Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A method for evaluation of patient-specic lean body mass from limited-coverage CT images and its application in PERCIST: comparison with predictive equation

Background: Standardized uptake value (SUV) normalized by lean body mass ([LBM] SUL) is recommended as metric by PERCIST 1.0. The James predictive equation (PE) is a frequently used formula for LBM estimation, but may cause substantial error for an individual. The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel and reliable method for estimating LBM by limited-coverage (LC) CT images from PET/CT examinations and test its validity, then to analyse whether SUV normalised by LC-based LBM could change the PERCIST 1.0 response classi�cations, based on LBM estimated by the James PE. Methods: First, 199 patients who received whole-body PET/CT examinations were retrospectively retrieved. A patient-specic LBM equation was developed based on the relationship between LC fat volumes (FV LC ) and whole-body fat mass (FM WB ). This equation was cross-validated with an independent sample of 97 patients who also received whole-body PET/CT examinations. Its results were compared with the measurement of LBM from whole-body CT (reference standard) and the results of the James PE. Then, 241 patients with solid tumours who underwent PET/CT examinations before and after treatment were retrospectively retrieved. The treatment responses were evaluated according to the PE-based and LC-based PERCIST 1.0. Concordance between them was assessed using Cohen’s κ coe�cient and Wilcoxon’s signed-ranks test. The impact of differing LBM algorithms on PERCIST 1.0 classi�cation was evaluated. Results: The FV LC were signi�cantly correlated with the FM WB (r=0.977). Furthermore, the results of LBM measurement evaluated with LC images were much closer to the reference standard than those obtained by the James PE. The PE-based
Micromorphological Variability of the Leaf epidermis in some Ornamental Taxa of Genus Ficus L. (Moraceae) in Egypt

A study of the epidermal leaf traits of 12 cultivated taxa of the genus Ficus (Moraceae) representing five subgenera and nine sections has been made with the SEM. The study revealed important micromorphological characters which exhibit interesting variations at the infrageneric level. The characters found to be of valuable use in distinguishing groups of taxa are: pattern of anticlinal walls of adaxial epidermal cells; nature of trichomes as the presence or absence of eglandular simple unbranched or complex branched ones, as well as, elliptic and elongate glandular hairs; presence or absence of hydathodes on both surfaces and its type adaxially; absence of lithocysts on both surfaces and its presence abaxially and/or adaxially; stomata outline, size, distribution and presence of sunken stomata with peristomatal cuticular thickening; cuticle architecture and epicuticular wax. Clustering analysis of the studied taxa has been done to assess the taxonomic identification and the phenetic relationships among the taxa.
Studies in Technology Enhanced Learning

In a post-digital world, blended teaching and learning is now considered a main-stream approach to pedagogy in higher education. While it is not new, the adoption of this approach was accelerated by the enforced move to emergency online teaching and learning during Covid-19. Research has shown that blended learning in higher education is more effective than online learning and face-to-face learning conducted separately. Currently, one university in the Middle East is embarking on an ambitious digital transformation project that involves the development of a new degree programme and the transition from a predominantly face-to-face teaching model to a blended learning teaching model. This includes the use of a bespoke, digital learning platform and a range of general education courses which are underpinned by an active, flipped learning approach. Together these have created an entirely new blended teaching ecology. Implementing and sustaining such an approach depends on teachers embracing a new mindset and developing new teacher qualities. It also requires the acquisition of both adaptive and technical skills related to new pedagogical approaches and new technology platforms and tools. This exploratory, autoethnographic study focuses on the lived experiences of two higher education teachers who started teaching in this new programme. The study focused on and analysed their journal entries using a systematic teacher competency framework to identify which competencies were more significant in their
Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Environments of Rural Graduate Early Childhood Special Educators Utilizing Wimba© and Ecampus

This article presents the findings of early childhood special education graduate student’s experiences within two distance learning environments. Specifically, this study explored the perceptions of students as they interacted with synchronous and asynchronous learning environments specific to Wimba© and Ecampus. Participants included 18 graduate students at a mid-size, public university in a rural eastern state who were completing a degree in early childhood special education. Data collection methods included transcribed discussion board posts, live class meeting transcriptions, and survey responses. Results suggest that students perceived benefits to both synchronous and asynchronous learning environments. Also discussed are specific learning activities and strategies which students identified as beneficial to their learning experiences.
Soils of mid and low antarctic: diversity, geography, temperature regime

The study of the Russian stations areas of Antarctica is very important in world soil geography as it is a kind of transit in soil*forming conditions between Dry V alleys from one side and Grearson Hills and Antarctic islands on the other one having been studied earlier by soil scientists from New Zealand, USA, Brazil and Germany. As for soil classification in the study areas Leptosols (Entisols) predominate but not Cryosols (Gelisols). The thawing depth of soils is more than the thickness of loose materials, cryoturbations are not well pronounced, and the thawing depth in sandy and stony materials here is often more than 1 m. So, Nudilithic Leptosols or Lithic Cryorthents predominate among soils. All the regions of the Russian Antarctic stations may be referred to two soil geographical divisions * Low*Antarctic humid barrens (Bellingshau sen stations at King George Island) and Mid*Antarctic s emihumid transitional zone between Cold deserts and humid Antarctic barrens (Novolazarevskaya, Molodezhnaya, Progress, Mirnyi, Leningradskaya, Russkaya stations on the continent).
Iron localization in Acarospora colonizing schist on Signy Island

Abstract A small, inconspicuous lichen, Acarospora cf. badiofusca, was discovered colonizing iron-stained quartz mica schists on the lower slope of Manhaul Rock, a recently exposed nunatak on the McLeod Glacier, Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Thallus colour ranged from rust on exposed rock surfaces to paler orange and green in shaded crevices. This study addressed the hypothesis that colour reflects element localization, and considered substance localization within lichen tissues and responses to stress. Electron microprobe analysis of specimens confirmed that Fe is localized principally in the outer rust-coloured part of the cortex, confirming that the colour reflects Fe localization. Oxalates, widely reported as contributing to tolerance mechanisms to environmental stress, were not detected using X-ray diffraction. The upper thallus surface consisted of sub-micron particulate phases containing Fe, Al and O, suggesting mixed oxide/hydroxide phases are present and play a role in photoprotection.
Resilience of Mediterranean and desert vegetation after disturbance

the time and course of succession after disturbance is expected to differ in relation to environmental stress prevalent in ecosystems. In this respect arid regions are predicted to display very slow recovery after initial perturbation thus showing relative small resilience in comparison to less arid ecosystems. to test these assumptions we studied the vegetation development after experimental small-scale disturbance using an almost 20 year data set in two adjacent, yet climatically contrasting sites along a sharp gradient in Israel and the West bank. Multivariate analysis revealed that the desert site is characterized by strong rainfall driven inter-annual variation of community composition and structure that is shared by disturbed and undisturbed sites alike. Most disturbed sites behave like undisturbed sites and therefore appear to be very resilient to disturbance. In the semi-arid and therefore comparatively less stressful Mediterranean site, in contrast, the development on perturbed plots is distinctly different from undisturbed sites and suggests a longer successional development and/or comparatively less resilience to disturbance. this apparent contradiction to the stated prediction might be related to differences in species characteristics as annual plants predominate in the desert sites and long-lived shrubs play a larger part in the vegetation of the Mediterranean site. this illustrates the importance of considering the particular life-strategies of organisms within communities when predicting the resilience of ecosystems.
Diagnóstico do perfil do consumidor de carne suína no município de Aquidauana-MS

This work aimed to diagnose the pork meat consumer profile in the city of Aquidauana-MS as the product knowledge and factors related to choice, frequency and amount of meat consumed. The diagnosis was made through semi-structured interviews with consumers directly at sale point. The preference for consumption of beef, chicken and fish, in instead of pork was observed, however, a significant part of the population said it was ready to increase this consumption. The highest frequency of pork meat consumption was once a month. The most consumed were processed bologna, ham, sausage and bacon. Reasons for not consuming pork were not being appreciated and considered a unhealthy food because of the high fat and cholesterol. Ignorance of production method, origin, nutrition, and the many ways to buy and prepare the pork has led to ratify the low local consumption. Consumers of pork meat consider it tasty and tender, however, unhealthy and expensive. Among the factors that could increase consumption stood out promotions, reduction of fat and cholesterol and reduction of price. Are suggested campaigns to increase consumption of pork meat based, especially in low prices, focused on clarifications regarding the nutritional and health qualities, and actions that allow people to find new ways of preparation and consumption.
Examining the Impact of Sports Sponsorship on Fan Attitude and Purchase Intentions towards Sponsors' Products in Professional Football: A Study of the Ghanaian Fan Base

This paper investigates the mediating role of fans' attitudes in the relationship between sports sponsorship and the purchase intention of Ghanaian football fans. Survey data were collected from 398 official supporter groups of Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC (Circles) and Accra Hearts of Oak SC (Chapters) using a purposive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather the data. The study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the model. The results indicate that sponsorship significantly influences purchase intention and fans' attitudes. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that fan attitude mediates the relationship between sponsorship and purchase intention. These findings suggest that sponsorship plays a significant role in improving the purchase intention of football fans, and the impact of sponsorship on purchase intention is strengthened by fans' attitudes. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics between sponsorship, fans' attitude, and purchasing intention, particularly in the context of Ghanaian football fans. While the study provides useful findings for industrial players and practitioners, it is essential to acknowledge that this study relied on cross-sectional survey data, which limits our ability to establish causal relationships. Additionally, the current study focused specifically on soccer fans of only two Clubs in Ghana, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to fans of other teams or sports, limiting the applicability of the study's results to a broader context.
Soccer Training Methodology: A Coach’s Vision

Background. Based on the fundamental principles of training, the methodology that each coach develops in the planning of sessions can be effective in improving the performance of their athletes. Study purpose. Therefore, the general objective pursued in this study was to find out the type of work carried out by the coaching staffs in their different teams/clubs. Materials and methods. For this work, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 517 coaches from different divisions and nationalities. To characterise the sample, descriptive measures were used and Pearson’s chi-square was used to study whether there is a relationship between the variables studied. All statistical analyses were performed with Stata and statistical significance was always set at a p-value < 0.05. Results. The results indicated that the methodology preferred by the coaches for working on the technique was the Coerver and analytical methods. The global and analytical methods were the most used on average by the coaches for tactical work. The coaches, regardless of the division or category in which they train, indicated that strength is the most important capacity to work on. Conclusions. The results of this study can be very useful for future coaching staffs when distributing training sessions and workloads.
Glacial erosion and sediment transport in the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, Ammassalik Island, southeast Greenland, 2005.

A station for monitoring suspended sediment concentration with high time resolution was developed and located near the outlet from the Mittivakkat Glacier in order to monitor true glacial erosion. Sediment transport at 10 minute intervals for a 64-day period of the 2005 melt season was determined for the Mittivakkat Glacier catchment, southeast Greenland. The total transport for the whole period was 17 800 t based on measurements with an OBS3 (optical backscatter) sensor and 17 300 t with a Partech IR500 (infrared transmissometer), with maximum transport values of 25 and 24 t 10-min -1 , respectively. The results confirm earlier measurements of specific transport of more than 1000 t km -2 year -1 from the Mittivakkat Glacier. Comparison with concentrations obtained from manual suspended sediment samples from a station near the outlet to the sea, confirm results based on earlier Caesium-137 inventories indicating that sediment is trapped in the proglacial valley between the glacier and the sea. The material produced from glacial erosion is mainly released in late July-August when the glacier drainage system is fully developed and enough melt water is available for transport.
Unintended pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections amongst adolescents and young adults in Douala IV municipality, Cameroon: Prevalence, knowledge, and associated factors

Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health challenge especially in sub-Saharan Africa, with a resultant significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and knowledge of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amongst adolescents and young adults in the Douala IV municipality. A school-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Douala IV municipality from January to February 2023. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the prevalence, knowledge of unintended pregnancy and STIs from adolescents and young adults from 10 secondary schools. A logistic regression was used to determine factors independently associated to the prevalence and knowledge of unintended pregnancy and STIs. The data was analysed in SPSS version 25. Of the 42 (6%) females that had been pregnant, 30 (76.9%) were unintended. The knowledge of unintended pregnancy was poor (65%). Factors independently associated with good knowledge of unintended pregnancy were the class, age, type of school, and sex. The prevalence of STI among students was 22%. The knowledge of STIs was poor (52%) with 22% reporting a past experience of STIs. Factors independently associated with the prevalence of STIs were language and being sexually active. Good knowledge of STIs was associated with the class, age, school type, and sex. The prevalence of unintended pregnancy among adolescent and young adults was high. The knowledge of adolescents and young adults on unintended pregnancy and STIs was poor. The class, gender, language, school type, and age were factors associated with the prevalence and knowledge of unintended pregnancy and STIs.
Recent advances in developing 3D culture systems of spermatogonial stem cell preservation and differentiation: A narrative review

Abstract Male infertility has received vast attention in recent years and has no clear etiology in almost 40% of cases. Several methods have been suggested for preserving sperm and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in both in vivo and in vitro conditions. The efficacy of these methods is related to their abilities, including providing an optimal environment for sperm preservation and long-term SSC culture for in vivo and in vitro differentiation of these cells. In this review article, a full MEDLINE/PubMed search was performed using the following search terms: “Spermatogonial Progenitor Cells, Stem Cells, Fertility Preservations, Sperm Freezing, Cell Differentiations, Tissue Scaffold, 3-Dimensional Cell Culture", which retrieved results from 1973-2022. Related articles were added to the bibliography of selected articles. Exclusion criteria included non-English language, abstract only, and unrelated articles. The production of functioning male germ cells is suggested by introducing modern bioengineered systems as a new hope for the maintenance of male fertility. Till now, few in vitro spermatogenesis investigations have provided appreciable amounts of mature gametes. Each method had benefits and disadvantages, but the 3-dimensional culture method had the greatest impact on the differentiation and preservation of SSCs. One of the critical elements of research is the preservation of sperm and the differentiation of SSCs. Several methods have been employed in this area. Various scaffolds providing an environment similar to an extracellular matrix and conditions for germ cell development and survival have been employed in recent research.
Influence of mesoscale physical processes on planktonic ecosystems in the regional ocean: application to the Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems.

The objectives were numerous but centered on a scientific overarching question: the influence of mesoscale physical processes on planktonic ecosystems in coastal upwellings. The use of several and complementary tools was necessary to assess the various mechanisms occurring at these scales. First, the variability of the physical and biogeochemical properties of the Iberian Peninsula Upwelling System was studied using in-situ data from the MOUTON 2007 survey. The coastal domain was divided into different biogeochemical provinces: high nutrient concentrations are found in the northern part due to upwelled waters of subpolar origin whereas the southern area was characterized by moderate nutrient concentrations (waters of subtropical origin). The intense cross-shore gradient revealed that the biological activity is associated with the successive upwelling pulses. Data from a filament allowed us to assess its impact in terms of cross-shore exchanges of biological material. Then, a secondary upwelling front located at the shelf break was observed in these data. We built a simplified 2D numerical model to explain it by the eastward advection from upwelling currents of deep water columns onto the shelf. It creates a negative anomaly of Potential Vorticity (PV) which generates the secondary front. A simulation revealed a filamentation process that was further investigated numerically. The interaction between the alongshore upwelling current and a promontory creates anomalies of PV in the lower layer that generates the development of a filament trapped in the vicinity of the promontory. Finally, we used satellite data associated with a lagrangian tool (Finite-Size Lyapunov Exponent) to study the horizontal mixing in relation to the biological activity over the four eastern boundary upwelling zones. We showed a negative relationship between horizontal surface mixing and chlorophyll content, which seems related to a diminution of vertical velocities of the coastal upwelling, as well as a lateral loss of nutrient due to moving eddies. Horizontal mixing induced by eddies thus has an inhibiting effect on the phytoplankton in coastal upwellings, whereas a positive effect stands for the open ocean. Using diverse and complementary tools allowed us to improve our knowledge of the large influence of physical processes on marine ecosystems.
Sources of iron for pyrite formation in marine sediments

More than two hundred aerobic continental margin, aerobic deep sea, dysaerobic, and anaerobic / euxinic sediments have been examined for their variations in different operationally defined iron fractions, each of which represents a different reactivity towards dissolved sulfide. Aerobic continental margin, deep sea, and dysaerobic sediments contain similar contents of highly reactive iron (dithionite-soluble iron plus pyrite iron), poorly reactive iron (iron soluble in HCl less that soluble in dithionite), and unreactive iron (total iron less that soluble in HCl). By contrast non-turbidite euxinic samples from the Black Sea, as well as euxinic samples from the Cariaco Basin and Framvaren are enriched in highly reactive iron. These sediments contain a small lithogenous fraction and a large biogenous, organic C-rich fraction, which decays by sulphate reduction in an iron-rich water column to form pyrite-rich sediment. Other anaerobic / euxinic samples from the Black Sea, Orca Basin, and Kau Bay contain lower concentrations of biogenous sediment and are not therefore enriched in highly reactive iron. Degrees of Pyritization (DOP) for all the aerobic, dysaerobic, and anaerobic/euxinix samples (except those low in biogenous material) are consistent with analogous ancient sediments and indicate that most pyrite formation occurs form the highly reactive iron fraction.
Mathematical model of hydrological processes METQ98 and its applications

The mathematical model METQ98 for runoff simulation is described. The METQ98 is developed from the model METUL (Krams and Ziverts 1993). Input data for the model are daily mean values of air temperature, precipitation and vapour pressure deficit. The spatial variability of surface processes is represented by dividing the river basin into hydrological response units (HRUs) depending on the land cover. The analysis of the model parameters is based on hydrological and meteorological data of the Vienziemite Brook basin. Also the influence of drainage on the model parameters is analysed. The results of application of the model to the Daugava River basin are presented.