Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Olax zeylanica: AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE BIO-PESTICIDE FOR THE CONTROLOF THE MAIZE WEEVIL SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS MOTS. (CURCULIONIDAE)

Leaf powders of Ocimum graticimum, Morinda citrifolia, Aegle marmelos, Annona squamosa, Annonareticulata, Olax zeylanica and Ricinus communis were screened for their insecticidal activity underlaboratory conditions (30±1 oC and 84 - 86% RH) against Sitophilus zeamais. The powders at the rate of15g/50g of maize grains were tested and adult mortality was recorded after 24 hours. O. zeylanica washighly effective against S. zeamais eliciting 100% mortality. Mortality for other six plants was significantlylower ranging from 5.28 to 21.24%. O. zeylanica was tested at five dose rates (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0g) andmortality of adult weevils was recorded after 6, 12 and 24 hours. Mortality of weevils increased with theincrease of the dose as well as the exposure time. Also, weevil mortality was 100% at the dose of 10g justafter 12 hours. Results of this study indicated that leaf powder of O. zeylanica was extremely toxic to S.zeamaize weevils. LD50 and LD99 values after 6,12and 24 hours of exposure were 5.84, 2.47, 1.84g and38.55, 8.33 and 6.51g respectively. The present study revealed that Olax zeylanica has high potential as abio-pesticide which can compete effectively with hazardous insecticides in managing S. zeamaisinfestations. Keywords: Olax zeylanica, Sitophilus zeamais, Insecticidal activity
Burnt area mapping in insular Southeast Asia using medium resolution satellite imagery

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 LIST OF ORIGINAL ARTICLES 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 ABBREVIATIONS 7 INTRODUCTION 9 Vegetation fires in tropical regions 9 Monitoring of the occurrence and effects of vegetation fires 9 General 9 Active fire detection 10 Burnt area mapping 10 Characteristics of insular Southeast Asia as a fire region 14 Climate and nature 14 Fires in insular Southeast Asia 16 Special features from the burnt area detection point of view 17 Objective and structure of the study 18 MATERIALS AND METHODS 18 Satellite data 18 Medium and coarse resolution data 18 High resolution reference data 20 Land cover and soil maps 21 Data analysis 23 Analysis on fire-induced spectral changes (I) 23 Evaluation of multitemporal compositing methods (III) 26 Investigation of burn scar patterns and size distribution (IV) 27 Assessment of the usability of super-resolution MODIS images (V) 28 MAIN RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 28 Fire-induced spectral changes (I, II, IV) 28 Multitemporal compositing for burnt area mapping (III) 32 Variability of fire regimes and its effect on burnt area mapping (II, IV) 34 Usability of the super-resolution images (V) 38 CONCLUSIONS 39 REFERENCES 41
Objective multiscale analysis of random heterogeneous materials

The multiscale framework presented in [1, 2] is assessed in this contribution for a study of random heterogeneous materials. Results are compared to direct numerical simulations (DNS) and the sensitivity to user-defined parameters such as the domain decomposition type and initial coarse scale resolution is reported. The parallel performance of the implementation is studied for different domain decompositions.
EVALUATION OF (IM)POLITENESS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG JAPANESE STUDENTS, JAPANESE PARENTS AND AMERICAN STUDENTS ON EVALUATION OF ATTENTIVENESS

This study explores the evaluation of (im)politeness, which is made by a hearer (or a beneficiary). Although discursive researchers advocate the importance of the evaluation of (im)politeness made by a hearer in politeness research, empirical studies on the evaluation of (im)politeness are still limited. The non-linguistic aspect has not been much researched in previous politeness studies. This study tries to fill these gaps in politeness research, by focusing on evaluation of (im)politeness from the non-linguistic perspective. Among many other things, the evaluation of attentiveness (demonstrator’s preemptive response to a beneficiary’s verbal/non-verbal cues or situations surrounding a beneficiary and a demonstrator, which takes the form of offering) is focused on in this study, making cross-cultural (Japanese and American) and cross-generational (university students and their parents’ age groups) comparisons. The data were collected through a questionnaire, which consisted of six situations, and interviews. 298 people (Japanese university students, Japanese parents and American university students) served as the participants. The results of the questionnaire data show that there were significant differences among the participants in the evaluation of attentiveness in two situations, those of the interview data revealing that most participants evaluated attentiveness positively, except in two situations. This study contributes to further understanding of (im)politeness from the perspective of attentiveness with cross-cultural and cross-generational differences as well as similarities.
EFFECT OF SPACING ON CAMELINA SATIVA: A NEW BIOFUEL CROP IN INDIA

Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz (Gold of Pleasure) is a proposed biofuel species introduced in India from Austria in 2009. The experiment was conducted during 2010-2012 at the Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Field station- Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand to study the effect of spacing between rows (20, 25, 30 and 35cm) on the growth, yield and oil content of C. sativa cv calena. The row spacing of 30cm showed a significantly higher threshing percentage (93.60), harvest index (11.78%), seed yield (458.89 kg/ha) and oil content in seed (38.71%) on applying least significant difference test at P=0.05. The study will be beneficial to optimize the cultivation of Camelina crop for large scale production of biofuel.
Evolution of the 4‐coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL) gene family: Conserved evolutionary pattern and two new gene classes in gymnosperms

Abstract The 4‐coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is the branch point enzyme that channels the general phenylpropanoid metabolism into specific lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis branches. Genetic engineering experiments on the 4CL gene have been carried out in many species, but the precise functions of different gene members are still unresolved. To investigate the evolutionary relationships and functional differentiation of the 4CL gene family, we made a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of this gene family from 27 species representing the major lineages of land plants. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that both vascular and seed plant 4CL genes form monophyletic groups, and that three and two 4CL classes can be recognized in gymnosperms and angiosperms, respectively. The evolutionary rate and frequency of duplication of the 4CL gene family are much more conserved than that of the CAD/SAD (cinnamyl/sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase) gene family, which catalyzes the last step in monolignol biosynthesis. This may be due to different selective pressures on these genes whose products catalyze different steps in the biosynthesis pathway. In addition, we found two new major classes of 4CL genes in gymnosperms.
Compensatory Health Beliefs: The Development of an Eating-Specific Scale

Objective: The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate an eating-specific Compensatory Health Beliefs (CHBs) scale. CHBs are beliefs that a negative/unhealthy behaviour or consequences of negative behaviour can be compensated by positive, healthy behaviour, so that the negative behaviour can be neutralized. A scale that measures these general CHBs was already developed by Knauper et al. (2004). The scale is, however, very generic and does not assess specific behaviour in detail. The subject of this study is unhealthy eating behaviour. People who eat unhealthy food/snacks might get in a state of cognitive dissonance because they want to stay healthy and thin but cannot resist the temptation of unhealthy food. They might try to resolve this cognitive dissonance by eating-specific CHBs. Design: Qualitative interviews were used for the item generation. For the survey study cross-sectional data were used to evaluate the scale. Subjects: The study was conducted among 170 participants whereof the majority (97%) were students. Method: The new developed eating-specific CHB (ECHB) scale and other measures were tested in the group of participants in order to determine the reliability and construct validity of the scale. Also the predictive value for the intake of unhealthy food/or snacks was evaluated. Results: The whole scale’s Cronbach’s α was 0.68, that suggests that the reliability is questionable. But the factor structure and the construct validity of the scale were good. The eating-specific CHB scale had a significant negative Pearson correlation (r=-0.29) with the adapted version of the Fat List and the multivariate regression analysis maintained the predictive value of the scale. Conclusion: The ECHB scale can be used as an instrument to measure eating-specific CHBs. It is possible to predict the intake of unhealthy food/ snacks based on the score of the ECHB. Further research is needed to increase the reliability of the scale.
Loose fit? The impact of the Manchester music scene on youth fashion 1986 to 1996

This thesis questions the stereotype of the loose fitting silhouette of the Mancunian music scene from 1986 to 1996, exploring the links between the city’s music scene and local youth fashion. It establishes the important contribution of fashion to culture in the music scene and the distinct local “looks” that resulted. The thesis explores the literature of subculture and identity, enriched by the concepts of bricolage and local fashion. The contributory influence of the Manchester music scene is investigated in its public and private sites of creation and consumption. Combining cultural studies, dress history and fashion theory, the research is based on oral evidence in the form of active interviews, supported by analysis of contemporary images. Interviewees were pre-identified for their role in Mancunian fashion and music. These revealed previously unidentified aspects of Mancunian dress, which inform a discussion of the nature and context of local fashion in the period. Salient findings included the eloquence with which men can talk about clothes, and the sources and methods of the quest for authenticity through “looks”. The thesis repositions subculture, in the light of the shift toward more mutable groupings, and affiliations that can change with site. These formed a multi-faceted movement that was able to embrace both mainstream culture and its subversions. The contribution to knowledge centres on: (1) the importance of authenticity in subcultural movements; (2) identification of the several looks co-existing under the banner of Madchester; (3) establishing that these looks were understood differently from inside the movement because experiences shared by participants depended on tacit understandings rather than purely visual judgements; and, (4) the concept of fashion in motion to describe the interrelationship of garment and wearer in movement and its connection with identity. This led to (5) the addition of “attitude” to Brake’s practical aspects of subcultural style. Attitude is the outward expression of the inward state produced by dress upon the body, sometimes visually sensed (as swagger on the Madchester scene) but also encompassing less tangible projections.
Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Sheep, Goats and Cattle in Southern Tunisia

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in ruminants (sheep, goats, and cattle) in Southern Tunisia is largely unknown. Antibodies and DNA to T. gondii were determined in serum and apex of the heart samples of 261 animals (204 sheep, 32 goats and 25 cattle) using the modified agglutination technique test (MAT) and the PCR respectively. Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT, 1:20) were found in 40.2% (95% CI: 33.4%, 47.2%), 34.5% (95% CI: 19.1%, 53.2%) and 12% (95% CI: 03.15%, 32.13%) in sheep, goats and cattle respectively. Seroprevalence significantly (p 3 years) and females were significantly (p<0.05) more infected than younger and male animals respectively. The seroprevalence was highest in sheep and specifically in the Barbarine breed. The presence of Toxoplasma DNA was detected in 11 of 96 samples (11.5%). The prevalence observed in the present study indicates a widespread exposure to T. gondii in South Tunisia. Results indicate, for the first time in Tunisia, that infected sheep and goats represent a potential source of T. gondii infection for humans in particular in the South of the country (Gafsa area).
Competing for Savings: How Important Is Creditworthiness During the Crisis?

Interest rates on savings products vary not only across banks, but also across the accounts of individual banks. Building on a unique dataset covering the 2003-2014 period, our results show that time deposit rates reflect more closely the economic environment than bank interest rates on savings accounts do. At bank level, interest rates are significantly negatively related to creditworthiness, especially since the onset of the global financial crisis. With regard to account-specific features, we find that maturity-increasing conditions (i.e., withdrawal fees for savings accounts and product maturity for time deposits) positively influence a product's interest rate.
Monetary policy during financial crises: Is the transmission mechanism impaired?

We study the macroeconomic effects of monetary policy during financial crises using a Bayesian panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model for 20 advanced economies. We interact all of the endogenous variables with financial crisis dummies, which are constructed using the narrative approach. We also distinguish between an acute initial phase of financial crises and a subsequent recovery phase. We show that an expansionary monetary policy shock has large positive effects on output and inflation during the acute phase of a financial crisis. These effects are larger than those during non-crisis periods. Decreased uncertainty as well as increases in consumer confidence and share prices explain these large effects, whereas these variables are much less relevant for monetary policy transmission outside financial crises. Counterfactual analysis shows that the transmission mechanism would be impaired without the effects of monetary policy on these variables, where credit would not react at all and the response of output would be substantially lower. During the recovery phase of a financial crisis, output and inflation are generally non-responsive to monetary policy shocks.
In Vitro Regeneration and Multiplication of Jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus L.)

Jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus L.), known as national fruit of Bangladesh, found bet ween June to August. Propagation of jackfruit plant from seeds is not widely accepte d because of high heterozygosis. To maintain the tr ue type quality fruit, tissue culture technique could be used for the prop agation of jackfruit throughout the year. Healthy a nd juvenile shoot tips were used for explanting purpose and cultured in Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium complemented with different concentrations (0 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, 3 mg/L and 4 mg/L) of plant growth hormone i.e. BAP (6-benzyleaminopurine), for the purpose of multiple shoot development. Rege neration of shoots increased comparatively better w hen MS medium was enriched with 2 mg/L of BAP. With the increase of subculture (up to 10th maximum), frequency of sh oot proliferation was enhanced. These shoots were then cultured on half strength of MS medium supplemented with 0 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, 3 mg/L and 4 mg/L IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid) and observed that 2 mg/L IBA containing medium was highest in number of roots/explants, root length and early roo t induction.
On Games and Equilibria with Coherent Lower Expectations

Different solution concepts for strategic form games have been introduced in order to weaken the consistency assumption that players' beliefs - about their opponents strategic choices - are correct in equilibrium. The literature has shown that ambiguous beliefs are an appropriate device to deal with this task. In this note, we introduce an equilibrium concept in which players do not know the opponents' strategies in their entirety but only the coherent lower expectations of some random variables that depend on the actual strategies taken by the others. This equilibrium concept generalizes the already existing concept of equilibrium with partially specified probabilities by extending the set of feasible beliefs and allowing for comparative probability judgements. We study the issue of the existence of the equilibrium points in our framework and find that equilibria exist under rather classical assumptions.
Degradation study of stevioside using RP-HPLC and ESI-MS/MS

Stevioside is very potential to be an antidiabetic pro-drug. In processing, the active ingredient may be degraded. This research conducted a study of the degradation of stevioside on several stress factors such as acid and base hydrolysis; exposure to UV rays, thermal heating and oxidation using RP-HPLC. The degradation products were identified using ESI-MS/MS. Hydrolysis of acid-base solution and exposure to UV254 nm rays caused the breakdown of glycoside bonds in the analyte. Stevioside was unstable in dry heating at 105oC for 48 hours due to degradation of 91%. Stevioside was oxidized under H2O2 oxidation for 48 hours. Based on the ESI-MS/MS analysis, the identified stevioside degradation products were [M-H] with m/z = 803 as stevioside; [M-H] with the value of m/z = 641 as steviolbioside; [M-H] with m/z = 479 as steviolmonoside; [M-H] with m/z = 317 as steviol. Termination of glucose was characterized by fragmentation [M-162] . Our study provides a basic view on the stability and degradation characteristics of stevioside, and demonstrates the formation of degradation products.
An RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Associated with the Filamentous Nucleoproteins of Rice Stripe Virus

Summary Filamentous particles of rice stripe virus (RSV) were found to be associated with an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. The enzyme catalysed the synthesis in vitro of single- and double-stranded RNAs corresponding in size with RNA found in RSV particles, as well as two other dsRNAs with mol. wt. of 1.0 × 106 and 0.56 × 106. The RSV polymerase activity required Mg2+, Mn2+ or Fe2+ but not Na+, K+ or NH+ 4 which were inhibitory at concentrations of more than 50 mm. The optimum pH of the polymerase was around 8·0 at the optimum temperature, 40°C. Detergent treatment of RSV particles did not enhance the polymerase activity. Purified RSV particles contained a minor polypeptide (mol. wt. 230000) as well as coat protein; the former may be the RSV polymerase. The taxonomy of RSV is discussed in relation to enveloped animal viruses with negative-stranded RNA, which also contain an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in virus particles.
Alkylphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organochlorines in sediment from Lake Shihwa, Korea: Instrumental and bioanalytical characterization

Lake Shihwa is an artificial lake, located on the west coast of Korea, that has experienced environmental deterioration since 1994, when it was formed by construction of a sea dike. This study used instrumental analysis and in vitro bioassays to characterize organic contaminants in sediment collected from 11 stations on Lake Shihwa. Alkylphenol (AP) concentrations in Lake Shihwa sediment ranged from 20.2 to 1,820 ng/g nonylphenol and from 4.69 to 50.5 ng/g octylphenol, on a dry weight basis. Maximum concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were 30.8, 2.26, and 12.3 ng/g (dry weight), respectively. Significant estrogenic activity was associated with fractions containing APs. Mass‐balance analysis suggested that reported concentrations of APs account for less than 20% of the estrogenic activity observed. No significant dioxinlike activity was associated with fractions containing classic aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists, such as PCBs, but the mid‐polarity fractions containing PAHs and most polar fractions yielded significant dioxinlike activity. Overall, most of the in vitro bioassay responses appear to have been caused by unidentified and/or undetectable compounds associated with Lake Shihwa sediment.
Stabilization of uncertain polytopic system by switched command law: multiobserver based

Abstract. This paper presents a new approach to stabilize robustly, by state feedback control, an uncertain polytopic system with non measurable states. The control law is obtained by switching between estimated outputs generated by different observers designed from the tops of polytope. Every controller is synthesized to stabilize a sub region into the polytope. All the stabilized sub regions describe the whole polytope. The computing of state feedback gains and observers gains are based on the use of LMI formulation. This work is, also, presenting techniques for resolving the non convexity of obtained LMI’s by using a relaxation algorithm. The used switched law guaranties the robust plant stabilization by choosing the optimal controller. Keywords . uncertain system, polytopic uncertainty, observers, robust stabilization, non convex LMI, LMI relaxation, switched command system, switched laws. 1. Introduction During the last couple of decades, the switched systems were the subject of several publications in the theory of system commands. In fact, several industrial applications impose a changing in the regime of functioning generally which are leading to a modification of system dynamics. Take for example the regime of changing speed in vehicle [5], the control of some robots and the flexible workshops [3], [14], [11] the functioning of human heart can be also modelized by the hybrid system [17]. Many researchers were interested in the stabilization of switched systems that have uncontrollable switched law between subsystems [16], [7], [8], [9]. The interest