Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of variable normal stress on rock friction: Observations and constitutive equations

We investigate the effects of variable normal stress on frictional resistance by performing quasi-static sliding experiments with 5 × 5 cm blocks of Westerly granite in a double-direct shear apparatus under servo-control. The observed response to a change in normal stress mimics that which occurs in response to a change in slip velocity. In particular, a sudden change in normal stress results in a sudden change followed by a transient change in the resistance to sliding. We interpret these changes within the previously established constitutive framework in which frictional resistance is determined by the current slip speed V, the current normal stress, and the state of the sliding surface (Dieterich, 1979a, 1981; Ruina, 1980, 1983). Earlier work demonstrated that the state of the sliding surface depends on prior slip speed. Our observations indicate that the state of the sliding surface also depends on prior normal stress. In our model the functional dependence of state on normal stress is expressed in terms of the same state variable, θ, used previously to represent slip rate history effects. We assume that the steady state value of θ is independent of normal stress and that θSS = Dc/V, where Dc is a characteristic slip distance. We interpret the variable θ as a measure of effective contact time. At constant slip speed and from an initial steady state, a sudden change in normal stress results in a sudden change in θ followed by a gradual change in θ back toward the initial θSS, as sliding proceeds. The magnitude of the sudden change in θ is determined by a newly identified parameter that we call α. Earlier workers have established that stability is influenced by stiffness, dτSS/dV, Dc, and slip rate history (Rice and Ruina, 1983). We conclude that stability will also be influenced by normal stress history and by α.
Riparian Vegetation Communities of the American Pacific Northwest are Tied to Multi‐Scale Environmental Filters

Riparia surrounding low‐order streams are dynamic environments that often support distinct biodiversity. Because of their connection to nearby uplands, riparian vegetation communities at these streams respond to many environmental filters—climatic, physical, chemical or biotic factors—that restrict what species can occur at a given location from within larger regional species pools. In this study, we examined how environmental filters originating at the landscape, watershed and reach scales correspond to riparian plant community composition across the interior Columbia and upper Missouri River basins, USA. We correlated riparian vegetation to environmental filters, identified unique communities and partitioned the variance within riparian vegetation data among filters originating at different scales. Riparian vegetation composition was strongly correlated to landscape‐scale filters including elevation, precipitation and temperature. Watershed‐scale filters such as grazing and reach filters indicative of fluvial setting were also correlated to vegetation composition, often differentiating communities with similar landscape settings. We identified 10 distinct vegetation communities. Forested communities occurred at higher elevation, moderate gradient reaches with high mean annual precipitation. Shrub–forb systems corresponded to fluvial and watershed disturbances and occurred within climates that could preclude forest establishment. Meadows corresponded to high water tables and/or high grazing activity. Variance partitioning showed that landscape‐scale filters explained the most variance within vegetation communities. Global change will alter many of the environmental filters that drive vegetation. Vegetation change may occur rapidly if local filters (e.g. fluvial process) change rapidly or may occur more slowly if larger‐order filters (e.g. climate) change slowly and without influencing local hydrogeomorphic filters. By identifying filter–vegetation relationships at large spatial scales, hypotheses can be constructed on how riparian vegetation communities may change under future environmental conditions. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Bimodal variation of SST and related physical processes over the North Indian Ocean: special emphasis on satellite observations

Using sea surface temperature (SST) and wind speed retrieved by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI), for the period of 1998–2003, we have studied the annual cycle of SST and confirmed the bimodal distribution of SST over the north Indian Ocean. Detailed analysis of SST revealed that the summer monsoon cooling (winter cooling) over the eastern Arabian Sea (Bay of Bengal) is more prominent than winter cooling (summer monsoon cooling). A sudden drop in surface short wave radiation by 57 W m−2 (74 W m−2) and rise in kinetic energy per unit mass by 24 J kg−1 (26 J kg−1) over the eastern Arabian Sea (Bay of Bengal) is observed in summer monsoon cooling period. The subsurface profiles of temperature and density for the spring warming and summer monsoon cooling phases are studied using the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX) data. These data indicate a shallow mixed layer during the spring warming and a deeper mixed layer during the summer monsoon cooling. Deepening of the mixed layer by 30 to 40 m with corresponding cooling of 2°C is found from warming to summer monsoon cooling in the eastern Arabian Sea. The depth of the 28°C isotherm in the eastern Arabian Sea during the spring warming is 80 m and during summer monsoon cooling it is about 60 m, while over the Bay of Bengal the 28°C isotherm is very shallow (35 m), even during the summer monsoon cooling. The time series of the isothermal layer depth and mixed layer depth during the warming phase revealed that the formation of the barrier layer in the spring warming phase and the absence of such layers during the summer cooling over the Arabian Sea. However, the barrier layer does exist over the Bay of Bengal with significant magnitude (20–25 m). The drop in the heat content with in first 50 m of the ocean from warming to the cooling phase is about 2.15 × 108 J m−2 over the Arabian Sea.
Tracer tests in fractured rocks with a new fluorescent dye—pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetra sulphonic acid (PTS) / Tests de traçage en roches fracturées avec un nouveau produit fluorescent—l'acide pyrène 1.3.6.8 tétra sulfonique (PTS)

Abstract Two multi-tracer tests were performed in fissured rocks accessible in underground laboratories to examine a new fluorescent dye: pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetra sulphonic acid (PTS). The first test was carried out at the Lindau Rock Laboratory (LRL), Germany, in a highly permeable ore dike, and the second, at the Grimsel Test Site (GTS), Switzerland, in a heterogeneous granite fault zone (AU 126). At the LRL new tracer was injected together with uranine in a convergent flow field (monopole test), and slightly different tracer breakthrough curves were observed according to different diffusion coefficients of both tracers. The matrix porosity calculated with the aid of the one-dimensional (1-D) single-fissure dispersion model (SFDM) agrees well with that found in earlier tracer tests and with measurements performed on core samples. At the GTS, the PTS tracer was applied together with pyranine in two-well injection–withdrawal (dipole) tests. Both tracers yielded identical tracer concentration curves, which confirm their conservative behaviour. Mathematical simulations performed with the aid of a 3-D numerical model (FRAC3DVS) yielded equally good fits for different sets of parameters, independent of whether matrix porosity was included or neglected. That lack of unique solution and the difficulty in observing the influence of matrix diffusion result from a wide distribution of the transit times of particular streamlines, which is characteristic for injection–withdrawal tests. However, both tracer tests clearly indicated that the new tracer (PTS) behaves conservatively at high pH values and can be successfully used for groundwater labelling.
Optimal Resource Allocation for Software Development under Agile Framework

Software development techniques have always been in-focus while creating high-quality software. Off late, most software firms have adopted the latest approach of the market-“Agile Software Development” to create a superior product. Agile software development allows an incremental and iterative development of the product with close interaction of all the teams on deck. This allows for the efficient utilization of the available resources to satisfy the demands of the end consumer. In the current proposal, a mathematical model has been created which allows optimal allocation of the limited developmental resources among the various sprint cycles and modules. Optimization tools have been used to determine this optimal distribution of resources. The proposed model has been validated on the resource allocation data with promising results.
University of Birmingham Structure and propagation of n-heptane/air premixed flame in low temperature ignition regime

This paper presents a large eddy simulation of n-heptane/air turbulent premixed combustion in a reactor assisted turbulent slot (RATS) burner under different preheating conditions. N-heptane/air mixture at an equivalence ratio of 0.6, pressure of 1 atm and temperature of 600, 650 and 700 K is considered to investigate the effect of low temperature chemistry on turbulent burning velocities and flame regimes, including
Particle filter-based policy gradient for pomdps

Our setting is a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process with continuous state, observation and action spaces. Decisions are based on a Particle Filter for estimating the belief state given past observations. We consider a policy gradient approach for parameterized policy optimization. For that purpose, we investigate sensitivity analysis of the performance measure with respect to the parameters of the policy, focusing on Finite Difference (FD) techniques. We show that the naive FD is subject to variance explosion because of the non-smoothness of the resampling procedure. We propose a more sophisticated FD method which overcomes this problem and establish its consistency
Segmentation of a road from a vehicle-mounted radar and accuracy of the estimation

This work treats a problem relevant to automatic road following, collision avoidance, and maneuver control. A millimeter-wave radar is placed on the front of the vehicle and an image of the radar backscatter of the terrain is acquired in polar coordinates. This image contains both road and off-road scatter components which must be segmented from each other Geometric constraints on the road edges are naturally formulated in the Cartesian cartographic domain. However, to use the recorded data directly, we apply the road constraints in polar coordinates. Moreover our estimator is based on a criterion which is largely insensitive to the off-road scatter. Numerical results are given for real data and illustrate the accuracy and robustness of our approach. Finally, we derive the Fisher information matrix for evaluation of the achievable accuracy of segmentation for our model via the Cramer Rao bound.
Development of interactive algorithms for the laboratory diagnosis of diseases as a result of studying the behaviour of insulin-like growth factor 1 and free tri-iodothyronine during artificial nutrition support

Valorar la utilidad de la insulina tipo-1 (IGF-1) y la hormona triyodotironina libre (FT3) como marcadores bioquimicos para el calculo de los requerimientos nutricionales en pacientes hospitalizados criticos que necesitan nutricion parenteral. A raiz de este estudio, se documenta un elevado, y en muchos casos innecesario, numero de solicitudes de tests, por lo que se considero necesario encontrar herramientas alternativas para ayudar a investigar pacientes con enfermedades complejas que requieren tests bioquimicos de evaluacion o seguimiento de elevado coste. (extracto sacado el informe de Da Carmen Gomez Candela).
ICT in the real estate industry: Agents and social capital

For the past year, we have been involved in a study of the ways in which information and communica-tions technologies (ICT) are becoming pervasive in the residential real estate industry and their effects on the work lives of real estate agents. Our initial results suggest that analyzing an agent’s social capital—the set of social resources embedded in relationships—provides insight into how real estate agents work and how that work is affected by ICT. Social capital has three components: structural, relational, and cognitive. ICT use affects all three components.
Direct contribution of invertebrate holobionts to methane release from coastal sediments

Sediment macrofauna play a vital role in sustaining aquatic food webs and biogeochemical cycles. Previous research demonstrated that bioturbation indirectly affects methane (CH4) dynamics through mobilization of porewater and alteration of microbial processes in the surrounding sediment. However, little is known on the direct contribution of macrofauna holobionts (the assemblage of invertebrate host and associated microbiome) to biogeochemical fluxes. Here, we investigated how 19 taxa of macrofauna holobionts, from different estuarine habitats spanning 40° to 63° latitude, directly contribute to CH4 fluxes. Deep burrowing infauna and deposit feeders were responsible for the highest CH4 production, whereas epifauna and filter feeders promoted oxidative CH4 consumption. Among the different environmental parameters, salinity was inversely correlated with CH4 production by macrofauna holobionts, with the process suppressed at high salinity (≥ 33). This study provides empirical evidence on how functional traits and environmental factors influence sediment invertebrates' contribution to CH4 fluxes.
Exploring the effects of forcing quasi‐biennial oscillations in a two‐dimensional model

Analytic forcing of the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is introduced into a two-dimensional middle atmosphere model containing interactive radiation, dynamics, photochemistry and climatological aerosols. The “WISCAR” model integrates the temperature equation in time, but diagnoses the meridional stream function and zonal wind. An analytic forcing function for the QBO is derived from zonal wind observations and employed in three different ways: (1) as a “thermal nudge” in the temperature equation, or in the diagnostic meridional stream function equation as (2) additional heating or (3) equivalent wave driving. A different amplification factor for each method is required to achieve good agreement with the observed QBO in column ozone. This lends insight into the relationship among thermal perturbations, heating, and vertical motion. The vertical variation of QBO amplitude leads to a vertical dependence of the phase relationship among vertical motion, temperature, and zonal wind. Equatorial upward motions range from nearly zero to twice the time mean. Feedbacks in the model result in different extratropical responses for the two hemispheres and modulation of the equatorial semiannual oscillation. Chemical feedbacks and phase relationships are explored for the two ozone regimes: photochemical control above 30 km and advective control beneath. Confirming other studies, QBO vertical motions alter the distribution of odd nitrogen species above 30 km, which, together with the temperature dependence of reaction rates, combine to exert a strong control on ozone perturbations.
Is it feasible to involve parents of teenagers with ASD in their language teaching? A case study in Greece

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder puts a significant strain on the family. During secondary education, when the brain is rewired, language learning becomes a challenge for ASD students and their parents. Using this as a foundation, this article’s main objective is to know the opinions and attitudes that characterize the parents of adolescents with ASD regarding the teaching of the Greek language to their children. Through a descriptive qualitative study, with a semi-structured interview of 32 items (n=30 parents) and an in-depth analysis, this goal has been accomplished. The main conclusion that has been reached is that participants-parents applaud their own assistance in the educational process, claiming though for special education teachers’ cooperation, support from the Greek State and availability of specialized staff and resources to carry out smoothly the language learning process, with the aim of optimal outcomes in the linguistic competencies for their ASD adolescents.
The calculation of the distribution of the Sun glitter radiance on the ocean surface by observing from a geostationary orbit

This paper presents a method for calculating the distribution of Sun glitter radiances from the ocean surface and a definition of the contour of the Sun disc image on the smooth ocean surface. Remotely sensed data were recorded from geostationary orbit and the spherical form of the Earth and shadowing effect on the rough ocean surface were taken into account. The reflected Sun radiance was calculated using the stochastically distributed facets method. The results of the calculations showed that the size of the Sun glint-affected region of ocean and also the value of the Sun glitter radiance in this region depend on both the geometry of observation and the degree of ocean surface roughness (i.e. over ocean wind speed v
The effect of Financial Literacy, Access to Finance, and Financial Risk Attitude on the Culinary Business Performance of SMEs in Yogjakarta

Individuals, households, and business entities that have met the criteria as businesses have SMEs as productive businesses. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to a region's economic development. Financial literacy, access to finance, and financial risk attitude are important in improving business performance. This study aimed to examine the effect of financial literacy on access to finance, financial risk attitude, and culinary business performance. Test mediating roles access of finance and financial risk attitude on the impact of financial literacy on the performance of the MSME culinary business in Yogyakarta. Statistical analysis model using mediation regression. The research sample is the Actor Culinary business SMEs in Yogyakarta. Sampling technique with purposive sampling. Respondents were 135 SME Culinary Entrepreneurs. Mediation regression analysis tool using PLS. The research results show that: 1) Financial literacy positively affects culinary business performance. 2) Financial literacy has a positive effect on access to finance. 3) Access to finance mediates the effect of financial literacy on culinary business performance. 4) Financial literacy has a positive effect on financial risk attitudes. 5) Financial risk attitudes mediate the effect of financial literacy on culinary business performance. The research results recommend the importance of increasing financial literacy and ease of access to finance. Analyzing risk is needed for SME culinary business actors to improve business performance and sustainability.
Treatment of patients with severe aplastic anaemia with allogeneic stem cell transplantation - single centre experience

Aplastic anemia is a rare hematological syndrome caused by bone marrow failure and pancytopenia. It can be either inherited or acquired, the second one being more common. A variety of trigger factors have been implicated in the etiology of acquired aplastic anemia. However, in around 70% of the cases, the reason remains unknown. The two first line treatment options with competitive rate of success are immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). In this retrospective study we present our experience in the treatment of thirteen patients with severe acquired aplastic anemia. Six of the patients mentioned underwent matched unrelated (MUD) SCT and had all been previously treated with IST, except for one patient. The remaining seven patients included in our study underwent matched related SCT, without previous IST. Conditioning regimen, graft versus host prophylaxis, veno occlusive disease prophylaxis, antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment, source of stem cells, as well as blood counts were taken into account, within a 7 year follow up period on average. Our findings revealed an overall survival rate of 92%. Three cases of graft versus host disease were observed, two within the MUD SCT group of patients (33%) and one within the matched related SCT group (17%). Faster engraftment was reached in patients treated with matched related SCT. One patient demanded a second allogeneic SCT. Comparable to other findings in literature, our study corroborated the favorable outcome of both allogeneic related and unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of patients with severe aplastic anemia. Key words: aplastic anemia, immunosuppressive therapy, stem cell transplantation
Introduction pathways and evolutionary mechanisms of alien species of Lolium spreading across sandy coasts in Japan

Estimating the role of specific processes in the spread of alien species necessitates the determination of introduction pathways and source populations of invaded areas. Alien grasses in the genus Lolium that have extensively invaded Japan provide a unique opportunity to estimate the expansion process through direct comparison between source and naturalised populations because the introduction pathways, contaminants in grain commodities and commercial cultivars for fodder crops or revegetation materials are well‐known. Therefore, by directly comparing source and naturalised populations, we estimated the introduction pathways and whether adaptative evolution occurred in Lolium species on sandy coasts in Japan. Lolium individuals sampled from naturalised populations in croplands, seaports, and sandy coasts were compared with those from two introduction sources for morphological and genetic variations based on a genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism analysis and a common garden experiment. Furthermore, we conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment between cropland and sandy coast. Populations naturalised in croplands were closely related to the cultivars, whereas those naturalised in seaports and sandy coasts were associated with contaminants. These results indicate that the cropland and sandy coast populations are derived from cultivars and contaminants, respectively. In addition, asymmetric gene flow from cropland populations to sandy coast populations was observed. The reciprocal transplant experiment clearly demonstrated the home site advantage; populations derived from croplands yielded higher floret numbers than those derived from other habitats at the cropland site; sandy coast populations had higher survival rates than those from croplands at the coastal site. Port populations exhibited a similar tendency as sandy coast populations, indicating that contaminants may be originally adapted to salty and dry environments, such as that in sandy coasts. The flowering phenology in the sandy coast populations evolved in the late flowering; therefore, late flowering alleles may have been transferred from cropland populations to sandy coast populations. Synthesis. We demonstrated that two congeneric species with different ecological characteristics were introduced through multiple introduction pathways and spread across different habitats. A direct comparison between source and naturalised populations can considerably elucidate the patterns and processes of biological invasions.