scholarly journals ARTIFICIAL PERCHES FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION: CONTRIBUTIONS OF BRAZILIAN UNIVERSITIES

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Huilquer Francisco Vogel ◽  
Ana Paula Weiwanko ◽  
Jairo José Zocche
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Environmental Restoration ◽  
Doctoral Thesis ◽  
Cerrado Biome ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest Biome ◽  
Ecological Filters

The use of artificial perches as a nucleation technique is an alternative method of promoting the low-cost restoration of degraded environments in a short period of time. To better understand the results obtained from the use of artificial perches, this study aimed to: (1) quantify, (2) spatialize and (3) synthesize Brazilian academic literature concerning environmental restoration projects that used artificial perches. Twenty studies carried out between 1997 and 2014 were identified from several universities. Among them, 40% (n = 8) were undergraduate papers written at the end of the respective course, 35% (n = 7) constituted Master’s dissertations, 15% (n = 3) were Doctoral thesis, and 10% (n = 2) were monographs’ specialization. This research was distributed over four terrestrial Brazilian biomes, with 60% (n = 12) of the studies carried out in the Atlantic Rainforest biome and 20% (n = 4) in the Cerrado biome. The rate of publication was 1.17 per year, which demonstrates that studies on artificial perches in nucleation are scarce. Although most of the analyzed documents emphasized increased deposition of seeds under the perches, it is necessary to improve understanding of ecological filters in limiting the establishment of post-dispersal seedlings.

scholarly journals Rapid, large-scale species discovery in hyperdiverse taxa using 1D MinION sequencing

BMC Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Srivathsan ◽  
Emily Hartop ◽  
Jayanthi Puniamoorthy ◽  
Wan Ting Lee ◽  
Sujatha Narayanan Kutty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Species Discovery ◽  
Short Period

Abstract Background More than 80% of all animal species remain unknown to science. Most of these species live in the tropics and belong to animal taxa that combine small body size with high specimen abundance and large species richness. For such clades, using morphology for species discovery is slow because large numbers of specimens must be sorted based on detailed microscopic investigations. Fortunately, species discovery could be greatly accelerated if DNA sequences could be used for sorting specimens to species. Morphological verification of such “molecular operational taxonomic units” (mOTUs) could then be based on dissection of a small subset of specimens. However, this approach requires cost-effective and low-tech DNA barcoding techniques because well-equipped, well-funded molecular laboratories are not readily available in many biodiverse countries. Results We here document how MinION sequencing can be used for large-scale species discovery in a specimen- and species-rich taxon like the hyperdiverse fly family Phoridae (Diptera). We sequenced 7059 specimens collected in a single Malaise trap in Kibale National Park, Uganda, over the short period of 8 weeks. We discovered > 650 species which exceeds the number of phorid species currently described for the entire Afrotropical region. The barcodes were obtained using an improved low-cost MinION pipeline that increased the barcoding capacity sevenfold from 500 to 3500 barcodes per flowcell. This was achieved by adopting 1D sequencing, resequencing weak amplicons on a used flowcell, and improving demultiplexing. Comparison with Illumina data revealed that the MinION barcodes were very accurate (99.99% accuracy, 0.46% Ns) and thus yielded very similar species units (match ratio 0.991). Morphological examination of 100 mOTUs also confirmed good congruence with morphology (93% of mOTUs; > 99% of specimens) and revealed that 90% of the putative species belong to the neglected, megadiverse genus Megaselia. We demonstrate for one Megaselia species how the molecular data can guide the description of a new species (Megaselia sepsioides sp. nov.). Conclusions We document that one field site in Africa can be home to an estimated 1000 species of phorids and speculate that the Afrotropical diversity could exceed 200,000 species. We furthermore conclude that low-cost MinION sequencers are very suitable for reliable, rapid, and large-scale species discovery in hyperdiverse taxa. MinION sequencing could quickly reveal the extent of the unknown diversity and is especially suitable for biodiverse countries with limited access to capital-intensive sequencing facilities.

scholarly journals Seasonal Influence on the Performance of Low-Cost NO2 Sensor Calibrations

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 7919
Author(s):  
Sjoerd van Ratingen ◽  
Jan Vonk ◽  
Christa Blokhuis ◽  
Joost Wesseling ◽  
Erik Tielemans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Short Period ◽  
No2 Sensor ◽  
One Year

Low-cost sensor technology has been available for several years and has the potential to complement official monitoring networks. The current generation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sensors suffers from various technical problems. This study explores the added value of calibration models based on (multiple) linear regression including cross terms on the performance of an electrochemical NO2 sensor, the B43F manufactured by Alphasense. Sensor data were collected in duplicate at four reference sites in the Netherlands over a period of one year. It is shown that a calibration, using O3 and temperature in addition to a reference NO2 measurement, improves the prediction in terms of R2 from less than 0.5 to 0.69–0.84. The uncertainty of the calibrated sensors meets the Data Quality Objective for indicative methods specified by the EU directive in some cases and it was verified that the sensor signal itself remains an important predictor in the multilinear regressions. In practice, these sensors are likely to be calibrated over a period (much) shorter than one year. This study shows the dependence of the quality of the calibrated signal on the choice of these short (monthly) calibration and validation periods. This information will be valuable for determining short-period calibration strategies.

scholarly journals Guidance Stabilization of Satellites Using the Geomagnetic Field

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Francisco Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Attitude Stabilization ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Low Earth Orbit Satellite ◽  
Games Theory

In the last years the small satellites have played an important role in the technological development. The attractive short period of design and low cost of them and the capacity to solve problems that are usually considered as problems to big and expensive spacecrafts lead us to study the control problem of these satellites. Active three-axis magnetic attitude stabilization of a low Earth orbit satellite is considered in this work. The control is created by interaction between the magnetic moment generated by magnetorquers mounted on the satellite body and the geomagnetic field. This problem is quite complex and difficult to solve. To overcome this difficulty guidance control is considered, where we use ε-strategies introduced by Pontryagin in the frame of differential games theory. Qualitative analysis and results of numerical simulation are presented.

A new species and a new combination for the subfamily Cunaxinae (Acari: Cunaxidae)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Borges Wurlitzer ◽  
Anderson De Azevedo Meira ◽  
Naiara Antonia Nunes Vinhas ◽  
Noeli Juarez Ferla
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Rural Forest ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest Biome ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Cunaxidae, namely Cunaxa bagualensis Wurlitzer & Ferla sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females and males collected in soil and leaf litter in the Atlantic rainforest biome in a rural forest fragment in Mormaço county, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Additionally, Armascirus livingstoni Laniecka & Kazmierski, 2021 is transferred to Dactyloscirus based on some observations.  

scholarly journals Mind-Wave Controlled Robot: An Arduino Robot Simulating the Wheelchair for Paralyzed Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Chi Hang Cheng ◽  
Shuai Li ◽  
Seifedine Kadry
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Eeg Signal ◽  
The Neural Network ◽  
Lead Electrode ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Specific Position ◽  
And Control

This project attempts to implement an Arduino robot to simulate a brainwave-controlled wheelchair for paralyzed patients with an improved controlling method. The robot should be able to move freely in anywhere under the control of the user and it is not required to predefine any map or path. An accurate and natural controlling method is provided, and the user can stop the robot any time immediately to avoid risks or danger. This project is using a low-cost and a brainwave-reading headset which has only a single lead electrode (Neurosky mind wave headset) to collect the EEG signal. BCI will be developed by sending the EEG signal to the Arduino Mega and control the movement of the robot. This project used the eye blinking as the robot controlling method as the eye blinking will cause a significant pulse in the EEG signal. By using the neural network to classify the blinking signal and the noise, the user can send the command to control the robot by blinking twice in a short period of time. The robot will be evaluated by driving in different places to test whether it can follow the expected path, avoid the obstacles, and stop in a specific position.

scholarly journals Real-Time Automatic Cloud Detection Using a Low-Cost Sky Camera

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Production Management ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Color Spaces ◽  
Cloud Detection ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Sky Conditions

Characterizing the atmosphere is one of the most complex studies one can undertake due to the non-linearity and phenomenological variability. Clouds are also among the most variable atmospheric constituents, changing their size and shape over a short period of time. There are several sectors in which the study of cloudiness is of vital importance. In the renewable field, the increasing development of solar technology and the emerging trend for constructing and operating solar plants across the earth’s surface requires very precise control systems that provide optimal energy production management. Similarly, airports are hubs where cloud coverage is required to provide high-precision periodic observations that inform airport operators about the state of the atmosphere. This work presents an autonomous cloud detection system, in real time, based on the digital image processing of a low-cost sky camera. An algorithm was developed to identify the clouds in the whole image using the relationships established between the channels of the RGB and Hue, Saturation, Value (HSV) color spaces. The system’s overall success rate is approximately 94% for all types of sky conditions; this is a novel development which makes it possible to identify clouds from a ground perspective without the use of radiometric parameters.

Characterization of Hemp Fiber Using Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) Pretreatment

2010 ◽  
Vol 148-149 ◽  
pp. 1594-1599
Author(s):  
Guo Jun Han ◽  
Li Jun Qu ◽  
Xiao Qing Guo
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Microwave Assisted Extraction ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Acid Pretreatment ◽  
Hemp Fiber ◽  
Hemp Fibers ◽  
Microwave Assisted ◽  
Assisted Extraction ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Index Contrast

The main objective of this paper was to investigate a low cost pretreatment method, namely microwave-assisted extraction(MAE) pretreatment, which could be applied to hemp degumming with low environmental impact. Degumming index, contrast of different pretreatment methods, transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and single fiber tensile testing were used to characterise the effect of pretreatment on hemp fibers. In this paper, the results of degumming effect were given comparing MAE pretreatment with acid pretreatment for hemp degumming. It was found that the MAE pretreatment could remove non-cellulosic compounds from hemp bundles effectively with very short period of time. Meanwhile, seen from SEM micrographs, the fibers pretreated by MAE were cleaner than that of fibers pretreated by acid. These results suggested that MAE pretreatment was higher efficiency and more environmental friendly than traditional pretreatment methods.

Tick infestation on caimans: a casual tick-host association in the Atlantic rainforest biome?

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 411-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe Dantas-Torres ◽  
Paulo Braga Mascarenhas-Junior ◽  
Haggy Rodrigues dos Anjos ◽  
Ednilza Maranhão dos Santos ◽  
Jozelia Maria Sousa Correia
Keyword(s):  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Host Association ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest Biome

Selection of native trees for intercropping with coffee in the Atlantic Rainforest biome

2010 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helton N. Souza ◽  
Irene M. Cardoso ◽  
José M. Fernandes ◽  
Flávia C. P. Garcia ◽  
Verônica R. Bonfim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Native Trees ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest Biome ◽  
Selection Of

scholarly journals Mind the Gap: Successful Endoscopic Closure of a Large Gastric Sleeve Leak Using an Endoscopic Stent and Over-the-Scope Clips

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiannis Anastasiou ◽  
Anas Hussameddin ◽  
Abdulaziz Al Quorain 
Keyword(s):  
Staple Line ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Safe Procedure ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Significant Weight Loss ◽  
Endoscopic Stent ◽  
Staple Line Leak ◽  
Endoscopic Closure ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Gastric Sleeve Leak

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is gaining popularity for the treatment of morbid obesity. It is regarded as a simple, low-cost procedure achieving significant weight loss within a short period of time. LSG is considered a safe procedure with a relatively low complication rate. The complications encountered nevertheless can result in significant morbidity and may even be lethal. The most significant complications are staple-line bleeding, stricture, and staple-line leak. The purpose of this paper is to present a case of a 31-year-old patient complicated by a 3.06 cm staple-line leak 10 days after LSG. Review of the current literature regarding this complication as well as outline of a strategy for the management of large post-LSG gastric leaks is suggested.

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