Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation on the impact damage of glass using the combined finite/discrete element method

Glass and laminated glass are widely used for structural members in industry. To investigate how they fracture under impact as well as the subsequent fragmentation, the combined finite-discrete element method (FEM/DEM) was employed in this thesis. The mode I fracture model was extended for glass by changing the strain softening curve to a bilinear-like exponential decay shape. Analysis based on this model was performed and numerical examples in both 2D and 3D were investigated. Parametric study was carried out and conclusion was reached that the tensile strength, fracture energy and thickness are the top three parameters in improving the performance of monolithic glass under impact. Two mixed mode I + II fracture models (the elasto-plastic fracture model and the scaling model) were developed for the glass and the interface in laminated glass. The elasto-plastic model reached some similarity with the Mode I model, while some modification is needed for the scaling model. Results on laminated glass from the FEM/DEM were compared and verified with that from FEM, DEM and experiments. Parametric study on the laminated glass was performed, showing better capacity in energy absorption over monolithic glass.
The North Polar Cap of Mars

During late 2013 and early 2014, the Northern Hemisphere of Mars faced Earth. This provided a prime opportunity for studying its North Polar Cap (NPC). The writer measured the cap size during the intervals 30° < Ls < 70° and 82° < Ls < 134°. (The areocentric longitude of the Sun from Mars is designated as Ls and it determines the seasons on that planet; essentially, the beginning of the northern spring, summer, fall and winter are at Ls = 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°). NPC latitude measurements were made with the software package WinJupos. The mean latitudes were measured for 23 four-degree intervals of Ls. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests at the 90% confidence level are consistent with there being no statistical difference between the NPC in 2000 and both 2013 and 2011-2012 for 30° < Ls < 70°. Based on this same test there is a statistical difference for the NPC in 2002 and 2009-2010 compared to 2000. Therefore, it is concluded that the NPC may show interannual differences. Essentially, the NPC stopped shrinking at Ls = 82°. Its mean latitude for 82° < Ls < 134° was 81.9° ± 0.3° which is equivalent to a mean radius of 480 ± 18 km. This is nearly the same value that was measured between 1905 and 1971.
Risk of Excess Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation in Offspring

Folate, also known as vitamin B9, facilitates the transfer of methyl groups among molecules, which is crucial for amino acid metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. Adequate maternal folate supplementation has been widely acknowledged for its pivotal role in promoting cell proliferation and preventing neural tube defects. However, in the post-fortification era, there has been a rising concern regarding an excess maternal intake of folic acid (FA), the synthetic form of folate. In this review, we focused on recent advancements in understanding the influence of excess maternal FA intake on offspring. For human studies, we summarized findings from clinical trials investigating the effects of periconceptional FA intake on neurodevelopment and molecular-level changes in offspring. For studies using mouse models, we compiled the impact of high maternal FA supplementation on gene expression and behavioral changes in offspring. In summary, excessive maternal folate intake could potentially have adverse effects on offspring. Overall, we highlighted concerns regarding elevated maternal folate status in the population, providing a comprehensive perspective on the potential adverse effects of excessive maternal FA supplementation on offspring.
Development of seismicity and probabilistic hazard assessment for the Groningen gas field

Abstract The increase in number and strength of shallow induced seismicity connected to the Groningen gas field since 2003 and the occurrence of a M L 3.6 event in 2012 started the development of a full probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) for Groningen, required by the regulator. Densification of the monitoring network resulted in a decrease of the location threshold and magnitude of completeness down to ~ M L=0.5. Combined with a detailed local velocity model, epicentre accuracy could be reduced from 0.5–1km to 0.1–0.3km and a vertical resolution ~0.3km. Time-dependent seismic activity is observed and taken into account into PSHA calculations. Development of the Ground Motion Model for Groningen resulted in a significant reduction of the hazard. Comparison of different implementations of the PSHA, using different source models, based on either a compaction model and production scenarios or on extrapolation of past seismicity, and methods of calculation, shows similar results.
Crustal structure of the conjugate Equatorial Atlantic Margins, derived by gravity anomaly inversion

Abstract The crustal structure of the Equatorial Atlantic conjugate margins (South America and West Africa) has been investigated using 3D gravity anomaly inversion, which allows for (1) the elevated geothermal gradient of the lithosphere following rifting and break-up and (2) magmatic addition to the crust during rifting and break-up. It is therefore particularly suitable for the analysis of rifted margins and their associated ocean basins. Maps of crustal thickness and conjugate-margin stretching, derived from gravity anomaly inversion, are used to illustrate how the Equatorial Atlantic opened as a set of stepped rift-transform segments, rather than as a simple orthogonal rifted margin. The influence of the transform faults and associated oceanic fracture zones is particularly clear when the results of the gravity anomaly inversion are combined with a shaded-relief display of the free-air gravity anomaly. A set of crustal cross-sections has been extracted from the results of the gravity inversion along both equatorial margins. These illustrate the crustal structure of both rifted-margin segments and transform-margin segments. The maps and cross-sections are used to delineate crustal type on the margins as (1) inboard, entirely continental, (2) outboard, entirely oceanic and (3) the ocean–continent transition in between where mixed continental and magmatic crust is likely to be present. For a given parameterization of melt generation the amount of magmatic addition within the ocean–continent transition is predicted by the gravity inversion. One of the strengths of the gravity-inversion technique is that these predictions can be made in the absence of any other directly acquired data. On both margins anomalously thick crust is resolved close to a number of oceanic fracture zones. On the South American margin we believe that this thick crust is probably the result of post-break-up magmatism within what was originally normal-thickness oceanic crust. On the West African margin, however, three possible origins are discussed: (1) continental crust extended oceanwards along the fracture zones; (2) oceanic crust magmatically thickened at the fracture zones; and (3) oceanic crust thickened by transpression along the fracture zones. Gravity inversion alone cannot discriminate between these possibilities. The cross-sections also show that, while ‘normal thickness’ oceanic crust (c. 7 km) predominates regionally, local areas of thinner (c. 5 km) and thicker (c. 10 km) oceanic crust are also present along both margins. Finally, using maps of crustal thickness and thinning factor as input to plate reconstructions, the regional palaeogeography of the Equatorial Atlantic during and after break-up is displayed at 10 Ma increments.
Association Between Maternal Lipid Profile and Fetal Birth Weight in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Pregnancies

ABSTRACT Background: Diabetes raises the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Fetal macrosomia is one of the most common perinatal problems in diabetes pregnancy, particularly in women with poor glycemic control. Aim: Determine the association between maternal serum lipid levels, particularly TG and TC levels, and newborn BW. Also, the ability of TG and TC levels was tested to predict macrosomia. Materials and Methods: This observational cohort study was conducted on 150 pregnant women divided into two groups 75 pregnant women with type2 DM and 75 pregnant women with GDM at 3 rd trimester GA of 29-40 week. The following lipid parameters were measured. Results: There is no statistically significant difference between the type 2DM group compared to GDM group regarding age, height, weight, BMI, F.B. G, 2HPP.BG, HbA1c, parity LDL, neonatal weight and gestational age ( p > 0.05 ). On the other hand, there was a statistically significant difference between the type 2DM and GDM groups regarding TC, TG, and HDL. By applying Spearman’s correlation test, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between neonatal weight and age, TC, TG, and parity in the type 2DM group. Regression analysis defined Neonatal weight development among the type 2DM group as the persistently significant positive predictor for TG. Conclusion: This research demonstrated the utility of measuring fasting serum TG and TC levels measured at third-trimester pregnancy correlated positively with neonatal BW and may be considered an independent predictor of fetal macrosomia at term in type 2DM and GDM.
Thematic Learning Based on Local Sea-Results Processing to Answer Global Challenges

This study aims to explain the benefits of thematic learning based on local sea-processed. Thematic learning becomes a bridge for students to build knowledge based on local sea-results processing. Learning by using the environment as a media of learning so that students are easier to understand and stimulate students to be more critical thinking and improve the curiosity of the natural products that exist in the environment. Knowledge of local sea-result processed will improve natural resources and be able to manage the available resources effectively and efficiently so as to respond to global challenges. This research is library research, the collecting data using journals and literature related to the theme of writing. This research can be study to use thematic learning based local sea-result to provide knowledge on economics. Thematic learning based on local sea-results processing so that students can face global challenges and maintain the originality of the
Spatiotemporal variations of aridity in Iran using high‐resolution gridded data

Aridity is a permanent feature of climate based on long‐term climatic conditions over a region. Climatic indices are reliable tools to explore climate type, and climatologists have proposed various indices to classify climate and investigate the aridity or humidity in any region. In this study, we examined spatiotemporal variations of aridity in Iran during the last six decades from 1954 to 2013, using the de Martonne aridity index (IDM), which is calculated based on precipitation and temperature. Data used in this study were extracted from the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre and the University of Delaware gridded data sets, respectively. Both data sets have global high‐resolution (0.5° × 0.5°) coverage, and temporally span more than a century of data (from 1901). According to the data obtained from these data sets, more than 80% of Iran has an arid and semi‐arid climate (annually), although the spatial pattern of IDM varies throughout the year. Using the Mann–Kendall test showed a negative significant trend in IDM in 20% of Iran's total area in spring, and less than 7% in the other seasons of the year. Overall, it can be concluded that there were no significant trends in aridity for most parts of Iran during the last six decades.
The physical processes influencing morphodynamics in braided rivers: A case study on the Ayeyarwady River

The Ayeyarwady River is a river with large hydrological variations and an abundance of relatively fine non-cohesive sediment, causing the dynamic behaviour of the river with fast shifting channels. This dynamic behaviour, together with the large hydrological variations, is the source of a frequently flooding river with a moderate navigability. In order to reduce flood risk and to improve navigability, river training measures and sediment management are needed. For an effective and sustainable implementation of these measures, one has to be able to predict the effects of these measures. For braided rivers, of which their behaviour is regarded as complex and hard to predict, this still remains challenging. It requires a good understanding of all the processes playing a role in the morphodynamics of this braided river. The goal of this study was to explore the most dominant of these processes using both satellite imagery and the 2D depth-averaged model Delft3D and to test the ability of the 2D depth-averaged model to simulate the morphodynamics in braided rivers. The main physical processes were found from literature. The physical processes were investigated in an analysis of the system (mainly with satellite imagery), with a sensitivity analysis and with a comparison between model simulations and satellite imagery. The literature study showed that the many processes are related in different ways and all affect the morphology. Since the morphology also influences these processes, a positive feedback exists in which change in one process causes change in the other processes. With large hydrological variations and a large variability in sediment discharge, morphodynamic change can continuously be found. The main driving factor for the dynamics turned out to be the sediment discharge at the upstream end, where vegetation plays a dominant role in the decrease of the dynamics. The actual influence on the dynamics of bank erosion by failure still has to be investigated in more detail, since this was not included in the model. Other processes have minor effect on the dynamics, but do play an important role in how the morphology will develop. This means that they influence widths and depths of the channels and sizes and shapes of the bars. The most important of these processes are the hydrological variations, the sediment transport by primary flow and the deflection of sediment transport by spiral flow and bed-slope effects. With the uncertainty in the sediment discharge and the absence in the model of the processes vegetation and bank erosion by failure, it is impossible make exact predict with the model. The model showed, however, that it is able to simulate local morphodynamics. For engineering purposes, this means the model cannot be used to assess the time and location of erosion and deposition, for that it can be used to asses risk areas for erosion and deposition. In this way it can be used for impact assessment of different human interventions as river training works and sediment management.
A Novel Channel‐Synthesizing Method for Reducing Uncertainties in Satellite Radiative Transfer Modeling

Most sounding channels sensitive to atmosphere layers close to Earth's surface are also sensitive to Earth's surface properties. Biases and uncertainties in Earth's surface emissivity and skin temperature may degrade the values of these observations being assimilated into weather prediction models. A method that combines several individual channels into a synthesized channel is proposed here to reduce such uncertainties. The effectiveness of such channel‐synthesizing method is first demonstrated through perfect model experiments, where brightness temperatures are simulated and compared before and after noises added to surface emissivity and skin temperature. Real‐case experiments that compare simulated brightness temperature and satellite observations further show that the synthesized channel can effectively reduce the mean bias of simulated brightness temperature from 1 to 3 K for individual GOES‐R channels to near zero for the synthesized channel, suggesting great potential of the approach for more effective assimilation of surface‐sensitive sounding channels.
Improved Satellite Estimation of Near‐Surface Humidity Using Vertical Water Vapor Profile Information

Near‐surface air‐specific humidity is a key variable in the estimation of air‐sea latent heat flux and evaporation from the ocean surface. An accurate estimation over the global ocean is required for studies on global climate, air‐sea interactions, and water cycles. Current remote sensing techniques are problematic and a major source of errors for flux and evaporation. Here we propose a new method to estimate surface humidity using satellite microwave radiometer instruments, based on a new finding about the relationship between multichannel brightness temperatures measured by satellite sensors, surface humidity, and vertical moisture structure. Satellite estimations using the new method were compared with in situ observations to evaluate this method, confirming that it could significantly improve satellite estimations with high impact on satellite estimation of latent heat flux. We recommend the adoption of this method for any satellite microwave radiometer observations.
Selenium-Induced Enhancement in Growth and Rhizosphere Soil Methane Oxidation of Prickly Pear

As an essential element for plants, animals, and humans, selenium (Se) has been shown to participate in microbial methane oxidation. We studied the growth response and rhizosphere methane oxidation of an economic crop (prickly pear, Rosa roxburghii Tratt) through three treatments (Se0.6 mg/kg, Se2.0 mg/kg, and Se10 mg/kg) and a control (Se0 mg/kg) in a two-month pot experiment. The results showed that the height, total biomass, root biomass, and leaf biomass of prickly pear were significantly increased in the Se0.6 and Se2.0 treatments. The root-to-shoot ratio of prickly pear reached a maximum value in the Se2 treatment. The leaf carotenoid contents significantly increased in the three treatments. Antioxidant activities significantly increased in the Se0.6 and Se2 treatments. Low Se contents (0.6, 2 mg/kg) promoted root growth, including dry weight, length, surface area, volume, and root activity. There was a significant linear relationship between root and aboveground Se contents. The Se translocation factor increased as the soil Se content increased, ranging from 0.173 to 0.288. The application of Se can improve the state of rhizosphere soil’s organic C and soil nutrients (N, P, and K). Se significantly promoted the methane oxidation rate in rhizosphere soils, and the Se10 treatment showed the highest methane oxidation rate. The soil Se gradients led to differentiation in the growth, rhizosphere soil properties, and methane oxidation capacity of prickly pear. The root Se content and Se translocation factor were significantly positively correlated with the methane oxidation rate. Prickly pear can accumulate Se when grown in Se-enriched soil. The 2 mg/kg Se soil treatment enhanced growth and methane oxidation in the rhizosphere soil of prickly pear.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ASSESSMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN MALAYSIA, CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND

In 1975, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was promulgated in Malaysia after the enactment of Environmental Quality Act (EQA) in 1974. Although the EIA is integrated for nearly five decades, the effective public participation application for EIA remained scant in the Malaysian environment. This paper provides a comparative study on public participation application for EIA in Malaysia, Canada and New Zealand. This study is administered by analysing the current EIA process and EIA legislation pertaining to the public participation for EIA in the three countries via literature review. This paper examines the similarities and differences between the three countries on their application of public participation for EIA. It is paramount to examine the current application of public participation administered for EIA in the Malaysian environment with other developed countries to induce effective public participation for EIA in Malaysia.
Chemical and isotopic investigations of submarine hydrothermal fluid discharges from Panarea, Aeolian Islands, Italy

Geochemical investigations of submarine thermal fluid discharges east of Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, southern Italy) were conducted in May and September 2008. Thereby, 6 different sites (Bottaro West, Bottaro North, Point 21, Hot Lake, Black Point and Area 26) of a submarine fumarolic field, existing at depths between 8 and 30 m, were sampled by scuba diving. Several geochemical (on-site parameters, photometry, ISE, IC, ICP-MS) and isotopic analyses (δD, δO, δC, δS, Sr/Sr, He/He) were accomplished on water and gas samples in order to improve the understanding of the hydro-chemical processes and physico-chemical conditions which are responsible for the formation of the fluids. Seawater mixing has a strong influence on the fluid chemistry. Nevertheless, the chemical composition of the fluid samples displays large differences. By means of Sr/Sr ratios and semi-numeric calculations, dilution factors were determined and the probable composition of emitting fluids without the influence of seawater was calculated. Two distinct water types were found to exist, presented by the locations “Hot Lake” (HL) and “Black Point” (BP). Reservoir temperatures of 345°C and 310°C were estimated by using Na/K and K/Mg geothermometers for the two water types. The substantial enrichment of many major cations and anions as well as Li, Rb, Fe, Cs, I, Ba, Zn, Pb, As (up to 10,000 times) in both fluids gives evidence of intense water-rock interactions in the reservoir. Furthermore, light δC, δS values and high He/He ratios (R/Ra ~ 4.36) of the gas samples indicate the contribution of a deep magmatic component. Variations in the chloride contents of up to 130 % of normal seawater point towards phase separation processes in the underground which are responsible for the formation of the highly-saline end-members of Hot Lake and Black Point. Differences between these two water types occur with regard to the chondrite normalised REE pattern and the measured redox values among others. This points to different physico-chemical conditions, probably due to local input of magmatic gases. The investigations have shown that the hydrothermal system of Panarea is very complex with regard to different fluid sources and processes. It is characterised by features of typical hydrothermal systems but also magmatic influences.
Association between Red cells distribution width and glycemic control among people with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in people with type 2 diabetes and its relationship with glycemic control. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Baqai Medical University. Demographic, Clinical and Biochemical Data were retrieved from hospital management system of BIDE. Period: September 2018 to April 2019. Material & Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of BIDE. Based on the HbA1c values, patients were divided into two groups, HbA1c < 7.0% and HbA1c ≥ 7.0%. RDW calculated from RBC histogram in Nihon Kohden fully automated analyzer. Results: RDW found 13.9±1.88 and 13.57±1.64 (p-value 0.018) in good and poorly controlled glycemic groups respectively. Poor glycemic group had higher levels of white cell count (9.58±4.34) and Triglycerides (170.12±129.13) (p-value <0.05), whereas controlled glycemic group demonstrated higher levels of BMI (29.03±6.01), MCV (84.36±7.81) and HDL (33.75±12.31). RDW was directly correlated with gender (p-value <0.0001) and duration of diabetes (p-value 0.01), and showed significant and inverse correlation with HbA1c. Age, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, serum LDL cholesterol, and the CBC values demonstrated no significant differences between the both groups. Conclusion: We found significant correlation between RDW and glycemic control.