Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Body Size and Nutrition Intake Effects on Fecundity and Overwintering Success in Anchomenus dorsalis (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract Structural body size and adult feeding conditions seem to be important determinants of fitness in income breeding species. However, little is known about the relative importance of structural body size and nutritional state on fecundity and winter survival in carabids. In this study, two separate experiments were performed. The effects of the structural body size of females (expressed as the length of the elytra and the width of the pronotum) and the effect of starvation on the fecundity of the ground beetle Anchomenus dorsalis (Pontoppidan, 1763) were investigated in the “fecundity experiment. ” The influence of structural body size, feeding conditions (full, partial, or no feeding) before the winter, and behavior during the winter (burrowing into the substrate) on winter survival in A. dorsalis females were studied in the “overwintering experiment. ” Egg production was positively influenced by both the structural body size of females and adult feeding. The effect of structural body size on the number of eggs laid outweighed the effect of feeding. However, the total fecundity (the number of eggs laid plus the number of mature eggs in ovaries) were more strongly affected by feeding in comparison to the structural body size of females. Interestingly, there was no significant effect of structural body size, feeding before winter, or behavior during winter on the survival of A. dorsalis females during the winter. However, our overwintering results could be affected by extreme weather conditions throughout experimental season and by the experimental design, which is discussed in detail.
Thermal plasma synthesis of nanostructured silicon carbide films

Two methods for the synthesis of nanostructured silicon carbide films are discussed and compared, thermal plasma chemical vapour deposition (TPCVD) and hypersonic plasma particle deposition (HPPD). Both methods produce β-SiC films with high growth rates on the order of 10 µm min−1. In TPCVD the generation of nanoscale grain sizes is caused by the fact that the film growth rate is much higher than the rate of surface diffusion. In HPPD a nanostructured film is grown by direct nanoparticle impact. In general, the films grown by TPCVD are denser and harder than in HPPD. X-ray diffraction spectra show that β-SiC is essentially the only crystalline phase in the TPCVD films, whereas in HPPD a silicon crystalline phase is also present, even for films that are overall carbon-rich. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that HPPD films actually grow by a combination of nanoparticle impact and CVD. If this parallel process can be controlled, it could potentially lead to the design and high-rate synthesis of new nanostructured materials.
Warm spring reduced carbon cycle impact of the 2012 US summer drought

Significance Carbon uptake by terrestrial ecosystems mitigates the impact of anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions on atmospheric CO2 concentrations, but the strength of this carbon sink is highly sensitive to large-scale extreme climate events. In 2012, the United States experienced the most severe drought since the Dust Bowl period, along with the warmest spring on record. Here, we quantify the impact of this climate anomaly on the carbon cycle. Our results show that warming-induced earlier vegetation activity increased spring carbon uptake, and thus compensated for reduced carbon uptake during the summer drought in 2012. This compensation, however, came at the cost of soil moisture depletion from increased spring evapotranspiration that likely enhanced summer heating through land-atmosphere coupling. The global terrestrial carbon sink offsets one-third of the world’s fossil fuel emissions, but the strength of this sink is highly sensitive to large-scale extreme events. In 2012, the contiguous United States experienced exceptionally warm temperatures and the most severe drought since the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, resulting in substantial economic damage. It is crucial to understand the dynamics of such events because warmer temperatures and a higher prevalence of drought are projected in a changing climate. Here, we combine an extensive network of direct ecosystem flux measurements with satellite remote sensing and atmospheric inverse modeling to quantify the impact of the warmer spring and summer drought on biosphere-atmosphere carbon and water exchange in 2012. We consistently find that earlier vegetation activity increased spring carbon uptake and compensated for the reduced uptake during the summer drought, which mitigated the impact on net annual carbon uptake. The early phenological development in the Eastern Temperate Forests played a major role for the continental-scale carbon balance in 2012. The warm spring also depleted soil water resources earlier, and thus exacerbated water limitations during summer. Our results show that the detrimental effects of severe summer drought on ecosystem carbon storage can be mitigated by warming-induced increases in spring carbon uptake. However, the results also suggest that the positive carbon cycle effect of warm spring enhances water limitations and can increase summer heating through biosphere–atmosphere feedbacks.
Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Foods and Derived Products Containing Ellagitannins and Anthocyanins on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers: Analysis of Factors Influencing Variability of the Individual Responses

Understanding interindividual variability in response to dietary polyphenols remains essential to elucidate their effects on cardiometabolic disease development. A meta-analysis of 128 randomized clinical trials was conducted to investigate the effects of berries and red grapes/wine as sources of anthocyanins and of nuts and pomegranate as sources of ellagitannins on a range of cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. The potential influence of various demographic and lifestyle factors on the variability in the response to these products were explored. Both anthocyanin- and ellagitannin-containing products reduced total-cholesterol with nuts and berries yielding more significant effects than pomegranate and grapes. Blood pressure was significantly reduced by the two main sources of anthocyanins, berries and red grapes/wine, whereas waist circumference, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose were most significantly lowered by the ellagitannin-products, particularly nuts. Additionally, we found an indication of a small increase in HDL-cholesterol most significant with nuts and, in flow-mediated dilation by nuts and berries. Most of these effects were detected in obese/overweight people but we found limited or non-evidence in normoweight individuals or of the influence of sex or smoking status. The effects of other factors, i.e., habitual diet, health status or country where the study was conducted, were inconsistent and require further investigation.
Analysis of the Mediterranean fruit fly [Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)] spatio-temporal distribution in relation to sex and female mating status for precision IPM

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a key pest of fruit crops in many tropical, subtropical and mild temperate areas worldwide. The economic importance of this fruit fly is increasing due to its invasion of new geographical areas. Efficient control and eradication efforts require adequate information regarding C. capitata adults in relation to environmental and physiological cues. This would allow effective characterisation of the population spatio-temporal dynamic of the C. capitata population at both the orchard level and the area-wide landscape. The aim of this study was to analyse population patterns of adult medflies caught using two trapping systems in a peach orchard located in central Italy. They were differentiated by adult sex (males or females) and mating status of females (unmated or mated females) to determine the spatio-temporal dynamic and evaluate the effect of cultivar and chemical treatments on trap catches. Female mating status was assessed by spermathecal dissection and a blind test was carried out to evaluate the reliability of the technique. Geostatistical methods, variogram and kriging, were used to produce distributional maps. Results showed a strong correlation between the distribution of males and unmated females, whereas males versus mated females and unmated females versus mated females showed a lower correlation. Both cultivar and chemical treatments had significant effects on trap catches, showing associations with sex and female mating status. Medfly adults showed aggregated distributions in the experimental field, but hot spots locations varied. The spatial pattern of unmated females reflected that of males, whereas mated females were largely distributed around ripening or ripe fruit. The results give relevant insights into pest management. Mated females may be distributed differently to unmated females and the identification of male hot spots through monitoring would allow localisation of virgin female populations. Based on our results, a more precise IPM strategy, coupled with effective sanitation practices, could represent a more effective approach to medfly control.
Symmetric Agency Graphs Facilitate and Improve the Quality of Virtual Network Embedding

Virtual network embedding (VNE) is a key technology in network virtualization. Advantages of network symmetry are well known in the design of load-balanced routing algorithms and in network performance analysis. Our work in this paper shows that benefits of graph symmetry also extend to the domain of network embedding. Specifically, we propose an efficient VNE method based on modular and structured agency guidance, a regular graph function. The proposed method, which is based on symmetric intermediate graphs, offers two main advantages. Firstly, characteristics of the intermediate structures enhance the computational efficiency of the VNE process. Secondly, the static agency network modeled with such intermediate structures improves the quality of the resulting embedding. These two advantages of our method are elaborated upon and verified by examples and simulations, respectively. In addition, we present a theoretical analysis explaining the reasons behind the benefits offered by such middleware.
COMMON SOLUTIONS OF A SYSTEM OF VARIATIONAL INEQUALITY PROBLEMS

The theory of variational inequalities has played an important role in the study of a wide class of problems arising in pure and applied sciences including mechanics, optimization and optimal control, partial differential equation, operations research and engineering sciences. During the last decades this problem has been studied by many authors, (see [1-15]). Recently, Censor, Gibali and Reich [16, 17] (see also [18]) introduced the Common Solutions to Variational Inequality Problem (CSVIP) which consists of finding common solutions to unrelated variational inequality. The general form of the CSVIP is the following: Let H be a Hilbert space. Let there be given, for each i = 1, 2, . , N , an operator hi : H −→ H and a nonempty, closed and convex subset Ci ⊂ H, with ∩N i=1 Ci ̸= ∅. The CSVIP (for single-valued operators) is to find a point z ∈ ∩N i=1 Ci such that, for each i=1,2,. ,N, ⟨hiz, x− z⟩ ≥ 0, ∀x ∈ Ci, 1 ≤ i ≤ N. (1.1) For 1 ≤ i ≤ N , we denote by SOL(Ci, hi) the solution set of (1). We note that in CSVIP, if we choose all hi = 0, then the problem reduces to that of finding a point z ∈ ∩N i=1 Ci in the nonempty intersection of a finite family of closed and convex set, which 1, Corresponding author,Department of Mathematics, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Behshahr, Iran, Email: mhmdeslamian@gmail.com 2Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand, Email: saejung@kku.ac. th 3 Department of Mathematics, Iran University of Science and Technology, Noor, Iran, Email: j.vahidi@iust.ac. ir
Phytoremediation of lead by a wild, non-edible Pb accumulator Coronopus didymus (L.) Brassicaceae

ABSTRACT Coronopus didymus was examined in terms of its ability to remediate Pb-contaminated soils. Pot experiments were conducted for 4 and 6 weeks to compare the growth, biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, lead (Pb) uptake, and accumulation by C. didymus plants. The plants grew well having no visible toxic symptoms and 100% survivability, exposed to different Pb-spiked soils 100, 350, 1500, and 2500 mg kg−1, supplied as lead nitrate. After 4 weeks, root and shoot concentrations reached 1652 and 502 mg Pb kg−1 DW, while after 6 weeks they increased up to 3091 and 527 mg Pb kg−1 DW, respectively, at highest Pb concentration. As compared to the 4 week experiments, the plant growth and biomass yield were higher after 6 weeks of Pb exposure. However, the chlorophyll content of leaves decreased but only a slight decline in photosynthetic efficiency was observed on exposure to Pb at both 4 and 6 weeks. The Pb accumulation was higher in roots than in the shoots. The bioconcentration factor of Pb was > 1 in all the plant samples, but the translocation factor was < 1. This suggested C. didymus as a good candidate for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soils and can be used for future remediation purposes.
Secure Application Updates on Point of Sale Devices

Currently, a large number of electronic transactions are performed with credit or debit cards at terminals located in merchant stores, such as Point of Sale Devices. The success of this form of payment, however, has an associated cost due to the management and maintenance of the many equipments from different generations and manufacturers. In particular, there is an important cost related to the deployment of new software upgrades for the devices, since in most cases human intervention is required. In this paper we describe a secure solution for this problem, where Point of Sale Devices are able to automatically discover and upload new software updates.
Contractile Force Is Enhanced in Aortas from Pendrin Null Mice Due to Stimulation of Angiotensin II-Dependent Signaling

Pendrin is a Cl−/HCO3 − exchanger expressed in the apical regions of renal intercalated cells. Following pendrin gene ablation, blood pressure falls, in part, from reduced renal NaCl absorption. We asked if pendrin is expressed in vascular tissue and if the lower blood pressure observed in pendrin null mice is accompanied by reduced vascular reactivity. Thus, the contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) were examined in isometrically mounted thoracic aortas from wild-type and pendrin null mice. Although pendrin expression was not detected in the aorta, pendrin gene ablation changed contractile protein abundance and increased the maximal contractile response to PE when normalized to cross sectional area (CSA). However, the contractile sensitivity to this agent was unchanged. The increase in contractile force/cross sectional area observed in pendrin null mice was due to reduced cross sectional area of the aorta and not from increased contractile force per vessel. The pendrin-dependent increase in maximal contractile response was endothelium- and nitric oxide-independent and did not occur from changes in Ca2+ sensitivity or chronic changes in catecholamine production. However, application of 100 nM angiotensin II increased force/CSA more in aortas from pendrin null than from wild type mice. Moreover, angiotensin type 1 receptor inhibitor (candesartan) treatment in vivo eliminated the pendrin-dependent changes contractile protein abundance and changes in the contractile force/cross sectional area in response to PE. In conclusion, pendrin gene ablation increases aorta contractile force per cross sectional area in response to angiotensin II and PE due to stimulation of angiotensin type 1 receptor-dependent signaling. The angiotensin type 1 receptor-dependent increase in vascular reactivity may mitigate the fall in blood pressure observed with pendrin gene ablation.
Social Vision: Applying a Social-Functional Approach to Face and Expression Perception

A social-functional approach to face processing comes with a number of assumptions. First, given that humans possess limited cognitive resources, it assumes that we naturally allocate attention to processing and integrating the most adaptively relevant social cues. Second, from these cues, we make behavioral forecasts about others in order to respond in an efficient and adaptive manner. This assumption aligns with broader ecological accounts of vision that highlight a direct action-perception link, even for nonsocial vision. Third, humans are naturally predisposed to process faces in this functionally adaptive manner. This latter contention is implied by our attraction to dynamic aspects of the face, including looking behavior and facial expressions, from which we tend to overgeneralize inferences, even when forming impressions of stable traits. The functional approach helps to address how and why observers are able to integrate functionally related compound social cues in a manner that is ecologically relevant and thus adaptive.
Distributed parallel computation for complex rotational flows of non‐Newtonian fluids

Complex rotational flows of non‐Newtonian fluids are simulated through finite element methods. The predictions have direct relevance to dough kneading, associated with the food industry. The context is taken as two‐dimensional and one of stirring material within a cylindrical vessel. Three stirrer shapes are considered, placed in eccentric location with respect to the cylinder centre. The motion is driven by the rotation of the outer vessel wall. Variation with change in rheology and change in stirrer shapes are analysed, with respect to flow kinematics, stress fields, rate‐of‐work and power consumed. Computations are performed for Newtonian, shear‐thinning and viscoelastic fluids, at various viscosity levels to gradually approximate more realistic dough‐like response. For viscoelastic fluids, Phan‐Thien/Tanner constitutive models are adopted. The numerical method employed is based on a finite element semi‐implicit time‐stepping Taylor–Galerkin/pressure‐correction scheme, posed in a cylindrical polar co‐ordinate system. Simulations are conducted via distributed parallel processing, performed on a networked cluster of workstations, employing message passing. Parallel performance timings are compared against those obtained working in sequential mode. Ideal linear speed‐up with the number of processors is observed for viscoelastic flows under this coarse‐grained implementation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grommet Surgery in Children with Orofacial Clefts in England

Objective To assess grommet insertion practice in the first 5 years of life among children with an orofacial cleft in England. Design Analysis of national administrative data of hospital admissions. Setting National Health Service hospitals, England. Patients Patients born between 1997 and 2005 who underwent surgical cleft repair. Intervention Children receiving grommets before the age of 5 years. Outcome Measures The proportion of children receiving grommets before the age of 5 years, the timing of the first grommet insertion, and the proportion of children having repeat grommet insertions were examined according to cleft type, the absence or presence of additional anomalies, socioeconomic deprivation, and region of residence. Results The study included 8,269 children. Before the age of 5 years, 3,015 (36.5%) children received grommets. Of these, 33.2% received their first grommets at primary cleft repair and 33.3% underwent multiple grommet insertion procedures. The most common age for the first procedure was between 6 and 12 months. Children with a cleft affecting the palate were more likely to receive grommets than children with a cleft lip alone (45.5% versus 4.5%). Grommet insertion practice also varied according to year of birth, absence or presence of additional anomalies, socioeconomic deprivation, and region of residence. Conclusion Grommets practice in children with a cleft appears to vary according to their clinical characteristics. The differences in practice observed according to deprivation and region of residence need to be further explored.
Multiphase transformer-coupled converter: Two different strategies for energy conversion

The operation of a multiphase topology, ideally, without energy storage presents the advantage of achieving very high efficiency over a wide load range as well as a fast dynamic response. However, ideal no-energy storage operation also implies a limitation in the regulation capability of the topology, the output voltage can only take discrete values. These features (high efficiency and discrete regulation capability) of the proposed energy conversion strategy enable the topology as a candidate for ‘DC-DC transformer’ applications. The advantages, drawbacks and the operating principle of this concept, implemented with a ‘closed chain’ magnetic structure have been already presented. In this work, the minimum energy storage operation, is applied to two different magnetic structures. These magnetic structures are called ‘closed chain’ and ‘pyramidal’ the main advantage of the ‘pyramidal’ coupling structure is to improve the size of the converter without increasing the operating frequency. Both magnetic structures are analyzed, compared and experimentally implemented.
An unsupervised spatio-temporal regularization for perfusion MRI deconvolution in acute stroke

We consider the ill-posed inverse problem encountered in perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis due to the necessity of eliminating, via a deconvolution process, the imprint of the arterial input function on the MR signals. Until recently, this deconvolution process was realized independently voxel by voxel with a sole temporal regularization despite the knowledge that the ischemic lesion in acute stroke can reasonably be considered piecewise continuous. A new promising algorithm incorporating a spatial regularization to avoid spurious spatial artifacts and preserve the shape of the lesion was introduced [1]. So far, the optimization of the spatio-temporal regularization parameters of the deconvolution algorithm was supervised. In this communication, we evaluate the potential of the L-hypersurface method in selecting the spatio-temporal regularization parameters in an unsupervised way and discuss the possibility of automating this method. This is demonstrated quantitatively with an in silico approach using digital phantoms simulated with realistic lesion shapes.
Hypertrophic Arachnoid Granulation of the Occipital Bone Neuroradiological Differential Diagnosis

Nodules of arachnoid cells absorb cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and drain it into the venous system [1], are microscopically observable and referred to as arachnoid villi. Those macroscopically visible are called pacchionian granulations (PGs) [2]. These usually protrude into venous sinuses, as demonstrated by autopsy studies [3]. The outermost layer is composed of endothelial cells, while the underlying layer is composed of arachnoid cells and fibroblasts [4]. They are evident from the age of 4 years, developing in proximity to venous sinuses or bridging veins near the superior sagittal sinus, within 3 cm of the midline. They may increase in numbers and dimension with age, probably because of CSF pressure [1] and can fill and dilate the dural sinus or expand the inner table of the skull [5, 6]. A differential diagnosis from osteolytic bone diseases is often difficult. While computed tomography (CT) scanning remains the most appropriate neuroradiological method to investigate bone diseases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a more suitable for evaluating these particular conditions. Case Report