Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of global warming in the reservoir storage drop at Kainji dam in Nigeria

Statistical analysis of hydrometeorological data (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, reservoir inflow, reservoir storage and turbine release) at Kainji dam was done with the aim of detecting trends. The non parametric Man-Kendall test was used to detect monotonic trends. The Sen’s slope estimator and regression analysis were used to develop models for the variables. A Man-Kendall statistic S = 374 and a high Z value of 4.6897 reveals there is evidence of global warming in the areas around the dam. This has produced favourable climate conditions favouring increased rain in the areas surrounding the dam. Excess water has been released from the dam to sustain hydropower generation over the years. This has invariably affected storage at the dam. Recommendation was therefore made to the operators of the dam to optimize the release of water from Kainji dam to ensure ideal operation of the dam. Key words: Global warming, Man-Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, regression analysis.
Analysis of Genomes Changes in Pseudomonas Chlororaphis Subsp. Aurantiaca Strains Producing Phenazines

Genomes of three strains – phenazine producers – Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca (B-162 (wild-type), mutant strain B-162/255 and its derivatives B-162/17) were sequenced and compared. All genome annotations revealed 6347 CDS, 5 rRNA clusters (5S, 16S, 23S) and 59 tRNA genes. Comparison analysis of wild-type strain and B-162/255 mutant strain genomes allowed revealing 32 mutations. 19 new mutations were detected upon comparison of genomes strains B-162/255 and B-162/17. Further bioinformatics analysis allowed predicting mutant proteins` functions and secondary structures of five gene products, mutations in which might potentially have influence on phenazine synthesis and secretion in Pseudomonas bacteria. These genes are phenylalanine hydroxylase transcriptional activator PhhR, type I secretion system ATPase, transcriptional regulator MvaT, GacA response regulator and histidine kinase. Amino acid substitutions were located in domain structures of corresponding proteins.
Effects of Momordica Charantia Silver Nanoparticles on the expressions of Genes Associated With Lipid Metabolism and Nephrotoxicity in Streptozotocin-Induced Rats

Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia have been implicated in diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to complications such as nephropathy. Medicinal plants like Mormodica charantia (MC) have been used in the treatment of DM over the years but little is known about their mechanisms of action. This study used biotechnology tools to investigate and compare the effects of M. charantia silver nanoparticles (MCSNPs) with M. charantia extract on expressions of genes linked with nephrotoxicity, lipid and glucose metabolisms using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The genes investigated include kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), 3hydroxyl, 3-methyl glutaryl_coA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor alpha and gamma (PPARα and PPARγ). Synthesis of MCSNPs was done using 1 mM concentration of aqueous silver nitrate solution at ratio 1:9 (v/v). Experimental rats were induced intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and divided into six groups viz: diabetic control; normal control; silver nitrate (10 mg/kg); MCSNPs (50 mg/kg); Metformin (100 mg/kg) and M. charantia fraction (100 mg/kg). Sacrifice was done after 12 days of treatment and RT-PCR was then used to investigate gene expressions in liver and kidney tissues of the rats. The expression of HMG-CoA reductase gene was significantly upregulated (p<0.05) upon treatment with 50 mg/kg MCSNPs relative to the diabetic untreated group. M. charantia extracts and MCSNPs significantly upregulate (p<0.05) the expressions of PPAR-α and PPAR-γ compared to the diabetic control. Also, a significant (p<0.05) down-regulation of KIM-1 mRNA expression was observed in MCSNPstreated group, relative to the diabetes untreated group. M. charantia silver nanoparticles could be a potent antidiabetic agent due to its potential to modulate genes associated with lipid metabolism and nephrotoxicity.
Blockchain-Based Solutions for UAV-Assisted Connected Vehicle Networks in Smart Cities: A Review, Open Issues, and Future Perspectives

It had been predicted that by 2020, nearly 26 billion devices would be connected to the Internet, with a big percentage being vehicles. The Internet of Vehicles (IoVa) is a concept that refers to the connection and cooperation of smart vehicles and devices in a network through the generation, transmission, and processing of data that aims at improving traffic congestion, travel time, and comfort, all the while reducing pollution and accidents. However, this transmission of sensitive data (e.g., location) needs to occur with defined security properties to safeguard vehicles and their drivers since attackers could use this data. Blockchain is a fairly recent technology that guarantees trust between nodes through cryptography mechanisms and consensus protocols in distributed, untrustful environments, like IoV networks. Much research has been done in implementing the former in the latter to impressive results, as Blockchain can cover and offer solutions to many IoV problems. However, these implementations have to deal with the challenge of IoV node’s resource constraints since they do not suffice for the computational and energy requirements of traditional Blockchain systems, which is one of the biggest limitations of Blockchain implementations in IoV. Finally, these two technologies can be used to build the foundations for smart cities, enabling new application models and better results for end-users.
Computer Audition for Fighting the SARS-CoV-2 Corona Crisis—Introducing the Multitask Speech Corpus for COVID-19

Computer audition (CA) has experienced a fast development in the past decades by leveraging advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques. In particular, for its noninvasive and ubiquitous character by nature, CA-based applications in healthcare have increasingly attracted attention in recent years. During the tough time of the global crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), scientists and engineers in data science have collaborated to think of novel ways in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, tracking, and management of this global pandemic. On the one hand, we have witnessed the power of 5G, Internet of Things, big data, computer vision, and artificial intelligence in applications of epidemiology modeling, drug and/or vaccine finding and designing, fast CT screening, and quarantine management. On the other hand, relevant studies in exploring the capacity of CA are extremely lacking and underestimated. To this end, we propose a novel multitask speech corpus for COVID-19 research usage. We collected 51 confirmed COVID-19 patients’ in-the-wild speech data in Wuhan city, China. We define three main tasks in this corpus, i.e., three-category classification tasks for evaluating the physical and/or mental status of patients, i.e., sleep quality, fatigue, and anxiety. The benchmarks are given by using both classic machine learning methods and state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. We believe this study and corpus cannot only facilitate the ongoing research on using data science to fight against COVID-19, but also the monitoring of contagious diseases for general purpose.
Dietary Modified Cassava Chip and Corn Seed: Effect on Growth Performance, Rumen Production, and Blood glucose and Insulin in Early Fattening Beef Bulls

Effects of feeding modified cassava chip and corn seed as energy source inclusion in diet were investigated on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and blood metabolites in early fattening bulls. Thirty-six 1-year-old Charolais crossbred bulls with initial weight 270 ± 50 kg were randomly assigned into 6 groups with different experimental rations as cassava-based concentrates including non-modified cassava chip (Cass-Con), with 15 % of alkaline-treated cassava chip (Cass-Alkaline), with 15 % of steam-treated cassava chip (Cass-Steam) and corn-based concentrates including non-modified corn seed (Corn-Con), with 15 % of alkaline-treated corn seed (Corn-Alkaline), and with 15 % of steam-treated corn seed (Corn-Steam), according to completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that feed intake and digestibility were not significantly different among treatments, while digestible dry matter and organic matter intake of Cass-Steam and Corn-Alkaline were higher than those of the other diets (P < 0.05). Ruminal pH post-feeding was highest in Corn-Alkaline and lowest in Cass-Con (P < 0.05). Blood glucose was similar among treatments. However, blood insulin at 4 h post-feeding was higher in Cass-Steam, Corn-Alkaline, and Corn-Steam than in the others. Blood insulin in bulls fed corn-based concentrate was higher than in bulls fed cassava-based concentrate (P < 0.01). Body weight gain and average daily gain were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while feed conversion ratio was lower in Cass-Steam, Corn-Alkaline, and Corn-Steam as compared with in Cass-Con, Cass-Alkaline and Corn-Con. Results indicated that using a modified energy source can improve growth performance in early fattening beef bulls. An appropriate method to modify cassava chip was steam method, while alkaline method for corn seed was superior.
Enhanced hydrogen production by mevastatin in microbial electrolysis cells

Mevastatin is one of the common pharmaceuticals found in wastewaters, and its biodegradation is still an environmental problem due to its recalcitrant properties. Although various biological, chemical and physical methods have been investigated for the removal of mevastin, microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have not been examined, yet. MECs are new generation biotechnological tools used in hydrogen energy production. In this study, the effects of mevastatin on hydrogen production in MECs were investigated for the first time. MECs produced hydrogen gas in the presence of mevastatin, and an increase in hydrogen production was observed. Over 90% of the mevastatin were removed in MECs. These results also showed that the fermentation process associated with carbon dioxide production can favor hydrogen production with mevastatin. In conclusion, the efficiency of hydrogen production in microbial cells can be increased by the use of wastewaters contaminated with mevastatin.
Effect of ruminal mechanical stimulating brushes on the performance of lactating Holstein dairy cows

The aim of this study was to confirm the hypothesis that artificial brushes administered to the rumen can partially replace the function of structural fibre, and increase milk production or quality. To mitigate the risks of feeding low levels of physically effective neutral detergent fibre (peNDF) to cattle, the administration of ruminal mechanical stimulating (RMS) brushes was examined in 22 high-yielding lactating Holstein dairy cows. The cows were divided into an experimental group equipped with RMS brushes and a control group without RMS. Cows were fed four experimental total mixed rations (TMR) consisting of fixed amounts of alfalfa silage, maize silage, rush corn cob mix silage and different proportions of brewer’s grains, concentrate and wheat straw. The TMRs had the following 4 peNDF contents: 10.9 %, 13.0 %, 12.6 % and 14.0 %. The duration of the experiment was 18 weeks. All cows were fed TMRs with a low structural fibre content near levels associated with a risk of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). For the RMS brush group, 3 RMS brushes were inserted orally into the rumen using a special applicator. The effects of RMS brushes on feed intake, rumen fermentation and milk production were evaluated. Ruminal fluid (250 mL) was taken using a stomach tube for pH, volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen analysis. A significant increase was found for the feed intake and milk yield of the RMS group fed the TMRs with 13.0 % peNDF although no relationship between peNDF content and RMS TMRs was found. No significant increase in milk quality, rumen pH or rumen fermentation metabolites was declared for the group with RMS brushes. Although RMS brush technology only partially reduced the requirements for peNDF, it may decrease the risk of SARA.
Effect of yeast culture feed supply on growth, ruminal pH, and digestibility of fattening calves

Abstract This study was carried out to predict the effects of yeast culture on growth, intake, and digestibility in vitro of calves for fattening. The trial involved 16 fattening calves divided into two homogeneous groups (n = 8), based on the initial body weight (414 ± 25.1 kg and 416 ± 24.4 kg) (p = .96) for the control group (C) and the experimental group (Y). The ration is wheat straw and concentrate. Group Y additionally receives a quantity of 10 g/calf/day of yeast culture. The quantity of feed was 5 kg DM/calf/day of wheat straw and 8kg DM/calf/day of concentrate. This trial lasted 112 days. We measure the weights every two weeks with a cattle scale and also the rejected quantities of wheat straw at each measure. A significant increase (p < .01) in total average daily gain (adgT) during the trial was observed at 200g/calf. In addition, an increase (p < .01) in the final weight gain (FWG) was observed at 19 kg/calf for group Y compared with group C. Intake does not vary with the yeast culture. The feed conversion rate (FCR) was lower for group Y compared with group C (7.8 ± 0.2 versus 9.6 ± 0.5, p < .01). We observed a notable increase in ruminal pH for group Y compared with group C.
Residency training in family medicine and its impact on coordination and continuity of care: an analysis of referrals to secondary care in Rio de Janeiro

Objective To measure the effect that residency training in family medicine (RTFM) has on continuity and coordination of care. Design Observational cohort study using electronic health records. Setting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, public primary care system. Participants 504 940 patients, 633 generalists (physicians without RTFM) and 204 family physicians (FP—doctors with 2 years of RTFM) from one health district between January 2015 and December 2018. Intervention Two years of RTFM. Main outcome measures Relative risks of patients being referred to secondary care for outpatient consultations and diagnostics tests; and having a follow-up medical consultation in primary care within 3 and 6 months after being referred. Results We examined 2 414 508 medical consultations and 284 754 referrals to secondary care. FPs were less likely to request ambulatory care services (including surgical specialties), but were more likely to request ophthalmology, physiotherapy, rehabilitationand surgical evaluations for their patients. Patients referred to secondary care by FPs were more likely to have a follow-up visit in primary care for almost every service requested. If all medical consultations were performed by FPs, a 37.6% (95% CI 32.4% to 42.4%) increased demand for rehabilitation services would be noticed. Oppositely, 1532 (95% CI 1458 to 1602) fewer requests for dermatology would happen every year. Conclusions RTFM improves coordination and continuity of care by making FPs more competent to retain those health conditions that can be properly managed in primary care and making FPs more competent to detect health conditions that require specific biomedical technologies and skills, increasing the demand for those services. Besides, it increases the chances of patients having follow-up visits in primary care. Policy-makers in low-income and middle-income countries must consider investing in RTFM to make primary care systems more comprehensive, with better coordination and continuity of care.
Changes in Energy Consumption in Agriculture in the EU Countries

The paper’s main purpose was to identify and present the current situation and changes in energy consumption in agriculture in the European Union (EU) countries. The specific objectives were the determination of the degree of concentration of energy consumption in agriculture in the EU countries, showing the directions of their changes, types of energy used, and changes in this respect, establishing the correlation between energy consumption and changes in the economic and agricultural situation in the EU countries. All member states of the European Union were deliberately selected for research on 31 December 2018 (28 countries). The research period covered the years 2005–2018. The sources of materials were the literature on the subject, and data from Eurostat. Descriptive, tabular, and graphical methods were used to analyze and present materials, dynamics indicators with a stable base, Gini concentration coefficient, concentration analysis using the Lorenz curve, coefficient of variation, Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. A high concentration of energy consumption in agriculture was found in several EU countries, the largest in countries with the largest agricultural sector, i.e., France and Poland. There were practically no changes in the concentration level. Only in the case of renewable energy, a gradual decrease in concentration was visible. More and more countries developed technologies that allow the use of this type of energy. However, the EU countries differed in terms of the structure of the energy sources used. The majority of the basis was liquid fuels, while stable and gaseous fuels were abandoned in favor of electricity and renewable sources—according to which, in the EU countries, the research hypothesis was confirmed: a gradual diversification of energy sources used in agriculture, with a systematic increase in the importance of renewable energy sources. The second research hypothesis was also confirmed, according to which the increase in the consumption of renewable energy in agriculture is closely related to the economy’s parameters. The use of renewable energy is necessary and results from concern for the natural environment. Therefore, economic factors may have a smaller impact.
Long-run and short-run responses of agricultural sector growth to its determinants in Nigeria

The study examined the long-run and short-run responses of agricultural sector growth to its determinants in Nigeria using time series data (1981-2015). Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (DOLS) method was employed in the analysis of the data. Jarque-Bera Normality Test, Breusch-Godfrey serial correlation LM test, Engle Granger 2-Step Test for Co-Integration and CUSUM of Squares Test were used to test for normality, serial correlation and structural dynamic stability of the data. The trend of agricultural sector growth revealed that sustained growth of the sector has been experienced since 2001 up till 2015. The results revealed that agricultural sector growth was positively and significantly influenced by capital expenditure in the sector, which was proxy by Total Government Agricultural Expenditure (TGAE), in the long-run; while in the short-run, the sector growth was positively and significantly influenced by labour employment. It is therefore recommended that for sustained agricultural sector growth and development in the country, increased capital expenditure in the sector should be pursued with sustained vigour. Since agriculture sector shows immediate and significant response to employment, it should be made attractive to youth employment by provision of incentive. This would ensure dual gain of tackling unemployment problem in the country and ensure agricultural sector growth.
Forecast Skill of the NAO in the Subseasonal to-Seasonal Prediction Models

The prediction skill of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in boreal winter is assessed in the operational models of the WCRP/WWRP Subseasonal-to-Seasonal (S2S) prediction project. Model performance in representing the contribution of different processes to the NAO forecast skill is evaluated. The S2S models with relatively higher stratospheric vertical resolutions (high-top models) are in general more skillful in predicting the NAO than those models with relatively lower stratospheric resolutions (low-top models). Comparison of skill is made between different groups of forecasts based on initial condition characteristics: phase and amplitude of the NAO, easterly and westerly phases of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), warm and cold phases of ENSO, and phase and amplitude of the Madden-Julia Oscillation (MJO). The forecasts with a strong NAO in the initial condition are more skillful than with a weak NAO. Those with negative NAO tend to have more skillful predictions than positive NAO. Comparisons of NAO skill between forecasts during easterly and westerly QBO and between warm and cold ENSO show no consistent difference for the S2S models. Forecasts with strong initial MJO tend to be more skillful in the NAO prediction than weak MJO. Among the eight phases of MJO in the initial condition, phases 3-4 and phase 7 have better NAO forecast skills compared with the other phases.The results of this study have implications for improving our understanding of sources of predictability of the NAO. The situation dependence of the NAO prediction skill is likely useful in identifying “ windows of opportunity” for subseasonal to seasonal predictions.
The Case for Tectonic Control on Erosional Exhumation on the Tropical Northern Andes Based on Thermochronology Data

The tropical Northern Andes constitutes a great area to explore the interaction of tectonics and climate on the evolution of orogenic topography, as they are tectonically active, have steep gradients in relief and precipitation, and were less affected by Quaternary glaciations than high‐latitude mountains. This study combines new and published thermochronology along ∼500 km of the Eastern Cordillera in Colombia to explore what controls the rates of Miocene and Pliocene exhumation, including: (1) variations in late Cenozoic paleoclimate, (2) orographic precipitation or (3) variation in rock uplift associated with structural heterogeneities along the eastern flank of the range. New thermochronology data consists of 27 apatite and seven zircon (U‐Th)/He ages and five apatite fission track ages. Thermal history models show that rock cooling as a result of erosional exhumation has occurred everywhere in the Eastern Cordillera since at least the Miocene at spatially and temporally variable rates. Exhumation rates vary by an order of magnitude between various fault‐bounded blocks and there is no evidence for a spatially uniform increase in exhumation rates during the past ∼4–5 Ma that would indicate uniform climatic driven exhumation. The west (dry) to east (wet) gradient in precipitation rates across the Garzon Massif is not a major factor controlling the exhumation rates, as the exhumation rates are highest on the western drier flank. The greatest rates of exhumation of the Eastern Cordillera occur in the blocks associated with vigorous Cenozoic reactivation of inherited faults that had focused extension during Early Cretaceous rifting.
The environmental effects of coal-related activities

ABSTRACT The increase in population and industrial development leads to more consumption of coal. However, serious health effects and environmental problems are caused by coal. It releases toxic chemicals which are dangerous if released into the environment. Coal has indicated the capacity to meet such difficulties in the past and the view is that it will successfully meet future environmental difficulties. This study aims to relate the use of coal to the environmental concern that affects the society.