Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Almonds and Walnuts Consumption Modifies PUFAs Profiles and Improves Metabolic Inflammation Beyond the Impact on Anthropometric Measure

To evaluate changes in serum fatty acids, metabolic profile and inflammation markers after a dietary intervention of 15g of walnuts and 15g of almonds for 8 weeks in obese subjects,We studied a total of 48 sedentary obese grade I subjects (13 men and 35 women). Anthropometric measures, body composition, serum glucose, lipid profile, insulin, lipocalina-2, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), adiponectin, and fatty acids profile were analyzed at the baseline and after dietary intervention.The adiponectin (30.4%, p = 0.007), and lipocalin-2 concentrations (17.9%, p = 0.014), and total Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) percentage (1.6% p = 0.040) significantly increased after the intervention; particularly the eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid percentages were increased marginally. A significant decrease in saturated fatty acids levels (3%, p = 0.001), in particular the C:14, C:16, in total cholesterol (6.7%, p = 0.01), LDL (11.4%, p = 0.002) levels, and in all adiposity measures (weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI and fat mass, p < 0.0001) was found. The effect size was large for all adiposity measures, except for BMI as well as for adiponectin which was moderate.The intake of almonds and walnuts to short-time may improve significantly the metabolic profile and decrease adiposity.
ON ASYMMETRIC CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS IN PETROPOLITICS

The aim of this paper is to examine whether the First Law of Petropolitics denominated by Friedman in 2006 is valid for OPEC countries. To do this, this paper analyses the relationship between political risk and oil supply by applying the asymmetric panel causality test suggested by Hatemi-J (2011) to these countries for the period 1984-2014. The results show that the First Law of Petropolitics is valid for Angola, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, given that positive oil supply shocks significantly lead to negative political stability shocks, and negative oil supply shocks significantly lead to positive shocks in political stability.
The dynamics of compact laser pulses

We discuss the use of a class of exact finite energy solutions to the vacuum source-free Maxwell equations as models for multi- and single cycle laser pulses in classical interaction with relativistic charged point particles. These compact solutions are classified in terms of their chiral content and their influence on particular charge configurations in space. The results of such classical interactions motivate a phenomenological quantum description of a propagating laser pulse in a medium in terms of an effective quantum Hamiltonian.
Qualitative Analysis of Third Year Medical Students Reflections on Loss

Medical students face professional experiences of death and loss during their formative training years. Personal experiences of death and loss are unique to each individual student. Surprisingly little is known about how medical students conceptualize loss or death. We sought to explore the responses of third year medical students to a selfreflection exercise focused on loss. We conducted a qualitative analysis of 127 third year medical school students responses to identify common and uncommon themes and language used by medical students to discuss and conceptualize loss. These findings may allow educators to tailor education programs on end of life care and mindfulness in a real and relevant manner. In addition, the wide breadth of student perspectives will inform appropriate support and resources required as physicians-in-training face loss during their training.
CHARMM Force Field Parameterization of Rosiglitazone

We develop a CHARMM-based interaction potential for rosiglitazone, a well-known selective ligand to the c isoform of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARc) and widely marketed antidiabetic drug of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class. We derive partial atomic charges and dihedral torsion potentials for seven rotations in the molecule, for which there are no analogs available in CHARMM. The potential model is validated by performing a series of molecular dynamics simulations of rosiglitazone in neat water and of a fully solvated rosiglitazone-PPARc complex. The structural and dynamical behavior of the complex is analyzed in comparison with available experimental data. The potential parameters derived here are readily transferable to a variety of pharmaceutically important TZD compounds. V C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 111: 1346-1354, 2011
Hierarchical effects of environmental filters on the functional structure of plant communities: a case study in the French Alps

Understanding the inf l uence of the environment on the functional structure of ecological communities is essential to predict the response of biodiversity to global change drivers. Ecological theory suggests that multiple environmental factors shape local species assemblages by progressively fi ltering species from the regional species pool to local communities. ese successive fi lters should infl uence the various components of community functional structure in di" erent ways. In this paper, we tested the relative infl uence of multiple environmental fi lters on various metrics of plant functional trait structure (i.e. ‘ community weighted mean trait ’ and components of functional trait diversity, i.e. functional richness, evenness and divergence) in 82 vegetation plots in the Guisane Valley, French Alps. For the 211 sampled species we measured traits known to capture key aspects of ecological strategies amongst vascular plant species, i.e. leaf traits, plant height and seed mass (LHS). A comprehensive information theory framework, together with null model based resampling techniques, was used to test the various environmental e" ects. Particular community components of functional structure responded di" erently to various environmental gradients, especially concerning the spatial scale at which the environmental factors seem to operate. Environmental factors acting at a large spatial scale (e.g. temperature) were found to predominantly shape community weighted mean trait values, while fi ne-scale factors (topography and soil characteristics) mostly infl uenced functional diversity and the distribution of trait values among the dominant species. Our results emphasize the hierarchical nature of ecological forces shaping local species assemblage: large-scale environmental fi lters having a primary e" ect, i.e. selecting the pool of species adapted to a site, and then fi lters at fi scales determining species abundances and local species coexistence. is suggests that di" erent components of functional community structure will respond di" erently to environmental change, so that predicting plant community responses will require a hierarchical multi-facet approach.
Joint Optimization of Preventive Maintenance, Spare Parts Inventory and Transportation Options for Systems of Geographically Distributed Assets

Maintenance scheduling for geographically dispersed assets intricately and closely depends on the availability of maintenance resources. The need to have the right spare parts at the right place and at the right time inevitably calls for joint optimization of maintenance schedules and logistics of maintenance resources. The joint decision-making problem becomes particularly challenging if one considers multiple options for preventive maintenance operations and multiple delivery methods for the necessary spare parts. In this paper, we propose an integrated decision-making policy that jointly considers scheduling of preventive maintenance for geographically dispersed multi-part assets, managing inventories for spare parts being stocked in maintenance facilities, and choosing the proper delivery options for the spare part inventory flows. A discrete-event, simulation-based meta-heuristic was used to optimize the expected operating costs, which reward the availability of assets and penalizes the consumption of maintenance/logistic resources. The benefits of joint decision-making and the incorporation of multiple options for maintenance and logistic operations into the decision-making framework are illustrated through a series of simulations. Additionally, sensitivity studies were conducted through a design-of-experiment (DOE)-based analysis of simulation results. In summary, considerations of concurrent optimization of maintenance schedules and spare part logistic operations in an environment in which multiple maintenance and transpiration options are available are a major contribution of this paper. This large optimization problem was solved through a novel simulation-based meta-heuristic optimization, and the benefits of such a joint optimization are studied via a unique and novel DOE-based sensitivity analysis.
An Iterated Variable Neighborhood Descent Algorithm applied to the Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows

Pickup and Delivery Problems are variations of the Vehicle Routing Problem, and arise in many real-world transportation scenarios. This work studies the Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows, in which goods have to be transported from one location to another, respecting certain time and vehicle capacity constraints. It aims at minimizing the number of vehicles used, as well as the operational costs to perform all routes. To solve this problem, an algorithm is proposed by embedding a Variable Neighborhood Descent method into an Iterated Local Search metaheuristic. Experiments are carried out with standard literature instances, showing that the algorithm is able to deliver good solutions in competitive time. The student, and first author, developed and wrote the entire work, as well as interacted with a partner company, as part of his scientific initiation project and bachelor thesis in computer science, always advised by the other two authors.
Fossil and contemporary aerosol particulate organic carbon in the eastern United States: Implications for deposition and inputs to watersheds

Atmospheric particulate matter samples were collected from mid‐Atlantic and northeastern U.S. (Virginia and New York, respectively) sites to assess the fossil versus contemporary sources contributing to aerosol organic carbon (OC) and the implications for its deposition to watersheds. Mean particulate matter total OC (TOC) deposition rates (wet + dry deposition) were calculated to be 1.6 and 2.4 mg C m−2 d−1 for the Virginia and New York sites, respectively. Wet deposition of particulate TOC was determined to be the dominant depositional mode, accounting for >65% (Virginia) and >80% (New York) of total aerosol TOC deposition. Isotopic mass balances suggest that, on average, the deposited aerosol TOC consisted of 66% (Virginia) and 68% (New York) contemporary biomass‐derived material. The balance was fossil‐derived material (34% and 32% for Virginia and New York, respectively), indicating significant anthropogenic fossil fuel contributions to aerosol TOC. When considered within representative northeastern U.S. watershed OC budgets, aerosol TOC depositional flux was up to 10% of net soil OC accumulation rates, and 5–70% of the OC throughfall flux for forested regions. When scaled to the entire Hudson and York River watersheds, estimated aerosol TOC depositional fluxes ranged from 6.1 to 9.7 × 1010 g C yr−1 and from 8.9 to 14 × 109 g C yr−1, respectively, and were similar in magnitude to the mean annual river OC export for these two systems (Hudson, 7.2 × 1010 g C yr−1; York, 8.4 × 109 g C yr−1). These findings underscore the potential importance of both natural and fossil fuel‐derived aerosol OC inputs to watersheds.
Automatische Prominenzetikettierung einer Datenbank für die korpusbasierte Sprachsynthese

Die Methode der korpusbasierten Sprachsynthese benotigt grose, segmental und prosodisch annotierte Datenbanken fur eine optimale Einheitenauswahl. Es wird uberpruft, inwieweit eine Etikettierung von perzeptiver Silbenprominenz auf der Basis von CART-Baumen automatisiert werden kann. Die Ergebnisse sind vielversprechend, sofern auf die Mase Akzentuierbarkeit des Silbenkerns (keine Schwa-Silbe), Silbendauer, sowie Wortart (part of speech= POS), Wortbetonung und Vorhandensein eines FO-Maximums zuruckgegriffen werden kann.
Revisiting the Gender Gap in Time-Use Patterns

This study suggests that multitasking constitutes an important source of gender inequality, which can help explain previous findings that mothers feel more burdened and stressed than do fathers even when they have relatively similar workloads. Using data from the 500 Family Study, including surveys and the Experience Sampling Method, the study examines activities parents simultaneously engage in and how they feel when multitasking. We find that mothers spend 10 more hours a week multitasking compared to fathers and that these additional hours are mainly related to time spent on housework and childcare. For mothers, multitasking activities at home and in public are associated with an increase in negative emotions, stress, psychological distress, and work-family conflict. By contrast, fathers’ multitasking at home involves less housework and childcare and is not a negative experience. We also find several similarities by gender. Mothers’ and fathers’ multitasking in the company of a spouse or children are positive experiences, whereas multitasking at work, although associated with an increased sense of productivity, is perceived as a negative experience.
Interactive Robotic Manipulation of Elastic Objects

In this paper, we address the challenge of robotic manipulation of elastically deforming objects. To this end, we model elastic objects using the Finite Element Method. Through a quasi-static assumption, we leverage sensitivity analysis to mathematically model how changes in the robot's configuration affect the deformed shape of the object being manipulated. This enables an interactive, simulation-based control methodology, wherein user-specified deformations for the elastic objects are automatically mapped to joint angle commands. The optimization formulation we introduce is general, operates directly within a robot's workspace and can readily incorporate joint limits as well as collision avoidance between the links. We validate our control methodology on a YuMi® IRB 14000, which we use to manipulate a variety of elastic objects.
Tactile Reasoning: Hands-on vs Hands-off - what's the difference?

This study investigates tactile reasoning in relation to sense making in the context of designing a new non-traditional information environment. We define tactile reasoning as an interaction technique that supports analytical reasoning by the direct manipulation of information objects in the graphical user interface (GUI). When people directly manipulate data, for example, by moving individual pieces of information to create temporary groups or sequences, or eliminating pieces of information from a group. We hypothesise that this can enhance their sense-making and analytical reasoning ability by helping them discover new explanatory relationships created by the rearranged pieces of information. Our study used a card sorting type of task where participants were either allowed or not allowed to touch and manipulate the cards to look for information or to construct groups of information that could provide meaningful explanations. The results showed that manipulation has a positive effect on analytical reasoning performance. In the more difficult task conditions, participants who were allowed to use their hands were observed to invoke sensemaking strategies 99 times in comparison with the 50 by participants who were not allowed to use their hands.
Combined effects of CO2 and light on large and small isolates of the unicellular N2-fixing cyanobacterium Crocosphaera watsonii from the western tropical Atlantic Ocean

We examined the combined effects of light and pCO2 on growth, CO2-fixation and N2-fixation rates by strains of the unicellular marine N2-fixing cyanobacterium Crocosphaera watsonii with small (WH0401) and large (WH0402) cells that were isolated from the western tropical Atlantic Ocean. In low-pCO2-acclimated cultures (190 ppm) of WH0401, growth, CO2-fixation and N2-fixation rates were significantly lower than those in cultures acclimated to higher (present-day ∼385 ppm, or future ∼750 ppm) pCO2 treatments. Growth rates were not significantly different, however, in low-pCO2-acclimated cultures of WH0402 in comparison with higher pCO2 treatments. Unlike previous reports for C. watsonii (strain WH8501), N2-fixation rates did not increase further in cultures of WH0401 or WH0402 when acclimated to 750 ppm relative to those maintained at present-day pCO2. Both light and pCO2 had a significant negative effect on gross : net N2-fixation rates in WH0402 and trends were similar in WH0401, implying that retention of fixed N was enhanced under elevated light and pCO2. These data, along with previously reported results, suggest that C. watsonii may have wide-ranging, strain-specific responses to changing light and pCO2, emphasizing the need for examining the effects of global change on a range of isolates within this biogeochemically important genus. In general, however, our data suggest that cellular N retention and CO2-fixation rates of C. watsonii may be positively affected by elevated light and pCO2 within the next 100 years, potentially increasing trophic transfer efficiency of C and N and thereby facilitating uptake of atmospheric carbon by the marine biota.
Synthesis of RF Circuits with Negative Time Delay by Using LNA

A demonstration of the negative time-delay by using active circuit topologies with negative group delay (NGD) is described in this paper. This negative time delay is realized with two different topologies operating in base band and modulated frequencies. The first NGD topology is composed of an RL-network in feedback with an RF/microwave amplifier. Knowing the characteristics of the amplifier, a synthesis method of this circuit in function of the desired NGD values and the expected time advance is established. The feasibility of this extraordinary physical effect is illustrated with frequency- and time-domain analyses. It is shown in this paper that by considering an arbitrary waveform signal, output in advance of about 7 ns is observed compared to the corresponding input. It is stated that such an effect is not in contradiction with the causality. The other NGD topology is comprised of a microwave amplifier associated with an RLC-series resonant. The theoretical approach illustrating the functioning of this NGD circuit is established by considering the amplifier S-parameters. Then, synthesis relations enabling to choose the NGD device parameters according to the desired NGD and gain values are also established. To demonstrate the relevance of the theoretic concept, a microwave device exhibiting NGD function of about -1.5 ns at around 1.19 GHz was designed and analyzed. The NGD device investigated in this paper presents advantages on its faculty to exhibit positive transmission gain, the implementation of the bias network and matching in the considered NGD frequency band.
A Non-Linear Stochastic Asset Model for Actuarial Use

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the stochastic asset model described in Wilkie (1995) and previous work on refining this model. The paper then considers the application on non-linear modelling to investment series, considering both ARCH techniques and threshold modelling. The paper suggests a threshold autoregressive (TAR) system as a useful progression from the Wilkie (1995) model. The authors are making available (on compact disk) a collection of spreadsheets, which they have used to simulate the stochastic asset models which are considered in this paper.
Self-Trapping of Light Using the Pancharatnam-Berry Phase

Since its introduction by Sir Michael Berry in 1984, geometric phase became of fundamental importance in physics, with applications ranging from solid state physics to optics. In optics, Pancharatnam-Berry phase allows the tailoring of optical beams by a local control of their polarization. Here we discuss light propagation in the presence of an intensity-dependent local modulation of the Pancharatnam-Berry phase. The corresponding self-modulation of the wavefront counteracts the natural spreading due to diffraction, i.e., self-focusing takes place. No refractive index variation is associated with the self-focusing: the confinement is uniquely due to a nonlinear spin-orbit interaction. The phenomenon is investigated, both theoretically and experimentally, considering the reorientational nonlinearity in liquid crystals, where light is able to rotate the local optical axis through an intensity-dependent optical torque. Our discoveries pave the way to the investigation of a new family of nonlinear waves featuring a strong interaction between the spin and the orbital degrees of freedom.
ENERGY RESILIENT VILLAGE POTENTIAL : LESSONS LEARNED FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY OF LIVESTOCK WASTE IN BOYOLALI , INDONESIA

Indonesian Government (2014-2019) is committed to supply additional 35,000 MegaWatts of Electricity to support electricity needs of Indonesia. This plan is due to the gap of energy supply as demands from economic development, such as residential, business and industry activities increase. This study aims to assess how far Selo Sub-District has been able to be an energy resilient village. To analyze this, we took a survey at two villages that adopted biogas technology to provide energy at household levels. Despite the adoption is still slow (limited), we recognize the promising results of biogas adoption (3.6 households/year), particularly at the later stage of adoption. There are three factors that affect the implementation of rural biogas adoption, among others, the availability of resources, financial collaboration between governments and non government organizations and participation of stakeholders. These three factors are found in Selo although in a different condition. Rural biogas development in Selo Sub-District Boyolali shows a potential for an energy resilient village. In a wider context, the ability to provide energy at village scale level can be
Low-volume interval training improves cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is predicted to affect about 500 million individuals by 2030, and is closely linked to cardiovascular disease. Exercise is considered a cornerstone in both the prevention and treatment of T2D, but despite the clear-cut evidence and well established recommendations few patients with T2D exercise enough according to today’s guidelines.Objectives: To compare two different time-efficient high intensity exercise protocols in patients with T2D, and to investigate the effect on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors.Methods: Subjects with T2D were recruited and randomly assigned to either low-volume high intensity interval training (HIT) or extremely low-volume sprint interval training (SIT). Both groups exercised three days a week for 12 weeks. Changes in glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), aerobic capacity (VO2peak), blood lipids, blood pressure and body composition were measured.Results: HIT and SIT combined reduced HbA1c significantly (-0.54 percentage points, p = 0.005) only in the patients with the poorest glycemic control at baseline. Both HIT and SIT improved VO2peak, with no significant difference between groups. HIT, but not SIT, improved body fat percentage and visceral fat area. In hypertensive subjects blood pressure was reduced following HIT and SIT combined.Conclusion: Time-efficient interval training of high intensity can improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes-patients with poorly controlled hyperglycemia, but not in wellcontrolled subjects. Aerobic capacity, body composition and hypertension can be improved in type 2 diabetes following substantially less weekly time of training than currently recommended, given that intensity of training is high.