Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mesoscopic aspects of the computational homogenization with meshless modeling for masonry material

The multiscale homogenization scheme is becoming a diffused tool for the analysis of heterogeneous materials as masonry since it allows dealing with the complexity of formulating closed‐form constitutive laws by retrieving the material response from the solution of a unit cell (UC) boundary value problem (BVP). The robustness of multiscale simulations depends on the robustness of the nested macroscopic and mesoscopic models. In this study, specific attention is paid to the meshless solution of the UC BVP under plane stress conditions, comparing performances related to the application of linear displacement or periodic boundary conditions (BCs). The effect of the geometry of the UC is also investigated since the BVP is formulated for the two simpliest UCs, according to a displacement‐based variational formulation assuming the block indefinitely elastic and the mortar joints as zero‐thickness elasto‐plastic interfaces. It will be showed that the meshless discretization allows obtaining some advantages with respect to a standard FE mesh. The influence of the UC morphology as well as the BCs on the linear and nonlinear UC macroscopic response is discussed for pure modes of failure. The results can be constructive in view of performing a general Fe·Meshless or Meshless2 analysis.
Behaviour and growth of juvenile brown trout exposed to fluctuating flow

Parr of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) were exposed to constant or fluctuating water level and flow in artificial outdoor stream channels during 21 days in three consecutive runs, and their individual behaviour and social interactions were monitored. Despite the large variation in flow, no clear differences in growth, which was generally poor, and behaviour were found between treatments. The signs of a social structure in the stream channels were very subtle and there were no clear relation between growth rate and aggressive/dominant behaviour in any of the treatments in accordance with findings in studies of growth and dominance in the wild. Thus, in regulated rivers, daily fluctuations in flow and water level (hydropeaking) are not likely to alter the behaviour of juvenile brown trout or affect their energy turnover negatively. Several studies now indicate that if stranding can be avoided, hydropeaking has relatively small direct effects on stream salmonids. Therefore, future research should focus on cascading ecological effects that may influence the productivity of the ecosystems in regulated rivers.
Polysaccharides of Algae. XXXIV: Detection of iota-Carrageenan in Phyllophora brodiaei (Turn.) J. Ag. (Rhodophyta) Using 13C-NMR Spectroscopy

Fractional extraction of the red seaweed Phyllophora brodiaei was carried out and the yields and monosaccharide composition of polysaccharide fractions were determined. It was shown by means of chemical analyses and C-NMR spectroscopy, that the three major fractions of sulfated galactans are i-carrageenan analogues. A table of resonance assignments for C-NMR spectra of κ-ι-carrageenan type polysaccharides is given in a revised form.
Chemical defences of fruits and mast-fruiting of dipterocarps

Mast-fruiting is the intermittent and synchronous production of large fruits by a population of plants at long intervals (Herrera et al. 1998, Kelly 1994). Several hypotheses have been proposed concerning the adaptive advantages of mast-fruiting (Janzen 1971, 1974; Kelly 1994), and some field observations have provided evidence for these hypotheses (Norton & Kelly 1988, Shibata et al. 1998, Sork 1993). The predator-satiation hypothesis is one well-known explanation for reproductive synchrony in plants and animals (Janzen 1971, 1974; Kelly 1994). This hypothesis claims that mast fruiting at irregular intervals of several years is an effective means of satiating vertebrate fruit predators: low seed production can only support low densities of predators during the periods between mast-fruiting events, but more fruits are produced than predators can consume in masting years (Janzen 1971, Kelly 1994). Thus, it may be said that mast-fruiting is a defence strategy of plants against post-dispersal vertebrate fruit predators.
IUScholarWorks at Indiana University South Bend Abnormal Audit Fees and Audit Quality: Evidence from the Korean Audit Market

Do abnormally high or low audit fees reflect audit quality? Prior literature examining the U.S. audit market offers conflicting evidence in response to this question. In this paper, we re-examine this issue after controlling for the confounding effect of audit hours by using a sample of public firms in the Korean audit market, which publicly discloses both audit fees and audit hour information. While we do not find a significant association between abnormally high audit fees and audit quality, we find that abnormally low audit fees are associated with larger discretionary accruals and a higher likelihood of meeting or beating analyst earnings forecasts. Further, we find evidence showing that the relationship between abnormally low audit fees and audit quality indicators persists regardless of the level of audit hours. To the extent that audit hours represent the amount of audit effort exerted during an audit engagement, these findings suggest that greater audit effort alone may not lead to higher audit quality as fee pressure from abnormally low audit fees may discourage the provision of high-quality audit services.
Interpretation of the otolith structures in viviparous blenny Zoarces viviparus

The otolith structure in viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparus) was studied in fish of varying age and sizes collected in the Kattegat and in the Baltic Sea. We concluded that two major events in the early development of blenny were reflected in their otolith structure. Close to the core of the otolith, a thin hyaline ring structure forms at hatching in September-October. An additional, much broader, hyaline zone is formed during the period after birth in midwinter. In older fish, so-called ‘growth zones’, consisting of opaque material, were found to form in spring and summer. In August, the deposed otolith material changed to a hyaline character, resulting in a hyaline, ‘winter zone’ growth during autumn and winter. No effect of age or sex on the annual formation pattern could be detected.
Vegetation changes since European settlement of Australia: an attempt to clear up some burning issues

Summary Debate about changes in the Australian landscape since European settlement and the possible remedies for negative impacts has been complicated by differences in the consideration of time scales, areas of interest and vegetation classifications. Removal of these complications reveals much common ground and indicates that the real differences between the factions are in management philosophies. Active management such as regular burning or thinning may be more precautionary than passive management in situations where non-intervention is likely to perpetuate or reinforce the changes that have occurred.
Unmanned Aerial Systems for Investigating the Polar Atmospheric Boundary Layer—Technical Challenges and Examples of Applications

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) fill a gap in high-resolution observations of meteorological parameters on small scales in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). Especially in the remote polar areas, there is a strong need for such detailed observations with different research foci. In this study, three systems are presented which have been adapted to the particular needs for operating in harsh polar environments: The fixed-wing aircraft M 2 AV with a mass of 6 kg, the quadrocopter ALICE with a mass of 19 kg, and the fixed-wing aircraft ALADINA with a mass of almost 25 kg. For all three systems, their particular modifications for polar operations are documented, in particular the insulation and heating requirements for low temperatures. Each system has completed meteorological observations under challenging conditions, including take-off and landing on the ice surface, low temperatures (down to −28 ∘ C), icing, and, for the quadrocopter, under the impact of the rotor downwash. The influence on the measured parameters is addressed here in the form of numerical simulations and spectral data analysis. Furthermore, results from several case studies are discussed: With the M 2 AV, low-level flights above leads in Antarctic sea ice were performed to study the impact of areas of open water within ice surfaces on the ABL, and a comparison with simulations was performed. ALICE was used to study the small-scale structure and short-term variability of the ABL during a cruise of RV Polarstern to the 79 ∘ N glacier in Greenland. With ALADINA, aerosol measurements of different size classes were performed in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in highly complex terrain. In particular, very small, freshly formed particles are difficult to monitor and require the active control of temperature inside the instruments. The main aim of the article is to demonstrate the potential of UAS for ABL studies in polar environments, and to provide practical advice for future research activities with similar systems.
Post-traumatic growth in the twenty-first century: how current trends may threaten our ability to grow after trauma

ABSTRACT Victims of trauma who experience post-traumatic stress disorder are often able to reframe the tragedies that they have been through in a way that gives them new-found purpose in life and a sense of empowerment. When they do so, they are enacting the phenomenon of post-traumatic growth. There are several empirically supported predictors of post-traumatic growth, including a person’s level of optimism and extroversion, the amount they socialize with friends and others who have experienced similar traumas, and their level of self-confidence and ability to be open to new ideas. These predictors of PTG may be at a disadvantage of being realized in light of modern-day trends of isolation, depression, low self-esteem, and inactivity. In order for trauma clinicians to be maximally effective with the clients that they treat in today’s social and cultural climate, these trends must be accounted for in treatment plans for individuals with PTSD. This article recommends a combination of activating one’s social network, utilizing modalities that specifically target depression and trauma-processing such as Behavioral Activation and EMDR, participation in team sports, and widespread psychoeducation regarding trauma symptoms in an effort to normalize presentation and fight against stigma.
Net primary production and net ecosystem production of a boreal black spruce wildfire chronosequence

Net primary production (NPP) was measured in seven black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP)‐dominated sites comprising a boreal forest chronosequence near Thompson, Man. , Canada. The sites burned between 1998 and 1850, and each contained separate well‐ and poorly drained stands. All components of NPP were measured, most for 3 consecutive years. Total NPP was low (50–100 g C m−2 yr−1) immediately after fire, highest 12–20 years after fire (332 and 521 g C m−2 yr−1 in the dry and wet stands, respectively) but 50% lower than this in the oldest stands. Tree NPP was highest 37 years after fire but 16–39% lower in older stands, and was dominated by deciduous seedlings in the young stands and by black spruce trees (>85%) in the older stands. The chronosequence was unreplicated but these results were consistent with 14 secondary sites sampled across the landscape. Bryophytes comprised a large percentage of aboveground NPP in the poorly drained stands, while belowground NPP was 0–40% of total NPP. Interannual NPP variability was greater in the youngest stands, the poorly drained stands, and for understory and detritus production. Net ecosystem production (NEP), calculated using heterotrophic soil and woody debris respiration data from previous studies in this chronosequence, implied that the youngest stands were moderate C sources (roughly, 100 g C m−2 yr−1), the middle‐aged stands relatively strong sinks (100–300 g C m−2 yr−1), and the oldest stands about neutral with respect to the atmosphere. The ecosystem approach employed in this study provided realistic estimates of chronosequence NPP and NEP, demonstrated the profound impact of wildfire on forest–atmosphere C exchange, and emphasized the need to account for soil drainage, bryophyte production, and species succession when modeling boreal forest C fluxes.
Claudin 10 acts as a novel biomarker for the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most fatal gynecological malignancies in the world and confers a poor 5-year survival rate. The present study was designed to discover novel prognostic markers for patients with OC in order to estimate disease metastasis or recurrence. Based on the large cohorts of transcriptome data from multicenter sources, a comprehensive analysis was performed to explore potential prognostic markers. A total of 269 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 32 were upregulated and 237 downregulated in OC tissues compared with the corresponding expression in normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test and nomogram analysis were employed to demonstrate that low expression levels of claudin 10 (CLDN10) were associated with a less favorable disease prognosis. The most promising prognostic marker for OC was subsequently selected. Additionally, the prognostic nomogram was constructed in order to assess the 5-year survival rate using CLDN10 expression as a prognostic marker for OC. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis and analysis of the tumor-associated competing endogenous RNA network were performed to elucidate the potential biological processes associated with CLDN10 expression. The current results indicated that CLDN10 may influence OC progression via transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)- or WNT/β-catenin-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The associations among CLDN10, microRNA-486-5p, TGF-β, WNT/β-catenin and EMT should be further investigated in future studies.
Synthesis, Isolation and Crystal Structures of the Metalated Ylides [Cy3P‐C‐SO2Tol]M (M = Li, Na, K)

The preparation and isolation of the metalated ylides [Cy3PCSO2Tol]M (Cy1‐M) (with M = Li, Na, K) are reported. In contrast to its triphenylphosphonium analogue the synthesis of Cy1‐M revealed to be less straight forward. Synthetic routes to the phosphonium salt precursor Cy1‐H2 via different methods revealed to be unsuccessful or low‐yielding. However, nucleophilic attack of the ylide Cy3P = CH2 at toluenesulfonyl fluoride under basic conditions proved to be a high‐yielding method directly leading to the ylide Cy1‐H. Metalation to the yldiides was finally achieved with strong bases such as nBuLi, NaNH2, or BnK. In the solid state, the lithium compound forms a tetrameric structure consisting of a (C–S–O–Li)4 macrocycle, which incorporates an additional molecule of lithium iodide. The potassium compound forms a C 4‐symmetric structure with a (K4O4)2 octahedral prism as central structural motif. Upon deprotonation the P–C–S linkage undergoes a remarkable contraction typical for metalated ylides.
Marine mammal surveys in Dutch North Sea waters in 2019

Aerial surveys to estimate the abundance of Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena were conducted on the Dutch Continental Shelf in summer 2019. These surveys followed predetermined track lines in four areas: A - Dogger Bank, B - Offshore, C - Frisian Front & D - Delta. Between 16 July and 4 August the entire Dutch Continental Shelf (DCS) was surveyed. Marine mammals were assessed using line transect distance sampling methods. Density and abundance estimates were calculated. In total, 150 sightings of 189 individual Harbour Porpoises were collected. Porpoise densities varied between 0.54-1.76 animals/km² in the areas A-D. The overall density was 0.66 animals/km². The lowest density (0.46 animals/km²) was recorded in area A – Dogger Bank. The densities in the other areas were in the same order of magnitude, ranging between 0.68-071 animals/km². In summer 2019 the total number of Harbour Porpoises on the Dutch Continental Shelf (areas A-D) was estimated at 38,911 individuals (CI = 20,791-76,822). This estimates falls in the range of abundance estimates since 2010, with a minimum of 25,998 (CI = 13,988 – 53,623 in 2010) and a maximum of 76,773 (CI = 43,414-154,265 in 2014) individuals. The confidence intervals of the abundance estimates overlap, indicating no statistically significant differences between the years. The time series, however, is relatively short to measure trends. These abundance estimates show that up to a fifth of the North Sea population, estimated at 345,000-361,000 individuals, has been present on the Dutch Continental Shelf during the summer surveys in 2010-2019. The results of these aerial surveys will feed into the OSPAR MSFD indicator on abundance and distribution of marine mammals. In total 26 sightings of other marine mammal species than Harbour Porpoises were recorded. These comprised 22 sightings of seals (Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus and Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina). The majority of the seals was observed in coastal waters off the Wadden Isles. Three single Minke Whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata were seen (feeding) in area A – Dogger Bank and B – Offshore, with another one sighted off effort in the same area. One sighting of a pod of two White-beaked Dolphins Lagenorhynchus albirostris was made in area B – Offshore. This research is part of the BO-project ‘monitoring bruinvis’.
A new orchid Paphiopedilum guangdongense and its molecular evidence

Abstract A new Paphiopedilum entity found in southern Guangdong was studied taxonomically by means of internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA analysis in addition to morphological and phytogeographical considerations. This entity is similar to Paphiopedilum gratrixianum (Masters) Rolfe morphologically, from which it differs by having narrower leaves not wider than 2 cm and lacking purple spots toward abaxial base, pale green dorsal sepal veined with pale purplish brown and not heavily spotted with purple, and staminode subtruncate and mucronate at apex. An analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences of this entity and its allies came to the same conclusion that the entity is a member of Paphiopedilum section Paphiopedilum and closely related to but distinct from P. gratrixianum. As a result, it is treated here as a new species, Paphiopedilum guangdongense Z.J. Liu & L.J. Chen.
Short-Term Load Forecasting Using Smart Meter Data: A Generalization Analysis

Short-term load forecasting ensures the efficient operation of power systems besides affording continuous power supply for energy consumers. Smart meters that are capable of providing detailed information on buildings energy consumption, open several doors of opportunity to short-term load forecasting at the individual building level. In the current paper, four machine learning methods have been employed to forecast the daily peak and hourly energy consumption of domestic buildings. The utilized models depend merely on buildings historical energy consumption and are evaluated on the profiles that were not previously trained on. It is evident that developing data-driven models lacking external information such as weather and building data are of great importance under the situations that the access to such information is limited or the computational procedures are costly. Moreover, the performance evaluation of the models on separated house profiles determines their generalization ability for unseen consumption profiles. The conducted experiments on the smart meter data of several UK houses demonstrated that if the models are fed with sufficient historical data, they can be generalized to a satisfactory level and produce quite accurate results even if they only use past consumption values as the predictor variables. Furthermore, among the four applied models, the ones based on deep learning and ensemble techniques, display better performance in predicting daily peak load consumption than those of others.
Service Quality Perspectives in Telecommunication Sector: Trust and Loyalty Investigation

The goal of this paper is to investigate the effect on trust and loyalty in internet services of functional and technological service quality. We have received 300 internet service users from different cities in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The date has been evaluated through structural equations modeling. The results reveal that technical quality has more impact on trust and loyalty than functional quality does. Secondly, it was observed that technical quality impacts both trust and loyalty directly while function al quality has only indirect relationship with loyalty over trust. We have given managerial implications to the managers in the sector.
Light and shadow as instruments of literary and visual metaphor in Liviu Rebreanu’s The Forest of the Hanged

Starting from their basic role as elements of literary, cinematographic and theatrical description, light and shadow develop a close relation in all these three arts. They exceed their primary purpose and become involved in the process of narrating the events and setting the mise-en-scène. Even more, they are also engaged in changing the atmosphere, visualizing the images, modifying the reader’s or viewer’s attention, increasing or diminishing the dramatic intensity, conferring dynamic effect, accumulating meaning and revealing symbolic, philosophical, psychological and metaphysical significance to literary, cinematographic and theatrical artworks. Transferred from literature to cinematography and theatre, light and shadow have to adjust their means of expression so that to correspond to the specificity of each art. Taking after the techniques in the art of drawing, naming the tree-dimension perspective and chiaroscuro, light and shadow bring new aesthetic values to theatre and cinematography. Regarded as instruments of creating literary and visual metaphors, light and shadow highly influence the perception of the images outlined by them. The study aims to take into discussion the manner in which light and shadow may be employed as instruments of creating literary as well as visual metaphors. At the same time, it analyses the transposition of a metaphor generated by light and shadow from literature to cinematography and theatre as in Liviu Rebreanu’s “The Forest of the Hanged”.
Sequence Data from New Plastid and Nuclear COSII Regions Resolves Early Diverging Lineages in Coffea (Rubiaceae)

Abstract— Resolving phylogenetic relationships within the economically important genus Coffea (Rubiaceae) has proven to be difficult due to low levels of plastid and nuclear ITS sequence divergence. The recent identification of a large number of conserved, single-copy, putatively orthologous genes (COSII) provides a unique opportunity to apply regions of the nuclear genome to phylogenetic studies of Euasterid species. We expand a previously published plastid data set of Coffea with the addition of three new plastid regions and a single COSII nuclear locus. Significant phylogenetic incongruence is identified between the plastid and nuclear COSII data sets, and a combined analysis is performed after removal of incongruent taxa. Phylogenetic results from plastid, nuclear, and combined plastid/nuclear data sets allow the novel identification of early diverging lineages in Coffea. Specifically, the data show that a group of predominately Lower-Guinea/Congolian Coffea species form a clade that is sister to the rest of the genus, and that the dry adapted baracoffea alliance from western Madagascar falls outside of previously defined East Africa/Indian Ocean and Indian Ocean clades. Well-supported patterns of phylogenetic incongruence are observed between plastid and nuclear data in several species, suggesting a potential role for hybridization in their evolutionary history. The results also provide further evidence for the paraphyly of African Coffea and support the supposition that the evolutionary history of the genus is more complicated than previously proposed.