Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Economic Valuation of Environmental Benefits and the Targeting of Conservation Programs: The Case of the CRP

The range of environmental problems confronting agriculture has expanded in recent years. As the largest program designed to mitigate the negative environmental effects of agriculture, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has broadened its initial focus on reductions in soil erosion to consider other landscape factors that may also be beneficial. For example, preserving habitats can help protect wildlife, thus leading to more nature-viewing opportunities. This report demonstrates how nonmarket valuation models can be used in targeting conservation programs such as the CRP.
Effect of sodium channel abundance on Drosophila development, reproductive capacity and aging

The voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSC) are complex membrane proteins responsible for generation and propagation of the electrical signals through the brain, the skeletal muscle and the heart. The levels of sodium channels affect behavior and physical activity. This is illustrated by the maleless mutant allele (mlenapts) in Drosophila, where the decreased levels of voltage-gated Na+ channels cause temperature-sensitive paralysis. Here, we report that mlenapts mutant flies exhibit developmental lethality, decreased fecundity and increased neurodegeneration. The negative effect of decreased levels of Na+ channels on development and ts-paralysis was more pronounced at 18 and 29°C than at 25°C, suggesting particular sensitivity of the mlenapts flies to temperatures above and below normal environmental conditions. Similarly, longevity of mlenapts flies was unexpectedly short at 18 and 29°C compared with flies heterozygous for the mlenapts mutation. Developmental lethality and neurodegeneration of mlenapts flies was partially rescued by increasing the dosage of para, confirming a vital role of Na+ channels in development, longevity and neurodegeneration of flies and their adaptation to temperatures.
Triassic limestone, turbidites and serpentinite–the Cimmeride orogeny in the Central Pontides

Abstract The basement of the Central Pontides, and by implication that of Crimea, consists of pre-Permian low-grade metaclastic rocks intruded by latest Permian – Early Carboniferous (305–290 Ma) granitoids. Further up in the stratigraphic sequence are Triassic limestones, which are now preserved as olistoliths in the deformed Upper Triassic turbidites. New conodont and foraminifera data indicate an Anisian to Carnian (Middle to Late Triassic) age for these hemi-pelagic Hallstatt-type limestones. The siliciclastic turbidites surrounding the Triassic limestone contain the Norian (Late Triassic) bivalve Monotis salinaria; the same species is also found in the Tauric series in Crimea. The Upper Triassic flysch in the Central Pontides is locally underlain by basaltic pillow lavas and includes kilometre-size tectonic slices of serpentinite. Both the flysch and the serpentinite are cut by an undeformed acidic intrusion with an Ar–Ar biotite age of 162 ± 4 Ma (Callovian–Oxfordian). This indicates that the serpentinite was emplaced into the turbidites before Middle Jurassic time, most probably during latest Triassic or Early Jurassic time, and that the deformation of the Triassic sequence pre-dates the Middle Jurassic. Regional geological data from the circum-Black Sea region, including widespread Upper Triassic flysch, Upper Triassic eclogites and blueschists of oceanic crustal affinity, and apparent absence of a ‘Cimmerian continent’ between the Cretaceous and Triassic accretionary complexes indicate that the latest Triassic Cimmeride orogeny was accretionary rather than collisional and is probably related to the collision and accretion of an oceanic plateau to the southern active margin of Laurasia.
Can the direct and semi‐direct aerosol effect compete with the indirect effect on a global scale?

During the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) Ackerman et al. [2000] found that black carbon (BC) aerosols can reduce cloud cover and liquid water path (“semi‐direct” aerosol effect). Absorption of solar radiation by BC leads to a heating of the air which can result in an evaporation of cloud droplets. This warming can partially offset the cooling due to the indirect aerosol effect. We use the ECHAM4 general circulation model to investigate whether this effect is discernible on a global scale. The results of this sensitivity study, where the absorption of BC only takes place in clear air and interstitially, indicate that the zonal mean reduction in cloud cover and liquid water path in highly polluted regions of the Northern Hemisphere can amount to 4% and 10 g m−2, respectively. However, the indirect aerosol effects of increasing cloud lifetime and cloud albedo dominate.
Sensitivity analysis of the TOXSWA model simulating fate of pesticides in surface waters

The TOXSWA model calculates the acute exposure concentration and the average exposure concentrations (AECs) of pesticides in ditches after 4, 21 and 28 days. In a (global) sensitivity analysis based on the Monte Carlo method the most sensitive processparameters (pesticide properties) and the most sensitive system parameters (e.g. ditch dimensions) with respect to AECs were determined. The process parametes "transformation rate in the water layer", "coefficient for sorption to macrophytes" and "Henry coefficient" were identified as contributing most to the varation in the AECs. The full range of pesticides was characterized by these three parameters and subsequently the flow velocity, water depth and dry weight of macrophyutes were identified sas sensitive system parameters with respect to the AECs. Analytically, the water depth, bottom width of the ditch and the sorption coefficients for sorption to macrophytes and suspended solids were identified as sensitive parameters with respect to the acute exposure concentration.
Proposed standard scenarios for a surface water model in the Dutch authorization procedure of pesticides; method to define standard scenarios for determining exposure concentrations simulated by the TOSXWA model

The TOXSWA model will be used to estimate exposure concentrations for aquatic organisms in the Dutch pesticide registration procedure. Applying a model in the registration procedure requires standard scenarios. A gross number of 24 scenarios were defined, based on worst case values of three sensitive system parameters (water depth, flow velocity, and macrophyte mass). In concurrency with developments at EU level on standard `waterbodies' we here propose scenarios representing ditches with a water depth of 0.30 m, without macrophytes, and a flow velocity of 10 m d-1 for spring and summer and 100 m d-1 for autumn. For these standard scenarios graphs have been constructed in which the momentary exposure concentration is given as a function of the coefficient describing sorption to sediment and suspended solids, based on the organic matter content. Other graphs give the average exposure concentrations as a function of the dissipation half-life (comprising transformation in water and volatilization).
Cenozoic Volcanism in Tibet: Evidence for a Transition from Oceanic to Continental Subduction

Geochronological (K---Ar or Ar/Ar), major and trace element, Sr---Nd---Pb isotopic and mineral chemical data are presented for newly discovered Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the western Qiangtang and central Lhasa terranes of Tibet. Alkali basalts of 65---45Ma occur in the western Qiangtang terrane and represent primitive mantle melts as indicated by high mgnumbers [100 Mg/(MgFe)](54---65),Cr (204---839 ppm) and Ni (94---218 ppm) contents, and relatively low ratios of Sr/Sr (0 7046---0 7061), Pb/Pb (18 21---18 89), Pb/Pb (15 49---15 61) and Pb/Pb (38 42---38 89), and high ratios of Nd/Nd (0 5124---0 5127). In contrast, younger volcanic rocks in the western Qiangtang terrane ( 30Ma) and the central Lhasa terrane ( 23, 13 and 8Ma) are potassic to ultrapotassic and interpreted to have been derived from an enriched mantle source. They are characterized by very high contents of incompatible trace elements, negative Ta, Nb and Ti anomalies, and radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions (Pb/Pb  18 43---19 10; Pb/Pb  15 64---15 83; Pb/Pb  39 14---39 67). Sr/Sr (0 7088---0 7092) and Nd/Nd ( 0 5122) ratios of the western Qiangtang terrane potassic lavas are similar to those of 45---29Ma potassic volcanic rocks in the north---central Qiangtang terrane, whereas Sr/Sr (0 7167---0 7243) and Nd/Nd ( 0 5119) ratios of central Lhasa terrane lavas are similar to those of 25---16Ma ultrapotassic volcanic rocks in the western Lhasa terrane. The 65---45Ma alkali basalts in the western Qiangtang terrane, along with widespread calc-alkaline volcanic rocks of this age in the Lhasa terrane, may be related to roll-back of a previously shallow north-dipping slab of Tethyan oceanic lithosphere beneath Tibet. Subduction as opposed to convective thinning of continental lithosphere is favored to explain potassic volcanism in Tibet because of its occurrence in distinct, east---west-trending belts (45---29Ma in the Qiangtang terrane; 25---17Ma in the northern Lhasa terrane; 16---8Ma in the southern Lhasa terrane) and temporal and spatial relationships with major thrust systems.
Evaluation of Six Proton Pump Inhibitors as Inhibitors of Various Human Cytochromes P450: Focus on Cytochrome P450 2C19

Six proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), omeprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole, dexlansoprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole, were shown to be weak inhibitors of cytochromes P450 (CYP3A4, 2B6, 2D6, 2C9, 2C8 and 1A2) in human liver microsomes. In most cases, IC 50 values were greater than 40 μ M, except for dexlansoprazole and lansoprazole with CYP1A2 (IC 50 ~8 μ M) and esomeprazole with CYP2C8 (IC 50 = 31 μ M). With the exception of CYP2C19 inhibition by omeprazole and esomeprazole (IC 50 ratio 2.5 to 5.9), there was no evidence for a marked time-dependent shift in IC 50 (IC 50 ratio ≤ 2) following a 30-minute preincubation with NADPH. In the absence of preincubation, lansoprazole (IC 50 = 0.73 μ M) and esomeprazole (IC 50 = 3.7 μ M) were the most potent CYP2C19 inhibitors, followed by dexlansoprazole and omeprazole (IC 50 ~7.0 μ M). Rabeprazole and pantoprazole (IC 50 ≥ 25 μ M) were the weakest. A similar ranking was obtained with recombinant CYP2C19. Despite the IC 50 ranking, after consideration of plasma levels (static and dynamic), protein binding, and metabolism-dependent inhibition, it is concluded that omeprazole and esomeprazole are the most potent CYP2C19 inhibitors. This was confirmed following the incubation of the individual PPIs with human primary hepatocytes (in the presence of human serum), and by monitoring their impact on diazepam N -demethylase activity at a low concentration of diazepam (2 μ M). Data described herein are consistent with reports that PPIs are mostly weak inhibitors of P450s in The diazepam AUC i /AUC c ratio (observed) with each PPI (AUC in the presence of PPI versus placebo) has been reported (90% CI); for omeprazole 1.28 (1.19, 1.39; Ishizaki et al., 1995) and 1.36 (1.19, 1.53; Andersson et al., 1990); 1.12 (0.99, 1.23) for lansoprazole (Lefebvre et al., 1992); 1.81 (1.42, 2.31) for esomeprazole (Andersson et al., 2001); 1.06 (1.01, 1.12) for dexlansoprazole (Vakily et al., 2009); 0.99 (0.87, 1.13) for pantoprazole (Gugler et al., 1996); and 0.91 (0.81, 1.02) for rabeprazole (Ishizaki et al., 1995). The CI (90%) was reported or estimated from the mean ± SD data (ratio variance approximated by the Taylor expansion).
Estimating the road edge effect on adjacent Eucalyptus grandis forests in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using texture measures and an artificial neural network

SPOT-5 multispectral and panchromatic image data were used to compute texture measures to estimate the road edge effect on adjacent Eucalyptus grandis forests. Employing a stepwise selection algorithm enabled the selection of optimal texture measures that were input into a backpropagation artificial neural network. The R2 of best models ranged from 0.67 to 0.89 for DBH, TH, BA, Volume and LAI on an independent test data set, with a root mean square error (RMSE) range of 0.01–5.36% for the respective variables. The result is critical for understanding and spatially predicting the road edge effect on adjacent vegetation.
Mapping from frame-driven to frame-free event-driven vision systems by low-rate rate coding and coincidence processing--application to feedforward ConvNets.

Event-driven visual sensors have attracted interest from a number of different research communities. They provide visual information in quite a different way from conventional video systems consisting of sequences of still images rendered at a given "frame rate. " Event-driven vision sensors take inspiration from biology. Each pixel sends out an event (spike) when it senses something meaningful is happening, without any notion of a frame. A special type of event-driven sensor is the so-called dynamic vision sensor (DVS) where each pixel computes relative changes of light or "temporal contrast. " The sensor output consists of a continuous flow of pixel events that represent the moving objects in the scene. Pixel events become available with microsecond delays with respect to "reality. " These events can be processed "as they flow" by a cascade of event (convolution) processors. As a result, input and output event flows are practically coincident in time, and objects can be recognized as soon as the sensor provides enough meaningful events. In this paper, we present a methodology for mapping from a properly trained neural network in a conventional frame-driven representation to an event-driven representation. The method is illustrated by studying event-driven convolutional neural networks (ConvNet) trained to recognize rotating human silhouettes or high speed poker card symbols. The event-driven ConvNet is fed with recordings obtained from a real DVS camera. The event-driven ConvNet is simulated with a dedicated event-driven simulator and consists of a number of event-driven processing modules, the characteristics of which are obtained from individually manufactured hardware modules.
BEHAVIOR OF SQUARE FOOTING RESTING ON REINFORCED SAND SUBJECTED TO INCREMENTAL LOADING AND UNLOADING

The foundations of various structures are subjected to cyclic loading in addition to static loading in many situations. This paper presents the results of laboratory model tests on square footings supported on geogrid reinforced sand bed under incremental loading and unloading conditions for different densities of sand bed and U/B ratio. The incremental values of intensity of loads (loading, unloading and reloading) were applied on the footing to evaluate the response of a square footing and also to obtain the value of elastic rebound of the footing corresponding to each cycle of load. The effect of sand for the density 1.59 gm/cc, 1.69 gm/cc, and 1.79 gm/cc and for different U/B ratio of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6were investigated on ultimate bearing capacity and the dynamic properties such as coefficient of elastic uniform compression Cu, coefficient of elastic uniform shear Cτ, coefficient of elastic non-uniform shear Cψ and the coefficient of elastic non uniform compression Cφ. The results shows that the value of ultimate bearing capacity and the value of Cu, Cτ, Cφ and Cψ of sand were increased by increasing the density of sand and with the increase of U/B ratio up to 0.4. The results of ultimate bearing capacity and values of dynamic properties (Cu, Cτ, Cφ and Cψ) for reinforced sand are greater than unreinforced sand bed.
A new two-dimensional block adaptive FIR filtering algorithm and its application to image restoration

This paper presents a new two-dimensional (2-D) optimum block stochastic gradient (TDOBSG) algorithm for 2-D adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filtering. The TDOBSG algorithm employs a space-varying convergence factor for all the filter coefficients, where the convergence factor at each block iteration is optimized in a least squares sense that the squared norm of the a posteriori estimation error vector is minimized. It has the same order of computational complexity as another 2-D optimum block adaptive (TDOBA) algorithm. Computer simulations for image restoration show that the TDOBSG algorithm outperforms the TDOBA algorithm and other related algorithms in terms of objective and/or subjective measures.
The Kyoto Protocol and the President''s Policies to Address Climate Change

A wheel rim assembly comprising a rim having a well disposed between tire and bead seating portions in a position axially offset towards the outboard bead. An annular split band is provided to cover the well to define in combination with the outboard seating portion a circumferentially extending groove in which the toe of the associated bead may be located to prevent the axial inward displacement of the bead.
Aviation and the Global Atmosphere

This report presents a comprehensive review and assessment of the global effects of aviation on the global atmosphere. All gases and particulates emitted by aircraft and the role they play in modifying chemical properties in the atmosphere are examined. Also examined are how potential changes in aircraft technology, transport operations and the institutional, regulatory and economic framework of the airline industry might alter emissions in the future.
Sources, transformations, and hydrological processes that control stream nitrate and dissolved organic matter concentrations during snowmelt in an upland forest

We explored catchment processes that control stream nutrient concentrations at an upland forest in northeastern Vermont, USA, where inputs of nitrogen via atmospheric deposition are among the highest in the nation and affect ecosystem functioning. We traced sources of water, nitrate, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) using stream water samples collected at high frequency during spring snowmelt. Hydrochemistry, isotopic tracers, and end‐member mixing analyses suggested the timing, sources, and source areas from which water and nutrients entered the stream. Although stream‐dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) both originated from leaching of soluble organic matter, flushing responses between these two DOM components varied because of dynamic shifts of hydrological flow paths and sources that supply the highest concentrations of DOC and DON. High concentrations of stream water nitrate originated from atmospheric sources as well as nitrified sources from catchment soils. We detected nitrification in surficial soils during late snowmelt which affected the nitrate supply that was available to be transported to streams. However, isotopic tracers showed that the majority of nitrate in upslope surficial soil waters after the onset of snowmelt originated from atmospheric sources. A fraction of the atmospheric nitrogen was directly delivered to the stream, and this finding highlights the importance of quick flow pathways during snowmelt events. These findings indicate that interactions among sources, transformations, and hydrologic transport processes must be deciphered to understand why concentrations vary over time and over space as well as to elucidate the direct effects of human activities on nutrient dynamics in upland forest streams.
Response dynamics and receptive-field organization of catfish ganglion cells.

Responses from catfish retinal ganglion cells were evoked by a spot or an annulus of light and were analyzed by a procedure identical to the one used previously to study catfish amacrine cells (Sakai H. M., and K.-I. Naka, 1992. Journal of Neurophysiology. 67:430-442.). In two-input white-noise experiments, a response evoked by simultaneous stimulation of the center and surround was decomposed into the components generated by the center and surround through a process of cross-correlation. The center and surround responses were also decomposed into their linear and nonlinear components so that the response dynamics of the linear and nonlinear components could be measured. We found that the concentric organization of the receptive field was determined by linear components, i.e., the first-order kernels generated by the center and surround were of opposite polarity. Both the center and surround generated second-order kernels with similar signatures, i.e., the second-order components formed a monotonic receptive field. The peak response time of the first- and second-order kernels from the surround was longer by approximately 20 ms than that of the center. Except for the DC potential present in the intracellular responses, almost identical first- and second-order kernels for the center and surround were obtained from both the intracellular response and spike discharges. Thus, information on concentric organization of a receptive field is translated into spike discharges with little loss of information. A train of spike discharges carries, simultaneously, at least four kinds of information: two linear and two nonlinear components, which originate in the receptive field center and the surround. A spike train is not a simple signaling device but is a carrier of complex and multiple signals. Victor, J. D. , and R. M. Shapley (1979. Journal of General Physiology. 74:671-687.) discovered similarly that, in the cat retina, static second-order nonlinearity is encoded into spike trains. Results obtained in this study support the thesis that signals generated by the preganglionic cells are translated into spike discharges without major modification and that those signals can be recovered from the spike trains (Sakuranaga, M., Y. Ando, and K.-I. Naka. 1987. Journal of General Physiology. 90:229-259.; Korenberg, M. J., H. M. Sakai, and K.-I. Naka. 1989. Journal of Neurophysiology. 61:1110-1120.). Current injection studies have shown that such signal transmission is possible (Sakai, H. M., and K.-I. Naka, 1988a. Journal of Neurophysiology. 60:1549-1567.; 1990. Journal of Neurophysiology. 63:105-119.).