Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long term measurements of optical properties and their hygroscopic enhancement

Abstract. Optical properties of aerosols were measured from the GAW Puy de Dome station (1465 m) over a seven year period (2006–2012). The impact of hygroscopicity on aerosol optical properties was calculated over a two year period (2010–2011). The analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of the optical properties showed that while no long term trend was found, a clear seasonal and diurnal variation was observed on the extensive parameters (scattering, absorption). Scattering and absorption coefficients were highest during the warm season and daytime, in concordance with the seasonality and diurnal variation of the PBL height reaching the site. Intensive parameters (single scattering albedo, asymmetry factor, refractive index) did not show such a strong diurnal variability, but still indicated different values depending on the season. Both extensive and intensive optical parameters were sensitive to the air mass origin. A strong impact of hygroscopicity on aerosol optical properties was calculated, mainly on aerosol scattering, with a dependence on the aerosol type. At 90% humidity, the scattering factor enhancement ( f σ sca ) was more than 4.4 for oceanic aerosol that have mixed with a pollution plume. Consequently, the aerosol radiative forcing was estimated to be 2.8 times higher at RH = 90% and 1.75 times higher at ambient RH when hygroscopic growth of the aerosol was considered. The hygroscopicity enhancement factor of the scattering coefficient was parameterized as a function of humidity and air mass type.
Design and Development of a Rose Plant Disease-Detection and Site-Specific Spraying System based on a Combination of Infrared and Visible Images

Rose, as one of the oldest flowers in cultivation and the most popular of all cut flowers throughout the world, is susceptible to several diseases. Powdery mildew and gray mold are two of the most common diseases in the greenhouse cultivation of roses. Changes in plant leaf temperature mainly resulting from changes in transpiration in response to such stresses as pathogen infection, water stress, or physiological changes can be monitored instantly and remotely by thermographic imaging. In this research, a smart detection and spraying system was designed and developed to recognize rose powdery mildew and gray mold diseases using a combination of thermal and visible images. The system consists of a thermal camera and a visual camera both mounted on a C-shaped carriage. The carriage is capable of moving along plant rows and rotating around each rose shrub. In addition, a site-specific sprayer was designed that consisted of an electrically-actuated pneumatic directional valve, a pneumatically-actuated directional valve, a pressure regulator, a pressure tank, a compressor, a manual flow control valve, and a nozzle. Droplets volume median diameter, percent of coverage, and system performance in spraying the specified positions were evaluated. Analysis of the preand post-spray thermal images showed that such index as temperature median can be successfully exploited to determine spray coverage and uniformity.
Dark-ages reionization and galaxy formation simulation – III. Modelling galaxy formation and the epoch of reionization

We introduce Meraxes, a new, purpose-built semi-analytic galaxy formation model designed for studying galaxy growth during reionization. Meraxes is the first model of its type to include a temporally and spatially coupled treatment of reionization and is built upon a custom (100 Mpc)$^3$ N-body simulation with high temporal and mass resolution, allowing us to resolve the galaxy and star formation physics relevant to early galaxy formation. Our fiducial model with supernova feedback reproduces the observed optical depth to electron scattering and evolution of the galaxy stellar mass function between $z$=5 and 7, predicting that a broad range of halo masses contribute to reionization. Using a constant escape fraction and global recombination rate, our model is unable to simultaneously match the observed ionizing emissivity at $z{\lesssim}6$. However, the use of an evolving escape fraction of 0.05-0.1 at $z{\sim}6$, increasing towards higher redshift, is able to satisfy these three constraints. We also demonstrate that photoionization suppression of low mass galaxy formation during reionization has only a small effect on the ionization history of the inter-galactic medium. This lack of `self-regulation' arises due to the already efficient quenching of star formation by supernova feedback. It is only in models with gas supply-limited star formation that reionization feedback is effective at regulating galaxy growth. We similarly find that reionization has only a small effect on the stellar mass function, with no observationally detectable imprint at $M_{\rm *}{>}10^{7.5}\,{\rm M_{{\odot}}}$. However, patchy reionization has significant effects on individual galaxy masses, with variations of factors of 2-3 at $z$=5 that correlate with environment.
A detailed seismic zonation model for shallow earthquakes in the broader Aegean area

Abstract. In the present work we propose a new seismic zonation model of area type sources for the broader Aegean area, which can be readily used for seismic hazard assessment. The definition of this model is based not only on seismicity information but incorporates all available seismotectonic and neotectonic information for the study area, in an attempt to define zones which show not only a rather homogeneous seismicity release but also exhibit similar active faulting characteristics. For this reason, all available seismological information such as fault plane solutions and the corresponding kinematic axes have been incorporated in the analysis, as well as information about active tectonics, such as seismic and active faults. Moreover, various morphotectonic features (e.g. relief, coastline) were also considered. Finally, a revised seismic catalogue is employed and earthquake epicentres since historical times (550 BC–2008) are employed, in order to define areas of common seismotectonic characteristics, that could constitute a discrete seismic zone. A new revised model of 113 earthquake seismic zones of shallow earthquakes for the broader Aegean area is finally proposed. Using the proposed zonation model, a detailed study is performed for the catalogue completeness for the recent instrumental period. Using the defined completeness information, seismicity parameters (such as G–R values) for the 113 new seismic zones have been calculated, and their spatial distribution was also examined. The spatial variation of the obtained b values shows an excellent correlation with the geotectonic setting in the area, in good agreement with previous studies. Moreover, a quantitative estimation of seismicity is performed in terms of the mean return period, Tm, of large (M ≥ 6.0) earthquakes, as well as the most frequent maximum magnitude, Mt, for a typical time period (T = 50 yr), revealing significant spatial variations of seismicity levels within the study area. The new proposed seismic zonation model and its parameters can be readily employed for seismic hazard assessment for the broader Aegean area.
MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF STEVIA (STEVIA REBAUDIANA BERTONI) TO SALINITY UNDER HYDROPONIC CULTURE CONDITION (A CASE STUDY IN IRAN)

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a relatively unknown crop in Iran and many countries of world, with great potential as a natural sweeteners source. Stevia has a high content of sweeteners, which are up to 150 times sweeter than sugar, but virtually with no calories. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of salinity stress on root characteristics and physiological traits of stevia using six different concentrations of NaCl (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 mM) in Hoagland solution with four replications in open shading structures at Medicinal Plant Research Center, Shahed University of Tehran, Iran. The results showed that root characteristics (such as root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), root volume (RV), root length (RL), root area (RA), root diameter, root mass density (RMD), and dry root mass density (DRMD)) reduced with the intensification of NaCl. The effect of NaCl was significant on the protein content, activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and DPPH. The increasing of NaCl caused significantly enhancement of protein content, CAT activity, and total antioxidant activity. The POD activity showed a significant decrease by the increasing of sodium chloride rate. The PPO and POD activities by the increasing sodium chloride rate showed a significant decrease. Steviol glycosides (SVglys) compositions: stevioside (Stev), rebaudioside A (Reb A), rebaudioside B (Reb B), rebaudioside C (Reb C) and dulcoside A (Dulc A) and SVglys content showed changes under the influence of salinity. In 30 mM NaCl treatment was obtained the highest value of total SVglys yield and SVglys content. The findings from this study lead to the conclusion that, salinity stress caused reduces root characteristics and changes in physiological traits (protein content, activity of CAT, POD, PPO and total antioxidant activity DPPH). On the other hand, at the lowest salinity level (30 mM), the highest amount SVglys was obtained. It seems that the high level of SVglys at lower salinity levels is one of the reasons for salinity tolerance in Stevia, which requires further investigation.
A nonparametric statistical technique for combining global precipitation datasets: development and hydrological evaluation over the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract. This study investigates the use of a nonparametric, tree-based model, quantile regression forests (QRF), for combining multiple global precipitation datasets and characterizing the uncertainty of the combined product. We used the Iberian Peninsula as the study area, with a study period spanning 11 years (2000–2010). Inputs to the QRF model included three satellite precipitation products, CMORPH, PERSIANN, and 3B42 (V7); an atmospheric reanalysis precipitation and air temperature dataset; satellite-derived near-surface daily soil moisture data; and a terrain elevation dataset. We calibrated the QRF model for two seasons and two terrain elevation categories and used it to generate ensemble for these conditions. Evaluation of the combined product was based on a high-resolution, ground-reference precipitation dataset (SAFRAN) available at 5 km 1 h−1 resolution. Furthermore, to evaluate relative improvements and the overall impact of the combined product in hydrological response, we used the generated ensemble to force a distributed hydrological model (the SURFEX land surface model and the RAPID river routing scheme) and compared its streamflow simulation results with the corresponding simulations from the individual global precipitation and reference datasets. We concluded that the proposed technique could generate realizations that successfully encapsulate the reference precipitation and provide significant improvement in streamflow simulations, with reduction in systematic and random error on the order of 20–99 and 44–88 %, respectively, when considering the ensemble mean.
Application of Bayesian techniques to material strength evaluation and calibration of confidence factors

A fundamental phase in the assessment of existing reinforced concrete buildings and in their strengthening design is the knowledge procedure. This is based on the collection of different kinds of information regarding: a) the structural system configuration, b) the materials strength, c) the reinforcing steel details, and d) the conditions of the structural elements. The Italian Code (OPCM 3431, 03-05-05, Allegato 2) as well as the most advanced International Codes (FEMA 356, EC8 Part 3) specifies data collection procedures and ensuing Confidence Factors (CF) to apply to the mean values of the materials strength, based on the completeness and reliability of the information gathered (the so called Level of Knowledge). Difference in the knowledge procedure about the single structural parameters and the actual possibility of propagation of information gathered on single members unlikely can be accounted for by a single CF. This paper proposes a method for evaluation of material strength and calibration of the relevant CF based on a bayesian procedure; the procedure takes into account the reliability of the results of tests executed by different methods and gives an indication on how to join such information.
Bringing Building Data on Construction Site for Virtual Renovation Works

Abstract-- In this study we aimed at evaluating the benefit of managing a digital mock-up for renovation operations in an ancient building. Focusing on thermal efficiency, the renovation proposal dealt with the great windows. We compared three methodologies dedicated to the project planning and management We first address the issue of the renovation of old buildings and come up with a workflow that connects the digital building to its lifecycle; then we focus on an instance of onsite handling of such data, in an augmented reality context, by elaborating the notion of "BIM in situ" as described in the papers of [3] as well as in [4]. Results reveal that handling BIM onsite through a mobile device is challenging but they also show that it brings more efficiency.
Design-time and Run-time Reasoning with RelBAC

Relation-Based Access Control (RelBAC) is an access control model for the Web scenarios, which represents permissions as relations between users and objects. It allows to express policies using cardinality and quantiers and to specify separation of duties in the basic model rather than as an additional constraint. This paper shows that by exploiting the formalization of RelBAC model in Description Logics (DL), sophisticated access control policies can be directly encoded as DL formulas. This facilitates the administration with design-time reasoning on hierarchies, propagations, separation of duties, etc. and helps with run-time reasoning to make access control decisions. All these reasonings can be automated and performed through state of the art, o-the-shelf DL reasoners.
Rapid Bioassessment Protocols using benthic macroinvertebrates in Brazil: evaluation of taxonomic sufficiency

Abstract Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) have been widely used to assess the ecological health of aquatic ecosystems. Specific aims of RBPs for wadeable streams are to indicate the ecological condition of a stream using low-cost protocols to allow long-term and widespread routine monitoring. Our study was part of an ongoing effort to test and standardize a protocol using benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of the water quality of wadeable streams in southeast Brazil. One of the most controversial issues during RBP development is deciding the taxonomic resolution that should be used. We evaluated how well genus-, family-, and order-level taxonomic resolution detected a gradient of impairment. All 3 taxonomic resolutions statistically discriminated reference, intermediately impaired, and impaired sites based on assemblage structure, water-quality classification, and biotic index responses. Analysis at the genus level was more effective than analysis at other levels of taxonomic resolution for discriminating sites that varied in degradation conditions, especially when considering biotic index responses, but the lack of comprehensive taxonomic keys and information about the ecology of those genera hinder their widespread use in bioassessments. On the other hand, analyses at the order level had lower discriminating power to separate reference sites from intermediately impaired sites when considering biotic index responses. Analyses at the family level gave results similar to results at the genus level, and we support its use in a RBP program for this region, at least until better keys and autoecological knowledge are available.
PRESENT STATUS OF CYCLOTRONS (NIRS-930, HM-18) AT NIRS

The cyclotron facility at National Institute of Radiological Science (NIRS) consists of aNIRS-930 cyclotron (Thomson-CSF AVF-930, Kb=110 MeV and Kf=90 MeV) and a small cyclotron HM-18(Sumitomo- Heavy- Industry HM-18, K=20 MeV). The NIRS-930 has been used for production of short-lived radio- pharmaceuticals for Positron Emission Tomography (PET), research of physics, developments of particle detectors in space, and so on. The orbit of a beam in the NIRS-930 cyclotron was simulated with integrated approach for modelling of the cyclotron, including calculation of electromagnetic fields of the structural elements. And some improvements such as installation of extracted beam probe, a beam attenuator and a beam viewer in an injection beam line, were performed in the NIRS-930. The HM-18 has been used for production of short-lived radio-pharmaceuticals for PET. It provides us accelerated H - and D - ions at fixed energies of 18 and 9 MeV, respectively. In order to improve the isochronisms, a phase probe has been newly installed in the HM-18. Operational status of the cyclotron facilities and their improvements are to be presented in this report.
Range fertilization in the northern Great Plains

Highlight: Nutrient deficiency, primarily nitrogen (N), is a major plant growth-limiting factor on northern Great Plains rangelands. Applications of 30 to 50 lb N/acre/year have commonly doubled forage production with an N-use efficiency of about 20 lb dry matter/lb N applied, or in grazing situations about 1 lb beef/lb N applied. Range fertilization can also increase water-use ‘efficiency and improve forage quality and palatability. With applications of 50 lb N/acre/year or less, changes in species composition are gradual and can largely be controlled by timing of fertilizer applications and by season and intensity of grazing. Drastic changes in species composition are usually limited to applications greater than 15 0 lb N/acre/year.
Assessing Query Translation Quality Using Back Translation in Hindi-English CLIR

Cross-Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) is a most demanding research area of Information Retrieval (IR) which deals with retrieval of documents different from query language. In CLIR, translation is an important activity for retrieving relevant results. Its goal is to translate query or document from one language into another language. The correct translation of the query is an essential task of CLIR because incorrect translation may affect the relevancy of retrieved results. The purpose of this paper is to compute the accuracy of query translation using the back translation for a HindiEnglish CLIR system. For experimental analysis, we used FIRE2011 dataset to select Hindi queries. Our analysis shows that back translation can be effective in improving the accuracy of query translation of the three translators used for analysis (i.e. Google, Microsoft and Babylon). Google is found best for the purpose.
An enhanced variational level set method for MRI brain image segmentation using IFCM clustering and LBM

Today's technological advances in medical imaging have given rise to efficient diagnostic procedures. Segmentation identifies and defines individual objects with various attributes such as size, shape, texture, spatial location, contrast, brightness, noise, and context. Deformable segmentation methods are Active contours, which are used to match and track images of an atomic structure by determining constraints derived from the image data. Level set method is an integral part of active contour family, considerable work towards level set methods has identified two main disadvantages i.e., initialization of controlling parameters and time complexity. In this paper, the methodology employed proposes an enhanced Variational level set methodology for Magnetic Resonance (MR) brain image segmentation with heterogeneous intensity. Core concept of IFCM is based on Intuitionistic fuzzy set. Both the values of membership and non membership values for the purpose of labelling are utilized together. As the result of experimentation reveals the efficiency of the recommended IFCM algorithm and Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) to overcome the drawbacks of Level Set methods by using the energy function to reduce the processing time which addresses the time complexity issue. The proposed system combines of both IFCM and LBM to form a novel approach. The system is tested on a large set of MRI brain images, extensive research and experiments were carried over on the standard dataset and the results are found to be improved in identification of tumor size detection with respect to time complexity.
The Impact of Time-Series Diagnostic Tests on the Writing Ability of Iranian EFL learners

This study aimed to show whether administering a battery of time-series diagnostic tests (screening) has any impact on Iranian EFL learners’ writing ability. The study was conducted on the intermediate EFL learners at Islamic Azad University North Tehran branch. The researcher administered a homogenizing test in order to exclude the exceptional scores, among all the testers, only those whose scores were nearly within one standard deviation above or below the mean were selected as the participants of this study. After the assignment of the participants to the control and experimental groups- 30 students in each group- they were asked to write five-paragraph-essays on two topics. Such a pretest was given to both groups to test their initial writing ability. Once scoring of the students’ writings (five- paragraph essay) was finished the two means of the groups were calculated and compared with each other through the t-test analysis. The result demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between those two groups regarding the variable under investigation. Four sets of diagnostic tests were given to the experimental group every two weeks and after each test both the result of the exam and suitable feedback regarding students’ errors were given to them by the teacher, while the Current-Traditional Rhetoric method was administered in the control group. In the posttest which was run after giving the treatment and placebo to experimental group and control group respectively, students took another writing test with the same characteristics in administration, topics and scoring as the one in pretest. Thereafter, the significance of the difference between the obtained means of experimental and control groups in the posttest was determined through the t-test. The result of the t-test analysis indicated a significant difference between the two groups which consequently rejected the null hypothesis of the study. Therefore, any significant difference between the performance of experimental and control groups were attributed to the effectiveness of treatment which in this study was a set of parallel form diagnostic tests and the related feedback which was given by the teacher. Two matched t-test were also calculated to determine whether students in two groups had any improvements from the pretest to posttest or not.