Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recurrent biotic rebounds during the Early Triassic: biostratigraphy and temporal size variation of conodonts from the Nanpanjiang Basin, South China

Eleven conodont zones are established for the Lower Triassic of the Motianling section in the Nanpanjiang Basin, South China. Detailed size measurements on 2244 P1 conodont elements demonstrate dynamic size variation patterns during the Early Triassic that are calibrated to the Early Triassic timescale and conodont zonation. Correlation of conodont size variation with various environmental indicators shows that these size changes are primarily controlled by rapidly changing and episodic environmental conditions and ecological recovery in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction. Decreasing size trends occur in the early Griesbachian, late Griesbachian and at the Smithian–Spathian boundary. Episodes of size increase (rebounds) occur in the middle Griesbachian, Induan–Olenekian boundary and middle–late Spathian. The observed temporal size variations indicate that conodont animals were significantly affected by rapidly changing environmental conditions (mainly temperature and redox conditions) during the Early Triassic and recurrent size increases (rebounds) occurred during periods of environmental and climatic amelioration (climatic cooling and oxygenation), demonstrating a complicated recovery history of marine ecosystems in the aftermath of the largest Phanerozoic biotic crisis. Supplementary material: Data for all species are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare. c.4528616
Effect of Fault Roughness on Aftershock Distribution: Plastic Off‐Fault Material Properties

We perform spontaneous earthquake rupture simulations on rough strike‐slip faults with off‐fault plastic material properties. We examine the off‐fault stress change and coseismic damage pattern resulting from dynamic fault slip. We use the stress output from each simulation to calculate the Coulomb failure function (CFF). We calculate the CFF values on the extensional and compressional side of the fault using parallel receiver fault orientations. We also calculate the CFF values on the extensional side of the fault using variable receiver fault orientations determined using the angle at which plastic shear strain is maximum. We calculate the probability density function for the CFF values across the fault as a function of distance. We observe a similar overall trend of the CFF values with distance for the extensional and compressional sides—our simulations show a broad range of values in the near‐fault region, while a narrow range of values occurs further from the fault. In the near‐fault region, we observe many more positive CFF change zones using variable receiver fault orientations than using parallel orientations. We calculate the areas and amplitudes of these positive CFF zones as a function of distance away from the fault. Our comparison of CFF amplitudes as a function of rupture area suggests that the spatial aftershock distribution surrounding a fault is controlled by both stress heterogeneity and the coseismic damage zone complexity. The calculations of rupture areas using our model are consistent with ruptured areas of observed aftershocks in California.
Mountain Building Orogeny in Precollision Hot Backarcs: North American Cordillera, India‐Tibet, and Grenville Province

In this article I discuss the new perspectives on continental collisional orogeny from recent evidence that most continental subduction zones have 200‐ to 1,000‐km‐wide uniformly hot backarcs. Such hot backarcs are involved in most current and past continental collisions. I give the examples of the current India‐Asia and ancient Grenville orogens. (1) In continental collision, at least one side of the closing ocean has a backarc sufficiently hot and weak to be deformed by normal plate driving forces, in contrast to cool stable lithosphere that is too strong. Most deformation is concentrated on the subduction zone side of collision zones. (2) Precollision backarcs are hot enough to generate a ductile detachment in the lower crust, facilitating subsequent thrusting of the incoming stable continent under the upper‐middle crust of the backarc. (3) In hot backarcs there is a precollision low‐viscosity channel in the lower crust that facilitates lateral flow from beneath collision‐generated thickened crust. In continental collision orogenic belts, the high temperatures indicated by ductile deformation, metamorphism, and igneous activity are usually ascribed to heating by the orogenic process. I argue that the primary heat source is the uniformly hot backarc that predates collision. Most continental backarcs have temperatures of 800–850 °C at a 35‐km Moho, compared to ~450 °C for normal stable crust, and lithosphere thicknesses of 60–70 km compared to about 200 km. High temperatures that weaken the lithosphere may not be a consequence of orogeny but rather a precollisional requirement for most orogenic deformation and crustal thickening.
Evidence for the Presence of Oxygen-Depleted Sapropel Intermediate Water across the Eastern Mediterranean during Sapropel S1

In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS), natural climate-driven changes that impacted its physical circulation and created deep-water anoxia have led to periods of distinctive deposits referred to as sapropels. The most recent sapropel event (S1) occurred between ∼6 and 10.8 kyr BP. Use of a global climate model has suggested that there was a previously unrecognized mid-depth (500–1800 m) water mass present at that time. Here, a broad review of cores previously analyzed from across the EMS was undertaken to determine if the field evidence was compatible with the presence of this intermediate water mass. The proxy records document a widespread oxygenated interruption centered around 8.2 ka BP in water depths between 500 and 1800 m, but not present in shallower or deeper water. We attribute this pattern to the formation and spread of a water mass, which we refer to as Sapropel Intermediate Water (SIW). It is shown that this water mass was formed in the Aegean Sea and became more depleted in oxygen, to anoxic.
Initiation and Runout of Post‐Seismic Debris Flows: Insights From the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake

Post‐seismic debris flows are an important hazard following large earthquakes, propagating destruction downstream from hillslopes where coseismic landslides occur and extending damage for years after shaking stops. Data sets of post‐seismic debris flows are necessary to predict initiation and runout characteristics but are presently scarce. We used satellite imagery supplemented by field observations to compile an inventory of >1,000 debris flows associated with the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake in Nepal. We identified two distinct debris flow types: (1) Material from a coseismic landslide was remobilized in a steep channel during a later monsoon; and (2) a new post‐seismic hillslope failure occurred in saturated conditions and became fluidized and channelized. Runout distance was constrained by channel confluences and may be related to confluence geometry. Unstable landslide debris was largely flushed from steep channels during the first monsoon following the earthquake, and the rate of new hillslope failures tailed off over a few years.
Market-Based Redispatch May Result in Inefficient Dispatch

In this paper we analyze a uniform price day-ahead electricity spot market that is followed by redispatch in the case of network congestion. We assume that the transmission system operator is incentivized to minimize redispatch cost and compare cost-based redispatch (CBR) to market-based redispatch (MBR) mechanisms. For networks with at least three nodes we show that in contrast to CBR, in the case of MBR incentives to minimize redispatch cost are in general not efficient in the context of our short-run analysis. This obtains both for pay-as-bid as well as locational marginal prices used for MBR compensation. As we demonstrate, moreover, in case of MBR the possibility of the transmission system operator to inefficiently reduce redispatch cost at the expense of decreased overall welfare can be driven both by the electricity supply side and the electricity demand side.Our results highlight a novel and important aspect regarding the design and the desirability of congestion management regimes in liberalized electricity markets.
Relationship between Peak Stage, Storm Duration, and Bank Storage along a Meandering Stream

Groundwater and surface water are often studied as different systems; however, one commonly affects the other. Bank storage, the temporary storage and release of stream water in adjacent aquifers, can contribute a considerable amount of discharge to a river and can be a component in the transport and fate of a contaminant. Studies document the effects of increasing stage and increasing storm duration; however, these controls are often investigated separately. This project examined which factor, peak stage or storm duration, was more influential on the bank-storage process. The study focused on a small reach of a third-order, meandering, perennial stream. A 3-D, transient-state numerical model (MODFLOW) was created of the study site, and 36 simulations were run at various peak stages and storm durations. Peak stage and storm durations, while both influential, affected different areas of the bank-storage process. Peak stage was statistically more influential in controlling the maximum volume of bank storage (~3.6×) and the volume of the storage that remained in the system at 100 h (~1.1×). Longer storm duration generated a slower return of water, thus increasing the retention of bank storage. Parafluvial exchange was an important factor in bank storage along a meandering stream, suggesting that at least 2-D, ideally 3-D, models need to be employed in evaluating bank storage.
A Study on Participation of Youth in Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Warangal District of Telangana State

Agriculture remains critical to the economic development of most if not all developing countries across the globe. The agricultural future of most developing countries may be bleak if the bulk of the production efforts are left in the hands of aged subsistent farmers who presently constitute the major farming population. This is because the productivity level of the aged farmers cannot meet the food and fiber needs of the rapidly growing population. Consequently, fostering youth involvement in agriculture is fundamental. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 06 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Comparing Dual-Polarization Radar Lightning Forecast Methods across Southwest Utah

Lightning poses a significant hazard to space launch operations to include ground processing, launch window forecasts, and rocket-triggered lightning events. Two lightning initiation forecast methods using weather radar developed in Gremillion and Orville (1999) and Travis (2015) for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida are tested in a new geographical region. This is accomplished by applying the highest-performing radar parameters from Gremillion and Orville (1999): reflectivity (Z) ≥ 40 dBZ for two consecutive volume scans at the −10◦C thermal height and Travis (2015): Z ≥ 36.5 dBZ with differential reflectivity (ZDR) ≥ 0.31 dB at the −10◦C thermal height, across southwest Utah’s multi-dimensional lightning detection network, the Telescope Array Lightning Mapping Array (TA LMA). Both methods are tested on 102 isolated, warm-season thunderstorms between August 2015 and August 2018. A follow-up study Olsen (2018) was conducted in the Washington, D.C. area using Travis’ parameters, where poor performance was recorded. Forecast metrics and lead times are calculated and compared to the results of Gremillion and Orville (1999), Travis (2015), and Olsen (2018). The findings of this study confirm that the lightning prediction methods from both studies do not function well for Utah. Despite being tested in different climates, the forecast lead times of all three study locations are statistically significant. Additional results also conclude that Z is the determining factor within Utah lightning initiation prediction algorithms and that ZDR lightning prediction is not geographically robust.
Evolution of South Tropical Indian Ocean Warming and the Climatic Impacts Following Strong El Niño Events

The south tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) warms following a strong El Niño, affecting Indo-Pacific climate in early boreal summer. While much attention has been given to the southwest TIO where the mean thermocline is shallow, this study focuses on the subsequent warming in the southeast TIO, where the mean sea surface temperature (SST) is high and deep convection is strong in early summer. The southeast TIO warming induces an anomalous meridional circulation with descending (ascending) motion over the northeast (southeast) TIO. It further anchors a “C-shaped” surface wind anomaly pattern with easterlies (westerlies) in the northeast (southeast) TIO, causing a persistent northeast TIO warming via wind–evaporation–SST feedback. The southeast TIO warming lags the southwest TIO warming by about one season. Ocean wave dynamics play a key role in linking the southwest and southeast TIO warming. South of the equator, the El Niño–forced oceanic Rossby waves, which contribute to the southwest TIO warming, are reflected as eastward-propagating oceanic Kelvin waves along the equator on the western boundary. The Kelvin waves subsequently depress the thermocline and develop the southeast TIO warming.
Tuareg ethnodiagnostic skill of camel diseases in Agadez area (Niger)

For generations, nomad herders have been learning to manage herd health, particularly in dromedary because of its high value. They have thus acquired a very comprehensive knowledge of camel's illness signs and have developed their own nomenclature. The present study aims at the description, scientific identification and recognition of this ethnoveterinary knowledge by means of an investigation carried out in Tuareg populations living in the neighbourhoods of Agadez (Niger). The dominant pathologies cited by herders for being the most alarming are gastro-intestinal helminthiasis (izni), camel calf diarrhoea (efay), tick infestations of camel calves (igardan), camel pox (erk eshik), sarcoptic mange (ajud) and bronchopneumonia (taza). Poorly identified nosologic entities are also reported. (Resume d'auteur)
Integrated Remote sensing and GIS-based Universal Soil Loss Equation for Soil Erosion Estimation in the Megech River Catchment, Tana Lake Sub-basin, Northwestern Ethiopia

Severe land degradation occurred in northern highlands of Ethiopia due to its complex topography, rainfall, and various anthropogenic activities. Soil erosion in the Megech river catchment, one of the major catchments of Lake Tana sub-basin of the Abbay River basin using Remote sensing, and GIS based Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was quantified. The study was conducted by estimating the important factors that affect soil erosion namely, rainfall erosivity (R), topography (LS), soil erodibility (K), cropping management practice (C), and support practice (P). The results showed that the annual soil loss in the total catchment is 8,43,736 tons with an average soil erosion rate of 41.54±75.92 tons ha-1yr-1 of which the soil loss from the upper catchment is 6,86,705 tons (36.63±64.2 tons ha-1yr-1) while from the lower catchment 1,57,031 tons (32.68±57.41 tons ha-1yr-1). In 3.1% of the total catchment area the soil erosion is extreme with the rate greater than 50 tons ha-1yr-1; in 20.5% of the area it is greater than 10 tons ha-1 yr-1; and in 50.5% of the area it is very low, less than 1 ton ha-1yr-1. Soil erosion rates varied from various land uses in a given topographic condition, and from a particular land use type in different topographic conditions. Soil conservation- neglected post-harvested land is eroded by small rainfall intensities. Substantial soil erosion occurs from degraded lands and decreased vegetative covers. Implementation of scientific measures of land use management, agriculture, and restoration of degraded lands would control soil erosion.
Triassic sand supply to the Slyne Basin, offshore western Ireland – new insights from a multi-proxy provenance approach

To assess provenance data and derive basin infill models with a higher level of certainty it is vital to understand how minerals used in sedimentary provenance behave in the sedimentary system. A multi-proxy approach helps ensure rigour in how provenance data are interpreted. U–Pb geochronology of refractory zircon and relatively less stable apatite, and Pb isotopic analysis of labile K-feldspar are employed in this study to reassess the provenance of Triassic sandstones in the Slyne Basin, offshore western Ireland. This approach aims at reducing the potential bias in each method, producing a complementary dataset. U–Pb zircon and apatite geochronology yields Archean–Paleoproterozoic ages, Caledonian ages and previously unrecognized Permo-Triassic ages. Pb isotopic analysis of K-feldspar does not identify the Permo-Triassic as a source. The detection of Permo-Triassic-aged detritus may suggest that volcanism was more widespread than previously recognized. These results support the hypothesis of a Triassic drainage divide between the basins offshore western Ireland and those onshore Britain and in the Irish Sea. Sand supply was dominantly from the north, with significant input from the flanks of the basin, and previously unrecorded sources, such as Permian-aged rocks, playing an important role. The provenance signal is consistent and homogenized throughout the sampled sequence indicating that the drainage system was long-lived. Supplementary material: Details of laboratory and sample preparation, data tables and summary pie charts for each sample are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare. c.4571096
Biodegradable microparticles for in situ immunization against cancer

Recommended Citation Makkouk, Amani Riad. "Biodegradable microparticles for in situ immunization against cancer. " PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, ii To my daughter Nairmeen Fariha, who is the light of my days iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank my advisor George Weiner. I truly appreciate all his contributions of time and critical thinking to make my PhD experience productive and stimulating at the experimental level, writing level, and professional development level. for their advice, suggestions, and encouragement, which were crucial to the progress of this thesis. I would also like to sincerely thank the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology for the support and invaluable help from The present and former members of the Weiner group have contributed immensely to my personal and professional time at the University of Iowa. You have truly become my second family: my sincerest thanks to iv Lastly, I would like to thank my family for all their love and encouragement. To my parents, who allowed me to pursue my dreams. To my mother-in-law Fariha, who stood by me and allowed me to continue the path when things seemed impossible. To my brothers-in-law and brothers and sisters, who always provided encouragement and prayers critically needed. And most of all, to my loving husband Muhieddine, without whose faithful support, patience, and encouragement none of this would have been possible. My deepest thank you. v ABSTRACT Cancer immunotherapy has proven to be challenging as it depends on overcoming multiple mechanisms that mediate immune tolerance to self-antigens. In situ immunization is based on the concept that it is possible to break immune tolerance by inducing tumor cell death in situ in a manner that provides antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) with a wide selection of tumor antigens that can then be presented to the immune system and result in a therapeutic anticancer immune response. Based on recent advances in the understanding of antitumor immunity, we designed a three-step approach to in situ immunization to lymphoma: (1) Inducing immunogenic tumor cell death with the chemotherapeutic drug Doxorubicin (Dox). Dox enhances the expression of " eat-me " signals by dying tumor cells, facilitating their phagocytosis by dendritic cells (DCs). Due to the vesicant activity of Dox, microparticles (MPs) made of PLGA (a biodegradable polymer) can safely deliver Dox intratumorally and are effective vaccine adjuvants; (2) Enhancing antigen presentation and T cell activation using anti-OX40; (3) …
The effect of marine aggregate parameterisations on nutrients and oxygen minimum zones in a global biogeochemical model

Abstract. Particle aggregation determines the particle flux length scale and affects the marine oxygen concentration and thus the volume of oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) that are of special relevance for ocean nutrient cycles and marine ecosystems and that have been found to expand faster than can be explained by current state-of-the-art models. To investigate the impact of particle aggregation on global model performance, we carried out a sensitivity study with different parameterisations of marine aggregates and two different model resolutions. Model performance was investigated with respect to global nutrient and oxygen concentrations, as well as extent and location of OMZs. Results show that including an aggregation model improves the representation of OMZs. Moreover, we found that besides a fine spatial resolution of the model grid, the consideration of porous particles, an intermediate-to-high particle sinking speed and a moderate-to-high stickiness improve the model fit to both global distributions of dissolved inorganic tracers and regional patterns of OMZs, compared to a model without aggregation. Our model results therefore suggest that improvements not only in the model physics but also in the description of particle aggregation processes can play a substantial role in improving the representation of dissolved inorganic tracers and OMZs on a global scale. However, dissolved inorganic tracers are apparently not sufficient for a global model calibration, which could necessitate global model calibration against a global observational dataset of marine organic particles.
Influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation on Global Temperature by Wavelet-Based Multifractal Analysis

Oceanic–atmospheric patterns, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and their respective influence on the global warming hiatus were the main interests of this study. In general, a fractal property is observed in the time series of dynamics of complex systems; hence, we investigated the relations among the AMO, PDO, and El Ni? o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) from the point of view of multifractality, in which changes in fractality were detected with multifractal analysis using wavelet transform. For the periods 1950-1976 and 1998-2012, global temperature increased little, with positive AMO and negative PDO indices; subsequently, the rate of temperature increase weakened. Global temperature increased again in 1976, with the reversal of the AMO and PDO indices from negative to positive. More specifically, AMO, PDO, and Ni? o3.4 (ENSO index) exhibited fractality change from multifractality to monofractality, providing them stability. Generally, the PDO was influenced largely by the ENSO. But, around 1960 and around 2000, whose periods corresponded to hiatus periods in global warming, the influence of the ENSO on the PDO was weak. In 1998, the AMO increased and PDO decreased and global temperature increased little and the multifractality of PDO, and Ni? o3.4 was weak, which corresponded to the change from multifractality to monofractality in 1976. Wavelet analysis showed the leads of PDO and Ni? o3.4 indices with respect to global temperature. Consequently, the PDO and ENSO showed large influence on global temperature and, further, on the global warming hiatus.