Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lianas have a faster resource acquisition strategy than trees: Below‐ground evidence from root traits, phylogeny and the root economics space

The competitive advantage of lianas over trees has been widely documented in studies of their leaf functional traits across diverse habitats; however, the relative contribution of root functional traits to the competitive superiority of lianas over trees has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to explore the root functional traits, phylogenetic structure of these traits and root trait dimensions of lianas to clarify why lianas can outperform trees. We sampled 69 liana species from tropical and temperate forests in China and measured nine key functional traits of first‐order roots of each species, including morphological, architectural, anatomical and chemical traits, as well as the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization. Data on these traits were then compared with similar data of 127 tree species from the same biome obtained from the Global Root Traits (GRooT) database and our previous studies. Liana roots had lower construction costs and could acquire resources more rapidly compared with tree roots. Significant differences were observed in most tree root traits between tropical and temperate sites. However, no significant differences were observed in any of the liana root traits between tropical and temperate sites, apart from the root branching ratio. Lianas showed much weaker phylogenetic conservatism in their root traits than trees when species were pooled across sites. Phylogenetic constraint was lower for nearly all root traits of both temperate lianas and trees compared with those of tropical lianas and trees. The root economics space of lianas and trees had two orthogonal dimensions with ‘conservation’ and ‘collaboration’ axes. However, lianas occupied the trait space with higher root nitrogen concentration and greater specific root length, showing ‘fast’ resource acquisition strategy, while trees placed opposite space and exhibited relatively ‘slow’ strategy. Synthesis. The ability of lianas to outcompete trees in harsh environments might be explained by their faster resource acquisition strategy and the lower phylogenetic constraint in root traits. Generally, lianas might play an increasingly important role in the structure and function of forest ecosystems in the future with ongoing habitat fragmentation and climate change.
VARIABILITY AND MULTIWAVELENGTH-DETECTED ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE GOODS FIELDS

We identify 85 variable galaxies in the GOODS North and South fields using five epochs of Hubble Space Telescope Advance Camera for Survey V-band (F606W) images spanning 6 months. The variables are identified through significant flux changes in the galaxy's nucleus and represent ∼2% of the survey galaxies. With the aim of studying the active galaxy population in the GOODS fields, we compare the variability-selected sample with X-ray and mid-IR active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates. Forty-nine percent of the variables are associated with X-ray sources identified in the 2Ms Chandra surveys. Twenty-four percent of X-ray sources likely to be AGNs are optical variables and this percentage increases with decreasing hardness ratio of the X-ray emission. Stacking of the non-X-ray-detected variables reveals marginally significant soft X-ray emission. Forty-eight percent of mid-IR power-law sources are optical variables, all but one of which is also X-ray detected. Thus, about half of the optical variables are associated with either X-ray or mid-IR power-law emission. The slope of the power-law fit through the Spitzer IRAC bands indicates that two-thirds of the variables have BLAGN-like spectral energy distributions. Among those galaxies spectroscopically identified as AGNs, we observe variability in 74% of broad-line AGNs and 15% of NLAGNs. The variables are found in galaxies extending to z∼ 3.6. We compare the variable galaxy colors and magnitudes to the X-ray and mid-IR sample and find that the non-X-ray-detected variable hosts extend to bluer colors and fainter intrinsic magnitudes. The variable AGN candidates have Eddington ratios similar to those of X-ray-selected AGNs.
Simultaneous emergence of superconductivity, inter-pocket scattering and nematic fluctuation in potassium-coated FeSe superconductor

Superconductivity originates from pairing of electrons. Pairing channel on Fermi surface and pairing glue are thus two pivotal issues for understanding a superconductor. Recently, high-temperature superconductivity over 40 K was found in electron-doped FeSe superconductors including K$_x$Fe$_{2-y}$Se$_2$, Li$_{0.8}$Fe$_{0.2}$OHFeSe, and 1 monolayer FeSe thin film. However, their pairing mechanism remains controversial. Here, we studied the systematic evolution of electronic structure in potassium-coated FeSe single crystal. The doping level is controlled precisely by in situ evaporating potassium onto the sample surface. We found that the superconductivity emerges when the inter-pocket scattering between two electron pockets is turned on by a Lifshitz transition of Fermi surface. The nematic order suppresses remarkably at the same doping and strong nematic fluctuation remains in a wide doping range of the phase diagram. Our results suggest an underlying correlation among superconductivity, inter-pocket scattering, and nematic fluctuation in electron-doped FeSe superconductors.
Heritage Language Learners’ Experiences with TExES LOTE – Spanish: Is There Bias?

ABSTRACT This paper discusses Texas Examinations of Educator Standards Program Languages Other Than English – Spanish exam (TExES LOTE – Spanish) and its potential bias, particularly against teacher candidates with Spanish as a heritage language (HL) background. In Texas, most teacher candidates, or college students of Spanish preparing for secondary teacher certification, are heritage speakers of Spanish. However, while they are competent Spanish speakers, many fail their TExES LOTE – Spanish exam. In light of recent demographic trends and a growing body of research on HL learners, Spanish teaching in higher education and, to a lesser extent, in secondary schools has begun to move away from teaching so-called prestigious varieties of Spanish (e.g., Spain) toward inclusion of other varieties of Spanish, especially those spoken in the U.S. and those that reflect students’ heritage. Despite this pedagogical shift, we posit that TExES LOTE – Spanish exam does not reflect current Spanish curricular content, which negatively affects these students’ performance. We provide examples and available exam statistics to support our claim. Through this conversation about the mismatch between student background and TExES LOTE – Spanish content, we hope to start a dialogue about a much-needed revision of this exam in the near future.
Climate shaming: explaining environmental NGOs targeting practices

ABSTRACT How do non-governmental organizations (NGOs) target governments for climate shaming? NGOs increasingly function as monitors of states climate performance and compliance with international climate treaties such as the Paris Agreement. Lacking formal sanctioning capacities, NGOs primarily rely on ‘naming and shaming’ to hold states accountable to their commitments in climate treaties and to ramp up their climate mitigation efforts. However, we know little about how and why NGOs engage in climate shaming. This article advances two arguments. First, we argue that NGO climate shaming is likely to be shaped by the international and national climate records of governments. Second, governments’ climate actions can create contradicting expectations by both inviting and repelling NGO climate shaming. To test our arguments, we complied an original global data set on climate shaming events carried out by environmental NGOs. Our empirical analysis suggests that while NGOs are generally more likely to shame climate laggards, climate frontrunners may also be shamed if they engage in non-binding climate commitments. Key policy insights Climate laws and international climate treaties are central for our understanding of how NGOs target governments for climate shaming. NGOs are generally more likely to target climate laggards than frontrunners. Climate shaming is not only about whether but also how governments participate in global climate governance. Membership in climate institutions with non-binding commitments attracts NGO climate shaming. There is a risk that governments sign international climate treaties, without the intention to comply, in order to escape climate shaming.
Physics of a toy geyser

A geyser can be reproduced by a toy experiment composed of a water pool located above a water reservoir, the two being connected by a long and narrow tube. When the bottom reservoir is heated, the system experiences periodic eruptions of hot water and steam at the top similarly to the geyser effect occurring in nature. The eruption frequency of a toy geyser is inspected experimentally as a function of the heating power and the height of the set-up. We propose a thermodynamic model of this system which predicts the time between eruptions. Besides, the geometric and thermodynamic conditions required to observe a geyser effect are discussed. The study of the toy geyser is then extended to the case of two reservoirs connected to the same tube. In such a configuration, an eruption in a reservoir may entrain the eruption of the other. Such a coupled system adopts a complex time-evolution which reflects the dynamics of natural geysers. We analyze the behavior of a toy geyser with two reservoirs by the way of statistical tools and develop a theoretical model in order to rationalize our observations.
Analytic $Q$-ball solutions and their stability in a piecewise parabolic potential

Explicit solutions for extended objects of a Q-ball type were found analytically in a model describing complex scalar field with piecewise parabolic potential in (3+1)- and (1+1)-dimensional space-times. Such a potential provides a variety of solutions which were thoroughly examined. It was shown that, depending on the values of the parameters of the model and according to the known stability criteria, there exist stable and unstable solutions. The classical stability of solutions in (1+1)-dimensional space-time was examined in the linear approximation and it was shown explicitly that the spectrum of linear perturbations around some solutions contains exponentially growing modes while it is not so for other solutions.
Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the toxicity, drug release ability and antibacterial capacity of nanocomposites of polyethylene glycol and functionalized carbon nanotubes

Abstract The design of drug nanocarriers is a topic of current interest. To achieve a desirable efficiency, the preparation of a new nanocarrier must tune multiple complicated factors. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has demonstrated the ability to evade biological barriers of living matter. In this work, the synthesis of nanocomposites prepared with PEG and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functionalized with amine ending groups (named CNTsamine), which could be used as nanocarriers is described. A thorough characterization of prepared nanocomposites using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is presented. To explore the possibility of using the PEG/CNTsamine nanocomposites as suitable carriers its toxicity to HeLa cells was evaluated, their ability to release the anti-cancer drug cisplatin was determined, and their capacity to inhibit the growth of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli as well as the fungus Candida albicans was studied. Although the PEG/CNTsamine nanocomposites have the ability to release the drug cisplatin with better efficacy than pure PEG, the evidence that produces a toxic effect on HeLa cells limit their practical use as suitable nanocarriers. Graphical Abstract
PROBING FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANT EVOLUTION WITH NEUTRAL ATOMIC GAS LINES

We have detected narrow H i 21 cm and C i absorption at z ∼ 1.4–1.6 toward Q0458−020 and Q2337−011, and use these lines to test for possible changes in the fine structure constant α, the proton–electron mass ratio μ, and the proton gyromagnetic ratio gp. A comparison between the H i 21 cm and C i line redshifts yields ΔX/X = (+6.8 ± 1.0) × 10−6 over 0 < 〈z〉 < 1.46, where X = gpα2/μ, and the errors are purely statistical, from the Gaussian fits. The simple line profiles and the high sensitivity of the spectra imply that statistical errors in this comparison are an order of magnitude lower than in previous studies. Further, the C i lines arise in cold neutral gas that also gives rise to H i 21 cm absorption, and both background quasars are core-dominated, reducing the likelihood of systematic errors due to local velocity offsets between the hyperfine and resonance lines. The dominant source of systematic error lies in the absolute wavelength calibration of the optical spectra, which appears uncertain to ∼2 km s−1, yielding a maximum error in ΔX/X of ∼6.7 × 10−6. Including this, we obtain ΔX/X = (+6.8 ± 1.0(statistical) ± 6.7(max. systematic)) × 10−6 over 0 < 〈z〉 < 1.46. Using literature constraints on Δμ/μ, this is inconsistent with claims of a smaller value of α from the many-multiplet method, unless fractional changes in gp are larger than those in α and μ.
Central mass-to-light ratios and dark matter fractions in early-type galaxies

Dynamical studies of local elliptical galaxies and the Fundamental Plane point to a strong dependence of the total mass-to-light ratio (M/L) on luminosity with a relation of the form M/L ∝ L γ . The ‘tilt’ γ may be caused by various factors, including stellar population properties (metallicity, age and star formation history), initial mass function, rotational support, luminosity profile non-homology and dark matter (DM) fraction. We evaluate the impact of all these factors using a large uniform data set of local early-type galaxies from Prugniel & Simien. We take particular care in estimating the stellar masses, using a general star formation history, and comparing different population synthesis models. We find that the stellar M/L contributes little to the tilt. We estimate the total M/L using simple Jeans dynamical models, and find that adopting accurate luminosity profiles is important but does not remove the need for an additional tilt component, which we ascribe to DM. We survey trends of the DM fraction within one effective radius, finding it to be roughly constant for galaxies fainter than M B ∼− 20.5, and increasing with luminosity for the brighter galaxies; we detect no significant differences between S0s and fast- and slow-rotating ellipticals. We construct simplified cosmological mass models and find general consistency, where the DM transition point is caused by a change in the relation between luminosity and effective radius. A more refined model with varying galaxy star formation efficiency suggests a transition from total mass profiles (including DM) of faint galaxies distributed similarly to the light to near-isothermal profiles for the bright galaxies. These conclusions are sensitive to various systematic uncertainties which we investigate in detail, but are consistent with the results of dynamical studies at larger radii.
On the Alexander theorem for the oriented
Thompson group F

In [Jo14] and [Jo18] Vaughan Jones introduced a construction which yields oriented knots and links from elements of the oriented Thompson group $\vec{F}$. In this paper we prove, by analogy with Alexander's classical theorem establishing that every knot or link can be represented as a closed braid, that given an oriented knot/link $\vec{L}$, there exists an element $g$ in $\vec{F}$ whose closure $\vec{\mathcal{L}}(g)$ is $\vec L$.
Experimental evidence that leaf litter decomposability and flammability are decoupled across gymnosperm species

Biological decomposition and wildfire are two predominant and alternative processes that can mineralize organic C in forest litter. Currently, the relationships between decomposition and fire are still poorly understood. We provide an empirical test of the hypothesized decoupling of surface litter bed decomposability and flammability, and the underlying traits and trait spectra. We employed a 41‐species set of gymnosperms of very broad evolutionary and geographic spread, because of the wide range of (absent to frequent) fire regimes they are associated with. We found that the interspecific pattern of mass loss proportions in a “common garden” decomposition experiment was not correlated with any of the flammability parameters and an RDA analysis also showed that the decomposability and flammability of leaf litter in litter layers were decoupled across species. This decoupling originates from the former depending mostly on size and shape spectrum traits and the latter on PES traits and those trait spectra being virtually uncorrelated. Synthesis: Our results show that, indeed, leaf litter decomposability and flammability parameters are decoupled across species, and this decoupling can be explained by their different drivers in terms of trait spectra: chemical traits for decomposability and size‐shape traits for litter layer flammability.
Localization of directed polymers with general reference walk

Directed polymers in random environment have usually been constructed with a simple random walk on the integer lattice. It has been observed before that several standard results for this model continue to hold for a more general reference walk. Some finer results are known for the so-called long-range directed polymer in which the reference walk lies in the domain of attraction of an $\alpha$-stable process. In this note, low-temperature localization properties recently proved for the classical case are shown to be true with any reference walk. First, it is proved that the polymer's endpoint distribution is asymptotically purely atomic, thus strengthening the best known result for long-range directed polymers. A second result proving geometric localization along a positive density subsequence is new to the general case. The proofs use a generalization of the approach introduced by the author with S. Chatterjee in a recent manuscript on the quenched endpoint distribution; this generalization allows one to weaken assumptions on the both the walk and the environment. The methods of this paper also give rise to a variational formula for free energy which is analogous to the one obtained in the simple random walk case.
Abnormal Presentation of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a common bacterial infection that mainly affects the respiratory system; however, it can involve other structures such as lymph nodes, pericardium, pleura, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and skeletal system. Skeletal tuberculosis is secondary to pulmonary and abdominal tuberculosis. Skeletal involvement generally involves the vertebral column, hip, and knee joint. Tuberculosis of small peripheral joints is an uncommon entity. In this report, we report tubercular arthritis of the wrist joint in a 40-year-old female patient who presented with swelling and pain in the wrist joint.
Boosted perturbations at the end of inflation

We study the effect on the primordial cosmological perturbations of a sharp transition from inflationary to a radiation and matter dominated epoch respectively. We assume that the perturbations are generated by the vacuum fluctuations of a scalar field slowly rolling down its potential, and that the transition into the subsequent epoch takes place much faster than a Hubble time. The behaviour of the superhorizon perturbations corresponding to cosmological scales in this case is well known. However, it is not clear how perturbations on scales of and smaller than the Hubble horizon scale at the end of inflation may evolve through such a transition. We derive the evolution equation for the gravitational potential Ψ, which allows us to study the evolution of the perturbations on all scales under these circumstances. We show that for a certain range of scales inside the horizon at the end of inflation, the amplitude of the perturbations are enhanced relative to the superhorizon scales. This enhancement may lead to the overproduction of Primordial Black Holes (PBHs), and therefore constrain the dynamics of the transitions that take place at the end of inflation.
Cosmology with weak-lensing peak counts

Weak gravitational lensing (WL) causes distortions of galaxy images and probes massive structures on large scales, allowing us to understand the late-time evolution of the Universe. One way to extract the cosmological information from WL is to use peak statistics. Peaks are tracers of massive halos and therefore probe the mass function. They retain non-Gaussian information and have already been shown as a promising tool to constrain cosmology. In this work, we develop a new model to predict WL peak counts. The model generates fast simulations based on halo sampling and selects peaks from the derived lensing maps. This approach has three main advantages. First, the model is very fast: only several seconds are required to perform a realization. Second, including realistic conditions is straightforward. Third, the model provides the full distribution information because of its stochasticity. We show that our model agrees well with N-body simulations. Then, we study the impacts of the cosmology-dependent covariance on constraints and explore different parameter inference methods. A special focus is put on approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), an accept-reject sampler without the need to estimate the likelihood. We show that ABC is able to yield robust constraints with much reduced time costs. Several filtering techniques are studied to improve the extraction of multiscale information. Finally, the new model is applied to the CFHTLenS, KiDS DR1/2, and DES SV data sets. Our preliminary results agree with the Planck constraints assuming the Lambda-CDM model. Overall, this thesis forges an innovative tool for future WL surveys. The manuscript provides a brief review on WL peak counts.
'Black universe' epoch in string cosmology

String theory compactification involves manifolds with multiple warp factors. For cosmological applications, we often introduce a short, high-energy inflationary throat, and a long, low-energy standard model (SM) throat. It is assumed that at the end of inflation, the excited Kaluza-Klein modes from the inflationary throat tunnel to the SM throat and reheat standard model degrees of freedom, which are attached to probe brane(s). However, the huge hierarchy of energy scales can result in a highly dynamic transition of the throat geometry. We point out that in such a cosmological scenario the standard model throat (together with SM brane) will be cloaked by a Schwarzschild horizon, produced by the Kaluza-Klein modes tunneling from the short throat. The black brane formation is dual to the first order chiral phase transition of the cascading gauge theory. We calculate the critical energy density corresponding the formation of the black hole (BH) horizon in the long throat. We discuss the duality between 'black universe' cosmology and an expanding universe driven by the hot gauge theory radiation. We address the new problem of the hierarchical multiple-throat scenarios: SM brane disappearance after the decay of the BH horizon.