Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unhealthy Nutrigenomic Diets Accelerate NAFLD and Adiposity in Global

The understanding of genetic factors involved in the risk for obesity has identified genes that are closely linked to obesity related diseases. A single gene effect versus multiple genes effect may indicate either the interaction unique to various environments that regulate abnormal molecular or cellular events responsible for obesity with several hypotheses proposed in relation to the development of obesity. The understanding of the development of adipogenesis has been the focus of the global community with obesity genetics, epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and transcription factors important to the world-wide obesity epidemic with increased risk for adiposity. The search for specific genes that are sensitive to nutritional regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disease, lipid/ glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease has been the focus of the current obesity epidemic in various developed countries. Epigenetics is now considered as an important mechanism for the development of obesity and can result from changes in cellular chromatin structure without alterations in DNA sequence, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodelling. Epigenetic modifications induced by unhealthy diets and the environment effect nuclear/mitochondria interactions and implicate nuclear receptors such as Sirt 1 as a single gene effect with interactions with microRNA and transcription factors such as p53 that regulate cellular and immune events with effects on cellular lipid metabolism and energy expenditure that induce senescence with poor DNA repair. Epigenetic modifications in various communities are now closely involved in NAFLD associated with excess transfer of fat to the adipose tissue and the induction of obesity in developed countries. The failure of various anti-obese drugs has encouraged the use of nutrigenomic diets that reverse senescence and assist in the early nutritional intervention that reverses NAFLD with reduced adiposity.
Incentive Compensation and Incentive Regulation: Empirical Evidence

This paper examines the relationship between CEO pay and firm performance within a sample of European publicly listed energy utilities from 2000 to 2010, focusing on the differential responses that arise from being subject to different regulatory regimes. In particular, we investigate the difference in pay-performance sensitivity across regulated and unregulated firms as well as the impact of different regulatory schemes – incentive vs. cost-based regulation - on CEO monetary incentives. Using various measures of performance, we find that European energy utilities link CEO compensation to firm performance, but CEO pay-performance is higher for unregulated companies. When we focus on the effect of alternative regulatory schemes, our results show that payperformance sensitivity is significantly higher for firms under incentive regulation than within firms under cost-based regulation. This result holds after controlling for firm - private vs. state - ownership and for varying degrees of market liberalization across countries.
Nicotine Enhances the Excitability of Gaba Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area via Activation of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Receptors on Glutamate Terminals

Ventral tegmental area dopamine (DA) and GABA neurons express nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes, whose net activation results in enhancement of DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). This effect decreases after repeated nicotine (NIC) treatment via desensitization. We evaluated the effects of acute NIC on glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67)-positive GABA neurons in the VTA of green fluorescent protein (GFP) knockin (GAD-GFP) mice, and determined the expression of selected nAChR subunits in VTA GABA neurons. In vivo, tachylphylaxis accrued to repeated systemic, but not local administration of NIC. Microelectrophoretic application of NIC and the α7 nAChR partial agonist JN403 markedly enhanced the firing rate of VTA GABA neurons. This activation was suppressed by intraperitoneal administration of the α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA, 1 mg/kg), or the glutamate (GLU) NMDA receptor antagonist APV (1 mg/kg), but not by the non-selective non-competitive antagonist mecamylamine (MEC, 1 mg/kg). In patch clamp studies in the slice preparation, the α7 nAChR agonist choline (1-10 mM), in the presence of the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist atropine (50 μM), enhanced sEPSC and mini-EPSC frequency, but not amplitude, which was blocked by MLA (0.5 μM). JN403 (0.1-1 μM) enhanced evoked EPSCs, without affecting membrane currents of VTA GABA neurons. In patch clamp studies in dissociated VTA GABA neurons, choline+atropine failed to induce whole-cell current responses in most cells tested. Single cell RT-qPCR revealed that most GABA neurons did not express α7 nAChRs. Together, this indicates that NIC excites VTA GABA neurons via α7 nAChRs located on GLUergic terminals.
The role of estrogen in hypothalamic regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity , energy homeostasis and bone metabolism

Background: Inhibition of sympathetic signaling to bone prevents loss of bone mass after ovariectomy in rodents. As sympathetic activity is controlled by the central nervous system we hypothesized that an interaction between estrogen and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), relevant for the regulation of bone remodeling, takes place in the brain. Objective: To determine the effect of subcutaneous (SC) and intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of 17β-estradiol (E2) on bone remodeling in ovariectomized rats. Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and an ICV cannula was placed in the lateral cerebral ventricle. After surgery rats were divided in three groups: 1) VEH: OVX plus ICV vehicle injections (sesame oil) every 4th day (n=6), 2) OVX-SC: OVX plus SC E2 injections (2.0 ug) every 4th day (n=5), 3) OVX-ICV: OVX plus ICV E2 injections (0.02 ug) every 4th day (n=10). After 4 weeks bone mass and bone remodeling was determined by histomorphometric analysis of the tibia. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. Results: Bone volume was not different between the groups after 4 weeks (p=0.119), but bone formation rates were lower in OVX-SC and OVX-ICV as compared to VEH (p=0.019). Conclusion: Both subcutaneous and intracerebroventricular administration of estrogen reduces bone formation rate after ovariectomy, suggesting that part of the effect of estrogen on bone remodeling is mediated via the central nervous system.
E-Assessments Systems: A Comparison of the Views of Samples of Students and Professors

The research has two folds; firstly, it aims to compare the different views of trends between two sample groups of professors and students who used assessments system at the University, and secondly it aims to investigate the uses of e-assessments systems in other universities in the region. The Personal trends are about the relationship between the availability of supplies needed to carry out or take e-assessments and to what extent it has been implemented successfully. In previous research, descriptive analytical methods have been used on two samples that consisted of (44) professors and (246) students from (5) colleges. The research tool was composed of many variables for measuring the relationship influenced among them. The research concluded that there is a relationship effect between the availability of supplies and the success of the implementation process of the electronic examinations system. In addition, there is a difference in the perspectives of members of the research sample on any of the variables. The researchers observed that the variation in personal trends differed for the research variables where the results indicated that there is variation in personal trends about one variable, when there is no variation on other variables. In previous study done on students, there was a variation in the attitudes about all the variables. Results indicated that there is a difference in professors’ attitudes about the problems facing the implementation process and the variations on indicators of the success of the implementation process.
Recreational boats as potential vectors of marine organisms at an invasion hotspot

With more than 200 aquatic nonindigenous species (NIS), San Francisco Bay (California, USA) is among the world's most invaded harbors. Hard-substratum benthic (biofouling) organisms, which dominate NIS richness, have arrived primarily as a result of shipping and aquaculture activity over past centuries. To date there has been no assessment of the leisure craft vector in the Bay. We aimed to characterize (1) biofouling on boats' submerged surfaces and (2) boater behavior likely to affect the risk of NIS transfers. We used an underwater pole-cam, specimen collections, and a boater questionnaire to quantify the extent and composition of biofouling on recreational boats and to eval- uate boater behavior at a subset of the Bay's marinas. Several NIS, already established within the Bay, were recorded from vessel hulls, including the bryozoans Bugula neritina, Membranipora chesa- peakensis and Watersipora sp. , the ascidians Botrylloides violaceus, Styela clava and Ciona intesti- nalis, the polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus, and the sponge Clathria prolifera. Only 16% of ques- tionnaire respondents had traveled to sites outside the Bay in the previous 12 mo. Frequency of hull painting and cleaning varied substantially, but we did not find strong patterns of biofouling extent associated with hull husbandry or boat usage. The potential for within-Bay and coastwise regional spread of NIS is high, and recreational boats probably interact in close proximity to other vectors (e.g. commercial ships), causing a ratchet effect of vector events; however, there remains a gap in under- standing the levels and condition of biofouling on transient boats. Transient vessels from San Fran- cisco Bay and other West Coast sites should be the focus of future studies to evaluate the extent to which organisms are being transferred among bays and how vector management could be applied to prevent NIS transfers and impacts.
Investigating the Relation of Organizational Factors and Burnout in Employees and Providing Solutions: A Study on Employees of Bank Melli Iran

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between organizational factors and Job Burnout using descriptive-analytical method (correlational) at Bank Melli Iran in the city of Mahabad. Materials and Methods: Fifty employees occupied in this organization were participated in the present study, using random selection method. Questionnaire was means of collecting data. The studied variables were measured by a standard scale including Job Burnout (Maslach), the researcher also made scale of organizational factors. Results: The results show that organizational factors affect the incidence of Job Burnout. Statistical tests also confirm the correlation at a significant level. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient show that there is a negative relation between variables of salary, wages and job security of the employees and “Job Burnout”. There are direct significant relationships between other variables and Job Burnout. Conclusion: If the job lets the employees to have freedom and autonomy, they can receive the results of their work and especially those who are ambitious, would be satisfied; because they tend to have much control over their works. The main point is that those who are highly skilled and have more freedom over their work and receive the results of their work will have better morale, motivation and performance.
Three new exotic fish records from the SE Aegean Greek waters

Three exotic fish, Iniistius pavo (Labridae) and Lagocephalus sceleratus (Tetraodontidae), Lessepsian immigrants, and Seriola fasciata (Carangidae) of Atlantic origin, were recorded in the marine area of Rhodes Island (SE Aegean Sea, Greece). The first species is a new record for the Mediterranean Sea, the second is new for Greek waters, while the occurrence of the third is registered for the first time in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Synchrotron Radiation from the Fast Tail of Dynamical Ejecta of Neutron Star Mergers

We find, using high-resolution numerical relativistic simulations, that the tail of the dynamical ejecta of neutron star mergers extends to mildly relativistic velocities faster than 0.7c. The kinetic energy of this fast tail is ∼1047–1049 erg, depending on the neutron star equation of state and on the binary masses. The synchrotron flare arising from the interaction of this fast tail with the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM) can power the observed nonthermal emission that followed GW170817, provided that the ISM density is , the two neutron stars had roughly equal masses and the neutron star equation of state is soft (small neutron star radii). One of the generic predictions of this scenario is that the cooling frequency crosses the X-ray band on a timescale of a few months to a year, leading to a cooling break in the X-ray light curve. While the recent observation of the superluminal motion resolved by very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) rules out the dynamical ejecta scenario, the model described in this paper is generic and can be applied for future neutron star merger events.
Mediation effect of trust on the relationship between perception of organization politics and commitment

This paper is the extension study of the relationship between perception of organiza- tion politics (POP), and commitment. This study investigates how trust explained the relation between these relationships. Mediation effect of trust was used to explain how this perception was related to commitment. Moderation effect was used for further explanation on investigation the complexities of these relationships. The result showed that the model was adequacy fit. PoP has negative correlation with commitment. Trust has fully mediated the relationship between PoP and com- mitment. In order to the moderation, the result showed that employee who has higher of trust was seen stronger POP-Commitment relationship than those who has lower ones. Implication of the findings for organizations and suggestions for future research are discussed. Keywords: perception of organizational politics, perception of equity, trust, Com- mitment
Chain Governance Systems and Sustainable Capital Use – A Conceptual Approach

Due to pressures such as climate change, globalization, price volatility and scarcity of natural resources, our agri-food chain is urged to make a transition towards more sustainable production. How to organize such a transition, given the various stakeholders involved, and how to monitor progress still remain important challenges. This paper presents a new conceptual framework that follows an integrated chain approach to help address these challenges. First, it tackles the complex ecological and socio-economic challenges along the chain and its members (agriculture and food industries), and second, allows for decision support to chain members and policy. This framework combines two existing theoretical frameworks. The first framework is global chain value analysis (GCVA) of Gereffi (2005) which has its roots in institutional economics. GCVA categorizes five governance types of value chains (markets – modular – relational – captive – hierarchy) based on three variables: (i) the complexity of information and knowledge transfer required to sustain a particular transaction, (ii) the ability to regulate transactions, and (iii) the capabilities of actual and potential suppliers. The second framework, which was first formulated in ecological economics, extends the set of traditional economic resources to various forms of capital in the production system. These are natural (land, water, …), manufactured (buildings, machinery, .), human (labour, skills,…), and social capital (networks,…). The economic system is fully embedded in the social system which in turn is embedded within the finite ecological system. Throughput of natural, social, human, and manufactured capital allows for the description of agri-food systems in terms of the maximal sustainable use of their stocks and flows. These two frameworks can be combined to perform an integrated system analysis of the agri-food chain, including the governance structures and the boundary conditions for the various types of capital. This paper describes this new conceptual framework illustrated by means of a case study of the agri-food chain in Flanders, Belgium.
Mobility of Skilled Workers and Co-Invention Networks: An Anatomy of Localized Knowledge Flows

This article illustrates the contribution of mobile inventors and networks of inventors to the diffusion of knowledge across firms and within cities or states. It is based upon an original data set on US inventors’ patent applications at the European Patent Office, in the fields of drugs, biotechnology and organic chemistry. The study combines the methodology originally proposed by Jaffe et al. (1993, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 108: 577–598) with tools from social network analysis, in order to evaluate extent of the localization of knowledge flows, as measured by patent citations. After controlling for inventors’ mobility and for the resulting co-invention network, the residual effect of spatial proximity on knowledge diffusion is found to be greatly reduced. We argue that the most fundamental reason why geography matters in constraining the diffusion of knowledge is that mobile researchers are not likely to relocate in space, so that their co-invention network is also localized. In the light of these results, we revisit common interpretations of localized knowledge flows as externalities.
Breeding bird populations of Irish peatlands

Capsule Peatlands are very important habitats for birds despite low species diversity. Aims To describe the variation in breeding bird populations that occur on different types of Irish peatlands and their associated habitat characteristics. Methods Bird abundance and diversity were compared between four peatland habitat types (fens, raised bogs, Atlantic blanket bogs and montane blanket bogs) at 12 study sites using transects. Various measures of habitat quality were also taken at each location. Results Only 21 species were recorded during the study, with Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis and Sky Lark Alauda arvensis accounting for over 80% of all birds recorded. Fens had greater bird species diversity and densities than the other three peatland types. Raised bogs, Atlantic blanket bogs and montane blanket bogs were very similar in terms of their avian diversity. Each of the recorded bird species was associated with different aspects of the peatland habitat. Conclusion This study shows that despite the relatively low avian species diversity of Irish peatlands, they are of enormous conservation value due to the presence of species of high conservation concern such as Willow Ptarmigan (Red Grouse) Lagopus lagopus and Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata.
Seasonal Dynamics of Runoff-Sediment Relationship and Its Controlling Factors in Black Soil Region of Northeast China

Abstract: Seasonal runoff—sediment dynamics and its controlling factors were studied in an agricultural watershed in the black soil region of Northeast China. Daily sediment and discharge data from 1957 to 1989 (except for 1961 and 1962) was used to investigate runoff-sediment dynamics, and the observed data shows that the discharge patterns are dominated by runoff from July to September, which accounted for about 64.7% of annual discharge; fluctuations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) are markedly different from discharge fluctuations; and SSC in the snowmelt season (April) and late June to July is conspicuously higher than at other periods of the year. One concept was proposed to isolate the individual effect of each controlling factor on SSC from their joint effects and the preliminary analysis shows that: (1) high SSC in April is mainly dominated by freeze—thaw, and high SSC in July is dominated by intensive rainfall erosivity rather than volume of discharge; (2) an increase in rainfall erosivity increases SSC whether or not a field is covered by crops; (3) the effect of rainfall erosivity with increasing SSC in July is larger than the reduction effect from crop cover. The results reveal that the concept of isolating an individual effect from the joint effect played by multiple controlling factors on SSC provides potentially an efficient and effective way for evaluating land use and management practices in a new area with limited data.
Assimilative and healing capacity of coastal waters against the Sewage and effluents released along the coast of Visakhapatnam industrial belt

Owing to increased anthropological activities, the coastal zone is receiving a vast quantity of sewage waste and industrial effluents. But conflicting views on the impact of these wastes on coastal waters prompted us to take up this study. Four sampling points along the coast were identified and analyzed the collected water samples for nutrients and chlorophyll-a during pre-and post-monsoon seasons. The results indicated that the study area was of mesotrophic type and the coastal water was well oxygenated with mean DO of 5.2mg/lit and was biologically productive at primary level with ambient levels of nutrients excepting slight higher concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorous and total nitrogen as 17.5 μgm/lit 19.0 μgm/lit and 502.8 μgm/lit respectively. Further, toxicological studies (bio-assay tests) of discharged effluents and coastal water samples were conducted on selective standard test organisms and compared with the control samples. They revealed that the impact of the discharges on the coastal environment was insignificant.
Fruit dragée formulated with reused solution from pineapple osmotic dehydration

The objective of this work was to evaluate the reuse of sucrose syrup in pineapple (Ananas comosus) osmotic dehydration and the application of the spent solution in fruit dragée formulation. Osmotic dehydration trials were performed in five cycles (65° Brix/45°C/3 hours), directly reusing the osmotic solution, with only one intermediate reconditioning step. Variations in osmotic solution properties and in dehydration parameters were observed, as well as a low microbial load in the system. The spent solution was rich in vitamin C (30 mg 100 g-1). Pineapple dragée covered with red fruits and acai powders were obtained with the reconditioned spent solution used as an adhesion solution. The dragée presented high levels of vitamin C (176 mg 100 g-1), polyphenols (154 mg GAE 100-1 g), carotenoids (220 μg 100 g-1), and potassium (330 mg 100 g-1). The product showed good sensory acceptance and purchase intention. Reusing sucrose syrup is technically feasible during pineapple osmotic dehydration, as is the application of the spent solution as an ingredient in fruit dragée production.
Petschek-like reconnection with uniform resistivity

Using two-dimensional time dependent viscoresistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we report for the first time the existence of fast stationary magnetic reconnection with a spatially uniform plasma resistivity. This is achieved through the use of a nonuniform well tailored viscosity profile, following requirements deduced by Baty et al. [Phys. Plasmas 16, 012102 (2009)]. The quasisteady state exhibits the global features of a classical Petschek solution, with two pairs of standing slow-mode shocks attached to a central diffusion region and a fast-mode expansion of the inflowing plasma. The diffusion region is however influenced by the viscosity with a two-component structure, and the reconnection rate is observed to be slightly higher than nonviscous nonuniform resistive reconnection.