The effect of by-pass linseed oil supplementation on the maternal antioxidant system during the embryo-maternal recognition period in ewes

This study analyzed the effects of dietary supplementation with by-pass linseed oil (LO; rich in α-linolenic acid) on maternal antioxidant systems at Days 14 and 16 of pregnancy in Sarda ewes. This trial used sixteen dry ewes. Eight ewes (CT group) were fed with a control diet without LO, and eight ewes (LO group) were fed with a diet supplemented with LO (10.8 g of α-linolenic acid/ewe/day). Both diets had similar crude protein and energy levels. The experiment included 10 days of an adaptation period and 31 days of a supplementation period. This supplementation period was divided into Period −2 (from Day −15 to −8), Period −1 (from Day −7 to −1; before synchronized mating period/Day 0), Period +1 (from Day +1 to + 7 after mating), and Period +2 (from Day +8 to +15 after mating). Estrous synchronization was induced in all the ewes using an intravaginal sponge (45 mg fluorgestone acetate) for 14 days and equine chorionic gonadotropin (350 UI/ewe) at the end of the treatment. On Days 14 (CT, N = 4; LO, N = 4) and 16 (CT, N = 4; LO, N = 4) after mating, the ewes were slaughtered. Samples of plasma, uterine, and luteal tissues were collected. Thiols, total antioxidant activity (TEAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. On Day 16, thiol and TEAC in luteal tissues were higher in the LO group when compared with the control one (p < 0.05). Moreover, TEAC was higher for the LO group in uterine tissues on Days 14 and 16 (p < 0.05). SOD activity was higher in the LO group in luteal and uterine tissues on Day 14 and Day 16, respectively (p < 0.001). On Day 16, uterine MDA content was lower for the LO group (p < 0.001). No differences were found between groups at the plasmatic level. However, the by-pass LO supplementation enhanced the analyzed antioxidant parameters in luteal and uterine tissues. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that by-pass LO supplementation exerted a positive effect on antioxidative defenses on maternal structures during the embryo-maternal recognition period in ewes. Thus, this could contribute to improving the maternal environment during the embryo-maternal recognition period in mammals

The volatility-volume relationship in the LME futures market for industrial metals

This study is the first to investigate the volume-volatility relationship for the five most actively traded industrial metal futures contracts of the London Metal Exchange (LME). Based on intraday data of 3-month futures on aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and zinc, it is found that both trading volume and trading frequency are highly relevant. The information content of these variables is not entirely overlapping, with volume being slightly more informative. The series of trading activity variables are decomposed into expected and unexpected components using a rolling window approach. Both anticipated and unanticipated developments appear to be significantly related to volatility. Positive shocks in trading volume and negative shocks in the trading frequency seem to be the dominant factors. Trading volume and number of transactions significantly affect both negative and positive realized semivariance, uncovering further asymmetric facets of the volatility-volume relationship

Realized volatility spillovers in the non-ferrous metal futures market

JEL classification: C5 G1 G15 Keywords: Volatility transmission HAR model Intraday data Realized volatility Non-ferrous base metals London metal exchange a b s t r a c t In contrast to energy and precious metals commodities, relatively little is known about the volatility dynamics of base (or industrial) metals commodities. To address this deficiency, this paper employs a multivariate heterogeneous autoregressive (HAR) model to consider the volatility spillovers between the five of the most liquid and important non-ferrous metals contracts (aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc) traded on the London Metal Exchange using intraday data over the period June 2006-December 2012. This period encompasses both the surge in commodities prices associated with the burgeoning industrial demand of many emerging economies, especially China, resulting in market peaks in May 2007 and April 2008 and the subsequent negative reaction of base metals markets to the collapse of stock markets during the recent global financial crisis. The results show that the volatility series of other industrial metals appear to contain useful incremental information for future price volatility. However, the own dynamics are often sufficient for describing most future daily and weekly volatility, with the most pronounced volatility spillovers identified in the longer term. Combined together, the results in this study provide useful findings for exporter and importer countries dealing with the continuing volatility in these industrially important commodity markets

Acceptance of hospital nurses toward sensor-based medication systems: A questionnaire survey

Background Sensor-based technologies offer numerous benefits in hospital environments as they can be used (1) to improve efficiency defined processes and (2) to monitor their conduction in order to prevent errors. However, the impact of these technologies on the stakeholders involved such as professional ward nurses is largely unexplored. The early assessment of technology acceptance and user resistance is crucial to anticipate potential conflicts and to improve future implementation success. Objectives To understand the attitudes and intentions of usage of professional ward nurses toward sensor-based medication systems based on an adjusted extended technology acceptance model (TAM2) in a pre-implementation stage. Design A scenario-based research design was used in a nation-wide empirical study. Settings Nurses of Australian associations/unions evaluated a scenario of a sensor-based medication support system. Participants A randomly selected sample of 579 professional ward nurses participated in this study. Methods Data were collected using an online questionnaire and explored using hierarchical regression analysis. Results The majority of nurses intend to use the system but 25% – not voluntarily. 8% reject the system entirely. In assessing the nurses’ perceived usefulness, image, demonstrability, qualitative and quantitative overload as well as personal innovativeness were found to have a significant impact. Qualitative and quantitative overload also have a significant negative effect on personal innovativeness. Regarding the nurses’ usage intention, we identified a significant negative influence of subjective norm, moderated by experience and a positive effect of perceived usefulness on intention to use the system. Image, qualitative and quantitative overload as well as personal innovativeness are significantly influenced by age. Conclusions Our findings support a successful implementation of medication support systems in hospitals by stating acceptance drivers and barriers. Nurses’ adoption is promoted once a high degree of perceived usefulness is achieved by result demonstrability, a positive image of the technology and a high degree of personal innovativeness. Image and innovativeness are moderated by age, showing that an increase in age leads to an increase in user resistance toward the perceived usefulness of the envisioned medication support systems. Future studies should investigate these barriers in further stages of implementation to extend understanding of sensor-based medication system acceptance

Improved algorithm for cleaning high frequency data: An analysis of foreign currency

High-frequency data are notorious for their noise and asynchrony, which may bias or contaminate the empirical analysis of prices and returns. In this study, we develop a novel data filtering approach that simultaneously addresses volatility clustering and irregular spacing, which are inherent characteristics of high-frequency data. Using high frequency currency data collected at five -minute intervals, we find the presence of vast microstructure noise coupled with random volatility clusters, and observe an extremely non-Gaussian distribution of returns. To process non-Gaussian high-frequency data for time series modelling, we propose two efficient and robust standardisation methods that cater f or volatility clusters, which clean the data and achieve near-normal distributions. We show that the filtering process efficiently cleans high-frequency data for use in empirical settings while retaining the underlying distributional properties

CONCESSION – A CONTEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Концесията се идентифицира като инструмент за постигане на стратегическите цели за икономическо развитие. В настоящата разработка, при разглеждане на концесията като съвременна алтернатива на традиционното публично управление, се очертават възможностите на частния сектор за иконо-мически рентабилно и социално ефикасно управление на публичните ресурси. Изясняват се видовете концесии и се открояват предимствата и недостатъците за страните по концесионния договор. Целта на изследването е да се извърши мониторинг на концесионното отдаване и генерирането на концесионни при-ходи. С настоящата разработка се аргументират ефективността и актуалността на използването на концесията като модел за управление на публичните ре-сурси. The concession is identified as an instrument for achieving the strategic goals for economical development. In the current report, it is observed as a contemporary alternative to the traditional public management and distinguishes opportunities for the private sector for an economically lucrative and socially efficient management of the public resources. The types of concessions are clarified and their advantages and disadvantages for the sides are outlined in the concession contract. The aim of the research is to monitor concession offerings and the concession income accumulation. The current report observes the effectiveness and present tendency of using concessions as a model of management of public resources