Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Particle path characteristics at the large gravel‐bed river Danube: results from a tracer study and numerical modelling

A tracer study performed on a 3 km long reach of the Danube River in Austria is presented. Forty artificial stones of three different sizes (intermediate b‐axis: 25 mm, 40 mm, 70 mm) were produced and a coded radio acoustic transmitter was implanted. The measurement system had to be improved to be applicable to large rivers with water depths up to 12 m. The positions of the stones were observed approximately once a week, depending on hydrology, over a period of at least one year by radio‐tracking from a boat, including a 15 year flood event. Transport paths and velocities, as well as the incipient motion of bedload transport, could be monitored for the first time on a large gravel‐bed river. The particle paths were found to be mostly bankline‐parallel, even though the stones passed a 30° river bend. The median of the transverse particle displacement was found to be 4% of the longitudinal displacement. Calculations considering both transverse slope and transverse flow velocities showed transverse transport to be 6·6% of the longitudinal transport indicating that marginal lateral transport is mainly influenced by morphology. A three‐dimensional (3D) numerical model using a stochastic particle tracing approach was validated with the data, indicating that the observed positions are well reproduced by the model. Within the observation period, 74% of all stones passed the reach. With more than 1000 detections, particle transport could be characterized by a mean travel velocity of about 10 m per day (variable for the different grain sizes); single tracer stones were transported up to 1000 m during a single flood event. Size‐selective behaviour could be shown and the incipient motion of the large 70 mm gravel was detected at lower discharges than predicted by commonly used uniform bedload transport formulae. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increased atmospheric CO2: Zonal and seasonal estimates of the effect on the radiation energy balance and surface temperature

The climatic effects of increased atmospheric CO/sub 2/ are discussed in the context of the effect upon two basic components of the climate sytem, namely, (1) latitudinal and seasonal radiative heating of the surface-troposphere system and (2) the enhancement of latitudinal and seasonal surface temperatures. Radiative transfer model calculations show that the radiative heating of the surface-troposphere system (caused by increased CO/sub 2/) undergoes substantial latitudinal and seasonal variations. The seasonal variations are most pronounced at high latitudes. The increased CO/sub 2/ heating of the surface and troposphere is significantly different for clear sky and overcast sky conditions. These CO/sub 2/ heating calculations were then incorporated within a seasonal energy balance climate model for the northern hemisphere. Despite the significant seasonal variations in surface-troposphere heating due to increased CO/sub 2/, the seasonal model results, when annually averaged over all latitudes, yield essentially the same CO/sub 2/-induced increase in hemispherical mean surface temperature as does an annual energy balance model. The seasonal model, however, shows a strong seasonal variation at high latitudes for the increase in zonal surface temperature due to increased atmospheric CO/sub 2/. For example, the CO/sub 2/-induced enhancement in the zonal surface temperature for 80 /sup 0/--90 /supmore » 0/N is more than 3 times as great in the summer as in the winter. « less
Evaluation of multidecadal variability in CMIP5 surface solar radiation and inferred underestimation of aerosol direct effects over Europe, China, Japan, and India

Observations from the Global Energy Balance Archive indicate regional decreases in all sky surface solar radiation from ∼1950s to 1980s, followed by an increase during the 1990s. These periods are popularly called dimming and brightening, respectively. Removal of the radiative effects of cloud cover variability from all sky surface solar radiation results in a quantity called “clear sky proxy” radiation, in which multidecadal trends can be seen more distinctly, suggesting aerosol radiative forcing as a likely cause. Prior work has shown climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 3 (CMIP3) generally underestimate the magnitude of these trends, particularly over China and India. Here we perform a similar analysis with 173 simulations from 42 climate models participating in the new CMIP5. Results show negligible improvement over CMIP3, as CMIP5 dimming trends over four regions—Europe, China, India, and Japan—are all underestimated. This bias is largest for both India and China, where the multimodel mean yields a decrease in clear sky proxy radiation of −1.3±0.3 and −1.2±0.2 W m−2decade−1, respectively, compared to observed decreases of −6.5±0.9 and −8.2±1.3 W m−2decade−1. Similar underestimation of the observed dimming over Japan exists, with the CMIP5 mean dimming ∼20% as large as observed. Moreover, not a single simulation reproduces the magnitude of the observed dimming trend for these three regions. Relative to dimming, CMIP5 models better simulate the observed brightening, but significant underestimation exists for both China and Japan. Overall, no individual model performs particularly well for all four regions. Model biases do not appear to be related to the use of prescribed versus prognostic aerosols or to aerosol indirect effects. However, models exhibit significant correlations between clear sky proxy radiation and several aerosol‐related fields, most notably aerosol optical depth (AOD) and absorption AOD. This suggests model underestimation of the observed trends is related to underestimation of aerosol direct radiative forcing and/or deficient aerosol emission inventories.
The Influence of Ocean Convection Patterns on High-Latitude Climate Projections

The mean state and variability of deep convection in the ocean influence the North Atlantic climate. Using an ensemble experiment with a coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea ice model, it is shown that cooling and subdued warming areas can occur over the North Atlantic Ocean and adjacent landmasses under global warming. Different "present-day" convection patterns in the Greenland-Iceland-Norway (GIN) Sea result in different future surface-air temperature changes. At higher latitudes, the more effective positive sea ice feedback increases the likelihood of changes in convection causing a regional cooling that is larger than the warming brought about by the enhanced greenhouse effect. The modeled freshening of deep ocean layers in the North Atlantic in a time period preceding a reorganization of GIN Sea convection is consistent with recent observations. Low-frequency internal variability in the ocean model has relatively little impact on the response patterns.
Downfan Transformation from Turbidity Currents to Debris Flows at a Channel-to-Lobe Transitional Zone: The Lower Pleistocene Otadai Formation, Boso Peninsula, Japan

Transformation of turbidity currents into debris flows across a channel-to-lobe transition zone was recognized on the basis of lateral mapping of a falling-stage-systems-tract deposit in the lower Pleistocene Otadai Formation submarine-fan sequence on the Boso Peninsula, Japan. The most proximal outcrops comprise 1 to 4 m thick turbidites, which are laterally equivalent to debrites encased in turbidites in outcrops farther down flow. Such turbidites and encased debrites were deposited from single flow events. The most distal outcrops comprise only thinner (2 to 40 cm thick) turbidites. Debrites contain many siltstone clasts and finer-grained sediments, which are characterized by deep-water faunas and clay-mineral composition similar to those of interbedded hemipelagites. Therefore, the transformation of turbidity currents into debris flows is interpreted to have occurred in response to the incorporation of many siltstone clasts and finer-grained sediment particles into the precursor turbidity currents through erosion of muddy substrates. Subsequently, turbulence in the precursor turbidity currents was suppressed and near-bed flow with higher sediment concentration developed. Intense erosion of muddy substrates is interpreted to have occurred in response to the increase in intensity of turbulence in the precursor turbidity currents at the mouths of middle-fan channels. The precursor turbidity currents (or turbidity currents generated by dilution of debris flows) produced a turbidite deposit, which was subsequently overrun by the debris flow in a proximal lobe environment. The debris flows are interpreted to have subsequently been transformed into turbidity currents, which are recorded by turbidite deposition in the more distal-lobe environment. Debrites can characterize the proximal portion of an attached-lobe deposit in a channel-to-lobe transition zone. Such debrites can be significant heterogeneities for fluid flows in sand-prone successions from middle-fan channel to attached-lobe deposits.
The vertical distribution of dust in the Martian atmosphere during northern spring and summer: Observations by the Mars Climate Sounder and analysis of zonal average vertical dust profiles

[1] The vertical distribution of dust in Mars's atmosphere is a critical and poorly known input in atmospheric physical and chemical models and a source of insight into the lifting and transport of dust and general vertical mixing in the atmosphere. We investigate vertical profiles of dust opacity retrieved from limb observations by Mars Climate Sounder during the relatively dust-clear Martian northern summer of 2006–2007 (Ls = 111°–177°of Mars year (MY) 28) and Martian northern spring and summer of 2007–2008 (Ls = 0°–180° of MY 29). To represent local maxima in inferred mass mixing ratio in these profiles, we develop an empirical alternative to the classic “Conrath profile” for representing the vertical distribution of dust in the Martian atmosphere. We then assess the magnitude and variability of atmospheric dust loading, the depth of dust penetration during these seasons, and the impact of the observed vertical dust distribution on the radiative forcing of the circulation. During most of northern spring and summer, the dust mass mixing ratio in the tropics has a maximum at 15–25 km above the local surface (the high-altitude tropical dust maximum (HATDM)). The HATDM appears to have increased significantly in magnitude and altitude during middle to late northern summer of MY 29. The HATDM gradually decayed during late summer of MY 28. Interannual variability in the dust distribution during middle to late northern summer may be connected with known interannual variability in tropical dust storm activity.
Linking reef ecology to island-building: Parrotfish identified as major producers of island-building sediment in the Maldives

Reef islands are unique landforms composed entirely of sediment produced on the surrounding coral reefs. Despite the fundamental importance of these ecological-sedimentary links for island development and future maintenance, reef island sediment production regimes remain poorly quantified. Using census and sedimentary data from Vakkaru island (Maldives), a sand-dominated atoll interior island, we quantify the major sediment-generating habitats, the abundance of sediment producers in these habitats, and the rates and size fractions of sediment generated by different taxa. The estimated annual sediment production is 685,000 kg (or 370 m 3 ), ∼75% of which is produced on the narrow outer reef flat, despite composing only 21% of the total platform area. Approximately 65% of the platform acts solely as a sediment sink. Census data identify parrotfish as the major sediment producers, generating >85% of the 5.7 kg m –2 of new sand-grade sediment produced on the outer reef flat each year. Halimeda (macroalgae) produce a further 10%, most as gravel-grade material. Comparisons between production estimates and sedimentary data indicate that reef ecology and island sedimentology are tightly linked; reef flat and lagoon sediments are dominated by coral and Halimeda , although fine- to medium-grained coral sand is the dominant (∼59%) island constituent. The generation of sediment suitable for maintaining this reef island is thus critically dependent on a narrow zone of high-productivity reef, but most especially on the maintenance of healthy parrotfish populations that can convert reef framework to sand-grade sediment.
Network Identification of Hormonal Regulation

Relations among hormone serum concentrations are complex and depend on various factors, including gender, age, body mass index, diurnal rhythms and secretion stochastics. Therefore, endocrine deviations from healthy homeostasis are not easily detected or understood. A generic method is presented for detecting regulatory relations between hormones. This is demonstrated with a cohort of obese women, who underwent blood sampling at 10 minute intervals for 24-hours. The cohort was treated with bromocriptine in an attempt to clarify how hormone relations change by treatment. The detected regulatory relations are summarized in a network graph and treatment-induced changes in the relations are determined. The proposed method identifies many relations, including well-known ones. Ultimately, the method provides ways to improve the description and understanding of normal hormonal relations and deviations caused by disease or treatment.
Distinct element modeling of structures formed in sedimentary overburden by extensional reactivation of basement normal faults

Fault and fold patterns in sedimentary rocks have been modeled using a computer code based on the distinct element method (DEM). This numerical method considers the relative motion of disconnected elastic elements governed by Newton's laws and frictional sliding criteria. Forces are transmitted between elements at contact points. By changing element size ratios, assemblages of elements can simulate different kinematic behavior from localized faulting to distributed flow. As an application of the method, we investigate folding and faulting patterns that develop in the sedimentary overburden above basement normal faults. The number, position, orientation, and sense of slip on faults as well as the fold geometry depend on the basement fault dip and basement rotation. The DEM model results have practical implications for predicting the evolving characteristics of structural traps and their petroleum potential.
Cyclic Simple Shear Size Effects

Cyclic simple shear testing is considered to be one of the most appropriate ways of reproducing in the laboratory the stresses that would be experienced by an element of soil in level ground subjected to earthquake loading. The main drawback in cyclic simple shear testing concerns the lack of complementary shear stresses on the specimen vertical boundary. Therefore, a selection of the proper specimen size, i.e., proper diameter versus height ratio, must be carefully considered. To investigate the specimen size effect on the primary dynamic (cyclic) soil properties, namely the shear modulus and damping, a large‐scale simple shear apparatus was constructed. In it, specimens having diameters from 3–12 in. and heights from 0.25–4.0 in. could be tested. Thus a wide range of diameter to height ratios could be obtained. The paper presents a comprehensive study of the effect of the specimen size on the cyclic properties of dry sand tested in such an apparatus at different strain levels, vertical pressures, void r.
The use of a critical analysis of a multicriterion method (IDEA) for assessing the sustainability of sedentary sheep rearing systems in the Algerian steppe areas

This paper refers to a study conducted in the province of Djelfa on 50 sedentary sheep farms whose objective is the assessment of sustainability using the Indicateurs de la Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles (IDEA) method (Farm sustainability indicators). It shows that production systems have undergone a mutation from the pastoral to agro-pastoral. This is manifested by the introduction of plant speculation and animal species especially the cattle which promoted the diversity of production where the agro-ecological sustainability that has the best performance with an average value of 56.3% of theoretical maximum. For cons, the socio-territorial level is one that has received the worst score (35.84% of theoretical maximum) which is due to the collapse of collectivism in steppe society which impacts negatively on the management of resources. The economic dimension has reached a value of 52.86% of the theoretical maximum despite the loss capital of livestock (attrition) as agro-pastoralists have introduced agriculture and also engage in activities outside agriculture and livestock to improve their income. The total sustainability is limited by the agroecological scale for 15 farms, 42 farms across the socio-territorial and 20 farms by the economic ladder.
Sensitivity of C-band SAR polarimetric variables to unvegetated agricultural fields

The interaction of linear polarized microwaves with agricultural features is well understood. Much less is understood about polarimetric data and the potential use of these data to improve surface parameter retrieval models. This paper explores the soil surface information provided by quad-polarimetric SAR through a review of previous work and an empirical sensitivity study of RADARSAT-2 data at four incidence angles. Soil moisture, surface roughness, and crop residue data are quantitatively sampled in unvegetated fields. RADARSAT-2 variables include: linear backscatter and polarization ratios; copolarized phase difference and magnitude of the copolarized complex correlation; pedestal height; extrema of the scattered intensity, completely polarized, and completely unpolarized components; and parameters of the Cloude–Pottier scattering decomposition. Results demonstrated that sensitivities of field averaged linear backscatter were reproduced from previous reports, lending confidence to the experiment. Field averaged pedestal height and copolarized complex correlation coefficient showed significant relationships to crop residue and surface roughness, suggesting an ability to characterize volume and multiple scattering. Similarly, dynamic range of the degree of polarization showed significant relationships with crop residue cover at higher incidence angles. Target averaged or variance of copolarized phase difference did not produce a consistent relationship with the surface parameters, in contrast to qualitative based suggestions of previous experiments. Extremas of the scattered intensity and completely polarized components indicated comparable relationships to surface features as the like polarized linear intensity channels, suggesting sensitivities of these variables to surface scattering. The extrema of the completely unpolarized component showed comparable relationships to surface features as the pedestal height. Results of this paper contribute to identification of optimal SAR variables for use in agricultural monitoring and evaluate potential contributions of polarimetric data for improving surface parameter retrieval models.
Secretion of biologically active interferon tau by in vitro-derived bovine trophoblastic tissue.

Secretion of interferon tau (IFN tau) by trophoblastic tissue has been shown to be the first embryonic signal for pregnancy recognition. Therefore we tried to derive biologically active trophoblastic tissue by in vitro techniques. Since conventional in vitro conditions for bovine embryo development were not sufficient for long-term culture, we tested more complex culture conditions, including Ménézo B2 or Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cell-conditioned medium, for their ability to support proliferation and IFN tau secretion by in vitro-derived trophoblastic tissue. IFN tau activity was determined by using a biological assay based on the inhibition of the cytopathic effect of vesicular stomatitis virus on Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. When cultures of individual hatched blastocysts were started in 60-microliters drops of BRL cell-conditioned medium, mean IFN tau secretion (antiviral units/ml/48 h) corresponded to 1200 on Day 11 and to 5000 on Day 13 (p < 0.01). To characterize trophoblast cell-specific secretions, the inner cell mass was removed from all embryos by microsurgery on Day 13. IFN tau secretion by trophoblastic tissue increased to mean levels of > 10(5) antiviral units/ml/48 h on Day 23m, stayed high for about 1 wk, and then slowly declined to levels below 10(3) antiviral U/ml/48 h. The specificity of the cytoprotective effect of IFN tau was tested by Western blot analysis and by immunoneutralization with use of a polyclonal antiserum specific to IFN tau. Our results demonstrate that viable trophoblastic tissue can be maintained entirely in vitro and secretes high amounts of IFN tau.
Controls on the composition of Ni-Cu sulfide deposits as illustrated by those at Noril'sk, Siberia

The Ni-Cu-PGE ore deposits of the Noril'sk region have developed in feeder channels for Permo-Triassic continental flood basalt volcanism, particularly within 100- to 300-m-thick, elongate, stratified intrusions that merge with an extensive system of peripheral sills, through which the magma is thought to have continued to surface. The mineralization is centered within two ore junctions, the Noril'sk and Talnakh ore junctions. Principal ore types include massive ore, which occurs typically below or at the lowest margin of the intrusions, disseminated ore in picritic and taxitic gabbrodolerite, which constitute the lower part of the intrusions, and copper ore which either forms an impregnation in hornfelsic country rock adjacent to massive ore or occupies the matrix of breccia zones that have developed at the front and upper contact of the intrusions. Although showing a close spatial relationship to the intrusions, the massive ore, particularly that underlying the Northwest Talnakh intrusion, appears to have been injected separately. Over 500 samples have been analyzed for Ni, Cu, S, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os, and Au by NiS fire assay, acid dissolution, and neutron activation. The massive ore of the Kharayelakh orebody beneath the Northwest Talnakh intrusion has fractionated as injection proceeded from east to west, with the fractionated liquid moving progressively farther west. This liquid has also soaked into the surrounding hornfels to produce the Cu-rich mantle, and above the western part of the Kharayelakh orebody, where the Cu enrichment is most pronounced, has also affected the lower part of disseminated ore zones within the intrusion. Study of the disseminated ore has revealed that this has not fractionated to a great degree and that adequate sampling gives an average composition close to that of the primary sulfide liquid. Disseminated ore from different parts of the Talnakh ore junction are characterized by very different metal tenors, with Rh ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 ppb. The composition of the disseminated ore is modeled as the result of initial low tenor sulfides becoming trapped in the ore-bearing intrusions, and then interacting with successive surges of new magma passing along the feeder channels represented by their host intrusions on the way to the surface. The different tenors of the different ore junctions and parts of ore junctions are the consequence of the effective number of times the magma passing through a particular channel exceeds the amount of sulfide within the channel, higher ratios leading to higher tenors.