Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dendrochronology of Callitris intratropica in northern Australia: annual ring structure, chronology development and climate correlations

In this study we demonstrate the significant dendrochronological potential of Callitris intratropica, a native conifer distributed across much of the seasonal tropics of northern Australia. We developed two rigorously cross-dated chronologies from sites in the Northern Territory, Australia. The first chronology (1965–2004) was developed from plantation C. intratropica of known-age at Howard Springs and was heavily replicated both within and among trees to evaluate the quality of cross-dating for the species. The second chronology (1847–2006) was developed from trees growing naturally near Pine Creek and compared with long-term instrumental climate records to assess the potential for dendroclimatic reconstructions. Both chronologies had mean interseries correlations >0.65, the highest reported for a tropical tree species. The Howard Springs chronology demonstrated that C. intratropica produces anatomically distinct annual growth rings with the consistent ring-width variation within and among trees necessary for rigorous dendrochronological studies. The Pine Creek chronology exhibited statistically significant correlations with rainfall and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI; integrated measures of plant water stress), and to a lesser extent temperature. The strongest correlations between the climate data and tree-ring width indices were for early monsoon rainfall (October–December; Pearson’s r = 0.53) and late monsoon PDSI (May; Pearson’s r = 0.41). Our study demonstrates the significant potential of high-quality dendrochronological research on mainland Australia in general, and of C. intratropica, specifically, to reconstruct historical variation of the Australian monsoon system. In addition, C. intratropica may be able to provide novel insights into the dynamics of forests in the seasonal tropics of northern Australia and the role of disturbances, such as fire and cyclones, on these ecosystems.
Identifying the presence of quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) and other macropods using cytochrome b analyses from faeces

Non-invasive methods have the potential to circumvent problems associated with using more traditional techniques when surveying for rare and elusive species. In this study, non-invasive molecular-based methods have been used to analyse the scats of several species of marsupials. DNA was successfully extracted from scats of the quokka, Setonix brachyurus, and three other macropods (Macropus fuliginosus, M. irma and M. eugenii) sympatric with the quokka and with similar-appearing scats. Partial sequence from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from these four species and seven other macropods was used to measure genetic differentiation among them to determine whether the quokka could be unambiguously identified from the scats alone. The results confirm that molecular approaches can be used for macropod species identification using scats as the source material. The approach will have potential survey and management applications, and, more specifically, may lead to more accurate assessment of the quokka's geographic range, leading to implementation of more appropriate management strategies for its conservation.
Measuring Systemic Risk of Switching Attacks Based on Cybersecurity Technologies in Substations

This paper describes the derivation of steady-state probabilities of the power communication infrastructure based on today's cybersecurity technologies. The elaboration of steady-state probabilities is established on (i) modified models developed such as password models, (ii) new models on digital relays representing the authentication mechanism, and (iii) models for honeypots/honeynet within a substation network. A generalized stochastic Petri net (GSPN) is utilized to formulate the detailed statuses and transitions of components embedded in a cyber-net. Comprehensive steady-state probabilities are quantitatively and qualitatively performed. The methodologies on how transition probabilities and rates are extracted from the network components and a conclusion of actuarial applications is discussed.
Chemical content in Two Teak Woods (Tectona grandis Linn.F.) that has been used for 2 years and 60 years

Teak ( Tectona grandis Linn F.) is classified as luxury wood and belongs to the durable wood, resistant to termite and fungal attacks. The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the chemical content and bioactive compound of teak ( T. grandis Linn F.) from Sumedang, West Java based on age of use. This study used teak woods of 2 and 60 years of use. The chemical components analyzed by determination of lignin, extractives, and ash content. Phytochemical compounds were analyzed by color changing of crude acetone extracts. The results showed that the teak wood with 2 years of use possessed lignin of 28.41%; cold water soluble extractives of 4.26%; hot water soluble extract of 5.12%; NaOH 1% soluble extractives of 19, 40; and alcohol:benzene (1:2) soluble extract of 6.21%; while ash content of 0.85%. Meanwhile teak wood after use of 60 years showed the lignin content of 29.82%; cold water extract of 1.56%; hot water extract of 2.56%; 1% NaOH soluble extract of 12.30%; alcohol:benzene (1:2) extract of 4.62%; ash content of 1.36%. The qualitative phytochemical test demonstrated both of teak wood after use of 2 years and use of 60 years contained flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, cumarins, and carbohydrates.
Transgenic Expression of Onion Leaf Lectin Gene in Indian Mustard Offers Protection against Aphid Colonization

Genes of three naturally occurring monocot mannose-binding lectins from snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L. agglutinin, GNA), garlic (Allium sativum L. leaf agglutinin, ASAL), and onion (Allium cepaL. agglutinin, ACA) and a recombinant fusion lectin between ASAL and ACA genes were expressed in a bacterial system. The pure and active form of the recombinant lectin peptides were utilized for estimation of their sensitivity potential against feeding nymphs of mustard aphid [Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach)], a major sap-sucking insect pest of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. ], an oilseed crop. The artificial diet bioassay revealed that ACA and the fusion lectin contained higher toxicity potential than GNA and ASAL. Ectopic expression of these lectins in mustard plants confirmed their protective capacity on the development of the population of aphids on transgenic plants. Based on the strong possibilities that lectins originating from diverse sources would have differential insecticidal potential against different insects, deployment of the appropriate lectin gene figures as crucial in the transgenic approach to protect crop plants against sapsucking insect pests.
Prediction of Profile Deviation during Glass Molding of Double-Aspheric Lens

Glass molding technology has attracted considerable attention because of its low cost and high-volume production. However, the profile deviation mechanism of double-aspheric lens is currently unclear. A method of profile deviation prediction was developed in this study to reveal the influence law of molding parameters on the profile deviation of upper and lower aspheric surfaces. Based on the thermoviscoelastic constitutive model and finite element theory, a method of profile deviation prediction for the glass molding of double-aspheric lens was established. Single-factor analysis method was used to analyse the influence law of glass molding parameters, such as molding temperature, molding velocity, annealing rate, and holding pressure on profile deviation. Different influence laws of each molding parameter on the profile deviation of the upper and lower aspheric surfaces were discussed. Results demonstrate that the profile deviation decreases with the increase when the molding temperature lower than 570 °C. When the molding temperature is above 570 °C, the profile deviation slowly increases with the increase of molding temperature, and the profile deviation of the double-aspheric lens increases with the increase in the pressing velocity. The profile deviation of the upper and lower aspheric surface decreases as the annealing rate and the holding pressure increase, and the profile deviation of the upper surface is greater than the lower. The difference can be reduced by increasing the holding pressure. This study provides a reference for improving the molding accuracy of double-aspheric lens.
Galois irreducibility implies cohomology freeness for KHT Shimura varieties

Given a KHT Shimura variety provided with an action of its unramified Hecke algebra $\mathbb T$, we proved in a previous work}, see also the paper of Caraiani-Scholze for other PEL Shimura varieties, that its localized cohomology groups at a generic maximal ideal $\mathfrak m$ of $\mathbb T$, appear to be free. In this work, we obtain the same result for $\mathfrak m$ such that its associated galoisian $\overline{\mathbb F}_l$-representation $\overline{\rho_{\mathfrak m}}$ is irreducible.
Freeing the Modern Slaves, One Click at a Time: Theorising human trafficking, modern slavery, and technology

This paper analyses relations between human trafficking, modern slavery, and information communication technology. It looks at the history of the technology-trafficking nexus and flags some key advances in the counter-trafficking discourse in the last two decades. It provides an overview of how technology has been framed as both a part of the problem and part of the solution in the trafficking/slavery context and emphasises the impact of such developments on a range of actors, in particular, potential victims, NGOs, and the nation state. We suggest that the technology-slavery/trafficking connections, while often elusive, act as potent narrative and policy setters that can advance existing challenges and create new points of tension in the counter-trafficking context. We critically analyse these points of tension and destabilise some of their underpinning assumptions. In the conclusion, we highlight the need for rigorous empirical evidence, arguing that a more robust scholarly engagement with the role of technology in enabling and disrupting exploitation is essential. We also point to the importance of ensuring that technology is not a distraction from addressing the root causes of exploitation and abuse.
Growth curves with multivariate θ generalized normal distribution for cardiac dysfunction in rats

ABSTRACT There is a necessity to study the behavior of some characteristic in the same sample unit over time in many situations, as accumulated dose of some nutrient. In practice, data structure of this nature generally establishes nonlinear behaviors in the parameters. The objective of this work is to accomplish a comparative study on the performance of four models of growth curves in four experimental groups, considering multivariate θ generalized standard errors with homoscedastic structure with the presence of lag-1 autocorrelation. Maximum likelihood estimation is used and simulation techniques are implemented to prove the methodological attributes used the experiment.
Multiscale Filtering of Compressible Wave Propagation in Complex Geometry through a Wavelet-Based Approach in the Framework of Pressurized Water Reactors Depressurization Transient Analysis

The proposed research takes place in the framework of the analysis of the mechanical consequences of accidental scenarios for pressurized water reactors (PWR). It is particularly dedicated to the effects of the propagation of a transverse rarefaction wave through the assemblies of the nuclear core, consecutive to a pipe break in the primary circuit of the reactor. This paper focuses on the representation, with a reduced number of well-chosen variables, of a pressure wave propagating through a highly congested medium composed of rod bundles, with the primary objective of accurately evaluating the resulting pressure forces exerted on the rods. To achieve this goal, a description of the fluid domain as a homogenized or porous medium is introduced, yielding the need for a new filtering technique to be applied to the fluid fields. A new homogenized and multiscale representation of the fluid variables, based on continuous wavelet transform (CWT), is thus proposed. The capabilities of CWT to accurately approximate a reference representative unsteady pressure field, corresponding to a wave propagation at microscale, is assessed. The proposed technique is applied to a pressure field obtained numerically at local scale. The number of variables that shall be kept at macroscale to have a meaningful representation of the pressure field is fully evaluated through the comparison of the fluid force applied to the microstructure.
Impact of different cut types on the quality of fresh-cut potatoes during storage

Abstract Fresh-cut vegetables can be minimally processed through cleaning/washing, trimming, peeling, slicing and dicing, followed by packaging and cold storage. This study aimed to verify the effect of different cuts on the quality and shelf life of fresh-cut potato. Different cut types, such as slices, dices, cubes and wedges, were selected for this study to evaluate the shelf-life response of potatoes. Potato pieces of these different shapes were treated with calcium chloride, citric acid, and potassium metabisulfite (3%, 2% and 0.3%, respectively), stored in plastic boxes at 4 ˚C for 60 days, and then physicochemically (firmness (N), weight loss (WL), pH, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and ascorbic acid (AA) content analyses) and microbiologically assessed. The best results were observed for the dice cut type, which showed minimal changes in TSS (5.31%), pH (5.65), TA (0.34%), WL (9.04%), and AA content (10.86%). Moreover, the microbial activity of all shapes of potato pieces remained within acceptable limits during cold storage.
Correlation Between Clostridium perfringens Alpha- and NetB-Toxin and Chick Mortality in Commercial Broiler Farms During Different Anticoccidial Control Programs

SUMMARY. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a correlation existed between chick mortality and the presence of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin and NetB-toxin genes (cpa and netB) in C. perfringens recovered from litter in commercial broiler houses. Because coccidiosis predisposes chickens to necrotic enteritis, the concentration of Eimeria oocysts in these samples was measured, and the numbers were used in similar correlation analyses. Litter samples were collected at 0, 2, and 4 wk growout from six broiler farms (18 houses total) during an anticoccidial drug (ACD) control program and from nine broiler farms (23 houses total) during an Eimeria vaccine (VAC) control program. Of these, litter samples were collected from five farms during both ACD and VAC programs. The litter samples were processed for Eimeria oocyst and C. perfringens spore enumerations by standard parasitologic and microbiologic techniques. DNA was also extracted for C. perfringens DNA for PCR detection of genes coding for alpha- and NetB-toxin. A general trend during the ACD programs was a transient decrease in both Eimeria maxima and non–E. maxima (Eamipt) numbers at 2 wk growout. The pattern was slightly different during VAC with E. maxima and Eamipt levels increasing over time. Average concentrations of C. perfringens in litter were highest at 2 wk (∼105–106 spores/g) during ACD and at placement during VAC (∼105–106 spores/g). During the ACD program, a strong correlation was observed between 0 and 3-wk chick mortality and the presence at placement (0 wk) of netB (r = 0.42–0.48) or cpa (r = 0.55–0.67). A very strong correlation was observed in 0–5-wk chick mortality and the presence of netB at 4 wk growout (0.73–0.95). During a VAC program, a strong correlation was only observed between the presence of netB at placement and 0–1-wk chick mortality (r = 0.67).
Metagenomic analysis of gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease patients from Central China

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, pathologic and epidemiologic studies suggest that gut microbiota may play important roles in the occurrence and progression of Parkinson's disease. However, the alterations in fecal microbiome in PD patients from Central China has not been investigated. Therefore, in this case-control study, we characterised the gut microbial community of 46 PD patients and compared it to those of healthy spouses by using metagenomic shotgun sequencing. Correlation between altered microbiota and clinical features were examined, functional pathways of gut microbiota were estimated, and potential biomarker were explored for further understaning of gut microbiota in PD. Results: Microbial communities in the feces of PD patients were notably different from those of healthy spouses at species level. Gut microbiota of patients was characterized by depletion of Prevotella_copri and Bacteroides_fragilis, while the Bacteroides_stercoris and Escherichia_coli were markedly elevated. Correlation analysis found that most identified species were negatively correlated with disease clinical features. In particular, Prevotella_copri was negatively correlated with age and UPDRS Ⅲ score. Random forest model indicated that 6 species including Prevotella_copri had good predictive value for disease. Functional analyses of the metagenomes revealed differences in microbiota metabolism. Pathways associated with superpathway of thiamin diphosphate biosynthesis, 4-aminobutanoate degradation, glucose-1-phosphate degradation and methylphosphonate degradation were significant increase in patients, while pathways associated with aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, chorismate biosynthesis, thiamin formation and pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides salvage were significantly decrease. Functional pathways of Prevotella_copri were mainly concentrated in UMP biosynthesis, S-adenosyl-L-methionine cycle and guanosine ribonucleotides de novo biosynthesis. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed changes of gut microbiota in Chinese patients with PD. Altered microbiota had correlation with the clinical characteristics of disease, which may used as potential biomarkers. Different functional pathways of gut microbiota in PD patients will help to improve our understanding of the mechanism in disease, and targeting on gut microbiota may be one of the new therapeutic choices of PD in the future.
A taxonomic and nomenclatural reassessment of Tenarea, Titanoderma and Dermatolithon (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) based on studies of type and other· critical specimens*

Abstract The taxonomy and nomenclature of genera of the Tenarea/Dermatolithon complex has been reassessed on the basis of a study of generitype and other critical specimens. The type specimen of Millepora tortuosa Esper, which is the type of Tenarea Bory 1832, proves to be conspecific with the specimen on which Bory based his description of the genus. Tenarea undulosa Bory is an illegitimate name for T. tortuosa (Esper) Lemoine rather than an independent species. Since 1898, M. tortuosa has been incorrectly associated with the alga that is the principal component of the ‘trottoirs’ (coralline pavements) of the western Mediterranean. This alga is referable to Lithophyllum lichenoides Philippi. Titanoderma Nageli 1858 is an earlier homotypic synonym of Dermatolithon Foslie 1898, both being based on Melobesia pustulata Lamouroux. Titanoderma, in view of its clear record, is adopted in preference to proposing Dermatolithon for conservation. Tenarea comprises a single species of Lithophylloideae in which the t.
Liver clot- A rare post-operative complication following tooth extraction

Post-operative bleeding is a common post extraction complication usually associated with both intra-alveolar and trans-alveolar extractions. The bleeding is mostly due to venous bleed are usually managed by pressure pack or sutures. Occasionally the clot will increase in size and may extend upto the size of few centimetres which are known as “Liver-clot” due to its similarity with liver tissues in appearance. This event may occur peri-operatively or post-operatively or may occur as delayed response upto 72 hours post-operatively. The dimensions of the clots are dictated by the amount of exposure of blood stream to tissue factors that are present perivascularly. We are reporting a series of cases that developed liver-clot post operatively and have discussed the possible mechanism of clot growth and its spatiotemporal dynamics of the clot in response to tissue factors Keywords: Liver clot, Tissue factors, Venous haemorrhage, Spatiotemporal dynamics.
Model-free optimal chiller loading method based on Q-learning

Chillers consume considerable energy in building HVAC systems, and the optimal operation of chillers is essential for energy conservation in buildings. This article proposes a model-free optimal chiller loading (OCL) method for optimizing chiller operation. Unlike model-based OCL methods, the proposed method does not require accurate chiller performance models as a priori knowledge. The proposed method is based on the Q-learning method, a classical reinforcement learning method. With the comprehensive coefficient of performance (COP) of chillers as the environmental feedback, the model-free loading controller can learn autonomously and optimize the chiller loading by adjusting the set points of the chilled water outlet temperature. A central chiller plant in an office building located in Shanghai is selected as a case system to investigate the energy conservation performance of the proposed method through simulations. The simulation results suggest that the proposed method can save 4.36% of chiller energy during the first cooling season compared to the baseline control, which is slightly inferior to the value for the model-based loading method (4.95%). Owing to its acceptable energy-saving capability, the proposed method can be applied to central chiller plants that lack a system model and historical data.
The Design, Kinematics and Torque Analysis of the Self-Bending Soft Contraction Actuator

This article presents the development of a self-bending contraction actuator (SBCA) through the analysis of its structure, kinematics, and torque formulas, and then explores its applications. The proposed actuator has been fabricated by two methods to prove the efficiency of the human body inspiration, which represents the covering of human bones by soft tissues to protect the bone and give the soft texture. The SBCA provides bending behaviour along with a high force-to-weight ratio. As with the simple pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA), the SBCA is soft and easy to implement. Both the kinematics and the torque formula presented for the SBCA are scalable and can be used with different actuator sizes. The bending actuator has been tested under an air pressure of up to 500 kPa, and the behaviour of its bending angle, parameters, dimensions, and the bending torques have been illustrated. On the other hand, the experiments showed the efficient performances of the actuator and validate the proposed kinematics. Therefore, the actuator can be used in many different applications, such as soft grippers and continuum arms.