Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Land Use Land Cover and Slope Gradients on Soil Fertility at Kori Sub-Watershed, East Wollega, Ethiopia

BackgroundThe complex nature of the relationship and interaction between LULC and slope gradients resulted in the decline of soil fertility parameters, which aggravate the reduction of sustainable productivity in Ethiopia in general and the study area in particular. This study was aimed to determine the effects of land use land cover and slope gradients on the physicochemical properties of soil in study area A total of 27 composite soil samples were collected from 0-20cm depth under three dominant adjacent LULC across three slope with three replications. The collected soil samples were analyzed for selected soil physicochemical properties. Two-way ANOVA was used to test the mean differences of the soil fertility parameters. ResultThe mean values of soil physicochemical parameters showed that, SOC, TN, AvP, CEC, exchangeable bases (Ca2+ Mg2+, K+, and Na+), PBS, and percentage of clay contents of cultivated land and steep slope gradient (15-30%) were low and significantly different at (P≤0.05) than forest and grad grassland of the same slope gradient. The gentle slope (3-8%) gradients of the forest lands had the lowest BD and high TP as compared to the others.Conclusion﻿The overall soil fertility status of the steep slope gradient (15-30%) of cultivated lands is lower than others and cultivating the steep slope is the cause for productivity loss in the study sub-watershed. Therefore, proper land-use planning and the use of integrated soil fertility management strategy give better production and keep the soil fertility status to a better level.
Morphological and molecular evidence confirms a new species, Riccia subcrinita YouL.Xiang & R.L.Zhu) and Riccia junghuhniana Nees & Lindenb. (Ricciaceae, Marchantiophyta) new to China

Riccia is the largest genus of complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiopsida) with over 250 species currently accepted. Our recent investigation of Chinese liverworts found two interesting Riccia species, R. junghuhniana and Riccia subcrinita sp. nov. Riccia junghuhniana is currently known from Australia and Indonesia, while Riccia subcrinita is known only from China. Riccia subcrinita is similar to R. crinita, but differs in having smaller spores (56–71 µm in diameter), and spore distal surface and proximal surface alveoli without thick borders. The sequences of rbcL, rps4, and trnL-F, detailed descriptions, and illustrations of the Chinese specimens are provided. The range extension of R. junghuhniana suggests that more taxa of Riccia may have a wider distribution. The discovery of R. junghuhniana and the new species also suggests that a more intensive survey of Riccia diversity in China is necessary.
Join Classifier of Type and Index Mutation on Lung Cancer DNA Using Sequential Labeling Model

The sequential labeling model is commonly used for time series or sequence data where each instance label is classified using previous instance label. In this work, a sequential labeling model is proposed as a new approach to detect the type and index mutations simultaneously, using DNA sequences from lung cancer study cases. The methods used are One Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM), and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (Bi-GRU). Each nucleotide in the patient’s DNA sequence is classified as either normal or with a certain type of mutation in which case, its index mutation is predicted. The mutation types detected are either substitution, insertion, deletion, or delins (deletion insertion) mutations. Based on the experiments that were conducted using <italic>EGFR</italic> gene, BiLSTM and Bi-GRU displayed better performance and were more stable than 1D-CNN. Further tests were carried out on the <italic>TP53</italic>, <italic>KRAS</italic>, <italic>CTNNB1</italic>, <italic>SMARCA4</italic>, <italic>CDKN2A</italic>, <italic>PTPRD</italic>, <italic>BRAF</italic>, <italic>ERBB2</italic>, and <italic>PTPRT</italic> gene. The proposed model reports F1-scores of 0.9596, and 0.9612 using Bi-GRU and BiLSTM, respectively. Based on the results the model can successfully detect the type and index mutations in the DNA sequence more accurately and faster without the need for other supporting data and tools, and does not require re-alignment to reference sequences. This will greatly facilitate the user in detecting type and index mutations faster by entering only the DNA sequence.
LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (LTPA) AMONG FEMALE ACADEMICIANS IN UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT Background: Leisure time is an important domain in life regardless of gender, social class and age. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern LTPA (Leisure Time Physical Activity) among female academicians in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female academicians in UPM, from December 2014 to March 2015. Respondents were randomly chosen by simple random sampling using IBM-SPSS version 22 software. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection. It consisted of five sections involving socio-demographic factors, time constraints (home and work place), physical activity, accessibility to leisure-related facilities (home and work place) and health status. Descriptive analysis, t-test, correlation and multivariate linear regression were employed to determine the predictors using enter method. The data was analysed using SPSS version 22.0 software. Result: A total of 654 respondents participated in the study yielding a response rate of 75%. The top five (5) physical activities with the highest level of involvement were evening walking 0.90±1.25; jogging 0.48±0.96, playing golf 0.14 ±0.52 and swimming 0.31±0.71. While, the five (5) least common physical activities reported were yoga 0.08±0.40, dancing zumba 0.18±0.57, aerobics 0.14±0.48, playing tennis 0.15±0.48 and cycling 0.21±0.55. There was a significant association between leisure in physical activity with time constraints at home (t=5.023, p<=0.001), time constraints at work place (t=-3.199, p<=0.001), health status (t=-6.363, p<=0.001) and accessibility to leisure- related facilities at home (t=-4.348, p<=0.001). No association was shown between leisure in physical activity and accessibility to leisure-related facilities at work place (t=0,947, p=0.344). Multiple Linear Regression analysis showed the predictors of physical activity were age ((B= -0.107, p<=0.001), facility at home (B=-1.030, p=0.002) and health status (B=-1.550, p<=0.001). Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that, female academicians were physically inactive; however several factors influenced this physical inactiveness. Keywords: Leisure, female academicians, physical activity, UPM
Carotid Artery Stiffness Mechanisms Associated With Cardiovascular Disease Events and Incident Hypertension: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Elastic arteries stiffen via 2 main mechanisms: (1) load-dependent stiffening from higher blood pressure and (2) structural stiffening due to changes in the vessel wall. It is unknown how these different mechanisms contribute to incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Methods: The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) is a longitudinal study of 6814 men and women without CVD at enrollment, from 6 communities in the United States. MESA participants with B-mode carotid ultrasound and brachial blood pressure at baseline Exam in (2000–2002) and CVD surveillance (mean follow-up 14.3 years through 2018) were included (n=5873). Peterson’s elastic modulus was calculated to represent total arterial stiffness. Structural stiffness was calculated by adjusting Peterson’s elastic modulus to a standard blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg with participant-specific models. Load-dependent stiffness was the difference between total and structural stiffness. Results: In Cox models adjusted for traditional risk factors, load-dependent stiffness was significantly associated with higher incidence of CVD events (hazard ratio/100 mm Hg, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.09–1.34] P<0.001) events while higher structural stiffness was not (hazard ratio, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.99–1.07] P=0.10). Analysis of participants who were normotensive (blood pressure <130/80, no antihypertensives) at baseline exam (n=2122) found higher load-dependent stiffness was also associated with significantly higher incidence of hypertension (hazard ratio, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.35–1.75] P<0.001) while higher structural stiffness was not (hazard ratio, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.99–1.07] P=0.16). Conclusions: These results provide valuable new insights into mechanisms underlying the association between arterial stiffness and CVD. Load-dependent stiffness was significantly associated with CVD events but structural stiffness was not.
Preemptive Detection of Cyber Attacks on Industrial Control Systems

Industrial Control Systems (ICSes), networked through conventional IT infrastructures, are vulnerable to attacks originating from network channels. Perimeter security techniques such as access control and firewalls have had limited success in mitigating such attacks due to the frequent updates required by standard computing platforms, third-party hardware and embedded process controllers. The high level of human-machine interaction also aids in circumventing perimeter defenses, making an ICS susceptible to attacks such as reprogramming of embedded controllers. The Stuxnet and Aurora attacks have demonstrated the vulnerabilities of ICS security and proved that these systems can be stealthily compromised. We present several run-time methods for preemptive intrusion detection in industrial control systems to enhance ICS security against reconfiguration and network attacks. A run-time prediction using a linear model of the physical plant and a neural-network based classifier trigger mechanism are proposed for preemptive detection of an attack. A standalone, safety preserving, optimal backup controller is implemented to ensure plant safety in case of an attack. The intrusion detection mechanism and the backup controller are instantiated in configurable hardware, making them invisible to operating software and ensuring their integrity in the presence of malicious software. Hardware implementation of our approach on an inverted pendulum system illustrates the performance of both techniques in the presence of reconfiguration and network attacks.
Influence of bFGF on in vitro expansion and chondrogenic construction of articular cartilage-derived progenitor cells

Background Articular cartilage-derived progenitor cells (ACPCs) possess the properties of both chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, the number of ACPCs in articular cartilage is low, and an effective culture system is needed for their expansion. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promotes the expansion of chondrocytes and BMSCs, as well as the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify whether bFGF could be used for in vitro expansion of ACPCs and whether bFGF promoted chondrogenic construction of ACPCs. Methods We applied the fibronectin adhesion method to sort mice ACPCs and compared the proliferative, osteogenic, and chondrogenic abilities of ACPCs by adding various concentration of bFGF (0, 2, and 5 ng/mL) to the cell culture medium. Then used the best system to construct cartilage with ACPCs in vitro and in vivo. Results The results indicated that bFGF promoted ACPCs proliferation, inhibited osteogenesis, and promoted chondrogenesis, and that a cell culture system containing 2 ng/mL bFGF was optimal for these effects. ACPCs constructed cartilage using the filtered culture system presented homogeneous cartilaginous histological structure in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions By applying this cell culture system, homogenous cartilage tissue was constructed in vitro and in vivo by chondrogenic induction, which provides a stable cell expansion culture method for the application of ACPCs in cartilage repair.
Emergency department use for mental and substance use disorders: descriptive analysis of population-based, linked administrative data in British Columbia, Canada

Objectives Information on emergency department (ED) visits for mental and substance use disorders (MSUDs) is important for planning services but has not been explored in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We describe all MSUD ED visits for people ages 15 and older in the province of BC in 2017/2018 and document trends in MSUD ED visits between 2007/2008 and 2017/2018 by disorder group. Design Population-based linked administrative data comprised of ED records and physician billings capturing all MSUD ED visits in BC. Setting BC is Canada’s westernmost province with a population of approximately 5 million. Permanent residents receive first-dollar coverage for all medically necessary services provided by licensed physicians or in hospitals, including ED services. Population All people age >15 with MSUD ED visits during the study period. Measures All claims with a service location in the ED or corresponding to fee items billed only in the ED were examined alongside ED visits reported through a national reporting system. Patient characteristics (sex/gender, age, location of residence, income, treated disorders and comorbidities) and previous outpatient service use for all ED visits by visit diagnosis are also described. Results A total of 72 363 people made 134 063 visits to the ED in 2017/2018 for needs related to MSUD. MSUD ED visits have increased since 2010, particularly visits for substance use and anxiety disorders. People with more frequent visits were more likely to be male, on public prescription drug plans for income assistance, prescribed psychiatric medications, and living in lower-income neighbourhoods. They used more community-based primary care and psychiatry services and had lower continuity of primary care. Conclusions MSUD ED visits are substantial and growing in BC. Findings underscore a need to strengthen and target community healthcare services and adequately resource and support EDs to manage growing patient populations.
Tunable multiport system for measurement of two-port scattering parameters

A novel multiport system, allowing for measurements of scattering parameters in over-two-octave frequency range is proposed. It is composed of two directional couplers and a standard 4 × 4 Butler matrix, and does not require any isolators. The presented system features a uniform power distribution providing the high precision of measurements, which can be further enhanced by a simple adjustment of the system's parameters. A comprehensive analysis of the proposed system configurations, a fully analytical calibration for transmission coefficient measurement, and the estimation of maximum measurement error are given. The proposed measuring system has been experimentally verified in a wide frequency range 1–5 GHz, by measurements of S-parameters of exemplary components. The measurement results are very close to the values obtained with the use of a commercial vector network analyser within the 50 dB range of measured values’ magnitude.
Guidelines for standardizing T‐cell cytometry assays to link biomarkers, mechanisms, and disease outcomes in type 1 diabetes

Cytometric immunophenotyping is a powerful tool to discover and implement T‐cell biomarkers of type 1 diabetes (T1D) progression and response to clinical therapy. Although many discovery‐based T‐cell biomarkers have been described, to date, no such markers have been widely adopted in standard practice. The heterogeneous nature of T1D and lack of standardized assays and experimental design across studies is a major barrier to the broader adoption of T‐cell immunophenotyping assays. There is an unmet need to harmonize the design of immunophenotyping assays, including those that measure antigen‐agnostic cell populations, such that data collected from different clinical trial sites and T1D cohorts are comparable, yet account for cohort‐specific features and different drug mechanisms of action. In these Guidelines, we aim to provide expert advice on how to unify aspects of study design and practice. We provide recommendations for defining cohorts, method implementation, as well as tools for data analysis and reporting by highlighting and building on selected successes. Harmonization of cytometry‐based T‐cell assays will allow researchers to better integrate findings across trials, ultimately enabling the identification and validation of biomarkers of disease progression and treatment response in T1D.
Post-harvest growth and longevity of ornamental sunflowers irrigated using magnetised water with different irrigation depths

ABSTRACT With the water crisis affecting several countries, the use of innovative technologies and methods in irrigated agriculture is essential to increase water use efficiency. The use of magnetised water has been considered a possibility both for saving water resources and in increasing crop productivity and quality. Following this, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the growth and longevity of flower stems of ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.; Vincent’s Choice) irrigated with different irrigation depths and water subjected to magnetic field treatment. The treatments consisted of five percentage of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (20, 70, 100, 130, and 160% of ETc) and two types of irrigation water (magnetised water; and ordinary water). The following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, inflorescence diameter, fresh and dry masses of the leaves and stems, fresh and dry masses of the inflorescence, and post-harvest longevity of the flower stems. The growth and post-harvest longevity characteristics were not influenced by the water type. An increase in irrigation depth promoted an increase in all analysed parameters. Regarding the commercialisation patterns of cut flowers, depth equal to or greater than 0.7 ETc yielded the best classification of ornamental sunflower.
Using Variable Spray Angle Fan Nozzle on Long Spray Booms

A new-concept of using variable spray angle fan spray nozzle in conjunction with pulse width modulation technique was proposed for compensation of the effects of spray boom vibration on chemical application rate and pattern. A review of literature regarding techniques used to diminish the effects of long spray booms dynamic behavior on uniformity of spray application reveals that the research work so far has mostly involved boom positioning, vibration analysis, mathematical modeling and monitoring of boom dynamic behavior, in the hope of finding the ways to attenuate vibration through improving the design of boom structure, suspension, and control systems. The present article puts forward the idea of using Variable Spray Angle Fan Spray Nozzle (VSAFSN) along with pulse width modulation (PWM) technique to maintain constant spray coverage, hence, uniformity of spray application. TEEJET-XR11002 Nozzle was used and preliminary experiments were carried out to study the feasibility of the proposed concept. Spray pressure range of 55 kPa to 490 kPa, was used to vary spray angle from 78 to 160 degrees. Results showed that the spray maintained its almost normal distribution pattern within full range of spray angle. Relationships between spray angle (y) and operating pressure (x) was found as y=0.1495x-90.851, R 2 =0.7953, and, between nozzle flow rate (y) and spray angle (x) was found as y=8.3824x-387.13, R 2 =0.8712.
Three-Dimensional Joint Kinematics of the Upper Extremity in Reach Movements under Whole-Body Vibration Exposure

Simulation of human reach movements is an essential component for proactive ergonomic analysis and computer-aided engineering of biomechanical models. Most studies on reach kinematics described human movements in a static environment, however the models derived from these studies cannot be applied to the analysis of human reach movements in vibratory environments such as in-vehicle operations. Earlier studies on reach performance under vibration exposure focused mainly on fingertip end-point accuracy. This study analyzes three dimensional joint kinematics of the upper extremity in reach movements performed in static and vibratory conditions. The ultimate goal is to develop an active biodynamic model capable of simulating reach movements in vibratory environments. Thirteen seated subjects performed reach movements to four target directions distributed in the right hemisphere. The results show differences and similarities in the characteristics of movement patterns of upper body segments for static and dynamic environments. Identification of movement patterns in terms of joint kinematics can be used to determine some biodynamic principles of upper body segments coordination in reach motion.
Local water content field within an epoxy/metal bonded assembly in immersion

ABSTRACT In this article a model of water diffusion within a bonded assembly will be set up. It will be fed by experimental tests which will allow to characterize the diffusive properties of a bonded assembly by taking into account the presence of interphases. For this purpose, specimens will be instrumented with Fresnel fiber optic sensors. These sensors allow a local measurement of the water content of a polymer material during wet ageing. Once these measurements are performed, the model, which will be called “gradient model”, will then allow to calculate and represent the water content field at the core and at the interphases of an epoxy/metal bonded assembly. This model will be confronted with gravimetric tests in order to verify its good performance on the calculation of the global water content of an assembly.
A goal-based writing program in the EFL writing context: implementation and results

ABSTRACT The purpose of the current study is to explore the potential impact of a goal-based writing program on EFL students’ writing competence and their attitudes toward goal-setting activities. The goal-based writing program was developed within goal-setting theory and launched in a writing class of 39 EFL Vietnamese university students over ten weeks. To evaluate the success of the program, students’ writing scores were collected and subjected to a statistical analysis, and their perspectives toward goal setting were examined through semi-structured interviews. Strong evidence was found in support of the custom goal-based writing program. In terms of students’ writing achievement, significant improvement was seen in all four writing areas, namely, task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy, with coherence and cohesion demonstrating the most significant development. Regarding students’ perspectives, the current goal-based writing program was found to improve their learning motivation and autonomy while creating a more supportive learning environment. However, the interview data indicate that students became less committed to goal setting at the end of the program. Valuable pedagogical implications and useful guidelines on the implementation of the goal-based writing program in the EFL context are highlighted in the current study.