Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vegetation, Wildlife, and Livestock Responses to Planned Grazing Management in an African Pastoral Landscape

Rangelands are vital for wildlife conservation and socio‐economic well‐being, but many face widespread degradation because in part of poor grazing management practices. Planned grazing management, typically involving time‐controlled rotational livestock grazing, is widely touted as a tool for promoting sustainable rangelands. However, real‐world assessments of its efficacy have been lacking in communal pastoral landscapes globally, and especially in Africa. We performed landscape‐scale assessment of the effects of planned grazing on selected vegetation, wildlife, and cattle attributes across wide‐ranging communally managed pastoral rangelands in northern Kenya. We found that planned grazing enhanced vegetation condition through a 17% increase in normalized difference vegetation index, 45–234% increases in herbaceous vegetation foliar cover, species richness and diversity, and a 70% reduction in plant basal gap. In addition, planned grazing increased the presence (44%) and species richness (53%) of wild ungulates and improved cattle weight gain (>71%) during dry periods when cattle were in relatively poor condition. These changes occurred relatively rapidly (within 5 years) and despite grazing incursion incidents and higher livestock stocking rates in planned grazing areas. These results demonstrate, for the first time in Africa, the positive effects of planned grazing implementation in communal pastoral rangelands. These improvements can have broad implications for biodiversity conservation and pastoral livelihoods. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Utility of Intravenous Methylprednisolone as an Adjunct Treatment for Drug-Resistant Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis

Background: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may pose treatment challenges. We present a series of patients in which we achieved the normalisation of free T3 (FT3) using intravenous methylprednisolone (ivMP) in AIT refractory to thiamazole and oral prednisone. Namely, in three males (aged 56, 50 and 64, all with a history of AF and/or a low ejection fraction), an addition of ivMP resulted in the normalisation of FT3, which allowed successful thyroidectomy. In another case of a 65-year-old man, we initially succeeded in the normalisation of FT3 using ivMP from FT4 > 7.77 ng/dL (0.93–1.7) to 2.41 ng/dL and in that of FT3 from 14.95 pg/mL (2–4.4) to 2.05 pg/mL), but four weeks after stopping ivMP, despite the continuation of thiamazole and prednisone, there was rebound thyrotoxicosis: FT4 > 7.77 ng/dL and FT3—5.46 pg/mL. Intravenous MP was restated leading to a decline in FT4 to 2.51 ng/dL and in FT3 to 1.92 pg/mL, thus allowing a successful thyroidectomy. Finally, in a 78-year-old man with AF, goitre, and AIT resistant to thiamazole, prednisone and lithium carbonate, we obtained a reduction in FT4 to 1.51 ng/dL and in FT3 to 3.17 pg/mL after seven pulses of ivMP. Oral prednisone was gradually reduced and successfully stopped about six months later. He remained on low-dose thiamazole (5 mg od). Conclusions: Pulse ivMP in addition to oral steroids may be a useful adjunct therapy either for the preparation of a thyroidectomy or as a treatment modality in drug-resistant AIT. Though a total cure is possible, there is a danger of a rebound worsening of thyrotoxicosis after premature discontinuation of ivMP.
Phytoplankton Dynamics in Three Metropolitan Beaches of the Amazon Littoral (São Luís-Maranhão)

ABSTRACT Matos, J.B. ; Oliveira, A.R. G. ; Trindade, W.N. ; Leite, N.R. ; Koening, M.L. ; Pereira, L.C. C. , and Costa, R.M. da. , 2016. Phytoplankton dynamics in three metropolitan beaches of the Amazon littoral (São Luís-Maranhão). In: Vila-Concejo, A. ; Bruce, E. ; Kennedy, D.M. , and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 413–417. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The present study was based on a spatial-temporal analysis of the phytoplankton of three beaches in São Luís (Maranhão) with the aim of understanding the influence of the factors on the phytoplankton community. Samples were obtained in the dry season (December 2008 and October 2009) and the rainy season (March and June, 2009), and were collected using internationally standardized methods. Salinity was significantly higher during the dry season, while temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and dissolved nutrient concentrations (nitrate) were all significantly higher during the rainy season. Diatoms contributed to the high taxonomic richness observed at all the beaches. Total phytoplankton density and chlorophyll-a concentrations (20.9 mg.m−3; B1) were highest during the rainy months, with significantly higher densities being observed at B3 (1274.3 x 103 cell.L−1). The cluster analysis revealed the formation of two groups influenced by seasonality, reflecting the relative homogeneity of the beaches. The results indicate that the variation in the composition and density of the phytoplankton is determined by the high degree of interaction between the highly hydrodynamic characteristics typical of Amazonian environments and the local rainfall cycle, which modulates the other environmental variables, such as salinity and dissolved nutrient concentrations, thus affecting the dynamics of coastal phytoplankton communities. The strong antropogenic influence observed in these urban beaches (sewage effluent discharges) also interfered within the dynamics of local phytoplankton.
Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression

Hydrocarbon seeps in surficial marine sediments are of two types: active and passive. Active seeps occur where gas bubbles, pockmarks, or bright spots are visible on seismic profiles and where chemosynthetic communities are present in conjunction with large concentrations of migrated hydrocarbons (macroseeps). These generally occur where generation and migration of hydrocarbons from source rocks are ongoing today (at maximum burial) or where significant migration pathways have developed from recent tectonic activity. Passive seeps occur where concentrations of migrated hydrocarbons are usually low (microseeps) with few or no geophysical anomalies. These occur typically in areas where generation and expulsion is relict (no longer at maximum burial) or regional seals prevent significant vertical migration. The type of seepage controls the distribution of migrated hydrocarbons in the near-surface sediments and should dictate the sampling equipment and approach used to detect seeps. Active seeps are usually detected near the water-sediment interface, in the water column or at the sea surface, and at relatively large distances from major leak points. Most conventional sediment and water samplers can capture active seeps. The Gulf of Mexico, Santa Barbara Channel, and parts of the North Sea have active hydrocarbon seeps. Passive seeps can only be detected relatively far below the water-sediment interface and require samples to be collected near leak points. Sampling equipment must penetrate the zone of maximum disturbance or any shallow migration barriers. In areas where surficial sediments are coarse grained or compacted, conventional gravity corers will not work. Other options for subsurface sampling include vibracores, jet cores, and rotary cores. Precise location of samples (site-specific) using seismic profiles to locate leak points is critical to detect passive hydrocarbon seeps. The Beaufort and Bering seas, offshore Alaska, and parts of the North Sea contain passive seeps.
Case report: Approaches to treatment-refractory and super-refractory glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-spectrum disorders

Background Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-spectrum disorders (GAD-SDs) include a group of autoimmune neurological diseases associated with neuronal excitability, most noticeably stiff person syndrome. Immune modulators are the mainstay of treatment, but a significant number of patients remain refractory. Methods We present our single-center experience of eight cases of GAD-SD, two of which were refractory to immune modulatory treatments. Results Of the two cases that were refractory to immunomodulation, one showed significant improvement with bilateral globus pallidus interna deep brain stimulation (GPi DBS) placement, and the other showed significant improvement with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT). Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first instance of GPi DBS placement being noted to improve GAD-SD movements.
Nest illumination and the evolution of egg rejection in hosts of brood parasites

ABSTRACT Hosts of avian brood parasites, such as cuckoos, are duped into taking care of a foreign chick and this has led to the evolution of host defenses, such as egg rejection. However, many host species are not egg rejecters and it has been suggested that poor illumination inside closed nests may constrain the evolution of this defense. In this study, we experimentally increased the light inside the dome nests of Yellow-Rumped Thornbills, the main host of the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo. Our results show that rejection events did not increase significantly when nests were brighter, although there is a possibility that rejection mistakes could decrease. Moreover, we found that natural light levels inside dome nests were highly variable, and in many cases as high as those in cup-nesting species with high rejection rates. This evidence suggests that rapid changes in nest illumination do not alter rejection behavior.
Prospect equality: A force of redistribution

Recent evidence demonstrates that the perceived, not the actual, level of income inequality influences the redistribution policy. The perception of inequality, as conceptualized in this paper, is closely related to both objective inequality and prospect equality. An axiomatic system of individual preferences is suggested and demonstrated to characterize an index of perceived inequality. Prospect equality reflects the individual ideal level of equality, and it serves as a reference point for perception. I adopt the proposed notion to study voting on redistribution. I theoretically identify the conditions under which a more equal society will demand redistribution while a less equal society blocks redistribution. These insights help explain the redistribution puzzle observed across nations.
The Impact of Ownership Structure on Accounting Conservatism in GCC Countries

This study aims to examine the impact of ownership structure on accounting conservatism among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries' publicly listed firms. By using the multivariant regression model, the results of this study show a significant association between the firms' ownership structure variables (i e. foreign ownership and largest shareholder ownership) and accounting conservatism. This study provides new evidence on the importance of ownership structure variables and their impact on the firm's accounting conservatism in emerging stock markets. The results of this study are undoubtedly of great interest to the regulatory bodies, shareholders, and governments in the GCC countries. Also, the results of this study can be used as a guideline by the stakeholders to set a sound and efficient ownership structure that can support the organization in minimizing the agency problem. The study findings can provide a valuable insight to the shareholders in GCC countries and aid in understating the impact of different ownership structures on accounting conservatism.
Skin biophysical parameters and serum dermokine levels in airline pilots: a comparative study with office workers

Introduction Concerns are growing in the aviation industry about occupational skin diseases like malignant melanoma (MM) among airline pilots (APs), due to the unique working environment that exposes them to various skin stressors. Aim To compare five skin biophysical parameters in a group of 40 male APs, each matched in terms of age and service tenure (minimum of 5 years) with a control group of 40 male office workers (OWs). Considering the potential role of dermokine (DMKN) in skin barrier dysfunction and the pathogenesis of MM, we further analyzed the serum levels of this molecule and correlated them with the measured skin parameters. Material and methods Stratum corneum skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum content, erythema index (EI), and melanin index (MI) were quantified by non-invasive instruments in the cheek region. Serum DMKN levels were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results Compared with OWs, the skin of APs exhibited a decrease in hydration levels in the stratum corneum, coinciding with a higher TEWL. However, there was no significant variance in sebum content between the groups. MI was notably higher in APs than in OWs, as was EI. In APs, serum DMKN levels were independently associated with MI (β = 0.56, p < 0.05). Conclusions We found a significant link between the profession of an airline pilot and changes in skin biophysical parameters. Further research into the interplay between serum DMKN levels and the risk of MM in APs is warranted.
Late MIS5a in the southern North Sea: new chronostratigraphic insights from the Brown Bank Formation

The Brown Bank Formation (BB Fm) is a clay‐rich sedimentary unit that is distributed over a large area in the southern North Sea. It is easily recognisable in 2D acoustic reflection profiles, forming sets of subparallel high‐amplitude reflections. Previous studies have provided only fragmentary information on the facies, and a variety of interpretations on the depositional environment and age of the BB Fm. In this study we combine high‐resolution 2D acoustic reflection profiles and multiproxy sedimentological, geochemical and geochronological analyses of three vibrocores, to provide a detailed description and a new age assessment for the BB Fm at its type locality, adjacent to the Brown Bank ridge. At the study site, the BB Fm shows morphologically well‐preserved submarine sand dunes, deposited in a high‐energy shelf setting, overlain by organic‐rich silty clays that were deposited under lower‐energy conditions in an increasingly compartmentalised marginal marine environment. Elevated terrestrial organic input shows that the Rhine–Meuse delta was situated relatively close‐by. Luminescence ages indicate that the sediments of the BB Fm in our cores were deposited during the Weichselian Odderade interstadial (MIS5a, ca. 80 ka) and earliest parts of the Early Pleniglacial (MIS4, ca. 70 ka), which is later than previously reported in the literature.
Behavioral Intention in Domestic Heritage Tourism—An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Heritage tourist attractions are important in the diversification of tourism product offers for any competitive tourist destination. The current status of domestic heritage tourism in Kenya remains under-researched leaving many critical areas of interest requiring more research attention and redress. These needs also have to be examined in the Kenyan domestic heritage tourism context with a view to creating and satisfying higher demand for tourists. This research expands the widespread theory of planned behavior (TPB) by adding motivation and perceived safety and security as predictors of visit intention. In total, 802 respondents filled out the structured questionnaire, of which 693 questionnaires (86%) were found to be valid. The findings of this study validated the TPB with respect to heritage visitation in a domestic tourism context. It was further established that the expanded TPB model and its variables were applicable and more efficacious in directly predicting visit intention to historical heritage attractions. These results reveal the key determinants of the willingness of domestic tourists to visit historical heritage sites. Destination marketers and managers should endeavor to enhance the five psychographic aspects considered in the current study, in order to cultivate higher intentions towards visiting historical heritage sites among domestic tourists.
Amphiregulin Exerts Proangiogenic Effects in Developing Murine Lungs

Interrupted lung angiogenesis is a hallmark of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); however, druggable targets that can rescue this phenotype remain elusive. Thus, our investigation focused on amphiregulin (Areg), a growth factor that mediates cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival, and repair. While Areg promotes lung branching morphogenesis, its effect on endothelial cell (EC) homeostasis in developing lungs is understudied. Therefore, we hypothesized that Areg promotes the proangiogenic ability of the ECs in developing murine lungs exposed to hyperoxia. Lung tissues were harvested from neonatal mice exposed to normoxia or hyperoxia to determine Areg expression. Next, we performed genetic loss-of-function and pharmacological gain-of-function studies in normoxia- and hyperoxia-exposed fetal murine lung ECs. Hyperoxia increased Areg mRNA levels and Areg+ cells in whole lungs. While Areg expression was increased in lung ECs exposed to hyperoxia, the expression of its signaling receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, was decreased, indicating that hyperoxia reduces Areg signaling in lung ECs. Areg deficiency potentiated hyperoxia-mediated anti-angiogenic effects. In contrast, Areg treatment increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and exerted proangiogenic effects. In conclusion, Areg promotes EC tubule formation in developing murine lungs exposed to hyperoxia.
Disaster Health Literacy, Risk Perception, and Preparedness towards Resilience in a Volcano-Prone Community: A Cross-sectional Study in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Communities residing in proximity to volcanoes face inherent risks from lahars. The eruption of Indonesia's Merapi volcano in 2010 had far-reaching consequences, impacting multiple districts and leading to 386 fatalities, as well as substantial financial losses amounting to approximately US$403 million. In order to bolster disaster response and mitigation efforts, resilience plays a crucial role by considering hazards, risks, vulnerability, and capacity. This research aimed to examine the relationship between disaster health literacy, risk perception, and preparedness, with the ultimate goal of enhancing resilience within a community susceptible to volcanic activities. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, involving 258 participants residing in hazard zone III areas near Yogyakarta's Merapi mountain, selected through proportional clustered sampling. Between January and February 2023, the researchers employed several assessment tools, including the Indonesian versions of the communities advancing resilience toolkit (CART-AS), disaster health literacy mitigation and preparedness questionnaire (DHLQ), disaster risk perception questionnaire (DRPQ), and disaster preparedness questionnaire (DPQ). The collected data underwent analysis utilizing descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlation test. The results unveiled disaster health literacy (β=0.22, p<0.001), risk perception (β=0.26, p<0.001), and preparedness (β=0.38, p<0.001) were all significant predictors of disaster resilience in a volcano-prone community. In conclusion, this study underscores the significant interplay between disaster health literacy, risk perception, and preparedness in relation to disaster resilience. It emphasizes the significance of fortifying disaster health literacy, fostering accurate risk perception, and promoting preparedness measures to enhance overall resilience in the face of disasters. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted interventions and educational programs aimed at augmenting disaster health literacy, improving risk perception, and enhancing preparedness levels within communities, thereby bolstering their resilience and response capabilities effectively.
Quantifying terrestrial ecosystem carbon dynamics with mechanistically-based biogeochemistry models and in situ and remotely sensed data

Shaoqing, Liu. Ph.D., Purdue University, December 2016. Quantifying Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Dynamics with Mechanistically-based Biogeochemistry Models and in Situ and Remotely Sensed Data. Major Professor: Qianlai Zhuang. Terrestrial ecosystem plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle and climate system. Therefore, it is important to accurately quantify the carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystem under future climatic change condition. This dissertation evaluates the regional carbon dynamics by using upscaling approach, mechanistically-based biogeochemistry models and in situ and remotely sensed data. The upscaling studies based on FLUXNET network has provided us the spatial and temporal pattern of the carbon fluxes but it fails to consider the atmospheric CO2 effect given its important physiological role in carbon assimilation. In the second chapter, we consider the effect of atmospheric CO2 using an artificial neural network (ANN) approach to upscale the AmeriFlux tower of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and the derived gross primary productivity (GPP) to the conterminous United States. We found that atmospheric CO2 effect on GPP/NEE exhibited a great spatial and seasonal variability. Further analysis suggested that air temperature played an important role in determining the atmospheric CO2 effects on carbon fluxes. In addition, the simulation that did not consider atmospheric CO2 failed to detect ecosystem responses to droughts in part of the US in 2006. The study suggested that the spatially and temporally varied atmospheric CO2 concentrations should be factored into carbon quantification when scaling eddy flux data to a region.
Hypsometric control on glacier mass balance sensitivity in Alaska and northwest Canada

Glacier hypsometry provides a first‐order approach for assessing a glacier's response to climate forcings. We couple the Randolph Glacier Inventory to a suite of in situ observations and climate model output to examine potential change for the ∼27,000 glaciers in Alaska and northwest Canada through the end of the 21st century. By 2100, based on Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5–8.5 forcings, summer temperatures are predicted to increase between +2.1 and +4.6°C, while solid precipitation (snow) is predicted to decrease by −6 to −11%, despite a +9 to +21% increase in total precipitation. Snow is predicted to undergo a pronounced decrease in the fall, shifting the start of the accumulation season back by ∼1 month. In response to these forcings, the regional equilibrium line altitude (ELA) may increase by +105 to +225 m by 2100. The mass balance sensitivity to this increase is highly variable, with the most substantive impact for glaciers with either limited elevation ranges (often small (<1 km2) glaciers, which account for 80% of glaciers in the region) or those with top‐heavy geometries, like icefields. For more than 20% of glaciers, future ELAs, given RCP 6.0 forcings, will exceed the maximum elevation of the glacier, resulting in their eventual demise, while for others, accumulation area ratios will decrease by >60%. Our results highlight the first‐order control of hypsometry on individual glacier response to climate change, and the variability that hypsometry introduces to a regional response to a coherent climate perturbation.