Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical State and Structure of the Crust Beneath the Western‐Central United States From Multiobservable Probabilistic Inversion

The Southern Rocky Mountains (SRM) have the highest regional elevations, but a comparable crustal thickness to that of the Great Plains. Isolating the contributions of the crust and upper mantle in supporting the topography of the SRM has been a topic of considerable controversy for the past two decades, leading to contrasting hypotheses. In order to constrain the relative contributions from the crust and mantle, reliable models of the physical state of the crust and upper mantle are necessary. Here we employ a recently developed multiobservable Bayesian inversion approach to study the present‐day physical state (i.e., Vs,Vp, density, Vp/Vs, crustal thickness, and temperature) of the crust in a region encompassing the western‐central United States. We image highly heterogeneous temperature and compositional structures, which combine in a nonintuitive way with total crustal thickness to create the observed topography and control other geophysical signatures. In the SRM, topography is supported by a combination of crustal and mantle contributions. South of 38°N, mantle sources (both static and dynamic) constitute the main support to the high elevations, whereas to the north of this latitude, crustal structure provides the main contribution. In the Colorado Plateau, Arizona transition zone, and Basin and Range provinces, most of the topography seems to be supported by mantle sources (within the lithospheric mantle and/or dynamic). At middle to lower crustal depths beneath the SRM, we image high temperatures, high Vp/Vs values, anomalously low crustal velocities, and low densities. These observations correlate with high electrical conductivities and the location of recent volcanism, suggesting the occurrence of melt/fluids. We do not find low Vp/Vs values at middle/low crustal depths beneath the SRM that may suggest felsic, weak lithologies.
Paleoamericans in Northeast Argentina

In this paper, we present a brief synthesis of the record of Fell or Fishtail points found in northeast Argentina, including the first two records for Misiones province. To date, 11 pieces have been identified in the region, which demonstrate techno-morphological similarities with specimens recovered in different areas of South America, which are linked to Paleoamerican groups of the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary. Although these points are still scarce in this area, this is probably due to the lack of research and issues related to archaeological visibility. These new records increase the density of findings of these early hunter-gatherers on the South American Atlantic slope.
Assessing snow cover changes in the Kola Peninsula, Arctic Russia,
using a synthesis of MODIS snow products and station observations

Abstract. The very high albedo of snow means that changes in its coverage have a significant impact on the Earth's global energy budget. Thus, Northern Hemisphere snow cover, which comprises approximately 98 % of the global total area of seasonal snow, is responsible for the largest annual and inter-annual contrasts in land surface albedo. Here, we examine recent changes in snow cover (2000–2016) in the western mountain regions (hereinafter WMR) of the Kola Peninsula in Arctic Russia, an area that has undergone significant climate change in recent decades. Future changes in snow cover have the potential to have a major socio-economic impact in this region, which is primarily dependent on mining and tourism for its economy. We used a combination of remote sensing data, the first time it has been used to assess snow cover in this region, and meteorological observations in our analysis. The snow cover products were processed to maximise the number of cloud-free days. First and last days of snow cover were derived for each year from snow depth observations at meteorological stations. MODIS-derived snow cover dates were compared to these station-derived dates to look for systematic biases in the satellite data. We find that for 85.8 % of pixels investigated the deviation between the MODIS-derived and station-derived snow cover start and end dates is less than 20 days. These locally calibrated MODIS data were then used in combination with data from meteorological stations to determine the trends and variability in the duration of the snow season in the WMR in the past half century. Snow cover was found to be highly variable both spatially and at inter-annual timescales. Overall, the duration of the snow season decreased at higher altitudes and increased in valleys and plains. High spatial variability in trends in the snow cover season and snow depth across the region can be partially explained by the effect of orography and wind scouring. Between 2000 and 2016, opposing trends in the duration of the snow cover season occur at different stations within the WMR, though more consistent trends appear over a 25-year common interval wherein the snow cover duration has decreased statistically significantly at four of five stations. Finally, MODIS is shown to provide a highly reliable snow dataset for assessing regional snow cover changes, being able to identify correctly the only statistically significant trend observed at meteorological station.
The Population of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, in Croatia

During the first national White Stork census in Croatia in 1984, covering 12 counties or 28% of the total breeding area, 520 HPa were recorded. Since then national censuses have been carried out each year. Within the scope of the 5th International White Stork Census 1994/95, the White Stork in Croatia was counted in 25 counties covering 56% of the Croatian breeding range of the species, resulting 1116 HPa. From the data obtained by the censuses 1994 and 1995, the total White Stork population in Croatia is estimated at 1500 HPa. In 6 counties that were censused in 1984 as well as 1994/95, a 5% decrease of HPa was recorded. In general, however, the White Stork population in Croatia seemed to be stable from 1984 to 1995. This is attributed to the fact that during this period the habitat situation in the breeding range, being located in the continental part of Croatia, between the rivers Drava, Sava and Danube, has remained unchanged.
Characterization, Classification and Nutritional Status of Groundnut Growing Soils in Southern Agro-Climatic Zone: A Case Study on Western Mandals of Srikalahasti Division in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is the most popular oilseed crop in India. This is known as Peanut, Earthnut, Monkey nut, Goober panda and Manilanut and contains about 45 percent oil and 26 percent protein. Groundnut kernels as a whole are highly digestible. One gram of kernel supplies 5.8 calories of food. This is compared with four calories per gram of sugar, 3.5 calories for whole wheat and 2.6 calories of bread. The biological value of groundnut protein is among the highest of the vegetable proteins and equal to that of casein. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 05 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Understanding the Functionality and Burden on Decentralised Rural Water Supply: Influence of Millennium Development Goal 7c Coverage Targets

The sustainability of rural groundwater supply infrastructure, primarily boreholes fitted with hand pumps, remains a challenge. This study evaluates whether coverage targets set out within the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) inadvertently increased the challenge to sustainably manage water supply infrastructure. Furthermore, the drive towards decentralised service delivery contributes to the financial burden of water supply assets. A sample size of 14,943 Afridev hand pump boreholes was extracted from a comprehensive live data set of 68,984 water points across Malawi to investigate the sustainability burden as emphasis shifts to the 2030 agenda. The results demonstrate that the push for coverage within the MDG era has impacted the sustainability of assets. A lack of proactive approaches towards major repairs and sub-standard borehole construction alongside aging infrastructure contributes to reduced functionality of decentralised supplies. Furthermore, costly rehabilitation is required to bring assets to operational standards, in which external support is commonly relied upon. Acceleration towards the coverage targets has contributed towards unsustainable infrastructure that has further implications moving forward. These findings support the need for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) investment planning to move from a focus on coverage targets to a focus on quality infrastructure and proactive monitoring approaches to reduce the future burden placed on communities.
Vertical Subsurface Flow (VSSF) constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment

Vertical Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland (VSSF) is appraised to become an alternative solution for treating domestic wastewater effectively and efficiently. The system which imitates the natural wetland concept is able to reduce organic material and nutrients in wastewater; therefore, it will be more feasible to be discharged to the environment. This study aimed to compare which species is more recommended to be applied for reducing organic material and nutrients in domestic wastewater. This experimental study applied four treatments, i.e 1) control (unplanted), 2) single species Iris pseudacorus, 3) single species Echinodorus palaefolius, and 4) combination (Iris pseudacorus and Echinodorus palaefolius) with three days of retention time. The application of those plants aims for holding the role in increasing wastewater quality and adding aesthetic impression at once. The plants were planted on VSSF media, in relatively same of weight and size to compare their effectiveness in decreasing organic and inorganic load. The parameters measured pervade TDS, pH, BOD5, COD, Nitrate, and Phosphate. The plants’ condition was also observed during and after the system worked. The result showed that the best average value of effectiveness for each of parameters: COD by combination treatment (50.76%), BOD5 by single I. pseudacorus (30.15%), Nitrate by single E. palaefolius (58.06%), Phosphate by single E. palaefolius (99.5%), and TDS by E.palaefolius (3.25%). The result showed that there was a significant difference of Nitrate and Phosphate reduction between control and three other treatments, while pH parameter showed non-significant change among them. In term of performance, I.pseudacorus seemed showed a preferable achievement.
Students’ Perceptions on Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Virtual environments allow teachers to approach the teaching process inclusively and creatively, to facilitate the effective transfer of learning and to support student learning with new technologies regardless of various barriers. The hereby study evaluates the students’ views concerning the virtual delivery of courses during their learning process taking into consideration their former face-to-face teaching-learning experience. It was based on the theoretical part which included typical aspects of online teaching and learning are presented and the most recent studies in this area are reviewed. Following previous research, we aim to develop an innovative model of successful online teaching and learning in higher education. A questionnaire-based research methodology was designed for 355 students at a university in the North-Eastern region of Romania. The questionnaire with closed-ended items was used for assessing students’ attitudes on the online teaching activity. The results indicate students’ preference for online courses, as well as a number of significant differences, depending on the study specialisation or form of education. Any future changes to online teaching and learning in universities should also take into account students’ and teachers’ views on this particular issue. Such an approach should allow us to see whether and how effective the use of virtual teaching environments can be for both students and teachers in higher education (HE).
Biomodulation of Nitrogen Cycle in Suspended Sediment

Biogeochemical experiments and modeling were coupled to investigate how nutrient leaching to aquatic ecosystems changes the dynamics of microbial community on suspended sediment and how these changes modulate the nitrogen cycle. Mineral suspensions amended with inorganic nitrogen (NH 4+ and NO 3− ) and inoculated with native sedimentary microbial strains were tested in a settling column under continuous water quality measurements. Experiments were used to calibrate and validate a kinetic model that explicitly described the chemical adsorption on minerals, aqueous complexation, gas dissolution, microbial metabolism, necromass dynamics, and microbial competition for limiting substrates. Modeling revealed that the interactions between microbial functional groups were highly nonlinear and highly sensitive to changes in nutrient and dissolved oxygen concentrations, showing shifts in regimes where a functional group became prevalent over the others. Our results suggested that necromass dynamics played a major role in sustaining microbial growth in low nutrient conditions and had an important control over the N cycle. The reaction network and model structure presented in this study provide a tool to analyze and predict the long‐term nutrient dynamics of both natural and engineered aquatic ecosystems.
Exploratory Sensitivity Analysis of CropSyst, WARM and WOFOST: a Case-Study with Rice Biomass Simulations

Knowledge about model uncertainty is essential for crop modelling and provides information crucial for a real understanding of models behavior and for parameterization purposes. This work addresses an exploratory sensitivity analysis on the parameters involved with biomass accumulation of three crop models decidedly differing in the way they interpret the concept of growth. The models used in the sensitivity analysis were CropSyst, WARM and WOFOST. We used the Morris screening method, supplied with software for sensitivity analysis SimLab, to determine, at a reasonable cost in terms of model evaluations, which parameters have a substantial influence on a static biomass output (rice aboveground biomass at physiological maturity). Assumptions about the settings of the analysis in terms of parameters estimated distribution and uncertainty are discussed. As case study, we performed the sensitivity analysis using meteorological and management data from an experiment carried out in Opera (Milan, Northern Italy) during 2006. The site can be considered representative of temperate rice in Europe. The screening revealed some important features of the models in terms of their input parameters. The variability of simulated rice biomass was generally high, and few physiological parameters emerged as mostly influential on the biomass output. The biomass-transpiration coefficient of CropSyst was the most important parameter determining final biomass. In WOFOST, CO2 assimilation rates and partitioning coefficients were found to be the most relevant parameters. The majority of the parameters in CropSyst and WOFOST (75-80%) resulted not very influential on the final biomass with the inputs used. On the other hand, WARM is more relevant than the others in that most of its input parameters actually cause variation in the model response.
An Integrated Apatite Geochronology and Geochemistry Tool for Sedimentary Provenance Analysis

Sediment provenance studies utilizing detrital geochronology are often limited by source‐rock non‐uniqueness with respect to mineral age. Thus, the development of integrated techniques which permit identification of source rock age and lithology are highly desirable. In this case study from the southern Massif Central, France, we target modern‐river sediment from the river Tarn to assess the utility of combined U‐Pb and multiple trace‐element geochemical analysis of detrital apatite as a provenance tool. The study area was chosen because the sediment source areas chiefly comprise a relatively simple mix of medium‐ to low‐grade Variscan metasediments and late Variscan granitoids, which should yield detrital apatite readily distinguishable by age, trace‐element chemistry, or both. Based on comparison with previously published apatite trace‐element data from metasedimentary rocks and granitoids, pelitic apatite in the river Tarn detritus is primarily distinguished by high Sr/Mn, light rare‐earth element depletion (LREE) and low actinide contents, whereas granitic apatite is characterized by much lower Sr/Mn, and high LREE and actinide abundances. These source rock determinations are highly consistent with apatite trace‐element data from Tarn tributaries that drain either predominantly metapelitic or granitoid catchments. U‐Pb analysis of detrital rutile was also undertaken on those catchments for comparative purposes. As pelitic and granitic apatite can be readily distinguished, samples that have experienced downstream sediment mixing can then be comprehensively characterized. Using this method we identify a source lithology for nearly every analyzed apatite grain in the river sediment, even though 59% of the analyzed grains do not yield reliable U‐Pb ages.
PPGCN: Phase-Aligned Periodic Graph Convolutional Network for Dual-Task-Based Cognitive Impairment Detection

Early detection methods for cognitive impairment are crucial for its effective treatment. Dual-task-based pipelines that rely on skeleton sequences can detect cognitive impairment reliably. Although such pipelines achieve state-of-the-art results by analyzing skeleton sequences of periodic stepping motion, we propose that their performance can be improved by decomposing the skeleton sequence into representative phase-aligned periods and focusing on them instead of the entire sequence. We present the phase-aligned periodic graph convolutional network, which is capable of processing phase-aligned periodic skeleton sequences. We trained it with a cross-modality feature fusion loss using a representative dataset of 392 samples annotated by medical professionals. As part of a dual-task cognitive impairment detection pipeline that relies on two-dimensional skeleton sequences extracted from RGB images to improve its general usability, our proposed method outperformed existing approaches and achieved a mean sensitivity of 0.9231 and specificity of 0.9398 in a four-fold cross-validation setup.
Middle Devonian parathuramminid and earlandiid foraminifers from shallow marine carbonates of the Carnic Alps (Austria)

Abstract. The Devonian of the Carnic Alps (Austria) is developed in different facies. The shallow marine facies is up to 1200m thick. The Feldkogel Limestone of the Polinik Formation, >330m thick, was dated as Eifelian—Late Devonian. The Feldkogel Limestone at Mount Polinik is developed in a peritidal facies composed of subtidal, intertidal, and supratidal deposits. Subtidal sediments are represented by dark gray Amphipora limestone and intertidal deposits by laminated and partly bioturbated grainstone and packstone, ostracode wackestone to packstone, and locally intercalated intraclast breccias documenting tidal channel fills. Laminated microbial mats (stromatolites) formed in a supratidal depositional environment. Grainstone and packstone contain abundant unilocular parathuramminid foraminifers. This latter group encompasses a diversified assemblage of ivanovellids, parathuramminids, uralinellids, and irregularinoids; some earlandiids are also present. They are dated herein as late Eifelian—early Givetian. These foraminifers provide a more precise systematics of these taxa, which often have not been studied for more than half a century. The taxonomic problems of their assignment to foraminifers, pseudo-foraminifers, calcitarcha, thaumatoporellaceans, volvocaleans, or other algae are also discussed. Several taxa are emendated: Parathuramminida, Parathuramminoidea, Irregularinoidea, Eovolutinidae, Ivanovellidae, Parathuramminidae, Uralinellidae, Ivanovella, Elenella, Neoarchaesphaera, Parathurammina, Bykovaella, Uralinella, and Paracaligella. The new taxa are: Ivanovella reitlingerae n. sp. , Elenella polinikensis n. sp. , Uralinella sabirovi n. sp. , and Radiosphaerella poyarkovi n. sp.
Effect of Shrink Wrapping on Shelf Life of Bananas

Mature green locally available bananas (Chakkerkeli) were pretreated (hot water 50 °C; 10 min) and shrink wrapped in shrink films of polyolefin 15 μ and cryovac 9 μ and stored at ambient storage conditions (Temp = 33°C; RH 72%). An experiment was conducted, both for fingers and hands; periodical observation was recorded in % weight loss, firmness, colour, percent decay and the CO2 transmission rate of stored bananas. The PLW increased gradually in banana, during the storage period. Hands wrapped with polyolefin 15 μ, recorded the lowest weight loss of 1.72%, followed by hands wrapped with cryovac 9 μ. Unwrapped fingers recorded more weight loss (27.48%) compared with wrapped fingers by the end of storage period. The fruit firmness followed a declining trend because of the softening of fruit tissues. Hands wrapped in polyolefin 15μ recorded highest firmness (3.65 kg). The Colour of the fruits changed slowly from green to yellow. The highest colour change from green to yellow was recorded with unwrapped finger bananas and the lowest was observed with hands wrapped with polyolefin 15μ. Decay percentage increased gradually, during the storage period. But, the rate of decay was faster in unwrapped treatments. The CO2 transmission rate increased, with the increase in storage period with lowest in hands, wrapped with polyolefin 15μ. It was noticed that, shrink film increased the shelf life and maintained the quality of banana fruits for 14 days, under ambient conditions.
The Role of Coseismic Coulomb Stress Changes in Shaping the Hard Link Between Normal Fault Segments

The mechanism and evolution of fault linkage is important in the growth and development of large faults. Here we investigate the role of coseismic stress changes in shaping the hard links between parallel normal fault segments (or faults), by comparing numerical models of the Coulomb stress change from simulated earthquakes on two en echelon fault segments to natural observations of hard‐linked fault geometry. We consider three simplified linking fault geometries: (1) fault bend, (2) breached relay ramp, and (3) strike‐slip transform fault. We consider scenarios where either one or both segments rupture and vary the distance between segment tips. Fault bends and breached relay ramps are favored where segments underlap or when the strike‐perpendicular distance between overlapping segments is less than 20% of their total length, matching all 14 documented examples. Transform fault linkage geometries are preferred when overlapping segments are laterally offset at larger distances. Few transform faults exist in continental extensional settings, and our model suggests that propagating faults or fault segments may first link through fault bends or breached ramps before reaching sufficient overlap for a transform fault to develop. Our results suggest that Coulomb stresses arising from multisegment ruptures or repeated earthquakes are consistent with natural observations of the geometry of hard links between parallel normal fault segments.