Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Valuing Mortality Risk Reductions for Environmental Policy : A White Paper

1 Introduction 2 The valuation of human health benefits is often a crucial, but sometimes controversial, aspect of 3 the application of benefit-cost analysis to environmental policies. Valuing the reduced risks of mortality, 4 in particular, poses a special set of conceptual, analytical, ethical and empirical challenges for economists 5 and policy analysts. This white paper addresses current and recent U.S. Environmental Protection 6 Agency (EPA) practices regarding the valuation of mortality risk reductions, focusing especially on 7 empirical estimates of the ‚value of a statistical life‛ (VSL) from stated preference and hedonic wage 8 studies and how they might be summarized and applied to new policy cases using some form of benefit 9 transfer. Benefit transfer concepts will be highlighted throughout the paper, since any application of 10 existing empirical estimates of values for health risk reductions to new policy cases is inherently a benefit 11 transfer problem. 12 The main intended audience for this paper is EPA's Science Advisory Board-Environmental 13 Economics Advisory Committee (EEAC). The main objectives of the paper are to highlight some key 14 topics related to the valuation of mortality risks, and to describe several possible approaches for 15 synthesizing the empirical estimates of values for mortality risk reductions from existing hedonic wage 16 and stated preference studies for the purpose of valuing mortality risk reductions associated with future 17 EPA policies. Some of these approaches could be implemented in the short term, but others will likely 18 require longer term research. We are soliciting general feedback and specific recommendations from the 19 SAB-EEAC on each of these key topics and approaches. 20 1.1 Key topics 21 We highlight several issues in this paper, offering preliminary recommendations where we feel 22 conclusions can be supported by existing data and methods. In other cases we describe alternative 23 methods, data and data gaps, and possible future directions, with the intention of soliciting meaningful 24 SAB Review Draft 4 feedback from the EEAC. The key topics addressed in this paper—loosely ordered from short-to longer-25 term tasks—include: 26 Improving communication by reporting value estimates in terms of risk changes rather than " statistical lives. " 27 We fear, as do others, that the prevalence of such terms of art as ‚the value of a statistical life‛ has 28 contributed to unnecessary confusion and consternation among decision-makers and members of the 29 general public. We aim to ease …
Ventricular zone gene-1 (vzg-1) encodes a lysophosphatidic acid receptor expressed in neurogenic regions of the developing cerebral cortex

Neocortical neuroblast cell lines were used to clone G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) genes to study signaling mechanisms regulating cortical neurogenesis. One putative GPCR gene displayed an in situ expression pattern enriched in cortical neurogenic regions and was therefore named ventricular zone gene-1 (vzg-1). The vzg-1 cDNA hybridized to a 3.8-kb mRNA transcript and encoded a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 41-42 kD, confirmed by Western blot analysis. To assess its function, vzg-1 was overexpressed in a cell line from which it was cloned, inducing serum-dependent "cell rounding. " Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive lipid present in high concentrations in serum, reproduced the effect seen with serum alone. Morphological responses to other related phospholipids or to thrombin, another agent that induces cell rounding through a GPCR, were not observed in vzg-1 overexpressing cells. Vzg-1 overexpression decreased the EC50 of both cell rounding and Gi activation in response to LPA. Pertussis toxin treatment inhibited vzg-1-dependent LPA-mediated Gi activation, but had no effect on cell rounding. Membrane binding studies indicated that vzg-1 overexpression increased specific LPA binding. These analyses identify the vzg-1 gene product as a receptor for LPA, suggesting the operation of LPA signaling mechanisms in cortical neurogenesis. Vzg-1 therefore provides a link between extracellular LPA and the activation of LPA- mediated signaling pathways through a single receptor and will allow new investigations into LPA signaling both in neural and nonneural systems.
Cezanne regulates E2F1-dependent HIF2α expression

ABSTRACT Mechanisms regulating protein degradation ensure the correct and timely expression of transcription factors such as hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). Under normal O2 tension, HIFα subunits are targeted for proteasomal degradation, mainly through vHL-dependent ubiquitylation. Deubiquitylases are responsible for reversing this process. Although the mechanism and regulation of HIFα by ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation has been the object of many studies, little is known about the role of deubiquitylases. Here, we show that expression of HIF2α (encoded by EPAS1) is regulated by the deubiquitylase Cezanne (also known as OTUD7B) in an E2F1-dependent manner. Knockdown of Cezanne downregulates HIF2α mRNA, protein and activity independently of hypoxia and proteasomal degradation. Mechanistically, expression of the HIF2α gene is controlled directly by E2F1, and Cezanne regulates the stability of E2F1. Exogenous E2F1 can rescue HIF2α transcript and protein expression when Cezanne is depleted. Taken together, these data reveal a novel mechanism for the regulation of the expression of HIF2α, demonstrating that the HIF2α promoter is regulated by E2F1 directly and that Cezanne regulates HIF2α expression through control of E2F1 levels. Our results thus suggest that HIF2α is controlled transcriptionally in a cell-cycle-dependent manner and in response to oncogenic signalling. Summary: Cezanne regulates HIF2α levels and activity by modulating expression of the HIF2α gene through regulation of E2F1 protein levels. Cezanne depletion impairs normal cell cycle progression and increases cell death.
A saw-tooth genetic algorithm combining the effects of variable population size and reinitialization to enhance performance

A genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed that uses a variable population size and periodic partial reinitialization of the population in the form of a saw-tooth function. The aim is to enhance the overall performance of the algorithm relying on the dynamics of evolution of the GA and the synergy of the combined effects of population size variation and reinitialization. Preliminary parametric studies to test the validity of these assertions are performed for two categories of problems, a multimodal function and a unimodal function with different features. The proposed scheme is compared with the conventional GA and micro GA (/spl mu/GA) of equal computing cost and guidelines for the selection of effective values of the involved parameters are given, which facilitate the implementation of the algorithm. The proposed algorithm is tested for a variety of benchmark problems and a problem generator from which it becomes evident that the saw-tooth scheme enhances the overall performance of GAs.
Tooth Wear Is Frequent in Adult Patients with Celiac Disease

(1) Background: Celiac disease (CD) patients can be affected by mouth and tooth disorders, which are influenced by their gluten-free diet. The aim of our research was to evaluate the pathological conditions of the stomatognathic system observed in celiac patients on a gluten-free diet. (2) Methods: we consecutively recruited celiac patients on a gluten-free diet at our celiac center, as well as healthy volunteers. Two dentists examined all patients/controls and checked them for any mouth disorder. (3) Results: Forty-nine patients affected by celiac disease (age at test 31.8 ± 11.58, time on GFD 8.73 ± 7.7) and 51 healthy volunteers (age at test 30.5 ± 8.7) were included. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis was reported in 26 patients (53.0%) and in 13 (25.5%) controls (p = 0.005). Dental enamel disorders were reported in 7 patients (14.3%) and in 0 controls (p = 0.002), with none having geographic tongue. We found non-specific tooth wear, characterized by loss of the mineralized tissue of the teeth, in 9 patients (18.3%) and in 3 (5.9%) controls (p = 0.05). (4) Conclusion: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis and enamel hypoplasia are “risk indicators” that may suggest that an individual has CD. We detected a high prevalence of non-specific tooth wear that can be caused by several factors such as malocclusion, sleep bruxism, parafunctional activity, and age.
Comprehensive microRNA profiling of prostate cancer cells after ionizing radiation treatment

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression and have emerged as potential biomarkers in radiation response to human cancer. Only a few miRNAs have been identified in radiation response to prostate cancer and the involvement of the radiation-associated miRNA machinery in the response of prostate cancer cells to radiation is not thoroughly understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to comprehensively investigate the expression levels, arm selection preference and isomiRs of radiation-response miRNAs in radiation-treated PC3 cells using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach. Our data revealed that the arm selection preference and 3′ modification of miRNAs may be altered in prostate cancer after radiation exposure. In addition, the proportion of AA dinucleotide modifications at the end of the read gradually increased in a time-dependent manner after PC3 radiation treatment. We also identified 6 miRNAs whose expression increased and 16 miRNAs whose expression decreased after exposure to 10 Gy of radiation. A pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of these radiation-induced miRNAs significantly co-modulated the radiation response pathway, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and ErbB signaling pathways. Furthermore, analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed that the expression of these radiation-induced miRNAs was frequently dysregulated in prostate cancer. Our study identified radiation-induced miRNA candidates which may contribute to radiosensitivity and can be used as biomarkers for radiotherapy.
Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase Expression in Gastric Cancer

Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of gastric cancer development and triggers aberrant expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). The goal of the present study was to investigate whether AID expression is involved in the development or progression of gastric cancer and the nuclear expression of p53 protein in cancer cells. We examined the expression pattern of the AID and p53 proteins in 186 gastric adenocarcinomas by immunohistochemistry. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism of AID expression, we also searched for mutations in the AID gene by single-strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing methods. In 186 sporadic gastric cancers, AID expression was detected in the 73 corresponding normal gastric mucosa and in 50 gastric cancers. Statistically, the expression of AID protein was not associated with clinicopathological parameters, including tumor size, location, differentiation and lymph node metastasis (p > 0.05). Interestingly, a significant association was observed between AID and the nuclear expression of p53 (p = 0.0094). Mutational analysis revealed no mutation in the AID gene in the gastric cancers. These results suggest that aberrant expression of the AID protein may contribute to the development of gastric cancers and induce p53 nuclear expression.
Temporal changes in nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 genotypes in healthy Gambians before and after the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 is one of the leading causes of invasive pneumococcal disease. However, this invasive serotype is hardly found in nasopharyngeal asymptomatic carriage and therefore large epidemiological studies are needed to assess the dynamics of serotype 1 infection. Within the context of a large cluster randomized trial conducted in rural Gambia to assess the impact of PCV-7 vaccination on nasopharyngeal carriage, we present an ancillary analysis describing the prevalence of nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococcal serotype 1 and temporal changes of its more frequent genotypes. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were collected before PCV-7 vaccination (December 2003–May 2004) and up to 30 months after PCV-7 vaccination. The post-vaccination time was divided in three periods to ensure an equal distribution of the number of samples: (1) July 2006–March 2007, (2) April 2007–March 2008 and (3) April 2008–Feb 2009. S. pneumoniae serotype 1 were genotyped by MLST. Serotype 1 was recovered from 87 (0.71%) of 12,319 NPS samples collected. In the pre-vaccination period, prevalence of serotype 1 was 0.47% in both study arms. In the post-vaccination periods, prevalence in the fully vaccinated villages ranged between 0.08% in period 1 and 0.165% in period 2, while prevalence in partly vaccinated villages was between 0.17% in period 3 and 1.34% in period 2. Overall, four different genotypes were obtained, with ST3081 the most prevalent (60.71%), followed by ST618 (29.76%). ST3081 was found only in post-vaccination period 2 and 3, while ST618 had disappeared in post-vaccination period 3. Distribution of these major genotypes was similar in both study arms. Emergence of ST3081 and concomitant disappearance of ST618 may suggest a change in the molecular epidemiology of pneumococcal serotype 1 in this region. This change is not likely to be associated with the introduction of PCV-7 which lacks serotype 1, as it was observed simultaneously in both study arms. Future population-based epidemiological studies will provide further evidence of substantive changes in the pneumococcal serotype 1 epidemiology and the likely mechanisms.
Giant Intracerebral Tuberculoma with Complete Disappearance on Antitubercular Therapy Alone in a Pediatric Case: A Case Illustration with Review of Management Strategy

The Central nervous system can be affected in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The intracranial tuberculoma occurrence is a rare entity occurrence; most often occur in the form of discrete small multiple lesions. Rarely a large sized tuberculoma is observed with mass effects and usually managed surgically to provide rapid relief of mass effect, histopathological confirmation of diagnosis, reduction of pathological mass thereby increasing efficacy of medical therapy. Author reports an extremely rare case of giant tuberculoma occurring in a pediatric patient, which was managed with antituberculous medication along with cerebral decongestant. The patient was also advised surgical therapy in view of giant size of tuberculoma associated with significant mass effect; however, the parents were unwilling for any form of surgical intervention and finally choose to continue medical treatment alone. After 6 months of antitubercular medical therapy, magnetic resonance imaging brain showed completely vanishing of lesion and also amelioration of mass effect with marked subsidence of perilesional edema correlated very well with marked improvement in the clinical status. He received antituberculous therapy for 24 months. To the best knowledge of authors, the current case represents first case of its kind in the pediatric age group with giant intracerebral tuberculoma responding favorably with medication. Management of such rare case and pertinent literature is reviewed briefly.
Optical Properties of Al- and Zr-Doped Rutile Single Crystals Grown by Tilting-Mirror-Type Floating Zone Method and Study of Structure-Property Relationships by First Principle Calculations

High quality and transparent single crystals of undoped rutile TiO2, Al-doped rutile (Al : TiO2), and Zr-doped rutile (Zr : TiO2) have been grown successfully by tilting-mirror-type floating zone (TMFZ) using travelling solvent floating (TSFZ) technique. The effect of doping on the electronic and optical properties of rutile has been studied experimentally as well as by simulation calculations. The effect of doping on the quality of crystals was also investigated by observing optical micrograph and measuring etch pits density that reveals the presence of defects. Undoped rutile crystals were dark blue and comprised many low-angle grain boundaries. Al
Evaluation of anesthesia management, feasibility and efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia performed in the endoscopy unit

Introduction: Data on anesthesia management and outcomes associated with peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) performed exclusively in the endoscopy unit are limited. In this prospective study, we evaluated the safety of anesthesia management, and the feasibility and efficacy of POEM performed exclusively in the endoscopy unit. Methods: A single-center prospective study of consecutive patients with achalasia treated with POEM in an endoscopy unit was performed. Safety of anesthesia management and POEM were determined by procedure-related adverse events. Feasibility was assessed by completion rate. Short-term efficacy was established by clinical success (Eckardt score ≤ 3) and by comparing Eckardt and dysphagia scores before and after POEM. Results: Patients (n = 52) underwent POEM under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation. Aspiration was prevented by keeping patients on a clear liquid diet before the procedure without requiring a prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy for esophageal content clearance. POEM completion rate was 96 % (50/52 patients). There was no post-POEM bleeding. Postprocedure leak was observed in one patient (3 %). Four patients (7.7 %) experienced mucosal injury, three of them were treated uneventfully endoscopically and one required laparoscopic repair. Clinical success was achieved in 88 % of patients. There was a significant decrease in the mean Eckardt score (8.1 to 1.4) and dysphagia score (2.4 to 0.4) (P < 0.0001) at the one month follow up after POEM. Conclusion: Anesthesia management of POEM is safe in the endoscopy unit and aspiration can be prevented without requiring prior esophagogastroduodenoscopy for esophageal content clearance. Overall, POEM performed by a gastroenterologist in the endoscopy unit was feasible and effective for the treatment of achalasia.
Finite element analysis of ring-shaped emission profile in plasma bullet

In this study, we focus on the mechanisms of ring-shaped emission patterns observed in a plasma bullet.1: Our model is based on a fluid model with the local field approximation in ID cylindrical coordinates, corresponding to a cross-section of a plasma bullet. An expected concentration gradient of humid air is assumed to be present due to diffusion of air into helium gas flow. The current model is almost identical to our previous report2. The major difference is that uniform pulselike electric field is given perpendicular to the simulation domain. The pulse width and repetition rate are determined based on experimental conditions. The magnitude of the electric field was chosen so that a periodic steady state solution can be obtained. We also performed spectroscopic measurements to investigate the structure of the plasma bullets and to compare with the simulation results. Figure 1 shows comparison of spatially-resolved emission profiles from nitrogen second positive systems between experiment and simulation. Light emission from nitrogen clearly shows an off-centered peak (ring-shaped profile) in both experiment and simulation. Our simulation results indicate that diffusion of air (nitrogen) into the helium flow plays a key role. Penning ionization between helium metastables and nitrogen generate the ring-shaped emission profile.
Multivariate Statistical Process Control Using LASSO

This article develops a new multivariate statistical process control (SPC) methodology based on adapting the LASSO variable selection method to the SPC problem. The LASSO method has the sparsity property of being able to select exactly the set of nonzero regression coefficients in multivariate regression modeling, which is especially useful in cases where the number of nonzero coefficients is small. In multivariate SPC applications, process mean vectors often shift in a small number of components. Our primary goals are to detect such a shift as soon as it occurs and to identify the shifted mean components. Using this connection between the two problems, we propose a LASSO-based multivariate test statistic, and then integrate this statistic into the multivariate EWMA charting scheme for Phase II multivariate process monitoring. We show that this approach balances protection against various shift levels and shift directions, and thus provides an effective tool for multivariate SPC applications. This article has supplementary material online.
Detection of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G in patients with different digestive malignant tumors.

AIM To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with different digestive malignant tumors. METHODS Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody in 374 patients with different digestive malignant tumors and 310 healthy subjects (normal control group). RESULTS The seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 61.50% (230/374) and 46.77% (145/310), respectively, in patients with digestive tumors and normal controls (P<0.05). The seroprevalence was 52.38% (33/63), 86.60% (84/97), 83.14% (84/101), 45.24 (19/42), 51.13% (18/35) and 44.44% (16/36), respectively in patients with carcinomas of esophagus, stomach, duodenum, rectum, colon and liver (P<0.01). In patients with intestinal and diffuse type gastric cancers, the seroprevalence was 93.75% (60/64) and 72.73% (24/33), respectively (P<0.05). In patients with gastric antral and cardiac cancers, the seroprevalence was 96.43% (54/56) and 73.17% (30/41), respectively (P<0.05). In patients with ulcerous and proliferous type duodenal cancers, the seroprevalence of H pylori infection was 91.04% (61/67) and 52.27% (23/44), respectively (P<0.05). In patients with duodenal bulb and descending cancers, the seroprevalence was 94.20% (65/69) and 45.20% (19/42), respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION H pylori infection is associated with occurrence and development of gastric and duodenal carcinomas. Furthermore, it is also associated with histological type and locations of gastric and duodenal carcinomas.