Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ff ects of precipitation changes on aboveground net primary production and soil respiration in a switchgrass fi

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is widely selected as a model feedstock for sustainable replacement of fossil fuels and climate change mitigation. However, how climate changes, such as altered precipitation (PPT), will influence switchgrass growth and soil carbon storage potential have not been well investigated. We conducted a two-year PPT manipulation experiment with five treatments: −50%, −33%, +0%, +33%, and +50% of ambient PPT, in an “Alamo” switchgrass field in Nashville, TN. Switchgrass aboveground net primary production (ANPP), leaf gas exchange, and soil respiration (SR) were determined each growing season. Data collected from this study was then used to test whether switchgrass ANPP responds to PPT changes in a double asymmetry pattern as framed by Knapp et al. (2017), and whether it is held true for other ecosystem processes such as SR. Results showed that the wet (+33%, and +50%) treatments had little effects on ANPP and leaf gas exchange compared to the ambient precipitation treatment, regardless of fertilization or not. The −33% treatment did not change ANPP and leaf photosynthesis, but significantly decreased transpiration and enhanced water use efficiency (WUE). Only the −50% treatment significantly decreased ANPP and LAI, without changing leaf photosynthesis. SR generally decreased under the drought treatments and increased under the wet treatments, while there was no significant difference between the two drought treatments or between the two wet treatments. Our results demonstrate that switchgrass ANPP responded in a single negative asymmetry model to PPT changes probably due to relative high PPT in the region. However, even in such a mesic ecosystem, SR responded strongly to PPT changes in an “S” curve model, suggesting that future climate changes may have greater but more complex effects on switchgrass belowground than aboveground processes. The contrasting models for switchgrass ANPP and SR in response to PPT indicate that extreme wet or dry PPT conditions may shift ecosystem from carbon accumulation toward debt, and in turn provide government and policy makers with useful information for sustainable management of switchgrass.
An Empirical Analysis of Patient Safety Culture and Hospital Performance Using the AHRQ Survey on Patient Safety Culture

This paper empirically tests the relationship between patient safety culture and several different dimensions of performance in a sample of 154 hospitals. We use data from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture User Comparative Database, which is managed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to measure patient safety culture. We measure hospital performance using a set of objective patient safety and quality performance metrics collected by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Our findings indicate that stronger patient safety culture is associated with better hospital performance.
Recent advances in bubble-assisted Liquid Hole-Multipliers in liquid xenon

We report on recent advances in the operation of bubble-assisted Liquid Hole-Multipliers (LHM). By confining a vapor bubble under or adjacent to a perforated electrode immersed in liquid xenon, we could record both radiation-induced ionization electrons and primary scintillation photons in the noble liquid. Four types of LHM electrodes were investigated: a THGEM, standard double-conical GEM, 50 μm-thick single-conical GEM (SC-GEM) and 125 μm-thick SC-GEM—all coated with CsI photocathodes. The 125 μm-thick SC-GEM provided the highest electroluminescence (EL) yields, up to ∼ 400 photons per electron over 4π , with an RMS pulse-height resolution reaching 5.5% for events comprising ∼ 7000 primary electrons. Applying a high transfer field across the bubble, the EL yield was further increased by a factor of ∼ 5. The feasibility of a vertical-mode LHM, with the bubble confined between two vertical electrodes, and the operation of a two-stage LHM configuration were demonstrated for the first time. We combine electrostatic simulations with observed signals to draw conclusions regarding the location of the liquid-gas interface and suggest an explanation for the observed differences in EL yield between the investigated electrodes.
PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DIGESTIVE Α-AMYLASE IN COTTON BOLLWORM , HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA HÜBNER ( LEPIDOPTERA : NOCTUIDAE )

In this study α-amylase activity of different developmental stages of cotton bollworm were studied. Insects reared on chickpea based artificial diet in controlled condition. Alpha-Amylase activity was determined using 4, 6-ethylidene (G7)-pnitrophenyl-(G1)-α-D-maltoheptaoside as substrate. The most enzyme activity was observed in 6th larval stage. Male and female adults and pupas showed a minor α-amylase activity. Lumen content of 6th larval midgut showed significantly more enzyme activity in comparison with midgut tissues during circadian cycle. Starvation period non-significantly affected α-amylase activity in whole body and gut extract of 6th larval stage alimentary canel assays. Enzyme activity during embryogenesis and pupa developing period were studied and results revealed that with aging of eggs amylase activity increased but just before hatching, it started to decrease. In pupal growth period, amylase activity showed a decline manner to last period of developing days. Also the results showed that, the optimal pH for α-amylase activity in 6th larval stage of cotton bollworm was alkaline (pH 12).
A Novel Control Strategy Based on Predictive Control for a Bidirectional Interleaved Three-Phase Converter

An experimental confirmation of predictive control applied to a bidirectional interleaved three-phase (BIT) converter is presented. The BIT converter is a powerful solution for numerous applications, mainly, renewables interface, motor drivers, active rectifiers, and active power filters. However, a precise and robust digital control strategy is required, maintaining a low computational effort. In this paper, a predictive control based on continuous control set is proposed as a new control scheme for the BIT converter, permitting the control of the ac side current with fixed switching frequency and with a faster response. The predictive control scheme applied to the BIT converter is defined along the paper, evidencing in detail the digital employment aspects according to the discrete-time model of the BIT converter. An explicit experimental validation under realistic operating conditions is presented using a developed laboratorial prototype, highlighting the convenience of the control applied to the BIT converter.
Fish target strengths for use in echo integrator surveys

In situ measurements of fish target strength are selected for use in echo integrator surveys at 38 kHz. The results are expressed through equations in which the mean target strength TS is regressed on the mean fish length l in centimeters. For physoclists, TS=20 log l−67.4, and for clupeoids, TS=20 log l−71.9. These equations are supported by independent measurements on tethered, caged, and freely aggregating fish and by theoretical computations based on the swimbladder form. Causes of data variability are attributed to differences in species, behavior, and, possibly, swimbladder state.
Computer Vision System for Solving Jigsaw Puzzles

The field of Computer Vision deals with acquiring, processing and analyzing visual information, and producing symbolic information about the world. There is a huge variety of problems and possible applications for computer vision systems, ranging from autonomous vehicles to surveillance and to human-computer interaction. In this project, we intend to create a computer vision system for solving jigsaw puzzles. Our system will extract the color information of real, square jigsaw puzzle pieces spread around a work desk, process them and use an algorithm developed in the CS department at BGU to solve the puzzle. The system will require no a priori information about the puzzle, and since the puzzle pieces are square (unlike most jigsaw puzzles, which are irregular in shape), will rely entirely on a careful analysis of the input pieces’ color information.
Characteristics of free cells and aggregated flocs for the flocculation and sedimentation of activated sludge

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the correlation of the free cells/aggregated flocs characteristics and the sludge flocculation and separation behavior during the activated sludge process. Activated sludge was cultured in three laboratory-scale batch reactors with same carbon sources of glucose but different sludge retention times (SRTs) of 5, 10 and 20 days. The variation in the operation condition produced sludge with different flocculation and separation characteristics. The reactor performance in terms of bioflocculation as measured by the amount of suspended solids in the effluent, sludge sedimentation and compression as measured by the sludge value index improved considerably as the SRT lengthened. The higher SRT was related to less negatively charged surface of free cells and more hydrophobic of aggregated flocs. The negative zeta potential of aggregated flocs (11–13 mV) was smaller than that of free cells (15–23 mV), and free cells carrying lesser negative surface charges resulted in effluent clarification. Hydrophobicity of aggregated flocs (10–17 %) in each reactor was higher than that of free cells (5–8 %). The increase in hydrophobicity of aggregated flocs had positive effect on settleability. Floc strength measured by breakage/erosion index was closely related to hydrophobicity of aggregated flocs, but no correlation could be established with zeta potential of aggregated flocs. In addition, different bacterial species existed in free cells and aggregated flocs. Microbial similarity between free cells and aggregated flocs increased with shorter SRT and was closely related to effluent clarification.
Effects of L2 on the L1 at Semantic Level: An Empirical Study

Language transfer is a bidirectional phenomenon, which includes not only forward transfer but also backward transfer. Recently, backward transfer, also seeing as effects of L2 on the L1, has gaining attention in the field of SLA. Taking tag questions as an example, current study aims to enrich backward transfer study with a tentative research on the influence of English (L2) knowledge on Chinese (L1) in the light of Multi-competence Theory from SLA perspective. A questionnaire with assurance-doubt task (40 items) is made and 101 university students are recruited to fill it out. The data are analyzed by SPSS 18.0. Results proved the influence of English knowledge on that of Chinese at semantic level. Besides, the improvement in metalinguistic awareness is found in English major students.
A Free Surface Flow over a Polygonal Obstacle

In the present work, we consider a bidimensional flow with a free surface of an incompressible and inviscid fluid over a polygonal obstacle (Housse-Model), where the effect of surface tension is not neglected. We computed accurate numerical solution with surface tension (T � 0) via a serie truncation . However, there is a solution for each value of the Weber number α> � αmin =0 . 1.
Multiperiod Energy Market as Adjustable Robust Optimization: Intertemporal Pricing of Dispatchable Generators, Storage Batteries, and Uncertain Renewable Resources

In this paper, we present modeling and analysis of day-ahead multiperiod energy markets in which each competitive player or aggregator aims at making the highest profit by managing a complex mixture of different energy resources, such as conventional generators, storage batteries, and uncertain renewable resources. First, we develop a multiperiod energy market model in terms of an adjustable robust convex program. This market modeling is novel in the sense that the prosumption cost function of each aggregator, which evaluates the cost or utility to realize an amount of multiperiod energy prosumption, is a multivariable function resulting from a “parameterized” max-min program, in which the variable of the prosumption cost function is involved as a continuous parameter and the variable of dispatchable resources is involved as an adjustable variable for energy balance. This formulation enables to reasonably evaluate a reward for intertemporal dispatchability enhancement and a penalty for renewable energy uncertainty in a unified way. In addition, it enables to enforce a market regulation in which every aggregator is responsible for absorbing his renewable energy uncertainty by managing his own dispatchable energy resources. Second, in view of social economy as well as personal economy, we conduct a numerical analysis on the premise of several photovoltaic penetration levels. In this numerical analysis, we demonstrate that renewable generators do not always have priority of energy supply higher than conventional generators due to their uncertainty and limited dispatchability, meaning that the merit order of conventional and renewable generators can reverse. Furthermore, we analyze long-term evolution of competitive energy markets demonstrating that there can be found a social equilibrium of battery penetration levels, at which maximum personal profit with respect to battery system enhancement is attained.
Insecticidal, repellent, antimicrobial activity and phytotoxicity of essential oils: With special reference to limonene and its suitability for control of insect pests

The interest in the use of monoterpenes for insect pest and pathogen control originates from the need for pesticide products with less negative environmental and health impacts than highly effective synthetic pesticides. The expanding literature on the possibility of the use of these monoterpenes is reviewed and focused on the effects of limonene on various bioorganisms. Limonene is used as insecticide to control ectoparasites of pet animals, but it has activity against many insects, mites, and microorganisms. Possible attractive effects of limonene to natural enemies of pests may offer novel applications to use natural compounds for manipulation of beneficial animals in organic agriculture. However, in few cases limonene-treated plants have become attractive to plant damaging insects and phytotoxic effects on cultivated plants have been observed. As a plant-based natural product limonene and other monoterpenes might have use in pest and weed control in organic agriculture after phytotoxicity on crop plants and, effects on non-target soil animals and natural enemies of pest have been investigated
An Improved Formulation for Model Predictive Control of Legged Robots for Gait Planning and Feedback Control

Predictive control methods for walking commonly use low dimensional models, such as a Linear Inverted Pendulum Model (LIPM), for simplifying the complex dynamics of legged robots. This paper identifies the physical limitations of the modeling methods that do not account for external disturbances, and then analyzes the issues of numerical stability of Model Predictive Control (MPC)using different models with variable receding horizons. We propose a new modeling formulation that can be used for both gait planning and feedback control in an MPC scheme. The advantages are the improved numerical stability for long prediction horizons and the robustness against various disturbances. Benchmarks were rigorously studied to compare the proposed MPC scheme with the existing ones in terms of numerical stability and disturbance rejection. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated in both MATLAB and Gazebo simulations.
'Color to Gray and back' using normalization of color components with Cosine, Haar and Walsh Wavelet

The paper shows performance comparison of three proposed methods with orthogonal wavelet alias Cosine, Haar & Walsh wavelet using Normalization for 'Color to Gray and Back'. The color information of the image is embedded into its gray scale version using wavelet and normalization method. Instead of using the original color image for storage and transmission, gray image (Gray scale version with embedded color information) can be used, resulting into better bandwidth or storage utilization. Among three algorithms considered the second algorithm give better performance as compared to first and third algorithm. In our experimental results second algorithm for DCT wavelet using Normalization gives better performance in 'Color to gray and Back' w.r. t all other wavelet transforms in method 1, method 2 and method 3. The intent is to achieve compression of 1/3 and to print color images with black and white printers and to be able to recover the color information as and when required. Keywords- Color Embedding, Color-to-Gray Conversion, Transforms, Wavelets Normalization , Compression.
On the Relation between Electric Fields in the Inner Magnetosphere, Ring Current, Auroral Conductance, and Plasmapause Motion

At around 19:30 UT on 17 April 2002, an undulative motion of the plasma-pause was observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) camera on board the IMAGE satellite. The motion expanded westward into the duskside and at the same time a ring current pressure increase was observed by the High Energy Neutral Atom (HENA) imager on board IMAGE. The pressure increase was due to a substorm injection with a localized auroral onset at 19:05 UT. It has been shown that the motion of the plasmapause was caused by an electric field set up in the sub-auroral, duskside ionosphere, by the closure of the Region-2 currents, poleward to Region-1 as originally proposed by Anderson et al. (1993). In this paper we discuss the cause of the westward propagation of the motion of the plasmapause, and suggest that it may be caused by the westward expansion of the aurora.
Overview of Japanese Fertility Trends in Post-war Period

1. Overview of Japanese Fertility Trends in Post-war Period It is possible to distinguish three stages of the post-war fertility trend in Japan. The first stage of the fertility trend appeared just after the post-war baby boom from 1947 to 1949. During the three years of the baby boom, which was uniquely short, the number of births reached about 2.7 million annually, and the total fertility rate (TFR1) was around 4.4. After the baby boom, the period total fertility rate marked a significant decline in both the number of births and total fertility rate, which reached 2.04 in 1957 (see Figure 1). It means that the modern fertility transition from high to low was completed by the late 1950s as the first stage of the fertility trend in Japan. After the quick transition, TFR stayed around the replacement level of fertility until the mid-1970s, while the number of births gradually increased, corresponding to an increase in population among the reproductive ages. During this second stage of the fertility trend, the only exception was appeared in 1966. In this year, the total fertility suddenly declined to 1.58, the lowest ever recorded in Japanese vital statistics history, due to the year of Hinoe-uma (fiery horse). 2 However, in general, Japanese fertility stays at the population replacement level though the second stage of the fertility trend and it can be regarded as the period of post-demographic transition with relatively stable fertility around the replacement level. In the early 1970s, another baby boom was experienced which was an echo of the post-war baby boom. TFR recorded 2.14 in 1973. Following this second baby boom, the total fertility rate in Japan started to decline again. Although it showed a temporary increase between 1982 and 1984, it continued to decrease even steeper afterward. In 1989, it became 1.57, below the lowest recorded level in 1966. After that, it continued decreasing further until today, with some fluctuations, to 1.34 in 1999, 36 percent below the replacement level (Figure 1). This fall of fertility in recent years can be viewed as the third stage of the post-war fertility trend with below-replacement fertility. In the next section, the demographic process in the third stage of the fertility decline in Japan will be examined in more detail.
De fi ning ecologically , geographically , and politically coherent boundaries for the Northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region : Facilitating ecosystem-based management

Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is an integrated approach that recognizes the complex interactions within an ecosystem. Proper facilitation of EBM techniques require explicitly defined spatial boundaries, but biophysical processes, human activities, and the ecosystems that they influence operate at various scales. Careful thought to combine ecological, physical, and regulatory boundaries to define spatial scales of coastal regions can be a tedious yet significant early step towards the meaningful application of ecosystem-based management. We recommend nine coastal regions for the Northern Gulf of Mexico by creating both regulatory and biophysically meaningful spatial boundaries. A basic framework illustrating the utility of publicly available spatial datasets for defining the seaward, landward, and lateral boundaries of coastal regions is provided. These nine coastal regions will be key in creating spatial criteria for the Northern Gulf of Mexico, within which differences in ecosystem services can be measured, and temporal changes in ecosystem services can be tracked. The framework developed here is meant to build capacity for EBM and serve as a starting point for the continued discussion and modification of sensible ecological, geographical and political boundaries.
Polymer-peptide conjugate hydrogels: towards controlled drug delivery

Peptide-based materials exhibit remarkable supramolecular self-assembling behavior, owing to their overwhelming propensity to from hierarchical structures from a-helices and s-sheets. Coupling a peptide sequence to a synthetic polymer chain allows greater control over the final physical properties of the supermolecular material. So-called ‘polymer-peptide conjugates’ can be used to create biocompatible hydrogels which are held together by reversible physical interactions. Potentially, the hydrogels can be loaded with aqueous-based drug molecules, which can be injected into targeted sites in the body if they can exhibit a gel-sol-gel transition under application and removal of a shear force. In this review, we introduce this topic to readers new to the field of polymer-peptide conjugates, discussing common synthetic strategies and their self-assembling behavior. The lack of examples of actual drug delivery applications from polymer-peptide conjugates is highlighted in an attempt to incite progress in this area.
Growing Stripes, with and without Wrinkles

We present results on stripe formation in the Swift-Hohenberg equation with a directional quenching term. Stripes are "grown" in the wake of a moving parameter step line, and we analyze how the orientation of stripes changes depending on the speed of the quenching line and on a lateral aspect ratio. We observe stripes perpendicular to the quenching line, but also stripes created at oblique angles, as well as periodic wrinkles created in an otherwise oblique stripe pattern. Technically, we study stripe formation as traveling-wave solutions in the Swift-Hohenberg equation and in reduced Cahn-Hilliard and Newell-Whitehead-Segel models, analytically, through numerical continuation, and in direct simulations.