Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of a multi-metric macroalgal index to document severe eutrophication in a New Zealand estuary

ABSTRACT Environmental indicators that reliably describe estuary trophic response to nutrient loading are required for the effective management of New Zealand estuaries. A common estuary eutrophication response is frequent, extensive and persistent opportunistic macroalgae blooms. This study explores the utility of the Opportunistic Macroalgal Blooming Tool (OMBT) in the New River Estuary (∼4600 ha), a shallow intertidal-dominated system within a pastoral farming catchment in Southland, New Zealand. Total nitrogen (TN) loads increased from 3206 T y−1 in 2000 to 5143 T y−1 in 2020. Concomitantly, areas of opportunistic macroalgae, measured using the OMBT, expanded across the available intertidal habitat (AIH) from 34.9 ha or 1.4% of the AIH to 1383 ha or 47.6% of the AIH, and the average wet weight biomass increased from 19.3 g m−2 to a peak of 1326 g m−2 in 2019. We hypothesise that opportunistic macroalgae expanded rapidly in direct response to temporal increases in TN load, with increases disproportionately contributed by expansion and intensification of dairy farming in the catchment. This study confirmed that the OMBT predictably responded to changes in TN concentration and may therefore be useful in defining estuary-specific TN concentration thresholds to inform likely load reductions required to achieve improved environmental outcomes.
Post Pandemic leadership in Latin America: responding to Wicked Problems using Adaptive Leadership in Organizational Contexts

This paper examines the leadership approach to the pandemic in Latin America based on the traditional cultural approach to leadership in this region. Using the framework of challenges proposed by Grint (2020), a response to Covid is recommended based on its categorization as a wicked, as opposed to a tame or critical, problem. Using a framework of adaptive leadership (Heifetz, 1994) and advanced change theory (Quinn, 2000), Ricardo Semler’s transformation of Semco is explored as an example of an alternative approach to leadership to address wicked problems in Latin America.
Structural connectome constrained graphical lasso for MEG partial coherence

Abstract Structural connectivity provides the backbone for communication between neural populations. Since axonal transmission occurs on a millisecond time scale, measures of M/EEG functional connectivity sensitive to phase synchronization, such as coherence, are expected to reflect structural connectivity. We develop a model of MEG functional connectivity whose edges are constrained by the structural connectome. The edge strengths are defined by partial coherence, a measure of conditional dependence. We build a new method—the adaptive graphical lasso (AGL)—to fit the partial coherence to perform inference on the hypothesis that the structural connectome is reflected in MEG functional connectivity. In simulations, we demonstrate that the structural connectivity’s influence on the partial coherence can be inferred using the AGL. Further, we show that fitting the partial coherence is superior to alternative methods at recovering the structural connectome, even after the source localization estimates required to map MEG from sensors to the cortex. Finally, we show how partial coherence can be used to explore how distinct parts of the structural connectome contribute to MEG functional connectivity in different frequency bands. Partial coherence offers better estimates of the strength of direct functional connections and consequently a potentially better estimate of network structure.
Non-Invasive Method to Predict the Composition of Requeijão Cremoso Directly in Commercial Packages Using Time Domain NMR Relaxometry and Chemometrics

Low Field Time-Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) relaxometry was used to determine moisture, fat, and defatted dry matter contents in “requeijão cremoso” (RC) processed cheese directly in commercial packaged (plastic cups or tubes with approximately 200 g). Forty-five samples of commercial RC types (traditional, light, lactose-free, vegan, and fiber) were analyzed using longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation measurements in a wide bore Halbach magnet (0.23 T) with a 100 mm probe. The T1 and T2 analyses were performed using CWFP-T1 (Continuous Wave Free Precession) and CPMG (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill) single shot pulses. The scores of the principal component analysis (PCA) of CWFP-T1 and CPMG signals did not show clustering related to the RC types. Optimization by variable selection was carried out with ordered predictors selection (OPS), providing simpler and predictive partial least squares (PLS) calibration models. The best results were obtained with CWFP-T1 data, with root-mean-square errors of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.38, 4.71, 3.28, and 3.00% for defatted dry mass, fat in the dry and wet matter, and moisture, respectively. Therefore, CWFP-T1 data modeled with chemometrics can be a fast method to monitor the quality of RC directly in commercial packages.
Hyperspectral Modeling of Soil Organic Matter Based on Characteristic Wavelength in East China

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key index of soil fertility. Visible and near-infrared (VNIR, 350–2500 nm) reflectance spectroscopy is an effective method for modeling SOM content. Characteristic wavelength screening and spectral transformation may improve the performance of SOM prediction. This study aimed to explore the optimal combination of characteristic wavelength selection and spectral transformation for hyperspectral modeling of SOM. A total of 219 topsoil (0–20 cm) samples were collected from two soil types in the East China. VNIR reflectance spectra were measured in the laboratory. Firstly, after spectral transformation (inverse-log reflectance (LR), continuum removal (CR) and first-order derivative reflectance (FDR)) of VNIR spectra, characteristic wavelengths were selected by competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and uninformative variables elimination (UVE) algorithms. Secondly, the SOM prediction models were constructed based on the partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forest (RF) and support vector regression (SVR) methods using the full spectra and selected wavelengths, respectively. Finally, optimal SOM prediction models were selected for two soil types. The results were as follows: (1) The CARS algorithm screened 40–125 characteristic wavelengths from the full spectra. The UVE algorithm screened 105–884 characteristic wavelengths. (2) For two soil types and full spectra, CARS and UVE improved the SOM modeling precision based on the PLSR and SVR methods. The coefficient of determination (R2) value in the validation of the CARS-PLSR (PLSR model combined with CARS) and CARS-SVR (SVR model combined CARS) models ranged from 0.69 to 0.95, and the relative percent deviation (RPD) value ranged from 1.74 to 4.31. Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) values ranged from 0.83 to 0.97. The UVE-PLSR and UVE-SVR models showed moderate precision. (3) The PLSR and SVR modeling accuracies of Paddy soil were better than those for Shajiang black soil. RF models performed worse for both soil types, with the R2 values of validation ranging from 0.22 to 0.68 and RPD values ranging from 1.01 to 1.60. (4) For Paddy soil, the optimal SOM prediction models (highest R2 and RPD, lowest root mean square error (RMSE)) were CR-CARS-PLSR (R2 and RMSE: 0.97 and 1.21 g/kg in calibration sets, 0.95 and 1.72 g/kg in validation sets, RPD: 4.31) and CR-CARS-SVR (R2 and RMSE: 0.98 and 1.04 g/kg in calibration sets, 0.91 and 2.24 g/kg in validation sets, RPD: 3.37). For Shajiang black soil, the optimal SOM prediction models were LR-CARS-PLSR (R2 and RMSE: 0.95 and 0.93 g/kg in calibration sets, 0.86 and 1.44 g/kg in validation sets, RPD: 2.62) and FDR-CARS-SVR (R2 and RMSE: 0.99 and 0.45 g/kg in calibration sets, 0.83 and 1.58 g/kg in validation sets, RPD: 2.38). The results suggested that the CARS algorithm combined CR and FDR can significantly improve the modeling accuracy of SOM content.
Magnetic and Luminescence Properties of 8-Coordinated Pyridyl Adducts of Samarium(III) Complexes Containing 4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1,3-butanedionate

A novel series of polypyridyl adducts, [Sm(ntfa)3(NN)] (2–4), with ntfa = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1,3-butanedionate, NN = 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4,4′-Me2bipy), and 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5,5′-Me2bipy) were synthesized from the precursor complex [Sm(ntfa)3(MeOH)2] (1) and the corresponding pyridyl ligands. Single X-ray crystallography showed that the complexes displayed 8-coordinated geometry. The solid pyridyl adducts 2–4 exhibited emission of luminescence in the NIR and visible regions with close quantum yields (QY = 0.20–0.25%). The magnetic data of 1–4 showed larger values than those expected for magnetically noncoupled Sm(III) complexes in the 6H5/2 ground state, with no saturation on the applied high magnetic field static at a temperature of 2 K.
Study of the activity of DNA polymerases β and λ using 5-formyluridine containing DNA substrates

Aims. To investigate the TLS-activity of human DNA polymerases β and λ (pols β and λ) using 5-formyluridine (5-foU) containing DNA duplexes which are imitating the intermediates during replication of the leading DNA strand, and to study the influence of replication factors hRPA and hPCNA on this activity. Methods. The EMSA and the methods of enzyme’s kinetics were used. Results. The capability of pols β and λ to catalyze DNA synthesis across 5-foU was investigated and the kinetic characteristics of this process in the presence and in the absence of protein factors hRPA and hPCNA were evaluated. Conclusions. It was shown that: (i) both proteins are able to catalyze TLS on used DNA substrates regardless of the reaction conditions, however, pol λ was more accurate enzyme; (ii) hRPA can stimulate the efficacy of the nonmutagenic TLS catalyzed by pol λ at the nucleotide incorporation directly opposite of 5-foU, at the same time it doesn’t influence the incorporation efficacy if the damage displaced into the duplex; (iii) hPCNA doesn’t influence the efficacy of TLS catalyzed by both enzymes.
Teacher autonomy in the age of performance-based accountability: A review based on teaching profession regulatory models (2017-2020)

In recent decades, the governance of educational systems has experienced dramatic changes in many countries. Schools have been given more autonomy whilst being held increasingly accountable at the central level through standardized testing and other forms of external evaluation. The mechanisms of performance-based accountability (PBA) and the consequences attached to test results vary. In high-stakes systems, teachers’ careers are more directly connected to students’ performance, and low performing schools might risk closure, whereas in lower-stakes systems, the official administrative consequences of accountability for school actors are more symbolic than material. The main aim of this paper is to understand the impact of different forms of PBA on teachers’ work from a comparative perspective. Most research on this topic is based on single-context case studies, which makes it difficult to understand the impact of policy factors and professional contexts in teachers’ decisions and autonomy. To address this challenge, we review recent investigations (2017-2020) on the topic and compare their findings in different teachers' regulatory contexts. The review includes 101 articles from the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. We find that evidence on the impact of PBA on teachers’ perceptions and beliefs are variegated, and that the implications of PBA on teachers’ autonomy does not only depend on the level of accountability stakes, but on teachers’ professional regulation.
Metacognitive Regulation of Essentialism in the Teaching of Evolution

Essentialism is a way of reasoning that implies assuming that the members of a group share an immutable essence, and that the variation among the members of the group is negligible. Although this way of reasoning is useful for people in their everyday lives, it may pose difficulties in the learning of scientific models, particularly those of evolutionary biology. Essentialism, understood as an epistemological obstacle, requires some didactic work encouraging the development of metacognitive vigilance, in other words, the awareness and regulation of this way of thinking. In this article, we will characterize the processes of metacognitive regulation of essentialism that took place during a didactic sequence to teach evolution. The sequence was implemented in a secondary school in Argentina with 80 students. We will present some of the possibilities and difficulties of carrying out metacognitive regulation of essentialism in biology classrooms. From the use of thematic analysis, we have found that students seem to regulate essentialism in an implicit way during discussions with their classmates, at both the individual and social levels. Moreover, in the case of evolution learning, we distinguished two types of specific regulations: the regulation of ‘ typologism ’ and that of ‘ noise ’ . In this sense, we consider that essentialism is not regulated as a whole, but instead through some of its assumptions. This work will allow further thinking about the possibilities of promoting the metacognitive regulation of epistemological obstacles in biology classes.
Relic Groundwater and Prolonged Drought Confound Interpretations of Water Sustainability and Lithium Extraction in Arid Lands

Demand for lithium for batteries is growing rapidly with the global push to decarbonize energy systems. The Salar de Atacama, Chile holds ∼42% of the planet's reserves in the form of brine hosted in massive evaporite aquifers. The mining of these brines and associated freshwater use has raised concerns over the environmental responsibility of lithium extraction, yet large uncertainties remain regarding fundamental aspects of governing hydrological processes in these environments. This incomplete understanding has led to the perpetuation of misconceptions about what constitutes sustainable or renewable water use and therefore what justifies responsible allocation. We present an integrated hydrological assessment using tritium and stable oxygen, and hydrogen isotopes paired with remotely sensed and terrestrial hydroclimate data to define unique sources of water distinguished by residence time, physical characteristics, and connectivity to modern climate. Our results describe the impacts of prolonged drought on surface and groundwaters and demonstrate that nearly all inflow to the basin is composed of water recharged >65 years ago. Still, modern precipitation is critical to sustaining important wetlands around the salar. Recent large rain events have increased surface water and vegetation extents and terrestrial water storage while mining‐related water withdrawals have continued. As we show, poor conceptualizations of these complex hydrological systems have perpetuated the misallocation of water and the misattribution of impacts. These fundamental issues apply to arid regions globally. Our new framework for hydrological assessment in these basins moves beyond calculating gross inputs‐outputs at a steady state to include all compartmentalized stores that constitute “modern” budgets.
Not “My” crisis: Social identity and followers’ crisis responses to COVID‐19

Abstract Operationalizing social group identification as political partisanship, we examine followers’ (i.e., US residents’) affective experiences and behavioral responses during the initial COVID‐19 outbreak in the United States (March to May 2020). In Study 1, we conducted content analyses on major news outlets’ coverage of COVID‐19 (N = 4319) to examine media polarization and how it plays a role in shaping followers’ perceptions of the pandemic and leadership. News outlets trusted by Republicans portrayed US President Donald Trump as more effective, conveyed a stronger sense of certainty with less negative affective tone, and had a lower emphasis on COVID‐19 prevention compared to outlets trusted by Democrats. We then conducted a field survey study (Study 2; N = 214) and found that Republicans perceived Trump as more effective, experienced higher positive affect, and engaged in less COVID‐19 preventive behavior compared to Democrats. Using a longitudinal survey design in Study 3 (N = 251), we examined how emotional responses evolved in parallel with the pandemic and found further support for Study 2 findings. Collectively, our findings provide insight into the process of leadership from a social identity perspective during times of crisis, illustrating how social identity can inhibit mobilization of united efforts. The findings have implications for leadership of subgroup divides in different organizational and crisis contexts.
Corporate social responsibility and COVID‐19: Prior reporting experience and assurance

Abstract The novel COVID‐19 has created an exogenous shock to capital markets and, hence, an ideal opportunity for researchers to assess whether CSR‐related activities provide an insurance‐like mechanism to protect firms against the shock. Using a large sample of 4361 firms domiciled in 40 countries, we investigate the roles of CSR reporting and assurance in the negative consequences of COVID‐19 on firm value. The results confirm that prior CSR reporting experience buffers firms against the adverse effects of the health crisis. The results also support that not only does the assurance on CSR reports create a buffering effect against the health crisis, but it also intensifies the buffering effects of prior CSR reporting experience against the pandemic. Moreover, using difference‐in‐difference method for testing the link between CSR reporting and firm value, we show that the positive association of reporting and assurance with firm value is more pronounced during the pandemic as compared with the years preceding it. The results of this study are robust to various analyses. Replicating the analyses to the context of the global financial crisis, we find that prior CSR reporting experience and assurance provide similar buffering effects when a market is exposed to various exogenous shocks. The results also hold for the mandatory disclosure regimes. By distinguishing first and subsequent reports and assurance, we show that, unlike subsequent CSR reports and assurance, the initial ones cannot mitigate the negative effects of the crisis on firm value, indicating that stakeholders take into account longer‐term CSR reporting experiences. Aside from reporting and assurance aspects of CSR, we analyze the role of CSR report's quality and accuracy and show that the adoption of Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) frameworks can enhance socially responsible firms' resilience against systematic shocks.
What Is the Role of Organizational Cynicism in School Effectiveness?

Human resources are frequently emphasized as being critical to the school social system’s survival. This study examined the effects of teachers’ negative attitudes toward the organization for which they work at the level of school effectiveness. The study sought to determine how negative attitudes of secondary school teachers toward their schools harmed school effectiveness in one of Turkey’s eastern provinces. The analyses revealed that organizational cynicism may reduce perceived school effectiveness by reducing teachers’ participation in school decision-making. In terms of understanding how the negative effects of organizational cynicism on school effectiveness occur, the findings of this study had a wide range of implications in research, practice, and policy.
Energy-Efﬁcient Resource Allocation for D2D-Assisted Fog Computing

—In this paper, we address the problem of energy-efﬁcient resource allocation in a multi-device D2D-assisted fog computing scenario, where the goal is to minimize the total energy consumption subject to constraints on the transmit powers, computation resources and task processing times. The considered problem is non-convex and ﬁnding its global optimum is generally intractable; hence we propose two sub-optimal approaches to solve it. First, by investigating the relationship between the task processing time and the total energy consumption, we show how the original problem can be relaxed into a sequence of convex subproblems whose solutions can be efﬁciently obtained via standard algorithms. Second, to further reduce computational complexity, we propose a low-complexity heuristic resource allocation strategy which does not require calculating gradients and the Hessian matrices in the solution process. We also develop a lower bound on the total energy consumption for the considered task ofﬂoading scenario as a benchmark for comparison purpose. Computer simulations under a wide range of conditions and parameter settings show that both methods achieve a near-optimal solution in comparison to the lower bound.
Stair Ascent Phase-Variable Control of a Powered Knee-Ankle Prosthesis

Passive prostheses cannot provide the net positive work required at the knee and ankle for step-over stair ascent. Powered prostheses can provide this net positive work, but user synchronization of joint motion and power input are critical to enabling natural stair ascent gaits. In this work, we build on previous phase variable-based control methods for walking and propose a stair ascent controller driven by the motion of the user's residual thigh. We use reference kinematics from an able-bodied dataset to produce knee and ankle joint trajectories parameterized by gait phase. We redefine the gait cycle to begin at the point of maximum hip flexion instead of heel strike to improve the phase estimate. Able-bodied bypass adapter experiments demonstrate that the phase variable controller replicates normative able-bodied kinematic trajectories with a root mean squared error of 12.66° and 2.64° for the knee and ankle, respectively. The knee and ankle joints provided on average 0.39 J/kg and 0.21 J/kg per stride, compared to the normative averages of 0.34 J/kg and 0.21 J/kg, respectively. Thus, this controller allows powered knee-ankle prostheses to perform net positive mechanical work to assist stair ascent.