Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Option Value of Hydrogen Retrofits for Subsidy-Free Offshore Wind Farms

For a successful energy transition, a high amount of investment in, e.g., electrolyzers and storage systems of different kind is required. In this paper, we show that without supporting policy measures, such investment can be expected to be deferred significantly. We define the case study as the retrofitting of the offshore wind farm Borkum Riffgrund 3 with an electrolyzer. Borkum Riffgrund 3 is one of several wind farms that are going to be operated without any subsidies and, therefore, it is well suited as a show case. The retrofit is considered as an irreversible investment under uncertainty and we investigate the real option to defer. For simplicity, no hysteresis effects or other specific operational aspects are considered, but the complex electricity market price development and its interaction with the volume of electricity available for hydrogen production is explicitly modeled with stochastic mean-reverting processes. All processes utilize time-dependent trend functions which we have derived from empirical data. The electricity price model that we are proposing accounts explicitly for the merit order effect and in addition allows to incorporate the expected changes from the ongoing energy transition. Based on this setup, we formulate and solve numerically an optimal stopping problem in full generality. With this, we can show that in the respective state space, the area of waiting is so large that, over the next decade, we cannot expect investments in electrolyzers and storage systems to happen on an industrial scale. On the one hand, this comprehensive setup responds to the question of whether a competitive market triggers the required investments in electrolyzers and storage in a timely manner. On the other hand it contributes to the open question of whether energy-only markets can continue to function in a system with a high share of renewables.
Chemical Kinetic Model of Hydrocarbon Generation, Expulsion, and Destruction Applied to the Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela

This paper describes the development and application of a compositional chemical model of hydrocarbon generation, expulsion, and destruction for the Cretaceous La Luna Formation source rock of the Maracaibo basin, Venezuela. Applications include both laboratory and geological settings. Laboratory pyrolysis experiments were used to study bulk oil generation, expulsion, and associated changes in composition of the kerogen, extractable organic matter, and expelled and unexpelled hydrocarbons. The laboratory experiments were also used to determine kinetic parameters to quantitatively describe organic reactions, via a computer model that also includes simulation of pressure-driven primary expulsion, over widely varying conditions. We show that the chemical model accurately sim lates the experimental results. Thermal history models for wells in the Maracaibo basin were used to simulate hydrocarbon generation and pore pressure development in the La Luna Formation and expulsion into nearby Cretaceous reservoirs. Results of the modeling indicate that both compaction disequilibrium and organic maturation play important roles in the development of excess pore pressure in the La Luna Formation. The model simulation of the variation of indicators such as Rock-Eval parameters and extract and oil compositions shows generally good agreement with measurements from remaining kerogen, oils, and extracts recovered from the La Luna Formation and from nearby Cretaceous reservoirs.
Palaeomagnetism of the Sibumasu and Indochina blocks: implications for the extrusion tectonic model

Abstract The Jurassic-Cretaceous Kalaw redbeds of Myanmar yield a prefolding Late Cretaceous to Early Palaeogene magnetization which records c. 25–30° of clockwise (CW) rotation relative to the South China block. This corresponds to 10–15° CW relative to the Lower Cretaceous Khorat Plateau VGP. The data also show 5° of northward transport relative to the 100 Ma South China VGP or 12° relative to the Khorat Lower Cretaceous VGP. Similar CW rotations are measured in remagnetized Palaeozoic carbonates in Peninsular Thailand and Langkawi Island, Malaysia. These block motions most likely took place between the Late Cretaceous and the Late Oligocene. These and other recently published data have several implications for the extrusion tectonic model: (i) Sundaland has only rotated 25–30° CW relative to South China during the Tertiary; (ii) southeastward translation is only 300–500 km; and (iii) Sundaland is composed of smaller sub-blocks, some of which have moved northward. This is interpreted to indicate that deformation of the Sibumasu block is dominated by the oblique subduction of the Indian Ocean Plate while deformation of the Indochina block is dominated by extrusion, in turn driven by convergence between the Indian Craton and Eurasia.
Autophagy as a Target for Non-Immune Intrinsic Functions of Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 in Cancer

Autophagy is a catabolic process that is essential to the maintenance of homeostasis through the cellular recycling of damaged organelles or misfolded proteins, which sustains energy balance. Additionally, autophagy plays a dual role in modulating the development and progression of cancer and inducing a survival strategy in tumoral cells. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) modulates the immune response and is responsible for maintaining self-tolerance. Because tumor cells exploit the PD-L1–PD-1 interaction to subvert the immune response, immunotherapy has been developed based on the use of PD-L1-blocking antibodies. Recent evidence has suggested a bidirectional regulation between autophagy and PD-L1 molecule expression in tumor cells. Moreover, the research into the intrinsic properties of PD-L1 has highlighted new functions that are advantageous to tumor cells. The relationship between autophagy and PD-L1 is complex and still not fully understood; its effects can be context-dependent and might differ between tumoral cells. This review refines our understanding of the non-immune intrinsic functions of PD-L1 and its potential influence on autophagy, how these could allow the survival of tumor cells, and what this means for the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapeutic strategies.
Simulating the early Holocene eastern Mediterranean sapropel formation using an ocean biogeochemical model

The early Holocene sapropel S1 is an organic-rich sediment layer. The S1 was deposited under oxygen-depleted deep water conditions, which evolved as a consequence of a stagnating deep water circulation and/or enhanced biological productivity. Commonly, both of these processes were inferred to be triggered by an enhanced humidity over the broader Mediterranean area, in particular, by the increased strength of the African monsoon during the African humid period (AHP) providing strongly enhanced Nile runoff and nutrient load. However, the exact mechanisms leading to S1 formation are still being debated. Using a set of model simulations we show that neither enhanced biological productivity fueled by increased riverine nutrient input, nor an AHP climatic induced stagnating deep water circulation combined with enhanced biological productivity can explain S1 formation. The main reasons are: (i) A purely enhanced biological productivity cannot overcome the effect of a continuous deep ventilation, thus, a stagnating deep water circulation is a prerequisite for S1 formation. (ii) The pre-sapropel period is characterized by low particulate organic carbon (POC) sediment burial flux, hence, the S1 formation involves no particularly strong riverine induced eutrophication scenario. (iii) The time frame required for complete oxygen depletion within the stagnating deep water circulation exceeds the time span between the beginning of the AHP and the onset of the S1 oxygen deficiency, therefore, the AHP climate is not the cause of S1 formation. Furthermore, it has been proposed that during the last glacial-interglacial transition time substantial freshening and warming of the Mediterranean upper ocean established a stable density stratification, preventing deep water ventilation. We show that imposing the climatic signals of the last glacial-interglacial transition triggers a deep water stagnation, which is persistent over the entire 3.4 kyr of simulation. Under an oligotrophic regime, the simulated sediment is in accordance with pre-sapropel sediment core POC burial fluxes. No deep water anoxia develops in the short time frame of this simulation relative to the temporal extent of the deglaciation period. The trend of the oxygen consumption suggests that it takes at least 6.5 kyr until deep water anoxia evolves. The simulated trend of the strength of the deep water stagnation indicates that a restrengthening of the density stratification, for instance, through an additional freshwater input, is required to meet the reconstructed spatial extent and duration of the S1 deposition. An examination of records of epibenthic deep-sea foraminifera δ18O supports our findings, and indicates that the stagnation of the deep circulation started ∼6 kyr before the onset of the S1 deposition. Here we show, for the first time, by means of ocean biogeochemical modeling that the sapropel S1 formation cannot be explained through the AHP climate, but that it was triggered by the climatic changes associated with the last glacial-interglacial transition.
MEASUREMENT OF PALEOTEMPERATURES AND TEMPERATURES OF THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF ENGLAND, DENMARK, AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Since the abundance of the O 18 isotope in calcium carbonate varies with the temperature at which it is deposited from water, the variation in abundance can be used as a thermometer. This paper discusses the following problems: (1) the magnitude of the effect expected, (2) the mass spectrometer of high sensitivity, (3) the preservation of the record during geological time, (4) the constancy of the isotopic composition of the ocean, (5) the impossibility of using skeletons of air breathing animals, and (6) the temperature of marine animals relative to their surroundings. A Jurassic belemnite is used to show that the record has been retained since Jurassic times, and belemnites of the Upper Cretaceous of the United States, England, and Denmark are used to determine the temperature of this time at these localities. The temperatures are about 15°–16°C and indicate nearly uniform temperature over this latitudinal belt. Because of the possible variation in O 18 content of the oceans and the limited number of samples, these temperatures are regarded as preliminary.
An Assessment of the Uncertainties in Ocean Surface Turbulent Fluxes in 11 Reanalysis, Satellite-Derived, and Combined Global Datasets

AbstractOcean surface turbulent fluxes play an important role in the energy and water cycles of the atmosphere–ocean coupled system, and several flux products have become available in recent years. Here, turbulent fluxes from 6 widely used reanalyses, 4 satellite-derived flux products, and 2 combined product are evaluated by comparison with direct covariance latent heat (LH) and sensible heat (SH) fluxes and inertial-dissipation wind stresses measured from 12 cruises over the tropics and mid- and high latitudes. The biases range from −3.0 to 20.2 W m−2 for LH flux, from −1.4 to 6.0 W m−2 for SH flux, and from −7.6 to 7.9 × 10−3 N m−2 for wind stress. These biases are small for moderate wind speeds but diverge for strong wind speeds (>10 m s−1). The total flux biases are then further evaluated by dividing them into uncertainties due to errors in the bulk variables and the residual uncertainty. The bulk-variable-caused uncertainty dominates many products’ SH flux and wind stress biases. The biases in the bu.
Precambrian-Cambrian boundary global stratotype ratified and a new perspective of Cambrian time

The Precambrian-Cambrian boundary global stratotype is the base of the Phycodes pedum Zone at Fortune Head, southeastern Newfoundland. The initial, two-stage radiation of the Phanerozoic fauna (the appearance of Phanerozoic-aspect trace producers and subsequent origin of diverse skeletalized metazoans) was earliest Cambrian. Fossil assemblages with deep, complex burrows or originally mineralized skeletal fossils (with exception of Cloudina ) are Early Cambrian or younger. Correlation into Avalon indicates that strata once referred to the Proterozoic (e.g., Manykaian [or Nemakit-Daldynian] and Rovno stages) are lowest Cambrian and that the Siberian Tommotian Stage is middle Lower Cambrian. The thick sequence and complex epeirogenic history of the Placentian Series, as compared with the trilobite-bearing Branchian Series, suggest that most Early Cambrian time is represented by the subtrilobitic Lower Cambrian.
RTA Dubai: Benchmarking as a Catalyst for Superior Services

The Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) is the primary focus of this study, which aims to illuminate the use and impact of benchmarking in a public sector framework by examining the advancements in service delivery and operational efficiency. Methodology: This study uses secondary data sources and a qualitative research methodology. It focuses on the benchmarking procedures used by the RTA and compares them to those of other international transportation organizations to highlight room for improvement. Findings: The results show that the RTA has significantly improved service quality and operational agility by skillfully incorporating benchmarking. Research Limitations: It primarily focuses on secondary sources, and while acknowledging benchmarking applications, the research only emphasizes the RTA project with minimal influence of other factors. Originali-ty/Value: This article thoroughly examines benchmarking tactics within a governmental framework, offering priceless insights for comparable institutions pursuing operational and service excellence. It encourages additional research into transit technology evolution and benchmarking.
Algorithm for Selective Withdrawal from Stratified Reservoir

A method to simulate the withdrawal of water from a stratified water body is introduced. The method can handle large withdrawals within a single time step and thereore allows the use of relatively long time steps, considerably reducing computational expense. Good agreement with the experimental work of other researchers is found. The results of simulations incorporating the algorithm into the dynamic reservoir model DYRESM are shown for Wellington Reservoir in Western Australia.
Osteichthyans from an Arkadelphia Formation—Midway Group Lag Deposit (Late Maastrichtian—Paleocene), Hot Spring County, Arkansas, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT A lag deposit that separates the underlying late Maastrichtian Arkadelphia Formation marl from the overlying Paleocene Midway Group limestone in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, U.S.A. , contains osteichthyan teeth, scales, and skeletal elements belonging to: Cylindracanthus ornatus Leidy, 1856, Atractosteus sp. , Lepisosteus sp. , cf. Hadrodus priscus Leidy, 1857, Pseudoegertonia cf. P. granulosus (Arambourg, 1952), Paralbula casei Estes, 1969, Enchodus ferox Leidy, 1855, Enchodus gladiolus (Cope, 1872), Enchodus petrosus (Cope, 1874), Enchodus sp. , and Teleostei incertae sedis. Outcrop exposures of this lag deposit occur within the Ouachita River and are expressed as a series of partially submerged, steeply inclined fold limbs that strike obliquely to water flow. The co-occurring osteichthyans recovered in this study span a broad range of salinity tolerances, foraging behaviors, and dietary preferences. Concentration of these osteichthyans indicates transport, exhumation, and reburial associated with storm activity or sea level cyclicity across a shallow Late Cretaceous marine shelf. Arkadelphia—Midway osteichthyan taxa belong to groups that survive the Cretaceous—Paleocene extinction event.
Pazopanib Treatment in Soft Tissue Sarcoma (Single Center Experience)

Objectives: Soft tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors accounting for less than 1% of adult malignancies. In this study, we examined patients who received pazopanib for soft tissue sarcoma. Factors affecting mortality and overall survival in soft tissue sarcoma patients using pazopanib were investigated. Methods: This study is a retrospective single-center study. Results: Fifty-three patients (median age: 42 years) were included. The median duration of follow-up in our cohort was 34 months. Before pazopanib, 37 patients (69.8%) received first-line, 12 patients (22.6%) received second-line and 4 patients (7.5%) received third-line chemotherapy. The median duration of pazopanib therapy was 7 months (range, 1–82). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival was 7 months (range, 1–83) and 12 months (range, 1–83), respectively. Patients who received radiotherapy for curative or palliative purposes had significantly longer PFS (p=0.040). Eight patients required dose reduction due to adverse effects. Grade 4 adverse effects occurred in only 2 patients. After pazopanib, 36 patients (67.9%) did not receive any treatment. On Cox regression analysis, not receiving any treatment after pazopanib was associated with 3.052-fold higher mortality. A 1-unit increase in PFS was associated with 1.15-fold lower risk of mortality. Conclusion: In this study, pazopanib was found to be an effective and safe drug for advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Patients who received palliative radiotherapy for curative or palliative purposes had significantly longer PFS. Receiving treatment after pazopanib and longer PFS was associated with reduced mortality
Statistical distribution of daily rainfall and its association with the coefficient of variation of rainfall series

The paper deals with the statistical analysis of the daily rainfall series (monthly, seasonal, and annual) of 15 Indian stations representing a wide variety of rainfall regimes, utilizing the data for the period 1901–1980. The study focuses attention on the normalized rainfall curve (NRC) depicting the association between cumulated percentage rain amount (x) and cumulated percentage number of rain days (y) of the rainfall series. It is shown that the NRC is uniquely determined by the coefficient of variation (CV) of the rainfall series. There is no universal NRC that can represent all rainfall regimes. The equation x = y exp[ — b(100 — y)c], where b and c are two empirical constants, gives a good analytical representation of the NRCs over a wide range of CV values of the rainfall series. This analytical equation is able to account for the occurrence of high rainfall intensities towards the upper extremity of the NRC for rainfall series with high values of CV. The rain intensity corresponding to any point on the NRC is inversely proportional to the slope of the tangent at that point. The point where the slope is 45° corresponds to the mean rain amount per rain day (r) of the rainfall series. It is shown that days with rain amount greater than r (considered as days of significant rainfall) constitute about 30 per cent of the rain days and contribute 75–80 per cent of the total rain amount, with some local and seasonal variations.
The Effects of the Fungicide Myclobutanil on Soil Enzyme Activity

(1) Background: The use of pesticides, although needed to protect crops and increase production, represents an environmental and human health issue. Therefore, measures must be taken in order to develop a better understanding of the risks involved in the overuse of these compounds. Myclobutanil is a chiral triazole fungicide widely used for the protection of crops against fungal diseases. Published data have shown that, although effective in preventing fungal infections, high doses of myclobutanil can affect the soil environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of myclobutanil on soil enzyme activity, as well as the possible specificity of the interactions of the two stereoisomers of myclobutanil with these enzymes. (2) Methods: A combination of experimental and computational approaches was considered. An experimental method was applied in order to assess the effect of different doses of myclobutanil on the activity of dehydrogenase, phosphatase, catalase, urease and protease. The computational approach was based on the molecular docking of the two enantiomers of myclobutanil with the above-mentioned enzymes to assess the possible enantioselectivity of the interactions. (3) Results: High doses of myclobutanil significantly affected the enzymatic activity of dehydrogenase and led to a slight increase in the activity of catalase. Molecular docking data showed that both enantiomers of myclobutanil were able to bind to the active sites of dehydrogenase, phsosphatase and protease, with higher interacting energies observed for (S)-myclobutanil, the enantiomer known to be less active against target organisms but have a higher toxicity against non-target organisms. (4) Conclusions: The results of our study confirm the need to implement better management practices regarding the use of myclobutanil (and of pesticides in general) by using the enantiomer that is most effective on target organisms and less toxic to non-target organisms.
Integrated Analyses of Single-Cell Transcriptome and Mendelian Randomization Reveal the Protective Role of Resistin in Sepsis Survival in Intensive Care Unit

The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with sepsis highlight the challenges of finding specific remedies for this condition in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to cell types in sepsis and investigate the role of resistin in the survival of sepsis patients through Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. We used single-cell and bulk transcriptome data to identify cell type-specific DEGs between sepsis and healthy controls. MR analyses were then conducted to investigate the causal relationships between resistin (one of the identified DEGs) levels and the survival of sepsis patients. Additionally, we utilized meQTL (methylation quantitative trait loci) to identify cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites that may directly affect sepsis. We identified 560 cell type-specific DEGs between sepsis and healthy controls. Notably, we observed the upregulation of resistin levels in macrophages during sepsis. In bulk transcriptome, RETN is also upregulated in sepsis samples compared with healthy controls. MR analyses revealed a negative association existed between the expression of resistin, at both gene and protein levels, and the mortality or severity of sepsis patients in ICU. Moreover, there were no associations observed between resistin levels and death or organ failure due to other causes. We also identified three methylation CpG sites, located in RETN or its promoter region—cg06633066, cg22322184, and cg02346997—that directly affected both resistin protein levels and sepsis death in the ICU. Our findings suggest that resistin may provide feasible protection for sepsis patients, particularly those with severe cases, without serious side effects. Therefore, resistin could be a potential drug candidate for sepsis treatment. Additionally, we identified two CpG sites, cg06633066 and cg22322184, that were associated with RETN protein levels and sepsis death, providing novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of sepsis.