Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil moisture determination with TDR: single-rod probes and profile reconstruction algorithms

Efficient irrigation and fertilization, early detection of landslide risks, the monitoring of soil remediation processes and many other issues of soil physics require knowledge of the spatial water content distribution in the soil. Established soil water content measurement methods can only partially deliver the information needed. This work focussed on the improvement of the time domain reflectometry (TDR) method. TDR probes consisting of one conducting rod and a wave mode converter are an alternative configuration which overcomes some of the disadvantages of conventional two-rod probes. Four different single-rod probes and a two-rod probe were examined for sensitivity to a small and a large conductive scatterer in their vicinity. The single-rod probeswere assembled combining a small/large wave mode converter with an uncoatedlcoated rod. It was found that the volume sampled by single-rod probes is larger and more symmetrical than the volume sampled by a two-rod probe ofequal size. A comparison of the mode converters showed a higher loss for the smaller converter but only a small difference concerning the spatial sensitivity. Coating the conducting rod with a high dielectric constant material reduces the spatial sensitivity. One of the single-rod probes and the two-rod probe were calibrated in a sand tank (particle size 0.08-0.2 mm) with volumetrie water eontent up to 0.35 m3m-3. The ealibration showed only small differenees between the single-rod and the two-rod probe regarding the measured bulk dielectric eonstant. TDR profile reconstruction algorithms reconstruct the water content along the probe from the reeorded TDR trace. Available algorithms are restricted to specific soil classes. The more general approach of a multi-layer soil model with Debye parameters allows the inclusion of knowledge about the soil matrie and the soil-water exchange processes. The establishment of a relationship between local water content and pore water conductivity allowed the development of a profile reconstruction algorithm for this model. The new method is fast (a few minutes on an average laptop) and eonverges weIl for the laboratory tested case of a sand column with variable water content. In a field experiment, the correct water content profile was indieated without any further knowledge of the pore water conductivity. Coplanar strips (CPS) attached horizontally to a container wall are an advantageous alternative TDR_probe setup for laboratory eolumn experiments. Contrary to con-
Analysis on water consumption in oases of the Tarim Basin

Based on the runoff-evaporation hydrological model the water consumption in large oases located along the Kashigar,Yerqiang,Aksu,Hetian and Kaidu-Kongque River in the Tarim Basin are analyzed.The annual water consumption of these oases and their seasonal variations,water consumptions for different land uses,water uses by social-economy and natural ecology,water balance and components of water consumption in farmland,recharge and consumption of groundwater as well as the classification of groundwater evaporation are quantitatively studied.These results are helpful for understanding of water consumption in oases of arid region and implementation of water resources deployment.
RECENT GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT A HIGH ALPINE PERMAFROST CONSTRUCTION SITE IN SWITZERLAND

The construction work for the extension of the Sphinx observatory (3,550 m a.s.l.) at Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, was a geotechnical challenge with respect to alpine rock permafrost. In view of possible destabilisation, precise monitoring of rock temperatures and deformation around a 100 metre long elevator shaft with a diameter of 6.5 metres was necessary. Inverse correlation between temperature and deformation related to freezing and thawing was observed, as well as irreversible deformation as a consequence of the construction activities. To prevent further thawing, the elevator shaft is now actively cooled. The temperature history is modelled in a two dimensional north-south cross section through the rock ridge at Sphinx. The calculated permafrost thickness is more than 200 metres and the active layer is approximately 3 metres thick.
Geographic Variability in Elevation and Topographic Constraints on the Distribution of Native and Nonnative Trout in the Great Basin

AbstractUnderstanding local and geographic factors influencing species distributions is a prerequisite for conservation planning. Our objective in this study was to model local and geographic variability in elevations occupied by native and nonnative trout in the northwestern Great Basin, USA. To this end, we analyzed a large existing data set of trout presence (5,156 observations) to evaluate two fundamental factors influencing occupied elevations: climate-related gradients in geography and local constraints imposed by topography. We applied quantile regression to model upstream and downstream distribution elevation limits for each trout species commonly found in the region (two native and two nonnative species). With these models in hand, we simulated an upstream shift in elevation limits of trout distributions to evaluate potential consequences of habitat loss. Downstream elevation limits were inversely associated with latitude, reflecting regional gradients in temperature. Upstream limits were positiv.
Genetic Variability of the SARS-CoV-2 Pocketome

In the absence of effective treatment, COVID-19 is likely to remain a global disease burden. Compounding this threat is the near certainty that novel coronaviruses with pandemic potential will emerge in years to come. Pan-coronavirus drugs—agents active against both SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses—would address both threats. A strategy to develop such broad-spectrum inhibitors is to pharmacologically target binding sites on SARS-CoV-2 proteins that are highly conserved in other known coronaviruses, the assumption being that any selective pressure to keep a site conserved across past viruses will apply to future ones. Here we systematically mapped druggable binding pockets on the experimental structure of 15 SARS-CoV-2 proteins and analyzed their variation across 27 α- and β-coronaviruses and across thousands of SARS-CoV-2 samples from COVID-19 patients. We find that the two most conserved druggable sites are a pocket overlapping the RNA binding site of the helicase nsp13 and the catalytic site of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase nsp12, both components of the viral replication–transcription complex. We present the data on a public web portal (https://www.thesgc.org/SARSCoV2_pocketome/), where users can interactively navigate individual protein structures and view the genetic variability of drug-binding pockets in 3D.
Geomorphic Features Indicating Strike-slip Movement along the East Matsumoto Basin Faults, Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line Active Fault System, Central Japan

The East Matsumoto Basin faults (EMBF) consist of the northern segment of the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line active fault system (ISTL), central Japan, and extend for ca. 30 km along the eastern margin of the Matsumoto Basin. The faults have been considered to be eastdipping reverse faults, which were re-activated sometime after the tectonic inversion event during the middle Miocene in central Japan. However, we found geomorphic evidence of strikeslip movement on the EMBF, such as systematic left-lateral offsets of abandoned channels and scissoring vertical offsets on the fan surface, which were probably formed during the Nara era. These offsets were measured as left-lateral displacements of 6 to 7 m with a slight vertical component, and were probably formed in association with the most recent faulting event of EMBF. In this case, the style and the amount of slip per event are comparable with those of the neighboring Gofukuji fault, which has one of the highest probabilities of seismic risk calculated among active faults on land in Japan. These refined geomorphic features indicate that the principal slip component on the southern portion of EMBF is not merely dip-slip but left-lateral slip, taking account of the cumulative vertical displacement inferred from uplifted hills since Miocene to Plio-Pleistocene at the eastern side of the fault traces. These facts and presumptions are consistent with the deformation pattern around the ISTL revealed by recent continuous GPS observations. In addition, these new findings allow us to understand that the subsidence in the Matsumoto urban district can be explained as a pull-apart basin related to a 1.5-km-wide left-step between the EMBF and Gofukuji faults. Su8rface geometry, style, and amount of faulting of both faults suggest that this left-step does not seem to be a significant enough segment boundary of the ISTL to arrest rupture propagation. Thus, the portion between the southern EMBF and Gofukuji fault is appropriately a single fault segment.
Combining fire and erosion modelling to target forest management activities

Forests deliver a number of important ecosystem services including clean water. When forests are disturbed by wildfire, the timing, quantity and quality of runoff are altered. A modeling study was carried out in a forested watershed in California to determine the risk of wildfire, and the potential post-fire sediment delivery from approximately 6-ha hillslope polygons within a 1500-km 2 basin following a wildfire event. Wildfire intensity was estimated with the FlamMap prediction tool and fire risk with the FSim tool, based mainly on topography, current vegetation conditions, and wind speed and direction. The estimation of soil burn severity was based on predicted flame length for each modeled 30-m pixel and the prefire vegetation for each hillslope polygon. Sediment delivery was estimated from each hillslope polygon using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Model in a GIS framework. Polygons that generated the greatest amount of sediment, impacted other values at risk in the basin, or were critical for reducing fire spread were “treated” by reducing the amount and type of fuel available for a wildfire. The fire and erosion models were run a second time for treated conditions to see if the treatment resulted in a reduced fire intensity and probability, and hence a reduced erosion rate. The estimated erosion rates the first year after the fire dropped from 46 Mg ha -1 before treatment to 26 Mg ha -1 for polygons that had received fuel treatments. If the reduction in the probability of wildfire occurrence and the effects of a quarter century of fuel treatments are considered together, then the treatments are predicted to significantly impact long-term (century scale) erosion rates by lowering “average annual” erosion rates by 19%.
A Research on Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles' Toxicity to U373MG Cell and its Effect on the Radiation Survival Curve

Abstract This research was performed to evaluate the superparamagnetic i ron oxide nanoparticles’(SPIONs) cell toxicity and to measure the radiation cell survival curve chang es of SPIONs-uptake glioblastoma multiforme cells. The results could be practically used as the fundamental data to ameliorate proton beam cancer therapy, for example, providing necessary GBM treatment dose in the prot on beam therapy when the therapy takes advantage of SPIONs. The assessment of the toxicological evalua tion of synthesized SPIONs was accomplished by MTT assay as an in vitro experiment. The results showed no m eaningful differences in the cell survival rate at the 1-100μg/ml SPIONs concentrations, but the cell toxicity was shown as the cell survival rate decreased up to 74.2% at the 200μg/ml SPIONs concentration. Then, we measured each radiation cel l survival curve for U373MG cells and SPIONs-uptake U373MG cells with 0~5 Gy of proton beam irradiations. It is learned from the analysis of the experimental results that the SPION-uptake cells’ radiation survival rate was more rapidly decreased as the irradiation dose increased. In c onclusion we confirmed that SPIONs-uptake in U373MG cells induces cell death at the much less dose than the lethal dose of SPION-non-uptake cell. This research shows that the therapeutic efficacy of glioblastoma mu ltiforme treatment in proton beam therapy can be improved by SPIONs targeting to the GBM cells.
Ideology, Fear of Death, and Death Anxietyp Ops_822 601..622

Ideological beliefs have long attracted the attention of social psychologists, who have investigated their genesis as well as their influence on a host of social phenomena. Conservatism, from the Motivated Social Cognition framework, stems from epistemic and existential needs of the individual, and notably the fear of death. However, Terror Management Theory proposes a view of conservatism and its contrary, liberalism, as equivalent cultural worldviews, equally fit to fulfill such needs. In the present contribution, results are presented from five studies, which test the contrasting hypotheses derived from these two perspectives. A new perspective is considered that accounts for these and previous findings.
A Bioengineered Human Skin Equivalent (HSE) for the Evaluation of Protectants

Abstract : Estimation of permeation of compounds such as chemical warfare agents (CWAs) alone or through barrier creams such as SERPACWA (Skin Exposure Reduction Paste Against Chemical Warfare Agents) requires animal experiments or in vitro testing using animal or human skin. While animal skin does not reflect the same barrier properties as human skin, human skin poses problems of procurement, cost and large variations from donor to donor. Skin equivalents, such as the Human Skin Equivalent (HSE) developed in our laboratory, are in vitro cultured skin models that can be used for permeation/toxicity testing of compounds. The HSE is a full thickness skin equivalent that has been optimized by addition of various growth factors, such as ascorbic acid, lipids and a PPAR-alpha agonist. It has been characterized for morphology, lipid composition and barrier properties and compared to the commercially available skin equivalents. Compared to these, the HSE possesses closer lipid composition and barrier properties to human skin. The morphology shows a highly differentiated epidermis that provides a good barrier to the permeation of tested model agents such as caffeine. The HSE also provides lower variation in permeability data as compared to human cadaver skin and can be a consistent and reproducible model for permeability testing of agents.
Advances in 40Ar/39Ar dating: from archaeology to planetary sciences – introduction

FRED JOURDAN1*, DARREN F. MARK2 & CHRYSTELE VERATI3 Western Australian Argon Isotope Facility, JdL Center & Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University, Perth, WA6845, Australia Natural Environment Research Council Argon Isotope Facility, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, UK Universite de Nice Sophia Antipolis, GEOAZUR, Bât. 1, 250 rue Albert Einstein, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
Population Pressure and Livelihood Dynamics: Panel Evidence from Bangladesh

Since the publication of the World Development Report 2008, two related strands of research have emergedâ€”one on the validity of smallholder-led development strategy and the other on agricultural intensification under population pressure. The former casts doubt about the role of agriculture in economic development in smallholders dominated countries and the later provides evidence that are contrary to earlier findings on induced innovation theory. Using a unique panel dataset, we examine whether these arguments are valid for Bangladeshâ€”a densely populated country that has experienced significant growth in recent decades. The results suggest that (1) agriculture as a source of income declined significantly over the past two decades; (2) the operated farm size stopped declining in the late 1980s; and (3) that population density relates positively with a host of agricultural intensifications indicators with no evidence of threshold. Historical data on real prices, domestic surpluses, and other macroeconomic variables lend further support to these results. Thus, the paper concludes that small-holding was not a deterrent to structural changes in Bangladesh thus far and that agricultural intensification continued amid intense population pressure.
Altered Dopamine Responses to Monetary Rewards in Female Fibromyalgia Patients with and without Depression: A [11C]Raclopride Bolus-plus-Infusion PET Study

We herein report results of our pilot study using bolus-plus-infusion [11C]raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) scanning to assess endogenous dopamine (DA) release associated with unpredictable monetary rewards in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and healthy controls. The aim of this project was to investigate whether FMS was associated with a dysfunction of the central reward system. Twenty-four women with FMS, based on the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for FMS, and 17 age-matched healthy women were included in the study. Eleven of the patients with FMS met the DSM-V criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) [1] (current and past depressive episode). A slot machine task validated by Martin-Soelch et al. [2], which has been shown to reliably induce equilibrium and task-related changes in raclopride binding, was used to measure endogenous DA release in response to unpredictable rewards. PET examinations were performed on a full ring PET/computerized tomography (CT) scanner with a 15.3-cm axial field of view in 3-dimensional mode (Discovery DSTX, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, USA), at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. The emission data were corrected for attenuation, scatter, random, and dead time using the corresponding CT (120 kV/80 mA), and reconstructed using filtered back projection.
Dimension reduction using Independent Component Analysis with an application in business psychology

Independent component analysis (ICA) is used for separating a set of mixed signals into statistically independent additive subcomponents. The methodology extracts as many independent components as there are dimensions or features in the original dataset. Since not all of these components may be of importance, a few solutions have been proposed to reduce the dimension of the data using ICA. However, most of these solutions rely on prior knowledge or estimation of the number of independent components that are to be used in the model. This work proposes a methodology that addresses the problem of selecting fewer components than the original dimension of the data that best approximate the original dataset without prior knowledge or estimation of their number. The trade off between the number of independent components retained in the model and the loss of information is explored. This work presents mathematical foundations of the proposed methodology as well as the results of its application to a business psychology dataset.
Coercive force of single crystals of magnetite at low temperatures

SUMMARY The temperature dependence of coercive force H c was studied on well-characterized and stoichiometric millimetre-sized single crystals of magnetite at a series of 16 temperatures from 300 to 10 K using a SQUID magnetometer. H c decreases gradually with cooling to the isotropic temperature, T i =130 K, where the first magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant K 1 becomes zero. H c exhibits a sharp increase at the Verwey transition, T v =120 K, where the structure changes from cubic to monoclinic. In crossing the Verwey transition, H c increases by more than two orders of magnitude, from 20 mT to 2.4 mT, and the shape of the hysteresis loops becomes wasp-waisted. Observed coercivity between 300 K and 170 K varies with temperature as l s /M s , where l s is the magnetostriction constant and M s is the saturation magnetization, indicating that the coercivity in MD magnetite is controlled mainly by internal stress associated with dislocations or other crystal defects. It seems likely that the stable singledomain-like magnetic memory observed in large MD magnetite crystals is due to magnetoelastically pinned domain walls. The discontinuous change in H c at the Verwey transition is controlled by abrupt changes in magnetocrystalline and magnetostriction constants due to crystal deformation from cubic to monoclinic structure.
The Graph Edit Distance Problem treated by the Local Branching Heuristic

The Graph Edit Distance (GED) is a well-known problem to match graphs. Solving the GED problem allows computing a dissimilarity measure between graphs that normally represent objects and patterns. It is known to be very flexible and can work on any type of graphs. GED EnA (Edges no Attributes) is a sub-problem of GED that deals with a special type of graphs where edges do not carry attributes. Both are modeled as minimization problems and proven to be NP-Hard, they are exponential in the number of vertices of graphs. A great effort has been made to provide heuristic approaches with a compromise between the execution time and the solution quality. In addition, GED EnA can be expressed efficiently by means of mathematical programming tools to generate Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) models. The present work takes advantage of a powerful MILP model and proposes a heuristic called Local Branching to solve the GED EnA problem. Mainly, a MILP model is iteratively modified by adding additional constraints to define neighborhoods in the solution space which are explored using a black-box solver. A problem-dependent exploration is performed to find efficient solutions. Lastly, the proposed heuristic is evaluated considering two factors: its computational time and solution quality against literature heuristics and exact methods.
Preventing information leaks with policy-agnostic programming

As a solution to the problem of information leaks, I propose a policy-agnostic programming paradigm that enforces security and privacy policies by construction. I present the implementation of this paradigm in a new language, Jeeves, that automatically enforces information flow policies describing how sensitive values may flow through computations. In Jeeves, the programmer specifies expressive information flow policies separately from other functionality and relies on the language runtime to customize program behavior based on the policies. Jeeves allows programmers to implement information flow policies once instead of as repeated checks and filters across the program. To provide strong guarantees about Jeeves programs, I present a formalization of the dynamic semantics of Jeeves, define non-interference and policy compliance properties, and provide proofs that Jeeves enforces these properties. To demonstrate the practical feasibility of policy-agnostic programming, I present Jacqueline, a web framework built on Jeeves that enforces policies in database-backed web applications. I provide a formalization of Jacqueline as an extension of Jeeves to include relational operators and proofs that this preserves the policy compliance guarantees. Jacqueline enforces information flow policies end-to-end and runs using an unmodified Python interpreter and SQL database. I show, through several case studies, that Jacqueline reduces the amount of policy code required while incurring limited overheads. Thesis Supervisor: Armando Solar-Lezama Title: Associate Professor without Tenure