Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different seasonality of pelagic and benthic Thaumarchaeota in the North Sea

We have examined the spatial and seasonal distribution of Thaumarchaeota in the water column and sediment of the southern North Sea using the specific intact polar lipid (IPL) hexose-phosphohexose (HPH) crenarchaeol, as well as thaumarchaeotal 16S rRNA gene abundances and expression. In the water column, a higher abundance of Thaumarchaeota was observed in the winter season than in the summer, which is in agreement with previous studies, but this was not the case in the sediment where Thaumarchaeota were most abundant in spring and summer. This observation corresponds well with the idea that ammonia availability is a key factor in thaumarchaeotal niche determination. In the surface waters of the southern North Sea, we observed a spatial variability in HPH crenarchaeol, thaumarchaeotal 16S rRNA gene abundance and transcriptional activity that corresponded well with the different water masses present. In bottom waters, a clear differentiation based on water masses was not observed; instead, we suggest that observed differences in thaumarchaeotal abundance with depth may be related to resuspension from the sediment. This could be due to suspension of benthic Thaumarchaeota to the water column or due to delivery of e.g. resuspended sediment or ammonium to the water column, which could be utilized by pelagic Thaumarchaeota. This study has shown that the seasonality of Thaumarchaeota in water and sediment is different and highlights the importance of water masses, currents and sedimentary processes in determining the spatial abundance of Thaumarchaeota in the southern North Sea.
Neogene Chilcotin basalts in south-central British Columbia: geology, ages, and geomorphic history

An extensive but generally thin mantle of basalt flows, the Chilcotin Group, covers much of the Interior Plateau of south-central British Columbia. It provides material for dating and for reconstructing the original form of the paleosurface on which it was deposited. K–Ar whole-rock dates demonstrate that several ages of basalt are represented, from Early Miocene (or even Late Oligocene? ) to Early Pleistocene, with particularly abundant eruptions about 14–16, 9–6, and 1–3 Ma ago.Basalts of Middle Miocene and later ages, if not the Early Miocene relics as well, clearly rest on land surfaces of low local relief. In places the low-relief surfaces had been incised to depths of 100–200 m and the valleys backfilled with mid-or late Cenozoic sediments prior to burial by the basalts. The low-relief surfaces throughout the area are believed to have been developed close to a common base level, and regional differences in their present elevation are thus largely a product of post-basalt deformation. This is recorded.
CORROSION RATES OF PIPELINE STEEL IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE / HYDROCHLORIC ACID CORROSION SYSTEM

A preliminary investigation on the extracts of an agricultural produce, Onion (Allium Cepa), was studied for its corrosion inhibiting effects in a pipeline-steel/hydrochloric acid corrosion system using gravimetric and thermometric techniques in addition to optical microscopy examinations performed on specimens during natural exposure tests. The corrosion rate of steel increased with increase in time of immersion in HCl whereas it decreased as the concentration of the extract was increased in the corrosion system. In freely corroding state, the corrosion rates ranged from 2.15 mmpy to 1.08 mmpy in 10 M and 5 M hydrochloric acid respectively. Such difference in corrosion rates are attributable to large difference in concentrations of the corrodants. At an inhibitor concentration of 20 %, the corrosion rates decreased to 1.3x10 mmpy and 2.5x10 mmpy respectively corresponding to inhibition efficiencies of between 83 % and 92 %. The adsorption of active components in the extracts on the corroding surfaces obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. From examinations performed on painted steel specimens during natural exposure tests, the onion extracts, dispersed in a white colored alkyd paint system, prevented paint delamination over a period of 168 h. Whereas the specimens painted with uninhibited alkyd paint suffered major paint delamination over the same exposure period.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF SHELLFISH AND SEAWEED MARICULTURE IN CHINA TO THE CARBON CYCLE OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEM

China is the largest mariculture country of shellfish and seaweed in the world. The total annual yields of these in 2002 are more than 10 million tons. Among of which, the yields of seaweed and shellfish are (1.3) and 9.7 million tons, respectively. Seaweeds can transform dissolved inorganic carbon into organic carbon by photosynthesis; filtering shellfish can clear out particle organic carbon by feeding activity and through the process of calcification a lot of carbon can be imbedded into the shells at the form of CaCO_3. Especially, a mass of carbons can be removed out of ocean through harvest, which must have great influence on the carbon cycle of coastal ecosystem. Through the activity of shellfish and seaweed mariculture, there were more than 3 million tons carbon being utilized and about 1.2 million tons carbon being taken away from the shallow sea by harvesting, which is calcultated basing on the data of annual production, the C content of both shellfish and seaweed and the energy budget of shellfish. Most important was that there were about 670000 tons carbon were fixed by shells and became the long-term carbon sink. The result not only discusses a new clue for probing into the question of “missing sink” in the global carbon cycle, but also testifies that the aquaculture of shellfish and seaweed in the coastal ocean can utilize a great deal of oceanic carbon directly or indirectly and improve the capacity of shallow sea absorbing atmospheric CO_2. In addition, the relationship between the aquaculture and the carbon cycle of the coastal ecosystem is very complicated and its interaction is evident, consequently, its biogeochemical process should be paid great attention for further and deeply study as a science problem.
The Stable Floating Liquid Droplet Phenomenon

Take a liquid surface which is moving at constant velocity. Let a droplet of the same liquid fall onto it from a point above the moving surface. What will happen to the liquid droplet as it hits the moving surface? It will penetrate the surface and rapidly disperse in the moving liquid, won't it? Not necessarily: The Paper describes a situation in which the droplet forms a stable entity which is supported indefinitely in a fixed position, apparently by and on the moving surface. Some characteristics of the floating liquid droplet are investigated. Some discussion on the mechanisms of formation and sustaining of the floating liquid droplet is provided.
The role livestock and other herbivores in improving rangeland vegetation.

An understanding of the effects of livestock and other herbivores on the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems is the core body of knowledge around which the art and science of range management have evolved. Yet much controversy is associated with this body of knowledge relative to range improvement. Why? I believe there are 2 closely related reasons. The first stems from our general failure to clearly define and communicate management goals. Often we assume all parties impacted by the implementation of a given management practice have the same management goals when in fact they have conflicting goals. The second reason stems from differences in opinions among individuals relative to the impact of livestock and other herbivores on terrestrial ecosystems. Depending upon an individual's personal belief, evidence in support of his or her position can be found in either the scientific or testimonial literature. Our profession has contributed heavily to the controversy through our indiscriminate use of the phrase "range improvement". At best, range improvement is an illdefined qualitative rather than quantitative concept. This
Witnessing Matrix Identities and Proof Complexity Fu Li

We use results from the theory of algebras with polynomial identities (PI algebras) to study the witness complexity of matrix identities. A matrix identity of d× d matrices over a field F is a non-commutative polynomial f(x1, . . . , xn) over F, such that f vanishes on every d×d matrix assignment to its variables. For any field F of characteristic 0, any d > 2 and any finite basis of d× d matrix identities over F, we show there exists a family of matrix identities (fn)n∈N, such that each fn has 2n variables and requires at least Ω(n ) many generators to generate, where the generators are substitution instances of elements from the basis. The lower bound argument uses fundamental results from PI algebras together with a generalization of the arguments in [12]. We apply this result in algebraic proof complexity, focusing on proof systems for polynomial identities (PI proofs) which operate with algebraic circuits and whose axioms are the polynomialring axioms [13, 14], and their subsystems. We identify a decreasing in strength hierarchy of subsystems of PI proofs, in which the dth level is a sound and complete proof system for proving d × d matrix identities (over a given field). For each level d > 2 in the hierarchy, we establish an Ω(n) lower bound on the number of proof-steps needed to prove certain identities. Finally, we present several concrete open problems about non-commutative algebraic circuits and speed-ups in proof complexity, whose solution would establish stronger size lower bounds on PI proofs of matrix identities, and beyond.
Re-imagining Public Spaces for Sustainability: Ranchi, India

A city is an agglomeration of activities that exist because of its users and must respond to their needs. The essence of a city lies in its ability to cater to public life and make the interactions between the users and the public spaces worthwhile. Local spaces like streets, markets etc. are the spaces used by the citizens regularly. To make the city a better place to live in, it is important to focus on the details of public spaces more than the designing of iconic structures. The Built Environment of urban areas has been experiencing constant growth as well as change over the years, but the poor ability of the built environment to adapt and sustain itself through the changes is leading to degradation of the cities. An ideal public space must be sustainable and adaptable to the changing environmental, social, cultural and economic patterns. Built environment comprises of various attributes which act as performance indicators for analyzing a chosen area. This paper identifies these indicators, using the literature studies conducted and uses them to study and evaluate a typical Indian market place in the city of Ranchi - the capital city of the state of Jharkhand. The study is focused on exploring the ways in which the public spaces of an urban area can be made sustainable socio-culturally, economically and environmentally.
TESTS FOR SEPARABILITY IN NONPARAMETRIC COVARIANCE OPERATORS OF RANDOM SURFACES

The assumption of separability of the covariance operator for a random image or hypersurface can be of substantial use in applications, especially in situations where the accurate estimation of the full covariance structure is unfeasible, either for computational reasons, or due to a small sample size. However, inferential tools to verify this assumption are somewhat lacking in high-dimensional or functional data analysis settings, where this assumption is most relevant. We propose here to test separability by focusing on K -dimensional projections of the difference between the covariance operator and a nonparametric separable approximation. The subspace we project onto is one generated by the eigenfunctions of the covariance operator estimated under the separability hypothesis, negating the need to ever estimate the full nonseparable covariance. We show that the rescaled difference of the sample covariance operator with its separable approximation is asymptotically Gaussian. As a by-product of this result, we derive asymptotically pivotal tests under Gaussian assumptions, and propose bootstrap methods for approximating the distribution of the test statistics. We probe the ﬁnite sample performance through simulations studies, and present an application to log-spectrogram images from a phonetic linguistics dataset.
Inventario y caracterización morfoclimática de los glaciares de roca en la Cordillera Oriental argentina (entre 22o y 25o S)

This paper presents an inventory and a morphologic characterization of the rock glaciers in the arid region of the Argentinean Cordillera Oriental (22-25o S), and discusses the climatic significance and the factors controlling their distribution. We also present a detailed characterization of the Varas rock glacier, which is located in the southern part of the Zenta range where dynamic and climatic monitoring has been initiated. A total of 635 rock glaciers were identified, including 174 (25%) classified as active, 301 (47.5%) as inactive and 160 (25%) as fossil or relict. In general, the rock glaciers are small (<0.1 km2), with a mean area of 0.076 km2. Rock glaciers distribution is associated with inherited Late Pleistocene glacial topography, which was also regulated by the regional climatic circulation system. The elevation of the lower limit of active rock glaciers is situated 416 m below the 0 °C isotherm, presenting positive mean annual temperatures, as recognized in other regions of the Central Andes. Climatic changes occurred after the Late Glacial period may have lead to the degradation and inactivation of rock glaciers. The difference between the lower altitude of active (4500 m) and relict (3800 m) rock glaciers was used to estimate a temperature rise of 4.9 °C in this region between deglatiation (after the Late Glacial period) and the twentieth century (prior 1990). Although the area covered by glaciers in the Argentinean Cordillera Oriental is small (<0.8 km2), the identified rock glaciers represent an important water source in this arid region.
COASTAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION: Ecological and Socioeconomic effects of Climate Change in Dare, Hyde, and Tyrrell Counties

Climate change threatens the ecological and socioeconomic sustainability of Dare, Hyde, and Tyrrell counties as they are the three lowest-lying counties in all of North Carolina, making them particularly vulnerable to sea level rise (SLR) and changes in storm intensity and frequency. The objectives of this study are to : (1) summarize the socioeconomic importance of these three counties, including an evaluation of ecosystem services provided by coastal and marine environments; (2) project the potential biophysical impacts climate change may have in the future; and (3) conclude with an evaluation of the current climate adaptation policies and strategies, including land-use plans and shoreline stabilization, that the North Carolina state government, local county governments, and nonprofits are implementing. The research demonstrates that the local economies in these counties are driven by agriculture, commercial fisheries, and tourism, with ecosystem services providing valuable resources to both local and state populations. The consequences of climate change in the region are vast and unpredictable meaning effective climate adaptation strategies must be developed now before the implications of climate change become a reality. Current climate adaptation policies provide only short-term solutions to a long-term problem. It is recommended that communities weigh the economic, social, and cultural costs of armoring the shoreline versus retreating further inland. Conservation organizations should focus their efforts inland in order to acquire conservation easements anticipating where the coastline will be in 100 years.
Diversity and Heterogeneity

Based on ecological theoriesof diversity, this paper expatiates themechanism of the diversity and the het-erogeneity in the course of ecosystem'sbalance and development process, andform the city's role and orientation inplanning, lan-use and community life,proposes a thought in diversified andheterogonous ecological planning thatcan be advocated.
Spatiotemporal analysis of encroachment on wetlands : hazards, vulnerability and adaptations in Kampala City, Uganda

Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services including water purification, flood control and climate moderation, which enhance environmental quality, promote public health and contribute to risk reduction. The biggest threat to wetlands is posed by human activities that transform wetlands, often for short-term consumptive uses. Population pressure, urbanization and industrial developments, among other factors, have resulted in severe degradation of wetlands. In the face of increased climate variability, several hazards continue to emerge, affecting the vulnerable sectors of society, especially the poor. This study sought to quantify and map the extents and spatiotemporal dynamics of human activities in wetlands, taking a case of Nakivubo wetland that drains Kampala city’s wastewater to Lake Victoria; assess the range of hazards, perceived vulnerabilities and associated factors among wetland communities, and assess the benefits and opportunities informal wetland communities in Kampala Uganda derive from their location in the wetland and how they adapt to minimise vulnerability to hazards such as floods and disease vectors. In order to achieve the study objectives, a mix of methods were used. These included GIS and Remote sensing techniques for analysis of very high resolution aerial photos and satellite imagery (captured in 2002, 2010 and 2014), a survey of 551 households, four focus group discussions among wetland communities and five key informant interviews with stakeholders. Analysis of land cover in Nakivubo wetland showed a 62% loss of wetland vegetation between 2002 and 2014, which is mostly attributed to crop cultivation. Results from the survey showed floods and waterlogging as the principal hazards; however, secondary effects of floods and waterlogging such as disease vectors and diseases affect more people than the floods. Tenants were more likely to be exposed to floods, but less likely to prefer to adapt, and to perceive themselves able to afford adaptation than landlords/homeowners, and households that spend more than US$ 80 per month were less likely than households that spend less to be exposed to floods. Households that had been exposed to floods before were more likely to perceive themselves as vulnerable. Free water from spring wells and cheaper rental units topped the benefits associated with location while the main benefit associated with the wetland itself is that it supports crop farming. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
The accuracy assessment of crop-shelter coverage classifications obtained from per-pixel methods combined with texture analyses

This paper shows the outcomes of the application of some statistical techniques to analyse the quality of the accuracy assessment of crop-shelter coverage classifications obtained from image texture analyses combined with information contained in RGB-bands layers. The imagery used in this study was composed of satellite multispectral images and digital images in vector format of the crop-shelter coverage obtained by visual recognition of the satellite images. Several combinations of information from RGB bands and textures were used in the classifications carried out in a study area located in South-Eastern Sicily (Italy). Error matrices were derived from each classification and some accuracy measures were computed and subject to statistical tests. A more complete information on the quality of the classification results was obtained, which allowed comparison between different classifications and selection of the combinations that produced the highest map accuracy.
in the

Nighttime light pollution is linked to metabolic and cognitive dysfunction. Many patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show disturbances in their sleep/wake cycle, and may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of circadian disruptors. In this study, we examined the impact of exposure to dim light at night (DLaN, 5 lx) in a model of ASD: the contactin associated protein-like 2 knock out (Cntnap2 KO) mice. DLaN was sufficient to disrupt locomotor activity rhythms, exacerbate the excessive grooming and diminish the social preference in Cntnap2 mutant mice. On a molecular level, DLaN altered the phase and amplitude of PER2:LUC rhythms in a tissue-specific manner in vitro. Daily treatment with melatonin reduced the excessive grooming of the mutant mice to wild-type levels and improved activity rhythms. Our findings suggest that common circadian disruptors such as light at night should be considered in the management of ASD. using a top-mounted passive infra-red (PIR) motion detector reporting a VitalView data recording system Mitter, Detected movements were recorded in 3 min bins, and 10 days of data were averaged for analysis using the El Temps chronobiology Cage activity was determined by averaging 10 days of PIR-detected motion (movements/h), and the relative distribution of activity during the day versus the night was determined (day activity, %). The strength of the rhythm was determined from the amplitude of the χ 2 periodogram at 24 h, to produce the rhythm power (%V) normalized to the number of data points examined. The periodogram analysis uses a χ 2 test with a threshold of 0.001 significance, from which the amplitude of the periodicities is determined at the circadian harmonic to obtain the rhythm power. Precision was determined using the Clocklab program (Actimetrics, Wilmette, IL; actimetrics.com/products/clocklab/) by first determining the daily onset of activity over 10 days, and then determining the deviation from the best-fit line drawn through the 10 onset times. To produce the representative waveforms, hourly running averages of the same series of activity data was plotted against time of day (Zeitgeber Time, ZT, where ZT 0 indicates the time of lights-on).
Monitoring and Visualization of Tropospheric Ozone in Rural/Semi Rural Sites of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

Ozone is one of the most pervasive of the global air pollutants, with impacts on human health, food production and the environment. Present research highlights emphasized the main rural agricultural areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for their air quality assessment and visualization in order to evaluate and predict the risk areas to facilitate farmers and policy makers to draft critical guidelines for possible threat of ozone concentrations to the agricultural sector of country in the coming years. Model 400E ozone analyzer was used to determine the ozone concentration. Results indicated the seasonal fluctuation in O3 concentration levels. Mean concentration value of O3 in Rawalpindi and Islamabad is 35 ppb. Climatologically parameters also showed significant association with ozone concentration. Comparison of obtained values of ozone with the WHO standards indicates that O3 levels are still lower than standards. This indicates that we still have a time to reconsider our anthropogenic activities to control the O3 precursors to prevent any deleterious effects on agricultural sector.
DEMS WORKING PAPER SERIES Estimating high dimensional multivariate stochastic volatility models

This paper proposes tree main results that enable the estimation of high dimensional multivariate stochastic volatility models. The ﬁrst result is the closed-form steady-state Kalman ﬁlter for the multivariate AR(1) plus noise model. The second result is an accelerated EM algorithm for parameters estimation. The third result is an estimator of the correlation of two elliptical random variables with time-varying variances that is consistent and asymptotically normal regardless of the variances evolution. Speed and precision of our methodology are evaluated in a simulation experiment. Finally, we implement our method and compare its performance with other approaches in a minimum variance portfolio composed by the constituents of the CAC40 and S&P100 indexes.