Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical modelling of 2003 summer forest fire impacts on air quality over Portugal

In 2003 Portugal faced the worst fire season ever recorded. The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the effects of the 2003 forest fires on the air quality, applying four numerical modelling systems (LOTOS-EUROS, MM5-CMAQ, WRF/chem and MM5-CHIMERE), and to compare their results with air quality data from several monitoring stations in Portugal. Forest fire emissions have been calculated taking into account the most suitable parameters for Portuguese forest/fire characteristics and the area burned by each forest fire. They were added to the anthropogenic and biogenic gridded emissions, according to the fire location and assuming a uniform fire spread and injection into the mixing layer. Simulations were performed during August 2003 regarding gaseous and particulate matter pollutants. To better evaluate the impact of forest fire emission on the air quality, a baseline simulation was performed, including the “conventional” emissions, along with a forest fire simulation, which also considered emissions from forest fires. Modelling hourly results, namely particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O3) concentration, values have been compared to measurement data at several monitoring locations. In general, the different modelling systems show a good performance, which improves when forest fire emissions are considered, particularly for the PM concentrations. The influence of the forest fire emissions in O3 formation is not so evident and needs more attention. The evaluation of the impact of forest fires on the air quality should be included in air quality assessment procedures, specifically in areas that
Interferência de luz, temperatura, profundidade de semeadura e palhada na germinação e emergência de Murdannia nudiflora

Murdannia nudiflora , also known as trapoerabinha has been reported in recent years, as an important weed in soybean crops under no-tillage in Brasil, due to its highly competitive with crops, poor control and rapid infestation. The present work was to study germination of seeds under light conditions (and without) and temperature (20, 25 and 30 °C), and the emergence in straw (with and without) and sowing depth (0, 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 8.0 cm). The experimental design was completely randomized for all experiments. The species studied presents photoblastism preferred, with higher germination under light. Depths greater than 1.0 cm and the presence of mulch on the soil surface affect the emergence of seedlings of this species.
Mechanics of suspended sediment in random waves

The mechanics of suspended sediment under wave action are investigated. The results apply to regions well beyond the surf zone where the flow field, though irregular in appearance, is still amenable to mathematical expressions in gross terms. The motion of the suspended sediment particle and that of the fluid particle in a wave field are found to have an amplitude difference and a phase lag. The suspended sediment concentration is a hyperbolic trigonometric function of water depth. The relation reduces to a power law for shallow water cases. The value of power is found to be a function of particle settling velocity, fluid particle velocity, and wave number. Wave mass transport velocity is derived on the basis of turbulent boundary layer as the lower boundary condition. Finally, it is found that the rate of suspended sediment transport in a wind-generated random wave field can be approximated by a power function in terms of wind velocity.
An extended lookup table of cloud detection for MTSAT-1R

Cloud detection is a key work for the estimation of solar radiation from remote sensing. Particularly, the detection of thin cirrus cloud and the edges of thicker cloud is critical and difficult. To obtain accurate estimates of cloud cover of MTSAT-1R image, we propose an effective cloud detection algorithm for improving the detection of thin cirrus cloud and the edges of thicker cloud. Using the brightness temperature difference (BTD) and lookup table to identify cloud-free and cloud-filled pixels is not sufficient for MTSAT-1R data on the region of China. Therefore, a new lookup table (LUT) is made by extending the original one. On the basis of the exiting method, in order to apply to the MTSAT-1R satellite data in China region, we expand the scope of the latitude and extend the applicable scope of satellite zenith angle. We change the interpolation method from linear mode to nonlinear mode. The evaluation results indicate that our proposed method is effective for the cirrus and the edges of thicker cloud detection of MTSAT-1R in China region.
Homogenization of elastic properties of short-fiber reinforced composites based on measured microstructure data

Mechanical properties of short-fiber reinforced composites are crucially influenced by their microstructure. The microstructure itself is mainly governed by the manufacturing process like injection or compression molding. The main contribution of this paper lies in the homogenization of linear elastic properties using experimental microstructural information. For this purpose, the microstructure of injection-molded specimens made of polypropylene reinforced with 30wt. % of short glass fibers are analyzed through micro-computer tomography (μCT) measurements. Applying a recently developed segmentation algorithm, the spatial position, the orientation distribution and the length of the fibers are determined. This data is evaluated in terms of orientation tensors and length distribution, and is used within three mean field approaches: a self-consistent homogenization method, the interaction direct derivative estimate, which is based on the three-phase model, and a two-step bounding method. All methods account for the orientation, the length and the diameter distribution. The numerical results are compared to experimental tensile tests.
A new absolute arrival time data set for Europe

SUMMARY The main aim of this study is to create a data set of accurate absolute arrival times for stations in Europe which do not report to the International Seismological Centre (ISC). Waveforms were obtained from data centres and temporary experiments and a semi-automatic picking method was applied to determine absolute arrival times for P and S phases. 85 000 arrival times were picked whose distribution of residuals shows generally low standard deviations on the order of 0.5‐0.7 s. Furthermore, mean teleseismic station residuals reflect the properties of the underlying crust and uppermost mantle. Comparison to ISC data for matching event-stationphase combinations also confirms the good quality of the new absolute arrival time picks. Most importantly, this data set complements the ISC data as it fills regional data coverage gaps in Europe.
WATEERFALLVs V-MODEL Vs AGILE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SDLC

Organizations that are developing software solution are faced with the difficult choice of picking the right software development life cycle (SDLC). The waterfall model is a sequential design process, often used in software development processes, in which progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards (like a waterfall) through the phases. The V-model represents a software development process which may be considered an extension of the waterfall model. Instead of moving down in a linear way, the process steps are bent upwards after the coding phase, to form the typical V shape Agile Modeling is a practice-based methodology for modelling and documentation of software-based systems. It is intended to be a collection of values, principles, and practices for modelling software that can be applied on a software development project in a more flexible manner than traditional Modelling methods. This comparative summarizes the steps an organization would have to go through in order to make the best possible choice.
Geomorphic characteristics and classification of Duluth-area streams, Minnesota

In 2003 and 2004, a geomorphic assessment of streams in 20 watersheds in the Duluth, Minn. , area was conducted to identify and summarize geomorphic characteristics, processes, disturbance mechanisms, and potential responses to disturbance. Methods used to assess the streams included watershed characterization, descriptions of segment slopes and valley types, historical aerial photograph interpretation, and rapid field assessments and intensive field surveys of stream reaches. Geomorphic conditions were summarized into a segment-scale classification with 15 categories mainly based on drainage-network position and slope, and, secondarily, based on geologic setting, valley type, and dominant geomorphic processes. Main causes of geomorphic disturbance included historical logging and agriculture, and ongoing urban development, human-caused channel alterations, road and storm sewer drainage, ditching, hiking trails, and gravel pits or quarries. Geomorphic responses to these disturbances are dependent on a combination of drainage-network position, slope, and geologic setting. Geologic setting is related to drainage-network position because the geologic deposits parallel the Lake Superior shoreline. Headwater streams in large watersheds flow over glacial deposits above altitudes of about 1,200 feet (ft). Headwater tributaries and upper main stems have ditch-like channels with gentle slopes and no valleys. Urban development and road drainage cause increased runoff and flood peaks in these segments resulting in channel widening. Below about 1,200 ft, mainstem segments generally are affected by bedrock type and structure and have steep slopes and confined or entrenched valleys. Increases in flood peaks do not cause incision or widening in the bedrock-controlled valleys; instead, the flow and scour areas are expanded. Feeder tributaries to these main stems have steep, confined valleys and may be sources for sediment from urban areas, road runoff, or storm sewer outfalls. Main-stem segments near the glacial deposits/surficial bedrock contact (1,000–1,200 ft) have the most potential for response to disturbance because they tend to have narrow valleys with sandy glacial lakeshore deposits and moderate slopes. Increases in flood peaks (from upstream increases in runoff) increase the potential for landslides and mass wasting from valley sides as well as channel widening.
Comparison of GCM‐ and RCM‐simulated precipitation following stochastic postprocessing

In order to assess to what extent regional climate models (RCMs) yield better representations of climatic states than general circulation models (GCMs), the output of each is usually directly compared with observations. RCM output is often bias corrected, and in some cases correction methods can also be applied to GCMs. This leads to the question of whether bias‐corrected RCMs perform better than bias‐corrected GCMs. Here the first results from such a comparison are presented, followed by discussion of the value added by RCMs in this setup. Stochastic postprocessing, based on Model Output Statistics (MOS), is used to estimate daily precipitation at 465 stations across the United Kingdom between 1961 and 2000 using simulated precipitation from two RCMs (RACMO2 and CCLM) and, for the first time, a GCM (ECHAM5) as predictors. The large‐scale weather states in each simulation are forced toward observations. The MOS method uses logistic regression to model precipitation occurrence and a Gamma distribution for the wet day distribution, and is cross validated based on Brier and quantile skill scores. A major outcome of the study is that the corrected GCM‐simulated precipitation yields consistently higher validation scores than the corrected RCM‐simulated precipitation. This seems to suggest that, in a setup with postprocessing, there is no clear added value by RCMs with respect to downscaling individual weather states. However, due to the different ways of controlling the atmospheric circulation in the RCM and the GCM simulations, such a strong conclusion cannot be drawn. Yet the study demonstrates how challenging it is to demonstrate the value added by RCMs in this setup.
Septic Tank Impacts on Ground Water Quality and Nearshore Sediment Nutrient Flux

Field studies were conducted at three coastal plain sites to characterize inorganic nutrient and fecal coliform bacteria ground water quality and intertidal sediment nutrient fluxes under the influence of residential septic tank effluent. Mean drainfield DIP (dissolved inorganic phosphorus) and DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) concentrations varied between 294 to 336 and 4494 to 5391 μmol/L, respectively, with mean fecal coliform bacteria densities ranging from 105.04 to 106.29 MPN (most probable number) /100 mL. DIP and fecal coliform bacteria exhibited a high degree of attenuation with shoreline concentrations at or near background levels. In contrast, septic tank nitrogen loadings to shallow ground water were significant and resulted in mean shoreline DIN concentrations ∼50 to 100 times greater than adjacent surface water concentrations. Mean site sediment DIP and DIN flux to surface waters varied from 1.1 to 1.6 and 52 to 135 μmol/m2/hr, respectively. Whereas DIP sediment fluxes were similar to reported values for sites adjacent to forested and agricultural lands, DIN fluxes were elevated compared to forested lands and near the lower end of the range reported for agricultural lands within the southern Chesapeake Bay region. Maximum measured sediment DIN flux was 1514 μmol/m2/hr. Estimated waste water nitrogen loading to shallow ground water (5.7 to 10.7 kg/household/yr) was significant and with 0.5 to 1 acre lot sizes, comparable to water table nitrogen loadings from dominant row‐crop land use in the mid‐Atlantic Coastal Plain. Given the trends in population growth in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and other coastal regions, nitrogen loads from septic tanks to these systems should also be expected to increase.
Family structures and subjective wellbeing in Italy

In the last decades an increasing attention has been paid to the issue of subjective wellbeing. This paper aims to shed light on this topic by analysing which characteristics are associated with high levels of subjective wellbeing in Italy. Special emphasis will be given to selected socio-demographic and other domains characteristics, such as the role of individuals within the family structure.
Using climate model ensemble forecasts for seasonal hydrologic prediction

USING CLIMATE MODEL ENSEMBLE FORECASTS FOR SEASONAL HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION Andrew W. Wood Chair of the Supervisory Committee Professor Dennis P. Lettenmaier Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Seasonal hydrologic forecasting has long played an invaluable role in the development and use of water resources. Despite notable advances in the science and practice of climate prediction, current approaches of hydrologists and water managers largely fail to incorporate seasonal climate forecast information that has become operationally available during the last decade. This study is motivated by the view that a combination of hydrologic and climate prediction methods affords a new opportunity to improve hydrologic forecast skill. A relatively direct statistical approach for achieving this combination (i.e., downscaling) was formulated that used ensemble climate model forecasts with a six month lead time produced by the NCEP/CPC Global Spectral Model (GSM) as input to the macroscale Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrologic model to produce ensemble runoff and streamflow forecasts. The approach involved the bias correction of climate model precipitation and temperature fields, and spatial and temporal disaggregation from monthly climate model scale (about 2 degrees latitude by longitude) fields to daily hydrology model scale (1/8 degrees) inputs. A qualitative evaluation of the approach in the eastern U.S. suggested that it was successful in translating climate forecast signals to local hydrologic variables and streamflow, but that the dominant influence on forecast results tended to be persistence in initial hydrologic conditions. The suitability of the statistical downscaling approach for supporting hydrologic simulation was then assessed (using a continuous retrospective 20-year climate simulation from the DOE Parallel Climate Model) relative to dynamical downscaling via a regional, meso-scale climate model. The statistical approach generally outperformed the dynamical approach, in that the dynamical approach alone required additional bias-correction to reproduce the retrospective hydrology as well as the statistical approach. Finally, using 21 years of retrospective forecasts for the western U.S., the skill of the GSM-based hydrologic forecasts was assessed relative to NWS Extended Streamflow Prediction (ESP) method forecasts. Because of unexceptional GSM climate forecasts, the GSM-based and ESP hydrologic forecasts generally showed similar skill. During strong ENSO anomalies, however, GSM-based forecasts yielded higher forecast skill in the Sacramento-San Joachin and Columbia River basins, but lower skill in the Colorado and upper Rio Grande River basins.
A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Cardiovascular disease is themain cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Studies have found that hypothyroidism can significantly increase cardiovascular risk. Meanwhile, hypothyroidism is a common complication of CKD, but the correlation between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular risk in CKD patients has not been verified and paid enough attention. We therefore plan to conduct a systematic review andmeta-analysis to explore whether hypothyroidismwas independently predictive for the cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD. Methods:We will search in PubMed, Embase Database, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine Database (CBM), and Wanfang Database, and include the cross-sectional studies, case–control studies, and cohort studies that explore the association between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular risk in CKD patients. According to the eligibility criteria, two researchers will independently screen the retrieved literature, evaluate the methodological quality, and extract data. We will combine the extracted data based on STATA and TSA software. Results:This systematic review will assess the association between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular risk in CKD patients based on the incidence of cardiovascular events in CKD people with hypothyroidism. Conclusions: This study will provide more evidence for the correlation between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular risk in CKD patients, which will contribute to the management and clinical practice of CKD population. Ethics anddissemination: This protocol is based on available literatures so that the ethical approval and informed consent are not applicable. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journals or relevant conferences. Protocol registration number: INPLASY2020100022. Abbreviations: CI = confidence intervals, CKD = chronic kidney disease, CVD = cardiovascular disease, CVE = cardiovascular events, eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate, FT4 = free thyroxine, MD =mean difference, RIS = required information size, RR = risk ratio, TSA = trial sequential analysis, TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Development as Process: Concepts and Methods for Working With Complexity

"Process" approaches to economic and social development appear to be more flexible and offer greater prospects of success than traditional "project" methods. Addressing questions raised by the different natures of the two approaches, this book examines development projects through experience in water-resources development in India and in organizational learning by a Bangladeshi NGO. Inter-agency contexts are discussed in the setting of an aquaculture project in Bangladesh and in the setting of agriculture and natural-resources development in Rajasthan, India. Finally, the role of process monitoring is explained in the context of policy reform, with illustrations from forestry in India and land reform in Russia.
The Palm and the Pleiades: Initiation and Cosmology in Northwest Amazonia

List of tables and figures List of maps and plates Preface Orthography Part I. The Rites in Context: 1. Introduction 2. The Barasana: land and people Part II. The Rites Described: 3. Fruit House 4. He House: the main initiation rite Part III. Explanation and Analysis: 5. The participants 6. The flutes and trumpets 7. The gourd of beeswax 8. Open and closed: the howler monkey and the sloth 9. Death and rebirth 10. The Sun and the Moon Part IV. Conclusion: 11. Conclusion Part V. The Myths Appendixes Bibliography Index Index of names.
Combined snow and streamflow modelling to estimate impacts of climate change on water resources in the Clutha river, New Zealand

Abstract Global climate is changing in response to increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. This change may have multiple hydrological effects. The most obvious effect of climate change on hydrology is through changes in rainfall patterns, but hydrology is also strongly affected by changing temperatures (e.g., changes in evapotranspiration and snowfall). In this paper we focus on the effects of climate change on the Clutha River, in the South Island of New Zealand. We present an analysis of the projected weekly averaged flows of the Clutha at Balclutha, comparing the current situation (1980-1999) with two future time periods (2030-2049 and 2080-2099) for one “middle of the road” emission scenario, A1B, using data from the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report.The investigation used the distributed hydrological model TopNet, which includes a snow model. The model was validated against 20-year streamflow records for three locations in the catchment. Climate predictions of 12 different Global Circulation Models for the A1B scenario (as well as the average of those 12) were used as input to the model. In the future scenarios annual precipitation increases in this catchment. The total yearly streamflow increases as a response (~6% for 2040 scenario and ~10% for 2090 scenario); however the relative contribution of snowmelt to streamflow decreases. The most striking change is in the seasonality of streamflow. Streamflow in winter and spring increases substantially, whereas stream-flow in summer and autumn is relatively unchanged. Two factors contribute to this effect: 1) total precipitation increases over the winter and spring (up to 40% in some areas of the catchment for the 2090 scenario), whereas it remains constant or decreases slightly over summer and autumn in some areas, and 2) during winter and spring, precipitation falls more often as rainfall (rather than snow) in the future scenarios.
Monitoring soil condition across Australia: recommendations from the expert panels

This report recommends a range of protocols and actions required by a number of agencies that will ensure the successful long-term monitoring of soil condition across Australia. The four priority processes which potentially have a major impact on the welfare of the Australian population are wind erosion, water erosion, soil acidification, and soil organic carbon change. These processes are difficult to monitor because they usually affect large areas and are either irregular or progress very slowly. The monitoring protocols released in 2003 did not adequately address these difficulties. The Expert Panels identified a range of factors which require attention. • The current institutional framework within Australia is unsuited to long-term monitoring and a long-term mandate is required. • The biggest advances in monitoring soil condition are likely to come from improved data for modeling. • There are dual objectives for monitoring: local monitoring for project management and accountability, and broader monitoring for the purpose of managing the national soil resource base. These two objectives often demand different approaches. Recommendations specific to each of the four processes appear in the appropriate chapters.