Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
South American 2020 regional smoke plume: intercomparison with previous years, impact on solar radiation, and the role of Pantanal biomass burning season

Abstract. The 2020 biomass burning season in Brazil was marked by an atypical amount of fire across the Pantanal biome, which led to high levels of smoke within the biome and downwind areas. The present study analyzes fire counts and smoke over Pantanal in 2020, comparing this particular year's data with those from the previous 17 years (2003–2019). Taking as reference the most-polluted years in this period, the regional smoke plume and its impact on surface solar radiation were also evaluated. In 2020, the regional smoke plume core covered an area of ∼ 2.6×106 km2 at the peak of the burning season, an area well above that of the previous 6 years but smaller than areas observed in a more remote past, as in 2007 and 2010 (> 5.0×106 km2). The smoke loading was lower (mean aerosol optical depth, AOD, of 550 nm; ∼ 0.7) than that of 2007 and 2010 (mean AOD 550 nm; ∼ 1.0). The plume radiation absorption efficiency, when compared with the previous year's plumes, did not present significant differences. Regarding the Pantanal burning season, it revealed some atypical features. Fire counts were up to 3.0 times higher than for the years from 2003 to 2019. Smoke loading over Pantanal, which is typically a fraction of that over Amazonia, was higher in 2020 than that over Amazonia, an indication that local smoke surpassed the smoke advection from upwind regions. The observed intraseasonal variability in smoke over Pantanal revealed to be largely driven by the nature of the burned areas in the biome. From September on, there was a significant increase in fire count in conservation and indigenous areas, where higher biomass density is present, which would explain the larger smoke plumes over Pantanal, even during October when the fire count was reduced. In October, the biome was covered by a thick smoke layer, which resulted in a mean deficit of surface solar radiation up to 200 W m−2. Despite the Pantanal biomes' massive burning in 2020, the regional smoke plume was not far from its climatological features. Nevertheless, the Pantanal 2020 burning season represents the worst combination of a climate extreme applied to a fire-prone environment, coupled with inadequately enforced environmental regulations, from which there is much to be learned.
Ground-Based Mie-Scattering Lidar Measurements of Aerosol Extinction Profiles during ABC-EAREX 2005: Comparisons of Instruments and Inversion Algorithms

An intercomparison study of ground-based Mie-scattering lidar systems was held at Gosan, Korea during ABC-EAREX 2005 in order to ensure the correctness and accuracy of the lidar retrieval algorithms as well as the aerosol extinction profiles. We compared the vertical profiles of the range-corrected raw lidar signals as well as the aerosol extinction coefficients determined from different types of Mie-scattering lidar systems. Three different aerosol loading cases were selected; in these cases, the mean deviations of the range-corrected raw lidar signals were estimated to be 4.5%, 8.0%, and 7.3%. An intercomparison of the instruments by an identical data-handling procedure (Fernald approach) demonstrated that the aerosol extinction profiles for the three selected cases were in agreement within a bias difference of 0.0051 km-1. The mean deviation of the signals for the aerosol layer between 0.6 and 3.0 km was 3.0%. The systems were intercompared for two lidar inversion algorithms by using simultaneous lidar measurement data sets as input; these input data sets showed agreement with their aerosol extinction profiles within a bias difference of 0.0086 km-1 and a mean deviation of 11.6%.
A High-Speed and High-Efficiency Diverse Error Margin Write-Verify Scheme for an RRAM-Based Neuromorphic Hardware Accelerator

Resistive random access memory (RRAM)-based neuromorphic hardware accelerators are attractive platforms for neural network acceleration due to their high energy efficiency. However, the inherent variations of RRAM, arising from diffusion or recombination of oxygen vacancies, can cause significant conductance deviation from the target value, resulting in noticeable performance degradation. In practical ex situ training, write-verify methods are widely adopted to avoid this issue when transferring a trained network model. However, the intense reading and reprogramming operations make the conventional write-verify methods require extensive programming time and energy. In this brief, for the first time, we propose a novel write-verify scheme that can transfer each weight with a different acceptable error margin to achieve a high-speed and high-efficiency write-verify scheme while maintaining network performance. Our experimental results show that the speed and energy efficiency of the write-verify process can be improved significantly, by up to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbf {\times } 3.4\mathbf {\mathrm {\sim }} \mathbf {\times }9.0$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbf {\times } 4.1\mathbf {\mathrm {\sim }} \mathbf {\times }14.1$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, respectively.
Study of propagation modes of bent waveguides and micro-ring resonators by means of the aperiodic Fourier modal method

In the last years, several numerical methods have been studied and applied to the analysis of high index contrast bent waveguides. Very often, the problem is treated using a conformal mapping, which translates the bending into an equivalent graded index profile and a straight waveguide. In this article, we discuss the implementation of a full vectorial 2D mode solver by means of the Aperiodic Fourier Modal Method, developed directly in cylindrical coordinates. This does not require the conformal mapping technique. In the first part of our work, we develop a shorthand notation and the mathematical rules useful to describe the problem in a matrix form. The calculation of propagation modes is then reconducted to the search of eigenvectors of a matrix. We will at first confront our formulation in 1D with results described in the literature. In a second time, we will use the complete 2D solver to determine the resonance frequencies and the quality factors of micro-ring resonators made on silicon surrounded by silica. These characteristics are indeed related to the real and imaginary parts of the propagation constants. By comparison with 3D-FDTD analysis, we will show that our implementation can be used to accurately describe the behavior of micro-rings having a bending radius as low as 1.1 μm in the near infrared region. This technique is general and can be applied to any micro-ring having an arbitrary cross-section and a quality factor which is less than 10000. Perspectives of this work include the study of the field propagation in a bent structure, as well as the coupling between micro-ring resonators and straight waveguides.
Base-$b$ analogues of classic combinatorial objects

We study the properties of the base-$b$ binomial coefficient defined by Jiu and the second author, introduced in the context of a digital binomial theorem. After introducing a general summation formula, we derive base-$b$ analogues of the Stirling numbers of the second kind, the Fibonacci numbers and the classical exponential function.
Visiting fellow CgSB Lister Hill, July 2000-July 2001 Final report

The UMLS is intended to help health professionals an d researchers use biomedical information from different sources [2]. The UMLS Metathesaurus ® i a huge repository of concepts that can be represented as semantic spaces. The UMLS Semantic Network is a limited network of semantic types that “represents knowledge about the biomedical domain, and may be considered a basic ontology for that domain” [3]. As such, it must fulfill ontological requirements.
Approximate subgroups and super-strong approximation

Surveying some of the recent developments on approximate subgroups and super-strong approximation for thin groups, we describe the Bourgain-Gamburd method for establishing spectral gaps for finite groups and the proof of the classification of approximate subgroups of semisimple algebraic groups over finite fields. We then give a proof of the super-strong approximation for mod $p$ quotients via random matrix products and a quantitative version of strong approximation. Some applications to the group sieve are also presented.
Effectiveness and characteristics of programs for developing oral competencies at university: A systematic review

Abstract This paper offers a systematic review that follows the PRISMA protocol; its aim is to offer a compendium of intervention programs and strategies that have been developed in the university context for promoting oral competencies and public speaking skills. After a blind pair selection process, 23 studies were included, analyzed in depth, and their methodological quality evaluated, using one checklist for experimental studies and another for nonexperimental studies. The results reveal a variety of methodologies and techniques based on presentation and practice both in the classroom and using video recordings. Participation in debate, small group classroom organization for problem solving, and the use of feedback are presented as adequate teaching strategies for improving these skills. By compiling and analyzing the key elements of the interventions, guidance may be found for the design of future interventions, through a list of resources and activities that address these purposes.
POPULATION GROWTH AND CHANGING LAND-USE PATTERN IN MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION OF INDIA

into changing land-uses pattern. Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is one of the fastest growing region of India. Its population increased from 7.7 million in 1971 to 18.3 million in 2001 and is projected to be increased 22.4 million in 2011. With the saturation of land in the city followed by suburbs, other parts of the metropolitan region plows now experiencing the fast growth. Due to growing population pressure the total built-up and industrial area in Mumbai Metropolitan Region has increased from 4.9 percent in 1971 to 12 percent in 1991 and is projected to constitute 31 percent of the total area in 2011. On the other hand, area under forest cover has declined from 30 percent in 1971 to 27 percent in 1991 and is expected to it declines further to 22 percent by 2011. Using various demographic and spatial analysis techniques, this paper attempts to shows the effect of population growth on land-uses and subsequently on the regional environment. It also evaluates critically the development plan of the region. The dates it goes the study have obtained from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Census of India.
On 2D discrete Schrödinger operators associated with multiple orthogonal polynomials

A class of cross-shaped difference operators on a two-dimensional (2D) lattice is introduced. The main feature of the operators in this class is that their formal eigenvectors consist of multiple orthogonal polynomials. In other words, this scheme generalizes the classical connection between Jacobi matrices and orthogonal polynomials to the case of operators on lattices. Furthermore we also show how to obtain 2D discrete Schrödinger operators out of this construction and give a number of explicit examples based on known families of multiple orthogonal polynomials.
Active control of structurally radiated sound from plates

Active control of sound radiation from a clamped rectangular plate by piezoelectric moments is investigated both analytically and experimentally. A new theoretical derivation for the dynamic response of a plate excited by steady-state harmonic point forces, couples, and piezomoments is presented. Four point moments, simulating a piezoceramic patch bonded directly on the surface of the plate, are used to achieve the control. Control gain is obtained by minimizing the sound radiation power. The sound radiation measurement is conducted in a reverberation room equipped with an anechoic chamber. The results indicate that this research not only provides an accurate and efficient approach to theoretically predict the response of a clamped rectangular plate subjected to piezomoment excitation but also achieves effective global attenuation of sound radiation power. The highest reduction of the total power radiated from the plate was approximately 24 dB.
HIV/AIDS: Knowledge of Existence, Attitude towards VCT and Effect on Income of Workers in Akwa Ibom State

There are many hypotheses and a few hard conclusions about what can explain Africa‟s extraordinary high transmission of the disease. Perhaps, details of the sexual networks (such as the timing of having multiple sexual partners or the large number of African migrant male workers who are away from their families for long periods) account for some of the differences. The extent of male circumcisions may explain some of the differences too (since circumcision seems to protect against transmission of the disease). The extent of other untreated diseases in the African population may be conducive to a faster transmission of HIV/AIDS. The fact is that nothing sure is known about the relative importance of these possible factors. What is known is that the simple, broad-based attacks on African morals do not hold up to scientific scrutiny (Borjas, 2010). Abstract: This study assessed the level of knowledge of the existence of HIV/AIDS and the attitude of workers towards Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) in Akwa Ibom State, as well as analysed how their income is affected. The study employed the survey research method where two sets of questionnaire, involving 230 respondents, were administered and 15 in-depth interviews held to obtain needed data. Data collected were analysed using Tables, Percentages and Pearsons’ Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Logit Regression Analysis. Findings revealed that there is a high level of knowledge of the existence of HIV/AIDS among workers and a negative attitude of workers towards voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). On the income of workers in the State, HIV infection has a negative and significant effect in the short run, but a positive and significant effect in the long run. It is concluded that possible reasons for low involvement in VCT could be fear of stigma, fear of marital disharmony, cost of treatment, the incurable nature of the disease or lack of information on VCT, and taking care of HIV patients and suffering from HIV/AIDS greatly reduced income of workers especially in the private sector of the economy. Based on the findings, the study recommends, among others, the need for the provision of adequate information on VCT services and centers through regular enlightenment programmes across the country, as well as the establishment of a special HIV/AIDS Corps, made up of well-trained health workers to nurse and care for HIV victims in order to reduce the time spent by non-health workers to care for infected relatives, and as such reduce the rate of absenteeism from work.
Eddy Viscosity in Two and Three Dimensions

Abstract The test-field model for isotropic turbulence is used to examine the effective eddy viscosity acting on wavenumbers km. In both two and three dimensions, the effective eddy viscosity for k≪km. is independent of k and of local spectrum shape. In two dimensions, this asymptotic eddy viscosity is negative. The physical mechanism responsible for the negative eddy viscosity is the interaction of large-spatial-scale straining fields with the secondary flow associated with small-spatial-scale vorticity fluctuations. This process is examined without appeal to turbulence approximations. For km−k≪km, the effective eddy viscosity rises sharply to a cusp at k=km if km lies in a long energy-transferring inertial range in either two or three dimensions or in a long enstrophy-transferring inertial range in two dimensions. The cusp behavior is associated with a diffusion in wavenumber due to random straining, by large spatial scales,.
Mapping Vertical Land Motion in Challenging Terrain: Six‐Year Trends on Tutuila Island, American Samoa, With PS‐InSAR, GPS, Tide Gauge, and Satellite Altimetry Data

Sea level rise is a major challenge facing coastlines worldwide and can be strongly exacerbated by land subsidence. However, detailed characterization of vertical land motion (VLM) is limited for many tectonically active islands, as many remote sensing methods are hindered by dense vegetation and thick cloud cover. In American Samoa, strong post‐seismic deformation from the 2009 Samoa‐Tonga earthquake has increased flooding, but large uncertainties remain in hazard forecasting as only point measurements of VLM have been available. Here, we present novel VLM results over Tutuila, the largest and most populated island in American Samoa, using interferometric synthetic aperture radar, GPS, tide gauge, and satellite altimetry data. Measurements cover populated areas, with subsidence rates of 6–9 mm/yr and uncertainties of <1 mm/yr; the highest rates lie along the coastlines. We find differences in rate changes across the island, suggesting that local processes need to be well‐constrained for effective flood forecasting efforts.
Qualitative analysis of a class of inhomogeneous self-similar cosmological models. II

The authors consider a class of spatially inhomogeneous cosmological models in which the fluid flow is tangential to the orbits of a three-parameter similarity group. The temporal evolution of the models is determined by the similarity group, and the Einstein field equations reduce to a plane autonomous system of ordinary differential equations which determines the spatial structure of the models. The properties of the models are analysed using the qualitative theory of plane autonomous systems. The models are of four distinct types, depending on their behaviour at large spatial distance. The matter-dominated models are either spatially periodic or asymptotically spatially homogeneous, and the vacuum-dominated models are either asymptotically spatially homogeneous or acceleration-dominated.
Long-term variations of daily insolation and Quaternary climatic changes

Provides all trigonometrical formulas which allow the direct spectral analysis and the computation of those long-term variations of the Earth's orbital elements which are of primary interest for the computation of the insolation. The elements are the eccentricity, the longitude of the perihelion, the precessional parameter and the obliquity. This new formulary is much more simple to use than the ones previously designed and still provides excellent accuracy, mainly because it takes into account the influence of the most important higher order terms in the series expansions. The daily insolation both for calendar and solar dates is computed.
Magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Nd‐Fe‐B magnet

A torque magnetometer used in a 100‐kOe superconducting magnet was designed to measure magnetic anisotropy constants for hard magnetic materials with high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This magnetometer consists of a pulley system and a motor driven shaft, on which strain gauges are pasted to detect the torque exerted on the sample. Using this torque magnetometer, the magnetic torque curves in the (110) and (100) planes for a Nd2Fe14B single crystal sphere were measured in magnetic fields up to 100 kOe and over the temperature range from 4.2 to 300 K. The temperature and field dependencies of the anisotropy constants K1, K2, and K3 in tetragonal symmetry were obtained. The apparent anisotropy constants strongly depend on temperatures as well as magnetic fields. The intensity of magnetic field is insufficient to rotate the internal magnetization to the field direction. The demagnetization curve in the second quadrant for Nd15Fe77B8 permanent magnet showed stepwise decrease. An attempt to interpret this be.
Whistler wave propagation in a large magnetoplasma

The propagation of linear whistler waves is investigated in a very large quiescent collisionless discharge plasma in the parameter regime 0.05<ω /ωc<1, ωc/2π≃250 MHz, ωp/ωc≳10, where ωc and ωp are electron cyclotron and plasma frequency, respectively. Wave dispersion, damping, and polarization are determined from interferometer measurements. Group velocities are measured by propagating phase‐coherent wave bursts. Low frequency wave packets disperse into nose whistlers. The phase and amplitude distribution of antenna‐excited whistler waves is mapped along and across the magnetic field. The different directions of group and phase velocities are clearly demonstrated. Highly oblique whistlers are observed. In weakly nonuniform plasmas (ne/∇⊥ne≫λ∥) ray tracing is performed directly verifying the theoretical picture of ducting in density troughs. Perfectly ducted undamped whistlers are observed in field aligned troughs of width d≃λ∥. The profound effect of ray divergence from finite size antennas and of wave re.
Robustness of whittle-type estimators for time series with long-range dependence

We study the robustness of the “standard Whittle ”, “local Whittle” and “aggregated Whittle” estimators by using a large number of simulated Gaussian time series with long-range dependence. We also consider what happens when the Gaussian innovations are replaced by infinite variance symmetric stable ones. The standard Whittle estimator is a parametric estimator, the local Whittle estimator is a semi-parametric one recently developed by Robinson (1995) and the aggregated Whittle estimator smoothes out the high frequencies. The goal is to estimate H, the intensity of long-range dependence. We investigate the standard deviation and bias of these estimators in order to determine when they are reliable. These estimators are then applied to real-life Ethernet data
Camera-Based Blood Pressure Estimation via Windkessel Model and Waveform Features

Blood pressure (BP) is generally regarded as the vital sign most strongly correlated with human health. However, for decades, BP measurement has involved a cuff, which causes discomfort and even carries a risk of infection, given the current prevalence of COVID-19. Some studies address these problems using remote photoplethysmography (rPPG), which has shown great success in heart rate detection. Nevertheless, these approaches are not robust, and few have been evaluated with a sufficiently large dataset. We propose an rPPG-based BP estimation algorithm that predicts BP by leveraging the Windkessel model and hand-crafted waveform characteristics. A waveform processing procedure is presented for the rPPG signals to obtain a robust waveform template and thus extract BP-related features. Redundant and unstable features are eliminated via Monte Carlo simulation and according to their relationship with latent parameters (LSs) in the Windkessel model. For a comprehensive evaluation, the Chiao Tung BP (CTBP) dataset was constructed. The experiment was conducted over a four-week period of time to evaluate the validity period of the personalization in our system. On all the data, the proposed method outperforms the benchmark algorithms and yields mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 6.48 and 5.06 mmHg for systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), respectively. The performance achieves a “B” grade according to the validation protocol from the British Hypertension Society (BHS) for both SBP and DBP.