Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DNA barcoding of sea turtles (Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae) and its protocol using different tissues quality: implication to conservation managers

Conservation effort of sea turtles faces several challenges, e.g. habitat destruction, eggs and turtle meat consumptions, or production of souvenirs (e.g. turtle bodies). In their duties, conservation officers may find sea turtles in different condition (e.g. body fragments, eggs, pieces of meat, etc.), usually it is difficult to identify due to incomplete morphology. Therefore, the use of DNA barcoding becomes an alternative for for identification at species level, contribute taxonomic and biodiversity research. This study was conducted to develop a protocol suitable for identifying sea turtles from different tissue samples conditions using DNA barcoding. A total of 16 tissue samples in different condition (fresh, dead-body, smoked-meat) were collected. A protocol was developed to enable identification of tissue samples of different quality or condition. A 719 bp control region fragment was analyzed. The high percentage similarity was confirmed in GenBank CO1 sequence with 99%-100%. Four sea turtle species were identified among the samples, i.e. Chelonia mydas (4 samples), Lepidochelys olivacea (9 samples), Eretmochelys imbricata (2 samples) and Dermochelys coriacea (1 samples). This study was successfully amplified by using DNA target of control region and therefore, will be beneficial for conservation management of sea turtles in Indonesia.
Clinical evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of a topical medical device containing benzoylperoxide 4%, retinol 0.5%, mandelic acid 1% and lactobionic acid 1% in the treatment of mild facial acne: an open label pilot study

Background: Acne is a debilitating disorder that requires proper treatment depending on the clinical manifestations and pathogenetic factors, among which hyper-keratinization, seborrhea and bacterial proliferation. Combining active ingredients targeting the different mediators of acne pathogenesis may yield optimal outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, safety and tolerability of a new topical medical device in cream containing benzoylperoxide 4%, pure retinol 0.05%, palmitate retinol 0.5%, mandelic acid 1% and glycyrrhetic acid on patients with mild acne. Patients and methods: Twenty consecutive patients of both sexes with mild acne were included in the study. The topical treatment was self-applied twice a day for 12 weeks. Evaluations included: Global Acne Grading System (GAGS); inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions count; reflectance confocal microscopy; seborrhea and hydration degree; photographic documentation; a questionnaire to assess tolerability. Results: The GAGS score showed a 39% reduction from T0 to T1 and 69.20% from T0 to T2. The count of comedonic lesions showed a 44% reduction from T0 to T1 and 65% from T0 to T2. The count of papular lesions diminished by 49.4% from T0 to T1 and by 62% from T0 to T2. The count of pustular lesions decreased by 43% from T0 to T1 and by 80% from T0 to T2. Improvement of hydration and a decrease of seborrhea degree were even observed. These clinical results were confirmed by reflectance confocal microscopy exam. Conclusion: The topical medical device has shown to be clinically effective and well tolerated for the treatment of mild acne. Side effects were mild, transient and well tolerated. The results of our study demonstrated a high tolerability of this new combination of benzoylperoxide 4% and retinol. Furthermore, our results suggested that the studied compound could be considered as a “maintenance treatment” after specific pharmacological treatment, even in more severe types of acne.
Evaluating the disinfection efficacy of low-pressure ultraviolet irradiation on river water

Irrigation water has been identified as one way by which fresh produce can become contaminated with pathogens. This is a concern in South Africa, where some rivers used for the irrigation of fresh produce often carry pathogens. In this regard, treating river water prior to irrigation is important to reduce the possible risk of foodborne disease outbreaks associated with the consumption of contaminated produce. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can be used to decontaminate water and has been shown to be effective against waterborne pathogens. Knowledge gaps, however, still exist regarding the minimum effective UV dose required to effectively inactivate different waterborne pathogens. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the disinfection efficacy of low-pressure (LP) UV on river water. Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains including three Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains were exposed to five different UV doses (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mJ.cm) in sterile Ringer’s solution. Variation in UV sensitivity among strains was observed at all doses. Log reductions ranged between 3.6 4.4 log for the lowest dose (20 mJ.cm ). Environmental strains were more UV resistant than the ATCC strain. Based on these results, the influence of water quality on UV irradiation efficacy was investigated by inoculating a resistant environmental STEC strain (STEC 210) into both autoclaved river water and Ringer’s solution. Results showed that water quality parameters did not negatively influence UV disinfection efficacy provided the same dose was applied. The disinfection efficacy of UV (40 and 60 mJ.cm) irradiation was then investigated against river water (Eerste, Krom and Plankenburg rivers). The Eerste River showed E. coli levels falling below the recommended irrigation guideline limit. The Krom River also showed low E. coli levels, but a once-off STEC detection, as well as the consistent occurrence of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae was observed. The Plankenburg River showed the highest E. coli levels and consistent detection of STEC and ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae. UV irradiation of the Eerste and Krom rivers resulted in undetectable levels of Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms and E. coli. A targeted three log reduction was achieved following disinfection of the Plankenburg River water at both UV doses. This resulted in water within acceptable irrigation standards. A dose of 40 mJ.cm was, however, ineffective against STEC. Repair of all indicator populations was observed and was less than 1% at both UV doses (40 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and a wild strain in different sewage sludge matrices: evaluation of culturability and viability and determination of potential virulence in a mice bioassay

La survie de deux souches de L. monocytogenes, incluant la souche Scott A et une souche sauvage virulente isolee de boues d'epuration urbaines a ete etudiee dans trois matrices boues. Ces trois matrices correspondaient a des boues brutes non steriles, a des boues autoclavees et a un microcosme liquide obtenu a partir de boues. En presence de la flore competitrice naturelle, le nombre de L. monocytogenes cultivables a atteint un niveau non detectable en 14 jours quel que soit le niveau initial de l'inoculum. Dans les boues autoclavees et artificiellement contaminees a des concentrations de 105 et 10 7 ufc mL - 1 , les concentrations en L. monocytogenes atteignaient respectivement 10 5 a 10 2 ufc mL - 1 en 14 jours. L'hypothese de l'entree de L. monocytogenes a l'etat Viable Non Cultivable (VNC) a ete testee dans le microcosme liquide durant 6 mois. D'apres les denombrements sur boites, la population de L. monocytogenes a chute plus rapidement dans le microcosme liquide que dans les boues autoclavees atteignant ca. 10 2 ufc mL - 1 . La comparaison des denombrements sur boites et des resultats obtenus par la technique Direct Viable Count (DVC) et la double coloration CTC-DAPI suggerent que L. monocytogenes n'entre pas a l'etat l'etat Viable Non Cultivable dans le microcosme liquide. Apres 154 jours de sejour dans les boues, les deux souches sont demeuree virulentes et la souches LSEA 00.16 apparaissait plus virulente que la souche Scott A d'apres les resultats des tests de virulence sur souris.
Spatial Design of Childcare Facilities Based on Biophilic Design Patterns

This study covers the issue of insufficient childcare support, which is part of the combined social problem of low birth rates and aging, and sets the direction for the environmental improvement of childcare facilities. This study aims to find the clues to creating an optimized environment for children in nature, which is a key factor that generally promotes children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. In this paper, we conducted a literature review and case study to determine the spatial design characteristics of childcare facilities based on a biophilic design and survey. This study reached five conclusions. Firstly, childcare facilities need a spatial design to have a view of the natural ecosystem outside to increase children’s concentration and provide a pleasant environment. Secondly, there is a need for open space that makes observation and monitoring more convenient in the different spaces of childcare facilities. Thirdly, childcare facilities need a spatial design where children can enjoy various sensory experiences related to nature. Fourthly, childcare facilities must have an interesting and familiar spatial design using natural elements. Lastly, there must be hiding places considering the children’s stage of development and learning ability. The results will be used as the baseline data for the spatial design and planning of childcare facilities based on biophilic design.
The Uncertainty of Academic Rent and Income Inequality: The OECD Panel Evidence

Abstract: The article presents an alternative view on the education—income inequality relationship, which calls into question the neoclassical claim that education increases labor productivity and hence contributes to a higher output, wage and consequently more even income distribution. In the context of public policies, education needs to be seen not only as a factor of income mobility, but also as a “positional good,” which benefits graduates at the expense of non-graduates. Education generates “academic rent,” by which we mean uneven remuneration of workers based on academic signs of distinctions that do not necessarily reflect differences in productivity. Using the robust panel model on a sample of OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development) countries from 1980 to 2015, we show that investments in human capital lead to lower inequality, but overinvestments tends to increase income inequality, which may be related to academic rent. In discussing this result, we consider that uncertainty of academic rent under the condition of a rapid transformation of the workplace caused by the fourth industrial revolution.
Uncooled doped-Si thermopiles for thermal land imaging applications

Sustained and enhanced land imaging is crucial for providing high-quality science data on change in land use, forest health, environment, and climate. Future thermal land imaging instruments operating in the 10-12 micron band will provide essential information for furthering our hydrologic understanding at scales of human influence, and producing field-scale moisture information through accurate retrievals of evapotranspiration (ET). To address the need for cost-effective future thermal land imaging missions we are developing novel uncooled doped-silicon thermopile detectors, an extension of a detector design concept originally developed at NASA-Goddard for planetary science applications. These doped-Si thermopile detectors have the potential to offer superior performance in terms of sensitivity, speed, and customization, when compared to current commercial-off-the-shelf uncooled detector technologies. Because cryocooler technology does not need to be fielded on the instrument, these and other uncooled detectors offer the benefit of greatly reduced instrument cost, mass, and power at the expense of some acceptable loss in detector sensitivity. We present the motivation for an uncooled thermal imaging instrument, our doped-Si thermopile detector concept, and performance expectations and comparisons. We also provide an update on the current status of this detector technology development.
Forma za Telfor

In the paper we apply progressive wavelet correlation using Fourier methods to locate objects in a JPEG image. The image is searched step by step. The searching consists of three incremental steps, each of which quadruples the number of correlation points. The process can be halted at any stage if the intermediate results indicate that the correlation will not result in a match. LOCATION OF OBJECTS IN A JPEG IMAGE WITH PROGRESSIVE WAVELET CORRELATION USING FOURIER METHODS, Igor Stojanovic, Momcilo Bogdanov.
Triage in Kidney Exchange

This paper studies a kidney exchange problem in which a planner sorts patients into "priority groups" based on, e.g., the severity of their conditions. The planner may choose to allow cyclic exchanges, chains, altruistically unbalanced exchanges and desensitization. It presents a computational method for finding a new class of matchings that give priority to patients in higher priority groups, called "priority group matchings". These matchings are always Pareto efficient no matter how patients are sorted into priority groups or how the kidney exchange program is designed by the planner. Priority group matchings generalize several classes of matchings, where different classes correspond to different ways of prioritizing patients. This includes maximum matchings and (half-compatibility) priority matchings.
A scale-up evaluation of a semicontinuous culture of Scenedesmus sp. in a raceway under greenhouse conditions using a commercial fertilizer as culture medium

Abstract In the present work, Scenedesmus sp. was grown under a semicontinuous regime in fertilizer (Bayfolan® Forte, 1 mL L−1) medium, and Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) as control, in raceways of 200 and 2000 L under greenhouse conditions. The biomass, lipid, protein, carbohydrate and total pigment production was determined. The culture under the semicontinuous regime allowed an increase in the productivities in each consecutive cycle, reaching a lipid productivity of 20.00 ± 6.29 mg L−1 d−1 in Bayfolan medium. The biomass productivity in the medium supplemented with fertilizer was significantly higher than in the BBM. The protein productivity was significantly higher in Bayfolan (1.93 ± 0.28 L−1 d−1). The average carbohydrate productivity of the cycles was 10.10 ± 2.01 mg L−1 d−1. The fertilizer allowed an increase of up to 3-fold in total pigment productivity compared to the BBM. The fatty acids obtained were mainly composed of C16:0, C18:3n3 (α-linolenic) and C18:0. Palmitic acid (C16:0) was the main fatty acids methyl ester accumulated along with stearic (C18:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids. It was shown that the utilization of the liquid fertilizer Bayfolan is a potential alternative to replace conventional media.
Reading Strategies, Reading Comprehension, and Translation

Abstract Translators and language teachers are cultural and intercultural mediators, facilitators of intercultural transfers and border crossings between cultures. The abilities to understand, interpret, and produce written texts appropriately play an essential role in these professions. In the process of translation, source-language texts have to be understood and translated using the most appropriate target-language equivalents. Reading skills and awareness of reading strategies are equally essential for language teachers, who are expected to guide language learners in developing these skills. In this study, we intend to examine the reading habits and reading strategies used by a group of Hungarian translator and teacher trainees when dealing with texts written in English. Their reading comprehension performance will be assessed with a test and compared with their ability to translate English texts into Hungarian. Based on the literature and our personal experience in language teaching, teacher training, and translator training, we assume that students preparing for the above mentioned professions have a well-developed reading strategy awareness and that their reading comprehension skills in English strongly influence the ability to translate texts into their native language.
Commentary on “A critical reflection on the development of the Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC)”

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the wider impact of participatory research (PR) on the autistic academic, families and caregivers, and the researcher. Design/methodology/approach This commentary considers participatory methods from the perspective of an autistic female with experience on both sides of PR. Findings The positive aspects of PR outweigh the potential challenges faced, both by the researchers and the participants. Participatory methods are likely to increase the attractiveness of the research to participants. Originality/value Further research is required to explore both the impact PARC’s work has on the autistic academic in the long term, and whether it can yield similar results in alternative areas. In addition to this, consideration needs to be given as to whether the methodologies developed can be used to support a wider range of disabled individuals who are not currently able to access higher education.
Risk Management and Portfolio Optimization Comparing Gas and Coal-fired Power Plants

This study is oriented to the risk management in the German power market and specifically focused on examining the conventional thermal power generation. The recent energy market reforms which were taken place in Germany by subsidizing and prioritizing the electricity produced from RES eroded a significant portion of coal – fired and NG – fired power plants. The rise of RES has undermined the competitiveness of traditional power generation. This fact broke to the forefront the necessity for mitigating the risk exposure in order to confront the sluggish demand and handle this acute for the power plant owners situation. The main principle is to assess and choose the optimum forward contract for hedging at the same time the power output and the fuel purchase. This is conducted by evaluating the hedging effectiveness of the available futures contracts retrieved from EEX. The calculation of hedging performance is based on the results of a multivariate GARCH model (BEKK model). Moreover, in the framework of portfolio optimization we construct the efficient frontier, so as to identify the point at which the combination of spot and forward prices gives the maximum reduction of risk exposure. Finally, we proceed with a VaR estimation for both spot and futures prices in order to compare them through risk quantification. Moving up to the next section of the study, we simulate the CSS and CDS in order to forecast the price trajectories for the following month.
Optimal Sensor Selection for Health Monitoring Systems

Abstract Sensor data are the basis for performance and health assessment of most complex systems. Careful selection and implementation of sensors is critical to enable high fidelity system health assessment. A model-based procedure that systematically selects an optimal sensor suite for overall health assessment of a designated host system is described. This procedure, termed the Systematic Sensor Selection Strategy (S4), was developed at NASA John H. Glenn Research Center in order to enhance design phase planning and preparations for in-space propulsion health management systems (HMS). Information and capabilities required to utilize the S4 approach in support of design phase development of robust health diagnostics are outlined. A merit metric that quantifies diagnostic performance and overall risk reduction potential of individual sensor suites is introduced. The conceptual foundation for this merit metric is presented and the algorithmic organization of the S4 optimization process is described. Representative results from S4 analyses of a boost stage rocket engine previously under development as part of NASA’s Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) program are presented.
Hybrid job offer recommender system in a social network

Recommender systems (RSs) play a very important role in web navigation, ensuring that the users easily find the information they are looking for. Today's social networks contain a large amount of information and it is necessary that they employ a mechanism that will guide users to the information they are interested in. However, to be able to recommend content according to user preferences, it is necessary to analyse their profiles and determine their preferences. The present work proposes a job offer RS for a career‐oriented social network. The recommendation system is a hybrid, it consists of a case‐based reasoning (CBR) system and an argumentation framework, based on a multi‐agent system (MAS) architecture. The CBR system uses a series of metrics and similar cases to decide whether a job offer is likely to be recommended to a user. Besides, the argumentation framework extends the system with an argumentation CBR, through which old and similar cases can be obtained from the CBR system. Finally, a discussion process is established amongst the agents who debate using their experience from past cases to take a final decision.
Deforestation impact on ecosystem services in Kamfinsa sub-catchment of Kafue River Basin in Zambia

Forests are important in the lives of local communities as they provide poles for construction, wood fuel for cooking, help reduce soil erosion and provide various foods and medicines due to biodiversity. Most local communities depend on forests in supplementing their livelihoods. At the moment, forests are being lost and it is important to understand the impacts of the lost. Therefore, the objective of the study was to provide a holistic evaluation of the impacts of deforestation on ecosystem services in Kamfinsa sub-catchment of Kitwe in Zambia. Loss of forest biomass, biodiversity, and soil erosion were key proxy variables for loss of ecosystem services. Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote sensing techniques were used to assess the impacts on the ecosystem. The results showed that deforestation reached 576.3 ha per year during the period studied. The forest loss corresponds to an emission of 43.73 ton of carbon per hectare from above and below ground biomass valued at US$243.60 per hectare. According to this research soil erosion risk assessment, 1.59 ton of soil was lost per hectare per year, equivalent to US$ 57.20 loss per hectare. The indigenous forest cover reduced from 13,430.5 ha (1990) to 2,904.7 ha (2010), with a corresponding change in NDVI index for loss of forest vigor and biodiversity of 0.56 and 0.32, respectively. The major forest loss occurred from indigenous forests. The study has shown that deforestation in Kamfinsa sub-catchment area calls for the urgent promotion of an integrated and comprehensive approach to addressing the drivers of deforestation to ensure continued supply of ecosystem services. Key words: Carbon budget, carbon dioxide, emission, forestry, land degradation, natural resource management, remote sensing, water-shade.