Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Sodium Exchange Capacity in Rainfed and Irrigated Soils in the Mediterranean Basin Using GIS

The soil exchange complex consists of colloidal materials on which ion exchange phenomena occur allowing it to attract, retain, and exchange elements that have opposite electric charges. Since their mineral constituents (clay) and organic components (humus) are mainly of a negative nature retained or exchanged ion are predominantly cations. Historically, failing to monitor parameters like the exchange sodium percentage (ESP) has led to the permanent deterioration of soils which have become completely unproductive, largely reducing the sustainability of the agricultural systems. This study assesses how the sodium exchange capacity in irrigated soils differs from the rainfed ones through a sample survey that was carried out in the 15,031 ha of the Caia Irrigation Perimeter and adjacent areas, located in the municipalities of Elvas and Campo Maior, Portalegre District, Portugal where 14,280 georeferenced samples were collected from the top soil layer (0–20 cm), which were mixed 10 at a time so that each composite sample representing 11.1 ha. Then the samples were analyzed regarding the most relevant parameters for characterizing the soil exchange complex including the concentrations of exchanged bases and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). The results were arranged in a georeferenced grid with 1451 entries. Using classical statistical analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, it was possible to relate the individual soil samples analyzed with the cultural system practiced (irrigated or rainfed) and the present soil group which permitted us to analyze the influence of the cultural system in the soil exchange complex. The distribution chart of the exchange sodium and CEC were created. The obtained results confirm a general decrease of CEC values and an increase of the exchangeable sodium content of irrigated explored soils when compared to the rainfed ones, putting forward noteworthy ideas not only regarding the necessary changes towards the sustainability of these irrigated agricultural landscapes, but also considering the impact of these productive techniques on different agricultural systems.
Prevalence of hypertension and noise-induced hearing loss in Chinese coal miners.

BACKGROUND Owing to inconsistent epidemiologic evidence and the presence of confounding factors, the relation between occupational noise exposure and hypertension still remained unclear. We aimed to assess whether Chinese coal miners were at risk of developing hypertension and noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), and whether occupational noise exposure was a risk factor of hypertension. METHODS A questionnaire was designed to collect information from 738 study participants, all of whom were employees from the Datun Xuzhou Coal Company. The participants were divided into a noise-exposed group and a control group based on the noise level to which they were exposed in the workplace. The differences in the mean of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were compared between the noise-exposed and control groups. Also the prevalence and age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] of audiometric deficit and hypertension was compared in the study. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the relation between occupational noise level and hypertension while controlling for potential confounding factors. RESULTS Hypertension was more prevalent in noise-exposed group than the control group, 29.2% vs. 21.2% (P=0.012). The noise-exposed group faced an increased risk of hypertension (age-adjusted OR =1.52, 95% CI =1.07-2.15) when the control group was used as reference. The mean values of SBP and DBP of the noise-exposed groups were significantly higher than the control group (P=0.006 and P=0.002 respectively). Hearing loss at low frequencies was significantly more prevalent in the noise-exposed group than the control group, 12.8% vs. 7.4% (P=0.015), while the noise-exposed group faced the increased risk of hearing loss at low frequencies (age-adjusted OR =1.81, 95% CI =1.10-2.96). LEX, 8h (OR =1.036, 95% CI =1.012-1.060) was an independent risk of hypertension when controlling for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS We found that the occupational noise had an effect on the hypertension and hearing loss of Chinese coal miners. And the occupational noise was an independent risk factor for hypertension and could increase the values of SBP and DBP.
Modulated corner reflector using frequency selective surfaces for FMCW radar applications

This work describes a modulated transponder based on a corner reflector where at least one of the metallic surfaces is replaced by an actively-controlled frequency selective surface (FSS) loaded with switching PIN diodes. The reflectivity of the faces loaded with the FSS changes with the bias of the diodes modulating the radar cross-section of the corner. The transponder therefore answers the reader, modulating the backscattered field. In addition, the retrodirectivity property of corner reflectors enables the response to be distinguished from the interference of non-modulated clutter reducing multipath effects. This approach allows high values of backscattered fields to be obtained over large angle beam widths and frequency bandwidths. An experimental setup based on a commercial X-band FMCW radar is used to measure the transponders. Experimental results obtained for a dihedral corner reflector and a cross reflector transponder at several distances are provided. In the first case, a sectorial angular coverage is obtained, whereas in the second case a quasi-onmidirectional performance is obtained.
Nurses’ Experiences of an Initial and Reimplemented Electronic Health Record Use

The electronic health record is a key component of healthcare information systems. Currently, numerous hospitals have adopted electronic health records to replace paper-based records to document care processes and improve care quality. Integrating healthcare information system into traditional nursing daily operations requires time and effort for nurses to become familiarized with this new technology. In the stages of electronic health record implementation, smooth adoption can streamline clinical nursing activities. In order to explore the adoption process, a descriptive qualitative study design and focus group interviews were conducted 3 months after and 2 years after electronic health record system implementation (system aborted 1 year in between) in one hospital located in southern Taiwan. Content analysis was performed to analyze the interview data, and six main themes were derived, in the first stage: (1) liability, work stress, and anticipation for electronic health record; (2) slow network speed, user-unfriendly design for learning process; (3) insufficient information technology/organization support; on the second stage: (4) getting used to electronic health record and further system requirements, (5) benefits of electronic health record in time saving and documentation, (6) unrealistic information technology competence expectation and future use. It concluded that user-friendly design and support by informatics technology and manpower backup would facilitate this adoption process as well.
Multiple fault diagnosis with BDD based boolean differential equations

We present a new idea for multiple fault diagnosis in combinational circuits, which combines the concept of multiple fault testing by test groups and solving Boolean differential equations by manipulation of Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs). A novel 5-valued algebra is introduced for simplifying differential equations, and a discussion is presented how this approach can be used as a basis for hierarchical fault diagnosis to cope with the complexity problem.
MLHN: A Hypernetwork Model for Multi-Label Classification

Multi-label classification has attracted significant attentions in machine learning. In multi-label classification, exploiting correlations among labels is an essential but nontrivial task. First, labels may be correlated in various degrees. Second, the scalability may suffer from the large number of labels, because the number of combinations among labels grows exponentially as the number of labels increases. In this paper, a multi-label hypernetwork (MLHN) is proposed to deal with these problems. By extending the traditional hypernetwork model, MLHN can represent arbitrary order correlations among labels. The classification model of MLHN is simple and the computational complexity of MLHN is linear with respect to the number of labels, which contribute to the good scalability of MLHN. We perform experiments on a variety of datasets. The results illustrate that the proposed MLHN achieves competitive performances against state-of-the-art multi-label classification algorithms in terms of both effectiveness and scalability with respect to the number of labels.
Features of Reputed Users in eWOM Using Evolutionary Computation

Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) communities has popularized during the last years as communities where people share their online reviews about any type of product or services. Though the interactions with other users, people reach a reputation within the community that make their reviews more trustable. The aim of this paper is to investigate the main patterns of activity that characterizes reputed users. Due to the size of eWOM communities, an evolutionary computation algorithm such as Particle Swarm Optimizacion (PSO) will be used to obtain their main activity features. Obtained results can help to better understand the mechanism of trust in eWOM communities and also to avoid the manipulation of reputation.
Migration of model contaminants from PET bottles: influence of temperature, food simulant and functional barrier

To simulate post-consumer recycled plastics, selected model contaminants were incorporated into PET bottles using a time saving method. Migration into 3% acetic acid, a cola-type beverage and 95% ethanol was followed during 1 year of storage at 20 and 40°C. Aroma compounds previously found in post-consumer PET material were used as model contaminants. Benzaldehyde was found to migrate to the highest extent. Storage at 40°C affected the bottle material and this might be one reason for the high migration values of these bottles. Migration into ethanol was up to 20 times higher than into 3% acetic acid or a cola-type beverage. Bottles with a functional barrier resisted migration into food simulants even when filled with 95% ethanol and stored for 1 year at 40°C. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that ethanol was interacting with the plastic material. This resulted in a lower glass transition temperature of bottles stored with ethanol compared with bottles stored empty or with other food simulants.
Highly narrow rejection bandwidth finite impulse response notch filters for communication

Design of finite impulse response (FIR) notch filters (NFs) with highly narrow rejection bandwidth (RBW) is suggested. RBW is the distance between 3 dB points on the response. Reduction in the RBW is achieved progressively in three stages. In the first stage, an FIR NF is designed from a second order infinite impulse response (IIR) prototype filter. For a given length L of the NF, the authors choose maximum permissible value of ` r ' (the pole length of IIR prototype filter) to achieve very narrow RBW of the FIR filter. In the next stage, by using an amplitude change function (ACF): H ( z )(2 - H ( z )), the designed filter is sharpened. Consequently, the RBW of the resulting NF is reduced to almost half of the earlier value. This reduction of bandwidth makes the resulting NF of length 2 L . In the next stage, RBW can be further reduced by the repeated sharpening of the filter by the same ACF.
Estimating the phase noise spectrum of oscillator signals: A novel method

Prediction of oscillator phase noise is highly desirable in order to optimize oscillator signals for accurate timing and for other measuring purposes. This paper introduces a Galerkin-method for prediction. It may deliver more accurate results as compared to Leeson's semi-empirical method, and it is easier to apply as compared to Kärtner's or Demir's method.
Chinese text categorization study based on CBM learning

Text Categorization (TC) is an important component in many information organization and information management tasks. In many TC applications, the case-base grows at a fast rate and this causes inefficiency in the case retrieval process. Using Case-Base Maintenance learning via the GC (Generalization Capability) algorithm, which can reduce the case number into KNN algorithm, can improve efficiency when indexing near neighbor in K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm. The numerical experiments prove the validity of this learning algorithm. Since K-NN algorithm is used extensively to a variety of areas, we can improve classification performance further in TC.
NUSTAR AND XMM-NEWTON OBSERVATIONS OF 1E1743.1-2843: INDICATIONS OF A NEUTRON STAR LMXB NATURE OF THE COMPACT OBJECT

We report on the results of NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observations of the persistent X-ray source 1E1743.1-2843, located in the Galactic Center region. The source was observed between 2012 September and October by NuSTAR and XMM-Newton, providing almost simultaneous observations in the hard and soft X-ray bands. The high X-ray luminosity points to the presence of an accreting compact object. We analyze the possibilities of this accreting compact object being either a neutron star (NS) or a black hole, and conclude that the joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR spectrum from 0.3 to 40 keV fits a blackbody spectrum with emitted from a hot spot or an equatorial strip on an NS surface. This spectrum is thermally Comptonized by electrons with . Accepting this NS hypothesis, we probe the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) or high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) nature of the source. While the lack of Type-I bursts can be explained in the LMXB scenario, the absence of pulsations in the 2 mHz–49 Hz frequency range, the lack of eclipses and of an IR companion, and the lack of a line from neutral or moderately ionized iron strongly disfavor interpreting this source as a HMXB. We therefore conclude that 1E1743.1-2843 is most likely an NS-LMXB located beyond the Galactic Center. There is weak statistical evidence for a soft X-ray excess which may indicate thermal emission from an accretion disk. However, the disk normalization remains unconstrained due to the high hydrogen column density ( ).
Asymmetrical Duty Cycle Controlled Edge Resonant Soft Switching High Frequency Inverter for Consumer Electromagnetic Induction Fluid Heater

UDK 621.365.5 IFAC IA 5.5. 4 Original scientific paper This paper presents a new electromagnetic induction eddy current-based spiral type dual packs heater using a high frequency resonant inverter or the induction heating type heat exchanger, which is more suitable and acceptable for the consumer power applications. In addition, the proposed active voltage clamp edge-resonant soft switching PWM high frequency inverter using IGBTs can operate under a principle of the zero voltage soft commutation scheme. This inverter is developed for a high efficiency induction heating (IH) hot water producer or IH boiler and super heated steamer packed partially inside a variety of pipeline plants. This innovative consumer power appliance using soft switching PWM high frequency inverter, designed for the IH fluid heater, is evaluated and discussed on the basis of simulation and experimental results.
To Coordinate Or Not To Coordinate? Wide-Area Trafﬁc Management for Data Centers

In this paper, we study the impact of coordinating the selection of data centers for clients (“mapping”) and performing multi-homed network-routing (“routing”) from data centers, two decisions which are conventionally managed independently. We model their functional separation and degrees of coordination through an optimization framework, and study the impact of coordination on (i) service performance, (ii) robustness to trafﬁc variability, and (iii) bandwidth costs. We show that in theory, performing mapping and routing independently can lead to much lower performance or higher costs than a coordinated decision. In practice, our trace-based evaluations on an operational CDN show that coarse-grained information-sharing between mapping and routing is sufﬁcient for near-optimal request latencies, but not minimal costs. Further, even complete information-sharing between mapping and routing is not sufﬁciently robust to trafﬁc variability, as ISP-links can easily be overwhelmed due to trafﬁc burstiness. To address this issue, we design a coordination technique which is much more robust to trafﬁc variability, and is also provably optimal.
Children'S Game Experiences in Different Settings

Games provide enjoyment and positive experiences for players. Goal of this paper is to examine children's game experiences between physical gaming on the immaterial FogScreen and a mouse-based PC gaming. The systematic game evaluation experiment was conducted with 20 children. Game experiences were measured quantitatively using a children-friendly flow questionnaire and a qualitative interview for gathering playing impressions. The results showed that FogScreen provided novel gaming experience, was funnier and children enjoyed about its naturalness and possibilities to move compared to PC setup. However, the interaction with the FogScreen set-up was harder, providing a lower level of playability and controllability than the PC set-up.
Proteasome inhibition induces developmentally deregulated programs of apoptotic and autophagic cell death during Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis

Ubiquitin/proteasome‐mediated degradation of eukaryotic proteins is critically implicated in a number of signalling pathways and cellular processes. To specifically impair proteasome activities, in vitro developing Drosophila melanogaster egg chambers were exposed to the MG132 or epoxomicin proteasome inhibitors, while a GAL4/UAS binary genetic system was employed to generate double transgenic flies overexpressing β2 and β6 conditional mutant proteasome subunits in a cell type‐specific manner. MG132 and epoxomicin administration resulted in severe deregulation of in vitro developing egg chambers, which was tightly associated with precocious induction of nurse cell‐specific apoptotic and autophagic death programmes, featured by actin cytoskeleton disorganization, nuclear chromatin condensation, DRICE caspase activation and autophagosome accumulation. In vivo targeted overexpression of β2 and β6 conditional mutants, specifically in the nurse cell compartment, led to a notable up‐regulation of sporadic apoptosis potency during early and mid‐oogenesis ‘checkpoints’, thus reasonably justifying the observed reduction in eclosion efficiency. Furthermore, in response to the intracellular abundance of β2 and β6 conditional mutant forms, specifically in numerous tissues of third instar larval stage, the developmental course was arrested, and lethal phenotypes were obtained at this particular embryonic period, with the double transgenic heterozygote embryos being unable to further proceed to complete maturation to adult flies. Our data demonstrate that physiological proteasome function is required to ensure normal oogenesis and embryogenesis in D. melanogaster, since targeted and cell type‐dependent proteasome inactivation initiates developmentally deregulated apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms.
Corneal Topography in Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT): A 1-Month Follow-up

Purpose. To evaluate visual outcome and corneal shape change during the first month of wearing corneal refractive therapy (CRT) reshaping contact lenses to correct myopia in otherwise healthy eyes. Methods. Twenty-nine eyes were fit with Paragon CRT contact lenses, which were worn nightly. Before and after CRT fitting, uncorrected visual acuity was measured, and corneal topography was performed and evaluated with the Holladay Diagnostic Summary EyeSys 2000 Videokeratoscope. To evaluate the visual outcome, refractive yield (achieved/attempted correction) was calculated and accounted for distance or monovision. Results. Uncorrected visual acuity improved in all patients. In 1 month, refractive yield was 96.7%. Corneal uniformity index and predicted corneal acuity index were maintained, and the Q value changed from −0.08 to +0.38 (P < 0.05). Conclusions. CRT lenses are effective in improving visual acuity. They significantly changed the corneal from prolate to oblate while maintaining corneal quality.
Active Noice Reduction headset

Conventional (passive) headsets used in propeller aircrafts are reasonably good at attenuating mid to high frequency noise, but fail to achieve good attenuation in the low frequency region (below approximately 300 Hz). Active Noise Reduction (ANR) improves the low frequency attenuation by introducing an anti-noise signal creating destructive interference thus decreasing the residual noise level. The aim of this thesis is to develop and implement a digital narrowband active noise reduction headset that works properly in aircrafts and not only in a laboratory environment. The implementation is based on a narrowband ltered-X least mean squares (FXLMS) algorithm where the tonal components in the noise spectrum are synthesized for use as reference signals to the algorithm. The controller is implemented in a parallel fashion where each tonal component is handled separately. The system is built into a headset and laboratory tests show that the algorithm can handle ve simultaneous tonal components with an adaptation time of less than one second. Aircraft tests show peak attenuation of 17 dB in both singleand twin-engine aircrafts thus fullling the requirements. Simulations and true performance show some minor discrepancies which are explained and discussed.
Sensitivity of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis in detecting p53 point mutations in tumors with mixed cell populations.

Mutations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene are commonly found in human cancers of diverse origin. Once of a number of methods developed to analyze large numbers of DNA samples for specific mutations is the single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. This method is particularly well suited for analysis of tissues, such as brain tumors, with mixed cell populations. It takes advantage of the fact that, in a mixed cell population containing DNA with and without a mutation (e.g., the p53 gene mutation), both molecular species will be amplified by the PCR. A mutation within a PCR-amplified DNA fragment will alter the secondary structure of the amplified fragment and affect its electrophoretic mobility in a nondenaturing gel. The DNA fragments with the mutation are detected as an aberrantly migrating allele that can be seen concurrently with the wild-type allele. Although many studies have used this technique to screen for p53 mutations in tumors, with detection of a number of different mutations the limit of detection of point mutations in a background of wild-type DNA is not known. To test this, mixtures of mutant DNA from tumor D317 with a G-to-A point mutation in codon 272 of the p53 gene; or from tumormore » D263 (with a G-to-A point mutation in codon 175 of the p53 gene) and wild-type DNA from leukocytes, in ratios of 1:100, 5:95, 10:90, 15:85, 50:50, and 30:70, were prepared. The mixtures containing 100 ng of DNA were amplified using standard PCR technique. After the double-stranded DNAs were denatured, the DNA samples were loaded and electrophoresed on a nondenaturing acrylamide gel. The mutant allele was detectable even when the ratio of mutant to wild-type DNA was 5:95 in tumor D317. For tumor D263, the mutant allele was detectable when the ratio of mutant to wild-type DNA was 15:85, and it was not detectable at 10:90. « less