Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quo vadis Patria Gaucha? Uruguayan pathways of land use change

South American grasslands, socio-ecological systems used heavily for a long time, are currently experiencing dramatic land-use changes due to implementation of large-scale afforestation and agro-industrial cash crops. Applying the conceptual framework of “Multifunctional and sustainable productive landscapes” to Uruguay, we explored the impacts on rural ecosystems and communities based on a long-term monitoring network by assessing species richness of plant and terrestrial arthropods and socio-economic data from national census. We found that silvi- and agricultural industry established mainly at the expense of extensively grazed grasslands and local family farms with traditional techniques, accompanied by a deregulation of the rural labor market, depopulation and aging of rural society. Governmental nature protection efforts increase the native forest cover and establish nature protection areas focusing mainly on forests. We also discuss pathways of land-use change in recent decades and related discourses of local stakeholders.
Interference between extrinsic and intrinsic losses in x-ray absorption fine structure

The interference between extrinsic and intrinsic losses in x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) is treated within a Green's-function formalism, without explicit reference to final states. The approach makes use of a quasiboson representation of excitations and perturbation theory in the interaction potential between electrons and quasibosons. These losses lead to an asymmetric broadening of the main quasiparticle peak plus an energy-dependent satellite in the spectral function. The x-ray absorption spectra (XAS) is then given by a convolution of an effective spectral function over a one-electron cross section. It is shown that extrinsic and intrinsic losses tend to cancel near excitation thresholds, and correspondingly, the strength in the main peak increases. At high energies, the theory crosses over to the sudden approximation. These results thus explain the observed weakness of multielectron excitations in XAS. The approach is applied to estimate the many-body corrections to XAFS, beyond the usual mean-free path, using a phasor summation over the spectral function. The asymmetry of the spectral function gives rise to an additional many-body phase shift in the XAFS formula.
Joint Precoding and Array Design for Broadcast in the Internet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

To promote energy and spectrum efficient communications in multiantenna channels, broadcast can provide a substantial gain in system throughput. However, the hardware constraints and strong Line of Sight (LoS) limit the implementation and performance of multiantenna broadcast in the Internet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Based on the pseudo-Doppler principle, we propose a joint precoding and antenna array design to reduce the number of radio frequency (RF) chains required by the broadcast and free the LoS path from the interstream interference. The reduction of RF chains is realized by designing the precoding matrix that makes at least one of the transmit antennas have null inputs during any broadcast and, moreover, the LoS path is formed to match the obtained precoding matrix through antenna array design at the broadcasting UAV. The algorithms with low computational complexity for optimizing this design are developed to minimize the transmit power within the UAV broadcast paradigms. Theoretical formulation and numerical results in the metrics of sum data rate and bit error rate substantiate the validity of our proposed design, specifically in the Internet of UAVs with strong LoS.
Integrating Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Mechanisms of White–Violet Mutant Flowers in Grape Hyacinth (Muscari latifolium)

Grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.) is a famous bulbous blue flower; however, few bicolor varieties are available in the market. Therefore, the discovery of bicolor varieties and understanding of their mechanisms are crucial to the breeding of new varieties. In this study, we report a significant bicolor mutant with white upper and violet lower portions, with both parts belonging to a single raceme. Ionomics showed that pH and metal element contents were not responsible for the bicolor formation. Targeted metabolomics illustrated that the content of the 24 color-related compounds was significantly lower in the upper part than that in the lower part. Moreover, full-length transcriptomics combined with second-generation transcriptomics revealed 12,237 differentially expressed genes in which anthocyanin synthesis gene expression of the upper part was noted to be significantly lower than that of the lower part. Transcription factor differential expression analysis was used to describe the presence of a pair of MaMYB113a/b sequences, with low levels of expression in the upper part and high expression in the lower part. Furthermore, tobacco transformation confirmed that overexpression of MaMYB113a/b can promote anthocyanin accumulation in tobacco leaves. Accordingly, the differential expression of MaMYB113a/b contributes the formation of a bicolor mutant in Muscari latifolium.
Extraction of Validating Shapes from very large Knowledge Graphs

Knowledge Graphs (KGs) represent heterogeneous domain knowledge on the Web and within organizations. There exist shapes constraint languages to define validating shapes to ensure the quality of the data in KGs. Existing techniques to extract validating shapes often fail to extract complete shapes, are not scalable, and are prone to produce spurious shapes. To address these shortcomings, we propose the Quality Shapes Extraction (QSE) approach to extract validating shapes in very large graphs, for which we devise both an exact and an approximate solution. QSE provides information about the reliability of shape constraints by computing their confidence and support within a KG and in doing so allows to identify shapes that are most informative and less likely to be affected by incomplete or incorrect data. To the best of our knowledge, QSE is the first approach to extract a complete set of validating shapes from WikiData. Moreover, QSE provides a 12x reduction in extraction time compared to existing approaches, while managing to filter out up to 93% of the invalid and spurious shapes, resulting in a reduction of up to 2 orders of magnitude in the number of constraints presented to the user, e.g., from 11,916 to 809 on DBpedia.
Two‐dimensional turbulence properties of the ECMWF reanalyses

A spherical harmonic analysis is made of the stationary and transient rotational motions during14 winter and 15 summer seasons from the reanalyses of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for the northern hemisphere. Vertically-integrated kineticenergy, enstrophy, rotational non-linear interactions and the baroclinic source term are diagnosedas a function of total wavenumber n. The contributions to the non-linear transfers fromtriads involving wavenumber and frequency bands of meterological relevance are mapped. Theinter-seasonal and intra-seasonal variability are computed. The non-linear energy and enstrophytendencies and fluxes are examined and compared to existing geophysical turbulence theories.The transient divergent kinetic energy is less than the rotational energy. The spectral energyslope seen in the range n~10–40 is roughly −2.5~−2.6. Based on the variability of the slopeon seasonal and 10-day time scales, this slope is significantly different than −3. There is noindication of the−5/3 mesoscale energy regime seen in observations. A broad enstrophy dissipationregimes is seen for n>40. Non-linear terms transfer transient energy from a band centeredat n~15 to one at n~7, with the latter predominantly associated with non-zonal (zonal wavenumberm0) flow. Non-linear terms transfer mean energy from n=7 to the mean zonal flowm=0, n=3 and n=5. The non-linear transfer of transient energy is quite variable, with about 16% of 10-day periods yielding a tendency twice the mean, and 16% showing no upscaletendency whatever. This variability is greatly reduced when interactions involving only synopticscales (n~10–40) are retained. The latter set of interactions are associated mostly with triadsinvolving both high and low frequencies, with associated periods in the 1–9 day and 11–90range, respectively. Non-local planetary wave advective interactions play an important roˆ le inthe downscale transfer of enstrophy. More local interactions involving synoptic scales dominatethe non-linear energy transfers. The main seasonal effects are a weakening in summer of thetotal energy and shifting to higher wave number of the peak, and a distinct shift to smallerscales in the transition between the large-scale and synoptic-scale regimes in the energy budget.The predominant time scale for non-linear maintenance of the planetary waves (about 9 days)is roughly the same as that of the baroclinic support of larger synoptic scale waves. The timescale of baroclinic conversion which maintains the smaller synoptic waves (n~20–40) is shorter(about 4 days). DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1996. 00015.x
Quantitative precipitation forecasting in the Alps: The advances achieved by the Mesoscale Alpine Programme

The improvement of Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting (QPF) in mountainous regions was a major supporting objective of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) project P1 devoted to the study of orographic precipitation. This paper reviews the main MAP‐related achievements regarding QPF improvement and highlights the MAP impact on developing QPF research and planning future operational strategies. Recent results based on MAP case‐studies, on data analysis and assimilation, on quantification of model uncertainties, and on model intercomparison and verification substantiate the progress made in recent years in improving model performance in relation to short‐range, high‐resolution forecasting in complex topography regions, well represented by the European Alps. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Learning difficulties with solids of revolution: classroom observations

The study aims to identify areas of difficulty in learning about volumes of solids of revolution (VSOR) at a Further Education and Training college in South Africa. Students’ competency is evaluated along five skill factors which refer to knowledge skills required to succeed in performing tasks relating to applications of the definite integral, in particular to VSOR. The paper reflects on reasons for the difficulties that students experience in this topic. The study reveals that many students are not competent in drawing graphs and in interpreting the region bounded by the given graphs. If the graphs are given, students have difficulty in selecting the representative strip that is used in approximating the bounded region. Although many students are able to produce the correct formula to calculate the volume, be it a disc, washer or shell, they find it problematic to draw the three-dimensional (3D) representation of the rotated strip and the generated solid of revolution. Students seem to succeed better with tasks requiring simple manipulation skills. The study illustrates how a measure (the skill factors) can be put into practice for establishing exactly where the problems lie when students under-perform in the topic of VSOR. The results can serve as guide on how conclusions can be drawn by assessing the problematic situation through breaking it down along the framework of skill factors.
Genome Sequencing and Characterization of an Avian Orthoavulavirus 1 VG/GA-like Isolate with a Unique Fusion Cleavage Site Motif

SUMMARY. A complete genome sequence of a VG/GA -like strain of avian orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) was identified by nontargeted next-generation sequencing of an oropharyngeal swab sample collected from a carcass of a 12-mo-old backyard chicken. The isolate has a fusion (F) protein cleavage site motif consistent with a low virulent AOAV-1, but it has a unique motif with phenylalanine at position 117 (112G-R-Q-G-R↓F117), which is typical for virulent AOAV-1 strains. The one nucleotide difference at the cleavage site compared to other low-virulence viruses made the isolate detectable by F-gene–specific real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) developed as a diagnostic test to specifically detect virulent strains. The mean death time determined in eggs and intracerebral pathogenicity index determined in chickens classified the isolate as lentogenic. This is the first report of a lentogenic VG/GA-like virus with a phenylalanine residue at position 117 of the F protein cleavage site in the United States. In addition to concern for potential pathogenic shift of the virus through additional changes at the cleavage site, our finding warrants increased awareness of diagnosticians of potential false positive F-gene rRT-PCR tests. RESUMEN. Secuenciación y caracterización del genoma de un aislado similar a VG/GA del ortoavulavirus aviar 1 con un motivo único en el sitio de disociación del gene de fusión. Se identificó una secuencia genómica completa de una cepa similar a la cepa Villegas-Glisson/Universidad de Georgia (VG/GA) del ortoavulavirus aviar 1 (AOAV-1) mediante secuenciación no dirigida de nueva generación de una muestra de hisopo orofaríngeo recolectada de una gallina muerta de traspatio de 12 meses. El aislado tiene un motivo en el sitio de disociación de la proteína de fusión (F) consistente con un ortoavulavirus aviar de baja virulencia, pero tiene un motivo único con fenilalanina en la posición 117 (112G-R-Q-G-R↓F117), que es típico para cepas virulentas del AOAV-1. La diferencia de un nucleótido en el sitio de escisión en comparación con otros virus de baja virulencia hizo que el aislado fuera detectable mediante transcripción reversa y PCR en tiempo real en tiempo real específica del gene F (rtRT-PCR) desarrollada como una prueba de diagnóstico para detectar específicamente a las cepas virulentas. El tiempo medio de muerte determinado en huevos y el índice de patogenicidad intracerebral determinado en pollos clasificaron al aislado como lentogénico. Este es el primer informe en los Estados Unidos de un virus lentogénico similar a VG/GA con un residuo de fenilalanina en la posición 117 del sitio de disociación de la proteína F. Además de la preocupación por el posible cambio patogénico del virus a través de cambios adicionales en el sitio de disociación, nuestro contribuye con un mayor conocimiento por parte del personal de diagnóstico acerca de posibles falsos positivos en las pruebas rtRT-PCR del gene F.
A Comparative Study of Experimental and Simulated Trapped Magnetic Field of MgB2 Bulks Prepared by the Magnesium Vapor Transport Process

A prototype MgB2 bulk with a diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 2 mm was synthesized using the MVT (Magnesium Vapor Transport) method, which can realize dense and high-purity MgB2 bulks by transporting and diffusing pure magnesium vapor into boron pellets. Owing to its superior Jc-B characteristic, the obtained bulk by the MVT method exhibited, compared to similar bulks synthesized by the conventional in-situ method, a comparable trapped magnetic field at only one-tenth the thickness. Using the measured Jc(B) data, the influence of the geometry and the size of the bulk synthesized by the MVT method on the trapped magnetic field was investigated by numerical simulation. The simulation results suggest that a bulk fabricated by the MVT method can efficiently achieve a large trapped magnetic field with a thinner thickness for a fixed diameter than a bulk fabricated by the in-situ method.
Antiphotoaging and Skin-Protective Activities of Ardisia silvestris Ethanol Extract in Human Keratinocytes

Ardisia silvestris is a traditional medicinal herb used in Vietnam and several other countries. However, the skin-protective properties of A. silvestris ethanol extract (As-EE) have not been evaluated. Human keratinocytes form the outermost barrier of the skin and are the main target of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV exposure causes skin photoaging via the production of reactive oxygen species. Protection from photoaging is thus a key component of dermatological and cosmetic products. In this research, we found that As-EE can prevent UV-induced skin aging and cell death as well as enhance the barrier effect of the skin. First, the radical-scavenging ability of As-EE was checked using DPPH, ABTS, TPC, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, and a 3-(4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to examine cytotoxicity. Reporter gene assays were used to determine the doses that affect skin-barrier-related genes. A luciferase assay was used to identify possible transcription factors. The anti-photoaging mechanism of As-EE was investigated by determining correlated signaling pathways using immunoblotting analyses. As-EE had no harmful effects on HaCaT cells, according to our findings, and As-EE revealed moderate radical-scavenging ability. With high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, rutin was found to be one of the major components. In addition, As-EE enhanced the expression levels of hyaluronic acid synthase-1 and occludin in HaCaT cells. Moreover, As-EE dose-dependently up-regulated the production of occludin and transglutaminase-1 after suppression caused by UVB blocking the activator protein-1 signaling pathway, in particular, the extracellular response kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Our findings suggest that As-EE may have anti-photoaging effects by regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase, which is good news for the cosmetics and dermatology sectors.
Selection of optimal infrared detector for pulsed photothermal profiling of vascular lesions

Selection of infrared (IR) detector is a key consideration in designing an experimental setup for temperature depth profiling using pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR). In addition to common detector characteristics, such as the spectral response, detector noise, and response speed, application-specific details must be taken into account to ensure optimal system performance. When comparing detectors with different spectral responses, blackbody emission characteristics must be considered in terms of influence on radiometric signal amplitude, as well as on background shot noise. In PPTR, optical penetration depth of the sample in the acquisition spectral band is also an important factor, affecting the stability of the temperature profile reconstruction. Moreover, due to spectral variation of IR absorption coefficient in watery tissues, the acquisition band must be appropriately narrowed to ensure the validity of the customary approximation of a constant absorption coefficient value in signal analysis. This reduces the signal-to-noise ratio, adversely affecting the stability and quality of the temperature profile reconstruction. We present a performance analysis of PPTR depth profiling in human skin using commercially available IR detectors (InSb, HgCdTe), operating in different spectral bands. A measurement simulation example, involving a simple, hyper-Gaussian temperature profile, and realistic noise levels, illustrates their expected performance.
Liver Injury Associated with COVID-19 Infection: Pathogenesis, Histopathology, Prognosis, and Treatment

Liver injury occurs frequently as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Direct infection of the liver leads to hepatic impairment with elevated transaminases. In addition, severe COVID-19 is characterized by cytokine release syndrome, which may initiate or exacerbate liver injury. In patients with cirrhosis, SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with acute-on-chronic liver failure. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one of the world’s regions characterized by a high prevalence of chronic liver diseases. Both parenchymal and vascular types of injury contribute to liver failure in COVID-19, with a myriad of pro-inflammatory cytokines playing a major role in perpetuating liver injury. Additionally, hypoxia and coagulopathy complicate such a condition. This review discusses the risk factors, and the underlying causes of impaired liver functions in COVID-19, with a focus on key players in the pathogenesis of liver injury. It also highlights the histopathological changes encountered in postmortem liver tissues as well as potential predictors and prognostic factors of such injury, in addition to the management strategies to ameliorate liver damage.
Room temperature excitonic nonlinear absorption and refraction in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well structures

We present detailed experimental studies and modeling of the nonlinear absorption and refraction of GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well structures (MQWS) in the small signal regime. Nonlinear absorption and degenerate four-wave mixing in the vicinity of the room temperature exciton resonances are observed and analyzed. Spectra of the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear cross section as a function of wavelength are obtained, and these are in excellent agreement with experimental data. A simple model for excitonic absorption saturation is proposed; it accounts qualitatively for the very low saturation intensities of room temperature excitons in MQWS.
Impression Management during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis of the Chairperson’s Statement by JSE-Listed Profitable and Least Profitable Companies

Purpose: The study examined whether profitable and least-profitable Top 100 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed companies used impression management in the chairperson’s statement during the Covid-19 pandemic. The chairperson’s statement is one of the most frequently read and highly rated narrative disclosure statements in the integrated report. Design: Quantitative content analysis was used. The profitable and least-profitable companies were evaluated using six textual characteristics, namely the length of the chairperson's statement, the use of passive voice, the use of personal references, the use of quantitative references, the use of future references, and the readability score. Findings: The study found that profitable and least-profitable top 100 JSE-listed companies used impression management during the pandemic. Moreover, both groups used the passive voice as well as future, personal, and quantitative references in the chairperson's statement, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. There was no significant difference in readability, quantitative references, passive voice, personal references, length, and future references. The results are contrary to previous research that indicates that impression management is used less during a crisis. Implications: The study adds to the debate on the use of impression management in corporate reporting during the crisis and adds to the debate on attribution theory.