Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fair-weather atmospheric electric potential gradient and space charge over central Illinois, summer 1960

Ground and airplane measurements of the natural fair-weather electric potential gradient and space charge over central Illinois during the summer of 1960 are reported. During the night the potential gradient at the surface is typically quite low, and the lower atmosphere is stratified with layers of positive and negative space charge having densities of several hundred elementary charges per cm3. Shortly after dawn, when convection begins, the potential gradient at the earth's surface rises rapidly and the strata overhead disappear. During the day the space-charge density in the mixing layer is seldom more than 1 elementary charge per cm3. Occasional singularities (outside this region) in the potential gradient and space charge resulting from manmade sources of charge are described.
IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATE ON BOREAL LAKES FROM NORTHWEST ONTARIO OVER MILLENNIA: A PALEOLIMNOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

ii Co-Authorship . iv Acknowledgements . v List of Supplemental Figures . xii List of Tables . xiii List of Abbreviations . xiv Chapter 1 General Introduction . 1 1.1 Climate change. 2 1.2 Paleoclimatology. 3 1.3 Lakes and climate change . 6 1.3.1 Effects on phytoplankton . 8 1.4 Paleolimnology and climate change . 10 1.4.1 Diatoms as an indicator of lake-level fluctuation . 11 1.4.2 Diatom as indicators of nutrients and lake trophic status . 14 1.4.3 Fossil pigments as an indicator of primary production . 15 1.4.4 Midge (Chironomid) and Chaoborus assemblages as biological proxy of lake-level and water quality. 17 1.5 Region-specific context of dissertation . 19 1.6 Broader significance of this thesis . 22 1.7 Literature cited . 23 Chapter 2 Consensus among multiple trophic levels during highand low-water stands over the last two millennia in a northwest Ontario lake . 46 2.1 Abstract . 47 2.2 Introduction . 48 2.3 Methods . 49 2.3.1 Study site . 49 2.3.2 Surface sample collection and midge processing. 51 2.3.3 Assessment of changes in midges over the last 2000 years . 52 2.3.4 Numerical analyses of surface assemblages . 54 2.3.5 Numerical analysis of downcore assemblages . 55 2.4 Results . 56 2.4.1 Midge assemblages from the modern surface sediments of Gall Lake . 56 viii 2.4.2 Downcore midge and diatom assemblages . 59 2.5 Discussion . 64 2.5.1 Modern-day distribution of midge assemblages . 64 2.5. 2 Do midges support inferences of changes in lake level over the past 2000 years? 67 2.6 Conclusion . 69 2.7 Acknowledgements . 69 2.8 Literature cited . 70 Chapter 3 Diatom-based evidence of regional aridity during the mid-Holocene period in boreal lakes from northwest Ontario (Canada) . 76 3.1 Abstract . 77 3.2 Introduction . 78 3.3 Study sites . 80 3.4 Methods . 82 3.4.1 Field sampling and core location . 82 3.4.2 Geochronology . 83 3.4.3 Laboratory . 86 3.4.4 Numerical analysis . 87 3.5 Results . 88 3.5.1 Meekin Lake . 89 3.5. 2 Gall Lake . 92 3.5. 3 Regional patterns in diatom assemblages . 95 3.6 Discussion . 97 3.6. 1 Early to mid-Holocene changes in effective moisture . 100 3.6. 2 Late Holocene changes in effective moisture . 103 3.6. 3 West to east gradient in effective moisture . 104 3.7 Conclusions . 106 3.8 Acknowledgements . 106 3.9 Literature cited . 107 Chapter 4 Enhanced Primary Production in Headwater Boreal Lakes during the Early-to-midHolocene across Northwest Ontario . 116 4.1 Abstract . 117 4.2 Introduction . 118 4.3 Study sites . 120 4.4 Materials and Methods . 123 ix 4.5 Results . 128 4.6 Literature cited . 149 Chapter 5 General discussion and future direction . 162 5.1 Literature cited . 169 Appendix A Pb 210 and Cs 137 profile for Meekin and Gall Lake . 173 Appendix B Analog analysis . 175
The Potential Use of the Black-Scholes Model in Urban Drainage Risk Management

Localized flooding from urban drainage system, known as “sewer flooding”, is unacceptable occurrence in a modern day society. Nevertheless, the risk of sewer flooding occurring is inherent in the physical and operational limitations of a conveyance system. It is a common practice to quantify the risk of urban flooding to a return period of rainfall event. This is true for drainage systems which are influenced by rainfall runoff. More importantly, unstable hydraulic conditions of the sewer system are more frequent causes of sewer flooding problems, which require water companies to invest significant sums of money to resolve. Deterministic flow models are designed and calibrated for specific urban catchments to help quantify and predict the sewer flooding risk. In reality, the occurrences of flooding are influenced by random events. In addition, the traditional Net Present Value (NPV) of project schemes, which is expected net value of future cash flows, is not able to capture the unpredictable nature of flooding occurrences. Motivated by these observations, this paper presents an initial investigation into an alternative stochastic approach, namely the BlackScholes model, to model the occurrences of sewer flooding and potential costs of projects, and finally to evaluate the sufficiency of investment funding water companies received to solve sewer flooding problems.
Oral examinations-equal opportunities, ethnicity, and fairness in the MRCGP.

Oral examinations are widely used in undergraduate and postgraduate medical examinations, including those for membership of royal colleges. In recent years the validity and reliability of oral examinations have been questioned and they have been dropped from many assessment programmes. The Royal College of General Practitioners has a tradition of reflecting on these issues and has improved its membership examination through the careful selection and training of examiners, the use of an examination blueprint, the development of clear questions and criteria for marking, and continuing discussion of techniques and problems. None the less, the debate about equal opportunities and the possible discriminatory outcomes of the examination has continued as failed candidates and their colleagues have suggested that their lack of success might be due to racial discrimination. A study in 1995 showed that although the success rate among British Asians was not in question, Asian doctors trained abroad did less well than other groups. They were relatively more likely to fail the written examination, which meant that they were not called for the oral examination. But even among those called for the oral examination, ethnic minority candidates trained overseas did proportionately less well. The examination board’s commitment to fairness led to further scrutiny of the examination procedures in the light of these findings, and there was still concern that some groups were receiving relatively low grades. This led the board to consider whether the oral examination might, in hidden and subtle ways, be a contributing factor, and if a study of the use of language in the oral examinations would illuminate possible indirect discrimination. In terms of psychometric testing, “discriminatory ability” refers to the ability to distinguish between pass and fail, good and less good candidates. However, in the context of this paper and of equal opportunities, we use the term “discrimination” to mean the outcomes of systems, procedures, and judgments that may have an unfair impact on some social groups. The examination board of the Royal College of General Practitioners wished to evaluate proactively its oral procedures and practices to establish whether there were any grounds for believing that the examination could be indirectly discriminatory, in this latter sense of the term. Oral examinations typically involve one or two examiners (two in the membership examination of the Royal College of General Practitioners) who interview candidates about a defined area of clinical practice and judge their ability on the basis of their responses. The psychometric approach to assessment seeks to elicit responses that can be scored and to guard against bias based on irrelevant individual psychological factors. Though these concerns are important, they tend to be addressed as if the interaction making up an oral examination is a transparent channel through which facts, values, and opinions pass. From sociolinguistic Ethnographic and sociolinguistic discourse analysis
Evaluation of commercial wheat cultivars for resistance to Wheat yellow mosaic virus in Henan

To evaluate resistance of winter wheat cultivars currently grown in Henan Province,China to Wheat yellow mosaic virus(WYMV),the resistance of 62 commercial wheat cultivars was tested in a disease nursery at Xiping,Henan Province in the years 2006 to 2010.Plants were also tested using an indirect ELISA in the laboratory and the influence of disease severity on wheat yield and grain quality was investigated.Of the cultivars tested,only Xinmai 208 appeared to be immune to WYMV and nine cultivars(14% of those tested) were resistant: Yumai 70-36,Fanmai 5,Fumai 936,Shandong 95519,Yumai 70,Gaoyou 503,Yumai 9676,Zhengmai 366 and Shaanmai 229.Thirteen cultivars(21% of those tested) were moderately resistant(Puyou 938,Lankaoaizao 8,Xinyuan 958,Huapei 2,Wenyou 1,Yumai 18,Zhengmai 9023,Yumai 47,Yunong 201,Yanzhan 4110,Yumai 36,Bainong 878 and Yumai 49-198) and the remaining 39 cultivars(63% of those tested) were susceptible.In studies of 48 cultivars,increasing disease severity decreased grain yields,spike numbers and 1000-grain weights.9. 6% yield was lost when disease severity was grade 1,and 30.3% and 33.5% yield was lost when the disease severity was grade 2 and 3 respectively.
Lipid concentrations and the use of lipid lowering drugs: evidence from a national cross sectional survey

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of the use of lipid lowering agents and its relation to blood lipid concentrations in English adults. Design: Cross sectional survey. Setting: England, 1998. Participants: Nationally representative sample of 13 586 adults (aged ≥16 years) living in non-institutional households. Main outcome measures: Mean blood concentrations of total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, in participants classified by age and sex; prevalence of raised total cholesterol concentrations and increased ratio of total to HDL cholesterol; prevalence of use of lipid lowering agents and the lipid concentrations of people taking them. Results: Mean total cholesterol concentrations were 5.47 (SE 0.02) mmol/l in men and 5.59 (0.02) mmol/l in women. Mean HDL cholesterol concentrations were 1.28 (0.01) mmol/l in men and 1.55 (0.01) mmol/l in women. Overall, of 10 569 adults who had a valid cholesterol measurement taken 7133 (67.5%; 95% confidence interval 66.5% to 68.4%) had a total cholesterol concentration ≥5 mmol/l, 2804 (26.5%; 25.7% to 27.4%) had a ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ≥5 mmol/l, and 237 (2.2%; 1.9% to 2.5%) reported taking lipid lowering drugs. Of 117 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease but whose estimated 10 year risk of coronary heart disease was ≥30% and whose total cholesterol concentration was ≥5 mmol/l, four (3%) were taking lipid lowering drugs. Of 385 adults aged 16-75 with a history of coronary heart disease and eligible for lipid lowering treatment, 114 (30%; 25% to 34%) were taking lipid lowering drugs, of whom only 50 (44%; 35% to 53%) had a total cholesterol concentration <5 mmol/l. Conclusions: Despite the high prevalence of dyslipidaemia in English adults, the proportion of adults taking lipid lowering drugs in 1998 was only 2.2%. Rates of treatment were low among high risk patients eligible for primary prevention with lipid lowering drugs, and less than one third of patients with established cardiovascular disease received such treatment.
A comparison between magnesium sulphate and fentanyl as adjuvants to propofol infusion for sedation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Propofol-based sedations are used widely during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. However, respiratory depression and cardiovascular adverse events commonly occur. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the effects of adding a single boules induction dose of fentanyl or magnesium sulphate to propofol infusion for sedation of patients subjected to ERCP. Methods This randomized parallel double-blind controlled trial included 60 adult patients scheduled for ERCP procedures. Before starting the propofol infusion, patients immediately received either magnesium sulphate 50 mg.kg−1 intravenously (IV) over 10 min (Group M) (n = 30) or fentanyl 2 µg. kg−1 IV over 10 min (Group F) (n- = 30). Continuous propofol infusion was given with a syringe pump for maintenance, with the initial rate set at 25–75 mic/kg/min IV during the first 10–15 min. Results The magnesium group had significantly reduced the total propofol consumption and increased the onset time of sedation than the fentanyl group (P < 0.05). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were statistically lower after adjuvant bolus injection and 15 min in the magnesium group than in the fentanyl group (P < 0.001). Procedure time, involuntary movement, physician satisfaction, and complications exhibited no significant differences between both groups. Conclusions During ERCP, adding a single bolus of magnesium sulphate to propofol was associated with a lower total propofol consumption and better hemodynamics than fentanyl but with a delayed onset time of sedation and comparable respiratory depression.
Antitumor effects of traditional Chinese medicine targeting the cellular apoptotic pathway

: Defects in apoptosis are common phenomena in many types of cancer and are also a critical step in tumorigenesis. Targeting the apoptotic pathway has been considered an intriguing strategy for cancer therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in the People’s Republic of China for thousands of years, and many of the medicines have been confirmed to be effective in the treatment of a number of tumors. With increasing cancer rates worldwide, the antitumor effects of TCMs have attracted more and more attention globally. Many of the TCMs have been shown to have antitumor activity through multiple targets, and apoptosis pathway-related targets have been extensively studied and defined to be promising. This review focuses on several antitumor TCMs, especially those with clinical efficacy, based on their effects on the apoptotic signaling pathway. The problems with and prospects of development of TCMs as anticancer agents are also presented.
Quantum coherence and entanglement of the system of a five−level atom in the presence of nonlinear fields

We investigate the atom−field system in the framework of harmonic oscillators based on deformed Heisenberg algebras. We explore the dynamic characteristics of the considered system under the effect of a nonlinear field. In particular, we consider the atomic population, atomic coherence, and atom−field entanglement for a system that comprises a single five−level atom interacting with a single−mode nonlinear field when the deformation effect is taken into account. We examine the time evolution of the quantum quantifiers in the presence of deformation when the initial state of the quantized field is defined to be a nonlinear coherent state (CS) or a superposition state
Resistance status of some pathogenic bacteria isolated from water of Yamuna river in Agra

Present study aims to the evaluation of the microbial quality of Yamuna water at Agra region. Water samples were collected from different location of Agra city, during the period from March 2010 to June 2010. The water sample are analysed for physiochemical parameter such as temperature, TDS, turbidity and pH and were screened for contamination of Klebsiella and assessed for multiple drug resistance, which are commonly encountered in the water of Yamuna river. The results of physicochemical parameters showed that the temperature values varied from 18.9 – 37.4oC and TDS from 200 – 700 mg/ml, whereas the turbidity varied from 4 – 52 NTU and pH values from 6.1 to 9.2. The bacteriological analysis showed that TVBCs ranged from 8.8 x 10 to 152 x 10 cfu/ml at 37oC. The cumulative resistance of the Klebsiella isolates to the antibiotics ranged from 53.3 – 80%. Among the 8 antibiotics tested, one patterns of multiple resistance was found and number of antibiotics was five. The result indicated that persistent use of antibiotics against human diseases and other life forms may pollute the Yamuna water and their impact on developing antibiotic resistant Klebsiella may become a serious threat to both health and environment.
Recovery Potential Assessment for the Umatilla Dace (Rhinichthys Umatilla ) Évaluation du potentiel de rétablissement du naseux d'Umatilla (Rhinichthys umatilla)

Dace are minnows belonging to the Order Cypriniformes. Adult Umatilla Dace Rhinichthys Umatilla are usually under 10 cm in fork length, with morphology intermediate between that of speckled and leopard dace, implying that Umatilla Dace is the result of hybridization between the other two species. Umatilla Dace was designated Special Concern by COSEWIC in 1988, and was included on Schedule 3 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2004. In April 2010 the species was assessed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) based on the limited area of occupancy, <10 locations, and the expected future loss of habitat or deterioration of habitat quality due to potential threats. Umatilla Dace in Canada are found at the upper limits of their global distribution and the Canadian distribution represents only 5% of the total global distribution. The length of time they have occupied this area is unknown, nor is how their occupancy of a fringe area of the overall range relates to adaptability. In Canada, the species’ occurrence is limited to the Similkameen River, Tulameen River, Columbia River below the HLK Dam, Kootenay River below Bonnington Falls, lower Slocan River, lower Pend d’Oreille River, and the Kettle River below Cascade Falls. There have been no new surveys for Umatilla Dace for most of their range within the past 20 years (around five generations); there is therefore great uncertainty about persistence of the species in some watersheds. In the light of such significant uncertainties, setting numerical “recovery targets” is impossible. The logical next step is to fill data gaps, starting with annual sampling using consistently applied methods in enough locations to provide a better understanding of distribution and recent population trajectories. The minimum level at which the population would be considered recovered is when its risk assessment status changes from Threatened to Special Concern. Such a change would require addressing and clarifying some of the assumptions and uncertainties within the COSEWIC report, or the elimination, reduction or mitigation of potential threats to habitat quality that were given as reasons for the threatened designation by COSEWIC in 2010. Downgrading to Special Concern would not, however, mean that management actions were not required. Threats to Umatilla Dace in the Canadian portion of its global range include; hydroelectric development, flow changes related to existing dam operations, introductions of alien species, water extraction, resource extraction, land use (agriculture, transportation corridors, timber harvest) and scientific over-sampling. Allowable harm to Umatilla Dace in the Similkameen River, in the limited Kettle River habitat below Cascade Falls, and in the Columbia, Kootenay and Slocan Rivers should include scientific sampling for the purpose of further understanding abundance, distribution, and habitat use of the species, but total harm should not increase beyond current levels.
Evidence for early Pleistocene glaciation in central Alberta, Canada

Summary A magnetostratigraphic record from central Alberta has been established for sediments previously assumed to represent multiple continental (Laurentide) glaciations, but for which no pre-late Wisconsin geochronology was available. Polarity measurements of subsamples collected from bore-cores provide the first evidence of early Pleistocene glaciation in the central Alberta Plains. The data reported from these new study sites places the westward extent of Laurentide ice to at least the 760 m contour. Comprising primarily tills and lesser thicknesses of inter-bedded glacio-lacustrine and outwash sediments, the record is extensive, reaching to thicknesses of 300 m within buried valleys. Most of the sampled units are not accessible from outcrop and their sedimentology and stratigraphy is derived from core data only. The lowermost till (Bronson Lake Fm) is reversely magnetized in many of the borecores sampled to date. This till is underlain by Empress Fm sediments and/or Colorado Gp shale, and overlain by normally magnetized glacial and interglacial sediments. The Bronson Lake Fm till reveals a weathering horizon at its surface, suggesting that interglacial or non-glacial conditions persisted for some time after its deposition. This new record of early Pleistocene glaciation in central Alberta places the westernmost extent of earliest Laurentide ice ~300 km beyond its previously established limit in the Saskatoon-Regina-Swift Current region of the western Canadian prairies. This new limit is still well short of the maximum limit (1500 m elevation) reached during the Late Wisconsin (late Pleistocene) Laurentide glaciation in the foothills of the Alberta and Montana Rocky Mountains. Ice-extent maps for known glaciations in the Canadian Prairies are presented by combining these new results with previously reported evidence of pre-late Wisconsin glaciations in southeastern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan from fossils and tephras between tills and in pre-glacial sediments.
Stream habitat and fisheries response to livestock grazing and instream improvement structures, Big Creek, Utah

ABSTRACT: Fisheries habitat and fisheries response were compared on an area protected from grazing for 11 years and on adjacent, heavily grazed areas of similar structural and riparian character. Prohibiting grazing dramatically improved riparian vegetation, streambanks, and stream channel conditions. But this improvement was countered by off-site, upstream influences and on-site, instream improvement structures that functioned as fine sediment traps. Fish populations did not respond to improving habitat conditions because the relatively small size of the livestock exclosure did not reduce incoming, limiting influences created by upstream conditions and the artificial nature of the fishery.
Vaccine preservative is not the cause of autism, say US officials

Thiomersal, a mercury containing preservative used in children's vaccines known in the US as Thimerosal, is not the cause of autism, said top officials from key US government agencies at a joint news conference on 19 July. The announcement, held one day before a rally sponsored by 11 autism groups in Washington, DC, caused a fierce reaction among parents' groups and several politicians, who criticised the government's claims as politically motivated and aimed, in part, at deterring product liability suits against makers of the vaccines. The conference was held jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Child Health Development, and the Food and Drug Administration. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC, said the briefing was held because of concerns that unwarranted fear of vaccination could lead to the re-emergence of …