Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity to changes in the surface‐layer turbulence parameterization for stable conditions in winter: A case study with a regional climate model over the Arctic

The modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer over sea ice is still challenging because of the complex interaction between clouds, radiation and turbulence over the often inhomogeneous sea ice cover. There is still much uncertainty concerning sea ice roughness, near‐surface thermal stability and related processes, and their accurate parameterization. Here, a regional Arctic climate model forced by ERA‐Interim data was used to test the sensitivity of climate simulations to a modified surface flux parameterization for wintertime conditions over the Arctic. The reference parameterization as well as the modified one is based on Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, but different roughness lengths were prescribed and the stability dependence of the transfer coefficients for momentum, heat and moisture differed from each other. The modified parameterization accounts for the most comprehensive observations that are presently available over sea ice in the inner Arctic. Independent of the parameterization used, the model was able to reproduce the two observed dominant winter states with respect to cloud cover and longwave radiation. A stepwise use of the different parameterization assumptions showed that modifications of both surface roughness and stability dependence had a considerable impact on quantities such as air pressure, wind and near‐surface turbulent fluxes. However, the reduction of surface roughness to values agreeing with those observed during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean campaign led to an improvement in the western Arctic, while the modified stability parameterization had only a minor impact. The latter could be traced back to the model's underestimation of the strength of stability over sea ice. Future work should concentrate on possible reasons for this underestimation and on the question of generality of the results for other climate models.
In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Purple Grape Juice (Vitis Labrusca) against Temozolamide Treatment in Rat Brains

Considering that grape juice has high levels of phenolic compounds that produce beneficial physiological effects, important for the maintenance of redox balance, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro neuroprotective effect of purple grape juice on the oxidative damage caused by temozolomide (TMZ) in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of Wistar rats. In pre-incubation, TMZ increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, enhanced protein oxidation in all tissues studied, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the hippocampus, decreased SOD activity in the cerebellum, and enhanced catalase (CAT) activity in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. In co-incubation, there was enhanced protein oxidation in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, decreased SOD activity in the cerebellum, inhibition of CAT activity in the hippocampus, and increased CAT activity in the cerebellum. Purple grape juice improved these oxidative alterations. Therefore, the intake of grape juice might have a protective effect against diseases that affect the oxidative status of the central nervous system.
Study on Acoustic Emission Characteristics and Mechanical Behavior of Water-Saturated Coal

In terms of coal’s stability and failure, soaking time and water content play a significant role in geotechnical engineering practice. To determine the soaking time effect on the mechanical behavior of coal samples and the response of AE (acoustic emission) signal throughout loading, the samples with different soaking times (0–120 hours (h)) were prepared and tested under uniaxial compression. AE signals were continuously monitored during loading to examine the AE characteristic response via the AEwin Express-8.0 system. The results revealed that the mechanical characteristics of the coal samples decreased with an increase in soaking time. When coal samples were subjected to uniaxial compression, AE events occurred due to the formation of the cracks, which further propagated to cause coal fracture. AE counts and the accumulative counts fluctuated with time and corresponded very well to the load. Therefore, AE counts and the trend of the accumulative counts of AE qualitatively explained the rupture of the coal under stress. In addition, the variation in trends of AE counts, AE accumulative counts, and load with time at various phases of all samples were obtained. It is concluded that AE counts increase suddenly during a slow increase phase and peak at the active increase phase. During the attenuation phase, the AE counts first decrease significantly with stress drop, but also a slight increase was observed due to the initiation of secondary cracks. These research results are of great significance as a precursor in coal and rock failure.
An Uplink Throughput Optimization Scheme for UAV-Enabled Urban Emergency Communications

Integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into emergency communications is a promising way to accomplish efficient network recovery with the advantages of UAV flexibility. To ensure information forwarding from the disaster area, this article considers an emergency communication scenario where a UAV provides uplink relaying services based on nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) for a set of disconnected ground wireless access points (APs) under the urban environment. To maximize the system uplink throughput, the UAV altitude, power control, as well as the bandwidth allocation between the access and backhaul links are jointly optimized. Especially, the constraint for the uplink rate fairness is also considered. Our formulated problem is nonconvex due to the complex uplink co-channel interference under the Line-of-Sight (LoS) probability-based Air-to-Ground (AtG) channel. To tackle this issue, we change our formulated problem into an equivalent form by coping with the information-causality and fairness constraints. Then, a joint altitude and resource allocation (JARA) algorithm is developed, which iteratively solves the altitude optimization subproblem and resource optimization subproblem until convergence. For each subproblem, we further introduce auxiliary variables so that it can be solved by using the successive convex approximation (SCA) method. Finally, two benchmarks are used for the throughput comparison, and simulation results verify that the system uplink throughput of our proposed algorithm is improved through the AtG LoS propagation advantage, uplink power control, as well as the bandwidth allocation between the access and backhaul links.
Artificial Intelligence in Radiation Therapy

Artificial intelligence (AI) has great potential to transform the clinical workflow of radiotherapy. Since the introduction of deep neural networks (DNNs), many AI-based methods have been proposed to address challenges in different aspects of radiotherapy. Commercial vendors have started to release AI-based tools that can be readily integrated to the established clinical workflow. To show the recent progress in AI-aided radiotherapy, we have reviewed AI-based studies in five major aspects of radiotherapy, including image reconstruction, image registration, image segmentation, image synthesis, and automatic treatment planning. In each section, we summarized and categorized the recently published methods, followed by a discussion of the challenges, concerns, and future development. Given the rapid development of AI-aided radiotherapy, the efficiency and effectiveness of radiotherapy in the future could be substantially improved through intelligent automation of various aspects of radiotherapy.
Cancel Culture: Myth or Reality?

In recent years, a progressive “cancel culture” in society, right-wing politicians and commentators claim, has silenced alternative perspectives, ostracized contrarians, and eviscerated robust intellectual debate, with college campuses at the vanguard of this development. These arguments can be dismissed as rhetorical dog whistles devoid of substantive meaning, myths designed to fire up the MAGA faithful, outrage progressives, and distract from urgent real-world problems. Given heated contention, however, something more fundamental may be at work. To understand this phenomenon, the opening section defines the core concept and theorizes that perceptions of this phenomenon are likely to depend upon how far individual values fit the dominant group culture. Within academia, scholars most likely to perceive “silencing” are mismatched or non-congruent cases, where they are “fish-out-of-water. ” The next section describes how empirical survey evidence is used to test this prediction within the discipline of political science. Data are derived from a global survey, the World of Political Science, 2019, involving almost 2500 scholars studying or working in over 100 countries. The next section describes the results. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and considers their broader implications. Overall, the evidence confirms the “fish-out-of-water” congruence thesis. As predicted, in post-industrial societies, characterized by predominately liberal social cultures, like the US, Sweden, and UK, right-wing scholars were most likely to perceive that they faced an increasingly chilly climate. By contrast, in developing societies characterized by more traditional moral cultures, like Nigeria, it was left-wing scholars who reported that a cancel culture had worsened. This contrast is consistent with Noelle-Neumann’s spiral of silence thesis, where mainstream values in any group gradually flourish to become the predominant culture, while, due to social pressures, dissenting minority voices become muted. The ratchet effect eventually muffles contrarians. The evidence suggests that the cancel culture is not simply a rhetorical myth; scholars may be less willing to speak up to defend their moral beliefs if they believe that their views are not widely shared by colleagues or the wider society to which they belong.
Changing attitudes through interactive learning: The impact of teaching total quality management on students’ everyday lives

Abstract Education delivers concepts and principles to students over their course of study and positively impacts their personal development. This research explores student perceptions of the influence of a Total Quality Management (TQM) course on their attitudes toward various aspects of everyday life. The critical contribution of this paper is that it empirically evaluates the perceived influence of interactive lectures and teaching techniques on knowledge acquisition and attitudes in daily life from the perspective of the students themselves.
DYNAMICS AND INTERFACE DEFOLIATION GRAZING: REVIEW

In the last five decades researchers have attempted to explain how adaptations of the morphology of the mouth and digestive tract of large ruminants interact with different food scales in the pasture ecosystem independent of the grazing method, thus understanding the dynamics of defoliation is essential in the analysis of response variations in forage production. A brief review of the literature on the factors related to the animal and plant components, influence of the grazing process and the defoliation dynamics will be presented. Grazing is the fundamental procedure that influences the dynamics and functioning of pasture ecosystems. The structural components of the tiller present in the horizontal plane of the forage canopy are likely to lead to differences in resource exploitation and impacts on vegetation, and many variables should be analyzed to fully understand the defoliation, since variations in canopy architecture are also influenced by the grazing method itself, which modifies the harvest and use of forage. In different grazing methods, it was observed that defoliation behaves in an analogous way among the methods, considering that the only variation was in the number of grazing animals, that is, changes in the stocking rate. The level of defoliation of individual tiller and its respective structural components, coupled with the grazing process, allows us to understand how the management of the pasture by adjusting the animal load influences the choices of the animals during the forage harvesting process.
Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages

Abstract Merodon natans group (Diptera, Syrphidae) taxa are reviewed using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological, morphometric and molecular techniques. The approach substantiates recognition of the three species: M. calcaratus (Fabricius, 1794), M. natans (Fabricius, 1794) and M. pulveris Vujić & Radenković in Radenković et al. 2011, and reveals the existence of a new species, M. makrisi Vujić, Radenković & Tot sp. nov., which is described. It also highlights the existence of a series of natans group populations, especially on some of the Mediterranean islands, in the Levant and in the Afrotropical Region, for which more comprehensive data are required to clarify their status. A key is provided to the natans lineage species currently recognised, and preimaginal stages of some natans-group species are described for the first time. Redescriptions for M. calcaratus and M. natans are provided. A neotype is selected for M. natans. Lectotypes are designated for M. annulatus (Fabricius, 1794) and M. melancholicus (Fabricius, 1794). Merodon annulatus is recognised as a synonym of M. natans.
Highly Luminescent Cesium Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals Stabilized in Glasses for Light‐Emitting Applications

Cesium lead halide (CsPbX3) nanocrystals have great potential for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications, but they are sensitive to oxygen, moisture, and light irradiation. Embedding these CsPbX3 nanocrystals into all‐inorganic amorphous solid matrices such as glass is expected to improve their stability. In this work, CsPbX3 nanocrystals are precipitated in boro‐germanate glasses with tunable composition, absorption, and photoluminescence. Quantum efficiency of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals in glass can be as high as ≈80% and ≈20% for CsPb(Cl/Br)3 and CsPb(Br/I)3 nanocrystals, respectively. Thermo‐ and photostabilities of CsPbX3 nanocrystals in glass are greatly improved due to the inert nature of glasses, and intense laser irradiation‐induced damage to CsPbX3 nanocrystals is recoverable through thermal annealing. With CsPbBr3 nanocrystal‐embedded glass slices, a green light‐emitting device with a luminous efficiency of ≈120 lm W−1 and an external quantum yield of ≈30% is achieved. A white‐light‐emitting device consisting of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals and CsPb(Br/I)3 nanocrystal–embedded glass slices shows luminous efficiency in the range of 50–60 lm W−1 and external quantum yield of 20–25%. The thermo‐ and photostabilities along with the chemical stability of CsPbX3 nanocrystal–embedded glasses are promising materials for photoluminescence related applications.
Diet composition and habitat use of coyotes on the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeast Georgia

Abstract Coyotes (Canis latrans) are a recent addition to southeastern ecosystems and regional studies are needed to understand their ecological role. Most studies from the southeast are concentrated on diets from animals on the coastal plain. Here we report on the diet and habitat use of coyotes on the Chattahoochee National Forest, which is located in northeast Georgia at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains. Seventeen total scat samples were collected from March through May 2014. Habitat types and GPS coordinates of each sample were also recorded. Gray squirrel (65%) was the most common food item and occurred along with plant matter (53%) and arthropod exoskeletons (35%), suggesting that these food items were likely scavenged. Wild hog (18%), identified by adult guard hairs, also appeared to be scavenged. Small mammals and perching birds comprised a large portion of the diets, whereas white-tail deer were rarely recorded. Two competitors, bobcat and gray fox, were also identified in the scat samples. The most common habitat types were edges and logging roads, with little utilization of open hardwoods.
Missing in action: Perspectives on employee absenteeism in the South African Police Service

Abstract This article explores the pervasiveness of employee absenteeism in the South African Police Service (SAPS) at the station level and the factors that contribute to it. Employee absenteeism is a critical problem for most organisations and the SAPS is no exception. While measures have been put in place to curb this problem in the SAPS by the police authorities, employee absenteeism has persisted and remains a significant problem for the SAPS in contemporary South Africa. A recent qualitative study, using a convenient sampling technique, found that absenteeism is not only prevalent, but has become entrenched within the SAPS, and that several institutional policies and privileges, such as sick, normal, and incapacity leave, are often abused for personal benefit. Absenteeism was found to be affected by ineffective communication between station commanders and employees. The implications of the findings for effective police efficiency in the country are discussed.
Biochemical and Physiological Parameters in Rats Fed with High-Fat Diet: The Protective Effect of Chronic Treatment with Purple Grape Juice (Bordo Variety)

High-fat-diet (HFD) has been related to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Consumption of grapes and their byproducts containing phenolic compounds has been reported due to the benefits they produce for human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and protective effect of chronic intake of purple grape juice on certain biochemical and physiological changes promoted by the consumption of HFD. Forty male rats were randomly divided into four groups to receive standard or HFD diet and/or conventional (CGJ) or organic grape juice (OGJ) for three months. Dietary intake, body weight gain, cardiometabolic parameters, and serum lipoperoxidation were investigated. Results showed that consumption of CGJ and OGJ changed the pattern of food and drink intake of the animals. There was a reduction in the body weight of animals that consumed grape juices and an increase in the weight gain in HFD and OGJ rats. HFD increased abdominal fat and the abdominal fat/weight ratio, and both grape juices prevented these modifications. HFD increased hepatic enzymes levels (aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)) and reduced urea. Purple grape juices prevented some of these changes. HFD enhanced lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) in serum and CGJ and OGJ prevented this increase. The consumption of purple grape juice has the potential to prevent and ameliorate most of the alterations provoked by HFD, therefore regular intake of grape products could promote beneficial effects.
A Bibliometric Mapping of Cost-Benefit Analysis—Three Decades of Studies

Over time, the cost-benefit analysis has become a method that helps to clarify the pros and cons in many areas of human activity where both investment and non-investment projects are implemented. In researching for this article, we aimed to map the current state of publishing activities in the field of cost-benefit analysis and in order to accomplish this, four research questions had to be determined. For this purpose, the outputs indexed in the database Web of Science Clarivate Analytics were examined and the method of bibliometric analysis within the VOSviewer software was used. It was ascertained that almost six hundred outputs had been published: almost all of them were published in English and generated by more than sixty percent of authors from English-speaking countries. Cost-benefit analysis was most often used in the areas of healthcare, environment and ecology, and economics and social sciences. In terms of co-authorship, it was found that there had been a shift from collaboration among authors from Israel and English-speaking countries to cooperation between mostly Chinese authors and authors from Northern Europe. In the case of co-occurrence, three clusters were identified: the most frequent was the area of terms related to economic financial analysis, the second area was related to health issues, and the third was related to the process of cost-benefit analysis’ application.
Some Inferential Results on a Two Parameter Generalized Half Normal Distribution

Abstract A two-parameter generalized half normal distribution (2 P-GHND) is gaining attention lately due to its flexibility over other popular distributions on the positive side of the real line. Unlike gamma, lognormal or inverse Gaussian distributions, 2 P-GHND can be either negatively or positively skewed depending on its shape parameter, a property similar to Weibull distribution. In this work we address two inferential problems related to 2 P-GHND: (a) prove analytically the existence and uniqueness of the MLE of the model parameters attained through differentiation of the log-likelihood function; and (b) consider the hypothesis testing on the mean of the distribution where it is shown that a parametric bootstrap (PB) method based on the likelihood ratio test (LRT) statistic works far better than the other asymptotic tests for small to moderate sample sizes. Extensive simulation results have been provided to support this observation.
Taylor-Series-Based Reconfigurability of Gamma Correction in Hardware Designs

Gamma correction is a common image processing technique that is common in video or still image systems. However, this simple and efficient method is typically expressed using the power law, which gives rise to practical difficulties in designing a reconfigurable hardware implementation. For example, the conventional approach calculates all possible outputs for a pre-determined gamma value, and this information is hardwired into memory components. As a result, reconfigurability is unattainable after deployment. This study proposes using the Taylor series to approximate gamma correction to overcome the aforementioned challenging problem, hence, facilitating the post-deployment reconfigurability of the hardware implementation. In other words, the gamma value is freely adjustable, resulting in the high appropriateness for offloading gamma correction onto its dedicated hardware in system-on-a-chip applications. Finally, the proposed hardware implementation is verified on Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC ZCU106 Evaluation Kit, and the results demonstrate its superiority against benchmark designs.
Probabilistic Evaluation and Filtering of Image Velocimetry Measurements

The recent technological advances in remote sensing (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles, digital image acquisition, etc.) have vastly improved the applicability of image velocimetry in hydrological studies. Thus, image velocimetry has become an established technique with an acceptable error for practical applications (the error can be lower than 10%). The main source of errors has been attributed to incomplete intrinsic and extrinsic camera calibration, to non-constant frame rate and to spurious low velocities due to moving objects that are irrelevant to the streamflow. Some researchers have even employed probabilistic approaches (Monte Carlo simulations) to analyze the uncertainty introduced during the camera calibration procedure. On the other hand, the endogenous uncertainty of the image velocimetry algorithms per se has received little attention. In this study, a probabilistic approach is employed to systematically analyze this uncertainty. It is argued that this analysis may not only improve the performance of the image velocimetry methods but it can also provide information regarding the impact of the video recording conditions (e.g., low density of features, oblique camera angle, low resolution, etc.) on the accuracy of the estimated values. The suggested method has been tested in six case studies of which the data have been previously made publicly available by independent researchers.