Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Identification of Novel Bioflocculant-Producing Bacteria from Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Bioflocculants produced by microorganisms from waste stream are regarded as being environmentally safe since they are nontoxic and biodegradable. In this study, the potential of palm oil mill effluent (POME) – a wastewater from the palm oil milling process – as a source of bioflocculant-producing bacteria was assessed. Several bacterial strains were isolated from POME and screened for bioflocculant production using kaolin suspension as indicator. Culture broth was used to determine the flocculating activity of the isolated strains, thereby assessing their potential to produce bioflocculant. Of the 23 screened isolates, 13 showed capability to produce bioflocculant. Four such isolates having the highest flocculation rate were identified as the potential bioflocculant-producing bacteria via 16S rDNA as Bacillus marisflavi NA8, Xanthomonas oryzae NA9, Stenotrophomonas daejeonensis NA12 and Bacillus toyonensis NA23. Interestingly, there was a high diversity of bioflocculant-producing bacteria in POME ecosystem suggesting that POME can be a highly suitable substrate in bioflocculant production.
Robot therapy as for recreation for elderly people with dementia - Game recreation using a pet-type robot -

Most elderly people staying in nursing homes have considerable dementia, and various kinds of recreation program have hence been executed in order to improve or prevent this problem. However the effect of recreation has not been proved quantitatively. In this paper, we show the relationship between actions of elderly people with considerable dementia during recreation and abilities of memorization, emotion control, accommodation to society, etc., and decompose their actions into basic action factors. We propose a design method for recreation programs composed of effective factor actions for improving dementia. We analyze the effect of recreation in an experiment of robot therapy recreation based on the proposed method.
Ocean Modelling

The current generation of climate models exhibit a large spread in the steady-state and projected Southern Ocean upper and lower overturning circulation, with mechanisms for deep ocean variability remaining less well understood. Here, common Southern Ocean metrics in twelve models from the Coordinated Ocean-ice Reference Experiment Phase II (CORE-II) are assessed over a 60 year period. Speci ﬁ cally, strati ﬁ cation, surface buoyancy ﬂ uxes, and eddies are linked to the magnitude of the strengthening trend in the upper overturning circulation, and a decreasing trend in the lower overturning circulation across the CORE-II models. The models evolve similarly in the upper 1 km and the deep ocean, with an almost equivalent poleward intensi ﬁ cation trend in the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds. However, the models di ﬀ er substantially in their eddy parameterisation and surface buoyancy ﬂ uxes. In general, models with a larger heat-driven water mass transformation where deep waters upwell at the surface ( ∼ 55°S) transport warmer waters into intermediate depths, thus weakening the strati ﬁ cation in the upper 2 km. Models with a weak eddy induced overturning and a warm bias in the intermediate waters are more likely to exhibit larger increases in the upper overturning circulation, and more signi ﬁ cant weakening of the lower overturning circulation. We ﬁ nd the opposite holds for a cool model bias in intermediate depths, combined with a more complex 3D eddy parameterisation that acts to reduce isopycnal slope. In summary, the Southern Ocean overturning circulation decadal trends in the coarse resolution CORE-II models are governed by biases in surface buoyancy ﬂ uxes and the ocean density ﬁ eld, and the con ﬁ guration of the eddy parameterisation.
Cloning and expression of the chromosomal immune interferon gene of the rat.

The chromosomal immune interferon gene of the rat (IFN‐gamma) was identified by screening a recombinant rat lambda phage library with a human IFN‐gamma cDNA probe. In contrast to the genes of other rat IFNs, this rat IFN‐gamma chromosomal gene contains introns and its structural organization closely resembles that of the human and murine IFN‐gamma genes. The rat IFN‐gamma gene encodes a signal sequence of 19 amino acids followed by the mature IFN‐gamma protein of 137 amino acids. The gene was expressed under control of the simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells deficient in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) after co‐transformation with a plasmid containing the mouse DHFR gene. Initial transformants with a DHFR+ phenotype produced IFN‐gamma titres ranging from 20 to 1600 units/ml. After stepwise increases in the concentration of methotrexate (MTX) in the growth medium of transformed CHO cells, MTX‐resistant clones producing 80 000‐100 000 units per ml were isolated. Protein analysis of supernatants of these MTX‐resistant cells by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a product with an apparent mol. wt. of 18 000 daltons which was not detectable in the growth medium of DHFR+ transformants that did not produce IFN. The product was identified as rat IFN‐gamma and constituted approximately 5% of the proteins excreted from these cells.
Pathologic Review of Negative Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Melanoma Patients With Regional Recurrence: A Clinicopathologic Study of 1152 Patients Undergoing Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

A sentinel lymph node (SLN) that is melanoma negative by pathologic examination implies absence of melanoma metastasis to that regional lymph node field. However, a small proportion of patients develop regional node field recurrence after a negative SLN biopsy. In this study, we reviewed the histopathology of negative SLNs from such patients to determine whether occult melanoma cells were present in the SLNs, to characterize the pathologic features of false-negative SLNs, and to provide recommendations for the histopathologic examination of these specimens. Between March 1992 and June 2001, of 1152 patients who had undergone SLN biopsy for primary melanomas at the Sydney Melanoma Unit, 976 were diagnosed with negative SLNs by initial pathologic examination (using 2 hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, and 2 immunostained sections for S-100 protein and HMB45), and follow-up was available in 957. Of these, 26 (2.7%) developed regional lymph node recurrence during a median follow-up period of 35.7 months. For 22 of them, the original slides and tissue blocks were available for reexamination. The original slides of each block were reviewed. Multiple further sections were cut from each block and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, for S-100, HMB45, and Melan A. Deposits of occult melanoma cells were detected in 7 of the 22 cases (31.8%). In 5 of the 7 cases, deposits of melanoma cells were present only in the recut sections. There were no significant differences in clinical and pathologic variables for those patients in whom occult melanoma cells were found by pathologic reexamination of their SLNs, compared with those in whom no melanoma cells were detected. The detection of melanoma cell deposits in only 7 of 22 false-negative SLNs suggests that mechanisms other than failure of histopathologic examination may contribute to the failure of the SLN biopsy technique in some patients. The failure rate for melanoma detection in SLNs by our routine pathologic examination, using the current protocol at our institution, was <1% (7 of 957 patients). Routinely performing more intensive histopathologic examination of SLNs is difficult to justify from a cost benefit perspective; we therefore recommend examining two hematoxylin and eosin stained sections and two immunostained sections (for S-100 and HMB45) routinely on SLNs from melanoma patients.
THE EFFECT OF DIVIDEND POLICY ON THE GROWTH OF MICRO FINANCE ORGANIZATIONS

This research emphasized the dividend policy impact on the microfinance institutional growth. Dividend policy considered as the key approach for the guideline and regulation process of the company that usually modified for the payment of dividend to their shareholders. The problem has been identified regarding the loan facilitation and provision of sustainable dividend to the investors and shareholders. The objective of this research is to analyze the significance and impact of dividend policy on the microfinance organization’s performance. The data has been collected from the secondary sources for the critical analysis in terms of qualitative and quantitative method. The result showcased the investment of $50,000 for every month and the current figures show the $36 million for every month in total. Furthermore, the finding showcases the significant impact of dividend distribution to gain the external funds. Moreover, the result of this study showcases that capital adequacy and the total asset has a significant influence on the financial performance of the commercial microfinance institutes. The conclusion demonstrated that the organization is emphasizing their company’s liquidity ratio and debt position in order to improve their dividend policies.
Integrating Migrant Children at Schools through Artistic Expression

This project is a multilateral attempt of HELP Hellas, ANTIGONE-Information and Documentation Centre on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non-Violence, Greek Council for Refugees and Smile of the Child to decrease the number of at risk refugees and asylum seekers on the mainland of Greece. It also aims to provide access to safe and dignified living conditions for vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers living in Diavata camp as well as those refugees staying in Thessaloniki region in general
Molecular Basis of Phosphatidyl-myo-inositol Mannoside Biosynthesis and Regulation in Mycobacteria*

Phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs) are unique glycolipids found in abundant quantities in the inner and outer membranes of the cell envelope of all Mycobacterium species. They are based on a phosphatidyl-myo-inositol lipid anchor carrying one to six mannose residues and up to four acyl chains. PIMs are considered not only essential structural components of the cell envelope but also the structural basis of the lipoglycans (lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan), all important molecules implicated in host-pathogen interactions in the course of tuberculosis and leprosy. Although the chemical structure of PIMs is now well established, knowledge of the enzymes and sequential events leading to their biosynthesis and regulation is still incomplete. Recent advances in the identification of key proteins involved in PIM biogenesis and the determination of the three-dimensional structures of the essential phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosyltransferase PimA and the lipoprotein LpqW have led to important insights into the molecular basis of this pathway.
Proteome and Quality Analysis of Potato Tubers Infected by Pectobacterium carotovorum sub sp. carotovorum (PP 4)

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum is an important soft rot pathogen that infects many vegetables in India. Healthy potato, naturally infected potato and artificially pathogen inoculated potato on third day were evaluated for differential protein expression, Polyphenoloxidase activity, total phenolic compound, titratable acidity, pH, soluble solids content, reducing sugars, colour and firmness. Totally 6 differentially expressed products were obtained in two dimensional gel electrophoresis. Among that spots numbered 1,2,5,6 were up regulated and 3, 4 down regulated indicating pathogenesis related proteins and disease resistant inhibitor proteins respectively in both naturally infected and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (PP 4) inoculated when compared with the healthy tissue. It requires more evidence to prove their functions in future. Increase in reducing sugars, total soluble solids, polyphenoloxidase activity, total phenolic compound and decrease in firmness and colour in infected potato than the healthy exactly indicates the quality changes of potato by spoilage pathogens. To our knowledge the present investigation is the detailed report on the effects of P. carotovorum sub sp. carotovorum on the quality of post harvest potatoes.
The Application of Stochastic Optimization Algorithms to the Design of a Fractional-order PID Controller

The Proportional-Integral-Derivative Controller is widely used in industries for process control applications. Fractional-order PID controllers are known to outperform their integer-order counterparts. In this paper, we propose a new technique of fractional-order PID controller synthesis based on peak overshoot and rise-time specifications. Our approach is to construct an objective function, the optimization of which yields a possible solution to the design problem. This objective function is optimized using two popular bio-inspired stochastic search algorithms, namely Particle Swarm Optimization and Differential Evolution. With the help of a suitable example, the superiority of the designed fractional-order PID controller to an integer-order PID controller is affirmed and a comparative study of the efficacy of the two above algorithms in solving the optimization problem is also presented. Keywords-Differential evolution; dominant poles; integer-order and fractional-order PID controllers; particle Swarm Optimization
Automatic aircraft conflict resolution using genetic algorithms

In this paper, we show how genetic algorithms can be used to solve en-route aircraft conflict automatically to increase Air Traffic Control capacity in high density areas. The ATC _ background and the model are presented. The complexity of the problem is then discussed. The author then justifies the choice of GAs. After a brief description of genetic algorithms, the author describes the improvements that were used for solving the conflict resolution problem. Several numerical applications are then given justifying the choices that were made and illustrating the interest of the research. Next steps of this work are discussed in the conclusion.
Factors of Old Vehicles Contributing to Air Pollution in The Urban Environment

Air pollution poses a significant threat to climate change and the deterioration of air quality, particularly in metropolitan cities. The use of private vehicles in the transportation sector significantly contributes to poor air quality. However, old vehicle usage in the city has increased, hence the increase in harmful emissions. This study explores various factors contributing to the impact of old vehicles on air pollution in urban areas. This research also investigates the interaction and relationship of multiple factors, such as fuel consumption, driving patterns, mobility behavior, maintenance and repair and vehicle age with carbon emissions. This study uses a quantitative research approach using a questionnaire survey in Kuala Lumpur. The targeted respondents were vehicle users who use vehicles 10 years old and older. Simple random sampling was used in this study, and 384 questionnaires were disseminated to the targeted respondents. The data were analyzed through Descriptive Analyses and Pearson Correlation. Pearson Correlation was conducted to determine the relationships between fuel consumption, driving patterns, mobility behavior, maintenance and repair and vehicle age with carbon emissions. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between fuel consumption, driving patterns, mobility behavior, maintenance and repair and vehicle age with carbon emissions in urban areas.
Inductive data flow graphs

The correctness of a sequential program can be shown by the annotation of its control flow graph with inductive assertions. We propose inductive data flow graphs, data flow graphs with incorporated inductive assertions, as the basis of an approach to verifying concurrent programs. An inductive data flow graph accounts for a set of dependencies between program actions in interleaved thread executions, and therefore stands as a representation for the set of concurrent program traces which give rise to these dependencies. The approach first constructs an inductive data flow graph and then checks whether all program traces are represented. The size of the inductive data flow graph is polynomial in the number of data dependencies (in a sense that can be made formal); it does not grow exponentially in the number of threads unless the data dependencies do. The approach shifts the burden of the exponential explosion towards the check whether all program traces are represented, i.e., to a combinatorial problem (over finite graphs).
Mood Cloud : A Real-Time Music Mood Visualization Tool

We present Mood Cloud, an application of automatic music mood prediction from audio content. While playing a song, we visualize in real-time the prediction probabilities of five mood categories : “happy”, “sad”, “aggressive”, “relax” and “party”. Each mood is represented by a colored bar graph with text, dynamically resized according to the mood probability. The resulting application is a dynamic visualization of the mood predictions, demonstrating the performance of current state of the art techniques in Music Information Retrieval and especially in automatic mood classification.
Totally disturbed chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), classified as a swarm intelligence technique, mimics the well-informed swarming behavior of social species. A simple and effective searching strategy declares PSO as a potential member for solving various optimization problems. The present study embeds the concept of chaos at different stages of PSO, intending to enhance the convergence speed while trying to avoid stagnation and maintaining the solution quality. The proposed PSO variant is termed as “Totally disturbed PSO (TDPSO)”. The algorithm starts with a disturbed (chaotic) population, generated by considered chaotic system. Thereafter, when a certain number of iterations have elapsed and the searching process approaches equilibrium state, a relative velocity index is calculated for each particle to evaluate its present state and to decide whether or not the particle needs perturbation. The efficacy of proposed algorithm is tested against a set of benchmark problems and results are compared with existing Chaotic PSO and a standard PSO variant. Numerical results manifest that TDPSO works better over considered existing variants by effectively enhancing the searching capability and precision as well.
Retinoic acid induces changes in Xenopus embryo glycolipid pattern

Retinoic acid (RA), known for its important role in cellular differentiation, may cause a modification of glycolipid distribution characterized by a shift from globoserie towards latto‐ and ganglio‐series. In the present paper, we have investigated the modifications of the lipidic pattern after exogenous RA treatment of Xenopus embryos. We have noticed a decrease in neutral glycolipids with a parallel increase in gangliosides; the content of sulfatides does not seem to be modified. Beside the shift toward ganglio‐serie, we have also observed a redistribution inside this class of lipids. In particular, following RA treatment, the relative distribution of GD1b and GT1b increases while that of GM3 decreases.
Efficacy of Surfactant-TA, Calfactant and Poractant Alfa for Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Retrospective Study

Purpose To compare the efficacy of the new drug calfactant with the commonly used drugs surfactant-TA and poractant alfa. Materials and Methods A total of 332 preterm infants at 24-31 weeks' gestation with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were enrolled and allocated to three groups according to the surfactant instilled; Group 1 (n=146, surfactant-TA), Group 2 (n=96, calfactant), and Group 3 (n=90, poractant alfa). The diagnosis of RDS and the decision to replace the pulmonary surfactant were left to the attending physician and based on patient severity determined by chest radiography and blood gas analysis. Data were collected and reviewed retrospectively using patient medical records. Results Demographic factors including gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, clinical risk index for babies II score, and maternal status before delivery were not different between the study groups. Instances of surfactant redosing and pulmonary air leaks, as well as duration of mechanical ventilation, were also not different. Rates of patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage (≥grade III), periventricular leukomalacia, high stage retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis (≥stage II), and mortality were also similar, as was duration of hospital stay. Cases of pulmonary hemorrhage and moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were increased in Group 3. Conclusion Calfactant is equally as effective as surfactant-TA and poractant alfa. This was the first study comparing the efficacy of surfactant-TA, calfactant, and poractant alfa in a large number of preterm infants in Korea. Further randomized prospective studies on these surfactants are needed.
Functioning of a lacustrine ecosystem in a newly flooded reservoir (Sep, Puy de Dôme, France): modelling of carbon flux between the different food web compartments

Very large numbers of reservoirs have been built throughout the world for hydroelectric production and for irrigation purposes. However, the assessment of the effects of flooding a reservoir on the productivity of the future aquatic life is still debatable. The new reservoirs are characterised by high inputs of dissolved organic carbon of allochthonous origin, because of decomposition of flooded terrestrial organic matter (PATERSON et al. 1997). Some studies have demonstrated increased phytoplankton production or biomass following flooding (DUTHIE & ÜSTROFSKY 1975). However, the large quantity of organic matter coming from the submersion o f land could stimulate bacterial production directly (ROMANENKO 1979). The aim of this study was to model the temporal changes in planktonic populations and to highlight some important factors that control the biological functioning and evolution of the recently flooded reservoir.
A new local homogeneity analysis method based on pixel intensities for image defect detection

This paper presents a new technique for defect detection in various images like fabric, paper, metal surface, film surface, nonwoven, coated coil and glass surface etc images. To detect such unstructured defects, it is required to analyze the underlying texture information of the image. All of these images have some similar texture properties. These texture features can be achieved through local homogeneity analysis (H-image) such as edges and boundaries which arise due to sudden changes in intensity levels of pixels. The defected regions can be one or more in a texture based image which may vary in shape and gray levels as well, thus the defect detection is a challenging task. Traditional homogeneity based approaches gives the fine edge details as well, some of them can be treated as a defect which is not a defect. So, this paper proposes a new technique to find the local homogeneity image using pixel intensity differences among neighboring pixels. Thereafter for thresholding a DWT (Discrete Wavelet Transform) and Hotelling T2 model are used. The performance of the proposed approach has been evaluated against various measures like precision, specificity, recall, accuracy and error rate. In comparison to the existing H-Image the proposed approach had 98% accuracy when tested on 100 different types of images.