Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Band-Rejection Vivaldi Antenna with High Selectivity Using Hybrid HRW/CCLL

A simplified notched design method for the Vivaldi antenna is exhibiting high frequency-band-selectivity characteristics. By suitably introducing half-wavelength resonator (HWR) and complementary capacitively loaded loop (CCLL), the notched-band selectivity is promoted while maintaining the wide impedance bandwidth of the antenna applicable for wireless communications. HWR is bent in the middle to focus the first notch pole, and the second notch pole is obtained by CCLL on the radiating patch. Additionally, the resonant frequency of the notched pole can be determined by the position and size of two loaded resonators in theoretical analysis, thereby realizing a wideband antenna with the desired notched band. Finally, the Vivaldi antenna of loading resonator was fabricated to verify the feasibility of this new method. Measured and simulated experimental results reveal that the antenna exhibits directional pattern in the passband, low gain at the band-rejection, and excellent selectivity within a frequency range. The simulation and measurement results are in good agreement. The proposed antenna achieves S11<−10 dB in 2.6–13.7 GHz and a notch band from 4.49 to 6.64 GHz to reject IEEE 802.11a and HIPERLAN/2 frequency band. Moreover, the proposed antenna has good frequency selectivity, and its gain is good enough in the passband with peak gain up to 10.8 dBi. This antenna design presents frequency suitability, demonstrating that a UWB antenna with a controllable notched band has been realized.
The Social and Genetic Structure of a Natural Colony of House Mice, Mus musculus, at Healesville WildlifeSanctuary

A 2-year program monitored the spatial organization, genetic structure and turnover rate of an unconfined commensal colony of mice. Four demes (social breeding units) were identified; each usually consisted of one or two males and two or three females. Demes were detected simultaneously in adjoining cages of an aviary (one deme per cage). Movement between demes was rare and the life span of a deme ranged from 2 to 7 months. The adult members of each deme had genotypes compatible to the majority of the young captured in the respective cage of the aviary at the time of residence of the deme. Taken in isolation, these results suggest that social behaviour would have a major impact on the genetic structure of the aviary population. When viewed over the main breeding season, the short life span of a deme and the genetic differences between demes indicate that social organization probably had only a temporary effect on the genetic composition of the aviary population.
Comportamento estomático e potencial da água da folha em três espécies lenhosas cultivadas sob estresse hídrico

The aim of this work was to evaluate the estomatal behavior and the leaf water potential in Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Enterolobium contortisiliquum and Tabebuia aurea young plants cultivated under water stress. This work was performed in greenhouse of the Laboratorio de Fisiologia Vegetal of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil. Seedlings were submitted to two water treatment (100% and 50% pot capacity). On the 5th, 7th, 13th and 22th days of water treatments, the transpiration (E), diffusive resistance (Rs), leaf temperature (Tfol), air temperature (Tar), relative air humidity (UR), photossynthetically active radiation (PAR) and vapour pressure deficit (DPV) were evaluated at 7, 9, 12, 15h. After 30th days the leaf water potential (Yw) was measured, between 9-10h. The highest values of E were registered between 9-12h for all the species, although the stressed plants presented inferior values compared to the control plants. The opposite was verified for the Rs, however the differences in the magnitude and values among species and hours of evaluated were observed. The stomatal behavior of the stressed plants of E. contortisiliquum was influenced by the Tar and the M. caesalpiniifolia was influenced by the UR and PAR. The Yw decreased with the placing of stress, with reduction as much as 155%. The leaf temperature did not show a good indicator on the effects of water stress on the species studied.
Modeling Hydrothermal Regimes and Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Permafrost within the South Mackenzie Plain, Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract: Hydrothermal processes are key components of permafrost dynamics and hydrological and carbon cycles in northern forest ecosystems. A forest hydrology model, ForHyM, was used to evaluate these processes by determining how the depth and duration of frost penetration into the soil would vary daily over the course of several decades. This was done for chosen upland/wetland conditions within the Mackenzie Plain south of Fort Simpson, where permafrost is currently sporadic to discontinuous. The model calculations were done using daily weather records from November 1963 to 2010, starting with a hypothetical no-frost condition within the soil and subsoil. Model performance was evaluated by comparing modeled and measured temperatures at different soil depths (upland and peat plateau modelling, R2 = 0.95 and 0.94, respectively). It was found that well-drained upland forests within the general area would experience deep and complete freeze—thaw cycles each year. In contrast, poorly drained wetlands would develop gradually deepening permafrost that would at first stabilize in depth over the course of 10 to 20 y, with thaw depth limited to <1 m each year. However, recent increases in recorded air temperature (more so in winter than in summer) would destabilize the permafrost layer, and this would especially occur in areas with insufficient surface insulation by local peat, moss, forest litter, and snow accumulations. These estimates are consistent with (i) reported thawing depths and (ii) the widening encroachment of collapse scars towards the poorly drained portions of the South Mackenzie Plain.
Robust High-Order Manifold Constrained Low Rank Representation for Subspace Clustering

Due to the effectiveness in learning the subspace structures, low-rank representation (LRR) and its variations have been widely applied in various fields, such as computer vision and pattern recognition. However, in real applications, it is a challenge to handle the complex noises. To address this problem, we propose a novel robust LRR method based on kernel risk-sensitive loss (KRSL) with high-order manifold constraint, called RHLRR, in which the KRSL is introduced to deal with the noises and the multiple hypergraph regularization term is used as a high order manifold constraint to effectively capture the locality, similarity and the intrinsic geometric information in data. Besides, an iterative algorithm based on the half-quadratic (HQ) and the accelerated block coordinate update (BCU) is developed. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can outperform other state-of-the-art LRR variants.
High Displacement Damage Dose Effects in Radiation Hardened CMOS Image Sensors

CMOS image sensors (CISs) hardened by design against total ionizing dose (TID) are exposed to neutron fluences beyond 1014 n(1 MeV)/cm2. Neutron-irradiated devices show a huge increase in the dark current affecting uniformly the pixel array which leads to Gaussian shape dark current distributions. Moreover, random telegraph signal behavior is hardly detectable at these very high neutron fluences since the fluctuation amplitudes are hidden by the dark current shot noise. It is observed that neutrons induce a change in the depleted volume in impacted photodiodes because of doping profile modifications which are responsible for the decrease in the charge-to-voltage conversion factor and quantum efficiency. Even if neutron-induced degradations affect all the image sensor performances, results show that this technology is still functional after having absorbed $8.1\times 10^{14}$ n(1 MeV)/cm2. Image sensors are still able to capture an image without significant degradation compared to nonirradiated devices. Such TID radiation-hardened CISs are thus highly promising for applications where both high TID and high neutron fluence radiation tolerance are required.
Analysis of Edge Detection on Compressed Images with Different Complexities

: This paper provides edge detection analysis on images, which consist of different numbers of details (small, medium and high number of details) and which are compressed by different compression algorithms - JPEG, JPEG2000 and SPIHT. Images from the BSD (Berkeley Segmentation Database) database were used and compressed with different number of bits per pixel. The analysis was performed for five edge detectors: Canny, LoG, Sobel, Prewitt, and Roberts. The fidelity of the detected edges was determined using the objective measures Figure of Merit (FOM), F measure and Performance Ratio (PR), where the reference value was taken from the GroundTruth image. Based on the results presented in the tables, it can be concluded that edge detection behaves differently depending on the number of bits per pixel and applied compression algorithm, as well as, the number of details in the image. Roberts operator has been proven to be the best solution, when it is necessary to perform better edge detection over compressed images with small a number of details, but Canny shows better results for images with a high number of details.
A Transfer Learning Method for Pneumonia Classification and Visualization

Pneumonia is an infectious disease that affects the lungs and is one of the principal causes of death in children under five years old. The Chest X-ray images technique is one of the most used for diagnosing pneumonia. Several Machine Learning algorithms have been successfully used in order to provide computer-aided diagnosis by automatic classification of medical images. For its remarkable results, the Convolutional Neural Networks (models based on Deep Learning) that are widely used in Computer Vision tasks, such as classification of injuries and brain abnormalities, among others, stand out. In this paper, we present a transfer learning method that automatically classifies between 3883 chest X-ray images characterized as depicting pneumonia and 1349 labeled as normal. The proposed method uses the Xception Network pre-trained weights on ImageNet as an initialization. Our model is competitive with respect to state-of-the-art proposals. To make comparisons with other models, we have used four well-known performance measures, obtaining the following results: precision (0.84), recall (0.99), F1-score (0.91) and area under the ROC curve (0.97). These positive results allow us to consider our proposal as an alternative that can be useful in countries with a lack of equipment and specialized radiologists.
Life on deadwood: cut stumps as a model system for the succession and management of lichen diversity

Abstract Coarse deadwood provides an important habitat for a suite of niche-specialist lichens in old-growth forests, for example, snags (standing dead trees) and fallen logs. Conversely, the scarcity of deadwood in managed forests is a limiting factor to lichen diversity, though cut stumps may provide an alternative habitat for deadwood species. The surface of cut stumps is an ecologically useful study system, facilitating standardized sampling with which to determine the pattern and process of deadwood succession. This study examined vegetation patterns for the surface of cut stumps at Abernethy RSPB Reserve in northern Scotland. We demonstrate the interrelationship between key topographic, management and edaphic factors during a successional process of terrestrialization. Consequently, we recommend that deadwood diversity might be maximized by 1) creating managed plots with varying degrees of canopy openness for sites with different levels of topographic exposure, and 2) providing cut stumps at different heights within plots, to ensure that during a rotational period the process of terrestrialization operates at different speeds among individual microhabitats. The study examined successional processes on cut stumps using two recently accessible and powerful statistical methods: 1) nonparametric multiplicative regression (NPMR), and 2) multivariate regression trees (MRT). The principles on which these techniques are based are becoming the preferred statistical framework with which to provide robust interpretation of field-sampled data; they are unconstrained by prior assumptions as to the form of a species' niche response, and are data-led models evaluated based on cross-validated performance, thereby avoiding the complication of multiple hypothesis tests.
Influence of Replicated Subsamples and Subsample Heterogeneity on the Linear Index of Food Selection

Abstract In descriptive studies of prey preference, relative abundances of prey often are calculated from a series of replicated subsamples and total sample sizes are estimated rather than counted. When this is done, the apparent statistical power of the linear index of food selection (Li = ri - pi, where ri and piare proportions of prey taxon i in the gut and habitat, respectively) is artificially inflated. Additional biological variability, due either to environmental heterogeneity or to differences in feeding behavior among individual predators, will inflate further the apparent power of the index and also will produce underestimates of the degree of feeding selectivity. To correct for these problems, expressions that allow for subsampling designs and biological heterogeneity are provided for the standard error of the linear index and the associated degrees of freedom. The ratio of observed sampling variance in relative abundance to that expected for random sampling allows measurement of heterogeneity .
Association of Children and Caregiver Perceptions on Policy with Children's Snack Eating Patterns in South Korea.

Background: Investigations of the association between children’s snack food and beverage consumption and related policy are limited. Objective: The present study assessed children’s eating patterns of snack foods and beverages and investigated any association with children and their caregiver perceptions on food environment policy. Participants and methods: A cross-sectional study included 1,132 fourth-grade students and 1,132 of their caregivers. All children completed a questionnaire on the consumption frequencies of 31 items of snack foods and beverages. All children and their caregivers completed questions evaluating whether they perceive food environment policies. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between policy perceptions and eating patterns derived from factor analysis. Results: Two major eating patterns were obtained: a healthy pattern and an unhealthy pattern. Awareness of both children and caregivers regarding 7 policy questions was significantly associated with the healthy eating pattern, whereas unawareness regarding 4 policy questions was associated with the unhealthy eating pattern. In particular, caregivers who were unaware of the policies regarding designation of children's food safety protection zones and food quality certification display on packaging had a two-fold or a 1.5-fold higher odds ratio (p-value<0.05) for having children with the unhealthy eating pattern compared with the reference group (positive respondent pairs to policy awareness), regardless of children’s policy perception. Conclusion: Children and their caregivers should be educated on food environment policies to establish healthy eating habits of snack foods and beverages in children.
A novel barley scald resistance gene: genetic mapping of the Rrs15 scald resistance gene derived from wild barley, Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum

Most genes for resistance to barley leaf scald map either to the Rrs1 locus on the long arm of chromosome 3H, or the Rrs2 locus on the short arm of chromosome 7H. Other loci containing scald resistance genes have previously been identified using lines derived from wild barley, Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum. A single dominant gene conditioning resistance to scald was identified in a third backcross (BC 3 F 3 ) line derived from an Israeli accession of wild barley. The resistance gene is linked to three microsatellite markers that map to the long arm of chromosome 7H; the closest of these loci, HVM49, maps 11.5 cM from the resistance gene. As no other scald resistance genes have been mapped to this chromosome arm, it is considered to be a novel scald resistance locus. As the Acp2 isozyme locus is linked to this scald resistance locus, at 17.7 cM, Acp2 is assigned to chromosome 7H. Molecular markers linked to the novel scald resistance gene, designated Rrv15, can be used in breeding for scald resistance.
Storage of Brazilian Cattleya seeds from diverse biomes: lipid composition and effects on germination

Abstract The establishment of seed banks is essential for the conservation of cultivated and wild plant species. Cattleya species are economically important, but many of them are at risk of extinction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of storage temperature on the physiological quality of seeds of seven congeneric species of diverse biomes from the UNOESTE-OSSSU seed bank and the lipid composition. Seeds were split into sub samples, pre-conditioned to 0.03 g H2O g DW−1 for a week over a supersaturated solution of lithium chloride at 23 ± 2 °C and maintained in rubber-sealed vessels for nine months under four storage temperatures: room temperature (23 ± 2 °C), 5 °C, –18 °C and –196 °C. Germination, the germination speed index, and viability based on a tetrazolium test were evaluated at three-month intervals. Lipid profiles were determined by GC-MS in the original seed lots. Different lipid profiles were found among species. Orchid seeds with a low water content could be stored for a short period in all conditions studied and were considered orthodox short-lived seeds. Cattleya rupestris seeds were more tolerant than the congeners to deterioration under all the storage conditions.
Chemical communication in mate location and recognition in the white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The mating sequence has been studied in the white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca (Thomson) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Both females and males are attracted to wounded host plant Citrus unshiu, and adults of both sexes, and both female and male elytra contained the sesquiterpenes that were identical with those in C. unshiu. Moreover, at close range orientation by males, some visual cues derived from females acted synergistically with olfactory factors. And, female contact sex pheromone was isolated from female elytra and revealed to consist of eight hydrocarbons, four ketones, and three lactones. The mating sequence of A. malasiaca was roughly considered to occur as follows. Emerged adults from trunks of the host plants must search for their mates over large areas. Highly mobile males may be attracted from long distances by the signal of sesquiterpenes released from wounded host plants which indicate the presence of other individuals and serve for intraspecific communication in A. malasiaca. At close range orientation, the sesquiterpenes also act as attractant for both females and males, and then visual cue guided them to their mates or rivals. After a male orients to another individual, he identifies it as a mate or a rival. Once a male recognizes a female, mating occurs.
Isolation and Characterization of Salt-Tolerant Bacterial Strains in Salt-Affected Soils of East Anatolian Region

In the current study, 18 salt-tolerant bacteria were isolated from salt-affected soil in the east Anatolian region. The obtained isolates were identified and characterized by conventional (morphology, physiology, and biochemical tests) and molecular techniques 16 rDNA. Among 18 sequenced isolates, 6 Bacillus, 1 Halomonas, 2 Halobacillus, 2 Zhihengliuella, 2 Oceanobacillus, 1 Virgibacillus, 1 Staphylococcus, 1 Thalassobacillus, 1 Exiguobacterium were identified with high similarity to previously identified strains in the literature. According to the results obtained, investigated bacterial strains have high salt tolerance and significant enzyme activities that can improve soil nutrient cycling and fertility. To the best of our knowledge, the current article is the first study in evaluation and diversity of potential halophlic/halotolerant bacterial strains in salt-affected soils of the east Anatolian region.
Non-uniform image blind deblurring by two-stage fully convolution network

: Deep neural networks have recently demonstrated high performance for deblurring. However, few methods are designed for both non-uniform image blur estimation and removal with highly efficient. In this study, the authors proposed a fully convolutional network that outputs estimated blur and restored image in one feed-forward pass for the non-uniformly blurred image of any input-size. The proposed network contains two subnets. The parameter estimation subnet P-net predicts pixel- wise parameters of multiple blur types with high accuracy. The output of P-net is used as a condition, which guides the blur removal subnet G-net to restore a high quality latent sharp image. P-net and G-net are ultimately integrated into a single framework called PG-net, which guarantees the consistency of parameter estimation and blur removal, thereby improves algorithm efficiency. Experiment results show that the authors blur parameter estimation method as well as their deblurring method outperforms the comparison methods both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Novel glycerolipids and glycolipids from the surface lipids of Nicotiana benthamiana

The surface lipids of Nicotiana benthamiana contained novel glycerolipids and several varieties of glycolipids. As glycerolipids, the triacylglycerol, 1,3-diacylglycerol, and 1,2-diacylglycerol types of glycerolipids were isolated and identified. Each lipid contained acetyl, 16–methylheptadecanoyl, and 18–methylnonadecanoyl moieties. The acetylated position of each lipid was determined by 2D-NMR, using the HMBC technique. The structures were 1,3-di-O-acetyl-2-O-acylglycerol, 1-O-acetyl-3-O-acylglycerol, and 1-O-acetyl-2-O-acylglycerol. As glycolipids, one glucose ester and four types of sucrose esters were isolated and identified. These glycolipids contained acetic acid and such branched short-chain fatty acids as 5-methylhexanoic, 4-methylhexanoic, 6-methylheptanoic, and 5-methylheptanoic acids. The structure of the glucose ester was 3,4-di-O-acyl-α-D-glucopyranose. The structures of the sucrose esters were 6-O-acetyl-4-O-acyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(3-O-acyl)-β-D-fructofuranoside, 4-O-acyl-α-D-glucopyranosy.