Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between right-lateral shear along the Karakoram fault and metamorphism, magmatism, exhumation and uplift: evidence from the K2–Gasherbrum–Pangong ranges, north Pakistan and Ladakh

The Karakoram fault is a major NW–SE-aligned dextral strike-slip fault that has accommodated minor extrusion of thickened Tibetan crust since the Mid-Miocene. Controversy exists as to whether the fault is lithospheric in scale, resulting in synkinematic metamorphism and granite melting, or whether it is an upper crustal fault cutting through earlier metamorphic and granitic rocks. Structural, metamorphic and geochronological data from the Karakoram fault show that: (1) metamorphism and granite genesis occurred prior to strike-slip shearing, meaning that U–Pb zircon and monazite ages from deformed granites cannot be used as proxies for dating strike-slip shearing, only as a maximum age constraint on initiation of ductile shearing; (2) sheared Miocene leucogranites along the fault are equivalent to the Baltoro granite batholith, offset 40–150 km along the fault, and show a strain gradient from high ductile strain to undeformed away from the fault; (3) 40Ar/39Ar and fission-track ages of K2 orthogneisses and Gasherbrum diorite show that rocks adjacent to the fault cooled during Cretaceous to mid-Tertiary time, and were not reset during shearing, indicating that shear heating was not important; (4) the Gasherbrum diorite, adjacent to the fault, has never been at depths greater than 6 km since the early Cretaceous and less than 3 km of material has been eroded off since then. We conclude that the Karakoram fault has had no significant influence on regional metamorphism or melting, at least at levels exposed today, and is restricted to the upper–middle crust.
On the climatic implications of volcanic cooling

A simple energy balance model is used to investigate the response to a volcanic-type radiative forcing under different assumptions about the climatic sensitivity of the system. Volcanic eruptions are used as control experiments to investigate the role of the ocean-atmosphere coupling and of diffusive heat uptake by the thermocline. The effect of varying equilibrium climate sensitivity by varying the coupling of the atmosphere and ocean is examined, high sensitivity being associated with weak coupling. A model representing a coupled land-ocean system, with a reasonably realistic representation of the large-scale physics is used. It is found that systems with large equilibrium sensitivities not only respond somewhat more strongly to radiative perturbations but also return to equilibrium with much longer timescales. Based on this behavior pattern, we examine the model response to a series of volcanic eruptions following Krakatoa in 1883. Comparison between the model results and past temperature records seems to suggest that use of small sensitivity parameters is more appropriate. Despite the uncertainties associated with both the physics and the quantitative characteristics of the radiative forcing and the temperature anomalies produced by volcanic eruptions, the present study constitutes a possible test of different assumptions about the sensitivity of the climate system.
Effects of lentiviral infection of mesenchymal stem cells on the expression of octamer transcription factor 4

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of lentiviral infection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on the expression of octamer transcription factor 4 (Oct4). hUCMSCs were infected with lentivirus carrying the green fluorescent protein gene (GFP) at different multiplicities of infection (MOI), and the optimal MOI was determined by flow cytometry; the proliferation of non-infected and GFP-carrying lentivirus-infected hUCMSCs was evaluated by the MTT assay; and the expression of the Oct4 gene was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining in hUCMSCs cultured in vitro for eight weeks. Positive GFP staining of hUCMSCs was estimated at >75% at 48 h following infection with the GFP-carrying lentivirus (MOI = 20); no effect on hUCMSC proliferation was detected by the MTT assay following the infection; immunofluorescence analysis detected positive Oct4 expression in the cell nuclei at two and eight weeks of culture, while the relative expression of Oct4 assessed by qRT-PCR was 0.9075±0.0124. The GFP gene carried by the lentivirus was successfully expressed in hUCMSCs and had no significant effect on Oct4 expression, which lays a solid foundation for future studies investigating gene functions via the use of exogenous markers.
Les politiques agricoles et rurales dans les régions: une nouvelle organisation des pouvoirs publics en Europe?

[fre] La regionalisation des Etats membres se combine avec l'integration europeenne pour conduire au developpement de nouvelles formes de "gouvernance multi-niveaux". Dans le domaine des politiques agricoles et rurales, l'article analyse les nouvelles formes de relations entre l'UE et les politiques regionales, et les perspectives qui en resultent pour dessiner des politiques agricoles et rurales de type "Europe-regions". L'integration communautaire et les politiques regionales autonomes ont ete etroitement associees a travers les evolutions de la PAC et les programmes de developpement rural (fonds structurels) fondes sur les normes et le financement communautaires, avec pour resultat un soutien reciproque des deux niveaux politiques accompagne d'un retrait du role traditionnel de l'Etat. Mais ce processus n'est pas un mouvement permanent des institutions vers une "modernisation" fonctionnelle et necessaire, pour plusieurs raisons: des risques de problemes de cohesion; l'absence de correlation entre la creativite politique des regions et leur autonomie politique; des difficultes croissantes a definir et a defendre des politiques nationales dans les Etats membres les plus decentralises. [eng] A new organisation of public policies in Europe? The agricultural and rural policies in regions - A growing regionalisation of the EU member states combines with the European integration process to develop new forms of "multi-level governance ". In the field of agricultural and rural policies, the article analyses the new patterns of the relation between EU and regions policies, and consequently the possible prospects of Europe-regions driven agricultural and rural policies. EU integration and regions autonomous policies have been closely related through changes in the CAP and rural development programmes (structural funds) based on European norms and subsidies, which results in both policy levels supporting each other with a decrease in the traditional role of central state. But this process cannot be simply analysed as a continuous move of institutions towards a functional and necessary "modernisation ", for several reasons: risks of cohesion problems; a lack of correlation between regional policy creativity and political autonomy; growing difficulties in defining and defending national policies in the most decentralised member states.
Do we still need the Rational Formula? An alternative empirical procedure for peak discharge estimation in small and ungauged basins

Abstract The Rational Formula is the most applied equation in practical hydrology due to its simplicity and the effective compromise between theory and data availability. Although the Rational Formula has several drawbacks, it is reliable and surprisingly accurate considering the paucity of input information. However, after more than a century, the recent progress in computational ability, theory and large-scale monitoring compel us to try to suggest a more advanced yet still empirical procedure for estimating peak discharge in small and ungauged basins. In this paper, an alternative empirical procedure is described and discussed, and then a discussion as to whether the Rational Formula is still necessary is presented. The presented methodology integrates the three standard steps of the common event-based approach (design hyetograph, rainfall excess and rainfall–runoff transformation) accurately adapted for application with a lack of observed data. The proposed procedure requires the same input information as necessary for application of the Rational Formula (soil properties, intensity–duration–frequency rainfall curves and Tc) and provides both the peak discharge and the design hydrograph shape and, most importantly, reduces the subjectivity of the hydrologist in its application. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis
Spatial variability of images and the monitoring of changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

Pairs of Landsat Multispectral Scanner System images from seven contrasting areas were analysed using scale variance analysis to determine the spatial frequencies present. Specifically images of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were analysed, which is sensitive to vegetation activity. Analyses were performed on images for each of the two dates and change images derived by subtracting the NDVI values of the first images from those of the second date. As expected the change images were characterized by higher spatial frequencies than the images of individual dates, but this was only marked for four of the seven areas. Contrary to initial expectations, knowledge of the spatial frequency content of the images from the two dates could not be used to infer the spatial frequencies present in the change images and hence the spatial resolutions needed for detecting change in the NDVI.
Algorithmic bias? An empirical study into apparent gender-based discrimination in the display of STEM career ads

We explore data from a field test of how an algorithm delivered ads promoting job opportunities in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. This ad was explicitly intended to be gender-neutral in its delivery. Empirically, however, fewer women saw the ad than men. This happened because younger women are a prized demographic and are more expensive to show ads to. An algorithm which simply optimizes cost-effectiveness in ad delivery will deliver ads that were intended to be gender-neutral in an apparently discriminatory way, due to crowding out. We show that this empirical regularity extends to other major digital platforms.
Global assessment of the temporal reporting accuracy and precision of the MODIS burned area product

A method for the systematic evaluation of the temporal reporting accuracy and precision of burned area products conducted using active fire detections as the reference dataset is described. The method is applied globally to 6 years of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) burned area and active fire product data. The distribution of the time difference between active fire and burned area detections that occur within 90 days is analysed and summary statistics extracted globally. The median time difference in reporting between the MODIS burned area and the active fire product detections is 1 day and the majority of MODIS burned area product detections occur temporally close to an active fire detection: 50% within a single day and 75% within 4 days. Users of the MODIS burned area product with temporal reporting requirements should be aware of these findings if using the approximate day of burning information provided in the burned area product.
Synthesis and control of attosecond light transients

This thesis aims at extending the capabilities of ultrafast science in manipulating light fields. The instantaneous field of light transients has been tailored on demand with attosecond resolution by implementing ultrawideband field synthesis in the visible and flanking ranges. First experiments utilizing the considerably improved resolution, such as the study of ionization dynamics of the Kr atom, are conducted. Utilizing these transients, atoms are ionized for the first time by an optical field within a subfemtosecond time interval. By combining these transients with a synchronized EUV attosecond pulse the demonstration of the first attosecond pump probe experiment has been possible. The generated bound electron wave packets in the Kr + ion resulting from this interaction are measured to have nearly perfect coherence. By extending the synthesis to over more than two optical octaves, from Infrared (IR) to deep ultraviolet (UV), a new generation of tools in the science of light are generated. We call the tools the “attosecond light transients”. The first steps towards the control of bound electrons with these transients are taken.
Low-Frequency Baroclinic Waves off Coastal Boundaries

Abstract The behavior of low-frequency baroclinic Rossby wave motion in the vicinity of coastal boundaries is investigated using linearized modulated wave theory in a stratified, constant-depth, equatorial β-plane ocean. A primary objective is to obtain an equation that describes large-scale, low-frequency pressure fluctuations along variable geometry ocean boundaries at all latitudes for use in the analysis of coastal sea level observations. Both eastern and western boundaries are considered, and the effect of direct wind stress forcing at the coast is included; but our major interest concerns the response along eastern ocean boundaries to incident baroclinic equatorial Kelvin waves. In that case, for an incident wave at a fixed frequency Ω, a critical latitude, with Coriolis parameter |f| = fc, exists such that for |f| fc the waves are coastally trapped. The magnitude of fc, depends on ω and on the angle of the coastline.
Structural features in granular flows

High-speed motion pictures document a series of essentially two-dimensional, free-surface flows of 6-mm diameter plastic spheres generated in an inclined glass-walled chute 3.7 m long and 6.7 mm wide. Flows exhibit a diverse suite of structural features, depending on particle flux, chute inclination, and geometry of the fixed bed. Flows at sufficiently low inclination or high particle flux can generally be divided into factional and collisional regions. In the frictional region, intergranular momentum transfer occurs by enduring, frictional contacts; kinetic theories of granular flow do not apply. The frictional region typically consists of a quasi-static zone extending up from the fixed bed and an overlying block-gliding zone, in which coherent blocks of grains move parallel to the bed. The collisional region overlies the contact region in sufficiently deep flows; otherwise it extends to the bed. In it, momentum transfer is dominated by collisions. It typically consists of three zones: a lower grain-layer-gliding zone, in which grains appear to slide over one another; a middle chaotic zone, in which grain motions are highly random, as in a dense gas; and an overlying saltational zone, in which grains trace long, curved paths. Zones grade smoothly into one another, and some are missing in certain flows. In none of the flows does a frictional region overlie a collisional region. Zone thicknesses and block dimensions are previously unrecognized length scales in granular flows. The no-slip velocity boundary condition applies only when a frictional region adjoins a geometrically rough fixed bed, otherwise significant slip occurs (up to 50% of the mean flow velocity). Binary collisions dominate only in the collisional region and there perhaps only in the chaotic and saltational zones. Because many collision-dominated geophysical flows start from friction-dominated ones and end by reverting to the frictional regime as the energy supply diminishes, kinetic theories of granular flow, which unanimously employ the binary-collision assumption, can at best describe only a portion of the phenomena. Microstructural descriptions of the relatively slow, compact, and frictional regions evident in most geophysical flows are required to complement existing kinetic theories.
Food habits of groupers Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834) and Epinephelus costae (Steindachner, 1878) in the Mediterranean Coast of Spain

Los contenidos estomacales de E. marginatus fueron estudiados para determinar sus habitos alimentarios y la relacion de los mismos con la talla de los individuos. Tambien, los habitos alimentarios de E. costae fueron estudiados y los resultados obtenidos para ambas especies fueron comparados en base a las categorias ecologicas de las presas halladas en los contenidos estomacales, al porcentaje en numero N(%) y a la frecuencia de ocurrencia F(%). Los resultados revelaron que los peces (N 33.3 %), crustaceos (30.1%) y los moluscos (36.5%) fueron los grupos de presas principales consumidos por E. marginatus. Los peces (97.1%) fueron las presas mas comunes en el contenido estomacal de E. costae y los moluscos se hallaron ocasionalmente (2.9%). La comparacion de las categorias ecologicas entre ambas especies indicaron que E. marginatus consume preferentemente especies bentonicas y E. costae especies pelagicas. La relacion entre la dieta y la talla de E. marginatus, es discutida en el texto Stomach contents of Epinephelus marginatus were analyzed to determine their food habits and the relationship with the predator size. Also, the food habits of Epinephelus costae were studied and results obtained for both species were compared according to the ecological categories of preys found in the stomach contents, percentage number (N%) and frequency of occurrence (F%). Results revealed that fishes (33.3%), crustaceans (30.1%) and mollusks (36.6%) were the main preys consumed by E. marginatus. The main prey consumed by Epinephelus costae was fishes (97.1%) and mollusks (2.9%) were occasionally found inside their stomachs. Comparison of ecological categories of prey for both species indicated that E. marginatus fed on benthonic species and E. costae on pelagic species. The relation between diet and size of E. marginatus is discussed in the text.
Industrial specialization and economic performance: A case of Czech microregions

An influential body of literature suggests that economic diversity rather than specialization fuels the economic performance of regions and nations. The authors argue that this hypothesis has no universal applicability and that a more differentiated view is needed. In particular, historical specificity of the local environment and structural characteristics of regional economies should be taken into account. They focus on the effects of industrial specialization on economic performance and the vulnerability of Central European post-communist regions, namely Czech microregions with less than 200,000 inhabitants. They examine whether the economic performance and vulnerability of these regions is fuelled rather by industrial specialization or diversity when controlling for other potential determinants of regional economic performance. Their findings show that the dependence of Czech regions on manufacturing correlates with higher economic performance but also with higher regional vulnerability. In addition, industrial specialization within manufacturing was found to be instrumental for the economic performance of regions with high dependence on manufacturing. With a decreasing share of employment in manufacturing, industrial diversity rather than specialization becomes more valuable for the economic performance of Czech regions.
Fast segmentation method for SAR images

An iterative optimization algorithm which can be used for speckle reduction and segmentation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is presented here. This method contains as a first step a fast restoration and as a second one the segmentation. We have worked in 3-look simulated and real ERS-1 amplitude images. The iterative filter is based on a membrane model Markov random field (MRF) approximation optimized by a synchronous local iterative method (SLIM). The final form of restoration gives a total sum preserving regularization (TSPR).
Analysis of Backward SDEs with Jumps and Risk Management Issues

This PhD dissertation deals with issues in management, measure and transfer of risk on the one hand and with problems of stochastic analysis with jumps under model uncertainty on the other hand. The first chapter is dedicated to the analysis of Choquet integrals, as non necessarily law invariant monetary risk measures. We first establish a new representation result of convex comonotone risk measures, then a representation result of Choquet integrals by introducing the notion of local distortion. This allows us then to compute in an explicit manner the inf-convolution of two Choquet integrals, with examples illustrating the impact of the absence of the law invariance property. Then we focus on a non-proportional reinsurance pricing problem, for a contract with reinstatements. After defining the indifference price with respect to both a utility function and a risk measure, we prove that is is contained in some interval whose bounds are easily calculable. Then we pursue our study in a time dynamic setting. We prove the existence of bounded solutions of quadratic backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs for short) with jumps, using a direct fixed point approach. Under an additional standard assumption, or under a convexity assumption of the generator, we prove a uniqueness result, thanks to a comparison theorem. Then we study the properties of the corresponding non-linear expectations, we obtain in particular a non linear Doob-Meyer decomposition for g-submartingales and their regularity in time. As a consequence of this results, we obtain a converse comparison theorem for our class of BSDEs. We give applications for dynamic risk measures and their dual representation, and compute their inf-convolution, with some explicit examples, when the filtration is generated by both a Brownian motion and an integer valued random measure. The second part of this PhD dissertation is concerned with the analysis of model uncertainty, in the particular case of second order BSDEs with jumps. These equations hold P-almost surely, where P lies in a wide family of probability measures, corresponding to solutions of some martingale problems on the Skorohod space of cadlag paths. We first extend the definition given by Soner, Touzi and Zhang of second order BSDEs to the case with jumps. For this purpose, we prove an aggregation result, in the sense of Soner, Touzi and Zhang, on the Skorohod space D. This allows us to use a quasi-sure version of the canonical process jump measure compensator. Then we prove a wellposedness result for our class of second order BSDEs. These equations include model uncertainty, affecting both the volatility and the jump measure of the canonical process.