Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invasive Prosopis juliflora: Role in Maintaining the Ecosystem Resilience of the Banni Grassland in Arid Gujarat, India

Prosopis juliflora is one among the top hundred recognized invasive species worldwide. The synergized effect of arid climatic conditionsand inherent soil salinity channeled this species’s intentional introduction in Banni grassland. Due to the allelopathic effect of this speciesthe existence of native grass species is in danger. However, in recent years, P. juliflora has replaced many of the native vegetation andis being recognized as an important species for the ecological stability of Banni grassland. Several ecologists have studied the role ofthis species in stabilizing the grassland ecosystem. In the present paper, its economic role is broadly reviewed with the vegetationcover maintained by it. In Banni grassland, the grass species grow only in monsoon and persists few months. For rest of the year (i.e. insummer) the green cover is maintained by P. juliflora. However, this species has provided remarkable livelihood opportunities. Apartfrom counting the negative effects, the counter-positive effects of the species have been recognized through this paper. P. juliflora hasslowly transformed the Banni grassland into woodland. It has also altered the micro-diversity in the soil and ultimately transformedthe whole ecosystem into new regimes. Eradication and reversion of P. juliflora spread is rather impossible. Hence, the managementaspects of P. juliflora that need to maximize its positive features are discussed.
MicroRNAs regulating macrophages infected with Leishmania L. (V.) Braziliensis isolated from different clinical forms of American tegumentary leishmaniasis

Background Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. There are still no vaccines, and therapeutic options are limited, indicating the constant need to understand the fine mechanisms of its pathophysiology. An approach that has been explored in leishmaniasis is the participation of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs that act, in most cases, to repress gene expression. miRNAs play a role in the complex and plastic interaction between the host and pathogens, either as part of the host’s immune response to neutralize infection or as a molecular strategy employed by the pathogen to modulate host pathways to its own benefit. Methods Monocyte-derived macrophages from healthy subjects were infected with isolates of three clinical forms of L. braziliensis: cutaneous (CL), mucosal (ML), and disseminated (DL) leishmaniasis. We compared the expression of miRNAs that take part in the TLR/NFkB pathways. Correlations with parasite load as well as immune parameters were analyzed. Results miRNAs -103a-3p, -21-3p, 125a-3p -155-5p, -146a-5p, -132- 5p, and -147a were differentially expressed in the metastatic ML and DL forms, and there was a direct correlation between miRNAs -103a-3p, -21-3p, -155-5p, -146a-5p, -132-5p, and -9-3p and parasite load with ML and DL isolates. We also found a correlation between the expression of miR-21-3p and miR-146a-5p with the antiapoptotic gene BCL2 and the increase of viable cells, whereas miR-147a was indirectly correlated with CXCL-9 levels. Conclusion The expression of miRNAs is strongly correlated with the parasite load and the inflammatory response, suggesting the participation of these molecules in the pathogenesis of the different clinical forms of L. braziliensis.
Stable path planning for reconfigurable robots over uneven terrains

Autonomous mobile robots are required to find safe and feasible routes in the environment when operating over challenging terrains. The most influential tip-over stability measures are based on two criteria; the robot’s centre of mass (CM) and the support polygon defined by the convex area spanned between the ground contact points. The force angle (FA) stability margin is employed in this work given its widespread use and simple geometric interpretation. A method to compute the contact points between a tracked robot and rugged terrain and predict robot’s stability axes on 3D meshed maps reconstructed from 3D point clouds using the open dynamics engine (ODE) is presented. The validity and the need for stability computations based on the proposed contact points prediction algorithm is established through experiments over two common indoor obstacles i.e. ramps and stairs. An analytical strategy to generate stable paths for reconfigurable robots whilst also meeting additional navigational objectives is hereby proposed. The suggested solution looks at minimizing the length of the traversed path and the energy expenditure in changing postures, and also accounts for additional constraints in terms of sensor visibility and traction. A statistical analysis of stability prediction to account for the uncertainties associated with the actual robot’s dynamic model, its localisation in the ground, and the terrain models is introduced. Probability density function (PDF) of contact points, CM and the FA stability measure are numerically estimated, with simulation results performed on the ODE simulator based on uncertain parameters. Two techniques are presented: a conventional standard Monte Carlo (SMC) scheme, and a structured unscented transform (UT) which results in significant improvement in computational efficiency. A novel probabilistic stability criterion derived from the cumulative distribution of the FA margin is introduced that allows a safety constraint to be dynamically updated by available sensor data as it becomes available. The advantages of planning with probabilistic stability is demonstrated using a grid based A* algorithm as well as a sampling based RRT planner. The validity of the proposed approach is evaluated with a multi-tracked robot fitted with a manipulator arm and a range camera using two challenging 3D terrains data sets: one obtained whilst operating the robot in a mock-up urban search and rescue arena, and a second one from a publicly available on-line data from a quasi-outdoor rover testing facility.
Weathering Processes and Irrigation Quality Assessment of the Part of River Jhelum, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Eleven water samples were analyzed to assess weathering process and irrigation quality of the River Jhelum. The river water was found to be controlled by chemical weathering of the rock forming minerals. Scatter diagrams suggested the dominance of carbonate and silicate weathering. Two specific types of water were identified with the help of Durov and Piper diagrams that are referred to as Ca-HCO3, Mg-HCO3 types. The Langlier-diagram confirms the chemistry of meteoric water, i.e. Ca-Mg-HCO3. The calculated values of SAR, RSC and sodium percentage indicated that the river water is excellent for irrigation use.
A Novel Authentication Scheme for IoT enabled Smart Healthcare System

The Internet of Things (IoT), connecting a large number of communication and information devices, is the future of the scientific world. The amount of devices with Wi-Fi capabilities and built-in sensors keeps on increasing. Smart phone is at every hand and its usage is sky-rocketing. This gives way to connect anything and anybody with the internet which in turn makes secure communication and secure sharing of information critical. In this paper, the existing works are analyzed and an IoT enabled healthcare system architecture is proposed. A novel authentication scheme that supplements the security of the proposed healthcare system is also proposed. Keywords— IoT, Architecture, Enhancing Authentication, Smart Healthcare System, Security, IoT devices.
Climate responsive urban groundwater management options in a stressed aquifer system

After Independence of Pakistan in 1947, problems between India and Pakistan arose over the distribution of water as rivers in Punjab Province flow into the Pakistan territory from across India. To solve this water distribution problem, a treaty known as Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, was signed by the two countries in 1960. As per this treaty, Pakistan has exclusive rights for the three western rivers, namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab whereas India retains rights to the three eastern rivers, namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The new river water distribution seriously affected the urban centres’ aquifers which were previously being recharged by these eastern rivers and their associated irrigation canal systems. The biggest setback due to the lost of water use of one of the three eastern rivers is being faced by the Punjab Province capital city of Lahore where the main source of recharge to the underlying aquifer is River Ravi. The main aim of this paper is to study the wicked water problem being faced by Lahore city and to explore sustainable groundwater development policy options for adaptation to climate change as part of integrated urban water management in a stressed aquifer like Lahore. To study this problem, groundwater modelling tool was used. A parsimonious working surface-groundwater interaction groundwater flow model, using MODFLOW Package, was developed for understanding the hydro-geological dynamics under different aquifer management interventions as part of climate responsive policy. The developed model was calibrated using PEST (acronym for Parameter ESTimation) Package. There was a close agreement between the observed and simulated heads and the overall trend of the observed groundwater hydrograph was also followed well by the modelled data.
Organic-Rich Chalks and Calcareous Mudstones . of the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Eagleford Formation,

The Austin Chalk and Eagleford Formation are widespread Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Gulf Coast region of south-central Texas. The upper part of the Austin is formed by prograding high­ stand sequences of light-colored bioturbated chalks. The lower part of the Austin and the Eagle­ ford are composed of organic-rich chalks and calcareous mudstones that form the transgressive systems tracts of three sequences. These organic­ rich rocks are laminated or sparsely burrowed and contain few benthic fossils, suggesting deposition in a basin with oxygen-deficient sediments. The organic-rich rocks of the lower Austin are basinally restricted deposits that reach 200 ft (61 m) in thickness. They contain an average of 3.7% TOC composed of a mixed type II/III kerogen (HIo = 481 mg/g), dominated by amorphous or­ ganic matter but with 5-40% vitrinite, inertinite, and spore-pollen. Pristane/phytane ratios of 0.6-1.3, minor amounts of oleanane, a predomi­ nance of moretane and hopane over normoretane and norhopane, and predominance of hopanes over steranes indicate deposition of mixed marine and terrestrially derived organic matter under dioxic conditions. The Eagleford is generally thinner (40-150 ft or 12-46 m) but more widespread than the lower Austin. TOC values average 3.7% in shallow cores and 4.5% in one deep core. The organic matter in the shallow cores is a mixed type II/III (HIo = 414 mg/g). However, predominance of normoretane and norhopane over moretane and hopane, in­ creased amounts of tricyclic terpanes, absence of oleanane, and predominance of steranes over hopanes indicate deposition of mainly marine­ derived organic matter under anoxic conditions. Generation of liquid hydrocarbons has occur­ red below 6000-7000 ft (1830-2130 m) present­ day burial for both formations. Rocks at depths below 9000-10000 ft (2740-3050 m) are now over­ mature for generation of liquid hydrocarbons. Cal­ culated specific oil yields are 0.3 -0.4 bbls/acre-ft (0.3 bbls/km2/m) for the lower Austin and the shallow Eagleford cores and 1.2 bbls/acre-ft (1.0 bbls/km 2/m) for the deep Eagleford core. Where thick lower Austin is present, it probably has generated and expelled hydrocarbons. How­ ever, the more widespread Eagleford has most like­ ly generated the majority of the oil found in the Austin Chalk. Oil has migrated into more permeable intervals of the upper Austin and can be discriminated by composition from in situ EOM. Pristane/phytane ratios and stable-carbon isotopes do not differenti­ ate between the lower Austin and the Eagleford as the source rocks for these oils.
A Decentralized Control With Adaptive Virtual Inertia and Damping Combination for Islanded Cascaded-Type VSG Systems

With the increase of distributed generations, the problems related to lack of inertia and damping support for cascaded-type power networks are becoming more and more prominent. This may lead to oscillation and even system instability. To address this problem, a decentralized control with adaptive virtual inertia and damping combination method is proposed for islanded cascaded-type virtual synchronous generator (VSG) systems. Firstly, a model of islanded cascaded-type VSGs was developed to analyze the impact of changes in inertia and damping coefficients on frequency characteristics during dynamic processes. Subsequently, a decentralized control was proposed, which employs an adaptive method for regulating inertia and damping coefficients in real-time. The scheme effectively suppresses power and frequency oscillation, leading to improved dynamic frequency performance. Furthermore, this decentralized strategy only requires the local voltage and current measurements, ensuring a fully decentralized implementation. The cascaded-type VSGs demonstrate satisfactory reliability. The stability of the proposed strategy has been demonstrated, and guidelines for designing key control coefficients have been validated through the Lyapunov energy function method. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed method.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Bridging the transparency gap

The European Union has proposed the Artiﬁcial Intelligence Act which introduces detailed requirements of transparency for AI systems. Many of these requirements can be addressed by the ﬁeld of explainable AI (XAI), however, there is a fundamental difference between XAI and the Act regarding what transparency is. The Act views transparency as a means that supports wider values, such as accountability, human rights, and sustainable innovation. In contrast, XAI views transparency narrowly as an end in itself, focusing on explaining complex algorithmic properties without considering the socio-technical context. We call this difference the “transparency gap”. Failing to address the transparency gap, XAI risks leaving a range of transparency issues unaddressed. To begin to bridge this gap, we overview and clarify the terminology of how XAI and European regulation – the Act and the related General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – view basic deﬁnitions of transparency. By comparing the disparate views of XAI and regulation, we arrive at four axes where practical work could bridge the transparency gap: deﬁning the scope of transparency, clarifying the legal status of XAI, addressing issues with conformity assessment, and building explainability for datasets.
Dysregulation of M segment gene expression contributes to influenza A virus host restriction

The M segment of the 2009 pandemic influenza A virus (IAV) has been implicated in its emergence into human populations. To elucidate the genetic contributions of the M segment to host adaptation, and the underlying mechanisms, we examined a panel of isogenic viruses that carry avian- or human-derived M segments. Avian, but not human, M segments restricted viral growth and transmission in mammalian model systems, and the restricted growth correlated with increased expression of M2 relative to M1. M2 overexpression was associated with intracellular accumulation of autophagosomes, which was alleviated by interference of the viral proton channel activity by amantadine treatment. As M1 and M2 are expressed from the M mRNA through alternative splicing, we separated synonymous and non-synonymous changes that differentiate human and avian M segments and found that dysregulation of gene expression leading to M2 overexpression diminished replication, irrespective of amino acid composition of M1 or M2. Moreover, in spite of efficient replication, virus possessing a human M segment that expressed avian M2 protein at low level did not transmit efficiently. We conclude that (i) determinants of transmission reside in the IAV M2 protein, and that (ii) control of M segment gene expression is a critical aspect of IAV host adaptation needed to prevent M2-mediated dysregulation of vesicular homeostasis. Author summary Influenza A virus (IAV) pandemics arise when a virus adapted to a non-human host overcomes species barriers to successfully infect humans and sustain human-to-human transmission. To gauge the adaptive potential and therefore pandemic risk posed by a particular IAV, it is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying viral adaptation to human hosts. Here, we focused on the role of one of IAV’s eight gene segments, the M segment, in host adaptation. Comparing the growth of IAVs with avian- and human-derived M segments in avian and mammalian systems revealed that the avian M segment restricts viral growth specifically in mammalian cells. We show that the mechanism underlying this host range phenotype is a dysregulation of viral gene expression when the avian IAV M segment is transcribed in mammalian cells. In particular, excess production of the M2 protein results in viral interference with cellular functions on which the virus relies. Our results therefore reveal that the use of cellular machinery to control viral gene expression leaves the virus vulnerable to over- or under-production of critical viral gene products in a new host species.
Modeling Awareness Requirements in Groupware: From Cards to Diagrams

Up to now, groupware has enjoyed a certain stability in terms of the users’ technical requirements, being the awareness dimension one of its key services to provide usability and improve collaboration. Nonetheless, currently, groupware technologies are being stressed: on the one hand, the pandemic of COVID-19 has greatly driven the massive use of groupware tools to overcome physical distancing; on the other hand, the new digital worlds (with disruptive devices, changing paradigms, and growing productive needs) are introducing new collaboration settings. This, and the fact that software engineering methods are not paying enough attention to the awareness, makes us concentrate on facilitating its design. Thus, we have created a visual modeling technique, based on a conceptual framework, to be used by the developers of groupware systems to describe awareness requirements. This visual language, called the awareness description diagrams, has been validated in some experimental activities. The results obtained show that this is a valid technique in order to model the awareness support, that it is useful and understandable for groupware engineers, and that the visual representation is preferred to a more textual one in terms of expressiveness.
Neighbored-attention U-net (NAU-net) for diabetic retinopathy image segmentation

Background Diabetic retinopathy-related (DR-related) diseases are posing an increasing threat to eye health as the number of patients with diabetes mellitus that are young increases significantly. The automatic diagnosis of DR-related diseases has benefited from the rapid development of image semantic segmentation and other deep learning technology. Methods Inspired by the architecture of U-Net family, a neighbored attention U-Net (NAU-Net) is designed to balance the identification performance and computational cost for DR fundus image segmentation. In the new network, only the neighboring high- and low-dimensional feature maps of the encoder and decoder are fused by using four attention gates. With the help of this improvement, the common target features in the high-dimensional feature maps of encoder are enhanced, and they are also fused with the low-dimensional feature map of decoder. Moreover, this network fuses only neighboring layers and does not include the inner layers commonly used in U-Net++. Consequently, the proposed network incurs a better identification performance with a lower computational cost. Results The experimental results of three open datasets of DR fundus images, including DRIVE, HRF, and CHASEDB, indicate that the NAU-Net outperforms FCN, SegNet, attention U-Net, and U-Net++ in terms of Dice score, IoU, accuracy, and precision, while its computation cost is between attention U-Net and U-Net++. Conclusion The proposed NAU-Net exhibits better performance at a relatively low computational cost and provides an efficient novel approach for DR fundus image segmentation and a new automatic tool for DR-related eye disease diagnosis.
Educación para una ciudadanía global. Agendas de hiperglobalizadores, escépticos y transformacionistas

El artículo comienza discutiendo las diversas interpretaciones de la globalización y presenta un análisis basado en la sociología política de la educación, centrándose en la tensión entre cosmopolitas y locales según Alvin Gouldner. Gouldner distingue dos tipos de cosmopolitas y cuatro de locales. En la sección 3, se exploran las posturas de hiperglobalizadores, escépticos y transformacionistas, que varían en su percepción de la globalización y su impacto en la vida. En la sección 4, se aboga por una educación que forme ciudadanos globales, y en la sección 5, se analiza el papel de la universidad en esta responsabilidad. Además, se diferencia entre universidades globales y nacionales en su enfoque para abordar las crisis del neoliberalismo. El artículo concluye con cuatro preguntas surgidas de las reflexiones anteriores.
Etude numérique et validation des caractéristiques aérodynamiques d'écoulement autour des obstacles ovales en fonction des paramètres géométriques

Dans ce travail, on a étudié numériquement l’écoulement incompressible, non visqueux, bidimensionnel et stationnaire autour des obstacles ovales (ellipse horizontale, ellipse verticale et cercle) en fonction des paramètres géométriques avec un nombre de Mach égal à zéro. Nous avons deux paramètres, le premier est le grand rayon de l’ellipse (a) et le second est le petit rayon de l’ellipse (b). L’écoulement est modélisé par la méthode des panneaux dans les coordonnées cartésiennes. Cette méthode est basée sur le remplacement de la surface du profil par une répartition de sources et de puits. Les lois de variation des vitesses représentées, illustrent bien le comportement réel du fluide non visqueux via les corps multiformes mentionnés par les références bibliographiques spécialisées.
Wine Tourism in Australia

1.Introduction Wine tourism is now recognised as a growing subset of special interest tourism all over the world.It is an increasingly important tourism component for many wine producing regions(M.A.O’NeillP,2004). Australia has recently become a large wine producing country.Therefore,wine tourism has emerged as a strong and growing area in Australia.The