Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fossil primate research at the 81st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

During the first five days of November 2021, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology convened its 81st annual meeting . not in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but on nearly 2000 personal and work computers spread around the globe. The Covid pandemic continues to impede many academic pursuits, and the virtual setting of this year's conference was simultaneously a refreshing opportunity to witness the scope and scale of cutting-edge vertebrate paleontology research that has persisted in spite of it, and another reminder of the limitations that still inhibit our traditional gatherings. The conference presentations covered numerous aspects of vertebrate evolution, with many that specifically addressed primate evolution or provided valuable context to interpretation of the primate fossil record. Presentations on primate fossils were not limited to early primates, but made valuable contributions to hominoid and hominin evolution as well. A highlight of the meeting was the opening public lecture by Yohannes Haile-Selassie (Arizona State University) that described his fieldwork and major mid-Pliocene hominin finds from the western Afar Rift. His talk, framed around the early evolution of Australopithecus, can still be viewed on the Society website (https:// vertpaleo.org/svp-public-lecture/). Over 15 years of fieldwork at Woranso-Mille has produced 110 vertebrate localities and >200 hominin fossils, including previously unrepresented skeletal elements of Australopithecus afarensis and the currently unassigned, bipedally adapted Burtele foot. Of particular interest and importance are the remains of Australopithecus deyiremeda, which alongside Kenyathropus platyops and revelatory new cranial fossils of Australopithecus anamensis demonstrating its contemporaneity with A. afarensis, show that the mid-Pliocene was a time of high hominin alpha diversity. These finds significantly contribute to understanding hominin evolution, both by showing that the older model of an anagenetic “trunk” leading to branching of the hominin tree in the late Pliocene is false, and by proving that there are still major hominin fossil finds waiting to be uncovered—even in heavily prospected areas such as the Afar Rift.
Differences in the timing of egg extrusion and reproductive investment between primiparous and multiparous females of the southern king crab Lithodes santolla

ABSTRACT This study analysed differences in the timing of egg extrusion, reproductive investment and spatial distribution between primiparous and multiparous females of the southern king crab (SKC) Lithodes santolla. Early publications had reported that, in the San Jorge Gulf (SJG; 45–47°S), Argentina, SKCs mated annually, mainly in December. In this work, in coastal areas of SJG, we found small females in postmoult with recently extruded eggs in September–October. At the same time, one SKC female fraction was in intermoult with eggs close to hatching. Evidence suggests that females with recently extruded eggs were primiparous, while females with eggs close to hatching were multiparous. Primiparous females were less fecund than multiparous females of the same size, but no differences were found in the egg dry mass between these female fractions. The size-frequency distribution observed suggests a spatial segregation between primiparous and multiparous females, with the former being concentrated in the coastal areas of SJG. Differences in reproductive traits between primiparous and multiparous females have been widely reported in crab species with determinate growth, but rarely in crabs with indeterminate growth as lithodids.
Association of metabolic syndrome components with alterations in oxidative stress and cytokines expression

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with a chronic inflammation state; the specific causative etiology to the MetS will need further investigation. The present study aims to explore the levels and roles of pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes in MetS development. Subjects were divided into five groups: healthy controls; patients with dyslipidemia; patients with dyslipidemia and obesity; patients with dyslipidemia, obesity, and hypertension; patients with dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. Antioxidant enzyme activities were dramatically decreased in MetS patients, whereas inflammatory marker levels were elevated. The levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-23, IL-33, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κΒ), resistin, and nitric oxide were positively correlated to triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Therefore, the data indicate that antioxidant enzymes, IL-8, IL-23, IL-33, NF-κΒ, and resistin might be used as tools to ameliorate and treat metabolic diseases.
40 years of research and development in higher education: responding to complexity and ambiguity

The changes that Powell envisaged were changes to educational practice. Reflecting on the journal’s first three decades of publication in HERD’s 30th anniversary Special Issue, editors Barbara Grant and Bruce Macfarlane (2012, p. 2) concluded that HERD had indeed maintained its focus on ‘work that seeks change in practice’. At the same time, they noted a growing curiosity and sophistication in our thinking about change, ‘(beyond ‘technique’ for example)’ (p. 2) towards an appreciation of the complex and often unpredictable nature of change within the sector. They looked forward to a deeper and broader engagement with new methodologies and theoretical frameworks that would enable us to ask different kinds of questions in our pursuit of change. In the decade that has passed since that Special Issue, the need for new questions and new ways of thinking has never been greater, as the sector has faced a raft of new challenges, most recently, of course, the ongoing impact of the global pandemic. For HERD’s 40th anniversary Special Issue, we invited authors to engage with the history of higher education research as represented by 40 years of HERD publications, particularly over the past decade. In doing so, we hoped to mark the various watershed moments that have impacted on higher education and reflect critically on the complexity, change and ambiguity that have challenged, and continue to challenge, the sector. A focus on change, and the associated shifts in the scale of complexity of academic work are key themes in all of the papers in this Special Issue. The challenge this represents to individual academics leads our first author, Shelda Debowski to observe “it isn’t easy being an academic” (Debowski, 2022, p.x). Debowski’s contribution critically examines what it means to be an academic today and how this has changed, as evidenced by publications in HERD since 1982. There is an acknowledgment of an escalating pre-occupation with ‘academic performance’ despite increased workload, the casualisation of the academic workforce, uncertainty about the future, and the fallout of the pandemic. Debowski notes that it is no longer enough for an early career academic to establish their academic identity; they also need to create a narrative about the impact of their teaching and research. Academics need to provide evidence of their effective performance often through the use of institutional instruments and metrics, including teaching evaluations that must be regarded as a flawed process. Further, Debowski suggests that a ‘successful academic’ now needs to be
Calcification moderates the biochemical responses of Gephyrocapsa oceanica to ocean acidification

ABSTRACT We compared the physiological performance of two sub-strains of coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa oceanica NIES-1318, the originally well-calcified strain, and its low-calcified counterpart that significantly decreased the capacity to calcify under present (400 µatm, LC) and elevated pCO2 (1000 µatm, HC) conditions. There were no significant differences in the growth rates between the two sub-strains under LC condition. The growth rates of both sub-strains reduced under HC conditions and the decrease was significantly higher in the high-calcified cells than the low-calcified ones. The low-calcified cultures exhibited reduced production rates of particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON), irrespective of CO2 conditions. The decrease in the PON production rates was considerably higher than that in the POC production rates. Compared with the high-calcified cells, a slight decrease was observed in cellular POC contents in the low-calcified cells, whereas cellular PON contents decreased more prominently. The POC/PON ratio showed no significant difference between the two pCO2 treatments in the high-calcified cultures, whereas elevated CO2 increased the rates in the low-calcified cells. We believe that the nitrogen acquisition by low-calcified cells was more susceptible to ocean acidification, probably due to a lack of stabilized microenvironment provided by coccoliths. Our results demonstrate that the calcification level can affect the biochemical responses of G. oceanica to ocean acidification, with likely consequences for marine biogeochemical cycling.
Namibian Teachers’ Beliefs about Medium of Instruction and Language Education Policy Implementation

Abstract The medium of instruction is a crucial issue in language education policy in multilingual post-colonial countries such as Namibia. Teachers occupy a central role in language policy implementation, and their beliefs affect it. It is therefore important to study their beliefs about language education policy and its implementation. This article explores Namibian teachers’ beliefs in this regard in two government primary schools by means of a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The qualitative analysis shows that the teachers believe the current language policy is problematic and its implementation challenging. The majority see multilingual education as a good option, though the findings of the questionnaire and the interview data are somewhat at odds. Introducing multilingual pedagogy education in teacher training and legitimising translanguaging in classrooms would enhance learner-centred approaches in Namibian schools.
Determination of the dynamic performance of natural viscoelastic composites with different proportions of reinforcing fibers

Abstract Viscoelastic composites are strong and handle vibration damping quite well, which allows them to be used in a wide variety of applications. Thus, there is a need to determine the optimal amount of fiber to ensure high mechanical and dynamic performance with as little interference as possible. The purpose of this work is to find the most appropriate percentage of organic fiber – cellulose derived from corn stalks in a polylactic acid matrix, studying the changes in damping characteristics, tensile strength, bend-test. As parameters for comparison, the coefficient of bending and breaking strength, modules of accumulation and losses, factor C were chosen. It was found that strength indicators decrease with fiber fraction growth. While the damping factor at the glass transition temperature increases. In order to confirm the results obtained, the calculation of the C factor was used. The study investigates the damping factor’s dependence on the mechanical properties. It is shown that there is a correlation between moduli and bending strength with increasing fiber fraction. The scientific novelty of this work is the study of natural viscoelastic composites with different proportions of reinforcing fibers based on mechanical and dynamic characteristics in order to create and apply biodegradable viscoelastic composites in various fields.
Acute cerebrovascular events in severe and nonsevere COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract The degree to which COVID-19 severity influences the development of acute cerebrovascular events (ACVE) is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to describe the prevalence and risk of ACVE in patients with severe and nonsevere COVID-19. We systematically reviewed MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus and identified observational and interventional studies of patients with COVID-19 allocated by respiratory severity that reported ACVE development. Case reports/series were excluded. The main outcome assessed was the pooled rate of ACVE in patients with severe and nonsevere COVID-19. To determine the risk of ACVE development by COVID-19 severity, a meta-analysis was performed. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020178905. About 19 of 5758 identified studies were analyzed. From 11,886 COVID-19 patients analyzed, 421 had at least one ACVE [3.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.904–4.179]. Severe COVID-19 increased the risk of ACVE (odds ratio 1.96, 95% CI 1.22–3.15; P = 0.005; I2 = 64%), specifically hemorrhagic stroke (4.12, 2.0–8.53; P = 0.001; I2 = 0%). There was no difference in the risk of developing ischemic stroke between patients with severe and nonsevere COVID-19 (1.53, 0.87–2.7; P = 0.14; I2 = 52%). From the patients who developed any ACVE, those with severe COVID-19 had a greater mortality risk than those with nonsevere COVID-19 (3.85, 1.08–13.70; P = 0.04; I2 = 0%). The main limitations of our study were the heterogeneity found in the main meta-analysis studies and in their reported definition for COVID-19 severity. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that COVID-19 respiratory severity could lead to ACVE development that increases mortality. The effect of COVID-19 management in ACVE needs to be evaluated.
Strategic Decision-Making and Performance in Social Enterprises: Process Dimensions and the Influence of Entrepreneurs’ Proactive Personality

Abstract Different organizational perspectives surrounding social enterprises (SEs) have burgeoned over the past few years. However, integrating financial sustainability with social value remains a “black box” with respect to entrepreneurial strategic decision-making (SDM). Drawing from decision theories and the proactivity perspective of personality-based SDM literature, we investigate the impact of synoptic (rationalistic) and incremental (adaptive) process models, and moderate these approaches with the entrepreneur’s proactive personality traits on SEs’ financial and social performance. Our results show that when a rational and intuitive SDM develops in conjunction, financial performance improves. In contrast, a departure from rationality in favor of incremental decision-making processes advances only the social performance of SEs. A proactive entrepreneurial personality positively moderates strategic cognitions in improving SEs’ both financial and social objectives. On the other hand, when proactivity moderates rationality, the financial performance of SEs declines.
A Validated Computer Terminology Test for Predicting Non-native English-speaking CS1 Students’ Academic Performance

This research examines the validity and efficacy of an English computer terminology multiple-choice test. The test was developed to investigate the relationship between non-native English-speaking students’ knowledge of computer terminology and their academic performance in CS1 courses. In this research, the Rasch model was used to find empirical evidence of test validity. Six aspects of construct validity were evaluated: content, substantive, structural, generalisability, external and consequential aspects. Based on analyses of 150 students’ responses, the test shows an acceptable level of validity in all six aspects of construct validity. Moreover, the efficacy of using this test to predict the students’ academic performance in CS1 courses was investigated. Statistical analysis of the data shows that the computer terminology test can predict approximately 50% of final exam performance in CS1 courses after controlling the impact of English proficiency. The aim of this research (along with other ongoing research) is to aid in the identification of non-native English-speaking students who require more specific language support. Additionally, the research will guide the development of resources and tools that can help these students.
The Robots Are Coming: Exploring the Implications of OpenAI Codex on Introductory Programming

Recent advances in artificial intelligence have been driven by an exponential growth in digitised data. Natural language processing, in particular, has been transformed by machine learning models such as OpenAI’s GPT-3 which generates human-like text so realistic that its developers have warned of the dangers of its misuse. In recent months OpenAI released Codex, a new deep learning model trained on Python code from more than 50 million GitHub repositories. Provided with a natural language description of a programming problem as input, Codex generates solution code as output. It can also explain (in English) input code, translate code between programming languages, and more. In this work, we explore how Codex performs on typical introductory programming problems. We report its performance on real questions taken from introductory programming exams and compare it to results from students who took these same exams under normal conditions, demonstrating that Codex outscores most students. We then explore how Codex handles subtle variations in problem wording using several published variants of the well-known “Rainfall Problem” along with one unpublished variant we have used in our teaching. We find the model passes many test cases for all variants. We also explore how much variation there is in the Codex generated solutions, observing that an identical input prompt frequently leads to very different solutions in terms of algorithmic approach and code length. Finally, we discuss the implications that such technology will have for computing education as it continues to evolve, including both challenges and opportunities.
Predicting Schrödinger’s range-shifting cat: Analytic results

9 Analytic models for how species will respond to climate change can highlight key pa10 rameter dependencies. By mapping equations for population dynamics onto corresponding 11 problems from quantum mechanics with known solutions we derive analytical results for the 12 frequently observed case of asymmetric environmental response curves. We derive expres13 sions in terms of parameters representing climate velocity, dispersal rate, maximum growth 14 rate, niche width, high-frequency climate variability and environmental performance curve 15 skew for three key responses: 1) population persistence, 2) lag between range displacement 16 and climate displacement, 3) location of maximum population sensitivity. Surprisingly, un17 der our model assumptions, the direction of performance curve asymmetry does not strongly 18 contribute to either persistence or lags. A simple metapopulation simulation corroborated 19 this result. Measures to support range-shifting populations may have most benefit where 20 the environmental dependence is shallow, irrespective of whether this is the ‘leading’ or 21 ‘trailing’ edge. Our results introduce new tools to ecology and illustrate the continued role 22 of analytic theory. 23
NGS data reveals the phyllosphere microbiome of wheat plants infected by the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici

The fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch (STB), a major wheat disease in Western Europe. Microorganisms inhabiting wheat leaves might act as beneficial, biocontrol or facilitating agents that could limit or stimulate the development of Z. tritici. Improving our understanding of microbial communities in the wheat phyllosphere would lead to new insights into STB management. This resource announcement provides fungal and bacterial metabarcoding datasets obtained by sampling wheat leaves differing in the presence of symptoms caused by Z. tritici. Tissues were sampled from three wheat commercial varieties on three sampling dates during a cropping season. Weeds around wheat fields were sampled as well. In total, more than 450 leaf samples were collected. The pathogen Z. tritici was quantified using qPCR. We provide the raw metabarcoding datasets, the Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) tables obtained after bioinformatic processing, the metadata associated to each sample (sampling date, wheat variety and tissue health condition), a preliminary descriptive analysis of the data, and the code used for bioinformatic and descriptive statistical analysis.
Priority conservation areas and a global population estimate for the Critically Endangered Philippine Eagle derived from modelled range metrics using remote sensing habitat characteristics

Many range-restricted taxa are currently experiencing population declines yet lack fundamental information regarding distribution and population size. Establishing baseline estimates for both these key biological parameters is however critical for directing conservation planning for at-risk range-restricted species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List uses three range metrics that define species distributions and inform extinction risk assessments: extent of occurrence (EOO), area of occupancy (AOO) and area of habitat (AOH). However, calculating all three metrics using standard IUCN approaches relies on a geographically representative sample of locations, which for rare species is often spatially biased. Here, we apply model-based interpolation using Species Distribution Models (SDMs), correlating occurrences with remote-sensing covariates, to calculate IUCN range metrics, protected area coverage and a global population estimate for the Critically Endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). Our final range wide continuous SDM had high predictive accuracy (Continuous Boyce Index = 0.927) and when converted to a binary model estimated an AOH = 23,185 km2, a maximum EOO = 605,759 km2, a minimum EOO = 272,272 km2, with an AOO = 53,867 km2. Based on inferred habitat from the AOH metric, we estimate a global population of 318 breeding pairs (range: 258-362 pairs), or 636 mature individuals, across the Philippine Eagle global range. Protected areas covered 34 % of AOH, 15 % less than the target representation, with the continuous model identifying key habitat as priority conservation areas. We demonstrate that even when occurrences are geographically biased, robust habitat models can be built that enable quantification of baseline IUCN range metrics, protected area coverage, and a population size estimate. In the absence of adequate location data for many rare and threatened taxa, our method is a promising spatial modelling tool with widespread applications, in particular for island endemics facing high extinction risk.
Tourist Movement Analysis using Social Media Data in Indonesia

The popularity of various tourist destinations in Indonesia makes the tourism industry an essential pillar of the Indonesian economy sector. Understanding tourist behavior while visiting Indonesia plays a vital role in determining a suitable tourism strategy by knowing the tourist movement. But monitoring tourist movement is a nontrivial problem. Therefore, this study uses data sources based on tourist reviews on social media. The data is then applied to form the network based on network science that models their movements in Indonesia. The authors pick Lombok and Bali to represent this study because both islands are the most popular tourist destinations. This study models a complex representation of tourist movement, finds tourist movement directions to recognize their favorite destinations, and find the group of location preferred by tourist through network visualization. The study will be beneficial for policymakers, business opportunities, and the tourism office.