Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient multi-objective calibration and uncertainty analysis of distributed snow simulations in rugged alpine terrain

Abstract. In steep and complex mountainous terrain, robust simulations of snow accumulation and ablation are crucial to a wide range of applications, especially those related to hydrology and ecology. Whilst new opportunities exist to integrate high-resolution spatio-temporal observations in the estimation of uncertain parameters in (a.k.a. “calibration” of) sophisticated, process-rich snow models, they have not yet been fully exploited. Here, with a view towards improving representations of snow and ultimately meltwater dynamics in rugged topography, a novel approach to the calibration of a high-resolution energy balance-based snow model that additionally accounts for gravitational snow redistribution is presented. Several important but uncertain parameters are estimated using an efficient, gradient-based method with respect to two complementary types of snow observations – snow extent maps derived from Landsat 8 images, and snow water equivalent (SWE) time-series reconstructed at two contrasting locations. When assessed on a per-pixel basis over 17 days that together encompass practically the full range of possible snow cover conditions, snow patterns were reproduced with a mean accuracy of 85 %. The spatial performance metrics obtained compare favourably with those previously reported, whilst the temporal evolution of SWE at the stations was also satisfactorily simulated. Uncertainty and data worth analyses revealed that: i) the propensity for model predictions to be erroneous was substantially reduced by the calibration process, ii) pre-calibration uncertainty was largely associated with two parameters that were introduced to modify the longwave component of the energy balance, but this uncertainty was greatly diminished by calibration, and iii) the lower elevation SWE time-series was particularly valuable despite the comparatively small number of observations at this site. Alongside a gridded snowmelt dataset, commensurate estimates of firn melt, ice melt, liquid precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration were also produced. Our study demonstrates the growing potential of combining observation technologies and state-of-the-art inverse approaches to both constrain and quantify the uncertainty associated with simulations of alpine snow dynamics.
Controlled traffic farming delivers better crop yield of winter bean as a result of improved root development

This paper reports on the continuation of a long–term experiment on the effects of alternative field traffic systems (STP–random traffic with standard tyre inflation pressure, LTP–random traffic with low tyre inflation pressure and CTF–controlled traffic farming) on soil conditions and crop development as influenced by different tillage depths (DEEP–250 mm, SHALLOW–100 mm and ZERO–tillage), in a randomised 3 x 3 factorial design in 4 replicates launched by Harper Adams University in Edgmond, UK, in 2011. The results from season 2017–2018 revealed that CTF delivered 8% higher crop yield of winter field bean (Vicia faba) cv. Tundracomparing to STP (p = 0.005), i.e. 4.13 vs 3.82 tonnes ha-1respectively (at 14% moisture content). The ZERO–tillage plots featured significantly lower plant establishment percentage comparing to shallow and deep tillage: 79% vs 83% and 83% respectively (p = 0.012). The research showed that roots traits differed significantly between contrasting traffic at depths greater than 50mm with p < 0.05of: tap root biomass, number of lateral roots, biomass of lateral roots as well as total root biomass (tap+lateral roots),delivering significantly greater values of those before mentioned parameters on CTF comparing to STP. Tap root length significantly differed between traffic systems (p < 0.001)giving significantly greater results on CTF comparing to LTP and STP (17.7, 13.4 and 12.6 mm respectively). Significant differences in tap root diameter were found only at the depth of 100 mm (p < 0.001) where again CTF delivered significantly higher root diameter than the remaining 2 traffic systems.In the shallow layer of soil (0–50 mm) a significant difference was found only for tap root biomass, for interactions, where STP ZERO gave significantly higher results than STP SHALLOW and CTF SHALLOW (1.430, 0.733 and 0.716 g respectively).
Thickness of Lunar Mare Basalts: New Results Based on Modeling the Degradation of Partially Buried Craters

Partially buried craters on the Moon are those craters whose distal ejecta are covered by lava flows and where the crater rim crest still protrudes above the mare plain. Based on the difference in rim heights between a partially buried crater and an unburied crater, previous studies estimated the thicknesses of the lunar mare basalts. However, these studies did not consider the erosion of the crater rim height, which can result in an overestimate in the derived thickness. By using recent high‐resolution topographic data, we report a basalt thickness estimation method based on numerically modeling the topographic degradation of partially buried craters. We identified 661 buried craters over the lunar surface, and their spatial distribution suggests a preferential occurrence along the mare‐highland boundaries. An elevation model of fresh lunar craters was derived, and the topographic diffusion equation was used to model crater degradation. By modeling the formation, degradation, and flooding of partially buried craters, basalt thicknesses were estimated for 41 mare craters whose rims are completely exposed. The resulting mare basalt thicknesses vary from 33 to 455 m, with a median value of 105 m that is 95 m smaller than that derived when not considering crater degradation. The estimated eruption rate of lunar mare basalts is found to have peaked at 3.4 Ga and then decreased with time, indicating a progressive cooling of the lunar interior. As a by‐product from the crater degradation model, our results suggest that the topographic diffusivity of lunar craters increases with diameter.
Effect of Microcredit on Poverty Reduction among Rural Farm Households in Northeast, Nigeria

The paucity of empirical evidence to show the correlation between microcredit and poverty reduction in North-East, Nigeria led to the study on the effect of microcredit on poverty reduction among rural farm households. Multi-stage random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select 200 farm households who constituted the sample size. Data were collected primarily using structured questionnaire and analysed with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed informal microcredit as the major source of credit for farm households. The result further indicated that 46% of the loan applied for was disbursed, resulting to 47% rise in farm household’s income. Meanwhile, 62% of farm households surveyed were poor with poverty depth of 0.43 and poverty severity at 0.38. The regression analysis on the effect of microcredit on the income of the farm households revealed that the coefficient of income was positive and statistically significant at 1% probability. The effect of microcredit on the poverty profile of farm households revealed that microcredit exerts negative influence on poverty profile of farm households in the study area. The study recommends: the establishment of robust rural credit scheme in rural areas; and institution of policy framework that will enable poor rural households without appropriate collateral to access funds for farm and non-farm activities.
Modeling present and future aboveground biomass of evergreen broadleaf forests in Vietnam.

Forest reforestation and degradation have both occured over the past five decades in Vietnam. To cope with this problem, the Vietnamese government has established plans and set up strategies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. It also launched national support for the conservation and sustainable management of forests, as well as enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) programs. A limited number of studies have attempted to establish a database of aboveground biomass of evergreen broadleaf forests in Vietnam, as well as growth models such as height versus diameter at breast height (H-D) models, basal area (G) increment models, and above ground biomass (AGB) increment models. In addition, the information describing the relationships between environmental indicators and tree species distributions was also insufficient, leading to potential failure of reforestation and rehabilitation projects. This study examined the correlation between environmental indicators and tree species distributions. It also sought to develop H-D models based on the outcomes of grouping tree species into different groups, and model the relationship between G and AGB increments with other environment factors and stand characteristics. The study utilized data collected from Forest Inventory and Planning Insititution (FIPI) and valiation data from Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences (VAFS). It then employed ordination analysis to analyse the correlation between tree species groups and environmental factors. In addition, previous H-D functions applied in past research on tropical forests were used to develop H-D models for this particular study. Validation procedures were used to compare selected H-D models with other H-D
Landscapes of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Britain — their ancient origins

ABSTRACT Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa has been regarded as a Roman archaeophyte in Britain ever since a debate in the eighteenth century contested whether it was indigenous or introduced. This paper re-examines its status, presenting new evidence within an ‘historical ecology’ analytical framework. Sweet chestnut trees and coppice stools from 237 sites across England and Wales were assessed using genetic, dendrochronological, palaeoenvironmental, archaeological, and historical analyses. Seven types of ‘sweet chestnut landscape’ were identified: ancient inclosures/ groves; ancient coppice woods; historic boundaries; historic gardens; ancient deer parks and historic parklands; historic formal avenues; and more recent high forest and production coppice. Genetic analysis has indicated that the sources of the oldest British sweet chestnut trees and stools lie in parts of France, Spain, Portugal and Italy which were refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Tree and stool antiquity are verified for the first time through clonal analysis and dendrochronology. The earliest written record of sweet chestnut growing in Britain found in this study was a.d. 1113, referencing a boundary marker tree for Goldcliff Priory in south-east Wales. Later twelfth-century records evinced localised coppiced woods, nut production and ‘totemic’ plantings of individual trees in noble house and garden settings. By the eighteenth century sweet chestnut was extensively planted in designed parklands and avenues; and in woods, mostly as ‘industrial’ coppice. Present-day ‘landscapes of sweet chestnut’ are endowed with ancient trees, stubs and coppice stools of great significance for cultural and ecological interests.
The iron record of asteroidal processes in carbonaceous chondrites

The valence of iron has been used in terrestrial studies to trace the hydrolysis of primary silicate rocks. Here, we use a similar approach to characterize the secondary processes, namely thermal metamorphism and aqueous alteration, that have affected carbonaceous chondrites. X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy at the Fe‐K‐edge was performed on a series of 36 CM, 9 CR, 10 CV, and 2 CI chondrites. While previous studies have focused on the relative distribution of Fe0 with respect to oxidized iron (Feox = Fe2+ + Fe3+) or the iron distribution in some specific phases (e.g., Urey–Craig diagram; Urey and Craig 1953), our measurements enable us to assess the fractions of iron in each of its three oxidation states: Fe0, Fe2+, and Fe3+. Among the four carbonaceous chondrites groups studied, a correlation between the iron oxidation index (IOI = [2(Fe2+) + 3(Fe3+)]/[FeTOT]) and the hydrogen content is observed. However, within the CM group, for which a progressive alteration sequence has been defined, a conversion of Fe3+ to Fe2+ is observed with increasing degree of aqueous alteration. This reduction of iron can be explained by an evolution in the mineralogy of the secondary phases. In the case of the few CM chondrites that experienced some thermal metamorphism, in addition to aqueous alteration, a redox memory of the aqueous alteration is present: a significant fraction of Fe3+ is present, together with Fe2+ and sometimes Fe0. From our data set, the CR chondrites show a wider range of IOI from 1.5 to 2.5. In all considered CR chondrites, the three oxidation states of iron coexist. Even in the least‐altered CR chondrites, the fraction of Fe3+ can be high (30% for MET 00426). This observation confirms that oxidized iron has been integrated during formation of fine‐grained amorphous material in the matrix (Le Guillou and Brearley 2014; Le Guillou et al. 2015; Hopp and Vollmer 2018). Last, the IOI of CV chondrites does not reflect the reduced/oxidized classification based on metal and magnetite proportions, but is strongly correlated with petrographic types. The valence of iron in CV chondrites therefore appears to be most closely related to thermal history, rather than aqueous alteration, even if these processes can occur together (Krot et al. 2004; Brearley and Krot 2013).
A Comparative Study on Medical Care for Children in Schools for the Handicapped in Japan and in the United States

We conducted a survey to document the number of students who needed medical care at schools for the handicapped in Osaka, Japan and in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The ratio of students who needed medical care was similar in both cities (10‐15%). In Dayton, all schools had school nurses who administered medical care to those who needed it. In contrast, in Osaka, medical care was administered by people at various levels of medical training and knowledge.
Occupational Violence Risk for Precariously Employed Adolescents: Multiple Vulnerabilities to Multiple Risk Factors

Abstract Over the past decade there has been an escalating debate about the extent to which labour process factors increase vulnerability to occupational safety and health hazards and risks. Included in this debate are the following issues: the extent to which precariously employed workers have restricted access to preventive information; the mechanisms by which contractors/subcontractors are economically encouraged to work excessively long shifts; and the restrictions that are placed formally or informally on access to preventive training. At the same time there has been a quite separate debate within agencies of the United Nations about the negative health and safety consequences associated with the employment of children and adolescents. Further, in an entirely different arena, debate has focused on identification of the risks of occupational violence. To date, these debates about hazard and risk exposures have been evaluated in distinct scientific studies with separate analyses of exposures, at-risk working populations and employment categories. In this paper, these separate debates are drawn together. The central focus of the paper is identification of the risk of exposure to occupational violence among adolescent workers in industrialised countries. The discussion begins with a brief review of the health and safety risks associated with precarious employment in general. This is followed by an assessment of the extent to which adolescents participate in the labour force and an outline of the particular risks faced by teenage workers. Empirical evidence is then presented from a series of occupational violence studies conducted in a range of different industry sectors, and some arguments about incidence patterns and vulnerabilities published in an earlier issue of this journal1 are developed further to focus more tightly on adolescent workers. The author argues that the probability of experiencing an occupational violence event is increased when workers are adolescent, precariously employed, inexperienced in the workforce, and employed in service sector jobs that require significant amounts of face-to-face contact with customers — particularly if these job tasks require the exchange of money for goods and services. However, if adolescents are working illegally, informally in family businesses or formally in casual positions that are very precarious, occupational violence is unlikely to be reported or recorded, and hence preventive interventions are unlikely. The author concludes by examining a range of policy approaches that can be adopted to reduce the risks of occupational violence and to enhance the implementation of preventive interventions that may help protect adolescent workers.
Condemning and condoning racism: A social context approach to interracial settings.

Campus racial harassment provided the context for an experiment, replicated over 3 different campus samples, regarding the effects of social influence on Whites' reactions to racism. Hearing someone condemn racism led Ss to express significantly stronger antiracist opinions than occured following exposure to a no-influence control condition. Furthermore, hearing someone condone racism led Ss to adopt significantly less strong antiracist positions that when no other opinions were introduced. The robust social influence effects were obtained regardless of whether the source was White or Black or whether Ss responded publicly or privately. A social context approach to interracial settings is discussed
Social Anxiety Disorder and Social Skills: A Critical Review of the Literature

The objective of this article is to present a critical analysis of the research outlines used in empirical studies published between the years 2000 and March of 2007 about social anxiety disorder and its associations with social skills. Seventeen papers were identified and grouped into two classes for analysis, namely: Characterization of Social Skills Repertoire (N = 10) and Therapeutical Modalities – Application and Comparison of Clinical Intervention (N = 7). The critical analysis of the research outlines pointed to the necessity of new studies with clinical and non-clinical samples, with random allocation of individuals, with the proposition of contextualized interaction tasks, in order to support the generalization as to the association of the social skills and social anxiety disorder, and to demonstrate the functionality and process by which anxiety interferes with social performance.
Group Cognitive—Behavioral Therapy and Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy for the Nonpurging Bulimic Individual A Controlled Comparison

Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for binge eating. Fifty-six women with nonpurging bulimia were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: CBT, IPT, or a wait-list control (WL). Treatment was administered in small groups that met for 16 weekly sessions. At posttreatment, both group CBT and group IPT treatment conditions showed significant improvement in reducing binge eating, whereas the WL condition did not. Binge eating remained significantly below baseline levels for both treatment conditions at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. These data support the central role of both eating behavior and interpersonal factors in the understanding and treatment of bulimia.
Discriminant and predictive validity of academic self-concept, academic self-efficacy, and mathematics-specific self-efficacy

This study examined whether global academic self-concept and academic self-efficacy beliefs that vary in domain specificity-globality represent distinct or common underlying dimensions. Participants were 205 university students who completed measures of academic self-concept, global academic self-efficacy, and domain-specific mathematics self-efficacy. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that each of the variables represented separate, though related, latent dimensions of self-perception. Self-efficacy and self-concept were also differentially useful in predicting relatively domain-specific versus global academic and vocational criteria. The implications of these findings for theory and practice related to academic achievement and career development are considered.
Ego Development Responses in Written Questionnaires and Telephone Interviews

Ego development responses to 12-item written questionnaires were compared with responses to 12-item telephone questionnaires. Reliabilities of both response modalities, as measured by interrater agreement and internal consistency, were very similar to those reported in earlier research. Mean telephone responses were rated significantly lower than mean written responses, but the absolute difference was less than one half of an ego development stage. This difference was probably caused by the greater time available for reflection on a written questionnaire compared with a telephone interview. Most important, the rank order of written responses was accurately reflected in telephone responses. Both written and telephone responses were positively associated with word count, respondents' education, and female sex. However, neither written nor telephone responses were significantly associated with age or father's occupational prestige. It was concluded that ego development can be measured in telephone interviews with reasonable reliability and accuracy. This methodology provides a measure of ego development for large, representative sample surveys.
Effects of Asian American client adherence to Asian cultural values, session goal, and counselor emphasis of client expression on career counseling process.

Seventy-eight Asian American college students who were experiencing career uncertainty engaged in a counseling session with a European American female counselor who focused on either immediate resolution of the problem or insight attainment through exploration of the problem and who emphasized client expression of either cognition or emotion. Clients with high adherence to Asian cultural values perceived increased counselor empathic understanding and stronger client– counselor working alliance than did clients with low adherence to Asian values. Clients who were exposed to the immediate resolution condition perceived stronger working alliance than did clients exposed to the insight attainment condition. Among clients with high adherence to Asian values, those in the expression of emotion condition perceived greater counselor cross-cultural competence than did those in the cognition condition.
Evaluation of FY02-03 WBI activities with Indonesian participants: relevance, effectiveness and impact

This report evaluates WBI activities offered to Indonesian participants in FY02-03. These activities took place largely before the Institute started to implement a countryfocused, capacity development (CD) strategy. This evaluation builds upon the IEG framework established earlier for similar evaluations for five WBI focus countries (Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) completed in FY04. It relies mainly on participants' perceptions of the WBI training they received, although considers also the views of relevant Bank staff working on Indonesia. It uses mixed evaluation methods and data, namely: (a) quantitative survey data based on participant responses (N=114), and (b) qualitative data from two focus group discussions (FGD) with select participants and from interviews with Bank staff working on Indonesia.
Man for Himself: An Enquiry into the Psychology of Ethics

The problem of ethics and moral values is the main concern of this wide-ranging study. Erich Fromm argues that psychology cannot be divorced from ethics, and that it has a responsibility to frame objective standards of conduct. Fromm follows Jung in recognizing the importance of the moral factor in psychiatry but goes beyond Jung in proposing a new system of ethics on a scientific basis.