Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lithosphere–mantle coupling and the dynamics of the Eurasian Plate

Mechanical equilibrium of tectonic plates implies that lithospheric edge and body forces are balanced by forces arising from interaction with the underlying mantle. We use this quantitative physical relation to integrate existing modelling approaches of lithosphere dynamics and mantle flow into a new combined approach applied to the Eurasian Plate. By combining a thorough analysis of lithospheric forces with the requirement of torque balance we constrain the orientation of the torque on Eurasia arising from mantle tractions. We use this constraint to evaluate convective mantle flow models driven by tomographic or subduction history model anomalies and observed plate motion. Mantle forcing is considered through both shear at the bottom of the plate and induced dynamic topography. We find that instantaneous semi-analytic flow models without lateral viscosity variations generate tractions that meet the constraint from Eurasian lithosphere dynamics, but only for specific ranges of mantle flow parameters. Of the explored set of mantle anomaly models, only mantle flow models based on S-wave tomography anomalies can balance Eurasia for realistic viscosity profiles and velocity–density scaling. Choices in mantle density forcing and viscosity are crucial in that they govern the relative magnitude of tractions due to convective mantle flow (‘active tractions’) and resistive tractions due to plate motion (‘passive tractions’). We find mechanical balance is only achieved for similar torque magnitudes of active and passive shear. The two shear contributions do however in no case balance each other and a considerable, dominant, net torque from edge forces is required to balance total mantle tractions and lithospheric body forces (LBFs). Our analysis provides a range of mechanically consistent total force sets acting on the Eurasian Plate. Using this result we find that mantle buoyancy forces and LBFs acting on Eurasia itself are important driving forces but do not drive Eurasia in the observed direction. Continental collision at Eurasia’s southern boundary significantly deviates Eurasia northwards. Our combined torque balance approach, in which mantle tractions from convective mantle flow modelling are combined with explicitly applied edge forces, thus emphasizes the role of plate interactions to the dynamics of tectonic plates
Molecular and Cellular Mechanism of Action of Chrysotile Asbestos in MRC5 Cell Line

Asbestos is a known carcinogen; however, the influence of chrysotile asbestos on the development of tumor-related diseases remains a subject of intense debate within the scientific community. To analyze the effect of asbestos, we conducted a study using the MRC5 cell line. We were able to demonstrate that chrysotile asbestos stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to cell death and DNA damage in the MRC5 cell line, using various techniques such as ROS measurement, comet assay, MTT assay, and qPCR. In addition, we found that chrysotile asbestos treatment significantly increased extracellular mitochondrial DNA levels in the culture medium and induced significant changes in the expression profile of several miRNAs, which was the first of its kind. Thus, our research highlights the importance of studying the effects of chrysotile asbestos on human health and reveals multiple adverse effects of chrysotile asbestos.
Estimation of Background Radiation from A Soil Sample from A Barley Farm Area and Malt Factory in East Arsi, Ethiopia

The aim of this work is to estimate the background radiation of a soil sample from the barley farm area and Malt factory in East Arsi, Ethiopia. The technique of gamma-ray spectrometry with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detector and a PC-based MCA was used. The activity concentration levels due to 40K, 137Cs, 238U, and 232Th were measured within the study area at a depth of 30 cm. The soils of the study region are used as construction material by many farmers. The measured specific activity of those radionuclides was compared with the data reported worldwide. The specific activity of radionuclides was estimated in both study locations. The specific activity 238U of soil samples ranged from 41.0 Bq kg-1 to 30.7 Bq kg-1 in the barley farm, with a mean value of 37.7 Bq kg-1, and for malt ranged from 23.8 Bq kg-1 to 40.6 Bq kg-1, with a mean value of 32.5 Bq kg-1. The specific activity of 232Th in soil samples ranged from 89.9 Bq kg-1 to 156.0 Bq kg-1, with a mean value of 118.6 Bq kg-1, whereas for the Malt factory ranged from 121.0 Bq kg-1 to 128.0 Bq kg-1, with a mean value of 123.7 Bq kg-1. In barley soil samples, the specific activity of 40K ranged from 401.0 Bq kg-1 to 530.0 Bq kg-1 with a mean value at the Malt plant ranged from 518 Bq kg-1 to 598.0 Bq kg-1, with a mean value of 553.6 Bq kg-1. Similarly, the specific activity of 137Cs was determined in both the barley farm and the malt Factory. In barley farm soil samples, it ranged from 3.3 ±0.6 Bq kg-1 to 5.34±0.6 Bq kg-1, and with a mean value of 4.3 Bq kg-1 whereas, in the Malt factory it varied from 3.1 ±0.7 Bq kg-1 to 5.3 ±0.7 Bq kg-1, and with a mean value of 4.5 Bq kg-1. The absorbed dose rate within the barley farm ranged from 24.6 ±2.9 nGyh-1 to 34.1 ±2.9 nGy h-1, and with a mean value of 30.6 nGyh-1, whereas, in the Malt factory, it varied from 31.3 ±1.3 nGy h-1 to 35.5 ±1.3 nGyh-1, and with a mean value of 33.5 nGy h-1. The annual effective radiation dose for BSS and MFSS was calculated to be 37.6 mSv y-1and 41.1mSv y-1. This study revealed that this region lies within a medium radiation background when compared with the world's average. The marginal value of dose is higher within the Malt factory area because of fertilizer consumption for cultivation. Since these estimated background and radiological impact factors are below the recommended values, it seems that there is no potential radiological health hazard related to the soils from both BSS and MFSS in Arsi Asella, Oromia, Ethiopia.
Ocean Currents and Eddies (Chapter 3)

This chapter reviews the contribution of satellite altimetry to the observation and understanding of ocean currents and eddies. It focuses on mesoscale variability which is the dominant signal of the ocean circulation and is a crucial component of its dynamics. After a general introduction on mesoscale variability in section 1, section 2 discusses specific issues for altimeter data processing which are necessary for mesoscale studies including merging, sampling and velocity estimation. Section 3 deals with the description of ocean currents. We review first some of the main techniques used to estimate the absolute velocities and transports from altimeter data. We then look at each major current system separately, and review the considerable progress made by altimetric studies in each of the main western boundary currents, eastern boundary currents, open ocean currents, and in the semi-enclosed seas. Section 4 provides a global statistical description of mesoscale variability which is a unique contribution of satellite altimetry. Studies dealing with the geographical and seasonal to interannual variations in eddy intensity are analyzed. We also summarize the main findings on space and time scales of mesoscale variability and the relationship between spatial scales and the internal Rossby radius. We then proceed to the analysis of frequency and wavenumber spectra and the relationship with quasi-gesotrophic turbulence theories. Studies which compare these eddy statistics with eddy resolving model simulations are also summarized. Eddy dynamics (eddy/mean flow interaction, eddy transport and eddy diffusivity) are finally discussed.
Point-of-use water treatment for arsenic removal through iron oxide coated sand : application for the Terai region of Nepal

Arsenic contaminated groundwater is prevalent in a number of countries around the world, most notably West Bengal, Bangladesh and now the Terai region of Nepal. Wide public awareness of the contamination was not until the 1990s, from years to several decades after tubewells were installed to extract groundwater for drinking water. Now, millions of people have arsenic poisoning which causes serious health effects such as arsenicosis, skin and liver cancer, circulatory disorder and hyperpigmentation. For the past three years, the MIT Nepal Water Project has been investigating arsenic contaminated tubewells in Nepal, and has begun to evaluate point-of-use arsenic removal technologies. These technologies must meet certain evaluation criteria: Effective removal of effective removal of total arsenic (As (III) + As (V)), minimally, below the Interim Nepali Standard of 50 μg/L; possibility of local manufacture with locally available materials; affordable to the Nepali citizens affected by arsenic contamination; socially acceptable in terms of maintenance, operation and water demand. The 2001-2002 MIT Nepal Project investigated three new technologies which might meet these criteria. Iron oxide coated sand is one of these technologies. Iron oxides are known to adsorb arsenic. Previous studies of arsenic and metal adsorption onto iron oxide coated sand prompted this investigation. Based on the methods utilized in these prior studies, the author produced seven different iron oxide coated sands, varying concentration of ferric nitrate used, coating mixture, and drying temperature. The arsenic removal capability of these sands was tested in Parasi, Nepal, Pepperell, Massachusetts and Salem, New Hampshire. Percent total arsenic removal varied from 11-99%. Considering the evaluation criteria such as arsenic removal performance, cost, availability of materials, and local production, iron oxide coated sand technology successfully meets most or all of these requirements. However, in this study, social acceptability has not been determined. Detailed testing and evaluation of the iron oxide properties, as well as sufficient resources allocated to production of the media, is crucial before iron oxide coated sand technology could be implemented for point-of-use arsenic removal in Nepal or other developing countries. The author also produced a digitized map representing the extent of arsenic contamination in the Terai using paper maps as a base.
ShowerMagic : A Hygienic and Eco-Efficient Real Time Greywater Reuse System for Showers

ShowerMagic is a water purification system designed to reduce the ecological impact of showers by filtrating, sterilizing and recirculating shower water in real time, thus significantly reducing the amount of water and energy required to enjoy a warm shower. The purification system relies on a sand and granular activated carbon filter to remove particulates, suspended solids as well as organic and inorganic compounds and to reduce turbidity. After this, an ultraviolet irradiation reactor is used to disinfect bacteria that may be present in the water to ensure clean, safe and ecological showering. A 2 factorial design was conducted to model and optimize the height and width dimensions of the sand and granular activated carbon filters. Each treatment method is tested individually with a specified contaminant simulating concentrations of domestic grey water. Removal efficiency was over 98 % for particulates in the form of quartz sand, 92 % for suspended solids in the form of mineral clay in the largest filters, and a log 5 reduction was seen in Escherichia coli bacteria concentrations, even with turbidity values 10 greater than normal. Water quality was improved further over time with water recirculation and by combining all treatment methods. Ammonium hydroxide used to simulate inorganic compounds had conflicting results with removal efficiency around 50 %. Based on the test prototype it is proposed that a shower consuming only 10 L of water is possible which is the equivalent of 1 minute of normal showering time. With increasing water scarcity, greenhouse gas emissions and a growing global population, the strain on resources is greater than ever before. ShowerMagic offers a viable solution for reducing our impact on the environment while still enjoying our morning rituals.
Development of Robot Guidance System Using Hand-holding with Human and Measurement of Psychological Security

Holding hands can give people a sense of security. In this study, we developed a five-fingered robotic hand that can hold hands with a person and a guidance system that uses the developed hand to hold hands with them. In this system, a robot remembers the location where people have taught it and guides people to that point. We conducted an experiment to evaluate the sense of security in guidance with hand-holding compared with guidance without hand-holding. Participants watched the videos on these two conditions and answered a questionnaire. The results confirmed that holding hands can lead to a sense of security.
Electromagnetic force behavior of superconducting bulks passing electromagnetic turnout

High temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev is a promising technology owing to its excellent electromagnetic properties of non-control stability and frictionless. As a critical component of HTS Maglev, the turnout poses challenges due to the use of the permanent magnet guideways (PMGs) that are difficult to switch mechanically. With simple structure and rapid responsiveness, electromagnetic turnout has become an interesting research field of HTS Maglev. The electromagnetic turnout is designed to control the electromagnetic force of the HTS bulks by adjusting the magnetic field using an electromagnetic-permanent magnetic structure. However, the magnetic field generated by the combination of the electromagnet and the PMs inevitably differs from the magnetic field above the PMGs, affecting the electromagnetic force behavior of the HTS bulks. To guarantee optimal performance of the electromagnetic turnout, the variation process of the magnetic field peak above the turnout is analyzed. Furthermore, a three-dimensional superconducting model based on the H -formulation and motion equation is built to obtain the electromagnetic force of the HTS bulks passing the turnout. It’s concluded that higher cooling heights in the preparation and higher working heights in the turnout area are recommended to reduce the magnetic resistance and avoid the destabilizing effect. In addition, the smaller bulks experience greater resistance, and the longer bulks are prone to nodding, while the wider bulks are prone to shaking above the turnout. Properly matching HTS bulks with operating conditions improves electromagnetic force behavior and benefits HTS Maglev turnout passability.
The Origins of Technolinguistic Diversity

This study explores the determinants of ethnolinguistic diversity within as well as across countries shedding light on its geographic origins. The empirical analysis conducted across countries, virtual countries and pairs of contiguous regions establishes that geographic variability, captured by variation in regional land quality and elevation, is a fundamental determinant of contemporary linguistic diversity. The findings are consistent with the proposed hypothesis that differences in land endowments gave rise to location-specific human capital, leading to the formation of localized ethnicities.
Online pattern recognition of lower limb movements based on sEMG signals and its application in real-time rehabilitation training

Abstract An online pattern recognition method of lower limb movements is proposed based on the personalized surface electromyography (sEMG) signals, and the corresponding experimental researches are performed in the rehabilitation training. Further, a wireless wearable acquisition instrument is used. Based on this instrument, a host computer for the personal online recognition and real-time control of rehabilitation training is developed. Three time-domain features and two features in the nonlinear dynamics are selected as the joint set of the characteristic values for the sEMG signals. Then a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to optimize the feature channels, and a k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm and the extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm are combined to classify and recognize individual sample data. Based on the multi-pose lower limb rehabilitation robot, the real-time motion recognition and the corresponding rehabilitation training are carried out by using the online personalized classifier. The experimental results of eight subjects indicate that it takes only 6 min to build an online personalized classifier for the four types of the lower limb movements. The recognition between switches of different rehabilitation training movements is timely and accurate, with an average recognition accuracy of more than 95%. These results demonstrate that this system has a strong practicability.
Assisted re-establishment of a resident pride of lions from a largely itinerant population

Lions ( Panthera leo ) resident around the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe are vulnerable if their home ranges include communal lands inhabited by subsistence farmers. The primary cause of death is strangulation in wire snares set by game-meat poachers but illegal poisoning of carcasses, legal safari hunting and natural predation also contribute to mortality. A protected enclave of land on the lakeshore supported a resident pride of lions which was gradually eliminated in 1995. Tourist demand warranted an attempt to reintroduce lions which was assisted and probably accelerated by the capture and temporary confinement of an adult female lion and her three cubs in a stoutly constructed boma. The female came into oestrus and attracted several itinerant young male lions back to the area. The subsequently released lion family and five immigrant males formed the basis of a new resident pride which reproduced and behaved normally, attracting other lions who challenged the social hierarchy.
New Democracies and Commitment to Human Rights Treaties

One of the most influential arguments suggests that new democracies are more inclined than others to commit to international human rights treaties. This paper examines whether new democracies are more likely to commit not only to the basic, but also to the more demanding and constraining treaties. We argue that despite the strategic utility of costly commitments, new democracies are often unwilling to pay for the increased costs of more demanding and constraining treaties. We test our argument by tackling some of the trickiest inferential challenges. We employ propensity score weighting to address the nonrandom assignment of new democracies and further specify marginal structural models to account for dynamic confounding. Our analyses reveal intriguing findings. While new democracies commit to the broad human rights conventions more quickly, they are more reluctant than established democracies to commit to the more demanding and constraining protocols.
Base Rock Vibration Characteristics Analysis from Surface Ground Motion

A computer program is developed assuming underlying soil as horizontally layered and one-dimensional. Soil material non-linearity is considered in this problem. One dimensional shear wave equation is solved. Space is discretized by Finite Element method and time is discretized by Central Difference method. Two parameter hyperbolic model and Masing rule are used to obtain the dynamic stress-strain behaviour. The number of soil layers, the properties of different soil layers such as density, initial shear modulus, reference strain and the properties of rigid base rock such as density and shear modulus are used as input data. Record of the earthquake which occurred at El-Centro in 1940, is used here as surface acceleration data. The output of the program is dynamic stress-strain behaviour in different soil layers, variation of secant shear modulus with time in different soil layers, deformation in different soil layers and base rock acceleration of the soil layer. The soil properties data assumed here is soft layer in the upper portion and comparatively stiffer layer in the bottom layer. The base rock layer is the stiffest layer. The peak base rock acceleration is found greater than the peak surface acceleration. Hysteresis loop is maintained in each layer of the soil column for obtaining dynamic stress-strain behaviour. Variation of secant shear modulus with time is fluctuating. The surface deformation is found greater than the base rock deformation.
Surface topography reconstruction method based on modulation of white light interference signal

In modern optical detection, the vertical resolution of three-dimensional (3-D) topography obtained by White Light Interferometer (WLI) can reach sub-nanometer level. Under the same detection environment, optical system and scanning sampling system, the quality of coherent peak extraction algorithm directly determines the measurement accuracy. After decomposing and analyzing the representation form of WLI signal, this paper proposes a surface topography reconstruction method based on the modulation function curve of interference signal for gaussian center positioning. Under the influence of typical error sources, the measurement accuracy of this method is simulated and analyzed. Finally, based on the method proposed in this paper, a comparative measurement experiment of 1. 8µm standard step is carried out with ZYGO commercial interferometer. The simulation and experimental results show that the algorithm has good robustness and effectiveness.
Reassessment of the early Triassic lingulid brachiopod ‘Lingula’ borealis Bittner, 1899 and related problems of lingulid taxonomy

Abstract The Early Triassic (late Induan to early Olenekian) Lingula borealis Bittner, from the Russkii Island on the Pacific cost of south-eastern Russia is revised, based on re-examination of the type material. Although this species, like most described Triassic lingulids, has remained very poorly understood due to the lack of information on important characters, such as musculature and mantle canals, it has been commonly recorded in subsequent studies and included in attempts at understanding the patterns of extinction and recovery at around the Permian–Triassic boundary. Linguliform brachiopods are some of the notable survivors of this significant mass extinction event. Lingula borealis has previously been referred to Lingularia and provisionally synonymised with Lingularia similis Biernat & Emig. Here, it is shown that it differs from Lingularia similis mainly in characters of mantle canals, musculature and most importantly in details of the pedicle nerve impression. In Lingularia borealis, the impression of the pedicle nerve is symmetrical and goes almost straight between the individual ventral umbonal muscle scars, whereas in Lingularia similis it is asymmetrically positioned towards the smaller left component of the ventral umbonal muscle scar. Shell structures and details of preserved ontogenies have also proven to be important for the discrimination of lingulid taxa, but cannot be provided from the types of Lingularia borealis.
Study on Extracting Building Density and Floor Area Ratio Based on High Resolution Image

Based on the analysis of the relationship between building-height and shadow-width in the high resolution satellite image-QuickBird,the paper applies the result of extracting building heights from shadow in image to the field of estimating FAR,and realizes estimating building density and FAR fast and efficaciously. Taking YuZhong District,ChongQing city for instance,by comparative analyzing the building density and FAR of the district,it can be found that the urban layout is profoundly affected by economy.The general laws are with the growing of economy,FAR improves,while the building density falls.The validating result shows that the accuracy of estimating floor-number has reached 88.3%,which has demonstrated prospecting applications of satellite remote sensing for urban purpose.