Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A California Without Rodenticides: Challenges for Commensal Rodent Management in the Future

Author(s): Quinn, Niamh; Kenmuir, Sylvia; Krueger, Laura | Abstract: Rodenticides are an essential tool in the integrated pest management (IPM) of infestations of commensal rodents. With the introduction of Assembly Bill 2422 California Natural Predator Protection Act, the State of California is potentially facing a future with serious restrictions on the use of anticoagulant rodenticides to manage commensal rodents in urban areas. Assembly Bill 2422 has been proposed to protect predators from rodenticide poisoning and seeks to significantly restrict the application of first and second generation anticoagulant rodenticides for use in many urban and no-urban areas of California. Exclusion and cultural practices, such as landscape management and sanitation, are important and successful tools for managing rodent populations. However, quick and efficient control of commensal rodent infestations often necessitates the use of rodenticides. While rodenticide is an important tool, exposure of wildlife to anticoagulant rodenticides has been evident for many years in the state of California. When rodents are consumed by predators, second generation anticoagulant rodenticides can be detected as residues in the livers of predators. Many species of animals are documented as having succumbed to rodenticide toxicosis, however the effects of chronic, sub-lethal exposure to predators are not well understood. This paper will discuss the current and proposed changes to rodenticide legislation in California, impacts of the legislation on communities across California, and gaps in research preventing the adoption of evidence-based best management strategies for rodent control. In order to improve the success of commensal rodent control programs in California, effective strategies for rodent management must be developed.
THE COMBINED USE OF LONG-TERM MULTI-SENSOR INSAR ANALYSIS AND FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION TO PREDICT LAND SUBSIDENCE

Abstract. Land subsidence in Tehran Plain, Iran, for the period of 2003–2017 was measured using an InSAR time series investigation of surface displacements. In the presented study, land subsidence in the southwest of Tehran is characterized using InSAR data and numerical modelling, and the trend is predicted through future years. Over extraction of groundwater is the most common reason for the land subsidence which may cause devastating consequences for structures and infrastructures such as demolition of agricultural lands, damage from a differential settlement, flooding, or ground fractures. The environmental and economic impacts of land subsidence emphasize the importance of modelling and prediction of the trend of it in order to conduct crisis management plans to prevent its deleterious effects. In this study, land subsidence caused by the withdrawal of groundwater is modelled using finite element method software Plaxis 2D. Then, the model was verified using InSAR data. The results were in good agreement with the measurement results. The calibrated model was used to predict the land subsidence in future years. It could predict future subsidence for any assumed rate of water depletion.
Salinity-depending carbon and nitrogen uptake of two intertidal foraminifera (Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica)

Abstract. Benthic foraminifera are abundant marine protists which play an important role in the transfer of energy in the form of organic matter and nutrients to higher trophic levels. Due to their aquatic lifestyle, factors such as water temperature, salinity and pH are key drivers controlling biomass turnover through foraminifera. In this study the influence of salinity on the feeding activity of foraminifera was tested. Two species, Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica, were collected from a mudflat in northern Germany (Friedrichskoog) and cultured in the laboratory at 20 °C and a light/dark cycle of 16:8 h. A lyophilized algal powder from Dunaliella tertiolecta, which was isotopically enriched with 13C and 15N, was used as a food source. The feeding experiments were carried out at salinity levels of 11, 24 and 37 practical salinity units (PSU) and were terminated after 1, 5 and 14 days. The quantification of isotope incorporation was carried out by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Ammonia tepida exhibited a 10-fold higher food uptake compared to H. germanica. Furthermore, in A. tepida the food uptake increased with increasing salinity but not in H. germanica. Over time (from 1–5 d to 14 d) food C retention increased relative to food N in A. tepida while the opposite was observed for H. germanica. This shows, that if the salinity in the German Wadden Sea increases, A. tepida is predicted to exhibit a higher C and N uptake and turnover than H. germanica, with accompanying changes in C and N cycling through the foraminiferal community. The results of this study show how complex and differently food C and N processing of foraminiferal species respond to time and to environmental conditions such as salinity.
Baseline Serum sLOX-1 Concentrations Are Associated with 2-Year Major Adverse Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events in Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background Soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) may be a potential biomarker of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. Objective We aimed to investigate the association and prognostic value of elevated sLOX-1 concentrations with regard to long-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in patients with CAD undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods A total of 1011 patients were enrolled. Serum sLOX-1 concentrations were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients were followed for 2 years. Multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival curve were explored to assess the association between sLOX-1 and MACCEs. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of sLOX-1. Results Two-year MACCEs were associated with serum sLOX-1 concentrations (HR 1.278, 95% CI 1.019-1.604, P = 0.034), left main disease (HR 2.938, 95% CI 1.246-6.925, P = 0.014), small-caliber stents used (HR 2.207, 95% CI 1.189-4.095, P = 0.012), and total stent length (HR 1.057, 95% CI 1.005-1.112, P = 0.030). Serum sLOX-1 concentration ≥ 1.10 ng/ml had maximum sensitivity and specificity in predicting the occurrence of 2-year MACCEs (P < 0.001). Patients with higher serum sLOX-1 concentrations showed a significantly higher incidence of MACCEs in the Kaplan-Meier curve (P < 0.001). The combination of any of the risk factors identified in multiple Cox regression was associated with a stepwise increase in MACCE rate (P < 0.001). Conclusions High baseline serum sLOX-1 concentration predicts 2-year MACCEs and shows an additional prognostic value to conventional risk factors in patients after primary PCI. sLOX-1 determination might play a complementary role in the risk stratification of patients with CAD treated with PCI.
Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Icacinia manni Tuber on the Reproductive Parameters of Male Rats

The shift from the current energy sources in foods and feeds to a more available and affordable sources have been observed in recent times. This is in an attempt to balance food availability and utilization in the increasing population. A search for an appropriate and a less expensive energy source in poultry feeds has driven poultry farmers to research on Icacinia manni. This plant is widely available mostly in the tropical rain forest in Africa as a wild shrub with large underground tubers of high carbohydrate content. This study was carried out on male rats with Icacinia manni tuber, a product that has been observed to supplement other energy sources in foods and feeds. This research work examined the effects of crude ethanolic extract of Icacinia manni tuber on Sex hormonal levels, Seminalysis and Testicular histology of albino Wistar rats. A total of 40 rats divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of ten rats each were used for this study. The Icaciania manni tuber was extracted using ethanol. The median lethal dose (LD50) of 894.43 mg/kg of the extract was estimated using albino Wistar mice by intra peritoneal (Ip) route using the method of Larke (1983). Group A served as the control and was treated with distilled water at 5ml/kg. Group B, C and D were the experimental (treated) groups gavaged with 1/10, 2/10 and 3/10 of LD50 respectively for 28 days. On the 28th day, the animals were anaesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed. Blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, centrifuged and serum obtained for hormonal assay. Abdominal dissection was extended to recover the testis for histology and epididymis for seminalysis. The result revealed a highly significant (p>0.05) decrease in testosterone and progesterone levels in group D compared with the control. Apart from estradiol level which was not statistically affected, other hormone levels were increased (p>0.05) in group D compared with the control group. The decrease in sperm concentration was also observed in the treated groups when compared with the control group. The sperm morphology showed severe damage on sperm especially at the neck and head region in the treated group compared to control group. Sperm motility was significantly reduced in the treated groups compared to control group. Histologically, damages to most part of the testis were observed in the treated groups compared to control group. This study finally projects that Icacinia manni tuber has deteriorating effect on male reproductive health.
Possible Nonopioid-Mediated Analgesia Produced by Methotrimeprazine in Rats

BACKGROUND: Several reports in the 1960s demonstrated that methotrimeprazine (MTMZ), a phenothiazine derivative, is effective for treating acute and chronic pain. Although MTMZ has received little attention in recent decades, the fact that it derives from a class of drugs usually associated with cognitive and emotional processes, rather than the traditional analgesics, makes it interesting as a potential source of information about the mechanisms of analgesia.
Empirical observations of dilution in panel caving by

Dilution is an integral part of a cave mining operation and thus the control and understanding of its main sources are crucial in managing a caving operation. Dilution may have diverse sources, including the position of the ore/waste, the percolation of fines, and the draw control at the mine. There are ways to control the amount of dilution in panel caving through mine planning. For example, DeWolfe (1981) states that, in order to control dilution in a panel caving operation, the gap between the extraction pile and the cave back must be kept to a minimum so that the waste does not rill to the new open drawpoints. This is achieved by adjusting the angle of draw, which should be set below 45° to avoid early dilution from previously exhausted levels. Laubscher (1994, 2000) postulated that dilution content is controlled by a set of parameters ranging from the design to the mine operation itself. These parameters include the spacing of drawpoints, the geometry of the orebody, the way in which drawpoints are extracted, and the flow characteristics of the ore and waste. A review of the parameters affecting dilution is shown in Table I. In quantitative terms, there have been attempts to derive formulae to evaluate dilution entry at caving operations and from them the amount of dilution. Laubscher (1994) defines the dilution entry as the percentage of column drawn when dilution is observed at a drawpoint. Based on empirical observations he proposed the following relationship to calculate the dilution entry point (DEP)
MHD Flow past a Semi-Infinite Vertical Plate with Mass Transfer

Abstract. An analysis is performed to study the MHD flow of an electrical ly conducting, incompressible, viscous fluid past a semi-infinite vertical plate with mass transfer, under the action of transversely applied magnetic field is ca rried out. The heat due to viscous dissipation and the induced magnetic field are ass umed to be negligible. The dimensionless governing equations are unsteady, two-d imensional, coupled and non-linear partial differential equations. A most accurat e, unconditionally stable and fast converging implicit finite difference scheme is used to solve the non-dimensional governing equations. The effects of external cooling ( Gr > 0) of the plate by the free convection are studied.
Dynamic simulation of a novel “broomstick” human forward fall model and finite element analysis of the radius under the impact force during fall

The paper presents dynamic simulation and experimental identification of a human forward fall model describing the process of “falling like a broomstick” on the outstretched arms. The model implemented in Mathematica allows one to estimate time histories of the ground reaction force in different scenarios of the fall process. These time series are applied as time-varying load conditions to the numerical analysis of the human radial bone model created from the computed tomography data. Finally, the obtained numerical results indicate that the strain criterion seems to be more useful for estimating the radius fracture site in comparison to the stress criterion.
Studies on some nutritional characteristics of the fruit and leaf of Saba florida (Benth.) from Ibaji forest

Natural sources of nutrients for both humans and animals have become of immense biomedical significance. In this study, some nutrient composition of the fruit and leaf of Saba florida (Benth.) from Ibaji forest were evaluated using HPLC. The results showed that the plant parts studied contained significant level of vitamins A and E. Lipids of physiologic and nutritional importance such as lauric, myristic, oleic, linoleic and stearic acids were detected in some parts of the plant. Oleic acid was highest in the fruit pericarp (12.387%). The study also showed that the fruit pulp contain high amount (285.521%) of cholesterol than other parts investigated. The results suggest that S. florida (Benth.) is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins A and E. We therefore conclude that judicious consumption of the fruit and leaf of S. florida could play both physiologic and nutritional roles in human and animal body.
Study of mid-infrared laser action in chalcogenide rare earth doped glass with Dy3+, Pr3+ and Tb3+

We present a study of chalcogenide glass fiber lasers doped with Dy3+, Pr3+ or Tb3+ that would operate in the mid-infrared wavelength range. A set of chalcogenide glass samples doped with different concentrations of rare earth ions is fabricated. The modeling parameters are directly extracted from FTIR absorption measurements of the fabricated bulk glass samples using Judd-Ofelt, Fuchtbauer–Ladenburg theory and McCumber theory. The modeling results show that, for all the dopants considered, an efficient mid-infrared laser action is possible if optical losses are kept at the level of 1dB/m or below.
Street-scale air quality modelling for Beijing during a winter 2016 measurement campaign

Abstract. We examine the street-scale variation of NOx, NO2, O3 and PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing during the Atmospheric Pollution and Human Health in a Chinese Megacity (APHH-China) winter measurement campaign in November–December 2016. Simulations are performed using the urban air pollution dispersion and chemistry model ADMS-Urban and an explicit network of road source emissions. Two versions of the gridded Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China (MEIC v1.3) are used: the standard MEIC v1.3 emissions and an optimised version, both at 3 km resolution. We construct a new traffic emissions inventory by apportioning the transport sector onto a detailed spatial road map. Agreement between mean simulated and measured pollutant concentrations from Beijing's air quality monitoring network and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) field site is improved when using the optimised emissions inventory. The inclusion of fast NOx–O3 chemistry and explicit traffic emissions enables the sharp concentration gradients adjacent to major roads to be resolved with the model. However, NO2 concentrations are overestimated close to roads, likely due to the assumption of uniform traffic activity across the study domain. Differences between measured and simulated diurnal NO2 cycles suggest that an additional evening NOx emission source, likely related to heavy-duty diesel trucks, is not fully accounted for in the emissions inventory. Overestimates in simulated early evening NO2 are reduced by delaying the formation of stable boundary layer conditions in the model to replicate Beijing's urban heat island. The simulated campaign period mean PM2.5 concentration range across the monitoring network (∼15 µg m−3) is much lower than the measured range (∼40 µg m−3). This is likely a consequence of insufficient PM2.5 emissions and spatial variability, neglect of explicit point sources, and assumption of a homogeneous background PM2.5 level. Sensitivity studies highlight that the use of explicit road source emissions, modified diurnal emission profiles, and inclusion of urban heat island effects permit closer agreement between simulated and measured NO2 concentrations. This work lays the foundations for future studies of human exposure to ambient air pollution across complex urban areas, with the APHH-China campaign measurements providing a valuable means of evaluating the impact of key processes on street-scale air quality.
Rethinking Multipliers in a Globalized World

This paper uses the central tool of an investment-savings and monetary-policy model with an augmented Philips curve and presents a few extensions of that model to analyze the multiplier effects of macroeconomic policies in the United States. In doing so, the authors incorporate realistic assumptions in the model related to the recent financial characteristics of the global economy. The monetary policy reaction function embeds a new augmented Taylor-rule incorporating housing and stock prices and the credit lending rate. And the household consumption and firm investment decisions incorporate housing and stock assets and the credit market frictions. The equilibrium income is derived and compared with the actual nominal gross domestic product of the United States for the period 1990 to 2009. More importantly, fiscal and trade multipliers are derived and discussed. The main finding is that government spending, tax cut, and trade multipliers are relatively smaller in size when more realistic features are incorporated in the model. The model simulation shows that the model can track actual gross domestic product reasonably well. The model should be further improved before it could be used for policy exercises.
RISK ASSESSMENT AND ALLOCATION IN NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS PROJECTS

The Nigerian oil and gas industry is very active. New mega projects are coming on stream such as the exploration and production from the deep offshore as well as the construction of a Liquefied natural gas plant to increase gas utilisation. Various contractual arrangements are in place to woo local and foreign investors for exploration and development projects. However, the number, size and complexity of these projects are increasing resulting in achieving extra operational excellence and also placing more emphasis on the assessment and management of the associated risks. Therefore, the research work that underpins this paper was carried out to identify and assess significant risks in the Nigeria Oil and gas projects and addresses their proper allocation. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to a group of experts in the local and international oil company operating in Nigeria. It has been revealed that environmental and Political risks such as Force Majeure due to militants‟ attack, gas flaring, gas leakage and oil spillage risks are significant. Other significant risks include financial and technological risks. These risks are largely shared between companies and the government representative.
Cell-Type-Specific Transcription of Innate Immune Regulators in response to HMPV Infection

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) may cause severe respiratory disease. The early innate immune response to viruses like HMPV is characterized by induction of antiviral interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory immune mediators that are essential in shaping adaptive immune responses. Although innate immune responses to HMPV have been comprehensively studied in mice and murine immune cells, there is less information on these responses in human cells, comparing different cell types infected with the same HMPV strain. The aim of this study was to characterize the HMPV-induced mRNA expression of critical innate immune mediators in human primary cells relevant for airway disease. In particular, we determined type I versus type III IFN expression in human epithelial cells and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and dendritic cells (MDDCs). In epithelial cells, HMPV induced only low levels of IFN-β mRNA, while a robust mRNA expression of IFN-λs was found in epithelial cells, MDMs, and MDDCs. In addition, we determined induction of the interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) IRF1, IRF3, and IRF7 and critical inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IP-10, and IL-1β). Interestingly, IRF1 mRNA was predominantly induced in MDMs and MDDCs. Overall, our results suggest that for HMPV infection of MDDCs, MDMs, NECs, and A549 cells (the cell types examined), cell type is a strong determinator of the ability of HMPV to induce different innate immune mediators. HMPV induces the transcription of IFN-β and IRF1 to higher extents in MDMs and MDDCs than in A549s and NECs, whereas the induction of type III IFN-λ and IRF7 is considerable in MDMs, MDDCs, and A549 epithelial cells.
Assessing environmental and social impacts of the oil palm industry in Ghana: A project synthesis

The oil palm industry has many positive benefits, particularly as a key source of livelihoods for rural dwellers, but it also has negative impacts on the society and environment. For instance, poorly planned oil palm cultivation can increase the rate of natural forest loss, and contribute to unfair labour conditions on plantations and processing mills. It is therefore important for sustainable oil palm project initiators to understand the environmental and social effects of the industry, to be able to design appropriate interventions. Using a survey method, questionnaires were administered to different stakeholders in selected oil palm plantations and processing mills to generate both qualitative and quantitative data for assessing the social and environmental impacts of the industry. The environmental and social impact assessment was done within the framework and guidelines of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The assessment also applied a holistic approach by diagnosing the direct, indirect and sector-wide cumulative impacts. It was found that, in most cases, the social and environmental indicators assessed from the respondents do not comply with the guidelines of national legislation and the Ghana interpretation of the RSPO principles. It is prudent for sustainable oil palm projects to provide opportunities for plantation and mills owners and workers to acquire, and share knowledge on the effects of their activities on the society and environment. Project interventions must be formulated to mitigate negative impacts of the activities of production and processing to ensure sustainability of the oil palm industry. Key words: Environmental, oil palm, mitigation measures, sustainable palm oil, plantations.