Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Simple Gas Chromatographic Method for Separation of Gases in Soil Atmospheres

A simple method is described for the separation of mixtures of CH₄, N₂O, CO₂, N₂, and O₂ in soil atmospheres using a single sample. This method uses two columns of Porapak Q at different temperatures but requires only one detector and recorder. Total analysis time is 23 min, but samples can be injected every 17 min without conflicting peaks.
Visualizing Summertime Lightning Patterns on Colorado Fourteeners

In the context of lightning avoidance, this article explores temporal and spatial patterns of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes to Colorado Fourteeners, the popularly summited set of mountains that exceed 4,267 m (14,000 ft). The article describes the Fourteener concept, examines trends in lightning fatalities and injuries, and reviews thunderstorm climatology across the greater Colorado landscape. Fifteen years (1996–2010) of summertime lightning activity at near-summit locations are examined. Three measures characterize lightning activity for fifty-four Fourteeners: (1) overall strikes received, (2) lightning days, and (3) the time of day when lightning first strikes. Maps, histograms, and ranked lists identify trends and anomalies generated from the three measures. Examples of highest potential risks include Pikes Peak for Fourteener, Front Range for mountain range, and the third week of July for time of summer. The results can help avoid lightning when making long-term plans to visit Fourteeners and can heighten awareness when on Fourteeners. In addition to lightning avoidance, the article contributes to mountain geography and related atmospheric, physical, and social sciences.
Differential outcomes in high-stakes eleven plus testing: the role of gender, geography, and assessment design in Trinidad and Tobago

High-stakes placement testing at eleven plus remains a central and constant feature of education systems in the Anglophone Caribbean. In the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Eleven Plus has been retained well into the era of universal secondary education, with a perceived legitimacy founded on the belief that examinations provide the fairest mechanism for allocating secondary school places. This study makes use of full cohort data from 1995 to 2005 to analyse Eleven Plus performance and placement outcomes for gender, geography, and assessment design changes. Data for the 279,904 students show that a 2001 assessment redesign led to larger gender differences in Language Arts and composite scores. For both the pre- and post-2001 assessment designs, placement within a first-choice school and assignment to a remedial track varied by geographic location, with variations larger after 2001. These patterns point to potential fairness issues within the placement system.
Variations in cutoff latitude during the January 2012 solar proton event and implication for the distribution of particle energy deposition

Protons in the energy range 1–20 MeV deposit most of their energy in the middle atmosphere (60–100 km). Knowledge of their magnetic latitudinal and local time distribution is crucial for determining their effect on the chemistry and dynamics in the atmosphere. Using POES 16–19 and METOP02 satellites, we investigate the latitudinal cutoff boundaries and the energy deposition during the January 2012 solar proton event. The dayside cutoff latitudes show high correlation with the Dst index even when Dst turns positive, leading to an abrupt poleward movement of more than 5°. In the same time interval, the nightside cutoff latitudes move equatorward resulting in vastly asymmetric energy deposition into the atmosphere on the dayside and nightside. The differences are sustained for almost a day in the middle atmosphere at 65° corrected geomagnetic latitude. These features cannot be taken into account by applying the frequently used GOES particle data.
A Taphonomic Approach to Late Classic Maya Mortuary Practices at Xuenkal, Yucatán, Mexico

Abstract Following a brief introduction to mortuary practices in Prehispanic Maya society, we outline the analytical procedures followed during the excavation and laboratory investigation of five burial assemblages from the Late Classic period site of Xuenkal, Yucatán, Mexico. A detailed account of a sequence of primary and secondary interments is provided with a focus on taphonomic and biovital information, emphasizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, especially human taphonomy, for the reconstruction of complex Maya mortuary treatments. Our results show that bodies of the dead or their parts followed surprisingly long and complex funerary paths.
RESERVOIR ARCHITECTURE IN A TERMINAL ALLUVIAL PLAIN: AN OUTCROP ANALOGUE STUDY (UPPER TRIASSIC, SOUTHERN GERMANY) PART II: CYCLICITY, CONTROLS AND MODELS

This outcrop analogue study investigates Triassic fluvial sandstones of the Stubensandstein Formation which were deposited on a terminal alluvial plain under semi‐arid to sub‐humid climatic conditions in the land‐locked South German Keuper Basin. The Stubensandstein may serve as an analogue for reservoir units in comparable continental basins. Data came from studies of 13 large sandpits, together with a subsurface database supported by three well‐log clusters (comprising up to 20 boreholes) and four single wells.
A complete panoramic vision system, incorporating imaging, ranging, and three dimensional navigation

A complete panoramic imaging, processing and autonomous navigation stratagem is presented. New techniques for filtering panoramic images are developed to allow rangefinding and image filtering. The technique utilises the motion of the autonomous agent to compute range visually. Using the range data, a safe path through the environment is found. Each stage of processing requires novel approaches to processing and interpreting panoramic images. The entire system was tested in an artificial environment using a robotic gantry and a model terrain.
Contrasting Late Carboniferous and Late Permian–Middle Triassic intrusive suites from the northern margin of the North China craton: Geochronology, petrogenesis, and tectonic implications

Two contrasting intrusive suites have been identified from the northern margin of the North China craton: a Late Carboniferous dioritegranodiorite suite mainly made up of quartz diorite, diorite, granodiorite, tonalite, and hornblende gabbro, and a Late Permian–Middle Triassic suite of granitoid intrusions consisting of monzogranite, syenogranite, and quartz monzonite. Plutons from the Late Carboniferous suite exhibit variable SiO2 contents and calc-alkaline or high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous geochemical features. Most have low negative whole-rock ϵNd(T) values (where T is the crystallization age) of −17.1 to −11.5 and zircon ϵHf(T) values of −38.3 to −11.2, indicating that they were derived mainly from anatectic melting of the ancient lower crust with some involvement of mantle materials. However, an older pluton in the suite exhibits higher ϵNd(T) values of −11.5 to −9.9, Nd model ages of 1.82–1.64 Ga, lower initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.7046–0.7048, and it contains some zircon grains that are characterized by high negative to positive zircon ϵHf(T) values of −8.7 to 1.2, indicating strong involvement of juvenile materials derived from the lithospheric mantle. The Late Carboniferous plutons are interpreted as subduction-related and to have been emplaced in an Andean-style continental-margin arc during the southward subduction of the paleo–Asian oceanic plate beneath the North China craton. Rocks from the Late Permian–Middle Triassic intrusive suite display geochemical signatures ranging from highly fractionated I-type to A-type. They exhibit higher zircon ϵHf(T) values of −14.9 to −6.7, whole-rock ϵNd(T) values of −10.6 to −8.8, and younger Hf and Nd model ages than most of the Late Carboniferous plutons, indicating that they could have been produced by extreme fractional crystallization of hybrid magmas resulted from mixing of coeval mantle- and crust-derived melts. They are interpreted as postcollisional/postorogenic granitoids linked to lithospheric extension and asthenosphere upwelling due to slab break-off and subsequent sinking after final collision and suturing of the Mongolian arc terranes with the North China craton. These two contrasting intrusive suites suggest that the final closure of the paleo–Asian Ocean and collision between the Mongolian arc terranes and the North China craton occurred during the Late Permian, and these events were followed by postcollisional/postorogenic extension, large-volume magmatism, and significant continental growth. No significant syncollisional crustal thickening, high-pressure metamorphism, or S-type granitoid magmatism occurred during the collision process.
Mechanism of décollement formation in subduction zones

SUMMARY The mechanism of decollement formation was investigated through a particle-based simulation model assuming homogeneity (e.g. no weak layer or pore fluid). A decollement-like structure appeared as a spontaneously localized shear deformation near the bottom of the sediment when the thickness of the sediment was sufficient to balance the gravitational force and tectonic loading. In contrast, no such decollement-like structure was formed when the sediment was too thin; in this case, the entire prism was deformed because of plate motion. These results are consistent with various observations in real subduction zones. A precise analysis of the stress state evolution during accretion reveals that the formation of a decollement-like structure is controlled by the spatio-temporal distribution of isotropic compression states.
Mapping and classification of Peatland on the Isle of Lewis using Landsat ETM+

Abstract Britain contains some of the largest areas of blanket peatland in the world and the monitoring of this resource is vital. This study has investigated whether Landsat ETM+ can be used to identify types of blanket peatland on Lewis. This was done using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on composites of band ratios and single band variables, and using neural network classification. The distinction between peatland and non-peatland was easily accomplished, but the identification of different peatland types was more difficult. PCA on a composite of spectral bands 1 to 9 was the most useful composite, but did not improve over the use of NDVI-related band ratios. An overlap was found between peatland classes caused by similar spectral signatures of peat banks and eroded peatland. This was confirmed by a separate study examining the variation between different blanket bog classes in the Land Cover of Scotland 1988 dataset. It is suspected that this problem will remain with Landsat ETM+ -based classification of peatland because the spatial resolution is insufficient to capture the heterogeneous nature of the terrain and vegetation types. The paper discusses further methodologies and information sources which, in combination with Landsat ETM+ data, could improve the ability to classify peatland.
Long-term dynamic modeling of global population and built-up area in a spatially explicit way: HYDE 3.1

This paper describes a tool for long-term global change studies; it is an update of the History Database of the Global Environment (HYDE) with estimates of some of the underlying demographic driving factors of global change. We estimate total and urban/rural population numbers, densities and fractions (including built-up area) for the Holocene, roughly the period 10 000 BC to AD 2000 with a spatial resolution of 5 min longitude/latitude. With a total global population increase from 2 to 6145 million people over that time span, resulting in a global population density increase of < 0.1 cap/km2 to almost 46 cap/km 2 and a urban built-up area evolving from almost zero to 0.5 million km2 (still only <0.5% of the total global land surface, but with a huge impact in terms of demands of food, services, building materials, etc.), it is clear that this must have had, and will continue to have, a profound influence on the Earth’s environment and its associated (climate) change. We hope that this data base can contribute to the Earth System Modelers community to gain better insight into long-term global change research.
Characterization of BOLD response patterns during inhibitory control in individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with a variety of behavioral dysfunctions, including inattentiveness and impulsivity. Maladaptive behaviors such as these are associated with negative consequences including delinquency, substance abuse, and poor social adjustment. Not surprisingly, disruptive behavioral disorders are among the most frequent psychiatric diagnoses in cases of fetal alcohol exposure. In addition to other neuropsychological deficits, executive functioning impairments have been described in this population. Response inhibition is thought to be an important component of the cognitive control systems that support effective executive function. Accordingly, response inhibition impairments have been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying the inattentive and impulsive behaviors that characterize disorders such as attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Although response inhibition has not been as well studied as other neuropsychological functions in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), there is evidence from both human and preclinical studies linking gestational alcohol exposure with response inhibition deficits. This study: i) provides an account of the functional brain abnormalities underlying the disinhibited behavioral profile commonly observed in individuals with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure, and ii) investigates whether the frontal-striatal regions thought to subserve inhibitory control are disrupted by alcohol teratogenesis. Children and adolescents (ages 8-18) with (n=13) and without (n=9) histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a response inhibition (go no-go) task. Despite similar task performance (mean response latency, accuracy, and signal detection), blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response patterns differed by group. Region-of- interest analyses revealed that during task conditions that required response inhibition, alcohol-exposed participants showed greater BOLD response across several prefrontal gyri, while they showed less right caudate nucleus activation, compared to control participants. These data provide an account of response inhibition- related brain functioning in youth with FASD. Furthermore, results converge with extant literature to suggest that frontal-striatal regions important for effective inhibitory control are altered by alcohol teratogenesis.
BRDF/Albedo retrievals from the Terra and Aqua MODIS systems at 500-m spatial resolution and 10-day intervals

Surface bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) and albedo properties are retrieved over the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program Southern Great Plains (SGP) area. A landcover-based fitting approach is employed by using a newly developed landcover classification map and the MODIS 10-day surface reflectance product (MOD09). The surface albedo derived by this method is validated against other satellite systems (e.g. Landsat-7 and MISR) and ground measurements made by an ASD spectroradiometer. Our results show good agreements between the datasets in general. The advantages of this method include the ability to capture rapid changes in surface properties and an improved performance over other methods under a frequent presence of clouds. Results indicate that the developed landcover-based fitting methodology is valuable for generating spatially and temporally complete surface albedo and BRDF maps using MODIS observations.
Two decades of anarchy? Emerging themes and outstanding challenges for neural network river forecasting

This paper traces two decades of neural network rainfall-runoff and streamflow modelling, collectively termed ‘river forecasting’. The field is now firmly established and the research community involved has much to offer hydrological science. First, however, it will be necessary to converge on more objective and consistent protocols for: selecting and treating inputs prior to model development; extracting physically meaningful insights from each proposed solution; and improving transparency in the benchmarking and reporting of experimental case studies. It is also clear that neural network river forecasting solutions will have limited appeal for operational purposes until confidence intervals can be attached to forecasts. Modular design, ensemble experiments, and hybridization with conventional hydrological models are yielding new tools for decision-making. The full potential for modelling complex hydrological systems, and for characterizing uncertainty, has yet to be realized. Further gains could also emerge from the provision of an agreed set of benchmark data sets and associated development of superior diagnostics for more rigorous intermodel evaluation. To achieve these goals will require a paradigm shift, such that the mass of individual isolated activities, focused on incremental technical refinement, is replaced by a more coordinated, problem-solving international research body.
Adaptive control strategy of inertia and damping coefficients based on virtual synchronous generator

Virtual synchronous generator (VSG) has been generally concerned in the field of new energy power generation because of their ability to imitate the operational mechanism of synchronous generator. In order to solve the problem of power and frequency fluctuation or even off-limit caused by load changes, this paper summarizes the control strategy for the stable operation of the electricity grid supported by VSG. It combines the changes of various physical quantities in the transient process. It fully uses VSG virtual inertia and damping coefficient flexible and regulable advantages and puts forward an adaptive control strategy for inertia and damping coefficient. The control strategy can efficiently suppress the fluctuation of VSG output power and frequency in dynamic processes. It can cut down the transient adjustment time significantly and promote the stability of the system. The correctness and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy are verified by simulation experiment results.
Ethnography of racial identities in Paris: public indicators of social hierarchy. A research note

Those who are French by acquisition versus French by birth now represent a new challenge to French social stratification. Do social inequalities exist based upon cultural acquisition as opposed to birth? If so, are they increasing or decreasing? For the moment there is no way to answer these questions directly. The author conducted an ethnographic study in Parisian public spaces during the winter and spring of 2005. The central hypothesis is that social divisions can be observed and even measured in public spaces if representative social behaviors are recurring. The author described four patterns of deference in public spaces that people of color who are French by acquisition give to those who are self-identified French by birth. Suggestions were made of how these observations could be confirmed or not by others.
Relation of gravity to elevation and rejuvenation of blocks in India

An analysis of free-air, Bouguer, Pratt-Hayford (D = 113.7 km), and Airy-Heiskanen (T = 30 km) anomalies visa vis elevation in India indicates that on an over-all basis isostatic equilibrium prevails in India. Regression study of Bouguer anomalies versus elevation made by grouping the data according to tectonic and geologic units shows that the Bouguer anomaly decreases rather slowly with the increase in elevation over the Himalayas, Aravallis, Nilgiris, Eastern Ghats and the Assam plateau, all of which are post-Mesozoic rejuvenated blocks of the Archaean shield. Small, and sometimes even positive regression coefficients characterize these blocks; the isostatic anomalies are found to be near zero or positive. It is concluded that the uplifting of these shield blocks has probably taken place through movement and incorporation of material from the upper mantle into the crust.
Translational biomaterials of four-dimensional bioprinting for tissue regeneration

Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing technique that combines living cells, biomaterials, and biological molecules to develop biologically functional constructs. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is commonly used as an in vitro modeling system and is a more accurate representation of in vivo conditions in comparison to two-dimensional cell culture. Although 3D bioprinting has been utilized in various tissue engineering and clinical applications, it only takes into consideration the initial state of the printed scaffold or object. Four-dimensional (4D) bioprinting has emerged in recent years to incorporate the additional dimension of time within the printed 3D scaffolds. During the 4D bioprinting process, an external stimulus is exposed to the printed construct, which ultimately changes its shape or functionality. By studying how the structures and the embedded cells respond to various stimuli, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the functionality of native tissues. This review paper will focus on the biomaterial breakthroughs in the newly advancing field of 4D bioprinting and their applications in tissue engineering and regeneration. In addition, the use of smart biomaterials and 4D printing mechanisms for tissue engineering applications is discussed to demonstrate potential insights for novel 4D bioprinting applications. To address the current challenges with this technology, we will conclude with future perspectives involving the incorporation of biological scaffolds and self-assembling nanomaterials in bioprinted tissue constructs.
Two-stage dispatch optimal model of virtual power plant considering pumped storage

When virtual power plant (VPP) participates in power grid dispatch, it not only faces the problem of market bidding but also has the security and stability problems of voltage, frequency, power flow, and so on. The optimal dispatch strategy of VPP, which participates in a hybrid market, is proposed. The two-stage optimal model is established. An economic dispatch optimal model based on robust control and stochastic linear programming is established to maximize the profit of VPP. Aiming to minimize the difference between the output power of each distribution energy resource and the optimal results of economic dispatch, a safety dispatch optimal model based on a particle swarm optimization algorithm is established. The simulation results with the measured data of the Ningxia power grid show that the two-stage optimal dispatch model is effective.