Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Flin Flon paleosol revisited

A ca. 1.85 Ga paleosol developed on seafloor-altered mafic rocks is preserved beneath continental sandstones and conglomerates of the Missi Group near Flin Flon, Manitoba. Previous work has focused on a locality where the paleosol is developed on pillowed greenstone (chlorite + albite + epidote + calcite + quartz + Fe-Ti oxides +/- mica). This area has been revisited and a new (similar to 5 m) profile was excavated and sampled at a very high density for geochemical (major element; similar to 60 samples) and mineralogical (petrography, X-ray diffraction) investigation. The high sampling density has revealed a relatively sharp immobile-element offset (e.g., Al/Ti) in the profile. This could reflect weathering across two separate parent rocks or preferential addition of allochthonous material into the top of the profile. Regardless, comparison with a wide suite of volcanic rocks in the stratigraphy suggests that the original concentration of Fe and probably also Ca and Mg in the greenstone on either side of the boundary was similar, permitting quantitative treatment of major-element trends. The profile shows pronounced upward loss of Ca, Mg, Mn2+, and Fe2+ and a corresponding increase in Al, Ti, and total Fe. Physical weathering features, such as corestones, are well preserved and show progressive alteration upwards in the profile in parallel with the chemical trends. Deep in the profile, Na and Ca are lower than the greenstone due to the weathering of albite and epidote, whereas Mg, Fe, and Mn were largely retained in chlorite and secondary dolomite. Upwards in the profile, the loss of chlorite and dolomite and the increase of illite - mixed-layer clays and white mica (probably 2:1 layer or mixed-layer clays originally) and hematite are accompanied by a transition from green to maroon colour. Above a well-defined depth in the profile, carbonate is virtually absent, and the paleosol is highly depleted in Ca. This transition in the paleosol coincides with the immobile-element offset. The significance of this coincidence remains to be explored. Reworking of regolith (e.g., rip-up clasts) occurred during deposition of the Missi sediments, and burial and subsequent metamorphism resulted in the upward enrichment of K and Na and the associated conversion of pedogenic clays to illite and micas (muscovite and paragonite). Crosscutting quartz and epidote veins and tourmaline formation near the unconformity contact implies minor post-burial fluid movement. Despite these complexities, there is consistent retention of Fe through formation of pedogenic Fe oxides, attested by the near-constant Sigma Fe/Al ratio in the profile. There is very little evidence for subsequent Fe reduction by hydrothermal or organic fluids. Instead, trends in the Fe speciation are controlled predominantly by the modal variation of Fe-Ti oxides in the greenstone and spheroidal weathering textures in the paleosol.
Simulation and Observation of Lunar Tide Effect on High‐Latitude, Mesospheric and Lower Thermospheric Winds During the 2013 Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event

We investigate the high‐latitude mesospheric and lower thermospheric winds during the 2013 sudden stratospheric warming event using ground‐based optical Doppler remote sensing observations of the OH and O (557.7 nm) emission from Eureka (80°N, 86°W) and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics‐General Circulation Model (TIME‐GCM) simulations. Simulations with and without lunar tidal forcing of the TIME‐GCM were performed. It has been found that the additional lunar tidal forcing only impacts slightly the semidiurnal tidal amplitude and phase at Eureka. The TIME‐GCM simulations still have noticeable discrepancies in the mean winds and the semidiurnal tidal amplitude and phase compared to the observations. The semidiurnal tidal phase shift during the stratospheric warming event may be associated with the sudden stratospheric warming related zonal mean wind reversal, which is similar to the seasonal change in the zonal mean wind from winter to summer. Accordingly, during the reversal, more modes of the semidiurnal tide propagate to the mesosphere, changing the phase of the semidiurnal tide.
Interim Effectiveness of Updated 2023–2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults Aged ≥18 Years — VISION and IVY Networks, September 2023–January 2024

In September 2023, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended updated 2023-2024 (monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months to prevent COVID-19, including severe disease. However, few estimates of updated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically attended illness are available. This analysis evaluated VE of an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose against COVID-19-associated emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) encounters and hospitalization among immunocompetent adults aged ≥18 years during September 2023-January 2024 using a test-negative, case-control design with data from two CDC VE networks. VE against COVID-19-associated ED/UC encounters was 51% (95% CI = 47%-54%) during the first 7-59 days after an updated dose and 39% (95% CI = 33%-45%) during the 60-119 days after an updated dose. VE estimates against COVID-19-associated hospitalization from two CDC VE networks were 52% (95% CI = 47%-57%) and 43% (95% CI = 27%-56%), with a median interval from updated dose of 42 and 47 days, respectively. Updated COVID-19 vaccine provided increased protection against COVID-19-associated ED/UC encounters and hospitalization among immunocompetent adults. These results support CDC recommendations for updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccination. All persons aged ≥6 months should receive updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.
Interfacial Adsorption of Oil-Soluble Kraft Lignin and Stabilization of Water-in-Oil Emulsions

In this paper, the potential of esterified Kraft lignin as a novel oil-soluble surfactant was examined. The lignin was chemically modified by esterification with lauric or stearic acid, making it soluble in solvents such as toluene or n-decane. Adsorption at the oil–water interface was then studied by the Du Noüy ring-method. The oil-soluble lignin behaved similar to water-soluble lignin surfactants, both the qualitative and quantitative progression of interfacial tension. Modeling revealed a surface excess of 7.5–9.0 × 10–7 mol/m2, area per molecule of 185–222 Å2, and a diffusion coefficient within the range 10–10 to 10–14 m2/s; all of which are in line with existing literature on water-soluble lignosulfonates. The data further suggested that the pendant alkyl chains were extended well into the paraffinic solvent. At last, bottle tests showed that the oil-soluble lignin was able to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. The emulsion stability was affected by the concentration of lignin or NaCl as well as the oil phase composition. Aromatic oils exhibited lower emulsion stability in comparison to the aliphatic oil. In conclusion, a new type of surfactant was synthesized and studied, which may contribute to developing green surfactants and novel approaches to valorize technical lignin.
An ecohydraulics virtual watershed: Integrating physical and biological variables to quantify aquatic habitat quality

Advances in remote sensing coupled with numerical modelling allow us to build a “virtual ecohydraulics watershed” at the micro‐habitat scale. This approach is an integrated modelling framework with a cascade of models including physical (hydrologic, hydraulic, and stream water temperature) and biological (fish habitat) modelling at a resolution and extent important for aquatic and terrestrial organisms. We applied this approach to quantify the impacts of discharges and water temperature on habitat quality and spatial/temporal habitat use patterns of bull trout, a federally listed species along the South Fork Boise River.
Systematic increase in model complexity helps to identify dominant streamflow mechanisms in two small forested basins

ABSTRACT This study shows how the use of increasing model complexity allows us to hypothesize about dominant streamflow mechanisms in two small Brazilian forested basins. Nine different structures from SUPERFLEX, an objective framework to systematically increase hydrological model complexity, were tested and we extended the flexible modelling methodology to error models as well. We show that applying a rigorous methodology in a model evaluation framework, with residual analysis and control of model complexity, is essential for testing a model as a hypothesis for dominant hydrological controls. Our results indicate that the model architecture was more important than the increase in the number of model parameters. Better performing models were those with a parallel structure, which confirms our a priori belief about the dominant runoff mechanisms of the studied catchments, characterized by a rapid response to rainfall, but also a constant river discharge fed by water storage on the thick soil layer.
Generic error model for calibration and uncertainty estimation of hydrological models

Because of the necessary simplification of the complex natural processes and the limited availability of observations, model simulations are always uncertain and this uncertainty should be quantified. In this contribution, the model error is quantified using a combined procedure. For the uncertainty of discharge due to meteorological input, a stochastic simulation method is used. To quantify the effect of process representation and parameterization, a sensitivity analysis is carried out. It is assumed that the model error due to process uncertainty is proportional to the sensitivity. The final model error variance can thus be calculated from the stochastic errors and the process sensitivities. The coefficients used for the quantification are estimated simultaneously with the model parameters. The methodology presented produces error series that are normally distributed and that represent the varying importance of different processes in time. This uncertainty time series can be used as a weighting factor to normalize the model residuals during calibration so that the assumptions of least squares optimization are fulfilled. Calibration and uncertainty estimation are demonstrated with an example application of a distributed Hydrological Bureau Waterbalance (HBV) model of three watersheds in the Neckar basin in southwest Germany. The model residual distributions are presented and compared to a standard calibration method. Further, it is shown that the new methodology leads to more realistic confidence intervals for model simulations. Although applied to the HBV model as an example, the method is general and can be applied to any model and also in conjunction with other uncertainty estimation techniques.
Representation of Natural Contours by a Neural Population in Monkey V4

The cortical visual area, V4, has been considered to code contours that contribute to the intermediate-level representation of objects. The neural responses to the complex contour features intrinsic to natural contours are expected to clarify the essence of the representation. To approach the cortical coding of natural contours, we investigated the simultaneous coding of multiple contour features in monkey (Macaca fuscata) V4 neurons and their population-level representation. A substantial number of neurons showed significant tuning for two or more features such as curvature and closure, indicating that a substantial number of V4 neurons simultaneously code multiple contour features. A large portion of the neurons responded vigorously to acutely curved contours that surrounded the center of classical receptive field, suggesting that V4 neurons tend to code prominent features of object contours. The analysis of mutual information (MI) between the neural responses and each contour feature showed that most neurons exhibited similar magnitudes for each type of MI, indicating that many neurons showing the responses depended on multiple contour features. We next examined the population-level representation by using multidimensional scaling analysis. The neural preferences to the multiple contour features and that to natural stimuli compared with silhouette stimuli increased along with the primary and secondary axes, respectively, indicating the contribution of the multiple contour features and surface textures in the population responses. Our analyses suggested that V4 neurons simultaneously code multiple contour features in natural images and represent contour and surface properties in population.
Effects of Thermal Loads on Concrete Cover of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforced Elements: Theoretical and Experimental Analysis

This paper analyzes fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete elements under thermal loads. Nonmetallic reinforcing bars present high values of transverse coefficients of the thermal expansion with respect to concrete; as a result, when temperature increases, tensile stresses occur within the concrete that may produce splitting cracks and, eventually, the concrete cover failure if the confining action is not sufficient. An analytical model is proposed to determine values of temperature increase corresponding to the first appearance of the cracking phenomenon and to the concrete cover failure. An experimental investigation conducted on concrete specimens reinforced with FRP reinforcing bars is described, and the results obtained are compared with theoretical predictions.
An agent-based extension for object-based image analysis for the delineation of irrigated agriculture from remote sensing data

ABSTRACT The newly developed image interpretation approach of agent-based image classification combines the advantages of object-based image classification and expert knowledge. Agent-based classification identifies meaningful objects by autonomous software units that alter their spatial extent and composition to adapt to a changing environment and data availability. Agents deliver highly variable classification results of a remotely sensed scene. Although the approach has proven its general ability, the use of agent-based image classification studies is sparse. With this study, we want to introduce this concept to water resource management in form of the detection of irrigated agriculture. In this study, we present the fundament of an agent-based image classification framework in terms of agriculture and irrigation management that shows promising results. In contrast to pixel-based classification approaches, the agent-based classification uses the shape and the relation of an image object to other image objects to improve classification results. To incorporate the possibility of erroneous classification due to threshold behaviour, a strict and a soft formulation for class membership are applied. The results show that the object- and agent-based approaches both deliver similar results as a traditional pixel-wise classification approach, but improve the completeness of the classes. In this case study, the different formulations have only little influence on the general results, but remain a promising addition to the classification approach. The here presented classification strategy is sensitive to changes in the underlying classification scheme. Nevertheless, this framework is an ideal addition to the toolset of image interpretation especially in natural systems that are affected by human behaviour like irrigated agriculture.
Expression of HIF-1α, Ki67, SMA and E-cadherin in endometriosis, endometrial and ovarian carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION Endometriosis is a benign gynecological condition that shares many characteristics with cancer cells, including immune evasion, survival, adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis. The simultaneous investigation of tissue hypoxia, EMT, and proliferative index in endometriosis, endometrial, and ovarian carcinomas may provide new insight into the evolution and progression of gynecological neoplasms.
Social Science in Epidemics: Influenza and SARS Lessons Learned

Le ss on s L ea rn ed This report is the third instalment of the ‘Social Science in Epidemics’ series, commissioned by the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). In this series, past outbreaks are reviewed in order to identify social science ‘entry points’ for emergency interventions and preparedness activities. The aim is to determine tangible ways to address the social, political and economic dynamics of epidemics and to ensure that interventions build on the social and cultural resources of the communities they aim to support. This report explores lessons about the social dimensions of past and recent influenza epidemics and the emergence of SARS-CoV.
Risk factors for subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose Knowledge of modifiable risk factors for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is important in terms of prevention. We therefore conducted a systematic review of studies on risk factors for SAH, with emphasis on sufficiently precise criteria for the diagnosis of SAH. Methods To identify studies we performed a Medline search from 1966 to 1994 and searched the reference lists of all relevant publications. Studies were included only if they fulfilled predefined methodological criteria. Case-control studies were included if the diagnosis of SAH was proved by CT, angiography, or autopsy in at least 70% of patients. Longitudinal studies were included if the criteria for SAH were based on a review of the medical records. Results Nine longitudinal studies and 11 case-control studies were included. Significant risk factors were as follows: (1) smoking (relative risk [RR] for longitudinal studies, 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 2.3; odds ratio [OR] for case-control studies, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.
Salinity and Inundation Tolerance of Phragmites australis ssp. americanus: A Greenhouse Experiment and Field Study on a Tributary of the Chesapeake Bay

Title of Thesis: SALINITY AND INUNDATION TOLERANCE OF PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS SSP. AMERICANUS: A GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT AND FIELD STUDY ON A TRIBUTARY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY Diane Elizabeth Leason Master of Science 2017 Thesis Directed By: Professor Andrew H. Baldwin, Environmental Science and Technology Natural vegetation communities of tidal and non-tidal wetlands are threatened by invasive species, e.g. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steud. , resulting in diversity losses and declines in wetland services. The native lineage of Phragmites, Phragmites australis ssp. americanus Saltonstall, P. M. & Soreng could be a valuable addition to species currently used in restoration projects aimed at increasing wetland services. However, tolerances of native Phragmites to environmental conditions are uncertain. Salinity and water level tolerances were investigated by monitoring growth of adult plants, established from rhizomes, under varying water and salinity levels in a greenhouse experiment and an observational study. Results show salinity levels above 5 ppt significantly limited growth of native Phragmites regardless of water level indicating appropriate restoration use across the marsh platform of fresh and oligohaline systems. Educational materials and demonstration sites were created to improve field identification of native Phragmites.
Revisiting interannual to decadal teleconnections influencing seasonal rainfall in the Greater Horn of Africa during the 20th century

This paper revisits teleconnections for three major rainy seasons at the Greater Horn of Africa for the period 1901–2013. Sea surface temperature‐based climate indices known to influence Short, Kiremt, and Long Rains are used in a comprehensive statistical analysis to detect non‐stationary behaviour in teleconnections and to split them into interannual and decadal time scales. Physical mechanisms are proposed for identified significant non‐stationary teleconnections. Interannual variability in the October–December Short Rains is predominantly influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) with a percent variance explained (PVE) of up to 80% in recent years. However, abrupt shifts in this teleconnection occurred around 1918, 1951, 1987, and recently. The Short Rains also correlate strongly with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, ENSO influence on Short Rains is mediated by in‐phase occurrence of IOD. Decadal variations in Short Rains are more directly explained by low‐frequency variability in the Pacific Ocean (PO). A hitherto undocumented non‐stationary relation was found between Atlantic Niño 3 and June–September Kiremt Rains. The non‐stationarity seems to be related to a decadal regime shift in the West African monsoon system in the late 1960s. The variability of Kiremt Rains is also strongly associated with ENSO, although the recent increased correlation is not non‐stationary. Consistent with recent studies, the post‐1998 March–May Long Rains decline is strongly associated with decadal variability in the PO. The PVEs in the stable correlations using Pacific Decadal Oscillation and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation indices range from 25 to 64%, mostly due to low‐frequency variability (>8 years). The results have ramifications for seasonal‐to‐decadal forecasting and can be taken to design modelling studies to gain insights into the physical mechanisms.
Confidentiality and privacy considerations for adolescents receiving contraceptive health services via telemedicine: A narrative review

Confidential medical care for adolescent patients is essential as they are likely to forgo needed care if privacy cannot be maintained. The use of telemedicine for adolescent health has rapidly expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic and can increase access to important services like reproductive care; however, it has raised challenges for providers, patients, and their parents/guardians related to confidentiality and privacy. Health care providers are often uncertain about the laws and regulations that govern confidential services including the 21st Century Cures Act. Through a narrative review of studies on confidentiality and telemedicine, this article seeks to summarize the available evidence and provide recommendations on maintaining privacy during virtual encounters and identify current best practices for prescribing contraception via telemedicine.
Streamlining patient flow and enhancing operational efficiency through case management implementation

Background Improving patient flow in hospitals represents a worldwide healthcare challenge. The objective of this project was to depict the effectiveness of case management in improving patient flow in a tertiary hospital setting. Methods Quality improvement methods, including quantitative pre-Lean and post-Lean design, the Plan-Do-Check-Act concept, the Single Minute Exchange of Dies and the ‘demand and supply approach’ of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, were adapted to examine and modify factors influencing hospital patient flow. Results This study (conducted from the last quarter of 2019 through September 2022) resulted in a remarkable improvement in patient flow, as evident from the reduction in average hospital length of stay (from 11.5 to 4.4 days) and average emergency department boarding time (from 11.9 to 1.2 hours) and the improvement of bed turnover rate (from 0.57 to 0.93), (p<0.001, p=0.017, p=0.038, respectively), with net cost savings of 123 130 192 million Saudi Riyals (US$32 821 239). Conclusion Implementing a well-structured case management programme can enhance care coordination, streamlilne transitions, boost patient outcomes, and increase revenues within hospital settings.