Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to oil contaminated sediment: unresolved complex?

Oil is ubiquitous in aquatic sediments and may affect partitioning and bioavailability of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs). In contrast to other sedimentary hydrophobic carbon phases (natural organic matter, soot-like materials), oil residues have hardly received any attention as far as it concerns effects on HOC sorption. This paper describes experimental work dealing with such effects of oil on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) sorption to sediments. Three different oils were spiked to a marine sediment in concentrations between 0 and 100 g/kg. Sediment-water distribution coefficients (Kd) for six deuterated PAHs were then determined either directly after spiking the oil or after a semi-natural weathering process in the lab (lasting for more than 2 yr). Resulting Kd values demonstrated sorption-reducing (competitive) effects at relatively low oil concentrations and sorption-enhancing effects at high oil concentrations. The latter effects only occurred above a certain threshold [i.e., ca. 15% (w/w) of oil on a sedimentary organic carbon basis] marking the oil concentration at which the hydrocarbon mixture presumably starts forming separate phases. Assuming a two-domain (organic carbon + oil) distribution model, oil-water distribution coefficients (K(oil)) for PAHs were estimated. For fresh oils, log K(oil) values appeared to be very similar for different types of oils, proportional to log K(OW) values and indistinguishable from log K(OC) values. For weathered oils, K(oil) values were also rather independent of the type of oil, but the affinity of low molecular weight PAHs for weathered oil residues appeared to be extremely high, even higher than values reported for most types of soot. Because affinities of high molecular weight PAHs for oils had not changed upon weathering, sorption of all PAHs studied (comprising a log K(OW) range of 4.6-6.9) to the weathered oil residues appeared to be more or less constant (averaged log K(oil) = 7.0 +/- 0.24). These results demonstrate that it is crucial to take the presence of oil and its weathering state into account when assessing the actual fate of PAHs in aquatic environments.
ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA OF THE EFQM MODEL/АНАЛИЗА ПОСЛОВНИХ ПЕРФОРМАНСИ МАЛИХ И СРЕДЊИХ ПРЕДУЗЕЋА У РЕПУБЛИЦИ СРБИЈИ ПРЕМА КРИТЕРИЈУМИМА EFQM МОДЕЛА

EFQM business excellence model contains nine criteria by which management of enterprises may conduct self-evaluation to identify the level of business quality in order to achieve business excellence. These criteria also form the basis for evaluating business excellence of enterprises in the process of rewarding quality. This paper is based on theoretical and empirical research aimed at identifying the usefulness of the EFQM model. Through results of empirical research, the paper presents the state of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Serbia from the perspective of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model . We measured the level of quality of business excellence elements in small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Serbia according to the methodology of the European Foundation for Quality Management and conducted an analysis of results for each of the nine elements. Subsequently, we gave further recommendations for managers. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate to the scientific and professional community the insufficient level of business excellence model implementation and the need for disseminating information about the EFQM model, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Serbia. Key words : business excellence, quality, EFQM, small and medium enterprises, performance. EFQM модел пословне изврсности садржи девет критеријума на основу којих менаџмент предузећа може вршити самоевалуацију ради идентификовања нивоа квалитета пословања, а у циљу достизања пословне изврсности. Ови критеријуми представљају и основу за оцењивање пословне изврсности предузећа и у поступку награђивања за квалитет. Рад је резултат теоријског и емпиријског истраживања усмереног ка идентификовању корисности EFQM модела. Резултати емпиријског истраживања приказују стање малих и средњих предузећа у Србији из угла Европског модела пословне изврсности. Ниво квалитета елемената пословне изврсности у малим и средњим предузећима у Републици Србији мерен је према методологији Европске фондације за управљање квалитетом и извршена анализа рeзултата пo свакoм oд 9 пojeдиначних eлeмeната EFQM мoдeла, те су на oснoву тoга фoрмулисане даље прeпoрукe за менаџере. Намера аутора је да научној и стручној јавности укаже на низак ниво примене модела пословне изврсности, као и на саму потребу ширења информација о EFQM моделу, посебно у малим и средњим предузећима у Србији. Кључне речи: Пословна изврсност, квалитет, Е FQM , мала и средња предузећа, перформансе.
OWNERSHIP MONITORING MECHANISM AND CORPORATE PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM BANKING FIRMS IN ASIAN EMERGING MARKETS

Corporate governance is regarded as a major issue during the post-financial crisis period in Asia. These countries have implemented corporate governance reforms to enhance the protection of their shareholders and stakeholders interests. Such reforms may affect the conduct of business of all corporations in the region as it allows for greater monitoring especially by the shareholders. Unlike earlier studies which focused on non-financial firms, this study analyzes the corporate governance involving ownership monitoring mechanism of listed banking firms in nine Asian emerging markets which are Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India. It is found that ownership monitoring mechanisms of the banking firms in Asian emerging markets are negatively related with firm value measured by Tobin’s Q.
T and B Cell Markers in Dried Blood Spots of Neonates with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: B Cell Numbers at Birth Are Associated with Long-Term Outcomes

Congenital CMV infection (cCMV) is the most common congenital infection that can cause long-term impairment (LTI). The pathogenesis of LTI is not completely understood. Fetal immunity may play a role in controlling the infection and preventing LTI, although immune activation may also contribute to fetal immunopathology. In this study, we analyzed various molecular markers of T and B cell numbers in neonatal dried blood spots of 99 children with cCMV and 54 children without cCMV: δRec-ψJα signal joints on TCR excision circles, intron recombination signal sequence k-deleting element signal joints on Igκ-deleting recombination excision circles, genomic intron recombination signal sequence k-deleting element coding joint, genomic Vδ1-Jδ1, and Vδ2-Jδ1 rearrangements. Of this cohort, clinical symptoms at birth and LTI at 6 y of age were recorded. Neonates with cCMV had fewer TCR excision circles in their blood than non-infected controls. Furthermore, cCMV infection was associated with increased numbers of γδ T cells and B cells, and these numbers were positively correlated with CMV viral load in the dried blood spots. Infected children with a better long-term outcome had higher numbers of B cells at birth than those who developed LTI; no difference in B cell replication was observed. The potential protective role of B cells in controlling cCMV-related disease and the clinical value of this marker as a predictor of long-term outcome merit further evaluation.
Fundamentals of tomographic particle image velocimetry

The tomographic PIV technique enables the measurement of fluid motion in a three-dimensional domain. The technique is based on volume illumination and simultaneous imaging of the light scattered by seeding particles from several viewing directions. This work first discusses the new measurement capabilities offered by such configuration in relation to the requirements from fundamental research and applied aerodynamic research. The working principles of Tomo-PIV are then introduced with attention to the illumination and imaging configuration, 3D calibration, object reconstruction and particle motion analysis. The measurement uncertainty analysis can be performed by both theoretical and numerical (synthetic recordings) approaches as well as by a-posteriori error estimation for the reconstruction or invoking mass conservation for the velocity vector field.
Investigation of feature selection techniques for improving efficiency of power transformer condition assessment

Transformer oil tests have been conducted in utility companies as one of the major tools for evaluating the integrity of transformer insulation. However, the information obtained from different types of oil tests (the result of a particular type of oil test is termed as an oil characteristic in this paper) may have different significant degree in revealing the condition of a transformer's insulation system. This paper investigates feature selection techniques, which can identify a subset of the most informative oil characteristics amongst all oil characteristics for transformer condition assessment. This selected subset of oil characteristics can be subsequently fed into a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm for determining the health index level of the insulation systems of transformers. The major benefits of feature selection approach include (a) improving the efficiency of transformer condition assessment since only a subset of oil characteristics is used; and (b) assisting SVM algorithm to consistently attain satisfied accuracy since it can focus on the most relevant but non-redundant oil characteristics for transformer condition assessment. In the paper, two feature selection approaches namely correlation analysis based feature selection and minimum-redundancymaximum- relevance (mRMR) based feature selection have been adopted. Case studies are provided to verify the applicability of feature selection approaches.
A 12-week exercise therapy program in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscus tears: a case series with 1-year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN Case series. BACKGROUND Exercise is a viable treatment alternative to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in patients with degenerative meniscus tears. No study has reported in detail the type of exercises, progression, tolerance, and potential benefit from an exercise therapy program in these patients who have not had surgery. This case report describes a progressive exercise therapy program aimed at improving neuromuscular function and muscle strength in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscus tears, the outcome over a 12-week period, and the ability to maintain improvements up to 1 year. CASE DESCRIPTION The first 20 patients (age range, 38-58 years) included in an ongoing randomized controlled trial. OUTCOMES Outcomes data included the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, a 7-point global rating of change scale, isokinetic knee muscle strength tests, and 3 lower extremity performance tests. Postintervention, 16 of 20 patients showed clinically meaningful changes (greater than 10 points) on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score knee-related quality of life subscale, 19 of 20 patients rated themselves as "a lot better" or "better" on the global rating of change scale, all patients had increased quadriceps muscle strength, and the majority of patients improved on the lower extremity performance tests. At 1 year postintervention, the majority of patients had maintained the improvements and none of the patients had undergone surgery. DISCUSSION The described neuromuscular- and strength-training program should be considered for rehabilitation of middle-aged individuals with degenerative meniscus tears. However, head-to-head comparison of programs in a randomized design is needed to determine if this specific program is significantly better than other interventions.
Syddansk Universitet The stepwise evolution of the exome during acquisition of docetaxel resistance in breast cancer cells

Background: Resistance to taxane-based therapy in breast cancer patients is a major clinical problem that may be addressed through insight of the genomic alterations leading to taxane resistance in breast cancer cells. In the current study we used whole exome sequencing to discover somatic genomic alterations, evolving across evolutionary stages during the acquisition of docetaxel resistance in breast cancer cell lines. Results: Two human breast cancer in vitro models (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) of the step-wise acquisition of docetaxel resistance were developed by exposing cells to 18 gradually increasing concentrations of docetaxel. Whole exome sequencing performed at five successive stages during this process was used to identify single point mutational events, insertions/deletions and copy number alterations associated with the acquisition of docetaxel resistance. Acquired coding variation undergoing positive selection and harboring characteristics likely to be functional were further prioritized using network-based approaches. A number of genomic changes were found to be undergoing evolutionary selection, some of which were likely to be functional. Of the five stages of progression toward resistance, most resistance relevant genomic variation appeared to arise midway towards fully resistant cells corresponding to passage 31 (5 nM docetaxel) for MDA-MB-231 and passage 16 (1.2 nM docetaxel) for MCF-7, and where the cells also exhibited a period of reduced growth rate or arrest, respectively. MCF-7 cell acquired several copy number gains on chromosome 7, including ABC transporter genes, including ABCB1 and ABCB4, as well as DMTF1, CLDN12, CROT, and SRI. For MDA-MB-231 numerous copy number losses on chromosome X involving more than 30 genes was observed. Of these genes, CASK, POLA1, PRDX4, MED14 and PIGA were highly prioritized by the applied network-based gene ranking approach. At higher docetaxel concentration MCF-7 subclones exhibited a copy number loss in E2F4, and the gene encoding this important transcription factor was down-regulated in MCF-7 resistant cells. Conclusions: Our study of the evolution of acquired docetaxel resistance identified several genomic changes that might explain development of docetaxel resistance. Interestingly, the most relevant resistance-associated changes appeared to originate midway through the evolution towards fully resistant cell lines. Our data suggest that no single genomic event sufficiently predicts resistance to docetaxel, but require genomic alterations affecting multiple pathways that in concert establish the final resistance stage.
A Swedish national twin study of criminal behavior and its violent, white-collar and property subtypes

Background We sought to clarify the etiological contribution of genetic and environmental factors to total criminal behavior (CB) measured as criminal convictions in men and women, and to violent (VCB), white-collar (WCCB) and property criminal behavior (PCB) in men only. Method In 21 603 twin pairs from the Swedish Twin Registry, we obtained information on all criminal convictions from 1973 to 2011 from the Swedish Crime Register. Twin modeling was performed using the OpenMx package. Results For all criminal convictions, heritability was estimated at around 45% in both sexes, with the shared environment accounting for 18% of the variance in liability in females and 27% in males. The correlation of these risk factors across sexes was estimated at +0.63. In men, the magnitudes of genetic and environmental influence were similar in the three criminal conviction subtypes. However, for violent and white-collar convictions, nearly half and one-third of the genetic effects were respectively unique to that criminal subtype. About half of the familial environmental effects were unique to property convictions. Conclusions The familial aggregation of officially recorded CB is substantial and results from both genetic and familial environmental factors. These factors are moderately correlated across the sexes suggesting that some genetic and environmental influences on criminal convictions are unique to men and to women. Violent criminal behavior and property crime are substantially influenced respectively by genetic and shared environmental risk factors unique to that criminal subtype.
Coexistence and performance of diploid and polyploid Acacia senegal (L.) Willd.: implications for adaptation and domestication in the Sahel

11 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY . 12 POLYPLOIDY IN FLOWERING PLANTS.14 STUDIED SPECIES.15 IMPLICATIONS OF POLYPLOIDY IN A. SENEGAL IN THE DRY SAHEL REGIONS OF WEST AFRICA.19 SUMMARY OF MATERIAL, METHODS AND OBTAINED RESULTS . 20 INTEGRATED DISCUSSION.26 CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVES.29 REFERENCES.31 MANUSCRIPTS.35
Survivin specific siRNA associated with paclitaxel synergistically inhibits glioma U-87MG cells proliferation and related mechanism

In order to explore the effect of paclitaxel (PTX) combined with Survivin siRNA on proliferation and apoptosis in U-87MG cells in vitro, the U-87MG cells were transfected with Survivin siRNA and treated with PTX at the same time. The cell morphological changes were determined by methylene blue solution. Survivin, cyclin D1, c-Myc and CDK4 expression in U-87MG cells was analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot at 48 h after treatment. The cell proliferation and apoptosis in U-87MG cells were determined by MTT, flow cytometry assay. The results showed that Survivin was highly expressed in U-87MG cells, whereas Survivin expression was reduced in pSilenceTMneo3.1 — H1-siRNA — Survivin transfected and PTX treated U-87MG cells separately. But the inhibiting effect is not so obvious, in order to improve the treatment effect, PTX and survivin siRNA were used to treat U-87MG cells at the same time. The results demonstrated that Survivin siRNA combined with PTX significantly increased the sensitivity of U-87MG cells of PTX and elevated apoptotic cell rate, thus decreased, CDK4, cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression levels in U-87MG cells through RT-PCR and western blot assays. In short, this study demonstrated that Survivin siRNA combined PTX effectively suppressed growth and induced apoptosis in U-87MG cells in vitro, it is an vital approach to treat glioma.
Clinical subtypes of schizophrenia: differences in brain and CSF volume.

OBJECTIVE Investigations of the relation of clinical features of schizophrenia to neuroanatomic measures have produced inconclusive results. The purpose of this study was to examine measures of whole-brain volume in men and women and relate them to clinical subtypes of schizophrenia. METHOD Magnetic resonance imaging measures of cranial, brain, and ventricular and sulcal CSF volume were examined in 81 patients with schizophrenia (50 men and 31 women), divided into subgroups based on their symptom profiles, and 81 demographically matched healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS The men had higher cranial and brain volumes than the women. The patients had smaller cranial and brain volumes than the comparison subjects; they also had higher ventricular CSF volumes and thus higher ventricle-brain ratios (VBRs). Ratio elevations were larger for the female than for the male schizophrenic patients. The patients with predominantly negative symptoms of schizophrenia had higher VBRs and sulcal CSF-brains ratios than the comparison subjects, although the component volumes did not differ. The patients with predominantly Schneiderian symptoms had higher VBRs than the comparison subjects but showed reduced cranial and brain volumes. The paranoid patients had normal VBRs, reduced sulcal CSF-brain ratios, and lower cranial and sulcal CSF volumes. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest two patterns of neuroanatomic whole-brain abnormalities that differ in severity according to the relative prominence of negative, Schneiderian, and paranoid symptoms. These patterns may reflect differential involvement of dysgenic and atrophic pathophysiological processes. Sex moderates abnormalities in the neuroanatomic features of schizophrenia.
Nasal airflow and thoracoabdominal motion in children using infrared thermographic video processing

The assessment of apnea and asynchronous breathing requires the application of a facemask connected to a pneumotachograph and inductive transducer bands placed around the chest wall. These contact devices may alter the breathing pattern and are difficult to implement, especially in infants and children. This study validates a contactless image‐processing system that simultaneously retrieves breath‐related thermal variations from nasal, ribcage, and abdomen regions of interest (ROI) from infrared thermographic video recordings of children. Thermographic videos were obtained in 17 supine, spontaneously breathing unsedated children (0.33–13.75 years), including 8 patients with respiratory pathology. Representative thermographic signals were obtained from each ROI on a frame‐by‐frame basis. Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient assessed the correlation between control nasal pressure period, the visually scored respiratory rate and the fundamental period in the frequency domain of thermographic signals. A cross‐correlation function calculated the time delay and the phase angle between ribcage and abdomen variability. A Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.976 (0.992–0.944 95% CI) suggests a small‐scale measurement error between thermographic and control periods. The ribcage‐abdomen time delay in children with respiratory disease (−0.42 ± 0.707 sec) significantly differed from healthy children (0.22 ± 0.426 sec, P = 0.0125). This novel system reliably acquired time‐aligned nasal airflow and thoracoabdominal motion estimates without relying on attached sensor performance and detected asynchronous breathing in pediatric patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012; 47:476–486. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
2 Methodology 2 . 1 Model specification

We develop Bayesian models for density regression with emphasis on discrete outcomes. The problem of density regression is approached by considering methods for multivariate density estimation of mixed scale variables, and obtaining conditional density estimates from the latter. The approach to multivariate mixed scale outcome density estimation that we describe represents discrete variables, either responses or covariates, as continuous latent variables that are thresholded into discrete ones. We present and compare several models for obtaining these thresholds in the challenging context of count data analysis where the response may be overand/or under-dispersed in some of the regions of the covariate space. We utilize a nonparametric mixture of multivariate Gaussians to model the directly observed and latent continuous variables. The paper presents a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for posterior sampling, sufficient conditions for weak consistency, and illustrations on density, mean and quantile regression utilizing simulated and real datasets.
Probabilistic analyses using Latin Hypercube Sampling method

The Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method is a numerical simulation method of the Monte Carlo type convenient for realisation of probabilistic analyses. The paper is focused on brief characterisation of algorithm of LHS method. It deals with method modifications and implementation of statistical correlation among random variables based on the optimisation of the sequence of particular samples in the columns of input variable matrix. LHS converges to the correct solution significantly faster than the Monte Carlo method and in this way substantially reduces the number of simulations and thus calculation time-demands. At the same time LHS preserves high accuracy of estimates of statistical characteristics. Further paper summarizes the LHS applications on solutions of geotechnical problems in Czech Republic and shortly characterises prepared software focused on probabilistic analyses by LHS method. The software is based on LHS mean method cooperating with simulated annealing method to take the statistical dependency of input variables into consideration.