Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Composition and hypoglycemic effect of camel milk in streptozotocin – induced diabetic rats

This work studies the analysis of anti-diabetic effects of camel milk in streptozotocin (STZ)–induced diabetic rats which was conducted to assay liver and kidney clinical pharmacological function parameters. Diabetes was induced in the experimental groups of rats by intraperitonial administration (60 mg/kg b.wt.) of streptozotocin. The rats were fed daily with fresh camel milk by feeding bottles for 30 days. To investigate the effect on blood glucose serum proteins, uric acids, urea, creatinine, lipid profile and the effect of diagnostic marker function enzymes of liver and alkaline phosphate (ALP) were tested in the plasma/serum in control and experimental groups of rats. Camel milk supplemented to diabetic rats was manifested in reduced level of blood glucose, uric acid, urea, creatinine, and increase in the activities of albumin, albumin/globulin ratio and reduction in all liver activity function marker enzymes and lipid profile to approximately the control levels. Camel milk is considered to have medicinal benefit that can assist in treatment of varying illness due to its high vitamin and mineral content. Also, camel milk contains high level of mineral such as potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, cooper, sodium and manganese; and lower sugar, lower lactose compared with cow milk. Cholesterol in camel milk is lower than in cow and goat milk. Camel milk is three times higher in vitamin C than cow milk and ten times higher in iron, low protein and large concentration of insulin that have a positive effect on immunity. The anti-diabetic activity of camel milk has been attributed to the camels’ choice of gazing on natural vegetation. Other benefits of camel milk include precautionary in ulcers, regular intake camel milk helps to control blood sugar levels. The beneficial effects of camel are easily observable in prevention of infections such as tuberculosis, gastro-enteritis and cancer. It is also proposed to be a new Viagra. In conclusion, this study showed that supplementations of camel milk to diabetic rats has antihypoglycemic effects and prevent liver and renal damage associated with streptozotocin–induced diabetic rats.
Response Guided Treatment with Telaprevir or Boceprevir in End Stage Renal Disease Patients with Hepatitis C Genotype 1

Aim: To evaluate and characterize the feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of triple combination therapy with either telaprevir (TPR) or boceprevir (BPR). Methods: We treated 16 genotype 1 HCV patients with ESRD, awaiting renal transplantation at two centers. All patients received pegylated-interferon (P), ribavirin (R), and either boceprevir or telaprevir. All patients with BPR received a 4-week lead-in whereas those with TPR received no lead-in. Data was collected throughout the patients’ treatment course including viral load, dose modification and complications of therapy.Results: Baseline characteristics of the cohort included mean age of 56 years, 75% male, 56% African-American, 63% genotype 1a HCV, 38% with cirrhosis and 69% treatment naive. eRVR was achieved in 38% (56% in TPR and 14% BPR) with SVR achieved in 44% (33% in TPR and 57% BPR). Over 70% of patients required epoetin for anemia wheareas 22% in TPR required blood transfusions. No patients in either TPR/BPR treatment cohorts discontinued therapy due to side effects.Conclusion: We evaluated and analyzed the efficacy of telaprevir and boceprevir based regimens in the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with end stage renal disease. Triple therapy, irrespective of regimen, can attain successful viral eradication with minimal adverse effects.
Investigating the structure and fragmentation of a highly filamentary IRDC

We present 3.7 arcsec (~0.05 pc) resolution 3.2 mm dust continuum observations from the IRAM PdBI, with the aim of studying the structure and fragmentation of the filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud G035.39-00.33. The continuum emission is segmented into a series of 13 quasi-regularly spaced (~0.18pc) cores, following the major axis of the IRDC. We compare the spatial distribution of the cores with that predicted by theoretical work describing the fragmentation of hydrodynamic fluid cylinders, finding a significant (factor of ~8) discrepancy between the two. Our observations are consistent with the picture emerging from kinematic studies of molecular clouds suggesting that the cores are harboured within a complex network of independent sub-filaments. This result emphasises the importance of considering the underlying physical structure, and potentially, dynamically important magnetic fields, in any fragmentation analysis. The identified cores exhibit a range in (peak) beam-averaged column density ($3.6{\rm x}10^{23}{\rm cm}^{-2}<N_{H,c}<8.0{\rm x}10^{23}{\rm cm}^{-2}$), mass ($8.1M_{\odot}<M_{c}<26.1M_{\odot}$), and number density ($6.1{\rm x}10^{5}{\rm cm}^{-3}<n_{H, c, eq}<14.7{\rm x}10^{5}{\rm cm}^{-3}$). Two of these cores, dark in the mid-infrared, centrally-concentrated, monolithic (with no traceable substructure at our PdBI resolution), and with estimated masses of the order ~20-25$M_{\odot}$, are good candidates for the progenitors of intermediate-to-high-mass stars. Virial parameters span a range $0.2<\alpha_{\rm vir}<1.3$. Without additional support, possibly from dynamically important magnetic fields with strengths of the order 230$\mu$G<B<670$\mu$G, the cores are susceptible to gravitational collapse. These results may imply a multi-layered fragmentation process, which incorporates the formation of sub-filaments, embedded cores, and the possibility of further fragmentation.
On the Asymptotics and Zeros of a Class of Fourier Integrals

We obtain the asymptotic expansion of the Fourier integrals \[\int_0^\infty t^{\nu-1}\, \raisebox{-. 8ex}{\mbox{$\stackrel{\textstyle\cos}{\sin}$}}\,(xt) \,\exp\,(-t^n/n)\,dt\] for large complex values of $x$ and integer $n>2$ by means of the asymptotic theory of the Wright function. Asymptotic approximations for both the real and complex zeros of these integrals are considered. These results are extended to $p$-dimensional Fourier integrals of a similar structure.
Ultra rapid strength development in dry-mix shotcrete for ultra rapid support in challenging mining conditions

Recent development in the field of cementing materials has brought forward many non-traditional binder systems. Engineers involved in the fields of emergency repairs and rapid ground support have been on the lookout for materials that allow rapid production, placement and, most of all, very rapid strength development kinetics. One binder system that fits the description is composed of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and calcium sulfate (C$). However, this type of binder also sometimes exhibits difficult workability that severely limits its use in regular cast in-place concrete. This limitation is overcome when using dry-mix shotcrete as a placement method, since the contact between water and cement occurs in the nozzle immediately before placement, workability problem are avoided. As a part of a graduate project at Laval University, 49 different mixes, including simple, binary and (mainly) ternary blends, were tested. Two majors parameters were studied, the development of compressive strength and the volumetric stability. The numerous binder compositions tested allowed the selection of a stable optimised formulation in regard of early compressive strength and volumetric stability. Finally, the selected formulation was successfully tested with industrial dry-mix shotcrete equipment to verify the large scale placement feasibility of such a product.
Competitors' Stock Price Reaction to Mass Layoff Announcements

Using data on layoff announcements by S&P 500 firms, we show that layoff announcements mostly contain industrywide news. Competitors’ stock price reactions are positively correlated with the announcer’s returns. This contagion effect is stronger for competitors whose values depend on growth opportunities. When layoff announcements induce positive stock returns to announcers, competitors with positive R&D see a 1.15% increase in their returns. Conversely, when announcements induce negative reactions to announcers, competitors with high sales growth see a reduction of 1.09% in returns. Our findings suggest that investors perceive layoffs as a change in growth options rather than a change in the competitive environment.
Effect of feeding with different dietary protein levels and starvation on the health, nonspecific immune parameters, behavior and histoarchitectures of fantail goldfish (Carassius auratus L.).

The present investigation was conducted to assess the effect of different dietary protein percentages and starvation on the health, behavior, blood chemistry, immune response and histoarchitectures of fan tail gold fish Carassius auratus L. Experiment was carried out using 80 Carassius auratus with an average body weight 18 ± 2 g which were divided into four groups in duplicate in which, group 1 feed with diet A; 28% Crude Protein (CP). Fish in group 2 was fed on diet B (17% CP) and fish in group 3 was feed on diet C (45% CP) and group 4 kept as fasted group. The experimental period was 8 weeks. The current study clarified that significant high growth rate, improved welfare; decrease aggressive behavior, improved biochemical serum parameters and immune response were observed in group feed with diet containing 45% crude protein. Starvation is directly affected health, immunity and welfare as well as histoarchitectures of all selected organs. Histologically, there is no any significant changes on the histoarchitectures of the all selected organs; liver, spleen, intestine, head kidney as well as muscle of groups 1, 2 and 3 feed with diet A (28% CP), diet B (17% CP) and diet C (45% CP) respectively. Meanwhile, the fasting of group 4 had the most effective changes on the histoarchitectures of all selected organs.
Why students need to be prepared to cooperate: a cooperative nudge in statistics learning at university

Despite the potential benefits of cooperative learning at university, its implementation is challenging. Here, we propose a theory-based 90-min intervention with 185 first-year psychology students in the challenging domain of statistics, consisting of an exercise phase and an individual learning post-test. We compared three conditions that manipulated the exercise phase: individual work, cooperative dyadic instructions (structuring three basic components of cooperative learning: positive goal interdependence, individual responsibility and promotive interactions) and cooperative dyadic interactions (the three basic components with an additional cooperative nudge, namely explaining why and how to cooperate in this task) in order to test whether a progressive increase in benefits occurs as the cooperative structure is reinforced. Results indicated a linear trend in individual post-test learning and competence perception, from individual work to cooperative instructions to cooperative interactions. Competence perception mediated the effect of experimental conditions on learning. The results highlight the benefits of the cooperative nudge.
Mobile phone use and brain tumor: an age-period-cohort analysis of brain tumor rates in the Nordic population

Background: The association of the mobile phone use and risk of brain tumor remains controversial among radiation epidemiologists. Methods: We hypothesized if an association between brain tumor and mobile phone use exists, this association will be manifested as a cohort effect (as a proxy of association be­tween mobile phone use and brain tumor) in the incidence rates of brain tumor during the period of 1990 to 2009. We used age-period-cohort methodology (generalized log-linear model) and compared the distribution of cohort effects in the observed rates of brain tu­mor from 1990 to 2009 to the cohort effects from rates driven based on epidemiological study results that reported a positive association between brain tumor and mobile phone use in the Nordic population. Three latency period of 1-4 years with odds ratio (OR) of 1.2, latency period of 5-9 years with OR of 1.3, and latency period of more than 10 years with OR of 2.7 were used to estimate expected rates. Results: The distribution of cohort effects between observed and expected rates were more similar among the males compared with females. A shorter latency was more con­sistent to observed rates. Conclusion: Our study supports a possible a weak association between mobile phone use and brain tumor; further fueling the controversies in association.
The role of intuition in philosophical practice

The Role of Intuition in Philosophical Practice by WANG Tinghao Master of Philosophy This dissertation examines the recent arguments against the “Centrality” thesis—the thesis that intuition plays central evidential roles in philosophical inquiry—and their implications for the negative program in experimental philosophy. Two types of objections to Centrality are discussed. First, there are some objections which turn out to only work against Centrality when it is taken as a potential form of philosophical exceptionalism. I respond by showing that negative experimental philosophy doesn’t need the assumption that philosophy is distinctive in its reliance on intuitions. Second, there are some objections which turn out to be related to some particular view concerning the nature of evidence. In response, I distinguish between several different versions of Centrality, and argue that the version of Centrality that experimentalists need remains innocuous. Though none of the arguments against Centrality works as intended, I agree with its opponents that negative experimental philosophers have mischaracterized philosophical practice in a way which has problematic consequences for at least some versions of their argument. Specifically, I contend that philosophical practice grants important evidential status to general intuitions and context-rich intuitions, but extant experimental studies have almost exclusively focused on case intuitions and context-poor intuitions. I conclude that those who work on the negative program of experimental philosophy need to more carefully examine how philosophers actually use intuition in their practice.
Consistency of Dividend Signalling and Future Maturity Level:Evidence from UK Data

This paper analyses the relation between dividends and the mature level of a firm, by using market-to-book ratio as a proxy for Tobin’s Q, and Tobin’s Q as a indicator of either existence of new positive NPV projects or maturity level reached. The existent theory argues that the dividend payment decision either conveys information regarding future earnings (Signalling Theory) or is based on an Agency Theory Problem, concerning both Managers-Shareholders and Shareholders-Debtholders relationships. Here, another dividend signalling power is partially found, as dividend changes in period t seem to indicate a tendency in high Q firms to became more mature in t+1. This relation was not found for low Q firms, indicating that already mature firms do not change their status after a dividend change.
Influence of Nitrogen Rate, Seeding Rate, and Weed Removal Timing on Weed Interference in Barley and Effect of Nitrogen on Weed Response to Herbicides

Field experiments were conducted at the Montana State University Southern Agricultural Research Center, Huntley, MT, in 2011 through 2013 to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) rate, seeding rate, and weed removal timing on weed interference in barley. A delay in weed removal timing from the 3- to 4-leaf (LF) stage to the 8- to 10-LF stage of barley resulted in up to 3.5-fold increase in total weed biomass and 10% reduction in barley biomass, and this was unaffected by a N rate that ranged from 56 (low) to 168 (high) kg ha-1. The effect of N rate on barley biomass was more pronounced when weed removal was delayed from the 3- to 4-LF stage to the 8- to 10-LF stage of barley and in nontreated plots. Increasing the barley seeding rate from 38 to 152 kg ha-1 increased the barley plant density by 50%, biomass by 13%, and grain yield by 29%, averaged over N rates and weed removal timing. On the basis of 5 and 10% levels of acceptable yield loss, the addition of ≥112 kg N ha-1 delayed the critical timing of weed removal by at least 1.3 wk in barley, compared with the 56 kg N ha-1 rate. A medium or high N rate prevented reduction in barley grain quality (plumpness and test weight) observed when the seeding rate was increased from 38 to 76 or 152 kg ha-1 at the low N rate. In a separate greenhouse study, the effect of N rate on the effectiveness of various herbicides for controlling wild oat, green foxtail, kochia, or Russian thistle was investigated. Results highlighted that wild oat or green foxtail grown under 56 kg N ha-1 (low N) soil required 1.4 to 2.6 times higher doses of clodinafop, fenoxaprop, flucarbazone, glyphosate, glufosinate, pinoxaden, or tralkoxydim for 50% reduction in shoot dry weights (GR50) compared with plants grown under 168 kg N ha-1 (high N). Similarly, a reduced efficacy of thifensulfuron methyl + tribenuron methyl, metsulfuron methyl, or bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole was observed (evident from the GR50 values) for kochia or Russian thistle grown under low- vs. high-N soil. Information gained from this research will aid in developing cost-effective, integrated weed management (IWM) strategies in cereals and in educating growers on the importance of fertilizer N management as a component of IWM programs. Nomenclature: Bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole; clodinafop; fenoxaprop; flucarbazone; glyphosate; glufosinate; metsulfuron methyl; pinoxaden; thifensulfuron methyl + tribenuron methyl; tralkoxydim; green foxtail; Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. ; kochia, Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad; Russian thistle, Salsola tragus L. ; barley, Hordeum vulgare L. ; wild oat, Avena fatua L.
A ten-year review of the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in children and adolescents

This article reviews six studies using cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. Four elements of research methods are considered: (1) characteristics of participants; (2) components of the CBT programs; (3) assessment measures; and (4) follow-up analysis. The studies were obtained through a computerized search of PsychINFO and MEDline. Although CBT appears to be an effective approach for treating OCD, this review found that the descriptions of participants across the studies were not adequate; the components of the CTB programs utilized a manualized protocol; some assessment measures were common across the studies; and, only two of the studies examined whether treatment gains would be maintained over time.
Effects of Individual Differences on Applicant Perceptions of an Operational Assessment Center

Knowing to what extent applicant reactions are related to stable individual differences and not only to characteristics of a selection procedure is important for the design and administration of the selection procedure and for dealing with applicants. The aim of this study was to explore relationships between individual differences (Big Five, core self-evaluations, trait affectivity, and general mental ability) and applicants’ perceptions of an operational assessment center (AC). Data from 294 applicants revealed that individual difference variables explained significant variance in their perceptions of the AC, even after controlling for selfrated and actual performance. Based on these results, the nature of the applicant pool should be considered for designing selection procedures, dealing with applicants, and for research purposes.
Shape of LOSVDs in Barred Disks: Implications for Future IFU Surveys

The shape of line-of-sight velocity distributions (LOSVDs) carries important information about the internal dynamics of galaxies. The skewness of LOSVDs represents their asymmetric deviation from a Gaussian profile. Correlations between the skewness parameter (h3) and the mean velocity ( ) of a Gauss–Hermite series reflect the underlying stellar orbital configurations of different morphological components. Using two self-consistent N-body simulations of disk galaxies with different bar strengths, we investigate correlations at different inclination angles. Similar to previous studies, we find anticorrelations in the disk area, and positive correlations in the bar area when viewed edge-on. However, at intermediate inclinations, the outer parts of bars exhibit anticorrelations, while the core areas dominated by the boxy/peanut-shaped (B/PS) bulges still maintain weak positive correlations. When viewed edge-on, particles in the foreground/background disk (the wing region) in the bar area constitute the main velocity peak, whereas the particles in the bar contribute to the high-velocity tail, generating the correlation. If we remove the wing particles, the LOSVDs of the particles in the outer part of the bar only exhibit a low-velocity tail, resulting in a negative correlation, whereas the core areas in the central region still show weakly positive correlations. We discuss implications for IFU observations on bars, and show that the variation of the correlation in the disk galaxy may be used as a kinematic indicator of the bar and the B/PS bulge.
A Bayesian Markov Chain Approach Using Proportions Labour Market Data for Greek Regions

This paper focuses on Greek labour market dynamics at a regional base, which comprises of 16 provinces, as defined by NUTS levels 1 and 2 (Eurostat, 2008), using Markov Chains for proportions data for the first time in the literature. We apply a Bayesian approach, which employs a Monte Carlo Integration procedure that uncovers the entire empirical posterior distribution of transition probabilities from full employment to part employment, unemployment and economically unregistered unemployment and vice a versa. Our results show that there are disparities in the transition probabilities across regions, implying that the convergence of the Greek labour market at a regional base is far from being considered as completed. However, some common patterns are observed as regions in the south of the country exhibit similar transition probabilities between different states of the labour market.
Do Public R&D Expenditures Foster Business R&D Investments?

Purpose – The aim of the paper was to assess the relationship between public R&D expenditures and business R&D investments in EU regions. Design/Methodology/Approach – The data for the analysis were retrieved from the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) 2016. The generalized structural equation model – GSEM was adopted to verify the formulated hypothesis. The research sample covered 214 regions of 22 EU Member States and Norway. Findings – The results of research indicate that public R&D are additional to business R&D investments in EU regions. Moreover, innovative productivity is positively related to public financial support for R&D. Originality/Value – So far, most of the available empirical literature has focused on the relationship between public financial support policies for R&D activities and business R&D expenditures either at the macro or micro level. The present paper attempts to fill this gap by providing an insight into this matter at the regional level. Article type – Research paper.