobulbar complexes develop. Moreover, the tubular and bulbous portions of most dissociating complexes (as well as neighboring Sertoli lysosomes) show acid phosphatase activity. Near the time of sperm release, all complexes at the concave aspect of the spermatid head are resorbed. New tubulobulbar complexes, many lacking terminal bulbous dilations, form at the dorsal and lateral aspects of the spermatid head. These persist even after all ectoplasmic specializations and most Sertoli cytoplasm have been withdrawn from a position facing the spermatid head. The presence of tubulobulbar complexes just prior to the time of sperm release is in support of previous findings indicating that tubulobulbar complexes participate in anchoring the head of the late spermatid prior to sperm release. Past the zone of sperm release a few abnormally shaped cells, which had not been released with other spermatids of the same generation, display intact tubulo‐bulbar complexes. The persistence of these and other structures may be the means by which abnormally shaped spermatids are retained and prevented from traversing the male duct system.