Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global Value Chain Participation and the Relative Demand for Skilled Labour in East Asia

Global value chains (GVCs) may have distributional consequences for the relative demand for skilled labour. This study relates GVC participation to the share of skilled labour in total compensation, focusing on the experience of 12 East Asian countries. It applies a macro-level analysis covering 114 countries and 27 sectors for intermittent years from 2001 to 2011. It uses a widely accepted measure of backward GVC participation – the share of foreign value added in exports. This study finds that while GVC participation is positively associated with the relative demand for skilled labour in the global data set, the positive correlation is smaller for the sample of East Asian countries and negative in a few cases. This could reflect East Asia’s specialisation in manufacturing GVCs, which tend to make intensive use of lower-skilled labour. In agriculture, the direction of the correlation depends on a country’s position in the agribusiness value chain and its skill intensity, while the results for services do not show any statistically significant correlations. Finally, the study assesses if policy matters for the relationship between backward GVC participation and the relative demand for skilled labour, and finds that higher labour market flexibility increases the positive relationship.
Relationship between leaf flushing phenology and defensive traits of canopy trees of five dipterocarp species in a tropical rain forest

While the canopy layer shows the highest productivity in forests, it also has the highest herbivore population density. How do canopy trees cope with attack from herbivores under such conditions? We investigated the relationship between leaf flushing phenology, defensive and photosynthetic traits, such as leaf flushing frequency, the number of emerging leaves per flushing term, the leaf life span, total phenolic and condensed tannin contents, leaf toughness, leaf nitrogen content, the photosynthetic rate at light saturation (Pmax) and leaf mass per area (LMA), in canopy trees of five dipterocarp species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest. Interspecific variations were clearly observed in leaf flushing frequency, ranging from occasional to continuous patterns. The total phenolic content significantly increased with leaf flushing frequency. Leaf toughness showed no correlation with leaf flushing phenology, but species with occasional leaf flushing had greater leaf toughness than those with continuous leaf production. There was a negative correlation between leaf toughness and tannin content, and a positive correlation between the former and Pmax. In addition, the leaf herbivory rate significantly increased with a larger number of emerging leaves per term and a higher comprehensive index (PC1) from PCA analysis using leaf flushing frequency and the number of leaves. Therefore, our results suggest that tropical canopy species have various defensive strategies against herbivore attack by regulating the intensity of chemical, physical and phenological defenses; species with high leaf flushing frequency have more chemically defended leaves, while those with low leaf flushing frequency have tougher leaves with higher photosynthetic abilities.
Diagnostics of the Presence of Viruses in the Potato and Soil

Abstract The paper presents a combined biological assay on indicator plants, a serological assay using ELISA and a molecular assay for detection of viruses that infect the potato. It also elaborates on the bioassay for PVY strain differentiation and for detection of TRV in tubers and soil samples. At IHAR-PIB Młochów Research Center, ELISA tests can be conducted for detection of PVY, PVA, PVM, PVS, PLRV, PVX, TRV and PMTV. Multiplex RT-PCR, real-time quantitative RT-PCR and sequencing methods for detection of PVY, TRV and PMTV are optimized based on a published protocol or developed in our laboratory. The primers for detection of PVY, TRV, PVM, PVS, PLRV, PVX, PMTV, PVA, AMV, CMV, PAMV, TBRV, and BMYV according to the published methods are listed. The maintenance and usage of 19 species of indicator plants are discussed.
Feature extraction in batik image geometric motif using canny edge detection

One of Indonesia's priceless cultural heritages is batik. Even UNESCO was admitting that batik is an intellectual, cultural right of the Indonesian (October 2). Unfortunately, many Indonesian do not have sufficient knowledge about the various types of the existence of batik's motifs. In fact, in each of these motifs, many treasures must be maintained. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a model that can recognize batik motifs automatically. The model can be built using various kinds of pattern recognition algorithms. One of the most important stages in the introduction of batik motifs is the feature extraction. Feature extraction is needed to determine the parameters that able to define character a batik's motif. One feature extraction model that can be done is by using edge detection. This research focuses on feature extraction using Canny edge detection. The result of edge detection is forming the pattern of a batik motif. The pattern contains pixel values 0 and 1. These values can later be used as input at the classification stage.
Simple parametric tests for trait–environment association

Question: The CWM approach is an easy way of analysing trait–environment association by regressing (or correlating) the mean trait per plot against an environmental variable and assessing the statistical significance of the slope or the associated correlation coefficient. However, the CWM approach does not yield valid tests, as random traits (or random indicator values) are far too often judged significantly related to the environmental variable, even when the trait and environmental variable are extrinsic to (not derived from) the community data. Existing solutions are the ZS-modified test (Zelený & Schaffers,) and the max (or sequential) test based on the fourth-corner correlation. Both tests are based on permutations which become cumbersome when many tests need to be carried out and many permutations are required, as in methods that correct for multiple testing. The main goal of this study was to compare these existing permutation-based solutions and to develop a quick and easy parametric test that can replace them. Methods: This study decomposes the fourth-corner correlation in two ways, which suggests a simple parametric approach consisting of assessing the significances of two linear regressions, one plot-level test as in the CWM approach and one species-level test, the reverse of the CWM approach, that regresses the environmental mean per species (i.e. the species niche centroid) on to the trait. The tests are combined by taking the maximum p-value. The type I error rates and power of this parametric max test are examined by simulation of one- and two-dimensional Gaussian models and log-linear models. Results: The ZS-modified test and the fourth-corner max test are conservative in different scenarios, the ZS-modified test being even more conservative than the fourth-corner. The new parametric max test is shown to control the type I error and has equal or even higher power than permutation tests based on the fourth-corner, the ZS-modified test and variants thereof. A weighted version of the new test showed inflated type I error. Conclusion: The combination of two simple regressions is a good alternative to the fourth-corner and the ZS-modified test. This combination is also applicable when multiple trait measurements are made per plot.
Forecasting with Deep Learning: S&P 500 index

Stock price prediction has been the focus of a large amount of research but an acceptable solution has so far escaped academics. Recent advances in deep learning have motivated researchers to apply neural networks to stock prediction. In this paper, we propose a convolution-based neural network model for predicting the future value of the S&P 500 index. The proposed model is capable of predicting the next-day direction of the index based on the previous values of the index. Experiments show that our model outperforms a number of benchmarks achieving an accuracy rate of over 55%.
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging Diagnosis

The development of artificial intelligence promotes the great progress of medical imaging diagnosis. Based on this, this paper reviews and discusses the medical image diagnosis based on artificial intelligence in recent years, introduces the procedure of medical image diagnosis, the algorithms involved and the key progress, analyzes the shortcomings of the current technology, and the possible development direction in the future.
Biosurfactant Production by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa 181

This study involves the screening of biosurfactant producers that have been isolated from crude oil bacteria degraders. The bacteria were isolated by qualitative screening on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) agar plates and quantitative screening for biosurfactant production in liquid media. A biosurfactant producer identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa 181 was selected for further analysis. Maximum biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 181 was achieved after 120 h incubation at pH 7.0 and 37°C. Static condition and 5.0% bacterial inoculum’s gave the optimum biosurfactant yield. Culture medium containing glucose as the carbon source; and casamino acids as the organic nitrogen source gave the highest level of biosurfactant production. Corn steep liquor and ammonium nitrate on the other hand inhibited biosurfactant production. However, the addition of metal ions such as Fe, Mg and Mn maximized biosurfactant synthesis.The biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 181 was purified to homogeneity by acid precipitation and ammonium sulphate precipitation. Biosurfactant produced byPseudomonas aeruginosa 181 was stable and had a broad range of pH from 3.0 to 12.0 with the maximum activity (Surface Tension reduction and Emulsification Index (E24))exhibited at pH 7.0. The purified biosurfactant had a broad range of temperature and exhibited optimum activity at 30°C. This biosurfactant had high activity compared to many commercial surfactants with 0.1 mg critical micelle concentration (CMC). The purified biosurfactant had a maximum emulsification index (E24) of 86% with hexadecane,followed by 80% with nonane, dodecane,tridecane, pentadecane, octadecane and o- Xylene.Response surface methodology (RSM) was then used to study interactive effects of the parameters (pH, stirring rate, casamino acid concentration and incubation period) on the production of biosurfactants. Generally, simultaneously increasing surface tension reduction and emulsification index (E24) improved yields. Production carried out at larger volumes of 1L using Bioreactor under RSM-optimized conditions yielded 350.22 mg of products after purification by acid precipitation. Identities of isolated products were verified by using TLC, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography–Mass spectrometry (LC-MS), mass spectrometry (MS-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and infraredspectroscopy (FT-IR), from analysis carried out the rhamnolipids were monorhamnolipids and dirhamnolipids.
Concomitant treatment of brain metastases with whole brain radiotherapy and temozolomide protects neurocognitive function and improve quality of life

Purpose : To study the protective effects of a combination of temozolomide (TMZ) and whole brain radiotherapy (WBT) on neurocognition, and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with brain metastasis (BM) from solid tumors, relative to WBT alone. Methods : A total of 256 BM patients were enrolled and divided into two groups treated with either WBT plus TMZ, or WBRT alone. All patients received 30 Gy WBT, with or without concomitant TMZ (75 mg/m2/day) during the irradiation period, and subsequently up to six cycles of TMZ (150 mg/m2/day). Results : The mean intracranial objective response (IOR) for all patients was 44.80 % while the IOR for WBT arm and WBT+TMZ group arm were 32.48 and 56.56 %, respectively (p = 0.03). The median intracranial overall survival (OS) for all the patients was 7.70 months. The median OS for WBT alone group (6.53 months) was significantly shorter than that of the WBT + TMZ arm (9.57 months). Statistically significant difference in quality of life (QoL) was observed between both arms at six months. Moreover, WBT+TMZ group had higher incidence of toxicity, when compared to WBT-only group. Conclusion : These results suggest that co-application of WBT and TMZ improves intracranial ORR and median OS in BM patients, relative to the use of WBT alone. Although the side effects may be increased as a result of addition of TMZ, toxicity is tolerable and manageable. Keywords : Brain metastasis, Temozolomide, Whole brain radiotherapy, Neurocognition
Synthesis, bioactivities and cytogenotoxicity of animal fur-mediated silver nanoparticles

Animal waste materials are rarely used in the synthesis of nanoparticles compared to microorganisms and plant materials. The use of animal fur (goat) in synthesis could assist in turning waste to wealth. Thus, potentials of animal fur in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AF-AgNPs), its biological activities and safety through cytogenotoxicity were investigated. Animal fur (1 g) was hydrolyzed with 100 ml of 0.1 M NaOH at 90 °C for 1 h, cooled and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 30 min. The extract (1 ml) was added to 1 mM AgNO3 (40 ml) to reduce Ag+ to its nanoparticles. The AF-AgNPs was characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Larvicidal, antioxidant, anticoagulant and thrombolytic potentials of AF-AgNPs were studied. Onion bulbs (20) were exposed to 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, 10.0 and 100.0 μg/ml of AF-AgNPs solution for its cytogenotoxicity study with AgNO3 solution and distilled water as controls. Microscopic (24, 48 and 72 h) assessment of the onion cells and macroscopic (72 h) evaluation of the roots were also studied. The AF-AgNPs solution was brownish with surface plasmon resonance at 419 nm. Evaluation of FTIR spectra showed that protein molecules were used as capping and stabilization agents. The AF-AgNPs had size range of 11.67-31.47 nm, caused 60-100% mortality of exposed Anopheles mosquito larvae in 12 h, and scavenged DPPH (40-59%) and hydrogen peroxide (75-94%). The nanoparticles also exhibited anticoagulant and thrombolytic potentials on human blood with 25% lysis compared to 13% observed for only extract. Various chromosomal aberrations and growth inhibition were induced by AF-AgNPs especially at 72 h of 100 μg/ml. Extract from animal fur was explored in biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles and found to have high potentials as antioxidant, anticoagulant, thrombolytic agents. Inhibition of cell growth observed especially at highest concentration can be explored in anticancer drugs though with caution due to AF-AgNPs potential to induce chromosomal aberrations.
Molecular signatures of the rediae, cercariae and adult worm stages in the complex life cycles of parasitic flatworms (Psilostomatidae, Trematoda)

Trematodes are one of the most remarkable animals with complex life cycles with several generations. Life histories of a parasitic flatworms include several stages with disparate morphological and physiological characteristics follow each other and infect hosts ranging from mollusks to higher vertebrates. How does one genome regulate the development of various life forms and how many genes are needed to the functioning of each stages? How similar are molecular signatures of life stages in closely related species of parasitic flatworms? Here we present the comparative analysis of transcriptomic signatures of the rediae, cercaria and adult worm stages in two representatives of the family Psilostomatidae (Echinostomata, Trematoda) - Psilotrema simillimum and Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus. Our results indicate that the transitions between the stages of the complex life cycle are associated with massive changes in gene expression with thousands of genes being stage-specific. In terms of expression dynamics, the adult worm is the most similar stage between Psilotrema and Spaeridiotrema, while expression patterns of genes in the rediae and cercariae stages are much more different. This study provides transcriptomic evidences not only for similarities and differences between life stages of two related species, but also for cryptic species in Sphaeridiotrema.
Thermodynamics and Reaction Kinetics During Mechanochemical Synthesis and Environmental Testing of Lanthanide and Actinide Refractory Materials

vii LIST OF TABLES xiii LIST OF FIGURES xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 References 4 CHAPTER TWO: MECHANOCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF URANIUM SESQUISILICIDE 6 Abstract 8 8 2.1 Introduction 8 2.2 Materials and Methods 10 2.3 Experimental 11 2.4 Results 12 2.4. 1 Milling Results 12 2.4. 2 Pressure/Temperature Monitoring Results 17 2.5 Discussion 19 2.5. 1 Phase Formation During Milling 19 2.5. 2 Impurity Content 20
Enhanced boiling heat transfer in horizontal test bundles

Two-phase flow boiling from bundles of horizontal tubes with smooth and enhanced surfaces has been investigated. Experiments were conducted in pure refrigerant R-113, pure R-11, and mixtures of R-11 and R-113 of approximately 25, 50, and 75% of R-113 by mass. Tests were conducted in two staggered tube bundles consisting of fifteen rows and five columns laid out in equilateral triangular arrays with pitch-to-diameter ratios of 1.17 and 1.5. The enhanced surfaces tested included a knurled surface (Wolverine`s Turbo-B) and a porous surface (Linde`s High Flux). Pool boiling tests were conducted for each surface so that reference values of the heat transfer coefficient could be obtained. Boiling heat transfer experiments in the tube bundles were conducted at pressures of 2 and 6 bar, heat flux values from 5 to 80 kW/m{sup 2}s, and qualities from 0% to 80%, Values of the heat transfer coefficients for the enhanced surfaces were significantly larger than for the smooth tubes and were comparable to the values obtained in pool boiling. It was found that the performance of the enhanced tubes could be predicted using the pool boiling results. The degradation in the smooth tube heat transfer coefficients obtained in fluid mixtures was found tomore » depend on the difference between the molar concentration in the liquid and vapor. « less
FENOLOGIA, PÓS-COLHEITA E PROPAGAÇÃO DE CAJU-ARBÓREO-DO CERRADO

O Caju-arboreo-do-Cerrado Anacardium othonianum Rizz e um ecotipo da especie Anacardium occidentale, onde este apresenta caracteristicas diferentes por estar no bioma Cerrado, existem poucos estudos deste ecotipo. Com isso objetivou-se avaliar a melhor epoca de colheita, armazenamento, aproveitamento e forma de propagacao do A. othonianum. Foram avaliadas plantas nos municipios de Silvânia, Orizona, Vianopolis e Luziânia todos do estado de Goias. Foram realizadas analises fisico-quimica na maturacao e armazenamento em diferentes temperaturas para decisao de melhor maturacao do fruto. A avaliacao foi realizada no municipio de Vianopolis em 5 epocas apos a floracao da planta armazenando estes frutos em temperatura ambiente, 5 oC e 10 oC. No aproveitamento do pseudofruto do caju foi produzido balas macias e duras e posteriormente realizado uma analise sensorial com 120 provadores para dar notas de aceitacao destas. Na propagacao do caju-arboreo-do-Cerrado foram utilizadas sementes dos municipios de Silvânia, Orizona, Vianopolis e Luziânia cultivadas em câmara de germinacao em diferentes substratos (S1: substrato comercial + vermiculita (2:1); S2: terra de barranco + vermiculita + areia fina (2:1:1); S3: substrato comercial + terra de barranco + vermiculita (2:2:1) e S4: terra de barranco + vermiculita + casca de arroz (2:1:1)), e diferentes temperaturas (24°, 30°, 36°,42°C). Tambem foi avaliada a propagacao em casa de vegetacao com diferentes substratos (S1: substrato comercial + vermiculita (2:1); S2: terra de barranco + vermiculita + areia fina (2:1:1); S3: substrato comercial + terra de barranco + vermiculita (2:2:1) e S4: terra de barranco + vermiculita + casca de arroz (2:1:1)). E cultivo in vitro com variacao de meio MS (25, 50, 75 e 100%). Nos experimentos de propagacao em câmara de germinacao e casa de vegetacao realizou-se levantamentos biometricos no 40o dia de semeadura, avaliando o numero de par de folhas, altura de planta, diâmetro de caule, largura da folha, comprimento de folha, comprimento da raiz, materias fresca e seca. E no cultivo in vitro avaliou-se a protusao radicular, contaminacao, sobrevivencia apos a inoculacao das sementes. A ultima epoca de colheita apresentou a melhor maturacao, e a temperatura de 5oC a mais eficiente para o armazenamento. As balas tanto macias e duras tiveram boa aceitacao e o substrato que forneceu o melhor desenvolvimento das mudas de caju-arboreo-do-Cerrado foi o S4: terra de barranco + vermiculita + casca de arroz (2:1:1) na temperatura de 30°C, ja no cultivo in vitro os meios MS de 25 e 50% foram os mais eficazes.
Strategies for the formation of covalently bonded nano-networks on metal surfaces through amine reactions.

Recently, there has been increasing interest in the development of covalent surface supported polymeric networks. This is attributed to the fact that they are thermally, mechanically and chemically more stable than those based on hydrogen bonded or metalorganic frameworks. The formation and characterization of organic nano-networks on metal surfaces is important for applications such as gas sensors, catalysis and molecular templates. In this thesis, strategies for the formation of covalent networks of 5,10,15,20- tetrakis(4 aminophenyl)-porphyrin (TAPP) and 1,3,5 tris(4aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB), both of which have amine groups that are attached to phenyl rings, were extensively investigated on Au(111), Ag(111) and Cu(111) surfaces. The strategies employed to form covalently bonded networks are based on reactions between the amine groups on the TAPP or TAPB molecules. An investigation of the self-assembly of these molecules, deposited at room temperature, on different metal surfaces was carried out to investigate the effect of intermolecular and molecule-surface interactions. The surface elevated at different temperature was employed to investigate the formation of networks through the polymerization of these molecules at various substrate temperatures. Polymerisation of the TAPP molecules is expected to form networks with a four-fold symmetry networks whereas the reaction among TAPB molecules would gave three-fold symmetry networks. Further investigations were carried out on a polyimidisation reaction between the amine molecules and the anhydride groups present on 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA). All samples were studied in detail using scanning tunneling microcopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements to investigate the structural and chemical properties of the networks. In addition, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and synchrotron based techniques were utilized in some of these studies. The ordering observed in the resulting structure is largely determined by the initial molecular coverage, substrate temperature, type of single crystal used and the deposition rate.