Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Right-wing populism and the representation of immigrants on social media: a critical multimodal analysis"

This paper presents a multimodal critical discourse analysis of a sample from a larger corpus of multimodal posts about immigration from the social media pages of right-wing populist leaders Donald Trump and Matteo Salvini. Drawing on Van Leeuwen’s framework for the representation of social actors, we investigate how multimodal resources contribute to shaping immigration discourse and to its bias, highlighting exclusionary ideologies through the recontextualisation of social practices. Our analysis reveals how the strategic synergy of images, videos, slogan-like language and the social affordances of Web 2.0 enables the two leaders to spread their nativist propaganda and emphasise the view of immigrants as a threat to security. The othering of immigrants as non-natives is enacted through biased representation based on covert racist stereotypes. At the same time, visual anti-immigration rhetoric allows the leaders to “build their people” and self-promote their role as gate-keepers of the nation-state.
Teacher education MOOCs: Re-thinking professional development of teachers according to the MOOC experiences of preservice teachers and teacher trainers

The main aim of this study is to identify the possible roles of massive open online courses (MOOCs) in faculty-based teacher professional development (TPD). In line with this aim, the MOOC experiences of preservice teachers and teacher trainers were examined. This study uses a qualitative single case holistic design. The participants of the study were 58 preservice teachers and 8 teacher trainers. The data were gathered through the semi-structured interviews in 2018-2019 Fall Semester. Before the interviews, a two-day briefing and orientation about MOOCs were held to inform the participants. After enrolling at least one of these upcoming MOOCs, interviews were carried out in the upcoming two months. The content analysis was used to examine the data collected. According to content analysis, TPACK acquisition and its sub-themes were found to be dominant with regards to participants’ views. The preservice teachers mostly enrolled in MOOCs which were related to their “professional field and technical development” domains and mostly suggested TPD MOOC topic by teacher trainers is “effective communication and presentation techniques”. It was noticed in the findings that preservice teachers have lack of confidence about the issues related to classroom management. Some negative views of preservice teachers about the MOOCs are concerned with two specific views; language constraints and costs of certain courses. Overall tendency concerning the use of MOOCs for TPD was found to be positive among the participants. However, most of the participants were uninformed or underchallenged about the MOOCs. Results of this study may help to open a new door for integrating MOOCs into teacher training programs.
Investigating within-canopy variation of functional traits and cellular structure of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves

Patterns of increasing leaf mass per area (LMA), area-based leaf nitrogen (Narea), and carbon isotope composition ( 13C) with increasing height in the canopy have been attributed to light gradients or hydraulic limitation in tall trees. Theoretical optimal distributions of LMA and Narea that scale with light maximize canopy photosynthesis; however, sub-optimal distributions are often observed due to hydraulic constraints on leaf development. Using observational, experimental, and modeling approaches, we investigated the response of leaf functional traits (LMA, density, thickness, and leaf nitrogen), leaf carbon isotope composition ( 13C), and cellular structure to light availability, height, and leaf water potential ( l) in an Acer saccharum forest to tease apart the influence of light and hydraulic limitations. LMA, leaf and palisade layer thickness, and leaf density were greater at greater light availability but similar heights, highlighting the strong control of light on leaf morphology and cellular structure. Experimental shading decreased both LMA and area-based leaf nitrogen (Narea) and revealed that LMA and Narea were more strongly correlated with height earlier in the growing season and with light later in the growing season. The supply of CO2 to leaves at higher heights appeared to be constrained by stomatal sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) or midday leaf water potential, as indicated by increasing 13C and VPD and decreasing midday l with height. Model simulations showed that daily canopy photosynthesis was biased during the early growing season when seasonality was not accounted for, and was biased throughout the growing season when vertical gradients in LMA and Narea were not accounted for. Overall, our results suggest that leaves acclimate
Influence of an Individual Health – Improving Training Program on the Physical and Functional Preparedness of Students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of an individual health-improving training program on the physical and functional fitness of 1st-year students. The results of the study confirm the positive impact of an individual health-improving training program on the physical and functional fitness of students. Analysis of obtained data proves the need to further larger-scale research in the field of incorporating individual health-improving training programs into the educational process of physical education.
Alleviating effect of exogenous application of ascorbic acid on growth and mineral nutrients in cadmium stressed barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings.

An experiment was carried out in sand-filled pots under normal temperature (28±2oC) to assess the role of exogenously applied ascorbic acid in alleviating the effect of cadmium (Cd) stress on four barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes (Jau-83, Jau-87, Paidar 91 and Haider 93). After germination, seedlings were exposed to different Cd concentrations (0, 100, 300, 500 and 700 μM CdCl2) along with AsA (200 mg L) and grown for 15 days. The results suggested that exposure to increased Cd levels caused a significant reduction in growth and mineral nutrients contents of barley seedlings. However, there was a noticeable difference in the effect of Cd on mineral concentrations among genotypes and the difference mainly coincided with differential accumulation of Cd in the shoot and root tissues. When AsA was applied to Cd-stressed plants, it decreased Cd accumulation in shoots and roots and also showed partial reversal of Cd stress effects. It was also observed that at the same Cd concentrations Cd tolerance index of Jau-83 was the highest among the four barley genotypes, indicating that Jau-83 had lower Cd contents in roots may be more tolerant to Cd stress. The application of AsA was effective in reducing the toxicity of increased Cd by reducing the root or shoots Cd contents, as well as by improving the seedling growth attributes and the mineral nutrients in barley. © 2016 Friends Science Publishers
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and its relation with adverse pregnancy outcome

Vitamin D status is a well-known determinant of bone health and is related with a risk of many diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The naturally occurring form of vitamin D in human beings is cholecalciferol or vitamin D3. Authors receive vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, diet and dietary supplements. The skin synthesis of vitamin D induced by ultra-violet B radiation is the main determinant of vitamin D status in the population because few food items contain or are fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol is derived from plant sterols and is the form contained in most vitamin D supplements.
Phylogeny of Halosarpheia based on 18S rDNA

Abstract Species of Halosarpheia, a genus of aquatic Ascomycetes, are morphologically unified by the presence of unfurling ascospore appendages. This character state may be unreliable for resolving evolutionary relationships, however, due to its likely adaptive nature. Taxonomic emphasis on unfurling ascospore appendages has led to the inclusion of species within Halosarpheia that are morphologically similar enough to confound identification, as well as those distinct enough to question their placement in the genus. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA sequences demonstrate polyphyly of the genus, with H. fibrosa, the type of the genus, resolved separately from all other species of Halosarpheia analyzed. Morphologically similar species H. retorquens, H. viscosa, H. heteroguttulata, and H. lotica are distinct species separable by RFLP analysis of the ITS1 region as well as 18S rDNA sequence analyses. Some morphological characters used to delineate species within Halosarpheia, such as ascospore guttulation pattern and number of ascospore appendages, may actually reflect generic differences that have been overshadowed by convergent evolution in appendage type.
Comparison of improved Aura TES `="0200`="003DCO2

S. S. Kulawik, J. R. Worden, S. C. Wofsy, S. C. Biraud, R. Nassar, D. B. A. Jones, E. T. Olsen, and G. B. Osterman, and the TES and HIPPO teams Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University of Toronto, Department of Physics, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A7, Canada
Is there a latitudinal gradient in the proportion of species with spinescence?

Aims We aimed to test the hypothesis that plants that grow at lower latitudes will be better structurally defended than plants from higher latitudes. Methods We collated binary spinescence data for 5145 species across Australia and New Zealand. Our dataset spanned 35° of latitude, and included over 1 million observations, making it the largest empirical study ever conducted for a single physical defence trait. A weighted logistic regression was applied first within Australia and New Zealand separately, and then across the com-bined dataset. There was no significant latitudinal gradient in the proportion of species with spinescence in Australia or New Zealand, or in the overall dataset. That is, plant species are no more likely to be defended by spines at low latitudes than at high latitudes. This finding is counter to the idea that plant defences increase with latitude due to increased selective pressure from higher levels of herbivory. We suggest that future studies should investigate the relationship between herbivory and defence directly, without using latitude as a proxy.
Commonly available spices to be used as feed additive to improve health of fish

Since antibiotics are banned to be used as growth promoters and therapeutic measures in aquaculture. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of solvent extracts of four Indian spices viz., Turmeric, Cumin, Ginger and Garlic. The antioxidant capacity of the spice extracts were found in descending order: Cumin>Garlic>Turmeric>Ginger by DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) method, Garlic>Cumin>Turmeric>Ginger by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP) method and Turmeric>Garlic>Cumin>Ginger by Total Phenolic Content (TPC) method. Cumin had the highest antimicrobial effect (9mm) at maximum concentration on the growth of bacterial strains Vibrio vulnificus and Micrococcus leutieus followed by Garlic (8mm), Ginger (8mm) and Turmeric (7mm). These results indicated that the spice extract supplement is a promising prophylactic measure for the fish health improvement.
The effect of an exercise intervention on haemodynamic variables in pregnant women

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of exercise on heart rate (HR), systolic pressure (SBP), and diastolic pressure (DBP) at different gestational ages during pregnancy. Methods: The exercise intervention and control groups from a previous multi-intervention clinical trial were used. Ninety-two pregnant women were analysed [control group: n = 48; exercise group: n = 44]. The outcome variables were the percentage change in SBP, DBP, and HR during follow-up intervals (16–20 weeks, 20–24 weeks, 24–28 weeks, and 28–32 weeks). Results: resting HR showed a lower increase in the exercise group than in the control group during the interval of gestational weeks 16-20 (p=0.011) [Median Interquartile range: 8.8 (0 to 27.9) control group; 2.2 (-6.9 to 8.1) exercise group]. During this same interval SBP decreased in both control and exercise groups, with more decrease in the control group (P<0.05) [Median Interquartile range: -4.29 (-11.1 to 1.9) control group; -0.89 (-4.76 to 6.36)]. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise in pregnancy significantly attenuated increase of resting HR at the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy.
Large-scale passive acoustic monitoring of fish sound production on the West Florida Shelf

Sounds from toadfish Opsanus sp. , and 4 other suspected fish sounds were identified in passive acoustic recordings from fixed recorders and autonomous underwater vehicles in the eastern Gulf of Mexico between 2008 and 2011. Data were collected in depths ranging from 4 to 984 m covering approximately 39000 km 2 . The goals of this research were to map the spatial and temporal occurrence of these sounds. Sound production was correlated to environmental para - meters (water depth, lunar cycle, and dawn and dusk) to understand the variability in seasonal calling. Toadfish 'boatwhistles' were recorded throughout the diel period, with peaks observed between 15:00 and 04:00 h. Annual peaks coincided with the spawning period in the late spring to early summer. The 4 unknown sounds were termed: '100 Hz Pulsing', '6 kHz Sound', '300 Hz FM Harmonic', and '365 Hz Harmonic'. The 100 Hz Pulsing had the temporal characteristics of a cusk-eel call with frequencies below 500 Hz. Sound production was observed mainly at night with annual peaks in the spring and fall. The 6 kHz Sound was observed exclusively at night between 15 and 50 m bottom depths; occurrence decreased significantly in the winter. The 6 kHz Sound peak frequencies correlated positively to satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) and nega tively to chlorophyll concentration. The 300 Hz FM Harmonic was observed largely (89%) at night and appeared offshore (40�200 m depth). The 365 Hz Harmonic was observed 98% of the time at night, inshore (<40 m depth). The fundamental frequency of the 365 Hz Harmonic was positively correlated with SST, reflecting a temperature-driven increase in sonic muscle contrac- tion rate; conversely, call duration was negatively correlated. The ubiquity of these 4 unknown sounds illustrates how little is known about biological communication in the marine environment.
Age and size at sexual maturity of same age group of male green mud crab (Scylla paramamosain)

The present study was conducted to elucidate the age at sexual maturity and transformation of secondary organs of male mud crab. Five crabs were dissected at 15 days interval; testes were collected and preserved in Davidson’s fixatives for 24 hours, then transferred to 50% ethanol. Samples were chronologically dehydrated in 70% to 100% ethanol at 10% intervals; embedded, sectioned at 6 μm, stained with Haematoxylene-Eosin and observed under stereo microscope. Present observation revealed three distinct sexual maturation stages of male mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) with first sexual maturation in four months of age. Internal carapace width (ICW) showed discrete relation with external morphological features at ICW of 10.20 cm at pubertal molting. Asynchronies maturation was noticed with first fully sexually matured crab (20%) in 5 month of age and the median sexual maturity (MA50) occurs in 6.5 month of age. Findings of the present study suggested to being ready for captive mating of mud crab within 4 months of age after crab instars.
Numerical investigation of optimum ions concentration in low salinity waterﬂooding

Injecting low saline water is one of the practices used to improve hydrocarbon production that has recently signiﬁcantly grown due to its advantages over seawater and chemical ﬂooding. Although many theories and mechanisms have been provided on how additional oil recovery has been achieved utilizing low salinity waterﬂooding, the principle funda- mentals of the mechanism(s) are still ambiguous. This article investigates the potential use of low salinity waterﬂooding (LSWF) to improve oil production from a sandstone formation. A 3D ﬁeld-scale model was developed using Computer Modeling Group ( generalized equation-of-state model simulator) based on a mature oil ﬁeld data. The developed model was validated against actual ﬁeld data where only 8% deviation was observed. Simulation analysis indicated that multi-component ion exchange is a key factor to improve oil production because it alters rock wettability from oil-wet to water-wet. Simulation sensitivity studies showed that low salinity water ﬂooding provided higher oil production than high water salinity ﬂooding. Moreover, simulation showed early breakthrough time of low salinity water injection can provide high oil recovery up to 71%. Therefore, implementing LSWF instantly after ﬁrst stage production provides recovery gains up to 75%. The determined optimal injected brine composition concentration for Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and Na + are 450, 221, and 60 ppm, respectively. During LSWF, a high divalent cations and low monovalent cations’ concentration can be recommended for injected brine and formation aquifer for beneﬁcial wettability alteration. Simulation also showed that reservoir temperature inﬂuenced the alteration of ion exchange wettability during LSWF as oil recovery increased with temperature. Therefore, high temperature sandstone reservoirs can be considered as a good candidate for LSWF. Cited as : Ben Mahmud, H. , Mahmud, W.M. , Arumugam, S. Numerical investigation of optimum lons concentration in low salinity waterﬂooding. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2020, 4(3): 271-285, doi: 10.46690/ager.2020. 03.05
Comparison of sensitivity to social suppression of sexual maturation in captive male bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus, originating from populations with different degrees of cyclicity

Differences in sensitivity to social suppression of sexual maturation in male bank voles from three laboratory colonies, two established from a strongly cyclic population in northern Sweden and a third from an almost stable population in southern Sweden were investigated. In males from the cyclic populations, sexual maturation was delayed in animals kept in groups of four per cage compared with animals kept singly or two per cage. No such differences were seen in males from the stable population. This difference in sensitivity to social inhibition of puberty is discussed with reference to a current hypothesis of evolution of different reproductive rates in populations with different degrees of cyclicity.
The relathinship between tinnitus functional index and tinnitus handicap inventory scores in patients with chronic tinnitus

Background and Aim: Tinnitus can affect daily life. The evaluation of the affected aspects of life quality is highly dependent on the subjects’perception. Self-report questionnaires have been used to identify these affected aspects. In the present study, the relationship between the Persian versions of tinnitus functional index (TFI-P) and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI-P) was investigated. Methods: This is a comparative cross-sectional study conducted on 28 hearing-impaired and 27 normal hearing subjects with tinnitus in aged 18−60 years selected according to the inclusion criteria. Both groups completed the TFI-P and THI-P. Results: There was a significant and relatively strong relationship between the total scores of THI-P and TFI-P (r = 0.65) and also between the emotional subscale of TFI-P and the catastrophic subscale of THI-P (r = 0.73). Moreover, there was a moderate relationship between age factor and total score of TFI-P (r = −0.32), and between the cognitive subscale of TFI-P and age (r = 0.40). However, no significant difference was found between hearing-impaired and normal hearing subjects in terms of the total score and subscale scores of TFI-P. Furthermore, we found a significant difference between female and male subjects in terms of the relaxation subscale of TFI-P, and between duration of tinnitus and the quality of life subscale (r = 0.33). Conclusion: The scores of the THI-P and TFI-P questionnaires are related to each other and they can be used for measuring the negative effects of tinnitus.
Impact of the current feedback on kinetic energy over the North-East
Atlantic from a coupled ocean/atmospheric boundary layer model

Abstract. A one-dimensional Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL1D) is coupled with the NEMO ocean model and implemented over the Iberian–Biscay–Ireland (IBI) area at 1/36° resolution to investigate the retroactions between the surface currents and the atmosphere, namely the Current FeedBack (CFB) in this region of low mesoscale activity. The ABL1D-NEMO coupled model is forced by a large-scale atmospheric reanalysis (ERA-Interim) and integrated over the period 2016–2017. The mechanisms of eddy kinetic energy damping and ocean upper-layers re-energization are realistically simulated, meaning that the CFB is properly represented by the model. In particular, the dynamical coupling coefficients between the curls of surface stress/wind and current are in agreement with the literature. The effects of CFB on the kinetic energy (KE) are then investigated through a KE budget. We show that the KE decrease induced by the CFB is significant down to 1500 m. Near the surface (0–300 m), most of the KE decrease can be explained by a reduction of the surface wind work by 4 %. At depth (300–2000 m), the CFB induce a reduction of the pressure work (i.e: the PE to KE conversion) associated with a reduction of KE which is significant down to 1500 m. We show that this reduction of KE at depth can be explained by CFB-induced Ekman pumping above eddies that weakens the mesoscale activity and this over the whole water column.
Season and Intensity of Water Stress: Host-Plant Effects on Larval Survival and Fecundity of Neodiprion gillettei (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae)

A 2 (season of stress) x 3 (stress level) x 6 (host genotype) factorial design experiment was used to examine the influence of host plant stress on larval feeding performance. Total instar survival and female cocoon mass of a pine sawfly, Neodiprion gillettei (Rohwer), were measured under greenhouse conditions in response to feeding on ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Law. , seedlings subjected to water stress treatments during either the early-season root growth or early-season shoot growth period. Performance of N. gillettei depended on the growth period in which seedlings were stressed. Performance decreased when larvae fed on seedlings that were subjected to moderate and high stress intensities during the shoot growth period compared with stress treatments during the root growth period. In addition, the potential fecundity of N. gillettei varied among open-pollinated families of ponderosa pine in response to feeding on seedlings that were either moderately or highly stressed during the shoot growth period. Potential fecundity increased in response to larvae feeding on open-pollinated families having a low fine root :current-year foliage ratio compared with families having a high fine root :current-year foliage ratio. This may indicate that differential response for both herbivore and host to water stress is caused in part by a genetic component in the host. Furthermore, the interactions among timing of stress, level of stress and host genotype, shown in this study to influence sawflv performance, demonstrate how different combinations of these factors may result in opposing conclusions concerning the effects of host plant stress on herbivore performance.