Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RELIABILITY OF DETECTION OF CITRUS TRISTEZA VIRUS BY AN IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC LATERAL FLOW ASSAY IN COMPARISON WITH ELISA

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is one of the most dangerous pathogens for Citrus spp. Early diagnosis is essential for containment of the disease and many diagnostic techniques have been developed. But these need skilled personnel and laboratory equipment, and it takes some days for results to be obtained. We applied the easy-touse technology known as Lateral Flow (LF) to detect CTV in orchard trees within few minutes of samples being taken. We compared LF results from leaf and fruit samples with those obtained by using ELISA and found a good correlation between these two techniques.
Combustion Characteristics of Densified Cattle Manure Briquette in an Isothermal Condition

The densification process of cattle manure (CM) and its combustion characteristics in air were studied under isothermal conditions. To be better aligned with practical applications, cotton stalk (CS) and corn cob (CC) were chosen in this paper as the controls. The stability of densified biomass briquettes under compressive force of 20 kN, 30 kN, 40 kN, and 50 kN were studied. Factors affecting the densification of biomass, including moisture concentration, densification pressure, and briquette size were studied, in addition to combustion conditions including heating rate and O2 concentration. The moisture concentration contained in the densified biomass briquettes were set at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The results showed a good stability of briquettes of CM (CM-B) under various densification pressures. The effects of moisture concentration on the combustion characteristics were small for CM-B. The influence of the densification pressure and O2 concentration on the combustion characteristics was a monotonic change. In summary, considering the stability and economy, 30 kN and 30% O2 concentration were judged to be favorable. The combustion characteristics of the CM-B did not monotonically increase with the size. The study’s results showed that the CM-B could be used as a fuel under certain conditions.
In Silico Analysis of Amino acid Substitutions in DNA gyrase subunit A of Fluoroquinolone Resistant P. aeruginosa TOHO Strains, A Glance on Antibiotic Development

The broad consumption of antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones and the genetic adaption of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has led to develop of floroquinolone-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, the aim of the present study is to reveal the types of hot spot mutations occurring in selected DNA gyrase subunit A gene in fluoroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. For this purpose, 70 fluoroquinolone-resistant partial cds genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa TOHO strains (P12-P377) for DNA gyrase subunit A have been aligned with wild genes for DNA gyrase subunit A by BLAST program and multiple alignment, to detect probable gyrA mutations. Based on analyses hot spot mutations including Thr-83→Ile (92.44%), Ile-83→Thr (1.33%), Asn-87→Asp (0.44%) existing as single and Thr-83→Ile & Asn-87→Asp (5.78%) as double substitutions were detected. According to this survey, the point mutations in DNA gyrase subunit A gene need more consideration about fluroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. The strains with hot spot SNP mutations may rise a huge concern from epidemiologic aspect for antibiotic therapy treatment.
Identifying innovation strategies: insights from the Greek food manufacturing sector

This paper examines the concept of innovation that is widely recognised as very important for all companies across different business sectors. The paper initially provides a review of the innovation literature in terms of types, classifications and sources of innovation that have been proposed over time. Then, the paper examines innovation in the context of the food industry, and in particular, it attempts to identify innovation strategies followed by Greek food manufacturing companies based on a specific model. Evidence from the Greek food manufacturing sector indicates that companies tend to innovate along the dimension of offerings that is more related to the traditional view of innovation (product and process innovation).
The Integrative Complexity of Wildfire Management Scale: Are We There Yet?

Integrative complexity is a measure of how complexly people think about an issue. A newly developed integrative complexity scale was applied in a study of perceptions of wildfire management. We explored the relationship between value-laden basic beliefs and attitudes, and integrative complexity’s role as a moderator between them. The study data came from residents along the front range of Colorado, the Chicago metropolitan area, and Southern Illinois. While integrative complexity toward prescribed burning was not directly related to value-laden basic beliefs about prescribed burning, it was related to the direction and extremity with which people held attitudes toward prescribed burning. Also, the level of integrative complexity toward wildfire management moderated the relationship between value-laden basic beliefs and attitudes. Understanding the complexity with which people think about natural resource management issues such as prescribed burning can contribute to greater understanding of public perceptions regarding natural resource management strategies and policies. Additional information is also provided to guide further use and development of the instrument.
From Lagrangian Mechanics to Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics: A Variational Perspective

In this paper, we survey our recent results on the variational formulation of nonequilibrium thermodynamics for the finite-dimensional case of discrete systems, as well as for the infinite-dimensional case of continuum systems. Starting with the fundamental variational principle of classical mechanics, namely, Hamilton’s principle, we show, with the help of thermodynamic systems with gradually increasing complexity, how to systematically extend it to include irreversible processes. In the finite dimensional cases, we treat systems experiencing the irreversible processes of mechanical friction, heat, and mass transfer in both the adiabatically closed cases and open cases. On the continuum side, we illustrate our theory using the example of multicomponent Navier–Stokes–Fourier systems.
Principles-Based Versus Rules-Based Accounting Standards: The Influence of Standard Precision and Audit Committee Strength on Financial Reporting Decisions

ABSTRACT: Recent accounting scandals have resulted in regulatory initiatives designed to strengthen audit committee oversight of corporate financial reporting and have led to a concern that U.S. GAAP has become too rules-based. We examine issues related to these initiatives using two experiments. CFOs in our experiments exhibit more agreement and are less likely to report aggressively under a less precise (more principles-based) standard than under a more precise (more rules-based) standard. Our results also indicate that CFOs applying a more precise standard are less likely to report aggressively in the presence of a strong audit committee than a weak audit committee. We find no effect of audit committee strength when the standard is less precise. Finally, we find support for a three-path mediating model examining mechanisms driving the effect of standard precision on aggressive reporting decisions. These results should be of interest to U.S. policymakers as they continue to contemplate a shift to more p.
Rail-to-rail low-power high-slew-rate CMOS analogue buffer

A low-power rail-to-rail CMOS analogue buffer is presented. The circuit is based on an input stage made up of two complementary class AB differential pairs, while a simple additional circuit allows rail-to-rail operation at the output terminal. The proposed circuit combines low static power consumption and high drive capability, resulting in suitability for applications with large capacitive loads. Simulated results are provided.
Covariance Function Pre-Training with m-Kernels for Accelerated Bayesian Optimisation.

The paper presents a novel approach to direct covariance function learning for Bayesian optimisation, with particular emphasis on experimental design problems where an existing corpus of condensed knowledge is present. The method presented borrows techniques from reproducing kernel Banach space theory (specifically m-kernels) and leverages them to convert (or re-weight) existing covariance functions into new, problem-specific covariance functions. The key advantage of this approach is that rather than relying on the user to manually select (with some hyperparameter tuning and experimentation) an appropriate covariance function it constructs the covariance function to specifically match the problem at hand. The technique is demonstrated on two real-world problems - specifically alloy design and short-polymer fibre manufacturing - as well as a selected test function.
ALMA reveals optically thin, highly excited CO gas in the jet-driven winds of the galaxy IC 5063

Using CO (4-3) and (2-1) Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) data, we prove that the molecular gas in the jet-driven winds of the galaxy IC 5063 is more highly excited than the rest of the molecular gas in the disk of the same galaxy. On average, the CO(4 - 3) /CO(2 - 1) flux ratio is 1 for the disk and 5 for the jet accelerated or impacted gas. Spatially-resolved maps reveal that in regions associated with winds, the CO(4 - 3) /CO(2 - 1) flux ratio significantly exceeds the upper limit of 4 for optically thick gas. It frequently takes values between 5 and 11, and it occasionally further approaches the upper limit of 16 for optically thin gas. Excitation temperatures of 30-100 K are common for the molecules in these regions. If all of the outflowing molecular gas is optically thin, at 30-50 K, then its mass is 2 × 106 M⊙. This lower mass limit is an order of magnitude below the mass derived from the CO(2 - 1) flux in the case of optically thick gas. Molecular winds can thus be less massive, but more easily detectable at high z than they were previously thought to be.
Quantization of Wilson loops in Wess-Zumino-Witten models

We describe a non-perturbative quantization of classical Wilson loops in the WZW model. The quantized Wilson loop is an operator acting on the Hilbert space of closed strings and commuting either with the full Kac-Moody chiral algebra or with one of its subalgebras. We prove that under open/closed string duality, it is dual to a boundary perturbation of the open string theory. As an application, we show that such operators are useful tools for identifying fixed points of the boundary renormalization group flow.
Molecular gas in the Herschel-selected strongly lensed submillimeter galaxies at z~2-4 as probed by multi-J CO lines

(abridged) We present the IRAM-30m observations of multiple-J CO and CI line emission in a sample of redshift ~2-4 Herschel-ATLAS SMGs. A non-negligible effect of differential lensing is found for the CO emission lines, which could have caused significant underestimations of the linewidths, hence of the dynamical masses. The CO SLEDs are found to be similar to those of the local starburst-dominated ULIRGs and of the previously studied SMGs. After correcting for lensing amplification, we derived the global properties of the bulk of molecular gas in the SMGs using non-LTE radiative transfer modelling. The gas thermal pressure is found to be correlated with star formation efficiency. Further decomposing the CO SLEDs into two excitation components, we find a low-excitation component, which is less correlated with star formation, and a high-excitation one which is tightly related to the on-going star-forming activity. Additionally, tight linear correlations between the FIR and CO line luminosities have been confirmed for the $J \ge 5$ CO lines, implying that these CO lines are good tracers of star formation. The [CI](2-1) lines follow the tight linear correlation between the luminosities of the [CI](2-1) and the CO(1-0) line found in local starbursts, indicating that CI lines could serve as good total molecular gas mass tracers for high-redshift SMGs. The total mass of the molecular gas reservoir, $(1-30) \times 10^{10} M_\odot$, suggests a typical molecular gas depletion time ~20-100 Myr and a gas to dust mass ratio ${\delta}_{\rm GDR}$~30-100. The ratio between CO line luminosity and the dust mass appears to be slowly increasing with redshift for the SMGs, which need to be further confirmed. Finally, through comparing the linewidth of CO and H2O lines, we find that they agree well in almost all our SMGs, confirming that the emitting regions are co-spatially located.
Bacterial Activity in Heavy Metals Polluted Soils: Metal Efflux Systems in Native Rhizobial Strains

The negative effect of high levels of heavy metals on the activity of soil microorganisms is well-known. However, some microorganisms survive even in high levels of heavy metals, and the microbial activity can therefore, help to recover these polluted soils. Microbial metal uptake in contaminated soils has to be tightly regulated to avoid toxic effects for the cells. These mechanisms of metal resistance are frequently associated to transport-related membrane proteins that mediate bacterium's direct metabolic interactions with the complex soil and aquatic harsh environments. This study reports the identification of gene clusters in rhizobial strains that are regulated by heavy metals, particularly chromium. A DNA fragment was amplified from R. leguminosarum, and in silico analysis of the sequence obtained revealed a putative protein homologue to a cation/multidrug efflux pump component (GenBank DQ398937). Another amplified DNA fragment, with 960 bp, has strong homology with anion ABC transporters (GenBank ZP_002212691) and a peptide ABC transporter (GenBank NP_766950), was identified in Mesorhizobium loti (GenBank DQ398941) and Sinorhizobium meliloti. Using Chromosome Walking technique, a single product from Sinorhizobium meliloti was cloned and sequenced. This new fragment enlarged more 302 bp to the initial sequence corresponding to the ABC transporter, confirming homology with an ATPase from PP superfamily (GenBank ZP_00197146.1).
Utilization, effect, and benefit of the individualized Meeting Centers Support Program for people with dementia and caregivers

Purpose There are few interventions on an individual basis to support community-dwelling people with dementia to continue to fulfill their potential in society and to support their informal caregivers via e-Health. This study explored the effectiveness of the individualized Meeting Centers Support Program (iMCSP) consisting of DemenTalent (people with dementia work as volunteers in a society based on their talents), Dementelcoach (telephone coaching), and STAR e-Learning for caregivers, compared to regular MCSP and No day care support. Method An explorative randomized controlled trial with pre/post measurements (M0-M6) and two groups (iMCSP and regular MCSP). In addition, a comparison was made between iMCSP and a reference No day care control group. Standardized questionnaires were administered on self-esteem, neuropsychiatric symptoms, experienced autonomy and quality of life of the person with dementia, and on caregiver’s sense of competence, quality of life, and happiness. Results The iMCSP interventions resulted in a broader group of participants utilizing the Meeting Centers. Compared to regular MCSP, DemenTalent had a moderate positive effect on neuropsychiatric symptoms, which also proved less severe. Positive affect of participants improved within the DemenTalent and regular MCSP group after six months. Caregivers of DemenTalent participants experienced less emotional impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms. No differences were found in experienced burden, sense of competence, or quality of life in caregivers using iMCSP or regular MCSP. Compared to those receiving No day care support, caregivers of DemenTalent participants and caregivers using Dementelcoach or STAR e-Learning proved happier. Post-hoc analyses, accounting for potential between-group differences in outcome measures at baseline, generally showed results in the same direction. People with dementia and caregivers highly appreciated iMCSP and regular MCSP. Conclusion iMCSP can be effectively applied as alternative or additional support via regular Meeting Centers for people with dementia and caregivers who prefer individualized activities/support. DemenTalent decreased the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms of people with dementia and emotional burden of caregivers. All iMCSP interventions tended to result in caregivers being happier compared to those receiving no support. Larger-scale studies are needed to investigate the effect of iMCSP on other domains of quality of life of participants.
Integrative insect taxonomy based on morphology, mitochondrial DNA, and hyperspectral reflectance profiling

Author(s): Wang, Y; Nansen, C; Zhang, Y | Abstract: © 2016 The Linnean Society of London. Integrative taxonomy is considered a reliable taxonomic approach of closely related and cryptic species by integrating different sources of taxonomic data (genetic, ecological, and morphological characters). In order to infer the boundaries of seven species of the evacanthine leafhopper genus Bundera Distant, 1908 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), an integrated analysis based on morphology, mitochondrial DNA, and hyperspectral reflectance profiling (37 spectral bands from 411-870nm) was conducted. Despite their morphological similarities, the genetic distances of the cytochromec oxidase subunitI (COI) gene among the tested species are relatively large (5.8-17.3%). The species-specific divergence of five morphologically similar species (Bundera pellucida and Bunderaspp.1-4) was revealed in mitochondrial DNA data and reflectance profiling. A key to identifying males is provided, and their morphological characters are described. Average reflectance profiles from the dorsal side of specimens were classified based on linear discriminant analysis. Cross-validation of reflectance-based classification revealed that the seven species could be distinguished with 91.3% classification accuracy. This study verified the feasibility of using hyperspectral imaging data in insect classification, and our work provides a good example of using integrative taxonomy in studies of closely related and cryptic species.
Novel Heat-Stable Enterotoxin (STa) Immunogen Based on Cationic Nanoliposomes: Preparation, Characterization and Immunization

The novelties encountered in the field of formulation have provided promising solutions for the problematic vaccine development of hapten molecules. In the current study, the novel preparation of a cationic nanoliposomal immunogen of the heat stable enterotoxin (STa) was reported. STa was produced from clinically ETEC isolate of diarrheic neonatal calves and purified using RP-HPLC. STa was loaded into the cationic vesicles which were characterized for their particle size, surface charge, morphology, STa loading, and stability. The STa loaded cationic nanoliposome was used for mice immunization and the generation of STa antibody was monitored using ELISA. Results displayed the spherical nature of the STa loaded vesicles, their suitable size and homogeneity represented by a particle size of 228.1 nm and a PDI of 0.202. The surface charge of the STa nanoliposomes was +29.9, demonstrating sufficient stability during refrigeration storage. The STa loaded cationic nanoliposome was able to elicit specific STa antibody response, and to confer effective protection against STa challenge in mice. The STa antibody binding titer and neutralization capacity were 105 and 104 mouse units/ml serum, respectively. The developed system is a one-step procedure, which overcomes the disadvantage of the complexity of generation of the hapten-carrier conjugate. In conclusion, the developed STa-cationic nanoliposomal immunogen is feasible and has the potential to improve effectiveness against ETEC, suggesting its applicability in preventing the harmful effects of ETEC infection in neonatal calves.
High spring temperatures decrease peach fruit size

The growth and productivity of peach fruit can be limited by many factors, including weather. Previous research indicated that early-spring temperatures for 30 days after bloom have a strong effect on early peach fruit growth, and both the time and potential fruit size at harvest. We analyzed fruit-size trends of three major cultivars in the California fresh-market peach industry (Flavorcrest, Elegant Lady and O'Henry) over a 20-year period to determine if there is a clear relationship between early-spring temperatures and packed fruit sizes industrywide. This research confirmed two significant trends: the size of packed fruit has increased over the 20-year period between 1985 and 2004, and high early-spring temperatures tended to decrease the size of packed fruit at harvest for any given year.
Effect of Myricetin on the Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss-An Animal Model

Introduction: Exposure to hazardous noise induces one of the forms of acquired and preventable hearing loss that is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Considering oxidative stress as the main mechanism of NIHL, it is possible that myricetin can protect NIHL by its antioxidant effect. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the preventive effect of myricetin on NIHL. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely (1) noise exposure only as control group, (2) noise exposure with the vehicle of myricetin as solvent group, (3) noise exposure with myricetin 5 mg/kg as myricetin 5 mg group, (4) noise exposure with myricetin 10 mg/kg as myricetin 10 mg group, (5) and non-exposed as sham group. The hearing status of each animal was assessed by Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions. Results: The levels of response amplitude decreased after the exposure to noise in all groups and returned to a higher level after 14 days of noise abstinence at most frequencies; however, the difference was not significant in the myricetin-receiving or control groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that two doses of myricetin (5 and 10 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally could not significantly decrease transient or permanent threshold shifts in rats exposed to loud noise.
Hancock, Nicola J. and Shepstone, Lee and Rowe, Philip and Myint, Phyo K. and Pomeroy, Valerie M. (2016) Towards Upright Pedalling to drive recovery in people who cannot walk in the first weeks after stroke : movement patterns

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Self-efficacy as a determined factor for knowledge sharing awareness

This paper discusses the concept of self-efficacy as a factor that can moderates knowledge sharing among academics in public universities in Malaysia. The partial results of survey are presented from the actual study. This paper aims to determine the level of knowledge sharing awareness and to identify whether the approach is associated with demographic factors (designation, gender, working experience and academic field). Participant included 725 academics from 20 public universities. The level of awareness to share knowledge was at moderate level. The One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that there were significant differences on the knowledge sharing awareness across designation, working experience and academic field. Significance was not seen between knowledge sharing awareness on gender.