Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transport and chemodynamics of organic micropollutants and ions during snowmelt

By means of laboratory experiments and field measurements we investigated the chemodynamics and transport behaviour of organic micropollutants and inorganic ions in melting snowpacks. Dissolved substances (e.g. ions) were released from the snowpack by convection and diffusion within the melt water. Substances which were adsorbed onto particles (e.g. PAH) were not desorbed to a significant degree. Moving particles were generally filtered out within the snowpack and, therefore, adsorbed substances were hardly leached by this way of transport. Frequent melt-freeze cycles and a deep snowpack lead to an enrichment of dissolved substances in the first melt water fractions and of substances adsorbed onto particles in the final fractions. A different macroscopic and microscopic spatial variation of ions within the snowpack results in different elution patterns during the snow melt. Since the PAH are predominantly adsorbed onto particles, approximately 90% of all PAH of a snow column were eluted with the last 20% of water during the snow melt. PAH with a high partition coefficient k ow (e.g. benzo(a) pyrene, benzo(ghi)perylene) exhibited a stronger enrichment than fluoranthene with comparatively lower k ow . Since the HCH isomers occur in dissolved as well as in adsorbed phase because of their low k o w in melting snow, we observe an enrichment of the dissolved phase within the first fractions of melt water and of the adsorbed phase within the final fractions of melt water.
E-Commerce Enabler As An Accelerator Of Digital Expansion: Utaut2 And Tpb Model On The Decision To Partner With Enablers

The outbreak of Covid-19 has made number of online transaction increase significantly and poses opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to expand to digital market. That being said, rate of digitaladoption, particularly in Indonesian MSMEs is relatively small. With rise of demand and urgency to go digital, role of e-commerce enablers become more and more significant in order to gain success in digital market. However, there is a lack of research findings concerning e-commerce enablers, factor affecting its adoption and its impact on digital venture, especially in firm advantage and firm performance The purpose of this study is to analyze factors that may affect e-commerce implementation & e-commerce enablers utilization. And further, to analyze the long term impact of these towards firm advantage and firm performance. The study focus on medium enterprises with a total of 576 respondents collected via purposive sampling from ME's business owners, directors, or managers who already have knowledge about the practice of e-commerce enablers. The relationship between the proposed variables was tested using Partial Least Squares Based Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).
Curved TV: The Impact of Televisual Images on Gay Youth

This paper outlines the conclusions of the author’s dissertation, which examined how the current portrayals of gays and lesbians on network and cable television affect gay youth as they come to terms with their sexual identities. Content analysis was performed on specific episodes to determine the authenticity of the gay character and the character’s integration into the storyline. This data was triangulated with interviews of media professionals and gay youth.
Experimental Factors Influence Diversity Metrics of the Gut Microbiome in Laboratory Mice

Introduction : Gut microbiome studies often overlook experimental factors that could influence gut microbiome diversity and could impact findings. Large-scale studies investigating these experimental factors are lacking. Thus, we aimed to determine which experimental factors influence the gut microbiome diversity in pre-clinical animal model studies. Methods: We extracted DNA and sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene of a total of 538 samples from various sections of the gastrointestinal tract of 303 young and aged male and female C57BL/6J mice of three different genotypes on five diets from three animal house facilities. As a proof-of-concept in a disease model, some mice were treated with sham or angiotensin II, a commonly studied agent used as a hypertension model. Some samples were sequenced twice as a matched-comparison group. Results: Using over 17 million sequencing reads, we found that experimental factors such as animal house facility, genotype, diet, age, sex, sampling site, and technical factor (i.e., sequencing batch) affected both α - and β -diversity (weighted and unweighted UniFrac), and were associated with compositional changes in the microbiome at varying magnitude, with diet and sampling site having the largest effect. After adjustment by these factors, treatment with angiotensin II had no impact on α -diversity and was only significant in unweighted UniFrac (presence/absence of bacteria) analyses. Conclusion : Our data identified several key experimental and technical factors that affect the gut microbiome in laboratory mice. Our findings support that not accounting or adjusting for these factors may lead to false-positive discoveries and non-biologically relevant findings in the gut microbiome field.
An indoor air filtration study in homes of elderly: cardiovascular and respiratory effects of exposure to particulate matter

Background: Exposure to particulate air pollution increases respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly, possibly through inflammation and vascular dysfunction. Methods: We examined potential beneficial effects of indoor air filtration in the homes of elderly, including people taking vasoactive drugs. Forty-eight nonsmoking subjects (51 to 81 years) in 27 homes were included in this randomized, double-blind, crossover intervention study with consecutive two-week periods with or without the inclusion of a high-efficiency particle air filter in re-circulating custom built units in their living room and bedroom. We measured blood pressure, microvascular and lung function and collected blood samples for hematological, inflammation, monocyte surface and lung cell damage markers before and at day 2, 7 and 14 during each exposure scenario. Results: The particle filters reduced the median concentration of PM2.5 from approximately 8 to 4 μg/m and the particle number concentration from 7669 to 5352 particles/cm. No statistically significant effects of filtration as category were observed on microvascular and lung function or the biomarkers of systemic inflammation among all subjects, or in the subgroups taking (n = 11) or not taking vasoactive drugs (n = 37). However, the filtration efficacy was variable and microvascular function was within 2 days significantly increased with the actual PM2.5 decrease in the bedroom, especially among 25 subjects not taking any drugs. Conclusion: Substantial exposure contrasts in the bedroom and no confounding by drugs appear required for improved microvascular function by air filtration, whereas no other beneficial effect was found in this elderly population.
Ceftaroline in the management of complicated skin and soft tissue infections and community acquired pneumonia

: Ceftaroline is a new parenteral cephalosporin approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) including those due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Ceftaroline has broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and exerts its bactericidal effects by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), resulting in inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. It binds to PBP 2a of MRSA with high affinity and also binds to all six PBPs in Streptococcus pneumoniae. In in vitro studies, ceftaroline demonstrated potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA and vancomycin-intermediate isolates), Streptococcus pneumoniae (including multidrug resistant isolates), Haemophilus influenzae , Moraxella catarrhalis, and many common gram-negative pathogens, excluding extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, ceftaroline was noninferior to its comparator agents and demonstrated high clinical cure rates in the treatment of cSSTIs and CAP. It demonstrated favorable outcomes in patients treated for both regulatory-approved indications and unlicensed indications in a retrospective analysis. Ceftaroline is a safe and effective option for treatment in specific patient populations in which its efficacy and safety have been proven. This article reviews the challenges in the treatment of cSSTI and CAP, ceftaroline and its microbiology, pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data which support its use in treatment of cSSTIs and CAP.
Ceftaroline in the management of complicated skin and soft tissue infections and community acquired pneumonia

: Ceftaroline is a new parenteral cephalosporin approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) including those due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Ceftaroline has broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and exerts its bactericidal effects by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), resulting in inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. It binds to PBP 2a of MRSA with high affinity and also binds to all six PBPs in Streptococcus pneumoniae. In in vitro studies, ceftaroline demonstrated potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA and vancomycin-intermediate isolates), Streptococcus pneumoniae (including multidrug resistant isolates), Haemophilus influenzae , Moraxella catarrhalis, and many common gram-negative pathogens, excluding extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, ceftaroline was noninferior to its comparator agents and demonstrated high clinical cure rates in the treatment of cSSTIs and CAP. It demonstrated favorable outcomes in patients treated for both regulatory-approved indications and unlicensed indications in a retrospective analysis. Ceftaroline is a safe and effective option for treatment in specific patient populations in which its efficacy and safety have been proven. This article reviews the challenges in the treatment of cSSTI and CAP, ceftaroline and its microbiology, pharmacology, efficacy, and safety data which support its use in treatment of cSSTIs and CAP. Press. 70 Abbreviations: FOCUS, ceftaroline community-acquired pneumonia trial versus ceftriaxone; MDRSP, multidrug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae; MRSA, methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus NA,
Exploring the causes of and mitigation options for human-predator conflict on game ranches in Botswana: How is coexistence possible?

Page iii Exploring the causes of and mitigation options for human-predator conflict on game ranches in Botswana: How is coexistence possible? Abstract Large carnivores in southern Africa are threatened by habitat loss and persecution by humans. Game ranches have the potential to provide habitat for free-ranging predators, but carnivore depredation on game-stock can result in human-predator conflict, and the industry’s role in predator conservation has been described as a gap in knowledge.Large carnivores in southern Africa are threatened by habitat loss and persecution by humans. Game ranches have the potential to provide habitat for free-ranging predators, but carnivore depredation on game-stock can result in human-predator conflict, and the industry’s role in predator conservation has been described as a gap in knowledge. The density of predators on Botswana commercial farmland was calculated using spoor and camera-trap surveys. Scat-analysis was used to determine the proportion of livestock and game-stock in the cheetah’s diet, the species reported to cause the biggest economic losses on Botswana game ranches. Questionnaires to determine the direct costs, drivers and potential mitigation methods of human-predator conflict, were conducted with a representative from 86.2% of registered game ranches in Botswana, plus an additional 27 livestock farmers. The effectiveness of translocating ‘problem’ predators was analysed using questionnaires with farmers and survival data from 11 GPS-collared ‘problem’ cheetahs. Cheetahs were more commonly detected on game ranches than livestock farms; detected cheetah density (0.32/ 100 km) was within the previously assumed range for commercial farmland. Leopard density (0.37/ 100 km) was 2.6 − 4.1 times lower than previously assumed. Based on scat-analysis cheetahs consumed 1.6 − 5.9 times less game-stock than reported by farmers. Ranchers with only game-stock reported a significantly greater tolerance of predators than ranchers with game-stock and livestock, or farmers with only livestock. The primary drivers of conflict were the presence of cattle and the relative abundance of inexpensive buffer-prey species. Ranchers stated that ‘problem’ predator hunting, trophy hunting, photographic safaris and the translocation of ‘problem’ animals were the best solutions to enable farmers and predators to coexist. However, the survival rate of translocated cheetahs was low (18.2%), and translocation was ineffective at reducing stock losses to predators. Overall, game ranches in Botswana have a potential to conserve predator populations. This potential is limited by a lack of communication and support between government, NGOs and the game ranching industry, resulting in potential uncertainty of the industry’s future. Initiatives to support game ranching and to encourage the formation of conservancies are likely to maximise the conservation benefits.
A Micrograin BSDF Model for the Rendering of Porous Layers

We introduce a new BSDF model for the rendering of porous layers, as found on surfaces covered by dust, rust, dirt, or sprayed paint. Our approach is based on a distribution of elliptical opaque micrograins, extending the Trowbridge-Reitz (GGX) distribution [Trowbridge and Reitz 1975; Walter et al. 2007] to handle pores (i.e., spaces between micrograins). We use distance field statistics to derive the corresponding Normal Distribution Function (NDF) and Geometric Attenuation Factor (GAF), as well as a view- and light-dependent filling factor to blend between the porous and base layers. All the derived terms show excellent agreement when compared against numerical simulations. Our approach has several advantages compared to previous work [d’Eon et al. 2023; Merillou et al. 2000; Wang et al. 2022]. First, it decouples structural and reflectance parameters, leading to an analytical single-scattering formula regardless of the choice of micrograin reflectance. Second, we show that the classical texture maps (albedo, roughness, etc) used for spatially-varying material parameters are easily retargeted to work with our model. Finally, the BRDF parameters of our model behave linearly, granting direct multi-scale rendering using classical mip mapping.
Essential oil composition of sweet basil cultivars as affected by nitrogen and potassium fertilization

Renata NURZYŃSKA-WIERDAK*, Bartłomiej BOROWSKI, Katarzyna DZIDA, Grażyna ZAWIŚLAK, Radosław KOWALSKI 1 Department of Vegetable Crops and Medicinal Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-068 Lublin, Poland 2 Department of Soil Cultivation and Fertilization of Horticultural Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-068 Lublin, Poland 3 Department of Analysis and Food Quality Assessment, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-704 Lublin, Poland
ON CODES

It is a long standing open problem to find search to decision reductions for structured versions of the decoding problem of linear codes. Such results in the lattice-based setting have been carried out using number fields: Polynomial–LWE, Ring– LWE , Module– LWE and so on. We propose a function field version of the LWE problem. This new framework leads to another point of view on structured codes, e
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Defects and degeneracies in supersymmetry protected phases

We analyse a class of 1D lattice models, known as M k models, which are characterised by an order-k clustering of spin-less fermions and by N = 2 lattice supersymmetry. Our main result is the identiﬁcation of a class of (bulk or edge) defects, that are in one-to-one correspondence with so-called spin ﬁelds in a corresponding Z k parafermion CFT. In the gapped regime, injecting such defects leads to ground state degeneracies that are protected by the supersymmetry. The defects, which are closely analogous to quasi-holes over the fermionic Read-Rezayi quantum Hall states, display characteristic fusion rules, which are of Ising type for k = 2 and of Fibonacci type for k = 3.
Learning Efficient Coding of Natural Images with Maximum Manifold Capacity Representations

The efficient coding hypothesis proposes that the response properties of sensory systems are adapted to the statistics of their inputs such that they capture maximal information about the environment, subject to biological constraints. While elegant, information theoretic properties are notoriously difficult to measure in practical settings or to employ as objective functions in optimization. This difficulty has necessitated that computational models designed to test the hypothesis employ several different information metrics ranging from approximations and lower bounds to proxy measures like reconstruction error. Recent theoretical advances have characterized a novel and ecologically relevant efficiency metric, the manifold capacity, which is the number of object categories that may be represented in a linearly separable fashion. However, calculating manifold capacity is a computationally intensive iterative procedure that until now has precluded its use as an objective. Here we outline the simplifying assumptions that allow manifold capacity to be optimized directly, yielding Maximum Manifold Capacity Representations (MMCR). The resulting method is closely related to and inspired by advances in the field of self supervised learning (SSL), and we demonstrate that MMCRs are competitive with state of the art results on standard SSL benchmarks. Empirical analyses reveal differences between MMCRs and representations learned by other SSL frameworks, and suggest a mechanism by which manifold compression gives rise to class separability. Finally we evaluate a set of SSL methods on a suite of neural predictivity benchmarks, and find MMCRs are higly competitive as models of the ventral stream.
Fast Parabolic Fitting: An R-Peak Detection Algorithm for Wearable ECG Devices

Heart diseases rank among the most fatal health concerns globally, with the majority being preventable through early diagnosis and effective treatment. Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis is critical in detecting heart diseases, as it captures the heart’s electrical activities. For continuous monitoring, wearable electrocardiographic devices must ensure user comfort over extended periods, typically 24 to 48 h. These devices demand specialized algorithms with low computational complexity to accommodate memory and power consumption constraints. One of the most crucial aspects of ECG signals is accurately detecting heartbeat intervals, specifically the R peaks. In this study, we introduce a novel algorithm designed for wearable devices, offering two primary attributes: robustness against noise and low computational complexity. Our algorithm entails fitting a least-squares parabola to the ECG signal and adaptively shaping it as it sweeps through the signal. Notably, our proposed algorithm eliminates the need for band-pass filters, which can inadvertently smooth the R peaks, making them more challenging to identify. We compared the algorithm’s performance using two extensive databases: the meta-database QT database and the BIH-MIT database. Importantly, our method does not necessitate the precise localization of the ECG signal’s isoelectric line, contributing to its low computational complexity. In the analysis of the QT database, our algorithm demonstrated a substantial advantage over the classical Pan-Tompkins algorithm and maintained competitiveness with state-of-the-art approaches. In the case of the BIH-MIT database, the performance results were more conservative; they continued to underscore the real-world utility of our algorithm in clinical contexts.
Brackish water aquaculture: a veritable tool for the empowerment OF Niger Delta communities

Poverty is generally considered as one of the major causes of food insecurity and poverty alleviation is essential in improving access to food. Among countries in the developing world, including Nigeria, the people in the fishing sectors are some of the poorest and most neglected. This is true of the fishers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Depletion in natural fish stock, lack of development in the oil rich region, neglect of aquaculture industry have led to disintegration of these traditional communities. Hence, there is massive rural migration to the major cities, especially among the young school leavers seeking for greener pastures. Brackish water fish farming as a profitable alternative venture is a veritable tool that can provide food and jobs for teeming youth and women in addition to freshwater fish and crop farming. The coastal communities of the Niger Delta region has remarkable potentials for the development of brackish water aquaculture, but these remain largely undeveloped not only because of the difficult nature of the terrain, but the government as well as the multinationals have not understood and tapped the potential role of brackish water aquaculture in managing the crisis in the Niger Delta. Economic empowerment of restive youths and women through brackish water aquaculture can be achieved through encouragement of personal investments, formation of farmer co-operative societies provision of loans and credit facilities, on-farm training and establishment of brackish water fish farms by multinationals and government, manpower development in techniques for the propagation and culture of brackish water species such as tilapia, mullet, tarpon, oysters etc at centers like the African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Brackish water Research Station, Buguma, Rivers State. The above if carefully assessed and implemented could go a long way in reducing the tension in the region, thereby making it governable and enhancing economic activities which are gradually grinding to a halt as a result of youth restiveness. Key words: Aquaculture, brackish water, fish, empowerment, Niger Delta.