Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renewable energy: power for a sustainable future

The transition towards renewable energy is inevitable while reducing the reliance on fossil fuels. It is necessary that school helps to increase and maintain student interest in renewable energy. This book, consisting of 10 chapters and two appendices, provides the fundamental knowledge in renewable energy sources with an emphasis on the basic concepts of physics and chemistry, and has plenty of figures/tables, full-colour illustrations, box examples, end-of-chapter summaries, future prospects for each renewable energy and further reading for students at the undergraduate level. Chapter 1 explores introductory knowledge on energy and power and briefly examines each of the principal renewable energy sources based on themain technology involved and its proportion of the world’s primary energy. Chapter 2 introduces solar thermal or heat energy including the nature of solar radiation, the mechanisms of heat loss, active/passive solar technologies with a brief history, and potential and environmental impact of solar thermal systems. Chapter 3 begins with a brief history and basic mechanisms of photovoltaics and discusses costs/efficiencies, environmental impact, current limitations and future prospects of photovoltaic energy conversion technologies. Chapter 4 describes the photosynthesis mechanism for the bioenergy conversion, materials and sources used for bioenergy, the physical, thermochemical or biochemical processes in bioenergy production, economics and environmental impacts of bioenergy. Chapters 5–8 deal with the different forms of fluid-based energy generation, such as hydroelectricity (Chapter 5), tidal power (Chapter 6), wind energy (Chapter 7), and wave energy (Chapter 8): each chapter gives a brief introduction to the terminology, basic principles of energy conversion, types of technologies used, commercial development, economics and environmental impacts associated with the use of each fluid-based energy, but for a better understanding, these chapters also need to cover verybasic principles of the fluidmechanics at the beginningof each chapter.Chapter 9 explains the physical principles and technologies of geothermal energy including geothermal waters, high enthalpy steam fields and engineered geothermal systems, economics and environmental implication, and regulatory issues. Chapter 10 looks at a number of long-term energy studies with concentration on the UK energy system, discusses the remaining challenges in technically, socially and politically integrating the available renewable energy resources, and provides the description of a variety of energy scenarios. I believe that this book through chapters introducing various renewable energy resources is useful for students and junior engineers working in energy and environment-related fields and can be also recommended for undergraduate students as a textbook.
Lactation in tiie Dog : Mill < Composition and Intal ^ e by Puppies

The composition and intake of milk by mother-reared puppies was studied to compare protein and energy intakes of puppies with estimated requirements. Milk samples were obtained from five beagle bitches over the period of 7-37 days postpartum. Dog milk contained on average 22.7% dry matter, 9.47% fat, 7.53% protein, 3.81% sugar and 146 kcal gross energy per 100 g. Protein comprised 31% of milk energy. Nonprotein nitrogen averaged 0.054%, equivalent to 4.4% of total nitrogen. Milk intakes of puppies in the five litters were estimated from water kinetics following administration of deuterium oxide (D2O). D2O dilution indicated that body water comprised 72-73% of puppy body weight, and fractional turnover rate of body water averaged 0.15-0.17% per day in weeks 3 and 4 postpartum. Milk intakes were calculated as 160 ± 5.4 g (mean ± SEM) at 19 days and 175 ± 5.3 g at 26 days, equivalent to 17.0 and 14.6% of body weight, respectively. Daily milk yields of the bitches averaged 964 g at 19 days and 1054 g at 26 days. Dry matter intakes of the puppies were equivalent to 3.9 and 3.3% of body weight at 19 and 26 days, respectively. Gross energy intakes averaged 223-224 kcal/kg°'^ per day, and protein intakes averaged 0.33-0.36 g per gram body weight gain at these ages. Estimates of the energy requirements of young puppies by the National Research Council appear to be too hi¿i. J. Nutr. 114: 803-812, 1984. INDEXING
Citizen Responses to the Global Financial Crisis: A Comparative Study of Participation and Democratic Support

The global financial crisis was the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The crisis, which had its origins in the United States’ housing market crash of 2007, led to global impacts including rising unemployment and underemployment, home foreclosures, fewer opportunities for young people, and a loss of retirement savings. Previous research has examined the role of economic conditions in influencing various types of political behaviors and attitudes, however this has primarily pertained to fluctuations in economic performance during ordinary times. The magnitude of the recent crisis presents an unprecedented opportunity to examine how citizen political engagement in democratic societies is affected by a major economic shock. This thesis investigates how the global financial crisis has affected citizen political behavior—including voting behavior, civic engagement, and political protest—as well as democratic attitudes. To investigate the impact of the crisis, the study uses cross-national survey data fielded before and after the crisis in countries affected by the crisis to varying degrees. This enables a comparison both over time and across countries. Data from the previous two waves of the World Values Survey in 18 democratic countries is used to investigate the crisis impacts on civic engagement, political protest, and democratic support, while data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems in 13 countries facilitates an analysis of electoral behavior. Multilevel modeling and other quantitative methods are used to assess how factors at the country and individual level affected citizen political engagement before and after the crisis hit. The thesis tests a number of theories regarding the relationship between economic conditions and political behavior, including grievances and resources approaches. The analysis finds that countries harder hit by the crisis were more likely to experience declines in voter turnout, civic engagement, political protest and democratic support, suggesting the crisis had a demobilizing effect on participation. Similarly, at the individual level there was no evidence of a mobilization amongst those most vulnerable to the crisis, rather it continued to be those with resources that were most likely to participate in politics. The study contributes to our understanding of how economic conditions influence political attitudes and behaviors, and more broadly speaks to the political ramifications of major economic shocks.
Inverse Regulation of Biofilm Formation and Swarming Motility by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14

ABSTRACT We previously reported that SadB, a protein of unknown function, is required for an early step in biofilm formation by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here we report that a mutation in sadB also results in increased swarming compared to the wild-type strain. Our data are consistent with a model in which SadB inversely regulates biofilm formation and swarming motility via its ability both to modulate flagellar reversals in a viscosity-dependent fashion and to influence the production of the Pel exopolysaccharide. We also show that SadB is required to properly modulate flagellar reversal rates via chemotaxis cluster IV (CheIV cluster). Mutational analyses of two components of the CheIV cluster, the methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein PilJ and the PilJ demethylase ChpB, support a model wherein this chemotaxis cluster participates in the inverse regulation of biofilm formation and swarming motility. Epistasis analysis indicates that SadB functions upstream of the CheIV cluster. We propose that P. aeruginosa utilizes a SadB-dependent, chemotaxis-like regulatory pathway to inversely regulate two key surface behaviors, biofilm formation and swarming motility.
The relationship between pedometer-determined physical activity, body mass index and lean body mass index in children.

OBJECTIVE To cross-sectionally assess weekend to weekday variation of physical activity in British children and to consider the role of Body Mass Index (BMI, W/H(2)) and Lean Body Mass Index (LBMI, H(2)/W) when examining this issue. METHODS A total of 496 children aged 8-14 years, were measured for height and weight and the activity levels were analysed using pedometers to measure mean step counts for 4 consecutive days (2 weekdays, 2 weekend days). RESULTS Boys had significantly lower BMI than girls. Higher values for average weekend steps were associated with lower BMI values. BMI values were; however, found to be positively skewed but when the analysis was repeated using LBMI, data was normally distributed and the conclusions remained the same. CONCLUSIONS Weekday steps are higher than weekend steps for children irrespective of gender or weight status. Mean steps taken during weekend days are significantly associated with reduced BMI in children. These findings may be questioned because BMI is highly skewed and not normally distributed. However, LBMI provides a suitable alternative that is normally distributed and can be used to compare the relationship between weight status and physical activity.
Small vessel membrane potential, sympathetic input, and electrogenic pump rate in SHR.

Comparative measurements of transmembrane potential (Em) were made in situ in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSM) of mesenteric small principal arteries and veins with innervation and circulation intact. Vessels were in an externalized, topically suffused jejunal loop in 4- to 5-wk-old (initial hypertension) and 12- to 15-wk-old (established hypertension) anesthetized, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive control rats. Comparable in vitro measurements of Em were also made in VSM of isolated intact small mesenteric vessel segments (from the 12- to 15-wk-old animals) maintained at their in situ lengths and suffused with physiological salt solution (PSS). During suffusion in situ with control PSS, VSM of both small veins and arteries in older (but not younger)SHR were less polarized than in WKY. Local chemical sympathetic denervation in situ (with 6-hydroxydopamine) hyperpolarized VSM of both vessel types in older (but not younger) SHR to the same Em levels measured in situ in respective WKY vessels. After local denervation, VSM of small arteries (but not veins) of both SHR and WKY remained less polarized in situ than in vitro, suggesting the presence of one or more circulating factors with a specific depolarizing action on the arterial side in both animal types. In vitro, VSM of both small arteries and veins from WKY but not SHR were depolarized immediately by 10(-3) M ouabain. In contrast, reduction of the PSS suffusate temperature to 16 degrees C caused a significantly greater depolarization in VSM of SHR vessels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Premature Graying, Balding, and Low Bone Mineral Density in Older Women and Men

Objective: The authors report the association of balding or graying with BMD in older adults. Method: BMD was measured at the spine, hip, and total body in 1,207 participants. Of these, 508 women and 380 men responded to a 1986 survey about balding patterns; in 1994, all participants answered questions about graying. Results: Among men, 10.7% reported graying, and 51.1%, balding; 9.9% of women reported graying, and 9.5%, balding. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, calcium supplements, diuretics, glucocorticoids, thyroid hormone, and estrogen. Conclusion: Graying was not significantly associated with BMD in either group. Balding men averaged 5% lower total body BMD (p ≤ 0.05), and balding women had ~24% higher mean hip BMD (p ≤ 0.05). Graying and balding women reported a higher proportion of current estrogen use; balding women reported more use of glucocorticosteroids. Balding women using estrogen may explain the higher BMD.
Unwillingness to Participate in Colorectal Cancer Screening: Examining Fears, Attitudes, and Medical Mistrust in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Adults 50 Years and Older

Purpose. Identify the influence of medical mistrust, fears, attitudes, and sociodemographic characteristics on unwillingness to participate in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Design. Cross-sectional, disproportionally allocated, stratified, random-digit-dial telephone questionnaire of noninstitutionalized households. Setting. New York City, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; San Juan, Puerto Rico. Subjects. Ethnically diverse sample of 454 adults ≥50 years of age. Measures. Health status, cancer screening effectiveness, psychosocial factors (e.g., perceptions of pain, fear, trust), and CRC screening intentions using the Cancer Screening Questionnaire, which addresses a range of issues related to willingness of minorities to participate in cancer screening. Analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to model the probability of reporting unwillingness to participate in CRC screening. Results. Fear of embarrassment during screening (odds ratio [OR] = 10.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.15–53.39), fear of getting AIDS (OR = 8.75; 95% CI, 2.48–30.86), fear that exam might be painful (OR = 3.43; 95% CI, 1.03–11.35), and older age (OR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04–1.17) were positively associated with unwillingness to participate in CRC screening. Fear of developing cancer (OR = .12; 95% CI, .03–.57) and medical mistrust (OR = .19; 95% CI, .06–.60) were negatively associated with unwillingness to screen. Conclusions. Findings suggest that CRC health initiatives should focus on increasing knowledge, addressing fears and mistrust, and normalizing CRC screening as a beneficial preventive practice, and should increase focus on older adults.
Toward physics education in agreement with the nature of science : grade 9 electricity as a case

Many students in secondary schools consider the sciences difficult and unattractive. This applies to physics in particular, a subject in which students attempt to learn and understand numerous theoretical concepts, often without much success. A case in point is the understanding of the concepts current, voltage and resistance in simple electric circuits. In response to these problems, reform initiatives in education strive for a change of the classroom culture, putting emphasis on more authentic contexts and student activities containing elements of inquiry. The challenge then becomes choosing and combining these elements in such a manner that they foster an understanding of theoretical concepts. In this chapter we reflect on data collected and analyzed from a series of 12 grade 9 physics lesson on simple electric circuits. Drawing from a theoretical framework based on individual (conceptual change based) and socio-cultural views on learning, instruction was designed addressing known conceptual problems and attempting to create a physics (research) culture in the classroom. As the success of the lessons was limited, the focus of the study became to understand which inherent characteristics of inquiry-based instruction complicate the process of constructing conceptual understanding. From the analysis of the data collected during the enactment of the lessons three tensions emerged: the tension between open inquiry and student guidance, the tension between students developing their own ideas and getting to know accepted scientific theories, and the tension between fostering scientific interest as part of a scientific research culture and the task oriented school culture. An outlook will be given on the implications for science lessons. 2 This chapter has been published as: Kock, Z. -J., Taconis, R. , Bolhuis, S. , & Gravemeijer, K. (2013). Some key issues in creating inquiry-based instructional practices that aim at the understanding of simple electric circuits. Research in Science Education, 43(2), 579-597. doi: 10.1007/s11165-011-9278-6
Capacity Improvement for a Land Mobile Single Satellite MIMO System

This letter investigates a land mobile single satellite multiple-input¿multiple-output (MIMO) system, polarization-time coded for capacity gain and provides complementary cumulative distribution function capacity predictions using experimental data. Capacity results obtained for a single satellite, single antenna terminal [single-input¿single-output (SISO)], and a dual polarized single satellite, dual polarized antenna terminal (2 $,times,$2 MIMO) system are compared, showing the benefit of satellite-MIMO.
Gender differences on the semantic flanker task using transposed-letter target words

Previous research has demonstrated that men and women are differentially influenced by irrelevant distractors. Other lines of evidence have suggested that increasing the perceptual load of a task reduces distractor interference for participants generally. The present study examined these effects using a semantic version of the flanker task; participants made speeded responses to category target words that were flanked by irrelevant distractors. The response mapping between the target and flanker words was either congruent (mapped to the same motor response) or incongruent (target word mapped to a different motor response to that of the flankers). Target words were presented either normally (e.g., table: low perceptual load) or with the beginning letters transposed (e.g., atble: high perceptual load). The results revealed that women showed a larger congruency effect than men but this was not due to greater interference on incongruent trials. While men and women made faster responses to normal than to transposed target words, this was similar in magnitude. The magnitude of the flanker effect for normal and transposed target words was significantly correlated in men but not in women. These findings are consistent with the view that women may process target words to a deeper level than men and therefore may engage in more conflict monitoring then men.
Seed banks cause elevated generation times and effective population sizes of Arabidopsis thaliana in northern Europe

It is commonly found that effective population sizes of natural populations are much smaller than census sizes of plants and animals. However, theoretical studies have shown that factors rarely investigated empirically, like seed banks in plants and diapause in animals, may have profound influence on effective sizes. Here we investigate whether the presence of seed banks can explain the relatively high genetic variability observed in northern European Arabidopsis thaliana populations with small census sizes. We have genotyped three above‐ and below‐ ground cohorts in 27 Norwegian populations using single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Although the populations varied extensively in levels of variability within and between cohorts, standard genetic population measures were comparable to those obtained in previous studies on above‐ground cohorts using microsatellite markers. Estimated effective population sizes are larger for total populations (containing both seed bank and above‐ground cohorts for 1 year) compared to each of the cohorts considered separately. Using a conservative approach, we find that the effective sizes are larger than census sizes of local populations, and that the effective generation time is higher than 1 year (3–4 years, on average), making A. thaliana a perennial semelparous plant at many northern European localities.
Antithrombotic Activity of SR 46349, a Novel, Potent and Selective 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonist

Summary SR 46349 (trans-4-[(3Z)3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)oxyimino-3(2-fluorophenyl)propen-1-yl] phenol, hemifumarate) is the first member of a newly-developed 5-HT2 antagonist series. SR 46349 potently inhibited serotonin-induced aggregation of rabbit and human platelets (IC50 = 1 and 3.9 nM respectively) but had no effect on the action of other platelet aggregating agents. SR 46349 was 118 and 25 times more potent than ketanserin against 5-HT + epinephrine-induced aggregation of rabbit and human platelets respectively. A single per os administration of SR 46349 (1 mg/kg) resulted in a strong inhibition of 5-HT + epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in the rabbit as measured ex vivo (67% inhibition, 6 h after the administration). Intravenous or oral administration of SR 46346 inhibited in a dose-dependent manner venous thrombosis induced by ligature of the jugular vein of rabbits whose blood was made hypercoagulable by i.v. administration of tissue thromboplastin. The doses of SR 46349 which inhibited 50% of thrombus formation were 1.5 ± 0.8 mg/kg and 17 ± 0.5 mg/kg after i.v. or oral administration respectively. When given i.v. to rabbits, SR 46349 exhibited a dose-dependent antithrombotic effect in an arterio-venous shunt model. Significant increase of the bleeding time was observed after the i.v. administration of 5 mg/kg of SR 46349 (3-fold increase). In dogs, SR 46349 inhibited cyclic coronary artery blood flow variations, complete abolition of CFVs being achieved after the i.v. administration of 0.5 mg/kg. In conclusion, SR 46349 is a highly potent, selective antagonist of serotonin in vitro and is to be considered as a potent, orally active antithrombotic agent.
Evidence for a major gene influence on abdominal fat distribution: The Minnesota breast cancer family study

Abdominal fat has been shown to be an important risk factor for many chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer. The objective of this study was to provide evidence for a major gene influence on the ratio of waist to hip circumference (WHR), a measurement commonly used in large scale studies to indicate the presence of abdominal fat. Segregation analysis was conducted on three subsets of families from the Minnesota Breast Cancer Family Study. One analysis was conducted among families with WHR measurements on all women. Two additional analyses were conducted on subsets of women stratified on menopausal status. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with WHR expressed as a continuous trait. Complex segregation analyses were performed on the continuous trait of WHR and the covariates identified in the regression analysis. In the analysis of all women, all hypotheses were rejected. Among premenopausal women, the environmental hypothesis with no heterogeneity between generations fit the data best (P = 0.85). However, among postmenopausal women, the requirements for conclusion of the presence of a major gene were met. All non‐Mendelian hypotheses were rejected (P < 0.0001), but the additive hypothesis was not rejected (P = 0.19) and provided the best fit to the data. The putative major gene identified by this model accounted for 42% of total phenotypic variance in WHR among these postmenopausal women. The allele for high WHR had a frequency of 27%. These findings support the hypothesis that the distribution of abdominal fat in postmenopausal women is under genetic control. Genet. Epidemiol. 20:458–478, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.