Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nigeria research reactor-1 : Vertical detector efficiency calibration using conventional and semi-empirical approach for large samples NAA implementation

Detector efficiency calibration is mandatory for accurate measurement of induced activity in irradiated samples and for safe operation of the reactor with minimal uncertainty. This paper reported the efficiency calibration of vertically dIpstick High Purity Germanium detector, installed at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for the purpose of large sample Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) using Nigeria research reactor-1 (NIRR-1). The performance of the detector was evaluated for the radioisotope activity measurements during the reactor operation for large samples neutron activation analysis. The detector performance in terms of radioisotopes detection ability was inspected using the standard conventional and semi-empirical approaches. The full energy peak efficiencies were determined at the corresponding energies for three different geometries (source to detector distance of 1, 5 and 10 cm). The semi-empirical approach produced better and precise results that logically rhymed with theory than the traditional approach. Besides that, a consistency in the nature of the graphs and values were evidenced. The determined efficiencies and their corresponding energies revealed encouraging outcome and ensured the successful NAA for large samples of different material compositions.
Identification of surfactants aggregates on graphitic surface of carbon nanotubes

Abstract There are a relatively large number of studies on surfactants facilitates the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), however reports for both orientation and size aggregation of surfactants on MWCNTs are scarcely described. In this study, we demonstrate the visualization of the surfactants aggregates onto MWCNTs using atomic force microscopic (AFM) and field emission electron scanning microscopy (FESEM) to provide information on the orientation and the grains size of surfactants-MWCNTs aggregates. MWCNTs treated with surfactants of different charges, namely sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), the anionic, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), the cationic and polysorbate 80 (Tween-80), the non-ionic, displayed substantial pattern of surfactant-MWCNTs surface contours. Raman spectroscopy analysis has been presented in order to report the characteristic of defective MWCNTs graphitize structure upon non-covalent adsorption of respective surfactants.
USE OF PROBIOTIC ACID BACTERIA FOR THE CONTROL OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL INFECTIONS

This study was carried out to evaluate the microbial infections in natural way and reduce the antibiotic resistance. One hundred bacterial isolates were collected from clinical specimens of patients suffering from bacterial infection (55 females and 45 males). The bacterial isolates were obtained from 8 different specimens with the following percentage representations: urine (30.58 %), blood (20%), abscess (20%), wound (9.41%), throat and tube swab (5.88%), ear discharges (5.88%), vaginal swabs (5.88%) and eye swab (2.35%). The results showed that (29.41%) Escherichia coli, (23.53%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, (17.65%) Staphylococcus aureus, (15.29%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (8.24%) Proteus vulgaris, (5.88%) Acinetobacter baumannii. Among 17 antibiotics tested, meropenem, a carbapenem antibiotic, was the most effective drug against most of the gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Detection of biofilm by two different methods show that most of isolates were multidrug resistant. Three species of lactic acid bacteria namely L.acidophilus (DSM20079), L.plantarum (DSM20174) and L.salivarus (DSM20555) were used for reducing the microbial infections. Bacteriocins were isolated from MRS broth culture of these lactic acid bacteria through the precipitation method using 1N HCL and were tested against different pathogenic bacteria. Antibacterial activity of bacteriocins extracted from L. acidophilus (DSM20079) showed maximum activity against most isolated bacteria as compare to others. Also, L.salivarus (DSM20555) have the highest activity against Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. The present study has showed the antibacterial role of bacteriocin isolated from lactic acid bacteria can be used for treatment variety of human diseases.
An Empirical Analysis of Amazon EC2 Spot Instance Features Affecting Cost-Effective Resource Procurement

Many cost-conscious public cloud workloads (“tenants”) are turning to Amazon EC2’s spot instances because, on average, these instances offer significantly lower prices (up to 10 times lower) than on-demand and reserved instances of comparable advertised resource capacities. To use spot instances effectively, a tenant must carefully weigh the lower costs of these instances against their poorer availability. Toward this, we empirically study four features of EC2 spot instance operation that a cost-conscious tenant may find useful to model. Using extensive evaluation based on historical spot instance data, we show shortcomings in the state-of-the-art modeling of these features that we overcome. As an extension to our prior work, we conduct data analysis on a rich dataset of the latest spot price traces collected from a variety of EC2 spot markets. Our analysis reveals many novel properties of spot instance operation, some of which offer predictive value whereas others do not. Using these insights, we design predictors for our features that offer a balance between computational efficiency (allowing for online resource procurement) and cost efficacy. We explore “case studies” wherein we implement prototypes of dynamic spot instance procurement advised by our predictors for two types of workloads. Compared to the state of the art, our approach achieves (i) comparable cost but much better performance (fewer bid failures) for a latency-sensitive in-memory Memcached cache and (ii) an additional 18% cost savings with comparable (if not better than) performance for a delay-tolerant batch workload.
Six Years of Sustained Activity in (6478) Gault

We present archival observations demonstrating that main belt asteroid (6478) Gault has an extensive history of comet-like activity. Outbursts have taken place during multiple epochs since 2013 and at distances extending as far as 2.68 au, nearly aphelion. (6478) Gault is a member of the predominately S-type (i.e., volatile-poor) Phocaea family; no other main belt object of this type has ever shown more than a single activity outburst. Furthermore, our data suggest that this is the longest duration of activity caused by a body spinning near the rotational breakup barrier. If activity is indeed unrelated to volatiles, as appears to be the case, (6478) Gault represents a new class of object, perpetually active due to rotational spin-up.
Relationships between body weight perception, body mass index, physical activity, and food choices in Southern California male and female adolescents

ABSTRACT Understanding the relationship between body weight perception (BWP) and weight control is an important influencer on adolescents’ health behaviours. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between BWP, body mass index (BMI), physical activity and food choices in adolescent males and females (N = 1,212). Across BMI categories, more females perceived themselves as overweight and tried to control their weight, where more males tried to gain weight or never tried to control their weight (p < 0.001). Major reason for weight control was to look better followed by to improve health. Interestingly, adolescents who perceived themselves as thin consumed unhealthier foods (hamburgers and regular soda), where those who perceived themselves as fit and overweight ate healthier foods (salad and vegetables). Results of this study validate that an accurate perception of weight is critical to the success of education and behaviour intervention programs for both overweight and normal weight adolescents.
Frontal theta and beta oscillations during lower-limb movement in Parkinson’s disease

Background Motor and cognitive dysfunction has been linked in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). EEG theta and beta rhythms are reliably associated with cognitive and motor functions, respectively. We tested the hypothesis that PD patients with lower-limb abnormalities would exhibit abnormal beta and theta rhythms in the mid-frontal region during action initiation. Methods We recruited thirty-nine subjects, including PD patients with FOG (PDFOG+; n=13) and without FOG (PDFOG−; n=13), and demographically-matched healthy subjects (n=13). Scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were collected during a lower-limb pedaling motor task, which required intentional initiation and stopping of a motor movement. Results FOG scores were correlated with disease severity and cognition. PDFOG+ patients pedaled with reduced speed and decreased acceleration compared to PDFOG− patients and to controls. PDFOG+ patients exhibited attenuated theta-band (4-8 Hz) power and increased beta-band (13-30 Hz) power at mid-frontal electrode Cz during pedaling. Frontal theta- and beta-band oscillations also correlated with lower-limb movement in PD patients. Conclusions Frontal theta and beta oscillations are predictors of lower-limb motor symptoms in PD. These data provide insight into the mechanism of lower-limb dysfunction in PD, and could be used to design neuromodulation for PD-related lower-limb abnormalities.
Analysis of Merger and Acquisition in Pakistan

We examine the financial performance of firms in the post-Merger and acquisition period for firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange by exploring various motives of merger and acquisitions offered by theoretical and empirical literature. Specifically, we explore these motives in the context of the theory of synergy, agency theory and behavioral finance perspectives. Empirical results for agency theory shows the presence of empire building motives that lead to the underperformance of firms in post-merger and acquisition period. The study finds no support for managerial risk aversion hypothesis of agency theory in Pakistani market. Empirical results do not find any evidence to support the presence of managerial hubris or overconfidence proposition but we do find evidence in support of the escalation of commitment hypotheses and its impact on post-merger and acquisition performance.
Comparison of quality parameters of the cooked salami „Gothajský“ in dependence on used salt content and additives

Consumers in Czech Republic have high income of salt from food, therefore, there are efforts to reduce its content in meat products. The subject of this work was to examine differences in sensory evaluation of sliced cooked salami (Gothajský salami), manufactured according to various recipes. This type of meat product is well known primarily to the older generation of consumers, so the aim was to find out the differences in the perception of various samples between generations. The monitoring factors were salt content (1.6% or 2.0%), presence of monosodium glutamate (PG = presence or AG = absence) and group of evaluators (YC = 18 – 26 years old or OC = more than 60 years old). Older sensory panellists (OC; against YC) significantly (p ˂0.05) evaluated all samples more positively, especially in the taste and odour descriptors. Samples with monosodium glutamate (PG1.6 and PG2.0) were rated in the taste significantly better (p ˂0.05), regardless of the age of the assessors (YC and OC). Samples with reduced salt, without glutamate (AG1.6) were significantly worst evaluated (p ˂0.05) by both the groups (YC and OC) than PG2.0 samples.
Kidney-Failure Risk Projection for the Living Kidney-Donor Candidate.

To the Editor: Grams et al. (Feb. 4 issue)1 quantified the associations between “13 distinct demographic and health characteristics” and end-stage renal disease among low-risk members of seven general population cohorts in order to estimate the long-term risk of end-stage renal disease among kidney-donor candidates. Two important factors were not considered: biologic and household relatedness to a person with end-stage renal disease. Most living kidney donors are genetically related to their recipients, and heredity is a known contributor to kidney disease.2 Furthermore, many related donors and their recipients grow up following similar dietary, exercise, and other health-related practices, factors that also affect the incidence of end-stage renal disease.3-5 Grams et al. acknowledge the importance of genetic and environmental influences when they note that these influences may have contributed to the variation in risk associated with race uncovered in their study. The failure to incorporate these two factors into their equations renders the authors’ estimates of the risk of end-stage renal disease suspect at best.
Urinary Tract Infections in Older Men.

Key Clinical PointsUrinary Tract Infections in Older Men The prevalence of bacteriuria and the incidence of urinary tract infection are substantially higher among older men than among younger men. The majority of older men with urinary tract infection have underlying urologic abnormalities. Effective treatment of infection requires determining whether the site of infection is the kidney, bladder, or prostate. Effective management of symptomatic episodes requires selection of antimicrobial therapy on the basis of urine culture. Chronic bacterial prostatitis requires prolonged antimicrobial therapy (30 days). Men with recurrent episodes who do not have urologic abnormalities that can be corrected or identified may require long-term suppressive therapy with antimicrobial agents.
NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMBAT ATHLETES IN LITHUANIA

Background. Adequate nutrition is inseparable from athletes’ optimal physical development and achieved sports performance. Preparing for the Olympic Games athletes’ nutrition must meet certain requirements. Only under appropriate nutrition conditions athletes are enabled to maximize their adaptation to physical loads. Hypothesis: nutrition of Lithuanian high performance athletes in combat sports is adequate. Research aim was to assess nutrition profile and physical development of Lithuanian high performance athletes in combat sports. Methods. During the competition preparation period of 2012, the actual diets of Lithuanian elite boxers (n = 14), and the Greco-Roman wrestlers (n = 29) were tested and evaluated. Body composition parameters and physical development of combat athletes were assessed using BIA tetra polar electrode method. Athletes’ actual diets were established using the actual dietary survey method. Results. Muscle and fat mass indexes of boxers and Greco-Roman wrestlers, 7.5 ± 3.8 and 5.4 ± 2.0 respectively, show that effective complex preparation measures ensure optimal body condition status of athletes. Nevertheless, the diets of combat sport athletes do not meet the requirements: irrational use of proteins, not enough carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D, B1, PP, minerals, manganese, zinc, calcium and copper, too much intake of fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Conclusion. The existing diets of Lithuanian elite combat sports athletes cannot ensure their maximal adaptation to physical loads and must be optimized, individualized and adjusted, adding dietary supplements with extra carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and in exceptional cases, nutritional supplements with essential amino acids.
Impact of Lufenuron 5.4% EC on Major Arthropod Diversity in Cabbage

An experiment was conducted to assess the impact of insecticide, lufenuron 5.4% EC on arthropod diversity in cabbage ecosystem. The two seasons diversity indices revealed 2866 arthropods from 26 families under eight orders in sprayed and unsprayed condition. Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), two species of aphids viz., Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus), cabbage whitefly Aleyrodes proletella (Linnaeus) were found to be a major pests of cabbage plants in this region. Minor pests are recorded as follows Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), Leaf roller, Sylepta lunalis (Guenee), Marmalade hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus (de Geer), Painted bug, Bagrada picta (Fabricius) and Mealybug, Coccidohystrix insolita (Green). Natural enemies, predators of aphid viz., syrphids flies, coccinellid beetles, and spiders were recorded in this cabbage ecosystem. Larval parasitoids Cotesia plutellae of cabbage diamondback moth was recorded. Presence of mantids and hymenopterans (braconids) indicated the relative safety of the insecticides in these ecosystems. The biodiversity indices in the sprayed (997) and unsprayed (1869) fields showed higher diversity in unsprayed fields revealing the influence of insecticidal spraying.
Adipose tissue-specific responses reveal an important role of lipogenesis during heat stress adaptation in pigs1.

Elevated ambient temperature causes heat stress in pigs, resulting in reduced animal performance. To better understand tissue responses to heat stress in pigs, we conducted a study in which pigs were subjected to four treatments: acute (24 h) heat stress (AHS) at 35 °C ± 1 ambient temperature, chronic (7 d) heat stress at 35 °C ± 1 (HS) or normal ambient temperature (20 °C± 1) for 7 d with ad-libitum feeding (Con) or with pair-feeding to the feed intake (FI) of the HS pigs (PF). Heat stress decreased FI by approximately 36% and 64% in HS and AHS treatments respectively, compared with Con (P < 0.01). Concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) was elevated in AHS compared to HS (P = 0.031). Serum insulin concentration was lower in PF than Con (P = 0.045). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was elevated in HS compared with Con and PF (P = 0.008), but lower (P < 0.021) in AHS compared to HS. In the subcutaneous adipose tissue, the mRNA and protein abundance of PCK1 were higher (P < 0.05) in the HS treatment than Con and PF, and also higher (P < 0.05) in HS than AHS. However, there was no difference in GK mRNA between Con, PF, and HS, although its expression was lower (P = 0.003) in AHS vs. HS. Protein abundance of the ER stress marker, CCAT/enhancer-binding homologous protein (CHOP), was higher in PF than Con (P < 0.05), and higher (P = 0.033) in HS than AHS in subcutaneous fat. In mesenteric fat, PCK1 mRNA was higher (P < 0.001) in the HS than Con and PF treatments. Additionally, expression of PCK1 was lower (P = 0.039) in AHS vs. HS. Expression of PCK1 was downregulated (P < 0.05) in the liver of PF pigs compared to other treatments, but most other genes measured were not affected by treatment in the liver and muscle tissues. These results confirm that heat stress induces a robust adipose tissue response in favor of increased lipid storage. This indicates that adipose tissue might play an important role in heat stress adaptation.
Linear-mode avalanche photodiode arrays in HgCdTe at Leonardo, UK: the current status

Linear-mode avalanche photodiode arrays, LmAPDs, based on bandgap engineered HgCdTe, grown by Metal Organic Vapour Phase Epitaxy, MOVPE, can produce virtually noise-free infrared sensors. These are required for applications in big science, security and biochemistry. A custom device called SAPHIRA (320x256/24μm) has been designed specifically for LmAPDs. SAPHIRA has been deployed as a wavefront sensor for adaptive optic systems in nine major telescopes and notably five devices control the four 8.2 metre telescopes of the VLT interferometer. These demanding applications have driven frames rates up to 200 kframes/s and avalanche gains to x600 achieving read noise as low as 0.26 e- rms and enabling single photon counting. The detector is baselined for time-domain astronomy vital for exoplanet spectroscopy and understanding the physics of active stellar objects. The three 30 metre class telescopes currently under construction and the three candidate space telescopes, HabEx, Luvoir and EZE will depend on noise-free infrared detectors at very low dark current. Work at the University of Hawaii and European Southern Observatory has demonstrated dark currents in the 4-10 electrons/hour range and with avalanche gain offers the prospect of higher science return from these instruments. A 1kx1k/15μm 3-side buttable array is currently in development to service extreme low background applications especially spectroscopy. A 512x512/24μm SAPHIRA array with 64 parallel video outputs is in development for pyramid wavefront sensing on the European Extremely Large telescope, ELT, mirror co-phasing and rapid time-domain astronomy.
Physical Activity Interventions for Children with Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Disabilities-A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE Perform a systematic review of the available literature regarding the effectiveness of exercise interventions on children with any type of social, emotional, or behavioral disability (SEBD), with attention to a range of physiological, behavioral, and mood outcomes. METHODS Six databases were searched using a systematic methodology. References of included studies, as well as relevant reviews, were also examined. The review was limited to studies published since 2000 reporting a quantitative analysis of the effects of a physical activity (PA) intervention on at least 1 behavioral, psychological, or cognitive outcome in children aged 21 and under, diagnosed with a SEBD. Only studies with a control group were included. RESULTS We identified 24 eligible studies. Studies varied in design, participant characteristics, and intervention characteristics (single-bout vs repeated exposure, duration, intensity level, mode of exercise). Of the 20 behavioral outcome assessments, there was 1 negative finding, 12 null findings, 5 positive findings, and 2 mixed findings. For the 25 executive functioning outcome assessments, there were 5 null findings, 18 positive findings, and 2 mixed findings. For the remaining outcome domains, 1 of 2 studies looking at academic performance, 3 of 6 studies looking at objective neurological measures, and 1 of 3 studies looking at affect outcomes found positive results. All other results were null or mixed. CONCLUSION Although additional research is warranted to further understand the mechanisms by which PA affects behavioral and cognitive outcome measures in children with SEBDs, PA offers a safe and alternative form of treatment for this population.
Phenomenology of the radiative E1 heavy quarkonium decay

We use the complete expression for the O(1/m^2) corrections to the quark-antiquark potential, where $m$ is the quark mass, derived from QCD in terms of Wilson loop expectation values, and a mapping, valid at large distances, between those Wilson loop expectation values and correlators evaluated in the Effective String Theory (EST), to compute all O(1/m^2) potentials at large distances. In particular, we present previously unknown results for the spin and momentum independent part of the potential and confirm known results for the spin and momentum dependent parts. We calculate the relativistic corrections induced by the newly calculated potentials to the string spectrum. Using the EST long-distance contributions as the infrared completion, we construct the full-range quark-antiquark potential. We fix the free parameters of this potential using input from the experiment and lattice QCD. The power counting and numerical size of the different contributions are analysed. We calculate the corrections induced by the full-range potential to the heavy quarkonium wavefunction. Finally, considering these corrections, we evaluate the heavy quarkonium electric dipole (E1) transition rates at O(v^2) in the non-relativistic expansion. Our results compare favorably with the experiment and provide predictions for the rates for which no experimental data is yet available.