Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
METHODOLOGY FOR THE DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF BUILDINGS SUBJECTED TO SEISMIC ACTIONS: INCORPORATING THE EFFECT OF NON-STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

It is common practice to consider the enclosures and partitions of buildings as ‘non-structural’ elements and, consequently, neglect the rigidity and resistance they provide in the analysis of the structure against gravitational loads. However, this simplification is not always on the safe side when it comes to analysing the behaviour of the structure against horizontal earthquake loads. When a partition has not been isolated from the concrete frame surrounding it, both systems interact in the presence of seismic action. This effect increases the lateral stiffness of the frame and can cause various problems such as torsion in the building, soft-storey effect or an increase in the seismic forces. The vast majority of seismic standards establish that it is necessary to consider the influence of non-structural construction elements that can develop sufficient rigidity and resistance to modify the conditions of the structure, and that they must be taken into account when generating the structural analysis model. For this reason, CYPE Ingenieros S.A. , in collaboration with the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), has developed a software tool that incorporates a model and a calculation methodology that allows us to consider the effects of the ‘frame-masonry wall’ interaction in seismic situations, in a more realistic way, and also, retain reasonable calculation duration times. Finally, presented below are the results from having applied the software tool to several calculation examples, which show the conclusions that have been obtained, and justify its contribution in terms of safety against seismic action.
Utility-Based Pricing of the Weather Derivatives

Since the underlying of the weather derivatives is not a traded asset, these contracts cannot be evaluated by the traditional financial theory. Cao and Wei (2004) price them by using the consumption-based asset pricing model of Lucas (1978) and by assuming different values for the constant relative risk aversion coefficient. Instead of taking this coefficient as given, we suggest in this paper to estimate it by using the consumption data and the quotations of one of the most transacted weather contracts which is the New York weather futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). We apply the well-known generalized method of moments (GMM) introduced by Hansen (1982) to estimate it as well as the simulated method of moments (SMM) attributed to Lee and Ingram (1991) and Duffie and Singleton (1993). This last method is studied since it is presumed to give satisfactory results in the case of the weather derivatives for which the prices are simulated. We find that the estimated coefficient from the SMM approach must have improbably high values in order to have the calculated weather futures prices matching the observations.
Toward More Realistic Face Recognition Evaluation Protocols for the YouTube Faces Database

One of the key factors to measure the progress of a research problem is the design of appropriate evaluation protocols defined on suitable databases. Recently, the introduction of comprehensive databases and benchmarks of face videos has had a great impact on the development of new face recognition techniques. However, most of the protocols provided for these datasets are limited and do not capture requirements of unconstrained scenarios. That is why sometimes the performance of face recognition methods on current benchmarks seems to be saturated. To address this lack, the tendency is to collect new datasets, which is more expensive and sometimes the main the problem is not the data but the protocols. In this work, we propose new relevant evaluation protocols for the YouTube Faces database (REP-YTF) supporting face verification and open/closed-set identification. The proposal better fits realistic face recognition scenarios and allows us to test existing algorithms at relevant assessment points, under different openness values and taking both videos and images as the gallery. We provide an extensive experimental evaluation, by combining several well-established feature representations with three different metric learning algorithms. The obtained results show that by using the proposed evaluation protocols, there is room for improvement in the recognition performance on the YouTube Faces database.
Artigo EVALUATION OF DIMENSIONAL STABILITY OF IMPRESSION MATERIALS IMMERSED IN DISINFECTANT SOLUTIONS USING A METAL

Introduction: When impressions are taken, saliva and blood are frequently seen in the material, and washing them does not always guarantee that all organisms have been removed. Therefore, methods for disinfecting impressions (immersion and spray) have become a necessity, but they can affect the accuracy of dental impressions. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the dimensional stability of dental impression materials after immersion in disinfectant solutions. Material and methods: This study used a total of 135 impressions, 45 of each of the following materials Impregun F® (polyether), Permlastic® (polysulfide) and Hydrogun® (irreversible hydrocolloid). Sodium hypochlorite and glutaraldehyde were selected as disinfectants and the immersion times were 10 and 15 min. Ten (10) impressions of each material were immersed in both solutions: 2% glutaraldehyde solution (Glutacid® 2%) and sodium hypochlorite solution (Milton 1%), for 10 min, and a further 10 impressions for 15 min. The other 5 impressions of each material were used as a control group without immersion in disinfectant solutions. Results: Neither polyether nor polysulfide impressions showed any statistically significant difference (ANOVA) from their control measurements after being soaked in the two disinfectant solutions. However, when the alginate impressions were disinfected by sodium hypochlorite for 15 minutes, a significant distortion (~0,122 mm) occurred, compared with control group. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study it can be concluded that the immersion practices for disinfection did not influence the quality of impressions obtained, except when sodium hypochlorite was used as disinfectant and immersion time was 15 minutes. UNITERMS: dimensional stability; disinfection; impression materials.
Effect of Acute Creatine Supplementation and Subsequent Caffeine Ingestion on Ventilatory Anaerobic Threshold

Quesada TD, Gillum T. Effect of Acute Creatine Supplementation and Subsequent Caffeine Ingestion on Ventilatory Anaerobic Threshold. JEPonline 2013;16(4):112-120. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT) is an important indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic adaptations. Creatine and caffeine are popular and effective ergogenic aides during aerobic and anaerobic exercise. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of acute creatine supplementation and subsequent caffeine ingestion on VT. Seven moderately active males (age = 20.8 yrs ± 1.7, height = 178.9 cm ± 17.4, weight = 83.9 kg ± 17.4) completed the randomized, single blind, crossover design supplementation and interval running protocol. All subjects completed a placebo trial (PBO), creatine plus caffeine trial (CRE+CAFF), and caffeine plus placebo trial (CAFF). Two hours before the running protocol, subjects ingested 100 mg·kg of creatine or placebo, and 20 min before the protocol ingested 6 mg·kg of caffeine or placebo. The interval running protocol started at 6.0 miles·hr and increased 0.6 miles·hr every 3 min until volitional exhaustion. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and time to exhaustion (TTE) were measured. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold in CAFF (35.08 mL·kg·min ± 5.7) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than PBO (29.05 mL·kg·min ± 2.3). No difference between CRE+CAFF (32.68 mL·kg·min ± 4.02) and PBO or CAFF and CRE+CAFF occurred. Maximal oxygen consumption, HR, RPE, and TTE were not significantly different (P>0.05) between groups. These results suggest that acute combination supplementation of creatine and caffeine does not improve VT, possibly due to their opposing metabolic mechanisms.
Representation of turbulent mixing and buoyancy reversal in bulk cloud models

Abstract This paper discusses the representation of subgrid-scale turbulent mixing in bulk models of warm (ice free) clouds, which assume instantaneous adjustment to grid-scale saturation. This is a reasonable assumption for condensation of water vapor because supersaturations inside clouds are typically small (∼0.1% or smaller), except near cloud bases where about an order of magnitude larger supersaturations are anticipated. For the cloud evaporation, however, instantaneous adjustment to grid-scale saturation is questionable, especially when evaporation occurs as a result of turbulent mixing between a cloud and its unsaturated environment. This is because turbulent mixing between initially separated volumes of cloudy and cloud-free environmental air proceeds through a gradual filamentation of these volumes, with progressively increasing evaporation of cloud water during the approach to final homogenization. A relatively simple model of this chain of events is included in a bulk model of moist nonprecipi.
LOWER EXTREMITY LEAN MASS ASYMMETRY CORRELATED WITH FORCE AND POWER ASYMMETRY DURING JUMPING IN ADULTS

The purpose of the current study was to quantify the relationships between lower extremity lean mass asymmetry and force and power asymmetry during jumping in adults aged 18-75 years old. Forty younger adults (18-35 years of age), 28 middle-aged adults (36-55 years of age), and 34 older adult (56-75 years of age) participated in the study. Subjects underwent Dual Energy Xray Absorptiometry to assess lower extremity bilateral lean mass asymmetry. Subjects performed 3 trials of a counter movement jump on two force plates to measure lower extremity bilateral force and power asymmetry. Lower extremity lean mass asymmetry was significantly correlated with force and power asymmetry in younger and middle-aged adults, but not in older adults. Improving lean mass asymmetry might assist in correcting force asymmetry in younger and middle-aged adults.
Gravitational instability of Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet black holes under tensor mode perturbations

We analyse the tensor mode perturbations of static, spherically symmetric solutions of the Einstein equations with a quadratic Gauss–Bonnet term in dimension D > 4. We show that the evolution equations for this type of perturbation can be cast in a Regge–Wheeler–Zerilli form, and obtain the exact potential for the corresponding Schrödinger-like stability equation. As an immediate application we prove that for D ≠ 6 and α > 0, the sign choice for the Gauss–Bonnet coefficient suggested by string theory, all positive mass black holes of this type are stable. In the exceptional case D = 6, we find a range of parameters where positive mass asymptotically flat black holes, with regular horizon, are unstable. This feature is found also in general for α < 0.
Characterization of electro-materials using ac impedance spectroscopy

Se discute y revisa la teoria basica de la espectroscopia de impedancia y se exponen varios ejemplos de electromateriales/dispositivos, donde las medidas de impedancia compleja dan una excelente informacion, que no puede ser obtenida por tecnicas ac y de convencionales. Se hace enfasis en las tecnicas avanzadas de adquisicion y elaboracion de datos; por ejemplo la combinacion de los diagramas de espectroscopia de impedancia con la espectroscopia del modulo electrico, para caracterizar electricamente materiales ceramicos inhomogeneos como los materiales basados en BaTi03 que son resistencias con coeficiente de temperatura positivo. Se presenta un analisis electrico detallado de monocristales ferroelectricos de LiTa03 en funcion de la orientacion cristalografica. Los resultados demuestran la utilidad de la tecnica de impedancia para visualizar procesos tan complejos como la inversion de dominios en materiales ferroelectricos. Se discute tambien el uso de estas tecnicas in-situ para monotorizar variaciones en las capas intercaras en las intercaras electrodo-electrolito en las baterias de litio de estado solido.
A RARE VARIATION OF SUBCLAVIUS MUSCLE

During routine dissection of upper limb, we came across a very interesting unilateral variation of subclavius muscle in an adult male cadaver. The origin of the muscle was normal i.e. from the first costochondral junction. Main muscle belly was inserting into the subclavian groove of clavicle. A small accessory belly from the main muscle mass was running inferolaterally with some of its fiber merging with coracoid process, some with axillary sheath and some with fascia covering subscapularis muscle. Apart from this accessory belly, another additional belly was passing posteriorly from the main muscle mass and was gaining attachment to the upper border of scapula lateral to the suprascapular notch. The main muscle mass along with all the additional bellies were supplied by nerve to subclavius. Presence of such accessory muscle can be a potential cause of thoracic outlet syndrome.
The Impact of Teaching Critical Thinking Skills on Reading Comprehension of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

the purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of teaching critical thinking skills on reading comprehension of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. A sample of 50 students from Arshia Language Institute in Ilam, Iran participated in this study. They were both male and female students who were selected among 80 students based on their performances on PET. The participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. First, the two groups were exposed to the pre-test of reading comprehension in order to evaluate their knowledge on reading before the treatment. Based on scores obtained from the Pre-test, no significance differences were observed between two groups. After that the treatment was started and the experimental group was exposed to teaching critical thinking skills. Meanwhile, traditional methods of teaching reading comprehension were used for teaching reading comprehension to the control group. Finally, post-test of reading comprehension was delivered to both groups at the end of treatment to check possible differences. To analyze the collected data, ANCOVA was run using SPSS Software Version 16. The results showed that teaching critical thinking skills positively affect reading comprehension of intermediate EFL learners, but the interaction of gender and teaching critical thinking was not significant.
Towards an automated reduction method for polynomial ODE models in cellular biology

This paper presents the ﬁrst version of an algorithmic scheme dedicated to the model reduction problem, in the context of polynomial ODE models derived from generalized chemical reaction systems. This scheme, which relies on computer algebra, is implemented within a new MAPLE package. It is applied over an example. The qualitative analysis of the reduced model is afterwards completely carried out, proving the practical relevance of our methods.
5 . 3 Divalent Cation Metabolism : Calcium Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone Actions

Calcium is an essential element in the human body. Although over 99% of the total body calcium is located in bone, calcium is a critical cation in both the extracellular and intracellular spaces. Its concentration is held in a very narrow range in both spaces. In addition to its important role in the bone mineral matrix, calcium serves a vital role in nerve impulse transmission, muscular contraction, blood coagulation, hormone secretion, and intercellular adhesion. Calcium also is an important intracellular second messenger for processes such as exocytosis, chemotaxis, hormone secretion, enzymatic activity, and fertilization. Calcium balance is tightly regulated by the interplay between gastrointestinal absorption, renal excretion, bone resorption, and the vitamin D–parathyroid hormone (PTH) system [1–7].
A Survey of Major Ethno Medicinal Plants of Kano North, Nigeria, Their Knowledge and Uses by Traditional Healers

An ethno botanical survey of major ethnomedicinal plants was carried out in the study area (Kano north senatorial district, Nigeria), their knowledge and uses by the local healers was determined. Data was obtained through the use of interviewer administered questionnaires, distributed at random to the traditional healers as the target respondents. Research shows that various plant species from 25 families were reported to be used in the treatment of various human ailments. Majority of these plants (73.2%) were wild, and 40% were harvested mainly for their leaves. Most of the plants were trees (44%). About 45.2% have been reported to be used in dry form. Concoction was the major method of preparation of the medicinal plants (46%). The most reported threat to the availability of medicinal plants was deforestation (43.6%). Many additives like edible oil, honey, butter, porridge, garlic were used in almost 58% of the remedy preparations. In addition, more than one medicinal plant species were used more frequently than the use of single species for medicinal preparations. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Senatorial zone, Knowledge, Use.
Multiscale population genetic analysis of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) in western Canada sheds new light on the spread of chronic wasting disease

To successfully manage wildlife diseases, it is necessary to understand factors that influence spread. One ap- proach is to analyze host movement and social structure, as these behaviors can be associated with the probability of trans- mission. Some populations of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)) in western Canada are infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible and fatal neurodegenerative disease. We used population analysis of spatial genetic structure of mule deer at broad and local scales to understand factors that influence spread. We genotyped 2535 mule deer sampled from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and portions of British Columbia using 16 microsatellite loci. We found weak genetic structure at broad spatial scales (overall FST = 0.008) that was well defined by geographic distance, indicating the risk of CWD spread from the focus of infection will decline gradually with increasing distance, but there are no barriers to the spread over time. At the local scale of approximately 2 km, elevated relatedness among CWD-infected individuals suggests transmission rates within social groups. Sex-biased spatial autocorrelation in genetic re- latedness also indicates that female philopatry underlies the social structure, and therefore transmission among relatives is potentially driving local disease persistence.
Microbiological evaluation of antibacterial potentiality of some edible plant extracts against multidrug resistant (MDR) human pathogens

Antimicrobial resistance is a subject of great concern in public health and also in the designing of strategies for current therapeutic protocols all over the world. Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances which can be used to treat various infectious diseases. Hence, antibacterial activities of aqueous extracts of 10 plant species were studied against 25 multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates using the agar well diffusion method. The most resistant organisms were Acinetobacter baumanii (A. baumanii) (resistant to 16 different antibiotics), Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) (resistant to 15 different antibiotics), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) (resistant to 15 antibiotics), Gemella morbillorum (G. morbillorum) (resistant to 14 different antibiotics), Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae) (resistant to 13 different antibiotics) respectively. Among the tested plant extracts, only extracts of Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Foeniculum vulgare, Matricaria chmomilla, Salvia offcinalis and Thymus Vulgaris showed strong antibacterial activity against MDR isolates with inhibition zones ranging from 8.33 to 26 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the most active plant extracts; Allium cepa and Foeniculum vulgare were ranged from 0.062 to 0.25 mg/ml and 0.031 to 0.125 mg/ml, respectively . Foeniculum vulgare extract was bactericidal for all bacteria while Allium cepa extract was bacteriostatic. Hence, the discovered compounds from these plants can use as templates for the development of new antibacterial agents. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/icpj.v4i1. 21162 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, December 2014, 4(1): 336-339
The Effectiveness of Empowerment Program for Rural Societies in Luwu Timur Regency, Indonesia

Community empowerment program in Indonesia develops by development dynamics. Empowerment model refers to the concept of top-down development or following the needs of the community. This article describes the effectiveness of empowerment programs in rural communities regarding program and communication activities. Moreover, descriptive quantitative research used in this study and located in District Mangkutana, Luwu Timur Regency, Sulawesi Selatan Province during November to December 2016. The representative sampling technique used with the sample about 61 informants. Types of data, data collection, and data analysis method as a guide to conduct and obtain qualified and focused research. Data analysis was using a scoring method that divided into four categories that are very satisfactory to very unsatisfactory. The program's activity assessed large class by the community on the target group's accuracy criteria, the suitability of the program to the needs of the city and the benefits of the program on community welfare. The empowerment program also produces functional effectiveness in the category of external communication and internal
Drug Abuse and Criminal Behaviour In Penang, Malaysia: A Multivariate Analysis

A growing number of literature and empirical research have documented that a relationship exists between drug abuse and criminal offences. Through studying a selected sample of three hundred institutionalised drug addicts [inmates] with and without criminal history, subjects stratified by ethnicity in Government Rehabilitation Centre in Penang, Malaysia, this research affirmed that there is a relationship between drug abuse and involvement in criminal offences. The major findings of the research were: (1) heroine and cannabis (ganja) were the major drugs abused by the subjects; (2) all eight independent variables correlated with the dependent variable with the exception of broken home; (3) drug abuse is significantly related with property offences; (4) the majority of the research respondents agreed that they get involved in criminal activities in order to support their drug use habit; (5) Finally, the multivariate analysis results attest drug abuse, peer group and poverty as the major reasons why the subjects get involved in criminal activities. The theoretical implication of the study is that drug abuse alone is an inadequate explanatory variable for why drug abusers become involved in criminal activities. For a proper understanding of criminal activities committed by drug abusers, focus must go beyond their addiction to drugs to include both micro and macro factors in order to obtain a proper understanding of crime, the dependent variable of this research.