Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual SLAM technology based on weakly supervised semantic segmentation in dynamic environment

A visual simultaneous localization and mapping system in a dynamic environment is usually vulnerable to wrong associated data caused by the moving targets, which causes a large error in the pose estimation of the mobile robot and affects the subsequent tasks of the robot. Combining semantic segmentation information to remove dynamic feature points in the image is an effective method to improve the accuracy of the SLAM system. However, the existing visual SLAM based on semantic segmentation usually adopts the fully supervised approaches to segment the dynamic scenes, which depends on a large number of training data sets with labelled information to guarantee accuracy and limits the application of SLAM system. To address this issue, a visual semantic SLAM system that applies weakly supervised semantic segmentation to dynamic scenes is proposed to broaden the application range of the system. Firstly, the system extracts the feature points of the input image and checks the moving consistency, and then segments the dynamic target with the weakly supervised methods. Secondly, the semantic segmentation results are used to remove the dynamic feature points in the image. Finally ， the stable static feature points are adopted to carry out the pose estimation. Furthermore, this paper also uses the Automatic Color Equalization algorithm to pre-process the input image, which enhances the contrast of the image, and improves the accuracy of weakly supervised semantic segmentation. Experiments were performed on the public TUM data sets and real environment. The results show that the accuracy of the SLAM system based on the weakly supervised network adopted in this paper is significantly higher than that of the traditional ORB-SLAM2 system, and also higher than the SLAM system of the weakly supervised network DSRG. The accuracy is close to the fully supervised semantic SLAM system.
Productive performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphometry in broiler chickens fed corn or wheat-based diets supplemented with bacterial- or fungal-originated xylanase

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary supplementation of a corn- or a wheat-based diet with two sources of exogenous xylanase (fungal or bacterial originated) on productive performance, ileal nutrients digestibility, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn) and digestive organs morphometry in broiler chickens. Broilers were fed with one of the six dietary treatments consisting of two basal diets (based on corn or wheat) each with or without xylanase (from bacterial or fungal origin) supplementation. Compared with corn-based diet, feeding birds with the wheat-based diet improved weight gain and feed intake by 4.71 and 4.81%, respectively, and ileal digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were greater in birds fed wheat-based diets compared with the birds grown on corn-based during Days 1–21 of age (p<.05). Villus length and villus length to crypt depth ratio increased (p < .05) in birds received wheat-based diets compared with those fed on corn-based diets. Gizzard weight was greater in birds fed with corn-based diets on days 21 and 42 of age by 11.5% and 31.8%, respectively, compared with those received wheat-based diets (p < .05). Supplementing diets with fungal xylanase increased liver weight in birds grown on wheat-based diets compared with those grown on control and corn-based diets, respectively, on Days 21 and 42 of age (p < .05). It was concluded that supplementing a corn- or wheat-based diet with a xylanase of bacterial or fungal origin had no effect on productive performance or AMEn of diets in broiler chickens during the starter and growing periods.
Preparation, characterization and evaluation of cytotoxic activity of Tamoxifen bound liposomes against breast cancer cell line

The goal of this study was to determine whether neutrally or positively charged liposomes encapsulated with tamoxifen could inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cell proliferation compared to free tamoxifen by estimating the potential effects of these complexes on the cell death of human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines. The formulated tamoxifen liposomal conjugate was characterized by analytical techniques to determine its size, size-distribution, thermotropic changes and conformational changes along with possible cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) in Vitro. The mean particle diameter was estimated to be 64.70±49.75 nm, 73.72±23.8 nm and 119±54.7 nm for blank liposomes, neutral and positively charged liposomes bound tamoxifen, respectively. As tamoxifen is introduced into positive liposomes, it results in noticeable broadening and shift to lower temperature at 135 C compared to the main characteristic endothermic peak (Tm) of pure liposomes that exists at 140C, while the introduction of tamoxifen into neutral liposomes contributes to the disappearance of the main endothermic peak of pure liposomes. FTIR analysis revealed structure changes in vesicles after tamoxifen was incorporated into liposomes. The IC50 value for tamoxifen in the cytotoxic assay with MCF-7 treated cells was 0.34 μg/ml, while tamoxifen-loaded neutrally or positively charged liposomes showed an increase of IC50 value to 119.62 and 101.23 µg /ml, respectively. Current data suggests a new treatment regimen in where free tamoxifen is substituted with liposomal tamoxifen to improve anticancer activity against MCF-7 cancer cell lines.
Investigating the Interplay of Cyclic Nucleotide Gated Ion Channel 2 and Auxin in Immune Signaling

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGCs) are non-selective, ligand-gated cation channels present across eukaryotes. In Arabidopsis the CNGC family contains 20 members, which are believed to play important roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses, ion homeostasis, and development through their Ca conducting abilities. Several CNGCs have been implicated in plant-pathogen interactions through genetic studies. The defense, no death mutants dnd1 and hlm1/dnd2 are null mutants of the closely related Arabidopsis CNGCs, CNGC2 and CNGC4, respectively, and have distinct autoimmune phenotypes. Though these mutants have been well characterized phenotypically, CNGC-mediated signal transduction is poorly understood. In order to understand CNGC2-mediated defense signaling, I have investigated the first dnd1 suppressor mutant, repressor of defense no death 1 (rdd1-1D). In this thesis, I aimed to understand the molecular mechanism by which rdd1-1D is able to suppress dnd1conferred phenotypes. Current data indicates that rdd1-1D is a loss-of-function mutation in the auxin biosynthesis gene YUCCA6.
On the applications of a minimax theorem

In this paper, we give an overview of some recent applications of a minimax theorem. These applications deal with: uniquely remotal sets in normed spaces; multiple global minima for the integral functional of the Calculus of Variations; multiple periodic solutions for Lagrangian systems of relativistic oscillators; variational inequalities in balls of Hilbert spaces.
Flexible information coding in frontoparietal cortex across the functional stages of cognitive processing

Neural activity in frontoparietal cortex shows overlap across cognitive domains and has been proposed to reflect flexible information processing according to current task demands (Dosenbach et al., 2007; Duncan, 2001). However, a strong assertion of flexibility requires investigating activity across stages of cognitive processing. The current study assessed neural activity in Multiple Demand (MD) regions across the stages of processing that form the core of long-standing cognitive models (Welford, 1952). Specifically, many complex tasks share a comparable structure of subsequent operations: target selection, stimulus-response (SR) mapping, and response execution. We independently manipulated the difficulty of target selection and SR mapping in identical stimulus displays and assessed changes in frontoparietal activity with increased demands in either stage. The results confirmed flexibility in MD regions, with enhanced information representation during difficult target selection as well as SR mapping. Additionally, anterior insula (AI) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) showed preferential representation of SR stage information, whereas the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and inferior parietal sulcus (IPS) showed preferential representation of target selection-stage information. Together these results suggest that MD regions dynamically alter the information they represent with changing task demands. This is the first study to demonstrate that MD regions support flexible goal-directed cognition across multiple processing stages. At the same time we show a preference for the representation of information from a specific processing stage in a subset of MD regions. Significance Statement Goal-directed cognition in complex tasks is critical to key life outcomes including longevity and academic performance. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying cognition in complex tasks are not well understood. Distinct neural networks are critical to the navigation of specific cognitive domains (e.g. attention), but frontoparietal activity shows cross-domain and -task overlap and supports flexible representation of goal-critical information. This study links flexible frontoparietal processing to longstanding models of meta-cognition that propose a unifying structure of operations underlying most tasks: target selection, SR mapping, and response execution. Our results demonstrate that flexible information representation in frontoparietal cortex is not limited to the SR mapping stage, but applies across the functional stages of cognitive processing, thus maximizing neural efficiency and supporting flexible cognition.
EFFECTS OF DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE AND PROTEIN ON MAMMARY NUTRIENT UTILIZATION IN LACTATING DAIRY COWS

EFFECTS OF DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE AND PROTEIN ON MAMMARY NUTRIENT UTILIZATION IN LACTATING DAIRY COWS Richelle V. Curtis Advisor: Dr. J. P. Cant University of Guelph, 2018 The main objective of this thesis was to investigate effects of nutritional status, particularly of carbohydrate and protein, on lactational performance, mammary nutrient utilization and gene expression in dairy cows. The first experiment was conducted to characterize mammary transcriptional response to starch level on lowand high-protein diets in eight lactating dairy cows. Cows consuming the high-starch diets had greater milk protein yields (MPY) and greater expression of a translational machinery-related gene, indicating that starch stimulates MPY through increases in translational capacity in mammary secretory cells. The objective of the second experiment was to investigate mammary utilization of blood metabolites, as well as further characterize mammary and muscle gene expression in twelve lactating dairy cows receiving infusions of glucose and two levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) consuming a low-protein diet. Glucose infusions increased milk and MPY, reduced total and BCAA plasma concentrations but did not affect mammary uptakes of amino acids. Provision of BCAA caused reduced MPY, decreased circulating non-branched-chain essential amino acids, as well as mammary uptake, and did not affect plasma urea concentrations. Results indicate that the glucose effect on MPY was not limited by low BCAA concentrations, and that stimulation of non-mammary peripheral tissue use of non-branched-chain essential amino acids by BCAA led to a decrease in MPY. Finally, mammary gene expression was found to be unaffected by infusions or dietary protein and although select expression of genes in the muscle were affected, it was difficult to make any definitive conclusions. The research conducted here in this dissertation has shown that low plasma BCAA are not responsible for the poor stimulation of MPY in response to glucose. Furthermore, it has demonstrated that elevated plasma BCAA concentrations appear to stimulate protein synthesis in non-mammary peripheral tissues rather than in the mammary glands of lactating dairy cows.
Galling pattern and host range studies of rice root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola)

Studies were conducted on host range studies and galling pattern of M. graminicola seven different galling patterns with divergence from the typical hook like galls were observed that are clue for the existence of new species/races. In order to identify that host range studies were conducted it includes two trails tested under glasshouses condition. The test hosts involved ten varieties of rice viz., Biliya, Jyothi×Kesari, Akkalu, Jyothi, MO4, Tunga, KHP-2, JGL-1778, Kesari and Jyothi×Biliya and standard North Carolina test cultivars ie. , tobacco cv. NC 95, cotton cv. Deltapine 16, peanut cv. Florunner, tomato cv. Rutgers and bhendi cv. Arka Anamika. All the tested cultivars used in the study were infected by M. graminicola, except cotton and bhendi no galls are observed on these cultivars. While, tomato (5.33), tobacco (12.40) and peanut (8.00) showed least galls on root system and least Rf value (0.035), (0.061) and (0.21) respectively. However, no galls were observed on cotton and bhendi and Rf value was nil. However, the North Carolina tomato cv. Rutgers showed galls on root system it is clearly showed that the North Carolina tomato cv. Rutgers is an experimental host for most of root- knot nematode, but not for the species that infect cereals, like. M. graminicola and M. graminis. Hence, it is an indication that existance of new species/races in this location that needs further confirmation.
A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: The aim of this prospective randomized-controlled trial was to evaluate the risks/benefits of prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) in patients with clinically node negative (cN0) papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Background: Microscopic lymph node involvement in patients with PTC is common, but the optimal management is unclear. Methods: Sixty patients with cN0 PTC were randomized to a total thyroidectomy (TT) or a TT+ pCND. All patients received postoperative laryngoscopies and standardized radioiodine treatment. Thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and/or neck ultrasounds were performed at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Results: Tumors averaged 2.2 ± 0.2 cm and 11.9% had extra-thyroidal extension. Thirty patients underwent a pCND and 27.6% had positive nodes (all ≤6 mm). Rates of postoperative PTH < 10 (33.3% vs 24.1%, P = 0.57) and transient nerve dysfunction (13.3% vs 10.3%, P = 1.00) were not significantly different between groups. Six weeks after surgery, both TT and TT + pCND were equally likely to achieve a Tg < 0.2 (54.5% vs 66.7%, P = 0.54) and/or a stimulated Tg (sTg) <1 (59.3% vs 64.0%, P = 0.78). At 1 year, rates of Tg < 0.2 (88.9% vs 90.0%, P = 1.00) and sTg < 1 (93.8% vs 92.3%, P = 1.00) remained similar between groups. Neck ultrasounds at 1 year were equally likely to be read as normal (85.7% in TT vs 85.1% in pCND, P = 1.00). Conclusions: cN0 PTC patients treated either with TT or TT + pCND had similar complication rates after surgery. Although microscopic nodes were discovered in 27.6% of pCND patients, oncologic outcomes were comparable at 1 year.
Examining within-person relationships between state assessments of affect and eudaimonic well-being using multi-level structural equation modeling

ABSTRACT Prior research has highlighted the possibility that current affect may be interchangeable with state assessments of other dimensions of subjective well-being. In the present study, we conducted a systematic replication and extension by examining the relationship between state assessments of affect and eudaimonic well-being (meaning, core self-evaluation, authenticity, and gratitude) in a 14-day diary assessment (N = 207 with 2,147 assessments). We utilized multi-level structural equation modeling (ML-SEM) with affect as a time-varying covariate and found that the impact of affect for these outcomes was less consequential than for assessments of state satisfaction, and that the impact of positive affect on these dimensions was stronger than that of negative affect.
Adapting Interactive Shared Reading Interventions for Young Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorder: RECALL

30 YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN Vol. 25, No. 1, March 2022 https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250620950244 DOI: 10.1177/1096250620950244 journals.sagepub.com/home/yec Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions © 2020 Division for Early Childhood Melissa, the teacher in an inclusive preschool, recognizes the importance of early literacy and embeds literacyrelated activities throughout the day. She uses books to introduce and expand thematic units, set the stage for play in center activities, and facilitate transitions. She schedules time each day for whole and small group shared reading. Melissa has noticed that Lindsay, a 4-year-old girl with autism, struggles to stay actively engaged in and, therefore, benefit from the shared book reading activities. She does not answer questions or initiate social interactions about the book, even though Melissa structures her shared reading to encourage children’s participation. Melissa, like many early childhood educators, uses the evidenced-based practice of interactive shared book reading (ISBR) to promote the development of important communication and literacy skills (Rezzonico et al., 2015). ISBR for preschoolers has been shown to build both vocabulary and conceptual knowledge, which in turn contributes to later language and reading comprehension development (Mol et al., 2009; National Early Literacy Panel [NELP], 2009). A critical role of an educator is to ensure that every child 950244 YECXXX10.1177/1096250620950244YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILDRENShort Title / Jackson et al. research-article2020
Effect of ICT tools attributes in accessing technical, market and financial information among youth dairy agripreneurs in Tanzania

Abstract The purpose of this article is to determine the effect of Information and communications technology (ICT) tools’ attributes in accessing technical, market and financial information among youthful dairy agripreneurs in Arumeru District, Tanzania. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire from 347 farming households. Descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show that utilization of the various ICT tools (mobile phone, television (TV) and radio) is interrelated, whereas several factors, including extension contacts, installation of electricity, level of buyer trust, availability of market information and receiving of remittances, are found to affect the probability of ICT use. Findings also reveal that complementarity, accessibility, relevance and timeliness had a positive effect on ICT use, while the feedback attribute had a negative influence on ICT use. This finding underscores the need to consider ICT tools’ attributes when designing a sustainable ICT-based information delivery model for dairy youth agripreneurs. An understanding of actual users’ preference for ICT attributes can provide a blueprint for the ongoing ICT-based public- and private-sector initiatives that target youth-users more effectively.
Isolation and molecular phylogeny of RFT1 gene from upland rice leaves cultivar

Rice is a modern short-day plant but equally flower during non-inductive long-day condition due to the possession of second florigen, Rice Flowering Locus T1 (RFT1) . RFT1 is an ortholog of Arabidopsis FT gene which triggers flowering induction under long-day (LD) condition. The gene isolation from Malaysian upland rice cv. Wai that induces flowering were reported. Nucleic acids isolation and amplification of the RFT1 were observed, then phylogenetic relationship among other 5 indica and 1 japonica rice were inferred by comparing the gene amino acids sequence data sets using multiple sequence alignment databases. The amplicon quality result indicated that the gene was fully amplified at above 0.5kb, whereas the sequence alignment revealed that the RFT1 gene was partially amplified based on the gaps identified. Among the 6 indica cultivars sequence aligned, they were almost all conserved except on only 12 amino acids. While the cladogram tree result classified the cultivars into three major groups and include Wai under clade that contains both indica and japonica cultivars. This finding concluded that the cultivars are of high evolutionary relationship and well established their molecular relationship. The cultivars relationship provides necessary information for better understanding of molecular evolution and designing scientific breeding system for generation of new rice cultivar.
A preliminary study of the movement patterns of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in coastal and pelagic waters of the Northern Territory, Australia

The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is regarded as Data Deficient globally and in Australia. In most parts of its range, there is little information on its social behaviour, dispersal or ecology. The present study is the first assessment of its movement patterns in Australian waters, on the basis of satellite tracking of four individuals, in the Arafura and Timor Seas from late March to early July 2014. When initially tagged, the four individuals occurred in a single group; they then showed generally similar movement patterns and regularly re-associated. Total distance travelled by tagged individuals ranged from 5161km (over a 54-day period) to 7577km (104 days). Distance from land varied from 100m to 188km (median distance 24km). Individual minimum convex polygons covered an area of 72368 to 86252km2, with a total overlap of 64038km2. Water depths varied from 0.3 to 118m (median 36m). In total, 15% of records were in waters shallower than 10m, and 26% of records were within 10km of land. The present study indicated that false killer whales appear to regularly use coastal and pelagic waters in this region and, hence, should be afforded more conservation attention.
Preliminary measurements on the geography of urban VHF radio-frequency noise

Radio-frequency (RF) noise has typically been measured at a handful of fixed, representative locations within the urban environment (Achatz, Lo, Papazian, Dalke, & Hufford, 1998; Achatz & Dalke, 2001; Dalke, Achatz, Lo, Papazian, & Hufford, 1997; Wepman & Sanders, 2011; Wagstaff & Merricks, 2005; Spaulding & Disney, 1974). In this work, we discuss the development of a mobile RF noise measurement system and the necessary geospatial and statistical post-processing techniques required to characterize the variations in noise on the street-scale in the VHF sections (60 – 300 MHz) of the spectrum. We discuss the design of our mobile noise measurement system, with special focus on the choice and calibration of preselection filters and preamplifiers necessary to reliably measure low RF noise levels while avoiding intermodulation distortion problems that arise in an environment with many strong emitters. Additionally, we describe post-processing techniques developed to reliably merge and interpolate the RF data with geolocation data which are collected on two very different (microsecond and multisecond, respectively) timescales. We use a preliminary urban dataset from Boston, MA to show that the geo-statistical properties of RF noise power can vary appreciably over street-scale distances, and that these spatial variations are repeatable over tactically relevant times.