Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Osteoconductive surfaces generated from peptide functionalized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphate) brushes

Modification of bone implant materials with biofunctional surfaces that facilitate osteoblast adhesion and promote matrix mineralization is an attractive strategy to improve osseointegration. This manuscript discusses the preparation and properties of RGD peptide modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphate) (P(HEMA-co-MEP)) brushes. Whereas the RGD peptide serves to mediate osteoblast adhesion, the MEP phosphate groups were incorporated to mimic the function of natural bone extracellular matrix phosphorylated proteins and stabilize the bone mineral phase. The polymer brush coatings were obtained via surface-initiated atom transfer radical copolymerization of HEMA and MEP followed by peptide post-polymerization modification. The functional properties of these polymer brushes were evaluated in vitro using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells. Whereas cell proliferation and differentiation were not significantly influenced by variations in brush composition (MEP, peptide content), incorporation of MEP was found to promote matrix mineralization. Matrix mineralization was most pronounced on substrates that presented both phosphate groups and RGD peptide sequences, indicating that a simultaneous presentation of both of these cues is most favorable.
Mapping equatorial ionospheric profiles over peninsular Malaysia using gps tomography

The ionospheric conditions over Malaysia are profoundly critical not only duea to its location that is near to the equator but also due to the high solar activity that occurred during the 11-years solar cycle. The two-dimensional (2D) single thin layer model (SLM) has been widely used to monitor and model the ionosphere. However, this model only focuses on the height of the maximum densities of the electron, which lies within 300 kilometre (km) to 450 km above the Earth and therefore neglects the information of bottom and topside of the ionosphere. Hence, a three-dimensional (3D) ionospheric structure is proposed to address these limitations. The aim of this study is to model the electron density profile over Peninsular Malaysia using Global Positioning System (GPS) ionospheric tomography method. In doing so, the Malaysian Real-time Kinematic Network (MyRTKnet) over Malaysia was utilized to derive the total electron content (TEC) maps. It was found that the variations of the TEC increase with decreasing of latitude and longitude, and gradually change from East to West direction. The GPS-derived TEC from the years 2009 to 2014 shows that the maximum yearly mean TEC over Malaysia is up to 58 TEC unit (TECU), recorded during the year 2014 which was associated with high sunspot numbers. The maximum yearly mean and the minimum peak of diurnal variations occur at 08 universal time (UT) and 21UT respectively. Next, the receiver code bias (DCBr) was estimated for MyRTKnet stations using the adopted algorithm from IONOLAB-BIAS. For assessment purpose, this method shows a good estimation of DCBr with the International Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Service (IGS) analysis centre compared to with Bernese software. Then, the GPS ionospheric tomography module was developed to reconstruct the electron density profile over Peninsular Malaysia. The results were validated with the nearest ionosonde station and the ionospheric global models such as the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model and NeQuick model. It was found that the differences between GPS ionospheric tomography with the models are small during the daytime but large at night-time. It was also found that, the GPS ionospheric tomography appears to be more agreeable with the IRI model than with NeQuick model. For the validation of the NmF2 parameters with the IRI model and ionosonde measurements, the GPS ionospheric tomography is more agreeable with the ionosonde than with the IRI model. The results also show that the GPS ionospheric tomography is capable to show the vertical ionospheric profile over the study area during quiet ionospheric conditions and its irregularities during disturbed conditions of the ionosphere. Overall, it was found that the GPS ionospheric tomography method is suitable for examining and monitoring the ionospheric variations and irregularities in support of the space weather studies in Peninsular Malaysia.
Longitudinal relationships between two self-efficacy types and stress in active older adults in Taichung City, Taiwan

Abstract Self-efficacy has recently become a topic of interest in mental health research. We examined the relationships among physical activity (PA) self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and stress through the longitudinal study design. In the first year (Y1), 322 older adults who lived in Taichung City, Taiwan, participated in our study. Two years later (Y2), 161 of them again responded to the same questionnaire, which included PA self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and stress scales. The questionnaire data were analyzed through hierarchical regression analysis. We observed that PA self-efficacy was significantly and positively correlated with general self-efficacy and that both were significantly and negatively correlated with stress at Y1 and Y2. Therefore, enhancing PA self-efficacy can be an effective element of programs designed to reduce stress in older adults.
Study of Water Pump Optimization In Wonorejo Rungkut River Flow Areas to Overcome Flood

To overcome the problem of flooding and the puddle of water in the city of Surabaya, the Surabaya City Government has now implemented several policies, namely: controlling flood discharge, decreasing flood water level elevations and reducing the puddle of water (length, height, extent and frequency of inundation) with activities that support policy These include channel construction, channel normalization, channel dredging, construction of boezem, manufacturing of biopori and infiltration wells, and also improvement of other drainage facilities (construction of pump houses and sluice gates). Based on the analysis of the primary channel capacity of the Wonorejo in the existing condition, it was not able to drain the Q2th flood discharge, it can be seen that the water level is higher than the elevation of the right and left dykes with a water level of ± 0.6 m. Flooding that occurs in the Wonorejo primary channel is caused by an insufficient cross-sectional capacity to drain the flood discharge due to irregular channel bases which can reduce the channel cross-sectional area. Of the several conditions the floodgates/water gates is opened starting from 0.5 m to 1 m, the most suitable for the conditions is when the water gate is opened 0.75m the puddle occurs in the Kedungbaruk area until Rungkut times with a puddle height of 5cm to 30cm from the existing cliff dyke (when flowing Q10th discharge). To overcome the inundation, it is necessary to install a dyke with a height of 0.50 m along the Kedungbaruk area until Raya Rungkut. The cross section of the channel is able to accommodate the flood discharge of Q2th and Q5th. In Q10th the water level was above the right and left dykes with a height of 0.10 m at a distance of 0.3 km from the sluice gate
3D reconstruction from silhouettes and photoconsistency based on depth map fusion

In this thesis, we present a multi-view 3D reconstruction system from silhouettes and photoconsistency information based on depth map fusion. The method receives as input a set of images from different points of view with their corresponding calibration parameters. A confidence volume is extracted from the silhouette information. From this initial volume, photometric consistency is computed for every voxel inside the volume with respect to every view in the dataset using DAISY descriptors. Then, a set of depth maps is built for every view and they are merged via Truncated Signed Distance Function. Finally, the Marching Cubes algorithm is used to extract a polygonal mesh of the 3D implicit surface.
Differences in Eastern North Pacific Stratification and Their Potential Impact on the Depth of Winter Mixing in CMIP5 Models

Upper ocean stratification is known to play an important role in the seasonal evolution of the ocean mixed layer depth. This study examines biases in climatological upper ocean stratification in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 historical simulations in the North Pacific. To quantify the potential impact of these stratification differences on the depth of winter mixing in two regions (the eastern subarctic and subtropical gyres), regionally averaged August stratification profiles were advanced to March using common atmospheric forcing fields and a single‐column mixed layer model. This approach is supported by correlation between the climate models' March mixed layer depth fields and those predicted by the one‐dimensional model. Substantial observation/model and model/model differences in predicted winter mixed layer depth have broad implications for how the climate models regulate the ocean‐atmosphere interactions that set thermocline water properties and impact nutrient supply to the upper ocean.
THE EFFICACY OF FENTANYL STRAPPING FOR PAIN IN ADVANCED CANCER

Objective To compare the pain-killing effect, quality of life, side effects, and patients' satisfaction between the use of fentanyl strapping and controlled-release morphine tablet in those with advanced cancers. Methods Of 80 patients with cancer confirmed by either pathology or image analysis accompanying moderate or severe pain who had got poor result in stopping pain by taking non-morphine and weak morphine pain killers were randomized to controlled morphine sulphate tablet (CMST) group and fentanyl strapping (FS) group. Results A comparison between the groups showed that the efficacy of pain killing was same, but the patients were more satisfied with fentanyl (χ 2=5.10, P0.01), the quality of life improved and adverse reactions, e.g. nausea, vomiting, constipation and dysuria decreased (χ 2=4.94-11.03; P0.05,0.01). Conclusion Fentanyl strapping can effectively control the moderate and severe pain in advanced cancer, which is more easily accepted by patients.
Environmental Controls on the Distribution of Tidal Wetland Soil Organic Carbon in the Continental United States

Tidal wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems in the world in terms of ecosystem service value, and the strategic management of their carbon resources is an important part of climate change mitigation. Tidal wetland soils contain relatively high quantities of soil organic carbon (SOC); yet there is little information about whether this SOC can be predicted based on easily identifiable environmental factors. We investigated how tidal wetland SOC density was distributed across the continental United States among various coastal locations, estuarine typologies, vegetation types, water regimes, and management regimes and found that knowledge of a wetland's coastal affiliation provided the most differentiation (whether on the East Coast, West Coast, or Gulf Coast). We then sought to identify whether SOC density was correlated with 47 different environmental variables and found that knowledge based on latitude and precipitation explained ~46% of the variance in SOC density for wetlands on the West Coast and Gulf Coast, respectively. Several other geographic, oceanic, terrestrial, and atmospheric factors were cross‐correlated along these axes, including oceanic salinity, temperature, and average catchment elevation. For the U.S. East Coast, SOC density was not simple to explain and was likely dependent on a wide range of interacting and complex factors. This synthetic work can provide a better understanding of how changing environmental and social conditions can lead to enhanced or degraded carbon sequestration rates in times of rapid global change.
Peak Tremor Rates Lead Peak Slip Rates During Propagation of Two Large Slow Earthquakes in Cascadia

We explore the evolution of slow slip on the Cascadia megathrust during two large episodic tremor and slip events and compare stress changes to the spatial evolution of tremor from Pacific Northwest Seismic Network tremor locations. We used displacement time series from ~72 GPS stations, along with the Extended Network Inversion Filter to solve for the time‐dependent fault slip. The 2010 (Mw 6.8) and 2012 (Mw 6.8) events propagated northward and southward, respectively, allowing us to assess directional effects on slip behavior. We observed that tremor occurs on the leading edge of propagating slipping regions, well ahead of the highest slip rates, independent of the along‐strike propagation direction. Resolution tests using the actual tremor distributions to generate synthetic data show that our result of peak tremor rates leading peak slip rates is not due to biases introduced by temporal smoothing. Calculated stress changes due to the time‐dependent slip distributions imply that tremor is sensitive to kilopascals of stress, consistent with studies of tidally triggered tremor. Within the resolution of our model, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that significant tremor is triggered by stresses ahead of the highest slip rates. We also observe ongoing slip continuing several days after tremor has passed. Our observations are consistent with some numerical models of tremor patches that suggest that this behavior can be explained by densely packed asperities resulting in somewhat crack‐like propagation rather than a slip pulse that is as concentrated as the tremor activity.
Conjugate Observations of Dayside and Nightside VLF Chorus and QP Emissions Between Arase (ERG) and Kannuslehto, Finland

We compare for the first time two conjugate events showing simultaneous very low frequency (VLF) wave observations between the same ground station and spacecraft, at different geomagnetic conditions and on opposite sides of the magnetosphere. Waves were observed at Kannuslehto (MLAT = 64.4°N, L=5.46), Finland, and on board Arase (Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace, ERG) in the inner magnetosphere. Case 1 on 28 March 2017 shows quasiperiodic (QP) emissions and chorus simultaneously observed on the postmidnight side during the recovery phase of a storm, with sustained high solar wind speed and AE index. Case 2 on 30 November 2017 shows clear one‐to‐one correspondence of QP elements on the noonside during geomagnetic quiet time (Dst>10 nT and AE<100 nT). We present the characteristics of both cases, focusing on coherence and spatial extent of the waves, electron density, and magnetic field variations. We report that the magnetic field gradient plays a role in the changes of spectral features of the waves.
A Model Experiment of Fracture Induced Long‐Period Events: Injection of Pressurized Gas Into a Viscoelastic Rock Analog

Low‐frequency events observed in volcanic areas preceding phreatic or phreatomagmatic eruptions may be excited by the injection of pressurized gas into damaged/heated rocks or solidifying magmas. To simulate this process, we conducted a series of gas injection experiments in gels as an analog of such soft rocks. When we inject the pressurized air into a quasi‐Maxwell fluid with higher and lower shear moduli, cracks or a slug appears, respectively. The crack propagation velocity consists of the shear wave velocity of the gel. At the beginning of the crack generation, multiple cracks emerge, causing pulse‐like low‐frequency signals. In contrast, the slug grows faster than the shear wave velocity and excites high‐frequency oscillation. These results show the possibility that the low‐frequency seismicity observed in volcanic regions is the result of not only the resonance of a crack but also the crack propagation in soft rocks.
Catálogo de los moluscos marinos bonaerenses

The aim of this work is to study the marine molusks of the Buenos Aires province and therefore the Argentina malacologycal province. This has been done by the revisión of the main collections of our country: Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia and Museo de La Plata. 65 genera of G astropoda, 2 of Polyplacophora, 2 of Scaphopoda, 11 of Cephalopoda and 71 of P elecypoda are noted, waking a total of 286 species. In addition a list of Pteropoda is given. Of each species, its description, a synonymic list, its distribution and the specificacion of examined material is given. 26 plates illustrates 258 species. (* ) Profesor adjunto de Zoología Invertebrados I, Pac. Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. (* * ) Jefe de Trabajos Prácticos de Zoología Invertebrados I, Fac. Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. 10 Anales C. I. C. Prov. de Buenos A ires A quick Identification es eased by the dichotomic keys at a generical and specific level. A glossary of strictly malacological terminology and a broad bibliography is included. Las siglas empleadas a lo largo del texto, correponde a: M. L. P. Museo La Plata y M. B. R. Museo Argentino Bernardino Rivadavia.
Cenomanian to Coniacian sea-level changes in the Lower Benue Trough (Nkalagu Area, Nigeria) and the Eastern Dahomey Basin: palaeontological and sedimentological evidence for eustasy and tectonism

Abstract The Benue Trough formed in close relation to the opening of the South Atlantic and experienced sea-level fluctuations of different magnitudes during the Cenomanian to Coniacian interval. We identify depositional environments from outcrop sections and a drilling as control record. Lines of evidence for the interpretation include facies analyses, foraminiferal assemblage composition (P/B-ratio) and the presence of planktonic deep-water indicators. While the analysis of the well data from the Dahomey Basin indicates a continuous deep-water (bathyal) environment, the succession in the Nkalagu area of the Lower Benue Trough evolved in a different and more complex way. Beginning with latest Cenomanian shoreface to shelf deposits, a long period of subsidence lasted until the middle Turonian when pelagic shales and calcareous turbidites were deposited at upper to middle bathyal depths. These conditions continued during late Turonian and Coniacian times. The general deepening trend of the Lower Benue Trough was mainly controlled by tectonic subsidence and was superimposed by eustatic sea-level changes, resulting in periodically changing palaeowater depths. We were able to identify eight sea-level rises and falls that can be attributed to 405 kyr eccentricity cycles. The amplitudes of the sea-level changes were most likely in the range of several tens to a few hundred metres. The deposition of carbonate turbidites at Nkalagu was probably triggered by eustatic sea-level lowstands.
Sensitivity of Ozone Production to NOx and VOC Along the Lake Michigan Coastline

We report on the sensitivity of enhanced ozone (O3) production, observed during lake breeze circulation along the coastline of Lake Michigan, to the concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We assess the sensitivity of O3 production to NOx and VOC on a high O3 day during the Lake Michigan Ozone Study 2017 using an observationally constrained chemical box model that implements the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM v3.3.1) and recent emission inventories for NOx and VOCs. The Master Chemical Mechanism model is coupled to a backward air mass trajectory analysis from a ground supersite in Zion, IL, where an extensive series of measurements of O3 precursors and their oxidation products, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric acid (HNO3), and particulate nitrates (NO3−) serve as model constraints. We evaluate the chemical evolution of the Chicago‐Gary urban plume as it advects over Lake Michigan and demonstrate how modeled indicators of VOC‐ versus NOx‐sensitive regimes can be constrained by measurements at the trajectory endpoint. Using the modeled ratio of the instantaneous H2O2 and HNO3 production rates (PH2O2/PHNO3), we suggest that O3 production over the urban source region is strongly VOC sensitive and progresses towards a more NOx‐sensitive regime as the plume advects north along the Lake Michigan coastline on this day. We also demonstrate that ground‐based measurements of the mean concentration ratio of H2O2 to HNO3 describe the sensitivity of O3 production to VOC and NOx as the integral of chemical production along the plume path.
The use of active living every day to improve mass transit district employees' physical activity affect and enjoyment

The transportation industry faces a myriad of health problems, including obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and high stress levels compared to individuals in other sectors of the workforce. The study's purpose was to examine the impact of active living every day (ALED) as a way to promote and increase mass transit workers' physical activity participation by creating changes in physical activity affect and enjoyment. This study condensed the traditional 12-week ALED program into a 6-week format and delivered it in two phases. The first phase received a 6-week version of the program with its original content. The second phase received a 6-week version of the program, tailored to meet the particular needs of the mass transit workforce. Affect was measured using the Feeling Scale and physical activity enjoyment was measured using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. For physical activity affect and enjoyment, there were significant increases (p = .001, p = .001 respectively) in the tailored intervention group. Based on these findings, the ALED program could be an effective program for helping mass transit workers improve physical activity affect and how much they enjoy physical activity, factors that are crucial in helping people become and remain physically active for life.
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image haze removal using dark channel prior

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image taken in foggy or haze weather usually has lower contrast and fidelity, the quality of the image is seriously degraded. In this paper, we propose a dehazing model based on dark channel prior to dehaze the UAV image. We use a quad-tree hierarchical searching method to estimate the atmospheric light value, it can effectively avoid the influence of white objects in the image on the estimation of atmospheric light values. In the process of refining the medium transmission map, we propose a new regularization optimization scheme. Experimental results show that the proposed approach effectively recover the clear UAV image.
On a variational approach to the problem of singular geological structures

Recognition of geological structures often requires understanding the causes of diverse kinetic phenomenon and its underlying foundations. This pertains, e.g., to the phenomenon of mass movement within a rock formation leading to fault formation. We discuss here the possibility that variational calculus may be an important tool for investigating this problem. Analysis of variations may yield important information concerning a physical phenomenon. Here we will neglect the best known problems of extremals in the analysis of variations and will focus our attention on electromagnetic and physico-mechanical problems. Adaptation of a Hamiltonian as an entropy operator may serve, not only for the problems of singular crystalline structures, but also geological singularities such as faults, oleate impermeabilities, deep-seated eruptions as well as in problems of seismology, vulcanology and earthquakes. This paper is an attempt to initiate a discussion about the possible development of the ideas presented. It might be that the formulae presented will be useful for the solution of other geophysical problems in future.