Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DETECTION OF APPLE MARSSONINA BLOTCH DISEASE USING PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION

Apple Marssonina blotch (AMB) is a devastating disease that is predominantly found in Asian countries, such as Japan, India, and South Korea. The disease has been known to cause huge economic losses in the regions where it has been found. AMB causes early defoliation, which ultimately leads to low quality and quantity of harvested apples. In this work, spectroscopic measurements were collected and analyzed for two datasets from 2014 and 2015. A stochastic algorithm called particle swarm optimization (PSO) was used to find optimal features for classification. A total of ten spectral features were found by the algorithm by selecting pairs of bands that resulted in the highest discrimination between every two classes. A support vector machine classifier resulted in 100% classification accuracy for both healthy and diseased samples. Abundance estimation and spectral unmixing analyses of early-stage AMB (ambE) samples were also conducted using PSO to extract symptomatic and asymptomatic endmembers. Results showed reasonable separation between healthy, seemingly healthy, and symptomatic classes. Quantitative analysis, using varying degrees of infection of ambE samples, was performed by applying a combination of partial least squares and stepwise multiple linear regression models, and coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.76 and 0.71 were achieved for the calibration and validation datasets, respectively. The results demonstrate the potential of using spectroscopic technology as a non-invasive method for early detection of AMB disease.
Effect of Dispersed Phase Volume Fraction on Physical Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsion in The Presence of Gum Tragacanth

Background: The dispersed phase volume fraction plays key role in oil-in-water emulsion stability by different mechanisms like partial flocculation, depletion flocculation and bridging flocculation. Since the mentioned mechanism is affected by emulsifier concentration presented in system, the major aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dispersed phase volume fraction on physical stability of oil-in-water emulsion in the presence of gum
An End-to-End Approach to Joint Social Signal Detection and Automatic Speech Recognition

Social signals such as laughter and fillers are often observed in natural conversation, and they play various roles in human-to-human communication. Detecting these events is useful for transcription systems to generate rich transcription and for dialogue systems to behave as we do such as synchronized laughing or attentive listening. We have studied an end-to-end approach to directly detect social signals from speech by using connectionist temporal classification (CTC), which is one of the end-to-end sequence labelling models. In this work, we propose a unified framework that integrates social signal detection (SSD) and automatic speech recognition (ASR). We investigate several reference labelling methods regarding social signals. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that our end-to-end framework significantly outperforms the conventional DNN-HMM system with regard to SSD performance as well as the character error rate (CER).
Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Network

— small embedded devices called sensors in a wireless sensor networks (WSN) which communicate wirelessly with ad-hoc configuration. This paper explores permanent energy drain-out attack at routing protocol layer in wireless sensor network, which causes infected node from network permanently by draining battery power. This Vampire attacks are rely on the properties of classes of routing protocol and not specific to the routing protocol layer. These attacks are difficult to detect and easy to carry out by sending protocol compliant messages to the neighbouring nodes in network. We analyse and compare such attack and energy consumption in AODV routing protocol and suggested method to eliminate such attack
An economic impact comparative analysis of farmers’ markets in Michigan and Ontario

Farmers' markets play a vital role in local economic development by providing a site for local and small business incubation, creating an economic multiplier effect to neighboring businesses, and recycling customer dollars within the community. While several studies have evaluated characteristics of farmers' markets within single metropolitan areas, few have compared the impact of multiple markets in socioeconomically contrasting regions. This research compares shopping habits and economic impacts of customers at farmers' markets in two North American cities: Flint, Michigan, and London, Ontario. Overall, 895 market visitors completed surveys. We conducted statistical and spatial analyses to identify differences between these markets. Though geographically proximate and similar in metropolitan size, the two cities differ greatly in recent economic development, social vitality, and public health indicators. The objectives of this article are to quantify the impact that each market has on its local economy and contextualize these impacts in light of the place-specific attributes of each market. Results indicate that customers come from a mix of urban and suburban locations, but that key urban areas do not draw a substantial share of customers. Marketing efforts in nearby disadvantaged neighborhoods, therefore, might yield new customers and increase multiplier effects within the neighborhoods. The London market drew slightly younger customers who shopped less frequently, while the Flint market drew an older crowd that attended more regularly. This may be attributable to the relative age of the markets, and certainly reflects the marketing push of each market's managers. Given the opportunity to compare similarities and differences, much can be learned from each market in terms of opportunities for marketing, local economic development, and increased community vitality.
MEASUREMENT OF TEMPORAL RESOLUTION AND DETECTION EFFICIENCY OF X-RAY STREAK CAMERA BY SINGLE PHOTON IMAGES

In the third generation and the next generation synchrotron radiation light sources, the electron beam bunch length of ps∼sub-ps is expected to be achieved. An X-ray streak camera (X-SC) can directly measure the temporal width of X-ray synchrotron radiation pulse. The temporal resolution of X-SC depends on the initial velocity distribution of the photoelectrons from a photocathode which converts the X-ray photons to the photoelectrons. To measure the temporal resolution of the X-SC, we have observed ’single photon’ streak camera images and measured the temporal spread of the images. We have also tried to evaluate the dependence of the temporal resolution and the detection efficiency on the thickness of the photocathode. For this purpose, we have developed a multi-array type CsI photocathode with 3 different thickness of the photocathodes. The experimental setups, and the results of the measurements of the temporal spread and the detection efficiency of the single photon events are presented.
A practical guide for solid-state NMR distance measurements in proteins

Rotational resonance (R 2 ) and rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) are powerful solid-state NMR techniques that can be applied in a site-directed fashion for precise distance measurements in proteins. These tools are well suited for systems in which a few precise distance measurements are needed to understand a mechanism or map a bind- ing site, particularly if this information is unavailable from x-ray crystallography or solution NMR, as is often the case for membrane proteins. Strategies and challenges in the design and implementation of such experiments are described and illustrated with experiments probing mechanisms of transmembrane signaling in bacterial chemotaxis receptors. 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 30A: 21-39, 2007
Three-dimensional Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms With Attenuation And Geometric Point Response Correction

A three-dimensional iterative reconstruction algorithm which incorporates models of the geometric point response in the projector-backprojector is presented for parallel, fan, and cone beam geometries. The algorithms have been tested on an IBM 3090-600S supercomputer. The iterative EM reconstruction algorithm is 50 times longer with geometric response and photon attenuation models than without modeling these physical effects. An improvement in image quality in the reconstruction of projection data collected from a single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system has been observed. Significant improvements in image quality are obtained when the geometric point response and attenuation are appropriately compensated. It is observed that resolution is significantly improved with attenuation correction alone. Using phantom experiments, it is observed that the modeling of the spatial system response imposes a smoothing without loss of resolution. >
Effect of Arsenic-induced Toxicity on Morphological Traits of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and Lathyrus sativus L. During Germination and Early Seedling Growth

Effect of five different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/L) of arsenic was studied on 11 different parameters of two important leguminous crops, namely Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) and Lathyrus sativus L. (grass pea) during germination and early seedling growth stage. Mean value of germination percentage, germination index and relative germination rate decreased with concomitant increase in arsenic-induced injury level in increasing concentration of arsenic in both plants and the effect was significant at 30 and 40 mg/L treatments. Fresh and dry weight of shoots, roots and their length also reduced significantly in these two treatment levels. There was significant accumulation of arsenic in tissues, and the effect was more severe on root than shoots. Based on the parameters responding to arsenic-induced stress, Arsenic Response Index (ARI) was developed for the first time in these two crops. Among the two crops, T. foenum-graecum L. exhibited better tolerance to arsenic-induced toxicity than L. sativus L. Considering mean and ARI value, 30 mg/L of arsenic was selected as toxic to L. sativus L. , while the limit was 40 mg/L for T. foenum-graecum L. at the stages of germination and early seedling growth.
Bacterial contributions to formation of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and seasonal trends in coastal waters of Sagami Bay, Japan

Seasonal trends in the bacterial formation of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) were assessed in a seawater culture experiment using filtrate (0.8 µm) obtained from surface water of Sagami Bay, Japan. An Alcian blue staining/colorimetric method was used to assess samples in both the presence and absence of metabolic inhibitors of bacteria. TEP formation was always negligible in the presence of metabolic inhibitors. However, the TEP accumulation rate (t = 0 to 1) associated with bacterial growth was high (156.9 ± 66 µg Gum Xanthan equivalents l -1 d -1 ) in September, October, and March, and low (0 ± 12.7 µg Gum Xanthan equiv. l -1 d -1 ) from December to February, even for samples with large increases in bacterial numbers. The observed TEP accumulation rate without metabolic inhibitors was positively correlated with chlorophyll a concentration (r = 0.799, n = 9), bac- terial organic carbon production rate (r = 0.784, n = 9), and bacterial number (r = 0.948, n = 9) in the field, indicating the importance of exudates from phytoplankton and probably from bacteria. During the months with high TEP formation rates, the bacterial TEP that formed in terms of carbon exceeded bacterial carbon utilization by 1- to 2-fold, suggesting an indirect process of bacterial TEP formation. Based on microscopic examinations of seawater cultures and field samples, the scavenging of TEP precursors by increased bacterial particles was important in the bacterial enhancement of high TEP formation in fall and early spring. These observations suggest the importance of bacteria as media- tors of bacteria-associated TEP formation coupled to the supply of usable dissolved organic matter, including TEP precursors.
Generative Secure Design, Defined

In software-intensive industries, companies face the constant challenge of not having enough security experts on staff in order to validate the design of the high-complexity projects they run. Many of these companies are now realizing that increasing automation in their secure development process is the only way forward in order to cope with the ultra-large scale of modern systems. This paper embraces that viewpoint. We chart the roadmap to the development of a generative design tool that iteratively produces several design alternatives, each attempting to solve the security goals by incorporating security mechanisms. The tool explores the possible solutions by starting from well-known security techniques and by creating variations via mutations and crossovers. By incorporating user feedback, the tool generates increasingly better design alternatives.
TOF‐SIMS analysis of crater residues from Wild 2 cometary particles on Stardust aluminum foil

Abstract— Impact residues of cometary particles on aluminum foils from the Stardust mission were investigated with TOF‐SIMS for their elemental and organic composition. The residual matter from comet 81P/Wild 2 shows a wide compositional range, from nearly monomineralic grains to polymict aggregates. Despite the comparably small analyzed sample volume, the average element composition of the investigated residues is similar to bulk CI chondritic values. Analysis of organic components in impact residues is complicated, due to fragmentation and alteration of the compounds during the impact process and by the presence of contaminants on the aluminum foils. Nevertheless, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are unambiguously associated with the impact residues were observed, and thus are most likely of cometary origin.
Avian cholera, post-hatching survival and selection on hatch characteristics in a long-lived bird, the common eider Somateria mollisima

Infectious diseases can have dramatic impacts on animal population dynamics, but how they influence vital rates remains understudied. We took advantage of the appearance of an avian cholera epizootic in an arctic colony of common eiders Somateria mollissima to study variation in juvenile survival and selection on hatch characteristics in relation to this highly infectious disease. Avian cholera is one of the most important infectious diseases affecting wild birds and is thought to primarily affect adult survival. Here, we show that avian cholera was associated with a 90% decline in duckling survival, leading to almost zero recruitment. Before the cholera outbreak, there was significant stabilizing selection on hatching date and significant positive directional selection on hatching mass. During cholera outbreaks, selection on hatch characteristics was no longer significant. These results were based on a low sample of surviving ducklings in cholera years, but suggested that date and mass at hatching did no longer affect duckling survival in the presence of cholera. These effects of avian cholera on post-hatching survival were likely not only the consequence of the disease per se, but also a consequence of an increase in predation rates that followed the emergence of avian cholera. Our results emphasize the dramatic direct and indirect impacts that infectious disease can have on vital rates, and thus population dynamics.
Revisiting Python Thermogenesis: Brooding Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus) Cue on Body, not Clutch, Temperature

Abstract Previous studies have shown that brooding Burmese Pythons, Python bivittatus, use endogenous heat production to buffer clutch temperature against suboptimal environmental temperatures and that heat production is correlated with body muscle twitch rate and metabolic rate. Improving our understanding of the patterns of thermogenesis and the mechanisms that regulate it will provide insight into the proposed link between parental care and the evolution of endothermy. We measured body, clutch, and nest temperatures and also muscle twitch rate and metabolic rate to evaluate the buffering capability of thermogenesis during brooding as well as the thermal cues regulating thermogenesis. We found that, as expected, both muscle twitch rate and metabolic rate were correlated negatively with nest temperature. Furthermore, at nest temperature 6 degrees below optimal developmental temperature, females maintained body temperature at the optimal temperature. However, while thermogenesis increased clutch temperature significantly, clutch temperature decreases with decreasing nest temperature. Our results confirm general patterns of facultative thermogenesis reported previously and, in addition, strongly suggest that females use core body temperature to regulate their thermogenic activity.
Biomedical compound figure detection using deep learning and fusion techniques

Images contain significant amounts of information but present different challenges relative to textual information. One such challenge is compound figures or images made up of two or more subfigures. A deep learning model is proposed for compound figure detection (CFD) in the biomedical article domain. First, pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are selected for transfer learning to take advantage of the image classification performance of CNNs and to overcome the limited dataset of the CFD problem. Next, the pre-trained CNNs are fine-tuned on the training data with early-stopping to avoid overfitting. Alternatively, layer activations of the pre-trained CNNs are extracted and used as input features to a support vector machine classifier. Finally, individual model outputs are combined with score-based fusion. The proposed combined model obtained a best test accuracy of 90.03 and 96.93% outperforming traditional hand-crafted and other deep learning representations on the ImageCLEF 2015 and 2016 CFD subtask datasets, respectively, by using AlexNet, VGG-16, VGG-19 pre-trained CNNs fine-tuned until best validation accuracy stops increasing combined with the combPROD score-based fusion operator.
Exosomes in cancer development and clinical applications

Exosomes participate in cancer progression and metastasis by transferring bioactive molecules between cancer and various cells in the local and distant microenvironments. Such intercellular cross‐talk results in changes in multiple cellular and biological functions in recipient cells. Several hallmarks of cancer have reportedly been impacted by this exosome‐mediated cell‐to‐cell communication, including modulating immune responses, reprogramming stromal cells, remodeling the architecture of the extracellular matrix, or even endowing cancer cells with characteristics of drug resistance. Selectively, loading specific oncogenic molecules into exosomes highlights exosomes as potential diagnostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets. In addition, exosome‐based drug delivery strategies in preclinical and clinical trials have been shown to dramatically decrease cancer development. In the present review, we summarize the significant aspects of exosomes in cancer development that can provide novel strategies for potential clinical applications.
Development of ovarian germline stem cells in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared under different temperature regimes

Germ cells originate from progenitor cells, denominated as primordial germ cells (PGC). PGC are of extragonadal origin and migrate toward the gonad primordia where they proliferate and, in gonochoristic species, differentiate into sperm cells in males and oocytes in females. At the time of sex differentiation gonads are prone to the influence of external factors, such as the water temperature. Elevation of temperature from 28oC to 36oC during the critical time of gonadal differentiation i.e. 10 days post fertilization until 20 days post fertilization (dpf) is known to bring about masculinization in genetically female Nile tilapia. The first study aimed at the characterization of the micro-morphology of temperature-treated but no masculinized genetic females. A temperature treatment leads to masculinization in 37% of genetic females. Macro-morphologically at 90 dpf in both, the treatment and the control group immature ovaries were found. Maturation commenced at 120 dpf. Micro-morphologically five oocyte stages were found; chromatin nucleolus phase, peri-nucleolus phase, cortical alveolus stage, vitellogenic stage and mature oocyte stage. Chromatin nucleolus phase and the peri-nucleolus phase, being the primary growth phases, were represented at all age groups, whereas the advanced stages surfaced later. The cortical alveolus stage developed at 120 dpf; the vitellogenic stage at 150 dpf; mature stage at 180 dpf. There were slight individual differences in oocyte development. The second study was conducted to identify and monitor the germline stem cells of Nile tilapia raised under different temperature regimes. They were identified with the aid of vasa and PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen). Samples were sectioned after paraffin-embedding and Polly-freeze-tissue-freezing-medium-embedding. For producing sample sections the paraffin-embedding method was preferable. Ovarian germline stem cells of Nile tilapia were identified located at the germinal epithelium of ovigerous lamellae. Ovarian germline stem cells are occurring either singly or in clutches, and were found in both females that had not been masculinized by temperature treatment and untreated control females. The identification of ovarian germline stem cells was easy at a young age but, due to development of ovigerous lamella, it was tedious in mature ovaries. In summary, this study revealed the existence of germline stem cells and their location in non-masculinized temperature-treated females and control females using immunostaining with vasa and PCNA.
Assessing Software Development Skills Among K-6 Learners in a Project-Based Workshop with Scratch

Recent literature reports a fair amount of initiatives on how to engage younger populations in achieving computational literacy. However, there is considerable less research on how to effectively deliver software development skills in a way that can be accepted and ultimately adopted by this user group. As a way to bridge this gap, we ran an extracurricular project-based workshop, targeting 10-12 years old learners with no prior coding experience, delivered over five days in the computer labs at the University of Chile. In this workshop, participants follow hands-on activities where they acquire the basics of computer programming and develop a small-scale software application using Scratch. These activities showcase that good software engineering practices can be taught to K-6 students, where these students are guided by experienced computer science undergraduate and graduate students. This paper presents a descriptive case study that focuses on assessing how K-6 learners assimilate and use these practices when developing their first computing application in a non-traditional learning experience. In order to do this, we designed and calibrated a rubric to evaluate the software products generated by the workshop participants. Our findings provide further evidence that it is indeed possible to teach initial notions of software engineering to this user group, structuring these constructs in a non-technical language that can be assimilated by novice developers. Furthermore, we did not observe significant differences in this matter according to gender and socio-economic status.