Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
De glauconiarum origine

The glauconitic facies is widespread on present-day continental shelves from 50° S to 65° N and at water depths between 50 and 500 m, and is in particularly great abundance on the upper slope and outer shelf between 200 and 300 m. It is also common in many ancient rocks of post-late Precambrian age. It occurs as sand- to pebble-sized, essentially green particles (granular facies) but also as a surface coating on particles and hardgrounds and as a diffuse impregnation (film and diffuse facies). We suggest the replacement of the term ‘glauconite’, which has been interchangeably used to designate a morphological form and a specific mineral, by glaucony (facies) and glauconitic smectite and glauconitic mica as end members of the glauconitic mineral family. The widely accepted model of Burst and Hower for glauconitization requires a degraded, micaceous (2: 1 layer lattice structure) parent clay mineral. However, detailed analysis of numerous samples of Recent glaucony reveals that such a parent substrate is exceptional. The model therefore requires modification. Generally the parent material is carbonate particles, argillaceous (kaolinitic) faecal pellets, infillings of foraminiferal tests, various mineral grains and rock fragments, that pass gradually into the commonly occurring green grains. We show that the process of glauconitization is achieved by de novo authigenic growth of automorphous crystallites in the pores of the substrate, accompanied by progressive alteration and replacement of the substrate. It is this two-fold evolution that causes the ‘verdissement’of granular substrates, macrofossils and hardgrounds. The authigenic mineral is an iron-rich and potassium-poor glauconitic smectite. While new smectites are growing into the remaining pore space the earlier smectites are modified by incorporation of potassium, producing decreasingly expandable minerals with a non-expandable glauconitic mica as the end member. This mineralogical diversity of the glauconitic mineral family explains the highly variable physical and chemical properties of glaucony. Four categories, nascent, little-evolved, evolved and highly-evolved glaucony are distinguished. Glauconitization appears to be controlled by a delicate balance between degree of physical confinement of a particle and the amount of ionic exchange between the micro-environment and ambient open marine sea water. The optimum conditions for glauconitization are those of semi-confinement. As a result the interior of a grain is more glauconitized than its less confined periphery. Similarly, for identical substrate types, large grains (500μm) provide more favourable substrates for glauconitization than lesser confined small grains. On a larger scale the formation of glaucony is governed by the availability of iron and potassium and the balance between detrital influx and winnowing. Low accumulation rates expose grains to the open marine environment for sufficiently long times (105-106 years for highly-evolved glaucony).
An Empirical Investigation of Consumption-Based Asset Pricing Models with Stochastic Habit Formation

We econometrically estimate and test a consumption-based asset pricing model with stochastic internal habit. The model departs from existing deterministic internal habit models by introducing shocks to the coefficients in the distributed lag specification of consumption habit and consequently an additional shock to the marginal rate of substitution. Habit shocks are persistent and provide an additional source of time variation in expected returns. Using returns on aggregate market and Treasury bond portfolios, we show that stochastic internal habit models provide a better explanation of time variation in expected returns than models with either deterministic habit or stochastic external habit.
USING GIS IN THE MAPPING AND ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE AND VEGETATION PATTERNS ALONG STREAMS IN SOUTHERN IRELAND

Abstract:The aim of this study was to relate riparian landscape and vegetation patterns to plant species richness. Seventeen stream sites were selected in southern Ireland, and the vegetation within 20m-wide riparian strips was mapped using a global positioning system. Digital maps were created using geographic information systems, and vegetation/habitat classification was carried out at four levels (from broad habitat group to vegetation type). To analyse the structure of the riparian landscapes in the study area, a number of landscape indices were calculated using Patch Analyst software. Plant species richness and community structure were examined using belt transects perpendicular to the watercourse. Riparian zones in the study area are very heterogeneous and exhibit obvious gradients with reference to landscape composition and spatial configuration. This is the result of both natural disturbance caused by streams and human influence. Landscape structure indices were only weakly correlated with plant species richness in the riparian zones investigated, but they did explain most of the variation in the structure and composition of the plant communities.
Laboratory measurements of ‘porosity‐free’ intrinsic Vp and Vs in an olivine gabbro of the Oman ophiolite: Implication for interpretation of the seismic structure of lower oceanic crust

In order to determine ‘porosity‐free’ intrinsic ultrasonic compressional (Vp) and shear wave (Vs) velocities and Vp/Vs of an olivine gabbro from the Oman ophiolite, we developed a new experimental system using a piston‐cylinder type high‐pressure apparatus. The new system allowed us to measure velocities at pressures ranging from 0.20 to 1.00 GPa and at temperatures up to 300°C for Vp and 400°C for Vs. At room temperature, the Vp and Vp/Vs increase rapidly with pressure up to 0.40 GPa, while between 0.45 and 1.00 GPa the increase is more gradual. The change in increasing rate is attributed to closure of porosity at pressures above 0.45 GPa. Based on the linear regression of data obtained at higher pressures (0.45–1.00 GPa) and extrapolation to the lower pressures, combined with temperature derivatives of velocities of the sample measured at 1.00 GPa, we determined the intrinsic Vp and Vs of the sample as a function of pressure (P, in GPa) and temperature (T, in °C). The intrinsic velocities can be expressed as Vp (km/s) = 7.004 + 0.096 × P − 0.00015 × T, and Vs (km/s) = 3.827 + 0.007 × P − 0.00008 × T. We evaluated the intrinsic Vp and Vs of the olivine gabbro at oceanic crustal conditions and compared them with a velocity depth‐profile of the borehole seismic observatory WP‐2 area in the northwestern Pacific Basin. Although the intrinsic Vp (∼7.0 km/s) and Vs (∼3.8 km/s) for the olivine gabbro studied are comparable to those of seismic layer 3 in the WP‐2 area, the estimated vertical gradients of intrinsic velocities are significantly smaller than those reported from layer 3. These results suggest that velocity profiles of layer 3 in the WP‐2 area may reflect the presence of a minor porosity in lower oceanic crust, which closes with increasing depth and/or continuous changes in mineralogy of layer 3 rocks.
Microbial P450 repertoire (P450ome) and its application feasibility in pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, and environmental protection

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are heme‐thiolated enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of C‐H bonds in a regio‐ and stereo‐selective manner. CYPs are widely present in the biological world. With the completion of more biological genome sequencing, the number and types of P450 enzymes have increased rapidly. P450 in microorganisms is easy to clone and express, rich in catalytic types, and strong in substrate adaptability, which has good application potential. Although the number of P450 enzymes found in microorganisms is huge, the function of most of the microorganism P450s has not been studied, and it contains a large number of excellent biocatalysts to be developed. This review is based on the P450 groups in microorganisms. First, it reviews the distribution of P450 groups in different microbial species, and then studies the application of microbial P450 enzymes in the pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry and environmental pollutant treatment in recent years. And focused on the application fields of P450 enzymes of different families to guide the selection of suitable P450s from the huge P450 library. In view of the current shortcomings of microbial P450 in the application process, the final solution is the most likely to assist the application of P450 enzymes in large‐scale, that is, whole cell transformation combined with engineering, fusion P450 combined with immobilization technology.
Climate forcings and the initiation of low‐latitude ice sheets during the Neoproterozoic Varanger glacial interval

The GISS GCM was used to determine if a diverse set of climate forcings, alone or in combination, could have initiated the low-latitude ice sheets of the Varanger (∼600 Ma) glacial interval. The simulations use a realistic reconstruction of the paleocontinental distribution and test the following forcings, alone and in combination: 6% solar luminosity decrease, four atmospheric CO2 scenarios (1260, 315, 140, and 40 ppm), a 50% increase and a 50% decrease in ocean heat transports, and a change in obliquity to 60°. None of the forcings, individually, produced year-round snow accumulation on low-latitude continents, although the solar insolation decrease and 40 ppm CO2 scenarios allowed snow and ice to accumulate at high and middle latitudes. Combining forcings further cools the climate: when solar luminosity, CO2, and ocean heat transports were all decreased, annual mean freezing and snow accumulation extended across tropical continents. No simulation would have initiated low-latitude glaciation without contemporaneous glaciation at higher latitudes, a finding that matches the distribution of glacial deposits but which argues against high obliquity as a cause of the Varanger ice age. Low-level clouds increased in most scenarios, as did surface albedo, while atmospheric water vapor amounts declined; all are positive feedbacks that drive temperatures lower. In the most severe scenario, global snow and ice cover increased to 68%, compared to 12% under modern conditions, and water vapor dropped by 90%. These results do not necessarily preclude a ‘snowball’ Earth climate scenario for the Varanger glacial interval. However, either more severe forcings existed or radical changes occurred in the ocean/atmosphere system which are unaccounted for by the GCM. Also, as sea ice extent increased in these experiments, snow accumulation began to decline, because of an increasingly dry atmosphere. Under snowball Earth conditions, glaciation would be impossible, since the hydrological cycle would all but cease if the atmosphere's primary moisture source were cut off.
Laboratory Experiments in The Stabilization of Clays With Hydrated Lime

Synopsis A study of the literature shows that hydrated lime has been used with success to stabilise soils in road foundations in certain parts of the world, and an investigation has therefore been initiated to study the effect of adding lime to British soils. As published information suggested that cohesive soils would respond more favourably to lime than would granular soils, the experiments were made with a range of clays. The Paper describes the first stage of the work. Samples of unweathered clay from ten geological formations were mixed with 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10% by weight of hydrated lime, at moisture contents near the liquid and plastic limits. The samples were stored in air-tight containers for periods of 1, 6, and 12 months. These, together with a series of freshly prepared samples of similar compositions, were used for the determination of the liquid and plastic limits of the mixtures and for establishing the suction/ moisture content relationships under wetting conditions. Estimations were also m.
An investigation into the influence of tidal forcing on F region equatorial vertical ion drift using a global ionosphere-thermosphere model with coupled electrodynamics

A recent development of the coupled thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere model (CTIP) has been the inclusion of the electrodynamic coupling between the equatorial ionosphere and thermosphere. The vertical ion drifts which result are shown to be largely in agreement with empirical data, on the basis of measurements made at the Jicamarca radar and other equatorial sites [Scherliess and Fejer, 1999]. Of particular importance, the CTIP model clearly reproduces the “prereversal enhancement” in vertical ion drift, a key feature of the observational data. Inacurracies in the modeled daytime upward ion motion have been investigated with regard to changing the magnitude and phase of components of the lower thermospheric tidal forcing. The results show that daytime vertical ion motion is highly dependent upon both the magnitude and phase of the semidiurnal tidal component. In addition, the CTIP model shows the prereversal enhancement to be unaffected by changes in tidal forcing, but only for conditions of high solar activity. During periods of low solar activity the form of the prereversal enhancement is clearly dependant upon the magnitude and phase of the semidiurnal tide.
Modeling of unrest signals in heterogeneous hydrothermal systems

[1] Monitoring of quiescent volcanoes, such as Campi Flegrei (Italy), involves the measurement of geochemical and geophysical parameters that are expected to change as eruptive conditions approach. Some of these changes are associated with the hydrothermal activity that is driven by the release of heat and magmatic fluids. This work focuses on the properties of the porous medium and on their effects on the signals generated by the circulating fluids. The TOUGH2 porous media flow model is applied to simulate a shallow hydrothermal system fed by a source of magmatic fluids. The simulated activity of the source, with periods of increased fluid discharge, generates changes in gas composition, gravity, and ground deformation. The same boundary conditions and source activity were applied to simulate the evolution of homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, characterized by different rock properties. Phase distribution, fluid composition, and the related signals depend on the nature and properties of the rock sequence through which the fluids propagate. Results show that the distribution of porosity and permeability affects all the observable parameters, controlling the timing and the amplitude of their changes through space and time. Preferential pathways for fluid ascent favor a faster evolution, with larger changes near permeable channels. Slower changes over wider areas characterize less permeable systems. These results imply that monitoring signals do not simply reflect the evolution of the magmatic system: intervening rocks leave a marked signature that should be taken into account when monitoring data are used to infer system conditions at depth.
A systematic review of the normal tissue complication probability models and parameters: Head and neck cancers treated with conformal radiotherapy

This systematic review study aims to provide comprehensive data on different radiobiological models, parameters, and endpoints used for calculating the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) based on clinical data from head and neck cancer patients treated with conformal radiotherapy. A systematic literature search was carried out according to the PRISMA guideline for the identification of relevant publications in six electronic databases of Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to July 2022 using specific keywords in the paper's title and abstract. The initial search resulted in 1368 articles for all organs for the review article about the NTCP parameters. One hundred and seventy‐eight articles were accepted for all organs with complete parameters for the mentioned models and finally, 20 head and neck cancer articles were accepted for review. Analysis of the studies shows that the Lyman‐Kutcher‐Burman (LKB) model properly links the NTCP curve parameters to the postradiotherapy endpoints. In the LKB model for esophagus, the minimum, and maximum corresponding parameters were reported as TD50 = 2.61 Gy with grade ≥3 radiation‐induced esophagitis endpoints as the minimum TD50 and TD50 = 68 Gy as the maximum ones. nmin = 0.06, nmax = 1.04, mmin = 0.1, and mmax = 0.65, respectively. Unfortunately, there was not a wide range of published articles on other organs at risk like ear or cauda equina except Burman et al. (Fitting of normal tissue tolerance data to an analytic function. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Ther. 1991;21:123–135). Findings suggest that the validation of different radiobiological models and their corresponding parameters need to be investigated in vivo and in vitro for developing a more accurate NTCP model to be used for radiotherapy treatment planning optimization.
Diatoms and silicoflagellates in suspension and floor sediments of the Pacific Ocean

In the eight climatic zones of the Pacific, a direct spatial-geographical correspondence is proved between density of diatom populations (together with the quantitatively unimportant associated silicoflagellates) and the relative abundance of their siliceous relics in sediments on the oceanic floor. This correspondence is almost ideal in the Subantarctic zone, demonstrable in the Subarctic zone and the equatorial belt, but is complicated (beyond recognition, in places) by terrigenic and other diluent materials and/or by the high solubility of the shells of certain species which never reach the ocean floor. There is no evidence of any significant drift of diatom relics during their sedimentation; the practical absence of diatoms, as in the Southern Subtropical zone, has its clear expression in the absence of their relics in the zonal sediments. — IGR Staff.
Population pharmacokinetics of recombinant factor VIII: the relationships of pharmacokinetics to age and body weight

Comparison of the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a coagulation factor between groups of patients can be biased by differences in study protocols, in particular between blood sampling schedules. This could affect clinical dose tailoring, especially in children. The aim of this study was to describe the relationships of the PK of factor VIII (FVIII) with age and body weight by a population PK model. The potential to reduce blood sampling was also ex-plored. A model was built for FVIII PK from 236 infusions of recombinant FVIII in 152 patients (1-65 years of age) with severe hemophilia A. The PK of FVIII over the entire age range was well described by a 2-compartment model and a previously reported problem, resulting from differences in blood sampling, to compare ﬁndings from children and adults was practically abolished. The decline in FVIII clearance and increase in half-life with age could be described as continu-ous functions. Retrospective reduction of blood sampling from 11 to 5 samples made no important difference to the estimates of PK parameters. The obtained ﬁndings can be used as a basis for PK-based dose tailoring of FVIII in clinical practice, in all age groups, with minimal blood sampling. ( Blood . 2012;119(2): 612-618)
Use of a root zone soil moisture model and crop spectral characteristics to estimate sorghum yields in a dryland Alfisol toposequence

This study investigated the relationship between sorghum grain yield over range of soil depth with seasonal crop water stress index based on relative evapotranspiration deficits and spectral vegetation indices. A root zone soil moisture model has been used to evaluate the seasonal soil moisture fluctuation and actual evapotranspiration within a toposequence having varying soil depth of 30 to 75 cm as well as different available water capacity ranging from 6.9% to 12.6% (V/V%). The higher r2 values between modeled and observed values of soil water (r2> 0.69 significant at <0.001) and runoff (r2 = 0.95, significant at P<0.001) indicated good agreement between model output and observed values. The spectral vegetation indices like simple ratio, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green NDVI, perpendicular vegetation index, soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) and modified SAVI (MSAVI) was recorded through out the growth period of sorghum. The vegetation indices except perpendicular vegetation index measured during booting to anthesis stages were positively correlated (P<0.05) with leaf area index and yield. The MSAVI measured during booting to milk-grain stage have the highest positive correlation with yield. Variation was noticed when additive and multiplicative forms of water-production functions calculated from water budget model were used to predict crop yield. But the yield estimation was improved when spectral vegetation indices measured during booting to milk-grain is incorporated along with water production functions. The water budget model along with spectral vegetation indices gave satisfactory estimates of sorghum grain yields and appears to be a useful tool to estimate yield as a function of soil depth and available soil water.
Automatic Mapping in the Presence of Substitutive Errors: a Robust Kriging Approach

Interpolation of a spatially correlated random process is used in many scientific domains. The best unbiased linear predictor (BLUP), often called kriging predictor in geostatistical science, is sensitive to outliers. The literature contains a few attempts to robustify the kriging predictor, however none of them is completely satisfactory. In this article, we present a new robust linear predictor for a substitutive error model. First, we derive a BLUP, which is computationally very expensive even for moderate sample sizes. A forward search type algorithm is used to derive the predictor resulting in a linear likelihood-weighted mean procedure that is robust with respect to substitutive errors. Monte Carlo simulations support the theoretical results. The new predictor is applied to the two SIC2004 data sets and is evaluated with respect to automatic interpolation and monitoring.
Litter Decomposition: a guide to Carbon and Nutrient Turnover

1. Introduction 2. Litter fall 3. Decomposers: soil microorganisms and animals 4. Changes in substrate composition and rate-regulating factors during decomposition 5. Nitrogen dynamics in decomposing litter 6. Origin and structure of secondary organic matter and sequestration of C 7. Climatic and geographic patterns in decomposition 8. Anthropogenic impacts on litter decomposition and soil organic matter 9. Methods in studies of organic matter decay References
Regional disparities in the quantity of life: the Republic of Ireland, 1971–1977

Numerous studies in recent years have highlighted regional and local disparities in the quality of life. Although useful, it is suggested that these studies may tend to overlook regional disparities of a different nature — namely in the quantity of life. This paper investigates whether significant regional variations in life expectancy are found within the Republic of Ireland. Three methods of quantifying life expectancy are used so as to reduce the possibility of an erroneous conclusion due to methodological factors. The analysis indicates that regional and urban-rural disparities within Ireland between 1971 and 1977 arc statistically significant. The implications of these findings arc discussed and suggestions are made for further research.