Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncertainty in projected impacts of climate change on biodiversity — a focus on African vertebrates

Assessing the future of biodiversity under changing climates is plagued by uncertainty. Drawing on data for sub-Saharan African vertebrates, I focus on some of the major sources of uncertainty surrounding bioclimatic envelope model projections and on possible ways to address them. I examine the uncertainty arising from alternative climate projections and model algorithms and I summarise it through consensus building. To examine ecological uncertainty, I present a framework for teasing apart projected gains, losses, and fragmentation of climatically suitable areas; each of these threats and opportunities can be examined with reference to relevant response-mediating biological traits, such as the species’ climatic tolerance, reproductive output, and dispersal ability. A further source of uncertainty in climate change impact assessments based on bioclimatic envelope models is the omission of narrow-ranging species, which are difficult to model. I demonstrate the conservation implications of such omissions, and I investigate how climate change metrics can be used as an alternative tool in assessments. Multiple metrics of change in climate parameters, seen as proxies for the threats and opportunities facing biodiversity, are reviewed and illustrated at the global scale, and compared to bioclimatic models for sub-Saharan African vertebrates.
The Efficacy of High-Dose Pulse Therapy vs. Low-Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone on Severe to Critical COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background It remains unclear which formulation of the corticosteroid regimen has the optimum efficacies on COVID-19 pneumonia. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of 2 different regimens in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19: Methylprednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg every 12 hours (low-dose group) and 1000 mg/day pulse therapy for 3 days following 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone every 12 hours (high-dose group). Methods In this randomized clinical trial, patients with mild to moderate ARDS due to COVID-19 were randomly assigned to receive either low-dose (n = 47) or high-dose (n = 48) intravenous methylprednisolone regimens. Two groups were matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophil/lymphocyte, platelet, hemoglobin, and inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], and ferritin). Both regimens were initiated upon admission and continued for 10 days. The clinical outcome and secondary complications were evaluated. Results Evaluating in-hospital outcomes, no difference was revealed in the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stays (5.4 ± 4.6 vs. 4.5 ± 4.9; P = 0.35), total hospital stays (8 ± 3.1 vs. 6.9 ± 3.4; P = 0.1), requirement rate for invasive ventilation (29.2% vs. 36.2%; P = 0.4) or non-invasive ventilation (16.6% vs 23.4%; P = 0.4), and hemoperfusion (16.6% vs 11.3%; P = 0.3) between the low- and high-dose groups. There was no significant difference in fatality due to ARDS (29.2% vs. 38.3%; P = 0.3) and septic shock (4.2% vs. 6.4%; P = 0.3) between the low- and high-dose groups. Patients in the high-dose group had significantly higher bacterial pneumonia co-infection events compared with those in the low-dose group (18.7% vs 10.6%; P = 0.01). Conclusions The use of adjuvant pulse therapy with intravenous methylprednisolone did not result in improved in-hospital clinical outcomes among patients with mild to moderate ARDS due to COVID-19. A higher risk of bacterial pneumonia should be considered in such cases as receiving a higher dose of steroids.
The mathematical backgrounds of undergraduates from England

Participation in any kind of mathematical study during upper secondary education in England is significantly lower than in other educational systems. As a result, many English students enter university at age 18 or 19 having not studied mathematics for 2 years or more and relatively large proportions of students entering numerate degree programmes do not have a qualification in advanced school mathematics. To date, the mathematical preparation of those university entrants who do not have an advanced school mathematics qualification has not been documented. This study addressed this by analysing a large dataset formed from the combination of two large national databases in England: the National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistical Agency Database (N = 253,557). This dataset provided the school mathematics qualifications of undergraduates from England across all degree subjects, who took General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Mathematics in 2008 and entered a UK university between 2010 and 2012. The study found that approximately 10% of undergraduates did not have a C grade at GCSE Mathematics, which is commonly assumed to be a minimum requirement for entry to university. In general, degree subjects with more mathematical demand recruited students with stronger mathematical backgrounds: 64% of undergraduates in subjects with high mathematical demand had an advanced school mathematics qualification compared to 24% in subjects with medium mathematical demand and 12% in subjects with low mathematical demand. For some university subjects with high and medium mathematical demand, for example Electronic and Electrical Engineering, there were substantial proportions of students with weak school mathematics backgrounds. There was considerable variation across universities with undergraduates in the high-status Russell Group institutions having stronger school mathematics qualifications within the same degree subject.
Maximum likelihood estimation of Gaussian copula models for geostatistical count data

Abstract This work investigates the computation of maximum likelihood estimators in Gaussian copula models for geostatistical count data. This is a computationally challenging task because the likelihood function is only expressible as a high dimensional multivariate normal integral. Two previously proposed Monte Carlo methods are reviewed, the Genz–Bretz and Geweke–Hajivassiliou–Keane simulators, and a new method is investigated. The new method is based on the so–called data cloning algorithm, which uses Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms to approximate maximum likelihood estimators and their (asymptotic) variances in models with computationally challenging likelihoods. A simulation study is carried out to compare the statistical and computational efficiencies of the three methods. It is found that the three methods have similar statistical properties, but the Geweke–Hajivassiliou–Keane simulator requires the least computational effort. Hence, this is the method we recommend. A data analysis of Lansing Woods tree counts is used to illustrate the methods.
The Effect of Sustainability Accounting, Work Environment, and Leadership on Employee Performance

Purpose:This study examines and analyzes the effect of Sustainability Accounting, Work Environment, and Leadership on Employee Performance.Methodology:This research was conducted at the Office of the Central Bureau of Statistics of Bali Province with a sample of 60 respondents using a saturated sampling technique. All data obtained from the questionnaire distribution is feasible, then analyzed using multiple linear regression and hypothesis testing (t-test and f-test). Findings:The study results show that (1) Sustainability Accounting positively affects Employee Performance at the Office of the Central Bureau of Statistics of Bali Province. It shows that the better or increasing the Sustainability Accounting, the more employee performance will also increase at the Office of the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Province of Bali (2) The work environment has a positive effect on Employee Performance at the Office of the Central Bureau of Statistics of the Province of Bali. It shows that the better or increasing the work environment, the more employee performance will also increase at the Office of the Central Statistics Agency of the Province of Bali (3) Leadership has a positive effect on Employee Performance at the Office of the Central Statistics Agency of the Province of Bali.Implication:It shows that the better or increasing the leadership, the higher the performance of employees at the Office of the Central Bureau of Statistics for the Province of Bali.
Norwegian citizens’ responses to influxes of asylum seekers: comparing across two refugee crises

ABSTRACT We compared Norwegians’ attitudes to immigration, perspective taking, and intergroup behaviors directed at asylum seekers in 2016 (Syrians and Afghans) and 2022 (Ukrainians). We find evidence for a stronger exclusionary response to the asylum seekers in 2016 than in 2022. Attitudes to immigration were more negative in 2016 than in 2022, and skepticism and avoiding asylum seekers was more common. However, the dominant behavior in both years was prosocial (greeting and donating) and Norwegians’ willingness to take asylum seekers perspective was similar in 2016 and 2022. These results may reflect an absence of a symbolic threat in 2022 and may be connected to differences in the political rhetoric about asylum seekers in 2015/2016 and 2022.
Importance of conserving a critical wintering ground for shorebirds in the Valinokkam Lagoon—a first study of the avifaunal distribution of the southeastern coast of India

Any new economic activity in a virgin area brings landscape changes, making it essential to document baseline biodiversity areas to understand the impacts on habitats. Avifaunal inventories are critical for previously undocumented areas, especially in a wintering site for shorebirds in the Central Asian Flyway, to formulate site- and species-specific conservation management tools. We present an annotated checklist of avifauna from the Valinokkam Lagoon in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. We recorded the first baseline avifaunal data for 154 species belonging to 16 orders and 46 families from August 2016 to February 2023. Order-wise, Charadriiformes dominated the study site with 47 species; followed by Passeriformes with 39 species and Pelecaniformes with 20 species. Winter visitors constituted 37.6 % (58 species) and one Passage Migrant Rosy Starling Pastor roseus. The relative abundance indicated that 94 species were C (common), 41 species were UC (uncommon), and 19 species were Ra (rare). Eleven Near Threatened (NT) species: Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Great Stone-curlew Esacus recurvirostris, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis and Red Knot Calidris canutus, one Endangered (EN) species Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, and one unassessed Hanuman Plover Charadrius seebohmi according to the IUCN Red List category. This baseline data highlights the importance of Valinokkam Lagoon as an important wintering site in the Central Asian Flyway on the southeast coast of India for migratory shorebirds and the need for more conservation priorities for regional endemic birds like Hanuman Plover.
Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women with regard to collection, testing and banking of cord blood stem cells.

BACKGROUND Umbilical cord blood is used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of malignant and nonmalignant disease. We sought to examine pregnant women's knowledge and attitudes regarding cord blood banking, as their support is crucial to the success of cord blood transplant programs. METHODS A questionnaire examining sociodemographic factors and women's attitudes to cord blood banking was developed on the basis of findings from 2 focus groups and a pilot study. The questionnaire was distributed to 650 women attending antenatal clinics at a regional women's hospital between April and July 2001. RESULTS A total of 443 women (68%) responded. More than half of the women (307/438 or 70% [95% confidence interval, CI, 66% to 74%]) reported poor or very poor knowledge about cord blood banking. Many of the respondents (299/441 or 68% [95% CI 63% to 72%]) thought that physicians should talk to pregnant women about the collection of cord blood, and they wanted to receive information about this topic from health care professionals (290/441 or 66% [95% CI 61% to 70%]) or prenatal classes (308/441 or 70% [95% CI 65% to 74%]). Most of the women (379/442 or 86% [95% CI 82% to 89%]) would elect to store cord blood in a public bank, many citing altruism as the reason for this choice. A much smaller proportion (63/442 or 14% [95% CI 11% to 18%]) would elect private banking, indicating that this would be a good investment or that they would feel guilty if the blood had not been stored. Additional acceptable uses for cord blood included research (mentioned by 294/436 women or 67% [95% CI 63% to 72%]) and gene therapy (mentioned by 169/437 women or 39% [95% CI 34% to 43%]). INTERPRETATION Most of the women in this study supported the donation of cord blood to public cord blood banks for potential transplantation and research.
Acid-base potentiometric titration using a stainless steel electrode without oxidative treatment

An AISI 304 stainless steel laminar electrode without oxidative treatment was investigated for the potentiometric titration of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide. The proposed electrode was obtained from metalworking cuttings. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to study the surface morphology and chemical composition of the electrode. The electrode showed a sensitivity of 59.18 ± 0.37 mV/pH, which was reproducible under intermediate conditions. Potentiometric titration showed a curve with deviations from pH 9.5 with respect to the glass electrode. However, this did not affect the quantification as the jumps of the curves coincided. The endpoint was 9.25 mL for both electrodes and the hydrochloric acid concentration was 0.0845 mol/L, with a deviation of 0.0004 mol/L from the standard concentration of 0.0841 mol/L. The nonartificially oxidised electrode did not show any crystalline oxide phases, whereas after oxidation it showed semicrystalline phases of iron and chromium oxides and increased the crystallinity of the steel. Despite the low content of surface oxides, stainless steel electrodes can give a Nernstian response to pH, depending on the surface characteristics of the material. This leads to the need to calibrate any electrode prior to oxidative treatment to rule out a Nernstian response without surface modification.
WILL ABUSIVE SUPERVISION EFFECTON EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, PERFORMANCE AND COMMITMENT? EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION AS A MEDIATOR

Supervisor behaviors have implications on employee emotion. Ideally, a supervisor can create a conducive working environment that supports the positive psychological states of employees. Emotional exhaustion is one phenomenon that becomes a focus of this study. In this research employee emotion exhaustion can be related to abusive supervision. This study proposes to investigate the relationship among abusive supervision, emotional exhaustion, turnover intention, work performance, and organizational commitment. Emotional exhaustion is treated as a mediator. A total of 161 employees were involved as participants. Results showed that (1) abusive supervision was positively related to emotional exhaustion, (2) emotional exhaustion was positively related to turnover intention, and (3) emotional exhaustion was negatively related to work performance and organizational commitment. In addition, emotional exhaustion could mediate the relationships between the independent variable and the three dependent variables. Contributions of this work are addressed. The limitations of the study were also described.
Correlation of Magnetic resonance brain imaging changes in chronic liver disease to manganese and ammonia levels

Background : Chronic liver disease patients may suffer from a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities that may be associated with cirrhosis and portal hypertension or portal-systemic shunts. Several neuroimaging techniques, especially MR imaging, could be useful for the diagnosis. Also, MRS can identify and measure various chemicals in the brain such as Choline (Cho), Myoinositol (MI), and glutamate-glutamine complex (Glx) that could be induced by liver injury. Aims : To study the changes in MR brain imaging in CLD and their correlation to manganese and ammonia levels. Methods: The study included 23 patients with CLD and ten healthy control subjects. MR brain was performed on all subjects including T1, T2, and FLAIR sequences, DWI and MRS. Grading of liver disease severity was done. Ammonia and manganese levels were measured in all patients. Results : Pallidal T1 Hyperintense
Prevalence of parasitic isopods (Cymothoidae and Gnathiidae) on Actinopterygii fishes from the Alexandria coast off the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt

oestroides . whereas Anilocra alloceraea were reported on the outer body of Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792). L. redmanii and Gnathia sp. which parasitized of Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepède, 1800) and Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766) had the greatest prevalence rates across their host species ( P =27.1% & P =17.7%), respectively. The bulk of the host species infection sites is found on the gill macroniche of the hosts, which account for 580 parasitic specimens out of a total of 978 for Gnathia sp. L. redmanii followed with 162 parasitic individuals out of a total of 174 individuals. Our investigation concluded that the parasites select a particular host to access it secretly, in a situation known as the host's specificity. New hosts that included L. redmanii on P. saltatrix , S. commerson , and Umbrina cirrosa (Linnaeus, 1758) have been reported.
Investor Intuition Promotes Gender Equality in Access to Reward-Based Crowdfunding

Our study challenges the notion that intuition is used to explain away gender biases in access to finance, arguing instead that women's success in crowdfunding is rooted in the use of intuition. We measured investors' intuition using self-reports and fast investment decision-making related to crowdfunding campaigns in three randomized controlled experiments involving 2,911 subjects from Europe and the United States. Our Bayesian analysis provides evidence for a gender equality effect, suggesting that intuition cannot be cited as the reason for gender biases in investment decisions. Our research highlights the importance of reassessing the scientific reputation of intuition.
Comparative Study between Kirschner Wire versus Mini Plate in Management of Unstable Metacarpal Fractures

Article information Background: Fractures of the metacarpals are often seen in the orthopedic emergency department. Complicated metacarpal fractures are more common than any other type of fracture. The general goal of treating all fractures is for the patient to achieve normal motion. However, the ideal stabilization technique is still debated. For internal fixation, Kirchner wires [Wires] or can be used, each offering several advantages. No previous study has compared the use of Kwire with miniplates in the treatment of unstable metacarpal fractures. Therefore, we conducted this prospective intervention study to evaluate the outcomes of using Kwire and miniplates in the treatment of unstable metacarpal fractures . Aim of the work: To contrast the functional and radiological outcomes of MPIF and also KWIF for the treatment of unstable metacarpal fractures; and to determine which fixation method [Kirschner wire or mini plates] provides the best functional and radiological outcome in the treatment of metacarpal fractures. Patients and Methods: This prospective interventional investigation was performed at the Al-Azhar university Hospital in Damietta, in the department of orthopedic surgery. This study was conducted on 40 patients with unstable metacarpal fractures. Results: There were statistically significant variations among the two groups regarding operative time [minutes], blood loss [milliliters] & hospital stay [day]. The hand grip, DASH, and TAF scores did not differ significantly among the two groups. There was no statistically significant variation in result among the two groups. In regards to complications, there was not a significant distinction among both groups examined. Conclusion: In the treatment of unstable metacarpal fractures, both the Kirschner wire and the Mini Plate proved to be reliable options. Kirschner Wire was related with much less operating time, shorter hospital stay, reduced blood loss, and quicker union time, despite the fact that both procedures had comparable functional outcomes and complication rates.
Does Educational Background Affect Understanding of Science Concepts? Case Study of Prospective Elementary School Teachers

This research is a quantitative study to determine the effect of educational background on the understanding of the science concept of UPY PGSD students. This research is based on the low understanding of the science concept as evidenced by the percentage of science learning test results, namely 67.6% of the total number of semester 2 PGSD UPY students scored below 80. The method used in this research is ex post facto quantitative which is used to determine the cause of the low understanding of students' science concepts in terms of their educational background. The data collection used an educational background questionnaire and a science concept understanding test that had been tested for validity and reliability. The research shows the results of the t-test namely tcount<ttable (0.095 < 0.931), then Ho is accepted and Ha is rejected, which means that there is no significant influence between students' educational background on the understanding of science concepts. However, there is a unidirectional relationship between the two with the result of a positive correlation test (r) of 0.055 and contributing an influence of 0.3% from the educational background on understanding the science concept of PGSD UPY students.
Connectivity in steep-land environments: gully-fan coupling in the Tarndale system, Waipaoa catchment, New Zealand.

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of the Tarndale Fan derived from nine RTK-dGPS surveys between 2004 and 2007 demonstrate a rapid cutting and filling of the fan surface over the course of two and a half years. Repeat DEM analysis permits an assessment of the transfer of sediment supplied from a fluvio-mass movement gully complex (Tarndale Slip) through the fan to the Te Weraroa Stream. This demonstrates considerable complexity in patterns of erosion and deposition on the fan and, ultimately, sediment delivery to the stream system. Discrete mass movements in the gully complex, triggered by rainstorm events, frequently deliver sediment to the upper fan. Extreme rainfall events are particularly effective at delivering large quantities of sediment. Enhanced sediment delivery promotes rapid aggradation (up to -30 000 m 3 ) of the upper fan. This infilling may then propagate down-fan, particularly when the upper fan equally rapidly incises these deposits. However, floods generated in the Te Weraroa Stream by the same extreme rainstorm may trim the lower fan prompting up-fan incision in response to changed local base level. This process may evacuate up to ∼10 000 m 3 of sediment to the stream. This see-saw behaviour in response to sediment supply and evacuation is superimposed on an overall aggradational trend in which the Tarndale Fan is buffering the trunk channel system from the full quantity of sediment supplied by the Tamdale Slip. This study demonstrates a need for intensive investigation of such systems so as to understand more fully complex behaviour at this critical nexus within the fluvial system.