Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Land use land cover change analysis and detection of its drivers using geospatial techniques: a case of south-central Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The rapid expansion of agriculture and human settlements has simplified natural ecosystems and harmed the earth’s biodiversity. The current study was conducted in south-central Ethiopia to identify LULC change dynamics, and analysis of their driving force using geospatial technology. A supervised maximum likelihood image classification method was employed in combination with the visual interpretation of satellite images to categorise and map LULC classes of the study landscape. Semi-structured interviews, field observations, key informants, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were employed to identify major driving forces, periodic LULC changes and impacts. The classification result showed a considerable decline in forestland from (43.1%) in 1973 to (13.1%) in 2000. Similarly, grasslands declined from (45.5%) in 1973 to (6.3%) in 2018. On the other hand, cropland has increased from (9.24%) in 1973 to (32.04%) in 1986 likewise between 2000 and 2018 its coverage was augmented from 45.4% to 51.1%, respectively. Local communities perceived population growth, settlement, urbanisation, expansion of farmlands, and fuel wood collection as dominant drivers of LULC changes in the study area in thewatershed. The respondents also observed that the decline in forest LULC triggered the loss of biodiversity, soil fertility, and water availability. Hence, local and national regimes must take adequate measures to minimise the rapid shift in land use and to balance the protection of the human livelihood with the environment.
Effectiveness of tailored digital health interventions for mental health at the workplace: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Mental health problems in the workplace are common and have a considerable impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Mental ill-health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year. According to a 2020 HSE report, roughly 2,440 per 100,000 workers in the UK were affected by work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, resulting in an estimated 17.9 million working days lost. We performed a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of tailored digital health interventions provided in the workplace aiming to improve mental health, presenteeism and absenteeism of employees. We searched several databases for RCTs published from 2000 onwards. Data were extracted into a standardised data extraction form. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Due to the heterogeneity of outcome measures, narrative synthesis was used to summarise the findings. Seven RCTs (eight publications) were included that evaluated tailored digital interventions versus waiting list control or usual care to improve physical and mental health outcomes and work productivity. The results are promising to the advantage of tailored digital interventions regarding presenteeism, sleep, stress levels, and physical symptoms related to somatisation; but less for addressing depression, anxiety, and absenteeism. Even though tailored digital interventions did not reduce anxiety and depression in the general working population, they significantly reduced depression and anxiety in employees with higher levels of psychological distress. Tailored digital interventions seem more effective in employees with higher levels of distress, presenteeism or absenteeism than in the general working population. There was high heterogeneity in outcome measures, especially for work productivity; this should be a focus of attention in future studies.
Excitation et ionisation des atomes d'hydrogène et d'hélium par des impulsions laser femtosecondes : approche théorique par des états de "Coulomb-Volkov"

Nous presentons une approche theorique fondee sur des etats de « Coulomb-Volkov » bien adaptee a l'etude des processus multiphotoniques atomiques induits par un laser XUV femtoseconde intense. Elle predit les spectres d'ionisation de l'hydrogene quand l'impulsion incidente reste en conditions de perturbation. Trois voies sont explorees dans ce manuscrit. L'extension a des champs intenses quand ħω > Ip : il est necessaire de prendre en compte la population de l'etat initial de l'hydrogene, en l'introduisant dans une amplitude Coulomb-Volkov standard, on decrit l'ionisation multiphotonique quasi-saturee. L'extension aux transitions multiphotoniques avec ħω < Ip : de nouveaux chemins quantiques sont ouverts par l'excitation des etats lies de l'hydrogene. Une approche Coulomb-Volkov de l'excitation multiphotonique de ces etats est developpee. L'extension a l'helium: l'etude de la double ionisation directe a deux photons permet d'exhiber l'influence des correlations electroniques dans l'etat initial et dans l'etat final. De nombreuses informations, comme les distributions angulaires et energetiques mais aussi les sections efficaces sont accessibles.
Dynamical transitions and quantum quenches in mean-field models

We develop a generic method to compute the dynamics induced by quenches in completely connected quantum systems. These models are expected to provide a mean-field description at least of the short-time dynamics of finite-dimensional systems. We apply our method to the Bose–Hubbard model, to a generalized Jaynes–Cummings model, and to the Ising model in a transverse field. We find that the quantum evolution can be mapped onto a classical effective dynamics, which involves only a few intensive observables. For some special parameters of the quench, peculiar dynamical transitions occur. They result from singularities of the classical effective dynamics and are reminiscent of the transition recently found in the fermionic Hubbard model. Finally, we discuss the generality of our results and possible extensions.
Following the Path of Least Resistance

The reason a path may be the path of least resistance is because it may be the path for which you are most suited. For you it may look like a stroll in the park; for someone else, it may look like climbing Everest. Or vice versa. Taking the “easy” route is not copping out; it is a form of playing to your strength. Here I detail my professional path from digging holes for antennas in graduate school to designer and builder of energetic neutral atom imagers that have flown and continue to fly throughout the heliosphere.
Exploring the antecedents and consequences of firm-stakeholder engagement process: A systematic review of literature

The extant business and management literature have primarily viewed stakeholder engagement (SE) as an activity and centred on exploring the methods of firm-stakeholder interactions. Some scholars have studied SE as a process and examined its components (Hoffmann & Lutz, 2015; Lane & Devin, 2018). However, current investigations of the antecedents and consequences of SE processes are fragmented and mainly focused on either company or stakeholder context. In this systematic review, we pursued the vast body of literature on firm-stakeholder engagement and comprehensively examined over 170 research articles to accumulate precursors and outcomes of SE processes. Our work has two unique properties: first, it consolidates the knowledge of the antecedents and consequences of SE processes to generate a holistic view of the firm-stakeholder relationships. Second, it explores the existence of business practices in instrumental and normative dimensions using the concept of “continuum” to provide deeper insights into the SE processes. We used thematic analysis to provide evidence of the growing interest of academics and managers in firm-stakeholder engagement. The findings of this study suggest that shared benefits with a long-term perspective are valuable to both corporation and its stakeholders. In this critical analysis of the SE literature, we also provide implications for researchers and practitioners
Effect of Layer Orientation and Pore Morphology on Water Transport in Multilayered Porous Graphene

In the present work, the effects on water transport due to the orientation of the layer in the multilayered porous graphene and the different patterns formed when the layer is oriented to some degrees are studied for both circular and non-circular pore configurations. Interestingly, the five-layered graphene membrane with a layer separation of 3.5 Å used in this study shows that the water transport through multilayered porous graphene can be augmented by introducing an angle to certain layers of the multilayered membrane system.
Suppressive Role of ACVR1/ALK2 in Basal and TGFβ1-Induced Cell Migration in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells and Identification of a Self-Perpetuating Autoregulatory Loop Involving the Small GTPase RAC1b

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells are known for their high invasive/metastatic potential, which is regulated in part by the transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1). The involvement of at least two type I receptors, ALK5 and ALK2, that transmit downstream signals of the TGFβ via different Smad proteins, SMAD2/3 and SMAD1/5, respectively, poses the issue of their relative contribution in regulating cell motility. Real-time cell migration assays revealed that the selective inhibition of ALK2 by RNAi or dominant-negative interference with a kinase-dead mutant (ALK2-K233R) strongly enhanced the cells’ migratory activity in the absence or presence of TGFβ1 stimulation. Ectopic ALK2-K233R expression was associated with an increase in the protein levels of RAC1 and its alternatively spliced isoform, RAC1b, both of which are implicated in driving cell migration and invasion. Conversely, the RNAi-mediated knockdown or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of RAC1b resulted in the upregulation of the expression of ALK2, but not that of the related BMP type I receptors, ALK3 or ALK6, and elevated the phosphorylation of SMAD1/5. PDAC is a heterogeneous disease encompassing tumors with different histomorphological subtypes, ranging from epithelial/classical to extremely mesenchymal. Upon treatment of various established and primary PDAC cell lines representing these subtypes with the ALK2 inhibitor, LDN-193189, well-differentiated, epithelial cell lines responded with a much stronger increase in the basal and TGFβ1-dependent migratory activity than poorly differentiated, mesenchymal ones. These data show that (i) ALK2 inhibits migration by suppressing RAC1/RAC1b proteins, (ii) ALK2 and RAC1b act together in a self-perpetuating the autoregulatory negative feedback loop to mutually control their expression, and (iii) the ALK2 antimigratory function appears to be particularly crucial in protecting epithelial subtype cells from becoming invasive, both spontaneously and in a TGFβ-rich tumor microenvironment.
The degeneracy between dust colour temperature and spectral index - Comparison of methods for estimating the β(T) relation

Sub-millimetre dust emission provides information on the physics of interstellar clouds and dust. Noise can produce anticorrelation between the colour temperature T_C and the spectral index beta. This must be separated from the intrinsic beta(T) relation of dust. We compare methods for the analysis of the beta(T) relation. We examine sub-millimetre observations simulated as simple modified black body emission or using 3D radiative transfer modelling. In addition to chi^2 fitting, we examine the results of the SIMEX method, basic Bayesian model, hierarchical models, and one method that explicitly assumes a functional form for beta(T). All methods exhibit some bias. Bayesian method shows significantly lower bias than direct chi^2 fits. The same is true for hierarchical models that also result in a smaller scatter in the temperature and spectral index values. However, significant bias was observed in cases with high noise levels. Beta and T estimates of the hierarchical model are biased towards the relation determined by the data with the highest S/N ratio. This can alter the recovered beta(T) function. With the method where we explicitly assume a functional form for the beta(T) relation, the bias is similar to the Bayesian method. In the case of an actual Herschel field, all methods agree, showing some degree of anticorrelation between T and beta. The Bayesian method and the hierarchical models can both reduce the noise-induced parameter correlations. However, all methods can exhibit non-negligible bias. This is particularly true for hierarchical models and observations of varying signal-to-noise ratios and must be taken into account when interpreting the results.
ExtractEO, a Pipeline for Disaster Extent Mapping in the Context of Emergency Management

Rapid mapping of disasters using any kind of satellite imagery is a challenge. The faster the response, the better the service is for the end users who are managing the emergency activities. Indeed, production rapidity is crucial whatever the satellite data in input. However, the speed of delivery must not be at the expense of crisis information quality. The automated flood and fire extraction pipelines, presented in this technical note, make it possible to take full advantage of advanced algorithms in short timeframes, and leave enough time for an expert operator to validate the results and correct any unmanaged thematic errors. Although automated algorithms aren’t flawless, they greatly facilitate and accelerate the detection and mapping of crisis information, especially for floods and fires. ExtractEO is a pipeline developed by SERTIT and dedicated to disaster mapping. It brings together automatic data download and pre-processing, along with highly accurate flood and fire detection chains. Indeed, the thematic quality assessment revealed F1-score values of 0.91 and 0.88 for burnt area and flooded area detection, respectively, from various kinds of high- and very-high- resolution data (optical and SAR).
Illegal Housing in Medellín: Autoconstruction and the Materiality of Hope

ABSTRACT Drawing on ethnographic research in El Oasis, a highly precarious self-built settlement in Medellín, Colombia, this article examines the illegal practice of autoconstruction as a material expression of hope. It focuses on the multilayered, symbolic meaning of self-built housing, as it represents the pursuit of dignity, permanence, and agency—as opposed to poverty, uncertainty, and lack of agency—and an active and material form of hoping for a better future in the city. The state plays an ambiguous role in residents’ perspectives, who conceive of it, simultaneously, as a threat to and a guarantor of their future in the city. This ambiguity becomes materialized in the physical form of residents’ self-built housing, as residents either embrace or refrain from making improvements to their houses in response to shifting perceptions about the state’s intentions regarding the future of the settlement.
Nanofiber-Based Odor-Free Medical Mask Fabrication Using Polyvinyl Butyral and Eucalyptus Anti Odor Agent

Following the 2020 COVID-19 worldwide outbreak, many countries adopted sanitary and safety measures to safeguard public health such as wearing medical face mask. While face masks became a necessity for people, disadvantages impede their long period wearing such as uncomfortable breathability and odor. The intermediate layer of the medical face mask is composed of porous non-woven fabric to block external particles while maintaining breathability. To overcome aforementioned limitation, this study uses electrospinning to design and fabricate odorless face masks via the use of aromatic oil. Eucalyptus essential oil is encapsulated through mixing and layer-by-layer by hydrophobic polyvinyl butyral and further used to fabricate the medical mask intermediate layer. We found that adding 0.2 g of eucalyptus into polyvinyl butyral fabric through mixing results in the deodorization rate of 80% after 2 h, with fabric thickness of 440.9 μm, and melt-blown non-woven fabric thickness of 981.7 μm. The Particle Filtration Efficiency of 98.3%, Bacterial Filtration Efficiency above 99.9%, and the differential pressure of 4.7 mm H2O/cm2 meet the CNS 14774 standard on medical face masks. Therefore, this study successfully proved that this type of masks’ middle layer not only effectively protects against coronavirus, but also provides better scents and makes it more comfortable for consumers.
Bank regulation, supervision and lending: empirical evidence from selected Sub-Saharan African countries

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of bank regulation and supervision on bank credit in 23 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries and their low- and middle-income groups from 1995 to 2017. The long-run results indicated that stringent entry barriers and supervisory power reduced lending, but supervisory power mitigated the negative effect of entry barriers. Furthermore, positive shocks to entry barriers impacted negatively on bank credit, while negative shocks to capital requirements had an adverse impact on lending. In the short run, positive shocks to entry barriers, activity restrictions and capital regulations led to increases in bank credit, particularly in low-income SSA economies.
INFRARED CONTINUUM AND LINE EVOLUTION OF THE EQUATORIAL RING AROUND SN 1987A

Spitzer observations of SN 1987A have now spanned more than a decade. Since day ∼4000, mid-infrared (mid-IR) emission has been dominated by that from shock-heated dust in the equatorial ring (ER). From 6000 to 8000 days after the explosion, Spitzer observations included broadband photometry at 3.6–24 μm, and low and moderate resolution spectroscopy at 5–35 μm. Here we present later Spitzer observations, through day 10,377, which include only the broadband measurements at 3.6 and 4.5 μm. These data show that the 3.6 and 4.5 μm brightness has clearly begun to fade after day ∼8500, and no longer tracks the X-ray emission as well as it did at earlier epochs. This can be explained by the destruction of the dust in the ER on timescales shorter than the cooling time for the shocked gas. We find that the evolution of the late time IR emission is also similar to the now fading optical emission. We provide the complete record of the IR emission lines, as seen by Spitzer prior to day 8000. The past evolution of the gas as seen by the IR emission lines seems largely consistent with the optical emission, although the IR [Fe ii] and [Si ii] lines show different, peculiar velocity structures.
Etude de l'estimation du maximum de vraisemblance dans des modèles markoviens, semi-markoviens et semi-markoviens cachés avec applications

Nous construisons l'estimateur du maximum de vraisemblance (EMV) de la loi stationnaire et de la variance asymptotique du theoreme de la limite centrale (TLC) pour des fonctionnelles additives des chaines de Markov ergodiques et nous demontrons sa convergence forte et sa normalite asymptotique. Ensuite, nous considerons un modele semi-markovien non parametrique. Nous presentons l'EMV exact du noyau semi-markovien qui gouverne l'evolution de la chaine semi-markovienne (CSM) et demontrons la convergence forte, ainsi que la normalite asymptotique de chaque sous-vecteur fini de cet estimateur en obtenant des formes explicites pour les matrices de covariance asymptotiques. Ceci a ete applique pour une observation de longue duree d'une seule trajectoire d'une CSM, ainsi que pour une suite des trajectoires i. I. D. D'une CSM censuree a un instant fixe. Nous introduisons un modele semi-markovien cache (MSMC) general avec dependance des temps de recurrence arriere. Nous donnons des proprietes asymptotiques de l'EMV qui correspond a ce modele. Nous deduisons egalement des expressions explicites pour les matrices de de covariance asymptotiques qui apparaissent dans le TLC pour l'EMV des principales caracteristiques des CSM. Enfin, nous proposons une version amelioree de l'algorithme EM (Estimation-Maximisation) et une version stochastique de cet algorithme (SAEM) afin de trouver l'EMV pour les MSMC non para metriques. Des exemples numeriques sont presentes pour ces deux algorithmes.
Cosmological evolution of generalized non-local gravity

We construct a class of generalized non-local gravity (GNLG) model which is the modified theory of general relativity (GR) obtained by adding a term m2n−2 R□−nR to the Einstein-Hilbert action. Concretely, we not only study the gravitational equation for the GNLG model by introducing auxiliary scalar fields, but also analyse the classical stability and examine the cosmological consequences of the model for different exponent n. We find that the half of the scalar fields are always ghost-like and the exponent n must be taken even number for a stable GNLG model. Meanwhile, the model spontaneously generates three dominant phases of the evolution of the universe, and the equation of state parameters turn out to be phantom-like. Furthermore, we clarify in another way that exponent n should be even numbers by the spherically symmetric static solutions in Newtonian gauge. It is worth stressing that the results given by us can include ones in refs. [28, 34] as the special case of n=2.
Nonrelativistic Effective Field Theory for Axions

Axions can be described by a relativistic field theory with a real scalar field $\phi$ whose self-interaction potential is a periodic function of $\phi$. Low-energy axions, such as those produced in the early universe by the vacuum misalignment mechanism, can be described more simply by a nonrelativistic effective field theory with a complex scalar field $\psi$ whose effective potential is a function of $\psi^*\psi$. We determine the coefficients in the expansion of the effective potential to fifth order in $\psi^*\psi$ by matching low-energy axion scattering amplitudes. In order to describe a Bose-Einstein condensate of axions that is too dense to expand the effective potential in powers of $\psi^*\psi$, we develop a sequence of systematically improvable approximations to the effective potential that include terms of all orders in $\psi^*\psi$.
A Spectral Budget Model for the Longitudinal Turbulent Velocity in the Stable Atmospheric Surface Layer

AbstractA spectral budget model is developed to describe the scaling behavior of the longitudinal turbulent velocity variance with the stability parameter and the normalized height in an idealized stably stratified atmospheric surface layer (ASL), where z is the height from the surface, L is the Obukhov length, and δ is the boundary layer height. The proposed framework employs Kolmogorov’s hypothesis for describing the shape of the longitudinal velocity spectra in the inertial subrange, Heisenberg’s eddy viscosity as a closure for the pressure redistribution and turbulent transfer terms, and the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) scaling for linking the mean longitudinal velocity and temperature profiles to ζ. At a given friction velocity , reduces with increasing ζ as expected. The model is consistent with the disputed z-less stratification when the stability correction function for momentum increases with increasing ζ linearly or as a power law with the exponent exceeding unity. For the Businger–Dye.