Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
iWave: CNN-Based Wavelet-Like Transform for Image Compression

Wavelet transform is a powerful tool for multiresolution time-frequency analysis. It has been widely adopted in many image processing tasks, such as denoising, enhancement, fusion, and especially compression. Wavelets lead to the successful image coding standard JPEG-2000. Traditionally, wavelets were designed from the signal processing theory with certain assumption on the signal, but natural images are not as ideal as assumed by the theory. How to design content-adaptive wavelets for natural images remains a difficulty. Inspired by the recent progress of convolutional neural network (CNN), we propose iWave as a framework for deriving wavelet-like transform that is more suitable for natural image compression. iWave adopts an update-first lifting scheme, where the prediction filter is a trained CNN, to achieve wavelet-like transform. The CNN can be embedded into a deep network that is analogous to an auto-encoder, which is trained end-to-end. The trained wavelet-like transform still possesses the lifting structure, which ensures perfect reconstruction, supports multiresolution analysis, and is more interpretable than the deep networks trained as “black boxes. ” We perform experiments to verify the generality as well as the speciality of iWave in comparison with JPEG-2000. When trained with a generic set of natural images and tested on the Kodak dataset, iWave achieves on average 4.4% and up to 14% BD-rate reductions. When trained and tested with a specific kind of textures, iWave provides as high as 27% BD-rate reduction.
Monacolin K production by citrinin‐free Monascus pilosus MS‐1 and fermentation process monitoring

Monacolin K (MK) is a naturally occurring hypocholesterolemic agent that specifically inhibits HMG‐CoA reductase. As a natural source of MK, Monascus‐fermented products are of special interest; however, some Monascus strains could produce citrinin, which is a nephrotoxin, as a contaminant in Monascus‐derived products. A Monascus pilosus strain (MS‐1) that produces high amounts of MK, but no citrinin, was screened in previous investigations. Herein, liquid‐state fermentation parameters of the MS‐1 strain were optimized using statistical methods to maximize the MK yield with potato juice as a basic medium. The maximum MK yield (326.74 μg/mL) was predicted with 50 mL of medium in a 250‐mL conical flask containing 30 g/L sucrose, 38.75 g/L soybean flour, 0.00105 mol/L Mg2+ at pH 5.48, and 8% v/v seed inoculum precultured for 42 h at 30°C, incubated at 30°C for 3 days, followed by further incubation for 11 days at 24.7°C. The verified MK yield was 390.68 μg/mL and the MK yield increased to 565.64 μg/mL after 21 days of fermentation. No citrinin was detected in MS‐1‐fermented products. The results suggest that citrinin‐free MK can be obtained from natural medium through liquid‐state fermentation in an economical way. This method will be of practical value to the industrial production of MK.
Calodenin C: A New Guibourtinidol-(4α→8)-afzelechin from Ochna calodendron

A new dimeric proanthocyanidin, calodenin C [guibourtinidol-(4alpha-->8)-afzelechin], was isolated from the stem bark of Ochna calodendron and its structure determined on the basis of chemical studies and spectroscopic data, including HMBC and ROESY experiments.
Revisione Critica di Navicula Nigrii, Navicula Casertana, Pinnularia Passerinii, Stauroneis Verbania e Synedra Juliana de Notaris

Abstract Critical revision of «Navicula nigrii», «Navicula casertana», «Pinnularia passerinii», «Stauroneis verbania» and «Synedra juliana» De Notaris. — Certain species of diatoms set up by DE NOTARIS in the last Century have been re-examined, using the same studying material as the author. Such revisions were found necessary in that the original descriptions were not equipped with any drawing for which the most recent authors (MILLS 1932 and HUSTEDT 1962) expressed their doubts as to the real identity of such diatoms. Once individualized the species to he studied, a new description was brought to effect on the basis of biometric characters and observed morphologics with the optical microscope and in some cases with the electronical one. In this way it has been possible to identify the Navicula nigrii De Notaris with the Navicula minima Grun. ; the Navicula casertana De Notaris with the Cymbella microcephala Grun. ; the Pinnularia passerinii De Notaris with the Navicula cincta (Ehr.) KUtz. ; the Stauroneis .
Self-Consistency, Subjective Pricing, and a Theory of Credit Rating

We propose a theory for rating financial securities based on a concept of self-consistency, which does not allow issuers to gain, by tranching financial securities, from investors who rely on the rating criterion. While the expected loss criterion used by Moody's satisfies self-consistency, the probability of default criterion used by S&P does not. We find empirical evidences in the post-Dodd-Frank period (i.e., after July 2010) that the issuers may take advantage of the absence of self-consistency. We further propose a concept of scenario-relevance which reflects practical evaluation procedures of potential losses from defaultable securities. Our main theoretical results show that a self-consistent rating measure admits a Choquet integral representation, and this representation is also analytically tractable if one further takes economic scenarios into account. We suggest new examples of self-consistent and scenario-based rating criteria, such as ones based on the VaR and the Expected Shortfall.
15N‐marked aphids for predation studies under field conditions

Individuals ofSitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were marked with the stable isotope 15N through feeding on cereal seedlings which were immersed in a15N‐enriched nutrient solution. Increased 15N‐contents were obtained in all aphids with no detrimental effect on survival and fertility. When 15N‐marked aphids were transferred to non 15N‐enriched seedlings, after a short initial decreasing phase, 15N‐contents remained nearly constant in time. A content of 10% 15N in the nutrient solution of the seedlings was sufficient for marking the aphids.
Induced mutation using gamma rays in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, popularly known as okra or bhindi, is an important vegetable crop cultivated mostly in tropical and subtropical countries. The present study aims to induce variability in this economically significant crop using gamma rays. Mature, dry and healthy seeds, irradiated with different doses of gamma rays were allowed to grow in the field along with control seeds. The effect of gamma radiations on different agronomic traits and yield contributing characters of okra, including shoot length, root length, number of secondary branches, fruits per plants, seeds per fruit and 100 seed weight were recorded for M1 and M2 generations. The observed agronomic and yield based characters in the M2 mutants at various doses of gamma rays were found to be significantly correlated. The obtained M2 mutants are useful in development of an improved variety of okra, having agronomically significant traits.
Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates in the marginal ice zone of the central Barents Sea during spring

Diversity and biomass of ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates were analysed at six stations on a south–north transect (mimicking a time span of months in the biological succession during the Arctic spring–summer) from open water through drift ice and into fast ice (72°30′N 76°32′N) during spring 1993 in the open Barents Sea. A pycnocline was observed beneath the sea ice at 40–50 m. A diatom spring bloom beneath the ice with chlorophyll-a maximum >10 μg l−1 and a diverse protozoan community with a peak biomass of 34 μg C l−1 was associated with this bloom. Maximum biomass of tintinnids (1 μg C l−1), athecate dinoflagellates (8 μg C l−1) and thecate dinoflagellates (26 μg C l−1) were found associated with the chlorophyll-a maximum in the upper 10 m of the water column beneath the sea ice at the northern stations. In contrast, the protozooplankton community was dominated by naked ciliates at the southern open water stations. Here chlorophyll-a was low (<1 μg l−1) and the maximum biomass of protozooplankton was 10 μg C l−1 of which naked ciliates accounted for >50%. Cell sizes and estimated carbon content of cells >11 μm, as well as depth by depth biomass of 12 species/types of naked ciliates, 12 tintinnids, 12 athecate dinoflagellates and 24 thecate dinoflagellates, are presented. The community of naked ciliates was dominated by Strombidium spp. and Strobilidium spp. , the tintinnids were dominated by Parafavella spp. , Ptychocylis, Leprotintinnus, Acanthostomella and Tintinnopsis. The very small gyro-/gymnodinoid cells and Gyrodinium cf. spirale dominated the athecate dinoflagellates and the thecate dinoflagellates by the heterotroph Protoperidinium spp. generally accounted for the major part of the protozooplankton biomass along the transect. The Margalef diversity index revealed lowest diversity of ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates in the open water and higher at ice-associated stations. The overall diversity was coupled with prey availability in terms of food concentration, but already saturated at 0.1 μg chlorophyll-a l−1.
Investigation of the Effect of Black Pepper Powder on Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Processed Cheese

Flavoring Agents; Cheese; Piper Nigrum; Food Preservation ABSTRACT: The recent tendency in cheese production is to produce flavored cheese using natural flavoring materials with nutritional and high-quality microbial value for human consumption. This research is aimed at investigating the microbiological and physicochemical properties of processed peppery cheese. Samples were kept under the three temperatures of 6, 25 and 37°C; microbial and physicochemical evaluations were performed on the samples immediately after being produced, after the end of each month from the production date until 4 months, and one month after the expiration date. The test was performed using a sample of processed cheese without pepper powder. The used plan was quite random, and it was repeated for 3 times in every treatment. The results of physicochemical analyses of peppery cheese compared to the control sample indicated that the peppery cheese had lower changes in pH, dry matter content and texture during the period of being kept under different temperatures and less microbial contamination was observed in it compared to the control cheese. The obtained results showed that the peppery cheese could keep the product quality better than the control cheese under different time and temperature conditions of treatments while highly controlling the changes in the chemical and microbial factors.
The capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type B prevents killing by complement and antibodies against outer membrane protein a

The ability of antibodies, raised in rabbits against purified outer membrane protein a (Mr 47 000) of Haemophilus influenzae type b, to promote complement-dependent killing of these encapsulated organisms was investigated. Killing of encapsulated strains was not induced by these antibodies in conjunction with either human, mouse, rabbit or guinea-pig complement. Acapsular mutants were effectively killed by complement in the presence of antibodies against protein a. Killing was dependent on the presence of the 47-kDa protein a and was not influenced by the outer membrane protein subtype or lipopolysaccharide serotype of the strain. The killing-promoting activity could be absorbed from the sera with cells of strains with the same protein a, purified protein a, but not by purified lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide. Binding experiments showed that the encapsulated strain and its acapsular mutant bound antibodies against protein a with the same rate and to the same extent, indicating that the capsule probably interferes with complement activation or insertion of the membrane attack complex into the bacterial cell.
A Case Study of Allelopathic Effect of Parsley, Dill, Onion and Carrots on the Germination and Initial Development of Tomato Plants

Vegetables are important worldwide, but their production faces many problems. One of them is the yield decline due to soil sickness, allelopathic effects of other crops, weeds and trees, and also the autotoxicity when grown continuously for several years. For the purpose of organic farming, allelopathy can be an important element in balancing the relationship between density and weeds, pests, diseases and cultivars. Relationships among the vegetable species and varieties in particular mixed stand are not sufficiently explored, which is a sufficient reason to conduct such a study. The present study focuses on the allelopathic relationships in agrophytocenoses in order to assess the possibilities of mixed crop cultivation of tomato plants with other vegetable crops and spices. Vegetable species may have a negative, neutral or positive effect one to another when grown in mixed agrophytocenoses. To explore the extent of this impact, test plants from tomatoes have been treated directly with plant extracts from other vegetable plants parsley, dill, onion and carrots. The study showed that the applied concentrations of parsley, carrot, dill and onion extracts had stimulating, inhibiting or indigenous effect on tomato seed germination, growth and accumulation of dry biomass. Seedling vigor index of plant development (SVIcm) and biomass synthesis (SVIg) depended on the type of the extract applied more than the concentration applied (p<0.05). Seed germination was less affected than root and shoot growth in all species (p<0.05). Length of the seedlings was significantly influenced (positively or negatively) by the allelopathic plants and the effect was stronger with the increment of the extract concentration (p<0.05). Most pronounced negative effect was found at the 1% extract of fresh onion biomass – 34% reduction against the control (p<0.001). Stimulatory effect was strongest at the 1% extract of fresh carrot biomass – 37% increment against the control (p<0.001).
Seasonal changes in chemical composition of heavily fertilized kikuyu pasture and their potential effects on the mineral nutrition of grazing cattle

was sampled at two week intervals over a period of one year. The concentrations of calcium throughout the year (0.15-0.28%) and phosphorus from late winter to early summer (0.20-0.28%) were well below the values normally considered to be required by milking cows and some classes of beef cattle. The nitrogen concentrations reached minimal values of 1.8-2.2% in winter, which appear to be adequate for milk production. From summer through to the end of winter, the ratio of K/(Ca + Mg) was much higher, and the Ca/P ratio was much lower, than those values reported to be associated with the occurrence of grass tetany in grazing cattle. Very high nitrogen concentratians in early summer (up to 5.2% N where 672 kg N ha-1 year-1 was applied) were in the range that has been associated with grass tetany in cattle. Lime application increased the nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium concentrations in the herbage throughout the year. The effect of lime in increasing nitrogen concentration in the herbage was maximal in late autumn and winter, at which time fertilizer nitrogen had little or no effect. The increased nitrogen concentration in the herbage through application of lime was associated with the development of a naturalized white clover component in the sward. Lime also increased the phosphorus concentration in the herbage, particularly from mid-winter to early summer, over which period phosphorus application per se had minimal effect. The application of lime allied with 134 kg N ha-1 year-1 maintained a high level of dry matter production as well as a more adequate and better balanced nutrient content in the kikuyu pasture throughout the year, and particularly in winter, when cattle grazing kikuyu pastures suffer a serious feed gap.
Effects of Rabbit Grazing and Fire on a Sub-Alpine Environment .I. Herbaceous and Shrubby Vegetation

The effects upon shrubby and herbaceous vegetation of two low-intensity fires and/or grazing by feral rabbits and wombats were studied in a subalpine environment between 1977 and 1984. Fire reduced shrub cover and biomass to low levels and their recovery was slow. When unburnt, tall shrubs increased, then decreased as a result of extreme frost and drought and subsequently continued to decrease. The recovery of the herb cover and biomass after fire was complete within a year except when delayed by drought andlor disturbance by rabbits. Bare ground was less than 2% in the absence of fire and rabbit grazing but increased to nearly 20% after fire in the presence of rabbits. Rabbits reduced the cover and biomass of 39 species of forb, in some cases to zero. Feral rabbit populations survived and multiplied on burnt areas but decreased on areas left unburnt. The implications of this research for the management of similar environments are discussed.
Magnitude of suppressing ability of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. on selected weeds of Aligarh

A study was conducted to assess the magnitude of suppressing ability of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. on some selected weeds of Aligarh namely, Amaranthus spinosus L. , Cassia tora L. and Cassia sophera L. The research finding was conducted to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf leachate and organic fractions of donor plant on biochemical activities (carbohydrate content, chlorophyll content and protein content). The result shows that aqueous leachate and organic fractions reduced the level of biochemical activities. Carbohydrate content was increased in treated plants as compared to control while chlorophyll content and protein content were reduced as compared to the control. Aqueous leachate showed maximum toxicity on weeds than organic fractions. The reduction may be due to the allelochemicals present in E. alba leaves.
Modification and Characterisation of Zeolite Beta as a Possible Basic Catalyst for Biodiesel Production

The ever growing worldwide consumption of energy, associated with non-renewable fossil fuels, has led to an increasing interest in the field of renewable energy sources such as biodiesel. Biodiesel is most commonly produced by the transesterification of animal fats or vegetable oils. Basic zeolites appear to be a good choice as heterogeneous catalysts for this process, due to their highly porous structure and reusability. The acid form of zeolite beta (BEA-150, SiO2/Al2O3 = 300) was subject to modification techniques in order to increase its basicity, by substituting its native H with K. Seven samples were prepared: three by wet impregnation (KNO3, K/Al = 1; KOH, K/Al = 2, 10) and four by ion exchange (KNO3, K/Al = 1, 10; KOH, K/Al = 2, 10). The eight (original and modified) samples were calcined at 500 oC for 4 hours. The following characterisation techniques have been used: SEM/EDS, XRD, FTIR and N2 sorption experiments. In FTIR, pyridine was used to probe the acidity of the eight uncalcined samples, and acetylene for the basicity of the eight calcined samples. In N2 sorption experiments, MultiPoint BET and t-plot method were used to determine total and external and micropore surface areas; pore size distribution and diameter were determined by DFT. Results have shown that samples treated with a 10-fold molar excess of KOH have suffered severe structural damage caused by desilication and dealumination. SEM/EDS has shown a particle size of approximately 1 μm, although this may correspond to agglomerates of smaller particles. XRD patterns have shown that the samples are composed of around 50 – 60% of polymorph B. FTIR has detected a small amount of strong BAS and LAS. Increased basic character has been detected by redshifts in acetylene post-adsorption spectra. Excluding destroyed samples, the average values (for the remaining 12 samples) of MultiPoint BET surface area, t-plot method micropore volume and DFT pore diameter were, respectively, 512 m/g, 0.113 cm/g and 9.2 Å.
RESPONSES OF PHOSPHATE DEPRIVATION ON PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Effendy, J. 2008. Responses of Phosphate Deprivation on Plant Growth and Development. Jurnal Budidaya Pertanian 4: 73-83. Phosphorus (P) is limiting for crop yield on > 30% of the world’s arable land and, by some estimates, world resources of inexpensive P may be depleted by 2050. However, Pi is the least accessible macronutrient in many ecosystems and its low availability often limits plant growth. Phosphate (Pi) plays a central role as reactant and effector molecule in plant cell metabolism. Plants have evolved a diverse array of strategies to obtain adequate P under limiting conditions, including modifications to root architecture, carbon metabolism and membrane structure, exudation of low molecular weight organic acids, protons and enzymes, and enhanced expression of the numerous genes involved in low-P adaptation. Although physiological responses to Pi starvation have been increasingly studied and understood, the initial molecular events that monitor and transmit information on external and internal Pi status remain to be elucidated in plants. This review summarizes molecular and developmental Pi starvation responses of higher plants and the evidence for coordinated regulation of gene expression for significant advances in our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which plants regulate Pi-starvation responses.
Skeletal Ultrastructure in Some Articulate Cyclostome Bryozoans

The ultrastructure of the calcareous skeleton is described in 11 species of articulate cyclostome bryozoans with elastic joints. Ten species have interior walls comprising semi-nacreous and pseudofoliated fabrics without a precursory granular layer. Exterior walls consist of outer, finely granular and planar spherulitic layers, succeeded by semi-nacreous and pseudofoliated fabrics like those of interior walls. Outer fabrics are calcified as longitudinal strips, each corresponding to a planar sphcrulitic unit. Articulation surfaces comprise ring diaphragms of very fine granular fabric with concentric laminations. The semi-nacre of walls adjacent to ring diaphragms contains minute holes. Crisulipora occidentalis is unique in having interior walls of transverse fibres succeeded by pseudofoliated fabric, articulation surfaces festooned with deep pits but lacking well-differentiated ring diaphragms, and pseudopores containing sieve-like closure plates. The ultrastructure of most articulates resembles tubuliporine cyclostomes with dominantly semi-nacreous walls, although the lack of precursory granular fabric in the interior walls and the presence of subcircular tablets of semi-nacre (without six-fold sectoring) may be peculiar to articulates. In contrast, Crisulipora is more similar to other tubuliporines with transverse fibres. evidence which, together with other skeletal characters, suggests that Crisulipora evolved jointing independently of the rest of the articulate cyclostomes.
AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL, ORGANISATIONAL CLIMATE AND WORK ENGAGEMENT

The aim of the study was to investigate the relations between authentic leadership, psychological capital, organisational climate, and work engagement in state-owned enterprises. A crosssectional survey was used in a multilevel design with a convenience sample of 452 employees. The Authentic Leadership Questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Supportive Organisational Climate Questionnaires and the Work Engagement Scale were administered. The results showed that authentic leadership and psychological capital predicted work engagement. Climate on the organisational level was related to work engagement on an individual level, but only if authentic leadership and psychological capital were not included in the model. Psychological capital mediated the relation between authentic leadership and work engagement on an individual level.