Razlike u razinama anti-Müllerovog hormona u krvnoj plazmi i reproduktivnih parametara između dvije vrste goveda Bos indicus i Bubalus bubalis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationships between reproductive parameters and Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels in two closely related bovine species. AMH levels and the reproductive parameters of 50 water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and 50 Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) of the same age and raised in similar conditions were evaluated. Clinical data were obtained from the farm in specialized designed format, and AMH was measured by ELISA. The results show that Zebu cattle had higher AMH levels than water buffaloes (P<0.0001), while water buffaloes exhibited better reproductive parameters: days open to pregnancy (P<0.0001), parity (P<0.0005), age at first calving (P<0.0001), and intercalving period (P<0.0001). Although both species have different reproductive parameters, no correlations were found between AMH and the reproductive parameters evaluated in either species. Finally, pregnant Zebu cattle and water buffalo showed a tendency to have lower AMH levels than non-pregnant counterparts. The results are paradoxical as the species with lower AMH levels exhibited better reproductive parameters, suggesting that the reproductive parameters within the herd do not depend solely on the ovarian reserve of females.Cilj je ovog rada bio procijeniti je li moguće ustanoviti povezanost između reproduktivnih parametara i razina anti-Müllerovog hormona (AMH) u dvije blisko srodne vrste goveda. Analizirane su razine AMH i reproduktivni parametri 50 bivola (Bubalus bubalis) i 50 zebu goveda (Bos indicus) iste dobi uzgojenih u sličnim uvjetima. Klinički podatci dobiveni su s farme u posebno osmišljenom pokusu. AMH je određivan pomoću ELISA metode. Rezultati pokazuju da su razine AMH više u goveda nego u bivola (P<0,0001). Bivoli su pokazali bolje reproduktivne parametre: servisno razdoblje (P<0,0001), paritet (P<0,0005), dob kod prvog teljenja (P<0,0001) i međutelidbeno razdoblje (P<0,0001). Premda obje vrste imaju različite reproduktivne parametre, nije ustanovljena povezanost između AMH i analiziranih reproduktivnih parametara niti u jedne od istraživanih vrsta. Zaključno, steone ženke goveda i bivola pokazuju tendenciju manjih razina AMH u usporedbi s nesteonim. Rezultati dobiveni u ovoj studiji su paradoksalni, jer vrste s nižim AMH razinama pokazuju bolje reproduktivne parametre. Ovi rezultati ukazuju na to da reproduktivni parametri unutar krda ne ovise samo o rezervi jajnih stanica u ženki

Wavelength converter using a highly erbium doped optical fiber ring laser

RESUMEN: En este trabajo se presenta un conversor de longitud de onda ultra-estrecho, de alta eficiencia y todo-fibra basado en el efecto de la competición de modos en un láser de fibra dopada con erbio. Se han llevado a cabo estudios experimentales con frecuencias que van desde varios kilohercios hasta las decenas de gigahercios y para más de una longitud de onda de emisión, demostrando así que este efecto puede ser utilizado para la conversión en longitud de onda de múltiples longitudes de emisión simultáneamente.ABSTRACT: This work presents an all-fiber wavelength converter based on a highly Erdoped fiber laser which has been experimentally demonstrated. Frequencies from several kilohertz up to tens of gigahertz have been investigated. Making use of the gain competition in the amplifying medium, the wavelength conversion can be carried out over not only one lasing wavelength but over several ones. These analyses have been also carried out for more than one all-fiber ring structure, demonstrating the viability of this wavelength converter.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por la Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología dentro de los proyectos TEC2013-47264-C2 y TEC2016-76021-C2

Fiber Optic Sensing System for Temperature and Gas Monitoring in Coal Waste Pile Combustion Environments

International audienceIt is presented an optical fiber sensing system projected to operate in the demanding conditions associated with coal waste piles in combustion. Distributed temperature measurement and spot gas sensing are requirements for such a system. A field prototype has been installed and is continuously gathering data, which will input a geological model of the coal waste piles in combustion aiming to understand their dynamics and evolution. Results are presented on distributed temperature and ammonia measurement, being noticed any significant methane emission in the short time period considered. Carbon dioxide is also a targeted gas for measurement, with validated results available soon. The assessment of this technology as an effective and reliable tool to address the problem of monitoring coal waste piles in combustion opens the possibility of its widespread application in view of the worldwide presence of coal related fires

A microalgal-based preparation with synergistic cellulolytic and detoxifying action towards chemical-treated lignocellulose

High-temperature bioconversion of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars has drawn attention for efficient production of renewable chemicals and biofuels, because competing microbial activities are inhibited at elevated temperatures and thermostable cell wall degrading enzymes are superior to mesophilic enzymes. Here, we report on the development of a platform to produce four different thermostable cell wall degrading enzymes in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The enzyme blend was composed of the cellobiohydrolase CBM3GH5 from C.&nbsp;saccharolyticus, the β-glucosidase celB from P.&nbsp;furiosus, the endoglucanase B and the endoxylanase XynA from T.&nbsp;neapolitana. In addition, transplastomic microalgae were engineered for the expression of phosphite dehydrogenase D from Pseudomonas stutzeri, allowing for growth in non-axenic media by selective phosphite nutrition. The cellulolytic blend composed of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) domain GH12/GH5/GH1 allowed the conversion of alkaline-treated lignocellulose into glucose with efficiencies ranging from 14% to 17% upon 48h of reaction and an enzyme loading of 0.05% (w/w). Hydrolysates from treated cellulosic materials with extracts of transgenic microalgae boosted both the biogas production by methanogenic bacteria and the mixotrophic growth of the oleaginous microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Notably, microalgal treatment suppressed the detrimental effect of inhibitory by-products released from the alkaline treatment of biomass, thus allowing for efficient assimilation of lignocellulose-derived sugars by C.&nbsp;vulgaris under mixotrophic growth

Wire edge dependent magnetic domain wall creep

open13While edge pinning is known to play an important role in sub-μm wires, we demonstrate that strong deviations from the universal creep law can occur in 1 to 20 μm wide wires. Magnetic imaging shows that edge pinning translates into a marked bending of domain walls at low drive and is found to depend on the wire fabrication process and aging. Edge pinning introduces a reduction of domain wall velocity with respect to full films which increasingly dominates the creep dynamics as the wire width decreases. We show that the deviations from the creep law can be described by a simple model including a counter magnetic field which links the width of the wire to the edge dependent pinning strength. This counter field defines a key nonuniversal contribution to creep motion in patterned structures.openHerrera Diez, L.; Jeudy, V.; Durin, G.; Casiraghi, A.; Liu, Y. T.; Voto, M.; Agnus, G.; Bouville, D.; Vila, L.; Langer, J.; Ocker, B.; Lopez-Diaz, L.; Ravelosona, D.Herrera Diez, L.; Jeudy, V.; Durin, G.; Casiraghi, A.; Liu, Y. T.; Voto, M.; Agnus, G.; Bouville, D.; Vila, L.; Langer, J.; Ocker, B.; Lopez-Diaz, L.; Ravelosona, D

Magnetic domain wall curvature induced by wire edge pinning

open14In this study, we report on the analysis of the magnetic domain wall (DW) curvature due to magnetic field induced motion in Ta/CoFeB/MgO and Pt/Co/Pt wires with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. In wires of 20 mu m and 25 mu m, a large edge pinning potential produces the anchoring of the DW ends to the wire edges, which is evidenced as a significant curvature of the DW front as it propagates. As the driving magnetic field is increased, the curvature reduces as a result of the system moving away from the creep regime of DW motion, which implies a weaker dependence of the DW dynamics on the interaction between the DW and the wire edge defects. A simple model is derived to describe the dependence of the DW curvature on the driving magnetic field and allows us to extract the parameter sigma (E), which accounts for the strength of the edge pinning potential. The model describes well the systems with both weak and strong bulk pinning potentials like Ta/CoFeB/MgO and Pt/Co/Pt, respectively. This provides a means to quantify the effect of edge pinning induced DW curvature on magnetic DW dynamics.embargoed_20210815Herrera Diez, L.; Ummelen, F.; Jeudy, V.; Durin, G.; Lopez-Diaz, L.; Diaz-Pardo, R.; Casiraghi, A.; Agnus, G.; Bouville, D.; Langer, J.; Ocker, B.; Lavrijsen, R.; Swagten, H. J. M.; Ravelosona, D.Herrera Diez, L.; Ummelen, F.; Jeudy, V.; Durin, G.; Lopez-Diaz, L.; Diaz-Pardo, R.; Casiraghi, A.; Agnus, G.; Bouville, D.; Langer, J.; Ocker, B.; Lavrijsen, R.; Swagten, H. J. M.; Ravelosona, D

A consistent first-order model for relativistic heat flow

This paper revisits the problem of heat conduction in relativistic fluids, associated with issues concerning both stability and causality. It has long been known that the problem requires information involving second order deviations from thermal equilibrium. Basically, any consistent first-order theory needs to remain cognizant of its higher-order origins. We demonstrate this by carrying out the required first-order reduction of a recent variational model. We provide an analysis of the dynamics of the system, obtaining the conditions that must be satisfied in order to avoid instabilities and acausal signal propagation. The results demonstrate, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the model has all the features one would expect of a real physical system. In particular, we highlight the presence of a second sound for heat in the appropriate limit. We also make contact with previous work on the problem by showing how the various constraints on our system agree with previously established results.Comment: RevTeX, 1 eps Figur

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI): Concepts, Taxonomies, Opportunities and Challenges toward Responsible AI

In the last few years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has achieved a notable momentum that, if harnessed appropriately, may deliver the best of expectations over many application sectors across the field. For this to occur shortly in Machine Learning, the entire community stands in front of the barrier of explainability, an inherent problem of the latest techniques brought by sub-symbolism (e.g. ensembles or Deep Neural Networks) that were not present in the last hype of AI (namely, expert systems and rule based models). Paradigms underlying this problem fall within the so-called eXplainable AI (XAI) field, which is widely acknowledged as a crucial feature for the practical deployment of AI models. The overview presented in this article examines the existing literature and contributions already done in the field of XAI, including a prospect toward what is yet to be reached. For this purpose we summarize previous efforts made to define explainability in Machine Learning, establishing a novel definition of explainable Machine Learning that covers such prior conceptual propositions with a major focus on the audience for which the explainability is sought. Departing from this definition, we propose and discuss about a taxonomy of recent contributions related to the explainability of different Machine Learning models, including those aimed at explaining Deep Learning methods for which a second dedicated taxonomy is built and examined in detail. This critical literature analysis serves as the motivating background for a series of challenges faced by XAI, such as the interesting crossroads of data fusion and explainability. Our prospects lead toward the concept of Responsible Artificial Intelligence, namely, a methodology for the large-scale implementation of AI methods in real organizations with fairness, model explainability and accountability at its core. Our ultimate goal is to provide newcomers to the field of XAI with a thorough taxonomy that can serve as reference material in order to stimulate future research advances, but also to encourage experts and professionals from other disciplines to embrace the benefits of AI in their activity sectors, without any prior bias for its lack of interpretability

Precision Prediction for the Big-Bang Abundance of Primordial Helium

Within the standard models of particle physics and cosmology we have calculated the big-bang prediction for the primordial abundance of \he to a theoretical uncertainty of less than 0.1 \pct $(\delta Y_P < \pm 0.0002)$, improving the current theoretical precision by a factor of 10. At this accuracy the uncertainty in the abundance is dominated by the experimental uncertainty in the neutron mean lifetime, $\tau_n = 885.4 \pm 2.0 sec$. The following physical effects were included in the calculation: the zero and finite-temperature radiative, Coulomb and finite-nucleon-mass corrections to the weak rates; order-$\alpha$ quantum-electrodynamic correction to the plasma density, electron mass, and neutrino temperature; and incomplete neutrino decoupling. New results for the finite-temperature radiative correction and the QED plasma correction were used. In addition, we wrote a new and independent nucleosynthesis code designed to control numerical errors to be less than 0.1\pct. Our predictions for the \EL[4]{He} abundance are presented in the form of an accurate fitting formula. Summarizing our work in one number, $Y_P(\eta = 5\times 10^{-10}) = 0.2462 \pm 0.0004 (expt) \pm < 0.0002 (theory)$. Further, the baryon density inferred from the Burles-Tytler determination of the primordial D abundance, $\Omega_B h^2 = 0.019\pm 0.001$, leads to the prediction: $Y_P = 0.2464 \pm 0.0005 (D/H) \pm < 0.0002 (theory) \pm 0.0005 (expt)$. This ``prediction'' and an accurate measurement of the primeval \he abundance will allow an important consistency test of primordial nucleosynthesis.Comment: Replaced fitting formulas - new versions differ by small but significant amount. Other minor changes. 30 pages, 17 figures, 5 table

The role of large-scale spatial patterns in the chaotic amplification of perturbations in a Lorenz’96 model

The preparation of perturbed initial conditions to initialize an ensemble of numerical weather forecasts is a crucial task in current ensemble prediction systems (EPSs). Perturbations are added in the places where they are expected to grow faster, in order to provide an envelope of uncertainty along with the deterministic forecast. This work analyses the influence of large-scale spatial patterns on the growth of small perturbations. Therefore, we compare Lyapunov vector (LV) definitions, used in the initialization of state-of-the-art EPSs, with the so-called characteristic LVs. We test the dynamical behaviour of these LVs in the two-scale Lorenz’96 system. We find that the commonly used definitions of LVs include non-intrinsic and spurious effects due to their mutual orthogonality. We also find that the spatial locations where the small-scale perturbations are growing are ‘quantized’ by the large-scale pattern. This ‘quantization’ enhances the artificial disposition of the LVs, which is only avoided using the characteristic LVs, an unambiguous basis which may also be of great use in realistic models for assessing or initializing EPSs