Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Earth, Air, Radon and Home

Our use of nuclear technology for medicine, energy and weapons during this century has led to growing awareness of the potentially harmful effects of radiation. Many people are even aware that exposures from weapons testing and from normally operating nuclear power plants have been far below those from the Earth's natural radioactivity and cosmic rays. The only human activities that routinely cause doses approaching those from natural radiation are medical uses of radiation for diagnosis or therapy.
4 Spectral dependence of MODIS cloud droplet eﬀective radius retrievals for marine boundary layer clouds

Low-level warm marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds cover large regions of Earth’s surface. They have a significant role in Earth’s radiative energy balance (Klein and Hartmann, 1993) and hydrological cycle. Despite the fundamental role of low-level warm water clouds in climate, our understanding of these clouds is still limited. In particular, connections between their properties (e.g. cloud fraction, cloud water path, and cloud droplet size) and environmental factors such as aerosol loading and meteorological conditions continue to be uncertain or unknown. Modeling these clouds in climate models remains a challenging problem. As a result, the influence of aerosols on these clouds in the past and future, and the potential impacts of these clouds on global warming remain open questions leading to substantial uncertainty in climate projections. To improve our understanding of these clouds, we need continuous observations of cloud properties on both a global scale and over a long enough timescale for climate studies. At present, satellite-based remote sensing is the only means of providing such observations. The cloud droplet effective radius (re) is one of the most important cloud parameters that are routinely monitored from space. The re is defined as (Hansen and Travis, 1974)
Le Pont de Londres: Interactions Between Monetary and Prudential Policies in Cross-Border Lending

We examine how euro area (EA) monetary policy and recipient-country prudential policy interact to influence cross-border lending of French banks. We find that monetary spillovers via cross-border lending can be partially offset by prudential measures in receiving countries. We then explore heterogeneities, specifically by bank size and location of the affiliate (French HQ vs. affiliates based in the UK). We find that the response of lending from French HQ to EA monetary policy is less sensitive to recipient-country prudential policy for systemic banks (GSIBs) than for non-GSIBs’. In contrast, the response of lending from GSIBs’ affiliates in the UK is sensitive to recipient-country prudential policy. French GSIBs’ crossborder lending from French HQ responds differently than lending from international financial centres. We also find evidence that French GSIBs channel funds towards the UK in response to EA monetary policy, in a manner dampened by global prudential policy setting. These findings suggest the existence of a ‘London Bridge’: conditional on EA monetary policy, French GSIBs adjust their funds in the UK depending on global prudential policies and, from there, lend to third-party countries according to local prudential policies. Finally, we have similar findings for all EA-owned banks UK affiliates, suggesting a broader relevance for the London Bridge.
Cruise tourism and sea ice in Canada's Hudson Bay region.

Tourism in the Hudson Bay region of central northern Canada generally is associated with non-consumptive forms of nature-based activities (such as polar bear viewing). However, the region has experienced variable growth in the cruise sector in recent years. This paper examines patterns of cruise activity in all subregions of the Hudson Bay region during three cruise seasons (2006, 2008, and 2009) and mainly reveals a pattern of decline. Since the prevalence of sea ice is an important part of visitor experiences of polar cruises, we examine sea ice change and occurrence of icebergs in the Hudson Bay region. Our sea ice analysis suggests that the length of the navigable shipping season is increasing in this region, which may facilitate both earlier and later shipping. But in terms of cruise traffic, we suggest that the demise of ice coverage signals a possible decline in cruise activity in most of the Hudson Bay region because ice-supported wildlife may shift north with the diminishing ice regime. Given the possible environmental and socio-cultural implications of changing cruise activity patterns in the Arctic and the absence of broad-scale monitoring and surveillance of the industry, use of these available data sources is vital to building a clearer picture.
2883 Ma Commencement of BIF Deposition at the Northern Edge of Congo Craton, Southern Cameroon: New Zircon SHRIMP Data Constraint from Metavolcanics

New SHRIMP data for zircons separated from a metadacite interbedded with banded iron formation (BIF) in the Mbalam region of southern Cameroon provide a 2883±20Ma age for the commencement of BIF deposition in the Congo craton. Separated zircons from the associated metadacite are brown and euhedral to subheral in form with distinct oscillatory zoning typical of magmatic signatures. These zircons lack internal resorption features and serrated zone boundaries as should be expected of zircons inherited from the surrounding basement rocks or multiple magmatic plumbing events. However, zircons from a surface BIF sample collected ∼ 60km west of the sequence from which the metavolcanics were sampled show a different age spectrum (Palaeoproterozoic, 1.0-2.0 Ga) suggesting a latter stage of BIF formation in the region which is not the focus of this work. Geochemical features of the metavolcanic samples analyzed identify the rocks to be rhyolitic, dacitic to andesitic in composition and possibly formed from a single magma by simple fractional crystallization. Trace element plots show negative Nb, Ta, Ti and Ho peaks that are characteristic of arc magmas. The study shows that initial BIF deposition in the Congo Craton was associated with early arc magmatism in the Archean. These ages correlate reasonably with early BIF deposition across the Atlantic in Brazil which was once linked to the Congo craton prior to the breakup of Gondwana.
ARTIFICIAL BARRIER FOR RIVERBANK FILTRATION AS IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL PERMEABILITY AND WATER QUALITY

Soil strata abilities to drain water at high volume is the essential properties in RBF (Riverbank Filtration). An artificial barrier (AB) is a man-made vertical barrier to pre-treat water abstraction intake. It is a mixture of sand (local soil), granular activated carbon (GAC) and zeolite. In this work, AB was made to enhance the flow of groundwater as well as water quality. The soil analysis of borehole near Kerian River featured clay, sandy clay loam and sandy loam. In the study, a local soil was mixed Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) at 9:1 (10% GAC), 7:3 and 1:1 ratios. The immediate results are the permeability increased with the percentage of GAC. Further, similar tests were conducted with a mixture of local soil, GAC and zeolite in ratio of 5:2:3 in a laboratory scale physical model. The removal of turbidity and iron in a local soil (without GAC and zeolite) in the range of 59% - 88% and 74% - 87%, respectively. However, a better removal capacity of turbidity and iron were found in the mixture of local soil, GAC and zeolite up to 76% - 98.8% and 73% -92% removals respectively. In sum, the initial study indicate that the mixture of local soil, GAC and zeolite with a specific ratio could provide a pre-treatment of turbidity and iron removal in RBF abstraction.
Maasailand Ecology: Pastoralist Development and Wildlife Conservation in Ngorongoro, Tanzania

1. Management problems and applied ecology in Ngorongoro Conservation Area 2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area 3. Maasai of Ngorongoro 4. History, politics and perceptions in Ngorongoro 5. Management-orientated research in NCA 6. Range resources 7. Wildlife 8. Livestock ecology 9. Livestock and wildlife 10. Maasai ecology: development, demography and subsistence 11. Conservation and development 12. Development interventions Viewpoint.
The role of an internal organic tube lining in the biomineralization of serpulid tubes

Most known serpulid tube ultrastructures in contact with an organic inner tube lining do not show the direction in which they developed. But spherulitic prismatic structures found in the innermost part of the tube wall of Recent Crucigera websteri, C. zygophora, Floriprotis sabiuraensis, and Pyrgopolon ctenactis indicate that the structure grew toward the organic inner tube lining and also toward the tubes lumen. Similar directions of growth for this structure are seen in Hydroides sp. from the Miocene of Austria. Growth towards the tube's lumen is opposite to what one would expect if the organic inner tube lining is being used as a scaffold for the biomineralization of CaCO3.
DISCHARGE AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT PATTERNS OF AN INTERMITTENT COLD DESERT STREAM 1

Sage Creek in south‐central Wyoming is listed as impaired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) due to its sediment contribution to the North Platte River. Despite the magnitude of sediment impacts on streams, little research has been conducted to characterize patterns of sediment transport or to model suspended sediment concentration in many arid western U.S. streams. This study examined the relationship between stream discharge and suspended sediment concentration near the Sage Creek and North Platte River confluence from 1998 through 2003. The objectives were to determine patterns of stream discharge and suspended sediment concentration, produce a sediment prediction model, and compare sediment concentrations for the six‐year period. Stream discharge and suspended sediment transport responded rapidly to convective storms and spring runoff events. During the study period, events exceeding 0.23 m3/s accounted for 92 percent of the sediment load, which is believed to originate from erodible headwater uplands. Further analysis of these data indicates that time series modeling is superior to simple linear regression in predicting sediment concentration. Significant increases in suspended sediment concentration occurred in all years except 2003. This analysis suggests that a six‐year monitoring record was insufficient to factor out impacts from climate, geology, and historical sediment storage.
An Observed Connection between the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Madden-Julian Oscillation

Abstract Based on the bivariate Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) index defined by Wheeler and Hendon and 25 yr (1979–2004) of pentad data, the association between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the MJO on the intraseasonal time scale during the Northern Hemisphere winter season is analyzed. Time-lagged composites and probability analysis of the NAO index for different phases of the MJO reveal a statistically significant two-way connection between the NAO and the tropical convection of the MJO. A significant increase of the NAO amplitude happens about 5–15 days after the MJO-related convection anomaly reaches the tropical Indian Ocean and western Pacific region. The development of the NAO is associated with a Rossby wave train in the upstream Pacific and North American region. In the Atlantic and African sector, there is an extratropical influence on the tropical intraseasonal variability. Certain phases of the MJO are preceded by the occurrence of strong NAOs. A significant change of upper zonal .
Palaeomagnetism and magnetic fabrics of the Late Palaeozoic volcanism in the Castejón-Laspaúles basin (Central Pyrenees). Implications for palaeoflow directions and basin configuration

Abstract The Castejón-Laspaúles basin is one of the South Pyrenean basins of Late Variscan age that were strongly inverted during the Alpine compression (Late Cretaceous–Tertiary). It is mainly composed by Stephanian pyroclastic and volcanic deposits that reach a maximum thickness of ~ 500 m, and are overlain by Permian and Triassic sedimentary units. A palaeomagnetic and magnetic fabrics (AMS) study was carried out in the Stephanian units, where the general absence of flow markers at the outcrop scale and the Alpine inversional structure prevent the straightforward reconstruction of the original volcanic and basinal configuration. Magnetic fabric data are not overprinted by Alpine internal deformation and can be interpreted in terms of primary volcanic and pyroclastic fabrics. The obtained directions coincide in the different sampled units, suggesting a constant source area during the development of the basin, and show the dominance of N–S-trending K1 axes that are interpreted to be parallel to flow directions. Palaeomagnetic data indicate the presence of a pre-folding palaeomagnetic component that is rotated clockwise by an average of +37° (±32°) with regards to the Stephanian reference. This rotation probably took place during Alpine thrusting since it is also registered by the overlying Triassic deposits. The whole dataset is interpreted in terms of basin development under sinistral transtension with two main fault sets: deep-rooted E–W-striking faults, probably responsible for magmatic emissions, and shallow-rooted, listric faults of N–S orientation.
Satellite Monitoring of Urban Spatial Growth in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area

Monitoring growth and change along the metropolitan periphery is of critical concern both to those who study metropolitan dynamics and those who must manage resources and provide services in these rapidly changing environments. This research has been directed to assess urban spatial growth and land change along the outskirts of Atlanta, one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States in the past three decades. A time series of satellite images was used to trace the development of urban land uses for the period of 1973 to the present. An image processing and GIS-based method was developed to achieve the research goal. Results reveal that every week, more than one-hundred acres of forest, green space, and farmland in the Atlanta region were converted into urban uses. Between 1973 and 1999, the urban territorial extent has expanded by 247 percent for 13 metro counties while the population increased by 96 percent. The rate of urban growth was much higher in outer suburban counties. Concomitant with this high rate of urban growth was a farreaching evolution in Atlanta's urban spatial form. The growth of high->ensity urban use (mainly com&ercial, transportation, industrial. and high-rise residential) is found to exwerience a
In-Field Management Practices for Mitigating Soil CO2 and CH4 Fluxes under Corn (Zea mays) Production System in Middle Tennessee

The United States continues to be the largest corn producer in the world. How to maximize corn yield and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is becoming a challenging effort for growers and researchers. As a result, our understanding of the responses of soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes to agricultural practices in cornfields is still limited. We conducted a 3-yr cornfield experiment to study the responses of soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes to various agricultural practices in middle Tennessee. The agricultural practices included no-tillage + regular applications of urea ammonium nitrate (NT-URAN); no-tillage + regular applications of URAN + denitrification inhibitor (NT-inhi- bitor); no-tillage + regular applications of URAN + biochar (NT-biochar); no-tillage + 20% applications of URAN + chicken litter (NT-litter); no-tillage + split applications of URAN (NT-split); and conventional tillage + regular applications of URAN as a control (CT-URAN). A randomized complete block design was used with six replications. The same amount of fertilizer equivalent to 217 kg·N·ha-1 was applied to all of the experimental plots. The results showed that improved fertilizer and soil management, except the NT-biochar treatment significantly increased soil CO2 flux as compared to the conventional tillage (CT-URAN, 487.05 mg CO2 m-2·h-1). Soil CO2 flux increased exponentially with soil temperature (T 2 flux tended to be positively related to corn yield and/or soil moisture. Soil CH4 flux increased linearly with soil moisture in all treatments. Improved fertilizer and soil management did not alter soil CH4 flux, but significantly affected its moisture sensitivity. Our results indicated that agricultural practices enhancing corn yield may also result in a net increase in carbon emissions from soil, hence reducing the potential of carbon sequestration in croplands.
Movement of sediment as bed load in rivers

The movement of sediment which rolls and creeps along the bed of a river, and is known as bed load, is analyzed using basic physical principles of fluid dynamics. The conditions for the start of sand-grain movement are set down and form an important part of the analysis. The turbulence mechanism in the flow above the bed plays a most significant role in the analysis of rate of bed-load movement. The final equation developed for the rate of sediment transport is not empirical; all the numerical constants in it are definite physical measures either of the sediment or of the hydraulic and turbulence characteristics of the river. The equation fits laboratory and field data obtained for a wide variety of conditions by various experimenters.
Plazas and Barrios

In recent years the travel industry has promoted trips to cultural landscapes that contain great historical and symbolic landmarks, and Latin American towns and cities are anything but isolated from this trend. Many historic city centers in Latin America have been preserved intact from the colonial era and today may serve institutional, commercial, or residential needs. Now economic forces from outside the region have created a demand for the preservation of historically "authentic" districts. This book explores how heritage tourism and globalization are reshaping the Latin American centro historico, analyzing the transformation of the urban core from town plaza to historic center in nine cities: Bogota, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cartagena, Colombia; Cuenca, Ecuador; Havana, Cuba; Montevideo, Uruguay; Puebla, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Trinidad, Cuba. It tells how these pressures, combined with the advantage of a downtown location, have raised the potential of redeveloping these inner city areas but have also created the dilemma of how to restore and conserve them while responding to new economic imperatives. In an eclectic and interdisciplinary study, Joseph Scarpaci documents changes in far-flung corners of the Latin American metropolis using a broad palette of tools: urban morphology profiles, an original land-use survey of 30,000 doorways in nine historic districts, numerous photographs, and a review of the political, economic, and globalizing forces at work in historic districts. He examines urban change as reflected in architectural styles, neighborhood growth and decline, real estate markets, and local politics in order to show the long reach of globalization and modernity. Plazas and Barrios spans all of Spanish-speaking America to address the socio-political dimensions of urban change. It offers a means for understanding the tensions between the modern and traditional aspects of the built environment in each city and provides a key resource for geographers, urban planners, architectural historians, and all concerned with the implications of the emerging global economy.
GOES‐10 microphysical retrievals in marine warm clouds: Multi‐instrument validation and daytime cycle over the southeast Pacific

[1] The daytime evolution of warm cloud microphysical properties over the southeast Pacific during October–November 2008 is investigated with optical/infrared retrievals from the Tenth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-10) imager. GOES-10 retrievals, produced at NASA Langley Research Center, are validated against in situ aircraft observations and with independent satellite observations. Comparisons with in situ observations reveal high linear correlations (r) for cloud effective radius (re) and optical thickness (τ) (r = 0.89 and 0.69 respectively); nevertheless, a GOES-10 positive mean re bias of 2.3 μm is apparent, and consistent with other previously reported satellite biases. Smaller biases are found for liquid water path (LWP) and an adiabatic-based cloud droplet number concentration (Nd), both variables derived by combining re and τ. In addition, GOES-10 observations are well correlated with their Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) counterparts, but with smaller biases and root-mean-square errors for the Aqua satellite passes, arguably associated with a better calibrated MODIS-Aqua instrument relative to MODIS-Terra. Furthermore, the excellent agreement between GOES-10 LWP and microwave-based satellite retrievals, especially at high solar zenith angles (>60°), provide further evidence of the utility of using GOES-10 retrievals to represent the daytime cloud cycle. In terms of the daytime cycle, GOES-10 observations show an afternoon minimum in LWP and an increase thereafter, consistent with satellite microwave climatologies. Theτ cycle explains most of the LWP variance with both variables in phase, minima near noon along the coast, and a 13:30–14:00 local solar time (LST) minimum offshore. In contrast, re is not exactly in phase with LWP and τ, having a minimum approximately at 12:30 LST throughout the domain. A unique feature is a striking re maximum along the coast at 16:15 LST, concomitant with a faster τ recovery. An explanation for a coastal reafternoon maximum is lacking although this is consistent with an enhancement of the updraft velocity reported in previous modeling studies. Finally, the GOES-derived Nd (Nd ∝ τ1/2 re−5/2) shows a complex daytime cycle with maxima at 7:15 and 13:15 LST. While the first maximum is driven by large τ, the second one is mainly explained by a minimum in re.
Using RFID and accelerometer‐embedded tracers to measure probabilities of bed load transport, step lengths, and rest times in a mountain stream

We present new measurements of bed load tracer transport in a mountain stream over several snowmelt seasons. Cumulative displacements were measured using passive tracers, which consisted of gravel and cobbles embedded with radio frequency identification tags. The timing of bed load motion during 11 transporting events was quantified with active tracers, i.e., accelerometer‐embedded cobbles. Probabilities of cobble transport increased with discharge above a threshold, and exhibited slight to moderate hysteresis during snowmelt hydrographs. Dividing cumulative displacements by the number of movements recorded by each active tracer constrained average step lengths. Average step lengths increased with discharge, and distributions of average step lengths and cumulative displacements were thin tailed. Distributions of rest times followed heavy‐tailed power law scaling. Rest time scaling varied somewhat with discharge and with the degree to which tracers were incorporated into the streambed. The combination of thin‐tailed displacement distributions and heavy‐tailed rest time distributions predict superdiffusive dispersion.