Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Abdominal Muscles on Shoulder Isometric Muscular Strength

It has been known that core stabilization is associated with the trunk stability and the mobility of limbs. However, studies on the relationships between the core stabilization and the muscle strength of limbs were very rare. Also, the Valsalva maneuver reportedly had an optimal breathing condition that created the maximal muscle strength. However, there has not been any comparative study of the maximal muscle strength by the Valsalva maneuver with that upon the core contraction. Thus, this study aimed to compare the impacts of the core contraction and the Valsalva maneuver on the isometric maximal muscle strengths at the internal rotation of a shoulder. The participants composed of 11 male and 24 female adults (age 21 ± 1.8). The measurement was performed 3 times with the single group. The experiment was carried out to measure the isometric maximal muscle strengths upon the internal rotation of a shoulder in the three groups consisting of the control group, the core stabilization group contracting transverses abdominal muscle and the Valsalva maneuver group using intra-abdominal pressure. A significant difference (p<0.05) was shown between the core stabilization group (10.27±7.06) and the Valsalva maneuver group (16.39±9.09). As a result, it was found that the core stabilization group and the Valsalva maneuver group had impacts on the maximal muscle strength at the isometric internal rotation of a shoulder. If compared with the control group, the core stabilization group displayed the reduced maximal muscle strength while the Valsalva maneuver group showed the increased maximal muscle strength in comparison with the core stabilization group. Since there were no overlapping conditions between the core contraction and the measurement of muscle strength, which comprised the dual task, the concentration of the participation on the task was lowered and thus the maximal muscle strength of the core stabilization group was reduced. It has been known that the Valsalva maneuver enhanced the trunk stability and provided the additional muscle tension along with the increased intraperitoneal and intrathoracic pressures, leading to the improved power generation of the proximal and limb muscles. Consistent with this, the Valsalva maneuver group displayed the highest maximal muscle strength.
Service Systems

The proposed framework sheds light on the fundamental role that value propositions play in service systems. Building on service-dominant logic from marketing and structuration theory from sociology, the authors theoretically link three service constructs: value propositions as invitations from actors to one another to engage in service, engagement as alignment of connections and dispositions, and service experience as many-to-many engagement. The proposed framework generates future research directions and theory development regarding the crucial role of value propositions in service systems; ultimately, it contributes to a deeper understanding of markets that is different than that which is guided by the standard neoclassical economics view of markets.
Impact of Transformational Leadership Behaviors and Psychological Optimism on Subordinate Performance in Taiwan’s Tourism Hotel Industry

This study proposed a theoretical framework to explore the possible relationship among transformational leadership behavior, psychological optimism, and subordinate performance. Data were surveyed from 169 supervisor-subordinate dyads in Taiwan’s tourism hotel industry; we found that transformational leadership behaviors might help individuals nurture higher level of psychological optimism, thus enhancing the subordinate performance. Implication and suggestions were discussed.
Promoting nature conservation by Dutch farmers: a governance perspective†

ABSTRACT Reconciling productive agricultural practices with nature conservation is not only an ecological challenge, but also a demanding matter of governance. This paper analyses the potential as well as the limitations of various governance arrangements, and explores ways to enhance the governance of nature conservation in agricultural landscapes. We assume four conditions to contribute to the performance of these arrangements: farmers should be motivated, demanded, enabled, and legitimized to participate in arrangements that promote nature conservation by farmers. We analyse 10 distinct Dutch governance arrangements in the period 2000–2016, including agri-environment schemes but also privately initiated arrangements. The arrangements target a large but unknown share of farmers and farmlands, but nature conservation ambition levels are generally low to moderate. The expected low-to-moderate performance is associated with a low-to-moderate motivation, demand, and ability. Underlying are stronger forces driving towards intensification and problems farmers face in recuperating the cost of nature conservation. New greening requirements in the EU Common Agricultural Policy and in agri-food supply chains are first, cautious steps addressing these fundamental drivers of ecological degradation. More ambitious greening requirements may contribute to a higher motivation and ability of larger groups of farmers to implement nature conservation measures.
Implication of Using Auxiliary Service Voltage Transformer Sub-Stations for Rural Electrification

Providing an affordable and reliable electricity supply to rural communities is seen by countries round the world as one of the major keys to development. A good quality and stable electricity supply can provide a wide variety of benefits including lighting (allowing evening activities), clean cooking and heating, access to television/radio, telephone (including mobile), improved health (due to example refrigeration), and many small industrial uses. Often this can be provided by extending the main electricity network to the community. However, for remote rural areas the costs involved can be very high. Therefore, Un-conventional Rural Electrification (URE) technologies are thus very relevant, particularly for countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as they have potential to make connection to the electricity network affordable. While such systems are already in use, their penetration level is very low. Hence, if the penetration level of such system in power network increases, what is the effect on power and voltage quality, stability and capacity constraints of the overall system? What are the limiting factors, and how can this limit be determined for any particular rural electrification project. These are some of the major questions that this paper address progressively. The paper investigated the maximum penetration level of sub-station based Auxiliary Service Voltage Transformer (ASVT) technologies in transmission power networks with regard to voltage quality, stability, and capacity constraints. This was done by comparing the simulation results of ASVT(s) penetration on a transmission power network with the constructed Surge Impedance Loading (SIL) curves. The curves were derived from the ABCD parameters of the transmission line under investigation. Results showed that ASVT sub-station technologies can be applicable to any HV transmission line whose voltage level is within the 6% tolerance when the load power factor is varied between 0.2 and unity power factor. Moreover, the Loadability tests carried out showed that ASVT system could be operated within allowable voltage profile, if 1MW at 0.3 to 0.5 power factor lagging load was connected.
Study of an Altered Magnetic Circuit of a Permanent Magnet Linear Generator for Wave Power

The wave energy converter (WEC) studied and developed at Uppsala University in Sweden is a point absorbing buoy connected to a linear generator (LG) on the seabed. Previous studies have improved the sustainability of the generator, changing its magnets from Nd 2 Fe 14 B-magnets to ferrites. In this paper, the magnetic circuit of the linear generator is further studied. Ferrite magnets of two different types (Y30 and Y40) are studied along with different shapes of pole shoes for the system. The finite element method (FEM) simulations in a program called Ace are performed. The results show that a linear generator including both Y30 and Y40 magnets and shortened T-shaped pole shoes can generate a similar magnetic energy in the airgap as a linear generator only containing Y40 magnets and rectangular pole shoes. This shows that the magnetic circuit can be altered, opening up sizes and strengths of magnets for different retailers, and thereby possibly lowering magnet cost and transportation. This work was previously presented as a conference at the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC) 2017 in Cork, Ireland; this manuscript has been carefully revised and some discussions, on magnet costs for example, have been added to this paper.
Security and Integration in the EU Neighbourhood The Case for Regionalism

Over the past fifty years, the power constellation that has taken shape in Europe has blended security concerns and integration in a new, different correlation that was previously unknown in international relations. There is probably no better way to understand the challenges posed by European security and integration than by observing how the EU has been relating to its neighbours over time. Until 2004, the EU addressed the neighbourhood challenge essentially by oscillating between integration and security. It either focused on security – by stabilising its peripheries and largely by keeping neighbours at arm’s length – or it focused on integration – by promising membership, and thus by inviting neighbours into the European project. With the last enlargement round, as the boundaries of the EU stretched out to their geographical and political limits, the need to address the security-integration nexus re-emerged. In response, this paper makes the case for regionalism as a possible conceptual framework and policy instrument to address the challenges posed by Europe’s new, diverse neighbourhood. It explains why, where and how regionalism can emerge as a political practice and policy instrument that contributes to tackling the correlation between security and integration in the wider European space. A set of recommendations to develop regionalism is then proposed and applied to the emerging case of the Black Sea Region.
Hematological Indices in Elite Wrestlers

Background: Because of varying reports, there is still need to investigate the impact of wrestling on hematological indices. Objectives: We investigated differences in the basic hematological indices in wrestlers compared to sedentary controls. Patients and Methods: The blood samples containing anticoagulant were collected from 12 male elite wrestlers (age = 24  1.2 years, weight = 76  5 Kg) with a history of more than 9.5 years of experience and from 13 apparently healthy male silent controls (age = 24  0.8 years, weight = 85  4 Kg). All the participants were at rest for 24 hours during the blood collection. Red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC), total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, and platelet count were analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer. Results: Concentration of Hb (154  2 g/L), PCV (45.3  0.6%), and lymphocyte percent (22.6  3%) were lower in wrestlers than in the controls (Hb: 1653 g/L, PCV: 48.60.8%, and lymphocyte: 33.22%). However, higher neutrophil count (68.73%) was seen in the athletes than in the controls (60.62%). The other indices showed no differences between the two groups. Conclusions: A low level of Hb concentration and PCV was detected in the blood of wrestlers. In addition, lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio was lower in the wrestlers, which may be a reason for wrestlers’ susceptibility to viral infections.
The Driving Force of Life Evolution

Competitors coexistence is an intriguing theme when we deal with biological evolution: coexistence is a prerequisite of biological diversity. However, why does evolution support biodiversity? In this paper biological evolution is presented as a process equivalent to concurrent autocatalytic chemical reactions. The analysis of the mathematical models of these reactions shows that competitors are restricted in their ability to coexist stably. Competing autocatalytic units coexist if and only if they have identical energetic characteristics. Therefore, the answer presented here is that evolution does not really maintain diversity. Apparent biodiversity, at a closer look, is a mixture of identical self-replicating units. From here, the conclusion is drawn that differences in the patterns of energy flow, in which self-replicating units are involved, is the driving force of life evolution. This theoretical model, which describes life evolution in simple physical terms, replaces natural selection hypothesis.
Optimal Control for General n-Compartmental Models in Cancer Chemotherapy Using Measure Theoretical Approach

In this paper we consider the general compartmental models for cancer chemotherapy as an optimal control problems over a fix therapy interval with drug dosages as controls and with arbitrary objectives (linear, quadratic or nonlinear). These models are based on cell-cycle kinetics. Here we use the measure theoretical approach for obtaining the optimal solutions of these problems. In this approach, the optimal control problems are converted to the corresponding linear programming problems. Using optimal solutions of these linear programming problems, we can construct the approximate optimal control and optimal state for original problem.
Dietary Hemicell® Improved Reproductive Performance of Broiler Breeders under Commercial Settings

The objective of this work is to study the effect of dietary Hemicell®, a fermentation product that contains high amount of β-mannanase, on performance and health parameters of broiler breeders grown under commercial settings. Twenty six thousand broiler breeders of Ross 308 strain with an average egg production of 35% and 2600 roosters aged 26.5 weeks were used in this study and were subdivided equally into six individual environmentally controlled houses with 4333 hens per house and 10% roosters. Birds in three houses were fed regular diet provided by the Ross Company while those in the remaining three other houses were fed rations containing 250 g of Hemicell® per ton of finished feed for a period of 8.6 months. Hemicell® in breeder diets reduced feed cost and numerically improved number of total and hatching eggs per hen housed. It also increased hatchability by 0.32% during the 8.6 months trial period. Although Hemicell® improved yolk colour, it had no effect on other egg quality parameters such as egg weight and shell thickness. Regarding health parameters, Hemicell® reduced the incidence of pododermatitis in hens and increased the serum titer for NDV towards the end of the trial. Along with the little saving in feed cost, Hemicell® resulted in a gain of around 1.20 US dollar per hen housed. These results indicate that Hemicell® inclusion in the diets of broiler breeders is beneficial to parent flock growers and makes their operations more profitable.
Impact of the Financial Performances of Incorporations of Football Clubs in the Domestic League on their Sportive Performances: A Study Covering Four Major Football Clubs in Turkey

All over Europe, professional football clubs have been transformed into profit oriented incorporations and their performances have been judged on and off the field of play. Football has begun to be considered as a business in Turkey mostly as of late 90’s. In this study, we investigate the possible impact of the financial performances of incorporations on the sportive performances in the domestic league for the four major football clubs in Turkey, namely Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor over the period 2002-2009. In order to carry out this study, we use variables from the financial statements of these clubs’ incorporations as a measure of their financial performances and sportive results obtained in the domestic league as an indicator of the sportive performance using a Spearman correlation model. The results of this study indicate that it appears to be no correlation between the sportive performances of the clubs and financial performances of their incorporations in the above mentioned period.
Title Why is marsh productivity so high ? New insights from eddy covariance and biomass measurements in a Typha marsh Permalink

Researchers have a poor understanding of the mechanisms that allow freshwater marshes to achieve rates of net primary production (NPP) that are higher than those reported for most other types of ecosystems. We used an 8-year record of the gross primary production (GPP) and NPP at the San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh (SJFM) in Southern California to determine the relative importance of GPP and carbon use efficiency (CUE; the ratio of total NPP to GPP calculated as NPP GPP ) in determining marsh NPP. GPP was calculated from continuous eddy covariance measurements and NPP was calculated from annual harvests. The NPP at the SJFM was typical of highly productive freshwater marshes, while the GPP was similar to that reported for other ecosystem types, including some with comparatively low NPPs. NPP was weakly related to GPP in the same year, and was better correlated with the GPP summed from late in the previous year’s growing season to early in the current growing season. This lag was attributed to carbohydrate reserves, which supplement carbon for new leaf growth in the early growing season of the current year. The CUE at the SJFM for the 8-year period was 0.61 0.05. This CUE is larger than that reported for tropical, temperate, and boreal ecosystems, and indicates that high marsh NPP is attributable to a high CUE and not a high GPP. This study underscores the importance of autotrophic respiration and carbon allocation in determining marsh NPP. Published by Elsevier B.V. avai lab le at www.sc iencedi rec t . com journal homepage: www.e lsev ier . com/ locate /agr formet
Reappraisal of drying and wetting effects on C and N mineralization and fluxes in soils

In the next decades, many soils will be subjected to increased drying/wetting cycles or modified water availability considering predicted global changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration. These changes may affect the turnover of C and N in soils, but the direction of changes is still unclear. The aim of the review is the evaluation of involved mechanisms, the intensity, duration and frequency of drying and wetting for the mineralization and fluxes of C and N in terrestrial soils. Controversial study results require a reappraisal of the present understanding that wetting of dry soils induces significant losses of soil C and N. The generally observed pulse in net C and N mineralization following wetting of dry soil (hereafter wetting pulse) is short‐lived and often exceeds the mineralization rate of a respective moist control. Accumulated microbial and plant necromass, lysis of live microbial cells, release of compatible solutes and exposure of previously protected organic matter may explain the additional mineralization during wetting of soils. Frequent drying and wetting diminishes the wetting pulse due to limitation of the accessible organic matter pool. Despite wetting pulses, cumulative C and N mineralization (defined here as total net mineralization during drying and wetting) are mostly smaller compared with soil with optimum moisture, indicating that wetting pulses cannot compensate for small mineralization rates during drought periods. Cumulative mineralization is linked to the intensity and duration of drying, the amount and distribution of precipitation, temperature, hydrophobicity and the accessible pool of organic substrates. Wetting pulses may have a significant impact on C and N mineralization or flux rates in arid and semiarid regions but have less impact in humid and subhumid regions on annual time scales. Organic matter stocks are progressively preserved with increasing duration and intensity of drought periods; however, fires enhance the risk of organic matter losses under dry conditions. Hydrophobicity of organic surfaces is an important mechanism that reduces C and N mineralization in topsoils after precipitation. Hence, mineralization in forest soils with hydrophobic organic horizons is presumably stronger limited than in grassland or farmland soils. Even in humid regions, suboptimal water potentials often restrict microbial activity in topsoils during growing seasons. Increasing summer droughts will likely reduce the mineralization and fluxes of C and N whereas increasing summer precipitation could enhance the losses of C and N from soils.
Antihypertensive drugs and risk of gout among patients with hypertension

Hypertension is one of the most common co morbidities of gout. Gout is an acquired auto-inflammatory disorder characterized by severe joint inflammation and deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joints. Hypertension is independently associated with the risk of incident gout through reduced renal blood flow with increased renal and systemic vascular resistance which leads to decreased renal excretion of urate. Normotensive individuals with baseline hyperuricemia have an 80% excess risk for developing HTN compared with those who do not have hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia is a classic feature of gout, but it occurs nearly half of the time without hyperuricemia, and most people with raised uric acid levels never develop gout. Hyperuricemia is defined as a plasma urate level greater than 420 μmol/l (7.0 mg/dl) in males and 360 μmol/l (6.0 mg/dl) in females. Certain antihypertensive drugs also increase the levels of serum uric acid and thus may contribute to the risk of gout. Calcium channel blockers and losartan were associated with lower risk of incident gout among individuals with hypertension. By contrast, diuretics, b-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and nonlosartan angiotensin II receptor blockers were associated with an increased risk of gout. These may have practical implications for choosing the appropriate anti-hypertensive drugs in patients with hypertension, a common co morbidity of gout. In addition, both duration of treatment and dose influenced the magnitude of the response to both calcium channel blockers and losartan. Key words: Hypertension, gout, hyperuricemia,calcium channel blockers, losartan, diuretics, b-blocker, diuretics.
EMERGENCE OF COLLABORATIVE MUSICAL EXPRESSION AND PERFORMANCE COORDINATION IN AN AMATEUR ORCHESTRA

In this study we explored the mutually emergent process of musical expression during daily rehearsals among amateur orchestra members. The overall rehearsal activities of sym­ phony orchestra members were video taped, and their actual discourse and rehearsal activities were analyzed. During these daily rehearsals, orchestra members frequently discussed how to express each sound over very small sections of the score and aimed to construct their entrances and exits, and adjust their rhythm, tempos and harmony. The physical activity and movements required to produce musical sounds also served as cues for coordinating the mutual ensemble within each orchestral section and by the individual members of the orchestra. They coordinated these efforts toward harmonious perfor­ mance, both by actual play during rehearsals and by mutual discussions regarding how to play, produce musical sounds and time their pauses. The wide range of collaboration suggests that creative activity within an orchestral setting is dynamically driven by a collaboration that is fundamentally socially based.