Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Year‐round radiocarbon‐based source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosols at two background sites in South Asia

[1] Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABC), regional-scale haze events, are a significant concern for both human cardiopulmonary health and regional climate impacts. In order to effectively mitigate this pollution-based phenomenon, it is imperative to understand the magnitude, scope and source of ABC in regions such as South Asia. Two sites in S. Asia were chosen for a 15-month field campaign focused on isotope-based source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosols in 2008–2009. Both the Maldives Climate Observatory in Hanimaadhoo (MCOH) and a mountaintop site in Sinhagad, India (SINH) act as regionally mixed receptor sites. Annual radiocarbon-based source apportionment for soot elemental carbon (SEC) at MCOH and SINH revealed 73 ± 6% and 59 ± 5% contribution from biomass combustion, respectively (remainder from fossil fuel). The contributions from biogenic/biomass combustion to total organic carbon were similar between MCOH and SINH (69 ± 5% and 64 ± 5, respectively). The biomass combustion contribution for SEC in the current study, especially the results from MCOH, shows good agreement with published black carbon emissions inventories for India. Geographic source assessment, including clustered back trajectory analysis and carbon contribution by source region, indicated that the highest SEC/TOC loads originated from the W. Indian coastal margin, including the coastal city of Mumbai, India. The winter dry season 14C-based source apportionment of the BC-tracing SEC fraction for 2006, 2008, 2009 were not statistically different (p = 0.7) and point to a near-constant two-thirds contribution from biomass combustion practices, including wood and other biofuels as well as burning of agricultural crop residues.
Spatial and sectoral planning support to sustainable territorial and tourism development of protected mountain areas in Serbia.

The starting point for easier resolution of conflicts between conservation and development should be the application of the concept of protected areas of natural heritage as social-ecological systems. This is also the precondition for attainment of strategic planning coordination for protected mountain areas (PMA). The objective of the paper is to provide the insight into the effectiveness of strategic planning support - spatial and sectoral planning - to sustainable territorial and tourism development of PMA in Serbia. The study area comprises Kopaonik and Đerdap National Parks, and Stara Planina Nature Park. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of strategic planning for PMA by means of analysis and evaluation of spatial plans, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and sector plans in tourism for the study area. The effectiveness of spatial planning is checked based on the analysis and evaluation of sustainability of zoning and land-use regimes, and of tourism development proposed by spatial plans for the study area. The conclusion is that it is necessary to apply holistic approach to sector planning for nature conservation and tourism development, and to apply SEA for tourism planning as well. Reduction of the spatial coverage of PMA and spatial differentiation of protected zones from the ones planned for intensive development is recommended.
Perceptual cues

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Rhizosphere effects on soil nutrient dynamics and microbial activity in an Australian tropical lowland rainforest

Via vast exchanges of energy, water, carbon, and nutrients, tropical forests are a major driving force in the regulation of Earth’s biogeochemical, hydrological, and climatic cycles. Given the critical role of rhizosphere processes in nutrient cycling, it is likely that rhizosphere processes in tropical rainforests form a major component of the biome’s interactions with global cycles. Little is known, however, about rhizospheric processes in rainforest soils. In order to investigate the influence of rhizosphere processes upon rainforest nutrient cycling, we compared the nutrient status and microbial activity of rhizospheric soil from Australian lowland tropical rainforest with that of the surrounding bulk soil. We found a marked difference in the biological and chemical nature of the rhizosphere and bulk soils. Total carbon, microbial biomass carbon, total nitrogen, soluble nitrogen, and a suite of trace element concentrations, alongside microbial respiration and the rate and diversity of carbon substrate use, were all significantly higher in the rhizosphere soil than the bulk soil. Rhizosphere soil δ15N was significantly lower than that of the bulk soil. Ratios of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur differed significantly between the rhizosphere and bulk soil. These clear differences suggest that rhizosphere processes strongly influence nutrient cycling in lowland tropical rainforest, and are likely to play an important role in its interaction with global cycles. This role may be under-represented with composite sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soil. Further research is required regarding the mechanisms of rainforest rhizospheric processes and their relationship with ecosystem productivity, stability, and environmental change.
Aortic stiffness and brain integrity in elderly patients with cognitive and functional complaints

Purpose: Cerebral white matter lesions (WML) and brain atrophy are frequent in older persons and are associated with adverse outcomes. It has been suggested that aortic stiffness plays a role in the pathogenesis of WML and gray matter (GM) loss. There is, however, little evidence on the association between aortic stiffness and brain integrity in older patients. In this study, we investigated whether aortic stiffness is associated with WML and GM volume in older patients with cognitive and functional complaints. Patients and methods: Fazekas score was used to analyze WML on brain imaging data of 84 persons; in a subanalysis on 42 MRI scans, the exact volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and GM was determined using a brain-tissue and WMH tool. Aortic stiffness, measured as aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and central pulse pressure (cPP), and blood pressure levels were non-invasively measured by the Mobil-O-Graph. Results: Mean age was 76.6 ( ± 6.8) years. Age was correlated with cPP (Spearman’s ρ = 0.296, P = 0.008), aPWV ( r ² = 0.785, P , 0.001) and WMH volume ( r ² = 0.297, P , 0.001). cPP did not differ between categories of Fazekas, whereas aPWV increased with increasing Fazekas score ( P for trend , 0.001). After additional adjustment for age, levels of aPWV did not differ between categories. Both cPP and aPWV were associated with WMH volumes (lnB 0.025, P = 0.055 and lnB 0.405, P , 0.001, respectively); after additional adjustment for age, estimates were less consistent. Both cPP and aPWV were negatively associated with GM volumes in multivariate analysis (B = 2.805, P = 0.094 and B = 111.052, P = 0.032). Conclusion: Higher aortic stiffness was partly associated with increased volume of WMH and decreased volume of GM and slightly influenced by blood pressure. Age also plays a role in this association in older patients.
Estimation of nonisotropic scattering in western Japan using coda wave envelopes : application of a multiple nonisotropic scattering model

Scattering by heterogeneities is an important factor controlling shapes oF seismograms. Analyzing horizontal component seismograms in the band 1.0-8 Hz of local earthquakes in western Japan, the author found that coda energy concentration just after the S wave arrival is more than expected for any multiple isotropic scattering model in uniform infinite medium. This behavior was seen even for deep earthquakes and became stronger with increase of frequency. To try to interpret this observation, nonisotropy is introduced into the multiple scattering model. The observed envelopes are compared with the model in order to estimate the amount of nonisotropy in scattering. Coda wave envelopes are synthesized using the Monte Carlo method for the nonisotropic scattering media. Two types of angular dependent scattering are considered as models of the nonisotropy with relation to the perturbation of seismic wave velocity in the lithosphere: perturbed media with exponential and Gaussian autocorrelation functions. It is found that forward scattering is dominant and the strength of sideways scattering is at least 10 times larger than that of backward scattering. The amount of the nonisotropic scattering means that correlation distance is estimated to be larger than several hundred meters in the case of Gaussian random media. 31more » refs., 17 figs.« less
Sandstone diagenesis of the Lower Cretaceous Sindong Group, Gyeongsang Basin, southeastern Korea: Implications for compositional and paleoenvironmental controls

Abstract The Gyeongsang Basin is a non‐marine sedimentary basin formed by extensional tectonism during the Early Cretaceous in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. The sediment fill starts with the Sindong Group distributed along the western margin of the basin. It consists of three lithostratigraphic units: the Nakdong (alluvial fan), Hasandong (fluvial) and Jinju (lacustrine) formations with decreasing age. Sindong Group sandstones are classified into four petrofacies (PF) based on their detrital composition: PF‐A consists of the lower Nakdong Formation with average Q73F12R15; PF‐B the upper Nakdong and lower Hasandong formations with Q66F15R18; PF‐C the middle Hasandong to middle Jinju formations with Q49F29R22; and PF‐D the upper Jinju Formation with Q26F34R41. The variations of detrital composition influenced the diagenetic mineral assemblage in the Sindong Group sandstones. Illite and dolomite/ankerite are important diagenetic minerals in PF‐A and PF‐B, whereas calcite and chlorite are dominant diagenetic minerals in PF‐C and PF‐D. Most of the diagenetic minerals can be divided into early and late diagenetic stages of formation. Early diagenetic calcites occur mostly in PF‐C, probably controlled by arid to semiarid climatic conditions during the sandstone deposition, no early calcite being found in PF‐A and PF‐B. Late‐stage calcites are present in all Sindong Group sandstones. The calcium ions may have been derived from shale diagenesis and dissolution of early stage calcites in the Hasandong and Jinju sandstones. Illite, the only diagenetic clay mineral in PF‐A and lower PF‐B, is inferred to be a product of kaolinite transformation during deep burial, and the former presence of kaolinite is inferred from the humid paleoclimatic conditions during the deposition of the Nakdong Formation. Chlorites in PF‐C and PF‐D are interpreted to be the products of transformation of smectitic clay or of precipitation from alkaline pore water under arid to semiarid climatic conditions. The occurrence of late‐stage diagenetic minerals largely depended on the distribution of early diagenetic minerals, which was controlled initially by the sediment composition and paleoclimate.
Bayesian log‐Gaussian Cox process regression: applications to meta‐analysis of neuroimaging working memory studies

Working memory (WM) was one of the first cognitive processes studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging. With now over 20 years of studies on WM, each study with tiny sample sizes, there is a need for meta‐analysis to identify the brain regions that are consistently activated by WM tasks, and to understand the interstudy variation in those activations. However, current methods in the field cannot fully account for the spatial nature of neuroimaging meta‐analysis data or the heterogeneity observed among WM studies. In this work, we propose a fully Bayesian random‐effects metaregression model based on log‐Gaussian Cox processes, which can be used for meta‐analysis of neuroimaging studies. An efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo scheme for posterior simulations is presented which makes use of some recent advances in parallel computing using graphics processing units. Application of the proposed model to a real data set provides valuable insights regarding the function of the WM.
BUBL-1 is essential for intermediate filament organization and apical membrane morphology

Epithelial tubes are essential components of metazoan organ systems that control the flow of fluids and the exchange of materials between body compartments and the outside environment. The size and shape of the central lumen confer important characteristics to tubular organs and need to be carefully controlled. Here, we identify the small coiled-coil protein BUBL-1 as a regulator of lumen morphology in the C. elegans intestine. Loss of BUBL-1 causes the formation of bubble-shaped invaginations of the apical membrane into the cytoplasm of intestinal cells, and abnormal aggregation of the subapical intermediate filament (IF) network. BUBL-1 interacts with IF proteins and localizes to the IF network in an IF-dependent manner. The appearance of invaginations is a result of the abnormal IF aggregation, indicating a direct role for the IF network in maintaining lumen homeostasis. Finally, we identify C9orf16 as the likely mammalian ortholog of BUBL-1. When expressed in the C. elegans intestine, C9orf16 recapitulates the localization pattern of BUBL1 and can compensate for the loss of BUBL-1. In mouse intestinal organoids, C9orf16 localizes subapically, together with the IF protein keratin 8. Our results therefore may have implications for understanding the role of IFs in regulating epithelial tube morphology in mammals.
Heavy Rainfall Simulation over Sinai Peninsula Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

Heavy rainfall is one of major severe weather over Sinai Peninsula and causes many flash floods over the region. The good forecasting of rainfall is very much necessary for providing early warning before the flash flood events to avoid or minimize disasters. In the present study using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, heavy rainfall events that occurred over Sinai Peninsula and caused flash flood have been investigated. The flash flood that occurred on January 18, 2010, over different parts of Sinai Peninsula has been predicted and analyzed using the Advanced Weather Research and Forecast (WRF-ARW) Model. The predicted rainfall in four dimensions (space and time) has been calibrated with the measurements recorded at rain gauge stations. The results show that the WRF model was able to capture the heavy rainfall events over different regions of Sinai. It is also observed that WRF model was able to predict rainfall in a significant consistency with real measurements. In this study, several synoptic characteristics of the depressions that developed during the course of study have been investigated. Also, several dynamic characteristics during the evolution of the depressions were studied: relative vorticity, thermal advection, and geopotential height.
Comparing the effectiveness of secondary distribution of HIV self- 1 testing to testing card referral in promoting HIV testing among men 2 who have sex with men in China: A quasi-experimental study

Social network-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) is useful to promote HIV testing. Secondary 15 distribution is one social network-based method whereby individuals (indexes) access multiple 16 HIVST kits and distribute them to their social networks (alters). This quasi-experimental study 17 compared the effectiveness and cost of two social network-based HIV testing strategies (HIVST 18 secondary distribution and HIV testing card referral) in promoting HIV testing among Chinese 19 men who have sex with men (MSM). unique alters, and 62 in the testing card arm self-reported having distributed testing referral cards to 26 unique alters. Additionally, 69/92 (75%) in the HIVST arm distributed any test to friends or 36 sexual partners compared to 18/62 (29%) in the testing card arm, with a risk difference of 46% 37 (95% CI 31%, 61%). Indexes in the HIVST arm distributed an average of 1.95 (SD=1.90) tests, 38 compared to 0.42 (SD=0.78) in the testing card arm, with a risk difference of 1.53 (95% CI 1.09, 39 1.96). Subgroup analysis suggested that indexes in the HIVST arm who self-identified as gay (p 40 = 0.007) or were previously tested for HIV (p = 0.02) were more likely to distribute. The HIVST 41 arm had a higher total cost and higher testing coverage compared to the testing card referral arm. The ICER per alter tested was $52.78.
A functional approach to Paleolithic open-air habitation structures

Abstract Advances in hominin bioenergetics and paleoclimate reconstructions suggest that morphology was an insufficient buffer against the cool climate of Pleistocene Europe. To maintain homeostasis, hominins must have supplemented endothermy with various extrasomatic behavioral solutions. It is commonly suggested that one such solution was the use of simple windbreaks, though to date no studies have assessed the thermo-regulatory benefits, if any, they may have conferred on their users. In the experimental project discussed in this article, computer simulations and practical models of simple windbreaks in controlled wind tunnels were used to evaluate their performance. The results were integrated into models of Neandertal cold tolerance and climatic reconstructions of known occupation sites during the Last Glacial Maximum in Northern Europe, in order to assess their usefulness to Pleistocene hominins. It was clear that, within the constraints of their toolkits, early hominins could have constructed habitation structures that would have been highly effective aids to help them stay warm. These new data permit a functional understanding of the archaeological record and have implications for hominin technology as well as range.
Three‐dimensional Vp and Vp/Vs structure at Loma Prieta, California, from local earthquake tomography

P and S-P times from local earthquakes and P times from explosions at seismic stations in the vicinity of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake are inverted simultaneously to produce three-dimensional images of Vp and Vp/Vs structure along the rupture zone. The results confirm the presence of the major heterogeneities identified in previous studies using P waves only, including high Vp along the rupture in areas of significant slip and a low-velocity wedge along the San Andreas at the SE edge of the rupture. A change in rock properties evidenced by a significant Vp/Vs increase (equal to a 30% Poisson's ratio increase) from the middle crust to the upper crust may have been responsible for the upward termination of the main shock rupture. We speculate that the deep high-Vp body that lies along the SE portion of the rupture zone consists of two bodies, based on model results indicating that the SW part of the body has relatively high Vp/Vs while the NE part has relatively low Vp/Vs.
Perceived Timing of Cutaneous Vibration and Intracortical Microstimulation of 1 Human Somatosensory Cortex 2

16 Background : Electrically stimulating the somatosensory cortex can partially restore the 17 sense of touch. Though this technique bypasses much of the neuroaxis, prior studies with 18 non-human primates have found that conscious detection of touch elicited by intracortical 19 microstimulation (ICMS) lags behind the detection of vibration applied to the skin. These 20 findings may have been influenced by a mismatch in stimulus intensity; typically, vibration 21 is perceived as more intense than ICMS, which can significantly impact temporal 22 perception. 23 Objective : The goal of this study was to evaluate the relative latency at which intensity- 24 matched vibration and ICMS are perceived in a human subject. 25 Methods : A human participant implanted with microelectrode arrays in somatosensory 1 cortex performed a reaction time task and a temporal order judgment (TOJ) task. In the 2 reaction time task, the participant was presented with ICMS or vibration and verbal 3 response times were obtained. In the TOJ task, the participant was sequentially 4 presented with a pair of stimuli – ICMS followed by vibration or vice versa – and reported 5 which stimulus occurred first. 6 Results : When ICMS and vibration were matched in perceived intensity, the reaction time 7 to vibration was ~50 ms faster than ICMS. However, in the TOJ task, ICMS and vibratory 8 sensations arose at comparable latencies, with points of subjective simultaneity that were 9 not significantly different from zero. 10 Conclusions : Because the perception of ICMS is slower than that of intensity-matched 11 vibration, it may be necessary to stimulate at stronger ICMS intensities (thus decreasing 12 reaction time) when incorporating ICMS sensory feedback into neural prostheses.
Scale‐aware parameterization of liquid cloud inhomogeneity and its impact on simulated climate in CESM

Using long‐term radar‐based ground measurements from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program, we derive the inhomogeneity of cloud liquid water as represented by the shape parameter of a gamma distribution. The relationship between the inhomogeneity and the model grid size as well as atmospheric condition is presented. A larger grid scale and more unstable atmosphere are associated with larger inhomogeneity that is described by a smaller shape parameter. This relationship is implemented as a scale‐aware parameterization of the liquid cloud inhomogeneity in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) in which the shape parameter impacts the cloud microphysical processes. When used in the default CESM1 with the finite‐volume dynamic core where a constant liquid inhomogeneity parameter was assumed, it reduces the cloud inhomogeneity in high latitudes and increases it in low latitudes. This is due to both the smaller (larger) grid size in high (low) latitudes in the longitude‐latitude grid setting of CESM and the more stable (unstable) atmosphere. The single‐column model and general circulation model sensitivity experiments show that the new parameterization increases the cloud liquid water path in polar regions and decreases it in low latitudes. An advantage of the parameterization is that it can recognize the spatial resolutions of the CESM without special tuning of the cloud water inhomogeneity parameter.