Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CM-SAF high-resolution radiation budget products

In this paper the system employed at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMIB) within the Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facility (CM-SAF) for the production of Top Of the Atmosphere (TOA) radiation budget components is described. One of the goals of the CM-SAF is to provide consistent TOA and surface radiation budget components and cloud properties at high spatial resolution and on an approximate equal area grid for a region that covers at least Europe and part of the North Atlantic Ocean. The TOA radiation products will be based on data from polar orbiting satellites for northern latitudes, and on data from MSG (METEOSAT Second Generation) for mid latitudes. The instruments used for the reflected solar and emitted thermal flux estimates will be GERB (Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget) and SEVIRI as the geostationary instruments and CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System) for the non geostationary instruments. Daily means, monthly means and monthly mean diurnal cycles are to be provided. Until MSG fluxes will become available, fluxes from METEOSAT and CERES are used for development. At the TOA the three radiative flux components of incoming solar radiation, reflected solar radiation and emitted thermal radiation will be given. The daily mean GERB and CERES fluxes will be merged to produce a homogenized TOA flux product. The method used for the merging of the TOA fluxes and together with results using currently available input data are shown. The merging consists in the collocation of the two instruments, detection and the removal of the systematic dependencies of the flux estimates on scene type and viewing angles and regridding on a common grid.
Effect of Oral Administration of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens MDT-1 on Experimental Enterocolitis in Mice

ABSTRACT Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens MDT-1, a butyrate-producing strain, was evaluated for use as a probiotic to prevent enterocolitis. Oral administration of the MDT-1 strain (109 CFU/dose) alleviated the symptoms of colitis (including body weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, organic disorder, and mucosal damage) that are induced in mice drinking water that contains 3.0% dextran sulfate sodium. In addition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity levels in colonic tissue were reduced, suggesting that MDT-1 mitigates bowel inflammation. The addition of MDT-1 culture supernatant inhibited the growth of nine clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli that could potentially cause enterocolitis. Infection of mice with C. coli 11580-3, one of the isolates inhibited by MDT-1 in vitro, resulted in diarrhea, mucosal damage, increased MPO activity levels in colonic tissue, increased numbers of C. coli in the cecum, and decreased body weight gain. However, administration of MDT-1 to mice, prior to and during C. coli infection, reduced these effects. These results suggest that Campylobacter-induced enterocolitis can be alleviated by using B. fibrisolvens as a probiotic.
Water resources of the People's Republic of China

At the invitation of the Society of Hydraulic Engineers of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a delegation of U.S. hydrologists and hydraulic engineers visited the PRC in the fall of 1978. * From discussions with officials of both the Society and the Ministry of Water Conservancy and Power (MWCP), and from visits to research and academic institutions and water projects, the delegation gained a general understanding of the country's surface water resources. The reported statistics, supplemented with others from published sources, provide a quantitative description of the PRC's water resources in relation to those of the United States. Recent government reorganization has led to the division of the MWCP into two ministries: one responsible for water conservancy, the other for power. However, in the following discussions, reference is made to the MWCP. Chinese spellings follow the more familiar Wade-Giles system rather than the official Pinyin system recently adopted by the PRC.
Stratigraphy and preliminary biostratigraphy of the Flagstaff Rim area, Natrona County, Wyoming

ABSTRACT Entry, Robert J. Stratigraphy and Preliminary Biostratigraphy of the Flagstaff Rim Area, Natrona County, Wyoming. Smithsonian Contributions to Paleo­biology, number 18, 43 pages, 19 figures + frontispiece, 1973. —About 750 feet of sediments of the early Oligocene (Chadronian) White River Formation are exposed along Flagstaff Rim in south-central Natrona County, Wyoming. About 4,000 specimens of fossil vertebrates have been collected from these outcrops. The White River Formation unconformably overlies rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to medial or late Eocene. The lithology of the White River For­mation is predominantly claystone and conglomerate in the lower part of the section, changing to predominantly tuffaceous siltstone and conglomeratic chan­nel sandstones in the upper part. Four stratigraphic sections are described. A geo­logic map of about 40 square miles illustrates the areal limits of the White River Formation and its relationships to underlying and overlying formations. Several distinct and easily recognizable volcanic ash beds occur at intervals within the White River sequence. These serve as convenient markers for precise strati­graphic zonation of fossils and have also provided minerals for potassium-argon dating. Dates obtained range from 35.7 to 31.6 million years. A boulder conglomerate unit, previously considered to be the basal unit of the White River Formation and/or part of the Wind River Formation is shown to be a distinct, and probably unnamed, unit, and should not be assigned to either of these formations. It unconformably overlies the Wind River Formation and is separated from the White River Formation by an erosional disconformity with several hundred feet of relief. This information allows new interpretations of the structure of the area and adds a previously unrecognized episode of depo­sition and erosion to the history of the area. The most common fossil in the White River sequence is the artiodactyl genus Leptomeryx, which is represented by two morphologically distinct lineages. One lineage is provisionally divided into two and the other into three size groups that are believed to represent different species. The local stratigraphic ranges of the different groups do not overlap. In each lineage, the size increases higher in the section. None of the groups are definitely assigned to named species, pending studies to determine the validity and limits of the named species. Preliminary analysis of other elements of the fauna shows that there is recog­nizable change through time within individual lineages and that the faunal composition as a whole changes through time, within the local sequence. When the entire fauna is analyzed in detail, it should be possible to establish local range zones of the fossil species and, by their use, to gain greater temporal resolution within Chadronian time than has previously been possible.
Glucocorticoid resistance in asthma is associated with elevated in vivo expression of the glucocorticoid receptor beta-isoform.

BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid-resistant bronchial asthma is characterized by failure of corticosteroids to suppress key asthma-relevant, cell-mediated inflammatory responses in the airways. OBJECTIVE The mechanism of this phenomenon is not clear but may involve aberrant expression of the beta-isoform of the glucocorticoid receptor. METHODS We have measured expression of the alpha- and beta-glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in tuberculin-driven cutaneous cell-mediated inflammatory lesions in people with asthma who are glucocorticoid sensitive and resistant after 9 days of therapy with oral prednisolone (40 mg/day) or matching placebo in a random order, crossover design. RESULTS After placebo therapy, the mean numbers of cells expressing glucocorticoid receptor alpha immunoreactivity in the lesions evoked in glucocorticoid-sensitive and -resistant patients with asthma were statistically equivalent. The numbers of cells expressing glucocorticoid receptor beta were significantly elevated in the patients who were glucocorticoid resistant, resulting in an 8-fold higher ratio of expression of glucocorticoid receptor alpha/glucocorticoid receptor beta in the patients who were glucocorticoid sensitive. Glucocorticoid receptor alpha/glucocorticoid receptors beta were colocalized to the same cells. Oral prednisolone therapy was associated with a significant decrease in the numbers of cells expressing glucocorticoid receptor alpha but not glucocorticoid receptor beta in the subjects who were glucocorticoid sensitive. No significant change was found in the numbers of cells expressing glucocorticoid receptor alpha and glucocorticoid receptor beta in the patients who were glucocorticoid resistant. Prednisolone therapy reduced the ratio of glucocorticoid receptor alpha/glucocorticoid receptor beta expression for the patients who were glucocorticoid sensitive to a level seen in the patients who were glucocorticoid resistant before therapy. CONCLUSION Because glucocorticoid receptor beta inhibits alpha-glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transactivation of target genes, the increased expression of glucocorticoid receptor beta in inflammatory cells might be a critical mechanism for conferring glucocorticoid resistance.
Molecular Characterization of the Lactococcal Plasmid Pcis3 : Natural Stacking of Specificity Subunits of a Type I Restriction/modification System in a Single Lactococcal Strain

A 61 kb plasmid from the Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strain UC509.9, named pCIS3, was found to mediate a restriction/modification (R/M) phenotype. Nucleotide sequence analysis of pCIS3 revealed the presence of an hsdS gene, typical of type I R/M systems. The presence of this plasmid resulted in a 10 4-fold reduction in the efficiency of plating (e.o.p.) of unmodified phage. In addition to the hsdS gene of pCIS3, two more hsdS genes were identified in strain UC509.9, one located on the chromosome downstream of a gene highly homologous to hsdM genes and a third on the smallest (4 kb) plasmid, named pCIS1. The replication region of pCIS3 was highly similar to that of a large family of lactococcal theta replicons. In addition, pCIS3 was found to encode a member of the CorA family of magnesium transporters.
Proceedings of the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ON A CLASS OF NONCOMMUTATIVE JORDAN ALGEBRAS*

N. Jacobson' has recently developed a structure theory for a class of commutative Jordan algebras. It is our purpose here to point out how, in the light of recent work by one of us,2 Jacobson's results may be extended immediately to a corresponding class of noncommutative Jordan algebras. That not all finite-dimensional semisimple noncommutative Jordan algebras are included, whereas Jacobson's theory does apply to all finite-dimensional semisimple commutative Jordan algebras, is indicated after the statement of the axioms below.
Carbon storage estimation of main forestry ecosystems in Northwest Yunnan Province using remote sensing data

Estimating regional forest organic carbon pool has became a hot issue in the study of forest ecosystem carbon cycle. The forest ecosystem in Shangri-La County, Northwest Yunnan Province, are well preserved, and the area of Picea Likiangensis, Quercus Aquifolioides, Pinus Densata and Pinus Yunnanensis amounts to 80% of the total arboreal forest area in Shangri-La County. Based on the field measurements, remote sensing data and GIS analysis, three models were established for carbon storage estimation. The remote sensing information model with the highest accuracy were used to calculate the carbon storages of the four main forest ecosystems. The results showed: (1) the total carbon storage of the four forest ecosystems in Shangri-La is 302.984 TgC, in which tree layer, shrub layer, herb layer, litter layer, soil layer are 60.196TgC, 5.433TgC, 1.080TgC, 3.582TgC and 232.692TgC, accounting for 19.87%, 1.79%, 0.36%, 1.18%, 76.80% of the total carbon storage respectively. (2)The order of the carbon storage from high to low is soil layer, tree layer, shrub layer, litter layer and herb layer respectively for the four main forest ecosystems. (3)The total average carbon density of the four main forest ecosystems is 403.480 t/hm2, and the carbon densities of the Picea Likiangensis, Quercus Aquifolioides, Pinus Densata and Pinus Yunnanensis are 576.889 t/hm2, 326.947 t/hm2, 279.993 t/hm2 and 255.792 t/hm2 respectively.
MODERN FORAMINIFERAL FAUNAS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN TO NORTHERN ICELAND SHELF: OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

Surface sediment samples for analysis of modern foraminiferal assemblages were collected from 32 sites on the western and northern Iceland shelf during cruise B997 of the Icelandic ship Bjarni Saemundsson. The purpose of the study is to provide a basis for interpreting the variations in foraminiferal content in late glacial through Holocene sediments from cores at the same sites. Cluster analysis and principal components analysis of the benthic foraminiferal data and associated modern environmental parameters including hydrography, water depth, and sediment characteristics show that large progressive changes in the foraminiferal assemblages coincide with changes in the dominant oceanic surface currents and water masses around Iceland. The western areas of the shelf are overlain by relatively warm and saline Atlantic Water of the Irminger Current. The western shelf fauna is dominated by Cassidulina laevigata and other boreal species, whereas the planktic fauna is dominated by dextrally coiling Neogloboquadrina pachyderma. In Djupall, off the Northwest Peninsula, and in the shallow nearshore sites on the northern shelf, the boreal elements of the fauna diminish and arctic species become more important. However, the dominant species in these areas are Cibicides lobatulus and Astrononion gallowayi, attesting to winnowing of the shallow shelf areas by currents. In Isafjardardjup, the large fjord indenting the Northwest Peninsula, Cassidulina reniforme and Elphidium excavatum dominate the fauna as a result of cooler waters and more variable salinity conditions. A very large faunal shift is registered in the deep basins of the northern shelf. This faunal shift coincides with large changes in salinity and temperature stratification of the water column, reflecting the presence of the East Iceland Current. The fauna in the deep basins on the northern shelf are dominated by C. neoteretis, an indicator of modified Atlantic Water, and infaunal species that reflect organic fluxes to the seabed: Nonionellina labradorica and Melonis barleeanus, and the arctic species Islandiella norcrossi and I. helenae.
Sedimentary metal ratios in the Colombia Basin as indicators for water balance change in northern South America during the past 400,000 years

[1] Recent paleoclimate reconstructions for northern South America suggest changes in moisture balance interpreted to result from shifts in the mean latitudinal position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Because most of these records only extend back to the last glacial interval, we measured metal abundances in sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Core 999A in the Caribbean Sea spanning the last 400 kyr to evaluate glacial/interglacial fluctuations in the water balance of northern South America. Variations in sedimentary Al/Ti, K/Ti, Fe/Ti, and Fe/Al ratios are interpreted to reflect changes in riverine input through the Magdalena River. The measured metal ratios show a strong 100-kyr cyclicity, which could reflect changes in sedimentation related to sea level fluctuations or to climate. Although the variability in Fe/Ti and Fe/Al ratios points to rainfall-induced changes in the mineralogy of the terrigenous fraction, shelf erosion induced by sea level fluctuations cannot completely be ruled out. If climate accounted for changes in the nature of the terrigenous components, then the strong 100-kyr fluctuations in the measured metal ratios would point to the influence of high-latitude climate on the local hydrological balance of northern South America with ice volume growth forcing a southward displacement of the ITCZ.
Calculation of surface and top of atmosphere radiative fluxes from physical quantities based on ISCCP data sets: 2. Validation and first results

We use global, multiyear observations of the properties of clouds, the atmosphere, and the surface to calculate global shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) fluxes at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface at a resolution of 280 km and 3 hours for every third month from April 1985 to January 1989. Our validation studies suggest that the specification of cloud effects is no longer the dominant uncertainty in reconstructing the radiative fluxes at the top of atmosphere and at the surface. Rather cloud property uncertainties are now roughly equal contributors to the flux uncertainty, along with surface and atmospheric properties. Overall, the estimated uncertainties in regional, monthly mean fluxes, based on comparisons to more direct measurements, are as follows: for S↑t, 11 W/m2 bias with a rms scatter of 7 W/m2 (the bias may be as little as 5 W/m2); for L↑t, −1 W/m2 bias with a rms scatter of 4 W/m2; for S↓s, 10–20 W/m2 bias with a rms scatter of 10–15 W/m2 (the bias may only be ≈ 10 W/m2 caused by aerosols); for S↑s, ≈ 3 W/m2 bias with a rms scatter of 10 W/m2; for L↓s, probably < 15 W/m2 bias (but with variable sign) with a rms scatter of 15 W/m2 (bias and scatter depend most on atmospheric temperature uncertainties); and for L↑s, ≲ 12 W/m2 and ≲ 24 W/m2 for combined bias and scatter over oceans and land, respectively (very sensitive to surface temperature determinations). The resulting SW and LW flux data sets suggest the following conclusions: (1) The net SW heating of Earth appears predominantly at the surface, whereas the net LW cooling arises predominantly from the atmosphere. The net cooling effect of clouds on top of atmospheric radiation appears primarily at the surface rather than in the atmosphere. (2) Clouds have almost no net effect on the global mean radiation balance of the atmosphere, but they enhance the latitudinal gradient in the LW cooling and reinforce the radiative forcing for the mean atmospheric circulation. Clouds act to mute seasonal contrasts however. (3) Clouds enhance the land-ocean contrasts of the atmospheric cooling, reinforcing the growth of standing eddy motions; but reduce land-ocean contrasts of the surface heating.
Nitrogen oxide emissions from a banana plantation in the humid tropics

Use of nitrogen fertilizer is thought to contribute significantly to the increase of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO). While the current increase of fertilizer use is concentrated in tropical areas, nearly all studies of nitrogen oxide emissions have been conducted in agricultural systems in temperate areas. We measured N2O and NO fluxes from a fertilized banana plantation in the humid tropics of Costa Rica, where 360 kg N ha−1 yr−1 is applied. Using chamber techniques, we sampled an Andisol and an Inceptisol on a monthly basis. Twice on each soil type, we sampled intensively in time following fertilizer applications. There is a strong spatial and temporal dependence of nitrogen oxide emissions on place and time of fertilizer application. We find greater mean N2O and NO emissions from the Andisol (31.4 ng N2O-N cm−2 h−1 and 55.6 ng NO-N cm−2 h−1) than from the Inceptisol (9.3 ng N2O-N cm−2 h−1 and 41.1 ng NO-N cm−2 h−1) under the plants where fertilizer is typically applied. The percentages of applied fertilizer-N that are converted into nitrogen oxide (“yield”) are between 1.26 and 2.91% for N2O and between 5.09 and 5.66% for NO depending on soil type. We consistently calculate higher nitrogen oxide yields based on intensive sampling versus monthly sampling. Temporal variation in nitrogen oxide emissions probably causes monthly sampling to underestimate mean annual fluxes. Our results suggest that in some tropical systems a higher percentage of applied nitrogen may be lost in gaseous form than in temperate agriculture. Current global estimates of N2O and NO sources from tropical agriculture are based on information from temperate areas and may cause an underestimate of the contribution of tropical agriculture to the budgets of these trace gases.
EL TRABAJO DE CAMPO: ESTRATEGIA DIDÁCTICA EN LA ENSEÑANZA DE LA GEOGRAFÍA

This article makes reference about the importance of the field work as a didactical strategy in the teaching of Geography and the knowledge of the geographical space, starting from historical moments to present time. Important facts that have happened in the world through time are taken into account, especially those that have to do with the development of Geography and the field activities, among them, the two World Wars, the development of satellital technology and remote sensing as the computing emergence. Making emphasis on pedagogical achievements and field works that have produced excellent results in favor of Geography, since its beginning in the teaching up to now, being in Europe implemented by distinguished thinkers as Ritter, Ratzel and Vidal de la Blache in the Century XIX and by Yves Lacoste and Pierre George in the Century XX. By that time, this activity was also well conducted in Venezuela by illustrious naturalists and geographers, as the case of
Compassionate Mind Training with People Who Hear Malevolent Voices: a Case Series Report

This paper presents a series of case studies to explore the understanding , acceptance and value of compassionate mind training (CMT) with psychotic voice hearers. We were interested in the degree to which such people are able to access and feel the positive emotions of 'warmth' and 'contentment' to become more self-compassionate. We also explored how CMT affected participants' hostile voices, their levels of anxiety, depression, paranoia and self-criticism. Participants were invited to offer suggestions for tailoring this approach for voice hearers. Results showed decreases for all participants in depression, psychoticism, anxiety, paranoia, Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder and interpersonal sensitivity. All participants' auditory hallucinations became less malevolent, less persecuting and more reassuring. proved helpful for people with chronic diffi culties (Gilbert & Procter, 2006). The theory underpinning CMT is derived from recent developments in the neuroscience of positive emotion. This suggests that there are two basic positive affect regulation systems; one is focused on achieving and doing, while the other is focused on contentment and social soothing (Depue & Morrone-Strupinsky, 2005). Thus, when we feel content, we are no longer seeking or striving to achieve. The soothing system is believed to be a major evolved regulator of the threat system. For example, in mammals with an attachment system, proximity and comfort from the parent is calming to an infant. In the normal course of events, repeated experiences of parental calming stimulates and integrates the soothing system as a natural regulator of threat (Carter, 1998). In con
Determination of Decay Hazard Index (Scheffer Index) in Korea for Exterior Above-Ground Wood

This research was performed to evaluate the decay hazard for exterior above-ground wood in Korea. The Scheffer index (decay hazard index) was determined using the climate data of 72 different locations obtained from the website of Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), and the wood decay hazard map was created. Jeju, Seogwipo, Gwangju, and Jeonju showing above 65 of Scheffer index values were considered to be high decay hazard zones. The rest showed the values in the range between 35 and 65, meaning the moderate decay hazard zones. However, the annual Scheffer indexes largely varied, which suggests that many moderate decay zones could turn into high decay regions with the climate change. Especially, considering that Korean weather tends to turn into the weather of subtropical region, the decay hazard of Korea seems to have high possibility to be gradually increased.