Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacterial Diversity among the Sediments of Glacial Lakes in the Western Balkans: Exploring the Impact of Human Population

Abstract 16S rRNA gene-based metagenomic approach was used to assess the biodiversity of bacterial communities in the sediments of selected glacial lakes in the Western Balkans and to assess the impact of human population on these microbial communities. Sediment samples were collected from three glacial lakes, viz., Plav Lake (in a zone of the highest impact of human population), Black Lake (a zone of medium impact of human population), and Donje Bare Lake (a remote lake with minimal impact of human population). Canonical correlation analysis analysis indicated correlation between the distance of the lake from urbanized population and bacterial diversity in Donje Bare Lake sediment. Bacterial diversity of Black Lake sediment was correlated with high content of phosphorous and pH value. Chemical compounds exhibiting the most prominent correlation with bacterial diversity of Plav Lake were NH4-N, K2O, CaCo3, and total nitrogen . Additionally, CCA analysis indicated that population density was correlated with biodiversity of bacterial communities in Plav Lake sediment, which is the most exposed to human population. Multivariate regression revealed the highest correlation between the presence of Proteobacteria classes and population density and levels of NH4-N. The influence of human population was observed to be important for shaping the sediment communities in addition to biological and chemical factors.
Agronomic Advancement in Tillage, Crop Rotation, Soil Health, and Genetic Gain in Durum Wheat Cultivation: A 17-Year Canadian Story

The global demands for various grains, including durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn. ), are expected to increase substantially in the coming years, due to the ever-growing human population’s needs for food, feed, and fuel. Thus, providing consistent or increased durum grain to the world market is one of the priorities for policy-makers, researchers, and farmers. What are the major achievements in agronomic advancement for durum wheat cultivation in recent decades? How might the current cropping systems be improved to increase crop yield and quality and improve resource use efficiencies while minimizing input costs and decreasing negative impact on the environment? Canada is one of the major durum wheat producers in the world, as Canada contributes about 50% to global trade of durum grain. Canada’s research achievements in durum wheat might serve as a guide for advancing the cultivation of the crop in other regions/countries on the planet. This review summarizes the major Canadian research findings in the aspects of durum wheat agronomics during the period 2001 to 2017 years. It highlights the main advancements in seeding and tillage, crop rotation and diversification, and use of pulse-induced microbiomes to improve soil health and feedback mechanisms. The genetic gain and breeding for resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses are discussed. Finally, we identified the main constraints and suggested some near-term research priorities. The research findings highlighted in this review will be of use for other areas on the planet to increase durum wheat productivity, improve soil fertility and health, and enhance long-term sustainability.
Untersuchungen zur molekulargenetischen Rassendifferenzierung bei Canis familiaris

The objective of this thesis was to find ways to differentiate dog breeds on the base of their molecular genetics. Due to the lack of existing diagnostic markers in modern pure-bred dogs, a combination of methods was developed and evaluated. The effectiveness of these methods in determining the population membership of each individual was assessed in previous published studies. The analysis is based on 375 animals drawn from 14 breeds, chosen because of their morphology, breed history and degree of kinship. The molecular genetic analysis used nine autosomal microsatellites and a fragment of mitochondrial d-loop consisting of 250 base pairs. The first section of the thesis describes the genetic characterisation of the reference populations in terms of their biodiversity and divergence. In the course of this analysis, problems regarding the genetic differentiation of various breeds became apparent. Therefore, different methods of breed assignment were subsequently used for self-classification of the reference data. The confidence of breed assignment showed, consistent with the literature, variation which correlated with the FST value. Further analysis of the population structure did not support the original classification of the dogs into 14 original populations. Instead it showed a significant splitting into several groups for some of the breeds. The most consistent breed clusters resulted from the assumption of 10 or 12 populations. This result proves that, in some cases, there is no congruence between the populations which were subjectively defined as breeds and their genetic equivalent. The next part of the thesis deals with practical applications. The confidence of the reference data collected in the first part was reassessed through assignments with 40 blind tests from animals out of the analysed breed spectrum as well as other breeds. Breeds were assigned using a combination of methods. In general the combined methods described yielded good results. However, mitochondrial haplotypes proved to be useful only with double blind tests. While the exclusive usage of the examined breeds resulted in an assignment success of 91.6%, the double blind test showed a success rate of only 81.5%. In total, the breed origin of 35 out of 40 animals (87.5%) was successfully determined. The analysis of various cross-breds confirmed reports of research on equines which showed that a successful identification of hybrids depends on the degree of genetic distinction of the ancestor breeds. In this study the genetic contribution of four individual populations could be identified in one cross-bred dog. In summary, this study has demonstrated that, using the chosen combination of methods, and subject to certain limitations, dog breed allocation is definitely feasible.
Cyprinid passage performance in an experimental multislot fishway across distinct seasons

New engineering solutions are required to minimise the effects of an increasing number of anthropogenic barriers on watercourses. Longitudinal connectivity must be provided through fishways to allow free passage for the whole fish community. Recently, a multislot fishway (MSF) was developed, with two consecutive vertical slots that divide the overall head drop by two, thus reducing the flow velocity, the magnitude of turbulence and operational discharge compared with a standard vertical slot fishway (VSF) with similar pool and slot dimensions. The present study assessed the effectiveness of a MSF design for two cyprinid species with different ecological traits, under laboratory conditions, namely the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), a large-bodied potamodromous benthic fish, and the southern Iberian chub (Squalius pyrenaicus), a small-bodied water column fish. Experiments were conducted in a full-scale experimental fishway, in spring and autumn. Results showed differences in passage performance between seasons and species. During spring, chub had a higher entry efficiency and shorter transit time to fully negotiate the fishway, whereas no seasonal differences were found for the barbel. Overall, the MSF could be considered a cost-effective design for cyprinids with different ecological traits because it offers lower operational costs than a standard VSF. However, concerns about the entrance and attraction conditions should be addressed. In addition, because of the lower operational discharge, the propensity for obstruction with woody debris and sediments should not be disregarded.
Tie Your Embeddings Down: Cross-Modal Latent Spaces for End-to-end Spoken Language Understanding

End-to-end (E2E) spoken language understanding (SLU) systems can infer the semantics of a spoken utterance directly from an audio signal. However, training an E2E system remains a challenge, largely due to the scarcity of paired audio-semantics data. In this paper, we consider an E2E system as a multi-modal model, with audio and text functioning as its two modalities, and use a cross-modal latent space (CMLS) architecture, where a shared latent space is learned between the ‘acoustic’ and ‘text’ embeddings. We propose using different multi-modal losses to explicitly align the acoustic embedding to the text embeddings (obtained via a semantically powerful pre-trained BERT model) in the latent space. We train the CMLS model on two publicly available E2E datasets and one internal dataset, across different cross-modal losses. Our proposed triplet loss function achieves the best performance. It achieves a relative improvement of 22.1% over an E2E model without a cross-modal space and a relative improvement of 2.8% over a previously published CMLS model using L2 loss on our internal dataset.
The theory of cosmic ray scattering on pre-existing MHD modes meets data

We present a comprehensive study about the phenomenological implications of the theory describing Galactic cosmic ray scattering on to magnetosonic and Alfvénic fluctuations in the GeV−PeV domain. We compute a set of diffusion coefficients from first principles, for different values of the Alfvénic Mach number and other relevant parameters associated with both the Galactic halo and the extended disc, taking into account the different damping mechanisms of turbulent fluctuations acting in these environments. We confirm that the scattering rate associated with Alfvénic turbulence is highly suppressed if the anisotropy of the cascade is taken into account. On the other hand, we highlight that magnetosonic modes play a dominant role in Galactic confinement of cosmic rays up to PeV energies. We implement the diffusion coefficients in the numerical framework of the dragon code, and simulate the equilibrium spectrum of different primary and secondary cosmic ray species. We show that, for reasonable choices of the parameters under consideration, all primary and secondary fluxes at high energy (above a rigidity of $\simeq 200 \, \mathrm{GV}$) are correctly reproduced within our framework, in both normalization and slope.
Liquid Warping GAN With Attention: A Unified Framework for Human Image Synthesis

We tackle human image synthesis, including human motion imitation, appearance transfer, and novel view synthesis, within a unified framework. It means that the model, once being trained, can be used to handle all these tasks. The existing task-specific methods mainly use 2D keypoints (pose) to estimate the human body structure. However, they only express the position information with no ability to characterize the personalized shape of the person and model the limb rotations. In this paper, we propose to use a 3D body mesh recovery module to disentangle the pose and shape. It can not only model the joint location and rotation but also characterize the personalized body shape. To preserve the source information, such as texture, style, color, and face identity, we propose an Attentional Liquid Warping GAN with Attentional Liquid Warping Block (AttLWB) that propagates the source information in both image and feature spaces to the synthesized reference. Specifically, the source features are extracted by a denoising convolutional auto-encoder for characterizing the source identity well. Furthermore, our proposed method can support a more flexible warping from multiple sources. To further improve the generalization ability of the unseen source images, a one/few-shot adversarial learning is applied. In detail, it first trains a model in an extensive training set. Then, it finetunes the model by one/few-shot unseen image(s) in a self-supervised way to generate high-resolution (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$512 \times 512$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mrow><mml:mn>512</mml:mn><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:mn>512</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="liu-ieq1-3078270.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1024 \times 1024$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1024</mml:mn><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:mn>1024</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="liu-ieq2-3078270.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>) results. Also, we build a new dataset, namely Impersonator (iPER) dataset, for the evaluation of human motion imitation, appearance transfer, and novel view synthesis. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods in terms of preserving face identity, shape consistency, and clothes details. All codes and dataset are available on <uri>https://impersonator.org/work/impersonator-plus-plus.html</uri>.
Predictions For Pre-training Language Models

Language model pre-training has proven to be useful in many language understanding tasks. In this paper, we investigate whether it is still helpful to add the specific task's loss in pre-training step. In industry NLP applications, we have large amount of data produced by users. We use the fine-tuned model to give the user-generated unlabeled data a pseudo-label. Then we use the pseudo-label for the task-specific loss and masked language model loss to pre-train. The experiment shows that using the fine-tuned model's predictions for pseudo-labeled pre-training offers further gains in the downstream task. The improvement of our method is stable and remarkable.
A First Look at COVID-19 Messages on WhatsApp in Pakistan

The worldwide spread of COVID-19 has prompted extensive online discussions, creating an ‘infodemic’ on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Twitter. However, the information shared on these platforms is prone to be unreliable and/or misleading. In this paper, we present the first analysis of COVID-19 discourse on public WhatsApp groups from Pakistan. Building on a large scale annotation of thousands of messages containing text and images, we identify the main categories of discussion. We focus on COVID-19 messages and understand the different types of images/text messages being propagated. By exploring user behavior related to COVID messages, we inspect how misinformation is spread. Finally, by quantifying the flow of information across WhatsApp and Twitter, we show how information spreads across platforms and how WhatsApp acts as a source for much of the information shared on Twitter.
Topology of Word Embeddings: Singularities Reflect Polysemy

The manifold hypothesis suggests that word vectors live on a submanifold within their ambient vector space. We argue that we should, more accurately, expect them to live on a pinched manifold: a singular quotient of a manifold obtained by identifying some of its points. The identified, singular points correspond to polysemous words, i.e. words with multiple meanings. Our point of view suggests that monosemous and polysemous words can be distinguished based on the topology of their neighbourhoods. We present two kinds of empirical evidence to support this point of view: (1) We introduce a topological measure of polysemy based on persistent homology that correlates well with the actual number of meanings of a word. (2) We propose a simple, topologically motivated solution to the SemEval-2010 task on Word Sense Induction & Disambiguation that produces competitive results.
Solid Acid Used as Highly Efficient Catalyst for Esterification of Free Fatty Acids with Alcohols

A novel solid acid catalyst, which was prepared from sodium alginate (SA) and metal chlorides and characterized with XRD and FT-IR spectrometry, was used for the preparation of biodiesel via esterification reaction. The study results showed that the aluminum-alginate complex prepared in a cheap and easy way exhibited high catalytic activity, and a 92.6% conversion of methyl oleate was obtained in the presence of 4 m% of catalyst dosage upon refluxing for 3 h of methanol and acid mixed in a molar ratio of 10:1. It should be noted that the catalyst can be applied to the esterification reaction of fatty acids with various carbon chain length on methanol or different short chain alcohols, indicating that the catalyst is suitable for the preparation of biodiesel from waste oils with a high acid value.
In vitro organo-protective and red cells membrane stability effect of Theobroma cacao (sterculiaceae) extracts and its derivative

Sickle cell anaemia induced free radicals formation which destabilize red blood cell membrane. This study aims to investigate the protective potential of Theobroma cacao bean extracts against ion toxicity in some organs as well as on the red blood cell membrane stability. Cocoa beans from Obala , Santchou and dark chocolate (EON, ESN, CN) were extracted in a mixture of water/ethanol. The protective activity of extracts against stress in rat liver, kidney and brain was estimated by measuring antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismustase (SOD), catalase (CAT)), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH). RBC membrane fragility of Sickle cell patients and correlations between protective parameters were also performed. Extracts increased antioxidant capacity, regulated MDA by lowering its concentration in different organs and protect the erythrocyte membrane from haemolysis. Moreover, significant correlations exist between protective parameters. Cocoa bean extracts especially EON could help in protecting organs and stabilizing RBC.
Constraints on the properties of warm dark matter using the satellite galaxies of the Milky Way

The satellite galaxies of the Milky Way (MW) are effective probes of the underlying dark matter (DM) substructure, which is sensitive to the nature of the DM particle. In particular, a class of DM models have a power spectrum cut-off on the mass scale of dwarf galaxies and thus predict only small numbers of substructures below the cut-off mass. This makes the MW satellite system appealing to constrain the DM properties: feasible models must produce enough substructure to host the number of observed Galactic satellites. Here, we compare theoretical predictions of the abundance of DM substructure in thermal relic warm DM (WDM) models with estimates of the total satellite population of the MW. This produces conservative robust lower limits on the allowed mass, m th, of the thermal relic WDM particle. As the abundance of satellite galaxies depends on the MW halo mass, we marginalize over the corresponding uncertainties and rule out m th ≤ 2.02 keV at 95 percent confidence independently of assumptions about galaxy formation processes. Modelling some of these — in particular, the effect of reionization, which suppresses the formation of dwarf galaxies — strengthens our constraints on the DM properties and excludes models with m th ≤ 2.02 keV in our fiducial model. We also find that thermal relic models cannot produce enough satellites if the MW halo mass is M 200 ≤ 0.6 × 1012 M ☉, which imposes a lower limit on the MW halo mass in CDM. We address several observational and theoretical uncertainties and discuss how improvements in these will strengthen the DM mass constraints.
and Engineering

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program consists of 52 state-based, university-led Space Grant Consortia in each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Annually, each consortium receives funds to develop and implement student fellowships and scholarships programs; interdisciplinary space-related research infrastructure, education, and public service programs; and cooperative initiatives with industry, research laboratories, and state, local, and other governments. Space Grant operates at the intersection of NASA’s interest as implemented by alignment with the Mission Directorates and the state’s interests. Although it is primarily a higher education program, Space Grant programs encompass the entire length of the education pipeline, including elementary/secondary and informal education. The MA Space Grant Consortium is a Designated Consortium funded at a level of $760,000 for fiscal year 2018.
IMPROVING STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILL BY USING COMIC STRIPS

This research aims at identifying how the use of Comic Strips can improve students’ writing skill on narrative text; and describing the class climate when Comic Strips are implemented in the writing class. The method used in this research is a collaborative action research which was conducted in two cycles at the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 5 Surakarta from April 15th to May 8th, in which in the first cycle there were 3 meetings and in the second cycle there were 2 meetings. Each cycle consisted of four steps: planning, implementing, evaluation, and reflection. The research data were collected by using observation, questionnaire, interviews, field notes, photographs, and tests. The qualitative data were analyzed through assembling the data, coding, comparing, building interpretations, and reporting the outcomes. The quantitative data were analyzed by comparing the mean scores of the pre-test and the post-tests. The research findings show that Comic Strips could improve students’ writing skill and classroom climate of English class. The mean score had the improvement from pretest to the post-test 2, from 64.05 to 79.93.
OptimalTTF-1: Enhancing tumor treating fields therapy with skull remodeling surgery. A clinical phase I trial in adult recurrent glioblastoma

Abstract Background Preclinical studies suggest that skull remodeling surgery (SR-surgery) increases the dose of tumor treating fields (TTFields) in glioblastoma (GBM) and prevents wasteful current shunting through the skin. SR-surgery introduces minor skull defects to focus the cancer-inhibiting currents toward the tumor and increase the treatment dose. This study aimed to test the safety and feasibility of this concept in a phase I setting. Methods Fifteen adult patients with the first recurrence of GBM were treated with personalized SR-surgery, TTFields, and physician’s choice oncological therapy. The primary endpoint was toxicity and secondary endpoints included standard efficacy outcomes. Results SR-surgery resulted in a mean skull defect area of 10.6 cm2 producing a median TTFields enhancement of 32% (range 25–59%). The median TTFields treatment duration was 6.8 months and the median compliance rate 90%. Patients received either bevacizumab, bevacizumab/irinotecan, or temozolomide rechallenge. We observed 71 adverse events (AEs) of grades 1 (52%), 2 (35%), and 3 (13%). There were no grade 4 or 5 AEs or intervention-related serious AEs. Six patients experienced minor TTFields-induced skin rash. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months and the PFS rate at 6 months was 36%. The median overall survival (OS) was 15.5 months and the OS rate at 12 months was 55%. Conclusions TTFields therapy combined with SR-surgery and medical oncological treatment is safe and nontoxic and holds the potential to improve the outcome for GBM patients through focal dose enhancement in the tumor.
CRC Handbook of Thermodynamic Data of Polymer Solutions at Elevated Pressures

Introduction Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) Data and Gas Solubilities at Elevated Pressures Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium (LLE) Data of Polymer Solutions at Elevated Pressures High-Pressure Fluid Phase Equilibrium (HPPE) Data of Polymer Solutions Enthalpy Changes in Polymer Solutions at Elevated Pressures PVT Data of Polymers and Solutions Pressure Dependence of the Second Virial Coefficients (A2) of Polymer Solutions Appendices Index