Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of Agriculture and Water Sector and the Reality of Food Security in Arab Countries (2010-2017)

The main aim of the paper is to presents the reality of food security in Arab countries (that means literally the Arab peninsula and the North African Arab States); in the light of the efficiency of agriculture and water sector during the period (2010-2017). The descriptive analytical approach was used. Secondary data were collected and used to describe challenges that faced Arab food security during that period. The results found that agricultural production is insufficient to meets the demand for food in Arab countries because it highly depends on rain-fed irrigation which causes low productivity; in connection with poor strategic planning. Further, it is found that, poor exploitation and miss-management of water resources, conversion of farmland to urban uses, application of old technology, population growth, rising demand for food and degradation of natural resources have contributed to widening of food gap. The study recommends that, if Arab countries want to achieve the food security and self-sufficiency they have to consider the following: use of modern technology to improve the productivity, cooperation in agricultural research, good utilization of water resources and effective agricultural and financing policies.
A face recognition algorithm based on feature fusion

In the process of building a smart city, face recognition can be applied to the transformation of enterprises, communities, and parks. The combination of building security system and face recognition technology can improve the security experience of enterprises and citizens through the solution of hardware and software integration. Face recognition is still facing the challenges of illumination, occlusion, and attitude change in the actual application process. In addition, the end‐to‐end convolutional neural networks (CNN) seldom make use of the hierarchical feature of the network. So, we propose a hierarchy feature fusion method for face recognition, which uses supervisory information to learn shallow and deep facial features. The features are fused to enhance the recognition accuracy of face recognition against illumination and occlusion. The method is applied to the transformation of the visual geometry group network and Lightened CNN. The face recognition experiments are carried out using the hierarchy network. Our method has achieved good recognition results in the labeled faces in the wild (LFW) and AR face databases.
Thermal and magnetoelastic properties of 
α−RuCl3
 in the field-induced low-temperature states

We discuss the implications that new magnetocaloric, thermal expansion and magnetostriction data in $\alpha$-RuCl$_{3}$ single crystals have on its temperature-field phase diagram and uncover the magnetic-field dependence of an apparent energy gap structure $\Delta (H)$ that evolves when the low temperature antiferromagnetic order is suppressed. We show that, depending on how the thermal expansion data is modeled, $\Delta (H)$ can show a cubic field dependence and remain finite at zero field, consistent with the pure Kitaev model hosting itinerant Majorana fermions and localized $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ fluxes. Our magnetocaloric effect data provides, below $1\,\mathrm{K}$, unambiguous evidence for dissipative phenomena at $H_{\mathrm{c}}$, smoking gun for a first order phase transition. Our results, on the other hand, show little support for a phase transition from a QSL to a polarized paramagnetic state above $H_{\mathrm{c}}$.
Strong Coordination of Signals and Actions Over Noisy Channels With Two-Sided State Information

We consider a network of two nodes separated by a noisy channel with two-sided state information, in which the input and output signals have to be coordinated with the source and its reconstruction. In the case of non-causal encoding and decoding, we propose a joint source-channel coding scheme and we develop inner and outer bounds for the strong coordination region. While the inner and outer bounds do not match in general, we provide a complete characterization of the strong coordination region in three particular cases: i) when the channel is perfect; ii) when the decoder is lossless; and iii) when the random variables of the channel are independent from the random variables of the source. Through the study of these special cases, we prove that the separation principle does not hold for the joint source-channel strong coordination. Finally, in the absence of state information, we show that polar codes achieve a subset of the best known inner bound for the strong coordination region, therefore offering a constructive alternative to random binning and coding proofs.
Identification & functional characterization of the Arabidopsis ZINC FINGER PROTEIN 3

Abscisic acid regulates numerous processes such as seed desiccation, germination and responses to drought. Controlled cDNA Overexpression System (Papdi 2008) was employed to identify novel genes coding for important factors controlling ABA regulation. Screening for ABA insensitive germination of the transgenic plant population, transformed with the COS library, lead to the of identification several stress regulatory genes. Most pronounced Estradiol dependent ABA insenstitive germination was detected in A26 or A44 lines carrying either the full-length cDNAs, the small heat-shock protein HSP17.6A-cII (Papdi 2008) or a previously uncharacterized zinc-finger domain containing transcription factor protein. We have shown that ZFP3, a nuclear C2H2 zinc finger protein acts as a negative regulator of ABA- suppressed germination. Accordingly, regulated over-expression of ZFP3 and the closely related ZFP1, ZFP4, ZFP6 and ZFP7 zinc finger factors confers ABA insensitivity to seed germination while the zfp3 zfp4 double mutant displays enhanced ABA susceptibility. Reduced expression of several ABA-induced genes, such as RAB18 and ABI4 in ZFP3ox seedlings suggests that ZFP3 negatively regulates ABA signaling. ZFP3ox plants showed multiple phenotypic alterations, such as semidwarf growth habit, defects in fertility and enhanced sensitivity of hypocotyl elongation to red but not to far-red or blue light. Analysis of genetic interactions between phytochrome and abi mutants indicates that ZFP3 enhances red light signaling by photoreceptors other than phyA, and additively increases ABA insensitivity conferred by the abi2, abi4 and abi5 mutations. These data support the conclusion that ZFP3 and other members of the ZFP subfamily regulate light and ABA responses during germination and early seedling development.
Analyzing change in the American English amplifier system in the fiction genre

This study examines the diachronic development of amplification of adjectives in American English (AmE), specifically in the fiction section of the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA). The results show that amplifier use in attributive contexts remains stable, while, in predicative contexts, so has increased significantly since the 1980s and has replaced very as the dominant amplifier. This development contrasts with ongoing change in other regional varieties of English where really, rather than so, has become the dominant amplifier of adjectives during the latter half of the 20th century. The results show that so and very are semantically highly similar and that the increase in so is mostly based on its co-occurrence with good.
A novel genome-wide approach to identify in vivo targets of Notch signalling

The Notch signalling pathway regulates many developmental processes in metazoan embryos and adults such as cell proliferation, stem cell maintenance, cell fate specification and apoptosis. Despite the importance of this pathway, few targets have been identified, with the Hes (Hairy and Enhancer-of-split) protein family being the best-characterised group of downstream effectors. I have established transgenic mice carrying Biotin Acceptor Peptide (BAP)- tagged versions of Notch1. The tagged protein is fully functional and is biotinylated after crossing to mice expressing the biotinylase from E. coli. Biotinylation was confirmed in a range of different tissues. However, streptavidin chromatin pull-down (bioChIP) experiments from these tissues showed no significant enrichment of known Notch1 target sequences. A possible explanation could be the indirect and transient nature of the interaction between Notch, its DNA binding partner CSL and the promoter of the target gene. A transgenic mouse line expressing a BAP-tagged version of the transcription factor Hes7, a downstream effector of Notch signalling and key regulator of somitogenesis, was similarly generated. Although the tagged Hes7 protein is functional and gets biotinylated in cell culture assays, the transgenic mice exhibit a severe somite/skeletal phenotype indicating that the tagged allele is hypomorphic. A detailed analysis of the phenotype revealed differential axial requirements for Hes7.
Analysis of Electric and Magnetic Lightning‐Generated Wave Amplitudes Measured by the Van Allen Probes

We provide a statistical analysis of both electric and magnetic field wave amplitudes of very low frequency lightning‐generated waves (LGWs) based on the equivalent of 11.5 years of observations made by the Van Allen Probes encompassing ~24.6 × 106 survey mode measurements. We complement this analysis with data from the ground‐based World Wide Lightning Location Network to explore differences between satellite and ground‐based measurements. LGW mean amplitudes are found to be low compared with other whistler mode waves (1 ± 1.6 pT and 19 ± 59 μV/m). Extreme events (1/5,000) can reach 100 pT and contributes strongly to the mean power below L = 2. We find excellent correlations between World Wide Lightning Location Network‐based power and wave amplitudes in space at various longitudes. We reveal strong dayside ionospheric damping of the LGW electric field. LGW amplitudes drop for L < 2, contrary to the Earth's intense equatorial lightning activity. We conclude that it is difficult for equatorial LGW to propagate and remain at L < 2.
An Evaluation of Vegetation Health in and around Southern African National Parks during the 21st Century (2000–2016)

Roughly 65% of the African continent is classified as savanna. Such regions are of critical importance given their high levels of biological productivity, role in the carbon cycle, structural differences, and support of large human populations. Across southern Africa there are 79 national parks within savanna landscapes. Understanding trends and factors of vegetation health in these parks is critical for proper management and sustainability. This research strives to understand factors and trends in vegetation health from 2000 to 2016 in and around the 79 national parks across southern Africa. A backward stepwise regression was used to understand the factors (e.g., precipitation, population density, and presence of transfrontier conservation areas) affecting the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during the 21st century. There was a statistically significant positive (p < 0.05) relationship between mean annual precipitation and NDVI, and a significant negative relationship between population density and NDVI. To monitor vegetation trends in and around the parks, directional persistence, a seasonal NDVI time series-based trend analysis, was used. Directional persistence is the net accumulation of directional change in NDVI over time in a given period relative to a fixed benchmarked period. Parks and buffer zones across size classes were compared to examine differences in vegetation health. There was an overwhelmingly positive trend throughout. Additionally, national parks, overall, had higher amounts of positive persistence and lower amounts of negative persistence than the surrounding buffer zones. Having higher positive persistence inside of parks indicates that they are functioning favorably relative to the buffer zones in terms of vegetation resilience. This is an important finding for park managers and conservation overall in Southern Africa.
General Formulation of Kalman-Filter-Based Online Parameter Identification Methods for VSI-Fed PMSM

This article proposes two Kalman-filter-based online identification schemes for permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs), where the nonlinearity of a voltage-source inverter (VSI) is taken into account. One is formulated from an extended Kalman filter; the other uses a dual extended Kalman filter. They are generally formulated and can be applied to any identifiable electrical parameter combinations. The proposed schemes are further implemented on an industrial embedded control system. Their performance tests are conducted on a PMSM under static and dynamic conditions and compared with the extended Kalman filter without VSI nonlinearity compensation. The effectiveness of the proposed approaches is proved by the experimental results. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis of the initial setup of parameter estimates has shown that the proposed estimators are robust against poor initial value choices. Real-time feasibility of the proposed estimators up to $\text{20}\;\text{kHz}$ is demonstrated via experiments.
A Study on the Oogeneis of False Dace (Pseudorasbora parva)

The oogenesis and ultrastructure of fertilized egg envelope of false dace were investigated by light and electron microscope. The cytoplasm of false dace oogonia was basophilic and many nucleoli were located at inner side of nuclear membrane. In primary oocytes, yolk vesicles were distributed in marginal area only and egg envelope was not formed on egg outside. In secondary oocyte, the egg envelope was formed and yolk vesicles were increased than that of early stage in cytoplasm. The amount of basophilic substance was decreased. In case of matured egg, thickness of egg envelope and site of egg were increased, basophilic substance was distributed in egg envelope around only. The yolk vesicles were changed to yolk mass in accordance with development. The fertilized egg was of ellipsoidal, adhesive type and yellowish, have a single micropyle in the area of the animal pole. The fertilized egg envelope consisted of three layers, an outer adhesive layer, a middle layer consisting of 6 lamellae alternating layers and an inner electron dense layer. An outer surface of the fertilized egg envelope was arranged by adhesive fibrous structures. In conclusion, it is summarized that the oogenesis of false dace were the increase of cell size, the formation and accumulation of yolk, and decrease of basophilic intensity in cytoplasm. These ultrastructural characteristics of fertilized egg envelope from false dace can be utilized in taxonomy of teleost.
Tracking and Predicting the German Economy: Ifo vs. Pmi

This analysis investigates the predictive power of the most important leading indicators for the German economy, which are provided by the ifo Institute and IHS Markit. We conduct an out-of-sample, real-time forecast experiment for growth of gross domestic product and growth of gross value added in both the manufacturing and the service sector. We find that both survey providers produce valuable leading indicators to predict the current quarter of German GDP growth. Regarding forecasts for the next quarter, the ifo indicators are slightly better than the IHS Markit headline index. For the manufacturing sector, series provided by ifo are clearly superior to those of IHS Markit. For the service sector, the ifo indicators produce better nowcasts, whereas the indicators by IHS are more valuable for one-quarter-ahead predictions.
Two-Stage Bootstrap Sampling for Probabilistic Load Forecasting

The integration of distributed renewable energy and the implementation of the demand response complicate the change patterns of load profiles and present great uncertainties. Probabilistic load forecasting, an effective method for capturing the future load uncertainty, has been a hot issue. This article proposes a two-stage bootstrap sampling method for probabilistic load forecasting. In the first stage, alpha-bootstrap, which is a modification of traditional bootstrap methods, is applied to characterize the uncertainties from multiple forecasting models; in the second stage, the residual bootstrap method is used to formulate the regression errors. Finally, the probabilistic load forecasts can be obtained by integrating the uncertainties in both stages. Various off-the-shelf point load forecasting methods such as random forest (RF) and gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT) can be integrated into the proposed framework. We illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed method and superiority over direct quantile regression methods such as quantile RF and quantile GBRT using the case studies on open load datasets of eight zones in ISO New-England.
COPPER‐UPTAKE KINETICS OF COASTAL AND OCEANIC DIATOMS 1

We investigated copper (Cu) acquisition mechanisms and uptake kinetics of the marine diatoms Thalassiosira oceanica Hasle, an oceanic strain, and Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle et Heimdal, a coastal strain, grown under replete and limiting iron (Fe) and Cu availabilities. The Cu‐uptake kinetics of these two diatoms followed classical Michaelis–Menten kinetics. Biphasic uptake kinetics as a function of Cu concentration were observed, suggesting the presence of both high‐ and low‐affinity Cu‐transport systems. The half‐saturation constants (Km) and the maximum Cu‐uptake rates (Vmax) of the high‐affinity Cu‐transport systems (∼7–350 nM and 1.5–17 zmol · μm−2 · h−1, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the low‐affinity systems (>800 nM and 30–250 zmol · μm−2 · h−1, respectively). The two Cu‐transport systems were controlled differently by low Fe and/or Cu. The high‐affinity Cu‐transport system of both diatoms was down‐regulated under Fe limitation. Under optimal‐Fe and low‐Cu growth conditions, the Km of the high‐affinity transport system of T. oceanica was lower (7.3 nM) than that of T. pseudonana (373 nM), indicating that T. oceanica had a better ability to acquire Cu at subsaturating concentrations. When Fe was sufficient, the low‐affinity Cu‐transport system of T. oceanica saturated at 2,000 nM Cu, while that of T. pseudonana did not saturate, indicating different Cu‐transport regulation by these two diatoms. Using CuEDTA as a model organic complex, our results also suggest that diatoms might be able to access Cu bound within organic Cu complexes.
Direct Control of Pigment Aggregation and Dispersion in Tilapia Erythrophores by Light

Abstract Innervated and denervated erythrophores of the tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, responded directly to light of defined wavelength by pigment aggregation or dispersion, although similar effects did not occur in melanophores. In spectral regions between 400–440 nm and 550–600 nm, pigment aggregation took place, while the dispersion response was accelerated at wavelengths between 470–530 nm. The progress of the aggregation or dispersion response depended on the light intensity. These results may imply the coexistence of three kinds of visual pigments in tilapia erythrophores.
Effect of salt stress on the expression of NHX-type Na~+/H~+ antiporters in Populus euphratica and P.pruinosa calli

Populus euphratica and Populus pruinosa,sister species in the Turanga Section(Salicaceae),growing in semi-arid saline areas are known for their high salinity tolerance.In this study,by combining growth level with Na+and K+contents,the expression level of vacuolar Na+/H+antiporters was investigated for NaCl-induced changes in P.euphratica and P.pruinosa calli.Compared to P.euphratica,P.pruinosa calli grew well in 200 mM NaCl stress from 14 to 21 days.Increasing the stressed time caused an increase in Na+content concomitant with a decrease in K+content in P.euphratica calli,whereas,with the presence of 200 mM NaCl,K+content has a less increase in 14 and 21 days than in 7 days which was detected in P.pruinosa calli.The transcript levels of six genes coding for NHX-type Na+/H+antiporters suggest that vacuolar NHX1–NHX6 antiporters play important roles in responding to salt stress in P.pruinosa. Our data suggest that there exists a higher salt tolerance for P.pruinosa than P.euphratica at the cellular level,Na+avoidance or accumulation is observed in cellular compartments,and that expression of NHX antiporters is linked to the accumulator phenotype.
Phonon phase stability, structural, mechanical, electronic, and thermoelectric properties of two new semiconducting quaternary Heusler alloys CoCuZrZ (Z = Ge and Sn)

For meeting the energy demand, the development of new and novel thermoelectric (TE) materials for power generation is very vital. In this draft, we have theoretically investigated two new quaternary CoCuZrZ (Z = Ge and Sn) Heusler alloys for their structural, mechanical, electronic, and TE properties. In the energy minimization process, the alloys are found to be non‐magnetic in the ground state. Based on calculated phonon dispersion curves, formation energy, and elastic constants, we propose that both CoCuZrGe and CoCuZrSn are stable. Furthermore, the mechanical properties indicate that CoCuZrGe (CoCuZrSn) has a brittle (ductile) nature. The electronic properties examined in Perdew‐Burke‐Ernzerhof (PBE), PBEsol, and modified Becke‐Johnson (mBJ) potential, all predict that reported systems are narrow‐gap semiconductors (SCs). In addition, the temperature dependent TE properties have been studied by calculating the electronic thermal conductivity (κ), Seebeck coefficient (S), power factor (PF) and electrical conductivity (σ/τ). The obtained positive value of S conveys the materials as p‐type SCs, with a maximum value of 26.2 μV/K for CoCuZrGe and 28 μV/K for CoCuZrSn. The σ/τ, κ, and PF show increasing trends with rising temperature. The PF is found to be 1.55 × 1012 WK−2m−1s−1 for CoCuZrGe and 1.38 × 1012 WK−2m−1s−1 for CoCuZrSn. The proposed semiconducting Heusler alloys may receive attention for a range of TE and spintronic applications.
Characterization of Hazelnut, Pistachio, and Apricot Kernel Shell Particles and Analysis of Their Composite Properties

ABSTRACT In this study, hazelnut, pistachio, and apricot kernel shells were ground size of 0–300 µm, 300–600 µm, and 600–850 µm. The cellulose, ash, humidity, and metal contents of these powder particles were chemically analyzed and structural properties were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR) analysis. Their composites were fabricated by adding 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight of these powder particles to the polyester matrix material. The effect of chemical and structural properties of the powder particles on the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the composites was analyzed. The XRD analysis revealed that cellulose structure observed in powder particles. The peaks observed in their surface functional structures with FT-IR were mainly caused by cellulose and hemicellulose structures. These structures effected humidity and ash ratios. Nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen elements were seen in the structure. In addition, heavy metals such as Sn, Ca, K, Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Si were found. Powder particles added to the polyester material adversely affected the tensile strength of the matrix material. However, powder particles added to the matrix material at low rates had a positive effect on bending and compressive strength.