Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Amylolytic Bacteria from Starch-Based Agro Wastes and Optimisation of Culture Conditions for Enhanced Production of Extracellular Amylase

The search for novel microorganisms with enhanced amylase production is a continuous process, and the starch-based agrowastes (SBAW) hold such potential. This study investigated the ability of bacteria isolated from SBAW obtained locally to produce extracellular amylase with varying cultural conditions. A total of 41 bacteria isolated by spread-plate from the SBAW samples were identified using their morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene characteristics. Preliminary screening by starch hydrolysis revealed three most-promising amylolytic isolates with 5.0 – 6.0 mm clear zone diameter. They were Myroides odoratimimus BY-F1, Enterobacter asburiae YP-F1 and Bacillus cereus CP-A4 with the amylase production of 308.75 ± 1.41 U/ml, 274.44 ± 0.68 U/ml and 205.83 ± 0.18 U/ml respectively. Their optimal culture conditions were BY-F1 [pH 7.0 at 40°C for 72 h], YP-F1 [pH 9.0 at 40°C for 24 h] and CP-A4 [pH 9.0 at 35°C for 72 h]. The FTIR characterisation of the amylase purified by Calotropis procera latex and activated charcoal revealed the presence of -OH, -COOH and -NH2 group, which are essential for amylase activity. The findings suggest the exploitation of Myroides odoratimimusBY-F1, Enterobacter asburiae YP-F1 and Bacillus cereusCP-A4 for industrial-scale production of extracellular amylase.
Differential Privacy in the Shuffle Model: A Survey of Separations

Differential privacy is often studied in one of two models. In the central model, a single analyzer has the responsibility of performing a privacy-preserving computation on data. But in the local model, each data owner ensures their own privacy. Although it removes the need to trust the analyzer, local privacy comes at a price: a locally private protocol is less accurate than a centrally private counterpart when solving many learning and estimation problems. Protocols in the shuffle model are designed to attain the best of both worlds: recent work has shown high accuracy is possible with only a mild trust assumption. This survey paper gives an overview of novel shuffle protocols, along with lower bounds that establish the limits of the new model. We also summarize work that show the promise of interactivity in the shuffle model.
Uncoupled changes in tree cover and field layer vegetation at two Pyrenean treeline ecotones over 11 years

Background: The alpine treeline ecotone is regarded as a sensor of the effects of global change on alpine plant communities. However, little is known about how treeline dynamics influence the diversity and composition of alpine plant communities. Such information is necessary to forecast how ascending montane forests may affect the composition of alpine flora. Aims: We analysed the temporal variations in tree cover, plant diversity and composition, and the effect of tree cover dynamics on field layer vegetation over a period of 11 years, at two alpine treeline ecotones in the central Pyrenees, Spain. Methods: Tree and field layer vegetation was sampled in permanent transects in 1998 and 2009, using the point-intercept method. Temporal changes in tree cover, plant species richness and abundance were characterised along the ecotone by using a randomisation approach, rarefaction curves, and a non-parametric multivariate test, respectively. Results: Tree cover increased significantly at one of the sites, whereas plant species richness only increased at the other site where tree cover had not changed. Vegetation composition changed significantly at both sites, but it was not spatially coupled with changes in tree cover along the ecotone. Conclusions: A change of tree cover does not necessarily trigger changes in the ground flora at the treeline over relatively short periods (decade scale). The results challenge our ability to infer short-term biodiversity impacts from upslope advance of forests. Integrated tree and field layer monitoring approaches are necessary to produce a better understanding of the impact of ongoing global change on treeline ecotones.
STUDY OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH BLOOD GROUP AND GENDER IN SAURASHTRA REGION

Corresponding Author: Dr. Ashish Rathva, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, GMERS Medical College,Junagadh, India. Mobile No.: 8758898589/8160044060 E-Mail: aashish.rathwa60@gmail.com Finger prints are considered as the best tool of identification of person. Finger print evidence is by far the most effective and reliableevidence in the court of law. Two major aspects which prove the efficiency of finger prints are, the ridges formed during thefetal period do not change their course of alignment throughout the life of an individual until the skin is decomposed andthe other one is two finger prints of either a same individual or two different individuals are never alike, they differ in theirpatterns and ridge characteristics. Due to this unique attribute of finger print, it is widely considered asconclusive evidence in the court of law. We have carried out a study including 150 medical students of GMERS Medical College Junagadh, Gujarat, among which 75 were male and 75 werefemale subjects having different ABO blood groups belonging to different age groups.All the 10 fingerprint patterns were divided into Loops, Whorls and Arches. Results indicating thatLoops are most commonly found fingerprint patterns while, Arches are least common. Loops dominated in all the Blood groupsof both Rh+veand Rh-venegative individuals whereas, Whorls were found to be dominating in only O-veblood group. The onlycorrelation between gender and finger print patterns in this study is that, Loops and Arches were found in higher frequencyin Females compared to Males and whorls were found to be high in males compared to females.
Colony composition and morphological caste differentiation between ergatoid queens and workers in the ponerine ant genus Leptogenys in the Oriental tropics

Colony composition and morphological caste differentiation between queens and workers were studied in 14 Leptogenys species collected in Malaysia and Indonesia. Ten species had ergatoid queens and four species reproduced by mated workers without morphologically distinct queens. Colonies of most species having ergatoid queens were monogynous, however, polygyny was found in two species. In contrast, all four species which reproduced by mated workers (= gamergates) were polygynous. Degree of caste differentiation between ergatoid queens and workers was conspicuous in L. myops. In the other species, the head width of ergatoid queens was almost the same as in their conspecific workers, although, the abdomen was generally wider in ergatoid queens than in workers. The workers of ergatoid species have almost the same number of ovarioles as their queens except for L. myops, however, spermathecae were remarkably reduced in length or missing. All workers in the four species that reproduced with gamergates had sperma.
Service Employee’s Emotional Intelligence and Customer’s Evaluations of Service Quality in Hospitality Industry

The present study examines the impact of the service employee’s emotional intelligence on customer’s evaluation of the service quality. The sample consisted of 63 service employees and 326 customers from hospitality firms in Turkey. Since the nested structure of the data, we conducted hierarchical linear modeling analyses. The results indicated that there exists significant variance in service quality perceptions among customers from different cultural backgrounds. Moreover, the results showed that service employee’s EQ positively influences customer’s assessment of the service quality. This study extends prior research relating to service employee’s EQ on service quality perceptions, and provides important insights for hospitality practitioners. 
Start-Before-End and End-to-End: Neural Speech Translation by AppTek and RWTH Aachen University

AppTek and RWTH Aachen University team together to participate in the offline and simultaneous speech translation tracks of IWSLT 2020. For the offline task, we create both cascaded and end-to-end speech translation systems, paying attention to careful data selection and weighting. In the cascaded approach, we combine high-quality hybrid automatic speech recognition (ASR) with the Transformer-based neural machine translation (NMT). Our end-to-end direct speech translation systems benefit from pretraining of adapted encoder and decoder components, as well as synthetic data and fine-tuning and thus are able to compete with cascaded systems in terms of MT quality. For simultaneous translation, we utilize a novel architecture that makes dynamic decisions, learned from parallel data, to determine when to continue feeding on input or generate output words. Experiments with speech and text input show that even at low latency this architecture leads to superior translation results.
Influence of Rooting Media on Root Structure and Rooting Percentage of Douglas-fir Cuttings

The rooting medium is important in successful propaga­ tion of cuttings. The medium can influence the percentage of cuttings that root and the type of root system developed (LoNe, 1932). A good medium provides several essential functions: it holds the cuttings in place, it maintains a high moisture content yet is well drained, it allows adequate air exchange around the base of the cutting, and it must be free of disease and insects (HARTMANN and KEsTER, 1968). A lack of one or more of these beneficial characteristics can result in lower percentages of cuttings that root or undesir­ able root configuration. The choice of rooting medium used in conifer propaga­ tion is usually by chance. Propagators generally continue to use a medium with which they are familiar or with which they have had success when working with other species. Only a few designed tests of rooting materials have actual­ ly been done. One test with kanuma soil of five different particle sizes was reported for Pinus densiflora and P. thunbergii (OcAsAWARA, 1961). Differences between species in rooting percentage and number of main roots per cutting were found. In a comparison of gravel, peat-sand, gravel­ Alginure, and compost, cuttings from 12-year-old Douglas­ fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (MmB.) FRANco) trees rooted best in peat-sand and in compost (KLEINscHMIT, 1972). Other studies in rooting Douglas-fir cuttings have used river sand (CoRNu, 1973), a 5 : 1 sand-peat moss medium (BHELLA and RoBERTs, 1974), and 2 : 1 perlite-peat moss (Ross, 1975). Rooting research with Douglas-fir at the Forestry Sci-· ences Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, has been done for 8 years in plaster-grade sand. This is fine, washed river sand free of soil and organic materials. Roots grown in such sand were usually long, brittle, and not well branched. The root­ ed cuttings were sometimes difficult to transplant from rooting beds because the long, brittle roots often broke during lifting or planting. A more branched and flexible root system was desired. The author had observed enough instances in which root habit seemed to be altered with other rooting media to suggest that various ones should be tested. To test that observation, a study of 21 combinations of four common rooting medium substances was started using Douglas-fir cuttings. The effects of different media on root structure and rooting percentage are reported here.
Alternation and Coexistence of Tree Species

In virgin forests, individual trees tend to be succeeded in time by those of another species. The phenomenon was recognized by a French forester and named "alternation of species" as early as 1905 (Schaeffer and Moreau 1958). The process is frequency dependent, not only setting the ratio of two species but driving the community toward equilibrium. The causes of alternation, some probably related to density regulation and some not, can all operate at the size scale of single large trees, excepting, of course, dispersal. Trees themselves serve as microhabitats for seedlings and saplings, and that is sufficient for mediating tree coexistence.
The Carnitine Transporter Network: Interactions with Drugs

Carnitine homeostasis has a pivotal role in the life of mammals. It is realized by the carnitine system, which consists of networks of enzymes and membrane transporters and plays an essential role in functions such as the regulation of the CoA/acyl-CoA ratio, the supply of substrates for the s-oxidation to mitochondria and peroxisomes and of acyl units for VLDL assembly to the ER, the efflux of acetyl groups from mitochondria during glucose metabolism and the detoxification of the organism. The network of the transporters plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis since it allows the absorption, excretion and re-absorption of carnitine and carnitine derivatives as well as the flux of these metabolites through different tissues and within sub-cellular compartments. Several transport systems which were thought to be involved in the network have been identified and characterized to a certain extent. These are the plasma membrane transporters OCTN1, 2 and 3, the mitochondrial CACT and the carnitine transport system of endoplasmic reticulum (ERCT). These transporters have been functionally characterized by studies in eukaryotic cell systems and/or in reconstituted liposomes. Interestingly, it was found that some commonly used drugs interact with different carnitine transporters, causing alterations of the transport function by displacing the substrate from the binding site or by irreversibly inactivating the transporters. These interactions will cause derangements of the carnitine homeostasis. The current knowledge of the characterization of the carnitine transporter network and the interaction with drugs are reviewed with emphasis to the most recent data obtained using the proteoliposome reconstituted systems.
Effect of rootstock type on chlorophyll content and mineral elements concentration in scion of Kinnow mandarin

In this study was evaluated the effect of 4 citrus rootstocks consist Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.), Bakraei (C. reticulata L.× C. aurantium L.), Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia L.) and Volkamer lemon (C. volkameriana L.) on chlorophyll content and mineral elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cl and B) in scion’s leaf of Kinnow mandarin grown in pot containing calcareous soil in greenhouse as compeletly randomized design with 4 replications. Results showed that rootstocks had significant effects on leaf chlorophyll content. The greatest chlorophyll content obtained on Volkamer lemon rootstock. The rootstock types had significant effect on leaf mineral concentrations except of Cl, P, Cu, Mn and Zn. Leaf N and Mn concentration was lower than optimum range on all rootstocks, K on Mexican lime rootstock and Ca on all roostocks except Mexican lime. The scions on Sour orange had the highest Cl. Na concentrations was the heighest on Mexican lime rootstock.
Improving Scientific Judgments in Law and Government: A Field Experiment of Patent Peer Review

Many have advocated for the expansion of peer review to improve scientific judgments in law and public policy. One such test case is the patent examination process, with numerous commentators arguing that scientific peer review can solve informational deficits in patent determinations. We present results from a novel randomized field experiment, carried out over the course of three years, in which 336 prominent scientific experts agreed to provide input on U.S. patent applications. Their input was edited for compliance with submission requirements and submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by our research team. We show that the intervention caused examiners to (i) increase search efforts and citations to the non-patent (scientific) literature and (ii) grant the application at lower rates in the first instance. However, results were substantially weaker and resource costs substantially higher than anticipated in the literature, highlighting significant challenges and questions of institutional design in bringing scientific expertise into law and government.
The effects of men's labor migration on women's decision-making power in rural Mozambique

Labor migration leads to significant changes in origin areas. The separation of migrants from the family unit, whether it is nuclear or extended, has profound implications for family organization and for individual family members. We examine the relationship between men’s labor migration and the decision-making autonomy of women who stay behind. Although previous studies have examined the association between men’s labor migration and non-migrating women’s autonomy, we go beyond prior research by testing multiple mechanisms by which men’s migration may lead to higher decisionmaking autonomy of their wives: female employment outside the home, lower fertility, and residential independence from extended family members. The data for our analyses come from a 2006 survey of 1680 married women from 56 rural villages in southern Mozambique. We find that both men’s cumulative migration history and current migration status are positively associated with women’s autonomy.
Cost efficiency of different cropping systems encompassing the energy crop Helianthus annuus L

Crop rotation and green manure are the most ancient and popular cropping systems. This study sought to analyze the economic efficiency of sunflower where pea (Pisum sativum L.) either harvested or incorporated at the flowering stage in the soil before the sowing of sunflower in Europe and the final agricultural profit of such a cultivation system. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to report the production costs and to find out which of the tested cultivation system gets sunflower cultivation economically viable in Greece and in Mediterranean region. To assess the economic efficiency, three-year field experiments were established in two contrasting environments in central Greece (Trikala and Larisa) and contained three different cultivation practices using legumes comprised the main-factor (T1: control, T2: legume incorporated at the flowering stage, T3: legume incorporated after seed harvest), while nitrogen fertilization comprised the sub-factor (N1:0, N2:50, N3:100 and N4:150 kgNha). The results derived from this study revealed the positive effect of the legume incorporation treatment (T2: legume incorporated at the flowering stage) where the final yield increased up to 5 t ha regardless region. Moreover, depending on the year the T2 treatment increases the final yield 30–50% and a yield increase was also noticed to the treatment where the legume was harvested (T3: legume incorporated after seed harvest). Therefore the introduction of this scheme into future land use systems in Greece and more generally in Mediterranean basin should be seriously taken into consideration.
Behavioural and sensory responses to drimane antifeedants in Pieris brassicae larvae

Fifteen drimane compounds were tested for their feeding inhibiting activity in larvae of Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) when applied to leaf material of the host plant Brassica oleracea L. The antifeedant efficacy of the drimanes was related to their molecular structure in order to identify important functional groups. Of the drimanes tested, those with a lactone group on the B‐ring were the most effective feeding inhibitors. Additionally, the sensory responses to 13 of the drimanes were measured. Neural activity was evoked in the deterrent cell in the medial sensillum styloconicum. Also, inhibition of sensory responses to feeding stimulants was found. Results of behavioural and electrophysiological tests were correlated in an attempt to elucidate the sensory code underlying feeding inhibition by drimanes in Pieris brassicae. It was concluded that the response of the deterrent cell in the medial sensillum styloconicum contributes significantly to inhibition of feeding behaviour in larvae of Pieris brassicae.
Role of Hydrophobicity in Bio-Accessibility
of Environmental Pollutants Among Different
Organisms

This study concerns the relationship between hydrophobicity and bio-accessibility of environmental pollutants among Tetrahymena pyriformis (protozoan), Daphnia magna (water flea) and the fish Poecilia reticulata. The toxicological data of 55 chemicals in terms of 50% effect concentration (EC50) was selected toward these three biological objects along with their hydrophobic potential (octanol-water partition coefficients (log Kow)). Overall, a significant correlation was recorded among all test systems, with the highest between Tetrahymena pyriformis and Poecilia reticulata (R = 0.93). The acute toxicity results revealed substantial difference in the sensitivity of the three test systems but at a certain level of hydrophobicity (log Kow values 0.5 to 2.5), where all environmental pollutants have the utmost ability to reach biological compartments as cytosole and target sites within the membranes, to interfere with normal cell functioning by effecting normal enzymatic activity and directly to biological macromolecules.
Interventions for prevention of Nipah virus transmission and infection in Bangladesh

Nipah virus (NiV) infections have been prevalent in Bangladesh since 2001. This virus is usually transmitted from infected bats to humans, and from humans to humans in Bangladesh. The most common source of transmission of Nipah virus in Bangladesh is through the consumption of a drink made from raw date palm sap that has been contaminated by infected bats’ saliva or urine. This paper describes several interventions to prevent the transmission of Nipah virus, namely, behavior change interventions, surveillance of cases, and quarantine of infected individuals. This paper also briefly touches upon the recent advancements in the development of vaccines against Nipah virus. Behavior change interventions, namely educating individuals at risk, either in person or through mass media, is an effective way of spreading awareness about and preventing the transmission of NiV. Surveillance systems can help early case detection; however, this might yield misleading numbers if there is underreporting of cases. Quarantine of infected persons is likely to be expensive and would require the presence of extensively trained personnel. Vaccines against NiV are currently being developed and the results from animal tests have been promising. In Bangladesh, given the lack of resources, behavior change intervention would be the most cost-effective way of preventing the spread of NiV, compared to routine surveillance and/or quarantine of cases. Therefore, in order to prevent NiV infections, focus should be geared towards behavior change communication through education about the transmission of NiV, provided to those living in high-risk areas of Bangladesh.