bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Terminalia chebula Retz. – an important medicinal plant
Authors: Kolla Jayaprakash Narayan , Kulkarni Nagaraj M. , Kura Rathanakar Reddy , Theepireddy Sravan Kumar Reddy 
Published: May 2018

SummaryAyurveda, whispered to be the ancient practice of healthcare existed and contributes a holistic approach to health, healing and longevity. Terminalia chebula Retz. is a popular plant and widely spread all over southern Asia. T. chebula is a native plant of India and its dried fruit is extensively used in various types of home remedies. Dried fruit of T. chebula contains high quantities phenolic compounds that consist of ellagic acid, gallic acid and chebulic acid. The fruit extract of T. chebula is known to display different biological properties like anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-protozoal, antimicrobial, hepato and renal protective activities, and in the management of metabolic syndrome. The phenolic active compounds might play vital role in the influence of biological activity. Fruit extract of T. chebula is widely employed as an important ingredient in various ayurvedic preparations like ‘Triphala’. This formulation is beneficial as detoxifying agent of the colon, purgative in chronic constipation, aids in digestion and as a body rejuvenator. The fruit has great medicinal significance and conventionally applied for the management of various illness conditions, such as sore throat, high cough, asthma, ulcers, gout, heart burn, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, bleeding piles and bladder diseases. It is also utilized as mild laxative, antispasmodic and stomachic. Because of these enormous medicinal properties, T. chebula is commonly termed as ‘King of Medicine’ in Tibet and can be called as a ‘wonder herb’. In the present review, recent advances in medicinal properties of T. chebula are discussed.
Intra-Personal and Inter-Personal Kinetic Synergies During Jumping
Authors: Slomka Kajetan , Juras Grzegorz , Sobota Grzegorz , Furmanek Mariusz , Rzepko Marian , Latash Mark L. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
We explored synergies between two legs and two subjects during preparation for a long jump into a target. Synergies were expected during one-person jumping. No such synergies were expected between two persons jumping in parallel without additional contact, while synergies were expected to emerge with haptic contact and become stronger with strong mechanical contact. Subjects performed jumps either alone (each foot standing on a separate force platform) or in dyads (parallel to each other, each person standing on a separate force platform) without any contact, with haptic contact, and with strong coupling. Strong negative correlations between pairs of force variables (strong synergies) were seen in the vertical force in one-person jumps and weaker synergies in two-person jumps with the strong contact. For other force variables, only weak synergies were present in one-person jumps and no negative correlations between pairs of force variable for two-person jumps. Pairs of moment variables from the two force platforms at steady state showed positive correlations, which were strong in one-person jumps and weaker, but still significant, in two-person jumps with the haptic and strong contact. Anticipatory synergy adjustments prior to action initiation were observed in oneperson trials only. We interpret the different results for the force and moment variables at steady state as reflections of postural sway.
The Use of Thermal Imaging in the Evaluation of the Symmetry of Muscle Activity in Various Types of Exercises (Symmetrical and Asymmetrical)
Authors: Chudecka Monika , Lubkowska Anna , Leźnicka Katarzyna , Krupecki Krzysztof 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
In order to achieve higher efficiency of training and thus better athletic performance, new research and diagnostic methods are constantly being developed, particularly those that are non-invasive. One such a method is thermography, suitable for quantitative and therefore objective evaluation of variables, such as changes in the temperature of the skin covering working muscles. The aim of this study was to use a thermal imaging infrared camera to evaluate temperature changes of symmetric body surfaces over symmetrically working muscles of male scullers after exercising on a two-oared rowing ergometer and compare these to asymmetrically working muscles of handball players after an endurance training session containing elements of an actual game. In the scullers, the mean temperature of body surfaces was always lower post than pre exercise, with no significant differences in an average temperature drop between the opposite sides, indicating that the work of the muscles involved in the physical exertion on the rowing ergometer was symmetrical. In contrast, in the handball players, skin temperatures in symmetric areas over the asymmetrically working muscles showed statistically significant differences between sides, which was associated with the functional asymmetry of training. This study indicates that thermal imaging may be useful for coaches in the evaluation of technical preparations in sports in which equal involvement of symmetric muscles is a condition of success, e.g. in scullers.
Positional Role Differences in the Aerobic and Anaerobic Power of Elite Basketball Players
Authors: Pojskić Haris , Šeparović Vlatko , Užičanin Edin , Muratović Melika , Mačković Samir 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare the aerobic and anaerobic power and capacity of elite male basketball players who played multiple positions. Fifty-five healthy players were divided into the following three different subsamples according to their positional role: guards (n = 22), forwards (n = 19) and centers (n = 14). The following three tests were applied to estimate their aerobic and anaerobic power and capacities: the countermovement jump (CMJ), a multistage shuttle run test and the Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST). The obtained data were used to calculate the players’ aerobic and anaerobic power and capacities. To determine the possible differences between the subjects considering their different positions on the court, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Bonferroni post-hoc test for multiple comparisons was used. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the different groups of players in eleven out of sixteen measured variables. Guards and forwards exhibited greater aerobic and relative values of anaerobic power, allowing shorter recovery times and the ability to repeat high intensity, basketball-specific activities. Centers presented greater values of absolute anaerobic power and capacities, permitting greater force production during discrete tasks. Coaches can use these data to create more individualized strength and conditioning programs for different positional roles.
The Effects of Sports Vision Training on Binocular Vision Function in Female University Athletes
Authors: Zwierko Teresa , Puchalska-Niedbał Lidia , Krzepota Justyna , Markiewicz Mikołaj , Woźniak Jarosław , Lubiński Wojciech 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Binocular vision is the most important visual cue for spatial orientation in many sports. In this study, we investigated how binocular vision was influenced by an eye training program that may be used to improve individual’s oculomotor function. The experiment involved twenty-four female student athletes from team ball sports (soccer, basketball, handball). After an initial testing session, 12 participants were randomly allocated to the experimental group. Optometric investigation which included synoptophore testing and a test of dissociated horizontal phoria based on the Maddox method was performed three times: before the experiment, after eight weeks of eye training (3 times a week for 20 minutes), and four weeks after the experiment was terminated. Eye exercise methodology was based on orthoptic, sport and psychological aspects of performance. The phoria screening examination showed that exophoria was the most frequent disorder of binocular vision. Low fusional vergence range was also observed. Following the training period, 3 of the 6 oculomotor variables improved. The greatest effect was observed in near dissociated phoria (χ²=14.56, p=0.001 for the right eye; χ²=14.757, p=0.001 for the left eye) and fusional convergence (χ²=8.522, p=0.014). The results of the retention test conducted four weeks after the experiment confirmed the effectiveness of the vision training program. The results of the study suggest that binocular functions are trainable and can be improved by means of appropriate visual training
Relationship Between Competitive Strategies and the Success Perception of Polish Born Globals
Authors: Baranowska-Prokop Ewa , Sikora Tomasz 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The key objective of this paper is to describe and evaluate the competitive strategies applied by Polish born global enterprises. To reveal these strategies, two competitive models developed by M.E. Porter are applied to an original data set obtained from 256 small and medium Polish enterprises through a survey employing the CATI technique. The outcomes of these strategies, as perceived by the companies applying them, are also evaluated against two hypotheses. We conclude that Polish firms apply both basic strategies of competition, i.e. cost leadership strategies and differentiation strategies and that a substantial majority of companies perceive themselves to have succeeded on the market.
Oleuropein and rutin protect against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells through modulation of mitochondrial function and unfolded protein response
Authors: Elmazoglu Zubeyir , Ergin Volkan , Sahin Ergin , Kayhan Handan , Karasu Cimen 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, often associated with oxidative stress-induced transcriptional changes in dopaminergic neurons. Phenolic antioxidants, oleuropein (OLE) and rutin (RUT) have attracted a great interest due to their potential to counteract oxidative protein aggregation and toxicity. This study aimed at examining the effects of OLE and RUT against 6-OHDA-induced stress response in rat pheochromocytoma cells. When differentiated PC12 cells were exposed to oxidative stress composer 6-OHDA (100 μM, 8 h), a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was observed along with a significant loss of cell viability and apoptotic nuclear changes. Exposure to 6-OHDA resulted in unfolded protein response (UPR) in differentiated PC12 cells as evidenced by an increased level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized transmembrane signal transducer IRE1α, adaptive response proteins ATF-4 and proapoptotic transcription factor CHOP. OLE or RUT pretreatment (24 h) at low doses (1-50 μM) protected the differentiated PC12 cells from 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity as assessed by increased viability, improved ΔΨm and inhibited apoptosis, whereas relatively high doses of OLE or RUT (>50 μM) inhibited cell growth and proliferation, indicating a typical hormetic effect. In hormetic doses, OLE and RUT up-regulated 6-OHDA-induced increase in IRE1α, ATF-4 and inhibited CHOP, PERK, BIP and PDI. 6-OHDA-activated XBP1 splicing was also inhibited by OLE or RUT. The presented results suggest that neuroprotection against 6-OHDA-induced oxidative toxicity may be attributable to neurohormetic effects of OLE or RUT at low doses through regulating mitochondrial functions, controlling persistent protein misfolding, activating and/or amplificating the adaptive response-related signaling pathways, leading to UPR prosurvival output.
Antioxidant SMe1EC2 modulates pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione-dependent enzyme activities in tissues of aged diabetic rats
Authors: Ulusu Nuray Nuriye , Gök Müslüm , Sayin Şakul Arzu Ayşe , Ari Nuray , Stefek Milan , Karasu Çimen 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione-associated metabolism are the main antioxidant cellular defense systems. This study investigated the effects of the powerful antioxidant SMe1EC2 (2-ethoxycarbonyl-8-methoxy-2,3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b] indolinium dichloride) on pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and glutathione-dependent enzyme activities in aged diabetic and aged matched control rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection in rats aged 13-15 months. Diabetic and control rats were divided into two subgroups, one untreated and one treated with SMe1EC2 (10 mg/kg/day, orally) for 4 months. SMe1EC2 ameliorated body weight loss, but not hyperglycemia of aged diabetic rats. Diabetes resulted in decreased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), yet in unchanged glutathione reductase (GR) in the liver of aged diabetic rats. In the liver of the aged control rats, SMe1EC2 did not affect G6PDH, 6PGDH and GR, but it inhibited GST. SMe1EC2 also failed to affect diabetes-induced decline in 6PGDH, it ameliorated G6PDH but produced further decline in GST in the liver of aged diabetic rats. In the kidney of aged rats, G6PDH and GST were found to be comparable among the groups, but diabetes up-regulated 6PGDH and GR; these alterations were prevented by SMe1EC2. In the heart of aged diabetic rats, while GST remained unchanged, the recorded increase in G6PD, 6PGD, GR was prevented by SMe1EC2. Furthermore, an unchanged GR and remarkable increases in G6PD, 6PGD and GST were found in the lung of the aged diabetic group. These alterations were completely prevented by SMe1EC2. The results suggest that in aged rats SMe1EC2 can ameliorate the response of the kidney, heart and lung but not that of the liver against diabetes-induced glucotoxicity by interfering with the activity of redox network enzymes.
How Random Is Spatiotemporal Chaos of Langton's Ant?1
Authors: Luptáková I. I. Dirgová , Pospíchal J. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
In recent years there have been numerous attempts to control chaotic behavior by evolutionary optimization. Most of these attempts were aimed at a study of chaotic systems defined by differential equations, but a few attempts were made also at evolutionary design of initial conditions or rules of cellular automata aimed at performing a specified task. We shall use a simple cellular automaton called Langton's ant after its designer, Christopher Langton. Generally, the ant acts on a 2D grid, where each it’s square can be either black or white. The ant is facing in one of four directions, and its behavior is described by 3 rules: (1) If ant is on a black square, it makes a left turn. (2) If ant is on a white square, it makes a right turn. (3) When ant moves to the next square, the one it was on reverses color. Despite simplicity of these rules, the ant produces extremely complex behavior, but after around 10000 steps the ant begins to construct a diagonal „highway“. This stable attractor has been always achieved regardless of the initial setting of black and white squares, but there is no proof, that it is always so. This behavior can be related to the undecidability of the halting problem. Our goal in this paper is to optimize initial conditions for the ant on a grid, so that it will be maximally “slowed down” in the sense that it should arrive at the preset boundary of the grid as late as possible. By a comparison of greedy stochastic optimization with an optimization by blind search are able to estimate, that is this chaotic system is not reasonably controllable and appears to have no regularity in the “optimal” initial conditions.
The Effect of Food Prices on Inflation in the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Radukić Snežana , Marković Milan , Radović Milica 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
In the Republic of Serbia, food accounts for a significant share in the consumer price index through which the inflation is statistically expressed. Therefore, in considerations of the basic factors of increase in the general price level, a special emphasis is placed on the specific features of the market of agricultural-food products. The aim of this research is to peruse the effect of the characteristics of the food market in Serbia on the inflation rate. High volatility of food prices is present because of the instability of this market, mainly due to seasonal fluctuations of supply and the effect of natural factors. Bearing in mind that the increase in food prices is the main determinant of the increase in the inflation rate, the indirect state control is very important so as to maintain price stability. Special importance is attached to the following instruments of economic policy: commodity reserves, storage policy, and fiscal and foreign trade policy.
Revival of Legacy of Tooke and Gibson: Implications for Monetary Policy
Authors: Rehman Atiq-ur 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The monetary policy rules used by central banks these days are based on the assumption that inflation could be reduced by increasing interest rate. On contrary, Tooke (1774-1858), the forefather of monetary economics, was of the view that the relationship between interest rate and inflation should be positive. His view was based on simple logic, ‘interest is a part of cost, and therefore, the increase in interest rate should increase inflation by increasing cost of production (Tooke, 1838)’. Tooke’s view has got support from a number of empirical evidence including Gibson (1923) who found positive correlation between two variables for UK data over a period of 200 years. On the other hand, mainstream economic thinking on which the actual monetary practices are based ignored any possibility of positive relationship between interest rate and inflation throughout the history. The existence of Tooke’s cost side effects of monetary policy is a serious concern because if these effects exist than the use of monetary policy would be counterproductive. Using the data from entire globe, I attempt to explore the nature of relationship between the interest rate and inflation. I found that the data supports the perception of Tooke and Gibson and denies that the effectiveness of monetary policy currently adapted by the correlation between interest rate and inflation is positive. The results are robust to sample size, sample period, and various definitions of interest rate and inflation.
Inflation Targeting in Serbia
Authors: Fabris Jelena 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Serbia introduced inflation targeting regime in August 2006. After nine years of its application, conclusions may be drawn on the (un)successfulness of the regime. Inflation targets have not been achieved during seven of nine observed years. Key difficulties in the application of the regime refer to insufficient efficiency of monetary policy instruments, insufficient confidence in the domestic currency (widely spread informal euroisation), and indexing of prices according to the exchange rate.
The paper consists of four sections. The first section analyses theoretical assumptions of the inflation targeting regime. The second part describes the characteristics of the regime in Serbia. The third section analyses results, while the fourth section analyses the reasons for insufficient efficiency of the regime and gives actual suggestions for improving the existing regime.
Measuring the Channels of Monetary Policy Transmission: A Factor-Augmented Vector Autoregressive (Favar) Approach
Authors: Senbet Dawit 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
There is more consensus on the effects of monetary policy than its transmission mechanism. Two channels of transmission mechanisms are the conventional interest rate channel and the credit channel. I investigate the channels of monetary policy transmission in the U.S. using the factor-augmented vector autoregressive (FAVAR) models developed by Bernanke, Boivin & Eliasz (2005). The newly developed FAVAR approach allows the researcher to include all relevant macroeconomic variables in the model and analyze them. Therefore, the FAVAR models span a larger information set and generate better estimates of impulse response functions than the commonly used vector autoregressive (VAR) models that utilize only 4–8 variables. I include 154 monthly U.S. time series variables for the period 1970–2014. The findings support the existence of the credit channel in the U.S. The conclusion remains the same when the non-borrowed reserve operating regime (October 1979–October 1982) is removed from the sample period.
Relevance of Low Inflation in the Southeastern European Countries
Authors: Lakić Slobodan , Šehović Damir , Drašković Mimo 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The paper starts from the assumption that the significant reduction of the inflation problem is a result of the long-term dynamics of economic growth in countries with developing markets and, as a result, operational inability of multinational companies to increase accumulation through the policy of raising prices by creating space for their full expansion. We believe that in such circumstances civil theories on the causes of inflation are dominantly of class character. We check negative repercussions of low inflation on the examples of the countries of South-East Europe, in the regimes with fixed and flexible exchange rates, and with different strategies of monetary policy. We conclude that destructive implications of the financial crisis and psychological factors have a negative impact on a sustainable low-inflation environment, regardless of the monetary-exchange regime. We propose that low and stable inflation rates can be followed by a series of negative implications for the overall economic system, which our analysis of the observed countries proves.
Financial Education of Children and Youth
Authors: Fabris Nikola , Luburić Radoica 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
More and more individuals are becoming overindebted and facing difficulties in managing personal finance. On the other hand, financial products are becoming more and more complex, with numerous concealed risks. The level of financial literacy of youth and children is unsatisfactory both in the region and globally. Such a situation could lead to personal problems (financial distress), aggravated financial stability, with reverse adverse implications on economic growth. Many international studies have also confirmed these hypotheses.
The aim of this paper is to point to the importance of financial education of youth and children, as well as to give some guidance on how to develop a national programme for increasing financial literacy. The paper develops a five-step programme with the main topics covering the drafting of a national strategy for developing financial literacy of youth and children and its implementation.
Determinants of Credit Growth: The Case of Montenegro
Authors: Ivanović Maja 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
In the period before the crisis, Montenegro experienced a rapid credit growth, which coincided with the privatization of several banks and was followed by the entry of foreign banking groups, amplifying the banks’ lending process and increasing competition in this sector. This paper focuses on identification and estimation of determinants of credit growth in Montenegro, exploring both demand and supply side factors, and particularly paying attention to supply factors. Our findings confirm that positive economic developments and an increase in banks’ deposit potential lead to higher credit growth. Furthermore, our findings emphasize that the banking system soundness is decisive for promoting further bank’s lending activities. We provide evidence that the weakening of banks’ balance sheets, in terms of high non-performing loans and low solvency ratio, has a negative effect on credit supply.
In addition, this paper provides a nuanced analysis of the determinants of credit growth by allowing these to be different before and after the global financial crisis. The post-crisis model finds that credit supply indicators gained in importance in explaining credit growth, while the model in pre-crisis period provides evidence that both demand and supply indicators matter in explaining credit growth.