Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL ACTIVITY OF CASSAVA PLANTS

Abstract: To isolate and quantify the protein and reducing sugar content of the cassava roots together with the antioxidant potential assays, which also included the inhibitory values on free radicals. The cassava roots were pulverized and extracted with both aqueous and organic extraction phases. The total protein content and reducing sugars and the flavonoid contents were estimated as per the protocol for all the four extract fractions. In addition, the free radical scavenging activity and SOD assay was done on all the four extracts. The total polyphenol content and the antioxidant potential assay was also estimated and to correlate the positive relation between the polyphenol content and the antioxidant power. The aqueous extract showed more content of reducing sugars and total protein content and flavonoids. The free radical scavenging activity was also more for the aqueous extract. In contrary the SOD activity was more towards the hexane fraction than the other three extraction phases. There is also positive correlation observed between the polyphenol content and the antioxidant power of the extracts. The cassava, a staple food though lacks the vitamin C content and is responsible for malnutrition among the consumers, it still has a good load of antioxidants which can make the plant a natural protective towards stress related diseases. Key words: Cassava, DPPH, SOD, Antioxidant potential activity.
Efficient Mechanisms for Access to Storage with Imperfect Competition in Gas Markets

Scarce storage capacity and distortions in access to gas storage are considered causes of market foreclosure in liberalized gas markets. We consider rules currently adopted in Europe for storage rationing and propose efficient rationing mechanism based on the value of storage, when other flexibility inputs are available. Firstly we analyse productive efficiency issues neglecting vertical restraints and strategic behaviour in the final market. Then we assume imperfect compettion in the downstream market for gas supplies, given the avaialbility of storage capacity upstream. We consider effciency issues in a two stage model comparing regulated storage tariffs – coupled with a centralizedrationing mechanism – with storage auctions. Finally we consider as an optimal mechanism the allocation of storage arising from welfare maximization by a social planner. We find that it is usually optimal to maximize the amount of storage capacity allocated to new entrants in the gas markets. Storage auctions deviates from the optimal mechanism, but still improve efficiency, with respect to current mechanisms, to the extent that they allocate storage according to its value. Furthermore storage allocation appear to be an extremeley powerful mechanism to improve competition and efficiency in gas markets.
Audit Firm Reputation and Audit Quality

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between audit firm reputation and audit quality using a sample of listed companies trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Ordinary Least Square Model estimation technique was used to analyze the relationship between the audit firm reputation and audit quality. Our findings showed that there is a positive significant relationship between audit firm reputation and audit quality. The control variables examined alongside audit firm reputation revealed that aside audit committee size; all other variables so examined have a positive relationship with audit quality. We therefore recommend that companies should employ the services of audit firms with proven track record of audit quality and reputation.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCEPTICISM TOWARDS ADVERTISING AND THE FIVE-FACTOR PERSONALITY TRAITS

Individuals are increasingly becoming more aware and approaching the advertising claims presented to them with scepticism; for this reason, the concept of scepticism towards advertising is important. Individuals who approach advertising with scepticism sometimes do not believe in the claims put forward in the advertisements and sometimes do not trust the justifications related to the products or brands presented to them. The scepticism felt towards advertisements has been observed to decrease the effect of the persuasive powers of the advertisements on the individuals. The personality traits, demographic characteristics, age, education, etc. of individuals have been observed to produce different sceptical attitudes. In view of this, it is the aim of this study to identify the relationship between personality traits within the scope of the five-factor personality theory and the scepticism of consumers towards advertisements. The study has been applied to 132 people who have been selected through convenience sampling. In order to identify the personality traits related to the levels of sceptic approaches towards advertisements, correlation analysis has been used and in order to identify personality traits that have an effect on the levels of sceptic approaches towards advertisements, multiple regression analysis has been used. The results of the study have shown that the dimensions of Sense of Responsibility (Standard Beta=-0,20 p=0,02<0,05), Extroversion (Standard Beta=0,17p=0,04<0,05) and Openness to Experience (Standard Beta=0,18p=0,04<0,05) have a significant impact on the level of scepticism in consumers’ approach towards advertisements.
Quantification of viable spray-dried potential probiotic lactobacilli using real-time PCR

The basic requirement for probiotic bacteria to be able to perform expected positive effects is to be alive. Therefore, appropriate quantification methods are crucial. Bacterial quantification based on nucleic acid detection is increasingly used. Spray-drying (SD) is one of the possibilities to improve the survival of probiotic bacteria against negative environmental effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival of spray-dried Lactobacillus plantarum 564 and Lactobacillus paracasei Z-8, and to investigate the impact on some probiotic properties caused by SD of both tested strains. Besides the plate count technique, the aim was to examine the possibility of using propidium monoazide (PMA) in combination with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for determining spray-dried tested strains. The number of intact cells, Lb. plantarum 564 and Lb. paracasei Z-8, was determined by real-time PCR with PMA, and it was similar to the number of investigated strains obtained by the plate count method. Spray-dried Lb. plantarum 564 and Lb. paracasei Z-8 demonstrated very good probiotic ability. It may be concluded that the PMA real-time PCR determination of the viability of probiotic bacteria could complement the plate count method and SD may be a cost-effective way to produce large quantities of some probiotic cultures. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 046010]
Ciliated Sensory Neuron Defects in Caenorhabditis elegans

Presented here is research investigating genes that are involved in the development and maintenance of ciliated nerve endings in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans utilizes a subset of neurons, referred to as ciliated sensory neurons, to sense certain changes in its environment. There are two amphid sensilla (sense organs) that mediate exposure of these ciliated endings to the animal’s external environment. Those ciliated endings that penetrate the cuticle are responsible for a myriad of behaviors that range from chemotaxis to osmotic avoidance, but in general function for the reception of environmental cues and stimuli. The intraflagellar transport (IFT) process facilitates the morphogenesis of these ciliated endings, and animals lacking intact ciliated endings may not be able to detect nourishment, hazardous environments, or other worms for mating. Mutant strains used in this study were generated by EMS mutagenesis of wild-type N2 animals and a subsequent screen of those worms displaying significant cilia dysfunction as evidenced by their dye-filling defective (Dyf) phenotype. Cilia-mediated uptake of lipophilic DiI into six pairs of amphid sensory neurons and two pairs of phasmid sensory neurons is expected in wild-type (N2) animals, but in Dyf animals, this dye-filling is disrupted, either through morphological defects, or deleterious mutations in the IFT process. To investigate the morphogenesis of cilia in C. elegans, we analyzed two specific mutant strains, WX737 dyf-3(og022)IV and PK841 dyf-15(pk841)V, that are defective in the uptake of fluorescent dye DiI and abnormal in sensory cilium structure. Through a variety of genetic mapping techniques, we were able to successfully map experimental gene dyf-15(pk841) to an interval of 2.84cM on chromosome V, and identify og022 as an allele of the gene dyf-3. It has been previously shown that dyf-3 expression is detected in 26 chemosensory neurons, including six IL2 neurons, eight pairs of amphid neurons (ASE, ADF, ASG, ASH, ASI, ASJ, ASK and ADL) and two pairs of phasmid neurons (PHA and PHB). Analysis of cilium malformation and the presence of a recognition sequence for the DAF-19 transcription factor suggest that dyf-3 is involved in the intraflagellar transport system complex B.
Study of birds of Yashwant lake with respect to densities, species richness andShannon Wiener indices and its correlation with lake dynamics.

Toranmal Plateau is a quantum part of Satpura Mountains forming the cultural transition with its trijunctional location between Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat States of India. Densities, species richness and Shannan Wiener indices of resident, resident migratory and migratory species of birds were studied over a two years period at higher altitude Yashwant Lake at Toranmal plateau. Maximum bird species were found to utilize the water body in the winter, while minimum in monsoon. Though the water body is utilized by the resident birds throughout the year the bird populations were maximum during winter due to the presence of migratory birds. The overall low densities and species richness of birds at Yashwant Lake may be due to its location at higher altitude.
The Effects of the Psychological Contract Among Professional Employees Working in Non-Professional Organizations

Few researchers have sought to examine the consequences of psychological contract breach in the particular case of professional employees working for nonprofessional organizations. To increase our understanding, the purpose of this article was to test an original research model encompassing psychological contract breach, psychological contract violation, perceived organizational support, organizational and professional commitment, and intention to leave the organization. A study was conducted among a sample of 329 professional employees working in nonprofessional organizations. As predicted, this research shows a positive relationship between psychological contract breach and psychological contract violation, a negative relationship between breach and organizational commitment, and a negative relationship between organizational commitment and the intention to leave the organization. However, contrary to expectations, the results indicated that perceived organizational support has no moderating effect on the relationship between breach and violation. This finding does not confirm previous findings from the study by Suazo and Stone-Romero (2011). This unexpected result led to testing a different combination between perceived organizational support and PC-breach and PC-violation, which is documented in the literature on nonprofessional employees. Thus, in accordance with previous results by Suazo (2009), the data from our research indicate that the relationship between PC breach and perceived organizational support is mediated by PC violation. This alternative research model suggests testing a long mediation process by which the breach influences the intention to leave the organization via the violation, the perceived organizational support, and professional and organizational commitment. This long mediation process has been confirmed by our data. Finally, the results of this research suggest that when working in a non-professional context, professional employees tend to react to breaches of the psychological contract in a similar way to non-professional employees.
Efficiency analysis of the Portuguese beam trawl fleet that targets the common prawn Palaemon serratus (Pennant)

This paper focuses on the beam trawl fleet that operates in the centre-north of Portugal, and aims to estimate the technical efficiency of this in 2004 and to assess the technical efficiency change, the technical change of production technology and total factor productivity change for the period ranging from 1995 to 2004. The efficiency of the beam trawl fleet in 2004 was estimated, with parametric methods. To obtain the frontier form of production possibilities, we used the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) Technique. The evolution of efficiency was based in non-parametric methods namely the Malmquist Index, which is based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques. The results indicated that the technical efficiency of the Portuguese beam trawl fleet was relatively low. It was observed that the output depends positively and significantly of the engine power and the number of days at sea. The results showed a slightly decrease in the total factors productivity. This is a symptom of some inefficiency of the artisanal fishing sector, which has a greater role in social terms than in the economic ones. Technical efficiency grew slightly between 1995 and 2004, whereas technological change decreased, indicating that the beam trawl fleet had technological losses during the studied period. The conjugated effect of these two measures lead to a small decrease of the total factors productivity.
Antimicrobial Efficiency in the Fermented Slurry of Unpolished Rice

현미는 도정한 백미보다 이로운 영양분을 더 많이 함유하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 현미를 이용하여 만든 현미 발효 슬러리의 이화학적 특성과 항균활성에 대해 시험하였으며, 현미발효슬러리의 항균활성은 paper disc-agar diffusion 방법을 이용하여 6가지 병원성 균주(Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica)와 2가지 발효균주(Gluconacetobacter intermedius and Lodderomyces elongisporus)에 대해 항균성을 조사하였다. 특히, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica 그리고 Lodderomyces elongisporus에 대해서는 시판 항생제인 카베니실린과 테트라사이클린보다 더 높은 항균활성을 보였다. 항산화활성은 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) 라디칼 소거능을 이용하여 측정하였을 때, 대표되는 항산화제인 아스코르빅 산과 비슷한 활성을 나타내었다. 현미발효슬러리의 발효중에 나타나는 균주를 동정하기 위해 TSB 고체배지와 YPD 고체배지에 현미발효슬러리를 도포하였을 때, 분리된 콜로니를 16S rDNA sequence 분석을 통하여, 네가지 균주를 분리하였으며, phylogenic tree 분석법을 이용하여 조사하였을 때, 각각 G. intermedius, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum 그리고 Acetobacter peroxydans와 유사하였다. 【Unpolished rice (UR) is considered to be a healthy alternative to white rice when coping with chronic diseases. In the present study, the fermented slurry of unpolished rice (FSUR) was evaluated with respect to its antimicrobial activities and biochemical characteristics, including the quantities of sugar, total soluble sugar, organic acids, free amino acids, pH, and physiological activity. The antimicrobial efficiency of FSUR was assessed using the paper disc-agar diffusion method. FSUR exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against six pathogenic bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and Yersinia enterocolitica) and two fermentation strains (Gluconacetobacter intermedius and Lodderomyces elongisporus). The antimicrobial activity of FSUR was higher than the commercial antibiotics, carbenicillin ( $50{\mu}g/ml$ ) and tetracycline ( $50{\mu}g/ml$ ) against S. aureus, E. coli, L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa, S. typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica, and L. elongisporus. Also FSUR had a high antioxidant activity. The microorganisms were isolated from FSUR using tryptic soy broth and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar media. The isolated microorganisms were characterized using physiological and biochemical analyses as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenic analysis. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolated microorganisms had a high similarity to G. intermedius, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Acetobacter peroxydans. 】
Intraspecific variation of gene structure in the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 of Pyropia yezoensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

Copyright © 2018 The Korean Society of Phycology 49 http://e-algae.org pISSN: 1226-2617 eISSN: 2093-0860 Intraspecific variation of gene structure in the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 of Pyropia yezoensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) Il Ki Hwang, Seung-Oh Kim, Mi Sook Hwang, Eun-Jeong Park, Dong-Soo Ha and Sang-Rae Lee* Aquatic Plant Variety Center, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Mokpo 58746, Korea Seaweed Research Center, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Mokpo 58746, Korea Marine Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
Local stresses induced by nanoscale As-Sb clusters in GaAs matrix

Microstructure of GaAs films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy at low temperature and delta doped with Sb was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The material contained 0.5 at. % excess of arsenic that precipitated during post growth anneals. The Sb δ doping was found to strongly affect the microstructure of precipitates (clusters) and their ripening rate upon annealing. Segregation of Sb impurity in the clusters was revealed. In contrast to the well known pure As clusters, the As–Sb clusters induced strong local deformations in the surrounding GaAs matrix. Until a threshold diameter of 7–8 nm the clusters and surrounding matrix were coherently strained. Larger clusters were associated with dislocation loops of interstitial type. The cluster-loop orientation relationships were determined. Relaxation of local strains by formation of the dislocation loops was studied both experimentally and theoretically.
Finite strain discrete dislocation plasticity

A framework for carrying out 0nite deformation discrete dislocation plasticity calculations is presented. The discrete dislocations are presumed to be adequately represented by the singular linear elastic 0elds so that the large deformations near dislocation cores are not modeled. The 0nite deformation e3ects accounted for are: (i) 0nite lattice rotations and (ii) shape changes due to slip. As a consequence of the nonlinearity, an iterative procedure is needed to solve boundary value problems. Elastic anisotropy together with lattice curvature is shown to lead to a polarization stress term in the rate boundary value problem. The general three-dimensional framework is specialized to plane strain. The plane strain specialization is implemented in a conventional 0nite element code and two numerical examples are given: plane strain tension of a single crystal strip and combined bending and tension of that strip. The capabilities and limitations of a conventional 0nite element framework for this class of problems are illustrated and discussed.
Performance of Holstein calves fed milk-replacer and starter mixture supplemented with probiotic feed additive.

The aim of a study was to determine the efficacy of the microbial feed additive containing spores of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (BioPlus 2B®) on performance and health status of rearing calves. Sixty four female Holstein calves, aged on average 16.7±4.5 days, were randomly assigned into two groups of 32 animals: control (C) and BioPlus 2B® (BP). Milk replacer (MR) and starter mixture (SM) fed to BP group contained 1.32 × 109 (±3.2%) and 1.13 × 109 (±11.5%) spores of Bacilli strains, respectively. Each calf was fed with 2.25 l of MR two times a day for eight weeks, up to the age of approximately 10 weeks. Starter diet (SD) offered to calves consisted of SM and whole maize grain, which were mixed in ratio 50:50 (wt/wt). Intake of MR was equal in both groups, but SD intake was higher in the whole experiment in the BP group (1075 vs 951 g/d; P<0.01). The BP calves grew faster than C ones in the whole trial (P=0.05), but especially in weeks 3-4 (P<0.05). At the end of the trial the BP calves were about 2.9 kg heavier than the C ones (P<0.001). Feed efficiency, calculated as consumption of ME (MJ) or crude protein (g), was not different between treatments. There were also no differences in the health status and faecal score between treatments. The results of this study suggest the beneficial effect of microbial feed additive containing spores of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis for rearing calves. 400 PROBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE – CALF PERFORMANCE
Does variation in workload affect fatigue in a regular 12-hour shift system?

The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between workload and objective/subjective fatigue for a regularly rotating work schedule. Twenty male shift-workers working a 12-h schedule at a metallurgic smelter were involved in the study. Data were collected for a 14-day period while the participants continued their work schedule and duties. Shifts with high and low workload were separated and compared. Trends were observed for the increase of fatigue with a higher workload. Subjective fatigue was significantly higher at the end of the 12-h night shift (P < 0.05), and psychomotor vigilance test lapses occurred during the first half of the night shift (P < 0.05). These results imply that the relationships between workload, performance and subjective fatigue are complex and that further research is required.
Electricity consumption and gross domestic product in an electricity community: Evidence from bound testing cointegration and Granger-causality tests

This study probes the nexus between electricity consumption and gross domestic product (GDP) for the electricity community of Togo and Benin using ARDL bounds testing approach of cointegration. Long-run equilibrium has been established among these variables for Benin. The study further establishes long and short-run Granger causality running from GDP to electricity consumption for Benin and short-run Granger causality running from GDP to electricity consumption for Togo. The results of the cointegration test and the causality reflect better the Benin and Togo economies that are less dependent on electricity. The absence of causality running from electricity consumption to GDP implies that the very low electricity consumption in both countries do not allow them to take advantage of the benefits that electricity energy brings in terms of adoption of new technology as well as technical efficiency. Key words: ARDL, cointegration, causality, growth, electricity.
Comparison of extractive and pressure-swing distillation for separation of tetrahydrofuran-water mixture

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is widely used in many processes as solvent or chemical intermediate. It is necessary to separate mixture of THF-water, because in most commercial production processes, THF is produced from its water mixture. However, the above mixture cannot be separated with ordinary distillation, since THF and water can form azeotrope. Instead, extractive distillation (ED) and pressure-swing distillation (PSD) have been widely applied for commercial separation of mixture of THF-water. In this paper, Aspen Plus simulator is used to simulate extractive distillation and pressure-swing distillation process for separation of mixture of THF-water. Economic analysis is carried out by Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) for the two processes. The conclusion obtained based on the above process simulation and analysis is that the total annualized cost of the extractive distillation is slightly lower than that of pressure-swing distillation. The results obtained provide useful references for commercial separation of mixture of THF and water.