Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AgroNIT: Innovating Precision Agriculture

Major global concerns considering food production include, not only meeting the increasing food demand but also meeting challenges that put significantly less strain on the environment, safeguard food quality and prevent wastage. To address the erstwhile challenges, the AgroNIT testbed has been designed to provide common access to facilities and services fostering the development and the validation through experimentation of novel cultivation practices, as well as to enable the digital transformation of Agriculture by applying advanced cultivation methods with digital tools and connected machinery. In this paper, we describe how AgroNIT brings emerging digital technologies to the disposal of farmers and scientists in order to advance agriculture practices in multi-fold dimensions: From improving production yield to minimizing the crops' environmental footprint and the effective management of fertilizers and pesticides to the optimization of the irrigation processes tailored to the needs of each crop cultivar. In AgroNIT smart decision support systems provide real-time AI-generated consultancy to farmers by relying on sensors that automate field measurements collection. Furthermore, agricultural scientists have access to a large repository of data measurements and novel data analytic services, being able to design, apply – along with the farmers – and validate new cultivation protocols. We provide examples demonstrating specific experiments and we show how the AgroNIT testbed benefits both farmers and agricultural scientists, thus enabling next-generation precision agriculture.
Roche lobe underfilling of the secondary star in PSR J102347.6+003841?

PSR J102347.6+003841 is a radio pulsar system with a spin period of 1.69 ms and an orbital period of 4.75 hours. Uniquely, it undergoes periods of transient accretion from its companion star: it occupies an important position in the evolutionary track from X-ray binary to isolated millisecond radio pulsar. Here we present a spectroscopic study of this system showing late-type absorption features which match those of a G2V star. We find a semiamplitude of $286 \pm 3$ kms$^{-1}$ and a best fit orbital period of 0.1980966(1) days. We combine these measurements with optical photometry which suggests the secondary star may be underfilling its Roche lobe by between 15\% and 20\%. We weakly constrain the mass of the neutron star to be $\leq$ 2.2 M$_\odot$ at the 2$\sigma$ level. We also discuss the possible origins of the H$\alpha$ emission line in our template subtracted, averaged spectrum. Finally we present and discuss new optical photometry of J1023 taken during the recent outburst of the system.
Serendipitous science from the K2 mission

Abstract The K2 mission is a repurposed use of the Kepler spacecraft to perform high-precision photometry of selected fields in the ecliptic. We have developed an aperture photometry pipeline for K2 data which performs dynamic automated aperture mask selection, background estimation and subtraction, and positional decorrelation to minimize the effects of spacecraft pointing jitter. We also identify secondary targets in the K2 “postage stamps” and produce light curves for those targets as well. Pipeline results will be made available to the community. Here we describe our pipeline and the photometric precision we are capable of achieving with K2, and illustrate its utility with asteroseismic results from the serendipitous secondary targets.
Big-tech M&A, Venture Capital and Innovation

We evaluate the impact of big-tech acquisitions on the incentives for investment and innovation. To this end, we collect data on several hundred big-tech acquisitions and compare venture capital investment in acquisition markets to a matched control group. Similarly, we study the evolution of patenting in technology classes with big-tech acquisitions. While the impact of a big-tech acquisition on investment is unequivocally negative, the effect on innovation depends on time dynamics and the identity of the acquirer.
TURBULENCE IN GALAXY CLUSTER CORES: A KEY TO CLUSTER BIMODALITY?

We study the effects of externally imposed turbulence on the thermal properties of galaxy cluster cores, using three-dimensional numerical simulations including magnetic fields, anisotropic thermal conduction, and radiative cooling. The imposed “stirring” crudely approximates the effects of galactic wakes, waves generated by galaxies moving through the intracluster medium, and/or turbulence produced by a central active galactic nucleus. The simulated clusters exhibit a strong bimodality. Modest levels of turbulence, ∼100 km s−1 ∼ 10% of the sound speed, suppress the heat-flux-driven buoyancy instability (HBI), resulting in an isotropically tangled magnetic field and a quasi-stable, high entropy, thermal equilibrium with no cooling catastrophe. Thermal conduction dominates the heating of the cluster core, but turbulent mixing is critical because it suppresses the HBI and (to a lesser extent) the thermal instability. Lower levels of turbulent mixing (≲100 km s−1) are insufficient to suppress the HBI, rapidly leading to a thermal runaway and a cool-core cluster. Remarkably, then, small fluctuations in the level of turbulence in galaxy cluster cores can initiate transitions between cool-core (low entropy) and non-cool-core (high entropy) states.
BLAST: THE MASS FUNCTION, LIFETIMES, AND PROPERTIES OF INTERMEDIATE MASS CORES FROM A 50 deg2 SUBMILLIMETER GALACTIC SURVEY IN VELA (ℓ ≈ 265°)

We present first results from an unbiased 50 deg2 submillimeter Galactic survey at 250, 350, and 500 μm from the 2006 flight of the Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope. The map has resolution ranging from 36″ to 60″ in the three submillimeter bands spanning the thermal emission peak of cold starless cores. We determine the temperature, luminosity, and mass of more than 1000 compact sources in a range of evolutionary stages and an unbiased statistical characterization of the population. From comparison with C18O data, we find the dust opacity per gas mass, κr= 0.16 cm2 g−1 at 250 μm, for cold clumps. We find that 2% of the mass of the molecular gas over this diverse region is in cores colder than 14 K, and that the mass function for these cold cores is consistent with a power law with index α = −3.22 ± 0.14 over the mass range 14 M☉ < M < 80 M☉. Additionally, we infer a mass-dependent cold core lifetime of tc(M) = 4 × 106(M/20 M☉)−0.9 yr—longer than what has been found in previous surveys of either low or high-mass cores, and significantly longer than free fall or likely turbulent decay times. This implies some form of non-thermal support for cold cores during this early stage of star formation.
Implementation of health technology: Directions for research and practice

COPYRIGHT © 2022 van Gemert-Pijnen. This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
The contributions of matter inside and outside of haloes to the matter power spectrum

Halo-based models have been successful in predicting the clustering of matter. However, the validity of the postulate that the clustering is fully determined by matter inside haloes remains largely untested, and it is not clear a priori whether non-virialised matter might contribute significantly to the non-linear clustering signal. Here, we investigate the contribution of haloes to the matter power spectrum as a function of both scale and halo mass by combining a set of cosmological N-body simulations to calculate the contributions of different spherical overdensity regions, Friends-of-Friends (FoF) groups and matter outside haloes to the power spectrum. We find that matter inside spherical overdensity regions of size R200,mean cannot account for all power for 1 20 h/Mpc). For 2 10^9 Msun/h accounts for essentially all power for 3 1 h/Mpc).
Detecting free-floating planets using water-dependent colour terms in the next generation of infrared space-based surveys

The next decade will see two large-scale space-based near-infrared surveys, Euclid and WFIRST. This paper shows that the subtle differences between the filters proposed for these surveys and those from ground-based photometric systems will produce a ground-space colour term that is dependent on water absorption in the spectra of astronomical objects. This colour term can be used to identify free-floating planets in star forming regions, mimicking a successful ground-based technique that uses a filter sensitive to water absorption. This paper shows that this colour term is an effective discriminant between reddened background stars and ultracool dwarfs. This represents just one science justification for a Galactic Plane survey in the event of an extension to the Euclid mission beyond its original timeframe.
Multipolar blackbody radiation shifts for single-ion clocks

Appraising the projected $10^{-18}$ fractional uncertainty in the optical frequency standards using singly ionized ions, we estimate the black-body radiation (BBR) shifts due to the magnetic dipole (M1) and electric quadrupole (E2) multipoles of the magnetic and electric fields, respectively. Multipolar scalar polarizabilities are determined for the singly ionized calcium (Ca$^+$) and strontium (Sr$^+$) ions using the relativistic coupled-cluster method; though the theory can be exercised for any single ion clock proposal. The expected energy shifts for the respective clock transitions are estimated to be $4.38(3) \times 10^{-4}$ Hz for Ca$^+$ and $9.50(7) \times 10^{-5}$ Hz for Sr$^+$. These shifts are large enough and may be prerequisite for the frequency standards to achieve the foreseen $10^{-18}$ precision goal.
Identification of Brachypodium distachyon B3 genes reveals that BdB3-54 regulates primary root growth

B3 is a class of plant-specific transcription factors with important roles in plant development and growth. Here, we identified 69 B3 transcription factors in Brachypodium distachyon that were unevenly distributed across all five chromosomes. The ARF, REM, LAV, and RAV subfamilies were grouped based on sequence characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenetically related members in the B3 family shared conserved domains and gene structures. Expression profiles showed that B3 genes were widely expressed in different tissues and varied in response to different abiotic stresses. BdB3-54 protein from the REM subfamily was located in the nucleus by subcellular localization and processed transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of BdB3-54 in Arabidopsis increased primary root length. Our study provides a basis for further research on the functions of BdB3 genes.
CP Violation in D0 - anti-D0 Oscillations: General Considerations and Applications to the Littlest Higgs Model with T-Parity

The observed D0−0 oscillations provide a new stage in our search for New Physics in heavy flavour dynamics. The theoretical verdict on the observed values of xD and yD remains ambiguous: while they could be totally generated by Standard Model dynamics, they could also contain a sizable or even leading contribution from New Physics. Those oscillations are likely to enhance the observability of CP violation as clear manifestations of New Physics. We present general formulae for D0−0 oscillations, concentrating on the case of negligible direct CP violation. In particular we derive a general formula for the time-dependent mixing-induced CP asymmetry in decays to a CP eigenstate and its correlation with the semileptonic CP asymmetry aSL(D0) in D0(t) → lνK. We apply our formalism to the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity, using the time-dependent CP asymmetry in D0 → KS as an example. We find observable effects at a level well beyond anything possible with CKM dynamics. Comparisons with CP violation in the K and B systems offer an excellent test of this scenario and reveal the specific pattern of flavour and CP violation in the D0−0 system predicted by this model. We discuss a number of charm decays that could potentially offer an insight in the dynamics of CP violation in D decays. We also apply our formalism to Bs−s mixing.
Deterministic nanoassembly of a coupled quantum emitter–photonic crystal cavity system

Controlling the interaction of a single quantum emitter with its environment is a key challenge in quantum optics. Here, we demonstrate deterministic coupling of single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers to high-quality photonic crystal cavities. We preselect single NV centers and position their 50-nm-sized host nanocrystals into the mode maximum of photonic crystal S1 cavities with few-nanometer accuracy. The coupling results in a strong enhancement of NV center emission at the cavity wavelength.
APDM gait and balance measures fail to predict symptom progression rate in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) results in progressively worsening gait and balance dysfunction that can be measured using computerized devices. We utilized the longitudinal database of the Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Program to determine if baseline gait and balance measures predict future rates of symptom progression. We included 230, 222, 164, and 177 PD subjects with 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of follow-up, respectively, and we defined progression as worsening of the following clinical parameters: MDS-UPDRS total score, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, PDQ-39 mobility subscale, levodopa equivalent daily dose, Schwab and England score, and global composite outcome. We developed ridge regression models to independently estimate how each gait or balance measure, or combination of measures, predicted progression. The accuracy of each ridge regression model was calculated by cross-validation in which 90% of the data were used to estimate the ridge regression model which was then tested on the 10% of data left out. While the models modestly predicted change in outcomes at the 6-month follow-up visit (accuracy in the range of 66–71%) there was no change in the outcome variables during this short follow-up (median change in MDS-UPDRS total score = 0 and change in LEDD = 0). At follow-up periods of 12, 18, and 24 months, the models failed to predict change (accuracy in the held-out sets ranged from 42 to 60%). We conclude that this set of computerized gait and balance measures performed at baseline is unlikely to help predict future disease progression in PD. Research scientists must continue to search for progression predictors to enhance the performance of disease modifying clinical trials.
Burnout Integrative Measure: A preliminary validation among French college students

The aim of this research was to create and validate an integrative measure of college students’ burnout. A burnout measure was proposed and extended the three-dimensional conceptualization of burnout (weariness, detachment toward social objects, inadequacy). Based on prior research, our conceptualization and measure distinguished between types of weariness (cognitive, physical, and emotional weariness) and between different targets of detachment toward social objects (studies, other students, teachers). We also relied on negatively worded items to assess inadequacy, as suggested in the literature. The criterion-related validity of our Burnout Integrative Measure (BIM) was examined by exploring associations with two closely related constructs, namely stress and depression. The participants are 905 students in several disciplinary (psychology, nursing care, medicine, science and techniques in sports and physical activities). Results from structural equation modelling provided support for a third-order model encompassing the different targets of detachment, the distinct types of weariness, and inadequacy. The third-order model had a better fit than a first-order model (with a global burnout) and a second-order model (with no distinction between the targets of detachment and the types of weariness). Correlations with related constructs (depression and stress) mostly confirmed our hypotheses. Results and practical implications are discussed.
Ischemic stroke and concomitant gastrointestinal complications- a fatal combination for patient recovery

Stroke is primarily a neurodegenerative disease but can also severely impact the functions of other vital organs and deteriorate disease outcomes. A malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), commonly observed in stroke patients, is often characterized by severe bowel obstruction, intestinal microbiota changes and inflammation. Over-activated immune cells after stroke are the major contributors to endorse intestinal inflammation and may induce damage to single-layer epithelial cell barriers. The post-stroke leakage of intestinal barriers may allow the translocation and dissemination of resident microflora to systemic organs and cause sepsis. This overshooting systemic immune reaction fuels ongoing inflammation in the degenerating brain and slows recovery. Currently, the therapeutic options to treat these GIT-associated anomalies are very limited and further research is required to develop novel treatments. In this mini-review, we first discuss the current knowledge from clinical studies and experimental stroke models that provide strong evidence of the existence of post-stroke GIT complications. Then, we review the literature regarding novel therapeutic approaches that might help to maintain GIT homeostasis and improve neurological outcomes in stroke patients.
The 6dF Galaxy Survey: the near-infrared Fundamental Plane of early-type galaxies

We determine the near-infrared Fundamental Plane (FP) for ∼10^4 early-type galaxies in the 6-degree Field Galaxy Survey (6dFGS). We fit the distribution of central velocity dispersion, near-infrared surface brightness and half-light radius with a 3D Gaussian model using a maximum-likelihood method. The model provides an excellent empirical fit to the observed FP distribution and the method proves robust and unbiased. Tests using simulations show that it gives superior results to regression techniques in the presence of significant and correlated uncertainties in all three parameters, censoring of the data by various selection effects and outliers in the data sample. For the 6dFGS J-band sample we find an FP with R_e ∝ σ^(1.52±0.03)_0 I_e^(−0.89±0.01), similar to previous near-infrared determinations and consistent with the H- and K-band FPs once allowance is made for differences in mean colour. The overall scatter in R_e about the FP is σ_r = 29 per cent, and is the quadrature sum of an 18 per cent scatter due to observational errors and a 23 per cent intrinsic scatter. Because of the Gaussian distribution of galaxies in FP space, σ_r is not the distance error, which we find to be σ_d = 23 per cent. Using group richness and local density as measures of environment, and morphologies based on visual classifications, we find that the FP slopes do not vary with environment or morphology. However, for fixed velocity dispersion and surface brightness, field galaxies are on average 5 per cent larger than galaxies in groups or higher density environments, and the bulges of early-type spirals are on average 10 per cent larger than ellipticals and lenticulars. The residuals about the FP show significant trends with environment, morphology and stellar population. The strongest trend is with age, and we speculate that age is the most important systematic source of offsets from the FP, and may drive the other trends through its correlations with environment, morphology and metallicity. These results will inform our use of the near-infrared FP in deriving relative distances and peculiar velocities for 6dFGS galaxies.
Fully self-consistent GW and quasiparticle self-consistent GW for molecules

P.K. acknowledges support from the CSIC JAE-doc program, co-financed by the European Science Foundation, and the Diputacion Foral de Gipuzkoa. D.S. P. and P.K. acknowledge financial support from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), the Basque Departamento de Educacion, UPV/EHU (Grant No. IT-366-07), the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Grant No. FIS2010-19609-C02-02), the ETORTEK program funded by the Basque Departamento de Industria and the Diputacion Foral de Gipuzkoa, and the German DFG through the SFB 1083. D.F. acknowledges support from the ORGAVOLTANR project and the Euroregion Aquitaine-Euskadi program.
Transition of electrochemical measurement to machine learning in the perspective of two-dimensional materials

Two-dimensional materials (e.g. graphene, and transition metal dichalcogenides) have become ubiquitous in electrochemical contexts including energy storage, electrocatalyst, and ion-selective membranes. This is due to its superior electrochemical properties, specifically “capacitance”, which can be referred to the storage ions at the electrolyte/materials interfaces. Experimental work and computational chemistry were carried out in the past decade for solving and improving the understanding of two-dimensional materials; however, these techniques are relatively expensive, complex, and time-consuming. Therefore, we accentuate the future trend of two-dimensional material study with machine learning as the modest alternative. In this perspective, the intrinsic capacitance properties of the two dimension materials were described from an atomic level, explaining the heteroatom doping to a nanoscopic level, showing (basal vs edge capacitance). The studies also extended to the macroscopic level i.e., the flake size of the two-dimensional materials. We then shed more light on the applicability of machine learning coupled with the “fundamental measurement” for solving electrochemistry of two-dimensional materials. The shallow artificial neural network was demonstrated for the prediction of CV curves using the data from size-dependent graphene. In addition, the application of deep neural networks with complicated architecture has also been explored through the prediction of capacitance for heteroatom-doped graphene. This perspective provides a clear background and creates the connection between fundamental measurement and machine learning for understanding the capacitance properties of two-dimensional materials.
Genome-wide analysis of NBS-LRR genes in Rosaceae species reveals distinct evolutionary patterns

The nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) genes, one of the largest gene families in plants, are evolving rapidly and playing a critical role in plant resistance to pathogens. In this study, a genome-wide search in 12 Rosaceae genomes screened out 2188 NBS-LRR genes, with the gene number varied distinctively across different species. The reconciled phylogeny revealed 102 ancestral genes (7 RNLs, 26 TNLs, and 69 CNLs), which underwent independent gene duplication and loss events during the divergence of the Rosaceae. The NBS-LRR genes exhibited dynamic and distinct evolutionary patterns in the 12 Rosaceae species due to independent gene duplication/loss events, which resulted the discrepancy of NBS-LRR gene number among Rosaceae species. Specifically, Rubus occidentalis, Potentilla micrantha, Fragaria iinumae and Gillenia trifoliata, displayed a “first expansion and then contraction” evolutionary pattern; Rosa chinensis exhibited a “continuous expansion” pattern; F. vesca had a “expansion followed by contraction, then a further expansion” pattern, three Prunus species and three Maleae species shared a “early sharp expanding to abrupt shrinking” pattern. Overall, this study elucidated the dynamic and complex evolutionary patterns of NBS-LRR genes in the 12 Rosaceae species, and could assist further investigation of mechanisms driving these evolutionary patterns.