Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flooding gradient and treefall gap interactive effects on plant community structure, richness, and alpha diversity in the Peruvian Amazon.

The Amazon is the most productive and diverse terrestrial ecosystem in the world and among its important structuring forces are flooding gradients and treefall gap dynamics. Consequently, in order to more fully understand Amazonian forests, I sampled Peruvian vegetation plots for five years both in forest and in fresh gaps within each of three forest types (terra firme, varzea, tahuampa) that differed in flooding duration and maximum water depth. I found a significant effect of degree of openness (i.e. treefall gap formation) on canopy average height, canopy maximum height, basal area, density, above-ground biomass, turnover, and alpha diversity, and a significant effect of forest type (i.e. the flooding gradient) on species richness, genera richness, density, turnover, and alpha diversity. In general, there were fewer trees, but they were larger, and more productive in the forest plots compared with the gap plots; and the most flooded plots had fewer trees, species, and genera compared with both the less flooded forest and unflooded forest. Also the greatest amount of turnover was found in the most flooded forests, and the intermediately flooded forest had the greatest richness and alpha diversity. These results taken together support a “mass effects” hypothesis where species from both the un flooded and most flooded forests and their gaps have overlapping ranges in the less flooded forest and gaps, causing continuous immigration which boosts diversity. In summary, (1) canopy structure was determined by traditional gap dynamics, but much of canopy diversity depended on the type of forest, (2) tree density decreased as flooding increased, especially among the smallest stems, and (3) there was evidence to suggest that the high biodiversity of the Amazon may be maintained in part by the existence of moderately flooded forest and gaps. Accepted 25 october 2009.
Search for Dark Matter in Association with a Boosted Heavy Scalar in Semileptonic Signatures with the ATLAS Experiment

Many searches for new phenomena in the field of experimental high energy physics look for dark matter. This analysis presents a search for dark matter that is produced via a new heavy mediator Z ′ and in association with a boosted dark Higgs boson s that decays into two W -bosons. The parameters of this model are chosen in a way that it is able to reproduce the relic dark matter abundance, a main motivation for this model. The signature where the W -bosons decay semileptonically, resulting in the presence of one charged lepton, a large-R jet and missing transverse energy, is studied. Monte Carlo simulations of pp-collisions at the LHC with a center of mass energy of √ s = 13TeV at the ATLAS detector are used. The use of track-assisted reclustered (TAR) jets with radius parameters R = 0.6, R = 0.8, R = 1.0 and standard anti-kt jets with R = 1.0 (large-R jets) to reconstruct the hadronically decaying boosted W -boson is studied. Then, an optimization of selection criteria to define the signal region is presented, cross-checked and verified. The expected significance and exclusion limit is calculated. The expected exclusion limit is further improved by splitting up the signal region into multiple subregions, resulting in an expected exclusion of the masses mZ′ < 2500GeV and ms < 300GeV at 95 % confidence level. Zusammenfassung Viele Suchen nach neuen Phänomenen in der Hochenergiephysik suchen nach dunkler Materie. Diese Analyse zeigt eine Suche nach dunker Materie, die über ein neues schweres Mediator-Teilchen Z ′ und in Assoziation mit einem dunklen Higgs-Boson s, das in zwei W -Bosonen zerfällt, produziert wird. Die Paramter des Modells sind so gewählt, dass es die Dichte der dunklen Materie zum Zeitpunkt des thermischen Einfrierens des Universums reproduzieren kann, eine der Hauptmotivationen dieses Modells. Die Signatur, bei der die W -Bosonen semileptonisch zerfallen, was zu einem geladenen Lepton, einem großen Jet und fehlender transversaler Energie führt, wird untersucht. Monte Carlo Simulationen von pp-Kollisionen am ATLAS Detektor am LHC bei einer Schwerpunktsenergie von √ s = 13TeV werden dazu verwendet. Die Verwendung von spur-gestützten reclustered (TAR) Jets mit den Radius-Parametern R = 0.6, R = 0.8, R = 1.0 sowie von Standard-anti-kt Jets mit R = 1.0 für die Rekonstruktion des hadronisch zerfallenden geboosteten W -bosons wird untersucht. Weiterhin wird eine Optimierung von Selektionskriterien für die Definition einer Signalregion gezeigt, überprüft und verifiziert. Die erwartete Signifikanz und Ausschlussgrenze wird berechnet. Die erwartete Ausschlussgrenze wird durch das Aufteilen der Signalregion in mehrere Subregionen weiter verbessert, so dass das schlussendlich erwartete Limit die Massen mZ′ < 2500GeV und ms < 300GeV bei einem Konfidenzniveau von 95 % ausschließt.
An Improved Approach for Digital Image Edge Detection

— Before objects detection and image segmentation edge detection is the preliminary and major step. The problems of edge detection are: false edge detection, missing true edges, producing thin or thick lines, noise removal etc. There are many edge detection algorithms have been developed for detecting the true edges from an image. These algorithms use different types of masks such as Robert, Prewitt, Sobel, Laplacian masks etc. Though the algorithms have some advantages and disadvantages, some of these perform better than others for specific regions and specific type of images. This paper proposed a new algorithm which works with a new mask. By comparing with others the proposed algorithm performs better.
Advanced Receiver Design for Cancellation of DME Interference into PMSE

The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and more specifically the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) is currently studying the compatibility of air band systems and Programme-Making and Special Events (PMSE) in the L-Band. They want to clarify under which conditions PMSE devices can be operated in L-Band around 1.4 GHz, where normally air navigation and telemetry systems are operated. In particular, it is planned to operate PMSE in the frequency neighbourhood of distance measurement equipment (DME), whose impulsive Gaussian-shaped nature interferes with the reception of PMSE signals. In this thesis, the robustness of PMSE receivers against DME interference is improved by proposing two cancellation approaches, namely pulse blanking filter (PBF) and optimal interference cancellation filter (OICF). The PBF is an approach easily implemented, where the interfered signal sections are turned to zero after the DME pulses have been detected. On the other hand, the more complex OICF tries to reconstruct the interfering pulses by estimating their parameters. This could ideally lead to total subtraction of the interference contained in the received signal. Both cancellation approaches are implemented and analysed in a PMSE simulation model. The PBF gains an increase of robustness to interferer in the order of 10 dB to 15 dB. Whereas the OICF achieves a flawless cancellation under certain conditions. Such increases in the robustness of PMSE RX to withstand impulsive interference can significantly enlarge the region where PMSE and avionic DME are compatible.
Performance evaluation of Carbon nanotube junctionless tunneling field effect transistor (CNT-JLTFET) under torsional strain: A quantum simulation study

In this paper, the performance of a CNT-JLTFET under different values of torsional strains of 0, 3, and 5 degrees has been investigated. Simulation has been carried out using non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) formalism in the mode-space approach and in the ballistic limit. The simulation results indicate that, under torsional strain, an increase occurs in the energy band-gap, and thus the on- and off-currents are reduced, thought that reduction has a greater percentage in the off-current, resulting in the increase in the ON/OFF current ratio. Besides, the switching characteristics of the device including power-delay product (PDP) and intrinsic delay (τ) have been studied.
A Prevalence Study of Extended Spectrum -Lactamases in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Rajkot City of Gujarat (India)

DOI: 10.21276/sjpm.2018. 3.8. 8 Abstract: β-Lactam antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections. Increased use of antibiotics, particularly the third generation of cephalosporins, has been associated with the emergence of ESBL producing bacteria, most commonly in E. coli. And Klebsiella pneumonia. Infection due to ESBL producers range from uncomplicated urinary tract infection to life threatening sepsis. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of ESBL producing E.coli and Klebsiella isolates. Patients taking treatment in P.D. U. Hospital and Medical College, Rajkota tertiary care hospital in Gujarat, India, were included in study. During the half year period from July 2014 to December 2014, a total of 600 E. coli and Klebsiella isolates from various clinical specimens were included in the study. The isolated organisms of E. coli and Klebsiella were characterized for their production of ESBL. Out of 600 E. coli and Klebsiella isolate, E. coli were 224 (37.3% and Klebsiella spp. 376 (62.7%). The overall rate of production of ESBL (by phenotypic confirmatory test with double disc diffusion method) in total isolates of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. is 22.5% (135/600). The rate of production of ESBL in E. coli is 29.9% (67/224) and in Klebsiella spp. is 18.1% (68/376). ESBL producing E. coli and Klebsiella showed high prevalence in present study. Routine laboratory testing for ESBL is needed in order to optimize antibiotic management to reduce ESBL associated morbidity & mortality.
Crowdsourced visual design feedback through designers’ eyes

Purpose Evaluation of a new method for visual design feedback by crowds aimed at encouraging intuitive perceptual and emotional responses. Methodology Semi-structured interviews and grounded theory qualitative analysis. Findings Designers received new image based forms of feedback about emotional responses to their designs. They found inspiration for design changes in the visual feedback formats produced using this new method. Visual responses using abstract imagery were perceived to be useful as perceptual mood boards confirming that designers’ intentions had actually been realised. When contrasting text feedback with image feedback, differing views were expressed about communication of emotion: one view being that images encouraged focus on emotions while text had lead the crowd to stray away from their emotions into a conventional design critique. Eleven out of the twelve participating designers desired to use a service offering the new visual feedback formats. Research limitations/implications The group of participants were student interior designers. Practical implications An image based channel for crowd feedback suited to visual and intuitive thinking has been developed and evaluated. Social implications If crowds can be engaged by the new image based feedback method, design feedback cycles using fast intuitive image selection rather than text could democratise participatory design. Originality/value This paper reports results from an evaluation of a new method of crowdsourced design feedback based on images.
People’s Perception and Participation in Solid Waste Management in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

This work focused on assessing people’s perception and participation in solid waste disposal, collection and management methods in Six (6) towns of Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State, Nigeria. It utilized structured questionnaire and face to face interviews for data generation. The sampled towns were Utagba-Ogbe, Ogume, Abbi, Emu, Onicha-Ukwuani and Utagba-Uno, respectively. It was observed that, irrespective of respondent’s localities, most shops/offices and residential houses lacked approved waste collection bags/bins from authorized waste handlers from the Local Government, rather, some augmented with personal packing bags. Collected waste materials were reportedly disposed-off by road sides, into gutters (where available), streets, pits, abandoned buildings, undeveloped plots, or directly into ponds, rivers and streams. Majority of the respondents outside Utagba-Ogbe were unaware of the existence of any government-approved disposal sites around their communities. Although, some of the respondents adopted waste burning, knowledge of integrated solid waste management was observed to be generally low. Respondents were generally not happy with services of waste handlers in the area. The current waste handling strategy in the study area would have serious health and environmental concerns via engendering disease epidemic. The Local Government Authority should make deliberate efforts to seek better ways of enforcing efficient waste-to-wealth strategies to help sustainably solve the waste generation and disposal problems in the study area.
Modeling Complex Annotations

Modeling annotators and their labels is useful for ensuring data quality. However, while many models have been proposed to handle binary or categorical labels, prior methods do not generalize to complex annotation tasks (e.g., open-ended text, multivariate, structured responses) without devising new models for each speciﬁc task. To obviate the need for task-speciﬁc modeling, we propose to model distances between labels, rather than the labels themselves. Our methods are ag-nostic as to the distance function; we leave it to the annotation task requester to specify an appropriate distance function for their task. We propose three methods, including a Bayesian hierarchical extension of multidimensional scaling .
Identification of Novel Genetics Loci Associated with Crohn’s Disease Using Network Proximity

Background: We investigated the hypothesis that known Crohn’s disease (CD) loci can be used to inform the search for novel CD using “network proximity” within a whole genome network. Methods: CD genes were selected from a meta-analysis solely on the basis of genetic evidence and independently of gene function. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to predict molecular interaction relationships among CD seed genes and to predict novel ones that are then tested in CD genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and in two novel CD-associated genes were studied in collection of 336 CD cases and 338 controls. Results: We identified a group of 22 CD genes that are connected in a highly non-random manner within different whole genome networks. From these genes we were able to demonstrate that the subset of genes that show maximized connectivity among CD candidate genes are themselves enriched as targets for CD predisposing mutations. We identified two novel CD candidate genes, TRIM15 and GRB2 and studied them in a case-controlled study where we found the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) minor allele (G) frequency for TRIM15 to be 0.34 in controls and 0.4 in cases (P =0.021) Likewise, the GRB2 SNP generated a significant P-value (P =0.015). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that genetic variants in TRIM15 and GBR2 are associated with CD, and that network candidate gene prediction data provide compelling evidence that network proximity within whole genome molecular interaction databases serves as a useful proxy for predicting multigene patterns of inheritance for CD.
Cubature Rules for Harmonic Functions on the Disk Using Line Integrals over Two Sets of Equispaced Chords

We construct a class of cubature rules for harmonic functions on the unit disk based on line integrals over 4n + 2 distinct chords which are separated into two groups of equal size. The chords in each group are assumed to have constant distances t1 and t2, respectively, to the center of the disk, and equispaced angles over the interval [0, 2π]. We show that if t1 and t2 are chosen properly, these rules integrate exactly all harmonic polynomials of degree up to 8n + 3. We conclude the paper with some numerical experiments.
7 Tuning Range Extension of an Oscillator Through CM Resonance

In this chapter, we introduce a method to broaden a tuning range of a CMOS LC-tank oscillator without sacrificing its area. The extra tuning range is achieved by forcing a strongly coupled transformer-based tank into a common-mode resonance at a much higher frequency than in its main differential-mode oscillation. The oscillator employs separate active circuits to excite each mode but it shares the same tank, which largely dominates the core area but is on par with similar single-core designs. The tank is forced in common-mode oscillation by two injection locked Colpitts oscillators at the transformer’s primary winding, while a two-port structure provides differential-mode oscillation. An analysis is also presented to compare the phase noise performance of the dual core oscillator in common-mode and differential-mode excitations. A prototype implemented in digital 40 nm CMOS verifies the dual mode oscillation and occupies only 0.12 mm2 and measures 56% tuning range.
Characterization of D-Glucoside 3-Dehydrogenase from Rhizobium sp. L35 and Its Application for D-Allose Production

D-allose is a rare monosaccharide that possesses some interesting features for enhancing the antitumor effects of chemoradiotherapy and treatment of cancer, however, efficient production of D-allose with high percent yield has not yet been reported. In this study, we proposed a utilization of D-glucoside 3-dehydrogenase together with chemical reaction to improve the D-allose production. A D-glucoside 3-dehydrogenase, which regioselectively dehydrogenates glycosides at the C-3 position to the corresponding 3-ketoglycoside, was newly isolated as Rhizobium sp. L35 and characterized as a flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent dehydrogenase. Its molecular weight was determined to be 67,000 by SDS-PAGE and 131,000 by size-exclusion chromatography, suggesting that it is a dimeric enzyme. Its optimum pH and temperature with respect to activity were 7.5 and 40°C, respectively. It was stable between pH 6.0 and 11.0, and below 40°C (half-life of 3 h at 40°C and 50 min at 45°C). The enzyme showed broad substrate specificity towards various glycosides, especially β-1,4-linked disaccharides such as cellobiose and lactose. Finally, D-allose production was performed by a three-step process of enzymatic-dehydrogenation, chemical reduction and acid-hydrolysis, using cellobiose as the starting material. The yield of D-allose was estimated to be 30% from cellobiose. This result indicates that D-allose can be produced by this strategy three-fold higher than the conventional method. CMU J. Nat. Sci. (2019) Vol. 18(3) 268
The Effects of Mad Cow Disease on U.S. Live Cattle Futures Price

Due to red meat consumption, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease has been a major human health concern since its discovery in 1986. An event study approach was applied to determine the impact of BSE official events that occurred in the United Kingdom on U.S. live cattle futures prices. When abnormal returns were aggregated during the course of the events, the price series were adversely affected, mainly after the event day. This suggests that market reaction was dissipated quickly and that no leakage of information occurred prior to the event.
An experimental investigation on tribological performance of UHMWPE composite under textured dry sliding conditions

Received 27 August 2019; received in revised form 14 November 2019; accepted 23 December 2019. To cite this article: Aher et al. (2020). An experimental investigation on tribological performance of UHMWPE composite under textured dry sliding conditions. Jurnal Tribologi 24, pp.110-125. An experimental investigation on tribological performance of UHMWPE composite under textured dry sliding conditions
Willing to Pay? Spatial Heterogeneity of e-Vehicle Charging Preferences in Germany

In this paper, we spatially map the willingness to pay for e-vehicle charging options according to the availability of public charging spots. We combine a Discrete Choice Experiment on charging preferences with a data set of public charging spots. Our results show spatial heterogeneity, i.e. respondents’ choices depend on the quantity of public charging spots available to them. Non-availability of public charging spots in the vicinity has a larger effect on the choice probability than 1, 2, or 3 charging spots have. This could be evidence for charging infrastructure awareness. For the charging locations, we find marked spatial heterogeneity in the willingness to pay subject to the number of available public charging spots. The interaction of charging location with the number of public charging spots reveals a strong preference for charging at home rather than at work or charging on the road. However, with every additional public charging spot, respondents are more likely to charge away from home. This holds until the number of charging spots has reached a tipping point at which respondents become indifferent between home and work charging. When the tipping point is exceeded, respondents rather charge at work than at home. Thus, with increasing numbers of charging spots, public chargers near home are less relevant than those near work. Eventually, public chargers away from home become more attractive. Also, with increasing numbers of charging spots our results reveal a fivefold greater willingness to pay for reducing waiting time (for a charging spot to become available) than for accelerating charging speed. Thus, charging point operators could surcharge by implementing a booking scheme than by implementing fast-charging. From the findings, we derive further implications for charging infrastructure policy, business models, and infrastructure planning, e.g. regarding the expected break-even points for rolling out charging infrastructure and the provision of green energy.
Convergence properties of three spike-triggered analysis techniques

We analyse the convergence properties of three spike-triggered data analysis techniques. Our results are obtained in the setting of a probabilistic linear-nonlinear (LN) cascade neural encoding model; this model has recently become popular in the study of the neural coding of natural signals. We start by giving exact rate-of-convergence results for the common spike-triggered average technique. Next, we analyse a spike-triggered covariance method, variants of which have been recently exploited successfully by Bialek, Simoncelli and colleagues. Unfortunately, the conditions that guarantee that these two estimators will converge to the correct parameters are typically not satisfied by natural signal data. Therefore, we introduce an estimator for the LN model parameters which is designed to converge under general conditions to the correct model. We derive the rate of convergence of this estimator, provide an algorithm for its computation and demonstrate its application to simulated data as well as physiological data from the primary motor cortex of awake behaving monkeys. We also give lower bounds on the convergence rate of any possible LN estimator. Our results should prove useful in the study of the neural coding of high-dimensional natural signals.