Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Event-triggered scheme for zero-gradient-sum optimisation under directed networks with time delay

The paper investigates the distributed convex optimisation problem of multi-agent systems over strongly connected and balanced digraph with time delay. To reduce the traffic among agents and the control inputs' update frequency, a sample-based distributed event-triggered zero-gradient-sum optimisation algorithm has been proposed. A sufficient stability condition with respect to the related parameters and time delay is derived via the Lyapunov function approach. Moreover, it is proved that the states of agents asymptotically converge to the global optimal point. Since the sampling control is adopted, Zeno behaviour can be naturally excluded. The results of the numerical simulation illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Distribution of loliginid squids in a eutrophicated tropical coastal bay

ABSTRACT Guanabara Bay is one of the most polluted bays in Brazil, although it supports some fisheries resources, among which are three species of loliginid squids: Lolliguncula brevis, Doryteuthis plei, and Doryteuthis sanpaulensis. This study aimed to assess the temporal and spatial variations of squids in the bay, relating their abundance variation to local environmental factors. We also aimed to characterize the population structure of squids, in order to establish their degree of occupancy in this estuarine system. Ten fortnightly hauls were carried out (two per area) from July 2005 to June 2007. Squids were identified, measured, weighed, sexed and classified according to maturity stage. The spatial distribution of the three species was not uniform; most individuals were found near the mouth of the bay. Abundances were significantly different among seasons due to the presence of SACW (South Atlantic Central Water) during the spring–summer season. Most of the populations of the three species consist of juveniles, and most adult Doryteuthis were also immature, which reinforces the role of Guanabara Bay as a nursery ground for loliginid squids. Concerning the degree of occupancy of squids in Guanabara Bay, L. brevis is considered an estuarine resident, D. plei uses the estuarine system as a nursery area for feeding and growth, and juveniles of D. sanpaulensis enter the bay with the flood tide to feed, generally following the SACW intrusion. This is the first study on squids in this estuarine system, which despite the high degree of environmental impact is shown to be an important area for the loliginid species.
Lost in place : Impaired hippocampal information processing in a mouse model of intellectual disability

Certain forms of learning and long-term memory are mediated by neuronal activity in the hippocampus. For example, electrophysiological activity of hippocampal neurons recorded from rodents during exploration of an environment can reflect mapping of spatial information. These recordings can provide valuable information on impaired cognitive functioning, such as in psychiatric disease. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism, yet it has no effective treatment, in part because it has proven difficult to establish reliable animal models of its cognitive manifestations. Several neurophysiological and developmental hallmarks of the disease have been identified in the Fmr1-KO mouse model of FXS, which was developed to carry a mutation in same gene as the human patients. In this thesis, we describe electrophysiological characteristics of impaired hippocampal spatial information processing in Fmr1-KO, characterizing how its neurodevelopmental phenotype affects learning and memory formation. We recorded activity from individual neurons as well as the simultaneously occurring neuronal network activity in the CA1 area of the hippocampus, while Fmr1-KO mice freely explored an environment. By contrasting these data to recordings done in healthy wild type control mice (WT), we characterize deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity as a result of the FXS mutation, linking its effects to an electrophysiological phenotype. Our results illustrate how affected neural coding and neuronal communication in area CA1 may contribute to the devastating cognitive symptoms of FXS, and may lead to novel approaches for potential treatment.
Metals contamination in sediment and their bioaccumulation in plants and three fish species from freshwater ecosystem

Abstract In this research, accumulation of Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu and Cd were determined in sediments, different tissue of plants and fish from Al Hawizah wetland southwest of Iran. Bioavailability and translocation factor were calculated in fish and plants. Results showed that mean concentration of Fe (16090.69 mg/kg) and Ni are higher in sediment. Bioavailability factor of all the elements in different tissues of three fish species were lower than one. Fe, Zn and Ni have the most BAF in Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia. In Phragmites australis, translocation factor for Zn was higher than one.
Deep learning‐based vehicle occupancy detection in an open parking lot using thermal camera

Parking has been a common problem over several years in many cities around the globe. The search for parking space leads to congestion, frustration and increased air pollution. Information of vacant parking space would facilitate to reduce congestion and subsequent air pollution. Therefore, the aim of the study is to acquire vehicle occupancy in an open parking lot using deep learning. Thermal camera was used to collect videos during varying environmental conditions and frames from these videos were extracted to prepare the dataset. The frames in the dataset were manually labelled as there were no pre-labelled thermal images available. Vehicle detection with deep learning algorithms was implemented to perform multi-object detection. Multiple deep learning networks such as Yolo, Yolo-conv, GoogleNet, ReNet18 and ResNet50 with varying layers and architectures were evaluated on vehicle detection. ResNet18 performed better than other detectors which had an average precision of 96.16 and log-average miss rate of 19.40. The detected results were compared with a template of parking spaces to identify vehicle occupancy information. Yolo, Yolo-conv, GoogleNet and ResNet18 are computationally efficient detectors which took less processing time and are suitable for real-time detection while Resnet50 was computationally expensive.
Tree species with limited geographical ranges show extreme responses to ectomycorrhizas

Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Department of Biology, Algoma University, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana Department of Biological Sciences, Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Who’s Got The Time? Temporary Organising Under Temporal Institutional Complexity

This chapter addresses the challenges associated with temporary organising under conditions of institutional complexity. The authors draw on findings from an in-depth case study of a megaproject initiated to reshape healthcare in Sweden. At the centre of this transformation was the construction of a new, ‘world-class’ hospital to replace the former (historical and renowned) university hospital. The authors posit that organising such projects is largely a matter of creating, responding to, and re-creating temporal institutional complexity. Thus, their study identifies four distinct response strategies – innovating, partial decoupling, avoiding, and surfing – on which project actors relied when dealing with the multiplicity of temporal institutional requirements. The authors propose a model for explaining how these strategies affected the temporal institutional complexity faced by the project. Their chapter adds to the literature on temporary organisations by highlighting the nature and dynamics of temporal institutional complexity and by revealing how inter-institutional temporary organisations cope with such complexity.
Singular Intersection Homology

simplicial complex, see simplicial complex, abstract acknowledgments, ii acyclic model, 193 Acyclic Model Theorem, 356 admissible triangulation, see triangulation, admissible agreeable triple of perversities, 361, 364, 365 (Qp̄,t̄Y , Qt̄X ,q̄;Q), 423 (0̄, t̄; 0̄), 362 (n̄, n̄; 0̄), 362 (p̄, Dp̄; 0̄), 362 (p̄, t̄; p̄), 362 (t̄, 0̄; 0̄), 362 and diagonal maps, 361 and projection maps, 386 in terms of dual perversities, 361, 362 Akin, Ethan, 672, 686 Albin, Pierre, 687, 689 Alexander-Whitney map, 194, 354, 355 intersection version, see intersection Alexander Whitney map (IAW) algebra background, 694–717 algebraic diagonal map (d̄), 355, 357, 363 coassociativity, 396 cocommutativity, 382 counitality, 386 locality, 439, 459 naturality, 372 algebraic mapping cone, 410, 703 and boundary maps, 411, 413, 704 compatibility with products, 415, 417 allowable chain, 6, 90 effects of simplicial subdivision on, 94– 95 in small degrees, 127 on regular strata, 93, 126 PL chain, 118 simplex, 90 singular chain, 126 singular simplex, 126 strata vs. skeleta, 102–104 Aluffi, Paolo, 688 assembly map, 677, 681 AT map, 729 AT space, 723, 729 augmentation cocycle (1), xvi augmentation map (a), xv augmented intersection chain complex, see intersection chain complex, augmented balls, 184 Banagl, Markus, ii, 675, 677, 678, 680, 684, 687, 688 basic sets, 590 Bernstein, Joseph, 691 Beshears, Aaron, 57 Bĕılinson, Alexander, 691 bilinear pairing, see pairing Bockstein map, 226 bordism, 669–682 bordism group, 670 bordism homology theory, 670
Stimulation of phenolic compounds production in the in vitro cultivated Polyscias filicifolia Bailey shoots and evaluation of the antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of plant extracts

In this study, an efficient method to enhance phenolic compound production in the in vitro cultured shoots of Polyscias filicifolia was developed. The phenolic compound content in P. filicifolia has not yet been reported. Shoots were treated with methyl jasmonate (JM) or salicylic acid (SA) at doses of 50, 100, or 200 µM. HPLC-UV-VIS and LC-MS techniques were used for the determination of chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids. The total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified, and the antioxidant capacity of plant extracts was determined using DPPH and ABTS methods. Finally, the cytotoxic activity of P. filicifolia extracts in normal (HaCaT) and cancer (A549) cells was investigated. Further, the effect of the extracts on cisplatin cytotoxicity was assessed.The elicitors significantly enhanced phenolic production compared to that in untreated shoots and leaves of intact plants. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant compound with the highest yield of 5.03 ±0.25 mg/g DW after treatment with 50 µM SA. The total flavonoid and phenolic content was significantly and dose-dependently influenced by JM. The highest antioxidant capacity was noted in extracts derived from shoots grown on media supplemented with 50 µM SA and 200 µM JM; these doses were used for further cytotoxic activity investigations. The extracts from JM or SA treatments reduced cancer cell viability and increased their mortality, whereas the extract from JM treatment exhibited protective effect on normal cells. Moreover, the comparison of cytotoxic properties of plant extracts and cisplatin indicated that plant phenolic compounds in combination with anticancer drugs could reduce the detrimental effect of the latter on human cells.
Observações sobre o comportamento de acasalamento de Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera-Culicitlae)

Um estudo foi conduzido sobre o comportamento de acasalamento de linhagens de Culex quinquefasciatus Say do Gâmbia, Africa Ocidental e Amazonas. Brasil. Usando um sistema de televisao sensivel ao infravermelho para observacao no "escuro", os experimentos mostraram que os machos sao atraidos pela emissao de som no voo da femea e pareceram nao distinguir entre membros de suas especies e de outros generos. A resposta dos machos a emissao de som artificial de voo da femea tem um pico em L.D. 12:12 na hora seguinte a interrupcao da luz no laboratorio e apresenta um padrao circadiano em escuro constante. No campo, o acasalamento foi observado quando os machos estavam em enxame voando ativamente. A conclusao obtida e de que o acasalamento depende da atividade do macho, mas que a escolha do padrao especifico da especie depende da femea.
Identification of candidate pelagic marine protected areas through a seabird seasonal‐, multispecific‐ and extinction risk‐based approach

With increasing pressure on the oceans from environmental change, there has been a global call for improved protection of marine ecosystems through the implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we used species distribution modelling (SDM) of tracking data from 14 seabird species to identify key marine areas in the southwest Atlantic Ocean, valuing areas based on seabird species occurrence, seasonality and extinction risk. We also compared overlaps between the outputs generated by the SDM and layers representing important human threats (fishing intensity, ship density, plastic and oil pollution, ocean acidification), and calculated loss in conservation value using fishing and ship density as cost layers. The key marine areas were located on the southern Patagonian Shelf, overlapping extensively with areas of high fishing activity, and did not change seasonally, while seasonal areas were located off south and southeast Brazil and overlapped with areas of high plastic pollution and ocean acidification. Non‐seasonal key areas were located off northeast Brazil on an area of high biodiversity, and with relatively low human impacts. We found support for the use of seasonal areas depending on the seabird assemblage used, because there was a loss in conservation value for the seasonal compared to the non‐seasonal approach when using ‘cost’ layers. Our approach, accounting for seasonal changes in seabird assemblages and their risk of extinction, identified additional candidate areas for incorporation in the network of pelagic MPAs.
Combining Data Sources to Understand Drivers of Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) Population Abundance

Abstract Robust methods for estimating abundance of wetland-breeding amphibian species, such as mark–recapture, are often resource intensive. This limits our ability to study the processes that influence species abundance. Alternatively, more efficient sampling methods, such as indices based on visual encounter surveys (VES) (e.g., egg masses), may be biased by variability in detection probabilities and species biology (e.g., no. of egg masses per female). We combine data sources (i.e., VES and capture–mark–recapture) to provide an efficient technique for monitoring wetland-breeding amphibians. Our study focuses on understanding factors that determine local abundance of Spotted Salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum, in Pennsylvania. We first estimated abundance for a subset of wetlands using single-season, capture–mark–recapture data and then verified egg-mass counts collected from a wider network of wetlands as an unbiased index of abundance. We found a strong correlation between estimated adult abundance and estimated egg-mass abundance with an estimated ratio of one egg mass per adult per breeding effort. We next determined the factors that best explained variation in estimated A. maculatum egg-mass abundance and consequently, adult abundance among sites. Our “best-fit” model included effects for wetland hydroperiod and quadratic effects of mean water temperature. We also report positive, but weak, association with two co-occurring amphibian species, Jefferson Salamanders, A. jeffersonianum and Wood Frogs, Lithobates sylvaticus. We demonstrate how combining sampling approaches can provide efficient abundance estimates in wetland ecosystems. In particular, positive co-occurrence among species indicates shared habitat preferences that may enable us to predict the presence of difficult-to-detect species using only VES.
Learning‐based parametrized model predictive control for trajectory tracking

This article is concerned with the tracking of nonequilibrium motions with model predictive control (MPC). It proposes to parametrize input and state trajectories of a dynamic system with basis functions to alleviate the computational burden in MPC. As a result of the parametrization, an optimization problem with fewer variables is obtained, and the memory requirements for storing the reference trajectories are reduced. The article also discusses the generation of feasible reference trajectories that account for the system's dynamics, as well as input and state constraints. In order to cope with repeatable disturbances, which may stem from unmodeled dynamics for example, an iterative learning procedure is included. The approach relies on a Kalman filter that identifies the repeatable disturbances based on previous trials. These are then included in the system's model available to the model predictive controller, which compensates them in subsequent trials. The proposed approach is evaluated on a quadcopter, whose task is to balance a pole, while flying a predefined trajectory.
Investigation of a potential role for aldose reductase AlrA in tetrahydropteridine synthesis in Dictyostelium discoideum Ax2

Abstract Dictyostelium discoideum Ax2 is well-known for the synthesis of d-threo-tetrahydrobiopterin (DH4) with a smaller amount of l-erythro-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). DH4 synthesis from 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin (PPH4) is catalyzed by aldose reductase (AR)-like protein and sepiapterin reductase (SR) via an intermediate 1′-oxo-2′-d-hydroxypropyl tetrahydropterin, which is non-enzymatically oxidized to d-sepiapterin in the absence of SR. However, l-sepiapterin was a dominant product in the reaction of a cellular extract of spr− disrupted in the SR gene. In order to investigate its potential role in tetrahydropteridine synthesis, the enzyme catalyzing l-sepiapterin synthesis from PPH4 was purified from spr−. Via mass spectrometry, the protein was identified to be encoded by alrA. AlrA consists of 297 amino acid residues sharing a high sequence identity with human AR. However, in the co-incubation assay, DH4 synthesis was not detected and, furthermore, the recombinant AlrA was observed to suppress BH4 synthesis by SR, which was known to prefer 1′-oxo-2′-d-hydroxypropyl tetrahydropterin to PPH4. Although intracellular DH4 level in alrA− was decreased to 60% of the wild type, it is presumed to result from the antioxidant function of DH4. Therefore, despite the structural and catalytic identities with human AR, AlrA seems to be involved in neither BH4, nor DH4 synthesis under normal physiological conditions.
Low root‐to‐root transmission of a tobamovirus, yellow tailflower mild mottle virus, and resilience of its virions

Tobamoviruses are serious pathogens because they have extremely stable virions, they are transmitted by contact, and they often induce severe disease in crops. Knowledge of the routes of transmission and resilience of tobamovirus virions is essential in understanding the epidemiology of this group of viruses. We used an isolate of the tobamovirus yellow tailflower mild mottle virus (YTMMV) to examine root-to-root transmission in soil and in a hydroponic growth environment. Root-to-root transmission occurred rarely, and when it occurred plants did not exhibit systemic movement of the virus from the roots to the shoots over a 30-day period. The resilience of YTMMV virions was tested in dried leaf tissue over time periods from one hour to one year under temperatures ranging from -80°C to 160°C. Infectivity was maintained for at least a year when incubated at -80°C, 22°C or at fluctuating ambient temperatures of 0.8°C to 44.4°C, but incubation under dry conditions at 160°C for >4 days eliminated infectivity. Exposure of virions to 0.1 M sodium hydroxide or 20% w/v skim milk solution for 30 min, treatments recommended for tobamovirus inactivation, did not abolish infectivity of YTMMV.
Effect of farm management on topsoil organic carbon and aggregate stability in water: A case study from Southwest England, UK

There are few reliable data sets to inspire confidence in policymakers that soil organic carbon (SOC) can be measured on farms. We worked with farmers in the Tamar Valley region of southwest England to select sampling sites under similar conditions (soil type, aspect and slope) and management types. Topsoils (2–15 cm) were sampled in autumn 2015, and percentage soil organic matter (%SOM) was determined by loss on ignition and used to calculate %SOC. We also used the stability of macroaggregates in cold water (WSA) (‘soil slaking’) as a measure of ‘soil health’ and investigated its relationship with SOC in the clay‐rich soils. %SOM was significantly different between management types in the order woodland (11.1%) = permanent pasture (9.5%) > ley‐arable rotation (7.7%) = arable (7.3%). This related directly to SOC stocks that were larger in fields under permanent pasture and woodland compared with those under arable or ley‐arable rotation whether corrected for clay content (F = 8.500, p < .0001) or not (F = 8.516, p < .0001). WSA scores were strongly correlated with SOC content whether corrected for clay content (SOCadj R2 = .571, p < .0001) or not (SOCunadj R2 = 0.490, p = .002). Time since tillage controlled SOC stocks and WSA scores, accounting for 75.5% and 51.3% of the total variation, respectively. We conclude that (1) SOC can be reliably measured in farmed soils using accepted protocols and related to land management and (2) WSA scores can be rapidly measured in clay soils and related to SOC stocks and soil management.
Geographic Records of Subfamilies, Genera and Species of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Four Climatic Zones of Sri Lanka: A Review

Ants are a major biotic component in the terrestrial environment of Sri Lanka. For the first time, geographic records of worker ants from the surveys conducted in the four climatic zones of Sri Lanka from 1999 to 2016 have been summarized. Geographic records of subfamilies, genera and 95 species of ants from variety of localities in each climatic zone were pooled and tabulated for each taxon. Among the 11 subfamilies, Amblyoponinae, Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, Ponerinae and Pseudomyrmecinae were common to the lands in the four zones while each of the other subfamilies were recorded from a single zone or two or three zones only. The Sri Lankan Relict Ant in Aneuretinae has many records in the wet zone and two records in the intermediate zone. Twenty two among 64 ant genera were recorded from the four climatic zones; 42 genera were found in a single zone or two or three zones. Recorded occurrence of each of the 95 species showed that 24 including 8 invasive species, Anoplolepis gracilipes, Monomorium pharaonis, Paratrechina longicornis, Solenopsis geminata, Tapinoma melanocephalum , Technomyrmex albipes, Tetramorium bicarinatum and Trichomyrmex destructor were common to the four zones. Further surveys on ants of Sri Lanka are highly recommended for improving the current knowledge on their occurrence and to provide information on the distribution of endemic and invasive ant species in Sri Lanka.