Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Linear and Undulating Periodized Resistance Training Programs on Muscular Strength

Abstract Harries, SK, Lubans, DR, and Callister, R. Systematic review and meta-analysis of linear and undulating periodized resistance training programs on muscular strength. J Strength Cond Res 29(4): 1113–1125, 2015—Periodization is known to improve training adaptations but the most effective periodization approach for muscular strength development for a wide variety of populations is yet to be determined. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined all studies directly comparing linear and undulating periodized resistance training programs to determine and compare their effects on muscular strength. A systematic search of the MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and SPORTDiscus databases revealed 17 studies satisfying the inclusion criteria. There were a total of 510 participants in the included studies. Sixteen studies reported significant increases in strength for both periodization approaches. Five studies reported significant differences in improvements between groups. The meta-analyses determined that there were no differences in the effectiveness of linear vs. undulating periodization on upper-body or lower-body strength. The short-term nature of studies and the previous training history of participants were identified as potential confounding factors in the interpretation of findings. The results suggest that novelty or training variety are important for stimulating further strength development. Few studies have examined the effect of periodization approaches in adolescent or athletic populations.
The Extent of the Auditor's Compliance in Jordan with the Ethical Codes of Professional Conduct@@@مدى التزام مراجعي الحسابات في الأردن بقواعد السلوك المهني

This study aims at determining the extent to which External Auditors comply with the ethical codes of Professional Conduct in Jordan. These could be classified into general codes; codes relating to the relationship between the auditor and his/her clients, codes relating to the Auditor's relationship with other practitioners, codes relating to the Independence of the Auditor; and codes relating to Observing Professional Conduct. The researchers have made various assumptions to achieve the aims of the study and find answers to the raised questions. The research methodology was based on examining data collected from various resources, including; books, periodicals, former researches and legislations work. All these were examined to provide the primitive data that formed the theoretical frame of this research. The researchers have designed a questionnaire, which was disseminated to research community to obtain the basic information needed. The research community included the Jordanian registered qualified Auditor's in Jordan, with total Number of 455 Auditors. The questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 105 Auditors. The research shows that there is a commitment in observing the professional conduct in Jordan by the Auditor's community. The extent of observing professional conduct could be classified as follows:
ETF Flows and Underlying Stock Returns: The True Cost of NAV-Based Trading

In this paper, we examine whether the creation or redemption ETF shares has a measurable and significant effect on the underlying stocks’ returns in the closing auction. Our findings show that ETF flow-related stock transactions significantly affect stock prices. We provide empirical evidence showing that creations/redemptions of ETFs that replicate indices in the German DAX index family have a highly significant and economically viable effect on abnormal returns of underlying stocks in the closing auction an effect that is particularly pronounced in small stocks and on bullish trading days. We argue that, given the sizable additional annual earnings of up to € 53,000 per stock, the AP has a motivation to exploit this inefficiency, by means of active price manipulation during the closing auction. Hence, dealing in ETF shares on the primary market, for example through NAV-based orders, might entail hidden costs for investors that, until now, have not been recognised in the literature and perhaps not even by investment professionals.
Energy decomposition in molecular complexes: Implications for the treatment of polarization in molecular simulations

This study examines the contribution of electrostatic and polarization to the interaction energy in a variety of molecular complexes. The results obtained from the Kitaura–Morokuma (KM) energy decomposition analysis at the HF/6‐31G(d) level indicate that, for intermolecular distances around the equilibrium geometries, the polarization energy can be determined as the addition of the polarization energies of interacting blocks, as the mixed polarization term is typically negligible. Comparison of KM and QM/MM results shows that the electrostatic energy determined in the KM method is underestimated (in absolute value) by QM/MM methods. The reason of such underestimation can be attributed to the simplified representation of treating the interaction between overlapping charge distribution by the interaction of a QM molecule with a set of point charges. Nevertheless, the polarization energies calculated by KM and QM/MM methods are in close agreement. Finally, a consistent, automated strategy to derive charge distributions that include implicitly polarization effects in pairwise, additive force fields is presented. The strategy relies in the simultaneous fitting of electrostatic and polarization energies computed by placing a suitable perturbing particle at selected points around the molecule. The suitability of these charges to describe molecular interactions is discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 24: 1263–1275, 2003
CHRNA 5 and CHRNA 3 Variants and Level of Neuroticism in Young Adult Mexican American Men and Women

A lifetime history of alcohol dependence has been associated with elevations in neuroticism in Mexican American young adults. The identification of genetic markers associated with neuroticism and their influence on the development of alcohol use disorders (AUD) may contribute to our understanding of the relationship between personality traits and the increased risk of AUD in Mexican Americans. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between neuroticism and 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR) 5-subunit (CHRNA5) and 3-subunit (CHRNA3) genes in young adult Mexican American men and women. Participants were 465 young adult Mexican American men and women who are literate in English and are residing legally in San Diego County. Each participant gave a blood sample and completed a structured diagnostic interview. Neuroticism was assessed using the Maudsley Personality Inventory. The minor alleles of four CHRNA5 polymorphisms (rs588765, rs601079, rs680244 and rs555018) and three CHRNA3 polymorphisms (rs578776, rs6495307 and rs3743078) showed associations with neuroticism. Several of these SNPs also displayed nominal associations with DSM-IV alcohol and nicotine dependence, but tests of mediation suggested that these relations could be partially explained by the presence of co-occurring neuroticism. These findings suggest that genetic variations in nicotinic receptor genes may influence the development of neuroticism, which in turn is involved in the development of AUDs and nicotine dependence in Mexican American young adults.
Effect of Service Transition Strategies on Firm Value

The authors investigate the effectiveness of service transition strategies for generating shareholder value by evaluating secondary data pertaining to 477 publicly traded manufacturing firms during 1990–2005. The impact of a firm's transition to services on firm value (as measured by Tobin's q) remains relatively flat or slightly negative until the firm reaches a critical mass of service sales (20%–30%), after which point they have an increasingly positive effect. Furthermore, the effect of service sales on firm value depends on both firm and industry factors. Service transition strategies are more effective at enhancing value when the service offerings are related more to the firm's core business and when firms have more available resources (i.e., resource slack). The impact of adding services to core products on firm value amplifies as industry turbulence increases but diminishes when the firm's core products are in high-growth industries.
Bodies politic: disease, death and doctors in Britain 1650–1900

In spite of its intellectual, literary and comic brilliance, this book contains a dark and disturbing, but revealing, message. In some ways, my melancholy reading of Bodies Politic has inevitably been shaped by Roy's recent untimely death. Roy Porter was without doubt the finest social historian of medicine this country, or indeed the world, has produced. Expansive, humorous, intelligent, and incisive, his broad range of historical works has excited and educated several generations of students of history over the past thirty years. His death leaves an unfillable void within the global history of medicine. At the same time, however, this book itself, completed well before his death, is haunted by elements of despair and uncertainty that should make us carefully reconsider not only the purpose and direction of our professional inquiries but also our own mortality.
Obstacles Facing the Adoption of E-Government Services in Jordan

Many governments around the world have digitized major portions of their public services and recognized the opportunities provided by the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) in exploring new ways of delivering services and interacting with citizens. This study focuses on the perceived obstacles facing Jordanian citizens when using e-government services, and addresses the challenges that face governments in developing countries to facilitate the complex relationship between governments and their constituencies and enable interaction, transaction and delivery of government services. It is vital to make a detailed study of the current situation of e-Government development in Jordan, find out the factors and barriers that prevent its development and seek for the corresponding solutions, set some recommendations, and suggest strategies.
Solid waste management in Vientiane, Lao PDR

The substantial growth in research into solid waste management in developed countries is well documented. However, the management and practices of solid waste in developing countries are not so well-known. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to focus on solid waste management in Vientiane Municipality, in Lao PDR, a developing country, and to learn from the experience of managing solid waste in Australia, a developed country. Firstly, this thesis examines the general issues and solid waste management strategies in Australia, followed by Australian policy and legislative :frameworks for solid waste management. Secondly, the study investigates the current issues, legislation and solid waste management practices in Vientiane, Lao PDR. A survey of solid waste management in Vientiane Municipality focuses on the Vientiane Urban Development Administrative Agency (VUDAA), two private waste contractors, and householders. The research methodology consisted of two survey questionnaires. The first was administered to the VUDAA and two private sector providers, and the other to 102 households in both urban and rural areas. The survey results show that solid waste management practices in Laos are still inadequate, with poorly serviced households, inappropriate landfill management, weak financial status, and low community awareness. I argue that solid waste managers and households in Laos can learn from Australian waste management practices in order to improve their solid waste management practices.
AUDIT OPINION: A STUDY OF QUALIFICATION OPINION AND PARAGRAPHS OF EMPHASIS ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BRAZILIAN PUBLIC FIRMS

The economic effects of the qualified report or paragraph of emphasis may indicate problems with the operations of firm, it may consequently affect the allocation of the financial resources of the investors. The research aims to verify if the accounting and non-accounting characteristics have influence on the audit opinions’ issuance with qualification opinion and/or paragraph of emphasis, on listed companies in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Sao Paulo Bovespa). The study is considered a quantitative research and to achieve the objective it was used the logit estimation method. The sample of this work includes 1466 reports of the independent auditors (audit opinion) about the financial reports of the Brazilian public firms within the fiscal of 2006 and 2008. The results evidence that the other audit firms issue more qualification opinions and paragraphs of emphasis than those of the Big Four, even these ones having a bigger market share (60%). The estimated model revealed that some accounting and non-accounting variables, like the market value of firm and financing, have as statistical significance to qualification opinions as to paragraph of emphasis. Finally, it was observed that the higher the market value of the business, the less chance of occurrence of these kinds of changes in the independent auditor’s opinion, however, when analyzing the financing, the relation is reversed, in other words, the higher it is, the greater the chance.
Separation of distinct adhesion complexes and associated cytoskeleton by a micro-stencil-printing method

Adhesion between cells and the extracellular matrix is mediated by different types of transmembraneous proteins. Their associations to specific partners lead to the assembly of contacts such as focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes. The spatial overlap between both contacts within cells has however limited the study of each type of contact. Here we show that with “stampcils” focal contacts and hemidesmosomes can be spatially separated: cells are plated within the cavities of a stencil and the grids of the stencil serve as stamps for grafting an extracellular matrix protein—fibronectin. Cells engage new contacts on stamped zones leading to the segregation of adhesions and their associated cytoskeletons, i.e., actin and intermediate filaments of keratins. This new method should provide new insights into cell contacts compositions and dynamics.
An improved protocol for the preparation of yeast cells for transformation by electroporation

Pretreatment of yeast cells with lithium acetate (LiAc) and dithiothreitol (DTT) enhances the frequency of transformation by electroporation. The method shows improvements of 6–67‐fold in wild‐type strains derived from commonly used Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic backgrounds. In addition, 15–300‐fold improvement in transformation frequency was achieved with several mutant strains of S. cerevisiae that transformed poorly by conventional procedures. Both DTT and lithium acetate were necessary for maximal transformation frequencies. Pretreatment with lithium and DTT also resulted in an ∼3·5‐fold increase in the electroporation transformation frequency of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Terahertz spectroscopy of breast tumors

Using a portable terahertz pulsed spectrometer developed by TeraView Ltd. the complex refractive indices of ex vivo breast tumors were measured through transmission in the range of 0.1-3 THz. Twenty samples were measured at room temperature and it is shown here that the use of terahertz pulsed spectroscopy (TPS) enables us to distinguish between normal adipose tissue, normal fibrous tissue and breast tumors due to the higher water content and structural differences found in tumors. Comparisons are made between the results found using TPS and the classification of the tissue samples given through histology performed at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. Further measurements have been taken at low temperatures (down to 200 K) to remove the dominant absorption caused by water in an attempt to identify other differences, such as the cell and protein density, between normal breast tissue and tumors observable in the THz range.
Modulation of radiation-induced tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression in the lung tissue by pentoxifylline.

PURPOSE The lung is the major dose-limiting organ for radiotherapy of cancer in the thoracic region. Immediate cellular damage after irradiation is supposed to result in cytokine-mediated multicellular interactions with induction and progression of inflammatory and fibrotic tissue reactions. Pentoxifylline (PTX) down-regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha, in response to noxious stimuli and may therefore provide protection against radiation-induced, cytokine-mediated cellular damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal and spatial release of TNF-alpha in the lung tissue after thoracic irradiation with 12Gy. In addition, we evaluated the ability of PTX to reduce the radiation-induced TNF-alpha release in this animal model of thoracic irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS C57BL/6J mice were exposed to either sham irradiation or single fraction of 12Gy delivered to the thorax. Four study groups were defined: those that received neither irradiation nor PTX (NT group), those that received PTX but no irradiation (PTX group), those that underwent irradiation without PTX (XRT group) and those that received both PTX and irradiation (PTX/XRT group). Treated and sham-irradiated mice were sacrificed corresponding to the latent period and the pneumonic phase. The TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the lung tissue was quantified by 'real-time' quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical detection methods (alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP)) and automated image analysis were used for objective quantification of TNF-alpha protein expression. RESULTS Following thoracic irradiation with a single dose of 12Gy (XRT group), radiation-induced TNF-alpha mRNA release in the lung tissue was significantly increased during the acute phase of pneumonitis (P<0.05). The elevated levels of TNF-alpha mRNA during the pneumonic phase correlate with a significant increase of positive inflammatory cells, predominantly macrophages, in the lung parenchyma (P<0.05). In contrast to the radiation-only group (XRT-group), the lung tissue of the PTX-treated mice (PTX/XRT group) revealed only a minor radiation-mediated TNF-alpha response on mRNA and protein level. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a significant radiation-induced increase of TNF-alpha (on mRNA and protein level) in the lung tissue during the pneumonic phase. The predominant localisation of TNF-alpha in areas of inflammatory cell infiltrates suggests involvement of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced lung injury. In addition, we observed a pronounced reduction of the TNF-alpha mRNA and protein production in the study group that received both PTX and radiation (PTX/XRT group) as compared to the radiation-only group (XRT group). Therefore our results indicate that PTX down-regulates the TNF-alpha mRNA and protein production in the lung tissue in response to radiation.
Energy Conservation in Progressive Decentralized Single-Hop Wireless Sensor Networks for Pervasive Computing Environment

In the pervasive computing environment, energy efficiency is very important in terms of prolonging the lifetime of the communication. As a practical application in pervasive computing environment, wireless sensor networks consist of many sensors and several access points that make them work cooperatively to monitor/measure certain areas. Since the deployment of sensors in unknown sites impedes their recharging, thus exhausting their energy quite quickly, energy conservation becomes a critical issue. Unavoidably, the lavishness of both single- and multihop modes on energy conservation declines the system's life span severely. Therefore, a progressive decentralized single-hop method is conceived. This mechanism works with several phases, in each of which sensors may act in single- or multihop mode. The well-balanced energy consumption rate results in the extension of the system's life span. The method also adapts in general cases and has been proven by mathematical demonstration to totally balance the energy consumption. In addition, the method is very easy to implement. According to the simulation results, it attains most of the original aims of energy conservation.
Detecting spamming activities by network monitoring with Bloom filters

Spam delivery is common in the Internet. Most modern spam-filtering solutions are deployed on the receiver side. They are good at filtering spam for end users, but spam messages still keep wasting Internet bandwidth and the storage space of mail servers. This work is therefore intended to detect and nip spamming bots in the bud. We use the Bro intrusion detection system to monitor the SMTP sessions in a university campus, and track the number and the uniqueness of the recipients' email addresses in the outgoing mail messages from each individual internal host as the features for detecting spamming bots. Due to the huge number of email addresses observed in the SMTP sessions, we store and manage them efficiently in the Bloom filters. According to the SMTP logs over a period of six months from November 2011 to April 2012, we found totally 65 dedicated spamming bots in the campus and observed 1.5 million outgoing spam messages from them.We also found account cracking events on 14 legitimate mail servers, on which some user accounts are cracked and abused for spamming. The method can effectively detect and curb the spamming bots with the precision and the recall up to 0.97 and 0.96.
An Integrated Approach to Management Development: A Framework for Practice and Research

Human performance is instrumental in achieving organisational objectives; management development (MD) has been evident in organisations as an important tool to enhance individual and team performance. The organisational dimensions that influence MD operate in an integrated fashion and influence the way MD is perceived, how it is positioned, and how it is managed within the wider organisational context. This paper proposes that MD should be closely integrated with seven key dimensions; MD research should not only be concentrated on the MD component itself, but also on the relationships that it has with these dimensions. The implications of the proposed framework on theory and practice are also discussed.
The acoustical coagulation of aerosols

Modern tendencies of society development, which are connected with wide spread of potentially dangerous manufactures and constantly appearing terroristic threats. The danger is concerned with spraying of toxicants in places with crowds of people, so it is necessary to create effective devices for aerosol neutralizing. This article is devoted to designing of such equipment.
Association of alginate from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with two forms of heparin-binding lectin isolated from rat lung

An endogenous heparin-binding lectin activity isolated from rat lung was separated into two distinct isolectin forms which showed subtle changes in carbohydrate specificity. The two lectin forms displayed different specificities toward alginic acid-purified cystic fibrosis isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa when assayed by inhibition of both hemagglutination and [3H]heparin binding. This ability of isolectin forms to show higher affinity toward alginic acid from certain P. aeruginosa strains may suggest that there is a selective mechanism in the colonization of patients with cystic fibrosis.