Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acetate induces anorexia via up-regulating the hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin ( POMC ) gene expression in rabbits

The hypothalamus plays a main role in the integration of nutritional status, along with the control of feeding and energy homeostasis. Several neuronal populations, particularly in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), are involved in the regulation of appetite. Among them are neuropeptide Y (NPY)/agouti-related protein (AgRP) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC)/cocaine-amphetamineregulated transcript (CART) neurons, which are stimulated (NPY and AgRP) or suppressed (POMC and CART) by starvation (Brady et al., 1990; Mizuno et al., 1999; Savontaus et al., 2002). Central administration of NPY and AgRP increases food intake in mammals (Clark et al., 1984; Rossi et al., 1998), whereas CART and the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (an end product of POMC processing) decrease food intake when injected centrally (Tritos et al., 1998; Asakawa et al., 2001). ABSTRACT. The aim of the study was to describe the effects of acetate on hypothalamic G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 41 or 43, 5’-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signalling and (an)orexigenic neuropeptides. Forty rabbits (Hyla, 35-day old) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: intravenous injection of acetate (0.5 mg · kg−1 body weight) or vehicle (control). The acetate treatment decreased the rabbit feed intake within 5 h as compared with the control (P < 0.05). Although the acetate treatment had no effect on hypothalamic neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein, cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript, GPR41, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 mRNA levels (P > 0.05), it significantly increased the gene expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and GPR43 (P < 0.05). Moreover, intravenous injection of acetate did not affect the protein levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases, AMPK or p38 MAPK in comparison with the control group (P > 0.05); however, there was a significant increase in GPR43 protein level and decrease in phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) level (P < 0.05). So, acetate induced anorexia via the up-regulation of hypothalamic POMC gene expression, which may be associated with membrane GPR43 and intracellular JNK signalling. Received: 22 October 2016 Revised: 6 June 2017 Accepted: 9 August 2017
Are polish healthcare stocks defensive

The main aim of this article is to verify whether the companies operating in Polish healthcare industry could be included into the group of so called defensive companies. The value of such companies during recession does not decline or the declines are significantly lower compared to the major stock indexes. The analysis carried out in the article is conducted amongst companies from healthcare sector listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). In the article an analysis is presented comparing risk ratios of defensive stocks and whole stock market such as beta coefficient (β). The analysis is based on daily data intervals from the period 2012–2014. The article is based on the assumption that Polish healthcare industry companies may be portrayed as defensive and the results of the study suggest to support this point of view. Therefore, the stocks of such companies can be considered by investors as interesting assets for building diversified portfolios and working on investment strategies.
Dividend Policy in the Absence of Taxes

We examine dividend policy in Oman, this being a unique environment where firms distribute almost 100% of their profits as dividends, and where firms are highly levered through bank loans, thus reducing the role of dividends in agency cost mitigation. We find that profitability, size and business risk are factors that determine dividend policy of both financial and nonfinancial firms. Government ownership, leverage and age have a significant impact on the dividend policy of non-financial firms but no effect on financial firms. The factors that influence the probability of paying dividends are the same factors that determine the amount of dividends paid for both financial and non-financial firms. Our results also show that agency costs mitigation is not a critical driver of dividend policy of Omani firms. Finally, we apply the Lintner (1956) model and find that non-financial firms adopt policies that smooth dividends, whereas financial firms do not have stable dividend policies.
Perceptions of unfairness in price increases: an experimental study

This experimental study investigates antecedents and consequences of perceptions of price unfairness in a price increase situation. The proposed theoretical model states that consumer dependence on the service provider as well as the relevance the consumer attributes to the service (for the consumer's life) will affect his/her degree of (a) unfairness price perception, (b) anger, and (c) intention to complain and retaliate. The results support all the hypotheses specified in the model. The findings not only indicate that some situations of unfairness price perception lead to stronger emotions and more dramatic reactions from consumers, but also allow us to predict which situations of perceived unfairness offer greater risks and have greater potential for conflict.
Water quality in semi-intensive carp production system using three different feeds.

DULIC, Z. , G. SUBAKOV-SIMIC, M. CIRIC, R. RELIC, N. LAKIC, M. STANKOVIC and Z. MARKOVIC, 2010. Water quality in semi-intensive carp production system using three different feeds. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 16: 266-274
Hunting Techniques, Wildlife Offtake and Market Integration. A Perspective from Individual Variations among the Baka (Cameroon)

Hunting is a main threat for wildlife conservation in Central Africa, but remains an essential component of local people’s livelihoods. Research suggests that hunters engage in hunting in different ways, especially according to various technical means, which might poten tially have differentiated impacts on wildlife. Using quantitative data collected over a 12 months period, we analyse different hunter’s profiles among the Baka of Southeastern Camer oon, and compare socio-economic and hunting offtake data across profiles. We monitored 719 hunting events, recording 579 catches (belonging to 32 species). Most Baka hunters engage in snare trapping, a relatively low-efficiency hunting technique, while a reduced number of Baka hunters use firearms. Firearm users obtain the highest offtake and sell most of it. This study therefore suggests the emergence of specialized hunters in shotgun hunting with a higher integration in market economy. Disentangling the effects of hunting techniques and their relations to socio-economic status might help design wildlife management strategies that take into con sideration the diversity and the complexity of practices among local populations.
Effectiveness of Social Safety Net Programs on Community Resilience to Hazard Vulnerable Population in Bangladesh

A number of Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) are the measures taken by the government of Bangladesh in order to reduce the portion of its population vulnerability to natural disaster. Bangladesh has a comprehensive portfolio of both food, cash and income generating technology based SSNPs. This study assessed the current status of SSNPs and its effectiveness in Bagerhat (cyclone and coastal flood prone) and Gaibandha (river flood prone) districts. Specially, the study depicted SSNPs within the view of natural hazards (climatic change impacts shocks, floods, cyclones and storm surges, flash floods, drought, tornadoes and landslides). This study showed that the organizational performance in the delivery of SSNPs as well as its technical guidance provided to task teams and program managers for identifying indicators of governance and service quality in the targeted SSNPs programs. This study identified that the governance issues along the results chain of service delivery and suggested policy and performance indicators for assessing the program had a significant impact of the outcome of the SSNPs. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jesnr.v6i1. 22052 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 6(1): 123-129 2013
Characteristics of High-Speed Cyclic Test of Beam-Column Joints

The detailed procedures for high-speed cyclic loading test and the authors’ first-hand experience during the tests of reinforced concrete beam-column connections subjected to cyclic displacements at frequencies as high as 20 Hz is documented in this paper. It is found necessary to give special attention to the quality of the instruments to successfully perform high-speed data acquisition. Problems faced in different phases of the high-speed tests that are not common in pseudo-dynamic tests are highlighted. The applicability of some basic criteria established for quasi-static and seismic performance in gauging the high-speed dynamic performance is also discussed. Unlike in pseudo-dynamic tests, the inertia force contributed significantly to the readings of load cells integrated with the actuators that apply the high-speed displacement cycles. The shear capacity of the tested joints was higher than that computed with the empirical equation in seismic design codes.
Congregations' Social Service Activities

The 1996 welfare reform legislation envisions an expanded role for congregations and other religious organizations in our social welfare system. Federal, state, and local government agencies are implementing charitable choice provisions by encouraging religious congregations to seek government grants and contracts. Recent research has shown that although only about 3 percent of religious congregations currently receive government funding for social service activity, as many as one-third express some interest in moving in that direction.
Short commentary on marine productivity at Arctic shelf breaks: upwelling, advection and vertical mixing

Abstract. The future of Arctic marine ecosystems has received increasing attention in recent years as the extent of the sea ice cover is dwindling. Although the Pacific and Atlantic inflows both import huge quantities of nutrients and plankton, they feed into the Arctic Ocean in quite diverse regions. The strongly stratified Pacific sector has a historically heavy ice cover, a shallow shelf and dominant upwelling-favourable winds, while the Atlantic sector is weakly stratified, with a dynamic ice edge and a complex bathymetry. We argue that shelf break upwelling is likely not a universal but rather a regional, albeit recurring, feature of “the new Arctic”. It is the regional oceanography that decides its importance through a range of diverse factors such as stratification, bathymetry and wind forcing. Teasing apart their individual contributions in different regions can only be achieved by spatially resolved time series and dedicated modelling efforts. The Northern Barents Sea shelf is an example of a region where shelf break upwelling likely does not play a dominant role, in contrast to the shallower shelves north of Alaska where ample evidence for its importance has already accumulated. Still, other factors can contribute to marked future increases in biological productivity along the Arctic shelf break. A warming inflow of nutrient-rich Atlantic Water feeds plankton at the same time as it melts the sea ice, permitting increased photosynthesis. Concurrent changes in sea ice cover and zooplankton communities advected with the boundary currents make for a complex mosaic of regulating factors that do not allow for Arctic-wide generalizations.
The Influence of Transformational Leadership Style on ICT Adoption in the Nigerian Construction Industry

Information and communication technology provides construction organizations with new opportunities for improving the process of collaboration, managerial functions and maintenance of competitive advantage. Its adoption has however been faced with problem of incompetent organizational leadership. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine the influence of transformational leadership style on IT adoption in construction organizations. Structural equation modelling analytical approach was used to test the presence of a positive and direct relationship between transformational leadership style and IT adoption in organizations. Results strongly supported the hypothesis of a positive and direct relationship with a path coefficient of . 79. Part of the recommendation of the study was for managers to diligently exhibit transformational leadership behaviours during technological change in their organizations by paying attention to the needs of their employees, providing ways and reasons for employees to comprehend and analyse problems in different ways, adequate employee motivation and building confidence and trust with employees.
Systemic Liquidity Risk

The new Basel III regulatory package offers the fi rst global framework for the regulation of liquidity risk. This new regulation intends to address the externalities imposed upon the rest of the fi nancial system (and, ultimately, on the real economy) generated by excessive maturity mismatches. Nevertheless, the new regulation focuses essentially on the externalities generated by each bank individually, thus being dominantly microprudential. We argue that there might also be a specifi c role for the macroprudential regulation of liquidity risk, most notably in what concerns systemic risk. Our argument is based on theoretical results by Farhi and Tirole (2012) and Ratnovski (2009), and on empirical evidence by Bonfi m and Kim (2012). In this article we present some of those empirical results, which provide evidence supporting the existence of collective risk-taking strategies in liquidity risk management, most notably amongst the largest banks.
Type-II behavior in wurtzite InP/InAs/InP core-multishell nanowires

We study optical transitions from a periodic array of InP/InAs/InP core-multishell nanowires (CMNs) having a wurtzite crystal structure by using photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation (PLE) spectroscopy. Observing a large Stokes shift between PL and PLE spectra, a blueshift of the PL peak with a cube-root dependence on the excitation power and a slow and nonexponential decay of PL with an effective decay time of 16 ns suggest a type-II band alignment. Band-offset calculation based on the “model-solid theory” of Van de Walle [Phys. Rev. B 39, 1871 (1989)] supports type-II band lineup if the InAs layer in the wurtzite CMNs is assumed to sustain compressive strain in all directions.
Mast cell density and distribution in human abdominal aortic aneurysm

Atherosclerosis exhibits many inflammatory characteristics, in which macrophages and T-lymphocytes are found at the shoulder region of atherosclerotic plaque, and are associated with its rupture and thrombosis (Libby et al. 2010). On the other hand, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) shows distinct histological features; inflammatory cell infiltration was observed predominantly at the outer media and adventitia (Michel et al. 2010). Several experimental studies have suggested important roles of inflammatory cells (macrophages, T-lymphocytes and neutrophils) in AAA development (Longo et al. 2002; Xiong et al. 2004; Eliason et al. 2005). Mast cell, unique effector components of the immune system, play a critical role in defending hosts against pathogens by releasing a number of immunoregulatory mediators (Marshall & Jawdat 2004). Mast cells synthesize a number of substances, which include histamine, heparin, tryptase, chymase, carboxypeptidase, cathepsin G, leukotriene C4, prostaglandin D2, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)4,-5,-6,-13, some of which are stored in secretory vesicles (Krishnaswamy et al. 2006). Recently, mast cells have been recognized not only to be involved in host defense but also to initiate the inflammatory response by recruiting macrophages and T-lymphocytes (von Stebut et al. 2003; Henz et al. 2001) and by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, angiogenic mediators and proteases (Krishnaswamy et al. 2006). Specifically, tryptase and chymase have been examined for their unique biological actions to modulate extracellular matrix formation and induce apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (Cairns & Walls 1997; Leskinen et al. 2001; Tchougounova et al. 2005). In this chapter, we characterize mast cell density and distribution in the human aneurysmal abdominal aorta, compared with atherosclerotic abdominal aorta, and discuss the potential role of this type of cell to understand the pathophysiology of AAA.
The burden of history(?): Remembering the Holocaust and Attitudes toward Asylum Seekers in Israel

Two connected studies examine how universalist and particularist views of the Holocaust influence Israeli Jews’ attitudes toward asylum seekers. Study 1 (N = 500) investigated the degree to which universalist and particularist perceptions of the “lessons” of the Holocaust correlate with exclusionist views toward asylum seekers. It was found that a universalist perception of the “lessons” of the Holocaust was negatively related to exclusionist attitudes, and a particularist perception positively related to exclusionist attitudes—even after controlling for religiosity and political affiliation. Study 2 comprised three survey experiments (N = 298, 280, and 320, respectively) investigating whether presentation of universalist versus particularist texts about the Holocaust would impact exclusionist attitudes. It was found that exposure to a universalist text reduced negative attitudes toward asylum seekers and increased support for treating wounded Syrians in Israeli hospitals. Exposure to a particularist did not increase exclusionist attitudes.
An Empirical Study to Explore the Adoption of Telehealth: Health Belief Model Perspective

The purpose of the study is to integrate self efficacy with the Health Belief Model in order to explore the usage intention model of Telehealth systems. The proposed framework is validated with respondents from Nantou County, which is located in Taiwan. The findings show that a good overall fit of the proposed model with the empirical data. This study also demonstrates that perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers have jointly significantly positive effect on cues to action. Furthermore, both cues to action and self efficacy have significantly positive effect on usage intention. This study emphasizes that hospital managers should pay more attention to understanding the five concepts of health belief of elderly (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and cues to action), and improving self efficacy of elderly. The findings also imply that a successful telehealth system is not only an information system but also a health service provider to the residents. The findings may be used as a theoretical basis for future research and can also offer empirical foresight to the executives and managers of hospitals when they initially introduce and promote the telehealth systems into their surrounding community.
THE EFFECT OF DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION ON SHARE RETURN IN CHILE (Artículo publicado en inglés)

Numerous studies relating to the field of dividends have been carried out over the past twenty-seven years. The objective of this paper is to contrast it with the Barclay study (1987) and to complement the Venkatesh paper (1989). This piece of research concludes that, contrary to Barclay's findings, on their postclosure date, share returns in chile do not fall in the amount of their dividend, owing to the fact that in this country the effect depends on the type of dividend. Finally, and as a complement to the Venkatesh study, it was determinded that the average volatility of the twenty-five days prior to closure is lower than that evinced in the twenty-five days after closure.
Healthcare Spending: The Role of Healthcare Institutions from an International Perspective

Healthcare systems differ greatly across the world, however, it appears that the extent of public insurance (publicly/government funded healthcare) is the only institutional characteristic that plays a significant role in accounting for the large disparities in total healthcare spending. Other factors, such as whether healthcare services are provided by the private or public sector, play much less of a role, highlighting the important distinction between how services are provided and how those services are funded. A regression analysis is conducted utilising an existing categorisation of the predominately high-income countries of the OECD in 2009. It is found that more public insurance and less private insurance is associated with significantly lower spending after controlling for differences in income through GDP and healthcare quality/outcomes through life expectancy. This result is robust to the inclusion of additional controls for lifestyle factors and the proportion of the population aged 65 and over, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of the US that could otherwise be seen as some kind of outlier. A typical country relying largely on private provision and insurance, such as the Netherlands, Germany or the US, could reduce total healthcare spending by around a third by moving to a system with extensive public insurance whilst retaining extensive private provision of services, a situation typical of some countries such as Austria, Greece and Japan.
Comparison of Phytochemical, Proximate and Mineral Composition of Fresh and Dried Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Leaves

Mentha piperita well-known as peppermint is widely cultivated worldwide and used for its medicinal values. The purpose of this research was to evaluate fresh and dried M. piperita with the aim of quantifying chemical information, that might serve as a guide to exploit its potential and benefits for human nutrition. The phytochemical screening discovered that all of them possess flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, steroid, glycosides and volatile oils. The proximate composition were determined according to the perspectives methods, while mineral elements were determined using EDTA method. Proximate analysis of both samples revealed that it contained 92.31% and 56.31% carbohydrates, 2.19% and 7.69% protein, 0.50% and 5% lipid, 1.5% and 9% fibre, 3.57% and 22%, ash, 89.5% and 9%, moisture respectively. The most predominant mineral found was potassium with a value of 72% and 23%, sodium 13% and 7.75%, and other minerals were found in low values ranging from calcium 0.5% and 0. 045%, magnesium 0.005% and 0.235%, and phosphorus 0.341% and 0.325%, respectively. This study contributes to the development of nutritional database of edible plants worldwide. In conclusion, fresh sample of M. piperita can be an excellent source of nutrients and antioxidant components.
Optimal safety incentives in road concession contracts

Changes in the roles of the government and the private sector in the provision of public services along with budget constraints are resulting in an increasing use of the concession approach for financing and managing roads. In the last few years, many of these contracts set up incentives linked to bonuses to encourage the concessionaire to render a better service to the users. Road safety is one the aspects on the basis of which concessionaires can be rewarded according to their performance. The goal of this paper is to evaluate whether road safety incentives are being defined in the right way nowadays in different European countries and also identify what incentives would need to be implemented to achieve a socially optimal road safety level. To that end, we develop a specific incentive for road concession contracts that encourages companies to achieve the optimal level. We apply this methodology to three case studies of concessions recently awarded in order to determine to what extend the incentives they set up are closer or farther to the optimum.