Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Exploration of Wind Stress Calculation Techniques in Hurricane Storm Surge Modeling

As hurricanes continue to threaten coastal communities, accurate storm surge forecasting remains a global priority. Achieving a reliable storm surge prediction necessitates accurate hurricane intensity and wind field information. The wind field must be converted to wind stress, which represents the air-sea momentum flux component required in storm surge and other oceanic models. This conversion requires a multiplicative drag coefficient for the air density and wind speed to represent the air-sea momentum exchange at a given location. Air density is a known parameter and wind speed is a forecasted variable, whereas the drag coefficient is calculated using an empirical correlation. The correlation’s accuracy has brewed a controversy of its own for more than half a century. This review paper examines the lineage of drag coefficient correlations and their acceptance among scientists.
Subjective outcomes after treatment for velopharyngeal dysfunction

Abstract Background: Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) can have various causes and may be a significant disability for the affected patient. Treatment options include surgery and speech therapy, but the success rates are often inconsistent. Methods: In this study, self-assessment questionnaires were sent out to 222 Swedish patients with VPD. The questionnaire included questions about satisfaction with speech, perceived speech quality, perceived improvement from VPD-surgery, and/or speech therapy. Out of 117 (52.7%) respondents, 114 (51.4%) patients were included in the study. The participants were 7–71 years of age (median = 14 years), diagnosed with cleft palate, neurological/developmental delay, congenital hypernasality, or acquired VPD. All patients had previously undergone videofluoroscopy, and 61.4% had undergone VPD-surgery. Results: Seventy-one per cent of the patients perceived their speech to be normal or slightly deviant, but only 55% were satisfied with their speech. Sixty per cent of the operated on patients felt that the treatment had improved their speech much or very much, 10% thought that they had moderate improvement, and 30% stated that they had no or little improvement. Out of the patients that had received speech therapy, 41% felt that the treatment had improved their speech much or very much, 21% thought that they had moderate improvement, and 33% stated that they had no or little improvement. Conclusion: In conclusion, most patients with VPD in this study who underwent evaluation and treatment felt that surgery and speech therapy had improved their speech, but only about half of them were in the end satisfied with the quality of their speech.
Sex- and age-specific incidence of fractures in mental illness: a historical, population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To estimate risks of fracture at any site, and at sites linked with osteoporosis, in mentally ill adults compared with the general population. METHOD We created a community-based cohort by using the U.K. General Practice Research Database, with follow-up from January 1987 through April 2005. We investigated age- and sex-specific fracture risks in psychotic illness(N = 4283), nonpsychotic affective disorder (N = 95,228), and any other psychiatric condition (N = 49,439). Comparison cases were subjects with no psychiatric code (N = 182,851); age-stratified (18-44 years, 45-74 years, > or = 75 years) relative risks (RRs) were estimated by Poisson regression. Outcomes were incident cases of fracture at any site, at the hip, and at the distal radius. RESULTS Among all mentally ill women, highest RRs of fracture at any site were in the youngest age group, whereas the strongest effects in men were with older age. The highest raised risk of any fracture occurred in premenopausal women with psychotic disorders (RR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.5 to 4.3). Hip fracture rates were raised in elderly women and men with psychiatric illness and were especially high in women (RR = 5.1, 95% CI = 2.7 to 9.6) and men (RR = 6.4, 95% CI = 2.6 to 16.1) with psychotic disorders at ages 45 to 74 years. Data were too sparse to estimate RR of distal radius fracture, although risk was modestly (but significantly) higher among women with any mental illness in each age group than the reference population, i.e., women with no history of psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSION Raised risks of fracture in mental illness are likely to be explained by a range of mechanisms. Further research is needed to elucidate these mechanisms and to inform the development of targeted interventions.
Development of seaweed-based bamboo microcrystalline cellulose films intended for sustainable food packaging applications

Seaweed bio-composite films with different proportion of Lemang and Semantan bamboo microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were fabricated via solvent casting. The seaweed/MCC composite films were flexible, transparent, and slightly yellow. The MCC particles further enhanced mechanical properties and opacity of films. The thermal stability of seaweed films was moderately improved upon addition of bamboo MCC particles. Bamboo MCC was found to be comparable to commercial MCC in reducing the water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility (WS), and moisture absorption capacity (MSC) of seaweed films. The tensile strength (TS) of seaweed films was increased by 20 to 23% with addition of up to 5% MCC particles. In addition, bamboo MCC efficiently reduced the WVP of seaweed films comparable to commercial MCC particles. The WS of seaweed films was decreased by 10 to 19% with addition of 1% MCC particles loading. Lemang bamboo MCC (SB-MCC) was remarkably reduced the moisture absorption capacity (MAC) of films up to 25% with inclusion of only 1% MCC. Morphological analysis via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed that there was homogeneous dispersion of MCC particles in the films. MCC particles improved the mechanical, thermal, and optical properties of seaweed films making them more suitable for food packaging applications.
Children's Singing Games: Composition in the Playground?

This paper reports the findings of an ethnographic study of processes of variation and transmission in Australian children's playground singing games, conducted in a multiethnic inner city primary school in Sydney from 1990 to 1994. The paper focuses on children's processes of innovation or composition in relation to text, music and movement in these games and children's own awareness of these processes. Findings of the study are used to challenge the notion that children's compositional processes fit an invariable model such as that proposed by Swanwick and Tillman (1986). Instead, the author proposes that compositional processes vary according to the context in which they are enacted. Implications for teaching practice are outlined with particular reference to provision of a challenging classroom environment in which the considerable compositional and performance skills of children are acknowledged and the importance of group interaction is recognised.
SURVEI PARTISIPASI SISWA BERKEBUTUHAN KHUSUS TERHADAP PEMBELAJARAN PENJASORKES DI SMPLB DAN SMALB MANUNGGAL SLAWI KABUPATEN TEGAL TAHUN 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the participation of students with disabilities to physical education learning and the efforts of teachers in relation to the participation of students with special needs and physical education learning in SMPLB and SMALB Manunggal Slawi Tegal 2012. This research included in this type of qualitative research. The population in this study were all students SMPLB and SMALB Manunggal Slawi totaling 49 students. Mechanical sampling using total sampling. The sample in this research that all students Sections B and C, amounting to 49 students. Methods of data collection using observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis techniques using descriptive analysis percentage. The results obtained through observations by 31 students (63.3%) participated, while 18 students (36.7%) did not participate in follow physical education learning. Based on interviews obtained results that in terms of intrinsic factor is the main reason students attend physical education learning is to get a good value, while the extrinsic factor is the nature of the teachers are fun and a good teacher. The conclusion of this research is the participation of students with special needs and physical education learning in SMPLB and SMALB Manunggal Slawi Tegal regency in 2012 are included in both categories, intrinsic and extrinsic participation greatly affect the participation of in learning physical education follow.
Analysis and Improvement for 802.15.4 Multi-hop Network

IEEE 802.15. 4 is a protocol for low-rate wireless personal area networks. It contains two topologies: the star topology and the peer-to-peer topology. It has good performances for the star topology. However, the beacon collisions with other beacons, data or control frames make the multi-hop beacon-enabled mode difficult to be built and maintained. Although nonbeacon-enabled has better performance, it also suffers from the hidden terminal problem, which becomes much more serious in the multi-hop network. So an improved scheme for IEEE 802.15. 4 nonbeacon-enabled multi-hop network is discussed. Extensive ns-2 simulations are used to verify the proposed scheme. The results show that the proposed scheme can solve the problem availably and can achieve much better performance than the previous standard.
Academic Self-Efficacy as a Predictor of College Outcomes: Two Incremental Validity Studies

A growing body of literature supports the relationship between students’ self-efficacy beliefs for academic tasks and milestones and their academic performance. Not surprisingly, some researchers have investigated the role that academic self-efficacy beliefs play in predicting college success. Two incremental validity studies were conducted to determine the extent to which academic self-efficacy beliefs could account for variance in college outcomes beyond that accounted for by standardized test scores. Results suggest that academic self-efficacy beliefs predict college outcomes but that this relationship is dependent on when efficacy beliefs are measured, the types of efficacy beliefs measured, and the nature of the criteria used.
International Multispecialty Consensus on How to Evaluate Ultrasound Competence: A Delphi Consensus Survey

Objectives To achieve international consensus across multiple specialties on a generic ultrasound rating scale using a Delphi technique. Methods Ultrasound experts from Obstetrics-Gynaecology, Surgery, Urology, Radiology, Rheumatology, Emergency Medicine, and Gastro-Enterology representing North America, Australia, and Europe were identified. A multi-round survey was conducted to obtain consensus between these experts. Of 60 invited experts, 44 experts agreed to participate in the first Delphi round, 41 remained in the second round, and 37 completed the third Delphi round. Seven key elements of the ultrasound examination were identified from existing literature and recommendations from international ultrasound societies. All experts rated the importance of these seven elements on a five-point Likert scale in the first round and suggested potential new elements for the assessment of ultrasound skills. In the second round, the experts re-rated all elements and a third round was conducted to allow final comments. Agreement on which elements to include in the final rating scale was pre-defined as more than 80% of the experts rating an element four or five, on importance to the ultrasound examination. Results Two additional elements were suggested by more than 10% of the experts in the first Delphi round. Consensus was obtained to include these two new elements along with five of the original elements in the final assessment instrument: 1) Indication for the examination 2) Applied knowledge of ultrasound equipment 3) Image optimization 4) Systematic examination 5) Interpretation of images 6) Documentation of examination and 7) Medical decision making. Conclusion International multispecialty consensus was achieved on the content of a generic ultrasound rating scale. This is the first step to ensure valid assessment of clinicians in different medical specialties using ultrasound.
Analysis of Quality of Knowledge Transformation Path to Learning Organization at Copper Carving Cluster in Central Java

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect among variables of disciplinary learning organization (personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, thinking systemic, and team learning). The benefit of this research is to develop a model of knowledge transformation path quality as one of the strategies to manage environment change around Copper Craft Cluster. Samples of 90 workers were chosen by Slovin at 10% critical value of 716 populations as workers at the Copper Carving Cluster Tumang Boyolali, Central Java as a chosen research location. The technique sampling was proportional random sampling. The validity and reliability were tested. The data analysis method has been used descriptive analysis and inferential statistics (used path analysis). The benefit of this research was to develop a model of quality of knowledge transformation path as one of the strategies to manage environment's change at the Copper Craft Cluster. The results showed that there were a positive and significant influences among variables as follow: personal mastery discipline on mental models discipline ; personal mastery discipline on shared vision discipline; personal mastery discipline on systemic thinking discipline; mental models discipline on shared vision discipline; mental models discipline on systemic thinking discipline; systemic thinking discipline on shared vision discipline; mental models discipline on team learning discipline; systemic thinking discipline on team learning discipline; and shared vision discipline on team learning discipline.
Second Cancers in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background Second cancers have been reported to occur in 10-20% of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, most published studies used data from a single institution or focused only on specific sites of NETs. In addition, most of these studies included second cancers diagnosed concurrently with NETs, making it difficult to assess the temporality and determine the exact incidence of second cancers. In this nationwide population-based study, we used data recorded by the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) to analyze the incidence and distribution of second cancers after the diagnosis of NETs. Methods NET cases diagnosed from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2006 were identified from the TCR. The data on the occurrence of second cancers were ascertained up to December 31, 2008. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of second cancers were calculated based on the cancer incidence rates of the general population. Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of second cancers associated with sex, age, and primary NET sites. Results A total of 1,350 newly diagnosed NET cases were identified according to the selection criteria. Among the 1,350 NET patients, 49 (3.63%) developed a second cancer >3 months after the diagnosis of NET. The risk of second cancer following NETs was increased compared to the general population (SIR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-1.96), especially among those diagnosed at age 70 or older (HR = 5.08, 95% CI = 1.69-15.22). There appeared to be no preference of second cancer type according to the primary sites of NETs. Conclusions Our study showed that the risk of second cancer following NETs is increased, especially among those diagnosed at age 70 or older. Close monitoring for the occurrence of second cancers after the diagnosis of NETs is warranted.
Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality, and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution.

CONTEXT Associations have been found between day-to-day particulate air pollution and increased risk of various adverse health outcomes, including cardiopulmonary mortality. However, studies of health effects of long-term particulate air pollution have been less conclusive. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution and all-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Vital status and cause of death data were collected by the American Cancer Society as part of the Cancer Prevention II study, an ongoing prospective mortality study, which enrolled approximately 1.2 million adults in 1982. Participants completed a questionnaire detailing individual risk factor data (age, sex, race, weight, height, smoking history, education, marital status, diet, alcohol consumption, and occupational exposures). The risk factor data for approximately 500 000 adults were linked with air pollution data for metropolitan areas throughout the United States and combined with vital status and cause of death data through December 31, 1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE All-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality. RESULTS Fine particulate and sulfur oxide--related pollution were associated with all-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality. Each 10-microg/m(3) elevation in fine particulate air pollution was associated with approximately a 4%, 6%, and 8% increased risk of all-cause, cardiopulmonary, and lung cancer mortality, respectively. Measures of coarse particle fraction and total suspended particles were not consistently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION Long-term exposure to combustion-related fine particulate air pollution is an important environmental risk factor for cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality.
A 275 basepair fragment at the 5' end of the interleukin 2 gene enhances expression from a heterologous promoter in response to signals from the T cell antigen receptor

Using a transient transfection assay, we have defined the sequences required for the activation of the IL-2 gene in response to signals from the T cell antigen receptor. To do so we have transfected the human T cell line Jurkat with hybrid DNA constructs in which fragments from the IL-2 gene are linked to an indicator gene. The indicator gene product, as well as IL-2 production from the endogenous IL-2 gene were assayed after activation of the transfected Jurkat cells by various stimuli. We have demonstrated that a 275 bp fragment stretching from 52 to 326 bp upstream of the IL-2 gene transcription initiation site is required for expression of the linked indicator gene. This IL-2 gene fragment has several of the characteristics of a transcriptional enhancer element, in that it functions in both orientations and will enhance the expression from the promoter of an unrelated gene. Such enhancement occurred only after activation of Jurkat cells through the T cell antigen receptor. More specifically, this 275 bp fragment activated the expression of a linked gene after binding of a monoclonal antibody to the Jurkat T cell antigen receptor in the presence of PMA. In addition, calcium ionophore, which circumvents antigen receptor binding in T cell activation, induced the expression of the linked gene through this 275 bp sequence, in the presence of PMA. Finally, in a mutant Jurkat cell line lacking T3/antigen receptor complexes at the cell surface, no expression due to the IL-2 5' flanking region was seen after exposure to antibody to the T cell antigen receptor plus PMA or to PHA plus PMA. In contrast, calcium ionophore plus PMA did induce the expression of a linked gene through the IL-2 5' flanking region in the mutant Jurkat cell line. The responsiveness of the transfected hybrid genes containing the IL-2 regulatory region paralleled the expression of the endogenous IL-2 gene, as determined by IL-2 bioassays. We conclude that the 275 bp IL-2 sequence (-326 to -52 bp) is a target for the signal pathway originating at the T cell antigen receptor. Definition of this 275 bp target sequence should now permit the isolation of the molecules that bind to and activate the IL-2 gene.
Improved hydrological understanding of a semi-arid subtropical transboundary basin using multiple techniques – the Incomati River Basin

This study aims at improving the hydrological process understanding of the semi-arid and transboundary Incomati river basin to enable better water management. Comprehensive statistical and trend analysis of rainfall and streamflow were conducted, and the Indicators of Hydrological Alteration tool was deployed to describe the streamflow regime and trends over time. Land use and land cover change, particularly the conversion of natural vegetation into forest plantation, the expansion of irrigated agriculture and the flow regulation due to dam operation were identified as critical drivers of flow regime alteration. Hydrograph separation using long-term hydrochemical data at seasonal scale, and hydrochemical and isotope data at event scale were performed to quantify runoff components. A novel methodology to calibrate recursive digital filters using routinely collected water quality data was developed and tested in the catchment. This method allows for estimation of daily baseflow from readily available daily streamflow data. Dominant runoff generation zones were mapped using the Height Above Nearest Drainage approach. The hydrological model STREAM was then employed, informed by the runoff generation zones mapping and the process understanding gained in the catchment, as well as remote sensing data. The study provides the basis for better operational water management in the catchment.
How to control a white bear? Individual differences involved in self-perceived and actual thought-suppression ability

Thought suppression is generally considered a maladaptive mental control strategy, leading to increased intrusions. In the experimental psychopathology literature, thought suppression is assigned a central role in anxiety and depression, disorders characterised by a high level of negative intrusive thoughts. We examined predictors of self-perceived and actual thought suppression ability in an undergraduate sample. It was found that self-perceived suppression ability was predicted by anxiety and depression scores, attentional control, and distraction strategies. Immediate and rebound effects of actual suppression were predicted by depression scores. Interestingly, higher levels of attentional control and distraction were related to more successful thought suppression on the questionnaires, yet were related to increased intrusions during suppression.
AFFECT AS AN ASPECT OF WORKLOAD: WHY AND HOW TO ADDRESS AFFECT IN AUTOMATION AND SIMULATION STUDIES

Affect is a much-neglected moderator of workload and performance. Research literature demonstrating affect’s influence on cognitive and physical tasks is summarized. In terms of cognitive performance, affect has been shown to influence memory function, decision making, problem solving, risk assessment, and performance on other cognitively loaded tasks. In terms of physical performance, affect has been shown to influence physical perceptions and interpersonal functioning, and to moderate performance on tasks that are heavily loaded for strenuous physical activity. Methodological suggestions are given regarding induction of affect in experimental studies, and assessment of affect. This paper presents the researcher in human performance, automation, and simulation with several resources: a rationale for including affect in the conceptualization of every study; a list of studies that demonstrate affect’s role in moderating cognitive and physical performance; references to theoretical models for affect, performance, and workload; references for induction of effect; references for assessment of affect.