Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The use of remote sensing and GIS for land use and land cover mapping in Eswatini: A Review

Remote sensing and GIS are often used to assess spatiotemporal variations for land use/land cover (LULC) monitoring and classification. While LULC monitoring and classification has been undertaken in Eswatini, little attention has been given to ascertaining covered thematic areas, methods of image classification, and approaches and techniques for improving classification accuracy. This paper summarises and synthesizes the progress made in the Kingdom of Eswatini regarding the application of remote sensing and GIS in LULC monitoring and classification. Eight thematic areas (water resources mapping; land degradation; forestry; wildfire detection; urban expansion; crop production; disease surveillance; general mapping) dominate evaluated LULC studies, employing three LULC classification methods (classic; manual; advanced). While some studies include strengths and weaknesses of LULC classification techniques applied, others do not. This review shows that only two advanced classifiers (random forest; object-based) were identified from the reviewed articles. In addition, reviewed studies applied only two approaches (use of multi temporal data; fine spatial resolution data) and three techniques (use of ancillary data; post-classification procedure; the use of multisource data) for improving classification accuracy. Furthermore, the review finds that limited LULC investigations have been covered in Eswatini with a specific focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As such, this review recommends 1) the inclusion of higher resolution imagery for mapping purposes, 2) the adaptation of strengths and weaknesses for any image classification technique employed in future publications, 3) the use of more varied approaches and techniques for improving classification accuracy and area estimates, 4) inclusion of standard errors or confidence intervals for error-adjusted area estimates as part of accuracy assessment reporting, 5) the application of advanced image classifiers, and 6) the application of Earth Observation (EO) Analysis Ready Data (ARD) in the production of information for the support of the SDGs.
Probing chromosome structure using multidimensional scaling of DNA contact matrices

Chromosome conformation capture technology has provided a route to studying genome structure through DNA-DNA contact-counts. An iteration of chromosome conformation capture technology is Hi-C, which provides genome wide two dimensional contact-count data. The contact-count data from Hi-C can be viewed as a proxy for distance and using some transform function can be transformed into estimated distances. These estimated distances can be fitted into Euclidean space using the statistical tools of multidimensional scaling to give estimated chromosome or genome configurations. The first part of this thesis takes the Hi-C contact-count data for Chromosome 14, transforms it into estimated distances which are fitted into Euclidean space to give an estimated chromosome configuration. Steps are also taken to pre-process the genome contact-count matrix to refine the information held within it. The pre-processed genome contact-count matrix is transformed into estimated distances, which are fitted into Euclidean space to give an estimated genome configuration. The estimated chromosome and genome configurations are investigated, to find if known features of these structures are captured through fitting the Hi-C data. The second part of this thesis simulates contact-count data from simple configurations. Using the inverse of the transform functions the distances between points in a configuration can be transformed into mean contact-counts. The mean contact-counts are perturbed using a suitable distribution function to provide perturbed contact-counts, which are transformed into perturbed distances. The perturbed distances can be fitted into Euclidean space to give a fitted configurations. The properties of the fitted configurations are investigated and compared with the original configurations, and the properties of the perturbed distances are also investigated. Then steps are taken to improve the fitted configurations using information from the properties of the perturbed distances, with the successful techniques applied to estimating the chromosome configuration.
The Composition and Abundance of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna in the Leqinat Lake, National Park Bjeshkët e Nemuna, Kosovo

During August and September 2018 we collected the macroinvertebrate fauna in the Leqinat Lake, Kosovo. The Leqinat lake (great lake) is a mountain lake found in the National Park “Bjeshkët e Nemuna” in western Kosovo, shared between Kosovo and Montenegro. Macrozoobenthos specimens were collected with D- frame net of 30×20 cm (600 cm 2 ) diameter. Samples were taken from all available habitats represented with more than 5% of total habitat area on the sampling stretch (multi-habitat sampling procedure). Sampling in riffle section of the lake was done by identifying the riffle segments, disturbing the substratum with the feet while holding the net downstream with the mouth facing upstream. The macrozoobenthos structure during this investigation includes: 2 classes (Bivalvia and Gastropoda), 2 subclasses (Hirudinea and Oligochaeta), 6 orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Odonata), 15 families, 6 genera and 86 specimens. The larger number of families and individuals belongs to the Odonata order (4 families and 47 specimens) followed by Tirchoptera (2 families and 10 specimens), Plecoptera (2 families and 6 specimens), Bivalvia (2 families with 5 specimens) Diptera (1 family with 12 specimens), Ephemeroptera and Hirudinea (1 family with 3 specimens) and Oligochaeta (1 family with only 1 specimens). This investigation is a contribution in knowing the macroinvertebrate fauna and their ecological patterns in alpine lakes in Kosovo.
On some mathematical models of filtration theory

The article is devoted to the study of some mathematical models arising in filtration theory. We examine an inverse problem of determining an unknown right-hand side and coefficients in a pseudoparabolic equation of the third order. Equations of this type and more general Sobolev-type equations arise in filtration theory, heat and mass transfer, plasma physics, and in many other fields. We reduce the problem to an operator equation whose solvability is established with the help of a priori estimates and the fixed point theorem. Together with the natural smoothness conditions for the data, we require also some well-posedness condition to be fulfilled which is actually reduced to the condition of nondegeneracy of some matrix constructed with the use of the data of the problem. Theorems on existence and uniqueness of solutions to this problem are stated and proven. Stability estimates are exposed. In the linear case the result is global in time, while in the nonlinear case it is local. The main function spaces used are the Sobolev spaces.
Applicability Domain for QSAR models: where theory meets reality

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships are widely acknowledged predictive methods employed, for years, in organic and medicinal chemistry. More recently, they have assumed a central role also in the context of the explorative toxicology for the protection of environment and human health. However, their real-life application has not been always enthusiastically welcomed, being often retrospectively used and, thus, of limited importance for prospective goals. The need of making more trustable predictions has thus addressed studies on the so-called Applicability Domain, which represents the chemical space from which a model is derived and where a prediction is considered to be reliable. In the present study, the authors survey a number of approaches used to build the Applicability Domain. In particular, they will focus on strategies based on: a) physico-chemical, b) structural and c) response domains. Moreover, some examples integrating different strategies will be also discussed to meet the needs of both model developers and downstream users. KeyWoRDS Applicability Domain, Interpolation Space, QSAR, Similarity, Structural Fragments
The influence of NIM, BOPO, LDR, and size toward Return On Assets (ROA) and its relations with technical efficiency on banks (Buku 4) in Indonesia

This study aims to know the influence of NIM, BOPO, LDR, and Size toward Return on Assets (ROA) and its relations with technical efficiency. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach is used to measure technical efficiency. This study also uses multiple regression analysis methods. It takes banks BUKU 4 in Indonesia from the first quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2020 as the sample. The finding also reveals that there is a weak correlation between technical efficiency and ROA. Meanwhile, NIM and Size have a significant positive impact on ROA. BOPO has a significant negative impact on ROA. Meanwhile, LDR has an insignificant positive impact on ROA. Simultaneously, those independent variables have a significant effect on ROA. Among the independent variables, NIM is the most significant towards ROA.
Methylphenidate Differentially Affects Intrinsic Functional Connectivity of the Salience Network in Adult ADHD Treatment Responders and Non-Responders

Simple Summary Methylphenidate is frequently used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It has been reported to correct (aberrant) connectivity between brain regions. However, previous neuroimaging research has not provided a coherent picture. One possible reason is that methylphenidate may not necessarily result in a satisfactory clinical treatment response of every patient. This suggests that neuroimaging research about methylphenidate’s mode of action could benefit from subdividing patients into groups of treatment “Responders” and “Non-Responders”. However, previous research has not applied this idea so far. Here, we used machine learning techniques to discern Responders from Non-Responders based on clinical symptoms. Fifty-three stimulant-naïve adult ADHD patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine functional connectivity at rest. Measurements were repeated after 6 weeks’ treatment with methylphenidate. We found that, prior to treatment, a specific part of the so-called salience network was hypo-connected with the bilateral putamen in the patient sample as a whole, compared with 50 healthy controls. After methylphenidate treatment, this aberrant connectivity was restored to almost “normal” levels in Responders, but not in Non-Responders. Involvement of the putamen is reminiscent of early positron emission tomography findings, already suggesting modulation of dopaminergic brain regions for the successful treatment of ADHD with methylphenidate. Abstract Positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown involvement of the striatum when treating adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate (MPH). Results from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) for the same issue were less unequivocal. Here, a new analytical framework was set up to investigate medication effects using seed-based rs-fMRI analysis to infer brain regions with alterations in intrinsic functional connectivity (IFC) corresponding with ADHD symptom reduction. In a within-subjects study design, 53 stimulant-naïve adult ADHD patients were investigated before and after 6 weeks of MPH treatment, using two major clinical symptom scales and rs-fMRI. The same data were acquired in a sample of 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls at baseline. A consensual atlas provided seeds for five predefined major resting-state networks. In order to avoid biasing of medication effects due to putative treatment failure, the entire ADHD sample was first categorized into treatment Responders (N = 36) and Non-Responders (N = 17) using machine learning-based classification with the clinical scales as primary data. Imaging data revealed medication effects only in Responders. In that group, IFC of bilateral putamen changed significantly with medication and approached almost normal levels of IFC. Present results align well with results from previous PET studies, with seed-based rs-fMRI as an entirely different neuroimaging method.
On the structure of scattering amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills and N=8 supergravity

Exploiting singularities in Feynman integrals to get information about scattering amplitudes has been particularly useful at one-loop in theories where no triangles or bubbles appear. At higher loops the integrals possess subtle singularities. In this paper we give these singularities a physical interpretation and show how they turn tedious computations into purely pictorial manipulations. We illustrate our methods with various examples from the computation of four-particle amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills and N=8 supergravity. Along the way we find clues towards an understanding i) of the rung-rule as a consequence of infra-red singularities, ii) of the non rung-rule integrals included in the basis as corrections to the rung-rule and iii) of the coefficients - including signs - of these two types of contribution. The role of corrections is to cancel unphysical singularities generically present in rung-rule integrals. A further byproduct, coming from the fact such unphysical singularities are located where conformal cross-ratios become unity, is the possibility of understanding the dual conformal invariance ansatz for constructing the basis of four-particle amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills.
Analysis of FGM Cantilever Beams under Bending-torsional Behavior Using a Refined 1D Beam Theory

The static bending-torsion problem of functionally graded cantilever beams is studied using a refined 1D/3D beam theory (Refined beam theory RBT and Refined beam theory with distortion modes RBT*) built on the 3D Saint-Venant (SV) solution. In these theories, the displacement models include Poisson's effects, out-of-plane deformations and distortions. For a given section, the sectional displacement modes are derived from the computation of the particular 3D Saint-Venant’s solution. These modes, which reflect the mechanical behavior of the cross-section, lead to a beam theory that actually corresponds to the cross-section type in terms of shape and material. In addition, the models take into account edge effects to predict a 3D solution in a larger internal region to better describe the overall behavior of FGM beams. The models examined are implemented on the CSB (Cross-Section and Beam Analysis) tool. It is based on the RBT/SV (Refined Beam Theory based on the 3D SV’s solution) theory of FGM beams. The mechanical and physical characteristics of the FGM beams vary continuously, according to a power-law distribution, through the thickness of the beams. The numerical and 3D results obtained with homogeneous and FGM beams are systematically compared with other models in the literature and those provided by the full Saint-Venant beam theory (SVBT) calculations.
Does Nitrogen Fertilization Affect the Secondary Structures of Gliadin Proteins in Hypoallergenic Wheat?

One of the macronutrients indispensable for plant growth and development is nitrogen (N). It is responsible for starch and storage protein (gliadins and glutenins) biosynthesis and, in consequence, influences kernels’ quality and yields. However, applying N-fertilizers increases gluten content in wheat, and it may intensify the risk of developing allergy symptoms in gluten-sensitive individuals. The purpose of our research was to analyse whether and how the elimination of N-fertilizers during the cultivation of wasko.gl− wheat (modified genotype lacking ω-gliadins) changes the secondary structures of gliadin proteins. To this aim, using the FT-Raman technique, we examined flour and gliadin protein extracts obtained from kernels of two winter wheat lines: wasko.gl+ (with a full set of gliadin proteins) and wasko.gl− (without ω-gliadin fraction) cultivated on two different N-fertilization levels—0 and 120 kg N·ha−1. On the basis of the obtained results, we proved that nitrogen fertilization does not have a major impact on the stability of the secondary structures of gliadin proteins for wasko.gl− wheat line with reduced allergenic properties. Furthermore, the results presented herein suggest the possibility of increasing the stability of glutenin structures as a result of the N-fertilization of wasko.gl− wheat line, which gives hope for its use in the production of wheat articles devoted to people suffering from diseases related to gluten sensitivity.
Investigation of The Relationship Between Eating Behavior and Student Learning Achievement

The desire to eat is one of the dimensions of the eating environment. It is mainly seen in attitude, skill, and knowledge. This study aims to investigate the relationship between attitudes, skills, and eating knowledge with student learning achievement. This research is analytical observational research with a cross-sectional design. The subjects were university students in Lampung. The sampling of 196 students was collected using a non-probability with snowball sampling techniques. The data include respondents' characteristics, learning achievements, and eating desires (attitudes, skills, and knowledge). The data analysis was carried out using the Chi-square test to determine the relationship between eating attitudes, eating skills, and eating knowledge, with the student learning achievement. The results showed that most of the subjects (91.33%) had a good eating attitude, (69.90%) had less eating skills, and (51.53%) also had less eating knowledge. In this study, it is revealed that there is no significant relationship between eating attitudes, eating skills, and eating knowledge with the student learning achievement.
Immobilization of EreB on Acid-Modified Palygorskite for Highly Efficient Degradation of Erythromycin

Erythromycin is one of the most commonly used macrolide antibiotics. However, its pollution of the ecosystem is a significant risk to human health worldwide. Currently, there are no effective and environmentally friendly methods to resolve this issue. Although erythromycin esterase B (EreB) specifically degrades erythromycin, its non-recyclability and fragility limit the large-scale application of this enzyme. In this work, palygorskite was selected as a carrier for enzyme immobilization. The enzyme was attached to palygorskite via a crosslinking reaction to construct an effective erythromycin-degradation material (i.e., EreB@modified palygorskite), which was characterized using FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller techniques. The results suggested the successful modification of the material and the loading of the enzyme. The immobilized enzyme had a higher stability over varying temperatures (25–65 °C) and pH values (6.5–10.0) than the free enzyme, and the maximum rate of reaction (Vmax) and the turnover number (kcat) of the enzyme increased to 0.01 mM min−1 and 169 min−1, respectively, according to the enzyme-kinetics measurements. The EreB@modified palygorskite maintained about 45% of its activity after 10 cycles, and degraded erythromycin in polluted water to 20 mg L−1 within 300 min. These results indicate that EreB could serve as an effective immobilizing carrier for erythromycin degradation at the industrial scale.
Salt tectonics vs. inversion tectonics: The anticlines of the western Maestrazgo revisited (eastern Iberian Chain, Spain)

Many works in the last decades underline the role of evaporites, not just as a conditioning factor but as the engine for subsidence and eventually basin inversion. The western Mediterranean alpine ranges are being investigated in this regard because of the presence of discontinuous units of Permian to Triassic evaporites, deposited in the western Tethys basins. This work presents a thorough analysis of two particular structures (Cañada Vellida and Miravete anticlines) in the intraplate Maestrazgo basin (eastern Iberian Chain, Spain) in which evidence to support their reinterpretation as salt‐driven structures have been recently reported. Our analysis includes (i) a comprehensive stratigraphic and structural study of the folds along their entire trace, (ii) the compilation of thickness and distribution of evaporite–bearing and supraevaporite units, paying special attention to changes in the thickness of units in relation to anticlines, and (iii) the study of fault patterns, sometimes in relation to the mechanical stratigraphy. All three aspects are also documented and discussed on a regional scale. The new data and interpretations reported here reinforce the extensional origin of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous basins, and the role of regional extensional tectonics as the responsible for the development of first‐order syn‐sedimentary normal fault zones driving the formation and evolution of sub‐basins. These basins were subsequently inverted and deformed, including the formation of complex, box‐geometry anticlines that, in their turn, controlled deposition in Cenozoic basins. The review of the arguments that support the alternative of salt tectonics for the origin of such anticlines has allowed us to delve into the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the inverted extensional basins and to propose a specific model for the development of these faulted anticlines. The role of salt levels and other interlayered detachments in the structuring of sedimentary basins and their inversion is also pondered. The observations in the eastern Iberian Chain reported here have implications to assess ongoing reinterpretations in terms of salt tectonics in other alpine basins and ranges of the western Mediterranean.
6-Formyl Umbelliferone, a Furanocoumarin from Angelica decursiva L., Inhibits Key Diabetes-Related Enzymes and Advanced Glycation End-Product Formation

Over the years, great attention has been paid to coumarin derivatives, a set of versatile molecules that exhibit a wide variety of biological activities and have few toxic side effects. In this study, we investigated the antidiabetic potential of 6-formyl umbelliferone (6-FU), a novel furanocoumarin isolated from Angelica decursiva. Numerous pharmacological activities of 6-FU have been previously reported; however, the mechanism of its antidiabetic activity is unknown. Therefore, we examined the action of 6-FU on a few candidate-signaling molecules that may underlie its antidiabetic activity, including its inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), α-glucosidase, human recombinant aldose reductase (HRAR), and advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation (IC50 = 1.13 ± 0.12, 58.36 ± 1.02, 5.11 ± 0.21, and 2.15 ± 0.13 μM, respectively). A kinetic study showed that 6-FU exhibited mixed-type inhibition against α-glucosidase and HRAR and competitive inhibition of PTP1B. Docking simulations of 6-FU demonstrated negative binding energies and close proximity to residues in the binding pockets of those enzymes. We also investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying 6-FU’s antidiabetic effects. 6-FU significantly increased glucose uptake and decreased PTP1B expression in insulin-resistant C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Moreover, 6-FU (0.8–100 μM) remarkably inhibited the formation of fluorescent AGEs in glucose-fructose-induced human serum albumin glycation over the course of 4 weeks. The findings clearly indicate that 6-FU will be useful in the development of multiple target-oriented therapeutic modalities for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
Finite self-similar sequences, permutation cycles, and music composition

We partly decipher a family of finite integer sequences used in a musical composition of the first author, by showing in particular that they relate to arithmetic classical problems (counting cycles in a permutation, primitive roots modulo a prime number, Wieferich primes, etc.), and also to the art of shuffling cards and to the art of juggling. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT