On the potential of documenting decadal-scale avifaunal change from before-and-after comparisons of museum and observational data across North America

Studies of biodiversity dynamics have been cast on either long(systematics)or short(ecology)time scales,leaving a gap in coverage for moderate time scales of de...     

Classification of wheat grains by digital image analysis using statistical filters

The aim of pattern recognition by image analysis is to accurately determine the parameters of a given object so that recognition can be achieved. The recognition procedure finds its mathematical tools in signal processing. In the classification of wheats by image processing, spots and dust particles, considered 'noise' in the terminology of signal processing, may significantly decrease the performance of an edge detection algorithm. To remove a pulse noise and to extract the boundary of a geometry, rank-order filters have been proved to yield good results in the processing of an image. The developed software ImPro for Windows employs the median filtering technique to remove such impurities and to smooth out the surface of wheat grains. It also employs the range-order filtering technique to detect boundaries in the classification of wheat varieties. A captured image can be sent to the software directly from a frame grabber. Under standard lighting conditions, boundaries of grains are fit to ellipses, and feature parameters are determined. The parameters determined by fitting procedure, as well as the features determined by direct extraction, are used in the classification. Results show that the dimensionless rational features are useful in distinguishing most of the cultivars and advanced breeding lines tested. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A new record of Turkey Aleyrodidae fauna,ficus whitefly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Singhiella simplex</Emphasis> (Singh) (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae)

The ficus whitefly Singhiella simplex is an urban area pest which originated from Asia.Singhiella simplex (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is for the first time recorded for the whitefly fauna in Turkey. The pest was found on Ficus microcarpa in Antalya province, Turkey. Its identification, host plants, and distribution across the world are briefly described.     

First report of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum causing blight of Melissa officinalis in Turkey

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In July 2020, a blight disease on lemon balm plants was observed with an incidence of up to 10% in three fields in Şanlıurfa province, Turkey....     

Seroprevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis in Trakya district (Marmara region) in Turkey

In this study, 481 cattle belonging to 77 farms from nine localities in Trakya district in the Marmara region of Turkey were blood sampled and serologically tested for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). Antibodies to bovine leukosis virus (BLV) were detected in 51 cattle sera (11%) belonging to nine farms in five localities. Cattle tested were mostly female Holstein or Brown Swiss of ages ranging between 18 months and 10 years. Analysis of the relationships between age, breed or sex and seropositivity to EBL in seropositive herds indicated no significant associations (p>0.05). The relationship between seropositivity and haematological changes was also studied, and seropositive cattle had higher lymphocyte percentage and lower neutrophil percentage than seronegative cattle (p<0.001).     

How do university-industry collaborations benefit innovation? Direct and indirect outcomes of different collaboration types

This paper explores the extent to which firms perceive to benefit from university-industry collaborations in their innovation processes, building on survey data from 232 Norwegian firms. We find that firms experience not only direct innovation benefits from collaborations, but also indirect benefits in the form of closer proximity to universities, which can in turn improve future collaboration. We compare the reported outputs from various types of collaboration, finding that firms engaging mainly in research-oriented interactions more often report that collaborations result in innovation than those engaging in education-oriented or more informal collaborations. However, education-oriented and informal collaborations are equally important for building cognitive, organizational, institutional and social proximities between firms and universities.     

Potential Threats from a Likely Nuclear Power Plant Accident: a Climatological Trajectory Analysis and Tracer Study

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - The present paper deals with an extensive review of literature concerning the platinum group elements (PGEs), and their impact on the environment. The increased...