Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Risk Preferences on the Adoption of Post-Harvest Technology: Evidence from Rural Cambodia

Abstract We investigate how rice farmers’ risk preferences affect the adoption of post-harvest technology in Cambodia, focusing on moisture meters. We find that risk-averse farmers are more likely to adopt moisture meters, although the degree of farmers’ loss aversion or the extent to which they tended to overweight small probabilities do not affect the adoption. In the setting of our study, the effects of farmers’ risk preferences on agricultural technology adoption can be described by using expected utility theory. However, controlling for loss aversion and probability weighting improves the precision of examining the effects of farmers’ risk preferences on adoption.
Structural features of envelope proteins on hepatitis C virus-like particles as determined by anti-envelope monoclonal antibodies and CD81 binding.

The envelope glycoprotein E2 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major component of the viral envelope. Knowledge of its topologic features and antigenic determinants in virions is crucial in understanding the viral binding sites to cellular receptor(s) and the induction of neutralizing antibodies. The lack of a robust cell culture system for virus propagation has hampered the characterization of E2 presented on the virion. Here we report the structural features of hepatitis C virus-like particles (HCV-LPs) of the 1a and 1b genotypes as determined by various mouse and human monoclonal anti-envelope antibodies. Our results show that the E2 protein of HCV-LPs reacts with human monoclonal antibodies recognizing conformational determinants. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) sequence reacted strongly with HCV-LPs, suggesting that the HVR-1 is exposed on the viral surface. Several mAbs recognized both HCV-LPs with equally high affinity, indicating that the corresponding epitopes [amino acids (aa) 192-217 of E1 and aa 412-423, aa 522-531, and aa 640-653 of E2] are conserved in both genotypes and exposed on the surface of the HCV-LP. The E2 and E1/E2 dimers of 1a bound strongly to the recombinant large extracellular loop (LEL) of CD81 (CD81-LEL) of human and African green monkey, while the HCV-LP of 1a bound weakly to human CD81-LEL. E1/E2 dimers and the HCV-LPs of 1b did not bind CD81-LEL, consistent with the notion that CD81 recognition by E2 is strain-specific and does not correlate with permissiveness of infection. A model of the topology and exposed antigenic determinants of the envelope proteins of HCV is proposed.
Using remotely sensed temperature to estimate climate response functions

Temperature data are commonly used to estimate the sensitivity of many societally relevant outcomes, including crop yields, mortality, and economic output, to ongoing climate changes. In many tropical regions, however, temperature measures are often very sparse and unreliable, limiting our ability to understand climate change impacts. Here we evaluate satellite measures of near-surface temperature (Ts) as an alternative to traditional air temperatures (Ta) from weather stations, and in particular their ability to replace Ta in econometric estimation of climate response functions. We show that for maize yields in Africa and the United States, and for economic output in the United States, regressions that use Ts produce very similar results to those using Ta, despite the fact that daily correlation between the two temperature measures is often low. Moreover, for regions such as Africa with poor station coverage, we find that models with Ts outperform models with Ta, as measured by both R2 values and out-of-sample prediction error. The results indicate that Ts can be used to study climate impacts in areas with limited station data, and should enable faster progress in assessing risks and adaptation needs in these regions.
Propylene Oxide: Genotoxicity Profile of a Rodent Nasal Carcinogen

Propylene oxide (PO) is a DNA-reactive genotoxic agent; that is, it reacts with DNA to produce lesions in the genetic material. PO also induces tumors in rodents, although only at high concentrations and at portals of entry. This review of PO's genotoxicity profile is organized according to endpoints measured, that is, nonmutational or mutational endpoints, and as to whether the results were from in vitro or in vivo studies. In addition to results of experimental studies, PO's genotoxicity for humans is assessed by reviewing results of published biomarker studies. The weight of evidence indicates that although it is genotoxic, PO's potency as a DNA-reactive mutagen is weak. Other aspects of PO's overall tissue toxicities are also reviewed, with attention to glutathione (GSH) depletion and its consequences, that is, cell proliferation, death, and necrosis. These toxic tissue responses occur in the same anatomical regions in rodents as do the PO-induced tumors. Furthermore, some of these tissue toxicities can produce effects that may either augment PO's DNA-reactive mutagenicity or be genotoxic in themselves, not dependent on PO's DNA reactivity. Although its DNA reactivity may be a necessary component of PO's overall genotoxicity and rodent carcinogenicity, it is likely not sufficient, and the associated tissue toxicities, which are rate-limiting, also seem to be required. This complex mode of action has implications for estimations of PO's cancer potential in humans, especially at low exposure concentrations.
A Nationwide Assessment of the Association of Smoking Bans and Cigarette Taxes With Hospitalizations for Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, and Pneumonia

Multiple studies claim that public place smoking bans are associated with reductions in smoking-related hospitalization rates. No national study using complete hospitalization counts by area that accounts for contemporaneous controls including state cigarette taxes has been conducted. We examine the association between county-level smoking-related hospitalization rates and comprehensive smoking bans in 28 states from 2001 to 2008. Differences-in-differences analysis measures changes in hospitalization rates before versus after introducing bans in bars, restaurants, and workplaces, controlling for cigarette taxes, adjusting for local health and provider characteristics. Smoking bans were not associated with acute myocardial infarction or heart failure hospitalizations, but lowered pneumonia hospitalization rates for persons ages 60 to 74 years. Higher cigarette taxes were associated with lower heart failure hospitalizations for all ages and fewer pneumonia hospitalizations for adults aged 60 to 74. Previous studies may have overestimated the relation between smoking bans and hospitalizations and underestimated the effects of cigarette taxes.
Human cytochrome P450-catalyzed conversion of the proestrogenic pesticide methoxychlor into an estrogen. Role of CYP2C19 and CYP1A2 in O-demethylation.

1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane (methoxychlor) is a widely used pesticide that is pro-estrogenic. We have elucidated the human cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for conversion of methoxychlor into its major metabolite, the mono-O-demethylated derivative (mono-OH-M) that is estrogenic. Incubation of methoxychlor with microsomes from insect cells overexpressing either CYP1A2, CYP2C18, or CYP2C19 yielded mono-OH-M with turnover numbers of 14.9, 15.5, and 39.1 nmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively. CYP2B6 and CYP2C9 were much less active. Incubations with purified CYP2C19 and CYP2C18 resulted in formation of mono-OH-M, and also the bis-demethylated metabolite. Co-incubation of liver microsomes with methoxychlor and various P450 isoform-selective inhibitors suggested involvement of several P450s in mono-O-demethylation, including CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. A role for CYP2C19, CYP1A2, and CYP2A6 was also indicated by multivariate regression analysis of the mono-O-demethylase activity in a panel of human liver microsomes characterized for isoform-specific catalytic activities (R2 = 0.96). Based on the totality of the evidence, CYP2C19 appears to be the major catalyst of methoxychlor mono-O-demethylation. However, in individuals lacking functional CYP2C19 (e.g. the "poor metabolizer" phenotype), CYP1A2 may play the predominant role. CYP2A6, CYP2C9, and CYP2B6 probably contribute to a lesser extent. Although CYP2C18 is an efficient methoxychlor demethylase, its expression in liver is reportedly low or absent, suggesting a negligible role for this enzyme in methoxychlor metabolism. Lengthy incubations of liver microsomes with methoxychlor produced other secondary and tertiary metabolites. Efficient conversion of methoxychlor to estrogenic mono-OH-M by liver microsomes suggests that methoxychlor has the potential to be estrogenic in humans, as observed in several animal species.
A Text Mining and Multidimensional Sentiment Analysis of Online Restaurant Reviews

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify the structure of online restaurant reviews and examine the influence of review attributes and sentiments on restaurant star ratings. While past research indicated four attributes specific to restaurant reviews—food, service, ambience, and price—this study proposes context as the fifth attribute unique to online reviews. Sentiment analysis of online restaurant reviews has confirmed the proposed underlying structure of online restaurant reviews. Results showed that consumers’ sentiments in these five attributes significantly explained the differences in star ratings. Food, service, and context are the top three attributes affecting star ratings, followed by price and ambiance.
Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor in mouse embryonic stem cell culture and osteogenic differentiation

Embryonic stem cells are actively explored as a cell source in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine involving bone repair. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been a valuable growth factor to support the culture of human stem cells as well as their osteogenic differentiation, but the influence of bFGF on mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells is not known. Towards this goal, D3 cells were treated with bFGF during maintenance conditions and during spontaneous and osteogenic differentiation. In feeder‐free monolayers, up to 40 ng/ml of exogenous bFGF did not support self‐renewal of mES without LIF during cell expansion. During spontaneous differentiation in high‐density cultures, bFGF stimulated cell proliferation under certain conditions but did not influence differentiation, as judged by stage‐specific embryonic antigen‐1 expression. The addition of bFGF reduced the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity associated with osteoblast activity during differentiation induced by osteogenic supplements, although the extent of mineralization was unaffected by bFGF. The bFGF increased the mesenchymal stem cell marker Sca‐1 in an mES cell population and led to an enhanced increase in osteocalcin and runx2 expression in combination with BMP‐2. These results suggest that bFGF could be utilized to expand the cell population in high‐density cultures in addition to enriching the BMP‐2 responsiveness of mES cells. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of nanoparticles of Magnolia bark extract by rapid expansion from supercritical solution into aqueous solutions

A rapid expansion from supercritical solution into aqueous solution (RESSAS) technology was presented for the micronization of Chinese medicinal material. Magnolia bark extract (MBE) obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction technology was chosen as the experimental material. RESSAS process produced 303.0 nm nanoparticles (size distribution, 243.6–320.5 nm), which was significantly smaller than the 55.3 µm particles (size distribution, 8.3–102.4 µm) prepared by conventional mechanical milling. The effect of process parameters, including extraction temperature (30°C, 40°C, 50°C), extraction pressure (200, 250, 300 bar) and nozzle size (50, 100, 200 µm), on the size distribution of nanoparticles was investigated. The characteristics of nanoparticles and materials were also studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser light scattering (LLS). This study demonstrates that RESSAS is applicable for preparing nanoparticles of MBE at low operating temperature; the process is simple without any residual solvent.
Different ways to antiangiogenesis by angiostatin and suramin, and quantitation of angiostatin‐induced antiangiogenesis

Angiogenesis, i.e. sprouting of new vessels, their remodelling and regression, is a prerequisite for growth and differentiation of organs and tissues. It is involved in many pathological processes, particularly growth and metastasis of tumours. Angiostatic therapy is a promising new strategy in the treatment of cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitors could intervene in the different phases of the angiogenic cascade, i.e. migration, proliferation, differentiation and three‐dimensional organisation of endothelial cells, to inhibit the generation of tumour vessels. The aim of this study was to explore whether in a previously validated in vitro model for quantitation of angiogenesis the effects of the angiostatic factors angiostatin and suramin can be investigated and quantified. Examination of angiostatin and suramin showed that angiostatin‐induced antiangiogenesis resulted in inverse angiogenesis. The addition of suramin initially resulted in increased angiogenesis. However, long‐term incubation ultimately led to disintegration of endothelial structures, thus establishing the angiostatic effects of suramin. Antiangiogenesis was not only quantified using the previously validated method. It also lent itself to assessment of the extent of antiangiogenesis within the various phases of the angiogenic cascade. This method may therefore be employed in trial studies of potential angiostatic substances and related cellular mechanisms.
Barriers and facilitators to patients' adherence to antiretroviral treatment in Zambia: a qualitative study

Patients' adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is important for effective medical treatment of HIV/AIDS. We conducted a qualitative interview study in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia in 2006. The aim of the study was to explore patients' and health care professionals' perceived barriers and facilitators to patients' adherence to ART. Based on data from individual interviews and focus group interviews with a total of 60 patients and 12 health care professionals, we identified barriers and facilitators related to patients' beliefs and behaviours, the health service, and socio-economic and cultural factors. Among the barriers we identified were lack of communication and information about ART, inadequate time during consultations, lack of follow-up and counselling, forgetfulness, stigma, discrimination and disclosure of HIV status, lack of confidentiality in the treatment centres, and lack of nutritional support. Feeling better, prospects of living longer, family support, information about ART, support for income-generating activities, disclosure of HIV status, prayers and transport support were among the facilitators. Our study suggests that several issues need to be considered when providing ART. Further research is needed to study interactions between patients and their health care providers. Our findings can inform interventions to improve adherence to ART.
Pathological Effects of Matebrnal Hypoglycemia on Fetal Development in Cats

The pathogenesis of fetal brain damage caused by acute maternal hypoglycemia was investigated experimentally in cats: profound hypoglycemia (blood glucose concentration:less than 30 mg/dl) was induced in 12 pregnant cats at various stages of gestation by intravenous bolus injections of insulin. Maximal hypoglycemia was attained within 2 3 h, although the grade and duration in individual cats varied. The EEGs of all of seven maternal cats examined showed an increased frequency of slow high‐voltage waves as hypoglycemia progressed, eventually becoming flat in 3 for a maximum period of 20 min. Some fetuses showed severe neuropathological changes, such as infarction or intrauterine death. Subventricular soften ing, cortical hemorrhage and ischemic neuronal changes also occurred, being distributed symmetrically in the para‐sagittal areas of the cerebrum, basal ganglia, thalamus and tegrnentum of the brainstem. In general, these patho logical changes were more marked in fetuses and neonates than in the maternal cats, in which only ischemic neuronal changes were present, and may have been due to fetal systemic hypotension and cerebral ischemia induced by hypoglycemia. In maternal cats, the distribution of neu rons showing ischemic changes was widest in the cerebral cortex, and some were also present in the dentate gyri of the hippocampus. Moreover, ultrastructural examination of the ischemic neurons in maternal cats, unlike those of the fetuses, showed no mitochondrial swelling. Therefore, the distribution and ultrastructural nature of the ischemic neurons found in the maternal cats were considered to be characteristic of hypoglycemia, as proposed by Agardh et al. (1980). Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 316–324, 1992.
Role of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expression and 1α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 in modulating adipocyte apoptosis

We previously found that 1α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3] modulates adipocyte lipid metabolism via a Ca2+‐dependent mechanism and inhibits adipocyte UCP2 expression, indicating that the anti‐obesity effects of dietary calcium are mediated by suppression of 1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3 levels. However, because UCP2 reduces mitochondrial potential, we have evaluated the roles of UCP2, mitochondrial uncoupling, and 1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3 in adipocyte apoptosis. Overexpressing UCP2 in 3T3‐L1 cells induced marked reductions in mitochondrial potential (∆ψ) and ATP production (P<0.01), increases in the expression of caspases (P<0.05), and a decrease in Bcl‐2/Bax expression ratio (P<0.01). Physiological doses of 1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3 (0.1–10 nM) restored mitochondrial ∆ψ in LI‐UCP2 cells and protected against UCP2 overexpression‐induced apoptosis (P<0.01), whereas a high dose (100 nM) stimulated apoptosis in 3T3‐L1 and L1‐UCP2 cells (P<0.05). 1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3 stimulated cytosolic Ca2+ dose‐dependently in both 3T3‐L1 and L1‐UCP2 cells. However, physiological doses suppressed mitochondrial Ca2+ levels by ~50% whereas the high dose increased mitochondrial Ca2+ by 25% (P<0.05); this explains stimulation of apoptosis by the high dose of 1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3. Using high‐calcium diets to suppress 1α, 25‐(OH)2‐D3 stimulated adipose tissue apoptosis in aP2 transgenic mice (P<0.01), suggesting that increasing dietary calcium stimulates adipose apoptosis and thereby further contributes to an anti‐obesity effect of dietary calcium.
Where and what visuospatial processing in adolescents with congenital hypothyroidism

Visuospatial processing is accomplished in distinct neuroanatomic pathways. One such pathway, known as the where pathway, involves a dorsal route through magnocellular thalamic cells to occipital and parietal cortices and conveys location and motion information. A second pathway, known as the what pathway, involves a ventral route through parvocellular thalamic cells to occipital and temporal cortices and conveys color and form information. The where pathway is thought to be responsible for processing spatial relationships while the what pathway is responsible for object identification. Children with early-treated congenital hypothyroidism (CH) who exhibit selective visuospatial deficits may provide a good model to study the differential development of these pathways. Because children with CH lacked thyroid hormone at a time when needed by developing brain regions such as the parietal cortex, these children may be affected to a greater degree on tasks tapping where but not what pathway processing. We tested this hypothesis via retrospective analysis of their performance on 6 spatial tasks. Compared were 49 adolescents with CH and 49 matched control participants. On the basis of confirmatory factor analysis, tasks were assigned to either where or what pathway groupings. A repeated measures ANOVA showed the CH group was impaired relative to a normal comparison group only on where pathway tasks. Regression analyses indicated that severity of early hypothyroidism was the strongest predictor of where pathway processing but had no effect on what pathway tasks. It is concluded that thyroid hormone is required during late gestation and early life for the normal development of the where aspects of visuospatial processing. (JINS, 2001, 7, 556–562.)
Financial Market Volatility, Macroeconomic Fundamentals and Investor Sentiment

In this paper, we investigate the dynamic relationship between financial market volatility, macroeconomic fundamentals and investor sentiment, employing a two-factor model to decompose volatility into a persistent long-run component and a transitory short-run component. Using a structural VAR model with Bayesian sign restrictions, we show that adverse shocks to aggregate demand and supply cause an increase in the persistent component of both stock and bond market volatility, and that adverse shocks to the persistent component of either stock or bond market volatility cause a deterioration in macroeconomic fundamentals. We find no evidence of a relationship between the transitory component of volatility and macroeconomic fundamentals. Instead, we find that the transitory component is more closely associated with changes in investor sentiment. Our results are robust to a wide range of alternative specifications.
PERSISTENT PLACOID MACULOPATHY IMAGED BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE To describe the case of a patient presenting with persistent placoid maculopathy imaged with optical coherence tomography angiography. METHODS Case report of a 72-year-old man who presented with blurred vision in his right eye. fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, infracyanine green angiography, fundus autofluorescence imaging, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and split spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography were performed. The diagnosis was made based on ophthalmological manifestations and multimodal imaging. RESULTS The spectral domain optical coherence tomography image of the right eye revealed disruption of the ellipsoid layers, and an underlying sliver of hyporeflectance. In the left eye, there were no obvious changes on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. In both eyes, infracyanine green angiography showed hypocyanescence of the lesions, persisting throughout late phases. In optical coherence tomography angiography, imaging of the choroidal capillary layers revealed hyposignal lesions, topographically corresponding exactly to hypocyanescent lesions on infracyanine green angiography. CONCLUSION In this patient, a distinct hyposignal on optical coherence tomography angiography, combined with hypocyanescence on infracyanine green angiography, was interpreted as indicating focal hypoperfusion of the choriocapillaris.
A New Scale of Poverty: How the Officially Recorded Poor People in Turkey Perceive Themselves

Governments adopt policies to prevent and address the socioeconomic problem of poverty. This article examines how officially recorded poor people perceive themselves and the causes of their poverty. It is based on a sample of 531 officially recorded poor people living in the Turkish province of Cankiri. A questionnaire was administered comprising 69 characteristics of poverty. The findings suggest that there are four main causal explanations for poverty attributions: fatalism, discrimination, moral deficiencies and personal deficiencies. The measure developed for this research can be tested and applied to different cultural groups with a high level of validity and reliability.