Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of shrub encroachment on grassland community and soil nutrients among three typical shrubby grasslands in the alpine subhumid region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Introduction The alpine meadows are distributed widely and play a vital role in ecosystem service functions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Under the combined effect of climate change and overgrazing, shrubs display an apparent expansion trend, leading to the shrinking of alpine meadows, and directly affecting the structure and function of grassland ecosystems. However, the effects of shrub encroachment on the plant community and soil nutrients of alpine grassland ecosystems still need to be clarified. Method We aimed to determine differences in vegetation characteristics and nutrient distribution along the soil profile between shrub patches and their adjacent grassland at three sites, which were three typical types of shrub-encroached grassland, including Spiraea alpina Pall. (SA), Lonicera tubuliflora Rehd. (LT), and Salix cupularis Rehd. (ST). Results The results showed that shrub invasion changed the plant community structure of alpine grassland ecosystems, and shrub type was the critical factor driving this alteration. The expansion of the three shrubs reduced grassland species diversity. Shrub encroachment in SA positively impacted vegetation biomass but significantly decreased the soil organic content (SOC) and total nutrients. Shrub invasion in the ST had the most substantial impact on vegetation and soil, resulting in significantly lower nutrient content in shrubs than in grassland patches. The effect of LT was a significant reduction in vegetation biomass but no significant changes in biodiversity or soil nutrients. Grassland patches were more strongly correlated than shrub patches for SA and LT, while the opposite was true for ST. Vegetation characteristics were correlated least with soil nutrients for SA, while ST was most correlated, and LT was between them. Soil nutrients show more positive correlations with vegetation, enzyme activity, and microbial biomass in deeper soils (20–100 cm) than in shallow soils (0–20 cm). The deeper the soil layer is, the more significant the positive correlations in the shrub patches. Our findings indicated that shrubs play critical roles in the dynamics of vegetation patterns and soil environments for managing and sustainable utilization of shrubby alpine grasslands.
Effects of on- and off-year management practices on the soil organic C fractions and microbial community in a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest in subtropical China

On- and off-year management practices are usually adopted in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests to achieve higher productivity. However, little is known about the effects of these management practices on soil C sequestration and microbial community structure. In the present study, soil nutrient content, organic C fractions, and bacterial and fungal communities were comparatively investigated in on- and off-year bamboo stands. The results showed that soil organic C (SOC), alkali-hydrolyzable N (AN), and available P (AP) in the on-year were significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) than those in the off-year. Among the different soil organic C fractions, easily oxidizable organic C (EOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), Ca-bound SOC (Ca-SOC), and Fe/Al-bound SOC (Fe/Al-SOC) also had significantly higher contents in the off-year than in the on-year, with MBC and EOC decreasing by 56.3% and 24.5%, respectively, indicating that both active and passive soil organic C pools increased in the off-year. However, the alpha diversities of both soil bacteria and fungi were significantly lower in the off-year soils than in the on-year soils. The bacterial taxa Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, WPS-2, Acidothermus, Candidatus_Solibacter, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Candidatus_Xiphinematobacter were increased in off-year soils relative to on-year soils. Meanwhile, fungal taxa Ascomycota, Mortierella, Hypocrea, Cryptococcus, Clitopilus, and Ceratocystis were significantly increased in on-year soils. Soil pH, SOC, AP, MBC, EOC, and Ca-SOC were significantly correlated with bacterial and fungal communities, with soil pH being the most important driving factor for the shift in bacterial and fungal communities. Our findings showed that the studied bamboo forest possessed an inherent restorative ability in the off-year, which can reverse the soil nutrient and C depletion in the on-years and ensure soil fertility in the long term.
Experience of localized flooding predicts urban flood risk perception and perceived safety of nature-based solutions

Understanding community members' flood risk perceptions is critical for developing new approaches to managing flood risks for climate resilience. “Risk as feelings” has informed research on how people perceive flood risks based on intuition and personal experiences, complementing experts' technical assessment. However, attention has been primarily on riverine and coastal flooding. We expand the “risk as feelings” concept to investigate community members' risk perceptions of urban pluvial flooding as well as perceived safety of novel vs. familiar nature-based solutions (NBS). For the novel practice, we focus on floodable sites that temporarily inundate urban open spaces under storm conditions. For the familiar practice, we focus on retention ponds that store excessive runoff under storm conditions. Data were collected through visualization-assisted surveys of residents from high and low flood hazard areas in three US cities (N = 884). We found that over half of respondents indicated some degree of worry about stormwater-related damage, and overall, respondents perceived floodable as less safe than retention ponds under storm conditions. Further, respondents who had more frequently experienced localized flooding near their homes were more worried about potential property damage caused by flooding. They also perceived floodable sites as less safe under storm conditions. However, more frequent experience of localized flooding was not associated with perceived safety of retention ponds under storm conditions. Some other contextual and socio-demographic factors (e.g., prior stormwater-related property damage, knowledge of and involvement in stormwater management issues, gender, age, race, and having children) also had notable effects on flood risk perception and perceived safety of NBS. We discuss the implications of these findings for urban flood risk management and NBS development.
Nonlinear dynamics of speech categorization: critical slowing down and critical fluctuations

The dynamical system view of speech perception assumes that speech categorization depends on both the acoustic properties of the incoming sound and the state of the perceptual system (indexed by the subject's responses to preceding sounds). Tuller and colleagues [1] systematically manipulated the order of presentation of stimuli from a "say"‐"stay" continuum in a binary‐choice word identification task. Listeners' responses were modeled using a nonlinear dynamical system whose point attractors were associated with perceptual categories. In the present study, we asked French speakers to categorize stimuli on a continuum from "cepe" /sep/ to "steppe" /step/. Our results provide support for two yet untested predictions from the model: the occurrence of a) critical slowing down and b) critical fluctuations. Critical slowing down relates to the increase in relaxation time that occurs as the system approaches points of instability. Critical fluctuations refer to the system's increased sensitivity to random fluct.
Digital players vs. traditional banks: Fierce competition, higher concentration or a trend towards platformization?*

We study the evolution of the role of digital players in the financial sector in France. We observe that in recent years, digital players have dramatically increased their market shares. As an illustration, 35% of new current accounts opened in 2020 were opened with a digital player. In a French banking market characterized by high concentration, large banks have been able to capitalise on their experience and reputation to build customer loyalty. Nevertheless, new players have managed to emerge through a dynamic of specialization. These new players make profits when they manage to be competitive on both sides of a two - sided market: the product side and the customer side (Rochet and Tirole, 2003). In addition, we observe a new trend, which is the development of strategic partnerships between digital and market players, to expand the range of financial products and services offered to their customers, in a market platformization perspective.
Efficacy and safety of blood-activating herbs combined with edaravone in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Although the combination of blood-activating herbs and western drugs has shown advantages in the treatment of ischemic stroke, there is no consensus on the safety and efficacy. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of blood-activating herbs with edaravone (EDA) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: We will implement the search strategy in 8 English and Chinese databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database, EMBASE and MEDLINE. The search included relevant clinical randomized controlled trials and quasi-randomized controlled trials that had been registered for publication by November 2022. Literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed by 2 authors. We will assess the risk of bias according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method classification will be used to assess the quality of the literature. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan V.5. 4 and STATA 16 software. Results: This study will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current clinical evidence on the application of blood-activating herbs combined with EDA in the treatment of AIS. Conclusion: This study will clarify the safety and efficacy of the combination of blood-activating herbs with EDA in the treatment of AIS.
The evidence of implanting a different intraocular lens in each eye

Purpose of review To evaluate the growing body of evidence investigating implanting a different intraocular lens (IOL) in each eye. Recent findings Many surgeons have turned to the mix-and-match approach of implanting two different types of IOLs with the goal of achieving an improved range of distances. A number of studies have compared different types of mix-and-match IOL approaches, with promising results that seem to show maintenance of excellent vision at all distances, and high levels of spectacle independence. Summary The mix-and-match IOL approach appears to be a promising option for patients, maintaining good vision at all distances, especially near and intermediate, which is highly desired by patients. Few studies also showed intriguing secondary endpoints such as decreased unwanted visual phenomena using this method.
On Bi-Dimensional Second µ-Variation

Abstract In this paper, we present a generalization of the notion of bounded slope variation for functions defined on a rectangle Iba in ℝ2. Given a strictly increasing function µ-defined in a closed real interval, we introduce the class BVµ,2 (Iba ), of functions of bounded second µ-variation on Iba ; and show that this class can be equipped with a norm with respect to which it is a Banach space. We also deal with the important case of factorizable functions in BVµ,2 (Iba ) and finally we exhibit a relation between this class and the one of double Riemann-Stieltjes integrals of functions of bi-dimensional bounded variation.
A Dual-function leak detector for MEMS devices

In this paper, the development of a dual-function leak detector is presented. The system consists of a laser interference instrument, a portable helium leakage detector, a specially designed test chamber with a quartz-glass observation window, a pressure gauge. The developed measuring system offers new features for experimental investigation on the integrity of hermetic sealed structure. Both helium bombing mode and diaphragm deflection mode were investigated using the developed detector. Basically, the system can be used for helium leak bombing detection. By employing this system for leakage detection in a micro optical switch, it was shown that a leakage of less than 10-7 std cc/sec can be measured. The system can also be used to measure the surface deflection of a diaphragm. The measurement was accomplished by using laser interference technique to monitor the pressure variation within the small cavity of MEMS devices after pressurized gas was introduced. A leakage as low as 10-14 std cc/sec could be detected for a sample with several cubic millimeter cavity of 10-4 mbar.
Remarks on the blow-up criterion of the three-dimensional Euler equations

In this paper we prove that the finite time blow-up of classical solutions of the three-dimensional homogeneous incompressible Euler equations are controlled by the Besov space, , norm of the two components of the vorticity. For the axisymmetric flows with swirl we deduce that the blow-up of solution is controlled by the same Besov space norm of the angular component of the vorticity. For a proof of these results we use the Beale–Kato–Majda criterion, and the special structure of the vortex stretching term in the vorticity formulation of the Euler equations.
Data‐based mechanistic modelling of tidally affected river reaches for flood warning purposes: an example on the River Dee, UK

This article discusses a coupled water level forecasting system constructed for the River Dee (UK) using parsimonious, physically interpretable, time series models. Tidal forecasts, provided by a simple harmonic model, and observed water levels at the upstream boundary are used to drive a nonlinear hydrological model which forecasts water levels at three gauged sites on the flood plain. The assimilation of observed data and use of the model for real‐time forecasting is presented. The results generated indicate that the forecasts of river water can be both timely and accurate except close to the tidal boundary where the the tide is affected by the weir at Chester. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Convolutions of Stable Laws as Limit Distributions of Partial Sums

0. Summary. Let {X,} be a sequence of independent random variables and let Y B = 1 B =1 Xi An be a sequence of normed, centered sums such that, for appropriately chosen normalizing coefficients (Bn -4 oo) and centering constants, {Y,} converges in law to a nondegenerate limit distribution G. B. V. Gnedenko asked the following question: What characterizes the class of limit distributions {G} when there are r different distribution functions among those of the random variables {XI}? Let gr denote this class of distribution functions. As is well-known, Y1 is the class of stable distributions. V. M. Zolotarev and V. S. Korolyuk [8] have shown that 2 consists solely of stable distributions and convolutions of two stable distributions. It was thought that 0. K. Lebedintseva [4] had shown that this was true for r > 2 (with two replaced by less than or equal to r) with the added hypothesis that one of the r possible distribution functions of the summands X" belongs either to the domain of attraction of a stable distribution, or to a domain of partial attraction of only one type. However, V. M. Zolotarev and V. S. Korolyuk [8] gave an example that showed that 0. K. Lebedintseva's theorem did not completely settle the matter. However, A. A. Zinger [7] gave a necessary and sufficient condition on the Levy spectral function of G in order that G be in r. His theorem shows that Lebedintseva's result is incorrect. In this same paper, A. A. Zinger proved a theorem that gives a necessary condition on the distribution functions of the summands Xn in order that G be a convolution of r distinct stable distributions. Here we expand Zinger's theorem to obtain a necessary and sufficient condition that G be a convolution of r distinct stable distributions. Some related results are also obtained.
Terahertz radiation emission from GaMnAs

Terahertz radiation is observed from ferromagnetic GaMnAs samples excited with 400nm wavelength pump pulses and is related to the sample magnetization M. The emission can be explained by the strong influence of M on the photogenerated carrier motion, a phenomenon related to the dc anomalous Hall effect. Results illustrate the potential of ferromagnetic materials to be used as compact terahertz sources emitting in a direction normal to the surface.
An introduction to quantum optomechanics

We provide an introduction to the description of mechanical systems in the quantum regime, and provide a review of the various types of micro-scale and nano-scale optomechanical and electromechanical systems. The aim is to achieve quantum control of micromechanical and nanomechanical resonators using the electromagnetic field. Such control requires the demonstration of state preparation (in particular, cooling to the ground state), coherent control and quantum-limited measurement. These problems are discussed in turn. Some particular problems in force detection, metrology, nonlinear optomechanics and many-body optomechanics are also discussed.
The Invariance Principle for a Lattice of Random Variables

1. The invariance principle for a sequence of independent random variables was introduced by Erdos and Kac in [4] and further generalized by Donsker [3], Prokhorov [6], and others. Here we will consider another aspect of this concept. The symbol Y denotes { (x, y) :0 < x, y < 1} and C will be the space of real valued continuous functions on Y which vanish on the set { (x, y) :x = 0 or y = 0}. The topology on Y is that given by the usual Eucidean distance d( , ) and C has the uniform topology. The analogue of Wiener measure on C is the Gaussian measure ,u defined on the smallest sigma-field containing the open sets (denoted hereafter by G5) such that if pi, * * *, pk are distinct points in Y with pj = (x;, yj) for j = 1, * * , k then the functionals f(pi), * , f(pk) defined on C have a Gaussian joint distribution with mean vector zero and covariance matrix B = (bij) where bij = E(f(pi)f(pj)) = min (xi, xj) min (yi, yj). This measure has been studied by J. Yeh in [7], [8], [9] and by N. N. Chentsov in [2]. Let { Xij: 1 _ i, j < oo } be a family of random variables. For any integer n let Sij =ZX,(i, j) XAcm/n where i, j = 1, * * *, n and (i,j) means the sum is taken over all integers k < i and m < j. We further define S0i = S10 = 0 for i, j = 0, *. * , n. A sequence of stochastic processes Xn(x, y) is defined as follows:
Auslander–Reiten Triangles and a Theorem of Zimmermann

A classical theorem of Zimmermann describes the relation between almost split sequences in the category of finitely presented modules and those in the category of all modules over some fixed ring. An analogue of Auslander–Reiten triangles in triangulated categories is proved in this paper. This is used to explain the relation between different existence results for Auslander–Reiten triangles, which are based either on Brown's representability theorem, or on the existence of Serre functors. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification 18E30, 16G70 (primary), 14F05, 55U35 (secondary).
The Application of Pelz Effect to Managing TQM Programmes.

This study extends the Pelz Effect (1951) to explain the effects of incongruence between senior managers’ orientations and underlying assumptions of TQM on middle managers’ own orientations and on TQM itself. Using a multi-case study approach of three organisations from different sectors, the authors conducted 68 semi-structured interviews with managers at both senior and middle levels. The findings largely support the Pelz Effect in that senior management exerts a major influence in establishing the tone and atmosphere of the TQM organisation by their orientations and attitudes towards the underlying principles of it. It has been found that senior managers’ reliance on detection, reactive strategies and hard aspects of TQM—as opposed to prevention, proactive strategies and soft peoplebased issues—resulted in: first, middle managers’ compliance with short-term tactical orientations rather than long-term commitment; second, middle managers’ increased control over the workforce rather than the work-related processes; third, middle managers’ tendency to agree about TQM objectives in a way to prioritise and fulfil their own self-interests rather than TQM intended objectives and organisational interests; and finally and fourth, inability of middle managers to perform efficiently or TQM to be run more effectively. The findings suggest that the nature of middle management’s orientation towards TQM and the degree of their supportive behaviour towards first line managers is affected by the senior management’s orientation towards TQM and their supportive behaviour towards middle managers. The results reveal that the current practice of TQM can be characterised by inspection and quality control approach, a top-down process based upon a culture of procedure-dominated with a heavy bureaucratic base, and the dominance of senior management’s unilateral control. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
AUTOMATED VARIABLE STAR CLASSIFICATION USING THE NORTHERN SKY VARIABILITY SURVEY

We have identified 4659 variable objects in the Northern Sky Variability Survey. We have classified each of these objects into one of the five variable star classes: (1) Algol/β Lyr systems including semidetached, and detached eclipsing binaries, (2) W Ursae Majoris overcontact and ellipsoidal variables, (3) long-period variables such as Cepheid and Mira-type objects, (4) RR Lyr pulsating variables, and (5) short-period variables including δ Scuti stars. All the candidates have outside of eclipse magnitudes of ∼10–13. The primary classification tool is the use of Fourier coefficients combined with period information and light-curve properties to make the initial classification. Brief manual inspection was done on all light curves to remove nonperiodic variables that happened to slip through the process and to quantify any errors in the classification pipeline. We list the coordinates, period, Two Micron All Sky Survey colors, total amplitude variation, and any previous classification of the object. 548 objects previously identified as Algols in our previous paper are not included here.
Explicit Bounds of Effective Stiffness Tensors for Textured Aggregates of Cubic Crystallites

For isotropic aggregates of cubic crystallites, Hashin and Shtrikman derived lower and upper bounds for the effective stiffness tensor, which are tighter than the lower and upper bound provided by the Reuss and Voigt model, respectively. In this paper we consider anisotropic aggregates of cubic crystallites with arbitrary texture. We model the elastic polycrystal in question as an assemblage of space-filling spherical grains. Moreover, we assume that every point within one grain has the same crystallographic orientation, whereas the orientations of different grains are uncorrelated. Under this model, we appeal to the variational principles of Hashin and Shtrikman and derive explicit lower and upper bounds for the effective stiffness tensor, which are quadratic in texture coefficients and carry parameters given in terms of the single-crystal elastic constants. For weakly-textured aggregates of cubic crystallites, several examples suggest that our bounds for the effective elastic tensor provide estimates much tighter than those delivered by the Reuss lower bound and the Voigt upper bound.