Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
P and S wave upper mantle seismic velocity structure beneath the northern Apennines: New evidence for the end of subduction

Orogeny in the geologically young northern Apennines is explained by the eastward retreat of a convergence zone in which Adriatic lithosphere subducts to the west. It is unclear, however, whether all of the lithosphere or only the lower portion has subducted since 15 Ma, when the convergence zone lay near Corsica. We combine teleseismic P and S wave arrival time data from the RETREAT seismic network (2003–2006) and surrounding permanent stations to estimate tomographic images of the upper mantle structure beneath the northern Apennines. We image a vertically oriented slab that that extends to only ∼300 km depth. Our slab termination is shallower than previous studies but is confirmed by resolution tests. Furthermore, our images resolve the southern edge of the northern Apennines slab at ∼43°N, with no deep continuity with any slab segment to the south, as earlier proposed. Our results suggest that only a 300–400 km strip of lithosphere has subducted since 15 Ma beneath the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, a length roughly equivalent to the distance from the present‐day west coast of Corsica to the crest of the northern Apennines. Although not a definitive indicator, the largely aseismic vertical slab configuration and its limited extent, coupled with other volcanic and geophysical indicators, suggests the delamination scenario of Bird (1979), in which only the lower portion of the continental lithosphere subducts.
Characteristics of Daily and Extreme Temperatures over Canada

Recent studies have shown that, since 1900, mean annual temperature over southern Canada has increased by an average of 0.98C, with the largest warming during winter and early spring. Every season was associated with greater increases in minimum temperature as opposed to maximum, thus resulting in a significant decrease in the daily temperature range (DTR). The second half of the twentieth century was associated with significant winter and spring warming in the south and west, and cooling in the northeast. However, no significant changes in DTR were observed during this period. This investigation goes beyond the annual/seasonal scales by examining trends and variability in daily minimum and maximum temperature with particular emphasis on extremes. Using recently updated, homogenized daily data, spatial and temporal characteristics of daily and extreme temperaturerelated variables are analyzed on a seasonal basis for the periods of 1900‐98 (southern Canada), and 1950‐98 (the entire country). From 1900 to 1998, the majority of southern Canada shows significantly increasing trends to the lower and higher percentiles of the daily minimum and maximum temperature distribution. The findings translate into fewer days with extreme low temperature during winter, spring, and summer and more days with extreme high temperature during winter and spring. No consistent trends are found for the higher percentiles of summer daily maximum temperature, indicating little change to the number of extreme hot summer days. Over the southwest, increases are larger to the left-hand side of the daily minimum and maximum temperature distribution, resulting in significant decreases to the intraseasonal standard deviation of daily temperature. The 1950‐98 results are somewhat different from the entire century, especially, during winter and spring. This result includes significant increases to the low and high percentiles over the west, and decreases over the east. This analysis reveals that the largest individual daily temperature trends (both minimum and maximum) occur during winter and early spring, when substantial warming is observed. For summer, increases are only associated with daily minimum temperature. Autumn displays varying results, with some late season cooling, mainly over western regions. The observed warming trends have a substantial effect on several economically sensitive indices. This effect includes significant increases in the number of growing and cooling degree days and significant decreases in heating degree days. In addition, the length of the frost-free period is significantly longer over most of the country.
Use of LiDAR data in defining the urban-rural transition zone in stream cross-section morphology

Stream channel geometries have been found to enlarge with urbanization of the upland drainage basin. Although enlargement has been documented in a variety of climatic and urban regimes, little is known about how the geomorphic effects of urbanization translate into rural areas downstream. Models derived from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data from the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program were used in conjunction with field surveys to explore the urban-rural transition for North Buffalo Creek in Greensboro, NC. Although the model did not accurately represent at-a-point channel geometries, it was able to represent the prevailing geometric relationships between contributing drainage area and averaged channel capacity for channel reaches of approximately 140m. The urban-rural transition for North Buffalo Creek was found to be linear, with decreases in enlargement beginning well within the current urban boundary. Using linear regression, a truly “rural” state was predicted to be achieved when the channel reaches a contributing drainage area of between 400 - 450km2. Local increases in enlargement were found to be directly influenced by the junction of major tributaries.
Tool to address green roof widespread implementation effect in flood characteristics for water management planning

Abstract. In the last decades, new approaches were adopted to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible through technologies and devices that preserve and recreate natural landscape features. Green Roofs (GR) are examples of these devices that are also incentivized by city's stormwater management plans. Several studies show that GR decreases on-site runoff from impervious surfaces, however, the analysis of the effect of widespread implementation of GR in the flood characteristics at the urban basin scale in subtropical areas are little discussed, mainly because of the absence of data. Thereby, this paper shows results related to the monitoring of an extensive modular GR under subtropical weather conditions, the development of a rainfall–runoff model based on the modified Curve Number (CN) and SCS Triangular Unit Hydrograph (TUH) methods and the analysis of large-scale impact of GR by modelling different basins. The model was calibrated against observed data and showed that GR absorbed almost all the smaller storms and reduced runoff even during the most intense rainfall. The overall CN was estimated in 83 (consistent with available literature) with the shape of hydrographs well reproduced. Large-scale modelling (in basins ranging from 0.03 ha to several square kilometers) showed that the widespread use of GRs reduced peak flows (volumes) around 57% (48%) at source and 38% (32%) at the basin scale. Thus, this research validated a tool for the assessment of structural management measures (specifically GR) to address changes in flood characteristics in the city's water management planning. From the application of this model it was concluded that even if the efficiency of GR decreases as the basin scale increase they still provide a good option to cope with urbanization impact.
Devonian arc-related magmatism in the Tseel terrane of SW Mongolia: chronological and geochemical evidence

Abstract: The Tseel terrane in the Gobi Desert of SW Mongolia consists of a composite crustal segment of imbricated sheets of high- and low-grade metamorphic rocks of predominantly middle Palaeozoic age. New sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon ages of 396 ± 3 Ma (2σ) and 397 ± 3 Ma (2σ) for two calc-alkaline metarhyolite samples indicate arc volcanism during the early Devonian. An undeformed feldspar porphyry cross-cutting the early Devonian low-grade sequence yielded an emplacement age of 279 ± 2 Ma (2σ). Geochemical and Nd isotopic data for low-grade mafic metavolcanic rocks are consistent with melting of moderately depleted upper mantle sources in a transitional arc–back-arc setting. In addition, there are high- and low-grade felsic metaigneous rocks with subduction-related chemical signatures and heterogeneous Nd isotopic compositions indicating an origin from mixed sources, including juvenile and Precambrian crustal components. The field observations combined with the geochemical and isotopic data suggest that the Tseel terrane represents a segment of a mature Japan-type arc associated with a juvenile back-arc basin. Supplementary material: Latitudes and longitudes of sample localities, major- and trace-element abundances for rock samples, data for reference materials obtained by LA-ICP-MS and Sm–Nd isotopic data for rock samples are available at http://www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18338.
Lake Chilwa : studies of change in a tropical ecosystem

1. The environmental setting. - 1. Introduction: Perspectives of research at Lake Chilwa. - 2. The physical environment of Lake Chilwa. - 3. The changes in the lake level. - 4. The aquatic environment: I. Chemical and physical characteristics of Lake Chilwa. - 5. The aquatic environment: II. Chemical and physical characteristics of the Lake Chilwa swamps. - 2. The response of plants and animals to changes. - 6. Algae in Lake Chilwa and the waters of its catchment area. - 7. The distribution of aquatic macrophytes in Lake Chilwa: Annual and long-term environmental fluctuations. - 8. Zooplankton in Lake Chilwa: adaptations to changes. - 9. Decline and recovery of the benthic invertebrate communities. - 10. Invertebrate communities in the Lake Chilwa swamp in years of high level. - 11. Fishes: Distribution and biology in relation to changes. - 12. The fisheries of Lake Chilwa. - 13. Interactions between swamp and lake. - 14. Amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds of Chilwa. - 15. Insects of the floodplain. - 3. The people of the Chilwa area. - 16. The influence of history on Lake Chilwa and its people. - 17. The people and the land. - 18. Fishing and fish trading: Socio-economic studies. - 19. Health and education. - 4. Conclusions. - 20. The Lake Chilwa ecosystem - A limnological overview. - 21. Focus on social problems. - Appendix A. A provisional checklist of plants and animals at lake Chilwa. - Index to Authors.
East Asian monsoon variability over the last seven glacial cycles recorded by a loess sequence from the northwestern Chinese Loess Plateau

A 180‐m‐thick loess‐paleosol sequence from the northwestern Chinese Loess Plateau was investigated to construct a high‐resolution record of the East Asian monsoon variability over the last seven glacial‐interglacial cycles. The low‐field magnetic susceptibility (χ, mass‐specific) and the mean grain size are used as proxies for changes in the intensity of the East Asian summer and winter monsoon, respectively. Because of the weaker pedogenesis at the northwestern Chinese Loess Plateau compared to the central Chinese Loess Plateau, our χ and mean grain size records show a muted glacial‐interglacial contrast for the Asian summer monsoon but an enhanced contrast for the Asian winter monsoon. Although better resolved, most orbital‐scale East Asian monsoon variations captured by our χ and grain size records are similar to those reported from the central Chinese Loess Plateau. Nevertheless, variations in χ exhibit clear precessional cycles in three paleosol layers (i.e., S1, S2, and S3), corresponding with solar insolation maxima. Furthermore, unlike χ records at the central Chinese Loess Plateau where χ is dramatically enhanced at paleosol S5SS1 (corresponding to marine isotope stage 13), our new χ record shows a major enhancement at paleosol S4 (corresponding to marine isotope stage 11), which indicates geographic differences in the timing of local monsoon precipitation in the two regions.
Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in young children.

Study 1: Aims: Compare the uniaxial MTI/CSA accelerometer and the biaxial Actiwatch accelerometer against direct observation of total physical activity and minute-by-minute physical activity in 3-4 year olds. Methods: MTI/CSA-7164 and Actiwatch accelerometers simultaneously measured activity during 35-45 minute sessions of structured play in 78, 3-4 year olds. Rank order correlations between accelerometry and direct observation were used to assess the ability of the accelerometers to assess total activity. Within-child minute-by-minute correlations were calculated between accelerometry output and direct observation. Results: For assessment of total activity MTI/CSA output was significantly positively correlated with direct observation (r 0.72, p 0.05). Conclusion: The present study suggests that for epidemiological assessment of total physical activity in young children the MTI/CSA-7164 provides greater accuracy than the Actiwatch. Study 2: Aim: To cross-validate the 1100 counts/ minute cut-off for the assessment of sedentary behaviour in an independent sample of young children using the MTI/CSA accelerometer. Methods: A previously developed cut-off for MTI-CSA accelerometry output (validation study) in 30 healthy Scottish 3-4 year olds, was cross-validated against direct observation in an independent sample of (n = 52) healthy Scottish 3-4 year olds. Results: In the cross-validation study sensitivity was 83%: 438/528 inactive minutes were correctly classified. Specificity was 82%: 1251/1526 non-inactive minutes were correctly classified using this cut-off. Conclusion: Sedentary behaviour can be quantified objectively in young children using accelerometry.
The 30–60 day intraseasonal oscillation over the western North Pacific Ocean and its impacts on summer flooding in China during 1998

Eastern China experienced a series of severe floods during the summer of 1998. These floods are shown to be consistent with the propagation and activity of the 30–60 day intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) over the western North Pacific (WNP), where the monsoon trough and the subtropical anti‐cyclone appear as an anti‐clockwise propagation with the enhanced and suppressed convective anomalies in a 30–60 day period. The Meiyu circulation pattern in the lower atmosphere successively dominates the WNP, which results in southern China and the Yangtze River valley suffering much more rainfall and floods than normal. There are remarkable signals of 30–60‐day ISO in convective anomalies over the Bay of Bengal and east of Philippine Sea. During the cycle of the 30–60 day ISO, these convective anomalies move towards the South China Sea (SCS), where they affect the convective activity of the SCS summer monsoon, therefore maintaining the cycle of 30–60 day ISO over the WNP.
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of quartzite cobbles from the Tapada do Montinho archaeological site (east‐central Portugal)

The burial age of an alluvially deposited cobble pavement at the Tapada do Montinho archaeological site (east‐central Portugal) is investigated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. Measurements on the cobbles (quartzite clasts) were carried out on intact slices and large aliquots (∼8 mm) of quartz grains (63–300 μm), both recovered from the outer 1.5‐mm surface of the cobbles. The recycling ratio, recuperation and dose‐recovery tests show that the single‐aliquot regenerative‐dose (SAR) protocol is applicable to both rock slices and quartz grains; both have similar luminescence characteristics. The variation in the natural OSL signal with depth below the cobble surface using intact slices from two different cobbles shows that both were bleached to a depth of at least ∼2 mm before deposition. A model of the variation of dose with depth fitted to data from one of the cobbles gives a burial age of ∼19 ka and also predicts the dose‐depth variation at the time of deposition. Ages based on rock slices suggest that one cobble surface, and the inner parts of two other cobbles experienced a resetting event at ∼45 ka, consistent with the age control. However, the surfaces of the other cobbles all record light‐exposure events in the range 26 to 14 ka, suggesting that some of the cobbles were exposed to daylight perhaps more than once in this period. Given the shallow burial depth and unexpectedly young ages of the surrounding and overlying finer‐grained sediment, it is suggested that phases of light exposure following surficial erosion are probably responsible for this underestimate. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that we can identify and quantify four events (two light exposures of different durations and two sequential burial periods) in the dose record contained within a single clast, and this suggests that the luminescence dating of rock surfaces may prove, in the future, to be at least as important as sand/silt sediment dating.
Heavy metal pollution in surface sediments collected from drainages receiving different anthropogenic sources from Peninsular Malaysia

Surface drainage sediments were collected, between January and April in 2005, from 6 sampling sites in Peninsular Malaysia suspected to have received different anthropogenic sources. These drainages included sites near a petrochemical plant, an electronic factory, a metal factory and 2 townships in addition to a relatively unpolluted site (a reference site). Based on the aqua-regia method, the metal concentrations for all the sampling sites except for the agricultural site (reference site) at Sg. Benut were between 60.92-1 019 μg/g dry weight for copper (Cu), 65.32-1 266.6 μg/g dry weight for plumbum (Pb), 1.46-15.93 μg/g dry weight for cadmium (Cd), 330.10-484.14 μg/g dry weight for zinc (Zn) and 47.03-120.90 μg/g dry weight for nickel (Ni). All of these ranges were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those (Cu: 8.77 μg/g; Pb: 57.42 μg/g; Cd: 0.96 μg/g; Zn: 68.21 μg/g; and Ni: 17.87 μg/g) of the reference site at Sg. Benut that only received agricultural disposal. The concentrations for the 5 metals from all the sites (except for the reference site) were higher than the Sediment Quality Values for Hong Kong by Chapman et al (1999) for the 5 metals. Based on the sequential extraction technique, 3 geochemical fractions [easily, freely leachable and exchangeable (EFLE), acid-reducible and oxidisable-organic] were also useful in identifying these polluted sites. The elevated metal concentrations found in the sediments might be related to point sources of industrial effluent and urban waste. Hence, the results emphasized the necessity for the treatment of effluents into this drainage area. As part of the effort to control illegal discharges and dumping into drainages, public awareness should be enhanced.
Biotechnology Statistics in OECD Member Countries: Compendium of Existing National Statistics

This document reflects recent efforts made by the OECD to obtain an accurate assessment of the current state of biotechnology statistics in OECD Member and Observer countries.This project was realised thanks in large part to a voluntary contribution provided by the Government of Canada. The Compendium was prepared by Brigitte van Beuzekom of the OECD’s Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. In addition, this Compendium benefited from the contribution of Anthony Arundel of MERIT, who served as an outside reviewer during the preparation of the Compendium and from delegates involved in the OECD ad hoc Meeting on Biotechnology Statistics. Thanks to Sandrine Kergroach-Connan for her help in the preparation of the Trade and Venture Capital sections.Comments are welcome and should be sent to Brigitte van Beuzekom, c/o OECD/DSTI OECD, 2 rue Andre-Pascal, 75775 Paris, Cedex 16, France . Statistiques de la biotechnologie dans les pays membres de l'OCDE : Un recueil de donnees nationales Ce document reflete les recents efforts de l’OCDE pour etablir un etat des lieux precis de la disponibilite des statistiques de la biotechnologie dans les pays Membres de l’OCDE et dans les pays observateurs.Ce projet a pu etre realise principalement grâce a une contribution volontaire du gouvernement canadien. Ce recueil a ete prepare par Brigitte van Beuzekom de la Direction de la science, de la technologie et de l’industrie de l’OCDE. Ce recueil a egalement ete revu par Anthony Arundel de MERIT lors de sa preparation, ainsi que par les delegues impliques dans la reunion ad hoc de l’OCDE sur les statistiques de la biotechnologie. Merci a Sandrine Kergroach-Connan pour son aide dans la preparation des sections sur le commerce et le capital-risque.Tous commentaires sont les bienvenus et devront etre adresses a Brigitte van Beuzekom, c/o OECD/DSTI OECD, 2 rue Andre-Pascal, 75775 Paris, Cedex 16, France .
Rapid middle Miocene extension and unroofing of the southern Ruby Mountains, Nevada

Paleozoic rocks in the northern Ruby Mountains were metamorphosed during Mesozoic crustal shortening and Cenozoic magmatism, but equivalent strata in the southern Ruby Mountains were never buried deeper than stratigraphic depths prior to exhumation in the footwall of a west dipping brittle normal fault. In the southern Ruby Mountains, Miocene sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall of this fault date from 15.2 to 11.6 Ma and contain abundant detritus from the Paleozoic section. Apatite fission track and (U‐Th)/He samples of the Eocene Harrison Pass pluton record rapid cooling that peaked ca. 17–15 Ma, while apatite fission track data from Jurassic plutons east and west of the southern Ruby Mountains indicate near‐surface temperatures (<60°C) since the Cretaceous. We interpret these data to record rapid unroofing of the southern Ruby Mountains during slip on the west dipping brittle detachment between 17–16 and 10–12 Ma, followed by minor high‐angle faulting. We interpret published Oligocene to early Miocene K‐Ar biotite and zircon fission track dates from the Harrison Pass pluton to be partially reset rather than to directly record fault slip. Our new data, together with published data on the distribution and composition of Miocene basin fill, suggest that rapid middle Miocene slip took place on the west dipping brittle detachment that bounds the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range for 150 km along strike. This fault was thus active during a period of rapid extension (ca. 17–15 to 12–10 Ma) documented widely across the northern Basin and Range Province.
The Response of Tropical Cyclone Statistics to an Increase in CO2 with Fixed Sea Surface Temperatures

AbstractThe effects on tropical cyclone statistics of doubling CO2, with fixed sea surface temperatures (SSTs), are compared to the effects of a 2-K increase in SST, with fixed CO2, using a 50-km resolution global atmospheric model. Confirming earlier results of Yoshimura and Sugi, a significant fraction of the reduction in globally averaged tropical storm frequency seen in simulations in which both SST and CO2 are increased can be thought of as the effect of the CO2 increase with fixed SSTs. Globally, the model produces a decrease in tropical cyclone frequency of about 10% due to doubling of CO2 and an additional 10% for a 2-K increase in SST, resulting in roughly a 20% reduction when both effects are present. The relative contribution of the CO2 effect to the total reduction is larger in the Northern than in the Southern Hemisphere. The average intensity of storms increases in the model with increasing SST, but intensity remains roughly unchanged, or decreases slightly, with the increase in CO2 alone. A.