Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR AND USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ON THE SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS IN FURNITURE INDUSTRY WORKERS

Dust is one type of potential hazardzs in the workplace that can affect the health of the workers. The occupation that are always exposed to dust is furniture industry workers so that they have higher risk of getting acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) disorder which can interfere with breathing. The wood dust is formed from some of the sawn wood and sanding that will lead to an acute respiratory tract infection. The study aimed to determine the effect of environmental factor and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) against the symptoms of acute respiratory infections in the furniture industry workers. The research method used was quantitative method with observational and cross-sectional research types and it was analysed by using logistic regression test. The population in this study was the workers of the furniture industry at Semarang street, Surabaya City, with a total of 57 people, of which 37 furniture workers as a sample. The results show that most of the workers has symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection. It could be influenced by the environmental factor such as dust exposure that produced wood dust in each manufacturing processes. Additionally, the use of PPE also affected the occurrence of acute respiratory tract infections symptoms in the workers. In conslusion, many factors can influence the occurrence of acute respiratory tract infection symptoms in the furniture industry workers. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize the dust exposure in workers by wearing PPE such as respirators.
A direct comparison of camera‐trapping and sign transects for monitoring wildlife in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve, China

Wildlife monitoring plays a critical role in evaluating the management and conservation of biodiversity. During monitoring activities in Chinese nature reserves dedicated to giant panda conservation, indirect sign surveys along fixed transects are the standard methodology used to monitor large-mammal populations. Camera-trapping has been recently introduced to these reserves as an additional monitoring tool. We present a case study of comparing current sign-transect monitoring with camera-trapping in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, China, from September 2004 through October 2005, and we assess the effectiveness of both methods in detecting terrestrial fauna. Camera-trapping detected 21 mammal species, while sign transects detected 16 species. We found no significant difference in the animal community detected by each method; however, sign transects were weighted toward detecting large-sized animals. Each survey technique had different strengths; therefore, a combined sampling of camera-trapping (800 camera-days) and sign transects (80 km) was sufficient to detect 95% of detectable large, terrestrial mammal species within this 323-km2 reserve. Our estimate of species richness based on camera-trapping (39.0 ± 13.6 species) and sign transects (20.0 ± 4.4 species) suggests that camera-trapping can detect more species when extensive sampling effort is employed by both methods. Camera-trapping also has the potential for more robust estimates of population parameters than are possible with sign transects. We propose that the giant panda reserves in China can increase their efficiency and range of species monitored by using a system that integrates camera-trapping with sign transects. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Influence of snow cover on prey selection by Long-eared Owls Asio otus

During winter the composition of the diet of the Long-eared Owls present at a roost varied in relation to the ground snow cover; birds and riparial rodents increased when ground cover was complete. A comparison between diet and prey availability (assessed by trapping) showed that small mammal species were mostly preyed upon in relation to their abundance; the scarce presence of Insectivores in the diet is apparently due to their reduced seasonal availability. Long-eared Owls behaved as adaptable predators; their dietary specialization in Northern Europe may be due to the great abundance of Microtinae at high latitude.
Food price spikes: Is a cereal export ban the right response for Ethiopia?

Following the price hikes of 2007–2008 and 2010–2011, many governments in low-income countries implemented food export bans. While several studies investigate the macroeconomic impacts of such bans on large net exporters of grains, only very few country case studies have examined the economy-wide and distributional effects combined. Further, there is a lack of rigorous studies that explicitly analyse cereal export bans as policy responses to external price shocks and their net combined effects, both in the immediate and in the short run. This article evaluates this situation for the case of Ethiopia, a net food-importing country. We find that international price shocks not only do affect domestic prices but could also considerably suppress domestic food production and supplies. A cereal export ban can help stabilize domestic food prices but cannot fully erase the price hike. We, however, note that the ban further discourages domestic cereal production and reduces rural households’ welfare.
Loricrin and involucrin expression is down-regulated by Th 2 cytokines through STAT-6

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by a defective skin barrier which allows increased allergen and pathogen penetration. Loricrin (LOR) and involucrin (IVL) are proteins important for skin barrier formation and integrity. In this study, we demonstrate that the gene and protein expression of LOR and IVL is significantly decreased in acute (LOR: p<0.001; IVL: p<0.001) and non-lesional (LOR: p<0.001; IVL: p<0.001) skin of AD subjects, as compared to skin from healthy subjects. Using primary keratinocytes, we further demonstrate the down-regulatory effect of IL-4 and IL-13 – which are over-expressed in the skin of AD patients – on LOR and IVL expression in keratinocytes. Additionally, skin biopsies from signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-6 transgenic mice were deficient in the expression and production of LOR and IVL. This study suggests that Th2 cytokines inhibit expression of LOR and IVL through a STAT-6 dependent mechanism.
Naturalized subterranean clover strains in Western Australia: A preliminary agronomic examination

Ninety naturalized and four commercially introduced subterranean clover strains present in Western Australia were examined. Flowering time, hardseededness, contents of the oestrogenic isoflavones formononetin, genistein, and biochanin A, and plant morphological characteristics were measured in spaced plants. Probabilities of random relationships were calculated for all character pairs. Wide variation was found among strains for all characters measured. A number of strains had low oestrogenic isoflavone contents. Levels of the three isoflavones appeared to vary independently of each other and of all other characters. Hardseededness decreased with lateness of maturity, but evidence is adduced that the relationship was not causal. Correlations were recorded among several morphological characters. Some 20 naturalized, non-commercial strains were selected as worthy of further agronomic study.
High Genetic Variability With No Apparent Geographic Structuring in the mtDNA of the Amphidromous River Shrimp Cryphiops caementarius (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) in Northern-Central Chile

Abstract Freshwater organisms with an amphidromous life cycle are generally thought to disperse widely through marine planktonic larval stages, but only few studies on genetic population structure of amphidromous shrimp exist. We used a 640-basepair region of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (Cox1) from the amphidromous river shrimp Cryphiops caementarius from five rivers in northern-central Chile to test whether large distances between estuaries (up to 700 km) limit gene flow between populations and result in genetic differentiation among populations. The results revealed high haplotype diversity with no significant geographical structuring, suggesting that gene flow occurs regularly over several hundreds of kilometres, also connecting populations north and south of the Atacama Desert. Seemingly, the terrestrial barrier is overcome by planktonic larval dispersal through the sea, suggesting wide dispersal rather than “stepping-stone” dispersal between estuaries. The population from the southern limit of the geographic distribution of C. caementarius (Río Limari) revealed some weak differentiation in pairwise &PHgr;ST comparisons, but larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm this. Additional studies are needed for a better understanding of factors that promote different life histories, like marine planktonic dispersal, larval retention in estuaries, or an amphidromous-freshwater transition towards a purely freshwater life cycle.
The rich acoustic repertoire of a precocious rodent, the wild cavy Cavia aperea

The Caviomorph rodents have precocious young and vary in social complexity, resorting to acoustic communication to efficiently regulate social interactions intra-group and to avoid intruders and predators. The wild cavy Cavia aperea, one of the species with the largest geographic distribution, is considered a wild representative of the domestic Cavia porcellus, a species with a remarkable acoustic repertoire. We conducted a descriptive study on the acoustic behaviour of a captive population of C. aperea. We observed animals in groups, in pairs and isolated pups, and conducted sonographic and descriptive analyses. Ten distinct call types were identified: teeth-chattering, structurally variable contact calls, whines and squeals, a scream, alarm whistle, almost exclusive pup-isolation whistle and tweet calls, and the previously described alarm drrr and courtship purr calls. As in other caviomorphs, some of these signals may carry information about specific contexts and moods and others may communicate arousal. The similarity of this repertoire size to that of C. porcellus shows that the richness of the latter is not a product of domestication. Instead, it may be associated with a relatively complex social life and other ecological factors. Our data set the groundwork for comparative studies of the evolution of acoustic communication.
Re‐operating dams for environmental flows: From recommendation to practice

Dam construction and operation are known to alter the hydrology of rivers and degrade riverine ecosystems. In recent decades, the call to reverse these negative impacts by re‐operating dams has become stronger. Dams can support riverine ecosystems by releasing environmental flows (e‐flows). Unfortunately, despite the development of numerous methodologies to determine e‐flows and optimise dam releases, actual implementation has not followed suit. Integrating e‐flow requirements in the design of new dams is relatively easier than changing operations of existing dams; however, re‐operating existing dams is essential to restore ecosystems and ecosystem services that have already been affected by the construction and operation of dams. This study provides insights into how e‐flows evolve from recommendation to practice through a systematic literature review on practical experiences to integrate e‐flows in dam operations. Sixty‐nine cases of successful dam re‐operation have been identified, ranging from the well‐documented case of the Glen Canyon Dam in the United States to less known cases such as the Katse Dam in Lesotho. We find that the most important factors that facilitate the successful implementation of e‐flows are the existence of e‐flows legislation or policy, the development of a research base in the form of an environmental impact study, and then flow experimentation. Illustrations of the important role of collaboration between various stakeholders and set timelines for implementation of recommendations are also given. These insights will inform how existing dams can be re‐operated and governed more equitably and sustainably for both humans and the environment.
PRODUCTION OF PHYTOCHELATINS AND GLUTATHIONE BY MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON IN RESPONSE TO METAL STRESS 1

Phytoplankton deal with metal toxicity using a variety of biochemical strategies. One of the strategies involves glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs), which are metal‐binding thiol peptides produced by eukaryotes and these compounds have been related to several intracellular functions, including metal detoxification, homeostasis, metal resistance and protection against oxidative stress. This paper assesses our state of knowledge on the production of PCs and GSH by marine phytoplankton in laboratory and field conditions and the possible applications of PCs for environmental purposes. Good relationships have been observed between metal exposure and PC production in phytoplankton in the laboratory with Cd, Pb, and Zn showing the greatest efficacy, thereby indicating that PCs have a potential for application as a biomarker. Fewer studies on PC distributions in particulate material have been undertaken in the field. These studies show that free Cu has a strong relationship with the levels of PC in the particulate material. The reason for this could be because Cu is a common contaminant in coastal waters. However it could also be due to the lack of measurements of other metals and their speciation. GSH shows a more complex relationship to metal levels both in the laboratory and in the field. This is most likely due to its multifunctionality. However, there is evidence that phytoplankton act as an important source of dissolved GSH in marine waters, which may form part of the strong organic ligands that control metal speciation, and hence metal toxicity.
Is land abandonment affecting forest dynamics at high elevation in Mediterranean mountains more than climate change?

Global change is leaving a fingerprint on the appearance, structure and productivity of the treeline ecotone, modifying patterns of mountain ecosystems. In order to implement correct policies for managing natural resources, we examine how climate change interrelated with land-use abandonment could shape mountain forests at their upper limit in a Mediterranean environment, and how patterns of tree growth and periods of tree establishment guide the interpretation of global change effects on treeline dynamics. We reconstructed the population dynamics of mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra spp. mugo) in the subalpine belt of the Majella National Park (Italy). In a test area of 14,440 ha, proposed as a pilot study site for long-term ecological monitoring, temporal and spatial mountain pine distribution were examined since 1954 by historical aerial ortophotos. Multitemporal maps documented the expansion upwards (1 m/year) and downwards (3 m/year) of mountain pine. Mountain pine started to expand upwards into the formerly tree-free grassland in early 1900s, in association with a decline of the local human population and livestock. Land-use change was the major driving force of vegetation dynamics at the treeline in the Majella massif.
Successful Strategic Plan Implementation in Public Organizations: Connecting People
, Process
, and Plan
 (3Ps)

Strategic planning (SP) remains the dominant approach to strategy formulation at all levels of government, and it is an enduring topic of public administration research and practice. Simultaneously, little is known about the conditions under which strategic plans are successfully implemented in government. This Viewpoint essay provides evidence-based recommendations from SP initiatives in Flemish municipalities using multi-informant and multisource survey data. It shows that successfully implementing strategic plans is influenced by the people, process, and plan (3Ps) underlying SP. Involving creators in SP helps make the SP process more informed. An informed SP process that includes constructive conflict helps induce high-quality strategic plans. High-quality strategic plans contribute to successful strategic plan implementation. Practitioners are encouraged to consider SP not as a one-size-fits-all solution to strategy formulation, but as an approach in which variation in people, process, and plan influences implementation success.
Opioid maintenance treatment of pregnant women in the Scandinavian countries

Background: WHO guidelines emphasise the need for descriptions of clinical practice and observational studies on risk and benefits of pharmacotherapies in pregnancy. The aims of the present study were to: (1) Describe opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) in the Scandinavian countries in general, and specifically for pregnant women, (2) Describe a project which utilises a new approach using registry-linkage data to examine associations between prenatal exposure to OMT and child outcomes: a Scandinavian cohort study of pregnant women in OMT during pregnancy (ScopeOMT). Data: Guidelines describing the treatment of persons with opioid use disorders in general, and specifically for pregnant women. Scandinavian registry-linkage data from ScopeOMT. Results: Registry data show that approximately 800 pregnant women received OMT during pregnancy in the period of the ScopeOMT study. Similarities across the Scandinavian countries include access to free healthcare and treatment; multidisciplinary teams trained to support pregnant women in OMT; buprenorphine as the recommended drug when initiating therapy; and a holistic focus on the patients’ lives. An important difference is that Norwegian women who use illegal substances that may harm the foetus may be admitted – voluntarily, or against their will – for parts of, or the remainder of the pregnancy to inpatient treatment at specialised clinics. Conclusion: Many similarities in the treatment provided to opioid-dependent persons in the Scandinavian countries place this area in an excellent position to combine the efforts and carry out observational studies concerning the safety of OMT during pregnancy.
Evaluation of Timings of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application for Cotton Production

Cotton is an economically important crop and experiments to determine its response to application of nitrogen fertilizer at proper time is of prime importance in research. Thus a field trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of nitrogen fertilizer application at various timings on seedcotton yield at CCRI, Sakrand. The treatments consisted of four timings of nitrogen application (planting, squaring, flowering and peak flowering). Cotton cultivar CIM-443 was planted during second week of May and 100-kilogram nitrogen fertilizer per hectare as urea was applied at various timings during the season. The results revealed that there is a significant impact of multiple split application of nitrogen fertilizer. Crop receiving 4-equal splits of nitrogen application at various growing stages of cotton crop proved better and gave better yields than the rest.
Salicylic acid-induced physiological and biochemical changes in lemongrass varieties under water stress

Abstract Salicylic acid (SA) treatment reduces the damaging action by water deficit on growth and accelerates a restoration of growth processes. The aim of the present work was to study the physiological and biochemical alteration induced by SA in lemongrass plants under stress conditions. Therefore, a pot culture experiment was conducted to test whether SA application at concentration of (10−5 M) through foliar spray could protect lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Steud. Wats.) varieties (Neema and Krishna), subjected to drought stress on the basis of growth parameters and biochemical constituents, proline metabolism and quality attributes including citral content. The treatments were as follows: (i) 100% FC + 0 SA; (ii) 75% FC + 0 SA; (iii) 50% FC + 0 SA; (iv) 75% FC + 10−5 M SA; and (v) 50% FC + 10−5 M SA. The growth parameters were significantly reduced under the applied water stress levels; however, foliar application of salicylic acid (10−5 M) improved the growth parameters in stress-affected plants. The plants under water stress exhibited a significant increase in activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase, and electrolyte leakage, proline content, free amino acid and in PEP carboxylase activity. Content and yield of essential oil also significantly decreased in plants that faced water stress. Thus, it was concluded that variety Neema is the more tolerant variety as compared to Krishna on the basis of content and oil yield and well adapted to drought stress conditions.
Oscheius amsactae n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditida), a necromenic associate of red-hairy caterpillar, Amsacta moori (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) from Kanpur district, India

Oscheius amsactae n. sp. is described as a necromenic associate of red-hairy caterpillar Amsacta moori (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) from Vigna radiata ((L.) Wilczek) cultivated field at Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, India. This new species resembles with Rhabditis (O.) columbiana (Stock et al. 2005), however, it differs in having smaller body length (♀ L = 1100–1288 μm), lesser b value (b = 4.9–6.1), much smaller body length (c = 14–20.5), smaller spicule length (56–57 μm) and small gubernaculum length (20–27 μm), number of genital papillae and position of excretory pore. O. amsactae n. sp. can be compared with R. (O.) guentheri (Sudhaus and Hooper 1994) but differs in having a leptoderan bursa, different shape of spicule, number and arrangement of genital papillae. It also differs from R. (O.) necromena (Sudhaus and Schulte 1989) in having longer and narrower stoma and difference in shape of glottoid apparatus, smaller body length and shape of bursa. The new species closely resembles O. shamimi (Tahseen and Nisa (2006)) but differs in having narrower lip region (lip region diameter 7.1–7.9 μm vs. 11–12 μm in O. shamimi); shorter males (L = 594–804 μm vs. L = 1012 μm in O. shamimi). Moreover, the shape of spicule is also different, O. amsactae n. sp. has crochet-needle shaped tip of spicule whereas it is slightly curved in O. shamimi. Bursa is leptoderan in O. amsactae n. sp. whereas it is pseudopeloderan in O. shamimi. Additionally, molecular characterisation and electron microscopic studies confirm that it is distinctive from other species of the genus and it is a new species.
Embryological Studies of Two Members of the Podostemaceae

1. This paper deals with some aspects of the morphology and gametogenesis of Lawia zeylanica and Griffithella hookeriana, members of the Podostemaceae. Some of the structural details of the two plants are described. 2. Microsporogenesis was investigated in Griffithella. The anthers are quadrilocular, inclosing paired pollen grains. At the shedding stage there is a lenticular generative cell and a large tube cell in each pollen grain. 3. Development of the female gametophyte was studied in both Lawia and Griffithella. The ovules are anatropous and bitegmic. The archesporial cell functions directly as the megaspore mother cell. The embryo-sac development corresponds to a reduced Allium type, in which there is reduction at the chalazal end, and consequently a complete elimination of the lower polar nucleus. 4. The mature embryo sac of L. zeylanica is usually four- or rarely five-nucleate, but the chalazal nucleus may soon degenerate and disappear, so that only four nuclei are seen in the older stages. Sometimes the chalazal nucleus may divide to give a six-nucleate embryo sac. 5. In G. hookeriana the mature embryo sac is four-nucleate because of early degeneration of the chalazal nucleus. A polar cell is formed during the development of the embryo sac. This may be an unusual feature among angiosperms. 6. A prominent multinucleate pseudo embryo sac is seen in both the species, resulting from the disintegration of the axial row of cells.