Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rational regime model of alluvial channel morphology and response

A theoretical model is developed for predicting equilibrium alluvial channel form. The concept of greatest relative stability, achieved by maximizing resistance to ﬂow in the ﬂuvial system, is presented as the basis for an optimization condition for alluvial systems. Discharge, sediment supply (quantity and calibre) and valley gradient are accepted as independent governing variates. The model is used to deﬁne a dimensionless alluvial state space characterized by aspect ratio (W/d), relative roughness (D/d), and dimensionless shear stress (τ*) or, equivalently, channel slope (S). Each alluvial state exhibits unique values of Froude number and sediment concentration. The range of alluvial states for constant values of relative bank strength (parameterized by an apparent friction angle, ϕ′) forms a single plane in the state space (W/d, D/d, τ* or S). The scaling relations produced by the model are consistent with laboratory channels exhibiting a range of bank strengths, and with the behaviour of natural channels. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The regional stratigraphy of the southwest United Kingdom and adjacent offshore areas with particular reference to the major intra-Cretaceous unconformity

Stratigraphic studies in the Wessex Basin, southern England, highlight the occurrence of a significant intra-Cretaceous unconformity which truncates progressively older stratigraphy in a westerly direction from Dorset into Devon. The erosion associated with the event can be traced at least to the west of Exmouth, where the Upper Greensand (U. Albian) sits upon beds of Permian age. A chronostratigraphic correlation diagram (Fig. 1), constructed from coastal outcrops between Hastings in the east and Budleigh Salterton in the west, and which avoids footwall highs, shows the convergent nature of this unconformity. The diagram suggests that the correlative conformity of this event lies between Worbarrow Bay and Swanage in the Valanginian Wealden Beds, below the prominent Quartz Grit bed, rather than in the Aptian as supposed by previous workers. Eastwards, the Wealden Beds thicken rapidly, with progressively more important marine incursions. The same unconformity also appears to be traceable in the Normandy and Brittany regions of France, where the most complete stratigraphy is observed in the Pay de Bray region, northeast of Rouen. Westwards of this point the gap in stratigraphy widens, especially on the periphery of the Armorican Massif where Liassic, Triassic and Permian beds progressively sub-crop the unconformity in a relatively narrow band (less than 30 km wide). Independent analysis of over 90 wells from the Celtic Sea, Western Approaches, English Channel and Brittany Basins reveals that an unconformity, which has a similar character to that observed from onshore, exists in the offshore basins also. The most complete stratigraphy can be found in
The Ribosome Regulates the GTPase of the (cid:98) -subunit of the Signal Recognition Particle Receptor

Protein targeting to the membrane of the ER is regulated by three GTPases, the 54-kD subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP) and the (cid:97) - and (cid:98) -sub-unit of the SRP receptor (SR). Here, we report on the GTPase cycle of the (cid:98) -subunits of the SR (SR (cid:98) ). We found that SR (cid:98) binds GTP with high afﬁnity and interacts with ribosomes in the GTP-bound state. Subsequently, the ribosome increases the GTPase activity of SR (cid:98) and thus functions as a GTPase activating protein for SR (cid:98) . Furthermore, the interaction between SR (cid:98) and the ribosome leads to a reduction in the afﬁnity of SR (cid:98) for guanine nucleotides. We propose that SR (cid:98) regulates the interaction of SR with the ribosome and thereby allows SR (cid:97) to scan membrane-bound ribosomes for the presence of SRP. Interaction between SRP and SR (cid:97) then leads to release of the signal sequence from SRP and insertion into the translocon. GTP hydrolysis then results in dissociation of SR from the ribosome, and SRP from the SR. protein. Our results suggest that the ribosome contacts SR (cid:98) in its GTP-bound state, stimulates GTP hydrolysis of SR (cid:98) , and leads to a release of SR (cid:98) -bound GDP.
Semi-supervised metric learning by maximizing constraint margin

Distance metric learning is an old problem that has been researched in the supervised learning field for a very long time. In this paper, we consider the problem of learning a proper distance metric under the guidance of some weak supervisory information. Specifically, those information are in the form of pairwise constraints which specify whether a pair of data points are in the same class (must link constraints) or in the different classes (cannot link constraints). Given those constraints, our algorithm aims to learn a distance metric under which the points with must link constraints are pushed as close as possible, while simultaneously the points with cannot link constraints are pulled away as far as possible. Finally the experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of our method.
Relationship between environmental and land-use variables on soil carbon levels at the regional scale in central New South Wales, Australia

The potential to change agricultural land use to increase soil carbon stocks has been proposed as a mechanism to offset greenhouse gas emissions. To estimate the potential carbon storage in the soil from regional surveys it is important to understand the influence of environmental variables (climate, soil type, and landscape) before land management can be assessed. A survey was done of 354 sites to determine soil organic carbon stock (SOC stock; Mg C/ha) across the Lachlan and Macquarie catchments of New South Wales, Australia. The influences of climate, soil physical and chemical properties, landscape position, and 10 years of land management information were assessed. The environmental variables described most of the regional variation compared with management. The strongest influence on SOC stock at 0–10 cm was from climatic variables, particularly 30-year average annual rainfall. At a soil depth of 20–30 cm, the proportion of silica (SiO2) determined by mid-infrared spectra (SiMIR) had a negative relationship with SOC stock, and sand and clay measured by particle size analysis also showed strong relationships at sites where measured. Of the difference in SOC stock explained by land use, cropping had lower soil carbon than pasture in rotation or permanent pasture at 0–10 cm. This relationship was consistent across a rainfall gradient, but once soil carbon was standardised per mm of average annual rainfall, there was a greater difference between cropping and permanent pasture with increasing SiMIR in soils. Land use is also regulated by climate, topography, and soil type, and the effect on SOC stock is better assessed in smaller land-management units to remove some variability due to climate and soil.
440 Ma ice stream in North Africa

Landsat images, ASTER digital elevation models, aerial photographs, and field investigations in the western Murzuq Basin (Libya) and the adjacent Tassili N'Ajjers (Algeria) provide paleogeomorphological evidence for the existence of a Late Ordovician ice stream at least 200 km long and 80 km wide. This includes mega-scale glacial lineations, an associated subglacial meltwater drainage system, and ice-front features. This first comprehensive description of a pre-Cenozoic ice stream may help to identify other examples in the Proterozoic to Paleozoic glacial record. Reconstruction of the extent and behavior of former ice sheets, and reservoir prospect analysis in glacially related successions, have to take into account the potential occurrence of ice streams.
Onshore Migration of Emerged Ridge and Ponded Runnel

AbstractRidge-runnel features can comprise large volumes of sand, and their migration can have a significant influence on the coastal sediment budget and beach recovery after a storm. Numerical modeling of ridge-runnel migration is challenging partly because of the strong interactions between the hydrodynamics and morphology and partly because of limited available field and laboratory measurements. This study investigated the effect of water ponding and runnel drainage on onshore ridge migration in an experiment in a sand flume where detailed free‐surface and velocity measurements were taken in the ponded water zone of the runnel and in the intermittently wet and dry zone on the ridge crest. The test scenario with a drained runnel showed a ridge migration speed five times larger than the scenario in which water and sediment could only exit the runnel as offshore return flow over the ridge. The time-averaged numerical model CSHORE was modified to include the ponded water effect in the sediment transport fo.
Developing joint probability distributions of soil water retention characteristics

A method is presented for developing probability density functions for parameters of soil moisture relationships of capillary head [h(θ)] and hydraulic conductivity [K(θ)]. These soil moisture parameters are required for the assessment of water flow and solute transport in unsaturated media. The method employs a statistical multiple regression equation proposed in the literature for estimating [h(θ)] or [K(θ)] relationships using the soil saturated water content and the percentages of sand and clay. In the absence of known statistical distributions for either [h(θ)] or [K(θ)] relationships, the method facilitates modeling by providing variability estimates that can be used to examine the uncertainty associated with water flow or solute transport in unsaturated media.
Brazilian silverside, Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard,1825) embryos as a test-species for marine fish ecotoxicological tests

The fish embryo test (FET) is an alternative to the classic freshwater toxicity test used to assess environmental hazards and risks to fish. This test has been standardized and adopted by the Organization for Economic and Cooperation and Development (OECD). As salinity may affect the substances’ toxicity, we describe the development of an alternative euryhaline test species for embryonic ecotoxicological tests: the Brazilian silverside Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825). This species is broadly distributed along the coast of South America and is able to inhabit a broad range of environmental and saline conditions. Ours is the first study on the maintenance of a native South American species for natural reproduction and the generation of embryos for tests. The embryos used are transparent and possess fluorescent cells which have only been seen in a few species and which may be used as markers, making it an alternative assessment tool for the lethal and sublethal substances in marine and estuarine environments. We provide a detailed description and analysis of embryonic development under different salinities and temperatures. The embryos and larvae developed in similar ways at different salinities, however as temperatures increased, mortality also increased. We considered the effects of the reference toxicants Zn2+ and SDS using a protocol similar to the FET that was standardized for zebrafish. Brazilian silverside embryos are as sensitive as freshwater, or euryhaline fish, to the surfactant but are more resistant to metals prior to hatching. We were able to show the advantages of the Brazilian silverside as a model for a marine fish embryo test (FETm) with high levels of reproducibility and little contaminated waste.
Association of common genetic variations and idiopathic venous thromboembolism

Summary Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a multifactorial disease, caused by interacting environmental and genetic risk factors. Gene-centric geno-typing strategy is one of the approaches to explore unexplained associations between risk factors and VTE. It was the objective of this study to evaluate, using a gene-centric genotyping strategy, polymorphisms in genes involved in the following pathways: coagulation cascade process, renin-angiotensin or adrenergic systems, lipid metabolism, platelet aggregation. Allele frequency was compared between 677 cases with idiopathic VTE and their matched controls. After Bonferroni adjustment, four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with VTE: Factor XI rs925451 polymorphism, factor XI rs2289252 polymorphism, factor II rs1799963 (G20210A) polymorphism and factor V Leiden rs6025. An additive mode of inheritance fitted best both factor XI polymorphisms. In this hospital-based case-control study, two polymorphisms located on the factor XI gene were significantly associated with VTE. Other newly investigated polymorphisms with potentially false negatives may warrant further analyses.
Textures and processes of laminated travertines formed by unicellular cyanobacteria in Myoken hot spring, southwestern Japan

Lamina‐forming processes of moderately thermophilic (∼55°C) unicellular cyanobacteria were identified for the carbonate travertine in the Myoken Hot Spring, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Continuous 28‐h monitoring of surface textures clearly showed a diurnal pattern in sub‐millimeter order lamination, comprised of daytime dark colored aragonite layers, and night‐time light colored calcite layers. The layering was controlled principally by daily cycles of unicellular cyanobacteria closely related to Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP‐1. During a day, cyanobacteria migrated to the surface, and formed a dark green biofilm, in which CaCO3 is precipitated as radial aggregates of needle aragonite. After sunset, calcite precipitation formed dendritic aggregates of rhombic crystals that cover the biofilm. Physicochemical conditions of the ambient water were stable throughout a day; therefore CaCO3 polymorphs (aragonite/calcite) were controlled by the presence/absence of certain microbial effects, such as extracellular polymeric substances secreted by cyanobacteria. When travertine growth reached the water level, a yellow‐green microbial mat developed on the subaerially exposed surface. Here, filamentous cyanobacteria joined in the microbial community under lowered temperature (∼40°C). Aragonite crystal precipitation occurring in the microbial mat supported the microbial effects on CaCO3 polymorphs. Geomicrobiological processes, effects, and the environmental conditions demonstrated in this travertine provide insights into a further understand of microbial textures in ancient carbonate sediments.
Early biochemical events in insulin-stimulated fluid phase endocytosis

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , March 1, 2003; 284 (3): E514-520. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab V. Trischitta C. Menzaghi, R. Di Paola, G. Baj, A. Funaro, A. Arnulfo, T. Ercolino, N. Surico, F. Malavasi and Insulin modulates PC-1 processing and recruitment in cultured human cells [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January 1, 2004; 84 (1): 277-359. Physiol Rev B. CANNON and J. NEDERGAARD Brown Adipose Tissue: Function and Physiological Significance
Africa: Dispatches from a Fragile Continent

A remarkable and controversial book about the reality of modern Africa by distinguished American reporter, Blaine Harden. This remarkable book is the first to get behind the picture post-card presentation of modern Africa. harden reveals the true and often unsightly picture of this vast continent. The issues he addresses - the incompetent intervention of Western governments and the battle between the tribal way of life and modernity - are presented through lucid and gripping stories about individual people and incidents Harden has known. He himself was once thrown out of Kenya for the strength and accuracy of his reporting; this book will cause and equal stir in the debate about where Africa is going and what itis becoming.
A model for mineral dust emission

In the new dust emission model presented in this paper, the two major dust emission mechanisms are considered, namely, saltation bombardment and aggregates disintegration. The emission of dust generated by the first mechanism is modeled from the perspective of volume removal caused by saltating particles and that arising from the second mechanism is related to the streamwise saltation flux. The dust emission rate is constrained by using the information of minimally and fully dispersed particle size distributions. The performance of the dust emission model is compared with the available field measurements. Despite large uncertainties both in measurements and model parameters, the comparison shows that the model is promising. The accuracy of the model depends on the availability of high-quality particle size data. It is proposed to establish a detailed database of particle size distributions for various soil types for the purpose of modeling dust emission over large areas.
Adenylate-cyclase activity in platelets of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

: Although the main biological hypothesis on the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is centered on the serotonin system, indications are available that other neurotransmitters, and even second messengers, particularly the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, may be involved, though effective data are few. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the basal and isoprenaline (ISO)-stimulated velocity of adenylate-cyclase (AC) in human platelet membranes of patients with OCD and healthy control subjects. The results showed that the basal and ISO-stimulated AC activity, as well as the dose-response curves of ISO by using agonist concentrations ranging between 0.1 nM and 10 µ M, were not different in the two groups. However, OCD patients showed lower EC 50 and higher E max values than healthy subjects. These findings suggest the presence of supersensitive β -adrenergic receptors in platelets of OCD patients.
Paper No 17.3: Disparity Selection in Stereoscopic Image

Three‐dimensional (3D) display devices provide a more realistic experience of entertainment. A great deal of research has been doing to enhance 3D image quality and reduce visual fatigue of stereoscopic display. One of the important considering factors of 3D research is the disparity which is, in general, defined the positional difference between left and right images. The definition is, however, too ambiguous to fix the disparity from various 3D contents. A new definition and a classification method, therefore, are suggested in this study. Furthermore, the validity of the suggested method was verified from a visual assessment.
Spherical crystals of celecoxib to improve solubility, dissolution rate and micromeritic properties

Spherical crystals of celecoxib to improve solubility, dissolution rate and micromeritic properties Celecoxib spherical agglomerates were prepared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using acetone, water and chloroform as solvent, non-solvent and bridging liquid, respectively. The agglomerates were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopic studies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The IR spectroscopy and DSC results indicated the absence of any interactions between drug and additives. XRD studies showed a decrease in crystallinity in agglomerates. The crystals exhibited significantly improved micromeritic properties compared to pure drug. The loading efficiency (% or mg drug per 100 mg crystals) was in the range of 93.9 ± 2.3 and 97.3 ± 1.3% (n = 3) with all formulations. The aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of the drug from crystals was significantly (p < 0.05) increased (nearly two times). The solubility and in vitro drug release rates increased with an increase in PVP concentration (from 2.5 to 10%). The SEM studies showed that the crystal posseses a good spherical shape with smooth and regular surface. Spherical crystals of celecoxib to improve solubility, dissolution rate and micromeritic properties U radu je opisana priprava sferičnih aglomerata sa celekoksibom koristeći polivinilpirolidon (PVP), aceton, vodu i kloroform. Aglomerati su karakterizirani diferencijalnom pretražnom kalorimetrijom (DSC), rentgenskom difrakcijom (XRD), IR spektroskopijom i pretražnom elektronskom mikroskopijom (SEM). IR i DSC pokazale su odsutnost bilo kakvih interakcija između ljekovite tvari i aditiva. XRD je pokazala smanjenje kristaliničnosti u aglomeratima. Aglomerati su pokazali značajno poboljšana mikromerična svojstva u odnosu na čisti lijek. Udio lijeka u njima bio je između 93.89 ± 2.26 i 97.32 ± 1.29%. Topljivost u vodi i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari iz aglomerata povećalo se skoro dva puta. Topljivost i in vitro oslobađanje povećale su se s povećanjem koncentracije PVP (od 2,5 do 10%). SEM studije su pokazale da kristali imaju pravilan sferični oblik te glatku i pravilnu površinu.
In-Plane Air Flow Through Needle-Punched, Nonwoven Geotextiles Under Normal Loading

Knowledge of the in-plane permeability of nonwoven geotextiles to air and other gases has important applications including, for example, the transport and collection of methane gas beneath landfill caps. The results of in-plane flow measurements of air through eight different needle-punched, nonwoven geotextiles are presented. Air flow was measured using a radial flow device under a range of inflow pressures and compressive loads tending to reduce the geotextile's thickness. Inflow pressures ranged from 6.9 to 20.7 kPa (1 to 3 psi), while compressive loads ranged from 13.8 to 372 kPa (2 to 54 psi). The flow through the radial flow device is described mathematically to account for the compressive load borne by the air pressure between the plates of the device. A dimensional analysis of the important variables results in a description of the flow using five dimensionless terms including a dimensionless permeability. The analysis indicates that all eight needle-punched, nonwoven geotextiles, in spite of their variable thickness, differing materials, and differing post-treatment, are essentially identical in their performance in terms of how air flows through them. The intrinsic permeability of all eight geotextiles can be estimated to within 8% (worst case) by the equation k = [ 1.7578 ν 4 ∕ 3 g 2 ∕ 3 [ Δ p γ Δ L ] − 0.398 t − 0.659 ] 1.4914 in which k is the in-plane intrinsic permeability, γ is the unit weight of the fluid, Δp is the pressure drop along the flow path, ΔL is the length of the flow path (Δp/ΔL is the pressure gradient), t is the thickness of the geotextile, and v is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid.
Analysis of piston error of an optical sparse-aperture imaging system

With the development of Earth and Space missions, the quest for higher spatial resolution for telescopes will turn into urgent need. Optical sparse-aperture system can be designed to obtain high resolution in astronomical object imaging with several independent small-aperture telescopes. However, the images from separated telescopes are not only overlapped but also have same phase. The analysis and discussion on system error which would affect the co-phasing is presented. The piston error, namely the relative longitudinal phase shift across the sub-aperture is an important error to affect the performance of the imaging system. In this paper, we demonstrate the effects of the piston error on the point spread function of the system. Then the simulation has been fulfilled with the specific system parameters. The direct imaging results are obtained. Due to the image restoration techniques, we can also produce higher resolution and better imaging quality result after the restoration. By using the correlation coefficient as the evaluation criterion of imaging, the results show that image quality is reducing with the increase of the piston error periodicity.