Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Isotopic Altitude Gradient for Hydrogeological Studies in Mountainous Areas: Are the Low-Yield Springs Suitable? Insights from the Northern Apennines of Italy

Several prior studies investigated the use of stable isotopes of water in hydrogeological applications, most on a local scale and often involving the isotopic gradient (evaluated by exploiting the so-called altitude effect), calculated on the basis of rainwater isotopes. A few times, this gradient has been obtained using the stable isotopic contents of low-yield springs in a limited time series. Despite the fact that this method has been recognized by the hydrogeological community, marked differences have been observed with respect to the mean stable isotopes content of groundwater and rainwater. The present investigation compares the stable isotopic signatures of 23 low-yield springs discharging along two transects from the Tyrrhenian sea to the Po Plain of Italy, evaluates the different isotopic gradients and assesses their distribution in relation to some climatic and topographic conditions. Stable isotopes of water show that groundwater in the study area is recharged by precipitation and that the precipitation regime in the eastern portion of the study area is strongly controlled by a shadow effect caused by the Alps chain on the air masses from central Europe. Stable isotopes (in particular the δ18O and deuterium excess (d-excess) contents together with the obtained isotopic gradients) allow us to identify in the study area an opposite oriented orographic effect and a different provenance of the air masses. When the windward slope is located on the Tyrrhenian side, the precipitation shows a predominant oceanic origin; when the windward slope moves to the Adriatic side, the precipitation is characterized by a continental origin. The main results of this study confirm the usefulness of low-yield springs and the need for a highly detailed survey-scale hydrological investigation in the mountainous context.
Family-Friendly Kampong (FFK) Modelling: Developing Urban Resilience in Disaster-Prone Area

Family-friendly integrated and holistic development is the principal solution for many socio-cultural, economic, and ecological problems of marginal families lived in a disaster-prone area. This descriptive-qualitative study at Panaragan Village Bogor city, a hydrometeorology hazard area, has elaborated characteristics and vulnerability of family and community, areal typology, family and environment transaction, also social environment vulnerability and quality. Data were collected from interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and observation then analyzed with a gap, potential, and SWOT analysis. Results showed that Panaragan had shown features as FFK, characterized by high territorial-bound, well-maintained social capital and leadership (formal and informal) strengthened with organizational facilities, well perception about the family condition, also superior awareness of potential threat and vulnerability in family and community. With diverse topography, FFK model based in hamlet (RW) level. FFK development was done with positive-labeling, intrinsic spirit of community cohesiveness, a satisfaction of acceptance and recognition, social piety, volunteerism, and generosity. Derivative strategy of FFK model aimed to find competitive and comparative excellence of community productive activities, provide chances for elderly to be senior citizen, escalate community leaders and youth capacity, upgrade public figures and religious leaders’ leadership, maintain inter-family communication and interaction, preserve community leaders’ motivation, and disseminate social environment maintenance burden.
The Role of Management on Methane Emissions From Subtropical Wetlands Embedded in Agricultural Ecosystems

Wetlands are an important source of CH4 globally. However, uncertainty surrounding the impact of anthropogenic activities on CH4 emissions from wetlands limits understanding of how these ecosystems will respond to management changes. Furthermore, by neglecting the potential for management to influence CH4 emissions likely inflates error of CH4 emissions for regional and global CH4 models. This study employed a replicated factorial experimental design to investigate how management of the agricultural landscape, including grazing and/or management intensity, influences net CH4 emissions from embedded, seasonal subtropical wetlands. This research further determined key mechanisms by which management decisions at the landscape scale modulate CH4 emissions from the embedded wetlands. Net CH4 exchange was measured using a closed chamber system over two complete wet/dry seasonal cycles in 16 wetlands embedded in either agronomically improved pastures (improved wetlands) or less intensively grazed unfertilized seminative pastures (seminative wetlands), as well as in grazed and ungrazed wetlands in each treatment. Emissions of CH4 were higher from improved wetlands (2.82 μmol m−2 s−1) than seminative wetlands (0.75 μmol m−2 s−1), particularly during the wet season. Enhanced CH4 emissions in improved wetlands relative to seminative wetlands were caused by increased soil wetness and by higher biomass in improved seminative wetlands. Unlike subtropical flooded pastures, our results showed that grazers do not alter CH4 emissions from subtropical wetlands. Current and future changes in management intensity of pastures may cause shifts in net soil CH4 emissions from embedded subtropical wetlands, which could further enhance this emission source.
A Regression Model of Stream Water Quality Based on Interactions between Landscape Composition and Riparian Buffer Width in Small Catchments

Riparian vegetation represents a protective barrier between human activities installed in catchments and capable of generating and exporting large amounts of contaminants, and stream water that is expected to keep quality overtime. This study explored the combined effect of landscape composition and buffer strip width (L) on stream water quality. The landscape composition was assessed by the forest (F) to agriculture (A) ratio (F/A), and the water quality by an index (IWQ) expressed as a function of physico-chemical parameters. The combined effect (F/A × L) was quantified by a multiple regression model with an interaction term. The study was carried out in eight catchments of Uberaba River Basin Environmental Protection Area, located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and characterized by very different F/A and L values. The results related to improved water quality (larger IWQ values) with increasing values of F/A and L, which were not surprising given the abundant similar reports widespread in the scientific literature. But the effect of F/A × L on IWQ was enlightening. The interaction between F/A and L reduced the range of L values required to sustain IWQ at a fair level by some 40%, which is remarkable. The interaction was related to the spatial distribution of infiltration capacity within the studied catchments. The high F/A catchments should comprise a larger number of infiltration patches, allowing a dominance of subsurface flow widespread within the soil layer, a condition that improves the probability of soil water to cross and interact with a buffer strip before reaching the stream. Conversely, the low F/A catchments are prone to the generation of an overland flow network, because the absence of permanent vegetation substantially reduces the number of infiltration patches. The overland flow network channelizes runoff and conveys the surface water into specific confluence points within the stream, reducing or even hampering an interaction with a buffer strip. Notwithstanding the interaction, the calculated L ranges (45–175 m) are much larger than the maximum width imposed by the Brazilian Forest Code (30 m), a result that deserves reflection.
Application of community detection based on improved genetic algorithm in air pollutant propagation network

In order to analyze the propagation relationship of air pollutants in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, this paper applies the complex network to the air pollutant propagation model by analyzing the airborne pollutant propagation characteristics. A new community detection algorithm based on genetic algorithm is proposed to analyze the characteristics of air pollutant propagation network. The algorithm has combined the advantages of label propagation algorithm. The concept of community structure is added to the crossover operator, and the constrained mutation operator is used to carry out the mutation operation, so as to achieve the evolution of the population. The algorithm has found out that the air pollutant propagation network does have a community structure.
Efficacy of a behavioral intervention to decrease medication transcription errors among professional nurses

EFFICACY OF A BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TO DECREASE MEDICATION TRANSCRIPTION ERRORS AMONG PROFESSIONAL NURSES Kathleen Becker, B.S., M.S. Marquette University The purpose of this study, guided by Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome model, was to evaluate if a cognitive-behavioral education intervention would decrease medication transcription errors among professional nurses when admitting patients 65 years of age or older on 5 or more prescribed medications to a hospital. In 1993 medication errors are estimated to have accounted for about 7,000 deaths (Institute of Medicine, 2000). It has been shown that interventions, pharmacist involvement, and reconciliation tools can help prevent medication errors (Pronovost, et al., 2003; Crotty, Rowett, Spurling, Giles, & Phillips, 2005; Kaboli, McClinton, Hoth & Barnett, 2004). Currently, no peer-reviewed published research exists regarding professional nurses and admission medication list accuracy. In this study, a randomized intervention design was used where professional nurses, n=52, were asked to complete a medication admission list on patients’ 65 years of age or older on 5 or more prescribed medications. A medication error score was calculated by advanced practice nurses who were trained on medication reconciliation. A second medication list was obtained from the nurses after an intervention group was provided with a cognitive-behavioral education intervention. The control group completed admission medication lists as usual. Sixty four percent of all patients had one or more medication errors. Further, the medication error score was compared between the intervention and control group. The mean medication error score in the pre-intervention results demonstrated no significant difference between the intervention and control group (means=3.54; p=1.0). The mean medication error score for the post-test control group (mean=3.23; p<.001) was significantly higher than the mean score for the post-test intervention group (mean=.69; p<.001). The findings suggest that providing a cognitive behavioral education component to professional nurses can decrease the number of medication transcription errors on admission medication lists. Also, a small positive relationship was found between number of patient prescribers and medication error score, r=0.26, n=104, p<. 01, the more prescribers a patient has the more medication errors occur. This research expands Donabedian’s model by demonstrating improvement in the process of medication admission list obtainment by use of a cognitive-behavioral intervention.
Analysis of the Gálvez-Davison Index for Convective Forecasting Over Africa Using the GALWEM

From the hot, arid Sahara Desert to the humid, West African monsoon, Africa is a continent with vastly different weather and climate patterns from one region to the next. For this reason, thunderstorm forecasting over Africa has presented significant difficulty. The Gálvez-Davison Index (GDI) was developed for the Americas and provides a more accurate convective forecasting index than the conventional indices for thunderstorm forecasting, including the K, Total Totals, Showalter, and Lifted indices. Previous research using the GDI via the Global Forecasting System (GFS) model data over Africa showed promising results for areal coverage (Donndelinger 2018), especially during the spring through fall months. This study will look to test the GDI via the Global Air Land Weather Exploitation Model (GALWEM) to determine if the GALWEM GDI forecast is able to more accurately forecast the location and areal coverage, as well as resolve airmass thunderstorms, when compared to the GALWEM K Index (KI) and GFS GDI forecast. Results from this study show the GDI and KI have similar location error at the 95% confidence level across the monthly, Zulu time, convective regime, and regional studies. GDI consistently outperforms the KI in terms of areal convection coverage in every study analyzed at the 95% confidence level. The GDI proves to perform best when convection is primarily airmass-based, while the KI performs best when convection is primarily from Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs). Furthermore, Kelvin waves and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) show promise as additional convective forecast tools for Africa. This study contains important information for furthering meteorological understanding of convection and precipitation over the African continent
Listen up! Adult care leavers speak out: the views of 310 care leavers aged 17-78

Listen Up! Adult Care Leavers Speak Out is a ground-breaking report. Based on a survey of 310 care leavers aged from 17 to 78 that took place in the autumn of 2009, it brings together for the first time a range of data that begins to reveal the experiences of care leavers throughout the life-course. In doing so, it meets one of the central aims of the Care Leavers' Association (CLA) - to give a voice to the experience of those who may have spent months or years in care as children, whether public, voluntary or private. Being 'heard' is the first step to being understood - and understanding is the first step to ensuring that the lessons of past experience are not forgotten. In this regard, some of the messages in Listen Up! may not be what the reader expects.
To masticate or not: useful tips for treating forest, woodland, and shrubland vegetation.

Forest managers use mastication to grind or shed vegetation to remove competition, prepare a site for natural or artificial regeneration, or release sapling-sized trees; or they use mastication to convert ladder fuels to surface fuels and enhance decomposition of biomass. However, determining the best mastication configuration within the context of management objectives and site limitations is challenging. This report synthesizes our current knowledge on mastication as a forest management tool. We found that excavators, skid steers, and tractors can all be carrier machines and different types of vertical and horizontal cutting heads exist that can be front-end mounted or boom mounted, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We provide a summary on the ecological effects from mastication. We found that there were several studies on plant and soil impacts, but limited information on impacts to wildlife habitat. Although costs of mastication widely vary depending on machine size, the physical setting, size and configuration of pre-treatment biomass, and operator skill, mastication does have market and non-market benefits. Depending on the management objective, if mastication is an option, then a thorough site evaluation should consider slope, nonnative species invasions, vulnerability of soils to erode or compact, and treatment costs.
Effect of Straw Mulch on Soil Evaporation during Freeze–Thaw Periods

Reducing soil evaporation is important to alleviate water shortages in arid and semi-arid regions. The objective of this work was to reveal the effect of straw mulch on soil evaporation based on field experiments during a freeze–thaw period in Northern China. Four soil surface mulch treatment modes were investigated: Bare soil (BS), 1 cm thick straw mulch with 100% coverage rate (J1), 2 cm thick straw mulch with 100% coverage rate (J2), and 2 cm thick straw mulch with 50% coverage rate (J3). Principal component analysis was used to analyze the major factors influencing soil evaporation in three freeze–thaw stages. The results show that cumulative soil evaporation decreased with increased straw mulch thickness and coverage rate. The effect of straw mulching on soil evaporation was obvious during the stable freezing period, and soil evaporation with straw mulch treatments was reduced by 49.0% to 58.8% compared to BS treatment, while there was little difference for straw mulch treatments in the thawing stage. The relationship between cumulative soil evaporation under different straw mulch modes and time was well fitted by the power function. In the unstable freezing stage, the major factors for all treatments influencing soil evaporation were surface soil temperature and water surface evaporation; in the stable stage, they were solar radiation and relative humidity, and in the thawing stage, they were solar radiation and air temperature. The research results can provide a basis for addressing soil water storage and moisture conservation and restraining ineffective soil evaporation in arid and semi-arid areas.
Time series analysis of Holly Blue records in Yorkshire - uncovering a parasitoid

Introduction The recorded numbers of the butterfly Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus have been shown to cycle up and down every 4-6 years and this has been attributed to the caterpillar population being parasitised by the larvae of the ichneumon Listrodomus nycthemerus (Revels, 1994, 2006). Revels provided convincing evidence of the host-parasitoid relationship between the butterfly Holly Blue and the parasitic ichneumon L. nycthemerus by collecting Holly Blue caterpillars and rearing them through to chrysalis. Over a period of 15 years he showed that the proportion of chrysalises that produced either Holly Blue butterflies or L. nycthemerus fluctuated; at the peak of the cycle almost all chrysalises hatched into a Holly Blue adult butterfly and at the trough of the cycle almost all chrysalises (99%) produced an adult L. nycthemerus. The cycle from peak to trough took 4-6 years to repeat with parasitic wasp numbers lagging behind butterfly numbers by one or two generations. Though Holly Blue young caterpillars are attacked by the tiny braconid wasp Cotesia inducta it is L. nycthemerus which appears to largely drive the cycle by attacking the older caterpillars (Revels, 1994, 2006). L. nycthemerus has no other known host than the Holly Blue caterpillar while C. inducta attacks a number of Lycaenidae including White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album (Shaw et al., 2009).
Coupling wildfire spread and erosion models to quantify post-fire erosion before and after fuel treatments

Wildfires are known to change post-fire watershed conditions such that hillslopes can become prone to increased erosion and sediment delivery. In this work, we coupled wildfire spread and erosion prediction modelling to assess the benefits of fuel reduction treatments in preventing soil runoff. The study was conducted in a 68000-ha forest area located in Sardinia, Italy. We compared no-treatment conditions v. alternative strategic fuel treatments performed in 15% of the area. Fire behaviour before and after treatments was estimated by simulating 25000 wildfires for each condition using the minimum travel time fire-spread algorithm. The fire simulations replicated historic conditions associated with severe wildfires in the study area. Sediment delivery was then estimated using the Erosion Risk Management Tool (ERMiT). Our results showed how post-fire sediment delivery varied among and within fuel treatment scenarios. The most efficient treatment alternative was that implemented near the road network. We also evaluated other factors such as exceedance probability, time since fire, slope, fire severity and vegetation type on post-fire sediment delivery. This work provides a quantitative assessment approach to inform and optimise proactive risk management activities intended to reduce post-fire erosion.
Historical and future anthropogenic warming effects on the year 2015 droughts, fires and fire emissions of CO2 and PM2.5 in equatorial Asia

Abstract. In 2015, El Niño caused severe droughts in equatorial Asia (EA). The severe droughts enhanced fire activities in the dry seasons, leading to massive fire emissions of CO2 and aerosols. Using large event attribution ensembles of the MIROC5 atmospheric global climate model, we suggest that historical anthropogenic warming increased the chances of meteorological droughts exceeding the 2015 observations in the EA area. Large probability increases in stronger droughts than the 2015 event are found in the ensemble simulations of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C global warming according to the Paris Agreement goals. Further drying is projected in the 3.0 °C ensemble. We combine these experiments and empirical functions between precipitation, burned area, and fire emissions of CO2 and PM2.5. Increases in the chances of the burned area and the emissions of CO2 and PM2.5 exceeding the 2015 observations due to anthropogenic climate change in the past are not significant. In contrast, there are significant increases in the burned area and CO2 and PM2.5 emissions even if the 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C goals are achieved. If global warming reaches 3.0 °C, as is expected from the current mitigation policies of nations, the chances of the burned area, CO2 and PM2.5 emissions exceeding the 2015 observed values become approximately 100 %, at least in the single model ensembles. We also compare changes in fire CO2 emissions due to climate changes and the land-use CO2 emission scenarios of five shared socio-economic pathways, where the climate change effects on fire are not considered. There are two main implications. First, in a national policy context, future EA climate policy will need to consider these climate change effects regarding both mitigation and adaptation aspects. Second, the consideration of fire increases would change global CO2 emissions and the mitigation strategy, which suggests that future climate change mitigation studies should take these factors into account.