Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of SAR Signature for Rice Crop using SENTINEL 1A data

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary staple food source for more than half of the world’s population and has profound influence on the livelihood of farmers. Lowland rice in tropical and subtropical regions can be detected precisely and its crop growth can be tracked effectively through Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, especially where cloud cover restricts the use of optical imagery. This Research was taken to use multi-temporal C-band SAR data from Sentinel 1A, semi-automated processing chains, in-season field monitoring and end-of-season validation points to map rice crops across Tiruchirapalli District. SAR data have a proven ability to detect lowland rice systems (both irrigated and rainfed) through the unique temporal signature of the backscatter coefficient (also termed sigma naught σ°) exhibited by the crop. Temporal signatures were extracted for each monitoring field and used to generate the dB curves for rice fields. This is due to the interaction of microwave radiation with the crop canopy, increasing from the detection of σ° minimum (field inundation) to the detection of σ° maximum (around the tillering stage) between acquisitions four and six. The average maximum value of at peak tillering stage was found to be -8.85 with a range of -7.49 to -8.94 in fields across Tiruchirapalli district. The minimum primary variation was found to be 1.5 to 2.1 and the secondary variation was found to be 2.5 to 3.5 corresponding to growth at vegetative and maximum tillering stage. The primary variation corresponds to the growth from seedling to tillering stage where the addition in LAI and biomass and thereby ground coverage is less. However as the growth advances rice has the tendency to putforth more biomass and thereby resulting more dB values with an addition of 2.5 to 3.5. In all the fields the values tend to drop further from flowering to maturity with values found to be reducing from -8.5 to -. 11.6. Rice crop shows significant temporal behaviour and a large dynamic range (−14.4 to −8.41dB) during its growth period.
Hemibiotrophic infection of Pisum sativum by Colletotrichum truncatum

The infection of pea (Pisum sativum) by Colletotrichum truncatum was studied by light and electron microscopy. These investigations were facilitated by use of an Argenteum pea mutant, which has a readily detachable epidermis. Infection pegs emerging from appressoria penetrated epidermal cells directly. Large intracellular primary hyphae formed a dense stromatic mycelium confined within a single epidermal cell. Primary mycelia gave rise to thinner secondary hyphae which radiated into surrounding cells and caused extensive wall dissolution. Melanized sclerotia developed in the centre of chlorotic water-soaked lesions. Acervuli were not observed. Epidermal cells survived initial penetration by primary hyphae, as shown by their ability to plasmolyse and accumulate Neutral red, but all infected cells were dead when the secondary hyphae had formed. Six cultivars of pea were susceptible, but seven other legumes were resistant. A single isoform of polygalacturonase with a pI of 8·3 and apparent Mr of 40000 was purified from culture filtrates and the TV-terminal amino acid sequence determined. The relevance of the results to the taxonomy of C. truncatum and the relationships between infection process and host range are discussed.
Switched-capacitors as local converters for snake PV modules : a cost/efficiency exploration

In order to reduce the negative effect of partial shading and other sources of current mismatch within a module, smart reconfigurable modules allow altering the connections between groups of cells (cell-strings). With a proper algorithm managing these connections, we can make sure that the majority of the cells are operating close to their MPP, even when a part of the module is shaded. Such a smart reconfigurable module consists of some extra components. Switches are needed to change the interconnection scheme. Small, local converters collect power from multiple cell-strings. They step-up the voltage to reduce the current on the central bus they are connected to. At the end where we connect to the string-level bus, a module converter further regulates the voltage for the grid or the PV array. This topology was presented before where we showed that a smart reconfigurable module could recover up to 70% of the power lost to partial shading. In this paper we take a closer look at the local DC-DC converter. More precisely, we present a cost-efficiency analysis of different converter topologies. Taking into account practical limitations (economical limitations, number of components, maximum switch currents, maximum capacitance values, etc.) we estimate efficiency and projected cost. We show that Dickson pump (CR3) with 30-35mOhm switches is the best candidate. This would result in a chip cost of about €1.5
Defining and evaluating the impact of cross-disciplinary conservation research

SUMMARY Cross-disciplinary research is advocated as a way of improving understanding of the complexity of environmental problems; cross-disciplinary projects, centres and academic institutes have increased. However, there is confusion over the nature of cross-disciplinary research. Through review of papers defining themselves as cross-disciplinary that aim to address conservation problems, and by standardizing the definition of cross-disciplinary research, it is possible to evaluate the potential research impact on peers and practitioners. When papers were reclassified by authors, those reclassified as transdisciplinary were perceived to have a greater impact on practitioners, and those reclassified as non cross-disciplinary had the greatest impact on colleagues. Having clear definitions for types of cross-disciplinary research would help establish a firm foundation, not only for improving research quality, but also for evaluating research impact. While the number of cross-disciplinary studies is increasing, cross-disciplinary research falls short of integrating disciplinary methods in much depth and does not have much impact on participants outside of academia.
Yeast flocculation: Calcium specificity

Expression of flocculation in yeast requires the presence of multi‐charged cations. Calcium ions fulfil this role over a broad pH range. At near neutral pH, magnesium and a variety of transition elements can induce flocculation. Calcium‐induced flocculation was competitively inhibited by excess sodium ions whereas magnesium‐induced flocculation was not competitively inhibited. Potassium and lithium ions caused similar inhibition but to a lesser extent. 45Ca effux from yeast cells was greatly increased by the external presence of buffer and cations. Inhibition of flocculation by chelating agents, EDTA or EGTA, was overcome by excess calcium ions. Flocculation could not be induced, under these conditions, by excess magnesium or transition‐element salts.
Towards kit-like 18F-labeling of marimastat, a noncovalent inhibitor drug for in vivo PET imaging cancer associated matrix metalloproteases

Marimastat, a clinically trialed drug developed to treat breast cancer by inhibiting cancer-associated matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), was linked to an aryl boronic ester for single-step [18F]-aqueous fluoride capture and the labeled product revealed tumor associated MMP activity in vivo. Herein, we report important radiosynthetic attributes for labeling marimastat that enabled the first PET images of breast cancer-associated matrix metalloproteases in a syngenic murine model. The advantages of this method include one-step post synthetic labeling in less than one hour at ambient temperature, the ability to work in aqueous media without drying the 18F-fluoride, observation of high radiochemical purity, and the potential for tripling the specific activity of the fluoride used in labeling. Using low levels of activity e.g. 60 mCi in low volumes this method affords reasonable yields of labeled marimastat with decay-corrected specific activities of 0.39 and 0.75 Ci/μmol, and real specific activities of 0.16 and 0.39 Ci/μmol. Current limitations of this method along with anticipated improvements are discussed.
Current Status of the Ferns and Lycophytes of the Hawaiian Islands

Abstract The Hawaiian Islands are well known for having one of the highest documented percentages of endemic plants in the world. Hawaiian ferns and lycophytes represent a relatively large percentage of the endemic flora with approximately 74% of the native fern and lycophyte species considered endemic. In addition, at least 40 taxa are naturalized aliens. We present a new synopsis of the Hawaiian fern and lycophyte flora that includes new state and island records, recent taxonomic updates and problems, and a summary of known and hypothesized geographical origins of fern and lycophyte lineages. We also provide a checklist and access to an interactive key to the native and naturalized ferns and lycophytes of the Hawaiian Islands (http://www.herbarium.hawaii.edu/lucid/ferns/introduction.html).
Abstract P181: Temporal Relationship Between Changes in Body Weight and Insulin Resistance and Its Impact on Blood Pressure in Response to 2-year Weight-loss Diet Interventions: the POUNDS Lost Trial

Introduction: Changes of body weight and insulin resistance (IR) are closely correlated, and their temporal sequences in affecting blood pressure (BP) remain poorly defined. We examined the temporal sequences of weight loss and change of IR, and their relations with blood pressure in the Pounds Lost trial, a randomized weight-loss diet intervention study. Hypothesis: We hypothesized a one-directional temporal relation between weight loss and change of IR in affecting BP during weight-loss diet interventions. Methods: The present study included overweight/obese adults, who were randomized in a 2х2 factorial design to diets containing 20% or 40% fat and 15% or 25% protein (diets with 65%, 55%, 45% and 35% carbohydrate). Weight, IR, systolic and diastolic BP levels were measured at baseline, 6 and 24 months. After excluding the subjects who took antihypertensive or weight-loss drugs, cross-lagged path and mediation analysis were performed among 540 participants. Results: After adjusting for age, race, sex, and diets groups, the cross-lagged path coefficient from baseline weight to 24-month IR (β 1 =0.135, P =0.04) was significantly greater than the path coefficient (β 2 =0.022, P >0.05) from baseline IR to 24-month weight ( P <0.05 for the difference in βs), indicating that weight-loss preceded change of IR. The mediation effects of 24-month IR on the 24-month systolic BP and diastolic BP were estimated at 17.03%( P =0.004) and 20.94% ( P =0.034), respectively. Conclusions: Our dataindicate that weight loss precedes change of IR in affecting changes of BP in response to weight loss diet interventions. Figure 1 . Covariate-adjusted path coefficients from baseline weight to 24-month IR; β 1 and β 2 are cross-lagged path coefficients; r 2 and r 3 are tracking correlations; The difference between β 1 and β 2 was tested using Fisher Z test; * P<0.01, † P<0.05 for difference between β 1 and β 1 .
Expression of genes regulating protein metabolism in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) was altered when including high diet levels of plant proteins

Atlantic cod were fed five different diets consisting of a plant protein mixture replacing fishmeal in a regression design up to total replacement. Growth was high and maintained equal up to 75% plant protein inclusion, while a total plant protein diet resulted in significantly reduced appetite, feed conversion, and growth. To reveal if the transcription of stress responsive genes or any metabolic pathways were affected by plant proteins, a microarray consisting of 744 EST library-clones from cod was used on liver samples after the fish doubled its weight. Liver mRNA-expression of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), insulin-like growth factor receptors I and II (IGF-IR, IGF-IIR), genes coding for proteolytic enzymes; cathepsinD (CatD), cathepsinF (CatF), calpain 2, and seven proteins involved in protein-biosynthesis and energy-turnover, were studied by means of quantitative real-time PCR. Transcriptional levels of IGF-IIR and CatD were reduced in the plant fed fish. With few exceptions, dietary inclusion of plant protein did not affect the expression of genes related to cellular stress, protein-biosynthesis or energy turnover when the fish was fed up to 75% plant protein inclusion. The data on down-regulation of the IGF receptors and CatD coincided with the reduced growth in the high plant inclusions, indicating that IGF and CatD responses were closely related to protein turnover.
Fisiología de la activación del espermatozoide en peces de agua dulce

El principal objetivo de esta revision fue el estudio de los mecanismos que regulan la movilidad espermatica en peces de agua dulce, dada su importancia en el desarrollo de biotecnologias para la conservacion de sus gametos, los cuales una vez producidos en el testiculo, se capacitan en el conducto espermatico donde permanecen inmoviles por factores como el balance ionico, la osmolaridad, el pH o algunas proteinas. En el momento de la liberacion de los espermatozoides al medio acuoso, estos son activados por un periodo de tiempo muy corto. En teleosteos de agua dulce, el choque hiposmotico induce cambios de potencial de membrana que conducen a la regulacion de canales ionicos de K+ y de Ca2+, seguida por un flujo ionico que desencadena la cascada de activacion. Muchas investigaciones se han enfocado en el estudio de la osmolaridad, el balance ionico, el pH y factores dependientes de AMPc y Ca2+; asociados con la activacion de la movilidad espermatica. De esta forma, los mecanismos fisiologicos de la activacion han ganado interes para comprender los procesos por los cuales el espermatozoide adquiere la hipermovilidad para alcanzar el oocito y penetrar el micropilo antes del cierre del mismo. Palabras clave: balance ionico, choque hiposmotico, movilidad, osmolaridad, potencial de membrana.
Increasing ocean temperatures allow tropical fishes to survive overwinter in temperate waters

The southeast coast of Australia is a global hotspot for increasing ocean temperatures due to climate change. The temperate incursion of the East Australian Current (EAC) is increasing, affording increased connectivity with the Great Barrier Reef. The survival of tropically sourced juveniles over the winter is a significant stumbling block to poleward range shifts of marine organisms in this region. Here we examine the dependence of overwintering on winter severity and prewinter recruitment for eight species of juvenile coral reef fishes which are carried into temperate SE Australia (30–37 °S) by the EAC during the austral summer. The probability of persistence was most strongly influenced by average winter temperature and there was no effect of recruitment strength. Long‐term (138 years) data indicate that winter water temperatures throughout this region are increasing at a rate above the global average and predictions indicate a further warming of >2 °C by the end of the century. Rising ocean temperatures are resulting in a higher frequency of winter temperatures above survival thresholds. Current warming trajectories predict 100% of winters will be survivable by at least five of the study species as far south as Sydney (34 °S) by 2080. The implications for range expansions of these and other species of coral reef fish are discussed.
A test of hypotheses based on optimal foraging considerations for a diving mammal using a novel experimental approach

The response of marine predators to changes in fine-scale prey distribution is poorly understood. Precipitous declines in marine apex predators necessitate a better understanding of the magnitude of fluctuations in prey availability that are within the compensatory behavioural plasticity of predators. We experimentally manipulated the fine-scale prey field for a marine carnivore in a controlled, captive setting and examined changes in behaviour and efficiency with changes in prey encounter rate. We hypothesized (i) a minimum prey encounter rate below which the cost of foraging always exceeds the benefit, (ii) foraging effort should increase with increasing prey encounter rates, and (iii) a maximum threshold prey encounter rate at which foraging efficiency is optimized. Dive duration, foraging time, and dive and foraging efficiency increased significantly with increasing prey encounter rate up to an asymptote of ~13 fish per dive cycle, supporting two of the three hypotheses. The results also support predi.
Characteristic of Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi from Roots of Cypripedium japonicum and C. macranthum

Department of Forestry, Chungbuk National University, Chengju 361-763, Korea(Received June 17, 2010. Accepted June 21, 2010)ABSTRACT: Orchid mycorrhizal fungi(OMF) were examined in roots of the two threatened orchid species, Cyp-ripedium japonicum and C. macranthum. The morphological characteristics of mycorrhizal colonization in the rootsof two orchid species were observed. OMF colonized in the roots of two species were identified using molecular analysis.DNA from the root was extracted and amplified internal transcribed spacer(ITS) region using basidiomycete ITSprimers, ITS1-OF and ITS4-OF. Four species belonging to Tulasnellaceae in roots of C. japonicum and two speciesof Tulasnellaceae and one basidiomycetous species was found in roots of C. macranthum.KEYWORDS : Cypripedium japonicum, Cypripedium macranthum, OMF, Orchid mycorrhizal fungi, Peloton, Tulasnellaceae
Two new oleanane saponins from Chiococca alba (L.) Hitch.

Two triterpene saponins were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the roots of Chiococca alba (L.) Hitch (Rubiaceae). Their structures were determined by 1H and 13C 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranurosyl-3β-hydroxyolean-12,15-dien-28-oic acid 28-O-α-D-apiofuranosyl (1→3)-[α-D-apiofuranosyl (1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl ester (1) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranurosyl-3β-hydroxyolean-12,15-dien-28-oic acid 28-O-α-D-apiofuranosyl (1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl ester (2).
San origins and transition to the Later Stone Age: New research from Border Cave, South Africa

In the past decade, southern Africa has confirmed its crucial role in understanding the emergence of those patterns of behaviour that may uniquely characterise our species. This realisation - founded largely in projects undertaken at Blombos, Sibudu, Diepkloof and Pinnacle Point - builds on genetic studies that identify sub-Saharan Africa as the area where Homo sapiens evolved and to which all humans alive today trace their ancestry. It builds, too, on earlier archaeological fieldwork, notably at Klasies River, the finds from which remain among the oldest anatomically modern human remains in the world. Another South African site, Border Cave in KwaZulu- Natal's Lebombo Mountains, has also long been at the heart of these discussions, as a paper published in this journal in 1978 made clear. Now, in two papers just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Paola Villa, Francesco d'Errico and their collaborators identify new patterns of material culture dating to about 43 000 years ago that they see as marking both the beginning of the Later Stone Age and the emergence of adaptations directly ancestral to those recorded ethnographically among southern Africa's San peoples
In vivo and in vitro techniques for the assessment of the energy content of feed grains for poultry: a review

The focus of this paper is on the energy evaluation of foodstuffs, particularly of food grains for poultry. Apparent metabolisable energy (AME) is currently the preferred feeding system for poultry but net energy systems are future possibilities and one is currently being used in some poultry growth models. These systems take into account the efficiency with which AME is being utilised by the bird. Aspects such as AME adjusted to zero nitrogen retention and true metabolisable energy (TME) are discussed. Shortcomings of the AME system are also discussed and recent net energy systems are described briefly. The in vitro prediction of AME or TME has not shown great promise although the European Tables of Energy Values for Foodstuffs contain detailed analysis of chemical composition and AME(n) data allowing improved accuracy of prediction. It is suggested that data generated on Australian grains should be tested using these tables, and if successful, these tables may be useful to industry. Near infrared reflectance analysis (NIRA) is likely to be the preferred in vitro method for predicting a range of characteristics of food grains including AME. A new method of grain evaluation developed in Canada is described and this approach, with modification, may be worth pursuing in Australia. For the in vivo method of measuring AME of grains, the classical total collection method with broiler chickens is recommended with minor changes. The use of acid-insoluble ash for estimating dry matter digestibility for subsequent determination of AME may have merit. A rapid assay appropriate to laying hens is proposed because of the known increase in AME of grains as birds age. It has been established that AME values generated using adult cockerels also apply reasonably well to hens.
Goldfish Hematopoietic Necrosis Herpesvirus (Cyprinid Herpesvirus 2) in the USA: Molecular Confirmation of Isolates from Diseased Fish

Abstract Moribund goldfish Carassius auratus from private collections and breeding facilities were tested for hematopoietic necrosis herpesvirus 2 (also known as cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2)) by degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the viral polymerase gene followed by sequencing. The degenerate PCR method produced a fragment with a DNA sequence that was more than 99% identical to the sequence of CyHV-2. Histology and electron microscopy showed that the moribund fish had severe necrosis in the hematopoietic tissues of the kidney and spleen and that herpesvirus particles were present. In the three cases studied, the presence of the virus was associated with high mortality (up to 80%) that could not be attributed to any other cause. The CyHV-2 is very difficult to isolate in cell culture, but our PCR and case studies demonstrate that this virus has a wide geographic distribution in the United States and that goldfish hematopoietic necrosis herpesvirus disease is likely to be an important, but ra.