Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE BER PATHWAY GENES AND PON1 POLYMORPHISM: INFLUENCE ON DNA DAMAGE IN AGRICULTURE-EXPOSED WORKERS POLIMORFISMOS DE LA VÍA BER Y DEL GEN PON1: INFLUENCIA EN LOS DAÑOS CELULARES EN LOS AGRICULTORES EXPUESTOS

Pesticide exposure represents a potential risk for human health. Farmers from Rio Grande do Sul (the southernmost state of Brazil) use different kinds of such substances and are therefore constantly exposed to those chemical compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of polymorphisms in PON1 and in two BER genes (XRCC1 and OGG1 polymorphisms) in cell damage, analyzing a group of pesticide-exposed farmers. Genotyping of the three polymorphisms was performed by PCR/RFLP. DNA damage was evaluated by Comet assay (ID) and Micronuclei test (MN) in 107 pesticide-exposed workers and in 73 nonexposed people. Statistically significant differences between cases and controls, considering data from ID, MN and genotyping analysis, were tested by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. PON polymorphisms showed influence in cell damage in the pesticide-exposed group, considering the frequency of MN: homozygotes Gln/Gln presented a higher incidence of MN when compared to Arg/-(p<0.05). Control individuals with XRCC1 194 Arg/Trp presented better results considering ID and MN (p<0.05). Heterozygote individuals for OGG1 326 Ser/Cys showed lower incidence of MN (p<0.05). The results from the PON and XRCC1 genotypes combined showed an effective repair for individuals Gln/Gln + Arg /Trp (p< 0.05). The PON and OGG1 genotypes combined showed an effective repair for individuals Gln/Arg + Cys/- (p=0.01). Our results demonstrated that the metabolizing gene PON and the BER genes may have an influence on exposure to pesticides. Combinations of metabolizing and repair genotypes modulate the final result of incorporation of DNA damage after exposure. These results demonstrate the importance of considering together metabolizing and repair pathways on the individual susceptibility to incorporate DNA damage after exposure to xenobiotics.
Road Improvement and Deforestation in the Congo Basin Countries

Road construction has often been viewed as the precursor to deforestation, especially in tropical forests. Traditional responses to such threats have been reactive, with attempts to mitigate impacts through physical measures, or the establishment of protected areas. These approaches often have not been entirely successful, especially in areas where economic potential is significant. This paper seeks to mitigate such conflicts by proposing a proactive approach to development planning and environmental policy. It develops a high-resolution spatial model of road improvement impacts that includes ecological risks and the economics of forest clearing. The approach is implemented by estimating the potential impact of road upgrading on forest clearing and biodiversity in eight Congo Basin countries. The paper demonstrates how the detailed analysis can identify areas of high ecological priority as well as areas at high risk of forest loss. The paper contributes to several aspects of the literature. First, it provides the most recent and reliable estimates of the drivers of deforestation in the Congo Basin, with the latest high-resolution satellite data on forest cover changes. Second, it presents novel estimates of biodiversity threats by creating an index that combines and synthesizes several measures of biodiversity loss and impacts. It then develops an empirical framework for estimating the ecological impacts of road improvement. Finally, the paper illustrates how the empirical framework can be used to preempt impacts and avoid potential ecological damage.
CHARACTERISTICS AND PERSPECTIVES OF TRAVEL AGENCIES FRANCHISES: THE CASE OF THE SPANISH MARKET

Tourism is one of the most attractive activities and has the greatest potential in many national economies. The travel agencies industry is closely related to tourism. Despite the world financial crisis, the franchise is still a good refuge for many travel agencies projects. The goal of this work is to analyze the current situation and possible tendencies of the travel agencies industry operating under the franchise system, trying to identify the own characteristics and new marketing strategies of its products and services. Another aim of this work is to identify possible strategic groups within the industry of travel agencies under franchise. A study in Spain was made to show some interesting results about travel agencies franchises.
Carbon Nanotube-Based Polymer Composites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

The present chapter covers the designing, development, properties and applications of carbon nanotube-loaded polymer composites. The first section will provide a brief overview of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), their synthesis, properties and functionalization routes. The second section will shed light on the CNT/polymer composites, their types, synthesis routes and characterization. The last section will illustrate the various applications of CNT/polymer composites; important properties, parameters and performance indices backed by comprehensive literature account of the same. The chapter concludes with the current challenges and future aspects.
Conformal anomaly and the vector coupling in dense matter

We acknowledge partial support by the WCU project of the Korean Ministry of Educational Science and Technology (R33-2008-000-10087-0). The work of C. S. has been partly supported by the Hessian LOEWE initiative through the Helmholtz International Center for FAIR (HIC for FAIR).
Submarine Fernandina: Magmatism at the leading edge of the Galápagos hot spot

New multibeam and side‐scan sonar surveys of Fernandina volcano and the geochemistry of lavas provide clues to the structural and magmatic development of Galápagos volcanoes. Submarine Fernandina has three well‐developed rift zones, whereas the subaerial edifice has circumferential fissures associated with a large summit caldera and diffuse radial fissures on the lower slopes. Rift zone development is controlled by changes in deviatoric stresses with increasing distance from the caldera. Large lava flows are present on the gently sloping and deep seafloor west of Fernandina. Fernandina's submarine lavas are petrographically more diverse than the subaerial suite and include picrites. Most submarine glasses are similar in composition to aphyric subaerially erupted lavas, however. These rocks are termed the “normal” series and are believed to result from cooling and crystallization in the subcaldera magma system, which buffers the magmas both thermally and chemically. These normal‐series magmas are extruded laterally through the flanks of the volcano, where they scavenge and disaggregate olivine‐gabbro mush to produce picritic lavas. A suite of lavas recovered from the terminus of the SW submarine rift and terraces to the south comprises evolved basalts and icelandites with MgO = 3.1 to 5.0 wt. %. This “evolved series” is believed to form by fractional crystallization at 3 to 5 kb, involving extensive crystallization of clinopyroxene and titanomagnetite in addition to plagioclase. “High‐K” lavas were recovered from the southwest rift and are attributed to hybridization between normal‐series basalt and evolved‐series magma. The geochemical and structural findings are used to develop an evolutionary model for the construction of the Galápagos Platform and better understand the petrogenesis of the erupted lavas. The earliest stage is represented by the deep‐water lava flows, which over time construct a broad submarine platform. The deep‐water lavas originate from the subcaldera plumbing system of the adjacent volcano. After construction of the platform, eruptions focus to a point source, building an island with rift zones extending away from the adjacent, buttressing volcanoes. Most rift zone magmas intrude laterally from the subcaldera magma chamber, although a few evolve by crystallization in the upper mantle and deep crust.
Monitoring the Intertidal Environment with Biomimetic Devices

Worldwide, the narrow bands of habitat between the tidemarks on coastal shores are inhabited by a variety of marine species which periodically have to cope with stressful terrestrial conditions during low tide (Raffaelli & Hawkins, 1996; Denny & Wethey, 2000; Harley, 2008). The interplay between biotic and abiotic factors acting over such small spatial scales results in outstandingly condensed and diverse communities, which are regarded as ideal natural models for studying the coupled role of physical and biological factors in determining the abundance and distribution of organisms (Raffaelli & Hawkins, 1996). Most intertidal invertebrates and algae are sessile or slow moving and cannot prevent being exposed to extreme stressful events, and thus are recognized as sensitive indicators of the effects of climate variability and climate change (Helmuth et al., 2006 and references within). Subsequently, temperature-driven mass mortalities of intertidal organisms such as limpets, mussels and barnacles have been observed in the field after exposure to periods of acute thermal stress (e.g., Lewis, 1954; Connell, 1961a; Crisp, 1964; Harley, 2008; Jones et al., 2010). Importantly, molecular and physiology studies have also recently shown the importance of sub-lethal stresses in shaping the distribution of intertidal species (e.g., Somero, 2002; Dahlhoff, 2004; Sorte & Hofmann, 2004; Helmuth et al., 2005). In addition to clines in thermal stress, the tidal cycle also generates steep gradients in light, oxygen and nutrient availability, wave force, salinity and desiccation. These abiotic factors have long been identified as drivers in the physiology and ecology of intertidal animals and plants (Broekhuysen, 1941; Smaldon & Duffus, 1984; Denny & Wethey, 2000; Santini et al., 2001; Firth & Williams, 2009). Vertical clines in the strength of stressors, determined by the timing and duration of emersion/submersion (Foster, 1971) were firstly regarded as the main causative factors for the ubiquitous vertical substitution of species observed at scales of a few meters on rocky shores (Stephenson & Stephenson, 1949; Lewis, 1964). Soon after, results from experimental ecology began to demonstrate the importance of biotic, selective pressures related to competition, predation, grazing, and recruitment in setting zonation
Firm Size and Economic Growth in China

This paper investigates the roles and significance of firms of various sizes in economic growth in China. This paper finds that the small firms have been the engine of growth in China, as increasing their share has been positively associated with economic growth. In contrast, we find that increasing the share as well as the number of big businesses have a significant and negative effect on economic growth, and that increasing the share of the medium-sized firms have negative or insignificant effect on economic growth in China. Most interestingly we find that the positive contribution of small firms and their increasing shares are largely owing to the expansion of the average size of them, rather than the increase in their absolute numbers of which the impact on growth is insignificant.
Customer Portfolio Management: Toward a Dynamic Theory of Exchange Relationships

Management of an entire portfolio of customers who are at different relationship stages requires a dynamic theory of exchange relationships that captures the trade-offs between scale economies and lifetime customer value. This article contributes to the understanding of relationship management by developing a typology of exchange relationship mechanisms and a model of relationship dynamics and by simulating the model to provide guidelines for customer portfolio management. An important insight from the research is that a key to the creation of value through closer relationships lies in bringing weaker relationships into a portfolio in the first place. Another insight is that firms that position themselves toward offerings with low economies of scale, such as personal services, must build closer relationships to create value.
Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial profiles of Scilla nervosa (Burch.) Jessop (Hyacinthaceae)

Scilla nervosa (Burch.) Jessop (Hyacinthaceae) (=Schizocarphus nervosus (Burch.) Van der Merwe) is a well-known plant in traditional medicine in South Africa, used for conditions associated with pain and inflammation, such as rheumatic fever. However, the topical anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of the plant have not been investigated. A bioassay-guided fractionation approach was implemented to determine the biological activities of different extracts. A crude methanol extract was prepared from the bulbs to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties in a mouse model of acute croton oil-induced auricular contact dermatitis. The non-polar and polar components present in the methanol extract were separated by extraction with dichloromethane and ethanol, respectively; and their antimicrobial activity against the invasive pathogenic microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiellla pneumoniae and Candida albicans was investigated using a microplate method. Oedema induced by application of croton oil was significantly reduced 3 h (~66 %) and 6 h (~40%) after treatment with the extracts. Anti-inflammatory activity was ~1.8-fold lower at 6 h, suggesting a potent, short-acting effect. The non-polar extract exhibited greater efficacy and potency against the microorganisms than the polar extract. The non-polar extract was equipotent against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, but twice as potent against C. albicans as against the bacteria, suggesting little discrimination between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but specificity for the fungal yeast. The polar extract was the least potent against K. pneumoniae, but 10-fold more potent against C. albicans, suggesting specificity for Gram- positive bacteria and the fungal yeast. S. nervosa contains compounds that are individually, or in combination, potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents. The anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated here may rationalise the use of the plant in traditional medicine.
Well-balanced Finite Volume schemes: some stability and convergence results

We report a stability and convergence analysis for some simplified well-balanced Finite Volume solvers of Hyperbolic Systems of Conservation Laws. These are specific solvers, recently introduced, that balance all steady solutions up to second order of accuracy by means of an additional numerical source term. We prove the stability and convergence of some of these solvers for scalar hyperbolic equations under reasonable conditions on the additional term.
TREES DETECTION FROM LASER POINT CLOUDS ACQUIRED IN DENSE URBAN AREAS BY A MOBILE MAPPING SYSTEM

Abstract. 3D reconstruction of trees is of great interest in large-scale 3D city modelling. Laser scanners provide geometrically accurate 3D point clouds that are very useful for object recognition in complex urban scenes. Trees often cause important occlusions on building facades. Their recognition can lead to occlusion maps that are useful for many facade oriented applications such as visual based localisation and automatic image tagging. This paper proposes a pipeline to detect trees in point clouds acquired in dense urban areas with only laser informations (x,y, z coordinates and intensity). It is based on local geometric descriptors computed on each laser point using a determined neighbourhood. These descriptors describe the local shape of objects around every 3D laser point. A projection of these values on a 2D horizontal accumulation space followed by a combination of morphological filters provides individual tree clusters. The pipeline is evaluated and the results are presented on a set of one million laser points using a man made ground truth.
Dynamic relationship between energy consumption and income in Tunisia: A SVECM approach

This study examines the short-run and long-run dynamics binding energy consumption to GDP using a structural vector error correction (SVECM) model during the period 1971-2009. In addition, a comparative study between Tunisia,the USA and Sweden is conducted. Results spread over two axes. First,the cyclical component of the model indicates that the instantaneous impact of a short run shock on energy is generally positive. However, the impact of this shock on output is positive in the USA and Sweden and negative in Tunisia. Therefore, it seems that unlike a small country like Tunisia where the productive system is directly penalized, developed countries are better able to cope with a transitory shock and find alternatives to productivity gains. Secondly concerning the trend component of the model, we conclude that the effect of a long run shock on energy consumption is positive in Tunisia while it is negative in the USA and Sweden. The eﬀect of a long run shock on production for both the developed countries is positive and increasing. This findings seems interesting insofar as it reﬂects the willingness of developed countries substitute current energy sources by renewable and cleaner sources. It also reﬂects Tunisian dependence to current sources of electricity.
Morphology and formation mechanism of hydroxyapatite whiskers from moderately acid solution

Hydroxyapatite (HA) whiskers with uniform morphology and good crystallinity were successfully prepared by a precipitation-hydrolysis method in moderately acid solution at 85-95 °C for 48-120 h, their lengths were in the range of 50-150 mm and aspect ratios (length/diameter) in the range of 40-100. The precipitates formed at each stage of the synthesis were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TEM and SEM. The morphology and crystallinity of the precipitates depended on the synthesis temperature and time as well as the concentrations of soluble calcium and phosphate ions. The HA whiskers were formed by the hydrolysis of precursors produced during the reactions and took over the morphology of fibrous octacalcium phosphate (OCP). The stoichiometric HA whiskers were improved with the increase of pH value of solution, the synthetic temperature and the duration.
Topographic effects on current variability in the Caspian Sea

[1] Satellite-derived surface height fields reveal that variability in the central and southern basins of the Caspian Sea is correlated with topography. Consistently, empirical orthogonal functions from current meter data from the southern basin are aligned with the isobaths. In addition, the gravest mode, which accounts for over 80% of the variance, has an equivalent barotropic structure in the vertical. To what extent this variability can be modeled using a linear analytical model is examined. The latter assumes equivalent barotropic flow aligned with the geostrophic contours, which in turn are dominated by the topography. With ECMWF winds and ETOPO2 topography, the model yields surface height deviations which are significantly correlated with satellite-derived estimates on seasonal and longer time scales in the central basin. The model is somewhat less successful in the southern basin, where the stratification is stronger. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging, given the extreme simplicity of the model.
Reform Creating Regional Trade Agreements and Foreign Direct Investment: Applications for East Asia

The spread of regional trade agreements (RTAs) is strongly motivated by the desire for more foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. The net benefits from freer capital flows are expected to trigger a domino effect of new regionalism. However, this is still an empirical question to be tested, especially for the case of East Asia. This paper quantitatively estimates the investment creation and diversion effects of RTAs by using an extended gravity equation focusing on domestic reform as a commitment device for RTA membership. As a case study, we investigate whether reform-minded less developed countries (LDCs) can trigger this domino effect by actively participating in RTAs. Moreover, in order to search for the most preferable member pair among the proposed East Asian RTAs, we estimate the likely impact of the East Asian RTAs on inward FDI stock. From our empirical analyses, we find that (i) reform-creating RTA membership, larger market size, better skilled labor, and lower trade costs all contribute positively and significantly to inward FDI stock; (ii) reformatory LDCs attract more FDI in addition to the investment creation effect of their RTA membership; and (iii) most of proposed East Asian RTAs promote intra-bloc FDI. In particular, both South-North and North-North RTA such as an ASEAN-Japan and a Japan-Korea RTA prove to be more preferable membership combinations to South-South RTAs in East Asia.
Global interior eddy available potential energy diagnosed from Argo floats

By combining all Argo profiles for the period 2002 to present, a cumulative density function is constructed on a 3‐D grid of the global ocean. This function quantifies the statistics of isopycnals: time‐averaged density, root‐mean square of isopycnal displacement, and eddy available potential energy (EAPE). EAPE is the analogue of the eddy kinetic energy, but for the potential energy reservoir. Because it is essentially tied to the spatial structure and magnitude of mesoscale activity, EAPE is an important quantity that should be useful to evaluate eddy resolving/permitting model turbulence and circulation. Among other striking features are the turbulent behavior of Pacific and southern Atlantic Tsuchiya jets and subsurface EAPE maxima in some parts of the ocean, particularly in the Southern Ocean.
Impact of climate forcing on ecosystem processes in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

a (mol C fixed mol chl a � 1 d � 1 ), a measure of the biomass-normalized production, was relatively constant, whereas PP per unit solar radiation (mol C fixed mol quanta � 1 ), a measure of the efficiency of light utilization, varied in synchrony with the temporal trend in PP. Coincident with variations in PP, the HOT program core data sets also revealed changes in mixed-layer depth, upper ocean stratification, inorganic nutrients, phototrophic microbial abundances and pigment inventories. These time-series data suggest that the ENSO/PDO may control upper ocean stratification and vertical nutrient delivery into the euphotic zone at Sta. ALOHA, thereby influencing the composition of the plankton assemblage and altering rates of PP and particulate matter export.
Evaluating interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder in low and middle income countries: Narrative Exposure Therapy

This article provides a framework for evaluating randomised controlled efficacy trials for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, in low and middle income countries, applied to Narrative Exposure Therapy. A list of methodological and conceptual indicators to evaluate trial data was developed and utilised to assess six trials. The efficacy of this therapy to reduce symptoms is mainly deduced from effects that were measured at long term follow-up points, and that had not been seen at relatively early follow-up points. Focused interventions, such as the Narrative Exposure Therapy, may be too short in duration to comprehensively address posttraumatic stress disorder developed as a consequence of serial, long term exposure to trauma with the consequent disruption of social contexts. The Narrative Exposure Therapy approach also does not consider the cultural and political context, nor the effect of traumatic events on communities and appears to be disconnected from more comprehensive care systems. As a result, data for the efficacy of this therapy in post disaster settings are not yet conclusive. Conceptual problems should be addressed in further effectiveness trials.