Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some Serum Oxidative Parameters in Normoglycemic Rats: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Application

VEGF has the positive effect on wound healing. In this study, the effect of VEGF application on some serum parameters during wound healing process were investigated. 36 female normoglycemic Wistar rats were used (200–250 g). Dorsolateral incisional wounds (length: 4 cm) were made on the two sides of the medulla spinalis in rats. They were divided into 3 groups: untreated group (n=12), chitosan group (n=12) and chitosan+VEGF group (n=12). The rats were sacrificed on the 3rd and 7th days of post wounding. NOx, TBARs and RSH levels were determined spectrophotometrically in serum. Results were compared by one-way ANOVA (p<0.05). Serum TBARs levels both the chitosan treated group and the VEGF application group was found decreased when compared with untreated groups (3rd and 7th days) (p <0.05). Chitosan and VEGF application were effective increasing antioxidant capacity of serum on the 7th day. Serum NOx levels decreased in the VEGF treated groups on 3rd and on 7th days (p<0.05). It can be considered that VEGF administration has a more positive systemic effect to eliminate increased oxidative damage in the serum of normoglycemic rats. INTRODUCTION
On thresholds in the climate–migration relationship

ABSTRACT In this paper, we empirically investigate whether the climate–migration relationship exhibits thresholds. We employ a threshold regression model and a large data set of international migration flows to investigate the existence of thresholds in the climate–migration relationship, while allowing for time-variability in the thresholds. We find evidence for one threshold in the temperature–migration relationship. The average temperature threshold in our sample is found to be 21.78°C (71.2°F) which is supported by results in other parts of the climate-society literature. However, we find that the threshold varies around a constant mean. Finally, our results show that, at the threshold, the effects of the other control variables, such as income and migration costs, change sizably.
Improving the performance of customer participation in new product development: the moderating effect of social media and firm capabilities

ABSTRACT Drawing upon the knowledge-based view, this study divides firm knowledge-processing capability (KPC) into market and technical knowledge-processing capabilities, and examines the moderating effect of social media use and two knowledge-processing capabilities on customer participation (CP) in new product development (NPD). The results show that social media use enhances the effect of customer participation on NPD performance (product innovativeness, market performance, and financial performance); firms’ two key capabilities (market knowledge-processing capability and technical knowledge-processing capability) further strengthen the moderating effect of social media use. Furthermore, the effect of customer participation on product innovativeness follows an inverted U-shape. This study not only confirms the crucial role of social media use and firm capabilities in customer participation in NPD but also provides firms with theoretical direction for how to use social media.
Why Are Bidder Termination Provisions Included in Takeovers?

Abstract We present a rationale for bidder termination provisions that considers their effect on bidders’ and targets’ joint takeover gains. The provision’s inclusion can create value by enabling termination when the target becomes less valuable to the bidder than on its own, but creates a trade-off because termination may also occur when the target is more valuable to the bidder than on its own. This trade-off explains why the provision is included in only some deals, and explains variation in termination fees. Inclusion of the provision is associated with larger combined announcement returns, provided that the termination fee is priced appropriately.
Attracted to or Locked In? Explaining Consumer Loyalty toward Airbnb

In an increasingly complex and dynamic environment, understanding the fundamental mechanisms of customer loyalty toward Airbnb has become very appealing to both researchers and providers in recent years. Most prior studies on Airbnb have focused mainly on dedication-based mechanisms, such as consumer satisfaction or attitude. However, little is currently known about how the theoretical view for adapting dedication-based and constraint-based mechanisms establishes Airbnb consumer loyalty and affects by attributes, such as authentic experience, trust in Airbnb, and social benefits—that is, the vital predictors of affective commitment. It explores social benefits, relative attractiveness, and price fairness as the key antecedents of calculative commitment. This study identifies the relationship using a structural equation modeling method and empirical data collected from 156 Airbnb consumers who use it more than twice. The analysis results show that consumer loyalty toward Airbnb is shaped by dedication- and constraint-based mechanisms. The findings indicate that both affective and calculative commitments significantly affect customer loyalty in the context of Airbnb. Authentic experience, trust in Airbnb, and social benefits significantly affect affective commitment to Airbnb. While both social benefits and relative attractiveness play an important role in enhancing calculative commitment to Airbnb, price fairness is not significantly related to it. Theoretical and practical implications and future research directions are subsequently discussed.
YouTube Adoption: Promoting Local Government Transparency?

Youtube is a social media platform for the exchange of videos where the public can demonstrate their engagement by watching, sharing and commenting. Local governments have gradually adopted it, in particular for transparency purposes. Unfortunately, there has been not much research explored the use of this platform, especially to investigate whether it was able to promote transparency which was previously enquired by the public. A dataset of 304 video profiles was analyzed to find local governments’ use of YouTube. The results showed found that in terms of transparency, the government utilizes social media to share video meetings where the public could watch the dynamics of policy formulation and budget allocation. Unfortunately, we also find that YouTube is used to publicize the governor's activities excessively, so we prefer to call YouTube as a medium of branding rather than as a medium of transparency. We also find other benefits of YouTube as an effective media to promote and socialize government programs.
Increasing Prevalence of HIV-1 Transmitted Drug Resistance in Portugal: Implications for First Line Treatment Recommendations

Introduction: Treatment for All recommendations have allowed access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for an increasing number of patients. This minimizes the transmission of infection but can potentiate the risk of transmitted (TDR) and acquired drug resistance (ADR). Objective: To study the trends of TDR and ADR in patients followed up in Portuguese hospitals between 2001 and 2017. Methods: In total, 11,911 patients of the Portuguese REGA database were included. TDR was defined as the presence of one or more surveillance drug resistance mutation according to the WHO surveillance list. Genotypic resistance to ARV was evaluated with Stanford HIVdb v7.0. Patterns of TDR, ADR and the prevalence of mutations over time were analyzed using logistic regression. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of TDR increased from 7.9% in 2003 to 13.1% in 2017 (p < 0.001). This was due to a significant increase in both resistance to nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), from 5.6% to 6.7% (p = 0.002) and 2.9% to 8.9% (p < 0.001), respectively. TDR was associated with infection with subtype B, and with lower viral load levels (p < 0.05). The prevalence of ADR declined from 86.6% in 2001 to 51.0% in 2017 (p < 0.001), caused by decreasing drug resistance to all antiretroviral (ARV) classes (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While ADR has been decreasing since 2001, TDR has been increasing, reaching a value of 13.1% by the end of 2017. It is urgently necessary to develop public health programs to monitor the levels and patterns of TDR in newly diagnosed patients.
The Important Role of Equivalence Scales: Household Size, Composition, and Poverty Dynamics in Russia

Hardly any literature exists on the relationship between equivalence scales and poverty dynamics for transitional countries. We offer a new study on the impacts of equivalence scale adjustments on poverty dynamics for Russia, using the equivalence scales constructed from subjective wealth and more than 20 waves of household panel survey data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey. Our analysis suggests that the equivalence scale elasticity is sensitive to household demographic composition. The adjustments for the equivalence of scales result in lower estimates of poverty lines. We decompose poverty into chronic and transient components and find that chronic poverty is positively related to the adult scale parameter. Chronic poverty, however, is less sensitive to the child scale factor compared to the adult scale factor. Interestingly, the direction of income mobility might change depending on the specific scale parameters that are employed. Our results are robust to different measures of chronic poverty, income expectations, reference groups, functional forms, and various other specifications.
Hierarchical Bayesian estimation of the population viability of an epixylic moss

1. Understanding the variation in population abundances requires accounting for the environmental variability and uncertainty on different scales. We developed and evaluated a Bayesian hierarchical model for the inter‐annual variation in population abundance of the epixylic bryophyte Buxbaumia viridis. The model accounts for spatio‐temporal variability on two spatial scales. We used data on population abundance and on the weather variables at regional level collected between 1996 and 2003, and data on dead wood amount collected between 1996 and 2008. We also provide a Bayesian estimate of the population viability, specifically the population stochastic growth rate (log λS), which accounts for natural variability and uncertainty.
CSR & Earnings Management: An Assessment of Firm Ethics

Purpose - This study aims to examine the effect of CSR disclosure on earnings management practices stated in accrual earnings management, real earnings management, and in aggregate practice (accrual and real). Design/methodology/approach - Assisted with NVivo 12 Pro software, this quantitative study measures CSR disclosures of 186 annual reports made by 62 manufacturing firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the period between 2013 and 2015. Period coverage of 2013-2015 is chosen to keep consistency of applied regulation about CSR disclosure in Indonesia. The data are analyzed using multiple linear regression. Findings - This study finds that firms with high CSR disclosures would have low levels of accrual and aggregate earnings management. There is no significant effect of CSR disclosure to real earnings management practice. Research limitations/implications - The results of this study may provide additional literature to examine the effect of CSR disclosure on the practice of comprehensive earnings management (accrual and real). Data to measure real earnings management practices is not entirely available. There is a high chance of subjectivity in measuring the level of CSR disclosure. Practical implications - For company, it can provide information regarding the importance of CSR disclosure. For regulators, it can be a consideration to make strict rules related to CSR disclosure. Originality/value - This study provide a comprehensive picture by examining the effect of CSR disclosure on all types of earnings management by the firm. Keywords: CSR disclosure, real earnings management, accrual earnings management
Two Aspects of Decadal ENSO Variability Modulating the Long‐Term Global Carbon Cycle

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) drives variations in terrestrial carbon fluxes by affecting the terrestrial ecosystem via atmospheric teleconnections and thus plays an important role in interannual variability of the global carbon cycle. However, we lack such knowledge on decadal time scales, that is, how the carbon cycle can be affected by decadal variations of ENSO characteristics. Here we examine how, and by how much, decadal ENSO variability affects decadal variability of the global carbon cycle by analyzing a 1,801‐year preindustrial control simulation. We identify two different aspects, together explaining ~36% of the decadal variations in the global carbon cycle. First, climate variations induced by decadal ENSO‐like variability regulate terrestrial carbon flux and hence atmospheric CO2 on decadal time scales. Second, decadal changes in the asymmetrical response of the terrestrial ecosystem, resulting from decadal modulation of ENSO amplitude and asymmetry, rectify the background mean state, thereby generating decadal variability of land carbon fluxes.
Is the Illusion of Authenticity Beneficial? Merely Perceiving Decisions as Guided by the True Self Enhances Decision Satisfaction

Many people endorse a “true-self-as-guide” (TSAG) lay theory of decision-making that suggests following one’s true self is an optimal strategy for making decisions. Across five studies (N = 1,320), we test whether perceived use of the true self enhances decision satisfaction. Study 1 provides correlational evidence. Studies 2 and 3 provide experimental evidence that participants felt more satisfied with choices made under TSAG instructions, compared to alternate strategies. Critically, we argue that perceived use of the true self enhances decision satisfaction regardless of whether consulting the true self actually influences the decision made. Studies 4 and 5 find evidence in support of this perceptual mechanism. This research provides insight into one way by which people find satisfaction amid life’s uncertainty, extending existing research on the role of the concept of true selves in positive functioning.
Early Stages of Obesity-related Heart Failure Are Associated with Natriuretic Peptide Deficiency and an Overall Lack of Neurohormonal Activation: The Copenhagen Heart Failure Risk Study

Objective: This study evaluated the associations between the natriuretic peptide activity and the neurohormonal response in non-obese and obese outpatients with and without heart failure (HF). Background: Obesity-related HF may be a distinct subtype of HF. Obesity is associated with lower plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides. The associations between obesity and neurohormonal activation estimated by mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and copeptin in patients with HF is not elucidated. Methods: This prospective cohort-study included 392 outpatients ≥60years, plus ≥1 risk-factor(-s) for HF (hypertension, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, chronic kidney disease), and without known HF. Patients were categorized ‘non-obese’ BMI = 18.5–29.9 kg/m2 (n = 273) and ‘obese’ BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (n = 119). The diagnosis of HF required signs, symptoms, and abnormal echocardiography. NT-proBNP, MR-proANP, MR-proADM, and copeptin were analyzed. Results: Obese patients were younger, had a higher prevalence of diabetes and chronic kidney disease, but a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation. A total of 39 (14.3%) non-obese and 26 (21.8%) obese patients were diagnosed with HF. In obese patients, HF was not associated with higher plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP (Estimate: 0.063; 95%CI: –0.037–1.300; P = 0.064), MR-proANP (Estimate: 0.207; 95%CI: –0.101–0.515; P = 0.187), MR-proADM (Estimate: 0.112; 95%CI: –0.047–0.271; P = 0.168), or copeptin (Estimate: 0.093; 95%CI: –0.333–0.518; P = 0.669). Additionally, obese patients with HF had lower plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP (Estimate: –0.998; 95%CI: –1.778–0.218; P = 0.012), and MR-proANP (Estimate: –0.488; 95%CI: –0.845–0.132; P = 0.007) compared to non-obese patients with HF, whereas plasma concentrations of MR-proADM (Estimate: 0.066; 95%CI: –0.119–0.250; P = 0.484) and copeptin (Estimate: 0.140; 95%CI: –0.354–0.633; P = 0.578) were comparable. Conclusions: Patients with obesity-related HF have natriuretic peptide deficiency and lack of increased plasma concentrations of MR-proADM and copeptin suggesting that patients with obesity-related HF have a blunted overall neurohormonal activity.
A Novel Cell-Free Fluorescent Assay for HDL Function: Low Apolipoprotein A1 Exchange Rate Associated with Increased Incident Cardiovascular Events.

BACKGROUND Cholesterol efflux capacity is a tissue culture assay for HDL function that is not amenable for high-throughput monitoring of risk assessment. METHODS We devised a cell-free HDL function assay to measure the exchange rate of exogenous apoA1 into serum HDL using NBD/Alexa647 double-labeled apoA1, whose NBD/Alexa647 emission ratio increased upon exchange into HDL. ApoA1 exchange rate (AER) was assayed by incubating labeled apoA1 with human serum, and the rate of the increase of the NBD/Alexa647 ratio over time was calculated as AER. RESULTS Fast protein liquid chromatography analysis of serum confirmed that the labeled apoA1 selectively exchanged into the HDL lipoprotein fraction. Characterization studies demonstrated that the AER assay had excellent intra- and inter-day reproducibility, was stable over 3 freeze-thaw cycles, and yielded similar results with serum or plasma. We quantified AER in serum from randomly selected stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic coronary angiography (n = 997). AER was correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001) and apoA1 levels (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival plot showed subjects in the lowest quartile of AER experienced a significantly higher rate of incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE = myocardial infarction, stroke, or death) (P < 0.0069 log rank). Moreover, compared to subjects in the lowest AER quartile, the remaining subjects showed significantly lower incident (3 year) risk for MACE, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors and apoA1 (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.40-0.85; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS In a prospective cohort of stable subjects undergoing elective diagnostic cardiac evaluations, low AER was associated with increased incident risk of MACE.
Attenuation of Paraquat-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Dysfunction in Male Wistar Albino Rats

Background. Paraquat (PQ) is a pesticide commonly used in the control of weed in agricultural practices worldwide. Exposure to PQ has adverse biochemical and physiological consequences to humans and animals. The mechanism of toxicity is linked to the generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Presently, no single effective antidote to PQ toxicity has been established. Therefore, the need to continually investigate different treatment approaches is of paramount importance. Objective. This study evaluated the capacity of selected dietary supplements to attenuate paraquat-induced kidney dysfunction and damages by determining some kidney function biomarkers and oxidative parameters. Methods. Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into six groups. Each group (except Normal control) was intoxicated every other day with 1.5 mg/kg body weight of PQ and four groups (except PQ and Normal control groups) were treated daily with 40 mg/kg of garlic, glutathione and vitamin C for two weeks. Results. The results showed significant ( p < 0.05) increases in concentration of kidney malondialdehyde, urea, creatinine, and blood lipid profiles. Also, significant decrease in concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, kidney glutathione and total antioxidant capacity were presented by PQ control group compared to other PQ exposed groups treated with the antioxidant compounds. Conclusions. PQ-induced changes indicated kidney dysfunction and damage. However, the administration of antioxidant supplements attenuated the PQ-induced biochemical and physiological dysfunction in the rats.
Efficient dimension reduction of hyperspectral images for big data remote sensing applications

Abstract. A large amount of remote sensing data can be easily acquired due to the increase in the advances in sensor’s technologies. The sensors can generate high-dimensional data in a lower time producing problems related to big data such as management and organization. Since the acquired data is characterized by a large dimension and lack of structure, the information analysis becomes harder. Therefore, an organization stage should structure the data reducing the dimension while maintaining the main properties to enable further analysis. The feature extraction and selection methods can achieve this task. Consequently, we aim to explore various pixel-wise feature extraction and selection algorithms to manage the organization stage of big data for hyperspectral images. Our work covers the comparison between feature vectors computed using the discrete Fourier transform, discrete cosine transform (DCT), and stationary wavelet transform. Moreover, spectral angle mapper, Jeffries–Matusita distance, spectral information divergence, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were implemented as feature selectors. Feature extraction and selection methods were combined and evaluated in terms of algorithm complexity, reduction efficiency, and classification accuracy with the aid of a support vector machine and a maximum likelihood classifier. The analysis shows that some linear transformations can perform better in natural landscapes and others in urban images. Furthermore, the study found that the combination of DCT and LDA, which achieves high classification rates with an efficient dimension reduction, can be suitable for the organization stage of a big data remote sensing application of hyperspectral images.
Oro för klimatförändringarnas konsekvenser

Worrying about the consequences of climate change. Climate behaviour and the meaning of caring for future generations The aim of the study was to see how care-worry about the consequences of climate change for future generations are experienced and handled by informants in a Swedish context. The term care-worry refer to an assembly of several approaches, such as empathy, care, responsibility, worry, and justice towards other people and coming generations. Care-worry is related to and initiates people’s attitudes and behaviours towards future risks. Empirically, the study is based on thematic interviews conducted in the year 2016 and deals with informants who explicitly expressed worries about climate change for future generations. All 24 informants turned out to be parents. From the material, four ideal types were depicted, which in different ways can illustrate the parents’ care-worry. Different climate behaviours also seem to be linked to these ideal types. The study as a whole shows that parents’ care-worries affect them in various ways to reduce their own climate footprint in the future. Many of them choose a more sustainable lifestyle for the sake of future generations.