Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil Chemistry following Single-Entry, Dormant Season Prescribed Fires in the Ridge and Valley Province of Virginia, USA

ABSTRACT In this study, mineral soil (0–10 cm depth) chemistry [pH, calcium (Ca), carbon (C), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)] was measured pre – and post-fire (6 and 14 months post-fire) at two prescribed fire locations near Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. A similar, adjacent, unburned (control) forest was sampled during this time period, as well. Combinations of treatment and time did not indicate significant differences between the control and burned locations for any of the soil chemical variables when burned and control plots were evaluated within each, individual, sampling period (pre-fire, 6 months post-fire, and 14 months post-fire). Differences did exist, however, for some variables when compared across all treatment and time combinations. Differences were also noted for Ca, K, Mg, P, C, and N within the burned plots alone as a result of sampling time. These results agreed with those from other studies in this region that suggest 1) soil chemistry is highly variable, with and without prescribed fire, and 2) short-term changes in soil chemistry following singular, dormant season, prescribed fires are often negligible, particularly when compared to adjacent, unburned, control units. Increased fire intensity, severity, or fire frequency may enhance both short- and long-term post-fire soil responses.
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Pavement Crack Detection using an Inexpensive Global Shutter RGB-D Sensor and ARM-Based Single-Board Computer

Pavement distress assessment is a significant aspect of pavement management. Automated pavement crack detection is a challenging task that has been researched for decades in response to complicated pavement conditions. Current pavement condition assessment procedures are extensively time consuming, expensive, and labor-intensive. The primary goal of this paper is to develop a cost-effective and reliable platform using a red, green, blue, depth (RGB-D) sensor and deep learning detection models for automated pavement crack detection on a single-board ARM-based computer. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, a pavement crack data set is prepared using a global shutter RGB-D sensor mounted on a car and annotated according to the Pascal visual object classes protocol, named PAVDIS2020. The proposed data set comprises 2,085 pavement crack images that are captured in a wide variety of weather and illuminance conditions with 5,587 instances of pavement cracks included in these images. A unified implementation of the Faster region-based convolutional neural networks and single shot multibox detector meta-architecture-based models is implemented to evaluate the accuracy, speed, and memory usage trade-off by using various convolutional neural networks-based backbones and various other training parameters on PAVDIS2020. The proposed pavement crack detection model was able to classify the cracks with 97.6% accuracy on PAVDIS2020 data set. The detection model is able to locate pavement crack patterns at the speed of 12 frames per second on a passively cooled Raspberry Pi 4 single-board computer.
Propagating uncertainty from catchment experiments to estimates of streamflow reduction by invasive alien plants in southwestern South Africa

Long‐term catchment experiments from South Africa have demonstrated that afforestation of grasslands and shrublands significantly reduces surface‐water runoff. These results have guided the country's forestry policy and the implementation of a national Invasive Alien Plant (IAP) control programme for the past few decades. Unfortunately, woody IAP densities continue to increase, compounding existing threats to water security from population growth and climatic change. Decision makers need defensible estimates of the impacts of afforestation or invasions on runoff to weigh up alternative land use options, or guide investment of limited resources into ecosystem restoration through IAP clearing versus engineering‐based water‐augmentation schemes. Existing attempts to extrapolate the impacts observed in catchment afforestation experiments to broad‐scale IAP impacts give no indication of uncertainty. Globally, the uncertainty inherent in the results from paired‐catchment experiments is seldom propagated into subsequent analyses making use of these data. We present a fully reproducible Bayesian model that propagates uncertainty from input data to final estimates of changes in streamflow when extrapolating from catchment experiments to broader landscapes. We apply our model to South Africa's catchment experiment data, estimating streamflow losses to plantations and analogous plant invasions in the catchments of southwestern South Africa, including uncertainty. We estimate that regional streamflow is reduced by 304 million m3 or 4.14% annually as a result of IAPs, with an upper estimate of 408 million m3 (5.54%) and a lower estimate of 267 million m3 (3.63%). Our model quantifies uncertainty associated with all parameters and their contribution to overall uncertainty, helping guide future research needs. Acknowledging and quantifying inherent uncertainty enables more defensible decisions regarding water resource management.
Measuring plasma-generated ·OH and O atoms in liquid using EPR spectroscopy and the non-selectivity of the HTA assay

Plasma-generated hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and oxygen atoms (O) produced by the COST reference plasma jet, a micro-scaled atmospheric pressure plasma jet, were investigated using a variety of experimental techniques. Several gas admixtures were studied to distinguish the contributions of the two reactive oxygen species. Large discrepancies between inferred aqueous ·OH densities were noted when using a 2-hydroxyterephthalic acid (HTA) fluorescence assay and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide—especially when oxygen was present in the feed gas. A series of follow-up experiments including optical emission spectroscopy, H2O2 quantification, and EPR measurements of atomic oxygen using the spin trap 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, revealed that the inconsistencies between the measured aqueous ·OH were likely due to the propensity of atomic oxygen to hydroxylate TA in a manner indistinguishable from ·OH. This renders the HTA assay non-selective when both ·OH radicals and atomic oxygen are present, which we report for all three gas admixtures in our experiments. Additionally, considerable degradation of both HTA and the spin adducts measured using EPR spectroscopy was apparent, meaning actual radical densities in the plasma-treated liquid may be considerably higher than implied. Degradation rates compared favorably to previously measured gas phase densities of atomic oxygen in the predecessor of the COST jet and reported degradation of other chemical probes. These results show the prolific role of atomic oxygen in plasma-induced liquid chemistry and caution against diagnostic techniques that are unable to account for it.
Photo-Claisen Rearrangement of Allyl Phenyl Ether in Microflow: Influence of Phenyl Core Substituents and Vision on Orthogonality

We converted diverse commercial meta-substituted phenols to the allyl-substituted precursors via nucleophilic substitution using batch technology to allow processing these in microflow by means of the photo-Claisen rearrangement. The latter process is researched on its own, as detailed below, and also prepares the ground for a fully continuous two-step microflow synthesis, as outlined above. It is known that batch processing of electronically deactivated phenols (e.g., bearing a cyano or nitro group) has several orders of magnitude lower reactivity than their parental counterparts [1]. Thus, we here explore if the high quantum yield of microflow, yet at very short residence time, is sufficient to activate the deactivated molecules. In addition, the realization of a true orthogonal two-step flow synthesis can open the door to a large synthetic scope of our approach and possibly overcome limitations due to missing orthogonality of our previously reported thermal approach of combined nucleophilic substitution-Claisen rearrangement in microflow. Consequently, we make for our photo microflow approach an orthogonality check, as previously reported for the thermal approach, and compare both. To get a broader picture, we have investigated some major parametric sensitivities such as the irradiation intensity, the choice of solvent, the reactant concentration, and, most notably, the influence of the substitution pattern. The irradiation intensity was varied by increasing distance between a lamp and the microflow capillary. In addition, the normal photo- Claisen microflow process (at room temperature) is compared to a high-temperature photo-Claisen microflow process, to check the potential of such novel process window [2]. This is difficult to realize in batch, as the combination of strong ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and high temperature causes a high hazard potential. Yet, under microflow, this can be safely handled.
Role of Intense Arctic Storm in Accelerating Summer Sea Ice Melt: An In Situ Observational Study

Intense storms have been more frequently observed in the Arctic during recent years, in coincidence with extreme sea ice loss events. However, it is still not fully understood how storms drive such events due to deficient observations and modeling discrepancies. Here we address this problem by analyzing in situ observations acquired during an Arctic expedition, which uniquely captured an intense storm in summer 2016. The result shows a pronounced acceleration of sea ice loss during the storm process. Diagnostic analysis indicates a net energy loss at the ice surface, not supporting the accelerated melting. Although the open water surface gained net heat energy, it was insufficient to increase the mixed‐layer temperature to the observed values. Dynamic analysis suggests that storm‐driven increase in ocean mixing and upward Ekman pumping of the Pacific‐origin warm water tremendously increased oceanic heat flux. The thermal advection by the Ekman pumping led to a warmed mixed layer by 0.05°C–0.12°C and, in consequence, an increased basal sea ice melt rate by 0.1–1.7 cm day−1.
Food Values, Satisfaction, and Loyalty: Some Evidence in Grocery Retailing Acquired during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Recent evidence illuminates the importance of relatively new concepts in grocery retailing, such as the concept of food values. The present work aims at analyzing the influence of: (i) food values on key non-financial results, particularly satisfaction and loyalty; and (ii) satisfaction on loyalty. The paper makes a further delineation for both satisfaction and loyalty (i.e., with the product and with the grocery store), as well as considers the potential implications derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. With these objectives in mind, the paper distributed an online survey to the residents of Toledo (Spain) during April and May 2020 (a period characterized by a national lockdown, where grocery stores and essential business were open to the public). This effort produced 303 valid questionnaires and the resulting data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics alongside linear parametric regressions. The findings show how food values have a positive and significant influence on both types of satisfaction and loyalty; there is also a significant and positive influence of both types of satisfaction on both types of loyalty. Moreover, the results corroborate previous works about the most influential food values. These findings highlight the importance of considering food values in grocery retailing in order to achieve key non-financial benefits. The paper ends with a discussion of several interesting managerial guidelines, particularly in light of situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effects of globalization, energy consumption and economic growth on carbon dioxide emissions in South Asian countries

This study analyzes the relationship between globalization, energy consumption, and economic growth among selected South Asian countries. This study also finds causal association between energy growth and nexus of CO2 emissions, and employed the premises of the EKC framework. The study used annual time series analysis, starting from 1972 to 2017. The data set has been collected from the world development indicator (WDI). The result of a fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) method describes a significantly worsen the quality environment in the south Asian region. The individual country as Bangladesh shows a positively significant impact on the CO2 emissions and destroying the level of environment regarding non-renewable energy and globalization index. However, negative and positive growth level (GDP) and square of GDP confirm the EKC hypothesis in this region. This study has identified the causality between GDP growth and carbon emission and found bidirectional causality between economic growth and energy use.
Fabrication of PAM/PMAA inverse opal photonic crystal hydrogels by a “sandwich” method and their pH and solvent responses

This paper presents fabrication of polyacrylamide (PAM) and PAM/poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) inverse opal photonic crystal hydrogels (IOHs) based on poly(styrene-acrylic acid) (PSA) template by a “Sandwich” method. SEM images showed the obtained IOHs had a three-dimensional ordered structure and extremely uniform pore size without over-layers and defects. The IOHs exhibited brilliant structural color by controlling the PSA particle size, MAA and cross-linker compositions. The color and Bragg diffraction peak of the IOHs responded to external stimuli such as pH, methanol and ethanol. The reflectance was red-shifted in low pH and blue-shifted in high pH and in the presence of methanol and ethanol. The effects of the MAA and cross-linker composition on the response properties of the IOHs were investigated. The PMAA in the IOHs provided –COOH groups that are apt to form hydrogen bonds with water, enhancing the response sensitivity.
Thermoregulation comparisons between a threatened
native and an invasive lizard species

Lizard thermoregulation is costly and is largely behavioural. Podarcis raffonei, endemic of few islets of the Aeolian archipelago (southern Italy), is one of the most threatened lizards in Europe, its survival being under threat also due to the presence of the congeneric P. siculus, a successful invader characterised by behavioural plasticity and effectiveness and precision at regulating body temperature (Tb). We tested whether thermoregulation behaviour diverges between the two species by analysing (i) the heating rates under a standard thermal condition, and (ii) the temperature at which lizards ended basking (Tfinal) along a thermal gradient. Overall, we found behavioural differences between the two lizards (i.e. P. siculus exhibited lower Tfinal), although both species had comparable heating rates and thermoregulated in the same thermal conditions. The invasive P. siculus had lower Tfinal and, since heating rates were similar between species, it expended less time basking than native P. raffonei. We speculate that the observed thermal ecology differences could provide a selective advantage to P. siculus in the harsh island environment.
Intercellular Synchronization of Intracellular Calcium Oscillations

Kusters J.M. A.M., Theuvenet A.P.R. , Ypey D.L. , Gielen C.C. A.M., Coupling of action potential firing and Ca-oscillations in a monolayer of gap junctionally coupled NRK fibroblasts. Biophys. J. 86(1):303A Part 2 Suppl. S, 2004 Kusters M. , Theuvenet A.P.R. , Ypey D.L. ,van Meerwijk W.P.M. , Cortes J.M. and Gielen C.C. A.M., , Calcium oscillations driving an excitable membrane: Hys- teresis and bistability. Biophys. J. 257A Suppl. S, 2007
Playing location-based games is associated with psychological well-being: an empirical study of Pokémon GO players

ABSTRACT Location-based games (LBGs) augment urban environments with virtual content turning them into a playground. The importance of understanding how different modes of play impact LBG players’ psychological well-being is emphasized by the enormous and constantly rising popularity of the genre. In this work, we use the two-factor theory of psychological well-being to investigate the associations between five constructs related to game mechanics and personality traits, and psychological well-being and fatigue. We test our proposed structural model with Finnish Pokémon GO players (N = 855). The results show deficient self-regulation and fear of missing out to be positively associated with gaming fatigue. Engagement with cooperative and individual game mechanics had a positive relationship with well-being. Competitive game mechanics were found to have a positive relationship with both well-being and fatigue. Finally, the overall playing intensity had a strong relationship with well-being, but no association with fatigue.
Development of a Novel, Fast, Simple HPLC Method for Determination of Atorvastatin and its Impurities in Tablets

Our main target and concept was to develop a method for the determination of the most prescribed antilipemic drug, atorvastatin, together with its related substances, with a single sample preparation and during a single chromatographic run, in the shortest possible period of time, with the lowest possible mobile phase consumption. A new rapid, simple chromatographic method for the determination of atorvastatin and its main specified impurities was developed, using different chromatographic columns. With this new concept of a mobile phase and a powerful core–shell, or a superficially porous silica-based column, satisfactory results for targeted parameters, such as critical peak resolution, run time length, and column backpressure, were achieved. The analysis is performed within a run duration of less than 15 min, which is about six times shorter than the official European Pharmacopoeia method. The chromatogram performances suggests that the method limit of quantification (LOQ) can be about 7 times lower, and the limit of detection (LOD) about 20 times lower, using an injection volume of only 2 µl. This was confirmed by the performed method validation in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guideline for the validation of analytical procedures Q2(R1), where the selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of quantification, and limit of detection were tested and confirmed.
High sensitive, linear and thermostable pressure sensor utilizing bipolar junction transistor for 5 kPa

Research of pressure sensor chip utilizing novel electrical circuit with bipolar-junction transistor-based (BJT) piezosensitive differential amplifier with negative feedback loop (PDA-NFL) for 5 kPa differential range was done. The significant advantages of developed chip PDA-NFL in the comparative analysis of advanced pressure sensor analogs, which are using the Wheatstone piezoresistive bridge, are clearly shown. The experimental results prove that pressure sensor chip PDA-NFL with 4.0 × 4.0 mm2 chip area has sensitivity S = 11.2 ± 1.8 mV/V/kPa with nonlinearity of 2KNLback = 0.11 ± 0.09%/FS (pressure is applied from the back side of pressure sensor chip) and 2KNLtop = 0.18 ± 0.09%/FS (pressure is applied from the top side of pressure sensor chip). All temperature characteristics have low errors, because the precision elements balance of PDA-NFL electric circuit was used. Additionally, the burst pressure is 80 times higher than the working range.
Simple combined explicit/implicit water model

Abstract A simple combined water model (SCW model) for the calculation of the hydration free energy is presented. In the frame of the model a solute is placed in the centre of the spherical cavity with explicit water molecules, which are considered at the atomistic level. Rigid wall potential at the boundary of the cavity restricts the moving of the explicit water molecules. Water outside the sphere is considered as the conducting continuum (implicit part of the model). Simulation is performed in the frame of the NVT ensemble (constant number of particles, volume and temperature), density of water is fixed and equal to experimental value 1 g/cm3. The energy of electrostatic interaction of atomic point charges of the explicit water molecules with conducting continuum is calculated analytically by means of the image charges method. It provides high computational efficiency of the SCW model. For the averaging of the calculated thermodynamic and structural values over microstates of the system the thermodynamic integration method is used. The possible using of SCW for the docking problem is discussed.
Vulnerable socioeconomic groups are disproportionately exposed to multiple environmental burden in Berlin - implications– for planning

ABSTRACT This paper takes an urban planning perspective on environmental justice by separately analysing vulnerable socioeconomic groups for multiple environmental burden (EB) at the neighbourhood level in Berlin. We selected five socioeconomic groups: i) beneficiaries of social welfare, ii) inhabitants with migration background, iii) old-age poverty, iv) child poverty, and v) single-parent households. Four ecological indicators, i) air pollution, ii) noise pollution, iii) bioclimate (heat stress), and iv) lack of urban green spaces were merged to assess multiple EB at the Planning Area Level. Combining environmental and socioeconomic maps we identified hotspots of environmental injustice (EIJ) and demonstrate that selected vulnerable socioeconomic groups are disproportionately more affected by multiple EB than population not belonging to these groups. Some of the identified hotspots overlap, except for single-parent households. Finally, multi-purpose planning measures that mitigate the EBs considering the needs of the socioeconomic groups are recommended.
Virtue Rhetoric in Investor Communications: Setting Up for a Letdown?

Many companies prominently espouse their virtuous character in communications with investors, with a view toward influencing investor perceptions about the firm’s standards of behavior. While there are benefits to investors perceiving an organization to be virtuous, what happens if the firm violates those standards by engaging in unethical behavior? In this study, we use expectancy violations theory to argue that virtue rhetoric sets investors up for disappointment. When an organization claims to be virtuous but then acts unethically, investors respond to the ethics violation more negatively than they would otherwise. We also theorize about scenarios where investors may overlook unethical behavior or intensify their disapproval of it. To test our ideas, we assemble a unique sample of unethical events committed by S&P 500 companies over a 12-year period, combined with analysis of the virtue rhetoric found in their annual letters to shareholders. Our main finding is that investor reaction to unethical behavior is more negative for companies that claimed to be virtuous prior to the violation than for those that did not make such claims. This relationship is less strong when the company has high expected future value.