Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping Climate Vulnerability of River Basin Communities in Tanzania to Inform Resilience Interventions

Increasing climate variability and change coupled with steady population growth is threatening water resources and livelihoods of communities living in the Wami-Ruvu and Rufiji basins in Tanzania. These basins are host to three large urban centers, namely Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Morogoro, with a combined total of more than 7 million people. Increased demand for ecosystem services from the available surface water resources and a decreasing supply of clean and safe water are exacerbating the vulnerability of communities in these basins. Several studies have analyzed climate projects in the two basins but little attention has been paid to identify locations that have vulnerable communities in a spatially-explicit form. To address this gap, we worked with stakeholders from national and local government agencies, basin water boards and the Water Resources Integration Development Initiative (WARIDI) project funded by USAID to map the vulnerability of communities to climate variability and change in the two basins. A generalized methodology for mapping social vulnerability to climate change was used to integrate biophysical and socioeconomic indicators of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity and produced climate vulnerability index maps. Our analysis identified vulnerability “hotspots” where communities are at a greater risk from climate stressors. The results from this study were used to identify priority sites and adaptation measures for the implementation of resilience building interventions and to train local government agencies and communities on climate change adaptation measures in the two basins.
Effects of balance and plyometric training on balance control among individuals with functional ankle instability

Introduction. This study aimed to compare the effects of balance and plyometric training on balance control among individuals with functional ankle instability (FAi). Methods. overall, 20 individuals with FAi, classified in balance (n = 10) and plyometric (n = 10) training groups, participated in the study. Testing variables included standard deviations and ranges of centre of pressure in mediolateral (ML-CoPsd/MLCoPr) and anteroposterior (AP-CoPsd/AP-CoPr) directions during single-legged stance with eyes open and closed, times to stabilization of ground reaction force in mediolateral (ML-TTS) and anteroposterior (AP-TTS) directions during step-down, and reach distances in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions from the modified Star Excursion Balance Test. Results. When comparing between the groups, the plyometric training group exhibited a significant reduction of ML-CoPsd with eyes open after 6 weeks of training (p = 0.004) and shorter ML-TTS and AP-TTS after 4 weeks (p = 0.009 and p = 0.007) and 6 weeks (p = 0.011 and p = 0.029) of training. For within-group comparison, the plyometric training group showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in all testing variables, whereas the balance training group presented improvement only in the reach distances. Conclusions. Plyometric training provided benefits in both static and dynamic balances for individuals with FAi.
Growth and water-use characteristics of Romaine lettuce cultivated in Histosol as affected by irrigation management, compaction, and seeding type

Abstract: In Canada, most lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is produced on cultivated organic soils, which can be very productive but are also very sensitive to degradation and compaction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of soil compaction, irrigation thresholds, and transplant type on the growth and water-use characteristics of Romaine lettuce that is grown in organic soil. The experiments were conducted in greenhouses at Laval University. Tensiometers and time-domain reflectometer probes were used to characterize the water-use characteristics of the Romaine lettuce. Most of the growth characteristics of the Romaine lettuce, with the exception of the dry weight, were significantly influenced by the available rooting depth (soil column height) and by the irrigation threshold used. Lettuce water uptake decreased significantly as the depth increased. In addition, in drier conditions, the deeper soil layers contributed more to the total water uptake than the surface soil layers. The water productivity was lower in the presence of a compacted layer combined with a direct seeding treatment, compared with all of the other treatments. First, it is concluded that the irrigation method should allow a certain degree of dryness by use of a lower irrigation threshold (ideally between -20 and -30 kPa) to stimulate deep rooting. Second, the use of small lettuce plant preseeded in small block of peat substrate instead of direct seeding in the field can compensate for a possible compaction effect.
Cultural and Ethnic Diversity. A Guide for Genetics Professionals

This is a new and extensively rewritten edition of a respected textbook. Dr Cohen has significantly reorganised and updated the book to reflect the monumental changes which have occurred in the field since the first edition was published in 1982. The book begins with essential chapters on nomenclature, followed by chapters on possible approaches to the clinical assessment of dysmorphic patients, basic genetics, teratology, syndrome classification, delineation and diagnosis, abnormal growth and development, mental retardation, and finally on psychological and social implications of birth defects. It has no pretensions towards being a comprehensive atlas of birth defect syndromes. Instead, as Robert Gorlin states in the foreword, it is a great "how-to" book. Dr Cohen clearly describes a rational, critical approach to the problems of syndrome delineation and diagnosis. In every chapter there are concepts which will allow the reader to refine his or her own diagnostic skills, to understand the fundamental processes by which new syndromes are delineated, and to be better equipped to appraise the publications in the field critically. Throughout, the book is highly readable and the text is supplemented by many informative and often entertaining illustrations. There is a school of thought which says that great dysmorphologists are born rather than made. This book will certainly help those of us lacking the requisite genes to reach a competent level.
Corn yield response to tillage with furrow irrigation

Conservation tillage techniques have gained widespread, but not universal, use in irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) production. This study was conducted to evaluate yield impacts associated with conservation tillage methods when compared with conventional techniques in a replicated field experiment for 17 consecutive years in Nebraska (1976-1992). Six tillage treatments were imposed on continuous corn production and replicated three times. Tillage treatments ranged from traditional (disk and surface plant) to no-till (slot plant on existing ridge). Post-plant operations were uniformly applied to accommodate furrow irrigation. Over the life of the project the conservation tillage treatments (ridge till, rotary till, and slot plant) had a 4 bu/acre increase in grain yield over the conventional treatments (those having chisel, disk, or lister operations). The advantage of the conservation tillage systems was amplified by corresponding lower production costs. The rotary, ridge, and slot tillage systems had S7.72, S14.22, and $16.22/acre lower annual tillage and herbicide costs (1990 dollars), respectively, than the conventional tillage system with a disking operation. The conservation tillage treatments significantly lowered stalk rot and residual spring soil nitrate N concentrations. Other comparisons showing significant differences were list vs. chisel and disk for harvest population and soil potassium concentrations, and ridge vs. rotary for harvest population. None of the other comparisons tested had significant differences for grain yield or other soil parameters. Overall, this study indicates that conservation tillage on irrigated continuous-corn is advantageous over conventional methods.
Fossil Sirenia of the West Atlantic and Caribbean Region: X. Priscosiren atlantica, gen. et sp. nov.

ABSTRACT We describe a new genus and species of early Oligocene halitheriine dugongid from the Western Atlantic region. Priscosiren atlantica, gen. et sp. nov., differs from all other halitheriine dugongids by displaying the following unique combination of characters: supraorbital processes dorsoventrally thin (≤1 cm) with well-developed prominent posterolateral corner; supraoccipitals wider in the dorsal half than the ventral half; exoccipitals meeting dorsal to the foramen magnum; posttympanic process with a prominent anteroventral process for attachment of m. sternomastoideus; nasals separated in midline; ventral extremity of jugal located ventral to orbit; ventral border of mandible strongly concave; absence of accessory mental foramina; dorsoventrally broad horizontal ramus of mandible; loss of all permanent premolars; and concave anteroventral surface of jugal (a possible autapomorphy). Differs further from the similar species Caribosiren turneri in having lesser rostral deflection (of about 44°); presence of small incisors; lower temporal crests; and slightly larger body size. The relationship of Priscosiren with other dugongids places it close to being a structural as well as temporal ancestor to the Metaxytherium + Hydrodamalinae and Dugonginae clades. This supports previous assumptions of a Western Atlantic and Caribbean origin for these groups, and indicates that the halitheriine-dugongine divergence must have occurred no later than the earliest Oligocene. Priscosiren, Caribosiren, and Crenatosiren evidently coexisted in the West Atlantic-Caribbean region, and constitute yet another case of a uniquely patterned fossil sirenian multispecies community.
Horror, Experimentation and Enhanced Interrogation

ABSTRACT After 9/11 the United States launched a global War on Terror. As part of this War, U.S. psychologists, supported by doctors, designed an ‘Enhanced Interrogation’, or torture, programme to extract information from detainees in their custody. The Enhanced Interrogation programme caused huge international controversy, including for the various health professional groups who became bound up in it. Little research has been conducted on how nonprofessional audiences reacted to and made sense of Enhanced Interrogation. This study therefore examines how members of an internet community understood the Enhanced Interrogation programme, and the actions of the health professionals who designed and supported it. The article is based on an analysis of postings from seven major threads from this forum. These postings were made in the year following the release of a major investigation into the Enhanced Interrogation programme’s inner workings. The article argues that the main lens through which people on this forum made sense of Enhanced Interrogation is horror. Individuals connected this horror very strongly to the horror of unethical human experimentation, and particularly to the destructive research of the Nazi doctors.
The capture efficiency of the Dietrick vacuum insect net for aphids on grasses and cereals

SUMMARY The capture efficiency of the Dietrick vacuum insect net (D-vac) for cereal aphids on grasses and cereals was investigated in the field and laboratory. Capture efficiency varied between different aphid species and instars and different plant species, age and density. Numerous other factors probably also affect its capture efficiency. Despite this variability, the D-vac is suitable for determining population structure of aphids and for detecting alatae. It may also remain the only method to obtain some quantitative measurements of populations of insects at low densities.
A generalized mean-variance metric of route choice model under travel time uncertainty

Route choice modeling under travel time uncertainty is essential for analyzing travelers’ mobility patterns. This paper investigates the impact of travel time uncertainty on route choice behavior in user equilibrium models based on a generalized mean-variance metric (GMV). This model can capture the influence of risk attitudes and schedule unpunctuality on route choice using a generalization of expected travel time, variance, and expected early or late arrival penalties, of which travelers are assumed to minimize the GMV of trips considering a certain on-time arrival probability. This paper establishes the properties of GMV and formulates the GMV-based static user equilibria as a variational inequality (VI) problem, for which the existence and uniqueness of the solutions are also analyzed. An effective traffic assignment algorithm without path enumeration is developed to solve the proposed user equilibrium problem. Numerical examples are conducted to demonstrate the properties of the proposed model.
Conspecificity of Holmesia neurymenioides with Reinboldiella warburgii (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from northeastern Taiwan on the basis of cystocarp development and rbcL sequence analysis

S. -M. Lin and M.H. Hommersand. 2007. Conspecificity of Holmesia neurymenioides with Reinboldiella warburgii (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from northeastern Taiwan on the basis of cystocarp development and rbcL sequence analysis. Phycologia 46: 247–256. DOI: 10.2216/06-48.1 Holmesia neurymenioides (Okamura) Okamura was originally described from St. Tiago, northeastern Taiwan; however, this alga has not been re-collected in Taiwan since it was first described and its carposporophyte development is virtually unknown. Its growth pattern is not typical for Delesseriaceae, in which the axial cell cuts off two lateral and two transverse periaxial cells. Instead, the vegetative development corresponds to a basal type in the tribe Ceramieae (Ceramiaceae) in which the axial cell cut off two lateral and four transverse periaxial cells. The procarp consists of a three- to four-celled carpogonial branch and a single lateral sterile filament borne on either of the two lateral periaxial cells, and the carposporangia-bearing gonimoblasts are more or less naked, surrounded only by five involucral branchlets that originate from the other five periaxial cells in the fertile axial segment. We conclude that this alga does not belong in the family Delesseriaceae but that it should be placed in the genus Reinboldiella in the family Ceramiaceae. Its correct name is Reinboldiella warburgii (Heydrich) Yoshida & Mikami on the basis of cystocarp development. This taxonomic revision is highly supported by rbcL sequence analysis.
Faculty satisfaction with online teaching: a comprehensive study with American faculty

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to combine and extend the literature to determine which and to what extent various job-related factors influence faculty satisfaction with online teaching. A preliminary investigation was conducted to identify job-related factors that influence faculty satisfaction. An analytical study comprised of higher education faculty across the US was conducted for analyses. Herzberg’s two-factor theory is used as the framework for the factors being motivators or hygienes. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify the job-related factors based on the items determined from the preliminary investigation. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to determine the job-related factors’ influence on faculty satisfaction with online teaching. Crosstabulations were conducted for the item involving whether faculty are more satisfied with many or minimal interactions/relationships with students. The results indicate that most of the job-related factors significantly influence faculty satisfaction with online teaching. Overall, faculty are satisfied with online teaching.
Automatic Reminder for Fluids Management on Confidence and Compliance with Fluid Restrictions in Hemodialysis Patients

Discharge planning has not been able to increase confidence and fluid restriction adherence in endstage renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study aimed to develop an application of discharge planning with automatic reminder of fluid management to improve fluid restriction adherence in hemodialysis patients. Research and development with the first stage was developing an application prototype by evaluating hemodialysis patients issues through interviews and questionnaires of 115 respondents. Focus group discussions with health professionals and expert discussions were conducted after data collecting. Second stage was a quasi-experimental study with 30 respondents in each group using simple random sampling. Research analysis used MANOVA test. The development of a prototype consisted of pooling intake, pooling output, fluid control log, education, setting and automatic fluid monitoring reminder. The results of interviews with the target users showed that the app was feasible. The effect of interventions on beliefs (perceived threat, perceived benefit, perceived barrier, and self-efficacy) with p = 0.001, fluid restriction compliance and IDWG p = 0.001 after the intervention using the development of discharge planning with automatic reminder app. Development of discharge planning with automatic reminder of fluid management consists of several menus and the main feature was an automatic fluid monitoring reminder. This app can increase self-confidence in fluid restriction and adherence in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Standing and hovering guards of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula complement each other in entrance guarding and intruder recognition

Summary Previous research has shown that colonies of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula have hovering guards that can detect allospecific intruder bees with volatile odours or different body colour, but conspecific intruders were not detected. Here we show that T. angustula colony entrances are also defended by guards standing on the entrance tube. These standing guards made very few errors in recognition, accepting 100% of the nestmates and rejecting 92% of the conspecific non-nestmates presented to them at the nest entrance. In addition, 87% of the nestmates contaminated with odours from the stingless bee Scaptotrigona bipunctata were rejected. Standing guards also reacted to volatile odours from the stingless bees S. bipunctata and Melipona rufiventris by switching to hovering. The defence reaction, i.e. the increase in the number of hovering guards, was not, however, comparable to the reaction previously reported to citral, the propaganda chemical used by the obligate robber bee Lestrimelitta limao when attacking other bee colonies.
A route to decreasing N pollution from livestock: Use of Festulolium hybrids improves efficiency of N flows in rumen simulation fermenters

Abstract Ruminant agriculture suffers from inefficient capture of forage protein and consequential release of N pollutants to land. This is due to proteolysis in the rumen catalyzed by both microbial but initially endogenous plant proteases. Plant breeding‐based solutions are sought to minimize these negative environmental impacts. The aim of this study was to perform an integrated study of rumen N metabolism using semi‐continuous rumen simulation fermenters (Rusitec) to explore the extent to which swards containing Festulolium populations (interspecific hybrids between Lolium and Festuca grass species) with decreased rates of endogenous protein degradation conferred advantageous protein utilization in comparison with a National Listed perennial ryegrass. An in vitro experiment was conducted using three Festulolium hybrids (Lolium perenne × Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens, LpFg; Lolium perenne × Festuca mairei, LpFm; and Lolium multiflorum × Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens, LmFg) and a Lolium perenne, Lp control. LpFm and LmFg demonstrated significantly lower plant‐mediated proteolysis than the control. Fresh forage was incubated in Rusitec with rumen fluid from four donor cows. Feed disappearance and production of gas, methane, and volatile fatty acids were similar across cultivars. Whereas no differences in microbial protein synthesis were noted across treatments during early fermentation (0–6 hr after feeding), an increased microbial N flow in LpFm (+30%) and LmFg hybrids (+41%) was observed during late fermentation (6–24 hr after feeding), with higher overall microbial N flows (+13.5% and + 20.2%, respectively) compared with the control (Lp). We propose an underpinning mechanism involving the partitioning of amino acid catabolism toward branched‐chain amino acids and microbial protein synthesis in grasses with slow plant‐mediated proteolysis instead of accumulation of rumen ammonia in grasses with fast plant‐mediated proteolysis. These observations indicate the potential of Festulolium hybrids with a slow plant‐mediated proteolysis trait to improve the efficiency of capture of forage protein and decrease the release of N pollutants onto the land.
Selected References

Vedvyas, Y. et al. (2019) Manufacturing and preclinical validation of CAR T cells targeting ICAM-1 for advanced thyroid cancer therapy. Sci. Rep. 9: 10634. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46938-7 Here the authors report the use of the CliniMACS Prodigy T Cell Transduction (TCT) process to automatically manufacture CAR T cells targeted to ICAM-1. Thawed and rested leukopaks were rested overnight before starting the TCT process involving lentiviral transduction on days one and two. This data supports further study to evaluate the safety and efficacy.
A 128 × 128 SPAD Motion-Triggered Time-of-Flight Image Sensor With In-Pixel Histogram and Column-Parallel Vision Processor

A 128 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 128 single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) motion detection-triggered time-of-flight (ToF) sensor is implemented in STMicroelectronics 40 nm CMOS SPAD foundry process. The sensor combines vision and ToF ranging functions to acquire depth frames only when inter-frame intensity changes are detected. The 40 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}\,\,\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 20 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> pixels integrate two 16-bit time-gated counters to acquire ToF histograms and repurpose them to compare two vision frames without the requirement for additional out-of-pixel frame memory resources. An embedded column-parallel ToF and vision processor performs on-chip vision frame comparison and binary frame output compression as well as controlling the time-resolved histogram sampling. The sensor achieves a maximum 32.5 kframes/s in vision modality and 500 frames/s in motion detection-triggered ToF over a measured 3.5 m distance with 1.5 cm accuracy. The vision function reduces the sensor power consumption by 70% over continuous ToF operation and allows the sensor to gate the ToF laser emitter to reduce the system power when no motion activity is observed.