Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stream respiration exceeds CO2 evasion in a low‐energy, oligotrophic tropical stream

Carbon dioxide (CO2) can be either imported to streams through groundwater and subsurface inputs of soil‐respired CO2 or produced internally through stream metabolism. The contribution of each source to the CO2 evasion flux from streams is not well quantified, especially in the tropics, an underrepresented region in carbon (C) cycling studies. We used high‐frequency measurements of dissolved O2 and CO2 concentrations to estimate the potential contribution of stream metabolism to the CO2 evasion flux in a tropical lowland headwater stream. We found that the stream was heterotrophic all year round, with net ecosystem productivity (NEP) values ranging from 0.84 to 4.06 g C m−2 d−1 (median 1.29 g C m−2 d−1; here we expressed gross primary productivity (GPP) as a negative flux and ecosystem respiration (ER) as a positive flux). Positive NEP values were the result of a relatively low and stable GPP through the seasons, compared to a higher and more variable ER favored by the high temperatures and organic matter availability, particularly during the wet season. The CO2 evasion flux was relatively low due to low turbulence (median: 1.09 g C m−2 d−1). As a result, daily NEP rates exceeded the CO2 evasion flux with a potential contribution of 129% (median; 120–175% interquartile range), despite the strong seasonal changes in flow regime and landscape connectivity. The CO2 excess was likely transported downstream, where it was ultimately emitted to the atmosphere. Our results highlight the overwhelming importance of ER to the C cycle of low‐energy, oligotrophic tropical streams.
Near-infrared K-band imaging of a sample of ultra-steep-spectrum radio sources selected at 74 MHz

In this paper we present near-infrared K-band imaging of a sample of ultra-steep-spectrum (USS) radio sources selected at 74 MHz. The dual selection criteria of low frequency and USS mean that we should be sensitive to the highest-redshift (z > 5) radio galaxies. We have obtained K-band magnitudes for all of the objects in our sample of 26 and discuss the properties of each. There is a pronounced bias in this sample towards fainter magnitudes and thus higher redshifts when compared to complete unfiltered samples such as the 7CRS of Willott et al., implying that the steep-spectrum technique is still viable at 74 MHz. However, there are more bright (K 15 arcsec (the angular size cut-off of 6C*). We find that the distribution of K-band magnitudes from a sample selected at 74 MHz is statistically indistinguishable from the 6C* sample, when similar angular size filtering is applied to the 74-MHz sample.
Land-use and land cover change dynamics in urban Ghana: implications for peri-urban livelihoods

ABSTRACT This paper examined the dynamics of urban land use and land cover change, and their implications for livelihoods in peri-urban Tamale, Ghana. The study employed household data and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) for 1986, Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM +) for 2004 and Landsat 8 Operationalised Landsat Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLIS/TIRS) for 2019. The findings show that the urban expansion process witnessed a transition from agricultural livelihood to a more complex and monetised urban economy, which presented mixed impacts on the livelihoods of the peri-urban households. We argued that the horizontal expansion of urban areas into prime agricultural lands could be halted by promoting vertical development in the form of multi-storey buildings rather than the horizontal multiplication of individual housing units. Supporting the peri-urban households to diversify their livelihood portfolios by venturing into beekeeping, poultry farming, and livestock keeping, which do not require large tracts of land is recommended.
Targeting Observations Using Singular Vectors

Abstract Singular vectors with maximum energy at final time inside a verification area are used to identify the target area where extra observations should be taken, at an initial time, to reduce the forecast error inside the verification area itself. This technique is applied to five cases of cyclone development in the Atlantic Ocean, with cyclones reaching the British Isles at the final time. Three verification areas centered around this region are considered. First, the sensitivity of the target area to the choice of the forecast trajectory along which the singular vectors are evolved, to the choice of the verification area where singular vector energy is maximized, and to the number of singular vectors used to define the target area is investigated. Results show little sensitivity to the choice of the verification area, but high sensitivity to the choice of the trajectory. Regarding the number of singular vectors used, results based on the first 4 or the first 10 singular vectors are shown to be very .
Handmade Needleless Midurethral Sling In Comparison With Transobturator Tension-Free Vaginal Tape In Treatment Of Genuine Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

Backgrounds: Stress urinary incontinence is a widely experienced condition among females. Our aim was to compare TOT and handmade needleless midurethral sling regarding safety and effectiveness for management of genuine stress urinary incontinence in females. Methods: Sixty female cases with genuine SUI randomly allocated to 2 groups: Group I: 30 patients were operated on using handmade needleless mid urethral sling (Prolene, Ethicon, USA) mesh 15 x15 cm by cutting 134 mm x 20 mm tape). Group II: 30 patients were using TOT (Obtryx transobturator sling system, Boston Scientific, USA) “outside-in” technique. Post-operative evaluation at 3, 6 and 12 months by cough stress test, post-voiding residual urine and uroflowmetry, a negative cough stress test with absence of urine leakage indicated cure. Results: Group I demonstrated a shorter Operative time than group II 14.17±2.82 min and 25.23±2.63 min respectively (P value <0.05) however, the postoperative hospital stay and complications were insignificantly different in both groups (P value <0.05). Also, insignificant differences were detected in both groups regarding cure, improvement and failure rate where the cure rate in group I was 90%, in group II was 86.7%, the improvement rate in group I was 6.7%, group II was 10% and the failure only affected one case each group. Conclusions: Handmade needleless midurethral sling is a good tool for treatment of genuine female stress urinary incontinence with encouraging results, less operative time, side effects and cost in comparison to commercial TOT especially in developing countries.
Impact of KRAS and BRAF mutations on treatment efficacy and survival in high‐grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

High‐grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (HG GEP‐NEN) typically disseminate early. Treatment of metastatic disease has limited benefit and prognosis is generally discouraging. Data on the clinical impact of mutations in HG GEP‐NEN are scarce. There is an unmet need for reliable biomarkers to predict treatment outcome and prognosis in metastatic HG GEP‐NEN. Patients with metastatic HG GEP‐NEN diagnosed at three centres were selected for KRAS‐, BRAF mutation and microsatellite instability (MSI) analyses. Results were linked to treatment outcome and overall survival. After pathological re‐evaluation, 83 patients met inclusion criteria: 77 (93%) GEP neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) and six (7%) GEP neuroendocrine tumours (NET) G3. NEC harboured higher frequency of mutations than NET G3. Colon NEC harboured a particular high frequency of BRAF mutations (63%). Immediate disease progression on first‐line chemotherapy was significantly higher for NEC with BRAF mutation (73%) versus wild‐type (27%) (p = .016) and for colonic primary (65%) versus other NEC (28%) (p = .011). Colon NEC had a significant shorter PFS compared to other primary sites, a finding independent of BRAF status. Immediate disease progression was particularly frequent for BRAF mutated colon NEC (OR 10.2, p = .007). Surprisingly, BRAF mutation did not influence overall survival. KRAS mutation was associated with inferior overall survival for the whole NEC population (HR 2.02, p = .015), but not for those given first‐line chemotherapy. All long‐term survivors (>24 m) were double wild‐type. Three NEC cases (4.8%) were MSI. Colon NEC with BRAF mutation predicted immediate disease progression on first‐line chemotherapy, but did not affect PFS or OS. Benefit of first‐line platinum/etoposide treatment seems limited for colon NEC, especially for BRAF mutated cases. KRAS mutations did not influence treatment efficacy nor survival for patients receiving first‐line chemotherapy. Both frequency and clinical impact of KRAS/BRAF mutations in digestive NEC differ from prior results on digestive adenocarcinoma.
Tobacco Smoking: Knowledge of Primary School Children and Impact of Educational Intervention in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt

Background: Schools are a channel to better inform, and health educate children and adolescents about the hazards of tobacco smoking increasing their chance of stopping smoking, or even prevent its sporadic or regular use. Objective(s): To assess primary public school children’s knowledge regarding smoking, its associated factors, and to evaluate the impact of an educational session about tobacco smoking on the knowledge of school children in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Methods: A one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted targeting a total number of 565 primary public-school children by using a pre-designed self-administered questionnaire, as a tool for assessment of their knowledge before and after applying an educational session for them. Results : Current smokers among the participant students accounted for 6.1% (6.2% of girls vs. 5.9% of boys), while 7.1% were ever smokers. Students with good knowledge constituted 9.7%, while those with poor knowledge represented 37.7%. Five items showed less than 50% correct response before the intervention and improved significantly (p = 0.000) after the intervention, namely “Nicotine is the substance that gives the distinctive flavor of cigarettes and is also used as an insecticide”, “Cigarettes contain toxic substances such as arsenic and cyanide”, “Tobacco kills nearly half of its users”, “Drinking waterpipe (Shisha) is less harmful than cigarettes”, and “Electronic cigarettes have no harm and help in quitting smoking”. Education of the mother (beta = 0.139, p= 0.017), information on packets (beta = 0.135, p = 0.015), having a friend who is smoker (beta = - 0.135, p = 0.005), having a working mother (beta = 0.131, p = 0.006), gender (beta = 0.128, p = 0.007), and smoking status (beta = - 0.119, p = 0.012) were the most important predictors of the baseline knowledge score. The total knowledge of the participating students improved significantly after intervention, there was a highly statistically significant difference in the median score before and after the intervention (9 vs. 13, p = 0.000). Conclusion: The lower incidence of smoking among the children having better knowledge combined with the revealed result of the effectiveness of the educational intervention in improving the knowledge of school children especially at that young age mandate the integration of such education among the school curricula.
Abundances of H II regions in early-type spiral galaxies

We present an abundance study of H II regions in 15 Sa to Sb galaxies. We find that the metal abundances of the H II regions are systematically higher than those in Sc and later type galaxies, although this effect is not a function of Hubble type only. The distribution of reddening values is similar to late-type spirals, indicating that the dust levels associated with our sample of H II regions are not unusually high. This implies that the systematic changes in H II region luminosity along the Hubble sequence are due to intrinsic differences in the properties of the gas and ionizing OB associations, rather than to differences in extinction
First radar echoes from cumulus clouds

Abstract In attempting to use centimeter-wavelength radars to investigate the early stage of precipitation formation in clouds, “mantle echoes” are rediscovered and shown to come mostly from scattering by small-scale variations in refractive index, a Bragg kind of scattering mechanism. This limits the usefulness of single-wavelength radar for studies of hydrometeor growth, according to data on summer cumulus clouds in North Dakota, Hawaii, and Florida, to values of reflectivity factor above about 10 dBZe with 10-cm radar, 0 dBZe with 5-cm radar, and −10 dBZe with 3-cm radar. These are limits at or above which the backscattered radar signal from the kinds of clouds observed can be assumed to be almost entirely from hydrometeors or (rarely) other particulate material such as insects. Dual-wave-length radar data can provide the desired information about hydrometeors at very low reflectivity levels if assumptions can be made about the inhomogeneities responsible for the Bragg scattering. The Bragg scattering .
Analysis of harbor oscillation with a boussinesq model

x, 62 leaves%%%%Seiches or long-wave oscillations in harbors are normally the result of nonlinear interactions within groups of narrow-banded wind waves and swell. These oscillations may cause excessive vessel motions and disrupt loading and unloading operations at port facilities. Accurate prediction of harbor oscillation patterns is therefore an important aspect in harbor design. Most previous studies have used linear models to predict these nonlinear oscillation behaviors. This study uses an extended Boussinesq model that is applicable from deep to shallow water and takes into account the generation mechanism of these oscillations along with their interaction with the wind waves or swell. The finite difference model utilizes a predictor-corrector scheme to march the solution forward in time. It has a moving boundary algorithm to account for wave swashing, thereby allowing the correct boundary condition to be imposed at shorelines. The model is applied to examine the natural oscillation modes at Barbers Point Harbor and Kahului Harbor located on the West and North shores of Oʻahu and Maui respectively. The computed responses at each harbor are compared with previous linear model results and data gathered from pressure sensors. The analysis shows that harbor oscillation is primarily excited by infragravity waves, which can be simulated by a Boussinesq model.
The collapse illusion effect: A semantic-pragmatic illusion of truth and paradox

Abstract Two Experiments demonstrate the existence of a “collapse illusion”, in which reasoners evaluate Truthteller-type propositions (“I am telling the truth”) as if they were simply true, whereas Liar-type propositions (“I am lying”) tend to be evaluated as neither true nor false. The second Experiment also demonstrates an individual differences pattern, in which shallow reasoners are more susceptible to the illusion. The collapse illusion is congruent with philosophical semantic truth theories such as Kripke's (1975), and with hypothetical thinking theory's principle of satisficing, but can only be partially accounted for by the model theory principle of truth. Pragmatic effects related to sentence cohesion further reinforce hypothetical thinking theory interpretation of the data, although the illusion and cohesion data could also be accounted for within a modified mental model theory.
Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Retina Clinic at a Tertiary Center in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Record Review

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease involving the macular region of the retina and is considered a significant cause of vision loss worldwide. With the increase in life expectancy in various countries, this problem has become more apparent. We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of AMD among patients visiting the retina clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia) to identify the commonly associated risk factors of AMD. Methods The records of 3,067 individuals from 2017 to 2021 were reviewed. Of these, 1,935 were enrolled in the study. Results The prevalence of AMD among the patients was 4%. Regarding non-modifiable risk factors, age and having a family history of AMD showed a significant association (p = 0.001 and 0.043, respectively). However, sex and nationality were not significantly associated. As for modifiable risk factors, smoking and hypertension demonstrated a significant relationship (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). However, the association with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia was not significant. Conclusion Our study shows that AMD is widely prevalent in Saudi Arabia and is associated with age, family history, smoking, and hypertension. Therefore, patients at risk of AMD must be screened and managed promptly before disease progression.
SoundLock: A Novel User Authentication Scheme for VR Devices Using Auditory-Pupillary Response

—Virtual Reality (VR) has shown promising potential in many applications, such as e-business, healthcare, and social networking. Rich information regarding users’ activities and online accounts is stored in VR devices. If they are care-lessly unattended, adversarial access will cause data breaches and other critical consequences. Practical user authentication schemes for VR devices are in dire need. Current solutions, including passwords, digital PINs, and pattern locks, mostly follow conventional approaches for general personal devices. They have been criticized for deficits in both security and usability. In this work, we propose SoundLock, a novel user authentication scheme for VR devices using auditory-pupillary response as biometrics. During authentication, auditory stimuli are presented to the user via the VR headset. The corresponding pupillary response is captured by the integrated eye tracker. User’s legitimacy is then determined by comparing the response with the template generated during the enrollment stage. To strike a balance between security and usability in the scheme design, an optimization problem is formulated. Due to its non-linearity, a two-stage heuristic algorithm is proposed to solve it efficiently. The solution provides necessary guidance for selecting effective auditory stimuli and determining their corresponding lengths. We demonstrate through extensive in-field experiments that SoundLock outperforms state-of-the-art biometric solutions with FAR (FRR) as low as 0.76% (0.91%) and is well received among participants in the user study.
The Bright Ages Survey. II. Evolution of Luminosity, Dust Extinction, and Star Formation from z = 0.5 to z = 2.5

The Bright Ages Survey is a K-band-selected redshift survey over six separate fields with UBVRIzJHK imaging covering a total of 75.6 arcmin 2 and reaching K = 20-20.5. Two fields have deep HST imaging, while all are centered on possible overdensities in the z ~ 2 range. Here we report photometric redshifts and spectroscopy for this sample, which has been described in Paper I. We find 18 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts of z > 1.5. The derived rest-frame R-band luminosity functions show strong evolution out to z = 2. The luminosity function at z = 2 shows more bright galaxies than at any other epoch, even the extrapolated z = 3 luminosity function from Shapley et al. However, the R-band integrated luminosity density remains roughly constant from to z = 0.5 to z = 2. Evolved galaxies (E, S0, Sa) show a decreasing contribution to the total R-band luminosity density with redshift. The dust extinction in our K-selected sample is moderately larger [median z = 2 E(B - V) = 0.30] than that found in Lyman break galaxies, although not enough to make a significant impact on the total light or star formation found at high redshift. We measure the extinction-corrected star formation rate density at z = 2, finding ρSFR(z = 1.5-2.5) = 0.093 M☉ yr-1 Mpc-3, consistent with a relatively flat instantaneous star formation rate from z = 1-4.
Dimensionally dependent identities

Abstract In the general theory of relativity a number of apparently unrelated identities peculiar to a 4-dimensional space are frequently used. However, the proofs usually presented appear to have no common ideas and, furthermore, it is not clear at what stage the dimensionality restriction plays a significant role. In this note a technique is presented which explicitly exhibits the dimensionality dependence and thereby enables the above identities to be generalized for n-dimensional spaces. It is also shown that the above identities are all special cases of a more general identity valid for n = 4.
Extended Poisson Process Modelling and Analysis of Count Data

It is shown that any discrete distribution with non‐negative support has a representation in terms of an extended Poisson process (or pure birth process). A particular extension of the simple Poisson process is proposed: one that admits a variety of distributions; the equations for such processes may be readily solved numerically. An analytical approximation for the solution is given, leading to approximate mean‐variance relationships. The resulting distributions are then applied to analyses of some biological data‐sets.
Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Growth, Chemical Composition and Yield of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

In this study ZnO NPs powder was used hence various analytical techniques, such as UV–Visible spectroscopy, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-Visible spectroscopy. (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). TEM revealed both ZnO NPs small round nanoparticles and big rod nanoparticles. Zinc oxide nanoparticles' UV-vis absorbance spectrum, which ranges from 190 nm to 1100 nm. Field experiment was done in the Tag El-Ezz Experimental Research Station of the Agricultural Research Center in the Egyptian governorate of Dakahlia, during two successive seasons; 2019 and 2020 to assay the effect of foliar spraying with nanoparticles (NPs) of Zinc (0, 20, 40, 60, 80,100 and 200 mgL) and non-nanoparticles Zn in the form of ZnEDTA at 200 mgL with a randomized complete block design on the growth, chemical composition and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). In general Spraying Zn0-NPs onto leaves greatly improved the vegetative growth characteristics, yield and improved nutritional contents of potato tubers. It is worthy to mention that, 80 mgL of ZnO-NPs have the highest effect on most characters and increase the yield of potato tubers (ha) by (69.89 and 41.69%) compared to control during the two seasons.
Assessment of the Possible Oxidative Hepatotoxicity Induced by Cannabis and Pregabalin in Rats

: Recently, great of consideration has been rewarded to Cannabis-and Pregabalin because of the important role of their uses, by their presence in food, oil and fiber for humans and animals, and therapeutics also for their addiction effects. The present study pointed to scrutinize oxidative stress and histopathological changes in liver of rats caused by cannabis as well as Pregabalin. In this study, Thirty Wistar male mice were clustered into three group. First group kept as negative control, second group was cannabis group (administered Cannabis by gastric tube at a dose of 3 mg/kg b.wt.) and third group was the pregablin group, (administered pregabalin by gastric tube on a dosage of 30 mg/kg b.wt.) every day for eight weeks. Oxidative stress parameters (MDA and GSH) were done and analyzed in serum. Histopathological examination of the liver sections was done. Results revealed that, cannabis cluster showed significant increase while, pregabalin showed significant decrease in MDA activity compared with control cluster; whereas Cannabis resulted in substantial reduction in the level of GSH while, pregabalin showed substantial increase in GSH level compared with control group. Along with, there were some pathological changes in liver tissue.