Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Luminescence studies on the sediments laid down by the December 2004 tsunami event: prospects for the dating of palaeo tsunams events and for the estimation of sediment fluxes

The tsunami of 26 December 2004 was associated with an Mw 9.3 earthquake. This was the second largest earthquake ever recorded. Geodynamic processes leading to such earthquakes suggest that these are repetitive. It is therefore desirable to obtain their recurrence interval. Earlier attempts to date palaeo-tsunami sediments have assumed that the basic premises for the use of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are adequately met. The sediments transported by the 2004 tsunami provided a maiden opportunity to verify the basic premises of the zeroing of the luminescence at the time of deposition. Results on eight of the nine samples using the conventional single aliquot regeneration (SAR) method provided OSL palaeodoses in the range 0.5 to 0.7 Gy. The recently developed component-specific SAR (CS-SAR) consistently provided OSL palaeodoses in the range 0.5-0.7 Gy. Further, CS-SAR consistently provided evidence that in eight of the nine samples, a fraction of the sample did experience daylight bleaching during transport with the tsunami. This was suggested by the fast-component OSL palaeodose of ~0.2 Gy. This implies a maximum age offset of ≤ 50 yrs and suggests that despite its energy and wave amplitude, only the top ~20-50 cm layer of the sediment in the intertidal zone was mobilized. This inference can be used for sediment influx calculations and hence for regional disaster management.
The Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of 
 
 Arum orientale
 
 on CLP-Induced Sepsis in Rats

Background: Sepsis is a lethal clinical syndrome that results from dysregulated systemic inflammatory response of the body due to the invasion of pathogens, especially bacteria. Despite advances in medical care and therapy, sepsis is still one of the major causes of death in intensive care units and no decisive medical treatment is available against that. Studies have suggested that some Arum species have anti-bacterial properties. The present study investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Arum orientale, on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induced sepsis in rats. Methods: CLP method was used for induction of sepsis in rats. Hydroalcoholic extract of A. orientale was injected intraperitoneally with doses of 80 and 640 mg/Kg body weight at times of 0, 1, 3, 6 and 24 h after the surgery. Antibacterial activity, hemodynamic parameters, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and survival rate were measured after 72 h. Results: Hydroalcoholic extract of A. orientale showed antibacterial activities as potent as gentamycin against Escherichia coli. Administration of the extract with a dose of 80 mg/Kg body weight increased significantly hemodynamic parameters such as mean arterial pressure (p<0.05)and decreased optical density (OD) (p<0.05) of blood. The extract also increased serum MPO activity (p<0.01) and reduced survival rate to 20%. Conclusion: This study for the first time showed that hydroalcoholic extract of A. oriental acts as a double edge sword in the treatment of CLP-induced sepsis. This extract showed antibacterial properties and also improved hemodynamic parameters but decreased survival rate, that might be through pro-inflammatory effects.
Artificial Intelligence, Trust, and Perceptions of Agency

The literature on trust among humans assumes that trustees are viewed as having agency (i.e., they display the capacity to think, plan and act), else trust is undefined. In contrast, the literature on confidence in technology does not require this assumption about the technologies we make ourselves vulnerable to (thus the term “confidence” rather than the term “trust” when applied to technology). Modern artificial intelligence (AI) technologies based on deep learning architectures are often perceived as agentic to varying degrees—typically as more agentic than other technologies but less than humans. We theorize how different levels of perceived agency of AI affect human trust in AI. We do so by investigating three mechanisms. First, a more agentic seeming AI (and its designer) will appear more able to execute relevant tasks, and therefore more trustworthy. Second, the more agentic seeming the AI, the more important are trustworthiness perceptions about the AI relative to those about its designer. Third, because of betrayal aversion, the anticipated psychological cost of the AI violating trust increases with how agentic it seems to be. These mechanisms imply, perhaps counterintuitively, that making an AI appear more agentic may increase or decrease the trust that humans place in it: success at meeting the Turing test may go hand in hand with a decrease of trust in AI.
Total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant capacities of processed pearl millet and sorghum flours


This study assessed the effects of sprouting and fermentation on total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant property of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Pearl millet and sorghum were subjected to the treatment of sprouting and fermentation for 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h. After each of the treatments, the samples were oven-dried at 60 oC for 24 h and milled into fine flour of 0.05 mm in size. The total phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant capacities were quantified using standard methods. The results of the study revealed that sprouting significantly (p<0.05) increased the total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacities of pearl millet and sorghum. However, sprouting time significantly (p<0.05) reduced the total phenolic content of pearl millet. A similar trend of increment was observed in fermentation where there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the total phenolic, total flavonoid, reducing the power and antioxidant capacities of pearl millet and sorghum with an increase in fermentation time. Therefore, the results of this study revealed that the two bioprocesses (sprouting and fermentation) significantly increased the total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacities of pearl millet and sorghum. However, pearl millet exhibited reduced TPC with an increase in sprouting time.
Development of Landscape-level Habitat Suitability Models for Ten Wildlife Species in the Central Hardwoods Region

Reports landscape-level habitat suitability models for 10 species in the Central Hardwoods Region of the Midwestern United States: American woodcock, cerulean warbler, Henslow's sparrow, Indiana bat, northern bobwhite, ruffed grouse, timber rattlesnake, wood thrush, worm-eating warbler, and yellow-breasted chat. All models included spatially explicit variables and relationships based on the best available empirical data and expert opinion. Also includes overview of habitat characteristics for each species, a discussion of the habitat variables used in each model, and supporting reference materials for all assumed relationships between quantity of a resource and quality for each species modeled. The models are included in a stand-alone software package, Landscape HSImodels version 2.1, available from the U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station (www.nrs.fs.fed.us/hsi). These models provide a general approach for evaluating habitat suitability at large spatial scales.
Erratum: ``Vertical distribution of Titan's atmospheric neutral constituents''

The vertical distribution of Titan's neutral atmosphere compounds is calculated from a new photochemical model extending from 40 to 1432 km. This model makes use of many updated reaction rates, and of the new scheme for methane photolysis proposed by Mordaunt et al. [1993]. The model also includes a realistic treatment of the dissociation of N 2 , of the deposition of water in the atmosphere from meteoritic ablation, and of condensation processes. The sensitivity of the results to the eddy diffusion coefficient profile is investigated. Fitting the methane thermospheric profile and the stratospheric abundance of the major hydrocarbons requires a methane stratospheric mixing ratio of 1.5-2% rather than 3%. Fitting the HCN stratospheric profile requires an eddy diffusion coefficient at 100-300 km that is 5-20 times larger than that necessary for the hydrocarbons. Most species are reasonably well reproduced, with the exception of CH 3 C 2 H and HC 3 N. The formation of CH 3 CN may involve the reaction of CN with either CH 4 or (preferably) C 2 H 6 . The observed CO 2 profile can be modeled by assuming an external source of water of ∼6 × 10 6 cm -2 s -1 . For a nominal CO mixing ratio of 5 × 10 -5 , the chemical loss of CO exceeds its production by ∼15%, and equilibrium is achieved for CO = 1 × 10 -5 .
Mineralogical and Geochemical Analyses of Antarctic Lake Sediments: A Reflectance and Moessbauer Spectroscopy Study with Applications for Remote Sensing on Mars

Lakebottom sediments from the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica have been analyzed here in order to study the influence of water chemistry on the mineralogy and geochemistry of these sediments, as well as to evaluate techniques for remote spectral identification of potential biomarker minerals on Mars. Lakes from the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica have been investigated as possible analogs for extinct lake environments on early Mars. Sediment cores were collected in the present study from perennially ice-covered Lake Hoare in the Taylor Valley. These sediments were taken from a core in an oxic region of the lake and another core in an anoxic zone. Differences between the two cores were observed in the sediment color, Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio, the presence of pyrite, the abundance of Fe, S and some trace elements, and the C, N and S isotope fractionation patterns. The results of visible-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (0.3-25 microns) Mossbauer spectroscopy (77 and 4 K) and X-ray diffraction are combined to determine the mineralogy and composition of these samples. The sediments are dominated by plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz and pyroxene. Algal mats grow on the bottom of the lake and organic material has been found throughout the cores. Calcite is abundant in some layers of the aerobic core (shallow region) and pyrite is abundant in some layers of the anaerobic core (deep region). Analysis of the spectroscopic features due to organics and carbonates with respect to the abundance of organic C and carbonate contents was performed in order to select optimal spectral bands for remote identification of these components in planetary regoliths. Carbonate bands near 4 and 6.8 microns (approx.2500 and 1500/cm) were detected for carbonate abundances as low as 0.1 wt. % CO2. Organic features at 3.38, 3.42 and 3.51 microns (2960, 2925 and 2850/cm) were detected for organic C abundances as low as 0.06 wt. % C. The d13C trends show a more complex organic history for the anaerobic sediments than for the aerobic sediments. The biogenic pyrite found in the anaerobic core is associated with lighter d34S values and high organic C levels and could be used as a biomarker mineral for paleolakes on Mars.
Some New Evidence on the Incidence of Poverty in Pakistant

A number of studies have been done in the past to measure the level of poverty in Pakistan. These studies include Naseem (1973, 1977), Alauddin (1975), Mujahid (1979), Irfan and Amjad (1983), Kruijk and Leeuwen (1985) and Cheema (1985). The time periods covered by these studies are not the same. Moreover, in some cases the methodologies and results of these studies also differ. The present study covers the most recent data made available in the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) for 1984-85. Some selected previous Survey years have also been included in the study to see changes in poverty levels over time. The incidence of poverty is measured on the basis of both households and population. To determine the location of the poor, poverty levelshave been estimated for rural and urban areas of the country.
PFN versus PFNA: functional and radiological outcome in intertrochanteric fractures of the femur

Introduction: Intertrochanteric fractures pose a major problem in elderly osteoporotic age group of patients and its incidence has been on the rise. There are several treatment options available for the fixation of such type of fractures. Newer implant designs such as PFN and PFN-A have shown promising results in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. Despite the availability of various implants for the treatment of these fractures, there is no common consensus as to which implant would be ideal in the scenario of intertrochanteric fractures. Therefore, there is a need for further clinical trials to establish the biomechanical and functional outcome superiority of implants such as PFN and PFN-A. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to compare the functional outcome using Harris Hip Score (HHS) and evaluation of complications with the use of PFN and PFN-A in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. The secondary objectives are the assessment of the comparative performance of PFN and PFN-A in the setting of osteoporosis and to compare the radiological outcome of the implants based on TAD, Cleveland’s index, neck-shaft angle and type of reduction. The operative time for the two procedures is also
Vitamin D Status, Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms, and the Risk of Incident Rosacea: Insights from Mendelian Randomization and Cohort Study in the UK Biobank

Background: Previous cross-sectional studies have failed to definitively establish a causal relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations and the onset of rosacea. Objective: To investigate the potential association between serum 25OHD levels, vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms, and the risk of developing incident rosacea. Methods: This cross-sectional population-based cohort study utilizing 370,209 individuals from the UK Biobank. Cox proportional hazard regression models and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were applied to explore the causative relationship between 25OHD and incident rosacea. Results: Our findings revealed that elevated levels of serum 25OHD were inversely correlated with the risk of incident rosacea. Specifically, compared to participants with 25OHD levels below 25 nmol/L, the multivariate-adjusted HR for incident rosacea was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.94) in those with 25OHD levels exceeding 50 nmol/L. Further, in comparison to individuals with serum 25OHD less than 25 nmol/L and the rs731236 (TaqI) AA allele, those with serum 25OHD higher than 75 nmol/L and the TaqI GG allele had a multivariate-adjusted HR of 0.51 (95% CI 0.32 to 0.81) for developing rosacea. Results from the MR study supported a significant association, with each standard deviation increase in serum 25OHD concentrations correlating to a 23% reduced risk of rosacea (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.93). Conclusions: The findings of this cohort study indicate an inverse association between increased concentrations of serum 25OHD and the risk of developing incident rosacea. While our results highlight the potential protective role of vitamin D, the definitive efficacy of vitamin D supplementation as a preventive strategy against rosacea requires further investigation.
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute was established early in 1947 at Madras and was shifted to its present headquarters at Mandapam Camp in 1949. The primary function of the Institute has been to collect detailed information on various aspects of the biology and fishery of the commercially important living resources of the seas around Indiai$l,ik6 fishes, cruetaceans, molluscs, seaweeds etc. The aspects of study include the distribution, habits, life-histories, age and growth, reproduction, food, movements, abundance and the relation between organisms and their environment, such information being essential for scientific exploitation of resources to obtain maximum sustainable yields, at the same time maintaining the stocks at optimum level. As more than three-fourths of the marine fish catches are landed along the west coast of India, and as the regional fisheries and species contributing to them differ, the work of the institute is largely decentralized for a proper assessment of 'fish stocks and their rational utilization and is conducted at different sub-stations and units distributed along the coastline of India.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Low-frequency vibrational spectrum of mean-field disordered systems

We study a recently introduced and exactly solvable mean-ﬁeld model for the density of vibrational states D ( ω ) of a structurally disordered system. The model is formulated as a collection of disordered anharmonic oscillators, with random stiffness κ drawn from a distribution p ( κ ), subjected to a constant ﬁeld h and interacting bilinearly with a coupling of strength J . We investigate the vibrational properties of its ground state at zero temperature. When p ( κ ) is gapped, the emergent D ( ω ) is also gapped, for small J . Upon increasing J , the gap vanishes on a critical line in the ( h , J ) phase diagram, whereupon replica symmetry is broken. At small h , the form of this pseudogap is quadratic, D ( ω ) ∼ ω 2 , and its modes are delocalized, as expected from previously investigated mean-ﬁeld spin glass models. However, we determine that for large enough h , a quartic pseudogap D ( ω ) ∼ ω 4 , populated by localized modes, emerges, the two regimes being separated by a special point on the critical line. We thus uncover that mean-ﬁeld disordered systems can generically display both a quadratic-delocalized and a quartic-localized spectrum at the glass transition. DOI
Composition, age, and provenance of organic matter in NW African dust over the Atlantic Ocean

Eolian dust deposited on a meteorology buoy over the boreal winter and spring of 1992/1993 in the Northeast Atlantic off Northwest Africa (18°N, 22°W) afforded sufficient material for detailed assessment of its biogeochemical characteristics and provenance. The sample was subjected to microscopic examination and bulk, elemental, isotopic, black carbon, and molecular (lignin, lipid) analyses. The bulk elemental composition and organic carbon (OC) content (1.02% dry weight) establishes the dust's origin as continental upper crust and is typical of dusts that emanate from West Africa. These data are in accord with the extensive satellite imagery documenting the transit of dust clouds from the Sahara and Sahel regions (e.g., NASA TOMS aerosol index). Microscopic examination reveals that charcoal‐like particles from vegetation fires (“black carbon” (BC)) are the most abundant morphologically distinct organic components. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C analysis yields conventional 14C ages for bulk OC of 1260 ± 40 years and BC of 2070 ± 35 years. Taken together with corresponding stable carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C, −18.9 and −15.1‰, respectively), these results suggest the presence of biomass and burning residues derived from predominantly C4 vegetation that accumulated in soils over the late Holocene. Molecular‐level measurements are also consistent with this scenario. For example, lignin‐derived phenols in the dustfall sample indicate a significant contribution of angiosperm grass‐type tissue. The altered nature of the lignin suggests storage as residues in soils. Solvent extractable (lipid) constituents include a marked leaf wax type component with a molecular and stable carbon isotopic composition similar to those observed in surface marine sediments in this region. The hydrocarbon fraction contained some diesel‐type contamination but the n‐alkanes (C23–C33) retained a prominent odd/even distribution, with δ13C ranging from −26.7 to −28.5‰. The suite of even carbon numbered n‐alkanols (C22–C32) is 14C dated at 647 ± 150 years, with δ13C values ranging from −23.9 to −30.4‰. The long‐chain n‐alkanoic acids (C22–C32) exhibited δ13C values ranging from −22.6 to −27.4‰. These waxes are evidently a mixed signal derived from contemporary C3 and C4 vegetation and from ablated soils and desiccated lake sediments of middle to late Holocene age. This molecular approach shows promise as a tool for continental paleoenvironmental assessment, particularly with respect to past vegetation cover, regional aridity, and wind systems.
Scale Adaptive Proposal Network for Object Detection in Remote Sensing Images

Object detection in aerial images is widely applied in many applications. In recent years, faster region convolutional neural network shows a great improvement on object detecting in natural images. Considering the size and distribution characteristic of object in remote sensing images, the region proposal network (RPN) should be changed before being adopted. In this letter, a scale adaptive proposal network (SAPNet) is proposed to improve the accuracy of multiobject detection in remote sensing images. The SAPNet consists of multilayer RPNs which are designed to generate multiscale object proposals, and a final detection subnetwork in which fusion feature layer has been applied for better multiobject detection. Comparative experimental results show that the proposed SAPNet significantly improves the accuracy of multiobject detection.
Symptom experience before vs. after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: a population and case control study using prospectively recorded symptom data.

Background: Some individuals experience prolonged illness after acute COVID-19. We assessed whether pre-infection symptoms affected post-COVID illness duration. Methods Survival analysis was performed in adults (n=23,452) with community-managed SARC-CoV-2 infection prospectively self-logging data through the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app, at least weekly, from 8 weeks before to 12 weeks after COVID-19 onset, conditioned on presence vs. absence of baseline symptoms (4-8 weeks before COVID-19). A case-control study was performed in 1350 individuals with long illness ([≥]8 weeks, 906 [67.1%] with illness [≥]12 weeks), matched 1:1 (for age, sex, body mass index, testing week, prior infection, vaccination, smoking, index of multiple deprivation) with 1350 individuals with short illness (<4 weeks). Baseline symptoms were compared between the two groups; and against post-COVID symptoms. Findings: Individuals reporting baseline symptoms had longer post-COVID symptom duration (from 10 to 15 days) with baseline fatigue nearly doubling duration. Two-thirds (910 of 1350 [67.4%]) of individuals with long illness were asymptomatic beforehand. However, 440 (32.6%) had baseline symptoms, vs. 255 (18.9%) of 1350 individuals with short illness (p<0.0001). Baseline symptoms increased the odds ratio for long illness (2.14 [CI: 1.78; 2.57]). Prior comorbidities were more common in individuals with long vs. short illness. In individuals with long illness, baseline symptomatic (vs. asymptomatic) individuals were more likely to be female, younger, and have prior comorbidities; and baseline and post-acute symptoms and symptom burden correlated strongly. Interpretation: Individuals experiencing symptoms before COVID-19 have longer illness duration and increased odds of long illness. However, many individuals with long illness are well before SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Graviton Momentum: A Natural Source of Dark Energy

The dark energy concept in the standard cosmological model can explain the expansion of the universe. However, the mysteries surrounding dark energy remain, such as its source, its unusual negative pressure, its long-range force, and its unchanged density as the universe expands. We propose a graviton momentum hypothesis, develop a semiclassical model of gravitons, and explain the pervasive dark matter and accelerating universe. The graviton momentum hypothesis is incorporated into the standard model and explains well the mysteries related to dark energy.
Vascular flora of the railway station in Jarocin [Western Poland]

The paper presents the vascular flora of the railway station in Jarocin (western Poland), which was studied in 1999-2001. The list of 292 species recorded there, includes Roemeria hybrida (L.) DC. (Papaveraceae), which is new for the flora of Poland.