Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Improving Effect ofGastrodia elataBlume on DSS-induced Colitis in Mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and diarrhea. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) has been used for the treatment of various diseases including neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory disease. However, there has been no information on whether GE regulates intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether GE can protect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model. The colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% DSS for 7 days. Body weight, colon length and clinical score were assessed to determine the effects on colitis. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in colitis tissue were also measured. The results showed that mice administrated with DSS showed clinical signs including weight loss and reduced colon length. GE inhibited the DSS-induced loss of body weight and shortening of colon and increased Disease activity index score. Additionally, we observed that GE suppressed the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence that GE might be a useful therapeutic agent for patients with UC.
Gold nanostructures encoded by non-fluorescent small molecules in polyA-mediated nanogaps as universal SERS nanotags for recognizing various bioactive molecules

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has recently been used to design novel nanoprobes called "SERS tags" which hold great promise for the fields of biosensing and nanomedicine. More recent advances have shed new light on the synthesis of uniform nanostructures with interior nanogaps for stable SERS enhancement. However, producing interior nanogap-based SERS nanotags directly and controllably with strong and stable multiplex SERS signals as well as developing a multiplex analytical platform to recognize different types of bioactive molecules still remain highly challenging. To address this challenge, we herein develop a novel approach for the direct synthesis of nanogap-based universal SERS nanotags by mediating poly-adenine (polyA) and encoding non-fluorescent small molecules. The universal nanotags were then functionalized by different types of biological probes and used as SERS nanoprobes to recognize various bioactive molecules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of using SERS nanotags to develop a simultaneous multianalysis platform for all of the major types of bioactive analytes, including nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules. Furthermore, the nanotags show great promise for fluorescence-SERS bimodal bioanalysis and bioimaging.
Experimental Validation of the Structural Integrity of Modular Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blades

The production, transportation and repair of long horizontal axis wind turbine blades measuring up to 85 m require expensive specialist machinery that increases the capital cost of wind power generation. A modular blade design is a potential solution to these problems however; the inclusion of joints could make the modular blades inherently weaker. This work investigates the effect of post-tensioned tendons on the structural integrity of modular blades, through cantilever deflection and tensile tests conducted on 3D printed small-scale prototypes. The experiment indicates 43% and 15.4% reduction in blade tip displacement and deflection caused by cyclic loading, respectively, in case of modular design with tendons compared to without tendons design.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS LISTED ON THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE

Until now, researchers are not in consensus, whether it is the capital structure that influences performance or performance that influences capital structure or both. The main objective of this study was to establish the relationship between capital structure and financial performance of firms listed on the NSE by employing a generalised linear model (GLM) as an improvement on ordinary least regression (OLS). The results of the study revealed that efficient and profitable firms employ more debt than comparable firms that are less profitable possibly because profitable firms’ exposure to financial risk is low. There results also indicate that firms that use more debt outperformed those that use less debt. Keyterms: Capital Structure; Financial Performance; General Linear Model; Ordinary Least Regression; NSE *Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, NAIROBI, KENYA **Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, School of Management Sciences, PO Box 392, UNISA, 0003, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria
Recent Developments in the Analysis of Carotenoids by Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has become an indispensable tool for the analysis of carotenoids in photosynthetic tissues, foods, and biological materials from different sources to accu rately establish their pigment profile, to provide evidences to distinguish the different structural arrangements, and to obtain biological meaning from metabolic processes where carotenoids participate during the development of their natural functions and activities. The recent progresses in the hyphenated HPLC systems with hybrid mass spectrometers, which enhance the acquisition of independent and complementary physi- cochemical properties for the identification of carotenoids, are detailed in this chapter. A reasonable guide for the implementation of post-processing routines, assisted by modern software tools, and the key issues for the analysis of the characteristic product ions are also defined in this contribution to help the readers in the understanding of the potential capabilities of mass spectrometry in the field of carotenoid pigments. and their metabolites.
Shock Absorbing Prices, a Look at Cattle and Feed

This paper explores the time series properties of cattle and feed prices to determine the effect shocks may have on price evolution. Two different unit roots tests are applied to the data and compared and the issue of fractional integration is discussed. A Geweke Porter-Hudak test finds that at least of three of the four price series are fractionally integrated. VAR models are estimated using level data and fractionally differenced data and impulse responses compared across various degrees of fractional differencing.
FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF COATED MICRONEEDLES FOR THE TREATMENT OF HAIRLOSS

Coated micro needles have been shown to deliver proteins and DNA into the skin in minimum invasive manner. Still detailed studies of preparing coated micro needles and their breadth of applicability are lacking. Androgenic alopecia is the most commonly known form of nonscaring alopecia in humans. Till now, in India minoxidil is marketed as topical solution in aqueous vehicle in treatment of alopecia. High percentage of alcohol present in marketed formulations as a permeation enhancer was known to damage hair, hair follicle and scalp epidermal cells due to dehydration. The goal of the study was to enhance permeation of drug with the aid of microneedles, thus reducing the concentration of alcohol and damage of scalp cells. Stainless steel microneedle roller (1 mm, 142 microneedles per roller) was purchased. Microsyringe was used to coat each individual needle present on the roller. Coated microneedles were studied for coating uniformity, in-vitro drug release and ex-vivo drug release. Drug release profile of coated microneedles was found to be comparable with marketed solution of minoxidil of the same strength. Accelerated stability study of one month at accelerated temperature and humidity condition showed insignificant rate of degradation.
Capital is Back: Wealth-Income Ratios in Rich Countries, 1700-2010

How do aggregate wealth-to-income ratios evolve in the long run and why? We address this question using 1970–2010 national balance sheets recently compiled in the top eight developed economies. For the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France, we are able to extend our analysis as far back as 1700. We find in every country a gradual rise` of wealth-income ratios in recent decades, from about 200–300% in 1970 to 400–600% in 2010. In effect, today's ratios appear to be returning to the high values observed in Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (600–700%). This can be explained by a long-run asset price recovery (itself driven by changes in capital policies since the world wars) and by the slowdown of productivity and population growth, in line with the β=sg Harrod-Domar-Solow formula. That is, for a given net saving rate s = 10%, the long-run wealth-income ratio β is about 300% if g = 3% and 600% if g = 1.5%. Our results have implications for capital taxation and regulation and shed new light on the changing nature of wealth, the shape of the production function, and the rise of capital shares.
Assessing inflation targeting after a decade of world experience

Ten years of inflation targeting worldwide provide valuable lessons. Inflation targeters (ITers) have been very successful in meeting their inflation targets (ITs). Industrial output sacrifice during inflation stabilization and industrial output volatility has frequently been lowered after IT adoption. ITers have consistently reduced inflation forecast errors after IT adoption. The influence of price and output shocks on the behavior of inflation and output gaps has changed much more strongly among ITers than in non-targeting industrial countries in the course of the 1990s. IT has played a role in strengthening the effect of forward-looking expectations on inflation, hence weakening the weight of past inflation inertia. Central bankersÂ’ aversion to inflation is on average not different among ITers in comparison to NITers but has risen in emerging-country ITers. ITers have gradually reaped a credibility gain, allowing them to achieve their targets with smaller changes in interest rates in the late 1990s than the changes that were required in the early 1990s.
Formation of negative disturbances in the topside ionosphere during solar flares

[1] The results of studies of the ionospheric response to solar flares are presented. The results are based on the observations of GPS signals and at incoherent scatter radars and on theoretical calculations. Analyzing the GPS data, the method based on a partial “shadowing” of the atmosphere by the Earth was used. This method made it possible to estimate the value of the electron content variations in the topside ionosphere during the solar flare on 14 July 2000. We obtained that according to the GPS data at altitudes of the topside ionosphere (h > 300 km) a flare is able to cause a decrease of the electron content. Similar eects of formation of a negative disturbance in the ionospheric region were observed also during the solar flares on 21 and 23 May 1967 by the Arecibo radar. Using the theoretical model of ionosphere‐plasmasphere interaction, we study in this paper the mechanism of formation of negative disturbances in the topside ionosphere during solar flares. It is shown that the intense transport of O + ions into the above-situated plasma caused by a sharp increase in the ion production rate and thermal expansion of the ionospheric plasma is a cause of the formation of the negative disturbance in the electron concentration in the topside ionosphere. INDEX TERMS: 2481 Ionosphere: Topside ionosphere; 2435 Ionosphere: Ionospheric disturbances; 2467 Ionosphere: Plasma temperature and density; KEYWORDS: Electron content variations; solar flare; GPS receivers network; Arecibo IS installation.
DENSITIES IN FREE GROUPS AND Z k , VISIBLE POINTS AND TEST ELEMENTS

In this article we relate two different densities. Let Fk be the free group of finite rank k ≥ 2 and let α be the abelianization map from Fk onto Zk. We prove that if S ⊆ Zk is invariant under the natural action of SL(k, Z) then the asymptotic density of S in Zk and the annular density of its full preimage α−1(S) in Fk are equal. This implies, in particular, that for every integer t ≥ 1, the annular density of the set of elements in Fk that map to t-th powers of primitive elements in Zk is equal to 1 tkζ(k) , where ζ is the Riemann zeta-function. An element g of a group G is called a test element if every endomorphism of G which fixes g is an automorphism of G. As an application of the result above we prove that the annular density of the set of all test elements in the free group F (a, b) of rank two is 1 − 6 π2 . Equivalently, this shows that the union of all proper retracts in F (a, b) has annular density 6 π2 . Thus being a test element in F (a, b) is an “intermediate property” in the sense that the probability of being a test element is strictly between 0 and 1.
The Cygnus superbubble revisited

The Orion local spiral arm is seen tangential towards the Cygnus region. Intense radio emission with quite a complex morphology is observed, which appears to be surrounded by strong soft X{ray emission. This remarkable X{ray structure is known as the Cygnus superbubble. We compare a recent 1.4 GHz radio continuum and polarization map from the Eelsberg 100-m telescope with X{ray data from the ROSAT all{sky survey of this area. Including available survey data of the infrared, H i and CO emission, we investigate a number of high latitude features, which are physically related to one of the Cygnus OB associations. These OB associations, however, are located along the local arm at dierent distances. Our results support the view that the Cygnus superbubble is not a physical unity, but results from a projection of unrelated X{ray emitting features at dierent distances blown out from the local arm seen along the line of sight.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DISPLACED ABOMASUM ON A DAIRY FARM IN CARAMBEÍ, PARANÁ / Impactos econômicos do deslocamento de abomaso em uma propriedade leiteira no município de Carambeí, Estado do Paraná.

O deslocamento de abomaso e uma sindrome multifatorial que acomete bovinos de alta producao leiteira e pos-parto, neste, 90% dos casos ocorrem em ate seis semanas. apos o parto, sendo que 90% dos casos podem ocorrer ate seis semanas apos. Dos transtornos dos volvulos abomasais, o deslocamento de abomaso para esquerda representa de 85 a 96% das ocorrencias. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os impactos economicos provocados pelos casos de deslocamento de abomaso em uma propriedade leiteira de alta producao. No periodo de um ano, foram acompanhados onze casos de deslocamento de abomaso (DA) em femeas bovinas da raca Holandes. As ocorrencias no 25° dia pos-parto corresponderam a 63% dos casos. Foi possivel verificar, quanto a producao de leite antes e apos a enfermidade, perda de 75,45%, com prejuizo diario de R$17,21 ou US$10.12 por vaca doente. No total, cada animal com DA dispendeu R$ 417,00 ou US$ 248.00. O retorno da producao normal de leite apos a cirurgia ocorreu em media aos 14 dias. SUMMARY Abomasum displacement is a multifactorial syndrome that occurs in high performance dairy cattle, especially during the first 6 weeks after delivery. Left abomasal displacement (LAD) is more frequent (85 to 96%). This paper aimed at evaluating the economic impact of abomasum displacement on a high performance dairy farm. During one year, eleven cases of abomasal displacement in female Holstein cows were followed. Of all the cases observed, 63% occurred on the 25th day after delivery. We verified that the comparison of milk production between before and after diagnosis showed a 74.5% decrease, which represents daily losses of R$ 17.21 (US$10.12) per sick cow. Each animal with abomasum displacement costed R$417.00 (US$248.00). Mean milk production was recovered an average of 14 days after surgery.
Optimal pricing policy with inventory related costs and reference effects

Öz This paper addresses the problem of a retailer who buys a certain amount of inventory at the start of a selling season. Holding inventory is costly and the demand is dependent on the current price and the reference price. The reference price is developed by customers and acts as a benchmark against the current price. The aim of the retailer is to maximize its discounted profit. The problem is modeled as an optimal control problem to determine the optimal pricing policy. For general demand models, the marginal cost due to an increase in the inventory and the marginal gain due to an increase in the reference price are provided analytically. For the linear demand models, the optimal pricing strategy is given explicitly and shown to be characterized by three stages: After a penetration or a skimming pricing strategy at the initial stage, the optimal price increases with time and the season ends with a discount. By introducing the reduced price which is the premium over the cost of the products, it is shown that the existence of procurement and holding cost is the driver for the increase in the price during the intermediary stage. The sensitivity of the optimal price to demand and cost parameters is also provided with a numerical study. Bu çalışmada sezon başlamadan belirli miktarda ürün alan bir satıcının problemi ele alınmaktadır. Elde stok tutmanın bir maliyeti bulunmakla beraber talep mevcut fiyata ve referans fiyata bağlıdır. Referans fiyat müşteriler tarafından oluşturulmakta ve mevcut fiyatın miktarının ölçülmesi için kullanılmaktadır. Satıcının amacı kendi iskonto edilmiş karını eniyilemektir. Problem, en iyi fiyatlandırma politikasını bulmak üzere optimal kontrol problemi olarak modellenmiştir. Genel talep modelleri için, stok miktarındaki artışın sebep olduğu marjinal maliyet ve referans fiyatın artışının neden olduğu marjinal gelir miktarları analitik olarak sunulmuştur. Doğrusal talep modelleri için ise optimal fiyatlandırma stratejisi analitik olarak bulunmuş ve üç aşamalı olarak bulunan yapı açık bir şekilde sunulmuştur: İlk aşamadaki kaymağını alma veya nüfuz (penetrasyon) stratejisinden sonra optimal fiyat zamanla artmakta, ve satış sezonu bir indirim ile bitmektedir. Ürünün maliyetleri üzerine eklenen bir prim olarak tanımlanan indirgenmiş fiyatın tanımlanmasıyla, ikinci evredeki fiyat artışının ürünlerin satın alım ve elde tutma maliyetlerinden kaynaklandığı gösterilmiştir. Optimal fiyatın talep ve maliyet parametrelerine olan duyarlılığı ise sayısal çalışmalar ile gösterilmiştir.
Determining in‐channel (dead zone) transient storage by comparing solute transport in a bedrock channel–alluvial channel sequence, Oregon

Current stream tracer techniques do not allow separation of in‐channel dead zone (e.g., eddies) and out‐of‐channel (hyporheic) transient storage, yet this separation is important to understanding stream biogeochemical processes. We characterize in‐channel transient storage with a rhodamine WT solute tracer experiment in a 304 m cascade‐pool‐type bedrock reach with no hyporheic zone. We compare the solute breakthrough curve (BTC) from this reach to that of an adjacent 367 m alluvial reach with significant hyporheic exchange. In the bedrock reach, transient storage has an exponential residence time distribution with a mean residence time of 3.0 hours and a ratio of transient storage to stream volume of 0.14, demonstrating that at moderate discharge, bedrock in‐channel storage zones provide a small volume of transient storage with substantial residence time. In the alluvial reach, though pools are similar in size to those in the bedrock reach, transient storage has a power law residence time distribution with a mean residence time of >100 hours (estimated at nearly 1200 hours) and a ratio of storage to stream volume of 105. Because the in‐channel hydraulics of bedrock reaches are simpler than alluvial step‐pool reaches, the bedrock results are probably a lower end‐member with respect to volume and residence time, though they demonstrate that in‐channel storage may be appreciable in some reaches. These results suggest that in‐stream dead zone transient storage may be accurately simulated by exponential RTDs but that hyporheic exchange is better simulated with a power law RTD as a consequence of more complicated flow path and exchange dynamics.
Social Security Privatization: What Are the Issues?

The purpose of this paper it to help better focus the Social Security privatization debate on pertinent issues. It is shown that retirement systems based either on mandatory private retirement accounts or on traditional publicly administered defined benefits can be designed so as to have similar implications for national saving and the adequacy of overall retirement incomes. The paper then turns to two issues that distinguish the two alternative retirement system types: the distribution of capital income risk across individuals and possible political impediments to prefunding retirement consumption in government accounts. The economic effects of investing all or part of the Social Security trust fund in equities are also analyzed.
Research on rural savings in India

Rural savings are determined by both “ability” and “incentives” to save. All except two studies reviewed emphasize “ability,” though some qualitatively analyse “incentives. ” This relative neglect is justified when the positive substitution effect of the “incentives” is off-set by its negative income effect. Such “total” effect does not necessarily arise. “Incentives” variable can be incorporated in both cross-sectional and time-series models, as shown in the two exceptions. Past time-series estimates of rural savings are characterized by reporting, measurement, and analytical weaknesses. Some of these lead to underestimation of these savings. This, however, does not mean that all of the additional savings are mobilizable by the financial institutions. This is because rural households hold their savings in monetized as well as non-monetized forms. Moreover, some of the monetized savings are held in the form of physical assets. Thus, only those monetized savings which are invested in financial assets of the informal rural financial market (RFM) can be considered as potentially mobilizable by the financial agencies. Institutionalization of such savings would improve their efficiency by promoting better allocation among different areas, sectors, economic activities, and also to entrepreneurs. To identify appropriate policies, further literature may be developed by promoting and researching programmes with better rates of return on financial savings, besides those with opportunities to transact other businesses.
The relationship between restless leg syndrome and 25-hydroxy D vitamin in hemodialysis patients

1 Can Hüzmeli1, Ferhan Candan1, Meryem Timucin1, Demet Alaygut2, Lale Akkaya3, Ayşe Şeker1, Mansur Kayataş1 1Department of Nephrology, 2Department of Pediatric Nephrology, 3Department Pertitoneal Dialysis Nurse, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey Restless leg syndrome and 25-hydroxy D vitamin The relationship between restless leg syndrome and 25-hydroxy D vitamin in hemodialysis patients
SMEs’ Degree of Openness: The Case of Manufacturing Industries

This paper clusters SMEs based on their degree of openness. In addition, it explores both the internal and external determinants of the different clusters obtained. Based on a survey of 1214 firms in manufacturing industries and using both the dimensions of openness, breadth and depth, we find that SMEs could be clustered in four classes, depending on their degree of openness. We find that SMEs could adopt a closed, an open, an interactive or a user approach to innovation. With respect to the determinants of different classes of SMEs, the results of the logistic regression model, developed in this study, show variables such as national and regional proximities that account for explaining the likelihood that SMEs will be in a more open cluster rather than in a low open cluster. Also, this quantitative study shows that external obstacles to innovation may lead these SMEs from a closed approach to innovation to an interactive, user, or open approach to innovation. Finally, we find that the age of the firm is important in explaining the likelihood that SMEs will be in an open cluster rather than in a closed cluster.