Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The estimation of convective rainfall by area integrals: 2. The Height‐Area Rainfall Threshold (HART) method

Estimates of instantaneous area average rain rate (〈R〉 in millimeters per hour) are obtained with 5–10% accuracy over a large domain simply by measuring (1) the fraction of the area, F(τ), covered by rain intensity greater than a selected threshold τ and (2) the average precipitating cloud top heights. In order to achieve this high accuracy the domain has to be large enough (about 104 km2) to include a representative sample of rain cells in different stages of their life cycle, and the measurement of the threshold rain intensity (τ) has to be unbiased. This Height-Area Rainfall Threshold (HART) method was tested with radar data of convective rains from Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Tropical Atlantic Experiment (GATE) phase 3, South Africa, west Texas, and a small sample from Darwin, Australia. The results from all locations were found to be consistent and physically plausible. The cloud base temperature seems to play a major role in the determination of the constants of the HART method. The 〈R〉-F(τ) relations were found to be rather insensitive to variations in the Z-R relationships. However, any bias in the measurement of τ causes a similar bias in the derived 〈R〉. HART makes possible the accurate estimation of instantaneous rainfall from space when measuring the area and height of the convective rain systems with radar. Passive microwave observations may also be used over the ocean at wavelengths which allow setting a specified rain rate threshold, and when accompanied by IR measurements of storm top temperatures. Over tropical ocean domains of the order of 104 km2 or greater, the autocorrelation time of about 6 hours permits the area average instantaneous rate to represent the rate for a few hours.
3-query locally decodable codes of subexponential length

Locally Decodable Codes (LDC) allow one to decode any particular symbol of the input message by making a constant number of queries to a codeword, even if a constant fraction of the codeword is damaged. In a recent work [Yek08] Yekhanin constructs a 3-query LDC with sub-exponential length of size exp(exp(O((log n)/(log log n)))). However, this construction requires a conjecture that there are infinitely many Mersenne primes. In this paper we give the first unconditional constant query LDC construction with subexponantial codeword length. In addition our construction reduces codeword length. We give construction of 3-query LDC with codeword length exp(exp(O(√{log n log log n ))). Our construction could also be extended to higher number of queries. We give a 2r-query LDC with length of exp(exp(O(☂[r] log n (log log n)r-1))).
Dependence of the high latitude electron (E > 35 kev) boundary on the orientation of the geomagnetic axis

Results of a preliminary study are given in which a dependence is observed between Λb, the average high latitude boundary of 35-kev electrons, and o, the angle between the earth-sun line and the geomagnetic axis. The variation of Λb with o has a minimum near o ∼ 90° and is approximately symmetrical about this angle. The maximum variation of the average Λb with o is between 2° and 3°. There is some indication that the dependence of Λb on o is greatest in the morning hours, although this conclusion has to be regarded as tentative at present. The results are interpreted as indicating a stronger coupling between the solar wind and the magnetosphere when o ∼ 90°, which results in more geomagnetic flux being swept back into the tail at these times.
Annular Modes Forced from the Stratosphere and Interactions with the Oceans

Long time-scale variations of the climate system can be induced by forcings loaded onto the stratosphere, such as increase of carbon dioxide, solar activity, and volcanic eruption, which is possibly modulated by the interaction with the oceans. Spatial structure of the atmospheric response resembles the Northern Annular Mode (NAM) in an experiment of a coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model with a westerly momentum forcing in the winter midlatitude stratosphere. The atmospheric response further induces distinctive patterns of the sea surface temperature (SST) change in the Atlantic and the Pacific, which are reminiscent of the observed decadal to interdecadal variability dominant in each basin. Investigation of oceanic feedback with the atmospheric model forced by the SST change suggests that the oceanic response has positive feedback effects on the NAM-like atmospheric structure, implying enforcement or maintenance of the response to the stratospheric forcing. The positive feedback effect in the Atlantic is significant in winter, while that in the Pacific is significant in spring.
Message from the Steering Committee Chair

Human factor is central to organization survival and profitability. In this presentation, Dr. La Venture articulates how people-centered cultures foster employee engagement that in turn leads to long-term organizational success. International Conference on Information Society (i-Society 2017) Copyright © i-Society 2017 Technical Co-Sponsored by IEEE UK/RI Computer Chapter ISBN 978-1-908320-80-3 9
Mechanism of energy transportation and turbulent flow in a 3D channel

This paper presents an analytical approach for the partitioning of the flow cross-sectional area in steady and uniform three-dimensional channels. The mechanism and direction of energy transport from the main flow are analyzed first. Based on the availability of surplus energy from the main flow, a concept of energy transportation through a minimum relative distance toward a unit area on the wetted perimeter is proposed. This leads to a novel method to analytically divide the flow area into various parts corresponding to the channel shape and roughness composition of its wetted perimeter. The demarcated boundary or “division line” can be evaluated using a presented equation. The existence of the division lines, which are lines of zero Reynolds shear stress within the flow region, has been proven through comparison with turbulence characteristics measurements. The method is illustrated in a study of the shear stress distribution in smooth rectangular open channels. Analytical solutions, valid for all aspec.
The role of virtual communities for the social network of cancer patients

This study investigates the determinants and effects of virtual communities on the development of social relationships within the social network of cancer patients. Influencing factors on the formation of virtual relationships and their effect in the form of social assistance are researched. Following an explorative approach it is examined whether online communities meet their theoretical potential to provide an environment where social relationships can be established that help cancer patients to cope with their situation. Deduced from these results recommendations for patients using online communities and providers administrating online communities are outlined.
Is Robustness To Transformations Driven by Invariant Neural Representations?

Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) have demonstrated impressive robustness to recognize objects under transformations (e.g. blur or noise) when these transformations are included in the training set. A hypothesis to explain such robustness is that DCNNs develop invariant neural representations that remain unaltered when the image is transformed. Yet, to what extent this hypothesis holds true is an outstanding question, as including transformations in the training set could lead to properties different from invariance, e.g. parts of the network could be specialized to recognize either transformed or non-transformed images. In this paper, we analyze the conditions under which invariance emerges. To do so, we leverage that invariant representations facilitate robustness to transformations for object categories that are not seen transformed during training. Our results with state-of-the-art DCNNs indicate that invariant representations strengthen as the number of transformed categories in the training set is increased. This is much more prominent with local transformations such as blurring and high-pass filtering, compared to geometric transformations such as rotation and thinning, that entail changes in the spatial arrangement of the object. Our results contribute to a better understanding of invariant representations in deep learning, and the conditions under which invariance spontaneously emerges.
The influence of neighbours on the growth of trees. I. The demography of buds in Betula pendula

The growth of primary branches of four-year-old silver birch trees growing close to neighbours was followed over a period of three years. Branches were divided into three groups: those entering closely into each other’s canopy, those growing into zones with no neighbour, and an intermediate category. On each branch the following variables were measured: total number of buds, number of living buds, number of lateral branches, gross and net bud production, and bud mortality. Before the start of the study the trees had been growing without neighbours. There were no significant effects of neighbours after one year of the experiment but by the third year all variables were showing some response. Fewer buds were ‘born’ and a greater proportion died in the areas of the crown most subject to interference from the branches of neighbouring trees and this was reflected in smaller mean branch size in these areas. The age of a branch was also an important factor affecting performance. Significant interactions between branch age and interference zone for the number of living buds, gross and net bud production and bud mortality indicated that the effect of neighbours varied with branch age. The behaviour and fate of a bud appear to be conditioned more by its local environment than by its position on the tree of which it is a part.
MUSP: Multi-service, User Self-controllable and Privacy-preserving system for smart metering

This paper proposes a Multi-service, User Self-controllable and Privacy-preserving (MUSP) system for secure smart metering. This system has a number of novel properties. Firstly, it can report users' fine-grained consumption data to grid operators and suppliers securely and with user privacy preservation capability. These are achieved by using a homomorphic encryption technique in conjunction with selective data aggregation and distribution methods, so only the aggregated data are delivered to the authorised data recipients only on a need-to-know basis. Secondly, it allows suppliers to access their customers' attributable meter readings regularly. To protect users' privacy, suppliers, by default, can access new data only at a low frequency (e.g. once a month). However, MUSP allows users (1) to adjust (control) this frequency and (2) to release new data by demand (e.g. when change of tariff occurs), thus putting users' privacy preservation in their own hands. Thirdly, it is equipped with an easy and user friendly supplier switching facility to allow users to switch providers easily and conveniently. Security analysis and performance evaluation demonstrate that the MUSP system can protect users' privacy while providing these services in an efficient and scalable manner.
Determinants of Acceptance of Mobile Games through Structural equation Modeling

Mobile games are considered as one of the emerging mobile services in recent years and mobile gaming is the fastest and most popular service among the innovations in mobile and network technologies. The mobile game market value is increasing remarkably and the number of players is rapidly growing. For this reason, the acceptance factors of mobile games can be considered as an important research problem. In this paper, we attempt to investigate the factors influencing the usage and acceptance of mobile games, based on the extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to give directions to mobile game service providers on how to design their products in order to increase acceptance of their games. Data are collected by an online survey consisting of 34 questions from 112 participants. After applying the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to eliminate insignificant data, the remaining data are analyzed and evaluated by using the structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical results show that Use Context, Flow Experience, Perceived Enjoyment, and Perceived Convenience have a direct effect on intention to play mobile games.
The Impact of Data Quality Tags on Decision-Making Outcomes and Process

It has been proposed that metadata describing data quality (DQ), termed DQ tags, be made available in situations where decision makers are unfamiliar with the data context, for example, in data warehouses. However, there have been conflicting reports as to the impact of such DQ tags on decision-making outcomes. Early studies did not explicitly consider the usability and semantics of the DQ tag designs used experimentally or the impact of such tags on decision process, except in suggestions for future research. This study addresses these issues, focusing on the design of usable DQ tags whose semantics are explicitly specified and exploring the impact of such DQ tags on decision outcomes and process. We use the information quality framework InfoQual, the interaction design technique of contextual inquiry, and cognitive process tracing to address DQ tag semantics, usability, and impact on decision process, respectively. In distinct contrast to earlier laboratory experiments, there was no evidence that the preferred decision choice changed with DQ tags, but decision time was significantly increased and there were indications of reduced consensus. These results can be explained by understanding the impact of DQ tags on decision process using concurrent protocol analysis, which involves participants verbalizing thoughts while making a decision. The protocol analysis study shows that DQ tags are associated with increased cognitive processing in the earlier phases of decision making, which delays generation of decision alternatives.
On the stability of delay-differential systems in the behavioral framework

In the behavioral approach, a linear time-invariant (LTI) delay-differential system is naturally introduced by Glusing-Luerssen (1997) as a continuous-time system whose dynamics are governed by a set of delay-differential equations, involving both painted and distributed delay operators. For this class of systems the notion of autonomy is introduced and characterized. Finally, asymptotic stability of autonomous delay-differential systems is investigated.
Longshore sediment transport and coastal erosion at Skallingen, Denmark

Abstract Within the past thirty years, the subaerial sand budget of the barrier spit Skallingen has changed from positive to negative and the foredunes are presently receding by 3–4 m/year. Volumetric losses on the barrier during the past 30 years have been computed and compared to theoretically estimated longshore sediment transport rates. It is highly likely that the sand lost from the barrier is being transported southward into the tidal inlet of Grådyb. Computations suggest that a century ago, net longshore transport rates were perhaps only about 15% of current rates. The reasons for the increased net transport and sediment losses appear to be long-term changes in the wind climate and dredging of Grådyb which cuts off any sediment supply from southerly sources. The latter has resulted in long term erosion of the northern part of the ebb delta and subsequent reorientation of the shoreline at the southern part of Skallingen
A formal statistical model for pooled analysis of extreme floods

This paper describes a formal statistical model underlying the region-of-influence method routinely used in regional frequency analysis of hydrological extremes, and is an improvement to the existing Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) method for pooled frequency analysis of annual maximum flows in the UK. Specification of a pooling-group method requires three issues to be resolved: how to define hydrological similarity, the size of pooling groups and calculation of the pooled L-moment ratios. Because these issues are interrelated, an exploratory and iterative study has been undertaken before arriving at the final version of the method. Improvements provided by the model are: (1) that it allows an increased weight to be given to a gauged catchment when it is itself the target location and (2) it does not require identification of a homogeneous region, since the expected differences between the L-moment ratios within a pooling group are explicitly accounted for. Using annual maximum series from 602 gauged rural catchments, a comparison of candidate methods shows that the new method performs better than these others, including the FEH method. While the numerical comparison suggests that the improvement is 4%, and thus only minor, arguments are given for why this is a misleading conclusion.
A carbon-isotope perturbation at the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary: evidence from the Lias Group, NE England

Abstract A perturbation in the carbon-isotope record at the time of the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary (~ 184 Ma) in the Early Jurassic is reported, based on new data from Yorkshire, England. Two sharp δ13Corg negative excursions, each with a magnitude of ~ −2.5 ‰ and reaching minimum values of −28.5 ‰, are recorded in the bulk organic-matter record in sediments of latest Pliensbachian to earliest Toarcian age. A similar pattern of negative carbon-isotope excursions has been observed at the stage boundary in the SW European section at Peniche, Portugal in δ13Ccarbonate, δ13Cwood and δ13Cbrachiopod records. The isotopic excursion is of interest when considering the genesis and development of the later Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE), as well as the second-order global extinction event that spans the stage boundary. Furthermore, the isotope excursion potentially provides a chemostratigraphic marker for recognition of the stage boundary, which is currently achieved on the basis of different ammonite faunas in the NW European and Tethyan realms.
The post-yield behaviour of four Eocene-to-Jurassic UK stiff clays

A detailed study is described of the post-yield behaviour of four medium-plasticity heavily overconsolidated UK stiff clays. Sub-layers of the stiff-to-hard Gault, Kimmeridge and Oxford clays were identified, sampled and tested; these, along with facies investigated in an earlier London Clay study, had broadly similar depositional histories. The intention in considering a spread of similar sediments from the Jurassic to the Eocene was to allow any strong effects of geological age, or burial depth, to be identified. A strongly fissured meso-structure was present in three of the four clays, which had a controlling influence on their effective shear strengths, considering that the representative element volume is of paramount importance in measuring the strengths of such soils. All four soils were brittle in shear and, when sheared to sufficient displacements, developed low residual shear strengths. The stiff clays were investigated further through comparisons between natural and reconstituted behaviour, usi.
Present‐day motion of the Sierra Nevada block and some tectonic implications for the Basin and Range province, North American Cordillera

Global Positioning System (GPS) data from five sites on the stable interior of the Sierra Nevada block are inverted to describe its angular velocity relative to stable North America. The velocity data for the five sites fit the rigid block model with rms misfits of 0.3 mm/yr (north) and 0.8 mm/yr (east), smaller than independently estimated data uncertainty, indicating that the rigid block model is appropriate. The new Euler vector, 17.0°N, 137.3°W, rotation rate 0.28 degrees per million years, predicts that the block is translating to the northwest, nearly parallel to the plate motion direction, at 13–14 mm/yr, faster than previous estimates. Using the predicted Sierra Nevada block velocity as a kinematic boundary condition and GPS, VLBI and other data from the interior and margins of the Basin and Range, we estimate the velocities of some major boundary zone faults. For a transect approximately perpendicular to plate motion through northern Owens Valley, the eastern California shear zone (western boundary of the Basin and Range province) accommodates 11±1 mm/yr of right‐lateral shear primarily on two faults, the Owens Valley‐White Mountain (3±2 mm/yr) and Fish Lake Valley (8±2 mm/yr) fault zones, based on a viscoelastic coupling model that accounts for the effects of the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake and the rheology of the lower crust. Together these two faults, separated by less than 50 km on this transect, define a region of high surface velocity gradient on the eastern boundary of the Sierra Nevada block. The Wasatch Fault zone accommodates less than 3±1 mm/yr of east‐west extension on the eastern boundary of the Basin and Range province. Remaining deformation within the Basin and Range interior is also probably less than 3 mm/yr.
Origins of Clays Controlling Permeability in Tight Gas Sands

The low permeabilities of Cretaceous and Paleocene tight gas sands in Wyoming and Colorado commonly are related to the presence of high-surface-area authigenic clays. These clays include chlorite, illite, and mixedlayer smectite/illite formed by regeneration of detrital clays or by diagenetic alteration of chemically unstable framework components such as volcanic rock fragments, some feldspars, and ferric oxides and hydroxides. The success of exploration and exploitation drilling programs in tight sands can be enhanced significantly through an understanding of the origins of these clays.
Welshite, Ca2Mg4Fe3+Sb5+O2[Si4Be2O18], a new member of the aenigmatite group

Summary Welshite, triclinic, Ca2Mg4Fe3+Sb5+O2 [Si4Be2O18], a = 10·28 Å, b = 10·69 Å, c = 8·83 Å, α = 106·1°, β = 96·3°, γ = 124·8°, P¯1 with pseudo-monoclinic cell a m = 9·68(1) Å, b m = 14·77(2) Å, c m = 5·14(1) Å, βm = 101·5(2)°, c-centred, occurs as lustrous subadaman-tine, thick prismatic reddish-black crystals up to 3 mm in greatest dimension associated with roméite, adelite, swedenborgite, berzeliite, manganoan phlogopite, richterite in crystalline dolomite from Làngban, Sweden. Forms include b {010}, a{100}, k{130}, m{110}, j{021}, p{111}, q{121}, v{131}, r{¯111}, s{¯121}, t{¯131}, and v{¯141} (monoclinic setting). Streak pale-brown, hardness 6, specific gravity 3·77, fracture conchoidal, no cleavage, α = 1·81(1), γ = 1·83(1), 2E(obs.) ≈45°, no noticcable pleochroism. Welshite is a new member of the aenigmatite-rhönite group and obtains from the substitution Sb5+→ Ti4+ and Be2+ → Al3+ in rhönite.
How far do birds fly during one migratory flight stage?

Birds on migration normally switch between flight stages and periods of stopover where fuel stores are replenished. How migratory birds divide their time between flight and stopover is still not well known. Short‐term recoveries of passerine birds ringed in Sweden were analysed to investigate how far long‐distance migrating passerines fly during a flight stage and whether they migrate one or more flight stages in a row. Included in the study were birds recovered at least 50 km from the ringing site and within seven days from ringing. The median distance covered by the recovered birds was 245 km. About 40% of the recoveries within 24 hours from ringing were found at least 200 km from the ringing site. The distances covered varied and many birds moved only short distances, perhaps as a result of searching for good stopover sites, while others moved much further away. Two recoveries of Sedge Warblers three days after ringing indicated that these birds had flown three nights in a row before being controlled. The results suggest that long‐distance passerine migrants regularly perform several flight stages in a row, with short rests in between, before refuelling, even if there are no major barriers ahead.