Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Groundwater Modelling in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: Groundwater modelling in arid and semi-arid areas: an introduction

INTRODUCTION Water resources globally face unprecedented challenges, but these are at their greatest in the world's arid and semi-arid regions. Recent IPCC estimates (Kundzewicz et al ., 2007) state that between 1.4 and 2.1 billion people live in areas of water stress; those numbers are expected to increase significantly under the pressures of population growth and climate change. By definition, arid and semi-arid regions have limited natural water resources, and precipitation and runoff have very high variability in space and time. Traditional societies recognised these characteristics and developed sustainable water management solutions. In higher rainfall areas, for example in the mountains of northern Yemen and Greek islands such as Cephalonia, rainwater was harvested from roofs and paved surfaces and stored for household or community use. In desert areas, such as Arabia's ‘empty quarter’, with infrequent, spatially localised rainfall, nomadic communities would follow rainfall occurrence, using water from surface storage or shallow groundwater for a few months to support themselves and their livestock, before moving on. For agriculture, terraced systems were developed to focus infiltration to provide soil moisture for crop water needs (as in the mountains of Northern Oman and Yemen), and earth dams were built to divert flash floods onto agricultural land for surface irrigation (as in South West Saudi Arabia). In parts of the Middle East, groundwater was extracted sustainably using qanats (Iran) or afalaj (Oman), ancient systems of tunnels for gravity drainage of groundwater, developed over centuries or longer.
Eolian Components in Cretaceous and Tertiary North Atlantic Sediments

ABSTRACT The clay mineralogy and grain-size distribution of quartz silt in approximately 100 pelagic Deep Sea Drilling Project sediment samples has been examined to outline the history of dust supply to the North Atlantic. Samples were taken from eight time planes between Early Cretaceous and Late Miocene. With the exception of a few samples, the quartz is generally fine grained (means 9.00-7.34, 2-6 µm), moderate to well sorted and negatively skewed. By comparing the grain-size distributions with those of airborne dust, and by attempting to eliminate other processes through careful sample selection, it is concluded that most of the sampled quartz is eolian. By elimination of other processes and by association with the quartz, the cla minerals in the samples are also presumed mainly wind-blown throughout the Tertiary and Cretaceous, though an apparently diagenetic assemblage prevails in the Eocene samples. The clay mineralogy differs between one side of the Atlantic and the other, and on several time planes the quartz becomes coarser towards both the African and American continents. Eolian input from both continents is tentatively suggested. Furthermore, the zone of maximum dust input appears to have remained in latitudes 20-30° since the Early Cretaceous.
Very densely welded, rheomorphic ignimbrites of homogeneous intermediate calc-alkaline composition from the English Lake District

Within a largely concealed, caldera-related volcaniclastic succession of the Ordovician Borrowdale Volcanic Group in the western Lake District, two thick (100–350 m) ignimbrites within the Fleming Hall Formation exhibit a number of features that in combination make them unusual deposits. They are both homogeneous with comparatively low-SiO2 (63%) bulk composition, contain only a moderate crystal content, are generally poor in lithic clasts, show uniformly very dense welding (yielding parataxitic to massive vitrophyric texture) throughout and lack associated fall-out or surge deposits. Ignimbrites of comparable bulk composition in this geological setting are usually part of zoned sheets and/or frequently very crystal-rich. Large-scale, unzoned densely welded ignimbrites are usually rhyodacitic to rhyolitic. By contrast, ignimbrites of intermediate composition that display dense welding are relatively small deposits that form by agglutination of hot, plastic spatter. It is postulated that the Fleming Hall ignimbrites were derived from low column height, low explosivity eruptions that conserved heat and minimized entrainment of accidental lithic clasts and the formation of fine ash. The very dense welding and lack of bubble-wall shard vitroclastic textures indicate that pyroclasts were hot and relatively dry, probably occurring as mildly vesicular (scoriaceous) fragments which welded or fused together during aggradational deposition rather than by post-depositional compactional loading. There is little variation in the degree of matrix or melt crystallization throughout the two ignimbrites, despite the fact that high temperatures must have been maintained for many years following deposition. Both display virtually ubiquitous development of micropoikilitic glass devitrification texture, which suggests that the viscosity of the supercooled dacitic melt was sufficiently high, probably due to initial degassing, to inhibit significant melt crystallization after deposition. The eruption of the Fleming Hall magmas was probably initiated by the rise or injection of hotter, more basic, magma, and not by overpressurization due to volatile exsolution resulting from cooling and crystallization. Foundering of the chamber roof caused forcible and rapid eruption of the magma, probably along a series of volcanotectonic faults rather than a central vent, and probably flooded the resultant caldera depression. It is predicted that this type of eruption will not have produced a widely dispersed deposit, the bulk of which may have been largely contained within its own caldera.
Digital Signal Processing: From Theory to Practical Applications

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is a vital technology that bridges the gap between theoretical principles and practical applications in the digital age. This article explores the core components of DSP, emphasizing its theoretical foundations based on mathematical concepts like Fourier analysis, discrete-time signals, and the Nyquist theorem. It further delves into the practical applications of DSP, showcasing its extensive use in audio processing, image manipulation, telecommunications, biomedical diagnostics, and more. The article also outlines the challenges and future directions for DSP, including its integration with machine learning, quantum signal processing, and the development of efficient hardware solutions. DSP's potential in emerging fields like biological signal processing, data privacy, and sustainability is discussed, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of this technology. In conclusion, DSP is not just a technology but a dynamic force that continually reshapes our world by enhancing the quality of life, advancing science, and addressing global challenges.
Quantum-Inspired Evolutionary Algorithm for Numerical Optimization

Since they were proposed as an optimization method, evolutionary algorithms (EA) have been used to solve problems in several research fields. This success is due, besides other things, to the fact that these algorithms do not require previous considerations regarding the problem to be optimized and offers a high degree of parallelism. However, some problems are computationally intensive regarding solution's evaluation, which makes the optimization by EA's slow for some situations. This paper proposes a novel EA for numerical optimization inspired by the multiple universes principle of quantum computing. Results show that this algorithm can find better solutions, with less evaluations, when compared with similar algorithms.
Recombinant Dna: Genes and Genomes: A Short Course

The third edition of the landmark text Recombinant DNA offers an authoritative, accessible, and engaging introduction to modern, genome centered biology from its foremost practitioners. The new edition explores core concepts in molecular biology in a contemporary inquiry based context, building its coverage around the most relevant and exciting examples of current research and landmark experiments that redefined our understanding of DNA. As a result, students learn in a compelling way how working scientists make real high impact discoveries. The first chapters provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts of genetics and genomics, an inside look at the Human Genome Project, bioinformatic and experimental techniques for large scale genomic studies, and a survey of epigenetics and RNA interference. The final chapters cover the quest to identify disease causing genes, the genetic basis of cancer, and DNA fingerprinting and forensics. In these chapters the authors provide examples of practical applications in human medicine, and discuss the future of human genetics and genomics projects.
Predictive analytics for project management

This paper deals with master data from the project management environment. A general approach for predicting project outcome including goal achievement is developed. A first implementation in RapidMiner Studio V9.10 based on a decision tree algorithm is derived and discussed. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basic understanding of the topic and to adapt the theory to existing enterprise data. The potential of predictive analytics for project management is illustrated and a promising practical implementation with existing software is derived and demonstrated.
The Resilience of Aztec Women: A Case Study of Modern Aztec Myths

Archival documents have shown both Spain’s attempts at Christianizing the Aztecs and their justifications for the destruction of traditional native beliefs and gender roles. More specifically, these documents reveal how Spanish and Christian andocentric ideologies attempted to pacify Aztec female roles and remove them from places of power. An examination of Aztec-Spanish relations, emphasizing the religiosity and mentalities of both the conquered and the conquerors, provides an interesting correlation between the transformation of native women’s social status and their acceptance and/or denial of European patriarchical customs. This article focuses on the reciprocating system of duality existing between men and women in Aztec life and religion, the rate of acculturation of Spanish patriarchical structures by native peoples, and two contemporary Aztec case studies that exhibit differing levels of acculturation, traditional sustainability, and religious preservation. These scenarios will illustrate the various factors contributing to the transformation and, in some cases, the preservation of pre-Columbian female Aztec roles.
Retraction Retraction: Climate change prediction using artificial neural network ( IOP Conf.

In this study the neural network model was used to predict climate change in the future. The results demonstrate the average air temperature and evaporation both increased, while the wind speed was decreasing. Rising temperatures are the cause of a few increases in potential evapotranspiration. Previous research has found that (ANN) models are more aware and rational when predicting future changes
Rock Anelasticity Studies at High Pressure and Temperature

Geophysical techniques used in the exploration for the thermal structure of the Earth include heat flow measurements, seismic studies and electric and electromagnetic soundings. The goals of these geophysical explorations are to detect and interpret the anomalies defined in the physical quantities measured, and to derive thermal models of the Earth. To this end, knowledge of the physical properties of in-situ rocks is required. In particular, seismic methods, which provide the most direct definitive information, have the maximum potential for probing high temperature and partial melt in the Earth. Thus, from the standpoint of successful seismic exploration, an understanding of the seismic properties of rocks is an important requisite. The parameters of direct interest here are the seismic velocity and attenuation (Q-1) ; the variables are pressure, temperature, frequency, fluid content, chemical composition (including volatile content) , grain size and preferred mineral orientation. It is anticipated that laboratory anelasticity data are valuable for the interpretation of seismic structure in terms of composition, temperature, and the degree of fluid or partial melt under regions where high attenuation (low Q) has been reported. The laboratory results are particularly applied to the locations of geophysical interest, the midocean ridge, the hot spot and the island arc, where seismic models have been extensively studied. The recent progress in anelasticity study shows that the low Q asthenosphere beneath ocean basins is hot but solid, and that seismic wave absorption mostly occurs at the mineral grain boundaries. Partial melt exists only in the extremely low Q zones right beneath ocean ridges or hot spots. For island arc volcanism, the descending slab is thought to be a possible source of volatiles. A role of volatiles in arc volcanism will be investigated from laboratory Q studies on hydrous rocks.
The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets - III. Three Saturn-mass planets around HD 93083, HD 101930 and HD 102117

We report on the detection of three Saturn-mass planets discovered with the HARPS instrument. HD 93083 shows radial-velocity (RV) variations best explained by the presence of a companion of 0.37 M jup orbiting in 143.6 days. HD 101930 b has an orbital period of 70.5 days and a minimum mass of 0.30 M Jup . For HD 102117, we present the independent detection of a companion with m 2 sin i = 0.14 M Jup and orbital period P = 20.7 days. This planet was recently detected by Tinney et al. (2004, ApJ, submitted). Activity and bisector indicators exclude any significant RV perturbations of stellar origin, reinforcing the planetary interpretation of the RV variations. The radial-velocity residuals around the Keplerian fits are 2.0, 1.8 and 0.9 m s -1 respectively, showing the unprecedented RV accuracy achieved with HARPS. A sample of stable stars observed with HARPS is also presented to illustrate the long-term precision of the instrument. All three stars are metal-rich, confirming the now well-established relation between planet occurrence and metallicity. The new planets are all in the Saturn-mass range, orbiting at moderate distance from their parent star, thereby occupying an area of the parameter space which seems difficult to populate according to planet formation theories. A systematic exploration of these regions will provide new constraints on formation scenarios in the near future.
Microclimas urbanos: la importancia de los materiales

La adecuada planificación de los espacios libres de las ciudades cobra una especial importancia debido a la influencia que materiales y diseño urbano ejercen sobre el confort bioclimático. El estudio elaborado para la ciudad de Córdoba aborda aspectos como pavimentación o amplitud de espacios y muestra posibles consecuencias derivadas de diseños alejados del entendimiento del lugar y la dinámica climática local.
Anomalous gold in Witwatersrand shales

Virtually all the gold mined in the Witwatersrand basin comes from pyritiferous conglomerates and carbon seams; this is partly because these settings have higher gold grades than surrounding lithologies and partly because they represent persistent, easily mineable targets. With better detection techniques for low levels of gold (i.e., neutron activation analysis), it is becoming obvious that many other lithologies within the Upper Witwatersrand succession have considerably more gold than equivalent modern sediments (e.g., Pretorius, 1976) or volcanic rocks (Palmer, 1986). Footwall quartzites for i m below major reefs, for example, may have persistent gold grades over 1 ppm across whole stopes. These absolute gold concentrations compare favorably with the average grade of some Witwatersrand mines of around 2 to 3 ppm Au. Published gold values in settings other than exploited reefs are rare in the literature on the Witwatersrand eposits, mainly because interest is virtually restricted to conglomerates and carbon seams. However, to provide a data base for discussing gold distributions in all rock types, this study looks at the gold contents at the parts per billion level in the shales both away from mineralization and adjacent o major producing reefs. The aim of this communication is to document high gold concentrations in several Witwatersrand shales and to test their regional distribution. Comparison of values near and away from overlying mineralized reefs provides a test of different timings of the gold introduction. Sampling in shale horizons that are above major eefs provides a test of the viability of remobilization from the reefs to the shales.
Chemoautotrophy in the ocean

Organic matter recycling releases ammonium, and under anoxic conditions, other reduced metabolites that can be used by chemoautotrophs to fix inorganic carbon. Here I present an estimate for the global rate of oceanic carbon fixation by chemoautotrophs (0.77 Pg C y−1). Near‐shore and shelf sediments (0.29 Pg C y−1) and nitrifiers in the euphotic zone (0.29 Pg C y−1) and the dark ocean (0.11 Pg C y−1) are the most important contributors. This input of new organic carbon to the ocean is similar to that supplied by world‐rivers and eventually buried in oceanic sediments. Chemoautotrophy driven by organic carbon recycling is globally more important than that fuelled by water‐rock interactions and hydrothermal vent systems.
Graphite geothermometry in low and high temperature regimes: two case studies

Abstract This paper examines the potential use of the variation of the co parameter of graphite with temperature for geothermometric estimations. Two examples are presented in which graphite geothermometry, at low-and high-temperature conditions, is tested against other widely used geothermometers. The results obtained indicate that, at low-grade metamorphic conditions, the co parameter of graphite is affected by other factors besides the temperature, so graphite geothermometry (based on co) can only be used in such rocks for qualitative estimations. For temperatures above 500 °C, when the fully ordered graphite appears, there is a close correlation between the temperature estimations based on the structural ordering of graphite and from mineral-exchange geothermometry. The temperature calculations based on the co parameter of graphite are not influenced by factors (such as pressure or retrometamorphism) that clearly affect the exchange equilibria. Thus, graphite thermometry is a useful tool, for temperatures above 500 °C.
MESOSCALE STRUCTURE OF HAWAIIAN RAINSTORMS

Three significant Hawaiian rainstorms were analyzed using conventional meteorologica l data and photographs from the Synchronous Meteoro logica l Satellite (SMS-2). The impact of the satellite on analysis and forecasting was evaluated. Gridding inaccuracies and the distinctive nature of Hawaiian rains limit the impact of the satellite to the scale of synoptic analysis. The storms studied iUustrate the range of Hawaiian flood-producing systems and the limitations of the detection network. The most important meteorological determinant of fZood location is the low-level wind direction. Forecast and detection capabilities are evaluated in terms of developments in the coterminus United States, and it is concluded that the absence of meteorological radar in Hawai'i inhibits significant progress. Contingency indices (CI) were computed for 103 rain gages in the Hawaiian Islands. Results are presented in matrices of CI and in individual island maps on which CIs are plotted and analyzed relative to representative stations. The secondary CI maximum with increasing station separation, which has been attributed to spacing of convective updrafts, does not appear in Hawaiian examples. Orography dominates the CI patterns which resemble isohyets. The analysis was extended to interisland comparisons using representative windward and leeward stations. CIs decrease with distance in both samples but more so for windJpard (trade wind) stations.
Does Net E − P Set a Preference for North Atlantic Sinking?

AbstractThe present-day global meridional overturning circulation (MOC) with formation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) and the absence of a deep-water formation in the North Pacific is often considered to be caused by the fact that the North Pacific basin is a net precipitative, while the North Atlantic is a net evaporative basin. In this paper, the authors study the effect of asymmetries in continent geometry and freshwater fluxes on the MOC both in an idealized two-dimensional model and in a global ocean model. This study approaches the problem from a multiple equilibria perspective, where asymmetries in external factors constrain the existence of steady MOC patterns. Both this multiple equilibria perspective and the fact that a realistic global geometry is used add new aspects to the problem. In the global model, it is shown that the Atlantic forced by net precipitation can have a meridional overturning circulation with northern sinking and a sea surface salinity that resembles the present-day sali.
How Much Will Precipitation Increase With Global Warming ?

during the 1970s made possible the observation of the seasonally shifting patterns of global precipitation. It was not until recently, however, that the record could be considered long enough to investigate longer-term trends and the relationship between global precipitation and global warming. Using data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) instrument, Wentz et al. [2007] reported that global mean precipitation increased at a rate of 7.4 + 2.6% per oC between 1987 and 2006. Meanwhile, general circulation models (GCMs) used to predict climate change simulate twentiethand 21st-century mean precipitation increases of about 1–3% per oC [Held and Soden, 2006]. This difference seems surprising because some GCMs can adequately reproduce the much longer twentiethcentury surface-based land-mean precipitation record [Lambert et al., 2005]. Global precipitation changes are tied to the surface energy budget through evaporation and to the tropospheric energy budget through condensation. Thus, if GCMs do underestimate global precipitation changes, the simulation of other climate variables will be affected. Should GCM results be reevaluated in light of Wentz et al.’s [2007] findings? We find that 20-year trends are not directly comparable to 100-year trends. Hence, observations are not directly comparable to centurylong GCM simulations [see also Previdi and Liepert, this issue]. Proper consideration is necessary of the physical processes potentially behind changes in the water cycle.