Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity of soil acidobacterial community of different land use types in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast of China

Different perturbation regimes,including disturbance caused by cultivation or the process of natural restoration can have significant effects on the soil acidobacterial community in wetland. The relationship between the community composition and diversity of acidobacteria and perturbation in wetland to quantify the extent of such disturbance related changes in northeast China. We assessed the diversity of acidobacterial communities in nine samples of wetland soil collected from pristine marsh, neighboring cropland and a restoration forest land. High-throughput sequencing of a acidobacteria-specific genomic sequence the internal transcribed spacer (16S rRNA) region was used to identify acidobacterial taxa. We obtained 1, 523, 313 sequences that represented 7881 acidobacterial operational taxonomic units across the three types of sampling sites. Of these, 2847OTUs occurred at all three site types, 814 were shared between farmland and pristine wetland, 206 were shared between forestland and pristine wetland 1459 were shared between farmland and forestland. All sites also hosted unique acidobacterial OTUs with 639 OTUs exclusive to farmland 1616 exclusive to pristine wetland and 300 exclusive to forestland. Sequences were affiliated to 25 acidobacterial subgroups throughout the dataset. Sequence abundance showed that members of Acidobacteria_Gp1, Acidobacteria_Gp3, Acidobacteria_Gp7, Acidobacteria_Gp6, Acidobacteria_Gp2, Acidobacteria_Gp4, Acidobacteria_Gp13 (relative abundance>1%), which represented an overwhelming proportion of the soil acidobacterial communities and another 18 subgroups with an average relative abundance were<1%. The dominant subgroups that showed the greatest variation among habitat types. The soil bacterial community diversity decreased from a maximum in farmland, through the wetland, to a minimum in forestland. Canonical correlation analyses demonstrated that land use patterns changing, significantly altered the bacterial community composition of soil. The α-diversity of the soil acidobacterial community was most affected by soil physical and chemical properties, such as pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN) and available phosphorus (AP). Meanwhile, the soil acidobacterial community composition was significantly affected by pH available phosphorus, nitrogen and organic carbon. Overall, the results from our study showed that the acidobacterial community composition of wetland were affected by SOC, TN, TP and AN. In addition, our results also indicate that cultivation and natural restoration influenced the acidobacterial community structure and diversity. Cultivation can significantly enhance the acidobacterial diversity; however, once the composition of the wetland bacterial community has been altered by cultivated disturbance, it might be difficult to restore to its original state. These findings highlight the importance of effectively managing the soil acidobacterial community to maintain a naturally functioning soil ecosystem. © 2017 Friends Science Publishers
Encouraging Consumers to Make Online Purchases Using Mobile Applications, How to Keep them in Touch with E-Services Providers?

Progress in wireless technology has raised the number of people using mobile devices and stimulated the accelerated evolution of online shopping carried with these devices. However, today many corporations are making significant investments to take benefit of the new business opportunities given by internet technology, research on m-online shopping proposes potential customers may or may notadopt mobile shopping despite of their availability and benefits. Thus, this study identifies the key factors that influence customer intention to make online mobile shopping. This research investigates the dimensions of mobile shopping service based on online shoppers’ expectations and perceptions. This research developed a conceptual framework for examining the role of the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and trust in order to determining customers’ intention to use mobile shopping. Data were obtained from 212 students of business administration college, who conducted a mobile online shopping process, the sample was tested on the analysis model using (SEM-PLS). The results strongly support the proposed model in predicting consumer intention to use mobile shopping. the major findings of this study found positive relationship among perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and trust association with intention to use m-online shopping. The current study model and its findings could present a rigorous basis for understanding customers’ attitude for mobile shopping contexts.
On the Convergence of Temporal-Difference Learning with Linear Function Approximation

The asymptotic properties of temporal-difference learning algorithms with linear function approxi- mation are analyzed in this paper. The analysis is carried out in the context of the approximation of a discounted cost-to-go function associated with an uncontrolled Markov chain with an uncountable finite-dimensional state- space. Under mild conditions, the almost sure convergence of temporal-difference learning algorithms with linear function approximation is established and an upper bound for their asymptotic approximation error is determined. The obtained results are a generalization and extension of the existing results related to the asymptotic behav- ior of temporal-difference learning. Moreover, they cover cases to which the existing results cannot be applied, while the adopted assumptions seem to be the weakest possible under which the almost sure convergence of temporal-difference learning algorithms is still possible to be demonstrated.
Systems Theory Conceptualised and Pasted to Teaching and Learning

Though the Systems Theory had been successfully and variedly applied in different world settings, however, it is hardly conceptualised and related to the core bussiness of the schooling system: quality teaching and learning. In this article, I used it to adress such litrature gap and contribute some knowledge on its interactive components' functionalism in order to accelerate upwardly the learner results. Such knowledge was a culmination of the voices of those in the field of teaching. To make sense of how the systems as sub-systems and supra-systems are interconected in schools as organisational structures, I utilised the qualitative inquiry. Data generated and analysed, revealed that the Systems Theory survives in the schooling system through its key features namely interdependance, relationships and interactions among its components as well as feedback, adaptibility and flexibility to the environmental contexts where adaptation makes the school human structures to cope with the unexpected atrocities. The lesson learned is that each part affects the functioning of the whole. For example, if one grade educator is on leave, it takes time for learners to adapt to the teaching philosophy of the other one. Further, though the Systems Theory in this article appeared to be applied successfully with its voluminous enabling interconnected factors, however, it was discovered that it's not free from some systems' roadblocks. Through the principle of adaptibility, some systems' constraints had a strength to turn some teaching and learning threats into opportunities. At its finality, data also showed that to make Systems Theory a reality, its sub-systems in the school and supra-systems in the environment where the school is situated, are to function as collective twins for making the school a centre of excellence. So, in the South African school contexts, the Systems Theory links the schools' functioning to its interconnected parts.
PRINSIP-PRINSIP EKONOMI ISLAM DALAM INVESTASI SYARIAH

Salah satu karunia Allah kepada manusia sebagai bekal hidup adalah harta . Islam tidak melarang penggunaan harta secara konsumtif namun tetap harus mengupayakan sisi produktifitas. Salah satu upaya tersebut produktifitas harta adalah dengan investasi. Investasi adalah sebuah komitmen untuk menyimpan harta atau dana yang diharapkan akan mendapatkan keuntungan di masa yang akan datang. Kegiatan investasi ini sangat dianjurkan dalam Islam sebagaimana dinyatakan dalam AlQuran dan dipraktikan oleh Nabi SAW. Hal itu dikarenakan banyak sekali manfaat yang ditimbulkan selain sebagai penjagaan diri, juga karena harta yang diinvestasikan tidak bertumpuk hanya pada seseorang tapi terdistribusi sehingga menambah nilai dan manfaat harta. Namun tidak semua investasi boleh dilakukan , Islam sebagai agama yang mengatur semua aspek kehidupan manusia, memiliki prinsip-prinsip yang dapat dijadikan batasan dan aturan dan membedakan mana investasi yang halal dan yang haram. Aturan tersebut meliputi jenis usaha, transaksi dan modalnya. Sehingga dengan memahami prinsip-prinsip tersebut umat Islam akan terhindar dari praktik muamalah yang dilarang. Karena sejatinya Islam memandang investasi tidak hanya sebagian aktifitas muamalah maliyah semata tetapi memiliki nilai ibadah bila tetap pada koridor aturan dan prinsip-prinsip Syariah. Kata Kunci : Investasi, prinsip-prinsip, ekonomi Syariah.
Absence seizure detection classifying matching pursuit features of EEG signals

INTRODUCTION: Absence seizures are characterized by a typical generalized spike-and-wave electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern around 3Hz. The automatic identification of this pattern and consequently its corresponding seizure is a valuable information towards the reliable patient’s clinical image and treatment planning. In this paper, we propose a method for absence seizures detection based on EEG signals decomposition via the Matching Pursuit (MP) algorithm. METHODS: Based on the ictal EEG semiology, MP features were extracted able to track the ictal pattern. This analysis was performed in a clinical dataset of 8 pediatric patients (4 females, 4 males) suffering from active absence epilepsy, containing 123 absence seizures in total. Automatic classification schema based on Machine Learning techniques were employed to categorize the MP patterns into non-ictal and ictal states. RESULTS: The seizure detection system achieved a time window based discrimination accuracy of 97.3% by using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier and 10-fold cross-validation, in that way accomplishing a good state of the art performance. DISCUSSION: Compared to other popular spectral analysis methods, Matching Pursuit appears to be a robust and efficient method regarding absence seizures detection on EEG signals and our results indicate that the MP features proposed in this work are features that can be used effectively in seizure detection procedure. Received on 30 June 2020; accepted on 01 October 2020; published on 13 October 2020
Impact of Precipitation and Temperature Variability of the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) on Annual Radial Increment of Selected Tree Species in Northeast China

A dendroclimatological approach was used to analyze growth responses of the tree species Pinus tabuliformis Carr. , Larix gmelinii Rupr. , Picea asperata Mast. and Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. in a region of temperate climate in Northeast China. Annual radial increment (ARI) measurements from stem cross-sections were used to identify the effects of precipitation, air temperature and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) on tree growth under monsoon-related conditions. We analyzed the ARI of 144 trees from 49 forest stands and applied response function and moving correlation analysis as well as a linear mixed-effects model to detect climate signal in the tree-ring series. Analyses of climate-growth relations confirmed the influence of monsoon intensities on ARI, especially in the months of May to July of the current year. Particularly in times of a weak monsoon, the preceding autumn months significantly affect the ARI. The positive effect of precipitation in times of a strong monsoon and the negative effect of air temperature-indicating increased evapotranspiration-in times of a weak monsoon alternate. An increase in drought sensitivity of the ARI was found, especially after long dry periods. The results revealed for L. gmelinii the highest climate sensitivity, with ARI more strongly influenced by precipitation in the monsoon-related months, whereas Q. mongolica was most drought tolerant and recovered quicker after growth depression. P. asperata and P. tabuliformis were located in between. Our findings provide evidence for a strong influence of the periodically fluctuating monsoon intensities on the ARI of all investigated tree species. Our results support decision-making for forest management under anticipated climate change, especially for tree species selection, in the climate sensitive region of Northeast China.
Regulation of hormone-related genes involved in adventitious root formation in sweetpotato

The sweetpotatoes ( Ipomoea batatas ) generate adventitious roots (ARs) from cut stems that develop into storage roots and make for an important means of propagation. However, few studies have investigated the hormones involved in AR development in sweetpotato. In this study, the expression patterns of hormone-related genes involved in AR formation were identified using the transcriptome data. RNA-seq data from stems grown for 0 and 3 days after cutting were analyzed. In addition, hormone-related genes were identified among differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and filtered genes, and cluster analysis was used to characterize expression patterns by function. Most hormone-related regulated genes expressed 3 days after growing the cut stems were abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes, followed by ethylene- and auxin-related genes. For ABA, the biosynthesis genes (including genes annotated to NINE-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3 (NCED3)) and signal transduction and perception genes (including genes annotated to PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2Cs (PP2Cs)) tended to decrease. Expression patterns of auxin- and ethylene-related genes differed by function. These results suggest that ABA, auxin, and ethylene genes are involved in AR formation and that they may be regulated in a hormone function-dependent manner. These results contribute to the identification of hormone functions during AR formation and may contribute to understanding the mechanism of AR formation in the sweetpotato.
Omnibus tests for multivariate normality based on Mardia’s skewness and kurtosis using normalizing transformation

Mardia ( Biometrika , 57 , 519–530, 1970) deﬁned measures of multivariate skewness and kurtosis. Based on these measures, omnibus test statistics of multivariate normality are proposed using normalizing transformations. The transformations we consider are normal approximation and a Wilson-Hilferty transformation. The normalizing transformation proposed by Enomoto et al. ( Communications in Statistics-Simulation and Computation , 49 , 684–698, 2019) for the Mardia’s kurtosis is also considered. A comparison of power is conducted by a simulation study. As a result, sum of squares of the normal approximation to the Mardia’s skewness and the Enomoto’s normalizing transformation to the Mardia’s kurtosis seems to have relatively good power over the alternatives that are considered.
Phylogeny and evolution of the cryptic fungus‐farming ant genus Myrmicocrypta F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) inferred from multilocus data

Fungus‐farming ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have become model systems for exploring questions regarding the evolution of symbiosis. However, robust phylogenetic studies of both the ant agriculturalists and their fungal cultivars are necessary for addressing whether or not observed ant–fungus associations are the result of coevolution and, if so, whether that coevolution has been strict or diffuse. Here we focus on the evolutionary relationships of the species within the ant genus Myrmicocrypta and of their fungal cultivars. The fungus‐farming ant genus Myrmicocrypta was created by Fr. Smith in 1860 based on a single alate queen. Since then, 31 species and subspecies have been described. Until now, the genus has not received any taxonomic treatment and the relationships of the species within the genus have not been tested. Our molecular analyses, using ∼40 putative species and six protein‐coding (nuclear and mitochondrial) gene fragments, recover Myrmicocrypta as monophyletic and as the sister group of the genus Mycocepurus Forel. The species M. tuberculata Weber is recovered as the sister to the rest of Myrmicocrypta. The time‐calibrated phylogeny recovers the age of stem group Myrmicocrypta plus its sister group as 45 Ma, whereas the inferred age for the crown group Myrmicocrypta is recovered as 27 Ma. Ancestral character‐state analyses suggest that the ancestor of Myrmicocrypta had scale‐like or squamate hairs and that, although such hairs were once considered diagnostic for the genus, the alternative state of erect simple hairs has evolved at least seven independent times. Ancestral‐state analyses of observed fungal cultivar associations suggest that the most recent common ancestor of Myrmicocrypta cultivated clade 2 fungal species and that switches to clade 1 fungi have occurred at least five times. It is our hope that these results will encourage additional species‐level phylogenies of fungus‐farming ants and their fungal cultivars, which are necessary for understanding the evolutionary processes that gave rise to agriculture in ants and that produced the current diversity of mutualistic ant–fungus interactions.
Dimension reduction for microarray data using multi-objective ant colony optimisation

DNA microarray technology is a nascent technology having vast applications in the molecular biology. Despite of its many useful applications in disease diagnosis and drug discovery, analysing DNA microarray data has become a challenge for bio-analysts. Microarrays present curse of dimensionality problem and call for the development of new techniques to handle it. The problem of dimensionality reduction or feature/gene selection has been posed as a multi-objective problem in the literature and can be better solved using multi-objective meta-heuristics. In this paper, we have proposed a multi-objective ant colony optimisation (MOACO) algorithm for gene selection. The contribution of this paper is to obtain multiple non-dominated solutions instead of a single best solution. These multiple solutions enable a user to select a solution according to his/her preference or application domain. The predicted genes also called as bio-markers, can help in disease diagnosis and may direct the progress of drug efficacy. A comparative analysis of the proposed method has been done using some conventional feature selection techniques and a method based on multi-objective particle swarm optimisation (MOPSO) proposed by Mukhopadhyay and Mandal (2014). The results obtained confirm the superiority of MOACO-based approach over the others in terms of various performance metrics.
Navigating Autonomous Vehicle at the Road Intersection with Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we consider the problem of controlling an agent that simulates the behavior of an self-driving car when passing a road intersection together with other vehicles. We consider the case of using smart city systems, which allow the agent to get full information about what is happening at the intersection in the form of video frames from surveillance cameras. The paper proposes the implementation of a control system based on a trainable behavior generation module. The agent’s model is implemented using reinforcement learning (RL) methods. In our work, we analyze various RL methods (PPO, Rainbow, TD3), and variants of the computer vision subsystem of the agent. Also, we present our results of the best implementation of the agent when driving together with other participants in compliance with traffic rules.
A chemical genetics approach to explore anthocyanin regulation in nitrogen-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings

Plants often experience varying soil nitrogen levels during their life cycle, and adjust growth and development to accommodate these changes. In the present study, a chemical genetics approach was implemented to discover molecular components involved in the induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis, in response to altered nitrogen levels. Using a robust high-throughput approach, a chemical library was screened to discover compounds capable of attenuating anthocyanin levels in nitrogen-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings. Chemical screens were successful in identifying four compounds that appear to mis-regulate anthocyanin accumulation during nitrogen deprivation. A chemical-induced phenotype was characterized, and the results indicate that chemical application must occur at a specific developmental stage. Furthermore, low nitrogen-induction of anthocyanins is highly sensitive to chemical application, and chemicals appear to exert their effect throughout early seedling growth. Future mutational and genome-wide studies will bridge the gap in understanding the link between anthocyanin biosynthesis and nitrogen availability.
Hybrid fuzzy-Bayesian decision support tool for dynamic project scheduling and control under uncertainty

Abstract Construction projects are complex and highly uncertain due to their special characteristics. Considering the incapability of current project scheduling methods in addressing the associated uncertainty, there is an emerging need for a dynamic scheduling and monitoring tool during project implementation. This paper addresses this need by proposing a dynamic decision support tool which employs fuzzy set theory to assess the combinatory effect of multiple risk factors on activities duration and Bayesian network to control and predict productivity under uncertainty. Advantages of proposed decision support tool comparing to existing approaches are: (1) calculating the fuzzy weighted average through an exact analytical solution which avoids creating incorrect fuzzy membership functions; (2) employing Type-2 interval-valued fuzzy numbers to model the uncertainty in expert evaluations, and (3) utilizing the advantages of Bayesian network in updating prior probability distributions of duration and predict productivity with actual activity data. Proposed model contributes to knowledge that could help minimize the schedule overrun and improve overall project performance. To elaborate the methodology, modelling and updating procedures of a group of activities in a simulated bridge project is presented as a case study.