Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of addition of sawdust ash to clay bricks

This article presents a preliminary assessment of the effect of adding sawdust ash (SDA) to clay for the purpose of making bricks. Bricks are made with SDA, fired to temperatures of 200 °C, 600 °C and 1200 °C and cured for 1, 4 and 8 days, respectively. The purpose of curing is to allow the limestone (CaCO3) converted to quick lime during firing to hydrate without expansion in the volume of the bricks. Measurements taken on the comprehensive strength, water absorption and linear shrinkage show that the compressive strength of the bricks decreased as SDA was increased and maximum compressive strength was achieved at a firing temperature of 600 °C, curing for 1 day and at 10% SDA replacement. The low value recorded for the compressive strength may be attributed to low content of Al2O3 and the mullite content. Water absorption also increased as the SDA was increased but the values obtained were within the code specification of Indian Standard IS: 1077. Addition of SDA reduced the effect of shrinkage.
Interdecadal changes in the links between European precipitation and atmospheric circulation during boreal spring and fall

Abstract A gridded monthly terrestrial precipitation from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU), University of East Anglia data set and the UK Met Office Northern Hemisphere mean sea level pressure data are used to investigate interdecadal changes in the relationships between precipitation variability over Europe and atmospheric circulation in the Atlantic—European sector during boreal spring and fall. Singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis, performed for the climatic periods of strong/weak links to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) during spring and fall, revealed considerable interdecadal changes both in the strength and the structure of the links between European precipitation and regional atmospheric circulation. During periods of strong links to the NAO, the leading SVD mode is characterized by the NAO-like meridional dipole in sea level pressure (SLP) fields and associated opposite precipitation variations over northern/southern Europe. When the links to the NAO are weak, the leading SVD mode is represented by the tripole pattern in SLP fields over the North Atlantic—European region, driving regional precipitation variability both in spring and fall. Further correlation analysis has shown that this mode is associated with the Scandinavian teleconnection pattern (SCA). Thus, for the considered seasons during periods of weak NAO influence, the SCA plays a role of major driver of the regional precipitation variability
Effect of level of concentrate fed once or twice daily on the milk production of cows grazing tropical pasture

A group of 40 Holstein-Fresian cows grazing tropical pastures were supplemented from 14 days after calving with a grain-based concentrate containing 15% protein. Concentrate was given at nil, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kg/cow. day fed once daily after morning milking, and 4, 6, and 8 kg/cow.day in 2 equal feeds, after morning milking and before evening milking. The experimental period was 250 days for cows fed once daily and 150 days for those fed twice daily. Over 250 days of lactation, the milk yield of cows fed once daily was significantly increased with increasing grain feeding, from 12.8 kg/day for the nil group t o 20 kg/day for the 8 kg group. Milkfat percentage was lower (P<0.05) for cows given 8 kg grain concentrate daily than for those given 2-4 kg, and total fat yield increased (P<0.1) with up to 4kg/cow.day. Protein percentages were similar across treatments, and protein yield increased (P<0.05) with grain level. Lactose percentage was increased (P<0.05) with concentrate feeding, and lactose yield increased (P<0.05) with increasing concentrate level. Fat-corrected milk (FCM) increased (P<0.05) from 3046 kg at nil concentrate to 4465 kg at 8 kg/cow. day. Over the first 150 days of lactation, milk yield increased from 19.5 kg/day for cows fed once daily to 21.7kg/day for those fed twice daily. Milkfat and protein percentages were similar. Greatest responses to twice-daily feeding occurred at 6 kg concentrate/cow.day. It was concluded that total milk yield increased linearly to 8 kg concentrate/cow.day, but FCM yield was at a maximum at 6 kg concentrate1cow.day. There were advantages in feeding 6 kg concentrate twice daily.
Efficient parameter estimation for a highly chaotic system

We present a practical, efficient and powerful solution to the problem of parameter estimation in highly non-linear models. The method is based on the ensemble Kalman filter, and has previously been successfully applied to a simple climate model with steady-state dynamics. We demonstrate, via application to the well-known Lorenz model, that the method can successfully perform multivariate parameter estimation even in the presence of chaotic dynamics. Traditional variational methods using an adjoint model have limited applicability to problems of this nature, and the alternative of a brute force (or randomized) search in parameter space is prohibitively expensive for high-dimensional applications. The cost of our method is comparable to that of integrating an ensemble to statistical convergence, and therefore this technique appears to be ideally suited for probabilistic climate prediction.
Honey botanical origin determination by electronic nose

Summary Four different honey types (Acacia, Robinia pseudoacacia; chestnut, Castanea sativa; lime, Tilia sp.; sage, Salvia officinalis) from Croatia were analysed using an electronic nose to capture the aroma profile. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were used to determine the botanical origin of honey samples. Overall accurate classification was over 90% which suggests that an electronic nose could be used as fast screening method for the determination of honey botanical origin.
A 14 300-YR PALEOECOLOGICAL PROFILE OF A LOWLAND TROPICAL LAKE IN PANAMA'

The first paleoecological analysis of a complete sedimentary record spanning the period from the late Pleistocene to the present from lowland Panama, documents changes in lowland vegetation communities through major climatic change and the onset of human disturbance. Past sympatry is found among presently allopatric species, suggesting that tropical forest communities are not species-stable through time. Late Pleistocene floras at Lake La Yeguada (elevation 650 m), Panama, had high relative abundance of montane forest elements, e.g., Quercus and Magnolia, existing some 900 m below their present range, suggesting a climatic cooling of - 50C below present. This descent of montane forest taxa onto lowland hilltops denied the ground to postulated lowland rain forest refugia. The late Pleistocene (14 350-11 050 yr BP) was not uniformly cool and was interrupted by brief phases of near present-day warming. The onset of the Holocene was abrupt, taking < 100 yr, and was almost coincidental with the start of human forest disturbance. Changes in climate at La Yeguada were found to be largely synchronous with those documented at Lake Valencia, Venezuela, but no fine-scale climatic synchrony was apparent with South American or European sites, and significant departures from the predictions of published climatic circulation models are found.
Spatially and temporally varying adaptive covariance inflation for ensemble filters

Abstract Ensemble filters are used in many data assimilation applications in geophysics. Basic implementations of ensemble filters are trivial but are susceptible to errors from many sources. Model error, sampling error and fundamental inconsistencies between the filter assumptions and reality combine to produce assimilations that are suboptimal or suffer from filter divergence. Several auxiliary algorithms have been developed to help filters tolerate these errors. For instance, covariance inflation combats the tendency of ensembles to have insufficient variance by increasing the variance during the assimilation. The amount of inflation is usually determined by trial and error. It is possible, however, to design Bayesian algorithms that determine the inflation adaptively. A spatially and temporally varying adaptive inflation algorithm is described. A normally distributed inflation random variable is associated with each element of the model state vector. Adaptive inflation is demonstrated in two low-order model experiments. In the first, the dominant error source is small ensemble sampling error. In the second, the model error is dominant. The adaptive inflation assimilations have better mean and variance estimates than other inflation methods.
Liveweight gain and wool production of sheep grazing Lotus corniculatus and lucerne (Medicago sativa)

Abstract Two grazing experiments were conducted to compare the productivity of lactating ewes (Experiment 1) and weaned lambs (Experiment 2) grazing swards of Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil; cv. Grasslands Goldie), lucerne (Medicago sativa; cv. Grasslands Oranga), and a mixture of lucerne and lotus. Measurements were made of pre‐ and post‐grazing herbage mass, the composition of the feed on offer and diet selected, and of voluntary feed intake (VFI; Experiment 2 only), body growth, and wool growth. From the agronomic measurements, it was concluded that the diet selected was mainly leaf in both experiments. Total condensed tannin (CT) content was 32–57 g/kg DM for lotus, 8–10 g/kg DM for the mixture, and negligible for lucerne (less than 2 g/kg DM). In Experiment 1, ewe wool production and lamb liveweight gain (LWG) did not differ between forages, but ewe LWG was greater on lotus than on lucerne (251 versus 65 g/day; P < 0.001), with the mixture being intermediate (115 g/day). In Experiment 2, VFI (.
Foraging by bumble bees on patches of artificial flowers: a laboratory study

A remotely controlled artificial flower system for investigation of bumble bee foraging behaviour in the laboratory is described. The behaviour of Bombus atratus Fkln. workers from captive colonies trained to forage on patches of artificial flowers in a flight room conformed well to the predictions of optimal foraging theory. Within-patch movement was systematic, tending to minimize repeat visits to flowers sampled previously. Between-patch movement was influenced both by frequency of encounters with empty flowers in the first patch and by inter-patch distance.
Efeitos do fracionamento do cálcio dietário e granulometria do calcário sobre o desempenho e qualidade dos ovos de poedeiras comerciais

Effects of dietary calcium fractionation and limestone particle size on performance and egg quality of commercial laying hens. The performance and egg quality of 270 ISA Babcock layers, aged 40 weeks, fed diets with different calcium (Ca) levels and limestone particle size were evaluated. The experimental design was randomized in a 3x3 factorial scheme: Ca fractionation - g morning : g afternoon (2:2, 1:3 and 3:1) and limestone particle size (coarse, fine and blended) totalizing nine treatments with five replications of six hens each. Performance was not influenced by the treatments, except feed and Ca intakes. Hens fed with 3:3g Ca, in the morning or in the afternoon, had higher Ca and feed intake. However, there was no effect on daily total Ca intake. Egg specific gravity was improved when hens were fed with coarse and blended limestones. Results showed that Ca fractionation did not influence performance and egg shell quality. Egg specific gravity is improved when hens are fed with coarse and blended limestones.
Performance of Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at two Different Seeding Rates and Nitrogen Levels under Contrasting Environmental Conditions

The aim of this investigation was to obtain information about differences between spelt and wheat in relation to their performance under low-input conditions. Two spelt varieties (Oberkulmer, Hercule) and two wheat varieties (Anna, Iend) were grown at two different seeding rates (S1 = 200; S2 = 400 kernels/m2) and two nitrogen levels (Nl = 80 kg N/ha; N2 = 110 kg N/ha) at two contrasting locations (Muri; altitude 459 m asl; Oberwallestalden: altitude 1011 m asl). No growth regulators and fungicides were applied. The overall mean for the “husked” yield (grains and glumes) of spelt was not significantly different from the grain yield of wheat. At the higher site Oberwallestalden however, the “husked” yield of spelt was 10.5 % higher than the grain yield of wheat. Although the number of ears per m2 was higher at S2 than at S1, spelt and wheat produced a similar yield at both seeding rates (spelt: S1 = 96 % of S2; wheat: S1 = 95 % of S2) due to the higher single ear weight at S1. The reaction of spelt and wheat to nitrogen was similar. The yield was 10 % higher at N2 than at Nl for both species. The performance of spelt under low-input conditions was better than for wheat in marginal areas for cereal production only.
Characterization of micrococcaceae isolated from dry fermented sausage

Abstract One hundred Micrococcaceae strains were isolated from two types of naturally fermented dry sausages at four different stages of the ripening process in order to select the most suitable strains according to their technological characteristics including antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Identification of the isolates revealed that 91% belonged to genus Staphylococcus, whereas 5% were identified as Kocuria varians, 2% asArthrobacter agilis and 2% as Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis. The species most often isolated was S. saprophyticus (22%), followed by S. carnosus (20%) and S. xylosus (10%). The isolated strains of S. xylosus (10 isolates), S. carnosus (20 isolates) and K. varians (five isolates) were further characterized. A large majority of the above strains was able to grow in the presence of 10% and 15% NaCl, to reduce nitrates at 18°C and to hydrolyse casein. The majority of the strains of S. xylosus produced acetoin and 30% of them hydrolysed tributyrin. All S. xylosus strains and a large majority of S. carnosus and K. varians strains exhibited an anti-listerial activity against three Listeria monocytogenes strains.The enzymatic potential of the strains was evaluated using the API ZYM system. S. xylosus strains exhibited high β -galactosidase and esterase–lipase activities, whereas S. carnosus strains indicated strong cysteine aminopeptidase and acid phosphatase activities and K. varians indicated very weak activities of the enzymes tested. A rapid characterization of the above strains according to their enzymatic pattern could be achieved in order to follow the strains selected as starter cultures during sausage fermentation. The contribution of the selected strains to a possible inhibition ofL. monocytogenes in situ on fermented meats would be of considerable interest to enhance the hygienic quality of these products.
Winter time flow over and around Greenland: trajectories related to torques

Results of first steps towards a dynamically oriented climatology of winter time flow over and around Greenland are presented. The synoptic situations in the Greenland area are classified with respect to Greenland’s axial mountain torque. This torque is positive (negative) if the surface pressure at the eastern slope is higher (lower) than at the windward side. Mean trajectories are calculated from correlations of observed flows with the torque. Three classes of trajectories are formed: ‘blocked’, ‘over’ and ‘around’. It is found for low-level starting points west of Greenland, that blocked trajectories are most common for positive torques while the bulk of the trajectories is deflected around Greenland or crosses the massif for negative torques. These results are shown to be broadly consistent with the standard non-dimensional height criterion. Flow splitting is common to the west of Greenland. Stagnation points are found west of Greenland but also above the eastern slopes. Tip jets occur for negative torque events only.
Gene flow, growth, and competitiveness of imazethapyr-resistant common sunflower

Abstract This study was conducted to ascertain movement potential of imazethapyr resistance and to measure the relative growth and productivity of imazethapyr-resistant (IR) and imazethapyr-susceptible (IS) biotypes of common sunflower under noncompetitive and competitive conditions. Susceptible biotypes of common sunflower were planted in the field in concentric circles at distances of 5.5, 8.0, 15.0, and 30.0 m around a center of densely planted IR biotypes in four locations in northeast Kansas in 1998 and 1999. Pollen movement was analyzed by sampling the IS progeny for the presence of imazethapyr resistance. The distance in which resistance is first detected from the IR pollen source, first unnatural resistant distance (FURD), ranged from 12.1 to 15.5 m. Wind direction was highly correlated with FURD; the north sections had larger FURD. Greenhouse studies were conducted to study growth of IR and IS biotypes under noncompetitive and competitive conditions. Under noncompetitive conditions, leaf area and dry weight were slightly greater for the IR than the IS biotype at early growth stages, but photosynthesis and height were similar. Under competitive conditions, photosynthesis, leaf area, height, and dry weight of IR and IS biotypes were similar. As a result, IR–IR and IS–IS intracompetition equaled IR–IS intercompetition. Gene flow from IR to IS biotypes occurred with movement up to 15.5 m. The lack of differences between growth of the IR and IS biotype at late growth stages in noncompetitive conditions and similar growth of IR and IS biotypes under competitive conditions indicated no competitive advantage from imazethapyr resistance. Nomenclature: Imazethapyr; common sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. HELAN.
Using rbcL sequence data to reassess the taxonomic position of some Grateloupia and Dermocorynus species (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta) from the north-eastern Atlantic

Grateloupia is one of the most taxonomically complex genera of the Cryptonemiales. Of four species reported to occur in Ireland and Britain, only G. filicina (J.V. Lamouroux) C. Agardh and G. dichotoma J. Agardh are considered as native, with Grateloupia filicina var. luxurians A. Gepp & E.S. Gepp and G. doryphora (Montagne) Howe thought to be recent introductions. Sequence data from the plastid-encoded rbcL gene have been used to assist in clarifying the taxonomic position of these and other members of the Halymeniaceae from Ireland, Britain and neighbouring coasts. Molecular and morphological evidence indicate that the introduced alga G. filicina var. luxurians is only distantly related to the type species, G. filicina. It is here raised to species status as G. luxurians (A. Gepp & E.S. Gepp) R.J. Wilkes, L.M. McIvor & Guiry, stat. nov. A further species, Grateloupia minima P.L. Crouan & H.M. Crouan, has also been reported in the north-eastern Atlantic, but is currently considered as a seasonal or juvenile form of G. filicina. Based on morphological evidence and sequence data, G. minima is distinct from G. filicina, and is hereby reinstated. Although rarely reported, the closely related taxon, Dermocorynus montagnei P. L. Crouan & H. M. Crouan was also included in this study. Molecular and morphological data place Dermocorynus in a clade of Grateloupia species and we therefore propose that Dermocorynus be placed in synonymy with Grateloupia. The relationship between morphology and phylogeny within Grateloupia is discussed in the light of these results.
An electron microscopical study on the genesis of lipofuscin, melanin and haemosiderin in the haemopoietic tissues of fish

The mode of origin of the pigments within the macrophages of the haemopoietic tissues of some fish species was studied with the electron microscope. Lipofuscin appears to be derived from damaged cellular components, such as effete mitochondria, through the peroxidation of their unsaturated lipids. Haemosiderin is almost certainly derived from the breakdown of haemoglobin from effete erythrocytes. Melanin appears to be derived from phagocytosis of melanin granules or their precursor organelles from melanin-containing cells. Both lipid peroxidation and haemoglobin breakdown produce free radicals and cations which are potentially toxic. Melanin absorbs free radicals and has strong affinity for cations and it is probable that they are neutralized by the melanin in macrophages. The electron micrographs published here illustrate the association of the lysosomal apparatus with pigment formation in fish melano-macrophages. These findings appear valid for all the species examined and may apply to all fish. It has been suggested that fish melano-macrophage centres represent primitive analogues of the germinal centres of higher animals. This study reveals that melanocyte-like cells outnumber melano-macrophages in the kidney of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. Moreover, like melano-macrophages, these cells increase markedly in number during starvation.
Astrocytes, Not Neurons, Produce Docosahexaenoic Acid (22:6ω‐3) and Arachidonic Acid (20:4ω‐6)

Abstract: Elongated, highly polyunsaturated derivatives of linoleic acid (18:2ω‐6) and linolenic acid (18:3ω‐3) accumulate in brain, but their sites of synthesis are not fully characterized. To investigate whether neurons themselves are capable of essential fatty acid elongation and desaturation or are dependent upon the support of other brain cells, primary cultures of rat neurons and astrocytes were incubated with [1‐14C]18:2ω‐6, [1‐14C]20:4ω‐6, [1‐14C]18:3ω‐3, or [1‐14C]20:5ω‐3 and their elongation/desaturation products determined. Neuronal cultures were routinely incapable of producing significant amounts of Δ4‐desaturase products. They desaturated fatty acids very poorly at every step of the pathway, producing primarily elongation products of the 18‐ and 20‐carbon precursors. In contrast, astrocytes actively elongated and desaturated the 18‐ and 20‐carbon precursors. The major metabolite of 18:2ω‐6 was 20:4ω‐6, whereas the primary products from 18:3ω‐3 were 20:5ω‐3, 22:5ω‐3, and 22:6ω‐3. The majority of the long‐chain fatty acids formed by astrocyte cultures, particularly 20:4ω‐6 and 22:6ω‐3, was released into the extracellular fluid. Although incapable of producing 20:4ω‐6 and 22:6ω‐3 from precursor fatty acids, neuronal cultures readily took up these fatty acids from the medium. These findings suggest that astrocytes play an important supportive role in the brain by elongating and desaturating ω‐6 and ω‐3 essential fatty acid precursors to 20:4ω‐6 and 22:6ω‐3, then releasing the long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for uptake by neurons.
Seasonal changes in shark testicular structure and spermatogenesis

In this report, seasonal changes in testicular structure and spermatogenesis in several shark species are reviewed, and new information concerning the bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo, is presented. Shark species are separated into four categories based on the relationship between testicular GSI and mating season: 1) species that have a defined seasonal cycle in GSI and a defined mating season, 2) species that have a defined seasonal cycle in GSI and that mate year-round, 3) species that show no seasonal change in GSI but that have a defined mating season, and 4) species that show no seasonal change in GSI but that mate year-round. The testis of S. tiburo differs from the few species that have been examined in that 1) not all spermatogenic stages are present at all times of the year, 2) an annual zone of degeneration that progresses through the testis is not present, and 3) there appears to be complete testicular regression and recrudescence.