Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concentrations and chemical speciation of five heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Pb) in selected agricultural calcareous soils of Hamadan Province, western Iran

The content of five heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu and Pb) and their chemical speciation were determined in 21 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) of agricultural topsoil from Hamadan Province, an area with intensive agricultural production. The selected sites represent calcareous soils which have not received any biosolid or industrial-waste applications. Mean concentrations of Pb (67.9 mg kg−1) and Cd (1.67 mg kg−1) were the highest in soils, suggesting anthropogenic inputs, whereas Cu (16.0 mg kg−1), Zn (59.1 mg kg−1) and Ni (32.8 mg kg−1) were lower than regulatory limits (6–60, 17–125 and 2–100 for Cu, Zn and Ni mg kg−1, respectively). The order of abundance in the soils was Pb > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cd. Generally, the topsoil in Hamadan Province showed high Pb and Cd concentrations, suggesting an anthropogenic origin of the pollution in the studied area, arising from the use of mineral fertilizers and atmospheric deposition. Copper and Ni existed in soil mainly in residual (∼56.3 and 54.4%, respectively) and organic forms (∼20.3 and 16.2%, respectively), whereas Pb occurred essentially as residual mineral phase (∼37.1%).
A bat survey in State Forests on the south-west slopes region of New South Wales with suggestions of improvements for future surveys

Ten State Forests on the south-west slops 01 New South Wales were surveyed for bats at 39 forest sites and 24 water-bodies using ultra-sonic bat detectors, harp-traps, mist-nets and trip-lines. Thirteen species of bats were recorded for the region. Many species were widespread. with six of the 13 species recorded at more than 50% of sites; however four occurred at less than 20% of sites. Each State Forest sampled supported at least eight species. The species of bats present were representative of the biogeographical region of the study area, lying in the transitional zone between moist climates of the east and arid environments to the west. Within the range of elevations sampled (390-1 419 m). Chalinolobus gouldii, Vespadelus vulturnus, Mormopterus planiceps lp and Scotorepens balstoni were either absent or maintained lower activity levels above 1000 m. Bat activity and species richness was also low in forests typical of the most extreme climate (Snow Gum/Black Sallee), however no differences were found b.
Monthly and Seasonal Climatology over the Global Tropics and Subtropics for the Decade 1973 to 1983. Volume 1. 200 mb Winds.

Abstract : This atlas of the 200 mb circulation field contains northern winter monthly and seasonal mean wind analyses, velocity potential and streamfunction from 40S to 60N over a global belt for the decade 1973 through 1983. In addition, the deviations of the individual annual seasonal and monthly means from their respective ten year means are presented for the same variables. The basic wind data used are the operational Global Band Analyses (GBA) of the United States Navy's Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC). The analyses exhibit many interesting features, interannual variations and may shed some light on the understanding of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomena.
Oceanographic influences on the distribution of Baltic cod, Gadus morhua, during spawning in the Bornholm Basin of the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a stratified, semi-enclosed sea typified by a low-salinity surface layer and a deep saline layer of varying volume, salinity, temperature and oxygen concentration. The relationships between these oceanographic factors and the distribution of Baltic cod are presented, utilizing results from a survey carried out during the 1995 spawning period in the Bornholm Basin, at present the main spawning area of this stock. Cod distribution, abundance and population structure were estimated from hydroacoustic and trawl data and related to hydrographic parameters as well as to bottom depth. In the central basin, cod were aggregated in an intermediate layer about 15 m thick. This area of peak abundance was defined at its upper limit by the halocline and at the lower limit by oxygen content. The majority of individuals caught in the basin centre were in spawning or pre-spawning condition with a high proportion of males to females. On the basin slopes, aggregations of cod were found near the bottom. These individuals were mainly immature and maturing stages with an increasing proportion of females to males with size. Salinity and oxygen conditions were found to be the major factors influencing the vertical and horizontal distribution of adult cod. Abundance of immature cod was also positively related to decreasing bottom depths. The effect of temperature was minor. The observed size- and sexdependent spawning aggregation patterns, in association with habitat volume and stock size, may influence cod catchability and thereby the assessment and exploitation patterns of this stock.
Spatial, temporal, and socioeconomic patterns in the use of Twitter and Flickr

Online social networking and information sharing services have generated large volumes of spatio-temporal footprints, which are potentially a valuable source of knowledge about the physical environment and social phenomena. However, it is critical to take into consideration the uneven distribution of the data generated in social media in order to understand the nature of such data and to use them appropriately. The distribution of footprints and the characteristics of contributors indicate the quantity, quality, and type of the data. Using georeferenced tweets and photos collected from Twitter and Flickr, this research presents the spatial and temporal patterns of such crowd-sourced geographic data in the contiguous United States and explores the socioeconomic characteristics of geographic data creators by investigating the relationships between tweet and photo densities and the characteristics of local people using California as a case study. Correlations between dependent and independent variables in partial least squares regression suggest that well-educated people in the occupations of management, business, science, and arts are more likely to be involved in the generation of georeferenced tweets and photos. Further research is required to explain why some people tend to produce and spread information over the Internet using social media from the perspectives of psychology and sociology. This study would be informative to sociologists who study the behaviors of social media users, geographers who are interested in the spatial and temporal distribution of social media users, marketing agencies who intend to understand the influence of social media, and other scientists who use social media data in their research.
Human walking behavior: the effect of density on walking speed and direction

Humans have a natural desire to keep a certain physical distance from other humans. This distance is called personal space (or personal distance). Edward T. Hall (1966) describes it as a distance of 45 to 120cm kept from each other, a which people can touch if they extend their arms and see each other clearly, but not asa whole. Humans always try to keep this minimum distance to strangers, but might let familiar people closer, depending on their relationship. If personal space isinvaded without consent it comes to physical reactions such as increased heart rate, sweating and increased blood pressure (Middlemist and Knowles, 1976). We simply feel uncomfortable when others come too close. Personal space is well described for standing and seated test subjects (e.g. Newman and Pollack, 1973; Thompson et al., 1979;Hayduk and Mainprize, 1980; Hayduk, 1981; Strube and Werner, 1984; Evans and Wener, 2007; Robson, 2008), but not for walking people. Gerin-Lajoie and his colleagues (Gerin-Lajoie et al., 2006; Gerin-Lajoie et al., 2008) described minimum distances that pedestrians keep from stationary and moving obstacles, which were used as a basis for this study. Using a newly developed system called CCB Analyser the walking patterns of pedestrians in an Austrian shopping center were recorded. Data included number and frequency of people,average speed, speed changes and number of speed changes, direction changes and number of direction changes, and two different measures for personal space, one being personal space in circles around stationary recording frames and the other being personal space for pedestrians that plan their paths ahead. The tested hypothesis was that high density and low interpersonal distance leads to a change of walking behavior – increasing walking speed because of stress (Konecni et al., 1975) and making people change their speed and directions whenwalking. The results of the present study show that all measured variables seem to highly depend on each other. We could at least partly confirm the hypothesis ofpeople walking faster when personal space is 51 invaded. People changed their walking speed and direction to a higher degree at high densities, however the percentage of people changing their walking behavior was the same or even smaller. These results offer a first insight into the relationship of human walking behavior and personal space, but much more research needs to be done on this topic.
Monitoring birds, reptiles and butterflies in the St Katherine Protectorate, Egypt

Fifty-two bird species were recorded during transect and point count surveys of wadis in the St Katherine Protectorate in the mountainous southern region of the Sinai, Egypt. Two species are new to Egypt: Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumeyer) and Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia). There were several other notable species: migrants such as Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena) and Upcher’s warbler (Hippolais languida); and residents such as Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxi), Hume’s Tawny Owl (Strix butleri) and Striated Scops Owl (Otus brucei). Estimates of bird density and descriptions of each wadi are given. Species diversity of wadis within the Ring dyke geological feature bounding the central mountain plateau was not significantly different from wadis outside. Species composition and numbers of individuals varied according to the distribution of water sources, natural trees and Bedouin gardens especially in fruit. These features appear to be particularly important as staging posts for migrants. Numbers of some birds increased around tourist areas. Observations of seven species of reptile and ten species of butterfly including endemics are also presented. Recorded numbers of all groups depended heavily on the time of day.
Low‐frequency response of the upper Paraná basin

The low‐frequency response of the upper Paraná River basin is investigated by means of singular spectral analysis (SSA) applied to precipitation rates and runoff contributions of different sub‐basins, upstream of the Posadas gauging station. The temporal structure of Posadas discharges is characterized by a trend after 1970 and a modulated signal with a period of T ≈ 9 years that produces a maximum in amplitude around 1983. ENSO‐range signals (T ≈ 3–5 years) contribute to fit the highest peaks in the streamflow series. Moderate changes in mean annual precipitation rates are reflected in large increases in mean runoff contributions for each subbasin. Changes in relative mean annual runoff responses before and after the 1970s, downstream of Sao Simao, cannot be only explained by increases in the corresponding mean annual precipitation rates. It is more probable that such changes arise as a consequence of some anthropogenic impact than a climatic one. In particular, the outstanding increase in runoff contribution, after 1970, for the drainage area between Itaipú and Jupiá of around 96% is mainly responsible for a positive trend in Paraná flow. From the detailed analysis of each sub‐catchment, we can observe that not all the signals present in precipitation are reflected in runoff contributions and vice versa. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Numerical models of magma chambers in the Oman ophiolite

Long standing studies conducted in the Oman ophiolite have led to models of fast oceanic spreading centers which in some aspects contradict the results of geophysical studies carried out along the East Pacific Rise (EPR); this is true in particular for the shape, size and internal magmatic flow of magma chambers, thus justifying numerical modeling. Our modeling, founded on the equations of fluid mechanics, is based on a two-dimensional finite difference method that takes into account high viscosity contrasts at the walls of the magma chamber, boundary conditions deduced from the geophysical data of the EPR, and geological observations from the Oman ophiolite. The model predicts a magma chamber shape consistent with field studies. Whether the magma feeding is from the top by the melt lens or from the bottom by basaltic sills, it has only a weak influence on the shape of the chamber. The viscosity of the magma plays a crucial role for the setting of convection in the chamber. According to geological observations which argue against the existence of convective flow patterns, the viscosity of the gabbroic mush within the chamber must exceed 1014–1015 Pa s, depending on the oceanic plate velocity. The flow pattern in the magma chamber and the associated foliation pattern rely critically on whether the underlying upwelling mantle is passive (foliations oriented inward) or active (foliations oriented outward). The active structural analysis in the Oman model is supported by ophiolite data.
The role of education in the rise and fall of Americo -Liberians in Liberia, West Africa (1980)

THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN THE RISE AND FALL OF AMERICO-LIBERIANS IN LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA (1980) by Etrenda C. Dillon Education has proven to be a powerful tool. Higher education in particular has been and continues to be utilized in various ways around the world and has been instrumental in the rise of societies including Americo-Liberian society in Liberia, West Africa. This study investigates how education has been instrumental in the formation of identity for Americo-Liberians (descendants of historically oppressed groups), demonstrates the relationship that existed between education attainment and social stratification within their system, and uncovers the socialization process that existed within the AmericoLiberian system of education. A critical analysis of social structure and history was undertaken to demonstrate how a mythical norm and cultural capital were key in both the identity formation and destruction of the Americo-Liberian population in Liberia, West Africa. Other theoretical frameworks, in particular “othering,” was utilized throughout this dissertation to further demonstrate the rise of Americo-Liberians through their employment of a mythical norm and cultural capital, which ultimately led to their demise. A historical case study method was utilized to uncover the cultural capital of the preferred upper class and political elite, known as Americo-Liberians, which was deeply embedded within their system of education. In all, the system that was set up to ensure their privilege led to their demise and the complete destruction of the country as a whole. THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN THE RISE AND FALL OF AMERICO-LIBERIANS IN LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA (1980) by Etrenda C. Dillon
Seismicity and fault plane solutions of intermediate depth earthquakes in the Pamir - Hindu Kush region

Relocations of earthquakes, recorded by a local network of stations in Afghanistan and Tadjikistan in 1966 and 1967, indicate a narrow seismic zone (width ≲30 km) dipping steeply into the mantle to a depth of 300 km beneath the Pamir and Hindu Kush ranges. Very low seismicity was observed at depths less than about 70 km, the approximate depth of the Moho. Clear gaps in activity exist also within the zone of intermediate depth seismicity. One gap, about 50 km wide near 37°N and at depths greater than 100 km, separates a steeply northward dipping zone to the southwest from a steeply southeastward dipping zone to the northeast. This gap probably marks either a tear in the downgoing slab or a gap between two oppositely dipping slabs. Fault plane solutions, determined by Soboleva for events between 1960 and 1967, generally show steeply plunging T axes approximately within the planar seismic zone. They therefore are grossly similar to those at island arcs where no deep earthquakes occur and presumably result from gravitational body forces acting on a relatively dense slab of lithosphere. At the same time there is a very large variation in the fault plane solutions, much larger than is common at island arcs. Appendix is available with entire article on microfiche. Order from the American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Ave., N.W. , Washington, DC 20009. Document J80-003; $1.00. Payment must accompany order.
Testing a Flow-Through Respirometer for Use in Early Warning of Water Contamination

There is the potential to use continuous sampling whole effluent toxicity monitors, based on respirometry, as early warning systems for water contamination. In order to apply these monitors, however, many issues influencing system response and data analysis must be addressed. This study examines the use of a continuous flow-through toxicity monitor (Bioscan®) to (1) determine the sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the toxicity monitor to different concentrations of a stressing agent (in this case pH), (2) establish operational and maintenance procedures, and (3) examine the consistency in the measured response to a single perturbation. The system precision was sensitive to all the pH pulse perturbations, with stable background variability (1 % to 6%); however, replicated pulse applications demonstrated that the system has lower accuracy (31 % to 38%). The response consistency was limited, with notable differences in maximum dissolved oxygen and recovery time. The initial response time (inclining slope) was relatively consistent. Although this examination should be repeated with other contaminants used to stress the toxicity monitor, it appears that continuous flow-through toxicity monitors like the Bioscan® are well suited for qualitative early alert warning systems for water contamination.
The Safety of Elderly Pedestrians at Five Urban Intersections in Miami

A study of five intersections was conducted in the city of Miami Beach to identify the problems encountered by young, middle-aged, and old pedestrians. Data were collected using questionnaires and videotapes. Both the survey and the videotape data support pedestrian difficulties at the intersections studied. Highlights of these findings are as follows: Pedestrians generally found the time available for pedestrians to cross the street too short. The data show that for the 15th percentile older pedestrian three of the four signalized intersections studied provided insufficient crossing time. A major cause of the difficulties of older pedestrians can be attributed to physical limitations. There was a substantive number of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts and in the majority of these conflicts the pedestrians were at fault. The results of this study underscore the need for countermeasures that include engineering design considerations and educational campaigns for drivers and pedestrians.
Evaluation of atmospheric correction models and Landsat surface reflectance product in an urban coastal environment

Precise atmospheric correction is important for applications where small differences in surface reflectance (SR) are significant, such as biomass estimation, crop phenology, and retrieval of water quality parameters. It also enables direct comparison between different image dates and different sensors. As a precursor to monitoring different parameters of water quality around the coastline of Hong Kong using medium-resolution sensors Landsat TM/ETM, and HJ-1A/B, this study evaluated the performance of five atmospheric correction methods. The estimated SR of the first four reflective bands of Landsat 7 ETM+ and of the identical bands of the HJ-1A/B satellites was compared with in situ multispectral radiometer (MSR) SR measurements over sand, artificial turf, grass, and water surfaces for the five atmospheric correction methods – second simulation of the satellite signal in the solar spectrum (6S), fast line-of-sight atmospheric analysis of spectral hypercubes (FLAASH), atmospheric correction (ATCOR), dark object subtraction (DOS), and the empirical line method (ELM). Among the five methods, 6S was observed to be consistently more precise for SR estimation, with significantly less difference from the in-situ-measured SR, especially over lower reflective water surfaces. Of the two image-based methods, DOS performed well over the darker surfaces of water and artificial turf, although still inferior to 6S, while ELM worked well for grass sites as compared to the DOS and equalled the good performance of 6S over the high reflective sand surfaces. The study also evaluated the new standard Landsat SR product Landsat ecosystem disturbance adaptive processing system (LEDAPS) using the in situ measured SR data for the three land surface types – sand, artificial turf, and grass. For the highly and moderately reflecting bright sand and artificial turf, LEDAPS performed poorly, while for the darker grass site it performed better, although still inferior to 6S and ELM methods. This is probably due to the variable aerosol types and atmospheric conditions of Hong Kong, as LEDAPS was mainly compiled with reference to larger continental landmass areas.
Estimates of the effective elastic thickness of the continental lithosphere from Bouguer and free air gravity anomalies

In oceanic regions the effective elastic thickness T e of the lithosphere is generally estimated from the free air gravity field and approximately corresponds to the depth of the 450°C isotherm. In continental regions the Bouguer anomaly is commonly used and gives thicknesses for shields as great as 130 km, where geotherms reach temperatures of 800-1000°C. If this result were correct, it would require the continental lithosphere to be able to support elastic stresses at considerably higher temperatures than the oceanic lithosphere can. However, detailed examination of the free air and Bouguer anomalies over continents shows that values of T e obtained from Bouguer anomalies over shields are often upper bounds, rather than estimates, because most of the short-wavelength topography has been removed by erosion, and what remains is incoherent with both the free air and Bouguer gravity anomalies. The present study uses free air anomalies, and topography as a load whose geometry is known. The main importance of subsurface density contrasts and their associated gravity anomalies is that they reduce the signal to noise ratio, without affecting the estimated value of T e . No estimates of T e from free air gravity and topographic data from North America, East Africa, Australia, the Indian peninsula, and the former Soviet Union exceed 25 km, and all are smaller than the seismogenic thickness. The largest estimate, of 42 km, comes from profiles across the Himalayan foredeep. The gravity in this region may be affected by dynamic effects. There is therefore no evidence that the continental lithosphere can support elastic stresses for geological times at temperatures above about 350°C.