Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance analysis of amplify and forward serial relaying coherent OFDM FSO system based on M distribution

In this paper, the performance of amplify and forward (AF) serial relaying coherent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) free space optical communication (FSO) system is analyzed over an aggregated atmospheric turbulence attenuation channel, which considers path loss, pointing error and M distribution channel. In this FSO system, it is assumed that channel state information (CSI) of transmitter and receiver is known, quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is used as the subcarrier mapping mode of OFDM. With the help of Meijer’s G function, the closed-form expressions of outage probability and average symbol error probability (ASER) for the FSO system under consideration are derived. The effects of subcarriers, the number of hops and turbulence intensity on the performance of coherent OFDM FSO systems are analyzed through simulation.
Salt Marsh Tidal Channel Morphometry: Applications for Wetland Creation and Restoration

The morphometry of tidal channels in a back‐barrier salt marsh in New Jersey was investigated. Characteristics of the tidal channel drainage network plan form (order, bifurcation ratio, length, sinuosity) and cross section channel form (width:depth ratio, hydraulic geometry) are compared with data from other studies. Drainage patterns follow Horton’s Law of Stream Numbers and Law of Stream Lengths. Mitigation sites should be designed in accordance with these laws. The degree to which site‐specific substrate, vegetation, and flow conditions constrain or facilitate the development of sinuous, meandering channel reaches should be estimated to provide information for the design of tidal channel geometries and dimensions that will accommodate predicted discharges. Drainage networks in created and restored wetlands should reflect the spatial distribution of width and depth properties (width:depth ratios, cross‐sectional areas, longitudinal slopes, hydraulic geometry) found in similar natural systems. Reproducing these characteristics will lessen the practice of oversizing channels. Hydraulic geometry relationships can facilitate the sizing of channels at Atlantic coast salt marsh mitigation sites. Recommendations are given to promote the development of drainage networks that function like the coastal back‐barrier Avalon/Stone Harbor marsh in New Jersey.
Definition in Biology: The Case of "Bird Song"

Abstract Unrecognized different definitions for the same term can produce confusion among workers in a field. A review of over 80 definitions of bird song shows little agreement as to what defines bird song or differentiates it from calls. Defining criteria have included structural (e.g. duration), delivery (e.g. rhythmic production), physiological (e.g. hormonal control), developmental (e.g. learning), functional (e.g. territoriality), affecftive (e.g. musicality), and taxonomic (e.g. restriction to passerines) attributes of song. Each criterion has been rejected by some authors. Song definitions often are qualified with exceptions and include such qualifters as "largely arbitrary", "unclear", "not very precise", etc. Song concepts have changed over time and will continue to do so. A single song definition that covers all extant song concepts is not possible. The various song concepts serve different purposes and will be most useful if kept distinct and appropriately labeled.
A GIS for the management of fisheries in West Africa: preliminary application to the octopus stock in Senegal

A preliminary application of a Geographical Information System (GIS), based on a georeferenced database including data from commercial fishing and oceanographic surveys, and on geographical objects describing the physical and juridical environment, trawl operations and artisanal fishing sites, is presented. An ArcView environment is used to show spatial and temporal phenomena. Seasonal distribution charts for Octopus vulgaris and for the main associated finfish species on the Senegalese continental shelf reveal that octopuses are particularly abundant on the deep part of the continental shelf off Casamance and the Grande Cote during the cool season. Warm-season distribution seems to be more coastal. The results allow the interactions between artisanal and industrial fisheries and areas of potential conflicts to be identified. The intensity of these interactions for resource access and space allocation is highly correlated to season. The results also provide alternative explanations for fisheries management, e.g. on the degree of respect for or the relevance of the limits of regulated fishing areas and spatial fishing unit strategies according to the main seasons.
Technology Forecasting Based on Semantic and Citation Analysis of Patents: A Case of Robotics Domain

In modern society, science and technology has become the core competitiveness of a company or a country. Discovering the development trajectory a technological domain is of great significance. In this article, we propose a framework to answer this question by analyzing the semantics of patent texts and the citation relationships among patents, because patents in a specific technological domain provide rich resources of technological development process. First, we collect the patent data of a specific domain from the database of United States Patent and Trademark Office. Second, we extract different topics from these patents’ texts by Latent Dirichlet Allocation. Third, an index for evaluating the correlation between two patents is defined according to the semantic similarities and citation relationship between them. Fourth, we found the global and local important patents through the global and local important index (LII). Finally, we discover some community of the network constructed by the important patents filtered by LII and statistical analysis methods to obtain some meaningful results. Furthermore, we take the patents in the technological domain of robotics as an example to examine the proposed method and reveal the technological development trends in this domain.
Gas exchange of 20-year-old black spruce families displaying a genotype × environment interaction in growth rate

Gas exchange and xylem water potential were measured on 20-year-old black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P) trees from four full-sib families from a 7 × 7 diallel. These families constitute a 2 parent × 2 parent factorial breeding structure. One female parent (59) produced families that have displayed high productivity on three plantation sites, whereas the other female parent (63) produced families that had high growth rates on two of the sites but not on the third, least productive, site. In 1991 (a hot, dry year) measurements were obtained from trees at two sites; in 1992 (a cool, wet year) measurements were obtained from only one site. Gas exchange was measured on detached branches cut from the upper third of the crown; measurements were initiated within 2 min from cutting. In 1991, daytime xylem water potential, predawn xylem water potential, net photosynthesis (Pn), and needle conductance (gwv) were all lower in trees growing on the least productive site (2) than in trees growing on the most produ.
The effects of vital whitening agents on the surface properties of three different restoration materials.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects which can occur on the physical properties of 3 different restorations (amalgam, GIC, composite) with the application of carbamide peroxide whitening. A total of 99 samples were prepared. The samples were randomly separated into 3 groups of 30 with 10 of each of the 3 materials. Each of these groups was examined in a different test device (G1: profilometer, G2: AFM, G3: spectrophotometer). The remaining 9 samples constituted a 4th group for SEM examination. 16% carbamide peroxide was applied at 6 hour intervals for a total of 14 days. A statistically significant increase was determined in the surface roughness (Ra-µm, Ra-nm) and colour change (ΔE) values in all the restorations. The least colour change was observed in composite. In the SEM, no significant surface change was observed in amalgam and composite, whereas micro-cracks were observed to have formed on the GIC surface.
Variations in Karyotypic Characteristics of Different Breed Groups of Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Karyotype analysis was carried out on blood samples of 30 water buffaloes belonging to different breed groups (i.e. Philippine Carabao (PC), Indian Murrah (IM), Bulgarian Murrah (BM), "F 1 50% IM-50% PC", "F 1 50% BM-50% PC" and "75% IM-25% PC"), using the modified Leucocyte Culture Technique. The modal chromosome numbers of the PC, "F 1 50% IM-50% PC", "F 1 50% BM-50% PC", IM, BM and "75% IM-25% PC" were 2n=48, 49, 49, 50, 50 and 50, respectively. The water buffalo chromosomes are mostly acrocentric (79.67%) and the remainder submetacentric (20.33%). Results of the ordinary least square analysis showed significant breed effects (p<0.01) on other karyotypic characteristics (i.e. relative length, arm ratio and centromeric index). Significant correlation between karyotypic characteristics and some animal performance traits were also found. The significant correlation values imply that karyotypic characteristics can be used as important criteria to select potentially productive young water buffaloes. In the future, more production and reproduction traits from non-institutional herds should be included in the analysis to reveal meaningful correlations with various karyotypic characteristics.
Species Diversity of Stream Insects of Fontinalis SPP. Compared to Diversity on Artificial Substrates

Two types of artificial mosses (string and plastic) were compared with Fontinalis spp. for their insect inhabitants. These communities were sampled on six dates at eight stream sites and compare by community coefficients, information theory analysis, and rank correlations. These results showed that those insects which were abundant on moss were also abundant on the artificial substrates. Fewer species and fewer individuals were present on the latter. See full-text article at JSTOR
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF ECOTOURISM IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN, INDIA: A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH

An Ecosystem is a community based of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components in which people live without affecting their environment and Society. Development of ecotourism is not an isolated approach, so there is need to focus on that. Ecotourism thus implies a visit to an ecosystem for fun and adventure. Ecotourism, in true sense of the term, is not only travelling to such ecosystems but also conserving them and protecting the peculiar ethnicity and culture of the locality and wellbeing of the local inhabitants. In short, it is about uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travel. Ecotourism is the most important way for securing the tourism sector in sustainable way. The reputation of any country is depending on the tourism, education, employment, social values, cultural aspects, infrastructure, safety and security etc. The main objective of writing this paper is (i) Providing positive experiences for both tourists and local people; (ii) Providing sustainable development of the area and generating quality employment for the local people which fulfill their basic necessities; (iii) Respecting environment and cultural peculiarities of the area; (iv) Minimizing negative impact of tourists which ultimately enhance the tourism Industry.
The Role of Communication in Managing Complex Water–Energy–Food Governance Systems

Managers of federal, state, local, and nonprofit organizations around the world are faced with the complex task of managing interconnected systems of scarce resources. One key example of this has been the recent research on the connections between water, energy, and food/agriculture, and the problem of managing these resources to be sustainable and reduce the likelihood of resource depletion. While engineering research has focused on achieving greater efficiencies in resource management, less attention has been given to issues of governance within the fragmented, decentralized, and polycentric systems that are responsible for resource delivery. The central question animating this paper is whether resource management decisions in water, energy, and food are siloed, and what theoretical frameworks can be leveraged to develop strategies to break down existing silos. Results from a survey of water agencies suggests that there is little communication between the water, energy, and food policy areas. If achieving greater nexus requires increased communication and repeated interactions, there is significant work to be done to re-think how policy and management are organized and conducted.
Generation and Characterization of Transgenic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Overexpressing the Novel Gene Cia7

The constant increase in environmental pollution, in particular heavy metal pollution is alarming. Cia7, the gene understudy has conserved cysteine residues. These residues could be involved in metal binding; and the CIA7 protein might be associated to metal homeostasis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The successful overexpression of Cia7 in C. reinhardtii could enhance its metal tolerance. Current research in bioremediation and heavy metal pollution is present in the literature. However, there is limited research in this area that involves C. reinhardtii. Additionally, the function of CIA7 is still unknown. The core hypothesis is that CIA7 plays a role in metal tolerance and in metal binding. This research will attempt to address if CIA7 performs a role in C. reinhardtii’s tolerance to metal toxicity. The aim of this research is to characterize the Cia7 gene and to assess its potential role in metal homeostasis. The objectives of the research are (1) to overexpress CIA7 in C. reinhardtii, and (2) to compare cell growth, chlorophyll content and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in cc5013 mutant, cc4425 wild‐type and the selected transformants under the presence or absence of lead. The gene was overexpressed in wild‐type (WT) and mutant (MT) C. reinhardtii cells.
Asphyxiation in a Bottlenose Dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) from Puerto Rico Due to Choking on a Black Margate ( Anisotremus surinamensis )

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are found in the coastal and offshore waters of Puerto Rico. However, little is known about causes of their mortality in the Caribbean. On 18 February 2002, a female bottlenose dolphin was found dead in Bahía de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Remarkably, a black margate (Anisotremus surinamensis) was firmly lodged in the dolphin’s oral cavity and the pharynx. The throat of the dolphin was markedly swollen; the larynx was dislocated; and signs of agonal death were evident. Grossly, the cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation due to choking. Fifty strandings of bottlenose dolphins have been reported between 1937 and 2006 in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In those for which a cause of death was determined, four were human related and 11 died of natural causes (including this case). The present case study fits the definitions of “choking” and “asphyxiation. ” The evolved respiratory anatomy of cetaceans in which the larynx is inserted into the nasal passages leading to the blowhole makes asphyxiation due to choking unlikely in odontocetes. However, if the larynx is irreversibly dislodged from its normal position during swallowing, this may cause the dolphin to stop breathing or even drown. Thus, respiratory blockage from a natural prey item represents an uncommon mortality factor associated with piscivorous cetaceans and is the first record of such marine mammal mortality in the Caribbean.
PATTERNS OF LEAF RESISTANCE TO LODGEPOLE PINE TRANSPIRATION IN WYOMING

Leaf resistance (r_L) of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia [Engelm. ex Wats] Critchfield) was measured with an aspirated porometer at three sites in the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming. In the early part of the growing season all the sites had low leaf resistances (3—5 s/cm) and few significant changes in r_L during the day. Towards the end of the growing season, in August, significant increases in midday leaf resistance occurred at all sites. The greatest increase (to 57 s/cm) was found on the driest site. Smaller increases (to 10—14 s/cm) were measured at a dry—mesic site and a mesic site. The results indicate that stomatal control of transpiration is more important towards the end of the growing season and that the degree of control varies with the soil water regime of the site. The response of r_L to soil H_2O status appears to be nonlinear. When based pressure potential readings were above an upper threshold ( -9 bars) r_L did not increase during the day. Below a lower threshold ( -17 bars) r_L increased significantly. Between the two thresholds, changes in r_L under high light conditions are explained more readily by the interaction between vapor pressure deficit and soil H_2O status than by either factor alone.
Variation between and within species of rapeseed (Brassica campestris and B. napus) in response to drought stress. II.* Growth and development under natural drought stresses

Two rapeseed species and cultivars within each of these species differed significantly with respect to the influence of variation in sowing date on growth, development and yield on two different soil types. Soil moisture stress, particularly after anthesis, was the major environmental factor affecting these processes. Grain yield declined markedly with later sowings in both species, and B. napus, despite its later maturity, was more tolerant of severe soil moisture deficits since its grain yield was consistently higher than B. campestris in the more stressed environments. The major distinguishing feature between species contributing most to this difference in yield was the pattern of dry matter accumulation. In B. campestris most of the dry weight of the plant was accumulated after anthesis when drought was most severe, whereas in B. napus dry weight accumulation occurred before anthesis. This resulted in a greater contribution of reserves accumulated by anthesis to grain-filling in B. napus. Most of the variation in seed yield resulted from differences in sowing dates and soil types. When these environmental effects were excluded, the main determinants of genotypic variation in yield were the numbers of pods and branches and harvest index in both species, growth rate in the post-anthesis phase in B. campestris, and plant weight and root/shoot ratio at anthesis in B. napus. Selection strategies for yield improvement in rapeseed growing in drought-stressed environments are discussed. _____________________ *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 29: 469 (1978).
Influence of hatchery smolt releases on adult salmon production and its variability

Regression studies of salmon stock-recruitment relations require a priori assumptions concerning the nature of stock variability as influenced by smolt populations. Such assumptions can lead to biased estimates of the relationships of smolts to the production of adult salmon. This paper utilizes a statistical method which allows the data to determine the interrelationship of smolts and adult production mean and variability without imposing a priori restrictions on the form of such. The estimation process yields two estimated relationships — one explaining the effect of hatchery releases on expected adult production and another explaining the effects of the hatchery releases on the standard deviation of adult production. Application of this model suggests that the standard deviation of adult production increases with the square of the number of seaward migrants both for Hokkaido chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) and for Oregon coho salmon (O. kisutch) and that incorrect inferences may have been obtained abou.
Polychaete Community Structure from Inshore and Offshore of Lake Shihwa (Korea) in March, 2008

Polychaete community structure and its spatial distribution was investigated in 2008 from inshore and offshore of Lake Shihwa, Korea, in order to evaluate status of the benthic environment according to construction of the dike and the water gate. In the present study, the number of species, density, and diversity of polychaete community in inshore was significantly different from those in offshore. The density of polychaete community in offshore increased with the number of species whereas the diversity in inshore increased with the number of species. Dominant species in offshore were 13 species, higher than 1% of the total polychaete individuals. Heteromastus filiformis, known as the most dominant species before the construction of the dike, was the most dominant species in offshore, which collectively account for 54% of the total polychaete individuals. In inshore, the seven species were dominant, higher than 1% of the total individuals. Lumbrineris longifolia, Polydora sp. , Capitella capitata, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, known as pollution tolerant species, contributed to higher than 75% of the total individuals in inshore. Multivariate statistical analyses, non-metric multidimensional scaling, showed apparent difference in polychaete community structure between inshore and offshore, and also difference between inner sites and outer sites of inshore around the water gate. Sediment characteristics (total organic carbon and nitrogen, ignition loss, and acid volatile sulfide) measured in this study also supported to this result. Therefore, this indicates that the offshore provides better benthic environments for polychaete habitation than the inshore, and the inshore around the water gate shows improving benthic environment, compared to the inner inshore.
Effects of the disinfectant Virkon S on early life-stages of the moor frog (Rana arvalis)

Emerging diseases, such as the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, contribute to global population declines of amphibians. Virkon S is one of the most commonly used disinfectants to reduce risk of spreading such pathogens. Virkon S is classified as harmful to aquatic organisms, but until today no negative effects on tadpoles have been reported. We studied the effects of three concentrations of Virkon S on early life-stages (embryos and hatchlings) of the moor frog Rana arvalis. Overall, Virkon S had no significant effects. However, hatching success was highest in the control treatment, suggesting that Virkon S may have weak negative effects on amphibian embryos. We suggest that further studies are needed to assess the negative effect of Virkon S on amphibians, and recommend that Virkon S is used with care and a minimized run-off into natural wetlands.
Molecular markers associated with T and Z, two genes controlling partly colored seed coat patterns in common bean

Five genes control the expression of partly colored seed coat patterns in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), viz., T, Z, L, Bip, and J. Because these genes have complex interactions, giving various seed coat patterns, it often difficult to assign specific effects to a particular gene. The problem is compounded by multiple alleles at T, Z, and L. Molecular markers linked to those pattern genes have the potential to assist in identifying the genes involved in specific interactions. We have begun a series of experiments to identify useful molecular markers linked to these genes. A group of three parental genotypes and five backcross lines were screened by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques to identify putative markers. Potential markers were then mapped in appropriate BC 3 -F 2 populations. To date, recombination has not been detected between RAPD markers OAM13 1350 , and OM19 400 and the T gene. A single recombinant was detected between RAPD marker OAM10 560 and the Z gene, and the marker mapped at a distance of 1.4 centimorgans (cM).