Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Climatologies of High-Level Clouds from HIRS and ISCCP

Abstract Comparison of individually matched analyses of high-level cloudiness from the High-Resolution Infrared Sounder (HIRS) CO2-slicing analysis and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) analysis of satellite data for 4 months shows that the former reports about 0.12 more high-level clouds than the latter. Almost all of the difference in high-level cloud amounts occurs as differences of thin cirrus, defined by infrared emissivity ϵ < 0.5 or τvis < 1.3, consistent with a previous comparison of Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II and ISCCP. Some of this difference may be caused by the large field of view of the HIRS instrument. Over oceans the differences in cirrus cloud amounts are caused by the higher sensitivity of the HIRS analysis to optically thin clouds, aided by a small high bias of the sea surface temperatures used in the HIRS cloud detection step. Over land the higher detection sensitivity of the HIRS analysis was partially offset by the effect of large low biase.
Runoff curve numbers for steep hillslopes with natural vegetation in semi‐arid tropical highlands, northern Ethiopia

Daily runoff from 27 plots (5 m × 2 m) recorded during two rainy seasons in the Tigray highlands (Ethiopia) were analysed together with daily rainfall to calculate runoff curve numbers for hillslopes covered by semi‐natural vegetation in varying stages of vegetation restoration. Curve number model parameters were derived using a least squares fitting procedure on the collected rainfall–runoff datasets. Curve numbers varied from 29 to 97. Land use type was an important explanatory factor for the variation in curve numbers, whereas hydrologic soil group was not. Curve numbers were negatively correlated with vegetation cover. Taking into account antecedent soil moisture conditions did not improve runoff prediction using the curve number method. As runoff prediction was less accurate in areas with low curve numbers, two separate regression functions relating curve numbers with vegetation cover were proposed for different land use types. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The 1988 and 1990 Summer Season Simulations for West Africa Using a Regional Climate Model

Abstract Simulations have been undertaken using a regional climate model (RegCM2) developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research for the West African growing season (June–September) periods of 1988 and 1990. The regional climate model simulations are driven at the lateral boundaries every 12 h by data from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analyses, with a horizontal grid spacing of 110 km using the Grell cumulus parameterization. An additional simulation during the 1988 growing season also uses the Kuo cumulus parameterization. Furthermore, a review of the differences in the tropical circulation from the ECMWF analyses during 1988 and 1990 are reviewed. The climate simulations using the Grell parameterization during the 1988 and 1990 growing seasons capture many of the observed atmospheric features and depict drier conditions during 1990. Precipitation amounts are underestimated for both the Kuo and Grell parameterizations when compared to observations during 1988, wit.
Greenland and the Northern Hemispheric winter circulation

The impact of Greenland’s orography on the general circulation is investigated. Two 10 year simulations are conducted using the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM3), run at T106 horizontal resolution; A control simulation and a simulation where Greenland’s orography is set to sea level. A comparison of the two simulations indicates that Greenland has a significant impact on the general circulation at middle and high latitudes on the Northern Hemisphere. The storm tracks over the North Atlantic are shifted northward in the presence of the mountain. The difference fields of sea level pressure, geopotential height and temperature have a wave-like pattern that extends around the earth. The first wave of this pattern is linked to the blocking and diversion of cold low level air masses west of Greenland. The result is a trough on the upstream side of the mountain. Thus, Greenland’s impact on the general circulation is fundamentally different from the impact of the Rocky Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau where a trough is created downstream of the mountains.
CLPB3 is required for the removal of chloroplast protein aggregates and thermotolerance in Chlamydomonas

Abstract In the cytosol of plant cells, heat-induced protein aggregates are resolved by the CASEIN LYTIC PROTEINASE/HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 100 (CLP/HSP100) chaperone family member HSP101, which is essential for thermotolerance. For the chloroplast family member CLPB3 this is less clear, with controversial reports on its role in conferring thermotolerance. To shed light on this issue, we have characterized two clpb3 mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We show that chloroplast CLPB3 is required for resolving heat-induced protein aggregates containing stromal TRIGGER FACTOR (TIG1) and the small heat shock proteins 22E/F (HSP22E/F) in vivo, and for conferring thermotolerance under heat stress. Although CLPB3 accumulation is similar to that of stromal HSP70B under ambient conditions, we observed no prominent constitutive phenotypes. However, we found decreased accumulation of the PLASTID RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN L1 (PRPL1) and increased accumulation of the stromal protease DEG1C in the clpb3 mutants, suggesting that a reduction in chloroplast protein synthesis capacity and an increase in proteolytic capacity may compensate for loss of CLPB3 function. Under ambient conditions, CLPB3 was distributed throughout the chloroplast, but reorganized into stromal foci upon heat stress, which mostly disappeared during recovery. CLPB3 foci were localized next to HSP22E/F, which accumulated largely near the thylakoid membranes. This suggests a possible role for CLPB3 in disentangling protein aggregates from the thylakoid membrane system.
Dynamics of Particulate Organic Matter in the Tamagawa Estuary and Inner Tokyo Bay

Abstract The distribution of carbon isotope ratio (δ 13 C) in suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and sedimentary organics in the Tamagawa River and Inner Tokyo Bay was investigated. The objective was to assess the origin and fate of organic particles with emphasis on the growth of phytoplankton in the highly eutrophic estuarine and coastal environments. Variations in the δ 13 C of POM ( δ 13 C POM ) in the intertidal river waters and seawaters are explained clearly in the δ 13 C POM -salinity figure. The δ 13 C POM of land-derived organics showed an almost constant value (−26·9±1·1‰) throughout the year. However, δ 13 C POM and salinity in the intertidal zone exhibited a significant difference between warm (summer and early autumn) and cold (late autumn and winter) seasons. In the warm season, δ 13 C POM was highly variable in the Tamagawa Estuary and Inner Tokyo Bay. Growth of phytoplankton was notable, and the POM with high chlorophyll a concentration could be categorized into two groups with light (around −30‰) and heavy (around −15‰) δ 13 C POM , which appeared in the low- and high-salinity areas, respectively. The former light δ 13 C POM value was caused by the light δ 13 C POM value (−13·7‰) of substrate CO 2 under the normal algal growth rate. The heavy δ 13 C POM values were observed at sites where pH of the water was significantly high (around 8·5). It was thus suggested that a rapid algal growth rate such as a red-tide phenomenon was highly limited by the CO 2 uptake process in this type of blooming. This is because the substrate δ 13 C value was kept almost constant (0·0‰) with its high dissolved inorganic carbon concentration (2 mM) in the seawater. Due to the light δ 13 C value of autochthonous particles in the high-salinity area in winter, no significant difference in the δ 13 C POM level was found from the upper to lower tidal zones, regardless of changes in salinity. Consequently, the δ 13 C POM -salinity figure was successfully constructed, and a framework assessing the dynamics of POM involving the phytoplankton growth rate was proposed for the highly eutrophic estuarine and inner bay areas. The δ 13 C of sedimentary organics in Inner Tokyo Bay reflected the heavy δ 13 C POM in the overlying water. The δ 13 C value tended to decrease from the shallow coastal areas to the deep open bay. This trend clearly corresponded to the annual mean δ 13 C POM in the water column of overlying seawater. Variations in the δ 13 C value of the coastal sediments from the estuary to the open bay were illustrated by a dynamic model rather than a two-source model.
Optimal Intelligent Information Retrieval and Reliable Storage Scheme for Cloud Environment And E-Learning Big Data Analytics

Currently, online learning systems in the education sector are widely used and have become a new trend, generating large amounts of educational data based on students' activities. In order to improve online learning experiences, sophisticated data analysis techniques are required. Adding value to E-learning platforms through the efficient processing of big learning data is possible with Big Data. With time, the E-learning management system's repository expands and becomes a rich source of learning materials. Subject matter experts may benefit from using E-learning resources to reuse previously created content when creating online content. In addition, it might be beneficial to the students by giving them access to the pertinent documents for achieving their learning objectives effectively. An improved intelligent information retrieval and reliable storage (OIIRS) scheme is proposed for E-learning using hybrid deep learning techniques. Assume that relevant E-learning documents are stored in cloud and dynamically updated according to users' status. First, we present a highly robust and lightweight crypto i.e. optimized CLEFIA, for securely storing data in local repositories that improve the reliability of data loading. We develop an improved butterfly optimization (IBO) algorithm to provide an optimal solution for CLEFIA that selects private keys. In addition, a hybrid deep learning method, i.e., backward diagonal search based deep recurrent neural network (BD-DRNN) is introduced for optimal intelligent information retrieval based on keywords rather than semantics. Here, feature extraction and key feature matching are performed by the modified Hungarian optimization (MHO) algorithm that improves searching accuracy. Finally, we test our proposed OIIRS scheme with different benchmark datasets and use simulation results to test the performance.
Shearing of saturated clays in rock joints at high confining pressures

Saturated clays are sheared between rock joints at various pore water pressures and at confining pressures up to 3 kb (300 Mpa). Sliding on these joints is stable. For a given clay, the shear stress required to initiate sliding increases linearly with the effective normal stress across the sliding surface, with a slope of 0.08 +- 0.01 for joints filled with saturated montmorillonite, 0.12 +- 0.01 with saturated chlorite, 0.15 +- 0.01 with saturated kaolinite, and 0.22 +- 0.02 with saturated silty illite. Thus at high confining pressures the shear stress required to initiate sliding on joints filled with saturated clays are very much smaller than that required to initiate sliding on clean rock joints or on joints filled with dry gouge materials. In the crust, saturation of gouge materials along active faults would greatly lower the frictional resistance to faulting and would stabilize fault movement. Different fault behaviors such as stable creep along some faults and intermittent but sudden slip along others may reflect in part different degrees of saturation of fault zones at depth.
Is there an imbalance in the global budget of bomb-produced radiocarbon?

Several recent studies of the global inventory of radiocarbon produced by above ground nuclear weapons testing have brought into question our understanding of the global cycle of bomb-produced radiocarbon. Radiocarbon produced from these explosions has provided a unique test for global carbon cycle models used in the analysis of emission scenarios for carbon dioxide. We employ a globally aggregated model for the global cycles of carbon and its isotopes (13C and 14C) to examine these studies, and find several modeling approximations or assumptions which could be responsible for the differences between analyses. In light of the considerable uncertainty in both model-based and data-based estimates of global inventories, we conclude that the global budget of bomb-produced radiocarbon cannot be shown to be out of balance. Uncertainties limit the utility of 14C as a tracer for determining the flow of carbon dioxide within the atmosphere-ocean-terrestrial-biosphere system of carbon cycle. Our model-based analyses suggest that improved analysis of past nuclear tests and their production of radiocarbon, as well as additional measurements of 14C in the biosphere and oceans, could reduce uncertainties in model studies of the evolution of 14C in the carbon cycle system.
Guidelines for the Visual Design of Mobile Application Icons Based on Visual Properties

The design of the icon of a mobile application can have a major impact on its success, by attracting users’ attention and perhaps persuading them to install it on their devices. In the case of the continued use of an application, its icon also has an important role to play in terms of its recognition. In this paper, we take a qualitative approach in identifying different roles that the visual design properties of complexity, concreteness and familiarity play in contributing to the appeal and performance of an application icon during different phases of its use – from ﬁrst exposure to assurance and continued use. We also discuss several theories which we consider relevant to this research, using case studies of the icons of three mobile applications. We then conclude by proposing that the design of an application icon should take into account the maturity level of the application, and the speciﬁc phases of its use for which its icon should be optimized.
Rustrela Virus Infection – A New Emerging Neuropathogen of Red-necked Wallabies ( Macropus rufogriseus)

The rustrela virus (RusV) was recently described as a novel pathogen in a circumscribed area of northern Germany close to the Baltic Sea. Up to now, the virus has been detected in cases of fatal non-suppurative meningoencephalitis in zoo animals of diﬀerent species and a single wild carnivore as well as in apparently healthy yellow-necked ﬁeld mice ( Apodemus ﬂavicollis ). Data regarding the background of this previously undiscovered pathogen, including clinical presentation of the disease, host range, and distribution of the virus, are still limited. Here, three euthanized red-necked wallabies ( Macropus rufogriseus ) from zoos of diﬀerent areas in northeastern Germany were submitted for necropsy after presenting with apathy and therapeutically unresponsive neurological symptoms. A moderate to severe, non-suppurative meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in all three cases. RusV was consistently detected via RT-qPCR and RNA in situ hybridization in the brains of all wallabies. Other, commonly known neuropathogens could not be detected. Overall, red-necked wallabies appear to be highly susceptible to RusV as novel neuropathogen, which is broader distributed in northeastern Germany.
Permeability anisotropy and fabric development: A mechanistic explanation

We develop a model to describe development of permeability anisotropy and fabric in clay‐rich sediments due to clay grain reorientation during consolidation and shearing. The model considers porosity, grain aspect ratio, and average angle of grains with respect to the horizontal plane. To validate the model, we determined permeability anisotropy ratios (ratio of horizontal permeability to vertical permeability) of porous media composed of flat cylindrical particles by lattice‐Boltzmann simulations. Over representative ranges of grain aspect ratio (diameter/thickness = 1–20) and porosity (44%–82%) the simulation results match the predicted values well. We show that permeability anisotropy ratios up to ∼20 can be attained within highly sheared (shear strain >20), low‐porosity (<40%) materials with aspect ratios >20, and that the maximum anisotropy ratio attainable by grain rotation is limited by grain aspect ratio. We further show that the anisotropy ratio of mixtures of low aspect ratio and high aspect ratio particles, like silty clays, are low (<2). This occurs because the low aspect ratio particles reduce the difference in tortuosity in transverse directions. Our results demonstrate why larger permeability anisotropy ratios are possible only through diagenesis, layering, or development of aligned microcracks.
Design and Numerical Study of Magnetic Energy Storage in Toroidal Superconducting Magnets Made of YBCO and BSCCO

The superconducting magnet energy storage (SMES) has become an increasingly popular device with the development of renewable energy sources. The power fluctuations they produce in energy systems must be compensated with the help of storage devices. A toroidal SMES magnet with large capacity is a tendency for storage energy because it has great energy density and low stray field. A key component in the creation of these superconducting magnets is the material from which they are made. The present work describes a comparative numerical analysis with finite element method, of energy storage in a toroidal modular superconducting coil using two types of superconducting material with different properties bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide (BSCCO) and yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO). Regarding the design of the modular torus, it was obtained that for a 1.25 times increase of the critical current for the BSCCO superconducting material compared with YBCO, the dimensions of the BSCCO torus were reduced by 7% considering the same stored energy. Also, following a numerical parametric analysis, it resulted that, in order to maximize the amount of energy stored, the thickness of the torus modules must be as small as possible, without exceeding the critical current. Another numerical analysis showed that the energy stored is maximum when the major radius of the torus is minimum, i.e., for a torus as compact as possible.
A new look at acute kidney injury in human visceral leishmaniasis: the relationship with circulating immune complexes

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease caused by Leishmania infantum. Clinically, VL evolves with systemic impairment, immunosuppression and hyperactivation with hypergammaglobulinemia. Although renal involvement has been recognized, a dearth of understanding about the underlying mechanisms driving acute kidney injury (AKI) in VL remains. We aimed to evaluate the involvement of immunoglobulins (Igs) and immune complexes (CIC) in the occurrence of AKI in VL patients. Fourteen VL patients were evaluated between early treatment and 12 months post-treatment (mpt). Anti-Leishmania Igs, CIC, cystatin C, C3a and C5a were assessed and correlated with AKI markers. Interestingly, high levels of CIC were observed in VL patients up to 6 mpt. Concomitantly, twelve patients met the criteria for AKI, while high levels of cystatin C were observed up to 6 mpt. Plasmatic cystatin C was positively correlated with CIC and Igs. Moreover, C5a was correlated with cystatin C, CIC and Igs. We did not identify any correlation between amphotericin B use and kidney function markers in VL patients, although this association needs to be further explored in subsequent studies. Our data reinforce the presence of an important renal function impairment during VL, suggesting the involvement of Igs, CIC, and C5a in the clinical condition.
Activation mechanisms of Cu 2+ and Pb 2+ in stibnite �otation

Different activation mechanisms of Cu 2+ and Pb 2+ in stibnite flotation were studied via microflotation and adsorption capacity tests and density functional theory (DFT). Microflotation experiments indicated that the recovery rate of stibnite flotation with butyl xanthate (BX) was activated 7.82% higher by Pb 2+ than Cu 2+ . The presence of Pb 2+ increased the amount of adsorbed BX on the stibnite surface. The results of DFT also suggested stronger activation by Pb 2+ . Cu 2+ activation induced the formation of Cu-S bonds between the double-bonded S1 atom of BX with Cu, resulting in electron gain. Pb 2+ activation was followed by the formation of a stable chelating structure between single-bond S1 and double-bond S2 atoms of BX, resulting in electron loss. This system also facilitated dixanthate formation on the mineral surface via interaction between BX and oxygen, thus improving the floatability of stibnite. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the efficient recovery of stibnite.
Exploring the General Knowledge of Islamic Finance Principles - A Factor Analysis Study Among College Students

This study explored the foundational constructs of general knowledge concerning the principles of Islamic Finance, with a specific focus on college students majoring in Business, Finance, and Accountancy. Employing a combination of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the research identified and validated three distinct factors shaping this knowledge domain. The first factor, named “Risk Tolerance and Permissible Transactions,” looks at how well students understand financial risk and which transactions are allowed in Islamic finance. The second, “Shari’ah Foundation and Transparency,” highlights the importance of Shari’ah principles and transparency in financial dealings. The third, “Riba Prohibition and Ethical Finance,” strongly emphasizes the ban on Riba (interest) and unethical financial practices in Islamic finance. These factor names were chosen carefully to represent the main ideas in each category. Overall, this research contributes by creating a validated objective knowledge scale for Islamic Finance knowledge among students in Business, Finance, and Accountancy programs.
Near absence of lightning in torrential rainfall producing Micronesian thunderstorms

The near absence of lightning in the torrential rain producing, tall, convective clouds at Ponape, Micronesia was studied by the use of special radiosondes. A unique rainwater accumulation process involving frozen raindrop-hail formation was found to take place in a narrow layer of altitude just above the freezing level. However, the concentration of frozen particles, including graupel, was one order of magnitude less than that required to trigger lightning. This may be the reason for the weakness of electrical activity in Micronesian thunderstorms.
A new kentriodontid dolphin (Cetacea; Delphinoidea) from the middle Miocene Choptank Formation, Maryland

ABSTRACT A new odontocete genus and species, Macrokentriodon morani, is described from the middle Miocene Choptank Formation of Maryland. This specimen consists of the skull, periotic, and teeth of a single individual. It is placed in the Family Kentriodontidae and the Subfamily Kentriodontinae based on the morphology of the cranial vertex, which is unique to kentriodontines, and features of the periotic. The cranial vertex is flat, roughly pentagonal, formed by nasals and frontals, and is not elevated. The nasals are enlarged and each possesses an oblique groove on the rostral border. Macrokentriodon morani is two to three times larger than other described kentriodontine species, and it possesses relatively larger and fewer teeth. It is similar in size to Hadrodelphis calvertense, but has a cranial vertex distinctly different from that lophocetine kentriodontid. The Kentriodontinae are basal delphinoids of late Oligocene to late Miocene age, and are known from the Atlantic and Pacific ocean basins. This .