Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Grasslands of a Zn-Pb post-mining area (Olkusz Ore-Bearing Region, S Poland)

We studied the diversity of grasslands in the Olkusz Ore-bearing Region (OOR). The OOR area has been severely degraded by Zn-Pb mining and polluted with heavy metals originating from mine and industrial waste and from industrial emissions. We assessed the species composition and cover of vascular plants, mosses and lichens in 9 plots at each of 28 study sites on two types of substrate (sands and dolomite mining waste). In the 252 study plots we recorded 260 species. Only one species was common (Festuca ovina) and four were noted frequently (Rumex thyrsifl orus, Leontodon hispidus subsp. hastilis, Ceratodon purpureus, Bryum pallescens). Most numerous were species typical of calcareous, warm, dry habitats and mesophilous meadows; species characteristic of poor sandy habitats and fi elds were rarer. Metallophytes were also fairly often noted (e.g., Cardaminopsis halleri, Biscutella laevigata, Brachythecium albicans, Diploschistes muscorum). Grassland diversity depended on substrate type and land use history. Grassland of abandoned fi elds developed on fertile sandy soil was richest in species, with numerous meadow and weed species (Crepis biennis, Melandrium album). Grassland on poor sandy soil was poor in vascular plants but rich in lichens (Cladonia rei, C. monomorpha). Grassland on mining ore-bearing waste was rich in thermophilous and meadow species (Thymus pulegioides, Lotus corniculatus). Grassland on mining waste was fl oristically similar to the Armerietum halleri association of metalliferous areas of Western and Central Europe. It differed by the presence of Biscutella laevigata and the frequent occurrence of Rumex thyrsifl orus, Cardaminopsis arenosa, Gypsophila fastigiata, Potentilla arenaria and Anthyllis vulneraria. The OOR grasslands, especially those developed on mining waste, should be placed under legal protection, as they contain species that are rare and unique for Poland. These grasslands increase the biotic diversity of this post-mining region and form colorful islands on its landscape.
Can Employee Training Influence Local Fiscal Outcomes?

Employee training is often viewed as essential for incorporating performance management practices into public organizations, but few studies directly link training programs to subsequent changes in organizational outcomes. Typically, evaluations of the impact of training and management innovations more broadly focuses narrowly on improvements at the mean of the distribution, ignoring isomorphic pressures that may spur divergent responses at opposite tails of the distribution. We examine these notions by testing whether training local government personnel on the use of financial performance information in decision-making influences fiscal outcomes. Specifically, we compare the outcomes of North Carolina local governments whose employees participated in training on a new fiscal benchmarking tool at the University of North Carolina School of Government to peer governments that did not participate. Municipal governments with at least one trained employee experienced modest changes, on average, across most of the financial ratios reported in the benchmarking tool. By comparison, the dispersion of the reported outcomes declined considerably among municipal governments whose employees participated in training in comparison to control governments. The strength of this response increased with the number of public officials trained. The results indicate that employee training can facilitate the use of performance benchmarking systems in public sector decision-making. They also suggest that benchmarking without explicit performance targets may encourage convergence toward the average outcome.
Approximate k values using Repulsive Force without Domain Knowledge in k-means

The k-means algorithm is widely used in academia and industry due to easy and simple implementation, enabling fast learning for complex datasets. However, k-means struggles to classify datasets without prior knowledge of specific domains. We proposed the repulsive k-means (RK-means) algorithm in a previous study to improve the k-means algorithm, using the repulsive force concept, which allows deleting unnecessary cluster centroids. Accordingly, the RK-means enables to classifying of a dataset without domain knowledge. However, three main problems remain. The RK-means algorithm includes a cluster repulsive force offset, for clusters confined in other clusters, which can cause cluster locking; we were unable to prove RK-means provided optimal convergence in the previous study; and RK-means shown better performance only normalize term and weight. Therefore, this paper proposes the advanced RK-means (ARK-means) algorithm to resolve the RK-means problems. We establish an initialization strategy for deploying cluster centroids and define a metric for the ARK-means algorithm. Finally, we redefine the mass and normalize terms to close to the general dataset. We show ARK-means feasibility experimentally using blob and iris datasets. Experiment results verify the proposed ARK-means algorithm provides better performance than k-means, k’-means, and RK-means.
Content of phenolic, extractable and bound condensed tannins and their effect on in vitro gas production from browse leaves

Two studies were conducted to screen leaves of four browse species (Dichrostachys cinerea, Flagea villosa, Harrisonia abyssinica and Piliostigma thorningii): 1. to quantify levels of total extractable phenolics (TEP), extractable tannins (TET), total condensed tannins (CT), extractable and bound CT fractions and proanthocyanidins (PAs) using chemical assays; 2. to investigate effect of tannin anti-nutritive activity on in vitro gas production assessed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) tannin bioassay. Crude protein (CP) varied (P<0.05) between fodder species from 109 (P. thorningii) to 160 g/kg DM (D. cinerea). The fodders had detectable TEP that varied from 112 (P. thorningii) to 234 mg/g DM (F. villosa). TET varied (P<0.05) between species from 95 (P. thorningii) to 220 mg/g DM (F. villosa). The content of CT varied (P<0.05) from 53.2 (F. villosa) to 98.3 mg/g DM in P. thorningii. High proportion of CT was bound to protein (40-51.4%) compared to soluble (19.5-33.1 %) and fibre-bound (22.7-27.3%) CT fractions. Characterization of PAs in leaves revealed presence of flavan-3-ol and flavan-3,4-diols flavonoids. The increase in GP due to PEG supplementation varied (P<0.05) from 44.4 ml/g OM (14.5%) to 132.3 ml/g OM (69.4%) at 16 h, and from 34.9 ml/g OM (10.3%) to 132.2 ml/g OM (57.2%) at 24 h, in H. abyssinica and D. cinerea, respectively. Variable responses on gas production between species’ leaves due to PEG supplementation demonstrate adverse effects of tannins on depressed feed digestibility. Improved gas production and digestibility were due to the ability of PEG to bind and complex tannins, and recover feed nutrients bound by tannins. 194 EFFECT OF TANNINS ON BROWSE LEAVES UTILIZATION 195 RUBANZA C.D. K. ET AL. Therefore, utilization of these browse species’ leaves as protein supplements to ruminants could be optimized through reduction of levels of phenolic and tannin anti-nutritional factors (ANFs).
Integruotas ugdymas dėstant socialinio ugdymo dalykus

Anotacija. Straipsnyje autoriai siekia pagrįsti, kaip efektyviai mokyklose galima panaudoti socialinio ugdymo dalykus, pirmiausia integruojant juos į ekonomikos, pilietinio ugdymo ir etikos dalykus. Ieškant efektyvių vaikų ir jaunimo ugdymosi priemonių, turime daugiau investuoti į socialinio ugdymo integraciją, naudojant sumaniosios edukacijos ir pozityviosios socializacijos sklaidą dar mokyklos suole. Socialiniai veiksmai, siekiant juos įtvirtinti, dažnai yra stereotipizuojami, tipizuojami ir stigmatizuojami, todėl būtini socialinės komunikacijos aktai, kurie turi būti lydimi sumaniosios edukacijos, socialinio pažinimo, socialinio supratimo ir įtvirtinimo veiksmų. Todėl straipsnyje nagrinėjant socialinio ugdymo teoriją ir gerąją praktiką siekiama susisteminti, integruoti tokius metodus ir priemones, kurias pasitelkus būtų galima įveikti, perdirbti, pasiekti, sukurti ar gauti konkrečius rezultatus, kurie edukacijos metu transformuojasi į prasmingą gyvenimo tikslą ir empatijos, socialinių emocinių įgūdžių ugdymąsi.
Privacy-Preserving Lightweight Authentication Protocol for Demand Response Management in Smart Grid Environment

With the development in wireless communication and low-power device, users can receive various useful services such as electric vehicle (EV) charging, smart building, and smart home services at anytime and anywhere in smart grid (SG) environments. The SG devices send demand of electricity to the remote control center and utility center (UC) to use energy services, and UCs handle it for distributing electricity efficiently. However, in SG environments, the transmitted messages are vulnerable to various attacks because information related to electricity is transmitted over an insecure channel. Thus, secure authentication and key agreement are essential to provide secure energy services for legitimate users. In 2019, Kumar et al. presented a secure authentication protocol for demand response management in the SG system. However, we demonstrate that their protocol is insecure against masquerade, the SG device stolen, and session key disclosure attacks and does not ensure secure mutual authentication. Thus, we propose a privacy-preserving lightweight authentication protocol for demand response management in the SG environments to address the security shortcomings of Kumar et al.’s protocol. The proposed protocol withstands various attacks and ensures secure mutual authentication and anonymity. We also evaluated the security features of the proposed scheme using informal security analysis and proved the session key security of proposed scheme using the ROR model. Furthermore, we showed that the proposed protocol achieves secure mutual authentication between the SG devices and the UC using Burrows–Abadi–Needham (BAN) logic analysis. We also demonstrated that our authentication protocol prevents man-in-the-middle and replay attacks utilizing AVISPA simulation tool and compared the performance analysis with other existing protocols. Therefore, the proposed scheme provides superior safety and efficiency other than existing related protocols and can be suitable for practical SG environments.
Comparison of settlement-era vegetation reconstructions for STEPPS and REVEALS pollen–vegetation models in the northeastern United States

Abstract Reconstructions of prehistoric vegetation composition help establish natural baselines, variability, and trajectories of forest dynamics before and during the emergence of intensive anthropogenic land use. Pollen–vegetation models (PVMs) enable such reconstructions from fossil pollen assemblages using process-based representations of taxon-specific pollen production and dispersal. However, several PVMs and variants now exist, and the sensitivity of vegetation inferences to PVM selection, variant, and calibration domain is poorly understood. Here, we compare the reconstructions, parameter estimates, and structure of a Bayesian hierarchical PVM, STEPPS, both to observations and to REVEALS, a widely used PVM, for the pre–Euro-American settlement-era vegetation in the northeastern United States (NEUS). We also compare NEUS-based STEPPS parameter estimates to those for the upper midwestern United States (UMW). Both PVMs predict the observed macroscale patterns of vegetation composition in the NEUS; however, reconstructions of minor taxa are less accurate and predictions for some taxa differ between PVMs. These differences can be attributed to intermodel differences in structure and parameter estimates. Estimates of pollen productivity from STEPPS broadly agree with estimates produced for use in REVEALS, while comparison between pollen dispersal parameter estimates shows no significant relationship. STEPPS parameter estimates are similar between the UMW and NEUS, suggesting that STEPPS parameter estimates are transferable between floristically similar regions and scales.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol for Gastrectomy: A Tailored Program Developed at a Gastric Cancer Unit

Background Planning for and managing patients who follow multidisciplinary paths allow institutions to provide better care administration; greater collaboration among medical staff, patients, and their relatives; better patients education; reduced possible complications related to surgery and hospital stay; and increased patient adherence to the proposed treatments due to better information. The ERAS Society’s guidelines align in this direction, and many institutions are now looking to apply the suggestions contained in its items. This effort is especially important in surgical oncology. In this work, we report the experience of our center in developing tailored guidelines for patients undergoing gastrectomy based on evidence from the literature and adapted to address the availability of personnel and equipment in our institute. Methods A permanent institutional working group was established at St. Mary’s Hospital. Evidence‐based comprehensive research was conducted to find optimal perioperative care management for patients undergoing gastrectomy. Evidence and recommendations were thoroughly evaluated and considered together with the items from the ERAS Society’s guidelines. Results A complete patient pathway has been established from the first outpatient visit to discharge. All ERAS items were considered and adapted to our hospital’s care environment. Education, nutrition, anesthesiologist care, surgical approach, and ward organization are the main points of strength highlighted in the present work. Conclusion This proposed institutional evidence‐based protocol show comprehensive management for patients with gastric cancer eligible for enhanced surgical pathways.
Interpretive framework by analysing the enablers for implementation of Industry 4.0: an ISM approach

Today, industries are compelled to manufacture the products of excellent quality to meet the ever-increasing consumer demands competitively. Hence, implementing Industry 4.0 is becoming essentially the new age solution for industrial operations. This study attempts to categorise the important technological enablers for the Indian manufacturing industry in implementing Industry 4.0. In this context, 14 selected and identified enablers, namely Visual Computing, Big Data, Product Life Cycle Management, Supply Chain, Top Level Management, Collaborative Productivity, Internet of Things, Horizontal and Vertical Integration, Mass Customisation, Cyber-Physical System, Additive Manufacturing, Professional Training and Development, Networked Manufacturing Systems and Operational Efficiency, are identified through the review of literature and expert’s opinion for implementing Industry 4.0. Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) methodology is employed to appreciate the mutual relationships among the identified enablers. Furthermore, contextual interactions among the enablers are established by brainstorming with experts. The identified 14 technological enablers are further classified as dependent and driving factors. Later, the validation of the factors is done by MICMAC analysis. The interactions amongst these enablers will help the manufacturing organisations to prioritise and administer these factors efficiently and effectively to reap benefits during the implementation of Industry 4.0. Therefore, this study analyses the enablers to implement Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing industries. Also, it develops an interpretive framework that will help understand the interdependence of the enablers.
Strengthening Student’s Pragmatics Competence in Teaching and Learning English Through Animation Video

This study investigates the importance of video as a media to create a better situation in the teaching and learning process and also to help the student to develop pragmatic competence. This study is based on Hymes’ theory (1972). To analyze deeply the development of student’s pragmatic competence it is applied to Eve V. Clark’s theory (2004). It is qualitative research. This research was conducted on the eight t ͪ grade student of junior high school. The objectives of this research are to describe the learning process of English by using animation video to the eight t ͪgrade student of Junior High School. The second objective is to describe the use of animation video in teaching English to the eight t ͪ grade student of Junior High School can develop the student’s pragmatic competence. The primary data of this research are the student’s interaction in the teaching and learning process. The data were collected through observation, documentation, and interview. The technique of analyzing the data by using spreadly’s theory. The results of this study indicate that the teaching and learning process becomes more enjoyable and makes students more active in learning. Furthermore, teaching and learning English for the eightt ͪ grade students of junior high school can develop student’s pragmatic competence. The development of student’s pragmatic competence can be shown in 8 competencies, there are: (1) joint attention, (2) common ground, (3) convention and contrast, (4) speech acts, (5) speaker’s intention, (6) taking account to the addressee, (7) taking turns, (8) politeness
Agriculture and biodiversity conservation: opportunity knocks

The fact that the expansion and intensification of agriculture has been the major driver of past biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation globally is beyond dispute. It is highly likely that these trends will continue through the 21st century, unless action is taken to design effective management strategies for biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. To do this, we first need to recognize that some biodiversity is retained in farmland, and that it is the degree of biodiversity retention that we need to understand and effectively manage. We need to understand which biodiversity components are retained as a natural ecosystem is converted to agriculture and why; how community dynamics affect biodiversity retention; and how we can effectively manage biodiversity retention. These questions are being addressed, but much remains to be done; and we have to accept that progress will be contentious. Challenging as these questions are, conservationists cannot address them in isolation. Multifunctional ecosystem science and policy linked to human well‐being is the ultimate goal. While the goal seems distant and daunting, integration between relevant research disciplines is happening, research funding is beginning to recognize the need for better integration and policy has to respond. Conservation science has a key role to play and must be ready to meet this challenge.
Using position, angle and thickness to expose the shifting geographies of the 2019 UK general election

Despite its prediction in public opinion surveys and constituency-level forecasts (e.g. YouGov, 2019), the Conservative victory in the 2019 UK general election with a majority of 80 seats and an overall vote share of 44% (BBC News, 2019) was a surprise to many. Perhaps most unsettling was the manner of Labour losses and Conservative gains. Several constituencies forming Labour’s “red wall” in the north of England elected Conservative candidates for the first time, a pattern that was repeated in constituencies in Wales and the Midlands and, for some, suggesting a ‘realignment’ in UK politics (Sabbagh, 2019). This featured graphic attempts to characterise this shifting geography, borrowing design ideas from a Washington Post article by Lazio Gamio and Dan Keating entitled ‘How Trump redrew the electoral map’ (Gamio and Keating, 2016). Gamio and Keating’s piece quantifies changing vote shares using several indicators and carefully combines visual variables (Bertin, 2010) in order to expose a rich pattern of change in two-party (Republican–Democrat) voting behaviour at the US county level. Figure 1 closely follows Gamio and Keating’s design choices. Each UK constituency is represented as a line positioned at the constituency’s centroid. These lines, and constituency polygons, are coloured according to the party affiliation of the winning candidate (Conservative, Labour, other). The angle of lines is then varied continuously according to the Butler two-party swing (Butler and Van Beek, 1990) in vote share from the 2017 general election, with lines angled right showing a swing to the Conservatives and lines angled left showing a swing to Labour. Where the winning party for a constituency represents a flip in allegiance from 2017, lines are made bold. This encoding exposes the ‘realignment’ of Conservative constituencies: bold blue lines angled to the right in the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, North West, North East and north Wales; the reverse, a bold red line angled to the left, occurs only once for
Identifying the molecular and genetic basis for non-healing wounds, scarless healing and scarring: study of human fibroblasts

Aims: In contrast to dermal wounds, oral mucosal wounds heal rapidly with minimal scarring and seldom develop fibrosis or contractures. We have investigated, for the first time, differences in cellular phenotype and onset of senescence in oral mucosal fibroblasts (OMF) and dermal fibroblasts (DF), and identified their temporal gene expression profiles in response to serum exposure (simulating wounding response). Methods: Patient-matched OMF and DF were cultured until senescence. Population doublings levels (PDLs) were determined throughout and cellular phenotype investigated. Senescence was determined using SAbeta- galactosidase, cellular morphology and analysing population doublings. At low PDLs, fibroblasts were synchronised through serum starvation for 48 hours, restimulated with serum and RNA extracted at 0, 1, 6 and 24 hours for transcriptional profile analysis using microarray (Affymetrix). Results:OMFdemonstrated increased ability to reorganise extracellularmatrix (fibroblast-populated collagen lattices); OMF proliferated quickly, underwent more PDLs (>90 vs. 55 in DF), and progressed rapidly through the cell cycle (flow cytometry); OMF manifested better ability to migrate and repopulate monolayer wounds. DF senesced earlier (PDLs: 40–55 vs. 75–95 in OMF), with their ability to repopulate wounds and extracellular matrix reorganisation decreasing further. Initial microarray data analyses demonstrated altered expression of numerous genes, with known wound healing roles (e.g. IGF-2, superoxide dismutase-3, HGF, homeobox), between the two sites. Conclusions:Wehave identified phenotypic and genotypic differences in OMF and DF. These candidate genes provide the basis for identifying molecular pathways and alterations in protein expressions to elucidate the differential healing (scarless, scarring, contractures, nonhealing) observed in these tissues.