Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wastewater treatment plant and landfills as sources of polyfluoroalkyl compounds to the atmosphere.

Polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) were determined in air around a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and two landfill sites using sorbent-impregnated polyurethane foam (SIP) disk passive air samplers in summer 2009. The samples were analyzed for five PFC classes (i.e., fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs), sulfonamidoethanols (FOSEs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs)) to investigate their concentration in air, composition and emissions to the atmosphere. ∑PFC concentrations in air were 3-15 times higher within the WWTP (2280-24 040 pg/m(3)) and 5-30 times higher at the landfill sites (2780-26 430 pg/m(3)) compared to the reference sites (597-1600 pg/m3). Variations in the PFC pattern were observed between the WWTP and landfill sites and even within the WWTP site. For example, FTOHs were the predominant PFC class in air for all WWTP and landfill sites, with 6:2 FTOH as the dominant compound at the WWTP (895-12 290 pg/m(3)) and 8:2 FTOH dominating at the landfill sites (1290-17 380 pg/m(3)). Furthermore, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was dominant within the WWTP (43-171 pg/m(3)), followed by perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) (55-116 pg/m(3)), while PFBA was dominant at the landfill sites (101-102 pg/m(3)). It is also noteworthy that the PFCA concentrations decreased with increasing chain length and that the emissions for the even chain length PFCAs outweighed emissions for the odd chain length compounds. Furthermore, highly elevated PFC concentrations were found near the aeration tanks compared to the other tanks (i.e., primary and secondary clarifier) and likely associated with increased volatilization during aeration that may be further enhanced through aqueous aerosol-mediated transport. ∑PFC yearly emissions estimated using a simplified dispersion model were 2560 g/year for the WWTP, 99 g/year for landfill site 1, and 1000 g/year for landfill site 2. These results highlight the important role of WWTPs and landfills as emission sources of PFCs to the atmosphere.
Correlation Between Genetic Polymorphism of Cytokine Genes, Plasma Protein Levels and Bronchial Asthma in the Han People in Northern China

Background and objective. A variety of cytokines are involved in the incidence and development of bronchial asthma. This study was designed to reveal the relationship among genetic polymorphism of cytokine genes, expression levels of cytokines and incidence of bronchial asthma. Methods. We analyzed 14 single nucleotide polymorphism loci in the 10 major cytokine genes plus plasma protein levels of 7 proteins in the bronchial asthma patients (n = 108) and the healthy population (n = 88) of the Han people in northern China. The polymorphism-based genotypes were identified by the sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction. The plasma protein levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to further data processing.Results. Data presented here showed that the 6 polymorphism loci were significantly correlated with the incidence of asthma (p < 0.05). Two of them, IL-2 (−330) and IL-2 (+166), constituted a linkage disequilibrium block. The GG haplotype of this block gave a relatively higher correlation with asthma (p = 0.0767). The plasma protein levels of IgE, IL-6 and IL-1 β correlated with a number of polymorphism loci tested (p < 0.05), of which IgE gave the most significant correlation. The plasma IL-10 and IL-12 levels of the patients in the asthma group were significantly lower than those of the healthy adults in the control group (p < 0.05), while IgE gave the opposite result (p < 0.0001). We constructed a prototype of the metabolic and regulatory network composed of bronchial asthma-related proteins. In this network, IL-6 and TNF-α, were found with a high degree (D = 343 and 235, respectively) and IL-1β with a moderate degree of connection (D = 155). Conclusions.We have found that various degrees of correlation with cytokine genes and protein expression of single nucleotide polymorphism in bronchial asthma. IL-6 and IL-1β appear to play important biological roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. During the analysis of correlation between genetic polymorphism and a complex disease, the effects of environmental factors should be taken into account. The information at the protein level should be fully developed and the bioinformatics techniques can be used for the comprehensive analysis, to have a deep understanding of molecular mechanisms of incidence and development of diseases.
Chronic Vascular Pulmonary Dysplasia Associated with Neonatal Hyperoxia Exposure in the Rat

ABSTRACT: Chronic sequelae of neonatal hyperoxia was studied in male rats exposed to 0.96-1.0 FiO2 for the first 8 days of life. At 58 days of age functional and morphologic cardiopulmonary changes were compared with controls. Right ventricular systolic pressure was measured percutaneously under anesthesia and was increased in the O2 group (29.5 mm Hg ± 3.1 versus 23.2 mm Hg ± 3.5, p< 0.001). Lung and heart weights were similar between groups. Right ventricular weights however were increased in the O2 group (0.197 g ± 0.023 versus 0.175 g ± 0.020, p< 0.001). Air pressure-volume curves were similar but in the O2 rats saline deflation curves were shifted left and maximal fluid lung volumes were greater (14.1 ± 1.2 versus 12.0 ± 0.7 ml, p<0.001). Pulmonary arteries were perfused at 100 cm H2O with a barium-gel mixture and lungs were fixed at 25 cm H2O with formalin. Microscopic examination of lungs revealed dysplastic changes of alveolar architecture which included irregularly enlarged alveoli and incomplete alveolar septation. Morphometric studies of the lungs showed that the O2 rats had an increased volume proportion of parenchyma (0.865 ± 0.020 versus 0.850 ± 0.019, p<0.05), increased mean linear intercept (72.3 urn ± 9.5 versus 53.6/tin ± 5.0, p<0.001), decreased number of alveoli per mm2 (207 ± 34 versus 319 ± 39, p<0.001) and fewer small arteries (20-200 nm) per mm2 (8.7 ±1.3 versus 14.9 ± 2.4, p<0.001). The number of small arteries/100 alveoli was similar. We conclude that limited and specifically timed neonatal hyperoxia is associated with chronic morphologic and functional cardiopulmonary changes in the adult rat. These changes include a decrease in the number of small pulmonary arteries, elevated right ventricular pressure, and emphysema-like changes in the air spaces.
Are Currency Areas Feasible in East Asia? A Benchmarking Approach

This paper evaluated the feasibility of optimum currency areas (OCAs) in East Asia by benchmarking the characteristics of 16 East Asian economies and India against those of the dollarized countries and the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), according to criteria that are most frequently studied in OCA literature, namely synchronization in real business cycle, volatility in real exchange rate, and synchronization in real interest rate cycle. Backed by literature, the U.S. dollar was set to be the reference currency. Data series were divided into different time periods to capture different economic circumstances. A ‘dynamic’ benchmarking technique was used to ensure robustness of results. Results suggested that the region as a whole does not constitute an OCA at the moment. Nonetheless, a subregional union of a high potential ‘Southeast Asian’ bloc was put forward. Results serve to be an important reference for both public and private policymakers on matters pertaining to regionalization and international business management.
Modulation of antigenic phenotype in cultured human osteoblast-like cells by FGFb, TGFbeta1, PDGF-BB, IL-2, IL-1beta, LPS and IFNgamma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recent reports demonstrated that osteoblast-like cells can also exert activities directly associated with the immune system (cytokine synthesis, antigen presentation, phagocytosis and stimulation of T lymphocytes). The present study aimed to analyze the effect of Transforming growth factorbeta1 (TGFbeta1), Fibroblast growth factor basic (FGFb), Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) on the expression on osteoblast-like cells of antigens involved in antigen presentation. METHODS Flow cytometry was used to investigate whether the growth factors FGFb, TGFbeta1, PDGF-BB, IL-2, IL-1beta, LPS and IFNgamma modulate the expression on cultured human osteoblast-like cells of different antigens involved in antigen-presentation and T cell activation. RESULTS TGFbeta1 treatment significantly reduced the expression of CD54 and CD86. IL-1beta treatment significantly enhanced the expression of CD54, CD86 and HLA-DR. LPS and IFNgamma treatments produced a major increase in CD54, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR expression. Expression of these antigen-presenting molecules was not significantly modified by FGFb, PDGF-BB or IL-2 treatment.
Seed losses at harvest and seed persistence of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in different cultural conditions in Chinese farming systems

Zhu YM, Li YD, Colbach N, Ma KP, Wei W & Mi XC (2012). Seed losses at harvest and seed persistence of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in different cultural conditions in Chinese farming systems. Weed Research52, 317–326. Summary This article reports experiments that explore the critical factors for gene flow in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) via the soil seedbank under Chinese farming systems. Research was carried out on 16 farmer’s fields to estimate harvest seed losses after different planting methods and harvest timings, during the four components of the harvest operations. An additional field experiment was set up to estimate the potential germination proportion of seeds in flood-irrigated and un-irrigated fields, as a function of seed burial depth over time. Seed losses were largest during the sun-drying of harvested plants in the field, accounting for about three quarters of the total seed losses. The number of intact seeds declined quickly after they entered the soil, particularly in un-irrigated fields, and no volunteers germinated in the irrigated field after 3 months. Burial depth did not affect the potential for germination and emergence of volunteers in the flood-irrigated field. However, the potential germination declined with increasing burial depth in the un-irrigated field. No viable seeds remained in the soil after 16 months. Seed losses during harvest could be limited to 0.7–1.1% by weight of total seed production by placing a plastic membrane under the cut plants during drying and no rape seeds could germinate after 3 months in water-logged condition. Thus, the risk of gene flow via the soil seedbank is probably small in Chinese oilseed rape farming systems.
Earnings Volatility and Earnings Prediction: Analysis and UK Evidence

This paper confirms that US evidence of a negative relationship between earnings persistence and earnings volatility applies to UK firms over the period 1991–2010. Our analytical framework highlights the possibility that this result may reflect downward estimation bias in earnings persistence (and persistence of cash flow and accruals components of earnings) related to transitory earnings elements. Out-of-sample forecasts, based on models estimated for earnings volatility quartiles, suggest significant improvement in earnings forecasts for lower volatility firms. The results also suggest that the negative association between earnings persistence and volatility may be due to both estimation bias and variation in core earnings persistence.
Up-regulation of Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein IAP-2 by Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a key determinant of tissue pathology during tumor development and organ ischemia. However, little is known regarding hypoxic regulation of genes that are directly involved in cell death or death resistance. Here we report the striking induction by severe hypoxia of the anti-apoptotic protein IAP-2. Hypoxic cells with IAP-2 up-regulation became resistant to apoptosis. IAP-2 was induced by hypoxia per se rather than by the secondary effects of hypoxia, including ATP depletion and cell injury. The inductive response did not relate to alterations of cellular redox status or arrest of mitochondrial respiration. On the other hand, IAP-2 induction was attenuated by actinomycin D, suggesting a role for gene transcription. In vitro nuclear run-on assays demonstrated specific increases in IAP-2 transcriptional activity after hypoxia exposure. HIF-1, the primary transcription factor that is responsible for multiple gene activation under hypoxia, does not have a role in IAP-2 expression. HIF-1 and IAP-2 were induced by different degrees of hypoxia; severe hypoxia or anoxia was required for IAP-2 induction. Moreover, cobalt chloride and desferrioxamine activated HIF-1 but not IAP-2. Finally, IAP-2 was induced by severe hypoxia in mouse embryonic stem cells that were deficient of HIF-1. Thus, this study not only provides the first demonstration of hypoxic regulation of an anti-apoptotic gene but also suggests the participation of novel hypoxia-responsive transcription mechanisms.
DETERMINANTS OF SCHOOL ENROLMENT AND EDUCATION ATTAINMENT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM KENYA

This paper investigates the determinants of demand for schooling in Kenya. Probit and ordered probit methods are used to model enrolment and attainment respectively. The results show that child characteristics, parental education and other household characteristics, quality and cost of schooling are important determinants of demand for education services in Kenya. The results further show that girls would be more affected by policy changes than boys. The findings call for targeting in efforts to boost and sustain demand for schooling in Kenya. The study recommends immediate policy interventions focusing on improving quality of education and poverty alleviation.
Microduplication of 3p25.2 encompassing RAF1 associated with congenital heart disease suggestive of Noonan syndrome

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a clinically variable and genetically heterogeneous disorder with congenital heart defects (CHD), short stature, and craniofacial dysmorphisms. Gain‐of‐function mutations in RAF1 can cause NS and the highly related NS with multiple lentigines (previously known as LEOPARD syndrome). Here we report on a 15‐year‐old male with NS phenotype: short stature, heart defects, low posterior hairline, facial malformations, malformed left ear with sensorineural hearing loss, widely spaced nipples, and unilateral upper limb anomaly. Using high‐resolution SNP array technology, we identified in this patient a 0.25 Mb microduplication at 3p25.2 in which RAF1 is located. Sequence analysis did not identify mutations in genes associated with Holt‐Oram syndrome. These findings suggest that duplications of genomic regions encompassing RAF1 could cause NS and are consistent with the notion that rare copy number variations encompassing causative genes may underlie a small percentage of patients with syndromic CHD like NS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Regional Distribution of Population, Migration, and Climate

Regional migration is analyzed utilizing a model that develops a system of urban areas. The areas differ in their endowment of a site-specific factor—climate is used as the example. The effects of differences in tax rates and technology are determined in a model where the price of housing is endogenous. Compensation for an inferior climate occurs through regional differences in income levels or the price of housing, dependent on the manner in which climate affects production or consumption. The market distribution of households is found to be suboptimal in cases where utility is derived directly from the consumption of climate.
JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS March 1978 MULTIDIMENSIONAL SECURITY PRICING: A CORRECTION

C. Schweser* In a recent article appearing in this journal [2] Jonathan Ingersoll developed a normative multidimensional security pricing model for the individual investor in which he corrected errors in an earlier attempt by William Jean [3] [4] [5] at developing such a model. The purpose of this correction is to clarify and correct certain parts of Ingersoll's correction of Jean's work. Ingersoll's criticism of the Jean Model revolves around Ingersoll's Figure 3. In Figure 3, Ingersoll projects two slopes onto the return-skewness plane (E-M): 1) the slope of the borrowing-lending line, obtained by altering the proportions of wealth invested in portfolio o (the investor optimal combination of risky assets) and the riskless security, and 2) the slope of the projection of the efficient frontier as the investor alters the proportions of his wealth invested in portfolio o and security i. Ingersoll states that, "there is no reason to assume that these two projections will be tangent. " This tangency assumption is necessary for the development of Jean's model. [See Figure 3 below. ] Understanding what has been attempted in Figure 3 and its interpretation offers important insights into multidimensional models.
Chromosomal site-specific double-strand breaks are efficiently targeted for repair by oligonucleotides in yeast

The repair of chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be accomplished through homologous recombination in most organisms. We report here that exogenous oligonucleotides can efficiently target for repair a single DSB induced in a chromosome of yeast. The efficiency of recombinational targeting leading to a desired DNA change can be as high as 20% of cells. The DSB was generated either by a regulatable I-SceI endonuclease just before transformation or appeared spontaneously at the site of a long inverted repeat composed of human Alu sequences. The approach used features of our previously described delitto perfetto system for selecting transformants with integrative recombinant oligonucleotides. The DSB repair mediated by pairs of complementary integrative recombinant oligonucleotides was efficient for targeting to homologous sequences that were close to or distant from the DSB and in the presence of a competing homologous chromosome in diploid cells. We also demonstrate that a DSB can strongly stimulate recombination with single-stranded DNA, without strand bias. These findings expand current models of DSB repair. In addition, we establish a high-throughput system for rapid genome-wide modification with oligonucleotides.
How Welfare States Shape the Gender Pay Gap: A Theoretical and Comparative Analysis

We assess the impact of the welfare state on cross-national variation in the gender wage gap. Earnings inequality between men and women is conceptualized as resulting from their different locations in the class hierarchy, combined with the severity of wage differentials between and within classes. This decomposition contributes to identifying the relevant dimensions of welfare states and testing their impact on women’s relative earnings. Our empirical analysis is based on income and occupation-based indicators of class and utilizes microdata for 17 post-industrial societies. We find systematic differences between welfare regimes in the components of the gender gap. The evidence supports our claim that the state molds gender inequality in labor market attainments by influencing women’s class positions and regulating class inequality.
The Influence of Store Image on Store Loyalty in Hong Kong's Quick Service Restaurant Industry

ABSTRACT Studies considering links between store image and store loyalty, especially in an Asian context, are sparse. This article explores the relationship between store image and store loyalty in the Hong Kong fast-food industry. A survey of 200 users of fast-food restaurants revealed that functional attributes of store image are more accurate than psychological attributes when predicting the degree of store loyalty. Functional attributes of particular importance are waiting time for a seat, store environment and store location. However, some psychological attributes have an influence on store loyalty. Furthermore, the findings show that the more favorable the store image, the more likely consumers are to consume in a particular restaurant.
Prevalence of and factors associated with fewer than 20 remaining teeth in Taiwanese adults with disabilities: a community-based cross-sectional study

Objectives To examine the prevalence of and the factors associated with a number of remaining teeth (NRT) <20 among adults with disabilities. Design A community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting This study was part of a health promotion programme designed for community-dwelling adults with disabilities. Participants A total of 549 adults with disabilities, aged 20–80 years, living in the community in Chiayi County in Taiwan. Outcome measures Various parameters, including NRT, oral health behaviours (ie, oral hygiene, dietary habits and substance use), comorbidities, disability classification and capability for performing activities of daily living, were measured. Data were statistically analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results The mean NRT was 18.1 (SD=10.9); 44.8% of participants had NRT <20 (including 13.7% edentulous participants). Most participants had poor oral hygiene: 83.4% reported seldom using dental floss, 78% did not undergo regular 6-monthly dental check-ups and 77.4% seldom brushed their teeth after meal. After adjusting for potentially confounding variables, the intellectual disability group had a significantly higher risk of an NRT <20 than the physical disability group (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.08). Additionally, the rare use of dental floss and hypertension significantly increased the possibility of an NRT <20 (OR 1.73–2.12, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.71). Conclusions An NRT <20 and edentulism were highly prevalent among adults with disabilities, who displayed poor oral hygiene behaviours. Adults with intellectual disabilities had a greater likelihood of having an NRT <20 than did those with physical disability. In addition to unmodifiable factors, the poor use of dental floss was significantly associated with an NRT <20.
Risk classes for structured products: mathematical aspects and their implications on behavioral investors

The new regulation of the EU for financial products (UCITS IV) prescribes Value at Risk (VaR) as the benchmark for assessing the risk of structured products. We discuss the limitations of this approach and show that, in theory, the expected return of structured products is unbounded while the VaR requirement for the lowest risk class can still be satisfied. Real-life examples of large returns within the lowest risk class are then provided. The results demonstrate that the new regulation could lead to new seemingly safe products that hide large risks. Behavioral investors that choose products only based on their official risk classes and their expected returns will, therefore, invest into suboptimal products. To overcome these limitations, we suggest a new risk-return measure for financial products based on the martingale measure that could erase such loopholes.
A Closed-form Solution for a Model of Precautionary Saving

This paper analyses life-cycle consumption plans and distinguishes between temporal risk aversion and intertemporal substitution. The results assume that felicity functions are quadratic and that income follows a linear model with normally distributed errors. Stochastic dynamic programming then yields closed-loop linear decision rules. Certainty equivalence no longer holds, but instead households play a min-max strategy against nature. One finds a rationale for precautionary saving and a larger sensitivity of changes in consumption to income innovations.