Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of a Community Nurse-Led Support Program for Dementia Caregivers in Chinese Communities: The Chongqing Ageing and Dementia Study

Background: As the primary caregivers for people with dementia in China, family caregivers face a significant care burden that can negatively impact their mental and physical health. It is vital to investigate ways to support these caregivers. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a program led by community nurses to support caregivers of individuals with dementia. Methods: A total of 30 caregivers received nurse-led support in addition to usual care, while 28 caregivers received only usual care. The primary outcome was caregivers’ sense of competency in providing dementia care, which was measured using the Short Sense of Competence Questionnaire (SSCQ). Secondary outcomes included caregivers’ ability to perform daily activities, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) using a neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire, and quality of life using the short form health survey (SF-36). The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR 2300071484). Results: Compared to the control group, the intervention group had significantly higher SSCQ scores and a lower caregiver distress index over time. Physical and mental health-related quality of life also improved significantly among caregivers in the intervention group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of activities of daily living and BPSD. Conclusions: The community nurse-led support program significantly improved caregivers’ competency in providing dementia care and quality of life and reduced distress. These findings have important implications for dementia care policies, resources, and workforce development in China, including strengthening community dementia care services through collaboration with specialists in hospitals.
Correlation Analysis of Surface and Physical Properties of Ophthalmic Lenses Containing Nanoparticles

Since contact lenses directly contact the cornea, the surface roughness of the lens may cause various side effects. In addition, gold nanoparticles can realize a variety of colors and characteristics depending on their shape and size. In this study, the surface roughness of tinted lenses containing gold nanoparticles of various sizes was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) at aspect ratio(surface to volume ratio) ranging from 1:1 to 1:10. The characteristics of the lenses were then confirmed. As a result, tinted lenses with different colors depending on the size of the gold nanoparticles were manufactured. The surface roughness of the lens decreased with increasing size of the gold nanoparticles. However, at aspect ratio of 1:10, increase in surface roughness was observed. In addition, it was confirmed that the wettability and antibacterial properties of the lens had the same effect according to the average surface roughness value. Therefore, it was confirmed that the addition of gold nanoparticles reduced the surface roughness of the lens, which had a great effect on properties such as wettability and antimicrobial properties of the lens. The produced copolymer controls the surface roughness of the lens, and thus it is judged that it can be used as a material for various ophthalmology applications.
Inversion for heat anomaly transport from sea surface temperature time series in the northwest Pacific

We describe a heat anomaly transport in the upper ocean mixed layer in the Kuroshio extension region and the subtropical gyre of the northwest Pacific. Emphasis is on behavior in the cool season December-March) during the Asian Winter Monsoon. The heat anomaly transport is estimated by applying an inversion technique to the stochastic partial differential equation for the heat anomaly balance of advection, diffusion, subilizing feedback, and atmospheric forcing. The inversion consists of (1) derivation of statistical parametric model from the heat anomaly balance equation; (2) fitting the derived statistical model to the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly covariances; and (3) calculation of the heat anomaly net advection velocity, horizontal diffusion coefficient, feedback factor and atmospheric forcing correlation from the parameters of the evaluated statistical model. The inversion was applied to the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set Compressed Marine Reports SST data averaged at 1 o latitude ×2 o longitude boxes on a 10-day mean basis from 1965 to 1990. The estimates of the net advection velocity are consistent in magnitude and direction with the general circulation in the surface layer of the Northwest Pacific in winter. SST anomalies are transported to the west at ∼0.15 m s -1 in the northern part of the North Equatorial Current. Between 21 o and 29 o N in the recirculating region, SST anomalies propagate westward with the mean velocity less than 0.1 m s -1 . South and east of Honshu the observed pattern of the SST anomaly transport agrees broadly with the circulations of the Kuroshio current and its extension and the Oyashio current. South of Honshu, the eastward transport is about 200-300 km wide; its absolute velocity is up to 0.2 m s -1 . One branch of the uansport separates from the coast near the large meander path of the Kuroshio current and follows the east-southeast direction. The second separation from the coast occurs south of Hokkaido. Over the analysis domain the estimates of the diffusion coefficient are in the range of 3×10 3 to 6x10 3 m 2 s -1 . The h igher values of the diffusion coefficient confirm the enhancement of the mesoscale eddy processes near the subtropical convergence zone. The analysis supports Hasselmann's (1976) theory in which generation of midlatitude SST anomalies lasting the dominant timescale of atmospheric processes is primarily attributed to the short period stochastic weather forcing. However, the analysis indicates that the inertia of SST anomalies to ther memory of earlier winds can not be neglected in the vicinity of the western boundary and in the tropics
A simple criterion for gyre formation by the surface outflow from a strait, with application to the Alboran Sea

A survey of relevant numerical, laboratory, and observational studies, combined with our own laboratory experiments, suggests that the surface outflow from a strait generally forms a gyre in the adjacent sea if the exit corner is sharp. The gyre grows from an initial “separation bubble” of radius u/f, where u is the current speed and f the Coriolis frequency. The criterion for the maintenance of a coastal jet along a curved coast, instead of separation and gyre formation, seems to be that the Rossby number u(fRw)−1 < 1, with Rw the radius of curvature of the exit corner, so that the Coriolis force can hold the current to the coast. This synthesis disregards factors such as the variation of u across the current but, applied to the flow through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Alboran Sea, suggests that a gyre should always form as the exit corner is sharp. We suggest, though, that the relevant curvature is that where the interface between the two layers intersects the seafloor rather than where the sea surface meets the coast. If this is the case, supercritical flow or some subcritical flows at the eastern end of the Strait should still always lead to gyre formation, but the observed replacement of the gyre by a coastal jet along the Moroccan coast could be related to subcritical flow that is reduced below its normal value by a barotropic fluctuation or by changes in the interface depth in the Mediterranean.
The color of the Martian sky and its influence on the illumination of the Martian surface

The dust in the atmosphere above the Mars Pathfinder landing site produced a bright, red sky that increases in redness toward the horizon at midday. There is also evidence for an absorption band in the scattered light from the sky at 860 nm. A model of the sky brightness has been developed [Markiewicz et al., this issue] and tested against Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) observations of calibration targets on the lander. The resulting model has been used to quantify the total diffuse flux onto a surface parallel to the local level for several solar elevation angles and optical depths. The model shows that the diffuse illumination in shadowed areas is strongly reddened while areas illuminated directly by the Sun (and the blue forward scattering peak) see a more solar-type spectrum, in agreement with Viking and IMP observations. Quantitative corrections for the reddening in shadowed areas are demonstrated. It is shown quantitatively that the unusual appearance of the rock Yogi (the east face of which appeared relatively blue in images taken during the morning but relatively red during the afternoon) can be explained purely by the changing illumination geometry. We conclude that any spectrophotometric analysis of surfaces on Mars must take into account the diffuse flux. Specifically, the reflectances of surfaces viewed under different illumination geometries cannot be investigated for spectral diversity unless a correction has been applied which removes the influence of the reddened diffuse flux.
Evaluation of sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and adherence to the planetary health diet index in Turkish adults: a cross-sectional study

Aim The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) is a relatively new index, and studies about its relationship with eating behaviors, nutritional status, and obesity in adults are very limited. For this reason, in this study, sustainable healthy eating behaviors of individuals and compliance of their diets with PHDI were evaluated. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,112 adults (70.1% women and 29.9% men with mean age = 28.7 years, SE = 9.47). Study data were obtained with the face-to-face interview method via a questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating (SHE) Behaviors Scale, and 24-h dietary recall. PHDI was evaluated for adherence to EAT-Lancet Commission recommendations. Results The average PHDI total score was 41.5 points. Higher SHE Behaviors Scale and PHDI scores were observed in participants with a duration of education above 8 years (p < 0.05). Those with lower SHE Behaviors Scale and PHDI scores were more likely to be obese (p < 0.001). The total PHDI score was positively associated with fiber, vitamin E, potassium, and folate, and negatively associated with pyridoxine and calcium (p < 0.05). The total SHE Behaviors Scale score was positively associated with carbohydrates, fiber, and potassium and negatively associated with pyridoxine, calcium, and energy (p < 0.05). A one-unit increase in SHE Behaviors Scale total score resulted in a 5,530 unit (95%CI: 4.652; 6.407) increase in PHDI total score and a one-unit increase in duration of education (years) resulted in a 0.660 unit (95%CI: 0.403; 0.918) increase in PHDI total score. Furthermore, a one-unit increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) resulted in a − 0.218 unit (95%CI: −0.424; −0.013) decrease in PHDI total score. Conclusion The participants’ PHDI index scores were low; therefore, the adherence to the EAT-Lancet recommendation was low which might be associated with obesity. Clinical studies evaluating the effects of adherence to sustainable diets on adequate and balanced nutrition and health outcomes are recommended.
A Comparative Analysis of Wet and Dry Ashing Techniques for the Extraction of Phytoliths from Plant Material

Abstract Two methods are commonly used for the extraction of phytoliths from plant material to be used as reference in the analysis of archaeological phytolith samples: (1) spodograms or dry ashings; and (2) acid digestions or wet ashing. It has been suggested that these techniques may modify the resultant samples in different ways. Dry ashing, in particular, has been implicated as a cause of shrinkage and warping in phytolith assemblages when incineration occurs at ≥450°C. The results of a morphometric comparative analysis between the dry ashing and wet ashing methods do not support these claims. This study establishes that differences in patterns of dimension and curvature of short bilobate phytoliths and of elongate phytoliths both subjected to dry and wet ash preparation are not statistically significant. There is, therefore, no detectable evidence of morphological impact as a result of these methods. This finding implies that any differences that do occur in phytolith size and curvature are typical, possibly random permutation within assemblages, or that they are the result of variation in leaf cell structure rather than the consequence of a particular extraction procedure. This suggests that the practice of using different methods of preparation of reference samples for fossil analysis can be reliably continued.
Evaluating peak flow sensitivity to clear‐cutting in different elevation bands of a snowmelt‐dominated mountainous catchment

A hydrologic model of the mountainous snowmelt‐dominated Redfish Creek catchment (British Columbia) is used to evaluate Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure (IWAP) guidelines regarding peak flow sensitivity to logging in different elevation bands of a basin. Simulation results suggest that peak flow increases are caused by greater snow accumulation and melt in clear‐cut areas while similar evapotranspiration rates are predicted under forested and clear‐cut conditions during spring high flow. Snow accumulation and melt are clearly related to elevation, but the relationship between logging elevation and peak flow change is more complex than perceived in the IWAP. Logging in the bottom 20% of the catchment causes little or no change in peak flow because of the small low‐elevation snowpack and the timing of snowmelt, while clear‐cut area alone appears to be a good indicator of peak flow increases due to logging at higher elevation. Temporal variability in peak flow changes due to clear‐cutting is substantial and may depend more on temperatures during snowmelt than on the size of the snowpack. Long‐term simulations are needed to improve quantitative estimates of peak flow change while the importance of watershed topographic characteristics for snowmelt and peak flow generation must be further examined.
Remote sensing of glacier change in West Greenland: accounting for the occurrence of surge-type glaciers

Abstract Automated glacier mapping from thresholded band ratios of multispectral satellite data is a well-established technique to update glacier inventories over large and remote regions. The local glaciers and ice caps on Greenland are of particular interest for such efforts, as they have been only partly mapped, mainly during the 1940s–60s, and their potential contribution to global sea-level rise could be large. Here we use three Landsat ETM+ scenes from 2001 covering Disko Island (Qeqertarsuaq) and the Nuussuaq and Svartenhuk peninsulas, West Greenland, to map the glacier extent in 2001 of 1172 entities. We also manually digitize Little Ice Age (LIA) extents from clearly visible trimlines for a subsample of 500 entities. In this region with numerous surge-type glaciers, the related area-change calculation is challenging and we consider different samples with and without known surging glaciers. For the three regions the mean area changes are –28%, –20% and –23%, respectively, when known surge-type glaciers are excluded. The glaciers on smaller islands and peninsulas closer to the margin of the ice sheet show a lower mean area change of –15%. Moreover, lower (–16%) and upper (–21%) bounds are calculated for the overall area changes in the entire region between the LIA and 2001 using different upscaling assumptions. Cumulative length changes since the LIA are found to be slightly lower for surge-type glaciers.
An International Study of Children's Perception and Understanding of Type used on Atlas Maps

AbstractLittle empirical consideration has been given to the usefulness of type for place names on atlas maps for school children. Most previous studies have been concerned with older map users and the conclusions from such studies have generally been applied to younger map users. This study investigates the perceptions and understanding by 160 school children in Australia and England of three different typefaces presented individually or in combination in map form. The study aims to establish which of the selected typefaces is easiest to read and which is preferred by the school children. The children overwhelmingly preferred and understood best a combination of Univers Medium and Univers Bold Condensed typefaces. Children over fifteen years of age were more tolerant of a variety of typefaces.
Three‐dimensional simulations of atmospheric methyl chloroform: Effect of an ocean sink

A global three-dimensional chemical tracer model of the distribution and seasonal cycles of the surface concentration of CH3CCl3 is compared with surface observations from the Atmospheric Lifetime Experiment (ALE) for the years 1980–1985. Two-dimensional OH distributions calculated by a photochemical model are empirically adjusted from observed trends in the global average and the interhemispheric ratio of methyl chloroform. The effects of the recently discovered ocean sink for methyl chloroform were investigated. The model simulates the 5-year record of observations made at the five ALE sampling sites to generally within ±5% of the observed mean. The calculated average global lifetime of methyl chloroform is 5.7 ± 0.3 years. The estimated global mean OH concentration is 6.5 ± 0.4 × 105 cm−3. However, the inclusion of the ocean sink does not significantly improve the simulation of the observed interhemispheric gradient of methyl chloroform. Atmospheric transport dominates the simulated CH3CCl3 seasonal cycle throughout the northern hemisphere but is less important in the southern hemisphere.
Integration of differential InSAR and GPS measurements for studying of surface deformation

In the following work we propose a new technique for combing two complementary geodetic data sets: Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) and Global Positioning System (GPS). This technique is based on analytical optimization of the Gibbs energy function which is constructed for the case when neighboring points on the ground are considered independent. In this case the energy function can be greatly simplified and the solution can be found by the inversion of a set of three linear equations. The first part of this work presents the results of the computer simulations which were undertaken in order to estimate the accuracy of the technique. In Chapter 2, a three-dimensional velocity field was reconstructed from synthetic, sparse GPS observations and two differential InSAR interferograms (ascending and descending). The improvement in accuracy of the optimized velocity field was significantly greater than for other similar known techniques, while at the same time the computational time was significantly lower (minutes in comparison to days). In Chapter 3, this DInSAR-GPS optimization technique is used to investigate the velocity field of the southern California region near Los Angeles. The GPS data from SCIGN and one DInSAR interferogram were used to perform the optimization. The results of the optimization revealed a strong shortening effect across the region with the high degree of accuracy. Also a few areas of subsidence due to groundwater extraction were confirmed as has been suggested by previous
Middle- to late-Holocene relative sea-level changes at Puerto Deseado (Patagonia, Argentina)

Stratigraphic, morphologic and radiocarbon data from Puerto Deseado coastal area (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina) indicate that the Holocene coastline formed in response to the discontinuous aggradation of coarse gravely beaches since c. 6300 cal. yr BP related to a progressive falling of relative sea level. Beach ridge crests crudely approximate to the sea level showing at least three steps of aggradation and relative sea-level lowering. Two inactive abrasive notches at c. 7.9 and 3.4 m a.s. l. have recorded this sea-level trend, suggesting two important phases when sea level was stationary. This allows the estimation of a rate of relative sea-level fall in the last c. 3500 years of c. 1.8 mm/yr. Moreover, notches and morphological data indicate that the crest of the beach ridges exceeded the sea-level height by c. 2 ± 0.5 m. This value provides a reasonable regional estimate to be applied to produce comparable relative sea-level curve for Atlantic Patagonia coast.
Transactional aspects of sexual relations in Francistown, Botswana

Abstract This article considers the role of economic dependence of women on men in explaining the high level of the spread of HIV in Southern Africa. By means of a quantitative survey, the extent of a transactional element in sexual relations in Francistown is examined. Aspects of transactional sex are further explored by qualitative interviews. The data shows that most women in non-formal relationships receive substantial monetary support from their partner. However, this is as true for women in households above the poverty line as for women in households below the line. Transactional sexual relations cannot therefore solely be looked upon as a survival strategy employed by poor women. Rather, the transactional element is a normal part of such relations. This seems to be one of several explanatory factors for not using condoms.
Seawater circulation in sediments driven by interactions between seabed topography and fluid density

Measurements of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in coastal areas often show that the saltwater discharge component is substantially greater than the freshwater discharge. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain these high saltwater discharge values, including saltwater circulation driven by wave and tidal pumping, wave and tidal setup in intertidal areas, currents over bedforms, and density gradients resulting from mixing along the freshwater‐saltwater interface. In this study, a new mechanism for saltwater circulation and discharge is proposed and evaluated. The process results from interaction between bedform topography and buoyancy forces, even without flow or current over the bedform. In this mechanism, an inverted salinity (and density) profile in the presence of both a bedform on the seafloor and an upward flow of fresher groundwater from depth induces a downward flow of saline pore water under the troughs and upward flow under the adjacent crest of the bedform. The magnitude and occurrence of the mechanism were tested using numerical methods. The results indicate that this mechanism could drive seawater circulation under a limited range of conditions and contribute 20%–30% of local SGD when and where the process is operative. Bedform shape, hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic head, and salinity at depth in the porous media, aquifer thickness, effective porosity, and hydrodynamic dispersion are among the factors that control the occurrence and magnitude of the circulation of seawater by this mechanism.
Pigeon homing and magnetic fields: a response to Luschi et al. (1996)

This paper comments on an article ‘Pigeon homing: evidence against reliance on magnetic information picked up en route at release sites’ by P. Luschi, C. del Seppia, E. Crosio and F. Papi, which appeared in this journal. It is pointed out that the particular effects which these authors show to be stress–induced artefacts are restricted to their specific strain of homing pigeons. The same effects could not be observed in pigeons from two other lofts—a difference in response that was shown to have a genetic base. In view of this, conclusions drawn from the results of Luschi et al. must be restricted to their own findings; they cannot be generalized to the other findings which indicate the use of magnetic outward journey information in young homing pigeons.