Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Sabella spallanzanii physical structure on soft sediment macrofaunal assemblages

Effective management of introduced species requires an understanding of their effects on native species and the processes that structure the habitat. The introduced European polychaete Sabella spallanzanii dominates epifaunal assemblages in south-eastern Australia, yet little is known about how it affects the structure of the surrounding assemblages. The present study investigated the differences between infaunal assemblages in the presence and absence of S. spallanzanii using clumps of real and mimic polychaetes. Both the real and mimic clumps had the same effect on an existing assemblage with fewer numbers of small crustaceans in the sediment under the clumps. The effects of S. spallanzanii on infaunal colonisation and larval abundances above and below the S. spallanzanii canopy were also investigated. Larval effects varied among taxa, depending on position (above and below the canopy) for bivalve larvae and presence/absence of S. spallanzanii for gastropod larvae. There was no effect of the S. spallanzanii clumps on infaunal colonisation. These results suggest that the effects of S. spallanzanii on larval abundances and colonisation may not be as significant as the effects on post-colonisation processes that structure macrofaunal assemblages in soft sediment habitats.
Preparation of poly(
 o
 ‐phenylenediamine) nanoparticles with hydrolysed PEO
 45
 ‐
 b
 ‐P
 t
 BA
 35
 as template and its electrochemical properties

Amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PEO45-b-PtBA35) from atom transfer radical polymerisation was hydrolysed to varying degrees through adjusting hydrolysis time. And the hydrolysis product poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PEO45-b-PAA35) was obtained and used as a template to synthesise nanostructured poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD). The influence of hydrolysis degrees of PEO45-b-PAA35 on the size and electrochemical properties of PoPD was investigated. Results showed that the PoPD particles have uniform sizes, and their size could be tuned with the hydrolysis degree of PEO45-b-PAA35. The average diameter and length of PoPD were less than 86 and 135 nm, and the size of these particles was increased with the increase of hydrolysis degree of PEO45-b-PAA35. Electrochemical characterisation proves that the particle with a smaller size had a better electrochemical activity. When the hydrolysis time was 12 h, the PoPD had the best specific capacitance compared with other samples. The discharge specific capacitance calculated by chronopotentiometric test of this sample is reached 809 F·g−1 at the current density of 0.5 A·g−1.
Temporary N starvation in maize (Zea mays L.) : effects on development, dry matter accumulation and grain yield

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Temporary N starvation in maize (Zea mays L.) : effects on development, dry matter accumulation and grain yield Philippe Girardin, Matthys Tollenaar, Arnaud Deltour, Joseph Muldoon, J.-L. Meyer
Photosynthesis in the Pericarp of Developing Wheat Grains

On mesure au cours du developpement du grain, les echanges d'oxygene a la lumiere ainsi qu'a l'obscurite. L'evolution relative de la photosynthese et de la respiration montre un pic photosynthetique coincidant avec un taux maximum de chlorophylle dans la couche verte du pericarpe. Tous les echanges d'oxygene sont acceleres par l'enlevement de la couche transparente du pericarpe. Cette operation est egalement indispensable pour obtenir une inhibition de la photosynthese par le DCMU
Influences of Osmotic Dehydration on Drying Behavior and Product Quality of Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

This research was conducted to assess the drying kinetics and product quality during osmotic dehydration and air drying of coconut cuts. The coconuts were osmotically pretreated by different concentration of sugar solution (40 °Brix, 50 °Brix, and 60 °Brix) and temperature of osmotic solution (35°C, 45°C and 55°C) were maintained. The proportion of fruit to solution was maintained 1:4 (w/v) and pretreatment process length was 3 hours. Higher osmotic solution temperature at 55°C with low concentration 40 °Brix resulted in a huge reduction of antioxidant activity, vitamin C, polyphenol, and color contents while higher osmotic solution concentration at 50 °Brix with lower temperature 35°C held more. The present investigation likewise exhibited that moisture loss and solute gain rate extended with the increasing of osmotic solution temperature and concentration. The outcomes demonstrated that drying regime was typically in the falling rate period. We used regression analysis to the experimental drying data to fit three thin layer drying models. The most Original Research Article Sarkar et al.; AFSJ, 15(3): 21-30, 2020; Article no.AFSJ. 56862 22 appropriate model(s) was selected using correlation coefficient (R) and root mean square error (RMSE). The page model showed a better fit of the experimental drying data (as compared to other models) on the basis that R> 0.9997 and RMSE < 0.0011. These data represent a good contribution to further investigation on the mass transfer kinetics and also demonstrated that fruits could be preserved with higher nutrient applying osmotic dehydration technique.
Appearance time, expansion rate and expansion duration for leaves of field-grown maize (Zea mays L.)

Date of appearance and expansion duration of leaves are critical parameters for calculating leaf area of a canopy, which is, in turn, an important component of growth. In this study, a three-line function and a logistic function were both fitted to normalized leaf area data of individual leaves from field-grown plants. Algorithms were developed relating leaf appearance time, expansion rate and expansion duration to growing degree days (GDD) from emergence. Leaf appearance time was a nonlinear function of leaf number. Both leaf expansion rate (RN) and leaf expansion duration (LN) were bell-shaped functions of leaf number (N) with RN skewed toward a lower value and LN skewed toward a higher value of N. These algorithms were used to develop a model of leaf area development detailed in a companion paper. Key words: Temperature, water stress, leaf area
Cretaceous Gondwanian Cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria)

Vršanský, P. 2004. Cretaceous Gondwanian Cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria). Entomol. Probl. 34(1–2): 49–54. – The dominant families in all studied Gondwanian sites are the extant families Mesoblattinidae (= Blattidae) and/or Blattellidae. Adults of a small species of Umenocoleidae with Polyphagoid affinities (plesiomorphies) are found in Lebanese amber (together with diverse immatures of a single species of Mesoblattinidae, and Blattulidae). The assemblage of the rich Santana Formation in Brazil is dominated by Blattellidae, with subdominant Blattulidae, and also Umenocoleidae. Impression fossils from Israel are a single adult Mesoblattinidae in the Barremian and two isolated wings, one of Mesoblattinidae and another of Blattellidae, in the Turonian. Polyphagidae are absent from the Cretaceous Gondwana. The radiation of modern Blattaria into Gondwana must have taken place after the Barremian. Cretaceous Gondwanian sites appear to be less diverse than Laurasian ones, where the family, genus as well as species level diversity is considerably higher. Based on roaches, the hypothesis of the relationship of the Israeli fauna to the Laurasian rather to Gondwanian sites (DOBRUSKINA et al. 1997) is questioned, but the fauna of the Lebaneese amber is found related (with a sister species) to the undescribed fauna of the New Jersey amber. New taxa described herein are Gondwablatta abrahami gen. et sp.nov. (Barremian); Nymphoblatta azari gen et sp.nov. (HauterivianAptian); Turoniblatta israelica gen et sp.nov. and Nehevblattella grofitica gen. et sp.nov. (Turonian).
Breeding system in an alpine species: Rhododendron ferrugineum L (Ericaceae) in the French northern Alps

The breeding system of the alpine shrub Rhododendron ferrugineum was studied at two sites of a population (site L and site H) in the French Alps. The aims were to estimate the degree of selfing and (or) outcrossing and to determine if floral traits (including floral morphology, pollen to ovule ratio, stigma receptivity) may be related to the breeding system of the shrub. First, floral traits (corolla length and anther, and style heights) were measured, the number of pollen tetrads and ovules were counted, and the date of stigma receptivity and anther dehiscence were recorded. Second, five pollinations treatments (unmanipulated flowers, natural selfing, hand selfing, natural outcrossing, and hand outcrossing) were performed on 35 randomly chosen individuals in each site, and after each treatment the number of seeds per fruit was recorded. The results demonstrate that Rhododendron ferrugineum is self-compatible (self-compatibility index = 0.95 and 0.97; auto-fertility index = 0.92 and 0.98; selfing rate = 0.24 and 0.11 at sites L and H, respectively). Indices values are not significantly different between the two sites and facultatively xenogamous (pollen to ovule ratio = 669.5 +/- 280.5 and 845.2 +/- 246.9 at sites L and H, respectively).
Aquaculture Development and Nutrition Management of Large Yellow Croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) in China: An Overview

Aquaculture production in China has made large contributions to the global total volume of fish for human consumption. The developed mariculture fish species large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) is the highest economic marine fish of China. As a schooling fish, large yellow croaker (LYC) usually migrates from northeast China to the southeast seacoast to over-winter. Indeed, there are several culture systems that can be applied for large yellow croaker, which should simulate the natural habitat for this fish species. The nutrition management of LYC has attracted researchers to study their nutrient requirements, growth, and other physiological characteristics. Here, we review the general biology (geographic distribution and habitat), hatchery development, aquaculture systems, and nutrition management of LYC. The paper aims to underpin the most significant investigations and highlight the future prospects for the LYC aquaculture industry in China.
Identifying the effect of tenant mix on rental price

This study reviews the literature about the correlation between the rental price and tenant mix in the shopping center. Our research aims at determining which variables can describe the model of tenant mix impact on the rental cost. One of the aspects that influence the architectural experience for shopping center visitors is the tenant mix aspect. Shopping centers with an optimum tenant mix may enhance its shopping experience and its rental price. Previous studies on rental cost and tenant mix have only been carried out in the first world countries and western countries. Indonesia has never conducted this study, so there is yet a method to quantify rental prices based on the tenant mix level for Indonesian shopping centers. Results of this literature study found that tenant mix variables include the number of units, size of the shopping center, average unit area, number of categories, and number of brands. Thus the shopping center in Indonesia would have a quantification standard of rental prices in the tenant mix level. Shopping center manager and retail observer in Indonesia can apply this quantification method. In the future, researchers may develop this study; they may examine the regression calculation on the correlation between shopping center rental prices and tenant mix.
Trophic level and overlap of sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Stable isotope and scat analyses were used in concert to determine trophic level and dietary overlap among California sea lions from different rookeries in the Gulf of California. Isotopic analysis of the fur of sea lion pups revealed differences in δ 15 N and δ 13 C values among rookeries during the breeding season. Mean δ 15 N and δ 13 C values varied from 20.2‰ to 22.4‰ and from -15.4%o to -14.0‰, respectively. The pattern of differences among rookeries was similar between years in most cases. Isotopic variations among rookeries were associated with differences in prey consumption. There was a significant correlation between δ 15 N value and trophic level, as determined by scat analysis. Joint application of isotopic and scat analyses allowed us to identify how the feeding habits of sea lions vary with location. Our results suggest the presence of spatial structure in available prey as well as the localized use of prey by sea lions across the Gulf of California.
Glucocorticoid-mediated Repression of NFκB Activity in Endothelial Cells Does Not Involve Induction of IκBα Synthesis*

Repression of NFκB-dependent gene expression is one of the major elements of immunosuppression by glucocorticoids. Protein-protein interactions between the glucocorticoid receptor and NFκB have been characterized and shown to be a possible mechanism of mutual inhibition of transactivation properties. More recently, glucocorticoid-mediated induction of IκBα, an inhibitor of NFκB, has been described in monocytes and lymphocytes; an increase in IκBα mRNA and protein resulted in inactivation and cytosolic retention of NFκB. Thus, rather than the physical interaction between the glucocorticoid receptor and NFκB, the up-regulation of IκBα was presented as the key element in immunosuppression by glucocorticoids. In contrast, we show that the IκBα pathway is not involved in glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of NFκB activity in endothelial cells. Although transcriptional activation by NFκB was significantly reduced in the presence of glucocorticoids, we did not detect induction of IκBα protein that could prevent nuclear translocation of NFκB upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or tumor necrosis factor α. Furthermore, treatment with glucocorticoids did not seem to affect the transcription rate or mRNA stability of IκBα. We therefore conclude that, although induction of IκBα expression by glucocorticoids seems to be of importance in monocytes and lymphocytes, it cannot explain inhibition of NFκB-dependent gene expression in endothelial cells. Our results emphasize the relevance of physical interaction between the glucocorticoid receptor and NFκB in endothelial cells and thus in suppression of inflammation by glucocorticoids.
Microbiological controls in polyculture farming: A pilot case study in the Castellammare Gulf (Sicily)

Background: Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) experiences, based on the co-cultivation of two or more organisms, have proliferated in recent years; nevertheless, studies regarding the microbiological implications of these farming systems are not available yet. The context and purpose of the study: The microbiological conditions of shellfish and surrounding rearing environment were investigated during a pilot polyculture system (fish and shellfish farming) performed in the Castellammare Gulf (Sicily). The quantitative distribution of faecal coliforms and enterococci as faecal pollution indicators, together with that of environmental and potentially pathogenic halophilic vibrios, was determined in two different seasons (spring and autumn). Samplings of surface waters and bivalves (oysters, Cassostrea gigas and Ostrea edulis; mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and clam, Tapes philippinarum) were performed at stations where integrated polyculture was performed (Impact sites) compared to others (Control sites) where farming activities regarded shellfish only.
GAN-Generated Image Detection With Self-Attention Mechanism Against GAN Generator Defect

With Generative adversarial networks (GAN) achieving realistic image generation, fake image detection research has become an imminent need. In this paper, a novel detection algorithm is designed to exploit the structural defect in GAN, taking advantage of the most vulnerable link in GAN generators – the up-sampling process conducted by the Transposed Convolution operation. The Transposed Convolution in the process will cause the lack of global information in the generated images. Therefore, the Self-Attention mechanism is adopted correspondingly, equipping the algorithm with a much better comprehension of the global information than the other current work adopting pure CNN network, which is reflected in the significant increase in the detection accuracy. With the thorough comparison to the current work and corresponding careful analysis, it is verified that our proposed algorithm outperforms other current works in the field. Also, with experiments conducted on other image-generation categories and images undergone usual real-life post-processing methods, our proposed algorithm shows decent robustness for various categories of images under different reality circumstances, rather than restricted by image types and pure laboratory situation.
Polyamine accumulation following hot-water dips influences chilling injury and decay in 'friar' plum fruit

Mature-green (prumus salicina Lindl. ex Friar') plums were treated in water at 40 °C for 40 min, 45 °C for 35 min, 50 °C for 30 min or 55 °C for 25 min, stored at 0 °C for 35 d plus 9 d of ripening at 20 to 25 °C, During cold storage, putrescine and cadaverine accumulated most compared to spermine and spermidine, especially in fruits treated at 45 or 50 °C, compared to other treatments. Chilling injury (CI) and decay symptoms were severe in fruits of control, 55 and 40 °C-treated fruits. Decay incidence was also high in fruits stored at room temperature. Chilling injury and decay symptoms were retarded is fruits treated at 45 and 50 °C, which also maintained increased polyamines and low ethylene. By the end of their shelf life, only 45 and 50 °C-HWD treated fruits were fit for market.
Land Use Change and Its Impacts on Land Surface Temperature in Galle City, Sri Lanka

This study investigated the spatiotemporal changes of land use land cover (LULC) and its impact on land surface temperature (LST) in the Galle Municipal Council area (GMCA), Sri Lanka. The same was achieved by employing the multi-temporal satellite data and geo-spatial techniques between 1996 and 2019. The post-classification change detection technique was employed to determine the temporal changes of LULC, and its results were utilized to assess the LST variation over the LULC changes. The results revealed that the area had undergone a drastic LULC transformation. It experienced 38% increase in the built-up area, while vegetation and non-built-up area declined by 26% and 12%, respectively. Rapid urban growth has had a significant effect on the LST, and the built-up area had the highest mean LST of 22.7 °C, 23.2 °C, and 26.3 °C for 1996, 2009, and 2019, correspondingly. The mean LST of the GMCA was 19.2 °C in 1996, 20.1 °C in 2009, and 22.4 °C in 2019. The land area with a temperature above 24 °C increased by 9% and 12% in 2009 and 2019, respectively. The highest LST variation (5.5 °C) was observed from newly added built-up area, which was also transferred from vegetation land. Meanwhile, the lowest mean LST difference was observed from newly added vegetation land. The results show that the mean annual LST increased by 3.2 °C in the last 22 years in GMCA. This study identified significant challenges for urban planners and respective administrative bodies to mitigate and control the negative effect of LST for the long livability of Galle City.
Internet Usage Patterns and Gender Differences: A Deep Learning Approach

This article aims to examine Internet usage patterns by gender, highlighting differences that relate to intensity of usage and types of online activities. The particularity of the sociodemographic, cultural, and economic conditions in Montenegro places gender differences in a context that may differ from those explored in previous research. An online survey for data collection involved 1147 respondents from Montenegro, and the data analysis was performed using the deep-learning method of k-means clustering and employing a decision tree. The results show that gender differences exist for both observed criteria. This article contributes to a better understanding of how online behavior relates to gender differences and confirms that using deep-learning methods can efficiently identify these differences.
Effects of disturbance on herbaceous exotic plant species on the floodplain of the Potomac River.

-The objective of this study was to investigate specific effects of disturbance on exotic species in floodplain environments and to provide baseline data on the abundance of exotic herbs in the Potomac River floodplain. Frequency of exotics generally increased with man-made disturbance (forest fragmentation and recreational use of land) and decreased with increasing flooding frequency. Species richness of exotics followed a similar pattern. Some variation was found in individual species' responses to disturbance. The spread of Alliaria officinalis and Glecoma hederacea, the most frequent exotic species, was inhibited by forest fragmentation.
Northern glacial refugia for the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) in Europe revealed by phylogeographic analyses and species distribution modelling.

The southern European peninsulas (Iberian, Italian and Balkan) are traditionally recognized as glacial refugia from where many species colonized central and northern Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, evidence that some species had more northerly refugia is accumulating from phylogeographic, palaeontological and palynological studies, and more recently from species distribution modelling (SDM), but further studies are needed to test the idea of northern refugia in Europe. Here, we take a rarely implemented multidisciplinary approach to assess if the pygmy shrew Sorex minutus, a widespread Eurasian mammal species, had northern refugia during the LGM, and if these influenced its postglacial geographic distribution. First, we evaluated the phylogeographic and population expansion patterns using mtDNA sequence data from 123 pygmy shrews. Then, we used SDM to predict present and past (LGM) potential distributions using two different training data sets, two different algorithms (Maxent and GARP) and climate reconstructions for the LGM with two different general circulation models. An LGM distribution in the southern peninsulas was predicted by the SDM approaches, in line with the occurrence of lineages of S. minutus in these areas. The phylogeographic analyses also indicated a widespread and strictly northern-central European lineage, not derived from southern peninsulas, and with a postglacial population expansion signature. This was consistent with the SDM predictions of suitable LGM conditions for S. minutus occurring across central and eastern Europe, from unglaciated parts of the British Isles to much of the eastern European Plain. Hence, S. minutus likely persisted in parts of central and eastern Europe during the LGM, from where it colonized other northern areas during the late-glacial and postglacial periods. Our results provide new insights into the glacial and postglacial colonization history of the European mammal fauna, notably supporting glacial refugia further north than traditionally recognized.