Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The challenge of mapping overeducation and overskilling across countries: a critical approach using PIAAC

ABSTRACT Problems of overeducation and overqualification in developed countries have attracted the attention of policymakers and researchers alike. While these phenomena have been clearly conceptualised, their measurement remains complex and controversial. This paper presents an overview an overview of the phenomena and map overeducation and overqualification across countries. Drawing on a broad set of definitions from the literature, they quantify the intensity of overeducation and overqualification for a set of countries that participated in the first two rounds of the OECD’s Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The results highlight marked differences across countries. However, maps differ according to the focus adopted – be it overeducation or overqualification – and are also highly sensitive to the specific definition of occupational mismatch selected. Policymakers clearly need to be cautious when interpreting overeducation/overqualification figures. The analysis also allows to further discuss the strengths and limitations of PIAAC for studying overeducation and overqualification.
THE IMPACT OF CHINESE FDI ON EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR OF GHANA

One of the major concerns of governments in Africa in general and Ghana in particular is unemployment and underemployment. Most developing countries especially African countries compete to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into their economies with the desire of improving employment level and securing a sustainable development leading to economic growth. In view of this, the creation of jobs for the unemployed and technology transfer through Chinese investments has become complementary since Chinese FDI can be an important source for employment, economic growth and transformation processes. This study focuses on the contribution of China’s FDI on employment generation in the building and construction sector of Ghana. By using a robust regression model, the results show that, Chinese FDI flows on employment through direct effects on building and construction sector of Ghana have positive and significance on employment growth. This means that, Chinese FDI contributes to an efficient workforce which benefits an economy from high productivity and leads to growth in individual household incomes.
Tympanometric experiments on retracted ear drums – does tympanometry reflect the true middle ear pressure?

Conclusions: Tympanometry in ears with retracted or partially atelectatic tympanic membranes does not reflect the true middle ear (ME) pressure. The position of the tympanogram peak depends on the size of a retraction pocket and the remaining ME gas volume. Thus tympanometry in such cases cannot be used for measurements of ME pressure. Objective: To prove the hypothesis that tympanometry in ears with retraction pockets or atelectasis does not measure ME pressure correctly. Materials and methods: Tympanometry was performed in a simplified artificial ME model, in which different ‘tympanic membranes’ with pockets could be integrated. Results: We found a shift of the tympanogram peaks, either towards negative or positive pressures, depending on the position of the pocket: in case of an ‘inward’ direction (towards the ME like a retraction pocket) the peak was in the negative pressure range, in case of an ‘outward’ direction (bulging into the ear canal) the shift was towards positive pressures. The shift increased with decreasing volume behind the tympanic membrane. The effect cannot be simply be explained by hysteresis but by the air ‘cushion’ that is ‘trapped’ behind the membrane, limiting its excursions during the tympanometric sweep.
Induced Ripening Agents and Their Effect on Fruit Quality of Banana

Ripening is a genetically programmed highly coordinated irreversible phenomenon which includes many biochemical changes including tissue softening, pigment changes, aroma and flavour volatile production, reduction in astringency, and many others. Banana is one of mostly consumed fruit crops in the world. Since banana is a climactic fruit, induced ripening is essential in commercial scale banana cultivation and distribution to assure good flavour, texture, and uniform peel colour. Ethylene gas, acetylene gas liberated from calcium carbide, and ethephon are some of the commercial ripening agents used successfully in the trade and they have been widely studied for their effectiveness on initiating and accelerating the ripening process and their effect on fruit quality and health related issues. Lauryl alcohol was also shown as a ripening agent for bananas. Most studies suggest that there is no difference in biochemical composition and sensory quality in bananas treated with chemicals that induce ripening from naturally ripened bananas. However volatile profiles of artificially ripened bananas were shown to be considerably different from naturally ripened bananas in some studies. This review discusses induced ripening agents and their effect on fruit quality of bananas.
Vaccination with Live Yersinia pestis Primes CD4 and CD8 T Cells That Synergistically Protect against Lethal Pulmonary Y. pestis Infection

ABSTRACT Vaccination with live attenuated Yersinia pestis confers protection against pneumonic plague but is not considered safe for general use. Subunit plague vaccines containing the Y. pestis F1 and LcrV proteins prime robust antibody responses but may not provide sufficient protection. To aid the development of a safe and effective plague vaccine, we are investigating roles for T cells during defense against Y. pestis infection. Here we demonstrate that vaccination of mice with live Y. pestis primes specific CD4 and CD8 T cells that, upon purification and direct transfer to naïve mice, synergistically protect against lethal intranasal Y. pestis challenge. While not preventing extrapulmonary dissemination, the coadministered T cells promote bacterial clearance and reduce bacteremia. These observations strongly suggest that development of pneumonic plague vaccines should strive to prime both CD4 and CD8 T cells. Finally, we demonstrate that vaccination with live Y. pestis primes CD4 and CD8 T cells that respond to Y. pestis strains lacking the capacity to express F1, LcrV, and all pCD1/pPCP-encoded proteins, suggesting that protective T cells likely recognize antigens distinct from those previously defined as targets for humoral immunity.
Causality and Contagion in EMU Sovereign Bonds Revisited: Novel Evidence from Nonlinear Causality Tests

This paper investigates the possible existence of Granger-causal relationships in the behavior of sovereign bond markets within the European Monetary Union (EMU), with special focus on higher order causality accounting for nonlinear dependence between the variables. With the above in mind both traditional linear and the nonlinear variants of the Granger causality test are conducted. An extensive sample of yields on 10-year sovereign bonds issued by 12 EMU countries and USA over the period running from January 2000 to June of 2014 is employed. Our findings reveal interesting causality patterns both at first and second order moment of sovereign yields. In particular, a bi-directional causality in mean and variance within the group of the southern Europe countries and a weak evidence of causality both in mean and variance running from southern to northern Europe sovereign yields is observed. Our results entail significant policy implications for market regulators and bond portfolio investors and useful insights for researchers interested in the developments of EMU sovereign debt markets.
Paucity of Hematozoa in Colombian Birds

Sixty-four birds of 43 species were caught at six localities in Colombia during the dry season in March 1998 and investigated for hematozoa by microscopic examination of stained blood films. Haemoproteus coatneyi, Plasmodium vaughani, Leucocytozoon sp. , and microfilariae were identified. The overall prevalence of infection was 8%. Prevalences of infection for Haemoproteus spp. , Plasmodium spp. , Leucocytozoon spp. , and microfilariae were 3%, 2%, 2%, and 3%, respectively. All hemosporidian infections encountered were of low intensity (<1% of infected erythrocytes). The low prevalences and intensities of hemosporidian parasites in this study are in accord with other records from the Neotropics.
Comparison of the Pharmacokinetics of Venlafaxine Extended Release and Desvenlafaxine in Extensive and Poor Cytochrome P450 2D6 Metabolizers

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of cytochrome P450 2D6 extensive metabolizer (EM) or poor metabolizer (PM) status on the pharmacokinetics of single doses of venlafaxine extended release (ER) and desvenlafaxine (administered as desvenlafaxine succinate) in healthy adults. Methods: In an open-label, crossover study, 14 healthy volunteers (aged 18-55 years; 7 EMs and 7 PMs) received, in randomized sequence, single doses of venlafaxine ER 75 mg/d or desvenlafaxine 100 mg/d. Cytochrome P450 2D6 genotyping was performed, and plasma drug levels were measured. The arithmetic means and standard deviation (SD) for area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) were calculated. Comparisons of AUC and Cmax between cytochrome P450 2D6 EMs and PMs were calculated using a Wilcoxon exact test. Results: After administration of venlafaxine ER, mean Cmax and AUC of venlafaxine were significantly greater in PMs compared with EMs, whereas mean Cmax and AUC of its metabolite, desvenlafaxine, were significantly lower for PMs than for EMs (P = 0.001, all comparisons). In contrast, mean Cmax and AUC of desvenlafaxine after administration of desvenlafaxine were comparable between EMs and PMs. Conclusions: Cytochrome P450 2D6 genetic polymorphisms had no discernible impact on exposure to desvenlafaxine after desvenlafaxine administration; in contrast, compared with an EM phenotype, a PM phenotype had a significant effect on venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine plasma concentrations after venlafaxine ER administration. This reduced pharmacokinetic variability of desvenlafaxine may translate into better uniformity of response for patients receiving desvenlafaxine versus venlafaxine, but additional studies are required to test this hypothesis.
Reaching-related Neurons in Superior Parietal Area 5: Influence of the Target Visibility

Reaching movements require the integration of both somatic and visual information. These signals can have different relevance, depending on whether reaches are performed toward visual or memorized targets. We tested the hypothesis that under such conditions, therefore depending on target visibility, posterior parietal neurons integrate differently somatic and visual signals. Monkeys were trained to execute both types of reaches from different hand resting positions and in total darkness. Neural activity was recorded in Area 5 (PE) and analyzed by focusing on the preparatory epoch, that is, before movement initiation. Many neurons were influenced by the initial hand position, and most of them were further modulated by the target visibility. For the same starting position, we found a prevalence of neurons with activity that differed depending on whether hand movement was performed toward memorized or visual targets. This result suggests that posterior parietal cortex integrates available signals in a flexible way based on contextual demands.
The Time-related Underemployment of Lone Parents during Welfare Reform, Recession and Austerity: A Challenge to In-work Conditionality?

Reforms to UK social security benefits introduced between 2008-12 that increased lone parent obligations to enter employment coincided with economic crisis and government austerity. Increases in underemployment in the broader population during this period both in terms of unemployment and time-related underemployment raise questions regarding the extent to which lone parents not only managed to enter paid-work but obtain a sufficient number of employment hours. Activation policies have increased labour market exposure at a time of greater underemployment. At the same time high levels of economic hardship, in the context of stagnant real wage growth and benefit cuts linked to broader austerity policy, could place additional pressures on lone parent time-related underemployment where a desire for greater employment hours to improve household income is not met by availability. We present findings showing disproportionately high growth in time-related underemployment among lone mothers with at peak around one in five employed lone mothers with a youngest dependent child above five years of age experiencing such underemployment. The implications to in-work conditionality policies and the roll out of the UK�s new working age benefit Universal Credit are highlighted.
Knowledge of copyright issues and strategies used in solving copyright queries among academic librarians in Kenya

COPYRIGHT QUERIES AMONG ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS IN KENYA ___________________________________________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri, Columbia ___________________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________________________________________________ by MUSA WAKHUNGU OLAKA
Single nucleotide polymorphism discovery and haplotype analysis of Ca2+-dependent K+ channel beta-1 subunit

The large-conductance, Ca2+-dependent K+ channel plays a key role in the control of vascular tone. Variation in the gene encoding the &bgr;-1 subunit of the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel (KCNMB1) has been reported to be associated with hypertension, however, variants in KCNMB1 have not been systematically characterized to date. In this study, we have performed the most comprehensive evaluation to date of single nucleotide polymorphisms in KCNMB1 using genomic DNA from 60 individuals of European, African and native American ancestry. We identified and characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms in the exons, intron/exon junctions, upstream region and 3′ untranslated regions of KCNMB1 using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography combined with direct DNA sequencing. A total of 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms in KCNMB1 were identified. Seven of the polymorphisms (28%) are novel single nucleotide polymorphisms not reported previously. Allele frequencies range from less than 1.7 to 50% and 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms had a minor allele frequency greater than 5%. A lack of strong linkage disequilibrium among the 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms was observed in all three race/ethnicity groups; therefore the identification of haplotype ‘tag’ single nucleotide polymorphisms for genetic association studies is not likely to be appropriate for KCNMB1. Multiple species comparative analysis and in-silico functional analysis were performed to identify potential functionally important single nucleotide polymorphisms within the gene. These data highlight that a tag single nucleotide polymorphism approach will not be appropriate for the study of genes such as KCNMB1, although potentially important functionally significant single nucleotide polymorphisms are suggested for future studies investigating the influence of this gene's variability on disease and drug response.
7-prenyloxi-6-methoxycoumarin from Polygala sabulosa A.W. Bennett Regulates p38 MAPK and NF-kB Pathways Inhibiting the Inflammation Induced by Carrageenan in the Mouse Model of Pleurisy.

CONTEXT Polygala sabulosa, popularly known as "timutu-pinheirinho," has been used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of bowel and kidney disorders and as an expectorant. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the crude extract (CE), acetonic fraction (Ac), and the main compound, 7-prenyloxi-6-methoxycoumarin (PC) on a mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy was used to investigate the effects of P. sabulosa CE, Ac and PC on leukocyte migration, exudate formation, activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and adenosine-deaminase (ADA), levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the effect of the plant material on lung histology was also evaluated. The effects of PC on the TNF-α, IL-1β and NO synthase 2 (NOS2) mRNA expression, were also investigated. Finally, the effect of PC on the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) was also evaluated. RESULTS CE, Ac and PC reduced inflammation in the pleural cavity and lungs. This effect was evidenced by reduction on all inflammatory parameters evaluated; the exception being the inability of the CE to inhibit exudate formation. In isolation, PC showed reduction on mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and NOS2, and on activation of the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways. CONCLUSION The presented results show that P. sabulosa has significant anti-inflammatory activity, as does its main compound, PC. Moreover, the results suggest that PC exerts its effects mainly by inhibited the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways.
Perception of graduating medical students on child and maternal oral health in a selected tertiary institution in the southern part of Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Oral health care imparts on the quality of life and general health outcomes, therefore essential for the knowledge of graduating medical students OBJECTIVE To assess the knowledge of graduating medical students on child and maternal oral health METHODS A cross sectional survey was undertaken among the graduating medical students of the University of Port Harcourt using an anonymous structured questionnaire with open and closed ended questions. Participants' knowledge about aetiology of dental caries, gingivitis and preventive oral health care and behaviours associated with early childhood caries (ECC) were assessed. Information gathered was collated and analyzed using a statistical software-SPSS Version 17. RESULTS There were 166 participants with a mean age of 25.4 (+/- 3.0) years, range 20-45 years. Over 80% knew the roles of diet and bacteria in aetiology of dental caries. Regarding ECC, 59% agreed that breast milk and infant formula may be harmful to the teeth and 41.4% were aware that a mother can transmit cariogenic bacteria to the child. The importance of dental check up in pregnancy and the association between oral diseases in pregnant women and infant health was known by 63.3% and 51.8% respectively. Also, the importance of age at first visit and frequency of routine dental visits in a child was known to 40.4% and 54.8% respectively. Only 12.7% of participants knew that a carious primary tooth should be restored. Over 90% agreed that they needed to increase their knowledge on child oral health. CONCLUSION The knowledge base of graduating medical students on the subject of maternal and child oral health was inadequate. A curriculum review that accommodates clinical exposure to child and maternal oral health during undergraduate and postgraduate medical residency training in Paediatrics is advised to increase their knowledge.
Differences in leisure-time, household, and work-related physical activity by race, ethnicity, and education

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic minority groups have lower levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) than whites, but it is unclear how much of this is explained by differences in socioeconomic status and health. OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in LTPA, work-related physical activity (WRPA; heavy household chores and strenuous job activities), and total physical activity (TPA) by race, ethnicity, and education. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analyses of data from the 1992 Health and Retirement Study for a nationally representative cohort of 9,621 community-dwelling adults aged 51–61 years. MEASUREMENTS: Physical activity scores for LTPA, WRPA, and TPA based upon self-reported frequency of light or vigorous recreational activities, heavy household chores, and strenuous job-related physical activities. MAIN RESULTS: LTPA was lower for blacks and Hispanics compared to whites, and LTPA steadily declined with lower levels of education. WRPA showed the reverse pattern, being lowest for whites and persons with greater education. Education was far more important than race/ethnicity as a determinant of LTPA and WRPA in multivariate analyses. After adjusting for differences in overall health and physical functioning, mean TPA scores were similar across racial/ethnic and education categories; blacks (β=1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5 to 1.5) and Spanish-speaking Hispanics (β=1.1; 95% CI, 0.3 to 1.9) had slightly higher levels of TPA than whites (P<.01 and P=.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in educational attainment and health status accounted for virtually all of the racial and ethnic differences in LTPA. After accounting for WRPA, TPA was similar across race, ethnicity, and education subgroups.
Inhibitory effect of high dietary zinc on copper absorption in rats. II. Binding of copper and zinc to cytosol proteins in the intestinal mucosa.

Earlier studies showed that high dietary zinc interfered with copper absorption at the intestinal level. The data presented here demonstrated that there was a significant decrease in copper content with a concomitant increase in zinc content of the intestinal segment of the zinc-fed rats. Gel filtration analysis on Sephadex G-75 of the cytosol fraction from the mucosa of the zinc-fed rats demonstrated that major parts of zinc in the cytosol bind to the protein with a molecular weight of about 10000, that is, the zincthionein. The simultaneous administration of copper and zinc to the normal rats also caused an incorporation of copper into this protein. These results suggested that the interference of copper absorption by zinc may be due to the inductive effect of zinc on the synthesis of the zinc-thionein, which sequesters copper available for absorption.
Maternal nutrient restriction alters gene expression in the ovine fetal heart

Adequate maternal nutrient supply is critical for normal fetal organogenesis. We previously demonstrated that a global 50% nutrient restriction during the first half of gestation causes compensatory growth of both the left and right ventricles of the fetal heart by day 78 of gestation. Thus, it was hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction significantly altered gene expression in the fetal cardiac left ventricle (LV). Pregnant ewes were randomly grouped into control (100% national research council (NRC) requirements) or nutrient‐restricted groups (50% NRC requirements) from day 28 to day 78 of gestation, at which time fetal LV were collected. Fetal LV mRNA was used to construct a suppression subtraction cDNA library from which 11 cDNA clones were found by differential dot blot hybridization and virtual Northern analysis to be up‐regulated by maternal nutrient restriction: caveolin, stathmin, G‐1 cyclin, α‐actin, titin, cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP), cardiac‐specific RNA‐helicase activated by MEF2C (CHAMP), endothelial and smooth muscle derived neuropilin (ESDN), prostatic binding protein, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, and an unknown protein. Six of these clones (cardiac α‐actin, cyclin G1, stathmin, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, titin and prostatic binding protein) have been linked to cardiac hypertrophy in other species including humans. Of the remaining clones, caveolin, CARP and CHAMP have been shown to inhibit remodelling of hypertrophic tissue. Compensatory growth of fetal LV in response to maternal undernutrition is concluded to be associated with increased transcription of genes related to cardiac hypertrophy, compensatory growth or remodelling. Counter‐regulatory gene transcription may be increased, in part, as a response to moderating the degree of cardiac remodelling. The short‐ and long‐term consequences of these changes in fetal heart gene expression and induction of specific homeostatic mechanisms in response to maternal undernutrition remain to be determined.