Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MODELING AND PROJECTING LAND-USE AND LAND-COVER CHANGES WITH A CELLULAR AUTOMATON IN CONSIDERING LANDSCAPE TRAJECTORIES: AN IMPROVEMENT FOR SIMULATION OF PLAUSIBLE FUTURE STATES

The modeling and projecting of land use change is essential to the assessment of consequent environmental impacts. In agricultural landscapes, land use patterns nearly always exhibit spatial autocorrelation, that is due in large part, to the clustered distribution of landscape features as hedgerows and wetlands, and also to the spatial interactions between land uses types itself. The importance of such structural spatial dependencies has to be taken into account when conducting land use projections, more especially as landscape features influence the precision of land use and land cover classifications of remote sensing imagery. The objective of this work is to improve land-use projections in considering landscape features in the modeling process. Cellular automata (CA), that provide a powerful tool for the dynamic modeling of land use changes, are a common method to take spatial interactions into account. They have been implemented in land use models that are able to simulate multiple land use types. This research adopts the spatial evolution concept embedded in CA and applies it to land-use and land-cover change study in one watershed inserted in an intensive agricultural area in Central Brittany, where water quality problems are often prevalent. A time-series of multi-scale and multi-temporal (including historical) satellite imagery and aerial photographs were used to determine both landscape features and the spatial characteristics and the temporal dynamics of land-use and land-cover over the period 1950 to 2003. Socio-economic and biophysical driving forces of observed changes have been established through a network of collaborating partners and agencies willing to share resources and eager to utilize developed techniques and model results. All these input data were complied, analysed and assessed in using spatial statistical techniques to quantify spatial dependencies. Cellular automaton modeling procedures were then applied to develop a spatially -explicit modelbased simulations of future land use and cover change in considering that the evolving landscape frame slows down or accelerates changes according to the cases. Summary of neighbourhood conditions of each target cell reveals the dynamic processes of land use change constrained with the landscape frame and thus enhance our understanding on transition rules, the heart of a CA, in different types of landscapes. Model performance was evaluated in removing landscape features and in using shorter series of past observations. The model including landscape features as hedgerows network or wetlands distribution simulated the land-cover and land use at a higher accuracy than the model excluding landscape information for the three studied watersheds. In summary, our results showed that introducing landscape features improves simulations of land-use and land-cover future states, which will contribute to build more plausible scenarios of future changes.
Title Pros and cons of estimating the reproduction number from earlyepidemic growth rate of influenza A ( H 1 N 1 ) 2009

Background: In many parts of the world, the exponential growth rate of infections during the initial epidemic phase has been used to make statistical inferences on the reproduction number, R, a summary measure of the transmission potential for the novel influenza A (H1N1) 2009. The growth rate at the initial stage of the epidemic in Japan led to estimates for R in the range 2.0 to 2.6, capturing the intensity of the initial outbreak among schoolage children in May 2009. Methods: An updated estimate of R that takes into account the epidemic data from 29 May to 14 July is provided. An age-structured renewal process is employed to capture the age-dependent transmission dynamics, jointly estimating the reproduction number, the age-dependent susceptibility and the relative contribution of imported cases to secondary transmission. Pitfalls in estimating epidemic growth rates are identified and used for scrutinizing and re-assessing the results of our earlier estimate of R. Results: Maximum likelihood estimates of R using the data from 29 May to 14 July ranged from 1.21 to 1.35. The next-generation matrix, based on our age-structured model, predicts that only 17.5% of the population will experience infection by the end of the first pandemic wave. Our earlier estimate of R did not fully capture the population-wide epidemic in quantifying the next-generation matrix from the estimated growth rate during the initial stage of the pandemic in Japan. Conclusions: In order to quantify R from the growth rate of cases, it is essential that the selected model captures the underlying transmission dynamics embedded in the data. Exploring additional epidemiological information will be useful for assessing the temporal dynamics. Although the simple concept of R is more easily grasped by the general public than that of the next-generation matrix, the matrix incorporating detailed information (e.g., agespecificity) is essential for reducing the levels of uncertainty in predictions and for assisting public health policymaking. Model-based prediction and policymaking are best described by sharing fundamental notions of heterogeneous risks of infection and death with non-experts to avoid potential confusion and/or possible misuse of modelling results.
ptimum thickness of hydrophobic layer for operating voltage eduction in EWOD systems eong

This paper presents the optimum thickness of a hydrophobic layer for operating voltage reduction in electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) systems by investigating the effects of thickness on the surface wettability and hysteresis using atomic force microscopy (AFM). To investigate the surface wettability, the thicknesses of Cytop and Teflon layers coated with different weight percentages of Cytop and Teflon solutions are precisely measured by AFM. The contact angles of deionized water droplets on the Cytop and Teflon layers of different thicknesses are measured using an optical microscope from the side. The results of the contact angle measurements of deionized water droplets on Cytop layers indicate that layers thicker than 3 nm maintain an angle of approximately 110◦; the contact angles of the drops on Cytop layers thinner than 3 nm abruptly drop and decrease as the layer becomes thinner. The Teflon layers show a similar trend to the Cytop layers, except that the critical thickness is larger (7 nm). The contact angle hysteresis for different thicknesses of Cytop and Teflon layers is investigated by the tilting plate method. The results reveal that for thin hydrophobic layers, the contact angle hysteresis is over 10◦ but decreases as the layer thickness increases. When the layers are thicker than 12 nm, the contact angle hysteresis is reduced by approximately 4◦ for Cytop and 7◦ for Teflon and becomes saturated. To investigate the effect of aging on the surface wettability and hysteresis, the film stability of Cytop and Teflon layers is separately tested. The initial contact angles are reduced about 1.2% for Cytop and 1.6% for Teflon within 1 day and then maintained up to 10 days, while the initial contact angle hysteresis is increased about 117% for Cytop and 39% for Teflon within a day and then maintained up to 10 days, regardless of the thickness of the Cytop and Teflon layers. Based on the results of the surface wettability and hysteresis, an optimum hydrophobic layer thickness of 12 nm is established. Finally, the thickness effects of the hydrophobic layer on the operating voltage in EWOD actuation are tested. As expected, the operating voltage for thin hydrophobic layers is lower than that for thick layers. For the Cytop layer, the saturation voltages for 12 nm, 500 nm, and 1500 nm are 80 V, 100 V, and 120 V, respectively. Similarly, for the Teflon layer, the saturation voltages for 12 nm, 600 nm, and 1600 nm are 90 V, 110 V, and 130 V, respectively. The relative differences in the saturation voltages for both materials with respect to thickness are approximately the same.
Optimization of periodic unitary online schedule of transport tasks of highway road trains

The paper is devoted to the problem of optimization of transport tasks’ execution schedule. The exploitation of a group of interdependent highway road trains is considered. The task differs from the known ones by limitations of the duration of a cycle within which a maximum number of goods transportation orders must be fulfilled. There are also limited intervals of time when loading and unloading of vehicles is permitted at appropriate points of a transport network. The solution of the problem consists in distributing a given number of road trains between orders, finding the shortest path for each of them, and determining the time of their departure and arrival provided the absence of idle runs and with minimal time delays of the process. It is shown that a maximum number of completed tasks are proportional to the duration of the cycle up to a certain limit only. The optimization is carried out for two options: in the absence and presence of restrictions on repeatability of freight flows from one point. The used algorithm guarantees an exact solution for an acceptable period of time for a small-dimensional task.
Dynamics in Immigration Community

In this paper, we present a theorethical model that tries to investigate the observable hysteresis process in the migration dynamic. In the model the migration choice depends not only on the wage differential, but also on a U-shaped benefit function of a community of homogenous ethnic individuals, modelled according to the "theory of clubs". The theoretical results, based on real option theory, explain that the observable "jumps" in the migration flows could depend on two variables: the number of coordinated immigrants and the dimension of the community. In fact, the migration choice is procrastinated until a critical mass is reached. Moreover, some possible rigidities in the adjustment of the district dimension, as regards the optimal levels, can magnify the hysteresis process.
IMPACT OF TRICHODERMA PLEUROTUM AND T. PLEUROTICOLA ISOLATES ON YIELDING OF PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS (FR.) KUMM.

The influence of substrate infestation with Trichoderma pleurotum and T. pleuroticola isolates on yielding of two commercial strains of Pleurotus ostreatus was investigated. The examined P. ostreatus strains growing on substrates infested with Trichoderma iso- lates showed a considerable yield decline. T. pleuroticola isolates were found to exert a greater unfavorable impact on P. ostreatus yields than T. pleurotum isolates. The performed experiments demonstrated that the response of the examined P. ostreatus strains to infesta- tions with T. pleurotum and T. pleuroticola isolates was similar.
Acoustically tunable optical transmission through a subwavelength hole with a bubble

Efficient manipulation of light with sound in subwavelength-sized volumes is important for applications in photonics, phononics, and biophysics, but remains elusive. We theoretically demonstrate the control of light with MHz-range ultrasound in a subwavelength, 300-nm-wide water-filled hole with a 100-nm-radius air bubble. Ultrasound-driven pulsations of the bubble modulate the effective refractive index of the hole aperture, which gives rise to spectral tuning of light transmission through the hole. This control mechanism opens up novel opportunities for tunable acousto-optic and optomechanical metamaterials, and all-optical ultrasound transduction.
Source Apportionment of Personal Exposure to Carbonyl Compounds and BTEX at Homes in Beijing, China

Concentrations of carbonyl compounds (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein and acetone) and BTEX (benzene, toluene and xylenes) were monitored at 128 residential homes (255) in Xicheng district, Beijing, during the period of November–December 2009. The indoor concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, benzene, toluene and xylenes were in the ranges of 1.3–85.6 µg/m 3 , 0.7–102.0 µg/m 3 , 0.3–102.1 µg/m 3 , 0.1–25.1 µg/m 3 , 1.0–47.5 µg/m 3 , 1.3–86.0 µg/m 3 and 0.2–78.7 µg/m 3 , respectively. The concentrations of all species during the investigation period were below the Chinese guideline values. Based on the measured concentrations, a receptor model (PMF; positive matrix factorization) coupled with the source information was applied to identify the major emission sources. The results showed that four major sources were identified by the PMF method, including (1) outdoor incursion factors, (2) emissions from building materials and paint solvent, (3) emissions from particle board and plywood flooring and (4) emissions from household cleaning chemicals. Our results also reveal that the health risks due to exposure to formaldehyde and benzene for Beijing residents were greater during this period than those for people living in Guangzhou and Hangzhou, China.
Color image reconstruction from Charlier moments

In this research, we conducted a study on Charlier polynomials and discrete orthogonal Charlier moments. With the three channel method, we have carried out the color image reconstructions from Charlier moments with satisfied results. Our experimental results show that the color images can be precisely reconstructed in each of three primary color channels individually. We conclude that the moment methods developed for gray-level images can be applied in color image analysis.
SCA 2006-04 1 / 12 MEASURING WETTABILITY FROM BRINE T 2 DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INERT MINERAL OIL

NMR T2 distributions obtained from saturated porous media are closely related to interactions between the liquids saturating the media and the pore surfaces of the media themselves. This would intuitively make NMR an ideal way of studying surface phenomena such as wettability. Here are presented two methods that use a relatively high-viscous mineral oil as the oil phase. We assume that the nuclear spins of the hydrogen atoms in the oil phase will interact with the pore walls only to a minor degree due to the low diffusivity of the oil. This assumption infers that the NMR T2 distribution of such oil will remain constant and is independent of the porous medium. For a system satisfying this assumption it is possible to subtract a scaled version of a predetermined bulk oil signal from the signal consisting of both oil and water thus giving the water signal alone. A slightly different approach is to use the large difference in molecular mobility between water and the mineral oil to obtain the true oil distribution from the sample by use of pulsed field gradients to suppress the signal arising from water in the system. The resulting signal now originating from the oil phase alone can then be subtracted from the signal consisting of both oil and water thus again giving the water signal alone Once one has access to the brine T2 distribution for different brine saturations it is possible to gain information on the wettability of the system depending on the shape of the distributions. For example, brine that is wetting the surface will have significantly shorter T2 compared to brine that is disconnected from the surface due to an oil film wetting the surface. In systems where large regions are oil wet, we may even see a bulk brine component of longer T2 than the longest T2 in brine saturated systems. INTRODUCTION The petroleum industry is frequently met with challenges relating to reservoir wettability. Traditional methods of wettability determination, including the Amott test (Amott, 1959) and the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) test of wettability (Donaldson et al.,
Evaluation of the combined effect of osmotic and Refractance Window drying on the drying kinetics, physical, and phytochemical properties of beet

Abstract The effect of osmotic dehydration (OD) with different sucrose concentrations and temperatures was studied in combination with drying by Refractance WindowTM (RW) in beet slices with thicknesses of 1 and 5 mm. The color, texture, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (AC) of the beet with OD, RW, and OD-RW combined drying were evaluated. The best results of water loss (WL) and solid gain (SG) with OD were obtained with 65% sucrose solution at 60 °C. OD partially reduced the water content of the slices, decreasing the drying time with RW at 85 °C. However, the retention of qualities such as color, texture, TPC, TFC, and AC in beet was obtained with combined drying by OD-RW at 60 °C under OD conditions of 65% sucrose at 45 °C. These conditions afforded a stable product retaining its physical and chemical properties.
Stock Options and Internal Capital Allocation Decisions

This paper examines how executive stock options affect firmsΓCO internal capital allocation decisions. ┬a I find evidence at both the segment level and the firm level that conglomerate CEOs respond to option incentives by tilting toward high-risk segments when allocating capital expenditures across segments, which is consistent with the risk-seeking incentives associated with the convex payoff structure of options. ┬a The results also suggest that corporate governance, as reflected in an index of anti-takeover amendments, has a substantial impact on firmsΓCO investment choices. ┬a
Race / Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status ( SES ) The Impact of Basic-Level Parent Engagements on Student Achievement : Patterns Associated with

Strong empirical evidence exists in general education that links parent involvement to student academic achievement, but such evidence is lacking in special education. Moreover, most prior research investigated parent involvement as a broadly defined term that included various types of parent engagements. As a result, it is difficult to estimate the effect of some specific parent engagements. Using data from the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study (SEELS), this study examined influences of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status on basic-level parent engagements in school and home settings (i.e., participation in school activities, talking to their child about his/her experiences in school, and expectations for the child to graduate from high school) and the relationship of these engagements to student achievement. Engagement at home was found to have a positive impact on student achievement, but participation in school activities did not significantly affect student achievement. Discussion and implications of these findings, and recommendations for future research are provided.
Population Density, Food Consumption and Damage Caused by the Land Snail Monacha cantiana to Some Vegetable Crops at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate

The land snail Monacha cantiana is one of the most serious pests especially at north and east of Delta. It causes considerable damage to the majority of crops at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. In this study, a trial was carried out at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate on the predominant land snail M. canntiana to throw light on its population density, food consumption and damage caused by it under field and laboratory conditions. Trial was conducted on some vegetable crops i.e. parsley, lettuce, onion, garlic, pepper and Jews mallow showed that the highest number of snails was recorded in March for onion and pepper with 65.6 and 19.0 snails/1⁄2 m, respectively and in April for parsley, lettuce, garlic and Jews mallow with 68.6, 81.6, 74.6 and 7.0 snails/1⁄2 m, respectively during 2015 season. In general, M. cantiana recorded highest infestation levels during March and April as compared to May, but numbers of snails in 2016 season were clearly less than 2015 season. The mean consumption values of M. cantiana snails for fresh leaves of some vegetable plants under laboratory conditions were 0.546, 0.185, 0.320, 0.070 and 0.117 g/10 snails/5 days for lettuce, parsley, onion, garlic and pepper, respectively. It is clear that lettuce leaves were most favorite for snails, while garlic leaves were the least. Concerning determination the damage caused by M. cantiana to fresh lettuce leaves under field conditions, the obtained data showed that the reduction percentage in lettuce leaf area reached its maximum value (4.81%) in the middle of April, while the minimum value (1.17%) was in the end of the
Modeling the Metal–Insulator Phase Transition in LixCoO2 for Energy and Information Storage

An electro‐chemomechanical phase‐field model is developed to capture the metal–insulator phase transformation along with the structural and chemical changes that occur in LixCoO2 in the regular operating range of 0.5 < x < 1. Under equilibrium, in the regime of phase coexistence, it is found that transport limitations lead to kinetically arrested states that are not determined by strain‐energy minimization. Further, lithiation profiles are obtained for different discharging rates and the experimentally observed voltage plateau is observed. Finally, a simple model is developed to account for the conductivity changes for a polycrystalline LixCoO2 thin film as it transforms from the metallic phase to the insulating phase and a strategy is outlined for memristor design. The theory can therefore be used for modeling LixCoO2‐electrode batteries as well as low voltage nonvolatile redox transistors for neuromorphic computing architectures.
Towards an integrative taxonomy of Phyllopsora (Ramalinaceae)

Abstract Species identification in the tropical lichen genus Phyllopsora is generally challenging and is based on ascospore morphology, vegetative dispersal units, thallus structure and secondary chemistry. As several type specimens are in poor condition and difficult to interpret, it is often unclear how these old names fit with the currently used taxonomy. In the present study, we aim to identify species boundaries in Phyllopsora s. str. supported by an integrative approach using multiple sources of evidence. We investigated a substantial amount of herbarium as well as freshly collected material and generated mtSSU and ITS sequence data from most of the described species, including several types. Species delimitation analyses are applied on the gene trees using mPTP and we construct a species tree of both markers with *BEAST, facilitating discussion of species delimitation and sister-relationships. Comparing morphology, chemistry and molecular data, we found that the mPTP analyses split established species repeatedly. Based on our integrative results, we exclude nine species from the genus, resurrect one (P. melanoglauca Zahlbr.), reduce two into synonymy with other Phyllopsora species and describe five as new to science: Phyllopsora amazonica Kistenich & Timdal (which shares the secondary chemistry (atranorin and terpenoid pattern) with P. halei chemotype 1, but differs, e.g., in having smaller areolae that are attached to a thinner, white prothallus, and in having more persistently marginate and less convex apothecia), Phyllopsora concinna Kistenich & Timdal (which shares the secondary chemistry (atranorin and parvifoliellin) with P. parvifoliella and P. rappiana, but differs from both in forming larger isidia, having a white prothallus, apothecial margin paler than the disc, and longer and broader ascospores), Phyllopsora furfurella Kistenich & Timdal (which is here segregated from P. furfuracea based on having a white prothallus and in containing skyrin in the hypothecium (K+ red)), Phyllopsora isidosa Kistenich & Timdal (which differs from P. byssiseda in forming a more crustose thallus with more delicate isidia, and from P. isidiotyla in forming somewhat coarser, less branched isidia) and Phyllopsora neotinica Kistenich & Timdal (a neotropical species here segregated from the now exclusively paleotropical P. chodatinica, differing in containing an unknown xanthone (not chodatin)). Lectotypes are designated for Biatora pyrrhomelaena Tuck. , Lecidea leucophyllina Nyl. , L. pertexta Nyl. , and P. brachyspora Müll. Arg. In total, we accept 54 species in the genus Phyllopsora.