Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blood Dilution Measurement by a Dual Laser Fluorimeter

In this paper, we present a dual laser system to estimate blood dilution in a sample of capillary blood collected by a needle-free jet injector. Our needle-free blood collection technique requires injection of a small quantity of fluid containing Indocyanin green as a marker, which subsequently dilutes any extracted blood. We conducted experiments to measure the fluorescent intensity of this fluorophore in blood samples with different hematocrit levels. In order to compensate for the impact of hematocrit on fluorescent intensity, this system used a transmission measurement to first estimate the hematocrit. In this work we characterize the dependence of our fluorescent and transmission measurements on hematocrit and ICG concentration using samples of bovine blood. We then use this information to predict the dilution of a series of representative samples. The results demonstrate that this system is able to estimate blood dilution in dilutions of more than 50% with a high level of accuracy.
Plant diversity positively affects short‐term soil carbon storage in experimental grasslands

Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and related climate change have stimulated much interest in the potential of soils to sequester carbon. In ‘The Jena Experiment’, a managed grassland experiment on a former agricultural field, we investigated the link between plant diversity and soil carbon storage. The biodiversity gradient ranged from one to 60 species belonging to four functional groups. Stratified soil samples were taken to 30 cm depth from 86 plots in 2002, 2004 and 2006, and organic carbon contents were determined. Soil organic carbon stocks in 0–30 cm decreased from 7.3 kg C m−2 in 2002 to 6.9 kg C m−2 in 2004, but had recovered to 7.8 kg C m−2 by 2006. During the first 2 years, carbon storage was limited to the top 5 cm of soil while below 10 cm depth, carbon was lost probably as short‐term effect of the land use change. After 4 years, carbon stocks significantly increased within the top 20 cm. More importantly, carbon storage significantly increased with sown species richness (log‐transformed) in all depth segments and even carbon losses were significantly smaller with higher species richness. Although increasing species diversity increased root biomass production, statistical analyses revealed that species diversity per se was more important than biomass production for changes in soil carbon. Below 20 cm depth, the presence of one functional group, tall herbs, significantly reduced carbon losses in the beginning of the experiment. Our analysis indicates that plant species richness and certain plant functional traits accelerate the build‐up of new carbon pools within 4 years. Additionally, higher plant diversity mitigated soil carbon losses in deeper horizons. This suggests that higher biodiversity might lead to higher soil carbon sequestration in the long‐term and therefore the conservation of biodiversity might play a role in greenhouse gas mitigation.
Trade, Tenure, and Tradition: Influence of Sociocultural Factors on Resource Use in Melanesia

Abstract: Social and cultural institutions influence how societies organize themselves to extract resources, affecting the ways in which resources are used and ultimately managed. In Papua New Guinea, marine tenure rights largely determine how individuals and communities use inshore marine resources. Whether institutions of customary marine tenure can play a role in resource conservation or are simply mechanisms to avoid conflict and maximize exploitation is a matter of debate. In the Manus Province, an unusual marine tenure and trade arrangement has resulted in the community of Andra producing the majority of lime powder used for consumption with betel nut. A socioeconomic and ecological assessment revealed that more than 90% of Andra's community was engaged in lime production, an industry contributing an estimated US$102,000 ± 28,000 to the village annually. The main source of material used in lime production at Andra is live branching coral (primarily Acropora spp.). The annual removal of approximately 2,113 ± 660 m3 of coral appears to have produced significant changes in coral cover in Andra's reefs, resulting in a lower percent cover of hard corals (24 ± 2% SE) compared with neighboring reefs with little harvesting (33 ± 3% SE). Existing common‐property regimes may provide incentives for individuals to sustainably use their own reef area. A lapse in supply, however, could threaten the community's virtual monopoly and provide other villages with an opportunity to gain a market share of lime production. Thus, the marine tenure and trade arrangements that facilitated Andra's position as the dominant supplier of lime to the province may result in incentives for the overexploitation of coral in ways that are paradoxical to an open‐access scenario. Management interventions that aim to reduce the ecological impacts of coral harvesting should reflect the community's economic dependence on the practice and the sociocultural institutions that influence resource use.
Toxicity of Crude Extracts of Cyanobacteria for Embryos and Larvae of Carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.)

Palikova M . , N avratil S . , M ar‰alek B . , L . B laha: Toxicity of Crude Extract of Cyanobacteria for Embryos and Larvae of Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 437-443. Cyanobacteria and their toxic products represent a serious problem in many waters. The aim of this study was to find out how crude extract of cyanobacteria can influence the embryonal and larval development of carp on the base of embryo-larval toxicity test. Crude extract of cyanobacteria containing the known amount of microcystins LR, YR and RR (130, 13 and 1.3 µg·L -1 , i.e. high, medium and low concentration of the extract), was administered to carp eggs. The experiments were finished after 8 and 30 days (short- and long-term exposure). Evaluation of the tests was based on the OECD guideline for testing chemicals, direction 210 from 1992. The extract with high concentration caused 93% (p < 0.01) embryonal mortality, prolonged hatching, increased numbers of malformed and dead larvae (p < 0.01) and a decrease in average total length (p < 0.01). Yolk sac dropsy and abnormal behaviour were observed. The extract with medium concentration caused an increase in dead larvae after the short-term exposure (p < 0.05) and an increase in malformed (p < 0.05) and dead (p < 0.01) larvae after the long-term exposure. The extract with low concentration caused an increase in dead larvae only after the long-term exposure (p < 0.05). In general, we can conclude that the extract with high concentration results in acute toxicity for embryos of the carp. The influence of the extract with medium and low concentrations were manifested after the long-term exposure. Microcystin, mortality, malformations, abnormal behaviour, fish, embryo-larval toxicity test
Competition between homoacetogenic bacteria and methanogenic archaea for hydrogen at low temperature

Methanogens and homoacetogens compete for available H2 in anoxic environments. The competitiveness of these microorganisms was studied by measuring H2 consumption kinetics (Vmax, Km, threshold) in different psychroactive strains as function of temperature. Methanogenic strains MSB and MSP and homoacetogenic Acetobacterium bakii, A. paludosum, A. fimetarium, A. tundrae, which were isolated from different low-temperature environments, were all able to grow and consume H2 in a temperature range of 4–30°C. The H2 thresholds steadily decreased with decreasing temperature in cultures of A. bakii, A. tundrae and strain MSB. In A. paludosum, A. fimetarium and especially in strain MSP, however, H2 thresholds again increased below 10–15°C. With exception of strain MSP at ≤10°C, H2 thresholds were generally lower in the methanogens (<2 Pa H2) than homoacetogens (<200 Pa H2). The measured thresholds decreased in parallel to those predicted from thermodynamic theory, and thus allowed the calculation of a critical Gibbs’ free energy required for H2 consumption, i.e. approximately −5 to −8 kJ mol−1, being similar for methanogens and homoacetogens. Vmax increased with temperature. The increase was more pronounced in the methanogenic strains than in A. bakii, but the values of the latter were generally higher. Km also increased with temperature and was higher in A. bakii (about 190–520 Pa H2) than in the methanogens (about 50–190 Pa H2). The values of H2 threshold, Vmax and Km, were used to compare the relative competitiveness of the different microorganisms over the entire temperature range using a kinetic model. A. bakii revealed a generally strong competitiveness for H2 at high H2 concentrations because of higher Vmax. It also outcompeted the methanogenic strain MSP at low H2 and low temperature. However, the capacity of the methanogens to compete with A. bakii for H2 increased with decreasing H2 concentration because of more favorable Km and threshold. In the methanogenic strain MSB, the H2 thresholds were generally lower than those of the homoacetogens irrespective of the temperature, and thus it outcompeted A. bakii. Methanogenic strain MSP, on the other hand, was outcompeted by A. bakii at low temperature because of insufficient psychrotolerance.
Ganho de produtividade pelo melhoramento genético do arroz irrigado no nordeste do Brasil

Os ganhos geneticos para produtividade obtidos pelo programa de melhoramento do arroz irrigado por inundacao na Regiao Nordeste do Brasil no periodo de 1984 a 1993 foram estimados visando avaliar a eficiencia do programa e tracar novas estrategias. Esta estimativa foi feita a partir dos dados de 59 ensaios regionais de rendimento conduzidos pelas empresas de pesquisa agropecuaria do Nordeste, em cooperacao com a Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Arroz e Feijao (CNPAF), Goiânia, GO. O metodo estatistico utilizado baseia-se em medias ajustadas por modelo linear generalizado. O ganho genetico medio estimado foi de 54,9 ± 14,4 kg/ha/ano (0,8%). Nos ultimos tres anos houve uma tendencia de interrupcao dos ganhos. A pequena magnitude dos ganhos para producao nesta regiao podem ser atribuidos ao direcionamento do programa de geracao de linhagens da Embrapa para qualidade de graos e resistencia a doencas, as diferencas ambientais existentes entre Goiânia e a Regiao Nordeste e ao pequeno numero de ensaios conduzidos. A genealogia das linhagens foi tracada e verificou-se que os principais ancestrais sao os mesmos das cultivares recomendadas. A base genetica das linhagens e estreita, o que tambem pode estar contribuindo para a obtencao de pequenos ganhos geneticos para produtividade.
A Comparison of Sampling Methods for Measuring Residual Stand Damage from Commercial Thinning

Abstract Four sampling methods were compared for accuracy and ease of implementation in measuring residual stand damage. Data were collected from young Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands, which were commercially thinned using three different logging systems in western Oregon. Systematic plot sampling consistently provided damage estimates similar to the results of a 100% survey; there was no significant difference between their accuracies in measuring stand damage. This method also took the least amount of time and effort for map layout and field plot location. Because measuring stand damage requires considerable effort in sample planning and implementation, an easier, quick-survey method should be developed to monitor residual stand damage for in-progress and post-thinning operations.
Performance and adaptation of barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.) to diverse locations

A study was conducted, during the 2005-2006 cropping season, with the aim to quantify genotype x location experienced by barley and to determine stable genotypes under diverse Algerian growing conditions. Field experiments were conducted with twelve genotypes at six locations across the country, in a completely randomized block design with three replications in each environment. The combined analysis of variance showed significant genotype x location interaction. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis revealed that 29.33% of the treatments variability was accounted for by the interaction. The first two interaction principal components absorbed 82.6. 5% of the interaction sum squares. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis identified Fouara and Acsad176 as genotypes having wide adaptation, above average grain yield, high nominal yield and high yield stability. Bahia exhibited a specific adaptation. Plant traits acting as major sources of interaction were plant height, straw yield, number of days to heading, number of spikes m, and number of grains per spike. Variation in accumulated rainfall in winter and June, as well as the mean winter temperature were among the environmental co-variables causal of the interaction.
Short-Term PM2.5 Concentration Prediction by Combining GNSS and Meteorological Factors

With the development of industrialization, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) severely chills the health of people. Studies have shown that the variation of PM2.5 concentration is related to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tropospheric delay. Therefore, it is possible to use the widely distributed continuous operation reference station (CORS) to monitor and predict PM2.5 concentrations with high time resolution. In this paper, the zenith wet delay (ZWD) of five CORS located in Baoding, Hebei Province, China, from Sep 2014 to Feb 2015, is calculated firstly. Then, the correlation between PM2.5 and ZWD is investigated. Finally, the experimental data including PM2.5, ZWD, temperature, air pressure, and relative humidity data sampled in one hour are used to establish PM2.5 concentrations online prediction model based on support vector machine regression (SVMR) model with metabolic method. The experimental results show that in autumn and winter, the correlation coefficient between daily-mean PM2.5 and ZWD is mainly larger than 0.4, and the correlation coefficient between hourly mean PM2.5 and ZWD is mainly larger than 0.3. Meanwhile, in daily cycle analysis, air temperature, air pressure and relative humidity are related to PM2.5 concentration. Finally, Using SVMR model with metabolic method, by combining GNSS and meteorological factors, ideal short-term prediction accuracy is achieved, which shows that the use of GNSS and meteorological factors is potential in predicting PM2.5 concentration.
Evaluation of Processing Methods on the Nutritional Quality of Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus Selenka)

ABSTRACT The close relationship between the consumption of sea cucumber and health status stems from the nutritional and functional substances found in sea cucumber that play a key role in the prevention of different diseases. The processing methods have a great effect upon the nutritional and functional substances in sea cucumber. A superior product should not only be abundant in nutritional substances, but also require an easy and cost effective processing method. This study compared the influence of processing methods on the stability of macronutrients and micronutrients present in sea cucumber in order to recommend products that could provide high nutritional quality. The five processes investigated were hot air drying (60°C), vacuum freeze-drying (0.5 cm thickness material, 5–10 Pa vacuum degree, −85 to −90°C cold trap temperature, −25°C material temperature), sun drying, double-distilled water cooking followed by sun drying, and 3.5% sodium chloride solution cooking followed by sun drying. A significant decrease of all the chemical compositions determined was shown in all the sea cucumber products treated by the five processing methods (p < 0.05). Among all the processing methods, hot air drying resulted in the highest nutritional quality of the product. Moreover, hot air drying can be operated easily with low cost.
IDENTIFICATION OF RAPD AND ISSR MAKERS FOR RESISTANCE AGAINST MUNGBEAN YELLOW MOSAIC VIRUS IN MUNGBEAN (VIGNA RADIATA L.) UNDER SOUTH GUJARAT AGRO CLIMATIC CONDITION OF INDIA

The present study was undertaken to identify genetic variation and tightly linked marker associated with mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) resistance from different mungbean lines. Out of 200 RAPD markers, OPG-5, OPJ18 and OPM-20 were proved to be the best markers for the study of polymorphism as it produced 28, 35, 28 amplicons respectively with overall polymorphism was found to be 70.17 %. Out of 17 ISSR markers used, DE16 proved to be the best marker as it produced 61 amplicons and 15 scorable bands and showed highest polymorphism among all. The combined dendrogram obtained from these RAPD and ISSR indicated two clearly visible clusters where all resistant lines viz., NAUMR1, NAUMR2, NAUMR3 and MEHA clearly separated from susceptible GM4. Here validation of these data could be compare with phenotypic character in the field. Once these markers are identified, they can be used to detect the QTLs linked to MYMV resistance in mungbean breeding programs, as a selection tool in early generations and further use in developing segregating material.
Generation of Hot-Carrier Induced Border and Interface Traps, Investigated by Spectroscopic Charge Pumping

Hot-carrier degradation in silicon devices is typically assumed to create interface states, so-called Pb centers, which are located at the Si-SiO2 interface. However, published energy distributions of these interface states do not always agree with the known energetic distribution of Pb centers. We closely investigate these energy profiles caused by hot-carrier stress using spectroscopic charge pumping and compare those to previously published results. It is shown how apparently different profiles can be explained by the additional appearance of border traps. Constant high charge pumping (CP) is used as a tool to additionally characterize those defects. It is found that the CP pulse voltages can have a larger impact on the measured border trap density than the CP frequency, which is usually used to separate border from interface traps.
Comparative evaluation of flavonoid content in assessing quality of wild and cultivated vegetables for human consumption

BACKGROUND: Owing to the demand for ‘health foods’, commercial development of wild vegetables may find a sizable market niche if adequate agricultural methods are used to domesticate such species. Available techniques of cultivation (even in traditional farming) may provide many advantages, such as enhancement of the content of active principles in plants and improvement in the quality of the raw material to be processed on an industrial scale. In this context, the flavonoid composition and content of roots and leaves from five varieties of wild herbs (Cichorium intybus, Portulaca oleracea, Tragopogon porrifolius, Urtica dioica and Valerianella eriocarpa) and their cultivated relatives in central Italy were compared. The aims of the study were (i) to reveal the metabolic profile of particular bioactive metabolites present in some unusual food species by using a simple method of analysis, (ii) to quantify and compare the amount of polyphenolic metabolites in wild and cultivated plants and (iii) to evaluate the effect of growing conditions on polyphenolic variability. Data were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Each herb possessed a specific flavonoid fingerprint as indicated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data. The total phenolic content in cultivated leaves was greater than that in wild leaves for all herbs examined (P < 0.05), with the exception of P. oleracea. CONCLUSION: The results show that the polyphenolic content of the majority of the cultivated herbs (edible parts) is no lower than that of their wild relatives, thus indicating that these species are suitable for cultivation. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Identification of Promising Parental Inbred Lines for Development of Quality Protein Maize Hybrids

Line x tester analysis involving 20 advanced quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines used as females and three QPM lines used as testers was carried out to identify superior parental lines and crosses on the basis of their combining ability. Data were recorded on six morphological characters and quality traits. Non-additive gene effects were found important for all traits studied except ear girth, grain yield per plot and 1000 grain weight. Among females, three lines (L13, L9 and L10) and among testers one tester (T1) were found good combiners for grain yield as well as for grain quality. L18 and T3 were observed to be good combiners for grain yield alone. Hybrids L14 x T1, L9 x T1, L13 x T2, L20 x T3 and L3 xT1 were identified to be significantly better both in terms of yield and quality.
Towards Passive Assessment of Pulmonary Function from Natural Speech Recorded Using a Mobile Phone

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are the most common respiratory diseases that impact millions of people worldwide annually. With advances in mobile computing and machine learning techniques, there has been increased interest in using mobile devices to monitor pulmonary diseases. Nevertheless, the current state-of-the-art technology requires active involvement and high-effort input from the users, impeding continuous monitoring of pulmonary conditions. In this work, two algorithms are proposed for passive assessment of pulmonary condition: one for detection of obstructive pulmonary disease and the other for estimation of the pulmonary function in terms of FEV1/FVC ratio, which is an established clinical metric. The algorithms were developed and validated using the data sets from two studies: research study (healthy=40, pathological=91) and in-clinic study (healthy=10, pathological=60). From the cross-study validation where a classifier was trained on the research data set and tested on the in-clinic data set, the detection accuracy of the pathological class was obtained as 73.7% and the F1 score was 84.5% (87.2% precision and 82.0% recall). In our regression analysis, the FEV1/FVC ratio was predicted with a mean absolute error of 8.6%. Our analysis shows promising results and this work presents a meaningful milestone towards the passive assessment of pulmonary functions from spontaneous speech collected from a mobile phone.
MDD-Net: A novel defect detection model of material microscope image

The defects in the microscopic image of the material have an important influence on the macroscopic properties of the material. Statistics of the number and size of defects in material microscopic images is an essential task to quantitatively study the relationship between micro-structure and macroscopic properties of materials. This task is repetitive and onerous for researchers. Replacing the manpower in this task with computers is helpful to reduce the burden of researchers and beneficial to the development of material science. In this work, a novel defect detection model of material microscope image is proposed, which is called Material Defect Detection Network(MDD-Net). This paper introduced dilated convolution and tailored the Resnet aiming at the small and medium objects dominating problem, introduced deformable convolution aiming at the irregular shape problem, and applied focal loss solving imbalance between foreground and background. The correctness and feasibility of the above ideas are verified through experiments. With the ideas, MDD-Net achieve 17.17% higher precision and 7.93% higher recall compared with baseline.