Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk of diabetes mellitus in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy

Abstract Previous studies have shown that the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has increased in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with long-term exposure to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, the factors associated with DM among HIV-infected patients in Asia remain unclear in the HAART era. A nationwide cohort study Data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) between 2000 and 2010 were used to investigate the incidence of and factors associated with DM among HIV-infected patients. Propensity score matching was conducted to match 4797 patients receiving HAART (HAART cohort) with 4797 patients not receiving HAART (non-HAART cohort). HAART use was treated as a time-dependent variable in a Cox regression model. HAART cohort had a significantly higher 10-year incidence of DM (7.16%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.30%–10.03%) than non-HAART cohort (2.24%; 95% CI, 1.28%–3.20%) (P < .001). After adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities, receiving HAART was associated with an increased incidence of DM, with a subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR) of 2.39 (95% CI, 1.65–3.45). Hypertension (sHR = 5.27; 95% CI, 3.21–8.65), gout (sHR = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.38–4.16), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (sHR = 2.43; 95% CI, 1.28–4.61) were significantly associated with a higher risk of DM. Sensitivity analyses showed exposure to HAART remained significantly associated with an increased risk of DM, particularly in those without pre-existing hypertension, gout, or HCV infection. Exposure to HAART increased the risk of DM in HIV-infected Taiwanese patients, particularly in those without pre-existing hypertension, gout, or HCV infection.
Seasonal changes in soil microbial biomass under different agro-ecosystems of Arunachal Pradesh, North East India

The study was carried out to investigate the soil microbial biomass C, N and P of major agro-ecosystems prevalent in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh viz., Soybean, Millet, Maize and Vegetable agro-ecosystem. The study was conducted for a period of an annual cycle during the year 2010-11. Microbial biomass C and N ranged between 199.61 and 238.35 μg g -1 and 15.46 and 26.55 μg g -1 respectively. It was found to be higher in the surface soil layer than the subsurface layer in all the agro-ecosystems. Microbial biomass P significantly varied among the seasons and sites (P DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/jas.v8i3. 6087 The Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2013, vol.8, no3 p. 142-152
Flows of Foreign Capital into Developing Countries: A Critical Review

This paper aims to study the role of foreign capital in the economic development of developing countries, particularly South Asian and East Asian countries. Mainstream economists view that foreign investment would benefit developing countries by increasing the availability of capital, and through their positive impact over productivity and the general economic wellbeing of the host country. After the Second World War, the rapid economic growth first of Japan and later on of South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan has been widely cited in support of foreign capital. It is true when we look at the records in terms of the removal of poverty, job creation, educational achievements and improving the overall living conditions. I find however, that such discussions have ignored the experiences of developed countries in their early phase of industrialisation. In addition there is a lack of attention to the analysis of the issue of capital inflows in the context of neoliberal economic reforms and financial deregulation. After the global financial crisis in 2008, capital inflows to developing countries have witnessed a sharp decline.
Local Perceptions of Risk and Tourism: a Case Study from Rural Nepal

Tourism is commonly perceived as a profitable but risky option for communities in Africa, Asia and South America, due to the unpredictability of international demand and unwanted side effects on the local economy, society and environment. However, little is known about how people in destination communities themselves assess the risks and benefits of tourism relative to other sectors of the local economy. This article explores impacts of tourism on poor, rural host communities in Nepal through the theoretical lens of the vulnerability concept and with a particular focus on risk. As risk is context-dependant and socially constructed, vulnerability assessments should not only be based on categories of shock events that are pre-defined by outsiders, but also cat er to people’s perceptions and their local socio-economic context. Due to the volatility of tourist arrivals during the Maoist “People’s War” in Nepal, rural tourism households were more likely to experience income shocks between 1996 and 2006 than non-tou rism households. However, the analysis also reveals that in the local perception the benefits of tourism exceed the risk-related cost in the form of income fluctuations. In the notoriously insecure environment of rural Nepal, tourism is thus a preferred li velihood option, despite its ‘objective’ riskiness.
Religiosity and corporate financial reporting: evidence from a European country

Abstract Using a sample of Portuguese firms, I examine the association between religiosity and financial reporting quality. The results suggest that firms headquartered in areas with strong religious adherence, higher levels of (aggregate) religiosity, and in the core area of the Portuguese religious cult (the district where the Fátima Sanctuary is located) generally experience lower incidence of earnings management. The evidence on religious adherence holds separately for Catholic affiliation, and the results are not driven by firms headquartered in rural areas. I also conclude that religiosity, together with other forms of external monitoring, represents a mechanism for reducing aggressive accounting practices. I confirm that the evidence on the positive association between religiosity and financial reporting quality previously gathered from a primarily Protestant country (US) and from a Buddhist and Taoist country (China), holds in the Latin Europe, which is dominated by the Catholic denomination and has a lower intensity of religiosity.
Iconoclasm. The destruction and loss of heritage reconsidered.

In 2001, when the Taliban decided to destroy numerous cultural artefacts, including two colossal Buddha statues, that they considered incompatible with their faith, a large outcry was heard across the Western world. From the UNESCO to the British Museum, and from the Dalai Lama to countless head of governments, all were united in condemning this act of ’cultural terrorism’ that was said to prove nothing but the uncivilised character of the fundamentalist regime in Afghanistan. It made the later war all the more inevitable. Now that various different layers of dust have settled, it is time to reconsider this episode and some larger issues behind it. Is the preservation of cultural artefacts really a sign of civilization? Is their destruction really its largest enemy? Although our own ’Western’ civilization has no particular good track record of saving ancient objects from destruction, it has surrounded itself by a fundamentalist ideology of preservation. What has been forgotten is that construction and destruction are closely interdependent on each other. Most archaeologists now work in contract archaeology which has been making ever more contributions to historical knowledge due to fast expanding development destroying more and more archaeological sites. Indeed, every archaeological excavation involves the destruction of the site being investigated. The links are even more fundamental though. In the Western world, the value of sites perceived as ruins is directly dependent on the degree to which they have been destroyed. Similarly, in parts of Asia, where buildings are regularly being restored by rebuilding them, the destruction of the old substance is very much the precondition for the preservation of its spirit. Vice versa, the preservation of sites as they are today can imply a decision to stop existing practices of using or appreciating them, effectively putting an end to what they have been about to the present day. Preserving objects from the past can even destroy living memories. Questions about the destruction of cultural artefacts are ultimately questions about specific sets of values and ideals. What is considered a destruction by some is likely to be seen as being about preservation by others. And what preservationists will want to keep would destroy something else. It is important to remember that the history of a site or artefact is not automatically ‘damaged’ when something is added or taken away. Quite the opposite: history is about change. In the extreme case of the collapsed twin towers of the World Trade Centre, arguably far more history has been created than destroyed. In sum, preservationism can be an unhelpful discourse of power that requires deconstruction. My examples will be archaeological, including S African rock art sites, illicitly traded Classical antiquities, the Afghan Buddhas, Sri Lankan stupas, remains of the Vietnam war, and recent mass graves in Argentina. (Less)
Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation decreases the risk of bleeding in cirrhotic patients compared with endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy

Abstract Although endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) seems to cause fewer instances of bleeding, there are insufficient data to determine the optimal methods for decreasing the risk of bleeding in cirrhotic patients. In this study, we compared the bleeding risks following endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EST) vs EPBD in cirrhotic patients and identified clinical factors associated with bleeding and 30-day mortality. Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database was used to identify 3201 cirrhotic patients who underwent EST or EPBD between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013. We enrolled 2620 patients receiving EST and 581 patients receiving EPBD. The mean age was 63.1 ± 13.9 years, and 70.4% (2252/3201) were men. The incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) bleeding was higher among patients treated with EST than those treated with EPBD (EST vs EPBD: 3.5% vs 1.9%). Independent predisposing factors for bleeding included EST, renal function impairment, and antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy. The overall 30-day mortality was 4.0% (127/3201). Older age, renal function impairment, hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding esophageal varices, ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma, biliary malignancy, and pancreatic malignancy were associated with higher risks for 30-day mortality. To decrease post-ERCP hemorrhage, EPBD is the preferred method in patients with cirrhosis, especially for those who have renal function impairment or are receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy.
Increased Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Related Pulmonary Disease as a Results of Serum Anticitrullinated Protein Antibody Positivity

Background: there is increasing evidence to indicate that autoimmunity as well as inflammatory reactions occur systemically before development of any clinical sign of joint disease in patients with anti–citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)–positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: The aim of the work was to investigate the potential predictive value of anti-ccp3 for interstitial lung disease association with RA and to discriminate RA patient who are at potential risk to develop methotrexate (MTX) induced pulmonary toxicity. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 50 RA patients who were diagnosed according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology / the European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria) for detection of pulmonary manifestations attending at Physical medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinics of Al-Azhar University Hospitals. Results: there was statistically significant difference between patients with and without interstitial lung disease (ILD), in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) as regards to Tiffeneau-Pinelli index (FEV1/FVC ratio), except for FEV1/FVC between patients with and without ILD in HRCT, forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC) are often decreased because of the reduction in lung volume, but the FEV1- to-FVC ratio is maintained or increased in ILD. Conclusion: RA patients without chest symptoms should not be neglected, pulmonary function testing and HRCT should be done routinely to pick up early ILD cases.
Effects of eating breakfast on children and adolescents: A systematic review of potentially relevant outcomes in economic evaluations

Background Breakfast is often described as the most important meal of the day. Several studies have focused on examining if breakfast habits have any short-term effects on school attendance, academic achievement, and general health in children and adolescents. Informed decisions of whether to promote eating breakfast or not require a more long-term perspective. Objective The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of scientific publications studying the effects identified as potentially relevant for the economic evaluation of eating breakfast in children and adolescents. Design A systematic literature review was conducted. Studies were identified by searching the electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO between January 2000 and October 2017. The inclusion criteria applied were published articles from peer-reviewed journals with full text in English, quantitative studies collecting primary data with school-aged children, and adolescents aged from 6 to 18 years as participants, performed entirely or partly in countries with advanced economies, except Japan and Taiwan. Results Twenty-six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and studies that were judged to be of at least moderate quality were included in the analysis. The results of the review of eating breakfast studies showed positive and conclusive effects on cognitive performance, academic achievement, quality of life, well-being and on morbidity risk factors. Conclusions The overall assessment of the studies indicated positive effects of eating breakfast. How the identified effects influence societal costs and an individual’s quality-adjusted life years require further research.
Pharyngeal gonorrhoea: a silent cause for concern

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections is cyclical and is subject to complex interactions between adaptations of their causative microbes, medication, cultural patterns, demography and economics. While STIs have their most severe impact upon those disadvantaged by socio-economic deprivation, STIs may also flourish during periods of economic growth and societal transformation. While the recent decline in gonorrhoea incidence in many Western countries preceded the worldwide economic recession, the current search for cost-savings in sexual health may leave us less able to recognise and manage the inevitable future resurgence of gonorrhoea. Pharyngeal infection, as a potential asymptomatic reservoir that sustains the community prevalence of gonorrhoea, is a particular area for concern, especially for high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and commercial sex workers (CSW). Orogenital sex also appears to be practised increasingly in heterosexual couples of all ages. Certainly, the current predominance of HSV-1 as a cause of primary genital herpes supports an increase in oral sex. Among teenagers, oral sex may precede and substitute for genital penetrative intercourse at their sexual debut. It obviates the risk of pregnancy. Moreover, teaching about safer sexual practises may misleadingly suggest that it is safe from the risk of HIV and other STIs, and does not require condom use. In MSM, …
NEW EAST ASIAN AND AMERICAN GENERA OF THE "CYRTUS-OPSEBIUS" BRANCH OF THE ACROCERIDAE (Diptera)

The acrocerid taxa showing evolutionary affinity to the well-known genus Cyrtus Latreille are analyzed. There are eight genera involved in this complex of the Acrocerinae. These are distributed in South Africa, India, North Africa, Southwestern Europe, the Himalayas, Japan, Taiwan, much of the Nearctic, and as far south as Haiti in the Neotropical Region. A key is presented to separate these genera. Morphological structures used extensively to differentiate these genera are the mouthparts, the venation, the two types of thoracic pile, the degree of pilation on the eyes, and the placement of the abdominal spiracles. A discussion is presented to clarify the unfortunate situation that led to what I consider an improper interpretation of past generic concepts by various workers discussing these genera. Altogether four new genera, nine new combinations and two new synonyms are established. The new genera with their type species are: NIPPONCYRTUS for Cyrtus shibakawae Matsumura [Japan] ; PARACYRTUS iov Cyrtus kashmirensis Schlinger [Kashmir] ; HADROGASTER for Cyrtus formosanus Shiraki [Taiwan] ; and TURBOPSEBIUS for Opsebius diligens Osten Sacken [British Columbia, Canada]. A map is presented showing probable evolutionary pathways for the derivitives of the genus Psilodera Gray. The new combinations and their original citations are: Nipponcyrtus shibakawae (Matsumura) Q~Cyrtus shibakawae) ; Nipponcyrtus taiwanensis (Cuchi) Q=Opsebius taiwanensis) ; Paracyrtus albofimbriatus (Hildebrandt) (=Cyrtus albo fimbriatus) ; Paracyrtus kashmirensis (Schlinger) Q=-Cyrtus kashmirensis) ; Hadrogaster formosanus (Shiraki) (=Cyrtus shibakawae var. formosanus); Turbopsebius diligens (Osten Sacken) (=Opsebius diligens); Turbopsebius gagatinus (Loew) (=Opsebius gagatinus) ; Turbopsebius sulphuripes (Loew) Q=Opsebius sulphuripes) and Turbopsebius brunnipennis (Sabrosky) Q=Opsebius brunnipennis). The new synonyms are : Nipponcyrtus shibakawae (Mats.) Q=Opsebius nipponensis Cole) and Nipponcyrtus shibakawae (Mats.) Q~Opsebius nipponensis VAR. macrorrhynchus Gil Collado).
Under the one child policy regime in China: did having younger sibling(s) increase the risk of overweight and underweight status?

ABSTRACT The implications of having any younger sibling(s) on child overweight and underweight status under China’s One Child Policy Regime are complicated by multiple factors, including potential resource dilution, the stage of economic development, changing child-rearing norm, mandated birth interval and parental son preference. Using the instrumental variable method and data from China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991–2006, we find that having younger sibling(s) generally does not affect a firstborn child’s risk of being overweight or obese, neither does it increase the risk of being underweight. The findings on underweight status suggest that the favourable effect of economic growth and child rearing practice have outperformed the resource dilution effect in basic nutrition needs through the years of the study. It implies that further relaxation of the One Child Policy should not increase the nutritional risk for children.
From CNOOC to Huawei: securitization, the China threat, and critical infrastructure

ABSTRACT This article uses critical discourse analysis to examine how China has been constructed as an existential threat by the United States. Specifically, it explores how US reactions to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in 2005 created precedent for similar reactions to Huawei a decade later. It uses these case studies to demonstrate how the interplay between the China threat and security discourses of critical infrastructure has worked to successfully securitize China within broader American discourse. These examinations demonstrate a deliberate and protracted securitization of China by US elites, and they support more critical approaches to securitization theory that emphasize cumulative and incremental aspects over a securitized/de-securitized binary. Discourse analysis of key texts allows the reader to uncover how security issues are socially constructed, and discursive examinations of CNOOC and Huawei illustrate how concerns about national security are now employed in everyday American political discourse so that the China Threat Discourse has become the primary reading of China by US observers.
Molecular evidence for fragmentation among populations of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei, a highly endangered conifer in China

Taxus wallichiana var. mairei (Lemee & Leveille) L. K. Fu & Nan Li is a highly endangered conifer in China. It is dioecious and wind pollinated, with seed dispersal by animals. Extant natural populations on mainland China and Taiwan are highly scattered, largely as a result of habitat loss and overexploitation. Intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed to assess the genetic structure among 464 individuals from 17 populations across the variety's distribution range in the Sino-Japanese and Malesian floristic subkingdoms. ISSRs revealed a high genetic diversity (percentage of polymorphic loci = 98.4%, Nei's gene diversity = 0.3467, Shannon's information index = 0.5152) at the species level and high differentiation among populations (coefficient of gene differentiation = 0.4066; theta(B) = 0.4376). Gene flow among populations was found to be limited to the mainland populations. A UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) dendrogram suggests that the population in Taiwan is genetically the most isolated, while among the mainland populations a trend of an east-west split is suggested. This finding is supported by the analysis of molecular variance. The pattern of genetic variation suggests that the extant distribution of T. wallichiana var. mairei is the result of the fragmentation of a historically more continuous distribution. Conservation measures for this highly endangered plant are discussed, and an integrated approach to increase plant density and connectivity among the remaining populations is suggested.
Molecular Characterization and Tree Evolution of Rifampicine and Isoniazid-Resistance in Multi Drug Resistance Strains Isolated From Primary and Secondary Tuberculosis Diseases in Southern Endemic Border of Iran

Study Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate frequency and type of mutations in the katG and rpoB genes and provide tree evolution of M. tuberculosis isolates collected from patients in southern endemic region of Iran. Setting and Design: 91 sputums were collected from suspected tuberculosis patients, 34 rifampicine isolates and 26 isoniazid-resistant were identified as M. tuberculosis. Drug susceptibility was determined by using CDC standard conventional proportional method. Result: 60 mutations and 13 micro deletions were identified in 29 rifampicin resistant M. tuberculosis strains (85%). In 5 rifampicin resistant M. tuberculosis isolates (15%) no mutations were found in the core region of the rpoB gene. Most frequent mutations detected among Iranian strains were in codons 523(58.6%) and 526 (41%). Six alleles in codon 526 and 3 alleles in triplets in each codons 507(27%), 508 (20.5%), 513(10.2%) were found. In 21 isoniazid resistance isolates three types of mutations: AGC→ACC (Ser→Thr) (80%), AGC→AGG (Ser→Arg) (5%) and AGC→AAC (Ser→Asn) (15%) observed in codon 315. One type of mutation was detected in codons 311, 299, and 322. Two isolates revealed isoniazid resistance without demonstrating mutation in katG gene. In contract with tree evolution are 2 groups: group A- similar to the standard and Eastern strains (China, Taiwan) and group B- strains of another genotype. Conclusion: This research demonstrates that codons 315 and 311 are more frequently observed agent indicating resistance to isoniazid and 523,526 for rifampicine resistance and gives a first overview of the M. tuberculosis strains circulating in Iran during the first survey of anti-tuberculosis drug-resistance.