Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical properties and direct radiative effect of Saharan dust: A case study of two Saharan dust outbreaks using aircraft data

The radiative effects of Saharan dust are measured during two flights by the Met Office C-130 aircraft off the west coast of Africa. Data from the broadband radiometers suggests that the perturbation to the top of the atmosphere net solar irradiance is as strong as -60 W m -2 -! -5 W m -2 during the dust events. In situ measurements with the nephelometer and particle soot absorption photometer suggest that the single scattering albedo is approximately 0.87 at a wavelength of 0.55 Ixm. This is in agreement with the optical parameters calculated from independent measurements of the particle size distributions combined with suitable refractive indices and Mie-scattering theory. The wavelength dependence of the extinction coefficient derived from measurements of the scattering coefficient by the nephelometer is also in excellent agreement with the calculations. Independent surface-based measurements from Cape Verde suggest that the wavelength dependence of the aerosol optical depth appears reasonable. Calculations of the downward solar irradiances within the aerosol layer are generally in good agreement with the measurements demonstrating consistency between the measurements and the modeling efforts. The terrestrial radiative effect is not detectable by the current instrumentation, though it cannot be considered negligible. These measurements suggest that satellite retrieval algorithms may misclassify the aerosol outbreak as cloud because the aerosol optical depth at 0.55 Ixm is as high as 1.15, which is in excess of the thresholds used in some cloud detection algorithms. The measurements demonstrate that this method could be used to provide an accurate benchmark for satellite-based estimates of the radiative effect of aerosols.
Stepwise Binding of Tylosin and Erythromycin to Escherichia coli Ribosomes, Characterized by Kinetic and Footprinting Analysis*

Erythromycin and tylosin are 14- and 16-membered lactone ring macrolides, respectively. The current work shows by means of kinetic and chemical footprinting analysis that both antibiotics bind to Escherichia coli ribosomes in a two-step process. The first step established rapidly, involves a low-affinity binding site placed at the entrance of the exit tunnel in the large ribosomal subunit, where macrolides bind primarily through their hydrophobic portions. Subsequently, slow conformational changes mediated by the antibiotic hydrophilic portion push the drugs deeper into the tunnel, in a high-affinity site. Compared with erythromycin, tylosin shifts to the high-affinity site more rapidly, due to the interaction of the mycinose sugar of the drug with the loop of H35 in domain II of 23 S rRNA. Consistently, mutations of nucleosides U2609 and U754 implicated in the high-affinity site reduce the shift of tylosin to this site and destabilize, respectively, the final drug-ribosome complex. The weak interaction between tylosin and the ribosome is Mg2+ independent, unlike the tight binding. In contrast, both interactions between erythromycin and the ribosome are reduced by increasing concentrations of Mg2+ ions. Polyamines attenuate erythromycin affinity for the ribosome at both sequential steps of binding. In contrast, polyamines facilitate the initial binding of tylosin, but exert a detrimental, more pronounced, effect on the drug accommodation at its final position. Our results emphasize the role of the particular interactions that side chains of tylosin and erythromycin establish with 23 S rRNA, which govern the exact binding process of each drug and its response to the ionic environment.
A penultimate glacial monsoon record from Hulu Cave and two-phase glacial terminations

Oxygen isotope records of three stalagmites from Hulu Cave, China, extend the previous high-resolution absolute-dated Hulu Asian Monsoon record from the last to the penultimate glacial and deglacial periods. The penultimate glacial monsoon broadly follows orbitally induced insolation variations and is punctuated by at least 16 millennial-scale events. We confirm a Weak Monsoon Interval between 135.5 ± 1.0 and 129.0 ± 1.0 ka, prior to the abrupt increase in monsoon intensity at Asian Monsoon Termination II. Based on correlations with both marine ice-rafted debris and atmospheric CH 4 records, we demonstrate that most of marine Termination II, the full rise in Antarctic temperature and atmospheric CO 2 , and much of the rise in CH 4 occurred within the Weak Monsoon Interval, when the high northern latitudes were probably cold. From these relationships and similar relationships observed for Termination I, we identify a two-phase glacial termination process that was probably driven by orbital forcing in both hemispheres, affecting the atmospheric hydrological cycle, and combined with ice sheet dynamics.
Effects of Alcohol on the Pharmacokinetics of Morphine Sulfate and Naltrexone Hydrochloride Extended Release Capsules

Although contraindicated, coingestion of alcohol and opioids by patients or drug abusers is a major health concern because of dangerous additive and potentially life‐threatening sedative and respiratory effects. In addition, alcohol has been shown to disrupt the extended‐release characteristics of certain extended‐release opioid formulations, releasing a hazardous amount of opioid over a short time period. Morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride extended release capsules (MS‐sNT), which contain naltrexone sequestered in each pellet core, are indicated for management of chronic, moderate to severe pain. Sequestered naltrexone is designed for release upon product tampering (crushing) to potentially mitigate morphine‐induced subjective effects. This open‐label, single‐dose, 4‐way crossover, pharmacokinetic drug interaction study compared the relative bioavailability of morphine and naltrexone when MS‐sNT is administered (under fasting conditions) with increasing doses of alcohol. Thirty‐two healthy, opioid‐naive adults were randomized to MS‐sNT administered with 240 mL of 4%, 20%, or 40% alcohol or water. No drug interaction was found between morphine in MS‐sNT and 4% or 20% alcohol. Administration with 40% alcohol did not affect overall morphine exposure but was associated with a 2‐fold increase in Cmax and reduction of tmax from 9 to 4 hours versus MS‐sNT taken with water. Naltrexone sequestering was successful in all treatment arms and not affected by coadministration with alcohol over the dose range tested.
Ontological generation of filter rules for context exchange in autonomic multimedia networks

Network management has suffered from increases in business, system, and operational complexity. This has been exacerbated by the heterogeneity in management data as well as the high quality requirements of multimedia services. Autonomic networking manages this growing complexity by adding intelligence inside network nodes and network management applications. While most autonomic applications simply use a control loop to monitor and configure entities, our work is aimed at building a self-governing network that is able to fulfill the requirements of current and future services. This means that management applications need a detailed and dynamic view of the contextual status of the network nodes as a whole in order to adapt their behaviour to changing context. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to semi-automatically generate filter rules based on existing information in a network management information model. These filter rules are used to determine the set of contextual data that needs to be exchanged with other nodes. The algorithm exploits the reasoning capabilities of ontologies and relies on the introduction of additional semantic relationships to achieve a fine-grained context exchange model. Large scale evaluations were conducted to characterise the performance of this ontological approach.
Rock types of South Pole‐Aitken basin and extent of basaltic volcanism

The enormous pre-Nectarian South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin represents a geophysically and compositionally unique region on the Moon. We present and analyze the mineralogical diversity across this basin and discuss the implications for basin evolution. Rock types are derived from Clementine multispectral data based on diagnostic characteristics of ferrous absorptions in fresh materials. Individual areas are characterized as noritic (dominated by low-Ca pyroxene), gabbroic/basaltic (dominated by high-Ca pyroxene), feldspathic (<3–6% FeO), and olivine-gabbro (dominated by high-Ca pyroxene and olivine). The anorthositic crust has effectively been removed from the interior of the basin. The style of volcanism within the basin extends over several 100 Myr and includes mare basalt and pyroclastic deposits. Several areas of ancient (pre-Orientale) volcanism, or cryptomaria, have also been identified. The nonmare mafic lithology that occurs across the basin is shown to be noritic in composition and is pervasive laterally and vertically. We interpret this to represent impact melt/breccia deposits derived from the lower crust. A few localized areas are identified within the basin that contain more diverse lithologies (gabbro, olivine-gabbro), some of which may represent material from the deepest part of the lower crust and perhaps uppermost mantle involved in the SPA event.
Environmental imprints of climate changes and anthropogenic activities in the Ore Mountains of Bohemia (Central Europe) since 13 cal. kyr BP

We have measured pollen, aluminum, and lead abundances in a Czech peat bog at Bozi Dar in order to investigate the environmental impact of Holocene climate changes and mining activities in Central Europe. The pollen record shows a continuous vegetal cover since 13 kyr BP. Aluminum and pollen deposition characterize the Younger Dryas (YD) cold event at 12.3–11.0 kyr BP, within its expected time frame in Northern Europe. Aluminum fluxes reveal four other significant dust events with significant Asian and Saharan sources, as shown with variations in stable 204Pb, 206Pb, and 207Pb isotopes. Recurrent Asian incursions are seen at Bozi Dar during the YD and Mid-Holocene dust events (at 7.1, 6.5, and 5.9 kyr BP). These Asian imprints are also observed by Le Roux and colleagues during the YD in the nearest Holocene-long geochemical peat record from Switzerland (Etang de la Gruère). We do not see at Bozi Dar the distinct western European volcanic inputs identified in the Swiss peat by Shotyk and colleagues. However, isotopic ratios characteristics of Mediterranean airflows are evident at both locations during the Mid- and Late Holocene. The occurrence of these various air mass sources in Switzerland and the Czech Republic substantiates Holocene atmospheric circulation models in Central Europe with dominating zonal airflows during the Early Holocene, followed by a governing meridian dispersion during the Mid- and Late Holocene. Lead inputs at 5.1–4.3 and 1.9 kyr BP cannot be explained by increased dust deposition only. The 1.9 kyr event fits local Bohemian ore isotopic imprints of which isotopic signatures are seen as early as 2.2 kyr BP in our core, hence revealing the oldest ever environmental record of mining-related activities in the Czech Republic. Relatively elevated Pb deposition at 5.1 and 4.3 kyr BP are tentatively attributed to contamination that may be from local sources and/or long-range transport.
Is IP-10 a Better Biomarker for Active and Latent Tuberculosis in Children than IFNγ?

Background The blood based interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis do not discriminate between active TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI). The search for distinguishing biomarkers therefore continues, as the accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis is particularly challenging in children. IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10) has recently been evaluated as a marker for active TB in adults with promising results. Aim To investigate this new biomarker for active TB and LTBI in paediatrics. Method We measured IP-10 levels using ELISA in supernatants of whole blood samples stimulated with TB-specific-antigens and negative control antigen. Results IP-10 is produced in high levels following mycobacterial antigen stimulation in active TB (n = 17) and LTBI (n = 16) compared to controls (n = 16) and to IFN-γ. The baseline levels of IP-10 are increased in active TB and in LTBI, but there is no significant difference of stimulated levels of IP-10 between active TB and LTBI. Conclusions IP-10 is a biomarker for tuberculosis in children. However like IFNγ, IP-10 also does not distinguish between active TB and LTBI.
Reliable synaptic connections between pairs of excitatory layer 4 neurones within a single ‘barrel’ of developing rat somatosensory cortex

1 Dual whole‐cell recordings were made from pairs of synaptically coupled excitatory neurones in the ‘barrel field’ in layer (L) 4 in slices of young (postnatal day 12–15) rat somatosensory cortex. The majority of interconnected excitatory neurones were spiny stellate cells with an asymmetrical dendritic arborisation largely confined to a single barrel. The remainder were star pyramidal cells with a prominent apical dendrite terminating in L2/3 without forming a tuft. 2 Excitatory synaptic connections were examined between 131 pairs of spiny L4 neurones. Single presynaptic action potentials evoked unitary EPSPs with a peak amplitude of 1·59 ± 1·51 mV (mean ± s.d.), a latency of 0·92 ± 0·35 ms, a rise time of 1·53 ± 0·46 ms and a decay time constant of 17·8 ± 6·3 ms. 3 At 34–36 °C, the coefficient of variation (c.v.) of the unitary EPSP amplitude was 0·37 ± 0·16 and the percentage of failures to evoke an EPSP was 5·3 ± 7·8%. The c.v. and failure rate decreased with increasing amplitude of the unitary EPSP. 4 Postsynaptic glutamate receptors in spiny L4 neurones were of the AMPA and NMDA type. At −60 mV in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+, NMDA receptors contributed 39·3 ± 12·5% to the EPSP integral. In Mg2+‐free solution, the NMDA receptor/AMPA receptor ratio of the EPSC was 0·86 ± 0·64. 5 The number of putative synaptic contacts established by the projection neurone with the target neurone varied between two and five with a mean of 3·4 ± 1·0 (n= 11). Synaptic contacts were exclusively found in the barrel in which the cell pair was located and were preferentially located on secondary to quarternary dendritic branches. Their mean geometric distance from the soma was 68·8 ± 37·4 μm (range, 33·4‐168·0 μm). The number of synaptic contacts and mean EPSP amplitude showed no significant correlation. 6 The results suggest that in L4 of the barrel cortex synaptic transmission between spiny neurones is largely restricted to a single barrel. The connections are very reliable, probably due to a high release probability, and have a high efficacy because of the compact structure of the dendrites and axons of spiny neurones. Intrabarrel connections thus function to amplify and distribute the afferent thalamic activity in the vertical directions of a cortical column.
First pterosaur from New Zealand

The distal portion of the left ulna of a pterosaur has been discovered in Upper Cretaceous marine sediments in New Zealand. This is the first evidence of a pterosaur from New Zealand, the third from the Late Cretaceous of the southern hemisphere, and represents the extreme southern occurrence of a pterosaur. It is not referable to any described taxon known from comparable material.
Amniotic membrane transplantation: An option for ocular surface disorders

Background: Ocular surface disorders (OSD) are challenging to treat. They can introduce serious morbidity and might even lead to visual loss. In such situations, keratoplasty remains the last option. Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been shown to be effective in the management of ocular surface pathologies. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of AMT for various indications of OSD. Materials and Methods: Experience of AMT in 65 patients with different OSD was evaluated. The aim of AMT was to achieve symptomatic relief, reduced inflammation, recurrence, and corneal haze; improve epithelization, stromal healing and visual acuity; and delay keratoplasty. Fresh amniotic membrane was used in all cases by a single surgeon. Follow-up and observations were done to evaluate success of achieving the goal. Results: Indications for AMT included primary and recurrent pterygium, various types of corneal ulcers (non-healing ulcer, descemetocele, corneal thinning and perforation), spheroidal degenerations, chemical burn and bullous keratopathy. The aim of AMT was different in different etiological indications. Postoperative follow-up was between 6 and 18 months. Success and complication rate were observed. Symptomatic relief (reduced pain and redness) was seen in patients with various corneal ulcers, chemical burn and bullous keratopathy. Improved epithelialization and stromal healing was noted in corneal ulcer cases. In spheroidal degenerations, keratectomy with AMT improved vision. Recurrence of pterygium was low (4.61%); graft failure in the form of graft rejection was seen in only 3.07% cases of acute keratitis. Corneal vascularization (4.61%) was present but not severe enough to hamper vision. Success in gaining intended effect was the most significant result with AMT. Conclusion: AMT in various ocular surface pathologies shows success in achieving the goal of symptomatic relief, improved epithelialization, stromal healing and vision. Reduction in inflammation, corneal haze and recurrence of original disease is achieved with minimum complications.
Adenoviral-Mediated Gene Transfer of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms and Vascular Cell Proliferation

Objective: Many vascular diseases are associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) gene therapy to the vasculature is a possible treatment for vascular disease as a means of increasing NO bioavailability, and this may be achieved using any of the NOS isoforms. The aim of our study was to compare the effects of adenoviral-mediated overexpression of the most commonly used NOS isoforms eNOS and iNOS on vascular cell proliferation. Methods: Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transduced with adenoviral vectors encoding eNOS or iNOS at a multiplicity of infection of 100. Control cells were exposed to AdNull (empty vector) or diluent alone. Transgene expression was sought by Western blotting. The Greiss assay was used to measure nitrite levels. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting on days 0, 3 and 6. Apoptosis was sought using FACS analysis. Angiogenesis was measured using a commercially available in vitro kit. Results: Expression of both isoforms was detected in transduced cells by Western blot at all three time points. NOS transduction resulted in increased nitrite levels with higher levels seen in iNOS- compared to eNOS-transduced cells. Cell proliferation was diminished in AdeNOS- and AdiNOS-transduced cells compared with non-transduced cells on days 3 and 6 in both HCSMCs and HUVECs. Apoptosis was not detected in either cell line with either of the isoforms at any timepoint studied. Both eNOS and iNOS gene transfer caused a reduction in angiogenesis. Conclusions: NOS gene transfer to both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells is antiproliferative and antiangiogenic. The biological effect is identical with both isoforms and there is no evidence to support a differential effect on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell biology.
Myofibrillar protein turnover in feed-restricted and realimented beef cattle.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed restriction and repletion on myofibrillar protein turnover in cattle. Crossbred steer calves (n = 12) about 310 d of age were assigned randomly to a diet of corn and silage that was 1) provided ad libitum for 146 d (ALC) or 2) restricted so steers gained . 2 kg/d for 80 d but received ad libitum access to feed thereafter for 66 d (RFC). At 27, 55, 97, 118 and 146 d a 24-h urine sample and a blood sample were obtained. Urine was analyzed for N tau-methylhistidine (N tau-MH), creatinine (C), urea nitrogen (UN) and total nitrogen (TN). Serum samples were analyzed for hydroxyproline (HYP), C and albumin (A). Body weights were lower (P less than .05) in RFC at 55, 97, 118 and 146 d. Excretion of N tau-MH was lower (P less than .05) in the RFC at 27 and 55 d but higher at 118 d. Urinary C excretion was higher in ALC at the last four sample times. Urinary UN and TN excretion were lower (P less than .05) in RFC at 55, 97 and 118 d; urinary UN also was lower (P less than .05) at d 146. Serum A was higher (P less than .05) in ALC at 55 and 118 d, respectively. Serum HYP was higher (P less than .05) in RFC at 27 and 55 d. Calculated myofibrillar protein breakdown rates (FBR) and fractional synthesis rates (FSR) were higher (P less than .05) in RFC at the last two sampling periods; FSR was lower for the RFC at the first sampling period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Loss of Slc4a1b Chloride/Bicarbonate Exchanger Function Protects Mechanosensory Hair Cells from Aminoglycoside Damage in the Zebrafish Mutant persephone

Mechanosensory hair cell death is a leading cause of hearing and balance disorders in the human population. Hair cells are remarkably sensitive to environmental insults such as excessive noise and exposure to some otherwise therapeutic drugs. However, individual responses to damaging agents can vary, in part due to genetic differences. We previously carried out a forward genetic screen using the zebrafish lateral line system to identify mutations that alter the response of larval hair cells to the antibiotic neomycin, one of a class of aminoglycoside compounds that cause hair cell death in humans. The persephone mutation confers resistance to aminoglycosides. 5 dpf homozygous persephone mutants are indistinguishable from wild-type siblings, but differ in their retention of lateral line hair cells upon exposure to neomycin. The mutation in persephone maps to the chloride/bicarbonate exchanger slc4a1b and introduces a single Ser-to-Phe substitution in zSlc4a1b. This mutation prevents delivery of the exchanger to the cell surface and abolishes the ability of the protein to import chloride across the plasma membrane. Loss of function of zSlc4a1b reduces hair cell death caused by exposure to the aminoglycosides neomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin, and the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. Pharmacological block of anion transport with the disulfonic stilbene derivatives DIDS and SITS, or exposure to exogenous bicarbonate, also protects hair cells against damage. Both persephone mutant and DIDS-treated wild-type larvae show reduced uptake of labeled aminoglycosides. persephone mutants also show reduced FM1-43 uptake, indicating a potential impact on mechanotransduction-coupled activity in the mutant. We propose that tight regulation of the ionic environment of sensory hair cells, mediated by zSlc4a1b activity, is critical for their sensitivity to aminoglcyoside antibiotics.
A hierarchical visualization model of the global terrain based on QTM

A global multi-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and a feasible solution for its visualization and management remains a challenging vision. In this paper a multi-resolution DEM based on the ellipsoidal triangular meshes is made to approximate to the earth surface. It was built through quaternary triangular mesh (QTM) hierarchical tessellation of the ellipsoidal surface. In order to achieve fast access, we organize the global DEM data as a hierarchy of Diamonds and indexing them based on the linear quadtree. Furthermore, a LOD is built through recursive subdivision of each Diamond, and an approach of viewpoints-based data extraction based on the neighbor-Diamond searching from the global DEM data is implemented for visualization. All this is backed with an implementation of a prototype computer system.