Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE DIVIDEND PAYOUT POLICY – A COMPARISON ON MALAYSIAN ISLAMIC AND CONVENTIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of dividend policy in the Malaysian Financial Institutions by looking at both conventional and Islamic banking sectors. Panel data set was constructed from financial institutions in Malaysia. The results show statistically significant positive relationship between dividend payout and revenue growth for conventional Malaysian Financial Institutions, i.e. conventional banks distribute higher dividends when they record higher profitability. On the other hand, only lagged dividend shows positive significant relationship with dividend payout for Islamic financial institutions in Malaysia. The results suggests that Islamic banks in Malaysia only look to the past dividend payment to determine their future dividend payments.
EFFECT OF USING VARYING LEVELS OF QUINOA HAY IN GROWING RABBIT RATIONS

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of using varying levels of quinoa hay as a replacer of 25, 50 and 75 % of dietary alfalfa hay as a source of fiber in growing New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) rations on their productive performance. Sixty-four growing NZW rabbits of 5 weeks’ age with average initial live body weight of 623.69±7.73 g were randomly divided into four similar groups, sixteen growing rabbits in each group. Insignificant (P>0.05) differences in feed consumption between different experimental groups were observed during all experimental periods (5-9 weeks of age, 9-15 weeks of age and the entire of the experimental period 5-15 weeks of age). Replacement of alfalfa hay with 25%, 50% and 75% quinoa hay reduced the values of all nutrient digestibility coefficients. The group of rabbits that received 25%, 50% and 75% quinoa hay showed significantly lower values of TDN and DCP compared to control group (0%). The group fed diet contain 25% quinoa hay gave insignificant improvement (P>0.05) of feed conversion ratio compared with those fed control group, 50% and 75% quinoa hay at 9-15 weeks and entire experimental period (5-15 weeks). An insignificant increase (P>0.05) was observed in the values of total protein, albumin and globulin in rabbits group received 25% quinoa hay compared to the control group. Insignificantly (P>0.05) higher values of blood urea were observed for the groups received quinoa hay compared to control group. Also, there was no significant difference between control group and groups that received quinoa hay for GOT and GPT values. The level of triglycerides insignificantly decreased (P> 0.05) after adding quinoa hay to the ration. Insignificantly (P>0.05) decrease in plasma cholesterol concentration was observed by consuming quinoa hay compared to control group. Using the level of 25% from quinoa hay did not
A new species of Oochoristica (Cyclophyllidea, Anoplocephalidae) from Varanus albigularis (Squamata, Varanidae) in Kenya

Oochoristica varanicola sp. nov. (Anoplocephalidae, Linstowiinae) is described from Varanus albigularis in Kenya. It is the third species of this cestode genus described from monitor lizards. Oochoristica varanicola differs from other species from Varanus, as well as from the numerous other species in the genus by a unique combination of characters that include a high number of testes (92–134) and a long cirrus-sac (225–290 × 63–90 µm). Both the host and the locality are new records for the genus Oochoristica.
COPD_A_310319 2149..2161

1Respiratory Department. Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain; 2CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain; 3Hospital Universitario La Paz, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; 4Medical Department, GSK, Madrid, Spain; 5Market Access Department, GSK, Madrid, Spain; 6Oblikue Consulting, Barcelona, Spain; 7Pneumology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Vall D’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain Background: The cost of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Spain has been studied from different perspectives, but parameters such as the patient’s phenotype have seldom been considered. Our aim was to describe the disease burden of COPD patients with frequent exacerbator phenotype, treated with triple therapy. Methods: An observational, multicenter study was carried out from December 2017 to November 2018 in pulmonology services among patients ≥40 years with COPD confirmed diagnosis receiving triple therapy (ICS/LAMA/LABA) and history of ≥2 moderate or ≥1 severe exacerbation in the 12 months prior to the inclusion visit. COPD-related healthcare resources were collected over a 12-months period prior to the inclusion visit: pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, medical and ER visits, hospitalizations, tests and productivity loss. Costs were updated to €2019. Patients were classified according to blood eosinophil levels: <150 cells/μL and ≥150 cells/μL. Results: A total of 306 patients were included (77.1% men), with mean age of 69.9 years. Mean COPD exacerbation rate was 2.5/patient/year and 51.3% of patients had ≥150 cells/μL eosinophil level. On average, for the total population, COPD-related visits/patients/year were 6.2. Resource use in moderate exacerbation was higher in patients with eosinophils ≥150 cells/μL, whereas in severe exacerbation was higher in patients with eosinophils <150cells/ μL. According to eosinophil levels, total annual mean (SD) costs/patient accounted for €8382 (9863) and €5144 (5444) for patients with eosinophils <150 cells/μL and ≥150 cells/μL, respectively. Conclusion: The impact of exacerbating COPD patients treated with triple therapy in Spain is large, especially among those with eosinophils <150 cells/μL.
An Investigation of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Asthma among Patients in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Asthma is defined as a long-term condition characterised by a history of respiratory symptoms, such as episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and a cough. These symptoms vary in intensity over time (1). Asthma is a potentially life-threatening condition and one of the most common respiratory problems, causing lung airway obstruction. Asthma places a significant social and economic burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems (1). Although this disease has no cure, it can be controlled by the use of appropriate medication and effective selfmanagement through education (2).
Influence of probe-sonication process on drug entrapment efficiency of liposomes loaded with a hydrophobic drug

ABSTRACT Since probe-sonication is commonly used to homogenize liposomal formulations, it is necessary to investigate its influence on drug entrapment efficiency (EE) of liposomes. In this study, ibuprofen-loaded liposomes (IBU-Lip) dispersion was prepared from ibuprofen (IBU), soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and cholesterol (Chol) by thin film hydration and probe-sonication process. The influences of sonication time and power on EE were studied. Also, the effects of SPC-to-Chol ratio and drug-to-lipid ratio on EE were demonstrated. The results indicated that increasing sonication time or decreasing drug-to-lipid ratio could increase EE. Additionally, EE first increased then decreased as sonication power increased or SPC-to-Chol ratio decreased. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Manufacturing of Formosa papaya (Carica papaya L.) jam containing different concentrations of dehydrated papaya seed flour

Brazil is one of the largest world producers of papaya, resulting in a high production of processing residues such as peels and seeds that are discarded as waste in the environment. The present work aimed to formulate a papaya jam with the addition of papaya seed flour. Four treatments were developed: control (0% flour); T1 (0.5% flour); T2 (1.0% flour); and T3 (1.5% flour), with three replicates. The jams were evaluated for proximate composition, pH, water activity, titratable total acidity, total soluble solids, texture profile, colour, antioxidant activity, microbial counts and sensorial evaluation. The results indicated that the higher the content of the papaya seed flour, the higher the crude fiber in the jams, as papaya seeds have expressive amounts of crude fiber and protein. In the microbial count, no growth of moulds and yeasts was observed in the jams made from papaya seed flour, demonstrating the fungicidal action of the seeds. The sensory attributes scored between the hedonic terms 6 (slightly liked) and 7 (moderately liked) for the control and the formulations containing different percentages of seed flour. Papaya seed flour may be a suitable alternative for the manufacture of jams, leading to a reduction of the processing residues in the fruit industries, thus directly contributing to the environment; reducing the discard and contaminations of soil and water resources.
Intrepreting Labor Supply Regressions in a Model of Full and Part-Time Work∗

We construct a family model of labor supply that features adjustment along both the intensive and extensive margin. Intensive margin adjsutment is restricted to two values: full time work and part-time work. Using simulated data from the steady state of the calibrated model, we examine whether standard labor supply regressions can uncover the true value of the intertemporal elasticity of labor supply parameter. We find positive estimated elasticities that are larger for women and that are highly significant, but they bear virtually no relationship to the underlying preference parameters. ∗Correspondence: Chang: Department of Economics, University of Rochester, Rochester NY 14627. yongsung.chang@gmail.com; Kim: Department of Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, sunbin.kim@yonsei.ac. kr; Kwon: Department of Economics, University of Rochester, Rochester NY 14627. kkwon5@mail.rochester. edu; Rogerson: Department of Economics, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287. Richard.Rogerson@asu.edu. Chang and Rogerson gratefully acknowledge support from the WCU (R33-10005) Program through the Korea Research Foundation. Rogerson also thanks the NSF for financial support.
Pulmonary circulation-mediated heart targeting for the prevention of heart failure by inhalation of intrinsically bioactive nanoparticles

Heart failure is a serious clinical and public health problem. Currently there is an unmet demand for effective therapies for heart failure. Herein we reported noninvasive inhalation delivery of nanotherapies to prevent heart failure. Methods: A reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging material (TPCD) was synthesized, which was processed into antioxidative and anti-inflammatory nanoparticles (i.e., TPCD NP). By decoration with a mitochondrial-targeting moiety, a multilevel targeting nanotherapy TTPCD NP was engineered. Pulmonary accumulation of inhaled TPCD NP and underlying mechanisms were examined in mice. In vivo efficacies of nanotherapies were evaluated in mice with doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. Further, an antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and pro-resolving nanotherapy (i.e., ATTPCD NP) was developed, by packaging a peptide Ac2-26. In vitro and in vivo efficacies of ATTPCD NP were also evaluated. Results: TPCD NP alleviated DOX-induced oxidative stress and cell injury by internalization in cardiomyocytes and scavenging overproduced ROS. Inhaled TPCD NP can accumulate in the heart of mice by transport across the lung epithelial and endothelial barriers. Correspondingly, inhaled TPCD NP effectively inhibited DOX-induced heart failure in mice. TTPCD NP showed considerably enhanced heart targeting capability, cellular uptake efficiency, and mitochondrial localization capacity, thereby potentiating therapeutic effects. Notably, TPCD NP can serve as bioactive and ROS-responsive nanovehicles to achieve combination therapy with Ac2-26, affording further enhanced efficacies. Importantly, inhaled TPCD NP displayed good safety at a dose 5-fold higher than the efficacious dose. Conclusions: Inhalation delivery of nanoparticles is an effective, safe, and noninvasive strategy for targeted treatment of heart diseases. TPCD NP-based nanotherapies are promising drugs for heart failure and other acute/chronic heart diseases associated with oxidative stress.
Board Independence and Dividend Policy in Listed Non-Financial Companies in Sri Lanka

The study sought to examine the impact of independent directors on dividend policies of nonfinancial companies in Sri Lanka. The study was obtained panel data from annual reports of listed ninety six non-financial companies over the periods 2011-2015. A fixed effect panel regression model was selected to examine the objectives of the study. The findings revealed that when the board has independent directors at least two or one third of total directors, nonfinancial companies increase dividend payments with increase of net earnings, total assets and previous year’s dividend payments or vice versa. No significant impact of leverage on dividend policies of nonfinancial companies in Sri Lanka. The results were consistent with agency theory, steward theory and signaling theory while the results were supported to align the conflict of interest between shareholders and managers and signaling to stakeholders. The findings are useful to management body to understand the corporate governance quality status, policy makers and regulators to strictly follow up or enhance the guideline of board independence of nonfinancial companies, and investors to select the best suit stocks in building their portfolio. Indexed Terms: Independent Directors, Dividend Policies, NonFinancial Companies, Sri Lanka
Parallel Algorithm for Smoke Image Detection

In this paper, a fast smoke image detection algorithm is proposed to extract smoke features of fire. The irregular shapes and color variation of smoke, makes it challenging to detect smoke accurately. The situation is even more complicated in complex sites like forests, where traditional smoke sensors are hard to install and have difficulty detecting smoke. Hence, the power of image processing is utilized. We propose a parallelized smoke image detection algorithm for the original algorithm in [1]. The new algorithm relies on dividing the received images into segments and analyzing these segments using multi-threading techniques. Parallelism is utilized at both the macro and micro levels. One thread is created to handle each received image from the area under surveillance. Concurrently, multiple threads are generated to analyze each image independently from the other received images. Various detection experiments are conducted, and the results show that the proposed algorithm is able to enhance the detection speed without compromising the detection accuracy. Compared with the original algorithm, the proposed algorithm operates with higher speed, making it suitable for monitoring more complex and secure environments.
Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection on Healing Outcome in Secondary Cleft Lip Correction

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intraoperative mesenchymal stem cell injection on healing outcome in secondary cleft lip correction. Patients and Methods: A total of ten patients with secondary cleft lip deformities who needed secondary cleft lip repair were included in this study. The patients were divided equally into two groups: group I (study group) were subjected to secondary cleft lip repair with immediate intraoperative bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells injection (BM-MSCs), group II (control group) who didn’t receive any type of injection neither during surgery nor after. The healing out come and scar progression were recorded through photographs and Ultrasonography (US). Results: Group I showed higher rate in primary healing outcome than that of group II. The Ultrasound revealed statistically significant difference in scar progression in both groups. Group I showed statistically significant difference in scar measurements across time than group II in p<0.01. Conclusion: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell injection in cleft lip correction has a good effect on primary healing outcome and scar progression. Codex : 74/20.10 azhardentj@azhar.edu. eg http://adjg.journals. ekb.eg DOI: 10.21608/adjg.2020. 23227.1229 Oral Medicine & Surgical Sciences (Oral Medicine, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Pathology, Oral Biology)
Can biochar and chitin as organic soil amendments be alternatives to manures for rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) growth?

Organic amendments are sustainable, and relatively cheap materials derived from plants and animals that are supplemented into the soil for the restoration of the soil’s physical and chemical properties, and provide the plants' nutrients before seeding, increasing its productivity. The addition of organic amendments to agricultural soil is recommended to improve soil functions and plant growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different organic soil amendments (biochar chitin, horse, sheep manure) on the growth of rocket plants (Eruca sativa Mill.) and answer if biochar and chitin can be alternatives to manures. This study was conducted in pots, under various combinations of organic amendments, using a typic xerofluvent agricultural soil, in the spring of 2016. To experiment, four organic amendments (biochar, chitin from shrimp shells, horse and sheep manure) were employed to amend the soil, in a completely randomized design, analyzing the impact of 4% and 8% biochar, 2% and 3% chitin, as well as 2% and 5% horse or sheep manure on the growth of rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.). According to the findings, the best growth rate of the rocket was found in the sheep manure amendment at 2% rate, followed by the 5% rate, in the horse manure amendments at 2% and 5% rates, in the biochar amendment at 4% rate, and in chitin at 3% and 2% rates consecutively. Positive effects of organic amendments on plant growth were more evident under the amendments related to sheep manure at a 2% rate.
EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIALIZATION ON POVERTY STATUS OF SMALLHOLDER CASSAVA FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Transforming the subsistence-oriented cassava production system into a market-oriented production system as a way of increasing the smallholder farmers' income, reducing poverty and thus increasing their welfare has been a policy focus in Nigeria. The study examined the effects of agricultural commercialization on poverty status of smallholder cassava farming households. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 189 households; data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire and analysed with the use of household commercialization index, FGT index, ordered probit model and logistic regression model. The result of household commercialization index revealed that larger proportion of the farmers commercialize at a high level. Level of education, farming experience, farm income, quantity of cassava produced and extension visits influenced commercialization. The results further showed that 37.28% of smallholder cassava farming household were poor. Sex, level of education, farming experience, quantity of cassava produced, farm income, level of commercialization and extension visit significantly influenced poverty status. The study concludes that most cassava farmers have a high level of commercialization which has a positive influence on the farmers’ welfare. The study recommends farmers’ education, effective policy intervention and programmes on commercialization and access to credit to improve farmers welfare.
CORRELATION OF SERUM CALCIUM LEVELS WITH GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background: The incidence of type-2 Diabetes Mellitus has increased world-wide making it a major public health problem. Electrolyte and mineral abnormalities are common in patients with type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. Therefore, this study was undertaken to look for the correlation between HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) and serum calcium levels in patients with type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. Aim: To study the correlation of serum calcium levels with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in type-2 Diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 130 type 2 Diabetic patients and 130 healthy non Diabetic people of age (30-55) years were included for the study. Both fasting and post prandial blood samples were collected from the two groups and were used for fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, serum calcium and post prandial blood sugar determination. Unpaired student's t-test was used to compare the results between the diabetic and nondiabetic group. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in the serum calcium levels (p < 0.001) in the type 2 Diabetic patients when compared to the non Diabetic control group, whereas HbA1c levels were significantly increased in the diabetic group when compared to the non-diabetic group (p < 0.001). Also, type 2 Diabetic patients showed a statistically significant negative correlation (r = -0.732, P-value= 0.00) between their HbA1c and serum calcium levels. Conclusion: Type 2 Diabetic patients with poor glycemic control are at increased risk of developing hypocalcemia when compared to those with good glycemic control
MANUFACTURING AND ECONOMIC COMPLEXITY: A DISAGGREGATED EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

This paper aims to analyze empirically how manufacturing, disaggregated into subsectors by R&D intensity, influence the level of economic complexity (ECI). For this, two methods are used: i) the parametric, by means of long panel data models and ii) the non-parametric: a) Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and b) Malmquist Decomposition to calculate the total factor productivity (TFP) and its components. The econometric results suggests that the allocation of workers in the manufacture of high R&D has a positive impact on the ECI level of all sample of countries analyzed, whereas in the sectors of lower R&D have a greater impact in emerging countries, but lower effects (or negative) on advanced countries. In general, the nonparametric results present a relationship between efficiency in manufacturing subsectors and economic complexity as an inverted U shape. However, an upward trajectory for high R&D sectors has shown the relevance of this segment to the economic complexity of emerging countries. JEL Classification: O10, O32, O33
The influence of dietary patterns on outcomes in a Bayesian choice task

Previous research has investigated the impact of diet on cognition, but the focus has often been on general cognition. This paper reports on a preregistered cross‐sectional study aimed at testing for specific executive function differences across individuals who self‐reported one of four distinct dietary patterns: No Diet, No Sugar, Vegetarian, or Mediterranean Diet pattern. Our hypotheses were aimed at testing whether adherence to a specialty diet improved decision making relative to those who reported following No Diet.