Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differentiation in the water-use strategies among oak species from central Mexico

Oak species (Fagaceae: Quercus) differ in their distribution at the landscape scale, specializing to a certain portion of environmental gradients. This suggests that functional differentiation favors habitat partitioning among closely related species. To elucidate the mechanisms of species coexistence in oak forests, we explored patterns of interspecific variation in functional traits involved in water-use strategies. We tested the hypothesis that oak species segregate along key trade-offs between xylem hydraulic efficiency and safety, and between hydraulic safety and drought avoidance capacity, leading to species niche partitioning across a gradient of aridity. To do so, we quantified biophysical and physiological traits in four red and five white oak species (sections Lobatae and Quercus, respectively) across an aridity gradient in central Mexico. We also explored the trade-offs guiding species differentiation, particularly between the drought tolerance versus water acquisition capacity, and determined whether the water-use strategy was associated with the portion of the environmental gradient that the species occupy. In a trait-by-trait analysis, we detected differences between white and red oak species. However, a larger part of the variation was explained at the species rather than at the section level. We detected two primary axes of trait covariation. The first exhibited differences between species with dense tissues and species with soft tissues (the tissue construction cost axis); however, the oak sections did not constitute separate groups, while the second suggested a trade-off between xylem resistance to cavitation and tree deciduousness. As expected, the water-use strategies of the species were related to the environment; oak species from arid areas had more deciduousness and a higher instantaneous water-use efficiency. In contrast, their humid counterparts had less deciduousness and had a xylem that was more resistant to embolisms. Altogether, these results suggest that aridity filters closely related species, resulting in habitat partitioning and niche divergence.
Jamming Phase Diagram, Effective Temperature, and Heterogeneous Dynamics of Model Glass-Forming Liquids

We establish that the behavior of fluids consisting of repulsive spheres under the combined effects of pressure p, temperature T, and applied shear stress s can be organized in a jamming phase diagram parameterized by the dimensionless quantities T/pd^3, s/p, and pd^3/e, where d is the diameter of the spheres and e is the interaction energy scale. The jamming phase diagram describes the three-dimensional parameter space as the product of an equilibrium plane at s/p=0 and a hard sphere plane at pd^3/e=0. Near the hard sphere plane, the jamming phase diagram is universal in the sense that material properties are insensitive to the details of the interaction potential. We demonstrate that within the universal regime, the conventional approach to the dynamic glass transition along a decreasing temperature trajectory is equivalent to the colloidal glass transition approach along an increasing pressure trajectory. Defining the dynamic glass transition by where a dimensionless relaxation time equals a large but arbitrary value, we measure a two-dimensional dynamic glass transition surface whose precise location depends on the choice of time scale but which always encloses the singular point at the origin, T/pd^3=s/p=pd^3/e=0. We show that at finite shear stress, the effective temperature Teff fluidizes the system in a similar way as the environment temperature T fluidizes the system in the absence of shear. We demonstrate that the dynamic glass transition surface is largely controlled a single parameter, the dimensionless effective temperature Teff/pd^3, that describes the competition between low frequency fluctuations and the confining pressure. Even well into the fluid portion of the jamming phase diagram, we show that relaxation is largely controlled by this single parameter, regardless of whether the fluctuations are created by temperature or shear. Finally, by investigating correlations in the dynamics as a function of length scale a and time scale t, we identify two types of pairs (a, t) over which the dynamics are maximally correlated, suggesting that kinetic heterogeneity is a general feature of dynamical crossovers and not necessarily an indication of an impending thermodynamic transition. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Physics & Astronomy First Advisor Andrea J. Liu
A Tag-based English Math Word Problem Solver with Understanding, Reasoning and Explanation

This paper presents a tag-based statistical math word problem solver with understanding, reasoning, and explanation. It analyzes the text and transforms both body and question parts into their tag-based logic forms, and then performs inference on them. The proposed tag-based approach provides the flexibility for annotating an extracted math quantity with its associated syntactic and semantic information, which can be used to identify the desired operand and filter out irrelevant quantities. The proposed approach is thus less sensitive to the irrelevant information and could provide the answer more precisely. Also, it can handle much more problem types other than addition and subtraction.
Thermal Behavior and Structural Study of SiO2/Poly(ε-caprolactone) Hybrids Synthesized via Sol-Gel Method

SiO2-based organic-inorganic hybrids (OIHs) are versatile materials whose properties may change significantly because of their thermal treatment. In fact, after their preparation at low temperature by the sol-gel method, they still have reactive silanol groups due to incomplete condensation reactions that can be removed by accelerating these processes upon heating them in controlled experimental conditions. In this study, the thermal behavior of pure SiO2 and four SiO2-based OIHs containing increasing amount (6, 12, 24 and 50 wt %) of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) has been studied by simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FTIR analysis of the gas mixture evolved at defined temperatures from the samples submitted to the TG experiments identified the mechanisms of thermally activated processes occurring upon heating. In particular, all samples already release ethanol at low temperature. Moreover, thermal degradation of PCL takes place in the richest-PCL sample, leading to 5-hexenoic acid, H2O, CO2, CO and ε-caprolactone. After the samples’ treatment at 450, 600 and 1000 °C, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra revealed that they were still amorphous, while the presence of cristobalite is found in the richest-PCL material.
Proxy Non-Discrimination in Data-Driven Systems

Machine learnt systems inherit biases against protected classes, historically disparaged groups, from training data. Usually, these biases are not explicit, they rely on subtle correlations discovered by training algorithms, and are therefore difficult to detect. We formalize proxy discrimination in data-driven systems, a class of properties indicative of bias, as the presence of protected class correlates that have causal influence on the system's output. We evaluate an implementation on a corpus of social datasets, demonstrating how to validate systems against these properties and to repair violations where they occur.
Optimal Leaf-to-Root Ratio and Leaf Nitrogen Content Determined by Light and Nitrogen Availabilities

Plants exhibit higher leaf-to-root ratios (L/R) and lower leaf nitrogen content (N area) in low-light than in high-light environments, but an ecological significance of this trait has not been explained from a whole-plant perspective. This study aimed to theoretically and experimentally demonstrate whether these observed L/R and N area are explained as optimal biomass allocation that maximize whole-plant relative growth rate (RGR). We developed a model which predicts optimal L/R and N area in response to nitrogen and light availability. In the model, net assimilation rate (NAR) was determined by light-photosynthesis curve, light availability measured during experiments, and leaf temperature affecting the photosynthesis and leaf dark respiration rate in high and low-light environments. Two pioneer trees, Morus bombycis and Acer buergerianum, were grown in various light and nitrogen availabilities in an experimental garden and used for parameterizing and testing the model predictions. They were grouped into four treatment groups (relative photosynthetic photon flux density, RPPFD 100% or 10%×nitrogen-rich or nitrogen-poor conditions) and grown in an experimental garden for 60 to 100 days. The model predicted that optimal L/R is higher and N area is lower in low-light than high-light environments when compared in the same soil nitrogen availability. Observed L/R and N area of the two pioneer trees were close to the predicted optimums. From the model predictions and pot experiments, we conclude that the pioneer trees, M. bombycis and A. buergerianum, regulated L/R and N area to maximize RGR in response to nitrogen and light availability.
Trusted Third Party Based Key Management for Enhancing LoRaWAN Security

The Internet of things (IoT) is pervading our lives to allow a comfortable and smarter human living space by connecting surrounding human things to the Internet. But, it reveals sensitive and private data as well as human appliances to intruders. To solve these problems, security solutions based on cryptography might be used. But, these solutions are based on encryption keys that must be managed securely and properly while taking into account the IoT characteristics. In this paper, we investigate the LoRaWAN IoT architecture. We evaluate its security by gathering possible attacks that can be launched on it, using the Scyther tool. Then, we propose an enhanced version of the LoRaWAN architecture that solves those attacks. We evaluate the proposed solution in terms of security and key management requirements and compare it to existing solutions.
Game-theoretic demand-side management robust to non-ideal consumer behavior in smart grid

This paper investigates effects of realistic, non-ideal, decisions of energy users as to whether to participate in an energy trading system proposed for demand-side management of a residential community. The energy trading system adopts a non-cooperative Stackelberg game between a community energy storage (CES) device and users with rooftop photovoltaic panels where the CES operator is the leader and the users are the followers. Participating users determine their optimal energy trading starting time to minimize their personal daily energy costs while subjectively viewing their opponents' actions. Following a non-cooperative game, we study the subjective behavior of users when they decide on energy trading starting time using prospect theory. We show that depending on the decisions of participating-time, the proposed energy trading system has a unique Stackelberg equilibrium at which the CES operator maximizes their revenue while users minimize their personal energy costs attaining a Nash equilibrium. Simulation results confirm that the benefits of the energy trading system are robust to decisions of participating-time that significantly deviate from complete rationality.
TNF‐&agr; (−308G>A) and TNF‐R1 (36A>G) single nucleotide polymorphisms are strong risk factors for odontogenic keratocystic tumor development

BACKGROUND Polymorphisms in genes encoding tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and its receptor TNF-R1 have been shown to affect one person's susceptibility to develop certain neoplastic diseases. The aim of the present association study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNF-α (-308G>A) and TNF-R1 (36A>G) genes modulate the susceptibility for keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) development in Serbian patients. METHODS Genotyping was performed in 60 KCOT patients and 125 healthy individuals, using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS A significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies was found between patients and controls for both SNPs (P < 0.05). Carriers of the TNF-α A variant had an eightfold increase of KCOT risk (OR = 8.12, 95% CI = 3.98-16.56, P < 0.0001), while carriers of the TNF-R1 G variant had approximately a fourfold increase of KCOT risk (OR=3.65, CI: 1.60-8.40, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the two polymorphisms are strong risk factors for KCOT development in Serbian population.
The Gemini Near‐Infrared Imager (NIRI)

This paper presents the basic design of the Gemini Near‐Infrared Imager (NIRI) and discusses its capabilities. NIRI offers three different pixel scales to match different operating modes of the Gemini telescope and allows polarimetric and spectroscopic observations. It is equipped with an infrared on‐instrument wave‐front sensor (OIWFS) to allow tip‐tilt and focus correction even in highly obscured regions. The science detector array is an Aladdin II InSb 1024 × 1024 pixel device sensitive from 1.0 to 5.5 μm.
Automatic Construction of a Chinese Electronic Dictionary

In this paper, an unsupervised approach for constructing a large-scale Chinese electronic dictionary is surveyed. The main purpose is to enable cheap and quick acquisition of a large-scale dictionary from a large untagged text corpus with the aid of the information in a small tagged seed corpus. The basic model is based on a Viterbi reestimation technique. During the dictionary construction process, it tries to optimize the automatic segmentation and tagging process by repeatedly refining the set of parameters of the underlying language model. The refined parameters are then used to furtherget a better tagging result. In addition, a two-class classifier, which is capable of classifying an n-gram either as a word or a non-word, is used in combination with the Viterbi training module to improve the system performance. Two different system configurations had been developed to construct the dictionary. The configurations include (1) a Viterbi word identification module followed by a Viterbi POS tagging module and (2) a two-class classification module as the postfilter for the above Viterbi word identification module. With a seed of 1,000 sentences and an untagged corpus of 311,591 sentences, the performance for bigram word identification is 56.88% in precision and 77.37% in recall when the two-class classifier is applied to the word list suggested by the Viterbi word identification module. The Viterbi part of speech tag reestimation stage gives the figures of 71.16% and 71.81% weighted precision rates and 73.42% and 73.83% weighted recall rates for the 2 different configurations when using a seed corpus of 9676 sentences.
Genotypic Variation in Wheat Flour Lysophospholipids

Lysophospholipids (LPLs) are the most abundant polar lipids in wheat endosperm and naturally complex with amylose, affecting starch physicochemical properties. We analyzed LPLs in wheat flour from 58 cultivars which differ by grain hardness using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). There were significant differences in LPL content between cultivars, demonstrating that genotype rather than environment contributes most to the total variance in wheat endosperm LPLs. Polar lipids such as LPLs may play a role in grain hardness through their interaction with puroindoline proteins, however, no strong correlation between kernel hardness and LPLs was detected. This may reflect the location of LPLs within the starch granule as opposed to the puroindoline proteins outside starch granules. LPLs may have an indirect relationship with kernel hardness as they could share the same origin as polar lipids that interact with puroindoline on the starch granule surface.
Nonlinear Fractional-Order Estimator With Guaranteed Robustness and Stability for Lithium-Ion Batteries

This paper proposes a new estimator design algorithm for state-of-charge (SoC) indication of lithium-ion batteries. A fractional-order model-based nonlinear estimator is first framed including a Luenberger term and a sliding mode term. The estimator gains are designed by Lyapunov's direct method, providing a guarantee for stability and robustness of the error system under certain assumptions. This generic estimation algorithm is then applied to lithium-ion batteries. A fractional-order circuit model is adopted to predict battery dynamic behaviours. Assumptions based on which the estimation algorithm is developed are justified and remarked. Experiments corresponding to electric vehicle applications are conducted to parameterize the battery model and demonstrate the estimation performance. It shows that the proposed approach is able to estimate SoC with errors less than 0.03 in the presence of initial deviation and persistent noise. Furthermore, the benefits of using the proposed estimator relative to other estimators are calculated over different cycles and conditions.
The Prognostic Significance of Hsp70/Hsp90 Expression in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM Studies have focused on heat shock protein (Hsp) inhibitors as potential treatment agents in breast cancer, with controversial results. Adopting a pathophysiological perspective, this systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence examining the association between Hsp70/Hsp90 expression and breast cancer prognosis, as well as prognosis-related clinicopathological indices. Secondarily, changes in Hsp70/Hsp90 expression in the continuum of breast neoplasia were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hsp70/Hsp90 expression was approached globally, quantified by means of immunohistochemistry, western blot or PCR. This study was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were sought in PubMed, up to December 31, 2015. RESULTS A total of 23 eligible studies were identified (7,288 breast cancer cases). High Hsp90 expre s sion was associated with worse overall survival (pooled RR=1.48, 95%CI=1.21-1.82) and marginally with worse disease-free survival. High Hsp70 expression also correlated with worse disease-free survival (pooled RR=1.77, 95%CI=1.71-2.82). Hsp70 intense expression correlated with ER positivity (pooled OR=3.51, 95%CI=1.31-9.40) and PR positivity (pooled OR=2.48, 95%CI=1.39-4.44). No significant associations were noted between Hsp70/Hsp90 expression and clinicopathological variables including histological grade, tumor size, nodal metastasis or patient age at diagnosis. No clear pattern emerged for Hsp70/Hsp90 expression along the breast neoplasia continuum. CONCLUSION This systematic review and meta-analysis highlights the prognostic role of Hsp90 and Hsp70 expression in breast cancer. Further high-quality studies, with detailed reporting are needed to provide epidemiological evidence complementing the findings of ongoing clinical trials on Hsp inhibitors.
Medial Orbitofrontal Cortex Modulates Associative Learning Between Environmental Cues and Reward Probability

It has recently been recognized that orbitofrontal cortex has 2 subdivisions that are anatomically and functionally distinct. Most rodent research has focused on the lateral subdivision, leaving the medial subdivision (mOFC) relatively unexplored. We recently showed that inhibiting mOFC neurons eliminated the differential impact of reward probability cues on discrimination accuracy in a sustained attention task. In the present study, we tested whether increasing mOFC neuronal activity in rats would accelerate acquisition of reward contingencies. mOFC neuronal activity was increased using the DREADD (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) method, in which clozapine-N-oxide administration leads to neuronal modulation by acting on synthetic receptors not normally expressed in the rat brain. We predicted that rats with neuronal activation in mOFC would require fewer sessions than controls for acquisition of a task in which visual cues signal the probability of reward for correct discrimination performance. Contrary to this prediction, mOFC neuronal activation impaired task acquisition, suggesting mOFC may play a role in learning relationships between environmental cues and reward probability or for using that information in adaptive decision-making. In addition, disrupted mOFC activity may contribute to psychiatric conditions in which learning associations between environmental cues and reward probability is impaired.
Comparison of Three Methods to Quantify Laxity in the Canine Hip Joint

Abstract Objectives Comparison of PennHIP and a novel method to diagnose hip laxity, called the Vezzoni modified Badertscher distension device technique. Methods In a total of 10 dogs, it was first assessed whether the distraction index (DI) from the PennHIP evaluation center could be reproduced by two individual observers. In the next two steps, the DI measurements made by the individual observers and the PennHIP evaluation center were compared with the laxity index (LI) measured on the Vezzoni modified Badertscher distension device view. Finally, the interobserver agreement of the DI, LI and Norberg angle was assessed and compared with classification criteria. Results The results were similar for the first three comparisons: there was no evidence for bias, the relation between DI and LI was linear and the variability was small. A comparison of the interobserver agreement showed that the measurement variability for the NA was substantial, while the reproducibility for the DI and LI was equal. Clinical Significance While the standard ventrodorsal hip extended radiograph is most commonly used for diagnosis and screening of canine hip dysplasia, it lacks sensitivity to diagnose laxity. To improve the identification of hip joint laxity, distraction-based radiographic techniques are helpful. The Vezzoni modified Badertscher distension device technique allows for a reliable in-house evaluation of canine hip joint laxity.
Design and simulation of modular 2n to 1 quantum‐dot cellular automata (QCA) multiplexers

In this paper a novel design of a quantum‐dot cellular automata (QCA) 2 to 1 multiplexer is presented. The QCA circuit is simulated and its operation is analyzed. A modular design and simulation methodology is developed, which can be used to design 2n to 1 QCA multiplexers using the 2 to 1 QCA multiplexer as a building block. The design methodology is formulated in order to increase the circuit stability. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.