Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Channel profiles around Himalayan river anticlines: Constraints on their formation from digital elevation model analysis

We present a comparison between measured and numerically modeled channel profiles of rivers in two important drainage basins of Central Nepal: the Kali‐Gandaki and the Arun drainage basins. Modeled channel profiles are based on a simple stream power approach using best fit exponents defining the nonlinearities in the relative contributions of local channel gradient and water flux to erosion rate. Our analysis of the stream power in the whole river network confirms the work of other authors that a 50‐ to 80‐km‐wide zone, roughly corresponding to the High Himalayan topography, is subjected to rapid rock uplift. We suggest a model where the uplift of this zone is driven by erosion and isostatic response, so that centers of maximum uplift are located within the main channels of the north–south draining rivers. We also suggest that the rate of uplift slows down with increasing distance to the main channels. Such a spatial distribution of the uplift leads ultimately to the formation of river anticlines as observed along all major Himalayan rivers. We propose that the formation of river anticlines along south draining Himalayan rivers was accelerated by a sudden increase of the drainage area and discharge when the rivers captured orogen‐parallel drainages on the north side of the range. This may follow successive headward cutting into the Tibetan Plateau. The model is confirmed by differences between main channels and east–west running tributaries. Time‐dependent numerical models predict that capture events cause strongly elevated erosion rates in the main channel.
Phase-matched nonlinear second-harmonic generation in plasmonic metasurfaces

Abstract The phase matching between the propagating fundamental and nonlinearly generated waves plays an important role in the efficiency of the nonlinear frequency conversion in macroscopic crystals. However, in nanoscale samples, such as nanoplasmonic structures, the phase-matching condition is often ignored due to the sub-wavelength nature of the materials. Here, we first show that the phase matching of the lattice plasmon modes at the fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies in a plasmonic nanoantenna array can effectively enhance the surface-enhanced second-harmonic generation. Additionally, a significant enhancement of the second-harmonic generation is demonstrated using stationary band-edge lattice plasmon modes with zero phase.
The Mt. Etna Plumbing System: the Contribution of Seismic Tomography

Mt. Etna is one of the most intriguing natural laboratories for studying the deep structure of a persistently active volcano with seismic tomography. Recent studies show that the seismicity is almost continuous in time and occurs over wide crustal volumes, allowing imaging of the entire crust down to the source region of the magma in the uppermost mantle. At present, there are several papers on the deep structure of the volcano. In the past years, tomographic inversions of P- and S-wave arrival times from local earthquakes have been computed by using different techniques. These results help to define the structure of P-wave velocities beneath the volcano down to 18-24 km depth. In this paper, we review results obtained so far and propose a scheme for the plumbing system. By using the three-dimensional models, we also get accurate hypocentral locations for an updated set of seismicity. Finally, we emphasize the motivation and a scheme for future tomographic studies of the volcano for resolving what we still do not know about Mt. Etna's plumbing system.
The impact of impairment on kinematic and kinetic variables in Va’a paddling: Towards a sport-specific evidence-based classification system for Para Va’a

ABSTRACT Para Va’a is a new Paralympic sport in which athletes with trunk and/or leg impairment compete over 200 m. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of impairment on kinematic and kinetic variables during Va’a ergometer paddling. Ten able-bodied and 44 Para Va’a athletes with impairments affecting: trunk and legs (TL), legs bilaterally (BL) or leg unilaterally (UL) participated. Differences in stroke frequency, mean paddling force, and joint angles and correlation of the joint angles with paddling force were examined. Able-bodied demonstrated significantly greater paddling force as well as knee and ankle flexion ranges of movement (ROM) on the top hand paddling side compared to TL, BL and UL. Able-bodied, BL and UL demonstrated greater paddling force and trunk flexion compared to TL, and UL demonstrated larger bottom hand paddling side knee and ankle flexion ROM compared to BL. Significant positive correlations were observed for both male and female athletes between paddling force and all trunk flexion angles and ROM in the trunk and pelvis rotation and bottom hand paddling side hip, knee and ankle flexion. The results of this study are important for creating an evidence-based classification system for Para Va’a.
The relationship between political participation and civic community of migrants in the Netherlands

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Change Detection by Frequency Decomposition: Wave-Back

We introduce a frequency decomposition based background generation and subtraction method that explicitly harnesses the scene dynamics to improve segmentation. This allows us to correctly interpret scenes that would confound appearance-based algorithms by having high-variance background in the presence of low-contrast targets, specifically when the background pixels are well modeled as cyclostationary random processes. In other words, we can distinguish near-periodic temporal patterns induced by real-world physics: the motion of plants driven by wind, the action of waves on a beach, and the appearance of rotating objects. To capture the cyclostionary behavior of each pixel, we compute the frequency coefficients of the temporal variation of pixel intensity in moving windows. We maintain a background model that is composed of frequency coefficients, and we compare the background model with the current set of coefficients to obtain a distance map. To eliminate trail effect, we fuse the distance maps. WIAMIS 2005
Confined Animal Production and Manure Nutrients

Census of agriculture data were used to estimate manure nutrient production and the capacity of cropland and pastureland to assimilate nutrients. Most farms (78 percent for nitrogen and 69 percent for phosphorus) have adequate land on which it is physically feasible to apply the manure produced onfarm at agronomic rates. (The costs of applying manure at these rates have not been assessed). Even so, manure that is produced on operations that cannot fully apply it to their own land at agronomic rates accounts for 60 percent of the Nation's manure nitrogen and 70 percent of the manure phosphorus. In these cases, most counties with farms that produce "excess" nutrients have adequate crop acres not associated with animal operations, but within the county, on which it is feasible to spread the manure at agronomic rates. However, barriers to moving manure to other farms need to be studied. About 20 percent of the Nation's onfarm excess manure nitrogen is produced in counties that have insufficient cropland for its application at agronomic rates (23 percent for phosphorus). For areas without adequate land, alternatives to local land application-such as energy production-will need to be developed.
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with oxidative stress and mitigation of gene expression of antioxidant enzymes

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease associated with serious complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR). The authors’ main aim was to investigate biochemical parameters and the oxidative stress associated with the type 2 DR patients and to study gene expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) among patients with DR [DR(+)] compared with a control nondiabetic group. In all, 67 patients with DR included in this study were diabetic for more than 10 years. Among them, 22 patients were DR(+), and 45 patients did not have DR [DR(−)]. The subjects’ age range was 14 years to 80 years old with diabetes duration range between 2 and 45 years. Body mass index (BMI) was 31.43 ± 5.94 and 32.33 ± 6.54, systolic blood pressure was 117.15 ± 18.16 mmHg and 126.15 ± 20.26 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure was 81.11 ± 10.55 mmHg and 82.77 ± 10.85 mmHg, HbA1c was 7.2 ± 1.1 and 8.19 ± 1.95, serum total cholesterol was 6.61 ± 1.11 and 4.11 ± 0.31, serum triglycerides were 3.52 ± 0.89 and 3.42 ± 0.79, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was 2.12 ± 0.10 and 2.42 ± 0.15, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was 2.66 ± 0.30 and 2.55 ± 0.21, SOD was 3.12 ± 0.87 and 1.53 ± 0.14, GPx was 11.14 ± 2.21 and 8.2 ± 1.84, CAT was 26.43 ± 3.34 and 9.60 ± 2.14, for DR(−) and DR(+) patients, respectively. SOD, GPx and CAT polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the DR(+) patients revealed the diminished expression of CAT gene followed by GPx and SOD genes. All were significant compared with the normal controls, P < 0.05. Linear regression analysis revealed a strong significant positive correlation between the retinopathy grade and the diastolic blood pressure, diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c (HA1c)%, and fasting blood glucose (P < 0.001). A marginally significant positive correlation between the retinopathy grade and LDL-cholesterol was observed (P < 0.05), and a significant negative correlation between the retinopathy grade and total cholesterol was observed (P < 0.05). Poor glycemic control and alteration in mRNA gene expression of antioxidant enzymes are strongly associated with development of DR and the regular screening is mandatory for early detection and treatment.
The tribological properties study of carbon fabric/ epoxy composites reinforced by nano-TiO2 and MWNTs

Abstract A kind of carbon fabric/epoxy composite was successfully prepared with carbon fiber fabric as reinforced phase and epoxy resin as binder phase, then the nano-TiO2 and a hybrid system of TiO2/MWNTs was added into the carbon fabric/ epoxy composite matrix respectively to prepare a kind of nano-composite. The friction and wear properties of CF/EP composites under different load conditions have been studied in this article, during the study the effects of filler types and contents on the tribological properties were researched, at last the worn surfaces were investigated and the abrasion mechanism was discussed. The results showed that: whether filling the nano-TiO2 alone or mixing the TiO2/MWNTs, it was able to achieve a good effect on decreasing friction and reducing wear, and the optimum addition ratio of the nano-TiO2 particles was 3.0% , meanwhile 3.0% of nano-TiO2 and 0.4% of MWNTs could cooperate with each other in their dimension, and could show a synergistic effect on modifying the tribological properties of CF/EP composites, the coefficient of friction of the modified composites decreased by 20% and the wear life increased by more than 140% compared with that of pristine composite materials, in the process of friction and wear, the wear form of the composites materials varied from brittle rupture to abrasive wear gradually.
Mass discrimination monitoring and intercalibration of dual collectors in noble gas mass spectrometer systems

Accurate high‐precision 40Ar/39Ar ages are limited, in part, by the degree of accuracy and precision of the measurement of the 36Ar atmospheric Ar contamination correction and the mass spectrometer mass fractionation bias (mass discrimination) correction. To improve the measurements of the low‐level 36Ar signals, we have implemented digital ion‐counting and multicollector data acquisition methods. The switch to the digital ion pulse counting method results in a tenfold improvement in the signal‐to‐noise ratio relative to analog electron multiplier measurements that are in general use in most 40Ar/39Ar laboratories. The use of ion pulse counting significantly improves low‐level signal (36Ar) measurements. The improvement in low‐level 36Ar measurements, however, comes at the cost of a reduced dynamic range of the electron multiplier detector, thus requiring the use of an alternate detector at times, such as a Faraday cup or analog multiplier for large signals. In turn, this requires accurate intercalibration of the detectors. Here we present a protocol that addresses these issues, one that closely tracks changes in the mass spectrometer mass discrimination and the detector intercalibration (IC) factor(s) during the time frame of an experiment, thereby improving measurement accuracy. A major advantage of our protocol is that the procedure uses the same aliquots of atmospheric Ar to monitor mass discrimination and detector IC factors, saving a significant amount of measurement time. In addition, this IC protocol may address the cause of reported inaccuracies in the measured isotopic ratio data on the “new” generation multicollector mass spectrometers. Further, we present a “time series protocol” that monitors any temporal drift in the mass spectrometer mass fractionation bias that can occur due to laboratory environmental changes.
An Economic Examination of Alternative Organic Cropping Systems in New York State

This paper provides an economic analysis that compares the profitability and land management capability of four different organic cropping systems used to produce winter squash (Cucurbita pepo cv. ‘Delicata’) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata cv.’ Farao’). The organic cropping systems are part of a long term experiment designed for vegetable production in the Northeast, and designed to maintain ecological integrity and contribute to environmental stewardship. Our research addresses the causal chain from soil processes to economic outcomes including soil quality, efficiency in cycling of nutrients, off-farm impacts, pressures from weeds, insects and diseases, crop yield and quality, and marketing opportunities. Interactive crop budgets were developed to document both production costs and income streams for each cropping system. Using data from the 2009 trial, a ridge-tillage system that relied on cover crops for nitrogen (System 4) yielded the highest revenues for squash production. The results also indicated that System 1, which relies on compost for nitrogen, occasional cover crops and uses conventional tillage, had the highest revenues for cabbage. Subsequent sensitivity analyses were performed across a range of key parameters, and the results indicated that System 1 and System 4 consistently yielded the highest revenues for cabbage and squash production respectively.
A systematic narrative synthesis of acute amplification-induced improvements in cognitive ability in hearing-impaired adults

Abstract Objective: This systematic review investigated if hearing aid use was associated with acute improvements in cognitive function in hearing-impaired adults. Design: The review question and inclusion/exclusion criteria were designed using the Population, Intervention, Control, Outcomes, and Study design (PICOS) mnemonic. The review was pre-registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) and performed in accordance with the statement on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Study sample: Thirteen articles, of various designs, published between 1990 and 2018, were identified via a search of five electronic databases. Results: Most studies reported 1–2 cognitive outcome measures. Nine studies reported a significant improvement in outcome and four studies reported no significant change. None of the 13 studies received a high score on a quality assessment checklist. Due to concerns over risk of bias and indirectness, the overall quality of evidence was graded as low. Conclusions: Only a few studies were identified, some of which report a small improvement in cognitive outcome; however, the overall quality of evidence was low. Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in answering the review question.
Exploring Associations Between the Self-Reported Values, Well-Being, and Health Behaviors of Finnish Citizens: Cross-Sectional Analysis of More Than 100,000 Web-Survey Responses

Background Understanding the relationship between personal values, well-being, and health-related behavior could facilitate the development of engaging, effective digital interventions for promoting well-being and the healthy lifestyles of citizens. Although the associations between well-being and values have been quite extensively studied, the knowledge about the relationship between health behaviors and values is less comprehensive. Objective The aim of this study was to assess retrospectively the associations between self-reported values and commitment to values combined with self-reported well-being and health behaviors from a large cross-sectional dataset. Methods We analyzed 101,130 anonymous responses (mean age 44.78 years [SD 13.82]; 78.88%, 79,770/101,130 women) to a Finnish Web survey, which were collected as part of a national health promotion campaign. The data regarding personal values were unstructured, and the self-reported value items were classified into value types based on the Schwartz value theory and by applying principal component analysis. Logistic and multiple linear regression were used to explore the associations of value types and commitment to values with well-being factors (happiness, communal social activity, work, and family-related distress) and health behaviors (exercise, eating, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep). Results Commitment to personal values was positively related to happiness (part r2 =0.28), communal social activity (part r2 =0.09), and regular exercise (part r2 =0.06; P<.001 for all). Health, Power (social status and dominance), and Mental balance (self-acceptance) values had the most extensive associations with health behaviors. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and nonsmoking increased the odds of valuing Health by 71.7%, 26.8%, and 40.0%, respectively (P<.001 for all). Smoking, unhealthy eating, irregular exercise, and increased alcohol consumption increased the odds of reporting Power values by 27.80%, 27.78%, 24.66%, and 17.35%, respectively (P<.001 for all). Smoking, unhealthy eating, and irregular exercise increased the odds of reporting Mental balance values by 20.79%, 16.67%, and 15.37%, respectively (P<.001 for all). In addition, lower happiness levels increased the odds of reporting Mental balance and Power values by 24.12% and 20.69%, respectively (P<.001 for all). Conclusions The findings suggest that commitment to values is positively associated with happiness and highlight various, also previously unexplored, associations between values and health behaviors.
Bleeding incidence and risk factors among cancer patients treated with anticoagulation

Compared to age‐matched controls, cancer patients have increased risk of bleeding when treated with anticoagulation. However, there are little data regarding bleeding as it relates to anticoagulant choice and other risk factors. We evaluated the six‐month incidence of bleeding among patients treated with anticoagulation who had bleeding risk factors. Data were obtained from Explorys (IBM Watson, Inc.), which pools data from multiple US healthcare organizations. Cohorts of patients were created to compare bleeding events between cancer and non‐cancer patients treated with anticoagulation within six months of starting anticoagulation. Potential bleeding risk factors such as cancer type, metastatic disease, obesity, chronic kidney disease stage III or higher, and platelet count were evaluated. We compared ratios of numbers of patients in specific cohorts using chi‐squared tests with continuity correction. The cohort comprised 3 283 140 cancer patients, of whom 435 140 (13.3%) received anticoagulation within six months of their cancer diagnosis. Bleeding incidence was higher in cancer vs non‐cancer patients across all anticoagulants studied: warfarin 20.2% vs 12.6%, rivaroxaban 16.7% vs 12.1%, LMWH 13.2% vs 9.7%, and apixaban 14.5% vs 9.3%, P < . 001 for all comparisons. Among all anticoagulants except warfarin, we found increased bleeding incidence in cancer patients with metastatic disease, gastrointestinal primary, CKD ≥ stage III, and platelets <100,000 × 109/L. Bleeding incidence was higher in cancer patients regardless of the anticoagulant used. Patients with gastrointestinal malignancies had a higher incidence of bleeding compared to other tumors across all anticoagulants. Other factors associated with increased risk of bleeding included metastatic disease, chronic kidney disease, and thrombocytopenia.
WHO guidelines for the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis: 2011 update

The production of guidelines for the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) fits the mandate of the World Health Organization (WHO) to support countries in the reinforcement of patient care. WHO commissioned external reviews to summarise evidence on priority questions regarding case-finding, treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), monitoring the response to MDR-TB treatment, and models of care. A multidisciplinary expert panel used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to develop recommendations. The recommendations support the wider use of rapid drug susceptibility testing for isoniazid and rifampicin or rifampicin alone using molecular techniques. Monitoring by sputum culture is important for early detection of failure during treatment. Regimens lasting ≥20 months and containing pyrazinamide, a fluoroquinolone, a second-line injectable drug, ethionamide (or prothionamide), and either cycloserine or p-aminosalicylic acid are recommended. The guidelines promote the early use of antiretroviral agents for TB patients with HIV on second-line drug regimens. Systems that primarily employ ambulatory models of care are recommended over others based mainly on hospitalisation. Scientific and medical associations should promote the recommendations among practitioners and public health decision makers involved in MDR-TB care. Controlled trials are needed to improve the quality of existing evidence, particularly on the optimal composition and duration of MDR-TB treatment regimens.