Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invasiveness evaluation of fireweed (Crassocephalum crepidioides) based on its seed germination features

In China, fireweed (Crassocephalum crepioides) is listed as an invasive plant that is also cultivated as a vegetable. To gain a clearer understanding of its invasiveness and rapid spread, we evaluated its seed dispersal ability, and the influences of light, temperature, pH, NaCl stress, moisture content, and storage periods on its seed germination. Its seed dispersal ability is limited. The seed germination of fireweed is inhibited by darkness, temperatures 35°C, and a NaCl solution with a concentration >0.15 mol L−1. The optimal conditions under which nearly all the seeds could germinate are light, with temperatures from 20 to 30°C, and a neutral soil with 40% moisture content. The seeds of fireweed have no apparent dormancy and retain a high viability after room storage for 10 months. Fireweed only has a moderate invasive capacity and its wide distribution in China possibly correlates with its cultivation.
Contribution to the polychaete family Trochochaetidae Pettibone

Pettibone, Marian H. Contribution to the Polychaete Family Trochochaetidae Pettibone. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 230, 21 pages, 10 figures, 1976. —The polychaete family Trochochaetidae Pettibone (=Disomidae Mesnil) is reviewed, and a key to the species of Trochochaeata Levinsen ( = Disoma Oersted) is included. Based on new material and examination of types, the descriptions of three species are supplemented: T. carica (Birula), new combination; T. watsoni (Fauvel); and T. diverapoda (Hoagland). A new species from West Africa, T. kirkegaardi, is described. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIFS COGER DESIGN: The Coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Pettibone, Marian H. Contribution to the Polychaete Family Trochochaetidae Pettibone. (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; 230) Bibliography: p. Supt. of Docs, no.: SI 1.27:230 1. Trochochaetidae. 2. Annelida—Classification. I: Title. QL1.S54 no. 230 [QL391.A6] 591'. 08s [595M47] 7&-3464
Robustness of a signal control algorithm in a connected vehicle environment

Connected vehicles can be benefit to i ntersection control in two ways. First, it prov ides accurate and real - time information to the intersection controller. S econd, it enables th e flexibility for design the trajectory of the vehicles approaching the intersection. A prev ious work of the authors design an algorithm for inter section control that optimize s the traffic signal and vehicle trajectories simultaneously. This paper aims to test the robus tness of the previous algorithm by various simula tions. The stochas t i c ity in the acceleration rates is first tested. It is shown that the algorithm is not sensitive to the noises in the acceleration rates before the vehicles join the queue , but is slightly sens itive if the noises occur when the vehicles join the queue. This means that the algorithm is slightly sensitive to the stochastic departure headway s. The second t est is the robustness test to the location errors. It is shown that the algorithm is only sensitive to the location errors when the traffic demand is high. And the high er the information level is, the more the vehicle is sensitive to the location errors.
Altering the scissile fatty acid binding site of Candida antarctica lipase A by protein engineering for the selective hydrolysis of medium chain fatty acids

Candida antarctica lipase A (CAL-A) is the first representative of a new subclass of lipases because of its unique cap domain. The acyl-binding tunnel – having a short alternative binding region – is mainly formed by this domain. In order to create CAL-A variants with a high specificity for medium chain length (MCL) fatty acids (C6–C12), we used rational protein design to block the primary acyl-binding tunnel of CAL-A at position G237, which is near the junction to the alternative binding pocket. By closing the junction to the main tunnel, CAL-A variants (G237A/L/V/Y) have been created, which are highly specific for medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) as determined by chain length profiles with p-nitrophenyl esters and triacylglycerides. Especially the CAL-A variants G237L/V/Y, in which the junction to the primary tunnel is completely closed, show a distinct preference for the hydrolysis of hexanoate esters. Hydrolytic activity for substrates with a chain length >C6 is suppressed extensively in mutants G237L/V/Y. Therefore, these highly MCL specific CAL-A variants may represent interesting biocatalysts for the production of MCL-derived esters for the food, flavor, and fragrance industry. Practical application: Since medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs: C6-C10) and their corresponding triacylglycerides (MCTs) provide quick access to energy and have been considered to be less implicated in the accumulation of body fat than long chain fatty acids, they represent interesting food additives. As functional oils, they are part of weight loss diets or are used in clinical nutrition. In the food industry MCTs are also utilized as storage stabilizing agents in cooking products, as release agents in food processing or as flavor diluent. Another interesting field of application of MCFA derived compounds, especially of C6 esters and alcohols, is as ingredients in flavors and fragrances. The CAL-A variants described in this study can be used for the biocatalytic synthesis of these compounds.
Cytochrome P450 structures and their substrate interactions

The structure and function of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes is reviewed in the context of the currently available high‐resolution crystal structures and homology models in the public domain. Two human P450 enzymes from the CYP2C subfamily (CYP2C8 and CYP2C9) have been resolved crystallographically with good agreement with the results of molecular modelling based on the CYP2C5 template structure. Aspects of the P450 structures that bear on the function and catalytic activity of the enzymes, especially in relation to the binding of substrates, redox partners, and oxygen, are discussed in the light of current evidence. Drug Dev. Res. 66:19–24, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bakers′ Yeast Reduction of α-Diketones: Investigation and Control of the Enzymatic Pathway

Abstract Optically pure α-hydroxyketones and α-diols are obtained through a regio- and stereocontrol of the reduction of acyclic α-diketones by bakers′ yeast. An investigation of the enzymatic system clearly demonstrates the role of two enzymes operating in sequence. An alcohol dehydrogenase is implicated in the initial reduction of the α-diketone, and the resulting α-hydroxyketone is subsequently reduced by a glycerol dehydrogenase. The first reductive step is found to direct the stereochemical outcome of the entire reaction.
Ensemble Dehazing Networks for Non-homogeneous Haze

Image dehazing is one of the most challenging imaging inverse problems. Although deep learning methods produce compelling results, one of the most crucial practical challenge is that of non-homogeneous haze, which remains an open problem. To address this challenge, we propose 3 models that are inspired by ensemble techniques. First, we propose a DenseNet based single-encoder four-decoders structure denoted as EDN-3J, wherein among the four decoders, three of them output estimates of dehazed images (J1, J2, J3) that are then weighted and combined via weight maps learned by the fourth decoder. In our second model called EDN-AT, the single-encoder four-decoders structure is maintained while three decoders are transformed to jointly estimate two physical inverse haze models that share a common transmission map t with two distinct ambient light maps (A1, A2). The two inverse haze models are then weighted and combined for the final dehazed image. To endow two sub-models flexibility and to induce capability of modeling non-homogeneous haze, we apply attention masks to ambient lights. Both the weight maps and attention maps are generated from the fourth decoder. Finally, in contrast to the above two ensemble models, we propose an encoder-decoder-U-net structure called EDN-EDU, which is a sequential hierarchical ensemble of two different dehazing networks with different modeling capacities. Experiments performed on challenging benchmark image datasets of NTIRE’20 and NTIRE’19 demonstrate that the proposed models outperform many state-of-the-art methods and this fact is particularly demonstrated in the NTIRE-2020 contest where the EDN-AT model achieves the best result in the sense of the perceptual quality metric LPIPS.
A European Network in Support of Sustainable Forest Management

Summary Today, sustainability is a political priority at the regional, national, and international levels. It is thought to be attained by political instruments and adequate management. The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) is the European forum and reference for sustainable forest management (SFM). The MCPFE has developed criteria and indicators for implementing SFM in Europe. However, there is a gap between policy makers, stakeholders, and researchers with regard to the implementation of the criteria and indicators. A research strategy is proposed by the COST Action E25-European Network for Long-Term Ecosystem and Landscape Research, whereby these gaps are identified, and means for bridging these gaps are suggested. For example, economic and social-cultural criteria and indicators are poorly developed or missing-there is a need for disciplinary and multidisciplinary research. Furthermore, the knowledge base of forests and forestry is well developed in Europe, but could be better communicated to parties involved. Decision-support systems and “landscape laboratories” are suggested as tools for bridging this gap. Furthermore, resources are scarce, so new approaches should be developed that take advantage of existing resources and experiences. Information systems for maintaining and developing long-term information, and increased European collaboration are needed to harmonize existing and future initiatives.
The maximum capture problem with flexible substitution patterns

We consider the maximum capture problem with random utilities. The basic assumption is that a firm wants to locate a given number of facilities in a competitive market where customers choose the facility that maximizes their utility. Utility is treated as random. In the location science literature, so far, the corresponding choice probabilities of the customers are given by the multinomial logit model (MNL). There exist several exact mixed integer linear reformulations to the original NP–hard, non–linear program. Unfortunately, the MNL exhibits the independence from irrelevant alternatives property, i. e. constant substitution between facility locations. In contrast, the so–called mixed multinomial logit model (MXL) allows for flexible substitution patterns. Moreover, the MXL is able to approximate any random utility model arbitrarily close. In this paper, we present an intelligible mixed integer linear program for the maximum capture problem with customer demand modeled by the MXL. Empirical and managerial insights are discussed based on a unique real world case study that shows the applicability of our approach.
Related variety, unrelated variety and regional growth: Development patterns and role of absorptive capacity

This paper investigates long term patterns of diversification in terms of related and unrelated variety in West German regions and tests their effect on regional growth. Effect on growth is estimated following conventional as well as extended approach to test if diverse variety structures perform differently under different levels of regional absorptive capacity. Among several structural measures related variety is the only measure that reveals pronounced changing trend in terms of constant increase in value and convergence to the mean level variety pointing that regions tend to diversify in related fields. Results are in contrast to the conventional hypothesis that unrelated variety is not likely to generate employment growth. Analysis reveals that West German regions benefit from both types of varieties, giving new insights that positive effect of unrelated variety on growth is even more pronounced under higher levels of regional absorptive capacity.
Systematics of the Freshwater Crayfish Genus Cherax Erichson (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in South-Western Australia: Electrophoretic, Morphological and Habitat Variation

A detailed study of electrophoretic, morphological and habitat variation amongst species of Cherax in south-western Australia supported the recognition of only five of the eight species currently recognised and revealed that morphological and habitat variation within these crayfish is more extensive and complicated than was previously realised. Within several species morphological and habitat variation was found to be as great as that between species. Furthermore, a major component of the morphological variability, both within and between species, was found to be associated with habitat variation. Three of the five species of Cherax recognised in this study correspond to the consistently recognised and widespread species, C. preissii Erichson, C. quinquecarinatus (Gray) and C. tenuimanus Smith. The two other species are C. crassimantus Riek and C. glaber Riek which have restricted distributions in the extreme south-west of Western Australia. The species C. glabrimanus Riek and C. neocarinatus Riek could not be distinguished from C. quinquecarinatus, nor could C. plebejus (Hess) be distinguished from C. preissii. On a general level, the results of this study question the value of morphological information in systematic studies of freshwater crayfish. Morphologically based taxonomic studies of freshwater crayfish need to be interpreted with caution because, firstly, taxonomic characters may be far more variable than realised; secondly, morphological and habitat differences cannot necessarily be equated with specific distinctions; and thirdly, genetically distinct species that occupy similar habitats need not be morphologically distinct.
The Diffusion of Participatory Governance Innovations: A Panel Data Analysis of the Adoption and Survival of Participatory Budgeting in Brazil

The literature on policy diffusion centers on patterns of implementation of policy programs. However, identical implementation levels might be generated by very different combinations of adoption, abandonment and re-adoption mechanisms. This essay is a first attempt to go beyond patterns of implementation, by exploring the diffusion of a municipal governance innovation in Brazil that is frequently adopted and abandoned. Methodologically the paper shows that it is possible to adapt the research design employed by the literature on regime change to explore the diffusion of policy programs that present a rate of abandonment that is greater than zero. Using a novel dataset that maps all the Brazilian cities with a population larger than 50,000 inhabitants the papers tests quantitatively the correlates of adoption and survival of participatory budgeting identified by 25 years of case study literature. The results provide a more nuanced understanding of the effect of political competition, political vulnerability, proximity and availability of resources on the adoption and survival of participatory governance innovations.
Reproductive attributes of the eulophid Oomyzus sokolowskii, a biological control agent of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) is a gregarious larval-pupal parasitoid of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. Under laboratory conditions, we explored the reproductive attributes including the functional response of O. sokolowskii and the impact of mutual interference among female parasitoids on progeny production and progeny sex ratio. In the functional response experiment, groups of 1–50 late instar larvae were exposed to groups of five female parasitoids for 48 h. Both Holling's disc equation (type II response) and Williams and Martinez's model (type III response) fit significantly better than the null-model assuming density-independent parasitation efficiency. Williams and Martinez's model was only marginally better than Holling's disc equation which explained 82% of the variation in the number of parasitized hosts. According to Holling's disc equation, the estimated maximum number of hosts parasitised during 48 h was 17 per group of five parasitoids, the estimated attack efficiency of a single female parasitoid (a) was 0.0024 larvae per hour, and the estimated handling time of a single female (T h) was 14.4 h per host. In the mutual interference experiment 50 host larvae were exposed to different numbers of female parasitoids (P=5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) for 48 h. With increasing numbers of conspecifics, the proportion of male progeny increased and total number of progeny per parasitoid decreased, yielding an estimated mutual interference constant (m) (±SE) of 0.95±0.14. The total number of wasps emerging from individual host pupae increased with increasing number of conspecifics. The age-specific fecundity of O. sokolowskii was investigated by providing 10 host larvae daily to individual female parasitoids. After 3 days of oviposition, 90% of the females were still alive and had achieved 76.4% of their lifetime fecundity. The proportion of female progeny decreased with female age. No relationship was found between female longevity and lifetime fecundity. The results suggest that parasitoid and host densities influence the progeny production and sex allocation strategy of O. sokolowskii. The information obtained from this study would help to develop a mass-rearing protocol for O. sokolowskii.
Field weed population dynamics : a review of model approaches and applications

Mathematical modelling is a commonly used tool for studying the long-term dynamics of weed populations in agriculture. This was reflected in our review by the large number of scientific papers (134 original publications) and the continuing need to gain an overview over this fast developing field (20 previous review papers were found). In this article, we provide a more comprehensive review than earlier seen, striving to include all relevant publications. Thus, we cover models of the population dynamics of 60 weed species in 40 crops. An online, accompanying database provices an indexed bibliography. Despite the large variation in crops, weeds and geography, the models were surprisingly similar in their approach: structured around the weed life cycle, excluding environmental factors and giving little attention to validation or even documentation of model construction. In addition, their application was similar, limited mostly to strategic decision making. We hope that the overview provided by this review will inspire weed modellers and that it will serve as a basis for discussion and as a frame of reference when we proceed to advance the modelling of weed populations to a new level, developing new approaches and tackling new application domains.
Water Use by Tamarix Ramosissima and Associated Phreatophytes in a Mojave Desert Floodplain

Water use by the introduced shrub Tamarix ramosissima and three co-oc- curring, native phreatophytes was measured in the lower Virgin River floodplain (southern Nevada) using the stem-heat-balance method. During the 1993 growing season, measure- ments were conducted on Tamarix in a closed, monospecific stand and in a mixed community with the native species Pluchea sericea, Prosopis pubescens, and Salix exigua. Our objec- tives were (1) to determine whether leaf-area-based water use of Tamarix is higher than that of co-occurring native riparian taxa, (2) to assess the role of Tamarix stand leaf area index (LAI, leaf area per unit ground area) on Tamarix water loss, and (3) to verify whether Tamarix is capable of using large amounts of water under the extreme evaporative demands that characterize arid environments. Leaf-area-based sap flow rates were comparable in the four species despite large differences in individual leaf area and total water loss. Daily water use of Tamarix (in grams per day) weighted by the daily potential evapotranspirati-on (PET) increased linearly with the total leaf area per plant, suggesting that water uptake was sufficient to compensate for water loss at the leaf level, even during times of extreme atmospheric water demand. Under high PET, maximum sap flow rates of Tamarix on a leaf- area basis were significantly higher at locations where Tamarix LAI was lower, indicating that highly transpiring Tamarix stands may reduce leaf-level evaporative demand. However, daily estimates of transpiration of dense Tamarix stands (LAI up to 3.5 m2/m2) in our study site exceeded PET by a factor ranging from 1.6 to 2.0, which confirms that mature Tamarix stands can lose very high quantities of water due to the maintenance of high leaf area. Results from this and other studies demonstrate that, at least under moderate to high water tables, key variables controlling water use by riparian stands include structural character- istics such as LAI and density. Management practices aimed at conserving water should be geared towards avoiding the development of dense Tamarix thickets along arid water courses, particularly if it is confirmed that these tend to attain higher LAI than native riparian communities.
THERMAL EXTRUSION and ALKALI PROCESSING of DRY BEANS (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.)

Dry beans are an important source of protein but contain antinutritional factors. an important antinutrient is phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a heat-labile lectin known to depress the nutritional quality of dry beans. This work was undertaken to evaluate the utility of two processes that may aid in the inactivation of PHA, extrusion and cooking in a high pH medium. Extrusion was found to be relatively ineffective in reducing the activity of PHA of whole red kidney or black beans. Extrusion was more effective but highly variable in reducing the PHA activity of bean flours (25-80%). However, soaking and cooking beans at high pH was very effective, significantly reducing the activity of PHA and also reducing the time required to reach a palatable texture. Soaking and cooking dry beans at high pH also caused significant changes in the saline soluble protein extract as determined by gel electrophoresis. High pH cooking treatment may be useful in improving nutritional quality of dry beans.
Cross-media Structured Common Space for Multimedia Event Extraction

We introduce a new task, MultiMedia Event Extraction, which aims to extract events and their arguments from multimedia documents. We develop the first benchmark and collect a dataset of 245 multimedia news articles with extensively annotated events and arguments. We propose a novel method, Weakly Aligned Structured Embedding (WASE), that encodes structured representations of semantic information from textual and visual data into a common embedding space. The structures are aligned across modalities by employing a weakly supervised training strategy, which enables exploiting available resources without explicit cross-media annotation. Compared to uni-modal state-of-the-art methods, our approach achieves 4.0% and 9.8% absolute F-score gains on text event argument role labeling and visual event extraction. Compared to state-of-the-art multimedia unstructured representations, we achieve 8.3% and 5.0% absolute F-score gains on multimedia event extraction and argument role labeling, respectively. By utilizing images, we extract 21.4% more event mentions than traditional text-only methods.