Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visualizing the COVID-19 pandemic response in Canadian higher education: an extended photo essay

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented shifts to higher education globally, including Canadian universities. In this paper I utilize an extended photo essay method and narrative response to document the changes seen in my local university environment during the months of April through September 2020. Emerging literature and survey results concerning the Canadian academic condition during the pandemic are discussed alongside research diary entries and policy excerpts.
Innovation and enculturation in child communication: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Abstract How can people achieve successful communication when using novel signs? Previous studies show that iconic signs (i.e. signs that directly resemble their referent) enhance communication success. In this paper, we test if enculturated signs (i.e. signs informed by interlocutors’ shared culture) also enhance communication success. Children, who have spent less time in their linguistic community, have less cultural knowledge to inform their sign innovation. A natural prediction is that younger children's signs will be less enculturated, more diverse and less successful compared with older children and adults. We examined sign innovation in children aged between 6 and 12 years (N = 54) and adults (N = 18). Sign enculturation, diversity and iconicity were rated. As predicted, younger children innovated less enculturated and more diverse signs, and communicated less successfully than older children and adults. Sign enculturation and iconicity uniquely contributed to communication success. This is the first study to demonstrate that enculturated signs enhance communication.
Extreme Outliers in Lower Stratospheric Water Vapor Over North America Observed by MLS: Relation to Overshooting Convection Diagnosed From Colocated Aqua‐MODIS Data

Convectively injected water vapor (H2O) in the North American (NA) summer lowermost stratosphere results in significant outliers in the 100‐hPa H2O measurements from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). MLS statistics from 15 years confirm that the NA region contains over 60% of global 100‐hPa H2O > 12 ppmv, despite having only ∼1.8% of all MLS observations. A profile sampled in August 2019 stands out, with H2O=26.3 ppmv, far exceeding the prior record and the median ∼4.5‐ppmv abundance in NA. This particular outlier is associated with a large overshooting convective event (OCE) that spanned multiple U.S. states and persisted for several hours. Colocation of the MLS data over NA with cloud observations from Aqua's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) reveals the unique character of this case, as only 2.3% of MLS profiles are as close to an OCE and only 0.024% of OCEs cover as large an area within a 500‐km perimeter of a profile.
Flaviviruses Infections in Neotropical Primates Suggest Long-Term Circulation of Saint Louis Encephalitis and Dengue Virus Spillback in Socioeconomic Regions With High Numbers of Dengue Human Cases in Costa Rica

Arthropod-borne viruses belonging to the flavivirus genus possess an enormous relevance in public health. Neotropical non-human primates (NPs) have been proposed to be infected more frequently with flaviviruses due to their arboreal and diurnal habits, their genetic similarity to humans and their relative closeness to humans. However, the only known flavivirus in America that is maintained by sylvatic cycles involving NPs is Yellow Fever virus (YFV), and the NPs role as potential hosts of flaviviruses is still unknown. Here, we examined flavivirus exposure in 86 free range and captive NPs of Costa Rica to evaluate their involvement in flavivirus transmission cycles and their potential as flavivirus hosts. We used a highly-specific micro plaque reduction neutralization test (micro-PRNT) to determine the presence of antibodies against YFV, Dengue virus 1-4 (DENV), Zika virus, West Nile Virus (WNV) and Saint Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV). We found evidence of seropositive NPs to DENV-1 8.2% (homotypic –3/86, heterotypic – 4/86), SLEV 15.1% (homotypic – 10/86, heterotypic – 2/86), WNV 2.3% (homotypic – 2/86) and 8.1% (7/86) undetermined Flavivirus species. No antibodies against YFV or ZIKV were found. This work provides compelling serological evidence of exposure in NPs of flaviviruses associated with urban cycles, i.e. DENV, and confirms decades of circulation of SLEV in the same environments. Also, the range of years of sampling and the socioeconomic region was statistically significant for the presence of Dengue and Flavivirus undetermined seropositive individuals, respectively. Both the years and socioeconomic regions with greater seroprevalence coincide with the years and socioeconomic regions with high numbers of Dengue human cases for the country. Our work suggests bidirectional? circulation of different flaviviruses between humans and wildlife with public health importance and underscores the necessity of further surveillance for flaviviruses in the humans/wildlife interface in Central America. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 5 November 2020
Effect of calorie protein ratio on the growth performance and haematology of two strains of pullet chicks

In a 56 days experiment, 432-day old chicks were used to determine the influence of varying levels of calorie:protein ratio on the growth performance and haematology of two strains of commercial pullet chicks. Each of the strains, (i)Nera Black (NB) and (ii)Isa Brown (IB) were randomly allocated to three dietary levels of calorie:protein ratio designed to contain normal calorie:protein ratio (NC:P), high calorie:protein ratio (HC:P) and low calorie:protein ratio (LC:P). This gave a total of six treatments, replicated thrice to give 18 replicates comprised 24 birds each. Results showed that strain effect was significantly (p<0.05) higher in NB for average daily feed intake (ADFI) 27.81g and average daily weight gain (ADWG) 9.20g and lower (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) 2.99 than corresponding values for IB. Strain effect also influenced (p<0.05) all haematology indices except haemoglobin, red blood cell and basophils. It also affected the serum indices at higher (p<0.05) values for glucose, calcium, and phosphorus in NB chicks. Calorie:Protein ratio effect was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ADFI (29.64g) for birds fed HC:P while those on NC:P recorded ADWG (9.32g) and FCR (2.72). All the haematological and serum indices values were influenced (p<0.05) by the calorie protein ratio effect whereas other determined parameters were not. Strain x Calorie Protein effect on the growth performance showed NB chicks fed HC:P recorded highest (p<0.05) ADFI (30.52g), while those on LC:P had highest ADWG (9.61g). Best FCR (p<0.05) was observed among chicks fed LC:P (2.74) while NB chicks on HC:P showed the best PER (1.51). All the haematology parameters except basophils and serum indices albumin and total protein were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the strain x calorie:protein ratio. The study showed that Nera Black strain performed optimally than Isa Brown in the tropical zone where the trial was conducted. Key words: Commercial pullet, high calorie: protein ration: Low Calorie:protein ratio. Normal Calorie:protein ratio.
The race structure of Leptosphaeria maculans in western Canada between 2012 and 2014 and its influence on blackleg of canola

Abstract Field surveys indicate blackleg of canola has increased in western Canada since 2010. Earlier studies showed changes in the pathogen (Leptosphaeria maculans (Sowerby) P.Karst. ; Lm) population between 2007 and 2010–2011. In this study, Lm isolates were collected from trap plots (591) and/or commercial fields (372) on the prairies between 2012 and 2014, and tested for the profile of avirulence (Av) genes on a set of host differentials for 10 Lm Av alleles. Up to 35 ‘Westar’ trap plots were set up each year, and commercial fields were surveyed in the same area in 2012 and 2013. A similar trend was observed for Av profile between the two Lm populations; Av1, Av3, Av9 and AvLep2 were at low or very low levels, while Av2, Av4, Av6 and Av7 were present in >60% of the isolates. A total of 82 races were identified in these Lm populations, suggesting a greater diversity than those reported elsewhere. Margalef and Simpson indices also confirmed the greater genetic diversity in Lm. In fact, for each known R gene, there is at least one virulent race already existing in the Lm population. The races carrying Av2, Av4, Av6 or Av7 accounted for >70% of the Lm population, indicating that an R gene corresponding to any of these Av alleles may be effective against blackleg on the prairies. However, Av results alone appeared insufficient for explaining different levels of blackleg observed in canola fields; additional factors, possibly including crop rotation and local weather, may also play a role.
Presymptomatic Dutch-Type Hereditary Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Blood Metabolite Alterations.

BACKGROUND Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is one of the major causes of intracerebral hemorrhage and vascular dementia in older adults. Early diagnosis will provide clinicians with an opportunity to intervene early with suitable strategies, highlighting the importance of pre-symptomatic CAA biomarkers. OBJECTIVE Investigation of pre-symptomatic CAA related blood metabolite alterations in Dutch-type hereditary CAA mutation carriers (D-CAA MCs). METHODS Plasma metabolites were measured using mass-spectrometry (AbsoluteIDQ® p400 HR kit) and were compared between pre-symptomatic D-CAA MCs (n = 9) and non-carriers (D-CAA NCs, n = 8) from the same pedigree. Metabolites that survived correction for multiple comparisons were further compared between D-CAA MCs and additional control groups (cognitively unimpaired adults). RESULTS 275 metabolites were measured in the plasma, 22 of which were observed to be significantly lower in theD-CAAMCs compared to D-CAA NCs, following adjustment for potential confounding factors age, sex, and APOE ε4 (p < 00.05). After adjusting for multiple comparisons, only spermidine remained significantly lower in theD-CAAMCscompared to theD-CAA NCs (p < 0.00018). Plasma spermidine was also significantly lower in D-CAA MCs compared to the cognitively unimpaired young adult and older adult groups (p < 0.01). Spermidinewas also observed to correlate with CSF Aβ40 (rs = 0.621, p = 0.024), CSF Aβ42 (rs = 0.714, p = 0.006), and brain Aβ load (rs = -0.527, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION The current study provides pilot data on D-CAA linked metabolite signals, that also associated with Aβ neuropathology and are involved in several biological pathways that have previously been linked to neurodegeneration and dementia.
Large‐Area Plasmonic Metamaterial with Thickness‐Dependent Absorption

Plasmonic metamaterials are receiving increasing attentions due to their great ability to confine light energy at the nanoscale for perfect absorption and various applications in the near infrared and visible region. However, the common practices to achieve the tunable absorption are to adjust the morphology of plasmonic metamaterials. This strategy has a low fabrication efficiency, which limits the applications of plasmonic metamaterials. Here, the absorption efficiency and peak position of the plasmonic metamaterial consisting of Au nanohole array/SiO2 spacer/Au film are tuned by simply controlling the thicknesses of the hexagonal Au nanohole array and the spacer layer, respectively. An ultrahigh absorption of ≈99% and a high surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect (with an average surface enhancement factor of 106) are achieved at the desired laser wavelength. The substrate can be as large as 10 mm in diameter and shows a high uniformity for SERS detection. This work provides a simple way to flexibly tune the optical properties of plasmonic metamaterials for various promising applications such as plasmon‐mediated chemical reactions and biosensing.
Solubility Temperature Dependence and Data Correlation of Carbon Dioxide in Pentaerythritol Tetra-2-methylbutyrate

In the past years, the employment of carbon dioxide as an alternative is becoming significant. Its compatibility with synthetic compressor lubricants is still a problem far from a solution. In the literature, only a few data on the mutual solubility of the carbon dioxide−lubricant systems are present, although it is one of the main properties affecting the selection of the proper lubricant. At our laboratories, a systematic study on the solubility of carbon dioxide in lubricants has been started, trying to identify its dependence on pressure, temperature, and oil chemical structure. In this work, experimental solubility data of carbon dioxide in pentaerythritol tetra-2-methylbutyrate, i.e., a precursor of polyol ester oil, are presented in the temperature range of (243 to 343) K and pressure up to 10 MPa. The experimental data were correlated by means of the Peng−Robinson equation of state with the Huron Vidal mixing rules in which the excess Gibbs energy at infinite pressure was represented by the UNIQUA.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Factors of Campylobacter coli Isolated from Chicken in Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: Campylobacters species are major causes of gastroenteritis in human. The main risk factor of infection is consumption of contaminated or by cross-contaminated poultry meat. The aims of this study were to analyze antimicrobial profile and virulence factors associated to Campylobacter coli isolated from chicken’s ceaca in commercial slaughter in Abidjan. Methodology: A total of 336 chicken ceaca samples were collected from market of two municipality of Abidjan and were examined by conventional microbiological methods and molecular test using PCR. The antibiotic susceptibility tests of the isolates were determined by disk diffusion method the presence of virulence genes was examined using simple PCR method. Results: From these samples, 210/336 (62.50%) were positives for Campylobacter. Among the isolates, 53 strains confirmed as C. coli by using PCR detection were used for phenotypic and genotypic analysis. Of these strains, 51/53 were positive for one or more antibiotics molecules tested. The highest rate of antimicrobial resistance was found for nalidixic acid 51/53 (96.22%), tetracyclin 49/53 (92.45%) and ciprofloxacin 38/53 (71.69%). Moreover, MDR including 3, 4, 5 and 6 antibiotics families was detected in 11/53 (20.75%) of isolates. On the other hand, detection of virulence gene shows presence of cadF gene in 86.01% of isolates while 82.21% were positive for the three cdt (A, B and C) genes. Conclusion: We reported in this study the presence of high pathogenic Campylobacter coli contamination of the studied chickens. Molecular identification of the bacteria was performed and determination of high resistance to antimicrobials of the fluoroquinolone family was revealed.
Fifty years of wildland fire science in Canada

We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research by reflecting on the considerable progress accomplished in select areas of Canadian wildland fire science over the past half century. Specifically, we discuss key developments and contributions in the creation of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System; the relationships between wildland fire and weather, climate, and climate change; fire ecology; operational decision support; and wildland fire management. We also discuss the evolution of wildland fire management in Banff National Park as a case study. We conclude by discussing some possible directions in future Canadian wildland fire research including the further evaluation of fire severity measurements and effects; the efficacy of fuel management treatments; climate change effects and mitigation; further refinement of models pertaining to fire risk analysis, fire behaviour, and fire weather; and the integration of forest management and ecological restoration with wildland fire risk reduction. Throughout the paper, we reference many contributions published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, which has been at the forefront of international wildland fire science.
A Major Combustion Aerosol Event Had a Negligible Impact on the Atmospheric Ice‐Nucleating Particle Population

Clouds containing supercooled water are important for both climate and weather, but our knowledge of which aerosol particle types nucleate ice in these clouds is far from complete. Combustion aerosols have strong anthropogenic sources, and if these aerosol types were to nucleate ice in clouds, they might exert a climate forcing. Here, we quantified the atmospheric ice‐nucleating particle (INP) concentrations during the United Kingdom's annual Bonfire Night celebrations, which are characterized by large amounts of combustion aerosol from bonfires and fireworks. We used three immersion mode techniques covering more than 6 orders of magnitude in INP concentration over the temperature range from −10°C to homogeneous freezing. We found no observable systematic change in the INP concentration on three separate nights, despite more than a factor of 10 increase in aerosol number concentrations, up to a factor of 10 increase in PM10 concentration, and more than a factor of 100 increase in black carbon (BC) mass concentration relative to pre‐event levels. This implies that BC and other combustion aerosol such as ash did not compete with the INPs present in the background air. Furthermore, the upper limit of the ice‐active site surface density, ns(T), of BC generated in these events was shown to be consistent with several other recent laboratory studies, showing a very low ice‐nucleating activity of BC. We conclude that combustion aerosol particles similar to those emitted on Bonfire Night are at most of secondary importance for the INP population relevant for mixed‐phase clouds in typical midlatitude terrestrial locations.
Unpacking the "Black Box": Understanding the Effect of Social Network Characteristics on Safety Behaviors of Construction Workers

How to improve the safety behaviors of construction workers has dogged the realm of construction project management. Previous studies mainly focused on the individual and/or organizational factors shaping safety behaviors, while there is a dearth of research focusing on the effect of individual-organizational nexus (i.e., the network embeddedness of individuals within the organization). Thus, this study employs social network analysis (SNA) and multivariable regression analyses to explore the relationship between the characteristics of social networks of construction workers (i.e., degree, closeness, and betweenness centralities) and their safety behaviors (i.e., safety participation and safety compliance), considering the mediating role of safety communication. The primary data were collected from ten Chinese construction projects. The results include the following three aspects. First, degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality all exert significant positive effects on safety participation. Closeness centrality yields a positive effect on safety compliance in formal networks. Degree centrality has a positive effect on both safety compliance and safety participation, whereas the other two centrality characteristics exhibit no significant effect in informal networks. Second, in formal networks, safety communication plays a partial mediation role between closeness centrality and safety compliance and a full mediation role between degree and closeness centralities and safety participation. Third, in informal networks, safety communication plays a full mediation role between degree centrality and safety compliance and a partial mediation role between degree centrality and safety participation. This study provides new insights for construction project management in achieving improved safety performance via shaping the social network characteristics.
Putting People Down and Pushing Them Out: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Sexual harassment was once conceptualized solely as a sexual problem: coercive sexual advances that spring from natural feelings of sexual desire or romance. Research has since shown that by far the most common manifestation of sexual harassment is gender harassment, which has contempt at its core; this conduct aims to put people down and push them out, not pull them into sexual activity. With findings such as these, we have made many strides in the scientific study of sexual harassment. That body of scholarship is the focus of this article, which is organized around the following questions: What is sexual harassment, both behaviorally and legally? How common is this conduct in work organizations, and what are its consequences? What features of the social/organizational context raise the risk for sexual harassment? What are some promising (and not-so-promising) solutions to this pervasive problem? And finally, what are important directions for this area of research moving forward?
Modelling the joint effects of body size and microclimate on heat budgets and foraging opportunities of ectotherms

Body size affects the body temperature of an ectotherm by altering both heating rates and the microclimate experienced. These joint effects are rarely considered in the analyses of climatic constraints on ectotherms but nonetheless influence body temperatures and thus activity periods and foraging opportunities. Here we develop and test transient heat‐budget models that use height‐specific microclimatic forcing to compute the dynamics of size‐dependent body temperatures of ectotherms in sun and in shade. We incorporate a model of behavioural thermoregulation and use it to compute potential body temperatures and then to map these to ecologically relevant indices, including foraging opportunities and thermal constraints. To illustrate potential applications, we combine a microclimate model driven by a global climate database with the transient behavioural algorithm developed for lizards to explore how body size (10 and 1,000 g) and size‐specific microclimate (at natural heights of 1 and 7.5 cm, respectively) interactively influence body temperatures and ecological indices at a warm, arid location in Australia in both spring and summer. To explore microclimatic effects, we contrast temperatures and indices for animals positioned at their natural versus reciprocal heights above the ground. Our simulations show that the behavioural and ecological consequences of size can be strongly biased when joint effects of body size and size‐imposed microclimate are ignored. For example, the two body sizes did not differ in total foraging time when compared at their natural heights, but did differ if compared at the same height, the direction of this difference reversing with the height at which they were compared. We show how computed foraging times can be translated to potential foraging radii from a central place (burrow or shade‐providing bush), thereby illustrating how body size can be physiologically translated into habitat connectivity as a function of different shade configurations, for example, as modified by fire regimes or shrub dieback. All functions are now integrated into the biophysical modelling r package NicheMapR and as a Shiny app, which should provide new insights and avenues for investigation into functional interactions between body size and habitat structure for ectotherms.