Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of dermal exposures to polycyclic aromatic compounds among hot-mix asphalt paving workers.

OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to identify the source and work practices that affect dermal exposure to polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) among hot-mix asphalt (HMA) paving workers. METHODS Four workers were recruited from each of three asphalt paving crews (12 workers) and were monitored for three consecutive days over 4 weeks for a total of 12 sampling days per worker (144 worker days). Two sampling weeks were conducted under standard conditions for dermal exposures. The third week included the substitution of biodiesel for diesel oil used to clean tools and equipment and the fourth week included dermal protection through the use of gloves, hat and neck cloth, clean pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Dermal exposure to PACs was quantified using two methods: a passive organic dermal (POD) sampler specifically developed for this study and a sunflower oil hand wash technique. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate predictors of PAC exposures. RESULTS Dermal exposures measured under all conditions via POD and hand wash were low with most samples for each analyte being below the limit of the detection with the exception of phenanthrene and pyrene. The geometric mean (GM) concentrations of phenanthrene were 0.69 ng cm(-2) on the polypropylene layer of the POD sampler and 1.37 ng cm(-2) in the hand wash sample. The GM concentrations of pyrene were 0.30 ng cm(-2) on the polypropylene layer of the POD sampler and 0.29 ng cm(-2) in the hand wash sample. Both the biodiesel substitution and dermal protection scenarios were effective in reducing dermal exposures. Based on the results of multivariate linear mixed-effects models, increasing frequency of glove use was associated with significant (P < 0.0001) reductions for hand wash and POD phenanthrene and pyrene concentrations; percent reductions ranged from 40 to 90%. Similar reductions in hand wash concentrations of phenanthrene (P = 0.01) and pyrene (P = 0.003) were observed when biodiesel was substituted for diesel oil as a cleaning agent, although reductions were not significant for the POD sampler data. Although task was not a predictor of dermal exposure, job site characteristics such as HMA application temperature, asphalt grade, and asphalt application rate (tons per hour) were found to significantly affect exposure. Predictive models suggest that the combined effect of substituting biodiesel for diesel oil as a cleaning agent, frequent glove use, and reducing the HMA application temperature from 149°C (300°F) to 127°C (260°F) may reduce dermal exposures by 76-86%, varying by analyte and assessment method. CONCLUSIONS Promising strategies for reducing dermal exposure to PACs among asphalt paving workers include requiring the use of dermal coverage (e.g. wearing gloves and/or long sleeves), substituting biodiesel for diesel oil as a cleaning agent, and decreasing the HMA application temperature.
Wealth Effects in the Euro Area

How sizable is the wealth effect on consumption in euro area countries? To address this question, we use newly available harmonized euro area wealth data and the methodology in Carroll et al. (2011b). We find that the marginal propensity to consume out of total wealth averaged across the largest euro area economies is around 3 cents per euro, with a marginal propensity to consume out of financial wealth significantly larger than of housing wealth. Country-group estimates document no significant differences between the largest economies and the rest of the sample. In contrast, remarkable differences emerge between periphery and core countries. JEL Classification: C22, E21, E32, E44
Lumbosacral Cerebrospinal Fluid Volume Is the Primary Determinant of Sensory Block Extent and Duration during Spinal Anesthesia

Background Injection of local anesthetic into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produces anesthesia of unpredictable extent and duration. Although many factors have been identified that affect the extent of spinal anesthesia, correlations are relatively poor and the extent of spread remains unpredictable. This study was designed to determine whether variability in the volume of lumbosacral CSF among individuals is a contributing factor in the variability of spinal anesthesia. Methods Spinal anesthesia was administered to 10 healthy volunteers with 50 mg lidocaine in 7.5% dextrose. The technique was standardized to minimize variability in factors known to affect the distribution of spinal anesthesia. The extent of sensory anesthesia was assessed by pin‐prick and by transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Motor blockade was assessed in the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles by force dynamometry. Duration of anesthesia was assessed by pin‐prick, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and duration of motor blockade. Lumbosacral CSF volumes were calculated from low thoracic, lumbar, and sacral axial magnetic resonance images obtained at 8‐mm increments. Volumes of CSF were correlated with measures of extent and duration of spinal anesthesia using the Kendall rank correlation test. Results Lumbosacral CSF volumes ranged from 42.7 to 81.1 ml. Volumes of CSF correlated with pin‐prick assessments of peak sensory block height (P = 0.02) and duration of surgical anesthesia (as assessed by the duration of tolerance to transcutaneous electrical stimulation at the ankle (P < 0.05). Conclusions Variability in lumbosacral CSF volume is the most important factor identified to date that contributes to the variability in the spread of spinal sensory anesthesia.
NasT-Mediated Antitermination Plays an Essential Role in the Regulation of the Assimilatory Nitrate Reductase Operon in Azotobacter vinelandii

ABSTRACT Azotobacter vinelandii is a well-studied model system for nitrogen fixation in bacteria. Regulation of nitrogen fixation in A. vinelandii is independent of NtrB/NtrC, a conserved nitrogen regulatory system in proteobacteria. Previous work showed that an ntrC mutation in A. vinelandii resulted in a loss of induction of assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reductases encoded by the nasAB operon. In addition to NtrC, several other proteins, including NasT, a protein containing a potential RNA-binding domain ANTAR (AmiR and NasR transcription antitermination regulators), have been implicated in nasAB regulation. In this work, we characterize the sequence upstream of nasA and identify several DNA sequence elements, including two potential NtrC binding sites and a putative intrinsic transcriptional terminator upstream of nasA that are potentially involved in nasAB regulation. Our analyses confirm that the nasAB promoter, P nasA, is under NtrC control. However, unlike NtrC-regulated promoters in enteric bacteria, P nasA shows high activity in the presence of ammonium; in addition, the P nasA activity is altered in the nifA gene mutation background. We discuss the implication of these results on NtrC-mediated regulation in A. vinelandii. Our study provides direct evidence that induction of nasAB is regulated by NasT-mediated antitermination, which occurs within the leader region of the operon. The results also support the hypothesis that NasT binds the promoter proximal hairpin of nasAB for its regulatory function, which contributes to the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of ANTAR-containing antiterminators.
Complications After Pinning of Supracondylar Distal Humerus Fractures

Background Supracondylar distal humerus fractures are one of the most common skeletal injuries in children. The current treatment of choice in North America is closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation. Often surgeons leave the pins exposed beneath a cast but outside the skin. Great variation exists with respect to preoperative skin preparation, and perioperative antibiotic administration. Few data exist regarding the rate of infection and other complications. The purpose of this study is to review a large series of children to evaluate the rate of infection and other complications. Methods A retrospective review was carried out of all patients treated at our institution over an 11-year period. A total of 622 patients were identified that were followed for a minimum of 2 weeks after pin removal. Seventeen patients had flexion-type fractures, 294 had type II fractures, and 311 had type III fractures. Seventy-four fractures (11.9%) had preoperative nerve deficits with anterior interosseous palsies being the most common (33 fractures, 5.3%). Preoperative antibiotics were given to 163 patients (26.2%). Spray and towel draping were used in 362 patients, paint and towel draping were used in 65 patients, alcohol paint and towel draping were used in 146 patients, and a full preparation and draping were used in 13 patients. The pins were left exposed under the cast in 591 fractures (95%), and buried beneath the skin in 31 fractures (5.0%). A medial pin was placed in 311 fractures with a small incision made to aid placement in 18 of these cases. Results The most common complication was pin migration necessitating unexpected return to the operating room for pin removal in 11 patients (1.8%). One patient developed a deep infection with septic arthritis and osteomyelitis (0.2%). Five additional patients had superficial skin infections and were treated with oral antibiotics for a total infection rate of 6 of 622 patients (1.0%). One patient ultimately had a malunion and 4 others returned to the operating room for repeat reduction and pinning. Three patients developed compartment syndromes. Ulnar nerve injury was rare with only 1 postoperative ulnar nerve injury occurring in 311 patients treated with a medial pin (0.3%). Conclusions Closed reduction with percutaneous pinning is effective and has a low complication rate with a very low rate of infection even when simple betadine preparation and towel draping are used. Preoperative antibiotics seem to have little effect on infection rate. Level of Evidence Level III retrospective comparative study.
The effect of online scheduling on employees’ quality of life

ABSTRACT Online employee scheduling has increased in popularity in recent years, especially among hourly workers who have grown up in the information age and the flexibility it provides increases their sense of job autonomy. This article reports on two studies that investigated the impact of work scheduling flexibility on employees’ personal well-being. One study collected data from current users of an online scheduling product and the other study collected information from hospitality management students who are potential future users of online scheduling software. The studies found that online scheduling helps to enhance employees’ personal well-being through satisfaction with schedule flexibility and job autonomy.
Bringing microbial diversity into focus: high‐resolution analysis of iron mats from the Lō‘ihi Seamount

Thirty kilometers south of the island of Hawai'i lies the Lō'ihi Seamount, an active submarine volcano that hosts a network of low-temperature hydrothermal vents enriched in ferrous iron that supports extensive microbial mats. These mats, which can be a half a meter deep, are composed of ferric iron bound to organic polymers - the metabolic byproduct of iron-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria. Though the role of Zetaproteobacteria in mat formation is well established, we have a limited understanding of how differences in diversity are related to mat morphology. We used Minimum Entropy Decomposition and ZetaOtu classification to demonstrate cryptic diversity between closely related Zetaproteobacteria while showing habitat and geographic specificity. Veiled mats, common structures at Lō'ihi, exhibit distinct community composition and contain diversity not detected in other mat types, including specific Zetaproteobacteria and an unclassified Gammaproteobacteria. Our analyses also indicate that diversity can change dramatically across small spatial transects from points of active venting, yet we found comparatively few differences between major sampling sites. This study provides a better picture of the microbiome responsible for iron mat production at Lō'ihi and has broad implications for our understanding of these globally distributed communities.
Measuring the Stance of Monetary Policy in a Time-Varying World

Knowing the stance of monetary policy is a general theme of interest for academics, policy makers and private sector agents. The mentioned stance is not necessarily observable, since the Fed have used different monetary instruments at different points in time. This paper provides a measure of this stance for the last forty five years, which is a weighted average of a pool of instruments. We extend Bernanke and Mihov (1998)'s Interbank Market model by allowing structural parameters and shock variances to change over time. In particular, we follow the recent work of Canova and Perez Forero (2015) for estimating non-recursive TVCVARs with Bayesian Methods. The estimated stance measure describes how tight/loose was monetary policy over time and takes into account the uncertainty related with posterior estimates of time varying parameters. Finally, we present how has monetary transmission mechanism changed over time, focusing our attention in the period after the Great Recession.
Renewable Energy: The Roles of States, Social Movements, and Policy in California and Germany

This project examines the development of renewable policy in California and Germany through the theoretical lens provided by John Dryzek’s democratic theory of social movement engagement with the liberal democratic nation-state. Specifically, this thesis considers the impact of social movements on what the theory identifies as five core imperatives of state. The argument uses a qualitative, comparative, process tracing methodology, supported by critical discourse analysis, to analyze environmental social movement engagements with the state in relation to the development of renewable energy policymaking in the state of California and in the Federal Republic of Germany between 2000 and 2017. Whereas Dryzek and colleagues argue that environmental movement activism may have prompted a new, sixth, environmental conservation imperative of state, this thesis differs. Rather, the analysis finds that if indeed such a sixth imperative is emergent, it might better be defined as a resource conservation imperative. That is, in California and in Germany, it is not so much the environment but rather access to abundant and economically sustainable natural resources that states aim to conserve. Renewable Energy: The Roles of States, Social Movements, and Policy in California and Germany Robert White GENERAL AUDIENCE ABSTRACT This thesis explores the influence of the relationship between social movements and policymakers on renewable energy policy in California and Germany. Social movements are, for the most part, groups who wish to change government policy without necessarily winning elections or otherwise entering into public office. As such, this research examines how social movements, particularly environmental social movements, interact with government policymakers to affect renewable energy policy. This project’s analysis is based on evidence collected from newspapers and online news sources from California and Germany through 2000 to 2017. The findings suggest that environmental movements, as well as policymakers, use the language of what are called state imperatives in order to justify changes to renewable policy. These state imperatives are basically the main duties or goals that governments need to satisfy or accomplish. The findings also suggest that if a new duty or goal of the state is arising, it has to do with saving or conserving resources. This research is important as environmental issues such as global climate change continues to increasingly become a threat to society, and it also helps to further understand how renewable energy policy is developed.
Susceptibility of two species of wild terrestrial birds to infection with a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of H5N1 subtype

The recent epidemic caused by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses has spread over many parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are considered to play a role in viral dissemination. However, detailed information on whether wild terrestrial birds act as carriers is currently unavailable. To investigate the susceptibility of terrestrial birds to HPAI viruses, two species of wild bird (great reed warbler and pale thrush) that are common in East Asia were infected with H5N1 HPAI virus. The results showed that both species were highly susceptible to the virus. The great reed warbler showed fatal infection with 100% mortality, but the pale thrush survived for longer periods (>8 days) with viral shedding. These findings suggest that there is variation in clinical outcome after infection of wild terrestrial birds, and that some bird species could become subclinical excretors of the H5N1 virus.
Traumatic Atlantoaxial Rotatory Dislocation With Odontoid Fracture: Case Report and Review

Study Design. A case of traumatic rotatory dislocation associated with odontoid fracture is reported. Objectives. To report a rare case of traumatic rotatory dislocation associated with odontoid fracture, and to discuss the mechanism underlying spinal instability and management. Summary of Background Data. This case is a cross between traumatic rotatory fixation and atlantoaxial rotatory dislocation. Classification of rotatory subluxation change after osteosynthesis of the odontoid process was undertaken. Methods. A 24-year-old man sustained head and cervical injury after jumping. A Type 2 odontoid fracture without displacement was noted. Results. Without further traumatic event, 1 month after injury, computed tomography scan showed posterior displacement of the odontoid fracture and Type 4 or B atlantoaxial rotatory luxation. After surgical fixation and reduction of the odontoid fracture, the rotatory subluxation classification changed and became Type 1 or A. Posterior C1–C2 arthrodesis was performed. The patient wore a Philadelphia cervical collar for 3 months and underwent physiotherapy. Conclusions. As the pivot of rotatory subluxation changed after odontoid process osteosynthesis, posterior C1–C2 arthrodesis was performed. The patient probably could have been treated in a single-stage procedure using posterior C1–C2 transarticular fixation with bicortical interspinous graft.
Exploring Multidimensional View of Intellectual Capital and Business Ethics on Organizational Performance by Using Bootstrapping Method: Evidence from Pakistani Pharmaceutical Industry Economics

The objective of this research is to examine the effect of business ethics (BE) and intellectual capital (IC) on the organizational performance (OP). In order to run this study, a conceptual model was designed based on the literature review, and the employees of the knowledge-based organization in pharmaceutical sector were sur-veyed using a closed-ended questionnaire. Modern successful and thriving organizations are those that create IC and convert it into applicable methods to improve their activities and performance within the boundaries of BE. This research is exploratory and quanti-tative in nature: 400 responses were directly gathered from the employees of the pharmaceutical industry through five-scaled ques-tionnaire. This research examined the direct and indirect effect of BE and IC on the OP. Structural equation modeling (SEM), descriptive statistics, correlation, multiple regression techniques were used to analyze the impact of IC and BE on the performance. Bootstrapping method is employed in order to test the mediating effect of variables. Two-step SEM was used to the models to regress the cause and effect relation. The findings depicted that there is a very significant effect on BE and IC in the performance of pharmaceutical organizations. General BE, ethics in finance, ethics in human resource management, and ethics in sales and marketing have direct and significant impact on the OP. Human capital, structural capital and relational capital have significant indirect (mediating) effect on the performance of the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, it has been concluded from the results of the research study that IC is the major contributor of the OP as a mediating variable with defined set of principles of BE in the pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan.
Toxicity of Dopamine to Striatal Neurons In Vitro and Potentiation of Cell Death by a Mitochondrial Inhibitor

Abstract: Intrastriatal injections of the mitochondrial toxins malonate and 3‐nitropropionic acid produce selective cell death similar to that seen in transient ischemia and Huntington's disease. The extent of cell death can be attenuated by pharmacological or surgical blockade of cortical glutamatergic input. It is not known, however, if dopamine contributes to toxicity caused by inhibition of mitochondrial function. Exposure of primary striatal cultures to dopamine resulted in dose‐dependent death of neurons. Addition of medium supplement containing free radical scavengers and antioxidants decreased neuronal loss. At high concentrations of the amine, cell death was predominantly apoptotic. Methyl malonate was used to inhibit activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Neither methyl malonate (50 µM) nor dopamine (2.5 µM) caused significant toxicity when added individually to cultures, whereas simultaneous addition of both compounds killed 60% of neurons. Addition of antioxidants and free radical scavengers to the incubation medium prevented this cell death. Dopamine (up to 250 µM) did not alter the ATP/ADP ratio after a 6‐h incubation. Methyl malonate, at 500 µM, reduced the ATP/ADP ratio by ∼30% after 6 h; this decrease was not augmented by coincubation with 25 µM dopamine. Our results suggest that dopamine causes primarily apoptotic death of striatal neurons in culture without damaging cells by an early adverse action on oxidative phosphorylation. However, when combined with minimal inhibition of mitochondrial function, dopamine neurotoxicity is markedly enhanced.
The Effects of Education on Labour Force Participation in Cameroon: A Gender Perspective

This paper seeks to understand if education can be an effective tool in achieving gender equality in labour force participation in Cameroon. For this purpose, the multinomial and binary logit models are estimated. The paper accounts for the potential endogeneity of education in the equation of labour force participation by using the instrumental variables approach. Data used are data on employment and the informal sector obtained from the National Institute of Statistics in Cameroon. The findings shed light on the negative impact of being a woman on the probability of getting a job. They also show that education and the interaction term between gender and education has a positive and statistically significant impact on the probability of working in the public and the formal private sectors. These results suggest that education yields a premium skill which offsets the negative effect of being a woman.