Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Seed Size on Seedling Performance in a Long‐Lived Desert Perennial Shrub (Ericameria nauseosa: Asteraceae)

We investigated how seed size and timing of emergence interact with environmental conditions to determine seedling performance in one population of the long‐lived perennial shrub Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila (Asteraceae) in the sand dune ecosystem near Mono Lake, California. Size of seeds varied significantly among and within individual plants, and this variation had important consequences for size, growth, and survival of seedlings in both greenhouse and field experiments. Larger‐seeded seedlings had greater biomass, greater percentage of total plant biomass allocated to roots, and longer taproots than seedlings from smaller seeds. Seedlings grown in native soil had less total biomass than seedlings grown in augmented soil but greater allocation of biomass to roots. In a field experiment following individually weighed seeds, seedlings emerging from larger seeds germinated and emerged earlier and at a higher rate than did smaller‐seeded seedlings. Larger‐seeded seedlings were larger at emergence, remained larger through time, and lived longer than smaller‐seeded seedlings. In all stages of early seedling establishment, from germination through the first summer drought, and by all criteria, larger‐seeded seedlings performed better than smaller‐seeded seedlings. Given the considerable longevity of adults and the extremely small size of the wind‐dispersed seeds, these aspects of seed and seedling performance have a remarkably significant impact on the survival and reproduction of subsequent life stages of E. nauseosa at this site.
Pollen morphology in Loteae (Leguminosae) with particular reference to the genus Lotus L.

Abstract Pollen morphology was used to clarify some taxonomic differences in the classification of the Loteae tribe and the genus Lotus. The analysis of palynological data by numerical techniques indicated a clear taxonomic separation of many higher categories. Subgenera Syrmatium, Simpeteria and Acmispon were determined to be most closely related, while subgenus Hosackia is separate. Old World Lotus was found to be stenopalynous while New World Lotus was eurypalynous, thereby separating the species into two phytogeographical regions. Various taxonomic treatments were examined and Old World Lotus appeared to be more clearly defined than the relationships between the North American taxa. This is supported by the results of the palynological study. Some taxa considered as Lotus sensu stricto may require classification into other genera. The results indicated affinities within or between taxa the subgeneric and specific level which should aid in selecting possible taxa combinations for purposes of plant bree.
Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) Development in Wild Blueberry Fields

Abstract Spreading dogbane is a common perennial weed in wild blueberry fields. It is highly competitive and spreads rapidly once established. Herbicides can provide effective control of spreading dogbane, but application timing is important. The emergence pattern, ramet height, and flowering time of spreading dogbane were observed in 2008 and 2009, and thermal-based emergence, growth, and development models were developed and used to estimate optimum herbicide application timing. Spreading dogbane emergence and height were described with a three-parameter, sigmoid, nonlinear regression model, whereas flowering was described with a four-parameter, Weibull, nonlinear regression model. Spreading dogbane ramets initiated emergence soon after the biofix date of April 1. Peak emergence tended to occur at 420 growing degree days (GDD). Spreading dogbane reached its peak height by about 558 GDD. The maximum number of flowers per plant was reached at approximately 750 GDD. This study suggested that POST herbicides should be applied between 486 and 535 GDD to maximize efficacy. This time frame occurs after peak emergence and during early floral bud development. Nomenclature: Spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium L. ; wild blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.
EXPRESSION OF ADRENORECEPTOR AND MELANOCORTIN 2 RECEPTOR mRNA IN VARIOUS TISSUES FROM SHR.CG‐LEPRCP/NDMCR RATS

1 Obese and spontaneously hypertensive SHR.Cg‐Leprcp/NDmcr (cp/cp) rats exhibit phenotypic features that resemble metabolic syndrome. 2 As an initial approach in defining the roles of the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the mechanism of metabolic syndrome, we examined the gene expression of the adrenoreceptors (a1A, a1B, a1D, a2A, a2B, a2C, b1, b2 and b3) and the adrenocorticotrophin receptor melanocortin 2 receptor (mc2r) in various tissues from cp/cp rats using real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. 3 In cp/cp rats, the gene expression of a1A‐, a1B‐ and b1‐adrenoceptors in the heart was increased compared with that in Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats and lean spontaneously hypertensive rats, namely SHR.Cg‐Leprcp/NDmcr (+/+) rats. However, the gene expression of b2‐, b3‐adrenoceptors and mc2r in adipose tissue was decreased compared with that in +/+ and WKY rats. These changes in the gene expression in cp/cp rats may be associated with the development and persistence of metabolic syndrome.
OBJECT-BASED IMAGE ANALYSIS APPLIED FOR DIFFERENT STAGES OF RUBBER PLANTATIONS MAPPING USING THAICHOTE SATELLITE DATA

During 2000 to 2011, rubber plantations rapidly expanded in northeast Thailand, which had not been historically planted. Information about planted areas and their distribution is a prerequisite for formulating land use planning and understanding its consequences on ecosystems. This study aimed to establish a model for digitally devising a synergistic approach to distinguishing the different stages of rubber plantations in the northeasternmost region of Thailand and a small portion of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The combination of Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA), Vegetation Canopy Density (VCD), plant phenology and intensive ground observation was applied to THAICHOTE satellite data. Two levels of classification based on OBIA approach were performed. At the first level, multi-scale image segmentation of pansharpened imagery was performed to divide the image set into objects with different spectral and spatial characteristics. Incorporating the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and brightness index (BI) into the objects, the image set was subdivided into four different subsets of VCD. Analyses were then performed at the next level classification on each of VCD subsets by using certain and a range of different approaches to discriminate stand age rubber tree plantations. Rubber tree phenology and OBIA feature optimization were used to differentiate the different stages of rubber plantations. The results indicated that the agreement between field-based classification and image-based classification was well correlated. The overall accuracy of 79.00 % and Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.77 were achieved for the integrated models for the different stage of rubber plantations.
Advances in Threat Assessment and Their Application to Forest and Rangeland Management

We present a prototype decision support system for evaluating wildland fire danger and prioritizing subwatersheds for vegetation and fuels treatment. We demonstrate the use of the system with an example from the Rocky Mountain region in the State of Utah, which represents a planning area of about 4.8 million ha and encompasses 575 complete subwatersheds. In a logic model, we evaluate fire danger as a function of three primary topics: fire hazard, fire behavior, and ignition risk. Each primary topic has secondary topics under which data are evaluated. The logic model shows the state of each evaluated landscape with respect to fire danger. In a decision model, we place summarized fire danger conditions of each evaluated landscape in the context of the amount of associated wildland-urban interface (WUI). The logic and decision models are executed in EMDS, a decision-support system that operates in ArcGIS. We show that a decision criterion such as relationship to WUI can significantly influence the outcome of a decision to determine treatment priorities. For example, we show that subwatersheds that were in relatively poor condition with respect to fire hazard, behavior, and ignition risk may not be the best candidates for treatment. Additional strategic or logistical factors such as proximity to population centers, presence of endangered species, slope steepness, and road access all might be taken into account in selection of specific watersheds within a management area for treatment. Thus, the ecological status of each ecosystem can be placed in one or more social and human values contexts to further inform decisionmaking. The application introduced here can be readily expanded to support strategic planning at national and regional scales and tactical planning at local scales.
Lignicolous marine fungi from São Paulo, Brazil

Lignicolous substrates, i.e., wood and leaves, were collected from 10 Sao Paulo State locations and 2 Pernambuco State sites. These were subsequently surveyed and incubated and (or) washed, macerated, and plated on culture media. Six types of wood and mangrove leaves were placed in exposed and buried digestors, recovered, surveyed, incubated, and resurveyed for marine fungi. Of a total of 69 isolated taxa, 32 species, including 24 ascomycetes, seven fungi imperfecti, and one basidiomycete, are discussed. Included are Ceriosporopsis cambrensis; C. halima; Corollospora lacera; C. maritima; C. pulchella; C. trifurcata; Crinigera maritima; Didymosphaeria enalia; Haligena viscidula; Halosarpheia fibrosa; Halosphaeria appendiculuta; H. cucullata; H. galerita; H. hamata; H. maritima; H. mediosetigea; H. quadricornuta; H. salina; Leptosphaeria cfr. marina, Leptosphaeria sp. ; Lignincola laevis; Lulworthia medusa (f. grandispora); Mycosphaerella sp. ; Torpedospora radiata; Ceriosporopsis halima anamorphic form; Cirr.
FACTOR INFLUENCING THE USE OF SMART PHONE BY MALAYSIAN’S ELDERLY

The smart phone has become essential part of person al and business life across all age boundaries. The smart phone usage can potentially play a significan t role in assisting the elderly in many ways especi ally n terms of maintaining social relationship, providing a sense of safety and accessibility. However, elde rly seems to be the neglected user group in the design of recent smart phone interface and the penetration of the technology to the elderly are very low. Hence t his paper attempt to report issues that are related to why this particular group of user aged 40 years old and above was influenced to own the smart phones and t he data gathering was done specifically in Malaysia co ntext. This research used an interview and survey instrument to obtain the data from the intended tar get group of user whom are using smart phones. The result indicates three main factors that influence the respondents to own their smart phone which is f amily encouragement, the use of mobile internet and socia l networking.
PROPERTIES OF DRY-CURED HAM: TEMPERATURE AND pH INFLUENCE DURING SALTING STAGE

The influence of pH and temperature upon color properties, during the salting stage of 11 days for the dry-cured ham process was studied. Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus and Biceps femoris muscles were studied and each muscle was divided in three sections (outer, middle and inner). The parameters under study were: moisture, salt concentration, residual nitrite level, CIELAB and reflectance ratio (R650/R570). Neither temperature nor pH affected any parameter analyzed (P>0.05). Only Semimembranosus (and its outer zone) showed differences (P 0.05) between muscles and zones. Only the Semimembranosus muscle was different (P<0.01) for hue. Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris zones were different (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively) for this parameter.
METHODS AND MODELS OF SELF-TRAINED AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DETECTING THE STATE OF HIGH-SPEED RAILWAY TRANSPORT NODES

The article contains the results of researches aimed at the further development of methods and models for self-trained automated detection systems (SADS) of nodes and aggregates of high-speed railway transport (HSRT) based on the clustering of failure signs. There has been developed SADS model of nodes and aggregates of HSRT and a method for its training, in which the procedure of fuzzy clustering of failure signs realization is applied. The procedure for decision rules correction is also considered, that will allow the creation of adaptive self-trained mechanisms for automated systems for detecting HSRT nodes and aggregates. It is proposed to use the modified information condition of functional effectiveness (ICFE) as an evaluation indicator of the training effectiveness of SADS. This condition is based on Kullback-Leibler information-distance criteria. There is considered the method of space fragmentation of failure signs realization of the HSRT nodes and aggregates into clusters during the implementation of the failure recognition procedure. Also there is considered the method of initial training of SADS. The method is an iterative procedure for finding the global maximum of ICFE. There were substantiated perspectives of decisions on the integrated evaluation of the detection results of the nodes and aggregates of the HSRT rolling stock based on the use in similar automated complexes for detecting models with fuzzy clustering algorithms of hundreds of the HSRT failure signs systems. Keywords
Some relationships between malted barleys of different nitrogen levels and the wort properties

Barleys containing different levels of total nitrogen seem to have similar initial patterns for endosperm modification during malting. The higher nitrogen barley had a slower rate of endosperm modification, whilst the lower nitrogen barley had a faster rate of endosperm modification as germination progressed. Although the higher nitrogen barley had slower rate of endosperm modification, it transferred more nitrogen materials to the roots and shoots, whilst the lower nitrogen barley transferred less nitrogen materials to the roots and shoots. The higher nitrogen barley produced a lower yield of extract, but released higher levels of soluble nitrogen, free amino nitrogen (FAN) and peptides in the extract. The lower nitrogen barley produced a higher yield of extract and higher levels of carbohydrates (reducing sugars) in the extract. These results suggest that other important relationships exist between barleys of different nitrogen content. A drop in peptide nitrogen occurred on the same day of germination in both barley samples.
New approach methodologies (NAMs) for human-relevant biokinetics predictions: Meeting the paradigm shift in toxicology towards an animal-free chemical risk assessment.

For almost fifteen years, the availability and regulatory acceptance of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to assess the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME/biokinetics) in chemical risk evaluations are a bottleneck. To enhance the field, a team of 24 experts from science, industry, and regulatory bodies, including new generation toxicologists, met at the Lorentz Centre in Leiden, The Netherlands. A range of possibilities for the use of NAMs for biokinetics in risk evaluations were formulated (for example to define species differences and human variation or to perform quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolations). To increase the regulatory use and acceptance of NAMs for biokinetics for these ADME considerations within risk evaluations, the development of test guidelines (protocols) and of overarching guidance documents is considered as a critical step. To this end, a need for an expert group on biokinetics within the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was formulated to supervise this process. The workshop discussions revealed that method development is still required, particularly to adequately capture transporter mediated processes as well as to obtain cell models that reflect the physiology and kinetic characteristics of relevant organs. Developments in the field of stem-cells, organoids and organ-on-a-chip provide promising tools to meet these research needs in the future.
Working Capital Management, Firm Size and Firm Profitability

Working capital is one of the most important investment decisions of current assets as in fixed assets and funding policies run by the firm to achieve profitability and maximize the wealth of shareholders. This study aims to investigate the relationship between working capital, firm size and firm profitability. The samples of this study are manufacturing firms (e.g., food and beverage, cigarettes and cosmetics, and household appliances sector) which are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from the period 2010 to 2017. The data is processed and analyzed using Eviews 9. The results of the study reveal that working capital and firm size have a significant effect on firm profitability
Restoring Aristida stricta to Pinus palustris Ecosystems on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, U.S.A.

Aristida stricta (wiregrass), a perennial bunchgrass, quickly accumulates dead leaves, which along with the shed needles of Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) provide the fuel for frequent surface fires. Thus, historically, wiregrass played a key role in many longleaf communities where it significantly influenced the natural fire regime and thereby the composition of the plant community. Reestablishment of wiregrass is, therefore, critical to restoring the native understory of Atlantic Coastal Plain longleaf pine ecosystems. This study measured the effects of different site preparations and fertilizer application on the survival and growth of wiregrass seedlings. Two‐month–old seedlings were underplanted in existing longleaf pine stands on dry Lakeland soils at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Survival was acceptable at 51% after four years, although reduced owing to drought and small seedling size. Survival and growth could both be increased by using older seedlings with an initial height of at least 6 cm. Wiregrass leaves grew quite rapidly and attained an average length of 48 cm in four years on control plots. Basal area growth rate was greater than expected, averaging 40% on control treatments and 55% on cultivated and fertilized plots. If growth rates during the first four seasons continue, wiregrass will attain mature size on cultivated and fertilized plots at six years, while non‐fertilized control plots will take eight years. A planting density of one seedling per m2 is recommended to provide sufficient wiregrass foliar cover to influence fire regimes in a reasonable length of time (i.e., 5–7 years).
Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger, Cambarus miltus, a Poorly Known Gulf Coastal Crayfish

Abstract Cambarus (Lacunicambarus) miltus (Rusty Gravedigger Crayfish) is a primary burrowing crayfish known from a limited portion of the Gulf Coastal region of the United States. The lack of form I males in collections has in the past prevented species-level identifications and hampered conservation reviews. We conducted an intensive status survey for C. miltus during 2007 and 2008. Our results suggest that the species is much more widespread than previously known and that conservation attention is unwarranted. Preferred habitat for the species is ephemerally flooded and thinly wooded floodplains of small streams and swamps.
Incentives for risk-taking: bonuses and dismissals Preliminary and incomplete

It is widely believed that job security is essential for risk-taking. Yet, we show that a firm that faces a population of managers with heterogeneous risk aversion may use dismissals for sorting purposes: performance-based but random dismissals without compensation are used to screen out managers with high risk aversion. The structure of performance-based bonuses is then set to provide effort and risk-taking incentives, for a given level of managerial risk aversion. Thus, bonuses and dismissals serve two complementary purposes in a corporate governance system. The model notably suggests a theory of employment and compensation in the investment banking industry which can explain a number of apparent anomalies.
Improving Unpaired Object Translation for Unaligned Domains

Generative Adversarial Networks have shown promise in unpaired image translation. However, translating unpaired objects from unaligned domains is an unsolved problem. Existing methods are restricted to domain pairs which require only minor shape change, and they typically mode collapse on more challenging domain pairs such as giraffe to sheep, or racket to bat. First, with a simple toy dataset, we show that existing image translation models are inherently unequipped to handle signiﬁcant shape change because they fail to disentangle the foreground and background. We present a novel method and network architecture to address this issue. The effectiveness of our network is conﬁrmed by a user study, where we are preferred 2 × over the SOTA. However, even our improved baseline suffers from instability on these diverse domains. Thus, we explore various multi-scale architectures. Additionally, we improve the efﬁciency of our networks because previous methods are highly resource intensive and require long training times. We then design a transformer-based network that is not limited by receptive ﬁeld, as convolutions are. This enables it to make signiﬁcant global changes to the object shape. We separate the shape and color translation problems so that we can utilize transformer-based models. Effectively, we translate shapes as if they were sentences. We ﬁnd this enhances the quality and stability of the shape translations and explore ways our transformer representations can be combined with color networks.
Behavioural rhythmicity in transgenic growth hormone mice: trade-offs, energetics, and sleep–wake cycles

Transgenic mice with extra rat growth hormone (GH) genes (TRrGH mice) are behaviourally lethargic and sleep 3.4 h/d longer than normal on standard diets. We tested the hypothesis that the doubling of the growth rate of TRrGH mice reduced the energy available for behaviour. Provision of sucrose supplements ad libitum normalized the durations of activity and sleep. Our results support a new allocative theory suggesting that sleep serves as an umbrella function for a suite of synergistic anabolic functions (e.g., growth, immunity, repair). Relegating these to the period of sleep in a secure nest allows full dedication of waking resources to niche interfacing (resource acquisition, risk avoidance and environmental stress resistance). Energy stress in TRrGH mice may arise via specific diversion of energy from waking functions via GH-induced insulin resistance. GH is normally secreted during sleep, but any causal relationship remains unresolved. We examined the circadian and ultradian behaviour of TRrGH mice to.