Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL UNION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BULGARIAN ASSOCIATION OF MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE

The operation of the machine attached to the back of the tractor to clean the heads of root crops from residues in the case of using copying pneumatic wheels causes oscillations of the tops harvester in the vertical plane, which significantly affects the quality of the process. Accordingly, the movement of the horizontal working body will depend on many structural and kinematic factors. Therefore, the development of a mathematical model that will describe the movement of the working body of such a unit is an important task. To solve which the method of construction of calculated mathematical models of functioning of agricultural machines and machine units, on the basis of theoretical mechanics and higher mathematics was used in the work. Using which the equivalent scheme of movement of the unit is developed and the system of two nonlinear differential equations for detailed research of oscillations of the cleaner of heads of root crops in the longitudinalvertical plane at movement of its pneumatic copying wheels on roughnesses of a surface of soil is received. The mathematical model of movement of the cleaner with a horizontal cleaning shaft developed on the basis of initial equations of dynamics in the form of Lagrange of the 2nd kind allowed to establish depedencies between constructive and kinematic parameters of the car and its oscillatory characteristics. The found dependences created preconditions for the further mathematical modeling of parameters of the rear-mounted cleaner of heads of root crops, with a horizontal clearing shaft. Using the developed calculation model it is possible to optimize the values of angle  and coordinates у that characterize the oscillations of the machine in the longitudinal-vertical plane.
SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL UNION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BULGARIAN ASSOCIATION OF MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE

The article proposes a fundamentally new design of a resource-saving, anti-erosion unit that significantly improves the quality of soil tillage in cultivating agricultural crops, improves the productivity of the plow, significantly eliminates soil erosion and reduces the fuel consumption of the tractor by reducing the traction resistance. The construction of the unit and the principle of its operation are described in detail. It can be successfully used both in plain and in mountainous terrain. Characteristic similarity criteria and a criterion equation for studying the traction force of the proposed unit are obtained and their physical meaning is revealed KEYОВWORDS: SOIL EROSION, UNIT, PRODUCTIVITY, FUEL CONSUMPTION, MECHANIZATION, SIMILARITY CRITERION, CRITERION EQUATION . It is known that at basic tillage with common ploughshare is created the dense bottom surface of the soil that can hold water and causes water erosion. As a result, the crop productivity and soil looseness quality are reduced. Based on the results of the research conducted i t i s d e t e r min ed that the primary tillage with chisel plow completely or significantly avoids the cultivated soil erosion phenomenon on the slopes. Du e to high pressure area on the chisel ploughshare surface, the soil bottom dense layer is completely destroyed and break surface is formed which allows to penetrate in greater depth and to maintain soil humidity that contributes to better development of the root system and sharp increase of crop yield. Due to the received results it is defined that by using the mentioned tillage method the crop yield of the corn is by 35% higher than at tillage by common ploughshare [1,2,3]. It is also known that productivity of smooth tillage plough is 23-43% higher than the mould boarddouble furrow tillage ploughs, fuel consumption is reduced by 2839%, and area of cultivated land is higher by 7 8% [4]. Problem is rather important and essential as the large part of agriculturally used areas in Georgia are located in small contour areas and slanting slopes that stipulates the advisability of mention areas tillage by chisel plough. Novelty of the question lies in the fact that there will be developed completely new component insertion construction of resource efficient and erosion preventive integrated high and lowland agricultural aggregate which is registered with the National Intellectual Property Centre “Sakpatenti"[5, 6]. The basic essence of this aggregate is that it has a frame, chisel poles with attached abutments and ploughshare and plough wings. The chisel poles are installed frontally on the frame crossbar, while the plough wings are symmetric and are installed sequent on rotational beam jointly connected with rear frame of chisel poles. In addition, with the aid of hydro-cylinder, the beam has the possibility of rotating around the connected with the frame juncture (Fig. 1 and 2).
Microscopic carriers of plasticity in glassy polystyrene

On the macroscopic scale, the intrinsic response of glassy polymers can be divided into two regimes: visco-elastic (pre-yield) and visco-plastic (post-yield), which are separated by a distinct yield point. The pre-yield part is characterized by a smooth and continuous time-dependent relation between stress and strain. In this thesis, it is shown by means of molecular simulations that the behavior in the visco-elastic regime is not smooth on the microscopic scale, but is interrupted by discontinuities already at strains below 1%. The microscopic origins of these discontinuities and the relevant carriers are the main focus of this thesis. The investigation is performed by means of molecular simulations on glassy polystyrene. A step-wise deformation is imposed by a quasi-static procedure that minimizes the free energy of the specimen. Minimizing the free energy at every deformation allows to both qualitatively and quantitatively describe the physical response of a polymer under an applied strain and at realistic ambient pressure, without imposing constraints like constant volume or a ﬁxed Poisson’s ratio. The tools developed during this research are used to quantitatively describe the change of the microscopic structure during deformation by means of monitoring individual atomic displacements, as well as the deformation of clusters of interacting atoms by means of a local deformation gradient tensor. Results show that the discontinuities in the free energy are irreversible plastic events, which are strongly correlated with non-aﬃne atomic displacements. Furthermore, it is observed that atoms with the highest non-aﬃne displacement are located in the side groups.
UVicSPACE: Research & Learning Repository

The role that the mental, or internal , representation plays when people are solving hard computational problems has largely been overlooked to date, despite the reality that this internal representation drives problem solving. In this work we investigate how performance on versions of two hard computational problems differs based on what internal representations can be generated. Our findings suggest that problem solving performance depends not only on the objective difficulty of the problem, and of course the particular problem instance at hand, but also on how feasible it is to encode the goal of the given problem. A further implication of these findings is that previous human performance studies using NP-hard problems may have, surprisingly, underestimated human performance on instances of problems of this class. We suggest ways to meaningfully frame human performance results on instances of computationally hard problems in terms of these problems’ computational complexity, and present a novel framework for interpreting results on problems of this type. The framework takes into account the limitations of the human cognitive system, in particular as it applies to the generation of internal representations of problems of this class.
Paleomagnetism of the Chiapas Massif, southern Mexico: Evidence for rotation of the Maya Block and implications for the opening of the Gulf of Mexico

We have analyzed 180 oriented samples of the batholithic complex and overlying red beds of the Chiapas Massif in southern Mexico for a paleomagnetic study. Both stepwise alternating-field and thermal demagnetization procedures revealed dual-polarity characteristic magnetizations above 10-30 mT or 200-400 °C in about 60% of the samples demagnetized. Three distinct and ancient paleomagnetic directions have been identified. Late Permian intrusions (256 ± 10 Ma) yield nearly equatorial southern hemisphere paleolatitudes and a paleopole (13.4°S,176.1°E; 12 sites, K = 15.4, A95 = 11.4°) rotated ∼75°, counterclockwise, with respect to the North American reference pole. A selected set of Late Triassic(? )-Jurassic red beds of the Todos Santos Formation yields a paleopole at 22.6°N, 170.6°E (4 sites, K = 56.8, A95 = 12.3°), which implies ∼60° counterclockwise rotation, and a near equatorial northern hemisphere paleolatitude. Middle-Late Jurassic dikes and granites yield a paleopole at 77.4°N, 97.4°E (6 sites, K = 269.2, A95 = 4.1°) near the Mid-Jurassic segment of the North American apparent polar wander path. These data are consistent with a pre-rift configuration in which the Maya Block is rotated to a position off the coast of Texas and Louisiana in the present-day area of the Gulf of Mexico. A further implication is that by Oxfordian times, Chiapas (and by inference the Maya Block) was essentially in its current position with respect to cratonic North America.
Non-invasive assessment of the tear film after LASIK.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to compare the assessment of the ocular surface using classic methods with the newly developed keratoscopy-based MYAH (Topcon EU, Visia Imaging, Japan) device after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). PATIENTS AND METHODS This cross-sectional and observational study analyzed 80 eyes of 40 patients. Tear film and ocular surface evaluation were performed at baseline, postoperative week 1, and month 1. Measurements obtained using the Schirmer I test and invasive tear-film breakup time (I-TBT) were compared with non-invasive evaluation of the tear break-up time (NI-TBT), tear meniscus height (TMH) and blink analysis obtained using the MYAH device. Findings were correlated with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire in all subjects. RESULTS The study included 80 eyes of 40 consecutive patients (21 males and 19 females) with a mean age of 26.6 ± 5.9 years (18-40 years) and a mean spherical equivalent value of -3.64 D (-9.63 to -0.25 D). There was a significant decrease in Schirmer I test (19.21 ± 8.4 vs. 16.61 ± 9.1 vs. 14.69 ± 9.86, p= 0.02, respectively) and I-TBT values (8.59 ± 3.4 vs. 7.4 ± 3.25 vs. 6.17 ± 3.01, p=0.03 respectively). OSDI values showed a significant increase after LASIK (11.56 ± 6.3 vs. 17.24 ± 7.5 vs. 14.71 ± 9.6, p=0.03, respectively). 5% level NI-TBT was significantly lower at 1 week 6.75 and 1 month 7.45 than baseline 13.2 at follow-up (p=0.037). Ocular protection index (6.6 vs. 2.3 vs. 2.6, p=0.009, respectively) and blink/minutes (18 vs. 17 vs. 15, p=0.002, respectively) values showed a statistically significant decrease. Our data detected a weak correlation between I-TBT and noninvasive first TBT, 5% level TBT parameters at month 1 follow-up. This study also found no correlation between contact lens use, older age, female gender, and pre-operative refractive error with the noninvasive MYAH dry eye parameters. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the ability of the new keratoscopy-based MYAH device to detect changes in the short term after LASIK surgery.
Tidally forced internal waves and overturns observed on a slope: Results from HOME

Abstract Tidal mixing over a slope was explored using moored time series observations on Kaena Ridge extending northwest from Oahu, Hawaii, during the Survey component of the Hawaii Ocean Mixing Experiment (HOME). A mooring was instrumented to sample the velocity and density field of the lower 500 m of the water column to look for indirect evidence of tidally induced mixing and was deployed on a slope in 1453-m water depth for 2 months beginning in November 2000. The semidiurnal barotropic tidal currents at this site have a significant cross-ridge component, favorable for exciting an internal tidal response. A large-amplitude response is expected, given that the slope of the topography (4.5°) is nearly the same as the slope of the internal wave group velocity at semidiurnal frequency. Density overturns were inferred from temperature profiles measured every 2 min. The number and strength of the overturns are greater in the 200 m nearest the bottom, with overturns exceeding 24 m present at any depth nearly .
Trade Integration and Implications of Global Fragmentation for Latin America and the Caribbean 1 (Background Paper 2)

The chapter documents the experience of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) with trade integration, studies the potential for greater integration, and analyzes the emerging risks from global fragmentation. Despite progress in decreasing trade barriers, LAC’s degree of trade integration remains low, especially within the region. Intra-regional trade is between 40 percent (for goods) and 50 percent (for services) lower than in regions with similar economic and geographic characteristics. Obstacles derived from poor infrastructure, and inadequate governance, among other deficiencies, have played an important role in limiting trade within and outside the region and point to sizable potential gains from lifting them. Closing half of the existing infrastructure gap between the region and advanced economies would lift exports by 30 percent. Amid deepening global trade tensions, LAC is well placed to withstand a mild trade fragmentation scenario, in which trade barriers are erected only among large economies. In contrast, LAC’s output losses could be sizable in more extreme scenarios, whereby the global economy splinters into competing economic blocs and LAC loses access to important markets. A strategy aimed at boosting trade, including regional trade, and putting in place policies that make LAC an attractive investment destination could pay a double dividend of boosting trade and growth in the region while mitigating the risks from global fragmentation.
Pelvic floor muscle training vs. Pilates exercises on the sexual function of post-menopause women with urinary incontinence

: Background: A significant percentage of postmenopausal women suffer from urinary incontinence (UI), which can impair sexual function. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is the main treatment to improve UI, and it can also be used to improve sexual function. On the other hand, other forms of intervention, such as Pilates exercises, which require activation of the pelvic floor muscles, have been suggested as a possible adjuvant in UI-related outcomes. Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of PFMT vs. Pilates on sexual function in postmenopausal women with UI. Methods: 40 postmenopausal women with UI were randomized into two groups: PFMT (n = 20) and Pilates (n = 20). Interventions in both groups were performed for 12 weeks, three times a week, for 30 minutes. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon U tests were used for inter and intragroup comparisons, respectively. Results: There was no difference in the intergroup comparison, for any FSFI domain (p > 0.05). There was a significant intragroup difference, in both groups, in the desire, lubrication and total score domains, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. There were also significant intragroup results for the orgasm and pain domains in the PFMT group, with a small effect size. Conclusion: There was no evidence that PFMT is different from Pilates in the sexual function of postmenopausal women with UI, therefore, the choice between PFMT or Pilates may be based on preferences and costs for the patient or health professional.
A New Face Region Recovery Algorithm based on Bicubic Interpolation

Recently, researchers focused on face image manipulation detection and localization techniques because of their importance in image security applications. The previous research has not highlighted the recovery of the face region after manipulation detection. This paper presents a new face region recovery algorithm (FRRA) to be included in the face image manipulation detection algorithms (FIMD). The proposed FRRA consists of two main algorithms: face data generation algorithm and face region restoration algorithm. Both algorithms start by detecting the face region using Multi-task Cascaded Neural Network followed by a face window selection process. In the face data generation algorithm, the recovery information is generated from the shirked face window using bicubic interpolation technique. In the face region restoration algorithm, the face region zoomed using bicubic interpolation technique. The proposed FRRA has been tested and compared with previous recovery methods for different color face images, and the results proved that the FRRA could recover the face region with better visual quality at the same data length compared to previous methods. The main contributions of this research are a) the suggestion of including a face region recovery algorithm to FIMD, b) the study of previous recovery data generation algorithms for color face images, and c) introducing a new algorithm for generating the recovery data based on bicubic interpolation. In the future, the proposed algorithm can be included in the recent FIMD algorithms to recover the face region, which can be very useful in practical applications, especially those used in data forensics systems.
Association analysis of genes controlling variation of flowering time in West and Central African sorghum

Yield and yield stability of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. ] are highly influenced by flowering time and photoperiodic sensitivity in the arid to semi-arid regions of West and Central Africa. Photoperiodic sensitivity is the key adaptation trait of local landraces because it allows flowering at the end of the rainy season, independent of variable sowing dates. Flowering time genes are mainly integrated into four pathways with close interaction among each other: vernalization, autonomous, GA (gibberellic acid), and photoperiod. In the GA pathway, maize D8, wheat RHT1, and rice SLR have been identified as homologous genes to the Arabidopsis GAI, which is a negative regulator of GA response. We have identified two homologous genes to D8: Sorghum SbD8 and pearl millet PgD8. The expression of these genes was confirmed in the root and leaves of sorghum and pearl millet as revealed by EST database search and reverse Chapter 2. Li et al. 2010 J. Plant Breeding Crop Sci. 2(5):117-128 20 transcription PCR, respectively. The genetic diversity of SbD8 was considerably lower than that of PgD8. The extent of linkage disequilibrium in PgD8 is lower than that of maize D8. SbD8 and PgD8 polymorphisms might be appropriate for dissection of photoperiod sensitivity using association mapping approaches.
Digital Commons @ RIC Digital Commons @ RIC

Even in the absence of wartime stressors, the military lifestyle is characterized by frequent challenges that affect not only the military member, but also his or her spouse and children. Due to frequent relocations and deployments, military spouses are often relied upon to become the primary child-rearers, make occupational sacrifices, deal with financial concerns independently, organize relocations, and cope with lack of social support. These multiple responsibilities can create a myriad of stressors, which over time lend themselves to the formation of chronic stress. The purpose of this exploratory study is to determine if spouses of active duty military members display chronic stress according to the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS-LE). Seventy-one female military spouses responded to the TICS-LE online. Mean scores for all the factors on the TICS-LE ranged between 1.03 and 2.05, which was lower than expected given the plethora of stressors associated with the military lifestyle. Findings suggested that chronic stress levels experienced by military spouses may be mitigated by high quality social support systems, the demographic factors of the military spouse and whether the military family has developed resilience after years of being embedded in the military lifestyle. This major paper project underscores the need for advanced practice nurses to be aware of the multiple stressors that military spouses face, unique cultural phenomena present in military life, and its possible implications on the psychological and physical functioning of military spouses.
Methods and Approaches Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Membrane Proteins under Asymmetric Ionic Concentrations

The cell membrane presents a barrier between the cyto-plasm and the surrounding environment that is critical to preserving the integrity of the cell. By virtue of this barrier, the differences in ion concentrations across the membrane that are established under the action of various membrane transport proteins can give rise to a difference in electric potential. Although it is relatively straightforward to control both the concentration gradients and membrane potential in experimental bio-physical studies, reproducing this set of conditions in computer simulations is nontrivial. To allow for the simulation of ion channels with a realistic implementation of asymmetric ion concentration and transmembrane potential boundary conditions, a grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC)/Brownian dynamics (BD) was implemented previously (Im et al., 2000). In GCMC/BD, asymmetric boundary conditions were imposed on a finite nonperiodic simulated system surrounded by concentration buffer regions (Im et al., 2000). Although this method provided important insight into the factors governing the permeation of wide solvent was represented as a continuum dielectric to enable the GCMC insertion and annihilation of ions on both sides of the membrane. However, imposing asym-metric concentrations in explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations introduces special difficulties. Such explicit solvent MD simulations are normally performed with conventional periodic boundary conditions (PBCs), which are critical to reduce finite-size effects. Unavoidably, the PBCs also eliminate the distinction between the two sides of a membrane. Because there is a single continuous bulk solution where ions are free to diffuse and equilibrate, concentration gradients across the membrane cannot be simulated. One possible avenue for simulating asymmetric ion concentrations in MD simulations with explicit solvent is to use a dual-membranes–dual-volumes strategy (Sachs et al., 2004) in which two spatially separated membranes are included to create two disconnected bulk phases between them (one of the two membranes is replaced by an artificial vacuum separator in the most recent implementation to reduce the computational burden; Delemotte et al., 2008). Manually adjusting the number of cations and anions in the two bulk regions makes it possible to set the effective membrane potential near some pre-chosen value V m (Delemotte et al., 2011). A computational method is developed to allow molecular dynamics simulations of biomembrane systems under realistic ionic gradients and asymmetric salt concentrations while maintaining the conventional periodic boundary conditions required to minimize finite-size effects in an all-atom explicit solvent representation. The method, which consists of introducing a nonperiodic energy step acting on …