Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Platinum group elements in a 3.5 Ga nickel‐iron occurrence: Possible evidence of a deep mantle origin

The Bon Accord (BA) Ni-Fe deposit occurs in chemically depleted ultramafic rocks of the circa 3.5 Ga Jamestown ophiolite complex in the Barberton greenstone belt of the Kaapvaal craton, South Africa. The host rocks of the BA body are high-temperature ultramafic tectonites which probably represent the upper mantle residue from which the overlying magmatic rocks were separated during partial melting. BA is unusual both mineralogically and chemically. It consists of a rare Ni-rich assemblage: Ni-oxide (bunsenite), -spinels (trevorite, nichromite), and -silicates (e.g., liebenbergite, the Ni end-member olivine) and their altered equivalents. NiO (average = 38%) and FeO + Fe2O3 (average = 34%) are the major chemical constituents. The Cu and S contents are very low (both 2000°C; lower mantle). High Ni/Fe and Ni/Co ratios (relative to C-1 chondrite) suggest that BA might have been derived from siderophile-rich material that remained in the lower mantle after inefficient core formation. A model is presented wherein such a metal-silicate heterogeneity is fractionated and oxidized during ascent through the mantle in a thermal plume which originates in the lowermost mantle (the D″ layer). Some of its residue is finally incorporated as pods into the lithospheric mantle during formation of the Archean oceanic crust. Inclusion of such fractionated pods in the old subcontinental “keel” of the Kaapvaal craton might constitute a potential PGE source, which could have been tapped by subsequent magmatic activity.
The Early Cretaceous mammal Gobiconodon (Mammalia, Triconodonta) from the Cloverly Formation in Montana

ABSTRACT Gobiconodon ostromi, sp. nov., described from two partial skeletons collected from the Cloverly Formation in southcentral Montana, is closely related to Gobiconodon borissiaki Trofimov (1978) from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. The unusual dental characters of this new form are enlarged caniniform incisors, reduced canines, and replacement of the molariform teeth that lie distal to the presumptive premolars. Despite the fact that the molariform occlusal pattern is the same as in Amphilestes of the Middle Jurassic and the overall structure of the molariform teeth is comparable to that in amphilestid triconodonts, the dentition is otherwise so anomalous that Gobiconodon is assigned to a new family. The scapula possesses a supraspinous fossa and an apparently large coracoid. The humerus exhibits large deltopectoral and medial crests, and protuberant epicondyles; the planes of the proximal and distal halves of this bone are substantially offset. The pelvis conforms to a generalized mammalian patte.
Age group athletes in inline skating: decrease in overall and increase in master athlete participation in the longest inline skating race in Europe – the Inline One-Eleven

Background Participation and performance trends in age group athletes have been investigated in endurance and ultraendurance races in swimming, cycling, running, and triathlon, but not in long-distance inline skating. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in participation, age, and performance in the longest inline race in Europe, the Inline One-Eleven over 111 km, held between 1998 and 2009. Methods The total number, age distribution, age at the time of the competition, and race times of male and female finishers at the Inline One-Eleven were analyzed. Results Overall participation increased until 2003 but decreased thereafter. During the 12-year period, the relative participation in skaters younger than 40 years old decreased while relative participation increased for skaters older than 40 years. The mean top ten skating time was 199 ± 9 minutes (range: 189–220 minutes) for men and 234 ± 17 minutes (range: 211–271 minutes) for women, respectively. The gender difference in performance remained stable at 17% ± 5% across years. Conclusion To summarize, although the participation of master long-distance inline skaters increased, the overall participation decreased across years in the Inline One-Eleven. The race times of the best female and male skaters stabilized across years with a gender difference in performance of 17% ± 5%. Further studies should focus on the participation in the international World Inline Cup races.
The Interdependence between the Market Structure and the Quality of Audited Reports: The Case of Non-Audit Services

This paper addresses the effects of a prohibition of providing non-audit services (NAS) to audit clients. By combining a strategic auditor–client game with a circular market-matching model that has an endogenous number of auditors, we take into account the interdependence between the auditors’ and clients’ incentives, the market structure, and the quality of audited reports. We show that the regulation’s effects depend on the preexisting audit market concentration and the types of blacklisted NAS. In sharp contrast to the effects that regulators desire, a prohibition of providing NAS to audit clients can further increase audit market concentration and decrease the quality of audited reports if the fees that auditors previously earned from providing the blacklisted NAS were relatively high, compared to the reduction in audit costs that result from spillovers. In contrast, a prohibition of the NAS that generate intense spillovers and low NAS fees can have the unexpected—but desired—effect of decreasing market concentration; however, reporting quality also decreases.
Crustal structure of the western New England Appalachians and the Adirondack Mountains

We present an interpretation of the crustal velocity structure of the New England Appalachians and the Adirondack Mountains based on a seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection experiment in eastern North America extending from the Adirondacks in New York State through the northern Appalachians in Vermont and New Hampshire to central Maine. Modeling of the eastern portion of the profile within the New England Appalachians shows a subhorizontal layered crust with upper crustal velocities ranging from 5.5 to 6.2 km/s, a midcrustal velocity of 6.4 km/s, and a lower crustal velocity of approximately 6.8 km/s. Crustal thickness increases from 36 km beneath Maine to 40 km in Vermont. Little evidence is seen for structures at depth directly related to the White Mountains or the Green Mountains. A major lateral velocity change in the upper and mid crust occurs between the Appalachians and the Adirondacks. This boundary, projecting to the surface beneath the Champlain Valley, dips to the east beneath the Green Mountains and extends to a depth of ∼25 km below the eastern edge of the Connecticut Valley Synclinorium in Vermont. The Tahawus Complex, a series of strong horizontal reflections at 18–24 km depth beneath the Adirondack Highlands, is seen to dip eastward beneath Vermont. Upper crustal rocks in the Adirondack Mountains have Poisson's ratios of 0.28±0.01 that can be correlated with the Marcy Anorthosite. Pois son's ratios of 0.24±0.01 calculated for rocks of the Connecticut Valley Synclinorium indicate a siliceous upper crust in Vermont. The lower crust is considered to be best represented by intermediate to mafic granulites; a high Poisson's ratio (0.26–0.27) tends to support a mafic lower crust in the New England Appalachians. This seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection experiment provides further evidence for the obduction of the allochthonous western Appalachian units onto Grenvillian crust above a zone of detachment that penetrates at least to midcrustal depths and was the locus of successive Paleozoic thrusting.
Polyacrylamide efficacy for reducing soil erosion and runoff as influenced by slope

Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) can reduce soil erosion. Slope is an important factor determining erosion rate; however, PAM guidelines have not been well developed for different slopes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent which 20 kg ha−1 (18 lb ac−1) PAM (20P) and 40 kg ha−1 (36 lb ac−1) PAM (40P) increase the time to initial runoff (TRO), decrease cumulative runoff (RO), and decrease cumulative sediment loss (SL) on a Mexico silt loam soil adjusted to slopes of 10%, 20%, and 40%. Soils were packed to a bulk density of 1.3 Mg m−3 (81 lb ft−3) in test beds 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.15 m (12 × 12 × 6 in) and were subjected to a 61 mm h−1 (2.4 in hr−1) simulated rainfall with a kinetic energy of 1.5 kJ m−2 h−1 (103 ft lb ft−2 hr−1) for 1 h. Differences in TRO and SL for all slopes and PAM rates were all highly significant, as were all two-way interactions (p < 0.01). Applications of 20P and 40P significantly increased TRO compared to the untreated control (0P) at slopes 20% and greater but not at a 10% slope. No difference in TRO was found for soils at slopes up to 20% between 20P and 40P. The TRO was significantly greater at 40% slope for the 40P compared to the 20P application. Values of TRO with 20P and 40P were not increased at a 10% slope compared to 0P. Slope was not a factor in reducing RO. Applications of 40P for all slopes had significantly greater RO than either 0P or 20P. Polyacrylamide reduced SL for all slopes. A higher rate of PAM (40P) had less SL than a lower rate of PAM (20P) at slopes of 20% and 40%. With 40P, the reduction in SL was 72% greater than 0P at 40% slope. Therefore, slope is a critical factor in determining a PAM rate for reducing soil erosion and should be considered for proper application.
Prevalence of Anxiety among Hungarian Subjects with Parkinson's Disease

Although anxiety is one of the most frequent symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), only a few clinical tools can efficiently and reliably detect its presence. The aim of the present study was to validate the Hungarian patient-rated version of Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS). A total of 190 PD patients were enrolled into the clinimetric validation phase of the study and another 590 participated in the cross-sectional screening phase. The presence of anxiety disorder was diagnosed based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. The cutoff value for PAS which best discriminated the presence of anxiety from the absence was 12.5 points (sensitivity of 88.6%, specificity of 79.9). The area under the curve was 0.847 whereas the ROC analysis yielded the statistical significance level (p < 0.001). The optimal threshold values for mild (Hoehn and Yahr Stage, HYS 1 and 2), moderate (HYS 3), and severe (HYS 4 and 5) disease stages were 10.5, 12.5, and 13.5 points, respectively. Based on the general threshold anxiety occurred in 35.8% of the patients (persistent anxiety: 29.2%, episodic anxiety: 20.7%, and avoidant anxiety disorder: 16.8%). We demonstrate that the PAS is a valid, highly reliable, and sensitive tool for assessing anxiety.
Drosophila presenilin Is Required for Neuronal Differentiation and Affects Notch Subcellular Localization and Signaling

Presenilins are a highly conserved family of proteins first identified as causative genes in early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have suggested a role for presenilins in the Notch-signaling pathway, but their specific function within this pathway remains unclear. Here, we have characterized theDrosophila presenilin gene and protein and studied their interaction with Notch in both mutants and transgenics. We find that the Drosophila presenilin protein is proteolytically cleaved and broadly expressed during development with the highest levels in neurons within the larval CNS. We also show that mutations in Drosophila presenilin (Dps) genetically interact with Notch and result in an early pupal-lethal phenotype characterized by defects in eye and wing development and incomplete neuronal differentiation within the larval CNS. Moreover, we find that processing of Notch in the Golgi by the furin protease is unaffected in Dps mutants and that Notch is present and may even accumulate on the plasma membrane of neuroblasts in the larval CNS of Dps mutants. In contrast, overexpression of Dps in transgenics causes Notch to accumulate in the cytoplasm. Taken together, these results indicate that Drosophilapresenilin is required for proper neuronal differentiation and may regulate the subcellular localization of Notch proteins within cells, necessary for their accumulation and subsequent signaling capabilities.
SCN9A Variants May be Implicated in Neuropathic Pain Associated With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Pain Severity

Objectives:Previous studies have established the role of SCN9A in various pain conditions, including idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. In the present study, we interrogate the relationship between common and rare variants in SCN9A gene and chronic neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Design:Using a cohort of 938 patients of European ancestry with chronic neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy enrolled in 6 clinical studies and 2 controls (POPRES, n=2624 and Coriell, n=1029), we examined the relationship between SCN9A variants and neuropathic pain in a case-control study using a 2-stage design. The exonic regions of SCN9A were sequenced in a subset of 244 patients with neuropathic pain, and the variants discovered were compared with POPRES control (stage 1). The top associated variants were followed up by genotyping in the entire case collection and Coriell controls restricting the analysis to the matching patients from the United States and Canada only (stage 2). Results:Seven variants were found to be associated with neuropathic pain at the sequencing stage. Four variants (Asp1908Gly, Val991Leu/Met932Leu, and an intronic variant rs74449889) were confirmed by genotyping to occur at a higher frequency in cases than controls (odds ratios ∼2.1 to 2.6, P=0.05 to 0.009). Val991Leu/Met932Leu was also associated with the severity of pain as measured by pain score Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11, P=0.047). Val991Leu/Met932Leu variants were in complete linkage disequilibrium and previously shown to cause hyperexcitability in dorsal root ganglia neurons. Conclusions:The association of SCN9A variants with neuropathic pain and pain severity suggests a role of SCN9A in the disease etiology of neuropathic pain.
Interpreting Sustainability in Economic Terms: Dynamic Efficiency Plus Intergenerational Equity

Economists have expended considerable effort to develop economically meaningful definitions of the somewhat elusive concept of "sustainability. " We relate such a definition of sustainability to well known concepts from neoclassical economics, in particular, potential Pareto improvements (in the Kaldor-Hicks sense) and inter-personal compensation. In the inter-temporal realm, we find that dynamic efficiency is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a notion of sustainability that has normative standing as a goal for public policy. We define sustainability as dynamic efficiency plus intergenerational equity. Further, we argue that it is not unreasonable for economists to focus on the efficiency element, leaving equity considerations to the political process. The analogy to the relationship between potential Pareto improvements and (intragenerational) transfers can facilitate discussions about sustainability, both within the economics community and as part of an interdisciplinary discourse, and makes the basic concepts easier to operationalize.
Linearity Improvement of TWT driven by a Solid Sate Amplifier Using Bias Voltage Control

In this paper, the authors proposed a bias control linearized traveling wave tube (BCLTWT) to improve the linearity of the MPM. By varying the solid state device's bias quiescent point, it was observed that the 3rd inter- modulation distortion (IMD) products were improved without any external linearity circuits. The controlled bias point of the SSA is confirmed to the improvement of the linearity in the MPM. Experimental results are compared with the conventional TWT and MPM.
The Influence of Tobacco Smoking on the Relationship between Pressure and Flow in the Middle Cerebral Artery in Humans

Background Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of stroke but the mechanism is unclear. The study examined whether acute and chronic cigarette smoking alters the dynamic relationship between blood pressure and cerebral blood flow. We hypothesised that acute and chronic smoking would result in a cerebral circulation that was less capable of buffering against dynamic fluctuations in blood pressure. Further, these changes would be accompanied by a reduction in baroreflex sensitivity, which is reduced after smoking (acute smoking). Methods We recruited 17 non-smokers and 15 habitual smokers (13 ± 5 pack years). Continuous measurements of mean cerebral blood flow velocity (transcranial Doppler ultrasound), blood pressure (finger photoplethysmography) and heart rate enabled transfer function analysis of the dynamic relationship between pressure and flow (gain, normalised gain, phase and coherence) and baroreflex sensitivity during supine rest before and after smoking a single cigarette (acute smoking). Results There were no between-group differences in gain, phase or coherence before acute smoking. However, both groups showed a reduction in gain and coherence, associated with a reduction in baroreflex sensitivity, and increase in phase after acute smoking. Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, these findings suggest that in the face of a reduction in baroreflex sensitivity acute smoking may potentially improve the ability of the cerebral circulation to buffer against changes in blood pressure. However, chronic smoking did not alter the dynamic relationship between blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity. These results have implications on understanding mechanisms for attenuating stroke risk.
Directional dependency of cepstrum on vocal tract length

IN this paper, we prove that the direction of cepstrum vectors strongly depends on vocal tract length and that this dependency is represented as rotation in the n dimensional cepstrum space. In speech recognition studies, vocal tract length normalization (VTLN) techniques are widely used to cancel age- and gender-differences. In VTLN, a frequency warping is often carried out and it can be implemented as a linear transformation in a cepstrum space; c = Ac. However, the geometric properties of this transformation matrix A have not been well discussed. In this study, its properties are made clear using n dimensional geometry and it is shown that the matrix rotates any cepstrum vector similarly and apparently. Experimental results using resynthesized speech demonstrate that cepstrum vectors extracted from a speaker of 180 [cm] in height and those from another speaker of 120 [cm] in height are reasonably orthogonal. This result makes clear one of the reasons why children's speech is very difficult for conventional speech recognizers to deal with adequately.
Relict sorted patterned ground in Lesotho

Relict sorted patterned ground is described from an upland interfluve on the Lesotho‐South Africa border at an elevation of 3280 m a.s. l. The site comprises 2–4° slope angles. Frost penetration through the regolith is inferred to have been to 1 m depth during pattern formation. Sorting is thought to have resulted from deep seasonal freezing during the depressed temperatures of the Late‐Pleistocene Last Glacial Maximum (∼18 000 years B.P.). No direct evidence for permafrost is documented. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Surface Boundary Layer in Coastal Upwelling Regions

Abstract Observations from the Oregon, northwest Africa, Peru, and northern California shelves are used to examine the characteristics of the surface boundary layer in coastal regions during the upwelling season. The observations from these four regions yield a consistent picture of the structure of the surface boundary layer. Both CTD and moored observations reveal the presence of surface mixed layers that are typically 0–20 m thick with variability at diurnal and subtidal (periods longer than 36 hours) frequencies. The subtidal surface mixed-layer depth variability scales as u*/(NIf)½, where u* = (τS/ρ0)½ is the shear velocity, NI is the buoyancy frequency below the surface mixed layer, and f is the Coriolis frequency. Surprisingly, this relationship indicates that the subtidal variability of surface mixed-layer depth does not depend strongly on either the surface heat flux or advection of heat, both of which are large in coastal upwelling regions. Within the surface mixed layer the cross-shelf current .
A Preliminary Study of Copy Number Variation in Tibetans

Genetic features of Tibetans have been broadly investigated, but the properties of copy number variation (CNV) have not been well examined. To get a preliminary view of CNV in Tibetans, we scanned 29 Tibetan genomes with the Illumina Human-1 M high-resolution genotyping microarray and identified 139 putative copy number variable regions (CNVRs), consisting of 70 deletions, 61 duplications, and 8 multi-allelic loci. Thirty-four of the 139 CNVRs showed differential allele frequencies versus other East-Asian populations, with P values <0.0001. These results indicated a distinct pattern of CNVR allele frequency distribution in Tibetans. The Tibetan CNVRs are enriched for genes in the disease class of human reproduction (such as genes from the DAZ, BPY2, CDY, and HLA-DQ and -DR gene clusters) and biological process categories of “response to DNA damage stimulus” and “DNA repair” (such as RAD51, RAD52, and MRE11A). These genes are related to the adaptive traits of high infant birth weight and darker skin tone of Tibetans, and may be attributed to recent local adaptation. Our results provide a different view of genetic diversity in Tibetans and new insights into their high-altitude adaptation.
Spatial decomposition of MIMO wireless channels

In this paper a novel decomposition of spatial channels is developed to provide insight into spatial aspects of multiple antenna communication systems. The underlying physics of the free space propagation is used to model the channel in scatterer free regions around the transmitter and the receiver, and the rest of the complex scattering media is represented by a parametric model. The channel matrix is separated into a product of known and random matrices where the known portion shows the effects of the physical configuration of antenna elements. We use the model to show the intrinsic degrees of freedom in a multiantenna system. Potential applications of the model are briefly discussed.
Large-Eddy Simulations of Two In-Line Turbines in a Wind Tunnel with Different Inflow Conditions

Numerical simulations reproducing a wind tunnel experiment on two in-line wind turbines have been performed. The flow features and the array performances have been evaluated in different inflow conditions. Following the experimental setup, different inlet conditions are obtained by simulating two grids upstream of the array. The increased turbulence intensity due to the grids improves the wake recovery and the efficiency of the second turbine. However, the inlet grid induces off-design operation on the first turbine, decreasing the efficiency and increasing fatigue loads. Typical grid flow patterns are observed past the rotor of the first turbine, up to the near wake. Further downstream, the signature of the grid on the flow is quite limited. An assessment of numerical modeling aspects (subgrid scale tensor and rotor parameterization) has been performed by comparison with the experimental measurements.