Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE ON FATIGUE, CRITICAL POWER AND MUSCLE ENERGY STORES by SARAH D. CORN

The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been linked to the development of muscular fatigue. Antioxidant administration has the potential to counteract the increased levels of ROS, leading to improvements in performance. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a nonspecific antioxidant, is especially promising due to its ability to support the biosynthesis of glutathione, one of the primary endogenous antioxidants. Despite this, the effects of NAC on time to fatigue appear to be dependent upon the exercise intensity, with the more pronounced effects evident at submaximal exercise intensities. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an acute dose of NAC on whole body fatigue, critical power (CP) and W’ during high-intensity exercise. It was hypothesized that pretreatment with NAC would result in (1) an increase in time to fatigue (TTF), CP and W’, (2) NAC administration would attenuate changes in the EMG responses indicative of fatigue, and (3) speeding of the kinetics of the primary phase of VO2 and a reduction in the slow component. Seven healthy, active males (age: 21.4 ± 1.6 years, weight: 89.1 ± 11.0 kg, height: 183 ± 5 cm) completed an incremental ramp test until exhaustion for the determination of peak VO2 and power. Four tests were subsequently performed at power outputs corresponding to 80, 90, 100, and 110% Pmax under NAC and placebo (PLA) conditions. NAC resulted in a significant increase in [tGSH] in red blood cells compared to baseline and PLA condition. TTF was significantly increased only in the 80% Pmax trial (p = 0.033). CP was also significantly higher with NAC (NAC: 232 ± 28 W vs PLA: 226 ± 31 W; p = 0.032), but W’ showed a tendency to decrease (NAC: 15.5 ± 3.8 kJ vs W’: 16.4 ± 4.5 kJ). The change in W’ was negatively related to CP (r = -0.96), indicating that the increase in CP was associated with a decrease in W’. EMG analysis revealed a tendency for MdPF and RMS to demonstrate less of a change with NAC. There were no significant differences in VO2 kinetics, but an inverse relationship was observed between the change in τp and the magnitude of the slow component expressed both in absolute terms (r = -0.632, p = 0.007) and as a gain (r = -0.751, p = 0.0005). We conclude that NAC was effective in delaying fatigue and improving exercise performance at 80% peak power, although the exact mechanisms are still unclear.
NORTHERN MALI 2012: THE SHORT-LIVED TRIUMPH OF IRREDENTISM

Strengthened by weapons from Libya, the rebellion beginning in Mali incJanuary 2012 finally gave a Tuareg-dominated irredentist movement control of Northern Mali in the fourth rebellion since independence. The Movement for the National Liberation (MNLA) called this area Azawad, proclaiming it as independent. Although it was to be a multiethnic country, the MNLA remained dominated by the Tuareg. Discontent among Malian officers during the fight against the rebels produced a coup d'état, undermining the military command structure, which greatly contributed to the rebels' success. An unavowed alliance existed with AQIM (Al-Qaida of the Islamic Maghreb) and the Tuareg Islamist group Ansar Dine. The latter and the AQIM-offshoot, MUJAO (the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa), eventually drove the MNLA from Northern Mali. Increasingly, the Islamists imposed an extreme version of sharia, adding to the mass flight of refugees. Negotiations between the interim Malian government, the MNLA and the Ansar Dine still continued until the latter and AQIM moved towards Southern Mali. The perceived threat made the Malian government request French assistance. The intervention gradually drove the Islamists from the country, enabling the restoration of the state in Northern Mali. The conflict reveals underlying features of the political situation in Northern Mali, and highlights how the Tuareg and NorthernMalians have responded to the state's shortcomings through rebellion. Access to the state passes through privileged individuals. Rebels have been drawn closer to the state after conflicts, with only some benefitting from this arrangement. This is mirrored at a local level, with public figures and their followers enjoying the closest relation to the state. Producing widespread discontent, this situation is marked by insecurity because of a weak state presence. Misgivings have fed into new rebellions. Weak state control also allowed the AQIM to engage in hostage taking and for smuggling to expand. This volatile situation produced the latest rebellion. An improved connection to the state for Northern Mali and a strong state presence are necessary to counteract the factors responsible for repeated conflict.
The Levels of Creative Thinking and Metacognitive Thinking Skills of Intermediate School in Jordan: Survey Study

This study is aimed at investigating the levels of creative and metacognitive thinking skills among students as well as the effect of student’s gender on creative and metacognitive thinking skills in the intermediate stage at Al-Balqa Province in Jordan. The method of stratifi ed sampling was selected for the purpose of this study. The metacognitive inventory consisted of (52) items, and Torrance test (Figure B), has been Applied on (372) students.The results showed that there were statistical signifi cant differences between the average performance of males and females on the creative and metacognitive thinking for the benefit of males as well as a high level of Metacognitive thinking from the viewpoint of the students. The researcher recommended that further studies should be focus on training programs for students on metacognitive skills and impact on educational achievement and creative thinking. Key words: Metacognitive thinking skills; Creative thinking skills; Education; Gender
Effects of Acid Pre-Treatments on the Swelling and Vapor Sorption of Thermally Modified Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Wood

Scots pine sapwood samples were pre-treated with a Lewis acid (AlCl3) and a combination of Lewis and protonic acids (AlCl3 and H2SO4), and were subsequently exposed to respective temperatures of 180 °C and 120 °C for establishing a comparable mass loss with those impregnated with demineralized water and solely thermally modified at 220 °C. Water impregnated samples dried at 120 °C also served as controls. The swelling behavior of all wood samples was examined with respect to maximum swelling in water, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), shrinkage, and dynamic water vapor sorption at relative humidity ranges of 0% to 95%. The thermal modification at 220 °C diminished swelling and moisture adsorption, and also reduced moisture increment and decrement compared with the unmodified control. However, it was less obvious than both acid pre-treated samples. Excess surface work and Hailwood-Horrobin results calculated from water vapor sorption studies demonstrated that, at comparable mass loss, the available sorption sites were reduced to a greater extent by Lewis acid and combination of Lewis and protonic acids pre-treatment than the sole thermal treatment. This was attributed to more pronounced degradation of polysaccharides, mainly hemicelluloses and amorphous parts of cellulose, and to cross-linking of cell wall polymers due to the acid pre-treatments.
Evaluation of Cachexia in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Introduction: Patients with cancer suffer from a wasting syndrome associated with anorexia/cachexia. Anorexia is associated with a marked loss of appetite and/or an aversion to food. Cachexia is associated with loss of body mass and is often associated with weakness, fatigue leading to poor quality of life. It has been observed in those individuals with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a premalignant condition, are generally thin and there seems to be a relation between loss of appetite and consumption of areca nut in these individuals. Aims: Evaluation of cachexia in OSMF patients based on the criteria given for defining cachexia by group of scientists and clinicians in the cachexia consensus conference. Materials and methods: Twenty OSMF cases (group I) and 20 healthy individuals with areca nut chewing habit (group II) were assessed for body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin and serum albumin level. Their fatigue and anorexia scores were calculated by using structured questionnaires. Results: Correlation between fatigue and anorexia was statistically significant for OSMF group but was statistically not significant in group II. Comparisons of BMI, hemoglobin, fatigue and anorexia between two groups were statistically not significant, however, serum albumin was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: From the present study it can be concluded that the early process of cachexia begins during the progression of OSMF. The areca nut chewing practice associated with OSMF may play some role in this context.
Investigation of Sound Transmission Loss Through Sandwich Panel with Foam Core

في السنوات الماضية، تم زيادة طلب العملاء والمستهلكين للحصول على الاداء الصوتي. حيث اصبحت خصائص الاهتزاز والضوضاء من معايير التصميم المهمة. يتم اعتبار السلوك الاهتزاز- الصوتي في الشطائر المركب، موضوع بحث مهم لتوفير تصميم مناسب مع متطلبات المستهلك. يستخدم طريقة شدة الصوت على نطاق واسع لقياس خسارة انتقال الصوت بين غرفتين. وتستخدم هذه الطريقة مع المواد المركبة التي تتكون من طبقتين من الصلب بينهما طبقة واحدة للأساس. يتم في هذا البحث وصف موجزا لطريقة شدة الصوت التي تعتمد على المعايير البريطانية [1]ISO140. استخدمت طريقة العنصر ال محدودFEM من اجل المقارنة مع النتائج التجريبية. استخدم سمك مختلف لطبقة الاساس لدراسة تأثير ذلك على مقدار خسائر الانتقال الصوتي. وتظهر النتائج التجريبية والنظرية، أن قيمة خسارة الانتقال الصوتي تزداد بمعدلات (6 ديسيبل)، عندما يتضاعف سمك الاساس.
Young, Open and International: The Impact of Search Strategies on the Internationalization of New Ventures

Young firms with the ability to internationalize early and decisively have received much attention in recent academic discussion. However, relatively little is known about the underlying processes that enable them to skip several stages of the internationalization process. We contribute to this research stream by establishing theoretical links with the emerging open innovation paradigm of firms optimizing their R&D activities by interconnecting them with external partners such as leading customers, universities or specialized suppliers. Based on a sample of more than 2,500 firms in Germany we contrast young and mature firms with regard to the effect of open innovation strategies on internationalization performance. Our results show that both the breadth and depth of search strategies for external knowledge help young firms to enter international markets. Once they have entered these markets, though, the drivers for success seem to shift from general knowledge sourcing to targeted and specific ones.
Imaging the circumstellar environment of the young T Tauri star SU Aurigae

The circumstellar environments of classical T Tauri stars are challenging to directly image because of their high star-to-disk contrast ratio. One method to overcome this is by using imaging polarimetry where scattered and consequently polarised starlight from the star’s circumstellar disk can be separated from the unpolarised light of the central star. We present images of the circumstellar environment of SU Aur, a classical T Tauri star at the transition of T Tauri to Herbig stars. The images directly show that the disk extends out to 500 AU with an inclination angle of ∼50 ◦ . Using interpretive models, we derived very small grains in the surface layers of its disk, with a very steep size- and surface-density distribution. Additionally, we resolved a large and extended nebulosity in our images that is most likely a remnant of the prenatal molecular cloud. The position angle of the disk, determined directly from our images, rules out a polar outflow or jet as the cause of this large-scale nebulosity.
An Empirical Analysis of the Performance of the Ghana Stock Exchange and Treasury Bills

The study compared risk and returns characteristics of stock exchange traded shares and treasury bills in Ghana to find out which of the two instruments gives better rewards to investors. We made use of annualized returns of these instruments and applied statistical measures of average annual returns, standard deviations and co-efficient of variations for the analysis. Comparing investor ‘A’ (Treasury Bills Investment) and investor ‘B’ (GSE AllShare Investment) as sample study for the period of 1990 to 2010, it was revealed that GSE All-Shares Index has higher risk and higher return. This result confirms the general expectation of the relationship between rate of returns and the risk associated with investment – the higher the risk, the higher the return. The Study further revealed that the market performance of both treasury bills and GSE All-Share Index outperformed the rate at which prices were rising (average inflation rate) for the period 1990-2010.
Hydrological and Biogeochemical Controls on Absorption and Fluorescence of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Northern South China Sea

The Kuroshio intrusion from the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and mesoscale eddies are important hydrological features in the northern South China Sea (SCS). In this study, absorption and fluorescence of dissolved organic matter (CDOM and FDOM) were determined to assess the impact of these hydrological features on DOM dynamics in the SCS. DOM in the upper 100 m of the northern SCS had higher absorption, fluorescence, and degree of humification than in the Kuroshio Current of the WPS. The results of an isopycnal mixing model showed that CDOM and humic‐like FDOM inventories in the upper 100 m of the SCS were modulated by the Kuroshio intrusion. However, protein‐like FDOM was influenced by in situ processes. This basic trend was modified by mesoscale eddies, three of which were encountered during the fieldwork (one warm eddy and two cold eddies). DOM optical properties inside the warm eddy resembled those of DOM in the WPS, indicating that warm eddies could derive from the Kuroshio Current through Luzon Strait. DOM at the center of cold eddies was enriched in humic‐like fluorescence and had lower spectral slopes than in eddy‐free waters, suggesting inputs of humic‐rich DOM from upwelling and enhanced productivity inside the eddy. Excess CDOM and FDOM in northern SCS intermediate water led to export to the Pacific Ocean interior, potentially delivering refractory carbon to the deep ocean. This study demonstrated that DOM optical properties are promising tools to study active marginal sea‐open ocean interactions.
Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Eleotrid Genus Hypseleotris (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Eleotridae), With Redescription of H. cyprinoides

Hypseleotris includes eight described and four undescribed species of small, laterally compressed gobioid fishes, unusual among them in that they superficially resemble cyprinids. One species is widespread throughout the fresh and brackish waters of the old world southern hemisphere; the remaining eleven species form a radiation in Australia and southern New Guinea. In this study, morphological and molecular characters are combined in a total evidence phylogenetic analysis in order to investigate the patterns of diversification in Australian and other Hypseleotris, including a consideration of biogeography. The species H. dayi, H. tohizonae, H. leuciscus, and H. guentheri are synonymized with H. cyprinoides. Within Australian Hypseleotris, H. klunzingeri is the most basal taxon, and the remainder of the species fall into two groups: a radiation in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and a second radiation in the eastern, central, and southeastern river drainages.
Influence of Teacher Pedagogical Practices on Gender in Nairobi Informal Settlements and Kilifi County Schools, Kenya

This paper examines teachers’ pedagogical practices in the classroom and their implications on girls’ learning outcomes. The paper is based on a qualitative case study of selected schools in Nairobi and Kilifi counties in Kenya. A total of six primary schools; four in Nairobi informal settlements and two from Kilifi (representing the arid and semi- arid lands) participated in the study. A total of 220 informants including 189 children and 31 adults were interviewed individually or in groups. The study utilised observations, interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and mapping methods to generate data. Results indicated that teachers engaged boys more than girls in the learning processes, grouping learners according to their abilities that saw girls fall into poor performing categories. The study concluded that gender-biased pedagogical practices marginalised girls further hence limiting their chances of acquiring quality education and equity for sustainable development. The paper recommends retooling teachers on gender responsive pedagogy. Keywords: Pedagogical practices, Marginalisation, Gender, Learning outcomes
Measuring Hypothetical Grandparents Preferences For Equality And Relative Standings

Individuals’ aversion to risk and inequality, and their concern for relative standing, are measured through experimental choices between hypothetical societies. It is found that on average individuals are both fairly inequality-averse and have a strong concern for relative income. The results are used to illustrate welfare consequences based on a utilitarian SWF and a modified CRRA utility function. It is shown that the social marginal utility of income may then become negative, even at income levels that are far from extreme.
Constructing a schema: Word-class changing morphology in a usage-based perspective

Abstract This paper discusses how collostructional analysis can be applied to the study of word-formation patterns. Drawing on a diachronic corpus study of German ung-nominalization and Infinitival Nominalization using the GerManC Corpus, it is shown that a cross-tabulation analysis comparing the frequencies of word-formation products to those of their respective bases can give valuable clues to the input language users rely on when abstracting a schema (i.e., a word-formation construction) from a quite heterogeneous array of instantiations.
Profit, Cost and Scale Efficiency for Latin American Banks: Concentration-Performance Relationship

Using a sample of 495 Latin American banks over the period 2001-2008, this paper investigates how bank concentration influences cost and profit efficiency. We calculate scale efficiency to assess whether these banks are close to their optimal size. We find that banks are more inefficient in profits than in costs; concentration impairs cost efficiency; larger banks have higher performance, but this advantage decreases in concentrated markets; private and foreign banks are the most efficient; most banks are operating under increasing returns of scale, which contributes to the discussion on Basel III.
An illustrated key to species of Palaemon and Palaemonetes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) from European waters, including the alien species Palaemon macrodactylus

A detailed illustrated key to the identification of the European species of the genera Palaemon and Palaemonetes is provided. This key has been elaborated taking into account recent changes in the species composition of both genera for European waters, such as the invalidity of Palaemon garciacidi, which is a synonym of P. longirostris, and the presence of an introduced species, Palaemon macrodactylus that has been recently recorded at different localities along the Atlantic coast. The key is based on external morphological characters to facilitate its use by non-specialists. Data on the coloration, habitat and distribution of all species are also given.
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF TABLES Page No. 1. Co-efficient of Reliability 62 2. Descriptive statistics of selected Physical fitness variables of 65 junior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 3. Descriptive statistics of selected Physical fitness variables of 68 senior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 4. Descriptive statistics of selected Physiological variables of 71 junior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 5. Descriptive statistics of selected Physiological variables of 73 senior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 6. Comparison of physical fitness variables of junior and senior 75 female boxers of Delhi state 7. T-test for comparison of physical fitness variables of junior and 78 senior female boxers of Haryana state 8. T-test for comparison of physical fitness variables of junior and 80 senior female boxers of Punjab state 9. T-test for comparison of physical fitness variables of junior and 83 senior female boxers of Rajasthan state 10. T-test for comparison of physical fitness variables of junior and 85 senior female boxers of Uttarakhand state 11. T-test for comparison of physiological variables of junior and 87 senior female boxers of Delhi state 12. T-test for comparison of physiological variables of junior and 88 senior female boxers of Haryana state 13. T-test for comparison of physiological variables of junior and 89 senior female boxers of Punjab state 14. T-test for comparison of physiological variables of junior and 90 senior female boxers of Rajasthan state 15. T-test for comparison of physiological variables of junior and 91 senior female boxers of Uttarakhand state 16. One way analysis of variance (Anova) comparison of Speed ( 93 50 yards dash) among junior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 17. One way analysis of variance (Anova) comparison of Agility ( 93 30 feet shuttle run) among junior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 18. One way analysis of variance (Anova) comparison of arm and 94 shoulder strength (no. of pull ups) among junior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand 19. One way analysis of variance (Anova) comparison of 94 abdominal strength (no. of sit ups) among junior female boxers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
Challenging problems on affine $n$-space

Complex affine n-space C^n, the basic object of algebraic geometry, offers a number of exciting and striking problems. The most famous one, the Jacobian Conjecture is the still unsolved. Others are the Cancellation Problem (Does Y times C^k simeq C^{n+k} imply that Y simeq C^n? ), the Linearization Problem (Is every automorphism of C^n of finite order conjugate to a linear automorphism? ), or the Embedding Problem (Are there other embeddings of C^{n-1} into C^n than the standard ones? ). It turns out that these questions and several others are intimately related and have very interesting connections with problems arising from algebraic group actions and orbit spaces. We give a survey on these problems and discuss some recent progress and examples.