Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The origin of the Columbia River flood basalt province: Plume versus nonplume models

As a contribution to the plume-nonplume debate we review the tectonic setting in which huge volumes of monotonous tholeiite of the Columbia River flood basalt province of the Pacific Northwest, USA, were erupted. We record the timescale and the locations of these eruptions and estimates of individual eruption volumes, and we discuss the mechanisms of sheet-flow emplacement, all of which bear on the ultimate origin of the province. An exceptionally large chemical and isotopic database is used to identify the various mantle sources of the basalt and their subsequent evolution in large lower-crustal magma chambers. We conclude by discussing the available data in light of the various deep-mantle plume and shallow-mantle models recently advocated for the origin of this flood basalt province, and we argue that the mantle plume model best explains the eruption of such an exceptionally large volume of tholeiitic basalt within such an unusually short period and within such a restricted area.
Towards improving farmers livelihood in Nigeria using food price forecasting

Nigeria’s agricultural sector represents approximately 25% of the country’s overall GDP and is a major source of employment for its population. This sector is largely driven by smallholder farmers who grow fruits and vegetables on farms under 4 hectares. Despite their significant contribution to food production in Nigeria, most smallholder farmers, approximately 70%, live in poverty, earning less than $1.9 per day. One of the key factors contributing to this situation is a lack of access to market price information. Farmers currently rely only on historical prices to decide on when, what, where and the price to sell their produce. This can lead to suboptimal decisions, resulting in food loss and loss of potential income. To address this challenge, we developed a machine learning pipeline. It utilizes a Random Forest model trained on historical monthly fresh produce prices for Nigeria that are regularly scraped from the internet. We deployed our trained model through an open-access mobile application, Coldtivate. Our model accurately predicted market prices for crops such as tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and plantains in various Nigerian states. The prediction success rate of our model varied across the various states in Nigeria. It ranged from 1% to 20% in Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) for predictions up to 8 months ahead. When evaluated on a hold-out test set, it yielded an RMSE of 45.16. The average MAPE of our model, when considering state-time-commodity averages, is up to 5% lower than other baseline models, including the benchmark rolling-average, CatBoost, XGBoost, and SARIMA. By detecting patterns and trends in food prices, farmers can use our tool to make more informed decisions about when and what to sell to optimize profit, thereby improving revenue. Furthermore, our model provides a foundation for future machine learning model development in food price forecasting in agrarian countries.
Air Movement Operations Planning Heuristic Improvement

Purpose - Improve the air movement operations planning heuristic in the literature to generate better solutions in a shorter time period. Design/Methodology/Approach - Through a rigorous design of experiments, we make significant heuristic improvements by evaluating alternative modular methodologies and tuning heuristic parameters for two scenarios. This includes a new approach to considering refueling operations. Findings - We find the fine-tuned heuristic averages a 33% objective improvement and 70% reduction in computation time over the heuristic with original parameters for one of the scenarios. Additionally, we analyze the heuristic’s quality of solution over time. Research limitations/implications - Further analysis is required to generalize heuristic settings, which would require significant access to operational data or a portfolio of scenarios of interest. Originality/value - This research provides novel vehicle assignment and routing heuristic improvement alternatives and demonstrates a design of experiments-based heuristic tuning procedure. Practical implications - Tuned heuristic parameters reduce the computation time from hours to minutes. This also makes it practically feasible to adjust parameters in the objective function to generate multiple courses of action for a given instance.
(2015). Smart-Homes for eHealth: Uncertainty Management and Calibration. Paper presented at NIPS 2015 Workshop on Machine Learning in Healthcare, Montreal, Canada.

We introduce the SPHERE project which is devoted to eHealth in a smart-home context, and discuss the implications for such a system in terms of the quantiﬁ-cation and management of uncertainty for automated decision making in health care. We then discuss the importance of calibration in such systems, particularly in light of the differing operational contexts that will be encountered
A contribution to the quantiﬁcation of crustal shortening and kinematics of deformation across the Western Andes ( ∼ 20–22 ◦ S)

The Andes are an emblematic active Cordilleran orogen. Mountain building in the Central Andes ( ∼ 20 ◦ S) started by the Late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic along the subduction margin and propagated eastward. In general, the structures sustaining the uplift of the western ﬂank of the Andes are dismissed, and their contribution to mountain building remains poorly constrained. Here, we focus on two sites along the Western Andes at ∼ 20–22 ◦ S in the Atacama desert, where structures are well exposed. We combine mapping from high-resolution satellite images with ﬁeld observations and numerical trishear forward modeling to provide quantitative constraints on the kinematic evolution of the investigated ﬁeld sites. When upscaling our local ﬁeld interpretations to the regional scale, we identify two main structures: (1) the Andean Basement Thrust, a west-vergent thrust system placing Andean Paleozoic basement over Mesozoic strata, and (2) a series of west-vergent thrusts pertaining to
On soft errors in the Conjugate Gradient method: sensitivity and robust numerical detection -revised

The conjugate gradient (CG) method is the most widely used iterative scheme forthe solution of large sparse systems of linear equations when the matrix is symmetric positivedefinite. Although more than sixty year old, it is still a serious candidate for extreme-scalecomputation on large computing platforms. On the technological side, the continuous shrinkingof transistor geometry and the increasing complexity of these devices affect dramatically theirsensitivity to natural radiation, and thus diminish their reliability. One of the most common effectsproduced by natural radiation is the single event upset which consists in a bit-flip in a memory cellproducing unexpected results at application level. Consequently, the future computing facilitiesat extreme scale might be more prone to errors of any kind including bit-flip during calculation.These numerical and technological observations are the main motivations for this work, where wefirst investigate through extensive numerical experiments the sensitivity of CG to bit-flips in itsmain computationally intensive kernels, namely the matrix-vector product and the preconditionerapplication. We further propose numerical criteria to detect the occurrence of such soft errors; weassess their robustness through extensive numerical experiments.
Meteorological export and deposition ﬂuxes of black carbon on glaciers of the central Chilean Andes

Air pollution in the central zone of Chile is not only a public health concern but also threatens water resources and climate, in connection with the transport and deposition of black carbon (BC) from urban centers onto the glaciers of the Andes. Chemistry-transport simulations reveal a seasonal dichotomy in the ﬂux and latitudinal pattern of BC deposition on glaciers of the central Chilean Andes. The average deposition ﬂux of BC on glaciers between 30 and 37 ◦ S is 4 times larger in winter, affecting mostly low-elevation glaciers, whereas the smaller summertime ﬂux affects glaciers evenly, irrespective of their elevation. The contribution of emissions from the city of Santiago is dominant in summertime with more than 50 % along the Andes but minor in wintertime with less than 20 % even close to the capital city. Transport at larger scales and more local sources likely account for the remaining ﬂux. The superimposition of synoptic-scale circulation and local mountain-valley circulation along the Andes drives the differences between summertime and wintertime deposition ﬂuxes and generates a greater meteorological export potential during summer months. Future emissions and climate projections suggest that under the RCP8.5 scenario the gap between summertime and wintertime BC export and deposition ﬂux could decrease, thereby pointing to summertime emission control gaining relevance. The chemistry-transport modeling approach for BC deposition on the Andes sheds light on the importance of the often disregarded summertime emissions on the radiative balance of its glaciers, particularly in the vicinity of Santiago.
Multimodal Analysis: Researching Short-form Videos and the Theatrical Practices 1

Video analysis methods need to be updated in facing the proliferation of user-generated short-form videos (UGSVs). This paper investigates what’s behind this type of visual communication and resonates with the emerging field of social media and performance studies. We ask if a theatrical or performative discourse can make sense of the video data, and search for a method to holistically study UGSVs. This paper uses multimodal analysis for video analysis and draws concepts and practices from Chinese and Western theater. Building on three theories (situation, suspense, and mimesis) in which the ontology of theater is often discussed, this paper demonstrates the modes and modalities of five videos originating from TikTok. The preliminary findings suggest three types of suspense and three types of mimesis practices that respectively answer how attention of audiences is retained, and how and why videos are reproduced and disseminated. We argue that imitation as a phenomenon and as a process can generate memes, and memes in turn invites more imitation. The underlying crux are the video practices that ridicule and critique, when different levels of resistance to politics, authority, or societal classes are shown. Video analysis,
Apparent effect of environmental change and changeability on smallholder dairy production in Malawi

Farmers’ perception of climate change is very important for their adoption of adaptation strategies. This paper analyses dairy farmers’ perceptions of changes in rainfall patterns and its impact on dairy production in northern Malawi. Farmers’ perception was obtained through a survey and analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and a multi-nominal regression model. The accuracy of farmers’ perceptions was assessed with reference to actual rainfall data in the study area. The results revealed that majority (40%) of the respondents perceived that the amount of rainfall that the area had received over the past five years had increased. However, this was not supported by actual rainfall data. The farmers were also of the view that an increase in the amount of rainfall led to an increase in pasture production, water availability and milk production. Results from the multi-nominal regression model showed a strong relationship between milk production on one hand and water availability, and pasture production on the other. The results imply that dairy farmers in the study area do not perceive climate variability as an immediate problem and highlight the need to sensitize them about the current and projected changes in climate, their vulnerability and adaptation strategies.
Calming and against nociceptive impacts of the methanolic concentrate of the stem bark of Ficus vallis-choudae delile ( Moraceae )

The methanolic stem bark extract of Ficus vallis-choudae was investigated for anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity. The anti-inflammatory effects were investigated using rat paw edema model, while the analgesic effects were studied using acetic acid induced writhing in mice. The results obtained revealed that the methanolic stem bark extract of F. vallis – choudae in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg posses significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent anti-inflammatory effect and inhibit abdominal contractions caused by acetic acid in mice. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was found to be 470 mg/kg. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins. The results of this study indicated the presence of biologically active substances which may be beneficial in the treatment of pain and inflammation.
Sexual dimorphism in the lip size and finger pattern by digital method-A cross-sectional study

ackground: Human lips recognition is most intriguing and growing method in human identification. The lip prints are unique among individuals and shown to have a prospective role in sex identification. The fingerprints of an individual can be used in instances like criminological, civil cases due to their inimitable property for absolute identity. The study aims to identify fingerprint pattern and lip size for identification of gender. Methods: This study involved 100 dentistry students from our college (50 male and 50 female). The thumb, lip photos were recorded by using a digital camera. The lip size was calculated by using Adobe photoshop software. The fingerprints patterns were by read by using the classification given by Michael and Kucken's. Results: Males had more lip length and width when compared to females which are statistically significant(p=0.000). The predominant fingerprint pattern in the entire study was loop (67%) followed by whorl (23%) and then arch (10%). The arch pattern of fingerprint showed a statistical significance between males and females (p=0.008). Conclusion: In the present study, lip length, lip width and fingerprint pattern showed a significant difference in males and females which can be used to determine an individual's gender. Moreover, employing digital method in analysing the fingerprints and lip-prints is very convenient in terms of accessibility and storage.
Translating data into narratives. Designing semantic interpretations for reflexive policy practices

Today more than ever, it is evident the role that data can play when designing policies. Data not only aids in shaping effective strategies but also fosters reflexive practices within Public Administrations, promoting knowledge management and smarter governance. However, multiple gaps concur to affect data understanding and interpretation, hindering its subsequent translation into policy-valuable information. To address these challenges, the article proposes a two-fold approach: (i) illustrating a narrative approach for building profiles of cities as narrative feedback from sets of data and (ii) investigating their potential as a (self-) evaluation and a decision-making support device. The feedback structure relies on the conceptual model developed for the DIGISER Project, which investigated multidimensional digital transformation processes across European cities. By employing dynamic feedback mechanisms, data from the project dataset is transformed into discursive form. The effectiveness of the approach and its device is validated through a qualitative enquiry on a textual excerpt provided to three different departments of one of the cities that participated in the survey. The study corroborates that designing narrative feedback as semantic interpretations can trigger understanding, (self-)reflection and support policy change, informing policy formulation and facilitating cross-silo interactions across administrative units engaged in digital transformation processes.
Surface Pressure Dependencies in the Geos-Chem-Adjoint System and the Impact of the GEOS-5 Surface Pressure on CO2 Model Forecast

In the GEOS-Chem Adjoint (GCA) system, the total (wet) surface pressure of the GEOS meteorology is employed as dry surface pressure, ignoring the presence of water vapor. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) research team has been evaluating the impact of the above discrepancy on the CO2 model forecast and the CO2 flux inversion. The JPL CMS research utilizes a multi-mission assimilation framework developed by the Multi-Mission Observation Operator (M2O2) research team at JPL extending the GCA system. The GCA-M2O2 framework facilitates mission-generic 3D and 4D-variational assimilations streamlining the interfaces to the satellite data products and prior emission inventories. The GCA-M2O2 framework currently integrates the GCA system version 35h and provides a dry surface pressure setup to allow the CO2 model forecast to be performed with the GEOS-5 surface pressure directly or after converting it to dry surface pressure.
Topical Cannabidiol and the Progression Rate of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

This study investigated the efficacy of topical cannabidiol (CBD) ointment in reducing localized inflammation, minimizing performance detriments, and attenuating soreness associated with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). In a double blind randomized control trial, upper-arm circumferences, maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) for elbow flexion at 90° and 30° for college-aged participants (n = 21, age 20.8 ± 1.9 years) were assessed at baseline. Participants then performed a DOMS-inducing protocol for the biceps brachii. Topical CBD ointment and placebo (P) ointment were randomly assigned and applied 30 minutes, 24, 48 and 72 hours post the DOMS protocol. The baseline parameters and a visual analog scale (VAS) to assess perceived soreness were assessed 24, 48 and 72 hours post DOMS protocol. A 4x2 repeated measures factorial ANOVA (P < 0.05) analyzed both within and between subject differences. No changes were statistically significant on any days between conditions: Upper-arm circumferences in the CBD arm (7.1 ± 5.8 cm) and in the P arm (7.3 ± 5.8 cm). MVICs were reduced at both the 90° and 30° positions (−5.9 ± 9.0 Nm (90°)); (−4.8 ± 6.5 Nm (30°)) and the P arm (−5.0 ± 10.0 Nm (90°)); (−4.6 ± 5.3 Nm (30°)). Soreness increased in both the CBD arm (6.1 ± 2.1) and the P arm (5.5 ± 2.6) over time. Topical CBD therefore did not alter any parameters vs the P treatment, thus the use of topical CBD does not attenuate the effects of DOMS.
Above and below verbal roots: A case study of English adverbs of results

This study investigates English resultative adverbs focusing on their syntactic peculiarities. Based on the observation that resultative adverbs can appear in certain activity verb phrases, we argue for an elaborate verbal structure. In particular, we propose that two distinct syntactic heads need to be postulated for resultative adverbial modification (Res(ult)) and for encoding the aspectual information of the verb ( v ). The proposal correctly predicts the distributional contrasts between resultative and manner adverbs, the patterns of adverbs ambivalent in denoting manner and result meanings, and the possibilities of modification of verb and adjective derivatives. The analysis of resultative adverbs advanced in this study is shown to newly account for measure adverbs. In doing so, we demonstrate that certain roots can head-adjoin either to Res or v with the corollary that the resulting verb can either denote a result or manner. Finally, an implication of this study is discussed regarding the relationship between result roots and the Res head.
Softness of the bacterial cell wall of Streptococcus mitis as probed by microelectrophoresis

Chemical and structural complexity of bacterial cell surfaces complicate accurate quantification of cell surfaces properties. The presence of fibrils, fimbriae or other surface appendages on bacterial cell surfaces largely influence those properties and would therefore play a major function in interfacial phenomena as aggregation and adhesion. The electrophoretic softness and fixed charge density in the polyelectrolyte layer of nine Streptococcus mitis strains, usually carrying long sparsely distributed fibrils, were determined by the soft particle analysis using measured electrophoretic mobilities as a function of the ionic strength. In general, S. mitis cell surfaces are electrophoretically soft (1.0–2.5 nm) with a fixed negative charge density of –1.2 to –4.3×106 Cm–3. Further, a comparison with surfaces of other bacterial strains that are reported to be soft indicates that the Ohshima soft layer model does not provide information on the surface morphology causing the softness. The most likely reason is that the electroosmotic flow occurs only in the very outer region of thick extracellular surface layers. Nevertheless, determining the surface softness is essential for proper characterization of the cell surface electrostatics.
Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation

In institutional research, modern data mining approaches are seldom considered to address predictive analytics problems. The goal of this paper is to highlight the advantages of tree-based machine learning algorithms over classic (logistic) regression methods for data-informed decision making in higher education problems, and stress the success of random forest in circumstances where the regression assumptions are often violated in big data applications. Random forest is a model averaging procedure where each tree is constructed based on a bootstrap sample of the data set. In particular, we emphasize the ease of application, low computational cost, high predictive accuracy, flexibility, and interpretability of random forest machinery. Our overall recommendation is that institutional researchers look beyond classical regression and single decision tree analytics tools, and consider random forest as the predominant method for prediction tasks. The proposed points of view are detailed and illustrated through a simulation experiment and analyses of data from real institutional research projects.
Assessment of transpiration in different almond production systems with two-source energy balance models using high resolution aerial imagery

A growing number of intensive irrigated production systems of the almond crop have been established in recent years. However, there is little information regarding the crop water requirements. Remote sensing-based models such as the two-source energy balance (TSEB) have proven to be reliable ways to accurately estimate actual crop evapotranspiration. However, few efforts have been made to validate the transpiration with sap �ow measurements in woody row crops with different production systems and water status. In this study, the TSEB Priestley-Taylor (TSEB-PT) and contextual approach (TSEB-2T) models were assessed to estimate canopy transpiration. In addition, the effect of applying a basic clumping index for heterogeneous randomly placed clumped canopies and a rectangular hedgerow clumping index on the TSEB transpiration estimation was assessed. The TSEB inputs were obtained from high resolution multispectral and thermal imagery using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The leaf area index (LAI), stem water potential ( Ψ stem ) and fractional intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fIPAR) were also measured. Signi�cant differences were observed in transpiration between production systems and irrigation treatments. The combined use of the TSEB-2T with the C&N-R transmittance model gave the best transpiration estimations for all production systems and irrigation treatments. The use of in situ PAR transmittance in the TSEB-2T model signi�cantly improved the root mean squared error. Thus, the better agreement observed with the TSEB when using the C&N-R model and in situ PAR transmittance highlights the importance of improving radiative transfer models for shortwave canopy transmittance, especially in woody row crops.