Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Continental flood basalts of the Huashan Group, northern margin of the Yangtze block – implications for the breakup of Rodinia

It is generally accepted that Neoproterozoic extension and dispersal of the supercontinent Rodinia was associated with mantle plume or superplume activities. However, plume-generated contemporaneous continental flood basalts (CFBs) have rarely been identified. In this study, we present geochronological and geochemical evidence for the basalts from the Liufangzui Formation of the Huashan Group in the Dahongshan region of east-central China. A representative sample yields a SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age of 824 ± 9 Ma, interpreted as the crystallization age of the rocks. Geochemically, these basalts belong to the subalkaline tholeiite series and display slight enrichments in light rare earth elements (LREE) and varying degrees of deficiency of high field strength elements (HFSE) such as Nb, Ta, and Ti. This pattern is very similar to that of CFBs from the Bikou Group and Tiechuanshan Formation in the northwestern Yangtze block in China and Siberia in Russia. The basaltic magmas underwent partially-fractional crystallization during ascent, but were not intensely influenced by crustal contamination. The characteristic element ratios and negative Hf isotopic analyses (ϵHf(t) = −6.6–2.6) in zircons indicate that the parental magmas of the basalts might have been derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle rather than from the depleted mantle such as normal mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORBs). The geochemical signatures and regional geological characteristics show that these basalts were formed along intraplate continental rifts rather than in island arcs or ocean basins. Considering the coeval basic volcanic rocks in South China, we propose that these Huashan Group basalts represent the remnants of plume-generated CFBs and have close spatiotemporal ties with a coeval basic igneous province in Australia. Our results support the Neoproterozoic location of the South China block adjacent to southeastern Australia in the reconstruction model of the supercontinent Rodinia.
Postfire influences of snag attrition on albedo and radiative forcing

This paper examines albedo perturbation and radiative forcing after a high‐severity fire in a mature forest in the Oregon Cascade Range. Correlations between postfire albedo and seedling, sapling, and snag (standing dead tree) density were investigated across fire severity classes and seasons for years 4–15 after fire. Albedo perturbation was 14 times larger in winter compared to summer and increased with fire severity class for the first several years. Albedo perturbation increased linearly with time over the study period. Correlations between albedo perturbations and the vegetation densities were strongest with snags, and significant in all fire classes in both summer and winter (R < −0.92, p < 0.01). The resulting annual radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere became more negative linearly at a rate of −0.86 W m−2 yr−1, reaching −15 W m−2 in year 15 after fire. This suggests that snags can be the dominant controller of postfire albedo on decadal time scales.
Structural control on sweet-spot distribution in a carbonate reservoir: Concepts and 3-D models (Cogollo Group, Lower Cretaceous, Venezuela)

Numerous major hydrocarbon accumulations are related to burial diagenesis in carbonate reservoirs; however, three-dimensional (3-D) modeling of such reservoirs is a major challenge. The geometries of diagenetic fronts are poorly understood, and few quantitative data on field and outcrop examples for these diagenetic zones exist. The Early Cretaceous Cogollo carbonates (Urdaneta West field, northwest Venezuela) are an example of deeply buried (5000 m; 1600 ft), diagenetically altered limestones producing from a few high-porosity streaks and fracture corridors. Reservoir sweet spots formed because of the interplay of structural evolution and diagenesis. Structural deformation not only generated a fracture network but also influenced primary facies distribution, circulation of diagenetic fluids, and distribution of early charged paleohighs in the reservoir.The prediction of reservoir sweet spots is of key importance for economic success in the Cogollo carbonates but constitutes a major challenge. This article outlines the genetic relationships between structural evolution and sweet-spot distribution, as well as the workflow developed to transfer these concepts into 3-D geocellular models. These 3-D models include a novel approach to fracture permeability prediction based on a geomechanical approach.The reservoir model predicts sweet spots along leached faults, which are best preserved in early charged paleohighs. The Cogollo and other reservoirs suggest that favorable structural development can generate and retain significant matrix porosity even at great depth. The workflow established and applied might help to maximize field potential in similar settings.
Patterns of Phanerozoic carbonate platform sedimentation

Carbonate platforms changed substantially in spatial extent, geometry, composition and palaeogeographical distribution through the Phanerozoic. Although reef construction and carbonate platform development are intimately linked today, this was not the case for most of the Phanerozoic. Carbonate production by non-enzymatic precipitation and non-reefal organisms is mostly responsible for this decoupling. Non-reefal carbonate production was especially prolific during times of depressed reef growth, balancing losses in reef carbonate production. Palaeogeographical distribution and spatial extent of Phanerozoic carbonate platforms exhibit trends related to continental drift, evolutionary patterns within carbonate platform biotas, climatic change and, possibly, variations in ocean chemistry. Continental drift moved large Palaeozoic tropical shelf areas into higher latitudes, thereby reducing the potential size of tropical platforms. However, the combined global size of carbonate platforms shows no significant decline through the Phanerozoic, suggesting that availability of tropical shelf areas was not a major control of platform area. This is explained by the limited platform coverage of low-latitude shelves (42% maximum) and occasional high-latitude excursions of platform carbonates. We speculate that reduced tropical shelf area in the icehouse tropics forced the migration of the many carbonate-secreting organisms into higher latitudes and, where terrigenous input was sufficiently low, extensive carbonate platform could develop.
Rate of Gully Expansion on Major Land Uses, the Case of Huluka Watershed, Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Gully erosion is among the many phenomenon which has been interweaving the socio economic and environmental issues of Ethiopians. Actions have been taken to address the problem inadequately. This study was thus aimed at determining the distribution and expansion rates of gullies on the major land cover – land uses in Huluka watershed. This was achieved through collecting historic land cover – land use data using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) and gully expansions using gully assessment method called ‘Assessment of Gully Erosion Rate Through Interview and Measurements (AGERTIM) ’. Field observations, discussion with elders were also employed to validate results from remotely sensed data. Accordingly, about 58km length of active (unstable) gullies with 4.7m width and 2.6m depth was registered in the study watershed. Out of this majority of the active gullies were found on lands commonly used for grazing purpose followed by on the land used for crop cultivation purpose. Unlike the frequency, the dimensions of the gullies on crop land were found larger than the gullies on the lands used for grazing purpose. All active gullies in the watershed have showed continuous and progressive expansion in the last 30 years though the tremendous expansions were seen with in latest period 2005 – 2009 indicating exacerbating rate of gully expansion in the study area. Despite the rapid gully expansions, no any protection and treating measure was registered in the watershed. This study has thus recommended an intervention of concerned bodies to reverse the rapid gully expansions in the study watershed. Keywords : Major Land use, land cover, critical period, AGERTIM, Gully development
N and P resorption efficiency and proficiency from leaves under different forest management systems of deciduous woody species

Leaf N and P resorption efficiency and proficiency were explored in three permanent (non–tiled) and unfertilised plots: a Castanea sativa mill. paraclimax coppice (CC), a chestnut orchard (CO), and Quercus pyrenaica Wild. climax forest (Oak), adjacent to the CO plot, all located in central western Spain. To estimate the seasonal variation of the nutrients contained in the leaves, 9, 3 and 3 trees with different diameters were selected at the three plots respectively. Over three years (2001 to 2003), three annual samplings of leaf nutrients were made (June, September and October) at different heights of the trees (low, middle and high). The evolution of foliar N concentration along the growing period of both species was found to be similar and independent of year and the height of the tree at which the leaves developed. No significant differences were observed between evolution of foliar N concentration along the growing period in either chestnut or Oak. As in the case of the N resorption efficiency measurement in which no significant differences among plots were found for N resorption efficiency and proficiency. The levels of P in leaves were inversely proportional to the concentrations of this element in the soil, which decreased in the order Oak plot, Chestnut coppice and Chestnut orchard, although differences were only significant between the former and the latter. Key words: Castanea sativa, efficiency, forest management, N and P resorption, proficiency, Quercus pyrenaica.
Morphology of the Venus ultraviolet night airglow

Images of the nightside of Venus in the (0,1)delta band of nitric oxide have been obtained by the Pioneer Venus orbiter ultraviolet spectrometer (OUVS). The emission, which is produced by radiative association of N and O, shows a bright spot reaching 5 kR and located at 2 a.m. local solar time just south of the equator. The emitting layer is at 111 + or - 7-km altitude. A one dimensional vertical transport model shows that the hemispheric average brightness of 0.8 kR is consistent with the orbiter neutral mass spectrometer (ONMS) measurements of N and O near 167 km, and that the altitude of the emitting layer is consistent with the eddy mixing model proposed to explain the dayside helium profile measured by the bus neutral mass spectrometer. In the model, N reaches a peak of 7 x 10 to the 8th per cu cm at 114 km, and O reaches a peak of 2.6 x 10 to the 11th per cu cm at 106 km. There is a fair degree of consistency between the ONMS, OUVS, and other airglow measurements, except as regards the local time dependence.
Research Advances in Heart Failure: A Compendium

occur with ventricular dyssynchrony and how these changes respond to CRT. (90) Biventricular pacing has been shown to cause reverse ventricular remodeling, with reduction in biomarkers, including NT-proBNP and markers of extracellular matrix metabolism. (91) CRT improves β adrenergic function and up-regulates presynaptic receptor function. It has also been shown to reverse the apoptosis caused by dyssynchrony (92) and to enhance a variety of mitochondrial enzymes associated with an augmentation of ATP production. (93)
Interdecadal variability of winter precipitation in Northwest China and its association with the North Atlantic SST change

Winter precipitation in Northwest China experienced an obvious interdecadal increase around 1987. Consistent increase in winter precipitation occurred in Middle Asia. This study investigates associated changes in atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST). Analyses show that winter water vapour flux and atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic Ocean and Eurasia and SST in the North Atlantic Ocean were very different before and after 1987. During 1987–2008, a significant enhancement of tropospheric moisture convergence and ascending motion was observed over Northwest China and Middle Asia. This contributed to the increase of winter precipitation in Northwest China and Middle Asia. The wind difference field before and after 1987 features cyclones over Middle Asia and North Atlantic Ocean and anticyclones over East Asia and southern Europe‐northern Africa, signifying an obvious change in the Eurasian (EU) teleconnection pattern over middle latitudes of Eurasia. The results indicate that the Middle Asia and Northwest China were under the influence of enhanced westerlies from the North Atlantic Ocean that strengthened the water vapour transport to Middle Asia and Northwest China after 1987. Moreover, the interdecadal variability in the EU pattern is associated with the SST increase in the North Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the North Atlantic SST change is likely an important reason for the winter precipitation increase in Middle Asia and Northwest China.
Mid-Triassic integrated U–Pb geochronology and ammonoid biochronology from the Balaton Highland (Hungary)

Ladinian (Middle Triassic) strata of the Balaton Highland (west–central Hungary) comprise interbedded marine carbonate and volcaniclastic rocks. The sediments are noted for their rich ammonoid faunas, which allow detailed biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation. For the first time, isotopic dating of the tuff layers was carried out to calibrate the age of ammonoid zones and subzones. Four successive horizons were dated from the Felsouu"örs section, a candidate stratotype for the base of the Ladinian stage. Within the Reitzi Zone, which is interpreted here as the basal Ladinian unit, the following biostratigraphically tightly constrained U–Pb zircon ages were obtained: Felsoeoersensis Subzone 241.1 ± 0.5 Ma; Liepoldti Subzone 241.2 ± 0.4 Ma; Reitzi Subzone 240.5 ± 0.5 and 240.4 ± 0.4 Ma. A redeposited tuff from the Gredleri Zone at Litér yielded an additional U–Pb age of 238.7 ± 0.6 Ma. The new isotopic ages are in agreement with published U–Pb dates from the Southern Alps. Together, they allow estimation of the start of the Ladinian at 241.5 Ma and of the end of the stage at 237 Ma. A duration of <5 Ma for the stage strengthens the argument that cyclicity of the Ladinian Latemar platform (Southern Alps) is not exclusively of Milankovitch origin but forcing with shorter, sub-Milankovitch periods was also involved. The Ladinian, which started 10 Ma after the latest-Permian mass extinction, was a time of radiation and rapid evolutionary turnover, hence empirically established ammonoid biozones are of short duration, averaging 0.75 Ma.
A Pectin Methylesterase Inhibitor Enhances Resistance to Verticillium 3

One-sentence summary: A cotton pectin methylesterase inhibitor interacts with pectin 14 methylesterases, rendering plants more resistant to fungal infection. Abstract 34 Pectins are major components of the primary plant cell wall, which functions as the 35 primary barrier against pathogens. Pectin methylesterases (PMEs) catalyze the 36 demethyl esterification of the homogalacturonan domains of pectin in the plant cell 37 wall. Their activity is regulated by pectin methylesterase inhibitors (PMEIs). Here, we 38 provide evidence that the pectin methylesterase-inhibiting protein GhPMEI3 from 39 cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) functions in plant responses to infection by the fungus 40 Verticillium dahliae . GhPMEI3 interacts with PMEs and regulates the expression of a 41 specific fungal polygalacturonase (VdPG1). Ectopic expression of GhPMEI3 42 increased pectin methyl esterification and limited fungal disease in cotton, while also 43 modulating root elongation. Enzymatic analyses revealed that GhPMEI3 efficiently 44 inhibited the activity of cotton GhPME2/GhPME31. Experiments using 45 transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the GhPMEI3 gene under the control of the 46 CaMV 35S promoter revealed that GhPMEI3 inhibits the endogenous PME activity in 47 vitro . Moreover, the enhanced resistance to V. dahliae was associated with altered 48 VdPG1 expression. Virus-induced silencing of GhPMEI3 resulted in increased 49 susceptibility to V. dahliae . Further, we investigated the interaction between 50 GhPMEI3 and GhPME2/GhPME31 using inhibition assays and molecular docking 51 simulations. The peculiar structural features of GhPMEI3 were responsible for the 52 formation of a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with GhPME2/GhPME31. Together, these 53 results suggest that GhPMEI3 enhances resistance to Verticillium wilt. Moreover, 54 GhPMEI3-GhPMEs interactions would be needed before drawing the correlation 55 between structure-function and are crucial for plant development against the ever- 56 evolving fungal pathogens. recombinant protein spots were digested by trypsin, and the resulting peptides were 818 analyzed as described in the Methods section. D, Inhibition of GhPME2 and 819 GhPME31 activity by GhPMEI3. The experiments were carried out using 1 mU of 820 GhPME2 or GhPME31, with different amounts of purified GhPMEI3. The same 821 reaction was performed with heat-denatured (95 °C, 5 min) PME; water instead of 822 PME was used as a negative control. The results are presented as the means ± SE ( n = 823 Interaction between Pectin Methylesterase and a Specific Inhibitor Protein. The endopolygalacturonase gene Bcpg1 is required for full virulence of Botrytis
Treatment Practices for Adults With Candidemia at 9 Active Surveillance Sites—United States, 2017–2018

Background. Candidemia is a common opportunistic infection causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Because of an increasing proportion of non- albicans Candida species and rising antifungal drug resistance, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) changed treatment guidelines in 2016 to recommend echinocandins over fluconazole as first-line treatment for adults with candidemia. We describe candidemia treatment practices and adherence to the updated guidelines. Methods. During 2017–2018, the Emerging Infections Program conducted active population-based candidemia surveillance at 9 US sites using a standardized case definition. We assessed factors associated with initial antifungal treatment for the first candidemia case among adults using multivariable logistic regression models. To identify instances of potentially inappropriate treatment, we compared the first antifungal drug received with species and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) results from initial blood cultures. Results. antifungal treatment, received an echinocandin and 543 (29.6%) fluconazole initial treatment. Cirrhosis (adjusted odds ratio = 2.06; 95% confidence interval, the medical condition associated with initial receipt of an echinocandin (versus fluconazole). one-half (n = 304, 56.0%) of patients initially treated fluconazole non- albicans species. patients initially treated fluconazole and fluconazole AFST a fluconazole-resistant candidemia treated fluconazole, non- nonadherence guidelines should be evaluated, and clinician education is needed.
Ionospheric zonal velocities at conjugate points over Brazil during the COPEX campaign: Experimental observations and theoretical validations

[1] We analyze in detail the zonal velocities of large-scale ionospheric plasma depletions over two conjugate stations inferred from OI 630 nm airglow all-sky images obtained during the Conjugate Point Equatorial Experiment (COPEX) campaign carried out in Brazil between October and November 2002. The conjugate stations were Boa Vista (BV) (geogr. 2.8N, 60.7W, dip angle 22.0°N) and Campo Grande (CG) (geogr. 20.5S, 54.7W, dip angle 22.32°S). Over Campo Grande, the zonal velocities were measured also by a system of spaced GPS scintillation receivers. The airglow zonal velocities at the conjugate sites were seen to agree very closely, except for a slightly increased velocity over CG which we attribute to the presence of the geomagnetic anomaly. The results show a high degree of alignment of the bubbles along the geomagnetic field lines during the bubble development phase and as the bubbles travel eastward, thereby suggesting that the neutral zonal wind effect in the zonal plasma motion is an integrated effect along the flux tube. The zonal velocities obtained from the GPS technique were always larger than those calculated by the airglow technique, which permitted observation of zonal plasma velocity shear between the altitudes of the airglow emitting layer and of the GPS scintillation. Theoretical ambient plasma zonal velocities calculated using the formulations by Haerendel et al. (1992) and Eccles (1998) are compared with the experimental results. Our results also reveal some degree of dependence of the zonal velocities on the solar flux (F10.7) and magnetic (Kp) indices during the COPEX period.
Acoustic emission and volumetric strain induced in coal by the displacement sorption of methane and carbone dioxide

The aim of this study was to assess whether acoustic emission (AE) could carry information on preferential sorption/desorption of CH4 or CO2 in coal. AE and expansion/contraction of two nearly identical cylindrical coal samples were continuously monitored during displacement sorption experiments. One sample was subjected to presorption of CH4, followed by sorption of CH4/CO2 mixture. With the other one, presorption of CO2 preceded sorption of the mixture.The results obtained are the following: first, AE and stain kinetics show that the affinity of the coal tested is higher for CO2 than for CH4; second, methane is preferentially desorbed after presorption of CH4 — sorption of mixture of CH4 and CO2; third, during displacement sorption, kinetics of AE and sample swelling/shrinkage bring out the importance of presorption and the sorbate used. It matters whether the coal is first exposed to CH4 or to CO2. The present study has demonstrated that injection of CO2 into the coal previously exposed to CH4 causes considerable swelling of the coal. On desorption after CH4/CO2 exchange sorption, initial shrinkage is followed by swelling of the coal.These results could have implications for the sequestration of CO2 in coal seams and CH4 recovery from coalbeds (ECBM). Swelling/shrinkage of the coal matrix should be included in models used to predict coal permeability and gas flow rates. They also show that the AE technique can give more insights into coal matrix-gas interactions.