Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Auditory filter-bank compression improves estimation of signal-to-noise ratio for speech in noise.

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation is necessary for many speech processing applications often challenged by nonstationary noise. The authors have previously demonstrated that the variance of spectral entropy (VSE) is a reliable estimate of SNR in nonstationary noise. Based on pre-estimated VSE-SNR relationship functions, the SNR of unseen acoustic environments can be estimated from the measured VSE. This study predicts that introducing a compressive function based on cochlear processing will increase the stability of the pre-estimated VSE-SNR relationship functions. This study demonstrates that calculating the VSE based on a nonlinear filter-bank, simulating cochlear compression, reduces the VSE-based SNR estimation errors. VSE-SNR relationship functions were estimated using speech tokens presented in babble noise comprised of different numbers of speakers. Results showed that the coefficient of determination (R2) of the estimated VSE-SNR relationship functions have absolute percentage improvements of over 26% when using a filter-bank with a compressive function, compared to when using a linear filter-bank without compression. In 2-talker babble noise, the estimation accuracy is more than 3 dB better than other published methods.
Gross stomach morphology in akodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae: Akodontini): a reappraisal of its significance in a phylogenetic context

Akodontini, the second largest tribe within sigmodontine rodents, encompasses several stomach morphologies. This is striking because most sigmodontine groups of comparable taxonomic rank are very conservative in this respect. Based on extensive sampling of newly dissected specimens (213 stomachs representing 36 species), as well as published examples, covering almost all akodontine living genera (15 of 16), we undertook a reappraisal of the gross morphology of this organ. We then mapped this information, together with gallbladder occurrence, in a refined multilocus molecular phylogeny of the tribe. We surveyed three different configurations of stomachs in akodontines, according to the degree of development and location of the glandular epithelium; in addition, two minor variations of one of these types were described. Of the five major clades that integrate Akodontini, four are characterized by a single stomach morphology, while one clade exhibits two morphologies. Mapping stomach type on the phylogeny recovered two configurations for the most recent ancestor of Akodontini. A revised survey of gallbladder evidence also revealed overlooked congruencies. The observed stomach diversity and its arrangement in the phylogeny, along with additional morphological characters and the genetic diversity among the main clades, supports the necessity of changes in the current classification of the tribe. Recognition of subtribes or partitioning of Akodontini into several additional tribes of equal rank could be suitable options.
In search of the true Tydeus (Acari, Tydeidae)

The early history of the genus Tydeus, the type genus of the family Tydeidae, is complex and convoluted and, subsequently, even the identity of the type species of the family remains unclear. First, the literature is thoroughly analysed and morphological characters of some species are reappraised. After studying Oudemans' types, two species inquirendae, Tydeus croceus and T. cruciatus, are redescribed and a third, T. spathulatus, removed from synonymy and reinstated as a valid species. A fourth species, confused with T. spathulatus, is described. A lectotype is designated for T. spathulatus and a neotype for T. croceus. After discussion, the genus Lorryia Oudemans, 1925 is re‐established in its pristine state. As the redescribed species were designated as type species by Oudemans, the following new generic synonymies are proposed: Raphitydeus Thor, 1933 and Lorryia Oudemans, 1925 sensu Kaźmierski (1989, 1998) are junior synonyms of Brachytydeus Thor, 1931; Homeotydeus André, 1980 (partim) and Pseudolorryia Kaźmierski, 1989 are junior synonyms of Calotydeus Oudemans, 1937; Brachytydeus Thor, 1933 (partim), Calotydeus Oudemans, 1937 (partim), Tydeus Koch, 1836 sensu Oudemans, 1937 (partim), Orthotydeus André, 1980, and Tydeus Koch, 1836 sensu Kaźmierski, 1989 are junior synonyms of Tydeus Koch, 1836. To stabilize the usage of the names, especially that of the genus type of the family Tydeidae, the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature will be asked to set aside all previous type species designations for Tydeus and to designate Tydeus spathulatus as the type species, with Oudemans' specimens from Italy as primary type material.
Myxosporean Emaciation Disease of Cultured Red Sea Bream Pagrus major and Spotted Knifejaw Oplegnathus punctatus

Myxosporean emaciation disease of cultured red sea bream Pagrus major and spotted knifejaw Oplegnathus punctatus has recently occurred in Japan. Morphological features and molecular analysis of SSU rDNA indicated that myxozoans from the intestine of affected fishes were identified as Enteromyxum leei, one of the causative organisms of the emaciation disease of tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes. A one-year periodic examination of E. leei infection in cultured red sea bream revealed that cumulative mortalities reached about 10% during the first summer, but surviving fish were not infected in the following year. Experimental transmission of E. leei from infected tiger puffer to naive red sea bream was achieved by both cohabitation with infected fish and exposure to effluent from a tank containing infected fish. This study suggests that fish-to-fish transmission occurs among different fish species in culture fields.
MALLOPHAGA OF ALBERTA: A LIST OF SPECIES WITH HOSTS

Very little attention has been paid to the occurrence of Mallophaga in western Canada, particularly in Alberta. The reason for this is two-fold. First, the difficulty of obtaining keys to species and, second, the extreme difficulty of collecting specimens. This paper reports the occurrence of thirty-eight species in the province.
Monitoring Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) in Eucalyptus plantations with remote sensing

Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), the eucalyptus bronze bug, is among the many species of insect pests that affect commercial eucalyptus forests in Brazil. T. peregrinus reduces the photosynthetic capacity of trees and, in some cases, can lead to the complete death of plants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of medium spatial resolution images, available for free, in the mapping and prediction of attacks caused by T. peregrinus in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil, using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). The PLS-DA regression model selected three main components, with a cross-validation error rate of 0.245 for the prediction and mapping of stands attacked by T. peregrinus. The important bands were selected from the PLS-DA model, using variable importance in the projection (VIP). The VIP bands predicted healthy and Brazilian Journal of Development Braz. J. of Develop. , Curitiba, v. 6, n.4,p17947-17960 apr. 2020. ISSN 2525-8761 17948 attacked stands with an accuracy of 97.7% in an independent validation dataset. This study demonstrates the potential of medium spatial resolution images as a viable alternative to successfully characterize and map T. peregrinus attacks in planted forests in Brazil.
Evaluation of a first‐order model for the prediction of the bioaccumulation of PCBS and DDT from sediment into the marine deposit‐feeding clam Macoma nasuta

A first‐order model for predicting contaminant bioaccumulation from sediments into benthic invertebrates was validated using a marine deposit‐feeding clam, Macoma nasuta, exposed to polychlorobiphenyl (PCB)‐spiked and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)‐contaminated sediments. Contaminant uptake and depuration were analyzed following short‐term and long‐term sediment exposures. Uptake and depuration rates were used to predict steady‐state bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and exposure times needed to attain steady state. These predictions were compared to observed steady‐state BAFs. Estimating elimination and uptake rates from depuration and short‐term uptake experiments was an accurate means of predicting BAFs for some PCBs (log octanol‐water partition coefficient, Kow, <7) but was not as accurate for predicting DDT BAFs. The exposure time need to attain steady state was poorly predicted by the model. The results demonstrated that a standard 28‐d bioaccumulation test estimated steady‐state tissue residues within two‐fold and was a better predictor than the model for the BAFs of superlipophilic PCBs (log Kow >7). Differences in contaminant bioavailability were noted between field‐contaminated (DDT) and laboratory‐spiked (PCB) sediments.
Change In Merlin Hunting Behavior Following Recovery of Peregrine Falcon Populations Suggests Mesopredator Suppression

Abstract Relationships between apex predators and mesopredators have been poorly documented in predatory birds. Prediction from intraguild predation (IGP) theory suggests that following the recovery of Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) populations, the potential for Merlins (F. columbarius) to experience mesopredator suppression should increase where these species share habitat and prey resources. In Washington, both falcons prey on Dunlins (Calidris alpina) in estuarine ecosystems during the nonbreeding season. To investigate whether mesopredator suppression may have occurred, I compared aspects of the hunting behavior of Merlins at an estuary in western Washington between 1999 and 2009, when Peregrine Falcons were regularly present, with hunting behavior in the 1980s, when Peregrine Falcons did not occur at the site. Merlin hunting behavior changed substantially between the two periods. Following Peregrine Falcon recovery, Merlins hunted less frequently, used hunting flights of shorter duration and that involved fewer capture attempts per successful flight, and captured prey closer to the cover of vegetation, results that are consistent with IGP theory. Prior to Peregrine Falcon recovery, Merlins appear to have assumed the role of apex falcon predator at the site; Merlins currently coexist with Peregrine Falcons, and have altered their hunting behavior which may reduce their risk of IGP.
Senescence as the main driver of iodide release from a diverse range of marine phytoplankton

Abstract. The reaction between ozone and iodide at the sea surface is now known to be an important part of atmospheric ozone cycling, causing ozone deposition and the release of ozone-depleting reactive iodine to the atmosphere. The importance of this reaction is reflected by its inclusion in chemical transport models (CTMs). Such models depend on accurate sea surface iodide fields, but measurements are spatially and temporally limited. Hence, the ability to predict current and future sea surface iodide fields, i.e. sea surface iodide concentration on a narrow global grid, requires the development of process-based models. These models require a thorough understanding of the key processes that control sea surface iodide. The aim of this study was to explore if there are common features of iodate-to-iodide reduction amongst diverse marine phytoplankton in order to develop models that focus on sea surface iodine and iodine release to the troposphere. In order to achieve this, rates and patterns of changes in inorganic iodine speciation were determined in 10 phytoplankton cultures grown at ambient iodate concentrations. Where possible these data were analysed alongside results from previous studies. Iodate loss and some iodide production were observed in all cultures studied, confirming that this is a widespread feature amongst marine phytoplankton. We found no significant difference in log-phase, cell-normalised iodide production rates between key phytoplankton groups (diatoms, prymnesiophytes including coccolithophores and phaeocystales), suggesting that a phytoplankton functional type (PFT) approach would not be appropriate for building an ocean iodine cycling model. Iodate loss was greater than iodide formation in the majority of the cultures studied, indicating the presence of an as-yet-unidentified “missing iodine” fraction. Iodide yield at the end of the experiment was significantly greater in cultures that had reached a later senescence stage. This suggests that models should incorporate a lag between peak phytoplankton biomass and maximum iodide production and that cell mortality terms in biogeochemical models could be used to parameterise iodide production.
Role of Bacterial-Fungal Consortium for Enhancement in the Degradation of Industrial Dyes

Background The presence of anthraquinone (Disperse blue 64) and azodyes (Acid yellow 17) in a waterbody are considered among the most dangerous pollutants. Methods In this study, two different isolated microbes, bacterium and fungus, were individually and as a co-culture applied for the degradation of Disperse Blue 64 (DB 64) and Acid Yellow 17 (AY 17) dyes. The isolates were genetically identified based upon 16S (for bacteria) and ITS/5.8S (for fungus) rRNA genes sequences as Pseudomoans aeruginosa and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. Results The fungal/bacterial consortium exhibited a higher percentage of dyes degradation than the individual strains, even at a high concentration of 300 mg/L. Azoreductase could be identified as the main catabolic enzyme and the consortium could induce azoreductase enzyme in the presence of both dyes. However, the specific substrate which achieved the highest azoreductase specific activity was Methyl red (MR) (3.5 U/mg protein). The tentatively proposed metabolites that were detected by HPLC/MS suggested that the reduction process catalyzed the degradation of dyes. The metabolites produced by the action consortium on two dyes were safe on Vicia faba and Triticum vulgaris germination and health of seedlings. Toxicity of the dyes and their degradation products on the plant was different according to the type and chemistry of these compounds as well as the type of irrigated seeds. Conclusion We submit that the effective microbial degradation of DB64 and AY17 dyes will lead to safer metabolic products.
The effect of a single‐sided pole shoe and slot on reducing torque ripple in a switched reluctance motor

The switched reluctance motor (SRM) has the high level of vibration and noise, whose application is greatly limited in many fields. In this article, a novel stator for a SRM is designed to reduce torque ripple and is suitable for one‐directional or low‐speed reverse rotation. On the one hand, a shoe is added to the stator pole side in the rotating forward direction from the completely unaligned to the aligned position. On the other hand, a slot is set on the top of stator tooth. First, causes of vibration and torque ripple are analyzed. Second, it is indicated by the equivalent magnetic circuit (EMC) method that the air gap permeability of the model with the single‐sided pole shoe is larger than that of the conventional model in the nonoverlapping region between the stator and rotor. The influences of the angle and height of shoe on the air gap magnetic density, radial force, and torque ripple are analyzed. Third, the results from EMC method show that the radial force can be reduced by opening a slot at the top of stator pole arc. The width and depth of slot which has effect on the radial force and torque ripple are analyzed. Finally, finite element analysis results show that the decreases of 34.52% for the radial force wave peak and 43.39% for the torque ripple are achieved at the cost of a decrease of 8.54% for the average torque of the single‐sided pole and the slot model of the stator pole compared with the conventional model. Some experiments for the two prototypes verify that the torque ripple and radial force can be reduced by adopting the new model.
Credit Insurance as an Effort to Overcome Bad Credit Risk in Modern Banking Economy in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 in Indonesia

This study aims to support the implementation of national development in Indonesian banking sector which is active in increasing the distribution of development and economic growth in order to improve people’s welfare. One of the financial services provided by banking sector is loan. Hence, the existence of business risk management of banks aims to maintain the credibility of banks so that people can continue to trust on the existence of a banking institution and credit insurance. This study applied a juridical normative research method which is a method used to seek truth from a legal prescriptions written in the books of law. The results showed that, in the legal perspective of business, the financial services provided by banks in the form of credit are done by using credit agreements and are protected by credit insurance as an effort to overcome bad credit risk. Currently, the legal perspective of business views the importance of applying a precautionary principle in credit agreements by formulating operational standards of banking management to avoid bad credit risks. The insurance offered by banks is credit life insurance which functions to cover the debtor’s remaining credit if the debtor dies before paying off his credit. Credit insurance is an alternative used to overcome bad credit risk. The conclusion is that banking institutions apply their standard procedures in providing credit to debtors to avoid legal disputes or other business risks. In addition, each bank institution must apply the precautionary principle in order to achieve its goals effectively and to guarantee legal fairness and certainty in credit between the debtor and the banking institution.
Recovery of soil phosphorus on former bauxite mines through tropical forest restoration

Soil phosphorus (P) is a major driver of forest development and a critically limited nutrient in tropical soils, especially when topsoil is removed by mining. This nutrient can be present in soils in the form of different fractions, which have direct consequences for P availability to plants and, consequently, for restoration success. Therefore, understanding how the stocks of different soil P fractions change over the restoration process can be essential for guiding restoration interventions, monitoring, and adaptive management. Here, we investigated the recovery of soil P fractions by forest restoration interventions on bauxite mine sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We assessed the concentration of different fractions of soil organic and inorganic P at (1) a bauxite mine prepared for restoration; (2) two former bauxite mines undergoing forest restoration for 6 and 24 years; and (3) an old‐growth forest remnant. Overall, restored areas recovered levels of labile organic P (Po‐NaHCO3) at 5–40 cm and of moderately labile organic P (Po‐NaOH) at different depths, exhibiting concentrations similar to those found in a conserved forest. The use of P‐rich fertilizers and forest topsoil may have greatly contributed to this outcome. Some other fractions, however, recovered only after 24 years of restoration. Other inorganic P fractions did not differ among mined, restored, and conserved sites: nonlabile Pi (residual P and P‐HCl), labile Pi (Pi‐NaHCO3), and moderately labile Pi (Pi‐NaOH). Forest restoration was able to promote efficient recovery of important soil P fractions, highlighting the value of restoration efforts to mitigate soil degradation by mining.
Effects of thermal acclimation and photoacclimation on lipophilic pigments in an invasive and a native cyanobacterium of temperate regions

The freshwater cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii spreads from tropical to temperate regions worldwide. This entails acclimation to varied light and temperature conditions. We studied the thermal and light acclimation of the photosynthetic machinery of C. raciborskii by monitoring alteration of the chlorophyll a and carotenoid content in German strains of C. raciborskii, in African and Australian strains of C. raciborskii, and in German strains of Aphanizomenon gracile, a native cyanobacterium belonging to the same order (Nostocales). Our results showed that temperate and tropical C. raciborskii strains did not differ in pigment acclimation to light and temperature. In contrast, the ratio of photoprotective carotenoids (namely the carotenoid glycoside 4-hydroxymyxol glycoside [aphanizophyll]) to chlorophyll a increased significantly more in C. raciborskii in comparison with A. gracile (1) with decreasing temperatures from 20 to 10°C and a moderate light intensity of 80 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and (2) with increasing light intensities at a suboptimal temperature of 15°C, compared to 20°C. We conclude that below 20°C photoinhibition is avoided by greater photoprotection in the invasive species C. raciborskii compared to the native species A. gracile.
Reaction-Wheel-Based Roll Stabilization for a Robotic Fish Using Neural Network Sliding Mode Control

The intrinsically reciprocating motion in fishlike propulsion causes severe attitude instability of a robotic fish, which poses enormous challenges for environmental perception and autonomous operation. To address this issue, in this article, we propose a reaction-wheel-based control framework for guaranteeing the roll stability of the robotic fish. The mechatronic design and dynamic model of the designed robotic fish with an internal rotor are presented. By means of the simplified model and frequency domain analysis, the effect factors about roll stability are concretely analyzed. More importantly, a hybrid controller that combines a sliding mode controller with a neural network feedforward compensator is developed to reject the severe disturbance on roll angle. Then, the Lyapunov stability theory is utilized to analyze the stability and convergence property of the closed-loop system. Finally, the experimental results show that the proposed methods possess more significant performances than the passive stabilization method, which provides a valuable reference for attitude stabilization control and robust environmental perception of underwater robots.
Artificial Structures Steer Morphological Development of Salt Marshes: A Model Study

Salt marshes are increasingly recognized as resilient and sustainable supplements to traditional engineering structures for protecting coasts against flooding. Nevertheless, many salt marshes face severe erosion. There is a consensus that providing structures that create sheltered conditions from high energetic conditions can improve the potential for salt marsh growth. However, little proof is provided on the explicit influence of structures to promote salt marsh growth. This paper investigates how artificial structures can be used to steer the morphological development of salt marshes. A morphological model (Delft3D Flexible Mesh) was applied, which enabled the analysis of various artificial structures with realistic representation. A salt marsh in the Wadden Sea which has seen heavy erosion (lateral retreat rate of 0.9 m/year) served as case study. We simulate both daily and storm conditions. Hereby, vegetation is represented by an increased bed roughness. The model is able to simulate the governing processes of salt marsh development. Results show that, without artificial structures, erosion of the salt marsh and tidal flat continues. With structures implemented, results indicate that there is potential for salt marsh growth in the study area. Moreover, traditional structures, which were widely implemented in the past, proved to be most effective to stimulate marsh growth. More broadly, the paper indicates how morphological development of a salt marsh can be steered by various configurations of artificial structures.