Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Assessment of the Effects of Desertification in Yobe State, Nigeria

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental and socio-economic problems of our time. Desertification describes circumstances of land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions resulting from the climatic variation and human activities. The fundamental goal of this thesis was to assess the effects of desertification in Yobe State, Nigeria. The present threat of desertification in the sahel has reached an alarming stage where crops cultivation and animal rearing/grazing are no more productive, soil has lost its nutrient/fertility, various infrastructure had given way because of windstorm from the neighbouring Niger Republic and sand dunes had taken over. The objectives of the research were to map out and analyse the land cover changes at a scale 1: 100,000 from the satellite images of 1986, 1999 and 2009; to establish and appraise the relationship between rainfall and temperature on desertification and to assess the role of human activities to desertification of the study area. The materials and methods used included LandSat TM and ETM of various time periods, climate parameters of rainfall and temperature (i.e. forty-five years rainfall and temperature data) and data were also acquired from oral and written questionnaire administered. The data obtained from research questionnaire were analyzed using the SPSS. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to get frequency distribution tables, percentages to determine the proportion of the variables, and the variables were tested using correlation and chi-square contingency. The result of the investigation has revealed the extent (the rate of change) vis-a-vis desertification of the study area. It further reveals that for Yobe State, in 1986, the rate of desertification was 23.71%, by 1999 it has increased to 31.30% and in 2009, it had covered almost half of the State (46.52%). This is indicating that desertification in very much evident in the study area. The result of climate parameters of rainfall and temperature has shown that rainfall has increased to 1,000mm and above while temperature has fallen to as low as 20 o C. The result of the human factor has remained the major cause of desertification. Most of the arable land had been over-cultivated and also the land reserved for animal grazing had been subsumed by farmers leaving no portion for animal grazing. Most of the trees are either cut down for crop cultivation or titled as means for cooking fuel. Recommendations were made on the human actions on landuse in the study area. To stop tree felling as a means of cooking fuel the government should provide kerosene and cooking gas at a very subsidized rate for the people to be able to afford. The desertification has led to sand encroachment and to accelerated development of dunes. The area has also been subjected to a vegetation cover transformation. Pastures have deteriorated in quality and quantity, but in many parts, the degradation is still reversible if land use is organized.
CEFIN Working Papers

In this paper we investigate household financial fragility and assess the role played by the composition of the household portfolio besides standard determinants of this condition (e.g. income, indebtedness, age, gender, financial literacy). We take the case of Italy, given the very peculiar portfolio composition (high level of housing and low level of indebtedness and portfolio diversification) and provide two main contributions. First, we propose a novel definition of financial fragility. Second, based on this new measure, we use data from the 1998-2010 Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth to investigate the determinants of this condition. Our results confirm most usual markers of financial fragility and additionally highlight the role of homeownership, which is not related to the presence of mortgages but it is rather connected to specific socio-demographic features such as age and marital status.
Commentary on "Household Hardships, Public Programs, and Their Associations with the Health and Development of Very Young Children: Insights from Children's HealthWatch"

Recommended Citation Weitzman, Michael and Zhou, Sherry (2012) "Commentary on "Household Hardships, Public Programs, and Their Associations with the Health and Development of Very Young Children: Insights from Children's HealthWatch"," Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 3 : Iss. 1 , Article 13. Available at: https://digitalcommons.library. tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/vol3/iss1/13
enterprises, self-efficacy and knowledge acquisition: evidence from

Purpose – The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the significance of self-efficacy and knowledge acquisition among micro businesses operating in challenging economic environments. The study employs social cognitive theory (SCT) and the knowledge-based theory of the firm (KBTF), and proposes a refinement of these theoretical frameworks in the context of the study. Design/methodology/approach – A case method was chosen, and face-to-face interviews with 14 owners of firms in island and rural regions of Greece and Spain were conducted. Findings – Content analysis identified the importance of self-efficacy, primarily illustrated by entrepreneurs’ determination and self-motivation, propensity to take risks, and anticipating consequences of their actions. Acquisition and accumulation of explicit knowledge, particularly through generational or mentoring processes, and subsequent wealth of tacit knowledge, also emerged as very significant in preparing and guiding entrepreneurs. Various links between the adopted theories and the findings emerged, particularly regarding forethought, vicarious learning (SCT) and specialisation in knowledge acquisition (KBTF). Originality/value – The proposed theoretical refinement based on the SCT and KBTF paradigms allows for more rigorous, in-depth reflection on the links between cognitive elements present in the participating micro entrepreneurs and knowledge-based attributes on their ability to increase organisational resilience. The study also makes a contribution to the micro business literature and addresses a knowledge gap, particularly in that contemporary research has not explored entrepreneurial motivations among small firm entrepreneurs. Finally, the practical implications emerging from the findings provide a platform for various stakeholders (associations, government agencies) to appreciate and support entrepreneurs’ needs, notably, of acquiring, increasing and sharing knowledge.
Ultrasound in the Management of Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: Systematic Literature Review and Novel Algorithms for Pragmatic Use

Objective In 2015, the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) published recommendations for the use of imaging for the diagnosis and management of spondyloarthritis (SpA) in clinical practice. These recommendations included the use of ultrasound (US) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but the management was not clearly distinguished from that of SpA. We aimed to systematically review the literature on the role of US for the management of PsA, and to propose pragmatic algorithms for its use in clinical practice. Methods A group of 10 rheumatologists, experienced in imaging and musculoskeletal US, met with the objectives of formulating key questions for a systematic literature review (SLR), appraising the available evidence, and then proposing algorithms on the application of US in suspected or established PsA, based on both the literature and experts’ opinions following a Delphi process. Results The SLR included 120 articles, most of which focused on the diagnostic process. The elevated number of articles retrieved suggests the interest of rheumatologists in using US in the management of PsA. After a consensual discussion on literature data and expert opinion, the following 3 algorithms were developed to be used in practical situations: suspicion of PsA, management of PsA with good clinical response, and management of PsA with insufficient clinical response. Conclusion The SLR showed interest by rheumatologists in using US to objectively evaluate PsA for diagnosis and management. We propose 3 practical algorithms to guide its use in the clinical management of patients, from diagnosis to the assessment of treatment response. Further studies are needed to define remission and to assess the ability of US to predict disease severity.
Empathic forecasting of the big-fish-little-pond effect

ABSTRACT The big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) is the tendency for students to evaluate themselves more favourably when they have high rank in a low rank school than low rank in a high rank school. Research has documented the BFLPE on experienced emotions. We conducted three studies that examined forecasts of how the BFLPE influences other people’s emotions (i.e. empathic forecasts). In Study 1, participants received performance feedback about themselves or another person and reported their own affect or anticipated the other person’s affect. Results extended the BFLPE to empathic forecasting. Moreover, forecasters anticipated that the BFLPE had a stronger influence on negative emotion than it actually did. Study 2 tested whether neglect of group rank underlies the BFLPE in empathic forecasting. Empathic forecasts were strongly influenced by another person’s rank in their group, but only weakly influenced by group rank. Study 3 tested whether extremity of group ranks exacerbates the BFLPE in empathic forecasting. Empathic forecasts were especially favourable (unfavourable) when a target had very high (low) rank in a very low (high) rank group. These data support the BFLPE in empathic forecasting, but also illustrate ways in which it is both similar to and different from actual experience of the effect.
Modelling the rate of trainees transitioning to Fellowship before achieving competence under the RANZCP’s Alternative Assessment Pathway to the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Objective The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been removed from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ (RANZCP) training pathway. This decision occurred in the context of an Alternative Assessment Pathway (AAP) necessitated by Covid-19, justified by logistical, methodological and equity concerns. The false positive rate of trainees progressing to Fellowship before achieving competence is a key indicator for evaluating any assessment leading to psychiatric Fellowship. Variations in the statistical properties of the AAP and OSCE were analysed for their impact on pre-competent trainees progressing to Fellowship. Method Starting with the false positive scenario presented to justify discontinuing the OSCE, false positive rates associated with the AAP and OSCE were calculated based on different assumptions about reliability and accuracy. Results The analyses suggest that less reliable and less accurate alternatives to the OSCE, such as the AAP, increase the number of pre-competent trainees progressing to Fellowship. Conclusions Given possible increases in pre-competent trainees progressing to Fellowship while alternatives to the OSCE are finalised, confidence in the RANZCP's training program demands robust public analyses of those alternatives.
Martian thermal boundary layers: Subhourly variations induced by radiative-conductive heat transfer within the dust-laden atmosphere-ground system

Radiative-conductive heat transfer has been investigated for the ground-atmosphere system of the planet Mars. The basic goal was the quantitative determination of time dependent vertical distributions of temperature and static stability for Southern-Hemispheric summer season and middle and polar latitudes, for both dust-free and dust-laden atmospheric conditions. The numerical algorithm which models at high spatial and temporal resolution the thermal energy transports in the dual ground-atmosphere system, is based on solution of the applicable heating rate equation, including radiative and molecular-conductive heat transport terms. The two subsystems are coupled by an internal thermal boundary condition applied at the ground-atmosphere interface level. Initial data and input parameters are based on Mariner 4, 6, 7, and 9 measurements and the JPL Mars Scientific Model. Numerical experiments were run for dust-free and dust-laden conditions in the midlatitudes, as well as ice-free and ice-covered polar regions. Representative results and their interpretation are presented. Finally, the theoretical framework of the generalized problem with nonconservative Mie scattering and explicit thermal-convective heat transfer is formulated, and applicable solution algorithms are outlined.
Introns Control Stochasticity in Metazoan Gene Expression

: Introns are noncoding DNA elements found in between coding exons of most genes in most metazoans. Introns are known to both increase expression levels and provide means for making different protein products from the same gene via alternative splicing. It is thought that evolution has selected for these functions of introns. Here we present evidence for an additional reason why so many metazoan genes have introns, and why some do not. We found that introns control stochasticity in metazoan gene expression. They do this by controlling stochastic autosomal allele bias. We determined this by measuring the expression of differently colored reporter alleles with and without introns. We find that introns control stochastic autosomal allele biases using a 5’-position dependent mechanism. Intron control of allele expression noise provides an additional mechanism to consider when pondering why so many metazoan genes have introns and why some have lost them.
Adopting orphan receptors: group IX/X transition metals as potential ligands of zebrafish Tlr4 homologs

TLR4 is the prototype immune receptor and central to infection defence via detecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Surprisingly, the impacts of LPS upon the TLR4 homologs in zebrafish, an important animal model, are equivocal and the function of TLR4 homologs across all fishes remains debatable. Recent work suggests zebrafish Tlr4 mediates ototoxic responses to a platinum-based chemotherapeutic. This prompts our hypothesis that Tlr4 detects group IX/X transition metals and thus has conserved roles with human TLR4 mediating allergic responses to nickel. Here, we use the larval zebrafish lateral line model to demonstrate (sub-)micromolar Ni, Co and Pt are ototoxic in a dose-dependent manner. TLR4 homologs are required for this toxicity because Tlr4 knockdown via CRISPR significantly reduced the metals’ impacts by ∼50%. Moreover, zebrafish Tlr4 was sufficient to mediate inflammatory responses to metals when expressed in a human cell line. These data are consistent with the notion that mediating responses to transition metals was a function of TLR4 homologs in the last common ancestor of fish and mammals, and begins to resolve the function(s) of TLR4 homologs in the zebrafish animal model of disease.
Chemogenetic activation of target neurons expressing insect Ionotropic Receptors in the mammalian central nervous system by systemic administration of ligand precursors

The IR-mediated neuronal activation (IRNA) technology allows stimulation of neurons in the brain that heterologously-express members of the insect chemosensory IR repertoire in response to their cognate ligands. In the current protocol, a ligand against the complex consisting of IR84a and IR8a subunits, phenylacetic acid (PhAc), is locally injected into a brain region, because of a low efficiency of PhAc for the delivery into the brain across the blood-brain barrier. To circumvent this invasive injection, here we developed a strategy for activation of target neurons in the brain through peripheral administration with a precursor of PhAc, methyl ester of PhAc (PhAcM), which is efficiently transferred into the brain and converted to the mature ligand by endogenous esterase activities. Peripheral administration of with PhAcM activated IR84a/IR8a-expressing neurons in the locus coeruleus of mice and increased the release of neurotransmitters in their nerve terminal regions. (S)-2-phenylpropionic acid ((S)-PhPr) was newly identified as a ligand for IR84a/IR8a, and peripheral administration with the methyl ester of PhPr with the S-configuration [(S)-PhPrM] caused similar effects on the target neurons. In addition, cell-type specific expression of IR84a/IR8a complex in the striatum of rats was unilaterally induced with a viral vector based on the Cre-loxP system. Peripheral administration with PhAcM or (S)-PhPrM stimulated the neurotransmitter release in the ipsilateral terminal regions of the vector-injected striatum, and PhAcM administration resulted in rotational behavior. Finally, we demonstrated that the metabolites of the peripherally administered-radiolabeled (S)-PhPrM accumulated in the IR84a/IR8a-expressing region in the striatum of the vector-injected rats. These results demonstrate that the systemic IRNA technique provides a powerful strategy for remote manipulation of diverse types of target neurons in the mammalian central nervous system.
Predicting Positive Radial Margin on Restaging MRI of Patients with Low Rectal Cancer: Can We Do Better?

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to characterize the tissue involving the margin and study if this information will affect margin prediction on restaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in low rectal adenocarcinoma (LRC) patients treated with neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT). Methods In this retrospective study of nonmetastatic LRC (distal margin <5 cm from the anal verge) treated with LCCRT followed by surgery, a radiologist blinded to outcome reread the restaging MRI and documented if the radial margin was involved by tumor, fibrosis, or mucin reaction using T2 high-resolution (HR) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The diagnostic performance of tumor-involving margin on restaging MRI was assessed using surgical histopathology as a reference. Interobserver agreement between three independent radiologists was assessed in a subset. Results We included 133 patients (80 males and 53 females) with a mean (range) age of 44.7 (21–86) years and 82% of them had well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Baseline MRI showed T3 ( n = 58) or T4 ( n = 60) disease in 89% of the patients. The pathological margin was positive in 21% ( n = 28) cases. In restaging MRI, the circumferential resection margin (CRM) ≤1 mm in 75.1% ( n = 100) cases and MRI predicted tumor, fibrosis, and mucin reaction at the margin in 60, 34, and 6%, respectively, and histopathology showed tumor cells in 33, 14.7, and 16.6% of them, respectively. LRC with tumor-involving margin and bad response (MR tumor regression grade [mr-TRG] 3–5) on restaging MRI had fourfold increased risk of positive pathological circumferential resection margin (pCRM). There was moderate and fair inter-reader agreement for the tissue type involving the CRM ( κ = 0.471) and mr-TRG ( κ = 0.266), p < 0.05. The use of both distance criteria and tumor-involving margins improved the diagnostic accuracy for margin prediction from 39 to 66% on restaging MRI. Conclusions Margin prediction on restaging MRI can be improved by characterizing the tissue type involving the margin in low rectal cancer patients. The inter-reader agreement was moderate for determining the tissue type.
EVALUATION OF VACCINIUM ARCTOSTAPHYLOS SELECTIONS FROM THE ARTVIN AND TRABZON PROVINCES OF TURKEY

This study was carried out to evaluate morphological and pomological characteristics of some little known blueberry types in Turkey during 2003–2006. Caucasian whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) populations were collected from the coast area to high altitude in Trabzon and Artvin. The plant habit was generally shrub; growth habit was erect or prostrate; condensation wax on berries was high; berries were round, oblate or ovoid; berry taste ranged from sour to sweet; berry weight was 32.08–100.5 g/100 berries; total soluble solid was 7.43– 13.5%; cluster number of per plant was between 1 and 6. These wild selections will be evaluated in more detail. INTRODUCTION Turkey is a very important area for plant diversity. Many fruit species are grown and many different local or native fruit species and varieties are known. One of these is blueberries (Vaccinium) a fruit species from the Ericaceae family grown in temperate regions. Northern Turkey is a diversity hotspot for heathers (Ericaceae) and several little known Vaccinium species including blueberry, bilberry, lingonberry, bog blueberry, bog whortleberry or bog bilberry (Stevens, 1978; Agaoglu, 1986 and Celik, 2005). These species are widespread across Northeastern Anatolia and between 40 to 42° north, from Artvin to Canakkale. In the Black Sea Region, especially in plateaus, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. and V. myrtilloides Michx. plants were endemic. These plants have economic importance (Celik et al., 2004). For many years wild blueberries have been harvested for commercial and home use in north-east and north-west Anatolia, in Turkey. The berry fruits of these Turkish species can be eaten. Those of V. arctostaphylos are especially appreciated (Stevens, 1978; Ayaz et al., 2001). Blueberries grow as a native fruit crop in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey and are locally consumed fresh or as jam. The main crops in this region are hazelnut and tea. Annual rainfall is 1000 mm, distributed throughout the year. Annual mean temperature is 14.5oC and annual mean relative humidity is 75%. Although it is known that Ericaceae family like acidity soils, it is not cultivated blueberries for commercial plant in Black Sea region having natural acidity soil. The first research in Turkey was begun by Celik (2003, 2004, 2005) in the year 2000. Otherwise researches on blueberries were started around 1900. Now, several commercial species were grown in the world (Himelrick, 2002; Lyrene, 2002). Vaccinium fruit crops are potentially important crops for the Black Sea region of Turkey because of its natural acidic soils and ecology. There are many wild blueberry types in this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate wild blueberry populations and determine some of the pomological traits of little known blueberries collected from the Artvin and Trabzon Provinces.
Chronic optogenetic activation of hippocampal pyramidal neurons replicates the proteome footprint of Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology

Neuronal overexcitability can elicit synaptic changes, leading to neuronal hyperactivity and abnormal neural circuit processing. Such network disruption impairs neuronal function and survival, initiating neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Yet, the sequence of synaptic changes resulting from excessive neuronal activity remains elusive. We employed optogenetics to induce sustained neuronal hyperactivity in the hippocampi of wild-type and AD-like 5xFAD mice. Surprisingly, after a month of daily optogenetic stimulation, the proteomic profiles of photoactivated wild-type and 5xFAD mice exhibited remarkable similarity. Proteins involved in translation, protein transport, autophagy, and notably in the AD pathology were upregulated in wild-type mice. Conversely, both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic proteins were downregulated. These hippocampal proteomic and signaling alterations in wild-type mice resulted in spatial memory loss and augmented Αβ42 secretion. Collectively, these findings indicate that sustained neuronal hyperactivity alone replicates proteome changes seen in AD-linked mutant mice. Therefore, prolonged neuronal hyperactivity may contribute to synaptic transmission disruption, memory deficits and the neurodegenerative process associated with AD.