Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Devensian glacigenic sedimentation and landscape evolution in the Cardigan area of southwest Wales

The depositional processes associated with late Devensian ice in areas bordering the Irish Sea basin have been the subject of considerable debate. Among the key areas around the Irish Sea, southwest Wales occupies a particularly crucial position because it is here that ice flowing from the north impinged upon the coast orthogonally and encroached inland. Two main hypotheses have emerged concerning deglaciation of the Irish Sea basin. The traditional hypothesis holds that sedimentation was ice‐marginal or subglacial, whereas an alternative hypothesis that emerged in the 1980s argued that sedimentation was glaciomarine. Southwest Wales is well‐placed to contribute to this debate. However, few detailed sedimentological studies, linked to topography, have been made previously in order to reconstruct glacial environments in this area. In this paper, evidence is presented from four boreholes drilled recently in the Cardigan area, combined with data from coastal and inland exposures in the lower Teifi valley and adjacent areas. A complex history of glaciation has emerged: (i) subglacial drainage channel formation in pre‐Devensian time, (ii) deposition of iron‐cemented breccias and conglomerates possibly during the last interglacial (or in the early/mid‐Devensian interstadial), (iii) late Devensian ice advance across the region, during which a glaciolacustrine sequence over 75 m thick accumulated, within a glacial lake known as Llyn Teifi, (iv) a second high‐level glaciolacustrine succession formed near Llandudoch, (v) outside the Teifi valley, ice‐marginal, subglacial and glaciofluvial sediments were also laid down, providing a near‐continuous cover of drift throughout the area. Glacial advance was characterized by reworking, deformation and sometimes erosion of the underlying sediments. The glaciomarine hypothesis is thus rejected for southwest Wales. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of the predictive value of total IgE and absolute eosinophil levels on allergy test positivity

OBJECTIVE Atopic diseases are the most common chronic conditions in childhood. The best treatment for allergic disease is possible with early diagnosis. The purpose of the study was to assess the predictive value of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophil levels for allergy test positivity in patients diagnosed with asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), atopic dermatitis (AD), and food allergy (FA). METHODS Pediatric patients between 0 and 18 years old diagnosed with asthma, AR, AD, and FA were included in the study. Demographic characteristics of the patients, total IgE, eosinophil (absolute and %) values, specific igE (SPIGE), and skin prick test (SPT) results were recorded. RESULTS The data of 2665 patients were evaluated in the study. Of the patients, 58.6% were male, whereas 41.4% were female. The median age of the children was significantly higher both in SPT-positive and SPIGE-positive patients (p<0.001). If the criteria positivity is accepted as total IgE value is ≥104.5 (for AD: 86.5, asthma: 116.5, AR: 120.5, FA: 42.5) and absolute eosinophil ≥500 and/or eosinophil (%) ≥5%; test positivity was higher for each disease and all patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Total IgE and eosinophil levels can be used to identify atopy in patients with symptoms of AD, asthma, and AR. Total IgE and eosinophil values are suitable and easily obtainable parameters for better evaluation of health-care resources for the diagnosis and follow-up of atopic illnesses.
OCEAN TIDE LOADING AND RELATIVE GNSS IN THE BRITISH ISLES

Abstract Ocean tide loading (OTL) affects all parts of the British Isles to varying degree, causing peak-to-peak vertical displacements of up to 13 cm in South-West England over semi-diurnal and diurnal timescales. Lateral displacements are typically around one-third of the magnitude of vertical displacements at a point, so are also considerable for carrier phase GNSS surveying. Using a recent numerical ocean tide model, we predict that widespread residual displacements up to ∼1 cm remain in kinematic or short-occupation static relative GNSS positions computed with respect to the nearest continuously operating reference station. Even if OTL is not modelled explicitly, these errors will be mitigated by network GNSS to an extent dependent on the number and location of reference stations used, and the adjustment or error interpolation scheme adopted in the processing. For a selection of error interpolation algorithms, we predict that throughout most inland regions of Great Britain and Ireland, network processing reduces the residual OTL error to within the expected kinematic GNSS system noise. However, pockets of OTL error exceeding 1 cm may remain, especially in coastal locations and in South-West Ireland, South Wales, South-West England, and the islands off the west coast of Scotland. Residual OTL error at semi-diurnal periods dominates that at diurnal periods. We derive a simple heuristic for estimating the magnitude of this error from a sample of observations at a locality, valid within a short window of the spring/neap tidal cycle, and show how the residual error may, if necessary, be mitigated by a suitable averaging scheme.
Rapid climatic changes during the Greenland stadial 1 (Younger Dryas) to early Holocene transition on the Norwegian Barents Sea coast

A pollen‐based quantitative climate reconstruction from a lake‐sediment core on the Norwegian Barents Sea coast provides insights about climatic change over the Greenland stadial 1 (GS‐1) to early‐Holocene transition. GS‐1 was characterized by low July mean temperatures (c. 6.0°C) and dry conditions probably resembling modern arctic deserts. The increase in July mean temperatures to the Holocene level (10.0–12.0°C) took place in a two‐step pattern interrupted by a short cool period with July mean temperatures of c. 8.0°C during the early Preboreal at c. 11450–11200 cal. yr BP. The reconstruction also suggests two other early‐Holocene coolings of c. 1.5°C, dating to 10900–10800 cal. yr BP and 10400–10200 cal. yr BP, synchronously with short‐term decreases in δ18O values in the Greenland ice cores. These results reflect the highly unstable nature of the early‐Holocene climate in northernmost Fennoscandia. Apart from the cooling at 10900–10800 cal. yr BP, the reconstructed cold events correlate with fluxes of fresh water to the North Atlantic and related reductions of North Atlantic deep‐water formation, suggesting that the rapid climate changes resulted from the dynamics of the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation and oceanic energy transport during the GS‐1 to early‐Holocene transition.
Mechanical properties of two expansive clay soils from Sudan

The mechanical responses of two highly expansive plastic alluvial soils from Sudan are reported. When wetted from their in-situ state, such soils frequently lead to damage of civil engineering structures. Disturbed samples of a black cotton clay and a more plastic red clay were collected from two locations in the vicinity of Khartoum. Intrinsic properties were established from reconstituted samples using oedometer and triaxial apparatus. Natural undisturbed block samples of the black cotton clay were obtained and tested in an unsaturated state, as found in situ. Basic characteristics of both soils are presented. Detailed information on the intrinsic properties of both clay soils was established and found to conform with Burland's earlier published framework. Shear planes formed during shearing in almost all triaxial samples and strengths reduced to post-rupture values. K0-consolidated reconstituted samples exhibited a more brittle response to undrained shearing compared with isotropically consolidated sam.
On the Resolution Sensitivity of Equatorial Precipitation in a GFDL Global Atmospheric Model

We performed a series of aquaplanet simulations at the horizontal resolution from 50 to 6 km with identical parameterization settings using the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's Atmosphere Model version 4 implemented with the two‐moment Morrison‐Gettelman cloud microphysics with prognostic precipitation (GFDL AM4‐MG2). At the finer resolution, the global mean resolved‐scale precipitation increases and that from cumulus parameterization decreases. The model also simulates less/thinner clouds over the low latitudes and more/thicker clouds over the high latitudes as the resolution increases. The precipitation over the deep tropics is investigated in detail. We find little resolution sensitivity in the daily mean precipitation extremes. Changes of the equatorial resolved precipitation with resolution cannot be fully explained by the resolution dependence in the vertical velocity amplitude. We report a robust sensitivity in the convective organization over the deep tropics to the model resolution. In simulations of finer resolution, the localized convection is suppressed, and the organized convective system associated with large‐scale circulations becomes more prominent.
The effects of topography on magma chamber deformation models: Application to Mt. Etna and radar interferometry

We have used a three‐dimensional elastic finite element model to examine the effects of topography on the surface deformation predicted by models of magma chamber deflation. We used the topography of Mt. Etna to control the geometry of our model, and compared the finite element results to those predicted by an analytical solution for a pressurized sphere in an elastic half‐space. Topography has a significant effect on the predicted surface deformation for both displacement profiles and synthetic interferograms. Not only are the predicted displacement magnitudes significantly different, but also the map‐view patterns of displacement. It is possible to match the predicted displacement magnitudes fairly well by adjusting the elevation of a reference surface; however, the horizontal pattern of deformation is still significantly different. Thus, inversions based on constant‐elevation reference surfaces may not properly estimate the horizontal position of a magma chamber. We have investigated an approach where the elevation of the reference surface varies for each computation point, corresponding to topography. For vertical displacements and tilts this method provides a good fit to the finite element results, and thus may form the basis for an inversion scheme. For radial displacements, a constant reference elevation provides a better fit to the numerical results.
Fully Coupled Unsteady Mobile Boundary Flow Model

A fully coupled, one‐dimensional river model, capable of predicting sediment‐transport and bed‐level changes under unsteady flow conditions is described. The governing equations for mass and momentum balance of sediment‐water mixture under unsteady flow conditions in natural rivers with irregular geometries, are solved simultaneously using the Preissmann four‐point linear implicit scheme with weighting factors for space and time coordinates. The resulting system of algebraic equations is solved using a solution procedure that bridges upstream and downstream boundary nodal values by successive substitutions. The friction slope is expressed in a consistent form that allows the consideration of the changing alluvial roughness effect. The system of governing equations is explicitly coupled by introducing the term representing the rate of change of bed level. The fully coupled unsteady mobile boundary flow model (FCM) is applied to the classical problem of sediment deposition upstream of a dam with an arbitrar.
Recent evolution of surge-related events in the northern Adriatic area

The recent increase in the frequency of coastal flooding in Venice mainly depends on loss of land elevation (subsidence and eustasy) and man-induced hydrodynamic changes in the lagoon area, but can also be strengthened in the near future by changes in climate. In this paper, after a short review of recent changes in the relative mean and maximal levels of the sea and their causes, the main meteorological factors (atmospheric pressure and winds of sirocco and bora), which produce sea surges in the Gulf of Venice, are identified statistically. The recent evolution of these meteorological factors in the Adriatic area shows some favorable trends (the atmospheric pressure is increasing, thus provisionally masking eustatic sea-level rise, and bora is sharply lessening). However, the effects of sirocco, which is increasing in frequency in the mid-Adriatic, seem to be prevailing. On the whole, the frequency of sea surges ≥5cm to ≥30cm, which are the most frequent, is increasing in the North Adriatic and this implies more "moderately high tide levels", which are however liable to flood the lowest parts of the city of Venice. Such increase in frequency seems related to recent climatic changes (possibly related to global warming) and may therefore be expected to worsen in the near future.
Toward the theory of homogeneous nucleation and its parameterization for cloud models

Following the classical approach in homogeneous nucleation theory, a general but simple expression for the homogeneous freezing rate is derived with account for solution and curvature effects, and applied to the examples of ammonium sulfate and sulfuric acid solutions. After showing that this method compares well with other approaches, a parameterization suitable for use in various cloud models is discussed.
Comparison of Academic, Administrative and Community Rater Scores at a Multiple Mini Interview Using Generalisability Theory

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) are sampling approaches that use multiple short stations to select prospective students for professional programmes. Each station uses different interview scenarios and raters to effectively assess candidates’ noncognitive skills. This study compared the performances of three sets of raters; academic, administrative staff, and community members, in an MMI for student selection using performance comparisons and Generalisability Theory to estimate the different sources of variance and generalisability (reliability) coefficients. The study aims to analyse the differences in performance scores from these raters and their psychometric projections on reliability with different samples of raters and stations. Eleven candidates participated in the 10-station MMI, each with an eight-minute duration, two minutes of preparation, and an academic assessment using a marking rubric. The entire interview was video recorded. The administrative staff and community members watched the videos independently and graded all candidates’ performances using the same marking rubric. Generalisability and Decision studies were used to analyse the collected data. Community members were the strictest, while academics were the most lenient. There were statistically significant differences between rater categories in six stations. The generalisability coefficient of 0.85 of onerater results from the Decision study suggested good reliability of the 10-station MMI. The Decision study found that generalisability coefficients improved more with an increasing number of raters rather than number of stations. Four stations contributed to unreliability in each rater category and a combination of the rater categories. Information on number of stations, number of raters, and type of rater combination required to achieve good reliability enabled informed decisions on the process and implementation of the MMI. The station simulation that influenced unreliability helped us improve station writing and identify focus areas for training and development.
Apabetalone, a Clinical-Stage, Selective BET Inhibitor, Opposes DUX4 Target Gene Expression in Primary Human FSHD Muscle Cells

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a muscle disease caused by inappropriate expression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene in skeletal muscle, and its downstream activation of pro-apoptotic transcriptional programs. Inhibitors of DUX4 expression have the potential to treat FSHD. Apabetalone is a clinical-stage bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitor, selective for the second bromodomain on BET proteins. Using primary human skeletal muscle cells from FSHD type 1 patients, we evaluated apabetalone for its ability to counter DUX4′s deleterious effects and compared it with the pan-BET inhibitor JQ1, and the p38 MAPK inhibitor—and DUX4 transcriptional repressor—losmapimod. We applied RNA-sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to detect treatment-associated impacts on the transcriptome of these cells. Apabetalone inhibited the expression of DUX4 downstream markers, reversing hallmarks of FSHD gene expression in differentiated muscle cells. JQ1, but not apabetalone, was found to induce apoptosis. While both BET inhibitors modestly impacted differentiation marker expression, they did not affect myotube fusion. Losmapimod also reduced expression of DUX4 target genes but differed in its impact on FSHD-associated pathways. These findings demonstrate that apabetalone inhibits DUX4 target gene expression and reverses transcriptional programs that contribute to FSHD pathology, making this drug a promising candidate therapeutic for FSHD.
Albedo bias and the horizontal variability of clouds in subtropical marine boundary layers: Observations from ships and satellites

Cloud optical properties vary dramatically at spatial scales smaller than typical grid cells in large-scale models, which can cause a significant overestimate of cloud albedo by the model. This plane parallel homogeneous (PPH) albedo bias exist may be reduced if the mean cloud optical thickness and the amount of variability are available, but little is known about how much variability exists in nature and to what factors it is sensitive. The authors combine 1331 observations made by volunteer surface observers with satellite imagery to assess the relationships between cloud fraction, cloud optical properties, and cloud type in marine boundary layer clouds off the coast of California during summer. Estimates of cloud fraction from the two datasets are in best agreement when a reflectance threshold between 0.09 and 0.10 is used. Satellite-derived cloud fraction increases slowly with sensor resolution at spatial scales from 1 to 32 km. Cloud fraction in scenes dominated by cumulus is much more sensitive to the reflectance threshold used for cloud detection than are scenes containing stratiform clouds. The mean magnitude of the PPH bias found here, 0.025, is considerably smaller than those found in other recent studies. When fit to the observed distributions of optical thickness both log-normal and gamma distributions substantially reduce the PPH bias. The mean and dispersion of log optical thickness are related to cloud type: optical thickness increases as cloud type changes from cumuliform to stratiform, while the relative amount of variability decreases. The authors suggest a basis for the parameterization of unresolved variability in large scale models.
Ventilation of the Deep Western Boundary Current and Abyssal Western North Atlantic: Estimates from Tritium and 3He Distributions

Abstract The tritium and excess 3He data from the 1981 TTO/NAS program are used to study the time scales for the ventilation of the deep western basin by recently formed North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW). The large-scale distributions of tritium and 3He in the deep North Atlantic are presented, and tracer inventories are computed for individual deep water basins. The bulk of the bomb tritium (and thus new NADW) resided in 1981 in the deep Labrador Sea and western subpolar gyre, with a slightly smaller amount in the deep western subtropical gyre. The maximum excess 3He values were located south of the overflows in the Labrador Sea the result of competition between ventilation and in situ tritium decay. The subpolar gyre was also the site of the strongest increase in decay-corrected tritium (∼120%) and excess 3He (∼100%) between the 1972 GEOSECS survey and the 1981 TTO/NAS program. The observed deep water tritium inventory is in reasonable agreement with model tracer inputs computed for the combined overflow.
Engineering Characteristics of Ground Motion Records from the 2010 Mw 7.2 El Mayor–Cucapah Earthquake in Mexico

This paper presents an engineering analysis of ground motion records from the 2010 El Mayor–Cucapah earthquake. Spectral accelerations from the 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake are also compared with NGA Boore and Atkinson 2008 (BA08) and SEA99 ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs). Both GMPEs predict slower distance attenuation than demonstrated by the 2010 earthquake but capture distance attenuation shown by the 1979 earthquake. Intra-event residuals of both GMPEs relative to the 2010 earthquake data exhibit larger scattering than the 1979 earthquake data. H/V ratios indicate that some soft-soil sites show predominant site periods of about 0.4 to 0.7 seconds, but the remaining sites show lengthened predominant periods of about 1.0 to 2.0 seconds. Rock sites show no pronounced predominant periods despite the presence of a weak H/V ratio peak at 0.2 seconds.
Exploration of the correlation of serum polychlorinated biphenyl levels with luteal phase hormonal parameters and infertility in women with or without polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organic lipophilic pollutants that accumulate in the body. Previous research has linked PCBs with menstrual function; therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the correlation of PCBs with luteal phase hormonal parameters of menstrual function at day 21 in a group of non-obese women prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods Fifty-eight non-obese Caucasian women from a UK academic center, 29 with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 29 without, were recruited. PCOS women all had anovulatory infertility. Non-PCOS women: five with unexplained infertility, the remainder with male factor infertility (n=14) or tubal problems (n=10). Blood was withdrawn at day 21 of the menstrual cycle for non-PCOS women, at the time of mock embryo transfer. PCBs were measured using high resolution gas chromatography. Results Only PCB118, PCB153, PCB138 and PCB180 were detected in all samples, and levels did not differ between PCOS and non-PCOS subjects. In non-PCOS subjects, PCB153, PCB138 and PCB180 inversely correlated with estradiol (p<0.05); PCB118 and PCB138 inversely correlated with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (p<0.05); PCB118 (p<0.05), PCB153, PCB138 and PCB180 (all p<0.01) inversely correlated with luteinizing hormone (LH). Control women without PCOS with unexplained infertility showed higher levels of PCB118, PCB153, PCB138 and PCB180 (p<0.05) compared to those control women without PCOS with tubal or male factor infertility, though other hormonal parameters did not differ other than that FSH that was lower in the unexplained group (p=0.01). The only correlation observed in PCOS women with anovulatory infertility was that between PCB180 and progesterone (p<0.05). Conclusion PCBs correlated with luteal phase menstrual cycle hormones in control women without PCOS and may contribute to the mechanism of unexplained infertility; in PCOS women, no correlations of the PCBs were seen for estradiol, LH or FSH.