Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Neighborhood Learning for Deep 3-D Segmentation of Point Cloud

Semantic segmentation of point cloud data, an efficient 3-D scattered point representation, is a fundamental task for various applications, such as autonomous driving and 3-D telepresence. In recent years, deep learning techniques have achieved significant progress in semantic segmentation, especially in the 2-D image setting. However, due to the irregularity of point clouds, most of them cannot be applied to this special data representation directly. While recent works are able to handle the irregularity problem and maintain the permutation invariance, most of them fail to capture the valuable high-dimensional local feature in fine granularity. Inspired by fuzzy mathematical methods and the analysis on the drawbacks of current state-of-the-art works, in this article, we propose a novel deep neural model, Fuzzy3DSeg, that is able to directly feed in the point clouds while maintaining invariant to the permutation of the data feeding order. We deeply integrate the learning of the fuzzy neighborhood feature of each point into our network architecture, so as to perform operations on high-dimensional features. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this network architecture level integration, compared with methods of the fuzzy data preprocessing cascading neural network. Comprehensive experiments on two challenging datasets demonstrate that the proposed Fuzzy3DSeg significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art methods.
MYRMECOMORPHY AND MYRMECOPHILY IN SPIDERS : A REVIEW

Myrmecomorphs are arthropods that have evolved a morphological resemblance to ants. Myrmecophiles are arthropods that live in or near ant nests and are considered true symbionts. The literature and natural history information about spider myrmecomorphs and myrmecophiles are reviewed. Myrmecomorphy in spiders is generally considered a type of Batesian mimicry in which spiders are gaining protection from predators through their resemblance to aggressive or unpalatable ants. Selection pressure from spider predators and eggsac parasites may trigger greater integration into ant colonies among myrmecophilic spiders.
Characterization of microsatellite markers in the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C. F Gaertn) in Mali

In order to study the genetic diversity and structure in the population of Vitellaria paradoxo, we characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Primers to amplify these loci were tested on 169 individual trees representing a sample of the population of shea tree in Mali. The loci were all polymorphic with a number of alleles between three to nine and with observed level of heterozygosity ranging from 0.035 to 0.507. These markers will be useful for genetic and ecological studies of this species. (Resume d'auteur)
METABOLISM OF MANNITOL IN MYCORRHIZAL AND NON‐MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

Summary The activity of mannitol dehydrogenase, mannitol 1-phosphatase and mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase in five mycorrhizal basidiomycetes, one mycorrhizal ascomycete and five non-mycorrhizal basidiomycetes was investigated. No mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase could be detected in any of the basidiomycetes. Mannitol dehydrogenase, present in all the tested fungi except Armillariella mellea, was strictly NAD-dependent for the non-mycorrhizal basidiomycetes, whereas in the mycorrhizal species it was mainly NADP-dependent. The mannitol 1-phosphatase of the mycorrhizal basidiomycetes was specific towards mannitol 1-phosphate in contrast to that of the non-mycorrhizal species, which was a non-specific phosphatase. In the ascomycete Sphaerosporella brunnea all the mannitol metabolizing enzymes were found, including mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase. Growth of S. brunnea on mannitol slightly decreased the activity of the mannitol dehydrogenase (NADP) and mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase, but there was a slight increase in activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
A System-Based Approach to Expert Assessment Work-Exploring Experiences among Professionals in the Norwegian Educational Psychological Service and Schools

ABSTRACT The focus of this Q methodological study was to explore how professionals in the Educational Psychological Service (EPS) and schools experienced a system-based approach to expert assessment work. Forty informants from the EPS and schools sorted 60 statements about the assessment process. The following two shared viewpoints were identified: (1) teacher-focused EPS advisers and (2) principal-focused EPS advisers. While the two groups of EPS advisers seem to approach the school via either the teacher or the principal, joint collaboration on developing knowledge during the assessment process seems scarce in both viewpoints. The students’ experience with school life is the least emphasized. Challenges related to collaboration on developing expert knowledge between the EPS and the student, teacher and principal are discussed. Three practical implications for the realization of a system-based approach to expert assessment work are suggested and further linked to implications for understanding and interpreting EPS's statutory task.
Genetic Divergence among Northern Pike from Spawning Locations in the Upper St. Lawrence River

Abstract To assess the ecological consequences associated with the degradation of riparian wetlands that historically provided spawning and rearing habitat for northern pike Esox lucius, annual spawning migrations and genetic structure were used to examine this species' dependence on four specific spawning areas in the Thousand Islands region of the Saint Lawrence River. Tagging and recapture over three consecutive spawning seasons resulted in low return rates (ranging from 1.2% in bays to 8.3% in tributaries), and some exchange was observed between locations. Angler recaptures indicated that northern pike did not disperse widely; 72% were recaptured less than 2.5 km from their tagging location, though the remainder moved distances ranging from 2.5 to 18 km. Six microsatellite loci showed significant allele frequency differences and small but significant genetic differentiation (F ST) values among spawning sites in close proximity ( 20 km) were .
The Use of a Novel Ferulic Acid Esterase from Lactobacillus acidophilus K1 for the Release of Phenolic Acids from Brewer's Spent Grain

In this work, an extracellular ferulic acid esterase was produced in bioreactor cultivations of Lactobacillus acidophilus K1 strain. The enzyme was partially purified using ultrafiltration (10 kDa), dialysis (4-6 kDa) and Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (Sepharose CM, Sephacryl S-300). A considerable increment of enzyme activity (31-fold) in the final preparation was achieved. Two distinct bands (approx. 21.5 kDa and 39 kDa) were obtained after SDS-PAGE. A high similarity of the purified enzyme (LC-MS/MS analysis) to tannase and ferulic acid esterase from Burkholderia ambifaria MEX-5 was obtained. The optimal pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were 6.3 and 37°C, respectively. The enzyme preparation effectively released phenolic acids (mainly ferulic and p-coumaric acid) from brewer's spent grain. This novel enzyme preparation can be used for the utilisation of a valuable and inexpensive by-product of the brewing industry.
Semen cryopreservation of salmonid fishes: Influence of handling parameters on the postthaw fertilization rate

Using the cryopreservation method of Lahnsteiner, Berger, Weismann & Patzner (1995, Aquaculture Research26, 801-807) the influence of allowable variations of methodical parameters (storage of semen before cryopreservation, dilution ratios in the extender, equilibration in the extender, cooling rates, storage of deep-frozen semen in liquid nitrogen, storage of frozen/thawed semen, minimal sperm/egg ratio) was investigated under the aspect of routine utilization. Under optimized experimental conditions, fertilization rates were 90-100% of controls in Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), Salmo trutta L. f. lacustrisSalmo truttaL.f. fario and Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). The following results were obtained: 1. Storage of untreated semen for more than 1 h before cryopreservation decreased the postthaw fertility. 2. Equilibration of semen up to 20 min in the extender did not affect the postthaw fertility. 3. Optimal dilution ratio of semen in the extender was threefold in Oncorhynchus mykiss and Salvelinus fontinalis. Lower dilution ratios decreased the postthaw fertility, higher dilution ratios did not affect the postthaw fertility. In Salmo trutta f. lacustris and Salmo trutta f. fario, which have a higher sperm density, optimal dilution ratio of semen in the extender was fivefold to sevenfold. 4. In Oncorhynchus mykiss, as in Salmo trutta f lacustris and Salmo trutta f. fario, the optimal freezing height was at 1.5 cm above the level of liquid nitrogen (-110 ± 2oC); in Salvelinus fontinalis it was 2.5 cm above the level of liquid nitrogen (-92 ± 2oC). Changes in the freezing height of 0.5 cm (about 10oC) resulted in a significant decrease of postthaw fertility. 5. Storage of deep-frozen semen for up to 370 days in liquid nitrogen had no influence on its postthaw fertilization rate. 6. Storage of frozen/thawed semen for 30 s before insemination significantly decreased its postthaw fertility. 7. Reliable minimal sperm:egg ratio to obtain fertilization rates of 90-100% of control was 3-5 X 105 spermatozoa egg-1.
First record of Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Pisces: Gempylidae) from New Zealand

Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1849) is widespread in warmer oceanic waters and has recently been recorded in the catches of tuna longline vessels in the New Zealand region. Twenty‐five specimens were caught at 31°46′‐32°03′S, 170°49′‐171°11′ E on 23–27 June 1979, thus extending the known range of the species to northern New Zealand.
An Effective Power Dispatch Strategy for Clustered Microgrids While Implementing Optimal Energy Management and Power Sharing Control Using Power Line Communication

The mitigation of uncertainty in the availability of power generation from microgrids to enable renewable resources to be dispatched is a daunting task for the individual operators. Installing energy storage systems may reduce the impact of renewable energy intermittency. However, a peculiarity in energy management can be arisen, particularly, when different energy providers manage these resources. Hence, an intelligent utilization approach should be devised to maximize the benefits of using battery energy storage, since the cost of this system is the most expensive part. This article proposes an effective power dispatch strategy for clustered microgrids. The developed hybrid algorithm implements optimal energy management and power sharing control using binary data. The frequency-shift keying (FSK) technique has been adopted for transmitting the binary signal over the power line communication (PLC). A part of the algorithm is utilized to deal with the optimal scheduling control, whereas the other actuates the dynamic-demand-response-based photovoltaic power forecasting. The performance of the proposed approach with the formulated backup injection index has been validated using data collected from the practical network of “Bario, Sarawak. ” The presented results suggest that the implementation of the proposed strategy can improve the efficiency of the overall system, causing less operating cost and fast return. It was also found that the binary signal can be transferred with less distortion through PLC networks when using the FSK technique compared to other techniques.
Antimicrobial activity and chemical components of two plants, Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi , used as Korean herbal Injin

This study compared the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of two plants used as “Injin” (Korean herbal medicine), namely, Injinho (Artemisia capillaris Thunberg) and Haninjin (Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura). The ethyl acetate and ether fractions of crude methanol extracts from A. capillaris and A. iwayomogi were tested against three grampositive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus), two gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens ), and a yeast (Saccharomyceus cerevisiae). The antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate and ether fraction of both plants was strong, but that of A. iwayomogi extracts was higher than that of A. capillaris extract for the microbes tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the ether and ethyl acetate fraction of A. iwayomogi was highest for P. fluorescens and lowest for S. aureus and E. coli. We analyzed the chemical composition of the ethyl acetate fraction of A. capillaris and A. iwayomogi using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main components of A. capillaris and A. iwayomogi were escoparone (86.82%) and scopoletin (20.47%), respectively.
Falling liquid films in narrow tubes: occlusion scenarios

We study a gravity-driven wavy liquid film falling down the inner surface of a narrow cylindrical tube in the presence of an active core gas flow. We employ the model of Dietze and Ruyer-Quil (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 762, 2015, pp. 68–109) to investigate the role of surface waves in the occlusion of the tube. We consider four real working liquids and reproduce several experiments from the literature, focusing on conditions where the Bond number is greater or equal to unity. We prove that occlusion is triggered by spatially growing surface waves beyond the limit of saturated travelling-wave solutions, and delimit three possible regimes for a naturally evolving wavy film: (i) certain occlusion, when the liquid Reynolds number is greater than the limit of the spatially most amplified travelling waves. Occlusion is caused by surface waves emerging from linear wave selection (scenario I); (ii) conditional occlusion, when the most amplified waves possess travelling states but longer waves do not. Occlusion is triggered by secondary instability, generating long waves through nonlinear coarsening dynamics (scenario II); and (iii) impossible occlusion, when travelling waves always exist, no matter how great their wavelength. We show that certain occlusion is delayed by gravity and precipitated by a counter-current gas flow, axial viscous diffusion (high-viscosity liquids) and inertia (low-viscosity liquids). The latter two effects are also found to determine whether the occlusion mechanism is dictated by loss of travelling-wave solutions or absolute instability. Finally, we show that occlusion can be prevented through coherent inlet forcing. As a side benefit, we introduce an augmented version of our model based on a localized additional force term that allows representing stable travelling liquid pseudo-plugs.
Do mosquitoes influence bat activity in coastal habitats?

Abstract Context. Conservation of insectivorous bat populations requires appropriate management of foraging habitats and the prey resources they sustain. Endangered coastal saltmarsh communities support a diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial arthropods, including the saltmarsh mosquito (Aedes vigilax Skuse), an important vector of mosquito-borne viruses and a potentially important prey resource for insectivorous bats. Prey detectability by bats is considered to be limited with low-frequency echolocation, particularly in cluttered habitats, that may render abundant Ae. vigilax populations unavailable to some bat species. Aims. To investigate relationships between availability of Ae. vigilax and non-mosquito prey, and the activity of foraging insectivorous bats in a range of coastal habitats. Methods. We measured nightly bat activity and the abundance of prey (mosquito and non-mosquito) concurrently during neap and spring tides in saltmarsh, urban and forest habitats. Comparisons were made between tidal cycle and habitats, and relationships between bat activity and the abundance of prey were examined. Key results. Whereas prey abundances were generally greatest in saltmarsh and forest habitats, bat activity was greatest in the forest habitat. However, proportional feeding activity was greatest in saltmarsh. Prey abundance was positively correlated with total bat activity only in the open saltmarsh, where an absence of clutter would maximise prey detectability and thus availability. Positive correlations between Ae. vigilax abundance and bat activity, across all habitats, were restricted to bats of the Vespadelus genus, which are small-sized bats that employ high-frequency echolocation suitable for detection of small prey along edges. Conclusions. These findings suggest that Ae. vigilax may be an important prey resource for small, high-frequency echolocating bats capable of discerning small prey within cluttered forest as well as exploiting abundant prey in the open saltmarsh. Implications. Small, high-frequency echolocating bats should be the focus of future studies investigating the importance of small prey, such as Ae. vigilax, to the diets of foraging bats.
In Vitro Evaluation of N-Formimidoyl Thienamycin (MK0787) Combined with Amikacin Against Gram-Negative Bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus

The in vitro synergistic activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin and amikacin was determined against gentamicin-resistant enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. N-Formimidoyl thienamycin showed synergism with amikacin against 19 of the gentamicin-resistant strains, 14 of the 49 strains of S. aureus, and only 1 strain of the 46 P. aeruginosa isolates.
QUANTITATIVE MORPHO-FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SIMMETRY-ASIMMETRY CONDITION OF HUMAN NORMAL KIDNEY

PURPOSE: The aim of the present research was to perform quantitative morpho-functional analysis of the symmetry-asymmetry condition of human normal autopsy and “live” kidneys using the complex of morphological and ultra-sonographic methods. METHODS: Morphometric study of 10 autopsy kidneys of healthy men 36 60 years of age was conducted; retrospective analysis of data obtained by vital ultra-sonographic study of 65 kidneys of men without renal diseases at the same age period was performed as well. All kidneys were with a single renal artery. RESULTS: The kidney length and width are statistically significantly greater on right, than on left, but there were no statistically significant differences between right and left kidneys in thickness of the kidney and size of its parenchyma. Results of morphometric study of autopsy renal glomeruli, as well as multislice computed tomographic angiography and doppler investigation of renal artery in color duplex scan mode did not show any statistically significant differences on right and on left. CONCLUSIONS: For determining of the standard quantitative indicators of kidney it is necessary to take into account the age and gender of the studied people, as well as the effect of side.
An Expression for the Variance of Abundance Estimates Using a Fish Echo Integrator

A mathematical model of the fish echo integrator, an acoustic device for measuring the abundance of pelagic fish, is presented. This model is analyzed and general expressions for the mean and variance of the integrator output are obtained. The integrator output can be scaled to provide an estimate of the total number of fish in the volume of water surveyed. The effect of each system parameter on the variance of the estimate is investigated and optimum operational procedures are suggested.
Association between genetic variation of the insulin receptor gene and essential hypertension in the Korean population

Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disease, and has been shown to be associated with insulin resistance. The relationship between the genetic variation of the insulin receptor (INSR) gene and essential hypertension in Korean population was investigated by the Nsi I restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern of this gene. The observed genotype frequencies of INSR gene were not deviated from those expected for the Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), but a significant association was observed between essential hypertension and N1 allele of Nsi I RFLP at the INSR gene (χ2‐test; P<0.05). Moreover, the frequency of N1 allele was significantly different between normotensives and essential hypertensives in subgroups that were not obese (χ2‐test; P<0.05). These data suggest that the Nsi I RFLP of INSR gene may be a useful genetic marker for essential hypertension in Korean population.
Effect of induced hypothyroidism on the fertility of male goats

To study the effect of induced hypothyroi­ dism on fertility status of male Black Bengal goats, 10 adult healthy mature males were divided into control and treated groups. Hypothyroidism was induced successfully by injecting thiourea subcutaneously initially for 15 days at the rate of 100 mg/kg body weight, followed by 66.7 mg/kg body weight for the subse quent 15 days. This resulted in a decrease (p < 0.01) in plasma tri-iodothyronine, thyro­ xine and testosterone levels, with increasing duration of thiourea treatment. It also adversely affected semen quality, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, motility and viability. Live percentage declined to 75% for treated and control remained at 90%. Artificial insemination of female goats with semen of thiourea-treated goats, resulted in failure of conception. However, females inseminated with semen of male goats of control group showed 100 % conception. These obser­ vations indicate that, thyroid hormones play a key role in maintaining the normal reproductive procecess of male goats. (