Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Limited sink but large storage: Biomass dynamics in naturally developing beech (Fagus sylvatica) and oak (Quercus robur, Quercus petraea) forests of north‐western Germany

Currently, the dynamics underlying the storage and acquisition of biomass, and thus carbon, in naturally developing forests are under debate. A better understanding of the biomass dynamics of forests is needed to clarify the role played by naturally developing forests in the mitigation of climate change. Long‐term monitoring data from unmanaged strict forest reserves (SFRs) in north‐western Germany were used to analyse the biomass dynamics of pure beech, mixed beech and mixed oak forests. A complete balance of above‐ground woody biomass (biomass) and growth, density‐dependent and ‐independent mortality, as well as deadwood decay was derived. Density‐independent mortality served as a proxy for disturbance severity. After a time since abandonment (TSA) of 50 years, the average biomass ranged between 334 t/ha in mixed oak and 478 t/ha in pure beech stands. The net change in biomass was positive in all forest types. Density‐independent mortality and decay rates were much lower than the growth rates. Pure beech forests reached higher levels of biomass, a higher net change in biomass, and more growth than either of the mixed forest types. Biomass increased linearly with TSA in pure beech stands but followed an asymptotic course in the mixed forests. In the latter, the net change in biomass and growth were consistent with a unimodal development pattern. The development of biomass could not be explained by the ageing of the tree communities. Synthesis. We hypothesized that the observed biomass dynamics are a result of the interaction between resource supply within a limited growing space and the resource‐use efficiency of the tree stand in conjunction with disturbances. The still‐linear increase in the biomass of pure beech forests was assumed to reflect the high resource‐use efficiency of beech, especially its use of light. The above‐ground capacity of naturally developing broadleaved forests to store and acquire carbon is substantial. Accordingly, allowing broadleaved forests to develop naturally can contribute substantially to carbon storage and sequestration. However, our study also suggests that the above‐ground carbon sink decreases after several decades.
Copper Coordination to Water and Ammonia in CuII-Exchanged SSZ-13: Atomistic Insights from DFT Calculations and in Situ XAS Experiments

In this study, the coordination sphere of copper in Cu–SSZ-13 as a catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia is analyzed as a function of environmental parameters: temperature, partial pressure of water P(H2O), and partial pressure of ammonia P(NH3). By periodic density functional theory calculations, we obtain stability domains for variable loadings of water and ammonia (nH2O + mNH3 with (m + n ≤ 6)) close to CuII ions, which are located at 6-membered ring (6MR) or 8-membered ring (8MR) of the zeolitic structure. Ab initio calculations and thermodynamic investigations were performed to build phase diagrams, with vibrational analysis, so as to provide Gibbs free energy, G, values. Copper located in the 8MR appears to be more reactive toward H2O and NH3 adsorption than the one in the 6MR because of a lower coordination number of copper at 8MR in the absence of adsorbates. Depending on the operating conditions, structures containing adsorbed water and ammonia as ligands at the metal s.
On Deconfounding Spatial Confounding in Linear Models

Abstract Spatial confounding, that is, collinearity between fixed effects and random effects in a spatial generalized linear mixed model, can adversely affect estimates of the fixed effects. Restricted spatial regression methods have been proposed as a remedy for spatial confounding. Such methods replace inference for the fixed effects of the original model with inference for those effects under a model in which the random effects are restricted to a subspace orthogonal to the column space of the fixed effects model matrix; thus, they “deconfound” the two types of effects. We prove, however, that frequentist inference for the fixed effects of a deconfounded linear model is generally inferior to that for the fixed effects of the original spatial linear model; in fact, it is even inferior to inference for the corresponding nonspatial model. We show further that deconfounding also leads to inferior predictive inferences, though its impact on prediction appears to be relatively small in practice. Based on these results, we argue that deconfounding a spatial linear model is bad statistical practice and should be avoided.
A Transfer Learning Model for Gesture Recognition Based on the Deep Features Extracted by CNN

The surface electromyogram (sEMG) based hand gesture recognition is prevalent in human–computer interface systems. However, the generalization of the recognition model does not perform well on cross-subject and cross-day. Transfer learning, which applies the pretrained model to another task, has demonstrated its effectiveness in solving this kind of problem. In this regard, this article first proposes a multiscale kernel convolutional neural network (MKCNN) model to extract and fuse multiscale features of the multichannel sEMG signals. Based on the proposed MKCNN model, a transfer learning model named TL-MKCNN combines the MKCNN and its Siamese network by a custom distribution normalization module (DNM) and a distribution alignment module (DAM) to realize domain adaptation. The DNM can cluster the deep features extracted from different domains to their category center points embedded in the feature space, and the DAM further aligns the overall distribution of the deep features from different domains. The MKCNN model and the TL-MKCNN model are tested on various benchmark databases to verify the effectiveness of the transfer learning framework. The experimental results show that, on the benchmark database NinaPro DB6, the average accuracies of TL-MKCNN can achieve 97.22% on within-session, 74.48% on cross-subject, and 90.30% on cross-day, which are 4.31%, 11.58%, and 5.51% higher than those of the MKCNN model on within-session, cross-subject, and cross-day, respectively. Compared with the state-of-the-art works, the TL-MKCNN obtains 13.38% and 37.88% accuracy improvement on cross-subject and cross-day, respectively.
Self-regulated learning (SRL) perspectives and strategies of Australian primary school students: a qualitative exploration at different year levels

ABSTRACT There is currently widespread interest in how to promote self-regulated learning (SRL) among young learners to prepare the stage for success in later years. Yet, there is little research that explores primary school students’ perspectives and strategies which are known to directly influence their SRL engagement. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 68 students aged between 5 and 12 years in Prep, Year 1, Year 4, and Year 7. The findings suggest that students’ SRL-related views and strategies range on a continuum from simple and naïve in the early years of school to relatively complex and sophisticated in the later years. Year 4 and Year 7 students were able to describe their strategies in greater detail when compared with Prep and/or Year 1 students. Behavioural strategies were the most prominent, whereas metacognitive were the least identified, among SRL strategies reported by students. While the coverage of cognitive and motivational strategies increased at higher year levels (Year 4 & 7), it was interesting to note a decline in the reporting of metacognitive strategies. These findings have practical implications for developing appropriate expectations and SRL-supportive tasks and training programmes for primary school students.
Avaliação da resistência ao desgaste de aços inoxidáveis conformados por spray

O presente trabalho investigou a microestrutura e a resistencia ao desgaste de dois acos inoxidaveis, o ferritico-AIF com 27% de Cr e o superduplex-SDM modificado com boro (3,5% p), conformados por spray. A solidificacao rapida promovida por esse processo resulta na formacao de uma nova estrutura com graos refinados e fases metaestaveis. Os depositos, pesando aproximadamente 3,5 kg, foram caracterizados pela combinacao de microscopia eletronica de varredura (MEV), dureza, microdureza e resistencia ao desgaste, conforme a norma ASTM G65-04. Os depositos de AIF e SDM apresentaram microestrutura mais refinada e maior dureza em relacao aos materiais obtidos por fundicao convencional. A resistencia ao desgaste do SDM mostrou-se mais elevada a dos materiais tabelados na norma ASTM G65-04, ou seja, aco ferramenta AISI D2 e Stellite 1016, enquanto o AIF apresentou valor de desgaste intermediario entre esses dois materiais. A adicao de boro no SDM e associada a formacao de boretos e conduziu a um aumento na dureza e na resistencia ao desgaste desse material conformado por spray.
The Effectiveness of Active Learning Approaches in a Pain Education Curriculum Within a Physical Therapy Program

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background and Purpose. Pain education within physical therapist educational programs needs to continually evolve to meet current best practice guidelines. This model presentation describes the successful implementation of a pain curriculum using various active learning approaches including VoiceThread assignments in an entry-level physical therapist educational program. Method/Model Description and Evaluation. An 8-week curriculum was developed to assist students in meeting the synthesis and evaluation learning objectives of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) curricular guidelines. Active learning homework assignments allowed students to practice communicating difficult pain principles while receiving constructive feedback. Course outcomes were measured through changes in a modified version of the Pain Attitude and Beliefs Scale (PABS), the Pain Care Confidence Scale (PCCS), qualitative student feedback, and performance on both practical and written examinations. Outcomes. All students passed the practical examination where they successfully demonstrated pain principle communication skills. The students showed less biomedical beliefs in 5 of the 7 PABS biomedical subscale questions and greater biopsychosocial beliefs in 2 of the 7 biopsychosocial subsections (P < .05). Student scores on the PCCS also improved significantly (P < .05) from 5.0 to 8.1 on the combined confidence level for treating patients in pain. Discussion and Conclusion. Implementation of the IASP curriculum within an entry-level physical therapist education program resulting in positive results in student learning and changing beliefs using a combined lecture and active learning approach.
Development of Deep Learning-Based Variable Rate Agrochemical Spraying System for Targeted Weeds Control in Strawberry Crop

Agrochemical application is an important tool in the agricultural industry for the protection of crops. Agrochemical application with conventional sprayers results in the waste of applied agrochemicals, which not only increases financial losses but also contaminates the environment. Targeted agrochemical sprayers using smart control systems can substantially decrease the chemical input, weed control cost, and destructive environmental contamination. A variable rate spraying system was developed using deep learning methods for the development of new models to classify weeds and to accurately spray on desired weeds target. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to assess the sprayer performance for weed classification and precise spraying of the target weeds using three classification CNNs (Convolutional Neural Networks) models. The DCNNs models (AlexNet, VGG-16, and GoogleNet) were trained using a dataset containing a total of 12,443 images captured from the strawberry field (4200 images with spotted spurge, 4265 images with Shepherd’s purse, and 4178 strawberry plants). The VGG-16 model attained higher values of precision, recall and F1-score as compared to AlexNet and GoogleNet. Additionally VGG-16 model recorded higher percentage of completely sprayed weeds target (CS = 93%) values. Overall in all experiments, VGG-16 performed better than AlexNet and GoogleNet for real-time weeds target classification and precision spraying. The experiments results revealed that the Sprayer performance decreased with the increase of sprayer traveling speed above 3 km/h. Experimental results recommended that the sprayer with the VGG-16 model can achieve high performance that makes it more ideal for a real-time spraying application. It is concluded that the advanced variable rate spraying system has the potential for spot application of agrochemicals to control weeds in a strawberry field. It can reduce the crop input costs and the environmental pollution risks.
High Power Density Interleaved ZCS 80-kW Boost Converter for Automotive Applications

High system efficiency at all power levels is desired for electric vehicle (EV) propulsion systems. Conventional boost converters employed in EV traction architectures exhibit significantly lower efficiencies at low-power levels when operated under traditional fixed-frequency pulsewidth modulation (PWM) techniques. Also, low system power densities are associated with conventional boost converters due to their bulky inductors. These two shortcomings are addressed here through a comprehensive design methodology for an 80-kW interleaved boost converter stepping a low battery voltage up to an 800-V dc link. The designed converter employs a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) variable-frequency control strategy to achieve an efficiency increase at low-power levels and, thus, a fairly constant efficiency throughout the entire drive schedule. A system loss model is developed to decompose analytically the loss mechanisms and, thus, determine the optimized design parameters for the variable-frequency control strategy and converter magnetics. Moreover, a custom inductor design based on distributed air gaps and aggressive thermal management through potting is integrated into the design methodology to further increase the converter power density. An 80-kW prototype is fabricated achieving a total power density of 55.6 kW/L, and experimentally tested, yielding system efficiencies above 96% for all power levels.
Behavioral data assists decisions: exploring the mental representation of digital-self

Purpose The behavioral decision-making of digital-self is one of the important research contents of the network of crowd intelligence. The factors and mechanisms that affect decision-making have attracted the attention of many researchers. Among the factors that influence decision-making, the mind of digital-self plays an important role. Exploring the influence mechanism of digital-selfs’ mind on decision-making is helpful to understand the behaviors of the crowd intelligence network and improve the transaction efficiency in the network of CrowdIntell. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors use behavioral pattern perception layer, multi-aspect perception layer and memory network enhancement layer to adaptively explore the mind of a digital-self and generate the mental representation of a digital-self from three aspects including external behavior, multi-aspect factors of the mind and memory units. The authors use the mental representations to assist behavioral decision-making. Findings The evaluation in real-world open data sets shows that the proposed method can model the mind and verify the influence of the mind on the behavioral decisions, and its performance is better than the universal baseline methods for modeling user interest. Originality/value In general, the authors use the behaviors of the digital-self to mine and explore its mind, which is used to assist the digital-self to make decisions and promote the transaction in the network of CrowdIntell. This work is one of the early attempts, which uses neural networks to model the mental representation of digital-self.
Anomalous Anisotropy of the Piezoelectric Response in 2D Copper‐Based Ternary Chalcogenides CuMX2

The development of 2D materials with excellent electronic properties and piezoelectric response is clearly critical for multifunctional piezoelectric devices. Herein, based on first‐principles calculations, the electronic, mechanical, and piezoelectric properties of a series of 2D copper‐based ternary chalcogenides, denoted as CuMX2 (M = Sb and Bi; X = S and Se) monolayers, are systematically studied, which can be obtained by exfoliating from their bulk counterparts. The calculations show that these ternary CuMX2 monolayers exhibit desirable dynamical and thermal stabilities and moderate bandgaps. The calculated piezoelectric coefficients d11 and d12 of these monolayers are in the range of 0.44–6.14 and 9.13–29.52 pm V−1, respectively, which exceed or approach those of most well‐studied 2D systems. Interestingly, as compared with other reported 2D systems, the CuMX2 monolayers exhibit an anomalous anisotropy of piezoelectric response, manifested as the larger coefficient d12 than coefficient d11 . The study demonstrates that the CuMX2 monolayers are potential 2D candidates in nanoelectric and nanopiezoelectric devices.
Prospecção química e atividade antagônica in vitro do endófito Phomopsis sp. contra fungos fitopatogênicos

Há muito tempo, os micro-organismos vêm sendo uma promissora fonte de recursos biotecnológicos com aplicações na agropecuária, como para o controle de fitopatógenos. Desta forma, vários estudos têm sido conduzidos com o intuito de se descobrir micro-organismos, como fungos, com potenciais aplicações na agricultura. Diante disto, objetivou-se por meio deste estudo a prospecção química e atividade antagônica in vitro do fungo endófito Phomopsis sp. contra fungos fitopatogênicos. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos. No primeiro experimento, foram conduzidos ensaios de prospecção química do micélio do fungo supracitado, onde foi avaliada a biomassa micelial, seu crescimento em cinco meios de cultura: Batata Dextrose Agar (BDA), Batata Sacarose Agar (BSA), Cenoura Agar (CA), Czapek (CZA) e Triptona Soja Agar (TSA), e incidência de luz e Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN) dos cristais de carbono obtidos nos extratos miceliais. O segundo experimento compreendeu ao teste de pareamento e formação de halo de inibição contra três fungos fitopatógenos (Rhizoctonia sp., Pestalotiopsis sp. e Colletotrichum sp.), onde foram inoculados em placas contendo meio BDA e avaliados após cinco dias de incubação, onde se verificou a presença de halo de inibição. Por meio da prospecção química foi verificado que o fungo endófito Phomopsis sp. possui melhor crescimento em meio BDA sob luz contínua e presença de ergosterol em suas membranas. O isolado também foi capaz de produzir halo de inibição contra os fitopatógenos testados.
Bacidia depriestiana (Ramalinaceae), a new species from the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America

Abstract. Bacidia depriestiana is described as new to science based on material from the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. The species has a granular to minutely areolate thallus, with minute, erumpent soralia, produces atranorin and zeorin, and is not known to produce apothecia. The combination of chemistry and thallus type appears to be unique within the genus. Originally identified as Lecanora nothocaesiella, the species was recognized as distinct in conjunction with study of a large metagenomic dataset for lichens from the region. In connection with obtaining molecular loci use for phylogenetic placement of the material, the mitochondrial genome was assembled, found to be 38,546 bp in length, and encoded for the full suite of protein coding genes previously found in lichen fungi, with the exception of atp9.
Resolution of Unexplained Iron Deficiency Following Successful Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori in Children

Background: Evidence is needed to inform whether Helicobacter pylori (HP) treatment is beneficial in children with refractory iron deficiency. We aimed to assess association between successful HP eradication and resolution of unexplained iron deficiency. Methods: Medical records of children diagnosed with HP infection (based on histopathology) and without significant upper gastrointestinal source of blood loss, were retrospectively reviewed for presence of iron deficiency. Among those with non-anemic iron deficiency (NAID) or iron deficiency anemia (IDA), hemoglobin, ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared prior and 6-9 months’ post successful HP eradication. Patients with overt bleeding or subsequent iron supplement therapy post HP diagnosis were excluded. Predictors of resolution of iron deficiency following HP eradication were assessed. Results: Among 60 included children (median age 14.8, IQR12.3-16; 62% males), symptoms of anemia were observed in 20%. A total of 21 (35%) had IDA while the remainder 65% had NAID. Following successful HP eradication, 60% of these 60 patients normalized their iron status. There were significant improvements in both hemoglobin and ferritin following HP eradication with hemoglobin increasing from 12.3g/dL to 13.0 g/dL (P<0.001), and ferritin increasing from 6. 3μg/l to 15.1 μg/l (P<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression that assessed sex, ethnicity, baseline hemoglobin, anemia or GI symptoms, previous iron therapy, and time from diagnosis to eradication, older age was the only factor associated with resolution of anemia following HP eradication: (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.16-2.35, P = 0.005). Conclusion: Successful HP eradication could be helpful in improving iron status among children with refractory NAID or IDA. Older age may predict this outcome. Screening for HP should be considered in the workup of refractory IDA or NAID.
Standards and practices for reporting plankton and other particle observations from images

This technical manual guides the user through the process of creating a data table for the submission of taxonomic and morphological information for plankton and other particles from images to a repository. Guidance is provided to produce documentation that should accompany the submission of plankton and other particle data to a repository, describes data collection and processing techniques, and outlines the creation of a data file. Field names include scientificName that represents the lowest level taxonomic classification (e.g., genus if not certain of species, family if not certain of genus) and scientificNameID, the unique identifier from a reference database such as the World Register of Marine Species or AlgaeBase. The data table described here includes the field names associatedMedia, scientificName/ scientificNameID for both automated and manual identification, biovolume, area_cross_section, length_representation and width_representation. Additional steps that instruct the user on how to format their data for a submission to the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) are also included. Examples of documentation and data files are provided for the user to follow. The documentation requirements and data table format are approved by both NASA’s SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS) and the National Science Foundation’s Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO).
The emerging college hours premium for men

ABSTRACT This paper documents the emerging role of education in the well-known decline in US male working hours. An insignificant hours difference between high school and college graduates becomes a significant 2 hours/week advantage for college graduates within a generation. This growing college hours premium is confirmed in alternate data. Moreover, the growing premium exists throughout the distribution and is not generated by the tails. The increasing premium persists across a wide variety of robustness checks and presents as a widespread phenomenon. The emerging college hours premium increases the overall college earnings premium despite recent trends in the college wage premium.