Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 Observations for Harmful Algae Blooms in a Small Eutrophic Lake

Widespread harmful cyanobacterial bloom is one of the most pressing concerns in lakes and reservoirs, resulting in a lot of negative ecological consequences and threatening public health. Ocean color instruments with low spatial resolution have been used to monitor cyanobacterial bloom in large lakes; however, they cannot be applied to small water bodies well. Here, the Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) onboard Sentinel-2A and -2B and the Operational Landsat Imager (OLI) onboard Landsat-8 were employed to assemble the virtual constellation and to track spatial and seasonal variations in floating algae blooms from 2016 to 2020 in a small eutrophic plateau lake: Lake Xingyun in China. The floating algae index (FAI) was calculated using Rayleigh-corrected reflectance in the red, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared bands. The MSI-derived FAI had a similar pattern to the OLI-derived FAI, with a mean absolute percentage error of 19.98% and unbiased percentage difference of 17.05%. Then, an FAI threshold, 0.0693, was determined using bimodal histograms of FAI images for floating algae extraction. The floating algae had a higher occurrence in the northern region than the southern region in this lake, whilst the occurrence of floating algae in summer and autumn was higher than that in spring and winter. Such a spatial and seasonal pattern was related to the variability in air temperature, wind speed and direction, and nutrients. The climatological annual mean occurrence of floating algae from 2016 to 2020 in Lake Xingyun exhibited a significant decrease, which was related to decreases in nutrients, resulting from efficient ecological restoration by the local government. This research highlighted the application of OLI-MSI virtual constellation on monitoring floating algae in a small lake, providing a practical and theoretical reference to monitor aquatic environments in small water bodies.
Policing Public Transportation: An Environmental and Procedural Evaluation of Bus Stops

Research studies often show that the mode of travel decision is influenced by both actual and vicarious victimization experiences including fear of crime, among other factors. It is commonplace that patrons of public transportation systems experience fear of crime, and others may avoid the use all together out of fear. For many, public transportation may well be the only mode of transportation available due to financial or health reasons. This essential nature of public transportation accentuates the importance of providing safe and reliable services. With the increased attention to public transportation systems from the governments and the public in recent years, a study examining relationships between public transportation and crime is a timely and welcome subject. The book by Brandon Kooi, Policing Public Transportation, introduces a research study that investigates relationships between bus stops and crime. The research study is designed using both quantitative and qualitative approaches: quantitative methods are used mainly to examine impacts of collective efficacy and bus stops on crime. After identifying high crime bus stops, environmental observations are made to examine the territoriality of bus stops. As such, the study is organized at three levels of analyses: impacts of collective efficacy; number of bus stops per census block; and environmental characteristics of
PENGARUH KOMPETENSI, KOMPENSASI DAN BUDAYA ORGANISASI TERHADAP KINERJA DOSEN TETAP PADA PERGURUAN TINGGI SWASTA ( PTS ) DI KOTA PALU

The objectives of this research are to know and analyze: (1) the simultaneous effects of compentency, compensation and organizational culture on lecturer’s performance at private higher degree schools in Palu, (2) partial effect of competency on lecturer’s performance, (3) partial effect of compensation on lecturer’s performance, (4) partial effect of organizational culture on lecturer’s performance at private higher degree school in Palu. This is a survey research using descriptive method. Sample of this research involves 66 lecturers in private higher degree schools in Palu. Multiple linear regressions have been used as analysis statistical tool. The result shows that: (1) simultaneously competency, compensation an organizational culture perform significant effects on lecturer’s performance at private higher degree schools in Palu, (2) partially, compentency performs significant effect on lecturer’s performance, (3) compensation performs significant effect on lecturer’s performance, (4) organizational culture performs significant effect on lecturer’s performance at private higher degree schools in Palu. Key words: competency, compensation, organizational culture, performance
Shaping the Industrial Century: The Remarkable Story of the Evolution of the Modern Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries

Preface Acknowledgments Part I. Overview 1. Differences, Concepts, Themes, and Approach 2. Evolving Paths of Learning Part II. The Chemical Industry 3. The Major American Companies 4. The Focused American Companies 5. The European Competitors 6. The American Competitors Part III. The Pharmaceutical Industry 7. The American Companies: The Prescription Path 8. The American Companies: The Over-the-Counter Path 9. The American and European Competitors 10. Commercializing Biotechnology Part IV. Paths of Learning 11. The Three Revolutions: Industrial, Information, and Biotechnology Notes Index
PENGARUH PEMBERIAN KOPI TERHADAP KUALITAS SPERMATOZOA TIKUS WISTAR JANTAN (Rattus norvegicus) YANG DIBERI PAPARAN ASAP ROKOK

Abstract : Coffee contains caffeine which acts to increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production in order to stimulate the motility of spermatozoa. Smoking affects the process of spermatogenesis, semen quality, and testosterone level. This study aimed to determine the effect of coffee on sperm quality of wistar rats exposed to cigarette smoke. This was a descriptive observational study. Samples were 6 wistar rats divided into 3 groups, each of 2 rats. The control group (P0) was exposed to cigarette smoke of 2 cigarettes/day. The P1 group was exposed to cigarette smoke (2 cigarettes/day) and was given 40 mg coffee solution; and the P2 group was exposed to cigarette smoke (2 cigarettes/day) and was given 80 mg coffee solution. The results showed that rats in P2 group showed increases and improvement in the spermatozoa concentration 70.9x106/ml, motility of spermatozoa category A by 55%, and morphologically normal spermatozoa by 55.5%. Conclusion: Coffee can improve the sperm quality of wistar rats Rattus norvegicus exposed to cigarette smoke. Keywords : cigarette, coffee, sperm quality Abstrak : Kopi mengandung kafein yang berfungsi meningkatkan produksi siklik adenosin monofosfat (cAMP) yang merangsang gerakan spermatozoa. Rokok memengaruhi proses spermatogenesis, kualitas semen, dan kadar hormon testosteron. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kopi terhadap kualitas spermatozoa tikus wistar jantan yang diberi paparan asap rokok. Penelitian ini bersifat observasional deskriptif. Sampel sebanyak 6 ekor tikus wistar jantan: 2 ekor tikus wistar jantan sebagai kontrol (P0) yang hanya diberi paparan asap rokok 2 batang/hari; 2 ekor tikus wistar jantan diberi paparan asap rokok 2 batang/hari dan 40 mg larutan kopi (P1); dan 2 ekor tikus wistar jantan diberi paparan asap rokok 2 batang/hari dan 80 mg larutan kopi (P2). Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan pada kelompok P2 terjadi peningkatan konsentrasi spermatozoa sebesar 70,9x106/ml, peningkatan motilitas spermatozoa kategori A sebesar 55% dan morfologi normal spermatozoa sebesar 55,5%. Simpulan: Kopi dapat meningkatkan kualitas spermatozoa tikus wistar jantan Rattus norvegicus yang diberi paparan asap rokok. Kata kunci : rokok, kopi, kualitas spermatozoa
Operational Analysis of Uninterrupted Bicycle Facilities

The popularity of bicycles in North America is growing. As the popularity of bicycles has increased, so has the physical network of separate bicycle facilities and designated bicycle lanes in many locations. As a consequence of this growth, there is a demand for more information about bicycle operations on these facilities. Unfortunately, the state of knowledge regarding bicycle operations in the United States currently lags far behind that of motor vehicles and pedestrians. The international research that has been conducted to date regarding bicycle operations on uninterrupted facilities is thoroughly reviewed, and recommended procedures for the operational analysis of uninterrupted bicycle facilities are outlined. The recommended procedures are based on the concept of “frequencies of events” involving a bicyclist and other bicyclists or facility users. Events are defined as bicycle maneuvers required by a bicyclist on a facility, including passings (same-direction encounters) and meetings (opposite-direction encounters). The frequency of events for an uninterrupted bicycle facility is related to the service volumes of bicycles using or projected to be using the facility and does not have to be observed directly. The proposed procedures are, therefore, recommended based not only on their theoretical substance but also on their ease of use by practitioners.
EFFECTS OF INITIAL BODY WEIGHT AND FEED INTAKE ON INDIVIDUAL WEEKLY EGG PRODUCTION CURVE OF LAYING HENS

The main objectives of this study were to compare eight mathematical models for ability to describe weekly egg production curve of individual hens, and to examine any relation of egg production curve parameters with initial body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) when they are fed a single diet. After determining the best model, the model was also investigated to assess whether it was sensitive to increase in egg production intervals; from weekly (1W) to 2 weekly (2W) to four weekly (4W) productions. Data were obtained from 114 Nick Brown laying hens raised in the same environmental conditions. The models were compared using residual mean (RM), coefficients of determination (R 2 ), correlation between the observed and the estimated egg production curves (r), AIC and BIC statistics. With respect to the goodness-of-fit criteria, among the eight models, GK2001 model with 3 parameters performed best to describe the curve of individual weekly egg production. RM, R 2 , r, AIC and BIC values were 0.00, 0.99, 0.59, -183.83 and -175.37 for GK2001 followed by POL5 with 6 parameters (0.00, 0.99, 0.59, -194.38 and -177.45) and POL4 with 5 parameters (0.70, 0.99, 0.56, -188.09 and -173.99). The parameters of GK2001 model were not affected by variation in body weight or feed intake. It was concluded that GK2001 model could conveniently be used to describe individual weekly egg production of hens fed the same diet, but increasing egg production interval for summarizing data was resulted in underestimating the actual annual egg production.
Head injuries in vehicle-pedestrian impact

In vehicle-pedestrian impacts, the kinematics and severity of pedestrian injuries are affected by vehicle front shapes. Accident analyses and multibody simulations showed that for mini-vans the injury risk to the head is higher, while that to the legs is lower than for bonnet-type cars. In mini-van pedesrian impacts, pedestrians ran high risks of a head impact against stiff structures such as windshield frames. When pedestrians are struck by a car with a short hood length, their heads are likely to strike into or around the windshield. The injury risks to the head by such an impact were examined by hardform impact tests. The HIC rises from contact with the cowl, windshield frame or A pillar, and it lessens with increasing distance from these structural elements. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E106349.
Investigating enteroaggregative Escherichia coli virulence factors in human intestinal infection

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) are a major cause of diarrhoeal illness in children, travellers, and the immunocompromised, and associated with foodborne outbreaks worldwide. However, EAEC is a heterogeneous pathotype with frequent asymptomatic carriage and a diversity of virulence factors. Previous studies have been unsuccessful in identifying genetic virulence markers. In this study, two complimentary approaches were applied using intestinal infection models to investigate bacterial factors contributing to EAEC pathogenesis in the human gut. Firstly, the influence of intestinal environmental signals on the expression of putative EAEC virulence genes was evaluated using a vertical diffusion chamber (VDC). Aerobic oxygen levels increased expression of the adhesins aggregative adherence fimbriae II (AAF/II) and E. coli common pilus, the colonisation factor dispersin, and the global transcriptional activator AggR in prototype strain 042. Furthermore, adherence to polarised T84 intestinal epithelial cells significantly enhanced the expression of adherence factors (AAFs and dispersin), toxins (HlyE, EAST-1, Pet) and the Pic mucinase. This induction required host cell binding and was independent of AggR regulation. Based on these findings, it is proposed that EAEC adherence factors are induced by proximity to the oxygen diffusion gradient across the gut epithelium, while epithelial cell contact activates expression of further virulence factors. As an alternative approach to identify EAEC pathogenicity markers, virulence-associated phenotypes and genotypic profiles were determined for EAEC sequence types associated with disease (ST40) or carriage (ST31). ST40 isolates exhibited significantly higher biofilm formation and adherence to T84 cells and human colonic biopsies. The genotype comparison identified differences in virulence genes associated with epithelial colonisation and induction of host inflammatory responses between both sequence types. Overall, this project has revealed that EAEC virulence gene expression is modulated by intestinal environmental signals and identified phenotypic and genotypic traits specific for EAEC sequence types associated with disease or carriage.
Expatriates and knowledge transfer : a case study of a power plant constructed in Africa

This paper outlines aspects of a broader exploratory study on the management of skills shortages at a leading energy utility in Africa. Specifically, the paper examines the opinions of local and foreign personnel employed on a power plant construction project on the nature of skills shortages experienced at the energy utility, the organization’s short-term strategy of dealing with the shortages by employing expatriates and the latter’s role in knowledge transfer. Various human resources approaches were explored to provide appropriate theoretical structure to the research including intellectual capital and human capital models. A sample of highly skilled personnel defined as “key job families” according to the Kaplan and Norton (2004) human capital model were purposively selected for the study. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. International research on expatriates’ impact on knowledge transfer within the public sector environment is very scarce; this is the first research of its kind to examine these issues at a public power plant. Preliminary results indicate that the type of knowledge, willingness to learn and share on the part of both expatriates and locals, and national culture are some of the factors impacting the success of knowledge transfer from expatriates to locals.
We think we can: development of the Dyadic Efficacy Scale for Cancer

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Background: Measurement advances are needed to enable the study of dyadic-level processes impacting couples coping with cancer. This study sought to develop and empirically examine a Dyadic Efficacy Scale for Cancer (DESC). Cancer-related dyadic efficacy is an individual's confidence to work together with a partner to cope with cancer and its treatment. Methods: The DESC was developed using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. This paper outlines the psychometric evaluation phase. Individuals with cancer (N = 261) and their partners (N = 217) completed 50 items. Item-level analyses reduced this set to 26 items. Using the dyad as the unit of analysis, confirmatory factor analysis with mirrored patient and partner bifactor structure tested for the presence of a general factor and 3 secondary factors, that is, illness intrusions, patient affect, partner affect. Results: Goodness-of-fit indices supported the identified model, χ 2(1170) = 2090, P < . 001; RMSEA = . 05, P = . 14, 90% CI . 05–. 06; SRMR = . 05; CFI = . 90. Multidimensionality differed for patients and partners. A general dyadic efficacy factor and secondary factors for managing affect were present for both dyad members, whereas the secondary factor of managing illness intrusions was confirmed for patients only. The model explained 72% and 64% of the variance in patients’ and partners’ dyadic efficacy. Evidence of convergent validity was presented. Conclusions: This study is the first to provide a tool to assess dyadic efficacy among couples coping with cancer. The assessment of cancer-related dyadic efficacy enables new discoveries into couples’ adjustment to cancer.
Hertzian Tales: Electronic Products, Aesthetic Experience, and Critical Design

As our everyday social and cultural experiences are increasingly mediated by electronic products--from "intelligent" toasters to iPods--it is the design of these products that shapes our experience of the "electrosphere" in which we live. Designers of electronic products, writes Anthony Dunne in Hertzian Tales, must begin to think more broadly about the aesthetic role of electronic products in everyday life. Industrial design has the potential to enrich our daily lives--to improve the quality of our relationship to the artificial environment of technology, and even, argues Dunne, to be subverted for socially beneficial ends.The cultural speculations and conceptual design proposals in Hertzian Tales are not utopian visions or blueprints; instead, they embody a critique of present-day practices, "mixing criticism with optimism. " Six essays explore design approaches for developing the aesthetic potential of electronic products outside a commercial context--considering such topics as the post-optimal object and the aesthetics of user-unfriendliness--and five proposals offer commentary in the form of objects, videos, and images. These include "Electroclimates," animations on an LCD screen that register changes in radio frequency; "When Objects Dream. ," consumer products that "dream" in electromagnetic waves; "Thief of Affection," which steals radio signals from cardiac pacemakers; "Tuneable Cities," which uses the car as it drives through overlapping radio environments as an interface of hertzian and physical space; and the "Faraday Chair: Negative Radio," enclosed in a transparent but radio-opaque shield.Very little has changed in the world of design since Hertzian Tales was first published by the Royal College of Art in 1999, writes Dunne in his preface to this MIT Press edition: "Design is not engaging with the social, cultural, and ethical implications of the technologies it makes so sexy and consumable. " His project and proposals challenge it to do so.
Developing computational thinking skills with algorithm-driven spreadsheeting

The paper presents the details of a four-year project to test the effectiveness of teaching spread-sheeting with spreadsheet programming, instead of the traditional, widely accepted surface approach methods. The novel method applied in the project, entitled Sprego (Spreadsheet Lego), is a concept-based problem-solving approach adapted from the didactics of other sciences and computer programming. In the experimental group contextualized, real-world programming problems are presented in a spreadsheet environment. A semi-unplugged data-driven analysis is carried out based on each problem, which is followed by the building of a feasible algorithm, expressed by natural language expressions. The coding is completed in the following step by applying a limited number of spreadsheet (Sprego) functions, multilevel, and array formulas. The final steps of the process are discussion and debugging. On the other hand, classical, tool-centered approaches are applied in the control groups. Our research reveals that the traditional surface approach methods for teaching spreadsheeting do not provide long lasting, reliable knowledge which would provide students and end-users with effective problem-solving strategies, while Sprego does. Beyond this finding, the project proves that Sprego supports schema construction and extended abstraction, which is one of the major hiatus points of traditional surface navigation methods. The project also reveals that developing computational thinking skills should not be downgraded, and the misconceptions of self-taught end-users and user-friendly applications should be reconsidered, especially their application in educational environments. Gaining effective computer problem-solving skills and knowledge-transfer abilities is not magic, but a time-consuming process which requires consciously developed and effective methods, and teachers who accept the incremental nature of the sciences.
Preliminary evidence that hydroxyurea is associated with attenuated peripheral sensitization in adults with sickle cell disease

Introduction: Hydroxyurea (HU) is a drug that targets the underlying pathophysiology of sickle cell disease (SCD); however, it continues to be an underutilized treatment for adults. Previous research suggests that HU treatment can result in fewer hospital contacts for acute vaso-occlusive pain crises (VOC). Hydroxyurea's impact on non-VOC pain, however, is not well established. Objectives: This study examined whether HU moderated patterns of static and dynamic pain processing and clinical pain in SCD individuals. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with SCD (N taking HU = 17) underwent quantitative sensory testing (QST) and completed twice daily symptom diaries for 12 weeks. Quantitative sensory testing established thermal threshold and tolerance, mechanical thresholds, and thermal and mechanical temporal summation of pain. Results: Groups did not differ in age, sex, or opioid use. After controlling for morphine use, QST results showed that participants taking HU had higher heat and mechanical pain thresholds (static QST measures) but not thermal and mechanical temporal summation (dynamic QST measures). Participants taking HU also reported lower VOC pain compared with SCD participants not taking HU; however, HU did not moderate non-VOC clinical pain ratings. Conclusion: Findings cautiously suggest that HU acts on pain hypersensitivity and VOC pain, rather than inhibiting pain facilitation and non-VOC pain. These differences may reflect HU's influence on peripheral rather than central sensitization. Future research is warranted to replicate these findings in a larger sample and determine whether early HU administration can prevent peripheral sensitization in SCD individuals.