Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Chemically Disinfected Wheat Straw on the Growth and Yield of Pleurotus Ostreatus Mushroom

We investigated the effect of chemically disinfected wheat straw on the growth and yield of oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus ). Various levels of treatments combined with different time (12, 18 and 24 hours) and dose of Formalin (250, 500 and 750ppm) and Bavistin (75ppm) were used, and the results were compared with the control. Compared to the control, almost all the treatments showed increased values, and among them significantly higher mycelium running rate, the lowest time from stimulation to primordial initiation and to harvest, number of primordial per packet, number of fruiting body per packet were found in treatment consists of 750ppm of Formalin with 75ppm of Bavistin for 18 hours. Length and diameter of the stipe, diameter and thickness of pileus, biological yield, economic yield, dry yield and biological efficiency were also significantly increased in this treatment. Wheat straw treated with 500ppm of Formalin with 75ppm of Bavistin for 18 hours performed best in terms of per cent protein and nitrogen content. However, weight of individual fruiting body was significantly higher when treated with 250ppm Formalin with 75ppm of Bavistin for 24 hours. As the sterilization of wheat straw using 750ppm of formalin with 75ppm of Bavistin for 18 hours could control pathogens and gave increased yield, this treatment might be useful as an economically effective treatment for the highest yield of oyster mushroom.
Design and Development of a Self Correcting Monolithic Gastroretentive Tablet of Baclofen

The present investigation describes the design and development of selfcorrecting monolithic Gastroretentive system of baclofen. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method. Optimization was carried out using simplex lattice design. Drug released at 2h, 4h, 8h, and floating lag time were considered as response variables related to percentages of diluent (MCC), Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and sodium bicarbonate. Tablets were evaluated for in-vitro buoyancy, in-vitro drug release, swelling index and ex-vivo bioadhesion studies. The similarity factor (f2) was used as a base to compare dissolution profiles. Drug release data was fitted into different kinetic models. The floating lag time and floating time were found to be 2min and 12h respectively. Increasing trend in bioadhesive strength was observed with an increase in the amount of PEO. The experimental values of Q2, Q4 and Q8 for check point batch were found to be 30.8%, 44.1% and 69.9% respectively. Similarity factor (f2) for check point batch was 78.08. Kinetics of drug release from tablet followed Korsmeyer–Peppas model by anamolous non-fickian diffusion. It was concluded that gastroretentive tablet of baclofen can be prepared via floating and bioadhesion mechanism to increase residence time of drug in stomach and there by increases absorption.
Antioxidants in Leafy Vegetables and Their Efficacy in Preventing Lipid Peroxidation in Heated and Stored Oils

This study was conducted with the objective of determining the antioxidants in four leafy vegetables (LVs), namely cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), coriander leaves (Coriandrum sativum), hongone (Alternanthera sessilis) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and study their efficacy in preventing lipid peroxidation in heated and stored oils. The vegetables were analyzed for ascorbic acid, total carotene and �-carotene and antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant efficacy of the LVs was determined by analyzing free fatty acid ( FFA) and the peroxide values of heated and stored refined groundnut (GN) and sunflower (SF) oils for four weeks. Results revealed that ascorbic acid, total carotene and �-carote ne content ranged between 12.8–49.8, 2.8–141.1 and 1.1–21.1 mg/100g, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity was found to be in the range of 6495.1–19902.0 �mol/g of LV extract. Cabbage powder was effective in inhibiting peroxidation in GN and SF oils up to four weeks of storage whereas coriander leaf powder inhibited peroxidation in SF oil for four weeks. In the case of heated oils, all the four LVs significantly inhibited peroxide formation in the two oils (with the exception of spinach in the heated GN oil). Among the LVs, cabbage showed a comparatively better antioxidant property and was also effective in retarding the formation of FFA in stored oils. Overall, the LVs were more effective in preventing lipid peroxidation in SF oil than in GN oil indicating their substrate specificity. It can be concluded that LVs possess antioxidant properties hence, may serve as substitutes for synthetic antioxidants.
Wettability Studies of ITO Substrates Using Binary Mixture of Aniline and Alcohols

This paper suggests a method to reduce electronic wastage by controlling the wetting of the substrates to enable reuse of the device in an effort to improve device control. If the devices were cleaned after a given operation, it can be reused. With this preliminary idea, the present investigation reports the concentration dependent wetting of indium tin oxide by aniline-alcohol binary liquid and shows how varying the concentration of the liquids can control the wetting phenomenon. This binary liquid system is an important prototype for the biological hydrogen bond interactions of N-H---O. Surface tension (liquid-liquid), adhesive energy (solid-liquid), surface energy of the substrate and contact angle of the liquids with the substrate are measured by using a contact angle goniometer.
Genome analysis M 3 D : a kernel-based test for spatially correlated changes in methylation profiles

Motivation: DNA methylation is an intensely studied epigenetic mark implicated in many biological processes of direct clinical relevance. Although sequencing-based technologies are increasingly allowing high-resolution measurements of DNA methylation, statistical modelling of such data is still challenging. In particular, statistical identification of differentially methylated regions across different conditions poses unresolved challenges in accounting for spatial correlations within the statistical testing procedure. Results: We propose a non-parametric, kernel-based method, MD, to detect higher order changes in methylation profiles, such as shape, across pre-defined regions. The test statistic explicitly accounts for differences in coverage levels between samples, thus handling in a principled way a major confounder in the analysis of methylation data. Empirical tests on real and simulated datasets show an increased power compared to established methods, as well as considerable robustness with respect to coverage and replication levels. Availability and implementation: R/Bioconductor package MD. Contact: G.Sanguinetti@ed.ac. uk Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
THE DYNAMIC RESPONSIVENESS OF ORGANIZATIONS

Organizational studies should address contemporary challenges of dealing effectively with the increasingly complex and dynamic business conditions. In this context we argue that structural features are linked to the corporate strategy process and affect the organization’s ability to respond to ongoing environmental changes. Sustainable performance arguably derives from integrative strategy-making where business opportunities are pursued as they emerge while being directed and coordinated through forward-looking analytics. This combination of decentralized responsiveness and central reasoning identifies a dynamic system of interacting fast and slow processes. The fast system observes and reacts to environmental stimuli and the slow system interprets events and reasons about future actions. When the fast and slow processes interact they form a dynamic adaptive system that allows the organization to respond to uncertain and changing conditions. We apply this model to interactions among individuals in organizations where ongoing experiential insights among dispersed operating managers interact with the forward-looking planning considerations around top-management. This identifies an organization that is able to react to frequent and often unpredictable changes and adapt.
Modeling Hydrologic Regime of a Terminal Lake Basin with GCM Down-scaled Scenarios

A dramatic phenomenon has been occurring in Devils Lake, a terminal lake in North Dakota: its inundated area has continually expanded since reaching its extreme low in the 1940s. Devils Lake’s continual rise in water level has created immediate hardships for local residents, particularly farmers who have lost large parcels of productive land and properties. The search for solutions to the problems caused by the unique lake flooding has motivated our modeling of the lake basin’s hydrology, the lake processes, and climatic change impacts. A distributed rainfall runoff model, HEC-HMS, has been calibrated for several major sub-basins that drain into the lake. A significant challenge has been the implementation of Arc-Hydro within ArcGIS for a basin with relatively flat terrain (using the best available DEM of the region) which has undergone a lot of land-use changes in the past century. Further complexities in modeling are introduced by a pumped-drainage scheme implemented by the state’s water commission to lower the lake level by pumping and draining into an adjacent stream. The scheme operates whenever the stream’s water quality is favorable. A reservoir simulation model, HEC-ResSim, which is coupled with the HEC-HMS model, is calibrated for the lake for a short period of time. For the model calibration, NASA’s remote sensing data, including the TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data, are used to supplement the limited ground data. The coupled, calibrated hydrologic-reservoir model allows a series of comprehensive climaticscenario simulations to be carried out, a key feature of which is the use of future regional climatic conditions derived from GCM down-scaled ensembles. The described modeling is expected to yield useful and usable results for planners and decision makers who set longterm sustainability plans for the Devils Lake region.
Can Imazapic and Seeding Be Applied Simultaneously to Rehabilitate Medusahead-Invaded Rangeland? Single vs. Multiple Entry

Abstract It has recently been proposed that the cost of rehabilitating medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski)–invaded rangelands may be reduced by concurrently seeding desired vegetation and applying the preemergent herbicide imazapic. However, the efficacy of this “single-entry” approach has been inconsistent, and it has not been compared to the multiple-entry approach where seeding is delayed 1 yr to decrease herbicide damage to nontarget seeded species. We evaluated single- and multiple-entry approaches in medusahead-invaded rangelands in southeastern Oregon with seeding for both approaches occurring in October 2011. Before seeding and applying herbicide, all plots were burned to improve medusahead control with imazapic and prepare the seedbed for drill seeding–introduced perennial bunchgrasses. Both approaches effectively controlled medusahead during the 2 yr postseeding. However, almost no seeded bunchgrasses established with the single-entry treatment (< 0.5 individals · m−2), probably as a result of nontarget herbicide mortality. Perennial grass cover and density in the single-entry treatment did not differ from the untreated control. In contrast, the multiple-entry treatment had on average 6.5 seeded bunchgrasses · m−2 in the second year postseeding. Perennial grass (seeded and nonseed species) cover was eight times greater in the multiple-entry compared to the single-entry treatment by the second year postseeding. These results suggest that the multiple-entry approach has altered the community from annual-dominated to perennial grass–dominated, but the single-entry approach will likely be reinvaded and dominated medusahead without additional treatments because of a lack of perennial vegetation.
ISSR analysis for determination of genetic diversity and relationship in eight Turkish olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars.

Olive cultivar identification is very important especially for fruit productivity and olive oil quality. Up to date, numerous techniques have been used for characterization of olive cultivars and detection of genetic variability. In the present study, 40 clones specific to Turkey (8 cultivars, each having 5 clones) were assessed for cultivar determination via inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker systems using 10 ISSR primers. In total, 217 band profiles were obtained, 206 of which were polymorphic (94.9% polymorphism). The cultivars were segregated into two main clusters, each cluster being subdivided into two groups, while all the clones of a cultivar belong to the same main cluster. The only exception was the distribution of the clones of cultivar 'Tekir': 'Tekir 1', 'Tekir 2' and 'Tekir 3' on cluster III, while 'Tekir 4' and 'Tekir 5' were on cluster IV, therefore grouped into different main clusters. In the present study, ISSR analysis displayed a high level of genetic variability among Turkish olive cultivars, indicating a potential resource for the use of this germplasm in clonal selection programs.
Strategic Side Payments: Preferential Trading Agreements, Economic Reform, and Foreign Aid

We propose that major powers give foreign aid to developing countries to facilitate politically costly economic reforms that preferential trading agreements mandate. Only democratic developing countries can credibly commit to using fungible revenue in ways that benefit the donor, so a side payment for deeper reforms should only apply to democracies. A quantitative test lends support to the theory. Fully democratic developing countries that form a preferential trading agreement obtain a threefold increase in foreign aid in the short run. Additional tests show that this increase is not driven by macroeconomic difficulties and that the increase in foreign aid is temporary. The theory implies that donors have used foreign aid to magnify the effect of preferential trading agreements on the economic reforms that they expect to benefit from.
SINS/CNS Nonlinear Integrated Navigation Algorithm for Hypersonic Vehicle

Celestial Navigation System (CNS) has characteristics of accurate orientation and strong autonomy and has been widely used in Hypersonic Vehicle. Since the CNS location and orientation mainly depend upon the inertial reference that contains errors caused by gyro drifts and other error factors, traditional Strap-down Inertial Navigation System (SINS)/CNS positioning algorithm setting the position error between SINS and CNS as measurement is not effective. The model of altitude azimuth, platform error angles, and horizontal position is designed, and the SINS/CNS tightly integrated algorithm is designed, in which CNS altitude azimuth is set as measurement information. GPF (Gaussian particle filter) is introduced to solve the problem of nonlinear filtering. The results of simulation show that the precision of SINS/CNS algorithm which reaches 130 m using three stars is improved effectively.
DSP-based two-synchronized motors control system using external FPGA design

There are many applications that have more than one motor to be controlled dependently to execute the same task or independently to execute different tasks at the same time with high performance low cost control system. This paper presents a Two-Synchronized Motors Control System Using External FPGA Design with high performance and low cost for a variety of applications. The proposed technique is DSP and FPGA based system. An external FPGA structural design is interfaced with the PWM Generation Unit of the D SP board for the use of Two-Motor Control using one DSP Processor. The system is implemented using the Analog Devices Blackfin™ ADSP-BF561 dual core Digital Signal Processor (DSP). Core 1 is dedicated to implement the motor one control algorithm while core 2 mainly implements the motor two control algorithm with one PWM Generation Uni t to reduce the overall cost and complexity of the motors control system. The FPGA design is implemented using VHDL language and downloaded successfully to the XILINX VERTEX-E FPGA. The FPGA board is then interfaced successfully with the ADSP PWM Unit. Simulation and experimental results are achieved successfully and introduced in this paper.
Improved maximum likelihood estimation of object pose from 3D point clouds using curves as features

Object recognition and pose estimation is a fundamental problem in automated quality control and assembly in the manufacturing industry. Real world objects present in a manufacturing engineering setting tend to contain more smooth surfaces and edges than unique key points, making state-of-the-art algorithms that are mainly based on key-point detection, and key-point description with RANSAC and Hough based correspondence aggregators, unsuitable. An alternative approach using maximum likelihood has recently been proposed in which surface patches are regarded as the features of interest1 . In the current study, the results of extending this algorithm to include curved features are presented. The proposed algorithm that combines both surfaces and curves improved the pose estimation by a factor up to 3×, compared to surfaces alone, and reduced the overall misalignment error down to 0.61 mm.
Foundations of a Marxist Theory of the Political Economy of Information: Trade Secrets and Intellectual Property, and the Production of Relative Surplus Value and the Extraction of Rent-Tribute

The aim of this article is to sketch a preliminary outline of a Marxist theory of the political economy of information. It defines information as a symbolic form that can be digitally copied. This definition is purely formal and disregards epistemological, ideological, and functional aspects. The article argues that the value of information defined in this sense tends to zero and therefore the price of information is rent. However, information plays a central role in the production of relative surplus value on the one hand, and the distribution of the total social surplus value in forms of surplus profits and rents, on the other. Thus, the hegemony of information technologies in contemporary productive forces has not made Marx’s theory of value irrelevant. On the contrary, the political economy of information can only be understood in the light of this theory. The article demonstrates that the capitalist production and distribution of surplus value at the global level forms the foundation of the political economy of information.
Development and biochemical verification of a new method to isolate and quantify mitochondria from cell culture and liver tissue biopsies

In this thesis, a new method for the isolation of mitochondria from cell suspensions and small amounts of fresh and frozen stored tissue has been developed. Obtained mitochondria exhibited an exceptional quality, regarding their biochemical function, structural integrity and purity. Furthermore, a new approach for the quantification of isolated mitochondria by flow cytometry has been developed, allowing for mitochondrial comparisons based on an equal number of mitochondria instead of equal amounts of protein. This is especially important if mitochondria from different origin are compared as they may differ significantly in their protein content.
Biohydro-optical classification of the northwestern

An approach to a partial solution to the general problem of defining biogeochemical provinces for the accurate estimation of global-ocean primary production and realistic structuring of epipelagic plankton ecosystem models is presented for the northwestern Indian Ocean. This is accomplished through use of a new technique, biohydro-optical classification, that applies a rudimentary submarine light budget incorporating clirnatologies of incident light, mixed-layer thickness, and chlorophyll to recognize fundamental modes of tropical plankton ecosystems. The 3 types of biohydro-optical classes found in the Arabian Sea, Typical Tropical, Mixed-Layer Bloom, and Transitional, are shown to evolve through the spnng intermonsoon (March through May), summer so.uthwest monsoon (June through August), and fall intermonsoon (September through November) under climatic forcing and in response to the resulting biological variability. Virtually all of the open Arabian Sea is within the Typical Tropical Class at the close of the spring intermonsoon. This class type is intended to identify the epipelagic plankton ecosystem mode associated with tropical regions containing a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) maintained by active algal growth, and a light-rich, oligotrophic shallow zone containing a phytoplankton association which depends largely upon regenerated nutrients. At the close of the southwest monsoon in August, a Mixed-Layer Bloom Province covers much of the northern Arabian Sea. This provlnce class corresponds to the ecosystem mode represented by tropical regions undergoing marginal or mid-ocean upwelling and greatly simplifies regional extrapolation of the local primary production algorithm. At the onset of the fall intermonsoon, the Mixed-Layer Bloom Province in the northern and western Arabian Sea is superseded by a Transitional Province, which persists through the fall intermonsoon. We interpret the upper layer of the fall intermonsoon Transitional Province in the Arabian Sea as a special case of the shallow regenerative plankton ecosystem of oligotrophic ocean areas, where rates of zooplankton-driven nutrient regeneration and recycled production, key processes in the upper layer of the classic 2-layer euphotic zone of oligotrophic low-latitude oceans, reach extreme values. KEY WORDSlndian Ocean . Primary production . Biogeochemistry Satellite remote-sensing Modehng . Phytoplankton ecosystems
Market access for agro-enterprise diversity in the Lake Kivu Pilot Learning Site of the sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Programme.

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) commissioned a pilot study to understand the role of markets and marketing systems in African agriculture and to test the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) and its innovation platforms (IPs) as a new strategy for wealth creation. This was in response to the fact that Sub-Saharan Africaâ€™s small-scale farmers seem to have been trapped in cycles of poverty, and that the regional economy has stagnated. Using a market baseline survey in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Programme (SSACP) found that disorganised markets and marketing were major factors in perpetuating poverty cycles and subsistence agriculture. These markets are characterised, among others, by too many players within a value chain, a lack of collective marketing and collective purchasing, poor transport infrastructure, a lack of value addition, poor market information, poor access to market information or a total lack of market information, and unfavourable trade policies and/or a lack of any. Although smallholder farmers are the highest investors in terms of land, tools, time, labour, inputs and transport along the value chains, they benefit least when it comes to earnings. Hence it is not economical to produce surpluses in the absence of assured markets, good market policies and reliable marketing strategies. The results show that gender is an important component in the value chains, depending on the historical realities. In the DRC, for example, a country that has been in crisis for long, women have ventured into long- and short-distance trade. In Uganda, a country that has been at peace for at least 20 years, men trade more and further away from home. In Rwanda, where there has been 15 years of peace, men and women seemed to share the trading space in the country equally. It was also observed that the IAR4D approach may be the most relevant and appropriate one for addressing poverty in SSA through its integration of markets as core ingredients in agriculture, and the formation of innovation platforms (IPs) with stakeholders interested in the plight of farmers in their localities.