Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scientific Opinion on a request for a review of a scientific publication concerning the zoonotic potential of ovine scrapie prions EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards ( BIOHAZ Panel )

The factors that modulate the transmissibility of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) and the approaches for the study of their zoonotic potential are reviewed. The paper ‘Evidence for zoonotic potential of ovine scrapie prions’ by Cassard et al. (2014) is scientifically appraised, focussing on the experimental design, the results and the conclusions. The paper provides evidence in a laboratory experiment that some Classical scrapie isolates can propagate in humanised transgenic mice and produce prions that on second passage are similar to those causing one form of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). It is concluded that the results from the study raise the possibility that scrapie prions have the potential to be zoonotic, but do not provide evidence that transmission can or does take place under field conditions. The conclusions of the 2011 ECDC-EFSA ‘Joint Scientific Opinion on any possible epidemiological or molecular association between TSEs in animals and humans’ are reviewed in the light of the new scientific evidence available since its publication. This supports and strengthens the conclusions of that opinion with regard to the potential for some animal TSE to be zoonotic, but does not provide evidence of a causal link between Classical or Atypical scrapie and human TSE. Current evidence does not establish this link, and no consistent risk factors have been identified for sCJD. The possibility of scrapie-related public health risks from the consumption of ovine products cannot be assessed. Recommendations are formulated on further studies and data that are needed to investigate the zoonotic potential of animal TSE and to estimate the amount of infectivity from TSE-infected products sourced from small ruminants and entering the food chain in the European Union. © European Food Safety Authority, 2015
Systemic Importance Index for Financial Institutions: A Principal Component Analysis Approach

As a result of the most recent global financial crisis, literature has embraced size, connectedness and substitutability as key indicators for financial institutions’ systemic importance. This paper applies Principal Components Analysis to some metrics for assessing size, connectedness and substitutability, where those metrics rely on a combination of balance sheet data and the application of network theory to large-value payment system’s information. The main results are the following: (i) the three concepts and their metrics are explanatory and non-redundant for differentiating financial institutions’ relative systemic importance; (ii) these metrics allow the construction a PCA-based Systemic Importance Index, a valuable tool for financial authorities’ policy and decision-making; and (iii the importance of the too-connected-to-fail criteria and the presence of non-banking firms among the most systemically important financial institutions in the Colombian case are confirmed.
Signatures of quantum fluctuations in the Dicke model by means of Renyi uncertainty

Uncertainty relations play a central role in quantum physics. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is generally expressed in terms of the familiar variance-based uncertainty relation. The uncertainty principle can alternatively be formalized via an entropic uncertainty relation [1–3] that proved to be very useful in several situations [1–11]. Quantum phase transitions (QPT) result from the variation of quantum fluctuations [12]. Therefore uncertainty relations are essential in studying QPT. Variance-based uncertainty relations have been frequently applied. In this paper we argue that Rényi uncertainty relations have significant importance in quantum phase transitions. As an illustration the Dicke model is presented. The Rényi entropy sum has an abrupt change at the transition point, though it remains constant in both phases. However, the variance products are divergent in the superradiant phase. A Rényi entropy [13] of order μ for a D-dimensional probability density function f (r1,.,rD) normalized to 1 is defined by
Ensino de algoritmos e linguagem de programação no nível médio: um relato de experiência

RODRIGUES, R. S. Ensino de algoritmos e linguagem de programacao no nivel medio: um relato de experiencia. 2013. 17 f. Trabalho de Conclusao de Curso (Graduacao em Computacao)—Centro de Ciencias Exatas e Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Patos, 2013.
Computer Science Education on High Schools

The contribution discusses the situation of computer science (CS) education on high school level (secondary education). At first some order in terms needs to be made so we can distinguish different meanings hidden in “informatics on high school”. Then the current situation of CS education in Czech Republic is discussed. The most important recent phenomenon influencing our high schools is the curricular reform. The fundamental changes of view are introduced briefly, however our main aim is to discuss ICT and CS related education in the new setup. In the second part of the contribution a few foreign countries are picked and their inspiring approach to CS in high schools is described, headed by Israel.
The effect of high-stakes testing on suicidal ideation of teenagers with reference-dependent preferences

This paper offers a novel explanation for why even high-performing individuals may have a high suicidal tendency when preferences are reference-dependent. Using survey data of South Korean secondary school students, this paper demonstrates that the relationship between suicidal ideation and test performance is consistent with the reference-dependent explanation. When a student’s rank in the high-stakes College Scholastic Ability Test falls below her expectation, she exhibits a higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation. The findings highlight the potentially adverse consequences of disappointment in high-stakes testing and suggest that the risk of suicide may be significant among high achievers too.
Module of Integrated Insect Pest Management on Tomato With Growers' Participation

Tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum L. (Solanaceae), is an important vegetable crop in the Mariana Islands (Guam, Saipan, Rota and Tinian). Because tomato is heavily attacked by both the tomato fruitworm Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the red spider mite Tetranychus marianae McGregor, research was begun in 2011 to develop an integrated pest management program to better protect the crop from these pests. Our previous studies have indicated nominal threshold levels for T. marianae to be 8-12 mites/leaf in the dry season and 8-14 mites/leaf during the wet season, while for H. armigera the threshold was found to be 2 eggs per 10 of the plants, followed by an additional pesticide application only if 2 damaged fruit or H. armigera larvae were detected per 50 immature fruits. Other studies have found the IPM package used here of petroleum spray oil (PSO), BotaniGard, neem, and DiPel applied 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after tomato transplant to be a viable approach, significantly reducing the pest complex and giving higher tomato yield compared to both the growers’ current practice (carbaryl or malathion, 15 applications per cropping season) and control plots. The current field study was conducted at two locations in Guam (Yigo and Inarajan), USA, in 2012 and 2013 to compare this IPM package with the growers’ current practice in larger plots designed to educate the growers. The IPM package significantly lowered the pest complex and gave higher tomato yield at both the locations. Tomato growers were invited to attend an informal IPM training program on December 16, 2013 at the University of Guam, which was attended by 48 growers from four Mariana Islands. Of these growers, 41 (85%) were aware of and understood the risks associated with traditional insecticides and recognized the concept of using an IPM package in managing tomato pests before the workshop. However, all the attendees understood the concept and benefits of IPM after the workshop. Follow up with these tomato growers found that 35 (73%) later adopted the IPM program using PSO, BotaniGard, and Dipel at 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAT in the Mariana Islands.
Are Services Different Exporters

Using an unbalanced panel of about 260,000 Swedish firm-level observations over the period 1997-2006, this paper shows that half of the firms exporting goods are service firms that account for a substantial and increasing share of the total value from exports of goods. Between 1997 and 2006 this fraction increased from 25% to 34%. Previous research provides little systematic evidence of this extension of goods exports among service firms or the benefits of exporting. This paper shows that service firms do become exporters for the same reasons as manufacturing firms. Besides, they are a self-selection of larger, more productive and high-equity firms, with more skilled labour, higher capital intensity and stronger links to multinational groups. However, the export productivity premium is larger for service firms than for manufacturers. No evidence is found to indicate that exporting increases the growth rate of productivity. In contrast, the annual employment growth premium from exporting is substantial for business services, 2% per year, compared to 0.5% for the retail and wholesale business.
Using MDA and a UML Profile Integrated With International Standards to Model Geograp

In the last 20 years, several conceptual data models specific for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been proposed. However, so far there isn’t a consensus model, which has generated several problems for the GIS area, such as the lack of interoperability among CASE tools that give support to these models. A UML profile, called GeoProfile, was proposed to standardize the task of geographical data modeling. This article shows the integration of GeoProfile with the international standards of ISO 19100 series, which are addressed to geographical information. This integration is presented through the different abstraction levels of the approach Model Driven Architecture (MDA).
New Method for Isolation of Plant Probiotic Fluorescent Pseudomonad and Characterization for 2,4-Diacetylphluoroglucinol Production underDifferent Carbon Sources and Phosphate Levels

Aims: Present work describes the new enrichment method for the isolation of effective root colonizing and rhizospheric competent strains of genus fluorescent Pseudomonad and study of metabolic regulation of 2,4-DAPG biosynthesis in them under carbon sources and Pi levels. Methods and Results: Three rounds of plant assay was performed using root tip attached microorganism mixtures for the next round of root treatment followed by phonotypical separation of fluorescent colonies to isolate fluorescent pseudomonad strains from different crop and vegetables rhizospheres. Isolated strains were characterized for their Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) traits viz phosphate solubilisation, production of siderophore, IAA, HCN, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate /L-methionine utilization pathway and antifungal metabolites production. Isolated strains have shown high 2,4-diacetylphluoroglucinol production and strain G2 has shown 4.6 fold high production than Pf CHA0. Conclusions: Strain G1 and G8 supported 2,4-DAPG production under sucrose and found to be suitable biocontrol for sucrose rich rhizosphere. Strain G1 and G2 showed good 2,4-DAPG production at high Pi and will perform well in phosphate fertilizer supplemented soils. Significance of Study: Identification of factors favorable for bio-control will facilitate the targeted application of specific strains to plant rhizosphere/soil type/fertilizer supplemented suitable to their biocontrol activity i.e. “prescription” controls.
Optimal parameters fort in vitro development of the hydrocarbonoclastic microorganism Proteus sp.

In Mexico, there are extensive areas polluted by oil spills. Currently, bioremediation technologies have been developed, using microorganisms to clean up oil sites. In this study, we evaluated the development of a hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial strain, using a completely randomized 3x3x4 factor arrangement: three temperatures, three pH, and four nutrients. We collected samples of soil contaminated with 3.45 x 105 mg kg-1 (345,000 ppm) Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), located at the Ejido Jose N. Rovirosa, Huimanguillo, Tabasco, Mexico. The samples were grown in a culture medium Nutrient Agar (NA), obtaining a bacterial strain, which was characterized and classified as Proteus sp. The strain was grown in a combined carbon culture medium and then in a liquid mineral medium with crude oil as sole carbon source. Analysis of variance and mean test were performed, using the SPSS-11.0 statistical software. The microorganisms showed the highest population growth in the treatment N2=Triple17pH1=4.029°C with a value of 4.6 x 1010 CFU mL-1. To reach, by bioaugmentation, the same development of Proteus sp in a conditioned soil would allow us to implement a potential bioremediation strategy for solving the problem of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons in the state of Tabasco in particular, and in Mexico in general.
Swelling-induced long-range ordered structure formation in polyelectrolyte hydrogel

A millimeter-scale periodic structure is created in a polyelectrolyte hydrogel by the rapid-heterogeneous swelling process, and is frozen by the polyion complexation of the polyelectrolyte network with the oppositely charged, semi-rigid polyelectrolyte. The hydrogel is synthesized from a cationic monomer, N-[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl] acrylamide methyl chloride quaternary (DMAPAA-Q), in the presence of a small amount of the oppositely charged poly(2,2′-disulfonyl-4,4′-benzidine terephthalamide) (PBDT) that has a semi-rigid nature. During the swelling process, surface creasing due to the large mismatching of swelling degree between the surface layer and the inner one of the poly DMAPAA-Q (PDMAPAA-Q) gel occurs, which induces highly oriented semi-rigid PBDT molecules along the tensile direction of the crease pattern. To accompany the evolution of surface creasing, a lattice-like periodic birefringence pattern is formed, which is frozen permanently by the strong polyion complex formation, even after the surface instability pattern of the gel disappears completely throughout the dynamic coalescence. In this work we rationally clarified that formation of such a long-range ordered non-equilibrium structure in the polyelectrolyte hydrogel by the rapid-heterogeneous swelling process requires the following three indispensable conditions: (i) swelling-induced surface creasing; (ii) polyion complex formation; and (iii) a semi-rigid or rigid dopant. This sort of non-equilibrium structure formation mechanism may help understand how biomacromolecules that are rigid polyelectrolytes, such as deoxyribonucleic acid, microtubules and actin filaments, form rich architectures during the growth of biological organs.
Pseudo-embeddings and pseudo-hyperplanes

We generalize some known results regarding hyperplanes and projective embeddings of point-line geometries with three points per line to geometries with an arbitrary but finite number of points on each line. In order to generalize these results, we need to introduce the new notions of pseudo-hyperplane, (universal) pseudo-embedding, pseudo-embedding rank and pseudo-generating rank. We prove several connections between these notions and address the problem of the existence of (certain) pseudo-embeddings. We apply this to several classes of point-line geometries. We also determine the pseudo-embedding rank and the pseudo-generating rank of the projective space PG (n,4) and the affine space AG (n,4)
A new aquatic beetle family, Meruidae, from Venezuela (Coleoptera: Adephaga)

Abstract. An unknown beetle collected in the Territorio Federal Amazonas, Venezuela, and designated as belonging to a new family, is described (as Meru phyllisaegen.n., sp.n.) and illustrated by line drawings and scanning electron micrographs. The new family, Meruidae, is diagnosed and assigned to the suborder Adephaga with a discussion of some characters and likely phylogenetic affinities. With a body length of 0.85–0.9 mm, M. phyllisae is the smallest known member of aquatic Adephaga. Based on the observed skeletal and behavioural characters to date, the taxon appears to represent the sister clade to the remaining families of Dytiscoidea, but also has features suggesting a close relationship among Noteridae and/or Haliplidae. A description and photographs of the habitat are included, with a list of other associated water beetle taxa. Some observations on the behaviour of captive beetles are given. The minute ‘comb‐clawed cascade beetles’ are known only from the type locality, El Tobogán, where streams flow among exposed areas of bedrock in the geologically ancient Guyana Shield region.
Effects of Morus Alba Extract on the Microscopic Changes of Spermatogenesis in Experimentally Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Adult Rats

Abstract Diabetic hyperglycemia has a direct association with microscopic changes of testicular tissue and spermatogenic alterations. Most of these changes are mediated with oxidative stress. Use of herbal and chemical glucose lowering drugs is an important way for reduction of diabetes related structural changes of target tissues. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of Morus alba extract on the microscopic structure of testicular tissue following induction of diabetes. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. Morus alba extract and metformin were administrated to various groups for period of 12 weeks. The blood glucose levels, pituitary gonadotropins and testosterone were measured. Histomorphometrical study and sperm analysis were performed for evaluation of the function of reproductive system. Reduction of body weight, pituitary gonadotropins and testosterone levels in diabetic groups, were improved after treatment. Decrease of spermatogenic indices was accompanied with the changes in histomorphology of seminiferous tubules. Moreover, the sperm analysis results were decreased in diabetic rats. These microscopic changes were enhanced after treatment in diabetic groups. The results of this study indicate that the administration of glucose lowering medical herbs only or in combination with chemical drugs, can preserve the positive effects in improvement of spermatogenic alterations related to diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes, Morus alba, rat, spermatogenesis
Inequality, Poverty and Vulnerability: Exploring the Interaction Mechanism

This study attempts to provide empirical evidence on the nature of the interaction between inequality, poverty and vulnerability so as to stimulate an informed debate on the strategies for overcoming the development challenges they pose. Findings show that contrary to theoretical speculations and policy anticipations, there exists no statistically significant relationship between inequality, poverty and vulnerability. These variables are found to be mutually exclusive, inter-independent, distinct and unreinforced by one another in their operations. Instead, other variables such as health and education expenditures, per capita income, and household income are found to be significantly correlated with inequality, poverty and vulnerability. This implies that, although inequality, poverty and vulnerability do not impact and reinforce each other, there are other factors that have significant impact on them.
ActivMetal: Algorithm Recommendation with Active Meta Learning

We present an active meta learning approach to model selection or algorithm recommendation. We adopt the point of view "collab-orative filtering" recommender systems in which the problem is brought back to a missing data problem: given a sparsely populated matrix of performances of algorithms on given tasks, predict missing performances; more particularly, predict which algorithm will perform best on a new dataset (empty row). In this work, we propose and study an active learning version of the recommender algorithm CofiRank algorithm and compare it with baseline methods. Our benchmark involves three real-world datasets (from StatLog, OpenML, and AutoML) and artificial data. Our results indicate that CofiRank rapidly finds well performing algorithms on new datasets at reasonable computational cost.
Paper Mill Sludge Ash as Supplementary Cementitious Material

Paper mill sludge is often incinerated for heat recovering and also for an important volume reduction. In Italy about 6x10 5 tons of paper sludge is yearly produced giving 60kg of paper ash per ton. In this project, the ash coming from burning of paper mill sludge from primary mechanical separation process, fired as single fuel, was studied in order to evaluate its use as supplementary cementitious material in concrete manufacturing. On the basis of the data collected it can be concluded that the paper mill sludge ash, if replaced by 5 to 10% of Portland cement, show a positive effect on the mechanical performance of the concrete. On the other hand, due to its high fineness and consequently high water absorption, it requires a higher dosage of water, so that the use of paper ash should not be higher than 10% by weight of cement.
Determining side impact priorities using real-world crash data and harm

This paper describes a new approach to prioritising occupant protection interventions, based on the amount of real-world harm they address. It was conducted to highlight priorities associated with systems modelling optimisation. However, it is also suitable for a wider application generally in targeting interventions aimed at maximising occupant protection improvements. It is especially useful for optimising vehicle design strategies but can also be used more strategically to help justify the need for new regulations, aimed at occupant protection improvement. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD E206422.
Price transmission and asymmetric adjustment in the Spanish dairy sector

Asymmetric threshold vector error correction models are applied to monthly price data to analyse price relationships and patterns of transmission among farm and retail markets for a variety of dairy products in Spain. The results suggest that asymmetries affect a conspicuous part of the raw milk processed in Spain. Implications for the organizational structure of Spanish dairy markets are offered.