Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbon inputs of the Rhône River to the Mediterranean Sea: Biogeochemical implications

Since the damming of the Nile, the Rhône River is the main freshwater and sediment supplier to the Mediterranean Sea. We estimated for the period 1987–1996, the dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and total suspended matter (TSM) fluxes of the Rhône River to the Mediterranean Sea to be 1.1 ± 0.2, 1.6 ± 0.5, 16.2 ± 0.3 × 1010 moles C yr−1, and 9.9 ± 6.4 × 106 t yr−1, respectively. PIC flux was estimated to be 8.2 ± 5.4 × 109 moles C yr−1. On the basis of literature data, we estimated that nearshore bacterial respiration of Rhône derived labile‐POC and ‐DOC (LPOC and LDOC) might produce in a few days ∼0.21 and 0.12 × 1010 moles CO2 yr−1, respectively. Extended to the whole Mediterranean, this study suggests that bacterial respiration of labile organic carbon derived from Mediterranean rivers might rapidly (days) produce 2.6‐11 × 1010 moles CO2 yr−1. On the continental shelf, up to 4.7 × 1010 moles of organic carbon introduced by primary production and Rhône export would escape each year to sedimentation and bacterial mineralization and would be exported off the shelf. Moreover, as total carbon fixed by phytoplankton exceeds (+ 5.2 × 1010 moles C yr−1) the CO2 produced by bacterial respiration (on average), the biological system on the shelf, could be considered as an autotrophic system and then a sink for atmospheric CO2. However, these numbers need further examination because of the large uncertainties associated currently to the bacterial growth efficiency values (±100%).
IS YIELD RESPONSE SITE-SPECIFIC? REVISITING NITROGEN RECOMMENDATIONS ON CORN

Variable rate application (VRA) of fertilizer to U.S. cereal crops has provided uneven profitability results. Typically, yield response is negligible and input costs savings are insufficient to cover the added information and equipment costs of the technology. Largely overlooked has been the possibility that typical state-level fertilizer recommendations might be unsuited to VRA management. This research uses experimental data from 1999-2001 on 14 farm fields in south-central Michigan to test the hypothesis that site characteristics interact with nitrogen in affecting corn yield. Included among the site characteristics are a) soil test data, b) soil electrical conductivity, and c) terrain traits (potential wetness and insolation indexes). Site characteristics were found to interact significantly with nitrogen in affecting corn yield response in all three years. The difference in gross margins between VRA using site-characteristic based recommendations and uniform fertilizer application using whole-field or state-level recommendations was not enough to cover the cost of soil testing and VRA for most fields and years at current fertilizer and corn prices. Given that the costs of implementing VRA fertilization could not be recovered, few growers are likely to be willing to pay the added costs of experimentation and data analysis to develop site-specific recommendations, at least under conditions like those evaluated here.
Genetic variation and cognitive dysfunction in opioid‐treated patients with cancer

The effects of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the cognitive function of opioid‐treated patients with cancer until now have not been explored, but they could potentially be related to poor functioning. This study aimed at identifying associations between SNPs of candidate genes, high opioid dose, and cognitive dysfunction.
The Economic Organization of Early Camelid Pastoralism in the Andean Highlands of Bolivia

The domestication of South American camelids (llamas and alpacas) transformed the use of the Andean landscape. In the central altiplano of Bolivia, during the Formative Period (1500 BC AD 500) a cultural complex known as Wankarani developed. This book discusses the development of early camelid pastoralism by testing a set of hypotheses related to Wankarani economic organization. In contrast with previous ideas which stressed the emergence of sedentary agricultural villages in this region, settlement patterns, site layouts and faunal remains analyses demonstrate the continuing importance of mobile pastoralism, coupled with other subsistence strategies such as hunting, fishing and cultivation. "
Preventing farnesylation of the dynein adaptor Spindly contributes to the mitotic defects caused by farnesyltransferase inhibitors

The kinetochore-specific dynein adaptor Spindly is identified as a novel substrate of farnesyltransferase in human cells. Farnesylation is required for Spindly accumulation at kinetochores, and nonfarnesylated Spindly delays chromosome congression, providing new mechanistic insight into the biological effect of farnesyltransferase inhibitors.
Communicating personalized risks from COVID-19: guidelines from an empirical study

As increasing amounts of data accumulate on the effects of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the risk factors that lead to poor outcomes, it is possible to produce personalized estimates of the risks faced by groups of people with different characteristics. The challenge of how to communicate these then becomes apparent. Based on empirical work (total n = 5520, UK) supported by in-person interviews with the public and physicians, we make recommendations on the presentation of such information. These include: using predominantly percentages when communicating the absolute risk, but also providing, for balance, a format which conveys a contrasting (higher) perception of risk (expected frequency out of 10 000); using a visual linear scale cut at an appropriate point to illustrate the maximum risk, explained through an illustrative ‘persona’ who might face that highest level of risk; and providing context to the absolute risk through presenting a range of other ‘personas’ illustrating people who would face risks of a wide range of different levels. These ‘personas’ should have their major risk factors (age, existing health conditions) described. By contrast, giving people absolute likelihoods of other risks they face in an attempt to add context was considered less helpful. We note that observed effect sizes generally were small. However, even small effects are meaningful and relevant when scaled up to population levels.
Changes in the Structure of a Coastal Fish Assemblage Exploited by a Small Scale Gillnet Fishery During an El Niño La Niña Event

Abstract During 1998 an experimental gillnet fishing survey was carried out in a Mexican Central Pacific inshore zone. One-hundred and thirty fish species belonging to 51 families and 18 orders were identified. The most abundant species wereMicrolepidotus brevipinnis (29·0% of the total abundance) and Caranx caninus (19·2%), followed by C. caballus (6·3%), Kyphosus analogus (4·3%) and C. sexfasciatus (3·4%). Thermal SST anomalies showed the existence of two periods. The first, from January to April with positive anomalies, defines the end of an El Nino episode. The second period, from May to December, constitutes the beginning of the La Nina episode. The typical seasonality in a non-anomalous year continued for a large percentage of the inshore fish community, and the effects of the anomalous event consisted of changes in seasonality of occurrence in some individual species and the unusual abundance of some uncommon species. The species richness was higher during the El Nino–La Nina event than in a non-anomalous year, and therefore the event could be considered an interannual environmental mechanism that favours fish diversity in inshore waters.
Interannual sea level changes and associated mass transports in the tropical Pacific from TOPEX/Poseidon data and linear model results (1964–1999)

[1] The main modes of interannual climate variability in the tropical Pacific are identified using satellite-derived wind (ERS) and sea level (TOPEX/Poseidon) data for the 1993–1999 period and output from a linear model forced by observed Florida State University (FSU) wind for the 1964–1999 period. During the 1993–1999 period a dominant El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal showed up in the equatorial band as a zonal seesaw pattern in sea level around a fulcrum at the dateline, associated with an equatorial patch of zonal wind centered near the dateline. This oscillation is described in terms of long equatorial waves. A secondary ocean-atmosphere coupled mode of variability, mainly linked to the strong 1997–1998 El Nino event, is identified, consisting of a meridional seesaw pattern in sea level with its fulcrum at 5°N, associated with opposite zonal wind anomalies in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the tropical Pacific. Both modes of variability are well reproduced in the linear model forced by either the ERS wind during the 1993–1999 period or the FSU wind during the 1964–1999 period. The second mode of interannual variability, particularly active during the very strong 1982–1983 and 1997–1998 El Nino events, is reminiscent of the recharge oscillator theory. However, it shows no equatorial symmetry, and its temporal function seems to include a decadal component. Sensitivity studies enabled us to identify idealized zonal wind patterns as being responsible for the observed and modeled sea level zonal and meridional seesaw patterns. The role of horizontal (geostrophic and Ekman) mass advection on the sea level variations is then quantified in three selected boxes based on the sea level zonal and meridional seesaw patterns (the 15°–5°S, 156°E–80°W southern box, the 5°S–5°N, 136°E–80°W equatorial box, and the 5°–15°N, 136°E–80°W northern box). For both modes of variability, there is little mass advection across 15°N and 15°S. At the ENSO timescale (first mode of variability) the equatorial box fills or empties mainly through zonal geostrophic transport across its western boundary, while meridional transport partially counterbalances this mass budget. The second mode of variability accounts in large part for the buildup and depletion of the equatorial band, mainly through changes in the 5°N meridional geostrophic transport. Its modulation at decadal timescale could explain the shift from balanced El Nino/La Nina conditions before the 1982–1983 major El Nino event to prevailing El Nino conditions after.
ClustScan: an integrated program package for the semi-automatic annotation of modular biosynthetic gene clusters and in silico prediction of novel chemical structures

The program package ‘ClustScan’ (Cluster Scanner) is designed for rapid, semi-automatic, annotation of DNA sequences encoding modular biosynthetic enzymes including polyketide synthases (PKS), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and hybrid (PKS/NRPS) enzymes. The program displays the predicted chemical structures of products as well as allowing export of the structures in a standard format for analyses with other programs. Recent advances in understanding of enzyme function are incorporated to make knowledge-based predictions about the stereochemistry of products. The program structure allows easy incorporation of additional knowledge about domain specificities and function. The results of analyses are presented to the user in a graphical interface, which also allows easy editing of the predictions to incorporate user experience. The versatility of this program package has been demonstrated by annotating biochemical pathways in microbial, invertebrate animal and metagenomic datasets. The speed and convenience of the package allows the annotation of all PKS and NRPS clusters in a complete Actinobacteria genome in 2–3 man hours. The open architecture of ClustScan allows easy integration with other programs, facilitating further analyses of results, which is useful for a broad range of researchers in the chemical and biological sciences.
O Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional como instrumento de monitoramento da Estratégia Nacional para Alimentação Complementar Saudável

OBJECTIVES: to examine the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) as a tool for monitoring the National Strategy for Healthy Complementary Nutrition (ENPACS) in the 40 municipalities overseen by the Belo Horizonte regional superintendent for health (SRS-BH). METHODS: a descriptive study was carried out involving all children aged under two being accompanied by the Sisvan Web between 2008 and 2011. The coverage of the Sisvan Web was calculated by dividing the number of children aged under two years accompanied by the Sisvan Web by the total population for the same age group. A questionnaire relating to the technical references of the Sisvan of the municipalities under investigation was sent to collect information on the functioning of the Sisvan. RESULTS: the coverage of the Sisvan Web, in all municipalities, varied from 4.3% (2008) to 10.7% (2011). The questionnaire was answered by 38 municipalities in the SRS-BH, 31.6% of whom reported using data from the Sisvan Web system as a basis for nutritional interventions. CONCLUSIONS: the study identified low coverage, poor utilization of data and the need to improve the Sisvan, in order to generate consistent information on nutrition and food among children aged under two years, thereby making it appropriate for monitoring of the ENPACS.
Evaluation of bacteria‐facilitated cadmium transport in gravel columns using the HYDRUS colloid‐facilitated solute transport model

The colloid‐facilitated solute transport model, based on HYDRUS‐1D, was evaluated using the column experimental data of Pang et al. (2005) for cadmium (Cd) transport facilitated by B. subtilis spores or E. coli in saturated coarse alluvial gravels. We simulated Cd transport involving convection, dispersion, kinetic adsorption/desorption to/from the aquifer media and to/from mobile/immobile bacteria, and kinetic attachment/detachment of the bacteria to/from the aquifer media. To reduce the number of parameters to be optimized, we independently estimated Cd sorption/desorption rates to mobile bacteria from a batch study. The model described the collected experimental data reasonably well. Extensive sensitivity analysis to various reaction parameters was carried out to obtain an understanding of the relative importance of individual model parameters on model predictions. Our modeling results suggest that the rates of Cd sorption or desorption differ not only between different bacterial species but also between unattached and deposited bacteria. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicated that the Cd sorption rate to unattached bacteria had a significantly greater impact on the model results than its sorption rate to deposited bacteria. For the experimental system investigated here, model results were most sensitive to parameters describing interactions between Cd‐aquifer media, bacteria‐aquifer media, and Cd‐mobile bacteria, and they were less sensitive to interactions between Cd‐immobile bacteria and desorption rate from mobile bacteria.
On the comparative importance of fire danger rating indices and their integration with spatial and temporal variables for predicting daily human-caused fire occurrences in Spain

Human-caused forest fires are common in Mediterranean countries. Forest fire management agencies customarily estimate daily fire loads by using meteorological fire danger rating indices, based on variables registered daily by weather stations. This paper is focussed on the evaluation of the relative performance of a comprehensive set of commonly used fire weather indices by developing holistic daily fire occurrence models in Spain involving also other topographic, fuel and human-related geographic factors. The data consisted of historical records of daily fire occurrences, daily weather data and geographic characteristics for the peninsular territory of Spain in a 10-km-spatial resolution grid, for the period from 2002 to 2005. The prediction units were 10 × 10-km-grid cells but in order to take into account the spatial variation in relationships between explanatory variables and historical occurrences, Spain was divided into 53 ecoregions and a logistic regression model was developed for each one of these regions. The explanatory variables included in the models illustrated which weather and geographic factors primarily affected daily human-caused fires in the ecoregions. The validation of the estimated ignition probabilities with the fire occurrences registered during 2005, reserved for independently testing the model’s predictive capability, resulted in values of total percentage correctly predicted varying from 47.4 to 82.6%.
Deterministic Uncertainty in Bed Load Transport

A methodology for detecting nonlinear dynamics in bed load transport rate time series and testing the ability of distribution functions to characterize rate variations is outlined. The Kolmogorov entropy of a time series consisting of >10,000 bed load transport measurements made in a laboratory flume indicates that >80% of the variability can be explained by the sequential passage of bed forms as modeled by Hamamori's logarithmic cumulative distribution function, and the remainder may be attributable to deterministic uncertainty (chaos). Greater understanding of the mutual adjustments between the turbulent flow, sediment transport, and bed forms might reduce the level of uncertainty. Nevertheless, the Hamamori function affords an effective characterization of the distribution of at-a-point bed load transport rates in cases where the fine temporal details of the transport process can be ignored.
An integrated geophysical investigation of Haymana Basin and hydrocarbon prospective Kirkkavak Formation in Central Anatolia, Turkey

ABSTRACT In this study, all available geological, geophysical and geochemical data were integrated to assess the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Haymana Basin, an interior basin in Central Anatolia. First, the basin was modelled in three dimensions (3D) using gravity data which identified the deepest part of the basin to the east of Haymana, south of Ankara. This potential hydrocarbon generation area has not been properly explored. Next, the first order vertical derivative of the gravity anomaly map was computed to identify boundaries of prospective structures from inflections in the gravity gradient. Aeromagnetic data were transformed to an analytical signal to identify the probable locations of buried magmatic intrusions. The prospective part of the Haymana Basin was interpreted as being located to the east of an intrusion. Finally, all available geochemical data of the Kirkkavak Formation were classified for different parameters (TOC, S1+S2 and Tmax) and maximum values of each parameter were mapped. In comparing the 3D depth model with individual geochemical maps, it was observed that each geochemical parameter was consistent with the interpreted prospective zone of the Haymana Basin.
Intervessel pit membrane thickness best explains variation in embolism resistance amongst stems of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions

Abstract Background and Aims The ability to avoid drought-induced embolisms in the xylem is one of the essential traits for plants to survive periods of water shortage. Over the past three decades, hydraulic studies have been focusing on trees, which limits our ability to understand how herbs tolerate drought. Here we investigate the embolism resistance in inflorescence stems of four Arabidopsis thaliana accessions that differ in growth form and drought response. We assess functional traits underlying the variation in embolism resistance amongst the accessions studied using detailed anatomical observations. Methods Vulnerability to xylem embolism was evaluated via vulnerability curves using the centrifuge technique and linked with detailed anatomical observations in stems using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Key Results The data show significant differences in stem P50, varying 2-fold from −1.58 MPa in the Cape Verde Island accession to −3.07 MPa in the woody soc1 ful double mutant. Out of all the anatomical traits measured, intervessel pit membrane thickness (TPM) best explains the differences in P50, as well as P12 and P88. The association between embolism resistance and TPM can be functionally explained by the air-seeding hypothesis. There is no evidence that the correlation between increased woodiness and increased embolism resistance is directly related to functional aspects. However, we found that increased woodiness is strongly linked to other lignification characters, explaining why mechanical stem reinforcement is indirectly related to increased embolism resistance. Conclusions The woodier or more lignified accessions are more resistant to embolism than the herbaceous accessions, confirming the link between increased stem lignification and increased embolism resistance, as also observed in other lineages. Intervessel pit membrane thickness and, to a lesser extent, theoretical vessel implosion resistance and vessel wall thickness are the missing functional links between stem lignification and embolism resistance.
Resistance characteristics of surface aerators.

The resistance characteristics in terms of power consumption, interpreted in terms of Power number (P-0), of unbaffled surface aeration systems consisting of flat bladed impellers, were studied in two shapes of surface aerations tanks: square and circular. Experiments were conducted in three different sizes in each of the geometrically similar unbaffled square and circular surface aerators. Results have shown that the P-0 cannot be simulated singularly either with Reynolds number R or with Froude number as there are scale effects; hence there appears to be a need for incorporating the effects of both R and F. It is found that P-0 is uniquely related to a parameter X (=(FR1/3)-R-4/3), which is defined as a parameter governing the theoretical power per unit volume for both shapes of aeration tanks; however, such relationships are different for both shapes of aerators. Interestingly P-0 values are always higher in square surface aerators than in circular surface aerators, which suggests that the circular surface aerators require less power input than the square surface aerators. The usefulness of such correlations was demonstrated in estimating the power requirement while achieving a required oxygen transfer coefficient in surface aerators.
Valuing reduced acid deposition injuries to cultural resources: marble monuments in Washington, DC.

What value do we place on our cultural heritage, and to what extent should we preserve historic and culturally important sites and artefacts from the ravages of weather, pollution, development and use by the general public? This innovative book attempts to answer these important questions by exploring how non-market valuation techniques – used extensively in environmental economics – can be applied to cultural heritage. The book includes twelve comprehensive case studies that estimate public values for a diverse set of cultural goods, including English cathedrals, Bulgarian monasteries, rock paintings in Canada, statues in the US, and a medieval city in Africa.