ObjectiveGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs are attractive options for the treatment of type II diabetes and obesity because of their incretin and anorexigenic effects. Peripheral administration of the GLP-1R agonist Exendin-4 (Ex-4) also increases glucocorticoid secretion in rodents and humans, but whether the released glucocorticoids interact with Ex-4's anorexigenic effect remains unclear.MethodsTo test this, we used two experimental approaches that suppress corticosterone secretion and then assessed Ex-4 effects on eating in adult male rats. First, we combined acute and chronic low dose dexamethasone treatment with Ex-4. Second, we ablated hindbrain catecholamine neurons projecting to the hypothalamus with anti-dopamine-β-hydroxylase-saporin (DSAP) to block Ex-4-induced corticosterone secretion.ResultsCombining dexamethasone and Ex-4 produced a larger acute anorexigenic effect than Ex-4 alone. Likewise, chronic dexamethasone and Ex-4 co-treatment produced a synergistic effect on eating and greater body weight loss in diet-induced obese rats than Ex-4 alone. DSAP lesions not only blunted Ex-4's ability to increase corticosterone secretion, but potentiated the anorexigenic effect of Ex-4, indicating that Ex-4-dependent corticosterone secretion opposes Ex-4's actions. Consistent with the enhancement of Ex-4's anorexigenic effect, DSAP lesion altered Ex-4-dependent changes in neuropeptide Y, preproglucagon, and corticotropin releasing hormone gene expression involved in glucocorticoid feedback.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that limiting glucocorticoid secretion and actions with low dose dexamethasone or DSAP lesion increases Ex-4's ability to reduce food intake and body weight. Novel glucocorticoid receptor based mechanisms, therefore, may help enhance GLP-1-based obesity therapies.

This paper investigates the impact of fathers’ flexible working hours on their willingness to contribute to domestic work. We first hypothesize that fathers will contribute more if they have the possibility to work flexible hours. Second, fathers are assumed to contribute less if their female partners have the possibility to work flexible hours. We test our hypotheses using data from a vignette study, where fathers evaluate hypothetical job offers to their non-employed partner with regard to the contribution to domestic work they are willing to offer if their partner accepts the job. We find that fathers’ flexible hours increase their willingness to contribute to childcare but not to household work, partially supporting hypothesis one. Regarding hypothesis two, we find no effects of the female partner’s flexible working hours on fathers’ contribution to childcare or household work. We conclude our paper with some policy implications.

Der Beitrag untersucht, welche Rolle öffentliche Kinderbetreuung bei der Erwerbsentscheidung und dem Erwerbsumfang von Müttern aus Paarhaushalten nach der Elternzeit spielt. Betrachtet werden Einstellungen der Mütter zur Kinderbetreuung und die tatsächliche Nutzung verschiedener Betreuungsmöglichkeiten während der Elternzeit sowie die Betreuungsquote auf Kreisebene. Datengrundlage sind die Paneldaten der DJI-Länderstudie der Jahre 2012 bis 2014. Für die Entscheidung wieder in den Beruf einzusteigen sind insbesondere der geplante Zeitpunkt der Rückkehr und der gewünschte Stundenumfang von Bedeutung. Eine positive Einstellung zur öffentlichen Betreuung von Kindern im Alter von ein bis zwei Jahren und die Betreuung in einer Kita oder in Tagespflege während der Elternzeit, sowie eine höhere Kinderbetreuungsquote auf Kreisebene, führen dazu, dass Mütter in höherem Umfang wieder erwerbstätig werden.

This paper treats the stability of two superposed gravitating streams rotating about the axis transverse to the horizontal magnetic field. The critical wave number for instability is found to be affected by rotation for propagation perpendicular to the axis about which the system rotates. The critical wave number for instability is not affected by rotation when waves propagate along the axis of rotation. The critical wave number is affected by both the magnetic field and the streaming velocity in both cases. Both the magnetic field and the rotation are stabilizing, while the streaming velocity is destabilizing.

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