Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Objectively Measured Physical Activity Is Negatively Associated with Plasma Adiponectin Levels inMinority Female Youth

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between adiponectin and physical activity (PA) in minority female youth.Methods. Plasma adiponectin was measured in 39 females (mean age 9.2 ± 0.9 years; 30 Latina, 9 African-American; 56% overweight). PA was assessed by accelerometry. Mean minutes per day spent in daily PA (DPA) (≥3 metabolic equivalents (METs)), moderate PA (MPA)(4–7 METs), vigorous PA (VPA)(≥7 METs), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA)(≥4 METs) were calculated. The association between adiponectin and PA, controlling for age, fat weight, lean weight, and insulin sensitivity (SI) was analyzed using linear regression. Results. Adiponectin correlated with fat weight (r = −0.43, P < .01) and SI (r = 0.52, P < .01). Minutes spent in DPA (β = −0.40, P = .02), MPA (β = −0.36, P = .04), or MVPA (β = −0.37, P = .03) were predictors of adiponectin in the adjusted model. Conclusions. Higher PA levels were related to lower adiponectin levels. Potential mechanisms include upregulation of adiponectin receptors or an increase in high-molecular weight adiponectin with increasing PA.
GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS FED VARYING LEVELS OF ENERGY AND PROTEIN DIETS UNDER SINGLE VERSUS DOUBLE PHASE FEEDING

A total of 240 days old broiler chicks were randomly divided into ten treatment groups of 24 birds per group with each group replicated twice. Nine of the ten groups were fed single phase diets of varying protein and energy levels, while the tenth which was the control was fed the two stage diets (0-5 weeks starter phase, and 6 - 8 weeks finisher phase). A 3 x 4 - 2 factorial design which was an adaptation of 3x4 factorial design was used in this experiment. Feed and water were served ad libitum throughout the duration (0-8 weeks) of the experimental period. All necessary vaccinations and preventive medication were carried out at various periods of the experiment. The parameters measured in this experiment were body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed to gain ratio. Data were analysed with the aid of a computer package SPSS for windows, version 11.0 (2000). Results showed that birds on low protein-high energy diet (T7) had the least values in most of these parameters measured. Birds on low protein-medium energy (T8) and high protein-low energy (T3) diets performed best in these parameters. Diets T8 and T3 were therefore recommended as the best to be used under the single phase feeding system. (Aremu.A, T.Z. Adama, E.L. Shiawoya and B.A. Ayanwale. GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS FED VARYING LEVELS OF ENERGY AND PROTEIN DIETS UNDER SINGLE VERSUS DOUBLE PHASE FEEDING. New York Science Journal 2011;4(7):109-114). (ISSN: 1554-0200). http://www.sciencepub. net/newyork.
Association of transpiration efficiency with N2 fixation of peanut under early season drought

Peanut is grown mostly in rainfed areas where drought is a recurring problem. Peanut genotypes with high transpiration efficiency (TE) use less water and produced yield better under drought conditions. Specific leaf area and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading are used as surrogate traits for TE. N2 fixation (NF) is also used as a surrogate trait for yield under drought. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between TE and NF and their contributions to yield under early season drought (ESD). A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with four replications for two seasons. Early drought (1/3 available water from emergence to 40 days after emergence) and irrigated control were assigned in main-plots, and 12 peanut genotypes were assigned in sub-plots. Data were recorded for TE, NF and pod yield at harvest. ESD increased TE and NF. KK 60-3 had high TE and also had high NF under drought conditions. Under drought conditions, TE was strongly and positively correlated with N2 fixation. Hence, high NF might contribute to high TE under ESD conditions. KK 60-3 is a superior genotype for its ability to maintain high N2 fixation, and it could improve TE under ESD conditions. Improvement of NF combined with high TE would have contributed to higher pod yield under drought conditions. It was apparent that enhanced NF also increased TE and pod yield. Thus, selecting for improved NF under ESD conditions may be an effective indirect selection technique to improve yield under drought conditions.
Effects of Organisational Characteristics on Contractors’ Construction Cash Flow Forecasting Capabilities

Inadequate cash resources resulting from poor cash flows have been among the fundamental causes of construction project failures. Despite the panoply of cash flow forecasting (CFF) tools, the cash flow performance of many construction firms have been reported to be poor due weak Cash flow forecasting (CFF) process capabilities influenced by a couple of organisational characteristics. Although these organisational characteristics have been reported to significantly influence firms’ CFF process capabilities, the underlying mechanisms of how these organisational features and characteristics exhibit their specific influences on the cash flow forecasting capabilities of construction firms still remains underexplored. Therefore, this study aims at empirically exploring the influence of some organisation characteristics on the CFF process capabilities of construction firms. Best practices in CFF identified from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Cash Flow Forecasting (CFF) guide were used to develop an assessment criteria used to assess the CFF capabilities of construction firms. The assessment was conducted through a questionnaire survey involving contracting organisations involved in both building and civil engineering works in Nigeria. The key best practices in CFF were ranked based on arithmetic mean value scores and averages were also determined for each of the four CFF components assessed (Knowledge and understanding CFF concepts and principles, Practical application, Practical considerations, and other Managerial issues). Hierarchical regression analysis was then used to examine the relationships between contractors’’ CFF process capabilities and some organisational characteristics. Results of the study reveals that organisational characteristics are strongly associated to firms’ abilities to prudently manage cash flows. The results of this study could serve as a basis for the strategic planning and improvement of Cash Flow Forecasting process by contractors in Nigeria.
Interactions between Heterogeneity in Nominal Rigidities and Search Frictions in General Equilibrium Models

This dissertation consists of three chapters that aim to build a framework which can be used to study interactions between the labour market and macroeconomic dynamics. To achieve this, we reformulate a standard New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model to include search and matching frictions in the labour market and heterogeneity in price and wage stickiness. The first chapter, coauthored with Professor Engin Kara, builds a real business cycle model with labour search frictions and heterogeneity in wage stickiness. Shimer’s (2005) critique on labour search models, that it cannot explain observed unemployment movements, reignited a long-standing debate on unemployment fluctuations and wage determination. Gertler and Trigari (2009) introduce wage stickiness to the model to match unemployment volatility, while Pissarides (2009) finds this modification not satisfactory, citing evidence on high wage cyclicality. We find heterogeneity in wage stickiness in microdata on wages. Our model, which reflects this heterogeneity, matches the data better than its one sector alternatives. The second chapter, coauthored with Professor Engin Kara, studies output dynamics in New Keynesian models with the standard labour market and heterogeneity in price stickiness. We analytically and numerically show that these models can reproduce a hump-shaped output response to persistent monetary shocks, which is a key feature of monetary transmission mechanism. The version of models without heterogeneity cannot generate a hump. Flexible prices in models with heterogeneity play a crucial role, by generating inertia to price-setting and output. The third chapter studies how the labour search frictions affect output dynamics in New Keynesian models, when combined with heterogeneity in nominal rigidities. Long-term employment relationship, that arises under search and matching framework, makes marginal costs history dependent. We show that this history dependence generates inertia in the model. Heterogeneity in nominal rigidities significantly reinforces this inertia, resulting in a hump-shaped output response to persistent monetary shocks. The model without the search frictions cannot replicate a hump even when monetary shocks are persistent, when wages are sticky.
A High Return Loss of Microwave Bandpass Filter Using Superconducting Electrospun YBCO Nanostructures

A high return loss (-30 dB), small size (100 mm2) and broad bandwidth (1.5 GHz) microwave bandpass filter has been designed using finite element modelling and developed using the superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) thin films deposited on a (10 × 10 mm2) LaAlO3 substrate by spin coating. The thin films have been prepared by electrospinning and solid-state techniques. The microwave properties of filter circuits were experimentally determined using the vector network analyser (VNA) at room temperature (300 K) and in the presence of liquid nitrogen (77 K). The solid-state filter showed high return loss (i.e. -22 dB) at operating frequency of 9.7 GHz and broad bandwidth of 1.5 GHz, which is consistent with the simulation results. The insertion losses for YBCO filters are ~-2, ~-1.5 and ~-3 dB for the normal, nanoparticle and nanorod respectively. However, the electrospun filters exhibited lower performance due to the nano-structural properties of YBCO samples at nanoscale which make these sample have a large band gap compared to solid-state sample. The results indicate that the filter design and simulation result are reliable. Hence, HTS YBCO could be a potential microwave bandpass filter in industry.
Regional Variations of Credits Obtained by LEED 2009 Certified Green Buildings—A Country Level Analysis

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one of the most widely recognized green building rating systems. With more than 20% of the projects certified in non-United States (US) countries, LEED’s global impact has been increasing and it is critically important for developers and regulatory authorities to understand LEED’s performance at the country level to facilitate global implementation. This study therefore aims to investigate the credit achievement pattern of LEED 2009, which is one of the well-developed versions of LEED, by using 4021 certified projects in the US, China, Turkey, and Brazil. The results show that significant differences can be identified on most rating categories, including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. Using a post hoc analysis, country-specific credit allocation patterns are also identified to help developers to understand existing country-specific green building practices. In addition, it is also found that there is unbalanced achievement of regional priority credits. The study offers a useful reference and benchmark for international developers and contractors to understand the regional variations of LEED 2009 and for regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Green Building Council, to improve the rating system, especially on designing regional priority credits.
Analysing Financial Returns by Using Regression Models Based on Non‐Symmetric Stable Distributions

The daily evolution of the price of Abbey National shares over a 10‐week period is analysed by using regression models based on possibly non‐symmetric stable distributions. These distributions, which are only known through their characteristic function, can be used in practice for interactive modelling of heavy‐tailed processes. A regression model for the location parameter is proposed and shown to induce a similar model for the mode. Finally, regression models for the other three parameters of the stable distribution are introduced. The model found to fit best allows the skewness of the distribution, rather than the location or scale parameters, to vary over time. The most likely share return is thus changing over time although the region where most returns are observed is stationary.
Managing Fisheries Development in Maharashtra

Maharashtra has 720 km. of coastline with the continental shelf area of 111512 sq. km. There are as many as 32 inland varieties of fish produced in this state. Among these varieties, shrimps, prawns, harpodon neherias, ribbon fish, otalithes, pomfrets, anchoviella, mackeral and cattle fish put together account for over 70 per cent share in total inland fish production of Maharashtra. Brihan Mumbai and Thane are the only two major regions of the state accounting for bulk of the total inland fish production. Though Maharashtra accounts for a significant share in total marine fish production of India, her share in total fish production of India has declined over the past two decades mainly due to a sharp decline in her share in total marine fish production of India. The major problem faced by the marine fisheries of Maharashtra is relating to depletion of resources due to illegal presence of foreign vessels and vessels belonging to other states, which appeared to have created pressure on the coast line. As a result, the marine fish production of Maharashtra has grown at very low pace during the last two decades. In order to tackle this problem, there is need for the Government of India to introduce zonalisation of coast line in the National Fishing Policy. This will certainly help in checking the depletion of marine resources. In fact, the present fishing fleet of the state is not capable of exploiting the deep sea resources. It is to be further noted that there has been decline in inland water spread area and numerical strength of fish curing yards in the state. The number of fishery schools in the state has also stagnated over the last two decades. These are certainly disturbing features of the fisheries sector of Maharashtra. Although in order to develop fisheries sector, the department of fisheries in the state is conducting various training programme relating to carp fish seed production, fresh water prawn culture, integrated fish farming and management of aquarium, etc., there is also need to educate fishermen with respect to dissemination of information relating to modern fishing techniques and efficient marketing of fish catch. Equally important is the need for more innovative technologies in this sector, diffusion of developed technology by extension workers and adoption by the clients. Education of fishermen about modern fishing techniques has significant impact on adoption of recommended fish culture practices by the farmers. Further, extension and mass media participation have strong positive relationship with adoption of fish culture practices. Nonetheless, inadequate infrastructure and flow of information technology are the major barriers for better market integration in the existing marine fish markets of India.
Aerosol optical properties during dust and biomass burning episodes retrieved from sun-photometer over Shanghai

Abstract. Ground-based observation over Shanghai was carried out from 28 March to 25 June 2013 in an urban site at Fudan University (31°18' N, 121°29' E). Utilizing a sun/sky radiometer (CE318), aerosol properties including thickness, scattering, asymmetry, and particle size distribution were inversed for two types (dust and biomass burning). Dust aerosol showed large optical depth (AOD at 440 nm ~ 1.06) with small value of Angstrom parameter (α) around 0.74, indicating the strong optical extinction capability of large-size particles. Aerosol loading (~ 0.72 at 440 nm) was discovered to be coupled with large α (> 1.05) for biomass smoke. The particle size distribution was dominated by the coarse mode for dust with high concentration ratio between coarse and fine mode (VC/VF ~ 3.76). Biomass burning particle primarily accumulated around 0.17 μm and performed smaller VC/VF (~ 0.99). Aerosol in fine mode mainly accounted for the optical extinction process in Shanghai as its volume concentration was well-correlated with AOD (R ~ 0.88 in average condition). The value of single scattering albedo (SSA) during agricultural residue burning displayed variation from 0.902 to 0.922 with a descending trend at 670–1020 nm while SSA increased at all wavelengths for dust aerosol. The negative correlation between SSA · AOD and α was analyzed to capture the order of scattering capability: urban/industrial
Pupillary responses in art appreciation: Effects of aesthetic emotions

The authors examined effects of aesthetic emotions in art appreciation. Subjects were presented three groups of slides of cubistic paintings that differed in their processing fluency. In an explicit classification procedure, subjects were asked to indicate by button press the moment when they recognized any depicted object in the painting. The time to recognize a depicted object was shortest for high processing fluency paintings, which were also rated higher in their preference. This is in accordance with the “hedonic fluency model” that predicts higher processing fluency being associated with positive aesthetic emotions in art appreciation (Reber, Schwartz, & Winkielman, 2004). In addition, higher processing fluency was associated with increased pupil dilations following the point of explicit classification. The finding of higher pupil dilation associated with easy-to-process stimuli is interpreted as reflecting aspects of aesthetic emotions that follow explicit classification of art stimuli as proposed in the “model of aesthetic appreciation and aesthetic judgments” (Leder, Belke, Oeberst, & Augustin, 2004).
Herbicide Resistance: Toward an Understanding of Resistance Development and the Impact of Herbicide-Resistant Crops

Development of herbicide-resistant crops has resulted in significant changes to agronomic practices, one of which is the adoption of effective, simple, low-risk, crop-production systems with less dependency on tillage and lower energy requirements. Overall, the changes have had a positive environmental effect by reducing soil erosion, the fuel use for tillage, and the number of herbicides with groundwater advisories as well as a slight reduction in the overall environmental impact quotient of herbicide use. However, herbicides exert a high selection pressure on weed populations, and density and diversity of weed communities change over time in response to herbicides and other control practices imposed on them. Repeated and intensive use of herbicides with the same mechanisms of action (MOA; the mechanism in the plant that the herbicide detrimentally affects so that the plant succumbs to the herbicide; e.g., inhibition of an enzyme that is vital to plant growth or the inability of a plant to metabolize the herbicide before it has done damage) can rapidly select for shifts to tolerant, difficult-to-control weeds and the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds, especially in the absence of the concurrent use of herbicides with different mechanisms of action or the use of mechanical or cultural practices or both.
THE LAST PLANNER SYSTEM OF CONSTRUCTION PLANNING AND CONTROL AS A TEACHING AND LEARNING TOOL

During the last years a new philosophy of production has been successfully implemented, not only in manufacturing (lean production), but also in other “old-fashioned” sectors such as construction (the socalled lean construction). Since 2008, a group of academicians at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia has started the introduction of lean construction in the Spanish building industry promoting meetings, writing papers and teaching the topic. A special mention deserves a new course on Lean Construction started at the Master of Science in Planning and Management in Civil Engineering. Not only in this graduate course, but also in some undergraduate courses, this group of teachers has implemented games that try to simulate the behavior of the real construction industry. One of the most interesting simulations deals with the implementation of the Last Planner System at the construction site. The Last Planner System is a cascade planning technique that allows a better control in order to reduce variability at the construction site. This article describes the experience and recommendations obtained from the implementation of a Pull Session at the graduate and undergraduate courses. A Pull Session is the first main step of the Last Planner System technique that sets the initial planning and the strategic objectives and milestones for the construction project. Several sessions were conducted with students of several graduate and undergraduate courses. By applying the practice to a real construction project, the students performed different roles (site manager, foreman, subcontractors, suppliers, etc.), whereas the teacher was the facilitator of the session. This way, students were able to experience and witness the needs and issues that arise when planning properly a construction project, learning the advantages of collaborative work at the same time.
Reproductive monopoly enforced by sterile police workers in a queenless ant

In societies of totipotent insects, dyadic dominance interactions generate a hierarchy that often underlies an extreme reproductive skew. Subordinates remain infertile but can maximize their indirect fitness benefits through collective power (worker policing): interference with challenging high-rankers can prevent an untimely replacement of the reproductive. However, police workers only benefit if they favor individuals with high fertility. In the monogynous queenless ant Streblognathus peetersi, we used behavioral, physiological, and chemical methods to show that police workers have the primary role in the selection of the reproductive, and that they probably use reliable information about fertility encoded in the cuticular hydrocarbons to make their decision. We successfully decreased an alpha's fertility by using a hormonal treatment (Pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analogue), and she was always removed from the hierarchy by police workers. In the preceding days, one of the high-rankers became aggressive, although her interactions were not directed at the treated alpha. All treated alphas (n e 10) remained aggressive but ended up immobilized by low-ranking workers after a median time of 11.5 days. By then, the challenging high ranker exhibited dominance behaviors typical of the alpha rank. In parallel, the cuticular profile of the treated alpha exhibited predictable and opposite modifications to that of the challenger's. This is the first study that uncouples dominance and fertility in a social insect: it gives a better understanding of the crucial role of sterile helpers in the control of reproductive skew in animal societies. Copyright 2004.