Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating discharge in gravel‐bed river using non‐contact ground‐penetrating and surface‐velocity radars

Discharge measurement is a critical task for gravel‐bed channels. Under high‐flow conditions, the elevation of the riverbed changes significantly by intensive torrential flow. The stage–discharge relations commonly used for stream discharge estimation may no longer be adequate. The contact‐type velocity measuring is also subject to measurement errors and/or instrument failures by the high‐flow velocities, driftwood, stumps, and debris. This study developed a new real‐time method to estimate river discharge in gravel‐bed channels. A systematic measuring technology combining ground‐penetrating radar and surface‐velocity radar was employed. The rating curves representing the relations of water surface velocity to the channel cross‐sectional mean velocity and flow area were established. Stream discharge was then deduced from the resulting mean velocity and flow area. The proposed method was examined in a steep gravel‐bed reach of the Cho‐Shui River in central Taiwan. The estimated stream discharge during three flood events were compared to the prediction by using the stage–discharge relation and the index‐velocity method. The proposed method of this study is capable of computing reasonable values of discharge for an entire flood hydrograph, whereas the other two methods tend to produce large extrapolation errors. Moreover, when the computed discharge is used in 2D flood flow simulation, the proposed method demonstrates better performance than the commonly used stage–discharge and index‐velocity methods.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS RELATION TO THE FLUCTUATION IN GLACIER MASS BALANCE IN THE CORDILLERA BLANCA, PERU: A REVIEW

This review article describes the main probable causes of glacier fluctuations in the Cordillera Blanca since the end of the Little Ice Age. The Cordillera Blanca glaciers reached their last maximum extent during the Little Ice Age and have been retreating since the second half of the 19th century. The progressive glacier recession continued throughout the 20th century but was interrupted several times by periods of glacier advances. The last of these advances took place at the end of the 20th century. However, glacier advances were too short to compensate for the total glacier loss. The major phases of advance and retreat of glacier fluctuations have been well documented and climate changes seem to be their most probable drivers. However, interpreting the climatic forcing that causes such a change in the mass balance remains problematic. The response of tropical glaciers to climatic forcing is complex and glacier recession is likely to involve other components of the energy balance in thermally homogenous areas.
Brain structural correlates of subjective sleepiness and insomnia symptoms in shift workers

Background Studies on the brain structures of shift workers are limited; thus, this cross-sectional study aimed to compare the brain structures and the brain structural correlates of subjective sleepiness and insomnia symptoms between shift workers and non-shift workers. Methods Shift workers (n = 63) and non-shift workers (n = 58) completed questionnaires assessing subjective sleepiness and insomnia symptoms. Cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and subcortical volumes were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. The brain morphometric measures were compared between the groups, and interaction analyses using the brain morphometric measures as the dependent variable were performed to test the interactions between the study group and measures of sleep disturbance (i.e., subjective sleepiness and insomnia symptoms). Results No differences in cortical thickness, cortical surface area, or subcortical volumes were detected between shift workers and non-shift workers. A single cluster in the left motor cortex showed a significant interaction between the study group and subjective sleepiness in the cortical surface area. The correlation between the left motor cortex surface area and the subjective sleepiness level was negative in shift workers and positive in non-shift workers. Significant interaction between the study group and insomnia symptoms was present for the left/right putamen volumes. The correlation between the left/right putamen volumes and insomnia symptom levels was positive in shift workers and negative in non-shift workers. Conclusion Left motor cortex surface area and bilateral putamen volumes were unique structural correlates of subjective sleepiness and insomnia symptoms in shift workers, respectively.
Clinical and Epidemiological Assessment of Children and Adolescents Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in the Pre-Amazon Region

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection usually presents similarly to other respiratory viral pathogens. Children and adolescents do not present as a group that is highly affected by the disease, having low infection rates. However, limited publications are associated with the findings of pneumonia in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Objective: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological aspects of children and adolescents hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in a pre-Amazon region. Methods: A retrospective study, carried out in four public hospitals in São Luís, Brazil where medical records of children and adolescents aged from 0 to 13 years, of both sexes, with clinical diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia were evaluated from March 2020 to March 2021. Results: Almost 40.0% of children were aged between 1 year and 5 years. Of the 128 children who had SARS-CoV-2, 3 are of indigenous ethnicity. Additionally, 78.6% of the children had fever and there was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients and those of other respiratory viruses. Eighteen patients had chronic neurological disease, which is the most common comorbidity observed in patients with coronavirus infection. Ground glass opacity attenuation was observed in 24.8% of children and adolescents with COVID-19. Anemia and increased inflammatory response markers were related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. More than 90.0% of patients admitted to hospital, regardless of etiology, were treated with antibiotics. Eighteen patients died. Pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (PMIS) was diagnosed in 17 patients. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents is mild, but the condition of patients with PMIS is more serious, with an increase in inflammatory biomarkers which can lead to death. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and differentiation of agents causing respiratory diseases are necessary for better therapeutic decision making, since the results of this study make us question the excessive use of antibiotics without meeting well-defined clinical–epidemiological criteria.
The Evolution and Development of Malaysia's Strategy Towards China (1957-2022)

This article uses the period from 1957, the year Malaysia gained independence, to 2022, as the research timeline to examine how Malaysia's strategy toward China developed and what variables significantly influenced its development. The study's findings demonstrate that Malaysia, a tiny nation, has developed its relationship with China through four distinct phases: confrontation (1957–1974), non–alignment (1974–1981), balance (1981–2018), and the "new" hedging approach (2018-2022). Five main factors, including leadership qualities, domestic interest groups, national interest considerations, great power rivalry, and ASEAN principles, all play a role in the evolution of Malaysia's strategy toward China over the course of four phases, according to Robert Putnam's Two-Level Game Theory. Of these, national interest considerations and great power rivalry are the most important influencing factors. Although Malaysia's various strategic decisions and use of China have, to some extent, helped to stabilize bilateral relations and practical cooperation between Malaysia and China, they also demonstrate that Malaysia, as a small and sensible country, is cautious and concerned when establishing relations with China. Due to these complex variables, Malaysia will modify its China policy to reflect the current environment in order to better respond to changes in both domestic and global circumstances and advance its own national interests.
The Application Research of FCN Algorithm in Different Severe Convection Short-Time Nowcasting Technology in China, Gansu Province

This study explores the application of the fully convolutional network (FCN) algorithm to the field of meteorology, specifically for the short-term nowcasting of severe convective weather events such as hail, convective wind gust (CG), thunderstorms, and short-term heavy rain (STHR) in Gansu. The training data come from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and real-time ground observations. The performance of the proposed FCN model, based on 2017 to 2021 training datasets, demonstrated a high prediction accuracy, with an overall error rate of 16.6%. Furthermore, the model exhibited an error rate of 18.6% across both severe and non-severe weather conditions when tested against the 2022 dataset. Operational deployment in 2023 yielded an average critical success index (CSI) of 24.3%, a probability of detection (POD) of 62.6%, and a false alarm ratio (FAR) of 71.2% for these convective events. It is noteworthy that the predicting performance for STHR was particularly effective with the highest POD and CSI, as well as the lowest FAR. CG and hail predictions had comparable CSI and FAR scores, although the POD for CG surpassed that for hail. The FCN model’s optimal performances in terms of hail prediction occurred at the 4th, 8th, and 10th forecast hours, while for CG, the 6th hour was most accurate, and for STHR, the 2nd and 4th hours were most effective. These findings underscore the FCN model’s ideal suitability for short-term forecasting of severe convective weather, presenting extensive prospects for the automation of meteorological operations in the future.
Effects of artificial light and latitude on the dawn foraging activity of Great Tits (Parus major) during winter in northern Europe

Cover photo: Male Great Tit Parus major. Photo: Bjørn Aksel Bjerke. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the ecological consequences of artificial light on wildlife. At northern latitudes, winter is characterized by short days and low temperatures. Under these conditions, resident birds need to consume more food in a shorter time to sustain their metabolism and maintain body temperature. Access to artificial light may prolong foraging opportunities for resident birds during winter. Here, we used a field experiment to test whether Great Tits Parus major benefit from artificial light to start foraging before sunrise. Further, we conducted a meta-analysis to test if onset of foraging was correlated with latitude in the Great Tit. A feeding station with artificial light was placed in a forest area in Ås, SE Norway, at nearly 60° north. A camera was placed in front of the feeding station to record daily activity of the Great Tit in December and February. In December, Great Tits started foraging earlier relative to sunrise when artificial light was available. In February, Great Tits were not stimulated by artificial light to start foraging before sunrise. The onset of foraging in Great Tits was also correlated with latitude. At the northernmost location, Great Tits started foraging several hours before sunrise, whereas at the southernmost location, Great Tits started foraging only a few minutes before sunrise. The results suggest that resident Great Tits may utilize artificial light to prolong their foraging activity during midwinter, and that onset of foraging is advanced relative to sunrise with decreasing daylength further north. Our findings contribute to the understanding of how short days during northern winters can limit foraging activity in resident birds.
The Influence of Supervision and Organizational Culture on Employee Work Productivity through Organizational Commitment to Kimshafi Alung Cipta Ltd

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of supervisory characteristics and organizational culture on employee work productivity via organizational commitment as a mediator. This study utilized SEM because SEM may simultaneously quantify components and impacts between variables in an entire model. Utilizing the Quota Sampling method, 276 employees are sampled. Path analysis using the Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Square (SEMPLS) approach and the SmartPLS 3.3. 3 software is used to analyze the data. The findings of this study indicate that: (1) there is a positive and significant influence of supervision variables on the Work Productivity of Kimshafi Alung Cipta Ltd; (2) there is a positive and significant influence of organizational culture variables on the Work Productivity of Kimshafi Alung Cipta Ltd; (3) there is a positive and significant influence of organizational commitment variables on the Work Productivity of Kimshafi Alung Cipta Ltd; and (4) there is a positive and significant
DOMPOASE LANDFILL IN THE KUMASI METROPOLITAN AREA OF GHANA: A ‘BLESSING’ OR A ‘CURSE’?

The challenge of managing solid waste effectively is becoming crucial in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area largely due to rapid urbanization, poor financing capacity of authorities and lack of safe waste disposal sites. More than 90% of solid waste generated was not properly disposed off until 2004 when the Dompoase Landfill was constructed to be the final disposal site for all the wastes produced in the metropolis. The project has been hailed as a ‘blessing’ from the point of view of costs, location and environmental impacts. Waste in the landfill is also to be used to produce energy and fertilizer through composting. However, the operation of the landfill has come with very daunting challenges as people who reside close to it and the general public has put up fierce resistance in an effort to protect their right to live in a healthy and hazard-free environment. The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the benefits as well as the health and environmental effects of the Dompoase Landfill. Using mainly qualitative techniques, this study shows that the Dompoase Landfill has been a source of livelihood to peri-urban agriculturalists that use the fertile lands on the fringes of the landfill despite the much anticipated negative environmental and health effects. The paper concludes that though the landfill has been a source of 'blessing' to some actors, it can also be a 'curse' due to its health hazards.
Equations of state of iron nitrides ε‐Fe3Nx and γ‐Fe4Ny to 30 GPa and 1200 K and implication for nitrogen in the Earth's core

Nitrogen abundance is one of the most uncertain among all elements in the Earth's interior. Recent data indicate an affinity between Fe‐nitrides and Fe‐carbides in the Earth's mantle and inner core. In this work P‐V‐T equations of state of ε‐Fe3N0.8 and ε‐Fe3N1.26 (which is close to Fe7N3) have been determined using a combination of multianvil and synchrotron radiation techniques at pressures up to 30 GPa and temperatures up to 1473 K. A fit of the P‐V‐T data to the Vinet‐Rydberg and Mie‐Grüneisen‐Debye equations of state yields the following thermoelastic parameters for the ε‐Fe3N0.8: V0 = 81.44(2) Å3, KT0 = 157(3) GPa, KT′ = 5.3 (fixed), θ0 = 555 K (fixed), γ0 = 1.83(1), and q = 1.34(18). For ε‐Fe3N1.26 we obtained V0 = 86.18(2) Å3, KT0 = 163(2) GPa, KT′ = 5.3(2), θ0 = 562(90) K, γ0 = 1.85(2), and q = 0.55(24). It is likely that all presumably paramagnetic ε‐Fe3Nx with x = 0.75–1.5 have similar thermoelastic properties with a minor increase of the bulk modulus with increasing N content. The melting temperature of ε‐Fe3Nx increases from approximately 1473 to 1573 K in the pressure range from 5 to 30 GPa. We also determined a preliminary equation of state for γ‐Fe4Ny and calculated y = 0.35(2) from the data at 20–30 GPa. Combining the results with a recent experimental study on the stability of β‐Fe7N3, isostructural with Fe7C3, and a theoretical study of the magnetic transitions in ε‐Fe3Nx, we estimate the density of Fe‐nitrides at the Earth's inner core conditions. Our results indicate that at 5000–6000 K, 2.0–3.2 wt % N can explain the density deficit in Earth's inner core.
Assessment of Medicinal Plants and Their Conservation Status in Case of Daligaw Kebela, Gozamen Werda, East Gojjam Zone

This study was conducted at Daligaw Kebela East Gojjam Zone to assess the medicinal plants and their conservational status. The data were collected through questionnaire, key informant interview, and observation. A total of 82 households were selected randomly from the total household. The key informants from the study area were selected purposively. The collected data were analyzed by using Microsoft excel and expressed by using descriptive statistical such as percentage, tables and bar graphs. In the study area a total of 38 medicinal plants were identified. About 55%, 2.63% and 42.11% were used for treatment of human aliments, Animals aliments and were used for both animal and human aliments respectively. Leaves (78%) followed by roots (40%) are the most frequently used plant parts for traditional medicine. However, the conservation status of some of those medicinal plants are nearly too endangered because of overexploitation, overgrazing, mainly due to over harvesting of their roots. Generally, the above-mentioned conservation challenges may be due to lack of awareness among local community and the concerned government and non-government bodies. So, appropriate intervention on awareness creation and parallel conservation works should be facilitated as far as the issue of medicinal plants sustainability is concern.
Historical Seismicity of the Rijeka Region (Northwest External Dinarides, Croatia)—Part II: The Klana Earthquakes of 1870

The Klana earthquake sequence with the mainshock on 1 March 1870 (Imax = VIII MSK) is one of the most important events that occurred in the Rijeka (Croatia) epicentral region. It is remarkable not just because of its impact to the local community and its significance for the seismic hazard in the Rijeka area, but also because it provided some of important observations on earthquake phenomena during the infancy of seismology. In particular, D. Stur (1871) seems to have been the first to attempt to explain the observed variation in damage by interaction of different local geological units during shaking ; R. Hoernes (1878) heavily relied on Stur’s data from the Klana epicentral region when he proposed that the vast majority of global earthquakes is related to the mountain-building process, and thus named them tectonic earthquakes. In spite of this, the Klana earthquake so far has escaped any detailed consideration by seismologists. In this study we present the historical data sources consulted to extract useful reports on damage and other observed effects, compile macroseismic maps for the five strongest events, and invert the estimated intensity data to compute macroseismic hypocenters and epicentral intensities for the mainshock and the two strongest aftershocks. We also present an earthquake chronicle with data for 92 identified earthquakes in the area for the period January–August 1870. The mainshock’s macroseismic epicenter is located near the active Rasa fault–Klana-Novi Vinodolski fault system, which we thus propose to be the primary source of the sequence. Macroseismic epicenters of the aftershocks lie close to the surface trace of the nearby Skadanscina-Rijeka reverse fault.
The Impact of Liquidity and Corporate Efficiency on Profitability

This study aims to investigate and determine the trend and extent of the impact of a company's liquidity and efficiency on profitability. Research data is collected on the audited financial statements of Vietnam's top 100 listed companies. Regression models (pooled OLS, FEM, and REM) and necessary tests are used to select the appropriate analysis model. Model defects are overcome by GLS regression. The research results confirm the strong, positive impact of liquidity, company efficiency, and company growth rate on profitability. In addition, the research results also demonstrate a significant negative impact between financial leverage and profitability. This article is the first study to simultaneously address the effects of liquidity and corporate efficiency on profitability. Furthermore, it is the first empirical study applying GLS regression to analyze the impact of liquidity and corporate efficiency on the top 100 listed companies in the Vietnamese market. This market provides an ideal analytical framework because of its heterogeneity in terms of its history of origin and development and its political, cultural, social, and governance characteristics. To make the research results more general, future studies can expand the scope of the survey to all companies listed on the stock market. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-01-013 Full Text: PDF
Spatial and Temporal Robustness of Sr/Ca‐SST Calibrations in Red Sea Corals: Evidence for Influence of Mean Annual Temperature on Calibration Slopes

Sr/Ca ratios recorded in the aragonite skeleton of massive coral colonies are commonly used to reconstruct seasonal‐ to centennial‐scale variability in sea surface temperature (SST). While the Sr/Ca paleothermometer is robust in individual colonies, Sr/Ca‐SST relationships between colonies vary, leading to questions regarding the utility of the proxy. We present biweekly‐resolution calibrations of Sr/Ca from five Porites spp. corals to satellite SST across 10° of latitude in the Red Sea to evaluate the Sr/Ca proxy across both spatial and temporal scales. SST is significantly correlated with coral Sr/Ca at each site, accounting for 69–84% of Sr/Ca variability (P ≪ 0.01). Intercolony variability in Sr/Ca‐SST sensitivities reveals a latitudinal trend, where calibration slopes become shallower with increasing mean annual temperature. Mean annual temperature is strongly correlated with the biweekly‐resolution calibration slopes across five Red Sea sites (r2 = 0.88, P = 0.05), while also correlating significantly to Sr/Ca‐SST slopes for 33 Porites corals from across the entire Indo‐Pacific region (r2 = 0.26, P < 0.01). Although interannual summer, winter, and mean annual calibrations for individual Red Sea colonies are inconsistently robust, combined multicoral calibrations are significant at summer (r2 = 0.53, P ≪ 0.01), winter (r2 = 0.62, P ≪ 0.01), and mean annual time scales (r2 = 0.79, P ≪ 0.01). Our multicoral, multisite study indicates that the Sr/Ca paleothermometer is accurate across both temporal and spatial scales in the Red Sea and also potentially explains for the first time variability in Sr/Ca‐SST calibration slopes across the Indo‐Pacific region. Our study provides strong evidence supporting the robustness of the coral Sr/Ca proxy for examining seasonal to multicentury variability in global climate phenomena.