Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abnormal Driving Detection With Normalized Driving Behavior Data: A Deep Learning Approach

Abnormal driving may cause serious danger to both the driver and the public. Existing detectors of abnormal driving behavior are mainly based on shallow models, which require large quantities of labeled data. The acquisition and labelling of abnormal driving data are, however, difficult, labor-intensive and time-consuming. This situation inspires us to rethink the abnormal driving detection problem and to apply deep architecture models. In this study, we establish a novel deep-learning-based model for abnormal driving detection. A stacked sparse autoencoders model is used to learn generic driving behavior features. The model is trained in a greedy layer-wise fashion. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that a deep learning approach is applied using autoencoders as building blocks to represent driving features for abnormal driving detection. In addition, a method for denoising is added to the algorithm to increase the robustness of feature expression. The dropout technology is introduced into the entire training process to avoid overfitting. Experiments carried out on our self-created driving behavior dataset demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves a superior performance for abnormal driving detection compared to the state-of-the-art.
Sexual Dimorphism in Cryptically Dioecious Thalictrum macrostylum

Premise of research. Among dioecious angiosperms, occasional species exist in which one sex produces sterile reproductive structures of the opposite sex. These cryptically dioecious systems have the potential to provide significant insights into the selective factors and constraints involved in the evolution to and from dioecy. Thalictrum macrostylum is a morphologically androdioecious species in which the apparently hermaphroditic morph is functionally female. Methodology. I quantified sex ratios, the presence of sexual dimorphism, trait variation, and correlations of floral and vegetative traits in three or four natural populations. Lack of function of pollen from females was also tested. Morphological data were collected in field populations over two or three seasons to calculate the sex ratio and between-sex differences in trait means and to compare traits among populations and between and within morphs. Pollen from greenhouse-grown plants was used for in vitro pollen germination assays. Pivotal results. Thalictrum macrostylum populations consistently have 1∶1 sex ratios and are significantly sexually dimorphic, with males having more stamens per flower and flowers per plant. Pollen collected from females does not germinate. Other vegetative characters generally did not differ consistently between the sexes, though among-population differences were seen for some floral and vegetative characters. Conclusions. Lack of germination in pollen from females and 1∶1 sex ratios strongly suggest that this species is cryptically dioecious. Greater per-flower stamen number and per-plant flower number in males suggest that stamen and pollen production are important to male fitness. Among-population differences in floral and vegetative trait means may indicate differences among environments. Further studies should aim to test hypotheses for the maintenance of stamens in females of T. macrostylum.
A nondestructive, rapid, reliable and inexpensive method to sample, store and extract high‐quality DNA from fish body mucus and buccal cells

A rapid, nondestructive, reproducible and cheap DNA extraction method from body mucus and buccal cells of northern pike and brown trout is described. Buccal cells and body mucus were sampled on FTA Cards; the captured DNA was used directly for microsatellite and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses. A complete concordance with control DNA was found. The genotyping error rate for microsatellite ranged from 1.9% to 3.3% for the northern pike and brown trout, respectively. This methodology, using for the first time these materials as a fish DNA source, combines speed of sampling and processing, with a twofold to a threefold time and costs saving.
High frequency of Bacillus thuringiensis in feces of herbivorous animals maintained in a zoological garden in Japan

A total of 71 fecal samples, collected from 56 animal species (47 mammals, four reptiles, and five avians), were examined for the occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis. Most of the animals were residents of the Fukuoka Municipal Zoo, Fukuoka, Japan. The organism was detected in 32 (45%) samples. Among 2,955 colonies of the Bacillus cereu/B. thuringiensis group examined, 531 (18%) were assigned to B. thuringiensis on the basis of the formation of parasporal inclusions. Fecal samples from animals feeding on vegetable matter contained B. thuringiensis at high frequencies. Examples included feces from the chimpanzee, gorilla, Japanese black bear, polar bear, green iguana, and ostrich. In contrast, only a few isolates were recovered from feces of carnivorous animals, in particular, feline mammalians including the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. The results suggest that a daily food intake of plant origin yields the feces containing B. thuringiensis at high levels.
NUMBER OF INSTARS OF LARVAE OF THE ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEE, MEGACHILE ROTUNDATA (F.) (HYMENOPTERA: MEGACHILIDAE)

Abstract The number of instars of larvae of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata (F.), was determined by direct observation, frequency distribution plots, and linear regression of head-capsule measurements. For all three methods, developmental polymorphism was observed; larvae were grouped according to the number of instars. The majority of larvae (77%) had four larval instars and the remainder had five. Mortality of bee larvae, apparently a result of physical injury during measurement of head-capsule width, was high but results were based on data for 259 individuals that completed development to the prepupal (= pharate pupa) stage. Direct observation of larval moults was found to be the only accurate method for determining instar designation but analysis of head-capsule width did describe the number of instars present in a population and provided estimates of head-capsule width for each instar. A morphological key for separation among four instars is presented as a practical alternative for instar determination in field studies. Résumé Le nombre de stades larvaires de la mégachile de la luzerne, Megachile rotundata (F.), a été établi par observation directe, par courbes de distribution de fréquence et par régression linéaire des mesures de la capsule céphalique. Les trois méthodes ont mis en évidence un polymorphisme embryologique. Les larves ont été groupées selon le nombre d’instars. La majorité (77%) en avaient quatre, le restent cinq. La mortalité des larves, apparemment à cause de blessures infligées lors des mensurations de la capsule céphalique, était élevée, mais les résultats ont été basés sur les données provenant de 259 insectes qui ont atteint le stade prépupal (= pharate). L’observation directe des mues larvaires s’est révélée la seule méthode exacte d’identification de l’instar mais l’analyse de la largeur de la capsule céphalique décrivait bien le nombre d’instars présents dans une population en plus de fournir des estimées de ce caractère pour chaque stade larvaire. Une clé morphologique distinguant quatre instars est proposée comme solution pratique d’identification de l’instar dans les études sur le terrain.
Technology, tasks and training – evidence on the provision of employer-provided training in times of technological change in Germany

ABSTRACT In the context of technological change and the ongoing transformation of the labour market, this paper investigates firms’ employer-provided continuing training provision for employees with different skill requirements. Following human capital theory, firms invest in training when expecting higher returns than costs. From a theoretical point of view, only investment in employees in high-skilled jobs is reasonable. Empirically, this is not always the case. Using firm-level data from the BIBB Establishment Panel on Training and Competence Development, a fractional logit model is applied to answer which role technology use and task profiles play in employees’ training participation. The results suggest that firms with a higher proportion of digital technology users provide more training. On the contrary, more working time spent with digital technologies is associated with less training. A potential explanation could be that after initial training in using digital technologies, there are substantial learning effects and employees become more experienced. Additionally, employees who more frequently perform complex tasks receive more training independent of their jobs’ general skill requirements.
Batch anion exchange separation and quantification of [14C]hexose from [14C]sucrose

Techniques quantifying [ 14 C]photoassimilate partitioning between hexose and sucrose can identify developmental and regulatory changes in sugar metabolism of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The objective of this study was to develop a laboratory method for separating and quantifying [ 14 C]hexose and [ 14 C]sucrose in numerous plant organ extracts simultaneously. The described method combines easily with available assay for [ 14 C]starch and [ 14 C]structural components and for total fructose, glucose, sucrose, and starch (.)
One for all and breeding for one: Cooperation and competition as a tamarin reproductive strategy

In this paper I examine behavioral strategies used by male and female tamarins to increase individual reproductive opportunities while continuing to maintain a high level of group cohesion and social cooperation. Tamarins of the genus Saguinus are characterized by social groups generally composed of more than one adult of each sex, but a breeding system in which only a single female in each group gives birth. The breeding sovereignty of a single dominant female limits the reproductive opportunities of subordinate females as well as the reproductive opportunities of resident adult males.1‐3 Despite extreme variability in year‐to‐year reproductive success among members of the same social group, field studies indicate that within‐group intrasexual aggression and fighting are rare, and that both breeding and nonbreeding individuals expend time and energy cooperatively caring for young, defending productive feeding sites, and assisting in food harvesting activities.4‐11 In fact, Caine12 has argued that “co‐operation, tolerance, and flexibility” are the primary themes of tamarin social interactions (p. 218). A major question that remains unanswered, however, is how such high levels of cooperation could have evolved in a social system characterized by emigration of both adult males and females from the natal group, polyandrous mating, and intense reproductive competition.
Notes on the ecology of Natal Highland Sourveld vleis

Abstract The term vlei can be applied to most natural, low‐lying, wet or damp areas in South Africa which may correspond with such categories as swamp, reedswamp, marsh and fen, but excluding pans and bogs. In the Natal Highland Sourveld, to qualify as a vler an area must have a hydromorphic soil and be drained through an outlet. A description of the main features of Natal Highland Sourveld vleis reveals that three vlei types – Headwater, Valley and Plain, are recognisable on a physiographic basis. The grassland vegetation of each vlei type is characterised by particular successional stages. The vleis, closely connected with important river systems, are supposed to promote sustained water yield under highly seasonal rainfall conditions. However, the vleis might be of greater agro‐hydrological value if they were drained and cultivated or used as dam sites. A brief consideration of the potential of the three vlei types suggests that Headwater Vleis are best left in their natural state; Valley Vleis are unsu.
Dynamic Anti-Jamming Coalition for Satellite-Enabled Army IoT: A Distributed Game Approach

Satellite-enabled army Internet of Things (SaIoT) has drawn increasing attention due to the wide-coverage and large-capacity transmission. However, the smart jamming based on artificial intelligence technologies has seriously degraded SaIoT performance. Thus, this article investigates the distributed dynamic anti-jamming scheme for SaIoT to decrease energy consumption in the jamming environment. First, a hierarchical anti-jamming Stackelberg game (HASG), which consists of the leader subgame for jammers and the follower subgame for SaIoT devices, is proposed to formulate the confrontation interaction between jammers and SaIoT devices. It has been proved that there exists a Stackelberg equilibrium in the proposed HASG. Then, an anti-jamming coalition formation game (CFG) is proposed for the follower subgame to decrease the energy consumption in the jamming environment, and the modified coalition preference order and coalition change principle are put forward to enhance the performance of the proposed anti-jamming CFG. Furthermore, with the help of the exact potential game, we have demonstrated that the proposed anti-jamming CFG could converge to the stable coalition formation and it is able to achieve similar performance to the centralized optimization via a distributed approach. Finally, reinforcement-learning-based algorithms are utilized to obtain the suboptimal anti-jamming policies according to the dynamic and unknown jamming environment, and simulation results validate that the proposed approach achieves better performance than the existing approaches.
Influence of Pt and P doping on the performance of g-C3N4 monolayer

ABSTRACT Density functional theory (DFT) is used to find out the effect of platinum and phosphorus doping (as individuals and together) on the structural, electronic as well as optical performance of heptazine based graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) monolayer. The calculated bandgap value for the pristine g-C3N4 is 1.2 eV. In the case of Pt doping delocalization of the frontier molecular orbitals (MO) are not adequate, but P doping as individual and together with Pt results in strong delocalization of frontier MOs. Pt and P co-doping provides two new paths, for the relocation of photogenerated charge carriers between adjacent heptazine units. Furthermore, there is a magnified optical absorption in the ultraviolet as well as the infrared region and improved electronic movement in co-doped g-C3N4. Optical conductivity is enhanced by approximately 40% at 200 nm after the co-doping. A decrease in the work function value is also observed in doped g-C3N4 with the minimum amount for Pt and P co-doping. Thus Pt/P co-doping process may be considered as a tool to upgrade the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4 monolayer.
Speech recognition algorithm for natural language management systems under variety of accents

This paper proposes a concept of a new approach to the development of speech recognition systems using multi-agent neurocognitive modeling. The fundamental foundations of these developments are based on the theory of cognitive psychology and neuroscience, and advances in computer science. The purpose of this work is the development of general theoretical principles of sound image recognition by an intelligent robot and, as the sequence, the development of a universal system of automatic speech recognition, resistant to speech variability, not only with respect to the individual characteristics of the speaker, but also with respect to the diversity of accents. Based on the analysis of experimental data obtained from behavioral studies, as well as theoretical model ideas about the mechanisms of speech recognition from the point of view of psycholinguistic knowledge, an algorithm resistant to variety of accents for machine learning with imitation of the formation of a person’s phonemic hearing has been developed.
A model of price correlations between clean energy indices and energy commodities

ABSTRACT We propose a new supply and demand-based correlation model of clean energy indices and energy prices with the influence of energy on clean energy business including renewables. Empirical studies estimate the model parameters using the stock indices and energy prices including S&P Global Clean Energy Index (GCE), Wilderhill Clean Energy Index (ECO), S&P/TSX Renewable Energy and Clean Technology Index (TXCT), S&P 500, WTI crude oil prices, and Henry Hub (HH) natural gas prices. Results show the correlations between GCE or ECO and WTI crude oil or HH natural gas prices are positive and an increasing function of the corresponding energy prices. It seems reasonable because the values of renewable energy businesses, which sell electricity in the spot market, are enhanced by the increase in energy prices, considering that electricity spot prices increase in line with energy prices. In contrast, results show the correlations between S&P 500 and WTI or HH prices are still positive but a decreasing function of the energy prices. This sharp contrast may come from the fact that the S&P 500 listed companies’ businesses can be damaged by high energy prices while not applicable to GCE and ECO companies. Regarding TXCT, the correlations with WTI are positive and are a decreasing function of WTI while those with HH tend to be positive and are an increasing function of HH. It may suggest that TXCT is not fully functioning but still developing as a clean energy index, taking into account the results of GCE and ECO.
An evaluation of DEMs derived from LiDAR and photogrammetry for wetland mapping

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) have been engaged in developing an efficient and accurate methodology for inventorying wetlands. Their progress in this area has demonstrated that Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are crucial input for wetland identification and boundary delineation. The provincial DEM, however, has known precision limitations in areas of minimal topographic relief that cause considerable mapping error. This study explored whether wetland mapping derived from bare-earth light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data would overcome the limitations of the provincial DEM. An automated wetland mapping approach was applied to the 2 elevation datasets and the results were compared using 2 methods of validation. One hundred aerial-photo-interpreted sample plots were used to quantitatively measure the ability of each source to separate upland from wetland. An overlay of wetland maps created from the 2 DEM sources was then qualitatively assessed to further .
Taxonomic Study in the Centaurea langei Complex (Asteraceae)

The morphological variability of Centaurea langei Nyman (Centaurea sect. Centaurea), an endemic to the north-central and north-west Iberian Peninsula, was studied. Seven subspecies with reasonably well-defined areas are recognized, of which C. langei subsp. dominguezii E. López, Devesa & Arnelas is described as new, and for the others the following combinations are proposed: C. langei subsp. exilis (Arènes) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, C. langei subsp. coutinhoi (Franco) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, C. langei subsp. geresensis (Arènes) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, C. langei subsp. kheilii (Pau) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas, and C. langei subsp. rothmalerana (Arènes) E. López, Devesa & Arnelas. Nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms are provided for each taxon, most of which are typified. For C. langei subsp. dominguezii, the chromosome number was also studied (2n = 18).
Digestible energy contents and apparent ileal amino acid digestibilities in regular or partial mechanically dehulled canola meal samples fed to growing pigs

A study was carried out to determine the influence of partial mechanical tail-end dehulling on apparent ileal amino acid (AA) digestibilities and digestible energy content in canola meal (CM) samples for growing pigs. Twenty Landrace × Yorkshire barrows, with an initial body weight of 35 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. Digestibilities were determined in 12 experimental diets with observations from five pigs per diet. Five batches of regular CM were obtained from five different crushing plants in Western Canada. A fraction of these batches was partially dehulled. The regular and partially dehulled CM samples were included at 20% in a barley-based diet. One pooled high-fiber CM sample and a straight barley diet were evaluated as well. Partial dehulling increased (P < 0.05) the digestible energy (DE) content from 12.2 to 13.3 MJ kg DM−1, respectively, and the level of crude protein (CP) from 40.6 to 43.8% in regular and partially dehulled CM samples, respectively. The digestibili.
The Iranian vole Microtus irani occurs in Lebanon (Mammalia: Rodentia)

We studied 1140 bp cytochrome b sequences of social voles from three localities in Lebanon. The results were compared with published sequences representing seven species of social voles. New sequences from Lebanon clustered with reference samples of two species: M. guentheri and M. irani. While M. guentheri was already reported for Lebanon, M. irani is a new addition to the fauna of Lebanon, and the third known record for the species. Animals were collected in two localities above Tripolis at 855 m and 1430 m a.s. l. , respectively.
Dieback of Euonymus alatus (Celastraceae) Caused by Cytospora haidianensis sp. nov. in China

Euonymus alatus (Celastraceae) is widely cultivated in China for its economic value and landscape benefits. Euonymus alatus dieback occurs due to members of Cytospora and has become one of the most severe diseases affecting its cultivation in China. In this study, we examined the causal agent of bough dieback on campuses of University Road, Beijing, China. Among the strains, three were morphologically consistent with Cytospora, showing hyaline and allantoid conidia. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated actin (ACT), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and beta-tubulin (TUB2) gene sequences, along with morphological and physiological features, we propose C. haidianensis as a novel species. It was confirmed as a causal agent of dieback of E. alatus by pathogenicity tests. Mycelial growth of Cytospora haidianensis occurred at pH values ranging from 3.0 to 11.0, with optimum growth at 8.3, and at temperatures from 5 to 35 °C, with optimum growth at 19.8 °C. We also tested the growth of C. haidianensis in the presence of six carbon sources. Sucrose, maltose and glucose were highly efficient and xylose was the least. The ability of C. haidianensis to grow at 19.8 °C may help to explain its occurrence causing dieback of E. alatus in Beijing during the autumn season.