Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infiltration and Runoff Associated with Controlled Traffic and Soil Compaction under Simulated Rain

Increased awareness of world-wide soil compaction problem has generated an interested in the benefits that could obtain from controlled traffic farming systems. However, infiltration and runoff properties associated with the soils under controlled traffic were not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of controlled traffic system on infiltration and runoff, compared with a single wheeling under different axle load. A single wheeling using different rear axle loads was carried out on the plots maintained controlled traffic zero tillage for over 5 years at Queensland, Australia in 1998. A portable rainfall simulator was used to apply simulated rain and to determine infiltration characteristics, runoff and runoff curve number for different wheeling treatments. Crop performance was also investigated. The results showed that infiltration rate and total infiltration under controlled traffic zero tillage system were significantly greater than those when the soil was wheeled with different axle loads. Runoff and runoff curve number increased with axle loads. Soil compaction by a single wheeling resulted in poor crop establishment, root development and lower yield. These results suggested that controlled traffic systems have a significant improvement on infiltration properties, resulting in reduced runoff.
Distributed Deployment Algorithms for Improved Coverage in a Network of Wireless Mobile Sensors

In this paper, efficient sensor deployment strategies are developed to increase coverage in wireless mobile sensor networks. The sensors find coverage holes within their Voronoi polygons and then move in an appropriate direction to minimize them. Novel edge-based and vertex-based strategies are introduced, and their performances are compared with existing techniques. The proposed movement strategies are based on the distances of each sensor and the points inside its Voronoi polygon from the edges or vertices of the polygon. Simulations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed deployment algorithms and their superiority to the techniques reported in the literature.
Wave‐Induced Pore Pressures in Submerged Sand Layer

Measured wave induced pore pressures in a model sand layer are presented. The measured pressures vary with the wave height and period, sand layer thickness, and sand density. For short-period waves, measured pressures compare well with theoretical (2nd order wave theory) pressures on the surface of the sand layer. Measured pressures are greater than theoretical when the model wave period is greater than 1.7 seconds. Pressures within a sand layer decrease more rapidly with depth than predicted by published theories. A time lag between sinusoidal pressure variations within the sand layer was measured during the laboratory study. This time lag, if it occurs in the prototype, may cause bottom instability during the long-period (storm) waves.
A Quantitative Approach to the Visual Evaluation of Landscape

A method for describing landscape in the countryside and evaluating its impact on the real-estate market is suggested. Four databases with different resolutions (7, 30, 150, and 1,000 m) are used to simulate the visual properties of landscape in the depth of the field of view. The databases, comprising digital elevation models and land use images, are processed by a raster geographical information system. A model that simulates the relationship of visibility among all the points in a given space is devised and used to produce variables that are taken as explanatory variables in a hedonic regression. On this basis, the significant contribution of several landscape features to housing prices is estimated and then mapped. The study area is located in the urban fringe of Dijon (France). A total of 4,352 houses with known price, position, and landscape amenities provide the information for calibrating the hedonic model. The results confirm that landscape amenities influence house prices. Landscapes and visible features more than 100 to 200 m away all have insignificant hedonic prices. In this study area, forests and farmland in the immediate vicinity of houses have positive prices, whereas roads have negative ones.
Simulation of the South Asian Monsoon in a Coupled Model with an Embedded Cloud-Resolving Model

AbstractThe simulation of the South Asian monsoon by a coupled ocean–atmosphere model with an embedded cloud-resolving model is analyzed on intraseasonal and interannual time scales. The daily modes of variability in the superparameterized Community Climate System Model, version 3 (SP-CCSM), are compared with those in observation, the superparameterized Community Atmospheric Model, version 3 (SP-CAM3), and the control simulation of CCSM (CT-CCSM) with conventional parameterization of convection. The CT-CCSM fails to simulate the observed intraseasonal oscillations but is able to generate the atmospheric El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mode, although with regular biennial variability. The dominant modes of variability extracted from daily anomalies of outgoing longwave radiation, precipitation, and low-level horizontal wind in SP-CCSM consist of two intraseasonal oscillations and two seasonally persisting modes, in good agreement with observation. The most significant observed features of the intraseas.
A re‐examination of the evidence for a Plio‐Pleistocene marine transgression on the Chiltern Hills. III. deposits

A petrological re-examination of the deposits that Wooldridge and Linton used as evidence for a Plio-Pleistocene marine transgression on the Chiltern Hills indicates that many are fluvial and some have been reworked in a periglacial climate. However, those from Little Heath and Rothamsted, Hertfordshire and Lane End, Buckinghamshire are confirmed as marine and Plio-Pleistocene. Subsidence during the Pleistocene is suggested by the northeasterly decline in height of the few truly marine deposits.
Sensor alignment and compensation for composite tracking

The integration of multiple sensors for the purpose of forming an integrated air picture has been intensely investigated in recent years. Assuming no sensor biases and minimal communication latencies, the optimal picture can be formed when all the sensor information is communicated to each network node. The state vectors for a given target at each node should be very similar. However, this does not occur in the presence of sensor bias which has an adverse effect on tracking performance. A method to account for the location, measurement, and attitude biases of the sensors must be employed to improve the accuracy of the target state estimates. This paper presents an absolute sensor alignment method to estimate the sensor bias in a multi-target environment. The output of the alignment process is used to compensate the sensor measurements employed in the tracking process. A comparison is made between the composite tracks generated using compensated and uncompensated measurements from multiple sensors.
Changes of air temperature and precipitation in Poland in the period 1951–2000 and their relationship to atmospheric circulation

An analysis of trends of mean monthly temperature and precipitation totals in Poland in the period 1951–2000 was carried out. Areal means of temperature and precipitation were used, averaged for 51 meteorological stations evenly distributed within Poland's borders. Sensitivity of air temperature and precipitation variations towards circulation was assessed. Circulation variations were expressed by sea‐level pressure in the 52.5°N, 20°E grid point and geostrophic wind calculated from meridional (45–60°N) and latitudinal (10–30°E) pressure gradients.
Rainfall‐discharge relationships for a monsoonal climate in the Ethiopian highlands

This study presents a simple rainfall‐discharge analysis for the Andit Tid, Anjeni, and Maybar watersheds of northern Ethiopia. The Soil Conservation Research Programme (SCRP) established monitoring stations in each of these sites during the 1980s, with climate and stream flow measurements being recorded up to the present. To show how these data could be used to provide insight into catchment‐level runoff mechanisms, simple linear relationships between effective precipitation and runoff are developed for each watershed, with the conclusion that all three watersheds exhibit consistent hydrologic behaviour after approximately 500 mm of cumulative effective seasonal rainfall has fallen since the beginning of season. After the 500 mm rainfall threshold is reached, approximately 50% of any further precipitation on these watersheds will directly contribute to catchment runoff. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A data assimilative marine ecosystem model of the central equatorial Pacific: Numerical twin experiments

A five-component, data assimilative marine ecosystem model is developed for the high-nutrient low-chlorophyll region of the central equatorial Pacific (ON, 140W). Identical twin experiments, in which model-generated synthetic 'data' are assimilated into the model, are employed to determine the feasibility of improving simulation skill by assimilating in situ cruise data (plankton, nutrients and primary production) and remotely-sensed ocean color data. Simple data assimilative schemes such as data insertion or nudging may be insufficient for lower trophic level marine ecosystem models, since they require long time-series of daily to weekly plankton and nutrient data as well as adequate knowledge of the governing ecosystem parameters. In contrast, the variational adjoint technique, which minimizes model-data misfits by optimizing tunable ecosystem parameters, holds much promise for assimilating biological data into marine ecosystem models. Using sampling strategies typical of those employed during the U.S. Joint Global Flux Study (JGOFS) equatorial Pacific process study and the remotely-sensed ocean color data available from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), parameters that characterize processes such as growth, grazing, mortality, and recycling can be estimated. Simulation skill is improved even if synthetic data associated with 40% random noise are assimilated; however, the presence of biases of 10-20% proves to be more detrimental to the assimilation results. Although increasing the length of the assimilated time series improves simulation skill if random errors are present in the data, simulation skill may deteriorate as more biased data are assimilated. As biological data sets, including in situ, satellite and acoustic sources, continue to grow, data assimilative biological-physical models will play an increasingly crucial role in large interdisciplinary oceanographic observational programs.
Bond vector probability distribution function of bulk molecules

In our previous work we studied dynamics of the interfacial layer between flowing polymer melt and a solid wall. We showed that the ensemble-averaged behavior of the polymer molecules grafted on the wall could be successfully described in terms of the so-called bond vector probability distribution function (BVPDF). As was shown, the BVPDF satisfies a certain nonlinear integro-differential equation with all the major relaxation mechanisms taken into account. The goal of the present work is to extend the developed formalism to the bulk flow region. For that the corresponding equation of motion for the BVDPF is derived which allows for reptation and the isotropic boundary conditions inherent to the bulk chains.
Perturbation magnetic fields and current systems associated with eastward drifting auroral structures

Magnetospheric substorms feature the development of distorted discrete auroral forms known as surges and loops. The westward traveling surge is known to expand in discrete steps into the evening sector, the western extremity of the surge acquiring a velocity of upward of 1 km/s in the early stages of its formation. Magnetic perturbations associated with the westward traveling surge are known to reach hundreds of nanotesla in the region below the surge form. In this study we report the existence of eastward traveling regions of large magnetic perturbations, whose velocities of propagation are in the range of 0.8–2 km/s. We find that the basic structures of these propagating perturbation regions are maintained over at least 12° of longitude, although the amplitude of the disturbance may vary considerably over that longitude range. We have modeled the eastward propagating disturbance by a three-dimensional current system of narrow longitudinal extent in which antiparallel Birkeland current sheets are linked by southward flowing current. We have used coincident riometer data to infer that the electrons responsible for E region ionospheric conductivity enhancements can also cause ionospheric absorption; this permits us to extimate the fluxes of energetic electrons responsible for the eastward propagating disturbance and thus to make a rough estimate of the equatorward electric field in the morning sector auroral oval. In particular, the longitudinal scale size of the eastward propagating structures is ∼5°–10° at 67.5°N.
The effect of fire front width on surface fire behaviour

To determine the effect of fire front width on surface fire spread rates, a series of simultaneously ignited experimental fires was carried out in a pine plantation. Fires were ignited in plots with widths ranging from 0.5 m to 10 m and were burned in low wind conditions. Flame lengths were small in all fires, ranging from 20 cm to 60 cm. Since pre-heating of the forest litter from flame radiation is assumed to be an important mechanism in the spread of low intensity, low wind surface fires, it then follows that the width of a flaming front should effect on the heating of the fuel to ignition temperatures. Total flame radiation was also measured at a point 50 cm ahead of the advancing flame front for a number of the fires. Experimental results indicate that a flame radiation measured ahead of the fire stays fairly constant once the flame width is between 2 and 5 m. Theoretical flame radiation calculations confirm this trend. Rates of spread between the 5 and 10 metre width fires also appear to be similar; this indicates that, for the type of fires studied, once flame width is greater than about 2 m, radiation from any extra width of fire front has little effect on spread rate.
'Sometimes taxi men are rough..': Young women's experiences of the risks of being a 'taxi queen'

The ‘taxi queen’ phenomenon in which young women become involved with older male taxi drivers while taking public transport has received little attention as an area of research. However, there are concerns that the exploitative nature of such practices of transactional sex may have public health consequences, in particular exposure to coercive sexual practices, risk of HIV infection, unwanted pregnancies, substance abuse, and economic vulnerability of young girls. This study aimed to explore the experiences of school-age girls of their relationships with public mini-bus taxi drivers, in order to achieve a better understanding of these relationships and their consequences. The study was conducted in 2009 in Cape Town and the southern Cape region in the Western Cape Province. Given the exploratory nature of the study, qualitative methodology was used. An open-ended qualitative interview guide was developed, and 25 interviews were conducted: 16 in Cape Town, and nine in the southern Cape region. Ages ranged from 13 to 31, although the majority were in their mid-teens. Thematic analysis of the interviews generated a rich and complex range of perspectives, with many contradictory perceptions and experiences emerging from the texts. While there was widespread recognition of the transactional and stigmatising nature of the relationship between older taxi drivers and so-called taxi queens, and that there were a range of physical and emotional risks related to these relationships, the research also highlighted the manner in which the phenomenon of taxi queens gives expression to issues both unique to the particular dynamics of these transactional relationships, as well reflective of the experiences of youth more generally. Thus, in considering young women’s vulnerability to violent, coercive and risky practices that may endanger their health and well-being, greater understanding of the specificity and variability of these experiences, together with recognition of the resonances with broader concerns facing South African youth, are needed. It is important
CYCLIC TRIAXIAL TESTS ON ASPHALT CONCRETE AS A WATER BARRIER FOR EMBANKMENT DAMS

ABSTRACT The seismic behavior of asphaltic concrete used in embankment dams subjected earthquake loads has been studied. In order to evaluate the dynamic behavior, an extensive series of monotonic and cyclic tests were carried out on triaxial specimens of asphalt concrete used in hydraulic structures. The MTS-dynamic equipment at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) was used for this purpose. Temperature and frequency effects on specimen behavior and on specimen degradation have been studied under the cyclic loads in both isotropic and anisotropic initial stress conditions. For investigation of the fatigue behavior, thousands of cyclic loads were imposed on some of the specimens. Moreover, to study any sign of material degradation due to the cyclic loading, the post-cyclic monotonic stress-strain curve was compared with the corresponding curve for specimens that were not first subjected to cyclic loading. Geotechnical parameters to be used in dynamic numerical analysis models are also presented.
The relationship between soil pH measurements in calcium chloride and water suspensions

The relationship between the pH in a 1:5 soil/water suspension and the pH in 0.01 m CaCl2 has always been considered to be linear, but recent findings favour a non-linear relationship. This trend was confirmed with a set of 1342 surface soils from acid to neutral red duplex and gradational soils from the Lachlan Shire in central western New South Wales. The linear relationship was consistent with that found by earlier workers, but inclusion of the second and third powers of pH(w) accounted for significantly more of the variation in pH(ca) resulting in a sigmoidal curve. It is suggested that the deviation from linearity is due to the buffering effect of Al at low pH and to the presence of carbonate at high pH. Several other attributes were shown to influence pH, namely the ionic strength as indicated by the electrical conductivity of the 1:5 soil/water suspension, exchangeable cations (Na, K, Ca,Mg and Al) and Al and Mn extracted with 0-01 m CaCl2, and their effect varied at different pH levels.
The Ulysses north polar pass: Latitudinal gradients of anomalous cosmic ray O, N And Ne

A key finding of the Ulysses mission has been the absence of large latitudinal gradients in the Anomalous Cosmic Ray (ACR) component. Studies using data from several satellites have consistently shown a small (∼ 2%/deg.) positive latitudinal gradient for anomalous O, N and Ne in the energy range 4 to 30 MeV/n, and even smaller gradients for ACR He. In this paper we use data from the COSPIN/LET experiment on board Ulysses to investigate (a) the behaviour of the ACR latitudinal gradients during the passage over the northern polar regions, and (b) possible north‐south asymmetries. The descent from the north pole has taken place under solar minimum conditions, providing a unique opportunity to study fully developed latitudinal effects. Our data survey covers three ACR species, O (4 to 20 MeV/n), N (4 to 20 MeV/n) and Ne (4 to 30 MeV/n). ACR gradients have been calculated for three different regions: 0°–20° (∼ 5%/deg.), 20°–60° (∼ 3%/deg.) and 60°–80.2° (∼ 1%/deg.). Comparison of data from the northern and southern hemishere at a given latitude shows an asymmetry with higher fluxes in the north than in the south at a given latitude.
Monitoring the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic: a model-based array design study

A monitoring system for the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is deployed into an "eddy-permitting" numerical model (FLAME) at three different latitudes in the North Atlantic Ocean. The MOC is estimated by adding contributions related to Ekman transports to those associated with the zonally integrated vertical velocity shear. Ekman transports are inferred from surface wind stress, whereas the velocity shear is derived from continuous density "observations," principally near the eastern and western boundaries, employing thermal wind balance. The objective is to test the method and array setups for possible real observation in the ocean at the chosen latitudes and to guide similar tests at different latitudes. Different "mooring placements" are tested, ranging from a minimal setup to the theoretical maximum number of "measurements. " A relatively small number of vertical density profiles (about 10, the exact number depending on the latitude) can achieve a reconstruction of the MOC similar to one achieved by any larger number of profiles. However, the main characteristics of the MOC can only be reproduced at latitudes where bottom velocities are small, here at 26N and 36N. For high bottom velocities, in FLAME at 53N, the array fails to reproduce the strength and variability of the MOC because the depth-averaged flow cannot be reconstructed accurately. In FLAME, knowledge of the complete bottom velocity field could substitute for the knowledge of the depth-averaged velocity field.