Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global, Long‐Term Sulphur Dioxide Measurements from TOVS Data: A New Tool for Studying Explosive Volcanism and Climate

A new technique for retrieving sulphur dioxide concentrations from TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) data is described. The retrieval technique relies on absorption of infrared radiation by the anti-symmetric stretch of the sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) molecule centred around 7.3 μm. The High-resolution infrared radiation sounder (HIRS/2) is part of the TOVS package and has a channel that covers this absorption region. The HIRS/2 data are global, span almost 24 years, have a sub-satellite spatial resolution of about 18 km and can be used both day and night. The retrieval method is described and its accuracy and sources of error discussed. Case studies for the June 1991 Pinatubo eruptions, for the August 1991 eruptions of Cerro Hudson and for several eruptions of Hekla volcano, are used to illustrate the retrievals and the results are compared with independent SO 2 retrievals from the TOMS instrument. These new SO 2 data provide a potentially valuable tool for studying the climatic effects of explosive eruptions. Because the satellite measurements are global, long-term and can simultaneously provide other climate parameters (e.g. surface temperatures, temperature profiles, humidity profiles, cloudiness, ozone amount and long- and short-wave radiation) they can be used to test and validate volcanically-induced effects in global climate simulations.
Biodiversity and ecosystem services: pollination, biological control, and nature conservation in agricultural landscapes

Agriculture has done more damage to nature than any other human activity, and yet food production could need to be doubled by the middle of this century. As agricultural land is expanded and intensified, critical thresholds in the loss of natural habitats are crossed. This loss of non-crop habitats can have negative feedback on crop production, because it can cause a loss of “ecosystem services” that support and regulate crop production, such as the pollination of crops by bees and the biological control of crop pests by their natural enemies. Because of this connection between non-crop habitats and crop yields, there could be potential for habitat conservation to benefit both agriculture and nature. The research in this thesis focuses on pollinators and natural enemies, because these species constitute a vital connection between food production and biodiversity conservation. Could habitat management be used to conserve both pollinators and natural enemies in agricultural landscapes? Will the relationships between pollinators, natural enemies, and natural habitats change with climate change? Where should we prioritize the resolution of conflict between agriculture and nature, and how? This thesis addresses these questions through literature review and meta-analysis, geographic information systems (GIS) and hotspot analysis, field research on the distributions of trap-nesting bees and wasps on environmental gradients, and laboratory research on the development of bees and wasps at high temperatures. This thesis suggests that it might be possible to conserve communities of both pollinators and natural enemies, in general, by means of habitat management, but it might not be possible to conserve specific combinations of pollinators and natural enemies, which might have opposite responses to some forms of environmental change, such as global warming. This thesis also suggests that the resolution of conflict between agriculture and nature should be prioritized in sub-Saharan Africa, and it outlines a conceptual framework for systematic conservation planning in agricultural landscapes.
Basic Models of Seismicity: Temporal Models

In this and subsequent articles, we present an overview of some models of seismicity that have been developed to describe, analyze and forecast the probabilities of earthquake occurrences. The models that we focus on are not only instrumental in the understanding of seismicity patterns, but also important tools for time-independent and time-dependent seismic hazard analysis. We intend to provide a general and probabilistic framework for the occurrence of earthquakes. In this article, we begin with a survey of simple, one-dimensional temporal models such as the Poisson and renewal models. Despite their simplicity, they remain highly relevant to studies of the recurrence of large earthquakes on individual faults, to the debate about the existence of seismic gaps, and also to probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. We then continue with more general temporal occurrence models such as the stress-release model, the Omori-Utsu formula, and the ETAS (Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence) model.
eLearning, Interactive Hypermedia, Neuroscience and Digital Learning Module Creation

This paper explores the possibilities of using the recent findings within the area of neuroscience for developing effective instructional material in the digital form using the interactive hypermedia components that can be used for effective delivery of eLearning. The different components of eLearning, eLearning infrastructure, interactive hypermedia are described. A review of findings from neuroscience for the brain functions that are deemed relevant for learning process is also provided
The Sensory Circumventricular Organs of the Mammalian Brain: "Subfornical Organ, Ovlt And Area Postrema"

Introduction. -Location, general structure and ependymal cells of sensory circumventricular organs. -Regional subdivisions within sensory circumventricular organs. -Vasculature, compartmental barriers, neurons and glia in the sensory circumventricular organs. -Neurochemical aspects of sensory circumventricular organs. -The neural connections of the sensory circiumventricular organs. -Immediate early gene expression in the sensory circumventricular organs. -Functions of the sensory circumventricular organs. -Summary. -subject index
Double Difference Earthquake Locations at the Salton Sea Geothermal Reservoir

The purpose of this paper is to report on processing of raw waveform data from 4547 events recorded at 12 stations between 2001 and 2005 by the Salton Sea Geothermal Field (SSGF) seismic network. We identified a central region of the network where vertically elongated distributions of hypocenters have previously been located from regional network analysis. We process the data from the local network by first autopicking first P and S arrivals; second, improving these with hand picks when necessary; then, using cross-correlation to provide very precise P and S relative arrival times. We used the HypoDD earthquake location algorithm to locate the events. We found that the originally elongated distributions of hypocenters became more tightly clustered and extend down the extent of the study volume at 10 Km. However, we found the shapes to depend on choices of location parameters. We speculate that these narrow elongated zones of seismicity may be due to stress release caused by fluid flow.
AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT : ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES AND BEST PRACTICES

Today’s environments of increasing business change require software development methodologies that are more adaptable. This article examines how complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory can be used to increase our understanding of how agile software development practices can be used to develop this capability. A mapping of agile practices to CAS principles and three dimensions (product, process, and people) results in several recommendations for “best practices” in systems development.
Modeling the soil consumption of atmospheric methane at the global scale

A simple scheme for the soil consumption of atmospheric methane, based on an exact solution of the one‐dimensional diffusion‐reaction equation in the near‐surface soil layer, is described. The model includes a parameterization of biological oxidation that is sensitive to soil temperature, moisture content, and land cultivation fraction. The scheme was incorporated in the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS), with forcing provided by a 21‐a, global land meteorological data set, and was calibrated using multiyear field measurements. Application of the scheme on the global scale gives an annual mean sink strength of 28 Tg CH4 a−1, with an estimated uncertainty range of 9–47 Tg CH4 a−1. A strong seasonality is present at Northern Hemisphere high latitudes, with enhanced uptake during the summer months. Under the specified surface forcings, the oxidation parameterization is more sensitive to soil moisture than to temperature. Compared to the previous work of Ridgwell et al. (1999), our empirically based water stress parameterization reduces uptake more rapidly with decreasing soil moisture, resulting in a decrease of ∼50% in the potential global sink strength. Analysis of the geographical distribution of methane consumption shows that subtropical and dry tropical ecosystems account for over half of the global uptake.
Autonomous Mobile Robot Navigation Using Braille Blocks in Outdoor Environment

A mobile robot can use the walls or the pillars to localize itself when it navigates in indoor environment. However, in open space or outdoor environment there are few easy detectable and stable objects that the robot can use. In this paper, we propose a method for the detection of braille blocks, which are originally used for visually handicapped people, for autonomous mobile robot navigation. To recognize the Braille block, a CCD camera and a laser fan beam projector are used as sensor to detect uneven surface of the blocks. This paper also present the experimental results of simple navigation using the sensor system.
QMEAN: A comprehensive scoring function for model quality assessment

In protein structure prediction, a considerable number of alternative models are usually produced from which subsequently the final model has to be selected. Thus, a scoring function for the identification of the best model within an ensemble of alternative models is a key component of most protein structure prediction pipelines. QMEAN, which stands for Qualitative Model Energy ANalysis, is a composite scoring function describing the major geometrical aspects of protein structures. Five different structural descriptors are used. The local geometry is analyzed by a new kind of torsion angle potential over three consecutive amino acids. A secondary structure‐specific distance‐dependent pairwise residue‐level potential is used to assess long‐range interactions. A solvation potential describes the burial status of the residues. Two simple terms describing the agreement of predicted and calculated secondary structure and solvent accessibility, respectively, are also included. A variety of different implementations are investigated and several approaches to combine and optimize them are discussed. QMEAN was tested on several standard decoy sets including a molecular dynamics simulation decoy set as well as on a comprehensive data set of totally 22,420 models from server predictions for the 95 targets of CASP7. In a comparison to five well‐established model quality assessment programs, QMEAN shows a statistically significant improvement over nearly all quality measures describing the ability of the scoring function to identify the native structure and to discriminate good from bad models. The three‐residue torsion angle potential turned out to be very effective in recognizing the native fold. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Low Vitamin C Intake on Fertility Parameters and Pregnancy Outcomes in Guinea Pigs

Identifying how specific nutrients can impact fertility, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes will yield important insights into the biological mechanisms linking diet and reproductive health. Our study investigates how dietary vitamin C intake affects various fertility parameters and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in the guinea pig, a natural model of vitamin C dependency. Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were fed an optimal (900 mg/kg feed) or low (100 mg/kg feed) vitamin C diet ad libitum for at least three weeks prior to mating and throughout pregnancy. We found that animals receiving the low vitamin C diet had an increased number of unsuccessful matings, a higher incidence of foetal reabsorption, and, among pregnancies resulting in delivery at term, produced fewer offspring. Neonates from mothers on the low vitamin C diet had significantly decreased plasma vitamin C concentrations at birth and exhibited mild growth impairments in a sex-dependent manner. We conclude that a diet low of vitamin C induces a state of subfertility, reduces overall fecundity, and adversely impacts both pregnancy outcomes and growth in the offspring. Our study provides an essential foundation for future investigations to determine whether these findings translate to humans. If so, they could have important clinical implications for assisted reproductive technologies and nutritional recommendations for couples trying to conceive, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
The Potential of Phytoremediation Techniques for Selenium Removal

The San Joaquin Valley in California was historically a landscape with extensive wetlands. Due to the fact that the soil was very rich, 90% of the wetlands were converted to farmland. Because of the poor drainage in these areas, the Bureau of Reclamation proposed construction of the San Luis Drain. The San Luis Drain was to be a 188-mile concrete channel that would carry drain water from 300,000 acres of farmland. In addition to the channel, regulatory reservoirs were planned along the drain to hold and evaporate excess water during certain times of the year to keep the flow out of the drain even. Twelve 100-acre, 3-ft. -deep drainage cells were constructed on a 5900-acre parcel of land on the Kesterson site in 1971. Construction on the drain was later halted, so flow ended at Kesterson. The site was later managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a replacement of a small portion of lost habitat and was consequently named Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge. Until 1978, the water flowing into the refuge was fresh surface water. After this time, an increase in irrigation in the surrounding fields caused the water entering the Kesterson reservoir to be entirely sub-surface agricultural drain water (Engberg et al. 1998). By 1982, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had begun to see high rates of reproductive failures and birth defects in waterfowl nesting at Kesterson. From 1982 to 1985, the area was investigated for sources of contamination, and the cause determined to be high levels of selenium (Se) from irrigation runoff (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996). Water Se concentrations greater than 5 ug L -1 are cause for aquatic life protection by EPA standards. The levels at Kesterson were about 300 ug L -1 (Engberg et al. 1998). In 1986, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation halted the routing of agricultural wastewater to Kesterson. In 1988, they dewatered the site and filled in all low-lying areas to 15 cm above the expected average seasonal rise of groundwater, so the site would not have standing water again. Selenium contamination was thought to be less harmful to terrestrial animals than to the waterfowl (Ohlendorf and Santolo 1994).
U-Pb geochronology of the Cape Smith Belt and Sugluk block, northern Quebec

The Cape Smith Belt is a multiply-deformed thrust belt containing metamorphosed basaltic volcanic, mafic intrusive, and sedimentary rocks. It lies south of the Kovik antiform and the Sugluk block; together, these constitute the Ungava segment of the Trans-Hudson Orogen. U-Pb dating of representative units reveals that Archean rocks of the Superior craton which underlie the belt are ca. 2780-2880 Ma old, and that the oldest rocks in the belt proper are those of the Purtuniq ophiolite at 1998 ± 2 Ma. The belt evolved between ca. 2000 Ma (oceanic crust generation) and about 1830 Ma, the age of the later part of the belt's south-directed structural translation and subsequent thick-skinned deformation. The Povungnituk Group (the structurally lowest assemblage of sedimentary and volcanic rocks) was deposited ca. 1960 Ma, and being younger than the ophiolite, cannot be the rift assemblage which led to creation of oceanic crust of the Purtuniq ophiolite. Ages of intrusions and sedimentary rocks within the Sugluk block are as young as 1830 Ma, and they were metamorphosed and deformed at granulite facies at 1830-1820 Ma, prior to a period of slow cooling. Resume La bande du Cap Smith est une ceinture de chevauchement qui est caracterisee par une tectonique polyphasee et qui comprend des basaltes, intrusions mafiques et sediments metamorphoses. La ceinture se trouve au sud de l'antiforme Kovik et du bloc de Sugluk; ce tensemble constitue le segment Ungava del'orogene Trans-Hudsonienne. La datation par U-Pb d'unites representatives reveleque les roches archeennes du craton du lac Superieur, sous-jacentes a la bande du Cap Smith, ont des âges qui varient entre ca. 2780-2880 Ma. Dans la ceinture de chevauchement, les unites les plus anciennes (datees a 1998 ± 2 Ma) sont celles de l'ophiolite Purtuniq. L'evolution de la bande du Cap Smith s'est donc faite entre ce. 2000 Ma (formation de la croute oceanique) et approximativement 1830 Ma, l'âge du stage final de transport a direction sud dans laceinture de chevauchement et de la defor-mation du socle et de la couverture. Le Groupe de Povungnituk (ensemble de rochessedimentaires et volcaniques avec une position structurale basse) s'est accumule ca. 1960 Ma bien apres la formation de l'ophio-lite. Etant donne que l'âge du Groupe de Povungnituk est plus jeune que celui del'ophiolite, ce dernier ne peut pas etre le rif qui a eventuellement donne lieu a la formation de la croute oceanique preservee dans l'ophiolite Purtuniq. Les âges des intrusion set des roches sedimentaires dans le bloc de Sugluk sont aussi jeunes de 1830 Ma. Ces unites furent metamorphosees et deformees au facies metamorphique granulite entre 1830 et 1820 Ma, suivit d'une periode de refroidissement lent.
Strength and ductility of four dry igneous rocks at low pressures and temperatures to partial melting

Energy extraction from magma requires stable boreholes at relatively shallow depths ( 1050/sup 0/C), at confining pressures of 0 and 50 MPa, and strain rate of 10/sup -4//s. The strength reductions of the crystalline rocks are more or less linear until they steepen suddenly with approach to melting. When that occurs, strengths vanish and deformations become quasiviscous. The obsidian is stronger than the crystalline rocks to 600/sup 0/C where glass softening begins and strength goes to zero at 800/sup 0/C. All rocks are brittle throughout the entire temperature range until melting or softening occurs. Shortenings at failure are 3 percent or less. The crystalline rocks tend to deform primarily by precursive microscopic extension fracturing and its coalescence into macroscopic faults. The abundance of load-induced fractures remains about constant, but thermal cracking increases with increasing temperature. Results from tests at 25/sup 0/C on specimens that previously had been heated to 900-1000/sup 0/C clearly show that the weakening of unconfined specimens is due to more » the thermal cracking. Weakening of confined specimens, however, probably is due to an inherent temperature effect on the load-induced fracturing process. Comparisons of instantaneous failure-strengths with stresses likely ot occur at the walls of boreholes show that a hole as deep as 10 km in impermeable crystalline rock is not likely to fail under short-time loading even at 1000/sup 0/C, unless the maximum in-situ horizontal stress is greater than or equal to vetical stress and the hole is open (i.e., borehole pressure is zero). 27 refs., 10 figs., 7 tabs. « less
A GENDER ANALYSIS OF MUSIC VIDEOS ON MTV BASE AFRICA

1 Chapter One Introduction 2 Chapter Two Key Concepts 6 Chapter Three Literature Review Masculine and Feminist Paradigms 15 Chapter Four Literature Review Gender Representations in Music Videos 40 Chapter Five Theoretical Framework 65 Chapter Six Methodology 86 Chapter Seven Analysis and Findings 104 Chapter Eight Similarities and Differences between Case Studies 132 Chapter Nine Focus Group Analysis in Comparison to Semiotic Analysis 147 Chapter Ten Conclusion 166
Les propriétés mécaniques des mousses polymériques à cellules ouvertes : expériences, modèle théorique et simulations numériques

Les mousses polymeriques a porosite ouverte, lorsqu'elles sont soumises a un chargement cyclique en compression, montrent un comportement tres complexe. Au cours d'essais experimentaux, conduits sur des mousses de polyurethane, on a observe plusieurs phenomenes remarquables : - une localisation des deformations en bandes de deformation perpendiculaires a la direction de la compression ; - une difference entre les courbes de reponse a la charge et a la decharge, qui donne un cycle d'hysteresis d'amplitude importante ; - une perte progressive de resistance a la charge au cours des cycles ; - une dependance de la resistance a la vitesse de chargement ; - un effet de memoire caracterise par une dependance de la reponse a l'histoire de deformation precedente L'objectif de ce travail de these est de comprendre l'origine des ces phenomenes grâce a des etudes experimentaux, theoriques et numeriques. Dans un premier temps, on etudie la localisation des deformations et le cycle d'hysteresis. Nous avons choisi de d'ecrire ces deux phenomenes avec un modele elastique non lineaire. La mousse polymerique est representee comme une chacune de ressorts avec une energie de deformation non convexe. L'energie non convexe permet aux ressorts d'avoir plusieurs configurations d'equilibre possibles (phases), et la localisation des deformations peut donc etre decrite comme un changement progressif de phase des ressorts. Ensuite, on presente une extension du modele pour decrire les aspects non elastiques du comportement des mousses. Sur la base de resultats experimentaux, on considere d'abord un modele viscoelastique. Ceci est obtenu avec l'addition de deux elements dissipatifs, caracterises par une loi de comportement lineaire de type Boltzmann Volterra. Le modele viscoelastique lineaire permet d'ameliorer la description des courbes experimentales, mais il est insuffisant pour reproduire la perte progressive de resistance a la charge au cours des cycles et de la dependance de la reponse a la vitesse de chargement. Enfin, pour decrire la baisse de resistance apres le premier cycle, on ajoute la prise en compte d'un endommagement de la mousse. Le modele viscoelastique avec endommagement permet de decrire avec une bonne precision les phenomenes decrits ci-dessus, y compris le comportement des mousses sous sollicitations complexes avec combinaison de cycles de charge et decharge, et de periodes de relaxation et de fluage.