Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrologic Assessment of TRMM and GPM-Based Precipitation Products in Transboundary River Catchment (Chenab River, Pakistan)

Water resources planning and management depend on the quality of climatic data, particularly rainfall data, for reliable hydrological modeling. This can be very problematic in transboundary rivers with limited disclosing of data among the riparian countries. Satellite precipitation products are recognized as a promising source to substitute the ground-based observations in these conditions. This research aims to assess the feasibility of using a satellite-based precipitation product for better hydrological modeling in an ungauged and riparian river in Pakistan, i.e., the Chenab River. A semidistributed hydrological model of The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was set up and two renowned satellite precipitation products, i.e., global precipitation mission (GPM) IMERG-F v6 and tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) 3B42 v7, were selected to assess the runoff pattern in Chenab River. The calibration was done from 2001–2006 with two years of a warmup period. The validation (2007–2010) results exhibit higher correlation between observed and simulated discharges at monthly timescale simulations, IMERG-F (R2 = 0.89, NSE = 0.82), 3B42 (R2 = 0.85, NSE = 0.72), rather than daily timescale simulations, IMERG-F (R2 = 0.66, NSE = 0.61), 3B42 (R2 = 0.64, NSE = 0.54). Moreover, the comparison between IMERG-F and 3B42, shows that IMERG-F is superior to 3B42 by indicating higher R2, NSE and lower percent bias (PBIAS) at both monthly and daily timescale. The results are strengthened by Taylor diagram statistics, which represent a higher correlation (R) and less RMS error between observed and simulated values for IMERG-F. IMERG-F has great potential utility in the Chenab River catchment as it outperformed the 3B42 precipitation in this study. However, its poor skill of capturing peaks at daily timescale remains, leaving a room for IMERG-F to improve its algorithm in the upcoming release.
University-software industry collaboration: an empirical study based on knowledge management

ABSTRACT The current environment that characterises the software industry is extremely dynamic and somewhat complex demanding high-performance solutions, rapid development, and cost-efficiency. Given this scenario, industry is forced to search for new partners, with the university-industry collaboration representing a fundamental resource in promoting innovation and technological development. This study aims to obtain and analyse the perceptions and experiences of representatives of this industry and the university, in order to identify a set of factors that could enhance and/or be the source of a sustainable collaboration, based on knowledge management. In nutshell, the results show that motivations are associated with the immediate opportunities or needs of each of those directly involved in the collaboration take priority, without building a sustainable collaboration. This collaboration is generally conducted through informal communication channels, which makes it difficult to capture and disseminate knowledge to other members of each of the related organisations.
Study on Flip‐Chip Structure of GaN‐Based Micro‐LED

In this study, we introduce the development of LED flip‐chip structure, compare the characteristics. Light‐emitting efficiency and integration methods of flip‐chip structure and horizontal structure, and explain the characteristics of flip‐chip structure. The final conclusion shows that the flip‐chip structure is most suitable for Micro‐LED.
Progress in Nitrogen Removal in Bioelectrochemical Systems

Nitrogenous compounds attract great attention because of their environmental impact and harmfulness to the health of human beings. Various biological technologies have been developed to reduce the environmental risks of nitrogenous pollutants. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are considered to be a novel biological technology for removing nitrogenous contaminants by virtue of their advantages, such as low energy requirement and capacity for treating wastewaters with a low C/N ratio. Therefore, increasing attention has been given to carry out biological processes related to nitrogen removal with the aid of cathodic biofilms in BESs. Prior studies have evaluated the feasibility of conventional biological processes including nitrification, denitrification, and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox), separately or combined together, to remove nitrogenous compounds with the help of BESs. The present review summarizes the progress of developments in BESs in terms of the biological process, cathodic biofilm, and affecting factors for efficient nitrogen removal.
SNP marker association for incrementing soybean seed protein content

Soybean seed protein content (SPC) has been decreasing throughout last decades and DNA marker association has shown its usefulness to improve this trait even in soybean breeding programs that focus primarily on soybean yield and seed oil content (SOC). Aiming to elucidate the association of two SNP markers (ss715630650 and ss715636852) to the SPC, a soybean population of 264 F5-derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a bi-parental cross was tested in four environments. Through the single-marker analysis, the additive effect () and the portion of SPC variation due to the SNPs () for single and multi-environment data were assessed, and transgressive RILs for SPC were observed. The estimates revealed the association of both markers to SPC in most of environments. The marker ss715636852 was more frequently associated to SPC, including multi-environment data, and contributed up to = 1.30% for overall SPC, whereas ss715630650 had significant association just in two locations, with contributions of = 0.76% and = 0.74% to overall SPC in Vic1 and Cap1, respectively. The RIL 84-13 was classified as an elite genotype due to its favorable alleles and high SPC means, which reached 53.78% in Cap1, and 46.33% in MET analysis. Thus, these results confirm the usefulness of the SNP marker ss715636852 in a soybean breeding program for SPC.
Atmospheric Aerosol Distribution in 2016–2017 over the Eastern European Region Based on the GEOS-Chem Model

The spatial and temporal distributions of atmospheric aerosols have been simulated using the GEOS-Chem model over the sparsely investigated Eastern European region. The spatial distribution of the particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration, mineral dust, black carbon, organic aerosols, sea salt, as well as nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium aerosols during 2016–2017 were considered. The aerosols’ concentration, seasonality and spatial features were determined for the region. Particulate matter (PM2.5) contamination prevails in Poland in late autumn and winter. The monthly mean PM2.5 concentration reached 55 µg m−3 over the Moscow region in the early spring of both years. The mineral dust concentration varied significantly, reaching 40 µg m−3 over the southwestern part of Eastern Europe in March 2016. The areas most polluted by black carbon aerosols were the central and southern parts of Poland in the winter. The organic aerosols’ concentration was the largest in March and April, reaching 10 µg m−3 over East Belarus. The sea salt aerosol concentration increased in the coastal regions in winter due to the wind strength. Mineral dust aerosols in Eastern Europe are mainly composed of dust, partially transported from the Ukrainian steppe and partially from the Saharan Desert.
Exploring the Bi-directional relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in Indian context

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance from the bi-directional perspective. Design/methodology/approach The final sample for this study are 79 companies listed in the national stock exchange for a period of eight-years (2008–2015). Random effect panel regression was performed to examine the possible link. Findings The result shows that CSR has a positive impact on the contemporaneous and future financial performance of the selected companies. Further, the study shows that only social dimension has a positive and significant impact on concurrent and future financial performance. The results further validate slack resource theory as lagged financial performance has a positive and significant impact on CSR. Practical implications The strategic value of CSR indicates that it should be seen as a value-enhancing strategy, and therefore, incorporated with the broader corporate strategy of the company. Companies should not trade-off between CSR and financial performance, rather a strategic synchronization of CSR with corporate functioning is essential. This will pave a way to build a stakeholder-sense in the corporate entities. Originality/value The study comprehensively examines the relationship between CSR and financial performance from both “prospective” and “retrospective” framework. This bi-directional approach has received minimal attention in the Indian context.
REAL INTEREST RATE AND PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED COUNTRIES IN AFRICA (1980 - 2018)

This study examines the trajectory of consumption series in the five selected countries in Africa and determines the size of the effects of real interest rate on private consumption in the selected countries. The study intends to find out whether macroeconomic variables significantly affect private consumption more than interest rate between the period of 1980 and 2018. The data were sourced from the World Bank development indicators on interest rate, money supply, and banking sector credit to the private sector, et cetera. The Generalized Moment Method was used to examine the effects of interest rate on private consumption expenditure in Africa. Findings from the study revealed that interest rate significantly affects private consumption in Africa and specifically, the results showed that bank credit to private sector has significant negative effect on private consumption expenditure in Africa. Moreover, that bank credit to private sector co-integrates with private consumption expenditure both in the long and short-run in Africa. The study therefore recommends the need for the government to provide enabling environment for the private sector and since credits granted to private sector by the commercial banks enhances the level of consumption, it is necessary for the government to embark on policies that are welfare enhancing for the private sector.
Mammals of the Bhagirathi basin, Western Himalaya: understanding distribution along spatial gradients of habitats and disturbances

Abstract Understanding the distribution of wildlife species and their response to diverse anthropogenic pressures is important for conservation planning and management of wildlife space in human-dominated landscapes. Assessments of anthropogenic impacts on mammals of the Indian Himalayan Region have mostly been limited to locations inside protected areas. We studied the occurrence of mammals in an unexplored landscape, the 7,586 km2 Bhagirathi basin, at an altitude of 500–5,200 m. The basin encompasses wilderness areas of various habitat types and protection status that are exposed to a range of anthropogenic pressures. Camera trapping at 209 locations during October 2015–September 2017 confirmed the occurrence of 39 species of mammals, nine of which are categorized as threatened (four Vulnerable, five Endangered) and four as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. We recorded five mammal species that were hitherto undocumented in Uttarakhand State: the argali Ovis ammon, Tibetan sand fox Vulpes ferrilata, woolly hare Lepus oiostolus, Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx and woolly flying squirrel Eupetaurus cinereus. In addition, we recorded two Endangered species, the dhole Cuon alpinus and tiger Panthera tigris. Threatened species such as the sambar Rusa unicolor, common leopard Panthera pardus and Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus occur in a wide variety of habitats despite anthropogenic disturbance. We recorded the snow leopard Panthera uncia in areas with high livestock density but temporally segregated from human activities. The musk deer Moschus spp. and Himalayan brown bear Ursus arctos isabellinus were recorded in subalpine habitats and appeared to be less affected by human and livestock presence. Our findings highlight the potential of the Bhagirathi basin as a stronghold for conservation of several threatened and rare mammal species.
The mechano‐response of murine annulus fibrosus cells to cyclic tensile strain is frequency dependent

The intervertebral disk (IVD) is a composite structure essential for spine stabilization, load bearing, and movement. Biomechanical factors are important contributors to the IVD microenvironment regulating joint homeostasis; however, the cell type‐specific effectors of mechanotransduction in the IVD are not fully understood. The current study aimed to determine the effects of cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on annulus fibrosus (AF) cells and identify mechano‐sensitive pathways. Using a cell‐type specific reporter mouse to differentiation NP and AF cells from the murine IVD, we characterized AF cells in dynamic culture exposed to CTS (6% strain) at specific frequencies (0.1 Hz, 1.0 Hz, or 2.0 Hz). We demonstrate that our culture model maintains the phenotype of primary AF cells and that the bioreactor system delivers uniform biaxial strain across the cell culture surface. We show that exposure of AF cells to CTS induces cytoskeleton reorganization resulting in stress fiber formation, with acute exposure to CTS at 2.0 Hz inducing a significant yet transient increase ERK1/2 pathway activation. Using SYBPR‐based qPCR to assess the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes, ECM‐remodeling genes, candidate mechano‐sensitive genes, inflammatory cytokines and cell surface receptors, we demonstrated that exposure of AF cells to CTS at 0.1 Hz increased Acan, Prg4, Col1a1 and Mmp3 expression. AF cells exposed to CTS at 1.0 Hz showed a significant increase in the expression of Acan, Myc, and Tnfα. Exposure of AF cells to CTS at 2.0 Hz induced a significant increase in Acan, Prg4, Cox2, Myc, Fos, and Tnfα expression. Among the cell surface receptors assessed, AF cells exposed to CTS at 2.0 Hz showed a significant increase in Itgβ1, Itgα5, and Trpv4 expression. Our findings demonstrate that the response of AF cells to CTS is frequency dependent and suggest that mechanical loading may directly contribute to matrix remodeling and the onset of local tissue inflammation in the murine IVD.
Land Cover Classification using Machine Learning Techniques - A Survey

:- Enormous amount of spatial data is being produced owing to the availability of cloud base technology such as geographic information, satellite imagery, and analysis remote sensing imagery. Land resources must be monitored, evaluated, and managed. Land cover classification based on remote sensing imagery is an important means to enable this. The aim of this research is the review of literature for classification of land cover features using machine learning techniques.
Response to RC#1

This paper presents a new version of HCLIM, a regional climate modelling system based on the ALADIN-HIRLAM numerical weather prediction (NWP) system. HCLIM uses atmospheric physics packages from three NWP model configurations, HARMONIE-AROME, ALARO and ALADIN, which are designed for use at different horizontal resolutions. The main focus of HCLIM is convection permitting climate modelling, i.e. developing the climate version of HARMONIE-AROME. In HCLIM, the ALADIN and ALARO physics packages ::::::::::: configurations : are used for coarser resolutions where convection needs to 5 be parameterized. Here we describe the structure , development and performance ::: and ::::::::::: development of the current recommended HCLIM version, cycle 38. ::: We :::: also :::::: present ::::: some :::::: aspects :: of ::: the :::::: model ::::::::::: performance. HCLIM38 is a new system for regional climate modelling and it is being used in a number of national and international projects over different domains and climates, ranging from equatorial to polar regions. Our initial evaluation indicates that HCLIM38 is applicable in different conditions and provides satisfactory results without additional region-specific tuning. 10 HCLIM is developed by a consortium of national meteorological institutes in close collaboration with the ALADINHIRLAM NWP model development. While the current HCLIM cycle has considerable differences in model setup compared to the NWP version (primarily in the description of the surface), it is planned for the next cycle release that the two versions will use a very similar setup. This will ensure a feasible and timely climate model development and updates in the future and provide evaluation of long-term model biases to both NWP and climate model developers. 15
Preliminary results on anal cancer by applying intensity modulated radiotherapy and synchronous capecitabine chemotherapy simultaneously

Background Anal cancer is a rare clinical disease with the incidence rate of 1–2/10 million. The present study aims to assess the feasibility, safety and short-term outcome of the simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) schedule with oral capecitabine in patients with anal cancer. Methods From September 2009 to February 2014, a total of 10 patients with anal carcinoma were treated with SIB-IMRT in 32 daily fractions of 1.8 Gy to the primary tumor and macroscopically involved lymph nodes and 32 fractions of 1.55 Gy electively to the bilateral iliac and inguinal lymph node areas with concurrent capecitabine 625 mg/m2 twice daily 5 days/week. Two patients received a sequential radiation boost dose of 2×1.8 Gy on macroscopic residual tumor in week 5 of treatment. Acute and late toxicity was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Results All patients completed chemoradiation without any treatment break. Grade 3 acute skin toxicity was observed in 4 patients (40%). No grade 4 toxicity was observed. Mean follow-up was 20 months (range: 6–60 months). The 2-year-local control, colostomy-free survival, distant metastases-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 100% (10/10), 90% (9/10), 90% (9/10), and 90% (9/10), respectively. Conclusions SIB-IMRT with concomitant capecitabine 625 mg/m2 b.i. d. on irradiation days resulted in an acceptable safety profile, and proved to be a tolerable and effective treatment regimen for locally advanced anal cancer. However, a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up are required to assess its potential superiority.
Optimisation of archival processes involving digitisation of typewritten documents

PurposeThe authors investigate optical character recognition (OCR) technology and discuss its implementation in the context of digitisation of archival materials.Design/methodology/approachThe typewritten transcripts of the Croatian Writers' Society from the mid-60s of the 20th century are used as the test data. The optimal digitisation setup is investigated in order to obtain the best OCR results. This was done by using the sample of 123 pages digitised at different resolution settings and binarisation levels.FindingsA series of tests showed that different settings produce significantly different results. The best OCR accuracy achieved at the test sample of the typewritten documents was 95.02%. The results show that the resolution is significantly more important than binarisation pre-processing procedure for achieving better OCR results.Originality/valueBased on the research results, the authors give recommendations for achieving optimal digitisation process setup with the aim of increasing the quality of OCR results. Finally, the authors put the research results in the context of digitisation of cultural heritage in general and discuss further investigation possibilities.
Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus terrestris) collecting honeydew from the giant willow aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Only rarely have bumble bees (Bombus) been observed collecting honeydew from aphids (Aphididae) feeding on phloem sap. This behavior may be rare because the percentage of sugar in honeydew egested from aphids is generally well below the sugar concentration in floral nectars preferred by bumble bees. Nonetheless, in August 2018, near St. Buryan, Penzance, Cornwall, UK (56.0602N; -5.6034W) we observed large numbers of wild Bombusterrestris (Linnaeus) collecting honeydew from a colony of the giant willow aphid Tuberolachnussalignus Gmelin feeding on the stems of the willow Salixalba. Unlike aphid-tending ants, who glean fresh honeydew directly from the aphid anal opening, the bumble bees were collecting honeydew from leaf litter below the aphid colony. We hypothesized that honeydew collected from exposed ground surfaces was more concentrated due to evaporation under ambient conditions than that released directly from the anus (fresh honeydew). We thus monitored sugar concentrations of fresh honeydew and compared them with the concentrations of the crop contents of worker bumble bees foraging from the leaf litter. Our data show that the concentration of sugar in fresh honeydew was as much as 10% w/w lower than that collected from leaf surfaces, as measured from the crop contents of foragers. The unusually hot, dry weather in Cornwall may have enhanced evaporative concentration of honeydew while restricting floral nectar sources, thus favoring honeydew collection by B.terrestris, a generalist bumble bee forager.
PROTECTION MUTUALISM: AN OVERVIEW OF ANT-PLANT INTERACTIONS MEDIATED BY EXTRAFLORAL NECTARIES

Ants and plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are among the most abundant interacting organisms in the Neotropics, being considered excellent models for studies of ecological interactions. These mutualisms have been studied for more than 150 years. The first studies on this subject addressed the indirect benefit of the presence of ants on plants, reducing the foliar herbivory in most cases. Recently, the direct and indirect benefits of these interactions for ants and for EFNs-bearing plants survivorship, growth and reproduction, have shown conditionality to spatial and temporal variations. Here, we reviewed how the topic “protection mutualism in ant-plant interactions mediated by EFNs” has been approached more recently. A great number of papers dealing with this theme have been published in the last 30 years and new perspectives have emerged in the last decade. We showed how scientific and academic areas are working to improve the knowledge on protection mutualisms considering ant-plant ecological networks and how they can shape communities. Furthermore, we discuss some aspects related with the EFNs evolutionary hypotheses, the existence of conditionalities in ant-plant protection mutualism mediated by EFNs, and we provide some perspectives to inspire new studies that will help in the understanding of these fascinating ecological interactions.
Room Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition for Fabrication of Titania Inverse Opals: Fabrication, Morphology Analysis and Optical Characterization

This paper demonstrates room temperature chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD) for fabricating titania inverse opals. The colloidal crystals of monodisperse polymer latex spheres were used as a sacrificial template. Titania was deposited into the interstices between the colloidal spheres by altermate exposures to water and titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) vapors. The deposition was achieved under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. Titania inverse opals were obtained by burning out the colloidal template at high temperatures. The filling fraction of titania was controlled by the number of deposition of TiCl4 vapor. The morphology of inverse opals of titania were investigated. The optical reflection spectra revealed a photonic band gap and was used to estimate the refractive index of titania.