Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance, carcass conformation and meat quality of suckling, weaned and heavy lambs, and culled fattened ewes of autochthonous alpine sheep breeds

Abstract Several local sheep breeds of the Alpine regions are in danger of extinction as a result of mountain farms being abandoned. Three fattening trials were carried out on 4 breeds of the Veneto region (Foza, Lamon, Alpagota, and Brogna) on a total of 115 ewes and suckling lambs, weaned lambs and heavy lambs slaughtered at 1356 ± 267, 104 ± 24, 219 ± 26, and 342 ± 14 d of age, respectively. The results confirmed that the adoption of total mixed diets resulted in good in vivo and post mortem performances of culled ewes (64 kg slaughter weight, 48% dressing percentage), suckling lambs (21 kg, 50%), weaned lambs (30 kg, 42%) and heavy lambs (61 kg, 48%). Carcass compactness and fatness increased with the age of the lambs, whereas the proportions of lean meat and bone decreased. Meat lightness and cooking losses decreased with age, whereas redness and chroma increased. The meat quality of culled ewes was like that of heavy lambs. Carcass conformation and composition (aside from size traits), and the quality of the meat differed little among the four Alpine breeds. These results show that local breeds are potentially valuable sources of lamb and mutton meat across different seasons, paving the way for strategies to develop and promote the meat with the involvement of high-quality restaurants and meat retailers. Highlights Compared to outdoor grazing, the adoption of indoor diets resulted in good in vivo and post-mortem performances of ewes, suckling lambs and heavy lambs. Autochthonous Alpine breeds are potentially valuable sources of high-quality lamb and mutton across different seasons of the year. This potential could be exploited in developing a prestigious product aimed at high quality restaurants and butchers. The subsequent demand for the product would, in turn, contribute to the survival of the local sheep breeds of Alpine regions.
Analysis of the Influence of CO2 Concentration on a Spark Ignition Engine Fueled with Biogas

Biogas is one of the alternative solutions that could reduce the usage of fossil fuels and production of greenhouse gas emissions, as biogas is considered as an alternative fuel with a short carbon cycle. During biogas production, organic matter is decomposed during an anaerobic digestion process. Biogas mainly consists of methane and carbon dioxide, of which the ratio varies depending on the raw material and parameters of the production process. Therefore, engine parameters should be adjusted in relationship with biogas composition. In this research, a spark ignition engine was tested for mixtures of biogas with 0 vol%, 20 vol%, 40 vol% and 50 vol% of CO2. In all experiments, two cases of spark timing (ST) were used; the first one is a constant spark timing (26 crank angle degrees (CAD) before top dead center (BTDC)) and the second one is an advanced spark timing (optimal for biogas mixture). Results show that increasing the CO2 concentration and using constant spark timing increases the mass burned fraction combustion duration by 90%, reduces the in-cylinder pressure and leads to a reduction in the brake thermal efficiency and nitrogen oxides emissions at all measurement points. However, the choice of optimal spark timing increases the brake thermal efficiency as well as hydrocarbon and CO2 emission.
New Simplified Method for Parameter Estimation of Three-Dimensional Channel Model in Third Generation Partnership Project

The emerging fifth generation technology has attracted the attention of many researchers and developers. It is designed to connect everyone and everything together including machines, vehicles, objects, and devices. One of the fifth generation research topics that are being investigated is the modelling of the wireless communication channel. In this paper, Third Generation Partnership Project channel models are studied and its variant Three-Dimensional Third Generation Partnership Project model is examined. This model is complex and not easy to use due to the employment of a large number of parameters. For these reasons, a new simplified method for parameter estimation of the three-dimensional model of third generation partnership project based on estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariant techniques algorithm is proposed. The simplified model is less complex than the three-dimensional model of third generation partnership project and is found to perform better in terms of computational time while maintaining similar results.
Cloud Radar Observations of Diurnal and Seasonal Cloudiness over Reunion Island

In November 2016, a 95 GHz cloud radar was permanently deployed in Reunion Island to investigate the vertical distribution of tropical clouds and monitor the temporal variability of cloudiness in the frame of the pan-European research infrastructure Aerosol, Clouds and Trace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS). In the present study, reflectivity observations collected during the two first years of operation (2016–2018) of this vertically pointing cloud radar are relied upon to investigate the diurnal and seasonal cycle of cloudiness in the northern part of this island. During the wet season (December–March), cloudiness is particularly pronounced between 1–3 km above sea level (with a frequency of cloud occurrence of 45% between 12:00–19:00 LST) and 8–12 km (with a frequency of cloud occurrence of 15% between 14:00–19:00 LST). During the dry season (June–September), this bimodal vertical mode is no longer observed and the vertical cloud extension is essentially limited to a height of 3 km due to both the drop-in humidity resulting from the northward migration of the ITCZ and the capping effect of the trade winds inversion. The frequency of cloud occurrence is at its maximum between 13:00–18:00 LST, with a probability of 35% at 15 LST near an altitude of 2 km. The analysis of global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-derived weather data also shows that the diurnal cycle of low- (1–3 km) and mid-to-high level (5–10 km) clouds is strongly correlated with the diurnal evolution of tropospheric humidity, suggesting that additional moisture is advected towards the island by the sea breeze regime. The detailed analysis of cloudiness observations collected during the four seasons sampled in 2017 and 2018 also shows substantial differences between the two years, possibly associated with a strong positive Indian Ocean Southern Dipole (IOSD) event extending throughout the year 2017.
Substituted Hydroxyapatite, Glass, and Glass-Ceramic Thin Films Deposited by Nanosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) for Biomedical Applications: A Systematic Review

The deposition of thin films of bioactive materials is the most common approach to improve the bone bonding ability of an implant surface. With this purpose, several wet and plasma assisted deposition methods were proposed in the scientific literature. In this review, we considered films obtained by nanosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). Since hydroxyapatite (HA) has composition and structure similar to that of the mineral component of the bone, the initial studies focused on the selection of experimental conditions that would allow the deposition of films that retain HA stoichiometry and crystallinity. However, biological apatite was found to be a poorly crystalline and multi-substituted mineral; consequently, the attention of researchers was oriented towards the deposition of substituted HA, glass (BG), and glass-ceramic (BGC) bioactive materials to exploit the biological relevance of foreign ions and crystallinity. In this work, after a description of the nanosecond ablation and film growth of ceramic materials, we reported studies on the mechanism of HA ablation and deposition, evidencing the peculiarities of PLD. The literature concerning the PLD of ion substituted HA, BG, and BGC was then reviewed and the performances of the coatings were discussed. We concluded by describing the advantages, limitations, and perspectives of PLD for biomedical applications.
The Influence of Long-Term Different Crop Rotations and Monoculture on Weed Prevalence and Weed Seed Content in the Soil

Equally effective way to achieve sustainable farming and the challenge set by the European Commission on 20 May 2020: proper crop rotation and thus reduction of the quantity of on-farm chemicals. Long-term stationary field experiments were established in 1966 at Vytautas Magnus University Experimental Station (54°53′ N, 23°50′ E). The study was conducted with intensive, three-course, field rotation with row crops, for green manure crop rotations, and rye monoculture as well during the last 5-year period of a 50-year investigation to determine the effect of crop rotation combinations and rye monoculture on weed density and seed bank and grain yield. In cereal crops, weed counting was performed twice: weed density was determined before the application of herbicides, and weed counting was done before the harvest. Weed seedlings were counted, their botanical species were determined, annual and perennial weed number was estimated. Weed seed bank was established before primary tillage in soil. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis that with climate change and intensive farming, long-term crop rotations are likely to increase crop productivity, reduce weeds and weed seed banks in the soil, and thus contribute to maintaining agroecosystem sustainability. The winter rye 1000 grain weight and yield decreases as weed mass increases showing strong negative correlations: y = 475.56 − 11.93x, r = −0.91, p ≤ 0.05; y = 82.97 −14.82x, r = −0.97, p ≤ 0.01. Reseeding of rye crops leads to a growing prevalence of weeds such as Equisetum arvense L. and Mentha arvensis. Crop structures these days are dominated by cereals, which inevitably increase the spread of weeds, and therefore, the importance of crop rotations increases in the context of intensive farming.
Effects of latitude and plant relative abundance on predispersal granivory

We examined predispersal granivory in common and rare bird‐dispersed plants in two tropical and two temperate communities. Our results show that the prevalence and intensity of predispersal granivory are higher in tropical communities and for smaller seeds. Results also show no effect of plant species’ relative abundance on granivory.
Generation Influences Perceived Coolness But Not Favorable Attitudes Toward Cool Hotel Brands

Although cool brands are increasingly popular in the marketplace, there is scant research examining generational differences in consumers’ coolness perceptions. To address this gap, the present research investigates consumers’ perceived coolness of hotels and the consequent brand attitudes among four generations of consumers. Our findings suggest that perceived coolness of a hotel brand varies across generations. Baby Boomers’ perceptions of cool hotels are different from younger generations including Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X. However, all generations show positive attitudes toward hotel brands that they recognize as cool due to perceived autonomy. This research contributes to the hospitality literature on hotel branding. Managerial implications for hospitality marketers are discussed.
The Effect of Total Quality Management on Organizational Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Construction Sector in Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region – Iraq

This empirical study seeks to examine the effect of Total Quality Management characterized by (management-leadership, employee relations, supplier management, project design, training, quality data and reporting, process management, continuous improvement, and customer focus) via organizational performance in the sector of construction in Sulaymaniyah City - Kurdistan Region - Iraq. For conducting this study, the data was collected through primary sources using a survey questionnaire to collect data from (106) leaders, heads of departments, managers, and supervisors. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical analysis tools like SPSS and SEM. The results showed that all the principles of Total Quality Management have a significant positive impact on construction company performance. The proposed model showed an acceptable fit.
Toxicity and Anti-Oxidation Capacity of The Extracts from Caulerpa lentillifera

Caulerpa lentillifera (sea grape) has been widely used in pharmaceutical industry and health-care products in Thailand. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the toxicity and antioxidant capacity of sea grape extracts in five fractions (ethanol- CLET, hexane- CLHE, ethyl acetate- CLEA, butanol-CLBU, and aqueous-CLAQ). The extracts were evaluated for cytotoxicity by MTT and LDH assays on four cell lines, fibroblast (L929), macrophages (RAW 264.7), hepatocytes (FL83B), and keratinocytes (HaCaT). Genotoxicity was tested by comet assay and micronucleus assay on human lymphoblast cells (TK6). The antioxidant capacity was measured by DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays. Our results demonstrated low cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CLET, CLBU and CLAQ. When tested by DPPH and ABTS assays, CLET, CLEA, and CLHE showed high antioxidant activity. In conclusion, CLET, CLBU, and CLAQ demonstrated no toxic effects, and CLET, CLEA, and CLHE exhibited high antioxidant capacity. Therefore, our results indicated that CLET, CLEA, and CLHE could be consumed safely at doses lower than 500 and 200 μg/ml for CLHE and CLEA, respectively. Keywords: Anti-oxidation, Caulerpa lentillifera, Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity
COVIDPRO-NET: a prognostic tool to detect COVID 19 patients from lung X-ray and CT images using transfer learning and Q-deformed entropy

ABSTRACT The humankind had faced several pandemic outbreaks, and coronavirus illness (COVID-19) caused by severe, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is designated an emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Recognition of COVID-19 is a challenging task. The most commonly used methods are X-ray and CT scans images to inspect COVID-19 patients. It requires specialised medical professionals to report each patient’s health manually. It is found that COVID-19 shows considerable similarity to pneumonia lung disease. Thus, knowledge learned from a model to diagnose pneumonia can be translated to identify COVID-19. Transfer learning method offers a drastic performance when compared with results from conventional classification. In this study, Image pre-processing is done to alleviate intensity variations between medical images. These processed images undergo a feature extraction which is accomplished using Q-deformed entropy and deep learning extraction. The feature extraction techniques are employed to remove abnormal markers from images, noise impedance from tissues and lesions. The traits acquired are integrated to differentiate between COVID-19, pneumonia and healthy cases. The primary aim of this model is to produce an image processing tool for medical professionals. The model results to inspect how a healthy or COVID-19 individual outperforms conventional models. The maximum accuracy of the collected data set is 99.68%.
The Dynamic Boundaries of The Self: Serial Dependence In Embodied Sense of Agency

The feeling of control over one’s actions, termed the Sense of Agency (SoA), delineates one’s experience as an embodied self. Although, this embodied experience is typically perceived as stable over time, recent theoretical accounts highlight the experience-dependent and dynamic nature of the embodied self. In this study we examined how recent experiences modulate SoA (i.e., serial dependence), and disambiguated the unique contributions of previous stimuli and choices on subsequent SoA judgments. In addition, we examined whether these effects persist across different domains of perceptual alteration. We analyzed two independent datasets of the Virtual Hand (VH) task (N = 100 participants) in which a sensorimotor conflict is introduced between the presented visual feedback and the actual movement performed. In Dataset 1, which included only temporal alterations, we found that previous stimuli recalibrate current perception, increasing the likelihood of the current choice to be different than the previous choice. Whereas previous choices induce a repetition bias increasing the likelihood to repeat choices across trials. Thus, previous external stimuli and self-generated choices exert opposing influences on SoA. We replicated these findings in Dataset 2, in which the VH task was tested with alterations in both temporal and spatial domains. In addition, we discovered that previous stimuli from a different perceptual domain exert a recalibration effect similar to stimuli from the same domain. Thus, SoA is constantly shaped by our previous subjective choices and objective stimuli experienced even across different perceptual domains. This highlights how SoA may act as unifying construct organizing our experience of the self over time and across perceptual experiences.
Les effets DU systeme « mobile money » sur LA croissance economique: LE cas des pays DE LA cemac

Abstract This paper studies the effect of the « Mobile Money » on the CEMAC economic growth. One of the poorest regions in Africa with the real growth rate of 1,6% registered those five years, and which is generally negative. the theoretical view, we have used two models which are: The quantitative theory of money and the endogenous growth theory to show that the use of the « Mobile Money » has a positive impact on the economic growth. The econometric analysis carried out using a panel model made it possible to show that the use of the « Mobile Money » is positively and significantly correlated with the economic growth rate of the CEMAC countries. Thus, an increase of 10% of the use ratio of the « Mobile Money » could lead to an increase in the economic growth rate of 1,87 point of percentage. From this result rise some economic policy recommendations, including the need for States to facilitate access to mobile phones by poor rural populations by investing more in the field and by granting tax incentives to operators in the sector.
Magnetocaloric Effect in Flexible, Free-Standing Gadolinium Thick Films for Energy Conversion Applications

This study presents a method of producing thick (i.e., in the $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ range) polycrystalline $\mathrm{Gd}$ free-standing flexible films. Preparation is carried out by sputtering on silicon conventional substrates using tantalum as a buffer and capping layer. Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties show good agreement with data from high-purity bulk $\mathrm{Gd}$, and are not altered by substrate removal. Moreover, the free-standing film is flexible and all the relevant magnetic properties (i.e., Curie temperature ${T}_{c}$, saturation magnetization ${M}_{s}$, and isothermal entropy change $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}S$) are preserved under bending (up to a $\ensuremath{\epsilon}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.78\mathrm{%}$ strain over the two film sides). The technological opportunities heralded by availability of magnetocaloric flexible self-sustaining films are discussed in the conclusions with particular focus on energy-conversion applications (i.e., cooling and thermal energy harvesting). More precisely, the output-power upper bound of an thermal-energy harvester deploying a $\mathrm{Gd}$ flexible film with the reported properties is worked-out using a thermal switch model presented elsewhere. The calculations show a potential output able to supply the new generation of IoT wireless devices as well as small medical implants. The result moot $\mathrm{Gd}$ free-standing flexible films as a benchmark for a new generation of small high-throughput magnetocaloric energy-conversion devices.
Particles in a yield-stress fluid : yield limit, sedimentation and hydrodynamic interaction

A theoretical and numerical study of yield-stress fluid creeping flow about a particle is presented motivated by theoretical aspects and industrial applications. Yield stress fluids can hold rigid particles statically buoyant if the yield stress is large enough. In addressing sedimentation of rigid particles in viscoplastic fluids, we should know this critical ‘yield number’ beyond which there is no motion. As we get close to this limit, the role of viscosity becomes negligible in comparison to the plastic contribution in the leading order, since we are approaching the zero-shear-rate limit. Admissible stress fields in this limit can be found by using the characteristics of the governing equations of perfect plasticity (i.e., the sliplines). This approach yields a lower bound of the critical plastic drag force or equivalently the critical yield number. Admissible velocity fields also can be postulated to calculate the upper bound. This analysis methodology is examined for different families of particle shapes. Numerical experiments of either resistance or mobility problems in a viscoplastic fluid validate the predictions of slipline theory and reveal interesting aspects of the flow in the yield limit. For instance, the critical limit is not unique and here we show that for the same critical limit we may have different shaped particles that are cloaked inside the same unyielded envelope. The critical limit (or critical plastic drag coefficient) is related to the unyielded envelope rather than the particle shape. We show how to calculate the unyielded envelope directly. Here we also address the case of having multiple particles, which introduces interesting new phenomena. Firstly, plug regions can appear between the particles and connect them together, depending on the proximity and yield number. This
The Impact of Carbon Disclosure on Financial Performance under Low Carbon Constraints

In the context of low-carbon constrained development, in order to avoid the risk brought by climate change, more and more companies choose to disclose carbon information, respond to the national policy of carbon emission reduction and focus on the sustainable development of enterprises. This paper will investigate the impact of carbon disclosure on financial performance based on the 2011–2018 CDP report, taking the Fortune 500 companies as a sample. The study finds that for carbon-intensive industries, carbon disclosure cannot significantly contribute to the improvement of financial performance in the current period, but for carbon-non-intensive industries, carbon disclosure can significantly contribute to the improvement of financial performance in the current period, and the positive impact of carbon disclosure on financial performance in the current period can be extended to the next period. Finally, based on the findings of the empirical study, this paper puts forward policy recommendations for the construction of China’s carbon disclosure system.
Earth-Abundant Nontoxic Titanium(IV)-based Vacancy-Ordered Double Perovskite Halides with Tunable 1.0 to 1.8 eV Bandgaps for Photovoltaic Applications

The possibility of lead (Pb) contamination and the volatility of the organic cations in the prevailing Pb-based organic-inorganic perovskite (HP) light absorbers are the two key issues of concern in the emerging perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The majority of the Pb-free HP candidates that are being explored for PSCs either suffer from instability issues and have unfavorable defect properties or have unsuitable bandgaps for PSC applications. We report the prediction of a promising new family of all-inorganic HPs based on the nontoxic, earth-abundant, ultrastable Ti(IV) for use in PSCs. We show that the Ti-based HPs possess a combination of several desirable attributes, including suitable bandgaps, excellent optical absorption, benign defect properties, and high stability. In particular, we show experimentally that representative members of the Ti-based HP family, Cs2TiIxBr6–x, have bandgaps that can be tuned between the ideal values of 1.38 and 1.78 eV for single-junction and tandem photovoltaic applicatio.