Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aerosol mass spectrometer constraint on the global secondary organic aerosol budget

Abstract. The budget of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is very uncertain, with recent estimates suggesting a global source of between 12 and 1820 Tg (SOA) a −1 . We used a dataset of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) observations from 34 different surface locations to evaluate the GLOMAP global chemical transport model. The standard model simulation (which included SOA from monoterpenes only) underpredicted organic aerosol (OA) observed by the AMS and had little skill reproducing the variability in the dataset. We simulated SOA formation from biogenic (monoterpenes and isoprene), lumped anthropogenic and lumped biomass burning volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and varied the SOA yield from each precursor source to produce the best overall match between model and observations. We assumed that SOA is essentially non-volatile and condenses irreversibly onto existing aerosol. Our best estimate of the SOA source is 140 Tg (SOA) a −1 but with a large uncertainty range which we estimate to be 50–380 Tg (SOA) a −1 . We found the minimum in normalised mean error (NME) between model and the AMS dataset when we assumed a large SOA source (100 Tg (SOA) a −1 ) from sources that spatially matched anthropogenic pollution (which we term antropogenically controlled SOA). We used organic carbon observations compiled by Bahadur et al. (2009) to evaluate our estimated SOA sources. We found that the model with a large anthropogenic SOA source was the most consistent with these observations, however improvement over the model with a large biogenic SOA source (250 Tg (SOA) a −1 ) was small. We used a dataset of 14 C observations from rural locations to evaluate our estimated SOA sources. We estimated a maximum of 10 Tg (SOA) a −1 (10 %) of the anthropogenically controlled SOA source could be from fossil (urban/industrial) sources. We suggest that an additional anthropogenic source is most likely due to an anthropogenic pollution enhancement of SOA formation from biogenic VOCs. Such an anthropogenically controlled SOA source would result in substantial climate forcing. We estimated a global mean aerosol direct effect of −0.26 ± 0.15 Wm −2 and indirect (cloud albedo) effect of −0.6 +0.24 −0.14 Wm −2 from anthropogenically controlled SOA. The biogenic and biomass SOA sources are not well constrained with this analysis due to the limited number of OA observations in regions and periods strongly impacted by these sources. To further improve the constraints by this method, additional OA observations are needed in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere.
Serrin's problem and Alexandrov's Soap Bubble Theorem: enhanced stability via integral identities

We consider Serrin's overdetermined problem for the torsional rigidity and Alexandrov's Soap Bubble Theorem. We present new integral identities, that show a strong analogy between the two problems and help to obtain better (in some cases optimal) quantitative estimates for the radially symmetric configuration. The estimates for the Soap Bubble Theorem benefit from those of Serrin's problem.
The response of equatorial electrojet, vertical plasma drift, and thermospheric zonal wind to enhanced solar wind input

In this study we used observations from the CHAMP and ROCSAT‐1 satellites to investigate the solar wind effects on the equatorial electrojet (EEJ), vertical plasma drift, and thermospheric zonal wind. We show that an abrupt increase in solar wind input has a significant effect on the low‐latitude ionosphere‐thermosphere system, which can last for more than 24 h. The disturbance EEJ and zonal wind are mainly westward for all local times and show most prominent responses during 07–12 and 00–06 magnetic local time (MLT), respectively. The equatorial disturbance electric field is mainly eastward at night (most prominent for 00–05 MLT) and westward at daytime with small amplitudes. In this study we show for the first time that the penetration electric field is little dependent on longitude at both the day and night sides, while the disturbance zonal wind is quite different at different longitude sectors, implying a significant longitudinal dependence of the ionospheric disturbance dynamo. Our result also indicates that the F region equatorial zonal electric field reacts faster than E region dynamo, to the enhanced solar wind input.
The effect of perceived value on behavioural intentions

Purpose- This study investigates the relation between perceived value and behavioural intentions in the intercity passenger transportation industry from a multidimensional point of view. It is expected to contribute to theory and practice through the conceptualisation of perceived value within the benefit and sacrifice components and revelation of the effects of these variables on customers’ behavioural intentions with a holistic perspective. Methodology- Data were collected from 552 consumers that purchased services from the companies operating in the intercity passenger transportation industry within the last six months in Turkey. The research model is examined by using structural equation modelling. Findings- The results show that functional, social and emotional values are more effective on repurchase intention and word of mouth. Likewise, monetary cost and emotional value are more effective on willingness to pay more and complaining intention. Conclusion- These results may provide practical implications which could enable managers of intercity passenger transportation companies to understand the relation between perceived value and behavioural intentions and improve the customer loyalty on the basis of perceived value.
Intraluminal bubble dynamics induced by lithotripsy shock wave

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been the first option in the treatment of calculi in the upper urinary tract since its introduction. ESWL-induced renal injury is also found after treatment and is assumed to associate with intraluminal bubble dynamics. To further understand the interaction of bubble expansion and collapse with the vessel wall, the finite element method (FEM) was used to simulate intraluminal bubble dynamics and calculate the distribution of stress in the vessel wall and surrounding soft tissue during cavitation. The effects of peak pressure, vessel size, and stiffness of soft tissue were investigated. Significant dilation on the vessel wall occurs after contacting with rapid and large bubble expansion, and then vessel deformation propagates in the axial direction. During bubble collapse, large shear stress is found to be applied to the vessel wall at a clinical lithotripter setting (i.e. 40 MPa peak pressure), which may be the mechanism of ESWL-induced vessel rupture. The decrease of vessel size and viscosity of soft tissue would enhance vessel deformation and, consequently, increase the generated shear stress and normal stresses. Meanwhile, a significantly asymmetric bubble boundary is also found due to faster axial bubble expansion and shrinkage than in radial direction, and deformation of the vessel wall may result in the formation of microjets in the axial direction. Therefore, this numerical work would illustrate the mechanism of ESWL-induced tissue injury in order to develop appropriate counteractive strategies for reduced adverse effects.
Molecular characterization of potato cultivars using SSR markers

The potato crop has a very narrow genetic base, so the use of molecular markers is a very important tool in the characterization of germplasm banks and evaluation of genetic divergence. The objective of this study was to identify, using microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, 38 accessions of potato from two collections of commercial cultivars. For the molecular characterization 10 loci were used, generating a total of 46 alleles, which were analyzed as binary data. A cluster analysis was performed with the Jaccard´s similarity coefficient and the UPGMA method, using the software NTSYSpc. On average, the number of alleles per locus was 4.6, ranging from two alleles for primers STM1049, STM 1053 and STM 1104 to 12 alleles per locus for primer STM0019a. Of the 46 alleles, only five were monomorphic, therefore presenting 89.1% polymorphism. The polymorphism information content (PIC) varied from 0.13 to 0.86, with an average of 0.54. The Jaccard´s coefficient varied from 0.41 to 0.93, showing high genetic variability among accessions. Two possible duplicates [Atlantic (Canada) and Atlantic (Chile), and Colorado and Agata (EPAMIG) (duplicates with these SSRs, which did not separate them)] were identified. High similarity was also shown by cultivars Chipie and Melodie (EPAMIG), Voyager and Gourmandine (EPAMIG), Eole and Caesar (EPAMIG), and Cupido and Sante (Pirassu). The most genetically divergent accessions (Lady Rosetta and HPC-7B) were also identified.
Importance of fossil fuel emission uncertainties over Europe for CO2 modeling: model intercomparison

Abstract. Inverse modeling techniques used to quantify surface carbon fluxes commonly assume that the uncertainty of fossil fuel CO 2 (FFCO 2 ) emissions is negligible and that intra-annual variations can be neglected. To investigate these assumptions, we analyzed the differences between four fossil fuel emission inventories with spatial and temporal differences over Europe and their impact on the model simulated CO 2 concentration. Large temporal flux variations characterize the hourly fields (~40 % and ~80 % for the seasonal and diurnal cycles, peak-to-peak) and annual country totals differ by 10 % on average and up to 40 % for some countries (i.e., the Netherlands). These emissions have been prescribed to seven different transport models, resulting in 28 different FFCO 2 concentrations fields. The modeled FFCO 2 concentration time series at surface sites using time-varying emissions show larger seasonal cycles (+2 ppm at the Hungarian tall tower (HUN)) and smaller diurnal cycles in summer (−1 ppm at HUN) than when using constant emissions. The concentration range spanned by all simulations varies between stations, and is generally larger in winter (up to ~10 ppm peak-to-peak at HUN) than in summer (~5 ppm). The contribution of transport model differences to the simulated concentration std-dev is 2–3 times larger than the contribution of emission differences only, at typical European sites used in global inversions. These contributions to the hourly (monthly) std-dev's amount to ~1.2 (0.8) ppm and ~0.4 (0.3) ppm for transport and emissions, respectively. First comparisons of the modeled concentrations with 14 C-based fossil fuel CO 2 observations show that the large transport differences still hamper a quantitative evaluation/validation of the emission inventories. Changes in the estimated monthly biosphere flux (Fbio) over Europe, using two inverse modeling approaches, are relatively small (less that 5 %) while changes in annual Fbio (up to ~0.15 % GtC yr −1 ) are only slightly smaller than the differences in annual emission totals and around 30 % of the mean European ecosystem carbon sink. These results point to an urgent need to improve not only the transport models but also the assumed spatial and temporal distribution of fossil fuel emission inventories.
Co-occurring nematodes and bacteria in submarine canyon sediments

In submarine canyon sediments, bacteria and nematodes dominate the benthic biomass and play a key role in nutrient cycling and energy transfer. The diversity of these communities remains, however, poorly studied. This work aims at describing the composition of bacteria and nematode communities in the Lacaze-Duthiers submarine canyon in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. We targeted three sediment depths for two consecutive years and investigated the communities using nuclear markers (18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes). High throughput sequencing combined to maximal information coefficient (MIC) statistical analysis allowed us to identify, for the first time, at the same small scale, the community structures and the co-occurrence of nematodes and bacteria Operational Taxonomic Units across the sediment cores. The associations detected by MIC revealed marked patterns of co-occurrences between the bacteria and nematodes in the sediment of the canyon and could be linked to the ecological requirements of individual bacteria and nematodes. For the bacterial community, Delta- and Gammaproteobacteria sequences were the most abundant, as seen in some canyons earlier, although Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes have been prevalent in other canyon sediments. The 20 identified nematode genera included bacteria feeders as Terschellingia, Eubostrichus, Geomonhystera, Desmoscolex and Leptolaimus. The present study provides new data on the diversity of bacterial and nematodes communities in the Lacaze-Duthiers canyon and further highlights the importance of small-scale sampling for an accurate vision of deep-sea communities.
Nano-encapsulated Form of Citrus medica for Osteoporosis Treatment in Animal Model

Although Rosiglitazone (R) is recommended for diabetes therapy, however, it increases the incidence of osteoporosis. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of Citrus medica leaves extract nanoparticles (CM-NPs) against osteoporosis prompted by Rosiglitazone (R). In addition, pharmaceutical impacts of R with CM-NPs in treating diabetic-induced male rats were premeditated. Swiss albino rats (n= 60) were equally allocated in six groups including control (C), diabetes mellitus (DM), DM+R, DM+R+CM50-NPs, DM+R+CM75-NPs and DM+R+CM100-NPs. Serum glucose, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and β2-microglobulin concentrations were appraised. Bone mineral density (BMD) of each right femur was restrained. The results revealed that administration of R to DM-rats induced significant diminution in serum OPG level and increase in serum RANKL and β2microglobulin levels which were improved in DM-R-CM-NPs rats. A significant decline in total BMD was found in DM+R treated rats which was repressed in DM+R-CM-NP rats. DM-rats treated with R showed significantly low gene expression of OC, COL genes and higher level of ACP5 mRNA compared to control rats. However, the expression values due to R treatment were amended by CM-NPs administration. In addition, DM-rats treated with R showed significantly high incidence of MnPCEs and 8-OHdG/2-dG ratio which were inhibited by the administration of CM-NPs. Conclusion: The combination therapy of R and Citrus medica nanoparticles (CM-NPs) reduced the risk of osteoporosis in animal model.
Potential of remote sensing techniques for tsunami hazard and vulnerability analysis – a case study from Phang-Nga province, Thailand

Recent tsunami disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, have highlighted the need for effective risk management. Remote sensing is a relatively new method for risk analysis, which shows significant potential in conducting spatially explicit risk and vulnerability assessments. In order to explore and discuss the potential and limitations of remote sensing techniques, this paper presents a case study from the tsunami-affected Andaman Sea coast of Thailand. It focuses on a local assessment of tsunami hazard and vulnerability, including the socio-economic and ecological components. High resolution optical data, including IKONOS data and aerial imagery (MFC-3 camera) as well as different digital elevation models, were employed to create basic geo-data including land use and land cover (LULC), building polygons and topographic data sets and to provide input data for the hazard and vulnerability assessment. Results show that the main potential of applying remote sensing techniques and data derives from a synergistic combination with other types of data. In the case of hazard analysis, detailed LULC information and the correction of digital surface models (DSMs) significantly improved the results of inundation modeling. The vulnerability assessment showed that remote sensing can be used to spatially extrapolate field data on socio-economic or ecological vulnerability collected in the field, to regionalize exposure elements and assets and to predict vulnerable areas. Limitations and inaccuracies became evident regarding the assessment of ecological resilience and the statistical prediction of vulnerability components, based on variables derived from remote sensing data.
Electric and Spectroscopic Studies of Pulsed Corona Discharges in Nitrogen at Atmospheric Pressure

This paper is mainly dedicated to the experimental electric and spectroscopic analysis of positive corona discharges in the case of point to plane configuration, generated in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The maximum corona current (a few hundreds of mA), the average current (a few μA) and the average propagation velocity (a few 107 cm/s) are analyzed with the variation of the applied voltage (a few kV) and the gap distance (not exceeding 16 mm). By using an ICCD camera, the dynamics of the discharge during the propagation of primary and secondary streamers across the gap distance was analyzed. Spectroscopic study is emphasized in a spectral range from 200 nm up to 500 nm, to determine the important excited species present in the gaseous environment such as the second positive and the first negative systems (SPS and FNS respectively). The identification of the quenching NOγ emission bands is also emphasized.
Incidental Bequests and the Choice to Self-Insure Late-Life Risks

Despite facing significant uncertainty about their lifespans and health care costs, most retirees do not buy annuities or long-term care insurance. In this paper, I find that retirees’ saving and insurance choices are highly inconsistent with standard life-cycle models in which people care only about their own consumption but match well models in which bequests are luxury goods. Bequest motives tend to reduce the value of insurance by reducing the opportunity cost of precautionary saving. The results suggest that bequest motives significantly increase saving and significantly decrease purchases of long-term care insurance and annuities.
The Effects of Different Levels Discarded Dates on Synthesis of Microbial Protein in Kermani Sheep

Article Information The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different levels discarded dates on microbial protein synthesis of Kermani sheep. Four rumen cannulated Kermani sheep were used in a 4 × 4 square Latin change-over design within 21 days period. In this experiment, different amount of discarded dates including 0 (control), 10, 20 and 30 % were used. Microbial protein synthesis, blood urea nitrogen and body weight change of sheeps were evaluated. The results of this experiment showed that the increasing levels of discarded dates in diets of sheep increased microbial protein synthesis and reduce nitrogen excretion through urine compared with the control treatment (P<0/05). Body weight change was highest in sheep fed 30% discarded dates and lowest in sheep fed the control diet. Urea blood was affected by using different levels of discarded dates in the diets (P<0/05). Discarded dates as a supplement appears to increase synthesis of microbial protein in rumen. The results must be interpreted with caution as only four sheep were used in the experiment.
Behaviour and Degenerative Changes in the Basal Forebrain Systems of Aged Rats (12 Months Old) after Levo-Acetyl-Carnitine Treatments

One group of six male control rats [12 months old] and one group of six male rats of the same age, singularly maintained in a cage, and treated with acetyl-L-carnitine-HCl [(gamma-trimethyl-beta-acetyl-butyrobetaine-HCl: Sigma-Tau code ST200 or ALCAR: 60 mg/kg/day[7]/po)] for six months were tested in the spatial learning/memory Morris mazewater task and for atrophy and cell loss in seven myelo- and cytostructurally defined basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic regions [Freddi et al., 2009]. Coronal sections 25 ? m thick were cut through the BF regions and processed every 200 ? m for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry. The ALCAR-treated rats had significantly shorter exit times on the Morris maze-water task test than the control rats (average ± SD 28.3 ± 12.4 s vs. 61.16 ± 4.67 s; t = 6.07, DOF = 10, P = 0.0001). Degenerative morphological changes in the BF ChAT-positive cells were observed in the substantia innominata pars anterior of the control rats but not in the treated animals (P < 0.05). In the BF, the counted and estimated average number of ChAT + cells in the 12-month-old ALCAR-treated rats (ChAT-ALCAR-12+ [Nos. 2,3,4]) was higher but not significantly (15.288 ± 3281) than that counted and estimated in the 12-month-old control rats [(ChAT-CT-12 [Nos. 1,2,3]) (11.508 ± 3868), t = 1.82, DOF = 10, P = 0.319]. In the substantia innominata pars posterior, the ChAT+ cells were significantly more numerous (P < 0.05) in the 12-month-old ALCAR-treated rats (ChAT-ALCAR-12 + [Nos. 2,3,4]) than in the control rats (ChAT-CT-12 [Nos. 1,2,3]). Above all, these results dem-onstrate that treatment with ALCAR from the age of 6 up to 12 months significantly attenuated spatial learning/memory impairment on the Morris maze-water behavioral task (P < 0.001) and also importantly reduced degeneration in size and number of cholinergic cells in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of the BF. Accordingly, the surviving cholinergic neurons found in the BF of the ALCAR-treated rats might play an important role in modulating cortical activity and facilitating processes of attention, learning and memory.
Genetic structure and affinities among indigenous populations of northeast Siberia: a literature review

The Asian Eskimo, Chukchi, Koryak and Itel'men are indigenous Siberian ethnic groups that occupy the territory of Northeast Asia. Russian and Western researchers have studied the genetic structure of these groups, and examined the relative role of microevolutionary forces operating on these populations. Genetic affinities between these and other Siberian native groups have been estimated to infer phylogenetic relationships. Overall, it was found that genetic structure was shaped predominantly by migration and random genetic drift. Genetic affinities reflect ethnohistory of Northeast populations and showed that in general, the Chukchi and Asian Eskimo are genetically as similar to Beringian Eskimo as to populations of continental Northeast Siberia. More specifically, Coastal Chukchi are genetically as similar to Reindeer Chukchi as to Asian Eskimo. Koryak were found to be closer to Reindeer Chukchi than to Asian Eskimo. Koryak and Itel'men are generally equidistant to continental Northeast populations and to Far East populations. Admixture plays an important role in estimating genetic affinities between populations. Undetected admixture can seriously obscure the results of genetic studies and make interpretations incorrect. To realistically estimate the degree of admixture, demographic and genealogical data must be collected for genetic studies. However, a survey of sampling procedures demonstrated relatively simplified approach to this problem. Genealogical studies were rarely employed for estimating admixture in individuals composing a sample. In most cases, individuals were only selected on the basis of "self-assigned" ethnicity with no further verification. This thesis proposes a new approach for conducting genetic studies that focus on genetic structure and affinities. Social anthropologists should collect and analyze genealogical data, and then samples for genetic study should be drawn from individuals that have been carefully selected by social anthropologists. Furthermore, a number of genetic markers, such as blood groups, HLA, mtDNA and Y chromosome polymorphisms should be analyzed simultaneously. Each of these markers provides unique information about migration and other microevolutionary forces. Using this approach, a more realistic picture of genetic affinities between populations should be obtained.