Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extratropical Atmospheric Response to the Atlantic Nino Decaying Phase

Abstract The Atlantic Nino or Atlantic Equatorial Mode (EM) is the dominant coupled variability phenomenon in the tropical Atlantic basin during boreal summer. From the 1970s, the mode has changed, evolving in time from east to west and without persisting until the following winter. In a previous observational work, the authors have studied the atmospheric response to the EM during the 1979–2005 period, proposing three main issues along the decaying phase of this mode: 1) the continuous confinement of the anomalous deep convection over northeastern Brazil following the thermal-forcing decay; 2) an increasing dipole-like precipitation anomaly with dry conditions in the Florida–Gulf of Mexico region; and 3) the excitation of Rossby waves forced by the remaining upper-tropospheric divergence that are trapped into the subtropical jet but do not show a robust impact on the European sector. In this work, a 10-member ensemble simulation for the recent EM with the University of California, Los Angeles AGCM model .
Drought and Ecological Site Interaction on Plant Composition of a Semi-Arid Rangeland

Fluctuating climatic patterns are increasing the frequency and severity of drought, a concern for native plant communities on grazed semi-arid rangelands. Vegetation successional models have focused on the impact of management and have failed to quantify the effects of extreme drought. From 2001 to 2011, plant community composition was sampled on ecological sites in a semi-arid rangeland managed with conservative grazing and frequent fire since 1937. Ordination and classification were used to assess the interactive effects of ecological site and extreme drought on plant species composition, holding all other external drivers constant. Deeper soil clay loam sites had 4x greater beta diversity than shallower and rockier low stony hill sites, an indication of greater species turnover and instability in response to extreme drought. Cumulative effects of drought years explained similarity between sites and species composition. Response to extreme drought varied by species; no response (Bouteloua curtipendula), decreased (Nassella leucotricha), and increased (Bouteloua rigidiseta and Eriochloa sericea). Annual C3 plant responses were explained by short-term drought and perennial C3 and C4 plant responses were explained by long-term drought. Clay loam sites had maximum species richness and diversity values during neutral periods with quadratic declines associated with climatic extremes (dry or wet) compared to the more xeric sites which had minimum species richness and diversity during neutral periods with quadratic increases during climatic extremes. The interaction between site and drought, holding all other external drivers constant, can enhance our understanding of plant community dynamics and secondary plant succession of degraded semi-arid rangelands.
Surfactant Behavior in Atmospheric Aerosols

Surfactant Behavior in Atmospheric Aerosols Allison N. Schwier Atmospheric aerosols are very important in the Earth climate system due to their role in cloud formation and the global radiation budget. However, there are still many unanswered questions about how the composition of the aerosol varies and how this composition affects the climate system. While aerosols contain a mix of organic and inorganic material, a sub-fraction of the organic material in atmospheric aerosols is surface active, arranging itself into organic films at the gas-aerosol interface. These films can inhibit trace gas uptake, affecting atmospheric chemistry and composition, and they can also impact water uptake, influencing cloud formation properties. Additionally, these films can depress surface tension of atmospheric aerosols, leading to enhanced cloud nuclei. Organic film behavior strongly depends on aerosol pH as well as ionic content, and given the complexity of atmospheric chemistry, hundreds of possible surfactants could exist at a given time in atmospheric aerosols. Therefore, it is imperative to study and understand the formation of organic films and their behavior at atmospherically relevant
Stable 18O and 13C isotope records of Viviparus diluvianus (Kunth, 1865) shells from Holsteinian (MIS 11) lakes of eastern Poland as palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic proxies

The oxygen and carbon stable isotope composition of Viviparus diluvianus shells was determined in the palaeolakes of the Holsteinian interglacial (MIS 11) in eastern Poland: the Ortel Królewski, Hrud, Ossówka, Roskosz and Szymanowo lakes. The occurrence of V. diluvianus covers the Taxus zone, the so‐called intra‐interglacial cooling period (Pinus‐Larix zone), the climatic optimum (Carpinus‐Abies zone) and the post‐optimal period with an undefined pollen zone. The isotope record of V. diluvianus shells allowed palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. δ18O and δ13C vary from −8.7‰ in the post‐optimal period to −4.8‰ in the optimal period, and from −10.6‰ at the beginning of the Taxus zone to −4.2‰ at the climatic optimum, respectively. A positive correlation of the isotope curves indicates closed‐water bodies, and only at Roskosz was some occasional overflow inferred. Higher oxygen isotopes correspond to an increase in temperature and/or enhanced evaporation, which is well marked in the Carpinus‐Abies zone, whereas samples enriched in 13C are correlated with periods demonstrating a lower water level and higher productivity in the lakes. Episodes of lake shallowing and dense aquatic vegetation occurred in the Pinus‐Larix zone and during the climatic optimum. The isotope ratios for the climatic optimum significantly exceed those of the other periods, thus pointing to warmer conditions. An estimation of relative changes of average summer temperatures using the δ18O/temperature gradient yielded variation of 1–2 °C within the lakes. Absolute temperature reconstructions indicate the effects of specific local conditions. Hence, V. diluvianus shells offer a reliable proxy in qualitative studies of interglacial lake records.
Hydration of marginal basins and compositional variations within the continental lithospheric mantle inferred from a new global model of shear and compressional velocity

We present a new global model of shear and compressional wave speeds for the entire mantle, partly based on the data set employed for the shear velocity model savani. We invert Rayleigh and Love surface waves up to the sixth overtone in combination with major P and S body wave phases. Mineral physics data on the isotropic δlnVS/δlnVP ratio are taken into account in the form of a regularization constraint. The relationship between VP and VS that we observe in the top 300 km of the mantle has important thermochemical implications. Back‐arc basins in the Western Pacific are characterized by large VP/VS and not extremely low VS at ∼150 km depth, consistently with presence of water. Most pronounced anomalies are located in the Sea of Japan, in the back‐arc region of the Philippine Sea, and in the South China Sea. Our results indicate the effectiveness of slab‐related processes to hydrate the mantle and suggest an important role of Pacific plate subduction also for the evolution of the South China Sea. We detect lateral variations in composition within the continental lithospheric mantle. Regions that have been subjected to rifting, collisions, and flood basalt events are underlain by relatively large VP/VS ratio compared to undeformed Precambrian regions, consistently with a lower degree of chemical depletion. Compositional variations are also observed in deep lithosphere. At ∼200 km depth, mantle beneath Australia and African cratons has comparable positive VS anomalies with other continental regions, but VP is ∼1% higher.
Research Africa Network (RAN) RAN Working Paper

This study investigates the relationship between social trust and intelligence. The extreme bound analysis of Levine and Renelt is employed to directly assess the strength of the nexus. The findings confirm the positive and robust nexus between social trust and intelligence. We have contributed to the literature by confirming that the previously established positive linkage between intelligence and trust is not statistically fragile. In fact the nexus withstands further empirical scrutiny with more robust empirical strategies.
Using Near-Infrared Images

Most current face recognition systems are designed for indoor, cooperative-user applications. However, even in thus- constrained applications, most existing systems, academic and commercial, are compromised in accuracy by changes in environmental illumination. In this paper, we present a novel solution for illumination invariant face recognition for indoor, cooperative-user applications. First, we present an active near infrared (NIR) imaging system that is able to produce face images of good condition regardless of visible lights in the environment. Second, we show that the resulting face images encode intrinsic information of the face, subject only to a monotonic transform in the gray tone; based on this, we use local binary pattern (LBP) features to compensate for the monotonic transform, thus deriving an illumination invariant face representation. Then, we present methods for face recognition using NIR images; statistical learning algorithms are used to extract most discriminative features from a large pool of invariant LBP features and construct a highly accurate face matching engine. Finally, we present a system that is able to achieve accurate and fast face recognition in practice, in which a method is provided to deal with specular reflections of active NIR lights on eyeglasses, a critical issue in active NIR image- based face recognition. Extensive, comparative results are provided to evaluate the imaging hardware, the face and eye detection algorithms, and the face recognition algorithms and systems, with respect to various factors, including illumination, eyeglasses, time lapse, and ethnic groups. Index Terms—Biometrics, face recognition, near infrared (NIR), illumination invariant, local binary pattern (LBP), statistical learning.
Progresses on Study of Nearshore Processes and Coastal Erosion Mechanisms

The multi-scale temporal and spatial variations and complexity of the nearshore morphodynamic processes at sandy coast are briefly introduced,and the three interdependent aspects of coast system and the basic morphodynamic features in the nearshore zone are also represented.The progresses in the study of sandy coast erosion mechanism and morphodynamic processes at home and abroad are discoursed from the following five aspects: 1) the movement of infragravity waves and the erosion of coast;2) the nearshore circulations,wave setup and undertow movement and the erosion of beach;3) the morphodynamic states in beach-surf zone and the mode of beach erosion;4) the wave-forced longshore currents and longshore sand transportation and the long-term changes of coast;and 5) the rules of shoreline erosion equilibrium form.Finally,the research strategies and the morphodynamic problems which need to be studied first in the future are outlined.
High variability of climate and surface mass balance induced by Antarctic ice rises

Abstract Ice rises play key roles in buttressing the neighbouring ice shelves and potentially provide palaeoclimate proxies from ice cores drilled near their divides. Little is known, however, about their influence on local climate and surface mass balance (SMB). Here we combine 12 years (2001–12) of regional atmospheric climate model (RACMO2) output at high horizontal resolution (5.5 km) with recent observations from weather stations, ground-penetrating radar and firn cores in coastal Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, to describe climate and SMB variations around ice rises. We demonstrate strong spatial variability of climate and SMB in the vicinity of ice rises, in contrast to flat ice shelves, where they are relatively homogeneous. Despite their higher elevation, ice rises are characterized by higher winter temperatures compared with the flat ice shelf. Ice rises strongly influence SMB patterns, mainly through orographic uplift of moist air on the upwind slopes. Besides precipitation, drifting snow contributes significantly to the ice-rise SMB. The findings reported here may aid in selecting a representative location for ice coring on ice rises, and allow better constraint of local ice-rise as well as regional ice-shelf mass balance.
Association between magnetic susceptibilities and hydrocarbon deposits in the Barinas-Apure Basin, Venezuela

We have measured the magnetic susceptibility of 5425 drill cuttings, coming from 20 oil wells distributed in eight fields of the Petroliferous Barinas-Apure Basin (Barinas, Venezuela), seeking evidence of magnetic anomalies associated with the presence of hydrocarbon deposits. The rock samples are located between the near earth’s surface and the basement’s top (approximately 4000 m). In the magnetic susceptibility profiles, we observed high magnetic susceptibilities at the top of the sedimentary units corresponding to reservoir and source rocks of oil-producing wells, whereas in the case of nonproducing wells we observed low magnetic susceptibilities. A basic statistical analysis of the magnetic susceptibility measurements shows a significant difference between the mean values across producing and nonproducing wells at the correspondent oilrelated formations, with a ratio of 4∶1 of producing to nonproducing wells. In the producing wells, we have found a relation between the magnitudes of the magnetic susceptibility and the age of the formation; the larger the magnetic susceptibility, the younger the geological stratum. The age and depth of the formations where the cuts were obtained exclude the presence of cultural (human origin) contamination of the samples, suggesting the evidence of authigenic origin of the magnetic minerals due to the reductive effect of hydrocarbons in rocks.
RESOLUTION ENHANCEMENT OF WELL LOG AND SEISMIC DATA

A new method with general applications for seismic data is presented for spectral extrapolation. The method gives a restored image that is optimum in the sense of minimum norm and can be adapted to incorporate any constraints on the reconstruction. As an illustration of the technique it is first applied to a synthesized (noise-free) image. Then it is shown that enhancement of a density log (run in a hole drilled entirely in Coal Measures rocks) is possible using constraints taken from the geologist's log. A synthetic trace with significantly improved event arrival times and general character is obtained. 10 references.
Bioenergetic and ecological consequences of diet variability in Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus in Chesapeake Bay

Title of Document: BIOENERGETIC AND ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIET VARIABILITY IN ATLANTIC CROAKER MICROPOGONIAS UNDULATUS IN CHESAPEAKE BAY Janet Ashley Nye, Ph.D., 2008 Directed By: Dr. Thomas J. Miller, Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus is a commercially and ecologically important bottom-associated fish that occurs in marine and estuarine systems from Cape Cod, MA to Mexico. I documented the temporal and spatial variability in the diet of Atlantic croaker in Chesapeake Bay and found that in the summer fish, particularly bay anchovies Anchoa mitchilli, make up at least 20% of the diet of croaker by weight. The use of a pelagic food source seems unusual for a bottomassociated fish such as croaker, but appears to be a crepuscular feeding habit that has not been previously detected. Thus, I investigated the bioenergetic consequences of secondary piscivory to the distribution of croaker, to the condition of individuals within the population and to the ecosystem. Generalized additive models revealed that the biomass of anchovy explained some of the variability in croaker occurrence and abundance in Chesapeake Bay. However, physical factors, specifically temperature, salinity, and seasonal dynamics were stronger determinants of croaker distribution than potential prey availability. To better understand the bioenergetic consequences of diet variability at the individual level, I tested the hypothesis that croaker feeding on anchovies would be in better condition than those feeding on polychaetes using a variety of condition measures that operate on multiple time scales, including RNA:DNA, Fulton's condition factor (K), relative weight (Wr), energy density, hepatosomatic index (HSI), and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Of these condition measures, several morphometric measures were significantly positively correlated with each other and with the percentage (by weight) of anchovy in croaker diets, suggesting that the type of prey eaten is important in improving the overall condition of individual croaker. To estimate the bioenergetic consequences of diet variability on growth and consumption in croaker, I developed and validated a bioenergetic model for Atlantic croaker in the laboratory. The application of this model suggested that croaker could be an important competitor with weakfish and striped bass for food resources during the spring and summer when population abundances of these three fishes are high in Chesapeake Bay. Even though anchovies made up a relatively small portion of croaker diet and only at certain times of the year, croaker consumed more anchovy at the population level than striped bass in all simulated years and nearly as much anchovy as weakfish. This indicates that weak trophic interactions between species are important in understanding ecosystem processes and should be considered in ecosystem-based management. BIOENERGETIC AND ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF DIET VARIABILITY IN ATLANTIC CROAKER MICROPOGONIAS UNDULATUS IN CHESAPEAKE BAY
Advanced Drainage Concepts Using Green Solutions for CSO Control — The KC Approach

Advanced design concepts such as Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Solutions (or upland runoff control techniques) are currently being encouraged by the U.S.EPA (EPA) as a management practice to contain and control stormwater at the lot or upland residential parcel level. These controls have shown that when implemented and maintained properly, they can increase retention at the runoff source — decreasing the runoff volume entering the drainage system and the demand on a drainage system. Both developed storm and combined sewersheds can benefit from the added storage from areas retrofitted with bioretention cells or rain gardens and other management, e.g., catchbasin retrofits or curb-cuts with tree planting. This paper documents an effort by the U.S. EPA to demonstrate the efficacy of implementing integrated, green infrastructure-based solutions to wet- weather flow pollution problems in and urban core neighborhood within a combined sewer system. The project involves local and regional efforts to provide the basis for success of the implementation of green infrastructure and stormwater management at the neighborhood, watershed, and regional levels. Specifically, the project will demonstrate the strategy and methodology for where and how attainment of Green Solutions will be implemented, including model support, within Kansas City, Missouri.
Oxygen isotope and chemical compositions of magnetite and olivine in the anomalous CK3 Watson 002 and ungrouped Asuka‐881595 carbonaceous chondrites: Effects of parent body metamorphism

We report in situ O isotope and chemical compositions of magnetite and olivine in chondrules of the carbonaceous chondrites Watson‐002 (anomalous CK3) and Asuka (A)‐881595 (ungrouped C3). Magnetite in Watson‐002 occurs as inclusion‐free subhedral grains and rounded inclusion‐bearing porous grains replacing Fe,Ni‐metal. In A‐881595, magnetite is almost entirely inclusion‐free and coexists with Ni‐rich sulfide and less abundant Ni‐poor metal. Oxygen isotope compositions of chondrule olivine in both meteorites plot along carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral (CCAM) line with a slope of approximately 1 and show a range of Δ17O values (from approximately −3 to −6‰). One chondrule from each sample was found to contain O isotopically heterogeneous olivine, probably relict grains. Oxygen isotope compositions of magnetite in A‐881595 plot along a mass‐dependent fractionation line with a slope of 0.5 and show a range of Δ17O values from −2.4‰ to −1.1‰. Oxygen isotope compositions of magnetite in Watson‐002 cluster near the CCAM line and a Δ17O value of −4.0‰ to −2.9‰. These observations indicate that magnetite and chondrule olivine are in O isotope disequilibrium, and, therefore, not cogenetic. We infer that magnetite in CK chondrites formed by the oxidation of pre‐existing metal grains by an aqueous fluid during parent body alteration, in agreement with previous studies. The differences in Δ17O values of magnetite between Watson‐002 and A‐881595 can be attributed to their different thermal histories: the former experienced a higher degree of thermal metamorphism that led to the O isotope exchange between magnetite and adjacent silicates.
University of Birmingham A migration-driven model for the historical spread of leprosy in medieval Eastern and Central Europe

Leprosy was rare in Europe during the Roman period, yet its prevalence increased dramatically in medieval times. We examined human remains, with paleopathological lesions indicative of leprosy, dated to the 6 th –11 th century AD, from Central and Eastern Europe and Byzantine Anatolia. Analysis of ancient DNA and bacterial cell wall lipid biomarkers revealed Mycobacterium leprae in skeletal remains from 6 th –8 th century Northern Italy, 7 th – 11 th century Hungary, 8 th –9 th century Austria, the Slavic Greater Moravian Empire of the 9 th – 10 th century and 8 th –10 th century Byzantine samples from Northern Anatolia. These data were analyzed alongside findings published by others. M. leprae is an obligate human pathogen that has undergone an evolutionary bottleneck followed by clonal expansion. Therefore M. leprae genotypes and sub-genotypes give information about the human populations they have infected and their migration. Although data are limited, genotyping demonstrates that historical M. leprae from Byzantine Anatolia, Eastern and Central Europe resembles modern strains in Asia Minor rather than the recently characterized historical strains from North West Europe. The westward migration of peoples from Central Asia in the first millennium may have introduced different M. leprae strains into medieval Europe and certainly would have facilitated the spread of any existing leprosy. The subsequent decline of M. leprae in Europe may be due to increased host resistance. However, molecular evidence of historical leprosy and tuberculosis co-infections suggests that death from tuberculosis in leprosy patients was also a factor.