Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monitoring Arthropods in maize and pasture fields in São Miguel and São Jorge Islands: IPM-Popillia Project

Abstract Background The dataset presented here is an achievement of the H2020 European project "Integrated Pest Management of the Invasive Japanese Beetle, Popilliajaponica (IPM-Popillia)". This project addresses the challenge of a new risk to plant health in Europe, the invasion of the Japanese beetle, Popilliajaponica (Newman, 1838) (Coleoptera, Rutelidae) and provides an environmentally friendly IPM Toolbox to control the expanding pest populations across Europe. This study aims to present the records of terrestrial arthropod diversity with a special focus on four groups belonging to Carabids and Staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera), Opiliones and Anisolabididae (Dermaptera), collected with the potential to be used as biocontrol agents against P.japonica in future Integrated Pest Management programmes. A thorough sampling programme was conducted in maize and pasture fields in two Islands of the Azores (São Miguel and São Jorge) in the summer of 2022. New information We provided an inventory of the arthropods recorded in two Azorean agroecosystems (maize and pasture fields) from São Miguel and São Jorge Islands. A total of ten maize and ten pasture fields were sampled and a total of 360 pitfall traps were installed, 216 in São Miguel and 144 in São Jorge, for seven consecutive days in August and September of 2022. We collected 18559 specimens belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, four classes, twelve orders, twenty-six families and forty morphospecies (two identified at the family level as carabid and Staphylinid larvae and 38 identified at the species level). We identified 38 taxa at the species level (n = 18281). Of the 38 identified taxa, 18 species were predators, 15 were plant feeders and five were omnivores. The 18 predators belong to the following families: 10 species were Carabidae, two Staphylinidae, one Anisolabididae, one Chrysopidae, one Leiobunidae, one Nabidae, one Phalangiidae and one Scathophagidae. Concerning the origin of the predators, we recorded five native species: two Carabidae, one Leiobunidae, one Scathophagidae and one Nabidae. The other 13 predator species were introduced or indeterminate.
Biodiversity Offsets: A Primer for Canada

Biodiversity worldwide is in dramatic decline. There is a need to develop new policy tools to combat this trend, including market-based tools. One such tool is biodiversity offsetting, defined as “measurable conservation outcomes resulting from actions designed to compensate for significant residual adverse biodiversity impacts arising from project development and appropriate prevention and mitigation measures have been taken. ” This paper reviews the Canadian experience with biodiversity offsets (aka conservation offsets, conservation allowances, etc.) and discusses a series of key design issues which must be taken into account in offset policy design. It suggests that there is a need to make great use of biodiversity offsetting in Canada. The development of wetlands offset policy in the United States and native vegetation offset policy in Victoria, Australia, are reviewed as case studies.
System 1 vs. System 2 Thinking

This paper explores the dual-processing hypothesis of the mind, Systems 1 and 2, by examining debates between cognitive and evolutionary psychologists. I structure the discussion in a back-and-forth manner to emphasize the differences. I show that, while the majority of cognitive psychologists now embrace the dual-processing theory of the mind, Systems 1 and 2, there are still some who disagree. Most evolutionary psychologists, in contrast, dispute the existence of System 2, a domain-general mind, although some disagree. However, a consensus is growing in favor of System 2, although evolutionary psychologists’ concerns must be addressed. The uniqueness of this review is that it contrasts the perspectives of cognitive psychologists with evolutionary psychologists, which is uncommon in the cognitive psychology literature, which tends to overlook evolutionary viewpoints.
Identification of Estrogenic Chemicals in STW Effluent. 1. Chemical Fractionation and in Vitro Biological Screening

A fractionation system, combined with an in vitro assay for detecting estrogenic activity, was developed in order to isolate and identify the major estrogenic chemicals present in seven sewage-treatment works (STW) effluents, receiving primarily domestic effluent, discharging into British rivers. Three sterols were isolated from estrogenic fractions of sewage extracts; these were the natural hormones 17β-estradiol and estrone and the synthetic hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol. 17β-Estradiol and estrone were present in all the effluents at measured concentra tions ranging from 1 ng/L to almost 50 and 80 ng/L, respectively. The concentration of 17α-ethynylestradiol was generally below the limit of detection but was positively identified in three of the effluent samples at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 7.0 ng/L. These data suggest that natural and synthetic hormones may be responsible for the observed induction of vitellogenin synthesis in male fish placed downstream of effluent discharges from STWs that re.
Upwelling response to coastal wind profiles

The spatial structure of nearshore wind, as measured by aircraft and analyzed in high‐resolution atmospheric models (e.g., COAMPS), has strong influence on the patterns of upwelling circulation, surface temperature, and biogeochemical processes in coastal regions. Using a regional oceanic model for both the Southern California Bight and the Central California Coast, we demonstrate the nature of this upwelling sensitivity and infer that present wind analyses do not adequately determine the most important wind properties, viz., the strength of the nearshore curl and the speed drop‐off near the coast.
Simultaneous seismic reflection and physical oceanographic observations of oceanic fine structure in the Kuroshio extension front

New simultaneous seismic reflection and physical oceanographic observations east of Japan demonstrate the utility of the seismic reflection method in mapping oceanic fine structure. Synthetic seismograms calculated from temperature and salinity data confirm that seismic reflections correlate with physical oceanographic structures. Seismic reflections at the boundary between the warm Kuroshio and the cold Oyashio water masses correspond to well developed, ∼10 m scale, temperature fine structure. Vertical current profiles suggest that this fine structure is caused by interleaving of these two water masses. We compare our seismic images with acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) intensity maps and discuss similarities and the differences between seismic images and the ADCP maps. Our study demonstrates that even relatively low‐energy seismic sources, in this case a 3.4 l (210 in3) generator‐injector (GI) airgun, can be used to image upper oceanic fine structure.
Recovery Capital Gains May Precede Craving Reduction in Opioid Use Disorder

Purpose Cravings for drugs and alcohol have been significantly associated with worse treatment outcomes. We investigated if improvements in recovery capital (RC) (eg, a measure of social capital/network, financial resources, education, and cultural factors) over time were associated with decreased reported cravings. Patients and Methods The original cohort consisted of 133 participants (63 females) with opioid use disorder seeking outpatient treatment, who completed the Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) (range 0 to 50) and the Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM) thrice over the 6-month study. Intervention was medication and case management. Analysis included one-way mixed models testing change over time for ARC total scores and single question craving rating (5-point Likert scale). Cross-lagged panel estimates used structural equation models with variables z-scored, allowing for path coefficient evaluation as standard deviations (sd). Results Total ARC significantly increased over the study (χ2 = 33.77, df = 2, p < 0.0001), with baseline of 36.6 (n = 114, sd = 11.1) and 6-month of 41.2 (n = 107, sd = 9.5). Craving also changed significantly (χ2 = 8.51, df = 2, p < 0.015), with baseline of 1.1 (n = 101, sd = 1.2) and 6-month of 0.9 (n = 107, sd = 1.1). The cross-lag from baseline RC to 3-month craving was significant (β = −0.28, SE = 0.11, z = −2.53, p < 0.011). The converse was not true; baseline craving did not affect later RC. Results were similarly significant when comparing 3-month to 6-month. The majority of sample was on buprenorphine. Conclusion As RC improves, the reported cravings at both 3- and 6-month study time points are significantly reduced. When evaluated inversely, there was not a significant association with baseline cravings and follow-up RC. Significant path coefficients provide an estimation of a directional effect from increased RC towards craving reduction.
Sampling Design for Car Survey Using Stratified Random Sampling

Perumda Pasar Juara wants to know the number of cars that enter the Kosambi Market parking area for one month. However, limited access to available data means that Perumda has to count vehicles manually. Therefore, an appropriate sampling design is needed to estimate the number of cars. The data used is the result of observations based on preliminary sampling on October 14-20, 2022 at 08:00-17:00 WIB. The variables of the data used are car arrival time, day dummy, and hour dummy. The method used is dummy regression analysis and stratified sampling design. The regression analysis results show that there are four strata where each stratum has a three-parameter Weibull distribution. Based on the results, the minimum sample size required with a 5% error rate is 116 hours per day and is allocated according to the strata
GPR prospecting of cylindrical structures in cultural heritage applications: a review of geometric issues

Cultural heritage diagnostics often involves the application of geophysical methods like groundpenetrating radar (GPR) along non-planar surfaces. Standard processing algorithms are based on the hypothesis of half-space geometry. In the investigation of cylindrical structures like columns with a small radius, this basic assumption is strongly violated and the application of conventional algorithms may be inappropriate. Although frequently overlooked, this fact implies that appropriate algorithms should be developed to take into account the additional data complexity arising from the unusual acquisition setting and exceptional care should be used in interpreting the radargrams. The first part of this paper offers a systematic review of problems related to geometric issues (air waves, multiple reflections, shape of the various traveltime curves) performing a theoretical analysis of major differences between cylindrical and half-space models. The second part shows, through numerical simulations and real data examples, the inappropriateness of the half-space model in the processing and interpretation of GPR surveys along cylindrical structures. The numerical simulations help visualizing the differences in reflection/diffraction features from buried and above-surface objects and errors arising from the use of inappropriate models. The real data examples offer a tangible demonstration of the benefits obtained from exploiting the correct cylindrical model and the additional information gained from later arrivals, such as multiple reflections, in constraining the estimation of electrical parameters (propagation velocity) related to constitutive and health states of the structure.
The Moral Dimensions of Family Caregiving for Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Background. Family caregivers in charge of patients with advanced cancer play an essential role. The psychosocial cost of these caregiving activities has been studied, and psychosocial interventions have been developed to improve the quality of life of family caregivers. A deeper understanding of caregivers’ burden is essential in order to enhance the benefits of these interventions. The aim of this study was to explore the socioeconomic and cultural factors responsible for shaping the complex personal experience of family caregiving and to analyse the moral dimensions of the caring experience so as to understand its effects on family caregivers more clearly. Materials and Methods. A qualitative study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with patients with advanced cancer (n = 20) and their family caregivers (n = 19) from 2017 to 2020. These interviews were analysed using an inductive approach and an iterative procedure. A thematic analysis was then performed using Tronto’s “ethic of care” framework in order to identify the various levels of responsibility and the relationships and effects involved. Results. Providing patients with advanced cancer with informal care is highly valuable work requiring various moral qualities, including attentiveness, responsibility, competence, and responsiveness. The mental load resulting from the moral aspects of care results from the cumulative effects of carers’ attentiveness and the responsibilities they have taken on. Conclusion. The present findings could guide healthcare professionals to develop best practice resources and guidelines in order to alleviate the hitherto underestimated effects of caring and promote a coordinated public health approach addressing the needs of caregivers. These efforts are particularly important as contemporary health policies tend to promote the shift from inpatient to outpatient treatment, which increases the importance of informal caregiving and the burden involved.
COLONIZATION BY ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA OF VARIOUS SOIL AND HABITAT TYPES OUTSIDE WOODLANDS IN A TRADITIONAL CENTRAL-EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

The invasiveness of Robinia pseudoacacia, one of the most invasive alien tree species in the agricultural landscapes of Central Europe, was studied in relation to its colonization of various soil and habitat types. The study area was a traditional agricultural landscape in Goricko Landscape Park (Slovenia), a hilly region, where half the territory is covered by forests and where R. pseudoacacia is also common. Habitat mapping in the field with a resolution of two meters was applied and further elaborated in GIS. It revealed 1307 patches colonized by R. pseudoacacia and belonging to 11 habitat types, covering 0.6% of the total study area. The most widespread were pure R. pseudoacacia stands, representing 69% of the total patch area. R. pseudoacacia is also abundantly present in small woodlots (19%) and in lowland and collinar riverine willow scrub (6%). The patches vary little in fractal dimension; the elongation index is highest in lowland and collinar riverine willow scrub, stream ash-alder woods and mixed stands. The most frequently invaded soil is pseudogley, with more than 38% of the total surface, followed by 21% for fluvisol and 17% for eutric cambisol. We confirmed that distance from nearest woodland is important, since almost 32% of the invaded patches are found at a distance of 1-100 meters from closed woodland.
A theoretical model for fragmentation of viscous bubbly magmas in shock tubes

[1] A coupled model for one-dimensional time-dependent compressible flow and bubble expansion is developed to investigate fragmentation mechanisms of viscous bubbly magmas in shock tubes. Initially a bubbly magma at a high pressure is separated from air at the atmospheric pressure by a diaphragm. As the diaphragm is ruptured, a shock wave propagates into the air, and a rarefaction wave propagates into the bubbly magma. As a result, the bubbly magma is decompressed and expands. Gas overpressure and hoop stress around expanding bubbles are calculated by applying the cell model. It is assumed that the magma fragments and the flow changes from bubbly flow to gas-pyroclast dispersion when the hoop stress or the gas volume fraction reaches a given threshold. Two types of fragmentation mechanisms are recognized: (1) high-viscosity magma fragments as the hoop stress reaches the tensile strength of the melt (stress fragmentation) and (2) the hoop stress does not grow in low-viscosity magma so that fragmentation occurs after bubble expansion when the gas volume fraction reaches a threshold (expansion fragmentation). During stress fragmentation a zone of steep pressure gradient forms just behind the fragmentation surface, which propagates into the magma together with the fragmentation surface. Analytical considerations suggest that the self-sustained stress fragmentation process can be described by a combination of a traveling-wave-type solution in the bubbly flow region and a self-similar solution in the gas-pyroclast flow region. Some simple formulae to predict the fragmentation speed (downward propagation velocity of the fragmentation surface) are derived on the basis of these solutions. The formulae are applied to recent experimental results using shock tube techniques as well as Vulcanian explosions in nature.
A numerical study of rainfall associated with a Baiu front : A case of Niigata-Fukushima heavy rainfall in 2004

Numerical experiments are performed to simulate and understand Niigata-Fukushima heavy rainfall in July 2004. The initial condition is adopted from global analysis (GANAL) data of JMA, and another numerical experiment is made with modified initial moisture field to better simulate the rainfall. A mesoscale-convectionresolving model is used, and the horizontal grid size is taken to be 1/18 degrees (about 5 km). It is emphasized that latent instability (positive buoyancy of rising air or CAPE) is important to explain convective activity and the rainfall, in contrast to a previous study which suggested the importance of convective instability. Latent instability is weak or absent in the GANAL data, but the observed heavy rainfalls and satellite images suggest that latent instability should be present at the initial time. A slight modification of the moisture field from the GANAL data gives rise to rainfall patterns which are more similar to those indicated by Radar-AMeDAS data in the early 10 hours. The rainwater distribution is discussed, compared with latent instability distribution. It is also suggested that neither convective instability nor equivalent potential temperature in the boundary layer are a good measure to explain the observed rainfall distributions.
The Vertical Structures of Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies Associated with Two Flavors of El Niño Simulated by AMIP II Models

Abstract Recent studies have identified different modes associated with two flavors of El Nino in terms of the three-dimensional structure of atmospheric temperature. The first is a deep-warm mode, which features a coherent zonal mean warming throughout the troposphere from 30°N to 30°S with cooling aloft. The second is a shallow-warm mode, which features strong wave signatures in the troposphere with warmth (coolness) over the central Pacific (western Pacific). The ability to simulate these two modes is a useful metric for evaluating climate models. To understand the reproducibility of these two modes, the authors analyzed the multimodel ensemble mean (MMEM) of 11 atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) that participated in the second phase of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP II). Each model was run in an AGCM-alone mode forced by historical sea surface temperatures covering the period 1980–99. The authors find that atmospheric temperature variability is generally well captured .
The “Great Extinction” that never happened: the demise of the dinosaurs considered

The concept of a sudden extinction of the dinosaurs, consequent upon the impact of some extraterrestrial object, is so dramatic that it has taken hold upon the imaginations of many scientists, as well as of the general public. The evidence for an impact, at approximately the level of the CretaceousTertiary boundary, is impressive. Whether it was the cause for the iridium concentrations, so widely distributed at that level, remains disputable. The wave of extinctions, so often attributed to the impact, is equally disputable. It is now evident that no clear line can be drawn between the smaller theropod dinosaurs and the birds. In that sense, the dinosaurs are not extinct. The dating of the extinction of the larger saurischians and of the ornithischians, based as it is upon evidence from only one small corner of the globe, is equally disputable. Whenever it happened, that extinction appears to have been the product of natural causes  a slow decline, occasioned by environmental changes, and not an extrater.
Enhancing Diabetic Retinopathy Detection Through Machine Learning with Restricted Boltzmann Machines

— Diabetes is a potentially sight-threatening condition that can lead to blindness if left undetected. Timely diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, a persistent eye ailment, is critical to prevent irreversible vision loss. However, the traditional method of diagnosing diabetic retinopathy through retinal testing by ophthalmologists is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Additionally, early identification of glaucoma, indicated by the Cup-to-Disc Ratio (CDR), is vital to prevent vision impairment, yet its subtle initial symptoms make timely detection challenging. This research addresses these diagnostic challenges by leveraging machine learning and deep learning techniques. In particular, the study introduces the application of Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBM) to the domain. By extracting and analyzing multiple features from retinal images, the proposed model aims to accurately categorize anomalies and automate the diagnostic process. The investigation further advances with the utilization of a U-network model for optic segmentation and employs the Squirrel Search Algorithm (SSA) to fine-tune RBM hyperparameters for optimal performance. The experimental evaluation conducted on the RIM-ONE DL dataset demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed methodology. A comprehensive comparison of results against previous prediction models is carried out, assessing accuracy, cross-validation, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) metrics. Remarkably, the proposed model achieves an accuracy value of 99.2% on the RIM-ONE DL dataset. By bridging the gap between automated diagnosis and ophthalmological practice, this research contributes significantly to the medical field. The model's robust performance and superior accuracy offer a promising avenue to support healthcare professionals in enhancing their decision-making processes, ultimately improving the quality of care for patients with retinal anomalies.