Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seeking Potential Anomalous Levels of Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs through Sewage Sludge Characterization

An approach to detect anomalies in the exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) throughout the food chain is presented. The proposed method is useful also for preventing soil contamination by POPs that would require a remediation intervention. A steel making plant and its surrounding area were selected as a case-study. To investigate the possible effects of the plant on the settled population, sewage sludge samples from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were taken: one of these was chosen as reference for the population exposed to the emissions of the mill; the remaining three plants were chosen to provide background information about the POP content in sludge. No clear anomalies in dioxins (PCDD/Fs) were detected for the potentially exposed population. In terms of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), the steel plant-influenced WWTP showed a total concentration between 2.7 and 4.8-time higher than the other plants; in terms of equivalent toxicity, only slightly higher concentrations were found for the steel plant-influenced WWTP. Therefore, if considering acceptable the daily intake from the diet of the unexposed population, the absence of a dioxin and dioxin-like emergency in the area of the mill is demonstrated. This method represents an innovative and technically simple tool to assess situations of permanent exposure to POP levels that are higher than the background.
Applying Naive Bayes Data Mining Technique for Classification of Agricultural Land Soils

Summary The advances in computing and information storage have provided vast amounts of data. The challenge has been to extract knowledge from this raw data that has lead to new methods and techniques such as data mining that can bridge the knowledge gap. This research aimed to assess these new data mining techniques and apply them to a soil science database to establish if meaningful relationships can be found. A large data set of Soil database is extracted from the Department of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, S V Agricultural College, Tirupati, The database contains measurements of soil profile data from various locations of Chandragiri Mandal, Chittoor District. The research establishes whether Soils are Classified Using various data mining techniques. In addition, comparison was made between Naive bayes classification and analyse the most effective technique. The outcome of the research may have many benefits, t o agriculture, soil management and environmental.
PALEOMAGNETIC STUDY ON THE TECTONIC MOTION OF PAN-XI BLOCK AND ADJACENT AREA DURING YINZHI-YANSHAN PERIOD

In order to study the evolution of the continent in Pan-Xi (Panzhihua-Xichang) area, some Mesozoic rock samples have been collected. We have carried out magnetic cleaning for 619 specimens from 59 sites by A. F and thermal demagnetization. The fold test showed that remanent magnetization of samples collected for this work are stable. Those with precision parameter K less than 10, or with remagnetization have rejected.The paleomagnetic results indicate that Pan-Xi fault-uplift, Liangshan fault-depression (Fig. 1) belong to the west edge of Yangtze block. They located 13° or so (north latitude) in early-Triassic period. Up to now they have moved northerly about one thousand km and the motion has systematically slowed down since late-Triassic Era. Yanyuan fault-depression has moved southerly about hundreds km since early-Triassic Era, the paleolatitude and paleo-orien-tation were systematically different from those in eastern adjacent block.
Implementasi Model Project Based Learning Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Komunikasi Matematis Siswa

Kemampuan komunikasi matematis siswa merupakan kemampuan siswa dalam menyatakan ide atau gagasan mereka secara tertulis melalui soal yang berdasarkan pada indikator, yaitu: ekspresi matematis, menulis matematis, dan menggambar secara matematis. Ekpresi matematis adalah kemampuan siswa dalam mengubah informasi pada soal ke dalam model matematis secara benar. Menulis matematis adalah kemampuan siswa untuk menuliskan penjelasan dari soal secara matematis dan sistematis. Menggambar secara matematis adalah kemampuan siswa untuk melukiskan grafik, gambar, diagram dan tabel secara lengkap dan benar. Model Project Based Learning adalah model pembelajaran yang memberikan kesempatan kepada guru untuk mengelola pembelajaran di kelas dengan melibatkan kerja proyek, dimana proyek tersebut memuat tugas-tugas yang kompleks berdasarkan permasalahan (project) sebagai langkah awal dalam mengumpulkan dan mengintegrasikan pengetahuan baru berdasarkan pengalamannya dalam beraktivitas secara nyata. Dengan mengimplementasikan model Project Based Learning diharapkan kemampuan komunikasi matematis siswa meningkat.
Structural and functional connectivity of the whole brain and subnetworks in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury: predictors of patient prognosis

Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation, and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neurobiological markers after mild traumatic brain injury. This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury. Graph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function. However, most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations, with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity. Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encountered in clinical practice, further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical. In the present study, we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury. In this longitudinal study, we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 weeks of injury, as well as 36 healthy controls. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis. In the acute phase, patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network. More than 3 months of follow-up data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity, as well as cognitive function, in 22 out of the 46 patients. Furthermore, better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks. Finally, our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury. These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in understanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury. Additionally, exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
INTRA-ABDOMINAL INFECTIONS , HEPATITIS , AND GASTROENTERITIS ( D BOBAK , SECTION EDITOR ) Treatment of Giardiasis : Current Status and Future Directions

Giardiasis is a common yet neglected cause of diarrheal illness worldwide. Antimicrobial therapy is usually but not always effective and drug resistance has become an increasing concern. Several promising drug candidates have been recently identified that can overcome antibiotic resistance in Giardia. These include derivatives of 5-nitroimidazoles and benzimidazoles, as well as hybrid compounds created from combinations of different antigiardial drugs. High-throughput screening of large compound libraries has been a productive strategy for identifying antigiardial activity in drugs already approved for other indications, e.g. auranofin. This article reviews the current treatment of giardiasis, mechanisms of resistance, advances in drug and vaccine development, and directions for further research on this significant human pathogen.
ECOLOGICAL AND GENETIC VARIABILITY OF WHEAT QUALITY COMPONENTS

Variability of technological quality components (sedimentation value, wet gluten content and flour water absorption) in six winter wheat cultivars (KG-56S, KG-100, Studenica, Takovcanka, Toplica and Lazarica) created in the Small Grains Research Centre of Kragujevac were investigated. Quality components were analysed during seven years (1998-2004) in the cultivars that were present in the macro-trial of Small Grains Research Centre. Standard deviation and coefficient of variation were calculated as indicators of variability. The results showed that the sedimentation value greater variability expressed by years (Cv=19.4%) than by cultivars. (Cv=15.7%). On average sedimentation value had the largest variability, and the lowest water absorption (Cv=4.2%-years; Cv=5.1%-cultivars) of all investigated traits. Wet gluten content expressed high variability by years (Cv=10.3%) and cultivars (Cv=10.4%). Cultivar Lazarica showed the lowest variability for sedimentation value, Studenica for flour water absorption, and cultivar KG-56S for wet gluten content. In these investigations cultivar KG-56S had the largest values for sedimentation value and wet gluten content (55.8 ml and 33.3%, respectively). This cultivar has genetically excellent technological quality.
Changes of surface soil nutrients and sustainability of pastoralism on grazed hilly and steep land, South Island, New Zealand

Soil nutrients in topsoils (0-7.5 cm) on grazed hilly and steep land on 2 high country sheep farms with contrasting climate in the upper Waitaki district, South Island, New Zealand, were compared before and after a 14-15 year period. In addition, effects on soils of 2 farm management systems were compared by sampling similar soils on adjacent farms. On a farm with mean annual rainfall of 700-1,000 mm (study area A) that had been fertilised and oversown, and grazed with about 1.6 ewe equivalents per hectare for 14 years, levels of exchangeable cations (Ca, K, Mg) increased in topsoils on sunny slopes, but there was little change on shady slopes. The Ca increase on sunny slopes was the increase to be expected from the amount of Ca contained in the superphosphate applied but increases of exchangeable K and Mg could not be explained by fertiliser additions. There was an overall 29% increase of CEC, 7.5% decline of base saturation, and decline of soil pH by 0.4 units over the 14 year period. On a farm with mean annual rainfall of 500-600 mm (study area B) that had been grazed for 15 years with about 0.6 ewe equivalents per hectare but not fertilised or oversown, levels of exchangeable cations in topsoils declined. Base saturation values declined from 98% to 73% and pH declined by 0.4 units. Losses of Ca and Mg were greater than could be explained by direct effects of sheep grazing and we conclude that processes such as erosion or removal of vegetation and nutrients by rabbits are important loss pathways. In the spatial comparison on land with mean annual rainfall of approximately 1,000 mm, oversown and fertilised soils (grazed with about 1.6 ewe equivalents per hectare) had higher levels of exchangeable cations, organic C and total N than soils that had neither been oversown or fertilised (grazed with about 0.6 ewe equivalents per hectare). Questions of ecological and economic sustainability arise both on the moister and drier high country. On moister land like area A, if lime can be applied economically, and fertiliser can continue to be applied with positive financial returns, oversowing and fertilising may be sustainable on sunny slopes. The sustainability of pastoralism on shady slopes is more problematical. If on drier land losses of topsoil nutrients such as those measured on area B are widespread, they are considered to be unsustainable. Although the nutrients lost could be readily replenished using modest amounts of fertiliser and lime, the changes have occurred concurrently with declines of organic C and total N. Restoration of organic matter levels is likely to require either reduced grazing, or oversowing and application of fertiliser. Because oversowing and fertilising the drier high country is not financially viable except during periods of high commodity prices, both these options would require major changes in farm management and/or financial assistance with soil conservation measures.
Climate Change Scenarios, Perceptions and Crop Production: A Case Study of Semi-Arid Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe

The paper analyses the impacts of climate change and crop production in the communal farms of Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. The paper shows current climate change scenarios for Masvingo, analyses the relationship between climate change scenarios crop production and then prescribe adaptive measures to climate change. Historical monthly climate data from Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department and crop yield data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were used. A questionnaire survey was also conducted to gather farmers perceptions on climate change in addition two focus group discussions were held with selected farmers in the province. The results showed evidence of climate change through analysis of climate data, crop yields and farmers perceptions. Evidence was manifested through the increasing frequency of droughts, dry spells and the shifts of the rainfall season. It was the concluded that climate change occurring in Masvingo has resulted in significant decline in crop production. The people’s perceptions shows that the crop growing seasons are becoming shorter, temperatures are rising, rainfall amounts are declining and mid season droughts are also occurring more frequently. The lessons learnt mean that people are aware of climate change and its impacts on crop production but lack the means to adapt to these changes.
Evidence of Bottom-Trapped Currents in the Kuroshio Extension Region

As partof theKuroshioExtensionSystemStudy, observations fromfivecurrentmetermoorings revealthat the abyssal currents are weakly bottom intensified. In the framework of linear quasigeostrophic flow, the best fittedverticaltrappingdepthsrangefrom8to15 kmintheabsenceofsteeptopography,butonemooringnear an isolated seamount exhibited vertical trapping that was more pronounced and energetic with a vertical trapping depth of 5 km. The ratios of current speeds and geostrophic pressure streamfunctions at the sea surface compared to the bottom are 88% in the absence of steep topography, 63% near an isolated seamount, and overall on average 83% of their value at a reference depth of 5300 m. It is hypothesized that weakly depth-dependent eddies impinging upon topographic features introduce to the flow the horizontal length scales of the topography, and these smaller lateral scales are subject to bottom intensification.
Long-term patterns of chironomid assemblages in a high elevation stream/lake network (Switzerland) – implications to global change

A long-term monitoring program was initiated in 2002 on running and standing waters in a high elevation cirque landscape (Macun) in the Swiss National Park. The region comprises contrasting basins with different water sources, a glacier-fed basin and two precipitation-fed basins. Sampling of 26 permanent and temporary ponds (or small lakes) and of interconnecting streams (10 sites) was conducted from 2002 to 2010. Pond macroinvertebrate assemblages were dominated by chironomids with 42 taxa. The Orthocladiinae were the dominant subfamily in richness and abundance with 22 taxa. The greatest diversity was found in ponds located in the south and outlet basins. The inter-year variability for the same pond is high, but no clear temporal trend was noticed in ponds frequently monitored ponds. The Orthocladiinae subfamily was also the richest in the stream sites where 33 taxa were collected. The north and south basins were separated on the basis of chironomid assemblages. The chironomid assemblages in the stream network shows a temporal trend from 2002 but it cannot be linked to any clear change at the community structure level. The higher richness and abundance in stream sites and ponds of the south basin could be related to a greater heterogeneity in water physico-chemistry and substrata, and by the presence of Bryophyta. The understanding of the environmental factors that influence faunal assemblages is crucial for the protection of this sensitive alpine pond network where a relatively high overall regional diversity (49 taxa) is detected. From the literature, temperature is recognized as the driving force on changes in chironomid assemblages in alpine systems. Our results support the use of chironomids as flagship indicators in the assessment of climatic change in alpine landscapes. doi: 10.5324/fn.v31i0. 1361. Published online: 17 October 2012.
Saturation of IMF Bz influence on the position of dayside magnetopause

[1] The dayside magnetopause moves closer to the Earth with increasing southward IMF Bz. Is the response of magnetopause to solar wind parameters, southward IMF Bz, and dynamic pressure Dp linear or nonlinear? GOES observations on 6 April 2000 shows that the magnetopause is still outside of geosynchronous orbit even though the southward IMF Bz is greater than 25 nT and Dp is near 8 nPa. We suggest that the earthward motion of the dayside magnetopause saturates for large southward IMF Bz. Magnetosheath encounters observed by GOES satellites during 1999–2000 are used as a database for selecting a functional form of the saturation effect based on the calculations of the modified magnetopause model of Chao et al. [2002]. To obtain a relationship of the threshold of southward IMF Bz for saturation occurring as a function of Dp, an iteration procedure is used to minimize the false alarm rate (FAR) and maximize the probability of prediction (PoP). The relationship B′z = −8.1 − 12.0 × log (Dp + 1) is obtained where B′z is the threshold of IMF Bz for saturation. This relationship is applied to a modified Chao et al. [2002] model and the new model is compared against magnetosheath encounters observed by the LANL MPA instruments on 31 March 2001.
and early life on later health outcomes: the case of Philippines' typhoons

In 1984, the Philippines endured one of its worst typhoon seasons in history. The city of Cebu was one of the most affected, in particular by a typhoon in Sept. 1984 and left thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousand families homeless and without access to basic services and health care. This paper uses data from children born in Cebu before and after those typhoons to investigate whether this exogenous weather shock had an impact on those children later in life, in particular on anthropometric outcomes. Results suggest that the children who were in the first trimester of pregnancy at the time of the typhoon, as well as the ones conceived weeks after the typhoon hit Cebu were the most affected: on average, those children were between 0.3 and 0.5 standard deviations shorter than non-affected children. These results hold even when geographical elevation is explored as a proxy for vulnerability to the typhoon. Some possible channels of transmission are also analyzed, in particular incidence of diarrheal diseases before and after exposure to the typhoons.
Clinical impact of TROP2 in non‐small lung cancers and its correlation with abnormal p53 nuclear accumulation

Tumor‐associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TROP2) is a cell‐surface glycoprotein involved in the high malignant potential of several cancers. Antibody‐drug conjugates that target TROP2 represent a promising approach for the treatment of TROP2‐expressing cancers including lung cancer and breast cancer. TROP2 expression was tested by immunohistochemistry in lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma samples, and its correlation with clinicopathological factors, including survival rate and p53 mutation, was statistically analyzed. We found that increased TROP2 expression was significantly associated with a poor clinical course in patients with ADC, but not in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. A more significant association with poor outcome was seen in ADC cases with a high histological grade as well as those without the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. A significant correlation between TROP2 expression and abnormal p53 nuclear accumulation/expression was also found in ADC. In the present study, we discovered a significant correlation between TROP2 expression and p53 mutation in ADC, and that TROP2 expression was a prognostic factor in ADC cases with a high histological grade as well as those without the EGFR mutation. Signals mediated by mutated p53 might influence TROP2 expression in ADC.
Unexpected musical worlds of Vienna: Immigration and music

Vienna has been and still is the ‘City of Music’ at a crossroads of international flow and immigration. This unique condition of Vienna arises from its history as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, its later position as the eastern-most outpost of Western Europe during the Cold War, as the nearest shelter for refugees during the Balkan Wars, and finally, as the centre of working immigration from south-eastern Europe. For centuries, Vienna truly has been and today remains a multicultural city. This history and these conditions all lead to an astounding musical diversity. Drawing from several of my own recent research projects on the topic I try in my article to deal with the production of music (active music making) by immigrants as well as with the ‘embeddedness’ of these activities. I raise topics like the idea of the construction of ethnicity by performance, of the creation of ‘place’ by music, of culturalisation as well as deconstructing ethnic images. Collectivism and individuality are also important approaches. The methodological frame comes from studies in urban ethnomusicology as well as form recent discourses on diaspora and music. The music examples I use are part of Vienna’s immigrant scene especially form the communities from the former Yugoslavia as well as from Turkey. As ethnomusicology deals with music in social and political context, the socio-political background is an important focus of the article.
Reduced work hours as a means of slowing climate change

The choice between fewer work hours versus increased consumption has significant implications for the rate of climate change. A number of studies (e.g. Knight et al. 2012, Rosnick and Weisbrot 2006) have found that shorter work hours are associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions and therefore less global climate change. This paper estimates the impact on climate change of reducing work hours over the rest of the century by an annual average of 0.5 percent. It finds that such a change in work hours would eliminate about one-quarter to one-half of the global warming that is not already locked in (i.e. warming that would be caused by 1990 levels of greenhouse gas concentrations already in the atmosphere). The analysis uses four “illustrative scenarios” from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and software from the Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse-gas Induced Climate Change to estimate the impact of a reduction in work hours.