Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Les aires protégées de l'Extrême-Nord Cameroun entre politiques de conservation et pratiques locales

Cette recherche a pour objectif d'evaluer l'impact des politiques publiques de conservation et de gestion des aires protegees face aux logiques paysannes d'exploitation des ressources et de developpement. Dans le cadre de cette reflexion, nous tentons d'estimer le poids reel des politiques nationales de conservation des aires protegees de l'Extreme-Nord Cameroun. Cette recherche se propose de repondre a la question suivante : l'analyse de la dynamique de l'occupation du sol a l'interieur et autour des aires protegees permetelle de juger de l'efficacite de la politique de conservation dans les aires protegees de l'Extreme- Nord Cameroun ? Pour caracteriser et evaluer la dynamique de la vegetation, la methode retenue privilegie une double entree prenant en compte a la fois la spatialisation et le discours. De la sorte, l'exploitation a la fois des donnees historiques et juridiques, des donnees cartographiques et des images satellites acquises a des dates successives est completee par des releves de terrain et des enquetes socio-economiques. L'ensemble des informations collectees constitue la base de donnees necessaire pour la creation d'un Systeme d'information Geographique (SIG), outil indispensable a la gestion durable des ressources dans les aires protegees.
Changes in Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Composition during Limestone Diagenesis

The calcite fossils of the Derbyhaven Beds, Isle of Man, have δ13C values (+ 1·8 PDB) similar to modern, shallow-water marine skeletons, but the δ18O values (−6·1 PDB) are much lighter than modern skeletons. The light oxygen values indicate either re-equilibration with isotopically light water before cementation started, or Carboniferous sea water with δ18O of −6‰. Aragonite dissolution was followed by precipitation of zoned calcite cement. In this cement, up to six intracrystalline zones, recognized in stained thin sections, show isotopic variation. Carbon varies from + 3-8 to + 1-2‰. and oxygen from − 2-6 to − 12-4‰. with decreasing age of the cement. This trend is attributed to increasing temperature and to isotopic evolution of the pore waters during burial. The zoned calcite is sequentially followed by dolomite and kaolinite cements which continue the trend towards light isotopic values. This trend is continued with younger, fault-controlled dolomite, and is terminated by vein-filling calcite and dolomite. The younger calcite, interpreted as a near-surface precipitate from meteoric waters, is unrelated to the older sequence of carbonates and has distinctly different carbon isotope ratios: δ13C − 6-8‰.
Usefulness of AI-Equipped Endoscopy for Detecting Colorectal Adenoma during Colonoscopy Screening: Confirm That Colon Neoplasm Finely Can Be Identified by AI without Overlooking Study (Confidential Study)

In the present prospective case series study, we investigated the lesion-detection ability of an AI-equipped colonoscopy as an addition to colonoscopy (CS) screening. Participants were 100 patients aged ≥20 years who had not undergone CS at the study site in the last 3 years and passed the exclusion criteria. CS procedures were conducted using conventional white light imaging and computer-aided detection (CADe). Adenoma detection rate (ADR; number of individuals with at least one adenoma detected) was compared between the conventional group and the CADe group. Of the 170 lesions identified, the ADR of the CADe group was significantly higher than the ADR of the conventional group (69% vs. 61%, p = 0.008). For the expert endoscopists, although ADR did not differ significantly, the mean number of detected adenomas per procedure (MAP) was significantly higher in the CADe group than in the conventional group (1.7 vs. 1.45, p = 0.034). For non-expert endoscopists, ADR and MAP were significantly higher in the CADe group than in the conventional group (ADR 69.5% vs. 56.6%, p = 0.016; MAP 1.66 vs. 1.11, p < 0.001). These results indicate that the CADe function in CS screening has a positive effect on adenoma detection, especially for non-experts.
Malta's tourism industry since 1985: Diversification, cultural tourism and sustainability

Abstract During the 1960s and 1970s, Malta's mass tourism industry developed in a relatively unplanned fashion and was characterised by a mixed assortment of benefits and dis‐benefits, as well as dependence on a narrowly defined market. This paper examines the international trends and government policies that have resulted in the diversification of the tourist industry in Malta since the mid‐1980s. Focusing on one particular type of niche‐marketing, that of cultural tourism, the paper explores some of the possible impacts following from the changing patterns of tourism. The paper questions whether cultural tourists are a blessing or blight, and considers the emerging implications for the sustainability of tourism in Malta, examining Malta as a sensitive test case for tourism development strategies.
Ecdysteroid Biosynthesis Halloween Gene Spook Plays an Important Role in the Oviposition Process of Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae

In insects, the ecdysteroid hormone regulates development and reproduction. However, its function in the reproduction process of spider mites is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of the Halloween gene Spook on the oviposition of the reproduction process in a spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. The expression patterns of the ecdysteroid biosynthesis and signaling pathway genes, as analyzed by RT-qPCR, showed that the expression pattern of the Halloween genes was similar to the oviposition pattern of the female mite and the expression patterns of the vitellogenesis-related genes TuVg and TuVgR, suggesting that the Halloween genes are involved in the oviposition of spider mites. To investigate the function of the ecdysteroid hormone on the oviposition of the reproduction process, we carried out an RNAi assay against the Halloween gene Spook by injection in female mites. Effective silencing of TuSpo led to a significant reduction of oviposition. In summary, these results provide an initial study on the effect of Halloween genes on the reproduction in T. urticae and may be a foundation for a new strategy to control spider mites.
Spatial variability of wildland fuel characteristics in northern Rocky Mountain ecosystems

We investigated the spatial variability of a number of wildland fuel characteristics for the major fuel components found in six common northern Rocky Mountain ecosystems. Surface fuel characteristics of loading, particle density, bulk density, and mineral content were measured for eight fuel components - four downed dead woody fuel size classes (1, 10, 100, 1000 hr), duff, litter, shrub, and herb - on nested plots located within sampling grids to describe their variability across spatial scales. We also sampled canopy bulk density, biomass, and cover for each plot in the grid. The spatial distribution and variability of surface and canopy fuel characteristics are described using the variance, spatial autocorrelation, semi-variograms, and Moran's I. We found that all fuels had high variability in loading (two to three times the mean), and this variability increased with the size of fuel particle. We also found that fuel components varied at different scales, with fine fuels varying at scales of 1 to 5 m, coarse fuels at 10 to 150 m, and canopy fuels at 100 to 500 m. Findings and data from this study can be used to sample, describe, and map fuel characteristics, such as loading, at the appropriate spatial scales to accommodate the next generation of fire behavior prediction models.
Identification of Potential Mechanisms of Rk1 Combination with Rg5 in the Treatment of Type II Diabetes Mellitus by Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

In this study, we aimed to explore the potential targets and functional mechanisms of Rk1 combined with Rg5 (Rk1+Rg5) against type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict and verify the targets and signaling pathways of Rk1+Rg5 against T2DM. The results were further confirmed by a db/db mouse model and a model using PA-induced L6 cells. According to network pharmacology, a total of 250 core targets of Rk1+Rg5 towards T2DM were identified; the insulin resistance signaling pathways were enriched by KEGG. Results of molecular docking indicated good binding affinity of Rk1 and Rg5 to Akt1. In vivo and in vitro studies further showed that Rk1+Rg5 is an inhibitor of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. The results showed that Rk1+Rg5 significantly improved the hyperglycemic state of db/db mice, alleviated dyslipidemia, and promoted skeletal muscle glucose uptake. This phenomenon was closely related to the alleviation of the insulin resistance in skeletal muscles. Finally, the combination activated the Akt signaling pathway and promoted GLUT4 translocation to the cell membrane for glucose uptake. Altogether, our findings, for the first time, demonstrate that the combination of Rk1 and Rg5 could be beneficial for anti-T2DM, possibly involving ameliorated insulin resistance.
Internal stability of granular filters

Internal stability of a granular material results from its ability to prevent loss of its own small particles due to disturbing forces such as seepage and vibration. Internal instability results from the inability of a soil to act as a filter to prevent loss of its own small particles.Within pores in the load-bearing fabric of a cohesionless, granular material there can exist loose particles, and whether or not these particles can be removed by seepage depends on (i) particle size distribution curve of the whole material, (ii) density of the compacted material, and (iii) severity of the disturbing forces.Results of seepage tests are presented for a variety of compacted, cohesionless materials, some of which experienced loss of small particles (unstable gradings) and others of which experienced no such loss (stable gradings). From a synthesis of these results a method is proposed for evaluating the potential for grading instability based on the shape of a material's grain size curve. However, the surest me.
Multilingualism, linguistic landscaping and translation of isiXhosa signage at three Western Cape Universities

Promotion and practice of multilingualism is of infinite need in a country with such history as South Africa. The need to promote, preserve and maintain languages grows each and every day due to the possibility of languages fading away until they become non-existent. The best system to maintain, preserve and promote all languages existing in a country is to utilise them in a multilingual sense. This is what each mission statement of the three major universities in the Western Cape Province promise; they claim to contribute to multilingualism by encouraging the use of and development isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans as languages of learning and teaching at the institutions. This study set out to investigate the practice of multilingualism in the three universities of the Western Cape considering the quantity and quality (of isiXhosa translation) in the linguistic landscapes. The findings show uneven promotion of the three official languages in all three universities in both the number of signage found and the quality of the translation, and sometimes incomplete translation of isiXhosa signage. At the University of the Western Cape and the University of Cape Town, English proved to be the most favoured language in comparison to Afrikaans and isiXhosa. This tradition of favouring languages was the same at Stellenbosch University, only the language of prestige was different; Afrikaans. Thus among other things the study recommends that policy makers within the three universities should ensure that linguistic landscapes do not just display all three languages, they should make sure that the languages are distributed evenly. Most significant, all the target text should be translated properly. In essence, the universities should employ trained language practitioners for all language related matters.
A Study of the Use of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for the Phytoremediation of Organic Contaminants in Soil

This article presents the results of a study that was conducted to determine the effectiveness of using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to enhance the phytoremediation of three different types of chemical contaminants. The chemicals studied were trinitrotoluene (TNT), the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pyrene, and the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Aroclor 1248. Experiments were conducted using soils that contained high and low organic matter content. The results indicated that recoveries of pyrene and TNT from soil were highly dependent on the soil organic matter content, while the recovery of PCB was not. Significantly low levels of pyrene and TNT were recovered from all treatments in the soil with 6.3 percent organic matter content compared to recovery levels found in soil with 2.6 percent organic matter. The presence of alfalfa plants had a significant effect on the transformation of TNT and PCB in the low organic matter content soil only and had no effect on the fate of pyrene. In the low organic matter soil, only 15 percent and 17 percent of the initial TNT and PCB levels, respectively, were transformed in the unplanted control soils compared to 66 percent and 77 percent in the alfalfa planted pots. In both soil types, pyrene dissipation could not be attributed to the presence of alfalfa plants. Overall, it was concluded that under high soil organic matter conditions, adsorption and covalent binding to the soil organic matter appeared to be the dominant force of pyrene and TNT removal. The effectiveness of using alfalfa to enhance PCB and TNT transformations was more significant in the lower organic matter soil; thus phytoremediation had a greater effect in soils with lower organic matter content. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Assessing the Geography of Vandalism: Evidence from a Swedish City

This paper investigates the occurrence of vandalism at the small-area level for the Swedish city of Malmo using data from the Skane Police Authority's database. Demographic, socioeconomic and land use characteristics measured at the small-area level are used as predictors of vandalism with particular interest in the role of collective resources. Standardised vandalism ratios were calculated and mapped using a geographical information system (GIS). Spatial regression models were used to test hypotheses relating to the variation in vandalism rates. Findings show that spatial variation in vandalism is significantly related to social disorganisation risk factors as well as land use factors, but that the physical presence of local leisure associations (a 'collective resource') produces higher vandalism rates.
Assessment of Symptoms and Risk Factors as a Screening Tool of Bacterial Vaginosis Among Reproductive Age-Group Females in West Bengal, India

Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a ubiquitous vaginal discomfort and has overlapping symptoms with other reproductive tract infections. The World Health Organization suggested a symptomatic approach for diagnosing BV with insufficient laboratory setup. However, due to symptom overlap, BV is often misled and ends up with injudicious drug application. Objective The study aims to identify the most relevant symptoms and behavioral risk factors associated with BV in tertiary healthcare settings in West Bengal, India. It also seeks to develop a scoring system based on clinical symptoms to screen for BV, especially when laboratory facilities are limited. Methodology The study is a retrospective case-control study involving 95 women of reproductive age. It employs both univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models to identify risk factors and symptoms associated with BV. The study also compares these clinical symptoms with laboratory tests (Amsel’s test) and attempts to create a scoring system for BV diagnosis. Key Findings Good menstrual hygiene and condom use were identified as key behavioral practices reducing the risk of BV. Four clinical symptoms, like malodor (P = 0.007), lower abdominal pain (P = 0.015), abnormal vaginal discharge (P = 0.071), and painful intercourse (P = 0.08), were identified as notable predictors. Based on these four symptoms, the scoring system showed a sensitivity of 88.2%, a specificity of 67.25%, and an overall accuracy of 74.7%. An additional diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) revealed that the odds of malodor (P= 0.006) and burning sensation (P= 0.011) increased significantly during co-infection.
A Qualitative Study to Explore the Life Experiences of Older Adults in Oman

Background: Reminiscence studies and life reviews have a number of proven advantages. Future generations gain by learning from elders’ life experiences, as do older adults themselves who share their memories. Despite Oman’s sizable geriatric population, research on older individuals’ life experiences is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the life experiences of older Omani individuals across their many life stages, from childhood to the present. Methods: This was a qualitative study design. Convenience sampling was employed and conducted from December 2021 to October 2022. A total of 13 Omani older adults (9 females and 4 males), with an average age of 68 years, were recruited for this study (response rate = 34%). Socio-demographic and life review information was gathered according to a set of semi-structured guiding questions. The responses were then captured on audio recordings, which underwent transcription and translation. Thematic analysis techniques were applied to the extracted data. Results: Three main themes were evident in this study’s findings: childhood memories, friendships, and relationships, as well as the elders’ past. Additionally, older adults passed on a number of gems of wisdom to be shared with the younger generations. Conclusions: This study aided in revealing the resiliency, social connections, and life reflections of Omani older adults. These themes can guide the creation of age-inclusive laws, social support initiatives, and healthcare services specifically designed to satisfy the special requirements and ambitions of the elderly population. Based on these themes, this study recommended that the local community or society build a more sympathetic and compassionate atmosphere that honors and respects the accomplishments of this essential group by recognizing and comprehending the complex experiences of older adults. In addition, future studies could explore particular aspects of these older experiences and pinpoint solutions to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.
A Conceptual Framework for Subdomain Specific Pre-Training of Large Language Models for Green Claim Detection

Detection of false or misleading green claims (referred to as “greenwashing”) within company sustainability disclosures is challenging for a number of reasons, which include the textual and qualitative nature, volume, and complexity of such disclosures. In recent years, notable progress made in the fields of artificial intelligence and specifically, large language models (LLMs), has showcased the capacity of these tools to effectively analyse extensive and intricate textual data, including the contents of sustainability disclosures. Transformer-based LLMs, such as Google’s BERT architecture, were trained on general domain text corpora. Subsequent research has shown that further pre-training of such LLMs on specific domains, such as the climate or sustainability domains, may improve performance. However, previous research often uses text corpora that exhibit significant variation across topics and language and which often consist of heterogeneous subdomains. We therefore propose a conceptual framework for further pre-training of transformer based LLMs using text corpora relating to specific sustainability subdomains i.e. subdomain specific pre-training. We do so as a basis for the improved performance of such models in analysing sustainability disclosures. The main contribution is a conceptual framework to advance the use of LLMs for the reliable identification of green claims and ultimately, greenwashing. Keywords: greenwashing, artificial intelligence, sustainability, sustainability reporting, sustainability disclosures.
Diagnostic Efficacy of Plasma-Based Real-Time PCR for Schistosomiasis Japonica in Mice before and after Treatment with Praziquantel

Simple Summary Molecular diagnostic methods based on nucleic acid detection possess more advantages in high sensitivity and specificity, and low cross-reactivity with other pathogens. We assessed the detection efficacy of a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay for schistosomiasis japonica in mice, before and after treatment with praziquantel. The sensitivity of the method was 99.3% (152/153, 95% CI: 96.41–99.98%) and its specificity was 100% (77/77, 95% CI: 95.32–100%). The results showed that the method exhibited good sensitivity and specificity, and its sensitivity correlated with the infection intensity in mice. After the oral administration of praziquantel, mice infected with 10 cercariae or 40 cercariae were all Schistosoma japonicum-negative via this method 6 weeks after treatment. This method had advantages over a soluble-egg-antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and possessed better potential utility for evaluating the treatment efficacy of praziquantel in schistosome-infected mice. Abstract The prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica in China is now characterized by a low epidemic rate and low-intensity infections. Some diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity are urgently needed to better monitor this disease in the current situation. In this study, the detection efficacy of a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was assessed for schistosomiasis japonica in mice, and before and after treatment with praziquantel (PZQ). Our results showed that the sensitivity of the qPCR was 99.3% (152/153, 95% CI: 96.41–99.98%) and its specificity was 100% (77/77, 95% CI: 95.32–100%) in mice infected with different numbers of Schistosoma japonicum. After the oral administration of PZQ, mice infected with 10 cercariae or 40 cercariae were all Schistosoma japonicum-negative 6 weeks after treatment. However, the negativity rates on a soluble egg antigen (SEA)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were only 34.8% (8/23, 10 cercariae group) and 6.7% (1/15, 40 cercariae group) at the sixth week after PZQ treatment. These results demonstrated that the qPCR method had good sensitivity and specificity, and suggested that its sensitivity correlated with the infection intensity in mice. Moreover, this method had better potential utility for evaluating the treatment efficacy of PZQ in schistosome-infected mice than SEA-based ELISA.