Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aridity Trend in the Middle East and the Adjacent Areas

Available water resources in the Middle East, as one of the most water-scarce regions of the world, have undergone extra pressure due to climatic change, population growth, and economic development during the past decades. The objective of this study is to detect the trends and quantify the changes in aridity with respect to precipitation and potential evapotranspiration in 20 countries of the Middle East and the adjacent area. A Pixel-wised trend analysis was conducted on precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and aridity index for 71 years from 1948 to 2018. A nonparametric Mann-Kendall test was used over 14106 points in the study area to detect the trends at monthly and annual time scales. Results showed statistically significant (|Z| >1.96) upward trends in aridity (a downward trend in aridity index) up to 96 percent from December through September in most parts of the region. Aridity in October and November had a downward tendency in most parts of the study area. At the annual time scale, 62.5 percent of the statistically significant trends in aridity were found to be upward (up to 96 percent increase in aridity) due to the combined effects of the decrease in precipitation and the increase in potential evapotranspiration and 37.5 percent of the detected trends were downward (up to 61 percent decrease in aridity). The highest and the lowest trends in aridity were found in the north of Sudan (96 percent increase in aridity) and Eastern Arabia (61 percent decrease in aridity), respectively.
Analysis of landslide-induced fatalities and injuries in Bangladesh: 2000-2018

Abstract Landslides are one of the most substantial damaging and recurrent disasters in the hilly areas of Bangladesh. In the last decades, devastating landslides have repeatedly hit the hilly regions of the country, typically due to climate change along with other anthropogenic causes such as high population density, unplanned land use, and rampant hill cutting. However, there is a lack of an official database to analyze the trends of the landslide disaster in Bangladesh. In this vein, this paper compiled a catalog of 204 reported landslides in Bangladesh that caused 727 deaths and 1017 injuries during the period 2000–2018. The average number of annual landslides is 19, with a 4% yearly growth rate, which results in 38 fatalities and 54 injuries yearly on average. Using data from three national and two regional newspapers, the study finds that monsoon summer is the most damaging season and 83% of landslides are primarily triggered by heavy rainfall. A Hot Spot Analysis tool (Getis-Ord- Gi* algorithm) was used to identify the spatial concentration of high and low landslide affected areas in Bangladesh. Of 64 districts in the country, eight were exposed by landslide episodes, five were recognized as profoundly affected. Moreover, three sub-districts (Chattogram City Corporation, Ukhiya and Teknaf) have been identified as hot spot areas. Finally, the study will assist academicians for continuing risk studies through understanding the trends of landslide related causalities; policymakers for formulating suitable policies considering the high landslide affected areas; consequently, help local communities to protect their life and properties through raising awareness.
Assessing the potential impact of COVID-19 in Brazil: Mobility, Morbidity and the burden on the Health Care System

The two largest Brazilian cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, have declared community transmission of COVID-19 on mid March, 2020. In this study we estimated the most vulnerable areas in Brazil for COVID-19, both in terms of risk of introduction and risk of mortality associated with social vulnerability. We explore the most likely routes of spread through the country, from the already exposed cities, according to human mobility statistics. The resulting maps should help authorities in their efforts to prioritize actions and if resource allocation to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
Rural Transformation in India: Deagrarianization and the Transition from a Farming to Non-farming Economy

Rural transformation in general has been conceptualized as modernization, rural development, changes in economic structure, and the migration of the population from the farming sector to the non-farming sectors of the economy. Different theoretical approaches (unidimensional and multidimensional) have been applied to the study of rural transformation, and these approaches have involved different indicators to examine the nature and magnitude of rural change/transformation. The rural development approach to the study of rural transformation has been criticized on the grounds that rural transformation does not always involve development. This article examines the Indian experience and contends that India’s rural transformation has involved migration from the farming sector into the non-farming sectors and the de-agrarianization of the Indian economy.
Accounting for space and uncertainty in real‐time location system‐derived contact networks

Abstract Point data obtained from real‐time location systems (RTLSs) can be processed into animal contact networks, describing instances of interaction between tracked individuals. Proximity‐based definitions of interanimal “contact,” however, may be inadequate for describing epidemiologically and sociologically relevant interactions involving body parts or other physical spaces relatively far from tracking devices. This weakness can be overcome by using polygons, rather than points, to represent tracked individuals and defining “contact” as polygon intersections. We present novel procedures for deriving polygons from RTLS point data while maintaining distances and orientations associated with individuals' relocation events. We demonstrate the versatility of this methodology for network modeling using two contact network creation examples, wherein we use this procedure to create (a) interanimal physical contact networks and (b) a visual contact network. Additionally, in creating our networks, we establish another procedure to adjust definitions of “contact” to account for RTLS positional accuracy, ensuring all true contacts are likely captured and represented in our networks. Using the methods described herein and the associated R package we have developed, called contact, researchers can derive polygons from RTLS points. Furthermore, we show that these polygons are highly versatile for contact network creation and can be used to answer a wide variety of epidemiological, ethological, and sociological research questions. By introducing these methodologies and providing the means to easily apply them through the contact R package, we hope to vastly improve network‐model realism and researchers' ability to draw inferences from RTLS data.
Study of the long term stability of the effective concentration of ionized space charges (N/sub eff/) of neutron irradiated silicon detectors fabricated by various thermal oxidation processes

An experimental study of the reverse annealing of the effective concentration of ionized space charges (N/sub eff/, also called effective doping or impurity concentration) of neutron irradiated high resistivity silicon detectors fabricated on wafers with various thermal oxides has been conducted at room temperature (RT) and elevated temperature (ET). Various thermal oxidations with temperatures ranging from 975/spl deg/C to 1200/spl deg/C with and without trichlorethane (TCA), which result in different concentrations of oxygen and carbon impurities, have been used. It has been found that, the RT annealing of the N/sub eff/ is hindered initially (t<42 days after the radiation) for detectors made on the oxides with high carbon concentrations, and there was no carbon effect on the long term (t>42 days after the radiation) N/sub eff/ reverse annealing. No apparent effect of oxygen on the N/sub eff/ stability has been observed at RT. At elevated temperature (80/spl deg/C), no significant difference in annealing behavior has been found for detectors fabricated on silicon wafers with various thermal oxides. It is apparent that for the initial stages (first and or second) of N/sub eff/ reverse annealing, there may be no dependence on the oxygen and carbon concentrations. <<ETX>>
Sedentary behavior and health outcomes in older adults: A systematic review

Introduction: Older adults (≥ 60 years old) report prolonged periods of sedentary behavior. Sedentary behavior is a potential health hazard for this priority population. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the published literature to document the relationships among sedentary behaviors and twelve health outcomes ranging from mental health to mortality. Methods: Major databases were searched from 2013 to 2019; 27 relevant articles were found and evaluated. In addition, we compared our findings to a previously published review. Results: Higher levels of sedentary behavior were related to an increased risk of all-cause mortality and adversely associated with metabolic syndrome, triglycerides/high density lipoprotein cholesterol/blood glucose, HBA1C/glucose intolerance, waist circumference, and obesity/overweight when compared to those with lower levels of sedentary behavior. Findings for blood pressure, cancer, and mental health (e.g., dementia, mild cognitive impairment, psychological well-being) were insufficient to draw conclusions or had inconsistent results. Because some sedentary behaviors were protective for mental health, we recommend a taxonomy of sedentary behaviors for older adults to provide insights into these seemingly discrepant findings. Some of our findings were similar to a prior review while other findings were different. Conclusion: This systematic review identified the health outcomes that were sufficiently, insufficiently, or not affected by sedentary behavior. To advance the field, we recommend better methodological quality. To improve the overall health and wellbeing of older adults, future studies should evaluate interventions to decrease health-compromising and increase health-promoting sedentary behaviors among older adults.
ANTIBIOTICS RESISTANCE AND PUTATIVE VIRULENCE FACTORS OF AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA ISOLATED FROM ESTUARY

This study aim to investigate antibiotics resistance profile and putative virulence factors of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from estuary. Bacteria used for this study were isolated from water and sediment samples obtained from Sungai Melayu, Johor, Malaysia. Serially diluted 100 μL water and 1g sediment were inoculated on modified Rimler Shott (mRS) agar. Colonies with distinct cultural characteristics were picked for further studies. Isolates were tested for biofilm productions, protease enzyme and antibiotics resistance profile using agar well diffusion method against 10 commercial antibiotics. Congo Red Agar (CRA), Microplate and Standard Tube (ST) methods were used for assessment of biofilm formation among the isolates while Skim Milk Agar was used for protease production. Sw.KMJ 3 and Sw.KMJ 9 produced black crystalline colonies on CRA. Six of the isolates were biofilm producers in ST method. Result of Microplate method, helped in grouping the isolates into weak (n = 8), moderate (n = 3) and strong producers (n = 4) at 540 nm wavelength. All the isolates were classified as weak ODc  ODi 0.1, moderate ODi = 0.1  0.12 and strong producers ODi  0.12 respectively at 540 nm wavelength. Antibiotics susceptibility test also revealed that all the isolates were resistant to between 6 and 10 antibiotics. Two isolates each were resistant to 6 (60 %), 7 (70 %) and 9 (90 %) antibiotics respectively. Eight of the isolates showed resistance to 8 (80 %) antibiotics while only isolate JMBFS / Odeyemi et al. 2012 : 1 (6) 1339-1357 1340 Sw.KMJ-7 showed resistance to all the tested antibiotics. Sw.KMJ-3, Sw.KMJ-8 and Sw.KMJ-9 produced protease enzyme on SMA. The isolates were also found to be resistant to both antibiotics and heavy metals.
Association between Clinical, Laboratory and CT Characteristics and RT-PCR Results in the Follow-up of COVID-19 patients

Abstract Background: Since December 2019, more than 100,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been confirmed globally based on positive viral nucleic acids with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, the association between clinical, laboratory and CT characteristics and RT-PCR results is still unclear. We sought to examine this association in detail, especially in recovered patients. Methods: We analysed data from 52 confirmed patients who had been discharged with COVID-19. The clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were dynamically recorded and compared with the admission and follow-up RT-PCR results. Results: In this cohort, 52 admitted COVID-19 patients who had confirmed positive RT-PCR results were discharged after 2 rounds of consecutively negative RT-PCR results. Compared with admission levels, CRP levels (median 4.93 mg/L [IQR: 1.78-10.20]) decreased significantly (p<0.001). and lymphocyte counts (median 1.50×109/L [IQR: 1.11-1.88]) increased obviously after obtaining negative RT-PCR results (p<0.001). Additionally, substantially improved inflammatory exudation was observed on chest CT except for 2 progressed patients. At the two-week follow-up after discharge, 7 patients had re-positive RT-PCR results, including the abovementioned 2 progressed patients. Among the 7 patients, new GGO was demonstrated in 2 patients. There were no significant differences in CPR levels or lymphocyte counts when comparing the negative and re-positive PCT results (all p >0.05). Conclusion: Heterogeneity between CT features and RT-PCR results was found in COVID-19, especially in some recovered patients with negative RT-PCR results. Our study highlights that both RT-PCR and chest CT should be considered as the key determinants for the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 patients.
Nitrogen response of two high yielding rice varieties as influenced by nitrogen levels and growing seasons

ABSTRACT Proper nitrogen (N) management of high yielding rice varieties is crucial for obtaining their potential yield benefit. In this study, we compared the effect of different N rates on rice growth, yield, and N use efficiency of two high yielding rice varieties (BRRI dhan58 and BRRI dhan75) in a Boro (dry season)-fallow-T. Aman (wet season) cropping pattern. The N rates were: 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 kg ha−1 which were assigned in randomized complete block design with three replications. In Boro season, BRRI dhan58 showed higher response to applied N compared to BRRI dhan75 in T. Aman season. The calculated optimum N dose to maximize yield of BRRI dhan58 and BRRI dhan75 were 142 kg ha−1 and 82 kg ha−1, respectively. The agronomic N use efficiency and fertilizer N recovery efficiency were comparatively higher in BRRI dhan58 grown in Boro season than BRRI dhan75 grown in T. Aman season, while in both seasons, the N use efficiencies decreased with increased N rates. This study results suggest that variety-specific N fertilization with respect to growing season is the best N management practice to maximize rice yield avoiding the excess use of N fertilizer.
FACTORES ANTINUTRICIOS Y ACTIVIDAD ANTIOXIDANTE EN VARIEDADES MEJORADAS DE FRIJOL COMÚN (Phaseolus vulgaris) ANTINUTRITIONAL FACTORS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN IMPROVED VARIETIES OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Common bean is important in the Mexican diet. It supplies 20 to 40% of protein, B complex vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium. Bean starch is a supply of energy and structural carbon for further metabolic synthesis. However, the presence of antinutritional factors in beans such as trypsin inhibitors, phytic acid, oligosaccharides and tannins reduces their biological value. The objective of this study was to characterize antinutritional factors as well as to determine the biochemical factors of improved bean seed coats as an alternative source of antioxidant compounds, other than just fiber, in a group of 16 common bean improved cultivars. Bean seeds with higher percentage of seed coat were those of black and beige colored cultivars, which had medium (25 to 38 g 100 seeds −1 ) to large
Constructive Leadership and Employee Innovative Behaviors: A Serial Mediation Model

This study aims to examine the influence of constructive leadership practices on the service innovative behaviors of hotel employees by a serial mediation system that treats employee psychological safety and employee creativity as mediators. Empirical data were collected from full-time frontline hotel employees in Antalya, Turkey. By using both convenience and judgmental sampling methods, this study included 357 hotel employees. The results provide empirical evidence for all suggested hypothesized associations. In particular, the findings display that psychological safety and engagement in creative work tasks play intervening roles (in the form of a chain) in the indirect influence of constructive leadership on employee perceptions regarding their service innovative culture. The current work provides practical contributions for hotel industry professionals who are in the treatment of implementing psychological safety and employee creativity, in order to establish innovative service culture in the hotel setting. The paper is among the first studies to investigate a serial mediation model to analyze which constructive leadership practices influence their innovative service culture.
Eﬀect of Village Savings and Loan Associations on adoption of index-based crop insurance under limited liabilities

A household survey and focus group discussions were conducted to quantify the general determinants of an index-based crop insurance adoption under limited liabilities in Burundi, and specifically the effect of existing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). The survey sample comprised of 40 crop insurance adopters, 40 non-adopters and 40 drop-outs in Bukirasazi and Makebuko communes of Gitega province. The results indicated that saving money (by VSLAs) for upcoming premium payments and regularly VSLA meetings attendance increase insurance adoption with relative risk ratio (RRR)=0.21, p≤0.001) and (RRR=0.01, p≤0.01), respectively. In addition, VSLAs’ members with more knowledge in land management (RRR=0.07, p≤0.05), crop management (RRR=0.05, p≤0.001) and integrated farm planning (RRR=0.03, p<0.05) were more likely to adopt the crop insurance. Furthermore, smallholders being aware and less appreciative limited liability were more likely inclined to adopt crop insurance with RRR=0.12 (p≤0.01) and RRR=0.01 (p≤0.001), respectively. Given the importance of VSLA in fostering crop insurance adoption, we recommend strengthening VSLAs in their operation, save for upcoming premium payments as jointly agreed and set in their constitution, and encourage smallholders to run their farms with integrated farm planning. Due to limited knowledge of smallholders about the mode of crop insurance operation, a more extensive capacity building coupled to a coaching by experts in this domain is more than a necessity.
Studies on Possibility of Producing High Quality LambsBy Crossbreeding Among Sakız, Kıvırcık andGerman Black Headed Mutton Sheep

This study has been carried out to get more and rapid growing lambs fit for slaughter by crossbreeding Kivircik ewes with Sakiz rams so as to produce F1 females with high fertility and high milk yield and crossbreeding these F1 females with German Black Headed Mutton rams. Studies have been carried out at Bandirma Sheep Breeding Research Institute. On the first step of this study 5 Sakiz rams and 134 Kivircik ewes had been used. When F1 females produced by Sakiz X KIvircik crossbreeding became mature, they had been crossbred with German Black Headed Mutton rams. The growth and carcass characteristics of the lambs born from this crossbreeding had been investigated. The data obtained, show that the liveability and the growth performance of Sakiz X Kivircik crossbred F 1 females had been satisfactory but prolific birth characteristic had been cosidered to be below the expectations. However, the lambs fit for slaughter had shown a rapid growth performance especially at the early ages and they had given high quality carcasses. The results of this study show that the usage of German Black Headed Mutton rams in getting high quality lambs in Turkey can bring important performance increase and can increase the low carcass weight of the native sheep breeds.
Non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis by soil salinity

Abstract Soil salinity is a major threat to agricultural sustainability and a global food security. Until now, most research has concentrated around stomatal limitation to photosynthesis, while non-stomatal limitations receiving much less attention. This work summarizes the current knowledge of impact of salinity on chloroplast metabolism and operation and finding viable solutions to minimize it. The major topics covered are: (1) the key targets of the photosynthetic apparatus under salt stress; (2) a tolerance of PSII to salt stress and its repair; (3) salinity effects on biochemistry of CO2 fixation and its regulation; (4) ionic requirements for optimal operation of chloroplasts; and (5) ion transport systems in chloroplasts that optimize chloroplast performance under hostile saline conditions. We show that enhancing plant capacity for protection by modifying PSI cyclic electron transport, redistribution of electron transport between photosystems, thylakoid membrane composition and photosynthetic antioxidant enzymes activity may be a promising way to improve tolerance to salt stress under real-field condition. It is concluded that revealing the molecular nature of chloroplast ion transporters and understanding the modes of their operation will ensure the future sustainability of the world agriculture and the prospects of biological phytoremediation of salinized land via using salt-tolerant crop germplasm.
Biochemical and structural characterisation of a two-component signalling system downstream of bacteriophytochrome photoreceptor 1 in Rhizobium NT-26

Prokaryotic signal transduction frequently involves two-component systems (TCSs), typically comprising a sensor histidine kinase (HK) and a response regulator (RR). Via a conserved phosphotransfer reaction, TCSs couple the detection of diverse stimuli with appropriate responses. The initial aim of this project was to characterise the two-component “signalome” of an arsenite oxidiser, Rhizobium NT-26, in the context of the environmental niche, and compare it to “signalomes” of other bacterial species. A light-sensing HK, bacteriophytochrome photoreceptor 1 (BphP1), was thus identified. Previous studies indicated that BphP1 and the members of its gene cluster - two single-domain RRs and a hybrid RR/HK protein, ExsG - may constitute a TCS. Functional characterisation revealed that BphP1 initiates a branched signalling pathway; however, the mediated output could not be identified. ExsG, a HWE-type HK, was shown to possess dual HK/RR activity and act as a novel type of signalling switch: phosphorylation of the N-terminal receiver domain downregulates the autokinase activity of the C-terminal kinase core. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that while Asp62 phosphorylation stabilises the “closed” form of ExsG, nucleotide binding stabilises the “open” conformation. These observations led to a model in which phosphorylation of the receiver domain precludes ATP binding and thus inhibits autokinase activity. Furthermore, ExsG was demonstrated to hexamerise via the HWE core, which makes it the first non-dimeric HK. Notably, however, the basic unit of the hexameric assembly is a homodimer, and the HWE core shares homology with canonical HK cores. The results presented herein broaden the current knowledge on TCSs and identify previously unreported mechanisms involved in two-component signal transduction. The members of the BphP1 signalling cascade enrich the pool of modular communication units that can be exploited in engineering artificial signalling networks, biosensors and microorganisms with novel functionalities.