Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Integration of Mobile Technology and Knowledge Management in Organizations: A Preliminary Study

Mobile technology is commonly present in almost every domain of a contemporary society. Numerous examples include successful projects, specifically the use of mobile technology in knowledge management. It should be noted, however, that the vast majority of existing publications and research in the field of knowledge acquisition pertains to the use of mobile technology and mobile learning in education. The research works concerning the investigation of the real benefits and possibilities for utilizing mobile technology in knowledge management are still scarce. In a knowledge-based economy, effective knowledge management in an organization allows to get competitive advantage in the marketplace and is essential for a company’s survival. Hence, the dynamic development of mobile technologies observed in recent years can make an important contribution to achieve this goal. This study aims to analyze the state of the art in the field of utilizing mobile technology in knowledge management. It attempts to identify and discusses the key research gaps in the field of mobile technology and knowledge management integration highlighting future research directions.
Artificial insemination in geese

Currently most breeds and lines of geese in use at a commercial scale are derived from two wild species; the swan goose (Anser cygnoides L.) and the true goose-greylag (Anser anser L.). Interestingly, local selections performed for centuries from these two ancestors have resulted in strains or breeds expressing large differences for a range of phenotypic traits including size, body weight, feather colour, behaviour and physiology (including reproductive performance), along with carcass characteristics, flavour and chemical composition of the meat. When compared with other poultry species, the main factors that have limited geese production and geese meat consumption in Europe are the seasonality of its reproduction and the low fertility of breeder flocks (e.g. egg production, fertility and hatchability rates, low male to female ratio, poor semen quality) associated with, on average, relatively high proportions of lipid tissues in the carcasses of their progeny. Some of the above problems can be eliminated or at least reduced by the application of artificial insemination procedures and by selective breeding on fertility and seasonality. The present paper reviews the main particularities of artificial insemination techniques developed in the goose with regards to the morphology and physiology of male reproductive organs. The main characteristics of ejaculates along with some morphological aspects of sperm morphology, semen collection procedures and semen quality assessment are also described. Finally, geese insemination procedures along with their interests and limits are discussed.
Rapid biodiversity assessment of spiders (Araneae) using semi‐quantitative sampling: a case study in a Mediterranean forest

Abstract. 1 A thorough inventory of a Mediterranean oak forest spider fauna carried out during 2 weeks is presented. It used a semi‐quantitative sampling protocol to collect comparable data in a rigorous, rapid and efficient way. Four hundred and eighty samples of one person‐hour of work each were collected, mostly inside a delimited 1‐ha plot. 2 Sampling yielded 10 808 adult spiders representing 204 species. The number of species present at the site was estimated using five different richness estimators (Chao1, Chao2, Jackknife1, Jackknife2 and Michaelis–Menten). The estimates ranged from 232 to 260. The most reliable estimates were provided by the Chao estimators and the least reliable was obtained with the Michaelis–Menten. However, the behavior of the Michaelis–Menten accumulation curves supports the use of this estimator as a stopping or reliability rule. 3 Nineteen per cent of the species were represented by a single specimen (singletons) and 12% by just two specimens (doubletons). The presence of locally rare species in this exhaustive inventory is discussed. 4 The effects of day, time of day, collector experience and sampling method on the number of adults, number of species and taxonomic composition of the samples are assessed. Sampling method is the single most important factor influencing the results and all methods generate unique species. Time of day is also important, in such way that each combination of method and time of day may be considered as a different method in itself. There are insignificant differences between the collectors in terms of species and number of adult spiders collected. Despite the high collecting effort, the species richness and abundance of spiders remained constant throughout the sampling period.
Uberizing the Charging Ecosystem for Electric Vehicles

In many metropolitan cities, multi-unit residential buildings (MURB) are becoming more common than single-family independent homes due to lack of urban space. MURB residents (around 42% in Europe) are potential adopters of electric vehicles (EV), but lack a private garage for EV charging. They need to exclusively rely on public charging, which currently serves only 5% of EVs. As EVs become more prevalent, the lack of extensive public charging can create a short-term demand-supply mismatch in specific city neighbourhoods, as well as preclude long-term growth in EV adoption. We believe that uberization of private garage chargers that are typically under-utilized during day-time can alleviate this problem. In this work, we examine how a charging service provider can match public charging demand with private suppliers while using a demand-response based pricing model. We base our study on real-world traffic patterns for the city of Luxembourg by augmenting the Luxembourg SUMO traffic scenario (LuST) simulator. Specifically, an EV's charging demand is modeled by a state machine with charge/discharge dynamics based on Tesla Model-S. Our preliminary results suggest that the proposed uberization strategy has the potential to gracefully handle demand spikes with higher revenue yield for a charging service provider, even while handling different categories of service users.
Elevated CO2 Induces Biochemical and Ultrastructural Changes in Leaves of the C4 Cereal Sorghum

We analyzed the impact of growth at either 350 (ambient) or 700 (elevated) microL L(-1) CO(2) on key elements of the C(4) pathway (photosynthesis, carbon isotope discrimination, and leaf anatomy) using the C(4) cereal sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.). Gas-exchange analysis of the CO(2) response of photosynthesis indicated that both carboxylation efficiency and the CO(2) saturated rate of photosynthesis were lower in plants grown at elevated relative to ambient CO(2). This was accompanied by a 49% reduction in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase content of leaves (area basis) in the elevated CO(2)-grown plants, but no change in Rubisco content. Despite the lower phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase content, there was a 3-fold increase in C isotope discrimination in leaves of plants grown at elevated CO(2) and bundle sheath leakiness was estimated to be 24% and 33%, respectively, for the ambient and elevated CO(2)-grown plants. However, we could detect no difference in quantum yield. The ratio of quantum yield of CO(2) fixation to PSII efficiency was lower in plants grown at elevated CO(2), but only when leaf internal was below 50 microL L(-1). This suggests a reduction in the efficiency of the C(4) cycle when [CO(2)] is low, and also implies increased electron transport to acceptors other than CO(2). Analysis of leaf sections using a transmission electron microscope indicated a 2-fold decrease in the thickness of the bundle sheath cell walls in plants grown at elevated relative to ambient CO(2). These results suggest that significant acclimation to increased CO(2) concentrations occurs in sorghum.
The influence of weed Spirulina platensis on production and profitability of milking cows.

Santrauka. Atliktas 90 dienų karvių šėrimo bandymas, kurio tikslas – nustatyti mikrodumblio „Spirulina platensis“ priedo įtaką laktuojančių karvių racionui pieno produkcijai ir zootechninio efektyvumo rodikliams. Tyrimams buvo sudarytos dvi analogiškos pagal amžių, įmitimą, produktyvumą ankstyvosios laktacijos periodo karvių grupės (n=10). Abiejų grupių gyvuliai buvo šeriami vienodos sudėties ir mitybinės vertės racionu, tik bandomosios grupės karvės papildomai gavo po 200 g per parą melsvadumblių „Spirulina platensis“, sumaišytų su kombinuotųjų pašarų daviniu. Tiriamuoju laikotarpiu karvių produktyvumas, pieno sudėties ir kokybės rodikliai buvo nustatomi kontrolinių melžimų metu: pieno primilžiai – ūkyje, o sudėties ir kokybės rodikliai – VĮ „Pieno tyrimai“ laboratorijoje. Tyrimų rezultatai parodė, kad bandomosios grupės karvės, gavusios pašarų su akvakultūros priedu, buvo produktyvesnės. Bandymo laikotarpiu per parą iš jų primelžta vidutiniškai po 34 kg, arba po 6 kg pieno daugiau nei iš kontrolinių (p<0,05). Per visą bandymų laikotarpį už bandomosios grupės pieną buvo gauta vidutiniškai po 378 Lt, arba 21 proc. pajamų daugiau, nei iš kontrolinių. Mikrodumblių priedas buvo ekonomiškai efektyvus, nes bandymo laikotarpiu, išleidus 1 Lt „Spirulina platensis“, už pieną buvo gauta 8,4 Lt papildomų pajamų. Raktažodžiai: Spirulina platensis, laktuojančios karvės, pieno kokybė.
ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL EFFECTS OF VARIOUS COMMERCIAL PLANT EXTRACTS

The antimicrobial activities of valex (the extract of valonia), the extracts of mimosa bark, gallnut powders, Salvia aucheri Bentham var. aucheri and Phlomis bourgei Boiss were studied. The antimicrobial activity of the above plants was evaluated by the disk diffusion method using Bacillus brevis FMC 3, Bacillus subtilis IMG 22, Bacillus cereus EU, Escherichia coli DM, Pseudomanas aeruginosa DSM 50071, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1, Listeria monocytogenes A, Micrococcus luteus LA 2971, Klebsiella pneumoniae FMC 5, Mycobacterium smegmatus RUT, Proteus vulgaris FMC 1 bacteria, and Alternaria alternata MDC 97, Penicillium italicum MDC 101, Fusarium equiseti C, Candida albicans CCM 314 fungi. The results indicated that mimosa bark extracts had the greatest antibacterial activity, followed by the valex, gallnut powders, Salvia aucheri var. aucheri and Phlomis bourgei extracts, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that gallnut powders and the extracts of mimosa bark contained high amounts of tannins and showed antifungal activity.
Antennal Morphology of Two Specialist Predators of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Homoptera: Adelgidae)

Abstract We used scanning and transmission electron microscopy in a morphological examination of the antennae of two specialist predators of the exotic hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, as an initial step toward understanding the potential importance of olfaction in host-finding behavior. Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) possesses six types of sensilla on a relatively long antennae comprised of scape, pedicel, and nine annuli. Two types of basiconic sensilla contained numerous wall pores with branching pore kettles and were located on the terminal three annuli. The terminal annulus contained a placoid-like sensillum, and the penultimate and antepenultimate annuli contained a coeloconic-type sensillum forming a ring around the distal portion. Two types of sensilla chaetica were located along much of the length of the antennae. Pseudoscymnus tsugae Sasaji and McClure (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was found to possess five types of sensilla on an extremely short antenna, which is characteristic of the tribe Scymnini, consisting of scape, pedicel, and seven annuli. Three of the annuli were void of sensilla. Two types of sensilla chaetica were located on the scape and pedicel, as well as the terminal annuli. Three types of basiconic sensilla, one of which contained numerous wall pores, were identified on the terminal two annuli. No sexual dimorphism was detected on either predator species. Our results suggest that olfaction is a more important sensory modality in L. nigrinus than P. tsugae, and that trap-based sampling methods incorporating olfactory cues are more likely to be successful for L. nigrinus than P. tsugae.
Biological Suppression of Populations of Heterodera schachtii Adapted to Different Host Genotypes of Sugar Beet

Productivity of sugar beet and brassica vegetable crops is constrained by the nematode Heterodera schachtii worldwide. In sugar beet cropping areas of Central Europe and North America, H. schachtii is managed by crop rotation, and cultivation of resistant brassica cover crops. The recently released nematode-tolerant sugar beet cultivars suffer less damage than susceptible cultivars at high initial population densities of H. schachtii. Many tolerant cultivars allow for less nematode reproduction than susceptible cultivars. Monoculture of susceptible hosts can facilitate the evolution of suppressive soil. Objectives of this study were to determine if susceptible hosts are required for this process, and if monoculture with sugar beet genotypes of different host status (susceptible, resistant, tolerant) impact this capacity. Additionally, we tested if amending soil with the cyst nematode pathogens Pasteuria nishizawae or Hyalorbilia sp. strain DoUCR50 favored the establishment of soil suppressiveness. In 4-year microplot studies with H. schachtii Schach0 or Schach1, one susceptible, one Schach0-resistant, and one tolerant sugar beet genotype were monocultured. In 2010, plots were amended with P. nishizawae or DoUCR50, the last being introduced into non-treated soil for Schach0, and into previously biocide-treated soil for Schach1. In 2011, respective Schach0 plots received a second amendment with DoUCR50. Nematode population densities and growth and yield parameters were determined annually. Effects of P. nishizawae and DoUCR50 on populations of H. schachtii were limited and not consistent. Starting in the second year of the monoculture, eggs of both H. schachtii pathotypes became diseased. Up to 90% of the total eggs were encumbered by the third cropping cycle, under the susceptible, resistant, and tolerant cultivar. In all years, the tolerant genotype produced the highest and most stable white sugar yields while yields of the other cultivars slowly improved during the monoculture. Results of this study suggested the presence of egg-infecting factors in this sugar beet monoculture that dramatically increased the proportions of diseased eggs. The tolerant cultivar allowed establishment of soil suppressiveness without the initial yield decline observed when susceptible sugar beet genotypes are grown in monoculture.
Analysis of fluctuating asymmetries in marine shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Decapoda, Penaeidae)

Fluctuating asymmetries (FA) are associated to instability in organism development caused by environmental and genetic factors that act during the first stages of ontogenesis. Analysis of bilateral morphometries in commercial Penaeidae stocks has shown a high AF frequency in stocks submitted to several generations in captivity. With the objective of determining a basal level of fluctuating asymmetries found in natural populations of the Litopenaeus genus and determine which segments are most informative in the expression of these asymmetries, 18 parameters were measured obtained from 15 bilateral segments of a sample of 40 specimens of L. schmitti collected along the coast of Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil. The analysis indicated the presence of asymmetries in 27.7% of the segments measured, corresponding to segments of the pereiopods. The fluctuating asymmetries indexes observed are significantly smaller than those shown in captive stocks of L. vannamei, under high density and endogamy. Low fluctuating asymmetry indexes suggest an active role of the stabilizing selection in this natural population.
Targeted Therapy With Immunoconjugates for Multiple Myeloma

The introduction of proteasome inhibitors (PI) and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD) has markedly increased the survival of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Also, the unconjugated monoclonal antibodies (mAb) daratumumab (anti-CD38) and elotuzumab (anti-SLAMF7) have revolutionized MM treatment given their clinical efficacy and safety, illustrating the potential of targeted immunotherapy as a powerful treatment strategy for MM. Nonetheless, most patients eventually develop PI-, IMiD-, and mAb-refractory disease because of the selection of resistant MM clones, which associates with a poor prognosis. Accordingly, these patients remain in urgent need of new therapies with novel mechanisms of action. In this respect, mAbs or mAb fragments can also be utilized as carriers of potent effector moieties to specifically target surface antigens on cells of interest. Such immunoconjugates have the potential to exert anti-MM activity in heavily pretreated patients due to their distinct and pleiotropic mechanisms of action. In addition, the fusion of highly cytotoxic compounds to mAbs decreases the off-target toxicity, thereby improving the therapeutic window. According to the effector moiety, immunoconjugates are classified into antibody-drug conjugates, immunotoxins, immunocytokines, or radioimmunoconjugates. This review will focus on the mechanisms of action, safety and efficacy of several promising immunoconjugates that are under investigation in preclinical and/or clinical MM studies. We will also include a discussion on combination therapy with immunoconjugates, resistance mechanisms, and future developments.
ANTECEDENTES DO ENGAJAMENTO DO CONSUMIDOR E O CONSUMIDOR ENGAJADO COMO GERADOR DE VALOR PARA A EMPRESA

É fundamental garantir que os consumidores estejam engajados. Assim, o tema desta pesquisa é o engajamento do consumidor como fator de geração de valor para a empresa. O problema de pesquisa que orienta o estudo define-se por quais as relações do engajamento do consumidor como gerador de valor para a organização? Portanto, o objetivo da pesquisa foi relacionar os construtos: engajamento do consumidor, envolvimento do consumidor, participação do consumidor, intenção de compra, indicações do consumidor, influência do consumidor e conhecimento do consumidor; em um modelo teórico proposto. Para o alcance deste objetivo, optou-se pelo desenvolvimento de uma pesquisa teórica. Como resultado, apresenta-se o modelo teórico proposto do engajamento do consumidor como gerador de valor para as empresas, sendo a principal contribuição teórica do artigo. Como contribuição gerencial, destaca-se que identificação dos antecedentes do engajamento do consumidor as organizações podem gerenciar este engajamento nos seus próprios consumidores, buscando um desempenho organizacional superior. Palavras-chave: Engajamento. Intenção de compra. Indicações do consumidor. Influência do consumidor. Conhecimento do consumidor.
Optimization of plasmid electrotransformation into Escherichia coli using Taguchi statistical method

Electroporation is a mechanical method used to introduce polar molecules into a host cell through the cell membrane. In this procedure, a large electric pulse temporarily disturbs the phospholipid bilayer allowing molecules like DNA to pass into the cell. Application of statistical methods to determine the appropriate processes have been suggested for genetic engineering and biotechnology technique such as electroporation. This study explains the use of Taguchi statistical method to optimize the conditions for efficient plasmid transformation into Escherichia coli via electroporation. In order to improve electroporation, optical density of bacteria, recovery time and electrical parameter (field strength and capacitance) were optimized using the Taguchi statistical method. ANOVA of obtained data indicated that the optimal conditions of electrotransformation of pET-28a (+) plasmid into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)pLysS was 0.7, 120 min, 12 kV/cm and 50 μF, for optical density of cell culture, recovery time, field strength and capacitance, respectively. The most significant alterations are decrease in field strength and increase in optical density in comparison with common electroporation protocol. The maximum level of plasmid transformation obtained under optimal condition was 8.7×108 transformants/μg DNA plasmid, which was 6.7 fold higher than the control condition. Keywords: Electroporation, Taguchi statistical method, Plasmid
THE WHEAT BULB FLY, DELIA COARCTATA, IN NORTH AMERICA (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)

Abstract The wheat bulb fly, Delia coarctata (Fallén), a widespread Eurasian species, is recorded for the first time from Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Maine. Unlike most Anthomyiidae, this species overwinters in the egg stage in the soil. Hatching occurs in early spring, and young larvae attack the roots of fall-germinated grasses. The primary host is couch grass, Agropyron repens (Linnaeus). In Europe, however, D. coarctata is an important pest of winter wheat, and workers in North America are alerted to its potential economic importance here. Adults may be distinguished from other root maggot flies by a combination of characters which includes the plumosity of the arista, the setation of the thorax and legs, the colour of the wings and legs, and most importantly, the details of the male and female terminalia. Résumé Delia coarctata (Fallén) (wheat bulb fly) est une espèce largement répandue dans la région eurasiatique. Elle est signalée ici pour la première fois du Québec, Nouveau-Brunswick, Ile-du-Prince-Edouard, Nouvelle-Ecosse et Maine. Contrairement aux autres Anthomyiidae, elle hiberne dans le sol au stade de l’œuf. L’éclosion a lieu tôt au printemps et les jeunes larves s’attaquent aux racines des graminées ayant germé l’automne précédent. L’hôte principal est Agropyron repens (Linné). En Europe, cependant, D. coarctata est un important parasite du blé d’hiver, et les chercheurs nord-américains devraient être conscients de son importance économique potentielle chez nous. Les adultes peuvent être distingués des autres Anthomyiides par une série de caractères dont la plumosité de l’arista, la chaetotaxie du thorax et des pattes, la couleur des ailes et des pattes, et surtout, les détails des génitalia des deux sexes.
Radar monitoring of migrating pink‐footed geese: behavioural responses to offshore wind farm development

Summary In the context of growing demand for offshore wind energy production in recent years, much effort has been made to determine the collision risk that offshore wind turbines pose to birds. Currently, only limited species-specific data on migrating birds' avoidance rates and associated mortality at offshore wind farms exist. During a 4-year study, bird detection radar was used to monitor behavioural responses and flight changes of migrating pink-footed geese in relation to two offshore wind farms during and after construction. Radar recorded a total of 979 goose flocks migrating through the whole study area, of which 571 were visually confirmed as 39 957 pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus. Overall, we calculated that 97·25% of all flocks recorded by radar, in 2009 and 2010 combined, migrated without any risk of additional mortality associated with the constructed wind farms. We identified a growing tendency of geese to avoid the wind farms and calculated that, for 2009 and 2010 combined, avoidance was exhibited by 94·46% of the original 292 flocks predicted to enter the wind farms. Synthesis and applications. Migratory geese responded to offshore wind farms by adopting strong horizontal and vertical avoidance behaviour. For the first time, wind farm avoidance rates have been recorded for pink-footed geese, and these rates will allow more robust impact assessments to be undertaken for both this species and waterfowl in general. Remote sensing techniques should be used to undertake long-term impact assessments at offshore wind farms to provide an evidence-base for assessing the mortality risk for migratory birds.