Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil carbon sequestration and aggregation by cover cropping

Agriculture is the foundation of human civilization. Transition from hunter-gatherer to settled agriculture, as evidenced by the use of crude implements for tilling and harvesting, may have occurred in modern day Iraq and elsewhere around 11,000 years ago (Troeh et al. 2004). The beneficial role of growing cover crops in improving soil productivity had been recognized for at least three millennia and probably longer. Use of cover crops as green manure had been advocated in most ancient cultures (e.g., Indus Valley and Middle East) to improve soil fertility. In China, for example, use of cover cropping dates back to the Zhou dynasty 3,000 years ago (Lipman 1912; Pieters 1927; Meisinger et al. 1991). Cato, a Roman philosopher during the 3rd century BC, advocated the use of green manure and compost to improve soil productivity (Winiwater 2006; Brevik and Hartemink 2010). By the 4th century AD, grain yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Rome declined drastically due to the lack of cover cropping and were hardly 270 to 400 kg ha−1 (4 to 6 bu ac−1), and that of barley (Hordeum vulgare) were only 220 to 320 kg ha−1 (195.8 to 285.1 lb ac−1; Paine and Harrison 1993). Therefore, during 395…
Simple and compositional reification of monadic embedded languages

When writing embedded domain specific languages in Haskell, it is often convenient to be able to make an instance of the Monad class to take advantage of the do-notation and the extensive monad libraries. Commonly it is desirable to compile such languages rather than just interpret them. This introduces the problem of monad reification, i.e. observing the structure of the monadic computation. We present a solution to the monad reification problem and illustrate it with a small robot control language. Monad reification is not new but the novelty of our approach is in its directness, simplicity and compositionality.
Renewal of the Neurophysiology of Language : Functional Neuroimaging

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , December 12, 2007; 27 (50): 13762-13769. J. Neurosci. J. Abutalebi, S. M. Brambati, J.-M. Annoni, A. Moro, S. F. Cappa and D. Perani Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Bilinguals The Neural Cost of the Auditory Perception of Language Switches: An Event-Related [PDF] [Abstract] , February 1, 2008; 14 (1): 119-127. Neuroscientist D. Ben Shalom and D. Poeppel Functional Anatomic Models of Language: Assembling the Pieces [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , February 27, 2008; 0 (2008): bhn018v1-bhn018. Cereb Cortex M. Bedny, M. McGill and S. L. Thompson-Schill Semantic Adaptation and Competition during Word Comprehension [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , March 1, 2008; 131 (3): 866-876. Brain M. Silvennoinen, J. Erkkila, M. Laine, I. Peretz and M. Hietanen T. Sarkamo, M. Tervaniemi, S. Laitinen, A. Forsblom, S. Soinila, M. Mikkonen, T. Autti, H. stroke Music listening enhances cognitive recovery and mood after middle cerebral artery [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , March 1, 2008; 20 (3): 406-420. J. Cogn. Neurosci. A. Bick, G. Goelman and R. Frost Neural correlates of morphological processes in hebrew.
Quality assessment of Ground water at Agra district, India

A water quality analysis was carried out in Agra city for the evaluation of the current status of physico-chemical contaminants and their sources in groundwater. Groundwater samples were obtained from fifteen different sampling stations in Agra city. The results were compared with standards prescribed by CPCB and BIS. Different parameters were analyzed that are pH, alkalinity, turbidity, TDS, total hardness and chlorides. The sampling sites showed that the physicochemical parameters were within the water quality standards and the quality of water was found to be fit for drinking purposes.
A CAUTIONARY TALE: RAZOR SHELLS, ACORN BARNACLES AND PALAEOECOLOGY

Abstract: The extant, introduced razor shell Ensis americanus (Binney) is a burrowing inhabitant of sandy, shallow‐water substrates off the North Sea and Wadden Sea coasts of The Netherlands and adjacent areas. Three articulated shells with broken valves, collected from the strandline at Zandvoort, Noord‐Holland, in April 2006 have dense skeletozoan infestations of the barnacle Balanus crenatus Brugière on the outer and inner surfaces of all valves. Such infestations must have occurred after death of the bivalve, decomposition of the soft tissues (but not the ligament) and disinterment of the shells. Larvae of B. crenatus settle in the spring, suggesting that these infestations are perhaps less than a year old, and testifying to the post‐mortem persistence of the ligament and the density of skeletozoan infestation after a geologically brief duration. Such specimens would be a palaeoecological conundrum if fossilized; however, the ligament is likely to rot before final burial and the valves break further. Fossil specimens would probably be interpreted as valves that became encrusted on their inner and outer surfaces (balanuliths) during a long post‐disarticulation residence on the sea floor.
Presurgical Functional Cortical Mapping Using Electromagnetic Source Imaging

Preoperative localization of functionally eloquent cortex (functional cortical mapping) is common clinical practice in order to avoid or reduce postoperative morbidity. This review aims at providing a general overview of magnetoencephalography (MEG) and high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) based methods and their clinical role as compared to common alternatives for functional cortical mapping of (1) verbal language function, (2) sensorimotor cortex, (3) memory, (4) visual, and (5) auditory cortex. We highlight strengths, weaknesses and limitations of these functional cortical mapping modalities based on findings in the recent literature. We also compare their performance relative to other non-invasive functional cortical mapping methods, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and to invasive methods like the intracarotid Amobarbital Test (WADA-Test) or intracranial investigations.
A study on some efficient parameters in batch fermentation of ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevesiae SC 1 extracted from fermented siahe sardasht pomace

Siahe sardasht grape is famous variety of grape in Iran that is used for red grape juice concentrate. The pomace of this grape (as byproduct of fruit juice concentrate industry) is a favorable medium for growth of all type of yeasts. The ethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevesiae SC1 extracted from fermented siahe sardasht grape pomace was studied in batch fermentation. The best ethanol production rates are observed at pH 4.5, temperature 32°C and sugar concentration equal to 100 g/L. According to the results, KH2PO4 is a better phosphorous source in comparison with K2HPO4, and (NH4)2SO4 is the best nitrogen source.
Gas6 Attenuates Sepsis-Induced Tight Junction Injury and Vascular Endothelial Hyperpermeability via the Axl/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Vascular endothelial functional dysregulation and barrier disruption are involved the initiation and development of sepsis. Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), one of the endogenous ligands of TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk), is confirmed to have beneficial functions in hemostasis, inflammation, and cancer growth. Here, we demonstrated the protective effects of Gas6 on multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in sepsis and the underlying mechanisms. We investigated Gas6-ameliorated MODS by inhibiting vascular endothelial hyperpermeability in a mouse model of sepsis. Additionally, in vitro, under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vascular endothelial cells, Gas6 attenuated vascular endothelial hyperpermeability by reinforcing the tight junction proteins occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and claudin5. Furthermore, Gas6 substantially suppressed NF-κB p65 activation. In addition, blocking the Gas6 receptor, Axl, partially reduced the protective effect of Gas6 on the vascular endothelial barrier and diminished the inhibitive effect of Gas6 on NF-κB p65 activation. Taken together, this study suggests that Gas6 has a protective effect on MODS in sepsis by inhibiting the vascular endothelial hyperpermeability and alteration of tight junction and that the Axl/NF-κB signaling pathway underlies these effects.
Huskie Commons Huskie Commons

Body size, and, by extension, growth has impacts on physiology, survival, attainment of sexual maturity, fecundity, generation time, and population dynamics, especially in ectotherm animals that often exhibit extensive growth following attainment of sexual maturity. Frequently, growth is analyzed at the population level, providing useful population mean growth parameters but ignoring individual variation that is also of ecological and evolutionary significance. Our long-term study of Lake Erie Watersnakes, Nerodia sipedon insularum , provides data sufficient for a detailed analysis of population and individual growth. We describe population mean growth separately for males and females based on size of known age individuals (847 captures of 769 males, 748 captures of 684 females) and annual growth increments of individuals of unknown age (1,152 males, 730 females). We characterize individual variation in asymptotic size based on repeated measurements of 69 males and 71 females that were each captured in five to nine different years. The most striking result of our analyses is that asymptotic size varies dramatically among individuals, ranging from 631 – 820 mm snout-vent length in males and from 835 – 1125 mm in females. Because female fecundity increases with increasing body size, we explore the impact of individual variation in asymptotic size on life-time reproductive success using a range of realistic estimates of annual survival. When all females commence reproduction at the same age, lifetime reproductive success is greatest for females with greater asymptotic size regardless of annual survival. But when reproduction is delayed in females with
Shoaling internal solitary waves

[1] The evolution and breaking of internal solitary waves in a shallow upper layer as they approach a constant bottom slope is examined through laboratory experiments. The waves are launched in a two-layer fluid through the standard lock-release method. In most experiments, the wave amplitude is significantly larger than the depth of the shallow upper layer so that they are not well described by Korteweg-de Vries theory. The dynamics of the shoaling waves are characterized by the Iribarren number, Ir, which measures the ratio of the topographic slope to the square root of the characteristic wave slope. This is used to classify breaking regimes as collapsing, plunging, surging, and nonbreaking for increasing values of Ir. For breaking waves, the maximum interface descent, Hi⋆, is predicted to depend upon the topographic slope, s, and the incident wave's amplitude and width, Asw and Lsw, respectively, as Hi⋆≃4sAswLsw. This prediction is corroborated by our experiments. Likewise, we apply simple heuristics to estimate the speed of interface descent, and we characterize the speed and range of the consequent upslope flow of the lower layer after breaking has occurred.
The relationship between corporate governance and firm performance: An empirical analysis of Indonesian companies

The goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance practices, as indicated by the Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) scores, and key performance indicators (ROA, ROE, EPS) of publicly-listed Indonesian firms. Utilizing a panel data set comprising 112 Indonesian firms across various sectors, both fixed and random effects models were employed to discern the effects of corporate governance on firm performance. The dataset spanned five years, resulting in a total of 560 observations. The findings revealed a positive and statistically significant correlation between superior governance practices and enhanced firm performance. Specifically, a one-unit increase in the CGPI Score corresponded with increases in ROA, ROE, and EPS, even after controlling for variables such as firm size and industry type. Corporate governance plays a pivotal role in influencing the financial performance of Indonesian firms. Firms adhering to higher governance standards showcased better performance metrics, underscoring the strategic importance of robust governance mechanisms in the Indonesian business landscape. The results hold significant implications for Indonesian businesses, investors, and policymakers. Effective governance practices not only serve as a beacon for potential investors but also position firms for sustained growth and stakeholder trust in an increasingly competitive and interconnected global economy.
On the frequency dependence and spatial coherence of PKP precursor amplitudes

Studies now agree that small‐scale (∼10 km) weak (∼0.1%) velocity perturbations throughout the lowermost mantle generate the globally averaged amplitudes of 1 Hz precursors to the core phase, PKP. The possible frequency dependence and spatial coherence of this scattered phase, however, has been given less attention. Using a large global data set of ∼150,000 PKP precursor recordings, we characterize the frequency dependence of PKP precursors at central frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 4 Hz. At greater frequencies, we observe more scattered energy (relative to the reference phase PKPdf), particularly at shorter ranges. We model this observation by invoking heterogeneity at length scales from 2 to 30 km. Amplitudes at 0.5 Hz, in particular, suggest the presence of more heterogeneity at scales >8 km than present in previously published models. Using a regional bootstrap approach, we identify large (>20°), spatially coherent regions of anomalously strong scattering beneath the West Pacific, Central/North America, and—to a lesser extent—East Africa. Finally, as proof of concept, we use array processing techniques to locate the origin of scattered energy observed in Southern California by the Anza and Southern California Seismic Networks. The energy appears to come primarily from out‐of‐plane scattering on the receiver side. We suggest that such improvised arrays can increase global coverage and may reveal whether a majority of precursor energy comes from localized heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle.
Journal of Geophysical Research : Atmospheres The Superstatistical Nature and Interoccurrence Time of Atmospheric Mercury Concentration Fluctuations

The probability density function (PDF) of the time intervals between subsequent extreme events in atmospheric Hg0 concentration data series from different latitudes has been investigated. The Hg0 dynamic possesses a long-term memory autocorrelation function. Above a fixed threshold Q in the data, the PDFs of the interoccurrence time of the Hg0 data are well described by a Tsallis q-exponential function. This PDF behavior has been explained in the framework of superstatistics, where the competition between multiple mesoscopic processes affects the macroscopic dynamics. An extensive parameter μ, encompassing all possible fluctuations related to mesoscopic phenomena, has been identified. It follows a χ2 distribution, indicative of the superstatistical nature of the overall process. Shuffling the data series destroys the long-term memory, the distributions become independent of Q, and the PDFs collapse on to the same exponential distribution. The possible central role of atmospheric turbulence on extreme events in the Hg0 data is highlighted.
Progressive Feature Interleaved Fusion Network for Remote-Sensing Image Salient Object Detection

Salient object detection (SOD) has made significant strides in natural scene images (NSIs) in the span of the past few decades. However, extending these approaches for remote-sensing images (RSIs) faces challenges due to their complex backgrounds, complicated edges, irregular topology, and multiscale object variations, which hinder performance. Existing RSI-SOD techniques are unable to accurately detect salient objects while preserving detailed boundaries, and their computational inefficiency limits their practicality. To overcome these challenges, we entail the development of a progressive feature interleaved framework (PROFILE) in RSI-SOD. In particular, we leverage the interleaved association of the convolutional neural network (CNN) and Transformer (IACTer) to obtain global semantic relations and spatial details. To handle object scale variation, we design a lightweight plug-and-play multiscale hierarchical channel-spatial collaborative feature enhancement module (MHCCF), which can boost the representation of features regarding the relevant region, while identifying the precise location details about the salient region. Finally, a bi-directional consistency constraint module (BCCM) is developed, which can be integrated into the training of arbitrary SOD and segmentation networks to efficiently locate salient regions with refined structures and clear demarcations. Experiments demonstrate that our PROFILE surpasses 20 cutting-edge SOD methods, proving its ability to enhance the accuracy and integrity of SOD in complex backgrounds, such as illumination and shadows.
Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Respiratory Disease Mortality in Shenyang, China: A 12-Year Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: In China, both the levels and patterns of outdoor air pollution have altered dramatically with the rapid economic development and urbanization over the past two decades. However, few studies have investigated the association of outdoor air pollution with respiratory mortality, especially in the high pollution range. Objective: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 9,941 residents aged ≥35 years old in Shenyang, China, to examine the association between outdoor air pollutants [particulate matter <10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] and mortality using 12 years of data. Methods: We applied extended Cox proportional hazards modeling with time-dependent covariates to respiratory mortality. Analyses were also stratified by age, sex, educational level, smoking status, personal income, occupational exposure and body mass index (BMI) to examine the association of air pollution with mortality. Results: We found significant associations between PM10 and NO2 levels and respiratory disease mortality. Our analysis found a relative risk of 1.67 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60–1.74] and 2.97 (95% CI 2.69–3.27) for respiratory mortality per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10 and NO2, respectively. The effects of air pollution were more apparent in women than in men. Age, sex, educational level, smoking status, personal income, occupational exposure, BMI and exercise frequency influenced the relationship between outdoor PM10 and NO2 and mortality. For SO2, only smoking, little regular exercise and BMI above 18.5 influenced the relationship with mortality. Conclusion: These data contribute to the scientific literature on the long-term effects of air pollution for the high-exposure settings typical in developing countries.
Diachronous Increase in Early Cambrian Ichnofossil Size and Benthic Faunal Activity in Different Climatic Regions

Abstract In order to clarify the pattern of diversification and processes of biological activity during the Cambrian radiation, ichnofossils were comparatively studied in the early Cambrian sections of Newfoundland, South China and western Mongolia. Special attention was paid to size distributions of the most common ichnogenus, Planolites, and the densities of all the observed ichnofossils that preserve animal activity as expressed by bedding plane bioturbation indices (BPBI). From the Fortune Head section in Newfoundland, a clear size increase in the ichnogenus Planolites is confirmed from the Treptichnus pedum Zone to the overlying Rusophycus avalonensis Zone. The BPBI also shows much stronger biological activity in the R. avalonensis Zone than in the T. pedum Zone. In Meishucun, South China and Gobi-Altai, Mongolia, however, a variety of Planolites sizes had already appeared in the T. pedum Zone, and the BPBI's on some bedding surfaces of the T. pedum Zone are already comparable to those in the R. avalonensis Zone in Newfoundland. In the earliest Cambrian, diversification and increase in the biological activity of the benthic fauna were diachronous in the wide geographic scale, starting earlier at lower latitudes (South China and western Mongolia) than at higher latitudes (Newfoundland), reflecting differences in the onset of Cambrian benthic animal activity under different climatic conditions.
Florida's East Coast Inlets: shoreline effects and recommended action

This report responds to the 1986 Beaches Bill which, in recognition of the potential deleterious impact on Florida's beaches of inlets modified for navigation, mandated a study of those inlets with identification of recommended action to reduce the impacts. This report addresses west Coast inlets; East Coast inlets are the subject of a companion report. There are 37 inlets along that portion of Florida's West Coast commencing from Pensacola Bay Entrance to Caxambas Pass at the south end of Marco Island. Compared to those on the East Coast, most West Coast inlets have not had the deleterious effects on the adjacent beaches, yet all modified inlets without proper management have the potential of impacting unfavorably on the adjacent shorelines. Moreover, at present there is interest in opening three West Coast entrances which either have been open in the past (Midnight Pass) or which have opened occasionally (Navarre Pass and Entrance to Phillips Lake). A review of inlets in their natural condition demonstrates the presence of a shallow broad outer bar across which the longshore transport Occurs. These shallow and shifting bar features were unsuitable for navigation which in many cases has led to the deepening of the channels and fixing with one or two jetty structures. Inlets in this modified state along with inappropriate maintenance practices have the potential of placing great ero$ional stress along the adjacent beaches. Moreover. channel dredging can reduce wave sheltering of the shoreline by ebb tidal shoals and alter the equilibrium of the affected shoreline segments. The ultimate in poor sand management practice is the placement of good quality beach sand in water depths too great for the sand to reenter the longshore system under natural forces; depths of 12 ft. or less are considered appropriate for Florida in order to maintain the sand in the system. With the interference of the nearshore sediment transport processes by inlets modified for navigation, if the adjacent beaches are to be stabilized there must be an active monitoring program with commitment to placement of dredged material of beach quality on shoreline segments of documented need. Several East Coast inlets have such transfer facilities; however. the quantities of sand transferred should be increased. Although an evolution and improvement in the technical capability to manage sand resources in the vicinity of inlets is expected, an adequate capability exists today and a concerted program should be made to commence a scheduled implementation of this capability at those entrances causing greatest erosional stress on the adjacent shorelines. A brief summary review for each of the 37 West Coast inlets is presented including: a scaled aerial photograph, brief historical information, several items related to sediment losses at each inlet and special characteristics relevant to State responsibilities. For each inlet, where appropriate, the above infor~tion is utilized to develop a recommenced action. (PDF has 101 pages.)