Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topographic locations and size of earthquake‐ and typhoon‐generated landslides, Tachia River, Taiwan

Analysis of mapped landslide locations using a high‐resolution (5‐m grid) digital elevation model (DEM) in the Tachia River basin, Taiwan, finds distinct differences in the topographic locations and size of landslides during the 1999 Chi‐Chi earthquake and the 2001 Toraji typhoon. Our analysis supports Densmore and Hovius' hypothesis that earthquake‐induced landslides cluster near ridgetops due to topographic amplification of ground shaking, and that typhoon‐induced landslides occur with greater frequency lower on slopes. In addition, the differing topographic locations of seismically‐induced and subsequent typhoon‐induced landslides shows no evidence of residual post‐earthquake influences on landslides during typhoon Toraji previously hypothesized for drainage basins closer to the earthquake epicenter. Our results support the interpretation that in this tectonically active landscape, seismically‐induced landslides help shatter and erode ridgetops but typhoon‐triggered landslides concentrate erosion farther downslope, with the combination acting to more uniformly lower upland terrain than either process does individually. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Qur’an Education Activities at the Qur’an House Bustanul Qira'ah Indonesia

This study aims to explore how the educational model of the art of reading the Qur’an is for students at the Qur’an bustanul qira'ah Islamic boarding school. This research used a qualitative method with a phenomenology approach, the research data was taken through direct interviews with ten informants (boarding school administrators, boarding school teachers, village government, students, and parents of students), to strengthen the interview data the author made observations for two months. By being directly involved in the activities of the bustanul qira'ah Qur’an boarding school. All interview and observation data were then analyzed thematically using the Nvivo 12 software. Overall the results of the analysis showed that there were three Qur’an educational activities in the bustanul qira'ah Islamic boarding school. The three activities are: i) learning the art of recitation (using the rhythms of bayyati, nahawand, and rast), ii) learning the art of tartil (with the rhythms of bayyati from thoha al junayd, and nahawand from sheikh Misyari rasyid), iii) memorizing the Qur’an. The results of this study can be used as initial data for future researchers in examining different issues related to this problem and various other issues that are relevant to this context.
The Cross-Section of Foreign Currency Risk Premia and Consumption Growth Risk: A Reply

The U.S. consumption growth beta of an investment strategy that goes long in high interest rate currencies and short in low interest rate currencies is large and significant. The price of consumption risk is significantly different from zero, even after accounting for the sampling uncertainty introduced by the estimation of the consumption betas. The constant in the regression of average returns on consumption betas is not significant. In addition, the consumption and market betas of this investment strategy increase during recessions and times of crisis, when risk prices are high, implying that the unconditional betas understate its riskiness. We use the recent crisis as an example.
From home to community to city: Different approaches to environmental exposure assessment of particulate matter across the Pittsburgh region

Air pollution is a global public health issue, and regulations such as the Clean Air Act of 1970 in the United States were created to control emissions and clean up the air that we breathe. The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has a rich history with regards to air pollution and is a unique study area, with varying topography of hills and river valleys, active industrial plants such as steel mills and coke works, and high traffic density areas. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) are known to be associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and meteorological effects such as the presence of inversions can result in trapping of PM2.5 and BC. Air pollution studies were performed at differing exposure levels, from within the homes of asthmatic children, to a community with an active steel mill, and to a specified domain of across the city of Pittsburgh. This hierarchy of sampling occurred via a variety of exposure assessment methods, from personal exposure monitors, mobile monitoring devices, and stationary sampling
Mixed RF-VLC Relaying Systems for High-Speed Rail Communication

In the proposed system setup, a communication link is established between base station (BS) and end-user (UE) via a relay node mounted on the high-speed train (HST). The information is conveyed over backhaul RF links between BS and relay and over VLC links between relay and UE inside the train. It is assumed that RF links are encountered with dual shadowing due to slow-moving vehicles and pedestrians. Moreover, the relay node is not able to estimate the channel information perfectly due to HST mobility. Firstly, the statistical characteristics, such as the probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function of the BS-relay link, are derived under imperfect channel information. Then, the system performance is examined by deriving the two key metrics, outage probability, and average bit error rate. Furthermore, we investigate the secrecy performance of the proposed system when the RF eavesdropper overhears the link between BS and relay and the VLC eavesdropper captures the information via the relay-UE link. To this end, the secure outage probability is derived into a closed form. Our results reveal that the proposed system setup can be adopted as a network architecture for existing as well as for future HST networks.
Self-Perception of Aging and Hypertension in a Cohort of Sexual Minority

Objectives To determine whether self-perception of aging is an important marker of health and hypertension among older sexual minority men. Methods We evaluated associations between self-perception of aging (chronologic-subjective age discrepancy and aging satisfaction) and hypertension among 1,180 sexual minority men (51.6% with HIV/48.4% without HIV) from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study using a manifest Markov chain model adjusted for HIV status, age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, inhaled nitrite use, diabetes, dyslipidemia, kidney and liver disease. Results The overall prevalence of hypertension increased from 73.1% to 82.6% over three years of follow-up. Older age discrepancy (aOR (adjusted odds ratio): 1.13 95% CI: 0.35-3.69) and low aging satisfaction (aOR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.31-2.52) were not associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension, regardless of HIV status. Discussion More than 80% of sexual minority men had a diagnosis of hypertension but self-perception of aging was not predictive of incident hypertension.
Long-term outcomes of COVID-19 intensive care unit survivors and their family members: a one year follow-up prospective study

Purpose To describe the long-term physical, functional and mental status of COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their family members 1 year after ICU discharge. Methods We performed a prospective observational cohort study among patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19-associated respiratory failure and their family members. Patients attended a one-year follow-up consultation with family members. Physical, functional and respiratory outcomes were collected. In addition, participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Revised Impact of Event Scale. Qualitative components were collected during a 2-h face-to-face interview. Results Fifty-four patients and 42 family members were included. Thirty-four (63%) patients reported chronic fatigue and 37 (68.5%) dyspnea. Computed tomography scans were abnormal in 34 patients (72.3%). Anxiety symptoms were present in 23 (48%) patients and 26 (66%) family members, depression in 11 (23%) and 13 (33%), and post-traumatic stress disorder in 12 (25%) and 23 (55%), respectively. Visit limitation was reported as the most painful experience for family members. Numerous patients recalled nightmares that contributed to the anxiety. Long-term reconstruction was difficult for both patients and family members. Conclusion The vast majority of patients and their relatives reported long-term consequences on various physical and mental components, leading to a profound impact on their well-being.
WHO EMRO | Prevalence and determinants of Caesarean delivery in Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Caesarean section (C-section) is a life-saving obstetric procedure that reduces maternal mortality and improves reproductive health. Although, vaginal delivery is still an important safe and low-cost method of delivery, C-section is sometimes performed when it is not even required, which creates health challenges for pregnant women and their newborn infants. Aims: To estimate the effect of a set of institutional, demographic, socioeconomic and spatial variables on C-section delivery (n = 2424) in Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: We used data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Punjab 2014 and multiple logistic regression analysis. Analysis was carried out using STATA version 12. Results: Higher maternal age at first marriage, higher number of antenatal care visits, and higher wealth quintiles were associated with higher risk of C-section. Women in Punjab were more likely to deliver through C-section in private health facilities and there was no significant difference between urban and rural areas. There was a significant difference in the risk of C-section in different divisions of Punjab, for example, DG Khan and Rawalpindi showed the lowest risk compared with the reference division of Bahawalpur, which is partially explained by the developmental disparities and access to public healthcare facilities.
Effect of Vitamin D3 on Chemerin and Adiponectin Levels in Uterus of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder with disrupted uterus structure and function. A positive effect of vitamin D3 (VD3) in female reproduction was observed. Chemerin (RARRES2) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) are the main adipokines whose levels are altered in PCOS patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of VD3 supplementation on RARRES2 and ADIPOQ levels in the uterus of PCOS rats. Methods: We analyzed the plasma levels and uterine transcript and protein expression of RARRES2 and ADIPOQ and their receptors (CCRL2, CMKLR1, GPR1, and ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2, respectively) in rats with letrozole-induced PCOS. Results: In control animals, VD3 did not change plasma levels of both adipokines, while in PCOS rats supplemented with VD3, they returned to control levels. The expression of RARRES2 and all investigated receptors increased in the uterus of VD3-treated rats; however, the levels of Rarres2 and Gpr1 genes remained unchanged. VD3 supplementation decreased RARRES2, CMKLR1, and GPR1 but increased CCRL2 level to the control value. In the uterus of VD3-treated rats, the transcript and protein levels of ADIPOQ and both receptors ADIPOR1 increased. At the same time, VD3 supplementation induced an increase in Adipoq, Adipor1, and Adipor2 gene expression and restored protein levels to control level values. Conclusions: our findings indicate a new mechanism of VD3 action in the uterine physiology of PCOS rats.
Malaysia’s Media Framing of Plastic Pollution: The Case of Imported Plastic Waste

ABSTRACT Public knowledge regarding environmental problems is determined by how new sources frame the issues in specific terms. Media images of Southeast Asian countries, particularly Malaysia, drowning in plastic waste are rife after China’s import ban. The concern is mounting over the uneven distribution of environmental and health burdens between developed and developing countries. Despite the growing perils of plastic pollution, there is no comparative analysis available on environmental news coverage in Malaysian mainstream and alternative media. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the differences in the framing of plastic pollution over four years. Quantitative content analysis of The Star’s and Malaysiakini’s coverage between January 2018 and December 2021 showed that controversy is the most frequently used frame for describing respective governments’ standpoints. Additionally, Malaysian newspapers are similar in their selection of primary issue definers. The implications of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Progressive Channel Estimation for Single-Carrier Communications Aided by Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

Cyclic-prefix single-carrier transmissions aided by a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) can extract multipath diversity profiting from the cyclic delay diversity technique. However, due to the substantial number of unit elements an RIS can possess, the pilot block size can be extremely large, violating the requirement for low-latency communications. To solve this problem, in this letter, we present a progressive channel estimation method that transmits pilots and data alternately. As the number of transmitted pilot blocks increases, we can attain increasingly comprehensive channel state information via least-square estimation in the time domain, and hence, a higher multipath diversity gain. The normalized mean square error of the proposed channel estimator is analytically assessed via a novel closed-form expression. Our simulation results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed method over time-varying channels, outperforming a competing benchmark scheme.
Low-Cost and Low-Frequency Impedance Meter for Soil Water Content Measurement in the Precision Agriculture Scenario

The use of low-cost embedded devices with ubiquitous connectivity systems is a possible strategy to monitor the consumption of water used in agriculture even in countries that do not have good economic resources. In this article, we propose a low-cost system based on a measuring approach of capacitive soil water content (SWC) sensors never explored previously. This solution takes advantage of the sensor properties to respond to the need to measure at the same time salinity and soil volumetric water content. For this purpose, a bifunctional system based on a modified commercial capacitive sensor and an AD5933 impedance converter integrated circuit (IC) is described. The considered frequency range for impedance measurements is 10–100 kHz, which is a “low-frequency” range compared with typical operating frequencies of professional systems devoted to water content measurements. Measurements are carried out to check the system accuracy and to characterize the impedance of the sensor both in the air and in water, which represent the two boundaries of possible operating conditions in physical soils in terms of the real part of the electrical permittivity. Variations of the imaginary part of the electrical permittivity are taken into account using water with conductivity between 1 and $2300~\mu \text{S}$ /cm. Experimental results are compared with the measurements obtained by using a laboratory inductance in honor of Heinrich Lenz, capacitance and resistance (LCR) meter, and a maximum error of +6.12% for the capacitance and +5.6% for the conductance is obtained. The proposed system is also employed to characterize silica sandy soil with different water contents and conductivities showing quite promising results useful to overcome the well-known limits of low-cost SWC sensors.
The plyometric treatment effects on change of direction speed and reactive agility in young tennis players: a randomized controlled trial

Aim: The aim of this paper is to determine the effect of 6 weeks of plyometric training on speed, explosive power, pre-planned agility, and reactive agility in young tennis players. Methods: The participants in this study included 35 male tennis players (age 12.14 ± 1.3 years, height 157.35 ± 9.53 cm and body mass 45.84 ± 8.43 kg at the beginning of the experiment). The biological age was calculated and determined for all participants. 18 of the participants were randomly assigned to the control group, and 17 were assigned to the experimental group. Running speed (sprints at 5, 10, and 20 m), change of direction speed (4 × 10, 20 yards, t-test, TENCODS), reactive agility (TENRAG), and explosive power (long jump, single leg triple jump, countermovement jump, squat jump, and single leg countermovement jump) were all tested. The Mixed model (2 × 2) ANOVA was used to determine the interactions and influence of a training program on test results. Furthermore, Bonferroni post hoc test was performed on variables with significant time*group interactions. Results: The results of this research indicate that an experimental training program affected results in a set time period, i.e. 5 out of total 15 variables showed significant improvement after experimental protocol when final testing was conducted. The experimental group showed significantly improved results in the 5 m sprint test in the final testing phase compared to the initial testing phase, this was also the case in comparison to the control group in both measurements. Furthermore, the experimental group showed significant improvement in the single leg countermovement jump in the final test, as well as in comparison to the control group in both measurements. The change of direction speed and reactive agility test also exhibited significant improvement in the final testing phase of the experimental group. Conclusion: The results of this research indicated that a 6-week program dominated by plyometric training can have a significant effect on the improvement of specific motor abilities within younger competitive categories. These results offer valuable insights for coaches in designing diverse tennis-specific scenarios to enhance overall performance, particularly focusing on the neuromuscular fitness of their players.
Research Prospects in Western Ghats Stream Ecology:Perspective from River Sharavathi

Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science E Mail: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in energy@ces.iisc.ernet.in Telephone: 91-080-23600985 / 22933099/ 22932506 Telefax: 91-080-23601428 / 23600085 / 23600683 [CES TVR] URL: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity The Western Ghats is one of the hottest hotspots of biodiversity (Myers,
Evaluation of the Most Visible Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines Among the Residents of Makkah, Saudi Arabia: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study

Background This research evaluated the most visible symptoms associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines among residents in Makkah of Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among a representative sample of residents receiving COVID-19 vaccination at King Abdullah Medical City, ‏Al Ukayshiyyah, and Umm Al-Qura University vaccination centers. A total of 805 participants selected by a census sampling method were included. Data regarding characteristics, medical history, and post-vaccination symptoms were obtained with an interview-based questionnaire. Results The participants’ mean age was 25.20 ± 15.5 years. Of them, 61.7% and 38.3% received one and two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. 2.2% have an allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. 25.3% were infected with COVID-19, 23% were infected before the first dose, and only 1.6% were infected after the first dose. Significant statistical associations were found between males and females in smoking status, age, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, and types of COVID-19 vaccines (P-value < 0.05). After adjustment for confounding variables, male participants had lower odds of having swelling, redness, or pain at the injection site, muscle or joint pain, headache, dizziness, and nausea compared to female participants [OR = 0.596, 95% CI = (0.388–0.916)], [OR = 0.272, 95% CI = (0.149–0.495)], [OR = 0.529, 95% CI = (0.338–0.828)], [OR = 0.263, 95% CI = (0.125–0.554)], and [OR = 0.145, 95% CI = (0.31–0.679), P < 0.05 for all], respectively. Conclusion The female participants may have a higher risk of post-COVID-19 vaccination symptoms than males among Makkah residents of Saudi Arabia.
Implementasi Model Discovery Learning Pada Materi Laju Reaksi Untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Proses Sains Dan Sikap Sosial Peserta Didik Mas Ulumul Qur'an Banda Aceh

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh model discovery learning terhadap keterampilan proses sains (KPS), sikap sosial, dan respon peserta didik pada materi laju reaksi. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode pre-experimental design melalui one group pretest-posttest design yang dilaksanakan di MAS Ulumul Qur’an Banda Aceh sejak tanggal 16 Oktober – 1 Desember 2014. Sampel yang terpilih menggunakan teknik purposive sampling yaitu kelas XI IPA sebagai kelas eksperimen. Analisa data pretest dan posttest dilakukan untuk mengetahui KPS, lembar observasi untuk mengetahui sikap sosial peserta didik, dan angket untuk mengetahui respon peserta didik terhadap model pembelajaran discovery learnin g . Hasil gain nilai pretest dan posttest sebesar 62,24 (kategori sedang ). Sedangkan, hasil uji normalitas dan homogenitas menunjukkan bahwa data pretest dan posttest berdistribusi normal dan tidak homogen. Selanjutnya hasil uji statistik (t’) menunjukkan bahwa t hitung > t (0,05,52) (14,81 > 1,66) yang berarti implementasi model discovery learning dapat meningkatkan KPS peserta didik secara signifikan. Nilai sikap sosial peserta didik mengalami peningkatan dari 67,22 pada pertemuan pertama menjadi 92,22 pada pertemuan kelima. Peserta didik memberikan respon positif terhadap implementasi model discovery learning . Simpulan penelitian ini adalah pembelajaran dengan model discovery learning dapat meningkatkan KPS, sikap sosial, dan peserta didik memberikan respon positif.
Glaciological Problems Set by the Control of Dangerous Lakes in Cordillera Blanca, Peru. I. Historical Failures of Morainic Dams, their Causes and Prevention

Abstract The retreat of glaciers since 1927 in Cordillera Blanca has produced dangerous lakes at the front of many glaciers. All the known data, most of them unpublished, are reviewed. The known aluviones are listed, and those of Chavin, Quebrada Los Cedros and Artesoncocha described in full. In these three cases a breach in the front moraine came from big ice falls into the lake. The protective devices made on the outlets are described, as well as the effects of the big earthquake on 31 May 1970. In the case of Laguna Parón, which keeps its level thanks to infiltrations, the fluctuations of the discharge of the springs as related to the level of the lake from 1955 to 1969 are reported. The projects for lowering the level of Laguna Parón and for emptying Safuna Alta are described. The latter partially emptied in fact by piping after the earthquake, allowing a final solution.