Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Toxicity of Secondary Metabolites of Endophytic Bacteria from Jatropha Curcas L. to Suppress Meloidogyne spp. in Vitro

Endophytic bacteria isolated from internal tissue of surface sterilized jatropha curcas L. leaves, stem, frouts and roots. Collected from field plots produced secondary metabolites in nutrition broth media (NB) that were highly toxic to Meloidogyne spp. especially strains SJS54 followed by RJS175 were highly active among 23 strains producing secondary metabolite toxic to Root-knot nematodes. The mechanism of action of the toxic metabolites produced by the non-pathogenic strains SJS54 and RJS175 with proven biological control of Meloidogyne spp in Syracuse glass experiments was investigated. These metabolites reduced Meloidogyne spp mobility within 6-12 h of exposure. After 6 h, approximately ±50% of juveniles was inactivated. But with exposure of 12 h 80-90% of the juveniles were dead. The SJS54 and RJS175 toxicity were highly effective towards migratory parasites. Most of nematodes have been shown body wall degradation caused by hydrolytic enzymes produced by endophytic bacteria, and the highest effect for body wall was caused by LJS69 and SJS54.
First Paleomagnetic Map of the Easternmost Mediterranean Derived from Combined Geophysical-Geological Analysis

he easternmost Mediterranean is a tectonically complex region evolving in the long term and located in the midst of the progressive Afro-Eurasian collision (e.g., Ben-Avraham, 1978; Khain, 1984). Both rift-oceanic systems and terrane belts are known to have been formed in this collision zone (Stampfli et al., 2013). Despite years of investigation, the geological-geophysical structure of the easternmost Mediterranean is not completely known. The formation of its modern complex structure is associated with the evolution of the Neotethys Ocean and its margins (e.g., Ben-Avraham and Ginzburg, 1990; Robertson et al., 1991; Ben-Avraham et al., 2002). The easternmost Mediterranean was formed during the initial phase of the Neotethys in the Early and Late Permian (Golonka and Ford, 2000; Stampfli et al., 2013). At present this block of the ocean crust situated in the northern part of the Sinai plate (Ben-Avraham, 1978; Eppelbaum et al., 2012, 2014) is object of our investigation.
Face Recognition Using String Grammar Nearest Neighbor Technique

Face recognition has become one of the important biometrics in many applications. However, there is a problem of collecting more than one image per person in the training data set, the so-called "one sample per person problem". Hence in this paper, we develop a face recognition system with a string grammar nearest neighbor (sgNN) to cope with the problem. We implement our system in three data sets, i.e., ORL, MIT-CBCL, and Georgia Tech databases. The recognition rates of the test data set from three databases are 88.25%, 87.50%, and 70.71%, respectively. 
A New Index of Housing Sentiment

We propose a new measure for housing sentiment and show that it accurately tracks expectations about future house price growth rates. We construct the housing sentiment index using partial least squares on household survey responses to questions about buying conditions for houses. We find that housing sentiment explains a large share of the time-variation in house prices during both boom and bust cycles and it strongly outperforms several macroeconomic variables typically used to forecast house prices.
The Teaching of Creativity in Information Systems Programmes at South African Higher Education Institutions

The development of problem solving skills is a shared goal in science, engineering, mathematics and technology education. In the applied sciences, problems are often open-ended and complex, requiring a multidisciplinary approach as well as new designs. In such cases, problem solving requires not only analytical capabilities, but also creativity and the ability to innovate. The development of an information system entails problem solving by means of design, hence creativity is integral to the task of an information systems (IS) professional. However, it appears that the teaching of creativity in IS programmes is under-researched and possibly neglected. This study investigates what is being done to foster creative ability of South African undergraduate IS students. At the same time, a theoretical framework for creativity teaching is developed. We find that the fostering of creative ability involves more than just the teaching of creativity techniques, and that creativity can be indirectly nurtured in multiple ways.
An integrated risk assessment for climate change : analysing the vulnerability of sharks and rays on Australia ’ s Great Barrier Reef

An Integrated Risk Assessment for Climate Change (IRACC) is developed and applied to assess the vulnerability of sharks and rays on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to climate change. The IRACC merges a traditional climate change vulnerability framework with approaches from fisheries ecological risk assessments. This semi-quantitative assessment accommodates uncertainty and can be applied at different spatial and temporal scales to identify exposure factors, at-risk species and their key biological and ecological attributes, critical habitats a‘nd ecological processes, and major knowledge gaps. Consequently, the IRACC can provide a foundation upon which to develop climate change response strategies. Here, we describe the assessment process, demonstrate its application to GBR shark and ray species, and explore the issues affecting their vulnerability to climate change. The assessment indicates that for the GBR, freshwater/estuarine and reef associated sharks and rays are most vulnerable to climate change, and that vulnerability is driven by case-specific interactions of multiple factors and species attributes. Changes in temperature, freshwater input and ocean circulation will have the most widespread effects on these species. Although relatively few GBR sharks and rays were assessed as highly vulnerable, their vulnerability increases when synergies with other factors are considered. This is especially true for freshwater/estuarine and coastal/inshore sharks and rays. Reducing the impacts of climate change on the GBR’s sharks and rays requires a range of approaches including mitigating climate change and addressing habitat degradation and sustainability issues. Species-specific conservation actions may be required for higher risk species (e.g. the freshwater whipray, porcupine ray, speartooth shark and sawfishes) including reducing mortality, preserving coastal catchments and estuarine habitats, and addressing fisheries sustainability. The assessment identified many knowledge gaps concerning GBR habitats and processes, and highlights the need for improved understanding of the biology and ecology of the sharks and rays of the GBR.
DSENDS: Multi-Mission Flight Dynamics Simulator for NASA Missions

Increasingly complex space missions require powerful and flexible simulation environments in order to design, analyze, and operate the missions. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has created the DSENDS simulation environment that addresses these needs for a wide range of space missions. In this paper, we describe the DSENDS simulation environment and the key architectural components that make DSENDS a useful simulation and analysis framework. We also overview a variety of NASA missions and flight experiments that are using DSENDS.
A Reformed K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm for Big Data Sets

A Data Mining Has Already Had Many Algorithms Which A K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm, K-NN, Is A Famous Algorithm For Researchers. K-NN Is Very Effective On Small Data Sets, However It Takes A Lot Of Time To Run On Big Datasets. Today, Data Sets Often Have Millions Of Data Records, Hence, It Is Difficult To Implement K-NN On Big Data. In This Research, We Propose An Improvement To K-NN To Process Big Datasets In A Shortened Execution Time. The Reformed K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm (R-K-NN) Can Be Implemented On Large Datasets With Millions Or Even Billions Of Data Records. R-K-NN Is Tested On A Data Set With 500,000 Records. The Execution Time Of R-K-NN Is Much Shorter Than That Of K-NN. In Addition, R-K-NN Is Implemented In A Parallel Network System With Hadoop Map (M) And Hadoop Reduce (R).
Flexible Water Allocations and Rotational Delivery Combined Adapt Irrigation Systems to Drought

Self-governing irrigation systems are integral to global food security and face serious problems under climate change. This is particularly true in areas expected to become more arid such as the Southwestern United States, where restrictive water rights are strictly enforced. Adaptations to these dual climatic and legal challenges include user-selected rules. In particular, during water shortage self-governing irrigation systems often change water allocations between members and rotate water delivery. However, it is unclear how these rules interact with each other as configurations and with contextual factors, such as the degree of water scarcity. It is also unclear how these rules influence outcomes between irrigators closer to the water source and those farther from it. How might different configurations of rules interact with water availability to produce outcomes along an irrigation system’s canal network? This study addresses this question by exploiting a natural experiment in water distribution and allocation rules during shortage among a stratified sample of 60 snowmelt dependent irrigation systems in the San Luis Valley of Colorado during a four-year drought period from 2011-2014. A key finding is that the combination of rotational delivery and flexible water allocations produces the most equal crop growth between irrigators at the head and tail of the irrigation system at all levels of water availability. The marginal productivity of water at the head and tail end of irrigation systems at all levels of water availability is also equalized under this configuration. These results suggest a greater likelihood of ongoing collective action, important for climate change adaptation. However, rotation with flexible allocations is outperformed by other configurations depending on context. These findings highlight the configurational relationships between rules, further illustrate interactions between rules and physical context, and caution against panaceas in water resource management and climate change adaptation.
The Bridges and Barriers Model of Support for High-Functioning Students with ASD in Mainstream Schools

: National statistics indicate the ongoing challenge of catering for the unique needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within the context of inclusive education. Higher rates of difficulty and poorer outcomes are experienced by this cohort when compared to both the general population and others within the disability sector. The perspectives of educators from a variety of roles were examined to identify factors impacting upon the educational experience of high-functioning students with ASD to determine how they could be supported more effectively. Findings indicate despite extensive educational experience and considerable knowledge of ASD, many educators lack an understanding of how to identify individual student needs, and also of specific impacts of ASD and appropriate supportive strategies. Emerging from the data, the Bridges and Barriers Model of Support (BBMS) provides inclusive school communities with a framework for planning a shared understanding of student strengths, identified challenges, supportive strategies and specific targets for success.
COMBINATION OF VIRTUAL TOURS, 3D MODEL AND DIGITAL DATA IN A 3D ARCHAEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

The site of the Engelbourg ruined castle in Thann, Alsace, France, has been for some years the object of all the attention of the city, which is the owner, and also of partners like historians and archaeologists who are in charge of its study. The valuation of the site is one of the main objective, as well as its conservation and its knowledge. The aim of this project is to use the environment of the virtual tour viewer as new base for an Archaeological Knowledge and Information System (AKIS). With available development tools we add functionalities in particular through diverse scripts that convert the viewer into a real 3D interface. By beginning with a first virtual tour that contains about fifteen panoramic images, the site of about 150 times 150 meters can be completely documented by offering the user a real interactivity and that makes visualization very concrete, almost lively. After the choice of pertinent points of view, panoramic images were realized. For the documentation, other sets of images were acquired at various seasons and climate conditions, which allow documenting the site in different environments and states of vegetation. The final virtual tour was deducted from them. The initial 3D model of the castle, which is virtual too, was also joined in the form of panoramic images for completing the understanding of the site. A variety of types of hotspots were used to connect the whole digital documentation to the site, including videos (as reports during the acquisition phases, during the restoration works, during the excavations, etc.), digital georeferenced documents (archaeological reports on the various constituent elements of the castle, interpretation of the excavations and the searches, description of the sets of collected objects, etc.). The completely personalized interface of the system allows either to switch from a panoramic image to another one, which is the classic case of the virtual tours, or to go from a panoramic photographic image to a panoramic virtual image. It also allows visualizing, in inlay, digital data, like ancient or recent plans, cross sections, descriptions, explanatory videos, sound comments, etc. This project has lead to very convincing results, that were validated by the historians and the archaeologists who have now an interactive tool, disseminated through internet, allowing at the same time to visit virtually the castle, but also to query the system which sends back localized information. The various levels of understanding and set up details, allow an approach of first level for broad Internet users, but also a deeper approach for a group of scientists who are associated to the development of the ruins of the castle and its environment.
DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTEROCIN ENCODING GENES IN ENTEROCOCCUS MUNDTII STRAIN C4L10 FROM THE CECUM OF NON-BROILER CHICKEN

Objective : This study was carried out to isolate and detect the enterocin genes of the bacteriocin producing strain Enterococcus mundtii C4L10 isolated from Malaysian non-broiler chicken. Methods : Amplified bacteriocin encoding genes were extracted from the total genome of Enterococcus mundtii strain C4L10 using specific sets of primers. Results : The translated protein of the resultant enterocin gene sequence showed that the bacteriocin contain 2 sets of Enterocins; Enterocin_P and Enterocin_B. The enterocin gene was found to be located in the chromosome. The bacteriocin of C4L10 has a molecular mass of approximately 10 kDa. At the amino acid level, bacteriocin of strain C4L10 is 85% homologous to enterocin_P which is similar to class IIa bacteriocins produced by Lactoctobacillus salivarius strain. The secondary structure prediction showed that the Enterocin_P contain double glycine motifs and YGNGP instead of the normal YGNGV characteristics of class IIa bacteriocin. Conserved domain search of the encoding gene revealed the presence of Glycosyltransferases domain in the Enterocin_B. The antimicrobial spot/region of the C4L10 enerocins showed the presence of two antimicrobial regions in Enterocin_P whereas only one antimicrobial spot was detected in Enterocin_B. Conclusion : In this study, two enterocin genes; enterocin_P and Enterocin_B were successfully amplified and characterised from Ent. Mundtii strain C4L10. The sequences showed strong similarity with reported class IIa bacteriocin, such as having double glycine and YGNGV motifs, and potential regions with antimicrobials activities which are useful for future exploitation in rational design of antimicrobial peptides.
The Information Content of the Limit Order Book and the Corresponding Trading Strategy

This paper explores the relationship between orders and performance in the Taiwan futures market and aims to predict the futures price change using the order aggressiveness and information content in the limit order book. The empirical results show that the performance of market orders of TAIEX futures is significantly positive, indicating that the market orders contain information. The five quotes of the limit order book can predict the change in futures prices, especially when there is an uptrend in the market. The predictability of the change in futures prices also increases when the imbalance in the price impact between the demand and supply schedules is extreme. We also use the five quotes of the limit order book to propose a trading strategy. This trading strategy could earn positive returns even when transaction costs are taken into account.
Multiclass Boosting with Bandit Feedback

We present online boosting algorithms for multiclass classification with bandit feedback, where the learner only receives feedback about the correctness of its prediction. We propose an unbiased estimate of the loss using a randomized prediction, allowing the model to update its weak learners with limited information. Using the unbiased estimate, we extend two full information boosting algorithms (Jung et al., 2017) to the bandit setting. We prove that the asymptotic error bounds of the bandit algorithms exactly match their full information counterparts. The cost of restricted feedback is reflected in the larger sample complexity. Experimental results also support our theoretical findings, and performance of the proposed models is comparable to the that of an existing bandit boosting algorithm, which is limited to use binary weak learners.
The SLUGGS survey: the globular cluster systems of three early-type galaxies using wide-field imaging

We present the results from a wide-field imaging study of globular cluster (GC) systems in three early-type galaxies. Combinations of Subaru/Suprime-Cam, Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope/MegaCam and Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Planetary Camera 2/Advanced Camera for Surveys data were used to determine the GC system properties of three highly flattened galaxies NGC 720, NGC 1023 and NGC 2768. This work is the first investigation of the GC system in NGC 720 and NGC 2768 to very large galactocentric radius (∼100 kpc). The three galaxies have clear blue and red GC subpopulations. The radial surface densities of ( ◦ )
Stand Structure and Acorn Production of the Island Scrub Oak (Quercus pacifica)

Abstract. Island scrub oak (Quercus pacifica), a keystone chaparral species on Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Catalina islands, provides habitat for a diverse assemblage of plant and animal species. The restoration of oak habitat is a management priority, but little is known about Q. pacifica stand structure and acorn production, 2 parameters that are important in the species' recovery. To investigate whether species interactions and abiotic conditions have an effect on stand structure and acorn production, we sampled within-stand densities, tree sizes, and acorns in the 3 island populations that have been exposed to different herbivores, seed predators, and climate conditions. Stand densities varied more within than between islands; but Santa Rosa, the coldest of the 3 islands, had smaller trees with smaller acorns than the other 2 islands. To quantify the temporal and spatial variation in acorn production on Santa Cruz Island, we conducted acorn counts at 2 spatial scales: (1) an island-wide survey of 200 trees along the east—west axis of the island (2008–2012) and (2) small-scale surveys within three 100-ha study plots (150 trees; 2009–2012). Acorn production varied strongly, both temporally and spatially, with little temporal synchrony and spatial autocorrelation. Trees at higher elevations produced more acorns, but the roles of temperature and precipitation were unclear in this relatively short study. To increase our understanding of the drivers of Q. pacifica acorn production, we propose that annual oak surveys be incorporated into a long-term monitoring program across the California Channel Islands.
Compact CoPlanar Waveguide MIMO Antenna with Neutralization Line and Extended Ground for LTE Applications

the paper proposes a planar monopole antenna with a dual element Multiple-Inputs-Multiple-Outputs (MIMO) system. The main focus of the study was to propose a highly compact antenna as low as 15.5mm x 18mm x 1.6mm with very high isolation and low return loss. Isolation higher than 31dB is achieved with the implementation of a Neutralization Line (NL) and an extended ground structure. The return loss is also calculated as high as -25dB. The system works in the operating bandwidth of 2.72 GHz – 2.93 GHz (covering 210 MHz frequency). Firstly, the proposed design is implemented without any decoupling structures. Then, a NL is introduced and analyzed. This is followed by an extended ground structure. Finally, the above structures are compared and analysis and results are drafted.
Improvement of the Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Rice Straw by Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Ammonia-Based Pretreatments

This work aimed at improving the hydrolysis and fermentation processes of rice straw through different ammonia-based pretreatments to aid in bioethanol production. For this purpose, pretreatment was performed at 70 °C for 12 h, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis at 50 °C for 24 h and 72 h using 15 FPU cellulase and 30 CBU cellobiase. The best hydrolysis yield, based on the production yield and rate, for the 24-h digestion period was samples that had been soaked in methanolic aqueous ammonia (SMAA), with 72% of the theoretical maximum. However, for the 72-h digestion period, soaking in ethanolic aqueous ammonia (SEAA) was the best method, with 88% yield. In the case of ethanol production after 24 h, the SMAA pretreatment and SSF resulted in the highest yield at 72%. However, after 72 h of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), SMAA-pretreated rice straw showed a yield of 85%, while the SEAA-pretreated sample resulted in a noteworthy yield of 89% of the theoretical maximum. However, with regard to the production yield and rate and pretreatment cost, the best method for ethanol production was judged to be the SMAA with 5% methanol, particularly after 24 h of SSF.
Visualization and Navigation Techniques in CT Colonography

and it is associated with colonic polyps, small nodule-like protrusions into the colon lumen. Because the probability of malignancy increases with polyp size and because the polyps develop and grow relatively slowly over time, early detection of colonic polyps and their removal can reduce cancer risk and death [3-5]. The standard procedure for detecting polyps is fiber-optic endoscopy, in which a cable with a video camera at one end is inserted into the colon. Prior to the endoscopy, the patient follows a regimen aimed at clearing the colon of stool, involving laxatives and enemas. During the procedure, the endoscope is snaked through the colon, and as it proceeds the colon is insufflated (puffed up with air), and the colon surface is viewed by directing the camera at the colon surface. The procedure is nominally uncomfortable and takes about one-half hour. Unfortunately, only a few percent of those who should have endoscopy actually have them because of the inconvenience of the colon cleansing, the discomfort of the insufflation, and the embarrassment involved. In addition, standard endoscopy often misses visualizing some of the colon surface because it is basically forward looking, as shown in Figure 1, and sometimes the endoscope cannot proceed to the cecum because a portion of the colon is collapsed.