Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Protein Supplementation Strategy and Genotype on Milk Production and Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency in Late-Lactation, Spring-Calving Grazing Dairy Cows

Simple Summary Challenges associated with cows producing milk for extended periods include decreased milk yield, reduced milk quality and poor nitrogen utilisation efficiency. When pasture growth is not enough to feed the dairy herd in autumn, offering dairy cows supplementary feed can negate the aforementioned challenges. Cow genetic merit can also influence milk production and cow nitrogen utilisation efficiency. However, no studies focus on lowering the overall protein of the supplementary feed and how this may impact milk production and nitrogen utilisation efficiency where cows graze outdoors. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of supplementary protein concentration, cow genotype, and an interaction between supplementary protein and cow genotype on milk production and nitrogen utilisation efficiency in late-lactation, grazing dairy cows. Reducing the supplementary protein concentration from 18% to 13% decreased milk production whilst increasing faecal nitrogen. Additionally, reducing the supplementary protein concentration decreased urinary nitrogen. Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of (1) protein supplementation strategy, (2) cow genotype and (3) an interaction between protein supplementation strategy and cow genotype on milk production and nitrogen (N) utilisation efficiency (milk N output/ total dietary N intake × 100; NUE) in late-lactation, spring-calving grazing dairy cows. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement experiment, with two feeding strategies [13% (lower crude protein; LCP) and 18% CP (higher CP; HCP) supplements with equal metabolisable protein supply] offered at 3.6 kg dry matter/cow perday, and two cow genotype groups [lower milk genotype (LM) and higher milk genotype (HM)], was conducted over 53 days. Cows were offered 15 kg dry matter of grazed herbage/cow/day. Herbage intake was controlled using electric strip wires which allowed cows to graze their daily allocation-only. There was an interaction for herbage dry matter intake within cows offered HCP, where higher milk genotype (HM) cows had increased herbage dry matter intake (+0.58 kg) compared to lower milk genotype (LM) cows. Offering cows LCP decreased fat + protein yield (−110 g) compared to offering cows HCP. Offering cows LCP decreased the total feed N proportion that was recovered in the urine (−0.007 proportion units) and increased the total feed N proportion that was recovered in the faeces (+0.008 proportion units) compared to offering cows HCP. In conclusion, our study shows that reducing the supplementary CP concentration from 18% to 13% resulted in decreased milk production (−9.8%), reduced partitioning of total feed N to urine (−0.9%) and increased partitioning of total feed N to faeces (+14%) in late lactation, grazing dairy cows.
Robust Computational Techniques for Boundary Layers

Introduction to Numerical Methods for Problems with Boundary Layers Numerical Methods on Uniform Meshes Layer Resolving Methods for Convection-Diffusion Problems in One Dimension The Limitations of Non-Monotone Numerical Methods Convection-Diffusion Problems in a Moving Medium Convection-Diffusion Problems with Frictionless Walls Convection-Diffusion Problems with No Slip Boundary Conditions Experimental Estimation of Errors Non-Monotone Methods in Two Dimensions Linear and Nonlinear Reaction-Diffusion Problems Prandtl Flow past a Flat Plate-Blasius' Method Prandtl Flow past a Flat Plate-Direct Method References.
Shareholder Rights and Performance of Deposit Taking SACCO’s

Purpose:Greater attention has paid on shareholder rights in the 21st century by shareholders, regulators and the general public. Effective shareholder protection mechanisms have played a crucial role thus bolstering shareholder confidence and retention. this study probed the influence of shareholder rights on Deposit Taking SACCOs performance in Kenya. Design/Methodology: The relation was analyzed on the basis of all the 42 Deposit Taking SACCO’s in Nairobi County. The study relied on primary data which was gathered using structured questionnaires from senior managers. Both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis Findings: The results affirmed that shareholder rights positively and significantly influenced Deposit Taking SACCO’s performance in Kenya. Implications/Originality/Value: This paper enriches current literature by examining the influence of shareholder rights on Deposit Taking SACCO’s performance. The findings may be of vital importance to policy makers when developing policies on shareholder rights. Deposit Taking SACCOs leaders should take cognizance of shareholder rights particularly the right to participate in decision making, right to equitable treatment and right to access information so as to enhance performance.
Suture-mediated closure devices for percutaneous endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair

Purpose Endovascular procedures such as endovascular aneurysm repair or transcatheter aortic valve implantation have become very common because of reduced patient traumatisation and the ability to use shorter or local anaesthesia. In these procedures large-bore sheath devices are used. Access with percutaneous closure is an alternative method to surgical cutdown in groins. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between sheath size and unsuccessful haemostasis. In addition, the effectiveness of haemostasis after a percutaneous procedure and the number and type of complications were evaluated. Material and methods There were 202 patients included in the study. Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were qualified to percutaneous aortic stentgraft implantation with Perclose Proglide preclosure technique. Results There were 384 access sites performed with 12F to 22F sheaths during aortic stentgraft implantation with Perclose Proglide (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA) preclosure technique. High effectiveness of haemostasis (98%), low percentage of short- and mid-term complications (2.6%), and infinitesimal number of surgical conversions (n = 5) were stated in the study. There was no correlation between diameter of used introducer sheath and lack of haemostasis observed (Fisher-Freeman-Halton test; p = 0.122). No relationship between diameter of introducer sheath and number of closure devices was observed (c2 = 2.436; df = 5; p = 0.786). Conclusions Large-bore device percutaneous procedures with closure devices are effective and safe. High effectiveness of haemostasis (98%) was observed in the study group, with a low percentage of complications (2.6%). There was no correlation between size of the vascular access and the lack of haemostasis found in the study.
Cluster observations near reconnection X lines in Earth's magnetotail current sheet

Magnetic reconnection is an efficient way to convert magnetic energy into particle energy. In this paper, we use Cluster thermal electron and ion measurements in the vicinity of a reconnection X line to delineate the structure of the reconnection current sheet. Multispacecraft observations made by Cluster on 18 August 2002 indicate that an X line drifted close to the spacecraft, about 3.4 RE earthward of the position where another X line had been observed earlier. Comparison of the Hall magnetic and electric field geometry and the observed properties of energetic electron beams streaming along the separatrix between the Cluster spacecraft indicates that the second X line formed within 20 s of the observation of the first X line. Repeated flow reversals and Hall field geometry together with the presence of a magnetic island embedded in the outflow region downstream of the first X line suggest that the initial current sheet was unstable, perhaps to the tearing mode. We identify a region with a thickness of 0.72 ion inertial lengths (29 electron inertial lengths, de) of super‐Alfvénic electron outflow (greater than the ion in‐flow Alfvén speed) during the period when the spacecraft was in the vicinity of the neutral sheet. Slightly below the neutral sheet, Cluster observed asymmetric counter‐streaming electrons with a loss of axisymmetry in the electron (V⟂1,V⟂2) distribution functions over a thin boundary with a thickness of several de. This electron‐scale transition layer was embedded in a much wider region where both the ion and electron Walén tests failed, and the electron super‐Alfvénic bulk outflow jets with high‐energy electron beams were detected. Those phenomena provide details of the substructure of the reconnection current sheet and suggest that the spacecraft traversed or skimmed the tailward edge of an elongated electron current layer. We also note that this event differs from a previously reported reconnection event in that strong electron temperature anisotropy (T∥>T⟂) is observed both in the inflow region and in the exhaust, where the anisotropy appears to be associated with the elongated electron outflow jets.
Organogermanium Analogues of Alkenes, Alkynes, 1,3-Dienes, Allenes, and Vinylidenes

In this review, the latest achievements in the field of multiply bonded organogermanium derivatives, mostly reported within the last two decades, are presented. The isolable Ge-containing analogues of alkenes, alkynes, 1,3-dienes, allenes, and vinylidenes are discussed, and for each class of unsaturated organogermanium compounds, the most representative examples are given. The synthetic approaches toward homonuclear multiply bonded combinations solely consisting of germanium atoms, and their heteronuclear variants containing germanium and other group 14 elements, both acyclic and cyclic, are discussed. The peculiar structural features and nonclassical bonding nature of the abovementioned compounds are discussed based on their spectroscopic and structural characteristics, in particular their crystallographic parameters (double bond length, trans-bending at the doubly bonded centers, and twisting about the double bond). The prospects for the practical use of the title compounds in synthetic and catalytic fields are also briefly discussed.
Demonstration of single‐electron buildup of an interference pattern

The wave–particle duality of electrons was demonstrated in a kind of two‐slit interference experiment using an electron microscope equipped with an electron biprism and a position‐sensitive electron‐counting system. Such an experiment has been regarded as a pure thought experiment that can never be realized. This article reports an experiment that successfully recorded the actual buildup process of the interference pattern with a series of incoming single electrons in the form of a movie.
Trapped Particles by Large-Amplitude Waves in 2D Yukawa Liquids

In an ordinary plasma, trapping of a particle of velocity ν occurs when its kinetic energy in the wave frame is smaller than the wave potential, i.e., when qφpp>12m(ν−νφ)2. However, simulation with Brownian Dynamics method shows that the situation is quite different in a strongly‐coupled complex plasma (SCCP), where trapping of a particle requires additional energy to overcome the potential barrier formed by all the other particles (the “cage”), and the trapping condition then reads: qφpp>12m(ν−νφ)2+φc. It is found that, because of strong‐coupling effect, the particle trapping has no direct connection with so‐called “resonant” particles. Meanwhile, detrapping process becomes significant in SCCP, and all trapped particles have a finite trapping lifetime decaying exponentially with a rate related to its mean free path.
Energy-band diagrams of p-i-n heterostructures for single quantum-well lasers

The variations of energy-band diagrams with forward bias voltages for step separate-confinement-heterostructure single quantum-well lasers operated below threshold are investigated by numerically solving the semiconductor device equations with two band parameters described by the generalized Einstein relation and with various position-dependent parameters for the materials. The effects of band-gap shrinkage are included. By examining band diagrams, it is found that the potential profiles of the quantum wells with respect to the centres of the wells are symmetric at high injection, tilted at low injection, or almost flat with reasonable injection. In the intrinsic regions, the difference of the quasi-Fermi potentials can be well approximated by the applied voltage. At high injection, the current density of the I-V characteristic and the current injection efficiency of the device may be overestimated by using the Boltzmann statistics when compared with the Fermi-Dirac statistics. >
Effects of electric field on the exciton linewidth broadening due to scattering by free carriers in semiconducting quantum-well structures

The effects of an applied electric field perpendicular to the well layers on the broadening of the exciton linewidth due to scattering by free carriers in semiconducting quantum well (QW) structures is theoretically investigated based on a finite confining potential model. The dependence of the free carrier-exciton linewidth broadening on carrier concentration, temperature, and well width are calculated and discussed for various electric field strengths. It is found that the influence of the electric field on the linewidth broadening is appreciable in wide wells, while in narrow wells little change is shown even in the presence of a strong electric field.
AN INVESTIGATION OF MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOKS IN ENGLAND, FRANCE AND GERMANY: SOME CHALLENGES FOR ENGLAND

This paper reports on an analysis of mathematics textbooks used in lower secondary classrooms in England, France and Germany. The examination was carried out using an analysis schedule based on existing literature on textbooks. In this paper we look first at the development of the analysis schedule and then at the how particular textbooks treat the topic of angle. From this we conclude that learners in the different countries are offered different mathematics. In particular, learners in England are offered few challenges in the mathematics they are offered compared with their French and German counterparts.
Trends of incidence and age in adults with testicular germ cell tumors: a two-decade multicenter retrospective study

Background Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common type of cancer in adolescent boys and young adult men, but the age at onset has been increasing. However, little is known regarding the incidence and age of patients with testicular GCTs in Japan because the incidence there is low. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with GCTs in seven hospitals between 2001 and 2021. We compared the incidences of testicular GCTs, ages at onset, pathological types (seminoma or nonseminoma), and clinical stages in patients with GCTs between the periods 2001–2010 and 2011–2021. Results We identified 193 adults (≥20 years of age) with testicular GCTs; their median age was 37 years [interquartile range (IQR), 29–47 years]. Of these patients, 87 (45.1%) were ≥40 years of age at diagnosis. The proportion of patients aged ≥40 years was significantly higher in the period 2011–2021 (54.8%) than in 2001–2010 (30.8%; P=0.001). The incidence of seminoma was significantly higher in the period 2011–2021, but clinical stage did not differ significantly between the two periods. The population-adjusted incidence among patients in their 40s was 3.4-fold higher in 2011–2021 than in 2001–2010. Conclusions The number of patients with GCTs aged ≥40 years was significantly higher in 2011–2021, even in a population-adjusted analysis. Treatment strategies need to be adapted to older testicular germ cell tumor patients.
Differential Susceptibility of Mixed Polymicrobial Biofilms Involving Ocular Coccoid Bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis) and a Filamentous Fungus (Fusarium solani) on Ex Vivo Human Corneas

Biofilms confer several advantages to the organisms associated with them, such as increased resistances to antibacterial and antifungal compounds compared to free living cells. Compared to monomicrobial biofilms involving a single microorganism, biofilms composed of microorganisms affiliated to bacterial and fungal kingdoms are predominant in nature. Despite the predominance of polymicrobial biofilms, and more so mixed polymicrobial biofilms, they are rarely studied. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the potential of ocular bacteria and a filamentous fungus to form monomicrobial and mixed polymicrobial biofilms on synthetic and natural substrates and to monitor their response to antibiotics. In this sense, we demonstrated that the ocular pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Fusarium solani form monomicrobial and mixed polymicrobial biofilms both on tissue culture polystyrene plates and on ex vivo human corneas from cadavers using confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the mixed polymicrobial biofilms involving the above ocular bacteria and a filamentous fungus were less susceptible to different antibacterials and antifungals in relation to the corresponding control planktonic cells. Further, the MICs to the screened antibacterials and antifungals in polymicrobial biofilms involving a bacterium or a fungus was either increased, decreased, or unchanged compared to the corresponding individual bacterial or fungal biofilm. The results would be useful to the ophthalmologist to plan effective treatment regimens for the eye since these are common pathogens of the eye causing keratitis, endophthalmitis, conjunctivitis, etc.
Family Life During and Beyond COVID-19: The Impact of Relationship Quality on Caregivers’ Management of Paid Work, Caregiving, and Self-Care

This multi-method project examined how Australian caregivers navigated family life during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and subsequent impact on family health behaviours. Participants were invited to complete all three phases. In phase 1, 115 caregivers completed an online survey, focussed on 2020 experiences of COVID-19. In phase 2, 96 of the participants completed a use-of-time recall and 80 completed a dietary recall examining participants’ health behaviours including how they spent their time, their physical activity, and diet quality. Phase 3 involved 24 of the participants completing an online story completion task, focussed on understanding participants’ sense-making of COVID-19. Through triangulating analyses of the three phases, this project identified how poor relationship quality negatively affected families’ experiences of significant disruptions and transitions. This project provides a nuanced picture of how COVID-19 in 2020 impacted family life and highlights the importance of caregiver relationship quality for family health and wellbeing.
Connections and metrics respecting purification of quantum states

Standard purification interlaces Hermitian and Riemannian metrics on the space of density operators with metrics and connections on the purifying Hilbert–Schmidt space. We discuss connections and metrics which are well adopted to purification, and present a selected set of relations between them. A connection, as well as a metric on state space, can be obtained from a metric on the purification space. We include a condition, with which this correspondence becomes one to one. Our methods are borrowed from elementary *-representation and fiber space theory. We lift, as an example, solutions of a von Neumann equation, write down holonomy invariants for cyclic ones, and “add noise” to a curve of pure states.
Soft clustering based on high- and low-level features for image smoothing

Abstract. Edge-preserving image smoothing is essential for computational imaging. Traditional filters are based on low-level image gradients; however, the edges defined on gradients do not align with the contours of human perception, thus suffering from certain limitations. We propose an image filter based on a soft clustering model that combines high-level semantics (derived from instance segmentation) with low-level features (intensities). The proposed filter works by first performing soft clustering on the input image according to the high- and low-level features to derive the affinity matrices, which are then fused for image smoothing. Experiment results indicate the advantages of the proposed filter in a variety of applications, including image smoothing, flash/non-flash fusion, detail enhancing, image dehazing, and depth upsampling. Furthermore, the proposed filter is efficient, and it takes 1.75 s to process a color image with 1 megapixel on a modern desktop.
Reconstruction of an acoustically sound-soft obstacle from one incident field and the far-field pattern

The problem considered is that of determining the shape of a plane acoustically sound-soft obstacle from the knowledge of the far-field pattern for one time-harmonic incident field. An iterative procedure is proposed based on two boundary integrals representing the incident field and the far-field pattern, respectively. Numerical examples are included which show that the procedure gives accurate numerical approximations in relatively few iterations.
Sensitivity kernels for time-distance inversion based on the Rytov approximation

The study of the solar convection zone has been given a new impetus with what promises to be a very powerful new tool in time-distance helioseismology (Duvall et al. 1993). Using data obtained with this technique, it has become possible to do a tomographic reconstruction of structures in the convection zone. Most of the work done on inversion of these data has relied on the ray approximation to deliver sensitivity kernels for the inversion procedures (Kosovichev 1996). Inversions using non ray-theoretical kernels were shown by Jensen et al. (2001). In this paper we go beyond the ray approximation and derive sensitivity kernels based on the Rytov approximation and Green's function theory. We derive an expression for the sensitivity kernel using ray-based Green's functions and show how further approximations can be done to increase the computational efficiency.
THREE BODY PROBLEM FOR SHORT RANGE FORCES. I. SCATTERING OF LOW ENERGY NEUTRONS BY DEUTERONS

An exact solution is obtained for the three body problem in the limiting case of a vanishingly small radius of action of the forces. In this case, the Schrodinger equation for the system of three particles reduces, for motion with a definite momentum, to an integral equation for a function of a single variable. The solution is used for the calculation of the neutron-deuteron scattering cross section. In the limiting case of zero energy of the neutrons, the theory gives the values a/sub 3/2 =0.51 x l0/sup -12/ cm/sub a1/2/ = 0.30 x l0/sup -12/ cm for the scattering amplitudes. (auth)
Non-perturbative quantum gravity: a conformal perspective

The construction of meaningful observables in models of quantum gravity is a highly non-trivial task, but necessary in order to study their continuum physics. In this thesis several such observables are identified in lattice models of quantum gravity. In dynamical triangulations in two dimensions with topology of the torus we have studied numerically the lengths of non-contractible loops and the moduli parametrizing the conformal structure. Good agreement is found with analytical results from Liouville gravity. Using similar methods we have studied the time evolution of the conformal structure in causal dynamical triangulations in 2+1 dimensions with spatial topology of the torus. An effective model is constructed describing the outcome of the computer simulations and compared to various continuum descriptions of quantum gravity in 2+1 dimensions