Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blood cholinesterase level and its association with neurobehavioral performance due to insecticide exposure among male cocoa farmers in Pahang and Perak, Malaysia

Background: Chlorpyrifos (group II) is an example of organophosphate (OP) insecticides used in cocoa farm that contains moderately hazardous substances that may be dangerous, toxic and can cause severe effects to human health. It is a concern considering cocoa plantations uses large amount of pesticides. There is a lack of study focusing on cocoa farmers’ exposure to organophosphate and data is needed to allow preventive measures to be planned and implemented in order to protect the health and safety of the workers in this specific agricultural sector. Objective: This study aims to determine blood cholinesterase level due to exposure to organophosphate pesticides and identify its link with neurobehavioral performance of cocoa farmers in cocoa plantations across Perak and Pahang, Malaysia. Method: This is a cross-sectional study among participants that includes cocoa farmers as the exposed group and fishermen as the comparison group. Structured questionnaire were administered to obtain background information and occupational usage of insecticides. Blood samples were collected via finger prick technique and seven tests of World Health Organization (WHO) Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB) were used to measure the neurobehavioral performance of the respondents. Data collected were entered into statistical software and were analysed according to objectives. Results: A total of 178 respondents were recruited in this study. This study had reversed results where the blood cholinesterase level of the comparison group was below than the normal range compared to the exposed group. The standard scores of Pursuit Aiming and Trail Making tests showed that the exposed group had significantly poorer performance than the comparison group. There was no significant correlation between the blood cholinesterase with neurobehavioral performance scores for the exposed group. Income, years of handling were significant predictor factors for Pursuit Aiming Test whereas age, use of gloves and education for Trail Making Test. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that neurobehavioral assessment conducted have provided insight into the early effects of OP pesticide exposures when results detected impairment of cocoa farmers’ motor steadiness and visual motor coordination. There is a need to encourage commitment of employers to protect workers through conducting medical surveillance, reviewing existing training modules, assist in the amendment of the existing guideline for use and provide adequate and suitable personal protective equipment for the use of the workers in order to fulfil the objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Embracing the Imaginary: Deep Complex-valued Networks for Heart Murmur Detection

Machine learning for automated heart auscultation offers a scalable solution with the potential to broaden the accessibility of vital healthcare services. While conventional short-time Fourier transform-based audio representations contain both amplitude and phase information, the vast majority of proposed machine audition methods only consider the magnitude, discarding the phase information. In this work, we explore, for the first time, the potential of complex-valued neural networks (CVNNs) for heart sound classification, leveraging all available input information to derive complex representations from sound segments. We showcase the effectiveness of complex-valued neural networks for sound analysis by directly comparing them with real-valued counterparts of our employed neural architectures. On the patient-independent test set of the PhysioNet 2022 Challenge dataset, a complex-valued treatment of two neural network architectures - including HMS-Net, the winning model of PhysioNet 2022 - leads to a consistent 1% absolute improvement in murmur detection accuracy compared to the real-valued baseline. Ensemble model using the non-complex and complex varieties of the two network architectures exhibits a further 6% improvement in sensitivity of murmur and 15% increase in sensitivity of unknown. This highlights the benefits of leveraging the complex domain in deep learning for heart sound analysis.
Fine-scale heterogeneity in Schistosoma mansoni force of infection measured through antibody response

Abstract Identifying populations with active transmission and monitoring changes in transmission is centrally important in guiding schistosomiasis control programs. Traditionally, human Schistosoma mansoni infections have been detected in stool using microscopy, which is logistically difficult at program scale and has low sensitivity when people have low infection burdens. We compared serological measures of transmission based on antibody response to schistosomiasis soluble egg antigen (SEA) with stool-based measures of infection among 3,663 preschool-age children in an area endemic for S. mansoni in western Kenya. Serological measures of transmission closely aligned with stool-based measures of infection, and serological measures provided better resolution for between-community differences at lower levels of infection. Serology enabled fine- scale measures of heterogeneity in force of infection both geographically and by age. Our results show that serologic surveillance platforms represent an important new opportunity to guide and monitor schistosomiasis control programs.
ENHANCING SATELLITE IMAGE CLASSIFICATION IN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS WITH DEEP CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Satellite Image Classification is an essential aspect of remote sensing image processing. Satellite imagery has emerged as a pivotal data source for diverse applications such as land cover classification, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. Satellite images are often subjected to various sources of noise, which can degrade the performance of traditional image classification techniques. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) have shown remarkable success in image analysis tasks and have demonstrated potential for handling noisy satellite images. This paper investigates the performance of three popular DCNN architectures, namely VGG-16, ResNet-50, and Inception V4, for classifying noisy satellite images. To create a diverse and challenging dataset, we introduce noise into the original high-resolution satellite images, simulating real-world noise scenarios. The RSI-CB dataset covers various geographic regions and land cover types, encompassing the challenges faced during satellite image analysis. It contains six categories with 33 sub-classes and over 24,000, 256 X 256 pixel images. This paper contributes to advancing the use of DCNNs for satellite image classification in noisy environments. The study offers valuable guidance for selecting appropriate architectures based on the noise characteristics of satellite image datasets, ultimately enhancing the accuracy and reliability of satellite-based applications in challenging real-world conditions.
Study on the mechanisms of phytoremediation

Environmental pollution causes more and more casualties and the improvement of environmental quality is a mandatory requirement for a sustainable development. A large variety of sites can be decontaminated using phytoremediation. Several projects have been developed and applied to large scale or pilot projects. This study presents the mechanisms of phytoremediation which uses plants and their characteristics to extract, neutralize or stabilize different types of contaminants in the soil. Plants should be chosen carefully because a limited number of species can be involved in the implementation of this type of projects. There are many factors that can influence the efficiency of phytoremediation: the type of contaminants, root system, soil organisms, enzymes, soil properties etc. Phytoremediation is a green technology and a cost-effective method that contributes to the improvement of the environment by creating habitats and a better landscape aesthetics. The aim of this study is to Introduction. The basic processes for a plant to grow are by developing roots in the soil and producing leaves and woody material. In order to do this, plants use carbon dioxide to convert light energy into chemical energy and produce carbon biomass using leaves and cellular respiration during photosynthesis. Plants also use water and dissolved inorganic nutrients that are uptaken by roots and transported through xylem to finally be transpired as vapors. During the process, oxygen is being released in the atmosphere. The phloem has the role to transport the photosynthetic chemicals into the roots which can exude them in the soil. The biological processes (Figure 1) contribute directly in the remediation or sequestration of contaminants (ITRC 2009). Transpiration, metabolism, photosynthesis and mineral nutrition are the basic physiological mechanisms that are associated with plants and their microorganisms. Roots can uptake organic and inorganic compounds from soil, sediments and water and can be aided by the microorganisms in the rhizosphere to sequester and bind substances. Plants transport, store, convert or accumulate the different substances that were uptaken in cells and tissues and the aerial plants can exchange gases with the atmosphere both uptaking and releasing of molecules (Marmiroli et al 2006).
Land-Use and Land-Cover Change, Urban Heat Island Phenomenon, and Health Implications: A Remote Sensing Approach

Land-use and land-cover maps of Atlanta Metropolitan Area in Georgia were produced from Landsat MSS and TM images for 1973, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, and 1997, spanning a period of 25 years. Dramatic changes in land use and land cover have occurred, with loss of forest and cropland to urban use. In particular, low-density urban use, which includes largely residential use, has increased by over 119 percent between 1973 and 1997. These land-use and land-cover changes have drastically altered the land surface characteristics. An analysis of Landsat images revealed an increase in surface temperature and a decline in NDVI from 1973 to 1997. These changes have forced the development of a significant urban heat island effect at both the urban canopy and urban boundary layers as well as an increase in ground level ozone production to such an extent that Atlanta has violated EPA’s ozone level standard in recent years. Using canonical correlation analysis, surface temperatures and NDVI, extracted from Landsat TM images, were found to correlate strongly with volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, the two ingredients that form ozone by reacting with sunlight, but only weakly with the rates of cardiovascular and chronic lower respiratory diseases, which also did not exhibit strong correlation with VOC and NOx emissions, possibly because other factors such as demographic and socio-economic may also be involved. Further research is therefore needed to understand the health geography and its relationship to landuse and land-cover change. This paper illustrates the usefulness of a remote sensing approach for this purpose.
Discovering Golf's Innermost Truths: A New Approach to Teaching the Game

Existing instruction methods were found to be destructive of natural talent and as a result a new approach was developed. The innermost building blocks of effective movement were identified as the qualities of balance, relaxation and rhythm. Other approaches to human movement were studied, including the Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method, Sensory Awareness, yoga and Tai chi. The philosophical contributions of Erich Fromm, Zen and Krishnamurti were also influential. The teaching method which emerged uses awareness as the means by which balance, relaxation and rhythm are introduced into every aspect of the swing. The role of the mind is one of perceiving and responding to what is happening, rather than instructing the body what to do. When attention is focused inwardly, the external fundamentals of good style appear of their own accord. This method is helpful to golfers of all levels and restores pleasure, power and individuality to the swing.
Associations of Objective and Self-Reported Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Skeletal Muscle Energetics: The Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)

Background: Skeletal muscle energetics decline with age, and physical activity (PA) has been shown to counteract these declines in older adults. Yet, many studies were based on self-reported PA or structured exercise interventions. We examined the associations of objective daily PA and sedentary behavior (SB) with skeletal muscle energetics and also compared with self-reported PA and SB. We also explored the extent to which PA would attenuate the associations of age with muscle energetics. Methods: Among the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA) enrolled older adults, 810 (mean age=76{+/-}5, 58% women) had maximal muscle oxidative capacity measured ex vivo via high-resolution respirometry of permeabilized myofibers (maxOXPHOS) and in vivo by 31Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (ATPmax). Objective PA was measured using the wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X over 7-days to capture sedentary behavior (SB), light, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Self-reported SB, MVPA, and all exercise-related PA were assessed with The Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire. Linear regression models with progressive covariate adjustments evaluated the associations between SB, PA and muscle energetics, and the attenuation of the age / muscle energetic association by PA. Results: Every 30 minutes more objective MVPA was associated with 0.65 pmol/s*mg higher maxOXPHOS and 0.012 mM/sec higher ATPmax, after adjustment for age, site/technician and sex. More time spent in objective light+MVPA was significantly associated with higher ATPmax, but not maxOXPHOS. In contrast, every 30 minutes spent in objective SB was associated with 0.43 pmol/s*mg lower maxOXPHOS and 0.004 mM/sec lower ATPmax. Only associations with ATPmax held after further adjusting for socioeconomic status, body mass index, lifestyle factors and multimorbidities. Self-reported MVPA and all exercise-related activities, but not SB, yielded similar associations with maxOXPHOS and ATPmax. Lastly, age was only significantly associated with muscle energetics in men. Adjusting for objective time spent in MVPA attenuated the age association with ATPmax by nearly 60% in men. Conclusion: More time spent in daily PA, especially MVPA, were associated with higher muscle energetics. Interventions that increase higher intensity activity might offer potential therapeutic interventions to slow the age-related decline in muscle energetics. Our work also emphasizes the importance of taking PA into consideration when evaluating associations related to skeletal muscle energetics.
The use of the positive deviance approach for healthcare system service improvement: A scoping review protocol

Abstract Introduction: Healthcare systems are currently facing challenges in enhancing access and improving the quality of healthcare services around the world, and one of the innovative strategies that have been utilized to address such challenges is the positive deviance (PD) approach. The approach assumes that identifying, examining, understanding, and disseminating solutions to problems that are already available within the community and organizations including the healthcare system can help in bringing improvements at scale. However, to the best of the researcher's knowledge, there is no scoping review that is conducted to map and synthesize the available evidence on the use of the PD approach for healthcare system service improvements. Hence, this scoping review aims to map and synthesize resources on the methodologies and reported outcomes and identify gaps and potentials regarding the use of the PD approach in the healthcare system. Methods and analysis: Articles will be searched and retrieved in research databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Retrieved articles will be screened independently for inclusion through a title and, or abstract review. Then, articles that passed the title and abstract review will be screened by reading the full texts. A descriptive mapping and synthesis of the literature will be employed to present data using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and data will be presented in text, figure, and table formats. Ethics and dissemination: The results of this scoping review will be published in peer-reviewed reputable international journals. Furthermore, it will also be disseminated through conference presentations, and popular press to the wider community. However, formal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected.
Diagnostic reference levels for fluoroscopically guided X-ray examinations

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New Perspectives on Orbitally Forced Stratigraphy

This survey of the current status of research into Earth's orbitally forced paleoclimatic record summarizes recent developments in the theory of Earth's orbital parameters, and reviews how various techniques of data collection and analysis have fared in the search and recovery of orbital signals in ancient stratigraphy. The emerging significance of the quasi-periodicity of Earth's orbital variations as a prin- cipal tool in the analysis of orbitally forced stratigraphy is discussed in detail. Five case studies are presented that illustrate new directions in research: ( a) time series analysis of discontinuous strata; (b) measurement of ultra-high resolution stratigraphic signals; (c) new perspectives on the 100 kyr Pleistocene glaciation problem; (d) strati- graphic evidence for solar system resonance modes; and (e) evaluating Phanerozoic length of day from orbitally forced stratigraphy. The study of how Earth's orbital parameters came to be recorded in ancient stra- tigraphy has recently moved into a new phase of scientific inquiry and discovery. Notable advances in celestial mechanics and in the analysis of stratigraphic data have given rise to new ways of solving old problems, and have uncovered new problems for the first time. New tools have facilitated the recovery of extended, high-resolution orbital signals from stratigraphy. Advanced analytical techniques have now been fully incorporated into the field. An updated theory of Earth's orbital parameters provides an accurate ephemeris for the past 16 million years, for precision correlation between Earth's orbital parameters and orbitally forced stratigraphy. Some orbital eccentricity modes can be used for orbital-stratal cal- ibrations to several hundred million years ago. These breakthroughs have transformed the study of orbitally forced stratigra- phy into an applied field that addresses long-standing problems in disciplines as far-ranging as geochronology, geodynamics, and astrodynamics. Orbital signals provide the framework for a high-resolution orbital chronostratigraphy as far back
The rotational stability of an ice-age earth

SUMMARY Predictions of glaciation-induced changes in the Earth’s rotation vector exhibit sensitivities to Earth structure that are unique within the suite of long-wavelength observables associated with glacial isostatic adjustment (henceforth GIA), and, despite nearly a quarter of a century of research, these sensitivities remain enigmatic. Previous predictions of present-day true polar wander (TPW) speed driven by GIA have indicated, for example, a strong sensitivity to variations in the thickness of the elastic lithosphere and the treatment (phase or chemical? ) of the density discontinuity at 670-km depth. Nakada recently presented results that suggest that the predictions are also sensitive to the adopted rheology of the lithosphere; however, his results have introduced an intriguing paradox. In particular, predictions generated using a model with an extremely high-viscosity lithospheric lid do not converge to results for a purely elastic lithosphere of the same thickness. Mitrovica (as cited by Nakada) has suggested that the paradox originates from an inaccuracy in the traditional rotation theory (e.g. Wu & Peltier) associated with the treatment of the background equilibrium rotating form upon which any load- and rotation-induced perturbations are superimposed. We revisit these issues using a new treatment of the linearized Euler equations governing load-induced rotation perturbations on viscoelastic earth models. We demonstrate that our revised theory, in which the background form of the planet combines a hydrostatic component and an observationally inferred excess ellipticity, resolves the apparent paradox. Calculations using the revised theory indicate that earlier predictions based on earth models with purely elastic lithospheric lids are subject to large errors; indeed, previously noted sensitivities of TPW speed predictions to the thickness and rheology (elastic versus viscous) of the lithosphere largely disappear in the application of the new theory. Significant errors are also incurred by neglecting the stabilizing influence of the Earth’s excess ellipticity. Finally, we demonstrate that the contribution from rotational feedback on predictions of present-day rates of change of the geoid (sea surface) and crustal velocities are overestimated by the traditional rotation theory, and this has implications for analyses of ongoing satellite (e.g. GRACE) missions and geodetic GPS surveys.
Fog Detection over China’s Adjacent Sea Area by using the MTSAT Geostationary Satellite Data

Abstract A fog threshold method for the detection of sea fog from Multi-function Transport Satellite (MTSAT-1R) infrared (IR) channel data is presented. This method uses principle component analysis (PCA), texture analysis, and threshold detection to extract sea fog information. A heavy sea fog episode that occurred over China's adjacent sea area during 7-8 April 2008 was detected, indicating that the fog threshold method can effectively detect sea fog areas nearly 24 hours a day. MTSAT-1R data from March 2006, June 2007, and April 2008 were processed using the fog threshold method, and sea fog coverage information was compared with the meteorological observation report data from ships. The hit rate, miss rate, and false alarm rate of sea fog detection were 66.1%, 27.3%, and 33.9%, respectively. The results show that the fog threshold method can detect the formation, evolution, and dissipation of sea fog events over period of time and that the method has superior temporal and spatial resolution relative to conventional ship observations. In addition, through MTSAT-1R data processing and a statistical analysis of sea fog coverage information for the period from 2006 to 2009, the monthly mean sea fog day frequency, spatial distribution and seasonal variation characteristics of sea fog over China's adjacent sea area were obtained.