Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hillslope response under variable microclimate

Solar radiation‐controlled microclimatic variation has been considered a major force on hillslope evolution via feedback among geomorphology, vegetation, soil and hydrology. In this study, we investigate the influence of solar radiation on hillslope dynamics on Santa Catalina Island, CA by comparing hillslope morphology and frequency–magnitude relationships of shallow landslides, rills and gullies on slopes receiving low annual solar radiation (LSR) and high annual solar radiation (HSR), which were found equivalent to north‐ and south‐facing slopes, respectively. LSR slopes on Santa Catalina Island were found more vegetated compared to HSR slopes. LiDAR elevation‐derived hillslope morphology showed LSR slopes steeper, rougher and more concave than HSR slopes. Similarly, frequency–magnitude plots showed larger relative frequency of high‐magnitude shallow landslides, rills and gullies on LSR slopes, and low‐magnitude shallow landslides, rills and gullies on HSR slopes. We argue that the morphology, mass movement and erosion characteristics of LSR and HSR slopes reflect the process–response of microclimate‐controlled variation in type and density of vegetation cover, soil physical properties – including moisture, texture, structure, infiltration and erodibility – and surface and subsurface hydrology. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physical parameter-aware Networks-on-Chip design

Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) have been proposed as a scalable, reliable and power-efficient communication fabric for chip multiprocessors (CMPs) and multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs). NoCs determine both the performance and the reliability of such systems, with a significant power demand that is expected to increase due to developments in both technology and architecture. In terms of architecture, an important trend in many-core systems architecture is to increase the number of cores on a chip while reducing their individual complexity. This trend increases communication power relative to computation power. Moreover, technology-wise, power-hungry wires are dominating logic as power consumers as technology scales down. For these reasons, the design of future very large scale integration (VLSI) systems is moving from being computation-centric to communication-centric. On the other hand, chip’s physical parameters integrity, especially power and thermal integrity, is crucial for reliable VLSI systems. However, guaranteeing this integrity is becoming increasingly difficult with the higher scale of integration due to increased power density and operating frequencies that result in continuously increasing temperature and voltage drops in the chip. This is a challenge that may prevent further shrinking of devices. Thus, tackling the challenge of power and thermal integrity of future many-core systems at only one level of abstraction, the chip and package design for example, is no longer sufficient to ensure the integrity of physical parameters. New designtime and run-time strategies may need to work together at different levels of abstraction, such as package, application, network, to provide the required physical parameter integrity for these large systems. This necessitates strategies that work at the level of the on-chip network with its rising power budget. This thesis proposes models, techniques and architectures to improve power and thermal integrity of Network-on-Chip (NoC)-based many-core systems. The thesis is composed of two major parts: i) minimization and modelling of power supply variations to improve power integrity; and ii) dynamic thermal adaptation to improve thermal integrity. This thesis makes four major contributions. The first is a computational model of on-chip power supply variations in NoCs. The proposed model embeds a power delivery model, an NoC activity simulator and a power model. The model is verified with SPICE simulation and employed to analyse power supply variations in synthetic and real NoC workloads. Novel observations regarding power supply noise correlation with different traffic patterns and routing algorithms are found. The second is a new application mapping strategy aiming
Provenance Control on Chemical Weathering Index of Fluvio‐Lacustrine Sediments: Evidence From the Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau

Carbon dioxide drawdown resulting from enhanced chemical weathering during orogenesis has been invoked to explain late Cenozoic global cooling. Establishing chemical weathering records from the India–Asia collision zone is important to test this hypothesis because uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is thought to be responsible for Cenozoic cooling. However, proxies for the intensity of chemical weathering can be affected by additional factors, such as sediment grain size and provenance. Here we report major element compositions and calculated chemical weathering intensity records of three size fractions (0–5, 5–20, 20–63 μm) from the Dahonggou section of the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and compare those records with published provenance data from the same section. Results show that the indices of the fine (0–5 μm) fraction vary in coordination with provenance shifts, but variations of the 5–20 and 20–63 μm fractions are less affected by provenance variations. Comparison with Upper Continental Crust reveals that some labile elements are not leached but instead are enriched in the fine fraction, indicating that it does not faithfully record chemical weathering intensity. In addition, weathering can result in clay mineral transformation instead of elemental variations, complicating the relationship between element‐based parameters and weathering intensity. This work suggests that changes in sediment provenance must be accounted for when inferring variations in chemical weathering intensity on the basis of element‐based weathering intensity indices of the clay fraction.
In Search of Winter Blocking in the Western North Pacific Ocean

We investigate winter blocking activity over the western North Pacific (WNP) through an intercomparison of four detection methods, which are categorized into two types (anomaly and reversal). Most of the blocking events in the anomaly‐based methods are initiated from the eastern North Pacific. Reversal‐based methods capture the blocking occurrence associated with Rossby wave breaking, especially cyclonic breaking. As the two types capture different aspects of WNP blocking, the resultant regional impact is also largely different. At the onset, anomaly‐based methods show a strong cold anomaly downstream of the blocking in conjunction with a Pacific/North America‐like pattern. Reversal‐based methods indicate a weak cold anomaly in company with a western Pacific‐like pattern, which appears downstream and upstream of the blocking in the local reversal and large‐scale reversal methods, respectively. At the end of WNP blocking, all methods show strong cold anomalies both upstream and downstream of the blocking.
Cenozoic tectonics and landform evolution in the Qilian Mountains and adjacent areas

ABSTRACT The formation of the Qilian mountains and the evolution of adjacent basins were controlled by the uplift and northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. In a field survey conducted on the main Cenozoic basin sediments in the Qilian Mountains and adjacent areas, fission track age data of apatite obtained previously were analyzed. Cenozoic tectonics and landform evolution in the area where the Qilian Mountains now stand and its response to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau were studied. In the Oligocene Epoch, the Tibetan Plateau was initially uplifted and extended northeastward, forming the Guide-Xining-Lanzhou-Linxia foreland basin on the northern margin of the western Qinling Mountains, and the foreland basin in the area where the Qilian Mountains now stand received widespread sediments. In the Miocene, influenced by the enhanced uplift and northeastward thrust of the Tibetan Plateau, a stage of intracontinental squeezing orogeny and foreland basin splitting began in the area where the Qilian Mountains now stand. In the Pliocene Epoch, the Qilian Mountains were continuously uplifted, the basins shrank, large lake basins disappeared gradually, and large-area red-clay-type aeolian sediments appeared. During the Quaternary Period, the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau accelerated, causing a rapid rise in the altitude of the Qilian Mountains. Global climate change occurred and mountain glaciers began to develop. Quaternary moraine deposits appeared for the first time in the area, and very thick loess sediments appeared in the Longzhong area, east of the area where the Qilian Mountains now stand, forming the famous Loess Plateau.
How breastfeeding behavior develops in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study based on health belief model in China

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which women develop hyperglycemia during pregnancy, and is associated with long-term health burden on both mother and their offspring, such as future type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although breastfeeding was expected to mitigate metabolic sequelae for both mothers and their newborns, the prevalence of breastfeeding in GDM mothers are sub-optimal worldwide. Objective To explore the experience of disease among mothers with GDM and how they develop feeding behaviors. Methods This study was conducted in three branches of an integrated tertiary hospital in the central area of China. Mothers who were diagnosed with GDM, had no other complications, and gave birth before no more than 6 months were approached based on a purposive sampling. GDM mothers’ experience of the disease and breastfeeding were collected via in-depth interviews. A theory-driven thematic analysis based on Health Belief Model (HBM) was applied for data analysis. Inductive reasoning was used to identify emerging themes which were not included in HBM. Results 16 GDM mothers were included in the current study, with nine using breastfeeding, six mixed feeding and one artificial feeding, respectively. Nine themes were identified, including: 1) GDM diagnosis and severity; 2) information searching and GDM knowledge;3) GDM management; 4) perceived susceptibility of future diabetes;5) perceived severity of future diabetes;6) perceived benefits of breastfeeding;7) perceived barriers of breastfeeding;8) decision making process of feeding and social support. Generally, mothers with GDM lack reliable sources of information, considered the disease as a minor and transient illness during pregnancy, and failed to realize the long-term risk of GDM and the protective effect of breastfeeding to themselves and their babies. They rarely considered GDM in their feeding decision. Instead, the formation of feeding behaviors depends on the balance between the benefits and barriers of breastfeeding as well as the level of social support. Conclusion To promote breastfeeding, a multi-facet intervention targeted on healthcare providers (HCPs), GDM mothers and their networks was important to help GDM mothers better and correctly understand the disease and breastfeeding, and increase their capacity of breastfeeding.
Improved Algorithm of XML Document Structural Clustering Based on Edit Distance

Because of node's repetition and nesting ,the performance and the quality of existed clustering algorithms is affected seriously, This article proposed a improved way for clustcring XML documents against the defects of the methods in existence. Firstly XML document tree is simplified by use of repetition reduction and nesting reduction ,then,we calculate the eidt distance according to simplified structure and structure similarity ,finally get clustering result in terms of hierarchical methods. Experimental results prove that the algorithm has fairly high performance and can save time effectively.
Identification of small RNAs associated with RNA chaperone Hfq reveals a new stress response regulator in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

The RNA chaperone Hfq promotes the association of small RNAs (sRNAs) with cognate mRNAs, controlling the expression of bacterial phenotype. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae hfq mutants strains are attenuated for virulence in pigs, impaired in the ability to form biofilms, and more susceptible to stress, but knowledge of the extent of sRNA involvement is limited. Here, using A. pleuropneumoniae strain MIDG2331 (serovar 8), 14 sRNAs were identified by co-immunoprecipitation with Hfq and the expression of eight, identified as trans-acting sRNAs, were confirmed by Northern blotting. We focused on one of these sRNAs, named Rna01, containing a putative promoter for RpoE (stress regulon) recognition. Knockout mutants of rna01 and a double knockout mutant of rna01 and hfq, both had decreased biofilm formation and hemolytic activity, attenuation for virulence in Galleria mellonella, altered stress susceptibility, and an altered outer membrane protein profile. Rna01 affected extracellular vesicle production, size and toxicity in G. mellonella. qRT-PCR analysis of rna01 and putative cognate mRNA targets indicated that Rna01 is associated with the extracytoplasmic stress response. This work increases our understanding of the multilayered and complex nature of the influence of Hfq-dependent sRNAs on the physiology and virulence of A. pleuropneumoniae.
Bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (CD157) regulated by sphingosine kinase 2 mediates kidney fibrosis

Chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease that may lead to end-stage renal disease. Interstitial fibrosis develops as the disease progresses. Therapies that focus on fibrosis to delay or reverse progressive renal failure are limited. We and others showed that sphingosine kinase 2-deficient mice (Sphk2–/–) develop less fibrosis in mouse models of kidney fibrosis. Sphingosine kinase2 (SphK2), one of two sphingosine kinases that produce sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), is primarily located in the nucleus. S1P produced by SphK2 inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) and changes histone acetylation status, which can lead to altered target gene expression. We hypothesized that Sphk2 epigenetically regulates downstream genes to induce fibrosis, and we performed a comprehensive analysis using the combination of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq. Bst1/CD157 was identified as a gene that is regulated by SphK2 through a change in histone acetylation level, and Bst1–/– mice were found to develop less renal fibrosis after unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury, a mouse model of kidney fibrosis. Although Bst1 is a cell-surface molecule that has a wide variety of functions through its varied enzymatic activities and downstream intracellular signaling pathways, no studies on the role of Bst1 in kidney diseases have been reported previously. In the current study, we demonstrated that Bst1 is a gene that is regulated by SphK2 through epigenetic change and is critical in kidney fibrosis.
Structural Diversity of Fish Assemblage in the Southern Sector of Main Outfall Drains northwest of Basrah, Iraq

Fish assemblage was studied for a first time in the Southern part of Main Outfall Drain, in the Al-Kaii bridge region, northwest Basrah Iraq in the Al-Kaii bridge region. The study was conducted during the period from May 2016 to April 2017. Many types of fishing nets were used to collect the samples. Water temperature ranged from 14 C in February 2017 to 30 C in July and August 2016, while salinity ranged from 9 PSU in April 2017 to 42 PSU in December 2016. A total of 6161 individuals of fishes were caught represented 21 fish species. Six species were freshwaters fishes; four were alien species and 15 marine species. The species Acanthurus sohal was fished for the first time from the Iraqi inland waters. The most abundant three species were Poecillia latipinna, Planiliza subviridis and Thryssa whiteheadi formed 26.68%, 25.00% and 17.58%, respectively of the total number of samples. Values of the diversity index varied from 1.23 in November to 2.17 in May, evenness index values fluctuated between 0.52 in June to 0.88 in May, whereas richness index ranged from 1.14 in January 2017 to 2.02 in May. The present study concluded that there is a significant monthly fluctuation in salinity and the composition of fish community was changing continuously according to the salinity variation.
Altered resting-state electroencephalography microstate characteristics in young male smokers

The development of nicotine addiction was associated with the abnormalities of intrinsic functional networks during the resting state in young adult smokers. As a whole-brain imaging approach, EEG microstate analysis treated multichannel EEG recordings as a series of quasi-steady microscopic states which were related to the resting-state networks (RSNs) found by fMRI. The aim of this study was to examine whether the resting-state EEG microstate analysis may provide novel insights into the abnormal temporal properties of intrinsic brain activities in young smokers. We used 64-channel resting-state EEG datasets to investigate alterations in microstate characteristics between twenty-five young smokers and 25 age- and gender-matched non-smoking controls. Four classic EEG microstates (microstate A, B, C, and D) were obtained, and the four temporal parameters of each microstate were extracted, i.e., duration, occurrence, coverage, and transition probabilities. Compared with non-smoking controls, young smokers showed decreased occurrence of microstate C and increased duration of microstate D. Furthermore, both the duration and coverage of microstate D were significantly negatively correlated with Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young smoker group. The complex changes in the microstate time-domain parameters might correspond to the abnormalities of RSNs in analyses of FC measured with fMRI in the previous studies and indicate the altered specific brain functions in young smokers. Microstate D could be potentially represented as a selective biomarker for predicting the dependence degree of adolescent smokers on cigarettes. These results suggested that EEG microstate analysis might detect the deviant functions of large-scale cortical activities in young smokers and provide a new perspective for the study of brain networks of adolescent smokers.
Exploring the Patterns of Use and Acceptability of Mobile Phones Among People Living With HIV to Improve Care and Treatment: Cross-Sectional Study in Three Francophone West African Countries

Background The use of mobile technology in health care (mobile health [mHealth]) could be an innovative way to improve health care, especially for increasing retention in HIV care and adherence to treatment. However, there is a scarcity of studies on mHealth among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in West and Central Africa. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of an mHealth intervention among PLHIV in three countries of West Africa. Methods A cross-sectional study among PLHIV was conducted in 2017 in three francophone West African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. PLHIV followed in the six preselected HIV treatment and care centers, completed a standardized questionnaire on mobile phone possession, acceptability of mobile phone for HIV care and treatment, preference of mobile phone services, and phone sharing. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to describe variables and assess factors associated with mHealth acceptability. Results A total of 1131 PLHIV—643 from Côte d’Ivoire, 239 from Togo, and 249 from Burkina Faso—participated in the study. Median age was 44 years, and 76.1% were women (n=861). Almost all participants owned a mobile phone (n=1107, 97.9%), and 12.6% (n=140) shared phones with a third party. Acceptability of mHealth was 98.8%, with the majority indicating their preference for both phone calls and text messages. Factors associated with mHealth acceptability were having a primary school education or no education (adjusted odds ratio=7.15, 95% CI 5.05-10.12; P<.001) and waiting over one hour before meeting a medical doctor on appointment day (adjusted odds ratio=1.84, 95% CI 1.30-2.62; P=.01). Conclusions The use of mHealth in HIV treatment and care is highly acceptable among PLHIV and should be considered a viable tool to allow West and Central African countries to achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 goals.
Towards biocultural diversity conservation. Knowledge, cultural values and governance of species at risk : the case of the White Sturgeon (Canada) and the Mekong Giant Catfish (Thailand)

To better understand the concept of biocultural diversity and its value in species conservation, my research explored the role of local fishers’ knowledge and cultural values in decision-making about the conservation of threatened, culturally significant fish in the Lower Fraser River (Canada) and the Mekong River (Thailand). This thesis uses exploratory, qualitative research into the case of the White Sturgeon or “skō:wech” (Acipenser transmountanus), and the Mekong Giant Catfish or “Plaa buek” (Pangasius gigas). Through semi-structured interviews and a review of existing information, this research set out to determine: 1) What kinds of knowledge do local fishers have about threatened species? 2) Are Local and Traditional Ecological Knowledge influencing processes (research, assessment, monitoring) and informing conservation strategies for threatened species? If so, how? 3) Do cultural values influence conservation strategies for threatened species? If so, how? 4) Are there any opportunities to increase the role of local knowledge and cultural values to enhance existing conservation strategies and achieve both biological and cultural diversity conservation? Results suggest although there are some examples of success, there are opportunities to increase the influence local fishers’ knowledge and values have in current approaches employed to conserve species with special conservation status. Maintaining some level of traditional fishery, and support for cultural practices, education and outreach are critical aspects of maintaining culture, values and knowledge systems linked to these threatened species. KNOWLEDGE, CULTURAL VALUES AND GOVERNANCE OF SPECIES AT RISK 10 Towards Biocultural Diversity Conservation. Knowledge, Cultural Values and Governance of Species at Risk: The Case of the White Sturgeon (Canada) and the Mekong Giant Catfish (Thailand) Chapter
Rock glacier characteristics serve as an indirect record of multiple alpine glacier advances in Taylor Valley, Antarctica

Abstract. The geomorphic record indicates that alpine glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, appear to advance during interglacial periods in response to ice-free conditions in the Ross Sea. Few records of these advances are preserved and/or subaerially exposed, complicating the interpretations of regional glacier response to climate changes. Here, we present geophysical and geochemical analyses of a rock glacier that originates from icefalls fed by alpine Doran Glacier in central Taylor Valley. The rock glacier exhibits a trend of increased weathering of granitic clasts via ventifaction and grussification down-flow. Meltwater ponds on the rock glacier exhibit variable salinity that ranges from freshwater to higher than seawater, with the highest salinity pond near the rock glacier toe. Ground-penetrating radar analyses reveal the feature to possess a primarily clean ice interior, with layers of englacial debris. Stable isotopic data from three ice cores support a glacial origin for the ice within the rock glacier. These data suggest that the current morphology of the rock glacier is the result of multiple events of increased ice contribution caused by advances of Doran Glacier, which is the main source of ice to the rock glacier. We therefore demonstrate the potential of ice-cored rock glaciers to record multiple advances and retreats of Dry Valley glaciers, permitting the interpretation of glacial responses to Pleistocene and Holocene climate change even where direct records are not present.