Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Nitrogen Use in Dairy Cattle: a Multivariate Bayesian Approach

Quantification of dairy cattle nitrogen (N) excretion and secretion is necessary to improve the efficiency with which feed N is converted to milk N (ENU). Faecal and urinary N excretion and milk N secretion are correlated with each other and thus are more accurately described by a multivariate model that can accommodate the covariance between the three observations than by three separate univariate models. Further, by simultaneously predicting the three routes of excretion and taking advantage of the mass balance relationships between them, covariate effects on N partitioning from feed to faeces and absorbed N and from absorbed N to milk and urine N and animal ENU can be estimated. A database containing 1094 lactating dairy cow observations collated from indirect calorimetry experiments was used for model development. Dietary metabolisable energy content (ME, MJ/kg DM) increased ENU at a decreasing rate, increased the efficiency with which feed N was converted to absorbed N and decreased the efficiency with which absorbed N was converted to milk N. However, the parameter estimate of the effect of ME on post-absorption efficiency was not different from zero when the model was fitted to a data subset in which net energy and metabolisable protein were at or above requirement. This suggests the effect of ME on post-absorption N use is dependent on the energy status of the animal.
Linking Numerical Water Quality Models in an Environmental Information System for Integrated Environmental Assessments

Decision makers involved in prevention of water contamination often lack the technical knowledge of water quality evaluation or the comprehension of complex software for environmental information management required to make effective decisions. Providing information about the environment is not an easy task due to its complex structure, relationships, and dynamic processes. Because environmental models play an important role in environmental decision support systems, the integration of models into user-friendly integrated information systems is a key factor in the support of such users. This paper presents an environmental information system which supports water protection of Coatzacoalcos River in Mexico, having as a main building block water quality assessments supported by mathematical modeling through the two-dimensional Saint Venant and Advection-Diffusion-Reaction equations to calculate the river hydrodynamics and the contaminant transport, respectively. The mathematical modeling solution yields appropriate results representing the river contaminant distribution when compared with field measurements. But the direct use of these models by decision makers is difficult at best, meaning they are not likely to be used in making practical decisions. The system described in this paper integrates these models, and several other tools, into a seamless, user-centered application, improving model usability, initial configuration, and results visualization.
Modeling and Simulation of Photovoltaic system based grid Connected Converter with Fuzzy Logic Control

this paper focused on modeling and simulation of grid connected photovoltaic system. This work presents a fuzzy logic control based maximum power point tracking approach to enhance the efficiency and robustness of the solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation and establishes a dynamic model of grid-connected PV system by Matlab/Simulink environment which reflect the characteristics of the system accurately. Grid-connected PV system includes a PV array, dc-dc converter, fuzzy logic control based MPPT, inverter, LC filter, P-Q based inverter control, a distribution network. Improved fuzzy logic control based MPPT and P and Q based inverter control scheme provides a closed loop active and reactive power control and accurate synchronization to grid. In this paper, a micro inverter with PI and fuzzy based boost converter approach is presented which enables the designer to make use of the boost converters advantages, while improving the control difficulties. This control method allows the selection of passive components predominantly based on ripple and reliability specifications while requiring only one state reference signal. This method becomes smaller and more reliable.
Genetic Structure Profile of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Farmed Strains in Greece

The rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, comprises a non-indigenous species of the European freshwater ecosystem. Due to its remarkable advantages of fast-growing and facultative adaptability in various habitats under different conditions, it has become the most dominant commercially reared species of freshwater aquaculture in Greece. Despite its economic importance, there is a dearth of population genetic studies regarding the origin of any posterior introduction by the private aquaculture sector. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used, in order to assess variation in five mitochondrial DNA protein-encoding regions and the control region, covering more than 5,500 bp of the 16,600 bp total mitochondrial genome size. The samples derived from 10 rainbow trout farms throughout Greece representative of the freshwater aquaculture sector. The conducted population structure analysis revealed two major clusters among the farmed-rainbow trout populations. Moreover, the overall genetic diversity was substantially attributed to the diversity within populations rather than among them. In any case, both factors obtained from AMOVA analysis were statistically significant. The obtained haplotype network reinforced the existence of two central haplotype clusters among the farmed-rainbow trout populations in the Greek freshwater aquaculture sector.
Ouémé River Catchment SWAT Model at Bonou Outlet: Model Performance, Predictive Uncertainty and Multi-Site Validation

In a soudano-guinean climate context, the Oueme River Basin is simulated using the semi-distributed hydrological model SWAT to understand the rainfall-runoff process on this basin and also to assess this model performance on West Africa large areas basins at daily and monthly time steps. The inputs data consist of climatic data and rain gauge discharge records. The inputs records are long-term times series for the period 1979-2010, while the considered land use is just for the year 2003. After calibration and validation of the model, spatial calibration is also performed to appreciate this other feature of the model. It gives such acceptable and disputable results. Six (06) hypotheses have been emitted to analyze this performance loss. It comes out that hypothesis H5 results perform better both in calibration and validation. This hypothesis used data for the period 1993-2010 with 1993-2004 for calibration and 2005-2010 for validation; and considered the missing data in discharge records without any completion. Considering the internal rain gauge outlet performance for this hypothesis, the best is retained and the corresponded project is realized for each individual subbasin to see how best the model could simulate discharge for the Beterou, Kaboua and Atcherigbe individual subbasins. Hypothesis H1; an assumption which considers missing discharge with data time period of 1982-2010 with 1982-1996 for calibration and 1997-2010 for validation; is the best for Beterou and Kaboua, whereas H5 is better for Atcherigbe subbasin. Uncertainty analysis and Global Sensitivity Analysis were performed to appreciate what are this process occurring in the basin and how these results could be validated. A last comparison effort is performed with 10km rainfall grid for climatic rainfall data at the global catchment outlet; this approach does not improve results, while at internal outlet some improvements are observed.
On the convergence rate of approximation schemes for Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations

Using systematically a tricky idea of N.V. Krylov, we obtain general results on the rate of convergence of a certain class of monotone approximation schemes for stationary Hamilton-Jacobi- Bellman equations with variable coecients. This result applies in particular to control schemes based on the dynamic programming principle and to nite dierence schemes despite, here, we are not able to treat the most general case. General results have been obtained earlier by Krylov for nite dierence schemes in the stationary case with constant coecients and in the time-dependent case with variable coecients by using control theory and probabilistic methods. In this paper we are able to handle variable coecients by a purely analytical method. In our opinion this way is far simpler and, for the cases we can treat, it yields a better rate of convergence than Krylov obtains in the variable coecients case.
Elaboration of Research on Student Withdrawal from Universities in Russia and the United States

Elena Gorbunova - Master in Sociology, Analyst, Institute of Education, National Research University Higher School of Economics. Address: 20 Myasnitskaya Str. , 101000 Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: e.gorbunova88@gmail.com Student withdrawal (attrition) is becoming an actual phenomenon due to demographic changes, modernization of the economy and education, especially for universities located in economically depressed areas. The tradition of research on student withdrawal is still being formed in Russia, so it is important to clarify the main terminology used for the analysis of withdrawal, to develop a theoretical framework that takes into account the specifics of Russian universities, and to specify the prospects for the elaboration of research. A review of the terminology used in international studies to study the withdrawal as well as the history of studying this phenomenon in the USA is presented. The basic concepts of withdrawal, developed in sociology, psychology, organization theory and economics, are considered. They indicate the effectiveness of accounting for a wide range of factors of differing natures in the study of withdrawal: the processes of social and academic integration, the psychological characteristics of students, the organizational characteristics of the university and educational programs. When adapting existing models to Russian higher education, it is important to take into account that compulsory withdrawal caused by academic failure of students predominates in Russian universities, while international models were created to describe voluntary withdrawal from higher education institutions. National research which can serve as the basis for the development of a model of student withdrawal from Russian universities is analyzed.
Observation of Ocean Biology on a Global Scale: Implementing Bio-GOOS

One of the key messages to come from the OceanObs‘09 Conference was that the 1990‘s revolution in technology for observing ocean physics (e.g. Argo (Array for Realtime Geostrophic Oceanography) and remote sensing) provided the scope for a truly operational Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) for key ocean physics variables during the first decade of the 21st century. Over the same period however, there had been limited progress in development of biological components within GOOS, the expansion of the Continuous Plankton Recorder network and the development of an Ocean Tracking network being promising exceptions. Excitingly, there have been quantum advances in the technology to study biological components of ocean ecosystems over the last few years. These include microbial samplers employing genetic and optical systems to identify and count the lower levels of food webs; smart electronic tagging technologies that allow animals to be tracked, their habitats and feeding habits revealed, and their physiology monitored; acoustic sensors and associated processing software to undertake qualitative and quantitative studies of animals in the water column; and mobile and fixed observation systems to explore benthic habitats and processes. The potential for these technologies to be deployed over the next decade is explored, along with the desirable advances in sensor technology. The challenges to the development of a comprehensive Bio-GOOS program are also explored. The urgent need for enhanced data on the state of ocean ecosystems that are under pressure from multiple human stresses, demands that the ocean biology community work together, with some urgency, to drive implementation of BioGOOS. Mature technologies are available now, and several others may reach this status over the next decade, to make BioGOOS a feasible prospect over this period. 1. THE MOTIVATION FOR BIOLOGICAL
Planar negative refractive index media using periodically L-C loaded transmission lines

Recent demonstrations of negative refraction utilize three-dimensional collections of discrete periodic scatterers to synthesize artificial dielectrics with simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability. In this paper, we propose an alternate perspective on the design and function of such materials that exploits the well-known L-C distributed network representation of homogeneous dielectrics. In the conventional low-pass topology, the quantities L and C represent a positive equivalent permeability and permittivity, respectively. However, in the dual configuration, in which the positions of L and C are simply interchanged, these equivalent material parameters assume simultaneously negative values. Two-dimensional periodic versions of these dual networks are used to demonstrate negative refraction and focusing; phenomena that are manifestations of the fact that such media support a propagating fundamental backward harmonic. We hereby present the characteristics of these artificial transmission-line media and propose a suitable means of implementing them in planar form. We then present circuit and full-wave field simulations illustrating negative refraction and focusing, and the first experimental verification of focusing using such an implementation.
Intraspecies variation in nutritive potentials of eggs from two ectotypes of giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata var. saturalis) in Calabar, Nigeria

This pilot study provides information on the nutritive potentials of eggs laid by two ectotypes of Archachatina marginata var. saturalis (P) snails. One hundred (100) adult A. marginata snails, 50 each of the black-skinned ectotype and white-skinned ectotype used for the study were selected from the snail sanctuary of the Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria. The snails were raised 5 per hutch and fed fresh paw-paw (Carica papaya) leaves and concentrate. Freshly laid eggs from snails’ matings were collected from the two ectotypes for chemical analyses (proximate and mineral compositions). Results of the proximate composition of the snail eggs revealed that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the white-skinned and black-skinned A. marginata snails for all the fractions (moisture, crude protein, crude fibre, lipid/fat, carbohydrate and ash) analyzed. Results of the mineral composition of the snail eggs also revealed non-significant differences (P > 0.05) between the white-skinned and black-skinned A. marginata snails. The results of mineral composition further showed that snail eggs constitute good sources of calcium, iron, sodium, potassium and magnesium, and compared favourably in these minerals with snail meat, as well as meat of lean domestic livestock. These eggs are therefore recommended for both young and old as they will constitute alternative sources of essential nutritional elements (protein and basic minerals) at a lower cost for Nigerians. Key words: Nutritive potentials, eggs, snail, ectotypes, Nigeria.
Siberian elm responses to different culture conditions under short rotation forestry in Mediterranean areas

This work explores the possibilities of biomass production, for energy purposes, of Siberian elm in Mediterranean areas, including marginal lands with poor soil and low water availability. To achieve this, the influence of soil type, planting density, and water availability on biomass production were analyzed after the first 3 years of the growing cycle in 2 different locations. Moreover, a method to estimate biomass production as a function of some morphological parameters of the trees, as well as the use of leaf water potential as a good indicator of trees' water status, are discussed. The analysis of parameters having an influence on elm growth showed that soil type is the most important factor to obtain a good yield. In soils with enough nutrients and higher water-holding capacity, biomass productions in the range 13-14 Mg DM ha-1 were achieved even under rainfed conditions. In irrigated plots, Siberian elm production was more than double the production of biomass under rainfed conditions; however, significant differences were not found between the 2 different irrigation doses under study. Biomass yield was greater for the highest planting density (6666 plants ha-1). Leaf water potential has been shown to be a useful tool for finding out plant water status. Tree growth showed a direct relationship to midmorning leaf water potential, and it was equal to 0 for leaf water potentials lower than -1.83 MPa; this value indicates a great resistance to drought by the species.
A comparison of the content and management of worry in younger and older anxious adults

Clinical impression suggests that worry is a significant problem for many older adults, but very little research on worrying has used older adults as a sample group. Some recent research suggests that older adults may differ somewhat from younger adults in the nature of their worry and the strategies they use to control it. The present study compared a group of adults over 65 years of age with a group of adults under 65 on various measures of worry. All participants were recruited from psychology and psychiatry departments where they were receiving treatment for an anxiety disorder. Both groups completed the same questionnaire battery: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Anxious Thoughts Inventory (AnTI) and the MetaCognitions Questionnaire (MCQ). A semi-structured interview investigating the strategies participants used to control their worrying was also administered. Participants who did not reach the cut-off score on the PSWQ or whose score on the depression scale of the HADS was higher than their score on the anxiety scale had their data excluded. The remaining data was analysed, the results were presented and the conclusions were discussed.
COMPACT AND BROADBAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA FOR THE 3G IMT-2000 HANDSETS APPLYING STYROFOAM AND SHORTING-POSTS

The objective of the paper is to develop a compact and broadband microstrip patch antenna for the IMT-2000 mobile handset application. By parasitically coupling two shorted semi-disc patches with a single shorting-post each and employing Styrofoam substrate with low dielectric constant, an overall impedance bandwidth of 17.8% has been achieved to cover the frequency spectra of 1.862–2.225 GHz. The overall dimension of this proposed antenna is 44.4 mm (length) × 37.8 mm (width) × 7 mm (thickness), and it would be suitable for the IMT-2000 mobile handset application. The typical antenna characteristics are presented and analysed theoretically and experimentally.
High efficiency 90 degree silica waveguide bend using an air hole photonic crystal region

We propose the hybrid integration of an air hole photonic crystal (PhC) structure with a high (0.75%) single-mode silica waveguide to achieve an ultracompact high efficiency 90 bend for transverse-magnetic polarized light. Diffraction from the periodic boundary between the PhC and silica waveguide regions is shown to seriously degrade the optical efficiency of the bend. A microgenetic algorithm ( GA) combined with a two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method is used to modify the PhC and its boundary layer to suppress this diffraction which in turn maximizes bend efficiency. The final optimized structure has a 99.4% bend efficiency at a wavelength of 1.55 m and occupies an area of only 27 27 m.
Novel Text Summarization Techniques for Contextual Advertising

Recently, there has been a renewed interest on automatic text summarization techniques. The Internet has caused a continuous growth of information overload, focusing the attention on retrieval and filtering needs. Since digitally stored information is more and more available, users need suitable tools able to select, filter, and extract only relevant information. This chapter concentrates on studying and developing techniques for summarizing Webpages. In particular, the focus is the field of contextual advertising, the task of automatically suggesting ads within the content of a generic Webpage. Several novel text summarization techniques are proposed, comparing them with state of the art techniques and assessing whether the proposed techniques can be successfully applied to contextual advertising. Comparative experimental results are also reported and discussed. Results highlight the improvements of the proposals with respect to well-known text summarization techniques.
Calibration of the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of benthic foraminifera

The carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of seawater provides valuable insight on ocean circulation, air-sea exchange, the biological pump, and the global carbon cycle and is reflected by the δ13C of foraminifera tests. Here more than 1700 δ13C observations of the benthic foraminifera genus Cibicides from late Holocene sediments (δ13CCibnat) are compiled and compared with newly updated estimates of the natural (preindustrial) water column δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDICnat) as part of the international Ocean Circulation and Carbon Cycling (OC3) project. Using selection criteria based on the spatial distance between samples, we find high correlation between δ13CCibnat and δ13CDICnat, confirming earlier work. Regression analyses indicate significant carbonate ion (−2.6 ± 0.4) × 10−3‰/(μmol kg−1) [CO32−] and pressure (−4.9 ± 1.7) × 10−5‰ m−1 (depth) effects, which we use to propose a new global calibration for predicting δ13CDICnat from δ13CCibnat. This calibration is shown to remove some systematic regional biases and decrease errors compared with the one-to-one relationship (δ13CDICnat = δ13CCibnat). However, these effects and the error reductions are relatively small, which suggests that most conclusions from previous studies using a one-to-one relationship remain robust. The remaining standard error of the regression is generally σ ≅ 0.25‰, with larger values found in the southeast Atlantic and Antarctic (σ ≅ 0.4‰) and for species other than Cibicides wuellerstorfi. Discussion of species effects and possible sources of the remaining errors may aid future attempts to improve the use of the benthic δ13C record.
Evaluating Measurement Model for valuesinculcation in Mathematical Contents Delivery

A value based educational system is an integral part of human intellectual development. This is because knowledge acquired and valued tends to remain in the learners’ memory longer than procedural knowledge. As such, this study aims to examine the constructs of values inculcation in mathematics teaching and learning in order to ascertain the extent to which the conceptualized measure for the inculcation of mathematical values reproduces the data. The study also evaluates the adequacy of the inculcation framework across mathematics teachers’ gender and academic qualifications. Data was collected from a self-reported questionnaire administered to (n=509) secondary schools mathematics teachers’ in Nigeria. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) support the adequacy of the values inculcation measures across gender and academic qualifications of mathematics teachers.