Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The geomorphological effect of cornice fall avalanches in the Longyeardalen valley, Svalbard

Abstract. The study of snow avalanches and their geomorphological effect in the periglacial parts of the cryosphere is important for enhanced geomorphological process understanding as well as hazard-related studies. Only a few field studies, and particularly few in the High Arctic, have quantified avalanche sedimentation. Snow avalanches are traditionally ranked behind rockfall in terms of their significance for mass-wasting processes of rockslopes. Cornice fall avalanches are at present the most dominant snow avalanche type at two slope systems, called Nybyen and Larsbreen, in the valley Longyeardalen in central Svalbard. Both slope systems are on northwest-facing lee slopes underneath a large summit plateau, with annual cornices forming on the top. High-frequency and magnitude cornice fall avalanching is observed by daily automatic time-lapse photography. In addition, rock debris sedimentation by cornice fall avalanches was measured directly in permanent sediment traps or by snow inventories. The results from a maximum of seven years of measurements in a total of 13 catchments show maximum mean rock debris sedimentation rates ranging from 8.2 to 38.7 kg m−2 at Nybyen, and from 0.8 to 55.4 kg m−2 at Larsbreen. Correspondingly, avalanche fan surfaces accreted from 2.6 to 8.8 mm yr−1 at Nybyen, and from 0.2 to 13.9 mm yr−1 at Larsbreen. This comparably efficient rockslope mass wasting is due to collapsing cornices producing cornice fall avalanches containing large amounts of rock debris throughout the entire winter. The rock debris of different origin stems from the plateau crests, the adjacent free rock face and the transport pathway, accumulating distinct avalanche fans at both slope systems. Cornice fall avalanche sedimentation also contributed to the development of a rock glacier at the Larsbreen site during the Holocene. We have recorded present maximum rockwall retreat rates of 0.9 mm yr−1 at Nybyen, but as much as 6.7 mm yr−1 at Larsbreen, while average Holocene rockwall retreat rates of 1.1 mm yr−1 at Nybyen have been determined earlier. As cornice fall avalanches are the dominant type of avalanche in central Svalbard, the related geomorphological effect is assumed to be of significance at periglacial landscape scale. A climate-induced shift in prevailing winter wind direction could change the rockslope sedimentation effectively by changing the snow avalanche activity.
Novel Hard Link-Switching Scheme using Pre-Scanning for Indoor VLC Networks

VLC is attracting a lot of attention as an emerging potential technology for deployment in next generation indoor wireless networks. Use of efficient link switching scheme among VLC access points is critical in indoor environment to provide seamless connectivity to mobile users. This paper presents a novel position prediction link switching scheme for indoor visible light communication systems. The method exploits the fact that indoor scenario (light fixtures/furniture) mostly remains unchanged, therefore, this information can be stored at the coordinator end. Thus, the user is not required to search for the best transmitter when RSS is reduced to a threshold value as in conventional methods which cause substantial delay in switching process. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme for indoor VLC System achieves the dual purpose of adequate illumination and mobility to user in considered indoor scenario.
Smart Release Pods for Juvenile Lobster in Sea Ranching

Sea ranching of lobster is a sustainable alternative to mere fishing. The method involves releasing hatchery-reared juveniles into their natural environment, usually at a geographically delimited area. With this addition to the native populations one hopes to raise the overall numbers of specimens and increase the catching rates and financial gain. Being small the juvenile lobsters are amongst the lower levels of the food chain. Predators are abundant all year round making the release process a dangerous affair. But the young lobsters size is not only a disadvantage when it comes to the food chain hierarchy; ocean dynamics such as currents may largely contribute to the dispersal, transporting the lobster miles away from the sea ranching site. These are amongst some challenges that if solved will increase the benefits of sea ranching. This thesis had the aim of addressing these problems and try to enhance the process focusing on release strategies. A literature survey was conducted to gain knowledge on ecology and behaviour of the European lobster Homarus gammarus and to get familiar with the practise of sea ranching by reviewing previous experiences and improvement suggestions. Based on previous research several biological models of juvenile lobster behaviour were made. These were incorporated with the fine-scale hydrodynamic model SINMOD to look at spatio-temporal spreading patterns. The simulated releases were conducted at a specific site with environmental data from the period of May 1.May 14. 2012. Simulation data were analyzed in terms of biological model used, time of day and flow fields. Results reveled that the lobsters vertical placement in the water column (depth) is most influential in terms of the amount of current induced transport. Because of the scarce amount of conclusive information on lobster behaviour, no immediate conclusion could be drawn. Some suggestions however were made based on the knowledge gathered. Releasing of older stage IV juveniles, or stage V juveniles is encouraged as more lobsters will settle at the sea ranching site. Releases should be conducted at night due to predators impaired vision in darkness.
Assessment of the internal stability of a dam core

Internal erosion due to seepage forces represent one of the main causes of embankment dam safety incidents and failures. This phenomenon can initiate by internal instability where the finer particles in a dam core can erode through voids formed by the matrix of coarser particles. The assessment of internal stability of soils in existing dams or for future projects is of utmost importance for a dam owner. An application of three internal stability assessment methods based on the geometry of grain size distributions (construction control data) was realized for the silt-sand-gravel core of a 171 m-high rockfill dam. This led to contradictory results. The representativeness of conclusions drawn from such applications should not be judged only by considering laboratory testing conditions used in establishing the various methods. Results from field monitoring data must also be taken into account. The use of grain size distribution criteria is a first step to assess internal stability. A thorough assessment of the internal stability of an existing dam would require the analysis of the core and filter materials by considering the spatial variability of their geotechnical properties as well as the interactions of geometric, hydraulic and mechanical susceptibilities to internal instability. Specific tests may be required for new projects particularly if the grain size distribution of soils under consideration is gap-graded or has a flat tail of fines.
Geomorphic determinanats of landuse intensity

Increasing population growth and lacking of further spatial expansion of various landuse have compelled to look intensity dimension of landuse. Grid cell based data extraction can give unique character of each locality of small land unit area which is very suitable technique for data extraction in the hill areas like Nepal. Landform plays an important role determining landuse intensity. Freely available 30m resolution Aster GDEM image has been used to extract geomorphic variables. Landuse data has been taken from aerial photo 1996. Quantitative weight has been given to landuse categories on the basis input, output and ecological importance for human life. One hectare square grid cells have been generated to extract geomorphic and landuse intensity information. The result shows that the average intensity of landuse is highly related to summarized categories of each geomorphic variable. Graphical presentation and quantitative analysis have been used to identify the effect of geomorphic variables on land use intensity. Simple and multiple correlation and regression analysis shows that there is higher control of altitude, slope gradient and slope aspect on landuse intensity. The average landuse intensity is highly determined by geomorphic variable then in local level. Multiple correlation coefficients is found to be 0.42 and the adjusted R² representing coefficient of determination is 0.178 which is significant at more than 99 % of confidence level. So, it can be concluded that geomorphic factors have contributed 17.8 % of the total variation determining landuse intensity in the study area.
No Through Road: The Limitations of Food Miles

The focus of this paper is on food miles issues associated with the import of products from developing countries. As the concept of food miles has been an issue in organic agriculture since before the early 1990s, many of the examples quoted in this paper are from that sector. It is argued in this paper that the concept is fundamentally flawed and that its advocates are not only misguided, but may be doing more harm than good. [ADBI WP NO 118].
Acquisition of Physics Content Knowledge and Scientific Inquiry Skills in a Robotics Summer Camp

Abstract Despite the growing popularity of robotics competitions such as FIRST LEGO League, robotics activities are typically not found in regular K–12 classrooms. We speculate that, among other reasons, limited adoption is due to the lack of empirical evidence demonstrating the effect of robotics activities on curricular goals. This paper presents a mixed methods study exploring the impact of a summer robotics camp on middle school students’ physics content knowledge and scientific inquiry skills. It was found that the camp enhanced students’ physics content knowledge but failed to improve their skills in conducting scientific inquiry. Qualitative data provided an explanation of the findings.
Measurement of size-dependent single scattering albedo of fresh biomassburning aerosols using the extinction-minus-scattering technique with acombination of cavity ring-down spectroscopy and nephelometry

Abstract. Biomass burning (BB) aerosols have a significant effect on regional climate, and represent a significant uncertainty in our understanding of climate change. Using a combination of cavity ring-down spectroscopy and integrating nephelometry, the single scattering albedo (SSA) and Angstrom absorption exponent (AAE) were measured for several North American biomass fuels. This was done for several particle diameters for the smoldering and flaming stage of white pine, red oak, and cedar combustion. Measurements were done over a wider wavelength range than any previous direct measurement of BB particles. While the offline sampling system used in this work shows promise, some changes in particle size distribution were observed, and a thorough evaluation of this method is required. The uncertainty of SSA was 6 %, with the truncation angle correction of the nephelometer being the largest contributor to error. While scattering and extinction did show wavelength dependence, SSA did not. SSA values ranged from 0.46 to 0.74, and were not uniformly greater for the smoldering stage than the flaming stage. SSA values changed with particle size, and not systematically so, suggesting the proportion of tar balls to fractal black carbon change with fuel type/state and particle size. SSA differences of 0.15–0.4 or greater can be attributed to fuel type or fuel state for fresh soot. AAE values were quite high (1.59–5.57), despite SSA being lower than is typically observed in wildfires. The SSA and AAE values in this work do not fit well with current schemes that relate these factors to the modified combustion efficiency of a burn. Combustion stage, particle size, fuel type, and fuel condition were found to have the most significant effects on the intrinsic optical properties of fresh soot, though additional factors influence aged soot.
Effects of microflora composition in the phyllosphere on biological regulation of grapevine fungal diseases

Aqueous fermentation extracts of composted microbiologically active substrates reduced significantly the infestation of grapevine leaves with Plasmopara viticola under growth chamber conditions. Enhancement of efficacy was available through the enrichment of the extracts with nutrients - like sucrose and brewer's yeast - or with a natural surfactant (methylized cellulose). Studies on the microbial composition of the phyllosphere showed that the quantity of the total number of colony forming units, of yeasts/filametous fungi, of enterobacteria, of pseudomonads and of aerobic bacilli depends on the specific amendments to the extracts and on the microclimatic conditions. They ace responsible for the differences in efficiency of the various extracts against P. viticola. Appropriate investigations on the phyllosphere in a field experiment resulted in a different composition of the microflora, though the same combinations of extract amendments were used. This is caused by the varying environmental conditions. In spite of the changed microflora, the disease suppressing effects against Urcinula necator were preserved.
REALIZACIJA SOFTVERSKOG SISTEMA ZA VIZUELNU SIMULACIJU ALGORITAMA MAŠINSKOG UČENJA

Zbog porasta važnosti algoritama masinskog ucenja, ukazala se potreba za razvijanjem alata koji bi pomogli u njihovom razumevanju obzirom da ovakvi algoritmi cesto mogu biti komplikovani za teorijsko objasnjavanje. Zbog toga se kao odlican alat za njihovo objasnjavanje pokazalo upravo koriscenje vizuelnih softverskih simulatora. U ovom radu predstavljena je tehnicka realizacija jednog takvog simulatora razvijenog na Poslovnom fakultetu Valjevo Univerziteta Singidunum. Simulator poseduje module za stabla odlucivanja, klasterovanje, Naive Bayes i perceptrone.
Hierarchical IPF: Generating a synthetic population for Switzerland

Agent-based microsimulation models for land use or transportation simulate the behavior of agents over time, although at different time scales and with different goals. For both kinds of models, the initial step is the definition of agents and their relationships. Synthesizing the population of agents often is the only solution, due to privacy and cost constraints. In this paper, we assume that the model simulates persons grouped into households, and a person/household population needs to be synthesized. However, the methodology presented here can be applied to other kinds of agent relationships as well, e.g. persons and jobs/workplaces or persons and activity chains. Generating a synthetic population requires (a) reweighting of an initial population, taken from census or other survey data, with respect to current constraints, and (b) choosing the households that belong to the generated population. The reweighting task can be performed using an Iterative Proportional Fitting (IPF) procedure; however, IPF cannot control for attributes at both person and household levels. A frequently applied pattern is to estimate household-level weights using IPF, so that they match the control totals for the households, and then, using these weights, to generate a population of households that best fits the person-level control totals. We propose an algorithm that estimates household-level weights that fit the control totals at both person and household levels. This eliminates the need to account for person-level control during the generation of synthetic households. The algorithm essentially performs a proportional fitting in the domains of both households and persons, and introduces an entropy-minimizing fitting step to switch between these two domains. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm by generating a synthetic population for Switzerland and checking it against the complete Swiss census.
Enshrouding Of Pin From Snooping Using Steganopin And BW Method

Now a daysUsers typically reuse the same personalized identification number (PIN) for multiple times. Direct PIN entries are highly dangerous for shoulder surfing attackers can effectively observe PIN entry with hidden cameras. Indirect PIN entry methods proposed as countermeasures are rarely deployed because they demand a heavier brain stuff workload for users. To achieve security and usability, we present a practical indirect PIN entry method called SteganoPIN. The human–machine interface of SteganoPIN is two numeric keypads, one which is covered and the other open, designed mainly to block shoulder-surfing attacks. After locating a long-term PIN in the more typical layout ,through the covered permuted keypad, a user generates a onetime PIN that can safely be entered in plain view of attackers. Forty-eight participants were involved in investigating the PIN entry time and error rate of SteganoPIN. Our experimental manipulation used a within-subject factorial design with two independent variables: PIN entry system (standardPIN, SteganoPIN) and PIN type (system-chosen PIN, user-chosen PIN). The PIN entry time in SteganoPIN (5.4–5.7 s) was slower but acceptable, and the error rate (0–2.1%) was not significantly different from that of the standard PIN.
Defining and resolving current systems in geospace

Abstract. Electric currents flowing through near-Earth space (R ≤ 12 RE) can support a highly distorted magnetic field topology, changing particle drift paths and therefore having a nonlinear feedback on the currents themselves. A number of current systems exist in the magnetosphere, most commonly defined as (1) the dayside magnetopause Chapman–Ferraro currents, (2) the Birkeland field-aligned currents with high-latitude "region 1" and lower-latitude "region 2" currents connected to the partial ring current, (3) the magnetotail currents, and (4) the symmetric ring current. In the near-Earth nightside region, however, several of these current systems flow in close proximity to each other. Moreover, the existence of other temporal current systems, such as the substorm current wedge or "banana" current, has been reported. It is very difficult to identify a local measurement as belonging to a specific system. Such identification is important, however, because how the current closes and how these loops change in space and time governs the magnetic topology of the magnetosphere and therefore controls the physical processes of geospace. Furthermore, many methods exist for identifying the regions of near-Earth space carrying each type of current. This study presents a robust collection of these definitions of current systems in geospace, particularly in the near-Earth nightside magnetosphere, as viewed from a variety of observational and computational analysis techniques. The influence of definitional choice on the resulting interpretation of physical processes governing geospace dynamics is presented and discussed.
Factors causing a reduction in individual feed intake data of group housed pigs recorded with electronic feeders.

Individual feed intake data were recorded using electronic feeders for 278 animals in a commercial group-housed environment. A reduction in feed intake compared to the expected was observed. Factors influencing this reduction in feed intake are described. Recommendations are made for using these factors in the operation of electronic feeders to minimise the reduction in feed intake.
No . 3 , 2016 Chemical Technology

The study is aimed at investigating the thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics of torrefied oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) briquettes using a thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and the Coats-Redfern model. The results revealed that thermal decomposition kinetics of OPEFB and torrefied OPEFB briquettes is significantly influenced by the severity of torrefaction temperature. Furthermore, the temperature profile characteristics; Tonset, Tpeak, and Tend increased consistently due to the thermal lag observed during TG analysis. In addition, the torrefied OPEFB briquettes were observed to possess superior thermal and kinetic properties over the untorrefied OPEFB briquettes. It can be inferred that torrefaction improves the fuel properties of pelletized OPEFB for potential utilization in bioenergy conversion systems.
Innovation of eParticipation Strategies Using Living Labs as Intermediaries

The paper explores whether Living Labs, acting as open innovation intermediaries, can address some of the challenges surrounding the sustainable adoption of eParticipation tools and methods. We begin by analysing the existing literature on Living Labs and Open Innovation, and the extent to which Living Labs can act as innovation intermediaries as envisioned by Chesbrough (2006), Wolpert (2002) and others. We then consider the research on eParticipation, and in particular some of the risks and challenges surrounding the sustainability of innovation in this area. In the second part of the paper, focusing on the PARTERRE project, we present the methodology and key findings of six eParticipation pilots. Further comments and analysis based on these findings is provided, examining issues such as inter-cultural barriers, technological factors, organisational concerns and participant feedback. Finally, we present some conclusions in the light of the findings.
On Modular Homology in the Boolean Algebra, III

Abstract Let Ω be a set,Ra ring of characteristicp>0, and denote byMktheR-module withk-element subsets of Ω as basis. Theset inclusion map∂: Mk→Mk−1is the homomorphism which associates to ak-element subset Δ the sum ∂(Δ)=Γ1+Γ2+···+Γkof all its (k−1)-element subsets Γi. In this paper we study the chain[formula]arising from ∂. We introduce the notion ofp-exactness for a sequence. If Ω is infinite we show that (∗) isp-exact for all prime characteristicsp>0. This result can be extended to various submodules and quotient modules, and we give general constructions arising from permutation groups with a finitary section. Two particular applications are the following: The orbit module sequence of such a permutation group on Ω isp-exact for every primep, and we give a formula for thep-rank of the orbit inclusion matrix if the group has finitely many orbits onk-element subsets.
Efficacy of Malaysian Plant Extracts in Preventing Peroxidation Reactions in Model and Food Oil Systems

A study was conducted to investigate the antioxidative behaviour of the crude extracts of pegaga (Centella asiatica) leaves, and limau purut (Citrus hystrix) leaves, peels, and stems in palm olein system and in a linoleic acid model system. The antioxidative capacities of these local plants were then compared to the activity of rosemary and sage, two types of antioxidant commonly found in the market. From the analysis using Oxigen Consumption Method, it was found that among the samples evaluated, pegaga leaves had the longest time to reach the 50% oxygen in the chamber, with 90 min, meaning that this sample had the highest level of antioxidative activity. This was followed by the extracts of limau purut leaves (85 min), peels (60 min), and stems (39 min). The antioxidative activities of these plants, however, were lower than those of rosemary and sage. These commercial antioxidants were found to have 155 and 145 min time, respectively, to reach the 50% oxygen in the chamber. Results from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that addition of pegaga leaves and limau purut samples to the oil in the system reduced the oxidation as evidenced by longer To of antioxidants-treated samples. Statistical analysis from this study showed that there was no significant difference between To of pegaga leaves and those of rosemary and sage. This meant that the antioxidative activity of pegaga leaves was comparable to the activities of rosemary and sage. The antioxidative activities of limau purut leaves, peels and stems were also much higher than that of control. The finding from this study indicated that all samples used in this study had very good potential to be explored as sources of natural antioxidants.