Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uptake, Distribution, and Speciation of Chromium in Brassica Juncea

Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) has been widely used in phytoremediation because of its capacity to accumulate high levels of chromium (Cr) and other metals. The present study was conducted to investigate mechanism(s) involved in Cr binding and sequestration by B. juncea. The plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in field-moist or air-dried soils, amended with 100 mg kg−1 of Cr (III or VI). The plant concentrated Cr mainly in the roots. B. juncea removed an average of 48 and 58 μg Cr per plant from Cr (III) and Cr (VI)-treated soils, respectively. The uptake of Cr was not affected by the moisture status of the soils. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy measurements showed only Cr (III) bound predominantly to formate and acetate ligands, in the bulk and rhizosphere soils, respectively. In the plant tissues, Cr (III) was detected, primarily as acetate in the roots and oxalate in the leaves. X-ray microprobe showed the sites of Cr localization, and probably sequestration, in epidermal and cortical cells in the roots and epidermal and spongy mesophyll cells in the leaves. These findings demonstrate the ability of B. juncea to detoxify more toxic Cr (VI), thereby making this plant a potential candidate for phytostabilization.
Towards functional selectivity for α6β3γ2 GABAA receptors: a series of novel pyrazoloquinolinones

The GABAA receptors are ligand‐gated ion channels, which play an important role in neurotransmission. Their variety of binding sites serves as an appealing target for many clinically relevant drugs. Here, we explored the functional selectivity of modulatory effects at specific extracellular α+/β− interfaces, using a systematically varied series of pyrazoloquinolinones.
Normal Bone Mineral Content in Young Adults with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency

Objective: To assess bone mineral content (BMC) and body composition in adolescents and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Methods: BMC, anteroposterior-projected bone area (BA), bone mineral density, and fat mass percentage were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 18 patients aged 18–33 years (8 females and 10 males) with 21-hydroxylase deficiency using a Hologic QDR 1000/W densitometer. Results: BMC and bone mineral density for age were significantly reduced at –1.2 standard deviation scores (SDS; range from –2.8 to +4.1) and –1.1 SDS (range from –3.2 to +2.6), respectively. The BA for height was significantly increased at +1.7 SDS (range from –0.5 to +4.8), and the BMC for BA was normal at 0.3 SDS (range from –2.0 to +3.6). The median final height was significantly reduced at –1.6 SDS (range from –5.6 to +0.3), and the fat mass percentage was significantly increased at +1.5 SDS (range from –1.0 to +5.0). Conclusion: Our study population of young adults with 21-hydroxylase deficiency had a short stature and broad bones with a normal BMC and had an increased fat mass percentage.
Bank Efficiency and Regional Growth in Europe: New Evidence from Micro-Data

This paper examines whether European regions which incorporate banks with a higher intermediation quality grow faster and are more resilient to negative shocks than its less efficient peers. For this purpose, we measure a bank's intermediation quality by estimating its pro t and cost efficiency while taking the changing banking environment after the financial crisis into account. Next, we aggregate the efficiencies of all banks within a NUTS 2 region to obtain a regional proxy for fi nancial quality in twelve European countries. Our results show that relatively more pro t efficient banks foster growth in their region. The link between fi nancial quality and growth is valid both in the pre-crisis and post-crisis period. These results provide evidence to the importance of swiftly restoring bank pro tability in euro area crisis countries through addressing high non-performing loans ratios and decisive actions on bank recapitalization. JEL Classification: G21, O16, O47, O52
The Epidemiology of Convulsive Status Epilepticus in Children: A Critical Review

Summary: There is ongoing debate regarding the most appropriate definition of status epilepticus. This depends upon the research question being asked. Based on the most widely used “30 min definition,” the incidence of childhood convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in developed countries is approximately 20/100,000/year, but will vary depending, among others, on socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics of the population. Age is a main determinant of the epidemiology of CSE and, even within the pediatric population there are substantial differences between older and younger children in terms of incidence, etiology, and frequency of prior neurological abnormalities or prior seizures. Overall, incidence is highest during the first year of life, febrile CSE is the single most common cause, around 40% of children will have previous neurological abnormalities and less than 15% will have a prior history of epilepsy. Outcome is mainly a function of etiology. However, the causative role of CSE itself on mesial temporal sclerosis and subsequent epilepsy or the influence of age, duration, or treatment on outcome of CSE remains largely unknown. Future studies should aim at clarifying these issues and identifying specific ethnic, genetic, or socioeconomic factors associated with CSE to pinpoint potential targets for its primary and secondary prevention.
Cellular and cordless telephones and the risk for brain tumours

Microwave exposure from the use of cellular telephones has been discussed in recent years as a potential risk factor for brain tumours. We included in a case–control study 1617 patients aged 20–80 years of both sexes with brain tumour diagnosed between 1 January 1997 and 30 June 2000. They were alive at the study time and had histopathologically verified brain tumour. One matched control to each case was selected from the Swedish Population Register. The study area was the Uppsala-Örebro, Stockholm, Linköping and Göteborg medical regions of Sweden. Exposure was assessed by a questionnaire that was answered by 1429 (88%) cases and 1470 (91%) controls. In total, use of analogue cellular telephones gave an increased risk with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.6). With a tumour induction period of >10 years the risk increased further: OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.1–2.9). No clear association was found for digital or cordless telephones. With regard to the anatomical area of the tumour and exposure to microwaves, the risk was increased for tumours located in the temporal area on the same side of the brain that was used during phone calls; for analogue cellular telephones the OR was 2.5 (95% CI 1.3–4.9). Use of a telephone on the opposite side of the brain was not associated with an increased risk for brain tumours. With regard to different tumour types, the highest risk was for acoustic neurinoma (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.8–6.8) among analogue cellular telephone users.
Përcaktuesit mikro- dhe makroekonomikë të marzhit neto të interesave në sistemin bankar shqiptar (2002-2014)

Including for the first time macroeconomic variables in the empirical analysis with panel data for commercial banks, this paper aims to shed light on the determinants of net interest margin in the Albanian banking sector. Considered as a good indicator of banking intermediation efficiency level, interest margin size helps to perceive asymmetries in the banking market and the costs transmitted to the clients. The issue is important in the context of monetary policy, since the higher are the asymmetries in the market, the more difficult the transmission of its signals. Using an OLS-based PCSE procedure to estimate the econometric model, this study suggests that bank specific factors such as overhead costs, capital adequacy ratio, current liquidity ratio and non-performing loans ratio are the most important determinants of interest margins in Albania. Macroeconomic factors such as growth, exchange rate and domestic debt have a significant impact, even though the main contribution is attributed to bank’s specific factors. The information about banking variables may have implications mainly in the banking supervision areas of market efficiency and regulation, but the new information about macroeconomic variables is of relevance to policymakers who, with their economic policies, can contribute to the stability of the banking market.
Elements of Sampling Theory and Methods

The author states in the Preface, “One cannot do justice to sampling theory and methods in one semester, however, by using books like Hansen, Hurwitz, and Madow (1953), Sukhatme et al. (1984), and Cochran (1977), which are designed for a two-semester course. Hence I developed this book, which evolved after teaching a course to the graduate students at the University of Kentucky over several years. It contains as many sampling ideas at an elementary level as can be imparted during a semester’s course. The book is self contained, in the sense that all elementary proofs are provided. ” An interesting feature of this book is that it presents “varying-probability sampling” in Chapter 2 and then revisits it again in Chapter 10 in more detail. The author is to be commended for presenting a lot of material that is not available in a single book. Of the many recent books available in survey sampling, I have used in my teaching or read those of Hedayat and Sinha (1991), Thompson (1992), Thompson (1997), and Lohr (1999). I  nd all of these to be different from each other and furthermore, they are all valuable in my understanding of this important area of statistics. Elements of Sampling Theory and Methods is unique in its presentation of materials, and I like it with the four other books mentioned earlier. The author states in the Preface that “owing to the limited scope of this book, it is different to do justice to the numerous contributors to this  eld. The selection of topics is bound to be subjective and is dictated by the level of the course. Thus the bibliography is also highly selective. Hence, my apologies to those whose papers are not cited in the bibliography. ” This is of course understandable, but again the author has done a splendid job. The book’s price is reasonable in comparison to the other four books mentioned in this area. I strongly recommend this book to the readers of Technometrics.
Validity and Reliability of Satisfaction as a Mediator between Quality Constructs in Manufacturer–Supplier Relationships Through Time and Across Contexts

Abstract Purpose: The main objective is to test and assess a research model through time and across contexts in which satisfaction is a mediator between quality constructs in manufacturer–supplier relationships. Satisfaction is positioned as a mediator between trust and commitment (i.e., causes) on the one hand, and cooperation, coordination and continuity expectancy (i.e., outcomes) on the other. The objective is also to provide a substantiation and contribution through time and across contexts, to business theory of supplier-manufacturer relationships Methodology/approach: One out of eight samples selected for additional empirical substantiation for this study comprises a total of 600 small and medium-sized Spanish enterprises from various industrial sectors. A total of 259 usable questionnaires were returned, generating a response rate of 43.2%. The study is positioned (and compared) in relation to seven other samples that have been tested within the same research model in Canada, Finland, Norway (twice), South Africa, Sweden, and Taiwan. The total number of useable questionnaires is 1641, the average number of useable questionnaires per study is 205 and the average response rate is 37.4% in the studies assessed of this article. Findings: The research model tested and assessed in the eight studies meets the requirements for satisfactory convergent, discriminant and nomological validity, as well as for construct reliability. The measurement and structural metrics support validity and reliability over time and across contexts, which is rare in marketing research. Research implications: The theoretical framework contributes, through time and across contexts, to the business theory of supplier–manufacturer relationships. The tested research model demonstrates properties of validity and reliability across countries and company sizes. Implications and suggestions for further research are provided. Practical implications: The empirical findings indicate key factors that contribute to satisfaction in manufacturer–supplier relationships in different countries and companies. Originality/value: The article makes a contribution to theory relating to supplier–manufacturer relationships, providing evidence that the tested, hypothesized relationships are generally applicable. The validation or falsification of empirical findings in previous research is crucial in building valid and reliable theory over time and across contexts. Otherwise, theory becomes fragmented and undermines the credibility of marketing research.
Protein interaction cloning in yeast: identification of mammalian proteins that react with the leucine zipper of Jun.

To identify proteins that interact with Jun or Fos we have used the protein interaction cloning system developed by S. Fields and O. -K. Song [(1989) Nature (London) 340, 245-246] to clone mammalian cDNAs encoding polypeptides that interact with the dimerization and DNA-binding motif (bZIP; basic domain leucine zipper motif) of Jun. For this purpose, yeast cells lacking GAL4 activity but expressing a GAL4 DNA-binding domain-Jun bZIP fusion protein were transformed with a mouse embryo cDNA plasmid library in which the cDNA was joined to a gene segment encoding the GAL4 transcriptional activation domain. Several transformants exhibiting GAL4 activity were identified and shown to harbor plasmids encoding polypeptides predicted to form coiled-coil structures with Jun and/or Fos. One of these is a bZIP protein of the ATF/CREB protein family--probably the murine homolog of TAXREB67. Two others encode polypeptides with predicted potential to form coiled-coil structures, and seven other isolates encode segments of alpha- or beta-tropomyosin, classical coiled-coil proteins. The tropomyosin polypeptides were found to interact in the yeast assay system with the bZIP region of Jun but not with the bZIP region of Fos. Our results illustrate the range of protein interaction cloning for discovering proteins that bind to a given target polypeptide.
Buyer Quality and Procurement Outcomes: Explorative Evidence From the US

We explore empirically the impact of buyer quality on public procurement outcomes. Using purchases data (Federal Procurement Data System) and survey data (Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey) from US federal agencies, we find that procurement quality is highly heterogeneous across different agencies and persistent over time. The qualitative aspect that better predicts procurement performance is the perceived degree of cooperation within the unit, followed by the presence of appropriate incentives. We then assess the main channels through which public procurer quality affects outcomes. We find that buyer quality improves the selection of suppliers and strengthens the association between the use of cost plus contracts and the negotiation procedure.
Culture and gender’s role in apparel purchasing patterns

Purpose Scholars recognize that international marketing effectiveness requires adapting to cultural values, and at the same time, paradoxically, acknowledge the possibility of cultural convergence. The purpose of this paper is to take the context of Puerto Rico as a US territory to reconcile these two propositions by analyzing culture and gender’s influence on apparel purchase. Design/methodology/approach Via multiple regression analysis, the study considers seasonality as a factor of apparel purchase patterns, developing a consumer behavior model for the apparel industry. Findings Results confirm that culture influences purchase behavior, an influence moderated by gender. Additionally, they show that seasons and special occasions are strong predictors of apparel purchase patterns. Research limitations/implications The findings assert the claims of cultural convergence, yet preserve the notion that cultural values are reflected in patterns of consumer behavior in the case of apparel. Practical implications The study develops highly explanatory models indicating that Puerto Rico expenditure reflects cultural patterns of special occasions, but overshoots expectations for its US counterpart. Originality/value The results show that Puerto Rico has appropriated several US cultural aspects (e.g. special holidays), which are expressed differently as reflected by apparel purchase behavior, supporting the notion that Puerto Rico should be treated as an international market. The study demonstrates that cross-cultural studies may be robust in absence of available Hofstede’s dimensions for a country.
Document de Recherche n° 2007-25 « On the Use of Data Envelopment Analysis in Assessing Local and Global Performances of Hedge Funds »

This paper aims to show that Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is an efficient tool to assist investors in multiple criteria decision-making tasks like assessing hedge fund performance. DEA has the merit of offering investors the possibility to consider simultaneously multiple evaluation criteria with direct control over the priority level paid to each criterion. By addressing main methodological issues regarding the use of DEA in evaluating hedge fund local and global performance, this paper attempts to provide investors sufficient guidelines for tailoring their own performance measure which reflect successfully their own preferences. Although these guidelines are formulated in the hedge fund context, they can also be applied to other kinds of investment funds.
Frequency of the D620N mutation in VPS35 in Parkinson disease.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency and clinical spectrum of the recently identified p.D620N mutation in the VPS35 gene in Parkinson disease (PD) in an international sample. DESIGN Genetic analysis by DNA sequencing and detailed clinical and neuropsychiatric assessment as well as neuroimaging in mutation carriers. SETTING Tertiary referral centers in Germany, Serbia, Chile, and the United States. PATIENTS One thousand seven hundred seventy-four patients with PD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Frequency of the p.D620N mutation. RESULTS A single mutation carrier was identified. The mutation carrier was a 60-year-old German man who had tremor-dominant PD since the age of 45 years. Longitudinal follow-up over 13 years revealed a disease progression from Hoehn and Yahr stage 1 to 3. There was evidence of mild cognitive impairment on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. No abnormalities were observed by multimodal neuroimaging. He had a family history consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance. An affected paternal aunt and 3 reportedly unaffected siblings were also found to be mutation carriers. CONCLUSION VPS35 mutations are a rare cause of PD in different populations. The clinical phenotype may be indistinguishable from idiopathic PD with the possible exception of an earlier age at onset. Genetic analysis of the extended family revealed incomplete penetrance of the p.D620N mutation.
Longitudinal Changes in Distance-Running Performance of Young Males

Longitudinal studies of adolescent males have shown that absolute maximal aerobic power (VO2max) and distance-running performance improve with age, while VO2max expressed relative to body mass remains stable. These earlier studies used subjects that were engaged in distance-run training; therefore, it was not possible to assess the relative importance of growth and/or run training to improved performance. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to quantify longitudinal changes in VO2max, running economy (RE), and distance-running performance in non-run-trained young males. Six subjects were tested at mean ages of 9.9 (T1) and 16.8 years (T2). Statistical tests of mean values revealed that over the 7-year period, relative VO2max remained unchanged (T1, 48.9 ml.kg-1.min-1; T2, 47.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) and RE improved (T1, 234.2; T2, 202.8 ml.kg-1.km-1), 9-min run distance increased (T1, 1637 m; T2, 2115 m), and the estimated percent of VO2max incurred during the 9-min run increased from 85.8% (T1) to 99.5% (T2). It was concluded that the improvement in distance-running performance observed in adolescent boys was not dependent upon run training. In view of the fact that maximal aerobic power remained stable, this change appears to be attributable to better running economy and an ability in runs of a fixed duration to perform at a higher relative work load.
Post-Adoptive Services' Impact on Adoption Outcomes

iii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Problem Statement . 1 Purpose of the Study . 4 Significance of the Project for Social Work Practice.5 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction . 7 Adoptees' Special Needs . 7 Preparedness of Adoptive Parents . 8 Resources Available . 9 Resources Accessed/Used . 10 Existing Research on Adoption Outcomes . 12 Theories Guiding Conceptualization . 13 Summary . 15 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS Introduction . 16 Study Design . 16 Sampling . 17 Data Collection and Instruments . 18 Procedures . 18 Protection of Human Subjects . 19 Data Analysis . 19
Cigarettes and oral snuff use in Sweden: Prevalence and transitions.

AIMS To investigate the prevalence and patterns of transitions between cigarette and snus use. DESIGN Cross-sectional study within the population-based Swedish Twin Registry. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 31 213 male and female twins 42-64 years old. MEASUREMENTS Age-adjusted prevalence odds ratios (POR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) described the association between gender and tobacco use, while Kaplan-Meier survival methods produced cumulative incidence curves of age at onset of tobacco use. Life-time tobacco use histories were constructed using ages at onset of tobacco use and current tobacco use status. FINDINGS Although more males reported ever smoking (64.4%) than females (61.7%), more males were former smokers (POR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.27-1.39). Males were far more likely to use snus than females (POR: 18.0, 95% CI: 16.17-20.04). Age at onset of cigarette smoking occurred almost entirely before age 25, while the age at onset of snus use among males occurred over a longer time period. Most men began using cigarettes first, nearly one-third of whom switched to using cigarettes and snus in combination. While 30.6% of these combined users quit tobacco completely, only 7.4% quit snus and currently use cigarettes, while 47.7% quit cigarettes and currently use snus. CONCLUSIONS Current cigarette smoking is more prevalent among Swedish women than men, while snus use is more prevalent among men. Among men who reported using both cigarettes and snus during their life-time, it was more common to quit cigarettes and currently use snus than to quit snus and currently use cigarettes. Once snus use was initiated, more men continued using snus rather than quit tobacco completely.