Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Integrated WRF/Urban Modeling System: Development, Evaluation, and Applications to Urban Environmental Problems

Citation Details Chen, Fei; Kusaka, Hiroyuki; Bornstein, Robert; Ching, Jason; Grimmond, C.S. B. ; Grossman-Clarke, Susanne; Loridan, Thomas; Manning, Kevin W. ; Martilli, Alberto; Miao, Shiguang; Sailor, David J.; Salamanca, Francisco P.; Taha, Haider; Tewari, Mukul; Wang, Xuemei; Wyszogrodzki, Andrzej A. ; and Zhang, Chaolin, "The Integrated WRF/Urban Modeling System: Development, Evaluation, and Applications to Urban Environmental Problems" (2011). Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations. 45. https://pdxscholar.library. pdx.edu/mengin_fac/45
Application of multiobjective optimization to scheduling capacity expansion of urban water resource systems

Significant population increase in urban areas is likely to result in a deterioration of drought security and level of service provided by urban water resource systems. One way to cope with this is to optimally schedule the expansion of system resources. However, the high capital costs and environmental impacts associated with expanding or building major water infrastructure warrant the investigation of scheduling system operational options such as reservoir operating rules, demand reduction policies, and drought contingency plans, as a way of delaying or avoiding the expansion of water supply infrastructure. Traditionally, minimizing cost has been considered the primary objective in scheduling capacity expansion problems. In this paper, we consider some of the drawbacks of this approach. It is shown that there is no guarantee that the social burden of coping with drought emergencies is shared equitably across planning stages. In addition, it is shown that previous approaches do not adequately exploit the benefits of joint optimization of operational and infrastructure options and do not adequately address the need for the high level of drought security expected for urban systems. To address these shortcomings, a new multiobjective optimization approach to scheduling capacity expansion in an urban water resource system is presented and illustrated in a case study involving the bulk water supply system for Canberra. The results show that the multiobjective approach can address the temporal equity issue of sharing the burden of drought emergencies and that joint optimization of operational and infrastructure options can provide solutions superior to those just involving infrastructure options.
Early ontogeny and palaeoecology of the Mid−Miocene rissoid gastropods of the Central Paratethys

Twenty−six species of Rissoidae (Caenogastropoda: Littorinimorpha: Rissooidea) are described from the Badenian and Early Sarmatian of 14 localities in Austria and the Czech Republic (Molasse Basin, Styrian Basin, Vienna Basin) and from the Badenian of Costei (Romania). For the first time, the early ontogenetic skeletal characters of these gastropods are de− scribed. Based on these features an indirect larval development with a planktotrophic veliger could be reconstructed for all investigated Mid−Miocene species. The status of Mohrensterniinae as a subfamily of the Rissoidae is confirmed by the mor− phology of the low conical protoconch, consisting of a fine spirally sculptured embryonic shell and a larval shell which is smooth except for growth lines. Transitions from embryonic shells to larval shells and from larval shells to teleoconchs are slightly thickened and indistinct. Whilst representatives of the subfamily Rissoinae characterise the marine Badenian assem− blages, Mohrensterniinae predominate the Early Sarmatian faunas. We hypothesize that this take−over by the Mohren− sterniinae was triggered by changes in the water chemistry towards polyhaline conditions. Consequently, the shift towards hypersaline conditions in the Late Sarmatian is mirrored by the abrupt decline of the subfamily. Four new species Rissoa costeiensis (Rissoinae) from the Badenian and Mohrensternia hollabrunnensis, Mohrensternia pfaffstaettensis, and Mohrensternia waldhofensis (Mohrensterniinae) from the Early Sarmatian are introduced.
SCALING RELATIONS AND OVERABUNDANCE OF MASSIVE CLUSTERS AT z ≳ 1 FROM WEAK-LENSING STUDIES WITH THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

We present weak gravitational lensing analysis of 22 high-redshift (z ≳ 1) clusters based on Hubble Space Telescope images. Most clusters in our sample provide significant lensing signals and are well detected in their reconstructed two-dimensional mass maps. Combining the current results and our previous weak-lensing studies of five other high-z clusters, we compare gravitational lensing masses of these clusters with other observables. We revisit the question whether the presence of the most massive clusters in our sample is in tension with the current ΛCDM structure formation paradigm. We find that the lensing masses are tightly correlated with the gas temperatures and establish, for the first time, the lensing mass–temperature relation at z ≳ 1. For the power-law slope of the M–TX relation (M∝Tα), we obtain α = 1.54 ± 0.23. This is consistent with the theoretical self-similar prediction α = 3/2 and with the results previously reported in the literature for much lower redshift samples. However, our normalization is lower than the previous results by 20%–30%, indicating that the normalization in the M–TX relation might evolve. After correcting for Eddington bias and updating the discovery area with a more conservative choice, we find that the existence of the most massive clusters in our sample still provides a tension with the current ΛCDM model. The combined probability of finding the four most massive clusters in this sample after the marginalization over cosmological parameters is less than 1%.
Transpiration and stomatal conductance of two rain forest species growing in plantations (Simarouba amara and Goupia glabra) in French Guyana

Le fonctionnement hydrique de 2 especes de la foret tropicale humide a ete etudie en Guyane francaise dans des jeunes plantations. Ces etudes ont porte sur le Simarouba (Simarouba amara) en 1988 et 1989, puis sur le Goupi (Goupia glabra) en 1989. Le flux de seve brute a ete mesure en continu sur plusieurs arbres de chaque espece pendant une periode de plusieurs mois, incluant une saison seche. Lors des journees ensoleillees, on a pu mettre en evidence, au sein de chaque espece, une evolution des densites de flux (flux par unite de surface de bois d'aubier) similaire chez les differents arbres (.)
Biotic and abiotic binding and bonding mechanisms in soils with long-term differences in management

During the last decades Denmark has experienced a growing interest in low-input farming systems like organic farming. These systems rely on a high soil fertility to maintain nutrient availability and plant health. Soil aggregation contributes to this fertility, because it is crucial to soil porosity, aeration and infiltration of water. This paper reports a study of two pairs of differently managed, neighboring fields. The aim was to elucidate long-term effects of the different farming systems on physical and biological variables with influence on bonding and binding mechanisms of soil aggregation. Each pair consists of an organically grown dairy farm soil, based on a forage crop rotation system, including grass (Org-FCS(G)) and a conventionally managed soil. One of the conventional farms has a forage crop rotation with annual cash crops and no grass (Conv-FCS(NG)) and one has been grown continuously with small grain cereals and rape (Conv-CCS). Our results indicate that the Org-FCS(G) soils stimulate biotic soil aggregating agents as measured by extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and hyphal length measurements, respectively. Generally, the Conv-CCS soil, which relies exclusively on synthetic fertilisers and cereal production, offered poor conditions for the biotic binding and bonding agents. Nevertheless this soil contained a large amount of stable macro-aggregates. This is explained by the physical results, which indicated that the strong macro-aggregation was due to clay dispersion and cementation processes rather than to biotic processes.
Implementation of a Learning Management System for Medical Students: A Case Study of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Learning Management Systems (LMS) are powerful tools for the organization and presentation of curricular learning materials, for monitoring of student and faculty members performance, and for overall quality control. However, there is limited evidence regarding the acceptance and performance of LMS in Africa. This manuscript describes the implementation, the outcomes, and the challenges of the first five years of a LMS at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo). The LMS has been fully adopted into KCMUCo curriculum and deployed to 1356 students. It has been demonstrated to enhance learning with strength of consensus measure of 84% for basic sciences and 78% for clinical classes. 80% of faculty members have been satisfied with the use of LMS. Electronic assessment has become an obligatory platform for theory examinations. LMS adoption may improve education outcomes at other medical schools in Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa.
Some Evidence on Continuing Integration in the European Union from the Perspective of Trade and Factor Mobility Measures: a Cluster Analysis Approach

The paper aims at providing some evidence at current level of homogeneity and convergence among the EU states from the perspective of trade and factor mobility measures. In particular, the paper examines whether the EU countries make internally homogenous clusters and to what extent they differ. Also the convergence or divergence tendencies among pre-determined clusters of the EU core, periphery and new EU countries comprising of the CEE countries are analysed and assessed. Finally, the paper intends to shed some light on contribution of the periphery and CEE countries to rising or decreasing heterogeneity in the European Union from the perspective of selected trade and factor mobility measures comprised in the dimension of Single market and openness. The cluster analysis, particularly the agglomerative Ward method with squared Euklidean distance, is the main research method. The results show that the EU countries differ to a small extent and disparities among them have been diminishing from the perspective of trade and factor mobility over the integration period
Applied of CCME Water Quality Index for Protection of Aquatic Life in the Tigris River within Baghdad city

In the present study, Tigris River within Baghdad city was monitored for a variety of physical and chemical parameters to determine water quality during 2010. Water quality indices (WQIs) were calculated for protection of aquatic life, using the model of CCME WQI (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index). Twelve parameters were selected namely: Lead, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Turbidity, pH value, Dissolved Oxygen, Water Temperature, Phosphate, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite. The results revealed that station 3 which was located in south of Baghdad was more polluted than the other stations. The WQI ranking was between marginal in station 1, 2 to poor in station 3. The highest deviation occurred in lead, Iron and Turbidity, this parameter made a big contribution in decreasing the value of WQI.
The Effect of News Shocks and Monetary Policy

A VAR model estimated on U.S. data before and after 1980 documents systematic differences in the response of short- and long-term interest rates, corporate bond spreads and durable spending to news TFP shocks. Interest rates across the maturity spectrum broadly increase in the pre-1980s and broadly decline in the post-1980s. Corporate bond spreads decline significantly, and durable spending rises significantly in the post-1980 period while the opposite short-run response is observed in the pre-1980 period. Measuring expectations of future monetary policy rates conditional on a news shock suggests that the Federal Reserve has adopted a restrictive stance before the 1980s with the goal of retaining control over inflation while adopting a neutral/accommodative stance in the post-1980 period.
Enhancing Peacebuilding Skills among Secondary School Students: An Empirical Assessment of Emotional Intelligence

The study investigated the effect of emotional intelligence training in enhancing peacebuilding skills of secondary schools students in Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Nigeria. A pre- and post-test experimental-control group design was employed for the study. Gender which was used as a moderator variable was considered at 2 levels along with one (1) experimental and one (1) control groups. The study participants were one hundred and forty-four (144) Senior Secondary students randomly selected from 2 chosen public secondary schools in Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State. One standardized instrument was used in collecting data while analysis of covariance and t-test statistical methods were used to analyze the generated data. Emotional intelligence training programme was effective in fostering peacebuilding skills among secondary school students. The study further revealed that gender had no significant effect on students’ peacebuilding skills. Based on the findings, it was recommended that school psychologists are expected to incorporate the contents of emotional learning competencies into the training programmes in the schools. This will not only enhance positive outcomes but could also foster coping skills of students and other school members. Keywords: Emotional intelligence training, peacebuilding skills, secondary schools students, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Pointwise dimensions for Poincaré recurrences associated with maps and special flows

We introduce pointwise dimensions and spectra associated with Poincare recurrences. These quantities are then calculated for any ergodic measure of positive entropy on a weakly specified subshift. We show that they satisfy a relation comparable to Young's formula for the Hausdorff dimension of measures invariant under surface diffeomorphisms. A key-result in establishing these formula is to prove that the Poincare recurrence for a 'typical' cylinder is asymptotically its length. Examples are provided which show that this is not true for some systems with zero entropy. Similar results are obtained for special flows and we get a formula relating spectra for measures of the base to the ones of the flow.
The vertical structure of the boundary layer around compact objects

Context. Mass transfer due to Roche lobe overflow leads to the formation of an accretion disk around a weakly magnetized white dwarf (WD) in cataclysmic variables. At the inner edge of the disk, the gas comes upon the surface of the WD and has to get rid of its excess kinetic energy in order to settle down on the more slowly rotating outer stellar layers. This region is known as the boundary layer (BL). Aims. In this work we investigate the vertical structure of the BL, which is still poorly understood. We shall provide details of the basic structure of the two-dimensional (2D) BL and how it depends on parameters such as stellar mass and rotation rate, as well as the mass-accretion rate. We further investigate the destination of the disk material and compare our results with previous one-dimensional (1D) simulations. Methods. We solve the 2D equations of radiation hydrodynamics in a spherical geometry using a parallel grid-based code that employs a Riemann solver. The radiation energy is considered in the two-temperature approach with a radiative flux given by the flux-limited diffusion approximation. Results. The BL around a non-rotating WD is characterized by a steep drop in angular velocity over a width of only 1% of the stellar radius, a heavy depletion of mass, and a high temperature (500 000 K) as a consequence of the strong shear. Variations in Om_star, M_star, and M_dot influence the extent of the changes of the variables in the BL but not the general structure. Depending on Om_star, the disk material travels up to the poles or is halted at a certain latitude. The extent of mixing with the stellar material also depends on Om_star. We find that the 1D approximation matches the 2D data well, apart from an underestimated temperature.
Dating a tropical ice core by time–frequency analysis of ion concentration depth profiles

Ice core dating is a key parameter for the inter-pretation of the ice archives. However, the relationship be-tween ice depth and ice age generally cannot be easily es-tablished and requires the combination of numerous investi-gations and/or modelling efforts. This paper presents a new approach to ice core dating based on time–frequency anal-ysis of chemical profiles at a site where seasonal patterns may be significantly distorted by sporadic events of regional importance, specifically at the summit area of Nevado Illi-mani (6350 m a.s.l.), located in the eastern Bolivian Andes (16 37 0 S, 67 46 0 W). We used ion concentration depth pro-files collected along a 100 m deep ice core. The results of Fourier time–frequency and wavelet transforms were first compared. Both methods were applied to a nitrate concentra-tion depth profile. The resulting chronologies were checked by comparison with the multi-proxy year-by-year dating published by de Angelis et al. (2003) and with volcanic tie points. With this first experiment, we demonstrated the effi-ciency of Fourier time–frequency analysis when tracking the nitrate natural variability. In addition, we were able to show spectrum aliasing due to under-sampling below 70 m. In this article, we propose a method of de-aliasing which signifi-cantly improves the core dating in comparison with annual layer manual counting. Fourier time–frequency analysis was applied to concentration depth profiles of seven other ions, providing information on the suitability of each of them for the dating of tropical Andean ice cores.
Assemblages of saprophagous muscids (Diptera: Muscidae) in three urban sites of temperate Argentina

Muscidae occupy a great diversity of habitats and trophic niches. In temperate environments, the knowledge of ecological aspects of saprophagous muscids is fragmentary. The aim of this work was to characterize the assemblages of saprophagous muscids regarding their richness and abundance, bait preference, heliophily, and seasonality of species in three sites with different urbanization levels sampled during two years in an area of temperate Argentina. A total of 3,321 specimens belonging to 20 species were collected. The baits and microhabitat preferences, and seasonal fluctuation of species were described. An increase in diversity in terms of evenness and richness in less urbanized sites was observed. Results support the hypotheses about sites with an intermediate urbanization, which contain major landscape heterogeneity, show a higher number of species. The assemblage response regarding the environment types reflects the adaptability to the physical changes along the three sites with different degree of urbanization.
The Effects of Trade Expansion: Poverty and Inequality in Post-NAFTA Mexico

This paper illustrates how microeconometric techniques can be used to uncover the micro dynamics behind macro shocks. Our model’s results are used to generate a scenario where the Mexican economy experienced the negative shock of the peso crisis in the absence of trade liberalization in the form of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The findings are that under such a scenario, the poverty headcount ratio would have increased more than 2 percentage points above the observed level of 1996. The relative increase in labor remuneration and participation in the expanding tradable sector helped cushion the negative income effects of the peso crisis.
Impacts of dust on West African climate during 2005 and 2006

Abstract. The aim of this study is to understand the impacts of Saharan dust outbreaks on West African climate using a 3-dimensional, hydrostatic, sigma vertical coordinate regional climate model (RegCM). We performed a simulation with the non aerosol version of the model (control case) followed by another simulation using the desert dust module (dust case) implemented in RegCM which includes emission, transport, gravitational settling, wet and dry removal and calculation of dust optical properties for 2005 and 2006. Dynamic and thermodynamic parameters obtained from both versions of the model are intercompared and validated with NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) program data and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) rainfall products. The spatial and temporal distribution of the Aerosol optical depth derived from the desert dust run is compared to available observed aerosol data such as the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) program and satellites data. Using radiosounding data and RegCM outputs, a case study of a strong dust outbreak showed the presence of a stable environment at Dakar, Sal and Nouadhibou stations.
Effect of different levels of social isolation on the acoustical characteristics of sheep vocalization.

Engeldal SEC, Subandriyo, Handiwirawan E, Noor RR. 2012. Effect of different levels of social isolation on the acoustical characteristics of sheep vocalization. JITV 18(3): 208/219. DOI: 10.14334/jitv.v18i3. 323. In farm animals, vocal analysis is accepted as a non/invasive method for assessing animal welfare in comparison to most physiological measurements. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different degrees of social isolation on the acoustic characteristics of stress/induced bleats from three different breeds of sheep. The experiment consisted of subjecting the animals to three different levels of social isolation during which both locomotive and vocal data were recorded. The data on locomotive behaviour was subjected to descriptive analysis while specialized acoustic software was used to measure a total of thirty/six parameters of recorded bleats. Descriptive analysis showed that the animals displayed more locomotive activity during partial isolation compared to complete isolation. Number of bleats during partial isolation was also found to be higher. The application of two/way analysis of variance showed a significant effect of isolation level and breed on both temporal and structural acoustic properties. Amplitude, power and time acoustic properties were found to affect acoustic quality of vocal responses to isolation, whereas frequency related properties were also found to be different significantly (P < 0.05) between breeds. From spectrogram analysis, the patterns of energy distribution within the calls proved to offer the most evident that differ between isolation levels and breeds. It was concluded that acoustic analysis can be helpful in revealing the affective state of socially isolated rams.