Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Corticosterone Administration on Small Intestinal Weight and Expression of Small Intestinal Nutrient Transporter mRNA of Broiler Chickens

The effects of corticosterone (CORT) administration on the weight of small intestine and the expression of nutrient transporter mRNA in the small intestine of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were investigated. One hundred and eight seven-day-old birds were randomly divided into two equal groups comprising a control group (CTRL) and an experimental group (CORT). CTRL birds were fed a basal diet and the CORT birds were fed a basal diet containing 30 mg corticosterone/kg from d 8 to 21. At 21 d of age, average daily feed intake (ADFI), serum corticosterone level, small intestinal absolute wet weight and relative weight, and relative abundance of SGLT1, CaBP-D28k, PepTl mRNA in the duodenum and L-FABP mRNA in the jejunum were determined. The results showed that serum corticosterone level, liver weight and small intestinal relative weight (small intestinal wet weight/body weight) of CORT chickens were about 30.15%, 26.72% and 42.20% higher, respectively, than in the CTRL group (p<0.05). CORT birds had relative mRNA abundance of CaBP-D28k and PepT1 in the duodenum, and L-FABP in the jejunum which was 1.77, 1.37 and 1.94 fold higher, respectively, than in the CTRL group (p<0.05); the relative abundance of SGLT1 was 1.67 fold higher than in the CTRL group (p = 0.097). ADFI, small intestinal wet weight and length in CORT-treated broiler chickens was about 29.11%, 31.12% and 12.35% lower, respectively, than in the CTRL group (p<0.05). In conclusion, corticosterone administration lowered the wet weight but increased the relative weight of the small intestine and the expression of intestinal nutrient transporter mRNA of broiler chickens.
Blind source separation using measure on copulas

The paper introduces a novel BSS algorithm for instantaneous mixtures of both independent and dependent sources. This approach is based on the minimization of Kullback-Leibler divergence between copula densities. This latter takes advantage of copulas to model the dependency structure of the source components. The new algorithm can efficiently achieve good separation standard BSS methods fail. Simulation results are presented showing the convergence and the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
TRANMISSION OF INTERNATIONAL SHOCKS TO AN EMERGING SMALL OPEN-ECONOMY: EVIDENCE FROM TUNISIA

This paper examines how international monetary shocks are transmitted to emerging market countries like Tunisia. A long-standing empirical literature on the transmission of international shocks was mainly based on small-scale structural VAR approach. This paper proposes a Factor-Augmented VAR (FAVAR) model to select the main determinants of the Tunisia’s economy and assess the response of Tunisia’s macroeconomic variables to international fundamental variables. In particular, we aim to analyze the impact that world shocks may have on the Tunisian economy following the 2008 international financial crisis. This specification allows exploiting a wide range of variables that could influence the conduct of the monetary policy as well as spur the transmission mechanism of external monetary shocks to the national economy. We are mainly interested in specific sources of shocks, such as unanticipated fall in the global economic activity, in interest rates and in commodity prices. Our approach relies on a large panel of data covering Tunisia and 10 European and industrialized countries including Tunisia, and 211 price, activity and money indicators. Our results show that the Tunisian economy is highly exposed to the shocks of foreign economic activity and commodity prices and, to a lower extend, to shocks of foreign interest rates and world inflation. Our findings also suggest that international shocks are transmitted to Tunisia's national economy through real channels.
CT-Scan Findings of Hepatic Mass Patients Attending at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Background: CT-scan is a very useful diagnostic tool for the detection of hepatic mass. Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the CT-scan findings of benign and malignant hepatic mass patients. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted in Radiology and Imaging Department at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh; Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka and Banghabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka with the collaboration of Pathology Department of the same institute for histopathological confirmation. This study was carried out from January 2006 to December 2007 for a period of 2 years. The patients who were clinically suspected of having hepatic mass attended in the Radiology and Imaging Department in the above mentioned institutes were included as study population. All the CT-scan findings were recorded. Result: A total number of 50 patients were enrolled for this study. CT-scan was done among 40 males and 10 females with a mean age of 51.28 years old. Hypodensity was found in 17 (60.7%) and 18 (81.8%) cases in malignant and benign hepatic lesions respectively. Ill-defined margin was detected in 12 (42.9%) and 6 (27.3%) cases respectively. Calcification was present on 11 (39.3%) malignant lesion and 6 (27.3%) benign lesions. Pressure effect on biliary apparatus was found in 11 (39.3%) malignant lesions and 1 (4.5%) benign lesions (p < 0.05). Lymphadenopathy was found in 10 (35.7%) malignant lesions and 1 (4.5%) benign lesions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, CT-scan findings of malignant and benign hepatic mass show hypodensity with more contrast enhancement in malignant lesions with more calcification in malignant lesion; however, significant difference is detected in pressure effect on biliary apparatus and lymphadenopathy.
Choice, Competition and Care – Developments in English Social Care and the Impacts on Providers and Older Users of Home Care Services

This article critically examines recent changes in markets for home (domiciliary) care services in England. During the 1990s, the introduction of competition between private (for-profit and charitable) organizations and local authority providers of long-term care services aimed to create a ‘mixed economy’ of supply. More recently, care markets have undergone further reforms through the introduction of direct payments and personal budgets. Underpinned by discourses of user choice, these mechanisms aim to offer older people increased control over the public resources for their care, thereby introducing further competitive pressures within local care markets. The article presents early evidence of these changes on: The commissioning and contracting of home care services by local authorities and individual older people. The experiences and outcomes for individual older people using home care services. Drawing on evidence from two recent empirical studies, the article describes how the new emphasis on choice and competition is being operationalized within six local care markets. There are suggestions of small increases in user agency and in opportunities for older people to receive more personalized home care, in which the quality of care-giving relationships can also be optimized. However, the article also presents early evidence of increases in risk and costs associated with the expansion of competition and choice, both for organizations providing home care services and for individual older service users.
New data on anatomy of the Late Cretaceous multituberculate mammal Catopsbaatar

The Gobi Desert is famous for providing one of the worlds best preserved Cretaceous terrestrial faunas, including dinosaurs and mammals. Beginning with the Central Asiatic Expeditions in the 1920s, through the Polish-Mongolian Expeditions in the 1960s-1970s, Soviet-Mongolian Expeditions in 1970s, and finally the Mongolian Academy-American Museum Expeditions in the 1990s-2000s, the number of complete skulls (see Kielan-Jaworowska et al. 2000 for review) of Cretaceous mammals often associated with postcranial skeletons, found in Mongolia increased to several hundred. In addition to these professional expeditions, there have been other types of trips to Mongolia, also aimed at collecting fossils. The Nomadic Expeditions Company in USA organizes one of these, and has made trips to Mongolia since 1996. During the 1999 Nomadic Expedition, a skull associated with parts of the postcranial skeleton of the multituberculate mammal Catopsbaatar catopsaloides was found. The specimen is more complete than others previously known of this species and brings new data on multituberculate anatomy and ontogenetic variation. In this note we discuss the new data on the structure of C. catopsaloides; the details of its anatomy will be described in subsequent papers by the two first authors.
Job Duration over the Business Cycle

Evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) suggests that the cyclicality of job duration depends on the worker's prior and future employment status. For example, among matches formed with previously nonemployed workers, those that end with the worker returning to nonemployment display procyclical duration. In contrast, matches that end because the worker switches to another job have countercyclical duration. Moreover, differences in starting wages do not account for these patterns.
Analysis of food security status of farming households in the forest Belt of the Central Region of Ghana

The study seeks to examine the Food Security Status of Farming Households in the Forest Belt of the Central Region of Ghana. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents that were interviewed. In all 134 farming households were interviewed but 120 were selected for analysis after removing the questionnaires which were not properly administered. The households were selected from eight communities in two districts. Food consumption data of 851 individuals in 120 households were used for the analysis. The study reveals that the majority of the farming households (60%) were found to be food insecure. Further, the Binary Logit Model results reveal that an increase in household's income, having access to credit as well as increase in the quantity of own farm production improve the food security status of farming households in the Forest Belt of the Central Region of Ghana. However, holding all other factors constant, increases in non-working member of households worsens the food security status of farming households. Most of the food insecurity coping strategies adopted by household's are not severe and can only be used to avert the impact of food insecurity on a temporal basis. These results have policy implications for Food Security Status of Farming Households in developing countries.
SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS DECEMBER, 1976 MEASURING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RURAL COMMUNITIES: THE SHIFT-SHARE APPROACH*

Communities interested in economic growth and development need to be concerned with understandLng_at4east three aspects of the development process. c*The first) deals with identifying existing and historical composition of industry in the community, including an explanation of how changes in the study area differ from changes in other areas, and an identification of industries in which the community has had a comparative advantage. Th£^cojw aspect deals with the many considerations involved in increasing desired economic activity in the community. This includes business and industrial development. The tjilrd aspect) is addressed to estimating impacts of growth and development on the local community. Knowledge of expected consequences of alternative growth and development possibilities improves residents' ability to select preferred types of community growth. All three aspects must necessarily be considered as a community strives to expand and improve economic opportunity for its residents. This article demonstrates the usefulness, of ,shjftshare analysis in dealing with the first of these three considerations in 'ruraf'"counlies'. ' l'Kis"*3es1cftp*Pvl' technique emphasize"'Ti3eTMafying changes that have taken place in the industrial composition of the local (town, city or county) economy relative to a reference area or standard of comparison (nation, state or region). The technique is demonstrated in a study of four rural Indiana counties. The objectives of this study, were to: (1) identify changes in industrial composition in each county, (2) explain differences «* """""" "••'«»«••" n inirrates of growth and (3) identigynjdjisJJ^sjn which the study area has had a comparative advantage.
“I Can Share Politics But I Don’t Discuss It”: Everyday Practices of Political Talk on Facebook

The article explores how a group of young people in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom experience and manage informal political talk on Facebook. Based on 60 interviews with 14- to 25-year-olds with diverse interest and participation in politics, it understands political talk as a social achievement dependent on the situational definition, shaped by the perceived imagined audiences, shared expectations, and technological affordances. Results show that young people construct different interactional contexts on Facebook depending on their political experiences, but also on their understanding of the affordances of networked publics as shaped by the social norms of their peer groups. Many youth define Facebook as an unsafe social setting for informal political discussions, thus adhering to a form of “publicness” aimed at neutralizing conflicts. Others, instead, develop different forms of “publicness” based on emergent communicative skills that help them manage the uncertainty of social media as interactional contexts.
To conserve or not to conserve: a case study of forest valuation in Kenya.

LANGAT D & CHEBOIWO J. 2010. To conserve or not to conserve: a case study of forest valuation in Kenya. Tindiret natural forest is one of the scattered forests which form the extensive Mau forest complex in Kenya. It is an important hydrological system for Lake Victoria. To provide strong arguments for more government investment in indigenous forest conservation, quality information and data on forest values need to be available for decision makers. There is, however, little information on economic values of most forests in Kenya. This study was aimed at estimating the total economic value of Tindiret forest. To estimate direct use values by the communities adjacent to the forest, household surveys were conducted with 109 households sampled from three villages within 5 km of the forest. Further information was obtained from discussions with key informants. The methods employed were market-based valuation techniques, market valuation of physical effects (MVPE) and use of secondary data and benefit transfer approach. The study established that the annual direct use value by local forest-adjacent households was approximately Kshs45 mil. The non-use values were estimated at Kshs113 mil per year and the opportunity cost of conserving the Tindiret natural forest was estimated at Kshs237 mil. Current benefits from Tindiret forest are inadequate to offset the opportunity cost of leaving the forest in its present state. The government and the local communities are subsidising the retention of the forest and this subsidy was estimated at Kshs78.5 mil per year through lost opportunity in agricultural settlement and income.
Caveolin-1 in Tumour Cells is Predominately Expressed in the Basal Subtype of Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer which is clinically negative for expression of steroid hormones and HER2 protein. According to DNA microarray profiling, breast cancer was divided into several molecular subgroups, including Luminal A and Luminal B; HER2 overexpressing; normal breast- like and basal-like subtype. TNBC comprises tumours that express heterogeneous molecular and immunohistochemical phenotype, thus determining different prognosis. The majority of TNBC carry the “basal-like” molecular profile on gene expression arrays. Basal-like carcinomas of the breast associated with poor prognosis often correlate with expression of Caveolin-1. The study aimed to investigate the expression of caveolin-1 in the tumour cells and in the stromal component of the tumour among the group of TNBC and compare it to the expression of caveolin-1 in a control group with non-TN breast cancer. Whole tissue sections were used. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue materials from 101 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during the period 2004-2007 were investigated in a retrospective study. A multistep approach was used to separate the different subtypes of breast cancer. During the first step the breast tumours were separated according to their ER, PgR, HER 2 and proliferative activity, using the Ki-67 index. The triple- negative tumours were additionally tested for EGFR and CK5/6. The basal breast cancer group was finally subdivided into basal and baso-luminal according to the type of expression of basal cytokeratins. caveolin-1 expression was examined in the tumour parenchyma and stroma. According to our results, caveolin-1 expression in breast cancer was significantly associated with basal biomarkers expression (basal and baso-luminal type of BC) χ2= 33.4; p<0.0001. Caveolin-1 can be used as a potential marker to examine the presence of basal phenotype in breast cancer.
Prevalence of Smoking and Its Associated Factors Among Male College Students in Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of smoking has reduced over a period of time in the developed countries. However, the consumption of tobacco is rapidly increasing in the developing nations which further raises burden of various diseases. The prevalence of consumption of tobacco among the adolescent population is vigorously growing across the world. There are several studies in Saudi Arabia that report the smoking rate and pattern among the secondary school students, but very limited data is available about the prevalence of smoking among the college students. Therefore, the objectives of the current study are to assess the prevalence of smoking among the male college students and to evaluate the relationship between the smoking habit and socio-demographic variables. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study done in selected colleges in King Khalid University, Abha during August 2016 to December 2016. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic information and about smoking habit among the college students. Results: The study showed 18.7% of prevalence of smoking among the male college students with a positive association between employment and smoking habit. However, no positive association between other socio-demographic variables and smoking. Conclusion: Though the prevalence rate of smoking among the male college students is less but still there is a need to create awareness among the college students and their parents for decreasing the burden of tobacco related diseases.
The Importance of Worker, Firm and Match Fixed Effects in the Formation of Wages

This paper estimates a Mincerian wage equation with worker, firm, and match specific fixed effects and thereby complements the growing empirical literature started by the seminal paper of Abowd, Kramarz and Margolis (1999). The analysis takes advantage of the extensive Danish IDA data, which provides wage information on the whole working population for a 24-year period. We find that the major part of wage dispersion in the Danish labor market can be explained by differences in worker characteristics. However, the relative contribution of the three components varies across subgroups of workers. The match effect contributes a non-neglible part to the overall wage dispersion and, furthermore, corrects the estimated returns to experience. An analysis of inter-industry wage differentials shows that firm characteristics are more important at the industry level than at the worker level. Likewise, we find evidence of high wage workers sorting into high wage industries but not into high wage firms within industries. The mobility pattern of workers is related to the quality of the firm and the match, and we find that the wage gain from job mobility depends on worker characteristics.
WHEEL SQUEAL MEASUREMENT, MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION ON THE NEW SOUTH WALES RAIL NETWORK

This paper provides an update of RailCorp’s recent progress with the measurement, management and mitigation of wheel squeal on the New South Wales rail network. Recent mitigation measures have focussed on the application of a friction modifier to the head of the rail. This has been very successful at some sites, but it is now clear that it is only partially effective at others. The paper discusses the results of wheel squeal noise monitoring during a number of recent tests and mitigation trials and explains the emerging focus on freight rolling stock for management of the issue in the future.
Perceptional Evaluation of the Impact of Second National Fadama Project on Gender Income, Output and Decision-Making Power in Abuja, Nigeria

The study perceptionally evaluated the impact of the Second National Fadama Development Project (Fadama 11) on the income, output and decision-making power of the male and female farmers who participated in the project. Simple random technique was adopted for sample selection while questionnaire was used for data collection. A sample of 284 (159 males and 125 female) farmers were randomly selected in 8 locations or Fadama Development Areas (FDAs) in Abuja. The data were analysed with two-way independent factorial analysis of variance. Results indicated that there was no significant difference ( p > 0.05) in the impact of the project on the income, output and decision-making power of the male and female farmers who participated in the project. The mean responses for the male farmers on income, output and decision-making power were 3.37, 3.20 and 3.30 respectively while those of the female farmers were 3.35, 3.08 and 3.35 respectively. On the contrary, there were locational differences ( p 0.05), the mean responses indicated that in some locations, the project impacted more on the male farmers’ income, output and decision-making power while in some locations, the reverse was the case in favour of the female farmers. Based on the grand mean responses for income (3.36), output (3.13) and decision-making power (3.36), the paper concluded that the project had a moderate impact on gender in the study area.