Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moral Uncanny Valley revisited – how human expectations of robot morality based on robot appearance moderate the perceived morality of robot decisions in high conflict moral dilemmas

In recent years a new sub-field of moral psychology has emerged: moral psychology of AI and robotics. In this field there are several outstanding questions on how robot appearance and other perceived properties of the robots influences the way their decisions are evaluated. Researchers have observed that robot decision are not treated identically to human decisions, even if their antecedents and consequences are identical to human decisions. To study this moral judgment asymmetry effect further, two studies with a series of high conflict moral dilemmas were conducted: Study 1 – which used photorealistic full body imagery -- revealed that utilitarian decisions by human or non-creepy (i.e., nice) looking robotic agents were less condemned than “creepy” (i.e., unease inducing) robots, whereas “creepy” robots received higher moral approval when making deontological decisions. Furthermore, an exploratory analysis demonstrated that the creepiest robot did not cause moral surprise or disappointment when making utilitarian decisions. However, Study 2 showed that mere symbolic representation of the agent’s face did not trigger the Moral Uncanny Valley (where decisions of creepy robots are perceived negatively), suggesting that the effect is dependent on the photorealistic appearance of the agent. These results are in tension with some previous findings in robot moral judgment literature. Future research should focus on creating standardized stimuli for studying moral decisions involving robots and elucidating the complex interactions between agent appearance, decision type, and pre-decision expectations. This work deepens our understanding of the relationship between a decision-making agent’s appearance and the moral judgment of their decisions. The findings have significant implications for the design and implementation of autonomous agents in morally charged situations.
Global-Scale Assessment of Vegetation Phenology Using NOAA/AVHRR Satellite Measurements

Abstract Phenology and associated canopy development exert a strong control over seasonal energy and mass exchanges between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere. Satellite measurements are used to assess main phenological stages of the vegetation at the global scale. The authors propose a method to derive the start, the maximum, the end, and the length of the vegetation cycle, based on the analysis of temporal series of weekly vegetation index, at a resolution of 1° lat × 1° long for year 1986. Global maps of these characteristics of the vegetation are presented, and their zonal distribution is discussed. The start of the vegetation cycle has been related to temperature sums in the case of temperate deciduous forest and to precipitation in the case of savannahs. It is concluded that satellite measurements offer interesting perspectives for global-scale quantitative phenology modeling.
The potassic sedimentary rocks in Gale Crater, Mars, as seen by ChemCam on board Curiosity

The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity encountered potassium‐rich clastic sedimentary rocks at two sites in Gale Crater, the waypoints Cooperstown and Kimberley. These rocks include several distinct meters thick sedimentary outcrops ranging from fine sandstone to conglomerate, interpreted to record an ancient fluvial or fluvio‐deltaic depositional system. From ChemCam Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) chemical analyses, this suite of sedimentary rocks has an overall mean K2O abundance that is more than 5 times higher than that of the average Martian crust. The combined analysis of ChemCam data with stratigraphic and geographic locations reveals that the mean K2O abundance increases upward through the stratigraphic section. Chemical analyses across each unit can be represented as mixtures of several distinct chemical components, i.e., mineral phases, including K‐bearing minerals, mafic silicates, Fe‐oxides, and Fe‐hydroxide/oxyhydroxides. Possible K‐bearing minerals include alkali feldspar (including anorthoclase and sanidine) and K‐bearing phyllosilicate such as illite. Mixtures of different source rocks, including a potassium‐rich rock located on the rim and walls of Gale Crater, are the likely origin of observed chemical variations within each unit. Physical sorting may have also played a role in the enrichment in K in the Kimberley formation. The occurrence of these potassic sedimentary rocks provides additional evidence for the chemical diversity of the crust exposed at Gale Crater.
Insights to the production of SnS-cubic thin films by vacuum thermal evaporation for photovoltaics

Thin films of SnS-CUB with a lattice constant of 11.6 Å, 32 units of SnS per cell and an optical bandgap (E g) of 1.7 eV (direct), are mostly produced by chemical techniques. This cubic polymorph is distinct from its orthorhombic polymorph (SnS-ORT) with an E g of 1.1 eV. This work is on the deposition of SnS-CUB thin films of 100–300 nm in thickness by thermal evaporation at substrate temperatures of 400 °C–475 °C on glass or on a chemically deposited SnS-CUB thin film (100 nm). Under a slow deposition rate (3 nm min−1) from a SnS powder source at 900 °C, the thin film formed on a SnS-CUB film or glass substrate at 450 °C is SnS-CUB. At a substrate temperatures of 200 °C–350 °C, the thin film is of SnS-ORT. A low atomic flux and a higher substrate temperature favor the growth of SnS-CUB thin film. The E g of the SnS-CUB film is nearly 1.7 eV (direct gap), and that of the SnS-CUB film is 1.2 eV (indirect gap). The electrical conductivity (σ) of SnS-CUB and SnS-ORT films are 10–7 and 0.01 Ω–1 cm−1, respectively. A proof-of-concept solar cell of the SnS-CUB thin film showed an open circuit voltage of 0.478 V, compared with 0.283 V for the SnS-ORT solar cell. The insights to the deposition of SnS-CUB and SnS0.45Se0. 55-CUB (E g, 1.57 eV; σ, 0.02 Ω−1 cm−1) thin films by vacuum thermal evaporation offer new outlook for their applications.
Inheritance of yield attributes in bread wheat under irrigated and rainfed conditions

This study was carried out at Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal to investigate the inheritance of gene action in wheat genotypes; viz., Inqilab-91, MAW-1, 2KC033, Saleem-2000, No.2495, 3C061, 3C062, and 3C066 in an 8 x 8 diallel combinations under two diverse environments (irrigated and rainfed conditions). Observations were recorded for flag leaf area, fertile tillers per plant, spike length, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant. Experiment was planted in RCB design with three replications. The wr/vr graphic representation showed that traits like flag leaf area, fertile tillers per plant, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant were controlled by over-dominance type of gene action under irrigated and rainfed conditions. While spike length exhibited over-dominance type of gene action under irrigated conditions and additive type of gene action under rainfed conditions.
Gradformer: A Framework for Multi-Aspect Multi-Granularity Pronunciation Assessment

Automatic pronunciation assessment is an indispensable technology in computer-assisted pronunciation training systems. To further evaluate the quality of pronunciation, multi-task learning with simultaneous output of multi-granularity and multi-aspect has become a mainstream solution. Existing methods either predict scores at all granularity levels simultaneously through a parallel structure, or predict individual granularity scores layer by layer through a hierarchical structure. However, these methods do not fully understand and take advantage of the correlation between the three granularity levels of phoneme, word, and utterance. To address this issue, we propose a novel method, Granularity-decoupled Transformer (Gradformer), which is able to model the relationships between multiple granularity levels. Specifically, we first use a convolution-augmented transformer encoder to encode acoustic features, where the convolution module helps the model better capture local information. The model outputs both phoneme- and word-level granularity scores with high correlation by the encoder. Then, we use utterance queries to interact with the output of the encoder through the transformer decoder, ultimately obtaining the utterance scores. Through unique encoder and decoder architecture, we achieve decoupling at three granularity levels, and handling the relationship between each granularity. Experiments on the speachocean762 dataset show that our model has advantages over state-of-the-art methods in various metrics, especially in key metrics such as phoneme accuracy, word accuracy, and total score.
College overmatch: privilege and the rules of the athletic admissions game

Abstract Applying Bordieuan cultural reproduction theory to life-history interviews with 47 college athletes, this study examines the field of athletic admissions as a prominent place for class conflicts. Utilizing interview data and document analysis, I examine how parents from white suburban communities learn the rules of the game of athletic admissions and use their capital to advantage their offspring in navigating the field. Growing up in affluent communities immersed in high-resource sporting environments primed participants to develop an athletic habitus to better navigate the gatekept and barrier-ridden field of athletic admissions. Part of this habitus included learning to deprioritize academic achievement in favor of athletic achievement as the latter held greater admission advantages. It also meant learning to best package their athletic skills for admission. In the process, some talented athletes may be excluded because their habitus misaligns with fields constraints. Combined these processes lead to an overmatch contributing to the overrepresentation of white suburban athletes in preferential admission.
Preprosthetic Surgery—Narrative Review and Current Debate

This review describes the role of modern preprosthetic surgery. The atrophic edentulous jaw can cause severe functional impairment for patients, leading to inadequate denture retention, reduced quality of life, and significant health problems. The aim of preprosthetic surgery is to restore function and form due to tooth loss arising from congenital deformity, trauma, or ablative surgery. Alveolar bone loss is due to disuse atrophy following tooth loss. The advent of dental implants and their ability to preserve bone heralded the modern version of preprosthetic surgery. Their ability to mimic natural teeth has overcome the age-old problem of edentulism and consequent jaw atrophy. Controversies with preprosthetic surgery are discussed: soft tissue versus hard tissue augmentation in the aesthetic zone, bone regeneration versus prosthetic tissue replacement in the anterior maxilla, sinus floor augmentation versus short implants in the posterior maxilla—interpositional bone grafting versus onlay grafts for vertical bone augmentation. Best results for rehabilitation are achieved by the team approach of surgeons, maxillofacial prosthodontists/general dentists, and importantly, informing patients about the available preprosthetic surgical options.
Risk factors for immediate and delayed cardiogenic shock in patients with ventricular septal rupture after myocardial infarction

Background Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a serious complication occurring after myocardial infarction (MI). Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a common complication of VSR and an important factor affecting its prognosis. CS can occur in either an immediate or delayed manner after VSR; however, studies on the risk factors associated with immediate or delayed CS are scarce. Methods We retrospectively studied patients diagnosed with VSR after MI and admitted to the West China Hospital between September 2009 and August 2023. Demographic data, medical history, physical examination results, electrocardiograms, and echocardiographic and hematological data were extracted from electronic medical records or archived records. CS was defined as hypotension (<90 mmHg) and/or the requirement for catecholamines, pulmonary congestion, and signs of end-organ failure. The CS onset time was defined as the time at which catecholamines were initiated. Results A total of 88 patients with VSR after MI, including 49 males (55.7%), were enrolled. The average age was 70.2 years. Of these patients, 32 (36.4%) who already had CS at the time of VSR discovery were defined as immediate CS, and 28 (31.8%) who developed CS within 2 weeks after VSR discovery were defined as delayed CS. A smaller left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and VSR discovered after admission were independent risk factors for immediate CS. Elevated heart rate and higher levels of creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme on admission were independent risk factors for delayed CS in patients without immediate CS after VSR. Conclusions The occurrence of CS in patients with VSR after MI has an evident time course. Thus, an early identification of patients at risk of immediate or delayed CS and optimization of treatment procedures may help improve the prognosis.
Modelling the effects of thermal stratification on the oxygen budget of an impounded river

The River Saar is a heavily impounded river with an average discharge of 80 m3 s−1. The German reach of the River Saar, i.e. the lower 90km, was gradually impounded from 1977–2000, resulting in a doubled average water depth (today 4.2m). In parallel to river development, water pollution was decreased strongly, relieving the critical oxygen budget in the river. Nowadays, oxygen concentrations may still fall below 4 mg O2 l−1 during low‐flow periods in summer, when thermal stratification and depth gradients of oxygen occur. In August 2005, high‐resolution measurements of temperature, conductivity, turbulence, as well as oxygen‐levels were carried out over 48 hours. These data were used to develop and validate a ‘quasi‐two‐dimensional’, depth‐resolving modelling approach with the deterministic water quality model QSim. This model includes the mathematical description of the influence of flow velocity and solar radiation on thermal stratification, on which the exchange between water layers depends. Three data sets of continuous measurements were compared with the model outputs. Thermal stratification shows diurnal rhythms and longitudinal variability depending on solar radiation, water depth, and flow velocity. In the course of the day, measurements and model outputs showed best agreement during the strongest stratification in the evening. The modelled effects of thermal stratification on oxygen‐budget rates were quantified and showed that the reduction of atmospheric re‐aeration is partly compensated by an increase in algal oxygen production. For the River Saar, the high temporal and spatial variability of oxygen concentrations documented here is of major ecological significance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alpha‐cellulose δ13C variation in mangrove tree rings correlates well with annual sea level trend between 1982 and 1999

A pilot study of tree rings in a modern mangrove tree (Rhizophora apiculata) from Leizhou Peninsula, northern South China Sea shows that (1) the tree‐rings are annual; (2) the ring widths decrease; and (3) their alpha‐cellulose δ13C values increase from 1982 to 1999 AD, consistent with the trends of annual sea level, salinity and sea surface temperatures in the same period. We propose that such changes were caused by increasingly longer duration of waterlogging in response to sea‐level rise. If this is the case, alpha‐cellulose δ13C in mangrove tree rings can be used as a potential indicator of past sea level fluctuations.
Clouds as Seen by Satellite Sounders (3I) and Imagers (ISCCP). Part II: A New Approach for Cloud Parameter Determination in the 3I Algorithms

Abstract First comparisons of improved initialization inversion (3I) cloud parameters determined from TIROS-N Operational Vertical Sounder observations with time–space-collocated clouds from the recently reprocessed International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) dataset have shown a reasonable agreement between all cloud types, with exception of the stratocumulus regions off the western coasts. Here, 3I clouds were found systematically thinner and higher than ISCCP clouds. These results have initiated a careful investigation of the methods used to convert measurements from IR sounders into cloud parameters. All existing methods get very sensitive to the chosen temperature profile toward lower cloud heights, due to a denominator approaching zero. This leads to a bias like the one seen in the comparison with ISCCP. Therefore, a new 3I cloud scheme has been developed, based on a weighted-χ2 method, which calculates the effective cloud amount from the CO2-band radiances, but weighted differently ac.
Calculation of stratosphere–troposphere exchange in East Asia cut-off lows: cases from the Lagrangian perspective

Abstract In this study, the authors focus on the cut-off low pressure systems (COLs) lingering over East Asia in late spring and early summer and quantify the two-way stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) by 3D trajectory integrations, achieved using a revised version of the UK Universities Global Atmospheric Modelling Programme Offline Trajectory Code (Version 3). By selecting 10 typical COLs and calculating the cross-tropopause air mass fluxes, it is found that stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) fluxes exist in the center of COLs; and in the periphery of the COL center, troposphere-to-stratosphere transport (TST) fluxes and STT fluxes are distributed alternately. Net transport fluxes in COLs are from stratosphere to troposphere, and the magnitude is about 10−4 kg m−2 s−1. The ratio between the area-averaged STT and TST fluxes increases with increasing strength of the COLs. By adopting appropriate residence time, the spurious transports are effectively excluded. Finally, the authors compare the results with previous studies, and find that the cross-tropopause fluxes (CTFs) induced by COLs are about one to two orders of magnitude larger than global CTFs. COLs play a significant role in local, rapid air mass exchanges, although they may only be responsible for a fraction of the total STE.
Variations of a low latitude Andean glacier according to global and local climate variations : first results

We have ten years of mass balance, meteorology and precipitation data on the glacier 15 of Antizana, located in Ecuador very close to the equator. Basing ourselves on Francou et al. (2004) results, we studied the relations of monthly ablation zone volume variations of the glacier with 20 variables chosen to represent the global and local climate. The statistical model provided explains 58% of the melt variance. This model implicates the Nino3+4 index as well as precipitation anomalies at the foot of Antizana. Excess (lack) of precipitation during the 9 previous months corresponds to a decrease (increase) of melting. A warm (cool) anomaly of the ENSO oscillation corresponds to an increase (decrease) of melting 4 months later.
A model for lateral hyporheic flow based on valley slope and channel sinuosity

The meandering of rivers results in head gradients across point bar deposits leading to hyporheic exchange: the flow of groundwater from and back to the stream. Two models for predicting horizontal fluid flux through the hyporheic zone, one based solely on valley slope and another that uses both valley slope and channel sinuosity, are presented in this article. Both models require knowledge of aquifer hydraulic conductivity. The models are developed via a suite of groundwater flow simulations with boundary conditions taking a variety of channel geometries, idealized as sinusoidal, and valley slopes that we assume are similar to that of the water table. Functional predictive models are developed by fitting a line or surface to discrete model output which covers the spectrum of most natural meandering rivers. Since the fitted models only require channel slope and/or sinuosity (plus hydraulic conductivity), they are amenable for regional estimation of hyporheic flux using digital terrain data.
Environmental controls on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in the high‐altitude arid western Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau permafrost region

While permafrost in the circum‐Artic has great influence on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks, this might not be the case in low‐latitude arid permafrost regions. We test this hypothesis in the western Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) permafrost region. Fifty‐nine soil profiles were analyzed to examine the SOC and TN distribution and the controlling factors in western QTP, which is a desert steppe ecoregion. Mean stocks of SOC (5.29 kg m−2) and TN (0.56 kg m−2) for the top 200 cm in this area were lower than those of the east QTP and circum‐Arctic regions. The SOC and TN stocks under vegetative cover with permafrost conditions were significantly higher than those of desert conditions. The SOC and TN stocks for the layers of different depths were related to the content of clay, silt, and moisture. Although the active layer thickness (ALT) had a significant negative correlation to soil moisture, the ALT explained little or no variance in the SOC and TN stocks. The results showed that in the vast permafrost regions of the western QTP, the SOC and TN stocks are very low, and the main controlling factors for the SOC and TN are soil texture, moisture, and vegetation type. The SOC pool in this area may not be as vulnerable to degradation associated with climate warming and thus not emit greenhouse gases at the same rate as other permafrost regions. The different response of the SOC in this region should be considered in carbon cycling models.
Mapping palaeostructure and palaeobathymetry along the Norwegian Atlantic continental margin: Møre and Vøring basins

ABSTRACT The post-Jurassic bathymetric and subsidence history of the Mid-Norwegian Atlantic margin (Møre and Vøring basins) has been investigated using the technique of 3D-flexural backstripping. Eleven mapped horizons from seabed to the Base Cretaceous have been sequentially backstripped to produce a suite of palaeobathymetry and palaeostructure maps for all horizons at all time stages. Backstripping has incorporated thermal subsidence in response to (1) an initial rift event at c. 140 Ma and (2) a subsequent rift-to-break-up event in the latest Cretaceous/early Tertiary. Transient dynamic uplift of the margin during the Paleocene is also incorporated, having a particular impact on palaeobathymetric predictions at this time. In an exploration context, the palaeobathymetric maps were used predictively to investigate sediment dispersal and deposition through time; the subsurface palaeostructure maps were used for maturation modelling and identification of hydrocarbon-migration pathways, while all of the maps contribute to an understanding of hydrocarbon-trap development through time. The backstripped maps yield considerable information on the regional structural evolution of the margin. After regionally distributed extension of both the Møre and Vøring basins during the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous, map restorations of the two basins show contrasting structural histories. There is no younger fault-controlled overprint on the Møre Basin, whereas the inner Vøring Basin was extended again in the mid-Cretaceous and the outer Vøring Basin was extended in the latest Cretaceous/Paleocene. Three-dimensional backstripping also confirms an active compressional origin, rather than a wholly passive loading origin, for the post-break-up Tertiary domes located along the margin. This is the first time that a temporal analysis of the domes' formation has been possible in 3D map form rather than 2D section form. The technique of 3D flexural backstripping has wide application to the study of rifts and continental margins elsewhere.