Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elucidating the impact of biochar with different carbon/nitrogen ratios on soil biochemical properties and rhizosphere bacterial communities of flue-cured tobacco plants

Background and aims In agriculture, biochar (BC) and nitrogen (N) fertilizers are commonly used for improving soil fertility and crop productivity. However, it remains unclear how different levels of BC and N fertilizer affect soil fertility and crop productivity. Methods This study elucidates the impact of different application rates of BC (0, 600, and 1200 kg/ha) and N fertilizer (105 and 126 kg/ha) on biomass accumulation, soil microbial biomass of carbon (SMC) and nitrogen (SMN), and soil biochemical properties, including soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3−−N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+−N), urease (UE), acid phosphatase (ACP), catalase (CAT), and sucrase (SC) of tobacco plants. In addition, a high throughput amplicon sequencing technique was adopted to investigate the effect of different application rates of BC/N on rhizosphere bacterial communities of tobacco plants. Results The results confirm that high dosages of BC and N fertilizer (B1200N126) significantly enhance dry matter accumulation by 31.56% and 23.97% compared with control B0N105 and B0N126 under field conditions and 23.94% and 24.52% under pot experiment, respectively. The soil biochemical properties, SMC, and SMN significantly improved under the high application rate of BC and N fertilizer (B1200N126), while it negatively influenced the soil carbon/nitrogen ratio. Analysis of rhizosphere bacteriome through amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that the structure, diversity, and composition of rhizosphere bacterial communities dramatically changed under different BC/N ratios. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria were highly abundant bacterial phyla in the rhizosphere of tobacco plants under different treatments. Co-occurrence network analysis displayed fewer negative correlations among rhizosphere bacterial communities under high dosages of biochar and nitrogen (B1200N126) than other treatments, which showed less competition for resources among microbes. In addition, a redundancy analysis further proved a significant positive correlation among SMC, SMN, soil biochemical properties, and high dosage of biochar and nitrogen (B1200N126). Conclusions Thus, we conclude that a high dosage of BC (1200 kg/ha) under a high application rate of N fertilizer (126 kg/ha) enhances the biomass accumulation of tobacco plants by improving the soil biochemical properties and activities of rhizosphere bacterial communities.
Attractor dynamics reflect decision confidence in macaque prefrontal cortex

Decisions are made with different degrees of consistency, and this consistency can be linked to the confidence that the best choice has been made. Theoretical work suggests that attractor dynamics in networks can account for choice consistency, but how this is implemented in the brain remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence that the energy landscape around attractor basins in population neural activity in prefrontal cortex reflects choice consistency. We trained two rhesus monkeys to make accept/reject decisions based on pretrained visual cues that signaled reward offers with different magnitudes and delays-to-reward. Monkeys made consistent decisions for very good and very bad offers, but decisions were less consistent for intermediate offers. Analysis of neural data showed that the attractor basins around patterns of activity reflecting decisions had steeper landscapes for offers that led to consistent decisions. Therefore, we provide neural evidence that energy landscapes predict decision consistency, which reflects decision confidence.
Selective remembrances : archaeology in the construction, commemoration, and consecration of national pasts

When political geography changes, how do reorganized or newly formed states justify their rule and create a sense of shared history for their people? Often, the essays in "Selective Remembrances" reveal, they turn to archaeology, employing the field and its findings to develop nationalistic feelings and forge legitimate distinctive national identities. Examining such relatively new or reconfigured nation-states as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, India, and Thailand, "Selective Remembrances" shows how states invoke the remote past to extol the glories of specific peoples or prove claims to ancestral homelands. Religion has long played a key role in such efforts, and the contributors take care to demonstrate the tendency of many people, including archaeologists themselves, to view the world through a religious lens - which can be exploited by new regimes to suppress objective study of the past and justify contemporary political actions. The wide geographic and intellectual range of the essays in "Selective Remembrances" will make it a seminal text for archaeologists and historians.
A Low-Spur and Low-Jitter Fractional-N Digital PLL Based on an Inverse-Constant-Slope DTC and FCW Subtractive Dithering

This work presents a low-spur and low-jitter fractional-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math></inline-formula> digital phase-locked loop (PLL). To reduce the fractional spurs caused by the non-linearity of the digital-to-time converter (DTC), two novel solutions are introduced. First, the inverse-constant-slope DTC achieves high-linearity, thanks to its immunity to channel-length modulation and non-linear parasitic capacitances. Second, the frequency-control-word (FCW) subtractive dithering technique randomizes the quantization error of the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta \Sigma $ </tex-math></inline-formula> modulator driving the PLL divider ratio without requiring an increased DTC dynamic range and pushing the fractional spurs outside the PLL bandwidth. The prototype, implemented in a 28-nm CMOS process, has an active area of 0.33 mm2 and dissipates 17.2 mW. At fractional-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math></inline-formula> channels near 9.25 GHz, the measured in-band fractional spurs and the rms jitter are below −70 dBc and 77 fs, respectively, leading to a jitter-power figure of merit of −249.9 dB.
A Quad-Polarization and Beam Agile Array Antenna Using Rat-Race Coupler and Switched-Line Phase Shifter

This paper proposes a quad-polarized microstrip array antenna with beam steering capability. The proposed antenna consists of two patch elements, one rat-race coupler, and two 90° switchable phase shifters. With the aid of just four PIN diodes, the two 90° phase shifters can provide four different diode arrangements for each port of the rat-race coupler. The array elements are excited by using orthogonal feed lines. Due to the combination of the rat-race coupler and phase shifters, different phase conditions are generated between the patch elements or orthogonal modes of the patches. As a result, the proposed antenna can achieve two beams for each of four polarizations, i.e., two circular polarizations (CP) and two linear polarizations (LP). In the case of CP, the antenna can switch the beams between sum and difference radiation patterns. On the other hand, the beam can be tilted to ±15° and ±12° for horizontal and vertical LP states, respectively. A prototype of the antenna is manufactured and measured demonstrating results in accordance with simulation expectations. Measured results indicate that the 10-dB impedance covers from 5.6 to 5.9 GHz and the measured gains range from 7 to 8.5 dBic.
Calcineurin inhibitors or cyclophosphamide in the treatment of membranous nephropathy superimposed with FSGS lesions: a retrospective study from China

Abstract Background Cyclophosphamide (CTX) and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) based regimens are recommended as immunosuppressive therapies for patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). Focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) lesions, which are common in membranous nephropathy (MN), are poor predictors of outcome. This study compared the differences of prognosis between two regimens in patients with IMN combined with FSGS lesions. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 108 patients with biopsy-proven IMN, accompanied with FSGS lesions, nephrotic syndrome and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 who were treated with CTX or CNIs. We used propensity score matching (PSM) for balancing the confounding variables. Results During follow-up, 10 patients (10/55 [18.2%]; nine males) in the CNIs group showed a 50% decline in eGFR; eight had a not otherwise specified variant. Patients initially treated with CNIs had a significantly higher risk of progression to the primary outcome and a lower probability of complete or total remission. The relapse rate was higher in patients who initially received CNIs- than in those who received CTX-based treatment. Before PSM, age and 24-h urine protein level differed significantly between the groups. The PSM model included data from 72 patients. Worse outcomes were also noted among patients who initially received CNIs than those who received CTX-based treatments after matching. Conclusions Patients with MN combined with FSGS lesions have a higher risk of renal functional decline and a higher rate of relapse after CNIs than after CTX therapy.
A Numerical Investigation of the Seismic Response of Tailings Impoundments Reinforced with Waste Rock Inclusions

RESUME La frequence de rupture des digues de parcs a residus miniers est beaucoup plus elevee, par un facteur de 10, que celle des ouvrages de retenue d’eau conventionnels, avec 2 a 3 evenements majeurs se produisant annuellement surtout le monde. Une des consequences de ces ruptures (avec breche) est l’ecoulement de residus liquefie. Ces ecoulements (ou epanchements) sont responsables de pertes de vie, de dommages a l’environnement et de couts financiers considerables; ils representent a cet egard un des principaux risques lies aux operations minieres. Les residus miniers produits par les mines en roches dures sont particulierement susceptibles a la liquefaction (i.e. un perte quasi-complete de resistance due a un chargement dynamique ou statique), pouvant alors causer une rupture (p. ex. durant un seisme) ou etre une consequence de la rupture (p. ex. suite a une defaillance de la fondation qui reduit le confinement). Aubertin et al. (2002b) ont propose d’ajouter des inclusions de roches steriles dans les parcs a residus, conjointement avec la deposition des rejets de concentrateur, afin d’ameliorer leur performance environnementale et geotechnique. La roche sterile est ainsi placee de facon a creer des inclusions continues le long des orientations predefinies dans le parc. Il a alors ete postule que ces inclusions pourraient induire divers benefices, notamment en accelerant la consolidation des residus et en agissant comme renforcement pour mieux resister aux sollicitations statiques et sismiques. ----------ABSTRACT The rate of failure of tailings impoundments is much larger, by a factor of about 10, than that of conventional water retention dams, occurring at a rate of about 2 to 3 per year worldwide. A primary consequence of the failure of a tailings impoundment is the flow of liquefied tailings. Such flows have been responsible for considerable loss of life, environmental damages and economic costs and represent one of the major risks associated with mining. Tailings, specifically those from hard rock mines, are particularly susceptible to liquefaction (a significant loss of shear strength) that can cause failure of the retention dyke and the release of liquefied tailings. Tailings liquefaction can be induced in dynamic loads, such as earthquakes, or static loads, such as dyke raising, erosion (loss of confining stress) or foundation movement. Aubertin et al. (2002b) considered placing waste rock in tailings impoundments in tandem with tailings deposition to improve the environmental and geotechnical performance of the impoundments. The waste rock would be placed to create relatively narrow, continuous inclusions along planned routes in the impoundment. It was postulated that these waste rock inclusions would provide a number of benefits, particularly by accelerating the consolidation of the tailings and acting to reinforce the impoundment with respect to static and seismic loads.
Finite-time Simultaneous-Arrival-To-Origin Sliding Model Control for Multi-missile Systems

This paper investigates the problem of multiple missiles attacking a fixed target coordinately. Different from the residual time cooperative control algorithm, direct relative distance control algorithm is designed in this paper. A finite-time simultaneous-arrival-to-origin (SATO) sliding mode control (SMC) algorithm for multi-missile systems (MMSs) is proposed. It is shown that the proposed algorithm can eliminate the singularity problem. Each missile under the algorithm can strike fixed targets simultaneously in finite-time. The stability of proposed algorithm is proved by Lyapunov approach. Besides, simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed algorithm.
Segmentação automática de tecidos cerebrais em imagens de ressonância magnética do tipo fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

Esta tese propoe um metodo para a segmentacao de tecidos cerebrais entre Substância Branca, Substância Cinzenta e Liquido Cefalorraquidiano, em Imagens de Ressonância Magnetica do tipo Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR). Imagens do tipo FLAIR sao importantes para o diagnostico e controle de doencas como a Esclerose Multipla e o Lupus Eritematoso Sistemico, por evidenciar Lesoes de Substância Branca, caracteristicas dessas doencas, atraves de areas hiperintensas. Hiperintensidades, porem, podem ocorrer em qualquer area do cerebro, sendo necessaria a segmentacao de tecidos para confirmar as lesoes. Porem, imagens FLAIR apresentam pouco contraste entre as substâncias branca e cinzenta, dificultando a segmentacao de tecidos. Ja a modalidade ponderada em T1 e a mais utilizada nesta operacao, por apresentar maior contraste entre os tipos de tecido. No caso de doencas como a Esclerose Multipla as imagens T1 podem nao ser essenciais do ponto de vista clinico, representando um custo adicional. Nao foram encontrados trabalhos publicados que segmentem tecidos diretamente sobre imagens do tipo FLAIR. A metodologia proposta neste trabalho utiliza uma Rede Neural Artificial, treinada com um conjunto de dados gerado a partir de imagens FLAIR de treino, cuja segmentacao de tecidos esta disponivel, ou foi obtida a partir da T1. O modelo de classificacao e entao utilizado para segmentar tecidos em outras imagens FLAIR. Sao utilizados tanto atributos encontrados na literatura, quanto novos atributos propostos neste trabalho. Os resultados obtidos sao promissores, sendo comparaveis aos resultados de outros trabalhos publicados, que segmentam tecidos utilizando imagens T1.
Mathematical Analysis of Left Ventricular Elastance with respect to Afterload Change During Ejection Phase

Since the left ventricle (LV) has pressure (Pιυ) and volume (Vιυ), we can define LV elastance from the ratio between Pιυ and Vιυ, termed as “instantaneous elastance. ” On the other hand, end-systolic elastance (Emax) is known to be a good index of LV contractility, which is measured by the slope of several end-systolic Pιυ -Vιυ points obtained by using different loads. The word Emax originates from the assumption that LV elastance increases during the ejection phase and attains its maximum at the end-systole. From this concept, we can define another elastance determined by the slopes of isochronous Pιυ -Vιυ points, that is Pιυ -Vιυ points at a certain time after the ejection onset time by using different loads. We refer to this elastance as “load-dependent elastance. ” To reveal the relation between these two elastances, we used a hemodynamic model that included a detailed ventricular myocyte contraction model. From the simulation results, we found that the isochronous Pιυ -Vιυ points lay in one line and that the line slope corresponding to the load-dependent elastance slightly decreased during the ejection phase, which is quite different from the instantaneous elastance. Subsequently, we analyzed the mechanism determining these elastances from the model equations. We found that instantaneous elastance is directly related to contraction force generated by the ventricular myocyte, but the load-dependent elastance is determined by two factors: one is the transient characteristics of the cardiac cell, i.e., the velocity–dependent force drops characteristics in instantaneous shortening. The other is the force–velocity relationship of the cardiac cell. We also found that the linear isochronous pressure–volume relation is based on the approximately linear relation between the temporal differential of the cellular contraction force and the cellular shortening velocity that results from the combined characteristics of LV and aortic compliances.
Crecimiento económico en el Perú, 1896-1995 : nuevas evidencias estadísticas

El trabajo que se presenta a continuacion consta de cuatro partes, ademas de la introduccion anterior. En la primera parte se presentan los diferentes estimados del PBI nominal y real para el periodo en el cual se carece de informacion oficial: 1896-1942. Dichos estimados y las metodologias que se utilizaron para llegar a ellos se comparan con las cifras obtenidas a partir de nuestro trabajo estadistico. Asimismo, se contrastan nuestros resultados con la informacion mundial disponible para paises desarrollados y de America Latina. En la segunda parte del trabajo se presenta la metodologia de estimacion del PB1 rea! y nominal entre 1896 y 1995, tanto por actividad industrial como por tipo de gasto. Asimismo, se analiza el proceso de reconstruccion de la serie para el periodo 1896-1929 y 1929-1950 y los consiguientes empalmes con la informacion oficial disponible para los periodos 1950-1970 y 1970-1995. En la parte tercera se efectua un analisis estadistico y econometrico de las series reconstruidas. Este se divide basicamente en tres partes: un analisis de corte transversal en el que se compara el desarrollo peruano a lo largo del siglo de estimacion con el comportamiento de la economia mundial en un ano dado, 1979. Por ultimo, se lleva a cabo un analisis de vectores autorregresivos de los componentes de la demanda agregada. Finalmente, en la cuarta parte, se presentan las nuevas estimaciones realizadas en forma detallada.
Matryoshka: Single RF Chain Multi-user Transmission through WiFi-in-WiFi Signal Emulation using COTS Hardware

We see a trend toward serving Internet of Things (IoT) devices using the IEEE 802.11 protocol to offer cost-effective solutions. A WiFi AP serving simultaneously both broadband and IoT applications suffers from performance degradation as the slow IoT devices operating on a low modulation and coding throttle down the high-speed broadband devices. In this paper, we present Matryoshka, an approach that exploits the signal emulation technique developed in the context of cross-technology communication (CTC) to create multi-user transmissions from a SISO WiFi AP in the downlink. With such emulated multi-user transmissions, which is a form of hierarchical modulation, it is possible to simultaneously serve a high-speed 802.11 station together with a slow-speed station, which is more efficient than serving them one after another in the time domain. Our approach is a software solution and works with commodity WiFi hardware (COTS). Experimental results from our prototype show the practical feasibility.
Adaptive Fuzzy Event-Triggered Cooperative Control for Multi-Robot Systems: A Predefined-Time Strategy

A predefined-time adaptive fuzzy cooperative controller with event triggering is proposed for multi-robot systems that takes into account external disturbances, input saturation, and model uncertainties in this paper. First, based on the asymmetric tan-type barrier Lyapunov function, a predefined-time controller is proposed to acquire a quick response and more precise convergence time under the directed communication topology. Second, predefined-time fuzzy logic systems are developed to approximate external disturbances and model uncertainties. Third, a dynamic relative threshold event-triggered mechanism is improved to save the communication resources of the robots. Subsequently, the proof procedure for the predefined-time stability is given using the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, some simulation examples, including a comparative experi-ment on multi-robot systems, are provided to test the effectiveness of the above algorithm.
Development of an Efficient Screening Method for Resistance of Chinese Cabbage Cultivars to Black Rot Disease Caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is one of the most serious diseases of crucifers world-wide. To establish the efficient screening methods for resistant Chinese cabbage to Xcc, the resistance degree of 88 commercial cultivars of Chinese cabbage to Xcc KACC 10377 was examined. For further study, we selected six Chinese cabbage cultivars (resistant: Mansumugang, Woldongcheonha, CR Anshim; susceptible: Bulam3ho, Chunkwang, CR Nongshim) showing different disease response to the Xcc KACC 10377. According to growth stages of Chinese cabbage seedlings, inoculation density, and incubation temperature and period after inoculation in a dew chamber, development of black rot on the six cultivars was investigated. From the results, we suggest the following method for selection of Chinese cabbage seedlings that are resistant to Xcc. The efficient method is to inoculate 10-day-old Chinese cabbage seedlings with an cell suspension of Xcc at a concentration of 1.0 × 108 cfu/mL using the spray method and to incubate the inoculated plants in a dew chamber at 30°C for 48 hours and then transfer to a growth chamber at 25°C with 80% RH under a 12 hour light/dark cycle. Disease severity of the plant can be measured six days after inoculation. Additional key words: bacteria, breeding, condition, plant disease, vegetable
The Impact of Digital Technology on the Storytelling of Contemporary Journalism

: As technology continues to evolve, the impact of digital technology on journalism becomes increasingly apparent. Though much research has been done on digital technology, there is very limited research on how it affects news storytelling. This article will use qualitative research to analyse which aspects of contemporary journalism have been affected by digital technology, and the impact on humanity. The article first discussion the interactivity that the advent of social media has brought to the narrative of journalism, followed by the immersive report that the source of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality has brought. Finally, discuss the popularity of digital journalism brought about by the widespread adoption of big data and cloud computing in the field of journalism. The results show that changes in science and technology have gradually influenced the way of news narratives, making them progressively more diverse. Although digital technology is still in the developmental stage and vetting and publishing continues to rely on human beings, the impact on news narratives is already evident.