Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role stress as a predictor of safety climate and safety performance

This paper aims to explore the relationship between larger organisational factors, specifically role stress and safety outcomes specifically, safety climate and safety performance. The purpose of this research is to expand our understanding of the ‘human factor’ in organisational accidents. Questionnaires were sent out to a population of 1800 employees of a large company and 44.4% were returned. 46.6% of the population worked in a field or workshop environment while the remainder worked in an office environment. The hypothesised model was tested using structural equation modelling. A mediated model and partially mediated model were competed against each other with the latter being the better fitting model (df (1)= 6.22, p<. 05). The results indicated that safety climate predicted safety performance, but that safety climate was also predicted by role stress. Role stress also directly predicted safety performance. The implications of these finding are that the antecedents of accidents are not only safety specific, but encompass larger organisational factors. This paper is a work in progress. Material in the paper cannot be used without permission of the author. DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT WORKING PAPER SERIES I S S N 1 3 2 7 – 5 2 1 6
Detection of genetic polymorphism by RAPD-PCR in two Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) species in Turkey

Summary In biological control, identification of species is the first step. It is especially difficult for the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) because of their minute size and lack of reliable morphological characters. In the study, random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) banding patterns were used for characterization of three laboratory cultures that represented two Trichogramma species [Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) ve Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault)]. Thirteen of the fifteen primers were used individually to discriminate the species. Genetic variation and distance within and between species with respect to proportion of shared bands were clarified. Genetic distances within species were much lower (0.8%) than between species (68%). Our results suggest that the RAPD technique could be used to improve identification and to better understand the genetic polymorphism of Trichogramma spp. Potential uses of RAPD-PCR in genetic analyses on parasitic Hymenoptera are discussed in the study.
A statistical approach for CGH microarray data analysis

Microarray-CGH experiments aim at detecting and mapping chromosomal imbalances, by hybridizing targets of genomic DNA from a test and a reference sample. Probes are constituted by sequences of genomic DNA (BACs) that are mapped on the genome. For this reason, the signal has a spatial coherence that has to be handled by specific statistical tools. Process segmentation seems to be a natural framework for this purpose. A CGH profile can be viewed as a succession of segments that represent homogeneous regions in the genome whose BACs share the same relative copy number in average. We model a CGH profile by a random gaussian process whose distribution parameters are affected by abrupt changes at unknown coordinates. Two major problem arise: the estimation of the break-points coordinates and the estimation of the number of segments. A dynamic programming algorithm is used to partition the data into a finite number of segments. A model selection approach is used to determine the number of segments in the profile, using an adaptative method. We explain why classical penalized criteria can not be used in the context of break-points detection and show the potentialities of our methodology, using publicly available data sets. We detect previously mapped chromosomal aberrations and disuss the performance of our methodology on noisier data concerning breast cancer cell lines.
The role of automated grading of diabetic retinopathy in a primary care screening programme

Systematic screening for diabetic eye disease has been identified as a cost-effective use of resources. With the prevalence of diabetes increasing steadily, it is important that efficient screening services are in place to meet the increasing demand. One-field automated grading was compared with manual disease/no disease grading using reference graded photographic retinal images from 6,722 consecutive patients in Grampian. The costs and cost savings to the NHS associated with both approaches were estimated and compared.
Evaluation of Microbial Population Structures of Synthetic-Wastewater Activated Sludge and Plant-Scale Sewage Sludge on the Basis of Respiratory Quinone Profiles

We studied microbial population shifts in laboratory-scale synthetic-waste activated sludge from plant-scale sewage sludge on the basis of respiratory quinone profiles. The laboratory sludge reactors were seeded with the sewage sludge and operated on a fill-and-draw basis in a 24 h batch cycle with either raw domestic sewage or each of three different synthetic wastewaters containing acetate, glucose, skim milk, and/or peptone as a primary component. After two months of acclimation, the quinone compositions of the laboratory sludges were analyzed compared with the seed sludge. Numerical analysis of quinone profiles showed that there was no significant difference in population structures between the seed sludge and the laboratory sludge loaded with raw sewage, while significant population shifts occurred in the three synthetic-waste laboratory sludges. These results suggest that laboratory activated sludge loaded with synthetic wastewater can not be regarded as a model of plant-scale sewage sludge in their microbiological aspects.
Effect of Mentha viridis L. Extracts on Pathogenic Bacteria Adhesion

Micro-organisms do not always exist in planctonic forms (single cells or small groups). To survive, especially in limiting media, they may adhere to inert or living surfaces. This enables them to multiply within a community protected by an extracellular matrix, thus forming a biofilm which protects them from antimicrobials especially antibiotics. In this paper, the aim of this study was to investigate autoaggregation, co-aggragation, surface hydrophobicity and exopolysaccharides production of different pathogenic bacteria treated with methanolic, hydro-methanolic and aqueous extract of Mentha viridis collected in El Bayadh (South West of Algeria). The qualitative analysis revealed the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids, which were confirmed-by-quantitative-analysis. All extracts showed an antibacterial activity (antiadhesiveness). The percentage of autoaggregation, coaggregation decreased in presence of extract comparing to control. E.coli was hydrophobic while the others hydrophilic. The amount of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produces by bacteria decreased considerably with all extracts comparatively to control (without extracts).
Developing strategic innovation capability of enterprises: Theoretical and methodological outlines of intervention

The research focuses on the question of the theoretical and methodological basis on which it is possible and sensible to approach and analyse the potentials and limitations of innovation and the development of the innovation capability  in the specific context of communities of practice and situated action and decisionmaking. What kind of basic theoretical assumptions, basic concepts and methodological solutions are possible and sensible as a starting point in analysing the potentials and limitations of innovation and the development of innovation capability in the specific context of practical activities and decision-making? There is no ready-made, self-evident, integrating, systemic approach or theory to serve and direct the development of the innovation capability of enterprises. For this very reason, it was necessary to set, define and construct the subject, problem and context of research rather from the point of view of practice and cooperative inquiry  critically assessing, utilising and applying existing innovation research and the theory and strategic management concepts of the enterprise. Innovation activities and development of the innovation capability of enterprises are not necessarily a priori a self-evident and inherently valuable goal. Underlying this notion is the finding that the consequences of an innovation activity and innovation may also be harmful or destructive. The development of the innovation capability of an enterprise  and innovation activity as a rule  is a contradictory, paradoxical and hence a discursive process. Schumpeter once discerned the paradox of innovation. He called the double dynamics of innovation as a process of creative destruction. Innovation means creation of new combinations of methods and machines and at the same time radical devaluation of produced values.
Improvement of hypericin and hyperforin production using zinc and iron nano-oxides as elicitors in cell suspension culture of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.).

Zinc and iron nano-oxides (100 ppb) were promoted the hypericin and hyperforin production in Hypericum perforatum cell suspension culture. High performance liquid chromatography method was used for detectection and identification of hypericin and hyperforin in H. perfuratum cell suspension cultures elicited with different concentrations of zinc and iron nano-oxide (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppb) after 72 h. In the cultures stimulated by zinc nano-oxide, the hypericin and hyperforin production reached to the maximum (7.87 and 217.45 μg/g DW, respectively), which were 3 and 13-fold higher than the control. The amount of hypericin and hyperforin was increased from 2.07 and 16.27 μg/g DW to 11.18 and 195.62 μg/g DW in iron nano-oxide treated cultures. The cell cultures treated with zinc and iron nano-oxides showed increased hyperforin production as compared to the hypericin production. These observations suggested that nano-particles can be appropriate candidates for elicitation studies of in vitro secondary metabolites production.
Influence of probiotic (Streptococcus faecium M74) on growth and content of intestinal microflora in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Influence of probiotic (Streptococcus faecium M74) on weight gain (g/ind), feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR) and content of intestinal microflora in carp fry was investigated in the paper. The results were compared to the control group which received feed with the same level (38.01%) but without probiotic addition. The experimental group had higher average individual weight by 12, 42%, better feed conversion by 17, 3% and higher specific growth rate by 10, 20% after 6 growth weeks. Carp intestinal microflora in both control and experimental groups had autohthonic microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp., Clostridium sp.). Representation of Enterobacteriacea, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus in relation to control group was considerably reduced in the experimental group whereas Escherichia coli was completely eliminated after 14 days of probiotic feeding.
Diuretic hormones of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)(Coleoptera: tenebrionidae)

Neuropeptides are diffusible signal molecules mediating vital physiological processes. We have been interested in a group of neuropeptides and their receptors involved in osmoregulatory neuroendocrine system which has been suggested as a possible target for development of new biopesticides. Since the genome sequence of the T. castaneum has recently been completed, we were able to identify the respective genes encoding three peptide hormones from T. castaneum that were characterized for their diuretic activities in other insects: one calcitonin-like (CT-like DH31) and two corticotropin releasing factor-like (CRF-like DH37 and DH47, the numbers indicates the number of amino acid residues). This peptide is expressed at all developmental stages and in the central nervous system (CNS), Malpighian tubules (MT) and gut. The synthetic peptide TricaDH31 also has been show to be biologically active, inducing significant excretions in adults beetles. When Tcdh31 was silenced using RNAi, adults had deformed wings and abnormal body shape. Mortality in adults was high, the number of eggs laid was reduced as well as the hatchability of the eggs. The two biologically active CRF-like peptides in T. castaneum, are encoded by one gene which undergoes alternative splicing. When Tcdh47 was knocked down, high mortality occurred as well as low oviposition and egg hatchability. Similar effects were observed with silencing of both CRF-like genes. However, RNAi of Tcdh37 transcripts had similar, but less severe effects. Adults also had deformed wings when both CRF-like genes were silenced, but not when just one of them was knocked down. These results indicate that CRF-like genes could have additional biological functions to their roles in dieresis. We tested the in vivo activity of these peptides. TenmoDH47 induced high excretions in adults, whereas TenmoDH37 induces smaller excretions. We identified the respective genes encoding two putative receptors for TricaDH31 as Glean_13321 and Glean_02694 (Trica-ctr1 and Trica-ctr2, respectively) and two receptors for CRF-like peptide as Glean_12799 and Glean_07104 (Trica-crfr1 and Trica-crfr2, respectively). The CT-like receptors are expressed at all developmental stages, in the CNS and MT. RNAi of the receptors revealed that only Trica-ctr2 silencing caused significant mortality and reduction in the number of eggs laid. The CRF-like receptors are expressed at all developmental stages. Adults also had deformed wings and laid fewer eggs after RNAi of Trica-crfr1. RNAi of Trica-crf2 also caused significant mortality. These peptides and receptors seem to fine tune the beetle physiology and may have functions not yet known.
Video Object Tracking for Behavioral Analysis

An object tracking-based behavior analysis technique for identifying Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) among rodents is proposed. TBI is typically caused by external factors, resulting in severe structural brain damage, severely impacting cognitive reasoning and the overall functioning of the brain. Most existing methods used to identify post-TBI behavior use expensive methods in highly constrained environments like functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to generate brain scans which are used to identify the nature and assess the extent of the TBI. In contrast, we propose a visual tracking-based method that computes the trajectory of the rodent and quantifies the differences in pre-TBI and post-TBI behavior via analysis of the variations in motion trajectories to assess the extent of TBI in a given rodent. We explore several feature representation schemes and machine learning models to capture the subtle cues that signify the variations in the motion trajectory with encouraging results. Index words: Object Tracking, Object Detection, Feature representation, Behavior Analysis, Traumatic Brain Injury
Variable selection and accurate predictions in habitat modelling: a shrinkage approach

Habitat modelling is increasingly relevant in biodiversity and conservation studies. A typical application is to predict potential zones of specific conservation interest. With many environmental covariates, a large number of models can be investigated but multi-model inference may become impractical. Shrinkage regression overcomes this issue by dealing with the identification and accurate estimation of effect size for prediction. In a Bayesian framework we investigated the use of a shrinkage prior, the Horseshoe, for variable selection in spatial generalized linear models (GLM). As study cases, we considered 5 datasets on small pelagic fish abundance in the Gulf of Lion (Mediterranean Sea, France) and 9 environmental inputs. We compared the predictive performances of a simple kriging model, a full spatial GLM model with independent normal priors for regression coefficients, a full spatial GLM model with a Horseshoe prior for regression coefficients and 2 zero-inflated models (spatial and non-spatial) with a Horseshoe prior. Predictive performances were evaluated by cross-validation on a hold-out subset of the data: models with a Horseshoe prior performed best, and the full model with independent normal priors worst. With an increasing number of inputs, extrapolation quickly became pervasive as we tried to predict from novel combinations of covariate values. By shrinking regression coefficients with a Horseshoe prior, only one model needed to be fitted to the data in order to obtain reasonable and accurate predictions, including extrapolations.
Fostering E-Mail Security Awareness: The West Point Carronade

Despite the damage the Melissa and Sasser worms and other embedded hyperlinks and email–enabled viruses have caused to millions of computers and their data, the majority of users will undoubtedly continue to click on embedded hyperlinks and e-mail attachments they receive from people they do not know. As computers and networks become more ubiquitous in academia, the need to protect campus networks and the information on them becomes imperative. Today’s generation has access to a variety of “insta-technologies,” such as cell phones, instant messaging, and two-way pagers, that exacerbate the demand for instant access and immediate gratification. This “I want it now! ” attitude sometimes causes a person to make poor decisions regarding e-mail attachments or embedded links. Clicking on an embedded hyperlink (a hyperlink that is part of a document, such as an e-mail message) is easy and convenient, and the recipient rarely considers the potential negative consequences. The United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point had a problem with some cadets clicking on suspicious attachments and embedded links, significantly affecting network performance and resource availability. West Point information technology leadership needed a way to increase e-mail security awareness in hopes of maintaining a strong security posture. I designed and developed an e-mail security awareness exercise called the West Point Carronade as a proof-ofconcept response to this need to make sure cadets were practicing good e-mail security. The hypothesis behind the Carronade was that even with healthy doses of security education awareness, training, and education, at least 75 percent of randomly selected cadets would click on an embedded hyperlink in what should be a suspect e-mail message. The exercise was designed to point out this security awareness deficiency. This Good Ideas does four things: ■ Characterizes the e-mail securityrelated problem at West Point and describes how West Point faculty and staff leadership sought to address it ■ Describes the West Point Carronade e-mail security awareness proof-ofconcept exercise ■ Discusses challenges in getting West Point leadership buy-in for a proofof-concept deployment ■ Provides guidance for other educational institutions seeking to develop and launch effective security awareness exercises The Carronade The Carronade was a naval cannon used in the early 1770s. The inventors, Charles Gascoigne, Lieutenant General Robert Melville, and Patrick Miller, designed the cannon in 1759 while working at the Carron Iron Works Company on the Carron River in Stirlingshire, Scotland. The Carronade, although possessing limited range, was destructive at close quarters (less than 0.6 miles). This exercise was named the Carronade because ■ while the e-mail had the potential to be destructive, the intent was to get the attention of cadets, not to cause damage to the academy network or to penalize the cadets; and ■ the exercise was short range—conducted inside the USMA security perimeter—and only cadets with a usma.edu domain name could launch the embedded link.
ARF9 AND THE GRAVITY PERSISTENT SIGNAL RESPONSE

The gravity persistent signal gps3 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana displays an unusual phenotype when gravistimulated at 4oC and returned to room temperature. This GPS3 gene encodes a transcription factor that belongs to the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) gene family (member ARF23) and contains a B3 DNA binding domain. Using a bioinformatics approach, five other genes have been identified that are similar to GPS3. ARF9 (one of five) is most closely related to GPS3 , though the GPS3 gene contains only the B3 DNA binding domain; ARF9 contains an Auxin Response domain and an Auxin IAA binding domain in addition to the B3 DNA binding domain. Three SALK T-DNA insertion lines were obtained for ARF9 to perform a phenotypic characterization which consisted of measuring growth rates, phenotype and gravistimulation. Plants homozygous for the SALK T-DNA insertion were gravistimulated at 4oC, one of the ARF9 insertion lines displayed a phenotype identical to that of the gps3 mutant. The SALK T-DNA insertion line showed no abnormal phenotype during development. Implying that GPS3 and ARF9 have similar function, though the structure of the genes differ. The molecular characterization and complementation of the ARF9 gene has the potential to create a better understanding of the pathways being followed during gravity stimulus.
Endophytic Bacterial Diversity in the Young Radish and Their Antimicrobial Activity against Pathogens

Endophytic bacteria have several ecological roles and can be used as biocontrol agents and also participate in antibiosis interactions. The diversity of endophytic bacteria associated with young radish (YR, yeulmu, Raphanus sativus L.) leaves and roots from Gyeongnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services in Jinju, Korea was investigated. A total of 264 colonies were isolated from the interior of YR leaves and roots. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the isolates belonged to four major phylogenetic groups: high G+C Gram positive bacteria, low G+C Gram positive bacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Endophytic bacteria from the phylum Proteobacteria were predominant in the leaf (61.3%) and root (52.1%) samples. Most colonies that exhibited extracellular enzymatic activity belonged to the genus Bacillus, and Bacillus subtilis (YRL02, YRL07, YRR03, and YRR10) exhibited the stronger activities in extracellular enzyme such as amylase, cellulase, xylanase, mannase, PGAase, DNase, protease, and esterase than other colonies. In addition, Enterobacter sp. YRL01 and B. subtilis YRL02 had the highest amount of inhibitory action against human pathogenic bacteria, while B. subtilis YRR10 hand an inhibitory action against plant pathogenic fungi. Thus, these bacteria can be used as biocontrol agents against human and plant pathogens.