Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil changes induced by hardwood and coniferous tree plantations establishment: Comparison with natural forest soil at Berenjestanak lowland forest in north of Iran

Increasing urbanisation and industrialisation have led to a dramatic reduction in forest area, and now only culturally protected remnants of natural forests and some new plantations remain in most areas of the north of Iran. To investigate the status of the chemical and physical characteristics of soil under these remnant forests and assess the possible impacts of reforestation on soil properties in the plantation forests, soils at 0-10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths were sampled from four tree plantations 22 years of age and it covers 42ha, composed of Pinus brutia L. , Populus nigra L. , Acer velutinum Boiss and Fraaxinus excelsior L. species, which is located in the South of town of Ghaemshahr in Berenjestanak lowland forest in the North of Iran, where there was remnant natural forest, and soil pHKcl and pHH2O, total nitrogen, soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg and K) contents and saturation moisture were determined. Results showed that the amount of SOM of the first layer of the soil profiles in all forest types was greater than the other two layers. Furthermore, Soil pH was significantly lower in Pinus brutia L. plantation than the other forest types at 0-10 cm of soil depth. A positive value for ∆pH demonstrate the presence of negatively charged clay colloids and the cation exchange capacity is higher than the anion exchange capacity . Soil exchangeable K and Ca contents were significantly lower under plantation forests than under natural forest in all layers, whereas exchangeable Mg contents showed little difference between types of forests. Moreover, contents of all exchangeable cations except Mg showed a significant decrease with depth. The value of soil moisture in the topsoil was higher than in the subsoil in all the categories of the natural forests and the tree plantation studied. The comparison indicated that the tree plantation conducted in this region must be forwarded to mixed forest under tending operations instead of monoculture to enhance and improve soil physicochemical statues.
Importance and Quantification of Plant Tolerance in Crop Pest Management Programs for Aphids: Greenbug Resistance in Sorghum '

Selected papers dealing with the tolerance mechanism of host plant resistance to aphid species in crop plants have been critically reviewed herein. Some of the researchers employed techniques that were incorrect.1y assumed to be measuring tolerance. In other research, no attempt was made to separate tolerance and antibiosis components, while in other research the effect of variation in plant biomass on tolerance expressed among cultivars was not considered. After testing a series of analysis of covariance models, as well as several other techniques, a new model for assessing tolerance to the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Hendani), in sorghum was developed. This new model is independent of antibiosis effects and is a combination of three different techniques, with the greatest importance placed on the slope described by the relationship between infested and control seedling weights at the end of the experiment.
Learnability and semantic universals

One of the great successes of the application of generalized quantifiers to natural language has been the ability to formulate robust semantic universals. When such a universal is attested, the question arises as to the source of the universal. In this paper, we explore the hypothesis that many semantic universals arise because expressions satisfying the universal are easier to learn than those that do not. While the idea that learnability explains universals is not new, explicit accounts of learning that can make good on this hypothesis are few and far between. We propose a model of learning — back-propagation through a recurrent neural network — which can make good on this promise. In particular, we discuss the universals of monotonicity, quantity, and conservativity and perform computational experiments of training such a network to learn to verify quantifiers. Our results are able to explain monotonicity and quantity quite well. We suggest that conservativity may have a different source than the other universals. EARLY ACCESS
To what extent could acute general psychiatric day care reduce inpatient admissions

Background: Percentage reduction of inpatient admissions by acute general psychiatric day care in individual facilities (i.e. feasibility rate of acute day care) seems to be an important parameter for service planning. Previously reported feasibility rates showed significant variation, however, and were based on eligibility criteria defined for randomized controlled trials. This paper aims to perform an in-depth exploration of the calculation method of these feasibility rates, to propose different calculation methods expanding research definitions to the reality of service provision, and to analyze the association between the availability of residential services in regional mental health service systems and these rates. Methods: Data from the randomization process of the European Day Hospital Evaluation (EDEN) study in which a total of 1117 patients were included in five sites provided the basis to calculate site-specific and overall rates of patients for whom this mode of treatment might be adequate. Sensitivity analyses were carried out by varying the selection of patients’ eligibility criteria and thus calculating different feasibility estimates. Data on the regional mental health care systems were collected by use of the European Service Mapping Schedule. Results: The use of four different calculation methods showed that site-specific feasibility rates of acute day care for general psychiatric patients varied from 13.8% to 25.7% up to 44.1% to 79.0%. Overall rates varied from 17.3% up to 67.7%, respectively. The high values were calculated under a scenario where the current acute day care model of care is enhanced to manage more complicated patients than currently treated under existing acute day care models. In three out of the four calculation methods higher rates were calculated for sites which demonstrated higher figures of residential services, and thus were less advanced in their process of deinstitutionalization. Conclusions: In order to determine the capacity of day hospitals as an alternative to acute psychiatric hospital care, mental health care planning must clearly decide on the eligibility criteria of patients to be treated in these facilities. Guided by such definitions, treatment concepts and professional qualifications of the staff in these facilities need to be adapted. The finding that less de-institutionalized regions may benefit most from a transition to acute day care as a means for promoting the transition to a community model of care for otherwise institutionalized patients must be assessed in more detail. Comprehensive research exploring the impact of all regional mental health service configuration characteristics on the concept of acute day care is needed.
Thermal and Magnetic Properties of Stress-Induced Martensites in Ni-Mn-Ga Alloys

The stress-induced transformation of single crystals of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic Heusler ordered alloys to new martensitic structures has been investigated. The intermartensitic transformations, whenever they occur, were registered during heating by calorimetry, dilatometry and magnetic susceptibility measurement, showing up a step-like strain recovery, small endothermal effects, and an abrupt change of the low-field magnetic susceptibility. During intermartensitic transformation to the parent austenitic phase, noticeable anomalous changes in the specific magnetization were observed
DGCR 8 is essential for microRNA biogenesis and silencing of embryonic stem cell self-renewal

The molecular controls that govern the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells remain poorly understood. DGCR8 is an RNA-binding protein that assists the RNase III enzyme Drosha in the processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), a subclass of small RNAs. Here we study the role of miRNAs in ES cell differentiation by generating a Dgcr8 knockout model. Analysis of mouse knockout ES cells shows that DGCR8 is essential for biogenesis of miRNAs. On the induction of differentiation, DGCR8-deficient ES cells do not fully downregulate pluripotency markers and retain the ability to produce ES cell colonies; however, they do express some markers of differentiation. This phenotype differs from that reported for Dicer1 knockout cells, suggesting that Dicer has miRNA-independent roles in ES cell function. Our findings indicate that miRNAs function in the silencing of ES cell self-renewal that normally occurs with the induction of differentiation.
Complete mitochondrial genome of the ornate rock lobster Panulirus ornatus (Crustacea: Decapoda)

The ornate rock lobster Panulirus ornatus is an important commercial lobster in the world. In this study, we successfully amplified and sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of P. ornatus . The DNA of P. ornatus is 15680 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 AT-rich non-coding region. The sequence arrangement of P. ornatus mitochondrial genome and the structures of 32 mitochondrial genes were analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses, using 13 protein-coding genes of the mitochondrial genome with Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods were performed. ML analysis showed that Pleocyemata could be separated into five groups: Caridea, Palinura, Astacidea, Anomura and Brachyura, while BI analysis showed that Achelata and Astacidea could be presented as a sister group. Both the results of BI and ML supported that P. ornatus and Panulirus stimpsoni group together to form a monophyletic clade presented as the sister group to Panulirus japonicus. Key words : Panulirus ornatus , mitochondrial genome, decapoda, phylogenetics.
Detection of Spatial and Temporal Trends in Wisconsin Lake Water Clarity Using Landsat-derived Estimates of Secchi Depth

Abstract The existence of large-scale spatial and temporal trends in Wisconsin's lake water clarity is a topic that has not been thoroughly investigated. This study is an effort to reliably detect these trends by utilizing three inventories of satellite-derived lake water clarity predictions for over 2,000 lakes statewide. The data were analyzed statistically on a statewide, regional, lake type, and lake area basis. Statistically significant trends in clarity were found for the state overall, as well as for particular U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ecoregions, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources hydrologic lake types, and lake area categories. Results will aid in the establishment of a statewide lake water clarity database and demonstrate the effectiveness of satellite-based assessments in detecting trends in water transparency over the past three decades and into the future. Documenting such trends is essential to targeting and evaluating lake management practices as well as raising public awareness of lake clarity conditions throughout the state.
Formulation of Language Teachers̕ Identity in the Situated Learning of Language Teaching Community of Practice

A community of practice may shape and reshape the identity of members of the community through providing them with situated learning or learning environment. This study, therefore, is to clarify the salient learning-based features of the language teaching community of practice that might formulate the identity of language teachers. To this end, the study examined how learning situations in two communities of practice (English and Arabic) developed the professional identity of language teachers. The results of the semi-structure interviews with 5 language teachers highlighted some differences between English and Arabic language teaching communities of practice in terms of the situated learning activities they provide for language teachers to develop their professional identity. Furthermore, since the community of practice can be considered a potential curriculum that may be learned by newcomers with legitimate peripheral access, it would be considered as a main source of identity formation of both English and Arabic language teachers. The findings of the study can be used to better understand the nature of being a professional language teacher in non-native contexts. They have implications for novice and experienced language teachers as well as for teacher educators to review the content of the teacher training courses
GROWTH AND LEVELS OF N, P AND K IN ROOTSTOCKS OF TAMARIND TREES USING ORGANIC SUBSTRATES AND DOSES OF PHOSPHORUS

The aim of this study was to evaluate different organic substrates and phosphorus doses on the growth and leaf content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in rootstocks of Tamarindus indica L. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse nursery located on the campus of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido (UFERSA), from March to October 2013. The treatments consisted of three organic sources at a concentration of 40% (v/v) (bovine manure, goat manure and a commercial organic compound) and four doses of simple superphosphate (0, 0 kg m-3, 2.5 kg m-3, 5.0 kg m-3 and 7.5 kg m-3). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD), with 12 treatments (substrates), four replications and 10 plants per plot, totaling 480 plants. The goat manure and the organic compound were the most suitable treatments for the production of rootstocks of the tamarind tree. The maximum dose of 7.5 g kg-1 of simple superphosphate caused the highest levels of phosphorus and potassium in the dry mass of shoots. The nutrients in the dry matter of shoots accumulated in the following order: N > K > P.
Aerosol properties in the atmospheres of extrasolar giant planets

We use a model of aerosol microphysics to investigate the impact of high-altitude photochemical aerosols on the transmission spectra and atmospheric properties of close-in exoplanets, such as HD209458b and HD189733b. The results depend strongly on the temperature profiles in the middle and upper atmosphere that are poorly understood. Nevertheless, our model of HD189733b, based on the most recently inferred temperature profiles, produces an aerosol distribution that matches the observed transmission spectrum. We argue that the hotter temperature of HD209458b inhibits the production of high-altitude aerosols and leads to the appearance of a more clear atmosphere than on HD189733b. The aerosol distribution also depends on the particle composition, the photochemical production, and the atmospheric mixing. Due to degeneracies among these inputs, current data cannot constrain the aerosol properties in detail. Instead, our work highlights the role of different factors in controlling the aerosol distribution that will prove useful in understanding different observations, including those from future missions. For the atmospheric mixing efficiency suggested by general circulation models (GCMs) we find that aerosol particles are small ($\sim$nm) and probably spherical. We further conclude that composition based on complex hydrocarbons (soots) is the most likely candidate to survive the high temperatures in hot Jupiter atmospheres. Such particles would have a significant impact on the energy balance of HD189733b's atmosphere and should be incorporated in future studies of atmospheric structure. We also evaluate the contribution of external sources in the photochemical aerosol formation and find that their spectral signature is not consistent with observations.
Positive definite functions on complex spheres and their walks through dimensions

We provide walks through dimensions for isotropic positive definite functions defined over complex spheres. We show that the analogues of Montee and Descente operators as proposed by Beatson and zu Castell [J. Approx. Theory 221 (2017), 22-37] on the basis of the original Matheron operator [Les variables regionalisees et leur estimation, Masson, Paris, 1965], allow for similar walks through dimensions. We show that the Montee operators also preserve, up to a constant, strict positive definiteness. For the Descente operators, we show that strict positive definiteness is preserved under some additional conditions, but we provide counterexamples showing that this is not true in general. We also provide a list of parametric families of (strictly) positive definite functions over complex spheres, which are important for several applications.
Monetary Stimulus and Bank Lending

In recent business cycle downturns, monetary policymakers worldwide have sought to stimulate their economies by conducting asset purchases. The U.S. Federal Reserve purchased both agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and Treasury (TSY) securities, which are generally thought to be comparable in credit quality and stimulative effects. This paper investigates the effect of such purchases on mortgage lending, commercial lending, and firm investment using micro-level data. We find that MBS and TSY purchases have asymmetric effects. In response to MBS purchases, banks that are active in the MBS market increase their mortgage origination market share, compared to other banks. At the same time, these banks reduce commercial lending. As a result, firms that borrow from these banks decrease investment. The effect of TSY purchases is either positive, as expected, or insignificant in most cases. Our results suggest different effects depending on the type of asset purchased, that MBS purchases cause distortionary effects across banks and firms, and that TSY purchases did not cause a large positive stimulus to the economy through the bank lending channel.
Information Properties of Generalized Order Statistics and Renyie Information

Our aim at this paper is to investigate properties of Shannon and REnyie entropy, Kullback-Leibler (K-L) information and mutual information of generalized order statistics (GOS). We show that discrimination information and Renyie information between distribution of GOS and parent distribution, the discrimination information among the GOS and the mutual information between GOS are all distribution free. We also discuss Renyie information properties of GOS . Some bounds for K-L information is constructed.
Simulated optical properties of gold nanocubes and nanobars by discrete dipole approximation

The absorption spectra for a gold nanocube and for a gold nanobar are calculated by using the Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA). The results show the excitation of a single albeit broad surface plasmon (SP) band of the gold nanocube. The extinction cross section of the gold nanocube is dominated by the absorption cross section that gains importance as the width increases. Further increasing the nanocube size beyond 80 nmwill result in an optical response mainly characterized by scattering properties. The absorption spectrum of the nanobar shows the excitation of both the longitudinal mode (LM) and the transverse mode (TM). The nanobar is also compared to a cylinder, a spherically capped cylinder, and a spheroid of the same aspect ratio. The band position of the TM of the nanobar is red-shifted as compared to the ones calculated for other morphologies, while the LM is either blue-shifted or red-shifted depending on the morphologies considered.
Compatibility of lead-free solders with lead containing surface finishes as a reliability issue in electronic assemblies

Enhanced performance goals and environmental restrictions have heightened the consideration for use of alternative solders as replacements for the traditional tin-lead (Sn-Pb) eutectic and near-eutectic alloys. However, the implementation of non-Pb bearing surface finishes may lag behind solder alloy development. A study was performed which examined the effect(s) of Pb contamination on the performance of Sn-Ag-Bi and Sn-Ag-Cu-Sb lead-free solders by the controlled addition of 63Sn-37Pb solder at levels of 0.5-8.0 Wt. %. Thermal analysis and ring-in-plug shear strength studies were conducted on bulk solder properties. Circuit board prototype studies centered on the performance of 20I/O SOIC gull wing joints. Both alloys exhibited declines in their melting temperatures with greater Sn-Pb additions. The ringing-plug shear strength of the Sn-Ag-Cu-Sb solder increased slightly with Sn-Pb levels while the Sn-Ag-Bi alloy experienced a strength loss. The mechanical behavior of the SOIC Sn-Ag-Bi solder joints reproduced the strength drop to Sn-Pb contamination; however, the strength levels were insensitive to 10,106 thermal cycles. The Sn-Ag-Cu-Sb solder showed a slight decrease in the gull wing joint strengths that was sensitive to the Pb content of the surface finish.
Developing Pragmatic Competence in an Instructed Setting: The Effectiveness of Pedagogical Intervention in Greek EFL Learners’ Request Production

Author(s): Economidou-Kogetsidis, Maria; Soteriadou, Louiza; Taxitari, Loukia | Abstract: Using a short pedagogical intervention, a pretest-posttest design and baseline data (L1 English), the present study examined the effects of explicit instruction on the use of internal and external modification in requests among Greek Cypriot EFL learners. The findings revealed a complex picture with mixed results. Even though external modification showed some positive effects after the intervention, the study revealed no gains in relation to the overall use of internal modification as the learners’ overall use of lexical/phrasal mitigators deviated even more from NS usage after the pedagogical treatment. We argue that, in relation to the learners’ pragmalinguistic performance, the results seem to confirm the fact that surrounding factors such as the duration, quantity and quality of the pedagogical intervention play a complex role in accounting for such mixed findings. Results further showed that the way learners perceived social reality was not affected by the instructional treatment. Our findings suggest that learners’ sociopragmatic development may not be as easily amenable to teaching as pragmalinguistic development. The development of L2 sociopragmatic awareness seems to need both longer explicit pedagogical instruction and rich exposure to the target language environment.
Absolutely pure modules

A module A is shown to be absolutely pure if and only if every finite consistent system of linear equations over A has a solution in A. Noetherian, semihereditary, regular and Prüfer rings are characterized according to properties of absolutely pure modules over these rings. For example, R is Noetherian if and only if every absolutely pure i? -module is injective and semihereditary if and only if the class of absolutely pure i? -modules is closed under homomorphic images. If R is a Prüfer domain, then the absolutely pure i? -modules are the divisible modules and Ext\t(M, A)=0 whenever A is divisible and M is a countably generated torsion-free . R-module.
Grid inductance estimation by reactive power perturbation for sensor-less scheme based on virtual flux

Use of renewable energy sources is raising for grid connected systems, for which higher power quality requirements are being issued. Monitoring the grid impedance ensure stable operation of the controller and proper connection and disconnection from the grid. Thus it is vital to know the value of grid or transformer distributed impedance in given time, instead assuming a constant value in controller. To overcome this problem an identification method based on perturbation of reactive power is proposed. The normally inductive character of the grid used together with synchronous frame current controller have cross coupling terms which are used in analysis. This method is suitable for use with virtual flux oriented control. It uses two current sensors and one dc link voltage sensor. Method enables maintain unity power factor not only at PCC but also further into the grid, including lines and transformer leakage inductance.