Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation, expression and comparison of a pectate lyase produced by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 1 and race 4

Fusarium wilt is a devastating disease in banana production. For example, cultivar Gros Michel was destroyed by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 1 (FOC1) of the pathogen. Cultivar Cavendish is resistant to FOC1, but a newly occurring race 4 (FOC4) was found to be able to infect Cavendish. Studying the fungal pathogenicity is an important step towards the disease control. In this study, we cloned two pl1 genes (723 bp and 240 aa), encoding pectate lyase 1 (PL1) from both FOC1 and FOC4, into the expression vector pPICZaA and the two genes were expressed in Pichia pastoris strains of SMD1168. The recombinant PL1, r-FOC1-PL1 and r-FOC4-PL1, were purified as active extracellular proteins. The optimal PL activity was observed at 50°C and pH 10. Both recombinant PL1 retained >72% activity at pH 3.0 to 11.0 and >70% activity at 10 to 70°C. Activity of the recombinant PL1 required calcium ions with the optimum activity at 0.75 mM CaCl 2 . This is the first isolation and purification of PL1 from pathogenic FOC. Keywords: Pectate lyase, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense , Fusarium wilt, banana
Development of Sensor with High Selectivity for Saltiness and Its Application in Taste Evaluation of Table Salt

Previous research has focused on using taste sensors to evaluate very low concentrations of minerals in table salt that cannot be detected with the senses, indicating potential applications in salt quality control. However, the poor selectivity of taste sensors for salt and the inability to evaluate the total taste due to the presence of other tastes, such as bitterness, besides saltiness have become new research topics. Our work aims to improve the selectivity of sensors for saltiness by optimizing the sensor components for foodstuff applications. Furthermore, we have evaluated saltiness with a high correlation to human sensory saltiness evaluation scores by a new analysis method using saltiness sensors with positively and negatively charged membranes. We hope that the optimized saltiness sensors and new analysis method can be used in evaluating the taste of salt in the general foodstuff industry.
Managing Ambiguity: Between Markets and Managerialism — A Case Study of ‘Middle’ Managers in Further Education

Advocates of devolved and market oriented Education reform, point to the benefits from self determination which enhance both teacher and managerial autonomy. Critics refer, on the other hand, to the ways in which running education institutions on business and accounting principles have introduced a new managerialism (Clarke et al, 1994; Pollitt, 1990; Clarke and Newman, 1997), which has driven a wedge between lecturers and senior manager interests. In Further Education, according to Elliott (1996a), this finds expression in conflict between lecturers in defence of professional and pedagogic values, and senior managers promoting the managerial bottom line (Randle and Brady, 1994). The danger in polarising such interests in this way is that it presents a plausible, if not oversimplified, analysis of organisational behaviour as market forces permeate FE. If this paper concurs with many critics on the effects of the new managerialism, it departs company from a prevailing determinism which assumes an over controlled view of the FE workplace (Seddon and Brown, 1997). Despite evidence of widespread casualisation and depro-fessionalisation in FE, this paper examines changing managerial cultures in the FE workplace, in this case among academic ‘middle’ managers, which suggests that managerialism is not as complete or uncontested as is often portrayed. The paper draws on an ESRC research project conducted by the authors (ESRC no. R000236713), looking at Changing Teaching and Managerial Cultures in FE, at a time when the sector is emerging from a series of funding crises associated with redundancies, industrial action, mismanagement and low morale at college level.
Enhancement of novel extracellular bacteriocin production by media optimization using LAB isolate from meat

Bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria have been widely studied in recent years; however, there are relatively few studies that describe their chemical structure. This may be due to the many challenges associated with the purification of these antimicrobial peptides. This study was amid to isolate lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) from meat in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia on (MRS) medium. Forty isolates of LAB showed antibacterial activities against indicator bacteria Gram positive bacteria S.aureus ATCC25923, and Gram negative bacteria E.coli ATCC25422, K.pneumonia ATCC700603, P.aeruginosa ATCC27583. Also antibacterial activities was screened by agar well diffusion method, results showed that ten out of 40 (25%) of the tested isolates have antibacterial activities against all indicator bacteria. The isolates of LAB with the highest antimicrobial effect were identified on the basis of its genetically sequencing. Results revealed that the M8 isolate have 96% identity with Leuconostoc mesentroides and was the highest bacteriocin producer. So it has been selected for the current investigation. The effect of different factors such as (inoculums concentrations, incubation temperature, incubation period, pH and aeration) on the production of bacteriocin was studied. The best condition for the production of highest amount of bacteriocin was incubation of static culture at 35°C for 24 hr and pH 6.2.
Establishing Process Management: Case BillerudKorsnäs Finland Oy

Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu Tampere University of Applied Sciences Degree Programme in International Business ANNI OJUTKANGAS: Establishing Process Management: Case BillerudKorsnäs Finland Oy Bachelor's thesis 49 pages, appendices 8 pages September 2016 The objective of this thesis is to help BillerudKorsnäs Finland Oy (BKF) to produce a process description and to find out how processes can be used as tools in company operations as well as in day to day project improvement work. The aim is to create a foundation for a standardized business culture and a routine of easy and systematic development. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate how processes can be mapped and how companies can benefit from the introduction of processes as tools. This thesis consists of a written process description and a research to find out what potential BKF employees saw in using processes. While the creation of the process description did not follow any specific methodology, the research was qualitative in nature. The employees at Tampere office were interviewed using semi-structured group interview. The interview was transcribed and analyzed by coding and categorizing content into relevant themes. The result of the process mapping was a process description of the produce and deliver process, published in this thesis partially. Tampere office personnel evaluated the description and deemed it to be accurate and explicit. The main finding of the interview was that there is clear potential of using processes to improve information flow and defining of responsibilities between internal stakeholders. The second major finding was that there are issues in continuous improvement that cannot be fixed simply through introduction of process management. It was concluded that BillerudKorsnäs Finland Oy should continue developing a process system as it can concretely improve its operations. Through processes, shared understanding can be achieved throughout the different departments and the benefits of a truly standardized business culture can be enjoyed. BKF should create clear plans and schedules for future process mapping and actively include its employees. Instead of using processes as tools meant just for managers, they should be incorporated into the company culture. BKF should also consider how communication can be improved between stakeholders who are not part of this process project. There is clear potential in in utilizing process thinking even if the intention is not to shift to fully process based management. However, it is important that processes are to be taken seriously and the framework for complete cultural change is nurtured.
Characterizing Declarativity across Business Process Formalisms

Organizations are struggling to choose from or combine the different business process management paradigms offered in today's BPM landscape, such as workflow management, dynamic case management and straight through processing. The field of declarative processes seems to be able to address this challenge by offering a unified approach to business process modeling, providing variable amounts of flow at execution time and different levels of autonomy to the actors based on models using a single formalism. The notion of declarativity in business processes seems to be ill defined and is often treated as a black and white distinction. However, a number of quite different formalisms have been developed that are broadly agreed to be declarative. This paper proposes a number of qualitative characteristics to characterize the declarative nature of process modeling formalisms. The characteristics are evaluated by applying them to a number of relevant process modeling formalisms, both imperative and declarative, and we discuss how these characteristics can be utilized to create business processes that offer activity flows that are known up front where needed, and allow ad hoc approaches to offer experts freedom and to support impediment driven approaches in an STP context.
Implementation of a neuron model using FPGAs

Las redes neuronales artificiales basan sus capacidades de procesamiento en una arquitectura paralela, lo cual las hace utiles para resolver problemas de reconocimiento de patrones, identificacion de sistemas y control. En este articulo, presentamos una implementacion digital basada en arreglos de compuertas programables (FPGA, por sus siglas en ingles) de un modelo de neurona tipo McCullogh-Pitts con tres tipos de funciones de activacion no-lineal: escalon, rampa-saturacion y sigmoide. Presentamos el codigo en lenguaje VHDL utilizado para implementar las neuronas, y tambien presentamos los resultados de su simulacion obtenidos con el software Xilinx Foundation 3.0. Los resultados son analizados en funcion de la velocidad y el porcentaje de utilizacion del chip.
The Role of Within-Brand and Cross-Brand Communications in Competitive Growth

Consumer-generated communication processes have drawn increasing attention of marketers and researchers. However, an underresearched issue is that interpersonal communications are not always brand specific. Thus, a person can adopt a brand either as a result of communication with adopters of that brand (within-brand influence) or as a result of an interaction with adopters of competing brands (cross-brand influence). This study shows that the interplay between within- and cross-brand influence can have a substantial effect on the growth of markets under competition. The authors develop a model that explicitly represents these two influences and focus on the case of two otherwise identical competing brands with different entry times. As a result of within-brand influence, current customers create an interaction-based advantage for the first entrant, which grows with time. Thus, we illustrate how customers should be viewed as market assets who yield increasing returns during the diffusion process. Conversely, cross-brand influence enables a market follower to enjoy a shorter takeoff time. Given the combination of both, the authors predict the “dual pattern,” characterized by a fast takeoff for a follower, followed by a widening gap in favor of the first entrant, all else being equal. They show that such a pattern dominated the market growth of the cellular industry in Western Europe. They explain the reasons behind this dual pattern, rule out straightforward alternative explanations, and discuss the managerial implications.
Body Temperature and Haematological Indices of Boars Exposed to Direct Solar Radiation

The effects of exposure to direct sun light on body temperature (BT) and blood profile (BP) of boars was studied using Large White and Large White x local F 1 crossbred boars. The experiment involved three treatments: zero exposure (T 1 ); 45 minutes (T 2 ) and 60 minutes exposure (T 3 ). Pigs were exposed between 13:30 and 14:45 hr daily for 4 weeks. Body temperature of control and exposed pigs was measured daily at the end of exposure. Blood samples were collected and analysed for LC, EC, HbC and PCV while MCV, MCH and MCHC were calculated from EC, HbC and PCV values. Ambient temperature (AT) averaged 27.84 o C indoors and 40.54 o C outdoors over the experimental period. There were significant genotype, treatment and interaction effects on most of the parameters studied. The LW boars were more severely affected by exposure to direct sunlight than the crossbred boars. It was concluded that wallow pits and shades should be provided for extensively managed pigs to enable them cope with the high thermal radiation and heat stress inherent in the tropics. Again, crossbreeding and selection for heat tolerance would ensure improved productivity in future. Key word: blood profile, body temperature, erythrocyte indices, Large White, local boar, thermoregulation.
Border Enforcement and Firm Response in the Management of Invasive Species

This analysis presents a theoretical model of firm response to border enforcement and evaluates both the intended and unintended effects under two enforcement regimes: destruction versus treatment of contaminated shipments. The results indicate that importers may respond to increased inspection by reducing shipments and decreasing due care. In response to increased pest populations, firms may reduce shipments and increase due care, indicating that an enforcement response may not be necessary. The analysis reveals the importance of the nature of the due-care technology, as well as the relationships underlying the probability of detection, in determining the effects of enforcement.
Time intermittency and spectral features of the geomagnetic field

In the field of geomagnetism a number of studies have been devoted to the investigation of turbulence and in- termittency in the outer core fluid motions. Here, in order to obtain information on such phenomena we study the time spectral and self-similarity features of the main geomagnetic field fluctuations as measured on the Earth's surface. The existence of a power law spectrum, characterised by an exponent α ≈−11/3, and an anom- alous scaling of q-th order structure functions on time scales longer than 5 years, suggests the occurrence of in- termittent turbulence rather than classical Kolmogorov turbulence in the fluid core motions. These results are briefly discussed in connection with the existence of a strong magnetic field and drift-wave turbulence.
Service Rating Prediction by Exploring Social Mobile Client's Geographical Places

— Now’s days over two hundred million customers on-line to the area-wide web, and E-alternate of global alternate. Throw the uses of cellular tool and strategies have essentially extra fantastic social networks offerings, which includes facebook, twitter, Google plus, LinkedIn, and so forth. which allows users to share their research, evaluations, ratings, photos, check-ins, video, audio ,and so forth. The consumer geographical data placed with the aid of clever cellphone bridges the space between physical and digital worlds. the brand new elements of social network like interpersonal trade and hobby based totally totally on circles of pals and challenges for recommender machine (RS). location records features as the connection among person’s physical behaviors and social networks carrier through the clever smartphone or internet services. We are seeking recommendation from those social networks realize to geographical facts as place-based social networks (LBSN). We mine:(1)customer’s rating for any item. (2) among customer’s score differences and consumer-character. (three)interpersonal interest similarity, are a unified score prediction modules are used to speak with the person.
Skills-biased labour demand and the pursuit of inclusive growth in South Africa

This paper examines the changing nature of occupational labour-market trends in South Africa and the resulting impact on wages. We observe high levels of demand for skilled labour that have intensified a trend already established before 1994. Over the period 2001-12 employment within the primary sectors collapsed, employment in the manufacturing sector did not increase, while employment in the tertiary sectors such as financial services and community services grew. High- and medium-skilled occupations such as managers, professionals, service and sales workers have seen significant growth while the number of low-skilled workers, and the proportion of medium-skilled workers in the primary and secondary sectors of the economy have declined. In addition, an analysis of occupation demand using a Katz-Murphy decomposition model further shows that within-sector shifts outweigh between-sector shifts in explaining changes in relative labour demand. Increasing demand for skilled labour has also fed into and changed the structure of wages, and therefore wage inequality. We follow the work by Firpo et al. (2011) in an attempt to explore the way in which the returns to certain tasks (rather than occupations) have changed over time. This approach emphasizes the influence of structural factors such as technology and trade, in the presence of increasingly routinized tasks and offshoring, on wages. We run quantile regressions which suggest that, when controlling for age/experience, race and education, jobs which involve automated or routine tasks and those without any face-to-face component (largely lower- to medium-skilled jobs) have seen declining wage levels over time.
CDO Surfaces Dynamics

Modelling the dynamics of credit derivatives is a challenging task in finance and economics. The recent crisis has shown that the standard market models fail to measure and forecast financial risks and their characteristics. This work studies risk of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) by investigating the evolution of tranche spread surfaces and base correlation surfaces using a dynamic semiparametric factor model (DSFM). The DSFM offers a combination of flexible functional data analysis and dimension reduction methods, where the change in time is linear but the shape is nonparametric. The study provides an empirical analysis based on iTraxx Europe tranches and proposes an application to curve trading strategies. The DSFM allows us to describe the dynamics of all the tranches for all available maturities and series simultaneously which yields better understanding of the risk associated with trading CDOs and other structured products.
The Declining "Equity" of American Higher Education

An analysis of three decades of data from national samples of entering college freshmen reveals that (a) there are substantial socioeconomic inequities in access to the most selective U.S. colleges and universities and that (b) American higher education is more socioeconomically stratified today than at any time during the past three decades. The increasing concentration of high-SES students in the most selective institutions appears to have come primarily at the expense of middle-SES students.
Physical modeling and analysis of rain and clouds by anisotropic scaling multiplicative processes

We argue that the basic properties of rain and cloud fields (particularly their scaling and intermittency) are best understood in terms of coupled (anisotropic and scaling) cascade processes. We show how such cascades provide a framework not only for theoretically and empirically investigating these fields, but also for constructing physically based stochastic models. This physical basis is provided by cascade scaling and intermittency, which is of broadly the same sort as that specified by the dynamical (nonlinear, partial differential) equations. Theoretically, we clarify the links between the divergence of high-order statistical moments, the multiple scaling and dimensions of the fields, and the multiplicative and anisotropic nature of the cascade processes themselves. We show how such fields can be modeled by fractional integration of the product of appropriate powers of conserved but highly intermittent fluxes. We also empirically test these ideas by exploiting high-resolution radar rain reflectivities. The divergence of moments is established by direct use of probability distributions, whereas the multiple scaling and dimensions required the development of new empirical techniques. The first of these estimates the "trace moments" of rain reflectivities, which are used to determine a moment-dependent exponent governing the variation of the various statistical moments with scale. This exponent function in turn is used to estimate the dimension function of the moments. A second technique called "functional box counting," is a generalization of a method first developed for investigating strange sets and permits the direct evaluation of another dimension function, this time associated with the increasingly intense regions. We further show how the different intensities are related to singularities of different orders in the field. This technique provides the basis for another new technique, called "elliptical dimensional sampling," which permits the elliptical dimension rain (describing its stratification) to be directly estimated: it yields del =2.22+0.07, which is less than that of an isotropic rain field (del =3), but significantly greater than that of a completely flat (stratified) two-dimensional field (de1-2).
Variation of lattice constant and cluster formation in GaAsBi

We investigate the structural properties of GaAsBi layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs at substrate temperatures between 220–315 °C. Irrespective of the growth temperature, the structures exhibited similar Bi compositions, and good overall crystal quality as deduced from X-Ray diffraction measurements. After thermal annealing at temperatures as low as 500 °C, the GaAsBi layers grown at the lowest temperatures exhibited a significant reduction of the lattice constant. The lattice variation was significantly larger for Bi-containing samples than for Bi-free low-temperature GaAs samples grown as a reference. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry gave no evidence of Bi diffusing out of the layer during annealing. However, dark-field and Z-contrast transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed the formation of GaAsBi clusters with a Bi content higher than in the surrounding matrix, as well as the presence of metallic As clusters. The apparent reduction of the lattice constant can be explained .
ower-efficient wireless sensor for physiological ignal acquisition

in-Chern Chiou ational Chiao Tung University epartment of Electrical and Control Engineering sinchu, Taiwan 300 Abstract. This work presents a power-efficient wireless sensor implemented using microelectromechanical system MEMS -based dry electrodes MDE and a ZigBee protocol chip for physiological signal acquisition. To improve signal quality with low electrode–skin interface impedance, a silicon-based MDE is fabricated via micromachining technology. The proposed wireless sensor can provide four different channels for up to 10 kHz bandwidth, 10-bit resolution biomedical signal transmissions. Different from other systems, the proposed wireless sensor employs a novel power management method for physiological signals to reduce power consumption. The proposed wireless sensor successfully transmits electrocardiogram ECG signals and four-channel electroencephalogram EEG signals with power consumptions of 92.7 and 56.8 mW respectively. It consumes 46% less power than the original sensor without power management 173 mW in ECG acquisition and 67% less power in EEG acquisition. The circuit printed-circuit-band area in the proposed wireless sensor is 3.5 4.5 cm, suitable for various portable biomedical applications. © 2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. DOI: 10.1117/1.3124190