Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seismic Fault Rheology and Earthquake Dynamics

As preparation for a workshop on "The Dynamics of Fault Zones" (95 th Dahlem Workshop, Berlin, January 2005), specifically on the sub-topic "Rheology of Fault Rocks and Their Surroundings", we addressed critical research issues for understanding the seismic response of fault zones in terms of the constitutive response of fault materials. That requires new concepts and a host of new observations and experiments to document material response, to understand the shear localization process and the inception of earthquake instability, and especially to understand the mechanisms of fault weakening and dynamics of rupture tip propagation and arrest during rapid, possibly large, slip in natural events. We examine in turn the geological structure of fault zones and its relation to earthquake dynamics, the description of rate and state friction at slow rates appropriate to the interseismic period and earthquake nucleation, and the dynamics of fault weakening during rapid slip. The last topic gets special attention here in view of the important recent advances in theoretical concepts and experiments to probe the range of slip rates prevailing during earthquakes. We then address the assembly of the constitutive framework into viable but necessarily simplified conceptual and computational models for description of the dynamics of crustal earthquake rupture. This is done principally in the slipweakening framework, and we examine some of the uncertainties in doing so, and issues of how new understanding of the rapid large slip range will be integrated to model the traction evolution and the weakening process during large slip episodes.
Post‐Jurassic tectono‐sedimentary evolution of the Northern Lusitanian Basin (Western Iberian margin)

Seismic reflection and well stratigraphic data are used to investigate the post‐Jurassic evolution of the Northern Lusitanian Basin, offshore west Iberia. Stratigraphic correlations between 11 exploration wells were attained in order to characterize the variations in depositional facies associated with salt tectonics. Latest Triassic–Hettangian salt, which generated multiple salt pillows during the Jurassic rifting, was reactivated after the early Aptian in two main phases. The first phase stretches from the late Turonian to the Maastrichtian. The second relates to Miocene tectonic inversion. The compression of the post‐salt overburden caused the amplification of Jurassic detachment folds, forming barriers to the westward progradation of sediment into distinct salt‐withdrawal sub‐basins. Particularly during the Miocene, thin‐skinned overburden shortening was accommodated by growing salt structures that suffered thrusting and extrusion. This structural style contrasts with that of salt‐scarce areas where a simple westerly tilted, fault‐bounded monocline was generated.
Displaying motion parallax by occlusion detectable stereo

We propose a 3D image display system which can present real scenes with realistic motion parallax. In the sensing system, a scene is observed by using a camera matrix. An excellent stereo algorithm SEA which utilizes 3/spl times/3 image matrix recovers the depth information of the scene with the density and the sharpness required for high quality image generation. In the display system, following the viewing position of the observer, 2D images with proper motion parallax are generated and presented. A prototype system has been developed and evaluation of the system is examined.
A Note on the Transport of the Brazil Current

Abstract An XBT survey and hydrographic sections between 19 and 25°S along the coast of Brazil in April of 1982 were used to locate the Brazil Current both north and south of the seamount chain at 20°30′S. The current appears to flow through the passage between the most inshore of the banks and not to the east. It is a continuous feature and, to the extent resolved by these measurements, is not characterized by meanders and eddies at these latitudes. Transport relative to 500 m (1000 m) was approximately 3.8 × 106 m3 s−1 (6.8 × 106 m3 s−1) and did not appear to increase downstream.
A remote sensing research agenda for mapping and monitoring biodiversity

Abstract There is an urgent need to inventory and monitor indicators of biological diversity, such as species richness. Remotely-sensed data provide a means to accomplish part of this task, but there has been no comprehensive scientific framework to guide its effective application. Here we propose a remote sensing research agenda designed to improve the quality and quantity of information available for testing scientific hypotheses, monitoring, and conservation planning. Biodiversity should be more fully incorporated into ongoing Earth system science and global change programmes, with remote sensing featured as a prominent data acquisition and analysis tool.
Removal of meteorological synoptic‐scale disturbances from TOMS total ozone fields

It is expected from theoretical considerations that synoptic-scale variations in total ozone should be correlated with the absolute vorticity field near the tropopause. A similar correlation is expected with potential vorticity on larger scales and comparisons between these two correlations can provide an insight into stratospheric dynamics. This paper uses TOMS total ozone fields and vorticity derived from ECMWF analyses for 1987, to reveal the evolution of the lower stratospheric stability structure, and the presence of the polar vortex. The possibility of using total ozone data to study the chemical evolution of the northern polar vortex is also discussed
Improving shadow evacuation management: Case study of the Graniteville, South Carolina, chlorine spill

Facilitating evacuations is a primary aim of disaster management. While under-response to evacuation orders is a typical problem, over-response, or a shadow evacuation, also poses serious problems and should be minimized when possible. This case study of a chlorine spill was designed to evaluate the differences in evacuation behavior between those faced with an evacuation order versus spontaneous, voluntary evacuees. We found that a significant shadow evacuation developed, and we believe that the addition of geographic specificity to the warning message may have limited the scope of the over-response.
The impact of urban growth on commuting patterns in a restructuring city: Evidence from Beijing

Our existing knowledge of the links between urban growth and commuting patterns are dominated by cases from developed countries. This paper examines the impact of urban growth on workers' commutes using the case of Beijing, which is undergoing rapid economic and spatial restructuring. The results of an analysis of household survey data show that clustered and compact urban development in planned sub-centres is likely to reduce suburban workers' need for a long-distance commute to the city centre when the workers' socio-economic characteristics, the level of transport accessibility and household preferences for residential location are taken into account. Workers employed in the manufacturing sector tend to have shorter commutes and travel within the planned suburban sub-centres. This reveals that the decentralization of employment in the manufacturing sector provides more opportunities to enhance the spatial matches between household residential and job location choices. Household preferences for residential location have an effect on commuting patterns, and high-income workers are likely to accept longer commutes in order to fulfil their residential preferences. Dramatic urban restructuring, in conjunction with changes in lifestyle, is creating new commuting patterns in the rapidly growing cities of China.
Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly in the Bay of Bengal in 2010

Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world and is a victim of frequent natural calamities like tropical cyclones, tornadoes, floods, storm surges and droughts. Sea surface temperature (SST) plays a vital role in determining ocean-atmosphere interaction. In this study we focused on understanding the behavior of SST anomaly prevailed in the region of Bay of Bengal mainly to assume the surface temperature signature for cyclone occurrence. For this study, the observed SST anomaly data were derived from NOAA Coast-watch using a combination of global and regional algorithms. The SST anomaly maps were produced using SAGA-GIS software where the SST lines were fixed at the mean of 30 years data. The AVHRR SST was compared with the climatological SST for the region of Bay of Bengal in 2010. The monthly SST anomaly for 2010 showed average departure of 0.7°C for all the months except June and October. It was found that the anomaly increases about 2°C at the end of September, and in October the basin bears no significant anomaly. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i2. 14797 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(2): 77-80 2012
Resilience: New Utopia or New Tyranny? Reflection about the Potentials and Limits of the Concept of Resilience in Relation to Vulnerability Reduction Programmes

Resilience is becoming influential in development and vulnerability reduction sectors such as social protection, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Policy makers, donors and international development agencies are now increasingly referring to the term. In that context, the objective of this paper was to assess in a critical manner the advantages and limits of resilience. While the review highlights some positive elements –in particular the ability of the term to foster integrated approach across sectors– it also shows that resilience has important limitations. In particular it is not a pro-poor concept, and the objective of poverty reduction cannot simply be substituted by resilience building.
Earthquake Ground-Motion Prediction Equations for Eastern North America

New earthquake ground-motion relations for hard-rock and soil sites in eastern North America (ENA), including estimates of their aleatory uncertainty (vari- ability) have been developed based on a stochastic finite-fault model. The model incorporates new information obtained from ENA seismographic data gathered over the past 10 years, including three-component broadband data that provide new in- formation on ENA source and path effects. Our new prediction equations are similar to the previous ground-motion prediction equations of Atkinson and Boore (1995), which were based on a stochastic point-source model. The main difference is that high-frequency amplitudes (f 5 Hz) are less than previously predicted (by about a factor of 1.6 within 100 km), because of a slightly lower average stress parameter (140 bars versus 180 bars) and a steeper near-source attenuation. At frequencies less than 5 Hz, the predicted ground motions from the new equations are generally within 25% of those predicted by Atkinson and Boore (1995). The prediction equations agree well with available ENA ground-motion data as evidenced by near-zero average residuals (within a factor of 1.2) for all frequencies, and the lack of any significant residual trends with distance. However, there is a tendency to positive residuals for moderate events at high frequencies in the distance range from 30 to 100 km (by as much as a factor of 2). This indicates epistemic uncertainty in the prediction model. The positive residuals for moderate events at 100 km could be eliminated by an increased stress parameter, at the cost of producing negative residuals in other magnitude-distance ranges; adjustment factors to the equations are provided that may be used to model this effect.
Can tidal tomography be used to unravel the long‐wavelength structure of the lunar interior?

The Moon displays a number of hemispherically asymmetric features that may be related to long‐wavelength structure and dynamics in the lunar mantle. Here we propose to use observations of the non‐degree‐2 gravitational response of the Moon to degree‐2 tidal forcing to constrain the long‐wavelength lunar mantle structure. For a planetary body with laterally varying structure, degree‐2 tidal forces excite gravitational response at non‐degree‐2 harmonics due to mode coupling effects. Using a new numerical model, we determine that for a lunar mantle with ∼5% hemispherical variations in seismic shear wave velocityVs, the degree‐3 response could reach ∼2% of the degree‐2 response. The larger the hemispherical variations inVs, the larger the degree‐3 response. We suggest that if observations from recent lunar missions such as SELENA and GRAIL could be used to determine the non‐degree‐2 tidal response, it might be possible to place constraints on the lunar mantle structure.
Modelling the spatial variation of road safety in Greece

The analysis of spatial dependences among road safety outcomes (road accidents and fatalities) has received increased attention in recent research with interesting findings at national or European level. The objective of this research is the modelling of the spatial variation of road accidents and fatalities in Greece. Greece is selected as a country for which spatial effects have not been previously explored, and also as a country presenting some spatial particularity (i.e. loose spatial structure with many clusters of islands), making such an analysis interesting. For that purpose, Nuts-3 road accident and fatalities risk rates are used for the development of conditional auto-regressive (Car) and Car-convolution spatial models. Moreover, two types of neighbourhood structures of regional road safety data are tested: a basic structure defined according to the road connections between counties and an extended structure defined on the basis of both road and ferry connections between counties. The results su.
A physically‐based treatment of elemental carbon optics: Implications for global direct forcing of aerosols

To date, global models of direct radiative forcing have treated elemental carbon (EC) as completely externally mixed or well‐mixed internally. No global study has treated EC as a core in an internal mixture. It is hypothesized that the well‐mixed treatment is unphysical and reality lies between the externally‐mixed and core treatments. It is also suggested, but not proven, that most EC particles are coated to some degree; hence, the core treatment may be more representative than the external‐mixture treatment. Global simulations with the core treatment resulted in EC forcing 50% higher and 40% lower than forcings obtained with the externally‐mixed and well‐internally‐mixed treatments, respectively. In the core case, EC's positive forcing more than offset negative forcing due to all other anthropogenic aerosol components combined. Further studies are needed to understand the mixing state of EC and determine the accuracy of the core treatment.
Cardioinhibitory carotid sinus hypersensitivity: prevalence and predictors in 502 outpatients.

BACKGROUND Cardioinhibitory response (CIR) is defined as asystole >3 seconds in response to 5-10 seconds of carotid sinus massage (CSM). Pacemaker implantation is indicated for patients with unexplained syncope episodes and CIR. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and predictors of CIR in patients with a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and assess the clinical significance of CIR in patients with a history of unexplained syncope or falls. METHODS Cross-section design study. Outpatients, aged > or =50 years, referred to the electrocardiography sector of a tertiary hospital. Those with dementia, carotid bruit, and history of myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack in the preceding 3 months were excluded. CSM was performed by a single investigator, with the patients in the supine position. CSM was applied on the right side and then on the left side during 10 seconds each time. RESULTS 502 patients underwent CSM. CIR was present in 52 patients (10.4%; 95% CI: 7.7%-13%). Independent predictors of CIR were male gender (OR: 2.61%; CI 95%: 1.3%-5.1%), structural heart disease (OR: 3.28%; CI 95%: 1.3%-7.9%) and baseline heart rate (P<0.05). The sensitivity of the CIR to CSM in syncope evaluation was low (9.8%). Specificity was high (89.5%), being even better in women (95.3%) and in those without structural heart disease (96.2%). CONCLUSION CIR was detected in 10.4% of the patients aged > or = 50 years. In males and in patients with structural heart disease CIR was more common. In women and patients with no apparent structural heart disease, the presence of CIR was a highly specific finding in the evaluation of syncope or falls.
What is watershed runoff

A nonlinear mathematical model, starting with the integral of an infiltration capacity function, is developed to analytically equate the difference between rainfall and runoff to hydrologie variables. Only the three independent variables—storm rainfall, duration, and soil moisture—are used, and an equation is evolved in which the identity of the coefficients is kept intact and unusually good statistical control is maintained. The coefficients of the equation appear to be stable over a range of watershed sizes and conditions. The equation strongly indicates that runoff usually originates from a small, but relatively consistent, part of the watershed. The function can be manipulated to show a ‘function of apparent watershed infiltration capacity’ This function characterizes the infiltration capacity of that portion contributing to runoff, on the average, and should prove to be a useful infiltration capacity index with which watersheds can be compared. The equation itself provides insight into why in situ measurements of infiltration capacity seldom agree with the capacity determined from rainfall-runoff data. It also indicates why storm runoff frequently is not linear with respect to causative factors.
Variability and Long‐Term Trends in the Shelf Circulation Off Eastern Tasmania

This study investigates trends and interannual variability of the marine climate across the continental shelf off eastern Tasmania for 1993–2016. This region is a hotspot for global warming and biodiversity. Eastern Tasmania lies at the boundary between two ocean currents (the East Australian Current Extension, or EAC Extension, and the Zeehan Current, ZC) leading to the local marine climate exhibiting trends and variability from both boundary currents. A numerical ocean model is used to provide high‐resolution (∼2 km) estimates of the temperature, salinity and circulation for the region. Results indicate significant positive trends in temperature, salinity and southward flow over the shelf, consistent with an increasing EAC Extension. These trends are particularly strong in autumn, indicating a lengthening of the warm season. The interannual variability in the EAC Extension and ZC was quantified by a simple index, based on a modal analysis of surface circulation, indicating the relative dominance of each current. Strong EAC years were related to significantly more summertime marine heatwave days. Large‐scale, remote drivers of variability were considered and we found weak but significant links with El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Tasman Sea Blocking (TSB). ENSO was found to modulate the EAC Extension in summer with a El Nina leading to enhanced southward flow and warming over the shelf. TSB was found to drive enhanced southward surface flow, particularly in winter. Nonetheless, large‐scale forcing modes explain less than 25% of the total variability in the EAC‐ZC system indicating that most of the variability is internally‐generated.
Acupuncture as a Treatment Modality for Low Back Pain

Acupuncture, one of the most ancient therapeutic techniques used on the planet, utilizes special needles that are placed in superficial or deep body tissues or in specially selected sensitive or painful skin areas, in order to treat functional, reversible disorders, syndromes or symptoms. Acupuncture has been extensively used to treat low back pain and it is estimated that 2% of adults in the UK use it each year for a variety of conditions including back pain [12].
Seasonal-to-Interannual Variability of Ethiopia/Horn of Africa Monsoon. Part II: Statistical Multimodel Ensemble Rainfall Predictions

AbstractAn ensemble-based multiple linear regression technique is developed to assess the predictability of regional and national June–September (JJAS) anomalies and local monthly rainfall totals for Ethiopia. The ensemble prediction approach captures potential predictive signals in regional circulations and global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) two to three months in advance of the monsoon season. Sets of 20 potential predictors are selected from visual assessments of correlation maps that relate rainfall with regional and global predictors. Individual predictors in each set are utilized to initialize specific forward stepwise regression models to develop ensembles of equal number of statistical model estimates, which allow quantifying prediction uncertainties related to individual predictors and models. Prediction skill improvement is achieved through error minimization afforded by the ensemble.For retroactive validation (RV), the ensemble predictions reproduce well the observed all-Ethiopian JJAS rain.
Sulfur isotopic variations in the A2844 vein and wall rock, Butte, Montana.

Sulfur isotopic analyses on vein pyrite and associated sulfides in a short section of a vein in the Intermediate Zone, Butte, Montana, show remarkable isotopic uniformity. The standard deviation (0.5 ‰) and range of pyrite values (1.4 to 3.9 ‰) are attributed to ore formation in a fO2-pH regime where the isotopic composition was insensitive to large changes in the physico-chemical conditions. The δ34S of the hydrothermal solution responsible for pyrite deposition is estimated to be +3.1 ‰. Large per mil differences and textural relationships between pyrites and associated copper and zinc sulfides show that the different sulfides were not deposited simultaneously and/or in isotopic equilibrium. Disseminated wall rock pyrites are depleted in 34S by as much as 2.4 ‰ relative to the adjacent vein and veinlets. The isotopic relationship between vein and disseminated pyrites may be due to a number of phenomena including diffusional fractionation, the effects of wall rock on the physico-chemical properties of the solution but are probably largely due to the interaction of pre-Main Stage and Main Stage hydrothermal processes. Delineation of these mechanisms is confounded by the presence of many veinlets in the wall rock.