Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acceleration of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Using Adaptive Filter Pruning

While convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved remarkable performance on various supervised and unsupervised learning tasks, they typically consist of a massive number of parameters. This results in significant memory requirements as well as a computational burden. Consequently, there is a growing need for filter-level pruning approaches for compressing CNN based models that not only reduce the total number of parameters but reduce the overall computation as well. We present a new min-max framework for the filter-level pruning of CNNs. Our framework jointly prunes and fine-tunes CNN model parameters, with an adaptive pruning rate, while maintaining the model’s predictive performance. Our framework consists of two modules: (1) An adaptive filter pruning (AFP) module, which minimizes the number of filters in the model; and (2) A pruning rate controller (PRC) module, which maximizes the accuracy during pruning. In addition, we also introduce orthogonality regularization in training of CNNs to reduce redundancy across filters of a particular layer. In the proposed approach, we prune the least important filters and, at the same time, reduce the redundancy level in the model by using orthogonality constraints during training. Moreover, unlike most previous approaches, our approach allows directly specifying the desired error tolerance instead of the pruning level. We perform extensive experiments for object classification (LeNet, VGG, MobileNet, and ResNet) and object detection (SSD, and Faster-RCNN) over benchmarked datasets such as MNIST, CIFAR, GTSDB, ImageNet, and MS-COCO. We also present several ablation studies to validate the proposed approach. Our compressed models can be deployed at run-time, without requiring any special libraries or hardware. Our approach reduces the number of parameters of VGG-16 by an impressive factor of 17.5X, and the number of FLOPS by 6.43X, with no loss of accuracy, significantly outperforming other state-of-the-art filter pruning methods.
Stream fish assemblage and habitat structure in a tropical African river basin (Nyagui River, Zimbabwe)

Few studies have been carried out on stream ecology in southern Africa although many species are endangered. This study investigated the stream fish assemblage and their habitat associations over a period of 3 months (October 2004 to January 2005), in view of the proposal to build a dam across the Nyagui River. Twenty-four fish species were collected and were separated into groups based on preferred microhabitats. The first group, dominated by Barbus paludinosus, comprised species collected from the upstream stations with slow flow, shallow depth (pools) and fine substrate type. Species associated with riffles, which included Chiloglanis neumanni, Labeobarbus marequensis and Opsaridium zambezense, comprised the second group on the downstream. The last group comprised species preferring pools with rock substrate and slow flow such as Pharyngochromis acuticeps and Pseudocranilabrus philander. The species were consistently associated with their habitat types throughout the sampling period. This relationship may be explained by the fish’s morphological adaptations. Species richness increased from nine in the upstream section to twenty in the downstream section and this was related to increasing habitat complexity downstream. The construction of the Kunzvi Dam across the Nyagui River is likely to lead to loss of rheophilic species while cichlids and introduced species may increase. Resume On a realise peu d’etudes sur l’ecologie des eaux courantes en Afrique australe bien que de nombreuses especes y soient en danger. Cette etude s’est penchee sur l’assemblage des poissons de riviere et les associations avec leurs habitats pendant quatre mois (octobre 2004–janvier 2005) en raison de la proposition de construction d’un barrage sur la riviere Nyagui. On a recolte un total de 24 especes de poissons que l’on a classes en groupes distincts selon le micro-habitat prefere. Le premier groupe, domine par Barbus paludinosus, comprenait des especes recoltees des stations en amont ou le courant est lent, peu profond (bassins) et le substrat de type fin. Les especes associees aux ondulations, qui comprennent Chiloglanis neumanni, Labeobarbus marequensis et Opsaridium zambezense, composent le deuxieme groupe en aval. Le dernier groupe comprenait des especes preferant les bassins au substrat rocailleux et un courant lent: Pharyngochromis acuticeps et Pseudocranilabrus philander. Ces especes sont restees constamment associees a leur type d’habitat pendant toute la periode de prelevement. Cette relation pourrait s’expliquer par les adaptations morphologiques des poissons. La richesse en espece est passee de neuf dans la section situee en amont a vingt dans celle de l’aval et ceci etait liea un habitat de plus en plus complexe. La construction du barrage Kunzvi sur la riviere Nyagui est susceptible d’entrainer la perte d’especes rheophiles alors que les cichlides et les especes introduites pourraient proliferer.
Longevity, inter-colony movements and breeding of Crested Terns in South Africa

Abstract The nominate race of the Crested Tern, Sterna bergii bergii, first breeds when aged three years, but may not be fully recruited to breeding colonies until six years old because many birds do not breed in years of food scarcity. A 21-year-old bird breeding at Dassen Island was the oldest record for the species. There are 109 records in South Africa of birds alive when aged 15 years or older. Of birds whose colony of origin was known, 18% of those breeding and 27% of those present at colonies were at their natal localities. Most cohorts bred at several localities and breeding at most colonies was by birds fledged at several localities. Crested Terns in the Western Cape mainly breed between January and June. Most eggs are laid between January and April. Mean clutch size is 1.02 eggs. At Robben Island in 1987 and 1988 the average number of chicks fledged per breeding pair was estimated to be between 0.48 and 0.59.
Cover Crop Manipulation in Northern California Orchards and Vineyards: Effects on Arthropod Communities

ABSTRACT Manipulation of ground cover vegetation in apple orchards and vineyards had a substantial impact on the abundance of soil dwelling and foliage inhabiting arthropods. Systems with cover crops were generally characterized by lower densities of phytophagous insects, less fruit damage caused by insects on the trees, larger populations and more species of natural enemies and increased predation of artificial prey. Cover crops that remained in full bloom throughout the season, that produced more biomass and supported higher numbers of alternate prey, seemed to harbor the largest complex of predators and parasites. Apparently, cover crop manipulation can directly affect colonization of insect pests which discriminate among trees with and without cover beneath, and can also help retain populations of soil and foliage inhabiting natural enemies through the provision of alternate food and habitat. The design of proper cover crop-orchard mixtures can result in enhanced biological control of specific pests i.
Optimal Submarine Cable Path Planning and Trunk-and-Branch Tree Network Topology Design

We study the path planning of submarine cable systems with trunk-and-branch tree topology on the surface of the earth. Existing work on path planning represents the earth’s surface by triangulated manifolds and takes account of laying cost of the cable including material, labor, alternative protection levels, terrain slope and survivability of the cable. Survivability issues include the risk of future cable break associated with laying the cable through sensitive and risky areas, such as, in particular, earthquake-prone regions. The key novelty of this paper is an examination and solution of the path planning of submarine cable systems with trunk-and-branch tree topology. We formulate the problem as a Steiner minimal tree problem on irregular 2D manifolds in $\mathbb {R}^{3}$ . For a given Steiner topology, we propose a polynomial time computational complexity numerical method based on the dynamic programming principle. If the topology is unknown, a branch and bound algorithm is adopted. Simulations are performed on real-world three-dimensional geographical data.
Do δ15N and δ13C values of feces reflect the isotopic composition of diets in small mammals

The stable isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen in feces can be a useful tool for reconstructing diet. To examine whether the isotopic composition of feces reflect those of diet, we determined the fractionation of 15N and 13C along the digestive tracts of several species of small mammals. There were significant differences in the δ15N values of digesta in different compartments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, with consistent enrichment of 15N in the stomach, intestine, and cecum, and the depletion of 15N in the colon (i.e., feces). Although feces had lower δ15N values than digesta in the cecum, feces of small mammals were significantly more enriched in 15N (by ~2.5‰) than diet. The mechanisms causing this enrichment in the GI tract may arise from the operation of different biochemical pathways within the different GI compartments. The stable carbon isotope composition of digesta in small mammals were similar along the GI tract, but the δ13C values of digesta and feces were significantly lower th.
Fire influence on Pinus halepensis: wood responses close and far from the scars

Tree rings provide information about environmental change through recording stress events, such as fires, that can affect their growth. The aim of this study was to investigate wood growth reactions in Pinus halepensis Mill. trees subjected to wildfires, by analysing anatomical traits and carbon and oxygen isotope composition. The study area was Southern France where two sites were selected: one subjected to fires in the last 50 years, the other characterised by comparable environmental conditions although not affected by fire events (control site). We analysed whether wood growth depends on the tangential distance between developing xylem cells and the limit where the cambium was directly damaged by fire. In the burnt site, thick wood sections, including fire-scar, were taken from surviving plants. Digital photo-micrographs were analysed to measure early- and latewood width, wood density, and tracheid size. Anatomical and isotopic traits were analysed in two series of tree rings (5 rings before and 5 after the fire) selected at different positions along the circumference (close or far from the scar). Anatomical and isotopic traits were quantified also on tree rings of the same years from cored trees growing at the control site. Results showed different wood reaction tendencies depending on the distance from the scar. The comparison between plants from the two sites allowed to exclude possible climate interference.Our results are discussed in terms of two kinds of growth reactions: the local need to promptly compartmentalise the scarred cambial zone and sapwood after fire, and the general growth perturbations due to tree reaction to crown scorch during fire. Anatomical results, combined with dendrochronological and isotopic analysis, could provide an efficient way to distinguish between direct growth reactions due to heat-related damage on cambium and indirect outcomes related to defoliation.
Reduction of Plasma Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Apoproteins by Dietary Fish Oils in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia

Dietary fish oils, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have been reported to reduce plasma lipid levels in normolipidemic subjects. We examined the effects of fish oil in 20 hypertriglyceridemic patients: 10 with Type IIb hyperlipidemia and 10 with Type V. These patients were put on three diets differing primarily in fatty acid composition and fat content. The control diet contained a fatty acid mixture typical of a low-fat therapeutic diet (ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat, 1.4), the fish-oil diet contained omega-3 fatty acids, and the vegetable-oil diet was rich in the omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid. Each diet was followed for four weeks. In the Type IIb group, the fish-oil diet led to decreases in both plasma cholesterol (-27 per cent) and triglyceride (-64 per cent), as compared with the control diet. Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) were also reduced markedly. The vegetable-oil diet had much less effect. With fish oil, the Type V group had marked decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels (-45 and -79 per cent, respectively). VLDL levels were dramatically lowered, as were apoprotein E levels. The vegetable-oil diet (unlike the fish-oil diet) produced a rapid and significant rise in plasma triglyceride levels. We conclude that fish oils and fish may be useful components of diets for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.
Evaluation of Lifelong Learning Systems

Current intelligent systems need the expensive support of machine learning experts to sustain their performance level when used on a daily basis. To reduce this cost, i.e. remaining free from any machine learning expert, it is reasonable to implement lifelong (or continuous) learning intelligent systems that will continuously adapt their model when facing changing execution conditions. In this work, the systems are allowed to refer to human domain experts who can provide the system with relevant knowledge about the task. Nowadays, the fast growth of lifelong learning systems development rises the question of their evaluation. In this article we propose a generic evaluation methodology for the specific case of lifelong learning systems. Two steps will be considered. First, the evaluation of human-assisted learning (including active and/or interactive learning) outside the context of lifelong learning. Second, the system evaluation across time, with propositions of how a lifelong learning intelligent system should be evaluated when including human assisted learning or not.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE SATISFACTION LEVEL OF MEDICAL TOURISTS: A CASE STUDY OF DELHI NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

The medical tourism industry is considered to be one of the fastest growing niche forms of tourism globally. In numerical terms by 2024 it is expected to generate revenue close to 28 billion USD. According to Ministry of Tourism India’s medical tourism industry could generate revenue worth 9 billion USD considering a growth of 200% by 2020. The study was conducted on 400 medical tourists in Delhi National Capital Region to find their perception pertaining to their satisfaction on various variables of medical tourism. Factor Analysis was utilized to reduce these 12 variables into 3 factors i.e. hospital services, quality of treatment, touristic services. A multiple regression was employed to eventually identify the factors affecting the overall satisfaction level of medical tourists visiting Delhi National Capital Region. The study indicates that quality of treatment has contributed the most and has stronger effect towards the satisfaction level of medical tourists as compared to other independent variables in Delhi National Capital Region.
The cladid crinoid Rhabdocrinus Wright from the Namurian of Co. Durham, UK

SUMMARY Crinoids from the marine succession near the base of the Namurian (Pendleian, Mississippian) of NE England remain poorly known. Robust crinoid pluricolumnals from the Rookhope Shell Beds Limestone, exposed in the banks of the River Tees near Winston, Co. Durham, are identified as Rhabdocrinus sp. cf. R. swaledalensis Wright. The broad, cyclocyclic pluricolumnals consist of low, heteromorphic N1 columnals that are unlikely to have been derived from any other English Pendleian crinoid. However, the dististele of R. swaledalensis sensu stricto remains unknown, hence the specimens from Winston remain in open nomenclature. Attachment was distal with a dendritic radice; large radice scars are common on some specimens. Evidence shows that Rhabdocrinus spp. had long stems, certainly hundreds of mm in length in the species from Winston.
Divergence time estimates for major cephalopod groups: evidence from multiple genes

This is the first study to use both molecular and fossil data to date the divergence of taxa within the coleoid cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish). A dataset including sequences from three nuclear and three mitochondrial genes (3415 bp in total) was used to investigate the evolutionary divergences within the group. Divergence time analyses were performed using the Thorne/Kishino method of analysis which allows multiple constraints from the fossil record and permits rates of molecular evolution to vary on different branches of a phylogenetic tree. The data support a Paleozoic origin of the Orders Vampyromorpha, Octopoda and the majority of the extant higher level decapodiform taxa. These estimated divergence times are considerably older than paleontological estimates. The major lineages within the Order Octopoda were estimated to have diverged in the Mesozoic, with a radiation of many taxa around the Cretaceous/Cenozoic boundary. Higher level decapodiform phylogenetic relationships appear to have been obscured due to an ancient diversification of this group.
CYTOLOGY OF INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS IN SINNINGIA AND RECHSTEINERIA (GESNERIACEAE)

The nature of meiosis in artificial interspecific hybrids of Sinningia and Rechsteineria is described, confirming the validity of cenospecies previously identified by pollen stainability. Metaphase I pairing is given for 25 hybrids involving 19 species. The importance of cenospecies to redefining generic and sectional limits is discussed, and it is recommended that additional sections be combined.
The response of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase and phenols to cold stress in the olive tree (Olea europaea L. cv. Picual)

BACKGROUND: In this study the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and the concentrations of hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and oleuropein in olive tree (Olea europaea L. cv. Picual) leaves were investigated before and after cold stress by freezing. The air temperature fell to below −7 °C and, according to the specific field conditions, four categories of orchard were selected: not cold stressed (NS), lightly cold stressed (LS), moderately cold stressed (MS) and heavily cold stressed (HS). RESULTS: In LS and MS samples the PAL specific activity at saturated substrate concentration rose 4.8- and 1.9-fold respectively compared with NS samples. In HS samples the PAL activity declined by 47% compared with NS samples. A low level of PAL protein was detected in all samples affected by cold stress. In LS, MS and HS samples the PPO specific activity at saturated substrate concentration was 1.9-, 4.4- and 9.8-fold higher respectively than in NS samples. Km values also increased after cold stress. In MS and HS samples the concentration of oleuropein was 69 and 82% higher respectively than in NS samples, while the concentrations of hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol decreased. CONCLUSION: The response of PAL activity may be part of a recovery process of the olive leaf against cold stress, while the response of PPO and oleuropein may be part of an antioxidant protection mechanism. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
A Rapid and Inexpensive Method for Surface Sterilisation of Ecklonia radiata (Phaeophyta) for Tissue Culture

Sections of the thallus of the brown alga Ecklonia radiata (C. Ag.) J. Ag. were surface sterilised for tissue culture by dipping in 70% ethanol for 30 s, followed by sterile deionised water for 30 min. A high percentage of aseptic viable explants could be obtained using this treatment, and growth in vitro was initiated.
EFFECTS OF DIETARY AMINO ACIDS ON THE FEEDING RATE OF THE APHID MYZUS PERSICAE

An investigation was made of the uptake by larval M. persicae of artificial diets from which each of the 20 dietary amino acids was individually omitted, or in the case of methionine, incorporated at different concentrations. Uptake was determined by measuring the weight losses of sachets containing the diets, during 2 consecutive 24‐hour periods in which groups of 50, 5–6 day‐old larvae were allowed to feed on the sachets. The omission of methionine reduced uptake by about 50%. Reductions of 15–33% were recorded for diets lacking cysteine or histidine. The individual omission of the other dietary amino acids had little or no effect on uptake. A progressive increase in uptake was associated with an increase in methionine concentration from zero to 40 mg/100 ml. No further increase or decrease in uptake was observed when the methionine concentration was progressively increased to 320 mg/100 ml.
α2‐Adrenergic and Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptors Have Oposing Actions on Cyclic AMP Levels in SK‐N‐SH Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: Forskolin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were shown to increase cyclic AMP accumulation in a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK‐N‐SH cells. The α2‐adrenergic agonist UK 14304 decreased forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP levels by 40 ± 2%, with an EC50 of 83 ± 20 nM. This response was blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PT) (EC50= 1 ng/ml) or by the α2‐antagonists yohimbine, idazoxan, and phentolamine. Antagonist IC50 values were 0.3 ± 0.1, 2.2 ± 0.3, and 1.4 ± 0.1 μM, respectively. This finding suggests the presence of normal inhibitory coupling of SK‐N‐SH cell α2‐adrenergic receptors to adenylate cyclase via the inhibitory GTP‐binding protein species, Gi. Muscarinic receptors in many target cell types are coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase. However, in SK‐N‐SH cells, muscarinic agonists synergistically increased (67‐95%) the level of cyclic AMP accumulation elicited by forskolin or VIP. EC50 values for carbamylcholine (CCh) and oxotremo‐rine facilitation of the forskolin response were 1.2 ± 0.2 and 0.3 ± 0.1 μM, respectively. Pharmacological studies using the muscarinic receptor subtype‐preferring antagonists 4‐di‐phenylacetoxy‐N‐methylpiperidine, pirenzepine, and AF‐DX 116 indicated mediation of this response by the M3 subtype. IC50 values were 14 ± 1, 16,857 ± 757, and 148,043 ± 16,209 nM, respectively. CCh‐elicited responses were unaffected by PT pretreatment. Muscarinic agonist binding affinity was indirectly measured by the ability of CCh to compete for [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding sites on SK‐N‐SH cell membranes. Our results indicated the presence of a single CCh binding site with an apparent affinity (Ki= 5 ± 1 μM) consistent with that concentration of agonist required to evoke biochemical responses in the intact cell.
Anthocyanins – nature, occurrence and dietary burden

This paper reviews the literature on the occurrence of anthocyanins in foods and their transformation during processing, including the formation of adducts and derived tannins. Data describing the safety of anthocyanins and possible dietary effects are examined. Attention is drawn to some misquotations in the literature and to some serious gaps in our knowledge, in particular, the lack of pharmacokinetic data in humans essential to an understanding of associated biological effects.