Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhoea (review).

Diarrhoeal diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity especially among young children in developing countries. While many of the infectious agents associated with diarrhoeal disease are potentially waterborne the evidence for reducing diarrhoea in settings where it is endemic by improving the microbiological quality of drinking water has been equivocal. The objectives were to assess the effectiveness of interventions to improve water quality for preventing diarrhoea. We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register CENTRAL MEDLINE EMBASE and LILACS. We also hand-searched relevant conference proceedings contacted researchers and organizations working in the field and checked references from identified studies. Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing interventions aimed at improving the microbiological quality of drinking water with no intervention in children and adults living in settings where diarrhoeal disease is endemic. Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We used meta-analyses to estimate pooled measures of effect where appropriate and investigated potential sources of heterogeneity using subgroup analyses. Thirty trials (including 38 independent comparisons) covering over 53000 participants met the inclusion criteria. Differences between the trials limited the comparability of results and pooling by meta-analysis. In general the evidence suggests that interventions to improve the microbiological quality of drinking water are effective in preventing diarrhoea both for populations of all ages and children less than five years old. Subgroup analyses suggest that household interventions are more effective in preventing diarrhoea than interventions at the water source. Effectiveness was positively associated with compliance. Effectiveness was not conditioned on the presence of improved water supplies or sanitation in the study setting and was not enhanced by combining the intervention to improve water quality with other common environmental interventions intended to prevent diarrhoea. Interventions to improve water quality are generally effective in preventing diarrhoea and interventions to improve water quality at the household level are more effective than those at the source. Significant heterogeneity among the trials suggests that the actual level of effectiveness may depend on a variety of conditions that research to date cannot fully explain. Rigorous blinded multi-arm randomized controlled trials conducted over a longer duration in a variety if settings may help clarify the potential effectiveness. (authors)
Global Climate Impacts of Fixing the Southern Ocean Shortwave Radiation Bias in the Community Earth System Model (CESM)

AbstractA large, long-standing, and pervasive climate model bias is excessive absorbed shortwave radiation (ASR) over the midlatitude oceans, especially the Southern Ocean. This study investigates both the underlying mechanisms for and climate impacts of this bias within the Community Earth System Model, version 1, with the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5 [CESM1(CAM5)]. Excessive Southern Ocean ASR in CESM1(CAM5) results in part because low-level clouds contain insufficient amounts of supercooled liquid. In a present-day atmosphere-only run, an observationally motivated modification to the shallow convection detrainment increases supercooled cloud liquid, brightens low-level clouds, and substantially reduces the Southern Ocean ASR bias. Tuning to maintain global energy balance enables reduction of a compensating tropical ASR bias. In the resulting preindustrial fully coupled run with a brighter Southern Ocean and dimmer tropics, the Southern Ocean cools and the tropics warm. As a result of the enhan.
Optical properties of glass from Alamogordo, New Mexico

Specimens of glass resulting from the explosion of the experimental atomic bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico, have, by various means' come into the hands of numerous institutions and collectors. Notwithstanding this availability, no studies of the material have been published, although a mere description of its physical character would have no bearing on atomic problems. Samples of the glass were collected by C.A. Anderson of the Geological Survey with the permission of Major General Leslie R. Groves, Commanding General for the Manhattan District. The results of a brief study of this glass, made in the laboratories of the U. S. Geological Survey, will no doubt be of interest to mineralogists and petrologists. The glass, in general, formed alayer 1 to 2 centimeters thick, with the upper surface marked by a very thin sprinkling of dust which fell upon it while it was still molten. At the bottom is a thicker fiIm of partly fused material, which grades into the soil from which it was derived. The color of the glass is a pale bottle green, and the material is extremely vesicular' with the size of the bubbles ranging to nearly the full thickness of the specimen. Figure 1 shows photomicrographs of typical specimens of the
Land management for controlling soil erosion at microcatchment sale in Indonesia

Erosion is widely considered as the major cause of soil degradation. In the past, most erosion studies have been conducted at plot scale. These provide valuable data to compare erosion rates between different land management systems and soil types, but the measurement can not be directly extrapolated to catchment scale. Most of the plots have 22 m length and 9% slope, which is similar to the traditional plots used in the formulation of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Errors in the estimation of erosion rates may occur if this approach is implemented at the catchment scale because: (a) artificial border in the plot scale blocks run-in soil particles and aggregates from the upper slope, and (b) there is no single slope in nature (catchment scale) and hardly uniform. Many of the studies have proven that this approach tends to overestimate rates of soil loss if the measurement is extrapolated to catchment scale.
FAULT TRACE COMPLEXITY, CUMULATIVE SLIP, AND THE SHAPE OF THE MAGNITUDE-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION FOR STRIKE-SLIP FAULTS : A GLOBAL SURVEY

SUMMARY We examine whether the shape of the magnitude-frequency distribution for strike-slip faults is described by the Gutenburg-Richter relationship (log n = a - bM) or by the characteristic earthquake model, by analysing a data set of faults from California, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, China and Turkey. For faults within regional seismic networks, curves of the form log n yrpl= a - bM, where n yr-' is the number of events per year equal to magnitude M, are fit to the instrumental record of seismicity, and geological data are used to estimate independently the size and recurrence rate of the largest expected earthquakes that would rupture the total length of the fault. Extrapolation of instrumentally derived curves to larger magnitudes agrees with geological estimates of the recurrence rate of the largest earthquakes for only four of the 22 faults if uncertainties in curve slope are considered, and significantly underestimates the geological recurrence rates in the remaining cases. Also, if we predict the seismicity of the faults as a function of fault length and slip rate, and the predicted seismicity is distributed in accord with the Gutenburg-Richter relationship, we find the predicted recurrence rate to be greater than the observed recurrence rates of smaller earthquakes along most faults. If individual fault zones satisfy the Gutenburg-Richter relationship over the long term, our observations imply that, during the recurrence interval of the largest expected earthquakes, the recurrence of lesser-sized events is not steady but, rather, strongly clustered in time. However, if the instrumental records provide an estimate of the long-term rate of small to moderate earthquakes along the faults, our observations imply that the faults generally exhibit a magnitude-frequency distribution consistent with the characteristic earthquake model. Also, we observe that the geometrical complexity of strike-slip faults is a decreasing function of cumulative strike-slip offset. The four faults we observe to be consistent with the GutenburgRichter relationship are among those characterized by the least amount of cumulative slip and greatest fault-trace complexity. We therefore suggest that the ratio of the recurrence rate of small to large earthquakes along a fault zone may decrease as slip accumulates and the fault becomes smoother.
Tracer, Dissolved Organic Carbon, and Colloid Leaching from Erosion‐Affected Arable Hillslope Soils

Pedogenetic processes are spatially related to the slope positions in arable soil landscapes. The Regosol is affected by erosion‐induced CaCO3 and reduced organic C contents. The leaching potential for colloids and DOC was reduced in the truncated Regosol soil. Soil erosion modifies transport properties in the form of the effective dispersivity.
The development of VMS strategies

One aim of the ROMANSE project, based at Southampton, England, is to improve the operating efficiency of the road network by providing traffic and travel information and associated traffic control. To achieve such time and accurate travel information, it is necessary to have comprehensive network monitoring, information dissemination facilities, and an urban traffic control system (UTC) able to manage an integrated strategy. This paper describes the activities which are coordinated in the ROMANSE Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) in Southampton. One of the most important parts of the TTIC is the Travel Terminal, which allows the collation of information distributed to police, motoring organisations, and broadcasters. Within ROMANSE, several variable message signs (VMS) have been installed, or will very soon be installed, to provide car park or route guidance; mobile VMS are used for roadworks or special events. The ROMANSE modelling work is based on a CONTRAM traffic assignment model of the Southampton road network, which simulates the road network in normal conditions to obtain the base traffic assignment. The paper discusses the modelling results, the VMS messages, the development of off-line strategies, system operation, and the two-stage process of evaluating the system. For the covering abstract, see IRRD E100187.
Characterizing the annual cycle of African dust transport to the Caribbean Basin and South America and its impact on the environment and air quality

Decades of aerosol measurements on Barbados have yielded a detailed picture of African mineral dust transport to the Caribbean Basin that shows a strong seasonal cycle with a maximum in boreal summer and a minimum in winter. Satellite aerosol products suggest that in spring, there is a comparable transport to northeastern South America. Here we characterize the complete annual cycle of dust transport to the western Atlantic by linking the Barbados record to multiyear records of airborne particulate matter less than 10 µm diameter (PM10) measured in air quality programs at Cayenne (French Guiana) and Guadeloupe. Comparisons of PM10 at these sites with concurrent dust measurements at Barbados demonstrate that high PM10 levels are almost entirely due to dust. Cayenne PM10 peaks in spring in a cycle which is consistent with satellite aerosol optical depth and suggests that the Sahel is the dominant source. The persistent transport of dust during much of the year could impact a wide range of environmental processes over a broad region that extends from the southern United States to the Amazon Basin. Finally, the average 24 h PM10 concentrations at Cayenne and Guadeloupe frequently exceed the World Health Organization air quality guideline. Thus soil dust PM10 could be a significant, but generally unrecognized, health factor at western Atlantic sites and also in other relatively remote regions affected by long‐range dust from Africa. Because dust emissions and transport are highly sensitive to climate variability, climate change in coming decades could greatly affect a wide range of biogeochemical processes and human health in this region.
The incidence of gastroschisis: Research urgently needs resources

EDITOR—Kilby says that gastroschisis shows an increasing temporal trend in the number of affected babies born in the United Kingdom,1 a trend that has also been observed in other parts of the world.2 We evaluated the data of 25 registries of members of the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects …
Effect of soil conditions on damage in the Peru earthquake of October 17, 1966

This earthquake was centered offshore, 140 miles north of Lima. A strong motion record at Lima indicated a peak acceleration of 0.4g, and several pulses of 0.3g. The earthquake caused severe damage to many adobe and quincha houses and to some modern reinforced concrete structures in Lima, where the observed damage indicated MM intensities from VI to VIII. At towns closer to the instrumental epicenter the MM intensities ranged up to a maximum of about IX. There was some indication that the higher intensities were associated with the poorer soil foundation conditions. This was especially true where the soil and foundation conditions were particularly bad, but the trend was less definite where the soils provided good to fair foundations. Damage to well built tall buildings and other modern structures was mostly limited to broken windows and cracking in wall panels. In the few cases where modern structures did sustain more serious damage, it appeared to be due to inadequate provision for seismic forces in the designs, or to poor construction practices. Some slumping and landslides developed in dry sands and partially cemented granular soils.
The Burden of Tuberculosis across Regions in Ethiopia: A Systematic Subnational Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major global public health problem, with insufficient evidence at national and subnational levels. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of tuberculosis on individuals who are HIV-negative in Ethiopia and regional states. It focused on comparing the progress made during the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) era with that achieved after the MDG era with regard to gender, age group, and drug resistance status. Methods: We used the Global Burden of Disease 2019 collaborative study for computing age-standardized and age-specific Tuberculosis incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years. Results are reported in absolute number and age-standardized rates (per 100,000 populations) with 95% uncertainty intervals. Results: In 2019, 212,220 new TB cases and 29,874 TB-related deaths occurred among HIV-negative individuals in the country. TB affected more men than women in most age groups. The Annualized Rate of Change (ARC) in age-standardized TB incidence decreased by 2.2% from 1990 to 2015, but a 0.05% decrement was observed from 2016 to 2019. The ARC in age-standardized TB mortality dropped by 5.5% from 1990 to 2015 and 4.2% from 2016 to 2019. Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) increased by only 1.3% from 2016 to 2019 nationally, but the ARC in mortality of MDR-TB declined by 3.1% from 2016-2019, a significant improvement from its initial increase of 9.2% between 1990-2015. ARC in the age-standardized incidence of extensively drug-resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) increased by 4.2% from 2016 to 2019 and 22% from 1990 to 2015. In 2019, Dire Dawa had the lowest age-standardized TB incidence rate of 192 per 100,000, while Afar Region had the highest rate of 425 per 100,000. All regions except Somali, Gambella, and SNNPR showed a slow decline in ARC mortality between 1990-2015. Drug-susceptible TB was the most common variant, followed by MDR-TB in 2019. The age-standardized DALY rate due to TB has declined by 80% from 10,326 per 100,000 in 1990 to 1,853 per 100,000 in 2019. Conclusion: The study reveals a decreasing TB burden among HIV-negative individuals in Ethiopia from 1990 to 2019. It emphasizes the need for Ethiopia's TB control strategies to enhance access to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, focusing on high-risk groups and vulnerable individuals. Targeted interventions, including social protections, are needed to engage more men in TB care and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis. [ Ethiop. J.
Ichnology and stratigraphy of the Crescent Valley Mine: evidence for a Carboniferous megatracksite in Walker County, Alabama

Early Pennsylvanian trace fossil-bearing deposits from the Crescent Valley Mine of Walker County in Alabama are correlated with those from the nearby Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site. These represent end- members of a megatracksite that spans an environmental gradient from the inland, freshwater part of a deltaic system at the Minkin site to more near shore environments at Crescent Valley, where variable salinity conditions and tidal processes prevailed. This is reflected by preservation of a depauperate ichnofauna at the Crescent Valley mine. Recorded trace fossils are identified and interpreted as amniote trackways (Attenosaurus subulensis and Cincosaurus cobbi), apterygote insect trackways (Stiaria) and jumping traces (Tonganoxichnus), myriapod trackways (Diplichnites -Diplopodichnus), invertebrate burrows (Arenicolites and Treptichnus), and bivalve resting traces (Lockeia). A continuum of trail morphologies from chevronate, to feather-stitch and leveed forms is also observed. These are interpreted as recording the activities of juvenile xiphosurans and possibly bivalves in a shallow-water tidal environment. Arborichnus, present in deeper-water facies, is interpreted as recording the combined resting and swimming activities of adult xiphosurans. In contrast to the Minkin site, Kouphichnium is absent. The spatial and environmental separation of these different trace fossils attributed to xiphosurans reflects that of different phases in their life cycles. The environmental distinction from the Minkin site may explain the apparent absence of temnospondyl amphibians. The fish-fin trace Undichna is common at the Minkin site but absent from the Crescent Valley mine, which may be due to interrelated environmental and preservational conditions.
Rural Access Index: A Key Development Indicator

This paper describes the establishment of the Rural Access Index, one of several Transport Headline Indicators endorsed by the World Bank Transport Sector Board in 2003. The index has been adopted for the Results Measurement System (RMS)2 of the 14th round of the International Development Association (IDA-14) which was launched in July, 2005. The Index was developed in response to the consensus led by borrowers that it identifies an important priority for poverty reduction strategies in view of the established links between physical isolation and poverty. This provides stronger linkage to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and better assesses the contribution of IDA assistance to the sustainable development of the beneficiary countries. The Rural Access Index provides a consistent basis for estimating the proportion of the rural population which has adequate access to the transport system.
Estimating tropical forest biomass more accurately by integrating ALOS PALSAR and Landsat-7 ETM+ data

Integration of multisensor data provides the opportunity to explore benefits emanating from different data sources. A fusion between fraction images derived from spectral mixture analysis of Landsat-7 ETM+ and phased array L-band synthetic aperture radar (PALSAR) is introduced. The aim of this fusion is to improve the estimation accuracy of above-ground biomass (AGB) in lowland mixed dipterocarp forest. Spectral mixture analysis was applied to decompose a mixture of spectral components of Landsat-7 ETM+ into vegetation, soil, and shade fractions. These fraction images were integrated with PALSAR data using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and Brovey transform. As a comparison, spectral reflectance of Landsat-7 ETM+ was fused directly with PALSAR data. Backscatter of horizontal–horizontal and horizontal–vertical polarizations was also used to estimate AGB. Forest inventory was carried out in 77 randomly distributed plots, the data being used for either model development or validation. A local allometric equation was applied to calculate AGB per plot. Regression models were developed by integrating field measurements of 50 sample plots with remotely sensed data, e.g. fraction images, reflectance of Landsat-7 ETM+, and PALSAR data. The models developed were validated using 27 independent sample plots. The results showed that not all fused images significantly improved the accuracy of AGB estimation. The model based on Brovey transform using the reflectance of Landsat-7ETM+ and PALSAR produced an R2 of only 0.03–0.10. By contrast, fusion between PALSAR data and fraction images using Brovey transform improved the accuracy of R2 to 0.33–0.46. Further improvement in the accuracy of estimating AGB was observed when DWT was applied to integrate PALSAR with the reflectance of Landsat-7ETM+ (R2 = 0.69–0.72) and PALSAR with fraction images (R2 = 0.70–0.75).
Bivalves as indicators of environmental perturbations related to climate and ocean acidification

Drafts of manuscripts (Paper I, III and IV) should not be published online before they are accepted to scientific journals. After the articles are accepted, I do not oppose publishing the early drafts included in the thesis on Munin. These manuscripts are currently included in one . pfd file. You can either remove them from the pdf or ask me for a new pdf after my defense. Alternatively we can add the published articles to the final version of the thesis.
Use of Ground-Based Canopy Reflectance to Determine Radiation Capture, Nitrogen and Water Status, and Final Yield in Wheat

Spectral reflectance of plant canopies provides an accurate indication of ground cover fraction, which is highly correlated with radiation capture. If nutrients and water do not limit growth, radiation capture is highly correlated with daily growth rate and ultimate yield. However, if nutrients and water limit growth, none of the common spectral indices are able to separate a more developed, stressed canopy from a less-developed, rapidly growing canopy. We have long known that nitrogen stress is highly correlated with reduced chlorophyll concentration and increased reflectance of green radiation. Conversely, water stress inhibits leaf expansion, which increases chlorophyll concentration and decreases green reflectance. In a two-year study, we measured ground-based canopy reflectance of wheat plots in nitrogen and water stressed environments and found that all of the common spectral indices were highly correlated with ground cover fraction, but none of them could distinguish the intensity of leaf color from ground cover fraction. Here we report a reflective index that can differentiate nitrogen and water stress over a wide range of ground cover. The index is based on the ratio of the green and red variants of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVIgreen/NDVIred). The new index was able to 32 distinguish N and water stress from satellite data using wavelengths less than 1000 nm. This index should be broadly applicable over a wide range of plant types and environments.