Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VisualNews : Benchmark and Challenges in Entity-aware Image Captioning

In this paper we propose VisualNews-Captioner, an entity-aware model for the task of news image captioning. We also introduce VisualNews, a large-scale benchmark consisting of more than one million news images along with associated news articles, image captions, author information, and other metadata. Unlike the standard image captioning task, news images depict situations where people, locations, and events are of paramount importance. Our proposed method is able to effectively combine visual and textual features to generate captions with richer information such as events and entities. More specifically, we propose an Entity-Aware module along with an Entity-Guide attention layer to encourage more accurate predictions for named entities. Our method achieves state-of-the-art results on both the GoodNews and VisualNews datasets while having significantly fewer parameters than competing methods. Our larger and more diverse VisualNews dataset further highlights the remaining challenges in captioning news images.
Uniform Priors for Data-Efficient Transfer.

Deep Neural Networks have shown great promise on a variety of downstream applications; but their ability to adapt and generalize to new data and tasks remains a challenge. However, the ability to perform few or zero-shot adaptation to novel tasks is important for the scalability and deployment of machine learning models. It is therefore crucial to understand what makes for good, transfer-able features in deep networks that best allow for such adaptation. In this paper, we shed light on this by showing that features that are most transferable have high uniformity in the embedding space and propose a uniformity regularization scheme that encourages better transfer and feature reuse. We evaluate the regularization on its ability to facilitate adaptation to unseen tasks and data, for which we conduct a thorough experimental study covering four relevant, and distinct domains: few-shot Meta-Learning, Deep Metric Learning, Zero-Shot Domain Adaptation, as well as Out-of-Distribution classification. Across all experiments, we show that uniformity regularization consistently offers benefits over baseline methods and is able to achieve state-of-the-art performance in Deep Metric Learning and Meta-Learning.
RNA interference-based technology: what role in animal agriculture?

Animal agriculture faces a broad array of challenges, ranging from disease threats to adverse environmental conditions, while attempting to increase productivity using fewer resources. RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological phenomenon with the potential to provide novel solutions to some of these challenges. Discovered just 20 years ago, the mechanisms underlying RNAi are now well described in plants and animals. Intracellular double-stranded RNA triggers a conserved response that leads to cleavage and degradation of complementary mRNA strands, thereby preventing production of the corresponding protein product. RNAi can be naturally induced by expression of endogenous microRNA, which are critical in the regulation of protein synthesis, providing a mechanism for rapid adaptation of physiological function. This endogenous pathway can be co-opted for targeted RNAi either through delivery of exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) into target cells or by transgenic expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Potentially valuable RNAi targets for livestock include endogenous genes such as developmental regulators, transcripts involved in adaptations to new physiological states, immune response mediators, and also exogenous genes such as those encoded by viruses. RNAi approaches have shown promise in cell culture and rodent models as well as some livestock studies, but technical and market barriers still need to be addressed before commercial applications of RNAi in animal agriculture can be realised. Key challenges for exogenous delivery of siRNA include appropriate formulation for physical delivery, internal transport and eventual cellular uptake of the siRNA; additionally, rigorous safety and residue studies in target species will be necessary for siRNA delivery nanoparticles currently under evaluation. However, genomic incorporation of shRNA can overcome these issues, but optimal promoters to drive shRNA expression are needed, and genetic engineering may attract more resistance from consumers than the use of exogenous siRNA. Despite these hurdles, the convergence of greater understanding of RNAi mechanisms, detailed descriptions of regulatory processes in animal development and disease, and breakthroughs in synthetic chemistry and genome engineering has created exciting possibilities for using RNAi to enhance the sustainability of animal agriculture.
Studies of the role of growth hormone and its receptor in obesity

Although Growth hormone (GH) therapy can effectively reduce adiposity in some types of obesity, GH treatments of idiopathic obesity have little/no effect. We hypothesized that this may be due to altered GH receptor (GHR) expression in adipose tissues. We first studied the mRNA levels of GHR in fat tissues from a cohort of women ranging from lean to obese and found a significant reduction.To understand the mechanism(s) involved, we analyzed the effects of three obesity-associated factors (TNFα, HIF-1α and glucocorticoids) on GHR gene expression. GHR mRNA levels and promoter activities were significantly inhibited by TNFα, stimulated by HIF-1α while dexamethasone had biphasic effects.Our results suggest that the increased activity of TNFα, HIF-1α and glucocorticoids in obese adipose tissues could alter GHR expression and that TNFα may be involved in the development of GH resistance.
Chlorosis correction and agronomic biofortification in field peas through foliar application of iron fertilizers under Fe deficiency

ABSTRACT Effectiveness of different iron (Fe) foliar sprays for leaf chlorosis correction and grain Fe boosting was studied in field peas under Fe deficiency. No chlorophyll reduction was observed in Fe deficient plants treated with foliar sprays. EDDHA [ethylenediamine-N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)] followed by FeSO4 (73.7 mg/l Fe) treated at the start of flowering was most responsive in correcting chlorosis and increasing shoot dry biomass in peas. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy data showed significant increase of Fe in grains while treated with all foliar sprays at the time of grain filling in Fe-deficient plants. Among them, FeSO4 (73.7 mg/l Fe) was the most efficient in biofortifying Fe in mature grain under Fe deficiency in peas. Results also pinpoint that flowering is a suitable time for applying foliar sprays to boost Fe in mature grains. Taken together, application of Fe foliar sprays facilitated both chlorosis correction and Fe boosting in peas and can be further used by breeders and farmers.
Characterization of some southern Brazilian honey and bee plants through pollen analysis

SUMMARYOver a period of three years, 256 samples of honey from the states of Sao Paulo and Parana, southern Brazil, were characterized by pollen analysis. The honeys were classified as Eucalyptus (54 samples), Citrus (49) and wild honey (153) according to information provided by beekeepers. Pollen types were compared with reference slides of pollens from plants flowering in the area. Pollens found in Sao Paulo honey included Paspalum, Cecropia, Syagrus and Citrus, whereas pollens of Ilex, Campomanesia, Allophylus and Matayba predominated in Parana honey. The importance of some species, whose pollens may be under-represented in honey, as bee forage plants is discussed.
Fill-in comparisons between Gauss-Jordan and Gaussian eliminations

The method is described for evaluating the ratio of total nonzeros created between Gauss-Jordan elimination (GJE) and Gaussian elimination (GE) for large random sparse matrices. It has been found that, within the lower and upper bounds of nonzero densities for the matrices, an approximate constant fill-in ratio of two has been verified. It was also found that, within those bounds, the fill-in ratio is independent of the nonzero densities and the matrices' order.
Production of xylanase enzyme by Pleurotus eryngii and Flamulina velutipes grown on different carbon sources under submerged fermentation.

The ability to produce xylanlytic enzyme in submerged (SF) fermentation by Pleurotus eryngii and Flamulina velutipes was checked first time. The cultivation in identical culture conditions revealed wide differences among xylanase production by both species. Among the carbon sources used, the maximum xylanase was produced by Flamulina velutipes 5.3 IU/ml (Xylose) and Pleurotus eryngii 6.83 IU/ml (starch) in comparison to other carbon sources. This study pointed out that the both organisms are capable to produce sufficient amount of xylanlytic enzymes.
An Operational Pheromone-Based Suppression Program for an Ambrosia Beetle, Gnathotrichus sulcatus, in a Commercial Sawmill

Sticky-traps baited continuously with racemic sulcatol (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-01) set out in 5 locations in a commercial sawmill in 1976, captured 42,907 Gnathotrichus sulcatus (LeConte), an estimated 65.1% of the total population. Peak flights occurred in the 1st wk of May and Sept. Highest attack rates on lumber occurred also at these times and for the following 3 wk as attacking beetles apparently set up competitive natural sources of secondary attraction. Major factors associated with higher beetle catches were temperature, mill log inventory, and lumber inventory. Numbers of attacks on lumber were also positively correlated with the sum of the attacks for the previous 3 wk. Percentage suppression of beetles was highest in the warmer summer months when inflight populations were low. Vertical distribution of beetles on traps was directly related to height of the pheromone release system. The suppression traps required less than one man-day/month for maintenance, and offer an effective alternative to the use of conventional insecticides. The mass trapping technique could be readily adapted for dryland log sorting areas to help prevent the build up of pest populations of G. sulcatus.
Pre-harvest growth and development, measured as accumulated degree days, determine the post-harvest green life of banana fruit

Summary We aimed to define a more robust indicator for banana harvest date that ensures an optimal fruit green life (GL). Our hypothesis was that development rather than growth would account for GL more accurately. To this end, five indicators were compared: one related to fruit size (i.e., growth, expressed as the diameter of fruit); two related to fruit age [i.e., development, expressed as the age of fruit measured in the number of days or in degree days (°Cd) from inflorescence emergence]; and two related to metabolism during maturation (i.e., the concentrations of malate and citrate in the pulp). Different treatments (e.g., fruit removal, leaf shading, bunch bagging, defoliation, water deficit, and flooding) were applied to modify the fruit growth rate. On different dates between the emergence of the inflorescence and harvest, fruit GL and the five indicators were measured. The results showed that there was a decreasing exponential relationship between GL and accumulated °Cd from inflorescence emergence (r2 = 0.77). This was more reliable than the relationships between GL and fruit diameter (r2 = 0.39), or between GL and fruit age, expressed in days (r2 = 0.39). Relationships were also established between GL and malate or citrate concentrations, but they were not sufficiently reliable to estimate GL. The results illustrate that GL is related to fruit development, and that °Cd is a more reliable criterion for harvest date than the number of days, or fruit diameter, because it is less sensitive to different fruit growth rates. Banana growers in the French West Indies usually use fruit diameter and age in days to determine harvest date. However, they face problems of fruit ripening during transportation. The use of °Cd as an indicator may help to determine the optimum harvest date more accurately.
Perceptions matter: how fishermen's perceptions affect trends of sustainability in Indian fisheries

Abstract Indian marine fisheries have expanded four-fold in the last 50 years in the form of open-access commons. Although studies predict that fish stocks are on the decline there is little evidence that these declines are being countered by changes in either fishing regulations or fishing practices. Fishermen rarely comply with regulations, instead operationalizing and directing the fishery on their own. In these circumstances understanding how fishermen perceive and use resources has significant management and policy implications. Our study examined fishermen's perceptions about the state of fish stocks and documents current fishing practice and management strategies in India. We surveyed 342 fishermen in two states, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. We found that 86% of fishermen perceived a decline in catch and 69% perceived a decline in bycatch. Fishermen adapt to these declines by increasing fishing area and time spent, changing their gear, and overlapping in fishing zones. The convoluted interactions between ineffective community and state regulations guiding their actions has prevented fishermen from developing successful models of sustainable fisheries management. We identified non-compliance with regulations and government incentives as an important livelihood opportunity. Non-compliance drives change in fishing practice by giving fishermen the flexibility to respond to perceived fish catch dynamics by modifying their practices. We recommend strengthening local fishing communities by enabling them to enforce fishing regulations locally and by scaling back of existing government incentives, to protect the sustainability of these fisheries.
Anti-mycobacterial effect of leaf extract of Centella asiatica (Mackinlayaceae).

Centella asiatica is a small herbaceous annual plant of the family Mackinlayaceae (Apiaceae) and subfamily Mackinlayoideae and is native to India. The ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica was screened against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by microdilution bioassay in L-J (Lowenstein -Jensen) media and Versa-Trek rapid culture system. The leaf extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The both conventional L-J and Versa-Trek rapid culture methodologies were found effective to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The major bioactive compounds in ethanol extract of Centella asiatica were Octadectrienoic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid by GC-MS analysis.
The foraging ecology of Glausous Gulls preying on the eggs and chicks of Thick-billed Murres

The glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a generalist predator with a circumpolar distribution. It commonly depredates the eggs and chicks of birds nesting in the Arctic, and often breeds in association with colonial nesting waterfowl and seabirds. The aim of this thesis was to examine how environmental factors constrained the ability of glaucous gulls to depredate cliff-nesting thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia), and to determine whether these constraints vary through time, in space, or between individuals. I also wanted to determine how changes in gull foraging constraints could affect the impact of gulls on murre reproductive success and population dynamics. This study was conducted from 1990-1992 at a murre colony on Coats Island, Canada, and in 1993 at colonies in the Upernavik region of Greenland. Based upon results from egg placement experiments and field observations of predation, gull foraging success was constrained by high murre nesting densities, collective murre defence, and the accessibility of narrow cliff ledges. However, windy conditions enhanced the ability of gulls to overcome these constraints. Wind improved the aerial maneuverability of gulls, and enabled gulls to reach weakly-defended narrow ledges and avoid contact with murres during attack. Murre defence on narrow cliff ledges was less effective because murres had difficulty turning to face attacking gulls without dislodging their own eggs and chicks. Gull search activity, attack activity, and predation rates were strongly correlated with windy conditions. Consequently, the impact of gull predation on murre reproductive failure, which ranged from 0% to 21% depending on nest type, was determined largely by wind. Under calm wind conditions, adult gulls were often inactive and they rarely fed their chicks. This inactivity may reflect the reluctance of gulls to forage on foot, because although this was the most successful attack mode, it also incurred the greatest contact with defending murres. Alternatively, gulls could have been responding to the varying energetic demands determined by changing weather conditions, so that the danger of injury while foraging did not influence mode selection or periods of foraging activity. I explored these two alternatives using a dynamic
Genetic Factors Contributing to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Tunisian Patients

Systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi system autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies production, multi-organ damage and complex genetic inheritance. Multiple genetic and environemental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. Recent genome-wide studies, have added substantially to the number of genes associated with SLE. We performed a case control study using 138 SNPs in 93 Tunisian patients affected with lupus and 162 healthy controls. All SNPs were genotyped in a Sequenom platform. To confirm some associations, associated SNPs were analyzed using logistic regression which allows the test of association with a given SNP by adjusting for the effect of confounding variables. Association was especially reported with rs3733197 (P=0.0026, OR=2.04), rs17266594 (P=0.046, OR=1.56) in BANK1 gene, rs2070197 (P=0.0016, OR=2.31), rs2004640 (P=0.024, OR=1.54), rs10954213 (P=0.035, OR=1.53) in IRF5 gene and rs7574865 (P=0.017, OR=1.77) in STAT4 gene: previously confirmed SLE susceptibility genes. rs1800629 (P=0.00036, OR=2.26), rs4147359 (P=0.026, OR=1.55) and rs11575812 (P=0.037, OR=1.57) of TNF-α, IR2RA and IL2 genes respectively were also associated with SLE. Haplotypic analysis reported 2 susceptibility haplotypes: TGG (P=0.00421, OR=1.87) in BANK1 and TCA (P=0.00177, OR=2.34) in IRF5 genes. Our results show that numerous genes, some with known immune related function predispose to lupus.
The Incentive Effects of No‐Fault Automobile Insurance*

This paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of the effects of no‐fault automobile insurance on fatal accident rates. As a mechanism for compensating the victims of automobile accidents, no‐fault insurance has several important advantages over the tort system. However, by restricting access to tort, no‐fault may weaken incentives for careful driving and lead to higher accident rates. We conduct an empirical analysis of automobile accident fatality rates in all U.S. states over the period 1968–94, controlling for the potential endogeneity of no‐fault laws. The results support the hypothesis that no‐fault is significantly associated with higher fatal accident rates than tort.
Metroglyph Analysis for the Yield and Quality Related Characters of Brassica juncea L.

Eight accessions of Brassica juncea were sown in a Randomized Complete Block Design in four replications. Data on various economic characters of the plant were recorded for the comparative evaluation with the help of metroglyph techniques. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among Brassica juncea accessions for all the quantitative characters. Six clusters were obtained by the Anderson's Metroglyph analysis. The cluster number I and II were largest with two genotypes whereas the cluster III, IV, V and VI were formed by the single genotypes.
Optimal Control of Nonlinear Systems With Unsymmetrical Input Constraints and its Application to the UAV Circumnavigation Problem

In this article, a novel design scheme is introduced to solve the optimal control problem for nonlinear systems with unsymmetrical and state-dependent input constraints. By introducing an initial stabilizing control policy as the baseline of the constructed optimal control policy, we remove the assumption in the current study for the adaptive optimal control, that is, the internal dynamics should hold zero when the state of the system is in the origin. Particularly, nonlinear control systems with partially unknown dynamics are investigated and the procedure to acquire the corresponding optimal control policy is presented. The stability for the closed-loop dynamics and the optimality of the obtained control policy are both proved. Besides, we apply the proposed control design framework to solve the optimal circumnavigation problem based on the accumulative Fisher information for a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The control performance of our algorithm is compared with that of the existing circumnavigation control policy in a numerical simulation.
Native—Nonnative Seed Dispersal and Establishment Along an Interstate Highway

Abstract Roads may contribute to the spread of plant invasions by acting as corridors for seed movement, as well as habitat for nonnative plant species, but seed dispersal and seedling establishment are largely unexplored along large, paved roads. We collected one season of seed rain and quantified co-occurring vegetation at multiple distances from the road along an interstate highway. Nonnative seed species richness decreased with distance from the road. Distance did not significantly affect native species seed measures. Furthermore, 33% of nonnative species found in the seed rain were not present in the vegetation. These results suggest that the Interstate aids dispersal of nonnative seeds. Seeds of 58% of the native and nonnative species found in the seed rain were not present in the vegetation, indicating that at least some of these species are unable to establish along the road. Independent of distance from the road, more nonnative and less native vegetation was found in areas of higher soil pH, suggesting that pH may limit the establishment of native species in the road verge. The role of soil variables, including pH, in seedling establishment along roads warrants further investigation.
A Weight-Length Relationship for Evaluating Physical Condition of Cottontails

Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) were weighed and their lengths, including extended hind legs, were measured during the months of May through November. Analysis of the relationship between 499 weights and lengths provided a formula for computing an index to physical condition. This index permits comparisons among the weights of rabbits from different lengthand age-classes. Data presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the index illustrate (1) month-to-month changes in the physical condition of cottontails during November through March and (2) that resident rabbits on a study area were in better physical condition than were rabbits which had recently immigrated. This paper describes a method, using measurements of body weight and length, for evaluating the physical conditions of cottontail rabbits without sacrificing the animals for autopsy. Use of this method to compare populations of cottontails is also described. The term "index to physical condition" is used here to describe a measure of the slenderness or heaviness of an animal. Thus physical-condition indices can be affected by environmental stresses such as severe weather or lack of food and also by normal processes such as the daily rhythm of feeding or physiological responses to changes of season. The editorial suggestions of Dr. Glen C. Sanderson, Mrs. Helen C. Schultz, and William R. Edwards, and the field assistance of Roger J. Siglin, are gratefully acknowledged.