Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERFOMANCE OF REHABILITATED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS: A CASE STUDY OF IGOMELO IRRIGATION SCHEME IN TANZANIA

Many irrigation systems indicate failures with respect to their anticipated benefits. However, improvement of these schemes can be brought about through their rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Igomelo rehabilitated irrigation scheme covering both the performance of irrigation water distribution systems and the roles of irrigators association.The scheme was divided into three reaches upper, middle and tail end. Three plots with maize, tomatoes and onions from each reach were randomly selected. Amount of water entering the plots were monitored for adequacy, equity, dependability and productivity analysis. Also three canals each from the mentioned reaches was assessed for seepage, maintenance and conveyance efficiencies. The IA wasevaluated using indicators such as structures’ condition, effectiveness in fees collection (EFC) and financial self sufficiency (FSS). A structured questionnaire was administered in order to obtain information on irrigation and roles of irrigators association. The conveyance efficiencies in the main canal were 68.2% with values between 69and 87% for tertiary canals. Seepage ranging between 0.044 and 0.104l/s per meter lengthwas also observed in the canals. A SCI of 90% was obtained showing structures in good working condition.Despite a good FSS (1.10 -2.21) some structures lack some components. Adequacy in water supply is good with Relative Water Supply (RWS) between 0.92 and 3.96with highest RWS at the middle reach. However, the dependability in water supply was low while equity in water supply was observed in tomato plots than in maize and onions. The output per unitwater supply for tomato was between 684.4 and 14492.55 US$hawhile the highest output per unit water
Dedolomitization of Lower Carboniferous Dolostone in the Wirksworth area, Derbyshire, England

Summary Lower Carboniferous secondary dolostones are shown to be affected by dedolomitization. The crystals of dolomite most affected are those occurring around calcite-filled rhombohedral pores within the dolostones. Dedolomitization of dolomitized crinoid ossicles also occurs. This is thought to be caused by their greater susceptibility to dedolomitization due to dolomicritization. Dedolomitization and subsequent dissolution, giving an enhanced porosity to the dolostones, are believed to be related to the present-day weathering surface.
Exploiting Edge Features in Graphs with Fused Network Gromov-Wasserstein Distance

Pairwise comparison of graphs is key to many applications in Machine learning ranging from clustering, kernel-based classification/regression and more recently supervised graph prediction. Distances between graphs usually rely on informative representations of these structured objects such as bag of substructures or other graph embeddings. A recently popular solution consists in representing graphs as metric measure spaces, allowing to successfully leverage Optimal Transport, which provides meaningful distances allowing to compare them: the Gromov-Wasserstein distances. However, this family of distances overlooks edge attributes, which are essential for many structured objects. In this work, we introduce an extension of Gromov-Wasserstein distance for comparing graphs whose both nodes and edges have features. We propose novel algorithms for distance and barycenter computation. We empirically show the effectiveness of the novel distance in learning tasks where graphs occur in either input space or output space, such as classification and graph prediction.
Granulite-facies metamorphism in the Anatectic Complex of Toledo, Spain: late Hercynian tectonic evolution by crustal extension

The Anatectic Complex of Toledo consists of a heterogeneous suite of high-grade metamorphic rocks, mainly granulitic migmatites of pelitic composition and orthogneisses, and different types of syn-orogenic granitoids with minor associated basic rocks. None of the metamorphic rock types records evidence of the early prograde history, and only the peak and retrograde P–T conditions can be estimated. The intrusion of the syn-orogenic granitoids is either slightly before or synchronous with the metamorphic climax. These rock types thus can be used to make P–T estimates of the peak and retrograde conditions. Microtextural analysis of reaction textures in conjunction with a petrogenetic grid, has enabled construction of an incomplete ‘clockwise’ P–T path that is characterized by an isothermal decompression after or during the metamorphic peak temperatures. The peak estimates from different geo-thermobarometers are 800° ± 50 °C and 4–6 Kbar, the highest temperatures recorded in this part of the Iberian Hercynian Belt. It is proposed that this high-T/low-P metamorphism is at least partially related to an extensional process, possibly due to gravitational collapse of previously thickened crust.
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory: NASA's first dedicated carbon dioxide mission

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in January 2009. This Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) mission carries and points a single instrument that incorporates 3 high-resolution grating spectrometers designed to measure the absorption of reflected sunlight by near-infrared carbon dioxide (CO2) and molecular oxygen bands. These spectra will be analyzed to retrieve estimates of the column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction, XCO2. Pre-flight qualification and calibration tests completed in early 2008 indicate that the instrument will provide high quality XCO2 data. The instrument was integrated into the spacecraft, and the completed Observatory was qualified and tested during the spring and summer of 2008, in preparation for delivery to the launch site in the fall of this year. The Observatory will initially be launched into a 635 km altitude, near-polar orbit. The on-board propulsion system will then raise the orbit to 705 km and insert OCO into the Earth Observing System Afternoon Constellation (A-Train). The first routine science observations are expected about 45 days after launch. Calibrated spectral radiances will be archived starting about 6 months later. An exploratory XCO2 product will be validated and then archived starting about 3 months after that.
Pycnogonida from Costa Rica collected by Scuba Diving

The knowledge of the pycnogonid fauna of Costa Rica is poor. This is the first report on Pycnogonida collected by scuba diving from both oceans of Costa Rica. Nine species from the Caribbean side and one from the Pacific coast are reported. We add eight species to the Caribbean fauna and one to the Pacific fauna of Costa Rica. No species new to science were encountered.
The behavioral response to the putative necromones from dead Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in traps by conspecifics as a function of density and time since capture

Long-term trapping programs of stored product pests provide information for timely and accurate pest management. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) is a highly successful external-infesting grain pest and is frequently monitored using a commercial pitfall trap that combines pheromonal and kairomonal stimuli. However, an often overlooked component of lure-based traps is the potential for the volatile plume to change over time as individuals are captured. These now-dead insects may then release necromones altering the captures of conspecifics. In this study, we evaluated changes in (i) the behavior of T. castaneum and (ii) the relative change in volatiles over time since dead insects were added and among different densities of dead conspecifics in a commercially available kairomone oil. We used multiple behavior assays, including wind tunnel, release-recapture, and 2-way olfactometer, and performed chemical analyses via headspace collection and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Tribolium castaneum response to the kairomone lure was not consistent among assays of density of conspecifics between 4 and 40 adults after 24 or 96 h, or time of seeding over 1–96 h or 8–11 days prior. Tested strains collected in 2012 and 2019 ruled out strain-specific differences. Oil batch effects were also ruled out as a factor contributing to the response of T. castaneum. The relative volatile composition was generally stable among the treatments despite using different seeding densities and seeding times. Given that attraction and relative volatile composition were generally unaffected by prior captures, long-term monitoring programs may be robust in their interpretability over time. Graphical Abstract
AN EVALUATION OF THE RELATIVE QUALITY OF DIKE POOLS FOR BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES IN THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER, USA

A habitat‐based aquatic macroinvertebrate study was initiated in the Lower Missouri River to evaluate relative quality and biological condition of dike pool habitats. Water‐quality and sediment‐quality parameters and macroinvertebrate assemblage structure were measured from depositional substrates at 18 sites. Sediment porewater was analysed for ammonia, sulphide, pH and oxidation–reduction potential. Whole sediments were analysed for particle‐size distribution, organic carbon and contaminants. Field water‐quality parameters were measured at subsurface and at the sediment–water interface. Pool area adjacent and downstream from each dike was estimated from aerial photography. Macroinvertebrate biotic condition scores were determined by integrating the following indicator response metrics: % of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), % of Oligochaeta worms, Shannon Diversity Index and total taxa richness. Regression models were developed for predicting macroinvertebrate scores based on individual water‐quality and sediment‐quality variables and a water/sediment‐quality score that integrated all variables. Macroinvertebrate scores generated significant determination coefficients with dike pool area (R2 = 0.56), oxidation–reduction potential (R2 = 0.81) and water/sediment‐quality score (R2 = 0.71). Dissolved oxygen saturation, oxidation–reduction potential and total ammonia in sediment porewater were most important in explaining variation in macroinvertebrate scores. The best two‐variable regression models included dike pool size + the water/sediment‐quality score (R2 = 0.84) and dike pool size + oxidation–reduction potential (R2 = 0.93). Results indicate that dike pool size and chemistry of sediments and overlying water can be used to evaluate dike pool quality and identify environmental conditions necessary for optimizing diversity and productivity of important aquatic macroinvertebrates. A combination of these variables could be utilized for measuring the success of habitat enhancement activities currently being implemented in this system. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Applications of Sediment Pick‐Up Function

Two applications are presented of a recently proposed empirical sediment pick-up function. The first application deals with bed load transport which is computed as the product of the pick-up rate and the saltation length. Comparison with measured bed-load transport rates shows encouraging results. The second application deals with suspended load transport. The classical problem of sediment concentration profiles developing in a steady uniform flow which is initially free of sediment, is studied.
Changes in canopy transpiration due to thinning of a Cryptomeria japonica plantation

: There is a strong pressing to clarify the effect of thinning coniferous plantations on components of the forest water cycle in Japan. This study evaluates changes in canopy transpiration ( E ) due to thinning of a Cryptomeria japonica plantation, the most common type of plantation in Japan. Using E derived with the sap-flux method, we modeled canopy conductance ( G c ) for periods before thinning and after thinning with the input of the vapor pressure deficit separately. We hypothetically calculated E values using these G c models, respectively, under the same meteorological conditions. The ratio of E estimated using the G c model after thinning to that before thinning was 56%. This value was comparable to the ratio of the total sapwood area for the stand ( A s ) before thinning to that after thinning (63%). This suggests the possibility of predicting the relative change in E due to thinning using data for the mean diameter at breast height and stem density for the target stand before and after thinning, which are readily available for most japonica plantations in Japan and are used to predict A s .
Determining OCR in Clays from Laboratory Strength

The results of triaxial or simple shear tests may be used to estimate the in situ overconsolidation ratio (OCR) of clays using a SHANSEP database. A compilation of OCRs and normalized strengths from 114 different clays is presented to discern separate trends for isotropic and anisotropic triaxial compression, extension, and direct simple shear conditions. The method may be used to provide an independent estimate of OCR in clays or supplement the results of consolidation testing. It is observed that natural clays and artificially prepared clays exhibit distinctly different relationships. An example application involving a sensitive sandy clay deposit is used to illustrate the procedure.
Effects of nitrogen application rate on soil and plant characteristics in pastures of perennial grass mixtures in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

To illustrate the effect of nitrogen (N) application on soil physical and chemical characteristics, herbage yield and quality, and nitrogen and water use efficiency in the alpine region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a 3-year experiment was conducted on 3 mixtures of 4 perennial grasses commonly cultivated on the Plateau, Bromus inermis (BI) + Elymus nutans (EN), BI + E. sibricus (ES) + Agropyron cristatum (AC), and BI + ES + EN + AC by applying 4 levels of N fertiliser, 0, 115, 230, and 345 kg/ha from 1998 to 2000 in a randomised design. At harvesting time, soil pH and soil dry bulk density at 0–30 cm depth did not vary with N application rate. Soil organic carbon at 0–30 cm was not significantly variable under different N rates. Total soil N at 0–30 cm increased with N application rate and application year. After 3 years’ consecutive N treatment, total soil N reached 13 g/kg at an N application rate of 345 kg/ha. Soluble soil N at 0–30 cm increased with application rate but decreased with application year. At 345 kg N/ha application rate, soluble soil N was >100 mg/kg in 1998, but decreased to around 80 mg/kg in 2000. Herbage DM yields increased linearly with the N application rate. Compared with no fertiliser, 1.5 times more DM yield in 1998 and nearly double the DM yield in 1999 and 2000 were harvested for all grass mixtures at 345 kg N/ha. N concentrations in the herbages were significantly improved by N application. Each N fertiliser rate increased N contents in grass herbages by ≈3 g organic matter/kg. Apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR) decreased with N application rate in the establishment year of 1998, but increased with N application rate in 1999 and 2000. N use efficiency (NUE) decreased with N application throughout the experiment. Precipitation use efficiency (PUE) was significantly improved by N application for each grass mixture. Positive residual N-fertiliser effects were observed on herbage DM yield, ANR, NUE, and PUE in this study. BI + ES + AC showed higher DM yields, ANR, NUE, and PUE than the other 2 grass mixtures, and thus was proposed for N-input grassland systems in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
Reappraisal of the fossil methane budget and related emission from geologic sources

Converging evidence from new top‐down and bottom‐up estimates of fossil “radiocarbon‐free” methane emissions indicates that natural geologic sources account for a substantial component of the atmospheric methane budget. Comparing emission estimates based on atmospheric 14CH4 (“radiomethane”) with geologic emissions from seepage, including terrestrial macroseeps, microseepage, marine seeps, and geothermal/volcanic emissions from the Earth's crust, shows that such “geo‐CH4” sources can be conservatively estimated at 53 ± 11 Tg yr−1 globally. This makes geo‐CH4 second in importance to wetlands as a natural methane source. Such a new appraisal can easily be accommodated within the uncertainty of the global methane budget as recently compiled, and recognizes the importance of geophysical out‐gassing of methane generated within the lithosphere. We propose a new coherent contemporary budget in which 30 ± 5% (based on atmospheric radiomethane measurements) of the global source of 582 ± 87 Tg yr−1 has fossil origin, both natural and anthropogenic.
Sulfur during early diagenesis in Sphagnum peat: Insights from δ34S ratio profiles in 21Pb‐dated peat cores

Pb chronologies and depth profiles of stable S isotope ratios (834S) and concentrations of organic and inorganic S fractions were determined in peat cores from nine sites in the U.S. and the Czech Republic. Results indicate that depth profiles in S concentrations, S accumulation, and 634S ratios in peat deposits are affected not only by historical patterns in atmospheric S deposition but also by ongoing depth- dependent changes in S reduction-oxidation and S immobilization-mineralization processes within a peat deposit. These processes impart a certain degree of mobility to S in peat, bringing into question the validity of reconstructing historical records of S accumulation using dated peat profiles. Over long-term diagenesis, isotopically light S may be continually released from deep peat. This release may result in redistribution of S and S isotopes in peat and suggests that short-term patterns in S accumulation may not persist over much longer time scales.
La flora triásica del grupo El Tranquilo, provincia de Santa Cruz (Patagonia). Parte IV. Pteridospermae

The pteridosperms of the El Tranquilo Group (Upper Triassic of Patagonia) are studied. Well known and widespread Gondwana species are only mentioned while less known taxa are described. The list of species comprises: Dicroidium crassum (Menendez) Petriella, D. dubium (Feistmante) Gothan, D. lancifolium (Morris) Gothan, D. odontopteroides (Morris) Gothan, D. townrovii Retallack, Dicroidium sp. 1, Dicroidium sp. 2; Diplasiophyllum hughesi (Feistmantel) Frenguelli, Xylopteris argentina (Kurtz) Frenguelli, X. rigida (Dun) Jain y Delevoryas, X. spinifolia (Tenison-Woods) Frenguelli, Zuberia zuberi (Szajnocha) Frenguelli, Lepidopteris madagascariensis (Carpentier) Townrow, L. stormbergensis (Seward) Townrow; Scytophyllum neuburgianum Dobruskina. The taxonomic rank ofvariety in this group ofplants is not accepted as it can be shown that most ofthem are transitional forms within species polymorphism.
Estimating effective population size changes from preferentially sampled genetic sequences

Coalescent theory combined with statistical modeling allows us to estimate effective population size fluctuations from molecular sequences of individuals sampled from a population of interest. When sequences are sampled serially through time and the distribution of the sampling times depends on the effective population size, explicit statistical modeling of sampling times improves population size estimation. Previous work assumed that the genealogy relating sampled sequences is known and modeled sampling times as an inhomogeneous Poisson process with log-intensity equal to a linear function of the log-transformed effective population size. We improve this approach in two ways. First, we extend the method to allow for joint Bayesian estimation of the genealogy, effective population size trajectory, and other model parameters. Next, we improve the sampling time model by incorporating additional sources of information in the form of time-varying covariates. We validate our new modeling framework using a simulation study and apply our new methodology to analyses of population dynamics of seasonal influenza and to the recent Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.
Isotopic composition of carbonates in the SNC meteorites, Allan Hills 84001 and Zagami

We have measured the 13 C/ 12 C and 14 C/ 12 C ratios in CO 2 released by acid etching of the meteorites Zagami and Allan Hills 84001. We use the 14 C as a label to identify extraterrestrial carbonate phases, as they will have a low 14 C/ 12 C ratio (< - 4% modern terrestrial ratio) compared to recent terrestrial material. The new studies on Allan Hills 84001 confirm previous conclusions that the Fe, Mg-rich carbonate grains in this meteorite contain carbon with δ 13 C as high as +45 ‰. In contrast, the carbon released from Zagami is depleted in 13 C with δ 13 C as low as -20‰. We conclude that the isotopic composition of the carbon as carbonate released from acid etching of Zagami is different from the carbonates observed in both Allan Hills 84001 and Nakhla. With the assumption that all of these meteorites sample the surface of Mars, we propose that the Zagami carbonate samples a different carbon reservoir on this planet, such as a magmatic source. With this interpretation, the high δ 13 C values of carbonate observed in Allan Hills 84001 and Nakhla can be ascribed to a fractionated source compared with the originally light carbon. A likely origin for this 13 C-enriched component is an isotopically heavy Martian atmosphere; however, given the possibility of biological activity involving Allan Hills carbonates, we cannot exclude this as a source of the isotopic fractionation.
Southern hemisphere observations of a long‐term decrease in F region altitude and thermospheric wind providing possible evidence for global thermospheric cooling

F region peak heights, derived from ionospheric scaled parameters through 38-year data series from both Argentine Islands (65°S, 64°W) and Port Stanley (52°S, 58°W) have been analyzed for signatures of secular change. Long-term changes in altitude, which vary with month and time of day, were found at both sites. The results can be interpreted either as a constant decrease in altitude combined with a decreasing thermospheric wind effect or as a constant decrease in altitude which is altitude-dependent. Both interpretations leave inconsistencies when the results from the two sites are compared. The estimated long-term decrease in altitude is of a similar order of magnitude to that which has been predicted to result in the thermosphere from anthropogenic change related to greenhouse gases. Other possibilities should not, however, be ruled out.
Deaths: preliminary data for 2011.

OBJECTIVES This report presents preliminary U.S. data on deaths, death rates, life expectancy, leading causes of death, and infant mortality for 2011 by selected characteristics such as age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. METHODS Data in this report are based on death records comprising more than 98 percent of the demographic and medical files for all deaths in the United States in 2011. The records are weighted to independent control counts for 2011. Comparisons are made with 2010 final data. RESULTS The age-adjusted death rate decreased from 747.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 2010 to 740.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, age-adjusted death rates decreased significantly for 5 of the 15 leading causes of death: Diseases of heart, Malignant neoplasms, Cerebrovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis. The age-adjusted death rate increased for six leading causes of death: Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Diabetes mellitus, Influenza and pneumonia, Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, Parkinson's disease, and Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids. Life expectancy remained the same in 2011 as it had been in 2010 at 78.7 years.