Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The atmospheric transport of iodine‐129 from Fukushima to British Columbia, Canada and its deposition and transport into groundwater

The Fukushima‐Daiichi nuclear accident (FDNA) released iodine‐129 (15.7 million year half‐life) and other fission product radionuclides into the environment in the spring and summer of 2011. 129I is recognized as a useful tracer for the short‐lived radiohazard 131I, which has a mobile geochemical behavior with potential to contaminate water resources. To trace 129I released by the FDNA reaching Canada, pre‐accident and post‐accident rain samples collected in Vancouver, on Saturna Island and from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program in Washington State were measured. Groundwater from the Abbotsford‐Sumas Aquifer was sampled to determine the fate of 129I that infiltrates below the root zone. Modeling of vadose zone transport was performed to constrain the travel time and retardation of 129I. The mean pre‐accident 129I concentration in rain was 31 × 106 atoms/L (n = 4). Immediately following the FDNA, 129I values increased to 211 × 106 atoms/L and quickly returned to near‐background levels. However, pulses of elevated 129I continued for several months. The increases in 129I concentrations from both Vancouver and Saturna Island were synchronized, and occurred directly after the initial release from the FDNA. The 129I in shallow (3H/3He age <1.4 years) Wassenaar et al. (2006) groundwater showed measurable variability through March 2013 with an average of 3.2 × 106 atoms/L (n = 32) that was coincident with modeled travel times for Fukushima 129I. The groundwater response and the modeling results suggest that 129I was partially attenuated in soil, which is consistent with its geochemical behavior; however, we conclude that the measured variability may be due to Fukushima 129I entering groundwater.
Distribution of plant communities along climatic and topographic gradients in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (southern India)

The formation of a climax community through a number of ecological processes (e.g. resource allocation, niche differentiation, coexistence, and/or competitive exclusion) depends mainly on the abiotic gradients prevailing in an area. The present paper analyses the role of climatic gradients (temperature and precipitation) and topographic gradients (elevation, slope, aspect, and drainage density) in vegetation distribution, by assessing its structural attributes. The digital layers of climate and topography were overlaid on spatially corrected field data to derive structural attributes (e.g. species richness, stand density, Shannon index of diversity, basal area, and Simpson index of dominance). The area with highest annual rainfall and drainage density combined with a relatively high elevation and low annual temperature and slope, showed maximum species richness. Analysis using stepwise multiple regression revealed that distance from drainage line is the highest predictor of diversity, followed by rainfall and elevation. The results indicated that density-dependent mortality in rainier and well-drained rooting zones with higher humidity and lower seasonality plays a key role in maintaining the higher species diversity, as proposed by the Janzen-Connell hypothesis.
CaSPIAN: A Causal Compressive Sensing Algorithm for Discovering Directed Interactions in Gene Networks

We propose a novel framework for studying causal inference of gene interactions using a combination of compressive sensing and Granger causality techniques. The gist of the approach is to discover sparse linear dependencies between time series of gene expressions via a Granger-type elimination method. The method is tested on the Gardner dataset for the SOS network in E. coli, for which both known and unknown causal relationships are discovered.
Determination of aquifer characteristics in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using the vertical electrical sounding method

This work is about geoelectric investigation involving eight vertical electrical soundings carried out in Okon, Ofriyo, Idua, Ikot Udoma, Atabong, Mkpok, Afaha Eket and Ikot Eket in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria. The total current electrode spread varied from 300 m to 400 m and this depended on access roads, topography, human settlements and general infrastructure. The survey was aimed at investigating the resistivity of consolidated and unconsolidated formations of the study area and the depth of the Aquifer. The ABEM Terrameter, signal averaging system (SAS) 1000 was used in carrying out the soundings. Data obtained were interpreted using Hemkler computer program. This helped to produce various lithologic deductions for the sites surveyed. In general, there exists a common feature in the resistivity variation pattern of low-high-low in the area. The result shows a wide range of resistivity variation ranging from 0.70 to 27,885.60 Ωm. Four out of the eight sounding curves reflected the presence of four geoelectric layers, while the remaining four sounding curves reflected the presence of three geoelectric layers. The curve types reflected in this study are the K-type curve and the KH-type curve. Locations 4, 5 and 6 were productive (that is, water producing) with shallow aquifer depths of between 16.00 m and 30.40 m from the earth surface. Efforts should be made to check the quality of water in such a region, since aquifer in the region is located at shallow depths from the surface of the earth. Key words: Vertical electrical sounding (VES), aquifer, resistivity, lithology, terrameter.
Understanding the Forward Premium Puzzle: A Microstructure Approach

High-interest-rate currencies tend to appreciate relative to low-interest-rate currencies. We argue that adverse-selection problems between participants in foreign exchange markets can account for this 'forward premium puzzle. ' The key feature of our model is that the adverse selection problem facing market makers is worse when, based on public information, a currency is expected to appreciate.
Understanding Commercial Real Estate: Just How Different from Housing is it?

Recent sharp declines in owner-occupied housing prices naturally raise the question of whether something similar will happen to income-producing properties. It already has based on the nearly 60% decline in the share prices of publicly-traded, commercial property firms from their peak in early 2007. The core model of spatial equilibrium in urban economics suggests this should not be a surprise, as it shows that both real estate sectors are driven by common fundamentals, which should make them perform similarly. On the other hand, stronger limits to arbitrage in housing suggest wider swings in prices unrelated to fundamentals are feasible in that property sector. The data find many more similarities than differences across the two real estate sectors. The simple correlation between appreciation rates on owner-occupied housing and commercial real estate is nearly 40%. Both sectors also exhibit similar time series patterns in their price appreciation, with there being persistence across individual years and mean reversion over longer periods. Commercial real estate capital structure looks to be quite weak due to high leverage combined with strong mean reversion in prices. The aggregate loan-to-value ratio on income-producing properties is about 75%. Estimated mean reversion in price appreciation of at least 25% over relatively short horizons suggests that normal change from the recent peak will leave little or no equity on average to cushion against any future negative shocks.
Pathogenic Angiogenic Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease

Vascular dysfunction is a crucial pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have reported that beta amyloid (Aβ) causes increased blood vessel growth in the brains of AD mouse models, a phenomenon that is also seen in AD patients. This has given way to an alternative angiogenesis hypothesis according to which, increased leakiness in the blood vessels disrupts the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and allows unwanted blood products to enter the brain causing progression of disease pathology, promoting amyloid clumping and aggregation along with impaired cerebral blood flow. Furthermore, the expression of melanotransferrin in AD model and patients may contribute to angiogenesis. The objective of this chapter is to attempt to establish a link between the vascular damage and AD pathology. Curbing the vascular changes and resulting damage seen in the brains of AD model mice and improving their cognition by treating with FDA‐approved anti‐angiogenic drugs may expedite the translational potential of this research into clinical trials in human patients. This direction into targeting angiogenesis will facilitate new preventive and therapeutic interventions for AD and related vascular diseases.
In-Situ Experiment and Analysis on Well Resistance of Gravel Drains

ABSTRACT A series of in-situ experiments was performed to evaluate the well resistance of gravel drains, and to quantitatively define the preventative effects of such gravel drains on increasing pore water pressure due to earthquake motion in liquefiable sandy deposits. This paper confirms that the well resistance of the drains is extremely large although the permeability coefficient of the drain material is more than 400 times that of the deposit. Disregarding well resistance is also clarified to be impractical in the spacing pitch design of drain piles. The values of the measured pore pressure ratio during vibration are found to be easily predicted by calculation using a simple equation.
Rickettsiae in Gulf Coast Ticks, Arkansas, USA

To determine the cause of spotted fever cases in the southern United States, we screened Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) collected in Arkansas for rickettsiae. Of the screened ticks, 30% had PCR amplicons consistent with Rickettsia parkeri or Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii.
Grain yield , and chemical and protein composition of Lupinus angustifolius varieties grown in Mexico

Resumen. Se evaluó el rendimiento y la composición química de seis variedades de Lupinus angustifolius (Haags Blaue, Boregine, Borlu, Probor, Sonate, y Boruta) en Zapopan, Jalisco, México dado que el potencial agronómico de dicha especie todavía no se conoce en dicho país. Los estudios se condujeron durante las estaciones de Otoño-Invierno de 2012-2013. Se identificaron las variedades con las mayores y menores concentraciones de proteína y analizaron sus respectivos perfiles de amino-ácidos. Los principales constituyentes proteicos se identificaron por electroforesis (SDS-PAGE). Este estudio se condujo en una unidad agrícola de la Universidad de Guadalajara, usando un diseño en bloques completamente al azar y cuatro réplicas. El mayor rendimiento de grano se registró en la variedad Probor (4950 kg/ha) seguida por Borlu (4940 kg/ha) y Sonate (4930 kg/ha). Las variedades Haags Blaue y Boruta mostraron los rendimientos más bajos. Hubo diferencias considerables en las concentraciones de proteína de la semilla (P<0,05), con valores que variaron entre 28,4 y 36,6% en Boruta y Probor, respectivamente. La composición de amino ácidos mostró que las semillas de Probor tuvieron una mayor concentración de lisina y metionina que Boruta (2,45 y 1,93 versus 1,09 y 1,63 g/100g de proteína, respectivamente). La electroforesis reveló bandas de proteína prominentes de 6 a 64 KDa en ambas variedades. El rendimiento de grano, composición química, y concentraciones de aminoácidos y proteínas de las variedades estudiadas indican que pueden ser exitosamente cultivadas en la región agrícola de Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
Critically Ill Obstetric Admissions to an Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Analysis from a Tertiary Care University Hospital in South India

ABSTRACT Background Critically ill obstetric patients represent a small proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Physiological changes of pregnancy along with pregnancy specific diseases may lead to rapid deterioration of the health status of the parturient warranting ICU care. The present study aims to study the clinical profile and outcomes of the obstetric patients requiring ICU care. Study design and settings Prospective observational study in the multidisciplinary ICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital conducted for a period of 2 years. Materials and methods Demographic details, indication for ICU admission, severity of illness scores, interventions, complications and outcomes of the consecutive obstetric patients transferred to ICU were studied. Results Ninety-one patients were admitted (26 per 1000 deliveries) to the ICU. Majority of them were postpartum (84.6%) and unbooked or referred (63.8%). Hypertensive disorders (24.2%) and obstetric hemorrhage (23.1%) were the major cause for admission to ICU. Forty three patients (47.3%) underwent cesarean delivery. Mechanical ventilation (54.9%), blood transfusion (46%), vasopressor therapy (22%) and dialysis (9.9%) were the various interventions provided in the ICU. Patients with sepsis had high mortality accounting for one third of ICU mortality. The ICU mortality rate was 9.9%. Conclusion The present study showed a clinical profile and outcomes similar to the current scenario of critically ill obstetric patients nationwide. Further studies with a larger sample size may provide a better insight in this population. How to cite this article Sailaja B, Renuka MK, et al. Critically Ill Obstetric Admissions to an Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Analysis from a Tertiary Care University Hospital in South India. Indian J of Crit Care Med 2019;23(2):78-82.
An assessment of cellulosic ethanol industry sustainability based on industry configurations

Thirty six billion gallons of renewable fuel is US government-mandated by 2022, of which approximately 21 billion gallons will originate from cellulosic sources. This presents a challenge to the cellulosic biofuel industry, although it provides a window of opportunity to bring vision, policy, and science together to guide the industry's sustainable development. The objective of this research was to utilize current scientific knowledge and farmers' practical experience to identify basic characteristics of the cellulosic biofuel industry that will allow it to be most functional and sustainable, such that policy might be developed, if needed, to favorably shape the industry. This study's key participants included 14 scientists actively engaged in biofuel research and 44 farmers or agriculture professionals. The methods used in this study included (1) an integrated open forum and focus group discussions with scientists and (2) a triangulation of a survey and focus group discussion with farmers. Environmental, social, technological, and logistics criteria for four conversion facility configurations were assessed. Scientists assessed multiple-feedstock-species configurations more favorably than single-species configurations for environmental metrics and high/stable feedstock production. They also assessed distributed units as having fewer logistic challenges than centralized processing units. Distributed multiple-species configurations were also assessed to have greater rural development opportunity than other configurations. In contrast, the centralized single-species configuration was consistently assessed as not different from, or less favorable than, the other three configurations for all of the criteria assessed. Farmers have a significant need and desire for education about the emerging cellulosic biofuel industry but anticipated environmental challenges associated with single-species conversion platforms.
The rupture zone of Cascadia great earthquakes from current deformation and the thermal regime

An important but poorly -known part of the earthquake hazard at near-coastal cities of western North America from southern British Columbia to northern California is from great thrust earthquakes on the Cascadia subduction zone. Although there have been no such events in the historical record, there is good geological evidence that they have occurred in the past. The downdip landward limit of the seismogenic or seismic rupture zone on the subduction thrust fault has been estimated for the whole Cascadia margin from (1) the locked zone from dislocation modeling of current deformation data, and (2) the thermal regime, taking the downdip limit of seismic behavior on the fault to be controlled by temperature. The geodetic data include ten leveling lines, tide gauges at six locations along the coast, one high precision gravity line, seven horizontal strain arrays, and a continuously recording Global Positioning System (GPS) network. There is present uplitfor most of the coast at a rate of a few millimeters per year, decreasing inland, and shortening across the coastal region at about 0.1 gstrain/yr (i.e., 10 mm/yr over a distance of 100 krn). The present interseismic uplift is consistent with the great earthquake coseismic subsidence inferred from buried coastal salt marshes and other paleoseismicity data. The modeled width of the locked zone that is taken to be accumulating elastic strain averages 60 krn fully locked, plus 60 krn transition (90 km fully locked with no transition gives similar interseismic deformation). It is wider off the Olympic Peninsula of northern Washington and narrower off central Oregon to northern California. This unusually narrow downdip extent compared to many other subduction zones is a consequence of high temperatures associated with the young oceanic plate and the thick blanket of insulating sediments on the incoming crust. The variations in the modeled locked zone from geodetic data correspond well to variations along the margin of downdip temperatures on the fault as estimated from nmnerical thermal models, taking the maximran temperature for the fully locked seismogenic zone to be 350oC with a transition zone to 450oC. The temperatures on the subduction thrust fault and thus the downdip extent of the seismogenic zone depend on five local subduction parameters: (1) the age of the subducting plate, (2) the plate convergence rate, (3) the thickness of insulating sediments on the incoming crust, (4) the dip angle profile of fle fault, and (5) the themal properties of the overlying material. The landward limit to the seismogenic zone, extending little if at all beneath the coast, limits the ground motion from great subduction earthquakes at the larger Cascadia cities that lie 100-200 km inland. The narrow width also limits the earthquake size but events of magnitude well over 8 are still possible; the maximum depends on the along-margin length. If the whole Cascadia margin seismogenic zone fails in a single event, empirical fault area versus magnitude relations give earthquakes as large as M w =9.
Prediction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Effectiveness against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Using Opsonophagocytic Activity and Antibody Concentrations Determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay with 22F Adsorption

ABSTRACT We compared the abilities of two serological readouts, antipolysaccharide IgG antibody concentrations and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) titers, to predict the clinical effectiveness of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vCRM) against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We also assessed the accuracy of the previously established thresholds for GlaxoSmithKline's enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with 22F adsorption (22F-ELISA) (≥0.2 μg/ml) and OPA assay (titer, ≥8) in predicting effectiveness. We showed that following a 3-dose 7vCRM primary vaccination, the serological response rates as determined using thresholds of ≥0.2 μg/ml IgG and an OPA titer of ≥8 corresponded well with overall effectiveness against IPD. In addition, the OPA assay seemed to better predict serotype-specific effectiveness than enzyme-linked immunoassay. Finally, when applied to post-dose-2 immune responses, both thresholds also corresponded well with the overall IPD effectiveness following a 2-dose 7vCRM primary vaccination. These results support the importance of the OPA assay in evaluating immune responses to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
Superconvergence of nite di erence approximations for convection – di usion problems

We are concerned with numerical solutions of convection–di usion equations. The convergence behaviour of numerical solutions is considered by using the nite di erence approximation with respect to spatial variables and implicit method with respect to time variable. It is shown that superconvergence occurs near a part of the boundary which has Dirichlet’s data. Copyright ? 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radionuclide Therapy : A Pilot Study Comparison of Somatostatin Receptor Agonist and Antagonist for Peptide Receptor

Published online: June 24, 2014. J Nucl Med. E.F. Rivier, Jean Claude Reubi, Helmut R. Maecke and Wolfgang A. Weber Damian Wild, Melpomeni Fani, Richard Fischer, Luigi Del Pozzo, Felix Kaul, Simone Krebs, Richard Fischer, Jean Radionuclide Therapy: A Pilot Study Comparison of Somatostatin Receptor Agonist and Antagonist for Peptide Receptor http://jnm.snmjournals. org/content/early/2014/06/23/jnumed.114. 138834 This article and updated information are available at: http://jnm.snmjournals. org/site/subscriptions/online.xhtml Information about subscriptions to JNM can be found at: http://jnm.snmjournals. org/site/misc/permission.xhtml Information about reproducing figures, tables, or other portions of this article can be found online at:
An Assessment of the Level of Awareness of Climate Change and Variability among Rural Farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria

Previous studies on climate change in Taraba State concentrated on the evidence of climate change in the state, awareness of climate change among students of tertiary institutions in the state and farmers perception and adaptation to climate change in northern Taraba. There is need to have a state wide research that examines climate change awareness and perception among rural farmers in Taraba State. This will greatly reduce the failures in measures to develop a state wide effective monitoring, adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change in the study state. Questionnaires were used to solicit for information from the famers in twelve LGAs of the state. The question ranges from the farmers knowledge of climate change, and how this has affected them over the years. The farmers were asked what they think about the trend of rainfall variables such as total rainfall, onset, cessation, length of rainy season and changes in temperature in the last 10 – 20 years in their area. The farmers were also asked what they think about the trend of incidence of flooding and dry spell in their areas and how this has affected them. Despite the farmers’ awareness and adaptation to climate change in the state, lack of information and capital hinders them from getting the necessary resources and technologies that facilitate adapting to climate change.