Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of selenium (Se) on development and nitric oxide levels in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for many organisms, but its excess leads to toxicity symptoms such as growth inhibition or chlorosis. Since nitric oxide (NO) is a multi- functional signal molecule in plants acting during several physiological plant responses, we examined the effect of selenite treatment on nitric oxide status of Arabidopsis plants during their growth. The effect of selenite on the development and cell viability of seedlings proved to be concentration and time-dependent and it can be explained by the disturbance of protein synthesis, structure and function. Selenite treatment modified the endogenous NO status in the root and the cotyledon of Arabidopsis plants. During the first days after germination the effect of Se was shown to be rather inhibitory on NO content, while during the late developmentin Se-treated plants NO levels increased, which may contribute to growth inhibition.
Effects of nitrogen additions on nitrogen resorption and use efficiencies and foliar litterfall of six tree species in a mixed birch and poplar forest, northeastern China

We studied nitrogen (N) resorption efficiencies (NRE), N use efficiencies (NUE), carbon-to-nitrogen ratios of green (C:Ngreen) and senesced (C:Nsenesced) foliage, and foliar litterfall for six tree species under three N treatments (control, no N addition; low N addition, 2.5 g N·m–2·year–1; and high N addition, 5.0 g N·m–2·year–1) in a mixed birch and poplar forest in northeastern China in 2007 and 2008. N additions were initiated in 2006. NRE, NUE, C:Ngreen, and C:Nsenesced were significantly decreased by N additions and tended to decrease with increasing N addition treatments. N additions significantly increased foliar litterfall of Acer mono Maxim. , Betula platyphylla Sukatschev, Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc. , and Populus davidiana Dode and slightly altered litterfall of Fraxinus mandschurica Rupr. and Populus koreana Rehder. High N addition changed foliar litterfall of A. mono, F. mandschurica, P. davidiana, and P. koreana more than low N addition, whereas an opposite pattern was found for B. platy.
Evidence of dependence between volume, returns and volatility: A correlation of distances approach, using intraday data for all Ibovespa stocks

The relationships between volume, returns and volatility have been vastly explored in finance focusing developed markets. We present our approach to the Brazilian market, investigating the dynamics of sixty seven companies that are included in the portfolio of the Ibovespa index, the most influent index in South and Latin America. We utilize a strong statistical tool to measure association, the correlation of distances and measured volatility using squared returns. We find, for the entire sample, strong evidence of association between their returns and volatility. We also find significant association between volume and returns. We found only moderate interconnections between volume and lagged volatility, an indication of causality. Lastly, our results show some association of volume and returns. Key-words: Correlation of distances, intraday, volatility, volume, returns, Ibovespa.
Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models

We present high quality image synthesis results using diffusion probabilistic models, a class of latent variable models inspired by considerations from nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Our best results are obtained by training on a weighted variational bound designed according to a novel connection between diffusion probabilistic models and denoising score matching with Langevin dynamics, and our models naturally admit a progressive lossy decompression scheme that can be interpreted as a generalization of autoregressive decoding. On the unconditional CIFAR10 dataset, we obtain an Inception score of 9.46 and a state-of-the-art FID score of 3.17. On 256x256 LSUN, we obtain sample quality similar to ProgressiveGAN. Our implementation is available at this https URL
METRO TUNNEL SEISMIC RESPONSE BY A HYBRID FDM-BEM

Konstantia MAKRA, Sonia PARVANOVA and Petia DINEVA A 2D elastodynamic model for the seismic response of Metro tunnels embedded in a laterally inhomogeneous, multilayered geological region overlying a rock stratum is developed herein. We employ a hybrid, finite difference-boundary element method (FDM-BEM), with the latter method embedded in the former so as to capture the near-site field details. More specifically, the FDM is used for simulating in-plane elastic wave propagation from the lower soil-rock interface into the overlying soil deposits. A BEM 'box' area containing the Metro tunnels and with the free surface of the geological deposit forming its upper boundary is then embedded within the FDM mesh. This way, wave motion from the FDM is filtered into the 'BEM box', and the BEM is subsequently used to model the near-site layers with the tunnels. Verification studies are then conducted for upward moving Gabor pulses, using the FDM alone, the present hybrid FDM-BEM and a hybrid FDM-finite element method (FEM) formulation. Finally, the methodology is applied to a N-S geological cross-section running through the center of Thessaloniki, Greece and containing two Metro tunnels excavated directly below an important Roman-era monument known as the Arch of Galerius that is part of the Rotunda complex.
New results on relative entropy production, time reversal, and optimal control of time-inhomogeneous nonequilibrium diffusion processes

This paper studies time-inhomogeneous nonequilibrium diffusion processes, including both Brownian dynamics and Langevin dynamics. We derive upper bounds of the relative entropy production of the time-inhomogeneous process with respect to the transient invariant probability measures. We also study the time reversal of the reverse process in Crooks' fluctuation theorem. We show that the time reversal of the reverse process coincides with the optimally controlled forward process that leads to zero variance importance sampling estimator based on Jarzynski's equality.
Identification of oral strains of Lactobacillus species isolated from Mexican and French children

The aim of the current study was to identify oral strains of Lactobacillusrhamnosus and L. acidophilus by PCR species-specific and other Lactobacilli by a biochemical test (API 50CH) from Mexican and French children with and without dental decay and to compare them using a RAPD-PCR analysis. Saliva samples were collected from Mexican and French children who were 6 to 12 years old. Children were either caries free or harboring carious lesions. Microorganisms were cultured in MRS media and Lactobacilli (L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus) were identified by PCR species-specific. Other Lactobacilli strains were identified by a biochemical test (API 50CH). All Lactobacilli strains isolated in this study were compared using a molecular biology technique (RAPD-PCR). One hundred and sixty-three strains were isolated. The predominant species in French children with caries was L. rhamnosus, while L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus and L. brevis were prevalent among the Mexican children. In children without caries, L. acidophiluswas the predominant species identified among the Mexican population, whereas no Lactobacilli species were isolated from French children without caries. The RAPD-PCR results showed the same patterns of amplification between the type strain L. rhamnosus ATCC 9595 and wild strains isolated in this study, meanwhileL. acidophilus showed differences in the pattern of bands between the L. acidophilus ATCC 4656 strain and the wild strains isolated from the saliva of children with and without caries. Similar results were found with the API 50CH test. Even though this study does not investigate it, our results suggest that L. rhamnosus could be involved in both French and Mexican populations as a potential cariogenic agent. Key words: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, PCR.
The ranging patterns of reintroduced pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam

The pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is threatened by hunting and deforestation throughout its range countries. To restock wild populations several organizations use reintroduction as a conservation strategy. In the pygmy slow loris and other Nycticebus species reintroductions have yielded low survival rates, leading many to question the welfare of released individuals and the conservation value of reintroduction. In response to these concerns, researchers have begun to investigate critically various aspects of slow loris reintroduction. Here we evaluated the ranging patterns of six released pygmy slow lorises in the former botanical garden of Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam. Following ten months of staggered releases and nightly observations, we recorded the nightly movement of three male and three female adult pygmy slow lorises. The mean home range size in males was 81±105 ha (Minimum Convex Polygon); 25±31 ha (Kernel Contouring) and in females 0±2 ha (Minimum Convex Polygon); 9±5 ha (Kernel Contouring). Observed home range sizes in males were larger than those reported for wild and reintroduced pygmy slow lorises. Individuals dispersed out of the release site (N=1), lost their collar or signal (N=2), or were found dead (N=2). A number of factors including territoriality, natal habitat preference induction, and stress play a role in the observed results. Future reintroductions should select a release site with more space than seen in wild home ranges, as released individuals maintain larger home ranges while in a novel environment, as well as consider how individual experiences can have a lasting effect on fitness.
Compositional Learning of Image-Text Query for Image Retrieval

In this paper, we investigate the problem of retrieving images from a database based on a multi-modal (imagetext) query. Specifically, the query text prompts some modification in the query image and the task is to retrieve images with the desired modifications. For instance, a user of an E-Commerce platform is interested in buying a dress, which should look similar to her friend’s dress, but the dress should be of white color with a ribbon sash. In this case, we would like the algorithm to retrieve some dresses with desired modifications in the query dress. We propose an autoencoder based model, ComposeAE, to learn the composition of image and text query for retrieving images. We adopt a deep metric learning approach and learn a metric that pushes composition of source image and text query closer to the target images. We also propose a rotational symmetry constraint on the optimization problem. Our approach is able to outperform the state-of-the-art method TIRG [24] on three benchmark datasets, namely: MIT-States, Fashion200k and Fashion IQ. In order to ensure fair comparison, we introduce strong baselines by enhancing TIRG method. To ensure reproducibility of the results, we publish our code here: https://github.com/ecom-research/ComposeAE.
Relativistic corrections to the growth of structure in modified gravity

We present a method to introduce relativistic corrections including linear dark energy perturbations in Horndeski theory into Newtonian simulations based on the N-body gauge approach. We assume that standard matter species (cold dark matter, baryons, photons and neutrinos) are only gravitationally-coupled with the scalar field and we then use the fact that one can include modified gravity effects as an effective dark energy fluid in the total energy-momentum tensor. In order to compute the scalar field perturbations, as well as the cosmological background and metric perturbations, we use the Einstein-Boltzmann code hi_class. As an example, we study the impact of relativistic corrections on the matter power spectrum in k-essence, a subclass of Horndeski theory, including the effects of massless and massive neutrinos. For massive neutrinos with ∑ mν = 0.1 eV, the corrections due to relativistic species (photons, neutrinos and dark energy) can introduce a maximum deviation of approximately 7% to the power spectrum at k ∼ 10−3 Mpc−1 at z=0, for a scalar field with sound speed cs2∼0.013 during matter domination epoch. Our formalism makes it possible to test beyond \lcdm models probed by upcoming large-scale structure surveys on very large scales.
Flávio Freitas Barbosa

Episodic memory refers to the recollection of what, where and when a specific event occurred. Hippocampus is a key structure in this type of memory. Computational models suggest that the dentate gyrus (DG) and the CA3 hippocampal subregions are involved in pattern separation and the rapid acquisition of episodic memories, while CA1 is involved in memory consolidation. However there are few studies with animal models that access simultaneously the aspects ̳what-where-when‘. Recently, an object recognition episodic-like memory task in rodents was proposed. This task consists of two sample trials and a test phase. In sample trial one, the rat is exposed to four copies of an object. In sample trial two, one hour later, the rat is exposed to four copies of a different object. In the test phase, 1 h later, two copies of each of the objects previously used are presented. One copy of the object used in sample trial one is located in a different place, and therefore it is expected to be the most explored object.However, the short retention delay of the task narrows its applications. This study verifies if this task can be evoked after 24h and whether the pharmacological inactivation of the DG/CA3 and CA1 subregions could differentially impair the acquisition of the task described. Validation of the task with a longer interval (24h) was accomplished (animals showed spatiotemporal object discrimination and scopolamine (1 mg/kg, ip) injected pos-training impaired performance). Afterwards, the GABA agonist muscimol, (0,250 μg/μl; volume = 0,5 μl) or saline were injected in the hippocampal subregions fifteen minutes before training. Pre-training inactivation of the DG/CA3 subregions impaired the spatial discrimination of the objects ( ̳where‘), while the temporal discrimination ( ̳when‘) was preserved. Rats treated with muscimol in the CA1 subregion explored all the objects equally well, irrespective of place or presentation time. Our results corroborate the computational models that postulate a role for DG/CA3 in spatial pattern separation, and a role for CA1 in the consolidation process of different mnemonic episodes. Sumário Introdução . 1 Memória episódica em humanos . 2 Memória similar à episódica em animais . 3 Mecanismos neurais . 5 Justificativa . 8 Objetivo Geral . 9 Objetivos específicos . 9 Primeiro artigo: objetivo específico 1 . 10 Extending possible applications of an episodic-like memory task in rats . 10 Segundo artigo: objetivo específico 2 . 12 Differential role of hippocampal regions for ―what‖, ―where‖ and ―when‖ memory in rats . 12 Conclusão Geral . 44 Anexos . 48
Rapid late-time X-ray brightening of the tidal disruption event OGLE16aaa

Stars that pass too close to a super-massive black hole may be disrupted by strong tidal forces. OGLE16aaa is one such tidal disruption event (TDE) which rapidly brightened and peaked in the optical/UV bands in early 2016 and subsequently decayed over the rest of the year. OGLE16aaa was detected in an XMM-Newton X-ray observation on June 9, 2016 with a flux slightly below the Swift/XRT upper limits obtained during the optical light curve peak. Between June 16-21, 2016, Swift/XRT also detected OGLE16aaa and based on the stacked spectrum, we could infer that the X-ray luminosity had jumped up by more than a factor of ten in just one week. No brightening signal was seen in the simultaneous optical/UV data to cause the X-ray luminosity to exceed the optical/UV one. A further XMM-Newton observation on November 30, 2016 showed that almost a year after the optical/UV peak, the X-ray emission was still at an elevated level, while the optical/UV flux decay had already leveled off to values comparable to those of the host galaxy. In all X-ray observations, the spectra were nicely modeled with a 50-70 eV thermal component with no intrinsic absorption, with a weak X-ray tail seen only in the November 30 XMM-Newton observation. The late-time X-ray behavior of OGLE16aaa strongly resembles the tidal disruption events ASASSN-15oi and AT2019azh. We were able to pinpoint the time delay between the initial optical TDE onset and the X-ray brightening to $182 \pm 5$ days, which may possibly represent the timescale between the initial circularization of the disrupted star around the super-massive black hole and the subsequent delayed accretion. Alternatively, the delayed X-ray brightening could be related to a rapid clearing of a thick envelope that covers the central X-ray engine during the first six months.
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE AMONG HEALTHY CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

The paper is an attempt to show the similarities and differences in the development of capacities for symbolization among healthy children and children with developmental disorders. The development of symbolic representation in early childhood refers to the two main and basic types of children’s activities. The first is the ability to communicate, focused especially on expressing needs and child’s desires, and the other is the ability to Anna Bujnowska, Agnieszka Lasota Ability to use symbols In Communications and play by health children And children with developmental disabilities 31 play. Attention was drawn to three important aspects: the development of communicative competence, the development of play and the development of socialinteraction skills. The research results showed differences in the ability to represent reality with the use of linguistic and non linguistic symbols among properly developing children and children with developmental disorders. It also turned out that a significant role may be played by the quality of interaction between an adult (parent) and child.
WHERE TO LOCATE THE ELASTIC HALF-SPACE IN SITE RESPONSE ANALYSIS. A CASE STUDY USING SITE PROFILES FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA

One of the fundamental decisions when conducting an equivalent linear site response analysis involves the determination of the depth and characteristics of the elastic half-space (EHS). This boundary condition is usually defined at a horizon sufficiently stiff such that no strong impedance contrasts will be found below this depth. The assumption of an EHS implies that the portion of the energy of downward-propagating seismic waves that are refracted into the EHS will be completely absorbed by the rock mass with the remaining proportion of waves being reflected back up through the profile. The ratio of the absorbed and reflected waves is a function of the impedance contrast between the soil profile and the EHS. Thus, the waves reflected from deeper material boundaries in the actual geologic profile are not considered in the numerical site response. The EHS assumption is rarely met in geotechnical site response analyses, which often focus on shallower profiles. However, the positioning of an EHS at a depth that is not geologically justified can alter significantly the estimated site response, and consequently the estimated seismic hazard, at a site. Site response analyses at sites with a strong soil-rock impedance contrast typically assume the location of the EHS at the depth of the impedance contrast, with the EHS shear wave velocity (Vs) often assumed to be in the order of 800 m/s in the western US and 3000 m/s in the eastern US. This study aims to investigate the influence of deeper strata in site response analyses conducted at different sites in Charleston, South Carolina, USA where a strong impedance contrast is present at a depth typically greater than 800 m. Geotechnical data (i.e. cone penetration tests or CPT, seismic cone penetration tests or SCPT and shear wave velocity measurements) have been collected in the aforementioned sites. Transfer functions resulting from analyzing the entire soil/rock column and those corresponding to a case where the EHS location is assumed at a certain depth and the response of shallow layers is “decoupled” from deeper rock layers, have been estimated by means of one dimensional (1D) theoretical formulations of wave propagation 1 PhD Student, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virgina, USA, amcabas@vt.edu 2 Undergraduate Student, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile, carcamo.patricia@gmail.com 3 Associate Professor, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, adrianrm@vt.edu 4 Master Student, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, betsy5@vt.edu 5 Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, colgun@vt.edu A.Cabas, P.Cárcamo, A.Rodriguez-Marek, B.Godfrey and G.Olgun 2 in layered media (e.g. STRATA) and the square-root-impedance (SRI) method. The error and associated uncertainty introduced by conducting decoupled site response analyses have been quantified for the sites under study.
The interplay between randomness and structure during learning in RNNs

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) trained on low-dimensional tasks have been widely used to model functional biological networks. However, the solutions found by learning and the effect of initial connectivity are not well understood. Here, we examine RNNs trained using gradient descent on different tasks inspired by the neuroscience literature. We find that the changes in recurrent connectivity can be described by low-rank matrices, despite the unconstrained nature of the learning algorithm. To identify the origin of the low-rank structure, we turn to an analytically tractable setting: training a linear RNN on a simplified task. We show how the low-dimensional task structure leads to low-rank changes to connectivity. This low-rank structure allows us to explain and quantify the phenomenon of accelerated learning in the presence of random initial connectivity. Altogether, our study opens a new perspective to understanding trained RNNs in terms of both the learning process and the resulting network structure.
Theoretical Calculation of Absolute Radii of Atoms and Ions. Part 2. The Ionic Radii

The theoretical method of determination of absolute atomic size, discussed in Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2002, 3, 87-113, is exploited to calculate absolute radii of the ions whose experimental radii are published by Shanon. The computed radii are found to reproduce the expected periodic variation of size in periods and in groups and nicely reproduce the d-block and f-block contractions in the respective series. It is pointed out that experimental radii of d and f block transition metal ions make erroneous and misleading representation of the size behaviour of the respective series. A detailed comparative study of the crystal radii vis-a-vis the theoretical radii is reported. A rationale of the double hump curve of the experimental radii of 3 d-block transition metal ions is put forward in terms of the crystal field theory and Jahn-Teller distortion. The theoretical radii are exploited to calculate the diamagnetic susceptibility, polarizability and chemical hardness of the ions and compared with available experimental data. The fact of good agreement between the experimental and computed global hardness of ions and correct demonstration of d-block and f-block contraction by the computed radii are used as benchmark to test the validity of the values of the computed theoretical radii of the ions as their representative sizes. It is concluded that the theoretically computed radii of ions are visualizable size representation of ions and can be used as their absolute radii at the respective oxidation states.