Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of flak flagellin from Salmonella Typhimurium in tobacco seeds

–In the epidemiology of Salmonella Typhimurium, recognized as major zoonotic pathogens of animals and humans, swine plays an reservoir role. Novel methods are requires to control salmonellosis in livestock, and vaccination represent an efficacious way to prevent the disease, reducing antibiotic treatments, as suggested by EC Regulation 1831/2003. In this contest plants have considerable potential and represent a promising alternative for biopharmaceutical protein (plant-vaccine). For these reasons the aim of this study was to engineer tobacco plants in order to induce the seed specific expression with correct folding of flgK protein from Salmonella typhimurium for the subsequent utilization as edible vaccine or as an advantageous system of production. flgK gene was isolated by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from a wild type Salmonella typhimurium strain, and transferred into a expression cassettes under control of seed-specific GLOB promoter in order to induce, after agroinfection, the expression of flgK in seeds. Transformed plants showed a correct transcription of flgK gene and the estimated amount of expressed flgk was about 0.6 mg per gram of seeds corresponding to 0.3% of the total soluble protein. In conclusion our data showed flgK flagellin could be expressed in tobacco seeds and stably incorporated into plant genoma. Keywords––Salmonella typhimurium, flagella, flgk, antigens, tobacco seeds, plant-vaccine
Entoloma species of the rhodopolioid clade (subgenus Entoloma; Tricholomatinae, Basidiomycota) in Norway

The rhodopolioid species of Entoloma (subgen. Entoloma) in Norway are presented. The rhodopolioid clade consists of tricholomatoid or collybioid, rarely omphalinoid, ectomycorrhizal species. Altogether 24 species of the rhodopolioid clade were recorded and verified by rDNA ITS sequence data, of which 10 are here reported as new to Norway, including three apparently undescribed species. Four different eco-geographical elements can be AGARICA vol. 38 21 Entoloma species of the rhodopolioid clade (subgenus Entoloma; Tricholomatinae, Basidiomycota) in Norway Tor Erik Brandrud, Egil Bendiksen, John Bjarne Jordal, Øyvind Weholt, Siw Elin Eidissen, Jostein Lorås, Bálint Dima, Machiel E. Noordeloos Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway Biolog J.B. Jordal, Auragata 3, NO-6600 Sunndalsøra, Norway Nord University, Nesna, NO-8700 Nesna, Norway Department of Plant Anatomy, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary Department of Biosciences, Plant Biology, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Naturalis Biodiversity Center, section Botany, P.O. Box 9517, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
An Exploration of Retrieval-Enhancing Methods for Integrated Search in a Digital Library

Integrated search is defined as searching across different document types and representations simultaneously, with the goal of presenting the user with a single ranked result list containing the optimal mix of document types. In this paper, we compare various approaches to integrating three different types of documents (bibliographic records for articles and books as well as full-text articles) using the iSearch collection: combining all document types in a single index, weighting the different document types using priors, and using collection fusion techniques to merge the retrieval results on three separate indexes corresponding to each of the document types. We find that a properly optimized retrieval model on a single combined index containing all documents without any special treatment performs no worse than our weighting and fusion methods, suggesting that more work is needed on alternative approaches to integrated search.
Identification of occupations in a South African rural less-resourced community

ABSTRACT South Africa has vast rural areas where the installation of water supply and electrification infrastructure has been expedited since the first democratic elections in 1994. Yet, significant challenges remain. This paper focuses on the impact of resource scarcity and the resultant occupations of water and fuelwood collection in a rural South African context. The study was conducted in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and investigated the Basic Activities of Daily Living (bADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADL) tasks typically performed in a rural community. A Rapid Rural Assessment methodology was employed. Data were collected using discussion groups and participatory mapping with community care workers. Quantitative analysis of data used directed content analysis utilising the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) and the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework III (OTPF III) as coding frameworks. Results showed that most of the bADL and iADL tasks identified in the rural context are reflected in the ICF and the OTPF III but collection of water and fuelwood are not. In addition, the forms of rural bADL and iADL tasks described in the ICF and the OTPF III differ significantly from those carried out in typical urban well-resourced contexts that have household amenities such as piped water and electricity. The daily collection of water and fuelwood limits the occupational choices of many rural women and results in occupational imbalance and occupational deprivation.
The effect of dietary garlic and rosemary on grower-finisher pig performance and sensory characteristics of pork

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of inclusion of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and garlic (Allium sativum) in pig diets on apparent nutrient digestibility, pig performance, carcass characteristics and on sensory characteristics of the pork. Seventy individually-fed grower-finisher pigs (42 kg live weight) were offered one of the following diets ad-libitum: (1) control diet (based on wheat, pollard and soyabean meal), (2) control diet supplemented with rosemary at 1 g/kg (low rosemary; LR), (3) control diet supplemented with rosemary at 10 g/kg (high rosemary; HR), (4) control diet supplemented with garlic at 1 g/kg (low garlic; LG) and (5) control diet supplemented with garlic at 10 g/kg (high garlic; HG). Pigs offered diets with garlic had a lower feed intake (P < 0.01) and lower digestible energy intake (P < 0.05) compared to the pigs offered the control or rosemary diets during the grower-finisher period. Pigs offered the LG and HG diets had a better (P < 0.05) food conversion ratio (FCR) than the pigs offered the control or rosemary diets. Digestibility of dry matter and organic matter were lower (P < 0.05) for the HG diet than the LG diet. Gross energy digestibility and digestible energy concentration were lower for the HR than the LR diet. Sensory panellists found a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the sensory properties of cooked muscle from the control and HG treatments. In conclusion, the addition of garlic to the diets of grower-finisher pigs reduced feed intake and improved FCR while the addition of rosemary had no beneficial effects on growth performance or carcass characteristics.
Species and generic delimitation in Bikinia and Tetraberlinia

We have assessed the monophyly and internal topology of Bikinia and Tetraberlinia along with some other systematic and methodological questions using AFLP analyses. In addition to AFLP analyses we tried to determine the sister group of these two genera by adding additional sequences to an existing ITS data set. Our analyses suggest Julbernardia is the closest related genus, but also Icuria is a candidate since the position of this genus remains unclear. Although ITS provides us with some good resolution at the generic level, we have to conclude ITS is not a good marker in this group due to the presence of several non-homologous copies. Evidence for a monophyletic Bikinia is quite strong. However, more evidence is needed to test the monophyly of Tetraberlinia. Within Bikinia, only a clade consisting of B. aciculifera and B. durandii was supported by a jackknife analysis. We show that B. le-testui and B. pellegrinii are separate species. Aberrant Bikinia material from the Crystal Mountains in Gabon proved to be a new species. A sapling collected under a tree of B. le-testui could be identified as a hybrid between this species and B. media. Another new species, T. apiphila, is clearly related to Tetraberlinia, although it also shares some morphological characters with Bikinia. We demonstrated that AFLP results can be reproduced and that the errors of such replications fall within the variation present at the population level. AFLP can discriminate between different populations of a single species, even with high jackknife support. In the sample of genera studied here the AFLP technique provides high resolution at generic level and we even expect it to work between several closely related genera. Finally, we describe how the AFLP technique can be used to identify hybrids.
Riparian zone hydrology and soil water total organic carbon (TOC)

Groundwater flowing from hillslopes through riparian (near-stream) soils often undergoes chemical transformations that can substantially influence stream water chemistry. We used landscape analysis to predict total organic carbon (TOC) concentration profiles and groundwater levels measured in the riparian zone (RZ) of a 67 km2 catchment in Sweden. TOC exported laterally from 13 riparian soil profiles was then estimated based on the riparian flow–concentration integration model (RIM). Much of the observed spatial variability of riparian TOC concentrations in this system could be predicted from groundwater levels and the topographic wetness index (TWI). Organic riparian peat soils in forested areas emerged as hotspots exporting large amounts of TOC. These TOC fluxes were subject to considerable temporal variations caused by a combination of variable flow conditions and changing soil water TOC concentrations. Mineral riparian gley soils, on the other hand, were related to rather small TOC export rates and were characterized by relatively time-invariant TOC concentration profiles. Organic and mineral soils in RZs constitute a heterogeneous landscape mosaic that potentially controls much of the spatial variability of stream water TOC. We developed an empirical regression model based on the TWI to move beyond the plot scale and to predict spatially variable riparian TOC concentration profiles for RZs underlain by glacial till.
Asymptotics for M-estimators in Time Series

It has been a half of a century since Hodges and Lehmann (1963) proposed a Lemma on the asymptotic normality for the estimation of location before Huber, who changed the idea into the concept of M-estimation. In this talk, we give conditions which guarantee the asymptotic normality of M-estimator based on the observations from time series models by minimizing some convex objective functions. We do not assume the differentiability around the true parameter of the objective functions. The results are extended to Mm estimates. Examples of the results are also provided.
GC-MS ANALYSIS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AERIAL PARTS OF ALBIZIA PROCERA (ROXB.) BENTH

Objective: The investigation was carried out to determine the chemical constituents present in ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Albizia Procera(Roxb.)Benth.using GC-MS. Methods: The chemical compositions of ethanolic extract of aerial parts ofAlbizia Procera(Roxb.)Benth.were investigated using Perkin-Elmer Gas Chromatography- Mass Specroscopy. Results: The GC-MS analysis provided different peaks determining the presence twelve different compounds namely 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose [55.38 %] , 1,10-Decanediol [2.31%], 3-Pentanol, 2,3-dimethyl- [0.26%], Decanoic acid, ethyl ester [1.54%], Phytol [3.33%], 1-Undecyne [0.77%], Didodecyl phthalate [2.56%], Squalene [6.15%], 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-,phenylmethyl ester [3.85%], 6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic acid, phenylmethyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)-[4.87%],Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide,3-chloro-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-[8.97%], 13-Tetradece-11-yn-1-ol [10.00 %]. Conclusions: The presence of various chemical compounds confirms the application of Albizia Procera(Roxb.)Benth. for various ailments by traditional practitioners.
MICROWAVE SCREEN WITH MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED ATTENUATION

The efiect of magnetic bias on dielectric spectra of composite sheets fllled with Fe or Co-based microwires is studied experimentally and via simulation. The permittivity is measured using a free-space technique within the frequency band from 6 to 12GHz. The bias is applied either parallel or perpendicular to the microwave electric fleld; the bias strength varies from 0 to 2.5kOe. The composites with Fe-based wires reveal a single region of bias dependent permittivity under bias about 800{1000Oe. The composites with Co- based wires reveal two such regions: the high-fleld region is close to that of composites with Fe wires, and the low-fleld region corresponds to the coercive fleld of Co wires (2{3Oe). The high-fleld efiect is related to the dependence of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) parameters on bias; the low-fleld efiect is related to the rearrangement of the domain structure of Co-based wires. The interference of magnetoimpedance and dipole resonance is analyzed, revealing the efiects ofi wire length, diameter, parameters of magnetic resonance and composite structure. The results are considered in view of application to the problem of controlled microwave attenuation. Simulation shows that the narrower is the FMR spectrum and the higher is the admissible loss of a sheet in a transparent state, the wider is the dynamic range of attenuation control. The attenuation range of a lattice of continuous wires is smaller than that of a screen with identical wire sections, where the magnetoimpedance efiect is amplifled resonantly. At 15GHz frequency the strength of the bias switching opaque sheet with Fe-based wires to the transparent state is about 2000Oe. For 3dB admissible loss, the range of attenuation control about 10dB is feasible in a composite with aligned wire sections. If the aligned sections are distributed regularly, the loss in a transparent state is about 1dB lower.
Influence of Information Technology on Collection of Street Parking Fees in Eldoret Town, Kenya

The technological innovation has been an important matter in tax and revenue collection. Eldoret town has witnessed under collection of fees from street parking for a long time. This study sought to establish the influence of information technology on collection of street parking fees in Eldoret town. It was guided by decentralization theory. The study adopted Ex post facto research design, and data was collected through structured questionnaires. The study targeted a population of 948 consisting of 75 parking attendants, 52 management team and 821 motorists. A sample of 109 was drawn from the target population using simple and stratified random sampling. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean, standard deviation and correlation analysis were statistical methods used for analyzing data. The study found out that the use of electronic channel speeds up collection of street parking fees which in turn eases revenue collection. Despite the aforementioned benefits, electronic facilities are rarely used in remitting the street parking fees. The study recommends that the parking attendants need to ensure that they are available to collect parking fees and vehicle owners ensure that they pay parking fees as required. The number of staff deployed for collection of street parking fees needs to be sufficient as well as the time allocated in collecting the fees. There is need to embrace the use of electronic facilities in remitting the street parking fees. Also, it would be important to train the parking attendants on the use of the technology so that they can have the knowledge and skills to use it. It is important to make the payment process simplified and less burdensome to the motorists. Key terms : Information technology, street parking fees, revenue collection
Compression of Multicarrier Phase-Coded Radar Signals Based on Discrete Fourier Transform (Dft)

Abstract—Multicarrier Phase-Coded signals have been recently introduced to achieve high range resolution in radar systems. As in single carrier phase coded radars, the conventional method for compression of these signals is based on using matched filter or direct computation of autocorrelation function. In this paper we propose a new method based on Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) that has lower computational complexity compared to the conventional approach. It has been proved that the proposed method is mathematically equivalent to matched filtering, so there is no processing loss. Also the effect of sampling frequency on compression loss has been investigated and for the oversampled matched filter of MCPC signals, a computational efficient algorithm based on polyphase implementation has been proposed.
Classifying Information Systems Context Variables through a Review of Recent IS Research on how Context Affects Performance

The context within which an information system is developed, implemented, operated and managed has been a key focus in many IS performance studies. Thirty such studies are reviewed in this paper and a typology of IS context variables is proposed. Context variables are classified by (a) what IS organizational processes are the variables hypothesized to affect; (b) whether the variables are considered controllable, partially controllable, or uncontrollable; (c) whether the unit of analysis is at the individual, organizational, or market levels. It is shown that most of the context variables studied centred around the IS management process and were mostly uncontrollable. Few variables focussed on the individuals in the organization, and none on the industry/market level.
Estimation of income elasticities and their use in a CGE model in Palestine

A popular functional form for modeling the consumption block of a computable general equilibrium model (CGE) is the Linear Expenditure System (LES) for which the Engel curves are straight lines. The LES does not allow for the existence of inferior commodities, elastic demand and for gross substitution. To calibrate the parameters outside information on income elasticities and on the expenditure elasticity of the marginal utility of expenditure (Frisch parameter) is needed. In this paper we propose to use the Indirect Addilog System (IAS) that allows for non-straight Engel curves, inferior commodities, elastic demand and gross substitution, and for which the outside data requirement is the same as for LES. In the empirical part we estimate the income elasticities of the IAS from the 1998 Palestinian Expenditure and Consumption Survey (PECS). We replace the LES consumption block with a priori fixed income elasticities of the CGE model, that we previously constructed for Palestine based on the 1998 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), by the IAS with estimated income elasticities and perform a sensitivity analysis for the choice of the Frisch parameter. A comparison with the results obtained by the LES-model with the same income elasticities makes it possible to further clarify the importance of using a IAS to represent consumption behaviors.
The Development and Measurement of Identity across the Physical Sciences

Drawing from earlier work of Gee, Carlone, Johnson, and Shanahan, we developed a framework for “good physics student role identity” or, more simply, “physics identity” which is a reliable proxy for students’ affinity towards physics and is predictive of students’ physics-related career choices. This framework was postulated to be comprised of performance beliefs, competence beliefs, recognition beliefs, and interest. Subsequent investigations showed that performance and competence beliefs are not distinct and the combined performance/competence construct is somewhat akin to Bandura’s self-efficacy. Recent work has extended this framework to mathematics and engineering. We conclude with a brief discussion of the future of the framework for understanding “best practices” in STEM classrooms.
Updates to the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System v6.1 and implications for ration formulation

The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) has been in development for nearly 30 years, and various versions of the CNCPS or implementations of the program (CPM Dairy, AMTS.Cattle, NDS, DinaMilk) have been used in the dairy industry to evaluate and formulate rations for more than 10 years. The long-term objective of the CNCPS modeling effort has been to provide a field usable model that accounts for a large proportion of the variation in ration formulation and animal performance and is based on a functional mathematical description of the biology of both growing and lactating cattle and their diet and management. Models such as the CNCPS are evolutionary in that as research progresses, model improvements and enhancements occur, provided adequate resources are available for programming and evaluation. This process is similar to the process that occurs when a new Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle publication is produced. Unlike the NRC publications, historically published every 10 years, the CNCPS has been updated on a somewhat continuous basis. Each update has allowed us to predict performance with increased accuracy. However, these updates have at times, caused confusion in the field. This confusion is a combination of changing guidelines and a lack of awareness as to what the changes were and why/how they impact predictions. The objective of this paper is to describe recent updates and explain what impact they have on predictions.
Zooplankton Community Metrics as Indicators of Eutrophication in Urban Lakes

Although the direct effects of eutrophication are well known, its indirect effects are poorly understood and the interaction with non-nutrient factors may alter some expected relationships. We analyzed the reliability of community-level metrics derived from three zooplankton groups as predictors of eutrophication in urban man-made lakes. Univariate and multivariate correlation analyses were used to test for relationships between environmental variables and community metrics derived from zooplankton data. Our results indicated that rotifer community metrics were the best eutrophication indicators. The main implication of our results is that arguments against the use of simple community-level metrics as indicators of eutrophication cannot be generalized. Our findings also suggest the need of complete sample analyses (i.e., identification and counting) to estimate reliable ecological indicators of eutrophication.