Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radio-frequency attenuation beneath Siple Dome,West Antarctica, from wide-angle and profiling radar observations

Abstract Knowledge of the spatial distribution of bed lubrication regimes, i.e. frozen vs wet conditions, is crucial for understanding ice-sheet flow. Radar sounding can probe differing reflectivities between wet and frozen beds, but is limited by uncertainty in attenuation within the ice of bed echoes. Here we present two methods to estimate attenuation: (1) wide-angle radar sounding, in which source and receiver locations are varied so as to vary propagation path length, and thus echo amplitude; and (2) profiling, inwhich similar variations are obtained by sounding through varying ice thicknesses (assuming constant bed reflectivity). Siple Dome, West Antarctica, provides unusually favorable circumstances for application of these methods: the bed beneath Siple Dome is flat and uniform in its radar reflectivity, while ice thickness varies by several hundred meters. Wide-angle data 4 km from the summit yield an estimate for characteristic attenuation length of 124 m (35 dB km–1 loss), whereas profiling yields an estimate of 168 m.The difference between estimates is modest compared to the range of attenuation lengths reported in the literature. It may nonetheless prove informative by bounding effects of two ice properties to which the methods respond differently: (1) wide-angle sounding sampled relatively warm (lossy) ice beneath the summit, whereas the profiling method sampled relatively cold ice beneath the flanks as well; and (2) strain-induced crystal orientation fabrics and resulting dielectric anisotropy in the ice would vary from summit to flank, and may influence wide-angle sounding more strongly than profiling.
VALIDITY OF CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY IN THE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL VERIFICATION OF PAROTID GLAND LESIONS

: Background and purpose: An adequate diagnosis of a parotid gland enlargement is crucial for an appropriate treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate effectiveness and minimal invasiveness of diagnostic procedures of core-needle biopsy. Materials and Methods: This study involved 67 patients, aged 40 to 90 years, with a tumor mass in the submandibular and parotid region. Method used for taking samples of pathological masses was BD Disposable guillotine spring-loaded needle for biopsies on soft tissues. Final diagnoses were established on the basis of surgical-pathological results in 67 cases, and on the basis of histopathological analysis of core-biopsy samples. Results: Compared with results of surgical biopsy, core-needle biopsy had sensitivity of 100% in differentiating benign from malignant lesions and in setting up an adequate diagnosis. Its positive predictive values were 100% in diagnosing malignancy. There were found 28 non-malignant and 39 malignant lesions with fewer disadvantages for patients.
Stabilisation of desert sands using cement and cement dust

Desert sands cover vast areas in Oman, and create major problems for the construction of infrastructure. The low bearing capacity of the desert sands, and their susceptibility to collapse on wetting, preclude the support of structures on them. This paper presents experimental results on the use of different additives to stabilise desert sands for possible use as a foundation-bearing soil. Stabilising agents included Portland cement and cement by-pass dust (or cement kiln dust), and were added in amounts of 2%, 4%, 8%, 10% and 12% by dry weight of soil. Laboratory tests such as compaction, unconfined compression and shear box tests were performed to measure the engineering characteristics of the stabilised material. The results showed substantial improvements in maximum dry density, unconfined compressive strength, and shear strength parameters (c and φ). Thus cement and cement by-pass dust can be used to improve the compressibility and shear strength characteristics of desert sands.
3D Geometry of the Chelungpu Thrust System in Central Taiwan: Its Implications for Active Tectonics

1 Exploration and Development Research Institute, CPC Corporation, Taiwan, ROC 2 Department of Earth Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC 3 Central Geological Survey, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC * Corresponding author address: Dr. Kenn-Ming Yang, Exploration and Development Research Institute, CPC Corporation, Taiwan, ROC; E-mail: 155055@cpc.com. tw doi: 10.3319/TAO.2007. 18.2. 143(TCDP) This study is aimed at constructing a 3D subsurface geometry of the Chelungpu thrust and its associated structures, as well as examining the implications of the studies results for active tectonics in the area. Nine balanced cross-sections were constructed across the foothills belt in the study area to delineate the subsurface geometry of the major thrusts in the foreland of the fold-and-thrust belt. The Chelungpu thrust cuts down to the subsurface invariably along the base of the Chinshui Shale and is merged with the Changhua thrust into a common décollement at a depth of 5 to 7 kilometers below the sea level. There is a pre-existing normal fault underneath the common décollement of the Changhua and Chelungpu thrusts which accommodates the thickened strata in the hanging wall of the Chelungpu thrust. The restored cross-sections indicate that during its propagation toward the foreland the Chelungpu thrust originally was a low-angle thrust before it met a pre-existing high-angle normal fault, which was then reactivated and became the frontal ramp of the thrust. In the latest stage, displacement along the Changhua thrust left the normal fault behind and kept it underneath the common décollement. The subsurface geometry of the Chelungpu thrust is a uniform curved plane striking N-S, with some local wavy features and a ramp striking E-W Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., Vol. 18, No. 2, June 2007 144 in the northern part of the thrust. To the north of the ramp, the fault plane transforms into a spoon-shaped geometry. In the southern part of the study area, the southern end of the Chelungpu thrust is cut off, and its displacement is transferred into a splay thrust that strikes NE-SW and connects the Chelungpu and Shuangtung-Hsiaomao thrusts. At the hypocenter of the Chi-Chi earthquake, not only is the dip angle of the décollement of the Chelungpu thrust gentler, but the depth much shallower than that of the mainshock. As the hypocenter of the mainshock is very close to the pre-existing normal fault underneath the décollement, a connection between them is highly implied. We also suggest that the ramp in the northern part of the Chelungpu thrust provides a stronger strain guide during the subsurface rupture propagation thereby creating the bended surface rupture. (
Boundary Layer, Cloud, and Drizzle Variability in the Southeast Pacific Stratocumulus Regime

Abstract The southeast Pacific stratocumulus regime is an important component of the earth’s climate system because of its substantial impact on albedo. Observational studies of this cloud regime have been limited, but during the past 5 yr, a series of cruises with research vessels equipped with in situ and remote sensing systems have provided unprecedented observations of boundary layer cloud and drizzle structures. These cruises started with the East Pacific Investigation of Climate (EPIC) 2001 field experiment, followed by cruises in a similar area in 2003 and 2004 [Pan-American Climate Studies (PACS) Stratus cruises]. The sampling from these three cruises provides a sufficient dataset to study the variability occurring over this region. This study compares observations from the 2004 cruise with those obtained during the previous two cruises. Observations from the ship provide information about boundary layer structure, fractional cloudiness, cloud depth, and drizzle characteristics. This study indicat.
Topographic enhancement of tidal motion in the western Barents Sea

A high-resolution numerical lattice is used to study a topographically trapped motion around islands and shallow banks of the western Barents Sea caused both by the semidiurnal and diurnal tidal waves. Observations and model computations in the vicinity of Bear Island show well-developed trapped motion with distinctive tidal oscillatory motion. Numerical investigations demonstrate that one source of the trapped motion is tidal current rectification over shallow topography. Tidal motion supports residual currents of the order of 8 cm s−1 around Bear Island and shallow Spitsbergenbanken. The structures of enhanced tidal currents for the semidiurnal components are generated in the shallow areas due to topographic amplification. In the diurnal band of oscillations the maximum current is associated with the shelf wave occurrence. Residual currents due to diurnal tides occur at both the shallow areas and the shelf slope in regions of maximum topographic gradients. Surface manifestation of the diurnal current enhancement is the local maximum of tidal amplitude at the shelf break of the order of 5 to 10 cm. Tidal current enhancement and tidally generated residual currents in the Bear Island and Spitsbergenbanken regions cause an increased generation of ice leads, ridges and, trapped motion of the ice floes.
Atmospheric monitoring strategy for the Ali site, Tibet

The astronomical site survey in China has been carried out since 2003. Remote studies and local surveys are performed over the high plateaus, and candidate sites have been selected and performed site testing measurements. The monitoring results show that Ali area in western Tibet can be the best choice for astronomical observations over East Asian regions. Ali site, near the central town of Ali area, has been further identified for small telescope projects and simultaneously for detailed site characterization, and begun construction in 2010. This paper presents the site monitoring strategy and site development plan of the new Ali observatory.
A SIMPLIFIED CORRECTION FOR MEMBRANE COMPLIANCE IN LIQUEFACTION TESTS

A concept to account for the effect of membrane penetration on the generation of pore pressure in soil liquefaction tests was demonstrated based on experimental studies. The major effect of membrane penetration was to increase the number of cycles to cause liquefaction. The cycle ratio was defined as a ratio between numbers of cycles causing soil liquefaction with and without compliance at the same stress ratio. The cycle ratio was found to be a unique function of membrane compliance ratio, and independent of applied shear stress. A careful review of the previous study (martin et al, 1978) yielded the same result, indicating the validity of the concept. Based on the findings, a simplified method was presented for correcting liquefaction test results for the membrane penetration effects. Several previous studies concerning the effects of specimen diameter were used to validate the proposed method, since the resulting difference in the liquefaction strength mainly reflects the membrane penetration effects. The liquefaction strength curves for different diameter specimens after membrane correction were almost coincident, showing a considerable potential of the proposed method.
Political Advertising Saturation in the

Allocating the optimum amount of campaign resources to advertising is a critical question for political managers. This research presents the case of the 2016 Iowa Caucuses, in which over $46 million of broadcast television advertising was purchased on behalf of 21 Republican and Democratic candidates and run in eight media markets over 9 months. Using Federal Communication Commission (FCC)-derived data from more than 3,700 political advertising contracts, and responses to two waves of surveys among Iowa voters, this research considers the connection between advertising weight (adspend) and political outcomes in a media-saturated campaign. In contrast to some earlier studies, increasing levels of advertising spending did not serve to activate the interest of potential voters: while it was high to begin with, and went higher during the election period, the extra advertising was not associated with additional interest. However, increased advertising did result shifting of allegiances in the crowded Republican Caucus: in markets with heavy advertising, there was more churn in candidate preference. Additionally, overall adspend was correlated modestly with political outcomes: for the most part, high-spending candidates were the most successful in gaining support at the Caucuses.
Gravel-Sized Mud Clasts on an Arid Microtidal Sandy Beach: Example from the Northeastern Red Sea, South Al-Wajh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Ghandour, I.M. ; Al-Washmi, H.A. , and Haredy, R.A. , 2013. Gravel-sized mud clasts on an arid microtidal sandy beach: example from the northeastern Red Sea, South Al-Wajh, Saudi Arabia. Gravel-sized mud clasts (GMCs) of clay-grade material are abnormally documented from the microtidal Red Sea sandy beach at the mouth of Wadi Al-Hamd some 55 km S of Al-Wajh, Saudi Arabia. The area of study represents an asymmetric delta flanked to the N by a sandy linear shoreline and to the S by a heterolithic muddy tidal flat. Shape, roundness, and mineralogical composition of 200 randomly collected grains were determined to infer their source and depositional mechanism. The diameters of GMCs vary from 1.25 to 6.7 cm (long axis), with a mean diameter of 2.89 cm. The clasts are mostly rounded to well rounded, and the bladed forms are the most dominant shape, followed by elongated, platy, compact platy, and very rare compact bladed shapes. The GMCs are mostly unarmoured; however, large elongated forms have single-grain thick external armour of sands, shell fragments, or both. The mineralogical composition consists mainly of quartz, halite, plagioclase, and calcite, along with traces of phyllosilicates, feldspars, hornblende, mica, gypsum, anhydrite, pyrite, and dolomite. The documented GMCs are the end product of various processes that started with deposition of muddy source materials within shallow and small pools on the lower tidal flat. This muddy source was then subjected to desiccation, cracking, and detachment by repeated dryness and inundation during summer and winter, respectively. The detached clay-rich mud clasts were submerged during winter sea level rise and then transported to the beach either as bedload or lifted in the water column by high-energy waves and currents during times of sea breeze, some clasts being differentially armoured by adhering loose sand grains to the surface. The findings of this study will help to understand the environmental and climatic conditions required for the formation of GMCs on microtidal coasts in arid regions.
COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy

References 1. Villar J, et al. (2021). Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality among pregnant women with and without COVID-19 infection. The INTERCOVID Multinational Cohort Study. JAMA Pediatr. E1-E10. 2. Goldshtein, I. , et at. (2021). Association between BNT162b2 vaccination and incidence of SARS-Cov-2 infection in pregnant women. JAMA. 3. Shimabukuro, T. , et al. (2021). Preliminary findings of mRNA Covid-19 vaccine safety in pregnant persons. The New England Journal of Medicine. 4. Kachikis, A. , et al. (2021). Short-term Reactions Among Pregnant and Lactating Individuals in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout. JAMA network open. 5. Poliquin, V. , et al. (2021). The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy. Yes! Pregnant people with COVID-19 are at higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization and pregnancy complications. In a large multi-national study, pregnant women with COVID-19 were at higher risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia/eclampsia, infections and admission to the ICU [1]. of pregnant women will require hospitalization for COVID-19 7-11%
Comparison of TRMM/PR rain rate with ground-based observation

The Precipitation Radar (PR0 on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite continues observation. Many ground validation efforts have been made to confirm the accuracy of rain rates estimated by standard PR algorithms from observed radar reflectivity. However, so far there have been no conclusive results giving the absolute difference of PR estimated rain rates from the true rain rates from ground validation efforts. The difficulty of ground validation of rain is due to the large variance of spatial and temporal distributions of rain. However, there is a dense rain gauge and radar observation network operated by Japan Metrological Agency (JMA) that covers Japan. In this paper, TRMM estimated rain rates are compared to Radar- AMeDAS rain analysis data on a monthly averaged basis, and retrieval errors were estimated by assuming that Radar- AMeDAS is truth data. The estimated averaged retrieval error for five degree by 5 degree areas for 12 months was 25%, and PR and Radar-AMeDAS rain amounts were almost the same for a year. However, the estimate exhibits seasonal dependency. Specifically, PR overestimates rain rates in winter and under estimates them in the summer. Sampling errors included in TRMM monthly products were also estimated. The estimated sampling error was 15%. This magnitude of sampling error seems quite reasonable considering the results before TRMM was launched.
PREVALÊNCIA DE ENDOPARASITAS EM CÃES DA ÁREA URBANA DO MUNICÍPIO DE MONTE NEGRO, RONDÔNIA

RESUMO De julho a agosto de 2001, foram colhidas amostras de fezes de 95 cães (13,8% da população canina) da área urbana do Município de Monte Negro, Rondônia. As amostras de fezes foram examinadas pelos métodos coproparasitológicos de Willis, centrífugo-flutuação em solução de sacarose e centrífugo-sedimentação em água-éter. Das 95 amostras de fezes, somente 15 (15,8%) foram negativas. Foram encontrados helmintos pertencentes a 5 gêneros: Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Trichuris, Spirocerca, Physalopterae 5 protozoários: Sarcocystis, Giardia, Cystoisospora, Cryptosporidium, Hammondia-Neospora. Ovos de Ancylostoma spp. foram os mais prevalentes (73,7% de amostras positivas), seguidos por ovos de Toxocara canis (18,9%) e esporocistos de Sarcocystis spp. (18,9%). Os demais parasitos tiveram prevalências abaixo de 10%. Os resultados encontrados foram comparados com outros trabalhos brasileiros, demonstrando que o gênero Ancylostoma é o mais freqüentemente diagnosticado em cães no Brasil.
Temporal Dynamics of Soil Moisture Spatial Variability in the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory

This study utilized a 4‐yr database consisting of catchment‐wide volumetric soil moisture measurements at 78 locations from the surface down to 1.1 m depth within the 7.9‐ha Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory in central Pennsylvania. The objectives were to: (i) assess the uncertainty in estimating catchment‐wide mean soil moisture content by characterizing the relationship between soil moisture spatial variability and spatially averaged moisture content and (ii) examine the relationship between temporal changes in soil moisture spatial variability and seasonal and event‐based hydrologic fluxes. Our results showed that soil moisture spatial variability increased exponentially with increasing catchment‐wide wetness across all measurement depths and various soil–landform units. This relationship led to the widening of confidence intervals and an increase in the number of sites needed to obtain 95% confidence in spatially averaged soil moisture as the catchment wets up. This was due to the well‐drained and steep‐sloped hillslope soils in the catchment that confined saturated areas to the swales and the valley floor. Temporal changes in soil moisture spatial variability indicated a seasonal increase in the catchment‐wide soil moisture variability that coincided with the emergence of a shallow water table in the valley during the winter and spring months. Event‐based increases in soil moisture spatial variability associated with large antecedent precipitation were also observed (but with limited resolution because of weekly to biweekly measurements), which indicated the importance of subsurface lateral flow in influencing the catchment‐wide soil moisture spatial variability. Because ephemeral shallow water tables and subsurface lateral flow are common in many temperate forests, our results are useful for guiding soil moisture monitoring campaigns in these catchments and have implications for interpreting and scaling remote sensing footprints of soil moisture in these landscapes during different times of a year.
A multisatellite case study of the expansion of a substorm current wedge in the near-earth magnetotail

This study presents observations made by four spacecraft (AMPTE CCE, AMPTE IRM, GOES 5, and GOES 6) and two ground stations (San Juan and Tucson) during a substorm that occurred at {approximately}0830 UT on April 19, 1985. The spacecraft were arrayed in a configuration that allows for the examination of the spatial evolution of the substorm current wedge, CCE was located between the GOES spacecraft in longitude, but at a radial distance of 8.0 R{sub E}. IRM was located west of the other three spacecraft in the same sector as Tucson, but at a radial distance of 11.6 R{sup E}. The relative times at which the signature of the substorm current wedge was first observed at the GOES spacecraft and the ground stations are consistent with a simple longitudinally expanding current wedge. However, the times at which IRM and CCE observed the current wedge are not consistent with a current wedge that expanded only longitudinally, IRM first observed the signature of the current wedge at about the same time the signature was observed by GOES 6 and Tucson, and CCE observed the current wedge only after both GOES satellites and the ground stations had done so. Moreover, both GOES spacecraftmore » observed signatures consistent with entry into the central plasma sheet before CCE and IRM did, even though we estimate that CCE was slightly closer to the neutral sheet than the geosynchronous spacecraft. The sequence of events suggests that during this substorm the disruption of the cross-tail current sheet, the formation of the substorm current wedge, and the expansion of the plasma sheet began in the near-Earth region, and subsequently spread tailward as well as longitudinally. « less
The Diagenetic Role of Brittle Deformation in Compaction and Pressure Solution, Etjo Sandstone, Namibia

Scanned-cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging of the quartz-rich, porous Etjo Sandstone from northern Namibia shows that brittle deformation has played a major role in developing arcuate and interpenetrated grain contacts. Such contacts, previously interpreted to result from pressure solution, are seen in scanned-CL images to arise primarily from rearrangement of fragments formed by brittle deformation. Brittle deformation dominates compaction and produces extensive microfractures that heal with authigenic quartz cement. The volume of intragranular authigenic cement is significant and represents a previously unrecognized sink for silica in sandstones. True pressure solution is minor in the Etjo and is generally limited to contacts between brecciated fragments and unfractured, detrital grains. In addition to this pressure solution, silica may also be mobilized from the dissolution of comminuted fragments near grain contacts. However, the amount of silica imported into grains is substantially larger than that which appears to come from dissolution sites. Grain overlap can no longer be considered to arise from simple pressure solution, and the volume of authigenic quartz measured in sandstones must include intragranular fracture-filling cement as well as overgrowths and pore-filling cement.