Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative chelate-assisted phytoextraction of heavy metals by Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia and Jatropha multifida cultivated on soil collected from selected dumpsites in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Background: It is needful to design a process that will lead to the use of fast growing tropical plants for phytoextraction studies. Study Design: It is an analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between October 2010 and June 2012 on selected dumpsites located in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methodology: Bulk soil samples were collected from selected dumpsites on seven points at interval of 10 m, starting from top of the slope. Physicochemical and heavy metals content of soil were determined on bulk and fractional soil samples, using sequential extraction technique. The heavy metals were analyzed using atomic adsorption spectrophotometer, prior to plants’ cultivation. Heavy metal concentration of plant with and without 1g/kg EDTA was determined in different sections of plant by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, in other to determine Original Research Article Awokunmi; BJAST, 5(4): 353-370, 2015; Article no.BJAST. 2015.033 354 their phytoextraction potentials. Results: The result revealed the mean value of pH (6.02±0.11-6.31±0.12), organic matter content (3.00±0.08-7.00±0.13%) and the CEC (59.20-62.40 mmol/kg) to be highest at Aba Egbira dumpsite. The result of sequential extraction revealed that heavy metal were distributed in fraction soil samples in the order 75>150>350>495>1000 μm, showing the effect of particulate site on the availability of heavy metals. Application of EDTA increased mobility of heavy metals from soil to shoot of plants with concentration of Cd in J. curcas, J. gossypifolia and J. multifida in the following range; (372.0-440.1; experiment, 150.2-186.6; control), (377.5-418.2; experiment, 142.2202.4; control) and (455.0-530.6; experiment, 245.0-259.2; control) while Cu and Pb ranged from (921.0-118.0; experiment, 405.0-821.0; control), (818.0-962.0; experiment, 442.0-650.0; control) and (1079.0-1138.0; experiment, 644.0-686.0; control) and Pb (384.4-426.2; experiment, 242.2283.0; control), (328.0-376.0; experiment, 159.0-186.2; control) and (417.0-436.0; experiment, 330.0-370.7; control) mg/kg respectively, in all dumpsites investigated. Bioaccumulation factor (BF), translocation factor (TF) and remediation ratio (RR) greater than one showed that they are effective in chelant-assisted phytoextraction. Conclusion: Therefore, the use the species of Jatopha are advocated for phytoextraction Cd, Pb
Genetic Enhancement in Humans

A great deal of public excitement and controversy has been associated with advances in gene technology, especially the idea that humans could be experimentally "enhanced. " However, based on the recent history of transgenic experiments in animals, the prospects are much less rosy than portrayed, and even successful efforts could not affect human evolution. These realities should temper unduly restrictive legislation that could impede the course of scientific progress.
Extrasynaptic GABAA Receptors of Thalamocortical Neurons: A Molecular Target for Hypnotics

Among hypnotic agents that enhance GABAA receptor function, etomidate is unusual because it is selective for β2/β3 compared with β1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. Mice incorporating an etomidate-insensitive β2 subunit (β2N265S) revealed that β2 subunit-containing receptors mediate the enhancement of slow-wave activity (SWA) by etomidate, are required for the sedative, and contribute to the hypnotic actions of this anesthetic. Although the anatomical location of the β2-containing receptors that mediate these actions is unknown, the thalamus is implicated. We have characterized GABAA receptor-mediated neurotransmission in thalamic nucleus reticularis (nRT) and ventrobasalis complex (VB) neurons of wild-type, β–/–2, and β2N265S mice. VB but not nRT neurons exhibit a large GABA-mediated tonic conductance that contributes ∼80% of the total GABAA receptor-mediated transmission. Consequently, although etomidate enhances inhibition in both neuronal types, the effect of this anesthetic on the tonic conductance of VB neurons is dominant. The GABA-enhancing actions of etomidate in VB but not nRT neurons are greatly suppressed by the β2N265S mutation. The hypnotic THIP (Gaboxadol) induces SWA and at low, clinically relevant concentrations (30 nm to 3 μm) increases the tonic conductance of VB neurons, with no effect on VB or nRT miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) or on the holding current of nRT neurons. Zolpidem, which has no effect on SWA, prolongs VB mIPSCs but is ineffective on the phasic and tonic conductance of nRT and VB neurons, respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that enhancement of extrasynaptic inhibition in the thalamus may contribute to the distinct sleep EEG profiles of etomidate and THIP compared with zolpidem.
Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils in New Zealand—A review of current knowledge and directions for future research

Should international protocols be ratified, New Zealand will become legally committed to limit its greenhouse gas emissions The three major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) Agricultural soils are generally considered to be the main source of N2O emissions in New Zealand, but production estimates to date are surrounded by great uncertainty This paper reviews our current understanding of agricultural N2O emissions, and suggests directions for future research needs by evaluating the default emission factors of the 1996 Revised Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the New Zealand situation The emission factors calculated for New Zealand agricultural soils are generally within the range of the 1996 IPCC default values, but the limited amount of research data available hampers a full evaluation of the appropriateness of these factors for New Zealand More long‐term studies are needed to refine our emission factors, particularly those for animal urine and dung returned to pasture Application of the IPCC methodology to New Zealand identifies herbivore excrement as the single largest potential source of anthropogenic N2O emissions (about 50% of the total emission) In addition, research is also required for indirect sources of N2O, because only limited overseas data, and none from New Zealand, are available The 1996 IPCC methodology does not account for variations in climatic and soil physical conditions, which are known to affect N2O emissions In the longer term, development of robust process‐based models, coupled with spatial and temporal data sets of the major drivers of N2O emissions, may therefore be a useful approach for obtaining national emission estimates for New Zealand This will require long‐term monitoring of N2O emissions, under various land uses and on a national network of sites
Self-optimizing adaptive notch filters - Comparison of three optimization strategies

The paper provides comparison of three different approaches to on-line tuning of adaptive notch filters (ANF) - the algorithms used for extraction/elimination of complex sinusoidal signals (cisoids) buried in noise. Tuning is needed to adjust adaptation gains, which control tracking performance of ANF algorithms, to the unknown and/or time time-varying rate of signal nonstationarity. The first of the compared approaches incorporates sequential optimization of adaptation gains. The second solution is based on the concept of parallel estimation. It is shown that the best results are achieved when both approaches are combined in a judicious way. Such joint sequential/parallel optimization preserves advantages of both treatments: adaptiveness (sequential approach) and robustness to abrupt changes (parallel approach).
A fast algorithm to forward model the triaxial induction logging response in layered transversely isotropic dipping formations

ABSTRACTWe have developed a new analytic method to compute the response of triaxial induction logging tools in layered transverse isotropic (TI) dipping formations without borehole and invasion zones. A triaxial induction tool is composed of one or more sets of three orthogonal transmitter coils and three orthogonal receiver coils arranged along the tool axis. The tool axis may intercept a formation with dip, azimuthal, and rotation angles. Based on the electromagnetic (EM) field in planarly layered media, formulations of the EM fields generated by these three transmitting coils are derived. A fast-forward-modeling algorithm to compute the responses of an induction tool was developed. Compared with the algorithm using the coefficient propagator method previously developed, the proposed algorithm calculates the generalized reflection and transmission coefficients only once for each layer regardless of the position of the transmitters, and therefore, it greatly speeds up the computation. The simulation code.
A method of dunhuang frescos segmentation based on Markov random field and Graph cut

This paper combined the dependence of statistical features of pixels and the low-level features of image to complete image modeling. Using interactive image segmentation principle, through the posterior probability of maximum labelling field to obtain global energy function. Applying Graph Cut method to minimize the energy function and calculating optimal segmentation labeling of the whole image. Then, this paper apply it into the segmentation of dunhuang fresco, and we find the result is conspicuously better than typical grab cut algorithm, consequently, the effect of this paper is proved.
An adaptive denoising method based on local mode estimation

An adaptive method is presented in this paper to cope with Gaussian noise through local structure estimation. Even regions and uneven regions are distinguished firstly, then each uneven region is further segmented into two subregions by fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm and Fisher discriminant analysis. Finally, linear approximation is used to estimate the intensities of each region. With the introduction of local structure analysis, Gaussian noise is reduced effectively with edges preserved very well. Experimental results also demonstrate its effectiveness in terms of medical images enhancement, while it is also applicable to other similar images that have many tiny details
Thermoluminescence Dating: With Special Reference to Accuracy and Reliability of Age Determination Using Quartz of Volcanic Rocks.

熱ルミネッセンス(TL)年代測定の最近の研究動向を紹介し,火山岩中の石英による測定法と年代精度にかかわる項目を解説した. 測定法では,赤色発光の利用,生長曲線によるパレオドースの決定,人工照射と天然TLの関係を議論した. 年間線量評価では,元素分析と放射線現地計測を比較し,元素分析値から年間線量を算出する場合の水分量,元素移動,宇宙線量を見積もる方法を示した. 同一地層についてのほかの手法による年代データとの比較から,TL法は数千年から百万年までの年代範囲を20%程度の精度で求められることを明らかにした. 誤差要因が多いことから,TL法を精密年代決定法として利用することは困難であるが,注意深い実験で10%以内の誤差におさめることは可能である. TL法の利点は,測定が簡単で,桁違いとなるような大幅誤差例が少ないことであり,第四紀火山の活動史復元等への利用が最適である.
Ranking of non-linear qualitative decision preferences using copulas

In this paper we address the problem of option ranking in qualitative evaluation models. Current approaches make the assumptions that when qualitative data are suitably mapped into discrete quantitative data, they form monotone or closely linear tabular value functions. Although the power of using monotone and linear functions to model decision maker 鈂s preferences is impressive, there are many cases of non-linear decision preferences that need to be modeled using non-linear functions. In this paper, we present one possibility of how to capture the discrete non-linear decision maker preferences by employing copulas. Copulas are functions that manage to capture the non-linear dependences between random variables. Mainly, they are used for aggregation of two attributes. We extend the concept to multivariate case by introducing a hierarchical copula. That way we capture the non-linear dependences among all uniformly distributed variables. We use the obtained dependence structure for copula-based median regression which results into the required option ranking. The results show that this method may outperform the current approaches for qualitative option ranking of non-monotone decision preferences for a class of non-linear preferences. Furthermore, the mathematics behind copula functions allows extending their usage on preferences expressed with continuous attributes.
Factors Analysis on Differences of Teachers’ ICT Usage Between Urban and Rural Region

This article selects teachers of primary and secondary school as the objects, from both district A (central urban area) and district B (eastern coastal rural area). We use questionnaire method to collect data about ICT of teachers in primary and secondary schools and influencing factors, and then use statistical methods of independent samples t-test and regression analysis to study the influencing factors of the ICT of teachers in urban and rural districts. The results show that ICT of teachers in district A is lower than that in B, and the factors that affect the ICT in different regions are not the same.
Multiple-Valued Constant-Power Adder for Cryptographic Processors

This paper presents the design of a multiple-valued adder for tamper-resistant cryptographic processors. The proposed adder is implemented in Multiple-Valued Current-Mode Logic (MV-CML). The important feature of MV-CML is that the power consumption can be constant regardless of the input values, which makes it possible to prevent power analysis attacks using dependencies between power consumption and intermediate values or operations of the executed cryptographic algorithms. In this paper, we present a multiple-valued constant-power adder based on the binary Positive-Digit (PD) number system and its application to RSA processors. The power characteristic of the proposed adder is evaluated with HSPICE simulation using 90nm process technology. The proposed design can achieve constant power consumption with low performance overhead in comparison with the conventional binary design.
Noble Gases in the Bells (C2) and Sharps (H3) Chondrites

Bells and Sharps have some mineralogical and chemical peculiarities that make their classification uncertain. For Bells, the40 Ar content at 890 × 10−8 cm3 STP/g is greater than the highest C1 chondrite value (Ivuna; 640), but close to the mean value for C2's (880). The21 Ne-exposure age of 0.38 ± 0.07 Ma is very short, and coincides with the distinctive cluster of five C2's (0.17 to 0.76 Ma). Very likely Bells belongs to the same cluster, in which case it comes from the C2 parent body. Hence the C2 parent body seems to contain transitional C1-C2 material, like Bells, within a few km of the region of C2 chondrites proper. Thus the radiogenic and especially the cosmogenic gases link Bells to the C2 group. For Sharps, the elemental concentrations of primordial Ar, Kr and Xe (127, 0.76 and 0.59, all 10−8 cc/g) are ∼ 3 x higher than for any other H3 chondrite. While Sharps is classified as 3.4 based on five indicators of metamorphism, the very high concentration of remaining two parameters of the Sears et al. (1980) scheme — C and primordial36 Ar — (together with the high concentration of the volatile trace elements Bi, In and Tl) implies a classification of 3.0 for its volatile element content. The21 Ne-exposure age is 25.5 ± 2.5 Ma, placing Sharps in the second largest peak of the H-chondrite distribution. The nominal K-Ar and U, Th-He ages are 4.6 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 1.5 Ga, suggesting that Sharps has remained at low temperatures since its beginnings.
In situ transmission electron microscopy studies of electric-field-induced phenomena in ferroelectrics

High electric fields were delivered to specimens during imaging in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) chamber to reveal details of electric field-induced phenomena in ferroelectric oxides. These include the polarization switching in nanometer-sized ferroelectric domains and the grain boundary cavitation in a commercial lead zirconate titanate (PZT) polycrystalline ceramic, the domain wall fracture in a Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O_3–PbTiO_3 single crystal, and the transformation of incommensurate modulations in Pb_0. 99Nb_0. 02[(Zr_1− x Sn_x)_1− y Ti_y]_0. 98O_3 (PZST100 x /100 y /2) polycrystalline ceramics. In the PZT ceramic, a cavitation process was uncovered for the electric field-induced intergranular fracture. In the ferroelectric single crystal, a preexisting crack was observed to deflect and to follow a 90° domain wall, indicating the presence of severe incompatible piezoelectric strains at the domain wall. In the antiferroelectric PZST ceramics, the electric field-induced antiferroelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transformation was accompanied with the disappearance of incommensurate modulations.
Disaggregating climatic trends by classification of circulation patterns

The trends in occurrence frequencies of circulation types over Europe and in nine climate variables in the Czech Republic conditioned by the types are examined for period 1949–1980. The circulation types are determined by an objective procedure from daily 500 hPa heights. Both in summer and winter, anticyclonic types have become more frequent at the expense of cyclonic types. The circulation changes are shown to be unrelated to the trends in surface climate elements in summer, whereas in winter, trends in circulation explain a part of the observed warming and strengthening of southerly winds.
Measuring the Strength of Linguistic Cues for Discourse Relations

Discourse relations in the recent literature are typically classified as either explicit (e.g., when a discourse connective like “because” is present) or implicit. This binary treatment of implicitness is advantageous for simplifying the explanation of many phenomena in discourse processing. On the other hand, linguists do not yet agree as to what types of textual particles contribute to revealing the relation between any pair of sentences or clauses in a text. At one extreme, we can claim that every single word in either of the sentences involved can play a role in shaping a discourse relation. In this work, we propose a measure to quantify how good a cue a certain textual element is for a specific discourse relation, i.e., a measure of the strength of discourse markers. We will illustrate how this measure becomes important both for modeling discourse relation construction as well as developing automatic tools for identifying discourse relations.
A Dynamic Confusion Score for Dependency Arc Labels

In this paper we propose an approach to dynamically compute a confusion score for dependency arc labels, in typed dependency parsing framework. This score accompanies the parsed output and aims to administer an informed account of parse correctness, detailed down to each edge of the parse. The methodology explores the confusion encountered by the oracle of a data driven parser, in predicting an arc label. We support our hypothesis by empirically illustrating, for 20 languages, that the labels with a high confusion score are notably the predominant parsing errors.
Effect of sill spacing and sediment size grading on scouring at grade‐control structures

Sequences of artiﬁcial steps are sometimes used to reproduce the natural step–pool morphology of high‐gradient streams. The depth, length and shape of the scour holes in gravel‐bed rivers can be predicted reasonably using recently developed formulae. However, the properties of the scour holes can sometimes be affected by the distance between structures. This effect is called ‘geometrical interference’ and leads to a reduction of the scour hole compared to its potential size. Geometrical interference may occur in sequences of artiﬁcial steps in high‐gradient torrents, where structures are sometimes built at distances of a few tens of metres apart, but may also apply to natural step–pool systems. In this paper, a series of tests have been conducted to determine the effect of bed sill spacing and sediment grading on the potential erosion by jets forming over the sills. A new formula is derived, applicable to high‐gradient streams (slope > 0·04), which can be applied to the special case of scour holes developed by interfering sills. Sediment size gradation, not accounted for in previous formulae, is found to have a signiﬁcant effect on the scour dimensions and is included in the new predictive formula. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complexity and Organizational Reality: Uncertainty and the Need to Rethink Management after the Collapse of Investment Capitalism

Preface 1. Contradiction: Experiencing the Reality of Uncertainty but Still Believing that Executives choose an Organization's 'Direction' 2. How We came to Believe that Leaders and Managers choose an Organization's Direction: Professional Identification with the Sciences of Certainty 3. Complexity and the Sciences of Uncertainty: The Importance of Local Interaction in the Emergence of Population-Wide Patterns of Continuity and Change 4. Complexity and What most Writers on Organizations do with it: Obscuring Local Interaction and mostly Re-Presenting the Dominant Discourse 5. Understanding Organizations as Games we are Pre-Occupied in: Finding Ourselves Immersed in Local Interaction and using Abstract Management Tools at the Same Time 6. Understanding Organizations as Social Processes: The Interplay of Abstracting and Immersing Producing Outcomes No-One Chooses 7. Managers Accomplish Whatever they Accomplish in Processes of Communication 8. Turning the Dominant Management Discourse on its Head: Organizational Continuity and Transformation Emerging in Local Interaction rather than being Chosen by Managers 9. Local and Population-Wide Patterns of Power Relations and Ideology: The Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion in Organizations 10. Implications of a Theory of Complex Responsive Processes for Policy Making, Consultancy, Leadership, Management, Organizational Research and Management Development
Nonvisual Route following with Guidance from a Simple Haptic or Auditory Display

A path-following experiment, using a global positioning system, was conducted with participants who were legally blind. On- and off-course confirmations were delivered by either a vibrotactile or an audio stimulus. These simple binary cues were sufficient for guidance and point to the need to offer output options for guidance systems for people who are visually impaired.