Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interacting effects of CO2 partial pressure and temperature on photosynthesis and calcification in a scleractinian coral

We show here that CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) and temperature significantly interact on coral physiology. The effects of increased pCO2 and temperature on photosynthesis, respiration and calcification rates were investigated in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata. Cuttings were exposed to temperatures of 25°C or 28°C and to pCO2 values of ca. 460 or 760 μatm for 5 weeks. The contents of chlorophyll c2 and protein remained constant throughout the experiment, while the chlorophyll a content was significantly affected by temperature, and was higher under the ‘high‐temperature–high‐pCO2’ condition. The cell‐specific density was higher at ‘high pCO2’ than at ‘normal pCO2’ (1.7 vs. 1.4). The net photosynthesis normalized per unit protein was affected by both temperature and pCO2, whereas respiration was not affected by the treatments. Calcification decreased by 50% when temperature and pCO2 were both elevated. Calcification under normal temperature did not change in response to an increased pCO2. This is not in agreement with numerous published papers that describe a negative relationship between marine calcification and CO2. The confounding effect of temperature has the potential to explain a large portion of the variability of the relationship between calcification and pCO2 reported in the literature, and warrants a re‐evaluation of the projected decrease of marine calcification by the year 2100.
Glacial rebound and relative sea-level variations: a new appraisal

Summary. Late Pleistocene and Holocene changes in sea-level at technically stable shorelines contain information on the melting history of the ice sheets and on the response of the Earth to changes in surface loads on time scales of 104yr. Some separation of parameters defining the ice loads and the Earth's response can be achieved by examining sea-level change at different sites around the world and at different epochs. This paper examines the mathematical requirements for obtaining satisfactory solutions for the sea-level equation rather than emphasizing results for the Earth's response to the surface loads. an examination of the equation expressing the sea-level variation on a viscoelastic earth indicates that careful consideration needs to be given to both the definition of the ice load and the geometry of the redistributed water load if geophysically significant Earth-response parameters are to be deduced from observations of relative sea-level. the spectrum of the 5°x 5° area-mean description of the ice load, widely used in glacial rebound studies, contains significant power at high degrees (n > 30) and can result in substantial spatial variations in sea-level unless a thick lithosphere is introduced in the Earth's response function. A smoothed 1°× 1° description of the ice model avoids these high-degree oscillations in relative sea-level and produces satisfactory sea-level results without requiring a thick lithosphere. At far field sites, the Holocene sea-levels are sensitive to the Earth's response to the meltwater loading in the vicinity of the site and a high-degree spatial resolution of coastline geometry is required to model the mantle flow driven by the differential loading about the site. At some sites convergence of the solution to the sea-level equation is not obtained, even when the solution is expanded to degree 180. Convergent solutions at lower degrees can be achieved by introducing earth models with a moderately thick lithosphere. If high-resolution ice and meltwater load models are not used then the tendency will be to overestimate the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere. Estimates of mantle viscosity are also of questionable value if these high resolution models are not used. A preliminary examination of sea-levels at sites in both the near- and far-field places an upper limit of about 50–80 km on the effective lithospheric thickness. These sea-level observations are also consistent with an upper mantle viscosity of about 1021 Pas with a lower mantle viscosity in the range of 1021-1023Pa s.
Path to Prosperity: The Dynamics of Freedom and Economic Development

We present a dynamic general equilibrium model that formalizes the political mechanisms that prompt demographic change and augment economic development. We demonstrate that in addition to well-established economic determinants, fertility decisions, human capital accumulation and economic development are altered by three fundamental political variables: political freedom, political stability, and political capacity. Using the model, we derive a set of conditions that enable poor nations to escape poverty traps. The formal deductions are supported by empirical analysis utilizing a panel of 108 countries from 1960 to 2004. Our findings demonstrate that political change triggers a demographic transition that catapults nations onto the path of sustained economic growth. Our results show that developing nations with capable, free, and stable political systems can substantially close the economic gap that divides rich nations from poor nations within a generation.
Protection against radiation-induced testicular injury in rabbits by haberlea rhodopensis (a balkan ressurection plant) extract

The aim of this study was to determine the deleterious effects of nonlethal gamma radiation on testes and their possible inhibition by Haberlea rhodopensis extract (HRE). For this goal, 20 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group I – untreated, group II – treated with HRE extract, group III – exposed to 2 Gy gamma radiation, group IV – treated with HRE (0.24 g/kg b.w.) two hours before irradiation with 2 Gy. Exposure of animals to 2.0 Gy gamma radiation resulted into significant decrease in tubular diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules on the 15 day after irradiation. HRE pretreatment resulted in significant increase in tubular diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules as compared to the irradiated group. Radiation-induced histological lesions in testicular architecture were more severe in irradiated only than in HRE-treated irradiated rabbits. HRE administration before irradiation significantly attenuated radiation-induced histological damages in testes. These observations indicate the radioprotective potential of Haberlea Rhodopensis leaves extract against the effects of whole body gamma irradiation on rabbit testicular histostructure.
Point Pattern Modeling for Degraded Presence-Only Data over Large Regions

Explaining the distribution of a species using local environmental features is a long standing ecological problem. Often, available data is collected as a set of presence locations only thus precluding the possibility of a desired presence-absence analysis. We propose that it is natural to view presence-only data as a point pattern over a region and to use local environmental features to explain the intensity driving this point pattern. We use a hierarchical model to treat the presence data as a realization of a spatial point process, whose intensity is governed by the set of environmental covariates. Spatial dependence in the intensity levels is modeled with random effects involving a zero mean Gaussian process. We augment the model to capture highly variable and typically sparse sampling effort as well as land transformation, both of which degrade the point pattern. The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) in South Africa provides an extensive class of such species data. The potential (i.e., nondegraded) presence surfaces over the entire area are of interest from a conservation and policy perspective. The region is divided into ∼ 37, 000 grid cells. To work with a Gaussian process over a very large number of cells we use predictive spatial process approximation. Bias correction by adding a heteroscedastic error component has also been implemented. We illustrate with modeling for six of different species. Also, comparison is made with the now popular Maxent approach though the latter is limited with regard to inference. The resultant patterns are important on their own but also enable a comparative view, for example, to investigate whether a pair of species are potentially competing in the same area. An additional feature of our modeling is the opportunity to infer about biodiversity through species richness, i.e., the number of distinct species in an areal unit. such investigation immediately follows within our modeling framework.
Movement, drivers and bimodality of the South Asian High

Abstract. The South Asian High (SAH) is an important component of the summer monsoon system in Asia. In this study we investigate the location and drivers of the SAH at 100 hPa during the boreal summers of 1979 to 2014 on interannual, seasonal and synoptic timescales using seven reanalyses and observational data. Our comparison of the different reanalyses focuses especially on the bimodality of the SAH, i.e. the two preferred modes of the SAH centre location: the Iranian Plateau to the west and the Tibetan Plateau to the east. We find that only the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis shows a clear bimodal structure of the SAH centre distribution with respect to daily and pentad (5 day) mean data. Furthermore, the distribution of the SAH centre location is highly variable from year to year. As in simple model studies, which connect the SAH to heating in the tropics, we find that the mean seasonal cycle of the SAH and its centre are dominated by the expansion of convection in the South Asian region (70–130° E × 15–30° N) on the south-eastern border of the SAH. A composite analysis of precipitation and outgoing long-wave radiation data with respect to the location of the SAH centre reveals that a more westward (eastward) location of the SAH is related to stronger (weaker) convection and rainfall over India and weaker (stronger) precipitation over the western Pacific.
Interval Estimation of Potentially Misspecified Quantile Models in the Presence of Missing Data

This paper develops practical methods for relaxing the missing at random assumption when estimating models of conditional quantiles with missing outcome data and discrete covariates. We restrict the degree of non-ignorable selection governing the missingness process by imposing bounds on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) distance between the distribution of outcomes among missing observations and the overall (unselected) distribution. Two methods are developed for conducting inference in this environment. The first allows us to perform finite sample inference on the identified set and is well suited to tests of model specification. The second enables us to conduct inference on the parameters of potentially misspecified models. To illustrate our techniques, we revisit the results of Angrist, Chernozhukov, and Fernández-Val (2006) regarding changes across Decennial Censuses in the quantile specific returns to schooling.
Evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Attributed to Atmospheric O3, NO2 and SO2 in Tehran City, from 2005 to 2014

Air pollution in Tehran is considered as one of the most important factors threatening human health. High concentrations of pollutants have adverse effects on citizens and the environment. We calculated the relation between COPD and criteria air pollutants in Tehran, one of the most polluted cities in the world during 2005 to 2014. Hourly data of pollutants include SO2, O3 and NO2 were taken from the Tehran environmental protection agency and Air Quality Control Company. The AirQ2,2,3 model that proposed by the WHO, is used to health impact assessment of pollutants in terms of hospital admission due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Results indicated that the total cumulative number of cases due to hospital admission due to COPD in Tehran city from 2005 to 2014 for SO2, O3 and NO2 was 1806, 2941 and 2454 cases, respectively. The finding of this study showed that total mean of SO2, O3 and NO2 was higher than the standard concentration. By comparison with guideline and standards, annual concentration for SO2, O3 and NO2 was exceeded on standard level in during the study period. This study demonstrated that a high percentage of hospital admission due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease resulting from these pollutants could be due to the high average concentration in the air of Tehran during 2005 to 2014. So, authorities must apply the efforts and necessities actions based on comprehensive scientific researches to control air pollutants and abate their negative effects on human health.
Redescription of Rhopalurus abudi (Scorpiones, Buthidae), with first description of the male and first record from mainland Hispaniola

Abstract Rhopalurus abudi Armas & Marcano Fondeur 1987 was originally described on the basis of a single female specimen from Isla Saona, La Romana Province, off the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. The species is redescribed here based on a series of new specimens including 19 adult males and 14 adult females collected at two nearby localities on the eastern side of Parque Nacional del Este, La Altagracia Province, southeastern Dominican Republic. These specimens represent the first records of R. abudi on mainland Hispaniola and the first male specimens of the species to be collected.
Interactive Generation of 3 D Volumetric Models from Point Clouds : Application to Mughal Architecture

We present a volumetric modeling approach to interactively fit 3D primitives to point clouds in order to generate a CAD like model. Our model consists of two categories of volumetric primitives: ngonal prisms and surfaces of revolution with B-spline profiles. By directly fitting volume primitives, our approach can effectively handle a great degree of noise. Our interactive approach compares favorably both with manually and automatically generated models. Not only is it much more time efficient than manual modeling but also gives significantly better output than state-of-the-art automatic method. Since the focal technique of our approach is the generation of 3D models at a primitive level, our results are ideal in the domain of architecture and preservation of heritage. Modeling of primitives such as domes and minarets allow the user to relate to the very basics of the architecture prevalent in daily lives and amalgamate those perceptions in a virtual 3D model. CR Categories: I.3. 3 [Computer Graphics]: Modeling—Solid Modeling
Impact of Student-Centered Goal Setting and Progress Monitoring on Oral Reading Fluency Scores in Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

This action research study conducted by a student researcher as part of the coursework required for a graduate capstone course looked at the extent to which student-centered progress monitoring affected reading fluency scores among a sample fourth and fifth grade students. Four students from the fifth grade (1 male, 3 female) and four students from the fourth grade (3 male, 1 female) were selected to participate (n=8). Student participants were selected based on reading fluency scores provided by their teachers. This study examined the effects of student-centered goals and progress monitoring on the participants’ reading fluency scores over a four week period. Data collection tools used in this study include preand post-tests of participants’ reading fluency using commercially available programs and weekly assessments using gradelevel curriculum based passages. Challenges of this study include a small sample size, the short chronological length of the study, and the potential imprecision of using non-standardized curriculum based passages. Results of this study indicate gains in reading fluency in seven of the eight participants; these gains were present in both the accuracy and prosody aspects of reading fluency. STUDENT-­‐CENTERED GOAL SETTING AND PROGRESS MONITORING 3
Corrosion and mechanical properties of recycled 5083 aluminum alloy by solid state recycling

Corrosion and Mechanical properties of a recycled 5083 aluminum alloy by solid state recycling have been compared with those of a virgin extrusion which was processed from the ingot block. In the solid state recycling, the machined chips were extruded at 723 K with an extrusion ratio of 44 : 1 in air. As a result of the salt immersion tests, the mass loss of the solid recycled specimen was not less than twice of that of the virgin extruded specimen. The deterioration in corrosion properties for the solid recycled specimen was attributed to the excessive contamination of iron which promoted galvanic corrosion. As a result of tensile tests, the solid recycled specimen exhibited a good combination of high strength and high elongation to failure at room temperature. The excellent mechanical properties for the solid recycled specimen were attributed to the refined microstructure. However, the elongation to failure of the solid recycled specimen at elevated temperatures more than 573 K was lower than that of the virgin extruded specimen. The contamination of oxide particles is likely to be responsible for the lower elongation in the solid recycled specimen.
Intermetallic formation on the fracture of Sn/Pb solder and Pd/Ag conductor interfaces

Intermetallic formation between a thick-film mixed bounded conductor and Sn/Pb solder is investigated. The microstructural evolution of the interfacial morphology, elemental and phase distribution is probed with the aid of electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. There exists mechanical interlocking between conductor and substrate. Penetration of the element Bi into the substrate is observed. A decrease in adhesion strength occurs when the sample is aged at 130 degrees C for a long period of time. Microstructural analysis reveals the segregation of Pb-rich and Sn-rich phases in aged samples and formation of intermetallic compounds Pd/sub 3/Sn/sub 2/, Pd/sub 2/Sn, Pd/sub 3/Sn, PdSn, Ag/sub 5/Sn, and Ag/sub 3/Sn. It is argued that conductor swelling caused by tin diffusion into the conductor film and volume change resulting from the intermetallic formation are major factors in the degradation of the peel strength. >
Meso-scale modelling and radiative transfer simulations of a snowfall event over France at microwaves for passive and active modes and evaluation with satellite observations

Abstract. Microwave passive and active radiative transfer simulations are performed with the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator (ARTS) for a mid-latitude snowfall event, using outputs from the Meso-NH mesoscale cloud model. The results are compared to the corresponding microwave observations available from MHS and CloudSat. The spatial structures of the simulated and observed brightness temperatures show an overall agreement since the large-scale dynamical structure of the cloud system is reasonably well captured by Meso-NH. However, with the initial assumptions on the single-scattering properties of snow, there is an obvious underestimation of the strong scattering observed in regions with large frozen hydrometeor quantities. A sensitivity analysis of both active and passive simulations to the microphysical parametrizations is conducted. Simultaneous analysis of passive and active calculations provides strong constraints on the assumptions made to simulate the observations. Good agreements are obtained with both MHS and CloudSat observations when the single-scattering properties are calculated using the "soft sphere" parametrization from Liu (2004), along with the Meso-NH outputs. This is an important step toward building a robust data set of simulated measurements to train a statistically based retrieval scheme.
Suzaku observation of the LINER NGC 4102

Context. Low-ionisation, nuclear emission-line region (LINER) nuclei are said to be different from other active galactic nuclei (AGN) due to the presence of complex absorbing structures along the line-of-sight and/or an inefficient mode of accretion onto the supermassive black hole. However, this is still open. Aims. We investigate the broad band X-ray spectrum of NGC 4102, one of the most luminous LINERs in the Swift/BAT survey. Methods. We studied a 80 ks Suzaku spectrum of NGC 4102, together with archival Chandra and Swift/BAT observations. We also studied the optical (3.5 m/TWIN at Calar Alto observatory) and near-infrared (WHT/LIRIS at Observatorio Roque los Muchachos) spectra that were taken at the same time as the Suzaku data. Results. There is strong evidence that NGC 4102 is a Compton-thick AGN, as suggested by the Swift/BAT detected intrinsic continuum and the presence of a strong narrow, neutral FeKα emission line. We have also detected ionised Fe xxv emission lines in the Suzaku spectrum of the source. NGC 4102 shows a variable soft excess found at a significantly higher flux state at the time of Suzaku observations when compared to Chandra observations. Finally, a complex structure of absorbers is seen with at least two absorbers besides the Compton-thick one, derived from the X-ray spectral analysis and the optical extinction. Conclusions. All the signatures described in this paper strongly suggest that NGC 4102 is a Compton-thick Type-2 AGN from the X-ray point of view. The "soft excess", the electron scattered continuum component, and the ionised iron emission line might arise from Compton-thin material photoionised by the AGN. From variability and geometrical arguments, this material should be located somewhere between 0.4 and 2 pc away from the nuclear source, inside the torus and perpendicular to the disc. The bolometric luminosity (L bol = 1.4 × 10 43 erg s -1 ) and accretion rate (m Edd = 5.4 x 10- 3 ) are consistent with other low-luminosity AGN. However, the optical and near infrared spectra correspond to that of a LINER source. We suggest that the LINER classification might be due a different spectral energy distribution according to its steeper spectral index.
Systematic Revision of the Cambrian Trilobite 'Bathynotus' Hall, 1860, with Documentation of New Occurrences in Western Laurentia and Implications for Intercontinental Biostratigraphic Correlation

Bathynotus is a rare trilobite genus known from the Cambrian Stage 4 to Stage 5 boundary interval of Laurentia, South China, Australia and Siberia. With its near global distribution, Bathynotus may prove instrumental in the resolution of intercontinental biostratigraphic correlation at this time. However, this potential has been hampered by problems of species differentiation, which has led to uncertainty regarding the number of species within the genus and, concomitantly, the geographic and stratigraphic ranges of those species. To resolve this issue, morphometric data extracted from almost 100 specimens, including representatives of all nine purported species, were subject to multivariate and bivariate analyses. These analyses recognise a total of just four species, each diagnosable by a unique combination of character states. Systematic revisions, including amended geographic and stratigraphic ranges, are provided for B. holopygus (known from eastern Laurentia and South China), B. granulatus (including its junior synonym B. elongatus; known from the Siberian Altay-Sayan foldbelt, South China, and western Laurentia), B. kueichouensis (known from South China and Australia) and B. namanensis (known from the Siberian Platform). Many isolated sclerites, including the type suites of many purported species described from Siberia, are consistent with the diagnoses of more than one of the four species. Thus, isolated cranidia from western Laurentia and from Siberia may represent B. holopygus and/ or B. kueichouensis, or perhaps different but currently undiagnosable species. The implications of these revisions for intercontinental biostratigraphic correlation are discussed. New occurrences of Bathynotus in western Laurentia (Combined Metals Member, Pioche Formation, Nevada, U.S.A.) are documented.