Search results for "Production"

Validation and application of a PCR primer set to quantify fungal communities in the soil environment by real-time quantitative PCR

2011

Fungi constitute an important group in soil biological diversity and functioning. However, characterization and knowledge of fungal communities is hampered because few primer sets are available to quantify fungal abundance by real-time quantitative PCR (real-time Q-PCR). The aim in this study was to quantify fungal abundance in soils by incorporating, into a real-time Q-PCR using the SYBRGreen (R) method, a primer set already used to study the genetic structure of soil fungal communities. To satisfy the real-time Q-PCR requirements to enhance the accuracy and reproducibility of the detection technique, this study focused on the 18S rRNA gene conserved regions. These regions are little affec…

Overwintering strategies of a boreal small mammal in a changing climate

2015

Fuzzy logic controller and game theory based distributed energy resources allocation

2020

Energy management and demand control through conventional energy generation sources are challenging for energy providers. Distributed energy resources (DERs) allocation near load centers may provide a suitable solution. The main contribution of the paper improves the voltage profile and reduce the active and reactive power losses in the distribution network. DERs are integrated with IEEE 33 bus system using fuzzy logic controller (FLC) and game theory for two different cases with unity and 0.9 power factor (PF) and compares with conventional methods of integration (i.e., modified novel method, power loss sensitivity method, voltage sensitivity analysis method). The capacity of DERs is optim…

Game Theory with Engineering Applications

2016

Engineering systems are highly distributed collective systems—decisions, information, and objectives are distributed throughout—that have humans in the loop, and thus decisions may be influenced by socioeconomic factors. Engineering systems emphasize the potential of control and games beyond traditional applications. Game theory can be used to design incentives to obtain socially desirable behaviors on the part of the players, for example, a change in the consumption patterns on the part of the “prosumers” (producers-consumers) or better redistribution of traffic. This unique book addresses the foundations of game theory, with an emphasis on the physical intuition behind the concepts, an an…

Measurement of long-lived radionuclide activity induced in target components of a cyclotron used for [18F ]-[FDG] production

2019

The evaluation of high activity induced in target components in using a medical cyclotron to produce positron-emitting radionuclides for PET (Positron Emission Tomography) diagnostic studies is one of important issue and involves radiation protection concepts when operators are engaged in maintenance and/or substitution of a target or its components. Most of replaced target components are generally classified and stored in a Pb-shielded container in order to wait for their radioactive decay. However, after some years, it can be necessary to start with the removal of the oldest parts, for a temporary storage of the fresh activated ones. The feasibility of these operations and the waste final…

Sex-specific genetic differences in endurance swimming of Trinidadian guppies.

2015

Abstract Swim performance is considered a main fitness‐determining trait in many aquatic organisms. Swimming is generally the only way most aquatic prey can escape predation, and swimming capacity is directly linked to food capture, habitat shifts, and reproduction. Therefore, evolutionary studies of swim performance are important to understand adaptation to aquatic environments. Most studies, however, concentrate on the importance of burst‐swim responses to predators, and little is known about its effect on endurance. Even fewer studies associate differences in organism swim capabilities to key gender‐specific responses. In this experiment, we assess the gender‐specific genetic basis of sw…

Fecundity determines the outcome of founding queen associations in ants

2021

AbstractAnimal cooperation evolved because of its benefits to the cooperators. Pleometrosis in ants - the cooperation of queens to found a colony - benefits colony growth, but also incurs costs for some of the cooperators because only one queen usually survives the association. While several traits are associated with queen survival, they tend to be confounded and it is unclear which factor specifically determines the outcome of pleometrosis. In this study, we used the ant Lasius niger to monitor offspring production in colonies founded by one or two queens. Then, we experimentally paired queens that differed in fecundity but not in size, and vice versa, to disentangle the effect of these f…

Tear production and intraocular pressure values in clinically normal eyes of whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus)

2018

The objective of this study was to determine the normal range of tear production and values of intraocular pressure (IOP) in clinically normal eyes of whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus). A total of 86 birds: 81 cygnets (6-10 weeks old) and 5 moulting – adult swans (3-6 years old) were examined in this study. Both eyes of all birds underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including evaluation of tear production with the phenol red thread test (PRTT) and the assessment of the IOP by rebound tonometry, employing the TonoVet® device. The mean ± standard deviation of PRTT values were as follows: all cygnets (81) 22.59±3.48 mm/15s, male cygnets (45) 22.64±3.54 mm/15s, female cygnets (36) 22.53±3.4…

Factors affecting breeding dispersal of European ducks on Engure Marsh, Latvia

2003

Summary 1 We used up to 35 years of capture–recapture data from nearly 3300 individual female ducks nesting on Engure Marsh, Latvia, and multistate modelling to test predictions about the influence of environmental, habitat and management factors on breeding dispersal probability within the marsh. 2 Analyses based on observed dispersal distances of common pochards and tufted ducks provided no evidence that breeding success in year t influenced dispersal distance between t and t+ 1. 3 Breeding dispersal distances (year t to t+ 1) of pochards and tufted ducks were associated with a delay in relative nest initiation dates in year t+ 1. The delay was greater for pochards (c. 4 days) than for tu…

Factors associated with milk urea concentrations in Girgentana goats

2010

A total of 1,481 milk samples of 166 Girgentana goats, taken along the entire lactation, were utilised to evaluate the effect of non nutritional factors on milk urea (MU). Parity, stage of lactation and month of sampling significantly influenced MU, while no effect was found for born kids number. The first kidding goats produced lower MU than multiparous goats. Trend of MU was similar to milk production course with a peak found at 60 DIM. The different MU levels between several months of production are often linked to pasture chemical variations.