Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of intermittent aerosol forcing on the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition

Abstract. We explore the role of intermittent aerosol forcing (e.g., injections associated with marine cloud brightening) in the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition (SCT). We simulate a 3 d Lagrangian trajectory in the northeast Pacific using a large-eddy simulation model coupled to a bin-emulating, two-moment, bulk microphysics scheme that captures the evolution of aerosol and cloud droplet concentrations. By varying the background aerosol concentration, we consider two baseline systems – pristine and polluted. We perturb the baseline cases with a range of aerosol injection strategies by varying the injection rate, number of injectors, and the timing of the aerosol injection. Our results show that aerosol dispersal is more efficient under pristine conditions due to a transverse circulation created by the gradients in precipitation rates across the plume track. Furthermore, we see that a substantial enhancement in the cloud radiative effect (CRE) is evident in both systems. In the polluted system, the albedo effect (smaller but more numerous droplets causing brighter clouds at constant liquid water) is the dominant contributor in the initial 2 d. The contributions from liquid water path (LWP) and cloud fraction adjustments are important on the third and fourth day, respectively. In the pristine system, cloud fraction adjustments are the dominant contributor to the CRE on all 3 d, followed by the albedo effect. In both these systems, we see that the SCT is delayed due to the injection of aerosol, and the extent of the delay is proportional to the number of particles injected into the marine boundary layer.
Silviculture of southwestern mixed conifers and aspen: The status of our knowledge

Describes the status of our knowledge about mixed conifer silviculture in the interior Southwest. Ecological background is reviewed first, followed by description of silvicultural methods. Relevant literature is discussed, along with observations, experience, and results of unpublished research. Contains unpublished input by subject-matter specialists and southwestern forest managers, largely as feedback from their reviews of a working draft. Research needs are also considered. Aspen forests are included; in the Southwest they are usually succeeded by mixed
Stuck in Traffic: Coping with Peak-Hour Traffic Congestion

This book provides an overview of recent research on the subject of peak-hour traffic congestion by transportation experts and land-use planners. It examines the advantages and disadvantages of the principal strategies being proposed to reduce traffic congestion. The discussion focuses on three questions: Why has traffic congestion become worse? What remedies might reduce it? Which remedies would be most effective? To answer these questions, the author examines the effects of congestion on the allocation of scarce resources, the relationship between land use and traffic flows in rapidly growing areas, and the benefits of regional solutions over purely local ones. The book is organized in five parts: (1) The Basic Situation; (2) Supply-Side Remedies; (3) Demand-Side Remedies That Do Not Change Housing or Job Locations; (4) Demand-Side Remedies That Change Housing or Job Locations; and (5) Conclusions. An Index is provided.
Generative Adversarial Networks Assist Missing Data Imputation: A Comprehensive Survey and Evaluation

Missing data imputation is a technique to deal with incomplete datasets. Since many models and algorithms cannot be applied to data containing missing values, a pre-processing step needs to be performed to remove incomplete data or to estimate the missing values. This is a well-known problem referred to as the data imputation problem. Several approaches have been designed for data imputation. These algorithms can be divided into two main categories: statistical and machine learning-based algorithms. As machine learning algorithms are optimized, they usually have better performance compared with statistical ones. In this paper, we review the most recent literature related to missing data imputation based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) that have gained tremendous attention in dealing with missing values. We examine the structures of GANs for missing data imputation and discuss the commonly used datasets and metrics for evaluation. We also cover the influence of the missing datatype, the effect of the missing data fraction, and the algorithm-related problems on data imputation performance. We conduct experiments on two publicly available datasets and evaluate the performance of GAIN, a missing data imputation algorithm to that of existing state-of-the-art approaches, demonstrating that the GAN-based algorithm outperforms the others in terms of RMSE and FID.
Is phosphorus limiting the nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands

Two mesocosm studies were performed in a laboratory to figure out the relevance of the phosphorus concentration to the nitrogen removal in wetlands. The main intention was to see if phosphorus is limiting the process of denitrification. In both experiments, plastic beakers (n=20) were filled with inlet water and plant litter material from the ground of a constructed wetland near Halmstad, Sweden. The litter consisted mainly of dead leaves of Phragmites australis and the water, originating from an agricultural site, had a high concentration of total nitrogen (around 9 mg/L), but a low concentration of phosphorus (around 20 µg/L). The experiment was performed in darkness and in the mesocosms prevailed anaerobic conditions. Half of the beakers were filled with phosphorus enriched water and water samples were obtained at several times and analyzed for nitrate, total nitrogen and total phosphorus to determine the nitrogen removal. In addition the plant material was analyzed for nitrogen and carbon content before and after the experiment with a carbon/nitrogen-analyzer. The mean removal rates of nitrogen were higher in the mesocosms which were treated with additional phosphorus. In a long-term perspective from the second experiment, the mean removal rates are declining faster in the non phosphorus treated beakers. The analysis of the plant litter material could not show if nitrogen was removed from systems through denitrification or just taken up and stored by microorganisms. The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions. The results show that the effect of P on denitrification is not completely understood yet and further research especially on the N uptake by microorganisms and long-term experiments are needed.
Relict Nearshore Shoals of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil: Origin and Effects on Nearby Modern Beaches

aiH^HHB^HBHI^^^HaHHBHBaHaBHBH BUCHMANN, F. S. C. and TOMAZELLI, L. J., 2003. Relict nearshore shoals of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil: origin and effects on nearby modern beaches. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 35 (Proceedings of the Brazilian Symposium on Sandy Beaches: Morphodynamics, Ecology, Uses, Hazards and Management), 3 1 8-322. Itajai, SC Brazil, ISSN 0749-0208. The nearshore morphology of the barrier, wave-dominated, microtidal coast of Rio Grande do Sul is marked by the presence of several distinct shoals whose origin is not directly related to modern depositional processes. These shoals are relict features formed by beach and shallow marine deposits of Late Pleistocene age that, due to their consolidation, have partly resisted wave erosion during the Post-glacial Transgression. Today, during storms, the waves attack these Pleistocene deposits and transfer part of the eroded sediments to the adjacent beaches. These sediments include bioclastic and siliciclastic components (fossils of several kinds plus medium and coarse quartz sands) that strongly modify the composition and texture of the adjacent modern beach sands. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Beach sedimentation, shoreface morphology, coastal erosion, coastal evolution.
REVIEW The Extratropical Transition of Tropical Cyclones. Part I: Cyclone Evolution and Direct Impacts

Extratropical transition(ET)istheprocessbywhichatropicalcyclone,uponencounteringabaroclinicenvironmentandreducedseasurface temperature at higher latitudes, transforms into an extratropical cyclone. This process is inﬂuenced by, and inﬂuences, phenomena from the tropicstothemidlatitudesandfromthemeso-totheplanetaryscalestoextentsthatvarybetweenindividualevents.Motivatedinpartbyrecent high-impact and/or extensively observedevents suchasNorthAtlantic HurricaneSandy in 2012 andwestern NorthPaciﬁcTyphoonSinlaku in 2008,thisreviewdetailsadvancesinunderstandingandpredictingETsincethepublicationofanearlierreviewin2003.MethodsfordiagnosingETinreanalysis,observational,andmodel-forecastdatasetsarediscussed. NewclimatologiesfortheeasternNorthPaciﬁcandsouthwestIndian Oceans are presented alongside updates to western North Paciﬁc and North Atlantic Ocean climatologies. Advances in understanding and, in somecases,modelingthedirectimpactsofET-relatedwind,waves,andprecipitationarenoted.Improvedunderstandingofstructuralevolution throughout the transformation stage of ET fostered in large part by novel aircraft observations collected in several recent ET events is highlighted.Predictiveskill foroperational and numericalmodel ET-relatedforecastsisdiscussedalongwithenvironmental factors inﬂuencing posttransition cyclone structure and evolution. Operational ET forecast and analysis practices and challenges are detailed. In particular, some challenges of effective hazard communication for the evolving threats posed by a tropical cyclone during and after transition are introduced. This review concludes with recommendations for future work to further improve understanding, forecasts, and hazard communication. to ET’s impacts, including downstream cyclogenesis, cyclone evolution after becoming extratropical, effects on the midlatitude ﬂow and predictability, and phenomena as
Clinical Parameters Response to Low-Level Laser versus Monochromatic Near-Infrared Photo Energy in Diabetic Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract—Background: Diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP) is one of the most common microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes. Loss of sensation is thought to contribute to a lack of static and dynamic stability and increased risk of falling. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of low-level laser (LLL) and monochromatic near-infrared photo energy (MIRE) on pain, cutaneous sensation, static stability, and index of lower limb blood flow in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy. Methods: Forty diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy were recruited for participation in this study. They were divided into two groups: The MIRE group, which contained 20 patients, and the LLL group, which contained 20 patients. All patients who participated in the study had been subjected to various physical assessment procedures, including pain, cutaneous sensation, Doppler flow meter, and static stability assessments. The baseline measurements were followed by treatment sessions that were conducted twice a week for six successive weeks. Results: The statistical analysis of the data revealed significant improvement of pain in both groups, with significant improvement in cutaneous sensation and static balance in the MIRE group compared to the LLL group; on the other hand, the results showed no significant differences in lower limb blood flow between the groups. Conclusion: LLL and MIRE can improve painful symptoms in patients with diabetic neuropathy. On the other hand, MIRE is also useful in improving cutaneous sensation and static stability in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
Spatial variability in erosion in the Brahmaputra basin : causes and impacts

The rivers from the Himalaya supply large quantities of particulate and dissolved materials to the oceans. Among the various rivers, the Brahmaputra ranks highest in contributing to the sediment budget of the Bay of Bengal. The erosion rates among the sub-basins of the Brahmaputra vary over 1-2 orders of magnitude, the highest being in the Eastern Syntaxis basin which is eroding at an enormously high rate of ∼ 14 mm yr -1 , caused by the high stream power of the Siang river. These contemporary erosion rates are consistent with the time-averaged erosion and exhumation rates derived for ∼ 100 ka based on cosmogenic isotopes and geophysical methods. Both the Eastern and the Western syntaxes experience rapid erosion suggesting that the syntaxes, a characteristic feature of the collision belt, undergo rapid erosion under favourable conditions. The rapid erosion of the Eastern Syntaxis has caused important tectonic and geomorphological changes, such as the rapid uplift of this region resulting in the great peaks of Namche Barwa and Gyala Peri, and the nickpoint in the Tsangpo river bed prior to its entrance to the gorge. Further, the rapid erosion makes up about half of the particulate material transported by the Brahmaputra to the Bay of Bengal, an order of magnitude higher than its areal coverage. The high sedimentation rate in the Bay of Bengal over the past ∼ 1 Ma can be due to the high erosion rate of the Eastern Syntaxis. The mineralogical and isotopic composition of the sediments seems to suggest this inference.
Global and Planetary Change

The temperature of seawater can a ﬀ ect marine plankton in various ways, including by a ﬀ ecting rates of metabolic processes. This can change the way carbon and nutrients are ﬁ xed and recycled and hence the chemical and biological pro ﬁ le of the water column. A variety of feedbacks on global climate are possible, especially by altering patterns of uptake and return of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Here we summarize and synthesize recent studies in the ﬁ eld of ecology, oceanography and ocean carbon cycling pertaining to possible feedbacks involving metabolic processes. By altering the rates of cellular growth and respiration, temperature-dependency may a ﬀ ect nutrient uptake and food demand in plankton and ultimately the equilibrium of pelagic food webs, with cascade e ﬀ ects on the ﬂ ux of organic carbon between the upper and inner ocean (the “ biological carbon pump ” ) and the global carbon cycle. Insights from modern ecology can be applied to investigate how temperature-dependent changes in ocean biogeochemical cycling over thousands to millions of years may have shaped the long-term evolution of Earth's climate and life. Investigating temperature-dependency over geological time scales, including through globally warm and cold climate states, can help to identify processes that are relevant for a variety of future scenarios.
Advances and Controversies in Acute Alcohol-Related Hepatitis: From Medical Therapy to Liver Transplantation

Alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) is a clinical syndrome characterized by recent-onset jaundice in the context of alcohol consumption. In patients with severe AH “unresponsive” to steroid therapy, mortality rates exceed 70% within six months. According to European and American guidelines, liver transplantation (LT) may be considered in highly selected patients who do not respond to medical therapy. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize current knowledge from medical therapy to liver transplantation in acute alcohol-related hepatitis. Due to the impossibility to guarantee six-month abstinence, LT for AH is controversial. Principal concerns are related to organ scarcity in the subset of stigma of “alcohol use disorder” (AUD) and the risk of relapse to alcohol use after LT. Return to alcohol use after LT is a complex issue that cannot be assessed as a yes/no variable with heterogeneous results among studies. In conclusion, present data indicate that well-selected patients have excellent outcomes, with survival rates of up to 100% at 24 and 36 months after LT. Behavioral therapy, ongoing psychological support, and strong family support seem essential to improve long-term outcomes after LT and reduce the risk in relapse of alcohol use.
Potential of Tyrosinase Enzyme Inhibition by Standardized Ethanol Extract and Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Bengkuang Peel ( Pachyrhizus erosus L.) (Potensi Penghambatan Enzim Tirosinase dengan Ekstrak Etanol Terstandar dan Fraksi Etil Asetat Kulit Bengkuang ( Pachyrhizus erosus L . )

: This study aimed to examine the tyrosinase inhibitory potential of bengkuang peel standardized ethanolic extract and ethyl acetate fractions. A total of 450 g of bengkuang peel powder ( Pachyrhizus erosus L.) was macerated with 96% ethanol for 2x24 h, filtered, and concentrated till viscous. Standarized extract was evaluated specific and non-specific parameters. Microplate colorimetric tyrosinase inhibition assays were performed. The result of plant determination identified the bengkuang peel as Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. The organoleptic test revealed a brownish-yellow viscous extract, fresh smell, and bitter taste. Ethanol-soluble and water-soluble extract were 47.60% and 22.42%. Bengkuang peel ethanolic extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids. The non-specific parameters showed loss on drying (9.71%), water content (7.28%), total ash (9.91%), acid-insoluble ash (3.68%), no residual solvent content, lead content (-0.2324±0.1729 ppm), cadmium content (-0.0841±0.3418 ppm), Total Plate Count (TPC) of 1x10 1 CFU/g, and a Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC) of 2.26x10 2 CFU/g. These results showed that the ethanol extract met both the specific and non-specific quality standards. The ethanol extract (103.9263 ppm) and ethyl acetate fraction (81.8606 ppm) IC 50 values of bengkuang peel were lower than those of the control (25.1235 ppm). Bengkuang peel ethyl acetate fraction showed tyrosinase inhibition activity.
Diagnosis of CTEPH vs. IPAH using capillary to end-tidal CO 2 gradients

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) represents an important differential diagnosis to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We hypothesized that the capillary to end-tidal CO 2 gradient at rest and during exercise might help differentiate CTEPH from IPAH. Patients who presented with unequivocal IPAH or CTEPH according to ventilation/perfusion scan, pulmonary angiography, computed tomography and right heart catheterization were included in this retrospective study and compared to healthy controls. Twenty-one IPAH patients and 16 CTEPH patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Hemodynamics and peak oxygen uptake were comparable but respiratory rates at rest and during exercise were significantly higher in CTEPH than in IPAH. End-tidal CO 2 was significantly lower in CTEPH vs. IPAH at rest and during exercise, while capillary CO 2 values were similar. Correspondingly, capillary to end-tidal CO 2 gradients were significantly increased in CTEPH vs. IPAH at rest and during exercise: median (range) [mmHg  : 8.6 (3.0;13.7) vs. 4.4 (0.9;9.0), p<0.001, and 9.3 (3.3;13.1) vs. 4.1 (0.0;8.8), p<0.001. Although these values were closer to normal in IPAH they were still significantly elevated as compared to healthy controls: 2.3 (-4.8;8.1) and -1.9 (-5.7;6.2). Capillary to end-tidal CO 2 gradients may help to distinguish CTEPH from IPAH based on resting and exercise values.
INVESTIGATING THE BUYER BEHAVIOUR OF ORGANIC FOOD IN URBAN CHINA

This paper aims to investigate the dimensions important to consumers in the People's Republic of China associated with their pre-purchase evaluation of organic foods. Data was collected in China in two stages i.e. two hundred valid on-line survey responses were collected for the purpose of the pilot study, and subsequently nine hundred and sixty paper-based responses were obtained from four major Chinese cities. The findings of this study revealed that Chinese consumers‘ purchase of organic food is influenced by the following dimensions: product-related, regulatory, and lifestyle (variety seeking and self-indulgence). Additionally the above mentioned dimensions had a direct or indirect impact on pre-purchase evaluation and behavioural intentions. Personal attitudes for the purchase of organic food influenced pre-purchase evaluation, and finally prepurchase evaluation impacted on the behavioural intention.
Long-Term Changes in Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness after Vitrectomy for Epiretinal Membrane Using Optical Coherence Tomography Images

This study investigated the long-term effects of epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. We included 30 patients with idiopathic ERM who underwent a vitrectomy for ERM removal with internal limiting membrane peeling. The patients were followed up for 5 years after surgery, and their medical records were reviewed for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT parameters. The study population comprised 24 females (80.0%), and the mean age was 65.4 ± 7.2 years. The baseline BCVA significantly improved from 0.28 ± 0.24 to 0.12 ± 0.09 logMAR (p < 0.001) 1 year after surgery and continued to improve for 5 years after surgery. The peripapillary RNFL thickness initially increased after surgery and then gradually decreased. The peripapillary RNFL thicknesses of the global and temporal sectors showed significant reductions 2 years after surgery, whereas those of the nasal sectors did not significantly change. The peripapillary RNFL thickness was thinner in the global and temporal areas of the operated eyes than in those of the fellow eyes 4 and 5 years after surgery. In conclusion, peripapillary RNFL thicknesses decreased in the global and temporal areas after ERM surgery, whereas peripapillary RNFL thicknesses in the nasal sectors did not change significantly during the long-term follow-up.
FEMALE EARNINGS, AND FERTILITY: EVIDENCE FROM BRAZIL

I study how bias in agricultural technological change affects labor market opportunities and fertility in a modern developing country context. Exploiting plausibly exogenous variation in the adoption of genetically engineered soy across municipalities in Brazil, I show that these technologies reduced female earnings and employment in agriculture, without leading to a reallocation of female labor into other sectors. Further, this technology adoption increased fertility due to increases in overall household earnings and substitution effects driven by the reduction in female earnings and employment. These results suggest that, contrary to historical experience, technological progress in modern developing countries may not improve female labor market opportunities or contribute to fertility decline unless substitution effects are negative and sufficiently large. JEL: J13, J16, J23, J43, I15, 015, 033. I am grateful to Taryn Dinkelman, Daniel Hungerman, and Bill Evans for their advice and guidance on this project. This paper also benefited from discussions and comments from Nilesh Fernando, Joe Kaboski, Lakshmi Iyer, Alejandro Estefan, Paul Shaloka, Giorgi Piriashvili, Luca Parisotto, Marieke Kleemans, Rebecca Thornton, Esther Gehrke, Elise Rudt, and audiences at the Eastern Economic Association Conference, Development Day Conference, NEUDC Conference, STEG Annual Conference, the H2D2 Conference at the University of Michigan, the College of the Holy Cross, the University of Akron, the University of Missouri, and at Notre Dame. All errors are my own. Email the author at vmoorthy@holycross.edu.