Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal variations of snow cover in northeast China based on flexible multiday combinations of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer snow cover products

Abstract Daily moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) (Terra and Aqua) snow cover products are used to produce flexible multiday combinations for each hydrological year between October 2003 and September 2013 in northeast China. Compared with in situ observations, the daily and flexible multiday combinations achieve overall accuracy of 47.51 and 76.52%, respectively, which is > 34.45 % of MODIS Terra and 30.57% of MODIS Aqua under all-sky conditions. Snow cover fraction, snow cover day map (SCD), snow cover onset date map (SCOD), snow cover end date map (SCED), and snow cover index (SCI) are then generated. The highest SCD, earliest SCOD, and latest SCED are always located in the southern edge of Da Hinggan Mountain and Changbai Mountain, followed by Xiao Hinggan Mountain. SCI negatively correlated with air temperature, with a correlation coefficient of − 0.73 ( p < 0.05 ) in snowfall season; SCI positively correlated with precipitation, but is insignificant at the 95% level. This suggests that snow cover is more sensitive to air temperature than precipitation. In other words, continuous increase in air temperature due to global warming in the long term will result in continuous reducing of snow cover, a gracious water resource for northeast China, although a relative decrease in air temperature in the recent 10 years has resulted in snow cover increase.
National Economic Benefits of Railway Transportation Analyzed Using Data Mining

This study focuses on the economic benefits of railway transportation from the aspect of data mining using convolution neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and multiple linear regression (MLRA) models. Improved CNN and LSTM (CNN-LSTM), and CNN and bidirectional LSTM (CNN-Bi-LSTM) models have been developed to enhance learning. The case data sets include operating mileage, and passenger and freight turnover for four transportation modes (railway, highway, aviation, and water transportation) from 1952 to 2020 in China; various evaluation indexes are used to verify model effectiveness. The CNN and LSTM model prediction error rates are 29% and 22%, respectively, verifying the role of an integrated transportation system in railway transportation and the time effect as a national economic benefit of railway transportation, respectively. The CNN-LSTM model prediction error rate is 12%, indicating that the economic benefits of railway transportation depend on the structure of various transportation modes and the time stage of transportation resource allocation. The prediction error rate of the CNN-Bi-LSTM model is 14%, suggesting the irreversibility of the impact of railway transportation resources on economic benefits. The MLRA model error rate is lower than those of the CNN and LSTM models, at 19%, but higher than those of the other models. The CNN-LSTM model is recommended to quantify the economic benefits of railway transportation. This study illustrates the systematic nature, periodicity, time lag, and irreversibility of railway transportation and economic development, providing a theoretical basis for the formulation of transportation development and investment plans.
Applications of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) to Provide Input to Photochemical Grid Models for the Lake Michigan Ozone Study (LMOS)

Abstract In spite of ongoing control measures, episodes of elevated boundary layer ozone in violation of national ambient air quality standards continue to occur in the Lake Michigan region. The Lake Michigan Ozone Study is a multiyear effort that included a 1991 field program, among the purposes of which were the collection of sufficient data to initialize and evaluate a photochemical modeling system to be used for regional emission control decisions. The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System was configured to provide the meteorological input. Four multiday episodes were simulated, and model performance was evaluated against a dedicated surface network of meteorological sensors and supplemental aircraft measurements. A nested grid configuration allowed a 4-km mesh size over the lake, while the synoptic environment was simulated using a U.S.-scale, 80-km outer grid. Using only synoptic-scale surface and upper-air data for four-dimensional data assimilation, the model showed considerable skill in simulating.
Detecting intimate partner violence circumstance for suicide: development and validation of a tool using natural language processing and supervised machine learning in the National Violent Death Reporting System

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) victims and perpetrators often report suicidal ideation, yet there is no comprehensive national dataset that allows for an assessment of the connection between IPV and suicide. The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) captures IPV circumstances for homicide-suicides (<2% of suicides), but not single suicides (suicide unconnected to other violent deaths; >98% of suicides). Objective To facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the co-occurrence of IPV and suicide, we developed and validated a tool that detects mentions of IPV circumstances (yes/no) for single suicides in NVDRS death narratives. Methods We used 10 000 hand-labelled single suicide cases from NVDRS (2010–2018) to train (n=8500) and validate (n=1500) a classification model using supervised machine learning. We used natural language processing to extract relevant information from the death narratives within a concept normalisation framework. We tested numerous models and present performance metrics for the best approach. Results Our final model had robust sensitivity (0.70), specificity (0.98), precision (0.72) and kappa values (0.69). False positives mostly described other family violence. False negatives used vague and heterogeneous language to describe IPV, and often included abusive suicide threats. Implications It is possible to detect IPV circumstances among singles suicides in NVDRS, although vague language in death narratives limited our tool’s sensitivity. More attention to the role of IPV in suicide is merited both during the initial death investigation processes and subsequent NVDRS reporting. This tool can support future research to inform targeted prevention.
A solution technique for almost perfect tracking of non-minimum-phase, discrete-time linear systems

In this paper, the Steering Along Zeros Control technique for achieving a stable inversion of discrete-time non-minimumphase linear systems is presented. It is shown how the problem reduces to the computation of an ideal initial state from which perfect tracking of a given reference signal can be achieved with a bounded control effort. A case study is presented relative to the control of a one-link flexible arm.
Corticosteroids use for COVID-19: an overview of systematic reviews.

Purpose A reappraisal of the validity of the conclusions of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses related to corticosteroids use for the treatment of COVID-19. Material and Methods An overview of SRs (umbrella review). The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed using tha AMSTAR-2 checklist; quality of the evidence was appraised following the GRADE approach. Results 35 SRs were included in this overview. Data were from 307 overlapping reports, based on 121 individual primary studies (25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 96 non-RCTs. In critically ill patients the use of steroids significantly reduced mortality compared to standard of care in 80% of the SRs, more often with moderate/high level of certainty; however, in patients not requiring oxygen supplementation the use of steroids increased the overall mortality in 2/3 of the comparisons. Clinical progression of diseases (need for mechanical ventilation, or for intensive care admission) was more commonly observed among controls compared to steroids recipients (in 9 out of 14 comparisons; certainty of evidence from very-low to moderate). The occurrence of adverse events was similar among steroids recipients and controls. Other outcomes (i.e., viral clearance, length of hospital stay) or issue related to optimal dose and type of steroids were addressed in a minority of SRs, with a high level of uncertainty, so that no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Conclusions There is moderate certainty of evidence that corticosteroids reduce mortality and progression of disease in critically ill COVID-19 patients compared to standard of care, without increasing the occurrence of adverse events.
Modelling Students' Satisfaction with Computer-Based Assessment (CBA) Environments in Higher Education: The Roles of CBA Center Service Satisfaction and Perceived Trust

It has been extensively researched how satisfied students are with the vast majority of goods and services offered by educational institutions of higher learning. However, there appears to be a paucity of research on students' satisfaction with the facilities and services of computer-based assessment (CBA) centers in higher education institutions, especially when the centers are equipped and staffed by third-party vendors. The CBA centers are public and private examination centers in developing countries that administer computer-based tests for higher education and other external organizations. Although satisfaction with the services and facilities is essential, it has been asserted that having the feeling of trust when using the CBA is even more critical to the students. Trust is essential for the success of any technological advancement, especially in the field of education. Any educational technology that lacks the stakeholders' trust, regardless of how effective it may be, is doomed to fail to be adopted on a large scale. However, limited studies have investigated how students' trust in the CBA affects their satisfaction. Therefore, this study aims to model and analyze the roles of CBA center service satisfaction and perceived trust in the CBA in attaining overall satisfaction by exploring their roles in influencing student satisfaction. A research framework based on the updated information system success model (ISSM) is validated using a survey incorporating system quality, service quality, question content, the cost-effectiveness of CBA services, CBA center service satisfaction, and perceived trust. A total of 459 survey responses collected from three higher education institutions in Nigeria were analyzed using structural equation modelling. As a result, the findings confirmed that students' satisfaction with services at the CBA centers is a mediator between service quality, system quality, and overall satisfaction with CBA. The correlation between CBA centre service satisfaction and overall CBA satisfaction was also found to be the strongest, indicating that student satisfaction with the services and facilities at the CBA centre is crucial. CBA center managers and institutions can utilize the findings from this study to successfully implement the CBA. In enhancing students‘ CBA satisfaction, higher education institutions should consider focusing on the necessary steps towards improving the conditions of the CBA centers in terms of infrastructure and services rendered. Meanwhile, to increase student satisfaction besides enhancing the system and service quality and cost-effectiveness, institutions should seriously consider promoting the CBA to the students by highlighting the personal impact of the CBA in terms of trust by improving the quality and features of the CBA.
Amorphous transparent electroconductor 2CdO⋅GeO2: Conversion of amorphous insulating cadmium germanate by ion implantation

Amorphous 2CdO⋅GeO2 thin films (optical band gap determined by a Tauc plot; 3.4 eV) prepared by rf sputtering were implanted with H+ or Li+ ions to a dose of 2×1016 cm−2. Direct current conductivities in the specimens at 300 K were increased from 3×10−9 S cm−1 to ∼10 S cm−1 after the implantation. The conductivities in these implanted specimens remained almost constant down to 77 K. No deleterious coloring was perceived after implantation. The Hall mobilities (conduction type; n) in the implanted specimens at ∼300 K were ∼5 cm2 V−1 s−1, which are larger by several orders of magnitude than those in existing amorphous semiconductors. Such a large mobility indicates that the electronic state near the bottom of the conduction band of this amorphous material is extended.
Direct measurement of N2O5 heterogeneous uptake coefficients on ambient aerosols via an aerosol flow tube system: design, characterization and performance

Abstract. An improved aerosol flow tube system coupled with a detailed box model was developed to measure N2O5 heterogeneous uptake coefficients (γ(N2O5)) on ambient aerosols directly. This system features sequential measurements of N2O5 concentrations at both the entrance and exit of the flow tube to ensure an accurate retrieval of N2O5 loss in the flow tube. Simulation and laboratory tests demonstrate that this flow tube system is able to overcome the interference from side reactions led by varying reactants (e.g., NO2, O3 and NO) and to improve the robustness of results with the assistance of the box model method. Factors related to γ(N2O5) derivation – including particle transmission efficiency, mean residence time in the flow tube and the wall loss coefficient of N2O5 – were extensively characterized for normal operating conditions. The measured γ(N2O5) on (NH4)2SO4 model aerosols were in good agreement with literature values over a range of relative humidity (RH). The detection limit of γ(N2O5) was estimated to be 0.0016 at a low aerosol surface concentration (Sa) condition of 200 µm2 cm−3. Given the instrument uncertainties and potential fluctuation of air mass between successive sampling modes, we estimate the overall uncertainty of γ(N2O5) as ranging from 16 % to 43 % for different ambient conditions. This flow tube system was then successfully deployed for field observations at an urban site of Beijing that is influenced by anthropogenic emissions. The performance in field observations demonstrates that the current setup of this system is capable of obtaining robust γ(N2O5) amid the switch of air mass.
Study on Improving the Physical Fitness Level of Young Football Players

The current study aimed to enhance the level of physical fitness of young football players aged 12-14 years and to verify whether the implementation of a specific motor programmes has positive effects on the development level of general motor skills. This scientific research was intended to make a contribution to the development and assessment of the level of physical fitness of athletes by promoting a set of methods and means for the improvement of physical training process. The research methods used were: literature review, pedagogical observation, verification experiment, mathematical and statistical method, graphical method. The experiment was conducted in the gym of the Middle School no. 13 in Bucharest on a sample of 14 athletes aged 12-14 years and lasted 6 months. Throughout this period, a series of operational structures for the development of physical fitness level were implemented in the training programme. The operational structures were allocated 35 minutes per training session. The study used tests for the assessment of speed, aerobic endurance, explosive power of the lower limbs and abdominal muscle strength. After processing the research results, statistically significant differences have been found between the initial test and the final test, which highlights the efficiency of the methodology used in the physical fitness training optimisation programme. Experimental validation of the methods and means used in the training of the experimental group represents a contribution to increasing the efficiency of the instructive-educational process.
The Rotation of RR Lyrae Stars

We report upper limits to rotation from the measurement of line breadths via cross-correlation analysis for 27 RR Lyrae variables. The eight best-observed stars of type RRab show the same variation of breadth with phase: the breadth peaks sharply during the rise to maximum light, drops gradually, and reaches a broad minimum during the phase of maximum radius. During this phase the breadth is always narrow, consistent with instrumental resolution and turbulence alone. For the three well-observed RRc variables, the breadth is this narrow at all phases except for a slight increase during the rise to maximum light. The remaining stars also conform to these patterns, albeit with sparse phase coverage and lower signal-to-noise ratio. We interpret these results as indicating that lines are broadened in RRab stars by shock-induced plumes or turbulence during the rise to maximum light, and perhaps by other causes as well, but not by rotation in RR Lyrae stars of either type. We estimate an upper limit of v sin i < 10 km s-1 in all cases. This is in stark contrast to the rotation seen in field blue horizontal branch stars, where v sin i > 10 km s-1 in three out of six well-studied field stars, and to the more rapid rotation, often exceeding 100 km s-1, of the Population I δ Scuti variables which occupy adjacent regions of the instability strip.
Large magnetic entropy change in compound LaFe/sub 11.44/Al/sub 1.56/ with two magnetic phase transitions

It is shown that Fe-based compound LaFe/sub 11.44/Al/sub 1.56/ with cubic NaZn/sub 13/-type structure undergoes both a second order and a first order phase transitions. In small fields, it orders antiferromagnetically at T/sub N/=186 K, and ferromagnetism is established at T/sub 0//spl ap/127 K. At T>T/sub 0/, field-induced metamagnetic transition between the two phases is observed in larger fields. The magnetic entropy change |/spl Delta/S|, estimated as a function of temperature from magnetization curves, has large values near the first-order transition. Metamagnetic transformation leads to an asymmetric broadening of the maximum with increasing field. This compound may be useful for magnetic refrigeration.
The initial mass function for massive stars in the Magellanic Clouds. 2: Interstellar reddening toward 14 OB associations

We have used UBV CCD photometry to determine the interstellar reddening toward 14 OB associations in the Magellanic Clouds. The two reddening-free indices available in the UBV system were used to obtain the reddening estimates. The mean color excesses of the associations range from E(B-V) = 0.01-0.26 mag in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and from E(B-V) = 0.06-0.25 mag in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We have modeled the observed scatter in the color excesses of individual stars within the associations and find that statisically significant differential reddening exists in at least some of the associations.
The Topological Information Content of a Map / An Attempt At A Rehabilitation Of Information Theory In Cartography

This paper recalls promising attempts at the application of information theory in cartography and their denial by means of the concept of information increment generated in the course of map interpretation which is out of keeping with the principles of information theory. Critical analysis of the idea of information increment is presented, and applied information theory and topology are identified as a scientific environment facilitating explanation of this increment as an inherent attribute of a map. The paper introduces the topological information content of a map as an effective instrument for quantification of the increment mentioned and demonstrates its application in an experimental river basin map. Operation of this tool confirms that the concept of information increment is compatible with the principles of applied information theory which finds hardier usefulness in cartography. Cet article rappelle les essais prometteurs de l'application de la theorie de l'information a la cartographie, ainsi que.
The effect of ternary additions to Nb 3 Sn on the upper critical field at 4.2K

The effect of ternary additions of Group III b -IV b metallic elements (Al,Ga,In, Tl,Pb) to Nb 2 Sn on the upper critical field H c2 (4.2K) has been studied. Samples were prepared by arc melting in an argon atmosphere. The measurements of H c2 (4.2K) were performed with a pulsed magnet, and the value of H c2 was determined from measurements of the electrical resistivity. H c2 (4.2K) of the Nb 3 Sn compounds was observed to increase by about 70 KG to a maximum of 300 KG through the replacement of several percent of the Sn by Group III b -IV b metallic elements. Of these systems, Nb 3 (Sn-In) and Nb 3 (Sn-Pb) were also prepared by the diffusion method: Cold-rolled tapes of Nb doped with the third element were immersed and heat treated in a Sn bath or a Cu-30wt%Sn bath. H c2 as high as 270 KG was achieved for the Nb 3 (Sn-In) tape prepared in the Cu-30wt% Sn bath at a reaction temperature of 850°C. The critical current of this tape was substantially higher than that of the standard Nb 3 Sn tape in a high field region.
Structure and predictive skill of strong northeasterly wind events using a limited area numerical weather prediction model at Iqaluit, Canada

Strong northeasterly wind events are infrequent over Baffin Island, but are potentially hazardous for aviation and the local community of Iqaluit (the capital of Nunavut, Canada). Three strong northeasterly wind events in this region are examined in this study, using the Canadian Global Environmental Multiscale-Limited Area Model (GEM-LAM) with a horizontal grid spacing of 2.5 km; in-situ observations; and reanalysis data. The skill of the GEM-LAM in simulating these events is examined. With the exception of one event, the GEM-LAM was successful at predicting the large-scale flow in terms of the circulation pattern, timing of the synoptic set-up and the low-level flow over the Hall Peninsula. The onset and cessation of strong winds and timing of major wind shifts was typically well handled by the model to within ~3 h, but with a tendency to underestimate the peak wind speed. The skill of the surface wind forecasts at Iqaluit is critically dependent on the predicted timing and location of the hydraulic jump and the grid point selected to represent Iqaluit. Examination of the observed and modelled data suggest that the strong northeasterly wind events have several features in common: (1) strong gradient-driven flow across the Hall Peninsula, (2) mean-state critical layer (or reverse shear) over the Hall Peninsula, (3) a low-level inversion, typically above the maximum barrier height immediately upstream of the Hall Peninsula, (4) subcritical flow, typically present upstream of the Hall Peninsula and (5) a hydraulic jump in the vicinity of Frobisher Bay. The modelled atmospheric conditions upwind of the Hall Peninsula immediately prior to the formation of the hydraulic jump (and acceleration of winds over the lee slope) are largely consistent with the prediction of propagating hydraulic jumps presented in the literature.
Surface-wave damping in a circular cylinder with a fixed contact line

The natural frequencies and damping ratios for surface waves in a circular cylinder are calculated on the assumptions of a fixed contact line, Stokes boundary layers, and either a clean or a fully contaminated surface. These theoretical predictions are compared with the measurements for the first six modes in a brimfull, sharp-edged cylinder of radius 2.77 cm and depth 3.80 cm. The differences between the predicted and observed frequencies were less than 0.5% for all but the fundamental axisymmetric mode with a clean surface. The difference between the predicted and observed damping ratio for the dominant mode with a clean surface was 20%; this difference was significantly larger for the higher modes with a clean surface and for all of the modes with a contaminated surface.