Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of body composition and somatotyping among the throwers

The purpose of the present study was to compare the body composition and somatotying of the different groups of the throwers. 40 (10 javelin throwers, 10 discus throwers, 10 hammer throwers, 10 shot putters) male university level throwers were assessed during the All India Inter University Athletic Meet. The age of athletes was between 18 to 25 years. All the athletes were measured for height, weight, diameters, circumferences and skinfold thicknesses of the body parts. One-way ANOVA revealed that there were significant differences in skinfold thicknesses (p<0.05), body composition (p<0.05) and somatotyping components (p<0.05) among the different groups of throwers. The shot putters had the highest skinfold thicknesses, percent body fat and total body fat among the throwers. Discus throwers and shot putters were found to have higher lean body mass, endomorphy and mesomorphy than the javelin throwers and hammer throwers. The javelin throwers had the highest ectomorphy component among the groups of throwers.
Essays in Macroeconomics and Financial Frictions

Essays in Macroeconomics and Financial Frictions Christine Tewfik Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Economics University of Toronto 2017 My dissertation is comprised of three papers on the causes and consequences of the U.S. Great Recession. The emphasis is on the role that financial frictions play in magnifying financial shocks, as well as in informing the effectiveness of potential policies. Chapter 1, ”Financial Frictions, Investment Delay and Asset Market Interventions,” co-authored with Shouyong Shi, studies the role of investment delay in propagating different types of financial shocks, and how this role impacts the effectiveness of asset market interventions. The topic is motivated by the observation that, during the Great Recession, governments conducted large-scale asset market interventions. The aim was to increase the level of liquidity in the asset market and make it easier for firms to obtain financing. However, firms were observed to have delayed investment by hoarding liquid funds, part of which were obtained through the interventions. We construct a dynamic macro model to incorporate financial frictions and investment delay. Investment is undertaken by entrepreneurs who face liquidity frictions in the equity market and a collateral constraint in the debt market. After calibrating the model to the U.S. data, we quantitatively examine how aggregate activity is affected by two types of financial shocks: (i) a shock to equity liquidity, and (ii) a shock to entrepreneurs’ borrowing capacity. We then analyze the effectiveness of government interventions in the asset market after such financial shocks. In particular, we compare the effects of government purchases of private equity and of private debt in the open market. In addition, we examine how these effects of government interventions depend on the option to delay investment. In Chapter 2, ”Housing Liquidity and Unemployment: The Role of Firm Financial Frictions,” I build upon the role that firms’ ability to obtain funding plays in the severity of the Great Recession. I focus specifically on how the housing crisis reduced the ability of firms to obtain funding, and the consequences for unemployment. An important feature I focus on is the role of housing liquidity, or how easy it is to sell or buy a house. I analyze how an initial fall in housing market liquidity, linked to rising foreclosure costs for banks, affects labor market outcomes, which can have further feedback effects. I focus on the role that firm financial frictions play in these feedback effects. To this end, I construct a dynamic macro model
Building a Case for Active Learning: The Use of Lecture vs. Other Classroom Activities at LMBC.

An action learning process was used at a large Midwestern business college (“LMBC”) to promote greater use of active learning approaches in the classroom. At an all-college gathering, faculty received instruction and encouragement in the use of the case method in their respective classes. Faculty were subsequently surveyed about their use of lecture versus other more active classroom learning activities, such as problem-solving, case discussions, group work, and individual reflection. Results obtained demonstrated widespread use of active learning across the college, though with many differences based upon academic discipline, rank, age, and gender. Connections are made to models of change and experiential learning theory.
Why and where coprophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) eat seeds, fruits or vegetable detritus.

The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of all published and unpublished (more than 50% of the information provided) data that we have been able to gather on the deviation from coprophagy in a typical coprophagous group of insects, the subfamily Scarabaeinae. Studied deviations from coprophagy include the consumption of seeds, fruits and even flowers, as well as of vegetable detritus and debris from Attini ants’ nests. We separately analyzed those cases in which adults were found in these sources of food, and those in which nidification —larvae feeding— takes place using these foods. The reason for this is that we consider that the change from coprophagy to frugivory or saprophagy (and for the same reasons to necrophagy or mycetophagy) does not represent a significant change for the adult Scarabaeinae. Their mouthparts, intestine, and feeding behavior are adapted to feeding on doughy food. From this food, microorganisms, juices and cellular leftovers go through the mouthparts (microphagic feeding). This happens for excrements, but also for fruits and fermented detritus. On the other hand, the change is more drastic for the larvae. There are ten times fewer known cases of use of alternative food sources for nidification than for adult feeding. However, a series of microbial fermentation processes in a secondary rumen enable some species to nidify using seeds and fruit pulp, as well as vegetable remains. The consumption of seeds and fruits occurs with different frequencies throughout different biogeographical regions. In the Neotropics this phenomenon is at least ten times more frequent than in the Ethiopic and Oriental Regions. Furthermore, most cases take place in humid forest localities. We propose that the shift from coprophagy to alternative feeding habits was an adaptation to the massive extinction of medium and large size mammals —the main excrement sources— in this region, which started approximately 10,000 years ago. This adaptation was responsible not only for the survival of the Scarabaeinae in the region, but also for the significant richness that they exhibit. In the arid northwest of Argentina and in the desert of southwest Africa, phylogenetically unrelated beetles use vegetable detritus, relocating and storing it in underground galleries, below the soil humidity level. This fermented detritus is used as the source of food for adults and larvae. The Australian genus Cephalodesmius relocates its food in the same way, but exhibits a higher degree of complexity. In all cases in which nidification was studied in depth, there is a secondary rumen in which the food stored by both parents or by the mother suffers a first microbial fermentation. In Cephalodesmius, this rumen is present throughout the whole, prolonged nidification process, and is the base of a complex subsocial behavior.
Septoria leaf spot of tomato.

Septoria leaf spot, also called Septoria blight, occurs throughout the United States and worldwide wherever tomatoes are grown. This disease can be quite destructive and crop losses of up to 100% have been reported in heavily defoliated fields. Septoria leaf spot is primarily a disease of tomato, but it has been reported on other Solanaceous hosts including eggplant, potato, petunia, horsenettle, and black nightshade.
Effects of Medicinal Herb Extract on Non - specific Immune Responses , Hematology and Disease Resistance on Olive Flounder , Paralichthys olivaceus by Oral Administration

Effects of medicinal herb extract on nonspecific immune responses, hematology and disease resistance against Edwardsiella tarda in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus were evaluated. Wormwood, Artemisia asiatica NAKAI and barrenwort, Epimedium koreanum NAKAI were mixed at a ratio of 7 : 3 (w/w) for 2-herbs extract and wormwood, barrenwort, Korean forsythia, Forsythia koreana NAKAI, chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum KITAMURA, peppermint, Mentha arvensis L. var, piperascens MALINV. , great burnet, Snaguisorba afficinalis L. , Lizard tail. Saururus chinensis BAILL. , mulberry, Morus alba L. , and star anise, Illicium varum HOOK, f, at the same weight for 9-herbs extract. Two-herbs of 9-herbs extract were prepared by heating after adding 10㎖ of distilled water per g of the herb mixtures. Fish (10.32.5g) were fed the experimental diets supplemented with the 2-herbs or 9-herbs extract at the different concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% per kg diet for 12 weeks. Lysozyme and bactericidal activities of serum, and hematological characteristics were examined during experimental period. After feeding test period, all experimental groups were challenged with E. tarda. Lysozyme activity from the fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.1% or 0.5% of 2-herbs extract was significantly higher than the control. But there was no difference both in bactericidal activity and hematology among each group. Sixty seven % of relative percent survival values (RPS) in the group fed the diet supplemented with 0.1% of 2-herbs was higher than the other group and the control. These results suggest that supplenmentation of 0.1% of 2-herbs extract to a commercial diet may enhance disease resistance in olive flounder. Although both 0.1% and 0.5% 9-herbs extract did not improve non-specific immune reponses, they could enhance disease resistance of 53% RPS, respectively.
Influence of vitamin E on microscopic and oxidative parameters of frozen-thawed ram semen.

Cryopreservation is associated with the production of reactive oxygen substances (ROS), which lead to lipid peroxidation of sperm membranes, resulting in a loss of sperm motility, viability and fertility. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of vitamin E adding to the dilution media on standard qualitative parameters (motility, viability, HOST) and oxidative parameters (lipid peroxidation) of frozen-thawed ram semen. Ejaculate samples were collected with artificial vagina from 2 adult Merino Palas rams, on normal season of reproduction (October-December 2009) and diluted with a Tris-base extender containing vitamin E (1 and 2mM) and without antioxidants (control). Diluted semen was cooled to 4C and frozen in 0.25 ml straw, prior to being stored in liquid nitrogen. Semen parameters including motility, the plasmatic membrane structural integrity (viability by eosin-nigrosin stain), functional membrane integrity (hipoosmotic test) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were investigated after thawing. Lipid peroxidation level was examined by measuring the production of malondialdehyde using the thiobarbituric acid method. The results show that vitamin E has positive protection effects on the semen characteristics consequently to the freezing-thawing process.Both doses of vitamin E increased the percentage of sperm motility and viability(p<0.05), but reduced the lipid peroxidation (LPO) level. Most effective occur at the 2mM dose, though differences among the doses were non-significant (p≥0.05).
Plant-Mediated Aphid Responses to Elevated CO2: The Impact of Phloem Phytochemistry, Endophyte Infection and Nitrogen Availability.

Plant-Mediated Aphid Responses to Elevated CO2: The Impact of Phloem Phytochemistry, Endophyte Infection and Nitrogen Availability. Geraldine D. Ryan Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Jonathan A. Newman Rising atmospheric CO2 is expected to increase primary productivity resulting in changes in bottom-up ecosystem interactions. CO2-induced increases in photosynthesis are expected to change plant growth, morphology and metabolism. Such changes will alter the nutritional quality of plants for insect herbivores, particularly those involving resource allocation. While plant mechanisms underlying foliage feeder response to CO2 have been well documented, much less is known about the responses of insects feeding on a phloem diet. In this work I examined the current literature on responses to elevated CO2 using a quantitative meta-analysis of changes in insect life history traits and plant growth, nutrient allocation, morphology and metabolite responses. Insect response to rising CO2 was dependent on feeding guild, with foliage feeder performance decreasing, while phloem feeder response increased. Changes in plant parameters were found to occur under elevated CO2 and were dependent on plant functional group and interacting environmental variables. Plant-mediated Rhopalosiphum padi aphid responses to CO2 were measured on tall fescue and barley. Aphid abundance and density decreased on tall fescue and increased on barley plants in response to elevated CO2. The relative concentration of some essential amino acids decreased under elevated CO2 in tall fescue while most essential amino acids increased in barley, along with an increase in the total concentration of amino acids and the ratio of essential to nonessential amino acids. In tall fescue, aphid response was dependent on plant nitrogen and Neotyphodium endophyte status. Elevated CO2 was found to alter endophyte and alkaloid concentrations which may have implications for the grass-endophyte mutualism. On endophyte-infected grasses, CO2induced decreases in alkaloids had no effect on aphids which were unsuccessful at colonizing endophyte-infected plants. The possible causal agents of CO2-induced changes in aphid performance are discussed with an emphasis on amino acids. Future studies which may further elucidate these underlying mechanisms are addressed.
McDonald's veterinary endocrinology and reproduction

This updated fifth edition provides students of veterinary medicine and animal science with a concise and practical textbook specifically for endocrinology and reproduction in domestic animals. Topics include domestic species, llamas, and South American camelids with all aspects of reproductive anatomy and physiology incorporated. The text blends practitioner and student needs to provide a physiological foundation with clinical flavour.
On the phylogenetic relationships of Axiokebuita, Travisia and Scalibregmatidae (Polychaeta)

We provide a description of newly collected specimens of Axiokebuita Pocklington & Fournier from Norway, previously known only from east Canada and the Antarctic. Due to delineation problems between the only two described species, A. minuta (Hartman) and A. millsi Pocklington & Fournier, these new specimens cannot unambiguously be referred to either species. Previously unnoticed adhesive papillae on the pygidium are present in both species and may constitute an apomorphy for Axiokebuita. The taxon lacks many morphological features otherwise characteristic for scalibregmatids, and to assess its affinities we present 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA-based analyses together with six other scalibregmatids and twenty other polychaetes. A nemertean is used as outgroup. All analyses support that Axiokebuita is a scalibregmatid. Furthermore, Travisia Johnston, traditionally referred to the Opheliidae, is nested within the scalibregmatids, as sister to Neolipobranchius Hartman & Fauchald. Arenicolidae and Maldanidae may constitute the sister group of scalibregmatids.
The effect of dietary protein and lysine levels on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and N excretion

In a 2×3 factorial arrangement, the effects of dietary protein and lysine levels on performance and carcass characteristics of Ross male broiler chickens from 1 to 3 weeks and 4 to 6 weeks of age were tested. Dietary treatments consisted of three levels of L-lysine.HCl in starter and grower period (0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) and two levels of protein (208.4, 178.4 in starter and 181.2, 161.2 g/kg in grower period) with 12.12 MJ AME/kg diet. Reducing dietary protein decreased weight gain in starter, grower and total period up to 6.0, 4.6 and 5.6% respectively (P<0.05). It also decreased feed consumption in starter period (P<0.05). Decreasing dietary protein had no significant effect on gain to feed ratio and breast meat yield, but increased abdominal fat percentage significantly (P<0.05). Increasing dietary lysine increased feed consumption in starter and weight gain, feed to gain ratio in grower and total period of the experiment (P<0.05). It als o increased breast meat yield and percentage (P<0.05). N excretion reduced significantly by decreasing dietary protein (P<0.05). Dietary treatments had no significant effect on mortality.
Exacerbation of Collagen-Induced Arthritis by Oligoclonal, IL-17-Producing γδ T Cells1

Murine γδ T cell subsets, defined by their Vγ chain usage, have been shown in various disease models to have distinct functional roles. In this study, we examined the responses of the two main peripheral γδ T cell subsets, Vγ1+ and Vγ4+ cells, during collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a mouse model that shares many hallmarks with human rheumatoid arthritis. We found that whereas both subsets increased in number, only the Vγ4+ cells became activated. Surprisingly, these Vγ4+ cells appeared to be Ag selected, based on preferential Vγ4/Vδ4 pairing and very limited TCR junctions. Furthermore, in both the draining lymph node and the joints, the vast majority of the Vγ4/Vδ4+ cells produced IL-17, a cytokine that appears to be key in the development of CIA. In fact, the number of IL-17-producing Vγ4+ γδ T cells in the draining lymph nodes was found to be equivalent to the number of CD4+αβ+ Th-17 cells. When mice were depleted of Vγ4+ cells, clinical disease scores were significantly reduced and the incidence of disease was lowered. A decrease in total IgG and IgG2a anti-collagen Abs was also seen. These results suggest that Vγ4/Vδ4+ γδ T cells exacerbate CIA through their production of IL-17.
Escaping the Great Recession, Working Paper 2016-16

We show that policy uncertainty about how the rising public debt will be stabilized accounts for the lack of deflation in the US economy at the zero lower bound. We first estimate a Markov-switching VAR to highlight that a zero-lower-bound regime captures most of the comovements during the Great Recession: a deep recession, no deflation, and large fiscal imbalances. We then show that a micro-founded model that features policy uncertainty accounts for these stylized facts. Finally, we highlight that policy uncertainty arises at the zero lower bound because of a trade-off between mitigating the recession and preserving long-run macroeconomic stability.
Cinética ruminal y crecimiento de cabritos suplementados con un probiótico de bacterias ácido-lácticas

Con el objetivo de evaluar la cinetica ruminal y el crecimiento de cabritos suplementados con un probiotico de bacterias acido-lacticas, se asignaron 86 animales Alpinos en un experimento durante 120 dias. En el tratamiento uno (T1) 43 cabritos recibieron una dieta constituida por 50% de heno de alfalfa, 40% de concentrado comercial y 10% de alimento nitrogenado de lento consumo (DI). Los animales del tratamiento dos (T2) recibieron DI rociada diariamente con 50 mL de probiotico (BAL) por kilogramo de MS. Se determino la desaparicion de MS in situ , el consumo voluntario de MS, la degradacion de la fibra, la concentracion de NH3 y AGV, la digestibilidad in vivo , el pH ruminal, los derivados de purinas y la ganancia de peso. La ganancia de peso diaria fue de 129 y 169 g para T1 y T2, respectivamente (P<0,05). El NH3 y la digestibilidad del N y de la fibra fueron mayores para T2 (P<0,05). El tiempo medio de desaparicion de la hemicelulosa fue mayor (P<0,05) en T2. Los conteos totales BAL fueron 1,6 y 2,5 millones de ufc/mL en T1 los dias 1 y 7. Los cabritos del T2 presentaron 2,4 y 12,5 millones de ufc/mL. Se concluye que la adicion de BAL a la dieta para cabritos en crecimiento puede incrementar la ganancia de peso vivo, asi como se producen cambios favorables en la digestibilidad, la proteina microbiana y la cinetica ruminal.
Analysis of Case–Control Studies in Genetic Epidemiology

Version 3.10. 0 Date 2012-10-10 Author Samsiddhi Bhattacharjee, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Summer Han and William Wheeler Description An R package for analysis of case-control studies in genetic epidemiology. Maintainer William Wheeler <wheelerb@imsweb.com> Depends R (>= 2.10.1), survival, mvtnorm License GPL-2 + file LICENSE Suggests cluster biocViews SNP, MultipleComparisons, Clustering NeedsCompilation yes
Influence of dietary different levels of zinc oxide nano particles on the yield and quality carcass of broiler chickens during starter stage

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary different levels of zinc oxide nanoparticles (Zno-NPs) on the yield and quality carcass of broiler chickens during starter stage (from 1 to 21 day). One-day mail broilers (300) were distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD) in 5 treatment groups, each having 4 replicates and 15 birds in each experimental pen. The experimental diets were: T1 control (basal diet); T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets, supplemented with 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg Zno-NPs/kg of diet, respectively. Birds had access to feed and water throughout time of research. On d 21 birds (4;1 bird/replicate) were randomly selected, slaughtered and then carcass yield, breast and thigh composition were evaluated. The results indicated that live body weight, dressing and percentage of breast and thigh meat were higher in the T3 and T4 groups than control and other groups. Dry matter (DM), and crude protein (CP) of breast and thigh meats were higher in T3 (60 mg Zno-NPs/kg) and T4 (90 mg Zno-NPs/kg) bird groups as compared to control and other treatments. Ether extract in breast and thigh meat reduced in comparison with control treatment. In conclusion, results of present trial suggested that dietary no-NPs with 60 and/or 90 mg/kg Zno-NPs had significantly improved broiler quality and quantity of carcass broiler during starter period.
An overlooked hybrid Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum × sachalinense; Polygonaceae) in North America.

A new combination is provided for the hybrid between Polygonum cuspidatum and P. sachalinense. The hybrid, Polygonum Xbohemicum (J. Chrtek & A. Chrtkovâ) P. F. Zika & A. L. Jacobson, comb, nov., is widespread and invasive across North America. We illustrate the parents and hybrid, and supply a key to distinguish the three taxa.