Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Protein Function using semantic Fingerprints

In many fields of today’s scientific research the amount of knowledge is far smaller than the amount of accessible data and often too limited to make meaningful analyses and draw reasonable conclusions. Hence, statistical knowledge inference becomes more and more popular in multivariate data analysis and machine learning tools from artificial intelligence are applied. However, there are issues when dealing with increased sparsity, high-dimensionality and a lack of training samples which pose new requirements on data analysis tools. Particularly the experimental determination of protein function is challenging and cumbersome. Theoretical predictions are challenging due to the variety and complexity of macromolecules. However, recent massive knowledge integration approaches in systems biology resulted in curated semantic knowledge-based systems that could make relevant problems more and more feasible. One of these problems is the identification of specific DNA-binding RNA polymerase II transcription factors (DbTFs). In this work semantic knowledge-based systems are exploited for DbTF prediction and the feasibility of the approach is explored. This master’s project involves the design, implementation, rigorous testing and optimisation of a specific methodology to classify putative DbTFs by an artificial neural network approach. From 2655 candidate proteins of the TFcheckpoint database [5] a selection of 54 proteins is classified as DbTFs with a relative classification error of less than 10%.
Teachers’ Perceptions on Classroom Determinants of School Refusal Behaviour among Lower Primary Learners in Nandi East District

Many children are refusing to attend school or have problems remaining in the classes for an entire day. Refusal is associated with classroom climate factors and if not managed well they lead to multiple socio-economic risks spanning into adulthood. This study sought teachers’ views on classroom determinants of school refusal behaviour among lower primary schools in Nandi East district with emphasis on class dynamics. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design in which variables were studied as they are in the field without manipulation. The accessible population consisted of all the 282 public lower primary class teachers in the district. The final sample size of 152 was determined by employing Stein’s method. Stratified and simple random sampling methods were used to get the participants. Structured and semi structured survey questionnaire were used to collect data from class teachers. Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha was used to determine the reliability of research questions; which established a reliability coefficient of . 872. Descriptive statistics used to analyze quantitative data were percentages and frequencies. Statistical Packages of Social Science (SPSS) programme version 17 aided in analyses. The findings were summarized and presented in tables and figures. The study established that teachers consider the following dynamics as triggers of refusal: getting poor marks which lead to frustrations, learners inability to bring out their problems well, teachers forcing weak learners to repeat classes and learners getting demotivated because achievement and performance are not praised or rewarded. The study recommends the in -servicing of education stakeholders on nature of school refusal, improving provision of instructional materials to learners with special needs and improving school inspection. Keywords: class dynamics, school refusal behaviour, classroom climate, The Functional Motivational Model
Market Rewards to Patterns of Increasing Earnings: Do Cash Flow Patterns, Accruals Manipulation and Real Activities Manipulation Matter?

This study explores whether firms have differential price-earnings multiples associated with their means of achieving a sequential pattern of increasing positive earnings. Our main findings show that market participan ts assign higher price-earnings multiples to firms when their pattern of increasing earnings is supported by the same pattern of increasing cash flows. Market participants assign lower price-earnings multiples to firms suspect of having engaged in accrual-based earnings management, sales manipulation, and overproduction to achieve the earnings pattern. We find, however, that market participants do not penalize firms suspect of having achieved the earnings pattern through the opportunistic reduction of disc retionary expenses.
The filament event near the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in Tunisia: filament origin and environmental signification

Near the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary, the filament event corresponds to the massive occurrence of thin elongate shells, probably bivalves which constitute, in the Bahloul Formation, about 40% of allochems. This biosedimentary event was described in several areas, such as in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, North America, Oman and Tibet. In Tunisia, filaments are well represented within well laminated black shales constituting the Bahloul Formation, late Cenomanian – early Turonian in age. These black shales were deposited under anoxic conditions developed in an outer ramp environment. Filaments are particularly abundant in the upper part of the Bahloul Formation, which is topped by a condensation level exhibiting encrusted ammonites associated with frequent burrows, and phosphatic and glauconitic grains. In terms of depositional environments, the filament concentrations announce an evolution towards “normal”-marine conditions, which followed the anoxic conditions favouring black-shale formation. This trend coincided with a deepening that led to maximum flooding at the condensation surface. The petrographic study of samples taken along a N-S transect shows a clear evolution of filament structures from distal to proximal ramp. Limestones deposited in the outer ramp environment mainly contain well preserved “pelagic” bivalve shells showing a thin-shelled structure composed of elongated filaments. Laterally, toward the proximal ramp, the bivalve shells are progressively disintegrated, the filaments being arranged parallel to bedding. In an even more proximal setting, filaments appear finer, highly fragmented and arranged without preferential orientation. The Cenomanian-Turonian “pelagic” bivalves thus probably lived in an outer ramp environment and their thin shells disintegrated progressively into filaments. This happened during high energy conditions generated by storms. The filament event, which is associated to other bio-events expressed by the extinction and the first occurrence of some pelagic species, could be used to establish local to global correlations. When the ammonite Watinoceras, the main early Turonian marker, is rare or absent, the filament-rich facies could indicate the proximity of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary. At a global scale, the filament event illustrates a sea-level rise in relation with eustatic and climatic changes. The maximum flooding of this transgressive event was identified in several localities and dated about 93 Ma. The very high sea-level conditions are favourable to accumulation and preservation of organic-rich facies such as black shales, which illustrate the anoxic event OAE2. The abundance of filaments near the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary is an indicator of high organic productivity following a climatic change to warmer conditions. The latter have clearly influenced oceanic water-masses circulation, water column stratification and nutrient partitioning.
OBSERVATIONS OF FRACTURE ARREST AT SLAB AVALANCHE BOUNDARIES

Dry slab avalanches start when a catastrophic failure along a weak snowpack layer separates the slab from the underlying snowpack over a large section of the slope. Most research and papers focus on crack propagation, but little work has been done on fracture arrest, which is critically important for understanding slab boundary locations. This study investigates some of the factors contributing to fracture arrest at boundaries of actual avalanches. We targeted these areas by conducting a series of 2m ECTs (ECT200s) along crown walls, and working toward the flanks of 15 Storm-Slab and seven Persistent-Slab avalanches with maximum crown depth between of 45 and 80 cm. At 16 of our avalanches we recorded snowpack and terrain changes in 32 locations where fractures arrested as evidenced by our tests transitioning from ECT200Ps to ECT200Ns. In four ECT200Ns (13%), we observed a sharp increase in slab density down column from fracture arrest, in 21 ECT200Ns (65%) there was a decrease in slab thickness, density or both, and in seven ECT200Ns (22%) the weak layer disappeared within the scope of the column. The slab boundaries in the other six of our 22 avalanches were dictated by the slab and weak layer friction rather than weak layer fracture arrest. In these avalanches, slab fractures appeared beyond the release areas, but slope steepness around these fractures wasn't sufficient to overcome friction. Our work helps improve terrain management strategies and suggests terrain-related safety margins for different dry slab avalanche problems.
Modeling of Bolted Connections for Collapse Analysis of Steel Structures | NIST

In structural collapse scenarios, beam to column connections can be subjected to large rotations as the structure deforms, in addition to large axial forces associated with the development of catenary action. The capability of the connections to sustain large rotations and axial forces can be a critical factor in whether alternate load paths can be developed, bridging over failed members. Because of this, it is important in structural collapse analysis that the interaction of bending moment and axial force, and their combined effects on connection performance, be represented accurately.
Review paper Diagnostic and prognostic value of telomerase assay in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the main cause of death related to neoplastic diseases. Because of nearly asymptomatic onset of the disease, early diagnosis of lung cancer is highly unsatisfactory and only 10-15% of patients survive 5 years. It is necessary therefore to find new molecular diagnostic and prognostic markers. Telomerase, an enzyme associated with cellular immortality, is highly expressed in the majority of cancers. Assessment of telomerase activity could be helpful in differentiation between benign and malignant peripheral tumours of lungs and could improve the sensitivity of cytological examination of few-cell aspirates, suggesting malignant aetiology of the suspected lung lesions. It is also thought that high telomerase activity in tumour cells is an unfavourable independent prognostic factor of survival. This article reviews current knowledge about the importance of telomerase in carcinogenesis and its diagnostic and prognostic value in lung cancer.
Uptake of urea by estuarine bacteria

Uptake of urea was studied in batch cultures of natural bacterial assemblages or in GF/C filtered water from 4 estuarine sites, and was related to utilization of other N compounds and the total bacterial N production. During spring in Roskilde Fjord, Denmark, urea uptake varied 100-fold and sustained 0.6 to 44 % of the bacterial N demand, while uptake of dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) met 12 to 53 % of the N demand. Enrichment with NH 4 + and DFAA reduced the urea uptake by up to 2.8-fold, demonstrating a higher preference for NH 4 + and DFAA than urea. In Knebel Vig, Denmark, bacterial uptake of urea varied significantly during a 9 d provoked algal bloom (mesocosms enriched with N, P, or Si). At Day 1, uptake of urea and DFAA was similar, but during development of a diatom bloom, bacterial urea uptake either increased 7-fold (Day 5) or was insignificant (Day 9). In contrast, urea uptake in the control mesocosms remained unchanged. Urea uptake by the bacterial assemblages was on average 1.6-fold higher than the in situ (bacteria and algae) dark uptake, which again was 16-fold lower than the in situ light uptake. Urea sustained 0.2 to 30 % (nutrient-enriched mesocosms) and 9 to 41% (control) of the bacterial N demand, but NH 4 + , NO 3 - and DFAA were more important N sources. Bacterial preference for urea or NH 4 + alone, or in combination with glucose, was examined in the Limfjorden estuary, Denmark. Relative to controls, a 2-fold higher biomass was produced whether NH 4 + or urea was the N source, but urea sustained < 30 % of the N biomass production and was less important than the ambient DFAA pool. In contrast to the Limfjorden studies, when enriched with glucose, bacteria in Santa Rosa Sound, Florida, USA, produced a lower biomass with urea than with NH 4 + . Enrichment with urea stimulated the DFAA assimilation, peptidase activity and utilization of NO 3 - , and urea made up <50% of the N incorporation. The studies demonstrate that urea uptake rates by estuarine bacteria are variable and often unpredictable. Uptake of urea will typically be lower than of NH 4 + and DFAA, but occasionally, urea uptake can be of importance similar to NH 4 + and DFAA.
International Regional Patterns of R&D Networks Involving Low Tech SMEs

A large number of studies have emphasized the spatial proximity of economic activity and its relation to the spatiality of knowledge creation in various types of connections. Far less attention has been paid to the understanding of the determinants of ‘cultural’ and geographical proximity in international RD 2) RIS related variables determine ‘cultural’ proximity but not geographical proximity; 3) at first sight surprisingly, international cooperation projects involving the 1st promoters of innovation-led regions (high patent propensity and high human capital levels) are culturally more distant.
Leveraging low income farmers’ performance through empowerment: Analysis of a sustainable initiative in Mexico

Several researchers have said that the real solution to alleviating, or at least reducing, the level of poverty is not to view poor people only as customers, it is important also to view this sector as producers, or in other words integrate these people into the value chain of Multinational Companies (MNCs). The objective of this research work is to analyze how the MNCs with sustainability initiatives can generate better individual performance through the creation of empowerment in the Low Income Sector (LIS). We conducted 47 interviews to build our model. Then we developed and applied surveys to 212 participants. To test our hypotheses, we used PLS-SEM and analyzed two groups: LIS people that currently belong to the sustainable initiative and LIS people that belonged (graduates of the sustainable initiative). We confirmed the positive relationship between psychological empowerment and individual performance, also found that consumer behavior constructs, like coping strategy, moderate in both conditions of this relationship. Finally, we demonstrate that trust moderates the relationship, also. Theoretical and managerial implications as well as limitations and future research avenues are discussed.
Is rum toxic ? Le rhum estil toxique ?

Introduction: During his second voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus brought to the West Indies, at the end of the 15th century, the sugar cane Saccharum officinarum, originally from Asia. It was only during the 17th century, somewhere around 1640, that an alcohol obtained from the sugar cane or more exactly from molasses, a residue of the sugar cane manufacture, appeared in different islands of the Caribbean. Rum (in French, rhum) is obtained by distilling fermented cane juice (agricultural rum) or molasses (industrial rum). Today, every year more than 200 000 tons of sugar cane produce 8 M litres of rum and 4000 T of sugar in Martinique. Methods: The authors describe the manufacturing procedure of rum in Martinique (fermentation and distilling processes), then present the various qualities of agricultural and industrial rums and explain the criteria necessary for their A.O. C. appellation. As we know, rum contains 40 to 50% alcohol and is drunk pure or as a cocktail with sugar cane syrup or fruit juices. It may be dangerous for health. So, two pathologies must be considered: those where sugar is concerned and those where alcohol is involved. Some epidemiological studies have been conducted to sum up the situation of Martinique regarding these two problems. Results: In Martinique, type 2 diabetes appearing in the adult is the most frequent form. The prevalence of diabetes is 8 to 10%, which is 2 to 3 times higher than in metropolitan France and the rest of the world. While it is widely recognised that alcoholism has negative health effects, moderate consumption has been found in some research to have a positive effect on longevity. However, in the case of abuse, oxidative and nonoxidative pathways of alcohol metabolism have numerous detrimental consequences that contribute to tissue damage and diseases seen in alcoholic patients. Martinique is in particular exposed to excessive alcohol consumption: 14% of the male population and 2.7% of the female population show an addiction to alcohol. Young people under 18 are two times less likely than young people in metropolitan France to declare that they consume alcohol on a regular basis and four times less likely to declare repetitive drunkenness. As concerns the death rate related to alcoholism, it is considered that 80 to 95% of deaths due to liver cirrhosis, alcoholic psychosis, alcoholism and upper digestive tract cancer are related to an excessive alcohol consumption. On this basis, 85 to 100 deaths can be attributed to alcohol every year in Martinique. In comparison with metropolitan France, Martinique shows a lower death rate for liver cirrhosis and upper digestive tract cancer, but a higher death rate for alcoholic psychosis and alcoholism. This could be due probably to a genetic predisposition of the population. Conclusion: Rum is a strong alcoholic beverage. Its consumption is not forbidden but requires caution, and people may be informed of its adverse health consequences. As for the question: is rum toxic? The answer is: it all depends on how you manage it.
Indian Equity Markets: Measures of Fundamental Value

In this paper, we take a critical look at the relationship between the value of capital stock in the Indian corporate sector and the valuation of claims to this capital stock in capital markets. We address the question of whether Indian equity valuations over the period 1991- 2008 are consistent with three key market fundamentals: corporate capital stock, after tax corporate cash flows and net corporate debt. Our analysis extends the neo-classical growth model to include intangible capital and key features of the tax code and uses national account statistics to estimate the equilibrium value of corporate equity relative to GDP. Our framework can provide policy makers with a benchmark to identify deviations in equity markets relative to those implied by economic fundamentals. In addition, it facilitates a quantitative assessment of policy changes such as, for example, the effect of changes in dividend taxation on stock prices. We caution the reader that although our framework is well suited to examining secular movements in the value of equity relative to GDP, it is not suitable to address high frequency price movements in the stock market. In fact, we know of no framework that can satisfactorily account for these movements in terms of the underlying fundamentals. High frequency volatility remains a puzzle. Based on our analysis, we conclude that in a large measure, Indian equity markets were fairly priced over the 1991-2008 period.
The Structural and lexical ambiguity found in Cleo Magazine Advertisements

This study is done to find the kinds of sentences or phrases which are structurally ambiguous and kinds of words are lexically ambiguous. The writer wants to know what the advertisements are ambiguous. She knows that ambiguity can occur in any situation, not only in advertisements. Because of that, she wants to analyze the words/ sentences that can be ambiguous in advertisements. In this study, the writer finds the structural and lexical ambiguity of advertisements in Cleo Magazine. The writer uses the data in this study from advertisements in Cleo Magazine issued in April and March 2006. The data for this research is taken from 40 advertisements from two editions and the writer uses 15 advertisements from two editions. The kinds of advertisements that are used in this study are about several products used by women that occur in Cleo Magazine. The writer applies the theory of structural and lexical ambiguity from Hurford and Heasley? s theory (1984). She also uses the theory of syntactic structures by Adrian Akmajian (1995) and Nelson Francis (1954). The writer finds the ambiguity in the advertisements by those theories and also finds the meanings from the dictionary. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach. In analyzing the data, the writer identifies the structurally ambiguous sentences by using Tree Diagrams or IC Analysis. She also clarifies the lexically ambiguous sentences by looking at the meaning from the lexical ambiguous words. Moreover, she finds the kinds of ambiguous sentences and the kinds of ambiguous words that occur in advertisement. There are five structural ambiguities including three declaratives sentences, one adjective phrase and one noun phrase. There are also 10 lexical ambiguities that are included in the advertisements; there are four nouns, two verbs, three adjectives and one adverb. Finally, the writer finds that lexical ambiguity occur more frequently than structural ambiguity of advertisements in Cleo Magazine
Pelformance of perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot cultivars under tree shade

The shade from trees in silvopastoral systems potentially decreases the persistence and production of pasture species by reducing tillering and shoot dry weight accumulation. However data from a glasshouse trial indicated that cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) had better tolerance to shade than other pasture species at the lowest photosynthetically active radiation. To verify the results obtained in the glasshouse, and also to evaluate whether any differences exist among cocksfoot cultivars in terms of shade tolerance attributes, seven cultivars of cocksfoot along with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cv. Grasslands Nui were field tested under 11-year old alder trees at the Horticultural Research Centre, Aokautere. A split-plot design with four replicate blocks was employed for the experiment. The main plot treatments were three levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) (77%, 27%, and 17% of full sunlight) created by pruning trees to different heights. The sub-plot treatments were pasture species and cultivars grown at first in a glasshouse and then transferred in pots to the field. Five plants per pot were maintained and plants were watered daily. Water and fertilizer were non-limiting. The experiment ran from 3 February to 30 April, 1997. Tillers per plant and shoot dry weight were assessed 5 times at 15 day intervals and leaf area, leaf dry weight, specific leaf area, and root dry weight per plant were determined at the final harvest. Shade affected ryegrass more than all the cocksfoot cultivars, especially at the low PPFD. Eighteen tillers were produced in ryegrass compared with twenty nine (p<0.001) for cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Wana at the final harvest. Ryegrass leaf area per plant was also significantly (p<0.001) lower (1559 mm2) than cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Wana (8163 mm2), and similarly for relative specific leaf area, and leaf dry weight at the low PPFD. Cocksfoot cultivars were better able to tolerate low PPFD than perennial ryegrass, and cv. Grasslands Wana was a particularly shade tolerant