Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cause of different local time distribution in the postsunset equatorial ionospheric irregularity occurrences between June and December solstices

[1] Global averaged postsunset equatorial ionospheric density irregularity occurrences observed by ROCSAT during the moderate to high solar activity years of 1999 to 2004 indicate a different local time distribution between June and December solstices. The irregularity occurrences during the December solstice show a faster increase rate to peak at 2100–2200 local time, while the irregularity occurrences during the June solstice have a slower increase rate and peak one hour later in local time than that in the December solstice. The cause of such different local time distributions is attributed to a large contrast in the time of zonal drift reversal and the magnitude of postsunset vertical drift observed by ROCSAT at longitudes of large magnetic declination in the two solstices. That is, a delay in the zonal drift reversal in association with a smaller postsunset vertical drift observed at longitudes of positive magnetic declination has greatly inhibited the irregularity occurrences during the June solstice in contrast to an earlier zonal drift reversal together with a large vertical drift occurring at longitudes of negative magnetic declination to accelerate the irregularity occurrences during the December solstice. We think that the different geomagnetic field strengths that existed between the longitudes of positive and negative magnetic declinations have played a crucial role in determining the different local time distributions of irregularity occurrences for the two solstices.
An Assessment of Recent Changes in the Niger Delta Coastline Using Satellite Imagery

In Nigeria, there is dearth of studies on recent changes on accelerated marine processes along the national coastlines despite their importance as ports for navigation and marine commerce as well as a bridge for aquatic and terrestrial life.This study, which deals with a time series analysis of recent changes in the Niger Delta Coastline using Satellite Imagery is an attempt at filling this gap. Landsat TM images of 1986 and Landsat ETM+ of 2003 both covering the Niger Delta area of Nigeria were used for this study and the images were processed using Erdas Imagine Version 8.7 and Arc Info 9.1 for the GIS operations. The results of the analyses show among other things that coastline erosion was dominant over accretion of sediment deposition. Also that the total area of observed changes along the coastlines was 46.535sq. km. Of this, 27.65sq. km (59.43%) constitutes eroded area, and 40.57% representing 18.88sq. km of the area showed coastal sediment accretion.
The role of various transporters in the placental uptake of ofloxacin in an in vitro model of human villous trophoblasts

the chiral switching of this racemic mixture resulted in a drug composed of the l -optical isomer levofloxacin (LVFX). Since both fluoroquinolones (FQs) were introduced to the pharmaceutical market, they have been widely prescribed by physicians, with careful administration during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore, the role of the influx and efflux placental transporters in the concentrations of these drugs that permeate through human placental barrier model was investigated in this study. Methods: The contribution of major carriers on the transplacental flux of OFLX and LVFX uptake into choriocarcinoma BeWo cells was evaluated in the presence vs absence of well-known inhibitors. Results: Our results reveal that neither the influx transporters such as organic cation transporters, organic anion transporters, and monocarboxylate transporters nor the efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein or breast cancer resistance protein significantly affected the transport of OFLX. In contrast, multiple transporters revealed pronounced involvement in the transfer of the levorotatory enantiomer in and out of the in vitro placental barrier. These data suggest a non-carrier-mediated mechanism of transport of the racemic mixture, while LVFX is subjected to major influx and efflux passage through the placental brush border membranes. Conclusion: This study provides underlying insights to elucidate the governing factors that influence the flux of these FQs through organ barriers, in view of the controversial safety profile of these drugs in pregnant population.
Model of Soil Salinity Effects on Crop Growth 1

The model considers properties of the soil, water, plant, and atmospheric system to predict relative crop yield. Crop yield predictions assume a direct relation between dry matter production and transpiration. The only salinity effects considered are osmotic potential. The influence of initial soil salinity on crop growth depended upon the crop type and irrigation management. Predictions made of salt buildup over several years show that some water management systems would produce high yields for several years before salt buildup would decrease yields. Predictions show that the influence of irrigation system uniformity on salinity buildup and yield reduction is very important. Additional Index Words: salt, irrigation, drainage, evapotranspiration, root distribution. View complete article To view this complete article, insert Disc 3 then click button8
Online support community for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer: user statistics, evaluation, and content analysis

Purpose: Peer support is an important unmet need among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. This study was conducted to describe the use and evaluation of a Dutch secure online support community for AYA diagnosed with cancer between 18 and 35 years. Methods: User statistics were collected with Google analytics. Community members were asked to complete questionnaires on the usefulness of the community. A content analysis using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count was conducted. Results: Between 2010 and 2017, the community received 433 AYA members (71% female; mean age at diagnosis 25.7 years; 52 Dutch hospitals represented). The mean time since diagnosis when subscribing to the community was 2.7 years (SD 4.4). Questionnaire data among 30 AYA community members indicated that the use of the community resulted in acknowledgment and advice regarding problems (56%) and the feeling of being supported (63%). Almost half of the respondents felt less lonely, 78% experienced recognition in stories of other AYA. Anonymized content analysis (n = 14) showed that the majority of the online discussions encompassed emotional and cognitive expressions, and emotional support. Conclusion: The secure Dutch online AYA community can help AYA cancer patients to express feelings, exchange information, address peer support, and has been found helpful in coping with cancer. As AYA cancer patients often lack the option of meeting each other in person, the AYA community is helpful in establishing peer support. Its use would benefit from promotion by health care professionals.
SHALE HOLD TIME FOR OPTIMUM OIL SHALE RETORTING INSIDE A BATCH-LOADED FLUIDIZED- BED REACTOR

An optimum thermal decomposition (retorting) of the Jordanian Lajjun oil shale was examined using a laboratory-scale batch-loaded fluidized-bed reactor. The effects of the retorting temperature (450-600 oC), shale hold time (5-40 min) and size of shale particle (0.6-4.5 mm) on oil yield were investigated. Findings showed that for maximum oil yield achieve- ment, a shale particle size close to 1.4 mm was optimal. For this, two optimum retorting zones were proposed; in the first zone, retorting should be performed at higher temperatures (540-600 °C) and short shale hold times (5-20 min) and in the second zone, at lower temperatures (450-510 °C) and long hold times (> 20-40 min).
Caregiving and all ‐ cause mortality in older men 2005 ‐ 2015: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

Introduction As a consequence of population ageing, the number of people that need caregiving is increasing globally [1, 2]. Even in countries with well‐developed health care systems including Australia, much of the caregiving is done by family and other members of the community [3]. These carers are often referred to in the literature as informal carers. A large proportion of informal carers are people aged 65 years and over [4, 5]. For an example in 2015, 22% of all Australia’s informal carers were people aged 65 years and over which represented 18% of Australia’s older population [6].
On the value of operationally synthesized multiple‐Doppler wind fields

The ability to collect radial velocity measurements at long range resulting from the deployment of innovative Doppler schemes within operational radar networks brings new perspectives in terms of exploitation of operational Doppler data, including the ability to routinely retrieve meso‐β three‐dimensional (3‐D) multiple‐Doppler wind fields over extensive areas. In this paper, we evaluate the potential of this new capability in terms of operational applications using radar data collected by the French radar network ARAMIS. The retrieved 3‐D wind fields are shown to provide reliable and continuous mapping of the kinematic structure of rain events and appear particularly suitable for both short term forecasting and model verification purposes.
Morphology, Abundance, and Chemistry of Near-Ridge Seamounts in the Vicinity of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ~26°S

Small (<150 m high) volcanic cones and larger oceanic central volcanoes (seamounts) up to 600 m high are abundant near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge ~26°S. They are present along the axis, within the rift valley floor, and also on the ridge flanks. Seabeam mapping of $$~16,500 km^{2}$$ within about 130 km of the axis (~7 Ma) shows up to 118 seamounts and cones for a normalized abundance of $$~7000/106 km^{2}$$. Their abundance is highest near the axis and decreases outward on the flanks of the ridge. Small cones and seamounts are much more abundant than large ones. They range in shape from simple cones with flat summits to more complex flat-topped volcanoes with summit craters, arcuate summit benches, and satellite cones. Volcanic rocks dredged from nine of these seamounts are all depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB). Off-axis seamounts on the ridge flanks generally have primitive lavas with high Mg# (66-68) except for those dredged from calderas, which are less primitive (Mg# 63-65). In contrast, cones on the floor of the axial rift valley have Mg# 62-65. In general, off-axis seamount lavas are more primitive than axial lavas. Major element chemistry also suggests that the magmas of off-axis seamounts are produced at higher pressure and with less melting than axial cone lavas. The slow to moderate spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26°S is not affected by hot spots. Its seamounts and cones have shapes, size distribution, abundance, and chemistry similar to seamounts near the fast-spreading East Pacific Rise. If these results are representative for the South Atlantic and other slow-spreading ridge crests, then near-axis, non-hotspot seamount production is not restricted to fast and medium spreading centers.
First-line therapy with fludarabine compared with chlorambucil does not result in a major benefit for elderly patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of elderly patients, subjects older than 65 years are heavily underrepresented in clinical trials. The German CLL study group (GCLLSG) initiated a multicenter phase III trial for CLL patients older than 65 years comparing first-line therapy with fludarabine with chlorambucil. A total of 193 patients with a median age of 70 years were randomized to receive fludarabine (25 mg/m(2) for 5 days intravenously, every 28 days, for 6 courses) or chlorambucil (0.4 mg/kg body weight [BW] with an increase to 0.8 mg/kg, every 15 days, for 12 months). Fludarabine resulted in a significantly higher overall and complete remission rate (72% vs 51%, P = .003; 7% vs 0%, P = .011). Time to treatment failure was significantly shorter in the chlorambucil arm (11 vs 18 months; P = .004), but no difference in progression-free survival time was observed (19 months with fludarabine, 18 months with chlorambucil; P = .7). Moreover, fludarabine did not increase the overall survival time (46 months in the fludarabine vs 64 months in the chlorambucil arm; P = .15). Taken together, the results suggest that in elderly CLL patients the first-line therapy with fludarabine alone does not result in a major clinical benefit compared with chlorambucil. This trial is registered with www.isrctn. org under identifier ISRCTN 36294212.
Thermal expansion measurements at very high pressure, systematics, and a case for a chemically homog

New data on thermal expansivity, α, of iron to over 400 kbar in laser- and electrically-heated diamond anvil cells and on MgO and forsterite from spectroscopic data to over 200 kbar and previously measured adiabats [Boehler, 1982], imply that α at high pressure may be described by a constant value of (∂1nα/∂1nV)T = 5.5 ± 0.5. This behavior is supported by previous α measurements at lower pressures on a large variety of materials. Densities of magnesio-wustite and silicate perovskite in a pyrolitic ratio calculated at lower mantle conditions using a finite strain equation and α at high pressures, using the above systematics, match those in PREM through the entire lower mantle, making a strong case for a uniform mantle.
New Zealand climate: temperature and precipitation variations and their links with atmospheric circulation 1930-1994

New Zealand’s complex orography gives distinct regional responses to variations in atmospheric circulation. By using rotated principal components, three spatially coherent temperature, and eight rainfall regions are defined for describing climate variations and trends for the period 1930‐1994. Two main circulation changes have occurred in the New Zealand area over the record examined, around 1950 and 1975, making it convenient to analyse the data in three periods: 1930‐1950, 1951‐1975 and 1976‐1994. From 1930 to 1950 more south to southwest anomalous flow occurred, relative to later years. All three temperature regions recorded lower temperatures, and wetter years occurred in the northeast of the South Island, with drier years in the north and west of the South Island. Airflow from the east and northeast increased during the period 1951‐1975. This was accompanied by increases in mean temperature in all regions, with wetter conditions in the north of the North Island, and drier conditions in the southeast of the South Island. In the final period analysed (1976‐1994) more
Climatic Shifts in the Availability of Contested Waters: A Long-Term Perspective from the Headwaters of the North Platte River

Early summer snowmelt from mountains in northern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming supplies the North Platte River, supporting nationally important agriculture, energy production, and urban development. Repeated decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court have fully apportioned Platte River waters among Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska, underscoring societal strains on this system. Now, climate change threatens the regional allocation of water. Tree-ring records indicate that past centuries contained multidecadal “megadroughts” far more severe than those of the historic period. However, the potential for even more persistent droughts, as the result of climate change, is poorly known. We document and evaluate the severity of recent and prehistoric droughts via a combination of data sources: modern temperature, precipitation, and stream gauge data; evidence of low lake-level stands; and related estimates of past hydroclimate change. Modern climate and stream data show an increase in spring temperatures of 2.21°C since 1916, an increase in the frequency of peak spring runoff before 1 May, and a reduction in winter precipitation. Lakes, however, that have only experienced minor hydrologic changes historically were desiccated during prehistoric dry periods during the past 12,000 years. Prehistoric lake shorelines indicate that water supplies were substantially reduced over centuries and millennia, such as from > 8,000 to < 5,000 years before present. The magnitude of these droughts likely also resulted in ephemeral river flows and thus indicates the potential for persistent shifts in regional hydrology. Such shifts should, therefore, be considered as part of long-term economic and legal planning.
Risk assessment of soil erosion in semi-arid mountainous watershed in Saudi Arabia by RUSLE model coupled with remote sensing and GIS

Soil erosion is the most important factor in land degradation and influences desertification in semi-arid areas. A comprehensive methodology that integrates revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model and GIS was adopted to determine the soil erosion risk (SER) in semi-arid Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Geoenvironmental factors viz. rainfall (R), soil erodibility (K), slope (LS), cover management and practice factors were computed to determine their effects on average annual soil loss. The high potential soil erosion, resulting from high denuded slope, devoid of vegetation cover and high intensity rainfall, is located towards the north western part of the study area. The analysis is investigated that the SER over the vegetation cover including dense vegetation, sparse vegetation and bushes increases with the higher altitude and higher slope angle. The erosion maps generated with RUSLE integrated with GIS can serve as effective inputs in deriving strategies for land planning/management in the environmentally sensitive mountainous areas.
Efficient Catalytic Production of Biodiesel with Acid-Base Bifunctional Rod-Like Ca-B Oxides by the Sol-Gel Approach

The search for acid-base bifunctional catalysts has become a hot topic in the preparation of biofuels from renewable resources. In the present work, a series of novel acid-base bifunctional metal-boron catalysts were successfully prepared by a sol-gel method and characterized by XRD, IR, SEM, TEM, TGA, BET, and TPD. Among those bifunctional solid materials, the Ca-B(700) catalyst had the highest density of both acid and base sites and showed excellent catalytic performance in the production of biodiesel from nonedible oils with high acid value. Under the optimal reaction conditions of 20/1 methanol/oil mole ratio and 4 wt % catalyst dosage at 105 °C for 2 h, a high biodiesel yield of 96.0% could be obtained from Jatropha curcas oil in one-pot. In addition, Ca-B(700) was also applicable to producing biodiesel from Firmiana platanifolia L.f. oil in a relatively low acid value, with an almost quantitative yield (98.5%) at 65 °C after 2 h. The Ca-B(700) catalyst had good stability and reusability, which is a promising acid-base bifunctional catalytic material for the preparation of biodiesel.
Effective matrix diffusion in kilometer‐scale transport in fractured crystalline rock

Concentrations of tritium (3H) and dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC‐12) in water samples taken from glacial drift and fractured crystalline rock over 4 km2 in central New Hampshire are interpreted to identify a conceptual model of matrix diffusion and the magnitude of the diffusion coefficient. Dispersion and mass transfer to and from fractures has affected the 3H concentration to the extent that the peak 3H concentration of the 1960s is no longer distinguishable. Because of heterogeneity in the bedrock the sparsely distributed chemical data do not warrant a three‐dimensional transport model. Instead, a one‐dimensional model of CFC‐12 and 3H migration along flow lines in the glacial drift and bedrock is used to place bounds on the processes affecting kilometer‐scale transport, arid model parameters are varied to reproduce the measured relation between 3H and CFC‐12, rather than their spatial distributions. A model of mass exchange to and from fractures that is dependent on the time‐varying concentration gradient at fracture surfaces qualitatively reproduces the measured relation between 3H and CFC‐12 with an upper bound for the fracture dispersivity approximately equal to 250 m and a lower bound for the effective matrix diffusion coefficient equal to 1 m2 yr−1. The diffusion coefficient at the kilometer scale is at least 3 orders of magnitude greater than laboratory estimates of diffusion in crystalline rock. The large diffusion coefficient indicates that diffusion into an immobile fluid phase (rock matrix) is masked at the kilometer scale by advective mass exchange between fractures with large contrasts in trarismissivity. The measured transmissivity of fractures in the study area varies over more than 6 orders of magnitude. Advective mass exchange from high‐permeability fractures to low‐permeability fractures results in short migration distances of a chemical constituent in low‐permeability fractures over an extended period of time before reentering high‐permeability fractures; viewed at the kilometer scale, this process is analogous to the chemical constituent diffusing into and out of an immobile fluid phase.
automated oxygen control with O2matic ® during admission with exacerbation of COPD

Purpose: It is a challenge to control oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) in patients with exacerbations of COPD during admission. We tested a newly developed closed-loop system, O2matic ® , and its ability to keep SpO 2 within a specified interval compared with manual control by nursing staff. Patients and methods: We conducted a crossover trial with patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD and hypoxemia (SpO 2 # 88% on room air). Patients were monitored with continuous measurement of SpO 2 . In random order, they had 4 hours with manually controlled oxygen and 4 hours with oxygen delivery controlled by O2matic. Primary outcome was time within a prespecified SpO 2 target interval. Secondary outcomes were time with SpO 2 , 85%, time with SpO 2 below target but not , 85%, and time with SpO 2 above target. Results: Twenty patients were randomized and 19 completed the study. Mean age was 72.4 years and mean FEV 1 was 0.72 L (33% of predicted). Patients with O2matic-controlled treatment were within the SpO 2 target interval in 85.1% of the time vs 46.6% with manually controlled treatment ( P , 0.001). Time with SpO 2 , 85% was 1.3% with O2matic and 17.9% with manual control ( P = 0.01). Time with SpO 2 below target but not , 85% was 9.0% with O2matic and 25.0% with manual control ( P = 0.002). Time with SpO 2 above target was not significantly different between treatments (4.6% vs 10.5%, P = 0.2). Patients expressed high confidence and a sense of safety with automatic oxygen delivery. Conclusion: O2matic was able to effectively control SpO 2 for patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD. O2matic was significantly better than manual control to maintain SpO 2 within target interval and to reduce time with unintended hypoxemia.