Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Middle and Late Holocene altitudinal distribution limit changes of Fagus crenata forest, Mt. Kurikoma, Japan indicated by stomatal evidence

This study proposes a new method to detect changes of altitudinal distribution limit of a plant species based on the stomatal analysis of fossilized leaves. We use the Holocene fossil leaves of Fagus crenata (Japanese beech), a dominant deciduous tree in the cool temperate zone, from different horizons in a peat bog in Mt. Kurikoma, north Japan. Results of palaeo‐CO2 concentration reconstructed from the stomatal analysis indicate palaeo‐CO2 fluctuation between 317 and 352 ppmv during the Middle–Late Holocene, which was more variable and higher than Greenland and Antarctic ice‐core records. This result is possibly influenced by the oceanic CO2 uptake, which increased with the strengthening of the Tsushima Warm Current during the Middle Holocene. The stomatal index (SI) variation range of fossil Fagus crenata leaves in the Middle Holocene was higher than that of the modern population at a given altitude, indicating transportation of leaves from an altitude higher than the site of fossil deposition. A decreasing trend of the SI variation range between 5000 and 2500 cal. a BP can possibly be attributed to the downward shift of the upper distribution limit of Fagus crenata from an altitude higher than or similar to the present limit to the area surrounding the fossil deposition site. This downward shift of the upper distribution limit of Fagus crenata was simultaneous with temperature and humidity decreases and correlated with the decreasing East Asian Summer Monsoon intensity and a cooling event around 4000 cal. a BP.
An Overlooked Cost of Contracting Out: Evidence From Employee Turnover Intention in U.S. Federal Agencies

Contracting out has long been used in all levels of government in the United States, with federal contract spending increasing 8% to 9% annually since 2015. The literature on contracting out has examined the impact of this practice on the work-related attitudes and motivation of public employees who have transitioned to work for private contractors. However, we understand very little about the effects of contracting out on the overwhelming number of public employees who are not displaced. Given the importance of work-related attitudes and turnover for organizations, this study explores the potential consequences of contracting out for employee turnover intention over a period of several years. The results of panel data analyses suggest that an increase in contracting activity in federal agencies increases the employee turnover intention rate. Contracting out also impacts employee turnover intention indirectly through its influence on job satisfaction.
Solid Carbon Monoxide in the Serpens Dark Cloud (Grad. Stud. Prize) 30 Min

The 4.67 micrometer absorption feature of solid CO is an important signature of grain mantles in molecular clouds. This paper presents new observations of solid CO absorption in the spectra of four infrared sources in and behind the Serpens dark cloud. We also present supplementary 2.0-2.5 micrometer spectra which clarify the nature of selected sources. Solid CO profiles are compared with models based on laboratory data. In common with previous studies of other clouds, we find that the observed profiles are consistent with the presence of two distinct phases of CO-bearing ice, one dominated either by CO itself or by CO mixed with absorption relative to that of the water-ice feature at 3.1 micrometers is unusually high in Serpens: we deduce column densities for CO and H2O in solid form and conclude that the mean CO abundance in dust is 40% of the H2O abundance, compared with values in the range 0%-30% typical of other molecular clouds. On the basis of its 2.0-2.5 micrometer spectrum and near-infrared colors, we deduce the infrared source CK 2 to be a K5-M0 III field star situated behind the Serpens cloud and suffering 40-50 mag of visual extinction. Assuming empirical correlations between extinction and total (gas + dust) CO column density, we estimate the CO depletion (i.e., the fraction of interstellar CO in the line of sight tied up in grains) to be approximately 40% in the intracloud medium of the Serpens cloud, comparable with previous estimates for the Taurus dark cloud, and much higher than that found in the environments of protostellar objects.
DETECTION OF TERRAIN STRUCTURES IN AIRBORNE LASER SCANNING DATA USING DEEP LEARNING

Abstract. Automated recognition of terrain structures is a major research problem in many application areas. These structures can be investigated in raster products such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) generated from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data. Following the success of deep learning and computer vision techniques on color images, researchers have focused on the application of such techniques in their respective fields. One example is detection of structures in DEM data. DEM data can be used to train deep learning models, but recently, Du et al. (2019) proposed a multi-modal deep learning approach (hereafter referred to as MM) proving that combination of geomorphological information help improve the performance of deep learning models. They reported that combining DEM, slope, and RGB-shaded relief gives the best result among other combinations consisting of curvature, flow accumulation, topographic wetness index, and grey-shaded relief. In this work, we approve and build on top of this approach. First, we use MM and show that combinations of other information such as sky view factors, (simple) local relief models, openness, and local dominance improve model performance even further. Secondly, based on the recently proposed HR-Net (Sun et al., 2019), we build a tinier, Multi-Modal High Resolution network called MM-HR, that outperforms MM. MM-HR learns with fewer parameters (4 millions), and gives an accuracy of 84:2 percent on ZISM50m data compared to 79:2 percent accuracy by MM which learns with more parameters (11 millions). On the dataset of archaeological mining structures from Harz, the top accuracy by MM-HR is 91:7 percent compared to 90:2 by MM.
Phenotyping and evaluation of CIMMYT WPHYSGP nursery lines and local wheat varieties under two irrigation regimes

Accurate evaluation of morphological and physiological traits is critical for selection of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars exhibiting high yield, which is stable over different growing conditions. In order to use selection index based on high yield, high grain quality and drought tolerance in wheat, a set of 145 CIMMYT Wheat Physiological Germplasm Screening Nursery lines and seven local spring wheat varieties were phenotyped and evaluated for physiological and yield traits under two irrigation regimes during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons in Xinjiang, China. The results showed that drought-stress significantly increased canopy temperature but reduced grain yield, grain weight per spike, normalized difference vegetation index at the flowering and grain filling stages, chlorophyll content at the grain filling stage, grain plumpness, grain number per spike, thousand-grain weight, and plant height. Grain weight per spike, plant height and grain plumpness explained 61.8% of the total phenotypic variation in grain yield under no-stress conditions, where they were the three principal factors most closely related to grain yield. Under drought-stress conditions, canopy temperature at the grain filling stage, plant height and grain plumpness were the three principal factors affecting grain yield, and contributed 44.8% of the total phenotypic variation in grain yield. Finally, ten genotypes, including three local varieties, ‘Xinchun 11’, ‘Xinchun 23’ and ‘Xinchun 29’, with appropriate plant height and high and stable yield under both no-stress and drought-stress conditions over the two years of trials, were identified and can be recommended as core parents for spring wheat drought tolerance breeding in Xinjiang, China.
Diagnosis dan Tatalaksana Sindrom Treacher Collins

Sindrom Treacher Collins adalah penyakit genetik langka yang menyebabkan berbagai malformasi kongenital terutama di kraniofasial. Diagnosis dapat ditegakkan sejak periode prenatal atau postnatal, analisis genetik untuk menentukan adanya mutasi gen merupakan diagnosis definitif. Tatalaksana multidisiplin dengan perencanaan tindakan operatif maupun non-operatif sejak lahir sampai usia dewasa.Treacher Collins syndrome is a rare genetic disease which causes various congenital malformation mainly in the craniofacial region. Diagnosis can be made in prenatal or postnatal period, genetic analysis to determine gene mutation remains as definitive diagnosis. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach, with of either operative or non-operative planning since birth to adult.
Forward and Retro Locomotion Training on Anthropometrical Body Compositions and Aerobic Performance

Abstract Background Forward and retro locomotion on a treadmill is a common tool for lower extremity rehabilitation in the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect on anthropometrical body composition adaptations and aerobic performance during forward and retro locomotion training on a treadmill at 10-degree inclinations. Methods A convenience sample of 30 healthy male subjects with mean age of 20.93±2.54 years, participated in the study. Subjects were divided into 2 groups, Forward Locomotion Group (FLG) and Retro Locomotion Group (RLG) (n=15) and performed forward and retro locomotion training on a treadmill at 10-degree inclination respectively for duration of 6 weeks. Study outcomes such as aerobic performance and anthropometrical body composition were measured at pre and post intervention phases. Results Although both FLG and RLG training improved aerobic performance significantly. However, RLG reported a significant improvement as compared to FLG in the above parameters. Whereas, anthropometrical body composition changes are not found to be significant even after 6 weeks of intervention in both groups. Conclusion Both the forward and retro locomotion training improved aerobic performance but not the body composition variables, also retro locomotion training was more effective than forward locomotion in improving aerobic performance.
Evaluating Passenger Railway Ride Quality Over Long Distances Using Smartphones

This paper presents a smartphone-based ride quality assessment conducted on a VIA Rail route in the province of Ontario Canada. The vibration data were collected by different smartphones placed in different locations on the train. The levels of ride quality were subsequently quantified by the two commonly used indices recommended in the ISO 2631:1-1997, and BS EN 12299:2009 standards. The results show that using smartphones for ride quality yields reasonable assessment in a low-cost and convenient manner and identify that the major poor ride quality values are recorded at stiffness transitions such as bridges, level crossing and switches. Limitations of smartphone sensors, and the future plan for improvement of the use of smartphones for evaluation of ride quality has also been discussed.
SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CHILLI LINES / VARIETIES TOWARDS CHILLI LEAF CURL VIRUS AND ITS MANAGEMENT THROUGH VECTOR CONTROL

Chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) is a serious problem for chilli production in Pakistan and India. In this study, fourteen different chilli lines / varieties were screened for their resistance/susceptibility towards ChiLCV in open field trials. Data of disease severity and disease incidence was recorded on weekly basis. Out of all varieties screened, Tatapuri Chilli and CH111 showed high susceptibility towards the chilli leaf curl disease. Talhari, CH 99, CH103, CH 106, CH107, CH108, CH109, GSL111 showed susceptible response whereas CBS1292 showed moderately susceptible response towards the disease. Only two cultivars Hybrid-46 and Hot Queen were found as moderately resistant. The screening experiment showed that most of the chilli varieties are susceptible to chilli leaf curl disease and resistance is lacking in local germplasm. Furthermore, three insecticides: Imidacloprid, Polo and Emamectin were tested for their efficacy for the management of disease and whitefly vector in field conditions at weekly intervals. Out of three insecticides, Polo gave best results as compared to Emamectin and Imidacloprid against chilli leaf curl disease and whitefly vector.
Answer to July 2011 Photo Quiz

Answer: Human monocytic ehrlichiosis due to Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection. PCR of whole blood performed at St. Louis Children's Hospital was positive for Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA, confirming the diagnosis of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) that was suspected based on the clinical presentation
The adoption of digital technology and labor demand in the Indonesian banking sector

Purpose - This study investigates the effect of digital technology adoption on labor demand in the Indonesian banking sector. Design/methodology/approach - This research uses bank-level survey data obtained from the Indonesia Financial Service Authority (OJK) for the period 2010–2017 using semiannual data. This research applies a panel data method using a fixed effect model. Findings - This study results show that technology adoption affects labor demand significantly in all Commercial Bank Based on Business Activities (BUKU) levels of banks. Technology adoption tends to be a substitute for labor in BUKU I, BUKU II and BUKU III banks in the support and business units. In addition, technology adoption complements labor only in the business unit in BUKU IV banks. Research limitations/implications - This research uses a sample of only 40 banks at the regulatory levels of BUKU I, BUKU II, BUKU III and BUKU IV. These 40 banks account for more than 80% of the assets in the Indonesian banking sector. Originality/value - Literature investigating the effect of the adoption of digital technology on labor demand in the banking sector is still rare in the Indonesian economy. Most of the previous research limited its area of study to the manufacturing industry. This research makes a vital contribution in measuring the adoption of digital technology and its effect on labor demand in the banking sector using the BUKU level classifications of banks.
A compact and wideband array antenna with efficient hybrid feed network

This study presents a high‐efficient, compact, and broadband microstrip patch antennas (MPAs) based on substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW) for X‐band applications. The proposed array consists of three stacked layers from top to bottom, including one layer as the antenna layer and two SIW layers as a feeding network. The performance was focused on improving the impedance bandwidth and radiation efficiency by mitigating the loss from the feed network while also maintaining the compact design. To this end, the SIW feeding network was designed to feed the MPA to save the physical aperture size which resulted in a more compact and efficient radiating structure. The overall size of the proposed array is compact and extra surface area around the radiation aperture has not been occupied. The measured −10 dB impedance bandwidth span is from 8.9 to 10.9 GHz (20.2%). The maximum measured gain at 10.6 GHz is 10.6 dBi. The results show that the simulated radiation efficiency and the measured aperture efficiency are more than 75% and 50%, respectively. The fabricated array exhibits great advantages such as wide operating bandwidth, lightweight, low‐cost, high aperture efficiency, high radiation efficiency, and compactness which make it a good candidate for X‐band applications.
Engineering of metabolism and membrane transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for improved industrial performance

Nearly 200 parties signed and committed to the Paris agreement in 2017, which comprises the long-term goal to keep the average global temperature increase well below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Virtually all possible scenarios drafted to reach this goal include a strongly increased use of biofuels for transport by land, sea and air. Bioethanol, whose production could, in principle and in contrast to fossil fuel production, involve a closed carbon cycle, is generated by microbial fermentation of sugars from plant-derived starch or agricultural waste. This liquid transport fuel provides a readily implementable alternative to fossil fuels as it combines the advantages of sustainable fuel production and compatibility with existing combustion engine technologies, without a requirement for time-consuming and expensive changes in our current infrastructure. To date, bioethanol is the largest volume product of industrial biotechnology. 99% of this ethanol is generated via 1st generation processes, largely derived by fermentation of hydrolysed sugar cane or corn starch by bakers’ yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). So-called ‘2nd generation’ bioethanol, for which the first commercial-scale plants are now starting up, is made by fermentation of sugars present in lignocellulosic biomass, typically harvested from agricultural waste streams, such as wheat straw or sugar beet pulp. Whilst such feedstocks enable a “food and fuel” scenario, their industrial implementation brings along additional challenges for yeasts and biotechnologists. Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, in particular the cellulose and hemicellulose fractions, releases a mixture of different sugars as well as inhibiting compounds that impair growth and viability of S. cerevisiae. Whilst glucose is the most abundant fermentable carbon source, the pentose sugar d-xylose can cover up to 30% of the total sugar content. The fraction of the pentose l-arabinose typically varies between 2 – 20%, depending on the feedstock used. Although pentose sugars cannot be fermented to ethanol by wild-type S. cerevisiae strains, international research efforts over the past two decades yielded metabolic engineering strategies to enable anaerobic conversion of d-xylose and l-arabinose to ethanol by S. cerevisiae. The expression of heterologous, d-xylose- and l-arabinose-isomerase based pathways from fungi or bacteria, together with over-expression of genes of the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and deletion of the unspecific aldose-reductase gene GRE3 within S. cerevisiae allows this yeast to aerobically metabolize both sugars. The recent advances in metabolic engineering tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9-assisted genome editing, greatly advanced the construction and characterization of metabolically engineered S. cerevisiae strains with improved yields, kinetics and robustness in 2nd generation ethanol production processes.
The Effect of Alternative Forest Management Models on the Forest Harvest and Emissions as Compared to the Forest Reference Level

Background and Objectives: Under the Paris Agreement, the European Union (EU) sets rules for accounting the greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forest land (FL). According to these rules, the average FL emissions of each member state in 2021–2025 (compliance period 1, CP1) and in 2026–2030 (compliance period 2, CP2) will be compared to a projected forest reference level (FRL). The FRL is estimated by modelling forest development under fixed forest management practices, based on those observed in 2000–2009. In this context, the objective of this study was to estimate the effects of large-scale uptake of alternative forest management models (aFMMs), developed in the ALTERFOR project (Alternative models and robust decision-making for future forest management), on forest harvest and forest carbon sink, considering that the proposed aFMMs are expanded to most of the suitable areas in EU27+UK and Turkey. Methods: We applied the Global Forest Model (G4M) for projecting the harvest and sink with the aFMMs and compared our results to previous FRL projections. The simulations were performed under the condition that the countries should match the harvest levels estimated for their FRLs as closely as possible. A representation of such aFMMs as clearcut, selective logging, shelterwood logging and tree species change was included in G4M. The aFMMs were modeled under four scenarios of spatial allocation and two scenarios of uptake rate. Finally, we compared our results to the business as usual. Results: The introduction of the aFMMs enhanced the forest sink in CP1 and CP2 in all studied regions when compared to the business as usual. Conclusions: Our results suggest that if a balanced mixture of aFMMs is chosen, a similar level of wood harvest can be maintained as in the FRL projection, while at the same time enhancing the forest sink. In particular, a mixture of multifunctional aFMMs, like selective logging and shelterwood, could enhance the carbon sink by up to 21% over the ALTERFOR region while limiting harvest leakages.
Implementing electronic health system in Nigeria: perspective assessment in a specialist hospital

Abstract Background: Perspectives on the pioneering work of Electronic Health Recording (EHR) system in Nigeria was studied Objectives: To determine health workers perception, challenges, motivation and satisfaction with EHR. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study using structured questionnaire to assess health workers perspective on EHR system at Kogi State Specialist Hospital. Results: A total of 35 consenting health workers with an mean age of 39.4(± 7.6) years using EHR were assessed. The mean daily work hour was 8.0(± 2.4 hours) and median client load per participant was 20 daily. On perceptions, 74.3%, 52.9%, 45.5% and 60.0% were comfortable, well-motivated, satisfied and competent with EHR. The advantages were reduction in transcription cost (88.5%), Paper work (97.1%), administrative cost (91.4%), errors (82.9%) and it captures, provides more services including timely access and ease research in 94.3%, 74.3%, 94.3% and 82.9% respectively. Challenges were threat to patient privacy, poor internet, information overload, power outages, incomplete and inaccurate information in 17.0%, 65.7%, 31.5%, 62.9%, 37.1% and 22.9% respectively. Conclusion: Health workers were comfortable and satisfied with EHR and it eased their work.Scaling up EHR would reduce administrative cost, transcription errors and paper works to mitigate poor quality data from Nigeria a great contributor to global morbidities/mortalities
Effects of Sub-lethal Lead Nitrate and Copper Sulfate Concentrations on Hematological Parameters During Long-term Exposure in Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus)

Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) weighing 51.66 ± 2.42 g were exposed to 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% of LC 50 to either lead nitrate (Pb(NO 3 ) 2 ) or copper sulfate (CuSO 4 ) for 30 days. The Pb(NO 3 ) 2 and CuSO 4 concentrations employed in the treatments of this study were 8.8, 17.6, and 26.4 mg/L and 2.57, 5.14, and 7.71 mg/l, respectively, and multiple hematological variables were evaluated. The red blood cell (RBC) count for the control group was 2.41 ± 0.13 while those of the treatment groups exposed to 8.8, 17.6, and 26.4 mg/L of Pb(NO 3 ) 2 were 2.21 ± 0.10, 1.94 ± 0.16, and 1.36 ± 0.10 × 10 6 /µl, respectively, at the end of the study. Similarly, the hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and platelet (PLT( levels significantly decreased as the Pb(NO 3 ) 2 concentration increased (p < 0.05), while white blood cell (WBC) and mean cell volume (MCV) levels significantly increased. However, results of fish exposed to CuSO 4 , showed decrease in the levels of RBC, Hb, Hct, WBC, and PLT when the concentration of CuSO 4 increased, while the MCHC, MCH, and MCV levels significantly increased.