Distance For Use Research Articles

HUBUNGAN JARAK PENGGUNAAN SMARTPHONE DENGAN KEJADIAN MATA MYOPIA PADA MAHASISWA ARO GAPOPIN ANGKATAN 2019

Current lecture activities cannot be separated from the use of smartphones in terms of searching for assignments, online groups, attending seminars or just for entertainment. Poor levels of smartphone use such as distance when using them can cause vision problems such as myopia refraction disorders in students. This research is an observational study. Analytics uses a cross sectional approach to a sample for later analysis. This method is to determine the relationship between the distance between smartphone use and the incidence of myopia in ARO Gapopin Class of 2019 students. The chi square statistical test is used at p<0.05. Where it is known that there is a relationship between the distance used by 63 respondents, there are 34 respondents who answered <30 cm and there are 29 respondents who answered using a smartphone with a distance of >30 cm. The P-Value is 0.007, so there is a significant relationship between the distance of use and the incidence of myopia in students at ARO Gapopin. From the research results, students can pay attention to using smartphones to improve the distance they use smartphones so that their myopic refractive errors do not get worse.

Assessing the importance of individual‐ and colony‐level variation when using seabird foraging ranges as impact assessment and conservation tools

Knowledge of seabird distributions plays a key role in seabird conservation and sustainable marine management, underpinning efforts to designate protected areas or assess the impact of human developments. Technological advances in animal tracking devices increasingly allow researchers to acquire information on the movement of birds from specific colonies. Nevertheless, most seabird colonies have not been subject to such tracking and another means must be found to assess their likely foraging distribution. Consequently, foraging range data collated and summarized across other tracking studies has often been used to estimate species‐level foraging distances for use within applied settings. However, generic species‐specific foraging ranges must be used with caution because of the amount of variation in seabird foraging behaviour at both the individual and colony levels. Specifically, although current reviews of seabird foraging ranges provide summary estimates of maximum foraging range, they typically do not assess the extent of among‐colony or among‐individual variation around such estimates. To address this, we conducted a variance component analysis of the maximum distance reached from the breeding colony per foraging trip (foraging range) using multi‐colony tracking datasets to estimate the degree of between‐individual, between‐year and between‐colony variation in foraging range in four UK breeding seabirds (Black‐legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, Common Guillemot Uria aalge, Razorbill Alca torda and European Shag Gulosus aristotelis). We also provide updated estimates of typical foraging ranges for each species and quantify the influence of breeding stage and colony size. Overall, between‐colony variation was typically the largest variance component, explaining 20–30% of the observed variation in foraging range across the four species. Individual‐level variation was also relatively large among Shag. In Kittiwake, Guillemot and Shag, but not Razorbill, average foraging ranges were positively associated with colony size. In addition, Kittiwake and Razorbill travelled further during incubation than during chick‐rearing. More generally, our estimates of mean foraging ranges for each species were subject to a high degree of uncertainty, which should be incorporated into impact assessments carried out using such data.

Beta-diversity distance matrices for microbiome sample size and power calculations — How to obtain good estimates

In microbiome studies, researchers often wish to compare the taxa count distributions between groups of samples. Commonly-used corresponding methods of analysis are built on examining distance matrices, where distances describe the beta-diversity between samples. Analyses then compare the distribution of distances within groups to the distributions between groups. However, when performing a priori sample size or power calculations for such study designs, appropriate within and between group distance distributions can be challenging to obtain. When available, pilot study data, or data from prior studies of similar design should provide realistic distance estimates. However, when these are not available, distances can be extracted from available studies where one can assume similar beta-diversity. Alternatively, distances can be generated by simulation methods. Here, we describe and illustrate these three strategies for obtaining realistic distance matrices. For simulation methods, we illustrate the procedures required starting from existing benchmark data, as well as how to simulate directly from population assumptions. Using data from the American Gut project, we provide tables of observed distances for use by researchers planning their own studies, as well as R codes for generating similar matrices in other datasets. Furthermore, for simulated data, we compare methods, provide R codes, and demonstrate how challenging it is to obtain realistic distance distributions without any benchmark data. This code and illustrative distance tables are provided by the IMPACTT Consortium as a resource to the microbiome research community.

Development of a Flight Time Uncertainty Model for Four-Dimensional Trajectory Management

The paper presents a model of the flight time uncertainty based on flight conditions and weather forecasts for aircraft flying at arbitrary distances for use in four-dimensional (4-D) trajectory management. Fluctuations in meteorological conditions inevitably result in an increased flight time uncertainty despite constant monitoring and control of the aircraft’s Mach number, flight altitude, and direction. A series of actual flight data acquired from secondary surveillance radar mode S and numerical weather forecast data was analyzed to provide a large number of samples for flight time errors. A mathematical model of the flight time uncertainty as a function of ground speed, Mach number, flight distance, and wind and temperature forecasts was modeled based on the law of propagation of uncertainty considering the correlation between temperature and wind fluctuations. Cluster and linear regression analyses were used to determine the function coefficients. The evaluation results show that the proposed model can accurately estimate the flight time uncertainty for an aircraft flying at arbitrary distances, even under calm or severe weather conditions. The proposed model has the potential to simultaneously improve the safety and efficiency of 4-D trajectory management.

Rapid Estimation of the Epicentral Distance in the Earthquake Early Warning System around the Tehran Region, Iran

ABSTRACT The estimation of epicentral distance is a critical step in earthquake early warning systems (EEWSs) that is necessary to characterize the level of expected ground shaking. In this study, two rapid methodologies, that is, B‐Δ and C‐Δ, are evaluated to estimate the epicentral distance for use in the EEWSs around the Tehran region. Traditionally, the B and C coefficients are computed using acceleration records, however, in this study, we utilize both acceleration and velocity waveforms for obtaining a suitable B‐Δ and C‐Δ relationships for the Tehran region. In comparison with observations from Japan, our measurements fall within the range of scatter. However, our results show a lower trend, which can strongly depend on the few numbers of events and range of magnitude (small‐to‐moderate) of earthquakes used in the current research. To improve our result, we include some large earthquakes from Iran, Italy, and Japan with magnitude larger than 5.9. Although the optimal trend is finally obtained by fitting a line to the distance‐averaged points, we conclude that the same trend and relationship as Japan can be used in Tehran early warning system. We also found that B and C parameters are strongly compatible to each other. As time windows of 3.0 and 0.5 s after the P onset are chosen respectively to compute the B and C values, so by selecting the C parameter as a proxy of B parameter to estimate the epicentral distance, we may save significant time in order of about 2.5 s in any earthquake early warning applications.

Non-lethal Projectile Characterisation Method: Application to 40-mm SIR-X and Condor NT901 Projectiles

The growing market of kinetic energy non-lethal weapons (KENLW) using deformable projectiles has increased the need of numerically assessing the impacts of KENLW projectiles on the human body in terms of injury risk and consequently the determination of the effective distance of use of these weapons. In the context of simulations of non-lethal impacts on the human body using finite element method, a method of characterisation and validation of deformable non-lethal projectiles is investigated due to the practical difficulty of characterising the projectile deformable part with conventional tests. This method combines in one step the characterisation of the projectile deformable part and the validation of the projectile. It is based on the results of real projectile shots on the rigid wall equipped with a force sensor. To apply the method, two projectiles are used: the 40-mm B&T SIR-X sponge grenade and the CONDOR NT901 projectile. Good correspondence is obtained between the numerical results and the experimental results.

Evaluation of a new method to determine the tibial tuberosity advancement distance required to reduce the patellar tendon-tibial plateau angle to 90° with the modified Maquet technique in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To assess use of a new radiographic method to determine the distance by which the tibial tuberosity should be advanced to reduce the patellar tendon-tibial plateau angle (PTA) to 90° by means of the modified Maquet technique (MMT) in dogs. SAMPLE 24 pelvic limbs from 12 adult medium-sized to large-breed canine cadavers. PROCEDURES Radiographs of stifle joints at 135° extension in true lateral position were used to determine tibial tuberosity advancement distances for use in the MMT. A method was devised to incorporate the planned osteotomy axis; distal patellar translations of 0, 3, 5, or 10 mm; and advancement cage implant application level along the osteotomy site in advancement planning measurements. Concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) were calculated to compare these adjusted advancement measurements with true advancement measurements obtained for the same joints in another study after treatment by MMT. Intraobserver, interobserver, and total agreement for selected measurements were determined by assessment of CCCs for results obtained by 3 blinded observers. RESULTS Agreement between true advancement measurements and measurements obtained with osteotomy axis and cage position method calculations that incorporated a 5-mm distal patellar translation distance was excellent (CCC, 0.96). Intraobserver and interobserver agreements for the planning measurements evaluated were good to excellent (CCC, 0.83 to 0.96). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that the osteotomy axis and cage position method incorporating a 5-mm distal patellar translation distance has the potential to improve success rates for achieving a PTA of 90° in medium-sized to large-breed dogs undergoing MMT for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Further research is warranted.

An analysis of dental intercanine distance for use in court cases involving bite marks.

High levels of crime in South Africa and the resulting court cases requiring bite mark evidence have necessitated continuous research into the prevalence and interrelationship of recognisable dental features present in bite marks. This study represents the largest data set of descriptive statistics related to intercanine distance, in which the means, standard deviations, medians and interquartile ranges across four racial groups were determined. Intercanine distances were also statistically weighted by determining the common, uncommon and very uncommon values for each of the racial groups. The results of this research show that we can consider any maxillary intercanine distance more than 24.1mm and less than 43.0mm to represent a human bite mark. Black males had the largest mean (average) intercanine distance of 36.33mm (standard deviation 2.49mm) and white females the smallest mean intercanine distance of 33.4mm (standard deviation 2.13mm). The analyses showed statistically significant differences between the mean intercanine distances of different race and gender groupings. The authors do not advocate trying to determine the race or gender from intercanine distances determined, but rather the relevance of the intercanine distances in the specific race and gender groupings. This study makes a meaningful scientific contribution to the presentation of bite mark evidence at a time when subjective opinions need to be replaced with scientific data.

An approach to measure distance between compositional diet estimates containing essential zeros

ABSTRACTFor many applications involving compositional data, it is necessary to establish a valid measure of distance, yet when essential zeros are present traditional distance measures are problematic. In quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA), compositional diet estimates are produced that often contain many zeros. In order to test for a difference in diet between two populations of predators using the QFASA diet estimates, a legitimate measure of distance for use in the test statistic is necessary. Since ecologists using QFASA must first select the potential species of prey in the predator's diet, the chosen measure of distance should be such that the distance between samples does not decrease as the number of species considered increases, a property known in general as subcompositional coherence. In this paper we compare three measures of distance for compositional data capable of handling zeros, but not satisfying some of the well-accepted principles of compositional data analysis. For compositional diet estimates, the most relevant of these is the property of subcompositionally coherence and we show that this property may be approximately satisfied. Based on the results of a simulation study and an application to real-life QFASA diet estimates of grey seals, we recommend the chi-square measure of distance.

Human ESC-Derived Dopamine Neurons Show Similar Preclinical Efficacy and Potency to Fetal Neurons when Grafted in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

SummaryConsiderable progress has been made in generating fully functional and transplantable dopamine neurons from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Before these cells can be used for cell replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease (PD), it is important to verify their functional properties and efficacy in animal models. Here we provide a comprehensive preclinical assessment of hESC-derived midbrain dopamine neurons in a rat model of PD. We show long-term survival and functionality using clinically relevant MRI and PET imaging techniques and demonstrate efficacy in restoration of motor function with a potency comparable to that seen with human fetal dopamine neurons. Furthermore, we show that hESC-derived dopamine neurons can project sufficiently long distances for use in humans, fully regenerate midbrain-to-forebrain projections, and innervate correct target structures. This provides strong preclinical support for clinical translation of hESC-derived dopamine neurons using approaches similar to those established with fetal cells for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

The case for distributed irrigation as a development priority in sub-Saharan Africa

Distributed irrigation systems are those in which the water access (via pump or human power), distribution (via furrow, watering can, sprinkler, drip lines, etc.), and use all occur at or near the same location. Distributed systems are typically privately owned and managed by individuals or groups, in contrast to centralized irrigation systems, which tend to be publicly operated and involve large water extractions and distribution over significant distances for use by scores of farmers. Here we draw on a growing body of evidence on smallholder farmers, distributed irrigation systems, and land and water resource availability across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to show how investments in distributed smallholder irrigation technologies might be used to (i) use the water sources of SSA more productively, (ii) improve nutritional outcomes and rural development throughout SSA, and (iii) narrow the income disparities that permit widespread hunger to persist despite aggregate economic advancement.

A Social‐Ecological‐Infrastructural Systems Framework for Interdisciplinary Study of Sustainable City Systems

SummaryCities are embedded within larger‐scale engineered infrastructures (e.g., electric power, water supply, and transportation networks) that convey natural resources over large distances for use by people in cities. The sustainability of city systems therefore depends upon complex, cross‐scale interactions between the natural system, the transboundary engineered infrastructures, and the multiple social actors and institutions that govern these infrastructures. These elements, we argue, are best studied in an integrated manner using a novel social‐ecological‐infrastructural systems (SEIS) framework. In the biophysical subsystem, the SEIS framework integrates urban metabolism with life cycle assessment to articulate transboundary infrastructure supply chain water, energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprints of cities. These infrastructure footprints make visible multiple resources (water, energy, materials) used directly or indirectly (embodied) to support human activities in cities. They inform cross‐scale and cross‐infrastructure sector strategies for mitigating environmental pollution, public health risks and supply chain risks posed to cities. In the social subsystem, multiple theories drawn from the social sciences explore interactions between three actor categories—individual resource users, infrastructure designers and operators, and policy actors—who interact with each other and with infrastructures to shape cities toward sustainability outcomes. Linking of the two subsystems occurs by integrating concepts, theories, laws, and models across environmental sciences/climatology, infrastructure engineering, industrial ecology, architecture, urban planning, behavioral sciences, public health, and public affairs. Such integration identifies high‐impact leverage points in the urban SEIS. An interdisciplinary SEIS‐based curriculum on sustainable cities is described and evaluated for its efficacy in promoting systems thinking and interdisciplinary vocabulary development, both of which are measures of effective frameworks.

Raman Spectroscopy for Homeland Security Applications

Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique with vast applications in the homeland security and defense arenas. The Raman effect is defined by the inelastic interaction of the incident laser with the analyte molecule’s vibrational modes, which can be exploited to detect and identify chemicals in various environments and for the detection of hazards in the field, at checkpoints, or in a forensic laboratory with no contact with the substance. A major source of error that overwhelms the Raman signal is fluorescence caused by the background and the sample matrix. Novel methods are being developed to enhance the Raman signal’s sensitivity and to reduce the effects of fluorescence by altering how the hazard material interacts with its environment and the incident laser. Basic Raman techniques applicable to homeland security applications include conventional (off-resonance) Raman spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), resonance Raman spectroscopy, and spatially or temporally offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS and TORS). Additional emerging Raman techniques, including remote Raman detection, Raman imaging, and Heterodyne imaging, are being developed to further enhance the Raman signal, mitigate fluorescence effects, and monitor hazards at a distance for use in homeland security and defense applications.

Bond lengths in organic and metal-organic compounds revisited:X—H bond lengths from neutron diffraction data

The number of structures in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) has increased by an order of magnitude since the preparation of two major compilations of standard bond lengths in mid-1985. It is now of interest to examine whether this huge increase in data availability has implications for the mean bond-length values published in the late 1980s. Those compilations reported mean X-H bond lengths derived from rather sparse information and for rather few chemical environments. During the intervening years, the number of neutron studies has also increased, although only by a factor of around 2.25, permitting a new analysis of X-H bond-length distributions for (a) organic X = C, N, O, B, and (b) a variety of terminal and homometallic bridging transition metal hydrides. New mean values are reported here and are compared with earlier results. These new overall means are also complemented by an analysis of X-H distances at lower temperatures (T < or = 140 K), which indicates the general level of librational effects in X-H systems. The study also extends the range of chemical environments for which statistically acceptable mean X-H bond lengths can be obtained, although values from individual structures are also collated to further extend the chemical range of this compilation. Updated default 'neutron-normalization' distances for use in hydrogen-bond and deformation-density studies are also proposed for C-H, N-H and O-H, and the low-temperature analysis provides specific values for certain chemical environments and hybridization states of X.

Reducing non-determinism of k-NN searching in non-ordered discrete data spaces

We propose a generalized version of the Granularity-Enhanced Hamming (GEH) distance for use in k-NN queries in non-ordered discrete data spaces (NDDS). The use of the GEH distance metric improves search semantics by reducing the degree of non-determinism of k-NN queries in NDDSs. The generalized form presented here enables the GEH distance to be used for a much greater variety of scenarios than was possible with the original form.

Semantic distance norms computed from an electronic dictionary (WordNet)

WordNet, an electronic dictionary (or lexical database), is a valuable resource for computational and cognitive scientists. Recent work on the computing of semantic distances among nodes (synsets) in WordNet has made it possible to build a large database of semantic distances for use in selecting word pairs for psychological research. The database now contains nearly 50,000 pairs of words that have values for semantic distance, associative strength, and similarity based on co-occurrence. Semantic distance was found to correlate weakly with these other measures but to correlate more strongly with another measure of semantic relatedness, featural similarity. Hierarchical clustering analysis suggested that the knowledge structure underlying semantic distance is similar in gross form to that underlying featural similarity. In experiments in which semantic similarity ratings were used, human participants were able to discriminate semantic distance. Thus, semantic distance as derived from WordNet appears distinct from other measures of word pair relatedness and is psychologically functional. This database may be downloaded from www.psychonomic.org/archive/.

Maximum distance and minimum energy to initiate liquefaction in water saturated sands

This paper reviews several published equations specifying the cut-off distance for use in probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of liquefaction initiation, and proposes new criteria based on minimum level of input wave energy. Following a comparison of these equations and of their effects on the final result, the paper concludes that graphically formulated definitions of the maximum distance versus earthquake magnitude are too rough for seismic hazard analyses at sites with N̄ (corrected standard penetration test value in blows per foot) less than about 10. It is proposed that maximum distance defined in terms of the minimum input wave energy known to have liquefied a site should be used instead. This distance is defined via an energy factor, equal to the integral, with respect to time, of the ground velocity squared, estimated at the site, and evaluated over the duration of strong shaking. The proposed minimum value is en min=10 −2.8 m 2/s. This value may change as the data on well-documented cases of liquefaction grows.

Development of amplified fragment length polymorphism markers for Spartina alterniflora

Spartina alterniflora Loisel. plants have been transported across great distances for use in wetland restoration and creation projects. However, little information exists on the geographic genetic structure of S. alterniflora, such as the relatedness of populations within a region and the genetic similarity of imported populations to native populations. A high-resolution tool for assessing genetic similarity and diversity of S. alterniflora populations would be an important step toward understanding these relationships. We optimized a bead beater extraction and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) protocol for S. alterniflora and evaluated its usefulness in distinguishing plants from adjacent marshes in addition to marshes planted with imported stock. Two primer sets were used in AFLP analysis of four to five plants from each of seven populations. These primer sets generated 372 scoreable loci, of which 235 were polymorphic. High genetic diversity was observed in all populations studied, with nucleotide diversities ranging from 0.0363 to 0.0651. Results from analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) in this exploratory analysis indicated that intrapopulation genetic diversity was high (59.8% of total variation). The contribution of regional differences was weak. Geographical distances between planting stock origin and native marshes did not correlate with genetic diversity. This study demonstrated the procedure could be used to rapidly and reproducibly generate high-resolution genetic profiles of individual plants. The data produced with this method will be used to further our understanding of the structure of S. alterniflora communities and their function in salt marshes.

Ellipsoid representation of reference templates for efficient speaker verification

In this correspondence, we propose a compact ellipsoid representation of the reference templates associated with a speaker. The representation captures crucial information about not only the speaker's characteristics, but also the intraspeaker variations. We also derive a from-ellipsoid-surface (FES) distance for use with the ellipsoid representation.

The importance of using deviations of the vertical for the reduction of survey data to a geocentric datum

This paper reviews the deviation of vertical and its use in the reduction of terrestrial survey data such as directions, azimuths, zenith angles and slope distances. The deviations of the vertical over Australia will change by an average of 6.8 due to the implementation of the Geocentric Datum of Australia. Therefore, for most applications, the deviation of the vertical may no longer be neglected in survey computations and adjustments. With the release of the AUSGeoid98, absolute deviations of the vertical at the geoid and with respect to the GRS80 ellipsoid are now available for these purposes. The improvements made when using deviations of the vertical are demonstrated for several worked examples. The exception is that the deviation of the vertical should not be applied when computing height differences from zenith angles and slope distances for use on the Australian Height Datum (AHD).