Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collisions between amorphous carbon nanoparticles: phase transformations

Context. Collisions of nanoparticles (NPs) occur in dust clouds and protoplanetary disks. Aims. Sticking collisions lead to the growth of NPs, in contrast to bouncing or even fragmentation events and we aim to explore these processes in amorphous carbon NPs. Methods. Using molecular-dynamics simulations, we studied central collisions between amorphous carbon NPs that had radii in the range of 6.5–20 nm and velocities of 100–3000 m s−1, and with varying sp3 content (20–55%). Results. We find that the collisions are always sticking. The contact radius formed surpasses the estimate provided by the traditional Johnson-Kendall-Roberts model, pointing at the dominant influence of attractive forces between the NPs. Plasticity occurs via shear-transformation zones. In addition, we find bond rearrangements in the collision zone. Low-sp3 material (sp3 ≤ 40%) is compressed to sp3 > 50%. On the other hand, for the highest sp3 fraction, 55%, graphitization starts in the collision zone leading to low-density and even porous material. Conclusions. Collisions of amorphous carbon NPs lead to an increased porosity, atomic surface roughness, and changed hybridization that affect the mechanical and optical properties of the collided NPs.
ANALISIS KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR LOGIS MATEMATIS SISWA PADA MATERI SISTEM PERSAMAAN LINEAR DUA VARIABEL

This study aims to describe the mathematical logical thinking ability of students of SMP Negeri 1 Ternate on systems of linear equations in two variables materials. This research uses a qualitative research. Subject of this study were three students of class VIII-J SMP Negeri 1 Ternate. The data collection stage was conducting tests, categorizing students according to the KBLM level based on the test results, and conducting interviews with research subjects. The data analysis used in this study was to analyze the data from the test results and interviews. The results showed that students at KBLM Level 2 were able to say and write down what was known and what was asked about the questions correctly, were able to use the steps to solve systems of linear equations in two variables and these steps were correct, were able to provide arguments about all steps-steps to solve systems of linear equations in two variables, and be able to draw conclusions correctly on the final answer. Students at KBLM Level 2 were able to say and write down what was known and not write down what is asked, able to use the steps to solve systems of linear equations in two variables and these steps are correct, able to provide arguments about all steps to solve systems of linear equations in two variables, and able to draw conclusions correctly on the final answer. Students at KBLM Level 2 were able to say and write down what was known and not write down what is asked, can use the steps to solve systems of linear equations in two variables but make calculation errors in these steps, do not provide arguments about all the steps solve systems of linear equations in two variables, and do not draw conclusions correctly on the final answer
University Student Mental Well-Being during COVID-19 Outbreak: What Are the Relationships between Information Seeking, Perceived Risk and Personal Resources Related to the Academic Context?

In light of rising concern about the coronavirus pandemic crisis, a growing number of universities across the world have either postponed or canceled all campus and other activities. This posed new challenges for university students. Based on the classification proposed in the Mental Health Continuum model by Keyes, the aims were to estimate university students’ prevalence of mental health during lookdown outbreak, and to examine the associations between mental health and, respectively, academic stress, self-efficacy, satisfaction for degree course, locus of control, COVID-19 risk perception, taking into account the level of information seeking about pandemic. Overall, 1124 Italian university students completed a self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational analyses. Results showed that 22.3% of participants were flourishing, and levels of mental well-being appeared in line with normative values in young Italian adults; levels of academic stress were not significantly higher than those found in other student samples before the COVID-19 outbreak. Students with high levels of information seeking presented higher levels of well-being and risk perception. Results could be considered useful to realize training pathways, to help the university students to improve their well-being, post-pandemic.
Prioritizing putative influential genes in early life cardiovascular disease susceptibility by applying tissue-specific Mendelian randomization

Background The extent to which changes in gene expression can influence cardiovascular disease risk across different tissue types has not yet been systematically explored. We have developed an analytical framework that integrates tissue-specific gene expression, Mendelian randomization and multiple-trait colocalization to develop functional mechanistic insight into the causal pathway from genetic variant to complex trait. Methods We undertook a transcriptome-wide association study in a population of young individuals to uncover genetic variants associated with both nearby gene expression and cardiovascular traits. Two-sample Mendelian randomization was then applied using large-scale datasets to investigate whether changes in gene expression within certain tissue types may influence cardiovascular trait variation. We subsequently performed Bayesian multiple-trait colocalization to further interrogate findings and also gain insight into whether DNA methylation, as well as gene expression, may play a role in disease susceptibility. Results Eight genetic loci were associated with changes in gene expression and early life measures of cardiovascular function. Our Mendelian randomization analysis provided evidence of tissue-specific effects at multiple loci, of which the effects at the ADCY3 and FADS1 loci for body mass index and cholesterol respectively were particularly insightful. Multiple trait colocalization uncovered evidence which suggested that changes in DNA methylation at the promoter region upstream of FADS1/TMEM258 may also play a role in cardiovascular trait variation along with gene expression. Furthermore, colocalization analyses were able to uncover evidence of tissue-specificity, most prominantly between SORT1 expression in liver tissue and cholesterol levels. Conclusions Disease susceptibility can be influenced by differential changes in tissue-specific gene expression and DNA methylation. Our analytical framework should prove valuable in elucidating mechanisms in disease, as well as helping prioritize putative causal genes at associated loci where multiple nearby genes may be co-regulated. Future studies which continue to uncover quantitative trait loci for molecular traits across various tissue and cell typse will further improve our capability to understand and prevent disease.
Competencies of Production in SMEs in Assembly Industries in a Digital, Volatile Business Environment

SMEs are currently confronted with major challenges such as increasing uncertainty and volatility. In order to face these challenges, agility and digitalization can be implemented. Both concepts bring about numerous opportunities and new competency requirements. Currently, there are few scientifically based, practical training courses that focus on digitization and/or agility. The aim of this paper is to provide a roadmap for the development of the training concept. In this training, participants will be able to acquire theoretical content on a learning platform in a flexible way and they will be able to apply this knowledge in a learning factory. Based on a literature overview, requirements for such a training and the necessary skills in a digital, volatile business environment will be given.
Intraoperative Neurophysiology Practice in the Surgical Treatment of Posterior Fossa Lesions: Cerrahpaşa Experience

Cite this article as/Atıf: Taşkıran E, Küçükyürük B. Intraoperative Neurophysiology Practice in the Surgical Treatment of Posterior Fossa Lesions: Cerrahpaşa Experience. İstanbul Med J 2020; 21(5): 344-9. Amaç: Posterior fossa lezyonlarının cerrahi tedavisi, çeşitli kritik nörolojik yapılarda yaralanma riski içerir. İntraoperatif nöromonitörizasyon (İONM), yeni geliştirilen yöntemler sayesinde bu yapıları korumak için rutin bir inceleme haline gelmiştir. Bu çalışma, üçüncü basamak bir nöroşirürji merkezinin posterior fossa cerrahisinde İONM deneyimini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Bag of tricks for fabric defect detection based on Cascade R-CNN

In this paper, a bag of tricks is proposed to improve the precision of fabric defect detection. Although the general state-of-the-art convolutional neural network detection algorithm can achieve a better detection effect, in fact, the detection precision still has enough room to improve on fabric defect detection. Therefore, we propose three tricks to further improve the precision. Firstly, we use multiscale training, which scales the single input image into a number of images of different resolutions for training, so as to be able to adapt to the box distribution of different scales. Secondly, we use the dimension clusters method. By observing the distribution of the width and the height of the defect size in the fabric dataset, we find that the distribution of the defect size in the dataset is extremely unbalanced and the size span is large. We believe that the training results of the default prior boxes setting might not be optimal, so we conduct dimensional clustering for the width and height of the defect size of the dataset, so as to make the network model easier to learn. Thirdly, we use soft non-maximum suppression instead of traditional non-maximum suppression to avoid the situation that the same kinds of defect category in the dataset are overlapped and eliminated as repeated detection. With this bag of tricks, we effectively improve the precision of fabric defect detection by 8.9% mAP on the basis of the baseline of state-of-the-art convolutional neural network detection algorithm.
Near reverse breeding

The present invention relates to a method for producing a homozygous non-human organism from a heterozygous non-human organism, which homozygous organism can be crossed to obtain a hybrid, comprising providing a heterozygous starting organism; allowing the organism to produce SDR-O cells through meiosis, which cells originate from second division restitution; regenerating SDR-O organisms from the SDR-O cells; and producing the homozygous organism from the SDR-O organisms thus obtained. The invention further relates to a method for producing a hybrid, comprising crossing a first homozygous organism that is produced according to the above method with a second homozygous organism. Furthermore, the invention provides homozygous non-human organism and hybrid non-human organisms obtainable by these methods. The invention relates in particular to plants.
DIAZOTROPH ISOLATION AND nifH GENE EXPRESSION FROM RHIZOSPHERE OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

Diazotroph isolation and nifH gene expression from rhizosphere of rice (Oryza sativa L.) Name of Student Major Advisor Armi R. Patel Dr. R. V. Vyas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY B. A. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY ANAND –388 110, GUJARAT (INDIA)
Effect of Egyptian Red Cabbage on Some Physiological Parameters in Hyperthyroidimic Rats

Background: this study aimed to illustrate the protective effect of red cabbage extract against hyperthyroidism induced by L-thyroxin in male albino rats. Materials and methods: Eighteen animals were divided randomly into three groups. Group A: healthy rats, Group B: normal rats were subcutaneous injected with 500 µg/kg body weight/day L-thyroxin once daily for two weeks to induce hyperthyroidism and group C: hyperthyroid rats received red cabbage extract. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Results: hyperthyroid rats induced by L-thyroxin had significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum levels of triodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), protein profile, lipid profile (TC, HDL) as well as a significant increase in kidney function test (BUN, uric acid), in liver enzymes (ALP, ALT), and a significant decrease in TSH, TG, VLDL compared to the normal control group. Oral administration of red cabbage extract ameliorated most of the tested parameters.
Reactive Silica Traces Manure Spreading in Alluvial Aquifers Affected by Nitrate Contamination: A Case Study in a High Plain of Northern Italy

In the northern sector of the Po River Plain (Italy), widespread intensive agriculture and animal farming are supported by large amounts of water from Alpine lakes and their emissaries. Flood irrigation and excess fertilization with manure affect both the hydrology and the chemical quality of surface and groundwater, resulting in diffuse nitrogen pollution. However, studies analyzing the mechanisms linking agricultural practices with vertical and horizontal nitrogen paths are scarce in this area. We investigated groundwater quality and quantity in an unconfined, coarse-grained alluvial aquifer adjacent to the Mincio River (a tributary of the Po River), where steep summer gradients of nitrate (NO3−) concentrations are reported. The effects of manure on solutes’ vertical transport during precipitation events in fertilized and in control soils were simulated under laboratory conditions. The results show high SiO2 and NO3− leaching in fertilized soils. Similarly, field data are characterized by high SiO2 and NO3− concentrations, with a comparable spatial distribution but a different temporal evolution, suggesting their common origin but different processes affecting their concentrations in the study area. Our results show that SiO2 can be used as a conservative tracer of manure spreading, as it does not undergo biogeochemical processes that significantly alter its concentrations. On the contrary, nitrate displays large short-term variations related to aquifer recharge (i.e., flood irrigation and precipitation). In fact, aquifer recharge may promote immediate solubilization and stimulate nitrification, resulting in high NO3− concentrations up to 95.9 mg/L, exceeding the Water Framework Directive (WFD) thresholds. When recharge ends, anoxic conditions likely establish in the saturated zone, favoring denitrification and resulting in a steep decrease in NO3− concentrations.
Cadmium(II)-selective potentiometric sensor based on synthesised (E)-2-benzylidenehydrazinecarbothioamide for the determination of Cd2+ in different environmental samples

ABSTRACT In the present study, we developed a cadmium(II)-selective sensor using a novel poly(vinyl chloride) membrane, containing synthesised (E)-2-benzylidenehydrazinecarbothioamide as an ionophore. This newly developed cadmium(II)-selective sensor exhibits best performance with a membrane composition of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), ionophore, potassium tetrakis (p-chlorophenyl) borate (KTpClPB) at 32.0:63.0:4.0:1.0 ratio (%, w/w). The cadmium(II)-selective sensor exhibits a lower detection limit of 1.77 × 10−6 mol L−1. This potentiometric sensor displays a stable potential response in the pH range of 5.0–10.0 and it shows a good selectivity for Cd2+ in the presence of interfering ions. The developed sensor shows a relatively fast response time (10 s), good reusability and stability. The proposed cadmium(II)-selective sensor was successfully applied as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of Cd2+ ions with EDTA and for the direct determination of Cd2+ ions in different environmental samples and in a waste battery sample.
Legacy effects of diversity in space and time driven by winter cover crop biomass and nitrogen concentration

Plant diversity can increase nitrogen cycling and decrease soil-borne pests, which are feedback mechanisms influencing subsequent plant growth. The relative strength of these mechanisms is unclear, as is the influence of preceding plant quantity and quality. Here, we studied how plant diversity in space and time influences subsequent crop growth. During 2 years, we rotated two main crops (Avena sativa, Cichorium endivia) with four winter cover crop (WCC) species in monocultures and mixtures. We hypothesized that, relative to monocultures, WCC mixtures promote WCC biomass (quantity) and nitrogen concentration (quality), soil mineral nitrogen, soil organic matter, and reduce plant-feeding nematode abundance. Additionally, we predicted that preceding crops modified WCC legacies. By structural equation modelling (SEM), we tested the relative importance of WCC shoot biomass and nitrogen concentration on succeeding crop productivity directly and indirectly via nitrogen cycling and root-feeding nematode abundance. WCC shoot biomass, soil properties and succeeding Avena productivity were affected by first-season cropping, whereas subsequent Cichorium only responded to the WCC treatments. WCC mixtures’ productivity and nitrogen concentration showed over- and under-yielding, depending on mixture composition. Soil nitrogen and nematode abundance did not display WCC mixture effects. Soil organic matter was lower than expected after Raphanus sativus + Vicia sativa mixture. Subsequent Avena productivity depended upon mixture composition, whereas final Cichorium productivity was unresponsive to WCC mixtures. SEM indicated that WCC legacy effects on subsequent Avena (R2 = 0.52) and Cichorium (R2 = 0.59) productivity were driven by WCC biomass and nitrogen concentration, although not by the quantified soil properties. Synthesis and applications. Through understanding plant–soil feedback, legacy effects of plant species and species mixtures can be employed for sustainable management of agro-ecosystems. Biomass and nitrogen concentration of plants returned to the soil stimulate subsequent plant productivity. Winter cover crop quantity and quality are both manipulable with mixtures. The specificity of spatial and temporal diversity effects warrants consideration of plant species choice in mixtures and rotations for optimal employment of beneficial legacy effects.
Mitigating Negative Impacts of Read Disturb in SSDs

Read disturb is a circuit-level noise in solid-state drives (SSDs), which may corrupt existing data in SSD blocks and then cause high read error rate and longer read latency. The approach of read refresh is commonly used to avoid read disturb errors by periodically migrating the hot read data to other free blocks, but it places considerable negative impacts on I/O (Input/Output) responsiveness. This article proposes scheduling approaches on write data and read refresh operations, to mitigate the negative effects caused by read disturb. To be specific, we first construct a model to classify SSD blocks into two categories according to the estimated read error rate by referring to the factors of block’s P/E (Program/Erase) cycle and the accumulated read count to the block. Then, the data being intensively read will be redirected to the block having a small read error rate, as it is not sensitive to read disturb even though the data will be heavily requested. Moreover, we take advantage of reinforcement learning to predict the idle interval between two I/O requests for purposely conducting (partial) read refresh operations. As a result, it is able to minimize negative impacts toward subsequent incoming I/O requests and to ensure I/O responsiveness. Through a series of emulation tests on several realistic disk traces, we demonstrate that the proposed mechanisms can noticeably yield performance improvements on the metrics of read error rate and I/O latency.
How full-height sidewall baffles affect box culvert capacity: balancing fish passage and discharge requirements

ABSTRACT Low-level river crossings and culverts deliver valuable transportation and hydraulic control services to the society, but have negative impacts in terms of upstream fish passage. Recently, full-height sidewall baffles have been imposed in north-eastern Australia to assist upstream passage of small-bodied fish in box culverts, although the impact on the culvert discharge capacity was ignored. Detailed physical modelling was conducted under controlled flow conditions in a near-full-scale culvert barrel channel, equipped with such full-height sidewall baffles. The results provide a quantitative assessment of the impact of full-height sidewall baffles on the discharge capacity of box culverts. Applications were developed for single- and multi-cell box culverts, and practical implications are discussed.
Complete sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Auriculastra duplicata (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Ellobiidae)

Abstract The mitochondrial genome of the gastropod Auriculastra duplicata was completely sequenced. It was 13,920 bp in length and comprised 37 genes; two rrn genes and 22 trn genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated protein-coding genes depicted the polyphyly of all species belonging to the family Ellobiidae; however, monophyly was observed among all species belonging to the subfamily Ellobiinae, in which A. duplicata clustered consistently with Auriculinella bidentata.
Evaluation of Satellite Precipitation Products in Simulating Streamflow in a Humid Tropical Catchment of India Using a Semi-Distributed Hydrological Model

Precipitation obtained from rain gauges is an essential input for hydrological modelling. It is often sparse in highly topographically varying terrain, exhibiting a certain amount of uncertainty in hydrological modelling. Hence, satellite rainfall estimates have been used as an alternative or as a supplement to station observations. In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), employing a semi-distributed hydrological model, i.e., Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), for simulating streamflow and validating them against the flows generated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall dataset in the Gurupura river catchment of India. Distinct testing scenarios for simulating streamflow were made to check the suitability of these satellite precipitation data. The TRMM was able to better estimate rainfall than CHIRPS after performing categorical and continuous statistical results with respect to IMD rainfall data. While comparing the performance of model simulations, the IMD rainfall-driven streamflow emerged as the best followed by the TRMM, CHIRPS-0.05, and CHIRPS-0.25. The coefficient of determination (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and percent bias (PBIAS) were in the range 0.63 to 0.86, 0.62 to 0.86, and −14.98 to 0.87, respectively. Further, an attempt was made to examine the spatial distribution of key hydrological signature, i.e., flow duration curve (FDC) in the 30–95 percentile range of non-exceedance probability. It was observed that TRMM underestimated the flow for agricultural water availability corresponding to 30 percent, even though it showed a good performance compared to the other satellite rainfall-driven model outputs.