Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of Hurricane Lili's intensity changes

Rapid intensity changes of Hurricane Lili in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) were studied in three distinct ways: climatology, satellite remote sensing, and surface meteorological and oceanographic measurements. Each research methodology provided insight about Hurricane Lili’s intensity behavior. A climatology of rapid and explosive intensifications of hurricanes was developed using minimum central pressure observations for the Atlantic tropical cyclone record. Results showed these events were frequent, especially in the GOM. The majority of intensification events occurred ≤ 24 h before landfall, with a third to one-half ≤ 12 h. Lili emerged anomalous as the only hurricane to weaken at a greater rate (+17 hPa over 6 h or +2.83 hPa h) than its rapid intensification event rate (-13 hPa over 6 h or -2.16 hPa h). GOES-8 satellite water vapor brightness temperature data were investigated using a -24 °C vapor front to delineate a dry air mass west of Lili. Drier air was shown to affect Lili during a rapid weakening phase after the two features were less than 250 km mean or 215 km minimum distance apart. These critical distances are offered as a criterion for a relationship between tropical cyclone weakening and dry air advection. During the time periods where Lili was intensifying or maintaining intensity, this vapor front exhibited more complex signatures of definitive breaks, shape changes, and protrusions. During the rapid weakening phase and when the two features were the greatest distance apart, the vapor front resembled a smooth, strong boundary line. The dry air mass was shown to have the greatest effect upon Lili after the rapid intensification phases.
Iły kaolinitowe warstw międzywęglowych kopalni Turów

KAOLINITE CLAYS FROM INTERCALATIONS OF COAL SEAMS IN THE TUROW MINE Summary Turoszow clays from three layers separated by brown coal seams in the Żytawa Basin. They are highly variable in granulation (Table 1). Coarse grain fraction, representing contaminations in these clays, consists of quartz, potassium feldspar and brown coal grains. Table 2 presents chemical composition of clays separating coal seams. X-ray and diffractometer analyses (Figs. 1-2) showed that kaolinite is the main component and that illite, smectite and minerals with mixed-layered structure occur in subordinate amounts in these clays. A high variability in mineral composition is related to diversity of rocks forming basement of the Żytawa Basin and supplying material for formation of these clays as well as very rapid transport and sedimentation of the sedimentary series. Variable technological properties of these clays and especially high viscosity of water suspension of a low concentration (Table 3) impede selection of proper enrichment technique necessary for malting them usable in ceramics industry. It should be noted that these clays belong to kaolin raw materials turning white after firing and characterized by very high resistance to bending. Some parts of these clays are also very highly incombustible. The resources of Turoszow clays are of the order of several millions tons so their use may be highly advantageous for the country's raw material basis, especially as exploitation of other deposits ceases.
Economic analysis of inefficiency in wheat production: An empirical study from India

The study undertook an effort to trace the production inefficiency between different farm sizes (i.e., marginal, small, semi-medium, and medium farms) for wheat crops in Uttar Pradesh, India. Using a sample of 320 farmers from the U.P., the study employed the stochastic production frontier (SPF) approach to determine the level of inefficiency using key inputs such as land, irrigation, fertilizer, seed, pesticides, equipment, and labour. Further, factors such as age, farm size (FS), soil fertility problem (SFP), awareness spearheaded by the panchayat (ASP), inaccessibility to certify seeds (ICS), and Simmons land fragmentation index (LFI) that accounted for inefficiency among various farm sizes have been taken into account. The study found that the inefficiency factors used in the study are hindering wheat production. The study exhibits significant differences among farm-wise inefficiency in Uttar Pradesh and therefore suggests the possibility of increasing the production of wheat crops in the state. The study recognizes that for farms with above-two-hectare land, production is relatively higher as compared to small and marginal farms’ production. Thus, farms above 2 hectares are, in real terms, recognised as true economic holdings in the study, as they are less inefficient relative to others. The study suggests policy measures to improve the symmetrical information regarding input usages and interventions to reduce marginalisation in the state.
Application of genomic tools for Irish pasture improvement

Heading and aftermath heading are important traits in perennial ryegrass because they impact forage quality. So far, genome-wide association analyses in this major forage species have only identified a small number of genetic variants associated with heading date that overall explained little of the variation. Some possible reasons include rare alleles with large phenotypic effects, allelic heterogeneity, or insufficient marker density. We established a genome-wide association panel with multiple genotypes from multiple full-sib families. This ensured alleles were present at the frequency needed to have sufficient statistical power to identify associations. We genotyped the panel via partial genome sequencing and performed genome-wide association analyses with multi-year phenotype data collected for heading date, and aftermath heading. Genome wide association using a mixed linear model failed to identify any variants significantly associated with heading date or aftermath heading. Our failure to identify associations for these traits is likely due to the extremely low linkage disequilibrium we observed in this population. However, using single marker analysis within each full-sib family we could identify markers and genomic regions associated with heading and aftermath heading. Using the ryegrass genome we identified putative orthologs of key heading genes, some of which were located in regions of marker-trait associations. Given the very low levels of LD, genome wide association studies in perennial ryegrass populations are going to require very high SNP densities. Single marker analysis within full-sibs enabled us to identify significant marker-trait associations. One of these markers anchored proximal to a putative ortholog of TFL1, homologues of which have been shown to play a key role in continuous heading of some members of the rose family, Rosaceae.
FRoG-MOT: Fast and Robust Generic Multiple-Object Tracking by IoU and Motion-State Associations

This paper proposes a generic multi-object tracking (MOT) algorithm that is robust to unexpected motion changes for generic objects. Deep learning has dramatically been improving MOT performances. Nevertheless, state-of-the-art tracking algorithms are still sensitive to unexpected motion changes and the generic object target beyond person tracking. This is because standard MOT benchmark datasets such as MOT17 mainly consist of persons in a crowd, often lacking unexpected shape and motion changes; thus, these issues have yet to be focused on. We propose a simple-yet-effective MOT framework that can dynamically improve tracking continuity by associating each target based on adaptively modified motion states. The keys are 1) to represent the target motions using multiple motion states that have weak correlations with each other and 2) to modify those states that have the lowest similarity to past states as outliers. Our approach can improve trajectory continuity and robustness to unexpected motion changes for generic objects. Comprehensive experiments have confirmed that our framework is comparable to existing state-of-the-art methods on a standard dataset and outperforms those algorithms on the GMOT dataset with an overall 2% improvement in IDF1, a measure of tracking continuity.
Evaluating the Significance of the Contrail Effect on Diurnal Temperature Range Using the Eyjafjallajökull Eruption‐Related Flight Disruption

Meteorological data collected during the post‐9/11 flight grounding in the United States suggested that the removal of contrails increased diurnal temperature range (DTR), but subsequent research has contested this result. The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption resulted in a 97% flight cancelation rate across the UK, offering another rare opportunity to compare DTR under contrail‐free skies against those with contrails. Temperature data from 199 UK meteorological stations indicate that a +3.4 °C DTR anomaly occurred during the grounding interval across the region previously affected by the highest flight densities, substantially larger than the +1.1 °C anomaly previously observed but smaller than other DTR anomalies (up to ~ +6 °C) that were independent of the grounding. Although the observed DTR anomalies are largely attributable to weather system migration, a contribution of up to +1 °C from contrail absence appears reconcilable with both the observed time evolution in DTR during the Eyjafjallajökull grounding period and previous results.
GEOELECTRICAL INVESTIGATION OF SEAWATER INTRUSION IN THE COASTAL AQUIFER OF NADOR (TIPAZA, ALGERIA)

Republique Algerienne Democratique et Populaire Universite Kasdi Merbah-Ouargla Faculte des Hydrocarbures, Energies renouvelables et des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Univers Departement des Sciences de la Terre et de l'Univers Laboratoire de Geologie du Sahara
Donkey (Equus asinus) as a draught animal in smallholder farming areas of the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe

Donkeys are becoming increasingly important for draught animal power (DAP) in Zimbabwe and the sub-Saharan region. This is mainly because catde, the traditional DAP source, have suffered high mortalities in recent droughts. However, there is limited information on the extent of use and potential of donkeys for DAP in Zimbabwe. In an attempt to rectify this deficiency, a rapid rural appraisal (RRA) and a series of studies were undertaken. The RRA was conducted first to assess the status, role and current management practices of DAP in smallholder farming areas in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. Studies were carried out to assess; the morphological characteristics of 335 working donkeys in south-western Zimbabwe, the relations between live weight and body measurements and the seasonal fluctuations of live weight and body condition of selected donkeys in semi-arid areas. The other studies evaluated the draught performance of teams of donkeys and cattle ploughing at different sites. Finally, the effects of drinking water and work on dry matter intake (DMI) as well as apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) and mean retention time (MRT) of donkeys were investigated. The results of the RRA showed that large numbers of cattle died (up to 75 per cent in some areas) during the 1991-92 drought and that this had increased the farmers' dependency on donkeys for DAP. However, the management of donkeys was generally inadequate. For example, there was widespread use of the inappropriate neck yokes and improper harnesses on donkeys in some of the areas. The study on morphological characteristics indicated that the typical "Zimbabwean" donkey weighed 142 ±1.4 kg, had a heart girth of 115 cm (range 93 -
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hand Hygiene, Mask Use, and Social Distancing among Public Hospital and Polyclinic Nurses in Barbados during the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic

Background: Nurses are essential members of the healthcare workforce and were among the first-line carers for patients in community and hospital settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they were at a heightened risk of infection, resulting in several reported deaths among nursing staff. Several preventive measures were adopted to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of nurses regarding hand hygiene, mask wearing, and social distancing measures in healthcare settings in Barbados during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: An online survey of nurses working in public hospitals and polyclinics (public primary care clinics) in Barbados from March 2021 to December 2021 was conducted. A nonsystematic convenience sampling method was employed to recruit nurses who were readily available and willing to participate. A questionnaire captured the sociodemographic information and knowledge and practices related to hand hygiene, the use of face masks, and social distancing. Each correct response received one mark. Overall knowledge scores were categorized as poor (<60%), average (60–80%), or good (>80–100%). Results: Of the 192 participants, the majority were female (82.8%) and had >5 years of experience (82%). The findings revealed that 45.8% had poor knowledge of hand hygiene, and that the knowledge of 43.8% of respondents was average. Multivariable logistic regression showed that, after adjustment for age and gender, registered nurses had 2.1 times increased odds (95% confidence interval 1.0, 4.2) of having good knowledge compared to other nursing categories. Regarding mask wearing, 53.6% of nurses had average knowledge, and 27.1% had good knowledge. Multivariable logistic regression showed that, after adjustment for age and gender, registered nurses had 3.3 times increased odds (95% confidence interval 1.5, 7.4) of having good knowledge compared to nursing assistants. A total of 68.6% of respondents followed the correct steps of handwashing every time, and 98.3% wore a mask in public places. More than half of the nurses (51.2%) kept a safe distance from others to avoid spreading SARS-CoV-2; one-third were in a crowded place(s) in the past three months, and 55.8% usually followed guidelines for social isolation as recommended by the WHO. Conclusions: The study identified knowledge deficiencies related to hand hygiene and wearing masks among nurses. It is imperative to provide additional training on infection control measures.
Long-Term Care in Latin America and the Caribbean: Theory and Policy Considerations

ABSTRACT:This paper discusses theoretical and practical issues related to long-term care (LTC) services in Latin America. Demand for these services will rise as the region undergoes a swift demographic transition from its currently young population to a rapidly aging one, especially since the region's aging cohorts are more prone to experience a decline in their functional and physical abilities than elderly people elsewhere in the world. We argue that private insurance markets are ill-equipped to provide coverage to meet the need for LTC, while the amount of personal savings required to afford self-insurance would be prohibitively high. In Latin America, LTC may not be an immediate priority, but governments are likely to encourage the development of LTC programs as demand for them steadily grows. In particular, policymakers are probably going to focus initially on LTC programs for the poor and vulnerable, for whom affordability of LTC is a greater problem. We therefore study how basic elements of policy design affect the cost-effectiveness of LTC programs by means of a formal model. In a simple context where families can provide care themselves or hire care in a market, we find that pro-poor programs are more cost-effective when families have the option to receive cash subsidies, as the opportunity cost of providing care is lower for poor families. Moreover, the availability of in-kind and cash choices reduces program costs overall by screening families based on their opportunity cost of providing care.
Revisiting perceived grati ﬁ cation, consumer attitudes and purchase impulses in cross-border e-commerce live streaming: a direct and indirect e ﬀ ects model

Purpose – Cross-border e-commerce live streaming morphs into an epidemic shopping scenario, yet there is a paucity of research on impulse purchasing in this context. The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the adoption motivation of cross-border e-commerce live streaming and its in ﬂ uence mechanism on intrinsic response and purchase impulse and to highlight the mediating role of browsing behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the use and grati ﬁ cation lens, a new conceptualization model is established to captivate the theoretical relationships between perceived stimuli, individual attitudes, browsing behavior and impulsive purchases. A questionnaire survey was used to collect cross-sectional data from 427 Malaysian consumers and the estimated framework was validated through AMOS-structural equationmodeling technique. Findings – The ﬁ ndings con ﬁ rm that perceived interactivity, perceived information usefulness and perceived enjoyment signi ﬁ cantly in ﬂ uenced positive attitudes toward live-streaming, which in turn induced impulsive purchases; however, perceived affective grati ﬁ cation did not stimulate positive attitudes. Consumers ’ utilitarian browsing had a stronger effect on impulse purchases than hedonic browsing and utilitarian browsing behavior mediated the relationship between positive attitudes and impulse buying; however, hedonic browsing had neither a direct nor a mediating effect on impulsive purchases. Practical implications – This research enhances the literature on the impact of cross-border e-commerce live streaming, an emerging technology, on consumer behavior and offers managerial implications for e-commerce practitionersto gain insightsinto consumerimpulse purchasing behavior. Originality/value – The ﬁ ndings revamp conventional knowledge and provide new angles for understanding the formation mechanisms of impulse purchases, motivations for virtual media use and browsing behaviormediating effects inthecontext oflivestreaming.
Small and large fiber neuropathy in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Introduction Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder that affects multiple organs. In this study, we investigated symptoms of pain and presence of small and large fiber neuropathy in the juvenile and adult form of DM1. Method Twenty genetically verified DM1 patients were included. Pain was assessed, and neurological examination and investigations of the peripheral nervous system by quantification of small nerve fibers in skin biopsy, quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction studies were performed. Results from skin biopsies were compared to healthy controls. Result Seventeen patients reported chronic pain. Large and/or small fiber abnormalities were present in 50% of the patients. The intraepidermal nerve fiber density was significantly lower in the whole group of patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusion Small-fiber neuropathy might be an important cause of pain in DM1.
Characterization among and within Sicilian Tetraploid Wheat Landraces by Gluten Protein Analysis for Traceability Purposes

The criteria of “Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability” as well as a high “overall quality index” are used to register the Italian modern varieties to the national register. Differently, local conservation varieties can be certified under different EU Directives that facilitate, as an overall objective, the preservation of biodiversity and the containment of genetic erosion. In recent years, products derived from ancient grains are perceived to be healthier and more sustainable by consumers, especially in Italy, with consequent higher market prices. The ancient tetraploid wheat varieties registered in the national register of conservation varieties amount to 28, 24 of which are Sicilian. They are supposed to have wide genetic variability compared to modern ones, making them vulnerable to fraud because they are difficult to trace. It is therefore important to have tools able to discriminate between autochthonous Sicilian varieties. This can be completed by gluten proteins composition, which also provides information on the technological properties of derived products. Fifty-one accessions belonging to twenty-two ancient varieties of Sicilian tetraploid (mostly durum) wheat were analyzed. Although wide intra-accession and intra-varietal variability measurements were assessed, the gliadin pattern of bulks of seeds belonging to each variety was discriminatory. Moreover, differences in technological attitudes were found between landraces. This paves the way to use gluten protein patterns for traceability, allowing local farmers and producers to valorize their products and assure consumers regarding the transparency of the entire supply chain.
Nitric oxide emissions from soils: effects of deforestation

As part of the LBA-EUSTACH project, NO production and the rate constant of NO consumption in soil samples from Amazonian forest and pasture sites were determined in the laboratory. The purpose was to study NO production and consumption in soils from both types of land use as functions of soil temperature and soil moisture. NO production increased exponentially with soil temperature. The degree of increase depended on soil moisture, indicating that the response of NO production to a change in soil temperature is most pronounced at a certain intermediate soil moisture. NO production peaked at a soil moisture of 0.10 g/g, corresponding to 0.27 and 0.38 water-filled pore space for forest and pasture soils, respectively. The optimum soil moisture for which maximum NO release was observed was independent of soil temperature. NO consumption was most efficient at high soil temperatures and under dry soil conditions. NO release was approximately 10 times larger for forest than pasture soil. The difference may be related to the higher NO3 – content in forest soil. Submitted in final form to Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 2001
Influence of Subcloud-layer Structures on the Transition to Deep Convection

Prediction of the transition from shallow to deep cumulus convection remains a challenge in atmospheric modeling. Numerical Weather Prediction and climate models, in which deep convection is parametrized, tend to predict the onset of deep convection too early in the day. However, even Cloud Resolving Models are sensitive to resolution requirements and the representation of microphysics. In this study we use the Dutch Atmospheric Large Eddy Simulation (DALES) model to conduct detailed simulations of deep convection and investigate to what extent the spatial growth of potential temperature and humidity structures below cloud base influence the transition. When precipitation starts, density currents trigger cloud formation at the edge of areas where rain evaporates. The appearance of such cold pools coincides with a rapid growth of length scales. Previous studies in which the sensitivity of LES simulations to microphysics parameterization was investigated suggest that the evaporation of rain may indeed have a dramatic effect on the development of deep convection (Khairoutdinov and Randall, 2006). In the present study we try to directly influence the developing spatial structures in the thermodynamical fields by manipulating the contributions in spectral space, i.e. by selectively suppressing/promoting the spectral contribution of particular wavelengths, without modifying the overall (mean) thermodynamical budgets. This enables one to study the effects of organized structures such as cold pools separately from the behavior of the model above the cloud layer.