Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal analysis of tree height in a young cork oak plantation

Cork oak is one of the most valuable natural forest genera in the Mediterranean basin. Modelling cork oak growth has been a challenge for foresters in recent years because of strong site and genetic influences, below-ground competition, management regimes and age effects. Because cork productivity is related to forest height, which is, in turn, related directly with site characteristics, an increase in the accuracy of height prediction implies improved productivity estimation. A Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) geostatistical model was applied to characterize the space–time pattern of height of young cork oak in a forest stand from central Sardinia in the years 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008. Cork oak height maps were produced for each of the 5 years. The main goals were to analyse and interpret through time (i) the changes in spatial correlation and (ii) the changes in spatial distribution of cork oak height. The plantation was characterized by an increasing spatial dependence through time, whereas the temporal range was 2 years. Cork oak height was significantly correlated with wind speed (reduced by a neighbouring forest) in all the years implying a single trend. The correlations were larger for 2006 and 2008 than for previous years. Three other environmental variables (shade, elevation and slope) were less significant and their influence restricted to 2 years only. This research has several implications for the management of cork oak in the young phase.
Monte carlo simulation for soot dynamics

A new Monte Carlo method termed Comb-like frame Monte Carlo is developed to simulate the soot dynamics. Detailed stochastic error analysis is provided. Comb-like frame Monte Carlo is coupled with the gas phase solver Chemkin II to simulate soot formation in a 1-D premixed burner stabilized flame. The simulated soot number density, volume fraction, and particle size distribution all agree well with the measurement available in literature. The origin of the bimodal distribution of particle size distribution is revealed with quantitative proof.
OPTICAL SPECTRAL VARIABILITY OF THE VERY HIGH ENERGY GAMMA-RAY BLAZAR 1ES 1011+496

We present results of five years of optical (UBVRI) observations of the very high energy gamma-ray blazar 1ES 1011+496 at the MDM Observatory. We calibrated UBVRI magnitudes of five comparison stars in the field of the object. Most of our observations were done during moderately faint states of 1ES 1011+496 with R ≳ 15.0. The light curves exhibit moderate, closely correlated variability in all optical wavebands on timescales of a few days. A cross-correlation analysis between optical bands does not show significant evidence for time lags. We find a positive correlation (Pearson's r = 0.57; probability of non-correlation P(>r) ≈ 4 × 10−8) between the R-band magnitude and the B–R color index, indicating a bluer-when-brighter trend. Snapshot optical spectral energy distributions exhibit a peak within the optical regime, typically between the V and B bands. We find a strong (r = 0.78; probability of non-correlation P(>r) ≈ 10−15) positive correlation between the νFν peak flux and the peak frequency, best fit by a relation νFpkν ∝ νkpk with k = 2.05 ± 0.17. Such a correlation is consistent with the optical (synchrotron) variability of 1ES 1011+496 being primarily driven by changes in the magnetic field.
Author ' s response to reviews Title : A quality improvement plan for hypertension control : the INCOTECA Project ( INterventions for COntrol of hyperTEnsion in CAtalonia ) Authors :

Roser Valles Fernandez (farmacia_sapcr@gencat.net) Magdalena Rosell Murphy (mrosell@idiapjgol.org) Olga Correcher Aventin (ocorrecher.mn.ics@gencat.cat) Lucas Mengual Martínez (lucasmengual@comb.es) Núria Aznar Martínez (naznar.mn.ics@gencat.cat) Gemma Prieto de Lamo (gprieto@sapcll.scs.es) Alícia Franzi Sisó (afranzi.mn.ics@gencat.cat) Jordi Puig Manresa (jpuig@sabadell.scs.es) Josep Ma Bonet Simó (avaluacio_sapcr@gencat.net) the INCOTECA research group (INCOTECA) (mrosell@idiapjgol.org)
Do You Trust the Cloud? Modeling Cloud Technology Adoption in Organizations

Cloud computing has become popular as an alternative to adding new information systems in IT-based organizations. As more corporate information and data are stored in the cloud, concerns for cloud-based security have grown. This study proposes a theoretical model for understanding cloud adoption, and furthers inquiry into the causal relationships between predictive and moderating factors. We empirically examine how these factors affect trust in corporate decisions to adopt cloud computing by performing a path analysis using SmartPLS. The result demonstrates that the perceived risks of cloud computing do influence the corporate users’ attitude and behavioral control over cloud computing, but does not necessary have a significant impact on public trust in adopting cloud technology. People trust the cloud based on information received from marketing messages, social media and friends. This study contributes theoretically as well as methodologically to our understanding of cloud technology adoption. 뀀ഀȠ
Randomised controlled trial of cardioprotective diet in patients with recent acute myocardial infarction: results of one year follow up.

OBJECTIVE--To test whether a fat reduced diet rich in soluble dietary fibre, antioxidant vitamins, and minerals reduces complications and mortality after acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Randomised, single blind, controlled trial. SETTING--Primary and secondary care research centre for patients with myocardial infarction. SUBJECTS--505 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. Those with definite or possible acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina based on World Health Organisation criteria were assigned to diet A (n = 204) or diet B (n = 202) within 24-48 hours of infarction. INTERVENTIONS--Both groups were advised to follow a fat reduced diet. Group A was also advised to eat more fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grain products. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mortality from cardiac disease and other causes. Serum lipid concentrations and compliance with diet. RESULTS--Blood lipoprotein concentrations and body weight fell significantly in patients in group A compared with those in group B (cholesterol fell by 0.74 mmol/l in group A v 0.32 mmol/l in group B, 95% confidence interval of difference 0.14 to 0.70, and weight by 7.1 v 3.0 kg, 0.52 to 7.68). The incidence of cardiac events was significantly lower in group A than group B (50 v 82 patients, p less than 0.001). Group A also had lower total mortality (21 v 38 died, p less than 0.01) than group B. CONCLUSIONS--Comprehensive dietary changes in conjunction with weight loss immediately after acute myocardial infarction may modulate blood lipoproteins and significantly reduce complications and mortality after one year.
The effects of poly-SiGe on sensing properties for ultra-low-power CMOS-embedded MEMS sensors

To compare Si and poly-SiGe as MEMS structural materials having 20 pm-thick, we fabricated a capacitive accelerometer on an 8-inch Si substrate using CMOS standard process and measured capacitance sensitivities of an identical sensor design. As a result, we found that the sensitivity of the SiGe sensor is 2.1 times larger than that of the Si sensor. We also confirmed that the SiGe sensor can attain lower noise level as well as lower power consumption, thanks to the higher mass density of SiGe and availability of CMOS-embedded SiGe MEMS structure. The results indicate that the poly-SiGe film is promising candidates for future CMOS-embedded sensor technology applications.
THE EFFECT OF ARTIFICIAL INOCULATION WITH SELECTED FUSARIUM STRAINS ON NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AN ENSILING PROCESS OF BT MAIZE

The objective of the study was to compare the nutritive value and mycotoxin content of maize forage and silage of near isogenic control MONUMENTAL (C) and Bt maize (MONSANTO, MON 810) that was either untreated (Bt) or artificially inoculated with Fusarium strains (I-Bt). The inoculation was made in the growing crop in milk stage of maturity. Plants were harvested at the soft dough stage of maturity and ensiled in microsilage tubes. The content of forage dry matter (DM) was 307.6 g/kg in C, 306.9 g/kg in Bt and 298.0 g/kg in I-Bt. All forages were positive for deoxynivalenol, aflatoxin, fumonisins and zearalenone (P>0.05). Content of DM was the lowest in I-Bt silage (285.5 g/kg) and differed significantly from C (296.7 g/kg) or Bt (303.7 g/kg, P 0.05). Lactic acid was predominant product of fermentation in all silages, however silage I-Bt tended to have lower content of lactic acid (20.96 g/kg) than C or Bt (24.76 or 23.82 g/kg, P>0.05). I-Bt silage contained lower levels of eoxynivalenol (602 ppb) than C or Bt silage (748 and 690 ppb, respectively, P<0.05). Content of fumonisins and zearalenone in C did not differ from I-Bt (P<0.05) but both were lower than in Bt (P<0.05). In conclusion, nutritional value a fermentation parameters of Bt silage were similar to C except of CP content and pH that was lower in Bt (P<0.05). I-Bt silage had lower content of DM, CP and fat than Bt silage (P<0.05). Controversially, concentrations of mycotoxins in I-Bt silage were lower than in Bt.
Evidence for Crossmodal Interactions across Depth on Target Localisation Performance in a Spatial Array

Auditory stimuli are known to improve visual target recognition and detection when both are presented in the same spatial location. However, most studies have focused on crossmodal spatial congruency along the horizontal plane and the effects of audio-visual spatial congruency in depth (ie along the depth axis) are relatively less well understood. In the following experiments we presented a visual (face) or auditory (voice) target stimulus in a location on a spatial array which was either spatially congruent or incongruent in depth (ie positioned directly in front or behind) with a crossmodal stimulus. The participant's task was to determine whether a visual (experiments 1 and 3) or auditory (experiment 2) target was located in the foreground or background of this array. We found that both visual and auditory targets were less accurately located when crossmodal stimuli were presented from different, compared to congruent, locations in depth. Moreover, this effect was particularly found for visual targets located in the periphery, although spatial incongruency affected the location of auditory targets across both locations. The relative distance of the array to the observer did not seem to modulate this congruency effect (experiment 3). Our results add to the growing evidence for multisensory influences on search performance and extend these findings to the localisation of targets in the depth plane.
Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Bacteriophage SPN3UB

ABSTRACT Salmonella is one of the major pathogenic bacteria that cause food poisoning. To elucidate the host infection mechanism of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-targeting phages, the bacteriophage SPN3UB was isolated from a chicken fecal sample. This phage belongs morphologically to the Siphoviridae family and infects the host via the O antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To further understand its infection mechanism, we completely sequenced and analyzed the genome. Here, we announce its complete genome sequence and report major findings from the genomic analysis results.
New Lowness Results for ZPPNP and Other Complexity Classes

Abstract We show that the class AM∩coAM is low for ZPP NP . As a consequence, it follows that Graph Isomorphism and several group-theoretic problems are low for ZPP NP . We also show that the class IP[P/poly], consisting of sets that have interactive proof systems with honest provers in P/poly, is also low for ZPP NP . For the nonuniform function classes NPMV/poly, NPSV/poly, and NPMV t /poly, we show the following lowness results: Sets whose characteristic functions are in NPSV/poly and that have program checkers are low for AM and ZPP NP . Self-reducible sets with characteristic functions in NPMV t /poly are low for Σ 2 p . Sets whose characteristic functions are in NPMV/poly and that have program checkers are low for Σ 2 p . We also give applications of these lowness results.
Speech Recognition Method Based on Linear Descending Inertia Weight PSO Algorithm Optimizing SVM Kernel Parameters

An important factor that influences the performance of support vector machine is how to select the parameters. Particle swarm optimization is an efficient algorithm and it is broadly used in many research areas like pattern recognition. In order to improve the learning and generalization ability of support vector machine and enhance the speech recognition system accuracy, a method for searching the Gaussian kernel support vector machine optimal parameters (C,γ) based on particle swarm optimization is proposed and a speech recognition system based on support vector machine using the optimal parameters is constructed in this paper. The inertia weight, a crucial parameter of the particle swarm optimization, is adopted in linear descending adjusting method. The speech data is isolated, non-specific and middle vocabulary words. The speech feature we used is modified MFCC feature. Experiments indicate that it is an efficient approach for parameters selection of support vector machine and has higher correct speech recognition rates than default parameters of the support vector machine open source software.
Comparison of the DNA Extraction Methods for Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification from Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissues

To obtain an adequate quality and quantity of DNA from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue, six different DNA extraction methods were compared. Four methods used deparaffinization by xylene followed by proteinase K digestion and phenol-chloroform extraction. The temperature of the different steps was changed to obtain higher yields and improved quality of extracted DNA. The remaining two methods used microwave heating for deparaffinization. The best DNA extraction method consisted of deparaffinization by microwave irradiation, protein digestion with proteinase K at 48°C overnight, and no further purification steps. By this method, the highest DNA yield was obtained and the amplification of a 989-base pair &bgr;-globin gene fragment was achieved. Furthermore, DNA extracted by means of this procedure from five gastric carcinomas was successfully used for single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing assays of the &bgr;-catenin gene. Because the microwave-based DNA extraction method presented here is simple, has a lower contamination risk, and results in a higher yield of DNA compared with the ordinary organic chemical reagent–based extraction method, it is considered applicable to various clinical and basic fields.
Vers des protocoles de tolérance aux fautes Byzantines efficaces et robustes. (Efficient and Robust Byzantine Fault Tolerant Replication Protocols)

Les systemes d'information deviennent de plus en plus complexes et il est difficile de les garantir exempts de fautes. La replication de machines a etats est une technique permettant de tolerer les fautes, quelque soit leur nature, qu'elles soient logicielles ou materielles. Cette these traite des protocoles de replication de machines a etats tolerant les fautes arbitraires, egalement appelees Byzantines. Ces protocoles doivent relever deux defis : (i) ils doivent etre efficaces, c'est-a-dire que leurs performances doivent etre les meilleurs possibles, afin de masquer le cout supplementaire du a la replication et (ii) ils doivent etre robustes, c'est-a-dire qu'une attaque ne doit pas faire baisser leurs performances de maniere importante. Dans cette these nous observons qu'aucun protocole ne releve ces deux defis en meme temps : les protocoles que nous connaissons aujourd'hui sont soit concus pour etre efficaces au detriment de leur robustesse, soit concus pour etre robustes au detriment de leurs performances. Une premiere contribution de cette these est la conception d'un nouveau protocole qui reunit le meilleur des deux mondes. Ce protocole, R-Aliph, combine un protocole efficace mais peu robuste avec un protocole robuste afin de fournir un protocole a la fois efficace et robuste. Nous evaluons ce protocole de maniere experimentale et montrons que ses performances en cas d'attaque sont egales aux performances du protocole robuste sous-jacent. De plus, ses performances dans le cas sans faute sont tres proches des performances du protocole connu le plus efficace : la difference maximale de debit est inferieure a 6%. Dans la seconde partie de cette these nous observons que les protocoles concus pour etre robustes sont peu robustes en realite. En effet, il est possible de concevoir une attaque dans laquelle leur perte de debit est superieure a 78%. Nous identifions le probleme de ces protocoles et nous concevons un nouveau protocole plus robuste que les precedents : RBFT. L'idee de base de ce protocole est d'executer en parallele plusieurs instances d'un meme protocole. Les performances de ces differentes instances sont surveillees de pres afin de detecter tout comportement malicieux. Nous evaluons RBFT dans le cas sans faute et en cas d'attaque. Nous montrons que ses performances dans le cas sans faute sont comparables aux performances des protocoles consideres comme robustes. De plus, nous observons que la degradation maximale de performance qu'un attaquant peut causer sur le systeme est inferieure a 3%, meme dans le cas de la pire attaque possible.
Blind GOP structure analysis of MPEG-2 and H.264/AVC decoded video

In this paper, we provide a simple method for analyzing the GOP structure of an MPEG-2 or H.264/AVC decoded video without having access to the bitstream. Noise estimation is applied on the decoded frames and the variance of the noise in the different I-, P-, and B-frames is measured. After the encoding process, the noise variance in the video sequence shows a periodic pattern, which helps in the extraction of the GOP period, as well as the type of frames. This algorithm can be used along with other algorithms to blindly analyze the encoding history of a video sequence. The method has been tested on several MPEG-2 DVB and DVD streams, as well as on H.264/AVC encoded sequences, and shows successful results in both cases.
DISCOVERY OF MASSIVE, MOSTLY STAR FORMATION QUENCHED GALAXIES WITH EXTREMELY LARGE Lyα EQUIVALENT WIDTHS AT z ∼ 3

We report a discovery of six massive galaxies with both extremely large Lyα equivalent widths (EWs) and evolved stellar populations at z ∼ 3. These MAssive Extremely STrong Lyα emitting Objects (MAESTLOs) have been discovered in our large-volume systematic survey for strong Lyα emitters (LAEs) with 12 optical intermediate-band data taken with Subaru/Suprime-Cam in the COSMOS field. Based on the spectral energy distribution fitting analysis for these LAEs, it is found that these MAESTLOs have (1) large rest-frame EWs of EW0 (Lyα) ∼ 100–300 Å, (2) M⋆ ∼ 1010.5–1011.1 M⊙, and (3) relatively low specific star formation rates of SFR/M⋆ ∼ 0.03–1 Gyr−1. Three of the six MAESTLOs have extended Lyα emission with a radius of several kiloparsecs, although they show very compact morphology in the HST/ACS images, which correspond to the rest-frame UV continuum. Since the MAESTLOs do not show any evidence for active galactic nuclei, the observed extended Lyα emission is likely to be caused by a star formation process including the superwind activity. We suggest that this new class of LAEs, MAESTLOs, provides a missing link from star-forming to passively evolving galaxies at the peak era of the cosmic star formation history.
The Evaluation of Data Completeness and Image Quality in Multiplexing Multi-Pinhole SPECT

Multi-pinhole collimators are often used in pre-clinical SPECT systems because they have a better resolution-sensitivity tradeoff than parallel hole collimators when imaging small objects. Most multi-pinhole collimators are designed to allow no or only a limited amount of overlap between the different pinhole projections because the ambiguity introduced by multiplexing pinholes can result in artifacts. The origin of these artifacts is still not fully understood, but previous research has already shown that data incompleteness could be part of the explanation. Therefore, we developed a method to investigate data completeness in multiplexing multi-pinhole systems and showed that a certain activity distribution can be successfully reconstructed when the nonmultiplexed data is complete or when the overlap can be sufficiently de-multiplexed. We validated this method using computer simulated phantom data of different multiplexing systems. We also studied contrast-to-noise and nonprewhitening matched filter signal-to-noise ratio (NPW-SNR) to compare the image quality in a single pinhole system with multiplexing systems. We found that our method can indeed be used to evaluate data completeness in multiplexing systems and found no artifacts in the systems that had complete data. Sensitivity increased significantly with multiplexing but we found only small, nonsignificant differences in contrast-to-noise ratio. However, the NPW-SNR did slightly improve in the multiplexing setups. We conclude that more multiplexing does not necessarily result in more artifacts and that even a high amount of multiplexing can still result in artifact-free images if the nonmultiplexed data is complete or when the overlap can be sufficiently de-multiplexed.
Bandwidth Enhancement of CPW-Fed Antenna Based on Epsilon Negative Zeroth- and First-Order Resonators

A coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed metamaterial (MTM) antenna using an epsilon negative transmission line (ENG-TL) is presented. The bandwidth characteristics of zeroth-order resonance (ZOR) and first-order resonance (FOR) are analyzed and described using circuit elements based on the ENG-TL theory. The bandwidth enhancement of the MTM antenna can be achieved by merging the two extended-bandwidth resonances. The CPW geometry adopted as the host TL offers design freedom to modulate the circuit elements. Based on the analysis, the wideband antenna is fabricated and tested. The measured results show that the fractional bandwidth is extended up to 70.5%, and radiation efficiencies of the ZOR and FOR are 84.75% and 86.7%, respectively. With wide bandwidth, high efficiency, and omnidirectional radiation, the proposed antenna is very suitable for wireless communication systems (GSM, UMTS, LTE, WLAN, WiMAX).
Optimum Supply and Threshold Voltages and Transistor Sizing Effects on Low Power SOI Circuit Design

This work introduces a new model for energy-delay product and the performance of 80-nm SOI-CMOS circuits for the range of Vdd=0.1- 1.5V and Vth= 0 - 0.8V, are analyzed to find optimal Vdd and Vth. BSIMSOI3.3 model (level 57) is used to verify the answers. The authors show that energy-delay product (EDP) isn't appropriate metric for gate sizing problem. And a new design metric is introduced as a generalization of EDP. This metric is used to determine the transistor sizing for complex circuits based on the specified delay and energy constrains. In this case, unlike the conventional energy delay product metric, delay and energy can be considered with different emphasis. The complete design flowcharts and the formulations for finding the optimum gate sizing are also presented. Theses algorithms can be implemented in a CAD tool too