Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Tumor Anomaly Detection via Latent Regularized Adversarial Network

With the development of medical imaging technology, medical images have become an important basis for doctors to diagnose patients. The brain structure in the collected data is complicated, thence, doctors are required to spend plentiful energy when diagnosing brain abnormalities. Aiming at the imbalance of brain tumor data and the rare amount of labeled data, we propose an innovative brain tumor abnormality detection algorithm. The semi-supervised anomaly detection model is proposed in which only healthy (normal) brain images are trained. Model capture the common pattern of the normal images in the training process and detect anomalies based on the reconstruction error of latent space. Furthermore, the method first uses singular value to constrain the latent space and jointly optimizes the image space through multiple loss functions, which make normal samples and abnormal samples more separable in the feature-level. This paper utilizes BraTS, HCP, MNIST, and CIFAR-10 datasets to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and practicability. Extensive experiments on intra- and cross-dataset tests prove that our semi-supervised method achieves outperforms or comparable results to state-of-the-art supervised techniques.
Dissecting the TOR–S6K signal transduction pathway in maize seedlings: relevance on cell growth regulation

Insulin and ‘insulin-like’ growth factors (IGFs) are known to regulate cell growth in eukaryotes by stimulating a signal transduction pathway that exerts translational control. Intermediate kinases of this pathway, target of rapamycin (TOR) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), have been reported in Arabidospsis thaliana and Zea mays. However, upstream signal inducers and downstream targets of the pathway are not well known in plants. The objective of this work is to inquire whether plant growth is regulated by a signal transduction pathway similar to the insulin/IGF-stimulated pathway in other metazoans. Insulin as well as Zea mays insulin-related peptide (ZmIGF), which is a maize, 20-kDa peptide fraction recognized by insulin antibody, were used as effectors to stimulate maize axes growth from germinating seeds. ZmIGF expression was identified in axes from germinating maize seeds and immunolocalized in the meristems of these tissues. Significant enhancement of specific de novo protein synthesis of the translational apparatus components was found in the stimulated axes. Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of total and polysomal RNA pools in ZmIGF- or insulin-stimulated axes confirmed these data by revealing specific mRNA recruitment into polysomes. In addition, the same stimuli induced activation of S6 ribosomal protein kinase (ZmS6K) in germinating maize axes. All the above effects were inhibited by rapamycin, indicating that they depend on TOR activity. We conclude that a TOR–S6K signal transduction pathway is functional in maize germination, as that found for non-photosynthetic eukaryotes. The evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.
Banking Wyoming big sagebrush seeds

Five commercially produced seed lots of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. var. wyomingensis (Beetle & Young) S.L. Welsh [Asteraceae]) were stored under various conditions for 5 y. Purity, moisture content as measured by equilibrium relative humidity, and storage temperature were all important factors to successful seed storage. Our results indicate that no losses in germination will occur for at least 5 y if seeds are cleaned to 66 to 80% purity, dried to 30% equilibrium relative humidity, sealed in moisture-proof containers, and kept frozen at temperatures ≤ 8 °C. Because they can deteriorate rapidly, Wyoming big sagebrush seeds should be dried, cleaned, and placed in storage soon after harvest.
SUNRISE: A Simple Unified Framework for Ensemble Learning in Deep Reinforcement Learning

Model-free deep reinforcement learning (RL) has been successful in a range of challenging domains. However, there are some remaining issues, such as stabilizing the optimization of nonlinear function approximators, preventing error propagation due to the Bellman backup in Q-learning, and efficient exploration. To mitigate these issues, we present SUNRISE, a simple unified ensemble method, which is compatible with various off-policy RL algorithms. SUNRISE integrates three key ingredients: (a) bootstrap with random initialization which improves the stability of the learning process by training a diverse ensemble of agents, (b) weighted Bellman backups, which prevent error propagation in Q-learning by reweighing sample transitions based on uncertainty estimates from the ensembles, and (c) an inference method that selects actions using highest upper-confidence bounds for efficient exploration. Our experiments show that SUNRISE significantly improves the performance of existing off-policy RL algorithms, such as Soft Actor-Critic and Rainbow DQN, for both continuous and discrete control tasks on both low-dimensional and high-dimensional environments. Our training code is available at this https URL.
Diet composition of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in different freshwater habitats of temperate Europe: a review and meta‐analysis

The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is a top predator that feeds mostly on fish. Yet, studies show the high plasticity of otter foraging behaviour and the varying importance of alternative food types in the species' diet. The aims of this study were, firstly, to demonstrate by meta-analysis how the diet composition of otters varies depending on the habitat occupied, in terms of the types of land use, waterbody, and bank vegetation. Secondly, we tested whether the choice of method of presenting prey percentages in the diet of otters influenced the conclusions of the meta-analysis. The percentage of fish in the diet was greater for otters occupying standing water than for those occupying flowing water; was higher for otters in waterbodies overgrown by reed vegetation; and varied depending on the type of surrounding land use. However, the results of the meta-analysis varied depending on which of the two most common methods of diet analysis were used: percentage biomass or relative frequency of occurrence (RFO). We showed that the plasticity of otter feeding behaviour might be explained by the various habitats occupied by otters. Habitat differences reflected in otters' diets might have importance for the maintenance and conservation of local populations of this species. The high diversity of methods used by researchers to report the results of dietary studies precludes full comparisons and synthesis. This demonstrates the importance of unification of reporting. Moreover, the conclusions reached by the authors of any particular study might be highly dependent on the method they applied. Thus, care should be taken when comparing ecological studies based on different methods.
Identification Of Factors Influencing Yield Gaps In Mustard, Potato And Rice In Some Selected Areas Of Bangladesh And Strategies To Minimize The Gaps

On-farm trials funded by Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) were conducted at Shibganj(Bogra), Mithapukur (Rangpur), and Ulipur(Kurigram) upazilas to determine and minimize yield gaps in mustard, potato, boro, and T.Aman rice of Mustard/Potato-Boro-T.Aman rice cropping pattern during 2011-12. To conduct the trials, one bigha (1200 sq.m) land was divided into two- where trial plots received the recommended technology and farmers’ plots (control) traditional technology. The trials were carried out with mustard, boro, and T.Aman rice at Shibganj and potato, boro, and T.Aman at both Mithapukur, and Ulipur locations. Fertilizers were applied according to BARC Fertilizer Guide, 2005 and plant protection measures taken following IPM techniques in trial plots. Traditional practices were followed in farmers’ plots. Data on yield and yield components were taken and analyzed statistically using paired t-test. Gross return and gross margin were calculated based on production & variable costs and prevailing market price of the produces. The yield of mustard in trial plots was 49.7% (yield gap) higher than that in farmers’ plots. The yields of potato in trial plots were 37.66% and 33.96% (yield gap) higher over farmers’ plots at Mithapukur and Ulipur sites, respectively. Likewise, yields of boro rice at Shibganj, Mithapukur and Ulipur in trial plots were 16.67%, 22.03%, and 17.61% (yield gap) higher compared to those of farmers’ plots. At all three locations, yields of T.Aman in trial plots were also 17.37%, 21%, and 23% (yield gap) higher over farmers’ plots. In addition, gross return, gross margin, and BCR in trial plots were found higher than those of farmers’ plots. Results revealed that yield gaps varying from 16.67% to 49.7% exist in boro, T.Aman rice, potato and mustard. The gaps could be attributed to difference in the use of variety and management practices in fertilizers and pests between trial and farmers’ plots. The yield gaps might be minimized by using HYVs of crops and improved management practices, especially in fertilizers and pests at field level. It is, therefore, necessary to explore the scope to increase the yields of the crops by minimizing yield gaps using improved technologies. The support of extension agencies through demonstrations, field visits and monitoring is essential to minimize the yield gaps. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 38(2): 227-240, June 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjar.v38i2. 15886
The Role of αβ+ T Cells and Homeostatic T Cell Proliferation in Y-Chromosome-Associated Murine Lupus1

Male BXSB mice develop an early life, severe lupus-like disease largely attributed to an undefined Y-chromosome-associated autoimmunity accelerator, termed Yaa. Although the exact disease pathogenesis is uncertain, indirect evidence suggests that T cells play an important role in the male BXSB disease. We have developed TCR α-chain gene-deleted BXSB mice to directly examine the role of αβ+ T cells and the mode by which Yaa promotes disease in this strain. All disease parameters, including hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibody production, glomerulonephritis, and the unique monocytosis of BXSB males, were severely reduced or absent in the αβ+ T cell-deficient mice. Adoptively transferred CD4+ T cells of either male or female BXSB origin showed equal homeostatic proliferation in αβ+ T cell-deficient male recipients. Moreover, deficient male mice eventually developed equally severe lupus-like disease after adoptive transfer and homeostatic expansion of T cells from wild-type BXSB males or females. The results directly demonstrate that the Yaa-mediated disease requires αβ+ T cells that are not, in themselves, abnormal in either composition or properties, but are engaged by a Yaa-encoded abnormality in a non-T cell component. In addition, homeostatic anti-self proliferation of mature T cells derived from a small number of precursors can induce systemic autoimmunity in an appropriate background.
Circadian and Seasonal Variation in Pasture Nonstructural Carbohydrates and the Physiological Response of Grazing Horses

88 Introduction 89 Materials and Methods 90 Results 92 Discussion 94 Conclusions 97 CHAPTER SEVEN 101 Summary and Implications 101 Appendix I: Pairwise comparisons of pasture NSC and environmental variables 104 Appendix II: Validation of the chemiluminescent assay for plasma insulin 125 Appendix III: Tables of individual horse values for proxies 127
Low temperature reduces glufosinate activity and translocation in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)

Abstract Wild radish is a major weed in winter grain crops in Australia. This weed is poorly controlled by glufosinate. Therefore, factors influencing glufosinate efficacy in this species were examined. Dose–response studies conducted with three populations of wild radish collected from different parts of Australia and one from Europe showed poor control of all populations by glufosinate under Australian winter conditions. Studies conducted in controlled environmental chambers under night/day temperatures of 5/10, 15/20, and 20/25 C and various light intensities demonstrated that wild radish grown under cooler temperatures of 5/10 C were poorly controlled with 1,200 g ai ha−1 glufosinate when the same rate was sufficient to cause 100% mortality under 15/20 and 20/25 C. Light intensity did not significantly influence glufosinate activity at low temperatures. However, under warm temperatures of 20/25 C, glufosinate efficacy was enhanced with low light intensities. Experiments examining absorption and translocation of glufosinate showed that temperature did not have a significant effect on absorption of glufosinate. However, basipetal translocation of glufosinate was greatly increased by higher temperatures. Therefore, the poor control of wild radish by glufosinate at low temperatures is probably because of reduced accumulation of glufosinate in the meristematic regions of the plant. Nomenclature: Glufosinate; wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum L. RAPRA.
Investor Demand for Sell-Side Research

ABSTRACT: We use daily page views of analyst estimates, ratings, and target prices on Yahoo Finance to understand when users seek sell-side analyst research. Demand for this information is most pronounced on days with earnings announcements, management guidance, and All-Star analyst reports. Surprisingly, demand does not increase at Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings. While the overall demand for analyst estimates is 19.9 percent less than for analyst ratings and target prices, on earnings announcement and management guidance days, this preference is reversed. Moreover, the demand for analyst information substantially trumps that of SEC filings and financial statement information. JEL Classifications: M41; G14; G24.
Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability on mother plant size, seed production and germination ability of Rumex crispus

Hejcman M, Křisťalova V, Cervena K, Hrdlickova J & Pavlů V (2012). Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability on mother plant size, seed production and germination ability of Rumex crispus. Weed Research52, 260–268. Summary Rumex crispus is believed to be a highly nutrient-demanding weedy species that spreads mainly by seeds. However, the effects of nutrient availability on its performance and seed production have never been fully investigated. In this study, we investigated how plant size, seed production and germination were affected by the supply of N, P and K. In May 2008, a pot N, P and K fertiliser experiment was established in Prague (Czech Republic). During 2009, plant growth data were collected, and fully ripe seeds were tested for germination and N, P and K concentrations. Rumex crispus showed high phenotypic plasticity in plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and number of stems per plant in relation to N, P and K supply. Seed production per plant ranged from <2000 in the control and low P treatment up to almost 25 000 in the high NPK treatment. More than 16 000 seeds were produced per plant in all treatments where N and P were applied together. To produce a high quantity of rapidly germinating seeds, R. crispus requires a balanced N, P and K supply, as a deficiency of P and K together with a high N supply can result in the production of P- and K-deficient seeds (P and K <3 g kg−1) with lower germination ability. In central Europe, at least some populations of R. crispus do not flower in the seeding year and are strictly monocarpic. Given the short lifespan and monocarpic character of the species, control is probably most effective if applied at the rosette stage, prior to the production of viable seeds.
Purification of Aqueous Solution from Ni (II) Ions Using Commercial and Bitter Orange Leaves Activated Charcoal

The purification of diluted aqueous solution from toxic Ni (II) ion was investigated using commercial and bitter orange leaves activated charcoal as adsorbents through batch method. The contact times between the adsorbents and adsorbate at 298 K and pH of 5 were studied. The percentage metal removal approached equilibrium within 75 min on Commercial and 90 min on prepared charcoal surfaces. The experimental data of the metal removal equilibrium were correlated by either the Langmuir or Freundlich equations. Results indicate that the Langmuir model gave a better fit to the experimental data than the Freundlich equation. Kinetic processes of Ni 2+ adsorption on Commercial and prepared charcoal were described by applying pseudo-first-order and pseudosecond-order rate equations which that the adsorption process obey pseudo-second-order rate equation.
Yolk Absorption, Yolk Sac Constrictions, Mortality, and Growth During First Feeding of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Incubated on Astro-turf

Groups of pooled Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) eggs were incubated in a "California" incubation system with and without astro-turf, an artificial substrate, and later transferred to separate feeding units. Alevins reared in astro-turf absorbed their yolk sac faster and more efficiently than alevins reared on a flat screen. Alevins reared on the flat screen developed yolk sac constrictions probably due to the backward and lateral force created by the high swimming activity. No such malformations were found on the yolk sacs of the astro-turf reared alevins. The fry hatched without astro-turf grew faster than the fry hatched with astro-turf during the initial feeding period, but later this was reversed. Mortality of alevins and fry hatched with astro-turf was lower during incubation and during first feeding.
Effect of calcium on physico-chemical changes in aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn)

The post-harvest treatment with calcium compounds namely calcium chloride and calcium nitrate on storage life of four aonla cultivars were evaluated. The self-life of aonla fruits was enhanced as indicated by pattern of less physiological loss in weight, increase in TSS, total soluble solids and ascorbic acid content. The one per cent calcium nitrate solution was judged as the most effective post-harvest storage solution in all the cultivars helped in increasing the quality of the aonla fruits during storage even after 21 days of harvest. Among the cultivars, NA-7 had the best post-harvest life when treated fruit with 1 % calcium nitrate solution.
Release of Erysiphe necator Ascospores and Impact of Early Season Disease Pressure on Vitis vinifera Fruit Infection

Populations of Erysiphe necator cleistothecia can dehisce and release ascospores over an extended period ranging from fall through late spring and are an important source of primary inoculum for grapevine powdery mildew epidemics. The temporal distribution of ascospore maturity was monitored and measured as ascospore release from field-stored samples in a controlled environment assay. Assays were conducted over multiple seasons, in multiple locations, using multiple source populations. The influence of primary inoculum quantity and how that influences subsequent fruit disease severity was assessed. Cumulative ascospore release was positively correlated with accumulated wetting events and heat units; however, in most situations, >50% of the season-total ascospores were released before the date of local budbreak of Vitis vinifera. Both abbreviated and season-long fungicide programs suppressed mildew on fruit across a 100-fold gradient of inoculum dose when seasonal weather was relatively unfavorable for epidemic development. Suppression was degraded with progressive 10-fold increases of ascosporic inoculum dose when seasonal weather was more conducive to epidemic development. Combined, these findings suggest that differences between severe and mild years in grape powdery mildew can relate to the amount of primary inoculum present in the vineyard, that the levels of primary inoculum can be influenced by pre-budbreak weather conditions, and that effectiveness of spray programs at controlling primary infection events is related to the favorability of in-season weather conditions.
Studies on Sarcocystis infecting domestic horse

In the present study, a case of sarcocystosis in the domestic horse from Egypt was described by electron microscopy. Of 32 recently died domestic horses from different localities in Egypt only 8 horses were found to be infected with sarcocysts with percentage of 25%. Domestic horses were collected from Cairo (8 horses) only 2 were be infected with 25%, from Gizah (7 horses) only 2 were be infected with 28.5%, Beni-Suef (6 horses) only 2 were be infected with 33%, from El-Fayum (6 horses) only one was be infected with 16.5. 5% and from El-Menia (5 horse) only one were be infected with 20%. These samples were randomly collected from the previous localities of Egypt during (2010 – 2012) and were found to be infected with microscopic sarcocysts measuring 50 - 85 µm in width (mean, 65 µm) and 450-970 µm in length (mean, 750 µm), Electron microscopic examination showed that all sarcocysts had a single primary cyst wall measuring 2.0-4.3 µm (mean, 3.8 µm) that was folded into short nonbranched barrel-shaped protrusions, measuring 2.1-4.5 x 1.5-2.5 µm (mean, 3.7 x 1.9 µm). These protrusions contalned granular and tubular elements. Many septa were observed arising from the ground substance into the interior of the cyst, dividing it into numerous chamber-like compartments that surround the oval to globular metrocytes 2.5-4.8 x 4.5-9.2 µm (mean, 3.4 x 7.2 µm) and the banana-shaped merozoites 1.3 - 3.5 x 4.5 - 9.5 µm (mean, 3.1 x 8.2 µm).
Maps of Magnetic Field Strength in the OMC-1 Using HAWC+ FIR Polarimetric Data

Far-infrared dust polarimetry enables the study of interstellar magnetic fields via tracing of the polarized emission from dust grains that are partially aligned with the direction of the field. The advent of high-quality polarimetric data has permitted the use of statistical methods to extract both the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field. In this work, the Davis–Chandrasekhar–Fermi technique is used to make maps of the plane-of-sky (POS) component of the magnetic field in the Orion Molecular Cloud (OMC-1) by combining polarization maps at 53, 89, 154 and 214 μm from HAWC+/SOFIA with maps of density and velocity dispersion. In addition, maps of the local dispersion of polarization angles are used in conjunction with Zeeman measurements to estimate a map of the strength of the line-of-sight (LOS) component of the field. Combining these maps, information about the three-dimensional magnetic field configuration (integrated along the LOS) is inferred over the OMC-1 region. POS magnetic field strengths of up to 2 mG are observed near the BN/KL object, while the OMC-1 bar shows strengths of up to a few hundred μG. These estimates of the magnetic field components are used to produce maps of the mass-to-magnetic-flux ratio (M/Φ)—a metric for probing the conditions for star formation in molecular clouds—and determine regions of sub- and supercriticality in OMC-1. Such maps can provide invaluable input and comparison to MHD simulations of star formation processes in filamentary structures of molecular clouds.