Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Remote Sensing of Coniferous Forest Leaf Area

Many important ecological questions concern eco? system processes occurring over large areas. However, our understanding of ecosystem functions is derived primarily from research executed on small, intensively studied sites, and extrapolation to large areas is diffi? cult. For example, it is not known definitively whether the land biota act as a source or a sink in the global carbon cycle, or whether increases in carbon dioxide concentrations and the subsequent predicted global warming would stimulate or suppress land vegetation (Bolin 1977, Woodwell et al. 1983). Much of this indecision results from our inability to directly measure important vegetation properties on large spatial scales. Estimates of the global carbon content of terrestrial plant biomass range from 450 x 1015 to 1000 x 1015 g. These estimates are derived by extrapolation of data from sites of intensive study to the areal coverage of vegetation assumed to be equivalent; hence no direct means of verification exist. As a consequence, no defensible estimate of energy and mass exchange rates is possible for large areas of terrestrial vegetation. Four recent workshops have evaluated the potential of advanced satellite technology for direct measure? ment of critical vegetation characteristics over large areas (Botkin 1982, 1985,Goody 1982, Wittwer 1983). Each workshop ultimately identified leaf area index (LAI, the area of leaf over a given area of ground) as the single variable both amenable to measurement by satellite and of greatest importance for quantifying en? ergy and mass exchange by plant canopies over landscapes. Characterizing vegetation in terms of LAI, rath? er than species composition, is a critical simplification for regional and global comparison of different terres? trial ecosystems. Previous research in crops and grass? lands has shown leaf area and biomass to be correlated with reflectance values measured by satellite-based sensors (Wiegand et al. 1979). We report here the first attempt to measure the LAI of coniferous forests using optical scanners of satellite resolution.
The Cameroon line, West Africa: a comparison between oceanic and continental alkaline volcanism

Summary The Cameroon line is the only known intra-plate alkaline volcanic province which straddles a continental margin. It consists of a chain of Tertiary to Recent volcanoes stretching from the Atlantic island of Pagalu to the interior of the African continent. It therefore provides a unique area in which to study the differences, if any, between the suboceanic and sub-continental mantle sources for alkali basalt. Although the Cameroon line does not have a graben structure, its origin is closely linked to that of the nearby Benue rift. Geochemical and isotopic data show no significant differences between basaltic rocks in the continental and oceanic sectors. However, the more evolved rocks in the two sectors are quite distinct. The continental magmas evolve towards peralkaline rhyolite, whereas those in the oceanic sector evolve towards phonolite. Progressive crustal contamination of the continental magmas accompanied by crystal fractionation is required to explain this distinction. The striking geochemical similarity between basaltic rocks in the two sectors implies that their parental magmas had very similar mantle sources. This source must lie in the asthenosphere. The old lithosphere mantle beneath Africa will be chemically and isotopically different from the young Atlantic Ocean lithosphere mantle and its involvement would be readily detected in the geochemistry of the basalts. Recent models of intra-plate alkaline magma genesis have stressed the importance of metasomatic enrichment of the mantle in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) as a precursor to magmatism. Evidence for mantle metasomatism is provided by lithosphere-derived mantle xenoliths. Since the lithosphere is the only place where large domains of enriched mantle are likely to be preserved for long periods, it follows that the Cameroon line magmas could not have had a metasomatically enriched lithosphere source. The Cameroon line alkali basalts are chemically and isotopically similar to most other intra-plate (e.g. ocean island and continental rift) basalts which may also, therefore, have an asthenosphere rather than a metasomatized lithosphere source. The asthenosphere is also the source for mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) and must have a bulk composition depleted in LILE. Isotopic differences between MORB and intra-plate basalts require this source to be heterogeneous. The Cameroon line and most other intra-plate alkali basalts can be generated by small-degree melting (less than 1%) of a LILE-depleted MORB mantle source containing LILE-rich streaks.
Coastal Stratigraphy of Southern Mallorca and Its Implications for the Pleistocene Chronology of the Mediterranean Sea

Detailed geomorphologic, stratigraphic, and paleontologic investigations on the southern littorals of Mallorca indicate the existence of at least three complex glacio-eustatic regressional intervals, belonging to the last three glacial complexes of the Pleistocene. The incipient regressive oscillations were initiated by climatically induced colluviation and followed by deposition of regressional aeolianites. Deflation of freshly exposed marine deposits necessarily ceases soon after the negative fluctuation stops. A complete stratigraphy of the actual regressional parts of each major glacial low-water stage is locally preserved and discussed in detail for several sites. Three major dunes characterize the last regression, four the penultimate regression and at least two the antepenultimate regression. The transgressive intervals with thermophile marine faunas presumably corresponded to interglacial intervals. They comprise several oscillations, the youngest of which, in the case of the last and penultimate interglacials, was preceded by a negative fluctuation to below modern sea level. These phases were significant for major Rotlehm development, but typical regressional aeolianites are lacking. Consequently the Tyrrhenian III, a final oscillation of this type, is considered as last interglacial. Similarly, a final Tyrrhenian I level of +4-5 m. , with faune banale, here recognized and studied for the first time, is considered as the final stage of the penultimate transgressive complex. Weathering is also indicated during the "interstadial" interruptions of the various regressions.
N-Carbethoxy-N′-(3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)thiourea

The title compound {systematic name: ethyl N-[N-(3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)carbamothioyl]carbamate}, C12H13N5O2S, exists in the 3-phenyl-5-thioureido-1H-1,2,4-triazole tautomeric form stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the endocyclic NH H atom and the thioureido S atom. The molecular structure is also stabilized by intramolecular N—H⋯O=C hydrogen bonds arranged in an S(6) graph-set motif within the carbethoxythiourea moiety. The mean planes of the phenyl and 1,2,4-triazole rings make a dihedral angle of 7.61 (11)°. In the crystal, the molecules form two types of inversion dimers. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds are arranged in R 2 2(6) and R 2 2(8) graph-set motifs, together forming a network parallel to (111).
First report of sporadic K layers and comparison with sporadic Na layers at Beijing, China (40.6°N, 116.2°E)

A double‐laser beam lidar was successfully developed to simultaneously measure K and Na layers at Beijing (40.6°N, 116.2°E) in 2010. Statistical analysis of the parameters of sporadic K (Ks) and sporadic Na (Nas) layers was performed over 2 years of lidar data, and different characteristics of them were found. The average Ks occurrence (2.9%) was lower than that of Nas (5.9%); the Nas occurrence had a maximum (19.3%) in May–June months and a minimum (1.6%) in January–February months, while the Ks occurrence had a maximum (4.9%) in January–February months and a minimum (1.0%) in September–October months; most Ks peaks tended to occur around 93 km, which was ~2 km lower than that of Nas (~95 km); the Ks peak density was often at least 1 order of magnitude lower than that of Nas; notably, two Ks with high peak densities (>1000 cm−3) were observed, which were much higher than K density (15–300 cm−3) reported before. The ascending time of Ks was often longer than its descending time, but an opposite trend occurred for Nas. During the 152 cases of joint observation for the K and Na layers, 21% (32/152) were cases in which Ks and Nas events simultaneously occurred, while 79% (120/152) were cases in which only one layer (K or Na) exhibited a strong Ks or Nas.
Crystal structure and biological evaluation of 4-methylmorpholin-4-ium 1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-5-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-4-olate

In the crystal of title molecular salt, the protonated N atom of the 4-methylmorpholin-4-ium cation forms a hydrogen bond with a carbonyl O atom of the barbiturate anion. This N—H⋯O hydrogen bond contributes to the good stability of the reported salt, which exhibits noticeable anticonvulsant and hypnotic activity.
Experimentally Determined Phase Relations in Hydrous Peridotites to 6·5 GPa and their Consequences on the Dynamics of Subduction Zones

Fluid-saturated subsolidus experiments from 2 0 to 6 5 GPa, and from 680 to 800 C have been performed on three model peridotites in the system Na2O–CaO–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2– H2O (NCFMASH). Amphibole and chlorite coexist up to 2 4 GPa, 700 C. Chlorite persists to 4 2 GPa at 680 C. Starting from 4 8 GPa, 680 C a 10 A phase structure replaces chlorite in all compositions. The 10 A phase structure contains significant Al2O3 (up to 10 53 wt %) deviating from the MgO–SiO2–H2O 10 A phase (MSH 10 A phase). A mixed layered structure (chlorite–MSH 10 A phase) is proposed to account for aluminium observed. In the Tinaquillo lherzolite amphibole breakdown occurs via the reaction
Epizoic Stramentid Cirripedes on Ammonites from Late Cretaceous Platy Limestones in Mexico

Abstract The discovery of platy limestone deposits in northeastern Mexico has led to the collection of well-preserved stramentids of early Turonian age from Vallecillo, state of Nuevo León, and of early Coniacian age from El Carranza, state of Coahuila. Stramentum (Stramentum) pulchellum (Sowerby, 1843) colonized the ammonite shells during the lifetime of the animals, occasionally in two subsequent generations. Colonization of the ammonite shell by Stramentum (S.) pulchellum was hindered by strong ornamentation only. The ammonites did not interfere with their epizoans. Colonization during lifetime shows that these ammonites dwelled in well-oxygenated water levels near the surface, and most stramentids were embedded alive. The known paleobiogeographic occurrence of Stramentum (S.) pulchellum and its long stratigraphic occurrence are considerably enlarged by our findings. The pseudoplanktonic mode of life of Stramentum, and attachment to ammonite shells, may have been a response of a once benthic organism to repeated oxygen-deficient conditions on the seafloor of mid-Cretaceous oceans, i.e., to oceanic anoxic events (OAEs).
A novel panel of Drosophila TAFAZZIN mutants in distinct genetic backgrounds as a resource for therapeutic testing

Barth Syndrome is a rare, X-linked disorder caused by mutation of the gene TAFAZZIN (TAZ). The corresponding Tafazzin protein is involved in the remodeling of cardiolipin, a phospholipid with critical roles in mitochondrial function. While recent clinical trials have been promising, there is still no cure for Barth Syndrome. Because TAZ is highly conserved, multiple animal and cell culture models exist for pre-clinical testing of therapeutics. However, since the same mutation in different patients can lead to different symptoms and responses to treatment, isogenized experimental models can’t fully account for human disease conditions. On the other hand, isogenized animal models allow for sufficient numbers to thoroughly establish efficacy for a given genetic background. Therefore, a combined method for testing treatments in a panel of isogenized cohorts that are genetically distinct from each other would be transformative for testing emerging pre-clinical therapies. To aid in this effort, we’ve created a novel panel of 10 Drosophila lines, each with the same TAZ mutation in highly diverse genetic backgrounds, to serve as a helpful resource to represent natural variation in background genetics in pre-clinical studies. As a proof of principle, we test our panel here using nicotinamide riboside (NR), a treatment with established therapeutic value, to evaluate how robust this therapy is across the 10 genetic backgrounds in this novel reference panel. We find substantial variation in the response to NR across backgrounds. We expect this resource will be valuable in pre-clinical testing of emerging therapies for Barth Syndrome.
Whole layer convection in a heterogeneous planetary mantle

[1] Geochemical observations demonstrate that Earth's mantle is heterogeneous, but the sizes, forms, and characteristics of its reservoirs are not constrained. Using laboratory experiments, we have systematically studied a simple nonhomogeneous system, where two layers of miscible fluids with different densities, depths, and viscosities are subjected to a destabilizing temperature contrast. When the buoyancy number B (i.e., the ratio of the stabilizing chemical density anomaly to the destabilizing thermal density anomaly) is lower than 0.3–0.5, the whole layer regime develops, with a deformed interface and convective patterns over the whole tank depth. The system systematically evolves toward one-fluid Rayleigh-Benard convection because of stirring. However, the two isolated fluids can persist for very long time compared to the characteristic timescale of thermal convection and give rise to numerous transient behaviors. Of particular interest for planetary mantles are the pulsatory dynamics, where the interface between the two layers deforms in large domes moving up and down quasiperiodically: According to the scaling laws derived from the experiments, such a mechanism could indeed provide a simple and single physical explanation for the superswells observed at present on Earth and more generally for the long-term episodicity in planetary interiors observed in geological records.
Regional changes in intestinal permeability in cirrhosis are associated with mucosal bacteria

Background: Several complications of cirrhosis are theorized to result from the translocation of bacteria or their products across the intestinal epithelium. We aimed to assess epithelial permeability and associations with mucosal bacteria in patients with cirrhosis. Approach and Results: We collected 247 duodenum, ileum, and colon biopsies from 58 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and 33 controls during clinically indicated endoscopies. Patients with cirrhosis were similarly aged to controls (60 vs. 58 y) and had a median Model for End-stage Liver Disease of 8 (interquartile range 7, 10). Biopsies underwent 16S rRNA-encoding gene amplicon sequencing to determine mucosal bacteria composition and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) to determine epithelial permeability. In the entire cohort, there were regional differences in TEER with the lowest TEER (ie, more permeable) in the ileum; duodenum TEER was 43% higher and colon TEER 20% higher than ileum TEER (ANOVA p = 0.0004). When comparing patients with cirrhosis and controls, both TEER (26% lower in cirrhosis, p = 0.006) and alpha diversity differed in the duodenum (27% lower in cirrhosis, p = 0.01) but not ileum or colon. A beta-binomial model found that 26 bacteria were significantly associated with TEER. Bifidobacteriaceae Bifidobacterium in duodenal mucosa was protective of epithelial permeability and future hospitalization for hepatic decompensation. Conclusions: Duodenal epithelial permeability was higher, and mucosal bacteria alpha diversity was lower in cirrhosis compared to controls, while no such differences were seen in the ileum or colon. Specific bacteria were associated with epithelial permeability and future hepatic decompensation.
Combined oxygen and silicon isotope analysis of diatom silica from a deglacial subarctic Pacific record

We present an SiF4 separation line, coupled to a laser fluorination system, which allows for an efficient combined silica δ18O and δ30Si analysis (50 min per sample). The required sample weight of 1.5–2.0 mg allows for high‐resolution isotope studies on biogenic opal. Besides analytical tests, the new instrumentation set‐up was used to analyse two marine diatom fractions (>63 µm, 10–20 µm) with different diatom species compositions extracted from a Bølling/Allerød–Holocene core section [MD01‐2416, North‐West (NW) Pacific] to evaluate the palaeoceanographic significance of the diatom isotopic signals and to address isotopic effects related to contamination and species‐related isotope effects (vital and environmental effects). While δ30Si offsets between the two fractions were not discernible, supporting the absence of species‐related silicon isotope effects, systematic offsets occur between the δ18O records. Although small, these offsets point to species‐related isotope effects, as bias by contamination can be discarded. The new records strengthen the palaeoceanographic history during the last deglaciation in the NW Pacific characterized by a sequence of events with varying surface water structure and biological productivity. With such palaeoceanographic evolution it becomes unlikely that the observed systematic δ18O offsets signal seasonal temperature variability. This calls for reconsideration of vital effects, generally excluded to affect δ18O measurements. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of the SHETRAN basin‐scale, landslide sediment yield model to the Llobregat basin, Spanish Pyrenees

The first application of the SHETRAN basin‐scale, landslide erosion and sediment yield model is carried out for a major landsliding event in the upper 505 km2 of the Llobregat basin, in the eastern Spanish Pyrenees, in November 1982. The model simulates the spatial distribution of shallow landslides and their sediment yield. Acknowledging uncertainty in the model parameter evaluation, the aim of the application was not to reproduce the observed occurrence of landslides as accurately as possible with one simulation, but to bracket the observed pattern with several simulations representing uncertainty in the key input conditions. Bounds on the landslide simulations were thus determined as a function of uncertainty in the vegetation root cohesion (used in the model factor of safety calculations). The resulting upper bound considerably overestimates the observed pattern (17 000 landslides compared with an observation of around 700), but it reproduces several of the principal clusters in the observed pattern. The lower bound contains around 500 landslides. The sediment yield estimates (2670–14 630 t km−2) are comparable to measurements elsewhere in the Pyrenees for extreme events. The results demonstrate an ability to simulate the basin‐scale landslide response to a rainfall event and the resulting sediment yield. They also highlight the need for further research in setting the uncertainty bounds and in avoiding large overestimates of landslide occurrence arising in part from a current inability to model small‐scale controls for a basin of the given size. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global upper mantle structure from long-period differential travel times

We have made over ten thousand measurements of PP-P and SS - S differential travel times from long-period Global Digital Seismograph Network recordings of all events with mb ≥ 5.5 which occurred during the years 1976 to 1986. We have obtained reasonable global coverage, with very good sampling of several regions of the world. The residuals range from −5 to 5 s for PP-P and −12 to 12 s for SS-S and reveal a large-scale pattern of heterogeneity when plotted at the reflected phase's bounce point. Our experiments indicate that lower-mantle structure and source-receiver structure can each contribute approximately ±0.5 s to our measured PP – P residuals so there is considerable signal to be explained. The pattern observed in the PP – P measurements is similar to the pattern observed in the SS-S measurements, with the SS-S residuals 2 to 4 times larger in magnitude. Comparisons of our measured residuals to those predicted by the upper-mantle models of Woodhouse and Dziewonski show that the overall patterns are quite similar but the amplitude of the model residuals is roughly a factor of 2 too small. Comparisons with the predictions of a whole-mantle model of Tanimoto again shows that the predicted pattern of residuals is reasonably consistent with the observations but now the predicted residuals are too large by about a factor of 2. This variation in predicted amplitudes is probably mainly due to differences in the near-surface structure of the models. We have also binned our measurements according to the tectonic regionalization GTR1 of Jordan and find a qualitative correlation of average residual with tectonic region. In particular, Precambrian shields show a strong anomaly, and there is a correlation of residual size with the age of oceanic crust at the bounce point. For all tectonic regions the ratio of SS - S to PP - P residuals is approximately 2. This ratio is consistent with a thermal origin for the observed signal. Finally, our measurements show no compelling evidence for azimuthal anisotropy which might be related to fossil spreading direction or the direction of absolute plate motion. Such a signal is probably overwhelmed by the large signal from three-dimensional structure.
3D seismic expression of fluid migration and mud remobilization on the Gjallar Ridge, offshore mid‐Norway

This paper presents a three‐dimensional (3D) seismic analysis of sediment remobilization and fluid migration in a 2000‐km2 area above the Gjallar Ridge located in the Vøring Basin, offshore Norway. Three distinct types of mounded structures have been identified as resulting from focused fluid/gas migration and associated mud remobilization and intrusion. Type A structures are gently mounded, and we infer that these structures formed because of in situ remobilization of Middle Eocene to Lower–Middle Oligocene fine‐grained sediments in response to fluid and minor sediment injection via deep‐seated normal faults. Type B structures comprise relatively steep‐sided mounds and are restricted to the pre‐Miocene interval. They are often located above narrow zones of discontinuous low‐amplitude reflections resembling gas chimneys. Some of the Type B structures are associated with stacked amplitude anomalies and possible mud volcanoes at the base Pleistocene indicating their long‐term significance as vertical fluid conduits. Type C structures comprise discrete mound features that seem to jack up the Top Palaeocene (Top Brygge) horizon. These are similar to hydrothermal mounds found elsewhere on the Norwegian Margin and associated with igneous sill intrusion during North Atlantic breakup. This study highlights the utility of 3D seismic data for mapping of fluid and sediment mobilization through time over large basinal areas.
Quality response of 29-year-old, even-aged central hardwoods after thinning

Describes the quality response of a 29-year-old upland hardwood stand grown for 6 years under different levels of residual stand density. Both the number of defects per square foot of surface area and the number of epicormic branches changed under different stocking levels. The results suggest that the effect of stocking on potential stem quality of certain species may be substantial even after a few years of treatment.