Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Silver eel mortality during downstream migration in the Meuse: comparing telemetry study 2010-2012 to 2002-2006

During the descend to sea, silver eel face different hazards causing migration delay or mortality (e.g. dams, hydropower stations (HPS), weirs, ship locks, fisheries, predation). In 2010 fisheries was closed from September – November 30th and from April 1th 2011 the commercial eel fisheries in the river Meuse was closed for a undetermined period, due to dioxin pollution. To compare general mortality percentages with earlier studies (2002 and 2004), additional telemetry studies were carried out in 2010 and 2011. Compared to earlier studies more detection stations were used to estimate the mortality of the migration silver eel. This report attempts to answer two research questions: 1) Did the closure of the fisheries starting in 2010 result in a lower mortality rate for downstream migrating silver eel in the Meuse compared to previous studies in 2002-2006? 2)What is the delayed and direct Hydro power station (HPS) mortality for migrating silver eel in the Meuse during 2010-2012? In 2010 a batch of 150 female silver eel with surgically implanted transponders was released in the river Meuse and they could be followed with an array of detection stations of the Nedap TrailTM System. From the detection data mortality estimations were obtained. The present report is restricted to analysing migration routes and mortality estimations for the batch released in 2010. In accordance with the methodology used in 2002 (16 – 26% mortality) and 2004 (25 – 34% mortality) there was no big difference found in mortality estimations in 2010 (13 – 26% mortality). A comparison between the methodology used in previous studies (13 – 26% mortality) and new mortality estimations using more detection stations (22-25%) suggests that a more precise mortality estimation must be found in the upper limits of the mortality ranges derived from previous studies. Based on telemetry we found a minimum percentage of delayed and direct mortality of at least 20% of the migrating batch (121 eel). This percentage was corrected for other factors causing mortality (e.g. natural mortality, disease, predation etc.).
Gender Board Diversity and the Cost of Bank Loans

Abstract We examine the relationship between female board representation and the cost of lending, using a dataset of 13,714 loans from 386 banks matched with 2432 non-financial firms from 1999 to 2013. We find that firms with female directors command lower loan spreads. In addition, female independent directors have a stronger impact on lowering spreads compared to female directors' other attributes. However, as firms build relationships with their lenders this effect becomes less potent. Finally, when we introduce firm-level heterogeneity we document that changes in gender diversity exert a stronger impact on the cost of lending in the case of bank-dependent firms, especially for relationship borrowers.
Cerebellar and prefrontal-cortical engagement during higher-order rule learning in older adulthood

To date most aging research has focused on cortical systems and networks, ignoring the cerebellum which has been implicated in both cognitive and motor function. Critically, older adults (OA) show marked differences in cerebellar volume and functional networks, suggesting it may play a key role in the behavioral differences observed in advanced age. OA may be less able to recruit cerebellar resources due to network and structural differences. Here, 26 young adults (YA) and 25 OA performed a second-order learning task, known to activate the cerebellum in the fMRI environment. Behavioral results indicated that YA performed significantly better and learned more quickly compared to OA. Functional imaging detailed robust parietal and cerebellar activity during learning (compared to control) blocks within each group. OA showed increased activity (relative to YA) in the left inferior parietal lobe in response to instruction cues during learning (compared to control); whereas, YA showed increased activity (relative to OA) in the left anterior cingulate to feedback cues during learning, potentially explaining age-related performance differences. Visual interpretation of effect size maps showed more bilateral posterior cerebellar activation in OA compared to YA during learning blocks, but early learning showed widespread cerebellar activation in YA compared to OA. There were qualitatively large age-related differences in cerebellar recruitment in terms of effect sizes, yet no statistical difference. These findings serve to further elucidate age-related differences and similarities in cerebellar and cortical brain function and implicate the cerebellum and its networks as regions of interest in aging research.
A fluorescence spectroscopy biosensor for lab-on-a-chip detection of antibiotics in milk

When producing milk in the dairy industry, reliable quality assurance systems need to be in place in order to detect allergens which can potentially harm humans upon consumption. Milk can very often be contaminated with hazardous antibiotics used by farmers to treat cows. Current quality assurance biosensors are manual methods and prone to lots of human error. Failure during this process can be financially harmful to dairy companies, and potentially harmful to human health. This shows a necessity for an automated biosensor to detect antibiotics in milk before shipment. This work presents an automated biosensor based on microchip electrophoresis and fluorescence spectroscopy to detect ciprofloxacin in milk, which is a commonly used antibiotic to help treat mastitis of cows. The design and testing results of the low-cost system are presented in this paper. In order to detect the presence of the antibiotic, the milk sample needs to be separated into its constituents. This is achieved by using the phenomenon of electroosmotic flow to allow the mixture to travel down the microchannel, followed by electrophoresis to separate it into its molecules. After this separation occurs, the constituents are illuminated with a UV LED source of 280 nm, as ciprofloxacin will emit fluorescence at 440 nm at this illumination wavelength. This fluorescence is detected using a photodiode, and the output voltage of the photodiode indicates the ciprofloxacin concentration within the milk. This lab-on-a-chip biosensor proved to be reliable and is a good solution to automate antibiotic detection in milk.
Countering Radicalisation in Communities:

Cite as: Nalugala, R. (2019). Countering radicalisation in communities: The case of Pumwani, Nairobi. In: Van Reisen, M. , Mawere, M. , Stokmans, M. , & Gebre-Egziabher, K. A. (eds), Roaming Africa: Migration, Resilience and Social Protection. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa Research & Publishing CIG, pp. 225–251. Book URL: https://www.researchgate. net/publication/336956357_Roaming_A frica_Migration_Resilience_and_Social_Protection
A Statistical Study of Near‐Earth Magnetotail Evolution During Pseudosubstorms and Substorms With THEMIS Data

Pseudosubstorms (pseudobreakups) and substorms are similar phenomena. In terms of auroral morphology, however, the former are not accompanied by poleward expansion, while the latter are. To understand what causes this difference, we studied temporal and spatial development of the near‐Earth magnetotail at X=−7 to −11RE around pseudosubstorm and substorm onsets, based on superposed epoch analysis of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) data. We find that the earthward flow begins to increase at X=−10 to −11RE just before onset and dipolarization for both pseudosubstorms and substorms, possibly due to near‐Earth magnetic reconnection or the preceding relaxation of the thin current sheet in a tailward region, but the earthward flow is slower for pseudosubstorms than for substorms. Dipolarization, together with magnetic field fluctuation, is nearly the same at X=−8RE for both cases, but it is weaker at other distances for pseudosubstorms than for substorms. This result suggests that the current disruption related to dipolarization does not expand tailward and hence auroral poleward expansion does not occur for pseudosubstorms. Furthermore, the total pressure is larger at X=−8 to −11RE for several minutes before onset for substorms than for pseudosubstorms. The total pressure gradient increases more largely after onset for substorms than for pseudosubstorms. We suggest that these differences are important factors for determining whether ballooning instability causing current disruption grows in a wide area, that is, whether the initial action develops into a substorm or subsides as a pseudosubstorm.
Reactive thrombocytosis- etiology and its relationship with different hematological parameters, ESR, & CRP in Tuberculosis

Background: The measurements of platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), WBC are routinely available nowadays. The aim of this study was to determine age dependent aetiology and relationship of these parameters whether they were associated with the known markers of disease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C- reactive protein (CRP) in Tuberculosis. Methods: This descriptive study was done on 500 patients with platelet count > 450,000/ μl and the cause being reactive. Platelet count, WBC, MPV, ESR, and CRP were measured at the time of hospitalization. Result: Most common cause of reactive thrombocytosis was found to be infection (28.8%), tissue damage (16.4%), iron deficiency anemia (16.2%), malignancy (9.6%), inflammation (non-tuberculosis) (9.4%), diabetes mellitus (6.4%), tuberculosis (6.0%) respectively. There was low degree of positive correlation between reactive thrombocytosis with WBC (r = 0.337, P= 0.06) and ESR (r = .277, P= >0.05). There was low degree of negative correlation between reactive thrombocytosis and CRP (r= -.131, P= >0.05). There was significant negative correlation between reactive thrombocytosis and MPV (r = -.561, P= >0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a higher level of platelet count and lower MPV in all the patients having reactive thrombocytosis. The changes in these parameters (platelets count, WBC, MPV, CRP and ESR) may reflect a reaction to the inflammatory condition. Therefore, in endemic areas, the presence of such haematological peripheral blood changes may raise the suspicion of tuberculosis.
Performance Test of Autonomous Vehicle Lidar Sensors Under Different Weather Conditions

This paper intends to analyze the Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) sensor performance on detecting pedestrians under different weather conditions. Lidar sensor is the key sensor in autonomous vehicles, which can provide high-resolution object information. Thus, it is important to analyze the performance of Lidar. This paper involves an autonomous bus operating several pedestrian detection tests in a parking lot at the University at Buffalo. By comparing the pedestrian detection results on rainy days with the results on sunny days, the evidence shows that the rain can cause unstable performance and even failures of Lidar sensors to detect pedestrians in time. After analyzing the test data, three logit models are built to estimate the probability of Lidar detection failure. The rainy weather still plays an important role in affecting Lidar detection performance. Moreover, the distance between a vehicle and a pedestrian, as well as the autonomous vehicle velocity, are also important. This paper can provide a way to improve the Lidar detection performance in autonomous vehicles.
The effect of web-based self-monitoring to increase on-task behavior and academic accuracy of high school students with autism

Abstract Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often demonstrate behaviors that impair their school experiences. Therefore, the implementation of research-based strategies that will foster success for students with ASD is critical. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a web-based self-monitoring application, I-Connect, designed to increase student on-task behavior and academic accuracy in a high school setting. An ABAB design was employed with two high school students diagnosed with ASD. I-Connect resulted in an immediate increase in on-task behaviors and academic accuracy in pre-algebra concepts. A functional relation between I-Connect and written expression was not identified. Web-based self-monitoring applications to promote autonomy and independence are discussed with recommendations for future research.
The relationship between workplace incivility and depersonalization towards co-workers: Roles of job-related anxiety, gender, and education

Abstract This study contributes to management scholarship by unpacking the relationship between employees' exposure to workplace incivility and their exhibition of depersonalization towards co-workers, according to the mediating effect of job-related anxiety and the moderating effects of gender and education. Time-lagged data from employees in Pakistani organizations show that an important reason workplace incivility enhances depersonalization towards co-workers is that employees feel anxious about their jobs. This mediating role of job-related anxiety is particularly salient among male and higher-educated employees, possibly because they suffer from resource losses in the form of dignity threats when they are treated with disrespect. For organizations, this study accordingly pinpoints a key mechanism by which disrespectful workplace treatment can escalate into depersonalization towards co-workers (enhanced job-related feelings of anxiety), as well as how the strength of this mechanism might depend on individual factors.
Spike time dependent plasticity (STDP) enabled learning in spiking neural networks using domain wall based synapses and neurons

We have implemented a Spiking Neural Network (SNN) architecture using a combination of spin orbit torque driven domain wall devices and transistor based peripheral circuits as both synapses and neurons. Learning in the SNN hardware is achieved both under completely unsupervised mode and partially supervised mode through mechanisms, incorporated in our spintronic synapses and neurons, that have biological plausibility, e.g., Spike Time Dependent Plasticity (STDP) and homoeostasis. High classification accuracy is obtained on the popular Iris dataset for both modes of learning.
A Pregnant Women’s Group: Its Effects on Maternal and Neonatal Health Care Services among Disadvantaged Community in Makawanpur, Nepal

In Nepal, the utilization of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) care services exhibit big gaps between rich and poor, for instance poorest quintile is at 10.7% skill births attendant services but richest at 81.5%, despite the services being free of cost. Pregnant women group (PWG) approach was initiated to address MNCH inequities prevailing in the disadvantaged community. The PWG is a socially cohesive peer support group of 8-15 pregnant women and postnatal mothers who meet monthly for participatory teaching and learning sessions on MNCH cares and semi-annual publicly group commitment meetings. At the meetings, husbands and mothers-in-law verbally commit to support their pregnant wives and daughters-in-law in present of pregnant women. Local health staff also commits to provide those services. Retrospective cohort study was undertaken in which 449 randomly selected recently delivered women who were members of PWG in last pregnancy and next 449 non-members to PWG from same villages of Makwanpur were introduced the structured questionnaires between March and April 2015. The results indicated that the increase in the utilization of MNCH care services was statistically significant (P<0.0001 for all indicators) among women who were PWG members than those who were not. Despite the fact that the average age, educational status, parity, ethnicity, location and access to health services were constant. Pregnant women’s group approach increases the utilization of MNCH care services for disadvantaged community in Makwanpur, Nepal. Thus, the PWG approach can be a strategy to reduce the inequity MNCH care services coverage in developing countries.
Spatialized study of the coupling between extended defects and mobile species in the nuclear fuel

Fission gases (Xe, Kr) produced during irradiation in a nuclear fuel can contribute to significant effects such as swelling and fission gas release which may affect the overall performance of the fuel. The effective diffusion theory, which is generally used in the modelling of base-irradiation of nuclear fuel, cannot predict the intra-granular fission gas release during post-irradiation annealing tests. From the several scenarios proposed, we discuss and analyze three such mechanisms: the directed movement of pressurized intra-granular gas bubbles in a vacancy concentration gradient towards the grain surface, the Brownian movement of these intra-granular bubbles via volume and surface diffusion mechanisms, a scenario of gas bubble movement along with the dislocations via the mechanism of dislocation climb. A new spatially resolved model, BEEP Model, has been developed for gas bubble migration and its interaction with point defects. Analyses done using the BEEP model show that neither of the directed or random movement, nor their combination, could explain the large fission gas release obtained during post-irradiation annealing in our reference experiment. The dislocation climb mechanism has been demonstrated as a prominent gas release mechanism, however, the values for diffusion of vacancies on the dislocations are not known and were chosen to allow gas release. The work carried out in this thesis has provided a better insight to the transport of intra-granular gas bubbles and its impact on fission gas release. This work also emphasized the questions that need to be answered at the lower scales.
The impact of institutional ethics and accountability on voluntary assurance for integrated reporting

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the ethics and accountability environment influences the voluntary assurance demand for integrated reports through the lens of institutional theory. ,This study used an international sample of 192 companies that have registered in the International Integrated Reporting Council’s (IIRC) early examples database and that published integrated reports during the years 2011–2016. Binary logistic regression as well as Instrumental Variables (IV) regression with Probit and GMM estimators were employed to test the proposed hypotheses. ,The results confirm that assurance of integrated reports serves as a response to the absence or incompetence of formal and informal institutions that facilitate private contracting. Specifically, the authors found that firms tend to assure their integrated reports in business environments that are characterized by weaker ethical behaviors, less effective boards, poorer auditing and reporting standards, and insufficient protection of the rights of minority shareholders by the legal system. ,This study responds to the research calls upon integrated reporting assurance by investigating the underlying drivers of and motives for voluntary assurance on integrated reports. ,The findings provide practical implications for firms, regulators and assurance firms. Firms can utilize the results of the study in determining their corporate policies and strategies regarding whether to undertake assurance on integrated reports. Regulators can also consider the results in shaping and improving the institutional ethical and accountability environment of their countries. Further, assurance firms can use these results to help position themselves and guide their market entry decisions. ,This study adds to the understanding of institutional factors that impact the assurance of integrated reports which has been rarely examined by prior research. In particular, this is one of the few attempts to examine the link between institutional ethics and accountability environment and the voluntary assurance demand in an international context.
Long-term trends in living alone in later life in the United States, 1850-2015

ABSTRACT Recent research has looked at living alone among the elderly both within the context of the developed world and globally from a comparative perspective. To date this research has contributed relatively little to our understanding of patterns of change over time, an issue of major importance for the prediction of future trends. We propose now to look at change over time using a long-term historical perspective on living alone based on rich data from the United States, the country with by far the longest series of micro-census data in the world. Our analysis will be based on available public use manuscript samples of US censuses beginning in the mid-nineteenth century and stretching until the present. It will yield an invaluable long-term perspective, spanning the entire period of economic development and social change that characterized the history of the USA over the past century and one half. Descriptive indicators of the incidence of living alone are interpreted in terms of important societal, cultural, economic and legislative changes over the period under study. Multivariable analytical techniques are applied to these data in order to assess both the micro determinants of living alone and how independent variables such as age, sex, education and marital status change over time. The results of this study enable us to estimate the degree to which change in the United States can be used as a benchmark for patterns of historical change elsewhere, especially when controlling for levels of development.
The Influence of Spacecraft Charging on Low‐Energy Ion Measurements Made by RPC‐ICA on Rosetta

Spacecraft charging is problematic for low‐energy plasma measurements. The charged particles are attracted to or repelled from the charged spacecraft, affecting both the energy and direction of travel of the particles. The Ion Composition Analyzer (RPC‐ICA) on board the Rosetta spacecraft is suffering from this effect. RPC‐ICA was measuring positive ions in the vicinity of comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko, covering an energy range of a few eV/q to 40 keV/q. The low‐energy part of the data is, however, heavily distorted by the negatively charged spacecraft. In this study we use the Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software to model the influence of the spacecraft potential on the ion trajectories and the corresponding distortion of the field of view (FOV) of the instrument. The results show that the measurements are not significantly distorted when the ion energy corresponds to at least twice the spacecraft potential. Below this energy the FOV is often heavily distorted, but the distortion differs between different viewing directions. Generally, ions entering the instrument close to the aperture plane are less affected than those entering with extreme elevation angles.