BASIC

Metagenomic techniques are used to analyse bacterial communities allowing both culturable and unculturable species to be represented. However, the screening of oral metagenomic samples can be hindered by high animal host DNA content. This study evaluated methods for the reduction of human DNA concentrations within oral metagenomic samples.

Quantitative plant assemblage data from coal balls, miospores, megaspores, and compression floras from the Calhoun coal bed (Missotirian) of the Illinois Basin (USA) are used to interpret spatial and temporal changes in plant commtinities in the paleo-peat swamp. Coal-ball and miospore floras from the Calhoun coal bed are dominated strongly by tree ferns, and pteridosperms and sigillarian lycopsids are subdominant, depending on geographic location within the coal bed. Although the overall composition of Calhotin peat-swamp assemblages is consistent both temporally and spatially, site-to-site differences and short-term shifts in species dominance indicate local topographic and hydrologic control on species composition within the broader context of the swamp. Statistical comparison of the Calhoun miospore assemblages with those from other Late Pennsylvanian coal beds suggests that the same basic species pool was represented in each peat-swamp landscape and that the relative patterns of dominance and diversity were persistent from site to site. Therefore, it appears that the relative patterns of proportional dominance stayed roughly the same from one coal bed to the next during Late Pennsylvanian glacially-driven climatic oscillations. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The classification accuracy statement is the basis of the evaluation of a classification's fitness for purpose. Accuracy statements are also used for applications such as the evaluation of classifiers, with attention focused especially on differences in the accuracy with which data are classified. Many factors influence the value of a classification accuracy assessment and evaluation programme. This paper focuses on the size of the testing set(s), and its impacts on accuracy assessment and comparison. Testing set size is important as an inappropriately large or small sample could lead to limited and sometimes erroneous assessments of accuracy and of differences in accuracy. In this paper the basic statistical principles of sample size determination are outlined. Some of the basic issues of sample size determination for accuracy assessment and accuracy comparison are discussed. With the latter, the researcher should specify the effect size (minimum meaningful difference), significance level and power used in an analysis and ideally also fit confidence limits to estimates. This will help design a study as well as aid interpretation. In particular, it will help avoid problems such as under-powered analyses and provide a richer information base for classification evaluation. Central to the argument is a discussion of Type II errors and their control. The paper includes equations that could be used to determine sample sizes for common applications in remote sensing, using both independent and related samples.

A set of seventy axenised and unicyanobacterial isolates belonging to the genus Anabaena were evaluated for biocidal activity against a set of phytopathogenic fungi. Among them, 35 Anabaena strains showed zone of inhibition against one or more fungi. The extracellular filtrates from 4 and 8 weeks old cultures of these Anabaena strains were further evaluated in terms of hydrolytic enzymes, proteins and IAA employing standard methods. Significant differences were also observed among the strains in terms of their FPase, chitosanase and xylanase activity, while low and relatively similar values of CMCase, cellobiase and protease activity were recorded in the strains analyzed. IAA production was also observed in all the strains. Comparative evaluation of activity of hydrolytic enzymes and antifungal activity revealed that such enzymes may contribute to the fungicidal activity of the cyanobacterial strains, besides other bioactive compounds, including IAA, which are established promising traits for biocontrol agents. This study is a first time report on the production of hydrolytic enzymes by these oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes, which can be potential candidates for the development of biocontrol agent(s) against selected phytopathogenic fungi.

Al~tract--The history of computer programming languages is reviewed, with emphasis on the influences of early languages on later efforts. Four generations of software are presented, beginning with machine code, and continuing through fourth generation languages, paradigms, and environments.

lya has now become one of the largest CCT programs in the world. The program features a systematic, professional, and rules-based procedure for handling grievances and appeals. The grievance redress system (GRS) of Pantawid Pamilya has made great strides and has resolved nearly 500,000 grievances since its launch. Well-designed structures, sound business processes and standards, and dynamic staff are some of the salient features in the current GRS. This note describes the Pantawid Pamilya experience in rolling out a large-scale system to redress grievances. It discusses the accountability context of Pantawid Pamilya and the role of grievance redress; outlines the institutional arrangements for Pantawid Pamilya and the GRS within the program; provides a summary of the GRS process and its performance; elaborates on the strengths as well as areas that need further strengthening in the GRS; and finally, provides operational implications for practitioners implementing similar GRSs in large-scale social programs.

The Atlantic Rainforest is a Brazilian ecosystem that is being rapidly being destroyed, along with the abiotic and biotic factors present in it. Among the biotic factors, the fungi are found in the soil which, besides being of major importance in terms of ecological niches, also have broad and significant applications in biotechnology. In order to assess the biodiversity of these microorganisms in this type of ecosystem, the Banhado Grande region was chosen at the Juréia-Itatins Ecology Station, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Within this region, two areas were delimited for study, one covered with natural (primary) vegetation and the other containing vegetation that regenerated following the planting of rice crops, referred to here as secondary. Collection of compound soil samples were taken (depth 0 -15 cm) over a period of two and a half years, with the litter first being removed, during dry/cold and humid/hot periods. After sifting the samples, they were appropriately processed using the serial dilution technique to isolate the fungi from the soil. Six different culture media were used, having pHs of 4.5, 7.0 and 9.0. Altogether, 1,211 strains were isolated, divided into the following groups: Hyphomycetes, the most abundant followed by Ascomycetes, Zygomycetes, Coelomycetes, and Oomycetes. From these, 112 species were identified, 8 down to the genus level, and those that did not produce conidia were grouped as Mycelia sterilia. Among the strains, 67 were cellulolytic, 32 originated solely in soil under natural vegetation, and 26 originated solely in soil under secondary vegetation.

Abstract—Research on multi fingered robot hand (MFRH) is being carried out to accommodate a variety of tasks such as grasping and manipulation of objects in the field of industrial applications, service robots, and rehabilitation robots. The first step in realising a fully ...

Drishtee is a franchise-based telecenter initiative for delivering information and services to rural and semi-urban populations in India. Drishtee's objective is to develop and manage a series of partnerships that will (1) work together to deliver both governmental and private services efficiently to citizens in rural areas, and (2) generate revenues to maintain the economic viability of the operation by charging fees for these services. Drishtee provides technical expertise and management consultancy to build the information technology (IT) infrastructure and the human capacity to link service providers (government offices and private enterprises) to rural citizens. The initiative is somewhat like Gyandoot, a network of rural kiosks that deliver government services in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh state, but with an essential difference: it is completely organized by the private sector and funded in a self-sustaining manner.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro virulence of three isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae to eggs and larvae of the tick Boophilus microplus. The fungus tested was isolated from engorged females of B. microplus collected in the field, and identified as Ma01, Ma02 e Ma04. These isolates were evaluated by immersion of eggs and larvae in suspension with different conidial concentrations: 105, 106, 107 e 108 conidia/ml. In each isolate there was a treatment group for each spore concentration and a control group with 10 repetitions. It was observed in the treated egg groups that there was a hatching percentage that was much less than that observed in the control groups. This was in inverse proportion to the conidia concentration/ml. Larval bioassays of all the tested isolates resulted in a high mortality of larvae in direct proportion to the spore concentration/ml, 10 days after the conidia suspensions were inoculated. To consolidate the infection, the fungus used in bioassays was re-isolated. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Spent Brewing Grains (SBG) was evaluated for its efficacy to be used as sole carbon source for the synthesis of a-amylase in solid-state fermentation using a fungal strain of Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 6270. Enzyme production was superior when the culture grew on mesophilic temperatures and best yields were at 25 °C. At 30 °C, yields were almost comparable. Maximum production of a-amylase [6870 U/g dry substrate (gds)] was obtained when SSF was carried out at 30 °C for 96 h using SBG medium, which had initial moisture of 70% and was inoculated using a spore suspension containing 1 × 10 7 spores/ml. Supplementation of SBG with external carbon sources such as mono-, di and polysaccharides caused repression in enzyme synthesis by the fungal culture.

It has become increasingly clear that courts across the globe must do more to better organize and manage their caseload and that automation alone is not the answer. In response to this need, case flow management has emerged to become the central method of promoting greater court responsibility and accountability for efficient case processing. For over thirty years court case management concepts have evolved, starting in the United States (U.S.), spreading to other industrialized common law countries initially. Yet, for many judicial systems, the concept, techniques, and supporting systems of case flow management are still relatively new ideas that need to be more fully understood. This paper helps develop a basic understanding of case flow management by defining the concept, outlining the various techniques used, presenting in general the different case management information systems that support those techniques, and outlining the core steps a judicial system can take to plan for, ...

The effect of acetic acid concentration on xylose fermentation to xylitol by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated in semisynthetic medium containing different concentrations of the acid. Increasing acetic acid concentration up to 1.0 g/1 favored xylitol yield and productivity, with maximum values of 0.82 g/g and 0.57 g/.h1, respectively. The presence of acetic acid reduced cell production at all concentration. Furthermore, acetic acid was assimilated by the yeast together with the sugars and was depleted from the medium at concentrations of less than 3.0 g/1. The ability of this yeast to assimilate acetic acid suggests that these cells act as agents of medium detoxification. This behavior may lead to a viable microbiological process of xylitol production by C. guilliermondii FTI 20037 using xylose-rich lignocel-lulosic hydrolysates in which acetic acid is commonly present, causing inhibition of fermentative activity.

After significant diplomatic efforts, South Africa’s inclusion into the BRICS grouping in 2011 can be
regarded as one of South Africa’s principal foreign policy achievements over the past years. It also
fundamentally altered the nature of the BRICS group, giving it a more global structure. Yet little is
known about why South Africa sought BRICS membership, why it was chosen over larger economies
(e.g. Indonesia) or faster-growing countries (e.g. Nigeria), and how this altered South Africa’s insertion
into the international system. This article details the deliberations about South Africa’s inclusion into
the BRICS and its premiere as a BRICS member at the 3rd BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Sanya in 2011,
which symbolized an important step towards the institutionalization of the BRICS grouping. It argues
that Brazil’s, China’s and India’s previous interaction with South Africa, for example in the context of
the BASIC and IBSA groupings, contributed to generating trust between large emerging powers and
South Africa. South Africa was therefore a far more natural choice and involved fewer risks of reducing
the group’s capacity to develop joint positions in multilateral fora. While both the BRICS grouping and
South Africa significantly benefitted from the inclusion, it also made South Africa’s foreign policy
challenges more complex, as it increasingly has to balance its emerging power commitments with its
role as representative of Africa’s poorer nations and that of regional leader.

Support of voice services, whether via direct customer care agent, IVR, or deposit of voicemail, is done in real time. Real-time data support might be via Web access frequently asked questions, an avatar, or an online customer care agent using instant messaging. These require real-time interactive responses but low data volumes. The help desk function might also include nonreal time (IVR and data) support for both MFI personnel and MFI customers. Nonreal-time support can involve call back or use of chat, voicemail, or electronic mail to correspond with the person making the request. Basic connectivity and access to such services are all that is required.

STUDIES IN EMOTION AND SOCIAL INTERACTION Second Series Series Editors Keith Oatley University of Toronto Antony Manstead University of Amsterdam This series is jointly published by the Cambridge University Press and the Editions de la Maison des Sciences de ...

This report has been prepared under the leadership of Jean-François Arvis, Monica Alina Mustra, and John Panzer (sector manager) with a core team of external partners, including Lauri Ojala and Tapio Naula. Additional contributions were made by Julia Nielson (including help in drafting parts of the report) and Jean Pierre Chaffour. Liliya Repa contributed to the data analysis and the data appendix. Several reviewers offered extensive advice and comments throughout the conceptualization stages. These included Aart Kray, Robin Carruthers, and Najy Benhassine.

The formation of N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase is under carbon catabolite repression in growing Penicillium chrysogenum. The enzyme accumulates inside the cells during the stationary phase of growth and is released into the culture fluid when the cell-wall lysis has started and progressed. The time-course of enzyme formation strongly supports the suggestion that fungal N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase may have a role in the degradation of intermediate cell-wall breakdown products during starvation. Regarding that analogous enzymes from other fungi have been shown to be able to liberate GlcNAc monomers from different glycoproteins and glycopeptides a possible participation in the orderly destruction of cellular glycoprotein components cannot be excluded. The physical and enzyme kinetic properties of both intracellular and extracellular N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase are essentially the same indicating that the enzyme is probably released into the culture fluid without modification.

For many decades the mining industry regarded resources/reserves estimation and classification as a mere calculation requiring basic mathematical and geological knowledge. Most methods were based on geometrical procedures and spatial data distribution. Therefore, uncertainty associated with tonnages and grades either were ignored or mishandled, although various mining codes require a measure of confidence in the values reported. Traditional methods fail in reporting the level of confidence in the quantities and grades. Conversely, kriging is known to provide the best estimate and its associated variance. Among kriging methods, Ordinary Kriging (OK) probably is the most widely used one for mineral resource/reserve estimation, mainly because of its robustness and its facility in uncertainty assessment by using the kriging variance. It also is known that OK variance is unable to recognize local data variability, an important issue when heterogeneous mineral deposits with higher and poorer grade zones are being evaluated. Altenatively, stochastic simulation are used to build local or global uncertainty about a geological attribute respecting its statistical moments. This study investigates methods capable of incorporating uncertainty to the estimates of resources and reserves via OK and sequential gaussian and sequential indicator simulation The results showed that for the type of mineralization studied all methods classified the tonnages similarly. The methods are illustrated using an exploration drill hole data sets from a large Brazilian coal deposit.

Different Southeast Asian countries have embraced different language-ineducation policies and practices for classroom instruction. In some, such as Vietnam, explicit language policies have been in place for decades and need reviewing in the light of emerging social issues and their relevance to global and regional trends. In others, such as the newly independent Timor Leste, adopting a relevant language policy is critical to the country's drive towards nationbuilding. This volume is largely based on the presentations and deliberations of the consultative conference, and it aims to bring together, in a single volume: a) relevant legislation and national policies and regulations related to the use of the mother tongue as the language of instruction. b) some case studies of projects or initiatives introduced by various countries' Ministries of Education, written up by identified experts, and annotated by international experts and consultants. c) policy recommendations and region-wide strategies.

Seismic interferometry involves the crosscorrelation of responses at different receivers to obtain the Green's function between these receivers. For the simple situation of an impulsive plane wave propagating along the x-axis, the crosscorrelation of the responses at two receivers along the x-axis gives the Green's function of the direct wave between these receivers. When the source function of the plane wave is a transient ͑as in exploration seismology͒ or a noise signal ͑as in passive seismology͒, then the crosscorrelation gives the Green's function, convolved with the autocorrelation of the source function. Direct-wave interferometry also holds for 2D and 3D situations, assuming the receivers are surrounded by a uniform distribution of sources. In this case, the main contributions to the retrieved direct wave between the receivers come from sources in Fresnel zones around stationary points. The main application of direct-wave interferometry is the retrieval of seismic surface-wave responses from ambient noise and the subsequent tomographic determination of the surfacewave velocity distribution of the subsurface. Seismic interferometry is not restricted to retrieving direct waves between receivers. In a classic paper, Claerbout shows that the autocorrelation of the transmission response of a layered medium gives the plane-wave reflection response of that medium. This is essentially 1D reflected-wave interferometry. Similarly, the crosscorrelation of the transmission responses, observed at two receivers, of an arbitrary inhomogeneous medium gives the 3D reflection response of that medium. One of the main applications of reflected-wave interferometry is retrieving the seismic reflection response from ambient noise and imaging of the reflectors in the subsurface. A common aspect of direct-and reflected-wave interferometry is that virtual sources are created at positions where there are only receivers without requiring knowledge of the subsurface medium parameters or of the positions of the actual sources.

Bahasa pemrograman adalah software bahasa komputer yang digunakan dengan cara merancang atau membuat program sesuai dengan struktur dan metode yang dimiliki oleh bahasa program itu sendiri. Komputer mengerjakan transformasi data berdasarkan kumpulan printah program yang telah dibuat oleh program. Kumpulan perintah ini harus dimengerti oleh komputer, berstruktur terntentu (syntax), dan bermakna. Bahasa pemrograman merupakan notasi untuk memberikan secara tepat program komputer. Berbeda dengan bahasa, misalkan Bahasa Indonesia dan Inggris yang merupakan bahasa alamiah (natural language), sintaksis dan semantik bahasa pemrograman komputer ditentukan secara jelas dan terstruktur, sehingg bahasa pemrograman juga disebut sebagai bahasa formal (formal language).

In the present research paper, anticonvulsant Sodium valproate tablets were prepared using two different disintegrating agents in different ratio. Acrycoat-L-100 polymer was used as an enteric coating material. The tablets were formulated using direct compression method. Further post formulation parameters like hardness, friability, weight variations and content uniformity were studied. The results suggested, that the prepared enteric coated tablets specifics all the criteria of the standard formulation as per specified in monographs.

Hydraulic conductivity is one of the important, basic engineering properties of soils. However, as a soil parameter it is difficult to measure and can be highly variable, necessitating the investigation of a large number of samples. For these reasons several researchers have proposed various indirect methods for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of soils from easily measured and routinely obtainable data. As plasticity is the most distinctive and the easiest property of clays to measure, it would be a very convenient basis for predicting the hydraulic conductivity. This paper focuses on an investigation of the relationship between the hydraulic conductivity of clays and their Atterberg limits. For this purpose five samples of expanding and non-expanding clays were used. The results of laboratory tests showed that the hydraulic conductivity of a clay at a selected void ratio could be adequately determined when the external surface area of the clay grains was considered. The finding that there exists an exactly defined relationship between the Atterberg limits of clays and their external specific surfaces helped us to express the hydraulic conductivity in terms of the void ratio and the plasticity value.

Background: Vitamin E is one of the important antioxidants linked to regulate various diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and male infertility. A relatively simple and economic biochemical modifi ed method has been developed to determine serum α -tocopherol concentration. Methods: The current modifi ed method is based on previous Baker and Frank method and the method of Martinek by using 2,2 ′ -bipyridyl, ferric chloride, and xylene. The complex of ferrous ions generated in this reaction with 2,2 ′ -bipyridyl is determined by using a plain enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay microplate (non-antibody coated) at 492 nm. Results: The standard curve of this new modifi ed method shows a linearity with correlation r = 0.997 (concentration vs. absorbance). The absorbance of this color complex is directly proportional to the α -tocopherol concentration. The sensitivity of this new modifi ed method has been compared and correlated with Baker and Frank method by using 15 human samples (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This simple and economic method may be routinely used to analyze α -tocopherol concentration in serum.

The 2007-2008 global food crisis has renewed interest in post-harvest loss (PHL), but estimates remain scarce, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper uses self-reported PHL measures from nationally representative household surveys in Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania. Overall, on-farm PHL adds up to 1.4-5.9 percent of the national maize harvest, substantially lower than the FAO (2011) post-harvest handling and storage loss estimate for cereals of 8 percent. It is also concentrated among few, less than a fifth of households. PHL increases with humidity and temperature, and declines with better market access, post primary education, higher seasonal price differences and possibly also with improved storage practices. Wider use of nationally representative surveys in studying PHL is called for.