Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia in Western Amhara, Northwest Ethiopia

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) has been identified as a significant problem in goat production, especially in the arid and semiarid lowland areas of Ethiopia. Even though CCPP was reported in most of the goat rearing areas of the country, there is no adequate information on the disease in the Amhara Region. Cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 in the districts of Western Amhara to estimate the seroprevalence and identify the associated risk factors for occurrence of the CCPP. The risk factors considered included age, sex, agroclimate, and districts. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) was carried out on a total of 400 goat sera samples, out of which 34 samples were found seropositive for specific antibodies against CCPP, with the overall seroprevalence of 8.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) =5.8, 11.2). Among the epidemiological factors considered, age and sex of the goats were not significantly associated with CCPP seroprevalence (p>0.05). However, the seropositivity was slightly higher in adults (9.9%) and female goats (9.0%) compared to young (6.3%) and male (7.5%) goats, respectively. The analysis of seroprevalence by district shows that the seroprevalence of CCPP in Metema (OR=14.34; 95%CI= 1.80, 114.09; p=0.012) and Fogera (OR=9.99; 95%CI= 1.10, 91.16; p= 0.041) was significantly higher compared to other study districts. Multivariable logistic regression analysis also identified the district as a risk factor for the occurrence of a high seroprevalence of CCPP. The present study revealed the seroprevalence and the distribution of CCPP in Western Amhara districts, and hence appropriate control measures including regular investigation and vaccination should be implemented to alleviate the problem.
AvaliaÁªo clÌnica e radiogrÆfica do tratamento endodÙntico em sessªo œnica de dentes com lesies periapicais crÙnicas Clinic and radiographic evaluation of one-appointment root canal therapy in teeth with chronic periapical lesions

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a incidŒncia de dor pUs-operatUria e o tipo de reparaAao periapical, apUs tratamento endodUntico em sessao œnica, em pacientes portadores de polpa necrUtica associada a AEreas radiolœcidas periapicais, assintomAEticos. Para tanto, apUs o preparo biomec‚nico empregando-se a tOcnica istep downi seguido por istep backi, auxiliada por copiosa irrigaAao com soluAao de hipoclorito de sUdio a 5,0%, procedeu-se ‡ obturaAao dos canais radiculares pela tOcnica convencional, utilizando-se cones de guta-percha e cimento ‡ base de Uxido de zinco e eugenol. No pUs-operatUrio imediato, 16,6% dos pacientes apresentaram dor espont‚nea, contudo a incidŒncia de dor do tipo severa n iflare-upsi foi da ordem de 3,3%. Aos doze meses, todos os pacientes estavam assintomAEticos e sem fIstulas, todavia, apenas 46,4% apresentaram completa resoluAao das AEreas radiolœcidas periapicais. Portanto, a mOdio prazo, o tratamento endodUntico em sessao œnica proporcionou 100% de sucesso clInico, mas reduzido percentual de sucesso radiogrAEfico.
Analyses of JGSS-2006

This paper exploratively examines Japanese “perspectives on Asia". Theoretical implications of "perspectives on Asia" in Japan have been inconsistent. However, there has have been little few studies on ordinary Japanese people’s "perspectives on Asia. " Thus, the main purpose of this study is to analyze "perspectives on Asia" held by a general Japanese population based on JGSS-2006. The results show that mean score of favorable impression of North Korea is particularly low and it is followed by China. The standard deviations of favorable impression scores of China and South Korea are large, which represents that there are discrepancies in people's opinions. For other Asian countries, such as Taiwan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and India, more than 50% of respondents selected "0", suggesting that a majority of Japanese are unconcerned with these countries. In addition to analyses of cognitive structure, favorable impression scores of these Asian countries are strongly correlated with each other very strongly, whereas correlations between South Korea, China, and North Korea and the other Asian nations are relatively low.
How Long Will the Dragon Wait? China and the Retrocession of Taiwan

Taiwan, Republic of China (ROC)[1] is a robust independent country of approximately 23 million people, who comprise a mix of Taiwanese, Chinese, and Indigenous peoples—estimated at 2018 to comprise 23.69 million people. [2] The voting schematic comprises a (now) liberal-democratic, one-person, one-vote method of political representation. Like many island nations, Taiwan has historically experienced visitations from sea-faring peoples, and therefore varying degrees of colonisation and influences from cultures has taken place—Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese and (mainland) Chinese is to name only several peoples that have impacted on Taiwan. It would however, be the defeat of the Chinese Nationalists—the Kuomintang (KMT)—by the Maoist ‘rebels’ in circa-1948 and the ructions created by the rapid exit to Taiwan by the KMT that would cause the greatest impact. Approximately 1.5 million people exited the mainland and occupied the country circa-1949. This would lead to the KMT establishing an independent government and governance separate and different to mainland China. This state-of-affairs continues to this day with the caveat of liberal-democratic government being introduced in 1986.
α-Thalassemia Among Tribal Populations of Eastern India

Five hundred and thirteen unrelated subjects belonging to various tribes of West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in Eastern India, were screened for the presence of α-thalassemia (thal) gene deletion(s) as a possible cause of unexplained anemia (Hb <11 g/dL and/or MCH <28 pg, MCV < 78 fL). As reported earlier, β-globin gene mutant alleles were found with a frequency of up to 20% in some tribes. In the present study, α-globin gene deletion alleles were found in 18% of subjects from West Bengal, 3.9% from Arunachal Pradesh and 3.84% from Assam tribesmen. Coexistence of α- and β-globin gene abnormalities was observed in up to 18% of some tribal groups. The high inbreeding rate and lack of appropriate medical care make these populations particularly vulnerable.
IS SIZE ALL THAT MATTERS

Gender in flowering plants is governed by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The perennial aquatic herb Sagittaria latiftlia displays remark- able variation within and among populations in gender expression, from monoecious pop- ulations composed of plants with differing numbers of female and male flowers to com- pletely dioecious populations with separate female and male plants. Here we examine the role of environmental factors in modifying gender expression in these two sexual systems by investigating the relation between ramet size and flower number in three sex phenotypes (hermaphrodite, female, and male). In particular, we assess the extent to which hermaph- roditic plants have the option of altering the number of female and male flowers to accom- modate their specific environmental circumstances. We sampled 12 populations from diverse wetland habitats in southern Ontario, Canada, estimated their phenotypic gender, and ex- amined the relations between ramet size and a range of vegetative and floral traits. On average, plants from dioecious and monoecious populations did not differ in leaf length, a correlate of ramet size. However, in monoecious populations with significant numbers of both male and hermaphroditic ramets, hermaphrodites were larger and produced more flowers than males. This contrasting pattern was also observed when plants were grown under glasshouse conditions. In monoecious populations, variation in ramet size did not affect the production of male flowers, whereas female flower production varied positively with plant size. These relations enabled statistical prediction of the dependence of gender on plant size and the frequency distribution of gender within monoecious populations. These relations also imply that the male phenotype can be determined environmentally, whereas the female phenotype cannot. The size dependence of floral sex ratios in mon- oecious populations provides novel insights into the likely evolutionary pathway by which dioecy has evolved from monoecy in Sagittaria.
Risk Factors and Early Detection of Diabetes Mellitus in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Women

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis show predominance of metabolic disorder characterized by overweight, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance, specifically, few studies have explained insulin resistance in this disease.Objective: The aim of the present study is to examine insulin resistance and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus in middle age Iraqi women with early rheumatoid arthritis.Patients and methods: This work involved seventy female with early rheumatoid arthritis. Who was attending to the National Diabetic Center (NDC) of Al-Mustansiriya University and 35 healthy subjects as a control group. From all subjects blood sample was drawn in fasting state to measure the biochemical parameters which including plasma glucose level and fasting insulin concentrations. Other measurements (RF and anti-CCP) were made by routine methods. Homeostasis model of assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) by using the formula HOMA model Insulin sensitivity was calculated in RA patients and healthy control.Results: Results revealed a highly significant in the level of the rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP and fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR when compared the patient group with the control group. While a significant increase in the level of FBG in the RA group than the control group. Also, there was a positive correlation with high significance among, Anti-CCP, and RF with HOMA-IR in the rheumatoid arthritis group. Conclusions: This study shows that patient with rheumatoid arthritis have abnormal insulin secretion with a high value of IR than a group of healthy control and these patients may be at risk of diabetic mellitus.
CESifo Working Paper No . 482 May 2001 HONG KONG OUTPUT DYNMAICS : AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

Advanced statistical techniques are used to analyze Hong Kong output dynamics. Hong Kong, Japan and the U.S. are found to share some common long-term and short-term cyclical variations. While the Hong Kong economy is susceptible to external shocks and Granger-caused by the other two economies, local factors account for a large proportion of output growth variability and are mainly responsible for her output uncertainty. On the transmission mechanism, the selected trade and financial variables have incremental explanatory power but do not lessen the ability of domestic and foreign output variables to explain Hong Kong growth dynamics. Interestingly, the U.S. does not appear to exert undue influences on Hong Kong. JEL Classification: E32, F42, C22
Multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction for Treponema pallidum using blood is more sensitive than using serum

Background Syphilis is a multistage disease transmitted primarily through sexual intercourse. Nowadays, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Treponema pallidum has been widely used and is expected to overcome problems in diagnostic tests for syphilis. The Treponema pallidum PCR is influenced by type of specimens, PCR methods and target genes. This study aimed to assess the use of blood and serum in multiplex nested PCR for Treponema pallidum, targeting the 23S rRNA. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2015 - April 2016. Sampling was carried out consecutively among patients with clinical features of secondary syphilis who came to Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinics in Jakarta. All sera were also tested with Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum Hemagglutination Assay (TPHA) assay, which was considered as the gold standard for this study. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of the multiplex nested PCR for Treponema pallidum using blood and serum. Results PCR test was performed on 122 clinical specimens (61 blood and 61 serum). The positive results of PCR test on blood was 22.95% and serum was 6.56%, while the positive results of serology was 68.85%. The sensitivity of Treponema pallidum multiplex nested PCR on blood was 30.95% compared to serum 9.52% (p=0.006). PCR test on blood is able to detect 3.25 times higher than serum. Conclusion The use of blood has a higher proportion of positives compared to serum in Treponema pallidum multiplex nested PCR using 23S rRNA target gene.
Physical Quality of Life among Military Health Care Workers in Downsizing Organization

Objectives: To investigate the quality of life (QOL) among health care workers in two downsizing military general hospitals in Taiwan and to explore the relationship between psychosocial factors, job loss, psychological morbidity and QOL in this work environments. Methods: A cross sectional survey including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Taiwan brief version of the WHOQOL Questionnaire were administered to 340 health care workers divided into job losers and job keepers. Results: The job losers had worse physical domain QOL scores than the job keepers (14.27 vs. 14.94, p=0.012). The hypnotic use history, life event and nurse category (p=0.006, 0.043. and <0.001 respectively) were positive associated with GHQ. Both total GHQ score (β=-0.39, p<=0.01) and age (β=0.26, p<=0.01) might associate with QOL. Conclusions: Physical domain of WHOQOL might be the most significant job related health impact to downsizing organization. Younger employees with psychological morbidities working in hospitals that are downsizing may be in need of attention to their quality of life
Spatial and Temporal Population Genetic Structure of the Giant Mottled Eel Anguilla Marmorata in the Northwestern Pacific

The giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata is a diadromous fish that grows in the freshwater and spawns in the ocean. This freshwater eel species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific and western Pacific Oceans. The population of A. japonica in the northwestern Pacific has shown no spatial and temporal genetic structure while that of A. marmorata, which is also transported by the same current system, is still unclear. In this study, 5 microsatellite loci were used to analyze the genetic variability and the population genetic structure of 223 A. marmorata elvers collected from the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. In order to eliminate the probability of species admixture with A. luzonensis in the samples due to their morphological resemblance during elver stage, all of the specimens were screened using species-specific mtDNA cytochrome b PCR. The results showed that our samples was comprised of just a single species, A. marmorata and its population in the western Pacific do not have any significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.002; P ＞ 0.05), even if the Japanese specimens were collected 10 years ago. Hierarchical AMOVA also suggested that the population genetic structure among seasons in Taiwan was not significant (FST = 0.003; P ＞ 0.05). This study indicated that the population genetic structure of A. marmorata in the western Pacific is stable in both spatial and temporal scales. The random dispersal of their leptocephalus and their year round spawning behavior might inhibit the population differentiation.
Malaria Risk and Vulnerability of Communities Due to Climate Change in India

Background: Malaria is an erstwhile public health problem that is further compounded in India due to diverse climatic conditions, ecology, socio-developmental indicators and the imminent threat of climate change. Mapping of malaria risk using climatic and ecological factors has been assessed to some extent but the vulnerability by taking into consideration the human factors i.e. socio-economics and adaptive capacity, in climatically vulnerable areas is not known. The present communication deals with determining the risk and vulnerability at district level by taking into account the hazard due to climate change, population exposed, ecological sensitivity and the community’s adaptive capacity.Methods: Based on the IPCC framework, relevant indicators for the dimensions of risk (Hazard, Exposure, Sensitivity, Adaptive Capacity) were identified from literature and was used to develop indices. Data for each indicator was obtained through government websites. Weights for different indicators were assigned using principle component analysis and the indices were aggregated to develop a district wise risk and vulnerability profile of India.Results: Malaria risk was found to be highest in Bihar (Ri=0.7) due to very low adaptive capacity coupled with high sensitivity. In some states with high climatic hazard and/or sensitivity for malaria, such as Tripura, Mizoram, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, high Adaptive capacity acted as a buffer, reducing the overall risk of malaria. Further, malaria risk is projected to be introduced for the first time in some districts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh by 2030s due to the effects of climate change. Conclusion: The results of the study highlight the importance of various socio-development indicators in representing a holistic view of malaria risk. Adaptive capacity emerged as an important index as it could help counter the effects of climate change on malaria by enabling the community to cope with the adverse effects.
Identification of best suitable repurposed drugs considering mutational spectra at RdRp (nsp12), 3CLpro (nsp 5) and PLpro (nsp 3) of SARS-CoV-2 in Indian population

Background and Objective: COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China and expanded to different geographical location of the world with variation in its sequence due to mutation, consequent alteration in different protein structures; resulting in different interaction with the host body. The highly infectious and diverge character of the virus makes it imperative to identify the promising inhibitory compounds for RdRp, 3CLpro and PLpro as suitable antiviral drug target so that viral duplication can be prevented in the host body.Methods: RdRp, 3CLpro and PLpro sequences of Indian patients were retrieved from the database and MSA was employed to identify mutation at nsp 3, nsp 5 and nsp 12. Protein structures were modeled considering all possible combination of sequences abundant in India and docking was performed with repurposed drugs, currently under trial for COVID-19, using Autodock Vina to find out the suitable ones considering the mutational spectra of SARS-CoV-2 in India.Results: PLpro is found to be most vulnerable to mutations with four mutations found in >5% studied population whereas in 3CLpro none observed at the frequency > 5%, so far. Two mutations were reported among Indian population (>5%) at RdRp. Therefore 3CLpro and RdRp were further analysed as a suitable target for repurposed drugs. Elbasvir has come up as the most suitable drug to inhibit the activity of RdRp in Indian population, followed by Remdesivir and Methylprednisolone. TMC 310911, Lopinavir and Elbasvir again, found to be the best candidates for inhibiting 3CLpro.Interpretation and Conclusions: Remdesivir and Lopinavir(alone or in combination with Ritonavir), the most popular drugs of choice at recent times may be suitable to be used in Indian population, considering the mutational variations in Indian population. Among others, Elbasvir, TMC 310911 and Methylprednisolone are good choices for treating COVID-19.
A Comparative Study of Scientific Publications in Health Care Sciences and Services from Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and India (2007–2014)

In this study, we aimed to compare the quantity and quality of publications in health care sciences and services journals from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Japan, and India. Journals in this category of the Science Citation Index Expanded were included in the study. Scientific papers were retrieved from the Web of Science online database. Quality was measured according to impact factor, citation of articles, number of articles published in top 10 journals, and the 10 most popular journals by country (area). In the field of health care sciences and services, the annual incremental rates of scientific articles published from 2007 to 2014 were higher than rates of published scientific articles in all fields. Researchers from the Chinese mainland published the most original articles and reviews and had the highest accumulated impact factors, highest total article citations, and highest average citation. Publications from India had the highest average impact factor. In the field of health care sciences and services, China has made remarkable progress during the past eight years in the annual number and percentage of scientific publications. Yet, there is room for improvement in the quantity and quality of such articles.
The role of collagen antibodies in mediating arthritis

This review examines evidence that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) depends on autoimmunity to articular collagen, and mechanisms whereby autoantibodies to type II collagen contribute to disease development. Three major autoantigenic reactants have been identified in RA; the corresponding autoantibodies are rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to citrullinated peptide antigens (ACPA), citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP), and anti-type II collagen (anti-CII). Both RF and ACPA are well-validated and predictive markers of severe erosive RA, but cannot be linked to pathogenesis. By contrast, in various animal species immunized with CII there occurs an erosive inflammatory arthritis resembling that seen in human RA, together with antibodies to CII with an epitope specificity similar to that in RA. We discuss the well-known role of immune complexes in the induction of inflammation within the joint, and present recent data showing, additionally, that antibodies to CII cause direct damage to cartilage in vitro. The close resemblances between human RA and collagen-induced arthritis in animals suggest that autoimmunity, and particularly autoantibodies to CII, are important for both the initiation and perpetuation of RA in a dual manner: as contributors to the inflammation associated with immune complex deposition, and as agents with direct degradative effects on cartilage integrity and its repair.