Signature extension for sun angle, volume 1

The author has identified the following significant results. Within a restricted zenith sun angle range of 35 - 50 degrees, it was empirically observed that canopy reflectance is mainly Lambertian. Reflectance changes with crop stage were simple shifts in scale in the sun angle range. It was noted that sun angle variations depend on canopy characteristics. Effects of the vegetative canopy were most pronounced at the larger solar zenith angles (20 %). The linear sun angle correction coefficients demonstrate a dependency on both crop stage (15-20 %) and crop type (10-20 %). The use of canopy reflectance modeling allowed for the generation of a simulated data set over an extremely broad envelope of sun angles

Signature extension for sun angle, volume 2

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Excitation of Single Quasiparticles in a Small Superconducting Al Island Connected to Normal-Metal Leads by Tunnel Junctions

We investigate the dynamics of individual quasiparticle excitations on a small superconducting aluminum island connected to normal metallic leads by tunnel junctions. We find the island to be free of excitations within the measurement resolution. This allows us to show that the residual heating, which typically limits experiments on superconductors, has an ultralow value of less than 0.1 aW. By injecting electrons with a periodic gate voltage, we probe electron-phonon interaction and relaxation down to a single quasiparticle excitation pair, with a measured recombination rate of 16 kHz. Our experiment yields a strong test of BCS theory in aluminum as the results are consistent with it without free parameters.Peer reviewe

The influences of vegetation and water features on the perception of urban streets

This study aims to examine the influence of natural sound (i.e. water sound and birdsong) on the perception of the enclosure in urban street canyons with varying height-to-width ratios (H/W). A 27- meter wide street was selected as a typical urban street and three levels of H/W ratios (0.5, 2, and 4) were modelled by changing the height of buildings on both sides of the street. Vegetation and water features were added to the street as visual components, while synthesized car pass-by sounds, water sounds, and bird songs were introduced as sound stimuli. A laboratory experiment was conducted in a virtual reality (VR) environment with normal hearing participants. The experiments consisted of three sessions: 1) an audio-only condition, 2) a combined audio-visual condition, and 3) a visual-only condition. Participants were asked to rate their subjective responses to stimuli in terms of the perceived pleasantness and perceived source width for the audio-only condition, the perceived enclosure, perceived spaciousness, perceived pleasantness, and perceived source width for the audio-visual combined condition, the perceived enclosure, perceived spaciousness, perceived pleasantness for the visual-only condition. Additionally, the participant's physiological responses were monitored during the experiment in terms of facial electromyography and heart rate

The influences of vegetation and water features on the perception of urban streets

This study aims to examine the influence of natural sound (i.e. water sound and birdsong) on the perception of the enclosure in urban street canyons with varying height-to-width ratios (H/W). A 27- meter wide street was selected as a typical urban street and three levels of H/W ratios (0.5, 2, and 4) were modelled by changing the height of buildings on both sides of the street. Vegetation and water features were added to the street as visual components, while synthesized car pass-by sounds, water sounds, and bird songs were introduced as sound stimuli. A laboratory experiment was conducted in a virtual reality (VR) environment with normal hearing participants. The experiments consisted of three sessions: 1) an audio-only condition, 2) a combined audio-visual condition, and 3) a visual-only condition. Participants were asked to rate their subjective responses to stimuli in terms of the perceived pleasantness and perceived source width for the audio-only condition, the perceived enclosure, perceived spaciousness, perceived pleasantness, and perceived source width for the audio-visual combined condition, the perceived enclosure, perceived spaciousness, perceived pleasantness for the visual-only condition. Additionally, the participant's physiological responses were monitored during the experiment in terms of facial electromyography and heart rate

Genetic selection for bovine chromosome 18 haplotypes associated with divergent somatic cell score affects postpartum reproductive and metabolic performance

The susceptibility of animals to periparturient diseases has a great effect on the economic efficiency of dairy industries, on the frequency of antibiotic treatment, and on animal welfare. The use of selection for breeding cows with reduced susceptibility to diseases offers a sustainable tool to improve dairy cattle farming. Several studies have focused on the association of distinct bovine chromosome 18 genotypes or haplotypes with performance traits. The aim of this study was to test whether selection of Holstein Friesian heifers via SNP genotyping for alternative paternal chromosome 18 haplotypes associated with favorable (Q) or unfavorable (q) somatic cell scores influences postpartum reproductive and metabolic diseases. Thirty-six heifers (18 Q and 18 q) were monitored from 3 wk before calving until necropsy on d 39 (± 4 d) after calving. Health status and rectal temperature were measured daily, and body condition score and body weight were assessed once per week. Blood samples were drawn twice weekly, and levels of insulin, nonesterified fatty acids, insulin-like growth factor-I, growth hormone, and β-hydroxybutyrate were measured. Comparisons between the groups were performed using Fisher's exact test, chi-squared test, and the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS. Results showed that Q-heifers had reduced incidence of metritis compared with q-heifers and were less likely to develop fever. Serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate were lower and insulin-like growth factor-I plasma concentrations were higher in Q- compared with q-heifers. However, the body condition score and withers height were comparable between haplotypes, but weight loss tended to be lower in Q-heifers compared with q-heifers. No differences between the groups were detected concerning retained fetal membranes, uterine involution, or onset of cyclicity. In conclusion, selection of chromosome 18 haplotypes associated with a reduced somatic cell score resulted in a decreased incidence of postpartum reproductive and metabolic diseases in this study. The presented data add to the existing knowledge aimed at avoiding negative consequences of genetic selection strategies in dairy cattle farming. The underlying causal mechanisms modulated by haplotypes in the targeted genomic region and immune competence necessitate further investigation