Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GPS Seismology: Application to the 2002 Mw 7.9 Denali Fault Earthquake

Abstract The 2002 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake ( M w 7.9) caused one or more components of most broadband seismometers in western Canada to clip, yet did not trigger strong-motion instruments, thus leaving a substantial gap in the seismic record of this event. However, the large-amplitude surface waves generated by this event were well recorded by the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the same region, out to epicentral distances of more than 3000 km. In this article, we explore the capabilities of GPS seismology, specifically how the relative strengths of GPS and seismic data sets can be exploited in order to more effectively study earthquake source characteristics and wave-propagation effects. High-rate (1-Hz) GPS data from 23 stations throughout western North America have been analyzed to derive displacement waveforms for this event, and the impact of instrumentation (GPS receiver model) and error-reduction strategy (modified sidereal and spatial filtering) on the noise characteristics of displacement time series at each GPS site was assessed. After applying error-reduction methods to GPS displacements, the final average noise floors of 0.5 cm in the horizontal and 1.5 cm in the vertical indicate that large dynamic displacements are observable by GPS. We validate the GPS displacements by comparing broadband seismic recordings (integrated to displacement) with GPS recordings for four effectively colocated sets of instruments. We show excellent agreement between the unclipped seismic and GPS recordings of the surface waves from the Denali earthquake over the period range of 10–50 sec and for ground displacements exceeding about 1.0 cm. Thus, a large GPS displacement data set is now available for western North America, an area where records of this event were previously missing or incomplete. The final GPS seismograms are archived at Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) for public use in future studies of the 2002 Denali earthquake.
Cognitive neural prosthetics: brain machine interfaces based in parietal cortex

Systems neuroscience has recently emerged as an applied field in the form of neural prosthetic development. This integration of empirical systems neuroscience with engineering in order to develop functional interfaces between external devices and the brain has not only been beneficial in its applied goal, but has resulted in observations of scientific interest. The body of work presented here demonstrates the efficacy of two varieties of brain machine interfaces (BMIs) based in Parietal Cortex. The first using information about intended reaches present in action potentials, the second using local field potentials (LFPs). Both studies were predicated and succeeded with offline analyses demonstrating feasibility and novel insight to the function and neural coding properties of Parietal Cortex. We found that using BMIs resulted in adaptive change which tended to improve performance. LFPs, though less successful than spikes for BMI control under these experimental conditions, appear to have a multiplexing of different types of information that might aid in BMIs as well as providing a different way of looking at the neural processing. A preliminary exploration of relative timing of spikes and LFPs might result in some of the adaptive properties observed during BMI use via spike timing dependent plasticity concludes the research presented here.
Tree Ring Responses to Climate: Drought Stress Signals Decreased Resilience of Northern Boreal Forests

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv LIST OF FIGURES -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vii LIST OF TABLES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION --------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1 Ecosystem Resilience, Fire, and Climate Change in Northern Boreal Forests ---------------------------2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 1.2 Tree-Ring Analyses -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 1.3 Research Objectives and Dissertation Structure -----------------------------------------------------------------9 1.4 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11 CHAPTER 2: WIDESPREAD NEGATIVE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN BLACK SPRUCE GROWTH AND TEMPERATURE ACROSS TOPOGRAPHIC MOISTURE GRADIENTS IN THE BOREAL FOREST-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 2.
Alignment of protein mass spectrometry data by integrated Markov chain shifting method

Mass spectrometers such as SELDI-TOF (surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight) and MALDI-TOF (matrix assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight) measure the relative abundance of different protein ions or protein fragments (peptides) indexed by the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). A special characteristic of the MS spectra is its variabilities in both m/z values and intensity magnitudes. We propose modelling the logintensities by a semiparametric model and the m/z by the integrated Markov chain shifting (IMS) model, for which the second-order differences of the random effects are assumed to follow a second-order Markov chain. Alignment of spectra is done through averaging over the random shifts conditional on the observed intensity information. The unknown parameters are estimated by an iterative nonparametric maximum profile likelihood method and a Gaussian kernel approximation. The bandwidths in kernel approximation are taken to be 0.04%–0.08% of the m/z values. Simulation results show that the proposed approach can achieve satisfactory alignment by reducing the intensity variations of the misalignment spectra by a factor of around 75%. Most alignment algorithms align spectra by clustering neighboring peaks and do not incorporate peak height information. Our semiparametric random shifting method builds a model taking into consideration of both the random shift effects of neighboring m/z values and similarity of the intensity magnitudes of common peaks within the ranges of about 50% of the intensity values.
Impact of carbonaceous aerosols on Indian monsoon rainfall

Aerosols - liquid or solid particles suspended in the air - are important constituents of the global atmosphere. Asia is the region of the great source of global carbon emission and this trend is expected to increase in the near future. There are two kinds of carbonaceous aerosols i.e. organic matter (OM) and black carbon (BC). Black carbon stands after only carbon dioxide (CO2) in the list of climate change contributors. BC can directly absorb solar radiation or mix with other aerosols to form atmospheric brown clouds which absorb incoming solar radiation and prevent it from reaching the surface, thereby warming the atmosphere. Thus, in this study, the Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique model (LMD, version 3.3) is used to investigate the possible effect of carbonaceous aerosols over India for the monsoon periods on the atmospheric radiation transfer and over the precipitation. LMDZ.3.3 is integrated for different years for the Indian southwest monsoon periods (seasonal experiments) over the globe for the resolution 96x72x19 (approx. 300 km). Model simulated aerosol optical depth at 550 nm has been validated with satellite data (MODIS). The simulation results show that BC aerosol induce a positive radiative forcing, while organic matter show negative radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere and a negative radiative forcing at the surface in this region. However, the impact of BC and OM over rainfall is different and complex for different places. The sensitivity studies for carbonaceous aerosols have been done for 21 years (1987-2007) for the monsoon period, and the rainfall is compared with GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project) with the help of Principal component analysis.
Pb isotopic age of the Allende chondrules

Abstract— We have studied Pb‐isotope systematics of chondrules from the oxidized CV3 carbonaceous chondrite Allende. The chondrules contain variably radiogenic Pb with a 206Pb/204Pb ratio between 19.5–268. Pb‐Pb isochron regression for eight most radiogenic analyses yielded the date of 4566.2 ± 2.5 Ma. Internal residue‐leachate isochrons for eight chondrule fractions yielded consistent dates with a weighted average of 4566.6 ± 1.0 Ma, our best estimate for an average age of Allende chondrule formation. This Pb‐Pb age is consistent with the range of model 26Al‐26Mg ages of bulk Allende chondrules reported by Bizzarro et al. (2004) and is indistinguishable from Pb‐Pb ages of Ca‐Al‐rich inclusions (CAIs) from CV chondrites (4567.2 ± 0.6 Ma) (Amelin et al. 2002) and the oldest basaltic meteorites. We infer that chondrule formation started contemporaneously with or shortly after formation of CV CAIs and overlapped in time with formation of the basaltic crust and iron cores of differentiated asteroids. The entire period of chondrule formation lasted from 4566.6 ± 1.0 Ma (Allende) to 4564.7 ± 0.6 Ma (CR chondrite Acfer 059) to 4562.7 ± 0.5 Ma (CB chondrite Gujba) and was either continuous or consisted of at least three discrete episodes. Since chondrules in CB chondrites appear to have formed from a vapor‐melt plume produced by a giant impact between planetary embryos after dust in the protoplanetary disk had largely dissipated (Krot et al. 2005), there were possibly a variety of processes in the early solar system occurring over at least 4–5 Myr that we now combine under the umbrella name of “chondrule formation. ”
Overview of the Microscopic Imager Investigation during Spirit's first 450 sols in Gusev crater

The Microscopic Imager (MI) on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has returned images of Mars with higher resolution than any previous camera system, allowing detailed petrographic and sedimentological studies of the rocks and soils at the Gusev landing site. Designed to simulate a geologist's hand lens, the MI is mounted on Spirit's instrument arm and can resolve objects 0.1 mm in size or larger. This paper provides an overview of MI operations, data calibration, processing, and analysis of MI data returned during the first 450 sols (Mars days) of the Spirit landed mission. The primary goal of this paper is to facilitate further analyses of MI data by summarizing the methods used to acquire and process the data, the radiometric and geometric accuracy of MI data products, and the availability of archival products. In addition, scientific results of the MI investigation are summarized. MI observations show that poorly sorted soils are common in Gusev crater, although aeolian bedforms have well-sorted coarse sand grains on their surfaces. Abraded surfaces of plains rocks show igneous textures, light-toned veins or fracture-filling minerals, and discrete coatings. The rocks in the Columbia Hills have a wide variety of granular textures, consistent with volcaniclastic or impact origins. Case hardening and submillimeter veins observed in the rocks as well as soil crusts and cemented clods imply episodic subsurface aqueous fluid movement, which has altered multiple geologic units in the Columbia Hills. The MI also monitored Spirit's solar panels and the magnets on the rover's deck.
Spatio‐temporal distribution of actual evapotranspiration in the Indus Basin Irrigation System

Strategic planning of optimal water use requires an accurate assessment of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) to understand the environmental and hydrological processes of the world's largest contiguous irrigation networks, including the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) in Pakistan. The Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) has been used successfully for accurate estimations of ETa in different river basins throughout the world. In this study, we examined the application of SEBS using publically available remote sensing data to assess spatial variations in water consumption and to map water stress from daily to annual scales in the IBIS. Ground‐based ETa was calculated by the advection‐aridity method, from nine meteorological sites, and used to evaluate the intra‐annual seasonality in the hydrological year 2009–2010. In comparison with the advection‐aridity, SEBS computed daily ETa was slightly underestimated with a bias of −0.15 mm day−1 during the kharif (wet; April–September) season, and it was overestimated with a bias of 0.23 mm day−1 in the rabi (dry; October–March) season. Monthly values of the ETa estimated by SEBS were significantly (P < 0.05) controlled by mean air temperature and rainfall, among other climatological variables (relative humidity, sunshine hours and wind speed). Because of the seasonal (kharif and rabi) differences in the water and energy budget in the huge canal command areas of the IBIS, ETa and rainfall were positively correlated in the kharif season and were negatively correlated during the rabi season. In addition, analysis of the evaporation process showed that mixed‐cropping and rice–wheat dominated areas had lower and higher water consumption rates, respectively, in comparison with other cropping systems in the basin. Basin areas under water stress were identified by means of spatial variations in the relative evapotranspiration, which had an average value of 0.59 and 0.42 during the kharif and the rabi seasons, respectively. The hydrological parameters used in this study provide useful information for understanding hydrological processes at different spatial and temporal scales. Results of this study further suggest that the SEBS is useful for evaluation of water resources in semi‐arid to arid regions over longer periods, if the data inputs are carefully handled. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regional Cementation from Unconformity-Recharged Aquifer and Burial Fluids, Mississippian Newman Limestone, Kentucky

ABSTRACT The Mississippian Newman Limestone in Kentucky was studied to assess the effects of unconformities within and above the sequence on calcite cementation. Early cements are low in Fe and show a nonluminescent to dull to nonluminescent zonation. Early nonluminescent cement mainly formed in updip areas from oxidizing, meteoric waters in a regional paleoaquifer that formed during regional regression in the Late Mississippian. During Late Mississippian transgression, waters became reducing to form early dull cement (up to 600 ppm Mn, up to 2,700 ppm Fe but averaging 570 ppm). The aquifer underwent later recharge during Mississippian-Pennsylvanian regression to form a second nonluminescent cement. This event continued into the Pennsylvanian when the sequence underwent increasing burial. Earl cements have 13O values that become lighter downdip, perhaps reflecting a downdip temperature increase due to burial. 13C values are lightest in the north (postulated recharge area) and reflect input of organically derived CO2 in waters there. Most calcite cementation appears to have been associated with two post-Newman unconformities which generated regional aquifers and reflects a shift to a wetter climate in Late Mississippian-Pennsylvanian time. Early cement abundance decreases away from postulated recharge areas. Later iron-rich burial cements (up to 2,200 ppm Mn, up to 11,000 ppm Fe) fill remaining pore spaces, compaction-induced fractures, spalled cement rims, and tectonic fractures lined with saddle dolomite and pyrite. They formed above 60°C at depths of 1 to 3 km. 13O values are compatible with derivation by pressure solution of preexisting calcites in isotopically heavy waters highly modified by burial diagenesis. Light 13C values reflect isotopically light organic carbon in the deltaic waters entering the subsurface, or being expelled from shales or buffering of waters by light C, early calcite cements. The 13C calcite cements become heavier downdip by equilibration of waters with host limestone. Newman sediments may have been subjected to late, postcementation(? ) migration of warm fluids based on secondary fluid inclusions. These late-stage fluids most likely were chemically complex, warm brines (7-17 equiv. wt. % NaCI, 50° to 160°C) that resided in the formation for sufficiently short times that conodont CAI values were not affected.
The γ2 Subunit of GABAA Receptors Is a Substrate for Palmitoylation by GODZ

The neurotransmitter GABA activates heteropentameric GABAA receptors, which are composed mostly of α, β, and γ2 subunits. Regulated membrane trafficking and subcellular targeting of GABAA receptors is important for determining the efficacy of GABAergic inhibitory function. Of special interest is the γ2 subunit, which is mostly dispensable for assembly and membrane insertion of functional receptors but essential for accumulation of GABAA receptors at synapses. In a search for novel receptor trafficking proteins, we have used the SOS-recruitment system and isolated a Golgi-specific DHHC zinc finger protein (GODZ) as a novel γ2 subunit-interacting protein. GODZ is a member of the superfamily of DHHC cysteine-rich domain (DHHC-CRD) polytopic membrane proteins shown recently in yeast to represent palmitoyltransferases. GODZ mRNA is found in many tissues; however, in brain the protein is detected in neurons only and highly concentrated and asymmetrically distributed in the Golgi complex. GODZ interacts with a cysteine-rich 14-amino acid domain conserved specifically in the large cytoplasmic loop of γ1-3 subunits but not in other GABAA receptor subunits. Coexpression of GODZ and GABAA receptors in heterologous cells results in palmitoylation of the γ2 subunit in a cytoplasmic loop domain-dependent manner. Neuronal GABAA receptors are similarly palmitoylated. Thus, GODZ-mediated palmitoylation represents a novel posttranslational modification that is selective forγ subunit-containing GABAA receptor subtypes, a mechanism that is likely to be important for regulated trafficking of these receptors in the secretory pathway.
Combining magnitude and shape features for hyperspectral classification

The spectral angle mapper (SAM) and maximum likelihood classification (MLC) are two traditional classifiers for hyperspectral classification. This paper presents two methods to combine magnitude and shape features, one for each classifier. As the magnitude and shape features are complementary, combining both features can improve the classification accuracy. First, magnitude features are represented by the spectral radiance vector, whereas shape features are represented by the spectral gradient vector. Then, in SAM, each feature vector generates a spectral angle for each class. The two generated angles are added together to obtain a single similarity, which is used for the final classification. Similarly, in MLC, after the dimensionality reduction using Fisher's linear discriminant (FLD), each feature vector in the new feature space generates a likelihood. The two generated likelihoods are multiplied to obtain a single value, which is adopted for the final classification. Experimental results on an Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data set demonstrate that the proposed methods outperform the methods with a single feature set.
Land use planning challenges and tools—tradeable development rights: design considerations

Tradeable development rights (TDRs) are market based instruments that allow a right to develop a parcel of land to move from one parcel to another. We examine TDRs as a potential instrument for achieving the economic objective of allocating development to its highest value use in Victoria. TDRs are examined as a tool within Victoria’s existing planning system for rural land, which has a number of objectives. Design considerations for applying TDRs in Victoria include the need to consider modifying development entitlements from a right to apply (RTA) to a right to develop (RTD). It will also be important to address potential infrastructure externalities. Additional challenges include developing a suitable metric, addressing potential development hotspots and non-quantity development attributes, considering potential leaks, clarifying distributional impacts, and addressing credible commitment mechanisms. We consider the potential for TDRs to contribute to a series of land use outcomes. We find that using TDRs to protect agricultural does not appear to address underlying market failures that may contribute to excessive urban sprawl and encroachment on agricultural land. TDRs offer a potential source of adjustment income, although other instruments may assist in a more effective and transparent manner. TDRs can be directed to protecting native vegetation; however, Victoria has existing and emerging instruments in place to target this objective. Finally, TDRs offer potential for the more efficient allocation of well specified development rights, which would require modification of the existing planning framework to accommodate the design challenges noted above.
Spatiotemporal assessment of dust loading over the United Arab Emirates

Evaluation of the spatiotemporal distribution of dust loading over the UAE is a great challenge because of its dependence on many climatic parameters and surface features. Indeed, the region has the world's largest confluences of natural and anthropogenic dust emissions. Those being the case, ground‐based and remotely sensed data are used conjointly to characterize the dust loading at both local and large scales. The ground‐based measurements comprise AERONET aerosol optical properties measurements represented by the aerosol optical thickness (AOT870) and Angstrom component (α500/870) collected at high temporal resolution between 2004 and 2007 over several stations. The remotely sensed data consists of diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) estimated from retrieved MSG/SEVRI images using Helioclim‐III (CEP: Centre for Energy and Processes, MINES ParisTech) or Artificial Neural Network (ReCREMA: Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment, MASDAR Institute) from 2004 to 2010 over the same locations. On correlating the monthly average DHI estimates to the monthly AOT870 measurements, higher correlation was found with the ReCREMA products rather compared to the Helioclim‐III products. Therefore, the monthly AOT870 and α500/870 values have been retrieved from the available DHI estimates over the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The resulting maps offer a clear guide to patterns of the monthly dust severity variability. Temporally, the dust loading occur mainly during the March–May/June–August (MAM/JJA) period where the obtained monthly AOT870 and Angstrom component (α500/870) can both reach an approximate value of ∼0.6. Spatially, the dust loading over the region follow the climatic parameters with almost homogeneous distribution expected between May and July where AOT870 and α500/870 exhibit high large‐scale spatial variability. On the basis of the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and ground‐based wind speed and direction data, the dust blows mainly from the southwest/southeast and the northeast sides.