Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Modifying a CFD-AB Approach on Fish Passage through a Model Hydraulic Dam

The threat of invasive bigheaded carp swimming into the upper reaches of the Mississippi River (USA) demands new and effective approaches to block these species. To explore how navigational Lock and Dams (LDs) on the Mississippi River could be used to deter the upstream migration of invasive fish species, computer modelling that combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and agent-based (AB) fish passage model (CFD-AB model) could be used to hypothetically quantify the passage of bigheaded carp (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) through LDs. Agent-based fish (AB-fish) are always located on a node of the CFD mesh and move by selecting the neighboring node that minimizes fatigue. A possible limitation of this approach is that the AB-fish movement exhibits a dependence upon the CFD mesh. The proposed modified approach allows the AB-fish to occupy any point in the computational domain and to continually (within the size of the time step) update their minimum fatigue path. Computations in a simplified channel/dam structure show that the modified CFD-AB results are smoother swimming trajectories and increased estimates of fish passage when compared to the original CFD-AB model.
Modeling 3D Free-geometry Volumetric Sources Associated to Geological and Anthropogenic Hazards from Space and Terrestrial Geodetic Data

Recent decades have shown an explosion in the quantity and quality of geodetic data, mainly space-based geodetic data, that are being applied to geological and anthropogenic hazards. This has produced the need for new approaches for analyzing, modeling and interpreting these geodetic data. Typically, modeling of deformation and gravity changes follows an inverse approach using analytical or numerical solutions, where normally regular geometries (point sources, disks, prolate or oblate spheroids, etc.) are assumed at the initial stages and the inversion is carried out in a linear context. Here we review an original methodology for the simultaneous, nonlinear inversion of gravity changes and/or surface deformation (measured with different techniques) to determine 3D (three-dimensional) bodies, without any a priori assumption about their geometries, embedded into an elastic or poroelastic medium. Such a fully nonlinear inversion has led to interesting results in volcanic environments and in the study of water tables variation due to its exploitation. This methodology can be used to invert geodetic remote sensing data or terrestrial data alone, or in combination.
Studying the Impact on Urban Health over the Greater Delta Region in Egypt Due to Aerosol Variability Using Optical Characteristics from Satellite Observations and Ground-Based AERONET Measurements

This research addresses the aerosol characteristics and variability over Cairo and the Greater Delta region over the last 20 years using an integrative multi-sensor approach of remotely sensed and PM10 ground data. The accuracy of these satellite aerosol products is also evaluated and compared through cross-validation against ground observations from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) project measured at local stations. The results show the validity of using Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors on the Terra and Aqua platforms for quantitative aerosol optical depth (AOD) assessment as compared to Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), and POLarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances (POLDER). In addition, extracted MISR-based aerosol products have been proven to be quite effective in investigating the characteristics of mixed aerosols. Daily AERONET AOD observations were collected and classified using K-means unsupervised machine learning algorithms, showing five typical patterns of aerosols in the region under investigation. Four seasonal aerosol emerging episodes are identified and analyzed using multiple indicators, including aerosol optical depth (AOD), size distribution, single scattering albedo (SSA), and Ångström exponent (AE). The movements and detailed aerosol composition of the aforementioned episodes are demonstrated using NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) back trajectories model in collaboration with aerosol subtype products from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) mission. These episodes indicate that during the spring, fall, and summer, most of the severe aerosol events are caused by dust or mixed related scenarios, whereas during winter, aerosols of finer size lead to severe heavy conditions. It also demonstrates the impacts of different aerosol sources on urban human health, which are presented by the variations of multiple parameters, including solar radiation, air temperature, humidity, and UV exposure. Scarce ground PM10 data were collected and compared against satellite products, yet owed to their discrete nature of availability, our approach made use of the Random Decision Forest (RDF) model to convert satellite-based AOD and other meteorological parameters to predict PM10. The RDF model with inputs from the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) datasets improves the performance of using AOD products to estimate PM10 values. The connection between climate variability and aerosol intensity, as well as their impact on health-related PM2.5 over Egypt is also demonstrated.
Factors Influencing Adoption of Biomass Energy Conservation Technologies in Selected Areas of Kitui County, Kenya

In Kenya, demand for biomass energy has increased due to increasing population and urbanization and high cost of alternative energy sources. This coupled with use of inefficient production and utilization technologies, has led to increased deforestation, environmental degradation and increased health impacts. In Kenya, a number of improved technologies have been developed and promoted; however, adoption still remains low. This study sought to assess factors influencing adoption of biomass energy conservation technologies in four selected areas of Kitui County, Kenya. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and guidelines for institutional and focus group discussions. Sampling was done through purposive and stratified random sampling. Results revealed three categories of biomass energy conservation technologies: energy saving stoves (46%), woodlots (9%) and improved charcoal conversion kilns (2%). The mean percentage adoption rate in the four study areas stood at 48% with Chuluni having the highest (51%) while Kitui West had the least (46%). Agriculture (28%), forestry (26%) and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)/CBOs (Community-Based Organizations) (23%) were indicated as the main sources of information, while field days (35%), community trainings (30%) and demonstrations sites (22%) were the most preferred dissemination channels. High cost of technologies, lack of awareness, financial constraints, cultural preferences, gender aspects, lack of follow up programmes and inadequate capacity to enforce implementation of existing energy policies and regulation were indicated as key constraints to adoption of technologies. The study recommends development of a joint implementation strategy and follow up programmes that will look at the cost of technologies, dissemination channels and involvement of stakeholders’ in development and dissemination of biomass energy conservation technologies.
A Multivariate Approach for Mapping Lithospheric Domain Boundaries in East Antarctica

Beneath the ice of East Antarctica lies a continent that is likely to be as geologically complex as its neighbors in Gondwana. An improved model of the heterogeneous lithosphere is required to progress research on Antarctica's tectonic evolution and support interdisciplinary studies of cryosphere and solid Earth interaction. We make use of multiple data sets, which were updated following the field campaigns and compilations of the International Polar Year of 2007/2008. Seismic tomography results, gravity anomalies, and surface elevation are used in a novel method, which combines spatial multivariate data to map possible boundaries as projected likelihood functions. Six multivariate combinations are tested and compared with sparse geological observations in East Antarctica. The resulting lithospheric domain boundaries contribute to our understanding of the deep continental structure. New boundaries are suggested in the interior, and models agree with likely surface expressions of crustal tectonic boundaries exposed along the coast.
Numerical Investigation of the Coastal Atmosphere and Ocean at Meaípe

The monazite sands of Meaípe attract a great interest because of their ionizing radiation. This radiation is inert, but its intensity varies with time and space, and may be influenced by the atmospheric conditions. The present study performed numerical simulations with the atmospheric model Weather Research and Forecasting to investigate this coastal region atmospheric dynamics. The simulations refer to a period from 01 to 07 January of 2019 and include the emission of an inert tracer with a constant rate to represent the dispersion and transport of the ionizing radiation by the atmospheric circulations. During the simulated period, the predominant wind direction was from north-northeast. Topography has a substantial influence on the local atmospheric circulation and the influence of the sea breeze circulation was also noticed. The ionizing radiation is not horizontally transported to a large area, staying confined to a region near its emission. Its vertical dispersion is usually limited by the top of the planetary boundary layer.
Characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the Modaomen waterway in the dry season of 2017-2018

Based on the observations of the Modaomen waterway in the dry season of 20172018 and the hydrometeorological data collected, the influence of runoff, tide and wind on the daily maximum intrusion length is analyzed here in order to researth the characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the Modaomen waterway in the dry season. Compared the daily maximum intrusion length calculated by formula with the observation, it can be found that the two were consistent. Through the correlation coefficient between intrusion length of saline water and flow rate, tide difference and wind, it is found that the movement trend of salinity borderline is determined by the stability of the upstream runoff. Under the condition that the upstream runoff is relatively stable, the movement trend of the salinity borderline is dominated by tide when discharge is high, and when discharge is low, the movement trend of salinity borderline is dominated by the interaction between tide and runoff. And the northerly wind promotes and accelerates the intrusion of the saltwater.
Changing Arctic River Dynamics Cause Localized Permafrost Thaw

Permafrost in the Arctic regions is degrading in response to decades of amplified warming. Advanced degradation of ice‐rich permafrost could significantly alter the water balance by increasing runoff and flooding. How do the hydrological changes in river systems, in turn, affect the permafrost thermal state, specifically in floodplains? First, we develop a first‐order heat budget approach to simulate evolving river‐water temperature. The river‐water thermal model includes heat exchanges at both the air‐water and water‐subsurface interfaces and can accurately estimate water temperature. Then, river‐water temperature is employed as an upper boundary condition for the control volume permafrost model, which models the thermal state of shallow permafrost. The combined model is validated and applied in the Kuparuk River floodplain, Alaska. Results indicate that permafrost warms rapidly during inundation and that channelbelt active layer thickness can deepen by more than 1 m. We find that earlier arrival of the spring freshet and associated earlier inundation onset, as well as increase in river discharge, can significantly increase subsurface permafrost temperature and lead to a deepening of the active layer. In recent years Kuparuk River streamflow has arrived earlier, and mean annual river discharge has increased by 35% since the 1970s. New permanent water and seasonal water appeared throughout the river network of the Kuparuk River since the 1980s according to satellite observations. These hydrological changes likely have contributed to the expansion of riverbed thaw bulbs and the degradation of floodplain permafrost.
Using statistical downscaling to assess skill of decadal predictions

Abstract We test a hypothesis that the signal-to-noise ratio of decadal forecasts improves with larger scales and can be utilised through model output statistics (MOS) involving empirical-statistical downscaling and dependencies to large-scale conditions. Here, we used MOS applied to an ensemble of decadal forecasts to predict local wet-day frequency, the wet-day mean precipitation, and the mean temperature for one to nine year long intervals of forecasts with a one year lead time. Our study involved a set of decadal forecasts over the 1961–2011 period, based on a global coupled ocean-atmosphere model that was downscaled and analysed for the North Atlantic region. The MOS for the decadal forecasts failed to identify aspects that were associated with higher skill for temperature and precipitation over Europe on time scales shorter than five years. A likely explanation for not enhancing skillful parts of the forecasts was that the raw model output had low skill for the general large-scale atmospheric circulation. This was particularly true for the wet-day frequency over Europe, which had a strong connection to the mean sea-level pressure (SLP) anomalies over the North Atlantic. There was a weak connection between large-scale maritime surface temperature anomalies and local precipitation and temperature variability over the European continent. The decadal forecasts for time scale of nine years and longer, on the other hand, exhibited moderate skill. The dependency between temporal and spatial scales was found to differ for the temperature and the mean SLP anomalies, but we found little indication that the decadal predictions for anomalies with large-scale regional extent were associated higher skill than for more local patterns in these forecasts.
Just for the turf of it: Turf replacement as a water conservation tool

In 2009, a water district located in southern California offered its retail customers an opportunity to participate in a rebate program to replace their turf. From 2009 to 2015, 227 retail customers participated in the water agency's Turf Replacement Program, where 166,499 m2 (792,185 ft2) of turf was removed. An analysis was conducted to evaluate the water savings related to removing turf and replacing it with drought tolerant landscape. Difference in Difference design and a time component were utilized to identify how many neighbors replaced their turf after the participant did, also known as the neighborhood multiplier effect. Neighbor controls were incorporated into the analysis as the program ran during a significant drought in California. One year before starting the program, the average annual water usage was 1,437.93 m3 (1.17 acre-feet [ac-ft]) for 193 of the participating customers. One year after each customer participated, the average water usage was 1,045.74 m3 (0.85 ac-ft). The average reduction of water usage per customer (392.19 m3 [~ 0.32 ac-ft]) is statistically significant at the 0.01 level (paired t-test, T = 9.797, p < 0.0001). When comparing the differences in usage between the program participants and the neighbor controls (Difference in Difference approach), we see that the difference in usage (after-before) is statistically significant between the two groups (t-test unequal variances, T = −5.655, p < 0.0001). The results also indicate that with a greater area of turfgrass replaced, there was significantly less water savings. In this study, the multiplier effect was analyzed. The multiplier is a factor of proportionality that measures how many neighbors switched out their turf because their neighbor (participant) switched out their turf. On average, 2.5 neighbors out of the boundary (on average included 13 neighbors) switched their turf after the participant replaced their turf (Z-test, Z = 6.46, p < 0.0001). With investment of public monies, transparency in program results and benefits should be a priority. To do this, managers should focus on collecting more data to help address some of the confounding variables and explain some of the trend relationships found in this study for their turf replacement programs. Such data could include measuring the total area of the yard that can be landscaped and finding information about plans for the rest of the yard.
A Nanoscale Investigation of Carlin-Type Gold Deposits: An Atom-Scale Elemental and Isotopic Perspective

Carlin-type gold deposits are one of the most important gold mineralization styles in the world. Despite their economic importance and the large volume of work that has been published, there remain crucial questions regarding their metallogenesis. Much of this uncertainty is due to the cryptic nature of the gold occurrence, with gold occurring as dispersed nanoscale inclusions within host pyrite rims that formed on earlier formed barren pyrite cores. The small size of the gold inclusions has made determining their nature within the host sulfides and the mechanisms by which they precipitated from the ore fluids particularly problematic. This study combines high-resolution electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with atom probe tomography (APT) to constrain whether the gold occurs as nanospheres or is dispersed within the Carlin pyrites. APT offers the unique capability of obtaining major, minor, trace, and isotopic chemical information at near-atomic spatial resolution. We use this capability to investigate the atomic-scale distribution of trace elements within Carlin-type pyrite rims, as well as the relative differences of sulfur isotopes within the rim and core of gold-hosting pyrite. We show that gold within a sample from the Turquoise Ridge deposit (Nevada) occurs within arsenian pyrite overgrowth (rims) that formed on a pyrite core. Furthermore, this As-rich rim does not contain nanonuggets of gold and instead contains dispersed lattice-bound Au within the pyrite crystal structure. The spatial correlation of gold and arsenic within our samples is consistent with increased local arsenic concentrations that enhanced the ability of arsenian pyrite to host dispersed gold (Kusebauch et al., 2019). We hypothesize that point defects in the lattice induced by the addition of arsenic to the pyrite structure facilitate the dissemination of gold. The lack of gold nanospheres in our study is consistent with previous work showing that dispersed gold in arsenian pyrite can occur in concentrations up to ~1:200 (gold/arsenic). We also report a method for determining the sulfur isotope ratios from atom probe data sets of pyrite (±As) that illustrates a relative change between the pyrite core and its Au and arsenian pyrite rim. This spatial variation confirms that the observed pyrite core-rim structure is due to two-stage growth involving a sedimentary or magmatic-hydrothermal core and hydrothermal rim, as opposed to precipitation from an evolving hydrothermal fluid.
Gender issues in livestock production systems in Ethiopia: A literature review

Studies on gender and livestock in Ethiopia are scanty and localized in terms of geographic coverage and gender issues covered. Nevertheless, gender issues in livestock that could potentially influence livestock policy and gender equity have been generated. The gender issues addressed in livestock include gender division of labour; access to, ownership and control over of resources; intrahousehold decision-making; livestock institutions; mobility and the risk of HIV and AIDS; time poverty, perception and agency; women’s invisibility; gender capacity; and changes in gender relations. The review suggested some possible gendered investable options to improve the existing gender inequalities in livestock with a potential of far reaching consequences of improving the livestock systems in general and as well as research gaps for future research.
Eikonal Tomography of the Southern California Plate Boundary Region

We use Eikonal tomography to derive phase and group velocities of surface waves for the plate boundary region in Southern California. Seismic noise data in the period range 2 and 20 s recorded in year 2014 by 346 stations with ~1‐ to 30‐km station spacing are analyzed. Rayleigh and Love wave phase travel times are measured using vertical‐vertical and transverse‐transverse noise cross correlations, and group travel times are derived from the phase measurements. Using the Eikonal equation for each location and period, isotropic phase and group velocities and 2‐psi azimuthal anisotropy are determined statistically with measurements from different virtual sources. Starting with the SCEC Community Velocity Model, the observed 2.5‐ to 16‐s isotropic phase and group dispersion curves are jointly inverted on a 0.05° × 0.05° grid to obtain local 1‐D piecewise shear wave velocity (Vs) models. Compared to the starting model, the final results have generally lower Vs in the shallow crust (top 3–10 km), particularly in areas such as basins and fault zones. The results also show clear velocity contrasts across the San Andreas, San Jacinto, Elsinore, and Garlock Faults and suggest that the San Andreas Fault southeast of San Gorgonio Pass is dipping to the northeast. Investigation of the nonuniqueness of the 1‐D Vs inversion suggests that imaging the top 3‐km Vs structure requires either shorter period (≤2 s) surface wave dispersion measurements or other types of data set such as Rayleigh wave ellipticity.
Sensitivity of Ozone Dry Deposition to Ecosystem‐Atmosphere Interactions: A Critical Appraisal of Observations and Simulations

The response of ozone (O3) dry deposition to ecosystem‐atmosphere interactions is poorly understood but is central to determining the potential for extreme pollution events under current and future climate conditions. Using observations and an interactive dry deposition scheme within two dynamic vegetation land models (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory LM3.0/LM4.0) driven by observation‐based meteorological forcings over 1948–2014, we investigate the factors controlling seasonal and interannual variability (IAV) in O3 deposition velocities (Vd,O3). Stomatal activity in this scheme is determined mechanistically, depending on phenology, soil moisture, vapor pressure deficit, and CO2 concentration. Soil moisture plays a key role in modulating the observed and simulated Vd,O3 seasonal changes over evergreen forests in Mediterranean Europe, South Asia, and the Amazon. Analysis of multiyear observations at forest sites in Europe and North America reveals drought stress to reduce Vd,O3 by ~50%. Both LM3.0 and LM4.0 capture the observed Vd,O3 decreases due to drought; however, IAV is weaker by a factor of 2 in LM3.0 coupled to atmospheric models, particularly in regions with large precipitation biases. IAV in summertime Vd,O3 to forests, driven primarily by the stomatal pathway, is largest (15–35%) in semiarid regions of western Europe, eastern North America, and northeastern China. Monthly mean Vd,O3 for the highest year is 2 to 4 times that of the lowest, with significant implications for surface O3 variability and extreme events. Using Vd,O3 from LM4.0 in an atmospheric chemistry model improves the simulation of surface O3 abundance and spatial variability (reduces mean biases by ~10 ppb) relative to the widely used Wesely scheme.