Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining a Physics-based Model and Spatial Interpolation of Scarce Bed Topography Data in Meandering Alluvial Rivers

All human life is dependent on fresh water and activities related to monitoring its availability have become crucial for financial and survival reasons. Most rivers are being constantly investigated today by both the private and public sector using various means. In advanced countries, the researches cover extensively the riverbed in order to fully assess its topography. However, there are quite often cases where the data collected are disorderly scarce, resulting in questionable assumptions and interpolated predictions. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a new method for reconstructing the riverbed topography when data are scarce, so as to achieve better results than the ones conventional methods currently give. The chosen course of action involves a combination of the datasets outputted by a simplified physics-based model and spatial interpolation of the available scarce topography data. The surrounding research involves numerous aspects of mathematics, physics and spatial analysis, which together are called in to provide a complete solution to an existing problem. The focus lies on meandering alluvial rivers, whose planform style is the most common in human-populated river basin areas. Three rivers of different extent and interest are explored, namely the Danube (Romanian area), IJssel (Netherlands) and Kootenai (United States). The study cases comprise river areas extracted from each of them, in order to focus on bends and mildly widening or narrowing parts of the rivers. The final outcome of this Master Graduation Thesis project was achieved through literature research, exploration and implementation of ideas and scientific methods, made possible through cooperation with the Deltares independent institute for applied research. The proposed method combines scarce riverbed topography data with the basics of river morphology and spatial interpolation techniques to come to a new method that achieves a result of higher value in the complex field of river and geomatics engineering. The method is further assessed and evaluated and will ideally be incorporated in the Rapid Assessment Tool for Inland Navigation (RAT-IN) which is currently under development at Deltares.
Investigation of Energy Dissipation for Different Breakwater Based on Computational Fluid Dynamic Model

In this research, the hydraulic performance of the combined shape breakwaters was investigated through a laboratory study supported by a numerical mathematical model CFD to examine the different model shapes depending on the transmissions wave coefficient Ct. In order to stabilize the incident wave Hi with the same characteristics, waves were defined through the UDF file for CFD model. To investigated the performance of breakwaters base on energy dissipations, different models were tested under various wave condition, water depth, and relative submerged depth. Result of this study are showed that the Transmission coefficient are increased with increased of incident wave high for all type of breakwater model, and for all models of breakwater, transmission wave height (Ht) are increased with increased relative submerged depth (Hs/Hi). The highest value for energy dissipations (1 - Ct) % are received for zero submerged depth in model of sloped steps model (M2) is 80 %. Ansys Fluent solver are adopted to modelling the transit flow condition with dynamic mesh to represent the flap motion type to generate wave. Numerical beach plays an important role in CFD model to prevent the reflection wave in lee side of breakwater and represent the absorbing shoreline. 240 grid per wave length are selected for Mesh independent solution and make acceptable result comparison with experimental.
Results of Aortic Coarctation Repair in Low- and Normal Birth-Weight Neonates: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Introduction: Surgical treatment of aortic coarctation in low-birth-weight (LBW) neonates is associated with risks of higher hospital mortality rates and recoarctation development in the long-term. The goal of our study was to compare the results of surgical treatment of aortic coarctation in LBW neonates and normal-weight patients, to identify predictors of recoarctation in the long-term among LBW patients. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed to analyse the patients who had undergone resection of isolated aortic coarctation between 2005 and 2022. Overall analysis included 521 patients under the age of 30 days, 89 LBW patients and 432 patients with normal body weight. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed at a ratio of 1:1 for the statistical adjustment of original patients’ data in both groups. Results: All patients underwent standard resection of aortic coarctation with extended end-to-end anastomosis. Hospital mortality among LBW patients was 8% and in patients with normal weight the mortality amounted to 1% (p = 0.030). LBW patients were transferred to other hospitals more often than normal-weight patients who were more often discharged (p < 0.001). In the long-term, period mortality was not statistically significantly different (p = 0.801). The freedom from reoperation in the group of normal-weight children was 87%, whereas in the LBW patients the rate was 63% (log rank test, p = 0.104). In the multivariate regression model, the most significant risk factors for reoperation were as follows: preoperative inotropes administration (OR (95% CI) 4.369 (1.316–14.51)) and pressure gradient across aortic arch before discharge (OR (95% CI) 1.081 (1.014–1.153)). Conclusions: Hospital mortality was higher among LBW patients (p = 0.030). There was a statistical trend of differences in reoperation rates: in the long-term among LBW patients, a higher reintervention probability remains. Moreover, the LBW group initially had more severe clinical condition in terms of cardiac failure and impaired renal function. Factors associated with the risk of recoarctation were preoperative inotropes infusion and pressure gradient across aortic before discharge.
A New Bioactive Fibrin Formulation Provided Superior Cartilage Regeneration in a Caprine Model

The effective and long-term treatment of cartilage defects is an unmet need among patients worldwide. In the past, several synthetic and natural biomaterials have been designed to support functional articular cartilage formation. However, they have mostly failed to enhance the terminal stage of chondrogenic differentiation, leading to scar tissue formation after the operation. Growth factors substantially regulate cartilage regeneration by acting on receptors to trigger intracellular signaling and cell recruitment for tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated the effect of recombinant insulin-like growth factor 1 (rIGF-1), loaded in fibrin microbeads (FibIGF1), on cartilage regeneration. rIGF-1-loaded fibrin microbeads were injected into full-thickness cartilage defects in the knees of goats. The stability, integration, and quality of tissue repair were evaluated at 1 and 6 months by gross morphology, histology, and collagen type II staining. The in vivo results showed that compared to plain fibrin samples, particularly at 6 months, FibIGF1 improved the functional cartilage formation, confirmed through gross morphology, histology, and collagen type II immunostaining. FibIGF1 could be a promising candidate for cartilage repair in the clinic.
Rare earth element geochemistry of columbite-group minerals: LA-ICP-MS data

Abstract New data on rare earth element (REE) concentrations and distribution patterns of columbite-tantalite minerals from Ta-ore provinces worldwide are presented. The REE geochemistry was studied by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Five major types of chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns are defined for columbite-group minerals (CGM) from lithium-caesium- tantalum (LCT) pegmatites and rare-metal granites. Features to discriminate between the types include (1) the shape of the pattern (e.g. flat or concave), (2) calculated ratios between groups of the REE (e.g. heavy REEN/middle REEN), and (3) the presence and intensity of anomalies (e.g. Ce*, Eu*). Four pegmatites in central and southern Africa are used as case studies to discuss application of the types of REE patterns in individual deposits. The REE fractionation during progressive evolution of the melt in apegma tite body (either Nb → Ta or Fe → Mn fractionation lines, or both) results in smaller heavy REEN/middle REEN ratios whereas replacement of primary CGM by secondary CGM produces modifications in the light REEN patterns and the heavy REEN/middle REEN ratios also. Critical features of REE patterns such as highly variable heavy REEN/middle REEN ratios or striking differences in the appearance of Eu anomalies are discussed considering structural data of the host minerals and the differentiation behaviour of the pegmatitic melt. In general, CGM from each individual Ta-ore province are characterized by a predominance of one type of REE distribution pattern. Consequently, these patterns are suitable for tracing the origin of tantalum ore concentrates (e.g. as a forensic tool).
Food Parenting Practices Promoted by Childcare and Primary Healthcare Centers in Chile: What Influences Do These Practices Have on Parents? A Qualitative Study

Chile, like many other countries in the world, is experiencing a high prevalence of childhood overweight. Among the factors influencing children’s eating behaviors are the food parenting practices promoted by community organizations. More information is needed on the influences of these recommendations on the parenting practices of parents of preschoolers. This study examined what types of food parenting practices are promoted in childcare and primary healthcare centers and how these recommendations influence subsequent parental behavior. Interviews using photo-elicitation were conducted with 25 parents of Chilean preschoolers. The interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Five themes were identified to describe food parenting practices promoted by community organizations and the influences that these practices had on parents of preschoolers. Healthcare centers were found to educate parents and provided a structured feeding. However, parents found their advice regarding dietary restriction challenging to follow. Childcare centers also provided information about healthy diet, food monitoring, and diversifying the child’s diet in a way that was perceived as adequate. While childcare centers encouraged structured and autonomous food parenting practices in a positive and supportive manner, healthcare centers tended to provide more restrictive guidance that posed challenges for parents struggling with preschool nutritional care.
Pig Movement Estimation by Integrating Optical Flow with a Multi-Object Tracking Model

Pig husbandry constitutes a significant segment within the broader framework of livestock farming, with porcine well-being emerging as a paramount concern due to its direct implications on pig breeding and production. An easily observable proxy for assessing the health of pigs lies in their daily patterns of movement. The daily movement patterns of pigs can be used as an indicator of their health, in which more active pigs are usually healthier than those who are not active, providing farmers with knowledge of identifying pigs’ health state before they become sick or their condition becomes life-threatening. However, the conventional means of estimating pig mobility largely rely on manual observations by farmers, which is impractical in the context of contemporary centralized and extensive pig farming operations. In response to these challenges, multi-object tracking and pig behavior methods are adopted to monitor pig health and welfare closely. Regrettably, these existing methods frequently fall short of providing precise and quantified measurements of movement distance, thereby yielding a rudimentary metric for assessing pig health. This paper proposes a novel approach that integrates optical flow and a multi-object tracking algorithm to more accurately gauge pig movement based on both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the shortcomings of solely relying on tracking algorithms. The optical flow records accurate movement between two consecutive frames and the multi-object tracking algorithm offers individual tracks for each pig. By combining optical flow and the tracking algorithm, our approach can accurately estimate each pig’s movement. Moreover, the incorporation of optical flow affords the capacity to discern partial movements, such as instances where only the pig’s head is in motion while the remainder of its body remains stationary. The experimental results show that the proposed method has superiority over the method of solely using tracking results, i.e., bounding boxes. The reason is that the movement calculated based on bounding boxes is easily affected by the size fluctuation while the optical flow data can avoid these drawbacks and even provide more fine-grained motion information. The virtues inherent in the proposed method culminate in the provision of more accurate and comprehensive information, thus enhancing the efficacy of decision-making and management processes within the realm of pig farming.
Change of the wintertime SSTA variability over the West Pacific after the mid‐1980s: Effect of the increasing El Niño Modoki

From 1949 to 2010, the EOF 1 of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) over the West Pacific (WP) in the boreal winter shows a clear increase during the 1980s, which is associated with the increase in global SSTA. It is found that the characteristics of WP SSTA are different since the mid‐1980s. Before the mid‐1980s, the first EOF presents a dipole pattern associated with El Niño. After the mid‐1980s, EOF1 of WP SSTA captures a uniform SSTA variability over WP and is related to El Niño Modoki. Meanwhile, the dipole SSTA pattern captured by EOF2 is associated with the canonical El Niño. The generation of these two different SSTA patterns might be attributed to the different atmospheric responses to El Niño and El Niño Modoki. The impact of El Niño Modoki over the WP SSTA is significantly enhanced along with the increased occurrences of El Niño Modoki. The increasing intensity of WP SSTA variability has a similar period with that of El Niño Modoki. During El Niño Modoki, the central Pacific SSTA has a leading impact on the development of the WP SSTA by a Rossby wave response. July(0) to October(0) is suggested as a crucial period for the development of WP SSTA during El Niño Modoki. The increased wind speed and evaporation might be responsible for the formation of WP SSTA. After the negative SSTA established, the suppressed convection would counteract the impact of evaporation anomaly and prevent the decreasing of WP SSTA.
Practical Leachability and Sorption Considerations for Ash Management

The objective of this work was to determine, through site-specific laboratory testing and modeling, whether a liner system (i.e., geomembrane / compacted clay liner) was required for an ash landfill to ensure that groundwater quality standards would be met. To that end, several tasks were carried out, namely: (1) use of hydrologic modeling for infiltration prediction, (2) assessment of leaching via column and sequential leaching, (3) assessment of attenuation via both batch and column tests, and (4) groundwater and solute transport modeling. The results indicate that if a method for controlling infiltration is employed, then a liner system is not necessary for this particular site. Groundwater protection is predicted using the highest leachable concentrations with the lowest distribution coefficients. The controlling factor is the reduction in infiltration after construction. This reduction in infiltration, coupled with the attenuation capacity of the vadose zone in the interim period of operation, prevents significant contaminant migration.
Sub-Shrub Components Change the Soil Water Storage Response to Daily Precipitation and Air Temperature in the Loess Plateau

Soil water shortage has become a severe issue in ecological restoration and sustainable development in the Loess Plateau, facing the challenges of climate change and vegetation restoration. This study monitored the soil water content in surface soil (0–40 cm) with different sub-shrub component treatments, including the natural condition (NC), the canopy plus the roots (CR) and only the roots (OR), to analyze the change in soil water storage (∆W) and its response to precipitation (P) and air temperature (Ta) on a daily scale. P was the main factor controlling the daily ∆W, contributing 49–52% to the variation in the daily ∆W, and Ta only explained 6–21% of the variation. Minimum P amounts of 0.74–1.12 mm and maximum Ta of 29.09–32.00 °C were the thresholds required to increase soil water storage (W). Sub-shrub components showed significant influences on soil water conservation. We found that the ∆W hierarchy for each sub-shrub treatment was NC (1.73 mm) > CR (0.71 mm) > OR (0.56 mm) on rainy days and NC (−0.53 mm) < CR (−0.36 mm) < OR (−0.06 mm) on no-rain days. Additionally, the hierarchy of the rainwater retention rate was NC (26.43%) > OR (13.71%) > CR (4.58%). Thus, a canopy could increase infiltration and hugely consume soil water at the same time, while litter could weaken or offset the canopy’s effects and the roots promote infiltration with little evaporation loss.
Trunk Pruning: Highly Compatible Channel Pruning for Convolutional Neural Networks Without Fine-Tuning

Channel pruning can efficiently reduce the computation and memory footprint within a reasonable accuracy drop by removing unnecessary channels from convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Among the various channel pruning approaches, sparsity training is the most popular because of its convenient implementation and end-to-end training. It automatically identifies the optimal network structures by applying regularization to parameters. Although this sparsity training has achieved a remarkable performance in terms of the trade-off between accuracy and network size reduction, it needs to be accompanied by a time-consuming fine-tuning process. Moreover, although activation functions with high performance are being continuously developed, the existing sparsity training does not display remarkable scalability for these new activation functions. To address these problems, this study proposes a novel pruning method, trunk pruning, which can produce a compact network by minimizing the accuracy drop during inference even without the fine-tuning process. In the proposed method, one kernel of the next convolutional layer absorbs all the information of the kernels to be pruned, considering the effects of the batch normalization (BN) shift parameters remaining after the sparsity training. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the fine-tuning process because trunk pruning can effectively reproduce the output of the unpruned network after the sparsity training by removing the pruning loss. Furthermore, because trunk pruning is a technique that can effectively control only the shift parameters of the BN in the CONV layer, it has the significant advantage of being compatible with all BN-based sparsity training schemes and can address various activation functions.
A Digital Logic Flipped Classroom for Promoting Students’ Preclass Preparation and Participation in Classroom Activities Using a Guided Reflective Thinking Mechanism

Contribution: This study used a guided reflective thinking mechanism to improve students’ acceptance of flipped classrooms while promoting the development of students’ will and self-regulated learning strategies to enhance their preclass preparation and participation in classroom activities. Background: Previous research has provided evidence of the impact of flipped classrooms on student learning, but an understanding of the relationship between flipped classrooms, learning strategies, and learning outcomes is limited. Intended Outcome: The learning strategies used by students in the flipped classroom were examined, and the effectiveness of incorporating a guided reflective thinking mechanism into the flipped classroom teaching design of a digital logic (DL) course was evaluated. Application Design: Referring to the strategic learning model, this study integrated the mechanism of guided reflective thinking into the instructional design of a flipped classroom for first-year students in the Department of Electrical Engineering of a junior college in Taiwan. Findings: The results show that the flipped classroom teaching design that guides the reflective thinking mechanism can promote the development of students’ strategies to enhance their attitude, motivation, time management, concentration, self-testing, and solving learning difficulties, thereby improving their performance in DL courses. Furthermore, self-testing strategies are the most important predictor of students’ performance in DL courses.
THE EFFECT OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION ON “CANTIK FEST” IN TOKOPEDIA TOWARDS BUYING INTEREST OF FEMALE CONSUMER IN JAKARTA

Humans are facilitated by technological advances where consumers can do online shopping anywhere and anytime through the E-Commerce platform. Tokopedia has one of the biggest campaigns, namely “Cantik Fest” and creates a visual communication, one of that is through banners in Tokopedia application which is related to how prospective buyers will be interested in shopping online. The purpose of this research is to find out and get an idea about the effect of visual communication "Cantik Fest" which is expressed in the form of a banner on the homepage of the Tokopedia application towards buying interest of female consumers in Jakarta. This study uses a quantitative method with a sampling technique that is purposive sampling. The data collection technique was through distributing questionnaires to female residents in the Jakarta area who had the Tokopedia online shopping application as many as 99 respondents. The results obtained from the data analysis test in this study indicate that the visual communication affects the variable Y (buying interest), declared that there is an influence of visual communication "Cantik Fest" on Tokopedia towards buying interest of female consumers in Jakarta. This is indicated by the results of the study of visual communication variables affecting the buying interest variable by 88.9%. The conclusion of this study by testing 99 respondents to female residents in Jakarta who have the Tokopedia application, it is stated that there is an effect of "Cantik Fest" visual communication conducted by PT. Tokopedia towards buying interest of female consumers in Jakarta.