Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climate Change Evolution and Indigenous Methods of Flood Control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon

This study discusses the evolution of climate change and the use of indigenous methods of flood control in the Upper Nun Valley of Cameroon. The local farmers of the Ndop plain have developed and implemented extensive indigenous farming systems as adaptation strategies to reduce the vulnerability of climate variability over the years. However, these indigenous methods of flood control have not been sustainable enough to guard against severe flood incidences in the Ndop Plain as a result of climate change impact. This paper examines climate change evolution in the region and highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies practised in the Upper Nun Valley and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. To ensure stability in food production and sustain food sufficiency in areas where local economies entirely depend on farming and the natural state of the environment, it is important to investigate the indigenous strategies put in place and the extent to which they combat floods in the Ndop Plain. Field surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, participant observation methods and secondary sources were used to collect data from selected villages where rice cultivation and market gardening products are on the increase. Based on climatic data for the region, the simple forecasting method using the forecasting line was used to predict future changes in climatic conditions for the region and the extent to which they may cause floods. The data collected were analyzed in both qualitative and quantitative terms to provide information for the discussion. The results reveal that changes in temperature and rainfall have altered the climatic conditions of the region leading to increased flood incidences in the Plain. The paper posited that a sustainable adaptation mechanism should take into consideration the widening of the drains as well as minimizing the cultivation of crops on the drains which serve as gateways to excessive water into the rice fields. The study also recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.
The microlensing rate and distribution of free-floating planets towards the Galactic bulge

Ground-based optical microlensing surveys have provided tantalising, if inconclusive, evidence for a significant population of free-floating planets (FFPs). Both ground and space-based facilities are being used and developed which will be able to probe the distrubution of FFPs with much better sensitivity. It is vital also to develop a high-precision microlensing simulation framework to evaluate the completeness of such surveys. We present the first signal-to-noise limited calculations of the FFP microlensing rate using the Besancon Galactic model. The microlensing distribution towards the Galactic centre is simulated for wide-area ground-based optical surveys such as OGLE or MOA, a wide-area ground-based near-IR survey, and a targeted space-based near-IR survey which could be undertaken with Euclid or WFIRST. We present a calculation framework for the computation of the optical and near-infrared microlensing rate and optical depth for simulated stellar catalogues which are signal-to-noise limited, and take account of extinction, unresolved stellar background light and finite source size effects, which can be significant for FFPs. We find that the global ground-based I-band yield over a central 200 deg^2 region covering the Galactic centre ranges from 20 Earth-mass FFPs year^-1 up to 3,500 year^-1 for Jupiter FFPs in the limit of 100% detection efficiency, and almost an order of magnitude larger for a K-band survey. For ground-based surveys we find that the inclusion of finite source and the unresolved background reveals a mass-dependent variation in the spatial distribution of FFPs. For a space-based H-band covering 2 deg^2, the yield depends on the target field but maximizes close to the Galactic centre with around 76 Earth through to 1,700 Jupiter FFPs year^-1. For near-IR space-based surveys the spatial distribution of FFPs is found to be largely insensitive to the FFP mass scale.
RESEARCH FOR Mycoplasma spp IN MILK SAMPLES FROM MASTITIC COWS (PESQUISA DE Mycoplasma spp EM AMOSTRAS DE LEITE DE VACAS MASTÍTICAS) (PESQUISA DE Mycoplasma spp EN MUESTRAS DE LECHE DE VACAS MASTÍTICAS)

SUMMARY Many species of mycoplasmas account for cases and outbreaks of mastitis in dairy herds worldwide. Mastitis due to mycoplasma in Brazil was first reported only in 1996, and its real importance in the national cases of the disease is unknown. Mycoplasmas are highly contagious agents and its control depends on sick cow detection and slaughtering. In this study, which was carried out in mid-western region of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, 101 and 121 samples of lacteal secretion derived from acute clinical mastitic cows and subclinical cases, respectively, were inoculated in modified Hayflick mediums. Also, all the samples underwent a molecular analysis by PCR technique with Mycoplasma genus specific primers. All samples were negative for Mycoplasma in the Hayflick modified medium, as well as in the PCR.
Fossilized worm burrows influence the resource quality of porous media

Burrow-associated, selective dolomitization in the Yeoman Formation limestone (Ordovician, Williston basin) is characterized by distinct textural heterogeneity. Physical parameters such as permeability, porosity, tortuosity, and dispersivity are therefore difficult to assess. This study compares the relative dispersivities of three geologic media: homogeneous sandstone, fractured limestone, and burrowed dolomitic limestone. Results show that the flow paths present in burrow-associated dolomite are tortuous, and that the interaction between the flow paths and the matrix is extensive. Such rocks act as dual-permeability systems in the subsurface. Hydrocarbon production from such deposits will be strongly influenced by burrow-related heterogeneity, and its influence should be carefully considered before secondary recovery schemes are implemented.
Elemental Composition and Health Risk Assessment of PM10 and PM2.5 in the Roadside Microenvironment in Tianjin, China

ABSTRACT To determine the elemental composition and health risk of particles in the roadside microenvironment, particulate matter samples (PM10 and PM2.5) were collected at the side of four roads in winter, spring, and summer of 2015. The total concentrations of crustal and trace elements and the average concentrations of most single elements followed the sequence of spring, winter, and summer. Crustal elements accounted for 18.9%, 13.2%, and 9.3% of the PM10 and 15.1%, 11.2%, and 18.8% of the PM2.5 in the three seasons, respectively. On average, Zn contributed the largest share, accounting for 34.0%, 32.2%, and 34.2% of the total trace elements in PM10 and for 35.2%, 28.3%, and 35.6% in the PM2.5 for winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The enrichment factor results showed that Mn, K, Na, Co, and Si originated in crustal sources; V, Ca, Mg, Mo, Cr, Fe, Ti, and Ba were derived from both anthropogenic and crustal sources; and Cd, Sb, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, and Ni were largely derived from anthropogenic sources. The results of principal component analysis explained 72.64% of the total variance for PM10 and 78.76% of the variance for PM2.5. Possible sources include resuspended road dust, vehicular exhaust, fugitive dust (road dust and soil dust), and tire/brake wear. The respective ratios of Fe/Al, Mn/V, Cu/Sb, Cu/Zn, Zn/Pb, V/Ni, and Cu/Pb in this study were 0.58, 2.87, 11.07, 0.28, 1.23, 1.34, and 4.45 for PM10 and 1.07, 0.83, 23.07, 0.44, 1.83, 1.60, and 4.18 for PM2.5. Accumulative non-cancerous toxic elements in winter and spring may pose risks to roadside workers via inhalation. The integrated cancer risks (CR) of As, Co, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb in PM2.5 and PM10 ranged from 1.58E-05 to 4.95E-05 CR.
Frame Changes and the Management of Intractable Conflicts

Frames play an important role in intractable conflict. As lenses through which disputants interpret Conflicts, divergent frames limit the clarity of communication and the quality of information and encourage escalation. These frames, embedded in personal, social, and institutional roles, are often quite stable over time. Yet in some intractable Conflicts, reframing interventions have contributed to tractability.
Women Linguistic Features Used by Oprah Winfrey in Same-Sex Communication

This study focused on analyzing women linguistic features used by Oprah Winfrey in same-sex communication in a talk show namely Oprah Winfrey Show. Lakoff proposed a theory which stated that there are ten linguistic features of women’s speech. Desriptive qualitative method was used in this study because the data were not numeric data. The data were collected by transcribing one episode of Oprah Winfrey show with J. K. Rowling as its guest. Then, the writers identified each feature in the conversation and analyzed it using Lakoff’s theory. The findings showed that there were four women linguistic features used in the same-sex communication including lexical hedges or fillers, rising intonation on declaratives, ‘empty’ adjectives. Meanwhile, intensifiers and five other women linguistic features were absent. These five absent features were tag question, precise color terms, ‘hypercorrect’ grammar, ‘superpolite’ forms, and avoidance of strong swear words. Furthermore, the most frequent emerged feature was lexical hedges or fillers while the least frequent emerged features were rising intonation on declaratives and ‘empty’ adjective. In addition, the use of lexical hedges or fillers which was most frequently found in Oprah’s utterances reflected the speaker’s tentativeness in uttering words.
Stability performance of extra early maturing maize (Zea mays L.) varieties under high and low nitrogen environments in Sudan Savanna

Abstract Evaluating stability performance and range of adaptation is becoming increasingly important. If cultivars are to be selected for a large group of environments, stability and mean yield across all environments are more important than yield for specific environments. This study was conducted to assess the stability of 3 extra early maize under high and low nitrogen environments. The experiments were conducted at two locations in 2009 and 2010 wet season under high and low N applications. Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) and GGE biplot were used to assess the genotype-by-environment interactions. The mean square analysis reveals a significant difference for environments effect and a lack of significant mean squares for varietal effects under high and low N and across the research environments. 2004-SYNEEW gave the highest grain yield under combined analysis. Environment sum of squares under AMMI model accounted for about 98.79% of the treatment sum of squares. The first PCA scores accounted also for about 98.75% of the interaction effect. 2004-SYNEEW had the least PCA scores and the most stable with yield above average under the GGEbiplot model. Both models identified 2004-SYNEEW as the most stable variety.
Diethylenetriamine-Doped Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots with Tunable Photoluminescence for Optoelectronic Applications

Modulation of the photoluminescence (PL) properties in graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) is important for fundamental research and applications in bioimaging and optoelectronic devices. Herein, the synthesis of GOQDs doped with diethylenetriamine (DETA) was implemented by one-pot synthesis via oil bath heating. The PL intensity in the GOQDs was increased by an enhancement factor of ∼13.2 following the DETA doping. The band gap of the GOQDs increased with the increase in DETA doping, producing tunable PL from red to blue emission with a wavelength change of ∼265 nm. The significant tuning of the PL wavelength in the GOQDs was attributed to the variation of pyrrolic and/or graphitic N in the C–N bonding configuration. The synthesized GOQDs were found to inject carriers into the gallium nitride (GaN) epilayer in the GOQD/GaN composite, which in turn enhance the PL in the GaN epilayer. Our observations provide effective approaches for tuning the PL wavelength in GOQDs and enhancing the PL intensity in GaN;.
Which Pain Rehabilitation Programme Should Patients With Chronic Back Pain Attend? - A Practical Example of a Service Evaluation Based Upon Implementing Research Findings into Clinical Practice

Background: To evaluate a service reconfiguration of pain rehabilitation programmes for chronic back pain using three programmes of differing intensity and duration and a clinical algorithm. This study describes the outcomes for each programme for three consecutive cohorts. Method: Non randomised observational study of 120 consecutive patients with chronic pain treated by a Physiotherapy Department of a Specialist Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation hospital. Three different pain rehabilitation programmes each comprising of multidisciplinary rehabilitation with varying intensity and duration of content were compared for clinical and cost efficacy. The main outcomes used were Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Pain visual analogue score (VAS), pain catastrophising scale (PCS), pain self efficacy questionnaire (PSEQ), Tampa scale for kinesiophobia (TSK) and physical tests of timed sit to stand and 5 minute walk test. Results: Analysis of changes within groups was by Wilcoxon signed rank tests and found patients attending the ‘gold standard’ Functional Restoration Programme showed statistically and clinically significant improvements in mean change scores for VAS, PCS, TSK, PSEQ, sit to stand and 5 minute walk test - p<0.001; with effect sizes for the different outcomes ranging from 0.2-1.19. For the shorter Active Rehabilitation Programme there were significant improvements all outcomes except TSK and sit to stand (p0.004), with effect sizes varying from 0.48-0.81. For the Short Management Programme there were significant improvements all outcomes with effect sizes ranging from 0.18-1.14. Conclusion: This research uses a novel approach where an existing service was redesigned adhering to key principles but varying intensity and duration and using a clinical algorithm to determine treatment allocation in order to translate research based findings into clinical practice.
EM telemetry assessment for horizontal drilling in part of the Tarim basin through numerical simulation

Electromagnetic telemetry is bi‐directional transmission of borehole data for effective drilling, especially in unconventional wells. In this study, numerical simulations was used to investigate the possibility of applying EM telemetry for measurement while drilling (MWD) in an ultra‐deep borehole in the Tahe region of the Tarim basin, using the drill string as an antenna excited as a gaped dipole source to quantify spatial variations of the electromagnetic field from subsurface to the surface. Results confirm that the distribution of the electric field along the drill string is sensitive to vertical variations of electric conductivity in the host rock. The simulated results show a high attenuation within the conductive formations, thereby limiting the effectiveness of EM telemetry in data transfer to the surface. In addition, the changes in thickness and resistivity of the target region affects the amplitude of the desired response.
Non-linear corrections to inflationary power spectrum

We study non-linear contributions to the power spectrum of the curvature perturbation on super-horizon scales, produced during slow-roll inflation driven by a canonical single scalar field. We find that on large scales the linear power spectrum dominates and leading non-linear corrections remain negligible, indicating that we can safely rely on linear perturbation theory to study inflationary power spectrum. We also briefly comment on the infrared and ultraviolet behaviour of the non-linear corrections.
Distribution of the Green Monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in the Coastal Zone of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract: The green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) of West Africa ranges from the north-west coast of Senegal to the White Volta in Ghana. In Côte d'Ivoire, C. sabaeus was thought to be mainly distributed through the savannah and savannah-forest mosaic habitats north of the rain forest zone. During primate surveys in the forest zone of southern Côte d'Ivoire we were unable to confirm the presence of C. sabaeus in any of the forest reserves; however, we did find the species in a littoral forest outside its expected range. Chlorocebus sabaeus was also reported from two other forests in the coastal region of Côte d'Ivoire. The discovery of these three populations is surprising and shows that there is an urgent need for more surveys in the region. The absence of C. sabaeus in areas where it was reported 30 years ago is another alarming indication concerning the conservation of primates in Côte d'Ivoire.
Small scale clustering of late forming dark matter

The model largely satises highredshift matter power spectrum constraints from Lyman- forest measurements, while it predicts suppressed abundance of low-mass halos ( 10 9 10 10 h 1 M ) at all redshifts compared to a vanilla CDM model. The analysis of the LFDM halo velocity function shows a better agreement than the CDM prediction with the observed abundance of low-velocity galaxies in the local volume. Halos with mass M & 10 11 h 1 M show minor departures of the density proles from CDM expectations, while smaller-mass halos are less dense, consistent with the fact that they form later than their CDM counterparts.
The Atmospheric Response to Positive IPV, Positive AMV, and Their Combination in Boreal Winter

The interdecadal Pacific oscillation (hereafter termed IPV, using “variability” in lieu of “oscillation”) and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (hereafter AMV, similar to IPV) are regulators of global mean temperature, large-scale atmospheric circulation, regional temperature and precipitation, and related extreme events. Despite a growing recognition of their importance, the combined influence of these modes of low-frequency sea surface temperature (SST) variability remains elusive given the short instrumental record and the difficulty of coupled climate models to simulate them satisfactorily. In this study, idealized simulations with two atmospheric global climate models (AGCMs) are used to show a partial cancellation of the North Pacific atmospheric response to positive IPV (i.e., deeper Aleutian low) by the concurrent positive phase of the AMV. This effect arises from a modulation of the interbasin Walker circulation that weakens deep convection in the western Pacific and the associated Rossby wave train into the northern extratropics. The weaker Aleutian low response is associated with less upward wave activity flux in the North Pacific; however, the associated stratospheric jet weakening is similar to when the +IPV alone forces the vortex, as additional upward wave activity flux over Siberia makes up the difference. While comparable warming of the polar stratosphere is found when the positive AMV is included with the positive IPV, the downward propagation of the stratospheric response is significantly reduced, which has implications for the associated surface temperature extremes. The robust anticorrelation between the positive IPV and positive AMV signals over the North Pacific and their lack of additivity highlight the need to consider the IPV–AMV interplay for anticipating decadal changes in mean climate and extreme events in the Northern Hemisphere.
CHARACTERIZATION OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES FOR VARIOUS MEDICAL APPLICATION

In this contribution, we report the modified reduction synthesis of gold nanoparticles using trisodium citrate as a reducing agent and radical stabilizer. Both particle size and surface plasmon band are dependent on the reaction time. Scanning electron microscopic image and dynamic light scattering measurement shows that particles are spherical and monodispersed, respectively. This approach provides a simple route to fabricate gold nanoparticles that hold much promise for use in medicine and farmacy.
Evaluation of Macular Thickness in Patients Underwent Combined Cataract and Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

Cataract and idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) are eye diseases especially seen in elderly people. We may observe them at the same time. Both surgeries may affect macular thickness and combining surgery may worsen macular edema. Total 54 cases that were operated for ERM, combined with cataract surgery or vitrectomy only, were included the study. Pre-operative, post- operative 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month and 6th month macular OCT images were taken. Macular thickness (MT) was decreased in both groups at the end of six months. When we compared the both groups measurements no difference was found. Pre-operative MT values and last visual acuity were correlated weakly. Visual acuity was also increased in both groups. But this was not significant between groups. In this study we found that combined surgery was not increasing macular thickness more than vitrectomy only in ERM surgery.
Simulation of mesoscale structures and nutrient transport during summer upwelling events in the Gulf of Finland in 2006

A high resolution numerical study was carried out to simulate a series of upwelling events and related nutrient transport in the Gulf of Finland. In order to characterize the intensity of water motions of different nature in the surface layer, simulated velocity components were decomposed into mesoscale fluctuations, inertial oscillations and mean currents. Mean currents contained 14%, inertial oscillations 20% and mesoscale fluctuations 66% of the total kinetic energy. High values of kinetic energy of mesoscale fluctuations were in the coastal zones (up to 0.03 m2 s–2) due to along-shore baroclinic upwelling/downwelling jets and in the narrowest western-central part (0.01–0.02 m2 s–2) of the Gulf, where intensive squirts and eddies were formed. In this region also the most intensive coastal offshore exchange of upwelled nutrients occurred. The total content of phosphorus and nitrogen in the upper 10-m layer introduced by the upwelling events was estimated at 1100 tonnes, with a clear excess of phosphorus.
Is there evidence of selection in the dopamine receptor D4 gene in Australian invasive starling populations

Although population genetic theory is largely based on the premise that loci under study are selectively neutral, it has been acknowledged that the study of DNA sequence data under the influence of selection can be useful. In some circumstances, these loci show increased population differentiation and gene diversity. Highly polymorphic loci may be especially useful when studying populations having low levels of diversity overall, such as is often the case with threatened or newly established invasive populations. Using common starlings Sturnus vulgaris sampled from invasive Australian populations, we investigated sequence data of the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4), a locus suspected to be under selection for novelty-seeking behaviour in a range of taxa including humans and passerine birds. We hypothesised that such behaviour may be advantageous when species encounter novel environments, such as during invasion. In addition to analyses to detect the presence of selection, we also estimated population differentiation and gene diversity using DRD4 data and compared these estimates to those from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, using the same individuals. We found little evidence for selection on DRD4 in starlings. However, we did find elevated levels of within-population gene diversity when compared to microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequence, as well as a greater degree of population differentiation. We suggest that sequence data from putatively nonneutral loci are a useful addition to studies of invasive populations, where low genetic variability is expected.