Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kimberlites and the start of plate tectonics

We want to know when plate tectonics began and will consider any important Earth feature that shows significant temporal evolution. Kimberlites, the primary source of diamonds, are rare igneous features. We analyze their distribution throughout Earth history; most are young (∼95% are younger than 0.75 Ga), but rare examples are found as far back as the Archean (older than 2.5 Ga). Although there are differing explanations for this age asymmetry (lack of preservation, lack of exposure, fewer mantle plumes, or lack of old thick lithosphere in the Archean and Proterozoic), we suggest that kimberlite eruptions are a consequence of modern-style plate tectonics, in particular subduction of hydrated oceanic crust and sediments deep into the mantle. This recycling since the onset of modern-style plate tectonics ca. 1 Ga has massively increased mantle CO2 and H2O contents, leading to the rapid and explosive ascent of diamond-bearing kimberlite magmas. The age distribution of kimberlites, combined with other large-scale tectonic indicators that are prevalent only in the past ∼1 Ga (blueschists, glaucophane-bearing eclogites; coesite- or diamond-bearing ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks; lawsonite-bearing metamorphic rocks; and jadeitites), indicates that plate tectonics, as observed today, has only operated for <25% of Earth history.
Mechanical Thrombectomy in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Systematic Review of 185 Cases

Background and Purpose— Cerebral venous thrombosis is generally treated with anticoagulation. However, some patients do not respond to medical therapy and these might benefit from mechanical thrombectomy. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis, by performing a systematic review of the literature. Methods— We identified studies published between January 1995 and February 2014 from PubMed and Ovid. We included all cases of cerebral venous thrombosis in whom mechanical thrombectomy was performed with or without intrasinus thrombolysis. Good outcome was defined as normal or mild neurological deficits at discharge (modified Rankin Scale, 0–2). Secondary outcome variables included periprocedural complications and recanalization rates. Results— Our study included 42 studies (185 patients). Sixty percent of patient had a pretreatment intracerebral hemorrhage and 47% were stuporous or comatose. AngioJet was the most commonly used device (40%). Intrasinus thrombolysis was used in 131 patients (71%). Overall, 156 (84%) patients had a good outcome and 22 (12%) died. Nine (5%) patients had no recanalization, 38 (21%) had partial, and 137 (74%) had near to complete recanalization. The major periprocedural complication was new or increased intracerebral hemorrhage (10%). The use of AngioJet was associated with lower rate of complete recanalization (odds ratio, 0.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.4) and lower chance of good outcome (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.2–1.0). Conclusions— Our systematic review suggests that mechanical thrombectomy is reasonably safe but controlled studies are required to provide a definitive answer on its efficacy and safety in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis.
Shh Signaling through the Primary Cilium Modulates Rat Oligodendrocyte Differentiation

Primary Cilia (PC) are a very likely place for signal integration where multiple signaling pathways converge. Two major signaling pathways clearly shown to signal through the PC, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and PDGF-Rα, are particularly important for the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes, suggesting that their interaction occurs in or around this organelle. We identified PC in rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and found that, while easily detectable in early OPCs, PC are lost as these cells progress to terminal differentiation. We confirmed the interaction between these pathways, as cyclopamine inhibition of Hedgehog function impairs both PDGF-mediated OPC proliferation and Shh-dependent cell branching. However, we failed to detect PDGF-Rα localization into the PC. Remarkably, ciliobrevin-mediated disruption of PC and reduction of OPC process extension was counteracted by recombinant Shh treatment, while PDGF had no effect. Therefore, while PDGF-Rα-dependent OPC proliferation and survival most probably does not initiate at the PC, still the integrity of this organelle and cilium-centered pathway is necessary for OPC survival and differentiation.
Cancer of the Larynx: Occupational and Environmental Associations

ABSTRACT: This paper briefly reviews the available evidence for the influence of environmental and occupational factors in the development of cancer of the larynx. Although several occupational exposures have been suggested to play a role in the etiology of this disease, few have been convincingly confirmed. The strong association between smoking and cancer of the larynx, the weaker but still important association between alcohol consumption and cancer of the larynx, and the strong synergism between the two is emphasized. Other accepted or suspected environmental and occupational factors are also discussed.
Analysis of Narrowband Communication Systems Impaired by MB-OFDM UWB Interference

In this paper, we investigate the effect of multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) ultra-wideband (UWB) interference on narrowband (NB) receivers. For this purpose, we first derive the exact moment generating function of MB-OFDM UWB interference. Based on this result, we develop analytical expressions for the amplitude probability distribution (APD) and the bit error rate (BER) of a binary phase-shift keying NB receiver. These expressions can be efficiently numerically evaluated and the presented analysis is general enough to encompass non-fading and various fading NB channels. We show that for NB signals with, respectively, much smaller and much larger bandwidths than the MB-OFDM sub-carrier spacing a Gaussian approximation (GA) and an impulsive GA (IGA) of the MB-OFDM UWB interference lead to accurate performance predictions. However, for most NB channel models and signal bandwidths the exact BER analysis has to be used to obtain meaningful results. An exception is the Rayleigh fading NB channel where both GA and IGA yield tight approximations of the exact BER regardless of the NB signal bandwidth.
Australopithecine postcrania (Sts 14) from the Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa : the skeleton of 'Mrs Ples'? : news & views

We propose that a partial skeleton of Australopithecus africanusl/Ig found in close proximity to the cranium known as 'Mrs Ples', may belong to the same individual. If so, this individual may be considered to be a South African counterpart of 'Lucy', a skeleton representing Australopithecus afarensisl/Ig from Ethiopia. On 1 August 1947, Robert Broom discovered a femoral shaft, pelvis, ribs and vertebral column of a specimen of Australopithecus africanus . This partial skeleton is catalogued as Sts 14 (Fig. 1). Just a few months earlier, on 18 April in the same year, Broom and John Robinson discovered the celebrated 'Mrs Ples' (Sts 5), an almost complete cranium of the same species (Fig. 2), from the same lithostratigraphic unit, Member 4 (1, 2), from the 'Lower Breccia' described by Robinson. There is no direct evidence to suggest that Sts 5 and Sts 14 were necessarily from the same individual, but this possibility is explored here in terms of anatomical comparisons and in the context of records of the discovery of these specimens, thought to be at least 2.0 million years old.
Dynamic models of multiphase continental rifting and their implications for the Newfoundland and Iberia conjugate margins

Rifting between Newfoundland and Iberia occurred in two distinct phases—the first late Triassic to Early Jurassic, the second Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous—culminating in the creation of the North Atlantic Ocean. A dynamic modeling method is used to examine the implications of multiple phases of rifting on the development of the Newfoundland-Iberia conjugate margins. A set of models based roughly on the Newfoundland and Iberian Margins suggests that, under most conditions in which two rift phases occur, the site of the original rift will not be favored for extension when stretching resumes, because the upper mantle cools and strengthens in the area of the original rift. The models predict a lack of magmatism on these margins and suggest that extension was significantly greater in the second rifting phase than in the first; these predictions agree with geological observations. The models do not predict the existence of highly thinned continental crust on both conjugate margins, however.
Dominant Time Scales of Potentially Predictable Precipitation Variations across the Continental United States

AbstractWhile low-frequency variations in precipitation amount, occurrence counts (hereafter “occurrence”), and intensity can take place on seasonal to multidecadal time scales, it is often unclear at which time scales these precipitation variations can be ascribed to potentially predictable, climate-induced changes versus simple, stochastic (i.e., random) precipitation event evolutions. This paper seeks to isolate the dominant time scales at which potentially predictable changes in observed precipitation characteristics occur over the continental United States and analyze sources of revealed potentially predictable precipitation variations for particular regions. The results highlight that at interannual time scales (here defined as those shorter than 7 years), the potential for predicting annual precipitation amounts tends to be higher than for annual event occurrence or intensity, with interannual potential predictability highest in both relatively dry and wet locations and lowest in transition regions.
Achieving Mexico’s Maize Potential

Rising agricultural prices, combined with growing import dependence, have driven Mexico’s food import bill over $20 billion per year and increased its agricultural trade deficit. Mexico imports one-third of its maize, overwhelmingly from the United States, but three million producers grow most of the country’s white maize, which is used primarily for tortillas and many other pluricultural products for human consumption. Yield gaps are large among the country’s small to medium-scale maize farmers, with productivity estimated at just 57% of potential. To what extent could Mexico close this yield gap, using proven technologies currently employed in the country, to regain its lost self-sufficiency in maize? A comprehensive review of the literature highlights the potential for achieving that goal. With a new government coming to power in Mexico, policy options are examined, identifying those most likely to increase both maize productivity and sustainable resource use while reducing import dependence. With climate change likely to constrain input-intensive agricultural productivity growth, these involve an emphasis on farmer-led extension services, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, and improved water management, including expanded irrigation.
The diurnal cycle of midlatitude, summertime moist convection over land in an idealized cloud-resolving model

Summertime moist convection over land is an essential process of the mid-latitude climate due to its impact on the water and energy cycles. The underlying processes are very complex and difficult to understand resulting from the associated diurnal cycle and the non-linear and multiscale nature of convection. These difficulties impede the development of credible climate change scenarios, for instance regarding projections of the European summer climate with potentially significant shifts in temperature variability, precipitation extremes and droughts. Only in recent years have numerical weather and regional climate prediction models undergone increases of the grid resolution employed to the cloud-resolving kilometer-scale allowing an explicit resolution of convective processes. Simulations over time scales of decades and spatial scales of O(10 000 km) are nevertheless still computationally too expensive, but will become feasible within a few years. This thesis aims at investigating basic characteristics of midlatitude summertime moist convection within an idealized context. To this end, an idealized cloud-resolving modeling framework is developed by modifying an existing regional weather forecasting and climate model. The unique features of the framework developed are, firstly, the use of the full set of physical parameterizations, allowing for the complete range of soilatmosphere interactions in an otherwise highly idealized framework and secondly, the relaxation of predicted variables towards prescribed atmospheric and soil profiles with a weak (strong) relaxation in the lower (upper) troposphere and upper (lower) soil, so as to allow the development of a distinct diurnal boundary layer. The model is run over several diurnal cycles into a state of “diurnal equilibrium”. In this state the diurnal cycle of moist convection approximately repeats itself every day, with growth of the boundary layer, development of clouds, triggering of deep convection, formation of precipitation, and subsequent decay of cloud structures. The framework is used to explore the sensitivity of the diurnal convection to changes in key environmental conditions. In chapter 2, the roles of the moisture content and the static stability of the atmosphere on the diurnal convection are investigated. It is found that the moisture content
The relationship between locus of control and pre-competitive anxiety in highly trained soccer players

Introduction Previous studies have not considered the potential association between locus of control and precompetitive anxiety in elite soccer players. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study examined The prediction of locus of control on precompetitive anxiety in highly trained cadet soccer players. Objective Based on a literature review, our research question was: can the locus of control be considered as an explanatory element of precompetitive anxiety? Methods Thirty-five Tunisian highly trained soccer players licensed from two regional soccer clubs aged between 15 and 16 years participated in the resent study. All participants were evaluated using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale. The relationship between measures of anxiety, self-confidence and the locus of control scores were analyzed using Pearson’s product–moment correlation coefficient. Further, multiple linear stepwise multiple regression models were calculated to determine the most robust predictors of the locus of control. Results Based on our findings, the regression analysis explains up to 21.3% of the total variation of our independent variable (locus of control) and explains only 21.3% of the variability of our dependent variable somatic anxiety. Furthermore, locus of control explains 61.9% of the variability in self-confidence. Conclusion The locus of control can be used for the detection and selection of young athletic talent to identify individuals with the best psychological aptitude to cope with psychological problems related to sports performance. Preparing highly trained soccer players on how to deal with their anxiety could prevent them from becoming overwhelmed when they feel powerless to change their situation during competition.
Ecological strategies and disturbance response of tropical forest trees: insight from functional trait variation

 Premise of the study: Wood specific gravity (WSG) mediates an interspecific tradeoff between growth and mortality and is a key measure for estimating carbon stocks. Most studies use species mean values to represent WSG, despite variation at different levels of biological organization. We examined sources of variation in WSG across four nested scales (segments within core, cores within trees, trees within species, and species), compared the pattern of radial variation in WSG among species differing in growth strategies, and investigated the effect of WSG radial variation on above-ground biomass estimates.  Methods: We took two perpendicular cores from six individuals each of 20 tropical tree species representing a broad range of mean WSGs and growthmortality strategies in a lowland tropical moist forest in Panama. Cores were divided into 1-cm segments, and WSG was determined for each segment.  Key results: The bulk of the total variance in WSG was dominated by interspecies variation (88%) while variation due to measurement error, segments within cores and cores within trees (8%) was minimal. Radial variation in WSG, defined as change in WSG with increasing distance from the pith, was significant in 17 of the 20 species and included significant monotonic increases in six species and non-monotonic patterns in eleven species. Radial variation in WSG resulted in a small but significant bias in above-ground biomass estimates.
Computation of surface wave dispersion for multilayered anisotropic media

With the program described in this paper it is now possible to compute surface wave dispersion in a solid heterogeneous halfspace containing up to 200 anisotropic layers. Certain discrepancies in surface wave observations, such as disagreement between Love and Rayleigh wave data and other independent evidence, suggest that anisotropy may be important in some seismological problems. In order to study the effect of anisotropy on surface wave dispersion a program was written for an IBM 7090 computer which will compute dispersion curves and displacements for Rayleigh waves in a layered halfspace in which each layer is transversely isotropic. A simple redefinition of parameters makes it possible to use existing programs to compute Love wave dispersion.
Histoplasmosis: An epidemiological and clinical update in China, review and a case report

ABSTRACT Histoplasmosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus in the genus Histoplasma. Histoplasmosis is overlooked in China. This study aims to provide an epidemiological and clinical update on histoplasmosis in China by literature review. We reviewed cases of histoplasmosis reported in recent 11 years and described a case of histoplasmosis-triggered hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in an immunocompetent patient. A total of 225 cases of histoplasmosis diagnosed in China between 2012 and 2022 were involved in this study, compared with 300 cases reviewed from 1990 to 2011, an increasing number of cases of histoplasmosis have been diagnosed in the last 11 years. The majority of cases of histoplasmosis were autochthonous cases, mainly from provinces Sichuan (56/225, 24.9%), Hunan (50/225, 22.2%), Guangdong (31/225, 13.8%), and Yunnan (24/225, 10.7%). Higher incidence (52.5%, 53/99) of histoplasmosis occurred in immunocompetent patients which is similar to those from the previous 21 years, and the prevalence of the disease did not vary highly over time. Of note, the number of histoplasmosis cases is increasing, and the geographic distribution is shifting southwards over time. Improved awareness is critically important for informing clinical practice in China.
Microborings and growth in Late Ordovician halysitids and other corals

Microborings in the Late Ordovician tabulate corals Catenipora rubra (a halysitid) and Manipora amicarum (a cateniform nonhalysitid) and in an epizoic solitary rugose coral differ from nearly all of those previously reported in Paleozoic corals. These microborings were formed within the coralla by endolithic algae and fungi located beneath living polyps. Comparable structures in the Late Ordovician tabulate Quepora ? agglomeratiformis (a halysitid) represent algal microborings, not spicules, and halysitids are corals, not sponges as suggested by Kaźmierczak (1989). Endolithic algae in cateniform tabulates relied primarily on light entering through the outer walls of the ranks rather than through the polyps; lacunae within coralla permitted appropriate levels of light to reach many corallites. The direction of boring was determined by corallum microstructure and possibly also by the distribution of organic matter within the skeleton. There is an apparent inverse correlation between boring activity and coral growth rate. The location and relative abundance of pyritized microborings within calcareous coralla can be established quantitatively and objectively from electron microprobe determinations of weight percent sulfur along appropriate traverses of the coral skeleton. The distribution of such microborings in Catenipora rubra and Manipora amicarum is comparable to algal banding in modern corals; this is the first report of such banding in the interiors of Paleozoic corals. Change in the intensity of boring within each corallum was evidently a response to variation in the linear growth rate of the coral, or to fluctuation in an environmental factor (perhaps light intensity) that could control both algal activity and growth rate in these corals. Change in the algal boring intensity and linear growth rate of the coral was generally but not always seasonal and usually but not invariably associated with change in the density of coral skeletal deposition. Cyclic bands of boring abundance maxima within fossil colonial corals provide a measure of annual linear growth comparable to the widely accepted method based on skeletal density bands. Algal bands are more sporadically developed than density bands within and among coralla, thus increasing the difficulty of interpretation. Fluctuations in the abundance of algal microborings apparently provide a detailed record of changes in the linear growth rate of colonies and of individuals within colonies. Combined analyses of microboring abundance and skeletal density will contribute significantly to our understanding of the biological and environmental factors involved in endolithic activity and coral growth.