Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TELKOMNIKA Telecommunication Computing Electronics and Control

Received Aug 17, 2021 Revised Dec 11, 2021 Accepted Dec 21, 2021 E-learning allows the students to access, repeat and use the scientific materials wherever and whenever the users want. Both academics and learners are the leading and essential actors in the process of the learning process. Moreover, the acceptance of a technology is the positive react for users by using such technology. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, e-learning has become mandatory over the world, thus, there is a necessity to investigate the determinants of e-learning adoption in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Iraq. Consequently, this paper aims to investigate elearning adoption and identify the determinants of e-learning in HEIs. An instrument was developed with eight dimensions based on technology organization and environmental (TOE) elements. The sample selection was of 580 students and 130 university lecturers who spread over several colleges. A clustering sampling method was used in the sampling selection process. Some hypotheses were proposed and tested via the paired T-test tool. To evaluate the relationship between the TOE variables and e-learning adoption, a regression analysis was carried out. The study findings classified into two categories, first, it helps to determine to what extent e-learning be adopted. Second, it provides meaningful guidance for higher education institutions that should follow as a pre-requested before adopting e-learning.
Inversion of borehole weak motion records observed in Istanbul (Turkey)

SUMMARY The estimation of shear wave velocity and attenuation in near-surface geology is of primary importance in engineering seismology. In fact, such knowledge is essential for site response studies when preparing improved seismic hazard scenarios. In this study, we propose a linear inversion of the spectra of a deconvolved wavefield collected by a borehole array in Istanbul, Turkey. The spectra are calculated using as a reference the recordings collected by a sensor at the surface. This allows us to minimize the effect of the deconvolution filter on the peaks’ amplitudes. The feasibility of the proposed inversion scheme and the parametrization of the velocity and attenuation models were tested and assessed using synthetic data. The real data inversion is carried out using observation from three weak motion events. Several starting models are used for each event, changing the values of the quality factor Qs, whereas the starting Vs profiles are fixed to what was obtained by the analysis of the deconvolved wavefield in the time domain. Our results showed that fairly well-constrained Vs models can be obtained while the variability of the Qs profile, both between different inversions of the same data set, and between the inversions of different data sets, might be large. This indicates that Qs variations observed in models derived by strong motion data inversions should be considered with care. However, the high agreement of the estimated soil profiles in the uppermost layer, both when using different events and different starting models, suggests that any variation in the S-wave velocity that might be estimated when using strong motion data should be reliable.
A self-similar model for sedimentary rocks with application to the dielectric constant of fused glass beads

We develop a theory for dielectric response of water‐saturated rocks based on a realistic model of the pore space. The absence of a percolation threshold manifest in Archie’s law, porecasts, electron‐micrographs, and general theories of formation of detrital sedimentary rocks indicates that the pore spaces within such rocks remain interconnected to very low values of the porosity ϕ. In the simplest geometric model for which the conducting paths remain interconnected, each grain is envisioned to be coated with water. The dielectric constant of the assembly of water‐coated grains is obtained by a self‐consistent effective medium theory. In the dc limit, this gives Maxwell’s relation for conductivity σ of the rock σ=2σwϕ/(3-ϕ), where σw is the conductivity of water. In order to include the local environmental effects around a grain, a self‐similar model is generated by envisioning that each rock grain itself is coated with a skin made of other coated spheres; the coating at each level consists of other coate.
A nonparametric approach for representing interannual dependence in monthly streamflow sequences

The estimation of risks associated with water management plans requires generation of synthetic streamflow sequences. The mathematical algorithms used to generate these sequences at monthly timescales are found lacking in two main respects: inability in preserving dependence attributes particularly at large (seasonal to interannual) time lags and a poor representation of observed distributional characteristics, in particular, representation of strong asymmetry or multimodality in the probability density function. Proposed here is an alternative that naturally incorporates both observed dependence and distributional attributes in the generated sequences. Use of a nonparametric framework provides an effective means for representing the observed probability distribution, while the use of a “variable kernel” ensures accurate modeling of streamflow data sets that contain a substantial number of zero‐flow values. A careful selection of prior flows imparts the appropriate short‐term memory, while use of an “aggregate” flow variable allows representation of interannual dependence. The nonparametric simulation model is applied to monthly flows from the Beaver River near Beaver, Utah, and the Burrendong dam inflows, New South Wales, Australia.
The jawed annelid Rhytiprion magnus Kielan-Jaworowska, 1966 – a muddy bottom dweller

Abstract The Ordovician jawed polychaete annelid Rhytiprion magnus has hitherto been recorded in erratic boulders of probable East Baltic provenance and in drill cores from Poland and North Estonia. In this study the stratigraphical range and geographical distribution are extended as R. magnus is recorded from the Silurian of Gotland (Sweden) and Indiana (U.S.A.). Hence, R. magnus is now known from the Middle Ordovician to the middle Silurian (lower Ludlow; Kockelella v. variabilis conodont Zone) and comprises one of the few Palaeozoic polychaete species with a documented intercontinental distribution. The species is generally very rare but is abundant at a few localities; on Gotland, in the offshore setting of the Late Wenlock (K. ortus absidata conodont Zone; Colonograptus? praedubeli graptolite Zone) Djupvik Member of the Halla Formation. The distribution pattern shows that R. magnus thrived in low energy, distal platform environments, in which marly and muddy terrigenous sediments accumulated.
Potential Effects of Fuel Management Activities on Riparian Areas

A significant increase in fuel management treatments is underway as the Forest Service and other natural resource agencies implement the National Fire Plan (USDA USDI 2001), the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (GAO 2003; HFRA 2003), and the President’s Healthy Forest Initiative (Dombeck and others 2004; Graham and others 2004; Stephens and Ruth 2005). One of the four goals of the National Fire Plan Comprehensive Strategy is to reduce hazardous fuel, thus potentially decreasing the risk of severe wildfire and modifying fire behavior so that some wildland fires may be more readily and safely suppressed (Graham and others 2004; USDA USDI 2002).
Nonphotorealistic Rendering of Medical Volume Data

duces images in the manner of traditional styles such as painting or drawing, is proving to be a useful alternative to conventional volume or surface rendering in medical visualization. Typically, such illustrations use simple lines to demonstrate medical shapes and features, omitting a great deal of detail. They frequently highlight the most relevant information better than glossy, colored images. Medical illustration has long regarded pen and ink as an important medium. Thus, because medical professionals are familiar with pen-and-ink illustrations, they could readily accept them as an alternative to conventional rendering of medical images. Several authors, such as Treavett and Chen, have begun using NPR in medical visualization (see the “Related Work in Nonphotorealistic Rendering” sidebar for a discussion of other visualization techniques). The general approach has been to apply existing surface-hatching techniques to surface models created from the volume data by marching cubes or a similar method. Surface visualization, however, might not be well suited to portraying soft tissues, which are difficult to model with isosurfaces. This article introduces volumetric hatching, a novel technique that produces pen-and-ink-style images from medical volume data. Unlike previous approaches that generate full-surface models, our technique uses the characteristics of the volume near the stroke being produced to generate a local intermediate surface. Because global isosurfaces can’t exactly model many medical subjects, our volume-based method has considerable advantages. Our method is largely insensitive to surface artifacts. We focus on hatching with line strokes to portray muscles, intestines, brains, and so on. Hatching with line strokes requires determining not just the position of the line strokes, but also their orientation. Thus, the strokes not only illustrate the subject’s shape, but also describe its character in some way—for example, by displaying fiber orientations for muscles. Volumetric hatching can’t replace conventional medical visualization. Rather, it can supply an alternative description that can enhance medical understanding. It might be particularly useful with the vector-based images of functional anatomy, where it could both describe motion sequences more compactly and focus on specific medical features demonstrated in the animation.
POLLUTANT LOADS IN URBAN STORMWATER: REVIEW OF METHODS FOR PLANNING‐LEVEL ESTIMATES

ABSTRACT: A review of methods for planning-level estimates of pollutant loads in urban stormwater focuses on transfer of charac. teristic runoff quality data to unmonitored sites, runoff monitoring, and simulation models. Load estimation by transfer of runoff quality data is the least expensive, but the accuracy of estimates is unknown. Runoff monitoring methods provide best estimates of existing loads, but cannot be used to predict load changes resulting from runoff controls, or other changes of the urban system. Simulation models require extensive calibration for reliable application. Models with optional formulations of pollutant build up, washoff, and transport can be better calibrated and the selection of options should be based on a statistical analysis of calibration data. Calibrated simulation models can be used for evaluation of control alternatives.
Evaluating in Situ Water and Soil Conservation Practices with a Fully Coupled, Surface/Subsurface Process‐Based Hydrological Model in Tigray, Ethiopia

In situ water and soil conservation (WSC) practices are a promising intervention to improve rainwater management particularly in the semi‐arid to dry sub‐humid tropics. This study applies a fully coupled surface–subsurface process‐based model (HydroGeoSphere) to simulate in detail rainwater partitioning as affected by two in situ WSC practices [terwah+ (TER+) and derdero+ (DER+)] currently under study on Vertisols in Tigray, Ethiopia and to evaluate the treatments in terms of rainwater partitioning. In the TER+ practice, contour furrows of 0·2 m wide and 0·1 m deep are created at 1·5 m intervals between permanent broad beds, whereas in DER+, permanent raised beds 0·6 m wide with furrows 0·2 m wide and 0·1 m deep are created, to minimize runoff and water logging. The model accurately reproduced measured surface runoff (e.g. in DER+: Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency E = 0·6 for calibration and 0·7 for verification) and soil moisture content (DER+: E = 0·6 for calibration and 0·8 for verification). Runoff depth was lowest under DER+ (50 mm) followed by TER+ (67 mm) and significantly higher in conventional tillage (CT) (160 mm). Simulated transpiration, evaporation and drainage out of the root zone were all higher under DER+ and TER+ compared with CT. The effects of DER+ and TER+ practices on rainwater partitioning were more pronounced in wet years than in dry years. The model proved to be a promising and versatile tool to assess the impact of WSC practices on rainwater partitioning at the field scale. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metapopulations of endangered Maculinea butterflies are resilient to large‐scale fire

Historically, fires were frequent events in many grassland habitats and important factors shaping their biodiversity. Nowadays, although mostly prevented, they still happen occasionally. Using the occasion of an extensive fire that occurred at the floodplain meadow complex in the Vistula river valley, southern Poland, in March 2012, we investigated its impact on one of the largest European metapopulations of endangered Maculinea teleius and Maculinea nausithous butterflies. Maculinea are regarded as flagships of grassland conservation and useful indicators of insect species richness. Over 50 local populations of both butterflies, intensively monitored with catch‐per‐time‐unit method, proved to act as independent demographic units, and no spatial autocorrelation in their year‐to‐year trends was detected. The changes in butterfly abundances between summer season of 2011 and 2012 indicated absolutely no impact of fire. Although about one fifth of area was burnt, the entire metapopulations remained unaffected. The changes of 14 local populations inhabiting burnt meadows were not significantly different from those at meadows spared by the fire. Moreover, population changes in the former group were independent of the proportion of burnt area. The impact of fire was obviously minimized by its early spring timing, but in this part of Europe, grassland fires prevail in this period because of a combination of ecological and climatic factors. Together with the lack of a negative effect of flood documented in an earlier study, our findings indicate strong resilience to natural catastrophes in the investigated butterfly species. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Willingness‐to‐pay for steelhead trout fishing: Implications of two‐step consumer decisions with short‐run endowments

Choice of the appropriate model of economic behavior is important for the measurement of nonmarket demand and benefits. Several travel cost demand model specifications are currently in use. Uncertainty exists over the efficacy of these approaches, and more theoretical and empirical study is warranted. Thus travel cost models with differing assumptions about labor markets and consumer behavior were applied to estimate the demand for steelhead trout sportfishing on an unimpounded reach of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. We introduce a modified two‐step decision model that incorporates endogenous time value using a latent index variable approach. The focus is on the importance of distinguishing between short‐run and long‐run consumer decision variables in a consistent manner. A modified Barnett two‐step decision model was found superior to other models tested.
The time scales of continental rifting: Implications for global processes

The rifting cycle initiates with stress buildup, release as earthquakes and/or magma intrusions/eruptions, and visco-elastic rebound, multiple episodes of which combine to produce the observed, time-averaged rift zone architecture. The aim of our synthesis of current research initiatives into continental rifting-to-rupture processes is to quantify the time and length scales of faulting and magmatism that produce the time-averaged rift structures imaged in failed rifts and passive margins worldwide. We compare and contrast seismic and geodetic strain patterns during discrete, intense rifting episodes in magmatic and amagmatic sectors of the East African rift zone that span early- to late-stage rifting. We also examine the longer term rifting cycle and its relation to changing far-fi eld extension directions with examples from the Rio Grande rift zone and other cratonic rifts. Over time periods of millions of years, periods of rotating regional stress fi elds are marked by a lull in magmatic activity and a temporary halt to tectonic rift opening. Admittedly, rifting cycle comparisons are biased by the short time scale of global seismic and geodetic measurements, which span a small fraction of the 10 2 ‐10 5 year rifting cycle. Within rift sectors with upper crustal magma chambers beneath the central rift valley (e.g., Main Ethiopian, Afar, and Eastern or Gregory rifts) seismic energy release accounts for a small fraction of the deformation; most of the strain is accommodated by magma intrusion and slowslip. Magma intrusion processes appear to decrease the time period between rifting episodes, effectively accelerating the rift to rupture process. Thus, the inter-seismic period in rift zones with crustal magma reservoirs is strongly dependent upon the
Aerogravity evidence for major crustal thinning under the Pine Island Glacier region (West Antarctica)

The West Antarctic Rift System provides critical geological boundary conditions for the overlying West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Previous geophysical surveys have traced the West Antarctic Rift System and addressed the controls that it exerts on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Ross Sea Embayment. However, much less is known about the rift system under the Amundsen Sea Embayment, a key sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is thinning significantly today. New aerogravity data over the Pine Island Glacier region, one of the fastest flowing glaciers within the Amundsen Sea Embayment, sheds new light into the crustal structure under this dynamic part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Three-dimensional (3-D) inversion of terrain-decorrelated free-air and Bouguer gravity anomaly data reveal significant crustal thinning beneath the catchment of Pine Island Glacier. Under the Byrd Subglacial Basin and the newly identified Pine Island Rift, Moho depth is estimated to be 19 ± 1 km. This is the thinnest crust observed beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Estimates of lithosphere rigidity ( T e ), based on isostatic models, yield a T e of 5 ± 5 km, which is comparable to values from modern rift systems such as the Basin and Range Province. Major crustal thinning, coupled with low lithosphere rigidity, attest to the considerable impact of continental rifting beneath this part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. In analogy with the better known Ross Sea segment of the West Antarctic Rift System we suggest that the Amundsen Sea Embayment was affected by distributed Cretaceous rifting, followed by Cenozoic narrow-mode rifting. Narrow-mode rifting within the Pine Island Rift is particularly important as it may serve as a geological template for enhanced glacial flow associated with Pine Island Glacier.
International Financial Integration and Consumption Risk Sharing

This paper tests the importance of international financial assets and liabilities for consumption risk sharing in a general framework which allows for separate effects of equity and debt holdings as well as country-specific sensitivity to aggregate risk. Integration into both the international equity and debt markets is found to be an important determinant of risk sharing for OECD countries over the period 1987-2004, while integration into international equity markets is found to be a robust determinant of risk sharing for emerging and developing countries over the period 1987-2003.
Application of neural networks to track association in over the horizon radar

Over The Horizon Radar (OTHR) uses the ionosphere layers in the sky as a reflection medium. Multiple ionospheric layers cause several tracks per target to be observed at the receiver. The objective of this research is to associate tracks which belong to the same target. We adopt a data fusion approach to track association which is based on knowledge of human perceptual grouping mechanism--Gestalt psychology. To facilitate the fusion of the tracks by using affinity information derived from human perceptual grouping principles we developed a clustering algorithm based on a refined self-organizing neural network. This network, which we call the dynamic clustering scheme, automatically controls the allocation of clusters in response to the novelty of each input.
Assessing the Extent of Saltwater Intrusion in A Tropical Coastal Environment Using Radar and Optical Remote Sensing

Abstract The Alligator River Region (ARR) of the Northern Territory, Australia, has been identified as being particularly susceptible to saltwater intrusion. The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (PWCNT) have attempted to restrict the intrusion and preserve the natural environment by creating physical earth barrages. A consequence of the intrusion is the conversion of freshwater paperbark (Melaleuca spp.) swamps into extensions of the mangrove margin. During this process stands of dead Melaleuca result and juvenile mangroves (primarily Avicennia marina) invade and establish in the affected areas. The use of Airborne Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (AirSAR) fused with Thematic Mapper (TM) is investigated as a means for mapping Melaleuca dieback as a measure of the extent of the saltwater intrusion. Individually the sensors cannot map areas of salt affected Melalecua as there is confusion with other cover types in the study area. The combined data set were evaluated for the most useful components of the optical and AirSAR data in resolving the overlap of land cover types and a map of Melalecua dieback was produced. A total of 0.4% of the Study Area or 2.25 square km was identified as being affected by recent saltwater intrusion with an aerial assessment yielding 100% accuracy. The individual areas range from 100 to 3100 square metres and are typically located along tidal creek lines or at the edge between floodplain and woodland. The high identification accuracy using this methodology may allow the use of Melalecua dieback as a bio-indicator of environmental change in tropical floodplain systems.