Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological and metabolic responses of broilers to heat stress - implications for protein and amino acid nutrition

When broilers are necessarily subjected to conditions of constant or cycling high temperatures, there is invariably consideration of changing diet formulation. Such changes may involve substitution of specific ingredients and/or alterations to nutrient levels in the diet. A primary concern is often the appropriate use of protein-rich ingredients and specifically their content of crude protein and amino acids. Broilers eat less at high temperatures, in an attempt to maintain homeothermy. Logically, diets will be fortified with protein and amino acids to counterbalance reduced intake. It is unclear if amino acids needs are altered, at high environmental temperatures, yet it is clear that any such change in level or balance is likely to be of lesser magnitude than change in feed intake. However, there is still controversy as to the direction of change for amino acids and protein under conditions of heat stress. There are specific concerns about the balance of certain amino acids, in particular arginine: lysine and also the source of any synthetic methionine added to correct apparent deficiencies. Balance of amino acids is described relative to pathways for polyamine metabolism.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development

T past two decades have seen a growing worldwide awareness of environmental problems such as loss and degradation of ecological habitats. Nations have responded by adopting multilateral agreements—the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, for example—and many governments have strengthened environmental policies. Moreover, a growing number of companies are changing their business practices to more explicitly address social and environmental responsibility. Indeed, people everywhere have come to recognize that the environment is one of the pillars of sustainable development. This is reflected in the the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Millennium Development Goals, one of which is a commitment to ensure environmental sustainability. Yet despite this growing awareness, the gap between science and environmental policy remains large. More needs to be done to ensure that knowledge generated by the scientific community is brought to bear on policy decisions. At the same time, the scientific community must address the key issues that modern society faces. There have been a number of attempts to strengthen the scientific basis of environmental policies, including a wide range of assessments of current environmental knowledge and its relevance for decisionmaking. Perhaps the best known is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has produced three reports through a process that involves hundreds of scientists worldwide (IPCC 2002). These reports have informed policy decisions adopted in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. A similar process was used to conduct the Global Biodiversity Assessment (Heywood and Watson 1995). Efforts to perform a global international water assessment are ongoing, and a global assessment of agriculture is proposed. These efforts to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the scientific knowledge in these areas have, however, had a limited influence on international policy. I believe this is to a large extent because decisionmakers were not given adequate ownership in some of these processes. It is also a consequence of the limitations to scientists’ understanding of complex environmental problems. One area of particular importance involves the linkages between climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, pollution, and other aspects of the environment (Ayensu et al. 2000). The critical nature of this nexus was identified several years ago, leading to the establishment of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a process that involves a wide range of stakeholders and several hundred scientists worldwide (see www.millenniumassessment.org). The goals of MA are to provide a global assessment of ecosystems, the services they provide, and their importance for The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development
Feeding ecology of dusky dolphins Lagenorhynchus obscurus: evidence from stable isotopes

The dusky dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus occurs in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is restricted to coastal temperate areas. This study aimed to characterize the feeding ecology of dusky dolphins inhabiting northern and central Patagonia by using δ13C and δ15N stable isotope ratios in skin samples. We searched for evidence of geographical and seasonal variation in diet and we explored dietary differences between sexes. Significant differences in the stable isotope ratios of dusky dolphins were found among the 4 gulfs under study. Skin samples from Golfo San Matías and Golfo San Jorge were 13C-enriched and 15N-depleted compared to those from Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José. There was no seasonality in the diet at Golfo Nuevo, and no differences in the diet between sexes in any gulf. Furthermore, Bayesian ellipses of males and females were similar in size and the overlap was mostly symmetrical in Golfo San José and Golfo San Jorge, while in the Golfo San Matías and Golfo Nuevo, females had wider ranges of δ15N, suggesting the exploitation of a wider trophic niche. Finally, pelagic fishes and demersal pelagic squids were identified as the main prey for this species of dolphin, although the proportion of each prey varied regionally.
THE EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY OF TOLERANCE TO CONSUMER DAMAGE

▪ Abstract Recent theoretical studies suggest that the ability to tolerate consumer damage can be an important adaptive response by plants to selection imposed by consumers. Empirical studies have also found that tolerance is a common response to consumers among plants. Currently recognized mechanisms underlying tolerance include several general sets of traits: allocation patterns; plant architecture; and various other traits that may respond to consumer damage, e.g., photosynthetic rate. Theoretical studies suggest that tolerance to consumer damage may be favored under a range of conditions, even when the risk and intensity of damage varies. However, most of these models assume that the evolution of tolerance is constrained by internal resource allocation trade-offs. While there is some empirical evidence for such trade-offs, it is also clear that external constraints such as pollinator abundance or nutrient availability may also limit the evolution of tolerance. Current research also suggests that a ful.
Microencapsulation of Micro-Organisms and Ginger Extract

Micro-organisms Lactobacillus sp. were encapsulated in 3 per cent sodium alginate solution and 0.2M calcium chloride solution. The capsules formed were hardened in calcium chloride solution. To determine the efficiency of bacteria they are released in phosphate buffer. Encapsulation efficiency of Lactobacillus was 91 per cent. This shows amount of ethanol production do not vary with encapsulation. Further the immobilization of lactic acid bacteria also shows that Lactobacillus , isolated from curd, encapsulated in alginate was further lyophilized for its storage. The ginger juice was also encapsulated. The wet and dry weight of the capsules produced in 100 rpm at 0.2 bar pressure was 53.71g and 4.63g, respectively whereas the wet weight and dry weight of capsules produced in 60 rpm and at 0.2bar pressure was 74.10g and 6.93g. Sensory analysis was done which shows that the capsules retained their odour and flavour. Thus, this study revealed that the encapsulation method helps in the preservation of microorganisms and other flavouring compound.
Identification and initial characterization of a copper resistant South African mine isolate

South African mine isolates were screened for resistance to copper, and an isolate showing the highest resistance was identified as Proteus mirabilis, a Gram-negative bacterium, by 16S rDNA gene analysis and Biolog test. A higher minimal inhibitory copper concentration at 150 mg/ml was obtained using Vataanen-Nine-Salts-Solution as a less complex medium. Studies pertaining to the copper resistance mechanism of P. mirabilis showed the organism to possess a pcoA-like gene which encodes PcoA, a putative multicopper oxidase known to protect organisms from copper–mediated toxicity at high concentrations. Key words: Proteus mirabilis, copper resistance gene, multicopper oxidase.
Multiphysics finite element model for the computation of the electro-mechanical dynamics of a hybrid reluctance actuator

ABSTRACT In hybrid reluctance actuators, the achievable closed-loop system bandwidth is affected by the eddy currents and hysteresis in the ferromagnetic components and the mechanical resonance modes. Such effects must be accurately predicted to achieve high performance via feedback control. Therefore, a multiphysics electro-mechanical finite element model is proposed in this paper to compute the dynamics of a 2-DoF hybrid reluctance actuator. An electromagnetic simulation is adopted to compute the electromagnetic dynamics and the actuation torque, which is employed as input for a structural dynamic simulation computing the electro-mechanical frequency response function. For model validation, the simulated and measured frequency response plots are compared for two actuators with solid and laminated outer yoke, respectively. In both cases, the model accurately predicts the measurement results, with a maximum relative phase error of 1.7% between the first resonance frequency and 1 kHz and a relative error of 1.5% for the second resonance frequency.
Role of MRI in diagnostic evaluation of BIH

Objective: To study the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in diagnostic evaluation of benign intracranial hypertension (BIH). Materials and methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Faridabad. The study included twenty seven patients who were diagnosed with benign intracranial hypertension(BIH) based on modified Dandy’s criteria. Results: Middle aged females were more commonly affected. Most commonradiological findings were slit like frontal horns of lateral ventricles and empty sella, present in all of our patients. Findings involving optic nerve were present in 13 out of 27 (48%) of our patients, while 2 of 27 (7%) patients had spontaneous csf leak in presence of BIH. On manometry, CSF opening pressure[OP] was more than 25cm of H 2 O in all the patients. Conclusion: Slit like ventricles, empty sella, vertical kinking of optic nerve anddistension of the perioptic subarachnoid space are importantradiological markers of BIH that contribute to its diagnosis.
Use of Epidemiologic and Food Survey Data To Estimate a Purposefully Conservative Dose-Response Relationship for Listeria monocytogenes Levels and Incidence of Listeriosis †.

The development of effective quantitative microbial risk-assessment models for foodborne pathogens depends on the availability of data on the consumers' exposure to a biological agent and the dose-response relationship that relates levels of the biological agent ingested with frequency of infection or disease. Information on the latter has historically been acquired from human volunteer feeding studies. However, such studies are not feasible for pathogens that either have a significant risk of being life threatening or for which morbidity is primarily associated with high-risk populations (i.e., immunocompromised persons). For these pathogens, it is proposed that purposefully conservative dose-response relationships can be estimated on the basis of combining available epidemiologic data with food-survey data for a ready-to-eat product. As an example, data on the incidence of listeriosis in Germany were combined with data on the levels of Listeria monocytogenes in smoked fish to generate a dose-response curve for this foodborne pathogen.
Inactivation of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus conidia by diffuse and total solar radiation

The detrimental photic effects of natural solar radiation on the conidial persistence of the entomopathogenic hyphomycete Paecilomyces fumosoroseus were investigated by exposing quiescent conidia either to total solar radiation or to its diffuse component. A given amount of UVB diffuse radiation was found to be as detrimental, and sometimes twice as detrimental, as the same amount of total solar radiation. The variability in quantity and spectral distribution of the diffuse component of UVB solar radiation reaching the earth's surface, observed through spectral measurements, may be responsible for the difference in biological effects.
Impact of I/Q Imbalance on Amplify-and-Forward Relaying: Optimal Detector Design and Error Performance

Future wireless communication systems face several transceiver hardware imperfections that may significantly degrade their performance. In-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) imbalance (IQI), which causes self-interference effects on the desired signal, is an important and practical example to these impairments. In this paper, a channel state information-assisted dual-hop amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying system in the presence of IQI is analyzed. The error performance of the relevant AF cooperative protocol is firstly studied by considering the traditional maximum likelihood detection (MLD) algorithm as a benchmark. Then, two compensation methods, weighting and zero-forcing, are proposed to mitigate the IQI effects. Finally, an optimal MLD solution is introduced by adapting the traditional MLD technique in compliance with the asymmetric characteristics of the IQI. The system performance is evaluated in terms of average symbol error probability (ASEP) through the computer simulations. The ASEP is calculated analytically for the optimal MLD method as well under the assumption of point-to-point communication, which has been envisioned as an allied technology of the fifth generation (5G) wireless systems, between the source and the relay nodes. A power allocation algorithm is provided for this specific case. The extensive computer simulations and analytical results prove that the proposed optimal MLD method provides the best results.
The influence of rice fibre fractions on the in vitro fermentation production of short chain fatty acids using human faecal micro flora

Summary A study was conducted to assess the effects of rice dietary fibre on the fermentative activity of human faecal microflora. Dietary fibre was extracted from four commercially available Sri Lankan rice varieties [LD 356, AT 353 (red in colour); BG 352, and BG 358 (white in colour)], and separated into individual fractions of total dietary fibre (TDF), insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) and soluble dietary fibre (SDF). Four healthy human subjects were given a diet containing the four rice varieties for more than 4 months prior to the study. Faecal microflora was obtained from human volunteers, after the 4 months of rice based diet, and used for anaerobic fermentation of the individual rice fibres. Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) production was analysed at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h by gas liquid chromatography. Among the SCFA, acetate was the most abundant acid formed in all rice varieties. The fibre fractions from rice variety LD 356 (TDF16.73%, SDF 3.57%, 11.9% IDF) gave the highest yield of SCFA while the variety BG 358 gave the least. Total dietary fibre of all rice varieties contributed to produce more SCFA than the individual soluble dietary fibre and insoluble dietary fibre fractions.
QoE-Assured Live Streaming via Satellite Backhaul in 5G Networks

Satellite communication has recently been included as one of the key enabling technologies for 5G backhauling, especially for the delivery of bandwidth-demanding enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) applications in 5G. In this paper, we present a 5G-oriented network architecture that is based on satellite communications and multi-access edge computing to support eMBB applications, which is investigated in the EU 5GPPP phase-2 satellite and terrestrial network for 5G project. We specifically focus on using the proposed architecture to assure quality-of-experience (QoE) of HTTP-based live streaming users by leveraging satellite links, where the main strategy is to realize transient holding and localization of HTTP-based (e.g., MPEG-DASH or HTTP live streaming) video segments at 5G mobile edge while taking into account the characteristics of satellite backhaul link. For the very first time in the literature, we carried out experiments and systematically evaluated the performance of live 4K video streaming over a 5G core network supported by a live geostationary satellite backhaul, which validates its capability of assuring live streaming users’ QoE under challenging satellite network scenarios.
Selecting ecotonal landscape units on Meridional Plateau, Southern Brazil

SUMMARY The Escarpa Devoniana environmental protection area, located in the Meridional Plateau of South Brazil, supports a high diversity mosaic of native araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia) forests and grasslands patches. In order to conduct studies of its dynamics, the biodiversity of grassland-forest ecotones in South Brazil Project team has been developing a methodological approach for sorting ecotonal areas for sampling. This essay validates this methodology to the major grasslands occurrence area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome, the Campos Gerais region. The entire area was divided into a 1 x 1 km grid that was overlayed with vegetation typology files. The criteria for quadrat selecting were: (a) 25 % or more of forest remnants; (b) 25 % or more of grasslands remnants; (c) at least 20 % of contact between them. The non-supervisioned classification potential ecotonal areas were validated through visual checking in a high resolution qualitative way, always by the same operator. The quadrats could be achieved by the researchers in a *. kmz file, which allows someone selecting them in the Google Earth platform.
Ancestral Areas: A Cladistic Reinterpretation of the Center of Origin Concept

The search for centers of origin has fallen into disrepute because of unfounded assumptions and spurious criteria. Nevertheless, a proper approach to understanding ancestral areas would enhance the study of the natural history of organisms. If there is reason to assume that a group originally had a more restricted distribution than it has today, a method for estimating that ancestral distribution is warranted. I describe a cladistic procedure for approximating ancestral areas of individual groups from the topological information in their area cladograms. Each area is treated as a single character, which may be optimized onto the cladogram using either forward or reverse Camin-Sokal parsimony (.)
Behaviour of temperate and sub-tropical reef fishes towards a stationary SCUBA diver

Using remote underwater stereo–video systems we examined fish behaviour towards a stationary SCUBA diver at temperate (Rottnest Island) and sub-tropical (Houtman Abrolhos Islands) reefs in Western Australia. Changes in species richness, relative abundance, fish length, and the mean distance of individual fish from stereo–video cameras, in the presence and absence of a SCUBA diver, were assessed to infer changes in behaviour. Results show that a stationary SCUBA diver may obtain accurate measures of species richness and of the composition of fish assemblages in an area. However, the usefulness of these measures to reflect changes in fish behaviour appears limited as responses of fish towards the stationary SCUBA diver were highly species specific. Several species differed in their mean relative abundance (Heterodontus portusjacksoni, Coris auricularis, Thalassoma lunare), length (Ophthalmolepsis lineolatus, C. auricularis), and the distance to which they would approach the stereo–video systems (Kyphosus sydneyanus, Scarus schlegeli) when a SCUBA diver was present. Here, species-specific changes in the behaviour of several common and abundant fish species towards a stationary SCUBA diver advises caution to avoid biases when interpreting results obtained by SCUBA divers.
Cytotaxonomy, heterochromatic polymorphism and natural triploidy of a species of Astyanax (Pisces, Characidae) endemic to the Iguaçu river basin

Cytogenetic analysis with Astyanax sp. D revealed a karyotype of 2n=50 with 2M+26SM+6ST+16A, besides a triploid specimen showing 2n=75 chromosomes (3M+39SM+9ST+24A). C-banding strongly stained the terminal regions of several SM-ST-A chromossomes. Two pairs of acrocentric chromosomes presented interstitial heterochromatin, this state being polymorphic and occuring due to possible paracentric inversions. The results obtained with the AluI restriction enzyme and A3 chromomycin were similar to the C-banding. Relationships were proposed between Astyanax sp. D and A. scabripinnis, as well as considerations for a possible origin of the triploid specimen (2n=3x=75). When comparing the present results with cytogenetic features of other endemic Astyanax species in the Iguacu river (A. sp. B and C), a clear differentiation was observed between them, indicating cytogenetics as an important cytotaxonomic tool.
A new method for the synchronous displacement of objects with unknown size, shape and mechanical properties

ABSTRACT The paper deals with the problem of placing objects coming from an input transportation system – conveyor belt – on a specific position of another output moving transportation system and with time and velocity synchronization. The paper focuses on the case of the synchronous and precise placing of objects without predefined patterns of shapes and when they have unknown mechanical properties or when classic picking techniques are not applicable, due to the objects mechanical properties: frozen objects, sliding objects, very hot objects, etc. For such a type of objects, the paper proposes a new automatic handling approach to maximize the flexibility to objects adaptation by simplifying systems mechanic-especially concerning objects grip and moving to the system computational part the work of dealing with the variability of the objects properties. This approach avoids picking the objects to be lifted. Instead, they are slid over the conveyor belts faster or slower than them. Two controlled barriers or fingers – front and rear – push and hold back the object. This way, the velocity of the sliding movement of the object may be controlled, in order to synchronize the output of the object from the input belt with a specific object position from the output belt.
Double diversity optical coherence tomography

ABSTRACT This article provides theoretical analysis for a new generation of optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanners to overcome some main limitations of the technology. In the new design, exposure and detection are not limited to plane-waves that enter or reflect back from the sample exclusively orthogonally. Instead, the sample is scanned by more complex radiation patterns such as spherical or partially spherical light waves. Images that are generated based on this data acquisition strategy can reveal some structural features of the sample that usually remain hidden in conventional OCT imaging. Coherence tomography is based on wide-band reflectometry. Therefore, wavelength diversity is an essential element of technology. The proposed system adds a second form of diversity to the conventional OCT design, which is the angle of incidence for exposure and detection. Since the exposing beam is not necessarily orthogonal to the sample's surface, the propagation wave-vector of the beam has a component in the transverse plane. The amplitude and direction of this transverse component is the second diversity dimension added to the new design. Here, the forward problem is formulated for the most general case, and an efficient image reconstruction algorithm is offered based on the theory of singular value decomposition in continuous space. It is proved mathematically that at the limit, when the amplitude of the transverse component of the wave-vector approaches zero, the formulation of the forward and inverse problems converge to the case of conventional OCT.