Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Species distribution models predict the geographic expansion of an enzootic amphibian pathogen

Globally, numerous amphibian species have declined due to the introduction of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). However, the understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics remains incomplete. Therefore, estimating the current geographic distribution of Bd is urgently needed, especially in countries like Costa Rica, where susceptible species are still recovering from Bd‐driven declines. We conducted model tuning and spatial analysis to compare the habitat suitability for epizootic and enzootic Bd in Costa Rica and to identify data‐deficient regions, opportunistic sampling, and Bd hotspots. Our dataset combined two methods of detection (histology and PCR methods) for a total of 451 Bd‐positive records from 34 localities. We found that the distribution of enzootic Bd in Costa Rica increased 60% since previous estimates in the early 2000s and extended to highlands and dry lowlands that were considered unsuitable for Bd. We also found that Bd is common across protected lands (80%) and within the herpetological provinces containing the highest amphibian richness and endemism in Costa Rica. Opportunistic sampling of Bd has focused on sites where epizootics occurred with the strongest intensity, leading to deficient or absent sampling across the Talamanca Range, the Nicoya Peninsula, and the northern lowlands. Our results showed that PCR increased the power of Bd detection in lowlands and favored the identification of Bd hotspots across the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Our results add to the understanding of disease spread during enzootics and can be used to identify new hotspots for disease to mitigate future outbreaks of this pathogen.
Widespread Mesoscale Dipoles in the Global Ocean

Mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous and energetic features in the ocean. Although eddies are known to form dipoles from time to time, it is unclear how often they do so. Using satellite altimetry data, here we show that mesoscale dipoles are surprisingly widespread in the global ocean. About 30 – 40% of the mesoscale eddies identi ﬁ ed in altimeter data are paired up as dipoles, and the percentage is even higher in energetic regions such as the Gulf Stream and the Southern Ocean. Composite analysis involving Argo ﬂ oat data further reveals that these mesoscale dipoles have a relatively uniform three ‐ dimensional structure. We ﬁ nd that the presence of mesoscale dipoles can strongly enhance wind Ekman pumping velocity and lead to deep ‐ reaching vertical motions inside the dipoles via eddy deformation and frontogenesis. Such strong vertical exchanges promoted by mesoscale dipoles may play an important role in regulating the Earth's biogeochemical processes.
Hillslope sediment production after wildfire and post‐fire forest management in northern California

High severity wildfires impact hillslope processes, including infiltration, runoff, erosion, and sediment delivery to streams. Wildfire effects on these processes can impair vegetation recovery, producing impacts on headwater and downstream water supplies. To promote forest regeneration and maintain forest and aquatic ecosystem functions, land managers often undertake active post‐fire land management (e.g., salvage logging, sub‐soiling, re‐vegetation). The primary objective of our study was to quantify and compare sediment yields eroded from (a) burned, (b) burned and salvage logged, and (c) burned, salvage logged, and sub‐soiled plots following the 2015 Valley Fire in the northern California Coast Range. We distributed 25 sediment fences (~75 m2 contributing area) across four hillslopes burned at high severity and representative of the three management types. We collected eroded sediment from the fences after precipitation events for 5 years. We also quantified precipitation, canopy cover, ground cover, and soil properties to characterize the processes driving erosion across the three management types. Interestingly, during the second year after the fire, sediment yields were greater in the burned‐only plots compared with both the salvage logged and sub‐soiled plots. By the third year, there were no differences in sediment yields among the three management types. Sediment yields decreased over the 5 years of the study, which may have occurred due to site recovery or exhaustion of mobile sediment. As expected, sediment yields were positively related to precipitation depth, bulk density, and exposed bare soil, and negatively related to the presence of wood cover on the soil surface. Unexpectedly, we observed greater sediment yields on the burned‐only plots with greater canopy closure, which we attributed to increased throughfall drop size and kinetic energy related to the residual canopy. While these results will aid post‐fire management decisions in areas with Mediterranean climates prone to low intensity, long duration rainstorms, additional research is needed on the comparative effects of post‐fire land management approaches to improve our understanding of the mechanisms driving post‐fire erosion and sediment delivery.
‘Stay home’: age and gender frames and limits of residential family solidarities in the times of lockdown (a French example)

ABSTRACT During the Covid-19 crisis, the residents of France were invited to stay at their homes. This representation of family as a shelter in case of difficulties has been prevailing within French family policies since the 1980s. In this paper, we question this integrating role family played during the lockdown through an on-line survey carried out during the shutdown. A sample of 4300 persons sheds light on the experience of this exceptional period. Four main results are presented in the article. Firstly, the residents of France of our sample tended to join their partner or family members. Secondly, the regrouping was gender-related: women were more often locked-downed with their relatives. Thirdly, this regrouping is linked to age – young people were more often welcomed in the households of their relatives than older adults or the elderly. And fourthly, the education level is also a relevant factor of family reunification for the lockdown.
Fear from COVID-19 and technology adoption: the impact of Google Meet during Coronavirus pandemic

ABSTRACT This study seeks to explore the effect of fear emotion on students' and teachers' technology adoption during COVID-19 pandemic. The study has made use of Google Meet© as an educational social platform in private higher education institutes. The data obtained from the study were analyzed by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and machine learning algorithms. The main hypotheses of this study are related to the effect of COVID-19 on the adoption of Google Meet as COVID-19 rise s various types of fear. During the Coronavirus pandemic, fear due to family lockdown situation, fear of education failure and fear of losing social relationships are the most common types of threat that may face students and teachers/educators. These types of fears are connected with two important factors within TAM theory, which are: perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU), and with another external factor of TAM, which is subjective norm (SN). The results revealed that both data analysis techniques have successfully provided support to all the hypothesized relationships of the research model. More interesting, the J48 classifier has performed better than the other classifiers in predicting the dependent variable in most cases.
Calcium and Potassium Spectra in the EUV

In online data bases, the entries on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectra of Ca are much more sparse than those of neighbouring elements such as Ar, K, Sc and Ti. This may be a result of experimental problems with Ca in the laboratory as well as of the limited role of multiply charged Ca ions in solar observations. Beam-foil EUV spectra of Ca and K are presented that provide survey data of a single element each.
Terrestrial Image-Based Point Clouds for Mapping Near-Ground Vegetation Structure: Potential and Limitations

Site-specific information concerning fuel hazard characteristics is needed to support wildfire management interventions and fuel hazard reduction programs. Currently, routine visual assessments provide subjective information, with the resulting estimate of fuel hazard varying due to observer experience and the rigor applied in making assessments. Terrestrial remote sensing techniques have been demonstrated to be capable of capturing quantitative information on the spatial distribution of biomass to inform fuel hazard assessments. This paper explores the use of image-based point clouds generated from imagery captured using a low-cost compact camera for describing the fuel hazard within the surface and near-surface layers. Terrestrial imagery was obtained at three distances for five target plots. Subsets of these images were then processed to determine the effect of varying overlap and distribution of image captures. The majority of the point clouds produced using this image-based technique provide an accurate representation of the 3D structure of the surface and near-surface fuels. Results indicate that high image overlap and pixel size are critical; multi-angle image capture is shown to be crucial in providing a representation of the vertical stratification of fuel. Terrestrial image-based point clouds represent a viable technique for low cost and rapid assessment of fuel structure.
Modeling complex socio‐technical systems using the FRAM: A literature review

This is a review paper of studies that have employed the functional resonance analysis method (FRAM). FRAM is a relatively new systemic method for modeling and analyzing complex socio‐technical systems. This review aims to address the following research questions: (a) Why is FRAM used? (b) To what domains has FRAM been applied? (c) What are the appropriate data collection approaches in practice? (d) What are the deficiencies of FRAM? A review of 52 FRAM‐related studies published between 2010 and 2020 revealed that FRAM‐based models can be used as a basis for improving safety management, accident/incident investigation, hazard identification/risk management, and complexity management in complex socio‐technical systems. The outcomes also showed that healthcare was the most common domain that employed FRAM (31% of the investigated studies). The results of exploring data collection methods indicated a mixed method (interview, focus group, observation) was employed in 52% of the analyzed studies, and the accident investigation report was the most popular approach in aviation‐related studies. An investigation of the deficiencies of the FRAM showed that it should be upgraded by exploiting supplementary methods to enhance its analytical and computational capacity to help risk analysts and safety managers in complex socio‐technical systems.
Further Validation of Slovak Big Five Inventory–2: Six-Months Test-Retest Stability and Predictive Power

The current study focuses on exploring the 6-month test-retest stability of the Slovak second version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-2) and its predictive power for subjective and psychological well-being, on value-focused behavior and everyday behavior. The sample consisted of 414 adult Slovak participants, who reported on their personalities using the BFI-2 on the first occasion, and then again circa 6 months later, along with well-being and behavior self-report measures focused on the past 6 months. The results showed a strong test-retest stability of the Slovak BFI-2’s domains and facets. The Slovak BFI-2 also showed the expected pattern of well-being predictions with Extraversion and Negative Emotionality domains as the strongest predictors. Furthermore, meaningful trait–behavior links of the Slovak BFI-2 were discovered. Overall, our results contribute to the robust international knowledge base regarding stability, predictive power and ecological validity of the Big Five personality factors.
Changes in extreme temperature events over Africa under 1.5 and 2.0°C global warming scenarios

Following the December 2015 Paris Agreement, there is an international effort to limit global warming at 1.5 and 2.0°C relative to the pre‐industrial level. However, there is inadequate research quantifying the difference in extreme temperature between the two target levels, especially in Africa. This study used historical and future low‐warming projections of NCAR‐CESM to assess the differences in extreme temperature events under 1.5 and 2.0°C future scenarios relative to the recent climate taken from 1976 to 2005 over Africa. The results show that compared with the present day, the magnitude of the highest temperature (TXx) will increase by approximately 1.6/2.2°C in 1.5/2.0°C warming worlds, with more substantial warming in Sahara and Southern Africa. The lowest temperature (TNn) will increase by ∼1.9/2.5°C in 1.5/2.0°C future climates, where SAH and SAF will experience a higher intensity of warming followed by Eastern Africa and Western Africa regions. The frequency of hot days (TX90p) is projected to increase with global warming across the continent, with a high increase in SAF and SAH. The frequency of cold days (TN10p) is expected to decrease with global warming in many parts of Africa except in WAF. In most regions, there were no apparent changes revealed in the Warm Spell Duration Indicator relative to the recent climate across the continent except SAH in 1.5 and 2.0°C warming levels, while a decrease in Cold Spell Duration Indicator will be in SAH. Assessment of the avoided impacts in 1.5 relative to 2.0°C indicates that limiting global warming at 1.5 rather than 2.0°C could reduce the intensity, frequency and duration of extreme temperatures from 3 to 81%. However, the magnitude of avoided impacts differs among indices and sub‐regions. Hence, it is paramount for the African continent to limit global warming at 1.5 instead of 2.0°C.
Endothelin antagonists for hypertension and renal disease (Review Article)

Abstract The endothelin system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension and renal disorders. Endothelin-1, the predominant isoform of the endothelin peptide family, regulates vasoconstriction and cell proliferation in tissues both within and outside the cardiovascular system through activation of G i -protein-coupled ET A and ET B receptors. Endothelin synthesis is regulated through autocrine mechanisms by endothelin converting enzymes, chymases, and non-endothelin converting enzyme metalloproteases. In-vitro experiments have demonstrated that endothelin-1 stimulates growth in vascular smooth muscle and in the kidney. Recent studies indicate that endothelin mRNA and protein are also increased in vivo in the kidney and vasculature in hypertension and renal disease. Studies using molecular or pharmacological inhibition of the endothelin system demonstrate that endothelin-1 contributes to the functional and structural changes associated with arterial hypertension and glomerulosclerosis, and that these effects are only in part dependent on blood pressure. These experimental studies and first clinical trials suggest that endothelin antagonists may offer therapeutic potential to reduce end-organ damage in diseases associated with vascular remodeling and renal injury.
Exploring Tourists’ Behavioural Intentions Towards Use of Select Mobile Wallets for Digital Payments

The present study goal is to identify assorted factors and also to investigate their influence on tourists’ behavioural intentions about their usage patterns with respect to M-wallet payment. A conceptual model has been anticipated and authenticated and 600 questionnaires were distributed and 482 were usable. Structural equation modelling was employed to assess research hypotheses. The result shows that the behavioural intention is significantly influenced by perceived value, trust, compatibility and social influence while tourists’ is less optimistic when it comes to use M-wallet with regard to perceived enjoyment. The study also showed that trust followed by compatibility has a more powerful influence on the behavioural intention of tourists in the context of M-payment. The present study is limited to only six M-wallet and that too limited to the certain age category, namely 18–25 in Gwalior city of India. Understanding the different dimensions of behavioural intentions can help M-wallet players to win the trust of tourists and enhance the frequency to use M-wallet for M-payment. The results indicate that M-wallet service providers should consider and manage all affecting factors proactively as mechanisms for intention to use M-wallet. It will establish a behavioural intention model of M-wallet users that can help organizations to manage the formation of behavioural intentions of their users.
Admittance-Controlled Teleoperation of a Pneumatic Actuator: Implementation and Stability Analysis

Implementation, experimental evaluation and stability analysis of an admittance-controlled teleoperated pneumatic system is presented. A master manipulator navigates a pneumatic slave actuation, which interacts with a human arm as an environment. Considering the external force in the position control loop in the admittance control, enables the slave to handle the external force independent of the master. The proposed control system is evaluated experimentally using the admittance models with different settings. Stability of the control system is analyzed using the concept of Lyapunov exponents. Parametric stability analysis is conducted to show the effect of changing system parameters on stability.
Charaterization of isolated potential lactobacilli and used as probiotic food

This research was carried out to isolate and identify lactobacilli from yogurt and vegetables sample from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Twenty five Lactobacillus strains were isolated and identified as Lactobacillus species based on cultural characteristics, biochemical tests, and sugar fermentation. The results showed only four among twenty five isolates were highly responded to probiotic criteria such as low pH tolerance (2.5), bile salt tolerance (2%), gastric juice tolerance (0.5% bile salt, 0.2% NaCl, 0.32% pepsin pH 2.5) in-vitro and were identified strains as Lactobacillus plantarum imy-21, Lactobacillus plantarumimy-22, Lactobacillus plantarum imv-26 and Lactobacillus acidophilus imy-37 according to Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology and 16s rDNA sequencing. All of the strains were showed protease activity on skim milk agar. These strains were sensitive to ampicillin, doxycycline, erythromycin and tetracycline; also have antimicrobial activity against enteric pathogen such as ATCC of Salmonella Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli (environmental isolates). Four isolated Lactobacilli strains were able to maintain their probiotic properties in freeze dried condition over 90 day’s storage. This study concludes that these strains may be used as potential candidate as probiotic food. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2016, 1 (2), 274-283
Biochemical composition of Saba senegalensis fruits from Burkina Faso

The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical characteristics of the fresh pulp and the dried hulls of Saba senegalensis fruits collected in seven localities of Burkina Faso. The biochemical composition of the samples was determined using standards methods. Results showed that the pulp presented mean values of 83.23%, 18.74%, 2.83 and 4.48 for moisture, Brix, pH and titratable acidity, respectively. Based on dry mater (DM), the pulp contained 5.9 g/kg of ashes, 144.2 g/kg of total carbohydrates, 11.5 g/kg of fat and 5.9 g/kg of proteins. The pulp contents (mg/kg) in minerals such as Fe, Zn, Mg, Ca and K were 25.4, 2.2, 1070.1, 1302.2 and 2535.7, respectively. The pulp has a potential energetic value of 704.2 kcal/kg for human consumption. S. senegalensis hulls presented higher mean values of proteins (30.8 g/kg), fat (150.6 g/kg), ashes (54.6 g/kg) and carbohydrates (637.8 g/kg). Hulls also displayed high contents in mineral elements such as Mg, K, Fe and Zn. This study demonstrated that pulps as well as hulls of S. senegalensis fruits from Burkina Faso have interesting nutritional potential which could be used to improve the diet of population. Key words: Saba senegalensis, characterization, pulp, hull, nutrients, Burkina Faso.
Keeping up appearances: testing a moderated mediation path of self-presentation motives, self-efficacy beliefs, social sharing of fitness records and fitness app uses

ABSTRACT This survey study employed a framework of self-presentation motives in physical exercise to advance the understanding of exercise monitoring apps users’ sharing behaviours on social networking sites (SNS). 551 participants were recruited using Qualtrics national research panel. A model of moderated mediation was proposed and analysed. The results suggested that both agentic and communal self-presentation motives significantly predicted fitness sharing on SNS and fitness app use. Perceived self-presentation outcome value for agentic purposes significantly enhances the agentic motive in predicting sharing on SNS. Fitness sharing on SNS mediated the significant effect of both agentic and communal presentational motives on fitness app use. A number of theoretical and design implications to extend the understanding of fitness social sharing to health technology applications were discussed.
Effects of the fruiting period and growing seasons on market quality in goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.)

Abstract Progression of the vegetation period and change of year are associated with variations in general climatic parameters, such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, radiation, precipitation, wind speed and others. Only limited knowledge is available about the effects of these parameters on the characteristics of quality of fruits especially those with successive ripening such as goji berry. In our study, fruits of goji berry were characterised based on physico-chemical properties within four different harvest periods, in two consecutive years. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the pomological characteristics were superior at the beginning of the production season, while the phytochemical properties were better at the end. Fruit length, width and weight characteristics were noted to decrease from the first harvest to the last by 21%, 18% and 33%, respectively, while the total anthocyanin, phenol and antioxidant activity properties increased by 264%, 48% and 105%, respectively. There was a decrease in fruit weight, fruit length and fruit width up to 15.9%, 18.3% and 6%, respectively and were directly associated with yield due to sink competition among fruits. Providing high ripening index that ensures more acceptable fruits, with high soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) seems to be a very important breeding objective to meet consumer demands thanks to superior organoleptic quality. According to correlations, the synthesis of phenolic compounds increased in parallel with SSC rise and TA, which improved pomological properties too. It is thought that the obtained results may indicate the cultural processes and evaluation methods to be used for the harvested fruits.