Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Layer-Skippable Inference Network

The process of learning good representations for machine learning tasks can be very computationally expensive. Typically, the model learned on training set is leveraged to infer the labels of testing data. Interestingly, this learning and inference paradigm, however, is quite different from the typical inference scheme of human biological visual systems. Essentially, neuroscience studies have shown that the right hemisphere of the human brain predominantly makes a fast processing of low-frequency spatial signals, while the left hemisphere more focuses on analyzing high-frequency information in a slower way. And the low-pass analysis helps facilitate the high-pass analysis via feedback. Inspired by this biological vision mechanism, this article explores the possibility of learning a layer-skippable inference network. Specifically, we propose a layer-skippable network that dynamically carries out coarse-to-fine object categorization. Such a network has two branches to jointly deal with both coarse and fine-grained classification tasks. The layer-skipping mechanism is proposed to learn a gating network by generating dynamic inference graphs, and reducing the computational cost by detouring the inference path from some layers. This adaptive path inference strategy endows the deep networks with dynamic structures, making the networks enjoy greater flexibility and larger capacity. To efficiently train the gating network, a novel ranking-based loss function is adopted. Furthermore, the learned representations are enhanced by the proposed top-down feedback mechanism and feature-wise affine transformation, individually. The former one employs features of a coarse branch to help the fine-grained object recognition task, while the latter one encodes the selected path to enhance the final feature representations. Extensive experiments are conducted on several widely used coarse-to-fine object categorization benchmarks, and promising results are achieved by our proposed model. Quite surprisingly, our layer-skipping mechanism improves the network robustness to adversarial attacks.
Recruitment in Rocky Mountain greater sandhill cranes and comparison with other crane populations

The sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) has the lowest known recruitment (% juv in fall and winter of any avian species hunted in North America. Long-term recruitment data provide insight into a population's productivity, ability to support harvest, and responses to management programs. During 1972-92, we annually collected age ratio (n = 191,968) and brood size (n = 12,239) data for greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida [greaters]) of the Rocky Mountain Population (RMP) at their migration stopover in the San Luis Valley, Colorado (fall), and at sites in New Mexico (winter) and southeastern Arizona (winter). We collected similar data (1987-92) for lesser sandhill cranes (G. c. canadensis [lessers]) from the Midcontinent Population (MCP) wintering in flocks mixed with RMP cranes, and for greaters of the Lower Colorado River Valley Population (LCRVP) wintering in western Arizona (1973-75 and 1989-92). Annual recruitment in the RMP averaged 8.1% (SE = 0.6) in fall and 8.0% (SE = 0.5) in winter over 21 years; mean brood size was 1.25 (SE = 0.02) in fall and 1.23 (SE = 0.02) in winter. In years with higher percent juveniles, more pairs fledged multiple young (P < 0.01); second and rarely third chicks in broods composed 20% of RMP recruitment. Recruitment and brood size had a downward trend (P < 0.01) over 21 years. During 1986-92, recruitment and brood size were below average (P < 0.01), apparently due to drought in breeding areas. We estimated survival rates of RMP cranes to be 0.95 during 1972-85, 0.94 during 1985-90, and 0.91 during 1990-92. Recruitment, survival estimates, and count data during 1985-92 suggest that the RMP is stable at 20,000-21,500 or declining slightly and cannot sustain increased harvest. Recruitment in MCP lessers averaged 11.2% (SE = 0.34) and mean brood size was 1.14 (SE = 0.02). Mean recruitment in LCRVP greaters was 4.8% (SE = 0.93), and mean brood size was 1.14 (SE = 0.028). Mean recruitment in most other North American crane populations was 5-14%. The whooping crane (G. americana) has the highest long-term (55 yr) recruitment (13.9%) of any North American crane population. Recruitment data alone cannot be used to estimate rate of increase and are difficult to interpret without additional demographic information. However, perennially low recruitment (≤ 5-6%) approximates the lowest documented mortality rates in any North American crane population, and should be a cause for concern, particularly in hunted populations. Management of crane populations can be improved by annually gathering data on recruitment, population size, and hunter harvest, and by obtaining survival estimates from long-term studies
Effects of essential oils on central nervous system: Focus on mental health

Essential oils have been used as remedies since ancient times for the treatment of numerous illnesses on account of their wide range of biological activities. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have shown varying pharmacological responses in the nervous system leading to anxiolytic, antidepressant, sedative, and anticonvulsant effects. Experimentation in animal models has evidenced the involvement of multiple neurotransmitter systems in the mode of action of essential oils, resulting in measurable physiological effects in the brain. Additionally, clinical trials have demonstrated the influence of essential oils in physiological parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, brain waves composition, and cortisol serum levels with concomitant psychological effects. Although there is growing evidence of measurable effects of essential oils in animal brains, more clinical research is required to validate their influence in the human central nervous system. This will enable the development of essential oil‐based drugs for the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and dementia.
EraseNet: End-to-End Text Removal in the Wild

Scene text removal has attracted increasing research interests owing to its valuable applications in privacy protection, camera-based virtual reality translation, and image editing. However, existing approaches, which fall short on real applications, are mainly because they were evaluated on synthetic or unrepresentative datasets. To fill this gap and facilitate this research direction, this article proposes a real-world dataset called SCUT-EnsText that consists of 3,562 diverse images selected from public scene text reading benchmarks, and each image is scrupulously annotated to provide visually plausible erasure targets. With SCUT-EnsText, we design a novel GAN-based model termed EraseNet that can automatically remove text located on the natural images. The model is a two-stage network that consists of a coarse-erasure sub-network and a refinement sub-network. The refinement sub-network targets improvement in the feature representation and refinement of the coarse outputs to enhance the removal performance. Additionally, EraseNet contains a segmentation head for text perception and a local-global SN-Patch-GAN with spectral normalization (SN) on both the generator and discriminator for maintaining the training stability and the congruity of the erased regions. A sufficient number of experiments are conducted on both the previous public dataset and the brand-new SCUT-EnsText. Our EraseNet significantly outperforms the existing state-of-the-art methods in terms of all metrics, with remarkably superior higher-quality results. The dataset and code will be made available at https://github.com/HCIILAB/SCUT-EnsText.
Screening of tetrodotoxin and its derivatives in puffer-related species

Attempts were made to detect tetrodotoxin (TTX) and its derivatives in the following fish species which are phylogenically related to the family Tetraodontidae: spiny puffer “harisenbon” Diodon holacanthus, sunfish “manbou” Mola mola, “uchiwafugu” puffer Triodon bursarius, “kawahagi” filefish Stephanolepis cirrhifer, and “umazurahagi” filefish Navodon modestus. The liver of each species did not show toxicity (<5MU/g) when assayed by the official method using mice. The liver was extracted with acidic methanol, and the TTX fraction was separated from the extract by the method consisting mainly of ultrafiltration and gel chromatography. In UV, HPLC, and GC-MS analyses, TTX fraction from spiny puffer showed anyhdroTTX, in addition to a small amount of TTX, which coincided with the phylogenically closest relationship of this species to the family Tetraodontidae.
Comprehensive Behavioral Phenotyping of a 16p11.2 Del Mouse Model for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The microdeletion of copy number variant 16p11.2 is one of the most common genetic mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Here, we describe our comprehensive behavioral phenotyping of the 16p11.2 deletion line developed by Alea Mills on a C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ F1 background (Delm). Male and female Delm mice were tested in developmental milestones as preweanlings (PND2‐PND12), and were tested in open field activity, elevated zero maze, rotarod, novel object recognition, fear conditioning, social approach, and other measures during post‐weaning (PND21), adolescence (PND42), and adulthood (>PND70). Developmentally, Delm mice show distinct weight reduction that persists into adulthood. Delm males also have reduced grasp reflexes and limb strength during development, but no other reflexive deficits whereas Delm females show limb strength deficits and decreased sensitivity to heat. In a modified version of a rotarod task that measures balance and coordinated motor activity, Delm males, but not females, show improved performance at high speeds. Delm males and females also show age‐specific reductions in anxiety‐like behavior compared with WTs, but neither sex show deficits in a social preference task. When assessing learning and memory, Delm males and females show age‐specific impairments in a novel object or spatial object recognition, but no deficits in contextual fear memory. This work extends the understanding of the behavioral phenotypes seen with 16p11.2 deletion by emphasizing age and sex‐specific deficits; important variables to consider when studying mouse models for neurodevelopmental disorders.
S-allyl Cysteine, a Garlic Compound, Produces an Antidepressant-Like Effect and Exhibits Antioxidant Properties in Mice

Depression is a psychiatric disorder, and oxidative stress is a significant mechanism of damage in this mood disorder. It is characterized by an enhancement of oxidative stress markers and low concentrations of endogenous antioxidants, or antioxidants enzymes. This suggests that antioxidants could have an antidepressant effect. S-allyl cysteine (SAC) is a compound with antioxidant action or free radical scavenger capacity. The purpose of the current research was to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect as well as the antioxidant role of SAC on a preclinical test, using the Porsolt forced swim test (FST). SAC (30, 70, 120, or 250 mg/kg, ip) was administered to male BALB/c mice daily for 17 days, followed by the FST at day 18. Oxidative stress markers (reactive oxygen species, superoxide production, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes activities) were analyzed in the midbrain, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. SAC (120 mg/kg) attenuated the immobility scores (44%) in the FST, and protection was unrelated to changes in locomotor activity. This antidepressant-like effect was related to decreased oxidative stress, as indicated by lipid peroxidation and manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity in the hippocampus. SAC exerts an antidepressant-like effect that correlated, in part, with preventing oxidative damage in hippocampus.
Further Insights into Nest-site Competition between Adelie and Chinstrap Penguins

istry of plurilocular reproductive stages. Protoplasma 77: 1-13. BOERSMA. D. 1975. Adaptations of Galapagos penguins for life in two different environments. Pp. 101-114 in The biology of penguins (B. Stonehouse, Ed.). London, Macmillan. CROLL, D. A. , & R. W. HOLMES. 1982. A note on the occurrence of diatoms on the feathers of diving seabirds. Auk 99: 765-766. RAND^LL, R. M. 1983. Biology of the Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus (L.) at St Croix Island, South Africa. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Univ. Port Elizabeth.
Red Shrimp Are a Rich Source of Nutritionally Vital Lipophilic Compounds: A Comparative Study among Edible Flesh and Processing Waste

This study was aimed at comparatively analyzing the sterols, tocopherols and fatty acids from edible flesh and processing waste obtained from three shrimp species, utilizing rapid liquid chromatography (LC)-atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results revealed the presence of significantly (p < 0.05) high proportions of health-beneficial omega-3 (n3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in Argentine red shrimp (34.3% in waste and 38.2% in the flesh), compared to black tiger shrimp (16.5–24.2%) and whiteleg shrimp (13.2–22.6%). Among sterols, cholesterol was found most dominant, accounting in the range 349.4 (white shrimp flesh) to 559.3 µg/g fresh weight (FW) (black shrimp waste). Surprisingly, waste was found to contain a substantially higher amount of α-tocopherol, for instance, 21.7 µg/g FW in edible flesh and 35.3 µg/g FW in the waste of black tiger shrimp. The correlation analysis indicated that shrimp with low total contents of lipids might have higher proportions of health-beneficial long-chain (LC)-n3-PUFAs eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The fat quality indices, including the high ratios of hypocholesterolemic (h)/hypercholesterolemic (H) fatty acids, and lowest values of the atherogenic index (AI) and thrombogenic index (TI) indicated the health-beneficial potential associated with fat intake from red shrimp. Overall, a significant amount of health-beneficial compounds in edible flesh of studied shrimp confers its extraordinary nutritional benefits. Moreover, considering the richness of processing waste with these compounds, their valorization can be prompted.
Fatty Acid Composition in Blubber, Liver, and Muscle of Marine Mammals in the Southern Baltic Sea

Simple Summary Marine mammals play an important role in marine ecosystems. However, as they are less accessible for research, relatively little is known about their physiology compared to terrestrial mammals. The stranding scheme of the Deutsches Meeresmuseum (Stralsund, Germany) continuously collects strandings and by-catches of marine mammals in the Baltic Sea in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In this project, the fatty acid composition of the liver, skeletal muscles, and blubber of harbour porpoises and grey seals from the southern Baltic Sea was investigated for the first time. In the liver and blubber tissue, the values and concentrations measured for both species are consistent with studies on other marine mammals. In a direct comparison of the focus species, the skeletal muscles of harbour porpoises exhibit higher concentrations of fatty acids than those of grey seals. In the future, these studies will be extended to the entire Baltic Sea, as we suspect that fatty acid composition can be used to determine the nutritional status of the animals and thus will allow for an objective assessment of the body condition. Abstract To date, only limited results on the fatty composition in different tissues of the top predators in the Baltic Sea are available. In the current study, tissue samples of blubber, skeletal muscle, and liver from 8 harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and 17 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea off Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were included in the investigation. While the total fatty acid content in liver and blubber tissue revealed no differences between both species, the total fatty acid content of muscle tissue was significantly differentand showed higher concentrations in harbour porpoise muscle compared with grey seals. The most abundant fatty acids in the blubber of grey seals and harbour porpoises (18:1cis-9, 16:1cis-9, 16:0 and 22:6n-3) were present in similar quantities and ratios to each other as known from other marine top predators. If future studies can show that differences in tissue fatty acid content are caused by variation in the nutritional status, and this may lead to the development of a more objective assessment of body condition in seals and porpoises recovered via stranding schemes.
Fever Without an Apparent Source in Young Infants: A Multicenter Retrospective Evaluation of Adherence to the Dutch Guidelines

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: The Dutch fever without an apparent source (FWS) guidelines were published to timely recognize and treat serious infections. We determined the adherence to the Dutch FWS guidelines and the percentage of serious infections in infants younger than 3 months of age. Second, we identified which clinical criteria, diagnostic tests, and management were associated with nonadherence to the guidelines. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in 2 Dutch teaching hospitals. We assessed the charts of all infants with FWS who presented at the emergency departments from September 30, 2017, to October 1, 2019. Diagnostic and therapeutic decisions were compared with the recommendations, as published in the Dutch guidelines. Infants were categorized into the nonadherence group in case 1 or more recommendations were not adhered to. Results: Data on 231 infants were studied; 51.5% of the cases adhered to the Dutch guidelines and 16.0% suffered from a serious infection. The percentage of infants with a serious infection was higher in the adherence compared with the nonadherence group. We observed no relevant differences in clinical outcomes. Univariate regression analysis showed that an abnormal white blood cell count was associated with nonadherence (OR 0.4, P = 0.049). Not obtaining a urine and blood culture and not starting intravenous antibiotic treatment were the most frequent reasons for nonadherence to the guidelines. Conclusions: Our study indicates that there was nonadherence in a large proportion of FWS cases. The guidelines may need to be adjusted to increase adherence.
Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and portal vein thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication in liver cirrhosis, especially decompensated cirrhosis [1], which negatively influences the outcomes of liver transplantation [2]. The incidence of PVT seems to be various in patients with different underlying liver diseases [such as alcohol, hepatitis B/C virus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH), autoimmune, cryptogenic, and others]. NAFLD has recently become a common indication for liver transplantation in the Western world [3]. In this setting, it is important to explore the association of NAFLD with PVT. Herein, we have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between NAFLD and PVT.
Tolerance responses to simulated herbivory in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa

: Herbivory causes both direct and indirect damage to plants, with negative consequences for plant performance and fitness. Plants have thus evolved strategies to counteract or mitigate such negative effects. The strategies used by aquatic plants to cope with herbivore pressure are of key importance to better understand ecological and evolutionary processes. However, little is known about such strategies. To help fill this gap, and to better understand induced responses to herbivory in aquatic plants, we simulated grazing at various intensities in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa for ca. 4 mo, and measured plant responses in terms of shoot density, aboveground biomass, leaf growth, total nitrogen and carbon content in tissues, total non-struc-tural carbohydrates in rhizomes and total phenolic content in leaves. Most of these plant attributes showed changes under both low and high simulated herbivory at the end of the experiment, indicating that C. nodosa is able to change a suite of plant traits to compensate for biomass losses. At least 3 tolerance strategies were involved in this process: growth compensation and overcompensation, increased nitrogen content (either from uptake or through reclamation from rhizome pools) and remobilization of carbohydrates stored in the rhizomes. Phenolic content decreased in the low-intensity treatment but was similar to control plants in the high-intensity herbivore treatment, indicating the role of phenolic compounds in the tolerance response.
Universal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) Testing Uptake in the Labor and Delivery Unit: Implications for Health Equity.

OBJECTIVE To understand severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing uptake in the labor and delivery unit and rationales for declining testing, and to institute a process to increase equitable testing uptake. METHODS We conducted a quality-improvement initiative from May 28-June 25, 2020, during the first 4 weeks of universal SARS-CoV-2 testing in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital labor and delivery unit. All consecutive patients presenting for delivery without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms were offered testing over four 1-week phases. Phase I documented the rate of testing uptake. Phase II recorded patients' reasons for declining testing. Phase III used phase II findings to create and implement shared decision-making tools. Phase IV offered each patient who declined nasopharyngeal testing an oropharyngeal alternative. The primary outcome was rate of SARS-CoV-2 testing uptake by phase. RESULTS Of 270 patients, 223 (83%) accepted testing and 47 (17%) declined. Maternal age and mode of delivery were similar between groups, whereas testing uptake was higher among nulliparous, White, Hispanic, or privately insured patients. There was a significant increase in the primary outcome of SARS-CoV-2 testing across phases I-IV, from 68% to 76% to 94% to 95%, respectively (Somers' D 0.45; 95% CI of association 0.30-0.59). The most commonly cited reason for declining testing was concern regarding testing discomfort. In subgroup analyses by race and insurance type, there was a significant increase in testing uptake across phases I-IV for Black patients (56%, 54%, 91%, 92%; Somers' D 0.36; 95% CI of association 0.28-0.64), White patients (76%, 93%, 96%, 100%; Somers' D 0.59; 95% CI of association 0.38-0.8), those with Medicaid insurance (60%, 64%, 88%, 92%; 95%; Somers' D 0.39; CI of association 0.22 to 0.56), and those with private insurance (77%, 96%, 97%, 100%; Somers' D 0.63; 95% CI of association 0.40-0.86). CONCLUSION Universal SARS-CoV-2 testing uptake significantly increased through a rapid-cycle improvement initiative. Aligning hospital policy with patient-centered approaches led to nearly universally acceptable testing.
Telephone‐based counselling helped parents to wean children off bottles at 2 years of age

Prolonged bottle-feeding has been associated with dental caries, obesity, iron deficiency and inappropriate eating habits. Previous studies on outpatient-based bottle-weaning interventions have showed mixed results (1-3). The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to compare a novel telephone-based intervention on bottle weaning, which extended beyond busy outpatient hours, with standard outpatient-based advice.