Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The sedimentology and alluvial architecture of the sandy braided South Saskatchewan River, Canada

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys of unit and compound braid bars in the sandy South Saskatchewan River, Canada, are used to test the influential facies model for sandy braided alluvium presented by Cant & Walker (1978) . Four main radar facies are identified: (1) high‐angle (up to angle‐of‐repose) inclined reflections, interpreted as having formed at the margins of migrating bars; (2) discontinuous undular and/or trough‐shaped reflections, interpreted as cross‐strata associated with the migration of sinuous‐crested dunes; (3) low‐angle (< 6°) reflections, interpreted as formed by low‐amplitude dunes or unit bars as they migrate onto bar surfaces; and (4) reflections of variable dip bounded by a concave reflection, interpreted as being formed by the filling of channel scours, cross‐bar channels or depressions on the bar surface. The predominant vertical arrangement of facies is discontinuous trough‐shaped reflections at the channel base overlain by discontinuous undular reflections, overlain by low‐angle reflections that dominate the deposits near the bar surface. High‐angle inclined reflections are only found near the surface of unit bars, and are of relatively small‐scale (< 0·5 m), but can be found at a greater range of depths within compound bars. The GPR data show that a high spatial variability exists in the distribution of facies between different compound bars, with facies variability within a single bar being as pronounced as that between bars. Compound bars evolve as an amalgamation of unit bars and other compound bars, and comprise a facies distribution that is representative of the main bar types in the South Saskatchewan River. The GPR data are compared with the original model of Cant & Walker (1978) and reveal a much greater variability in the scale, proportion and distribution of facies than that presented by Cant & Walker (1978) . Most notably, high‐angle inclined strata are over‐represented in the model of Cant and Walker, with many bars being dominated by the deposits of low‐ and high‐amplitude dunes. It is suggested that further GPR studies from a range of braided river types are required to properly quantify the full range of deposits. Only by moving away from traditional, highly generalized facies models can a greater understanding of braided river deposits and their controls be established.
A Review of Metal Concentrations Measured in Surface Soil Samples Collected on and Around the

The data used in this report was collected by two separate projects. The Surface Environmental Surveillance Project collected routine samples in 2008 at 41 locations on and around the Hanford Site, and had them analyzed for metals in addition to the normal radiological constituents. In 2004 and 2005, soil samples were collected at 117 locations on the Hanford Reach National Monument (HRNM) in support of the radiological release of that property. In 2008, archived HRNM soil samples were analyzed for metals to supplement the radiological analyses. Concentration results for 30 individual metals were generated by the analytical methods. Selenium and antimony were not measured at detectable concentrations in most of the samples. Mercury was detected in about half of the samples analyzed. All other constituents were measured at detectable concentrations in nearly all samples analyzed. The average concentrations measured in this study were well below the soil cleanup levels for unrestricted land use established by the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). In addition to the average concentration being less than the benchmark, the 90th percentile concentration was also lower than the benchmark for the metals included in the MTCA. The results indicate that the measured concentrations of metals in surfacemore » soil were within the expected natural range of concentrations. « less
Carbon sequestration research and development

Predictions of global energy use in the next century suggest a continued increase in carbon emissions and rising concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) in the atmosphere unless major changes are made in the way we produce and use energy--in particular, how we manage carbon. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts in its 1995 ''business as usual'' energy scenario that future global emissions of CO{sub 2} to the atmosphere will increase from 7.4 billion tonnes of carbon (GtC) per year in 1997 to approximately 26 GtC/year by 2100. IPCC also projects a doubling of atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentration by the middle of next century and growing rates of increase beyond. Although the effects of increased CO{sub 2} levels on global climate are uncertain, many scientists agree that a doubling of atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentrations could have a variety of serious environmental consequences. The goal of this report is to identify key areas for research and development (R&D) that could lead to an understanding of the potential for future use of carbon sequestration as a major tool for managing carbon emissions. Under the leadership of DOE, researchers from universities, industry, other government agencies, and DOE national laboratories were brought together to develop the technical basis for conceiving a science and technology road map. That effort has resulted in this report, which develops much of the information needed for the road map.
The distribution of the ammonite Gravesia (Salfeld, 1913) in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Late Jurassic) in Britain

Species of the ammonite Gravesia (Salfeld, 1913) have a widespread distribution in Europe over a relatively narrow stratigraphical range in the late Kimmeridgian and early Tithonian stages. The genus is a warm-water form that reaches its maximum stratigraphical range in the Submediterranean faunal province in central France and south Germany where six species have been recognised. Four of these, G. gigas (Zieten, 1830), G. gravesiana (d’Orbigny, 1850), G. irius (d’Orbigny, 1850) and G. lafauriana Hantzpergue, 1987 have been recorded in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. A few examples have been found in cored boreholes, but most have come from the cliff and foreshore outcrops at Brandy Bay and Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset. The distribution of Gravesia in Britain is mostly restricted to the more calcareous parts of the succession where they represent migrations of a warmer water fauna into a region in which the ammonite assemblages were dominated by Subboreal forms of Aulacostephanus and Pectinatites. The palaeogeography of the late Jurassic in central and North West Europe comprised relatively small land areas separated by seaways that became progressively more restricted with time. In late Kimmeridgian and early Tithonian/Volgian times, migrations of warmer- and cooler-water ammonites through these seaways gave rise to mixed assemblages that enable correlations to be made between the local zonal schemes in the Submediterranean and Subboreal faunal provinces. Gravesia is one of the few ammonites that has a stratigraphical range that crosses the Kimmeridgian-Tithonian and Kimmeridgian-Volgian boundaries, and which has a large geographical distribution which includes much of North West and Central Europe and as far east as the Subarctic Urals. The known distribution of the genus in Britain is summarised herein, along with the first detailed account of its occurrence in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation in the Dorset type section.
Impact of educational intervention on knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies in Pakistan

Objective To evaluate the impact of training of dispensers on knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies in context to storage temperature, prescription terminologies and status of medicines in Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods A randomized, controlled, blinded intervention study was designed and implemented. Before the implementation of intervention, a baseline study was performed to assess the knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies. The study population included all community pharmacy outlets in Islamabad. Pharmacies of Islamabad which were visited in pre intervention phase (n=118) were divided into two geographical regions: A (intervention) and B (control). Thirty pharmacies were randomly selected from each region. Keeping in view the results of the baseline study an educational intervention was designed to improve the knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies in Pakistan. Results A significant difference in the overall knowledge of dispensers was observed between the pre-post intervention groups. Knowledge of dispensers regarding storage of drugs, prescription terminologies and status of drugs was improved after the training. On the other hand no significant difference was observed between the pre-post control groups. Conclusions The study has highlighted that improvements in knowledge of dispensers working at community pharmacies are possible through suitable interventions. But, results of interventions can only be sustainable through continuous monitoring and reinforcement of the training.
Physicochemical Properties of Oil Extracts from Sesamum Indicum L. Seeds Grown in Jigawa State – Nigeria

Many physical and chemical properties of fats and oils have been investigated. In this study the oil content, Iodine value, specific gravity and some chemical analyses on oil extracted from the white and red seeds of sesame seeds were determined and compared with those reported by the other workers. The white and red sesame seeds have mean percentage oil contents of 48% and 50%, mean iodine value of 103 and 116gI2/100g and specific gravity of 0.915 and 0.923g/cm3 respectively. The chemical analysis carried out on the oil of white and red sesame seeds have the following properties: acid value of 0.5 and 0.45 mg KOH/g, saponification value of 189 and 191 mg KOH/g and peroxide value of 8 and 7.45 meq KOH/g respectively. The high oil content of the sesame seeds obtained in this study strongly indicates its prospects for commercial extraction
Estimating Evapotranspiration of Fully-and Deficit-irrigated Alfalfa in Commercial Fields with the Eddy Covariance and Surface Renewal Methods

Evapotranspiration (ET) of fully irrigated and deficit irrigated (no irrigation in July, August, and September) was measured in four commercial alfalfa fields with the eddy covariance (EC) and surface renewal (SR) energy balance methods. Both EC and SR methods were used in the fully irrigated part of the fields, while the SR method only was used in the deficit irrigated part. Deficit irrigation reduced ET, but the amount of reduction was highly site specific. Good agreement was found between the EC and SR methods. However, patterns of the daily differences between the EC and SR methods differed between the four fields.
Long-Range Operational Military Forecasts for Iraq

Abstract : The military weather community is mandated by the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide accurate, timely, and reliable meteorological information necessary for commanders to exploit the best windows of opportunity for operations. In order to meet this mandate, the military must apply state-of-the-art longrange forecasting techniques. This study was motivated by the need for long-range forecasts for mission planning in Iraq. To develop these forecasts, we tested and adapted composite analysis and forecasting techniques used by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) for forecasts in the continental U.S. Using these techniques, we conducted seasonal composite analyses for Iraq surface temperature and precipitation rate, with the compositing based on the observed occurrence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Nino La Nina (ENLN) climate variations. We then used composite analysis results to produce long range forecasts of Iraq surface temperature and precipitation rate based on the predicted occurrence of the NAO and ENLN. These forecasts outperformed forecasts based on long-term means (LTMs). Forecasts based on LTMs are currently the best available long range forecasts available from DoD. Thus, the composite analysis forecasts developed and tested in this study are a clear improvement over presently available DoD long range guidance products. The outcome of this study is a vector for the DoD weather community to expand out from the almost exclusive use of LTM based climatological products, and to invest in modern state-of-the-art methods for to supporting the global mission of the DoD.
Commuting, externalities, and the geographical sizes of metropolitan areas

The paper proposes an econometric approach for quantifying jointly the geographical scope of commuting as well as the various forms of agglomeration economies originating from metropolitan centers. Adopting an urban economics perspective, and using land prices to measure their aggregate effects, the approach estimates the geographical reach of commuting and urban externalities from a hierarchical system of gradient functions. The results for West German NUTS3 regions indicate that metropolitan areas may be larger than suggested by MSA classifications based on commuting only. Metropolitan subcenters are found to enlarge metropolitan areas significantly.
Hallazgo de Paracoskinolina pertenuis Foury (Orbitolinidae) en el Barremiense inferior del Pirineo catalán: reflexiones sobre su posición sistemática y filogenética

A sample of Early Barremian age from the Roca de Narieda (Lleida Prov., Catalonian Pyrenees, Spain) has furnished the orbitolinid Foraminifera Paracoskinolina pertenuis Foury, 1968 and Eopalorbitolina charollaisi Schroeder & Conrad, 1968. P. pertenuis sensu Foury is a mixture of at least three species belonging to different genera. Its holotype has to be assigned to the genus Eopalorbitolina. E. pertenuis is regarded as the direct ancestor of E. charollaisi and the most primitive representative of the phylogenetical lineage Eopalorbitolina - Palorbitolina gr. lenticularis. Key words: Foraminifers, Orbitolinidae, Catalonian Pyrenees (Spain), Alpilles (France), Barremian, Systematics, Phylogeny.
POTENTIAL FOR SALTWATER INTRUSION INTO THE UPPER FLORIDAN AQUIFER, HERNANDO AND MANATEE COUNTIES, FLORIDA

Pumpage from the Upper Floridan aquifer has caused a lowering of the potentiometric surface and has increased the potential for saltwater intrusion into the aquifer in coastal areas of west-central Florida, Ground-water withdrawals are likely to increase because of the expected population growth, especially in coastal areas. To gain a better understanding of the potential for and mechanisms of saltwater intrusion, two sites were selected for study. Data were collected at each site from a centrally located deep well that completely penetrates the Upper Floridan aquifer. Digital models, based on this and other information, were developed to simulate ground-water flow and solute transport. The northern site is in Hernando County near the town ofAripeka. Tfie test well in the area was drilled about 1 mile from the coast to a depth of 820 feet. Freshwater was present in the carbonate rock aquifer to a depth of about 500 feet, and saltwater occurred in a low permeability zone from 560 feet to the base of the aquifer at about 750 feet. Between the freshwater and saltwater is the zone of transition, also referred to as the freshwater-saltwater interface. At this site, the transition zone is thin and the slope is fairly steep. Aquifer tests indicated that high permeability occurs between 450 and 500 feet, which accounts for a transmissivity of 56,000 feet squared per day. The southern site is in Manatee County near the town of Rubonia. Drilling of the test well was completed at 1,260 feet, just below the base of the Upper Floridan aquifer. The transition zone in this well occurs between 875 and 975 feet. Transmissivity in the study area was determined to be about 8,500 feet squared per day and is anomalously low, especially in contrast to the transmissivity on the other side of Tampa Bay in Pinellas County. Specific-capacity tests andflowmeter logs indicate that more than 80 percent of the flow comes from the upper 124 feet of uncased well between 462 and 586 feet. Hie digital models show flow patterns that are similar to the cyclic flow of seawater and interface theory. Large ground-water withdrawals simulated in the northern study area suggest that saltwater intrusion could cause chloride concentrations to increase in freshwater supply wells in coastal areas, depending upon distance from the shoreline, well depth, and pumping rate. In the southern area, saltwater is present below Manatee County in the lower permeable zone and could migrate farther inland and to upper permeable zones as a result of pumpage for irrigation and mining. The simulations have shown that saltwater contamination of coastal wells would not be noticed as quickly as water-level declines resulting from inland pumpage. Similarly, improvements to water quality in coastal wells will not be apparent as quickly as rising water levels resulting from restoration of ground-water resources.
Image Quality Assessment of Diabetic Retinopathy Based on ADD-Net

Retinal image quality assessment (RIQA) is a precondition for diabetic retinopathy screening and diagnosis. Current RIQA network tend to place too much emphasis on performance improvement, ignoring the number of parameters and computational complexity of the network, and the existing publicly available datasets with unclear classification criteria and unbalanced number of different kinds of images, which affect the training of deep neural networks and large area screening of diabetic retinopathy. To solve these problems. A new quality criteria for retinal images is developed, and the Kaggle retinal image quality dataset is re-labeled and reclassified according to the criteria. And a high-performance lightweight RIQA network ADD-Net is proposed based on the DenseNet, which increases the perceptual field and improves pixel utilization by stacking dilated convolutions in DenseLayer, and incorporates attention mechanisms to further optimize the network performance. The proposed ADD-Net has a parametric number of 8.92M, a computational complexity of 2.76GMac, an accuracy of 97.03%, a precision of 97.06%, and a sensitivity of 98.31%, which are better than those of current mainstream methods. A quality criteria for retinal images that combines image quality features, retinal structural features, and DR lesion features was developed. The RIQA network ADD-Net with low number of parameters, less computational complexity and excellent performance is designed.
Time Use and Life Satisfaction within Couples: A Gender Analysis for Belgium

This article looks at the time allocation of individuals with a focus on paid and unpaid work, its division within households, and its link with life satisfaction. The study uses the cross-sectional MEqIN database for Belgium in 2016 and corrects for heterogeneity by using measures of the personality traits. The division of time appears to be quite gendered. Women are found to be more satisfied when working part time. This could be because a majority of working women still undertake most of the unpaid work so that they end up operating a double shift. Looking at the link of time allocation of both partners on the individuals’ life satisfaction, men’s behavior appears to be in accordance with a conservative gender attitude, and even a breadwinner version, while women’s behavior is closer to an egalitarian gender attitude. The study further observes that those behaviors are softened by the presence of children. HIGHLIGHTS In Belgium, women spend more time on unpaid work, even conditional on being employed. Without considering interdependencies, women are more satisfied when working part time. Accounting for interdependencies, women favor an equal sharing of paid and unpaid work. Men appear to be more satisfied when they undertake more paid work than their partner. Policy implications should involve changing men’s behavior and traditional gender norms.
Development of Flexible ReS2/MXene Based Electromechanical Sensor for Deep Learning Assisted Temporal Dependent Alphabet Pattern Recognition

This article demonstrates the fabrication of a flexible electromechanical sensor (pressure and strain) utilizing ReS2 as active material and patterned Ti3C2Tx metal carbide/nitride (MXene) as the contact for the amplitude- and time-dependent alphabet recognition pattern concerning high-security applications. The sensitivity of the pressure sensor is 0.139 kPa−1, and the gauge factor of the fabricated strain sensor is 0.436. The physical explanation for both pressure and strain stimuli is explained in terms of modulation of the Schottky barrier height of ReS2/MXene by extracting the band diagram using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measurements. To demonstrate the real-time application of the fabricated device, characterization of each of the 26 English alphabets (individual) is performed by obtaining their current–time data, which also collects the speed and magnitude of the writing. A detailed architecture of the convolutional neural network is presented with an accuracy of 96.20%. The successful demonstration of a low-cost flexible electromechanical sensor for touch-pad applications finds numerous applications in security, signature forging, and medical devices.
“Why take the patient back home?”: Exploring the lived experiences of caregivers of COVID-19-infected individuals in Blantyre, Malawi

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have serious health and socio-economic consequences. In Malawi, COVID-19 cases are managed at home, with hospital admission reserved for severe cases. This study described the lived experiences of caregivers of COVID-19-infected individuals in Blantyre, Malawi. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from January to June 2021 in Blantyre, Malawi, among caregivers of confirmed SARS-COV-2 cases enrolled in the SARS-CoV-2 study and aimed to explore infections, transmission dynamics, and household impact. We conducted 37 in-depth interviews with caregivers of SARS-COV-2 cases who were purposively sampled. We captured data using telephonic interviews, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, managed using NVivo, and analysed it using a thematic approach guided by the theory of caregiving dynamics. Caregivers stated that the economic status of a family largely influenced caregiving roles and abilities because it determined the resources that a household could access or not. Caregivers expressed being committed to their role despite being ill-prepared to manage a COVID-19 patient at home, in addition to fears about the contagious nature of COVID-19. They prioritised their patients’ health by ensuring that they were present to offer nutritional and medical treatment. Caregivers highlighted challenges faced in the implementation of preventive measures because of financial limitations and cultural factors. They further expressed fear resulting from the increase in death rates, and the lack of proper information challenged their expectation of having their patients healed. Caregivers stated that they managed their role by sharing responsibilities, getting better at it with time, and getting support from religious institutions and social networks. Caring for confirmed cases of COVID-19 demanded commitment from the caregivers while ensuring that the transmission of the virus was minimised. There is a need to support households in isolation with the right information on how to manage their patients and streamline social support for the ultra-poor.