Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urban Energy Systems

Executive Summary More than 50% of the global population already lives in urban settlements and urban areas are projected to absorb almost all the global population growth to 2050, amounting to some additional three billion people. Over the next decades the increase in rural population in many developing countries will be overshadowed by population flows to cities. Rural populations globally are expected to peak at a level of 3.5 billion people by around 2020 and decline thereafter, albeit with heterogeneous regional trends. This adds urgency in addressing rural energy access, but our common future will be predominantly urban. Most of urban growth will continue to occur in small-to medium-sized urban centers. Growth in these smaller cities poses serious policy challenges, especially in the developing world. In small cities, data and information to guide policy are largely absent, local resources to tackle development challenges are limited, and governance and institutional capacities are weak, requiring serious efforts in capacity building, novel applications of remote sensing, information, and decision support techniques, and new institutional partnerships. While ‘megacities’ with more than 10 million inhabitants have distinctive challenges, their contribution to global urban growth will remain comparatively small. Energy-wise, the world is already predominantly urban. This assessment estimates that between 60–80% of final energy use globally is urban, with a central estimate of 75%. Applying national energy (or GHG inventory) reporting formats to the urban scale and to urban administrative boundaries is often referred to as a ‘production’ accounting approach and underlies the above GEA estimate.
Contrasting styles of convergence in the Arabia-Eurasia collision: why escape tectonics does not occur in Iran

The westward motion of Turkey relative to Eurasia between the North and East Anatolian faults has been cited as one of the best examples of lateral transport of continental crust from a collision zone, in this case the Arabia-Eurasia collision. This process is variously called “escape” or “extrusion” tectonics. Range-parallel strike-slip faults within the Alborz (e.g., the Mosha fault) and Zagros Mountains (the Main Recent fault) of Iran have been regarded as playing roles similar to those of the North and East Anatolian faults in that they are responsible for the eastward transport of intervening Iranian crust away from the northward motion of the Arabia plate relative to Eurasia. However, both seismicity and GPS data show that there is no net eastward transport of Iranian crust with respect to Eurasia. Here we summarize how the tectonically active mountain ranges of Iran deform by combinations of thrusting and strike-slip movement oblique to the overall convergence vector across each region, without requiring net eastward movement with respect to Eurasia. A general conclusion is that strike-slip faults in collision zones can have different roles. These include not only the lateral transport of crustal material demonstrated in Turkey, but also the partitioning of strain into shortening and strike-slip components shown by the Alborz and Zagros structures and the accommodation of crustal shortening by strike-slip faults that rotate about a vertical axis.
Big fires and their ecological impacts in Australian savannas: size and frequency matters

Savannas are the most fire-prone of the earth’s major biomes. The availability of various broad-scale satellite-derived fire mapping and regional datasets provides a framework with which to examine the seasonality, extent and implications of large fires with particular reference to biodiversity values in the tropical savannas of northern Australia. We document the significance of savanna fires in the fire-prone ‘Top End’ region of the Northern Territory, Australia, using 9 years (1997–2005) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)-, Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM)- and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+)-derived fire mapping. Fire (patch) sizes from both AVHRR- and Landsat-scale mapping increased through the calendar year associated with progressive curing of grass and litter fuels. Fire frequency data at both satellite sensor scales indicate that regional fire regimes in higher rainfall regions are dominated by large (>1000 km2) fires occurring typically at short (~2–3 years) fire return intervals. In discussion, we consider the ecological implications of these patch size distributions on regional fire-sensitive biota. Collectively, assembled data illustrate that many northern Australian savanna flora, fauna and habitats embedded within the savanna matrix are vulnerable to extensive and frequent fires, especially longer-lived obligate seeder plant taxa and relatively immobile vertebrate fauna with small home ranges.
The Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale as an instrument for assessing quality – a psychometric evaluation

Purpose Basic indices of reliability, validity, and feasibility of the Polish language version of the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale (SLDS) were assessed – this is one of the self-assessment measures of the subjective quality of life. Methods The combined database included 1,246 people from previous studies on stigma (n = 316) and recovery (n = 110), and individuals seeking psycho-social support (n = 820). Apart from SLDS, other measures of life functioning, experiences of stigma and discrimination, factors of personal recovery, and self-rated and clinician-rated psychopathology were used. Results The SLDS results were characterized by a good item performance and high internal consistency (α = 0.92). Significant improvement in life satisfaction was noted, while maintaining some correlational stability in the re-test. Satisfaction with life did not depend on gender, education and age, but on diagnostic qualification (mental problems < somatic diseases) and methodological qualification (patients > persons seeking support). The direction and strength of the correlation of SLDS scores with a number of social, personal and clinical variables supports its theoretical validity, as does the principal components analysis indicating both the value of a one- and three-dimensional solution (satisfaction with social conditions, living conditions and interpersonal relationships). The feasibility of SLDS is also indicated by the low frequency (< 2.8%) of no responses in the surveyed population. Conclusions The basic psychometric indicators of the Polish language version of the SLDS confirm its satisfactory reliability and validity as well as a sufficient level of feasibility for various clinical and research aims.
Environmental Sustainability Strategy, Creativity, Innovation and Organizational Performance: The Role of Green Human Resource Management

This paper provides a theoretical explanation for the “black box” between “going green” and organizational performance and links individual-level behaviors with organizational-level outcomes. We argue that the adoption of an environmental sustainability strategy and high involvement green human resources management practices will have the intended impact of increasing employee green creativity and the unintended impact of increasing employee general creativity. As well, we suggest that employee green values moderate these relationships. Furthermore, the positive effects on employee creativity (green and general) are theorized to increase organizational innovation, which positively impacts organizational performance. This paper extends the research by providing a possible explanation for how the “black box” between “going green” and organizational performance is impacted by intended and unintended behaviors that are shaped by green human resources management practices.
Work Participation of Tribal Women in India: A Development Perspective

“This paper has been written on the basis of qualitative and quantitative data collected from secondary source and discussed work participation of tribal women in India in a descriptive manner. The tribal women have been equal partners with tribal men in the contribution to household economy. Quite often their women do more physical labour in their agricultural fields and forest than that of the tribal men. Tribal women have usually enjoyed a higher social status in their own communities than Indian women in general. Some of the tribes like Khasi in Mizoram and Meghalaya are matriarchal. However, the literacy rate among the tribal’s and more so in case of tribal women is quite low and this is also associated with poor nutritional and health status among the tribal’s. The estimate of poverty made by Planning Commission for the year 1993-94 shows that 51.92 percent rural and 41.4 percent urban Scheduled Tribes were still living below the poverty line. They are engaged in various occupations like hunting shifting cultivation to settled agriculture and rural crafts. A very negligible percent are engaged in non-agricultural activities The Scheduled Tribes constitute 8.2% of India’s total population. In all there are 700 Scheduled Tribes in India. States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa all together have about 40% of the total tribal population of the country. ”
A novel program of infiltrative control in astrocytomas: ADAM23 depletion promotes cell invasion by activating γ-secretase complex

Abstract Background Infiltration is a life-threatening growth pattern in malignant astrocytomas and a significant cause of therapy resistance. It results in the tumor cell spreading deeply into the surrounding brain tissue, fostering tumor recurrence and making complete surgical resection impossible. We need to thoroughly understand the mechanisms underlying diffuse infiltration to develop effective therapies. Methods We integrated in vitro and in vivo functional assays, RNA sequencing, clinical, and expression information from public data sets to investigate the role of ADAM23 expression coupling astrocytoma’s growth and motility. Results ADAM23 downregulation resulted in increased infiltration, reduced tumor growth, and improved overall survival in astrocytomas. Additionally, we show that ADAM23 deficiency induces γ-secretase (GS) complex activity, contributing to the production and deposition of the Amyloid-β and release of NICD. Finally, GS ablation in ADAM23-low astrocytomas induced a significant inhibitory effect on the invasive programs. Conclusions Our findings reveal a role for ADAM23 in regulating the balance between cell proliferation and invasiveness in astrocytoma cells, proposing GS inhibition as a therapeutic option in ADAM23 low-expressing astrocytomas.
58-nW 0.5-V Mixed-Mode Universal Filter Using Multiple-Input Multiple-Output OTAs

This paper presents a mixed-mode universal filter using a multiple-input multiple-output operational transconductance amplifier (MIMO-OTA). The multiple-input OTA is designed using the multiple-input MOS transistor technique (MI-MOST), resulting in a single differential pair and minimal power consumption. The MIMO-OTA is used to design a universal mixed-mode filter that provides input and output in voltage and current form. In a single topology, second order filters with low-pass (LP), high-pass (HP), band-pass (BP), band-stop (BS) and all-pass (AP) transfer functions can be obtained in voltage-mode (VM), current-mode (CM), transadmittance-mode (TAM) and transimpedance-mode (TIM). In addition, VM, CM, and TAM offer non-inverting and inverting transfer functions of LP, HP, BP, BS, and AP filters. The natural frequency and quality factor of all filter functions can be orthogonally controlled. Electronic tuning of the natural frequency is provided. The supply voltage is 0.5 V and the power consumption of the filter is 58 nW for 4 nA setting current. The filter was designed and simulated in the Cadence Virtuoso environment using TSMC $0.18~\mu \text{m}$ CMOS technology. The simulation results including Monte-Carlo analysis and process, voltage, and temperature corners are presented.
Bacillus coagulans prevents the decline in average daily feed intake in young piglets infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 by reducing intestinal injury and regulating the gut microbiota

Background Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), an important intestinal pathogen, poses a significant threat to the intestinal health of piglets. Bacillus coagulans (BC), a potential feed additive, can improve the intestinal function of piglets. However, the effects of BC on growth performance and intestinal function in ETEC-infected piglets are still unclear. In this study, 24 7-day-old piglets were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control group (fed a basal diet), ETEC group (fed a basal diet and challenged with ETEC K88) and BC+ETEC group (fed a basal diet, orally administered BC, challenged with ETEC K88). During Days 1-6 of the trial, piglets in the BC+ETEC group were orally administered BC (1×108CFU/kg). On Day 5 of the trial, piglets in the ETEC and BC+ETEC groups were orally administered ETEC K88 (5×109CFU/piglet). Blood, intestinal tissue, and content samples were collected from the piglets on Day 7 of the trial. Results The average daily feed intake in the ETEC group was significantly reduced compared to that of the control group. Further research revealed that ETEC infection significantly damaged the structure of the small intestine. Compared to the control group, the villus height and surface area of the jejunum, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum, and the activities of catalase and total superoxide dismutase in the jejunum were significantly reduced. Additionally, the levels of myeloperoxidase in the jejunum, malondialdehyde in the plasma and jejunum, and intestinal epithelial apoptosis were significantly increased in the ETEC group. However, BC supplementation had significantly mitigated these negative effects in the BC+ETEC group by Day 7 of the trial. Moreover, BC supplementation improved the gut microbiota imbalance by reversing the decreased numbers of Enterococcus, Clostridium and Lactobacillus in jejunum and Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the colon, as well as the increased number of Escherichia coli in the jejunum induced by ETEC K88. Conclusions Overall, BC supplementation reduced the decline in average daily feed intake in ETEC K88-infected piglets by attenuating intestinal epithelial apoptosis and oxidative stress and regulating the gut microbiota. This suggests that BC may be used to prevent intestinal infections caused by ETEC in piglets.
A productivity indicator for adaptation to climate change

This study draws on economic index theory to construct a new indicator for adaptation to changing environmental conditions, most notably climate change, which may shift the production technology over time. Such environmental shifts are largely exogenous to firm decision making, for instance investments in research and development, which may also lead to technology change. Few existing measures of total factor productivity (TFP) make this distinction, between exogenous environmental shifts and shifts due to firm decision making or innovation. We introduce a nonparametric Luenberger productivity indicator for adaptation, which allows for decomposition of standard technology and efficiency change measures into both environmental and production components. We apply this framework to agricultural production in the US Mississippi River Basin for recent decades, working with USDA Census of Agriculture data at the county level and key climate conditions. We also match the production and climate data to estimates of Nitrogen loading over time, to incorporate water quality into the adaptation indicator. Our results indicate sustained overall productivity growth, for both agricultural production and nitrogen loading reductions, driven by technology gains outweighing efficiency losses. Decomposing further to the adaptation component, our results indicate modest overall adaptation gains, driven by both adaptation efficiency and technology gains.
Change in Prevalence of Meningitis among Children with Febrile Seizure after the Pentavalent Vaccination

Introduction: One of the most significant current discussions in pediatrics is whether lumbar puncture (LP) should be performed in children with febrile seizure (FS) as in the past. Objectives: We compared the prevalence of meningitis among FS children before and after the pentavalent vaccine to determine the importance of the LP in these children Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study on the prevalence and etiology of bacterial meningitis (BM) in 1314 children with FS before and after pentavalent vaccination. Results: We found that complex FS was more prevalent in patients aged under 12 months compared to other patients. The peak incidence of aseptic meningitis and BM was in the age group of 12- to 18- and 18- to 36-month-old, respectively (P value <0.001 and <0.05, respectively). Children with complex FS had a significantly higher rate of BM and a lower rate of seizure recurrence than those with simple FS (P value <0.05). There was a significant relationship between getting the pentavalent vaccine and reducing the prevalence of BM and Hib-induced BM, but no SP-induced BM (P value <0.05 and 0.05 and 0.104, respectively). Conclusion: This study offers some insights into the effectiveness of the pentavalent vaccine. In addition, the low prevalence of BM in vaccinated FS cases does not support strong recommendations for LP in FS children.
Cognitive tasks as measures of pig welfare: a systematic review

Cognitive approaches are increasingly used to assess animal welfare, but no systematic review has been conducted on pigs despite their cognitive capacities. Our aims were two-fold: first, to assess the popularity and heterogeneity of this approach by quantifying the different cognitive tasks used and welfare interventions studied. The second was to assess how often results from cognitive tasks supported treatment effects. The search yielded 36 studies that met our criteria. Eleven different cognitive tasks were applied (three most common: judgment bias, learned approach/aversion, and holeboard). Welfare interventions investigated were also diverse: the impact of 19 other different events/conditions/states were reported (most common: housing enrichment). We defined “supportive” as the observation of a significant difference between treatment groups consistent with an author’s expectation or hypothesis. Supportive findings were reported in 44% of papers. Interventions yielded no significant difference in 33% of studies. In another 21% of reports, outcomes were mixed and a single study refuted the author’s predictions. When considering specific cognitive tasks, authors’ predictions of welfare differences were supported most often when using learned approach/aversion (55% of these studies). Similar supportive results were observed less commonly (40% each) when using judgment bias and holeboard tests. Analysis of additional concomitant measures of welfare (health, physiology or behavior) revealed that behavioral measures were most frequently supportive of author’s expectations (41%) as well as often matching the actual outcomes of these cognitive tasks (47%). This systematic review highlights the growing popularity of cognitive tasks as measures of pig welfare. However, overall rates of supportive results, i.e., changes in performance on cognitive tasks due to welfare interventions, have been limited so far, even for the most employed task, judgment bias. The numerous different combinations of experimental paradigms and welfare interventions reported in the literature creates challenges for a critical meta-analysis of the field especially in evaluating the efficiency of specific cognitive tasks in assessing animal welfare. This work also highlights important knowledge gaps in the use of cognitive tasks that will require both further validation as well as novel innovation to ensure that their potential is fully realized in the measurement of pig welfare.
Farmland Conversion Decreases Regional and National Land Quality in China

Maintaining sufficient farmland to ensure food security and a strong rural economy is crucial for China. At the national as well as regional levels, we compared the quality of the land converted from and to farmland during the period 1986–2005, thus quantifying the change in farmland quality directly attributable to land‐use conversion. Specifically, we compared land cover maps compiled for the initial and final years of the study period at a 1:250,000 scale by institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and combined this with national land quality assessment data compiled at the beginning of the period. Comparison of the land cover maps revealed that over the 20‐year period 12·9 Mha of farmland were converted to other land uses and 14·0 Mha of new farmland were brought under cultivation. Large net increases in farmland area occurred in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, together contributing 3·5 Mha of the net increase in farmland area. Several developed provinces, e.g. Beijing (−21·20%), Shanghai (−15·81%), Zhejiang (−9·85%), Guangdong (−7·79%), and Tianjin (−6·35%), experienced rapid farmland decreases. Although there was a net increase in farmland, the most suitable and productive farmland decreased by 1·8% while low‐quality farmland increased by 1·4%. Thus, focusing solely on maintaining the total farmland area did not prevent overall loss of a substantial amount of high‐quality farmland. Farmland protection policies should therefore take into account both farmland quantity and quality. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Soil nitrogen dynamics within profiles of a managed moist temperate forest chronosequence consistent with long‐term harvesting‐induced losses

This study investigates whether clear‐cut forest harvesting leads to alterations in the decadal‐scale biogeochemical nitrogen (N) cycles of moist temperate forest ecosystems. Using a harvested temperate red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) forest chronosequence in Nova Scotia, Canada, representing <1 to >80 year old postharvest conditions, alongside a reference old‐growth (125+ year old) site with no documented history of disturbance, we examine harvesting‐related changes in soil N pools and fluxes. Specifically, we quantify soil N storage with depth and age across the forest chronosequence, examine changes in physical fractions and δ15N of soil N through depth and time, and quantify gross soil N transformation rates through depth and time using a 15N isotope dilution technique. Our findings point to a large loss of total N in the soil pool, particularly within the deep soil (>20 cm) and organomineral fractions. A pulse of available mineralized N (as ammonium) was observed following harvesting (mean residence time (MRT) > 6 days), but its MRT dropped to <1 day 80 years following harvesting, in contrast to the MRT of 2–3 days observed in the reference old‐growth forest site. These mineralization patterns coupled with inferred leaching losses to groundwater are consistent with storage estimates that suggest soil N may not reaccrue for almost a century following this disturbance.