Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid Thinning at a Glacier Terminus and Icefield of Mt. Tanggula, Tibet, Detected by TOPEX/Poseidon, and Jason-2/-3 Altimeters: Confirmation by Satellite Imagery

An oceanic radar altimeter such as TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) is typically for observing elevation changes over the open oceans or large inland lakes/rivers, with limited applications over solid earth due to its large footprint and susceptibility to waveform contamination and slope effect. Here we demonstrate that it is possible to construct a long-term time series of glacier elevation change from T/P-series radar altimeters over two flat surfaces near a glacier terminus and an icefield (Sites A and B, with slopes of 2° and 0.8°) in Mt. Tanggula, Tibet, at elevations over 5400 m. We retracked radar waveforms using the subwaveform threshold algorithm, selected quality altimeter data (1/4 of the original) with nearly the same slope and adjusted the original elevations by fitting with a time-varying, 2nd order surface. The glacier elevation changes at the two sites from T/P (1993–2002) show seasonal elevation oscillations with linear rates at about −3 m/year and abnormal seasonal changes around the 1997–98 El Niño. Site A is over a deep valley in southern Tanggula. Its elevation dropped about 30 m over 1993–2002 (from T/P) and the glacier almost disappeared by 2016 (from altimeters and satellite images). Despite the sporadic Jason-2 and Jason-3 altimeter data, we also derived long-term rates of glacier elevation change over 1993–2017. Landsat-derived glacier area and elevation changes near the two sites confirm the rapid glacier thinning from the altimeters. The glacier meltwater near Site A supplied increasing source water to Chibuzhang Co west of Mt. Tanggula, contributing partially to its accelerated rising lake level. The glacier thinning at Site B (icefield) was correlated with the increased discharge of the Tuotuo River in eastern Mt. Tanggula, a source region of the Yangtze River. The successful detection of glacier thinning at the two sites shows that T/P-series altimeters can serve as a virtual station at a flat glacier spot to monitor long-term glacier elevation changes in connection to climate change. This virtual station concept is particularly useful for inaccessible glaciers, but its implementation faces two challenging issues: increasing the volume of quality altimeter data and improving the ranging accuracy over a targeted mountain glacier spot.
Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in cardiovascular pathologies: current knowledge and clinical potential

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute a family of endopeptidases that harbor matrix-degrading potential, but also modulate the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of resident blood-vessel cells and recruited inflammatory cells. Accordingly, they are proposed to play a major regulatory role in numerous cardiovascular pathologies, including restenosis, atherosclerosis, aneurysms, and post-myocardial infarction remodeling. Collectively, clinical and animal studies have begun to unravel the complex and often diverse effects MMPs and their endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) impart during cardiovascular pathologies. It is apparent that some MMPs are beneficial, while others impose detrimental influences on disease progression. This premise is underscored by evidence that broad-spectrum MMP inhibition fails to provide protection from most cardiovascular diseases. However, recent studies in mice using more selective inhibitors have proved promising. Consequently, there is an immediate need to elucidate the precise roles of individual MMPs and TIMPs in the distinct cardiovascular pathologies in order to facilitate the development and translation of new thera-
Population status of the tree Sacoglottis holdridgei (Humiriaceae) at Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica

Isla del Coco is the only oceanic island in the Eastern Pacific with humid tropical climate. Its forests have a particular structure with a unique array of plant species and high endemism. There are few studies on the flora or forest monitoring on the island. The population structure of Sacoglottis holdridgei was analyzed using data from six years with data points taken in 2006 and 2012, including sampling of regeneration in 2012. Sacoglottis holdridgei was the most important tree species, presenting in 2012 the highest Importance Value Index (190.7±21.8), abundance (158.5±40.3 Nha -1 or 39.5 % of the forest) and basal area (15.6 m 2 ha -1 or 72.9 % of the forest). It was present in all three height strata with dominance in the highest. Annual mortality was reported at 3.3 % and recruitment at 1.2 %. The diameter distribution of forest fits the inverted J model, but not for the reported species of which only S. holdridgei tends to adjust for DBH>40 cm. Regeneration fitted the inverted J model with values below those reported for continental forests. Even though it was the dominant species, S. holdridgei showed low regeneration values. This particular condition, give way hypotheses related to the introduction of species, species biology and climate change which could influence the future development of S. holdridgei and forests of Isla del Coco.
A WISE VIEW OF A NEARBY SUPERCLUSTER A2199

We use Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) data covering the entire region (∼130 deg2) of the A2199 supercluster at z = 0.03 to study the mid-infrared (MIR) properties of supercluster galaxies. We identify an “MIR star-forming sequence” in the WISE [3.4]–[12] color–12 μm luminosity diagram, consisting of late-type, star-forming galaxies. At a fixed star formation rate, the MIR-detected galaxies at 22 μm or 12 μm tend to be more metal-rich and to have higher surface brightness than those without MIR detection. Using these MIR-detected galaxies, we construct the IR luminosity function (LF) and investigate its environmental dependence. Both total IR (TIR) and 12 μm LFs are dominated by late-type, star-forming galaxies. The contribution of active galactic nucleus host galaxies increases with both TIR and 12 μm luminosities. The contribution of early-type galaxies to the 12 μm LFs increases with decreasing luminosity. The faint-end slope of the TIR LFs does not change with environment, but the change of faint-end slope in the 12 μm LFs with the environment is significant: there is a steeper faint-end slope in the cluster core than in the cluster outskirts. This steepening results primarily from the increasing contribution of early-type galaxies toward the cluster. These galaxies are passively evolving, and contain old stellar populations with weak MIR emission from the circumstellar dust around asymptotic giant branch stars.
The effect of mentholated cigarette use on interleukin-6 responses across different hIV positive race/ethnic subgroups

In this report, we analyze trends in interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH), as a function of smoking behaviors and race, using a clinic-based case-control design. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from a multiethnic cohort of 120 PLWH to measure IL-6 in culture supernatant. The data indicated that stimulated PBMC produced significantly higher levels of IL-6 in smok- ers than nonsmokers. However, as expected, this relationship was substantially modified by race. The distinctive production of IL-6 across different racial groups highlights the need for additional studies and suggests that African American smokers have enhanced production of IL-6 than other groups. Additional analyses indicate that higher IL-6 levels are related to the predicted use of mentholated cigarettes, which are more frequently used by African Americans. These findings warrant further investigation and indicate the critical need for tailored preventive interventions.
The twin deficits in OECD countries: cointegration analysis with regime shifts

We investigate the question of whether or not government budget deficits and real interest rates have a long–run relationship with the current account of the balance of payments in 23 Organization for Economic cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Such an investigation is important, since large and persistent budget deficits may impose strains on the foreign exchange markets and are considered by some to be one of the main causes of crises in international financial markets. We permit regime shifts in the cointegration analysis, which extends empirical modelling relative to existing studies. We find that the admission of regime shifts substantially influences the empirical conclusions: we find a long-run relationship between budget deficits, real interest rate and current account deficit in 13 out of 23 countries, whereas the number of countries with apparent long-run relationships is dramatically reduced when regime shifts are not permitted. We argue that, when structural breaks are taken into account, it seems to be the countries with a more extensive financial infrastructure in which the twin deficits are less likely to be conjoined.
Ecological Validity of Session RPE Method for Quantifying Internal Training Load in Tennis

This study aimed to verify the ecological validity of the session rating of perceived exertion (session RPE) method for quantifying internal training load (ITL) in competitive tennis players. Twelve professional tennis players (18.5 ± 0.4 years; 178.0 ± 4.0 cm; 72.4 ± 6.0 kg) participated in this study. In total, 384 on-court tennis training sessions, 23 simulated matches and 13 official matches were monitored. ITL was then calculated for each session using session RPE and HR-based methods. All individual correlations between the session RPE method and the HR-based method were significant (r = 0.58 – 0.89: p < 0.01). The correlation coefficients between methods during on court tennis training sessions, simulated and official matches were r = 0.74, r = 0.57 and r = 0.99, respectively. The results support the validity of session RPE as a practical method for quantifying ITL in professional tennis players.
Which sampling design to monitor saturated hydraulic conductivity?

Soil in a changing world is subject to both anthropogenic and environmental stresses. Soil monitoring is essential to assess the magnitude of changes in soil variables and how they affect ecosystem processes and human livelihoods. However, we cannot always be sure which sampling design is best for a given monitoring task. We employed a rotational stratified simple random sampling (rotStRS) for the estimation of temporal changes in the spatial mean of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) at three sites in central Panama in 2009, 2010 and 2011. To assess this design's efficiency we compared the resulting estimates of the spatial mean and variance for 2009 with those gained from stratified simple random sampling (StRS), which was effectively the data obtained on the first sampling time, and with an equivalent unexecuted simple random sampling (SRS). The poor performance of geometrical stratification and the weak predictive relationship between measurements of successive years yielded no advantage of sampling designs more complex than SRS. The failure of stratification may be attributed to the small large‐scale variability of Ks. Revisiting previously sampled locations was not beneficial because of the large small‐scale variability in combination with destructive sampling, resulting in poor consistency between revisited samples. We conclude that for our Ks monitoring scheme, repeated SRS is equally effective as rotStRS. Some problems of small‐scale variability might be overcome by collecting several samples at close range to reduce the effect of small‐scale variation. Finally, we give recommendations on the key factors to consider when deciding whether to use stratification and rotation in a soil monitoring scheme.
Non-LTE abundances of Mg and K in extremely metal-poor stars and the evolution of [O/Mg], [Na/Mg], [Al/Mg] and [K/Mg] in the Milky Way

Aims. LTE abundances of light elements in extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars have been previously derived from high quality spectra. New derivations, free from the NLTE effects, will better constrain the models of the Galactic chemical evolution and the yields of the very first supernovae. Methods. The NLTE profiles of the magnesium and potassium lines have been computed in a sample of 53 extremely metal-poor stars with a modified version of the program MULTI and adjusted to the observed lines in order to derive the abundances of these elements. Results. The NLTE corrections for magnesium and potassium are in good agreement with the works found in the literature. The abundances are slightly changed, reaching a better precision: the scatter around the mean of the abundance ratios has decreased. Magnesium may be used with confidence as reference element. Together with previously determined NLTE abundances of sodium and aluminum, the new ratios are displayed, for comparison, along the theoretical trends proposed by some models of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, using different models of supernovae.
Energy Resolution and Temperature Dependence of Ce : GAGG Coupled to 3 mm × 3 mm Silicon

Scintillators are a critical component of sensor systems for the detection of ionizing radiation. Such systems have a diverse portfolio of applications from medical imaging, well logging in oil exploration, and detection systems for the prevention of the illicit movement of nuclear materials. The rare earth element cerium is an ideal dopant for a variety of host scintillating materials due to the fast 5d1 → 4f radiative transition of Ce. Cerium-doped gadolinium aluminium gallium garnet (Ce:GAGG) is a relatively new single crystal scintillator with several interesting properties. These include high light yield, an emission peak wellmatched to silicon sensors, and low intrinsic energy resolution. Moreover, the material has high density and is nonhygroscopic. In this paper, we review the properties of cerium-doped GAGG and report energy-resolution (ER) measurements over the temperature range −10◦C to +50◦C for 3 × 3 × 30 mm Ce:GAGG crystals optically coupled to a silicon photomultipler (SiPM) sensor with a 3 mm × 3 mm active area. In addition, the linearity of the scintillator-SiPM response as a function of gamma energy is reported.
REER Imbalances and Macroeconomic Adjustments in the Proposed West African Monetary Union

With the spectre of the Euro crisis hunting embryonic monetary unions, we use a dynamic model of a small open economy to analyze REERs imbalances and examine whether the movements in the aggregate real exchange rates are consistent with the underlying macroeconomic fundamentals in the proposed West African Monetary Union (WAMU). Using both country-oriented and WAMU panel-based specifications, we show that the long-run behavior of the REERs can be explained by fluctuations in the terms of trade, productivity, investment, debt and openness. While there is still significant evidence of cross-country differences in the relationship between underlying macroeconomic fundamentals and corresponding REERs, the embryonic WAMU has a stable error correction mechanism with four of the five cointegration relations having signs that are consistent with the predictions from economic theory. Policy implications are discussed and the conclusions of the analysis are a valuable contribution to the scholarly and policy debate over whether the creation of a sustainable monetary union should precede convergence in macroeconomic fundamentals that determine REER adjustments.
Effects of livestock grazing on physical and chemical properties of sandy soils in Sahelian rangelands

The effects of grazing by livestock on soil surface features, bulk density and chemical properties were studied at the completion of a 4-year grazing experiment carried out in SadoreH, Niger. Grazing treatments were a factorial arrangement of two stocking rates (62·5 and 125 kg live weight ha~1) and four sheep:goat ratios (0:6, 2:4, 4:2 and 6:0 animals per pasture), with two pastures per treatment and two ungrazed controls. Observations were also made in a fallow subjected to 9 years of intense and uncontrolled mixed grazing, and in a site that had been protected from grazing for 15 years. The topsoil was sampled (at depths of 0–2, 2–6, 6–14 and 14–30 cm) below shrub canopy in herbaceous vegetation and in bare soil patches within each of 20 paddocks for determination of pH, organic C, and total N and P concentrations. Soil bulk density was measured in a subset of soil profiles. The areal extent of different types of soil crusts and other soil surface features was assessed in one-half of the paddocks. Grazing resulted in a reduction (p(0·01) and fragmentation of the area of crusted soils. However, this trend was partially compensated for by an increase of newly formed crusts. As a result, the soil infiltration index slightly increased with moderate grazing, but decreased at higher stocking rates. Compaction due to trampling was observed in the topsoil beneath the shrub canopy and also in vegetated patches, but only under intense grazing pressure. Soil bulk density was not affected by grazing except for an increase observed below 10 cm depth at the understorey of shrubs which is therefore unlikely due to trampling. When compared to the ungrazed control, pH, organic C and N concentrations, and to lesser extent P concentration, decreased after 4 years of grazing. Soil P and pH further decreased after 9 years of very high grazing pressure. However, neither N nor organic C decreased further.
Firms in International Trade

Firms play a critical role in the global economy. In this paper, we survey the behavior of firms in the international economy, both in theory and in the data. We first summarize the key empirical facts that motivate the study of firms in trade. Then, we detail recent theoretical developments on the micro-foundations of firm behavior in an international context, focusing on how firms select into exporting, and how firms respond to international shocks. Finally, we turn to a “real world,” empirically focused view of exporting, beginning with the growth dynamics of firms expanding to global markets, and then addressing the critical financing decisions firms make when engaging in international commerce. We conclude with directions for future research.
Emissions of gaseous mercury from biomass burning in South America in 2005 observed during CARIBIC flights

Plumes of biomass burning effluents were observed during CARIBIC flights between São Paulo and Santiago de Chile on August 31 and October 5, 2005, as well as during the last part of the flight from Frankfurt to São Paulo on October 4, 2005. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) correlated with CO on August 31 and October 4 yielding a TGM/CO emission ratio of (1.2 ± 0.2) × 10−7 and (2.4 ± 1.0) × 10−7 mol/mol, respectively. No significant TGM/CO correlation was observed on October 5 probably because of variable background concentrations of both gases. The TGM/CO emission ratios observed here over South America fall within the rather narrow range of (0.67–2.4) × 10−7 mol/mol reported hitherto for sites geographically as different as South Africa, Canada, and the U.S.A. A total average emission of 437 Tg CO/yr from biomass burning over the years 1996–2000 implies an average TGM emission of 210–750 t/yr from biomass burning, representing 3–11% of all mercury emissions. TGM emissions from biomass burning are likely to be larger than anthropogenic emissions in the southern hemisphere during the burning season in August–October.
Forty million years of magmatic evolution in the Mariana arc: The tephra glass record

Tephra glasses retrieved from 10 Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) cores around the Mariana arc system make up a remarkable record of explosive volcanism in the Marianas over the past 40 m.y. Major element compositions for approximately 1800 tephra glasses, from basalt through rhyolite, are reported and used to examine the nature and history of this activity. Three maxima of volcanic explosivity, presumably related to especially vigorous volcanism in the Mariana arc, are identified, with the biggest maximum at around 18-11 Ma and two other maxima at 35-24 and 6-0 Ma; the two younger maxima are contemporaneous with peaks in explosive volcanism observed for other western Pacific arcs. Explosive arc volcanism has been predominantly tholeiitic since shortly after arc inception; no boninitic glasses were found. The tephra glasses belong to the low- to medium-K suite, except during an enigmatic phase of medium- to high-K explosive volcanism during the late Miocene (11-7 Ma). Even though Mariana tephra glasses are largely similar in composition to Mariana arc lavas, the tephra show a much larger compositional range than that found for subaerial Mariana arc lavas, which totally lack dacitic to rhyolitic volcanic products. The tephra glasses define a bimodal population in terms of silica content, with a pronounced minimum, or "Daly gap," around 65-66% SiO2. Mariana tephra glasses are fractionated, with the least evolved glass being Fe-rich and having a magnesium number (Mg #) (100Mg/Mg+Fe 2+) of 55. Basaltic tephra glasses contain <16% A1203 (average 14.3% A1203) and are not high- alumina basalts; this contrasts with the observation that modern Mariana arc lavas contain 15-21% (average 17.4%) A1203. The high-alumina basalt lavas of the Mariana arc probably reflect plagioclase accumulation and not liquid compositions. All tephra glasses plot near low-pressure cotectics and reaction curves on the subprojection olivine-clinopyroxene-quartz; mafic and felsic samples define distinct trends. The mafic trend reflects fractional crystallization of mantle-derived basaltic magma, whereas the felsic trend may be due either to anatexis of Mariana arc crust or to fractionation of mafic melts. The tephra glass data reinforce the model that the magmatic evolution of the Mariana arc has been dominated by low-pressure fractionation, perhaps accompanied by anatexis. Episodic changes in melting regime to generate Miocene potassic tephra may be related to changing mantle sources and processes related to episodes of back arc basin spreading. These episodic changes are superimposed on a long-term increase in potassium that reflects progressive metasomatism of the mantle source. Long-term increases in K20 contents for Mariana arc magmas inferred from the tephra glass record are 0.004 wt % m.y. - (mafic), 0.011 wt % m.y. - (intermediate), and 0.023 wt % m.y. - (felsic).
Mobile Phone Use and Perspectives on Tailored Texting in Adults with Diabetes

Justin Gatwood, PhD, MPH, Rajesh Balkrishnan, PhD, Steven R. Erickson, PharmD, Lawrence C. An, MD, John D. Piette, PhD, Karen B. Farris, PhD University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, Memphis, TN, USA; University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; University of Michigan Medical School Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; University of Michigan Center for Health Communication Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Corresponding Author: jgatwood@uthsc.edu Note: Portions of this article were presented at Wireless Health ’13, November 1 3, 2013, Baltimore, MD