Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuel characteristics, low intensity burning and loss of carbon during regeneration burning in Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest at the Warra LTER site

Eucalyptus obliqua wet forest fuel characteristics and burning were at the Warra Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Tasmania's Southern Forests. The study exam- ined pre-logging, post-logging and post-burning variation in fuel characteristics in wet sclero- phyll and mixed forest. The utility of low intensity burning in coupes with dispersed 10% of their overstorey retained was also studied. Mean near-surface fine fuel load in unlogged E. obli- qua wet forest varied from 13 t ha -1 in mixed forest to 20 t ha -1 in wet sclerophyll forest. These fuel loads increased to between about 40 and 85 t ha -1 following logging. High intensity regen- eration burns removed the majority of the fine fuel. In low intensity burns the amount of fuel re- moval was dependent on the fuel moisture. Two low intensity burns removed 50-90% of the fine fuel and required significantly higher numbers of personnel than high intensity burns. Low inten- sity burns were lit in mid to late autumn when fuel moistures are higher than in late sum- mer/early autumn when high intensity burns are normally performed. Although it was possible to perform low intensity burns in E. obliqua wet forest, their effectiveness needs to be assessed by forest managers. Factors influencing the planning of low intensity burns include the amount of ash bed required for eucalypt regeneration, the desired reduction in fire risk, the resources needed to perform the burn and the number of burns needed. After the initial study was concen- trated on fine fuels, in 1998, it was decided to include all biomass on site in the study. By then, logging began or was completed (WR001B) in all four coupes so only pre-burning and post- burning sampling of the total biomass were conducted in three remaining coupes. In wet euca- lypt forests, controlled regeneration burning is used to expose the seedbed for regeneration of eucalypts following harvesting. Controlled regeneration burning acts to remove forest litter, bark and branches from the forest floor and heats the soil to provide better germination conditions. However, combustion of organic matter leads to the release of carbon dioxide (CO 2) into the at- mosphere. Little work has been done on the effect of slash burning on carbon emissions to the atmosphere. If a significant amount of carbon is lost annually as a consequence of controlled re- generation burns, this practice should be taken into account when calculating carbon sequestra- tion for Australian forests. The results from this study show that 52-63% of the total weight of organic material and its carbon content was lost to the atmosphere during burning. The majority of carbon loss was from slash greater than 7.0 cm in diameter.
Lingmotif: A User-focused Sentiment Analysis Tool

In this paper, we describe Lingmotif, a lexicon-based, linguistically-motivated, userfriendly, GUI-enabled, multi-platform, Sentiment Analysis desktop application. Lingmotif can perform SA on any type of input texts, regardless of their length and topic. The analysis is based on the identification of sentiment-laden words and phrases contained in the application's rich core lexicons, and employs context rules to account for sentiment shifters. It offers easy-to-interpret visual representations of quantitative data, as well as a detailed, qualitative analysis of the text in terms of its sentiment. Lingmotif can also take user-provided plugin lexicons in order to account for domain-specific sentiment expression. As of version 1.0, Lingmotif analyzes English and Spanish texts. Lingmotif thus aims to become a general-purpose Sentiment Analysis tool for discourse analysis, rhetoric, psychology, marketing, the language industries, and others.
Multiple-Hypothesis Extended Particle Filter for Acoustic Source Localization in Reverberant Environments

Particle filtering has been shown to be an effective approach to solving the problem of acoustic source localization in reverberant environments. In reverberant environment, the direct- arrival of the single source is accompanied by multiple spurious arrivals. Multiple-hypothesis model associated with these arrivals can be used to alleviate the unreliability often attributed to the acoustic source localization problem. Until recently, this multiple- hypothesis approach was only applied to bootstrap-based particle filter schemes. Recently, the extended Kalman particle filter (EPF) scheme which allows for an improved tracking capability was proposed for the localization problem. The EPF scheme utilizes a global extended Kalman filter (EKF) which strongly depends on prior knowledge of the correct hypotheses. Due to this, the extension of the multiple-hypothesis model for this scheme is not trivial. In this paper, the EPF scheme is adapted to the multiple-hypothesis model to track a single acoustic source in reverberant environments. Our work is supported by an extensive experimental study using both simulated data and data recorded in our acoustic lab. Various algorithms and array constellations were evaluated. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm in both tracking and switching scenarios. It is further shown that splitting the array into several sub-arrays improves the robustness of the estimated source location.
Research on the influence factors of arc characteristics in the arc extinguish chamber in DC contactor breaking process

Based on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) theory, the model of air arc in arc extinguish chamber with metal splitter plate of DC contactor is set up. By assuming the arc plasma sheath and coupling loop equation in the calculation, the arc motion and the process of extinguishing the arc by splitting into series arcs by metal splitter plates are simulated. The reasons for the formation of air vortex on the two sides of the arc chamber are explained by the change of pressure. Through the distribution of airflow field, it is found that the vortex flow is the main cause of the stagnation of arc root, and the influence of vortex on the dynamic characteristics of arc under different magnetic field is compared.
Pyff – A Pythonic Framework for Feedback Applications and Stimulus Presentation in Neuroscience

This paper introduces Pyff, the Pythonic feedback framework for feedback applications and stimulus presentation. Pyff provides a platform-independent framework that allows users to develop and run neuroscientific experiments in the programming language Python. Existing solutions have mostly been implemented in C++, which makes for a rather tedious programming task for non-computer-scientists, or in Matlab, which is not well suited for more advanced visual or auditory applications. Pyff was designed to make experimental paradigms (i.e., feedback and stimulus applications) easily programmable. It includes base classes for various types of common feedbacks and stimuli as well as useful libraries for external hardware such as eyetrackers. Pyff is also equipped with a steadily growing set of ready-to-use feedbacks and stimuli. It can be used as a standalone application, for instance providing stimulus presentation in psychophysics experiments, or within a closed loop such as in biofeedback or brain–computer interfacing experiments. Pyff communicates with other systems via a standardized communication protocol and is therefore suitable to be used with any system that may be adapted to send its data in the specified format. Having such a general, open-source framework will help foster a fruitful exchange of experimental paradigms between research groups. In particular, it will decrease the need of reprogramming standard paradigms, ease the reproducibility of published results, and naturally entail some standardization of stimulus presentation.
Continual Queries for Internet Scale Event-Driven Information Delivery

We introduce the concept of continual queries, describe the design of a distributed event-driven continual query system-OpenCQ, and outline the initial implementation of OpenCQ on top of the distributed interoperable information mediation system DIOM. Continual queries are standing queries that monitor update of interest and return results whenever the update reaches specified thresholds. In OpenCQ, users may specify to the system the information they would like to monitor (such as the events or the update thresholds they are interested in). Whenever the information of interest becomes available, the system immediately delivers it to the relevant users; otherwise, the system continually monitors the arrival of the desired information and pushes it to the relevant users as it meets the specified update thresholds. In contrast to conventional pull-based data management systems such as DBMSs and Web search engines, OpenCQ exhibits two important features: it provides push-enabled, event-driven, content-sensitive information delivery capabilities; and it combines pull and push services in a unified framework. By event-driven we mean that the update events of interest to be monitored are specified by users or applications. By content-sensitive, we mean the evaluation of the trigger condition happens only when a potentially interesting change occurs. By push-enabled, we mean the active delivery of query results or triggering of actions without user intervention.
Yersinia enterocolitica Serum Resistance Proteins YadA and Ail Bind the Complement Regulator C4b-Binding Protein

Many pathogens are equipped with factors providing resistance against the bactericidal action of complement. Yersinia enterocolitica, a Gram-negative enteric pathogen with invasive properties, efficiently resists the deleterious action of human complement. The major Y. enterocolitica serum resistance determinants include outer membrane proteins YadA and Ail. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen (O-ag) and outer core (OC) do not contribute directly to complement resistance. The aim of this study was to analyze a possible mechanism whereby Y. enterocolitica could inhibit the antibody-mediated classical pathway of complement activation. We show that Y. enterocolitica serotypes O:3, O:8, and O:9 bind C4b-binding protein (C4bp), an inhibitor of both the classical and lectin pathways of complement. To identify the C4bp receptors on Y. enterocolitica serotype O:3 surface, a set of mutants expressing YadA, Ail, O-ag, and OC in different combinations was tested for the ability to bind C4bp. The studies showed that both YadA and Ail acted as C4bp receptors. Ail-mediated C4bp binding, however, was blocked by the O-ag and OC, and could be observed only with mutants lacking these LPS structures. C4bp bound to Y. enterocolitica was functionally active and participated in the factor I-mediated degradation of C4b. These findings show that Y. enterocolitica uses two proteins, YadA and Ail, to bind C4bp. Binding of C4bp could help Y. enterocolitica to evade complement-mediated clearance in the human host.
Moderated statistical tests for assessing differences in tag abundance

MOTIVATION Digital gene expression (DGE) technologies measure gene expression by counting sequence tags. They are sensitive technologies for measuring gene expression on a genomic scale, without the need for prior knowledge of the genome sequence. As the cost of sequencing DNA decreases, the number of DGE datasets is expected to grow dramatically. Various tests of differential expression have been proposed for replicated DGE data using binomial, Poisson, negative binomial or pseudo-likelihood (PL) models for the counts, but none of the these are usable when the number of replicates is very small. RESULTS We develop tests using the negative binomial distribution to model overdispersion relative to the Poisson, and use conditional weighted likelihood to moderate the level of overdispersion across genes. Not only is our strategy applicable even with the smallest number of libraries, but it also proves to be more powerful than previous strategies when more libraries are available. The methodology is equally applicable to other counting technologies, such as proteomic spectral counts. AVAILABILITY An R package can be accessed from http://bioinf.wehi. edu.au/resources/
Detecting Network Cliques with Radon Basis Pursuit

In this paper, we propose a novel formulation of the network clique detection problem by introducing a general network data representation framework. We show connections between our formulation with a new algebraic tool, namely Radon basis pursuit in homogeneous spaces. Such a connection allows us to identify rigorous recovery conditions for clique detection problems. Practical approximation algorithms are also developed for solving empirical problems and their usefulness is demonstrated on real-world datasets. Our work connects two seemingly different areas: network data analysis and compressed sensing, which helps to bridge the gap between the research of network data and the classical theory of statistical learning and signal processing.
On the Bahadur representation of sample quantiles for dependent sequences

We establish the Bahadur representation of sample quantiles for linear and some widely used non-linear processes. Local ∞uctuations of empirical processes are discussed. Applications to the trimmed and Winsorized means are given. Our results extend previous ones by establishing sharper bounds under milder conditions and thus provide new insight into the theory of empirical processes for dependent random variables.
An atmospheric perspective on North American carbon dioxide exchange: CarbonTracker

We present an estimate of net CO2 exchange between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere across North America for every week in the period 2000 through 2005. This estimate is derived from a set of 28,000 CO2 mole fraction observations in the global atmosphere that are fed into a state-of-the-art data assimilation system for CO2 called CarbonTracker. By design, the surface fluxes produced in CarbonTracker are consistent with the recent history of CO2 in the atmosphere and provide constraints on the net carbon flux independent from national inventories derived from accounting efforts. We find the North American terrestrial biosphere to have absorbed −0.65 PgC/yr (1 petagram = 1015 g; negative signs are used for carbon sinks) averaged over the period studied, partly offsetting the estimated 1.85 PgC/yr release by fossil fuel burning and cement manufacturing. Uncertainty on this estimate is derived from a set of sensitivity experiments and places the sink within a range of −0.4 to −1.0 PgC/yr. The estimated sink is located mainly in the deciduous forests along the East Coast (32%) and the boreal coniferous forests (22%). Terrestrial uptake fell to −0.32 PgC/yr during the large-scale drought of 2002, suggesting sensitivity of the contemporary carbon sinks to climate extremes. CarbonTracker results are in excellent agreement with a wide collection of carbon inventories that form the basis of the first North American State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR), to be released in 2007. All CarbonTracker results are freely available at http://carbontracker.noaa. gov.
Life through the lens: a qualitative investigation of human behaviour with an urban photography service

The proliferation of computation in our everyday environment enables new types of interaction and communication devices. Understanding the dialogue between users and such technology is crucial to the success of future urban computing deployments. We investigate human behaviour in public spaces using a public photography service deployed on interactive public displays in an urban city. Through the analysis of user-generated snapshots we show that the service was rapidly appropriated outside its intended purpose, resulting in use that differs substantially from those previously documented in photography literature. We reflect on the reasons why the service was appropriated in this way and explore the evolution of photography in urban contexts. Ultimately, our findings help ground our understanding of human behaviour in urban spaces and thus contribute to the design of future Ubicomp deployments.
Depth localization of fluorescent heterogeneities in semi-infinite media: a numerical approach using early-arriving photons

The depth-localization of fluorescent objects having different diameters and embedded within semi-infinite turbid tissue is determined with a model based on the finite element method. The work relies on the time to reach half of the maximum fluorescence intensity. The model is based on a set of two-dependent photon diffusion equations: - the transport of the pulsed laser source (duration 1 ps) and - the transport of the induced fluorescent light excited by the source. The coupling between these equations is due to a source term directly proportional to the scattered fluence rate at the same location. To solve this problem, the method proceeds following the Galerkin formulation added to an implicit finite difference scheme (Backward Euler) to integrate the resulting matrix formulation with respect to time. The meshed domain is axi-symmetrical and takes into account the boundary conditions relative to air-tissue interface. The different computational results show that the fluorescent signals can be used to provide time of flight information about the depth localization of a spherical tumor embedded in a turbid medium. These findings are in good agreement with experimental works.
Lacritin Rescues Stressed Epithelia via Rapid Forkhead Box O3 (FOXO3)-associated Autophagy That Restores Metabolism*

Background: Homeostatic regulation of epithelia influences disease acquisition and aging. Results: Prosecretory mitogen lacritin stimulates FOXO3-ATG101 and FOXO1-ATG7 autophagic coupling and restores metabolic homeostasis. Conclusion: Lacritin is a homeostatic regulator. Significance: Exogenous lacritin restores prohomeostatic activity to tears from dry eye individuals. Homeostasis is essential for cell survival. However, homeostatic regulation of surface epithelia is poorly understood. The eye surface, lacking the cornified barrier of skin, provides an excellent model. Tears cover the surface of the eye and are deficient in dry eye, the most common eye disease affecting at least 5% of the world's population. Only a tiny fraction of the tear proteome appears to be affected, including lacritin, an epithelium-selective mitogen that promotes basal tearing when topically applied to rabbit eyes. Here we show that homeostasis of cultured corneal epithelia is entirely lacritin-dependent and elucidate the mechanism as a rapid autophagic flux to promptly restore cellular metabolism and mitochondrial fusion in keeping with the short residence time of lacritin on the eye. Accelerated flux appears to be derived from lacritin-stimulated acetylation of FOXO3 as a novel ligand for ATG101 and coupling of stress-acetylated FOXO1 with ATG7 (which remains uncoupled without lacritin) and be sufficient to selectively divert huntingtin mutant Htt103Q aggregates largely without affecting non-aggregated Htt25Q. This is in keeping with stress as a prerequisite for lacritin-stimulated autophagy. Lacritin targets the cell surface proteoglycan syndecan-1 via its C-terminal amino acids Leu108-Leu109-Phe112 and is also available in saliva, plasma, and lung lavage. Thus, lacritin may promote epithelial homeostasis widely.
Can software routers scale?

Software routers can lead us from a network of special-purpose hardware routers to one of general-purpose extensible infrastructure - if, that is, they can scale to high speeds. We identify the challenges in achieving this scalability and propose a solution: a cluster-based router architecture that uses an interconnect of commodity server platforms to build software routers that are both incrementally scalable and fully programmable.
On the Energy Efficiency-Spectral Efficiency Trade-off over the MIMO Rayleigh Fading Channel

Along with spectral efficiency (SE), energy efficiency (EE) is becoming one of the key performance evaluation criteria for communication system. These two criteria, which are conflicting, can be linked through their trade-off. The EE-SE trade-off for the multi-input multi-output (MIMO) Rayleigh fading channel has been accurately approximated in the past but only in the low-SE regime. In this paper, we propose a novel and more generic closed-form approximation of this trade-off which exhibits a greater accuracy for a wider range of SE values and antenna configurations. Our expression has been here utilized for assessing analytically the EE gain of MIMO over single-input single-output (SISO) system for two different types of power consumption models (PCMs): the theoretical PCM, where only the transmit power is considered as consumed power; and a more realistic PCM accounting for the fixed consumed power and amplifier inefficiency. Our analysis unfolds the large mismatch between theoretical and practical MIMO vs. SISO EE gains; the EE gain increases both with the SE and the number of antennas in theory, which indicates that MIMO is a promising EE enabler; whereas it remains small and decreases with the number of transmit antennas when a realistic PCM is considered.
An Efficient Identity-based Signature from Lattice in the Random Oracle Model

We propose an efficient identity-based signature (IBS) scheme. The security of our scheme is proved in the random oracle model. Core technical components of our constructions are built on an arborist extends its control for a lattice to an arbitrary higher-dimensional extension. We use lattice's growth and lattice basis randomization securely to generate the user's secret key, and use trapdoor functions with preimage sampling to generate signature. Compared with the schemes based on factoring or discrete log, our scheme requires only linear operations on small integers except with larger public and secret keys. In particular, our scheme can resist quantum attack.
Field Emission from Graphene Nanosheets

Takahiro Matsumoto1,4, Tomonori Nakamura3,5, Yoichiro Neo3, Hidenori Mimura3 and Makoto Tomita6 1Research and Development Center, Stanley Electric Corporation 2Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Osaka University 3Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University 4National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology 5Research Laboratory, Onizuka Glass Corporation 6Department of Physics, Shizuoka University Japan
The relationship between parental fatigue, parenting self-efficacy and behaviour: implications for supporting parents in the early parenting period.

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence indicates that parental fatigue is associated with low warmth and increased hostility in parent-child interactions. One possible pathway by which fatigue may impact on parenting behaviour is via parental self-efficacy (PSE), whereby high fatigue may undermine PSE, which is often associated with suboptimal parenting behaviour. The current study sought to explore a model of the relationships between parental fatigue, parenting warmth and hostility, where PSE mediates these relationships and whether the nature of these relationships differ by social or family context. METHODS The current sample was drawn from a larger Australian community sample survey on parent well-being and parenting. It consisted of 1143 parents (mothers, n = 1003; fathers, n = 140) of children aged 0-4 years. RESULTS Path analysis revealed that the relationship between fatigue and parenting warmth and hostility was fully mediated by PSE. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that fatigue has the potential to negatively influence parenting behaviours that are important for their children's well-being and development, and that fatigue plays a mediating role in this relationship. Implications of the study for psycho-education and interventions targeting the management of parental fatigue are discussed.