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An energetic γ-ray burst (GRB), GRB 211211A, was observed on 11 December 2021 1 , 2 . Despite its long duration, typically associated with bursts produced by the collapse of massive stars, the observation of an optical-infrared kilonova points to a compact binary merger origin 3 . Here we report observations of a significant (more than five sigma) transient-like emission in the high-energy γ-rays of GRB 211211A (more than 0.1 gigaelectronvolts) starting 10 3 seconds after the burst. After an initial phase with a roughly constant flux (about 5 × 10 −10  erg per second per square centimetre) lasting about 2 × 10 4 seconds, the flux started decreasing and soon went undetected. Our detailed modelling of public and dedicated multi-wavelength observations demonstrates that gigaelectronvolt emission from GRB 211211A is in excess with respect to the flux predicted by the state-of-the-art afterglow model at such late time. We explore the possibility that the gigaelectronvolt excess is inverse Compton emission owing to the interaction of a late-time, low-power jet with an external source of photons, and find that kilonova emission can provide the seed photons. Our results open perspectives for observing binary neutron star mergers. The observation of transient-like gigaelectronvolt emission in the high-energy gamma-rays of GRB 211211A, from the merger of two compact binary objects, is reported.

Background Obesity is a precursor for many co-morbid diseases. One of the main triggering factors for obesity is the abnormal expansion of white adipose tissue characterized by high rates of genesis and differentiation of precursor cells into mature adipocytes. As a result, targeting adipogenesis and adipogenic transcription factors opens new roadmaps for developing novel antiobesity pharmacotherapies. The present study was intended to rationally develop topiramate–phenolic acid conjugate for targeting obesity via inhibition of PPAR γ which is often considered as the master regulator of adipogenesis. Results 2D QSAR models were built to foretell PPAR γ inhibitory activity of designed conjugates. The models presented excellent robustness, goodness of fit, and predictive capability compounds. The highest PPAR γ inhibitory activity was predicted for T3 (topiramate–caffeic acid conjugate) with a pIC 50 value of 7.08 µM. Molecular docking was performed for all the designed conjugates against PPAR γ (PDB ID: 3VSO). The highest binding affinity was exhibited by T3 (− 11.27 kcal/mol) and displayed strong and stable interactions with the receptor within the allosteric pocket in comparison to the irreversible PPAR γ antagonist, GW9662 (binding affinity, − 9.0 kcal/mol). These results were confirmed by subjecting the best-docked molecules to molecular dynamic simulations. The PPAR γ –T3 complex was observed to be most stable with maximum number of hydrogen bonds (maximum observed RMSD = 0.57 Å at 100 ns) in comparison to PPAR γ –topiramate and PPAR γ –caffeic acid complexes. Consequently, T3 was synthesized and further subjected to in vitro screening. The TR-FRET assay established T3 as a PPAR γ antagonist (IC 50  = 6.78 µM). T3 also significantly reduced the lipid buildup in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, T3 also reduced the protein expression levels of PPAR γ as evidenced from western blot results. Conclusions Studies clearly indicated that T3 reduces adipose tissue cell differentiation by downstreaming PPAR γ expression at protein levels, thereby emerging as a novel scaffold for antiobesity pharmacotherapy. Graphical abstract

Using a nonparametric regression approach, this paper examines the role of firm size and firm age in net employment growth and the differential response of firms to the business cycle. An inverse univariate relationship between firm size and net employment growth disappears after controlling for firm age. With age control, the relationship between net employment growth and firm size is positive but diminishes with firm size. Young firms exhibit higher job creation and destruction rates and higher net employment growth rates than mature firms. Small and young firms are more sensitive with regard to net employment growth to the cyclical downturn than large and old firms.

In recent years, a small number of studies have emphasized that subjective well-being of individuals depends not only on income but also consumption and wealth. However, only a few have examined the influence of all three variables simultaneously. Empirical studies have also analyzed the role of self-centered and community-centered inequalities but the inclusion of both measures in the same specification is scarce. In a departure from much of the existing literature, this paper analyzes concurrently the influence of all three economic well-being indicators and both types of inequalities on subjective well-being. We find that absolute levels of income, consumption and wealth all have a significant positive effect that remains robust even after the inclusion of self-centered and community-centered inequalities in the regression equations. The evidence indicates that both types of inequalities are important considerations for subjective well-being, but with different influences. Self-centered inequality measured using reference group average has a positive signaling effect, while inequality defined by the position of an individual within the distribution of the relevant economic well-being indicator has a negative comparison effect. Whereas community-centered inequality in income has a positive signaling effect, consumption and wealth inequalities have a negative comparison effect.

The paper investigates the influence of creditor rights reforms on leverage. Based on a partial equilibrium agency cost model, we propose a novel channel running from the owner/managers private bankruptcy costs to leverage. Such costs mitigate the firms agency problem toward creditors, thereby increasing credit limits and leverage. The proposition is tested with data from India 2011-2020, a period that saw the strengthening of creditor rights. We find that the reform caused leverage to fall, which is indicative of a decrease in owner/managers bankruptcy costs. We also find evidence of a decline in credit limits as predicted by the proposed theory.

This paper examines economic growth and various dimensions of regional disparities in Slovakia. We find that regional disparities in the levels of GDP per capita, labor productivity, and labor utilization have widened since 2000, coinciding with the time that Slovakia initiated negotiations on EU accession. Notwithstanding ?-divergence in the levels, there was conditional ?-convergence in the growth rates of GDP per capita and labor productivity. Improvements in total factor productivity were the main engine of growth of GDP in all regions. Sustaining growth and reducing disparities will require increasing the labor utilization ratio and improving the structural and policy determinants of productivity in the eastern regions. The main policy priorities are to improve transportation infrastructure, enhance cost competitiveness through greater regional differentiation in wages and further decentralization of collective bargaining, and increase accumulation of human capital.

The paper investigates the influence of the speed of liquidation of insolvent firms on leverage. The theoretical model presented formalizes the intuitive view that an increase in liquidation speed is expected to decrease average leverage as highly leveraged firms exit. Analysis of Indian data, however, suggests that an increase in liquidation speed increases average leverage. This finding is linked to influential observations at the right tail of the leverage distribution. We propose an asset-weighted variant of the proposition that holds with empirical data.

This paper examines the evolution of the Slovak motor vehicles sector during 2005 - 2015, drawing on the latest update (December 2018) of OECD's Inter-Country Input-Output (ICIO) model database. The review takes a global value chain (GVC) approach and looks at the linkages from the gross production and value-added perspectives. The overall contribution of the motor vehicles sector to Slovakia's gross production and domestic value added increased twofold during the reference period. There was an ongoing change in the structure of the GVC linkages. The reliance on domestically-sourced inputs increased over the years. The (indirect) value added created in the production of domestically-sourced inputs gradually approached the level of the (direct) value added generated within the motor vehicles sector. Subsequent to the global financial crisis, the share of intermediate goods in exports, the forward linkage of the GVC, and the upstreamness of the production process were all on a rising trend. The sourcing pattern of imports of intermediate inputs and the market for exports steadily shifted away from the euro area towards non-EU countries. It is estimated that a hypothetical 10 percent negative shock to global final demand for motor vehicles would lower Slovak GDP growth by 1 percentage point.

This paper examines the evolution of the Slovak motor vehicles sector during 2005 – 2015, drawing on the latest update (December 2018) of OECD’s Inter-Country Input-Output (ICIO) model database. The review takes a global value chain (GVC) approach and looks at the linkages from the gross production and value-added perspectives. The overall contribution of the motor vehicles sector to Slovakia’s gross production and domestic value added increased twofold during the reference period. There was an ongoing change in the structure of the GVC linkages. The reliance on domestically-sourced inputs increased over the years. The (indirect) value added created in the production of domestically-sourced inputs gradually approached the level of the (direct) value added generated within the motor vehicles sector. Subsequent to the global financial crisis, the share of intermediate goods in exports, the forward linkage of the GVC, and the upstreamness of the production process were all on a rising trend. The sourcing pattern of imports of intermediate inputs and the market for exports steadily shifted away from the euro area towards non-EU countries. It is estimated that a hypothetical 10 percent negative shock to global final demand for motor vehicles would lower Slovak GDP growth by 1 percentage point.

This paper examines gender differentials in earnings in Macedonia, with special emphasis on the role of occupational segregation. The lower earnings of women in Macedonia cannot be explained by gender differences in measured human capital endowments. There is a high degree of segregation of jobs along gender lines, the end product of which is lower earnings for women relative to men. Women are over-represented in female-dominated occupations, and feminization of occupations has a negative impact on earnings. Even after controlling for numerous individual and job characteristics and gender composition of occupations, a huge amount of the gender wage gap remains unexplained.