Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vegetation‐driven morphodynamic adjustments of a sand bed

Vegetation is ubiquitous in riverine and coastal environments, but the physics governing morphodynamic interactions modulated by vegetation are still poorly understood. Here we use a simple experiment to study the impact of a vegetated patch on the morphodynamics of a sand bed. We show that the vegetation patch reduces the sediment transport capacity of the flow and that the topography responds to this by an increase of the bed slope to accommodate the upstream sediment supply. Final bed slope and adjustment time scale depend on the ratio between the grain‐related shear stress and the total shear stress. This demonstrates the mechanisms underlying a direct morphodynamic response to the presence of a vegetation patch.
The Importance of Global Citizenship to Higher Education: The Role of Short-Term Study Abroad

An increasing number of institutions actively promote internationalisation as a key strategy, implying that the development of a “global citizenry” is an integral part of their educational mission. To fulfil this strategy, four constructs must be addressed: (1) what is global citizenship? , (2) why is global citizenship important? (3) how do we measure global citizenship? , and (4) how do we foster global citizenship? (1) Although global citizenship is a highly contested and multifaceted term, three key dimensions are commonly accepted: social responsibility, global awareness, and civic engagement. (2) Today’s graduates are critically dependent on an interconnected world, and universities have a responsibility to promote global mindedness, to provide greater employment opportunities for their graduates, and to respond to political calls for enhanced national security. (3) There is a consensus that the natural and built environment is the context in which global citizenship
Stress and distress in parents of neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for cardiac surgery

Background: Parents of infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at risk of psychological distress and NICU-related stress. However, parents of infants admitted to NICU for cardiac surgery are an under-researched population. Aims: Identify levels of NICU-related stress, and levels of psychological distress, reported by parents of infants admitted to the NICU for cardiac surgery. Study Design: Observational study. Subjects: 69 parents of infants admitted to the NICU for cardiac surgery (cardiac group) and 142 parents of healthy infants (control group). Outcome Measures: Questionnaire packs provided to parents prior to discharge (time-point 1), and at six and 12 months corrected age included: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and Family Support Scale. The Parental Stressor Scale:NICU was administered to the cardiac group at time-point 1. Results: The cardiac group reported (i) that parental role alteration was the most stressful aspect of the NICU and (ii) higher scores for anxiety and depression than the control group at all three time-points, with the highest levels reported during the NICU stay. Correlation analyses indicated (i) stress associated with the sights and sounds of the NICU, and the appearance and behaviour of the infant in the NICU, had a significant positive association with anxiety and depression, and (ii) a significant negative relationship between anxiety and task-focused coping.
The expression of mouse CLEC‐2 on leucocyte subsets varies according to their anatomical location and inflammatory state

Expression of mouse C‐type lectin‐like receptor 2 (CLEC‐2) has been reported on circulating CD11bhigh Gr‐1high myeloid cells and dendritic cells (DCs) under basal conditions, as well as on a variety of leucocyte subsets following inflammatory stimuli or in vitro cell culture. However, previous studies assessing CLEC‐2 expression failed to use CLEC‐2‐deficient mice as negative controls and instead relied heavily on single antibody clones. Here, we generated CLEC‐2‐deficient adult mice using two independent approaches and employed two anti‐mouse CLEC‐2 antibody clones to investigate surface expression on hematopoietic cells from peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid organs. We rule out constitutive CLEC‐2 expression on resting DCs and show that CLEC‐2 is upregulated in response to LPS‐induced systemic inflammation in a small subset of activated DCs isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes but not the spleen. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that peripheral blood B lymphocytes present exogenously derived CLEC‐2 and suggest that both circulating B lymphocytes and CD11bhigh Gr‐1high myeloid cells lose CLEC‐2 following entry into secondary lymphoid organs. These results have significant implications for our understanding of CLEC‐2 physiological functions
Remote sensing of neutral temperatures in the Earth's thermosphere using the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield bands of N2: Comparisons with satellite drag data

[1] This paper presents remotely sensed neutral temperatures obtained from ultraviolet observations and compares them with temperatures from the NRLMSISE-00 version of the Mass Spectrometer and Incoherent Scatter (MSIS) model (unconstrained and constrained to match the total densities from satellite drag). Latitudinal profiles of the temperatures in the Earth's thermosphere are obtained by inversion of high-resolution (∼1.3 A) observations of the (1,1) and (5,4) Lyman-Birge-Hopfield (LBH) bands of N2. The spectra are from the High resolution Ionospheric and Thermospheric Spectrograph (HITS) instrument aboard the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS). The results indicate that on each day examined there was consistency between the remotely sensed thermospheric temperatures, the densities from coincident satellite drag measurements at adjacent altitudes, and the NRLMSISE-00 model.
The location of magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause: A comparison with Earth

Data from the Cassini Electron Spectrometer are used to investigate the location of magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause. Heated, streaming electron distributions in the boundary layer on the magnetosheath side of the magnetopause are evidence of reconnection and an open magnetopause. A model for the location of reconnection is used to compare the modeled and observed streaming direction of the heated electron distributions. Magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause is predicted and observed to occur at locations similar to those at Earth's magnetopause. Although not conclusive, the results here are consistent with the expected importance of X‐line drifts in suppressing low‐shear reconnection. Because of different conditions at Saturn's magnetopause, this suppression is predicted to be more severe at Saturn than at Earth.
Echocardiography in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension: early study on assessing disease severity and predicting outcome.

BACKGROUND The value of echocardiography in assessing disease severity and predicting outcome in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is insufficiently defined. The aim of this study was to describe correlations between echocardiography and disease severity and outcome in pediatric PAH. METHODS AND RESULTS Forty-three consecutive children (median age, 8.0 years; range, 0.4-21.5) with idiopathic/hereditary PAH (n=25) or PAH associated with congenital heart disease (n=18) were enrolled in a prospective single-center observational study. Anatomic and right ventricular-functional variables were obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler-echocardiography at presentation and at standardized follow-up and were correlated with measures of disease severity (World Health Organization functional class [WHO-FC], N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, hemodynamics) and lung-transplantation-free survival. Right atrial and right ventricular dimensions correlated with WHO-FC and hemodynamics (P<0.05), whereas left ventricular dimensions correlated with hemodynamics and survival (P<0.05). Right-to-left ventricular dimension ratiocorrelated with WHO-FC, hemodynamics and survival (P<0.05). Right ventricular ejection time correlated with hemodynamics and survival (P<0.05) and tended to correlate with WHO-FC (P=0.071). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion correlated with WHO-FC, mean right atrial pressure and survival (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS This early descriptive study shows that echocardiographic chararacteristics of both the right and the left heart correlate with disease severity and outcome in pediatric PAH, both at presentation and during the course of the disease. The preliminary data from this study support the potential value of echocardiography as a tool in guiding management in children with PAH.
Solidification dynamics in channeled viscoplastic lava flows

[1] The influence of a viscoplastic lava rheology on the dynamics of channeled lava flows is analyzed using analogue experiments. The experiments used slurries of polyethylene glycol and kaolin, which flowed with a constant flux down an inclined channel under water. Three sets of complementary experiments are presented: isothermal, cooling, and solidifying flows which quantified the effects of the viscoplastic rheology on shear, internal convection and surface crust formation. The isothermal and cooling experiments showed the formation of unyielded central plug regions which were not broken up by the convective overturning. In the solidifying experiments flows fell into one of three regimes: a tube regime, in which crust covered the entire flow surface; a shear-controlled regime, with a mobile raft of crust in the channel center and open shear zones near the walls; and a plug-controlled regime where the width of the central crust was determined by the width of the central plug region. The crust coverage is parameterized in terms of two dimensionless parameters: the ratio wp of central plug region width to channel width and a parameter ϑ which characterizes the relative importance of the strain and solidification rates. Finally the dynamics of typical lava flows on Mt Etna and the 1984 Mauna Loa lava flow are examined. We show that our parameterization agrees with lava flow crust widths observed in the field and find that even small yield strengths have a major effect on crust coverage.
Fall Movements of Belugas ( Delphinapterus leucas ) with Satellite-linked Transmitters in Lancaster Sound, Jones Sound, and Northern Baffin Bay

Six adult belugas, Delphinapterus leucas , (2 males, 4 females) were instrumented with satellite-linked transmitters in Croker Bay, southeastern Devon Island in the Canadian High Arctic in mid-September 1995. Some days, the animals remained close to shore along the southeastern and eastern shoreline of Devon Island, presumably foraging for arctic cod ( Boreogadus saida ) and other prey. They spent the rest of the time in the deep waters of Lady Ann Strait, eastern Jones Sound, and the waters southeast of Coburg Island, presumably feeding on deepwater prey. Only males went farther north in water off southeastern Ellesmere Island, the belugas' swimming speeds decreased in the later part of the study period. Their last transmissions came from the North Water, an area where belugas are known to winter. Results of this study were not sufficient to determine the extent of movement of belugas between the eastern Canadian Arctic and Greenland. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 17 99 University of Calgary 1 1 121 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Key words: beluga, Delphinapterus leucas , High Arctic, North Water, satellite telemetry, swimming speed, fall migration
Quaternary landscape evolution: a framework for understanding contemporary erosion, southeast Spain

Recent research into the long‐term landscape development of a tectonically active terrain in arid SE Spain has revealed the significance of river capture in understanding current landscape instabilities (badlands and landslides). The river capture was initiated at c.100 ka BP and effected a 90 m base‐level change at the point of capture. This stimulated a wave of incision to propagate through the landscape to 20 km upstream of the capture site. The net effect of the associated increase in erosion has been to change valley shapes from broad and shallow to narrow and deep. The associated unloading and steepening of valley sides has led to a focus of landslide activity in lithologies with more unconfined compressive strength (limestones) and a dominance of gullying, piping and badland development in the lithologies with lower unconfined compressive strengths (marls and sands). Post‐capture rapid valley widening was initially achieved through landslide development. This form of slope degradation was sustained in the more resistant, joint‐controlled lithologies. In weaker lithologies it was superseded by badland development. The elevated sediment fluxes associated with the c.100 ka BP base‐level perturbation will continue into the near future, but are expected to decay, assuming that no additional environmental disturbances occur. The patterns of landscape instability witnessed today are controlled by (1) proximity to the areas affected by the base‐level change and (2) the robustness of the local geology. Understanding of this long‐term temporal context of the landscape provides a valuable spatial and temporal framework for land system management, facilitating the prediction of future natural trends in landscape stability. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exhumation of the Ailao Shan shear zone recorded by Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, Yunnan Province, China

The role of strike‐slip faults, such as the Ailao Shan shear zone in southwestern China, in accommodating the India‐Eurasia collision remains controversial. Cenozoic sedimentary rocks preserved along the northeast side of the Ailao Shan shear zone, however, record the nature and timing of exhumation of shear zone rocks. Field mapping shows that the lower strata consist of early Oligocene lacustrine red mudstone and gypsum and the upper of late Oligocene to Miocene fluvial conglomerate with rare, fine‐grained, fossil leaf‐bearing intervals. Sediment derived from shear zone gneiss is present only in the upper part of the section. Our observations indicate deformation began in Oligocene time, with the onset of rapid exhumation by early Miocene time, consistent with existing geochronologic results. Exhumation must have ended before the formation of a regional low‐relief erosion surface and the onset of brittle deformation along the Red River fault, probably in early Pliocene time. Rapid exhumation of the Ailao Shan shear zone has been interpreted to have occurred in transtension, accommodated by a normal fault on the northeast margin of the shear zone. However, we observe consistent and pervasive shortening structures within the Cenozoic strata, including overthrusting and folding of the basin along faults defined by thick gouge zones within weak Cenozoic lithologies. Deformation is likely syndepositional. These structures are distinct from subvertical deformational features associated with the active Red River fault. Our field data thus support mid‐Cenozoic transpressional exhumation of the Ailao Shan shear zone. This is consistent with regional evidence for widespread left‐lateral and compressional deformation in the region to the east of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis during this time. Focused erosion along the Red River, established by late Oligocene time, may have contributed to deeper exhumation of the northeast part of the shear zone.
Surface Wind Fields in the Vicinity of Meso-Convective Storms as Derived from Radar Observations: Non-Tornadic Storms.

Abstract : This thesis sought to test the hypothesis that there is a determinable relationship between the true surface wind field and radar derived wind data. Data derived through the NEXRAD transverse wind algorithm were examined to assess the algorithm's general usability and to select operational parameters. The relationship of the derived data to other sources of surface wind data was examined in some detail. An important result of this investigation is the validation of the use of the transverse wind algorithm with data obtained at low elevation angles and short time spans between reflectivity scans. The use of maximum correlation coefficient and reflectivity thresholds are shown to improve the derived from the NEXRAD transverse wind algorithm, and SAM data are compared. The dissimilar natures of the Doppler radial velocity data and the derived wind data are demonstrated. The derived wind is shown to be closely related to the surface wind field as represented by the surface meso-analyses for three cases. A feature (marching vectors), which appears in areas of relatively weak uniform reflectivity, is identified in the derived wind data. The NEXRAD transverse wind algorithm is used for the first time in an area (gust front) where there is confidence that the vectors are derived from motions at their own level and not from some generator level.
The hyperserotonemia of autism spectrum disorders

The presence of elevated levels of platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in a substantial proportion of individuals with autism is one of the more well replicated findings in neuropsychiatry. The issue of gut 5-HT production and platelet hyperserotonemia was studied by comparing urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 5-HT in 10 normoserotonemic and 10 hyperserotonemic age-matched autistic individuals. The relationship of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SM) excretion to platelet 5-HT, and to urinary 5-HT and 5-HIAA excretion, was also examined. In the hyperserotonemic group, a trend-level significant increase for urinary excretion of 5-HIAA or 5-HT and a significant decrease for 6-SM were found, while the urinary 5-HIAA / 5-HT ratio was similar in the two groups. The results suggest that the catabolism of 5-HT does not differ in the groups, but that greater exposure of the platelet to 5-HT can not be ruled out as a cause of the platelet hyperserotonemia of autism. Larger studies are needed to examine the relationship between gut 5-HT production and the platelet 5-HT elevation of autism, and to characterize the relationship between melatonin production and platelet hyperserotonemia more thoroughly.
Intestinal bile acid reabsorption in health and disease

Objective: Disruption of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids (BAs) is part of the gastrointestinal phenotype of cystic fibrosis (CF). Ivacaftor (VX-770), a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator, improves pulmonary function in CF patients with class III gating mutations. We studied the effect of ivacaftor on the enterohepatic circulation by assessing markers of BA homeostasis and their changes in CF patients. Methods: In CF patients with an S1251N mutation (N=16; age 9-35 years TICTAC-2 study/NTR4873) or a G551D mutation (N=101; age 10-24 years; GOAL study/ NCT01521338) we analyzed plasma fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) and 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) levels, surrogate markers for intestinal BA absorption and hepatic synthesis, respectively, before and after treatment with ivacaftor. Results: At baseline, median FGF19 was lower (52% and 53%, P < 0.001) and median C4 higher (350% and 364%, P < 0.001), respectively, for the S1251N and G551D mutation patient groups compared to healthy controls. Treatment with ivacaftor significantly increased FGF19 and reduced C4 levels towards normalization in both cohorts but this did not correlate with CFTR function in other organs, as measured by sweat chloride levels or pulmonary function. Conclusions: We demonstrate that patients with CFTR gating mutations display interruption of the enterohepatic circulation of BAs reflected by lower FGF19 and elevated C4 levels. Treatment with ivacaftor partially restored this disruption of BA homeostasis. The improvement did not correlate with established outcome measures of CF, suggesting involvement of modulating factors of CFTR correction in different organs.
Analysis of L-band SAR backscatter and coherence for delineation of land-use/land-cover

In this study, we investigated the potential improvement of land-use/land-cover (LU/LC) classification using multidate backscatter intensity as well as interferometric coherence images derived from Advanced Land Observing Satellite phased array L-band synthetic aperture radar data. Four interferometric synthetic aperture radar data pairs in horizontal–horizontal polarizations were processed to obtain backscatter intensity and coherence images. From the analysis of these images, it was observed that backscatter values alone are not sufficient to separate certain LU/LC classes, e.g. forest and mining areas, due to similarities in the associated scattering mechanisms producing similar backscatter values. However, the temporal coherence values from these LU/LC features were found to be distinctly different. Supervised classifications using maximum-likelihood distance were performed with various combinations of data (three-date backscatter intensity and two-date backscatter intensity with corresponding coherence data) to generate LU/LC maps of the study area. The comparison of classification accuracies obtained for different combinations of data indicates that the classification accuracy is improved by adding coherence information to the backscatter intensity data compared to using the multidate backscatter intensity data alone. Thus, the analysis of backscatter intensity along with coherence is a better alternative than using backscatter intensity alone to improve the accuracy in LU/LC classification.
Seasonal Variations of Climate Feedbacks in the NCAR CCSM3

AbstractThis study investigates the annual cycle of radiative contributions to global climate feedbacks. A partial radiative perturbation (PRP) technique is used to diagnose monthly radiative perturbations at the top of atmosphere (TOA) due to CO2 forcing; surface temperature response; and water vapor, cloud, lapse rate, and surface albedo feedbacks using NCAR Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3) output from a Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B emissions-scenario-forced climate simulation. The seasonal global mean longwave TOA radiative feedback was found to be minimal. However, the global mean shortwave (SW) TOA cloud and surface albedo radiative perturbations exhibit large seasonality. The largest contributions to the negative SW cloud feedback occur during summer in each hemisphere, marking the largest differences with previous results. Results suggest that intermodel spread in climate sensitivity may occur, partially from cloud and surface albedo feedback seasonality differe.
First gondwanatherian mammal from Antarctica

Abstract Gondwanatherians are an enigmatic group of extinct non-therian mammals apparently restricted to some of the western Gondwanan continents (Late Cretaceous-early Palaeocene of South America, and Late Cretaceous of Madagascar and India). They developed rodent-like incisors and the earliest known hypsodont cheek-teeth among mammals. Recently, a small rodent-like dentary fragment was recovered from middle Eocene beds on the Antarctic Peninsula, preserving part of the incisor; both the incisor enamel structure and the mandibular morphology suggest close affinities with Sudamerica ameghinoi from the early Palaeocene of Patagonia, up to now the youngest known Gondwanatheria. Thus, the new specimen becomes the youngest occurrence of a gondwanathere, adding significant direct and indirect evidence on: (1) the already documented cosmopolitanism of gondwanatheres among Gondwanan mammals; and (2) the crucial biogeographical role of Antarctica during the Cretaceous-Tertiary mammalian transition.