Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wind speed and shear associated with low-level jets over Northern Germany

Nearly two years of SODAR measurements in Hannover, Northern Germany have been analysed for the frequency of occurrence of low-level jets and their properties. Characteristic properties such as the height of the jet core above ground, maximum wind speed, and wind shear underneath the jet core have been derived from the data set. The occurrence of these jets, which appear in a bit more than 20 % of all nights, is correlated with the occurrence of typical large-scale weather patterns (“Großwetterlagen”). Maximum wind speed and height of the jet are positively correlated to each other and both increase with increasing geostrophic forcing. The evaluations further show that low-level jet wind speeds tend to develop until the bulk shear underneath the jet core reaches a critical threshold of about 0.08 s−1. Further increase in speed of the jet is then assumed to be linked to a growing height of the jet core above ground keeping the shear at its critical value.
A note on cabling and $L$–space surgeries

We prove that the (p,q)-cable of a knot K in S^3 admits a positive L-space surgery if and only if K admits a positive L-space surgery and q/p \geq 2g(K)-1, where g(K) is the Seifert genus of K. The "if" direction is due to Hedden.
On inclusion of water resource management in Earth system models - Part 2: Representation of water supply and allocation and opportunities for improved modeling

Human water use has significantly increased during the recent past. Water withdrawals from surface and groundwater sources have altered terrestrial discharge and storage, with large variability in time and space. These withdrawals are driven by sectoral demands for water, but are commonly subject to supply constraints, which determine water allocation. Water supply and allocation, therefore, should be considered together with water demand and appropriately included in Earth system models to address various large-scale effects with or without considering possible climate interactions. In a companion paper, we review the modeling of demand in large-scale models. Here, we review the algorithms developed to represent the elements of water supply and allocation in land surface and global hydrologic models. We note that some potentially important online implications, such as the effects of large reservoirs on land–atmospheric feedbacks, have not yet been fully investigated. Regarding offline implications, we find that there are important elements, such as groundwater availability and withdrawals, and the representation of large reservoirs, which should be improved. We identify major sources of uncertainty in current simulations due to limitations in data support, water allocation algorithms, host large-scale models as well as propagation of various biases across the integrated modeling system. Considering these findings with those highlighted in our companion paper, we note that advancements in computation and coupling techniques as well as improvements in natural and anthropogenic process representation and parameterization in host large-scale models, in conjunction with remote sensing and data assimilation can facilitate inclusion of water resource management at larger scales. Nonetheless, various modeling options should be carefully considered, diagnosed and intercompared. We propose a modular framework to develop integrated models based on multiple hypotheses for data support, water resource management algorithms and host models in a unified uncertainty assessment framework. A key to this development is the availability of regional-scale data for model development, diagnosis and validation. We argue that the time is right for a global initiative, based on regional case studies, to move this agenda forward.
Rainwater dispersal of Botryosphaeria conidia from infected grapevines.

Dispersal of spores was investigated for the Botryosphaeria species that are responsible for dieback in grapevines. Trapping for spores was carried out in a Canterbury vineyard during May 2008–April 2009 to investigate spore availability during the year. No spores characteristic of the Botryosphaeriaceae were collected on Vaseline ® -coated slides, which were considered suitable for wind dispersed spores, although spores of other fungi were collected. However, traps that collected rainwater runoff yielded conidia of the Botryosphaeriaceae. In haemocytometer counts of spores they were initially identified by morphology, and subsequently confirmed by PCR of rDNA followed by DNA sequencing. During the trapping period, 59.8% of the total Botryosphaeriaceae caught were Neofusicoccum spp. and 40.2% were Diplodia spp. These were present throughout the entire year, with most abundant conidia being detected during December, January and February, when summer temperatures were high and when routine trimming of mature canes provided the wounds needed for infection.
Dense Receptive Field for Object Detection

Current one-stage single-shot detectors such as DSSD and StairNet based on aggregating context information from multiple scales have shown promising accuracy. However, existing multi-scale context fusion techniques are insufficient for detecting objects of different scales. In this paper, we investigate how to detect different objects with different scales with respect to accuracy-vs-speed trade-off. We propose a novel single-shot based detector, called DRFNet which fuses feature maps with different sizes of the receptive field to boost the detection accuracy. Our final model DRFNet detector unifies comprehensive context information from various receptive fields effectively to enable it to detect objects in different sizes with higher accuracy. Experimental results on PASCAL VOC 2007 benchmark (79.6% mAP, 68 FPS) demonstrate that DRFNet is better than other state-of-the-art one-stage detectors similar to FPN. Code is released at https://github.com/yqyao/DRFNet.
Development and Psychometric Properties of an Assessment for Persons With Intellectual Disability—The interRAI ID

This paper describes the development of the interRAI-Intellectual Disability (interRAI ID), a comprehensive instrument that assesses all key domains of interest to service providers relative to a person with an intellectual disability (ID). The authors report on the reliability and validity of embedded scales for cognition, self-care, aggression, and depression. Four provider agencies volunteered to participate and assessed a total of 160 community-dwelling adults with ID using the interRAI ID, Dementia Questionnaire for Persons with Mental Retardation, and Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior. All scales had acceptable levels of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.74-0.93) and good relationships with the criterion measures ( r = 0.50-0.93, p < 0.0001). The development of the interRAI ID represents an important and successful first step toward an integrated, comprehensive, and standardized assessment of adults with ID. Use of this instrument may lead to more appropriate support planning, enhanced communication between various professionals supporting persons with ID, and a more seamless approach to supports across the health and social service systems.
Comparing Guidelines Concerning Construction of the S-N Curve within Limited Fatigue Life Range

Abstract The article collates guidelines concerning experimental construction of the S-N fatigue curves within a limited fatigue life range. An attempt is made to compare these guidelines, based on experimental data recorded during rotating bending of a notched specimen made of 42CrMo4. The recorded differences in fatigue life values between the constructed curves reach the maximum of 12.2%. According to the above guidelines, the number of tests in particular test series varies from 6 to 28. Based on the performed analysis a conclusion was made that the increase in the number of tests leads to the increase of accuracy but, on the other hand, remarkably increases the time of the experiment and, consequently, its cost. In this context, it is the research worker who, taking into account a possible future use of the fatigue curve, should individually decide about its accuracy.
Psychometric analysis in knowledge-evaluation questionnaires, identification and implication

The experience achieved using the tool “Questionnaires”, available inside the Virtual Campus of architectural engineering school in northeast Spain, is presented. “Questionnaires” is an adequate and simple instrument to evaluate the knowledge level achieved by students. This work shows and identifies the control indices of adaptation for the questionnaires, like the Facility Index, the Standard Deviation, the Discrimination Index and the Discrimination Coefficient. Derived from these parameters, the educational performances are inferred, identified and predicted. The conclusions of this work, permit to modify deficient knowledge-evaluation practices, to identify needs for specific groups or for students with particular requirements; being, in this way, feasible to apply these parameters with guarantee of success in similar evaluation processes.
The impact of land management practices on soil quality and implications on smallholder productivity in Southern Highland of Tanzania

The impacts of land management on selected soil fertility properties and productivity of food crop were investigated in Rungwe volcanic area of southern Tanzania. The study involved fertility assessment of soil under: 1) forest reserve; 2) abandoned grassland covered with scattered trees; 3) 3 years fallow; and 4) land under continuous cropping. Land under forest was included as a bench mark soil with less influence from human activities. Soil parameters assessed per land use category were soil depths (cm), soil exchangeable bases and exchange properties (cmolckg -1 soil). Communities’ perceptions on soil fertility changes and productivity were also assessed through focus group discussions (FGD), whereby 25 village community members representing different age groups and gender were involved. Findings indicated that soil fertility varied according to land management, whereby a soil under forest reserve had deep A horizon and was rich in total exchangeable bases (11.80 cmolc/kg soil) and with high in exchange property while that under continuous cultivation had low fertility with a total exchangeable bases of 3.28 cmolc/kg soil. This depletion in soil fertility was described to lead into food insecurity due declining crop productivity over years. The main social economic activity in study area was identified to be agriculture, whereby both crops and livestock played a significant role. The three main wealth groups namely the: 1) rich; 2) middle; and 3) poor people reflects a very strong linkages among them in terms of livelihoods and resource management. To sustain productivity of volcanic soils, sustainable land management strategies need to be strengthened through research and training following an innovation approach involving key stakeholders.
Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Apple Rootstocks in Calcareous Soil

The effects of three Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) species (Glomus versiforme, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Rhizophagus intraradices) were studied on the growth parameters and nutrient uptake of three apple rootstocks (M.9, M.7 and MM.106). The soil medium contained a high level of calcium carbonate (38.65%). The results showed that AMF inoculation could increase almost all growth parameters. Plants inoculated with G. versiforme had the highest shoot height, stem diameter, leaf size, and biomass compared to other AMF species. Rootstocks also varied substantially in their growth. MM.106 exhibited the highest growth in general, whereas the M.9 had the lowest. Plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi contained more N, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe compared to those of Non Mycorhizal (NM) control plants. However, AMF inoculation did not influence concentrations of K, Cu, and Mn in the leaf. Rootstocks exhibited various nutrient concentrations in their leaves and the highest concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, and Zn were measured in MM.106. The highest leaf concentration of N, Fe, Mn, and Cu occurred in M.9, while the M.7 accumulated the highest amount of P in its leaves. Here we demonstrate the beneficial effects of symbiosis between apple rootstocks and AMF species in calcareous soil with a very high level of lime concentration.
CROWDTURFING ON INSTAGRAM – THE INFLUENCE OF PROFILE CHARACTERISTICS ON THE ENGAGEMENT OF OTHERS

Crowdsourcing is the structured cooperation of a large number of individuals to accomplish a specific goal. Benefits of crowdsourcing are manifold but there is also risk to misuse corresponding services for illegal or unethical behaviour. Crowdturfing is a special form of crowdsourcing and encompasses actions aimed at manipulating information on social media websites. Being a relatively new concept, crowdturfing has not yet received much attention in the literature. The paper investigates the effect of crowdsourcing activity on the social media platform Instagram. Using an experimental design, we set up three different Instagram profiles with varying degrees of popularity. We govern the popularity of a profile by means of crowdturfing. The paper studies how the number of followers, likes and comments influences the engagement of third-party individuals. Our results show that profiles with greater popularity do have it easier to gain more attention from others in the form of more followings. Furthermore, we are able to show that Instagram is not robust towards crowdturfing activities as the popularity of content can be pushed through such non-organic activities.
Impact of Financial Liberalisation and Deregulation on Banking Sector in Pakistan

The study analyses market perception about the performance of Pakistani commercial banks due to financial liberalisation and deregulation measures taken by the central bank over the last two decades. For this purpose, it uses Survey approach. To augment the results of Survey Based Approach, it employs Distribution Free Approach to measure relative cost inefficiencies of commercial banks. Out of 35 commercial banks, 15 banks have been chosen for analysis purpose. Key banking reforms remain helpful in correcting flaws in the banking sector of Pakistan. In particular, privatisation of banks, the deregulation and institutional strengthening measures and switching towards market-based monetary and credit management remain helpful in correcting the prevailing flaws. The cost inefficiency scores of banks also indicate that the efficiency of Pakistani banks have improved during 1990 to 2006. As regards group-wise efficiency estimates, foreign banks are found to be more efficient, followed by private banks, nationalised commercial banks, and privatised banks. The relative high cost inefficiency of privatised banks is most probably due to having remained under state owned structure during most of the period of the study. The financial liberalisation and the resultant competitive environment might be the key factors behind improvements in efficacy of banks.
Assessment of Interferential Currents Therapy Efficacy in Management of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis in 5-15 Years Old Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Nocturnal enuresis affects about 15 percent of 5 years old children and because of its social (psychological) problems, it must be treated. Different treatment modalities such as imipramine, desmopressin, bed alarm have been used but applying of new and effective modalities can be an appropriate view. The aim of this study was to compare efficacy of interferential currents (IFC) with nasal spray of desmopressin in treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis of 5-15 years-old children. Methods: This study was a randomized, clinical trial in which 39 patients with primary nocturnal enuresis received desmopressin (20 μg/day ) for 3weeks and if was responsive, leave off gradually in six months and 36 patients were selected randomly by simple randomization for IFC therapy (5 times /week, 20 minutes / session, up to 15 sessions). Efficacy of treatment was evaluated after accomplishment of therapeutic sessions and recurrence rate was evaluated one month later. Results: In IFC group, complete response was observed in 25%, partial response in 36.1% and 38.9% had no response. In desmopressin group, response was observed in 87.2%, and 12.8% had no response (Risk ratio =2.4, 95% confidence interval (1.32-4.32)). The recurrence rate in IFC and desmopressin were 61% and 87.2%, respectively. Therapeutic side effects were not observed in any of patients (Risk Ratio=0.7, 95%CI (0.53-0.94)). Conclusion: Desmopressin and IFC are effective and safe modalities for treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis of children. Although desmopressin has more efficacy but IFC has less recurrence rate
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STOCK RETURNS AND EACH OF INFLATION, INTEREST RATES, SHARE LIQUIDITY AND REMITTANCES OF WORKERS IN THE AMMAN STOCK EXCHANGE

The study aims at clarifying the impact of key economic indicators inflation, interest rates, share liquidity and workers' remittances on stock returns in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE), during the period (1980 - 2014). And to test hypotheses of the study, the self-Modeling non-liner regression (Vector Autoregressive) model has been used to test each of the: variance Decomposition analysis, co-integration test and Granger causality to analyze the causal relationship between these variables. The study showed that there is a positively affected, at a medium average, with the average of the inflation rates. And, the workers' remittances affect, on the long-term, on the stock returns in ASE through its impact on the overall demand and increasing the economic growth and thereby raise the stock returns. There is a limited effect of the turnover ratio of the share on the stock returns in the ASE. Also, there is a negative impact of interest rates on stock returns in ASE, any sudden change in the interest rate will negatively and directly affect the stock returns. There is an indirect, positive impact of workers' remittances on stock returns in ASE, and any change in them will positively impact the stock returns, but on the long term.
Measuring the impact of unconventional monetarypolicy on the US business cycle

The paper estimates a dynamic macroeconometric model for the US economy that captures two important features commonly observed in the study of the US business cycle, namely the strong co-movement of key macroeconomic quantities, and the distinction between expansionary and recessionary phases. The model extends the factor-augmented vector autoregressive model of Bernanke et al. (2005) by combining Markov switching with factor augmentation, modeling the Markov switching probabilities endogenously, and adopting a full Bayesian estimation approach which uses shrinkage priors for several parts of the parameter space. Exploiting a large data set for the US economy ranging from 1971:Q1 to 2014:Q2, the model is applied to measure not only the dynamic effects of unconventional monetary policy within distinct stages of the business cycle, but also the dynamic response of the recession probabilities, based on conducting counterfactual simulations. The results obtained provide new insights on the effect of monetary policy under changing business cycle phases, and highlight the importance of discriminating between expansionary and recessionary phases of the business cycle when analyzing the impact of monetary policy on the macroeconomy. (authors' abstract)
The Hamburg/SAO survey for emission–line galaxies - II. The second list of 128 galaxies

We present the second part of the Hamburg/SAO Survey for Emission-Line Galaxies (HSS therein, SAO – Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia) which is based on the digitized objective-prism photoplates database of the Hamburg Quasar Survey (HQS). The main goal of the project is the search for emission-line galaxies (ELG) in order to create a new deep sample of blue compact/Hii galaxies (BCG) in a large sky area. Another important goal of this work is to search for new extremely low-metallicity galaxies. In this paper we present new results of spectroscopy obtained with the 6 m Russian telescope. The main ELG candidate selection criteria applied are blue or flat enough continuum (near λ 4000 A) and the presence of strong or moderate [Oiii] 4959, 5007 A emission lines recognized on digitized prism spectra of galaxies with the survey estimated B -magnitudes in the range . No other criteria were applied. The spectroscopy resulted in detection and quantitative spectral classification of 134 emission-line objects. For 121 of them the redshifts are determined for the first time. For 13 ELGs known before emission line ratios are presented at first time. 108 of 134 emission-line objects are classified as BCG/Hii galaxies and probable BCGs, 6 – as QSOs, 1 – as Seyfert galaxy, 1 – as super-association in a dwarf spiral galaxy, 2 – as probable LINERs, 14 are low excitation objects – either of starburst nuclei (SBN), or dwarf amorphous nuclei starburst galaxy (DANS) type, and 2 – nonclassified. 23 galaxies did not show significant emission lines. The five most metal-deficient BCGs discovered have oxygen abundances log(O/H)+12 in the range 7.4 to 7.7, similar to the most metal-deficient BCGs known before.
Rate and pattern of vigor recovery in Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass.

Highlight: The rate and pattern of vigor recovery of protected individual Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) were studied for 5 years after heavy and extreme clipping. Bluebunch wheatgrass was not only more sensitive to clipping, but recovered vigor more slowly than Idaho fescue. Idaho fescue of moderately low vigor required approximately 3 years and bluebunch wheatgrass a projected 6 years to approach normal vigor. Recovery from very low vigor may take more than 6 years of protection for Idaho fescue and 8 years for bluebunch wheatgrass. Maximum leaf length can be used as a reliable index of Idaho fescue vigor. Flower stalk numbers combined with maximum lengths indicate vigor in bluebunch wheatgrass. Livestock grazing generally harms to some extent growth and reproduction of utilized plants. Reviews by Ellison (1960) Jameson (1963), and other workers, too numerous to be mentioned here, clearly show that the amount of damage depends primarily upon intensity, frequency, and time of utilization and upon response of individual species to foliage removal. Range scientists and managers are faced with the complex problem of devising grazing-systems that (1) permit maximum returns from the forage resource, (2) perpetuate the forage potential, and (3) remain compatible with other resource values (e.g., water, wildlife, and recreation) inherent in a given unit of rangeland. This is truly a perplexing challenge, particularly when we consider the varied palatability and response of plant species to grazing, the competitive interactions between plants, and the mosaic of plant community composition on our native ranges.
Chance to Experience Non-Traditional Work Involvement

When it comes to performance of duties, professional activity in flexible forms of employment, regardless of attachment to an organisation, perceived welfare of an employee, job satisfaction and efficiency of one's own professional activities work engagement plays a vital role. This means that regardless the organization, variability in employment, jobs and posts, an individual employed in flexible forms of employment may experience, precisely as permanent staff and employees employed in traditional forms of employments, all the components of job involvement such as vigour, absorption and dedication. To test this hypothesis the author carried out a survey on a group employees employed in nine flexible forms of employment. This paper presents the most important conclusions of the survey and a theoretical review of the analysed variable. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015. v4n1s2p101