NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) is essential for cell defense against reactive oxidative species, cancer, and metabolic stress. Recently, NQO1 was found in ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, but NQO1-interacting mRNAs and the functional impact of such interactions are not known. Here, we used ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and microarray analysis to identify comprehensively the subset of NQO1 target mRNAs in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. One of its main targets, SERPINA1 mRNA, encodes the serine protease inhibitor α-1-antitrypsin, A1AT, which is associated with disorders including obesity-related metabolic inflammation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Biotin pulldown analysis indicated that NQO1 can bind the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and the coding region (CR) of SERPINA1 mRNA. NQO1 did not affect SERPINA1 mRNA levels; instead, it enhanced the translation of SERPINA1 mRNA, as NQO1 silencing decreased the size of polysomes forming on SERPINA1 mRNA and lowered the abundance of A1AT. Luciferase reporter analysis further indicated that NQO1 regulates SERPINA1 mRNA translation through the SERPINA1 3′UTR. Accordingly, NQO1-KO mice had reduced hepatic and serum levels of A1AT and increased activity of neutrophil elastase (NE), one of the main targets of A1AT. We propose that this novel mechanism of action of NQO1 as RNA-binding protein may help to explain its pleiotropic biological effects.

Using an absolute definition of poverty and economic classes, this paper presents trends and estimates of the poor, near-poor and middle-class working population in developing Asia and the Pacific. It finds that since 1991, working poverty has fallen remarkably, while middle-class jobs now account for nearly two-fifths of all employment in the region (671 million middle-class workers). However, a sizeable share of workers (around 28 % or 497 million) still lives just above the poverty line and remains highly vulnerable to falling into poverty. This paper also applies a class-based framework for assessing inequality in the labour market, with a special focus on Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam. It provides empirical evidence that economic participation is inversely related to affluence, while educational attainment and access to better quality jobs both increase with higher economic class status. In addition, it presents sex-and age-disaggregated analysis to highlight particular gaps for poor women and youth, and the measures that can help strengthen their position in the labour market.

No abstract

South-East Asia has become a key player in global supply chains (GSCs) during recent decades,and the region’s participation in GSCs has had a profound impact on labour markets. This paper presents new 2000–2021 estimates of the number of GSC-related jobs in the region, with an estimated 75 million workers linked to GSCs in 2021—or more than one in four workers. Over time, the region has become increasingly dependent on GSCs for employment despite some short periods of sharp volatility and setbacks, including in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper also presents the results of an econometric analysis, finding that the region’s increased GSC participation was associated with some important, albeit mixed, progress in improving job quality. While deeper GSC integration was robustly tied to a rapid decline in working poverty and gains in labour productivity, it also shows that a positive relationship between increased GSC participation and greater wage employment, high-skill employment, and female employment was limited to specific sectors. Several policies could strengthen the links between GSCs and decent work. These include well-designed social protection and labour market policies, and investments in a broad range of skills that allow countries to shift into higher value-added segments of a value chain. Also, deep trade agreements, which increasingly include labour provisions, can help strengthen the link between increased GSC participation and decent work.

Research on water quality assessment of Hau river in An Giang province was conducted in 2019 in the upper Hau river (SH-T) and downstream Hau river adjacent to Can Tho (SH-H) through the following physico-chemical parameters, heavy metals: temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), COD, BOD5, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Nitrate (NO3by N), Phosphate (PO4 3by P), Coliform, Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Ammonium (NH4 + by N) and zooplankton system. Research results showed that: (1) Surface water quality in the area showed signs of pollution, DO content: 3.02-5.97 mg/l, lower than the standard (≥ 6 mg/l); TSS parameters: 35-90 mg/l, 1.75-4.5 times higher than standard; COD: 10-23 mg/l, 1.1-2.2 times higher than standard; BOD5: 7-14 mg/l, 1.75-3.5 times higher than standard; Ammonium: 0.039-1.14 mg/l higher than standard 1.63 times in March and 3.83 times in September; Coliform: 2.100-24.000 MNP/100ml, not guaranteed well according to QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT (level A1); (2) Surface water quality in the upper Hau river area according to diversity index H': 0.91 in March at "Heavily polluted" and H': 1.89 in September, at "Moderately polluted"; (3) The results of statistical analysis and PCA showed that the water quality parameters had significant differences between the two seasons, the rainy season showed signs of Coliform pollution and TSS more than the dry season.