Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Long-Term Effects of Early Lead Exposure: Evidence from a Case of Environmental Negligence

This paper estimates the effect of early lead exposure on academic achievement and adult earnings. We analyze longitudinal information from individuals attending primary and secondary schools in the city of Arica (in northern Chile). Between 1984 and 1989, Arica received more than 20,000 tons of toxic chemicals containing high concentrations of lead. Initially, the chemical waste was located several kilometers from the city. However, Arica's rapid expansion, which included the construction of housing projects just meters away from the waste deposit, put a large number of families at risk. Our data include information on residential proximity to the polluted area, levels of lead exposure, comprehensive demographic information, nationally representative academic test scores and administrative data on adult earnings. We document a strong relationship between blood lead levels and student academic performance. We find that an increase of one microgram of lead per deciliter of blood reduces math and language scores by 0.15 and 0.21 standard deviations, respectively. For earnings, we estimate that for each extra microgram of lead, monthly earnings decrease by CLP 11,458 (or USD 22.92). This translates into a reduction of USD 6,000 in lifetime earnings per microgram of lead per deciliter of blood.
Metataxonomic Characterization of Enriched Consortia Derived from Oil Spill-Contaminated Sites in Guimaras, Philippines, Reveals Major Role of Klebsiella sp. in Hydrocarbon Degradation

Oil spills are major anthropogenic disasters that cause serious harm to marine environments. In the Philippines, traditional methods of rehabilitating oil-polluted areas were proven to be less efficient and cause further damage to the environment. Microbial degradation has poised itself to be a promising alternative to those traditional methods in remediating oil spills. Hence, the present study aimed to enrich and characterize hydrocarbon-degrading microbial consortia from oil-contaminated regions in Guimaras Island for potential use in bioremediation. A total of 75 soil samples were obtained and used as inoculum for the enrichment for hydrocarbon degraders. Afterwards, 32 consortia were recovered and subjected to the 2,6-DCPIP assay for biodegradation ability on four types of hydrocarbons: diesel, xylene, hexane, and hexadecane. The consortia that obtained the highest percent degradation for each of the four hydrocarbons were “B2” (92.34% diesel degraded), “A5” (85.55% hexadecane degraded), “B1” (74.33% hexane degraded), and “B7” (63.38% xylene degraded). Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that the dominant phyla in all consortia are Pseudomonadota (previously Proteobacteria), followed by Bacillota (previously Firmicutes). Overall, the amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) retrieved were mainly from the Gammaproteobacteria class, in which many hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are found. Predictive functional profiling of the consortium showed the presence of genes involved in the degradation of recalcitrant hydrocarbon pollutants. Fatty acid metabolism, which includes alkB (alkane-1-monooxygenase) and genes for beta oxidation, was inferred to be the most abundant amongst all hydrocarbon degradation pathways. Klebsiella sp. is the predominant ASV in all the sequenced consortia as well as the major contributor of hydrocarbon degradation genes. The findings of the study can serve as groundwork for the development of hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortia for the bioremediation of oil spill-affected areas in the Philippines. Likewise, this paper provides a basis for further investigation into the role of Klebsiella sp. in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants.
Global Strain Accumulation and Release as Revealed by Great Earthquakes

The strain-rebound characteristic of the sequence of all great shallow earthquakes of magnitudes 8.0 and greater which have occurred since 1904 exhibits a saw-tooth shape with very nearly linear segments. The serration amplitudes and periods have been decreasing linearly with time since the beginning of the sequence. If a proposed interpretation is correct, the characteristic indicates the following conclusions: (1) Earthquakes in this magnitude range are not independent events, but are related in some form of world-wide stress system. (2) From 1908 (and presumably 1904) to 1950 the rate of total secular strain generation in the crustal layer in which these earthquakes originate was remarkably constant. (3) The strain was released in five active periods of decreasing lengths separated by quiescent intervals of very small or no activity during which crustal strain accumulated at a constant rate. (4) During the active periods the strain release proceeded at approximately twice the rate of secular strain generation. The strain-rebound characteristic of the sequence of all great earthquakes of intermediate depth (h = 70-300 km) exhibits no resemblance to that of the shallow sequence. The strain-rebound characteristic of the sequence of all great deep earthquakes (h ≥ 300 km) can be represented by the equation S = a + b log t indicating that activity at this depth has been falling off continuously since 1904. The different behavior of the three sequences is considered evidence for the existence of three layers in the earth's crust having different relative movements in the tectonic sense. Heretofore evidence for layering in the earth's crust has been derived from studies of the propagation of seismic waves and is thus limited to short-time mechanical properties (less than 5 minutes) only. The world strain-rebound characteristics presented herein provide the first evidence for layering on the basis of secular tectonic mechanical properties. From this point of view, the crust is made up of three distinct layers each with its own proper movement, the shallow 0-70 km, intermediate 70-300 km, and deep 300-680 km approximately.
Generating Patient-Specific Acoustic Simulations for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Procedures Based on Optical Tracking Information

Optical tracking is a real-time transducer positioning method for transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) procedures, but the predicted focus from optical tracking typically does not incorporate subject-specific skull information. Acoustic simulations can estimate the pressure field when propagating through the cranium but rely on accurately replicating the positioning of the transducer and skull in a simulated space. Here, we develop and characterize the accuracy of a workflow that creates simulation grids based on optical tracking information in a neuronavigated phantom with and without transmission through an ex vivo skull cap. The software pipeline could replicate the geometry of the tFUS procedure within the limits of the optical tracking system (transcranial target registration error (TRE): 3.9 ± 0.7 mm). The simulated focus and the free-field focus predicted by optical tracking had low Euclidean distance errors of 0.5 ± 0.1 and 1.2 ± 0.4 mm for phantom and skull cap, respectively, and some skull-specific effects were captured by the simulation. However, the TRE of simulation informed by optical tracking was 4.6 ± 0.2, which is as large or greater than the focal spot size used by many tFUS systems. By updating the position of the transducer using the original TRE offset, we reduced the simulated TRE to 1.1 ± 0.4 mm. Our study describes a software pipeline for treatment planning, evaluates its accuracy, and demonstrates an approach using MR-acoustic radiation force imaging as a method to improve dosimetry. Overall, our software pipeline helps estimate acoustic exposure, and our study highlights the need for image feedback to increase the accuracy of tFUS dosimetry.
Tutorial in biostatistics: competing risks and multi‐state models

Standard survival data measure the time span from some time origin until the occurrence of one type of event. If several types of events occur, a model describing progression to each of these competing risks is needed. Multi‐state models generalize competing risks models by also describing transitions to intermediate events. Methods to analyze such models have been developed over the last two decades. Fortunately, most of the analyzes can be performed within the standard statistical packages, but may require some extra effort with respect to data preparation and programming. This tutorial aims to review statistical methods for the analysis of competing risks and multi‐state models. Although some conceptual issues are covered, the emphasis is on practical issues like data preparation, estimation of the effect of covariates, and estimation of cumulative incidence functions and state and transition probabilities. Examples of analysis with standard software are shown. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification des teneurs en opale biogene des sediments de l'Ocean Austral par diffractometrie X

Résumé Le dosage de l'opale biogène dans les sédiments marins peut être effectué par diffractométrie X par la mesure des surfaces des bandes de diffusion et par la mesure des surfaces des pics de cristobalite. La surface de la bande de diffusion, observée sur les diagrammes X de sédiments non chauffés, caractérise la concentration en composés amorphes (organiques et inorganiques). Elle permet de quantifier l'opale biogène de sédiments ne contenant que peu ou pas d'amorphes non biogènes. La surface du pic de cristobalite, obtenu par transformation de l'opale biogène par chauffage à 1050–1100°C pendant 12 h, permet de doser la silice biogène de divers sédiments. Ces deux approches méthodologiques ont été appliquées aux sédiments d'une carotte (MD 84–527) prélevée dans le secteur ouest-Indien de l'Océan Austral. Ce matériel, qui a enregistré la sédimentation des 40,000 dernières années, ne renferme qu'accessoirement des constituants amorphes volcaniques. Les concentrations en silice biogène sont obtenues avec une précision de ±10%. Le comptage des diatomées par observation au microscope a été également réalisé sur les mêmes sédiments. Les courbes des teneurs en opale biogène obtenues par les deux méthodes sont comparables et se corrèlent bien à l'abondance totale des diatomées.
Classification of merged AVHRR and SMMR Arctic data with neural networks

A forward-feed back-propagation neural network is used to classify merged AVHRR and SMMR summer Arctic data. Four surface and eight cloud classes are identified. Partial memberships of each pixel to each class are examined for spectral ambiguities. Classification results are compared to manual interpretations and to those determined by a supervised maximum likelihood procedure. Results indicate that a neural network approach offers advantages in ease of use, interpretability, and utility for indistinct and time-variant spectral classes.
Heavily stocked 5-paddock rotational grazing effect on cross-bred Afrikaner steer performance and herbaceous vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid veld of Zimbabwe

A ten-year high stocking rate trial, mimicking communal areas was initiated at Matopos Research Station, Zimbabwe. Afrikaner steer crosses grazed continuously or rotationally at a high stocking rate (0.4 LU.ha-1) in two 45 ha areas, with one fenced into five 9 ha camps each for the rotational grazing sites, with 30 animals per site. It was hypothesized that, heavily stocked rotation will not improve herbage biomass, decreaser species abundance, basal cover or animal performance. Biomass, basal cover and decreaser species abundance were not (P > 0.05) significantly different between the grazing systems, save for Themeda triandra, Setaria incrassata and Panicum novemnerve, but were significant (P < 0.05) in terms of annual variation. Mean maximum steer weight gain was higher (P < 0.05) under continuous grazing. It was concluded that, the creation of rigid rotational grazing schemes in communal areas without proper stocking rates will not improve animal performance, herbage production, basal cover, but might have an effect on species abundance. In higher rainfall years, heavy stocking has no adverse effects on performance. Hence, any plans of grazing interventions on livestock management in communal areas, should consider stocking rate and rainfall, with a rapid stock reduction strategy in projected low rainfall years. Key words: Basal cover, communal areas, grazing system, herbage biomass, stocking rate, weight gain.
A Study on Detecting Drone Using Deep Convolutional Neural Network

The object detection is a challenging problem in computer vision with various potential real-world applications. The objective of this study is to evaluate the deep learning based object detection techniques for detecting drones. In this paper, we have conducted experiments with different Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based network architectures namely Zeiler and Fergus (ZF), Visual Geometry Group (VGG16) etc. Due to sparse data available for training, networks are trained with pre-trained models us-ing transfer learning. The snapshot of trained models is saved at regular interval during training. The best models having high mean Average Precision (mAP) for each network architecture are used for evaluation on the test dataset. The experimental results show that VGG16 with Faster R-CNN perform better than other architectures on the training dataset. Visual analysis of the test dataset is also presented.
Occupational Therapy Practice With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Early Postoperative Pain: A Case Report

Structuring psychological interventions using cognitive behavioral therapy in the early postoperative period is crucial to mitigate the risk of chronic pain. In this study, specific practices were presented through the case of a woman in her 60s who experienced psychological factors, such as catastrophic thinking and anxiety, due to pain after high tibial osteotomy. The aim was to evaluate the structure of cognitive behavioral therapy and its application in the early postoperative period. Cognitive behavioral therapy was initiated postoperatively, incorporating three phases: cognitive restructuring, coping skills and active pacing, and occupational therapy. As a result of occupational therapy using cognitive behavioral therapy, the patient’s pain and anxiety are reduced while achieving the goals. This case study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy may promote goal attainment in cases where postoperative pain exacerbates psychological factors, such as catastrophic thinking and anxiety, ultimately leading to functional impairments. Implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy in Japan is lacking, necessitating urgent development. This case report serves as a foundational step in structuring cognitive behavioral therapy during the early postoperative period in Japan.
The voltage optimization of fast-timing MCP-PMT

The microchannel plate (MCP) is used as the electron multiplier of the photomultiplier tube (PMT) for its excellent time performance. Researchers at IHEP have conceived a new type of 2-inch square shape 8 × 8 anodes Fast MCP-PMT (FPMT) with fast timing resolution for particle identification in the next generation of high-energy physics experiments and medical imaging equipment. Three samples of this FPMT were tested under different voltage between the photoncathode and the MCP. The time resolution of the FPMT shows little influence with the change of the voltage, and the FPMT can reach a best transit time spread (TTS) of 30.7 ± 0.7 ps on average in single photoelectron (SPE) mode.
Gender, mobility and travel behavior in Pakistan: Analysis of 2007 Time Use Survey

Pakistan’s national economic growth framework views connectivity between people and settlements as an engine of economic development. However, a little is known about the patterns of mobility across socioeconomic segments of the country. The study aims to explore gender differences in travel behavior across urban and rural areas that remain unexplored due to the non-availability of suitable data. The paper employs national dataset of 2007 Time Use Survey (TUS) carried out to measure gendered time use in paid and unpaid work activities. In TUS, a national sample of 37830 respondents living in 19380 households, ageing 11 and above, was selected for household and time diary surveys during the whole year 2007. Time use diary recorded various activities carried out by respondents in forty eight 30-minute long episodes of the past day, their context locations and simultaneity, according to 125 activity codes based on UN designed International Classification of Activities for Time Use Surveys. Preprocessed TUS, that is publically available from Pakistan Strategy Support Program, was analyzed using longitudinal data analysis techniques. According to the results, large gender differences are found in travel behavior related to trip rate, travel mode, duration and purpose of travel. Female are more likely to be immobile as 55 percent female respondents did not report any trip in the diary day as compared to just 4 percent male respondents. Women make lesser daily trips (2.8) than men (5.4) and the greatest difference exist for leisure and sociocultural trips. Women are more automobile dependent as their share of automobile trips (13 %) is greater than men’s share (10 %). Period of adulthood and marriage seems to restrict female mobility and leisure travel strongly. Female travel behavior is largely shaped by sociocultural, economical and built environment of the country. The findings points out the need for gender sensitive transport and land use policies in the country as women are more likely to be immobile or travel less due to their concerns related to safety, security and quality of transportation. Potential sources of bias and research directions are pointed out at the end.
Characterization of organic matter at the air-sea interface, in subsurface water, and in bottom sediments near the Malabar sewage outfall in Sydney's coastal region

The lipid and related-chemical compositions of samples from the air-sea interface, subsurface water and sediments collected adjacent to Sydney's Malabar nearshore sewage outfall during January and February 1990 were analysed in detail. A novel sampling scheme made use of a rotating-drum microlayer sampler, a towed Seastar sampler for filtration and extration of subsurface water in situ, and sediment collection in Teflon bags by divers. Particulate and dissolved organic matter was examined for four distinct aquatic environments: the surface microlayer in a no-slick zone (ML), the microlayer in a plume slick (PS), the microlayer in a banded slick (BS) and subsurface waters (SS). The concentrations of lipid classes and of many individual components in particulate matter from water samples generally followed the trend PS > ML > BS > SS, although in several instances the sequence began with ML > PS. A similar pattern was seen for the dissolved organic fractions. The composition of the ML sample differed from the compositions of the other water samples for several of the lipid classes analysed; the very high relative abundance of cholesterol and the presence of significant portions of long-chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids indicate a substantial marine origin for the lipids in the ML sample. The concentrations of most components were generally an order of magnitude higher in sediment 0.5 km from the Malabar outfall than in sediment 0.85 km away (Long Bay). The faecal indicator coprostanol was present in all samples at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 7 µg L-1 in water and from 0.1 to 1. 1µg g-1 in sediments. Petroleum contamination was also apparent in all samples, based on a number of distinctive features of the hydrocarbon profiles: the occurrence of a high abundance of unresolved complex material, little or no odd-over-even predominance in the distribution of n-alkanes, and the presence of hopanes and steranes characteristic of crude oil. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from combustion sources were detected in sediments at both distances from the outfall. PAH concentrations in water samples were at the limits of detection of this study. With the commissioning of deep-water outfalls to replace the nearshore ones, a decrease in nearshore contamination is expected. This study provides baseline chemical data for future comparative examination of the efficacy of Sydney's deep-water sewage outfalls.
Swift-CNN: Leveraging PCM Memory’s Fast Write Mode to Accelerate CNNs

Nonvolatile memories [especially phase change memories (PCMs)] offer scalability and higher density. However, reduced write performance has limited their use as main memory. Researchers have explored using the fast write mode available in PCM to alleviate the challenges. The fast write mode offers lower write latency and energy consumption. However, the fast-written data are retained for a limited time and need to be refreshed. Prior works perform fast writes when the memory is busy and use slow writes to refresh the data during memory idle phases. Such policies do not consider the retention time requirement of a variable and repeat all the writes made during the busy phase. In this work, we suggest a retention-time-aware selection of write modes. As a case study, we use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and present a novel algorithm, Swift-CNN, that assesses each CNN layer’s memory access behavior and retention time requirement and suggests an appropriate PCM write mode. Our results show that Swift-CNN decreases inference and training execution time and memory energy compared to state-of-the-art techniques and achieves execution time close to the ideal (fast write-only) policy.
Comparison of Citation Indexes in Korea: An Exploratory Study

Citation indexes are essential data sources for bibliometric analysis of research performance. However, the international coverage of popular citation indexes such as Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar is minimal since very few non-English publications are included in those indexes. Thus, one must look to Korean citation indexes for proper bibliometric assessment of research in Korea, rather than relying on conventional indexes that contain only a fraction of scholarly publications by Korean authors. Since the evaluative outcome of bibliometric analysis is only as reliable as the data from which they are drawn, the examination of Korean citation indexes is vital to establishing an effective approach to bibliometric analysis of research performance in Korea. The paper presents a study that investigates three key citation indexes in Korea, namely Korea Science Citation Index (KSCI), Korea Citation Index (KCI), and Korea Medical Citation Index (KoMCI). The study compares the impact factors of the journals covered by all three databases, where journals with large impact factors differences across citation indexes are selected for closer inspection in order to discover the causes of discrepancy. The study found the coverage difference to be the major cause of the discrepancy, followed by incomplete and inaccurate extraction of citations as well as different data exclusion criteria, thus highlighting the problem areas that Korean citation indexes need to address.