2,881 research outputs found
Intercomparison and Assessment of Stand-Alone and Wavelet-Coupled Machine Learning Models for Simulating Rainfall-Runoff Process in Four Basins of Pothohar Region, Pakistan
No full textThe science of hydrological modeling has continuously evolved under the influence of rapid advancements in software and hardware technologies. Starting from simple rational formulae for estimating peak discharge and developing into sophisticated univariate predictive models, accurate conversion of rainfall into runoff and the assessment of inherent uncertainty has been a prime focus for researchers. Therefore, alternative data-driven methods have gained widespread attention in hydrology. Moreover, scientists often couple conventional machine learning models with data pre-processing techniques, i.e., wavelet transformation (WT), to enhance modelling accuracy. In this context, this research work attempts to explore the latent linkage between rainfall and runoff in Pothohar region of Pakistan by developing a novel linkage of five streamline techniques of machine learning, including single decision tree (SDT), decision tree forest (DTF), tree boost (TB), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and gene expression modeling (GEP), with a more sophisticated variant of WT, i.e., maximal overlap discrete wavelet transformation (MODWT), for boundary correction of the transformed components of timeseries data. This study also implements these machine learning models in a stand-alone mode for a more comprehensive comparative analysis of performances. Furthermore, the study uses a combined-basin approach that divides Pothohar region into two basins to compensate for the complex topographic division of the study area. The results indicate that MODWT-based DTF outperformed other stand-alone and hybrid models in terms of modeling accuracy. In the first scenario, considering the Bunha-Kahan River basin, MODWT-DTF yielded the highest NSE (0.86) and the lowest RMSE (220.45 mm) and R2 (0.92 at lag order 3 (Lo3)) when transformed with daubechies4 (db4) at level three. While in the Soan-Haro River basin, MODWT-DTF produced the highest accuracy modeling at lag order 4 (Lo4) (NSE = 0.88, RMSE = 21.72 m(3)/s, and R2 = 0.91). The highly accurate performance of 3- and 4-days lagged models reflects the temporal consistency in hydrological response of the study area. The comparison of simple and hybrid model performance indicates up to a 55% increase in modeling accuracy due to data pre-processing with wavelet transformation
Utilization of TiungSAT-1 Data for Coastal Current Studies
No full textThis study proposes a method for utilizing TiungSAT-1 data for coastal current studies. The Hopfield neural network has been used to model surface current movements. The study shows that the surface currents vectors range from 0.7 m/s to 1.4 m/s. It can be concluded that TiungSAT-1 data could be used for the detection of surface currents based on the intensity gradient variations that can be detected from the energy equation motion of neuron
Radon in soil gas of Johor, Malaysia
No full textHaruna*, M. A Saleh, S. Hashim
This study was conducted to establish baseline data for radon (222Rn) activity concentration in soil gas of Johor, Malaysia. RAD7 alpha detector was used to measure the activity concentration of 222Rn in soil gas. The descriptive statistic and hypothesis tests were done using SPSS software. An inverse distance weighting interpolation (IDW) technique was used to obtain the spatial distribution of the measured 222Rn in soil gas in the ArcGIS software. The measured activity concentration of 222Rn in soil gas varies from MDA to 127250 Bq m⁻3. Higher values of 222Rn in soil gas were found in the soil developed from granitic rocks. A statistically significant difference in the median values of 222Rn activity concentration among the soil types and geological formations of Johor state (P=0.008 and P=0.028, respectively) was observed. A map of the spatial distribution of the measured 222Rn activity concentration in soil gas was created
An evaluation of instructional design issues of the Microsoft Windows course packets for North Wisconsin Technical College learners
No full textIncludes bibliographical references
Current mode group delay equalisation using pole-zero mirroring techniques
No full textThis paper describes a new efficient method for designing current mode group delay equaliers. The method is based on introducing zeros into the right-hand s-plane by mirroring the poles of an LC ladder network. This is achieved by developing a current mode model capable of implementing the pole-zero mirroring technique. Using MO-OTA and grounded capacitors, the model is used to derive an nth-order active group-delay equaliser structure which is simpler, has better correction accuracy and is less sensitive when compared to cascaded based equaliers. The equaliser design involves two optimisation algorithms. Simulated and measured results demonstrate that the equaliser can effectively compensate the delay characteristics of a 7th-order 5.75MHz lowpass elliptic video filter to < 5ns ripple over 90% of the filter passband
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung Cancer A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textRationale: The association between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer has been previously reported. However, there is the potential for significant confounding by age and smoking, and an accurate summary risk estimate has not been previously ascertained. Objectives: To determine the risk and burden of lung cancer in patients with IPF, accounting for known confounders. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases and used the Newcastle Ottawa criteria to assess study quality. We then assessed the quality of ascertainment of IPF cases based on modern consensus criteria. Data that relied on administrative claims or autopsies were excluded. We calculated summary risk estimates using a random effects model. Results: Twenty-five cohort studies were included in the final analysis. The estimated adjusted incidence rate ratio from two studies was 6.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.21–9.62) and accounted for age, sex, and smoking. The summary incidence rate from 11 studies was 2.07 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.46–2.67), and the summary mortality rate was 1.06 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 0.62–1.51) obtained from three studies. The summary prevalence from 11 studies was 13.74% (95% CI, 10.17–17.30), and the proportion of deaths attributable to lung cancer was 10.20 (95% CI, 8.52–11.87) and was obtained from nine studies. Conclusions: IPF is an increased independent risk factor for lung cancer, even after accounting for smoking. Further well-designed studies using modern consensus criteria are needed to explore mechanisms of this association
Colony membership, division of labor, and genetic relatedness among females of colonies of Eustenogaster fraterna (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Stenogastrinae)
No full textTo compare the social structure of primitively social wasps with that of communal breeding vertebrates, we used a new technique based on micro videocameras applied to the nest envelope to study the organization of behavior in Malaysian colonies of the stenogastrine wasp Eustenogaster fraterna. The reproductive division of labor in this species appears to be different from that reported so far in other species of Stenogastrinae: it is at a very primitive stage because the helpers work less hard and take fewer risks than the egg-layers. Nevertheless, the very low-risk tasks performed by the helpers (nest guarding and supply of abdominal secretion to the young larvae) are important for the colonies. Behavioral characters and ovarian development of the helpers suggest that females are only temporary helpers and that they wait to start their own production of offspring in the hope of inheriting the nest. Females of the same colony can be highly related, but in some colonies we found low-related individuals. The social organization of these wasps resembles that of vertebrate groups with helpers at the den, i.e., in the small number of individuals, the division of labor with limited reproductive inhibition, and the prolonged external work of the reproductive individuals. However, the main drive to sociality in these insects appears to be different, being based mainly on problems connected with short adult life and long immature brood development
Cohort Profile: The Polish-Norwegian Study (PONS) cohort
No full textThe PONS cohort is a longitudinal observational regional study collecting information on health and health-related behaviours in the south-eastern part of Poland. The study aims at providing information on determinants of health differences between Poland and other countries in the region, especially related to premature mortality. The baseline data collection contains records for 13 172 individuals (2010-11), between 45 and 64 years of age, from the city of Kielce and surrounding rural area. All cohort members were volunteer participants and gave informed consent prior to inclusion. Data were collected on current health status, medical history and health-related behaviours with focus on preventable causes of chronic diseases, including tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and dietary habits. In addition to an extensive questionnaire, blood and urine samples were collected for storage. The study is expected to provide valuable evidence related to various lifestyle behaviours and health, and insight into the usefulness of population approaches for preventive interventions in Polish communities. To access data or biological material or to use the sample to recruit participants for new studies, researchers should contact the principal investigator, Witold A Zatonski at: [[email protected]]. © The Author 2015; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association
Tree – ring growth response of scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris l.) to climate change / Nur Idzhainee Hashim, Rob Marrs and Nor Hanisah Mohd Hashim
No full textDendrochronology is the scientific discipline of determining the relationship between tree growth
and climate , and is determined using the annual growth rings. This provides a potential method for
monitoring climate change. Climate usually acts as a major factor influencing the tree growth. Here, the effects of climate of a conifer species was assessed in relation to measured climatic variables. Tree cores of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) w ere sampled from a forestry plantation at Hordron Edge, Derbyshire to determine the relationship between ann ual growth incremen t and four climate
variables (maximum temperature, minimum temperature, grass minim um temperature and rainfall). Standard dendrochronological techniques were used to collect, prepare and measure tree–ring width increments . Climate data were derived from the British Atmospheric Data
Centre (BADC) from 1921–2013. Tree-ring widths were as cross referenced to the climate data to enable growth dynamics of (Pinus sylvestris) to be investigated. In this study there was no significan t correlation between growth and climatic variables; overall average mean sensitivity ( m s ) was 0.28 mm, only five of the 20 trees were sensitive to climate ( m s >0.3) with the other 15 trees being
complacen t ( m s <0.3). The growth incremen t index p ortra yed a cyclic pattern of tree growth through time with peaks (fast growth) and troughs (slow growth) throughout the period. There were no significan t first-order relationships found between tree growth indices and any of the four climatic variables tested. This result suggests that cl ima t ic variables were not significan t in controlling tree growth at this site
sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455057221112935 – Supplemental material for Impact of coronavirus 2019 pandemic on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among pregnant women in Jordan
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455057221112935 for Impact of coronavirus 2019 pandemic on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among pregnant women in Jordan by Mo’ath F Bataineh, Maysm N Mohamad, Ayesha S Al Dhaheri, Monketh Rawashdeh, Ali M Al-Nawaiseh, Fida F Asali, Mona Hashim, Amjad Jarrar, Dima O Abu Jamous, Lily Stojanovska, Rameez Al Daour, Sheima T Saleh, Tareq M Osaili and Leila Cheikh Ismail in Women’s Health</p
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