Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of sightings of white sharks in Gansbaai (South Africa)

Abstract In Gansbaai (South Africa), at Dyer Island Nature Reserve, a large White shark population is present and can be observed due to the support of local ecotourism operators authorised to reach the field observation sites. Between 2009 and 2019, it was possible to create a database including information about each individual observed. In total, 423 white sharks were sighted during 462 direct observation hours from the boat, that included 220 hours from the diving “cage”. The mean sighting rate was 0.91 (range 0.18–1.53) sharks per hour and sighting rates dramatically declined in the last three years of the study period. Ninety-nine unique Photo-Ids of the dorsal fin were collected and only five re-sightings occurred, which indicate a transient behaviour for the Gansbaai White shark population. The sex ratio showed that females were always prevalent over males throughout the duration of the observations: the ratios were 1:2.2:0.8 for males, females, and unsexed sharks, respectively, and showed the prevalence of immature female individuals (immature: 51 males, 201 females, and 40 unsexed; adults: 49 males, 14 females, and 1 unsexed; undefined maturity: 5 males, 19 females, and 43 unsexed sharks). The predominance of immatures only applies to the females; there were as many immature males (51) as mature (49). The total length for all the individuals was between 150 cm and 500 cm (mean 308 cm, n = 423) with few young-of-the-year and adults recorded, indicating that Gansbaai Area is not a nursery area nor an adult aggregation site, but a seasonal feeding ground. The interannual sighting trend showed a consistent long-term increasing peak (ca. 4–5 years) and this could confirm that, in Gansbaai, the White shark frequency is not affected by ecotourism but, since 2017, a consistent loss of sightings was also due to recorded transient killer whales’ unusual fatal attacks.
Perylene Based Solution Processed Single Layer WOLED with Adjustable CCT and CRI

In solution processed single layer white organic light emitting diode (WOLED) applications, the choice of host matrix and optimization of dopant levels represent two crucial parameters to consider. In this work, poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK): 2-(4-Biphenylyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) and PVK:1,3-bis[(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl] phenylene (OXD-7) matrices are used as hosts for perylene based devices. PVK:PBD presented better compatibility and lower turn-on voltages compared to PVK:OXD-7. Benefiting from the exciplex emission observed at 630 nm, a color rendering index (CRI) value of 90 is reached with the device containing PVK:PBD as the host and 0.1 wt. % of an orange emitting perylene derivative, i.e., PDI. Introduction of the perylene based green emitter, i.e., PTE, in this emitting layer not only caused a fading in the exciplex emission, but also resulted in disappearance of the electroplex peak at 535 nm, which is detected between PVK:PBD and PTE in bare PTE containing devices. Full visible range coverage is achieved by optimizing the PDI:PTE ratio. WOLED containing PVK:PBD:0.06 wt. % PDI:0.03 wt. % PTE presented high CRI (≥95) and adjustable correlated color temperatures (CCT, 3800 K-5100 K).
The Role of Personality in Political Talk and Like-Minded Discussion

Political discussion is a key mechanism for the development of reasoned opinions and political knowledge, but online political discussion has been characterized as uncivil, intolerant, and/or ideologically homogeneous, which is detrimental to this development. In this paper, we examine the role of personality in various forms of political talk—online and offline—as well as like-minded discussion. Based on a 2017 survey conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, and France, we find that people who are open-minded and extraverted are more likely to engage in political talk but less likely to engage in like-minded discussion. Individuals who are older, less educated, introverted, and conscientious are more likely to find themselves in like-minded discussions, both online and on social media. Like-minded discussion is rare; personality, rather than ideology, predicts whether people engage in this form of political talk in online and offline modes. Our findings challenge the role of social media in the creation of like-minded discussion. Instead, we should look to the role of individual attributes, such as personality traits, which create a disposition that motivates the use of social media (and offline networks) to cultivate like-minded discussion.
Sound-level Monitoring Earphones With Smartphone Feedback as an Intervention to Promote Healthy Listening Behaviors in Young Adults

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: More than a billion adolescents and youngsters are estimated to be at risk of acquiring recreational noise-induced hearing loss (RNIHL) due to the unsafe use of personal audio systems. RNIHL is preventable; therefore, the present study aimed to determine (i) the accuracy and reliability of dbTrack (Westone) sound-level monitoring earphones and (ii) the effect of sound-level monitoring earphones with smartphone feedback and hearing-health information as an intervention to promote healthy listening behaviors in young adults. Design: The study consisted of two phases: the first phase investigated the accuracy and reliability of dbTrack sound-level monitoring earphones. Accuracy was determined by comparing earphone measurements to sound level meter measurements. Intradevice reliability was determined by comparing earphone measurements during test-retest conditions. Nineteen participants were recruited through convenience sampling to determine within-subject reliability by comparing in-ear sound levels measured by the earphones during test-retest conditions. For the second phase of the study, a single-group pretest-posttest design was utilized. Forty participants, recruited through snowball sampling, utilized the sound-level monitoring earphones with the accompanying dbTrack smartphone application for 4 weeks. The application’s smartphone feedback was disabled during the first 2 weeks (pretest condition) and enabled during the last 2 weeks (posttest condition). Average daily intensities, durations, and sound dosages measured during pre- and posttest conditions were compared. Results: Phase 1 dbTrack earphone measurements were within 1 dB when compared with sound level meter measurements. Earphones were also within 1 dB in repeated measures across earphones and across participants. Phase 2 posttest average daily intensity decreased by 8.7 dB (18.3 SD), duration decreased by 7.6 minutes (46.6 SD), and sound dose decreased by 4128.4% (24965.5% SD). Differences in intensity and sound dose were significantly lower with a small and medium effect size, respectively. Conclusions: This study’s preliminary data indicate that dbTrack (Westone) sound-level monitoring earphones with a calibrated in-ear microphone can reliably and accurately measure personal audio systems sound exposure. Preliminary results also suggest that feedback on sound exposure using the accurate sound-level monitoring earphones with the accompanying dbTrack application can potentially promote safe listening behavior in young adults and reduce the risk of acquiring an RNIHL.
On the Feasibility of Using Industrial Urea to Mitigate Thermal and Shrinkage Cracking in Concrete

Industrial urea is an organic compound that is widely used for various physiological processes and for producing nitrogen fertilizers. This study hypothesized that mixing urea with concrete would decrease the temperature and expansion of the cement microstructure abruptly due to the reaction with water and a cement hydration product. This study tested the hypothesis by experiments. The performance of concrete was evaluated after setting the mixing ratio of industrial urea was to 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. The results showed that temperature decreased drastically immediately after mixing and the decrease in temperature increased with a higher mixing ratio. Consequently, condensation was delayed, and heat of hydration decreased. It was found that when considering workability and compressive strength development performance, the proper mixing ratio of urea was around 10%. This study proposed the mixing design technique of concrete mixed with urea. Additionally, this study reported better carbonation resistance and mitigated shrinkage strain of concrete mixed with urea compared to existing low-heat mixing ratios.
Poly(arylene ether ketone)-based bipolar membranes for acid–alkaline water electrolysis applications

Bipolar membranes are one of the attractive candidates for water electrolysis applications, because they enable hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions to take place under their optimal pH conditions, thereby minimizing the overall cell voltage for water splitting. This study demonstrates the preparation of bipolar membranes using dual-sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) as a cation exchange layer and butyl-N3-substituted imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether ketone) as an anion exchange layer. The synthesized bipolar membrane (BPM) was employed in an acid–alkaline dual-electrolyte water electrolysis system as a separator to restrain bulk neutralization. Results indicate that this BPM promoted water spitting reactions between the membranes at an applied voltage of 2.31 V and a current density of 160 mA cm−2 in 1 M H2SO4 and 2 M KOH without any deposition of water dissociation catalysts at room temperature. The BPM synthesized in this work also exhibited excellent chemical stability by experiencing a weight loss less than 3.4% in both strong acids and bases after 28 days. These results indicate that this BPM is feasible to be applied in the novel type acid–alkaline water electrolysis system to produce hydrogen energy.
The spatial imaginaries of international volunteer teachers: Contrapuntal and disconnected geographies

Scholars argue that international volunteering must not be framed as altruism or charity; rather, it should invoke themes from decolonial justice theorizing. Volunteers who have benefited from colonial-imperial structural advantages should understand their labor as a kind of reparation for ongoing structural dispossession. I argue that spatial imaginaries are central to this project. Volunteers can better situate themselves with decolonial intentionality if they adopt what Edward Said called contrapuntal theories of geography. The volunteer orientation phase is the best time to instill this spatial imaginary. This study analyzes how volunteers theorize “home” and “away” as they become teachers in Namibia. Drawing from a “netnographic” discourse analysis of their public blogs, I find that volunteers are likely to subscribe to a geographical imaginary of atomized and disconnected spaces, lacking the conceptual tools needed to grapple with decolonial justice and to implement dues-paying volunteering in their classrooms.
Deep convolutional long short-term memory for forecasting wind speed and direction

This paper proposed deep learning to create an accurate forecasting system that uses a deep convolutional long short-term memory (DCLSTM) for forecasting wind speed and direction. In order to use the DCLSTM system, wind speed and direction are represented as an image in 2D coordinates and make it to time sequence data. The wind speed and direction data were obtained from AMeDAS (Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System), Japan. The target of the proposed forecasting system was to improve forecasting accuracy compared to the system in SICE 2020 (The Society of Instrument and Control Engineers Annual Conference 2020) in all seasons. For verifying the efficiency of the forecasting system by comparison with persistent system, deep fully connected-LSTM (DFC-LSTM) and encoding-forecasting network with convolutional long short-term memory (CLSTM) systems were investigated. Forecasting performance of the system was evaluated by RMSE (root mean square error) between forecasted and measured data.
Intestinal Stem Cell Marker ASCL2 is a Novel Prognostic Predictor in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Purpose Intestinal stem cell markers play a significant role in esophageal adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis via Barrett’s esophagus; however, its utility as a prognostic biomarker has not been established. Methods We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of intestinal stem cell markers, ASCL2 and LGR5, using whole slides (35 cases) and tissue microarray (TMA; 64 cases). On TMA slides, adjacent normal squamous epithelium, metaplastic glandular epithelium (Barrett's esophagus), and dysplastic glandular epithelium were inserted when applicable. Two pathologists semi-quantitatively scored stained slides independently, and the results were correlated with clinicopathologic factors and outcomes. Results In whole slides, 51% and 57% expressed high ASCL2 and high LGR5; in TMA, 69% and 88% expressed high ASCL2 and high LGR5, respectively. In TMA, high ASCL2 and low LGR5 expression significantly correlated to a higher number of involved lymph nodes (p=0.027 and p=0.0039), and LGR5 expression significantly correlated to the pathological stage (p=0.0032). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a negative impact of high ASCL2 expression on overall survival (OS; WS p=0.0168, TMA p=0.0276) as well as progression-free survival (PFS; WS p=0.000638, TMA p=0.0466) but not LGR5. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that ASCL2 expression is an independent prognostic factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (OS; WS p=0.25, TMA p=0.011. PFS; WS p=0.012, TMA p=0.038). Analysis of the TCGA dataset showed that ASCL2 mRNA levels were correlated to nodal status but not overall survival. Conclusion High expression of the intestinal stem cell marker ASCL2 may predict unfavorable outcomes in surgically resected esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Dynamic Effect of Oil Resources on Environmental Quality: Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis for Selected African Countries

This paper examines the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory, augmenting the role of oil resources and energy consumption in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions using the annual data of 11 African oil-producing countries from 1980 to 2014. We apply advanced panel cointegration and panel autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) techniques coupled with Granger non-causality analysis to account for cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. The results of the augmented mean group (AMG) reveal that oil resources abundance degrades the environmental quality in Angola while abating CO2 emissions in Algeria, Gabon, Morocco, and Nigeria. Contrarily, energy consumption escalates pollution in the Congo Democratic Republic (COD), Côte d’Ivoire (CIV), Gabon, Morocco, and Tunisia. Our findings support the EKC hypothesis only in Cameroon, CIV, and Nigeria while exhibiting a U-shaped curve in Algeria and Morocco. Causality analysis unveils that oil resources Granger cause energy consumption, suggesting the balance between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The current study has important policy implications for promoting green technology, economic diversification, service sector, and green investments.
It’s good to talk: Exploring the influence of facilitated teaching conversations at an Irish university

ABSTRACT The influence of non-formal professional learning in higher education remains a relatively under-researched area. This paper aims to contribute to the literature by exploring the impact of an implementation of non-formal professional learning operating at an Irish university since April 2017. The initiative – called The Sipping Point – aims to promote and facilitate conversations about teaching among staff through a consistent format of monthly gatherings, short talks, and open discussion. This paper reports findings from an open-ended survey exploring the impact on participants’ practice and views about education. Following a process of thematic analysis, key themes included the value of connecting with peers, the perception of the space as a source of new ideas, and a sense of encouragement to try new things in teaching practice. The study includes analysis from a lead facilitator who reports strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats potentially of interest to those considering similar activities.
Was Gale Crater (Mars) Connected to a Regionally Extensive Groundwater System?

Gale crater, home of the Curiosity rover, contains some of the best geomorphic and sedimentologic evidence on Mars for large lakes during the Hesperian and Amazonian. Orbital data and rover observations of delta deposits and terminations of gully networks suggest several phases of stable lake levels. However, the regional extent, water source (groundwater vs. surface water), and climate during each lake stand are debated. Consistent gully network termination elevations (GNTEs) within Gale and 17 regional craters suggest that GNTEs record paleolake levels. Hydrologic modeling indicates these lakes may have been coeval and the result of a regional groundwater table, recording a drying trend from subhumid conditions to semiarid conditions. Crater counting indicates that most lake‐hosting craters impacted after ∼3.7 Ga and surface water persisted intermittently until the Early Amazonian, constraining the timing but not duration of lakes. This work has implications for understanding water sources and volumes affecting sediments investigated by Curiosity.
Exploring Stakeholder Service Navigation Needs for Children with Developmental and Mental Health Diagnoses

This article has supplementary material on the web site: www.jdbp. org. Abstract: Objective: Service navigation programs are necessary for children with neurodevelopmental and/or mental health diagnoses to facilitate access to specialized therapies, social services, and community programs, especially those who are socially and economically marginalized. Few studies have included diverse stakeholders in the development and implementation of such programs in resource-limited settings. In this qualitative formative study, we aimed to explore stakeholder experiences after the implementation of a pilot service navigation program in resource-limited settings and identify the perceived elements of an effective service navigator, to develop a revised service navigation program for this patient population. Methods: A novel navigation pilot program was implemented in an urban inner-city setting. Using phenomenology as a methodology, we conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with patient caregivers, pediatricians, allied health staff, clinic administrators, and the patient navigator. Data were analyzed within and across stakeholder groups using thematic analysis and supported by group discussion. Results: Twenty-five stakeholders participated. All stakeholders reported challenges with accessing services before the implementation of the navigation program. Caregivers expressed frustration navigating a fragmented health care system, while providers felt limited by time and knowledge. The navigator's role was described as multifaceted: finding and completing applications for funding and programs, offering emotional support, liaising between physicians and patients, and advocating with schools and agencies. Based on stakeholder input, a revised service navigation model of care is proposed. Conclusion: Caregivers and providers face immense barriers trying to help children with mental health and developmental diagnoses access necessary services and funding. Service navigation programs can be effectively embedded within pediatric clinical teams to improve access to required services for this patient population.
Proximate composition, minerals content and functional properties of cricket (Acheta spp.)

Proximate composition, minerals content and functional properties of field cricket (Acheta spp) were analyzed using standard methods. The result of the proximate content (%) was as follows: crude protein (39.9′0.40), crude fibre (5.2′0.1), carbohydrate by difference (39.9′0.1) and energy (46.7Kcal). The predominant mineral was potassium and zinc was the least. The functional properties (%) ranged as follows: Water absorption capacity (100), oil absorption capacity (205.6), oil emulsion capacity (75), foaming capacity (28), least gelation capacity (10). Foaming stability was low and collapsed after 240 min. Emulsion stability was high. The result suggests that cricket is a good food formulation medium.
Pandemic and Social Work: Exploring Finnish Social Workers’ Experiences through a SWOT Analysis

Abstract This article addresses the experiences of Finnish frontline social workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Two questions are addressed. First, ‘what types of challenges social work professionals faced’ in their everyday, ‘glocal’ pandemic setting and, second, what types of solutions they developed to meet these challenges. The data consist of 33 personal diaries that social work professionals created from mid-March to the end of May 2020. The diaries are analysed by a thematic content analysis and placed within the framework of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis. The results suggest that the pandemic challenged social work at all levels, from face-to-face interactions to its global relations. The pandemic revealed not only the number of existing problems of social work, but also created new types of challenges. It demanded ultimate resilience from social workers and a new type of adaptive governance from social welfare institutions.
Impacts of near‑future ocean warming on microbial community composition of the stomach of the soft‑bottom sea star Luidia clathrata (Say) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

There is growing evidence that environmental changes caused by climate change can impact the microbiome of marine invertebrates. Such changes can have important implications for the overall health of the host. In the present study we investigated the impact of chronic exposure to an ambient (28°C) and a predicted mid- (30°C) and end-of-century (32°C) seawater temperature on microbiome modification in tissues of the cardiac stomach of the abundant predatory sea star Luidia clathrata collected in September 2018 from Apalachee Bay, Florida (29°58’N, 84°19’W) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Diversity (Shannon index) was lowest among the microbial community of stomach tissue when compared to the microbiome of the artificial sea star feed, and aquarium sand and seawater across all three experimental temperature treatments. Moreover, the stomach microbial community composition was distinct between each of the four sample types. Exposure to the highest experimental temperature treatment (32°C) resulted in a significant modification of the composition of the microbial community in stomach and sand samples, but not in seawater samples when compared to those from the current mean ambient GOM temperature (28°C). Importantly, at the most elevated temperature the stomach microbiome shifted from a Vibrio sp. dominated community to a more diverse community with higher proportions of additional taxa including Delftia sp. and Pseudomonas sp. This microbiome shift could impact the digestive functionality and ultimately the health of L. clathrata, a key soft-bottom predator in the northern GOM.