Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Self-Reported Hypertension: A Prospective Analysis in the Nurses’ Health Study

Background: Studies have suggested associations between elevated blood pressure and short-term air pollution exposures, but the evidence is mixed regarding long-term exposures on incidence of hypertension. Objectives: We examined the association of hypertension incidence with long-term residential exposures to ambient particulate matter (PM) and residential distance to roadway. Methods: We estimated 24-month and cumulative average exposures to PM10, PM2.5, and PM2.5–10 and residential distance to road for women participating in the prospective nationwide Nurses’ Health Study. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for incident hypertension from 1988 to 2008 using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounders. We considered effect modification by age, diet, diabetes, obesity, region, and latitude. Results: Among 74,880 participants, 36,812 incident cases of hypertension were observed during 960,041 person-years. In multivariable models, 10-μg/m3 increases in 24-month average PM10, PM2.5, and PM2.5–10 were associated with small increases in the incidence of hypertension (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.04; HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07; and HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07, respectively). Associations were stronger among women < 65 years of age (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.06; HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.12; and HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09, respectively) and the obese (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.12; HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.23; and HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.19, respectively), with p-values for interaction < 0.05 for all models except age and PM2.5–10. There was no association with roadway proximity. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to particulate matter was associated with small increases in risk of incident hypertension, particularly among younger women and the obese. Citation: Zhang Z, Laden F, Forman JP, Hart JE. 2016. Long-term exposure to particulate matter and self-reported hypertension: a prospective analysis in the Nurses’ Health Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1414–1420; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/EHP163
Fundamentals, Contagion and Currency Crises: An Empirical Analysis

This paper examines the determinants of currency crises in Latin America, Asia and Africa. It asks two basic questions: (a) Are currency crises linked to economic fundamentals? and; (b) Is there any evidence of a contagion effect after controlling for the potential effects of economic fundamentals? Using pooled annual data for 19 developing countries spanning the period 1977-1993, we argue that among the macroeconomic variables considered as causes of currency crises, a measure of lending booms, real exchange rate misalignment and the ratio of M2 to international reserves are the only variables that can be consistently linked to currency crises. Economic fundamentals such as the growth rate of domestic credit and high fiscal and current account deficits are generally not significant. In cases where a significant relationship is found, the result is not robust in the sense that the relationship becomes insignificant when there is either a change in the sample size or the definition of the crisis index. Our paper also provides empirical evidence in support of the idea that currency crises could be contagious. The results from our study suggest that currency crises cannot be explained solely by looking at economic fundamentals and that regional contagion effects as well as the speculative behaviour of investors may be important determinants.
Wavenumber‐4 patterns of the total electron content over the low latitude ionosphere

The global ionospheric maps (GIMs) produced by JPL are used to investigate the longitudinal structure of the low latitude ionosphere. As a proxy of the ionization parameter at low latitudes, the latitudinally integrated total electron content (ITEC) is first extracted from low latitude GIMs and then Fourier filtered to obtain the wavenumber‐4 components. We then study in detail the diurnal, seasonal and solar cycle variations of the wave patterns. It is found that the wavenumber‐4 patterns are intense and well developed in boreal summer and early boreal autumn, but quite weak in boreal winter. This seasonal variation is consistent with that of the zonal wind of the non‐migrating tide mode DE3. We also found that the wavenumber‐4 patterns shift eastward with a shifting speed that is smaller in daytime than at night. This is attributed to the contribution of both the eastward propagation of DE3 in E‐region and the zonal E ×B ion drifts in F‐region. Our results support the suggestion that the longitudinal wavenumber‐4 structure of the low latitude ionosphere should be originated from the non‐migrating tide mode DE3.
New particle formation at a remote site in the eastern Mediterranean

[1] A year (6-April–2008 to 14-April–2009) of particulate monitoring was conducted at a remote coastal station on the island of Crete, Greece in the eastern Mediterranean. Fifty-eight regional new particle formation events were observed with an Air Ion Spectrometer (AIS), half of which occurred during the coldest months of the year (December–March). Particle formation was favored by air masses arriving from the west that crossed Crete or southern Greece prior to reaching the site and also by lower-than-average condensational sinks (CS). Aerosol composition data, which were acquired during month-long campaigns in the summer and winter, suggest that nucleation events occurred only when particles were neutral. This is consistent with the hypothesis that a lack of NH3, during periods when particles are acidic, may limit nucleation in sulfate-rich environments. Nucleation was not limited by the availability of SO2 alone, as nucleation events often did not take place during periods with high SO2 or H2SO4 concentrations. The above results support the hypothesis that an additional reactant (other than H2SO4) plays an important role in the formation and/or growth of new particles. Our results are consistent with NH3 being this missing reactant.
A possible explanation for rapid, large‐scale ionospheric responses to southward turnings of the IMF

We have examined the dayside high‐latitude convection response to a sudden southward turning of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) and found that the response is nearly instantaneous (<2 min) over a spatial region extending from ∼75° to 85° and from ∼9 to 16 MLT. Observations of the magnetic field were made with the WIND spacecraft in the solar wind and the GEOTAIL and IMP8 spacecraft in the magnetosheath. In the high‐latitude ionosphere, the HF radars of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) were used to monitor the convection. Based on the magnetosheath flow of the gas dynamic approximation, the field lines of the new IMF state were draped over a large portion of the dayside magnetopause when the first significant indication of convection response was measured in the ionosphere. Significant magnetic field line draping accompanied by extended reconnection on the dayside magnetopause may help explain the rapid, large‐scale response of ionospheric convection.
119 Appropriateness of prescribing of direct oral anticoagulants in a university teaching hospital network

Introduction Direct oral anti-coagulants (DOACs) have been developed that provide simplified, fixed dose regimes over variable dosing with vitamin K anticoagulants. However, DOAC dosing is dependent on indication, demographics and co-morbidities, such as renal impairment. Inappropriate dosing is associated with harm with both unintentional under- and excessive-dosing [1]. The purpose of this study is to describe the appropriateness of DOAC prescribing with respect to the criteria set out in summary of product characteristics (sPC) and British National Formulary [2,3]. Methods A retrospective audit of consecutive in-patients, over a 3-month period, prescribed DOACs in St Bartholomew’s and Royal London hospitals from November 2018 was performed. Data was extracted from electronic healthcare and pharmacy records. Inclusion criteria: prescribed a DOAC (apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban and rivaroxaban), recorded dose and frequency, patient sex, age and weight; serum creatinine (sCr). Exclusion criteria: use of non-DOAC anticoagulant, record duplication and incomplete records. Dosing appropriateness was compared for each of the drugs with respect to indication and criteria set in individual sPCs. Results 360 patients were prescribed DOACs, of whom 203 (56%) satisfied inclusion/exclusion criteria. Main reasons for non-inclusion were incomplete records (n=54) and record duplication (n=91). Mean age was 76±24 years, with 23% of patients >80 years-old and 15% <60 kg. Renal function (creatinine clearance (CrCl), calculated using Cockcroft-Gault method) was <50 mL/min in 42% of patients. The majority of DOAC prescribing was for atrial fibrillation (71%). For the individual DOACs, dose appropriateness was best for dabigatran (93.3%, n=14/15 patients) and edoxaban (95.2%, 20/21 patients). Rivaroxaban was prescribed appropriately in 81% (n=58/72) of patients and apixaban was prescribed appropriately in 82% (n=78/95) of patients. Majority of dose inappropriateness was due to non-indicated underdosing (n=29/34). For rivaroxaban, this was apparent in patients with a significant discrepancy between renal function measured by eGFR (CKD-EPI equation) and calculated CrCl (Cockroft-Gault method, recommended in sPC and used in the clinical trials). For patients requiring reduced dosage, this was correctly prescribed in 92% (n=35/38) patients. Conclusion In our university hospital network, more patients were underdosed relative to their indication than was expected. This may be due to usage of clinically available eGFR, which is routinely available as part of hospital systems, rather than using manually calculated CrCl and the multiple criteria required to dose apixaban correctly. Further education of prescribers and ward-based pharmacists is required to improve the prescribing quality with the aim of improving treatment efficacy and safety outcomes. References Yao X, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017;69:2780. www.medicines. org.uk www.bnf. nice.org.uk Conflict of Interest nil
Comparison of Ridge and Runnel Systems in Tidal and Non-Tidal Environments

ABSTRACT Beach and inner nearshore areas of Lake Michigan are basically the same as northern Massachusetts except for scale of the morphologic features and tidal range; in Lake Michigan spring tides reach 0.25 feet whereas in Massachusetts they reach 13 feet. Ridge and runnel topography is developed in the inner nearshore zone at both locations is the result of storm activity. These ridges migrate shoreward during low energy conditions and eventually weld onto the beach. Overall morphology, surface features and internal structures are quite similar in both areas. The only appreciable differences between the two areas are the scale and rate of migration. Apparently tides have no appreciable affect on the sediment sequence that accumulates as ridges weld to the beach although tides are significa t in determining the rate at which the shoreward migration of the ridges takes place.
The Credit Channel in the Netherlands: Evidence from Bank Balance Sheets

This study contributes to the empirical evidence on the lending channel in the Netherlands using individual bank data. The main conclusion is that a lending channel is operative in the Netherlands. However, it is only operative for unsecured and not for secured lending, possibly because loans with state guarantees get special treatment by banks. Effects of monetary tightening on unsecured lending are more negative for smaller, less liquid and less capitalised banks, in line with the lending channel theory. A contribution of this study is that it gives evidence that the monetary policy impact on bank lending also depends on the market segment in which a bank is active. The evidence suggests that the lending channel is not affecting lending to households as much as it is affecting lending to firms JEL Classification: E51, E52, G21
Structure and Composition of the Natural Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertner f.) Forest, Gomtu, Southern Bhutan

Scattered pockets of natural hill Sal forest in the southern foothills of Bhutan are the only remnant forests important for protection and conservation in southernmost Bhutan. The ecological study of Sal forest in Gomtu is the first of its kind in Bhutan and is aimed at enhancing future management and conservation programmes. We wanted to understand the floristic composition, diversity, and structural traits of this forest type in detail. A total of nine plots were sampled along the altitudinal gradients; trees and epiphytic vegetation were enumerated in all the plots. A total of 91 tree species belonging to 38 families were recorded (51 trees, 30 shrubs, 7 woody climbers and 3 palm species). Floristically, two major life-forms were exhibited; deciduous forest in the upper elevations mainly dominated by Shorea robusta and evergreen broad-leaved forest at the lower elevations. The entire study area was demarcated into three different forest types using cluster analysis; a Shorea dominant one on the ridge top, a Schima dominant one with Shorea at the lower altitudes, and a riparian one at the lowest altitude. The Shorea dominated type showed relatively low diversity and species richness compared to the other two types. The total basal area of Shorea robusta was 86,786.5 cm 2 /3,200 m 2 while the stem density was 123 stem/3,200 m 2 . The basal area increased from 2,146.2 cm 2 /400 m 2 to 18,926.0 cm 2 /400 m 2 while stem density increased from 3 stems/400 m 2 to 32 stems/400 m 2 with increasing altitude. However, the maximum estimated tree height decreased from 41.3 to 22.4 m approaching ridge tops. The study provided clear evidence that the most suitable range for the hill Sal forest was from a high altitude of 600 metre above sea level down to 527 m on northwest-facing ridge slopes.
Cubical Triaxial Apparatus for Soil Testing

Three different principal stresses can be applied in fixed directions to a cubical specimen in this apparatus. The requirements and the construction and operation principles for the cubical triaxial apparatus are presented. The loading system and the deformation measurement principles are described, and procedures for preparing sand and clay specimens are presented. The advantages and limitations of the cubical triaxial apparatus are discussed. The apparatus is relatively inexpensive to build, and it fulfills all basic requirements for high quality soil testing in three dimensions.
Expression of 11 β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Early Pregnancy: Implications in Human Trophoblast-Endometrial Interactions

Glucocorticoid hormone action in target tissues is modulated by 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD), which interconverts active cortisol and corticosterone and their inert 11-keto metabolites, cortisone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone. Two different 11 beta-HSD isoforms exist: a low-affinity NADP-dependent dehydrogenase/oxoreductase (11 beta-HSD1) and a high-affinity NAD-dependent dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD2). This brief review describes the expression and distribution of 11 beta-HSD isoforms in human placenta. In particular, it discusses the results of studies dealing with the expression of 11 beta-HSD activity in experimental models representative of the fetomaternal interface in the early gestation. The findings have implications in terms of protection of the fetus against corticosteroid toxicity and modulation of active glucocorticoid levels and their biological effects in early pregnancy.
Approaches to benefit sharing: A preliminary comparative analysis of 13 REDD+ countries

The issue of REDD+ benefit sharing has captured the attention of policymakers and local communities because the success of REDD+ will depend greatly on the design and implementation of its benefit-sharing mechanism. Despite a large body of literature on potential benefit-sharing mechanisms for REDD+, the field has lacked global comparative analyses of national REDD+ policies and of the political-economic influences that can either enable or impede the mechanisms. Similarly, relatively few studies have investigated the political-economic principles underlying existing benefit-sharing policies and approaches. This working paper builds on a study of REDD+ policies in 13 countries to provide a global overview and up-to-date profile of benefit-sharing mechanisms for REDD+ and of the political-economic factors affecting their design and setting. Five types of benefit-sharing models relevant to REDD+ and natural resource management are used to create an organising framework for identifying what does and does not work and to examine the structure of rights under REDD+. The authors also consider the mechanisms in light of five prominent discourses on the question of who should benefit from REDD+ and, by viewing REDD+ through a 3E (effectiveness, efficiency, equity) lens, map out some of the associated risks for REDD+ outcomes. Existing benefit-sharing models and REDD+ projects have generated initial lessons for building REDD+ benefit-sharing mechanisms. However, the relevant policies in the 13 countries studied could lead to carbon ineffectiveness, cost inefficiency and inequity because of weak linkages to performance or results, unclear tenure and carbon rights, under-representation of certain actors, technical and financial issues related to the scope and scale of REDD+, potential elite capture and the possible negative side effects of the decentralisation of authority. Furthermore, the enabling factors for achieving 3E benefit-sharing mechanisms are largely absent from the study countries. Whether REDD+ can catalyse the necessary changes will depend in part on how the costs and benefits of REDD+ are shared, and whether the benefits are sufficient to affect a shift in entrenched behaviour and policies at all levels of government. The successful design and implementation of benefit-sharing mechanisms - and hence the legitimacy and acceptance of REDD+ - depend on having clear objectives, procedural equity and an inclusive process and on engaging in a rigorous analysis of the options for benefit sharing and their potential effects on beneficiaries and climate mitigation efforts.
Spectral identification by artificial neural network and genetic algorithm

With the increasing utilization of multi-spectral imaging sensors, automatic identification of spectral signatures would be an invaluable facility. Conventional, linear approaches have been shown to be limited: although reasonably stable in the presence of small amounts of noise, their performance degrades severely at high noise levels or when several spectra are combined. Non-linear approaches are therefore attractive. This paper describes a detailed investigation into the suitability of two non-linear paradigms, namely artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms, for spectral identification. The ability of each method to distinguish between several different spectra is assessed, as is their stability to noise and their capacity to correctly identify combinations of spectra. These results are compared with a linear technique, cross-correlation. Both non-linear methods are shown to be very effective for spectral identification, the results being far superior to those of cross-correlation. However, it will be demonstrated that the genetic algorithm approach requires a greater understanding of the physical processes involved. A practical scheme, utilizing both neural network and genetic algorithm approaches, is suggested.
Segment-based stem volume retrieval in boreal forests using multitemporal ERS-1/2 InSAR data

In this study, we demonstrate a method for the combined land cover classification and boreal forest stem volume retrieval using multitemporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. The method utilizes the mean InSAR coherence image that is segmented into quasihomogeneous segments, and the land cover classes of the segments are determined based on their multitemporal InSAR signatures. Continuous stem volume estimates for the forest segments are then produced by inverting a semi-empirical backscattering coherence model. A group of forest stands with known stem volumes are required as training areas for determining the values of the model parameters. The performance of the method was studied by estimating the stem volumes of 4176 forest segments using 134 training stands. The results were compared with stem volume estimates produced by ground-based measurements and the satellite-based operational National Forest Inventory (NFI) of Finland. The performance of the method in stem volume estimation for stands larger than 1.5 ha (average stand size 3.2 ha) achieves a correlation coefficient of 0.87 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 54% in comparison with ground-based reference data. The results are better than the estimates of the operational NFI that saturate at around 200 m3/ha. Markedly higher accuracy is to be expected when applying the method to larger stands in a large-area forest inventory.
Attitudes towards urban air pollution: a Q methodology study / Actitudes frente a la contaminación atmosférica urbana: un estudio basado en el método Q

Abstract This article assesses the variety of public attitudes towards air pollution. The objective is to analyse how people differently understand and react to air pollution. In particular, we attempt to discern different profiles of people in terms of their attitudes towards air pollution by means of the Q method. The Q method is a qualitative but statistical approach enabling us to discover a variety of attitudinal profiles or discourses concerning an issue from reduced samples. Our results reveal two different attitudinal profiles: annoyed-aware and optimistic-unaware. Nonetheless, there is an important shared discourse among these two groups regarding their behavioural responses to air pollution, levels of worry, self-efficacy and desire for more information. The results have implications for potential health and environmental communication interventions.
A spatial assessment of riverine ecosystems and water supply in a semi‐arid environment

A spatial assessment was conducted in the semi‐arid area of South Africa, to: (1) identify priority areas for the conservation of river and groundwater ecosystems; (2) examine surface and groundwater quality for human consumption and (3) investigate the rehabilitation of degraded areas to highlight ‘win‐win’ situations for both environmental and human use. A systematic conservation plan was produced, highlighting river conservation areas (river types, fish species and connectivity areas), moderate‐impact management areas (groundwater‐surface water interaction and recharge areas) and river rehabilitation areas. The proposed river selections would achieve the biodiversity targets of 33 (66%) of the 50 river types; feasible rehabilitation would increase this to 92%. The greatest groundwater‐surface water interaction and recharge (30 to > 50 mm−1) values are concentrated around the mountainous regions of the Little Karoo. This is because the main aquifers in the mountains, table mountain group (TMG) quartzites, yield naturally good quality water for human consumption. River reaches of unacceptable surface water quality were classified as degraded water resource delivery areas where the poor water quality was primarily due to saline return flows from irrigation and the impacts of other anthropogenic activities including abstraction of freshwater which otherwise would have diluted the return flows. Only the middle reaches of the Gouritz and Groot Rivers represent a possible win–win situation for both the environment and human use. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.