Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long‐term variability in the mesospheric tidal winds observed by MF Radar over Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E)

Observations of mesospheric tidal winds in the 84–98 km height range over a period of five years with the MF radar at Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E), India, are presented in this study. The emphasis is on describing the long‐term variability in the tidal amplitudes. The results reported herein clearly indicate pronounced interannual variability in the tidal activity, and strengthen the earlier suggestion that this feature is linked to the stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO).
The Earth's Mantle: Composition, Structure, and Evolution

Former colleagues at the Australian National University (ANU) prepared The Earths Mantle: Composition, Structure, and Evolution and dedicated it to the late Professor A. E. (“Ted”) Ringwood. Ringwood's efforts were critical to the formation of the Research School of Earth Sciences at ANU, so a volume of topical research conducted at the school is a fitting tribute. The editor's stated goals for the book are that it “be up-to-date, and forward-looking, yet thoroughly readable. ” The authors have succeeded admirably in reaching these goals and the result should prove helpful to graduate students and interested researchers. The Earth's Mantle consists of 11 papers divided into three sections: Accretion and Differentiation of the Earth, Dynamics and Evolution of the Earth's Mantle, and Structure and Mechanical Behaviour of the Modern Mantle. In the first, and longest, paper, the authors review the evidence for models of the Earth's bulk composition, from initial accretion through the formation of the core. The authors of the next paper explore the timeline of accretion and differentiation from an isotopic perspective, and those of the next discuss the noble-gas component of the Earth and evidence for the existence of distinct chemical reservoirs in the mantle.
Dust flux within dust devils: Preliminary laboratory simulations

Laboratory simulations using the Arizona State University Vortex Generator (ASUVG) were run to simulate dust flux in dust devils. These tests used particles 2 μm in diameter and 2600 kg m−3 in density, and the results were compared with data from natural dust devils on Earth and Mars. Typically, the cores of dust devils (regardless of planetary environment) have a pressure drop of ∼0.2–1.5 percent of ambient atmospheric pressure. Core pressure drops in our experiments ranged from ∼0.01 to 5.00 percent of ambient pressure (10 mbar Mars cases and 1000 mbar for Earth cases). Flux experiments were run at vortex tangential wind velocities of 1 to 42 m s−1; typically ∼35–50 percent above threshold values for the particles used. Dust flux was determined by time averaged measurements of mass loss for a given vortex size. Dust fluxes of ∼10−3 kg m−2 s−1 were obtained, similar to estimates for flux for dust devils on Earth and Mars, regardless of core size. Vortex strength appears to be closely related to the strength of the pressure drop in the core (ΔP) and is less determined by size of the vortex. This is critical in scaling the laboratory results to natural dust devils.
DNA Hypomethylation in the TNF-Alpha Gene Predicts Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification in Patients with Early Inflammatory Symptoms

Biomarkers for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and particularly for anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-negative patients, remain an important hurdle for the early initiation of treatment. Taking advantage of DNA-methylation patterns specific to early RA, quantitative methylation-specific qPCR (qMSP) offers a robust technology for the development of biomarkers. We developed assays and established their value as RA classification biomarkers. Methods: DNA-methylation data were screened to select candidate CpGs to design qMSP assays. Eight assays were developed and tested on two early inflammatory arthritis cohorts. Logistic regression and bootstrapping were used to demonstrate the added value of the qMSP assays. Result: Differentially methylated CpG data were screened for candidate CpG, thereby meeting the qMSP assay requirements. The top CpG candidate was in the TNF gene, for which we successfully developed a qMSP assay. Significantly lower DNA-methylation levels were observed in RA (p < 4 × 10−9), with a high predictive value (OR < 0.54/AUC < 0.198) in both cohorts (n = 127/n = 157). Regression using both datasets showed improved accuracy = 87.7% and AUC = 0.944 over the model using only clinical variables (accuracy = 85.2%, AUC = 0.917). Similar data were obtained in ACPA-negative patients (n = 167, accuracy = 82.6%, AUC = 0.930) compared to the clinical variable model (accuracy = 79.5%, AUC = 0.892). Bootstrapping using 2000 datasets confirmed that the AUCs for the clinical+TNF-qMSP model had significant added value in both analyses. Conclusion: The qMSP technology is robust and can successfully be developed with a high specificity of the TNF qMSP assay for RA in patients with early inflammatory arthritis. It should assist classification in ACPA-negative patients, providing a means of reducing time to diagnosis and treatment.
Plasma Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha: A Potential Risk Factor for Developing Acquired Aplastic Anemia in the North Indian Population

Background Pesticide exposure might have a contributory role in the development of acquired aplastic anemia (AA). However, the precise mechanisms of pesticide-induced AA remain unknown. In this case-control study, we conducted a comparative analysis of plasma levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) between Indian patients diagnosed with AA and an age- and sex-matched control group. Methods This is an observational case-control study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in North India. In this study, 90 subjects were included, out of which 45 were diagnosed with AA according to the criteria of the International Agranulocytosis and Aplastic Anemia Study. Cases were compared with 45 controls. A trained interviewer gave all study subjects a questionnaire to collect data regarding demographic details, exposure to pesticides, and clinical history. Physical examination and routine laboratory investigations of each subject were performed. Both cases and controls were tested for their plasma levels of organochlorines as per established protocol by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. TNF-alpha level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each subject. Results There was a significant increase in plasma levels of delta hexachlorocyclohexane (delta HCH) (p = 0.02) and heptachlor (p = 0.00) in patients with AA as compared to controls. We observed nonsignificant trends towards higher levels of beta HCH (p = 0.643), aldrin (p = 0.399), and p,p’-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p’-DDT) (p = 0.453) in patients with AA when compared to the controls. There were significantly higher TNF-alpha levels (p = 0.024) in cases as compared to the controls. Conclusion Our study concludes that patients with AA exhibited higher levels of delta-HCH, heptachlor, and TNF-alpha in comparison to the control group. There is a significant positive correlation of TNF alpha with OCPs (alpha HCH, lindane, delta HCH, heptachlor, aldrin, p,p’- DDD, and methoxychlor pesticides). These organochlorines may have accumulated in the fatty tissue of bone marrow because of their lipophilic nature. This suggests that they might have served as a neoantigen to trigger an increase in TNF-alpha production, which may have led to disrupted bone marrow function through cell-mediated immunity, leading to AA.
The canopy rainfall interception in actual and potential distribution of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) forest

Abstract Interception is one of the most underestimated processes in hydrological cycle in arid and semiarid regions. In Qilian Mountains of northwestern arid and semiarid China, the Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) forest plays an important role in the hydrological cycle of the inland Heihe River basin. The historical disturbance of Qinghai spruce forest has resulted in various ecological problems. In order to realize the sustainable development of Heihe River basin, the Chinese government implemented restoration practices for Qinghai spruce in the past three decades. In this study, we estimated the rainfall interception in the actual and potential distribution of Qinghai spruce forest. Some of the important findings include: (1) The interception ratio of rainfall events ranged from 11-51% with a mean value of 27.02%; (2) Totally, 147 Mt of rainfall is intercepted by canopy of actual Qinghai spruce forest, in the projected potential distribution of the forest, totally 407 Mt of rainfall will be intercepted.
First-Principles Calculations to Establish the Functionality of Self-Connected Point-Defect Migrations in n-ZnO- and p-CuO-Based Memristive Devices

Memristors, which are utilized in the development of memory devices, exhibit remarkable scalability, enhanced switching speed, and reduced power consumption. Native point defects regulate resistive switching, and therefore, memristive devices’ atomic-level conduction processes demand investigation. The feasibility of memristive behavior is expected to be dependent on the growth environment of materials, which actually controls the stability of specific types of defects. Here, we have carried out the analysis of resistive switching mechanism in ZnO- (n-type) and CuO (p-type)-based native point defects under various growth conditions to elucidate the resistive switching mechanism. The activation energy of the defects and the self-connected point-defect migration paths for the formation of filaments have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In the case of ZnO, oxygen vacancy (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {O}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) defects under O-poor conditions exhibit low formation energy, whereas our investigations also demonstrate that copper vacancy (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {Cu}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {O}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> defects in CuO are the most favorable under O-rich and O-poor conditions, respectively. In ZnO, threefold and fourfold <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {O}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-sites contribute significantly in resistive switching, while only fourfold coordinated <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {O}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-sites are critical for CuO. It is evident that under O-poor conditions, ZnO and CuO have activation energies of 0.65 eV and 0.42 eV for +2q charged <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {O}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, respectively. Finally, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>–<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> characteristics have been plotted for all cases where it is found that <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\text {O}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> in O-poor conditions provides the highest resistive window in ZnO- and CuO-based memristive devices. The impact of defect concentration on the transition from analog-to-digital switching behavior is found to play a substantial role in memristive behavior.
INFLUENCES OF HIGH- AND LOW-LATITUDE PROCESSES ON AFRICAN TERRESTRIAL CLIMATE:PLEISTOCENE EOLIAN RECORDS

High- and low-latitude forcing of terrestrial African paleoclimate variability is demonstrated using 900 ka eolian and biogenic component records from Ocean Drilling Program site 663 in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. Terrigenous (eolian dust) and phytolith (savannah grass cuticle) accumulation rate records vary predominantly at 100 and 41 kyr periodicities and spectral phase estimates implicate high-latitude forcing. The abundance of freshwater diatoms (Melosira) transported from dry African lake beds varies coherently at 23–19 kyr orbital periodicities and at a phasing which implicates low-latitude precessional monsoon forcing. Modeling studies demonstrate that African climate is sensitive to both high- and low-latitude boundary conditions. African monsoon intensity is modulated by direct insolation variations due to orbital precession, whereas remote high-latitude forcing can be related to cool North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) which promote African aridity and enhance dust-transporting wind speeds. The site 663 terrigenous and phytolith records covary with North Atlantic SST variability at 41 °N (site 607). We suggest that Pleistocene African climate has responded to both high-latitude North Atlantic SST variability as well as low-latitude precessional monsoon forcing; the high-latitude influence dominates the sedimentary record. Prior to circa 2.4 Ma, terrigenous variations occurred primarily at precessional periodicities (23–19 kyr), indicating that African climate was largely controlled by low-latitude insolation variations prior to the onset of high-amplitude glacial-interglacial climate change.
The Propagation and Evolution of Cyclonic Gulf Stream Rings

Abstract Numerical simulations of the propagation of cyclonic Gulf Stream rings are made using a primitive equation β-plane model of a flat-bottomed two-layer ocean with a rigid lid. Initially circular eddies having, upper and deep ocean maximum currents maxU1 and maxU2 located at radial position l from the center are allowed to evolve and four types of behavior have been discerned: 1) dispersing rings possess negligible nonlinearity and disperse rapidly; 2) barotropic rings (U1 = U2) are weakly dispersive, propagating recognizably for long periods of time, and, nearly barotropic eddies (U1 ≈ U2) slowly lose coherence in the deep ocean; 3) upper ocean rings propagate with a vortex present only in the upper ocean; and 4) eastward-traveling eddies possess circulations in the upper and lower oceans which propagate together stably to the cast. Changes in viscosity are found to be more important to the longevity of the ring than are changes in (maxU1)/βl2. Both westward and northward speeds increase with incre.
Characteristics of Late‐Quaternary Activity and Seismic Risk of the Northeastern Section of the Longmenshan Fault Zone

Following the 2008 Wenchuan M8 earthquake, the seismic risk of the northeastern section of the Longmenshan fault zone and the adjacent Hanzhong basin has become an issue that receives much concern. It is facing, however, the problem of a lack of sufficient data because of little previous work in these regions. The northeastern section of the Longmenshan fault zone includes three major faults: the Qingchuan fault, Chaba‐Lin'ansi fault, and Liangshan south margin fault, with the Hanzhong basin at the northern end. This paper presents investigations of the geometry, motion nature, and activity ages of these three faults, and reveals that they are strike slip with normal faulting, with latest activity in the Late Pleistocene. It implies that this section of the Longmenshan fault zone has been in an extensional setting, probably associated with the influence of the Hanzhong basin. Through analysis of the tectonic relationship between the Longmenshan fault zone and the Hanzhong basin, this work verifies that the Qingchuan fault played an important role in the evolution of the Hanzhong basin, and further studies the evolution model of this basin. Finally, with consideration of the tectonic setting of the Longmenshan fault zone and the Hanzhong basin as well as seismicity of surrounding areas, this work suggests that this region has no tectonic conditions for great earthquakes and only potential strong events in the future.
SPECTRAL SIGNATURES OF PARTICULATE MINERALS IN THE VISIBLE AND NEAR INFRARED

The utility of multispectral remote sensing techniques for discriminating among materials is based on the differences that exist among their spectral properties. As distinct from spectral variations that occur as a consequence of target condition and environmental factors, intrinsic spectral features that appear in the form of bands and slopes in the visible and near infrared (.325 to 2.5 μm) bidirectional reflection spectra of minerals (and, consequently, rocks) are caused by a variety of electronic and vibrational processes. These processes, such as crystal field effects, charge‐transfer, color centers, transitions to the conduction band, and overtone and combination tone vibrational transitions are discussed and illustrated with reference to specific minerals. Spectral data collected from a large selection of minerals are used to generate a “spectral signature” diagram that summarizes the optimum intrinsic information available from the spectra of particulate minerals. The diagram provides a ready refe.
Daytime Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity of Urban Beijing under Polluted Conditions during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the Impact of Aerosols

Understanding atmospheric photochemical oxidation capacity is key to the evaluation of human impacts on the atmosphere. In this study, an observation-based box model constrained by in-situ measurements was used to analyze budgets of OH and HO2 (two key oxidants) in polluted conditions during August 2008 in urban Beijing. The results showed that photolysis of HCHO and other VOCs were the dominant factors influencing HOx production. Photolysis of HONO and alkene ozonolysis were also significant. Aerosol had a considerable impact on HOx and Ox production, as revealed by sensitivity simulations, reducing the concentrations of OH and HO2 by 56% and 25%, respectively. Among the reductions, that of OH was mostly through the radiative effect of aerosol, while HO2 reduction was from both radiative and heterogeneous chemical effects of aerosol. This impact of aerosol on atmospheric oxidation capacity led to a 100-200% increase in the lifetimes of NO2, CO and SO2. This implies that aerosols may increase the transport distance of gaseous pollutants.
The transmission of upstream waves to the magnetosphere: An analysis at widely separated ground stations

[1] On 18 February 2003 a long-duration, almost monochromatic, wave event was detected by Cluster at radial distances from the bow shock smaller than ≈10 Re. The interplanetary magnetic field orientation determined a wide and almost symmetric foreshock region around the bow shock nose, providing highly favorable conditions for a direct wave penetration into the magnetosphere. The general correspondence between the characteristics of the wave trains observed in the foreshock region and at two widely separated ground stations (namely, at low latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere and in Antarctica) confirms that the ground activity is ubiquitously determined and controlled by the upstream activity. At low latitudes, the direct propagation of the external waves through the subsolar point is sharply confined to the dayside hemisphere. In Antarctica, the wave activity is detected even on field lines stretched into the tail; here the polarization pattern suggests a significant contribution of sunward propagating waves in the postmidnight hours, consistent with a wave penetration through the magnetotail lobes. At both stations the wave energy is typically ≈5–10% of the external energy; in addition, in Antarctica the contribution of the cusp turbulence largely overcomes that one related to the penetration of the upstream waves.
Carboniferous Conodonts in the South-Western Pennines

crystallised or fragmentary, which will, unless the units be all of the same composition, crystallography, form, and orientation, store strain energy if subjected to any form of loading. Ease of weathering of any given rock unit in a uniform environment is therefore not only dependent upon the lithology involved but also upon its previous loading history as reflected in the intensity of jointing and residual strain energy level which the rock unit may possess. It is of interest to note that the product of weathering by release of intergranular strain energy would consist of a loose aggregate of the various grains or crystals which comprised the initial rock mass. Once so released the individual mineralogy of the grains would determine their degree of survival. Such a mechanism of formation is easily applied to many of the weathering products of such widely contrasted rock types as granite and sandstone. The gritstone Edges of Derbyshire and Staffordshire show the production of a loose discretely granular sand the origin of which may be explained by u combination of conventional processes of weathering aiding the release of intergranular stresses, while the presence of the deeply rotted granite, or growan, over much of Dartmoor may also owe its origin, at least in part, to this mechanism. The occurrence of the growan on Dartmoor separating the upstanding masses of the relatively unaltered tors (Linton 1955) thus leads to the further consideration that perhaps the tors represent zones of low initial strain energy level. This, in turn, would then be reflected in the development of only a widely spaced joint system in these zones when the granite was uplifted to its present position, with little residual strain energy remaining after jointing to facilitate intergranular breakdown. In contrast, the areas of growan would then correspond to zones of high initial strain energy level with the later development of a tight joint system in which a high residual strain energy level remained and aided even further the breakdown of the internal rock structure.
Corrigendum to "Wind waves in the Black Sea: results of a hindcast study" published in Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2883–2897, 2014

In the paper “Wind waves in the Black Sea: results of a hindcast study” by V. S. Arkhipkin et al. (Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 2883–2897, 2014) the following error occured: in the acknowledgements the contract number “G34.31.0007” was written incorrectly in that “11. ” was missing. The sentence should be “This study was carried out in the Natural Risk Assessment Laboratory (NRAL) of Lomonosov Moscow State University under contract no. 11.G34.31.0007. ”
Comparison of open and laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery based on chronic pain, paraesthesia and recurrence

Aim: To assess the preoperative and operative findings and postoperative early and late complications in patients who were operated on electively and to compare the factors affecting these results through open and laparoscopic hernia techniques. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, the patients were initially divided into two groups as open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR) and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR); then the LIHR group was divided into two subgroups as transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and total extraperitoneal (TEP) groin hernia repair with respect to the operation techniques. Preoperative, operative, and early and sixth-month late-period complications of the patients were statistically analyzed. Results: In a total of 241 patients included in the study, 170 patients were included in the OIHR group, and 71 patients were included in the LIHR group (TAPP=20, TEP=51). No statistically significant difference was noted between the OIHR and LIHR groups and between the TAPP and TEP subgroups in terms of chronic pain, paraesthesia, and recurrence. Conclusions: We believe that there is no difference in long-term results between open and laparoscopic elective inguinal hernia surgery.