Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of Integrated Millimeter Wave Microstrip Pseudo-Interdigital Band pass Filter Using 0.18μm CMOS Technology

High selectivity design of an improved on-chip band pass filter for 60 GHz millimeter-wave applications using 0.18 μm CMOS technology is presented. A new type of miniaturized microstrip bandpass filters with pseudointerdigital structure without via holes grounded resonators is described. A very compact filter of this type, having a size less than quarter-wavelength by quarter-wavelength at a mid-band frequency of 60 GHz was designed. The adoption of a pseudointerdigital BPF and utilization of two transmissions zero permits a compact size and high selectivity for the BPF. Besides, two defected ground structure cells are etched under the coupled lines to improve the filter insertion loss. The proposed BPF has the center frequency of 60 GHz, insertion loss of -3.6. dB, a 3dB band width of 8 GHz, and core size 200×500 μm with total chip size 500×300 μm (including bonding pads
Diabetic Retinopathy Detection

Diabetic retinopathy is becoming a more prevalent disease in diabetic patients nowadays. The surprising fact about the disease is it leaves no symptoms at the beginning stage and the patient can realize the disease only when his vision starts to fall. If the disease is not found at the earliest it leads to a stage where the probability of curing the disease is less. But if we find the disease at that stage, the patient might be in a situation of losing the vision completely. Hence, this paper aims at finding the disease at the earliest possible stage by extracting two features from the retinal image namely Microaneurysms which is found to be the starting symptom showing feature and Hemorrhage which shows symptoms of the other stages. Based on these two features we classify the stage of the disease as normal, beginning, mild and severe using convolutional neural network, a deep learning technique which reduces the burden of manual feature extraction and gives higher accuracy. We also locate the position of these features in the disease affected retinal images to help the doctors offer better medical treatment.
Behavioral effects of pre‐ and postnatal exposure to individual polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in rats

Rats were exposed in utero and through mother's milk either to the coplanar PCB congener 3,3′,4,4′,5–CB (IUPAC no. 126) or to the mono-ortho-substituted PCB congener 2,3′,4,4′,5–CB (IUPAC no. 118). The different groups of mothers were exposed to 1 and 5 mg/kg body weight of PCB 118, and 2 μg/kg b.w. of PCB 126 every second day from day 10 to day 20 of gestation. The exposure did not affect the body weight of the dams or the size, weight, sex ratio, or physical development of the offspring. Operant behavioral testing revealed that the PCB-exposed offspring showed both poorer visual discrimination and higher activity level than did the controls. The coplanar PCB 126 congener was the most potent treatment. These results show that both PCB 118 and PCB 126 produced significant neurotoxic effects in the offspring of exposed females in absence of clinical maternotoxic and fetotoxic effects.
The influence of three rapeseed meals and a mustard seed meal on egg and broiler production

Synopsis A mustard seed meal free of oxazolidinethione and three rapeseed meals of low (C), medium (D) and high (E) oxazolidinethione contents were included at a rate of 12% in the diets of laying birds and of broilers. The control diets contained a similar quantity of protein as soyabean meal. In each experiment a further control group was given a suitable commercial diet. The mustard seed meal and rapeseed meals D and E caused large and significant mortalities among laying birds. Macroscopic observations suggested that the main cause of death was probably liver haemorrhage. Egg production, after correction for mortality, was significantly decreased by rapeseed meals D and E, and egg weight by the mustard seed meal. There were no significant treatment effects on food intake and therefore the weight of food needed for each egg produced followed fairly closely the pattern of egg production. Overall egg production was depressed by mustard seed meal and by rapeseed meals D and E. Rapeseed meal C decreased pr.
An Investigation into the use and Construction Professionals` Preference for Migrant Craftsmen in Construction Project Delivery in Ondo State

The paper investigated the extent of participation of migrant craftsmen in construction projects delivery in Ondo State; identified the countries of origin and the aspect of construction trades where they are involved, factors influencing the choice of migrant craftsmen by construction manager, as well as factors militating against the use of local craftsmen and the effect of using migrant craftsmen in the study area. A social survey strategy was adopted and questionnaire was used as an instrument to gather relevant data from practicing construction professionals in Ondo State. The data were compiled and analyzed using SPSS 17.0. The result shows that migrant craftsmen from three major countries in West Africa namely Togo, Benin and Ghana were used on construction sites and they were commonly employed in the trades of tilling and interlocking. The dexterity of indigenous craftsmen (MS=4.20) was the major factor influencing the use of migrant craftsmen in these trades; cutting corners and rushing work while performing their responsibility, not keen on improving their training, alcoholism and drug abuse were ranked by the respondents as major factors militating against the use of local craftsmen. The result also indicates that the use and preference for Migrant craftsmen would increase unemployment rate for local craftsmen. The study concluded that migrant craftsmen were not predominantly used in construction projects delivery in Ondo State.
The response of brewing yeasts to acid washing

Brewing yeasts are inherently resistant to acid washing treatments but, under some conditions this resistance is diminished. Sixteen yeast strains, including both ale and lager strains, have been successfully washed using phosphoric acid (pH 2.1) and, in some cases, sulphuric acid (pH 2.0) or acidified 0.75% w/v ammonium persulphate (pH 2.8). Cell viability, fermentation performance and flocculation/fining behaviour were unaffected. However, changes could be observed in the yeast resulting from the washing treatment. These included alterations of the cell surface, as shown by scanning electron microscopy and leakage of adenosine triphosphate from the cells during the wash. Acid washing is successful provided that, i) food grade acid is used, ii) the acid is chilled before use, iii) the yeast and acid are well mixed, iv) the temperature of the yeast does not exceed 5°C during washing and, v) the yeast is pitched immediately after washing. ‘Unhealthy’ yeast (yeast which has been stored for long periods, heavily contaminated yeast, or yeast from slow fermentations) may respond poorly to acid washing and a shorter washing time, or higher wash pH value should be employed.
Phylogeography of the leaf beetle Chrysolina virgata in wetlands of Japan inferred from the distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes

The genetic differentiation among populations of the leaf beetle Chrysolina virgata living in wetlands of Japan was studied based on the sequence data of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene region (750 bp). Two distinct lineages of mitochondrial haplotypes were found: one (clade A) consisted of 26 haplotypes distributed over the distribution range of C. virgata between north‐east Honshu and Kyushu, whereas the other (clade B) was monotypic and confined to a small region in north‐east Honshu where it coexisted with clade A. Nested clade analysis for these haplotypes suggested that range expansion and following differentiation due to isolation by distance might have resulted in the present distribution pattern of the haplotypes in clade A. We discuss the evolutionary process leading to the occurrence of two distinct haplotype clades in Japan in terms of repeated colonization from the continent and range expansion and contraction during climatic changes.
Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) associate safety with higher levels of nocturnal illumination

Moonlight is commonly reported to increase the time nocturnal animals allocate to antipredator vigilance and to affect space use patterns because predation risk increases as a function of light intensity. The majority of studies reporting moon-light effects have been conducted on small-body sized mammals which are relatively vulnerable to a variety of predators. Moonlight effects were studied experimentally on a mid-sized mammal, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), a macropodid marsupial. Four groups of six adult female wallabies were observed for 6 days during each of three moon phases (no moon, quarter moon and full moon). In addition to natural illumination, wallabies were exposed to 2 days each of three artificial light treatments (no light, red light, white light) during each moon phase treatment. Subjects were videotaped at night with an image intensifier affixed to a video camera. Time budgets were calculated from the video record, and later analyzed in a repeated-measures factorial ANOVA. There was no effect of natural moonlight on time allocation, suggesting that wallabies had no endogenous cycle associated with moonlight. There were effects of artificial illumination and of the experimental group on time allocation. Wallabies tended to forage more and allocate less time to antipredator vigilance under the two light treatments, suggesting that, unlike previous studies on a variety of other taxa, they associated safety with increased illumination. We speculate that differences among groups might reflect the different seasons over which wallabies were studied. Results suggest that the nocturnally active tammar wallaby exercises caution in the dark.
Iron Mineralogy in the Chinese Deserts and Mongolian Gobi: Impact for the Biogeochemical Cycle

Deserts are the major source of the dust greatly impact the biogeochemical cycles. However, quantitatively evaluating iron forms in the dust source areas is still a challenge due to large uncertainty in the iron mineralogy. Here we investigate iron mineralogy of 19 surface sand samples collected from seven deserts along the arid zone in North China and Mongolia. By use of a Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA) technique, we show that the iron mineral assemblages include a total of 38 mineral phases. In particular, chlorite and hornblende contribute 50-60% iron content of in the Chinese deserts along the metamorphic mountain belts of Northern Tibetan Plateau (NTP). The newly uplifted and strongly erosive mountain provides easily-deducible chlorite and hornblende, and filled the Chinese deserts as sediments. This region has much higher iron content relative to Mongolia Gobi. This finding suggests that the active mountain belts mentioned above are of great importance of dust input in iron. Further analyses of the iron content in particle size distribution suggest that the desert sourced dust tended to decrease the initial iron content originated from the mountain belts, considering the size reduction during the transport. Based on the spatial variation of the iron content, combined with the dust flux in each desert, we estimated the upper limit for the atmospheric iron influx. Our estimation provides a basis for assessing the marine “biological pump” effect, that causing fundamental changes in the atmospheric CO2 level.
Seasonal changes in a cactus‐hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) network

1. We analysed a cacti‐syrphid community focusing on the exploitation of decaying cacti resources by the flies, i.e. if exploitation exhibited a nested topology as a structural pattern, or whether it was temporally random. If availability of cactus resources was predictable during the rainy season, it would then be exploited by a more structured community, or as resource availability would be unpredictable during the dry season, we should expect it to be exploited by a random community.
Effects of the GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline and gabazine on stimulus‐induced sharp wave‐ripple complexes in adult rat hippocampus in vitro

Hippocampal sharp wave‐ripple‐complexes (SPW‐Rs) are characterized by slow field potential transients superimposed by ripples with a frequency of ∼200 Hz. In epileptic humans and rats frequencies of such transient network oscillations can reach up to 500 Hz potentially due to loss of functional inhibition. Therefore, we investigated whether GABAA receptor antagonists increased ripple frequency during SPW‐Rs. Within area CA3, SPW‐Rs were induced by repeated stimulation of stratum radiatum in area CA1 of adult Wistar rat hippocampal slices. Intracellular recordings showed that in approximately 50% of recorded CA3 pyramidal cells SPW‐Rs were accompanied by compound excitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of ∼10 mV superimposed by up to four action potentials (APs). The remaining cells responded with a compound inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) during SPW‐Rs. The GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline (BMI) or gabazine (SR‐95531) led to a transition of SPW‐Rs into prolonged bursts with a significant increase in amplitude and duration reminiscent of recurrent epileptiform discharges (REDs). Ripple frequencies increased from ∼190 Hz to ∼300 Hz. In naïve slices SR‐95531 and BMI also evoked REDs with similar incidence and high frequency ripple frequencies of ∼240 Hz. Elevations in extracellular potassium concentration during REDs were approximately 20‐fold higher than those observed during SPW‐Rs. Intracellular recordings revealed bursts that were characterized by a large (> 25 mV) prolonged depolarization superimposed by up to 40 APs in close synchrony with extracellularly recorded ripples. Our results suggest that the generation of high frequency ripples, which are also observed in epileptic humans and rats, could indicate a loss of functional inhibition.
A RE-APPRAISAL OF HARTLEY'S AGROSTOLOGICAL INDEX

SUMMARY (1) The Agrostological Index of William Hartley provided a measure of the agronomic potential of an area, based on the number of native species recorded from the major grass tribes. Adequate computing facilities for applying the index were not then available, and it has been neglected. (2) In this paper the index is applied to the fifteen Pastoral Districts of Queensland (N.E. Australia); we show that it is an effective tool for the definition of agronomic regions, and has predictive properties. (3) The approach could prove valuable on a world scale.
Avian mortality risk during heat waves will increase greatly in arid Australia during the 21st century

Abstract Intense heat waves are occurring more frequently, with concomitant increases in the risk of catastrophic avian mortality events via lethal dehydration or hyperthermia. We quantified the risks of lethal hyperthermia and dehydration for 10 Australian arid-zone avifauna species during the 21st century, by synthesizing thermal physiology data on evaporative water losses and heat tolerance limits. We evaluated risks of lethal hyperthermia or exceedance of dehydration tolerance limits in the absence of drinking during the hottest part of the day under recent climatic conditions, compared to those predicted for the end of this century across Australia. Increases in mortality risk via lethal dehydration and hyperthermia vary among the species modelled here but will generally increase greatly, particularly in smaller species (~10–42 g) and those inhabiting the far western parts of the continent. By 2100 CE, zebra finches’ potential exposure to acute lethal dehydration risk will reach ~ 100 d y−1 in the far northwest of Australia and will exceed 20 d y−1 over > 50% of this species’ current range. Risks of dehydration and hyperthermia will remain much lower for large non-passerines such as crested pigeons. Risks of lethal hyperthermia will also increase substantially for smaller species, particularly if they are forced to visit exposed water sources at very high air temperatures to avoid dehydration. An analysis of atlas data for zebra finches suggests that population declines associated with very hot conditions are already occurring in the hottest areas. Our findings suggest that the likelihood of persistence within current species ranges, and the potential for range shifts, will become increasingly constrained by temperature and access to drinking water. Our model adds to an increasing body of literature suggesting that arid environments globally will experience considerable losses of avifauna and biodiversity under unmitigated climate change scenarios.
Species richness and density of ground herbs within a plot of lowland rainforest in north-west Borneo

ABSTRACT In a I-ha plot all ground herb species were recorded. Within the plot selected properties were investigated in three 20 m × 20 m subplots. The number of ground herb species and individuals in the subplots were lowest near to a local hilltop and they increased towards the lowest part of the plot. There was no significant difference in canopy openness, or in thickness of leaf litter layer, between the upper and lower subplots. In the upper subplot the soil layer was thin and the weathered bedrock was close to the surface. In the lower subplot the soil was much deeper. The pH and concentrations of Mg were significantly lower and %loss-on-ignition, total P and total N concentrations were significantly higher in the upper subplot. Elevation and soil moisture were significantly correlated in the upper 10 cm of soil. It is not possible to select any one abiotic property as being the critical determinant of the gradient of ground herbs. However, it is suspected that the availability of water in the topsoil, particularly after droughts, may be more important than the soil nutrients in limiting herb distribution.
Teat sanitation in lactating sows

Preweaning piglet mortality is a serious source of economic losses in pig production, with enteric diseases as the most common infectious cause of mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of teat sanitation in lactating sows in order to reduce the piglet bacterial invasion through contaminated teats leading to outbreaks of enteric diseases. The study was carried out in a farrowing pen with 60 sows divided into three groups of 20 animals. Group 1 animals served as control group and were left untreated. In group 2, sow teats were treated with water and in group 3 with a commercial antiseptic with potent bactericidal action. Microbiological purity of the teats was determined during 24 days of the piglet suckling period. Study results showed the bacterial count per teat to be significantly lower in both experimental groups as compared with control group (P<0.01). Also, bacterial count was significantly lower in group 3 treated with the antiseptic than in group 2 treated with water alone (P<0.01). Accordingly, sow teat sanitation as a potential prophylactic measure during the piglet suckling period significantly decreased bacterial count on sow teats, thus reducing the risk of bacterial invasion of the piglet alimentary system.
Distribution of cytokinin‐like activity in different plant parts of the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes

Cytokinin-like activity in extracts of leaf laminae, petioles, shoots, roots and flowers of young plants of the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes S. was analyzed following Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography using the soybean callus bioassay. In all plant parts analyzed, two prominent peaks of cytokinin activity having elution volumes similar to zeatin and zeatin riboside were detected. Putative cytokinin gluco-side-like activity was detected only in leaves and flowers. The cytokinin complements of the leaves and the roots were qualitatively different. It would appear that cytokinins supplied by the roots are metabolized in the leaves or certain cytokinins are synthesized in the leaves themselves. The possible significance and distribution of cytokinins in different plant parts in relation to roots is discussed.
Cell surface characteristics of some phage‐resistant strains of Lactobacillus casei

The cell surface characteristics of two types of PL-1 phage-resistant strains of Lactobacillus casei: K-12, which does not permit adsorption of the phage; and YIT 9021, which permits phage adsorption but not genome injection, were compared with those of the parent strain. There were no differences in the electron microscopic features of the cell surface. However, both the phage-resistant strains were more hydrophobic than the parent strain as judged by hydrocarbon affinity test. A colloid titration test showed that these mutant strains were less negatively charged than the parent one. They differed in the composition of the polysaccharide of their cell walls, which were all free from teichoic acids.
Efficient Design Strategy for Whole-Cell and Cell-Free Biosensors based on Engineered Riboswitches

Abstract We have applied dual genetic selection to design a bacterial riboswitch with improved sensitivity by employing a high-affinity heterologous thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) aptamer and modified selection conditions in Escherichia coli. The cells transformed with the engineered TPP riboswitches were characterized as whole-cell biosensors. The riboswitches were further studied in cell-free translation systems where they exhibited characteristics similar to those in vivo and a shorter response time for analysis. The flexibility of the riboswitch-based biosensors to accommodate different reporter genes was also demonstrated. Tuning of biosensor characteristics in vivo enables efficient development of aptamer-based whole-cell and cell-free biosensors.
A Comparison of Fish Community Composition of Headwater and Adventitious Streams in a Coldwater River System

ABSTRACT The river continuum concept is an overarching paradigm in stream ecology, but the concept makes no provision for adventitious streams (i.e., low-ordered tributaries to larger rivers). We examined the fish community and habitat of the fifth-order mainstem, two second-order adventitious tributaries to the mainstem, and three second-order headwater streams of the Pine River (Alcona County, Michigan) from May through August 2000. Fish species richness generally increased with increasing stream order and was higher in the adventitious streams than in the headwater streams. The fish species composition of adventitious streams was more similar to the mainstem than to the headwater streams but showed greater month-to-month variability than either the mainstem or headwater streams. Habitat conditions in headwater and adventitious streams were similar except adventitious streams were generally warmer. These results indicate that factors in addition to stream order, such as stream connectivity and temperature, are important determinants of stream fish assemblage.
Climate drivers of plague epidemiology in British India, 1898–1949

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis infection, continues to threaten low- and middle-income countries throughout the world. The complex interactions between rodents and fleas with their respective environments challenge our understanding of human plague epidemiology. Historical long-term datasets of reported plague cases offer a unique opportunity to elucidate the effects of climate on plague outbreaks in detail. Here, we analyse monthly plague deaths and climate data from 25 provinces in British India from 1898 to 1949 to generate insights into the influence of temperature, rainfall and humidity on the occurrence, severity and timing of plague outbreaks. We find that moderate relative humidity levels of between 60% and 80% were strongly associated with outbreaks. Using wavelet analysis, we determine that the nationwide spread of plague was driven by changes in humidity, where, on average, a one-month delay in the onset of rising humidity translated into a one-month delay in the timing of plague outbreaks. This work can inform modern spatio-temporal predictive models for the disease and aid in the development of early-warning strategies for the deployment of prophylactic treatments and other control measures.