Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hematological malignancies in Chernobyl clean-up workers (1996-2010)

Background : Even in 25 years after Chernobyl catastrophe, the interpretation of the findings on leukemia risk among Chernobyl clean-up workers is still a point of much controversy. Precise diagnosis of the main types of hematopoietic malignancies according to FAB classification and new WHO classification and comparison of these data with that in the general population will be helpful in estimating the relative contribution of the radiation factor to the overall incidence of such pathologies. Methods : The data on 295 consecutive cases of malignant tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in Chernobyl clean-up workers diagnosed in 1996-2010 are given in comparison with the data of 2697 consecutive patients of general population of the same age group. The complex of diagnostic techniques was used including morphology and cytochemistry of bone marrow and peripheral blood cells as well as immunocytochemical techniques (APAAP, LSAB-AP) and the broad panel of monoclonal antibodies to lineage specific and differentiation antigens of leukocytes. Results: All the main forms of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues were diagnosed among clean-up workers under study in 10-25 years after Chernobyl catastrophe including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute leukemias (ALL and AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and other chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and other chronic lymphoproliferative diseases of B and T cell origin. Among clean-up workers with hematopoietic malignancies, MDS percentage tended to exceed that in the group of patients representing the general population examined at the same period (5.42% vs. 3.70%). Among 46 AML cases in clean-up workers, leukemia was preceded by MDS in seven patients. Also CML percentage was higher in group of patients representing clean-up workers (9.01% vs. 6.59%). B-CLL was a predominant form of hematopoietic malignancies in clean-up workers under study (26.10%). Nevertheless, B-CLL percentage in patients of clean-up workers group did not differ significantly from that in the patients of general population. The multiple myeloma percentage in the group of patients belonging to clean-up workers in our study was higher than in the patients of general population (6.44% vs. 4.0%). Conclusions: The verified diagnosis of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues according to the up-to-date classifications (EGIL, WHO) could be the prerequisite for further molecular genetic and analytical epidemiology study of leukemias that may be related to Chernobyl catastrophe. Keywords: Chernobyl clean-up workers, leukemias, cytochemistry, immunophenotyping
Environmental Policy in a Federal State A Regional CGE Analysis of the NEC Directive in Belgium

This paper develops and applies a regional computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for environmental and energy policy in a federal state. This regional CGE model differs from the national CGE models by taking into account the interregional mobility of labor, the common product market for the regions and the relations in the multi-level government of the federal state. We illustrate our regional CGE model with an analysis of the NEC Directive in Belgium. The NEC Directive sets upper limits for each EU member state in 2010 for the total emissions of four pollutants, responsible for acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone pollution. These pollutants are sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and ammonia (NH3).
Outcome of tumor lysis syndrome in pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies – a single-center experience from Pakistan

T umor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a constellation of metabolic derangements manifesting in cancer and other diseases with high cell turnover. In the context of cancer, the onset usually occurs after administration of anti-neoplastic chemotherapy, or it may happen prior to chemotherapy. 2 TLS most commonly occurs with rapidly growing, aggressive malignancies with a high tumor burden, including hematologic malignancies such as acute leukemias and high-grade lymphomas. It may also occur with bulky, solid organ tumors, although this is uncommon in the pediatric population. With the rapid and massive lysis of tumor cells, numerous intracellular ions and compounds are released into the circulation and overwhelm the body’s ability to metabolize and excrete these components, thus contributing to the complex pathophysiology of TLS. Hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia are caused by the eux of these ions, which are normally present in high concentrations intracellularly. Hyperkalemia gives rise to cardiac complications, namely arrhythmias, which may prove fatal. Hyperphosphatemia causes hypocalcemia, which in turn adversely aects several organ systems, including the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and central and peripheral nervous systems. Hyperuricemia arises from the degradation of nucleic acids released from tumor cells. Formation of uric acid crystals, due to uricosuria, and calcium phosphate crystals within the kidney tubules can cause obstructive uropathy,
Rearrangement and expression of T-cell antigen receptor genes in human T-lymphocyte tumor lines and normal human T-cell clones: evidence for allelic exclusion of Ti beta gene expression and preferential use of a J beta 2 gene segment

The gene encoding the beta chain of the human T-cell receptor for antigen is composed of variable (V), diversity (D), joining (J), and constant (C) gene segments which undergo specific rearrangements during T-lymphocyte ontogeny. Southern blot analyses of seven human T-cell tumor lines and normal human T-lymphocyte clones revealed that most of these T-cell lines rearrange their Ti beta genes differently. The T-cell tumor line HPB-MLT rearranges and transcribes both of its Ti beta genes. Cloning and sequencing of the Ti beta cDNAs corresponding to these rearrangements revealed that one of the rearranged Ti beta genes is defective, while the other is functional and corresponds to the Ti beta protein expressed on the surface of these cells. Thus, this cell line displays a pattern of allelic exclusion of Ti beta gene expression. A comparison of four C beta 2-containing Ti beta cDNAs from three different cell lines revealed that three of the four utilize the same J beta 2.5 gene segment joined to different D beta and V beta genes, suggesting that there may be preferential use of this J gene during J beta 2 rearrangements. Hybridization analyses with probes for the alpha and beta genes of the T-cell receptor and the T-cell-specific T gamma gene revealed that HPB-MLT cells appear to express approximately equivalent amounts of RNA corresponding to each of the rearranged Ti alpha and Ti beta genes. However, they express a much lower level of T gamma RNA.
18-01 Remittances , Human Capital , and Economic Growth : Panel Data Evidence from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

We examine the impact of remittances on economic growth using panel data (1975-2014) for 18 countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that are similar in size and development level. We allow for heterogeneous production functions across countries and calculate the average marginal effects of remittances using the panel dynamic ordinary least squares estimator. The estimation results show that remittances increase growth significantly, especially through investments in human capital. In addition we find that: (i) remittances have a modest impact on growth when controlling for physical and human capital channels through which remittances potentially affect output growth; (ii) when we do not control for human capital the effect is larger regardless of the sub-samples considered − the elasticity of output with respect to remittances is 7.3 percent in the full sample, and 18.6 percent among Asian countries; (iii) remittances have a significant positive long-run effect on human capital formation regardless of the sub-samples considered but the effect on physical capital accumulation is significant only among middle income and Asian countries. The findings suggest that channeling the remittances towards investments in physical capital and adoption of new knowledge, skills and technology is crucial for high economic growth in low income countries.
APPLICATION OF CEPHEIDS TO DISTANCE SCALE: EXTENDING TO ULTRA-LONG PERIOD CEPHEIDS

Classical Cepheids (hereafter Cepheids) belong to a class of important variable stars that can be used to determine distances to nearby galaxies via the famous period-luminosity (PL) relations, i.e. the Leavitt Law. In turn, these distances can then be used to calibrate a host of secondary distance indicators located well within the Hubble ow, and ultimately determine the Hubble constant in a manner independent of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements. Some recent progress in determining the Hubble constant to within 3% level via the Cepheid-based distance scale ladder (the SH0ES and the Carnegie Hubble Program) were rst summarized in this Proceeding, followed by a brief discussion on the prospect of using ultra-long period Cepheids (ULPC) in future distance scale work. ULPC are those Cepheids with periods longer than 80 days, which seem to follow a dierent PL relation than their shorter period Cepheids. It has been suggested that ULPC can be used to determine the Hubble constant in "one-step". However, based on the two ULPCs found in M31, it was found that the large dispersion in derived distance moduli leads to a less accurate distance modulus to M31 compared to the classical Cepheids. This nding might raise an alert regarding the use of ULPCs in future distance scale work.
Do the Firm-level Variables and Human Capital Impact Capital Structure Decisions? A Study of Non-financial Firms in Pakistan

In this study firm's capital structure decisions have been tried to examine theoretically and empirically. By testing the determinants of capital structure, i.e., size, tangibility, profitability, growth, non-debt tax shield, business risk and liquidity on firm's leverage (capital structure decisions) have been tried to determine. Size, profitability, non-debt tax shield, liquidity and human capital have been found significant and negatively related to capital structure decisions. Our analysis consists of 176 non-financial Pakistani companies listed on Karachi Stock Exchange over the period of 2003-2012.
A comparison of ASCAT and modelled soil moisture over South Africa, using TOPKAPI in land surface mode.

Abstract. In this paper we compare two independent soil moisture estimates over South Africa. The first estimate is a Soil Saturation Index (SSI) provided by automated real-time computations of the TOPKAPI hydrological model, adapted to run as a collection of independent 1 km cells with centres on a grid with a spatial resolution of 0.125°, at 3 h intervals. The second set of estimates is the remotely sensed ASCAT Surface Soil Moisture product, temporally filtered to yield a Soil Wetness Index (SWI). For the TOPKAPI cells, the rainfall forcing used is the TRMM 3B42RT product, while the evapotranspiration forcing is based on a modification of the FAO56 reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0). ET0 is computed using forecast fields of meteorological variables from the Unified Model (UM) runs done by the South African Weather Service (SAWS); the UM forecast fields were used, because reanalysis is not done by SAWS. To validate these ET0 estimates we compare them with those computed using observed meteorological data at a network of weather stations; they were found to be unbiased with acceptable scatter. Using the rainfall and evapotranspiration forcing data, the percentage saturation of the TOPKAPI soil store is computed as a Soil Saturation Index (SSI), for each of 6984 unconnected uncalibrated TOPKAPI cells at 3 h time-steps. These SSI estimates are then compared with the SWI estimates obtained from ASCAT. The comparisons indicate a good correspondence in the dynamic behaviour of SWI and SSI for a significant proportion of South Africa.
Fe b 20 18 Seismic response in modern cities

The proposed homogeneous flat-faced layer-like model of a city (termed overlayer), covering what is generally considered to be a dangerous site (from the point of view of seismic hazard) lends itself to an explicit theoretical analysis of its response to a seismic body wave radiated by distant sources. This study is carried out for: ground response of the complete site/overlayer configuration which is compared to the response of the configuration in which the overlayer is absent, response at the top of the layer for various layer thicknesses, and determination, as a function of frequency, of the fraction of incident flux that is dissipated in the overlayer, the underlying layer and, by radiation damping, in the hard half space. It is shown that all of these entities are highly frequency-dependent and even large in certain frequency intervals, without any resonant (in the sense of mode excitation) phenomena coming into play. The results of this study also show that transfer functions do not necessarily reflect the global response in the built component of a city and that more-appropriate energy-related functions, termed spectral absorptance (in the blocks of the city or their layer-like surrogate at the characteristic frequency of the seismic pulse) and absorptance (integral over frequency of the spectral absorptance), can increase with increasing city density or increasing city height. In fact, it is shown that more than a third of the incident seismic energy can be sent into, and therefore cause serious damage to, the built component. On the basis of these findings, it appears that the probable evolution of the morphology and constitutive properties of cities with time will make the latter more vulnerable to damage and destruction when submitted to seismic waves.
An improved protocol for adipose tissue-derived stem cell isolation: implications for treatments of bone disorders Ulepszony protokół izolacji komórek macierzystych z tkanki tłuszczowej: konsekwencje dla leczenia chorób kości

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) have been shown to possess similar characteristics to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC), with extensive proliferative potential and multilineage differentiation ability. They have also been found to be less immunogenic than BM-MSC, thus representing an excellent potential tool in regenerative medicine. Most of the protocols for ASC isolation utilize crude collagenase to digest fatty tissue. However, large discrepancies between isolation methods have resulted in diversity in cell yield and functional properties. Thus, to meet good manufacturing standards necessary for clinical use, there is a need to improve methods of ASC isolation. The aims of the current study were firstly to establish a novel improved protocol for ASC isolation making use of liberases. Secondly, to compare liberase-derived ASC to BM-MSC, in terms of surface antigen and gene expression profiles, proliferation potential and ability to differentiate into osteocytes. We showed that digestion of adipose tissue with liberases appeared to be superior to collagenase digestion, since significantly higher numbers of fibroblast colony forming units (CFU-F) were obtained. Liberase-3-derived ASC and BM-MSC both expressed similar surface antigens (CD105, CD73, CD90 and CD166) and were negative for hematopoietic cells markers (CD14, CD45 and HLA-DR). In addition, both liberase-3-derived ASC and BM-MSC differentiated into osteocytes. However, ASC showed significantly higher proliferative potential.
Ownership Dynamics after Partial Privatization: Evidence from China

This paper studies ownership dynamics in 221 Chinese state-owned enterprises that were partially privatized via the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We build probit models to investigate the further decline in government ownership after listing. We differentiate between share issuance, where state ownership is diluted as a result of rights issues and seasoned equity offerings, and government divestment. We find evidence that share issuance results in the dilution of state ownership in the highly profitable and leveraged firms that rely more on subsidies, while assets growth has a negative effect. The issuance decision is timed to occur when stock market conditions are favorable. Chinese authorities tend to sell part of their shares in the smaller and unprofitable firms reporting higher sales growth. Variables capturing the size of managerial incentive problems do not play an incremental role after controlling for firm performance. Finally, the divestment decision is not affected by windows of opportunity.
Quality and Performance of LED Flashlights in Kenya: Common End User Preferences and Complaints

T HE L UMINA P ROJECT http://light.lbl. gov Research Note #4 Quality and Performance of LED Flashlights in Kenya: Common End User Preferences and Complaints Jenny Tracy†, Arne Jacobson† and Evan Mills* † Schatz Energy Research Center, Humboldt State University * Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California September 14, 2009 Acknowledgments: This work was funded by The Rosenfeld Fund of the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Berkeley, through the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. Art Rosenfeld has been a key supporter of this work.We wish to extend special thanks to the many people in Kenya who participated in this study. We are grateful to Maina Mumbi for his expert contributions to the fieldwork, and to the entire Mumbi family for hosting our team in Maai Mahiu. We also thank Justus Kimaru for his insights, assistance, and support.
Diacronia dei verbi sintagmatici in Italiano

The paper deals with verb-particle constructions in Italian from a diachronic and typological perspective. Verb-particle constructions (also known as phrasal verbs) are very common in Germanic languages and have inspired much work in recent years. Quite to the contrary, this seems to be a scarcely productive pattern in Romance languages. This also mirrors Talmy's (1985) generalization about the two main types of lexicalization patterns of motion events that can be found in Indo-European languages (satellite-framed vs. verb-framed). In this respect, Italian is clearly an exception, since it displays a rather high number of verb-particle constructions, such as mettere giu 'to put down', portare via 'to take away, andare avanti 'to continue'. After a brief overview of the syntactic and semantic properties of verb-particle constructions in present-day Italian, the paper focuses on the historical reasons of their rise, discusses various hypotheses and offers a diachronic analysis of Ancient Italian texts. The findings of the analysis cast light on the issue and provide evidence for an autonomous development of these constructions within the Italian language.
Development and psychometric analysis of a strengths perspective-based instrument on clinical instruction in nursing

Strengths perspective in social work can be translated into nursing. There are, however, few references of the perspective in the nursing literature. Thus the purpose of this study was to add to the evidence of strengths perspectives as applied in nursing. Specifically it aimed to develop and test the psychometric properties of an instrument designed to measure strengths perspectivein clinical instruction. A methodological design guided the study. A purposive of 376 clinical instructors from select colleges of nursing in Central Luzon region in the Philippines accomplished the 39-item 5-level Likert scale. Construct validation revealeda three-factor (fostering reciprocity, initiating applicability, and identifying development areas) solution that accounted 39.43% of the variance. The index of internal consistency was . 941. The results of factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha demonstratedadequate evidence of validity and reliability. The final 34-item instrument, Clinical Instructor’s Strengths Perspective Inventory, can be used as a scale representing self-reported application of the concept in clinical instruction.
Zeolite Y: Synthesis, Modification, and Properties—A Case Revisited

Y zeolites dealuminated by steaming were introduced as fluid-cracking catalysts in the year 1970. Extensive research has been done to develop suitable dealumination techniques, to investigate crystal structure, and to characterize catalytic behaviour. However, the origin of the secondary pore system formed in the zeolite structure during dealumination process remained completely obscure over a period of four decades. Open questions concerned also the existence of extraframework siliceous admixture in addition to extraframework aluminium species which can dramatically change the catalytic properties of these zeolites. This paper gives a review on the synthesis of DAY materials and provides some answers to several open questions.
The Preparation of Graphene Reinforced Poly(vinyl alcohol) Antibacterial Nanocomposite Thin Film

Methylated melamine grafted polyvinyl benzylchloride (mm-g-PvBCl) was prepared which was used as additive in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and graphene nanosheets (GNs) were used to reinforce the mechanical strength. Using casting method, antimicrobial nanocomposite films were prepared with the polymeric biocide loading lever of 1 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt%. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) characterization revealed the 2.0 wt% of graphene content in resultant nanocomposites films. XRD showed that the resultant GNs 2 theta was changed from 16.6 degree to 23.3 degree. Using Japanese Industry Standard test methods, the antimicrobial efficiency for the loading lever of 1 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt% was 92.0%, 95.8%, and 97.1%, respectively, against gram negative bacteria E. coli and 92.3%, 99.6%, and 99.7%, respectively, against the gram positive S. aureus. These results indicate the prepared nanocomposite films are the promising materials for the food and drink package applications.
Some Classes of Functions with Exponential Decay in the Unit Ball of Cn

One of the characterizing properties of the functions of bounded mean oscillation (BMO) is that their distribution functions have an exponential decay effect, i. e. the famous John-Nirenberg's theorema:i. In 1980, Baernstein® proved that the distribution functions of the non-tangential maximal functions decrease exponentially for a bounded subset of the Nevanlinna class in the unit disk, and as corollaries, he obtained an analytic form of John-Nirenberg's theorem with a weaker integrability assumption and pointed out that in the analytic category BMO is equivalent to BMO of logarithmic type. Long Ruilin and Yang LeC3] obtained similar results to Baernstein's theorem in the ^-dimensional real and complex ball by showing that BMO(10g)* = BMO for spaces of homogeneous type. In this paper, we try to generalize a series of the famous Baernstein's results for the unit disk to the unit ball with respect to different topological structures applying Rudin's function theory in the unit ball of CM. In order to lead to the discussion, we define a class of point sets in the ball in §2, where we point out that there is a useful geometric property of the intersections of this class of sets and the admissible domains Da (Q defined by Koranyi rs:i. The key part of this paper will be found in §3, where the decay characterizations will be studied for a bounded subset of a function space larger than the Nevanlinna class, which shall be referred to as H9 class in the present article. Hence the maximal function in the admissible domain