Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prescribed burning as a conservation tool for management of habitat for threatened species: the quokka, Setonix brachyurus, in the southern forests of Western Australia

Prescribed burning is frequently advocated as a means of managing habitat for threatened species. We studied effects of fire on the quokka (Setonix brachyurus), a species currently used as a focal species for planning prescribed burns in the southern forests of Western Australia. We examined (i) the recolonisation of burnt areas; (ii) the refuge value of unburnt vegetation; and (iii) fire prediction variables that may help to guide fire planning to achieve desired habitat management outcomes. We hypothesised that fire regimes promoting vegetation structure and patchiness of burnt and unburnt vegetation would result in more rapid recolonisation of burnt areas by quokkas. Occupancy modelling identified the most important variables for recolonisation as retention of vertical vegetation structure and multiple unburnt patches across >20% of the total area. These outcomes were associated with high surface moisture, low soil dryness and slow fire rates of spread. Intense wildfire resulted in complete loss of vegetation structure and a lack of unburnt patches, which contributed to these areas remaining uncolonised. Burning with high moisture differentials, maximising the effectiveness of edaphic barriers to fire, retaining unburnt vegetation and maintaining vegetation structure were found to be important elements of fire regimes in this region.
Hypoglycemia and Cardiovascular Disease: Exploring the Connections

It has long been known that administering insulin or insulin secretagogues to treat diabetes has the unfavorable side effect of hypoglycemia. Because hypoglycemia can disrupt normal brain function, it can have a profound impact on people's lives. Studies have shown a connection between hypoglycemia and a higher risk of death and cardiovascular disease. Through experimental studies, numerous potential reasons for the start of cardiovascular events have been discovered. In addition, studies on people have demonstrated that hypoglycemia can result in ventricular arrhythmias. According to recent studies, a number of factors may affect the relationship between hypoglycemia, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Confounding factors may explain the apparent correlation, at least in part. People with comorbidities may experience more hypoglycemia, increasing their risk of mortality. Those who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, however, seem to be more susceptible to the negative effects of hypoglycemia on the cardiovascular system. When choosing appropriate glucose-lowering treatments and setting glycemic objectives with patients, clinicians should be aware of this risk.
Phylogenetics, historical biogeography and molecular species delimitation of Chanohirata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Penthimiini)

The genus Chanohirata Hayashi & Machida, including the herein synonymized monotypic genus Reticuluma Cheng & Li, is the second most speciose genus in the tribe Penthimiini after Penthimia Germar and is almost exclusively endemic to China. This study presents the first phylogeny of Chanohirata based on three mitochondrial markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II and 16S ribosomal RNA) and one nuclear fragment (28S ribosomal RNA). Reticuluma syn. n. is recovered nested within Chanohirata with strong support. Reticuluma is, therefore, proposed as a junior synonym of Chanohirata, and a new combination is proposed: Chanohirata citrana (Cheng & Li) comb. n. Molecular species delimitation analyses were conducted by combining six molecular delimitation methods with morphological evidence. The results of the species delimitation analyses confirm the status of eight described species of Chanohirata and support the recognition of three new species: Chanohirata cornicula Wang & Zhang sp. n. , Chanohirata elongata Wang & Zhang sp. n. and Chanohirata serrata Wang & Zhang sp. n. Molecular dating and biogeographic analyses suggest that Chanohirata likely originated during the late Eocene in southern China. During the late Miocene to early Pleistocene, the uplift of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau and climatic oscillations probably triggered several dispersal and vicariance events in Chanohirata lineages, leading to most speciation events.
Injustice Promotes Unethical Behavior Through Moral Disengagement

Abstract People are aversive to injustice. Yet how injustice experiences influence people’s ethic violation is understudied. Across three studies, we found that injustice increases unethical behavior and that moral disengagement is an underlying driver of this effect. By measuring (Study 1) and manipulating injustice (Study 2), two studies demonstrated that moral disengagement mediated the association between injustice and unethical behavior. Consistent with the moral disengagement mechanism, experimentally lowering participants’ moral disengagement eliminated the effect of injustice on unethical behavior (Study 3). These findings add to the literature on injustice as well as unethical behavior and have important implications.
Need for workplace smoking cessation program among public transit drivers: Evidence from a cross-sectional study in a metropolitan city of Western India

Background: Air pollution is a significant contributor to respiratory illness globally, and in India, evidence is scarce on whether smoking exacerbates this problem. Objective and Methods: We aimed at assessing if being a smoker among public transit drivers increased risk for respiratory illnesses and affected performance of pulmonary function tests in a cross-sectional study in a metropolitan city of Gujarat, western state of India. We conducted a cross-sectional study among public transit drivers (those who were smoking and not smoking). Administration staff who were not smoking were considered as control group. We collected socio-demographic and medical history including occupational history (N = 296). We collected details of respiratory symptoms with standard tools and assessed pulmonary function tests (PFT) using spirometry. Group differences and regression analyses were conducted in R software. Results: We found that respiratory symptoms among public transit drivers who smoked were higher than those who did not smoke and healthy controls. In PFT diagnosis, drivers who smoke displayed two times higher prevalence of obstructive pattern compared to drivers who did not smoke. There was a significant reduction in the larger as well as the smaller airway functions, reflected in reduction of FEV1/FVC ratio (p < 0.001) and FEF25-75% (p < 0.001), respectively, among drivers who smoked compared to controls. Our results indicate that being a driver with a smoking history leads to a 3.1% greater decrease in the FEV1/FVC ratio and about half a litre reduction in FEF25-75% compared to the drivers who did not smoke. Conclusion: We suggest there is a high need for smoking cessation programmes for public transit drivers as they are at higher risk for respiratory illnesses and reduced pulmonary functions when smoking is added to the existing vehicular exposure.
Robustification of Finite Impulse Response Filter for Nonlinear Systems With Model Uncertainties

This article investigates an iterative finite impulse response (FIR) filter for a nonlinear system with model uncertainties. We begin by designing a simple initialization method for the iterative FIR structure and use the unscented transformation (UT) to realize iterative state estimation in each finite horizon. Additionally, a compensation variable is introduced to compensate for the inaccuracies in the nonlinear dynamic model, thereby reducing uncertainties and improving the estimation accuracy. To estimate the compensation variable, we employ the variational Bayesian (VB) method. Compared with other filters, our design can not only avoid calculating the Jacobian matrix and batch processing to reduce computational load but also enhance robustness. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed filter.
Factors Affecting Thai Fathers’ Self-Efficacy to Support Exclusive Breastfeeding

Background: Breastfeeding is the ideal approach for feeding infants and is an important public health consideration. Successful exclusive breastfeeding initiation and duration is influenced by fathers’ support. Paternal self-efficacy to support breastfeeding has also been shown to mediate infant feeding practices. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support maternal exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: We adopted a cross-sectional survey design for this study. In total, 215 Thai fathers who had a partner with a term (37–42 weeks) pregnancy participated in the study. Data were collected from antenatal care clinics at two hospitals in Northern Thailand between June and August 2022. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Fathers’ Attitude toward Exclusive Breastfeeding questionnaire, the Fathers’ Knowledge about Exclusive Breastfeeding questionnaire, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (Short-Form). Multiple linear regression and hierarchical regression were used to analyze factors influencing Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support maternal exclusive breastfeeding. Results: The mean breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 52.94 (SD = 8.58), indicating that fathers were confident they were able to support their partners’ breastfeeding. Regression analysis revealed family type, fathers’ attitude toward, and fathers’ knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding significantly explaining 14.90% of the variance in paternal breastfeeding support self-efficacy. However, fathers’ age, education, employment, income, and number of living children were not associated with their self-efficacy. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that family type and fathers’ attitudes/knowledge about breastfeeding influenced their self-efficacy to support exclusive breastfeeding. Nurses should consider implementing breastfeeding interventions specific to fathers to enhance their attitudes and knowledge about breastfeeding, including increasing fathers’ self-efficacy to support maternal exclusive breastfeeding efforts.
Use of different approaches to estimate seismic hazard: the study cases of Catania and Siracusa, Italy

The identification of the causative faults in south-eastern Sicily (Italy) is a complicated task although the seismicity of the area has been well studied for years. For this reason a seismic hazard assessment was carried out for the Catania and Siracusa towns providing a comprehensive re-examination and re-processing of all the available seismic data. The site approach and the seismotectonic one were used and compared. The hazard assessment, using both methods, was performed following a logic-tree approach in order to consider and reduce the epistemic uncertainties. Data available in the literature, coming out from recent studies concerning the parametric earthquake catalogue and a complete database of site intensity in Italy were used. For the seismotectonic approach, two source zone models were considered for south- eastern Sicily. In the first model, the same source zone defined for the current Italian reference seismic hazard map is used; in the second model, two separate zones are considered, one includes the normal-fault structures located in the eastern part of the Hyblean area, and the other roughly corresponding to the western portion of the Hyblean front. The combined use of these approaches allowed us to obtain useful elements to define the seismic hazard in Catania and Siracusa. When the seismic history site is used, the town of Catania shows hazard values higher than the ones found for Siracusa, for each considered time interval. On the contrary, when the seismotectonic method is used, the hazard curves show a different behaviour according to the different geometry and size of the adopted source zones. The comparison between the results obtained through the two approaches is recommended since it allows us to verify the robustness of the hazard estimates performed. 1. Forewords Catania and Siracusa are located on the eastern coast of Sicily (southern Italy). The high level of seismicity that affects the area, together with the considerably high density of inhabitants, contribute to classifying these towns amongst those with the highest seismic risk in Italy. The potential severity of damage to which their historic-architectural patrimony could be subjected to is also not negligible. The seismic activity of the investigated area is particularly high as testified
Fine woody fuel particle diameters for improved planar intersect fuel loading estimates in Southern Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine forests

Fuel loading estimates from planar intersect sampling protocols for fine dead down woody surface fuels require an approximation of the mean squared diameter (d2) of 1-h (0–0.63 cm), 10-h (0.63–2.54 cm), and 100-h (2.54–7.62 cm) timelag size classes. The objective of this study is to determine d2 in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests of New Mexico and Colorado, USA in natural, partially harvested, and partially harvested and burned sites to improve fine woody fuel loading estimates. Resulting estimates were generally higher in the 1- and 10-h classes and lower in the 100-h classes when compared with previously published values from other regions. The partially harvested and burned values for 1- and 100-h classes were also significantly lower than in the other stand conditions. Using bootstrap analysis, it was determined that 35 samples would be sufficient to create an accurate estimate of d2 values.
Case Study of Biomass Stove: Effects of Product Quality and Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction

Considering the intense competition, the customer satisfaction factor is a serious concern. Customer satisfaction can be a reference for improving the quality of goods to be sold and a tool for self-correction in improving the quality of a good service. Several factors that influence customer satisfaction (Y) in this study included product quality (X1) and service quality (X2). This study aimed to examine the effect of product quality and service quality on customer satisfaction of PT Putralink Makmur Jaya's biomass stoves. The customer satisfaction factor was influenced by many things. Several factors that influence customer satisfaction were product quality and service quality. The present study involved 150 clients. The samples were clients who used a biomass stove. The sample collection was based on a purposive sampling technique in which the research applied a quantitative research approach. Then, the questionnaire method was used by providing a list of questions directly to the respondent. The data analysis was performed using Multiple Regression Analysis through the SPSS version 22.0 program. The results of this study indicated that product quality and service quality have a positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction of PT Putralink Makmur Jaya biomass stove users.
Size-Based Mortality Caps as Thresholds for Managing Hybrid Striped Bass in Kansas Reservoirs

Total annual mortality and mortality caps (maximum mortality thresholds) were estimated for hybrid striped bass (striped bass Morone saxati- lis × white bass M. chrysops) populations sampled in six large Kansas reservoirs spanning 1995-2001; all reservoirs lacked a minimum length limit but had a 2/d creel limit. Total annual mortality of age-1 and older hybrid striped bass was estimated using a weighted catch curve. Mortality caps were modeled by varying growth rates and management objectives. Mortality rates that approach the cap signal the need for increased monitoring to determine what additional manage- ment action should be taken (e.g., harvest regulations to reduce mortality) or to reevaluate the size objective (targeted mean length of harvested fish) for the fishery. Estimated mortality caps were then compared with observed growth and mortality rates. Total annual mortality rates for all reservoirs varied from 22% to 52% (mean = 38%; SE = 4.9). All but two reservoirs had total annual mortality rates greater than 40%. Analysis of mortality caps indicated that when the objec- tive was to maintain the mean length of harvested hybrid striped bass at current levels, total annual mortality was lower than the mortality cap for most reservoirs if a 381 mm total length (TL) minimum length limit (i.e., preferred length) were to be imposed. A management objective of 500 mm TL for the mean length of harvested hybrid striped bass was realistic for all reservoirs modeled with a 457-mm-TL length limit (special regulation available to managers) but only for two reservoirs with a 381-mm-TL length limit. Likewise, only two of the study reservoirs could support a management objective of 550 mm TL (herein defined as trophy length) for mean length of harvested hybrid striped bass when modeled with a 457-mm-TL length limit. Our analysis illustrates the potential of mortal- ity caps for monitoring and establishing realistic management goals for hybrid striped bass fisheries.
Soil Characteristics and Water Conservation Function of Different Forest Types in Simian Mountains

The soil properties and water conservation function of different forest types were conducted in Simian mountain,the results show as the fllows:(1)In the layer of 0-60 cm,the soil bulk density of Cunninghamia lanceolata×Pinus massoniana,Schima superba×Lithocarpus glaber,Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana×Schima superba of mixed forest was 1.10 g/cm3,1.03 g/cm3,1.24 g/cm3. (2)With the increment of soil depth,soil total porosity,capillary porosity,non-capillary porosity decreased gradually.In the layer of 0-60 cm,the soil total porosity of Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana,Schima superba×Lithocarpus glaber,Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana×Schima superba of mixed forest was 42.32%,48.87% and 39.82,while the three soil capillary porosity was 33.53%,38.22% and 33.97%,the three soil non-capillary porosity was 8.79%,10.65% and 5.86%. (3)The saturation holding capacity of Schima superba×Lithocarpus glaber was 2 932.4 t/hm2,2 539.2 t/hm2 in Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana,and 2 389.6 t/hm2 in Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana×Schima superba;The saturation holding capacity of Schima superba×Lithocarpus glaber was high 122.7%. than that of Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana×Schima superba. (4)The litter total storage capacity of Schima superba×Lithocarpus glaber was 246.94 t/hm2,64.47 t/hm2 in Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana×Schima superb.The weight-based ratio of water holding capacity of litter varied significantly,ranging from 229% to 327.5%. The order of the maximum water capacity was: Schima superba×Lithocarpus glaber(254.28 t/hm2)Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana(191.72 t/hm2)Cunninghamia lanceolata ×Pinus massoniana×Schima superba(60.35 t/hm2).
Strong versus weak digestions: ligand-based soil extraction geochemistry

ABSTRACT Ligand-based soil extraction geochemistry is a high resolution, multi-element soil analysis technique for mineral exploration. The use of strong complexing ligands in the extraction procedure limits matrix element interference, reduces background analyte values (noise) and overcomes potential pH effects. Improvements in the spatial and amplitude (signal to noise) resolution of this technique compared to total digestion or more aggressive partial digestions is useful not only in areas with exotic cover, but in residual and weathered terrain where duricrust development and mechanical transport can cause dispersion of anomalies. At the Green Tree Frog Prospect in Queensland, Australia, superior amplitude contrast and more accurate delineation of sub-surface mineralization is observed for ligand-based geochemistry compared to fire assay in terrain with exotic tertiary cover. In Guinea, West Africa, ligand-based soil extraction of gold has outlined five new economic zones since its introduction. Comparison of a range of weak and strong digestions and extractions from glacial till at Cross Lake, a VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) deposit in the Abitibi belt of Canada, provides very good evidence as to the value of strong ligands in the extraction. More recent developments of this technique utilize compatible and incompatible elements (principally Ni and Ce) to obtain inferred geology images, which are of direct assistance to exploration where outcrop and sub-crop are limited or of low density. A prospect scale image of inferred geology from The Mount SE, Widgiemooltha in the Eastern Goldfields of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia obtained from a ligand based soil geochemistry program provides superior detail to 1:40 000 standard geological mapping. A semi-regional scale roadside sampling program at Wongan Hills on the western side of the Yilgarn Craton illustrates that this type of geochemistry has a role to play in early stage, regional-scale exploration where geological outcrop and sub-crop are limited.
From Pediatric to Adult Brain Cancer: Exploring Histone H3 Mutations in Australian Brain Cancer Patients

Genetic histone variants have been implicated in cancer development and progression. Mutations affecting the histone 3 (H3) family, H3.1 (encoded by HIST1H3B and HIST1H3C) and H3.3 (encoded by H3F3A), are mainly associated with pediatric brain cancers. While considered poor prognostic brain cancer biomarkers in children, more recent studies have reported H3 alterations in adult brain cancer as well. Here, we established reliable droplet digital PCR based assays to detect three histone mutations (H3.3-K27M, H3.3-G34R, and H3.1-K27M) primarily linked to childhood brain cancer. We demonstrate the utility of our assays for sensitively detecting these mutations in cell-free DNA released from cultured diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) cells and in the cerebral spinal fluid of a pediatric patient with DIPG. We further screened tumor tissue DNA from 89 adult patients with glioma and 1 with diffuse hemispheric glioma from Southwestern Sydney, Australia, an ethnically diverse region, for these three mutations. No histone mutations were detected in adult glioma tissue, while H3.3-G34R presence was confirmed in the diffuse hemispheric glioma patient.
The Effects of Job Security on Employee Retention in Some Selected Banks within Bauchi Metropolis

he study examined the effects of job security on employee retention in T some selected banks within Bauchi metropolis. Banks in Nigeria are faced with myriad of problems related to job security and employee retention. One of such problems include total lack of job security which leads to lose of jobs by employees. Descriptive-casual survey method was adopted. Data were collected from the administration of questionnaire and were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings shows that job security has a positive relationship with employee retention. This means that, the more employees are assured of their jobs being secured, the more likely the employees are willing to stay, hence employee retention. As part of the conclusion, the researchresult revealed that the p-value of job security is greater than the 0.05 level of significance. This implies that job security has no significant effect on employee retention. The research recommends that successful banking operation is predicated on employee's that are motivated, energetic and focused. A dissatisfied employee cannot work effectively to achieve the organizational goals. Therefore, banks should value their employees as assets and not liabilities. They should provide good training facilities for effective performance. Again, they should discourage outsourcing in their system. This is because the contract or outsourced staff provide cheap labour which will affect the level of trust and trust when undermined could create room for dishonest practices and fraud which inevitably leads to bank collapse.