Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of the Global Mean Sea Level Pressure Data Set GMSLP2

GMSLP2 is a fully global mean sea-level pressure data set. It is a historical, gridded monthly data set covering the period 1871-1994 and the latest version, GMSLP2.1, has been developed by blending a combination of existing gridded mean sea-level pressure analyses with marine and land observations, using Laplacian interpolation techniques. A range of quality-controls was used to remove random and systematic errors from the observations. However, owing to the scarcity of reliable observed data, especially in the earlier decades, it was subsequently necessary to remove biases from the blended analyses in some areas, such as the Southern Ocean. GMSLP2.1 has already been invaluable for atmospheric model validation purposes and in several empirica; studies, such as a joint CSIRO-Meteorological Office (UKMO) Atlas of El Nino Southern Oscillation and climate variability. A key ongoing use is in connection with atmospheric model simulations of recent climate, aimed at detecting climate change and attributing it to human activities. In addition, GMSLP is being used in connection with the 'Changes to the Climate of the UK' project.
Phylogenetic analysis of the late Cambrian–early Ordovician genus Parabolinella Brøgger (Trilobita, Olenidae)

Phylogenetic relationships among species of the family Olenidae (Trilobita, Ptychopariida) were traditionally established by the direct comparison of morphological features and the evaluation of stratigraphic placement. In this study, a cladistic analysis of Parabolinella Brøgger is conducted in order to test the supposed monophyly of the genus and to determine the relationships of its species. Twenty‐one taxa (sixteen of this genus) from the late Cambrian and Tremadocian of Baltica, Avalonia, Laurentia, South China and the western margin of Gondwana were revised. Forty non‐ordered characters were considered in the analysis, 34 belonging to the cephalon, four to the pygidium, and two to the thorax. Some of these characters were specially defined for this study. The phylogenetic analysis was performed under unweighted parsimony. The obtained tree is partially consistent with the stratigraphic record of the studied species and shows correspondence with global late Cambrian and early Ordovician palaeogeography. Parabolinella may have originated in deep water sites of the Oaxaca region, Mexico and then migrated to other regions. The genus diversified in outer shelf facies of the Baltica Province during the late Cambrian and Tremadocian, whereas it would have dispersed to the South China Province in early Tremadocian times. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing the Causal Effect of Childbearing on Economic Wellbeing in Albania

In this paper we analyze to what extent births may lead to changes in economic wellbeing. In contrast to most previous studies on this issue we apply appropriate econometric techniques based on longitudinal micro data in order to identify the causal effects of child bearing events on income. We perform our analysis on longitudinal data from the Albanian Living Standard Measurement Survey. We take a quasi experimental approach, that is, we consider the experience of a childbearing event as the treatment variable, and our measure of wellbeing as the outcome variable. In order to deal with the confounding due to the presence of systematic differences in background characteristics between the treatment groups, we first fit a multiple linear regression model that includes relevant background characteristics as well as an indicator variable for the treatment (i.e., childbearing). This estimation is then compared and contrasted with a matching approach, based on the bias-corrected matching estimator introduced by Abadie and Imbens (2002). Our analysis suggests that there is some evidence that childbearing events can in fact increase household wellbeing in Albania. In addition, the treatment effect is highly heterogeneous with respect to observable characteristics such as the woman's working status and the woman's parity. All the results appear to be robust with respect to the estimated equivalence scale: changing the equivalence scale leaves the childbearing effect on income positive and non-significant.
Earliest North American Occurrence of Polycotylidae (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Clearwater Formation, Alberta, Canada

The polycotylidae is a family of short-necked (pliosauromorph) plesiosaurs, with examples known from epicontinental marine deposits of every major landmass except Antarctica. Our knowledge of its diversity and distribution has increased tremendously in the last decade, with new material described from North America (Sato, 2005; Albright et al., 2007; Schumacher, 2007; Schmeisser, 2008), South America (Gasparini and de la Fuente, 2000; Salgado et al., 2007), Africa (Bardet et al., 2003; Buchy et al., 2005), and Asia (Sato and Storrs, 2000; Arkhangel'skii et al., 2007). Polycotylid diversity is greatest in the Late Cretaceous, and particularly so in the Turonian; however, knowledge of the group's initial history in the Early Cretaceous is limited to a handful of specimens from North America (Storrs, 1981; Druckenmiller, 2002) and Australia (Kear 2003, 2005).
Please Scroll down for Article Ergonomics Low Mean Level Sustained and Intermittent Grip Exertions: Influence of Age on Fatigue and Recovery Low Mean Level Sustained and Intermittent Grip Exertions: Influence of Age on Fatigue and Recovery

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. The goal of this study was to quantify localised muscle fatigue resulting from low mean levels of exertion in younger (5 40 years) and older (450 years) adults. Fatigue, elicited in the finger flexor muscles by intermittent (10% mean maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)) and sustained (8% MVC) handgrip exercises, was quantified by a muscle twitch force response before, immediately after and during 3 h following exercise. Despite greater mean loads, recovery time was shorter following intermittent than sustained contractions, which suggests that recovery from fatigue is more sensitive to rest within the work cycle than mean work. The more pronounced effects for younger than older individuals following the sustained exertion indicate that changes in muscle fibre type composition might predispose older individuals to be more resistant to fatigue resulting from sustained contractions of low level. Performing hand exertion tasks requiring low mean force levels contributes to similar long-lasting fatigue effects regardless of gender and age. Intermittent periods of complete rest reduce muscle fatigue. Since fatigue was not perceived during recovery from the tested sustained and intermittent contractions, subjective evaluations may not be a reliable indicator of localised muscle fatigue. 1. Introduction Localised muscle fatigue is an omnipresent response that may even result from low levels of sustained or intermittent muscle exertion (Sogaard et al. 1998, Taylor et al. 2000, Adamo et al. 2002). The type of fatigue associated with these activities can be evidenced by the relative decline in the muscle's response to low (520 Hz) vs. high (450 Hz) frequency electrical stimulation (Edwards et al. 1977, Jones 1996), which has been named low frequency fatigue. In addition, this fatigue can be measured via changes in the twitch force response of the muscle to very …
Land Quality And Prices

The major objective of this paper is to develop a cross section land quality index for the United States that hopefully overcomes one of the problems inherent in the most common land quality index presently used. After adjusting agricultural land for quality, a cross section, quality constant, U.S. land price index also is constructed. Lastly the weights obtained in constructing the U.S. land quality index are utilized to construct an international cross section land quality index for the world.
Investigating Adolescent Physical Activity Patterns including the Role played by Local Authorities with a Case study of three Irish Towns

This study examined adolescent physical activity patterns; physical activities and location. Also included was the role played by local authorities in providing facilities and funding. The role of the family in encouraging adolescents to be physically activity and whether adolescents are interested in physical activity participation were also included. A mixed method approach was selected in which three towns of similar size and population were chosen. Interviews were conducted with local authority officials and questionnaires and activity diaries were distributed to adolescent participants within these towns. Findings show that adolescent respondents expressed an interest to participate in physical activity. Participants also conveyed that they participate in an array of physical activities, in particular GAA. However, differences did occur, with boys appearing to be more physically active than girls. Other results show that active transportation, walking and cycling, were not popular as a means of transportation. Declining levels of physical activity were found as participants progressed in age and through education. Facilities and amenities are available for adolescents to engage in physical activity, in particular playing pitches which were the most popular location for physical activities. Local authorities although curtailed financially, do play a role in the provision of facilities but their role appears to be changing from direct provision to a facilitator of facilities. The overall conclusion of this study is that adolescents are interested and do participate in physical activities. The role played by the GAA in this study was important; with GAA activities the most popular and playing pitches the most likely location. Local authority involvement in adolescent physical activity is important, providing some facilities, funding to local organisations and through zoning land for recreation.
Indirect Aerosol Forcing, Quasi Forcing, and Climate Response

Abstract The component of the indirect aerosol effect related to changes in precipitation efficiency (the second indirect or Albrecht effect) is presently evaluated in climate models by taking the difference in net irradiance between a present-day and a preindustrial simulation using fixed sea surface temperatures (SSTs). This approach gives a “quasi forcing,” which differs from a pure forcing in that fields other than the initially perturbed quantity have been allowed to vary. It is routinely used because, in contrast to the first indirect (Twomey) effect, there is no straightforward method of calculating a pure forcing for the second indirect effect. This raises the question of whether evaluation of the second indirect effect in this manner is adequate as an indication of the likely effect of this perturbation on the global-mean surface temperature. An atmospheric global climate model (AGCM) is used to compare the evaluation of different radiative perturbations as both pure forcings (when available) and.
Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis Uppsala 2015

Characterization of [ 18 F]flutemetamol binding properties A β-amyloid PET imaging ligand Abstract Heurling, K. 2015. Characterization of [ 18 F]flutemetamol binding properties. A β-amyloid PET imaging ligand. The criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) have recently been revised to include the use of biomarkers for the in vivo presence of β-amyloid, one of the neuropathological hallmarks of AD. Examples of such biomarkers are positron emission tomography (PET) β-amyloid specific ligands, including [ 18 F]flutemetamol. The aim of this thesis was to characterize the binding properties of [ 18 F]flutemetamol from a tracer kinetic perspective as well as by validating binding measures through comparison with tissue pathology assessments. The applicability of previously developed kinetic models of tracer binding for voxel-based analysis was examined and compared to arterial input compartment modelling, the " gold standard " for PET quantification. Several voxel-based methods were found to exhibit high correlations with compartment modelling, including the semi-quantitative standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR). The kinetic components of [ 18 F]flutemetamol uptake were also investigated without model assumptions using the data driven method spectral analysis, with binding to β-amyloid shown to relate to a slow kinetic component. The same component was also found to predominate in the uptake of white matter, known to be free of β-amyloid accumulation. White matter uptake was however possible to separate from β-amyloid binding based on the relative contribution of the slow component to the total volume of distribution. Uptake of [ 18 F]flutemetamol as quantified using SUVR or assessed visually was found to correlate well with tissue pathology assessments. Classifying the brains of 68 deceased subjects who had undergone [ 18 F]flutemetamol PET scanning ante mortem, based on the spatial distribution of β-amyloid according to pre-defined phases, revealed that abnormal uptake patterns of [ 18 F]flutemetamol were only certain to be found in the last phase of β-amyloid accumulation. In the same cohort however, [ 18 F]flutemetamol was also shown to accurately distinguish between subjects with AD and non-AD dementia. While this supports the use of [ 18 F]flutemetamol in clinical settings for ruling out AD, the association of abnormal [ 18 F]flutemetamol uptake to late phases of β-amyloid accumulation may limit the detection of early accumulation and pre-clinical stages of AD. It remains to be investigated whether application of voxel-based methods and slow component filtering may increase sensitivity, particularly in the context of clinical trials. If we knew what …
Interseismic seafloor crustal deformation immediately above the source region of anticipated megathrust earthquake along the Nankai Trough, Japan

We monitored seafloor crustal deformation using the GPS/acoustic seafloor geodetic observation technique at three sites on the Kumano Basin, off southwestern Japan, which is located immediately above the source region of the anticipated Tonankai megathrust earthquake. We directly measured landward crustal movements of ∼40 mm/y in the ∼N80°W direction with respect to the Amurian Plate on the seafloor. The directions were found to be the same as those measured at the on‐land GPS stations. The magnitudes of the velocity vectors indicated significant crustal shortenings of approximately 10–20 mm/y between the Kumano Basin and the southeastern coast of the Kii peninsula of the Japanese Islands. The present observational results show strong and direct evidence for interplate locking during the interseismic period. Coupling ratios were roughly estimated at ∼0.6–0.8 on the plate interface up to at least 10 km in depth.
A new method for abrupt dynamic change detection of correlated time series

On the basis of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), a new method, moving cut data‐DFA (MC‐DFA), was presented to detect abrupt dynamic change in correlated time series. The numerical tests show the capability of the presented method to detect abrupt change time‐instants in model time series generated by Logistic map. Moving DFA (MDFA) and approximate entropy (ApEn) can provide some information such as a single time‐instant of abrupt dynamic change, but both of them cannot exactly detect all of the abrupt change regions. Some traditional methods, such as moving t‐test, Cramer method, Mann–Kendall test and Yamamoto method, even cannot provide any information of abrupt dynamic change in these model time series. Meanwhile, results showed that windows sizes and strong noise have some less effect on the MC‐DFA results. In summary, MC‐DFA provides a reliable measure to detect the abrupt dynamic change in correlated time series, and perfectively make up the deficiencies of MDFA and ApEn. The applications in daily surface air pressure records further verify the validity of the present method. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Integrated Management Of Groundnut Rosette Disease

Groundnut is an important food, feed and cash crop in sub-Saharan Africa. This crop suffers greatly from a viral disease; groundnut rosette (GRD) vectored by an aphid cause 100% yield loss if it occurs before flowering. Management strategics for the disease include reduction of vector populations using pesticides, cropping practices to delay onset and spread of both vector and the disease and growing groundnut varieties resistant to the virus and the vector. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of selected cultural practices, chemical pesticide and host plant resistance in the management of groundnut rosette disease. Field experiments were conducted between March 2007 and February 2008 at Siaya Agricultural Training Centre (Siaya district) and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Alupe sub station (Teso district) in Western Kenya. The cultural disease management strategies included alteration of time of planting (early planting at the onset of rains and late planting one month later), host plant resistance, use of trap crops (cowpea and sesame), vector control using a chemical insecticide (dimethoate) and roguing. The experimental design used was randomized complete block laid out as a split-plot and replicated three times. The disease management practices and groundnut varieties were allocated to main plots and sub­
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF INTERNAL LOAD CONTROL IN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Mailing address: E-mail: mgbara@terra.com. br ABSTRACT Introduction: The ability to accurately monitor training loads is an important aspect of athletic effectiveness and prevention of negative effects, such as performance loss. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare and correlate different methods for internal training load control for volleyball players. Methods: Fifteen male volleyball athletes between 18 and 30 years old who compete at state and national levels, participated in this study. Training load for each session was calculated using three different methods: RPE/Foster, HR zones (TRIMP) Edwards and Stagno. Results: It was observed that there are positive and significant correlations between the method proposed by Foster and Edwards and Stagno. However, the values of individual correlations RPE x Edwards (0.451 to 0.670), in general, were higher than RPE x Stagno (0.206 to 0.597). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the method proposed by Edwards, as well as the Foster’s method, better reflect the training loads in volleyball, making it more reliable to control them than the method proposed by Stagno.
Affordable 3D Face Tracking Using Projective Vision

For humans, to view a scene with two eyes is clearly more advantageous than to do that with one eye. In computer vision however, most of high-level vision tasks, an example of which is face tracking, are still done with one camera only. This is due to the fact that, unlike in human brains, the relationship between the images observed by two arbitrary video cameras, in many cases, is not known. Recent advances in projective vision theory however have produced the methodology which allows one to compute this relationship. This relationship is naturally obtained while observing the same scene with both cameras and knowing this relationship not only makes it possible to track features in 3D, but also makes tracking much more robust and precise. In this paper, we establish a framework based on projective vision for tracking faces in 3D using two arbitrary cameras, and describe a stereo tracking system, which uses the proposed framework to track faces in 3D with the aid of two USB cameras. While being very affordable, our stereotracker exhibits pixel size precision and is robust to head’s rotation in all three axis of
Voluntary Observing Ships: A Vital Marine Observing System in Decline

20 Introduction Shipboard marine meteorological observations extend back hundreds of years, and continue to form a critical component of the modern weather and climate observing system. Today, most of the participating ships are referred to as Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS), the VOS programme being managed by JCOMM1 . These observations benefit weather forecasters in real time and climate researchers in the longer term. VOS observations, along with meteorological information from buoys and a variety of other platforms are collated in the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS Worley et al. 2005, formerly COADS). ICOADS has been used in hundreds of published studies and remains the primary source for in situ surface marine meteorological information for climate research. However Numerical Weather Prediction now relies more heavily on the information provided by satellites and drifting buoys. The sheer volume of information from these sources has played a part in recent improvements of weather forecasts, there are now ten times as many reports from buoys as from ships in ICOADS. Recently several projects have significantly extended the availability of marine meteorological data going back as far as 1750, and improved the very data sparse periods due to the two World Wars. These include the Japan Meteorological Agency Kobe Collection Digitisation (Manabe 1999), tasks under the NOAA Climate Database Modernization Program (CDMP) and the European Union funded projects CLIWOC (GarciaHerrera 2005) and EMULATE (Ansell et al. 2006). However, it is important to note that significant resources are still required, but not currently identified, to incorporate these data into marine archives such as ICOADS (Woodruff et al. 2005). Unfortunately the VOS observing system is now under threat: the number of reports has dropped dramatically over the last decade (Figure 1, page 15) while the observation count from other sources has risen. VOS in the Multi-platform Record Whilst buoys and other Ocean Data Acquisition Systems (ODAS) provide increasing numbers of reports, VOS (and their predecessors) form the longest in situ record and, over much of the ocean, are our main or only source of air temperature, humidity, and pressure data. This is illustrated in Figure 2 (page 15). Although VOS coverage is not global, large areas are well sampled. While SST observations are supplemented by the drifting buoy and satellite network, away from the sparse and largely coastal, moored buoy network, only the VOS gives us the ability to estimate surface momentum, heat and freshwater air-sea exchange. Knowledge of these fluxes is vital to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the atmospheric reanalyses (Kistler et al. 2001; Uppala et al. 2006; Sterl 2004) and satellite flux estimates (WGASF 2000). Climate Research Requirements: Quality vs. Quantity The quality of meteorological observations from VOS is often questioned. Indeed some ship reports are of poor quality, Voluntary Observing Ships: A Vital Marine Observing System in Decline