Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monitoring the Quality of Soils around Rivers Wouri and Meme of Cameroon Using Plasticity and XRF

Mangroves play important roles in the environment such as sequestration, spawning of fishes and source of medicinal plants. Two rivers which feed the mangroves of Cameroon are Rivers Wouri and Meme. While River Wouri that feeds the Douala-Edea mangrove receives smaller water bodies that pass through an industrial environment, River Meme that feeds the Rio del Rey mangrove receives small water bodies that pass through an environment harbouring a lot of agricultural activities. The rural and urban communities use water from the rivers to grow vegetables (plant production). The quality of water that feeds the mangroves is of paramount importance. This in turn depends on the mineralogical content of the soils around the rivers and adjourning water sources. This is because soils act as sinks for pollutants. Different clay minerals have different capacities to retain and release chemical entities. Therefore, they contribute differently in the protection of catchment areas. This work was therefore aimed at investigating the role played by soils in controlling the movement of these chemical elements into the rivers. Clays extracted from soils around these water sources were analyzed for mineralogical composition. All analyses were carried out using standard plasticity and XRF methods. Clay content (2 to 7%) in Wouri was lower than in Meme (4 to 34%). The majority of the clay was dominated by SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and TiO2 and was a mixture of non-expandable (2:1 and 1:1) and sesquioxide clays. The soils have low pollutant retention capacity and are therefore vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. Hence, stringent measures should be taken to monitor soil/water quality with respect to waste disposal and use of agrochemicals. The use of compost in place of fertilizers by farmers should also be encouraged.
Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in the emergency department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at a referral hospital in Portugal

Objective. COVID-19 has spread worldwide and Portugal decreed the State of Emergency on March 18th, 2020. During this period, the population was encouraged to stay at home. Still, there were no restrictions on access to health care. Therefore, we aimed to compare the major causes for attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Emergency Department (ED) from a referral centre (Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, in Lisbon). Materials and Methods. Several variables were collected and compared between two periods of time: from 19th March to 2nd April 2020 and the same period of 2019. Results. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, 49.4% fewer patients visited the ED. We observed a higher number of urgent patients and hospitalization rate than previous year. Conclusions. We experienced a reduction number of admissions to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology ED, but apparently the severity of cases that visited the ED increased. © 2022, EDRA S.p.A. All rights reserved.
Banks vs. Markets: Are Banks More Effective in Facilitating Sustainability?

Is bank- versus market-based financing different in its attitudes towards Environmental, Social , and Governance (ESG) risk? Using a novel sample covering 3,783 U.S. public firms from 2007 to 2020, we study how firm-level ESG risk affects its financing outcomes. We find that companies with higher ESG risk borrow less from banks than from markets, potentially to avoid bank monitoring and scrutiny. The Social and Governance components, in particular, matter. Furthermore, firms suffering higher numbers of negative ESG reputation shocks are less likely to continue to rely on bank credit in response to lenders' threats to end the lending arrangements. Finally, our results indicate that firms' ESG risk reduces after borrowing from banks but increases after bond issuance, suggesting that banks are more effective than public bond markets in shaping borrowers' ESG performance. risk exposure tend to use less bank debt over public debt. We also find that RRR is positively related to Bank debt and negatively related to Public debt , which provides univariate evidence that firms with higher ESG ratings rely more on bank debt than public debt. bank-based versus capital market-based financing on effective funding allocation. Banks’ comparative advantage stems from their ability to collect private information about borrowers through their lending relationships. Due to their comparative cost advantages in information production, banks are able to conduct improved debt-related monitoring. Conversely, diffused public debt ownership and the resulting free-rider problem limit bondholders' incentives to invest in time-consuming monitoring. Our results suggest that firm ESG risk decreases after borrowing from banks, demonstrating that banks are more successful at shaping and influencing borrowers' ESG performances. In this context, our research has significant policy implications by demonstrating the critical role of financial intermediaries in attaining sustainable development goals.
Behavioral challenges to professional skepticism in auditors’ data analytics journey

The aims of this paper are to inform audit practice and academia about the potential behavioral challenges to the application of auditors’ professional skepticism when using audit data analytics (ADA) and to discuss future research opportunities. This is accomplished by reviewing relevant audit research and discussing the potential challenges from five perspectives, including auditors’ attitudes toward ADA, data characteristics, anomalies identified by ADA, auditors’ mindsets, and social contexts and interactions involved in ADA practice. Although applying ADA brings many benefits to audit practice, they simultaneously raise many challenges to the application of appropriate levels of auditor professional skepticism. Being aware of and prepared for those potential behavioral challenges is critical to maximize the benefits of ADA to professional skepticism and ultimately audit quality.
Effect of Resistant Starch Sources on the Physical Properties of Dough and on the Eating Quality and Glycemic Index of Salted Noodles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and eating quality of salted noodles that are incorporated with different formulations of flour. Up to 20% of wheat flour was substituted by composite flours of highly resistant starches, including heat moisture treatment corn starch (HMT-CS), high-amylose corn starch (Hylon VII), and green banana flour (GBF). The physical properties of dough, in conjunction with the eating quality and estimated glycemic index (EGI) of cooked salted noodles, were investigated in this study. The results concluded that the incorporation of GBF, HMT, and Hylon VII not only affected the water absorption and mixing tolerance of the dough, but also the maximum resistance to extension and extensibility in terms of the extensographic properties. Meanwhile, GBF, HMT, and Hylon VII incorporation significantly increased the resistant starch content and decreased the fat content of the noodle samples. The textural profile analyses of cooked salted noodles indicated that hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and shearing force increased; nevertheless, springiness declined with the increase in the proportion of flours from 10 to 20%. The sensory evaluation detected that wheat flour composited with 10% GBF and HMT flours could produce acceptable quality noodles as compared with normal typical control noodles. In the meantime, salted noodles incorporated with GBF, HMT-CS, and Hylon VII flour decreased the estimated glycemic index (EGI) dramatically. The result of this study concluded that incorporation of various sources of resistant starch flour could develop a low-GI noodle with good acceptability that may contribute to gastrointestinal health.
Physicochemical properties of dietary protein as predictors for digestibility or releasing percentage of amino acids in monogastrics under in-vitro conditions

Abstract The nutritional values of the protein are related to its amino acid content, and its physicochemical properties. We aimed to determine the relationship between the variation of protein digestibility or the releasing coefficient of amino acids with the physicochemical properties of different feedstuffs. We analysed the secondary protein structure and solubility of 10 protein-rich feed ingredients, including soybean, soybean meal, dehulled soybean meal, fermented soybean meal, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), feather meal, fish meal, rapeseed meal, corn gluten meal, and corn germ meal. The results showed that the soybeans and their products had greater protein solubility than the other dietary protein (p < .001). Fish meal, rapeseed meal and all soybean sources had the higher protein digestibility and releasing coefficient of amino acids, also reached different peaks in shorter times. But corn germ meal, corn gluten meal, and feather meal exhibited lower releasing coefficient of amino acids and weaker solubility (p < .001). The in-vitro protein digestibility or releasing coefficient of total amino acid had positive regression coefficients with α-helix, α-helix/β-sheet, and solubility; and a negative regression coefficient with β-sheet. Feedstuffs with faster amino acid releasing rate had higher α-helix, α-helix/β-sheet and solubility and lower β-sheet. Therefore, the physicochemical properties of the dietary protein could be used as predictors for the amino acids’ digestibility and amino acid bioavailability. Highlights We evaluated the protein solubility, protein digestibility, and releasing coefficient of amino acids among the most common feedstuffs for monogastric animals The physicochemical properties of dietary protein could be used as predictors for the digestibility or releasing rate of amino acids in monogastric. The feed industry formulation might be reconsidered since the most common feedstuffs possess novel concepts.
Translating EUrope’s Return Migration Regime to The Gambia: The Incorporation of Local CSOs

ABSTRACT The end of a long-standing autocratic regime in The Gambia renewed EUrope’s geopolitical interest in the externalisation of (return) migration management to the West African country. Since 2017, EUrope has financed several programmes implemented by a combination of international and local actors. Analysing original qualitative data through the lens of the sociology of translation (SoT) offered by actor-network theory (ANT), this paper explores the incorporation of locally owned civil society organisations (CSOs) within the socio-material network of externalisation. As such, it engages with the understudied perspective of Southern implementers in the context of migration management. In our analysis, we put central two notions of SoT: interessement and enrolment. With the first, we show how the development and migrant-protection interests of locally owned CSOs are brought in alignment with the EUropean objective of curtailing irregular migration. This process of interessement is never complete, but leaves room for excess positions, which here correspond to the locally owned CSOs’ criticism of EUrope’s appropriation of Gambian natural resources, practical organisation of migration management and excessive immobilisation of Gambians. The notion of enrolment refers to the processes of negotiation addressing part of these excess positions. Even with enrolment being successful, locally owned CSOs keep imagining, and to some extent, performing alternative ways of dealing with migration. Such alternative thinking and practicing will overtake the EUropean only if multiple and stable connections arise around it. Our ANT-driven analysis demonstrates that local implementers endorse EUropean migration management because they broadly see it as beneficial; yet, with their criticism, requests and imagination, manage to limitedly alter it, and may, potentially, transform it.
Process parameters effect on environmental sustainability of composites FFF technology

ABSTRACT The present study aims at investigating the effect of process parameters on environmental sustainability of 3D printing of short fiber-reinforced polymer composites. A preliminary study allowed defining the printing parameters, in terms of printing speed, extrusion temperature and layer thickness, which guarantee low energy consumption. Then, the environmental behavior of two 3D printable composite materials, glass fiber-reinforced (GlassPA) and carbon fiber-reinforced (CarbonPA) polyamide, was investigated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, to provide a comprehensive overview of the considered materials and to support the sustainable development of industrial additive manufacturing processes. The functional unit was chosen taking into account the mechanical properties of the two short fiber-reinforced composites. To this purpose, tensile and flexural tests were performed on specimens produced by Fused Filament Fabrication process to evaluate the mechanical properties of printed materials. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the different filament morphology affecting the materials performances. Experimental tests showed that CarbonPA exhibits mechanical performances higher than those of GlassPA. Due to the weight reduction that can be accomplished by means of carbon fibers, CarbonPA results the most environmentally friendly alternative in tensile loads applications. On the contrary, for flexural loads applications, GlassPA exhibits lower environmental footprint.
The application of sudoscan for screening microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of sudoscan in screening diabetic microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabete mellitus (T2DM). 515 patients with T2DM aged from 23 to 89 years were included for analysis in our study. The mean age was 60.00 ± 11.37 years and the mean duration of T2DM was 8.44 ± 7.56 years. Electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) in hands and feet was evaluated by SUDOCAN. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) was diagnosed in 378 patients (44.3%), diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in 161 patients (31.26%), diabetic retinopathy (DR) in 148 patients (28.74%). Hands and feet ESC was significantly and independently associated with the presence of DPN, DKD and DR. Patients with a lower ESC (<60 µS) had 5.63-fold increased likelihood of having DPN, 4.90-fold increased likelihood of having DKD, 1.01-fold increased likelihood of having DR, than those with a higher ESC. Age, duration of T2DM, smoking, renal function and vibration perception thresholds were negatively correlated with ESC. Sudoscan parameters were correlated with diabetic microvascular complications, especially with DPN. Sudoscan could be an effective screening tool in primary health care for early screening microvascular complications.
Integrating Regular Exergaming Sessions in the ExerCube into a School Setting Increases Physical Fitness in Elementary School Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a school-based exergame intervention on anthropometric parameters and physical fitness. Fifty-eight students (10.4 ± 0.8 years; 48% girls) were randomized into an intervention (IG) and a control (CG) group. Both groups participated in regular physical education classes during the three-month intervention period. The IG additionally received a 20-minute exergame intervention twice per week. At baseline and following the intervention period, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed. Furthermore, a sprint test (ST), a countermovement jump test (CMJ), and a shuttle run test (SRT) were performed. Due to prescribed quarantine measures, only 34 students (18 IG; 16 CG) were included in the final analysis. A significant group–time interaction was determined in CMJ performance (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.403), with a significant increase (+2.6 ± 2.4 cm; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.315) in the IG and a significant decrease (−2.0 ± 3.1 cm; p = 0.009; η2 = 0.190) in the CG. Furthermore, ST performance significantly improved in the IG (−0.03 ± 0.08 s; p = 0.012; η2 = 0.180) but not in the CG (0.13 ± 0.16 s; p = 0.460; η2 = 0.017), revealing significant interaction effects (p = 0.02; η2 = 0.157). Significant group–time interaction was observed for the SRT (p = 0.046; η2 = 0.122), with a significant increase (+87.8 ± 98.9 m; p = 0.028; η2 = 0.147) in the IG and no changes (−29.4 ± 219.7 m; p = 0.485; η2 = 0.016) in the CG. Concerning BMI (p = 0.157; η2 = 0.063) and WHtR (p = 0.063; η2 = 0.114), no significant interaction effects were detected. School-based exergaming is a suitable tool to influence students’ physical fitness positively.
Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences

(37.5%-42.9%), penicillin G (37.5%-42.9%), tetracycline (37.5%-42.9%), respectively. Conclusion: As a result, it is thought that fish and shrimp consumed in Turkey may be contaminated with pathogenic Vibrio and Aeromonas species, and antibiotic-resistant isolates may pose a risk to public health.
Comparing low sensory enabling (LSE) and high sensory enabling (HSE) virtual product presentation modes in e‐commerce

Online shops have become increasingly interactive, using different technologies to create virtual experiences that attempt to simulate a realistic product experience. We explore the impact of high sensory enabling (HSE) virtual product presentation modes using state‐of‐the‐art virtual reality (VR) technology that allows consumers to imitate natural movement and interactions via head‐mounted displays (HMD) and dual hand VR controllers. This will compare the HSE virtual product presentation mode with a typical low sensory enabling (LSE) virtual product presentation mode that utilises conventional computer screens, along with mouse and keyboard inputs, on a desktop computer. For the HSE virtual product presentation mode, the results show significantly higher values for the studied variables, including presence, perceived diagnosticity, attitude towards product, and purchase intention. Shopping frequency has a moderating effect on the significant differences of presence between presentation modes. Our research contributes to theory by building on attitude theory, cue summation theory, as well as repetitive learning and memory to explore and explain the effects of HSE virtual product presentation modes on the constructs considered. For managers and industry leaders, this study identifies the importance of using state‐of‐the‐art technology when creating HSE virtual experiences for their products.
Nitrogen transfer from legume green manure in a crop rotation to an onion crop using 15N natural abundance technique

Legumes as green manure allow adding N from the air to the soil through their biological fixation. The objective was to evaluate the effect of legume crops as green manure at the beginning of the rotation on soil quality and their N input to the following onion crop ( Allium cepa L. var. cepa ). Five crops were sown: faba-bean ( Vicia faba L.), field pea ( Pisum sativum L.), oat-vetch mixture ( Avena sativa L. + Vicia atropurpurea Desf.), white lupin ( Lupinus albus L.), and oat as control treatment, with four replicates. Prior to sowing soil was prepared with 20 Mg ha -1 compost and 715 kg ha -1 rock phosphate. Then, at 50% grain filling stage these crops were incorporated as green manure to the soil, followed by the onion crop. Biological N fixation (BNF) by 15 N natural abundance technique parameters of green manure, yield, leaf N content of the legumes and onion, and soil bio-physicochemical properties were measured and analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test for mean separation (P ≤ 0.05). Faba-bean treatment had the highest BNF (388 and 369 kg N ha -1 fixed in 2017 and 2018, respectively). For onion yield, just faba-bean and oat-vetch in 2018 reached the Chilean mean yield with 54.39 and 49.08 Mg ha -1 , respectively. Control treatment yield was not significantly different. Leaf N content in onion remained within a normal range in all treatments. Adding green manure together with compost to the soil improved soil N and K contents.
Cleaner air would enhance India’s annual solar energy production by 6–28 TWh

India has set a target of 100 GW solar installation capacity by the year 2022. However, the loss of solar energy due to environmental factors like air pollution is not properly considered in renewable energy resource assessments. Here we show that India lost 29% of its utilizable global horizontal irradiance potential due to air pollution between 2001 and 2018. The average loss in output incurred by solar power systems with horizontal, fixed-tilt, single-axis, and dual-axis trackers due to air pollution is estimated to be 12%, 26%, 33%, and 41%, respectively, equivalent to a loss of 245–835 million USD annually. The successful implementation of the National Clean Air Program and the complete mitigation of household emissions through the supply of cleaner fuel for domestic use and rural electrification would allow India to generate a surplus of 6–16 TWh of electricity per year from the existing installed solar power capacity in 2018. This translates to an economic benefit of 325–845 million USD annually, which is equivalent to the implementation costs of these social programs. Mitigating air pollution would therefore accelerate India’s progress towards achieving its solar energy target at a lesser installation capacity, avoiding additional expenditure for the expansion of the solar energy infrastructure.
Adaptive Lattice Kalman Filter-SLAM for Robot Auto-navigation

This paper introduces the adaptive lattice Kalman filter (ALKF) into the SLAM problem to reduce the computational cost and improve the filtering stability. The lattice Kalman filter (LKF) algorithm based on the lattice rules has lower computational burden to maintain the state estimation accuracy by using fewer sampling points compared with other deterministic sampling method. The measurement noise is adjusted based on the measurement residual, and then the state variance is modified by using the fading factor under the modified measurement variance based on the lattice sampling points. Comparing with standard extended Kalman filter-SLAM, LKF-SLAM, the accuracy of the proposed ALKF-SLAM is valid and feasible in the simulations under the uncertain system noises.
Mental health literacy in India and Australia and its relationship to attitudes towards LGBT people

ABSTRACT Research on the mental health of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) often emphasises individual vulnerability to mental health issues. However, attitudes towards LGBT individuals may also contribute to their experiences of minority stress. In the present study, the relationship between mental health literacy (MHL) and attitudes towards LGBT individuals in Australia and India was investigated. Seven-hundred and eleven participants (355 male) from Australia (n = 303) and India (n = 408) completed an online survey which included questionnaires indexing the participants’ MHL and their attitudes towards LGBT individuals. MHL was associated with attitude scores, such that participants with higher levels of MHL tended to report more positive attitudes towards LGBT individuals. These relationships were stronger for Australian participants compared to Indian participants. These findings suggest that minority stress may be intensified for LGBT individuals when the MHL of the people they interact with is low. Alternatively, MHL may signal how willing an individual is to offer mental health support to a LGBT person. The present results also highlight the influence of cultural context on MHL and the need to consider this when examining attitudes towards LGBT individuals.