Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Muscodor albus strain GBA, an endophytic fungus of Ginkgo biloba from United States of America, produces volatile antimicrobials

Muscodor albus strain GBA is a newly isolated endophytic fungus from Ginko biloba (family Ginkoaceae) collected in Newport, RI, USA. The cultural characteristics (color, growth pattern) and mycelial/hyphal characteristics resemble many isolates of Muscodor albus. The ITS rDNA sequence of the strain has at least 98% similarity with other isolates of M. albus and M. crispans. This xylariaceaous species effectively inhibits and kills certain test microbes via a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that it produces. Some of the target test microbes were totally inhibited by M. albus strain GBA and not by other M. albus isolates, making this isolate unique in its biological activity. The VOCs of this fungus were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as esters, lipids, alcohols, acids and ketones, including proportionally large quantities of 1-butanol, 3-methyl-, acetate. A terpenoid, not observed in other strains of this fungus, vitrene was tentatively identified in the VOCs of this organism. This is the first record of M. albus in Ginko biloba and is the first report of any M. albus strain from the United States. The organism is normally found in tropical latitudes (16° north/ south) but the plant host M. albus strain GBA is located at 41° north latitude. Most importantly, however, the discovery of M. albus in the USA has enormous implications vis-a.vis governmental regulation of M. albus for use as a biological control agent in agriculture and industry, as this organism naturally occurs in the USA. A discussion on the relationship of this taxon with its host is also included.
Consequences of using a new ISRF model for modeling Galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission

Galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission is an important constituent among the total observed gamma-ray emission of our Galaxy. Here we present specific developments to accommodate a new Interstellar Radiation Field (ISRF) model for use in the PICARD code for modeling of Galactic cosmic ray propagation and respective gamma-ray emission. On the basis of the new ISRF we provide predictions on Galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission in the GeV to TeV energy regime, and compare to a commonly used different ISRF. Emphasis was laid on obtaining robust predictions for observable signatures in the very high energy gamma-ray regime with a special attention to the energy regime for HESS. One of the most noteworthy results from using the new ISRF indicate increased gamma-ray fluxes in the Galactic Center region between 10 GeV and 10 TeV.
1 Comparison of Nano-Mechanical Behavior between 2 Selective Laser Melted SKD 61 and H 13 Tool Steels 3

a Powder & Ceramic Division, Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), Changwon 51508, Korea 6 b Materials Processing Innovation Research Division, Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), Changwon 7 51508, Korea 8 * Corresponding author. jhyu01@kims.re. kr; Tel. : +82-55-280-3587, Fax: +82-55-280-3289 9 10 11 Abstract: Using nanoindentation under various strain rates, the mechanical properties of a 12 selective laser melted (SLM) SKD61 at the 800 mm/s scan speed was investigated and compared to 13 SLM H13. No obvious pile-up due to the ratio of the residual depth (hf) and the maximum depth 14 (hmax) being lower than 0.7 and no cracking were observed on any of the indenter surfaces. The 15 nanoindentation strain-rate sensitivity (m) of SLM SKD61 was found to be 0.034, with hardness 16 increasing from 8.65 GPa to 9.93 GPa as the strain rate increased between 0.002 s−1 and 0.1 s−1. At the 17 same scan speed, the m value of SLM H13 (m = 0.028) was lower than that of SLM SKD61, indicating 18 that the mechanical behavior of SLM SKD61 was more critically affected by the strain rate 19 compared to SLM H13. SLM processing for SKD61therefore shows higher potential for advanced 20 tool design than for H13. 21
Computer Aided Diagnostic System for Detection and Classification of a Brain Tumor through MRI Using Level Set Based Segmentation Technique and ANN Classifier

1 Abstract — Due to the acquisition of huge amounts of brain tumor magnetic resonance images (MRI) in clinics, it is very difficult for radiologists to manually interpret and segment these images within a reasonable span of time. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems can enhance the diagnostic capabilities of radiologists and reduce the time required for accurate diagnosis. An intelligent computer-aided technique for automatic detection of a brain tumor through MRI is presented in this paper. The technique uses the following computational methods; the Level Set for segmentation of a brain tumor from other brain parts, extraction of features from this segmented tumor portion using gray level co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), and the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to classify brain tumor images according to their respective types. The entire work is carried out on 50 images having five types of brain tumor. The overall classification accuracy using this method is found to be 98% which is significantly good.
Physical and sensory properties of bread enriched with phenolic aqueous extracts from vegetable wastes

The water of the breads was replaced with phenolic aqueous extracts from chicory, cabbage, celery, fennel, olive leaf, or grape marc wastes obtained through microwave-assisted extraction. The highest phenolic concentrations were found in the grape marc and in the bread enriched with it. The highest antioxidant activity values were measured in the crust of bread produced with the grape marc extract and in the crumb of bread with olive leaf extract. Generally, the replacement of water caused significant decreases of the specific volume, the shift of the crumb colour towards redder and yellower tones, and modification of gustatory and tactile attributes.
The Differences between Relative Price Variability and Relative Inflation Variability : Evidence from Three Countries

Optimal monetary policy requires an understanding of how inflationary shocks affect the variability of price levels across regions (relative price variability, or RPV). There is now a body of economic theory suggesting that the relationship between RPV and aggregate inflation could take several different forms, so policy needs to be informed by good econometric evidence. Policymakers might also be concerned about the variability of inflation rates across regions (relative inflation variability, or RIV), but some theory also suggests that the relationship between RIV and inflation could be quite different from the relationship between RPV and inflation. Most empirical studies are concerned with either RPV or (more frequently) RIV, so there is little evidence on the extent to which RIV-inflation patterns differ from RPV-inflation patterns within a particular economy. Using price level datasets from three different countries, we show that the patterns are typically very different, although there are some cross-country similarities in the form of these differences. The effect of inflation on social welfare – and the appropriate policy response – therefore depend on the relative importance of RPV and RIV in the social welfare function.
Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Digital Commons@Georgia Southern

—The automation of the picking process is a long-held dream in intra-logistics. while the expert judgment in recent years was, that there is no immediate applicability to be expected for applications in areas, where the variety of products is high. However, the recent advances in computer science, mechanical engineering and material handling systems design have moved the ﬁeld substantially forward. In this article we want to show, how the Amazon Robotic Challenge has driven this development process and how capable the technology is. The Amazon robotic Challenge (ARC) and its increasingly difﬁcult challenges are described ﬁrst. Then the applied technology in soft-and hardware and its performance increase are described. The performance of important participants in the past is estimated and ﬁnally the approach of the team IFLpiro is presented. Finally, the impact of the results on the future implementation of material handling systems is discussed.
1 Trading Interactions : Supplier Empathy , Consensus and Bias

Purpose The paper explores the nature of buyer‘s attitudes towards the partial consensus surrounding the benefits of buyer-supplier cooperation – the relational exchange perspective. The extent to which buyers display an awareness of, and willingness to respond positively to, supplier needs, wants and preferences – termed Supplier Empathy – and how this represents their attitude towards buyer-supplier cooperation and support of relational exchange is empirically assessed. In addition, factors that may influence levels of supplier empathy and the effect of supplier empathy on the incidence of supplier problems are examined. Finally, the extent to which social acceptability bias may mask attitudes in areas where consensus exists is considered. Design / Methodology / Approach An empirical study utilising survey data from members of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply in the UK was completed. A total, 421 useable responses were received and analysed to evaluate hypotheses. The design also included efforts to identify the presence and minimise the effects of social acceptability bias. Findings – The analysis indicates that the partial consensus surrounding the relational exchange approach is not shared by all practitioners. In addition, it was found that the level of supplier empathy exhibited by respondents is significantly influenced by supplier-dependence aversion, innovation focus, extent of codesign activity, existence of explicit partnership / cooperation objectives, and support for long-term trading relationships. The findings also indicate that buyers, regardless of business size, who display high levels of supplier empathy also report a reduced incidence of supplier problems. Finally, the presence of social acceptability bias was detected, thus suggesting that where present, respondents‘ negative attitudes towards the cooperative buyer-supplier relationships may actually have been under-reported. Research limitations / implications The study highlights the need for academics to be aware of the possible distorting effects of subject consensus, and research designs should seek to minimise the effects of social acceptability bias. The analysis also suggests that organisations wishing to embrace a cooperative trading culture may benefit from training to increase levels of supplier empathy. Originality / value The paper presents evidence that despite a significant but partial co-operation consensus in the academic literature, many large company practitioners appear unconvinced of the benefits of cooperation. Most analyses of buyer attitudes and behaviours are conducted by Marketing researchers seeking to assist organisations-as-suppliers. This research is intended to help companies improve their performance as buyers. The paper also includes a rare attempt to identify and deal with the effects of social acceptability bias in the Operations and Supply Management field.
Switchable loop‐loaded printed dipole antenna with a balun/feed structure

A switchable loop‐loaded printed dipole antenna is introduced for a frequency‐tuning operation. Two loop elements with extensions are placed asymmetrically at each side of a twisted dipole excited by a balun/feed vertically placed underneath the dipole. PIN diodes are used between each loop element and its extension to achieve switchable antenna operation for 3 and 5.5 GHz bands. Simulated and measurement results are presented to demonstrate the proposed tuning performance. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:76–79, 2012, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26453
A genetic probe for identification of the turbot aquareovirus in infected cell cultures

A nucleic acid hybridization assay has been developed that can detect small amounts of the turbot aquareovirus (TRV) in infected cells. Complementary DNAs were synthesized from the dsRNA genome segments of TRV and used to generate a large number of recombinant plasmids. Plasrnids corresponding to genomic segments 1 through 8 were identified by Northern blot analysis. A randomly selected clone, Clone 66, hybridizing to genome Segment 8, showed high specificity hybridizing only RNA from TRV, and not with the RNAs of 4 other aquareoviruses, or with RNA extracted from infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) or with uninfected cells. A 32~-labeled probe was able to detect as little as 50 ng of TRV purified virus dsRNA. Time course experiments indicated that TRV RNA can be detected in infected cells 96 h post-inoculation, a time when cytopathic effect is still not evident. These results indicate that the dot blot assay described here could be used as an effective diagnostic tool for the detection of TRV infections.
Web-service architecture for tools supporting lifelong e-learning platforms

Dimov, A. , & Stefanov, K. (2008). Web-service architecture for tools supporting life-long e-Learning platforms. In R. Koper, K. Stefanov & D. Dicheva (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th International TENCompetence Open Workshop "Stimulating Personal Development and Knowledge Sharing" (pp. 67-71). October, 30-31, 2008, Sofia, Bulgaria: TENCompetence Workshop. [For the whole proceedings please see also http://hdl.handle. net/1820/1961 ]
The Effect of Aerobic Exercise Duration on Affective Responses

A low physical fitness is associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality [1]. Approximately 25% of the American adult population is physically inactive [2]. In addition, approximately 45% of individuals who start an exercise program drop out before completing the first six months [3]. Several factors may explain these facts, such as a low motivational level, reduced self-efficacy, lack of motor ability to perform sport movements, low exercise tolerance and dissatisfaction [4]. Therefore, the development of training strategies that focus on the exercise adherence are important.
Optimization for non-periodic dynamic motions of legged systems

Autonomous legged robots will be required to handle a wide variety of tasks and environments. While a lot of research has focused on developing their abilities for periodic locomotion tasks, little effort has been invested in devising generalized strategies for dynamic, non-periodic movements. In this work we employ the use of optimization and learning to overcome the use of motion design approaches, frequently by teleoperation, in such scenarios. We employ a realistic simulation of the HyQ2Max quadrupedal system for investigations on two distinctive tasks: rearing and posture recovery. The results obtained show the potential of optimization and learning approaches for motion synthesis in the context of complex tasks.
D AMAGE ESTIMATION USING MULTI-OBJECTIVE GENETIC ALGORITHMS

It is common to estimate structural damage severity by updating a structural model against experimental responses at different damage states. When experimental results from the healthy and damaged states are available, the updated finite element models corresponding to the two states are compared. Updating of these two models occurs sequentially and independently. However, experimental errors, updating procedure errors, modelling errors and parametric errors may propagate and become aggregated in the damaged model in this approach. In this research, a multi-objective genetic algorithm has been proposed to update both the healthy and damaged models simultaneously in an effort to improve the performance of the damage estimation procedure. Numerical simulations of a simply supported beam damaged at multiple locations with noisy mode shapes were considered and improved model updating results were confirmed. It was found that the proposed method is more efficient in accurately estimating damage severity, less sensitive to discretization as well as experimental errors, and gives the analyst an increased confidence in the model updating and damage estimation results.
Screening for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaf curl virus (SPLCV) and its elimination using thermotherapy-meristem tip culture technique

Despite its high potential for food security, production of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is constrained by viruses which reduce yield by 90%. It is, therefore, essential to detect and eliminate these viruses in elite clones before dissemination to farmers. In this study, we used visual symptomatology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to detect Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) and eliminated the virus using thermotherapy-meristem tip culture. Visual symptomatology revealed virus associated symptoms, including vein clearing, interveinal chlorosis, chlorotic spots, upward leaf curling, leaf narrowing, purpling, blistering and leaf yellowing in all 22 accessions grown on the field. The disease incidence varied between accessions with US003 having the lowest (20%), while ten accessions had the highest (90%). The severely diseased accessions were tested for SPLCV using PCR technique. The technique detected the virus in 30 % of the accessions. Plants that tested positive to PCR assay were grown in the chamber at 35 °C for 4 weeks followed by meristem culture. The regenerants were indexed for SPLCV. Fifty-two percent (52.4%) of the regenerants were successfully cleaned of the virus. Virus indexing and elimination will enhance the dissemination of disease-free planting materials to farmers. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/jas.v10i1. 8034 The Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2015, vol.10, no1: p.1-9
ARTICLENO ARC 2014: A Multi-Dimensional FPGA-Based Parallel DBSCAN Architecture

Clustering large numbers of data points is a very computationally demanding task that often needs to be accelerated in order to be useful in practical applications. This work focuses on the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm, which is one of the state-of-the-art clustering algorithms, targeting its acceleration using an FPGA device. The paper presents an, optimised, scalable and parameterisable architecture that takes advantage of the internal memory structure of modern FPGAs in order to deliver a high performance clustering system. Post-synthesis simulation results show that the developed system can obtain mean speed-ups of 31x in real-world tests and 202x in synthetic tests when compared to state-of-the-art software counterparts running on a quad-core 3.4 GHz Intel i7-2600k. Additionally, this implementation is also capable of clustering data with any number of dimensions without impacting the performance.
Ecomorphology of plesiosaur flipper geometry

The Plesiosauria is an extinct group of marine reptiles once common in mesozoic seas. Previous work on plesiosaur hunting styles has suggested that short‐necked, large‐headed animals were pursuit predators, whereas long‐necked, small‐headed animals were ambush predators. This study presents new data on the aspect ratios (ARs) of plesiosaur flippers, and interprets these data via comparison with AR in birds, bats and aircraft. Performance trade‐offs implicit in AR variation are well‐understood in the context of aircraft design, and these trade‐offs have direct ecomorphological analogues in birds and bats. Knowledge of these trade‐offs allows interpretation of variation in plesiosaur AR. By analogy, short‐necked taxa were specialized for manoeuvrability and pursuit, whereas long‐necked taxa were generally specialized for efficiency and cruising. These interpretations agree with previous assessments of maximum swimming speed.
Energy Sources for Swine Diets

Energy fuels maintenance, growth, reproduction and lactation processes and physical activity. Total energy content of a feed ingredient (gross energy) is determined by its chemical composition and is the sum of the gross energies of carbohydrate, fat, and protein fractions. The proportion of gross energy utilized by the animal is dependent on energy digestibility and how the energy is utilized by the animal. Energy concentration represents the largest cost component of swine diets. Thus, information regarding energy values of feed ingredients and their contribution to the diet is of particular importance to reduce diet costs and maximize pig performance.
Prototype for Meta-Algorithmic, Content-Aware Image Analysis

Abstract : Report developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Visual Media Reasoning (VMR) program. In this effort, several techniques were evaluated, including image segmentation and classification, and feature (algorithm) ranking, within a Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) framework. The effort also examined CBIR performance in object recognition and classification. In this context, automated segmentation algorithms were developed, in particular of active contour-based segmentation techniques, and applied to the extraction of specific objects including weapons, humans, and planes. Self-nomination is the process by which an algorithm (feature-types), optimal for a given specific object type, is selected within a pool of available ones. The selection process is carried out by assigning higher weights based on the level of performance of each algorithm. In this effort, two approaches were proposed: the first was based on dictionary learning whereas the second used a multiple kernel learning technique. Both approaches were studied in detail and their results on a sample dataset are presented.
High Levels Production of Recombinant Human Activin A—Effect upon in Vivo Follicle Stimulation

Activin plays an important role in numerous physiological processes such as cell differentiation and remodeling, regeneration and repair of tissues from various organs, angiogenesis, morphogenesis of glandular organs, pluripotency and differentiation of stem cells, cell adhesion and apoptosis. It participates in reproductive processes like embryogenesis, in the expression of Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone and maturation of ovarian follicles and therefore has application in the area of reproduction of vertebrates. Given the economic importance of activin, we develop an efficient and economical method for the production of recombinant human activin A (rACT), using as expression system the yeast Pichia pastoris. rACT showed biological activity as it induced, on submicromolar dose, the increase of ovarian mass and the ovulation process in a mammal model.