Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecosystem Service Valuation along Landscape Transformation in Central Ethiopia

Land degradation and discontinuation of ecosystem services (ES) are a common phenomenon that causes socio-economic and environmental problems in Ethiopia. However, a dearth of information is known about how ES are changing from the past to the future with regard to land use land cover (LULC) changes. This study aimed at estimating the values of ES based on the past and future LULC changes in central Ethiopia. Maximum likelihood classifier and cellular automata-artificial neuron network (CA-ANN) models that integrate the module for land use change evaluation (MOLUSE) were used to classify and predict LULC. The CA-ANN model learning and validation was employed to predict LULC of 2031 and 2051. Following LULC change detection and prediction, the total ES values were estimated using the benefit transfer method. Results revealed that forests, wetlands, grazing lands, shrub-bush-woodlands, and water bodies were reduced by 9755 ha (37%), 4092 ha (38.4%), 21,263 ha (81%), 63,161 ha (25.7%), and 905 ha (1%), respectively, between 1986 and 2021. Similarly, forests, wetlands, grazing lands, shrub-bush lands, and water bodies will experience a decline of 1.5%, 0.5%, 2.6%, 19.6%, and 0.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, cultivated lands, bare-lands, and built-up areas will experience an increase between 1986 and 2051. The estimated total ES values were reduced by US$58.3 and 85.4 million in the period 1986–2021 and 1986–2051. Food production and biological control value increased while 15 other ES decreased throughout the study periods. Proper land use policy with strategic actions, including enforcement laws for natural ecosystems protection, afforestation, ecosystems restoration, and conservation practices, are recommended to be undertaken to enhance multiple ES provision.
First signs of reverse cardiac remodeling following one-month, low dose add-on sacubitril-valsartan therapy in patients with advanced systolic heart failure

We investigated the early effects of low dose sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) on cardiac reverse remodeling (CRR). Methods: In 37 patients (45- excluded 8pts,mean age 64.5±17.5 years, five females), 24/26 mg S/V BID was started, and the second evaluation was performed after month. Results: Following CRR parameters improved: LVEDD (-∆2,9±2.6 mm; Student’s t-test: p =0.0098), LVESD (-∆2,4±2.5 mm; Student’s t-test: p=0.0092), LVEDV (-∆14.6±33.1 mL; Wilcoxon test: p = 0.0412), LVESV (-∆13.4±30.6 mL; Wilcoxon test: p =0.0442), LAVI (-∆8.7±37.7 mL/m2; Wilcoxon test: p = 0.0012), and EROA (-∆0.09±0.01 cm2; Student’s t-test: p = 0.0318). In opposite to LVEF, global longitudinal strain (GLS) changed from -6.6% to -7.9% (absolute improvement of 16%, Wilcoxon test: p=0.0013). Other parameters improving: 6-MWT (+∆65.4±75.8 m; Wilcoxon test: p = 0.0013) and the quality of life (MLHFQ 22 vs 16 scores; Student’s t-test: p= 0.0098), NT-pro BNP (-∆1203.1±3121.4 pg/mL; Student’s t-test: p = 0.0348) and troponin T (-∆ 4.7±9.4 pg/mL, Wilcoxon test: p = 0.0041). Correlation between GLS and LVESV (Pearson's correlation coefficient: r = -0,4596, p = 0.0239) was found. ROC curve analysis showed that in the group with severe systolic dysfunction (GLS< -8%) clinical improvement (6MWT: AUC = 0.692, p = 0.0383) and CRR (MRvol: AUC = 0.736, p = 0.0062; LAVI: AUC = 0.710, p = 0.0414) are more likely to occur. Conclusions: Low-dose (24/26 mg BID) S/V therapy initiates CRR. S/V should be started in patients with less impaired LV systolic function (GLS < -8%) because CRR and clinical improvement are more likely to develop.
The intestinal short chain fatty acid production: its complexity and metabolic consequences

supplementation or treatment with butyrate-producing bacteria prevents the progression of obesity-induced fatty liver disease and improves insulin sensitivity 86–88 . This was ascribed to signaling through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), based on experiments with ex vivo liver tissue and HEPG2 cells 61 . Bovine hepatocytes also showed increased AMPK activation and expression of genes involved in lipid oxidation upon stimulation with acetic acid 89 . This signaling is likely to be triggered by GPR41 and GPR43
Treatment of Permethrin Toxicosis in Cats by Intravenous Lipid Emulsion

Background: In this study, the clinical response to treatment with intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) for nine cats intoxicated with permethrin has been described. Methods: The enrolled cats showed acute onset of seizures, tremors and hypersalivation that were partially controlled with the administration of benzodiazepines and intravenous fluid therapy. Due to worsening clinical signs, intravenous lipid emulsion (intralipid 20%; 1.5 mL/kg in bolus, followed by 15 mL/kg for 1 h in infusion) was administered. Results: After ILE treatment, all cats recovered rapidly and were discharged within 24–54 h. Intravenous lipid emulsion appears to be a relatively safe and inexpensive alternative, with a short hospitalization time. Conclusions: Intravenous lipid emulsion could be an interesting therapeutic option in emergency and critical care protocols for permethrin toxicosis.
Modern bone modification by dermestes maculatus and criteria for the recognition of dermestid traces in the fossil record

ABSTRACT Various insect taxa are known to modify bone with their mandibles, including members of the orders Dermestidae, Tenebrionidae, Calliphoridae, Tineidae and Termitidae. Dermestidae are one of the most frequently inferred causal agent of bone surface modifications but little neoichnological/actualistic data exists to support such inferences. The primary aims of this investigation were to determine the nature of bone damage caused by the cosmopolitan species Dermestes maculatus and develop an interpretative framework to aid in the identification on modern and fossil and differentiation of associated bone. Four experiments were conducted utilising 79 bones exposed to D. maculatus for a period of 4 months. Five primary modification types were established for D. maculatus including furrows, destruction of bone, boreholes, striae, and three classes of pits. This study has vindicated D. maculatus as a causal agent of reported instances of bone surface modifications in existing archaeological and palaeontological literature, and more focussed studies may find greater application within the forensic sciences.
Relative Water Economy Is a Useful Index of Aridity Tolerance for Australian Poephiline Finches

We evaluate if the iconic Australian Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) has a unique physiology or if its metabolic, thermal and hygric physiology are similar to other Australian poephiline finches, by comparing it with three other species, the arid-habitat Painted Finch (Emblema pictum) and the mesic-habitat Double-barred (Taeniopygia bichenovii) and Red-browed (Neochmia temporalis) Finches. All physiological variables responded to ambient temperature as expected. There were no species differences for any of the standard physiological variables, consistent with the hypotheses that birds are pre-adapted to arid habitats, the recent development of Australian deserts has limited opportunity for physiological adaptation, and all four species share similar behavioural and ecological traits. Nevertheless, the ambient temperature where metabolic water production equals evaporative water loss (point of relative water economy) was highest for the Zebra (19.1 °C), lower for Double-barred (16.4 °C) and Painted (15.2 °C) and lowest for Red-Browed (4.1 °C) Finches, corresponding with their general patterns of habitat aridity. The point of relative water economy may be a sensitive index for assessing a species’ tolerance of aridity because it integrates individual physiological variables. We conclude that the Zebra Finch is not a physiological outlier amongst Australian finches, but is at the end of a continuum of aridity tolerance for the four study species.
Exploring Sterile Neutrino and Non-Unitary Neutrino Mixing at nuSTORM

The Neutrinos from Stored muons (nuSTORM) facility has been proposed to measure neutrino-nucleon cross-sections with percent level precision. It has been shown that nuSTORM with a detector for short baseline oscillation search has excellent capability to search for the existence of light sterile neutrinos that have been postulated to explain the LSND and MiniBooNE results. This analysis used the Charged Current events in a magnetized Iron calorimeter detector. We study if the large number of Neutral Current events at the detector can be used to constrain the sterile neutrino parameter space further. In addition we also study the constraints on non-unitarity of neutrino mixing matrix using both charged and neutral current events at nuSTORM.
Effect of tunisian pomegranate peel extract on the oxidative stability of corn oil under heating conditions

The effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on the oxidative stability of corn oil during heating was studied. Oxidation was followed by determining peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (p-AV), free fatty acid value (FFA), conjugated dienes (CD), conjugated trienes hydroperoxides (CT) and the calculated total oxidation value (TOTOX). Polyphenol (TPC) and ortho-diphenol (TOPC) contents as well as the antioxidant activity of each oil sample were evaluated before and after heating. PPE showed a significant inhibitory effect on lipid oxidation. Heating samples for 8 hours supplemented by PPE to a level of 1000 ppm resulted in the highest significant decreases in investigated indices compared to the control and BHT values. It was concluded that the antioxidant activity of PPE delayed oxidation and can be used in the food industry to prevent and reduce lipid deterioration in oil.
Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown in High Quality SiC MOS Capacitors

In this paper we report TDDB results on SiO2/SiC MOS capacitors fabricated in a matured production environment. A key feature is the absence of early failure out of over 600 capacitors tested. The observed field accelerations and activation energies are higher than what is reported on SiO2/Si of similar oxide thickness. The great improvement in oxide reliability and the deviation from typical SiO2/SiC observations are explained by the quality of the oxide in this study.
Content analysis of visual representations in biology textbooks across selected educational boards from Asia

Abstract The aim of the present study was to explore the nature of visual representations in biology textbooks across five educational boards across Asia through quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Descriptive statistics was used during the quantitative analysis. Qualitative content analysis involved a deductive approach where visuals in these textbooks were examined and categorized into different categories based on a newly developed typology and taxonomy of visual representation (coding scheme). Under this newly developed typology and taxonomy (coding scheme), visuals in biology textbooks can be categorized into 19 different categories. The findings of the study summarized the characteristics of visual representation usage in these textbooks in terms of their prevalence, distributional differences and trends. Through this study, a new perspective on the taxonomy and classification of visual representations, especially for biology textbooks, has been proposed. Biology teachers and textbook authors can gain insights through the findings of the study.
Characterization of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder’s Interactions with a Service Dog During Their First Encounter

ABSTRACT Reports reveal various benefits of animals – especially dogs – for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, not all children with ASD display the same interest in animals. Dogs are the most common pets in households that have children with ASD and they are the only species to be used as service animals for these children. They are also the most commonly used species in animal-assisted interventions. Despite the key role that both the interest and behaviors displayed toward dogs might play in their benefits to children with ASD, no studies have yet investigated this aspect using direct observation. Applying an ethological approach, this study aimed to explore and characterize how children with ASD interact with a service dog during a first encounter. Video recordings of 20 children with ASD in free interactions during their first encounter with a service dog were analyzed. Our results indicate that children with ASD are attracted to service dogs, but we found important individual differences. We distinguished two main behavioral interaction profiles (one more distal with the service dog and the other more proximal and attracted to the service dog). Our results show that the children with ASD’s interaction strategies vary according to their age and ASD severity: younger children made fewer physical contacts with the service dog, gazed less at it, and displayed less care behaviors, while children with severer ASD seemed to rely on a smaller behavioral repertoire when interacting with a service dog. This study is the first to characterize how children with ASD interact with a service dog during their first encounter. These findings open onto future research concerning the importance of a child with ASD’s attraction to and behavior in the presence of an animal, as well as of the impacts of a child’s characteristics (i.e., age, ASD severity, and sensory processing disorder) to be able to improve programs for animal-assisted interventions.
Renal Oxygen Saturation as an Early Indicator of Shock in Children

Background Shock is a life-threatening syndrome in which tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery are inadequate. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been suggested as a noninvasive tool for monitoring and detecting the state of inadequate tissue perfusion. Renal and mesenteric oximetry show decreased cardiac output earlier than systemic or global parameters of tissue oxygenation or cerebral oximetry. However, until now there has been no study on the validity of regional renal oxygen saturation (rRSO2) by NIRS for diagnosing shock in children. Purpose To analyze the validity of rRSO2 by NIRS to diagnose shock in children. Patients and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in critically ill children (aged 1 month–18 years) who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), from September to November 2020, consecutively. Patients were classified into two groups: shock and non-shock. The diagnosis of shock is based on clinical criteria (tachycardia, sign of hypoperfusion and decrease systolic blood pressure <P5 according to age). Measurement of rRSO2 by NIRS was performed by the doctor in charge when the patient came to PICU. The baseline rRSO2 value (%) made a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and was used to find the optimal cut-off value and calculated sensitivity and specificity. Results We enrolled 20 critically ill patients. The baseline rRSO2 in the shock (n=10) and non-shock (n=10) groups were, 44.00±4.95 vs 78.70±4.52 (p 0.003). The optimal cutoff value of the baseline rRSO2 to predict shock is less than 58.5% with area under the curve (AUC) value is 94.4% (95% CI of 84.4–100%), p 0.001, sensitivity 90% and specificity 90% in critically ill children. Conclusion The rRSO2 value by NIRS can differentiate between shock and non-shock in critically ill patients accurately.
A Novel Multitask Learning Empowered Codebook Design for Downlink SCMA Networks

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a promising code-domain non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scheme for the enabling of massive machine-type communication. In SCMA, the design of good sparse codebooks and efficient multiuser decoding have attracted tremendous research attention in the past few years. This letter aims to leverage deep learning to jointly design the downlink SCMA encoder and decoder with the aid of autoencoder. We introduce a novel end-to-end learning based SCMA (E2E-SCMA) design framework, under which improved sparse codebooks and low-complexity decoder are obtained. Compared to conventional SCMA schemes, our numerical results show that the proposed E2E-SCMA leads to significant improvements in terms of error rate and computational complexity.
Performance, haemato-biochemical and reproductive potential indices of New Zealand White and Dutch Belted rabbit bucks fed diets containing monosodium glutamate

The study aimed to assess the growth performance, haematology, serum biochemistry, gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of two breeds of rabbit bucks fed dietary monosodium glutamate (MSG) at varying inclusion levels (0.00, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/kg diet). A total of 320 sexually mature New Zealand White Bucks and Dutch Belted Bucks aged 8 to 10 mo with average weight ranging from 1.34 to 1.96 kg were used for the study, which lasted 8 wk. The bucks were weighed and distributed to the four treatment diets. Each treatment was replicated 10 times with four bucks per replicate in a 2×4 factorial experiment. At the end of the feeding trial, 2 bucks per replicate were euthanised. Blood samples were collected from the jugular veins for haematological and serum analyses and their reproductive tracts were dissected. The testes and epididymides were carefully sampled, weighed and processed. The results showed that the bucks fed the diet containing 0.25 g MSG/kg had the best (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio and daily weight gain, daily sperm production and sperm production efficiency. The inclusions of up to 0.75 g MSG/kg diet did not compromise the bucks’ health status, performance and reproductive potential, irrespective of their breeds. However, optimum performance and sperm production were recorded at 0.25 g MSG/kg diet. This study suggests that dietary MSG at 0.25 g/kg in diet can significantly improve rabbit feed palatability, thereby bringing about optimum growth performance, sperm production, and efficiency without causing any physiological imbalance ino the bucks.
An Evaluation of Spokesperson and Vehicle Source Effects in Advertising

Abstract This paper presents results from an experiment which examined the effectiveness of three types of spokespersons in advertising. The research measured consumer attitudes toward a familiar product when test advertisements contained a celebrity, an expert, and an ordinary consumer. The experimental advertisements were tested under two print vehicle conditions — high-prestige versus low-prestige magazines. The results indicate that for a low-priced, complex electronic product (i.e., a handheld calculator), an expert endorser tends to generate more favorable attitudes toward the advertised product, regardless of the prestigiousness of the media vehicle.
Pengaruh Motivasi Belajar Siswa Terhadap Disiplin Belajar Siswa Dalam Mewujudkan Capaian Hasil Belajar Siswa (Penelitian di MTs. se-Kecamatan Sukawening Kabupaten Garut)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh motivasi belajar siswa terhadap disiplin belajar siswa dalam mewujudkan capaian hasil belajar siswa. Metodologi penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode penelitian deskriptif dengan teknik survey. Lokasi penelitian di MTs. se-Kecamatan Sukawening dengan jumlah responden sebanyak 90 responden. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa motivasi belajar siswa berpengaruh terhadap disiplin belajar siswa dalam mewujudkan capaian hasil belajar siswa di MTs. se-Kecamatan Sukawening. Artikel ini berkesimpulan bahwa capaian hasil belajar siswa dapat terwujud apabila motivasi belajar siswa dan disiplin belajar siswa dilaksanakan secara optimal.
Child–educator disagreements in Finnish early childhood education and care: young children’s possibilities for influence

ABSTRACT This study explores young children’s possibilities for influence in situations of child–educator disagreement in Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC). Data were gathered from observations conducted in four ECEC groups of under three year-olds. A total of 112 child–educator disagreements were analysed qualitatively using reflexive thematic analysis. Children’s influence was rather limited in most disagreements, as these involved the established institutional order as manifested in the rules and norms of daily activities and educators’ control over children’s bodies and material resources. However, disagreements over social rules and the ongoing social situation often allowed children to negotiate and contribute to the outcomes. By identifying the difficulties young children may face in resisting the institutional order, the study highlights the importance of developing practices that enable discussion of the settled rules of ECEC and thus regard young children’s right to have their views heard and considered in matters affecting them.
Validity and Reliability of the Staden Schizophrenia Anxiety Rating Scale

In schizophrenia, none of the standard anxiety measures exhibit strong psychometric properties, and all performed poorly against quality assessment criteria. Developed for the schizophrenia population, this study examined the validity and reliability of the Staden Schizophrenia Anxiety Rating Scale (S-SARS) that measures both specified and undifferentiated anxiety. Among 353 schizophrenia patients, strong correlations with anxiety parameters supported the S-SARS’s convergent validity. Criterion-related validity testing yielded accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rates of around 95%. Its discriminant validity was observed for measures of depression, psychosis, akathisia, fatigue, vigour, procrastination, behavioural inhibition and activation, and personal growth and initiative. Structural validity was found in a single-factor unidimensional model with a 0.953 factor score. Excellent results were found for internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.931; Spearman–Brown coefficient = 0.937; Guttman split-half coefficient = 0.928) and inter-rater reliability (Krippendorff’s alpha = 0.852). It incurred no more than a small error of measurement whereby the observed scores were within 1.54 to 3.58 of a true score on a zero to 50 scale. These strong psychometric properties suggest that the S-SARS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring specified and undifferentiated anxiety in schizophrenia, providing the means for the accurate measurement of anxiolytic treatment effects.
Management strategy, innovative leadership, and dynamic capabilities affect success of public companies in Thailand

Public limited companies in Thailand operate under the support of the government with the aim of continuously developing potential for long-term economic expansion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the public limited companies face many problems including lack of competitiveness at the national and global levels. The objectives of this research were to: 1) study levels of management strategies, innovative leadership, dynamic capabilities, and success in the operation of the public limited companies in Thailand; 2) examine influences of management strategies, innovative leadership, and dynamic capabilities on the success in the operation of the public limited companies in Thailand; and 3) develop a model for the success in the operation of the public limited companies in Thailand. This research employed a mixed research methodology combining quantitative and qualitative methods. For the quantitative research part, the research sample consisted of 360 executives of public limited companies in Thailand. The sample size was determined based on the criterion of 20 times the observed variables. They were selected via stratified sampling. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire and analyzed with a structural equation model.