634 research outputs found
Closing the terrestrial water budget from satellite remote sensing
No full text[1] The increasing availability of remote sensing products for all components of the terrestrial water cycle makes it now possible to evaluate the potential of water balance closure purely from remote sensing sources. We take precipitation (P) from the TMPA and CMORPH products, a Penman-Monteith based evapotranspiration (E) estimate derived from NASA Aqua satellite data and terrestrial water storage change (ΔS) from the GRACE satellite. Their combined ability to close the water budget is evaluated over the Mississippi River basin for 2003-5 by estimating streamflow (Q) as a residual of the water budget and comparing to streamfiow measurements. We find that Q is greatly overestimated due mainly to the high bias in P, especially in the summer. Removal of systematic biases in P reduces the error significantly. However, uncertainties in the individual budget components due to simplifications in process algorithms and input data error are generally larger than the measured streamfiow.</p
Spatiotemporal monitoring of soil moisture from EMI data using DCT-based Bayesian inference and neural network
No full textLoop-loop electromagnetic induction (EMI) has proven to be efficient for fast and real-time soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measurements. It is important to develop robust and accurate inversion strategies to obtain soil electromagnetic conductivity image (EMCI) from ECa data. Moreover, obtaining an accurate non-linear relationship between subsurface electrical conductivity (σ) and water content (θ) plays a key role for soil moisture monitoring using EMI. Here, we incorporated probabilistic inversion of multi-configuration ECa data with dimensionality reduction technique through the discrete cosine transform (DCT) using training image (TI)-based parametrization to retrieve soil EMCI. The ECa data were measured repeatedly along a 10 m transect using a CMD mini-Explorer sensor. Time-lapse reference data were collected as well to benchmark the inversion results and to find the in-situ relationship between σ and θ. To convert the inversely estimated time-lapse EMCI to the soil moisture, we examined two approaches, namely, Rhoades et al. (1976) model and artificial neural network (ANN). The proposed inversion strategy estimated the soil EMCI with an excellent agreement with the reference counterpart. Moreover, the ANN approach demonstrated superiorities than the commonly used petrophysical model of Rhoades et al. (1976) to obtain spatiotemporal images of θ from time-lapse EMCI. The results demonstrated that incorporation of the DCT-based probabilistic inversion of ECa data with the ANN approach offers a great promise for accurate characterization of the temporal wetting front and root zone soil moisture.This work was supported by the Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST, Saudi Arabia) in collaboration with the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg (BTU, Germany). The first author kindly acknowledges Philippe Renard and Julien Straubhaar (University of Neuchâtel) for providing the DeeSse simulation code. Matthew F. McCabe was funded by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Effectiveness of structured patient-clinician communication with a solution focused approach (DIALOG+) in community treatment of patients with psychosis - a cluster randomised controlled trial
No full textBackgroundLarge numbers of patients with psychosis have regular meetings with key clinicians in the community. There is little evidence on how these meetings should be conducted to be therapeutically effective. DIALOG, a computer mediated procedure, was shown to improve outcomes in a European multi-centre trial. DIALOG structures the patient-clinician communication and makes it patient-centred, but does not guide clinicians as to how to respond to patients’ concerns. DIALOG has been further developed into DIALOG+, which uses advanced software and, additionally, provides a four step approach - based on a solution focused model - for addressing patients’ concerns. We designed a cluster randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of DIALOG+ in improving treatment outcomes of patients with psychosis in the community.Methods/designKey workers are recruited from community mental health teams in East London and randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group. Out of their case loads, we identify patients with schizophrenia (F 20–29) and a moderate or lower level of subjective quality of life (MANSA score <5), who are treated according to the allocation of their key workers. Key workers in the intervention group are trained in using DIALOG+ and use it with each patient over a six-month period. Control patients rate their satisfaction with life and treatment on a tablet to control for the effect of regular ratings and the use of modern technology. We are recruiting up to 42 key workers to reach a total sample size of 180 patients. Clinical and social outcomes including costs are assessed after 3, 6 and 12 months. Primary outcome is subjective quality-of-life at 6 months.DiscussionThe trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel intervention (DIALOG+) which uses modern technology to support routine patient-clinician meetings in community care, makes the communication patient centred and guides patients and clinicians to address concerns. DIALOG+ is a generic and widely applicable intervention. If shown as effective, it can be used to improve outcomes of community care on a large scale, ensuring that routine encounters are therapeutically effective. DIALOG+ can also be implemented across services at relatively low additional costs
Academic dishonesty in the Middle East: Individual and contextual factors
No full textLittle work has been done on academic dishonesty in the Middle East. This research investigates the nature of the relationship between contextual factors and academic dishonesty using a sample from three private universities in Lebanon, and compares the results to a sample from seven large universities in the US. Using the basic model of McCabe et al. (Research in Higher Education 43(3):357-378, 2002), we found additional evidence for the strong role perception of peers' behavior plays in understanding student decisions concerning academic integrity. Cross cultural comparisons of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding academic dishonesty were pivotal in this research. Our results support the view that Lebanese university students are strongly influenced by the norms of the collectivist society in which they are raised as compared to the more individualistic society found in the United States. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.Al-Harthi A. S., 2005, INT REV RES OPEN DIS, V6, P1; Ayyash-Abdo H, 2001, SOC BEHAV PERSONAL, V29, P503, DOI 10.2224-sbp.2001.29.5.503; Bandura A., 1977, SOCIAL LEARNING THEO; Buda R, 1998, J CROSS CULT PSYCHOL, V29, P487, DOI 10.1177-0022022198293006; Chapman K. J., 2004, INT J ED MANAGEMENT, V18, P425, DOI DOI 10.1108-09513540410563130; Christensen-Hughes J. M., 2006, CANADIAN J HIGHER ED, V36, P49; Cohen J, 1983, APPL MULTIPLE REGRES; COHEN J, 1993, J BUS ETHICS, V12, P13, DOI 10.1007-BF01845782; Dalton J.C., 1985, PROMOTING VALUES DEV; DELAMBERT K., 2003, J AM ACAD BUSINESS, V3, P98; Diekhoff GM, 1999, RES HIGH EDUC, V40, P343, DOI 10.1023-A:1018703217828; DuPont AM, 1996, J BUS ETHICS, V15, P815, DOI 10.1007-BF00381850; FRANKLYNSTOKES A, 1995, STUD HIGH EDUC, V20, P159, DOI 10.1080-03075079512331381673; Gibbs J. P., 1975, CRIME PUNISHMENT DET; HARPP DN, 1993, J CHEM EDUC, V70, P306; Hofstede G. H., 1982, CULTURES CONSEQUENCE; JENDREK MP, 1989, J COLL STUDENT DEV, V30, P401; Kohlberg L., 1969, HDB SOCIALIZATION TH, P347; Leelakulthanit O., 1994, INT MARKET REV, V11, P65; Lim VKG, 2001, ETHICS BEHAV, V11, P261, DOI 10.1207-S15327019EB1103_5; Lupton R. A., 2000, J ED BUSINESS, V75, P231; LYSONSKI S, 1991, J BUS ETHICS, V10, P141, DOI 10.1007-BF00383617; Magnus JR, 2002, J ECON EDUC, V33, P125; MCCABE DL, 1997, RES HIGH EDUC, V38, P397; MCCABE DL, 1993, J HIGH EDUC, V64, P522, DOI 10.2307-2959991; McCabe DL, 2002, RES HIGH EDUC, V43, P357, DOI 10.1023-A:1014893102151; McCabe DL, 2006, ACAD MANAG LEARN EDU, V5, P294; Michaels J. W., 1989, SOCIAL SCI Q, V70, P872; Newstead SE, 1996, J EDUC PSYCHOL, V88, P229; Nuss EM, 1984, IMPROVING COLLEGE U, V32, P140; Ogilby S. M., 1995, J ED BUSINESS, V71, P92; Pavela G., 2000, CHANGE, V33, P32; POWER FC, 1989, LAWRENCE KOHLBERGS A; Pulford BD, 2005, PERS INDIV DIFFER, V39, P727, DOI 10.1016-j.paid.2005.02.008; RALSTON DA, 1994, J BUS ETHICS, V13, P989, DOI 10.1007-BF00881669; ROSENHAN DL, 1976, MORAL DEV BEHAV, P241; Salter SB, 2001, J BUS ETHICS, V31, P37, DOI 10.1023-A:1010785106667; Sims R. L., 1993, J ED BUSINESS, V68, P207; SWIDAN Z, 2004, US INT BUSINESS REV, V13, P661; Swift C. O., 2001, J ED BUSINESS, V77, P69, DOI DOI 10.1080-08832320109599052; TITTLE CR, 1973, SOC PROBL, V20, P488, DOI 10.1525-sp.1973.20.4.03a00080; *TRANSP INT, 2005, TI CORR PERC IND CPI; TREVINO LK, 1994, J BUS ETHICS, V13, P405, DOI 10.1007-BF00881449; Triandis HC, 2001, J PERS, V69, P907, DOI 10.1111-1467-6494.696169; Underwood J, 2003, BRIT J EDUC TECHNOL, V34, P467, DOI 10.1111-1467-8535.00343; Wilhelm PG, 2002, J BUS ETHICS, V35, P177, DOI 10.1023-A:1013882225402; *WORLD BANK, 2006, LEB Q UPD 2 QUART 20; Zimring F, 1973, DETERRENCE LEGAL THR19151
Alcohol, ageing and dementia: a Scottish perspective
No full textThere are complex relationships between alcohol use; processes of ageing both social and biological; and cognitive impairment. This paper takes Scotland as a case study to begin to unpick and explore these relationships and their implications for people who drink as they age. In recent years several policy documents have been published in Scotland that acknowledge the increasing prevalence of alcohol problems among people as they age. This paper is based on a review of the literature, analysis of recent Scottish policy documents and two research projects undertaken by the author. The links between alcohol use and dementia are discussed, focusing on biological and social implications for individuals as they age. Current responses in Scotland to these different issues are examined from individual, cultural and policy perspectives. Despite efforts in Scotland the needs of ageing and older individuals who experience alcohol-related morbidity are not sufficiently addressed
Land evaporation in “State of the Climate in 2021"
No full textD. G. Miralles acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC) under grant agreement no. 715254 (DRY–2–DRY). M. F. McCabe is supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Friends and Symptom Dimensions in Patients with Psychosis: A Pooled Analysis
No full textPMCID: PMC3503760This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
A Bayesian analysis of sensible heat flux estimation: quantifying uncertainty in meteorological forcing to improve model prediction
No full textThe influence of uncertainty in land surface temperature, air temperature, and wind speed on the estimation of sensible heat flux is analyzed using a Bayesian inference technique applied to the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) model. The Bayesian approach allows for an explicit quantification of the uncertainties in input variables: a source of error generally ignored in surface heat flux estimation. An application using field measurements from the Soil Moisture Experiment 2002 is presented. The spatial variability of selected input meteorological variables in a multitower site is used to formulate the prior estimates for the sampling uncertainties, and the likelihood function is formulated assuming Gaussian errors in the SEBS model. Land surface temperature, air temperature, and wind speed were estimated by sampling their posterior distribution using a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Results verify that Bayesian-inferred air temperature and wind speed were generally consistent with those observed at the towers, suggesting that local observations of these variables were spatially representative. Uncertainties in the land surface temperature appear to have the strongest effect on the estimated sensible heat flux, with Bayesian-inferred values differing by up to ±5°C from the observed data. These differences suggest that the footprint of the in situ measured land surface temperature is not representative of the larger-scale variability. As such, these measurements should be used with caution in the calculation of surface heat fluxes and highlight the importance of capturing the spatial variability in the land surface temperature: particularly, for remote sensing retrieval algorithms that use this variable for flux estimation.Ali Ershadi, Matthew F. McCabe, Jason P. Evans, Gregoire Mariethoz and Dmitri Kavetsk
Monitoring agricultural ecosystems
No full textThe world’s population is predicted to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, and at the same time, economic growth and improving living standards in developing countries are driving up food consumption. To accommodate these increasing demands for food, the agricultural sector will need to produce at least 50% more food by 2050. The increasing food production will need to be accomplished not only on degrading soils, with depleting freshwater resources and while experiencing climate change but also sustainably to ensure long-term food and water security. With little existing space to expand current agricultural extents, the increased food production needs to be realized within existing farms through sustainable intensification of farming and by ensuring increased yield (FAO, 2017; Hunter et al., 2017; Karthikeyan et al.
2020). Through the history of agriculture, we have witnessed three major revolutions, that is, transitioning from hunting and gathering to planting; increasing productivity of farming through mechanization; and introducing genetic engineering, hybrid plants, and application of fertilizers and pesticides. To meet the growing global demand for food, a new revolution is required to further increase food production. This new revolution is considered by many to be digital agriculture (Shepherd et al., 2018). Digital agriculture is focusing on management
nd decision support infrastructure, including new sensing systems installed in situ or on robotics and unmanned aerial system (UAS). With an increasing number of miniaturized devices and sensors, data collection is becoming quicker, easier, and more accurate. As an integral part of digital agriculture, artificial intelligence and other improved data processing and intelligent software solutions are assisting in analyzing and making sense of an ever-increasing amount of data for agricultural production. With improvements in information and communication technology and increased connectivity, real-time or near real-time information is becoming available to improve decision-making and farm management, all of which can help enhance food production efforts (Fountas et al., 2020). Here we will focus on one aspect of this digital resolution in green farming: the procurement of spatially rich and temporally dense records of on-farm behavior via the use of UAS-based sensing technologies. UAS-based data collection has a unique advantage over other sensing systems due to the flexibility of deployment, the ability to cover specified spatial extents, ease of access, and the provision of consistent information. As such, UAS-based sensing technologies are playing a key role in advancing the promise of digital agriculture to facilitate data collection and actionable information useful for farm management and increased food production
The soteriology of James in light of earlier Jewish Wisdom literature and the Gospel of Matthew
No full textThe epistle of James has been neglected in NT studies, caught between its
relationship with Paul and the claim that it has no theology. Even as it experiences a
resurgence of study, surprisingly no full-length survey exists on James as the epistle of
“faith and works.” Approaches to James have neglected its soteriology and, in
consequence, its theological themes have been separated or studied only in connection
with Paul. As “moral character,” however, “faith” and “works” fit within a coherent
theology of God’s mercy and judgment.
This study provides a sustained reading of James as a Jewish-Christian document.
Because James presents the “faith” and “works” discussion in context of “can such faith
save?” (2:14), the issue becomes one of soteriology and final judgment. Both the “law of
freedom” and the “word of truth” demand faithful obedience—the “works.” Moreover,
God’s character and deeds in election form the basis for human “works” of mercy and
humble obedience, while future judgment is in accordance with virtuous character.
It has been established that James shares methodology and concerns with prior
wisdom literature. This thesis therefore examines key ideas developing across the Jewish
literature and Jesus’ teaching as presented by Matthew, and highlights developing views of
God saving and judging his people. Within the first two chapters, James gives a high view
of God’s work in calling and redeeming, providing wisdom to his people, and instilling the
long-anticipated new covenant that they might live in obedience, humility and purity in
accordance with his character and will. Because of God’s saving work, he justly judges
those who fail to live mercifully, while his mercy triumphs for those who obey. God
begins the work and sustains those who ask; but only those who submit to the “perfect
law of freedom,” whose faith works, receive mercy when God enacts his final justice
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