Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping the spatial distribution of botanical composition and herbage mass in pastures using hyperspectral imaging

Quantifying the vegetation heterogeneity in pastures is important to understand the behavior and performance of grazing animals. In this study, we developed a technique for mapping spatial distribution of botanical composition (perennial ryegrass, white clover and other plants) and herbage mass of perennial ryegrass in a grazed pasture using a hyperspectral imaging system, which can glean more detailed spectral information than conventional multispectral imaging that uses standard band frequencies. Plant portions were extracted from hyperspectral image using normalized difference vegetation index threshold and classified into the three plant species or species groups using linear discriminant analysis models. The overall success rate of plant extraction and discrimination between plant species or species groups was 91.6 and 80.3%, respectively. Herbage mass of perennial ryegrass was estimated using partial least squares regression analysis, where the estimated values showed a coefficient of determination of 0.60 against the observed values. In consequence of the models, our results suggested that the difference of leaf cell structure and photosynthesis pigments influenced discrimination between plant species or species group and estimation of the herbage mass. The results demonstrate the potential of the hyperspectral imaging system for creating high spatial resolution maps of vegetation characteristics in pastures.
A mathematical model for simulating respiratory control during support ventilation modes

Abstract Mathematical model simulations may assist in the selection of mechanical ventilator settings. Previously, simulations have been limited to control ventilator modes, as these models lacked representation of respiratory control. This paper presents integration of a chemoreflex respiratory control model with models describing: ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange; oxygenation and acid-base status of blood; circulation; interstitial fluid and tissue buffering; and metabolism. A sensitivity analysis showed that typical response to changing ventilator settings can be described by base excess (BE), production of CO 2 (VCO 2 ), and model parameters describing central chemoreceptor behavior. Since BE and VCO 2 , can be routinely measured, changes in ventilator support may therefore be used to identify patient-specific chemoreceptor drive, enabling patient-specific predictions of the response to changes in mechanical ventilation.
Precision Quantitative Proteomics with Fourier-Transform Mass Spectrometry

The Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) instrument offers a mass resolution higher than most of other mass spectrometers. This high resolution is in part due to the better stability offered by a superconductor magnet in FTMS than a radio frequency voltage utilized in many other mass spectrometers. The extremely high resolution of FTMS has very important application in biomedical proteomics research. The high resolution not only dramatically improves the reliability of protein identification but also the accuracy of protein quantitation. In this chapter, we present several examples of proteomics study that takes advantage of the high resolution offered by FTMS. Particularly, we describe examples of proteome dynamic study with isotopomer analysis, and precise peptide and protein label-free quantitation with rigorous statistical assessments. In protein dynamic studies, FTMS readily resolves all of the isotopomer peaks for peptides. The well-resolved isotopomer peaks allow a direct integration of the intensities of different isotopologue envelopes without the need of a deconvolution algorithm. With the highresolution data, we were able to show that protein turnover measurement revealed more subtle changes in the dynamics of a proteome. The high resolution of FTMS helps to reduce the interference of contaminant peaks (Fig. 1). The ability to resolve the targeted peptide isotopomer peaks from interfering ones greatly facilitates the implementation of a label-free quantitative proteomics method that relies on peptide cross reference between liquid chromatography runs and the integration of extracted ion chromatographic intensities (Lipton et al., 2002). With both high confidence in peptide identification and quantitation, we showed that the major source of variability lies more in sample preparation than in liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Such a result has a direct consequence in the statistical approaches utilized to assign significance in label-free quantitative proteomics. Two sections are presented in this chapter. The first one briefly discusses the general aspect of a protein turnover analysis followed by examples of proteome dynamics study in acid stressed and iron limited mycobacterial cells. The second one describes the utilization of high-resolution FTMS data for label-free quantitation of proteins with a rigorous statistical assessment of significance in differential protein abundances. The spectra shown in the panels a to e of Fig. 1 are for a tryptic peptide from a superoxide dismutase in M. smegmatis (MSMEG_6427; Mn) with a sequence of AFWNVVNWDDVQNR.
Impact Assessment of Different Litter Depths on the Performance of Broiler Chickens Raised on Sand and Wood Shaving Litters

2 Abstract: Three hundred day-old Anak broiler chicks were used to assess the impact of different litter depths on the performance of broiler chickens raised on sand and wood shavings litters. Chicks were randomly assigned into two groups of three litter depths of 2, 4 and 6 cm each for both sand and wood shavings litter. Performance, relative organ weight, carcass traits and haematological indices were used in assessing birds' response. At the end of eight weeks, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) affected while feed consumption was not. Most organ assessed in this experiment were not influenced (P<0.05) by the varied litter depths except the kidney. The relative weights of wings, drumsticks, belly fat and shank were significantly (P<0.05) affected among the carcass traits. On the whole, broiler on 4 cm litter depth of wood shavings and 6 cm depth of sand litters performed better than those on the remaining litter depths.
Interrogating resilience: toward a typology to improve its operationalization

In the context of accelerated global change, the concept of resilience, with its roots in ecological theory and complex adaptive systems, has emerged as the favored framework for understanding and responding to the dynamics of change. Its transfer from ecological to social contexts, however, has led to the concept being interpreted in multiple ways across numerous disciplines causing significant challenges for its practical application. The aim of this paper is to improve conceptual clarity within resilience thinking so that resilience can be interpreted and articulated in ways that enhance its utility and explanatory power, not only theoretically but also operationally. We argue that the current confusion and ambiguity within resilience thinking is problematic for operationalizing the concept within policy making. To achieve our aim, we interrogate resilience interpretations used within a number of academic and practice domains in the forefront of contending with the disruptive and sometimes catastrophic effects of global change (primarily due to climate change) on ecological and human-nature systems. We demonstrate evolution and convergence among disciplines in the interpretations and theoretical underpinnings of resilience and in engagement with cross-scale considerations. From our analysis, we identify core conceptual elements to be considered in policy responses if resilience is to fulfill its potential in improving decision making for change. We offer an original classification of resilience definitions in current use and a typology of resilience interpretations. We conclude that resilience thinking must be open to alternative traditions and interpretations if it is to become a theoretically and operationally powerful paradigm.
The Settlement Patterns of Developed World Migrants in London

Contemporary international migration flows into European cities are now more diverse than used to be the case. The movement of less-skilled labour migrants has been replaced by the circulation of high-skill executives and specialist personnel involved in transnational corporations and in the financial services and other sectors affected by economic globalisation. To these are added other new service migrants and increased flows of students and independent young people. As a result, world cities are now witnessing the emergence of important categories of non-racialised international migrant groups. This paper considers whether such groups form distinctive residential concentrations in Greater London and uses the limited aggregate data available from the census to establish a general view of the geography of developed world migrants. There are important implications for urban theory and for discussions of urban ethnicity.
Salinity impact on water flow and lake ice in Lake Vostok, Antarctica

Lake Vostok, isolated from direct exchange with the atmosphere for millions of years, provides a unique, so far inaccessible habitat. By using a numerical model, and recent geometry information, the lake circulation was investigated for different salinites. For freshwater, thermally driven circulation occurs, resulting from pressure‐dependent melting point differences at the inclined ice ceiling. North to south ice pumping provides a steady supply of glacial water. The weak circulation is driven by very small density contrasts, but requires no unusual geothermal input. For low salinity conditions, however, circulation intensifies, occupying the entire lake. The maximum amplitudes of melting/freezing increase by about 50% and melting extends further south. For both conditions approximately 200 m of refrozen ice accumulates beneath Vostok Station. The lake habitat will be affected clearly by salinity. It is essential to establish the specific chemistry for comprehending this unique environment and planning in situ experiments.
Energy Level Alignment in Organic–Organic Heterojunctions: The TTF/TCNQ Interface

The energy level alignment of the two organic materials forming the TTF-TCNQ interface is analyzed by means of a local orbital DFT calculation, including an appropriate correction for the transport energy gaps associated with both materials. These energy gaps are determined by a combination of some experimental data and the results of our calculations for the difference between the TTF_(HOMO) and the TCNQ_(LUMO) levels. We find that the interface is metallic, as predicted by recent experiments, due to the overlap (and charge transfer) between the Density of States corresponding to these two levels, indicating that the main mechanism controlling the TTF-TCNQ energy level alignment is the charge transfer between the two materials. We find an induced interface dipole of 0.7 eV in good agreement with the experimental evidence. We have also analyzed the electronic properties of the TTF-TCNQ interface as a function of an external bias voltage ∆ between the TCNQ and TTF crystals, finding a transition between metallic and insulator behavior for ∆ ∼ 0.5 eV.
Recycling of oil and milk pouch polymers and its applications

This work deals with the viability of the use of oil pouch (LDPE-LLDPE-nylon 6 and LDPE-LLDPE-PET blends) and recycled milk pouch (50:50 LDPE-LLDPE blend) materials and the scope for improvement of their properties by various techniques. The polymer compositions and thermal stability of the waste oil pouches were studied by various spectroscopic and thermal analyses, respectively. Since post-use oil pouches contain different types of physically inseparable immiscible polymers, the recycling of such waste pouches by melt-extrusion leads to poor quality product. Two efficient reactive compatibilizers, viz., zinc salt of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer (Surlyn ionomer) and polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (Fusabond) were used to improve the properties of the recycled oil pouch polymers. Both the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the recycled polymers obtained from these waste oil pouches were significantly improved by the addition of 5 wt. % of compatibilizers. Similarly, the properties of the recycled milk pouch polymer were not as satisfactory as those of the corresponding virgin material but, a significant improvement in viscosity, crystallinity, thermal stability and mechanical properties was achieved by blending with corresponding Correspondence/Reprint request: Dr. Basudam Adhikari, Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India. E-mail: ba@matsc.iitkgp. ernet.in Basudam Adhikari & Arup Choudhury 156 virgin polymer and 0.4 wt. % stabilizer. The viability of the use of recycled milk pouch polymer as matrix in jute fiber reinforced composite for engineering application is also shown. The recycled polymer based jute fiber composites showed inferior mechanical properties compared to those observed for virgin polymer/jute fiber composites. However, the jute-composites made with (50:50) recycled milk pouch-virgin LDPE-LLDPE blend as polymer matrix indicated significantly superior properties in comparison to the recycled milk pouch/jute composites. Overall mechanical performances of the recycled and virgin polymeric composites were correlated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Effect of artificial weathering on mechanical properties of jute fiber composites was determined.
Diversity of deep-water cetaceans and primary productivity

Recently, it has been suggested that mammal diversity both on land and in the sea is con- trolled by patterns of primary productivity. Here we tested the hypotheses that large-scale patterns of marine mammal diversity are linked to primary pro- ductivity, sea surface temperature (SST) or a com- bination of these 2 factors. We used a consistently sam- pled sightings database of deep-water cetaceans in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, along with in situ SST measurements and 3 satellite-derived productivity measures matched spatially and temporally to avail- able sightings. Cetacean genus richness peaked in regions of high primary productivity (>1000 to 1500 mg C m -2 d -1 ), but most of this effect is captured by optimal SST in those same regions. Our results show that the best-supported, explanatory models of cetacean diver- sity included SST, while the addition of satellite- derived measures of productivity did not improve pre- dictive capacity. Marine mammal richness globally peaks around 40° N and S, and may result more di- rectly from optimal SST at these latitudes rather than high oceanic productivity.
Feeding inhibition tests as a tool for seston quality evaluation in lentic ecosystems: salinization impact

Environmental disturbance on freshwater ecosystems significantly impacts all levels of the trophic web. Salinity in lentic freshwater ecosystems, as a consequence of climatic changes, is rising concern in the scientific community. These alterations affect water quality, the composition and diversity of the aquatic communities. This study aimed to assess the seston quality of two lentic ecosystems, Crestuma reservoir and lake Vela, and evaluate the effects of salinity on food performance of Daphnia magna and Daphnia longispina (isolated from the referred ecosystems). Feeding inhibition tests were used to conduct these two evaluations. Physical and chemical water classification revealed a poor or good ecological potential of the two lentic ecosystems, according to WFD approach. To evaluate seston quality, filtered and unfiltered water samples from the lentic ecosystems were used as treatments. Although only summer samples from Crestuma presented good water quality, the results from the feeding inhibition tests showed that seston from lake Vela presented more nutritional quality. Concerning the assay to evaluate the salinity effect on Daphnia spp. , a significant reduction in the filtration rate was observed. The NOEC value was 0.7 g/L NaCl and 0.8 g/L NaCl for D. magna and D. longispina C and V, respectively. The LOEC value was also distinct between species, being 1.0 g/L and 0.9 g/L, respectively. This work allowed to verify that feeding inhibition tests are not sensitive enough for assess the quality of natural waters. However, these tests are economically viable and have high sensitivity to evaluate NaCl effects on Daphnia spp.
Impact of glucogenic additive in transition dairy cow diets of varying ruminal starch degradability on yield and composition of milk and reproductive parameters.

A two-factorial experiment was carried out on 6 groups (10 animals each) of Polish Black and White Holstein-Friesian cows in the transition period to determine the effect of glucogenic additive (GA) to the diets containing grains of varied ruminal starch degradation on cow performance. The animals from 3 control groups (C-groups) were fed the diets without any additive, whereas 3 other, experimental ones (A-groups) received the diets with additive of glucogenic preparation (450 g per head/day) comprising calcium propionate and loose propylene glycol (1 : 1). In the control groups as well as in the experimental ones, three analogical treatments, differing in concentrate composed of grain species of varying ruminal degradability of starch, i.e. maize (M) - low ruminal degradability, barley and wheat (BW) - high ruminal degradability and marriage of them (MBW) were conducted. Finally, the treatments were: C-M, C-BW, C-MBW, A-M, A-BW, and A-MBW. The rations of all groups based on maize silage, haylage, and meadow hay were mixed at 69 : 19 : 12 ratio (dry matter (DM) basis) and given ad libitum . Besides, all the animals received adequate concentrate rations to satisfy their nutritional requirements. The experiment started two weeks before the expected parturition and lasted till the 6 th lactation week. Neither GA nor a type of grain in the diets showed significant negative influence on DM intake. A glucogenic additive has positively affected some basal nutrient digestibility, elevating significantly DM and crude protein (CP) coefficients of the apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), by about 3 percentage points. The GA × grain interactions (P ≤ 0.05) in CATTD of CP and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) were stated, with the peak values reported in the A-BW treatment. GA increased (P ≤ 0.05) daily milk yield by nearly 5% in comparison with the control treatments. GA × grain interaction was noted with the best effect in the treatment where GA was given along with maize-barley-wheat-based concentrate. Besides, the glucogenic additive decreased (P ≤ 0.05) protein (PDI) expenditure per 1 kg of fat-corrected milk (FCM) by ca. 6% and raised (by 0.15 percentage point in week 6) protein content, while lowered the urea milk level in weeks 3 and 6 of lactation by approximately 15%. It showed beneficial effect on cow reproductive indicators reducing the time interval from calving to successful insemination and improving insemination index.
Impact of increasing resolution and a warmer climate on extreme weather from Northern Hemisphere extratropical cyclones

The effect of a warmer climate on the properties of extratropical cyclones is investigated using simulations of the ECHAM5 global climate model at resolutions of T213 (60 km) and T319 (40 km). Two periods representative of the end of the 20th and 21st centuries are investigated using the IPCC A1B scenario. The focus of the paper is on precipitation for the NH summer and winter seasons, however results from vorticity and winds are also presented. Similar number of events are identified at both resolutions. There are, however, a greater number of extreme precipitation events in the higher resolution run. The difference between maximum intensity distributions is shown to be statistically significant using a Kolmogorov—Smirnov test. A generalized Pareto distribution is used to analyse changes in extreme precipitation and wind events. In both resolutions, there is an increase in the number of extreme precipitation events in a warmer climate for all seasons, together with a reduction in return period. This is not associated with any increased vertical velocity, or with any increase in wind intensity in the winter and spring. However, there is an increase in wind extremes in the summer and autumn associated with tropical cyclones migrating into the extratropics.
A simulation on the effect of ultrasonic vibration on ultrasonic assisted soldering of Cu / SAC 305 / Cu joint

Article history: Received 13 June 2017 Received in revised form 3 September 2017 Accepted 10 October 2017 Available online 17 October 2017 In the modern electronic packaging industry, the trend of miniaturization and the demand for advanced features of electronic devices have greatly reduced the size and weight of the electronic packages but increased the density of the packaging system. Higher input/output current density has to flow through these miniature interconnects or solder joints within the packaging system and thus, causing heat generated by the system to increase tremendously. This has driven the packaging design to include a built-in thermal enhancement feature, such as a large area bottom metal or heat sink to provide a direct thermal path out from the package to ease heat dissipation. So the main objectives of this study are to valid experimental work for solder joint failure due to the ultrasonic vibration and to investigate better mechanical properties for solder joint by FE analysis. ANSYS software has been used to analysis boundary conditions with the assistance of design modular (DM) to produce the model then export the model to ANSYS. After that input boundary conditions, the output of the simulation is shear stress then compare shear stress of experimental work with the output of the simulation. From the finding of 87% comparison between simulation to experimental work so will continue to try new parameters with same boundary conditions. It is showed that the maximum shear strength is 55 MPa for Cu/SAC305/Cu when it treated with 50 kHz for 4.5 sec and minimum shear strength is 35 MPa when it treated with 70 kHz at control time (0 sec). finally, this study discovered that the best method to improve mechanical properties for Cu/SAC305/Cu solder alloy treat this solder joint with frequency 50 kHz for 4.5 sec to get maximum shear strength.
What Could Be a Primary Cause of Multiple Sclerosis: Is It an Autoimmunity Triggered by Chronic Protozoan Infection?

The generally accepted paradigm of multiple sclerosis is the autoimmune one; still, a body of evidence suggests that this disease may actually be triggered by an infectious factor. In this paper, it is hypothesized that multiple sclerosis may actually be a rare complication of a protozoan infection, which is usually asymptomatic but in some susceptible individuals is accompanied by autoimmune attack against the nervous tissue. If multiple sclerosis were actually caused by such an infection, then a microorganism responsible should exhibit several properties: it (i) is transmitted by an arthropod vector; (ii) is characterized by specific metabolism of the lipids; (iii) should be dependent on iron; (iv) should be associated with an autoimmune response of the host; and (v) should be susceptible to pharmaceutical agents used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis but not to the degree that would allow its eradication. A combination of these properties suggests a role of a blood-residing protozoan.