Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing the Efficient Markets Hypothesis on the Romanian Capital Market

Informational efficiency of capital markets has been the subject of numerous empirical studies. Intensive research of the field is justified by the important implications of the knowledge of the of informational efficiency level in the financial practice. Empirical studies that have tested the efficient markets hypothesis on the Romanian capital market revealed mostly that this market is not characterised by the weak form of the efficient markets hypothesis. However, recent empirical studies have obtained results for the weak form of the efficient markets hypothesis. The present decline period of the Romanian capital market, recorded on the background of adverse economic developments internally and externally, will be an important test for the continuation of recent positive developments, manifested the level of informational efficiency too.
MicroRNAs Regulation by Nutrients, the New Ray of Hope in Obesity Related Glucose and Lipid Metabolic Disorders

Glucose and lipid metabolic disorders are two most prevalent complications of obesity. Regarding increasing rates of obesity and its metabolic disorders, more effective approaches are needed for prevention or treatment of related metabolic disorders. Therefore, understanding molecular mechanisms involved in metabolic syndrome would be open new way in maintaining homeostasis in these circumstances. miRNAs are non-coding small RNAs with transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory effects on gene expression, however, any disturbance of them could be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and its related lipid and glucose metabolic disorders. miRNAs are proposed as an ideal non-invasive biological markers for rapid prediction of some obesity related metabolic diseases because of their stability and measurable concentrations in body fluids. Recent evidences reported changes of some important miRNAs profile with regulatory effects on glucose and lipid metabolic pathways even years before the onset and/or diagnosis of these obesity related metabolic disorders. Nutrition and dietary components as significant epigenetic factors have an important role in posttranscriptional regulations of lipid and glucose metabolism genes by modulating of related key miRNAs. Epigenetic suggests the importance of personalized nutrition according to miRNAs profile in prevention, control and treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. In this review we summarize evidences regarding the influence of nutrients and food components on some important related circulating miRNAs and their signature as new diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic agents in obesity related lipid metabolism and diabetes as dietary-derived disorders.
Inhibitory Effects of Far-Infrared Irradiation Generated by Ceramic Material on Murine Melanoma Cell Growth

The biological effects of specific wavelengths, so-called “far-infrared radiation” produced from ceramic material (cFIR), on whole organisms are not yet well understood. In this study, we investigated the biological effects of cFIR on murine melanoma cells (B16-F10) at body temperature. cFIR irradiation treatment for 48 h resulted in an 11.8% decrease in the proliferation of melanoma cells relative to the control. Meanwhile, incubation of cells with cFIR for 48 h significantly resulted in 56.9% and 15.7% decreases in the intracellular heat shock protein (HSP)70 and intracellular nitric oxide (iNO) contents, respectively. Furthermore, cFIR treatment induced 6.4% and 12.3% increases in intracellular reactive oxygen species stained by 5-(and 6)-carboxyl-,-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and dihydrorhodamine 123, respectively. Since malignant melanomas are known to have high HSP70 expression and iNO activity, the suppressive effects of cFIR on HSP70 and NO may warrant future interest in antitumor applications.
Factors affecting home range size of male Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) in the Marmolada massif

In this study we investigated on the effects of different land cover types, meteorological conditions and age on the seasonal home range size of male Alpine ibex ( Capra ibex ibex ). The study was conducted in the Marmolada massif (Eastern Italian Alps). From September 2003 to the end of August 2009, 28 different male ibexes were regularly located by sightings and VHF radiotracking. We first analysed habitat selection performing a compositional analysis of log ratios and found that males positively selected grasslands all year long, likely for forage availability. We then estimated the cluster seasonal home ranges and modelled the logarithmic home range size with mixed linear models. We tested the effects of the individual and research year as random variables, season and age class as classification variables, and different combinations of percentage of grassland in the home ranges, slope, elevation and aspect as covariates. Model selection was based on the Akaike criterion. Inter-individual variability, research year and age class had no significant effects. The percentage of grassland within the home range and the slope of grasslands within the home range were the main determinants of home range size, explaining also the differences between seasons. Home range size in winter and spring was inversely correlated with the amount of snow depth. These results suggest that in winter spatial behaviour of male Alpine ibex is mostly influenced by snow while in the other seasons it is linked to resource exploitation: when forage is easily available ibexes did not need to seek out it by moving important distances.
The Impact of Unsystematic Risk on Stock Returns in an Emerging Capital Markets (ECM’s) Country: An Empirical Study

In this study, we aim to introduce behavior of unsystemayic risk and its forecasting ability in prediction of future return in Egyptian Stock Exchange (ESE) as an Emerging Capital market (ECM), over the period of 2006 to 2015. We measure equally weighted unsystemayic volatility by following the Campbell’s (2001) Indirect Method , by considering market size and weekly basis. Our results reveal that unsystemayic risk is the biggest component of total volatility and show no trend, although market volatility has a slow decreasing trend in this period. We also find that small size stocks have slightly higher volatility than the big size stocks but both portfolios have similar idiosyncratic risk behavior. Finally, our analyses about the predictive ability of various measures of unsystematic risk provide evidence that unsystematic risk volatility is not a significant predictor for future return in ESE.
Political Connections and Stock Liquidity: Political Network, Hierarchy and Intervention

I measure the value of political connections through their liquidity effect on privately controlled firms and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China’s stock market over the period of 2003 to 2012. State participation among the top ten shareholders is used as a criterion for classifying a firm as “politically connected”. Using this criterion, I find that politically connected firms are associated with higher liquidity, which is manifested by tighter spreads, higher quoted depths, greater trading activity, lower adverse selection spread components and a smaller price impact. I further examine the effects of three dimensions of political connections on liquidity: political network, hierarchy and intervention. First, I determine that a greater political network results in greater liquidity for both state-owned and privately controlled firms. Second, SOEs that are centrally controlled possess higher liquidity than those that are locally controlled. Third, greater political intervention arising from direct government control impedes the positive impact of political connections on liquidity.
Bankruptcy Prediction: The Case of Belgian SMEs

Purpose - – The aim of this paper is to develop a bankruptcy prediction model for the Belgian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the building of a logit model that includes a selection of financial ratios. Design/methodology/approach - – Using a sample of 7,152 Belgian SMEs among which 3,576 were declared bankrupt between 2002 and 2012, the model, which includes control variables such as firm size and age, aims to test the predictive power of ratios reflecting the financial structure, the profitability, the solvency and the liquidity of firms. Findings - – The results report a satisfactory prediction accuracy and show that ratios as profitability and liquidity are excellent predictors of bankruptcy for Belgian SMEs. Research limitations/implications - – Although the results seem to be conclusive, it could be noted that the healthy sample was not paired with the bankrupt sample. Other studies show that the use of paired samples makes it possible to increase the already good prediction rate. Also, further research could focus on intra-sectorial analysis. Practical implications - – Beside its contribution to the academic literature on bankruptcy prediction of Belgian SMEs, this study may be of interest for investors or managers to help them to anticipate bankruptcy risks. It can also be useful for banks and other credit institutions in the assessment of credit risk of firms. Thanks to such models, they could better identify firms with a higher risk of failure in their lending decisions. Social implications - – Given the increasing number of SMEs in Belgium, their significant role in the economy, the specific characteristics of the country in terms of political decision making, the institutional differences between regions and the current uncertain economic circumstances, bankruptcy prediction seems to be a necessity for the country. Originality/value - – The originality of this paper lies in the fact that Belgian SMEs have been studied. This study may also be of interest to investors or managers because it may help them highlight accounting measures they should closely follow up to avoid bankruptcy.
A Re-examination of the Relationship Between Foreign Capital Flows and Economic Growth in Nigeria

The study was carried out to re-examine the relationship between foreign capital flows and economic growth in Nigeria by collecting annual data over the period of 1986 to 2015 from various sources. The study employed a combination of stationary and nonstationary series. Similarly, irrespective of specifications, the study was devoid of a long-run relationship between economic growth and its determinants in Nigeria. Furthermore, owing to absorptive capacity constraints (such as, infrastructural deficit, underdeveloped local financial market and negative and/or very weak positive spill-over effect on domestic investment), net FDI inflows exerted positive short-run influence on growth, while net portfolio flows and net foreign remittance had significant negative short-run effects on growth. Also, lower levels of net foreign aids and net external debt promote growth, while excessive levels of these flows dampen growth. All these imply that the relationship between foreign capital flows and economic growth in Nigeria is both linear and nonlinear. It is therefore recommended that policy makers in Nigeria encourage the inflow of capital that would be beneficial to the nation, in terms of stimulating domestic investment and economic growth. Putting measures in place to develop the nation’s financial sector is also suggested to attract and make efficient use of capital flows in the country. Keywords : Foreign capital, Economic growth, and Financial crisis
Meat quality of veal: discriminatory ability of weaning status.

The physicochemical and fatty acid compositions of meat from 81 calves were measured in order to prove whether the extension of suckling period could distinguish “Normal” from “Suprema” class calves. Three groups of animals were investigated depending on their weaning status: NW (animals were milk-fed until seven months), W1 and W2 (animals which were weaned at different ages and reared either in family farms or in feedlot, respectively). There was no difference among animals in relation to the main components (moisture, protein and ash). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found regarding intramuscular fat; the contents were higher in animals weaned at early ages. Color and texture parameters were significantly affected by weaning status. The intramuscular fatty acid composition in the three types of animals showed that saturated fatty acids were the predominant ones in the three groups with values ranging between 48.71% and 49.52% of total methyl esters. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found depending on weaning status in linolenic acid and in the n-6/n-3 ratio, obtaining the highest values in NW animals. Factor analysis method using principal component was applied to the data. The data matrix constructed was subjected to a canonical discriminant analysis in order to classify the NW, W1 and W2 groups. These results showed that 96.6% for the NW group, and 66.7% and 82.4% for W1 and W2 groups respectively, were correctly classified.
Antioxidant properties of Dichrocephala integrifolia (Asteraceae) in a mouse model of monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity

Background: In Africa, neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly have become a major health concern due to the increase in live expectancy. Glutamate mediated neurotoxicity is involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Ischemia, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson diseases. Plants with antioxidant properties are reported to protect vital organs against glutamate toxicity. This study aims to assess the effect of Dichrocephala integrifolia against monosodium glutamatemediated neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. Methodology: The decoction prepared from the leaves of Dichrocephala integrifolia was evaluated against monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mice. The animals were grouped in seven groups of 6 animals each. The animals received daily; distilled water (p.o) for the distilled water and the negative control groups, one of the four doses of the decoction of the plant (35, 87.5, 175 or 350 mg/kg p.o) for the tests groups and memantine (20 mg/kg p.o) for the positive control group. Monosodium glutamate (2.5 g/kg ip) was injected daily to animals except those of the normal control group all the seven days of the experimentation. Animals were observed for aggressiveness, locomotor and forepaws muscle grip activities 30 min after monosodium injections. Brain reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were also assessed following the behavioral tests on day 8. Results: The decoction of Dichrocephala integrifolia at the doses of 87.5 and 175 mg/kg significantly (p<0.01) inhibited the aggressiveness of monosodium treated mice, significantly (p<0.01) counteracted the reduction in locomotor and forepaws muscle grip capacity induced by monosodium glutamate. Furthermore, the decreases in reduced glutathione level and increases in lipid peroxidation level induced by monosodium glutamate were significantly (p<0.001) reversed by Dichrocephala integrifolia at the doses of 87.5 and 175 mg/kg. Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that Dichrocephala integrifolia is a medicinal plant that protects the brain against monosodium glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity. This can explain why this plant is intensively used in folk medicine in Cameroon to prevent and treat some central nervous system illnesses.
A NOVEL PEAK OF FUNCTIONAL NEUROSTEROIDOGENESIS AND ESTROGEN SIGNALLING IN THE EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OF ORANGE-SPOTTED GROUPER EPINEPHELUS COIOIDES

Introduction: Despite neurosteroidogenic enzymes are playing important roles in the regulation of brain development and function, the potential link between brain and gonad by the action of steroid hormones during gondal sex differentiation is still matter of debate in teleosts [1]. In recent years, we focused on the early brain development in response to the synthesis of neurosteroids and receptor activation during gonadal sex differentiation in orangespotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (a mono-female sex development at the juvenile stage) and black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegeli (a mono-male sex development at the juvenile stage) [2,3]. The mechanism of brain sex differentiation and/or brain activation during early ages of female grouper fish is not fully understood yet. Moreover, there is an important lack of information regarding the expression of four key steroidogenic enzymes cyp11a1 (P450scc), hsd3b1, cyp17a1 and cyp19a1b in the early brain development and their potential links with gonadal sex differentiation. Hence, these phenomena support the selection of orange-spotted grouper as a model for neuroendocrine research, principally to understand the molecular mechanism of sex differentiation in female fish. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to test the hypothesis that 1) brain of orange-spotted grouper fish has the capability for de novo steroidogenesis and the production of these neurosteroids may have a correlation to the occurrence of gonadal sex differentiation and 2) we compared the expression of key genes and signalling in the protogynous grouper and protandrous black porgy in order to know whether this expression pattern has gender related event or not during gonadal sex differentiation. Here, we investigated the temporal expression pattern of the genes related to the neurosteroidogenesis and estrogen signaling in different days after hatching ages (dah) in the teleosts brain.
Morphological and molecular characterization of maize inbred lines showing variability for drought tolerance

A set of hundred maize inbred lines were analyzed for resilience to moisture stress for twenty-four traits related to maturity, morphological, physiological, yield, quality and root traits. Evaluation confirmed a wide range of variability revealing significant response of main effects (lines, irrigations and years and their respective digenic and trigenic interactions). Fifteen elite identified lines performed well under moisture stress conditions showing inbuilt tolerance towards moisture stress. A set of 32 SSR markers, having genome-wide coverage, was chosen for genotyping the selected 15 inbred lines. These markers generated a total of 239 polymorphic alleles with an average of 7.47 alleles per locus. The minimum and maximum PIC value was 0.886 and 0.608 with a mean of 0.782. The coefficient of genetic dissimilarity ranged from 0.215 to 0.148. DARwin derived cluster analysis grouped 15 elite maize lines in three major clusters with five lines each in cluster-III and II and four lines in cluster-I with KDM-361A as root (at origin point. Molecular marker data however, confirmed diverse genetic nature of six lines (KDM-372, KDM-343A, KDM-331, KDM-961, KDM-1051 and KDM-1156) with favorable drought resilient traits with no yield penalty under moisture stress. Exploitation of these identified elite lines in involving all possible combinations helped to develop single cross hybrids under moisture stress conditions.
Operative management of acetabulum fractures in the obese patient: challenges and solutions

In this review, we aim to increase our knowledge of the treatment of acetabular fractures in the obese patient population. The extremely high incidence of obesity in the USA is a looming health care concern that impacts aspects of health care in all medical specialties. There are specific concerns to the orthopedic surgeon when treating obese patients for acetabular fracture. Patients with body mass index ≥30 present particular challenges to the surgeon in terms of preexisting medical conditions, diagnostic imaging, and perioperative complications. Specifically, this patient population experiences worse functional outcomes and greater incidence of surgical site infection, intraoperative blood loss, deep venous thrombosis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, heterotopic ossification, and increased hospital length of stay. These problems are further exacerbated in the morbidly obese, as a scaling effect exists between increasing body mass index and worsening complication profile. This is problematic given the current high incidence of morbid obesity in the USA and particularly worrisome in light of the projected increase in obesity rates for the future.
The end of an enigmatic taxon: Eudoxia macra is the eudoxid stage of Lensia cossack (Siphonophora, Cnidaria)

The greatest challenge in the study of the cnidarian order Siphonophora lies in the identification of all parts of the fragile colonies usually separated during net sampling. Species are usually established based on the morphology of at least one swimming bell of the polygastric stage, and a single genus, Eudoxia, has housed the description of free sexual eudoxid stages until these can be reliably linked to a polygastric stage. This genus, extensively used until the early 20th century, has progressively been emptied and, at the present day, contains only one form for which the identification of the polygastric stage has remained completely enigmatic: Eudoxia macra Totton, 1954. DNA barcoding techniques using the mitochondrial 16S gene allowed this eudoxid stage to finally be linked with its polygastric stage, Lensia cossack Totton, 1941. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F253E52B-C14D-4440-9BA5-EB9EAC6B42E0
Is there added value of convection-permitting regional climate model simulations for storms over the German Bight and Northern Germany?

This study tackles the question: Do very high-resolution convective-permitting regional climate model (RCM) simulations add value compared to coarser RCM runs for certain extreme weather conditions, namely strong wind and storm situations? Ten strong storm cases of the last two decades were selected and dynamically downscaled with the RCM COSMO-CLM (24 and 2.8 km grid point distance). These cyclones crossed the high-resolution model domain, which encompasses the German Bight, Northern Germany, and parts of the Baltic Sea. One storm case study (storm Christian of October 2013) is discussed in more detail in order to analyze the smallscale storm features and the associated potential added value of the high-resolution simulation. The results indicate an added value for atmospheric dynamical processes such as convective precipitation or post-frontal cloud cover. The multiple storm analysis revealed added value for the high-resolution regional climate simulation for 10 m wind speed, mean sea level pressure, and total cloud cover for most storms which were examined, but the improvements are small. Wind direction and precipitation were already well simulated by the coarser RCM and the higher resolution could often not add any value for these variables. The analysis showed that the added value is more distinct for the synoptic comparisons than for the multiple storm study analyzed with statistical measures like the Brier Skill Score.
Factors Affecting Households Vulnerability to Climate Change in Swaziland: A Case of Mpolonjeni Area Development Programme (ADP)

This study investigated household vulnerability to climate change and the factors affecting vulnerability of the households at Mpolonjeni Area Development Programme in Swaziland. Primary data were collected through personal interviews from 323 randomly sampled households. The household vulnerability index was used to establish household vulnerability and the multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify the factors affecting household vulnerability. The results show that 39.6% of the households were lowly vulnerable, 58.2% were moderately vulnerable and 2.2% were highly vulnerable. Parameter estimates of the multinomial regression model show that the number of sick members, number of employed members, number of dependants, household size and the livestock index influence households to move from low vulnerability to moderate vulnerability or high vulnerability. Households are vulnerable to external shocks thus appropriate policy interventions should be put in place. A health policy would help reduce vulnerability of households and a rural development policy would create employment opportunities leading to improved livelihoods.