Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using a Bottom-Up Approach to Scale Leaf Photosynthetic Traits of Oil Palm, Rubber, and Two Coexisting Tropical Woody Species

Rainforest conversion to woody croplands impacts the carbon cycle via ecophysiological processes such as photosynthesis and autotrophic respiration. Changes in the carbon cycle associated with land-use change can be estimated through Land Surface Models (LSMs). The accuracy of carbon flux estimation in carbon fluxes associated with land-use change has been attributed to uncertainties in the model parameters affecting photosynthetic activity, which is a function of both carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) and electron transport capacity (Jmax). In order to reduce such uncertainties for common tropical woody crops and trees, in this study we measured Vcmax25 (Vcmax standardized to 25 °C), Jmax25 (Jmax standardized to 25 °C) and light-saturated photosynthetic capacity (Amax) of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm), Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree), and two native tree species, Eusideroxylon zwageri and Alstonia scholaris, in a converted landscape in Jambi province (Sumatra, Indonesia) at smallholder plantations. We considered three plantations; a monoculture rubber, a monoculture oil palm, and an agroforestry system (jungle rubber plantation), where rubber trees coexist with some native trees. We performed measurements on leaves at the lower part of the canopy, and used a scaling method based on exponential function to scale up photosynthetic capacity related traits to the top of the canopy. At the lower part of the canopy, we found (i) high Vcmax25 values for H. brasiliensis from monoculture rubber plantation and jungle rubber plantation that was linked to a high area-based leaf nitrogen content, and (ii) low value of Amax for E. guineensis from oil palm plantation that was due to a low value of Vcmax25 and a high value of dark respiration. At the top of the canopy, Amax varied much more than Vcmax25 among different land-use types. We found that photosynthetic capacity declined fastest from the top to the lower part of the canopy in oil palm plantations. We demonstrate that photosynthetic capacity related traits measured at the lower part of the canopy can be successfully scaled up to the top of the canopy. We thus provide helpful new data that can be used to constrain LSMs that simulate land-use change related to rubber and oil palm expansion.
Multi-interfaces investigation on the PLA composites toughened by modified MWCNTs

Abstract The effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified by silane coupling agent (Trademark in china was KH570) and lactide (LA) on the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were investigated in this paper. The Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images showed that MWCNTs modified by both KH570 and LA, which constructed the MWCNTs-KH570-PLA nanocapsules, owned the best performances to toughen PLA. These nanocapsules were developed by solid multilayered interfaces and efficiently enhanced tnced the interfacial adhesion between PLA and MWCNTs. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis further verified that modified MWCNTs refined the PLA grain size and improved its crystallization. Moreover, observed by thermogravimetry (TG), the thermal stability of PLA was also improved. Then it could be drawn the conclusion that among these modified MWCNTs, MWCNTs-KH570-PLA nanocapsule was the best in toughening PLA, and the tensile strength of MWCNTs-KH570-PLA/PLA composite rose by 39.97% and its impact strength by 51.61%.
Functional Status and Incidence of Loss to Follow-up after Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation

Taking medication for lifetime puts Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients in challenging situations. The loss to follow-up (LTFU) is a major problem arising from their non-compliance. Information about functional status as a predictor of LTFU is limited. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify the association between the functional status and the incidence of LTFU among HIV patients at Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Indonesia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the tropical diseases and infections division of the Saiful Anwar General Hospital by observing 148 HIV patients who were diagnosed in 2015. Data were collected based on existing data in medical records. The log-rank test was used to compare the time of LTFU between groups. Cox proportional hazard was used to determine the effect of functional status after being controlled by other variables. This study found that 65.9% of HIV patients were able to retain on antiretroviral therapy for 39 months. Functional status had a significant association with the time LTFU occurred. Ambulatory patients had a higher risk of experiencing LTFU than working functional status (AHR = 2.289; 95% CI 1.106–4.738; p-value = 0.026). Identifying the patient’s characteristic that has a higher risk of LTFU helps to determine the right strategy to ensure treatment adherence.
Gratitude Expression to Supervisors and Subjective Career Success of Civil Servants: Evidence from China

Subjective career success of civil servants is a major focus of both scholars and public managers, but few studies have explored its antecedents from the perspective of the expression of a special positive emotion. To narrow the gap regarding the antecedents of civil servants’ subjective career success, we use the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions to examine whether, how, and when civil servants’ gratitude expression to their supervisors is related to their subjective career success, as well as the mediating role of supervisors’ mentoring and the moderating role of traditionality. By using the survey data of 216 supervisor-subordinate dyads from the Chinese public sector, we found that gratitude expression by subordinates is positively related to their subjective career success, and this relationship is mediated by their supervisors’ mentoring. The relationship between gratitude expression to supervisors and supervisors’ mentoring is positively moderated by supervisor traditionality. Moreover, supervisor traditionality plays a positive moderating role in the association between gratitude expression to supervisors and subjective career success via supervisors’ mentoring. The above relationships are stronger when supervisors have a high level of traditionality. These findings contribute to the literature and generate managerial implications for civil servants’ career success management.
Reconciling Locality and Globalization through Sense of Planet in Kiana Davenport’s the House of Many Gods

This study positions the House of Many Gods, a novel written by Kiana Davenport as a possible area of intersection between globalization and environmental/eco-criticism. The primacy of locality within American environmental discourse hinders the acceptance of global theory under the assumption that embracing the global will lead into the erasure of the local altogether. In her book, Sense of Place and Sense of Planet (2008) Ursula K Heise asserts that what she considers as sense of place is incomplete without considering ourselves as a part of a global ecosystem, which she considers as sense of planet. The reading of the House of Many Gods contextualizes sense of place and sense of planet through the perspective of Ana, in which she complements her adherence of Native Hawai’ian epistemology of place with a broader outlook of environmental crisis. A global outlook of perceiving environmentalism also aligns with Transnational American Studies which perceives America from an internationalist perspective. The paper concludes that sense of place and sense of planet provides a possible intersectionality of conceptualizing local discourse of place within a global outlook of environmentalism.
The Lived Experience of Being Diagnosed With COVID-19 Among Black Patients: A Qualitative Study

Diagnosis and hospitalization for COVID-19 are disproportionately higher among black persons. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of being diagnosed with COVID-19 among black patients. Semistructured one-on-one interviews with black patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were conducted. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis and a directed content approach. Fifteen patients participated and 3 themes were identified: Panic amidst a COVID-19 diagnosis, Feeling the repercussion of the diagnosis, and Personal assessment of risks within one’s individual environment. Fear of dying, inadequate health benefits, financial issues, and worries about spreading the virus to loved ones were acknowledged by the patients as critical areas of concerns. Majority of the patients looked to God as the ultimate way of surviving COVID-19. However, none of the patients reported receiving support for spiritual needs from health care providers. This is the first study to investigate the lived experience of being diagnosed with COVID-19 among black patients. Our results highlight several factors that put this group at increased risk for COVID-19 and where additional strategies are needed to address these inadequacies. Integrating public health interventions to reduce socioeconomic barriers and integrating spirituality into clinical care could improve patient care delivery.
Identifying biotic drivers of population dynamics in a benthic–pelagic community

Abstract Benthic species and communities are linked to pelagic zooplankton through life‐stages encompassing both benthic and pelagic habitats and through a mutual dependency on primary producers as a food source. Many zooplankton taxa contribute to the sedimentary system as benthic eggs. Our main aim was to investigate the nature of the population level biotic interactions between and within these two seemingly independent communities, both dependent on the pelagic primary production, while simultaneously accounting for environmental drivers (salinity, temperature, and oxygen conditions). To this end, we applied multivariate autoregressive state‐space models to long (1966–2007) time series of annual abundance data, comparing models with and without interspecific interactions, and models with and without environmental variables included. We were not able to detect any direct coupling between sediment‐dwelling benthic taxa and pelagic copepods and cladocerans on the annual scale, but the most parsimonious model indicated that interactions within the benthic community are important. There were also positive residual correlations between the copepods and cladocerans potentially reflecting the availability of a shared resource or similar seasonal dependence, whereas both groups tended to correlate negatively with the zoobenthic taxa. The most notable single interaction within the benthic community was a tendency for a negative effect of Limecola balthica on the amphipods Monoporeia affinis and Pontoporeia femorata which can help explain the observed decrease in amphipods due to increased competitive interference.
Groundwater Quality and Potential Human Health Risk Assessment for Drinking and Irrigation Purposes: A Case Study in the Semiarid Region of North China

Groundwater is a valuable water source for drinking and irrigation purposes in semiarid regions. Groundwater pollution may affect human health if it is not pretreated and provided for human use. This study investigated the hydrochemical characteristics driving groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes and potential human health risks in the Xinzhou Basin, Shanxi Province, North China. More specifically, we first investigated hydrochemical characteristics using a descriptive statistical analysis method. We then classified the hydrochemical types and analyzed the evolution mechanisms of groundwater using Piper and Gibbs diagrams. Finally, we appraised the groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purposes using the entropy water quality index (EWQI). We assessed the associated human health risks for different age and sex groups through drinking intake and dermal contact pathways. Overall, we found that (1) Ca-HCO3 and Ca·Mg-HCO3 were the dominant hydrochemical types and were mainly governed by rock weathering and water–rock interactions. (2) Based on the EWQI classifications, 67.74% of the groundwater samples were classified as medium quality and acceptable for drinking purpose. According to the values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and soluble sodium percentage (%Na), 90.32% of the samples were suitable for irrigation, while the remaining samples were unfit for irrigation because of the high salinity in the groundwater. (3) Some contaminants in the groundwater, such as NO3−, NO2− and F−, exceeded the standard limits and may cause potential risks to human health. Our work presented in this paper could establish reasonable management strategies for sustainable groundwater quality protection to protect public health.
A study on assessment of unmet need and contraceptives practices adopted among currently married females residing at urban slums of Ahmedabad

Background: India is a country where population is rapidly growing, to slow down this growth rate family planning is necessary. Family planning services have the potential to improve the quality of the lives and economic welfare of people. Aim of the study was to assess prevalence of unmet need, knowledge, attitude regarding family planning methods and contraceptive practices, among study participants.Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out among females of early reproductive age group 18-25 years, Group-1 and late reproductive age group 35-49 years, Group-2Results: Out of 200 women, majority respondents belonged to age group of 22-25 years (44.5%). Females of both age-groups had almost similar (54% and 53%) knowledge “partially correct” type for objectives of family planning and had similar positive attitude (78% and 85%) towards family planning practices. Total 45% of group 1 and 55% of other group females were currently using contraception. Most common method used by group 1 women was Intra Uterine Devices (35.5%), followed by Oral Contraceptive pills (31.2%) and in group 2 women was permanent sterilization (74.5%) followed by barrier and Intra Uterine Devices (9.1% each). Unmet need of family planning was 29% and 18% among early and late reproductive age groups, respectively.Conclusions: Unmet need of family planning was higher among early age group females. In both age groups, utilization of contraceptives were less because of lack of awareness and fear of side effect.
NEW RECORDS AND PRELIMINARY REPRODUCTIVE ASPECTS OF ELASMOBRANCHS OF THE TRINDADE-MARTIN VAZ INSULAR COMPLEX

Here we presented records of elasmobranchs obtained during a longline pelagic fishing monitoring around the Trindade-Martin Vaz insular complex, including one new record. New information on the reproductive aspects of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) suggest the use of this area as mating and parturition ground for these species. The most abundant species was the P. glauca (N = 65), followed by shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus (N = 12). We also recorded for the first time the smooth hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena (N = 3) and the bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus (N = 2), and other shark species previous reported for the insular complex, including the oceanic whitetip Carcharhinus longimanus (N = 2), and the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier (N = 1). Our findings highlight the importance of further studies at the Trindade-Martin Vaz insular complex considering the pelagic biodiversity and reproductive aspects of elasmobranchs.
Conferring Kinship: Examining Fictive Kinship Status in a Black Adolescent’s Natural Mentoring Relationship

This case study examined the way an adolescent Black boy extended his kinship network as a part of navigating and demonstrating agency in mentoring relationships with nonparental adults. We purposively selected one participant, Bodos, from the sample of a larger mixed-method study involving youth, aged 12 to 18 years, in the southeastern United States. Drawing on narrative methodology, we used a holistic-content approach to analyze Bodos’ responses to semistructured interviews. Bodos used several narratives to describe his experiences. We offer three findings: (a) Fictive kinship is a positive feature of Black adaptive culture that can be leveraged by Black youth as a tool for creating a distinct relational dynamic with their mentors, (b) adolescent Black boys possess skills and knowledge that both preexist and emerge within positive mentoring relationships, and (c) youth agency and expectations manifest in mentoring relationships to inform and influence those adults’ significance. This case study furthers the field’s understanding of how cultural practices can positively influence relational development and create a unique relational context and experience.
The Effect of Maximal Exercise on Matrix Metalloproteinase, its Inhibitor (MMP9 and TIMP1), and the Role of MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C Polymorphisms

To investigate the levels of MMP9 and TIMP1 before and after acute maximal exercise and the role of MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C polymorphisms in athletes and sedentary individuals. The athlete group (n = 43) and sedentary group (n = 43) performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. A blood sample was taken before and after the test. MMP9, TIMP1, MMP9/TIMP1 ratio, blood lipids, and lipoproteins (total cholesterol, high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and indicators of muscle damage (creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) were determined from postprandial venous blood samples. Genetic polymorphisms were determined from DNA samples obtained from peripheral blood. MMP9 levels were found higher in both groups after the YOYO IR-1 test (exercise) (sedentary group, pre-exercise: 1771.15 ± 862.17 pg/mL, post-exercise: 2172.18 ± 680.93 pg/mL; athletic group, pre-exercise: 1373.57 ± 705.16 pg/mL, post-exercise: 1723.72 ± 733.88 pg/mL, p < 0.05). TIMP1 levels were also found higher in both groups after exercise (sedentary group, pre-exercise: 4.63 ± 3.99 ng/mL, post-exercise: 5.3 ± 3.51 ng/mL; athletic group, pre-exercise: 3.26 ± 2.34 ng/mL, post-exercise: 3.59 ± 1.99 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Basal serum MMP9 levels were significantly higher in sedentary individuals as compared with athletes (p = 0.046). MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C polymorphisms had no effect on MMP9 and TIMP1 levels (p > 0.05). As a conclusion acute exercise increases MMP9 and TIMP1 levels in male athletes and sedentary individuals. Chronic anaerobic exercises performed by the athletic group may caused lower MMP9 levels. MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C genetic polymorphisms are not associated with MMP9 and TIMP1 activation.
Formation and properties of yttrium aluminosilicate glasses

A large glass forming region, which includes both homogeneous and phase separated glasses, has been found for the yttrium aluminosilicate system. Both the density (2.9 to 3.7 g/cm 3 ) and refractive index (1.54 to 1.72) of these glasses increase dramatically with increasing yttria content, but only slightly with increasing alumina content. The glass transformation temperatures of all glasses formed lie between 888 and 910°C, with a slight decrease in T g with decreasing silica concentration. The thermal expansion coefficients increase from about 2.5 to 6.5×10 -6 /K with decreasing silica content. A variation in hydroxyl content of a factor of 6.6 results in a change in T g of only 12K, which is quite small for an aluminosilicate glass. These results are discussed in terms of possible structures for these unusual glasses
Stability in the Balkans: phylogeography of the endemic Greek stream frog, Rana graeca

We still have little knowledge concerning the phylogeography of amphibians and reptiles from the Balkan Peninsula compared with the other two Mediterranean peninsulas. This raises concerns for endemic taxa from these peninsulas, because it might interfere with further conservation efforts. Here we focus on the endemic Greek stream frog (Rana graeca) and reconstruct its biogeography and evolutionary history. Using four genetic markers (Cytb, 16S, COI and BDNF) in > 350 sequences covering the whole distribution range, we conducted phylogenetic, demographic and ecological niche analyses, which revealed the phylogeography of this species. Surprisingly, this examination of R. graeca reveals a very shallow level of intraspecific genetic variability through the Balkans, with two main, statistically supported lineages having a partly sympatric distribution. The most variable marker was Cytb, which showed 19 haplotypes in 123 analysed sequences in the whole species distribution area. Here presented genetic data, together with the environmental niche projection and demographic analyses suggest that R. graeca was probably affected only marginally by climatic oscillations, with the Hellenides as the most suitable area for the occurrence of the species in different geological periods. This is consistent with the observed genetic diversity, which is mostly related to these mountains. Although the species shows a certain level of phenotypic variability and ecological preferences, this might be related to species plasticity affected by the micro-climatic conditions in small areas, which merits further research. Comparing phylogeography of other amphibian and reptile species in the Balkans, we showed that the observed pattern represents a new view on the phylogeography of the Balkan herpetofauna.
Pension eligibility rules and the local causal effect of retirement on cognitive functioning *

We propose an identification framework to evaluate the exclusion restriction in a fuzzy regression discontinuity setting, by adopting results from the literature on partial identification with invalid instrumental variables. With this framework, we provide new estimates of the effect of retirement on cognitive functioning and the first empirical analysis of the validity of an age‐based instrumental variable for retirement. Point estimates suggest an insignificant negative effect of retirement on cognitive functioning. Partial identification regions qualify this finding by suggesting that if retirement is, in fact, detrimental for cognitive functioning, then large drops are unlikely. Second, data alone cannot identify the sign of the treatment effect. In fact, our results support improvements in cognitive functioning following retirement. The bounds analysis suggest that, when studying the impact of retirement, the validity of eligibility as an instrumental variable depends on the time period considered for the analysis and that violations of the exclusion restriction are likely already in very small intervals of 8 months around the cut‐off in regression discontinuity designs.