Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endocrine relationships in the induction of oestrus and ovulation in the anoestrous ewe

1. A total of forty-two Suffolk cross-bred and 230 stud Romney Marsh ewes were used in four experiments in which pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (p.m.s.) was used in various combinations with progesterone and oestrogen in attempts to induce fertile mating in anoestrus. 2. Groups of six Suffolk cross-bred ewes were injected with 1000 i.u. p.m.s. after pretreatment, commencing 4 days earlier, with 75 mg. progesterone administered in one of four different ways. Six twice-daily injections in oil resulted in oestrus in five ewes in each of two groups treated. Single injections in oil solution, aqueous suspension, and benzyl alcohol emulsion resulted in oestrus in two, nil, and four ewes, respectively. All were served within 48 hr. of injection of p.m.s. 3. Ovulation was observed in five of six crossbred ewes which received six twice-daily injections of progesterone in oil, without subsequent injection of p.m.s. Three were served. 4. Divided injections of progesterone commencing 4 days before 750–1000 i.u. p.m.s. failed to induce a satisfactory oestrous response in Romney Marsh ewes. An increase to 7 days in the duration of progesterone stimulation resulted in oestrus in all of eighteen ewes treated. 5. The injection of a benzyl alcohol emulsion containing 75 or 150 mg. progesterone, given as a single dose 4 or 7 days before 750 i.u. p.m.s., failed to induce a satisfactory oestrous response. Of seventy-two ewes treated, only seven were served. 6. Lambing results were most unsatisfactory when progesterone-p.m.s. treatment was followed by artificial insemination. Of 144 Romneys inseminated, only twelve lambed. Successful pregnancy appeared unrelated to the type of treatment or the occurrence of oestrus. 7. On the basis of the oestrous responses observed after the injection of a variety of combinations of oestrogen, progesterone, and p.m.s., and by reference to quantitative data on progesterone-oestrogen relationships in oestrous behaviour in the spayed ewe, it is concluded that the developing follicle of the Romney Marsh ewe produces an amount of oestrogen approximately equivalent, in its physiological activity, to a single injection in oil of about 20 μg. oestradiol benzoate.
Tracking Improvements for Nonlinear Systems Using Inversion-Based Feedforward Control and Feedback Control: A Robotic Arm Example

This article seeks approaches to controlling the motion of a robotic arm that needs to follow a given timeprofile trajectory within a required time period. The equation of motion of the robotic arm is derived and it exhibits a nonlinear behavior. This work proposes three different control methods: (i) feedback control approach, (ii) inversion-based feedforward control, and (iii) integration of feedforward control with feedback control. Each control approach is simulated to track time-profile trajectories. The tracking performance for each controller is evaluated through tracking errors. The contributions of this research work are to demonstrate that: (i) the feedback approach cannot properly track the trajectories, and tracking errors may be unacceptable in some applications, (ii) the feedforward approach can substantially enhance the tracking performance, compared to that of the feedback method, and (iii) integration of feedforward control with feedback control method can further improve the tracking and achieve the best tracking performance. The integration of feedforward control method with feedback control approach can perhaps be effectively implemented when very good tracking is required. 
Glacial refugia of temperate trees in Europe: insights from species distribution modelling

1 The Pleistocene is an important period for assessing the impact of climate change on biodiversity. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 21 000 years ago), large glaciers and permafrost reached far south in Europe. Trees are traditionally thought to have survived only in scattered Mediterranean refugia (southern refugia hypothesis), but a recent proposal suggests that trees may have been much more widely and northerly distributed (northern refugia hypothesis). 2 In this study, the southern vs. northern refugia hypotheses were investigated by estimating the potential LGM distributions of 7 boreal and 15 nemoral widespread European tree species using species distribution modelling. The models were calibrated using data for modern species distributions and climate and projected onto two LGM climate simulations for Europe. Five modelling variants were implemented. 3 Models with moderate to good predictive ability for current species range limits and species richness patterns were developed. 4 Broadly consistent results were obtained irrespective of the climate simulation and modelling variant used. Our results indicate that LGM climatic conditions suitable for boreal species existed across Central and Eastern Europe and into the Russian Plain. In contrast, suitable climatic conditions for nemoral tree species were largely restricted to the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Large proportions of these northern and southern regions would have been suitable for a number of boreal or boreal plus nemoral tree species, respectively. 5 These findings are consistent with recent palaeoecological and phylogeographic data regarding LGM distributions of trees and other boreal and nemoral taxa. 6 Synthesis. It is clear that the view of the LGM landscape in Europe as largely treeless, especially north of the Alps, needs to be revised. Trees were probably much more widespread during the LGM than hitherto thought, although patchily distributed at low densities due to low atmospheric CO2 concentrations and high wind‐speeds. The findings presented here help explain the occurrence of mammal assemblages with mixtures of forest, tundra and steppe species at many localities in southern Central and Eastern Europe during the LGM, as well as the phylogeographic evidence for the extra‐Mediterranean persistence of many boreal species.
Modelling the Soft Robot Kyma Based on Real‐Time Finite Element Method

Modelling soft robots is a non‐trivial task since their behaviours rely on their morphology, materials and surrounding elements. These robots are very useful to safely interact with their environment and because of their inherent flexibility and adaptability skills. However, they are usually very hard to model because of their intrinsic non‐linearities. This fact presents a unique challenge in the computer graphics and simulation scopes. Current trends in these fields tend to narrow the gap between virtual and real environments. This work will explain a challenging modelling process for a cable‐driven soft robot called Kyma. For this purpose, the real‐time Finite Element Method (FEM) is applied using the Simulation Open Framework Architecture. And two methods are implemented and compared to optimize the model efficiency: a heuristic one and the Model Order Reduction. Both models are also validated with the real robot using a precise motion tracking system. Moreover, an analysis of robot–object interactions is proposed to test the compliance of the presented soft manipulator. As a result, the real‐time FEM emerges as a good solution to accurately and efficiently model the presented robot while also allowing to study the interactions with its environment.
Physiological, Pathological, and Defense Alterations in Manila Clams (Short-Neck Clams), Ruditapes philippinarum, Induced by Heterocapsa circularisquama

ABSTRACT In a laboratory study, we investigated the clearance rates (CRs), respiration rates (RRs), total hemocyte count (THC), pathological alterations, and mucocyte densities in the gills of the short-neck clam Ruditapes philippinarum when exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama. Within 2 h of exposure to H. circularisquama at a concentration of 5–103 cells/mL, both the CRs and the RRs were significantly decreased by 43–52% compared with the control CRs and 43–93% compared with the control RRs, respectively (ANOVA, Newman-Keuls, P < 0.05). Clams exposed to H. circularisquama at 103 cells/mL for 96 h showed a set of defensive and degenerative pathologies that were absent in control clams. Within 3 h, the gills exhibited cilia matting, followed within 24 h by heavy hemocytic infiltration in the connective tissue of plicae, distortion of filaments, hyperplasia, and fusion of adjacent filaments with matted cilia. Within 48 h, the gill plicae became contracted and showed multifocal epithelial hyperplasia, increased filament fusion, exfoliation of the frontal cilia, epithelial desquamation, and abnormal epithelial masses. After 72 h, the gills presented extensive necrosis of epithelial and connective tissues, atrophy and fusion of the filaments, large masses of gill debris and mucus, and extensive exfoliation and loss of the frontal, laterofrontal, and lateral cilia. After 96 h, the gills of moribund clams exhibited more advanced stages of necrosis and degeneration. Quantitative analysis of the pathological alterations showed that both the prevalence and intensity of the defensive pathologies increased significantly, reaching their maximal values after 24 h of exposure, then decreasing. Meanwhile, the prevalence and intensity of the degenerative pathologies continued to increase throughout the experiments (ANOVA, Newman-Keuls/Fisher's LSD, P < 0.05). In addition, significant decreases in the THC (t-test, P < 0.01) and the total, acid, and mixed mucocyte densities in the gills (ANOVA, Fisher's LSD, P < 0.05) were observed after 48 h of exposure. The current study clearly showed physiological, pathological, and defense alterations induced by H. circularisquama in clams, highlighting the occurrence of cytotoxicity and tissue repair failure. Inhibition of feeding and respiration as well as extensive necrosis in the gills, coupled with depression of defense mechanisms resulting from depletion of hemocytes and mucocytes, ultimately resulted in the death of the clams.
Physico-chemical studies and evaluation of diuretic activity of Cucurbita maxima

In this study physico-chemical nature and diuretic activity was evaluated to establish the purity and diuretic activity by comparing with the standard acetazolamide. Pulp of Cucurbita maxima is a common cost effective Indian dish, rich in nutrients. Physico-chemical parameters like ash values, extractive values and loss on drying were performed to find the purity. The hydro-alcoholic extract was prepared by extracting the powder in soxhlet apparatus for 36 hrs. The laboratory qualitative analysis was done and constituents like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, flavonoids, alkaloids and vitamin C were found. The two doses of extract (150 and 300 mg/kg) were given to the rats. Group I served as control, Group II served as standard and Group III and IV served as test. Electrolytes and urine volume was measured after 5 hrs of treatment and the same was compared with the control and the standard drug acetazolamide. Physico-chemical parameters were in the limit and the extract shows significant (p<0.01) diuretic activity at the dose of 300 mg/kg when compared with control.
Coordinated Control Strategy of PMSG and Cascaded H-Bridge STATCOM in Dispersed Wind Farm for Suppressing Unbalanced Grid Voltage

This article proposes an unbalanced voltage compensation method for a dispersed wind farm (DWF) by cooperating permanent magnetic synchronous generators (PMSGs) with a star-connected cascaded H-bridges (CHB) static synchronous compensator (STATCOM). The topology of a typical DWF is given and the mathematical models of CHB-STATCOM and PMSG inverter are established to show that the unbalanced grid voltage can be suppressed by controlling their virtual negative-sequence output admittance (NSOA). The relationship between maximum phase voltage and dc voltage corresponding to zero-sequence voltage injection is obtained to quantitatively analyze the negative-sequence current injection ability of the CHB-STATCOM. Moreover, the phase current limit is introduced to address the over-current problem, and a virtual NSOA method for sharing unbalanced voltage is proposed. An allocation coefficient calculation method is also proposed in consideration of both remaining capacity and voltage unbalanced factor (VUF) for different PMSGs. Furthermore, a coordinated control strategy of PMSGs and CHB-STATCOM for unbalanced voltage suppression is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed coordinated control strategy is verified by simulation on a 50 MW DWF with a ±5 MVar star-connected CHB-STATCOM.
Circularly polarized defected ground stub‐matched triple‐band microstrip antenna for C‐ and X‐band applications

This article embodies the design and analysis of a novel triple‐band single‐fed circularly polarized (CP) antenna for C‐ and X‐band applications. The proposed antenna covers downlink frequency of C band (3.7‐4.2 GHz) and X band (7.25‐7.3 GHz) for satellite applications. The antenna radiator comprises of F‐shape radiating patch with 50 Ω microstrip feed line. The square strips, slit, and rectangular stub/perturbation are used on the ground plane for achieving the three CP bands. The proposed antenna has −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 50.6% (3.46‐5.71 GHz), 11.8% (6.88‐7.73 GHz), 5.02% (10.84‐11.40 GHz), and 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidth of 11.4% (4.67‐5.24 GHz), 3.02% (7.17‐7.39 GHz), and 10.16% (10.84‐11.15 GHz). The peak gain across the axial ratio bands (4.67‐5.24 GHz, 7.17‐7.39 GHz, and 10.84‐11.15 GHz) are 6.23, 2.07, and 2.11 dBi observed, respectively. The antenna is designed on FR4‐epoxy substrate with an overall volume of (0.53λ0 × 0.53λ0 × 0.02λ0 mm3) at a design frequency of 5 GHz. The simulated and measured results of the proposed antenna have been validated and minor deviation (2.2%, 0.13%, and 0.02% at center frequencies of 4.6, 7.31, and 11.12 GHz, respectively) between simulated and measured results has been observed.
The Dynamics of Seedling and Cotyledon Cell Development in Arabidopsis thaliana During Reserve Mobilization

We have analyzed seedling and cotyledon cell development in Arabidopsis thaliana during reserve mobilization qualitatively and quantitatively and related development to the time scale "hours after imbibition" (HAI). Cell division and elongation occur simultaneously and are observable 18 HAI just behind the radicle apex where a zone of cell elongation is formed prior to radicle emergence. Structurally and biochemically, the transition from a storage to a photosynthetic tissue occurs 48-60 HAI, evidenced by major changes in organelle sizes and numbers; symplast and apoplast volume increases throughout germination, and plastid number and size increase substantially, with a simultaneous decrease in lipid. Vacuome organization changes drastically as it is converted from a protein store to a central, sap-filled vacuolar system; protein bodies initially swell and then fuse during hydrolysis forming a single large structure. The constant cell number in the developing cotyledons demonstrates the relative independence of the organelles in a population of nondividing cells. Mobilization of reserves occurs in a short and well-defined period during seedling emergence 36-60 HAI and occurs first in the endosperm adjacent to the radicle apex. In the seedling, changes begin near the radicle apex and proceed acropetally through the cotyledons 42-84 HAI. Reserves are hydrolyzed preferentially from all the epidermal cells, but mobilization is not associated with vascular strands; protein is mobilized internally from the vacuole. Our data on increasing size, relatively constant microbody numbers and shape, and absence of observable microbody destruction during the presumptive glyoxysome-peroxisome transition period support the "interconversion model" of microbody ontogeny.
Negative syndrome, persistent negative symptoms and deficit syndrome and their associations with severity of clinical symptoms and level of functioning in 20-year schizophrenia

Purpose: The study assessed the associations between negative symptoms measured with the BPRS-WR (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale – Withdrawal, Retardation), persistent negative symptoms (PNS) and deficit syndrome (DS) with severity of symptoms and level of functioning in 20-year schizophrenia. Methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM III were examined during their first psychiatric hospital admission and after 1, 3, 7, 12 and 20 years. The group with the BPRS-WR symptoms was selected on the basis of an evaluation conducted one year after discharge from their first hospitalization. The PNS and DS groups were selected following examinations performed at discharge and one year later. The proxy for deficit syndrome (PDS) method was used to assess DS. Results: A greater severity of negative syndrome and PNS was associated with greater severity of positive symptoms and poorer general functioning at subsequent measurement points. No such associations were found for the DS. A higher BPRS-WR score was the most stable predictor and explainer of a greater severity of positive and negative schizophrenia symptoms and deterioration in subjects’ functioning over the 20-year period. This association often weakened as the observation time lengthened. Conclusions: The association of negative symptoms with the severity of the symptoms of schizophrenia and the level of functioning decreased as the criteria eliminating secondary negative symptoms were gradually introduced.
Effect of feeding boxes on the behavior of stereotyping amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in the Zurich Zoo, Zurich, Switzerland

The stereotyped pacing shown by the two Amur tigers in the Zurich Zoo was hypothesized as being caused by permanently frustrated appetitive foraging behavior. Several electrically controlled feeding boxes were installed and access to each box was possible only twice a day for 15 min at semi-random times. The boxes had to be opened actively by the tigers. Two trials were carried out: one with solitary confinement, and one with paired confinement. During box feeding, the female's stereotyped pacing was significantly reduced from 16% (solitary confinement, conventional feeding) and 7% (paired confinement, conventional feeding) to 1% (solitary confinement) and less than 0.01% (paired confinement) of the daily observed time. The female's sleeping increased significantly in both solitary and paired confinement. The male only showed a significant reduction in stereotyped pacing behavior when kept with the female (conventional feeding: 10%; box feeding: <0.01% of the daily observed time). On days with a box-feeding regime in paired confinement, the male spent 25% (83 min) of the observed time with active behavior at the feeding boxes. The results support the hypothesis that permanently frustrated appetitive foraging behavior causes stereotyped pacing in adult tigers. Zoo Biol 21:573–584, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Accurate Inductance Models of Mounted Two-Terminal Decoupling Capacitors

The inductance associated with a decoupling capacitor is typically represented with a constant equivalent series inductance (ESL). In reality, this inductance depends on how the capacitor is mounted and on coupling to closely located structures, including the traces and vias connecting the capacitor to the power and return planes. Here, a method is proposed to quickly and accurately compute the inductance associated with decoupling capacitors and their connections to the power planes. We call this equivalent inductance ${\boldsymbol{L}_{\boldsymbol{above,decap}}}$. It is calculated by partitioning the geometry into sub-models for the connections to the power and return planes and for the mounted capacitor and pads. The accuracy of the partitioning approach is demonstrated in simulation and experiments using two common decoupling capacitor layouts. Simulations are performed using the finite element method (FEM) and the partial element equivalent circuit (PEEC) method. The partitioning approach estimates the overall inductance associated with the decoupling capacitor and its connections to the power bus within 16% if the distance between the capacitor and reference plane (dielectric thickness) is not more than 6 mils. A simplified PEEC model was further developed which allows a user to estimate the inductance associated with the capacitor using closed-form expressions. This simplified model estimates the capacitor's inductance within 14% of the results found using FEM. The models presented in this work should help both the power distribution network tool designer as well as the design engineer to obtain more accurate inductance estimates than is possible using the manufacturer's ESL value.
Desertification–Scientific Versus Political Realities

Desertification is defined as land degradation occurring in the global drylands. It is one of the global problems targeted under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 15). The aim of this article is to review the history of desertification and to evaluate the scientific evidence for desertification spread and severity. First quantitative estimates of the global extent and severity of desertification were dramatic and resulted in the establishment of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994. UNCCD’s task is to mitigate the negative impacts of desertification in drylands. Since the late 1990s, science has become increasingly critical towards the role of desertification in sustainable land use and food production. Many of the dramatic global assessments of desertification in the 1970s and 1980s were heavily criticized by scientists working in drylands. The used methodologies and the lack of ground-based evidence gave rise to critical reflections on desertification. Some even called desertification a myth. Later desertification assessments relied on remote sensing imagery and mapped vegetation changes in drylands. No examples of large areas completely degraded were found in the scientific literature. In science, desertification is now perceived as a local feature that certainly exists but is not as devastating as was earlier believed. However, the policy arena continues to stress the severity of the problem. Claims that millions of hectares of once productive land are annually lost due to desertification are regularly made. This highlights the disconnection between science and policy, and there is an urgent need for better dialogue in order to achieve SDG 15.
Nutritional Benefits of Phytase and Dietary Determinants of its Efficacy

Abstract Lei, X.G. and Stahl, C.H. 2000. Nutritional benefits of phytase and dietary determinants of its efficacy. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 17: 97–112. Over 60% of the total P in cereal grains and oil seeds and their by-products is found as phytate, myo-inositol hexakisphosphate. Phytases are a group of enzymes that initiate the phosphate hydrolysis from phytate and produce myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate by catalyzing the stepwise removal of the phosphate groups. Microbial phytases effectively improve dietary phytate-P utilization and may partially or completely replace inorganic P supplementation in swine and poultry diets. Replacing inorganic P with phytase in these diets can reduce P excretion by up to 50% and, enhance bioavailabilities of Ca, Zn and Fe. The improvement in nitrogen retention and protein and amino acid utilization by dietary phytase supplementation is relatively small and highly variable. The efficacy of supplemental phytase is affected by at least three dietary factors: Ca:P ratio, cholecalciferol and organic adds.