Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relation Matters: Relational Context-Aware Fully Convolutional Network for Semantic Segmentation of High-Resolution Aerial Images

Most current semantic segmentation approaches fall back on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, their use of convolution operations with local receptive fields causes failures in modeling contextual spatial relations. Prior works have sought to address this issue by using graphical models or spatial propagation modules in networks. But such models often fail to capture long-range spatial relationships between entities, which leads to spatially fragmented predictions. Moreover, recent works have demonstrated that channel-wise information also acts a pivotal part in CNNs. In this article, we introduce two simple yet effective network units, the spatial relation module, and the channel relation module to learn and reason about global relationships between any two spatial positions or feature maps, and then produce Relation-Augmented (RA) feature representations. The spatial and channel relation modules are general and extensible, and can be used in a plug-and-play fashion with the existing fully convolutional network (FCN) framework. We evaluate relation module-equipped networks on semantic segmentation tasks using two aerial image data sets, namely International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Vaihingen and Potsdam data sets, which fundamentally depend on long-range spatial relational reasoning. The networks achieve very competitive results, a mean $F_{1}$ score of 88.54% on the Vaihingen data set and a mean $F_{1}$ score of 88.01% on the Potsdam data set, bringing significant improvements over baselines.
Fatty acid profile, oxidative stability, and sensory properties of breast meat from turkeys fed diets with a different n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of diets with a different n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio (7.31, 4.43, and 0.99), resulting from the addition of different dietary oils: soybean, rapeseed, and linseed (diets S, R, and L, respectively), on the fatty acid (FA) profile, oxidative status, and sensory properties of turkey breast meat. After 15 wk of feeding, breast meat yield and chemical properties of the meat were similar in all groups. Raw breast meat of R turkeys had a significantly higher content of all-trans-retinol and atocopherol, compared with S and L. The physicochemical properties of breast meat, including pH, color, drip loss, and cooking loss, did not differ significantly. Cooked meat samples differed significantly with respect to the concentrations of oleic acid, linoleic acid (S and R>L), and linolenic acid (S and R <L). Compared with S and R, breast meat of L turkeys was characterized by higher concentrations of total PUFAs (35.1 vs. 30.1 and 29.3%), a significantly lower n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio (1.51 vs. 5.43 and 5.07%) and a higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content (TBARS; 31.9 vs. 26.4 and 26.7 nmol/g). After 4 months of deep-freeze storage the n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio did not deteriorate. It may be concluded that replacing soybean oil with linseed oil, but not with rapeseed oil, increased the proportion of PUFAs in the total FAs pool and improved the n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio, yet it also adversely affected the sensory properties andoxidative stabilityofmeat.BothrawandstoredbreastmeatfromLturkeyswassusceptible to oxidative changes, as manifested by the significantly higher TBARS concentrations (17.07 and 81.06) compared with those of the S group (10.91 and 53.00 nmol/g, respectively). Practical applications: Studies investigating the possibility of increasing the health benefits of poultry meat have been performed mostly on broilers, while the problem remains poorly researched in turkeys. Ourfindings show that linseed oil, in contrast to rapeseed oil, is a good source of PUFAs, in particular n-3 PUFAs, that can be effectively transferred from feed to carcass lipids. However, desirable changes in the fatty acid profile are accompanied by increased susceptibility to lipid oxidation and deterioration of the sensory properties of meat. Thus, the linseed oil content of turkey diets should be reduced, or diets supplemented with linseed oil should be fed for shorter periods of time to alleviate the negative effects of linseed oil on the sensory attributes and oxidative status of meat.
Progressive Contextual Instance Refinement for Weakly Supervised Object Detection in Remote Sensing Images

Weakly supervised learning has been attracting much attention due to its broad applications, which only requires image-level annotations to indicate whether there exist objects in the images. Currently, most of the existing weakly supervised object detection (WSOD) methods are inclined to seek only one top-scoring object instance per image from noisy proposals to train the corresponding object detector. However, more than one same-class instances often exist in the large-scale, cluttered remote sensing images. Thus, selecting only one top-scoring proposal usually results in highlighting the most representative part of an object rather than the whole object, which may cause learning a suboptimal object detector by losing much important information. To address this problem, a novel end-to-end progressive contextual instance refinement (PCIR) method is proposed to perform WSOD. Specifically, a dual-contextual instance refinement (DCIR) strategy is designed to divert the focus of the detection network from the local distinct part to the whole object and further to other potential instances by leveraging both local and global context information. Benefiting from DCIR, a progressive proposal self-pruning (PPSP) strategy is further developed to mitigate the influence of the complex background by dynamically rejecting the negative training proposals. Comprehensive experiments on the challenging NWPU VHR-10.v2 and DIOR data sets clearly demonstrate that the proposed method can significantly boost the detection accuracy compared with the state of the arts.
CTLA‐4 engagement regulates NF‐κB activation in vivo

CTLA‐4 engagement inhibits TCR‐dependent functions and CTLA‐4–/– mice develop a lymphoproliferative disorder leading to early lethality. In vitro, ligation of CTLA‐4 reduces TCR‐mediated activation of NF‐κB, a transcription factor implicated in promoting T cell survival and cytokine production. However, whether NF‐κB inhibition downstream of CTLA‐4 is necessary for down‐regulation of T cell responses is not known. We hypothesized that signaling pathways that are antagonized when CTLA‐4 is engaged should be augmented when CTLA‐4 is absent and found thatspontaneous NF‐κB activity was increased in T cells from CTLA‐4–/– mice. To determine the importance of NF‐κB inhibition upon CTLA‐4 engagement in vivo, CTLA‐4–/– mice were interbred with mice expressing a transdominant IκBα mutant under the control of the Lck promoter. The resulting mice had reduced spontaneous NF‐κB activity in T cells,delayed mortality, and reduced leukocytic accumulation in spleen, lymph nodes, and exocrine pancreas as compared with CTLA‐4–/– littermates. However, impaired NF‐κB activation in T cells did not prevent the up‐regulation of activation markers on T cells or the acquisition of effector cytokine production. Thus, impaired NF‐κB activity in T cells prevents specific aspects of the CTLA‐4–/– phenotype, suggesting that inhibition of NF‐κB activation is one of the key biochemical events regulated by CTLA‐4 ligation in vivo.
First record of gars (Lepisosteidae, Actinopterygii) on Madagascar: Late Cretaceous remains from the Mahajanga Basin

ABSTRACT Gars (Lepisosteidae, Actinopterygii) are reported from Madagascar for the first time, from exposures of the Upper Cretaceous (? Campanian) Maevarano Formation in the Mahajanga Basin, northwestern Madagascar. The material includes relatively common isolated scales, and vertebral centra, teeth, fin rays, and dermal cranial elements, all assigned to Lepisosteus sp. This new record from Madagascar adds to previously documented Cretaceous Gondwanan gar occurrences in India, Africa, and South America, as well as in Laurasia. The overall pattern points to a Pangean distribution in the Cretaceous and a Jurassic or earlier origin for the gar clade. The extant endemic fishes of Madagascar are not phylogenetically close to gars or to other Late Cretaceous fishes known from the island, suggesting that the ichthyofauna now there likely evolved from post-Mesozoic colonizers.
How solar cell efficiency is governed by the αμτ product

This work demonstrates how the solar cell efficiency of any real-world absorber material depends on the three material parameters absorption coefficient $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ ,mobility $\ensuremath{\mu}$, and lifetime $\ensuremath{\tau}$. Simple figures of merit for solar cell performance are found which support both experimental and computational efforts on identifying promising absorbers for novel solar cells.
Interrogating strategies and policies to advance women in academic leadership: the case of Hong Kong

ABSTRACT The absence of women academics in the most senior ranks and leadership roles in higher education is both an international phenomenon and an enduring social justice issue. This article provides an original insight into the ‘policy’ response to the underrepresentation of women academics as senior leaders in three case-study universities in Hong Kong. Based on documentary analysis and interviews with 35 women academics, the research indicates: ‘gaps’ between institutions voicing a commitment to gender equality and actual practice; middle management being a ‘sticking point’ in bringing about cultural change; a lack of understanding by some male colleagues of the barriers women face in the profession; a rejection of positive or affirmative action by interviewees; and a policy context that is focused upon equal treatment.
Modeling and experimentation of creep-fatigue and failure of low-profile quad flat package under thermal cycle

An experimental investigation and numerical modeling using multiphysics finite element method were performed to study the thermal failure mechanism of low-profile quad flat package solder joints of memory module due to low-cycle fatigue. The strain, stress, and number of cycles to failure have been calculated according to a strain life Coffin–Manson and energy-based Morrow fatigue models. Scanning electron microscopy imaging at the end of thermal cycle was used to evaluate the damage initiation and propagation. The effect of the solder volume on fatigue life of solder joints was discussed. Through analyses of theoretical results and experimental data on fatigue life, cracks initiation and propagation have been highlighted and their possible causes have been discussed.
Geometrical nonlinearity of circular plates and membranes: An alternative method

We apply the well-established theoretical method developed for geometrical nonlinearities of micro/nano-mechanical clamped beams to circular drums. The calculation is performed under the same hypotheses, the extra difficulty being to analytically describe the (coordinate-dependent) additional stress generated in the structure by the motion. Specifically, the model applies to non-axisymmetric mode shapes. An analytic expression is produced for the Duffing (hardening) nonlinear coefficient, which requires only the knowledge of the mode shape functions to be evaluated. This formulation is simple to handle, and does not rely on complex numerical methods. Moreover, no hypotheses are made on the drive scheme and the nature of the in-plane stress: it is not required to be of electrostatic origin. We confront our predictions with both typical experimental devices and relevant theoretical results from the literature. Generalization of the presented method to Duffing-type mode-coupling should be a straightforward extension of this work. We believe that the presented modeling will contribute to the development of nonlinear physics implemented in 2D micro/nano-mechanical structures.
Serum iron levels and response to hepatitis B virus

Abstract Response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection [HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs)], serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, hematological status (erythrocytes, Hb, and hematocrit), and evidence of liver damage (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase; aspartate aminotransferase, L-aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) were determined for 201 patients on chronic renal dialysis. Four factors—serum iron level, transminase level, sex, and HBV response [i.e., infected-HBsAg(+) (HBsAg positive), anti-HBs(+) (anti-HBs positive), or no response]—were analyzed simultaneously to test the hypothesis that serum iron is higher in those with HBsAg in their serum than in those without HBsAg, independent of the transaminase level. Four independent, statistically significant two-factor interactions were identified. (i) Serum iron is higher in those HBsAg(+). (ii) Serum iron is higher in those with increased transaminase. (iii) Transaminase is higher in those HBsAg(+). (iv) Males are more likely to be HbsAg(+) and females are more likely to be anti-HBs(+). Also, those who are HBsAg(+) have significantly higher percent iron saturation (serum iron/total iron-binding capacity). That is, the hypothesis was supported by the findings. Several additional biological hypotheses are suggested, including a possible role of increased iron levels in susceptibility and response to HBV infection and the possible relationship between higher iron levels and the likelihood of HBV infection progressing to primary hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, further tests of the initial hypothesis in nonhospitalized populations with endemic HBV infection are proposed.
Female pintado catfish choose well-fed males

This study tested the preference of pintado catfish females (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans) for associating with well-fed or food-deprived males in simultaneous choice tests. Females were tested under three different treatments in which: (1) females could choose on the basis of multiple cues from the well-fed or food-deprived males (visual plus chemical); (2) only chemical cues were presented; (3) only visual cues were presented. Females chose well-fed males when chemical cues were presented (either visual + chemical or only chemical cues). When only visual cues were presented, females spent an equal amount of time in the choice apparatus compartments. Chemical signals, either directly through control of pheromone production, or indirectly by excreted metabolites, are likely to be an important source of information about nutritional condition in mating choice.
AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF GAMETE RELEASE AND SETTLING IN THE COMPLANATE FORM OF SCYTOSIPHON (SCYTOSIPHONACEAE, PHAEOPHYTA) 1

This paper describes the ultrastructural characteristics of gametes and their liberation from the gametangia in Scytosiphon sp. , a brown alga showing only slight sexual differentiation. Both male and female gametes are released initially into a central cavity which forms in the gametangial sorus by the extensive dissolution of the internal cell walls. Scytosiphon sp. gametes possess structural features in common with the zoids of other species of brown algae. Gamete fine structure is discussed in relation to cell function. After release from the gametangial sorus, female gametes can be distinguished from males by the presence of a large number of Golgi‐derived vesicles with electron dense cores. It is possible that these vesicles contain the sex attractant compound. When gametes settle they become spherical, the flagella and eyespot are withdrawn into the cell and adhesive material, apparently originating from the activity of the Golgi body, appears on the surface of the cell.
Is Signalling of Fighting Ability Costlier for Weaker Individuals

Abstract Using a simple model of signaling of fighting ability, I demonstrate that; (1) conventional, cost-free, signals of fighting ability can be an ESS, (2) signals with significant costs can be used at ESS as long as they are used to indicate weakness rather than strength, (3) that if a set of signals is used to indicate a set of fighting abilities through their costs, they must decrease in cost for stronger signalers. The reason for this is that individuals of higher fighting ability have less to gain by avoiding escalated contests, and are thus more sensitive to signal costs. These results are of particular relevance to badges of status and other simultaneous signals used to settle contests over minor resources.
Optimal Overlap-Time Distribution of Space Vector Modulation for Current-Source Rectifier

This article proposes an improved space vector modulation (SVM) for the current-source rectifier (CSR). Due to the overlap time during commutations of power switches, the pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) currents of CSR may suffer from a number of low-order (mainly fifth and seventh) harmonics, which seriously degrade the harmonic performance of currents and voltages on the grid side. Especially, the overlap-time effect becomes an important issue when the increased switching frequency is applied to CSR. To mitigate these low-order harmonics of the PWM converter currents resulted from the overlap-time effect, the relationship between the overlap time and the low-order harmonics in PWM currents and grid currents are analyzed at first. Then, the design process of the LC filter and the proposed SVM with optimal overlap-time distribution is presented in details. Finally, experimental results are conducted on a low power laboratory prototype to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
EFFECTOR CELL BLOCKADE

This study describes the effects of incubating antibody-forming cells (AFC), either as mass cell suspensions, or as single AFC in microdroplets, with antigens against which the cells display specificity. Most of the work was done with hapten-specific anti-DNP-AFC, but AFC with specificity against flagellar antigens or fowl gamma globulin (FGG) were also included. It was noted that 30-min incubation of AFC with highly multivalent forms of antigen caused a substantial partial suppression of the antibody-forming performance of the AFC as measured by a hemolytic plaque test. Thus, when cell suspensions containing anti-DNP plaque-forming cells (PFC), were incubated for 30 min at 37°C with 100 µg of DNP-polymerized flagellin (DNP-POL), the number of plaques appearing after washing of the cells and placing them in plaque-revealing erythrocyte monolayers was reduced to 50% or less compared with the number of plaques observed with control portions preincubated with medium alone. Preincubation with DNP-lysine, with oligovalent DNP-protein conjugates, or with irrelevant antigens produced no such inhibition. Studies where preinhibited PFC suspensions were mixed with control suspensions before assay showed that a nonspecific carryover of antigen into the assay system was not involved. The inhibitory effect could also be initiated by holding cells at 0°C with DNP-POL, but in that case, inhibition only became manifest after cells were incubated for 30 min at 37°C before being placed in plaque-revealing monolayers. This suggested that inhibition was initiated by adsorption of multivalent antigen onto PFC-surface Ig, but required some active process before secretion actually slowed down. The effect was dose- and time-dependent, antigen-specific, and generalized for all antigens studied. As well as yielding reduced plaque numbers, the preinhibited cells also gave smaller, more turbid plaques, suggesting a reduction in antibody-forming rate by each PFC rather than the elimination of PFC. Consistent with this suggestion was the observation that the degree of inhibition of plaque formation could be increased by decreasing the sensitivity of the assay so that only AFC secreting at high rates were detected. A micromanipulation study, where single PFC were subjected to inhibition, and were then tested for the rate at which they could cause hemolysis, showed a 68% inhibition of mean secretory rate. Micromanipulation studies were performed to test the amount of cell surface-associated Ig on control and preinhibited PFC. For this, single PFC were held with [125I]antiglobulin and quantitative radioautography was performed. No significant difference emerged, suggesting that retention of secreted Ig on cell-attached antigen was not the cause of inhibition. The results are discussed in the framework of tolerance models and blocking effects at the T-cell level by antigen-antibody complexes. The name effector cell blockade is suggested in the belief that the phenomenon may be a general one applying to both T and B cells.
Expression of Phospholipase A2 Receptor in Pediatric Hepatitis B Virus-Related Membranous Nephropathy

Purpose: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is among etiologies of secondary mem branous nephropathy (MN) in pediatric patients. We evaluated expression of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), a specific target antigen of primary MN, in pediatric HBV-related MN. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with biopsy-proven HBV-related MN from the renal biopsy registry and electronic medical records of Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from 1993 to 2004. Paraffin-embedded human kidney tissues were retrieved and immunohistochemically stained for PLA2R. Results: Ten pediatric patients with 13 biopsied specimens were reviewed. The predominant pathological stage was stage II–III, and second was stage II. The intensity of staining for IgG was greatest, with less intense staining for IgM, IgA, C3, C4, and C1q. All the patients had angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor combined with glucocorticoid, and four patients converted to cyclosporine treatment from glucocorticoid monotherapy. Urinalysis of all the patients normalized after variable period. PLA2R staining was demonstrated in the outer glomerulus in 3 out of 13 biopsies, 2 of which were obtained from the same patient over a 5-year interval. Conclusions: PLA2R was expressed in a small number of cases diagnosed as pe diatric HBV-related MN, indicating that some HBV-related MN cases may be primary MN concurrent with HBV infection.
Structural separation of biological activities of jasmonates and related compounds

A wide range of compounds derived from the basic structure of jasmonic acid, when tested for biological activity in different bioassays (Eschscholzia californica elicitation, Bryonia dioica tendril coiling, tomato transpiration and senescence and barley senescence assays) display, in each of the assays, an activity profile that is distinctly characteristic and different between assays. While differences in uptake, metabolism and/or sequestration of the compounds may account for some of the effects observed, the data allow the conclusion that structural requirements are also different for different physiological responses regulated by jasmonates. While jasmonic acid itself is active in all assays employed, some of the compounds tested in our study display a much narrower range of biological effects. Thus, tailoring of jasmonate analogues for specific applications and lacking undesirable side effects should be possible.
Role of interfacial transition zones in the fracture of Cu/V nanolamellar multilayers

ABSTRACT Plastic deformation and fracture behavior of Cu/V nanoscale metallic multilayers (NMMs) were systematically investigated through in situ transmission electron microscopy testing. Two different types of interfaces: sharp interfaces and interfacial transition zones (ITZs), formed in the as-fabricated Cu/V NMMs. Upon deformation, sharp interfaces and ITZs exert distinct influences on the fracture behavior of Cu/V NMMs. Sharp interfaces can impede the crack propagation by deflecting the crack propagation and blunting the crack tip, while the ITZs can induce microcracks and facilitate the fracture process. These findings shed light on the important roles of interface structures in the deformation of a broad class of NMMs. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT IMPACT STATEMENT In situ nanomechanical testing reveals critical roles of interface structures on the fracture of Cu/V NMMs, where sharp interfaces imped and deflect cracks but interfacial transition zones facilitate the fracture greatly.