Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant water use in Owens Valley, CA: Understanding the influence of climate and depth to groundwater

There is a long-standing controversy in Owens Valley, California about the potential impacts of water exports on the local ecosystem. It is currently extremely difficult to attribute changes in plant cover and community composition to hydrologic change, as the interactions between ecological and hydrologic processes are relatively poorly understood. Underlying predictions about losses of grasslands and expansion of shrublands in response to declining water tables in Owens Valley are assumptions about the differential access of grasses versus shrubs to groundwater and their physiological respones to water stress. We sought to test these assumptions with measurements of natural abundance isotope tracers in plants, soils, and groundwater, and with physiological measurements. We found that the grass species Distichlis spicata did use shallower water sources than co-occuring shrub species, particularly in late summer. However, at sites with watertable depths < 3 m we did not find evidence of water stress in the grass species. In fact, Distichlis was more resistant to water stress-induced cavitation than co-occurring shrub species, indicating greater tolerance of dry conditions. Instead, soil nutrient availability appeared to be strongly limiting grass photosynthesis and gas exchange at low nutrient sites. As has been found previously, our results showed that where water table depths exceeded 3 m, grass cover was extremely sparse across a depth to watertable gradient. We did find evidence of water stress at 6 m watertable depth in the phreatophytic shrub species Ericameria nauseousa. Vulnerability to cavitation, an important component of plant water stress response, increased with watertable depth in this species. Hence, plant hydraulic architecture showed intraspecific variation in response to water availability. Stem lignin content increased with vulnerability to cavitation, possibly because of the linkage between lignified xylem and the ability to withstand cavitation. We propose that this relationship is a potential mechanism linking ecosystem water and nutrient availability, which appear to be closely correlated in Owens Valley. Our results highlight the importance of nutrient limitation in these ecosystems, and suggest that models used to evaluate ecosystem responses to hydrologic change in this region will require explicit attention to the ecosystem nitrogen cycle and the spatial and temporal variability in nitrogen availability.
Fluctuating asymmetry in the honey bee, Apis mellifera: effects of ploidy and hybridization

We present a new measure of morphological asymmetry that avoids most of the statistical problems inherent in character‐by‐character analysis of size or shape. The method is an application of Procrustes analysis, which computes best‐fitting super‐positions of configurations of landmarks to the left and right sides of a single specimen. The Procrustes method combines subtle deviations in all aspects of the landmark configuration into one net asymmetry score. Directional asymmetry is separated from fluctuating asymmetry in a simple partition of a net sum‐of‐squares, and geometrical details of either component can be inspected by traditional methods of multivariate statistical analysis of landmarks.
Retaining Judicial Professionalism: The New Case Guiding Mechanism of the Supreme People's Court

In 2011 and 2012 the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) published its first “guiding cases”. Guiding cases serve as decision-making models that must be taken into account by lower courts when deciding similar cases. This study argues that the establishment of such a national formal legal mechanism to improve consistency in adjudication across jurisdictions and geographical boundaries will strengthen judicial professionalism. The case guiding mechanism provides the SPC with an instrument to discreetly steer adjudication in lower courts, thereby allowing it to exercise significant influence in legal development. Given the complexity of cases, compared to law set out in statute, non-lawyers may have tremendous difficulty in understanding and assessing the effects of guiding cases, which in turn acts as a protective mechanism against extra-legal interference. The reform is an example of difficult maneuvering of the Court to retain judicial professionalism in a hostile yet politically conservative environment. It reflects an attempt of the SPC to strengthen its position vis-a-vis other actors of the party-state and to consolidate the judiciary’s function as an adjudicative institution that works on the basis of formal legal mechanisms.
Morphology and DNA analyses reveal a new cryptic snapping shrimp of the Alpheus heterochaelis Say, 1818 (Decapoda: Alpheidae) species complex from the western Atlantic

ABSTRACT Previous evidence regarding morphology led us to examine an exhaustive set of specimens assigned to Alpheus heterochaelis Say, 1818 and closely allied species, in order to test for the existence of possible cryptic taxa. The analysis of material assignable to this species from the states of Pará, Bahia and São Paulo in Brazil, and from Venezuela and Colombia revealed minor morphological differences between these specimens and others that could be confidently identified as A. heterochaelis from the eastern USA coast and the Gulf of Mexico, such as the absence of spiniform setae on the ischium of the fifth pereiopods (vs present in A. heterochaelis s.s.). Additionally, genetic analysis using the ribosomal 16S subunit also indicated levels of genetic difference supporting the existence of a cryptic species and revealing that A. heterochaelis is, in fact, a species complex. Thus, a new species, A. petronioi n. sp. is described and illustrated for the material from northern South America and Brazil. The new species is also compared with other, similar species of Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 in terms of morphology and DNA sequences in a phylogenetic context.
Giant overlap between the magnetic and superconducting phases of CeAu2Si2 under pressure

High pressure provides a powerful means for exploring unconventional superconductivity which appears mostly on the border of magnetism. Here we report the discovery of pressure-induced heavy fermion superconductivity up to 2.5 K in the antiferromanget CeAu2Si2 (TN ~ 10 K). Remarkably, the magnetic and superconducting phases are found to overlap across an unprecedentedly wide pressure interval from 11.8 to 22.3 GPa. Moreover, both the bulk Tc and TM are strongly enhanced when increasing the pressure from 16.7 to 20.2 GPa. Tc reaches a maximum at a pressure slightly below pc ~ 22.5 GPa, at which magnetic order disappears. Furthermore, the scaling behavior of the resistivity provides evidence for a continuous delocalization of the Ce 4f-electrons associated with a critical endpoint lying just above pc. We show that the maximum Tc of CeAu2Si2 actually occurs at almost the same unit-cell volume as that of CeCu2Si2 and CeCu2Ge2, and when the Kondo and crystal field splitting energies becomes comparable. Dynamical mean-filed theory calculations suggest that the peculiar behavior in pressurized CeAu2Si2 might be related to its Ce 4f-orbital occupancy. Our results not only provide a unique example of the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, but also underline the role of orbital physics in understanding Ce-based heavy fermion systems.
The Prevalence of “MEFV” Gene Mutations in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Inhabiting the Van Province and Surroundings

Objective: An inhibitory protein of inflammation pyrin/marenostrin is encoded by the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene. Mutations of this gene are known to cause familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease. A relation between mutations of the MEFV gene and rheumatic diseases was also suggested. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of four common mutations of the MEFV gene in 110 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 98 healthy controls (HC) inhabiting a region of eastern Turkey. Material and Methods: DNA extraction was realized by salting out method from peripheral blood lymphocytes of all subjects included in the study. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) amplification of exon 10 was performed by the appropriate primers, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by specific restriction endonucleases recognizing the mutational DNA or wild-type DNA regions. Results: Mutation frequency of RA patients was higher than in HC, but this result was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The MEFV mutation rate of RA patients living in eastern Turkey was not significantly different from HC. Further studies are needed to investigate other gene mutations that may affect RA etiopathogenesis.
The asymptotical behavior of probability measures for the fluctuations of stochastic models

We consider the fluctuations of shapes of two phases boundaries of the one-dimensional statistical mechanics models. By applying the theory of one-dimensional random walk, the models of the two phases boundaries are constructed by assuming that there is a specified value of the large area in the intermediate region of the two phases boundaries. Then we investigate the asymptotical behavior of the corresponding sequence of probability measures describing the statistical properties of the two phases boundaries. We show that the limiting probability measures coincide with some conditional probability distribution of certain Gaussian distribution. Further we discuss the properties of fluctuations of phase separation lines for the Ising model, and we obtain the asymptotic properties of the two interfaces S.O. S. model.
Cluster quo vadis? The future of the cluster concept

Although other regional- and sector-oriented promotional approaches exist alongside cluster promotion, from today's perspective the popularity of the cluster approach appears undiminished. At the global scale, no funding approach is as much discussed and implemented as the cluster concept. It must therefore be assumed that cluster support will still be a central innovation policy approach in the coming years. This view is strengthened by the fact that at present no successor for cluster promotion is apparent in the recent scientific theoretical discussion. Although improvements in the con-ceptual clarity and in the cluster policy approaches are being discussed, a new paradigm at a comparable level (as for instance the concept of innovation systems or also network funding before the diffusion of the cluster approach) is not recognizable. Cluster funding will however in future have to be more specific (and selective) than previously and have to network with other funding levels and funding approaches (e.g. European excellence clusters; promotion of excellence in universities in clusters; collaborative research and network promotion; new (heterogeneous) cooperation models). All empirical evidence shows that successfully operating clusters are characterized by a great diversity of actors and activities. These qualify the cluster as a platform to develop new cooperation forms and partnerships, as well as for further education and training measures, by learning from the experiences gathered in the cluster promotion programmes and building on the interactions in clusters. In this sense, new cooperation forms at the micro level, i.e. between single partners, and at the meso level in regional partnerships are not a substitute, but rather a supplement and extension of cluster promotion.
Influence of Dietary Dinamune® on Growth Performance and Lysozyme Activity in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fry

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a commercial β-glucan based immunostimulant preparation, Dinamune®, in the form of a feed supplement, on the growth performance and lysozyme activity of rainbow trout fry ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) weighing 1 g. Fish were fed diets containing 0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g Dinamune® kg -1 of dry diet for a period of 11 weeks. Body weight was generally increased in fish which were fed diets supplemented with concentrations (1.5 Dinamune®/kg feed) (23.75 ± 7.48), compared with the control (21.38 ± 7.04) (p < 0.05). Specific growth rate was significantly (p < 0.05) the highest in 1.5 g Dinamune® kg -1 of dry diet (4.27 ± 0.40) and the lowest in the control group (4.13 ± 0.41). FCR value was found to be the best in the 1g kg -1 group (0.67 ± 0.17), followed by the 1.5g kg -1 group (0.73 ± 0.23), the 0.5 g kg -1 group (0.80 ± 0.36) and the control group (1.00 ± 0.25). Hepatosomatic index (HSI) showed a significant decrease in 1.5 g Dinamune® kg -1 of dry diet (0.88 ± 0.18), compared with the control (1.15 ± 0.19). Condition factor (CF) in the control, 0.5 g kg -1 diet, 1 g kg -1 diet and 1.5 g kg -1 diet was (1.30 ± 0.16, 1.34 ± 0.15, 1.19 ± 0.10 and 1.18 ± 0.10) respectively. Lysozyme activity of the liver, kidney, and serum were significantly stimulated in the 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g Dinamune® supplemented groups at the end of experiment, compared with the control (p < 0.05). doi: 10.14456/WJST.2014. 77
Numerical Study of Alloy/Nanocomposite-based Solar Selective Absorber with High Photo-Thermal Conversion Efficiency

Based on the four-layered metal/dielectric film structure with high optical absorption in the 400-1000 nm spectral range, a new four-layered film structure has been studied and designed to improve the optical absorption with the spectral range being expanded to 250-1600 nm. After analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the different metals and dielectric materials, the most suitable materials for this film structure have been chosen. In terms of Bruggeman model, the optimized optical constant of alloys has been carefully analyzed to achieve the best solar absorption performance of the SSA device. Afterwards, Maxwell Garnett model was used to fit the optical constants of the metal-dielectric material, which satisfies the conditions and properties of the SSA device required in applications.
An applied approach for real-time level-of-detail woven fabric rendering

Photorealistic rendering of fabric is essential in many applications ranging from movie special effects to e-commerce and fashion design. Existing techniques usually render the fabric’s microscale structure. However, this can result in severe aliasing and is unsuitable for interactive cloth simulation and manipulation. In this paper we describe a novel real-time level-of-detail fabric rendering technique. The algorithm adjusts geometry and texture details with changing viewpoint by using a mipmapping approach, in order to obtain a perceptually consistent representation on the screen. Compared to previous work we also introduce more parameters allowing the simulation of a wider range of fabrics. Our evaluation demonstrates that the presented approach results in realistic renderings, increases the shader’s run-time speed, and reduces aliasing artifacts by hiding the underlying yarn geometry.
Assessing genetic diversity of three Tunisian dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) sub populations using microsatellite markers.

One of the main tasks of the PROCAMED project is to promote research on genetics of dromedary camel. In this regard, and to evaluate the genetic diversity among Tunisian dromedary camel, a total of 62 blood samples were collected from unrelated animals in three different regions (Tataouine, Medenine and Kebili) and belonging to three sub-populations (Ourdhaoui Medenine, Ourdhaoui Tataouine and Merzougui) defined on the basis of morphologic and geographic criterions. From seven microsatellite markers used only four were successfully amplified resulting in a total of 26 alleles observed in the three sub-populations with a mean number of alleles (MNA) of 6.5. Unbiased expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.76 to 0.84 whereas the observed heterozygosity was absolute (Ho = 1) and an excess of heterozygotes was observed in the three groups for all four loci. The mean estimates of the fixation index FST was 0.052 showing a moderate genetic structure between the different sub-populations. Little differentiation was observed between Ourdhaoui Medenine and Merzougui sub-populations, compared to Ourdhaoui Tataouine sub-population which seems to be more established. The results showed the limits of camel classification on the basis of only morphologic and regional distribution criterions.
The Dagum-Poisson Distribution: Model, Properties and Application

A new four parameter distribution called the Dagum-Poisson (DP) distribution is introduced and studied. This distribution is obtained by compounding Dagum and Poisson distributions. The structural properties of the new distribution are discussed, including explicit algebraic formulas for its survival and hazard functions, quantile function, moments, moment generating function, conditional moments, mean and median deviations, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, distribution of order statistics and R\'enyi entropy. Method of maximum likelihood is used for estimating the model parameters. A Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to examine the bias, mean square error of the maximum likelihood estimators and width of the confidence interval for each parameter. A real data set is used to illustrate the usefulness, applicability, importance and flexibility of the new distribution.
ESTIMATION OF FOREST STAND PARAMETERS BY USING THE SPECTRAL AND TEXTURAL FEATURES DERIVED FROM DIGITAL AERIAL IMAGES

Remote sensing data are important data sources in the management and planning of forest ecosystems. In this study, we aimed to estimate forest stand parameters using the spectral (Average Brightness Value) and textural features (Standard Deviation of Gray Levels, Entropy, Contrast, Correlation, Homogeneity) derived from digital aerial images. Study was carried out in Adıyaman Forestry Operation Directorate in Turkey. Relationships between image features and stand parameters (diameter at breast height-DBH, mean height, stand volume, basal area, and number of trees) were tested by using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Image features exhibiting the highest correlation with stand parameters were modelled by a linear regression analysis. The validity of the models developed was then tested using the leave-one-out cross-validation method. The ‘Contrast’ values derived from the infrared band showed the highest correlation with DBH and mean height, the ‘Contrast’ values from the red band showed the highest correlation with stand volume and basal area, and the ‘Homogeneity’ values from the infrared band showed the highest correlation with the number of trees. The adjusted coefficients of determination (R2adj) of the estimation models were calculated 0.48 for DBH, 0.38 for mean height, 0.41 for stand volume, 0.45 for basal area and 0.43 for tree number. The relative root mean square error (RMSE%) values were for each parameters 11.91%, 23.57%, 20.96%, 15.81% and 16.20%, respectively.
Coupled wire model of 
Z4
 orbifold quantum Hall states

We introduce a coupled wire model for a sequence of non-Abelian quantum Hall states that generalize the Z4 parafermion Read Rezayi state. The Z4 orbifold quantum Hall states occur at filling factors \nu = 2/(2m-p) for odd integers $m$ and $p$, and have a topological order with a neutral sector characterized by the orbifold conformal field theory with central charge $c=1$ at radius $R=\sqrt{p/2}$. When $p=1$ the state is Abelian. The state with $p=3$ is the $Z_4$ Read Rezayi state, and the series of $p\ge 3$ defines a sequence of non-Abelian states that resembles the Laughlin sequence. Our model is based on clustering of electrons in groups of four, and is formulated as a two fluid model in which each wire exhibits two phases: a weak clustered phase, where charge $e$ electrons coexist with charge $4e$ bosons and a strong clustered phase where the electrons are strongly bound in groups of 4. The transition between these two phases on a wire is mapped to the critical point of the 4 state clock model, which in turn is described by the orbifold conformal field theory. For an array of wires coupled in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field, strongly clustered wires form a charge $4e$ bosonic Laughlin state with a chiral charge mode at the edge, but no neutral mode and a gap for single electrons. Coupled wires near the critical state form quantum Hall states with a gapless neutral mode described by the orbifold theory. The coupled wire approach allows us to employ the Abelian bosonization technique to fully analyze the physics of single wire, and then to extract most topological properties of the resulting non-Abelian quantum Hall states. These include the list of quasiparticles, their fusion rules, the correspondence between bulk quasiparticles and edge topological sectors, and most of the phases associated with quasiparticles winding one another.
Mode identification in rapidly rotating stars from BRITE data

Apart from recent progress in Gamma Dor stars, identifying modes in rapidly rotating stars is a formidable challenge due to the lack of simple, easily identifiable frequency patterns. As a result, it is necessary to look to observational methods for identifying modes. Two popular techniques are spectroscopic mode identification based on line profile variations (LPVs) and photometric mode identification based on amplitude ratios and phase differences between multiple photometric bands. In this respect, the BRITE constellation is particularly interesting as it provides space-based multi-colour photometry. The present contribution describes the latest developments in obtaining theoretical predictions for amplitude ratios and phase differences for pulsation modes in rapidly rotating stars. These developments are based on full 2D non-adiabatic pulsation calculations, using models from the ESTER code, the only code to treat in a self-consistent way the thermal equilibrium of rapidly rotating stars. These predictions are then specifically applied to the BRITE photometric bands to explore the prospects of identifying modes based on BRITE observations.
Advances in Biogenic Nanoparticles and the Mechanisms of antimicrobial Effects

Innovations in the nanotechnological arena have paved a path leading to nano-revolution, which has most recently unfurled the role of plants in the biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles. Though synthesis of nanoparticles can be accomplished through physical and chemical techniques, biological course of synthesis has proficiently proved competent over other techniques. The problem of evolving multidrug resistant bacteria, due to irrational use of antibiotics, makes the biogenically synthesized nanoparticles attractive, due to their promising efficacy with negligible side effects. Consequently, the nanoparticles becoming better substitutes for conventional treatment besides overcoming all the limitations. Nanoparticles have great stability and potent antibacterial activity. The uniqueness lies in their size (10 and 500 nm) and dimension offers these particles to dynamically communicate with biomolecules on the cell surfaces and within the cells, so proficiently to decode and designate various biochemical and physiochemical properties of the cells. The present review aims to recapitulate various emerging efforts in the biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles, most significantly their unique mechanisms of action with different approaches as well as the factors that may add up to their antimicrobial activity.
Quantum Efficiency Effects on Modal Gain , Threshold Current and Threshold Current Density of PbSe / Pb 0

In this study we studied the effects of internal quantum efficiency on PbSe/Pb0.934Sr0. 066 Se multiple Quantum well Structure. The calculations were done on the modal gain, threshold current and threshold current density of the system. Inclusion of the theoretical internal quantum efficiency increased the threshold current and threshold current density values by almost 10 times with no effects on the modal gain values. However, when the experimental internal quantum efficiency was included, the above increase was even more. It was included that there is a leakage current above the barrier which is needed to account for in any practical application.