bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disease incidence, identification, and monthly fluctuations in the population density of root-knot nematodesMeloidogyne javanicaon cucumber plants in Semel District, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Authors: Ami Sulaiman Naif , Ghaeib Shireen , Shingaly Ali 
Published: February 2019

AbstractA survey was performed in four locations of Semel District – as follows: Sartenk, Qesir yazdin, Sharia, and Grshin (Bawerde) – by selecting 4 greenhouses planted with cucumber plants (Cucumis sativusL.) on each location, during both growing seasons (spring and autumn) of the year 2015. The results showed that the incidence of root-knot disease increased to its maximum level (37.48%) in the autumn season and then decreased to its minimum level (34.67%) in the spring season. According to the surveyed locations, the highest disease incidence (73.05%) was recorded in Sartenk location and the lowest (13.54%) in Sharia location. Results of the interaction between the locations and seasons revealed that the highest disease incidence (80.5%) appeared in Sartenk location during the autumn growing season followed by 65.60% in the same location during the spring growing season, whereas the lowest percentage was reported in Sharia during the spring season (3.47%). Depending on the perineal patterns for species identification ofMeloidogynespp. on cucumber plants, results showed the presence ofMeloidogyne javanicain all surveyed locations. Generally, in one of the greenhouses of Sartenk location, the population density ofM. javanicareached its maximum level (1,762 nematodes/200 gm soil) in September 2015, while the minimum level (337.5 nematodes/200 gm soil) was recorded in May the same year.
Effects of discharge from carwash on the physico-chemical parameters and zooplanktonic abundance of Odo-Ebo River, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Authors: Odeyemi Oluwakemi Elizabeth , Adedeji Adebukola Adenike , Odeyemi Olatunji Joshua 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The study determines the physico-chemical parameters of water from Odo-Ebo River with a view to providing information on the effects of discharge from carwash on the River’s water quality. Samples (48) for physico-chemical water quality were collected monthly over a period of an annual cycle (February 2015–January 2016) from four stations, namely: upstream (about 500 m before the carwash), two discharge points (1st and 2nd discharge points), and downstream (about 500 m after the carwash). The discharge points had higher mean values in 9 out of the 13 investigated water quality parameters, especially plant nutrient ions (phosphate, nitrate, and sulphate), with the discharge points significantly differing from the other stations in terms of phosphate concentration and apparent colour. This led to reduction in dissolved oxygen and zooplankton abundance, changes in apparent water colour, and increase in COD at the effluent receiving points. Furthermore, the higher mean values of dissolved oxygen, BOD5, turbidity, and true colour recorded upstream and downstream were reflections of higher biological productivity and organic detritus at these stations as compared to discharge points. The specific presence of some eutrophic species at the discharge points has only further proven the negative effects the effluent from the carwash had on the river, thus posing a potential threat to its aquatic organisms’ diversity. This eutrophication effect was observed downstream as an increase in zooplankton abundance and diversity. Therefore, environmental protection regulations are needed to reduce anthropogenic influence on the rivers in Nigeria.
The case study of 10 historical gardens in the Banat region
Authors: Hegedűs Noémi Melitta 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The object of the research is developed around the historical gardens belonging to certain historical monuments, more precisely in relation to the palaces and manors of aristocratic families from the Banat area. These gardens are selected according to certain criteria that preserve physical and documentary stylistic and memorial values. The aim of the research is the studying of a frequently met phenomenon both as specialists in the field and as simple citizens, that is, the loss of values of a building and its surroundings, which at the time of their construction had a special historical and architectural value, but with the passing of time they lost some of these values due to political, social, and cultural changes. The gardens, manors, and palaces are testimonies of the past. They present a private and urban lifestyle at a certain social, cultural, and architectural level. This paper has the purpose of investigating these still existing landscape arrangements as well as the main factors that lead to their transformation, their problematics being discussed from its historical, architectural, and social-cultural perspective.
Researches on the reliability of spraying machines in vineyards and orchards
Authors: Rittner Tibor , Țenu Ioan , Marian Ovidiu 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The goal of the research was to determine the level of abrasion of different types of nozzles during different types of uses and at different pressure values.
The experiment assembly consists of an ATOM-300 carried sprayer, manufactured by S.C. TEHNOFAVORIT S.A. Bonţida-Cluj, and a stand for testing the distribution uniformity of the vineyard and orchard sprayers Herbst ED20-900, manufactured by Ernst Herbst Prüftechnik e. K. Hirschbach-Germany.
The 4 types of nozzles used were Lechler Ceramic 1.0 and 1.2; Lechler TR 80-30 and Lechler ITR 80-015 with air induction.
The measurements were made on a water pressure of 10 bar and 20 bar, and the testing period was equivalent with the duration of a campaign. The study below presents the variations of the debit measured in each type of nozzle according to the time and pressure.
Lack of association between TCF7L2 gene variants and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Brazilian sample of patients with the risk for cardiovascular disease
Authors: Wunsch Camile , Dornelles Thais Fernanda , Girardi Pricila , Arndt Marcelo Emilio , Genro Julia Pasqualini , Contini Veronica 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Objective. Genetic variants in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene have been described as the most noteworthy ones regarding the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) liability. This work is aimed to evaluate the association between rs12255372 and rs7903146 polymorphisms and T2DM in patients with cardiovascular disease (CAD) risk.

Methods. A sample of six hundred and forty-seven patients that underwent the coronary angiography in a Cardiac Catheterization Lab was evaluated. The patients were investigated for the presence of T2DM and coronary stenosis. The TCF7L2 polymorphisms were genotyped by real-time PCR and the haplotype analysis was performed with the MLOCUS software. All genetic tests were carried out by considering the haplotype combinations in patients divided into three groups: 0 – carrying none disease risk allele, 1 – carrying one or two risk alleles and 2 – carrying three or four risk alleles.

Results. No significant associations between TCF7L2 risk haplotypes and the presence of T2DM or CAD were detected.

Conclusions. Our results indicate that the TCF7L2 rs12255372 and rs7903146 polymorphisms do not influence T2DM in Brazilian patients with the high risk for CAD. Therefore, we assume that these variants may only be relevant for a specific subgroup of T2DM patients or some particular human population.
One-month of high-intensity exercise did not change the food intake and the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus proopiomelanocortin and neuropeptide Y expression levels in male Wistar rats
Authors: Khajehnasiri Nazli , Khazali Homayoun , Sheikhzadeh Farzam , Ghowsi Mahnaz 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Objective. The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) circuitries are involved in the inhibition and stimulation of the appetite, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one-month lasting high-intensity exercise on the POMC mRNA and NPY mRNA expression in the above-mentioned brain structure and appetite and food intake levels.

Methods. Fourteen male Wistar rats (250±50 g) were used and kept in the well-controlled conditions (22±2 °C, 50±5% humidity, and 12 h dark/light cycle) with food and water ad libitum. The rats were divided into two groups (n=7): 1) control group (C, these rats served as controls) and 2) exercised group (RIE, these rats performed a high-intensity exercise for one month (5 days per week) 40 min daily with speed 35 m/min. The total exercise time was 60 min. The body weight and food intake were recorded continuously during the experiments.

Results. The results showed relative mRNA expression of POMC and NPY estimated in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. There were no significant differences in the NPY and POMC mRNAs expression levels and food intake between C and RIE groups.

Conclusions. The present data indicate that one-month regular intensive exercise did not alter the levels of NPY and POMC mRNAs expression (as two important factors in the regulation of appetite) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and food intake suggesting that this type of exercise itself is not an appropriate procedure for the body weight reduction.
Evaluation of ameliorative effect of sodium nitrate in experimental model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in male rats
Authors: Oghbaei Hajar , Alipour Mohammad Reza , Mohaddes Gisou , Hamidian Gholam Reza , Keyhanmanesh Rana 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Objective. Diabetes induces sensory symptoms of neuropathy as positive (hyperalgesia), negative (hypoalgesia), or both.

Methods. In the present study, fifty male Wistar rats were allocated to five groups: control, control+nitrate, diabetes, diabetes+insulin, and diabetes+nitrate. Thirty days after diabetes confirmation, insulin (2–4 U/day) was injected subcutaneously in diabetes+insulin group and nitrate (100 mg/l) was added into drinking water of the control+nitrate and diabetes+nitrate groups for a period of 2 months. In order to assess the mechanical and thermal algesia, tail immersion, hot plate, and von Frey tests were performed. The serum insulin levels were determined with insulin ELISA Kit. Serum level of NOx was determined by the Griess method.

Results. Both thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) which was followed by a significant increase (p<0.01) in the thermal nociceptive threshold in the diabetes group. Chronic nitrate or insulin treatment led to a significant decrease (p<0.01) in blood glucose levels, as well as a significant (p<0.05) increase in the body weight and serum NOx. Moreover, nitrate treatment significantly increased serum insulin levels (p<0.001) compared to the other groups.

Conclusion. Chronic nitrate treatment modified the thermal and mechanical sensitivities in diabetic animals.
The effect of peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY3–36), a selective Y2 receptor agonist on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in albino rats
Authors: Abdel-Hamid Heba A. , Abdalla Mona M. I. , Zenhom Nagwa M. , Ahmed Rasha F. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the PYY3–36, as a potential therapy for the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), induced by high fat diet (HFD) and an intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of streptozotocin (STZ) in albino rats.

Methods. Forty adult male albino Wistar rats were divided into: 1) control group (C, in which the rats were fed with a standard diet and received vehicle; 2) diabetic group (D, in which T2DM was induced by feeding the rats with HFD for four weeks followed by a single i.p. injection of 35 mg/kg STZ, this group was also allowed to have HFD till the end of the study; and 3) D+PYY3–36 group (in which the diabetic rats were treated with 50 µg/kg i.p. PYY3–36 twice a day for one week). Food intake, water intake, body weight (b.w.), visceral fat weight (VFW), liver glycogen content, serum levels of glucose, insulin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were measured. Homeostatic-model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was estimated. The gene expression of the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and visceral nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were assessed by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results. The PYY3–36 administration to the diabetic group of rats significantly increased the serum insulin levels and liver glycogen content, decreased the body weight, VFW, food intake, water intake, serum levels of the glucose, IL-6, and HOMA-IR. It also decreased the expression of both the hypothalamic NPY and the visceral fat NF-κB.

Conclusion. With respect to the fact of improved insulin release and enhanced insulin sensitivity (an effect that may be mediated via suppressing accumulation of visceral fat and inflammatory markers), in the rats treated with PYY3–36, the PYY3–36 might be considered for the future as a promising therapeutic tool in T2DM.
Expression of genes encoding IGF1, IGF2, and IGFBPs in blood of obese adolescents with insulin resistance
Authors: Minchenko Dmytro O. , Tsymbal Dariia O. , Davydov Vadim V. , Minchenko Oleksandr H. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Objective. The development of obesity and its metabolic complications is associated with dys-regulation of various intrinsic mechanisms, which control basic metabolic processes via changes in the expression of numerous regulatory genes. The main goal of this work was to study the association between the expression of insulin-like growth factors (IGF1 and IGF2) and IGF-binding proteins and insulin resistance in obese adolescents for evaluation of possible contribution of these genes in development of insulin resistance.

Methods. The expression of IGF1, IGF2, and IGFBPs mRNA was measured in blood of obese adolescents with normal insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance in comparison with the normal (control) individuals.

Results. In the blood of obese adolescents with normal insulin sensitivity the expression of IGFBP4, IGFBP5 and HTRA1 genes was down-regulated, but IGFBP2 and IGFBP7 genes up-regulated as compared to control (normal) group. At the same time, no significant changes in IGF1 and IGF2 gene expressions in this group of obese adolescents were found. Insulin resistance in obese adolescents led to up-regulation of IGF2, IGFBP2, and IGFBP7 gene expressions as well as to down-regulation of the expression of IGF1, IGFBP5 and HTRA1 genes in the blood in comparison with the obese patients, which have normal insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, the level of IGFBP4 gene expression was similar in both groups of obese adolescents.

Conclusions. Results of this investigation provide evidence that insulin resistance in obese adolescents is associated with gene specific changes in the expression of IGF1, IGF2, IGFBP2, IGFBP5, IGFBP7, and HTRA1 genes and these changes possibly contribute to the development of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.
Neuronal morphology alterations in autism and possible role of oxytocin
Authors: Falougy Hisham El , Filova Barbora , Ostatnikova Daniela , Bacova Zuzana , Bakos Jan 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Current understanding of the neuroanatomical abnormalities in autism includes gross anatomical changes in several brain areas and microstructural alterations in neuronal cells as well. There are many controversies in the interpretation of the imaging data, evaluation of volume and size of particular brain areas, and their functional translation into a broad autism phenotype. Critical questions of neuronal pathology in autism include the concept of the reversible plasticity of morphological changes, volume alterations of brain areas, and both short- and long-term consequences of adverse events present during the brain development. At the cellular level, remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton is considered as one of the critical factors associated with the autism spectrum disorders. Alterations in the composition of the neuronal cytoskeleton, in particular abnormalities in the polymerization of actin filaments and their associated proteins underlie the functional consequences in behavior resulting in symptoms and clinical correlates of autism spectrum disorder. In the present review, a special attention is devoted to the role of oxytocin in experimental models of neurodevelopmental disorders manifesting alterations in neuronal morphology.
Openess and Transparency of Fiscal Reporting in Poland – Assessment and Recommendation
Authors: Jastrzębska Maria 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The aim of the paper is to answer the question of whether fiscal reporting (more precisely, financial reporting of public finance sector entities (PFSE)) earnestly expressed the results of activities (information included is reliable, understandable and complete), and provide suggestions on how to increase openness and transparency in that field. First of all, the essence of openness and transparency of public finance is described. Then the international institutions involved in preparing and promoting international fiscal transparency standards and guidelines are indicated. Next are noted the most important reasons for limited openness and transparency of financial reporting of PFSE. In the end, actions are recommended to increase openness and transparency. Results are presented of theoretical studies on the basis of related literature, the reports by the Supreme Audit Office in Poland and the authors’ own experience connected with preparing formal opinion for two houses of Polish Parliament. Simple research methods are used such as descriptive analysis and also inferential and inductive thinking.
Financing of Smart Growth in Less Developed Regions on the Example of Poland
Authors: Murzyn Dorota 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe aim of this paper is twofold. First, the smart growth concept is examined with a focus on challenges associated with applying this concept in the less developed regions. Second, the impact of EU structural funds on smart growth in Poland is analyzed at the regional level with a view to contributing to the debate on public intervention in this area. The research questions are as follows: “Is the concept of smart growth, as postulated by the European Union, well suited to the less developed regions?” and “Whether and to what extent do EU funds contribute to achieving smart growth in Poland?”Smart growth has accelerated after 2007, which could suggest a significant impact of EU structural funds, whose allocation to measures supporting innovative activity rose markedly after 2007. However, among the various factors influencing regional development processes, the impact of structural funds was not as strong as might be expected, which was confirmed by further analysis.
Partial Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Spending Policy
Authors: Kopańska Agnieszka 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to analyze how limits in revenue and spending autonomy of sub-sovereign governments influence their decisions. Revenue and spending autonomy indicators for Polish towns were established and used in analysis on school education expenditures during 2003–2016. The influence of limits on revenue autonomy on municipal spending has been extensively addressed in both theoretical and empirical literature. However, studies related to spending autonomy are rare. The analysis presented in this paper suggests that when limits exist in spending autonomy, more decentralized tasks are crowded out by regulated obligations. That is why the spending autonomy analysis is important to evaluate the equity between local units and the adequacy of local revenues to decentralized expenditures.The basic principle of local finance is that there should be an adequate relationship between the financial resources available to a local authority and the tasks it performs. However, in practice, the assessment of whether this has been achieved is very difficult. Often, only problems with the solvency of local governments indicate that we are dealing with a poorly constructed system of local finances. The expenditure autonomy indicator proposed in this article is a tool that provides a way to indicate problems with the adequacy of revenues before such anextreme situation occurs.
Corporate Income Tax Rates in the EU Member States: Why Lower Means Better
Authors: Karpowicz Andrzej 
Published: February 2019

AbstractGovernments of EU Member States have been reducing statutory corporate income tax rates (“CIT”) for several years. What encourages them to take part in tax competition? The article discusses several issues which are in favor of lower CIT rates. They are selected based on their relevance. The study is performed with use of data available from applicable statistical bodies/literature and is based on literature review (especially in cases where required data is not available). It seems that the commonly raised issue of rivalry for capital in the globalizing world economy with highly mobile capital could be only one of a number of reasons for CIT rate depression. Tax competition is fueled by the various sizes of the economies of EU countries as well. The following important rationale may include the aspiration of governments to curb the local shadow economy. There are also some issues of a more theoretical nature that explain decreasing CIT rates. They include: (i) the necessity to accommodate CIT rate levels from the perspective of double taxation of dividends, (ii) the requirement to consider political responsibility of CI or (iii) the need to manage a deadweight loss. As a result of these challenges EU Member States often broaden the legal CIT base to maintain government revenues.
Local Taxes and Fees as a Source of Revenue for Polish Municipalities: Substitutes or Complements?
Authors: Łukomska Julita , Neneman Jarosław 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The main purpose of this article is analysis of the relationship between local tax and fee policies in Poland. We argue that local authorities have similar and significant discretion over tax and fee policy and, therefore, they can be analysed in a similar way. Links between these policies are analysed to find out whether they are of complementary or substitutive nature. Panel data on 578 Polish municipalities from 2012 to 2016 includes information on property tax rates and tariffs for water provision and sewage disposal for households and companies and is used to run panel regression analysis and to perform a quasi-experiment. The results indicate that there is a relationship between tax and fee policies as well as that taxes and fees are complements for local authorities. Only when a property tax rate has reached a “ceiling”, the municipalities increase fees at a faster rate than comparable municipalities below the ceiling – in this case a fee can be regarded as a substitute for a tax.
The paper is based on results of the “Fees for local public services - financial and political importance” research project. The project is funded by Narodowe Centrum Nauki (National Science Centre) grant number UMO-2015/19/B/HS4/02898