Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbon Dioxide and Nisin Act Synergistically on Listeria monocytogenes

This paper examines the synergistic action of carbon dioxide and nisin on Listeria monocytogenes Scott A wild-type and nisin-resistant (Nis r ) cells grown in broth at 4°C. Carbon dioxide extended the lag phase and decreased the speciﬁc growth rate of both strains, but to a greater degree in the Nis r cells. Wild-type cells grown in 100% CO 2 were two to ﬁve times longer than cells grown in air. Nisin (2.5 m g/ml) did not decrease the viability of Nis r cells but for wild-type cells caused an immediate 2-log reduction of viability when they were grown in air and a 4-log reduction when they were grown in 100% CO 2 . There was a quantiﬁable synergistic action between nisin and CO 2 in the wild-type strain. The MIC of nisin for the wild-type strain grown in the presence of 2.5 m g of nisin per ml increased from 3.1 to 12.5 m g/ml over 35 days, but this increase was markedly delayed for cultures in CO 2 . This synergism between nisin and CO 2 was examined mechanistically by following the leakage of carboxyﬂuorescein (CF) from listerial liposomes. Carbon dioxide enhanced nisin-induced CF leakage, indicating that the synergistic action of CO 2 and nisin cytoplasmic membrane. Lipo- somes to nisin Liposomes liposomes derived from cells 30°C. of 100% and at 4°C had a greater proportion of short-chain fatty The synergistic action of nisin and CO 2 is consistent with a model where ﬂuidity plays a role in the efﬁciency of nisin action. nisin diluent N HCl–0.75% NaCl, pH and ﬁlter sterilized a 0.45- m m-pore-size membrane ﬁlter (Acrodisc; When required, BHI was buffered (B- BHI) with 0.1 N phosphate (K 2 HPO 4 -KH 2 PO 4 ) to a pH of 6.2. Growth of wild-type and Nis r L. monocytogenes Scott A in the presence of nisin and in a CO 2 atmosphere. Wild-type and Nis r cells of L. monocytogenes were grown at 30°C to an optical density at 600 nm (OD 600 ) of 0.5 to 0.6 (Shimadzu UV 160U; Tokyo, Japan). Wild-type cells were inoculated in B-BHI broth to give an initial cell concentration of approximately 5 3 10 6 CFU/ml. Nisin was added at time zero at a concentration of 2.5 m g/ml. Cultures were incubated at 4°C with agitation (120 rpm) in air or in an atmosphere of 100% CO 2 . To create a 100%
The State of Peer Assessment: Dimensions and Future Challenges

— Modern day education and learning has moved on from brick and mortar institutions to open learning environments. Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) are a perfect example of these learning environments. MOOCs provide a cost and time effective choice for learners across the globe. This has led to new challenges for teachers such as providing valuable and quality assessment and feedback on such a large scale. Recent studies have found peer assessment where learners assess the work of their peers to be a viable and cost effective alternative to teacher/staff evaluation. This study systematically analyzes the current research on peer assessment published in the context of MOOCs and the online tools that are being used in MOOCs for peer assessment. 48 peer reviewed papers and 17 peer assessment tools were selected for the comparison in this study and were assessed on three main dimensions, namely, system design, efficiency and effectiveness. Apart from these dimensions, the study highlights the main challenges of peer assessment. In the light of the comparison and discussion of current research in terms of the identified dimensions, we present future visions and research perspectives to improve the peer assessment process in MOOCs.
High-Speed Video Analysis of Ballistic Trials to Investigate Simulation Methods for Fiber-Reinforced Plastics Under Impact Loading Using the Example of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

—In the security sector, the partly insufficient safety of people and equipment due to failure of industrial components are ongoing problems that cause great concern. Since computers and software have spread into all fields of industry, extensive efforts are currently made in order to improve the safety by applying certain numerical solutions. This work presents a set of numerical simulations of ballistic tests which analyze the effects of composite armor plates. The focus lies on high-speed videos and modern investigation methods. The goal is to improve fiber-reinforced plastics in order to be able to cope with current challenges. Of course, the maximization of security is the primary goal, but keeping down the costs is becoming increasingly important. This is why numerical simulations are more frequently applied than experimental tests which are thus being replaced gradually. to reproduce different modes of failure. The results are valid for
Graphitic Carbon Nitride (C 3 N 4 ) Reduces Cadmium and Arsenic Phytotoxicity and Accumulation in Rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

: The present study investigated the role of graphitic carbon nitride (C 3 N 4 ) in alleviating cadmium (Cd)- and arsenic (As)-induced phytotoxicity to rice ( Oryza sativa L.). A high-temperature pyrolysis was used to synthesize the C 3 N 4 , which was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Rice seedlings were exposed to C 3 N 4 at 50 and 250 mg/L in half-strength Hoagland’s solution amended with or without 10 mg/L Cd or As for 14 days. Both Cd and As alone resulted in 26–38% and 49–56% decreases in rice root and shoot biomass, respectively. Exposure to 250 mg/L C 3 N 4 alone increased the root and shoot fresh biomass by 17.5% and 25.9%, respectively. Upon coexposure, Cd + C 3 N 4 and As + C 3 N 4 alleviated the heavy metal-induced phytotoxicity and increased the fresh weight by 26–38% and 49–56%, respectively. Further, the addition of C 3 N 4 decreased Cd and As accumulation in the roots by 32% and 25%, respectively, whereas the metal contents in the shoots were 30% lower in the presence of C 3 N 4 . Both As and Cd also signiﬁcantly altered the macronutrient (K, P, Ca, S, and Mg) and micronutrient (Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn) contents in rice, but these alterations were not evident in plants coexposed to C 3 N 4 . Random ampliﬁed polymorphic DNA analysis suggests that Cd signiﬁcantly altered the genomic DNA of rice roots, while no difference was found in shoots. The presence of C 3 N 4 controlled Cd and As uptake in rice by regulating transport-related genes. For example, the relative expression of the Cd transporter OsIRT1 in roots was upregulated by approximately threefold with metal exposure, but C 3 N 4 coamendment lowered the expression. Similar results were evident in the expression of the As transporter OsNIP1;1 in roots. Overall, these ﬁndings facilitate the understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which carbon-based nanomaterials alleviate contaminant-induced phyto- and genotoxicity and may provide a new strategy for the reduction of heavy metal contamination in agriculture.
Virus Subtype-Speciﬁc Features of Natural Simian Immunodeﬁciency Virus SIV smm Infection in Sooty Mangabeys (cid:1)

Simian immunodeﬁciency virus (SIV) SIV smm naturally infects sooty mangabeys (SMs) and is the source virus of pathogenic infections with human immunodeﬁciency virus type 2 (HIV-2) and SIV mac of humans and macaques, respectively. In previous studies we characterized SIV smm diversity in naturally SIV-infected SMs and identiﬁed nine different phylogenetic subtypes whose genetic distances are similar to those reported for the different HIV-1 group M subtypes. Here we report that, within the colony of SMs housed at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, at least four SIV smm subtypes cocirculate, with the vast majority of animals infected with SIV smm subtype 1, 2, in the emergence of occasional recombinant forms. While SIV smm - infected show a typically nonpathogenic course of infection, observed that different SIV smm subtypes are in fact associated with speciﬁc immunologic features. while subtypes 1, 2, and 3 are associated with a very benign course of infection and preservation of normal CD4 (cid:1) T-cell counts, three out of four SMs infected with subtype 5 show a signiﬁcant depletion of CD4 (cid:1) T cells. The fact that virus replication in SMs infected with subtype 5 is to that in SMs infected with other SIV smm subtypes that the subtype 5-associated CD4 (cid:1) T-cell depletion is unlikely to simply reﬂect higher levels of virus-mediated direct killing of CD4 (cid:1) T-cells. this systematic analysis of the subtype-speciﬁc features of SIV smm in natural SM hosts identiﬁes subtype-speciﬁc differences in the pathogenicity of SIV smm
Error bounds for parallel communication channels.

044. ~a (/ (1 The Research Laboratory of Electronics is an interdepartmental laboratory in which faculty members and graduate students from numerous academic departments conduct research. Abstract This report is concerned with the extension of known bounds on the achievable probability of error with block coding to several types of paralleled channel models. One such model is that of non-white additive Gaussian noise. We are able to obtain upper and lower bounds on the exponent of the probability of error with an average power constraint on the transmitted signals. The upper and lower bounds agree at zero rate and for rates between a certain Rcrit and the capacity of the channel. The surprising result is that the appropriate bandwidth used for transmission depends only on the desired rate and not on the power or exponent desired over the range wherein the upper and lower bounds agree. We also consider the problem of several channels in parallel with the option of using separate coders and decoders on the parallel channels. We find that there are some cases in which there is a saving in coding and decoding equipment by coding for the parallel channels separately. We determine the asymptotic ratio of the optimum block-length for the parallel channels and analyze one specific coding scheme to determine the effect of rate and power distribution among the parallel channels.
Exploring sequences: a graphical tool based on multi‐dimensional scaling

Summary. Sequence analysis has become one of the most used and discussed tools to describe life course trajectories. We introduce a new tool for the graphical exploratory analysis of sequences. Our plots combine standard sequence plots with the results that are provided by multi‐dimensional scaling. We apply our procedure to describe work and family careers of Israeli women by using data from the Israel Social Mobility Survey. We first focus on some preliminary choices relative to the definition of the sequences: the age span, the length of the sequences and the set of states registered in each time period. We then describe how our plots can be used to gain insights about the main features of sequences and about the relationships between sequences and external information.
Polymerized ionic liquids-based hydrogels with intrinsic antibacterial activity: Modern weapons against antibiotic-resistant infections

In this study, the inherent antibacterial activity of 11 different polymerized ionic liquids (PILs)-based hydrogels as well as their corresponding monomers was examined in an extensive screening. The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Xen 30 (MRSA Xen 30) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Xen 5 ( P. aeruginosa Xen 5) were chosen as test microorganisms. Both are typical representatives of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Six of the 11 tested monomers were able to eradicate more than 80% of P. aeruginosa Xen 5 cells in suspen-sion. Unfortunately, the anionic, neutral and zwitterionic representatives lost their function after polymerization. However, the cationic gels retained their antibacterial activity with nearly 100% eradication of selected microorganisms even at the smallest amount tested. Bactericidal activity against gram-positive MRSA Xen 30 was high when the bacteria were treated with the imidazolium-based monomers. Five of the tested compounds showed rather limited bactericidal activity <50% killed bacteria. The weak antibacterial activities could be sig-nificantly increased by crosslinking them to three-dimensional networks. As a result, all the hydrogels possessed strong killing efficiencies of at least 68% and were able to maintain this activity even at low hydrogel volume fractions. These findings are very promising for the development of new antibacterial materials for medical applications, for example, stent coatings.
Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Specification tests for temporal heterogeneity in spatial panel models with fixed effects

We propose score type tests for testing the existence of temporal heterogeneity in slope and spatial parameters in spatial panel data (SPD) models, allowing for the presence of individual-speciﬁc and/or time-speciﬁc ﬁxed eﬀects (or in general intercept heterogeneity). The SPD model with spatial lag eﬀect is treated in detail by ﬁrst considering the model with individual-speciﬁc eﬀects only, and then extending it to the model with both individual and time speciﬁc eﬀects. Two types of tests ( na¨ıve and robust ) are proposed, and their asymptotic properties are presented. These tests are then fully extended to an SPD model with both spatial lag and spatial error eﬀects. Monte Carlo results show that the robust tests have much superior ﬁnite and large sample properties than the naive tests. Thus, the proposed robust tests provide reliable tools for identifying possible existence of temporal heterogeneity in regression and spatial coeﬃcients. Empirical illustrations of the proposed tests are given.
The Effect of Toll-like Receptor 4 Deficiency on the Development of Emphysema among Smokers

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) deficiency in the lung can cause emphysema in animals, but has not been investigated in humans. We analyzed the association between TLR4 expression in the lung and the development of emphysema in smokers. Methods: We enrolled patients with a smoking history and who had undergone a lung resection. We measured TLR4 expression in lung lysates and classified patients as high, intermediate, and low expressers. The severity of emphysema was evaluated on computed tomography using the Goddard classification. TLR4 expression was also evaluated immunohistochemically. We compared TLR4 expression between inbred rats with and without emphysema to examine the effect of emphysema development on TLR4 expression. Results: In total, 53 patients were enrolled. Sixteen subjects were grouped as high expressers; 25, as intermediate; and 12, as low. Age, gender, smoking amount, and tuberculosis history did not differ among the groups. As TLR4 expression decreased, emphysema severity by the Goddard classification increased significantly ( P = 0.02), and forced expiratory capacity in one second per forced vital capacity decreased significantly ( P = 0.007). The difference in TLR4 expression based on immunohistochemistry was most prominent in bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells on IHC staining. The proportion of severe emphysema cases was highest in the low expresser group ( P = 0.006). No difference in TLR4 expression was observed between rats with and without emphysema. Conclusion: Even with the same amount of smoking, subjects with TLR4 deficiency in the bronchial and alveolar epithelia appeared to be more susceptible to emphysema.
Advanced Fingerprint Classification using Similarity Measure Approach

— The popular Biometric utilized to validate a person is Fingerprint which is unique and permanent throughout a person’s life. A minutia coordinating is broadly utilized for fingerprint acknowledgment and can be characterized as edge finishing and edge bifurcation. In this paper we projected Fingerprint Acknowledgment utilizing Minutia Score Coordinating system (FRMSM). For Fingerprint thinning, the Square Channel is used, which scans the picture at the limit to jelly the quality of the picture and isolated the particulars from the diminished image. The false coordinating Proportion is better compared to the existing algorithm.
Resource plunderers and collaboration within the CrossFit tribe

This paper addresses the concept of consumer tribes, and how various resource exchanges and plundering is carried out within this context. The concept of plundering has been introduced in research, yet only from a theoretical point of view. Hence this study provides a first attempt at taking the concept of plundering from a theoretical representation to an embodied explanation. This was examined through an ethnographic method consisting of 70 hours participating observations, 237 observations online and seven interviews. The chosen context of this study was a CrossFit box. Three major findings have been revealed. First, plundering of resources only occur outside the tribe with external actors, while an in-group mentality prevail in exchanges occurring inside the tribe. The second finding reveals that plundering can be carried out despite present motives or inducements as love or passion towards specific products or brands. The third finding holds that the consumer tribe exhibit consumers engagement in an interplay of logics and modes of exchanges to enable plundering, heighten their endowment and benefit the community. Finally, marketing managers are advised to see plundering as a playful challenge that nonetheless could provide opportunities since consumers share their prey with other devoted and passionate members and mutual plundering exist within this context.
Pattern-based Software Design and Adaptation

- This paper describes how software architectural design patterns can be used to build software systems and how software adaptation patterns can be used to dynamically adapt them at run-time. The software architectural design patterns consist of architectural structure patterns and architectural communication patterns. This paper also describes the concept of software adaptation patterns and how they can be used in software system adaptation .
OBJECT PARAMETER EXTRACTION FOR CONTROL IN VISION-BASED TABLETOP SYSTEMS

reacTIVision is an open source computer vision framework for recognition and tracking of fiducials. It finds its main application in development of table-based tangible user interfaces (TUI) and multi-touch interactive surfaces (tabletops). This Master Thesis aims to improve the current reacTIVision system. It reviews the state of the art of the algorithms that can be used for parameter extraction from generic objects, focusing in the algorithms that can be used for control and real-time interaction. Among all shape description techniques, three different and complementary techniques have been implemented: some simple global descriptors give us the position and orientation of the shape with a rough classification, the polygon simplification can be used for user feedback and polygon recognition, and finally a simplification of the Medial Axis Transform (skeleton) is better suited for deformable objects.
1 The relationship of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis with obesity, exercise and Mediterranean diet in Spanish schoolchildren 6-7 years old.

Background : Although there are several studies on the influence of diet on asthma in schoolchildren, none of them has evaluated how obesity can modify this influence. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the association of various foods and a Mediterranean diet with the prevalence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis adjusting for obesity and exercise. Methods : Cross-sectional study of 20,106 schoolchildren 6-7 years old from 8 Spanish cities. Using the ISAAC phase III questionnaire parents reported chest and nose symptoms, food intake, weight and height, and other factors, including exercise. A Mediterranean diet score was developed. A distinction was made between current occasional asthma (COA) and current severe asthma (CSA). Results : Independently of the amount of exercise, each Mediterranean score unit had a small but protective effect on CSA in girls (aOR 0.90; CI95% 0.82-0.98). Exercise was a protective factor for COA and rhinoconjunctivitis both for girls and for boys (the more exercise, the more protection). Obesity was a risk factor for CSA again for girls (aOR 2.35; CI95% 1.51-3.64). Individually, a more frequent intake (1-2 /week and 3+ /week vs. never/occasionally) of seafood (aORs 0.63 [CI95% 0.44-0.91]; 0.53 [CI95% 0.35-0.80]) and cereals (aORs 0.56 [CI95% 0.30-1.02]; 0.39 [CI95% 0.23-0.68]) were protective factors for CSA, while fast-food was a risk factor (aORs 1.64 [95%CI 1.28-2.10]; 2.26 [CI95% 1.09-4.68]). Seafood (aORs 0.74 [CI95% 0.60-0.92]; 0.67 [CI95% 0.53-0.85]) and fruit (aORs 0.76 [CI95% 0.60-0.97]; 0.71 [0.57-0.88]) were protective factors for rhinoconjunctivitis.
TEXTILE REINFORCED

This paper describes concepts used in the development of a technical information system (TIS) for supporting collaborative material research. The system has been set up to support the development of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) by applying the modern theoretical concepts of software and database engineering to integrate the available open source tools in an effective way. The system works as a database powered internet server with a transparent definition of the product and process model
Construction of a Reporter Vector for the Analysis of Biﬁdobacterium longum Promoters (cid:1)

In order to initiate studies on promoter activities in Biﬁdobacterium longum and to independently conﬁrm transcriptional data generated by microarray experiments, we have constructed a versatile reporter plasmid based on a B. longum cryptic plasmid and the Escherichia coli gusA gene. The resulting plasmid, pMDY23, has been tested using three B. longum promoters. Biﬁdobacteria are natural commensals of the gastrointestinal of Initially isolated the of breast-fed in 1899, biﬁdobacteria used as a marker to indicate the are included in a of commercial food products by health-related
A learning multiple-valued logic networkusing genetic algorithm

A BSTRACT . This paper describes a genetic algorithm based learning Multiple-Value Logic (MVL) network. The proposed learning network operates on a population of candidate window parameters to produce new window parameters with lower errors between the desired outputs and the actual outputs of the MVL network. Thus, the learning MVL network has a large number of search points, making it possible to obtain a global minimum. The learning capability of the proposed MVL network with genetic algorithm is confirmed by simulations on several typical MVL functions. The simulation results show that the genetic algorithm based learning MVL network efficiently finds the appropriate network, window parameters, and bias, so that the MVL functions, especially for those relatively small problems.
Terrain Adaptive Navigation for planetary rovers

This paper describes the design, implementation, and experimental results of a navigation system for planetary rovers called Terrain Adaptive Navigation (TANav). This system was designed to enable greater access to and more robust operations within terrains of widely varying slippage. The system achieves this goal by using onboard stereo cameras to remotely classify surrounding terrain, predict the slippage of that terrain, and use this information in the planning of a path to the goal. This navigation system consists of several integrated techniques: goodness map generation, terrain triage, terrain classification, remote slip prediction, path planning, High-Fidelity Traversability Analysis, and slip-compensated path following. Results from experiments with an end-to-end onboard implementation of the TANav system in a Mars analog environment are shown and compared to results from experiments with a more traditional navigation system that does not account for terrain properties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.