This paper evaluates different strategies for enhancing (partial) fault tolerance (PFT) of feedforward artificial neural networks (ANNs). We evaluate a continuum of strategies between the two extremes (i) Replicating a minimal seed network to achieve a final desired size with the resultant PFT and (ii) Starting with the desired (larger) size but using modified training algorithms to achieve hig...

The movement of pollen between crop and wild sunflowers (both Helianthus annuus) has led to concerns about the possible introduction of crop transgenes into wild populations. The persistence of crop traits in wild populations will depend in part on the relative fitness of crop-wild hybrid vs. wild plants. Using seeds from two large experimental field plots, we found that seeds produced by crop-...

Hypothesis: Sex allocation theory predicts that the pollen–ovule ratio should increase linearly with increasing seed size among seed plants (Charnov, 1982). Data examined: We retrieved data for the pollen–ovule ratio, seed size, and possible confounding variables (ovule number, plant height, mating system) from a database and additional literature for 299 gymnosperm plant species of the German ...

Hypothesis: Sex allocation theory predicts that the pollen-ovule ratio should increase linearly with increasing seed size among seed plants (Charnov 1982). Data examined: We retrieved data for pollen-ovule ratio, seed size and possible confounding variables (ovule number, plant height, mating system) from a database and additional literature for 299 angyosperm plant species of the German flora....

Identifying the most influential spreaders is one of outstanding problems in physics of complex systems. So far, many approaches have attempted to rank the influence of nodes but there is still the lack of accuracy to single out influential spreaders. Here, we directly tackle the problem of finding important spreaders by solving analytically the expected size of epidemic outbreaks when spreadin...

BACKGROUND If the amount of resources allocated to reproduction (K) is fixed, then an increase in seed mass (S) can only be achieved by a decrease in seed number (n = K/S). Thus, log(n) = log(K)-log(S) producing a slope of -1 when seed mass and number are plotted on log-log axes. However, in comparative studies, empirical support for a slope of -1 is limited and contentious, leading some to que...

Seed size and germination requirements of eight (of nine) Sarracenia species, and 13 populations of S. purpurea were studied. All species except for S. purpurea are restricted to the southeastern United States, whereas S. purpurea ranges across Canada, southward along the eastern United States into Maryland and Virginia (S. purpurea ssp. purpurea), and from New Jersey southward into northern Fl...

Brassica napus L. is an important oil crop worldwide and is the main raw material for biofuel. Seed weight and seed size are the main contributors to seed yield. DA1 (DA means big in Chinese) is an ubiquitin receptor and negatively regulates seed size. Down-regulation of AtDA1 in Arabidopsis leads to larger seeds and organs by increasing cell proliferation in integuments. In this study, BnDA1 w...