On the Application of Data Clustering Algorithm used in Information Retrieval for Satellite Imagery Segmentation

This study proposes an automated technique for segmenting satellite imagery using unsupervised learning. Autoencoders, a type of neural network, are employed for dimensionality reduction and feature extraction. The study evaluates different segmentation architectures and encoders and identifies the best performing combination as the DeepLabv3+ architecture with a ResNet-152 encoder. This approach achieves high performance scores across multiple metrics and can be beneficial in various fields, including agriculture, land use monitoring, and disaster response

Effect of individual, simultaneous and sequential inoculation of pseudomonas fluorescens and meloidogyne incognita on growth, biochemical, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum l.)

This study was conducted on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. K-21) to investigate the bioprotective nature of Pseudomonas fluorescens and its interactive effects with Meloidogyne incognita in terms of growth biomarkers, changes in biochemical attributes and modulation in antioxidant enzymes of the tomato plant. In this study, we grew tomato plants with M. incognita and P. fluorescens in separate pots, simultaneously and sequentially (15 days prior or post) after 15 days of seed sowing. The sequential inoculation of Mi15→Pf maximally increased the root-knot index and decreased the nematode population. It was also noted that inoculation suppressed the plant growth biomarkers in comparison to control. However, maximum suppression in nematode reproduction and increment in growth and physiological attributes were observed when P. fluorescens was applied 15 days prior to the nematode (Pf15→Mi) as compared to control. All the treatments showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes. Expression of phenol content and defensive enzymes such as peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased, in contrast to a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) contents when compared with the untreated inoculated plants. However, the highest levels of POX and SOD, and a lowest of phenol, MDA and H2 O2 were displayed in the treatment Pf15→Mi, followed by Mi+Pf and Mi15→Pf

Evaluating the association of biallelic OGDHL variants with significant phenotypic heterogeneity

BACKGROUND: Biallelic variants in OGDHL, encoding part of the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, have been associated with highly heterogeneous neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the validity of this association remains to be confirmed. A second OGDHL patient cohort was recruited to carefully assess the gene-disease relationship. METHODS: Using an unbiased genotype-first approach, we screened large, multiethnic aggregated sequencing datasets worldwide for biallelic OGDHL variants. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate zebrafish knockouts of ogdhl, ogdh paralogs, and dhtkd1 to investigate functional relationships and impact during development. Functional complementation with patient variant transcripts was conducted to systematically assess protein functionality as a readout for pathogenicity. RESULTS: A cohort of 14 individuals from 12 unrelated families exhibited highly variable clinical phenotypes, with the majority of them presenting at least one additional variant, potentially accounting for a blended phenotype and complicating phenotypic understanding. We also uncovered extreme clinical heterogeneity and high allele frequencies, occasionally incompatible with a fully penetrant recessive disorder. Human cDNA of previously described and new variants were tested in an ogdhl zebrafish knockout model, adding functional evidence for variant reclassification. We disclosed evidence of hypomorphic alleles as well as a loss-of-function variant without deleterious effects in zebrafish variant testing also showing discordant familial segregation, challenging the relationship of OGDHL as a conventional Mendelian gene. Going further, we uncovered evidence for a complex compensatory relationship among OGDH, OGDHL, and DHTKD1 isoenzymes that are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and exhibit complex transcriptional compensation patterns with partial functional redundancy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of genetic, clinical, and functional studies, we formed three hypotheses in which to frame observations: biallelic OGDHL variants lead to a highly variable monogenic disorder, variants in OGDHL are following a complex pattern of inheritance, or they may not be causative at all. Our study further highlights the continuing challenges of assessing the validity of reported disease-gene associations and effects of variants identified in these genes. This is particularly more complicated in making genetic diagnoses based on identification of variants in genes presenting a highly heterogenous phenotype such as "OGDHL-related disorders"

Effect of Individual, Simultaneous and Sequential Inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Meloidogyne incognita on Growth, Biochemical, Enzymatic and Nonenzymatic Antioxidants of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

This study was conducted on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. K-21) to investigate the bioprotective nature of Pseudomonas fluorescens and its interactive effects with Meloidogyne incognita in terms of growth biomarkers, changes in biochemical attributes and modulation in antioxidant enzymes of the tomato plant. In this study, we grew tomato plants with M. incognita and P. fluorescens in separate pots, simultaneously and sequentially (15 days prior or post) after 15 days of seed sowing. The sequential inoculation of Mi15→Pf maximally increased the root-knot index and decreased the nematode population. It was also noted that inoculation suppressed the plant growth biomarkers in comparison to control. However, maximum suppression in nematode reproduction and increment in growth and physiological attributes were observed when P. fluorescens was applied 15 days prior to the nematode (Pf15→Mi) as compared to control. All the treatments showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes. Expression of phenol content and defensive enzymes such as peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased, in contrast to a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents when compared with the untreated inoculated plants. However, the highest levels of POX and SOD, and a lowest of phenol, MDA and H2O2 were displayed in the treatment Pf15→Mi, followed by Mi+Pf and Mi15→Pf

Modeling and investigation of Gulf El-Zayt wind farm for stability studying during extreme

This paper investigates the impact of extreme gust wind as a case of wind speed variation on a wind farm interconnected electrical grid. The impact of extreme gust wind speed variation on active and reactive power of the wind farms is studied for variable speed wind farm equipped with Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs). A simulation model of the under implementation 120 MW wind farm at Gulf El-Zayt region, Red Sea, Egypt, is simulated as a case study. A detailed model of extreme gust wind speed variation is implemented and simulated, using MATLAB/Simulink toolbox, based on International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 61400-1 and climate characteristic of Gulf El-Zayt site. The simulation results show the influence of different extreme gust wind speed variations on the fluctuation of active power and reactive power at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) of the studied wind farm

Plasmid mediated adaption of bacteria to changing environmental conditions

Wie in verschiedenen Studien gezeigt wurde, tragen konjugative Plasmide eine beachtliche Vielfalt von bakteriellen funktionellen Genen, die häufig nützliche Eigenschaften für den Wirt des Plasmids kodieren. Transferable Plasmide sind mobile genetische Elemente (MGE), die u.a. durch Konjugation oder Mobilisierung zwischen bakteriellen Zellen gleicher Spezies oder zwischen unterschiedlichen Taxa transferieren können. Die Fähigkeit, sich in einer Wirtszelle stabil zu replizieren, entscheidet über den Wirtsbereich des Plasmids. Unter sich schnell verändernden Umweltbedingungen tragen Plasmide zu einer raschen Anpassung bei. Der Schwerpunkt dieser Promotionsarbeit lag darin zu untersuchen, wie Bakteriengemeinschaften auf Veränderungen ihrer Umwelt reagieren, und unsere Studien haben gezeigt, dass IncP-1 Plasmide offensichtlich eine wichtige Rolle bei der Anpassung von Boden- oder Biofilterbakterien an sich ändernde Umweltveränderungen spielen. IncP-1 Plasmide verfügen über einen weiten Wirtsbereich und transferieren erfolgreich in Böden und ähnlichen Habitaten. IncP-1 Plasmide sind in der Lage, eine erstaunliche Vielzahl funktioneller Gene zu verbreiten, die Resistenz gegen Antibiotika, Desinfektionsmittel und/oder Schwermetalle vermitteln oder die Fähigkeit, Xenobiotika abzubauen. Als Reaktion auf sich verändernde Umweltbedingungen erhöht sich die relative Abundanz von IncP-1 Plasmiden, möglicherweise hervorgerufen durch horizontalen Gentransfer (HGT) oder die Proliferation von IncP-1 tragenden Populationen. Die Mehrzahl der untersuchten IncP-1 Plasmide wurde aus belasteter Umwelt isoliert. Die Rolle, die IncP-1 Plasmide in unbelasteten Böden spielen, war bisher deutlich weniger untersucht worden. In diesem Zusammenhang liefert diese Doktorarbeit Einblicke in das Vorhandensein, die Häufigkeit und die Diversität von IncP-1 Plasmiden und ihre mögliche ökologische Bedeutung in zwei verschiedenen Umgebungen, die als 'hot spots' für HGT bekannt sind. (1) Bio-Aufreinigungssysteme (BPS; Biofilter), die dem Landwirt eine wirkungsvolle, einfach anwendbare und kostengünstige Methode bieten, durch Pestizide verunreinigte Abwässer durch Bio-Abbau und Sorptionsvorgänge zu behandeln. Für ein BPS wurde kürzlich unter Feldbedingungen gezeigt, dass während der Saison die Abundanz von IncP-1 Plasmiden in BPS-Material zunahm, und durch trfA-Amplikon-Sequenzierung konnten die dynamischen Veränderungen in der Zusammensetzung der verschiedenen IncP-1 Untergruppen deutlich gemacht werden. Die Zunahme der IncP-1 Plasmide schien mit steigender Pestizid- Konzentration zu korrelieren. In dieser Doktorarbeit wurden Mikrokosmos-Experimente mit BPSMaterial mit oder ohne Linuron - einem Phenlyurea-Herbizid - durchgeführt. Kultivierungsunabhängige Methoden wurden angewendet, um die dynamische Reaktion von BPS-Bakteriengemeinschaften und ihren MGE auf die Zugabe von Linuron zu untersuchen. DNA (total community, TC), nach der Zugabe von Linuron zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten direkt aus den BPS+ und BPS- Proben gezogen, wurde mit Hilfe von quantitativer real-time-PCR oder PCR-Amplifizierung von degradativen Genen und anschließender Southern blot-Hybridisierung untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden Plasmide in sogenannten exogenen biparental matings in P. putida als Rezipient 'gefischt'. Der experimentelle Aufbau ermöglichte es, den Zusammenhang zwischen der Anwesenheit von Linuron und der Abundanz von IncP-1 Plasmiden und Genen aufzuzeigen, die für Enzyme kodieren, die am Abbau von Linuron beteiligt sind (Kapitel II und III). In drei Transkonjuganten konnte das hylA-Gen nachgewiesen werden. (2) Die Ökologie von IncP-1 Plasmiden wurde in der Rhizosphäre von drei verschiedenen Kulturpflanzen untersucht, die unter Gewächshausbedingungen in identischen Böden angebaut wurden. Die Daten aus dem Gewächshausexperiment haben mittels qPCR die kürzlich publizierte Beobachtung bestätigt, dass IncP-1 Plasmide in der Rhizosphäre von Salat unterFeldbedingungen angereichert wurden. Demgegenüber war die erhöhte relative Abundanz von IncP-1 Plasmiden weniger stark ausgeprägt in der Rhizosphäre von Tomate und kaum nachweisbar in Kartoffelpflanzen (Kapitel IV und V). Aufgrund der Fähigkeit, IncQ-Plasmide zu mobilisieren, wurden zahlreiche IncP-1 Plasmide in einem sogenannten triparental mating direkt aus Rhizosphäre-Bakterien 'gefischt'. Obwohl die Transkonjuganten anhand der Marker desIncQ-Plasmids selektiert wurden, trug die Mehrheit der Transkonjuganten auch IncP-1 Plasmide. Die kultivierungsunabhängigen Methoden, die in dieser Arbeit zum Einsatz kamen (DGGE, Pyrosequenzierung von 16S rRNA-Genfragmenten, Amplikon-Pyrosequenzierung von IncP- 1 trfA-Genen, qPCR, PCR und/oder Southern blot-Hybridisierung) ermöglichten uns, die Dynamik von bakteriellen Gemeinschaften und von IncP-1 Plasmiden auf sich verändernde Umweltbedingungen in der TC-DNA der getesteten Proben zu erforschen. Die in dieser Arbeit vorgelegten Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die IncP-1 Plasmid-tragenden Populationen bemerkenswert dynamisch nicht nur auf die Einführung von xenobiotischenVerbindungen, sondern auch auf Exsudate aus Pflanzenwurzeln reagieren, was die Bedeutung von IncP-1 Plasmid-vermittelter Adaptation von Bakterien an sich verändernde Umweltbedingungen zeigt (Reaktion auf Linuron oder Wurzelexsudate). Dennoch waren nahezu alle Untergruppen von IncP-1 in allen getesteten Proben zu finden, wobei die IncP-1β Untergruppe eine wesentlich stärkere Anreicherung zeigte. Erstmalig wurde die Anreicherung von höchst unterschiedlichen IncP-1 Plasmiden (insbesondere der IncP-1β Untergruppe) in der Rhizosphäre von Salat- und Tomatenpflanzen, aber nicht von Kartoffelpflanzen gezeigt. Darüber hinaus beherbergen verschiedene Pflanzenspezies möglicherweise Populationen, die unterschiedliche IncP-1 Plasmide selbst dann tragen, wenn die Pflanzen in ein- und derselben Bodenart angebaut wurden. Allerdings müssen die Ursachen für die Pflanzenspezies-bedingte Anreicherung von IncP-1 Plasmiden noch geklärt werden, und eine vollständige Sequenzierung könnte vielleicht die fehlende Erklärung liefern. Auf Wunsch des Autors / der Autorin ist diese Dissertation nur als Druckausgabe verfügbar.Conjugative plasmids have been frequently reported to carry a considerable variety of bacterial functional genes often coding for traits beneficial to the plasmid host. Transferable plasmids are mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that can transfer by conjugation or mobilization between bacterial cells of the same species or between different taxa. The ability to stably replicate in a host cell determines the replication range. Under rapidly changing environmental conditions plasmids foster the adaptation to stressful environments. The focus of this thesis was to investigate the response of bacterial communities to changing environmental conditions, and the studies showed that IncP-1 plasmid-mediated adaptation to changing environmental conditions is important for biofilter and rhizosphere bacteria. IncP-1 plasmids have a broad host range and transfer efficiently in soils and related habitats. IncP-1 plasmids have the ability to disseminate remarkably diverse functional genes (resistance to antibiotic and/or heavy metal, degradation of xenobiotics) by carrying, or mobilizing plasmids carrying, such genes via a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or the proliferation of IncP-1 carrying bacterial populations. Most of the studied IncP-1 plasmids were isolated from polluted environments. However, the role of IncP-1 plasmids in unpolluted soils was so far not studied. In this context, this thesis is providing insights into the presence, response, type, diversity and potential ecological role of IncP-1 plasmids in two different environments known to be hot spots for HGT. First, on-farm bio-purification systems (BPSs) are an efficient, applicable, simple and low-cost method used by the farmers to treat pesticide-contaminated wastewater through biodegradation and sorption processes. Recently it was shown for on-farm BPSs that during the agricultural season the abundance of IncP-1 plasmids in BPS material increased and the dynamic changes of the composition of different IncP-1 plasmids were revealed by trfA amplicon sequencing. The increase of IncP-1 plasmids seemed to correlate with increasing pesticide concentration. In this thesis microcosm experiments were performed with BPS material where the phenylurea herbicide linuron was added or not. Cultivation-independent methods were used to study the dynamic response of BPS bacterial communities to the addition of linuron. Total community DNA (TC-DNA) extracted from BPS samples taken at different time points after the linuron addition was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR or by PCR amplification of degradative genes and subsequent Southern blot hybridization. In addition, plasmids were captured in socalled exogenous biparental matings into P. putida as a recipient. The experimental design allowed to demonstrate the link between the presence of linuron and the abundance of IncP-1 plasmids and genes coding for enzymes involved in the degradation of linuron (chapters II and III). In three transconjugants the presence of hylA gene was revealed. Second, the ecology of IncP-1 plasmid in the rhizosphere of three different crops grown under greenhouse conditions in the same soil type was investigated. We could confirm by qPCR the recently reported observation that in the rhizosphere of field-grown lettuce IncP-1 plasmids were enriched. In contrast, the increased relative abundance of IncP-1 plasmids was less pronounced in the rhizosphere of tomato and hardly detectable in potato plants (chapters IV and V). Based on the ability to mobilize IncQ plasmids, numerous IncP-1 plasmids were captured in a so-called triparental mating directly from rhizosphere bacteria. Transconjugants were selected based on the markers of the IncQ plasmid but most of the transconjugants also carried IncP-1 plasmids. The cultivation-independent methods used in this thesis (DGGE, pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments, amplicon pyrosequencing of IncP-1 trfA genes, qPCR, PCR and/or Southern blot hybridization) allowed us to explore the dynamics of populations bearing IncP-1 plasmids in the TC-DNA of tested samples. The results presented in this thesis revealed that the IncP-1 plasmids bearing populations are remarkably dynamic in response not only to the introduction of xenobiotic compounds but also to plant root exudates providing evidence of the importance of IncP-1 plasmids in bacterial adaptation to both man-made and root exudates. Almost all IncP-1 subgroups were presented in all tested samples while IncP-1β subgroup showed a notably stronger response. We showed for the first time the high diversity of IncP-1 plasmids (particularly IncP-1β subgroup) regarding the rhizosphere of naturally grown lettuce and tomato plants but not for potato. Additionally, different plants might harbor populations bearing different IncP-1 plasmids even if they were grown in the same soil type. However, these results suggest the plant rhizosphere as a fertile source for novel functional MGEs. Upon author request this thesis is available as printed version only

Two-tier board characteristics and expanded audit report? Evidence from China

This paper investigates the relationship between the characteristics of the two-tier board structure (board of directors and supervisory board) and the disclosure of key audit matters (KAMs) in the expanded audit report. Using a sample of 10,857 firm-year observations of Chinese listed firms spanning the 2017-2020 period, we offer two main results. First, with regard to the board of directors, we find that the auditor discloses a greater number and lengthier content of KAMs when there is a CEO duality and the board meetings are more frequent. Second, conversely, we find that the size and independence of the supervisory board are related to a lower number and length of KAMs disclosure. When we distinguish between account-level KAMs and entity-level KAMs, our further analysis shows that our results are principally associated with account-level KAMs rather than entity-level KAMs. Specifically, we find that CEO duality and the frequency of board of directors meetings are positively related to account-level KAMs. We also find that the size and independence of the supervisory board are negatively related to account-level KAMs. Our further analysis also shows evidence that these two-tier board structure characteristics are associated with the tone of KAMs disclosure in a consistent fashion. Our findings are robust and address endogeneity problems. Overall, our results suggest that the characteristics of the two-tier board structure drive KAMs disclosure, which should be of interest to regulatory bodies, policymakers, auditors, multinational firms, and users of financial reports

Two-tier board characteristics and expanded audit reporting : Evidence from China

This paper investigates the relationship between the characteristics of the two-tier board structure (board of directors and supervisory board) and the disclosure of key audit matters (KAMs) in the expanded audit report. Using a sample of 10,857 firm-year observations of Chinese listed firms spanning the 2017-2020 period, we offer two main results. First, with regard to the board of directors, we find that the auditor discloses a greater number and lengthier content of KAMs when there is a CEO duality and the board meetings are more frequent. Second, conversely, we find that the size and independence of the supervisory board are related to a lower number and length of KAMs disclosure. When we distinguish between account-level KAMs and entity-level KAMs, our further analysis shows that our results are principally associated with account-level KAMs rather than entity-level KAMs. Specifically, we find that CEO duality and the frequency of board of directors meetings are positively related to account-level KAMs. We also find that the size and independence of the supervisory board are negatively related to account-level KAMs. Our further analysis also shows evidence that these two-tier board structure characteristics are associated with the tone of KAMs disclosure in a consistent fashion. Our findings are robust and address endogeneity problems. Overall, our results suggest that the characteristics of the two-tier board structure drive KAMs disclosure, which should be of interest to regulatory bodies, policymakers, auditors, multinational firms, and users of financial reports

Microbial Sensing and Removal of Heavy Metals: Bioelectrochemical Detection and Removal of Chromium(VI) and Cadmium(II)

The presence of inorganic pollutants such as Cadmium(II) and Chromium(VI) could destroy our environment and ecosystem. To overcome this problem, much attention was directed to microbial technology, whereas some microorganisms could resist the toxic effects and decrease pollutants concentration while the microbial viability is sustained. Therefore, we built up a complementary strategy to study the biofilm formation of isolated strains under the stress of heavy metals. As target resistive organisms, Rhizobium-MAP7 and Rhodotorula ALT72 were identified. However, Pontoea agglumerans strains were exploited as the susceptible organism to the heavy metal exposure. Among the methods of sensing and analysis, bioelectrochemical measurements showed the most effective tools to study the susceptibility and resistivity to the heavy metals. The tested Rhizobium strain showed higher ability of removal of heavy metals and more resistive to metals ions since its cell viability was not strongly inhibited by the toxic metal ions over various concentrations. On the other hand, electrochemically active biofilm exhibited higher bioelectrochemical signals in presence of heavy metals ions. So by using the two strains, especially Rhizobium-MAP7, the detection and removal of heavy metals Cr(VI) and Cd(II) is highly supported and recommended

Influence of Effective Microorganisms on Some Biological and Biochemical Aspects of <i>Spodoptera littoralis</i> (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Bosid.), is a major pest in African and Asian nations that attacks a wide variety of host plants. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EMs) on the biological and physiological features of S. littoralis larvae. Five concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) of EMs were tested. Antifeedant activity, food consumption index, the efficiency of converting digested food, the efficiency of converting ingested food, relative growth rate, and approximate body tissue of the fourth larval instar of S. littoralis were determined. Moreover, carbohydrate enzyme activities (amylase, trehalose, and invertase), total protein, and total lipids of S. littoralis larvae were measured to elucidate the mode of action of the tested agent in the S. littoralis’s larval stage. The EMs at 500 ppm had a substantial impact on antifeedant activity, nutritional indices, egg deposit reduction, and hatchability in S. littoralis during the five days. All concentrations interrupted S. littoralis’s life cycle and developmental phases. Furthermore, all concentrations were quite useful in lengthening the developmental stages of S. littoralis. In addition, Ems affected the biochemical activities of larvae, leading to disturbances in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein levels. From this study, EMs can be used as a bioinsecticide alternative to traditional insecticides against S. littoralis and may be compatible with integrated pest management approaches