Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture

This paper investigates how climate change can affect agricultural production and proposes some adaptation measures that could be undertaken to mitigate the negative effects of climate change while enhancing the positive ones. The paper stresses the importance of planned adaptation measures and highlights possible strategies for reducing risk and improving resilience. To quantify the possible effects of climate change and the effects of adaptation measures this study uses the International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT). The analysis first explores the potential effects of climate change on yields and prices. It then goes on to analyse the potential impacts of two distinctive sets of adaptation strategies on yields, prices, and food security, namely: i) research and development (to develop new crop varieties that are better suited to changed climate conditions) and ii) changes in irrigation technology. Last, the analysis in this paper estimates the public and private investment needs in research and development (R&D) for developing new crop varieties, and further develops estimates of the cost of improving irrigation technologies in OECD countries.
Simulating the Wave-Enhanced Layer under Breaking Surface Waves with Two-Equation Turbulence Models

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to modify two-equation turbulence models such that they are capable of simulating dynamics in the wave-enhanced layer near the surface. A balance of diffusion of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and dissipation is assumed as the surface boundary condition for TKE following the suggestion of Craig and Banner. It is shown that this theory, originally developed under the assumption of a macro length scale linearly increasing down from the surface, fails for two-equation models such as the well-known k–e model. Suggestions are made how to modify such models for overcoming this deficiency. The basic idea is to insert the analytic solution of a model problem suggested by Craig into the dissipation rate equation and solve for the turbulent Schmidt number of the dissipation rate equation, which may be formulated as a function of the production/dissipation ratio. With this modification, the linear behavior of the macro length scale is properly reproduced by the k–e model. It is .
Tracing sources of suspended sediment in river basins: A case study of the River Culm, Devon, UK

Information on the source of the suspended sediment transported by a river is becoming an increasingly important requirement in sediment investigations. Such information is difficult to assemble by means of traditional monitoring strategies, but the 'fingerprinting' technique offers considerable potential. The use of composite 'fingerprints' in combination with a multivariate mixing model can provide a basis for determining the relative importance of both individual areas of a catchment and specific source types. The results of applying this approach to the 276-km² basin of the River Culm in Devon, UK are presented. A suite of nine fingerprint properties was employed as a composite fingerprint, and this permitted the relative contributions of seven source types to be established. These source types represented material derived from the surface af cultivated and pasture areas on each of the three main rock types and material eroded from channel banks. By collecting samples of suspended sediment at different times during individual floods, it was possible to document changes in the relative contributions of the various sources during each flood in response to runoff source and travel times. Although the multivariate fingerprint approach has a number of limitations, it also has considerable potential as a means of tracing sources of suspended sediment within a large drainage basin.
Role of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in the Soil Nitrogen Cycle of Forest Ecosystems

Fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) may play an important role for losses of C and N from the soils of forest ecosystems, especially under conditions of high precipitation. We studied DOC and DON fluxes and concentrations in relation to precipitation intensity in a subtropical montane Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana forest in Taiwan. Our objective was, to quantify DOC and DON fluxes and to understand the role of high precipitation for DOC and DON export in this ecosystem. From 2005 to 2008 we sampled bulk precipitation, throughfall, forest floor percolates and seepage (60 cm) and analyzed DOC, DON and mineral N concentrations. Average DOC fluxes in the soil were extremely high (962 and 478 kg C ha−1 yr−1 in forest floor percolates and seepage, respectively) while DON fluxes were similar to other (sub)tropical ecosystems (16 and 8 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively). Total N fluxes in the soil were dominated by DON. Dissolved organic C and N concentrations in forest floor percolates were independent of the water flux. No dilution effect was visible. Instead, the pool size of potentially soluble DOC and DON was variable as indicated by different DOC and DON concentrations in forest floor percolates at similar precipitation amounts. Therefore, we hypothesized, that these pools are not likely to be depleted in the long term. The relationship between wa-
The role of district capitals in regional development

Ghana’s decentralisation programme involves the strengthening of district capitals (defined in this paper as small towns) as focal points for the socio-economic development of districts. Few studies have, however, been done on the role of district capitals and the linkages between these centres and their hinterlands as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the strategy. This paper provides a conceptualised and analytical model for examining the role of district capitals and rural‐urban linkages in regional development in Ghana. The model is operationalised using two district capitals in the central region as a case study. The paper identifies four critical factors in operationalising the model: small towns’ production and service functions; proximity and accessibility to higher-order centres; national macro-economic policies; and the impact of Ghana’s decentralisation programme. It concludes that the desired goals of the strategy can be achieved by a genuine decentralisation policy and supportive district development policies formulated at the national level. There has been a renewed interest in the role of small towns in regional development, driven by recent socio-economic and political changes at the national and international levels involving democratisation and local government reforms, structural adjustment and economic reforms, and a general trend favouring participatory development. As the urban centres closest to rural communities, small towns are perceived in various ways: as efficient nodal points for connecting rural producers to markets; as centres for locating social services within relatively easy reach of rural communities; and as centres for the transmission of government policies and modernisation (Hinderink and Titus, ; Tacoli, ; ; Pedersen, ; Satterthwaite and Tacoli, ; Owusu, ). It is also increasingly being recognised that rural and urban areas do not exist as ‘islands’ but are linked by flows of people, goods, services and information (spatial linkages) and sectoral interactions (employment and occupations such as rural non-farm employment and urban agriculture). These spatial linkages and sectoral interactions between rural and urban areas are recognised as critical survival and accumulation strategies for the poor and the rich respectively, in both rural and urban households (Satterthwaite and Tacoli, ; Owusu, ).
PACHYCHEILOSUCHUS TRINQUEI, A NEW PROCOELOUS CROCODYLIFORM FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS (ALBIAN) GLEN ROSE FORMATION OF TEXAS

Abstract A new mesoeucrocodylian, Pachycheilosuchus trinquei, from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Glen Rose Formation, exhibits progressive caudal-to-cranial vertebral procoely. This modification is characterized by an intermediate semi-procoelous condition in which the posterior condyle is dimpled by a concavity. Pachycheilosuchus differs from all known crocodyliforms in having an expanded maxillary margin that displaces the tooth row medially, and in possessing a cervical shield formed by the complete fusion of six osteoderms. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a sister taxon relationship with the weakly defined Atoposauridae. The presence of variable procoely in both Pachycheilosuchus and the closely related atoposaurid Theriosuchus indicates convergent evolution of the character with Eusuchia. Sediments at the locality were deposited in near-shore, marine-to-brackish waters, suggesting that Pachycheilosuchus inhabited euryhaline marine environments.
Genetic variability and diversity in Niger [( Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.]

An experiment was carried out on local collected Niger germplasm lines at the Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Igatpuri during Kharif 2022. Analysis of variance indicate that the mean sum of square due to genotypes were highly significant for all the characters. High genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient variation were observed for all the characters under study. High heritability accompanied with high genetic advance a percent were observed for seed yield per plot, number of capitula per plant and number seeds per capitula indicated that these characters are governed by additive gene effects. Twenty five germplasms were grouped into five clusters. Cluster I was biggest and consisted of 12 genotypes followed by cluster II and cluster III with 7 and 4 genotypes, respectively. The cluster IV and V were solitary. Intra cluster distance was ranged from zero (cluster IV and V) to 6.04 (cluster III). The highest intra cluster distance was observed in cluster III followed by cluster II and cluster I. From the inter cluster D 2 values of the five clusters, it can be seen that the highest divergence occurred between cluster I and III followed by cluster III and IV, cluster I and V suggesting that the crosses involving varieties from these clusters would give wider and desirable recombination
Exploring challenges in dimensioning

Purpose – The purposes of this study were (1) to explore empirical challenges in dimensioning safety buffers and their implications and (2) to organise those challenges into a framework. Design/methodology/approach – In a multiple-case study following an exploratory, qualitative and empirical approach, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted in six cases. Representatives of all cases subsequently participated in an interactive workshop, after which a questionnaire was used to assess the impact and presence of each challenge. A cross-case analysis was performed to situate empirical findings within the literature. Findings – Tenchallengeswereidentifiedinfourareasofdimensioningsafetybuffers:decisionmanagement, responsibilities, methods for dimensioning safety buffers and input data. All challenges had both direct and indirect negative implications for dimensioning safety buffers and were synthesised into a framework. Research limitations/implications – This study complements the literature on dimensioning safety buffers with qualitative insights into challenges in dimensioning safety buffers and implications in practice. Practical implications – Practitioners can use the framework to understand and overcome challenges in dimensioning safety buffers and their negative implications. Originality/value – This studyrespondstothe scarcityofqualitativeand empirical studiesondimensioning safety buffers and the absence of any overview of the challenges therein.
Trading Performance, Power, and Area on Low-Precision Posit MAC Units for CNN Training

The recently proposed Posit number system has been regarded as a particularly well-suited floating-point format to optimize the throughput and efficiency of low-precision computations in convolutional neural network (CNN) applications. In particular, the Posit format offers a balance between decimal accuracy and dynamic range, which results in a distribution of values that seems particularly interesting for deep learning applications. However, the adoption of the Posit still raises some concerns regarding hardware complexity, particularly when accounting for the overheads associated with the quire exact accumulator. Accordingly, this paper presents a holistic study on the model accuracy, performance, power, and area trade-offs when adopting low-precision Posit multiply-accumulate (MAC) units for the training of CNNs. In particular, 28nm ASIC implementations of a reference Posit MAC unit architecture demonstrate that the quire accounts for over 70% of the area and power utilization, and the obtained CNN training results showed that its use is only strictly required when considering mixed low-precision configurations. As a result, reducing the size of the quire results in an average reduction of area and power by 57% and 47%, without imposing visible training accuracy losses.
Solids motion and mixing in high-density circulating fluidized beds

This study was directed to the hydrodynamics of vertical risers, such as those used in catalytic cracking and other chemical reactors. The work was carried out in risers of 0.2 m and 0.076 m diameters with FCC particles of mean diameter 70 um, primarily using optical fibre probes and solid tracer response measurements. The flow characteristics of high-density gas-solids systems were investigated in detail by measuring the local transient particle velocity, solids concentration and solids fluxes at different radial locations and axial positions in the 0.2 m diameter riser operating over a wide range of net solids circulation fluxes (120 kg/ms < G s < 350 kg/ms) and superficial gas velocities (5 m/s < U g < 8 m/s). These data were used to generate radial and axial profiles of solids hold-up, particle velocity and solids flux and to show how the profiles were influenced by the operating conditions. The flow behaviour in the riser was observed to be a function of height as well as the operating conditions. With a change in operating conditions, the local particle velocity and solid fluxes in the relatively dilute core region of the riser changed more significantly than those in the wall region. The opposite trend was observed with respect to the local solid hold-up distributions. The effect of riser diameter on the local solids flow structure in high-density circulating fluidized bed systems was investigated by comparing the findings of this study with those reported by previous researchers in 76 mm and 104 mm diameter CFB risers. The increase in riser diameter in this study was observed to result in lower cross-sectional average solids holdup at the same superficial gas velocity and net circulation flux under high-density conditions. The local particle velocity in the central region was higher for the larger diameter riser, while the difference in the annulus was insignificant. The time-mean solids fluxes were found to be nearly equal in the central top section of the riser. The difference between the two sets of measurements increased closer to the wall. In the top section of the riser, in the wall region, the time-mean solids fluxes were larger for the smaller diameter riser. The opposite trend was observed for the bottom section of the riser in the wall region. In order to investigate the flow structure in the wall region, an annular downflow layer thickness 5 (= 1rc/R) was introduced, where rc was defined as the radial position where the time mean net solids flow switches from being upwards to downwards. The extent of
Measurement of Nonlinear Harmonic Signals Generated in SAW Resonators on 42° YX-LiTaO3 Substrate Using Spectrum Analyzer

Increasing integration and operating power of radio frequency front-ends (RFFE) gives rise to higher power density of RF components, which inevitably makes nonlinearity deterioration in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. This paper presents a measurement system of nonlinear harmonic signals in RF SAW devices using a spectrum analyzer (SA). The second- and third-order harmonics of SAW resonators on 42° YX-LiTaO3 substrate were measured precisely. In addition, harmonic signals are simulated by a nonlinear finite element method (FEM) model and compared to the measured results. Their generation mechanisms and behaviors at high input power levels are discussed. This investigation provides a perspective for further nonlinear suppression of SAW devices.
Towards Explaining Satellite Based Poverty Predictions with Convolutional Neural Networks

Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been shown to predict poverty and development indicators from satellite images with surprising accuracy. This paper presents a first attempt at analyzing the CNNs responses in detail and explaining the basis for the predictions. The CNN model, while trained on relatively low resolution day- and night-time satellite images, is able to outperform human subjects who look at high-resolution images in ranking the Wealth Index categories. Multiple explainability experiments performed on the model indicate the importance of the sizes of the objects, pixel colors in the image, and provide a visualization of the importance of different structures in input images. A visualization is also provided of type images that maximize the network prediction of Wealth Index, which provides clues on what the CNN prediction is based on.
An Empirical Investigation on Electronic Government Services Continuance and Trust

Trust is an important factor that contributes to citizens' willingness to continuance use of e-gov services. However, there is a lack of prior investigation about trust and continuance use of e-gov services in Pakistan - a developing country. We propose a model to investigate citizens' trust and e-gov services' continuous use intention to fill this research gap. Our study collected data from an online survey of 558 Pakistani citizens. Using partial least squares analysis, we found that disposition to trust positively correlates with both internet and government trust. Moreover, citizen satisfaction, trust, perceived usefulness, confirmation, and perceived risk all have significant impacts on the continuous use intention of e-gov services. This research extends and validates the Expectation-Confirmation Model by exploring key factors that influence e-gov continuance use intention. As such, our study offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners involved in e-gov service delivery in developing countries like Pakistan. The paper also discusses our findings' implications and identifies future research directions.
Electrochemical Monitoring of Intracellular Enzyme Activity of 1 Single Living Mammalian Cells by Using a Double-Mediator 2 System 3 4

b Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba, Sendai 10 980-8577, Japan 11 12 *Corresponding author: Hitoshi Shiku, e-mail: shiku@bioinfo.che. tohoku.ac. jp 13 **Co-corresponding author: Tomokazu Matsue, e-mail: matsue@bioinfo.che. tohoku.ac. jp 14 15 16 Abstract 17 We evaluated the intracellular NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO) activity of 18 single HeLa cells by using the menadione–ferrocyanide double-mediator system combined with 19 scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The double-mediator system was used to 20 amplify the current response from the intracellular NQO activity and to reduce 21 menadione-induced cell damage. The electron shuttle between the electrode and menadione was 22 mediated by the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox couple. Generation of ferrocyanide was 23 observed immediately after the addition of a lower concentration (10 μM) of menadione. The 24 ferrocyanide generation rate was constant for 120 min. At a higher menadione concentration 25
A Room Temperature Compensated Lateral Field Excited Lithium Tantalate Sensor Platform

The quartz crystal monitor (QCM) is a common sensor platform based on the room temperature compensated pure shear mode (PSM) of thickness field excited (TFE) AT-cut quartz. However, with electrodes on both crystal faces, TFE only allows sensing of mechanical property changes. Lateral field excitation (LFE), where both electrodes are on a single face, enables the detection of both mechanical and electrical changes, potentially leading to higher sensitivity. As lithium tantalate (LT) has an LFE PSM and piezoelectric coupling several times greater than that of quartz, LFE LT was chosen as a possible replacement for TFE quartz. A theoretical search of all LT cuts identified those exhibiting a room temperature compensated PSM. A set of orientations ranging from (YXwl) 0°/-85° to 0°/-90° was chosen for experimental verification. The temperature response of each sample was shown to be parabolic, with a roughly linear relationship between crystal cut angle and temperature inflection point/turnaround temperature. Specifically, the (YXwl) 0°/-87° cut with a turnaround temperature at 26.4°C demonstrates that a room temperature PSM in LT can be excited via LFE. Future work focusing on the development of an LT sensing platform could profoundly impact sensor systems in agriculture, homeland security, global warming, and medical applications.
Challenges of Accurate and Efficient AutoML

Embedded Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in the field of healthcare where such AI enabled devices are utilized to assist physicians, clinicians, and surgeons in their diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapy planning. However, it is still a challenging task to come up with an accurate and efficient machine learning model for resource-limited devices that work $24\times 7$. It requires both intuition and experience. This dependence on human expertise and reliance on trial-and-error-based design methods create impediments to the standard processes of effort estimation, design phase planning, and generating service-level agreements for projects that involve AI-enabled MedTech devices. In this paper, we present AutoML search from an algorithmic perspective, instead of a more prevalent optimization or black-box tool view. We briefly present and point to case studies that demonstrate the efficacy of the automation approach in terms of productivity improvements. We believe that our proposed method can make AutoML more amenable to the applications of software engineering principles and also accelerate biomedical device engineering, where there is a high dependence on skilled human resources.