Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Soft Computing Methods in Predicting Evapotranspiration

Exact prediction of evapotranspiration is necessary for study, design and management of irrigation systems. In this research, the suitability of soft computing approaches namely, fuzzy rule base, fuzzy regression and artificial neural networks for estimation of daily evapotranspiration has been examined and the results are compared to real data measured by lysimeter on the basis of reference crop (grass). Using daily climatic data from Haji Abad station in Hormozgan, west of Iran, including maximum and minimum temperatures, maximum and minimum relative humidities, wind speed and sunny hours, evapotranspiration was predicted by soft computing methods. The predicted evapotranspiration values from fuzzy rule base, fuzzy linear regression and artificial neural networks show root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.75, 0.79 and 0.81 mm/day and coefficient of determination of (R2) of 0.90, 0.87 and 0.85, respectively. Therefore, fuzzy rule base approach was found to be the most appropriate method employed for estimating evapotranspiration.
An Energy Efficiency Perspective on Rate Adaptation for 802.11n NIC

Rate adaptation (RA) has been traditionally used to achieve high goodput. In this work, we design RA for 802.11n NICs from an energy-efficiency perspective. We show that current MIMO RA algorithms are not energy efficient for NICs despite ensuring high throughput. The fundamental problem is that, the high-throughput setting is not equivalent to the energy-efficient one. Marginal throughput gain may be realized at high energy cost. We then propose EERA and EERA+, two energy-based RA schemes that trade off goodput for energy savings at NICs. EERA applies multidimensional ternary search and simultaneous pruning to speed up its runtime convergence in single-client operations, and uses fair airtime sharing to handle multiple-client operations. EERA+ further searches for multiple, staged rates to yield more energy savings over EERA. Our experiments have confirmed their effectiveness in various scenarios.
0.5-Gb/s OFDM-Based Laser Data and Power Transfer Using a GaAs Photovoltaic Cell

In this letter, we demonstrate for the first time the additional capability of high-speed data communication for single-junction photovoltaic (PV) cells. A record 3-dB bandwidth of 24.5 MHz is reported for a gallium arsenide (GaAs) PV cell. The PV cell is shown to achieve a power efficiency of at least 42% when irradiance of 0.46 W/cm2 is received from 847-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitted laser. Optimized bit-and-power-loaded optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is applied to use the communication bandwidth most efficiently. With this, a data rate of 0.5 Gb/s is achieved for a 2-m OFDM-based laser link. To the best of our knowledge, the reported data rates achieved with a GaAs PV cell as the detector are the highest for simultaneous optical wireless information and power transfer.
The Taylor Rule and Financial Stability – A Literature Review with Application for the Eurozone

Abstract The question whether central banks should bear responsibility for financial stability remains unanswered. In connection with the use of interest rates, it is therefore not clear whether and how the Taylor rule should be augmented by an additional financial stability term. This paper reviews the normative and positive literature on Taylor rules augmented with exchange rates, asset prices, credit, and spreads. These measures have evolved as common indicators of financial (in)stability in the Taylor rule literature. In addition, our own analysis describes the development of these indicators for the core and the periphery of the Eurozone. Given the high degree of heterogeneity between euro area countries, the conclusion here is that an interest rate reaction to instability by the European Central Bank would be inappropriate in times of crisis. However, this conclusion is somewhat weakened if there is no crisis.
Water stress-induced abscisic acid accumulation in relation to reducing agents and sulfhydryl modifiers in maize plant

Signalling process of water stress-induced abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation was investigated in maize (Zea mays L.) leaf and root tissues. Potent free-radical scavengers and reducing agents, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and cystein (Cys), significantly inhibited or nearly completely blocked dehydration-induced ABA accumulation. Dithiothreitol (DTT), a reducing agent but not a free-radical scavenger, also significantly inhibited such accumulation whereas solely free-radical scavengers, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and melatonin (Mela), had no effects. Moreover, water stress-induced ABA accumulation was not affected either by free radicals, such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, or by oxidants such as KIO4. These observations suggest that the blocking of water stress-induced ABA accumulation resulted from the reducing effect, rather than from anything associated with free radicals. The disulphide bond might be crucial to the reactivity of some signal element(s) in the signalling process of water stress-induced ABA accumulation. To test the hypothesis, we used a sulfhydryl modifier, iodoacetamide (IOA), and found that it nearly totally blocked the water stress-induced ABA accumulation. Furthermore, an impermeable sulfhydryl modifier, p-chloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid (PCMBS), could also inhibit the water stress-induced ABA accumulation in the leaf tissues. These results indicate that water stress-perception protein(s) or receptor(s) may be located on the plasmalemma and a sulfhydryl group in the extracellular domain is critical to the reactivity of the speculated water stress receptors. Cys, DTT and IOA did not lead to a decrease of the baseline ABA level, i.e. in non-stressed roots. Result indicates that their blocking of water stress-induced ABA accumulation occurred upstream of the ABA biosynthesis pathway, i.e. in the signalling process that initiates such accumulation.
Utilizing Long-Term ARS Data to Compare and Contrast Hydroclimatic Trends from Snow and Rainfall Dominated Watersheds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Northwest and Southwest Watershed Research Centers have operated the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW) in southwestern Idaho and the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW) in southern Arizona since the 1950s. Each watershed is densely instrumented with a variety of hydrometeorological instrumentation and has multiple gauged subwatersheds spanning a range of spatial scales. These watersheds have yielded an extensive knowledge base of watershed processes over multiple decades of use as outdoor hydrologic laboratories. Both research centers have published data reports in Water Resources Research describing the RCEW and WGEW and their associated characteristics and observational Goodrich, Anson, Hamerlynck, Heilman, Holifield-Collins, Keefer, Moran, Nearing, Nichols, Scott, Stone, Unkrich, and Wong are with the U.S. Department of Agriculture– Agricultural Research Service (USDA–ARS) Southwest Watershed Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd., Tucson, AZ 85719. Email: dave.goodrich@ars.usda. gov, eric.anson@ars.usda. gov, erik.hamerlynck@ars.usda. gov, phil.heilman@ars.usda. gov, chandra.holifield@ars.usda. gov, tim.keefer@ars.usda. gov, susan.moran@ars.usda. gov, mark.nearing@ars.usda. gov, mary.nichols@ars.usda. gov, russ.scott@ars.usda. gov, jeff.stone@ars.usda. gov, carl.unkrich@ars.usda. gov, jason.wong@ars.usda. gov. Marks, Clark, Flerchinger, Hardegree, Pierson, Seyfried, Van Vactor, and Winstral are with the USDA-ARS Northwest Watershed Research Center, 800 Park Blvd., Suite 10, Boise, ID 83712. Email: arsdanny@gmail.com, pat.clark@ars.usda. gov, gerald.flerchinger@ars.usda. gov, stuart.hardegree@ars.usda. gov, fred.pierson@ars.usda. gov, mark.seyfried@ars.usda. gov, steve.vanvactor@ars.usda. gov, adam.winstral@ars.usda. gov. databases. Precipitation and runoff generation in RCEW is dominated by snow and snowmelt processes, while WGEW is dominated by thunderstorm-generated rainfall during the summer monsoon. Mean annual temperatures in the continental United States have increased from 1 to 3C since the establishment of these experimental watersheds and this change has affected water supply, hydrology, and watershed response at both locations. This study compared and contrasted hydroclimatic variables at these experimental watersheds, including temperature, precipitation, and streamflow. Monthly, seasonal, and annual data of temperature, precipitation and runoff were tested for significant trends in these variables.
Efficacy of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Recurrent or Residual Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

Aim To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with recurrent or residual hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods Between June 2008 and July 2015, thirty-three patients with HCC were treated by SBRT. There were 63 lesions in 33 patients. A total dose of 39–45 Gy/3–5 fractions was delivered to the 70–80% isodose line. Results Objective response rate (CR + PR) was 84.8% at 6 months. The overall survival rate was 87.9%, 75.8%, 57.6%, and 45.5% at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 19 months. At 3 months, AFP decreased by more than 75% in 51.5% of patients (17/33). Overall survival was significantly different (P < 0.001) between the group of patients for whom AFP decreased more than 75% and the group for whom AFP decreased by less than 75%. The AFP-negative rate was 48.5% (16/33) after 6 months. Eight patients (24.2%) had grade 1-2 transient fatigue, and 11 patients (33.3%) had grade 1-2 gastrointestinal reactions within 1 month. Conclusion SBRT is a promising noninvasive and palliative treatment with acceptable toxicity for recurrent or residual HCC after TACE.
Modification of Leaf Apoplastic pH in Relation to Stomatal Sensitivity to Root-Sourced Abscisic Acid Signals1

The confocal microscope was used to determine the pH of the leaf apoplast and the pH of microvolumes of xylem sap. We quantified variation in leaf apoplast and sap pH in relation to changes in edaphic and atmospheric conditions that impacted on stomatal sensitivity to a root-sourced abscisic acid signal. Several plant species showed significant changes in the pH of both xylem sap and the apoplast of the shoot in response to environmental perturbation. Xylem sap leaving the root was generally more acidic than sap in the midrib and the apoplast of the leaf. Increasing the transpiration rate of both intact plants and detached plant parts resulted in more acidic leaf apoplast pHs. Experiments with inhibitors suggested that protons are removed from xylem sap as it moves up the plant, thereby alkalinizing the sap. The more rapid the transpiration rate and the shorter the time that the sap resided in the xylem/apoplastic pathway, the smaller the impact of proton removal on sap pH. Sap pH of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Commelina communis did not change significantly as soil dried, while pH of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) sap increased as water availability in the soil declined. Increasing the availability of nitrate to roots also significantly alkalinized the xylem sap of tomato plants. This nitrogen treatment had the effect of enhancing the sensitivity of the stomatal response to soil drying. These responses were interpreted as an effect of nitrate addition on sap pH and closure of stomata via an abscisic acid-based mechanism.
The origin of traveling waves in an emperor penguin huddle

Emperor penguins breed during the Antarctic winter and have to endure temperatures as low as −50 °C and wind speeds of up to 200 km h−1. To conserve energy, they form densely packed huddles with a triangular lattice structure. Video recordings from previous studies revealed coordinated movements in regular wave-like patterns within these huddles. It is thought that these waves are triggered by individual penguins that locally disturb the huddle structure, and that the traveling wave serves to remove the lattice defects and restore order. The mechanisms that govern wave propagation are currently unknown, however. Moreover, it is unknown if the waves are always triggered by the same penguin in a huddle. Here, we present a model in which the observed wave patterns emerge from simple rules involving only the interactions between directly neighboring individuals, similar to the interaction rules found in other jammed systems, e.g. between cars in a traffic jam. Our model predicts that a traveling wave can be triggered by a forward step of any individual penguin located within a densely packed huddle. This prediction is confirmed by optical flow velocimetry of the video recordings of emperor penguins in their natural habitat.
Characterization and Classification of Groundwater from Wells Using an Electronic Tongue (Kairouan, Tunisia)

A sensor array comprising 9 potentiometric chemical sensors and some pattern recognition tools for the data processing has been applied in order to characterize the groundwater in the plain of Kairouan Region (Tunisia). A total of 17 groundwater samples were collected from three different villages and analyzed for their chemical components. Nine chemical parameters were determined: Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Ammonium, Cadmium, Chlorides, Nitrates, Fluoride and pH. Multi-sensor responses measured in each water sample were diagnosed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA). PCA is a procedure for reducing data redundancy. CA is used to detect spatial similarity among sampling sites. This methodology is simple, rapid and the obtained results demonstrate that the electronic tongue technique based on the sensor array combined with pattern recognition method could be a useful tool for the characterization and the classification of wells water samples.
Spinning, drawing and physical properties of polypropylene nanocomposite fibers with fumed nanosilica

Nanocomposite fibers of isotactic polypropylene - fumed silica AR805 were prepared by melt compounding using a two-step process: melt-spinning and hot drawing at various draw ratios up to 15. Transmission electron microscopy revealed uniform dispersion of the silica nanoparticles in polypropylene matrix, although at higher concentrations and lower draw ratios the nanoparticles showed increasing tendency to form small agglomerates. On the other hand, at low con- centrations the uniform distribution of fumed silica improved mechanical properties of the composite fibers, especially at higher draw ratios. Crystallinity and melting temperature of fibers were found to significantly increase after drawing. Elastic modulus at draw ratio = 10 rose from 5.3 GPa for neat PP up to 6.2-8.1 GPa for compositions in the range 0.25-2 vol% of the filler. Moreover, higher tensile strength and creep resistance were achieved, while strain at break was rather insensi- tive to the filler fraction. Considering all experimental results, a failure model was proposed to explain the toughness improve- ment during the drawing process by the induced orientation of polymer chains and the formation of voids.
Developing a Parameterization Approach for Soil Erodibility for the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM)

Soil erodibility is a key factor for estimating soil erosion using physically based models. In this study, a new parameterization approach for estimating erodibility was developed for the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM). The approach uses empirical equations that were developed by applying piecewise regression analysis to predict the differences of erodibility before and after disturbance (i.e., wildfire, prescribed fire, and tree encroachment) and across a wide range of soil textures as a function of vegetation cover and surface slope angle. The approach combines rain splash, sheet flow, and concentrated flow erodibilities into a single parameter for modeling erodibility in most cases. We evaluated the new approach for sites representing different degrees of disturbance associated with burning and tree encroachment. Our results show that the new erodibility approach in RHEM predicts erosion at the plot scale with a satisfactory range of error in all cases. The new approach extends the applications of RHEM to a greater scope of landscapes and soil texture.
The Characteristics of Patients whose both Fasting and Postprandial Glucose were Controlled by Once Daily Basal Insulin Monotherapy

Background: Several meta-analyses compared insulin monotherapy and combined therapy of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA). However, these were not consistent and not focused to individualization. Therefore, we try to elucidate the characteristics of patients whose both fasting and postprandial glucose were controlled by once daily basal insulin monotherapy. Methods: The data of this study are part of our previous study which investigated characteristics of responders on different medications for controlling postprandial glucose levels after optimizing fasting glucose levels by insulin glargine. Background OHA cessation for 2 weeks of initial washout period and then insulin glargine was initiated. Oral glucose tolerance tests after initial wash out period and 7 point self-monitoring blood glucose test for 3 days at each step was completed by each subject. Results: The patients in Controlled group were younger, had a lower baseline A1c, and lower OGTT 2hr PPG levels than patients in the Non-Controlled group. Controlled group showed higher homeostasis model analysis % β (HOMA %B), corrected insulin response (CIR) and insulin-to-glucose ratio (IGR) than Non-Controlled group. Homeostasis model analysis insulin resistance (HOMA IR), 1/fasting insulin (by FI) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: In our study, some patients can be well controlled both fasting and postprandial glucose level with once daily insulin glargine monotherapy. Patients able to do so were younger, had lower baseline HbA1c, lower oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2h PPG and higher makers of insulin secretion.
Electrical and Thermal Models of CNT TSV and Graphite Interface

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a suitable replacement for metals commonly used as a fill material for through substrate vias (TSVs). The electrical and thermal contact resistance, however, between the CNT TSVs and the horizontal metal interconnects (typically copper) can limit the use of CNT technology. A replacement for the horizontal metal interconnects in the form of graphite material is proposed in this paper. Electrical and thermal models of the interface between CNT TSVs and graphite interconnect are compared to the interface between CNT TSVs and copper interconnect. The proposed models include electrical and thermal crowding effects as well as the skin effect. The CNT/graphite interface exhibits up to 72.6% and 71.9%, respectively, lower electrical and thermal resistance as compared to the CNT/copper interface.
04.09: Cylindrically curved steel panels in bridge design: Buckling and post‐buckling behaviour under shear stresses

The main goal of this work is to investigate the behaviour of the cylindrically curved steel panels subjected to pure in‐plane shear stresses. The most relevant works regarding the simply supported curved panels under shear stresses were firstly revised and based on these studies the numerical models were calibrated. As one of the main objectives of this study, the influnce of aspect ratio and curvature parameter on both elastic buckling and post‐buckling behavior of curved panels was analysed. Regarding the curvature parameter, it was concluded that the higher curvatures in general lead to the increased critical buckling load and moreover to the shell‐like behaviour, which result in rather unstable post‐critical behaviour. As for the aspect ratio effect, due to the reduction of the initial stiffness, the higher aspect ratios lead to the drop in buckling load, and thus also lower post‐buckling reserves. On the other hand, the curved panels with low aspect ratio, showed a behaviour similar to the panels with the high curvatures parameters, which is characterized by sudden drop in bearing capacity and huge deflections after the critical load is reached. Furthermore, using the fully non‐linear numerical simulations, the imperfection sensitivity of the curved panels was examined, where, in particular, shape, amplitude and sign of the imperfections were varied. It was concluded that the panels with the higher curvatures as well as the non‐squared panels are more sensitive to the imperfections. Concerning the shape effect, it is more emphasized in case of the panels with the smaller radii, where it may have an impact on the post‐buckling behaviour. Finally, regarding the sign of the imperfections, it was proven that both directions of imperfections have to be verified in order to obtain the most unfavourable behaviour. The sign sensitivity is particularly noticed for the panels which buckle in symmetric buckling mode.
Evidence for complex, collective dynamics and emergent, distributed computation in plants

It has been suggested that some biological processes are equivalent to computation, but quantitative evidence for that view is weak. Plants must solve the problem of adjusting stomatal apertures to allow sufficient CO(2) uptake for photosynthesis while preventing excessive water loss. Under some conditions, stomatal apertures become synchronized into patches that exhibit richly complicated dynamics, similar to behaviors found in cellular automata that perform computational tasks. Using sequences of chlorophyll fluorescence images from leaves of Xanthium strumarium L. (cocklebur), we quantified spatial and temporal correlations in stomatal dynamics. Our values are statistically indistinguishable from those of the same correlations found in the dynamics of automata that compute. These results are consistent with the proposition that a plant solves its optimal gas exchange problem through an emergent, distributed computation performed by its leaves.
THE COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL STUDY OF THE MASSETER OF THE MAMMAL (II).

The authors already reported the lamination of the masseter of the insectivora (mole), the rodentia (albino-rat), the lagomorpha (rabbit), the carnivora (dog and cat), the perissodactila (horse), the artiodactila (pig, sheep, goat and cattle) in 1961 ; the primate (crabeating monkey, organg-utan, gorilla and man) in 1962, a and b; the chiroptera (flying-fox, long-winged bat and pipistrelle) in 1962, c; the ruminantia (deer, nilgai and camel) in 1962, d; and the cetacea (humpback whale) in 1963. In this paper, some of the remaining animal, which include the kangaloo, galago, squirrel-monkey, chimpanzee, guinea pig, bear and elephant, will be described to supplement the above reports. To understand the laminal structure of the masseter, it is most recommendable to investigate the improper masseter group which consists of the maxillomandibular and zygomaticomandibular muscles by removing the zygomatic arch after the exact recognition of the proper masseter group which includes the first superficial, second superficial, intermediate and deep masseters. The terms of these muscular layers were adopted after the old usage of various authors with a slight modification. The maxillomandibular and zygomaticomandibular muscles which were firstly mentioned by T o 1 d t (1905) have escaped singularly the exact recognition by various authors, owing probably to the vague definition. Toldt regarded the zygomaticomandibular muscle as a part of the temporal muscle. He overlooked the second superficial masseter after Yoshikawa et al. (1961). After all, inspite of the marvellous development of the modern anatomy, the muscular mass behind the zygomatic arch remains as