Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the generation and growth of equatorial backscatter plumes: 2. Structuring of the west walls of upwellings

The west wall of large-scale ‘upwellings’ that develop in the bottomside of the nighttime equatorial F layer becomes structured by the wind-driven gradient drift instability, the same process that leads to the formation of striations in barium ion clouds. Upwellings are initiated by wavelike perturbations with long spatial wavelengths (∼400-km) and are amplified by the collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability (and sometimes assisted by the gradient drift instability in the case of an upward moving F layer). The west wall structuring process is driven by an eastward neutral wind enhanced by reduced drag during the postsunset hours and a velocity shear in east-west bulk plasma drift in the bottomside F layer. West wall structures evolve in a manner analogous to primary plasma bubbles, i.e., secondary plasma bubbles grow from the west wall. Their characteristics are compared with those of the primary bubbles and discussed in the light of existing theories.
Evidence of a partitioned dynamo reversal process from paleomagnetic recordings in Tahitian lavas

Lavas erupted at the Society hotspot during the Matuyama‐Brunhes (M‐B) polarity reversal record transitional field behavior containing two tight paleodirectional groups that when averaged are antipodal at the 95% confidence level, and thus correlate to antipodal clustered virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs). The occurrence of these observations––data obtained from two published records of the M‐B transition from distinct sections of a succession of flows on Tahiti––is associated with a time when the strength of the axial dipole was significantly reduced. One of the clusters was recorded by lavas that were not erupted in succession, suggesting that significant time had passed during this volcanic activity. Time spent during the formation of the antipodal cluster is unknown, although it resides in the same location as VGP clusters associated with four other transitional events obtained from Society hotspot lavas. Calculated VGPs at the Society hotspot for both “polarities” of the averaged historic field––less the axial dipole term––are found in the cluster locations. These findings offer strong evidence for a two‐tiered dynamo process in which nearly the entire axial dipole component undergoes both demise and regeneration quasi‐independently from that of the remainder of the field, the pattern of which is tied to long‐held physical conditions of the lower‐most mantle.
Using Marxan and Marxan with Zones to support marine planning

Using Marxan and Marxan with Zones to support marine planning Frances Jean Peckett. With the growth in human pressures on the marine environment and the increase in competition for space and resources there has been recognition by many governments of the need to use the marine environment sustainably and allow for its acceptable allocation for each sector. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the use of Marxan and Marxan with Zones as practical tools to enable the production of marine plans that integrate environmental and socioeconomic data and to suggest best practice in the types of data used. In this thesis three key aspects of data type and integration were identified and evaluated. The resolution and complexity of data required to protected marine biodiversity was assessed. The effects of using different substrate data resolution on the selection of sites to protect a range of biotopes using Marxan are determined. The nature of the data used in marine planning has significant implications for the protection of marine biodiversity. Using less complex data, of any resolution, did not adequately protect marine biodiversity. There is a need to determine what is an acceptable allocation of marine resource to each sector. Two case study areas were used to determine how to integrate conservation and socioeconomic data and objectives in a marine plan. Objectives for all the sectors could not be met completely in a single marine plan and each sector had to compromise. This research highlighted the potential compromises required and indicates that if marine heritage and biodiversity are to be protected each sector will have to change the impact it has on the marine environment. Currently marine conservation assumes that all data on habitats and species presented for use in marine planning are equal, in accuracy, precision and value. This is not always the case, with data based on a wide range of sources including routine government monitoring, specific innovative research and stakeholder based data gathering. A case study area was used to evaluate the impacts of using confidence levels in habitat data on marine biodiversity. It was found that data outputs that best protected marine biodiversity used data over 20% and over 30% confidence. With the data currently available for the UK marine environment it is not possible to be confident that a representative MPA network can be created. Together these studies contribute key recommendations for best practice in marine planning and demonstrate that the use of spatial decision support tools (Marxan and Marxan with Zones) are essential for the integration of data in marine planning, to assess how using different types of data will impact marine planning and marine biodiversity protection and to explore implications of different management actions.
Exploiting Model Morphology for Event-Based Testing

Model-based testing employs models for testing. Model-based mutation testing (MBMT) additionally involves fault models, called mutants, by applying mutation operators to the original model. A problem encountered with MBMT is the elimination of equivalent mutants and multiple mutants modeling the same faults. Another problem is the need to compare a mutant to the original model for test generation. This paper proposes an event-based approach to MBMT that is not fixed on single events and a single model but rather operates on sequences of events of length k ≥ 1 and invokes a sequence of models that are derived from the original one by varying its morphology based on k. The approach employs formal grammars, related mutation operators, and algorithms to generate test cases, enabling the following: (1) the exclusion of equivalent mutants and multiple mutants; (2) the generation of a test case in linear time to kill a selected mutant without comparing it to the original model; (3) the analysis of morphologically different models enabling the systematic generation of mutants, thereby extending the set of fault models studied in related literature. Three case studies validate the approach and analyze its characteristics in comparison to random testing and another MBMT approach.
A century of climate variability and climate gradients from coast to ice sheet in west greenland

Abstract This work describes the temperature trends of the Nuuk fjord area during the last century and analyses the spatial variability of temperature and precipitation along the coast‐inland gradient of the region. A better understanding of the climate of the coastal region of Greenland is important for ice sheet studies since significant thinning has recently been detected on local outlet glaciers with driving factors still to be identified. The glaciological reconstruction of the ice sheet mass balance has often made use of climate datasets from the coastal stations to substitute missing data from the inland areas. The information on the coast‐inland gradient of temperature and precipitation hereafter provided is of relevance in other areas around the ice sheet as it represents a mean for increasing the accuracy of historical glacier‐climate interactions. We therefore discuss climatological information from the automatic station that operated at the glacier throughout the 1980s as well as from other stations located along the fjord and with a longer coverage.
On gregarious behavior in AlbertosaurusThis article is one of a series of papers published in this Special Issue on the theme Albertosaurus.

One century ago, a field party from the American Museum of Natural History discovered a bonebed in the Upper Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta, Canada. Excavations by that museum, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, and the University of Alberta have revealed the presence of at least a dozen individuals — represented by articulated partial skeletons, associated skeletons, and disarticulated isolated elements — of Albertosaurus sarcophagus. Tyrannosaurids dominate the bonebed assemblage, which also includes an adult Hypacrosaurus altispinus, two individuals of Albertonykus borealis, and numerous other, predominantly terrestrial, vertebrates. Skeletal morphology, phylogenetic inference, monodominant bonebeds, trackway sites, and ecological inferences support the notion that some non-avian theropods were gregarious animals. And specifically in the Albertosaurus bonebed, associated geologic and taphonomic evidence do not rule out a behavioural component in this catastrophic, mass-death a.
Role of boundary layer and cumulus convection on dust emission and transport over a midlatitude desert area

[1] A series of high-resolution simulations explicitly resolving diurnally varying convective motion is performed for investigating the dynamical processes of dust emission and transport induced by boundary layer and cumulus convection under fair-weather conditions in a midlatitude desert area. The simulation set examines the sensitivity of the dust dynamics to vertical wind shear, upper level wind speed, and moist convection. The simulated results qualitatively capture the diurnal variation of the dust layer observed by lidar in a desert area in northern China. Dry convection plays a primary role in vertically mixing dust within the boundary layer. If cumulus convection also comes into play, mass concentration of dust increases not only within the boundary layer but also in the free troposphere. A coupled effect of dry and moist convection is important because convection is more enhanced with the coupled effect than without moist processes and in addition transports upper level higher momentum down to the surface, intensifying surface winds and hence dust emission. A wind speed exceeding the threshold for surface dust emission is necessary at the upper levels of the daytime boundary layer for the surface wind enhancement. Although the amount of dust lifted is much smaller during a single diurnal cycle of fair weather than is associated with a single case of synoptic disturbances, the total amount of dust emission due to fair-weather processes may not be neglected in a longer timescale. This suggests that a proper parameterization for dry and moist convection in fair weather needs to be employed in large-scale simulations.
Les limites actuelles de l'apprentissage collaboratif en ligne

L'examen d'une pratique collaborative a distance au travers des trois premieres promotions du DESS UTICEF de Strasbourg 1, montre un eventail de comportements de la part des etudiants allant de l'adhesion a la collaboration, a une preference pour la cooperation et enfin a la persistance du travail en solitaire. Ces attitudes s'inserent dans trois profils d'apprenants : accrocheurs, serieux, independants. Notre analyse nous incite a rester prudents quand il est envisage d'appliquer le modele collaboratif a des cohortes nombreuses en utilisant des outils informatiques permettant de demultiplier l'action des tuteurs.
Sediment transport and shear stress partitioning in a vegetated flow

Vegetation is a common feature in natural coastal and riverine water ways, interacting with both the water flow and sediment transport. However, the physical processes governing these interactions are still poorly understood, which makes it difficult to predict sediment transport and morphodynamics in a vegetated environment. We performed a simple experiment to study how sediment transport responds to the presence of flexible, single‐blade vegetation, and how this response is influenced by the vegetation density. We found that the skin friction and sediment transport are reduced in a plant patch, and that this effect is larger for denser vegetation. We then evaluated several methods to calculate the skin friction in a vegetated flow, which is the key to sediment transport prediction. Among these, the inversion of bed load transport formulas and the Einstein and Banks (1950) methods appeared to produce the most reasonable values of the skin friction. Finally, we suggest using the parameter α, which is the ratio of the skin friction computed by these methods to the total bed shear stress, to make more realistic sediment transport predictions in morphodynamic models.
Water quality assessment in the Pangani River basin, Tanzania: natural and anthropogenic influences on the concentrations of nutrients and inorganic ions

The ongoing rapid expansions of human activities and population dynamics have a potential impact on the environmental quality of the Pangani River basin, one of the largest water resources in Tanzania, including possible loadings of different kinds of micro-contaminants. However, the specific extent of the impacts is not well investigated. In this work, we assessed the environmental quality of the basin, based on the seasonal characterization of physicochemical water and sediment parameters, dissolved inorganic ions and nutrient loads. The contributions of geochemical processes and land-use practices were evaluated by multivariate correlations and principal component analysis (PCA). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to classify similar water quality stations and identify the most and least enriched ones. Surface waters were slightly alkaline, characterized by low total dissolved solids (48–652 mg/L). Extremely low oxygen concentration (2.0 mg/L) was also a cause of concern at one station. The Na+ and ions provided the dominant cation and anion, respectively. The PCA identified the weathering of carbonate- and Na+-bearing rocks, gypsum dissolution and atmospheric deposition of sea salt as the major factors controlling the ionic composition, contributing more than 60% of the spatial variance. The concentration profiles of the chemical species showed a generally low level of anthropogenic inputs, except at a few locations where nitrate and nitrite were significantly enriched above the limits of safe exposure, with patterns indicating influences of farming and livestock-keeping. A seasonal difference was observed, with lower ion concentrations during the rainy season, likely due to the dilution effect of increased water discharge. This study provides new insights into the environmental quality of the basin and indicates the need for continuous monitoring and assessment of the chemical species in the area.
Latitudinally different responses of Tethyan shoal‐water carbonate systems to the Early Aptian oceanic anoxic event (OAE 1a)

Ocean‐wide anoxic events represent intensively investigated anomalies in the global carbon cycle. Most previous research has focussed on hemipelagic and pelagic settings and on the relationship between black‐shale deposition and carbon‐isotope excursions. The study of ocean‐wide anoxic events and coeval shallow‐water settings is now increasingly seen as an interesting complementary approach, but one that is not without problems. Whereas platform drowning characterizes the Early Aptian of the northern Tethyan margin, Lithocodium–Bacinella‐rich facies and ongoing shoal‐water sedimentation at the southern Tethyan margin (Oman) bears important information on potential causes of carbon‐cycle perturbations. The present paper seeks to test the supra‐regional relevance of the Oman data by investigating coeval central Tethyan limestones. Three Lower Aptian shoal‐water sections in Istria (Croatia), deposited on the isolated Adriatic Carbonate Platform, are investigated applying chemostratigraphy (carbon and strontium) and detailed sedimentological analysis. The focus is on peritidal to lagoonal facies characterized by mass occurrences of Lithocodium–Bacinella, an enigmatic microencruster community. Lithocodium–Bacinella facies occurs predominantly in layers ranging from one to several centimetres in stratigraphic thickness, with several layers merging to metre‐thick packages. Growth fabrics within the layers include oncoidal morphotypes, lumps, interconnected patches and columns, layers and rare nodular to massive bindstone facies. These growth patterns show a remarkable regional extent and consistency over study sites distributed several kilometres apart. This widespread distribution suggests that specific Lithocodium–Bacinella morphotypes might serve as regional stratigraphic markers. The high‐resolution carbon‐isotope chemostratigraphy presented here is based on pristine rudist shells and matrix micrite samples and calibrated against strontium‐isotope data obtained from screened rudist low‐Mg calcite. The chemostratigraphic data are consistent with existing biostratigraphic data and place the studied strata at the onset of Early Aptian oceanic anoxic event 1a. Moreover, results indicate the near‐coeval nature of Lithocodium–Bacinella bloom facies in Istria and Oman. The outcomes of this study point to latitudinally different responses of Tethyan shoal‐water carbonate systems (platform drowning versus Lithocodium–Bacinella blooms) to the ocean‐wide anoxic event 1a.
Eocene cool‐water carbonate and biosiliceous sedimentation dynamics, St Vincent Basin, South Australia

Middle and Upper Eocene biogenic sediments in the Willunga Embayment along the eastern margin of the St Vincent Basin are a series of warm‐temperate limestones, marls and spiculites. The Middle Eocene Tortachilla Limestone is a thin, coarse grained, quartzose, biofragmental, bryozoan–mollusc calcarenite of stacked metre‐scale depositional cycles with hardground caps. Lithification, aragonite dissolution and the filling of moulds by sediment and cement characterize early marine‐meteoric diagenesis. Further meteoric diagenesis at the end of Tortachilla deposition resulted in dissolution, Fe‐oxide precipitation and calcite cementation. The Upper Eocene Blanche Point Formation is composed of coccolith and spiculite marl and spiculite, all locally rich in glauconite, turritellid gastropods and sponges. Decimetre‐scale units, locally capped by firmgrounds, have fossiliferous lower parts and relatively barren upper parts. Carbonate diagenesis is minor, with much aragonite still present, but early silicification is extensive, except in the spiculite, which is still opal‐A. All depositional environments are interpreted as relatively shallow water: high energy during the Middle Eocene and low energy during the Upper Eocene, reflecting the variable importance of a basin‐entrance archipelago of carbonate highs. Marls and spiculites are interpreted to have formed under an overall estuarine circulation system in a humid climate. Basinal waters, although well mixed, were turbid and rich in land‐derived nutrients, yet subphotic near the sea floor. These low‐energy, inner‐shelf biosiliceous sediments occur in coeval environments across other parts of Australia and elsewhere in the rock record, suggesting that they are a recurring element of the cool‐water, carbonate shelf depositional system. Thus, spiculites and spiculitic carbonates in the rock record need be neither deep basinal nor polar in origin. The paradox of a shallow‐water carbonate–spiculite association may be more common in geological history than generally realized and may reflect a characteristic mid‐latitude, humid climate, temperate water, palaeoenvironmental association.
Effect of sulphur levels on growth, yield and quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) genotypes

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2008-09 and 2009-10 on sandy loam soil Bichpuri, Agra to find out the effect of sulphur levels on growth, yield and quality of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.), Czernj and Cosson] genotypes. The treatments consisted of four genotypes (Pusa Bold, 'Rohini', 'Varuna' and 'Kranti') of mustard and four levels of sulphur (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) applied through elemental sulphur in factorial randomized block design replicated thrice. Pusa Bold genotype recorded the highest seed yield of 2.05 and 2.09 t/ha followed by 'Varuna', 'Rohini' and 'Kranti' respectively. Significant response was observed up to 90 kg S/ha in seed and stover yield. Oil content and nutrient uptake were also highest under this treatment. 'Pusa Bold' gave highest net return of Rs. 39575 followed by 'Varuna', 'Rohini' and 'Kranti', respectively. Highest net returns of Rs. 42,018 was recorded with the application of 90 kg S ha. However, net return/Rs. invested (3.35) was higher at 60 Kg S/ha.
Impact of the Silurian Ireviken Event on polychaete faunas: new insights from the Viki drill core, western Estonia

The impact of the Llandovery–Wenlock Ireviken Event (IE) on the jawed polychaete faunas is explored in this study, based on new data on scolecodonts from the Viki drill core of western Estonia. A distinct faunal reorganisation is observed, with the most abrupt changes recorded between datum points 4 and 6 of the IE, which coincides with the major turnover interval of other fossil groups. Based on what is now known, polychaetaspids and mochtyellids suffered most severely during the event, whereas the members of other families seem to have been less affected.
Characterization of middle‐atmosphere polar warming at Mars

We characterize middle‐atmosphere polar warming (PW) using nearly three Martian years of temperature observations by the Mars Climate Sounder. We report the observed structure of PW and share hypotheses as to possible explanations, which have yet to be tested with global dynamical models. In the data, PW manifested between p = 15 Pa and p = 4.8×10–3 Pa. The latitude where PW maximized shifted poleward with decreasing pressure. The nightside magnitude was larger than the dayside magnitude. The maximum nightside magnitudes ranged from 22 to 67 K. As expected, the annual maximum magnitude in the north occurred during late‐local fall to middle‐local winter. In the south it occurred during late‐local winter. Also as expected, the maximum magnitude near MY 28's southern winter solstice was smaller than that at that same year's northern winter solstice, when a global dust storm was occurring. Unexpectedly, the maximum magnitude at southern winter solstice was comparable to that at northern winter solstice for both MY 29 and MY 30, years that did not experience global dust storms but certainly experienced greater dust loading during Ls = 270° than Ls = 90°. Another unexpected result was a hemispheric asymmetry in PW magnitude during most of the observed equinoxes. This paper also provides tables of (1) averaged temperatures as a function of latitude, pressure, and season, and (2) the maximum polar warming features as a function of pressure and season. These tables can be used to validate GCM calculations of middle‐atmosphere temperatures and constrain calculations of unobserved winds.
Homotherium serum and Cervalces from the Great Lakes Region, USA: geochronology, morphology and ancient DNA

A scimitar‐toothed cat (Homotherium serum) and stag moose (Cervalces sp.) are described from Tyson Spring Cave, Fillmore County, Minnesota. These specimens represent the first records of both species in the state, and the first record for H. serum in the Great Lakes region. Although the Cervalces specimen remains undated, it shares features with pre‐Wisconsin specimens from the eastern Great Plains. The H. serum individual dates to c. 26.9 ka, when the Wisconsin ice margin was less than 60 km away. Genetic analyses support the identity of the Homotherium specimen as conspecific with Homotherium serum found in older Beringian deposits, as well as both the early divergence of tribes Homotherini and Smilodontini within Machairodontinae and the early divergence of this Machairodontinae from the lineage that produced extant cats.