Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progress in operational flood mapping using satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data

During flooding, operational tools for mapping flood extent and depth of water in flood-prone areas are required by those planning emergency response, including UK statutory agencies such as the Environment Agency. Satellite data have become a source of information to map and monitor floods, but many of the methods developed to process the data are unsuitable for accurate, near real-time production of flood information products. This paper describes a new semi-automated methodology developed to provide operational mapping of flood extent and flood depth using satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data combined with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) elevation data. In this method, an analyst uses the flood boundary derived from 8 m spatial resolution satellite SAR data to estimate the flood surface elevation at points around a flooded area using a digital terrain model derived from LiDAR data. This method is compared to a simple satellite ‘SAR-only’ method for generating flood extent and alternative, automated methods of generating flood extent and depth that also used SAR and LiDAR. TerraSAR-X and SPOT 5 data were used from an area including the UK Somerset Levels which suffered a major flood event in February 2014. The new semi-automated method produced similar overall accuracy to the SAR-only method (Po = 95.8% and Po = 95.3%, respectively), but was more accurate at mapping flood extent where large vegetation or other objects appeared in the satellite SAR data. The automated methods were relatively inaccurate (overall accuracy ranged from Po = 83.4% to Po = 88.8%), but were used to identify where further work on improving the semi-automated-elevation method could be carried out. In addition to the flood extent information provided by the semi-automated-elevation method, flood surface elevation data were produced that could be used to estimated flood depths and flood volumes. The accuracy of the flood elevation surface was tested using LiDAR data acquired of the water surface during the flooding (root mean square error = 0.152 m). The paper discusses progress towards operational flood monitoring using SAR and LiDAR remote sensing products.
Rheology of crystal-bearing silicate melts : an experimental study at high viscosities

The viscosity of partially crystallized Mg3Al2Si3O12 melts has been measured under uniaxial compression in the interval 1010 - 1013 poise as a function of the volume fraction of crystals. These inclusions are well-rounded spherulites of aluminous enstatite, having the same composition as the melt, and whose growth rate is negligible at the temperature of the measurements. The viscosity increases by less than 1 order of magnitude for crystal fractions ϕ of 40 vol % and remains Newtonian up to the maximum stress exerted, namely 1 kbar. The Einstein-Roscoe equation, η = η0 (1 - ϕ/ϕm)−n, provides very good fits to the measurements only if either the ϕm or n parameter is allowed to depend on temperature. For modeling of magmatic processes, however, the widely recommended constant values ϕm = 0.6 and n = 2.5 should be adequate. The rheology changes abruptly when the clustered spherulites begin to oppose shear deformation, at a crystal fraction of about 40 vol %. The viscosity becomes non-Newtonian, with yield strengths of a few tens of bars at temperatures at which the viscosity of the melt is higher than 1010 poise. As long as the crystal fraction remains lower than 70 vol %, the deformation proceeds in an irregular manner with a nonuniform distribution of crystals and melt. The deformation becomes again regular at low stresses with lower melt fractions, but samples undergo extensive fracturation along the direction of uniaxial stress. Similar rheology changes have been observed during the isothermal crystallization of Li2Si2O5 melts, which produces small ellipsoidal inclusions. These results suggest that the influence of solid suspensions on the rheology of magmas is primarily determined by the crystal fraction, even though additional measurements would be useful to determine the possible influence of other factors such as the size distribution or the shape of the inclusions.
Unobtrusive People Identification and Tracking Using Radar Point Clouds

Identification of people in closed spaces is an indispensable requirement in modern smart home spaces. Existing recognition methods that utilize vision sensors, such as cameras, cannot be used for this purpose because of their privacy-invasive sensing characteristics. In this letter, we propose a method for unobtrusive identification and tracking of people by capturing their unique gait pattern in a closed space using point clouds generated from commercially available frequency modulated continuous wave radars. We primarily focus on handling the nonlinearity due to the variation of the subject's distance from the radar by augmenting the point clouds with novel height surface maps that are generated individually for every person. We build a two-level feature generation system on top of these point clouds to uniquely identify them. We also attempt identification using a blend of these height surface maps and existing point cloud processing architectures, such as PointNet and PointNet++. The average precision and recall for all seven subjects tested were $79.28\%(\pm 4.9)$ and $80.23\%(\pm 9.8)$. Finally, the proposed method augments the height surface maps with the PointNet architecture and utilizes majority voting scheme for people identification. It provides an accuracy above 90%, which indicates the efficiency of our implemented solution.
Constraining of the zero total surface charge in galvanic modelling

The galvanic problem is frequently solved by a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind based on a single layer source formulation. At higher conductivity contrasts between the model and its surroundings the homogeneous part of the integral equation approaches an eigenvalue equation. With infinite contrast the solution of this limiting integral equation is non‐unique, but in the subspace of zero total charge the solution is unique. This mathematical property of the integral equation is reflected in its numerical solution with the result that large numerical errors may appear and convergence of the solution becomes very slow. Errors are, for the most part, related to the computed excess charge generated in the numerical solution. The effect is studied by comparing the results computed from the solution of the integral equation alone with those computed from a particular solution where the requirement of zero total charge is used as a constraint. The model examples clearly show that the use of the constraint condition significantly improves the accuracy of the results.
The Political Economy Of River Rats And Idaho'S Four Rivers Whitewater Rafting Lottery

It includes thousands of miles of navigable whitewater, ranging from steep creeks to big rivers with huge rapids. Some of the big rivers have become especially well-known and rafting on four of the most popular stretches of these rivers is regulated during peak season by the U.S. Forest Service via the Four Rivers Lottery. To raft these river sections during the peak season, rafters must submit an application for a permit, and the permits are then allocated by computer lottery for the upcoming rafting season. There are at least 12 stretches of rivers in the west, for which rafting permits are distributed in this way, and most western states hold lotteries to allocate permits for hunting one or more big game species (Buschena, Anderson, and Leonard, Loomis 1982, Nickerson). Lotteries come in many forms, but they are not the only way of allocating rights for natural resource use. Noncommercial permits to raft the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River are allocated by a waiting list, although as of December 2003 the National Park Service placed a hold on adding names to the 8,000+ waiting list, and are considering alternative allocation schemes (Grand Canyon National Park).
Spatial and temporal characteristics and change trend of climatic elements of Qaidam Basin in recent 50 years.

The Linear Estimators Test and Inverse Distance Weighted method were used to estimate the spatial and temporal characteristics and variation trend of surface air temperature,precipitation,sunshine and relative humidity at 9 meteorologic stations of Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province from 1958 to 2007.The main conclusions were as follows:(1)The air temperature remarkably increased over the past 50 years,the magnitude decreased from southern to northern,the long-term trend weakly increased in northeast and southeast regions,but strongly in western and southwestern regions. (2)The precipitation increased weakly over the past 50 years,the magnitude of the precipition decreased from eastern to western regions,the long-term trend increased in most of the study area,especially in middle and eastern regions. (3)The sunshine decreased remarkably over the past 50 years,the magnitude of the sunshine decreased from northwest to southeast regions and the long-term trend decreased from eastern to northwest. (4)The wind speed decreased remarkably over the past 50 years,the magnitude of the wind speed decreased from western to eastern,the long-term teend decreased in most of the study area,increased from middle regions to western and eastern regions. (5)The climate is assumed to be in a tendency to changing into obvious warmth and wet in Qaidam basin in resent 50 years,especially in southeast regions.Due to the sunshine and the wind speed decreasing in central and weatern extremely drought regions,sandstorm days will reduce,vegetation will restore and the ecological enviroment will be improved.
Nitrate in soil humic acids revealed by 14N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Ecosystem management such as plant residue retention and prescribed burning can significantly affect soil organic matter (SOM) composition and, thereby, the closely associated carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling processes, which underpin terrestrial ecosystem productivity and sustainability. Humic acid (HA) is an important SOM component and its chemical composition has attracted much attention. Here we report the first application of N-14 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to soil HA study, revealing the surprising existence of nitrate-N and ammonia-N in the HAs. This newly discovered HA nitrate-N, though in a relatively low concentrations, is closely related to soil N availability and responsive to plant residue management regimes in contrasting forest ecosystems. The HA nitrate-N may be a useful and sensitive biochemical indicator of SOM quality in response to different ecosystem management regimes.
Remote Sensing of Coastal and Ocean Currents: An Overview

Abstract KLEMAS, V. , 2012. Remote sensing of coastal and ocean currents: an overview. Ocean currents influence the global heat transport; weather and climate; larval transport; drift of water pollutants; sediment transport; and marine transportation. As a result, oceanographers, coastal managers, and ships need up-to-date information on ocean and coastal currents. Arrays of current meter moorings can measure currents at local scales. Shore-based high-frequency radars are able to map coastal currents over a range of up to 200 km. Ocean drifters can be tracked to obtain circulation patterns over larger areas, but may take months to accomplish it. Only satellite remote sensors can determine currents synoptically over extensive ocean and coastal regions. Satellite altimetry is one of the essential remote-sensing techniques for monitoring dynamic ocean conditions, including surface currents, local wind speed, and significant wave height. Satellite altimetry measures sea surface heights, providing data on geostrophic circulation, including major ocean currents. Ocean currents can also be determined by satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or tracking the movement of thermal and color features in the ocean. The flow patterns of currents like the Gulf Stream are being mapped with satellite infrared scanners. The objective of this paper is to review practical remote-sensing techniques for measuring and mapping coastal and ocean currents.
Alkali Activation of Calcium Silicate Clinker: Hydration and Microstructure Properties

Synthesized CSC (Calcium Silicate Clinker: C 3 S 70% and C 2 S 30%) was hydrated in water as a control, and alkaline solutions: NaOH or KOH (5 M). The hydration kinetics was characterized by isothermal calorimetry. Hydrated samples after 28 days of curing were characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and SEM (Scanning electron microscopy). The results showed that the contact of synthesized phases with the liquid phase during hydration is affected by the presence of alkalis. The hydration of CSC in presence of alkalis leads to the acceleration of hydration and penetration of Na + and K + into the C-S-H structure, leading to the stimulation and generation of C-(N)-S-H and C-(K)-S-H. SEM observations revealed a significant difference in the morphology and composition of C-S-H in the presence of NaOH or KOH. The chemical activation of calcium silicate phases can be a promising solution to increase the hydraulic and mechanical properties of the resulting cementitious products.
OSC-CO2: coattention and cosegmentation framework for plant state change with multiple features

Cosegmentation and coattention are extensions of traditional segmentation methods aimed at detecting a common object (or objects) in a group of images. Current cosegmentation and coattention methods are ineffective for objects, such as plants, that change their morphological state while being captured in different modalities and views. The Object State Change using Coattention-Cosegmentation (OSC-CO2) is an end-to-end unsupervised deep-learning framework that enhances traditional segmentation techniques, processing, analyzing, selecting, and combining suitable segmentation results that may contain most of our target object’s pixels, and then displaying a final segmented image. The framework leverages coattention-based convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and cosegmentation-based dense Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) to address segmentation accuracy in high-dimensional plant imagery with evolving plant objects. The efficacy of OSC-CO2 is demonstrated using plant growth sequences imaged with infrared, visible, and fluorescence cameras in multiple views using a remote sensing, high-throughput phenotyping platform, and is evaluated using Jaccard index and precision measures. We also introduce CosegPP+, a dataset that is structured and can provide quantitative information on the efficacy of our framework. Results show that OSC-CO2 out performed state-of-the art segmentation and cosegmentation methods by improving segementation accuracy by 3% to 45%.
Increased Screening Rates for Thyroid Cancer Among Residents Living Near Nuclear Power Plants

Frequent screening for thyroid cancer has been suggested as a probable explanation for the observed high risk of thyroid cancer in nuclear power plant (NPP) areas. We aimed to compare thyroid cancer screening rates of residents living near NPPs to those of the general population. This study utilized data from two national survey-based studies in 2016 and in 2014, respectively, for residents (n = 1,200) living in administrative districts within 5 km of NPP sites as the interest group, and the general population (n = 228,712) including distant-living residents (n = 19,100) in administrative districts within 30 km of NPP sites as reference groups. We observed an increase in screening rates in residents near NPPs, which may lead to a higher possibility of thyroid cancer detection. Therefore, further epidemiological studies investigating radiation-induced thyroid cancer risk among residents near NPPs should be carefully designed and interpreted considering possible detection bias.
Surface water input from snowmelt and rain throughfall in western juniper: potential impacts of climate change and shifts in semi‐arid vegetation

In the western USA, shifts from snow to rain precipitation regimes and increases in western juniper cover in shrub‐dominated landscapes can alter surface water input via changes in snowmelt and throughfall. To better understand how shifts in both precipitation and semi‐arid vegetation cover alter above‐ground hydrological processes, we assessed how rain interception differs between snow and rain surface water input; how western juniper alters snowpack dynamics; and how these above‐ground processes differ across western juniper, mountain big sagebrush and low sagebrush plant communities. We collected continuous surface water input with four large lysimeters, interspace and below‐canopy snow depth data and conducted periodic snow surveys for two consecutive water years (2013 and 2014). The ratio of interspace to below‐canopy surface water input was greater for snow relative to rain events, averaging 79.4% and 54.8%, respectively. The greater surface water input ratio for snow is in part due to increased deposition of redistributed snow under the canopy. We simulated above‐ground energy and water fluxes in western juniper, low sagebrush and mountain big sagebrush for two 8‐year periods under current and projected mid‐21st century warmer temperatures with the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model. Juniper compared with low and mountain sagebrush reduced surface water input by an average of 138 mm or 24% of the total site water budget. Conversely, warming temperatures reduced surface water input by only an average of 14 mm across the three vegetation types. The future (warmer) simulations resulted in earlier snow disappearance and surface water input by 51 and 45 days, respectively, across juniper, low sagebrush and mountain sagebrush. Information from this study can help land managers in the sagebrush steppe understand how both shifts in climate and semi‐arid vegetation will alter fundamental hydrological processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bahamian Limestone Crusts

ABSTRACT Limestone crusts are extensively developed on the cays of the Great Bahama Bank. These are formed by induration of the rock through recrystallization and cementation. The crusts are probably formed above the intertidal zone. The resemblance of some laminated crusts to soft algal mats now forming in the intertidal zone is considered to be, for the most part, coincidental. Crusts are geologically important in protecting underlying, less resistant rock from erosion. Differentiation of two generations of intertidal features is possible if one generation is encrusted.
Spoken Word Recognition: A Focus on Plasticity

Psycholinguists define spoken word recognition (SWR) as, roughly, the processes intervening between speech perception and sentence processing, whereby a sequence of speech elements is mapped to a phonological wordform. After reviewing points of consensus and contention in SWR, we turn to the focus of this review: considering the limitations of theoretical views that implicitly assume an idealized (neurotypical, monolingual adult) and static perceiver. In contrast to this assumption, we review evidence that SWR is plastic throughout the life span and changes as a function of cognitive and sensory changes, modulated by the language(s) someone knows. In highlighting instances of plasticity at multiple timescales, we are confronted with the question of whether these effects reflect changes in content or in processes, and we consider the possibility that the two are inseparable. We close with a brief discussion of the challenges that plasticity poses for developing comprehensive theories of spoken language processing. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Linguistics, Volume 10 is January 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Consumer Valuation of Thanksgiving Items and the Role of Organic Certifications

Abstract Previous research links organic purchasing motivations to personal and family health. We conduct a national survey to explore whether this preference intensifies when preparing family meals, especially during Thanksgiving. We find that approximately 83% of consumers change their consumption habits for Thanksgiving, with a notable preference for organic products. Results from the choice experiment indicate willingness to pay premiums for Thanksgiving-themed items, especially those with USDA-certified organic or certified naturally grown labels. These findings underscore policy initiatives that strengthen consumer understanding of organic certifications and support producers in securing them, capitalizing on the seasonal demand surge.
Phosphoric Acid Based Geopolymer as a Novel Photocatalyst for Methylene Blue Dye Degradation in Wastewater

This study presents a new application of phosphoric acid-based geopolymers and phosphate washing sludge (PW) as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in wastewater. The aim of this work is to study the pho-todegradation of MB dye using PW@Geopolymer, exploring the effects of physico-chemical parameters such as initial pH and dye concentration on degradation kinetics. The kinetics of MB dye degradation are analyzed using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order rate equations, taking into account UV irradiation and non-irradiation conditions. The PW@Geopolymer photocatalyst exhibits high efficiency, achieving up to 91.7% MB dye degradation under UV irradiation. This performance is attributed to the combined effect of adsorption and semiconducting photocatalysis. The experimental data correlate closely with the pseudo-sec-ond order rate equation, indicating dominant adsorption kinetics. This research extends the applications of geopolymers by demonstrating their potential as efficient photocatalysts for MB dye removal from wastewater, providing valuable information on reaction kinetics, and highlighting the promising performance of PW@Geopolymer in eco-friendly dye degradation processes.
Recent retreat of the Elbrus glacier system

The glacier system covering Europe's highest mountain, Elbrus, has exhibited an accelerated retreat since 1980. Some studies have related this retreat to a significant summer temperature increasing trend. Relief- and aspect-related parameters for the glacierized area have an important impact on glacier changes. In this paper, the changes in glacier area are identified, quantified and correlated with relief parameters for the period 1985–2007. Spatial analysis was performed using the GLAM-CD (Glacier Mapper – Change Detector) algorithm. The input data for this algorithm were Landsat 5 images, the Aster Global Digital Elevation and the glacier outlines from the GLIMS project (Global Land Ice Measurements from Space). Regression analyses between glacier area losses and relief-related parameters indicate a significant positive relation with the altitude and a significant negative relation with the glacier surface area. In this context, we used a correlated component regression to model these relations. The model explains >50% of the total variation.