The thesis deals with bioinformatics analysis, the aim of which was to find a suitable producer of PHA for new generation industrial biotechnologies from the collection of found thermophilic bacteria. Part of experiments was the finding of several thermophilic bacteria based on the similarity of the protein sequence of the phaC gene of the bacterium Cupriavidus necator. The next part of thesis was a literature search of the abilities of these thermophilic bacteria focused on culture conditions and the spectrum of usable substrates. Subsequently, five bacteria were selected for use in NGBI based on the information obtained. Freely available databases were used during the experimental work, and evolutionary analysis were performed in MEGA X and Operon-mapper. Rubrobacter xylanophilus with collection number DSM 9941 was selected from the collection of bacterial strains as the most promising PHA producer for NGIB. The high culture temperature of up to 70 ° C and a large amount of utilized carbohydrate substrates were considered decisive. An interesting result of the analysis was to find the gene sequences of two classes of PHA synthase – I. and III. class, as for a single bacterial strain from the entire collection. Additional genes linked to PHA metabolism were found in genome analysis.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This dissertation has three main focuses: (1) identify the distribution of a new rock type (Mg-spinel lithology) on the Moon and explore the likely petrogenesis of Mg-spinel; (2) investigate the presence of olivine in the crater central peaks and analyze the sources of olivine; (3) determine the compositional variations of lunar crust with depth, and establish a new model to describe the structure of the lunar crust.

<p> An analysis was performed using LANDSAT Thematic Mapper digital imagery to determine the feasibility of fine scale vegetation classification in southern Ontario. </p> <p> MICROPIPS, an image processing program, was used to analyse the Thematic Mapper data, based on spectral response patterns of different land cover types. Final classified images were compared with vegetation classifications as determined by the Royal Botanical Gardens, in Hamilton, Ontario. </p> <p> It was concluded, that it was possible to classify land cover types using MICROPIPS, but only at a general level. Thus, it was not feasible to classify vegetation on a fine scale. </p> / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy

Fusarium-Infektionen sind ein ernstes Problem im Weizenanbau, da die ausgeschiedenen Mykotoxine gesundheitsschädlich sind. Die Krankheitssymptome sind durch bildanalytische Methoden im Vorfeld der Ernte detektierbar, so dass befallene Partien getrennt geerntet werden könnten. Künstlich mit Fusarium culmorum infizierte Weizenpflanzen wurden mittels Chlorophyllfluoreszenz- und hyperspektraler Bildanalyse in Zeitreihenversuchen analysiert. Bei den Chlorophyllfluoreszenz-Bildanalysen wurde die photosynthetische Effizienz (Fv/Fm) und deren räumliche Ungleichverteilung genutzt, um den Effekt des Krankheitsgrades auf die photosynthetische Aktivität zu ermitteln. Mit dieser Methode ist eine sehr frühzeitige Erkennung möglich, da eine Verringerung der photosynthetischen Effizienz bei den kranken Ähren zwischen dem 6. und 11. Tag nach Inokulation festgestellt wurde. Der Befallsgrad korreliert mit der photosynthetischen Effizienz. Die Berechnung des kumulativen Fv/Fm bei 0,3 führte zu einer sehr effektiven und genauen Erkennung der Partiellen Taubährigkeit ab einem Befallsgrad von mindestens 5% und einer Differenzierungsgenauigkeit von 10%. Die Chlorophyllfluoreszenz-Bildanalyse war unter Freilandbedingungen bei Einhaltung der Rahmenbedingungen zur Fusarium-Erkennung ebenfalls möglich, wenn auch mit schlechteren Erkennungsraten. Die Aufnahmen im Labor mit einem hyperspektralen Bildanalysesystem im Spektralbereich von 400-1000 nm zeigten Unterschiede in distinkten Wellenlängenbereichen und lassen die Erkennung kranker Ähren in einem Zeitfenster von BBCH 71 bis BBCH 85 zu. Die bildanalytische Klassifizierung mittels des „Spectral Angle Mapper“ liefert gute Ergebnisse, ist aber sehr zeitaufwändig. Alternativ dazu nutzt der neu erstellte head blight-Index (HBI) die spektralen Unterschiede im Bereich 665-675 nm und 550-560 nm und kann eine feldtaugliche Klassifizierungsmöglichkeit zur Erkennung von Partieller Taubährigkeit sein. / Fusarium infections are serious problems in wheat production. Mycotoxins, synthesised by the fungi, are toxic and harmful in both human and animal nutrition. The symptoms of this so-called head blight disease caused by Fusarium spp. are recognizable by various image analysis methods prior to harvest. Using this information, farmer could differently utilize affected cereals, if necessary. Healthy and artificially Fusarium culmorum-infected wheat plants were analyzed with a chlorophyll fluorescence and hyper-spectral imaging system in time series. With chlorophyll fluorescence imaging (CFA), the potential maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and its spatially variable distribution was analyzed to determine the interactions between the degree of disease and the photosynthetic activity. By means of this method, early recognition was reliably achieved by a decreased photochemical efficiency in diseased ears between 6th and 11th day after inoculation. The degree of disease correlated with photochemical efficiency. At a degree of Fusarium infection of 5% and higher, calculation of the cumulative Fv/Fm at 0.3 enabled a very effective and precise determination of Fusarium head blight with a differentiation accuracy of at least 10%. Though less effective, CFA successfully detected head blight under outdoor conditions, if some boundary conditions (e.g. no direct solar irradiation) were observed. In the laboratory, a hyperspectral imaging system (wave length range 400 to 1000 nm) indicated specific spectral differences between affected and unaffected wheat ears. These differences allowed head blight recognition during BBCH 71 to BBCH 85. Imaging classification with the “Spectral Angle Mapper” method achieved good results; it is, however, very time-consuming. Alternatively, the newly derived head blight index (HBI), using spectral differences in the wave length ranges of 665 to 675 nm and 550 to 560 nm, can be a suitable outdoor classification method to evaluate head blight.

Federated learning faces a challenge when dealing with highly heterogeneous data and it can sometimes be inadequate to adopt an approach where a single model is trained for usage at all nodes in the network. Different approaches have been investigated to succumb this issue such as adapting the trained model to each node and clustering the nodes in the network and train a different model for each cluster where the data is less heterogeneous. In this work we study the possibilities to improve the local model performance utilizing the hierarchical setup that comes with clustering the participating clients in the network. Experiments are carried out featuring a Long Short-Term Memory network to perform time series forecasting to evaluate different approaches utilizing the hierarchical setup and comparing them to standard federated learning approaches. The experiments are done using a dataset collected by Ericsson AB consisting of handovers recorded at base stations in an European city. The hierarchical approaches didn’t show any benefit over common two-level approaches. / Federated Learning står inför en utmaning när det gäller att hantera data med en hög grad av heterogenitet och det kan i vissa fall vara olämpligt att använda sig av en approach där en och samma modell är tränad för att användas av alla noder i nätverket. Olika approacher för att hantera detta problem har undersökts som att anpassa den tränade modellen till varje nod och att klustra noderna i nätverket och träna en egen modell för varje kluster inom vilket datan är mindre heterogen. I detta arbete studeras möjligheterna att förbättra prestandan hos de lokala modellerna genom att dra nytta av den hierarkiska anordning som uppstår när de deltagande noderna i nätverket grupperas i kluster. Experiment är utförda med ett Long Short-Term Memory-nätverk för att utföra tidsserieprognoser för att utvärdera olika approacher som drar nytta av den hierarkiska anordningen och jämför dem med vanliga federated learning-approacher. Experimenten är utförda med ett dataset insamlat av Ericsson AB. Det består av "handoversfrån basstationer i en europeisk stad. De hierarkiska approacherna visade inga fördelar jämfört med de vanliga två-nivåapproacherna.

Aim: Identifying how climate change, habitat loss, and corridors interact to influence species survival or extinction is critical to understanding macro-scale biodiversity dynamics under changing environments. In North America, the ice-free corridor was the only major pathway for northward migration by megafaunal species during the last deglaciation. However, the timing and interplay among the late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions, climate change, habitat structure, and the opening and reforestation of the ice-free corridor have been unclear. Location: North America. Time period: 15–10 ka. Major taxa studied: Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Methods: For central North America and the ice-free corridor between 15 and 10 ka, we used a series of models and continental-scale datasets to reconstruct habitat characteristics and assess habitat suitability. The models and datasets include biophysical and statistical niche models Niche Mapper and Maxent, downscaled climate simulations from CCSM3 SynTraCE, LPJ-GUESS simulations of net primary productivity (NPP) and woody cover, and woody cover based upon fossil pollen from Neotoma. Results: The ice-free corridor may have been of limited suitability for traversal by mammoths and other grazers due to persistently low productivity by herbaceous plants and quick reforestation after opening 14 ka. Simultaneously, rapid reforestation and decreased forage productivity may have led to declining habitat suitability in central North America. This was possibly amplified by a positive feedback loop driven by reduced herbivory pressures, as mammoth population decline led to the further loss of open habitat. Main conclusions: Declining habitat availability south of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and limited habitat availability in the ice-free corridor were contributing factors in North American extinctions of woolly mammoths and other large grazers that likely operated synergistically with anthropogenic pressures. The role of habitat loss and attenuated corridor suitability for the woolly mammoth extinction reinforce the critical importance of protected habitat connectivity during changing climates, particularly for large vertebrates.

Due to biodiversity loss being large as well as threatening ecosystem functions necessary for oursociety, the UN and EU have created regulations, strategies, and targets to improve biodiversity.Nationally in Sweden, and locally in Stockholm municipality, actions have also been taken. Oakhabitat is especially interesting for the municipality due to its high biodiversity values. This is whyin this study biodiversity connected to potential oak habitats was analysed by a GIS-basedconnectivity model; through which maps depicting possible movements by a model speciescomplex were created. An interview study was performed to investigate the use of GIS-basedplanning support tools for biodiversity, from the perspectives of professionals. Results suggestthat the methods for making choices regarding friction values need to be more transparent andbetter communicated, or standardised, both alternatives with the goal of facilitating interpretationof maps by physical planners. Also, depending on where in the planning process GIS-basedplanning support tools are used, they can be used in different ways. Early in the process, or evenbefore planning starts, they can act as decision support. After the implementation of a plan, theycan instead be beneficial for follow-up of biodiversity aspects. / Förlust av biologisk mångfald är problematisk och påverkar effektiviteten hos naturligaekosystem. De planetära gränserna för biologisk mångfald har sedan länge överskridits. Mål,lagar, och strategier från FN, EU och nationellt visar att frågor kopplade till biologisk mångfald ärbåde viktiga och aktuella. År 2020 antogs Stockholms stads första Handlingsplan för Biologisk Mångfald, vilken påverkarflertalet lokala åtgärder och mål. Ekar, som är en del av det svenska ädellövsbeståndet, ärprioriterade i Stockholms arbete med biologisk mångfald. I GIS-analyser har vissa skalbaggsarteranvänts som indikatorer för bedömning av naturvärden hos dessa bestånd. I denna studie genomfördes en litteraturstudie och fyra intervjuer för djupare insikt i relationenmellan GIS-baserade verktyg för planeringsstöd för biologisk mångfald, och fysisk planering, iStockholms stad. Ytterligare litteraturstudier genomfördes, inriktade på modellarter för biologiskmångfald i ekhabitat, samt tillvägagångssätt vid skapande av friktionsraster.Konnektivitetsanalyser av potentiella ekhabitat, i studieområdet Skarpnäck i södra Stockholm,genomfördes i ArcGIS och Linkage Mapper. Dessa fokuserade på analysens känslighet vidvariation av utvalda parametrar. Huvudsakliga resultat utgörs av kartor där korridorer och kostviktade avstånd beskrivermöjligheten till rörelse mellan habitat, samt hur dessa kan variera drastiskt av attparametervärden ändras. Den största skillnaden uppstod när större vägar betraktades sombarriärer. Det andra huvudsakliga resultatet består av en sammanställning av de intervjuer somutfördes. Där framgår att tidigt i planeringsprocessen, eller innan planprocessen påbörjas, kanGIS-baserade planeringsverktyg användas som beslutstöd. När planen genomförts kan de iställetvara användbara för uppföljning av konsekvenser för biologisk mångfald. Där dessa delar möts uppstår en diskussion om hur GIS-baserade verktyg kan utgöra ett stöd vidplanering för biologisk mångfald, hur det idag används på flertalet sätt och att användningen bådekan utökas och förbättras. Brister i transparens, och rättfärdigande av val av metod ochfriktionsvärden i konnektivitetsanalyser, ses i ljuset av möjligheten att som icke-professionellinom GIS kunna tolka kartor menade att användas som planeringsstöd.

yes / This paper presents a new method that provides the means to detect sunspots on full-disk solar images recorded by the Solar Diameter Imager and Surface Mapper (SODISM) on the PICARD satellite. The method is a totally automated detection process that achieves a sunspot recognition rate of 97.6%. The number of sunspots detected by this method strongly agrees with the NOAA catalogue. The sunspot areas calculated by this method have a 99% correlation with SOHO over the same period, and thus help to calculate the filling factor for wavelength (W.L.) 607nm.

yes / The surface of the sun often shows visible sunspots which are located in magnetically active regions of the Sun, and whose number is an indicator of the Sun’s magnetic activity. The detection and classification of sunspots are useful techniques in the monitoring and prediction of solar activity. The automated detection of sunspots from digital images is complicated by their irregularities in shape and variable contrast and intensity compared with their surrounding area. The main aim of this paper is to detect sunspots using images from the Solar Diameter Imager and Surface Mapper (SODISM) on the PICARD satellite and calculate their filling factors. A comparison over time with sunspot numbers obtained using images from the SOHO satellite is also presented.

No description available.