Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolučnı́ návrh konvolučnı́ch neuronových sı́tı́

Abstrakt Cı́lem této práce je návrh a implementace programu pro automatizovaný návrh konvolučnı́ch neuronových sı́tı́ (CNN) s využitı́m evolučnı́ch výpočetnı́ch technik. Z praktického hlediska tento přı́stup redukuje potřebu lidského faktoru při tvorbě CNN, a tak eliminuje zdlouhavý a namáhavý proces návrhu. Tato práce využı́vá speciálnı́ formu genetického programovánı́ nazývanou kartézské genetické programovánı́, které pro zakódovánı́ řešeného problému využı́vá grafovou reprezentaci. Tato technika umožňuje uživateli parametrizovat proces hledánı́ CNN, a tak se zaměřit na architektury zajı́mavé z pohledu použitých výpočetnı́ch jednotek, přesnosti či počtu parametrů. Navrhovaný přı́stup byl otestován na standardizované datové sadě CIFAR-10, která je často využı́vána výzkumnı́ky pro srovnánı́ výkonnosti jejich CNN. Prvotnı́ experimenty ukázaly, že vytvořená implementace (využı́vajı́cı́ GPU akceleraci) je schopna vytvořit či vylepšit přesnost CNN. Výsledkem experimentů, kdy bylo pro trénovánı́ k dispozici pouze několik epoch, byla řešenı́ s přesnostı́ 64.5 % a počtem parametrů 146K při využitı́ základnı́ch vrstev a řešenı́ s přesnostı́ 74.5 % s počtem parametrů 475K při využitı́ reziduálnı́ch vrstev. Záměrem těchto experimentů bylo dokázat funkčnost implementovaného programu a proof-of-concept navržené metody.
Effect of heat processing on nutrient digestibility in pea and supplementing amylase and xylanase to raw, extruded or micronized pea-based diets on performance of early-weaned pigs

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of heat processing on nutrient digestibility and of both processing and exogenous feed enzymes on growth performance of 16-d-old weaned piglets fed pea-based diets. In exp. 1, 12 Cotswold pigs [4.5 ± 0.5 kg initial body weight (BW)] fitted with simple-T cannulae were used to determine apparent and standardized ileal amino acid (AA) digestibilities in raw, extruded, and micronized peas supplemented with amylase and xylanase. In exp. 2, 70 16-d-old weaned pigs were randomly assigned to a soybean-meal- (SBM)-based control and six pea-based diets during two consecutive periods (Phase 1, 4.5–10.0, Phase 2, 10.0–20.0 kg BW). The pea- (raw, extruded and micronized) based diets were fed with or without enzyme supplementation. Pigs were weighed weekly and feed intake was monitored daily. Blood samples were obtained from 10 pigs per treatment on days 0, 7 and 14 for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) analysis. Heat processing improved (P < 0.05) apparent ileal digest.
The T lymphocyte response to syngeneic λ2 light chain idiotopes. Significance of individual amino acids revealed by variant λ2 chains and idiotope‐mimicking chemically synthesized peptides

In the present study we have investigated the structure of the helper T cell (Th)‐defined idiotope (Id) of myeloma protein 315 λ2 light chain (λ2315) in BALB/c (H‐2d) mice which carry a high‐responder immune response gene for this Id. Three eptides were synthesized which spanned the third hypervariable region (HV3) of λ2315: peptides 88–99, 94–108 and 91–108. Only peptide 91–108 was capable of eliciting carrier‐specific Th that recognized M315 or free λ2315. These Th did not recognize λ25–7 chain which differs from λ2315 at 4 positions in this region; these are Tyr94, Ser95, Thr96, Tyr98 for λ25–7 and Phe94, Arg95, Asn96, Phe98 for λ2315. Immunization with peptide analogues revealed that substitution of Tyr for Phe94 was compatible with Id‐λ2315 mimicry, but substitution of Ser for Arg95 or Thr for Asn96 destroyed the Th‐recognized Id. Furthermore, Th primed with λ25–7 chain did not cross‐react with λ2T952 these λ2 chains only differ from each other at positions 98 and 99 at the Vλ2‐Jλ2 junction. The data indicate that individual amino acids of short peptide segments are critical for Th‐recognized Id of the λ2 HV3 loop and Vλ2‐Jλ2 junction. Furthermore, the immunogenicity of a small peptide suggests that the carrier (λ2)‐specific Th recognize Id that have been processed by antigen‐presenting cells (APC). This implies the existence of two categories of “internal images” of foreign or of self antigens: (a) serologically defined and (b) T lymphocyte defined. We propose that as a rule, Id processing by APC, including B cells, destroys the first and reveals the second category. The possible physiological function of these Id‐specific T cells in network interactions with B cells is discussed.
Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the distribution of an Antarctic amphipod and relationship with the sediment

The nearshore Antarctic environment is subject to increasing anthropogenic impact, yet the ecological processes influencing some of its most dominant species remain poorly understood. We examined patterns of the distribution and abundance of the Antarctic amphipod Orchomenella franklini in relation to the local environment. Samples of benthic sediment were collected in East Antarctica across several spatial and temporal scales and were analysed for the abundance of O. franklini and various sediment properties. O. franklini was found to reach extremely high densities ( -2 ), yet abundance was strongly heterogeneous on all spatial scales tested. Temporal variation in abundance was also significant and was location-specific, potentially reflecting fluctuations in food supply and variable conditions resulting from ice disturbance. Principal component analysis and generalised additive modelling revealed evidence of a relationship between the distribution of O. franklini and the sediment, which was consistent with its deposit-feeding trophic niche. Generally, the abundance of O. franklini increased with decreasing sediment grain size and increasing trace element concentration. Abundance also peaked at high (though not maximum) total organic carbon content. This is one of the first empirical demonstrations of a correlation between discrete physical sediment traits and the abundance of an infaunal benthic species in the Antarctic, with evidence consolidated from 2 geographic regions. The influence of local conditions on the abundance of O. franklini provides insight on the heterogeneity of Antarctic benthic ecosystems.
Fungal Endophytes of Grasses: A Defensive Mutualism between Plants and Fungi

Many grasses are infected by systemic fungal endophytes (family Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycetes) that produce pysiologically active alkaloids in the tissues of their hosts. Infection makes grasses toxic to domestic mammals and increases resistance to insect herbivores. Some grasses are sterilized by endophyte infection while remaining vegetatively vigorous; other infected grasses remain completely fertile. Experiments demonstrate that plant growth and seed production can be increased by infection. This symbiotic association may be a defensive mutualism in which the fungi defend their hosts against herbivory, thereby defending their own resources. Recent studies suggest that defensive mutualism of endophytes with grasses may be widespread.
Reconstruction of earth fissures 3-D from videos

Abstract. Earth fissures are pervasive cracks that develop on valley floors as a consequence of land subsidence associated with extensive groundwater withdrawal. To capture geometrical, geological and geotechnical information of ground fissures is of paramount importance for their characterization. Recent advances in remote sensing techniques and the accessibility to remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) as well as the evolution of onboard digital cameras enable the capture of digital photos and videos. Using digital photos along with the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique and following certain strategies, we can reconstruct a 3-D model of the earth fissures under study. This technique requires digital photos, but when a digital video is available, we can convert it into a set of frames and equally apply the procedure. Besides, the extraction of frames from a video assures a key condition for the SfM technique: the overlap between photos. The resulting 3-D model should be scaled and oriented using a rigid transformation matrix or even better including ground control points (GCP) into the captured photos or frames. The latter enables the geo-referencing of the point cloud and the correction of linear and non-linear deformations. In this work, the proposed methodology is illustrated through the application of SfM technique to a high-resolution video downloaded from YouTube (i.e. https://youtu.be/9xdAnftBKvY , last access: 20 February 2020). The video shows a mile-long earth fissure that appeared sometime between March 2014 and December 2014 near the Tator Hills (Arizona, USA) over Quaternary sediments. The Arizona Geological Survey captured these videos using an RPAS. The frames of the video were downloaded and extracted using a simple Matlab code. Then, we sub-sampled the frames and processed them using the software Agisoft Metashape Professional. Finally, we got metric data from Google Earth and generated a 3-D model. The quality of the 3-D model strongly depends on the quality of the photos and the GCP. However, this study shows the potential of this technique, instrumentation and data available on Internet for the development of 3-D point clouds and 3-D models for the detailed analysis of earth fissures.
Insects as vectors of foodborne pathogenic bacteria

Food safety is an important consideration worldwide. To maintain and improve our current knowledge of foodborne disease outbreaks, we must understand some of the more imminent issues related to food safety. A variety of agents are responsible for transmitting the estimated 76 million cases of illnesses caused by foodborne pathogens every year. This review explores why insects pose a serious health concern, in terms of worldwide food safety initiatives, by looking at evidence in published Food safety is an important consideration worldwide. To maintain and improve our current knowledge of foodborne disease outbreaks, we must understand some of the more imminent issues related to food safety. A variety of agents are responsible for transmitting the estimated 76 million cases of illnesses caused by foodborne pathogens every year. This review explores why insects pose a serious health concern, in terms of worldwide food safety initiatives, by looking at evidence in published literature. We highlight at least eleven different species of insects, including the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer); secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius); synanthropic flies [flesh fly, Sarcophaga carnaria (L.); house fly, Musca domestica (L.); fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen); and stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)], American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.); German cockroach, Blatella germanica (L.); Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis (L.); Pacific beetle cockroach, Diploptera punctata (Eschscholtz); and Speckled feeder cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier), which act as vectors for Salmonella spp. or Escherichia coli and illustrate how these insects are successful vectors of foodborne disease outbreaks. We propose that insects be considered as one of the latest issues in food safety initiatives. Not only are some insects extremely important contributors to diseases, but now we suggest that more research into insects as potential carriers of E. coli and Salmonella spp. , and therefore as contributing to foodborne disease outbreaks, is granted.
Is platelet-rich plasma treatment effective in healing of oral cavity wounds? Experimental animal study

Amaç: Bu çalışmada trombositten zengin plazmanın (TZP) sıçanlarda deneysel amaçlarla oluşturulan oral kavite yaralarının iyileşmesi üzerine makroskopik ve histopatolojik etkileri değerlendirildi. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 42 dişi Wistar albino sıçanı (yaş 2.5-3 ay; ağırlık, 250 g 350 g) dahil edildi. Altı sıçan kanlarından TZP hazırlanması için seçildi. Geriye kalan 36 sıçana anestezi yapıldı ve damaklarında yara açıldı. Sıçanlar altı gruba randomize edildi. Her grup altı sıçan içerdi (TZP grubu için 3, kontrol grubu için 3). TZP grubunda yaraların marjinlerine TZP enjekte edildi. Kontrol grubuna herhangi bir uygulama yapılmadı. TZP ve kontrol gruplarından altı sıçan birinci, ikinci ve üçüncü haftalarda sakrifiye edildi, sert damakları makroskopik olarak fotoğraf landı ve enf lamasyon şiddeti, neovaskülarizasyon, fibroblast proliferasyonu ve kolajen konsantrasyonu hakkında histopatolojik inceleme yapıldı. Her parametre skorlamadan sonra istatistiksel olarak analiz edildi. Bulgular: Makroskopik yara alanı birinci ve ikinci haftalarda TZP grubunda kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı şekilde küçük iken (p<0.05) bu anlamlılık üçüncü haftada kayboldu (p>0.05). Enf lamasyon şiddetinde birinci ve ikinci haftalarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık yoktu, fakat üçüncü haftada enf lamasyon şiddeti TZP grubunda kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı şekilde iyileşti (p<0.05). Neovaskülarizasyon, fibroblast proliferasyonu ve kollajen konsantrasyonu açısından TZP ve kontrol grupları arasında anlamlı farklılık yoktu, fakat bunlar ikinci ve üçüncü haftalarda TZP grubunda kontrol grubuna kıyasla istatistiksel olarak anlamlı artış gösterdi (p<0.005). Sonuç: Trombositten zengin plazma uygulaması yara alanında sıradan yara iyileşmesine göre daha hızlı yara iyileşmesi sonucunda epitelizasyonu artırdı. TZP uygulamasının intraoral yaraların iyileşmesinde pozitif histolojik ve makroskopik etkileri olduğu sonucuna varılabilir. Anahtar sözcükler: Oral kavite; trombositten zengin plazma; sıçan; yara iyileşmesi. ABSTRACT
Dental Characteristics Affinities of the Prehistoric to Modern Japanese with the East Asians, American Natives and Australo-Melanesians

Dental characteristics of the prehistoric to modern Japanese were compared with those observed in the 23 Mongoloid samples including the American natives and Australo-Melanesians. The results of comparisons confirmed Turner's“Sinodonty”and“Sundadonty”classifications on the basis of the nonmetric trait pattern, with clarifying the metric features that most effectively discriminate between the two dental series. Taking both the metric and nonmetric traits affinities into consideration of the population relationships, it was concluded that the Aeneolithic Northern Kyushu Yayoi people and the subsequent mainland Japanese are closely related to the Urga Mongolians and Northern Chinese. This finding supports the hypothesis that the Yayoi immigrants originated from the Northeast Asian stock. On the other hand, the closest affinity of the Jomon natives was shown in the Neolithic Thai among the overseas samples compared, implying that the Jomon natives and such prehistoric Southeast Asians were derived from common ancestry who inhabited somewhere in East Asia.
The effects of maternal dietary lysine intake on offspring performance to 21 days of age

SUMMARY The CP and amino acid requirements for broiler breeder hens have historically been determined by assessing the response of these birds in terms of egg production. However, based on increasing evidence on the effects of maternal nutrient intake on offspring performance, this should be revised. In addition, the nutrition management of broiler breeder hens during lay is very controversial, and managers and nutritionists resort to the manipulation of feed allocation to improve egg production in these flocks. In this study, broiler breeder hens were fed diets differing in digestible lysine concentration from 26 to 60 wk of age. Fertile eggs were collected at 38, 48, and 60 wk and incubated. Broilers hatched were reared in commercial conditions and their performance was measured to 21 d of age. Based on this study, the feeding of the hens has a significant effect on offspring performance, and this should be considered when maternal requirements are investigated. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effects of maternal nutrient intake manipulation on the performance of broilers hatched from hens at different stages of the productive cycle.
Investigations Into the Regulation of Dominance Behaviour and of the Division of Labour in Bumblebee Colonies (Bombus Terrestris)

During the first part of colony life Bombus terrestris queens have a strong regulating influence on worker dominance. Dominant workers from queenless groups which are introduced into the colony are immediately dominated by the queen. They drop to a low position in the dominance hierarchy of the colony and may start foraging. The queen's dominance signal decreases at a certain, queen-specific time after she has switched to the laying of unfertilized eggs. Then an introduced dominant worker will supersede her and become the 'false-queen'. The false-queen apparently does not produce the complete dominance signal since she usually has to carry out attacks on the workers to establish and maintain her dominance. The workers' flexibility with respect to the tasks they perform (foraging or nest duties) decreases with their age and in the course of colony development. House bees, especially those which have achieved a high position in the dominance hierarchy, are less inclined to change their tasks after removal of the foragers than foragers after removal of the house bees. But, in both cases, most of the work is taken over by young workers (less than 10 days old). Foragers which change to nest duties may substantially increase their dominance and may become egglayers. Juvenile hormone (JH) treatment does not affect the division of labour, but it does influence the activity of the workers. The influence of JH on worker dominance, as observed in queenless workers, seems to be overridden by colony factors such as domination by the queen. JH treatment stimulates oogenesis, but ovary development decreases again (by degeneration of the developed oocytes) down to the level that corresponds to the worker's dominance status as soon as the exogenous JH has been broken down and excreted. Ovariectomy influences neither the division of labour nor the establishment of a dominance hierarchy. Dominant ovariectomized workers perform all behaviours normally displayed by egglaying workers (including among others egg eating and aggressiveness), except constructing and testing of egg cells. The latter two behaviours seem to depend both upon dominance and upon the presence of ripe eggs in the ovaries. It is concluded that a Bombus terrestris colony is a stable social structure, in which the dominance of the queen and colony needs for food determine the differentiation in foragers or house bees, some of which will become egglayer. The physiology of a worker reflects this social context rather than autonomous developments at the individual level.
The obesity epidemic – Nature via nurture: A narrative review of high-income countries

Over the last three decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly in populations around the world. Despite a wealth of research, the relative contributions of the different mechanisms underlying this global epidemic are not fully understood. While there is growing consensus that the rapid rise in obesity prevalence has been driven by changes to the environment, it is evident that biology plays a central role in determining who develops obesity and who remains lean in the current obesogenic environment. This review summarises evidence on the extent to which genes and the environment influence energy intake and energy expenditure, and as a result, contribute to the ongoing global obesity epidemic. The concept of genetic susceptibility to the environment driving human variation in body weight is discussed.
Critical appraisal of the evidence for tributyltin‐mediated endocrine disruption in mollusks

This article reviews the field and laboratory evidence for endocrine disruption in gastropod mollusks caused by tributyltin (TBT). Abundant and undisputed field data link TBT with an irreversible sexual abnormality of female neogastropod snails known as “imposex. ” This phenomenon is a masculinization process involving the development of male sex organs, notably a penis and a vas deferens; in certain species the imposition of a vas deferens disrupts oviducal structure and function, preventing normal breeding activity and causing population disappearance. In some species, oogenesis is supplanted by spermatogenesis. A related condition referred to as “intersex” has been reported in littorinid mesogastropods, and these too become unable to lay eggs. Field evidence clearly associates these syndromes with the use of TBT as an antifoulant, chiefly on boat hulls, and dose‐related effects can be replicated in laboratory exposures to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBT compounds. It has now been established that imposex and intersex are forms of endocrine disruption caused by elevated testosterone titers that masculinize TBT‐exposed females. The precise mechanism by which increased levels of testosterone are produced has not been fully described, but the weight of evidence suggests that TBT acts as a competitive inhibitor of cytochrome P450‐mediated aromatase. Some recent data suggest that TBT may also inhibit the formation of sulfur conjugates of testosterone and its active metabolites, thus interfering with its excretion. In summary, TBT‐induced masculinization in gastropods, imposex and intersex, is the clearest example of endocrine disruption described in invertebrates to date that is unequivocally linked to a specific environmental pollutant.
Baseline pH and the Variability of pH within Plots and Community Types of the Central Pine Barrens

Baseline pH and the Variability of pH within Plots and Community Types of the Central Pine Barrens. NEAL JACK (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801) TIMOTHY GREEN, PhD (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973). The Long Island Central Pine Barrens (CPB) is a valuable natural resource for its beauty, natural water aquifer and for being the habitat of many endangered and threatened species of plants animals and insects. The Foundation for Ecological Research in the Northeast (FERN) is an organization committed to the preservation of the Pine Barrens ecosystem by maintaining or improving the health of the forests located in the CPB. FERN, in conjunction with other organizations, implemented a ten-year longitudinal study on the health of the CPB. Data collected on the pH of the soil will provide a piece of the baseline health record for this ten-year longitudinal study. To establish a baseline health record for each forest type, several 16 x 25m plots were set up, according to established protocols, within each forest community type. Using a Kelway HB-2 Soil pH meter / moisture tester the pH of the soil was taken at eight points within each plot. The average pH of the forest types were 6.3 for Coastal Oak, Pitch Pine 5.9, Pine-Oak 6.0, Oak-Pine 5.9, Pitch Pine Scrub Oak 6.1, and 6.1 for Dwarf Pine. Analyzing this data and data collected at the end of the ten-year study will be valuable in determine the long-term health of the forest as well as the effect of human intervention such as acid rain pollution.