Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
USDA conservation program and practice effects on wetland ecosystem services in the Prairie Pothole Region

Implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) has resulted in the restoration of >2 million ha of wetland and grassland habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). Restoration of habitats through these programs provides diverse ecosystem services to society, but few investigators have evaluated the environmental benefits achieved by these programs. We describe changes in wetland processes, functions, and ecosystem services that occur when wetlands and adjacent uplands on agricultural lands are restored through Farm Bill conservation programs. At the scale of wetland catchments, projects have had positive impacts on water storage, reduction in sedimentation and nutrient loading, plant biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. However, lack of information on the geographic location of restored catchments relative to landscape-level factors (e.g., watershed, proximity to rivers and lakes) limits interpretation of ecosystem services that operate at multiple scales such as floodwater retention, water quality improvement, and wildlife habitat suitability. Considerable opportunity exists for the USDA to incorporate important landscape factors to better target conservation practices and programs to optimize diverse ecosystem services. Restoration of hydrologic processes within wetlands (e.g., hydroperiod, water level dynamics) also requires a better understanding of the influence of conservation cover composition and structure, and management practices that occur in uplands surrounding wetlands. Although conservation programs have enhanced delivery of ecosystem services in the PPR, the use of programs to provide long-term critical ecosystem services is uncertain because when contracts (especially CRP) expire, economic incentives may favor conversion of land to crop production, rather than reenrollment. As demands for agricultural products (food, fiber, biofuel) increase, Farm Bill conservation programs will become increasingly important to ensure provisioning of ecosystem services to society, especially in agriculturally dominated landscapes. Thus, continued development and support for conservation programs legislated through the Farm Bill will require a more comprehensive understanding of wetland ecological services to better evaluate program achievements relative to conservation goals.
Conducting Polymers Films Deposited on Carbon Steel and Their Interaction with Crude Oil

The formation of scale/solids deposits inside the pipelines is a frequent problem in the petrochemical industry. These scales can be organic as the asphaltenes and inorganic as the accumulations of salts, which apart from blocking the inside of the pipes can also cause a change in the integrity of the steel. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the conditions where deposition occurs, together with chemical and mechanical methods of remediation to mitigate the deposition. In this work we intend to use conductive polymers in order to inhibit the deposition of asphaltenes on carbon steel surfaces, by using polypyrrole (PPy) as material capable of conducting electrical current. The electrodeposition of PPy on carbon steel were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chrono- amperometry (CA). The results showed that under certain experimental conditions it is possible to make a PPy film with adequate characteristics. Important factors were the grip and electrochemical stability of the formed film on steel, which depends on the elec trosynthesis technique and in some cases favoured by a pre-treatment with a 10% HNO3 solution applied to the steel prior to electropolymerization. The PPy films deposited with pre-treatment completely covered the steel surface and showed better stability, adher - ence and generated a hydrophobic material.
Study of Optical Response of Gold Nanoclusters Deposited on Polymer Substrates : Influence of in Situ Mechanical Deformation

Nanomaterials are the building blocks of today’s nanoscience and nanotechnology. Due to the distinct features of the nanomaterials, their utilization in the application sectors has increased. The field of metal nanocluster has been studied with increasing interest in the past few years. In this context, we study the influence of mechanical deformation on the optical transmittance of gold nanoclusters deposited on polymer substrate the polyurethane Clear Flex® 50 during in situ tensile test.
DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF A LOGO-TYPE ANTENNA FOR MULTIBAND APPLICATIONS

This study respectively uses two optimizers, iterative Taguchi's method and particle swarm optimization, combined with the method of moments to optimize a logotype planar antenna for multiband applications. The proposed antenna consists of four metal letters, NCNU, which is the abbreviation of the authors' university name. This antenna can be used for university logo or advertisement applications. The antenna also serves as an example to compare the optimization performance of these two optimizers. Optimization results show that Taguchi's method achieves much better optimization performance than particle swarm optimization. This study also investigates the electromagnetic characteristics of the proposed antenna by parametric study using simulation. The presented optimization methods could be applied to designing similar logotype antennas. Planar antennas ofier the advantages of small size, light weight, and low cost. An antenna's performances such as, VSWR, gain, radiation pattern, compactness, are concerned by a designer. It would be great if a logo could be included in the antenna geometry with good antenna features. Few works related to logo-type antennas have been proposed. In (1), a single E-shaped radiating element was embedded into the company logo. Two logo patch antennas shown in (2) were designed by an experimental efiort. This study designs a planar multiband planar antenna with a unique shape using several metal strips to form the NCNU shape, which is the abbreviation of the authors' university. In the proposed antenna, the entire logo of the
Effects of Undaria pinnatifida and Laminaria japonica on Rat’s Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolite

This study examined the effects on weight changes, intestinal microorganisms, and production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in rats following the consumption of Undaria pinnatifida (U. pinnatifida) and Laminaria japonica (L. japonica) and in vitro fermentation by intestinal microbiota. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats aged four weeks were divided in to a basal diet group (control), a basal diet+10% dried U. pinnatifida group (BDUP), and a basal diet+10% dried L. japonica group (BDLJ) and subjected to a four-week feeding trial. The rat weights showed smaller increases after four weeks for the BDUP and BDLJ groups when compared to the control. The intestinal microorganisms through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) profiling revealed distributions of Firmicutes in the intestinal microorganisms of 92, 72, and 78% in the control, BDUP, and BDLJ groups, respectively, while the distribution of Bacteroidetes were 4, 24, and 20, respectively. All 36 species of microorganisms that fall under Prevotella, Alistipes, and Bacteroides genera increased in number by at least four fold, whereas Roseburia, Mollicute, and Oscillibacter decreased more than half. Fifty-two species of microorganisms belonging to Clostridium, Escherichia, and Enterobacter genera classified as pathogenic microorganisms decreased in all the treatment groups when compared to the control groups. Implementation of in vitro intestinal fermentation gave larger butyric acid yields for the feeds containing U. pinnatifida and L. japonica when compared to the basal diet. These results indicate that the provision of U. pinnatifida and L. japonica changed the balance of the intestinal microbiota in rats, thereby suppressing weight gain while promoting butyric acid production in the large intestine.
Rise and decline process of online communities : Modeling social balance of participants

Some online communities like Friendster had declined, and some of the others are said to be declining. Recent research has revealed the mechanism of decline as well as that of rise in each community. However, no comprehensive research has yet revealed the difference in declining mechanisms of each communities. We considered the online communities as networks of users and topics and defined behavior of users using Heider’s balance theory. Users in our model are in a dilemma, stuck between topic preference and the balance between neighboring users. How the user behaves in the dilemma, his/her strategy, disseminates to other users. We simulate online communities using the model and observe the rise and decline of different kinds of communities. As a result, we found that two types of communities tend to develop with many users: communities in which the topic changes dynamically (FreeTopic-type) and communities in which the topic changes gradually (Topic-type). However, the property of each community and behavior of users are different. We found by simulation that the collaborative behavior of users happens very frequently in the FreeTopictype community, in which users consider the balance between each other rather than their topic preference. As a result, the FreeTopic-type communities do not often crash (i.e. quickly lose users). In addition, we confirmed that the postings about a topic are either negative or positive in the FreeTopic-type community. On the other hand, in the Topic-type community, simulation results indicate that users prioritize their preference for a topic. This causes the community to crash very frequently. However, users in such a community are found to obtain more benefits than in FreeTopic-type communities. It can be said that, after crashes occur, the community is still relatively beneficial for some users who remain.
Tensile and Flexural Properties of a Newly Developed Bulletproof Vest Using a Kenaf/X-ray Film Hybrid Composite

In terms of manufacturing cost and weight, current bulletproof vests are simply not optimized. This means that consumers and manufacturers alike desire a bulletproof vest that is more user-friendly, cheaper, and lighter. This study considered the tensile and flexural characterization of new lighter and cheaper hybrid composite materials to replace the existing insert panel for the currently available bulletproof vest. The materials chosen included a natural fibre, i.e., kenaf fibre, chemically treated with sodium hydroxide solution, and, as a means of recycling, used x-ray films with a surface treatment. Using the traditional hand lay-up method, the materials were fabricated into seven layers of different configurations, which were then subjected to tensile and flexural tests. The findings showed that one of the configurations that consisted of both treated materials had a tensile strength of 396.9 MPa, which is quite strong, and a flexural modulus of 6.24 GPa, which makes it flexible enough to be made into wearable equipment. This configuration was then chosen to be the base design for the specimen subjected to impact test. The interfacial bond between the two distinct materials proved to be a major issue, even with the help of fibre treatment. Therefore, some improvements need to be made for the material to be comparable to existing materials performance-wise hence making this configuration suitable for ballistic application. However, the design did show promising results by stopping a bullet with speed up to 230 m/s.
Rigorous bounds for seismic dispersion and attenuation due to wave-induced fluid flow in porous rocks

The Hashin-Shtrikman (HS) bounds define the range of bulkandshearmoduliofanelasticcomposite,giventhemoduli of the constituents and their volume fractions. Recently, the HS bounds have been extended to the quasi-static moduli ofcompositeviscoelasticmedia.Becauseviscoelasticmoduli are complex, the viscoelastic bounds form a closed curve on the complex plane. We analyze these general viscoelastic bounds for a particular case of a porous solid saturated with a Newtonian fluid. In our analysis, for poroelastic media, the viscoelasticboundsforthebulkmodulusarerepresentedbya semicircle and a segment of the real axis, connecting formal HS bounds that are computed for an inviscid fluid. Importantly, viscoelastic bounds for poroelastic media turn out to be independent of frequency. However, because the bounds are quasi-static, the frequency must be much lower than Biot’s characteristic frequency. Furthermore, we find that the bounds for the bulk modulus are attainable (realizable). We also find that these viscoelastic bounds account for viscous shear relaxation and squirt-flow dispersion, but do not account for Biot’s global flow dispersion, because the latter strongly depends on inertial forces.
Design and evaluation of offline/online controller for series hybrid electric vehicles

1 Abstract_ This study is aimed at designing offline and online controller for energy management of series hybrid electric vehicles (SHEV). Where besides decreasing fuel consumption and keeping BATTERY state of charge within acceptable range, reduces air pollution. In this paper two energy management strategies of SHEV are designed. In first strategy based on known driving cycle, a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is designed to control power of Electric battery (EB) and internal combustion engine (ICE). In the second control strategy, width of Gaussian membership functions in FLCs of first strategy are optimized. Preliminarily optimization of Gaussian membership functions widths is done by ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, then according to four representative driving cycles, four optimized FLCs are designed. In contrast with first strategy the four FLCs can control and manage power of EB and ICM for an unknown driving cycle. Recognition of deriving cycle is based on features extraction of each driving cycle. A learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network is used to recognized pattern of unknown driving cycle. Finally after recognition of driving cycle, driving cycle recognition (DCR) network algorithm is used to manage switching between optimized FLCs. To verify performance and efficiency of proposed method simulation performed due to Matlab/Advisor environment.
The Influence on Road Safety Due to Driver Distraction from Outdoor Advertising: Case Study

This paper provides a review of current research on driver distraction, focusing on outdoor advertising. Also examined is whether, and to what degree, these degradations in driving performance translate into a decreased road safety. Disorders of the driver during driving can be divided into four basic groups: visual disturbances; The driver does not look at driving directions, hearing impairment; The driver is disturbed by a sound that does not pay attention to the current traffic situation, hand interference; The driver does not use both hands for steering with a steering wheel and a cognitive disorder; Not the driver's focus and indecision. Roadside advertising is intended to attract the driver's attention, which at a given moment reduces the driver's attention to the actual traffic situation and driving. A driver's disturbance may also be caused by roadside advertising in the event of a strong luminance of the advertised screens, talking about the blindness of the driver or in case of motion. The literature review, however, provides a possible proposal for the regulation of roadside advertising in such a way that it is not a disturbance of the driver or a possible non-visualization of vertical signalization. In the final section of the paper, recommendations for future research is provided.
Educational Production, Endogenous Peer Group Formation and Class Composition - Evidence from the Pisa 2000 Study

The majority of empirical papers in the literature on school quality finds no or only small effects of class size and other school quality measures on students' outcomes. This paper analyses the effect of achievement heterogeneity and therefore the effect of the composition rather than the pure size of the class on student achievement. In this endeavor, individuallevel data from an internationally conducted standardized test, the PISA 2000 study is utilized. For the case of US schools the influence of a student's peer group is estimated in a pure endogenous effects model and a model also allowing for contextual effects. The potential endogeneity of peer group formation is addressed in an instrumental variable approach. It turns out that heterogeneous peer groups have a strong detrimental impact on individual achievement. Moreover, it becomes transparent that contextual variables are important for the extent of peer group effects and the endogeneity of peer group formation.
PREPARATION OF AN INACTIVATED EGG DROP SYNDROME ANTIGEN FOR USING IN HEMAGGLUTINATION INHIBITION TEST

Summary To prepare hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antigen the egg drop syndrome virus (EDSV) was propagated in 10-day-old embryonated duck eggs. The virus antigen was inactivated with two methods including heating (65°C) and adding 0.5% formaldehyde by considering low destroying effect on hemagglutination (HA) and HI titers. The EDSV HI titers of 310 sera and 100 yolks obtained from 23 chicken farms and specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens before and after EDS vaccination, in various ages were evaluated. Specificity, HA activity, stability and electron microscopic observations were similar in the prepared and standard antigens. The HI titers showed an equal sensitivity and specificity and, complete similarity (>99%) between the results obtained by prepared and standard antigens. Detection of antibody against EDSV using HI test showed slightly less sensitivity but more specificity compared with ELISA test. Upon the results it is suggested that inactivated EDS antigen prepared by either heat or formalin treatment could successfully be used in avian diagnosis laboratories for routine flocks monitoring, EDS vaccine controlling and also surveillance of EDS vaccination program in poultry industry.
The Combined Methodology for Reducing the High Model Order for a Continuous System Using Genetic Algorithm and Dominant Poles Methods

Model order reduction is one of the crucial topics facing researchers nowadays. Various methods were conducted for achieving this goal. In this article, genetic algorithm (GA) with dominant poles methods are used to reduce high-order transfer functions (TFs) to lower-order ones. Genetic algorithm is powerful technique used for optimization purposes. In this approach, genetic algorithm is applied to model order reduction to reduce the order of the numerator of TF whereas the dominant poles method is used to reduce the order of denominator of the TF and thus improving accuracy and preserving the same dominant poles for the reduced system as the original model which are two important issues for improving the performance of simulation and computation and maintaining the behavior of the original high order models being reduced
What Constitutes Experiences of Happiness and the Good Life? - Building a Novel Model on the Everyday Experiences

The quest for happiness, contentment, and the experience of a good life is at the heart of human nature. The point of departure of this article concerns the concepts of good life and happiness, and their relationship, both in philosophy and in social sciences. The text will then move to the findings of previous empirical research on these issues. The core of this article concerns empirical findings on the experiences of good life of Finns today, based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of recent data: the article builds a novel model based on the everyday experiences. The findings will then also be considered in relation to the previous happiness studies and motivation theories, and finally illustrated in relation to particular paradoxes of happiness and good life.
IV . ENHANCED CRYPTOGRAPHIC ALGORITHMS A . A New Approach towards Encryption Schemes : Byte –

Today is the era of Internet and networks applications. So,Information security is a challenging issue in today’s technological world. There is a demand for a stronger encryption which is very hard to crack. The role of Cryptography is most important in the field of network security. There is a broad range of cryptographic algorithms that are used for securing networks and presently continuous researches on the new cryptographic algorithms are going on for evolving more advanced techniques for secures communication. In this study is made for the cryptography algorithms, particularly algorithmsAES, DES, RSA, Blowfishare compared and performance is evaluated. Also some enhanced algorithms are described and compared with the enhanced algorithms.
Impact of Government Agricultural Expenditure on Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria

The study examined effect of government agricultural expenditure on agricultural output in Nigeria using time series data from 1981 to 2014. Having analyzed data using unit root test, co-integration test and vector error correction model, results of unit root test showed that all the variables were integrated at the first order difference. On the other hand, the Johansen co-integration tests revealed that a long-run relationship existed between agricultural output and government agricultural expenditure. Going through the vector error correction model results indicated that agricultural output adjusted rapidly to changes in total government agricultural expenditure, real exchange rate, banking system credit to agriculture, average annual rainfall and population growth rate. With respect to individual variables, average annual rainfall and domestic population growth rate were significant at 1 percent levels in affecting agricultural output in Nigeria. While domestic population growth rate lead agricultural output in Nigeria, average annual rainfall followed and then government expenditure, and finally, real exchange rate in their descending order of magnitude. As such, it was recommended that government should not only adequately fund agriculture via maintaining a healthy population but to also encourage a mechanized agricultural system by use of modern technology and inputs to boost yields in local rice production and other farm produce so as to reduce the rate of rice importation in the country. Moreover, government should ensure that meteorological agencies which forecast annual rainfalls are well funded and catered for and that their recommendations be implemented towards achieving high farm yields annually and food self-sufficiency thereby minimizing agricultural losses due to vagaries of weather in our agricultural climate.
Estimating the weight of evidence in forensic speaker verification

In forensic casework, the application of automatic speaker verification (SV) aims to determine the likelihood ratio of a suspect being vs. being not the speaker of an incriminating speech recording. For that purpose, the likelihood of the anti-speaker has to be estimated from the speech of an adequate number of other speakers. In many cases, speech signals of such an anti-speaker population are not available and it is generally too expensive to make an appropriate collection. This paper presents a practical procedure of forensic SV which is based on a text-dependent SV system and instead of an anti-speaker population, a special speech database is used to calibrate the valuation scale for an individual case.