Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrologic Effects of NDVI Time Series in a Context of Climatic Variability in an Upstream Catchment of the Minjiang River 1

Abstract: Increasing regional vegetation activity has been frequently found especially in middle and high latitude and alpine areas, but the effects of which on regional hydrology is still highly uncertain. The Upstream Catchment of Minjiang River is a large mountainous catchment covering 22,919 km2 with a diverse vegetation distribution pattern, including alpine group (A), subalpine group (SA), and temperate and subtropical group (T/ST). The Seasonal Mann‐Kendall test, a nonparametric trend test method, detected consistent upward trends in all groups in monthly accumulated growing degree days (AGDDM) time series from 1982 to 2003, but no significant trend in mean monthly precipitation (MMP) time series in any group. The alpine group had a significant (p = 0.024) upward trend in monthly Normalized Difference of Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series from 1982 to 2003, in contrast, the SA and T/ST groups had decreasing (although not significant) trends. AGDDM plays more important role than MMP in affecting NDVI change in alpine areas, indicating temperature was the main climatic driver. In contrast, water was the main driver for the T/ST group, as indicated by the significant correlation between NDVI and MMP and a weak correlation with AGDDM. Correlation coefficients of NDVI and river flow varied with seasons, mostly negative, especially during the growing season (April to October). A significant (p = 0.025) correlation was found only in August, indicating that an increase in peak‐NDVI decreased high flow significantly. TI‐NDVIc, which was developed in an attempt to track the vegetation change at the catchment scale, accounted for more than 40% of the evapotranspiration increase (r2 = 0.43).
Edinburgh Research Explorer Approaches to unravel seasonality in sea surface temperatures using paired single-specimen foraminiferal delta O-18 and Mg/Ca analyses

[ 1 ] Seasonal changes in surface ocean temperature are increasingly recognized as an important parameter of the climate system. Here we assess the potential of analyzing single ‐ specimen planktonic foraminifera as proxy for the seasonal temperature contrast (seasonality). Oxygen isotopes and Mg/Ca ratios were measured on single specimens of Globigerinoides ruber , extracted from surface sediment samples of the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. Variability in d 18 O and Mg/Ca was then compared to established modern seasonal changes in temperature and salinity for both regions. The results show that (1) average d 18 O ‐ derived temperatures correlate with modern annual average temperatures for most sites, (2) the range in d 18 O ‐ and Mg/Ca ‐ derived temperature estimates from single ‐ specimen analysis resembles the range in seasonal temperature values at the sea surface (0 – 50 m) in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and (3) there is no strong correlation between Mg/Ca ‐ and d 18 O ‐ derived temperatures from the same specimens in the current data set, indicating that other parameters (salinity, carbonate ion concentration, symbiont activity, ontogenesis, and natural variability) potentially affect these proxies.
Hemispheric Asymmetry of Globus Pallidus Relates to Alpha Modulation in Reward-Related Attentional Tasks

Whereas subcortical structures such as the basal ganglia have been widely explored in relation to motor control, recent evidence suggests that their mechanisms extend to the domain of attentional switching. We here investigated the subcortical involvement in reward related top-down control of visual alpha-band oscillations (8–13 Hz), which have been consistently linked to mechanisms supporting the allocation of visuospatial attention. Given that items associated with contextual saliency (e.g., monetary reward or loss) attract attention, it is not surprising that the acquired salience of visual items further modulates. The executive networks controlling such reward-dependent modulations of oscillatory brain activity have yet to be fully elucidated. Although such networks have been explored in terms of corticocortical interactions, subcortical regions are likely to be involved. To uncover this, we combined MRI and MEG data from 17 male and 11 female participants, investigating whether derived measures of subcortical structural asymmetries predict interhemispheric modulation of alpha power during a spatial attention task. We show that volumetric hemispheric lateralization of globus pallidus (GP) and thalamus (Th) explains individual hemispheric biases in the ability to modulate posterior alpha power. Importantly, for the GP, this effect became stronger when the value saliency parings in the task increased. Our findings suggest that the GP and Th in humans are part of a subcortical executive control network, differentially involved in modulating posterior alpha activity in the presence of saliency. Further investigation aimed at uncovering the interaction between subcortical and neocortical attentional networks would provide useful insight in future studies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Whereas the involvement of subcortical regions into higher level cognitive processing, such as attention and reward attribution, has been already indicated in previous studies, little is known about its relationship with the functional oscillatory underpinnings of said processes. In particular, interhemispheric modulation of alpha band (8–13 Hz) oscillations, as recorded with magnetoencephalography, has been previously shown to vary as a function of salience (i.e., monetary reward/loss) in a spatial attention task. We here provide novel insights into the link between subcortical and cortical control of visual attention. Using the same reward-related spatial attention paradigm, we show that the volumetric lateralization of subcortical structures (specifically globus pallidus and thalamus) explains individual biases in the modulation of visual alpha activity.
Converging strategies by farmers and scientists to improve soil fertility and enhance crop production in Benin

Keywords: Farmer perception, indigenous knowledge, extensive cassava, earthworm casts, arbuscular mycorrhiza, crop rotation, nutrient uptake, soil fertility, co-research, land tenure.Farmers in the transitional zone of Benin claim that extensive cassava cropping and prior cotton fertiliser enhance yield of subsequent maize. To cope with labour shortage, farmers have adapted fertiliser practices by mixing NPK-SB and urea. We agreed with farmers through a Stakeholder Learning Group to study these innovations. In this process land tenure arrangement was also of interest because it affects long-term soil fertility management. Joint experiments opened a path between farmers' interpretations and scientific explanations of earthworm activities. The presence of earthworm casts is used by farmers as an indicator for soil health. Farmers understand casts to be a kind of 'vitamin' indicating good conditions for crop growth. Cassava cultivars did not significantly change soil chemical properties. However, cassava cultivar, subsequent fertiliser treatment, and farmers1 management significantly affected maize grain yield. The nutrient uptake ratios indicated that P was the main limiting nutrient. Results from a subsequent pot experiment provided evidence that arbuscular mycorrhizal associations may be part of the explanation for the farmers' claim of beneficial effects of cassava. Farmers were knowledgeable about residual effects of fertiliser. Cotton yield, soil chemical properties, subsequent maize yield and nutrient uptake were significantly affected by land use types. The N : P ratios of nutrients taken up indicated that P was relatively more limiting in the egusi-cotton-cotton system, whereas N was relatively more limiting in the cassava-maize-cotton system. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that cassava improves P nutrition of a subsequent crop through mycorrhizal carry-over effects. Co-research activities apparently improved both human capital (farmers' individual knowledge and capacity building) and social capital (group dynamic, space for innovation, interaction, negotiation skills, improvement of cropping practice, improvement of social relationships, and information sharing). Farmers' knowledge on the role of N, P and K nutrients and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi had been highly improved. With regards to land tenure, the problem to be overcome is how to change mutual perceptions of tree planting as a covert claim to land ownership, since agroforestry is a potential key to soil fertility maintenance. Formal written-down land use rules, including adoption of agroforestry with Gliricidia sepium for permanent yam production and improved soil management practices were negotiated. This document approved by both land owners and migrant farmers does not alter the existing balance of power.
A bélendometriosis miatt végzett műtétek hatása a fertilitásra The effect of surgical treatment of bowel endometriosis on fertility

analízis: Az endometriosis és a terhességi kórképek előfordulása közti összefüggést χ 2 -próbával és Fisher-egzakt teszttel vizsgáltuk, és meghatároztuk az esélyhányadost (OR) és 95%-os konfidenciaintervallumát (CI). Az eredményt p<0,05 esetén tekintettük szignifikánsnak. in endometriosisban (p = 0,023) placenta (p = 0,045).
PEMANFAATAN DATA PENGINDERAAN JAUH UNTUK MENDUKUNG PERENCANAAN OPERASI KEAMANAN LAUT DI LAUT ARAFURU (REMOTE SENSING APPLICATION FOR SUPPORTING MARITIME SECURITY OPERATIONS AT ARAFURU SEA)

Operasi keamanan laut dilakukan secara terus menerus oleh TNI-AL membutuhkan armada yang banyak untuk menjangkau wilayah laut Indonesia yang luas dan membutuhkan logistik yang mahal. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan suatu strategi yang dapat mengoptimalkan jumlah armada dan melakukan efisiensi kebutuhan logistik. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengaplikasikan data penginderaan jauh untuk mendapatkan informasi waktu operasi yang rawan terhadap pelanggaran dan ancaman keamanan terkait dengan aktifitas penangkapan ikan. Dengan dasar pemikiran bahwa gangguan keamanan akan banyak terjadi pada daerah dengan tingkat aktifitas penangkapan ikan yang tinggi dan akan terkonsentrasi pada daerah-daerah dengan kesuburan perairan yang tinggi. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah data konsentrasi klorofil-a yang diperoleh dari data MODIS level-2 dari NASA Amerika Serikat. Data harian selama 5 tahun dari 2008 sampai 2013 dijadikan rata-rata bulanan sehingga diperoleh variasi bulanan selama satu tahun dalam selang waktu 5 tahun. Analisa dilakukan pada seluruh area, dan juga pada unit-unit area yang lebih kecil untuk melihat apakah ada perbedaan pada unit-unit area yang lebih kecil tersebut. Perbedaan variasi pada unit terkecil bisa membedakan penentuan waktu operasi keamanan laut yang akan dilakukan pada area tersebut. Hasil analisa menunjukkan bahwa terjadi kenaikan kandungan klorofil-a pada bulan Mei- September. Sehingga dapat disarankan untuk lebih mengintensifkan operasi kamla pada waktu-waktu tersebut. Secara umum tidak terjadi perbedaan pada unit-unit yang lebih kecil, tetapi hanya berupa perubahan awal dan akhir waktu tingginya konsentrasi klorofil-a pada area yang berbeda. Kata kunci: Penginderaan jauh, Keamaman laut, Klorofil-a
Evaluation of leaf-to-canopy upscaling methodologies against carbon flux data in North America

Despite the wide acceptance of the “big-leaf” upscaling strategy in evapotranspiration modeling (e.g., the Penman-Monteith model), its usefulness in simulating canopy photosynthesis may be limited by the underlying assumption of homogeneous response of carbon assimilation light-response kinetics through the canopy. While previous studies have shown that the separation of the canopy into sunlit and shaded parts (i.e., two-leaf model) is typically more effective than big-leaf models for upscaling photosynthesis from leaf to canopy, a systematic comparison between these two upscaling strategies among multiple ecosystems has not been presented. In this study, gross primary productivity was modeled using two-leaf and big-leaf upscaling approaches in the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator for shrublands, broadleaf, and conifer forest types. When given the same leaf-level photosynthetic parameters, the big-leaf approach significantly underestimated canopy-level GPP while the two-leaf approach more closely predicted both the magnitude and day-to-day variability in eddy covariance measurements. The underestimation by the big-leaf approach is mostly caused by its exclusion of the photosynthetic contributions of shaded leaves. Tests of the model sensitivity to a foliage clumping index revealed that the contribution of shaded leaves to the total simulated productivity can be as high as 70% for highly clumped stands and seldom decreases below ∼40% for less-clumped canopies. Our results indicate that accurate upscaling of photosynthesis across a broad array of ecosystems requires an accurate description of canopy structure in ecosystem models.
Differentiating Models of Associative Learning: Reorientation, Superconditioning, and the Role of Inhibition

191–212) is an influential mathematical account of how agents behave when reorienting to previously learned locations in spatial arenas. However, it is mathematically and empirically flawed. The current article explores these flaws, including its inability to properly predict geometric superconditioning. We trace the flaws to the model's mathematical structure and how it handles inhibition. We then propose an operant artificial neural network model that solves these problems with inhibition and can correctly model both reorientation and superconditioning. Perhaps the most influential formal account of associative learning is the classic Rescorla–Wagner model (Rescorla & Wagner, 1972): (1) In the Rescorla–Wagner model, the change in associative strength ⌬V between conditioned stimulus (conditional stimulus, CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) is defined by the difference between the magnitude of the US, represented by ␭, and magnitude of the current associative strength, represented by V. This difference is scaled by the CS' inherent salience ␣ and by the learning rate related to the US, ␤. This model is inherently one of classical conditioning. At every iteration, the equation updates associative strengths for all presented cues simultaneously; the agent's choice to respond (or not) is not part of this formulation of learning (Dawson, 2008). Recently, there have been attempts to extend the Rescorla– Wagner model to handle other types of conditioning. For example, Miller and Shettleworth (2007) convincingly argue that a case in which the agent only chooses one option at a time from a selection of possibilities, and only receives reinforcement or feedback about the chosen option, would be more properly considered an operant task, with reinforcement contingencies based upon the agent's particular pattern of choices. Geometric reorientation (Cheng, 1986) is presented as an example of this type of task, in which disoriented agents choose to search particular locations of a controlled arena for reinforcement. (This task is described in greater detail below.) Under an associative viewpoint, locations of interested within these arenas are viewed as collections of cues, and each cue competes for associative strength. In attempting to model geometric reorientation using a more " operant " view of association , Miller and Shettleworth modify Equation 1 to include a measure of the agent's probability of choosing a given location: Here, the change in associative strength of each cue (or " element , " E) is updated using the sum of the associative strengths of all cues at a given location (i.e., V L …
Operational Collision Risk Management - Evaluating and Mitigating High-Risk Conjunction Events

Operational collision threat characterization is now an essential component of space mission operations. Most spacecraft operators have some semblance of a process to evaluate and mitigate high-risk conjunction events. As the size of the space object catalog increases, satellite operators will be faced with more conjunction events to evaluate. Thus more sophisticated collision threat characterization and collision avoidance strategies must be implemented. This paper presents an overview of SpaceNav’s Collision Risk Management software. The software suite enables mission stakeholders to qualify high interest conjunction events. The tools produce various figures and graphs, which aid in analyzing event data. Optimal avoidance maneuver solutions are generated for a user defined set of goals and constraints.
Cascadia subducting plate fluids channelled to fore‐arc mantle corner: ETS and silica deposition

In this study we first summarize the constraints that on the Cascadia subduction thrust, there is a 70 km gap downdip between the megathrust seismogenic zone and the Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) that lies further landward; there is not a continuous transition from unstable to conditionally stable sliding. Seismic rupture occurs mainly offshore for this hot subduction zone. ETS lies onshore. We then suggest what does control the downdip position of ETS. We conclude that fluids from dehydration of the downgoing plate, focused to rise above the fore‐arc mantle corner, are responsible for ETS. There is a remarkable correspondence between the position of ETS and this corner along the whole margin. Hydrated mineral assemblages in the subducting oceanic crust and uppermost mantle are dehydrated with downdip increasing temperature, and seismic tomography data indicate that these fluids have strongly serpentinized the overlying fore‐arc mantle. Laboratory data show that such fore‐arc mantle serpentinite has low permeability and likely blocks vertical expulsion and restricts flow updip within the underlying permeable oceanic crust and subduction shear zone. At the fore‐arc mantle corner these fluids are released upward into the more permeable overlying fore‐arc crust. An indication of this fluid flux comes from low Poisson's Ratios (and Vp/Vs) found above the corner that may be explained by a concentration of quartz which has exceptionally low Poisson's Ratio. The rising fluids should be silica saturated and precipitate quartz with decreasing temperature and pressure as they rise above the corner.
An evaluation of the Standardized Precipitation Index for assessing inter‐annual rice yield variability in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna region

Climate variability has major impacts on crop yields and food production in South Asia. The spatial differences of the impact are not, however, well understood. In this study, we thus aim to analyse the spatio‐temporal relationship between precipitation and rice yields in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna region. The effects of rainfall variation on yields were analysed with regression models using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) as an explanatory variable. Our results indicate that in large part of the study region, a strong relationship between precipitation and rice yields exists and the SPI at various lags chosen as the predictor variable performed well in describing the inter‐annual yield variability. However, the study demonstrated large spatial variations in the strength of this relationship or optionally in the suitability of the chosen methodology for investigating it. In the mid‐plains of the Ganges, which represent very important agricultural areas, precipitation variability has a strong impact on rice yields, while in downstream Ganges as well as in Brahmaputra, where precipitation is more abundant, the relationship was less pronounced. Where the performance of the regression models was weaker, it is likely that yield variation depended on other factors such as management practices or on other climate factors such as temperature. The results further showed that the SPI at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month lags calculated for the monsoon time (June–October) are most commonly the best at explaining the rice yield variability. The SPI can thus be considered a very useful predictor of rice yield variability in some parts of the study region, demonstrating that they could be used for agricultural applications and policy decisions to improve the region's food security.
The effect of external shear flow on the sperm motility

The trajectory of the sperm in the presence of background flow is of utmost importance for the success of fertilization, as the sperm encounter background flow of different magnitude and direction on their way to the egg. Here, we have studied the effect of an unbounded simple shear flow as well as Poiseuille flow on the sperm trajectory. In the presence of a simple shear flow, the sperm moves on an elliptical trajectory in the reference frame advecting with the local background flow. The length of major-axis of this elliptical trajectory decreases with the shear rate. As the sperm number, a dimensionless number representing the ratio of viscous force to elastic force, increases the flexibility of the flagellum increases, which increases the length of major axis of the elliptical trajectories. The sperm moves downstream or upstream depending on the strength of background flow in the presence of Poiseuille flow. In contrast to the simple shear flow, the sperm also moves toward the centerline in a Poiseuille flow. Far away from the centerline, the cross-stream migration velocity of the sperm increases as the transverse distance of sperm from the centerline decreases. Close to the centerline, on the other hand, the cross-stream migration velocity decreases as the sperm further approaches the center. The cross-stream migration velocity of the sperm also increases with the sperm number.
Biological elimination of a high concentration of hydrogen sul�de from land�ll biogas

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is one of the main contaminants found in biogas which is one of the end products of the 15 anaerobic biodegradation of proteins and other sulfur-containing compounds in solid waste. The presence of H 2 S is 16 one of the factors limiting the valorization of biogas. To valorize biogas, H 2 S and other contaminants must be removed. 17 This study evaluated the performance of a pilot-scale biotrickling filter system on H 2 S removal from landfill biogas. 18 The biotrickling filter system, which was packed with stainless-steel pall rings and inoculated with an H 2 S-oxidizing 19 consortium, was designed to process 1 to 10 SCFM of biogas and used to determine the removal efficiency of a high 20 concentration of hydrogen sulfide from landfill biogas. The biofiltration system consisted of two biotrickling filters 21 connected in series. Results indicate that the biofiltration system reduced H 2 S concentration by 94% to 97% without 22 reduction of the methane concentration in the outlet biogas. The inlet concentration of hydrogen sulfide, supplied to 23 the two-phase bioreactor, was in the range of 900 to 1500 ppmv. The hydraulic retention times (HRT) of the two 24 biotrickling filters were 3.9 and 0.9 min, respectively. Approximately 50 ppmv of H 2 S gas was detected in the outlet 25 gas. The maximum elimination capacity of the biotrickling filter system was found to be 272 g H 2 S.m -3 . h -1 . During 26 the biological process, the performance of biotrickling filter was not affected when the pH of the recirculated liquid 27 decreased to 2-3. The overall performance of the biotrickling filter system was described using a modified Michaelis – 28 Menten equation, and the K s and V m values for the biosystem were 34.7 ppmv and 200 mg H 2 S/L.h -1 , respectively.