Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Online Few-Shot Gesture Learning on a Neuromorphic Processor

We present the Surrogate-gradient Online Error-triggered Learning (SOEL) system for online few-shot learning on neuromorphic processors. The SOEL learning system uses a combination of transfer learning and principles of computational neuroscience and deep learning. We show that partially trained deep Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) implemented on neuromorphic hardware can rapidly adapt online to new classes of data within a domain. SOEL updates trigger when an error occurs, enabling faster learning with fewer updates. Using gesture recognition as a case study, we show SOEL can be used for online few-shot learning of new classes of pre-recorded gesture data and rapid online learning of new gestures from data streamed live from a Dynamic Active-pixel Vision Sensor to an Intel Loihi neuromorphic research processor.
The Role of Malate, Oxalate, and Mustard Oil Glucosides in the Evolution of Zinc‐Resistance in Herbage Plants

Malate, oxalate and mustard oils were analysed in zinc-resistant and zinc-sensitive ecotypes of Silene cucubalus Wib. , Rumex acetosa L. , Thlaspi alpestre L. and Agrostis tenuis Sibth. The effect of zinc on the activities of carbonic anhydrase and peroxidase in Siiene cucubalus was tested. Carbonic anhydrase of the zinc-resistant ecotypes was stimulated by addition in vivo of high amounts of zinc. The high activity of peroxidase in the non-zinc-resistant ecotypes after the addition of zinc documented a poisoning of the sensitive plants by zinc. The amount of oxalate differed greatly between ecotypes. There was, however, no direct correlation between zinc-resistance and oxalate. When applying zinc to the nutrient medium, the synthesis of oxalate was inhibited in zinc-sensitive, but stimulated in zinc-resistant ecotypes of Silene cucubalus and Rumex acetosa. In Thlaspi alpestre high concentrations of mustard oil glucosides were found. Zinc-resistant plants produced twice as much glucosides as sensitive ones. A possible role of mustard oils in zinc-resistance is discussed. In the content of malate there were great quantitative differences between zinc-resistant and zinc-sensitive plants. All zinc-resistant ecotypes of all the species contained much higher concentrations in their green organs than the sensitive ones. It is assumed that malate is a major factor in the evolution of zinc-resistance. Malate may act as a complexing agent for zinc within the plasma, whereas oxalate and mustard oils may function as “terminal acceptors” of large amounts of zinc. The role of malate may be extended by a special transport mechanism, by which zinc is eliminated from the plasma into the vacuole.
From Painlevé to Zakharov–Shabat and beyond: Fredholm determinants and integro-differential hierarchies

As Fredholm determinants are more and more frequent in the context of stochastic integrability, we unveil the existence of a common framework in many integrable systems where they appear. This consists in a quasi-universal hierarchy of equations, partly unifying an integro-differential generalization of the Painlevé II hierarchy, the finite-time solutions of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang equation, multi-critical fermions at finite temperature and a notable solution to the Zakharov–Shabat system associated to the largest real eigenvalue in the real Ginibre ensemble. As a byproduct, we obtain the explicit unique solution to the inverse scattering transform of the Zakharov–Shabat system in terms of a Fredholm determinant.
Survival rates, mortality causes, and habitats of Pennsylvania white-tailed deer fawns

Abstract Estimates of survival and cause-specific mortality of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns are important to population management. We quantified cause-specific mortality, survival rates, and habitat characteristics related to fawn survival in a forested landscape and an agricultural landscape in central Pennsylvania. We captured and radiocol-lared neonatal (<3 weeks) fawns in 2000–2001 and monitored fawns from capture until death, transmitter failure or collar release, or the end of the study. We estimated survivor-ship functions and assessed influence on fawn survival of road density, habitat edge density, habitat patch diversity, and proportion of herbaceous habitat. We captured 110 fawns in the agricultural landscape and 108 fawns in the forested landscape. At 9 weeks after capture, fawn survival was 72.4% (95% CI=63.3–80.0%) in the agricultural landscape and 57.2% (95% CI=47.5–66.3%) in the forested landscape. Thirty-four-week survival was 52.9% (95% CI = 42.7–62.8%) in the agricultural landscape and 37.9% (95% CI = 27.7–49.3%) in the forested landscape. We detected no relationship between fawn survival and road density, percent herbaceous cover, habitat edge density, or habitat patch diversity (all P>0.05). Predation accounted for 46.2% (95% CI=37.6–56.7%) of 106 mortalities through 34 weeks. We attributed 32.7% (95% CI=21.9–48.6%) and 36.7% (95% CI=25.5–52.9%) of 49 predation events to black bears (Ursus americanus) and coyotes (Canis latrans), respectively. Natural causes, excluding predation, accounted for 27.4% (95% CI=20.1–37.3) of mortalities. Fawn survival in Pennsylvania was comparable to reported survival in forested and agricultural regions in northern portions of the white-tailed deer range. We have no evidence to suggest that the fawn survival rates we observed were preventing population growth. Because white-tailed deer are habitat generalists, home-range-scale habitat characteristics may be unrelated to fawn survival; therefore, future studies should consider landscape-related characteristics on fawn survival.
Who needs a brain? Slime moulds, behavioural ecology and minimal cognition

Although human decision making seems complex, there is evidence that many decisions are grounded in simple heuristics. Such heuristic models of decision making are widespread in nature. To understand how and why different forms of information processing evolve, it is insightful to study the minimal requirements for cognition. Here, we explore the minimally cognitive behaviour of the acellular slime mould, Physarum polycephalum, in order to discuss the ecological pressures that lead to the development of information processing mechanisms. We discuss evidence for memory, basic forms of learning and economically irrational choice in P. polycephalum. We compare P. polycephalum’s behaviour with a number of other non-neuronal organisms in order to question the evolutionary need for complex nervous systems to develop cognitive traits. By highlighting a few examples of common mechanisms, we conclude that all organisms contain the building blocks for more complex information processing. Returning the debate about cognition to the biological basics demystifies some of the confusion around the term ‘cognition’.
Safety and efficacy of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for all animal species

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a feed additive for all animal species. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is intended for use as a technological additive (functional groups: emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener, gelling agent and binder) in premixtures and feedingstuffs for all animal species with no minimum and maximum content. A proper identification and characterisation of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as required for a feed additive is not available and the occurrence of potential toxic impurities cannot be assessed. The following conclusions apply only to sodium carboxymethyl cellulose meeting the food additive specifications. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is considered safe for all animal species. The use of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in animal nutrition is of no concern for consumer safety. In the absence of data, the FEEDAP Panel was not in the position to conclude on the safety of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for the user. The use of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a feed additive is considered safe for the environment. The additive is considered to be efficacious in feedingstuffs for all animal species.
Individual and combined impacts of sulfoxaflor and Nosema bombi on bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) larval growth

Sulfoxaflor is a globally important novel insecticide that can have negative impacts on the reproductive output of bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) colonies. However, it remains unclear as to which life-history stage is critically affected by exposure. One hypothesis is that sulfoxaflor exposure early in the colony's life cycle can impair larval development, reducing the number of workers produced and ultimately lowering colony reproductive output. Here we assess the influence of sulfoxaflor exposure on bumblebee larval mortality and growth both when tested in insolation and when in combination with the common fungal parasite Nosema bombi, following a pre-registered design. We found no significant impact of sulfoxaflor (5 ppb) or N. bombi exposure (50 000 spores) on larval mortality when tested in isolation but found an additive, negative effect when larvae received both stressors in combination. Individually, sulfoxaflor and N. bombi exposure each impaired larval growth, although the impact of combined exposure fell significantly short of the predicted sum of the individual effects (i.e. they interacted antagonistically). Ultimately, our results suggest that colony-level consequences of sulfoxaflor exposure for bumblebees may be mediated through direct effects on larvae. As sulfoxaflor is licensed for use globally, our findings highlight the need to understand how novel insecticides impact non-target insects at various stages of their development.
Augmenting disease maps: a Bayesian meta-analysis approach

Analysis of spatial patterns of disease is a significant field of research. However, access to unit-level disease data can be difficult for privacy and other reasons. As a consequence, estimates of interest are often published at the small area level as disease maps. This motivates the development of methods for analysis of these ecological estimates directly. Such analyses can widen the scope of research by drawing more insights from published disease maps or atlases. The present study proposes a hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis model that analyses the point and interval estimates from an online atlas. The proposed model is illustrated by modelling the published cancer incidence estimates available as part of the online Australian Cancer Atlas (ACA). The proposed model aims to reveal patterns of cancer incidence for the 20 cancers included in ACA in major cities, regional and remote areas. The model results are validated using the observed areal data created from unit-level data on cancer incidence in each of 2148 small areas. It is found that the meta-analysis models can generate similar patterns of cancer incidence based on urban/rural status of small areas compared with those already known or revealed by the analysis of observed data. The proposed approach can be generalized to other online disease maps and atlases.
Influence of compost tea, powdered kelp, and Manzate® 75 on bacterial-community composition, and antibiosis against Phytophthora infestans in the potato phylloplane

The search for replacements for synthetic fungicides has prompted the examination of a range of plant-based composts and extracts as alternative crop-protection agents. A study was established to compare the relative efficacy of the commercially available Jolly Farmer (JF) compost tea, of an Acadian SeaPlants Inc. (ASL) powdered-kelp product, and of Manzate® 75 DF (dry flowable) as foliar protectants against the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Population density, community structure, and antibiosis ability of phylloplane bacteria present on potato foliage ('Russet Burbank') were compared before and after foliar treatment. Bacteria recovered using culture-dependent means were characterized by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis and partial sequencing of their 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Autochthonous bacterial-population densities on the phylloplane varied with year, and tended to be lowest following Manzate 75 DF treatments. Phyllobacteria communities recovered from posttreatment phylloplanes often bore little resemblance to their tank-mixture counterparts, for all three treatments, and were significantly (P=0.05) less effective at inhibiting P. infestans growth, in vitro, compared with foliar communities before the treatments. Manzate 75 DF was the most effective treatment (P=0.05) for controlling P. infestans infection and disease development in vivo. Both JF compost tea and ASL powdered kelp were similar in their inability to protect potato leaves from P. infestans severity. Phyllobacterial populations established following Manzate 75 DF treatment proved to have significantly (P=0.01) fewer antibiotic-producing strains (in vitro) than naturally occurring leaf populations prior to foliar treatment. Accordingly, it appears that Manzate 75 DF derives little if any additive or synergistic plant-protectant properties from the naturally established phylloflora.
Life History Variation in Two Populations of California Newt, Taricha torosa

Abstract. California Newts (Taricha torosa) are common amphibians throughout much of California, yet their life history has been little studied. We examined T. torosa in 2 physically separated breeding locations, a farm pond and a nearby stream, between February and June 2015. We synoptically collected physical measurements on adults as well as tissue samples from a subset of the newts present in both locations throughout the time period. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to characterize the trophic niche space among newts of different locations and ages. Our results suggest differentiated breeding phenologies as well as unique trophic signatures in the 2 different locations. In our sampling, the pond group bred and developed a few weeks earlier in the season and ate at a higher trophic level, while the stream group bred and developed later and ate lower on the food chain. Taken as a whole, our results suggest that the newts in this area exhibit some degree of ecological and life history plasticity.
Angels in disguise: sympatric hybridization in the marine angelfishes is widespread and occurs between deeply divergent lineages

Hybridization events are not uncommon in marine environments where physical barriers are attenuated. Studies of coral reef taxa have suggested that hybridization predominantly occurs between parapatric species distributed along biogeographic suture zones. By contrast, little is known about the extent of sympatric hybridization on coral reefs, despite the large amount of biogeographic overlap shared by many coral reef species. Here, we investigate if the propensity for hybridization along suture zones represents a general phenomenon among coral reef fishes, by focusing on the marine angelfishes (family Pomacanthidae). Although hybridization has been reported for this family, it has not been thoroughly surveyed, with more recent hybridization studies focusing instead on closely related species from a population genetics perspective. We provide a comprehensive survey of hybridization among the Pomacanthidae, characterize the upper limits of genetic divergences between hybridizing species and investigate the occurrence of sympatric hybridization within this group. We report the occurrence of hybridization involving 42 species (48% of the family) from all but one genus of the Pomacanthidae. Our results indicate that the marine angelfishes are among the groups of coral reef fishes with the highest incidences of hybridization, not only between sympatric species, but also between deeply divergent lineages.
Effects of sewage sludge stabilization on fertilizer value and greenhouse gas emissions after soil application

Application of sewage sludge on agricultural land becomes more and more common in many parts of the world in order to recycle the nutrients from the sludge. A range of sewage sludge stabilization techniques are available to make the sludge more stable prior to storage, transportation, and application. These stabilization techniques include dewatering, drying, anaerobic digestion, composting, and reed bed sludge treatment. However, very few studies have investigated the effect of these techniques after the sludge has been applied to agricultural land. The objective of the current study was therefore to investigate the effect of sewage sludge stabilization techniques on the C and N mineralization and gaseous emissions from soil. A soil incubation was conducted to determine the rate of C and N mineralization and N2O and CH4 emissions of sewage sludge stabilized using different techniques. Unstabilized sludge released up to 90% of their C content as CO2, part of which could be caused by release of CO2 from carbonates. Compared with this, sludge stabilization including anaerobic digestion and drying resulted in a reduction of the C mineralization rate of about 40%. Liming reduced C mineralization with around 29%, while treatment in a reed bed system reduced it by 74%. The current study thus clearly demonstrated that stabilization techniques resulted in sludge that was more stable once they were applied to agricultural land. Stabilization also reduced the N immobilization phase, potentially improving the value of the sludge as a fertilizer. Emissions of CH4 were also reduced through sludge stabilization and mainly occurred after application of easily degradable sludge types, which is likely to have enhanced the creation of anaerobic microsites. The stabilization processes also decreased emissions of N2O. The results for both CH4 and N2O indicate that the stabilization tends to reduce the chance of developing conditions where these gases could be produced.
Lateralization correlates with individual differences in inhibitory control in zebrafish

Individual fitness often depends on the ability to inhibit behaviours not adapted to a given situation. However, inhibitory control can vary greatly between individuals of the same species. We investigated a mechanism that might maintain this variability in zebrafish (Danio rerio). We demonstrate that inhibitory control correlates with cerebral lateralization, the tendency to process information with one brain hemisphere or the other. Individuals that preferentially observed a social stimulus with the right eye and thus processed social information with the left brain hemisphere, inhibited foraging behaviour more efficiently. Therefore, selective pressures that maintain lateralization variability in populations might provide indirect selection for variability in inhibitory control. Our study suggests that individual cognitive differences may result from complex multi-trait selection mechanisms.
Lung-protective ventilation during one-lung ventilation: known knowns, and known unknowns.

More than 230 million patients undergo major surgical procedures every year worldwide (1), among whom 16% to 18% will develop major postoperative complications (2,3), which negatively affect morbidity, mortality, healthcare cost, and quality of life. Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are at a higher risk of postoperative complications, especially those involving the respiratory system. Potential pathophysiology leading to postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) includes depressed central respiratory drive, changes in end-expiratory muscle tone, reduced lung volume (including functional residual capacity), abnormal regional distribution of ventilation, and atelectasis (4).
β-Cell Insensitivity to Glucose in the GK Rat, a Spontaneous Nonobese Model for Type II Diabetes

In early 1988, a colony of GK rats was started in Paris with progenitors issued from F35 of the original colony reported by Goto and Kakisaki. When studied longitudinally up to 8 mo, GK rats showed as early as 1 mo (weaning) significantly higher basal plasma glucose (9 mM) and insulin levels (doubled), altered glucose tolerance (intravenous glucose), and a very poor insulin secretory response to glucose in vivo compared with Wistar controls. Males and females were similarly affected. Studies of in vitro pancreatic function were carried out with the isolated perfused pancreas preparation. Compared with nondiabetic Wistar rats, GK rats at 2 mo showed a significantly increased basal insulin release, no insulin response to 16 mM glucose, and hyperresponse to 19 mM arginine. Pancreatic insulin stores were only 50% of that in Wistar rats. Perfusion of GK pancreases for 50 or 90 min with buffer containing no glucose partially improved the insulin response to 16 mM glucose and markedly diminished the response to 19 mM arginine, whereas the responses by Wistar pancreases were unchanged. These findings are similar to those reported in rats with non-insulin-dependent diabetes induced by neonatal streptozocin administration and support the concept that chronic elevation in plasma glucose may be responsible, at least in part, for the β-cell desensitization to glucose in this model. The GK rat seems to be a valuable model for identifying the etiology of β-cell desensitization to glucose.
Polyglot code finder

With the increasing complexity of software, it becomes even more important to build on the work of others. At the same time, websites, such as Stack Overflow or GitHub, are used by millions of developers to host their code, which could potentially be reused. The process of finding the right code, however, is often time-consuming. In addition, the right solution may be written in a programming language that does not fit the developer's requirements. Current approaches to automate code search allow users to search for code based on keywords and transformation rules, but they are limited to one programming language. Our approach enables developers to find code for reuse written in different languages, which is especially useful when building polyglot applications. In addition to conventional search filters, users can filter code by providing example input and expected output. Based on our approach, we have implemented a tool prototype in GraalSqueak. We evaluate both approach and prototype with an experience report.