Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling phosphorus loss from agricultural catchments : a comparison of the performance of SWAT, HSPF and SHETRAN for the Clarianna catchment

Much research in Europe at present has been directed at generating and assessing modelling tools for use in catchment management, driven by the requirements and schedule of the Water Framework Directive. A logical first step is to assess the suitability of existing models for this task so that any resources used in generating new models can be targeted at actual modelling needs. Crucial questions, relating to the model structure and complexity and spatial and temporal scales required must also be addressed. This paper reports a comparison of the performance and suitability of three "off-the-shelf" distributed catchment models, each with a different level of complexity, applied to modelling phosphorous losses from the Clarianna catchment in Ireland. In this paper, the performance of three such models (SWAT, HSPF and SHETRAN/GOPC) is compared, both in estimating discharges and phosphorous loads in the Clarianna catchment. The flow comparison has showed that the HSPF model was the best in simulating the mean daily discharges. However, the best calibration results for daily total phosphorus loads in the study catchment has been achieved by the SWAT model.
Characterization of Dini Lipschitz Functions in Terms of Their Helgason Transform

Abstract In this paper, using a generalized translation operator, we obtain an analog of Younis Theorem 5.2 in [6] for the Helgason Fourier transform of a set of functions satisfying the Dini Lipschitz condition in the space L2 for functions on noncompact rank one Riemannian symmetric spaces.
RLlib: Abstractions for Distributed Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms involve the deep nesting of highly irregular computation patterns, each of which typically exhibits opportunities for distributed computation. We argue for distributing RL components in a composable way by adapting algorithms for top-down hierarchical control, thereby encapsulating parallelism and resource requirements within short-running compute tasks. We demonstrate the benefits of this principle through RLlib: a library that provides scalable software primitives for RL. These primitives enable a broad range of algorithms to be implemented with high performance, scalability, and substantial code reuse. RLlib is available at this https URL.
Adverse effects of bisphenol A on the testicular parenchyma of zebrafish revealed using histomorphological methods

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consequences of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Short-term effects at a testes level were assessed by means of different biomarkers in 60 male zebrafish exposed for 14 days in aquariums to different concentrations of BPA (1, 10, 100 and 1000 μg/l) in addition to a control batch. The LC-MS/MS method was used for the quantification of BPA. The BPA levels in the zebrafish tissues increased together with increasing exposure of fish to BPA. Several alterations were observed in the zebrafish testes. Particularly notable morphological changes included, a pronounced degeneration of all cell components, an increase in the percentage of the sustentacular (Sertoli) cells, and a marked decrease in the percentage of germ cells starting from concentrations of 100 μg/l of BPA. Our results indicate that histopathology and testes morphometry are sensitive biomarkers for the analysis of early effects of an environmental concentration of BPA in zebrafish experimental models. Our observations reveal that the nature and intensity of the morphological changes in the testes are concentration-dependent in the case of BPA, and manifest as adverse effects on the fish’s reproductive health.
Do boating and basking mix? The effect of basking disturbances by motorboats on the body temperature and energy budget of the northern map turtle

Basking is the primary mechanism used by many freshwater turtles to maintain their body temperature (Tb) in a range that maximizes physiological performance. Basking turtles are easily disturbed by motorboats, but the consequences of the increasingly popular use of motorboats on turtles is largely unknown. In this work, predictive models built from field and laboratory data were used to assess the effects of the frequency of basking disturbance by motorboats on Tb and metabolic rate (MR) of female northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica), a species of conservation concern. Simulations revealed that the effects of boat disturbance vary seasonally. In early May, a conservative estimate of the disturbance rate (0.15 per hour) resulted in a 0.34°C decrease in mean daily Tb, which translated to a 7.8% reduction in mean MR. In June, July and August, owing to warmer lake temperatures, the effect of disturbance was less marked and the observed disturbance rates (0.32, 0.96 and 1.23 per hour, respectively) reduced the mean MR of an adult female by 2.1%, 0.5%, and 0.4 %, respectively. Reduction in MR decreases the rate of energy assimilation, which could translate into sublethal effects on turtles, such as reduced growth and reproductive output. Motorboat usage is increasing in many areas and is probably affecting other species of freshwater turtles that use aerial basking. This study offers important insights on the implications of disturbances for species that bask. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Elimination of lymphatic filariasis: current perspectives on mass drug administration

Following the London declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2012 and inspired by the WHO 2020 roadmap to control or eliminate NTDs, the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) intensified preventive chemotherapy and management of morbidity as the two main strategies to enhance progress towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF). This paper focuses on current perspectives of mass drug administration (MDA) towards the elimination of LF. The goal of MDA is to reduce the density of parasites circulating in the blood of infected persons and the intensity of infection in communities to levels where transmission is no longer sustainable by the mosquito vector. Three drugs, diethylcarbamazine, albendazole, and ivermectin are currently available for LF treatment, and their effectiveness and relative safety have opened the possibility of treating the entire population at risk. Currently, almost all LF endemic countries rely on the single-dose two-drug regimen recommended by the GPELF to achieve elimination. The 4th WHO report on NTDs has indicated that considerable progress has been made towards elimination of LF in some countries while acknowledging some challenges. In this review, we conclude that the 2020 elimination goal can be achieved if issues pertaining to the drug distribution, health system and implementation challenges are addressed.
Field occurrence of avian infectious bronchitis virus in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

The epidemiological situation regarding the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) population in Europe as well as the presence of predominant IBV strains is well described. The aim of this epidemiological study was to describe the real field situation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as no data are available for the last ten years. The study was also focused on differentiation between field IBV strains and vaccine/vaccine origin IBV strains in different poultry segments including backyard flocks. Between July 2013 and July 2016, cloacal, tracheal and/or visceral swab samples were collected from 145 Czech and Slovak chicken broiler, breeder and layer flocks. The majority of flocks was kept for production purposes, but to enable a more complete picture of the situation in the field backyard flocks with more than 50 birds were also included. As in other cases which were reported worldwide and based on collaboration with x-Ovo laboratories, samples were analysed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect the presence of the RNA of IBV. When positive, approximately 400 base pairs encoding the hypervariable region of the IBV S1 protein were sequenced. Sequencing results, cycle threshold values and vaccination history were used as criteria to try and distinguish vaccine strains from field strains. A significant percentage of all flocks presented clinical signs suggestive of IBV infection. From the total number of samples examined, 16.5% were negative. In 12.4% of the samples that did contain RNA from IBV, the genotype could not be determined. In most cases, this was due to the recovery of RNA quantities below the lower limit of detection of the sequencing PCR. The remaining positive samples predominantly contained RNA from IBV strains that belonged to the 4/91 – 793B – CR88 (44.7%), Massachusetts (30%), D274 – D207 (11.6%) and D388 – QX (8.7%) genotypes. Estimations indicated that approximately 23.9%, 48.4%, 58.3% and 0% of these detections, respectively, were vaccine strains. Infections with types UKR/27/2011, CK/CH/Guandong/Xindadi/0903 and K33/09 were observed sporadically. The results confirm that IBV infections are highly prevalent in Czech and Slovak chickens and that at least seven different IBV types were circulating during the monitored period. This underlines the necessity of providing flocks with a strong and broad protective immunity against IBV.
Estimating health plan costs with the OneHealth tool, Cambodia

Abstract Objective To do resource and cost projections for the entire Cambodian health sector using the OneHealth tool, during the development of the third national health strategic plan 2016–2020. Methods Through a consultative process, the health ministry estimated the needed and available resources to implement the strategic plan. The health ministry used the OneHealth Tool to estimate costs of expanding public sector service provision and compared these to estimates of projected available financing. Cost estimates covered implementation of health programmes including commodities and programme management costs, and six cross-cutting health system strengthening components. The tool is populated with local demographic, epidemiological, programmatic and unit cost data. We present costs in constant 2015 United States dollars (US$). Findings We estimated the five-year cost of the strategic plan to be US$ 2973.8 million. Costs are split between health systems strengthening components (US$ 1516.3 million) and investments in individual disease or public health programmes (US$ 1457.5 million). Health programmes for maternal and neonatal health (US$ 367 million), child health and immunization (US$ 197 million) and noncommunicable disease (US$ 157 million) have the highest costs. Although projected resource needs increase over time, a financial space analysis with ambitious projected increases in government funding indicates that government and donor funding jointly could be sufficient to cover the cost of the strategic plan from 2018 to 2020. Conclusion The results both informed development of the strategic plan, and contributed to the evidence base for improved budgeting, resource mobilization strategies and stronger overall public sector financial planning.
Molecular Genetic Variations and Phylogenetic Relationship Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA of three species of Catfishes (Family: Schilbidae) in Upper Egypt

The RAPD-PCR analysis was carried out on three species of fresh water fishes of family Schilbidae (Schilbe mystus, Schilbe uranoscopus and Siluranodon auritus) by using twenty primers. All twenty primers amplified successfully on the genomic DNA extracted from all studied fish species. The number of bands was variable in each species. Schilbe mystus produced number of bands 174, and Schilbe uranoscopus 193, while in Siluranodon auritus 210 bands. A total of 295 DNA bands were generated by all primers in all specimen, out of these DNA bands 97 (32.88%) were conserved among all specimens, while 198 bands were polymorphic with percentage 67.12% of all the twenty tested primers produced polymorphism in all specimens table 22. These results are discussed in relation to implications of RAPD assays in the evaluation of genetic diversity.
Narrative learning in technology-enhanced environments : an introduction to narrative learning environments

Narrative is recognized as a valid support for learning because it helps make sense of experience, organize knowledge and increase motivation. Narrative learning environments (NLEs) aim to exploit its educational potential by engaging the learner in technology-mediated activity where stories related to the learning task play a central role. This chapter illustrates the variety of NLEs currently available and suggests a classification of them based on the technology used. It also points out what issues need to be tackled to advance the field.
STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION IN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT : A STUDY OF LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS IN THE EMÅ RIVER CATCHMENT, SWEDEN

The EU Water Framework Directive, that will have far-going consequences for water management routines in 27 countries throughout Europe, strongly emphasises the need for public and stakeholder participation in water management. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of participatory processes as an important ingredient in future water management in Sweden. The example used is the possible role that farmers’ WaterCourse Groups, WCGs, may play in taking an increased responsibility for reducing nutrient losses from cultivated land. Agricultural sources of nutrients constitute an important part of the total flow of nutrients to lakes and seas in Sweden and the Baltic region. The present role of these groups is studied from an institutional perspective, specifically focusing on the space of action that these groups operate within. The reasoning is also relevant also for other types of stakeholder groups within a watershed.
Automatic Dialogue Scoring for a Second Language Learning System.

This paper presents an automatic dialogue scoring approach for a Dialogue-Based Computer-Assisted Language Learning (DB-CALL) system, which helps users learn language via interactive conversations. The system produces overall feedback according to dialogue scoring to help the learner know which parts should be more focused on. The scoring measures are presented, including task proficiency, grammar accuracy, vocabulary knowledge, and syntactic ability, to assess the user performance during the dialogue. A user evaluation is performed on the automatic dialogue scoring results and the generated feedback to collect the feedback from real learners, and to see if the measures are helpful and proper. A discussion is also held about the difference between the automatic dialogues scoring from essay scoring based on the user evaluation.
EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC EXERCISE ON CONCOMITANTS OF FITNESS AND METABOLIC PROFILE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been on the increase both in high and medium/low income countries. This increase is associated with health and economic consequences, especially in low sub-Saharan Africa that is resource stricken. Availability of affordable and easy to implement treatment intervention will surely reduce these health and economic sequealae of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of plyometric exercise on concomitants of fitness and metabolic profile in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: Simple random sampling technique was employed to recruit participants (n=27) for this study after meeting the inclusion criteria. Physical and physiological measurements were taken from the participants before and after six weeks of plyometric exercise for the experimental group and the control who did not participate in plyometric exercise. Results: A total number of twenty seven (control= 13) participated in the study and there are not significant differences in the physical and physiological parameters of the two groups. There are significant differences in the physiological parameter after six (6) weeks of plyometric exercise among the experimental groups while there are no significant dif ferences among the control group. The eta squared statistics of few parameters show that the effect sizes range between medium and large association. Conclusion: It is concluded that among the concomitants of fitness, plyometric exercise is effective only in improving muscle fitness and body composition.
The odour makes the difference: male moths attracted by sex pheromones ignore the threat by predatory bats

How animals adjust their foraging or mate finding behaviour according to the risk of predation has received much attention recently. However, few studies have focused on the behaviour of prey when stimuli representing different adaptive behaviours originate from different sensory modalities. Here we present data on how male moths trade off odour-mediated mate attraction and auditory-mediated predator avoidance depending on the relative quality of the mate signal. Males of Agrotis segetum (Noctuidae) and Plodia interpunctella (Pyralidae), orienting towards a sex pheromone source in a flight tunnel, were exposed to ultrasound mimicking the echolocation calls of a bat, i.e. high predation risk. Males of both species accepted the predation risk when attracted to pheromone sources of high quality (female gland extract or complete synthetic blend at high dose), manifested in similar percentages reaching the pheromone source in moths with and without ultrasound exposure. In contrast, a lower proportion of ultrasound-exposed males than unexposed ones located the pheromone source when moths were flying towards pheromone sources of low quality (incomplete synthetic blend or complete synthetic blend at low dose), due to more time invested in defence manoeuvres. Furthermore, the risk taking behaviours of these moth species seem to be similar in spite of the fact that their ultrasonic hearing systems have evolved independently.
Long-term Follow-up of FIRM-guided Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation : A Single-center Experience

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) guided by focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM) has been shown to result in short-term clinical freedom from AF. However, there are limited long-term outcome data available, especially in the more persistent and repeat ablation population. Therefore, we report our long-term results from a single site center performing FIRMguided RFCA of AF. A total of 80 patients were evaluated after undergoing FIRM-guided AF RFCA. The first analysis included an in-depth assessment of rotor characteristics and 2-year procedural outcomes in a testing period (phase I) in the first 36 patients. A second analysis assessed the procedural outcomes in 80 consecutive patients comprising those in phase I and the following 44 patients in a validation phase II. All patients underwent FIRM-guided RFCA in addition to pulmonary vein (PV) antral isolation and additional atrial tachycardia (AT)/ atrial flutter (AFL) ablation as needed. The endpoint of FIRM mapping/ablation was the elimination of all rotors and focal activation patterns in both atria. Follow-up included assessment of frequent 12-lead electrocardiograms, stored pulse rates recorded twice daily, and 30-day loop recorders. Rotors were identified and ablated in all 80 patients. In phase I, 83% (31/36 patients) had structural heart disease (SHD). Types of AF were paroxysmal in 36% (13/36) of patients, persistent in 53% (19/36) of patients, and longstanding persistent in 11% (4/36) of patients. Fifty percent (18/36) patients had prior ablations at 1.3±0.8 (range 1–4) years. AF termination during FIRM RFCA occurred in 39% (14/36) patients (64% (PAF), 36% persistent AF) and in 18% of all mapped episodes (25/138 rotor/FA). Overall single procedure 2-year freedom from AF/AFL rate in phase I was 81% (29/36) (83% in patients at first ablation, 78% in patients with prior ablation). Success rates off and on medications were 85% and 92% PAF, 58% and 79% persistent AF, 25% and 50% longstanding persistent AF, respectively. In the 39% patients with procedural AF termination, the 2-year success rate was high at 86% (12/14). Combining patients in phases I and II, with similar demographics, freedom from AF/AFL was 75% at 16±7 months. Predictors of recurrence after FIRM-guided ablation were persistent/longstanding AF, larger left atrium (LA) size, a longer AF history, and termination of AF/AFL by either cardioversion or LA linear lines. FIRM-guided AF RFCA demonstrated a promising long-term success rate in a patent population with SHD and previous ablation when performed in addition to PV antral isolation (PVI) and AT/AFL ablation. The high long-term success rates were similar for both first and repeat AF ablation patients. The results of this study strongly warrant randomized control trials.
Pollution related effects on immune function and stress in a free-living population of pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

We investigated whether exposure to heavy metal pollution affected the immune function of individuals in a free living population of a small insectivorous passerine bird, the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. We measured humoral immune responses in two study areas: a polluted area in the vicinity of a copper smelter and a control area far from the smelter. Plasma corticosterone level and blood heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L) were used as more general physiological measures of stress. The immune response of F hypoleuca was not suppressed by pollution stress. In contrast, we found that F hypoleuca males showed stronger Immoral immune responses to a novel antigen (tetanus toxoid) in the polluted environment than in the unpolluted one. After the immunization of males, numbers of lymphocytes rose significantly more in the polluted area, leading to a smaller H/L ratio than in males from the control area. Females showed no pollution related effects on their immune responses. Corticosterone levels of males and nestlings were not related to pollution levels. Nestlings showed somewhat higher H/L ratios and lower fledging success in the polluted area, both factors indicating increased stress levels in a polluted area. Our results suggest that Immoral immune response of male F hypoleuca may be enhanced under moderate levels of heavy metal Pollution. Enhanced immune function may, however, also be costly for birds and the higher humoral immune responses in polluted areas may thus have negative effects on the birds' breeding performance and survival. (Less)
Information in CDS Spreads

We investigate how public and private information affects corporate CDS spreads prior to rating announcements. First, CDS spreads of firms with high news intensity change significantly earlier and more strongly prior to negative rating announcements than those of firms with low news intensity. Second, the contents of daily corporate news significantly influence the direction in which the CDS spreads move. Third, CDS spreads change more strongly for firms with more bank relationships and days with no news but large abnormal CDS spread changes are more frequent prior to negative rating announcements than prior to positive ones. The study provides new evidence on the informational efficiency of the CDS market, the impact of credit rating announcements, and insider trading.