Radial basis function neural networks for modeling growth rates of the basidiomycetes Physisporinus vitreus and Neolentinus lepideus

A radial basis function (RBF) neural network was developed and compared against a quadratic response surface (RS) model for predicting the specific growth rates of the biotechnologically important basidiomycetous fungi, Physisporinus vitreus and Neolentinus lepideus, under three environmental conditions: temperature (10-30°C), water activity (0.950-9.998), and pH (4-6). Both the RBF network and polynomial RS model were mathematically evaluated against experimental data using graphical plots and several statistical indices. The evaluation showed that both models gave reasonably good predictions, but the performance of the RBF neural network was superior to that of the classical statistical method for all three data sets used (training, testing, full). Sensitivity analysis revealed that of the three experimental factors the most influential on the growth rate of P. vitreus was water activity, followed by temperature and pH to a lesser extent. In contrast, temperature in particular and then water activity were the key determinants of the development of N. lepideus. RBF neural networks could be a powerful technique for modeling fungal growth behavior under certain parameters and an alternative to time-consuming, traditional microbiological technique

An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides. Part 1: new molecules, metabolism, fate, and transport

With the exponential number of published data on neonicotinoids and fipronil during the last decade, an updated review of literature has been conducted in three parts. The present part focuses on gaps of knowledge that have been addressed after publication of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides in 2015. More specifically, new data on the mode of action and metabolism of neonicotinoids and fipronil, and their toxicity to invertebrates and vertebrates, were obtained. We included the newly detected synergistic effects and/or interactions of these systemic insecticides with other insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, adjuvants, honeybee viruses, and parasites of honeybees. New studies have also investigated the contamination of all environmental compartments (air and dust, soil, water, sediments, and plants) as well as bees and apicultural products, food and beverages, and the exposure of invertebrates and vertebrates to such contaminants. Finally, we review new publications on remediation of neonicotinoids and fipronil, especially in water systems. Conclusions of the previous WIA in 2015 are reinforced; neonicotinoids and fipronil represent a major threat worldwide for biodiversity, ecosystems, and all the services the latter provide

Developing Hot Potatoes-based Materials For English Teaching And Learning At Smk

: The aim of this study was to develop mulimedia-based materials for teaching and learning English at SMK Negeri 1 Balai. The development of Hot potatoes-based materials adopted research and development study. This study applied ADDIE steps as follows. Firstly, need analysis. The need analysis found that there was a need of multimedia-based materials for teaching and leaning English at SMK Negeri 1 Balai. Secondly, design, the design of the materials was based on need analysis and english subject curriculum. The blue print or lay out of the materials were created in this stage. Thirdly, development. The development involves some author wares, such as hot potatoes application,adobe reader, picture editors and web page maker. The pilot product was created in this stage. fourthly was implementation of the materials. There were 30 students of SMK Negeri 1 Balai were involved in this stage. Based on thier responses, there is norevision on the materials. The last step was evaluation. This stage involved two media-materials experts and a language expert. They evaluated and responded that the materials are useable for teaching and learning English

Entry in the ADHD drugs market: Welfare impact of generics and me-toos

Recent decades have seen a growth in treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) including many branded and generic drugs. In the early 2000's, new drug entry dramatically altered market shares. We estimate a demand system for ADHD drugs and assess the welfare impact of new drugs. We find that entry induced large welfare gains by reducing prices of substitute drugs, and by providing alternative delivery mechanisms for existing molecules. Our results suggest that the success of follow-on patented drugs may come from unanticipated innovations like delivery mechanisms, a factor ignored by proposals to retard new follow-on drug approvals

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the thermal cycloaddition of aryl azides with activated alkenes.

International audienceReactions were performed from aryl azides on the one hand, and activated alkenes coming from β-dicarbonyl compounds or malonodinitrile on the other hand, either with recourse to conventional heating or to microwave activation, to afford 1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles. The mechanism and the regioselectivity of the reactions involving β-dicarbonyl compounds have been theoretically studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G* level: they are domino processes comprising a tautomeric equilibrium of the β-dicarbonyl compounds with their enol forms, a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the enol forms with the aryl azides (high activation energy), and a dehydration process (lower activation energy). The effect of non-conventional activation methods on the degradation of 1,2,3-triazolines was next studied experimentally. Finally, some of the 1,2,3-triazoles such synthesized were evaluated for their bactericidal and cytotoxic activities

Are guanine nucleotide binding proteins a distinct class of regulatory proteins?

AbstractProteins which bind guanine nucleotides are found in a diverse set of key regulatory positions. They are involved in hormone action, visual transduction, protein synthesis and microtubule assembly. In addition to their ability to bind guanine nucleotides these proteins possess several other common features. (i) They all have similar subunit composition, (ii) they can be ADP-ribosylated, (iii) their conformation changes depending on the nucleotide bound. These regulatory G-proteins have close functional homologies. Do they form a general class of regulatory proteins, like the protein kinases? Do they have a common evolutionary ancestry