Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Nutrient Intake between Japanese Female Elite and Collegiate Karate Players

Most published data on the physical and physiological profiles of karate athletes is based on studies of male athletes and data on female athletes is rare. The purposes of this study were: 1) to collect baseline data on nutrient intake in order to advise athletes regarding nutrition practices that may enhance performance, and 2) to compare nutrient intake of elite and collegiate karate athletes. Thirtyfive female black belt karate athletes volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into 2 groups: 20 athletes who were members of the national team (elite athletes) and 15 collegiate karate athletes (collegiate athletes). The elite athletes showed significantly higher mean lean body mass and significantly lower body fat and fat mass than the collegiate athletes. The elite athletes showed significantly higher energy intake and more nutrient intakes than the collegiate athletes. There were no significant differences in diet compositions between the elite and collegiate athletes. The elite athletes showed all micronutrient intakes were above 100% of the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or Adequate Intake (AIs), whereas the collegiate athletes showed micronutrient intakes below 100% of the EAR or AIs for potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, vitamins A and C. Thus, we advised collegiate athletes to consume adequate amounts of carbohydrates and protein. To attain these goals, it is desirable to increase the amount of meals by increasing the intake levels of grains, vegetables, fruit, milk and dairy products, lean meat and fish.
Seasonal habitat use in Eurasian red squirrels residing in Iberian hedgerows

Hedgerows are considered habitat corridors for Eurasian red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris ). However, in north Iberia, a red squirrel population resides in hedgerows separating meadows. This study assesses seasonal microhabitat selection in this peculiar squirrel population. The detection rate was higher in winter and autumn than in spring and summer because of the confluence of different biological and environmental factors. Red squirrels were mainly arboreal, though they used the ground to some degree throughout the year. The height at which individuals were seen in shrubs/trees was maximum in spring related to intensive use of high poplars. A seasonal variation in plant selection was found. Red squirrels selected oaks, ivy and poplars positively in winter, poplars, ashes and willows in spring, hazels, wild cherries and willows in summer, and hazels, ashes and willows in autumn, linked with shelter, nest-site and food requirements. Conservation of dense hedgerow networks with a high diversity of shrub and tree species is encouraged. Download the complete issue.
Differential predation by coyotes on snowshoe hares

Differential predation on particular sex or age classes of a population can arise as a result of predator preferences or prey attributes. I examined the impacts of age, size, and body mass of snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, on their susceptibility to predation by coyotes, Canis latrans. I observed coyote predation on naive radio-collared hares during a fortuitous natural experiment: a coyote entered a predator exclosure fence in which hares of all ages had no previous experience with terrestrial predators, thus separating age from experience with this predator. I contrasted this manipulation with populations in which hares grew up in the presence of coyotes. Prey naivete per se did not influence coyote predation, but older hares appeared to be more susceptible to coyote predation than younger ones. There were no obvious effects of body mass or size on coyote predation during the winter.
Influence of disodium fumarate on methane production and microbial activity in Rusitec fermenters fed a mixed diet

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of disodium fumarate (FUM; 3.75 mmol/d) on the fermentation of a 60:40 grass hay:concentrate substrate in Rusitec fermenters. Each of eight fermenters received daily 20 g of substrate dry matter (DM). FUM treatment tended to increase (P=0.076) substrate DM disappearance after 6 h of incubation (39.8 vs 42.2%), but no effects were detected after 48 h (P=0.830). Daily production of acetate, propionate and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) was increased by 11, 23 and 11%, respectively, in FUM fermenters, but methane production was not affected (P=0.167). FUM treatment decreased (P<0.001) the acetate:propionate (2.92 vs 2.62) and methane:VFA (0.248 vs 0.208) ratios and increased the daily fl ow of microbial N (P=0.007; 140 vs 149 mg/d). In contrast, FUM did not affect (P=0.260 to 0.960) either the numbers of total and cellulolytic bacteria or the fi brolytic activity of ruminal fl uid.
Relationship between chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA variability of Drosophila subobscura population from the Lazar’s river canyon

The genetic structure of Drosophila subobscura population from the Lazar’s River Canyon (Serbia) was studied with respect to restriction site polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA and chromosomal inversion polymorphism. The aim was to shed more light on the role of cytonuclear interactions in shaping mitochondrial DNA variability in this species. Similar to other populations of D. subobscura two main haplotypes (I and II) were found, as well as less common ones that appeared at very low frequencies. The frequency distribution of haplotypes did not depart from neutrality. We did not find statistically significant linkage disequilibrium between the haplotypes belonging to haplogroups I and II and any of the chromosomal arrangements. However, when we compared the data in hereby analyzed population and two previously analyzed populations we observed that haplotype I is more frequent in populations where standard inversion arrangements are less frequent. Pattern of the observed mitochondrial variability could be influenced either directly by environmental variability or through environmentally specific cytonuclear coadaptation. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173012]
Pain Relief and Imaging Improvement in Gammagraphy in Osteoid Osteoma after Etoricoxib Treatment in 20 Patients

As long-term intake of NSAIDs may lead to serious side-effects [3,4], surgical ablation of the tumour is usually the treatment of choice [5,6]. However, medical treatment should be considered when percutaneous intervention is associated with significant morbidity [7]. The association between Osteoid osteoma and production of cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) has recently resulted in successful studies using a COX-2 inhibitor (Rofecoxib) for pain relief [7,8]. Due to the recall in 2004 of Rofecoxib, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of Etoricoxib (another COX-2 inhibitor) in pain caused by Osteoid osteoma and how the treatment may affect the evolution of the tumour in Gammagraphy.
EVALUATION OF BUCHANANIA COCHINCHINESIS GUM AS A BINDER IN FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF PARACETAMOL TABLETS

Objective: An attempt was made to investigate the binding efficacy of Chirauli nut tree gum in tablet formulation in comparison with standard binders such as acacia and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K-30). Methods: The paracetamol granules were prepared with different concentration of the gum as a binder by wet granulation method. The granules were evaluated and found to be satisfactory for preparing compressed tablets. The tablets were prepared by compression machine and evaluated for volume of tablet, apparent density, porosity, packing fraction, percentage elastic recovery, tablet physical stability, content uniformity, weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time, in vitro dissolution studies. Effect of diluents (Microcrystalline cellulose pH 101, Di-calcium Phosphate) and disintegrants (Croscaremellose sodium, Sodium Starch Glycolate and Crospovidone) were also studied using optimized concentration of gum. Results Formulations containing the minimum concentration of 2.5% of gum as a binder showed good physico-mechanical properties and dissolution profile. Conclusions: formulation development of paracetamol tablets using diluents and disintegrants like lactose (Pharmatose 200M), dicalcium phosphate and sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium can be used respectively, using 2.5% optimized concentration of chirauli nut tree gum
Nitrogen fertilization of fall panicum cultivars (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.): biochemical and agronomical aspects

Sao escassas as informacoes sobre cultivares melhoradas e tecnicas culturais adequadas a cultura do painco. Este experimento objetivou avaliar o efeito da aplicacao de niveis de nitrogenio (N) em cobertura no desenvolvimento e nos atributos bioquimicos de duas cultivares de painco. Para tanto, instalou-se um experimento em Botucatu (SP), em caixas de cimento amianto, mantidas em tunel plastico. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2x6, com dois cultivares de painco (AL Mogi e AL Tibagi) e seis niveis de adubacao nitrogenada (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 e 200 mg L-1), aplicada em cobertura, no inicio do perfilhamento. Os dois cultivares utilizados tiveram comportamento semelhante em relacao as variaveis avaliadas, em resposta a aplicacao de N em cobertura. A aplicacao de doses de N na cultura do painco proporcionou incrementos nos teores relativos de clorofila, aminoacidos totais, nitrogenio total e altura das plantas, e reducao dos teores de acucares na materia seca, ate o intervalo entre 120 e 160 mg de N L-1. O perfilhamento e producao de graos tiveram aumento linear com a aplicacao de N. A adubacao nitrogenada nao afetou a producao de materia seca.
THE FIRST VIEW ON STRESS DROP OF SMALL EARTHQUAKES IN THE KIVU REGION, WESTERN BRANCH OF EAST AFRICAN RIFTS SYSTEM

Digital seismograms recorded at seismic station of Lwiro, between August 1993 and March 1994, are used to investigate the spatial distribution of stress drop estimated following the spectral Brune's model in the Kivu region and its vicinities. It is revealed that a small stress drop (<=1) is observed in these zones. The high stress drops are observed in the granitic intrusion in the zone A and D (Idjwi Island) and B, on fracture linked Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes, and the lowest is very scattered in the zone C, D and E. The study has revealed that the stress drops correlate with fault types as the high value corresponds to reverse faults in the zone B, and the lowest to normal and strike slip faults in other zones. The Idjwi Island also presents a high stress drop where three types of faulting appear. Small stress drops are attributed to strong barriers of seismic rupture or no long rupture propagation along the pre
A New Rolling Pressure Model for An Actual Reversing Cold Rolling Strip Mill

The forging model for cold rolling is one of rolling models that is used in rolling calculations. In this model,the final rolling pressure is an average value and it is not an accurate model.Also by using this model,the firction hill curves are plotted due to the central point of the rolling bite length while frictional stresses intersect at the neutral point.In this study, a new model based on the forging model is presented to determine the rolling pressure during cold rolling process for using in a reversing tandem mill which is called “Improved forging model”. In the new model, the intersection of frictional forces is the neutral point.Finally the computing results from this model coincide well with the investigations done
Errors in ICU: How Safe is the Patient? A Prospective Observational Study in aTertiary Care Hospital

Objective: Critically ill patients require high-intensity care and may be at especially high risk of iatrogenic injury because they are severely ill. We sought to study the incidence and nature of adverse events and serious errors in the critical care setting. Design: We conducted a prospective 12 month observational study. Incidents were collected with use of a multifaceted approach including direct continuous observation. The physicians independently assessed incident type, severity, its preventability as well as systems-related failures. Measurements and main results: The primary outcomes of interest were the incidence and rates of adverse events and serious errors per 1000 patient-days. A total of 242 patients were studied during 1190 patient-days. We found 60 adverse, including 33 (55%) non preventable and 27 (45%) preventable adverse events as well as 114 serious errors. The rates per 1000 patient-days for all adverse events, preventable adverse events, and serious errors were 80.5, 36.2, and 149.7, respectively. Among adverse events, 13% (8/60) were life-threatening or fatal; and among serious errors, 10% (12/114) were potentially life-threatening. Among all the errors whether adverse or serious errors, medication errors were the commonest (37.93%; 66/174). Conclusions: Adverse events and serious errors involving critically ill patients were common and often potentially life-threatening. Although many types of errors were identified, failure to carry out intended treatment correctly was the leading category.
A QTE-based Solution to Keylogger Attacks

Nowadays keystroke logging is one of the most widespread threats used for password theft. In this paper, rather than detecting existing malware or creating a trusted tunnel in the kernel, we present a different method QTE (Quick Time Events) to protect the password that a user provides for a web page to login to a web service. Installing such solutions in a host only requires limited privileges of related computers. The QTE method utilizes a canvas to cue users when their input will be recorded or ignored by the QTE add-on, which provides a chance for users to obfuscate keyloggers by inserting meaningless letters among the keystrokes of their passwords. QTE can be applied to all websites without any modification of them. Keywords-Authentication, computer security, keylogger, privacy.
Vicarious Experience by Modeling and Comparing of Children Stories from Czech and Madura Island: Behavior and Moral Perspectives

Children learn from their environment according to what they see around them. If they get the positive input, they will behave positively, but if they get the negative input, consequently they will imitate the negative behavior. Therefore, choosing the right media such as TV program and reading materials for children needs many considerations, because of their characteristics in learning. One of the suggested reading materials for the children is children stories. This research is aimed to observe and investigate the role of stories for the children in shaping the children behavior and internalizing the moral values. This is a salient thing to introduce the children stories including the traditional stories for the children due to its content of moral messages and education in such stories. The observational learning or social learning theory from Bandura is used to undermine the multi aspects of moral education that are found in the children stories. It is because Bandura theory figures out the process of modeling and imitation from one to another using the observational process. While the traditional children stories will be taken from some stories from the two different countries, between Madura traditional stories from Indonesia and Czech traditional stories. The choice of two different countries is expected to represent three different cultural perspectives, mainly Asia and or Eastern and Western cultural perspective. The stories that are chosen are the 3 popular traditional stories from Czech written by the most outstanding Bohemian woman writer, Bozena Nemcova, and three traditional stories from Madura Island. All of these children stories are very popular for their own community. Thus, the ethnography approach is also needed to do the research. The understanding of the different cultural backgrounds among the stories from three different countries is very important to get the better comprehending in the stories, especially the relationship among the stories and children behavior and moral perspectives.
Large portfolio allocation using high-frequency financial data

Asset allocation strategy involves dividing an investment portfolio among different assets according to their risk levels. In recent decades, estimating volatilities of asset returns based on high-frequency data has emerged as a topic of interest in financial econometrics. However, most available methods are not directly applicable when the number of assets involved is large, since small component-wise estimation errors could accumulate to large matrix-wise errors. In this paper, we introduce a method to carry out efficient asset allocation using sparsity-inducing regularization on the realized volatility matrix obtained from intraday high-frequency data. We illustrate the new method with the high-frequency price data on stocks traded in New York Stock Exchange over a period of six months in 2013. Simulation studies based on popular volatility models are also presented. The proposed methodology is theoretically justified. Numerical results also show that our approach performs well in portfolio allocation by pooling together the strengths of regularization and estimation from a high-frequency finance perspective.
On the Use of the BDM Mechanism in Non-Hypothetical Choice Experiments

To potentially reduce bias in hypothetical choice experiments, many studies have incentivized respondents to reveal more truthful choices by randomly choosing a binding choice set and then asking them to pay the price indicated for the chosen product alternative in this binding choice set. This approach, however, does not separate the price the respondent indicated he/she is willing to pay for the chosen product alternative from the price that he/she will end up paying. Would the use of the Becker-DeGroot-Marshack (BDM) mechanism make non-hypothetical choice experiments more demand revealing? Our results using a conventional homegrown choice experiment and an induced value choice experiment suggest that it does not. Choice behavior is associated with the degree of understanding about the experimental procedures and the amount of time devoted to examine the choice set.
The Future of Human Health, Longevity, and Health Costs

We investigate the future of human longevity, morbidity and health costs in a novel, multi-period OLG model with endogenous medical R&D and endogenous survival. Our calibrated model implies substantial future increases in longevity that are associated with both reductions in morbidity and a rising health expenditure share in GDP. Extending health care rationing has potentially sizable effects on morbidity and longevity, with dramatic welfare losses particularly for future generations.
Optimization of a solar chimney to enhance natural ventilation and heat harvesting in a multi-storey office building

Disclaimer This document contains a student thesis (bachelor's or master's), as authored by a student at Eindhoven University of Technology. Student theses are made available in the TU/e repository upon obtaining the required degree. The grade received is not published on the document as presented in the repository. The required complexity or quality of research of student theses may vary by program, and the required minimum study period may vary in duration.
THE COSMIC EVOLUTION OF THE METALLICITY DISTRIBUTION OF IONIZED GAS TRACED BY LYMAN LIMIT SYSTEMS

We present the first results from our KODIAQ Z survey aimed at determining the metallicity distribution and physical properties of the partial and full Lyman limit systems (pLLSs and LLSs; ), which are probed of the interface regions between the intergalactic medium (IGM) and galaxies. We study 31 H i-selected pLLSs and LLSs at observed with Keck/HIRES in absorption against background QSOs. We compare the column densities of metal ions to H i and use photoionization models to assess the metallicity. The metallicity distribution of the pLLSs/LLSs at is consistent with a unimodal distribution peaking at . The metallicity distribution of these absorbers therefore evolves markedly with z since at it is bimodal with peaks at and −0.3. There is a substantial fraction (25%–41%) of pLLSs/LLSs with metallicities well below those of damped Lyα absorbers (DLAs) at any studied z from to –4, implying reservoirs of metal-poor, cool, dense gas in the IGM/galaxy interface at all z. However, the gas probed by pLLSs and LLSs is rarely pristine, with a fraction of 3%–18% for pLLSs/LLSs with . We find C/α enhancement in several pLLSs and LLSs in the metallicity range , where C/α is 2–5 times larger than observed in Galactic metal-poor stars or high-redshift DLAs at similar metallicities. This is likely caused by preferential ejection of carbon from metal-poor galaxies into their surroundings.
Isolation and characterization of extremely halotolerant Bacillus species from Dead Sea black mud and determination of their antimicrobial and hydrolytic activities

This is the first study that investigated the isolation of extremely halotolerant Bacillus species from Dead Sea black mud. Nine isolates obtained from black mud were considered to be extremely halotolerant Bacillus based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties. Most of their colonies were white to light yellow and circular to irregular. All isolates were Gram-positive rod-shaped endospore-forming bacteria, facultative anaerobes, oxidase negative, catalase positive, mesophilic, extremely halotolerant, reacted positively for tryptophan deaminase and Voges-Proskauer, hydrolyzed gelatin and aesculin, and assimilated potassium gluconate. Most of the isolates were found to hydrolyze o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside (ONPG) and p-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (PNPG) as well as arginine, and assimilate D-mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, D-maltose, and malic acid. All isolates were considered to be nitrate reducers, six of them were nitrite producers and three were N2 producers, suggesting that they may play an important role in nitrification-denitrification processes and in the nitrogen cycle in soil. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were found to share very high identities (97-99%) with their closest phylogenetic relative and they were assigned to eight Bacillus species (B. oceanisediminis, B. subtilis, B. firmus, B. paralicheniformis, B. methylotrophicus, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. sonorensis, and B. malikii). Interestingly, several enzymatic activities were detected from nonhemolytic isolates DSM2 and DSM7 that were identified as B. paralicheniformis. It was found that only DSM2 isolate produced promising antimicrobial activities. Its aqueous extract showed the highest significant antifungal activity. Whereas, n-butanol and methanol extracts showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities against human skin pathogens and against other frequent human pathogens. Key words: Halotolerant, Bacillus, nitrification, antimicrobial, hydrolytic.