Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of the Pre-Parturition and Post-Parturition Genital Tract Microbiota in Plateau Bangor Sewa Sheep

Simple Summary Microbiota is closely related to animal health. Bangor Sewa sheep are an important biological resource that live on the Tibetan Plateau. In this paper, we compared the microbial composition and structure in the birth canal of Bangor Sewa sheep before and after delivery. A total of three phyla and 74 genera, including a variety of positive and negative health-associated factors, showed significant differences between pre- and post-parturition groups. This research offers a new approach to improving the well-being and productivity of the Bangor Sewa sheep. Abstract (1) Background: Bangor Sewa sheep are an economically significant livestock species on the plateau. The roles of microbiota in reproduction are complex and critical for animal health. But little is known currently about the microbiome of plateau Bangor Sewa sheep. The purpose of this study was to discover the changes in the genital tract microbiota of pre- and post-partum Bangor Sewa sheep. (2) Methods: Samples from the birth canal were obtained for 16S rRNA sequencing, three days before and after delivery, respectively. (3) Results: The results showed that there was a noticeable difference in three phyla and 74 genera between the pre- and post-parturition groups in the microbiota of Bangor Sewa sheep. The changes included a decrease in the abundance of genera related to health (unclassified_Cellulomonadaceae, Cellulomonas, Fibrobacti, Flavobacterium, Eubacterium_ventriosum_group, Acetitomaculum, Aeromicrobium, Dietzia, Romboutsia, Ruminococcus, etc.) and an increased abundance of negatively related genera (Nocardioides, unclassified_Clostridia, Sphingobacteriaceae, unclassified_Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae_UCG_004, Micromonospora, Streptococcus, Facklamia, Bosea, etc.) spp. (4) Conclusions: Microbes can serve as indicators of the physical state of Bangor Sewa sheep. These findings laid the foundation for deciphering the effects of microbial changes during birth on the reproductive health of plateau Bangor Sewa sheep.
Outbreak investigation of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle in Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia

An investigation of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak was conducted between late October and mid-December 2019 in Tigray region. The outbreak investigation team collected epidemiological data from the six villages of Kafta Humera and Seharti Samre districts, including morbidity proportions, mortality proportions, and clinical signs, and cattle management and vaccination history were collected via participatory methods, including interviews and group discussions with local experts and farmers in Kafta Humera and reports from the district veterinarians in Seharti Samre. Twenty-two tissue samples were collected for laboratory confirmation. Overall, 4,299/9,811 (43.8%) and 13,654/16,921 (80.6%) cattle showed clinical signs for FMD in Kafta Humera and Seharti Samre, respectively. In Kafta Humera, the highest morbidity proportion was found in adult cows and heifers (48.1%), followed by 27.8% in oxen and 15.9% in calves. In Seharti Samre, the morbidity proportion was similar in all age groups at ~81%. No death of FMD-suspected cattle was reported throughout the outbreak. The serotype of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) identified by laboratory analysis differed between the two districts (serotype O in Kafta Humera and serotype A in Seharti Samre). We, therefore, suggest that the outbreaks in the two districts occurred independently from each other. Experts and farmers were interviewed and believed that the outbreak in Kafta Humera was most likely caused by interaction between cattle and wildlife from the surrounding Kafta Sheraro National Park, which share common grazing land. This outbreak investigation showed that FMD can cause devastating cattle morbidity. A regular vaccination program against the identified circulating FMDV serotypes with sufficient coverage is required to avoid future outbreaks.
Refinement of Protocols for Measuring the Apparent Optical Properties of Seawater. Chapter 8

Ocean color satellite missions, like the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) or the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) projects, are tasked with acquiring a global ocean color data set, validating and monitoring the accuracy and quality of the data, processing the radiometric data into geophysical units using a set of atmospheric and bio-optical algorithms, and distributing the final products to the scientific community. The long-standing requirement of the SeaWiFS Project, for example, is to produce spectral water-leaving radiances, LW(lambda), to within 5% absolute (lambda denotes wavelength) and chlorophyll a concentrations to within 35% (Hooker and Esaias 1993), and most ocean color sensors have the same or similar requirements. Although a diverse set of activities are required to ensure the accuracy requirements are met (Hooker and McClain 2000), the perspective here is with field observations. The accurate determination of upper ocean apparent optical properties (AOPs) is essential for the vicarious calibration of ocean color data and the validation of the derived data products, because the sea-truth measurements are used to evaluate the satellite observations (Hooker and McClain 2000). The uncertainties with in situ AOP measurements have various sources: a) the sampling procedures used in the field, including the environmental conditions encountered; b) the absolute characterization of the radiometers in the laboratory; c) the conversion of the light signals to geophysical units in a processing scheme, and d) the stability of the radiometers in the harsh environment they are subjected to during transport and use. Assuming ideal environmental conditions, so this aspect can be neglected, the SeaWiFS ground-truth uncertainty budget can only be satisfied if each uncertainty is on the order of 1-2%, or what is generally referred to as 1% radiometry. In recent years, progress has been made in estimating the magnitude of some of these uncertainties and in defining procedures for minimizing them. For the SeaWiFS Project, the first step was to convene a workshop to draft the SeaWiFS Ocean Optics Protocols (hereafter referred to as the Protocols). The Protocols initially adhered to the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) sampling procedures (JGOFS 1991) and defined the standards for optical measurements to be used in SeaWiFS calibration and validation activities (Mueller and Austin 1992). Over time, the Protocols were revised (Mueller and Austin 1995), and then recurringly updated on essentially an annual basis (Mueller 2000, 2002, and 2003) as part of the Sensor Inter-comparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS) project. 98
Self-Supervised Dataset Pruning for Efficient Training in Audio Anti-spoofing

The computational cost for training neural anti-spoofing models has rapidly increased due to larger network architectures. Several dataset-pruning metrics have been proposed to increase the training efficiency of these models. However, these metrics require example labels and an initial training step to compute example scores which is computationally intensive. We propose a novel self-supervised pruning metric for efficient dataset pruning in neural anti-spoofing models. Our method identifies important examples and prunes the dataset in an efficient, self-supervised manner using the clustered embedding representation of audios. We demonstrate that our method exceeds the performance of four other pruning metrics on the ASVSpoof 2019 dataset across two anti-spoofing models while being 91% computationally more efficient. We also find differences in the distribution of certain attacks, which helps explain the better performance of self-supervised pruning over other metrics.
Influence of wall shear stress and geometry on the lumen surface concentration of low density lipoprotein in a model abdominal aortic aneurysm

In this work, the correlation between the wall shear stress (WSS) and the surface concentration variation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) on the walls of an idealized abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is explored. It is observed that on the walls of AAA, the WSS has a significant effect on the LDL deposition pattern and a region of low WSS does not always correspond to a locally high concentration of LDL. The correlation between the WSS and the LDL deposition is found to be linked to the local fluid-flow pattern. This is explained by conducting an analysis on simplified geometries using steady inflow conditions that produced a fluid-flow pattern similar to that in the original AAA under physiologically relevant pulsatile inflow conditions. Furthermore, the influence of geometric parameters, such as the height, the width, and the shape of the aneurysm, on the surface concentration of LDL is studied. The width of the aneurysm is found to have a strong influence on the variation of the LDL surface concentration.In this work, the correlation between the wall shear stress (WSS) and the surface concentration variation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) on the walls of an idealized abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is explored. It is observed that on the walls of AAA, the WSS has a significant effect on the LDL deposition pattern and a region of low WSS does not always correspond to a locally high concentration of LDL. The correlation between the WSS and the LDL deposition is found to be linked to the local fluid-flow pattern. This is explained by conducting an analysis on simplified geometries using steady inflow conditions that produced a fluid-flow pattern similar to that in the original AAA under physiologically relevant pulsatile inflow conditions. Furthermore, the influence of geometric parameters, such as the height, the width, and the shape of the aneurysm, on the surface concentration of LDL is studied. The width of the aneurysm is found to have a strong influence on the variation of the LDL surface concentration.
The use of microbial source tracking to assess and predict water quality in river catchments

Water is a basic human need (Millennium Development Goal-Target 10) and a central element in all civilisations, yet microbial contamination of surface waters used for drinking, contact recreation, and shellfishery provides an effective vehicle for the spread of microbial waterborne diseases and outbreaks that can cause illness or death in humans. Microbial pathogens remain the most direct, real and pervasive risk to human health, especially in Less Economically Developed Countries. However, water quality managers are restricted in providing effective monitoring and management designs and strategies by the inability to identify routinely the source of microbial contamination. Microbial water quality of many surface waters is likely to deteriorate further as a result of climate change. This research used the River Ouse catchment (SE England) as a test-bed to investigate the application of simple and low-cost monitoring and approaches that can be applied in other river catchments, to monitor and manage microbial water quality during various meteorological conditions and seasons. This novel approach is the first time such methods have been combined in order to study a river catchment. As such, it represents a significant advancement in our understanding of complex environmental processes and ability to manage and mitigate adverse environmental impacts.
An appraisal of the implementation of the English language syllabus for French-speaking learners in Cameroon

The present paper set out to investigate the effectiveness of the implementation of the English Syllabus for French-speaking learners in some secondary schools in the Diamaré, Mayo Kani, and Mayo Tsanaga Divisions in the Far-North Region of Cameroon. The target schools were GBHS Maroua, GBHS Kaele, and GBHS Mokolo. The main assumption was that the English language curriculum is not well implemented in the target schools. The study was carried out on a sample of 152 students, nine (09) English teachers and three (03) pedagogic inspectors. The instruments used for the collection of quantitative and qualitative data were questionnaire and interview, respectively. After the analysis of the data, the findings revealed the English language syllabus was appropriate in terms of goals, contents, and methods. However, teachers did not use the adequate methods suggested by the syllabus in their respective classrooms and they had negative attitudes toward the implementation of the syllabus. Moreover, some external and internal factors hinder the implementation of the syllabus. Thus, the English syllabus was not well implemented in those target schools. The study also made some recommendations for the good implementation of the syllabus by teachers such as the follow-up of teachers by the pedagogic inspectors to keep the former abreast with new approaches and methods; the incorporation of listening and oral skills in the examinations, and the provision of schools’ libraries with the adequate resources and internet facilities.
Contribution to the Knowledge of Twenty Members of the Lagenid Benthic Foraminifera in the Southern Tethys

The modern taxonomical consideration is used for twenty Lagenid benthic foraminiferal species which are belonging to eight genera from nine countries in the Southern Tethys: Chile, Argentina, Egypt, Tanzania, Jordan, Iraq, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and Pakistan: Nodosaria catenula (Reuss) Iraq, Pyramidulina robinsoni (Futyan) Jordan, Tollmannia costata (d’Orbigny), Tollmannia fingeri Anan, sp. nov., Percultazonaria fragaria (Gümbel), Percultazonaria tuberculata (Plummer), Lenticuzonaria argentinica Anan, Lenticuzonaria misrensis Anan, Percultalina misrensis Anan, Hemirobulina comma (Roemer), Hemirobulina curvatura (Cushman), Hemirobulina humilis (Reuss), Hemirobulina nammalensis (Haque), Hemirobulina pachygaster Gümbel, Vaginulinopsis argentinica Anan, sp. nov., Vaginulinopsis deserti (Said & Kenawy), Vaginulinopsis emiratensis (Anan), Vaginulina boukharyi (Anan), Vaginulina chilensis Anan, sp. nov., and Ramulina shreifae Anan, sp. nov. Nine species of these assemblage were recorded from Egypt (about 45%), 3 species from Chile (about 15%), 2 species from Argentina (about 10%), and one species (about 5%) from each of Tanzania, Jordan, Iraq, UAE, Iran and Pakistan. Four species are believed here to be new: Tollmannia fingeri, Vaginulinopsis argentinica, Vaginulina chilensis and Ramulina shreifae.
ROLE OF RAINFALL IMPACT ON SOIL DETACHMENT AND TRANSPORT

THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF RAINDROP IMPACT AND FLOWING WATER TO THE EROSION PROCESS WAS DETERMINED IN A LABORATORY STUDY USING THREE SOILS, LOAM, SILT LOAM, AND SANDY LOAM, PREPARED WITH PREFORMED RILLS AND SUBJECTED TO SIMULATED RAINFALL. DECREASING RAINFALL IMPACT ENERGY BY 89 PERCENT WITHOUT REDUCING RAINFALL INTENSITY DECREASED SOIL LOSSES BY 90 PERCENT OR MORE; THUS THE IMPACT ENERGY OF RAINDROPS IS THE MAJOR FORCE INITIATING SOIL DETACHMENT. EIGHTY TO 85 PERCENT OF THE SOIL LOSS ORIGINATING IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE RILLS WAS TRANSPORTED TO A RILL BEFORE LEAVING THE PLOT. /AUTHOR/
Anion Complexation by an Azocalix[4]arene Derivative and the Scope of Its Fluoride Complex Salt to Capture CO2 from the Air

A newly synthesized upper rim azocalix[4]arene, namely 5,11,17,23-tetra[(4-ethylacetoxyphenyl) (azo)]calix[4]arene, CA-AZ has been fully characterized, and its chromogenic and selective properties for anions are reported. Among univalent anions, the receptor is selective for the fluoride anion, and its mode of interaction in solution is discussed. The kinetics of the complexation process were found to be very fast as reflected in the immediate colour change observed with a naked eye resulting from the receptor–anion interaction. An emphasis is made about the relevance in selecting a solvent in which the formulation of the process is representative of the events taking place in the solution. The composition of the fluoride complex investigated using UV/VIS spectrophotometry, conductance measurements and titration calorimetry was 1:1, and the thermodynamics of complexation of anions and CA-AZ in DMSO were determined. The fluoride complex salt was isolated, and a detailed investigation was carried out to assess its ability to remove CO2 from the air. The recycling of the complex was easily achieved. Final conclusions are given.
Mapping the Boundaries of Racetalk: Examining the Experiences of Black Girls in Independent Schools

Background/Context: An increasing body of literature reveals how systems of racism, sexism, and classism intersect to marginalize Black girls in contexts of schooling. Few studies have explored this topic from the perspectives of Black girls in all-girls independent schools pursuing antiracist school reform. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: This study examined the experiences of Black girls in all-girls independent schools to understand how they perceived themselves as mapped into or left out of conversations about race in school and society. Research Design: The study employed a qualitative research design. A total of 42 middle and high school students participated in a semi-structured focus group interview lasting 60–120 minutes. Interviews were conducted in person and online. Audio-recordings were transcribed for analysis. Data analysis involved a multilayered approach. First, transcriptions of the focus group interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques to identify recurring themes and patterns. A Black Girl Cartography framework was employed to distinguish the spatial and relational aspects of the participants’ experiences and identities. Finally, critical discourse analysis was applied to examine the interplay between power, identity, culture, and spatiality within the participants’ narratives. Findings/Results: Data revealed that Black girls were navigating conversations about race across one-on-one, peer group, advisory meeting, classroom-based, and schoolwide interactions, where they perceived themselves to be physically and epistemologically marginalized and/or excluded. We identified dimensions of racetalk that aided in their experience of marginalization and exclusion: (1) placelessness, (2) selflessness, and (3) Blackgirlhoodlessness. Data also revealed that while participants were navigating ideologies, practices, and procedures that threatened their opportunities for development, they were also charting spaces for their individual and collective joy, healing, and racial socialization. Conclusions/Recommendations: Implications from these data explore the ways in which all-girls independent schools overlook Black girls’ unique geopolitical locations in schools and society and, in so doing, miss opportunities to nurture their development. This study contributes to a rich understanding of the complex interplay between power, identity, culture, and spatiality that Black girls navigate in schooling and society. We advocate for an application of principles and best practices aligned with culturally relevant and culturally sustaining pedagogies that center the experiences of Black girls. We recommend that schools (1) employ situated and intersectional approaches to antiracist educational reform, (2) center Black girl mattering in schooling, and (3) nurture Black girl self-love, joy, and racial literacy.
mcRPL: a general purpose parallel raster processing library on distributed heterogeneous architectures

Abstract Parallel computing on distributed heterogeneous architectures (e.g. computing clusters with multiple CPUs and GPUs) can significantly improve the computational efficiency and scalability of complicated algorithms, but it is theoretically and technically complex. Parallel raster processing libraries reduce the development complexity of parallel raster algorithms by hiding parallel computing details; however, no existing library sufficiently utilizes distributed heterogeneous computing resources. A general-purpose raster processing library (mcRPL) combining multi-process parallelism and multi-thread parallelism is proposed to enable parallel raster processing on distributed heterogeneous architectures with multiple CPUs and GPUs. Additionally, an adaptive hardware assignment strategy is proposed to fully utilize available processors in various hardware environments. A series of task-processing strategies are adopted to aim toward maximizing the utilization of the computing capacity of involved processors. Experiments revealed that two raster algorithms parallelized using mcRPL for spatiotemporal data fusion and land-use change simulation were 170.7- and 143.2-fold faster than original serial algorithms using 8 and 16 GPUs, respectively. While hiding the details of mixed parallelism and reducing the development complexity, mcRPL provides user-friendly interfaces for the development of parallel raster algorithms to enhance computational performance and enable large-scale raster computing tasks with extensive data volumes.
Morphological and Morphometric Variations of the Hyoid Bone in Anatolian Population

Objective: The morphological and morphometric variations of the hyoid bone (os hyoideum) are known to be significant in cervical surgeries and also serve as important evidence in forensic cases involving hanging and strangulation. The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological and morphometric differences of the hyoid bone. Methods: Sixty-four adult hyoid bones of unknown age and gender were used in our study. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (date/number: 15.12.2021/632888). The bone shape variations were classified into four main groups: D, U, B, and V types according to the morphometric measurements of the hyoid bone. Also the hyoid bones were evaluated based on their symmetry and isometry properties. Morphometric measurements were analyzed for reliability and repeatability using TEM, rTEM, and R tests, with the same person measuring twice. Measurements were calculated using the Image J program. The data were analyzed using SPSS v.21. Results: The percentages of D, U, B, and V types were found to be 53.84%, 23.07%, 15.38%, and 11.53%, respectively. Among the hyoid bones, 34 (53.12%) were found to be asymmetrical, 30 (46.88%) symmetrical, 35 (54.69%) anisometric, and 29 (45.31%) were isometric. Conclusion: Our study's results indicate that the hyoid bone of Anatolian individuals exhibits morphological differences compared to other populations. Understanding the morphological and morphometric values of the hyoid bone can contribute to clinical and forensic applications.
What influences the foreign accent strength? Phonological and grammatical errors in the perception of accentedness

The present study investigates the influence of grammatical and phonological errors on the perceived degree of foreign accent strength. German and Polish participants listened to speech in their native language produced with foreign and native accent. They rated the accent strength of each sentence on a 7-point scale. Grammatical errors consisted of gender agreement violations and phonological errors consisted of controlled vowel substitutions. Both error types significantly affected the perception of accent strength in the foreign and native-accented condition. In Polish, phonological anomalies had significantly more impact than grammatical violations in native-accented sentences. In German, there was no significant difference between phonological and grammatical violations. The study provides evidence that the presence of phonological and grammatical errors increases the perceived accentedness of speech. The weighting of both errors for accent perception can vary between languages.