Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of severe storms in soil erosion : A problem needing consideration

The prediction of soil erosion and the design of conservation management practices for the control of erosion are based on long-term average precipitation patterns. However, soil erosion losses are often dominat ed by a few severe storms of high intensity and high precipitation amounts. These rare storms show possible weakness in our design of conservation management systems. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) (Wischmeier and Smith 1978) was developed to predict long-term average erosion amounts from cultivated fields for use in conservation planning. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) (Renard et al. 1991) has the same form as the USLE but includes a number of subfactors to the main factors. The extensive database used to develop the USLE also supports RUSLE. Significant additions to the original database improve the versatility and application of RUSLE compared to the USLE (Renard et al. 1994). The C factor in RUSLE, which divides the year into bimonthly intervals and recalculates soil loss ratios for every tillage operation, is more sensitive to variations in canopy cover, surface residue, and surface roughness than is USLE. The K factor is also adjusted to account for seasonal changes such as freezing and thawing, soil moisture …
How to compute the land cover evapotranspiration at regional scale? A spatial approach of Emilia-Romagna region

The Earth is rapidly changing in both its climate and its land distribution. The numerous methods from the literature show various possibilities to assess the crop evapotranspiration and evaporation rate, both with direct measurements and empirical formulas. The present paper brings forward a methodology that demonstrates how to compute the potential land cover evapotranspiration (ET c ) at regional scale using climate data from 13 meteorological stations, empirical equations, Corine Land Cover data, and the Geographical Information System (GIS). Based on Thornthwaite method and evapotranspiration coefficients, the study assesses the ET c of Emilia-Romagna region in four stages. Moreover, the Budyko approach was applied to calculate the actual evapotraspiration (AET 0 ) and actual land cover evapotranspiration (AET c ) to identify the critical areas of water deficit. Po Plain represents an area with high evapotranspiration rate, due to temperatures and cultivation patterns. A value of 778.87 mm/year at Ferrara station was calculated for the potential evapotranspiration (ET 0 ), while the ET c ranging to 800-1000 mm/year in the central and northeastern part of the region. The AET c reached the maximum values of724 mm in the southcentral part of the Emilia-Romagna
Impact of burning e-waste on soil physicochemical properties and soil microorganisms.

Aims: To investigate the impact of burning e-waste on soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties at sub-surface. Study Design: Soil samples from six different spots were collected at a depth of 0–6 cm from e-waste dumpsite where e-waste are burnt to disposed them. The samples were then mixed together to give a general view of the impact of burning the e-waste on the dumpsite soil. The soil sample was then subjected to physicochemical for soil e-waste. Methodology: The organic carbon and organic matter were determined using gravimetric techniques, nitrogen was determined using kjeldhal methods, exchangeable bases were determined using flame emission spectrometry and EDTA classical methods titration, heavy metals determination in soil samples were estimated using atomic absorption spectrometer (ASS) and the microbiological analyses were carried out using standard methods. Results: Burning of e-waste increased the moisture content, organic matter, organic carbon, organic nitrogen, exchangeable bases (with the exception of calcium and sodium) and all the heavy metals assessed as compared to soil without e-waste. The concentration of the heavy metals in e-waste soil is Pb>Zn>Mn>Ni>Co>Cr>Cd while the concentration in soil without e-waste is However, decreased were observed in the pH and organic phosphorus of the e-waste soil. Furthermore, eight microorganisms were isolated from soil of e-waste dumpsite where e-waste is burnt while five microorganisms were isolated from soil without e-waste. The bacterial population ranged from 1.68x10 7 –1.92x10 7 cfu/ml while the fungi population ranged from 1.0x10 5 –2.0x10 5 sfu/ml. The genera of microorganisms isolated were; Bacillus, Proteus, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, Candida, Zoopage, Articulospora and Varicosporium . Conclusion: The formation of substances such as ash and charred matter due to burning might improve soil properties. On the other hand the burning leads to increase in the soil’s heavy metals, which might become toxic to organisms in the soil if their permissible level is surpassed. This causes environmental pollution and therefore it is useful to study the impact of e-waste burning on soil properties. Moreover, it is important to consider a recycling strategy in order to protect the soil and its living organisms from harsh process of burning e-waste.
Thermoelectric Properties of Ag-doped SnSe Microwires and Layers

The thermoelectric properties of single-crystal layers and polycrystalline glass-insulated microwires made of Ag-doped SnSe in a temperature range of 90–300 K are studied. SnSeAg0.01 single crystals are grown by the vertical Bridgman method from a stoichiometric melt. A 35-μm-thick single-crystal layer is formed by the exfoliation method at a low temperature; glass-insulated polycrystalline microwires with different diameters of 39–141 μm are prepared by the Ulitovsky technique. The power factor of all the samples at room temperature has a value of 15–18 μW cm−1 K−2, which monotonically decreases with decreasing temperature. According to the measured thermoelectric power, all the samples exhibit n-type conductivity.
The MAP Metric in Information Retrieval Fault Localization

The MAP (Mean Average Precision) metric is one of the most popular performance metrics in the field of Information Retrieval Fault Localization (IRFL). However, there are problematic implementations of this MAP metric used in IRFL research. These implementations deviate from the text book definitions of MAP, rendering the metric sensitive to the truncation of retrieval results and inaccuracies and impurities of the used datasets. The application of such a deviating metric can lead to performance overestimation. This can pose a problem for comparability, transferability, and validity of IRFL performance results. In this paper, we discuss the definition and mathematical properties of MAP and common deviations and pitfalls in its implementation. We investigate and discuss the conditions enabling such overestimation: the truncation of retrieval results in combination with ground truths spanning multiple files and improper handling of undefined AP results. We demonstrate the overestimation effects using the Bench4BL benchmark and five well known IRFL techniques. Our results indicate that a flawed implementation of the MAP metric can lead to an overestimation of the IRFL performance, in extreme cases by up to 70 %. We argue for a strict adherence to the text book version of MAP with the extension of undefined AP values to be set to 0 for all IRFL experiments. We hope that this work will help to improve comparability and transferability in IRFL research.
Novel Design and Implementation of a Neuromuscular Controller on a Hip Exoskeleton for Partial Gait Assistance

Exoskeletons intended for partial assistance of walking should be able to follow the gait pattern of their users, via online adaptive control strategies rather than imposing predefined kinetic or kinematic profiles. NeuroMuscular Controllers (NMCs) are adaptive strategies inspired by the neuromuscular modeling methods that seek to mimic and replicate the behavior of the human nervous system and skeletal muscles during gait. This study presents a novel design of a NMC, applied for the first time to partial assistance hip exoskeletons. Rather than the two-phase (stance/swing) division used in previous designs for the modulation of reflexes, a 5-state finite state machines is designed for gait phase synchronisation. The common virtual muscle model is also modified by assuming a stiff tendon, allowing for a more analytical computation approach for the muscle state resolution. As a first validation, the performance of the controller was tested with 9 healthy subjects walking at different speeds and slopes on a treadmill. The generated torque profiles show similarity to biological torques and optimal assistance profiles in the literature. Power output profiles of the exoskeleton indicate good synchronization with the users' intended movements, reflected in predominantly positive work by the assistance. The results also highlight the adaptability of the controller to different users and walking conditions, without the need for extensive parameter tuning.
CHARACTERISING THE GEOMECHANICS PROPERTIES OF THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS FOR THE DGR EXCAVATIONS

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is currently conducting site characterization program for a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for the long-term management of operational Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Wastes at the Bruce Nuclear site near Tiverton, Ontario. The proposed repository will be located at approximately 680 m depth in a sedimentary sequence of carbonates, shales and evaporites. The host horizon will comprise argillaceous limestones of Cobourg Formation underlain by the Sherman Fall Formation. To support the understanding of the geomechanical properties of Paleozoic bedrock formations in southern Ontario and the regional rock stress conditions around the Michigan Basin, information from over 700 geomechanical test measurements collected at 29 sites and in-situ stress measurements from 25 sites in southern Ontario and northern U.S. were assembled and reviewed.
Complexity Reduction of ANN Model for CU Size Selection in HEVC

In HEVC compression is performed in Coding Units (CUs) being pixel blocks of a size adaptively chosen according to the local content within a video frame. Nearoptimum selection of the frame partition into CUs is crucial for the coding efficiency. A huge number of partitioning schemes is available and the optimum partitioning scheme is obtained in an iterative computation-heavy procedure in a classic HEVC encoder. In order to reduce the encoding time and the encoding energy, a few approaches have been proposed with the use of neural networks (NNs). These approaches demonstrate a significant reduction of the encoding time and a negligible increase of the bitrate as compared to the traditional iterative approach. Nevertheless, they use very large neural networks whereas it is demonstrated in this paper that much smaller neural networks provide similar results encoding tome reduction with the similar bitrate reduction.
Redox Biology

Oxysterols are critical regulators of inflammation and cholesterol metabolism in cells. They are oxidation products of cholesterol and may be differentially metabolised in subcellular compartments and in biological fluids. New analytical methods are needed to improve our understanding of oxysterol trafficking and the molecular interplay between the cellular compartments required to maintain cholesterol/oxysterol homeostasis. Here we describe a method for isolation of oxysterols using solid phase extraction and quantification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, applied to tissue, cells and mitochondria. We analysed five monohydroxysterols; 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 27-hydro-xycholesterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7 ketocholesterol and three dihydroxysterols 7α-24(S)dihydrox-ycholesterol, 7α-25dihydroxycholesterol, 7α-27dihydroxycholesterol by LC-MS/MS following reverse phase chromatography. Our new method, using Triton and DMSO extraction, shows improved extraction efficiency and recovery of oxysterols from cellular matrix. We validated our method by reproducibly measuring oxysterols in mouse brain tissue and showed that mice fed a high fat diet had significantly lower levels of 24S/25diOHC, 27diOHC and 7ketoOHC. We measured oxysterols in mitochondria from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and highlight the importance of rapid cell isolation to minimise effects of handling and storage conditions on oxy-sterol composition in clinical samples. In addition, in vitro cell culture systems, of THP-1 monocytes and neuronal-like SH-SH5Y cells, showed mitochondrial-specific oxysterol metabolism and profiles were lineage specific. In summary, we describe a robust and reproducible method validated for improved recovery, quantitative linearity and detection, reproducibility and selectivity for cellular oxysterol analysis. This method enables sub-cellular oxysterol metabolism to be monitored and is versatile in its application to various biological and clinical samples.
Follow-up care after metabolic surgery – a prospective study in Follow-up care after metabolic surgery – a prospective study in the North-Eastern region of Romania the North-Eastern region of Romania

Background . Anti-obesity therapeutic strategies are continuously evolving. Bariatric procedures or metabolic surgery are among the most effective and long-lasting therapies for obesity and its complications. Our objective was to investigate the clinical and biological evolution after metabolic surgery in a group of patients from North-Eastern Romania and to evaluate a nutritional intervention plan for this population. Materials and Methods . Our clinic surveyed 50 patients who received nutritional counselling before and after bariatric surgery. The patient's weight loss, metabolic markers, and lifestyle changes from January to December 2021 were recorded. SPSS Statistics v.18 was used for statistical analyses. Results and Discussions . Patients had a mean age of 37.70 ± 11.38 years, with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 42.98 ± 6.12 kg/m2. One month after surgery, longitudinal gastrectomy patients lost 12.6 kg (114.33 ± 19.26 vs 101.73±17.27 kg), and gastric bypass patients lost 10.86 kg (119.33 ± 20.83 vs 108.47±17.96 kg). Body composition improved in the first six months after the intervention due to adipose (mean value 37.83±6.42 from 46.38±6.63) and visceral (mean value 8.50 ± 4.42 from 13.72±5.67) tissues decrease. Muscle tissue increased from 35.54±12.63 to a mean value of 39.95±17.96. HbA1c values improved from 5.90±0.63% to 5.30±0.30% in the first month after the intervention. The nutritional intervention was safe without significant deficits after 1 and 6 months. Conclusions . Metabolic surgery is associated with a weight loss of 10.8 to 12.6 kg and improved body composition. Patients require follow-up and further dietary counseling to sustain long-term results.
anasto-Endoscopic full-thickness resection for T1 early rectal cancer: a case series and video report

Background and study aims Endoscopic treatment of malignant colorectal polyps is often challenging, especially for early rectal cancer (ERC) localized close to the dentate line. Conversely, the surgical approach may result in temporary or definitive stoma and in frequent post-surgical complications. The Full-Thickness Resection Device (FTRD ® ) System (Ovesco Endoscopy, Tübingen, Germany) is a novel system that, besides having other indications, appears to be promising for wall-thickness excision of intestinal T1 carcinoma following incomplete endoscopic resection. However, follow-up data on patients treated with this device are scarce, particularly for ERC. Patients and methods Six consecutive patients with incomplete endoscopic resection of T1-ERC were treated with the FTRD and their long-term outcomes were evaluated based on a detailed clinical and instrumental assessment. Results The endoscopic en bloc full-thickness resection was technically feasible in all patients. The histopathologic analysis showed a complete endoscopic resection in all cases, and a full-thickness excision in four. Neither complications, nor disease recurrence were observed during the 1-year follow-up period.
Effects of Fine-Scale Topography on CO2 Flux Components of Alaskan Coastal Plain Tundra: Response to Contrasting Growing Seasons

Abstract Arctic regions hold considerable reservoirs of soil organic carbon. However, most of this carbon is in a potential labile state, and expected changes in temperature and water availability could strongly affect the carbon balance of tundra ecosystems. Plant community composition and soil carbon are closely tied to microtopography and position relative to the water table. We evaluated CO2 fluxes and moss contribution to ecosystem photosynthesis in response to fine-scale topography across a drained lake bed in Barrow, Alaska, during two contrasting growing seasons. CO2 exchange was assessed through static chamber measurements in three vegetation classes distinguished by plant dominance and topographic position within low-centered polygons. Gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) were the lowest under high soil moisture conditions in 2006. ER responded more strongly to wet conditions, resulting in a larger summer sink in 2006 than in 2005 (64 vs. 17g CO2 m−2, respectively). Microsites responded differently to contrasting weather conditions. Low elevation microsites presented a strong reduction in ER as a result of increased water availability. A maximum of 48% of daytime GPP and 33% of seasonal daytime GPP was contributed by moss on average across microtopographic positions. The interaction between fine-scale microtopography and variation in temperature and water availability can result in considerable differences in CO2 sink activity of the polygonal tundra.
PATTERNS OF STRATEGIC CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, AND PERFORMANCE: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CALIFORNIA HOSPITALS.

Strategic management has been defined as a process that aligns organizations with their environments. This implicitly assumes that managers actually change strategies. However, based on observations of 400 hospitals over eleven years, this paper finds that major strategic changes are infrequent, associated with major environmental changes, and more common among low-performing organizations.
Towards a Physiological Modeling of Sweet Cherry Blossom

For several years, there has been a need in phenological modeling to better account for physiological processes during the winter dormancy of woody plants, which is here addressed to the sweet cherry cultivar ‘Summit’ (Prunus avium L.). This study compares three sequential phenology models (M1–M3) for the beginning of ‘Summit’ blossom in the experimental sweet cherry orchard in Berlin-Dahlem (Germany) between 2011/12–2019/20 (model development) and 2020/21–2022/23 (model validation). M1 represents an inverse modeling approach where the chilling and forcing requirements of ‘Summit’ were optimized solely from observed flowering data. In contrast, M2 and M3 are more physiologically based as they already incorporate biological knowledge, so that the model parameters were calculated directly within the specified developmental phases. Here, M2 is a two-phase model that considers experimental data for the date of endodormancy release (t1) of nine years (2011/12–2019/20) to calculate the chilling and forcing requirements. Finally, M3 is a newly developed three-phase model that additionally includes the onset of ontogenetic development (t1*) and the abscisic acid (ABA) content of ‘Summit’ flower buds during the ecodormancy phase (t1 − t1*). The results indicate that the inclusion of ABA-related heat weighting during ecodormancy significantly improves the performance of M3 compared to M1 and M2. While M1 gives satisfactory results in terms of fit and validation, it is considered physiologically unacceptable as it greatly overestimates the chilling requirement of ‘Summit’ by ignoring the ecodormancy phase. M2 accumulates too much heat during ecodormancy as it does not include control by the bud ABA content. The results highlight the need for parameters such as t1, t1*, and the bud ABA content for the physiological modeling of ‘Summit’ blossom. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide a pathway towards a physiologically based modeling approach.
Lasting Enhancements in Neural E�ciency by Multi-session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Working Memory Training

12 The neural basis for long-term behavioral improvement resulting from multi-session transcranial 13 direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with working memory training (WMT) remains unclear. 14 In this study, we used task-related electroencephalography (EEG) measures to investigate the lasting 15 neurophysiological effects of anodal high-definition (HD)-tDCS applied over the left dorsolateral 16 prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) during a challenging WMT. Thirty-four healthy young adults were 17 randomized to sham or active tDCS groups and underwent ten 30-minute training sessions over ten 18 consecutive days, preceded by a pre-test and followed by post-tests performed one day and three weeks 19 after the last session, respectively, by performing high-load WM tasks along with EEG recording. 20 Multi-session HD-tDCS significantly enhanced the behavioral benefits of WMT. Compared to the 21 sham group, the active group showed facilitated increases in theta, alpha, and beta task-related 22 oscillations at the end of training and significantly increased P300 response 3 weeks post-training. Our 23 results suggest that anodal tDCS over the left dlPFC during multi-session WMT enhances the 24 behavioral benefits of WMT and facilitates a sustained improvement in WM-related neural efficiency.
Walkable Urban Environments: An Ergonomic Approach of Evaluation

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the need to create active environments, able to promote physical activity of people, according to their ability. Objective; This paper describes a new tool curried out to meaasure the relationship between the characteristics of urban space and its salutogenicity, intended as its ability to address population toward healthy lifestyles. Salutogenity has been read in terms of ergonomics of urban space. Method: The tool includes a set of 67 parameters, classified in needs, requirements and performance. It focuses on three requirements: usability, wellbeing and safety. The related performances are measured by a set of 29 indicators, divided in 5 categories (natural elements, built environment, mobility, urban furniture and perceived environment). To calibrate the tool, it was applied to 10 neighborhoods of Rieti city. To take into account the relationship between the variables, a causal network (Bayesian network) was applied. Findings: The average value of ergonomics of Rieti city, obtained applying the discrete bayesian model is 44.25%. Using the network, it is evident that by intervening on one node, the information requested expands to all the other nodes to which it is connected directly or indirectly, showing all the possible related factors. Conclusions: By using the tool and the discrete bayesian network it was possible to focus on the realities requiring analysis and to indicate the areas where the first interventions would be useful to increase the value of the analyzed nodes and, consequently, to improve the urban salutogenicity.