Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects Of Practical Blood Flow Restriction Training On Adolescent Lower Body Strength.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a practical blood flow restriction (BFR) training program on lower-body strength of high school weightlifters. Twenty-five students were divided into three groups. For six weeks, each group completed the same resistance training program with the exception of the parallel back squat exercise (2 days/week), which was different for each group. One group (HI) completed a traditional high load (≥65% 1RM) back squat protocol with three sets of low repetitions (≤10). The LO group completed the squat exercise using a relatively light load (≤30% 1RM) for one set of 30 repetitions and three sets of 15 with 30 seconds of rest between sets. The LO+BFR group followed the same protocol as LO, but did so with blood flow restricted. 1RM back squat tests were conducted prior to the start of the program and again upon conclusion, the values of which were used as the dependent measure. A 3 x 2 (group x time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant interaction (p=.043). Follow-up tests were conducted to explore the interaction. Paired-sample t-tests for each group indicated a significant increase in leg strength for the LO+BFR group (p=.005), but not for the HI (p=.142) or LO groups (p=1.00). This suggests that a practical BFR training program may be effective in increasing 1RM squat performance of high school students.
A replication recipe: list your ingredients before you start cooking

Abstract The author argues that researchers should do replications using preanalysis plans. These plans should specify at least three characteristics that would act as stopping rules for the replicator: (1) how much flowtime the replicator will spend, (2) how much money and effort (working hours) the replicator will spend, and (3) the intended results and the precision of the replication necessary for “success”. A researcher’s replication will be “successful” according to context-specific criteria in the preanalysis plan. The author also argues that the two biggest drawbacks of preanalysis plans—(1) that they discount unexpected but extraordinary findings and (2) that they make it difficult for researchers to prespecify all possible actions in their decision trees—are less relevant for replications compared with new research. He concludes with describing a preanalysis plan for replicating a paper on housing demand and household formation.
Shall We Riot Too? The Geographical Neighbor Impact on Political Instability

This paper investigates the impact of regional political instability on the political instability of a country. Our identification strategy relies on the spatial nature of international relations. We use the characteristics of the neighbors’ neighbors as the instruments for the neighbors’ political instability and regional dummies to control for common regional shocks. We show that political instability in neighboring countries has a strong positive impact on a given country's political instability. The average of neighbors’ population size appears to be a significant mediating factor behind this relationship.
Thyroid hormone regulation of the NADH shuttles in liver and cardiac mitochondria.

Thyroid hormone can potentially regulate the malate/aspartate and alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle pathways in cardiac mitochondria either directly, by altering gene expression, or indirectly, by increasing myocardial workload. The goal of the current study was to determine the influence of thyroid hormone on the NADH shuttles in cardiac and liver mitochondria. Malate/aspartate and alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle capacities were significantly increased in cardiac mitochondria from adult rats treated for 9 days with T3 compared to saline-treated controls. Liver mitochondria demonstrated a significant increase in alpha-glycerophosphate and no change in malate/aspartate shuttle capacity. T3 increased steady-state mRNA levels and activity of mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase in both myocardium and liver. Quantitative immunoblot studies demonstrated a significant increase in aspartate-glutamate carrier levels in T3-treated myocardium suggesting a regulatory role of the aspartate/glutamate carrier in T3-treated hearts. Thyroid hormone effects on the NADH shuttles are tissue-specific. Changes in the NADH shuttles in the presence of thyroid hormone excess occur both directly at the gene level and indirectly as an adaptive response.
A modular multilevel converter for series compensation of an EVH transmission line with battery energy storage

This paper presents the design and analysis of a converter for integrating energy storage into the transmission grid. The system consists of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) interfaced to a Modular Multi-level Impedance Sourced Converter (MMZSC) acting as a bidirectional controllable source for a three phase isolating transformer arranged in a Series Compensation (SC) configuration that is dual-purposed for both power flow control and transient stability of distributed generation that is weakly coupled to the surrounding power system. The design example is detailed with respect to considerations of interfacing to 345 kV lines. First, a qualitative design review is given with respect to limitations of current technology and valuable improvements made possible by this paper's combination of system configuration, topology, and device considerations. A description is given of how the converter is operated via a modified space vector modulation scheme in conjunction with a sliding-mode direct power control method. Computer simulations are included that demonstrate operating modes of this system; including bidirectional power flow, superior efficiency, reduced DC impedance requirements, and lower distortion than equivalent voltage source converters (VSC). This paper provides a new contribution by combining the elements of bidirectional power flow with a multi-level Z-source converter. In addition the justification for this system as the best candidate for providing the grid regulation functions is considered.
Effect of feeding reduced protein, amino acid-supplemented diets on nitrogen and energy balance in grower pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feeding reduced CP, amino acid (AA)-supplemented diets on the nitrogen (N) and energy (E) balance of grower pigs. In Exp. 1, 24 barrows (22.2 kg BW) were fed corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diets containing either 16% CP, 12% CP, or 12% CP supplemented with lysine (LYS), tryptophan (TRP), and threonine (THR). After 6 d of adaptation to the diets and feeding frequency, a 5-d N and E balance trial was conducted. Supplementation of the 12% CP diet with LYS, TRP, and THR improved N retention ( P < .01) but failed to improve N retention to the level attained by pigs fed the 16% CP diet (P < .01). Efficiency of N retention was similar between pigs fed the AA-supplemented 12% CP diet and pigs fed the 16% CP diet (P > .10). Energy retention was increased by AA-supplementation of the 12% CP diet ( P < .10) to a level higher than that of pigs fed the 16% CP diet (P < .01). In Exp. 2, 60 barrows (21.7 kg BW) were fed one of the following diets: 16% CP; 12% CP diet supplemented with indispensable AA (IDAA) to simulate the 16% CP diet; 12% CP supplemented with LYS, TRP, THR, and dispensable AA N (DAAN); 12% CP supplemented with LYS, TRP, and THR; or a 12% CP negative control diet. After 6 d of adaptation to the diets and feeding frequency, a 5-d N and E balance trial was conducted. Nitrogen retention was improved (P < .01) by supplementing the 12% CP diet with LYS, TRP, and THR but remained inferior (P < .01) to that obtained when pigs were fed the other three diets. Pigs fed the 12% CP diet with LYS, TRP, THR, and DAAN supplementation retained less N (P < .07) than pigs fed the 16% CP but retained an amount similar (P > .10) to pigs fed the 12% CP diet with IDAA and DAAN supplementation. Pigs fed the 12% CP diet with LYS, TRP, and THR supplementation exhibited the highest efficiency of N retention (P < .01). Pigs fed the 12% CP diet supplemented with LYS, TRP, THR, and DAAN retained more (P < .01) E than pigs fed the 12% CP diet supplemented with IDAA and DAAN and more (P < .07) E than pigs fed either the 12% CP diet supplemented with LYS, TRP, and THR or the unsupplemented 12% CP diet. Pigs fed the 16% CP diet retained more (P < .06) E than pigs fed the 12% CP diet with IDAA and DAAN supplementation. Although the data show that the efficiency of N retention is greatest when LYS, TRP, and THR are supplemented to the 12% CP diet, maximal N retention is achieved only when the 12% CP diets are supplemented with both the deficient AA and a source of N for dispensable AA synthesis.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in the black spiny tailed iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata) and their cross‐utility in other Ctenosaura

We isolated and characterized 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the Mexican black iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata) and assessed levels of polymorphism in sampling sites located in the northern areas of the species’ distribution range. Two to 19 alleles per locus and observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.15 to 0.96 were detected. These markers will be useful to describe population genetic structure, the extent of gene flow in contact zones, to study the mating system of the species and to address conservation genetics issues. Additionally, we evaluated the potential utility of these markers for studies of other species within the genus Ctenosaura (i.e. C. hemilopha, C. similis and C. oaxacana).
In vitro1H NMR spectroscopy shows an increase in N‐acetylaspartylglutamate and glutamine content in the hippocampus of amygdaloid‐kindled rats

We examined energy metabolism and amino acid content in the hippocampus of amygdaloid‐kindled rats using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Three weeks after the last stage 5 seizure, kindled rats were killed by microwave irradiation. The hippocampus was dissected out and subjected to MeOH/CHCl3 extraction. All 1H spectra were analyzed to quantify absolute concentrations using a non‐linear least squares method, combined with a prior knowledge of chemical shifts. Saturation effects were compensated for by the T1 measurement of each component. Levels of energy metabolism‐related compounds, phosphocreatine, creatine, glucose and succinate were the same in both kindled rats and sham controls. Lactate concentration had a tendency to increase, although this was not statistically significant. When compared with sham controls, levels of aspartate, glutamate, glycine and glutamine, as well as GABA and inositol, were increased in the ipsilateral but not the contralateral hippocampus. In contrast, levels of taurine, alanine and threonine were unchanged. Finally, N‐acetylaspartylglutamate content was elevated, whereas N‐acetyl‐l‐aspartate content was unaltered in the ipsilateral hippocampus of kindled animals. Our results suggest that amygdala kindling may affects amino acid metabolism, but not energy metabolism.
In vitro detection of DNA damage in human leukocytes induced by combined effect of resin composites and adhesive systems.

PURPOSE To simultaneously evaluate the genotoxicity of dental composites and adhesive systems in vitro using a cytogenetic assay, with respect to the influence of composite shade. METHODS Genotoxicity assessment was carried out in human peripheral blood leukocytes using the comet assay. Three resin composite materials, two microhybrids and one nano-hybrid, in shade A1 and A3.5 were used with manufacturer-recommended four adhesive systems. Cultures were treated for 48 hours with samples after elusion for 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days or 30 days, in two different concentrations (4.16 mg/mL, 8.33 mg/mL). Kruskall-Wallis test was used for the statistical analysis (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS For combinations of micro-hybrid composite (A3.5) with two self-etch adhesives (16.1 +/- 5.50 and 16.2 +/- 9.52) after exposure to samples eluted for 1 day, the incidence of primary DNA damage was significantly higher than for the corresponding negative control (14.7 +/- 2.85). Genotoxicity was also higher after treatment with samples eluted for 1 hour (15.3 +/- 4.70) and 1 day (15.3 +/- 9.10), comprised of nano-hybrid composite (A1) with self-etch adhesive in relation to the control (13.1 +/- 1.70). There was no clear trend of increased DNA damage in material combinations with darker shades of composites. Material composition and higher material concentrations showed greater influence on the genotoxicity.
Structure-Seeking in the Sharing Economy

As a result of the global economic collapse of 2008, consumers sought other means of gaining access to products and services aside from the burdens of ownership. Widely referred to as the sharing economy, consumers began to coordinate the acquisition and distribution of resources with the help of various online social media platforms. This dissertation explores antecedents of consumer resistance towards participation in the sharing economy. It demonstrates the influence of an unconscious and chronically motivated psychological construct that acts as a barrier towards adoption. Structure-seeking has a significant impact on individuals’ motivation to require predictability, routine, order, structure and disfavor uncertainty within situations and across daily activities. Building on the cognitive structuring literature and Compensatory Control Theory, structure-seeking tendencies are revealed to have a strong relationship with resistance towards adopting certain sharing economy services. In the first essay, two experimental studies demonstrate that structure-seeking consumers generate resistance towards adopting Airbnb but not other sharing economy services that more closely resemble traditional economic models. Through targeted marketing communications, this effect is found to reverse when consumers are exposed to message frames promoting structure and consistency within service experiences. The second essay explores the social cognition literature and demonstrates how structure-seeking influences preferences for service providers who exhibit attributes related to competence but not warmth or morality. It is argued that resistance towards services like Airbnb can be accounted for by the perception of hosts as warm but incompetent. A general discussion highlights the findings of both essays and details the limitations, implications and avenues for future research. This dissertation significantly contributes to research on the sharing economy as well as Compensatory Control Theory and provides valuable insights for both practitioners and scholars.
Lexicon adaptation for subword speech recognition

In this paper we present two approaches to adapt a syllable-based recognition lexicon in an automatic speech recognition (ASR) setting. The motivation is to evaluate whether adaptation techniques commonly used on a word level can also be employed on a subword level. The first method predicts syllable variations, taking into account sub-syllabic phone cluster variations, and subsequently adapts the syllable lexicon. The second approach adds syllable bigrams to the lexicon to cope with acoustic confusability of subword units and syllable-inherent phone attachment ambiguities. We evaluate the methods on two German data sets, one consisting of planned and the other of spontaneous speech. Although the first method did not yield any improvement in the syllable error rate (SER), we could observe that the predicted confusions correlate with those observed in the test data. Bigram adaptation improved the SER by 1.3% and 0.8% absolute on the planned and spontaneous data sets, respectively.
An International Analysis of CEO Social Capital and Corporate Risk‐Taking

This study examines the effects of CEO social capital on corporate risk‐taking around the world. We document a significant positive relation between CEO social capital and aggregate corporate risk‐taking. Further, we find that CEOs with large social capital prefer riskier investment and financial policies. We also determine that the effect of CEO social capital on corporate risk‐taking is moderated by the extent of legal protections provided to shareholders, the financial development, and the culture of the country in which a firm is incorporated. Our results are robust to alternative proxies of risk‐taking, alternative model specifications, and tests for endogeneity.
A SPECT Study of Apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease

Background/Aims: To assess the association between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Methods: SPECT and MRI scans were obtained from 51 nondepressed outpatients meeting criteria for probable AD (age 77.6 ± 6.6 years; MMSE 22.3 ± 5.1; 23 apathetic, 28 nonapathetic) and 23 healthy elderly (75.6 ± 3.8 years) controls. The following regions of interest (ROIs) were compared between apathetic and nonapathetic AD patients and then referenced against aged controls: anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal cortex, middle medial temporal cortex, hippocampus, medial superior temporal cortex, thalamus/hypothalamus and pons. Results: Apathetic and nonapathetic patients had significant differences in rCBF. Relative to nonapathetic AD patients, apathetic AD patients had lower perfusion in 2 ROIs (right orbitofrontal cortex and left anterior cingulate) and higher perfusion in 5 ROIs (right and left hippocampi, left medial superior temporal gyrus, and right and left middle medial temporal cortex). Comparison of rCBF in these 7 ROIs to healthy elderly controls confirmed hypoperfusion in the left anterior cingulate and right orbitofrontal cortex and suggested a relative sparing of perfusion among apathetic AD patients in the remaining 5 ROIs. Conclusions: In this group of nondepressed patients with AD, apathetic subjects displayed significant perfusion differences compared to nonapathetic subjects.
IIR Digital Filter Design With New Stability Constraint Based on Argument Principle

This paper presents a weighted least squares (WLS) method for IIR digital filter design using a new stability constraint. Utilizing the reweighting technique, an iterative second-order cone programming (SOCP) method is employed to solve the design problem, such that either linear or second-order cone constraints can be further incorporated. In order to guarantee the stability of designed IIR digital filters, a new stability constraint with a prescribed pole radius is derived from the argument principle (AP) of complex analysis. As compared with other frequency-domain stability constraints, the AP-based stability constraint is both sufficient and necessary. Since the derived stability constraint cannot be directly incorporated in the iterative SOCP method, the similar reweighting technique is deployed to approximate the stability constraint in a quadratic form, which is then combined with the WLS iterative design process. Filter design examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed iterative SOCP method.
Prenatal detection of full monosomy 21 in a fetus with increased nuchal translucency: Molecular cytogenetic analysis and review of the literature

Full monosomy 21 is an extremely rare chromosomal disorder. A 38‐year‐old woman attended a first trimester scan. Ultrasound (U/S) imaging of the fetus at 12 weeks of gestation showed features of increased nuchal translucency measurement (12 mm). Chorionic villi sampling (CVS) was performed after genetic counseling. At 16 weeks of gestation the fetus showed U/S characteristics of severe intrauterine growth restriction, generalized edema and hydrothorax. Cytogenetic examination was performed using quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction analysis, standard Giesma banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. Non‐mosaic full monosomy 21 was detected and the parents opted to terminate the pregnancy. Microsatellite analysis demonstrated maternal origin of the single chromosome. This case represents one of the few cases of prenatally diagnosed full monosomy 21 confirmed only by CVS, in which the parental origin of the single chromosome was determined.
Development of nanocomposites heat sink (MWCNTs/Cu) using powder injection moulding for electronic applications

A fabrication of high performance heat sink composite material made of copper matrix reinforced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) up to 2.5 Vol. % using powder injection molding technique (PIM) has been done successfully. A mixture of Cu/MWCNTs was compounded using a Z-blade mixer for homogenous dispersion of solids in the binder. The flow properties were measured using a capillary rheometer in the shear rate range which expected to occur during metal injection molding. To avoid binder degradation, TGA test was carried out. The TGA results showed that the processing temperature such as mixing and injection molding should be lower than 170°C. The injection molding was carried out at low pressure. A combination of solvent and thermal debinding was used for binder removal from the samples and then the sintering process has taken place in argon gas at 900°C. The results show that the sintered samples experience isotropic shrinkage around 21% with 14% weight loss and the density of the composites was decreased after sintering process.
Evaluation of the impact of intracorneal ring segments implantation on the quality of life of patients with keratoconus using the NEI-RQL (National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of life) instrument

Background/aims: A prospective study evaluating the impact of intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation on the quality of life of patients with keratoconus using the NEI-RQL (National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life) instrument. Methods: Sixty-nine eyes of 42 keratoconus patients were implanted with the Keraring. All patients self-administered the NEI-RQL before and 4½ to 8 months after surgery. The results were evaluated and analysed, along with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refraction, contrast sensitivity, corneal topography and aberrometry preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Results: There was a significant improvement in all NEI-RQL scales and the overall scale. “Clarity of vision,” “far vision,” “near vision,” “activity limitations,” “appearance” and “satisfaction with correction” had the greatest improvement, ranging from 25 to 50 preoperatively to 80 to 90 after surgery. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity and binocular BCVA improved significantly, and there was a significant decrease in keratometric values, from 50.22 dioptres preoperatively to 46.27 dioptres postoperatively. Contrast sensitivity function improved postoperatively, especially at the frequency of 6 cpd. Low-order root mean square (RMS) improved after surgery, but high-order RMS did not. Conclusion: ICRS implantation not only improves the quantitative metrics such as visual acuity and refraction, but also has a positive impact on patients’ quality of life.
Speed-adaptive street view image generation using driving video recorder

With the rapid development and reduced cost of digital video capturing devices, driving video recorders (DVRs) begin to gain widespread popularity. What is seen and what happens along the way can thus be recorded in videos. However, searching for a specific scene or event among such massive video collections is laborious and tedious. In this paper, we develop a speed-adaptive street view image generation system using general front-mounted DVRs, requiring no additional devices deployed. Visual summaries of street scenes along the way can be provided, allowing users to retrieve a video clip corresponding to a specific road section quickly. An efficient algorithm for estimating the distance a pixel has moved between two consecutive frames is also proposed, so a street view image can be generated with an appropriate aspect ratio without demanding a constant driving speed. Experiments on an extensive data set show that our proposed system can efficiently generate street view images under different lighting and weather conditions, demonstrating its feasibility.