Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of banana wine fermented with recombinant wine yeast strains

Commercial enzyme preparations are applied in the process of winemaking to improve wine processing and wine quality. In this study, three recombinant wine yeast strains that had been developed to improve wine processing were compared with regard to their ability to produce banana wine of an acceptable quality. The recombinant wine yeast strains contain genes coding for enzymes able to degrade different polysaccharides (glucan, xylan, pectin and starch). The recombinant strains were able to induce higher wine yields from the fermented banana pulp vis-àvis the control. The wines obtained with the recombinant strains and the untransformed control did not show significant differences (p>0.05) in their physicochemical parameters. The highest wine yield obtained from the pulp which was treated with genetically modified yeast (recombinant yeast strain) secreting glucanase and xylanase enzymes (plasmid pDLG39) was 69.5% v/w prepared from Bogoya pulp. This wine yield was higher than the control yield (65.9± 0.07) by an increase of 5.5% v/w. However, the wine from Kayinja pulp which was treated with genetically modified yeast secreting pectinase enzyme(plasmid pPPK) yielded wine (60.3±0.28% v/w) with 35% increase compared to the wine (44.7±0.49) obtained with the control yeast. The recombinant yeast strains compared in this work secreted enzymes playing a similar role to that of the previously studied pectinolytic commercial enzymes. Therefore, such a recombinant yeast strain could be used in banana wine fermentations as an alternative to commercial enzyme preparations.
MOLECULAR MODELLING OF HUMAN ALDEHYDE OXIDASE AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE KEY INTERACTIONS IN THE ENZYME-SUBSTRATE COMPLEX

Aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1), a cytosolic enzyme containing FAD, molybdenum and iron-sulphur cluster, is a member of non-cytochrome P-450 enzymes called molybdenum hydroxylases which is involved in the metabolism of a wide range of endogenous compounds and many drug substances. Drug metabolism is one of the important characteristics which influences many aspects of a therapeutic agent such as routes of administration, drug interaction and toxicity and therefore, characterisation of the key interactions between enzymes and substrates is very important from drug development point of view. The aim of this study was to generate a three-dimensional model of human aldehyde oxidase (AO) in order to assist us to identify the mode of interaction between enzyme and a set of phethalazine/quinazoline derivatives. Both sequence-based (BLAST) and inverse protein fold recognition methods (THREADER) were used to identify the crystal structure of bovine xanthine dehydrogenase (pdb code of 1FO4) as the suitable template for comparative modelling of human AO. Model structure was generated by aligning and then threading the sequence of human AO onto the template structure, incorporating the associated cofactors, and molecular dynamics simulations and energy minimization using GROMACS program. Different criteria which were measured by the PROCHECK, QPACK, VERIFY-3D were indicative of a proper fold for the predicted structural model of human AO. For example, 97.9 percentages of phi and psi angles were in the favoured and most favoured regions in the ramachandran plot, and all residues in the model are assigned environmentally positive compatibility scores. Further evaluation on the model quality was performed by investigation of AO-mediated oxidation of a set of phthalazine/quinazoline derivatives to develop QSAR model capable of describing the extent of the oxidation. Substrates were aligned by docking onto the active site of the enzyme using GOLD technology and then HASL method were used to generate a 3D-QSAR model. Correlation coefficient (r 2 ) between the test set actual and
Joint action of microbial and chemical insecticides on Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: noctuidae)

The evaluation of treatments in the control of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) on groundnut under glasshouse conditions revealed that combinations of microbial pesticides (nuclear polyhedrosis virus @ 1 x 107 PIBs ml"1, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki @ 1 x 10 spores ml"1 and Beauveria bassiana @ 1 x 107 spores ml"1) along with chemical insecticides (fenvelerate @ 0.005% and monocrotophos @ 0.025% i.e., half of the recommended dose) and microbial pesticides themselves were superior to either microbial pesticides or recommended rates of individual chemical insecticides alone. B. thuringiensis 1 x 107 spores ml + fenvelerate 0.005 per cent was proved as the best in respect of highest larval population reduction and lowest leaf damage (20.15 per cent). The highest pod yield (15.03 g pant"1) was recorded with the same treatment (B. thuringiensis 1 x 107 spores ml"1 + fenvelerate 0.005 percent).
Stochastic Peak-Load Pricing With Real-Time Demand Learning in the U.S. Airline Industry

Dynamic pricing and demand learning play an important role in airlines because (1) in low demand flights unsold tickets are of little value after departure, and (2) in high demand flights carriers may forgo important profits if the flight sells out and some relatively high willingness-to-pay consumers have to be rationed. Under a price sensitive demand, stochastic peak-load pricing suggests that at any point prior departure airlines should set higher fares in expected peak flights, where demand is more likely to exceed capacity. Moreover, in order to promote sales, lower fares should be set in expected off-peak flights. Using a unique panel of U.S. airlines fares and seat inventories, this paper shows that airlines learn about the demand as sales progress and the flight date approaches. Forecasted values of occupancy rates and sold out probabilities are employed to calibrate an ex-ante - before sales begin - distribution of demand uncertainty. Nonparametric techniques are then used to construct a latent variable to identify different expected demand states at different points prior departure. This latent variable is utilized to dictate the regime shift in a panel endogenous threshold model. Consistent with the stochastic peak-load pricing predictions, the results show that higher fares are set in the peak regime, while lower fares in the off-peak regime. The results proved to be robust to an alternative specification of a GMM dynamic panel, were the assumption of strict exogeneity is relaxed. This is the first paper to provide formal evidence of stochastic peak - load pricing in airlines or to show that airlines learn about the demand and respond to early sales.
Auroral electrojets during deep solar minimum at the end of solar cycle 23

[1] We investigate the auroral electrojet activity during the deep minimum at the end of solar cycle 23 (2008–2009) by comparing data from the IMAGE magnetometer chain, auroral observations in Fennoscandia and Svalbard, and solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) observations from the OMNI database from that period with those recorded one solar cycle earlier. We examine the eastward and westward electrojets and the midnight sector separately. The electrojets during 2008–2009 were found to be weaker and at more poleward latitudes than during other times, but when similar driving solar wind and IMF conditions are compared, the behavior in the morning and evening sectors during 2008–2009 was similar to other periods. On the other hand, the midnight sector shows distinct behavior during 2008–2009: for similar driving conditions, the electrojets resided at further poleward latitudes and on average were weaker than during other periods. Furthermore, the substorm occurrence frequency seemed to saturate to a minimum level for very low levels of driving during 2009. This analysis suggests that the solar wind coupling to the ionosphere during 2008–2009 was similar to other periods but that the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling has features that are unique to this period of very low solar activity.
Can Religion Insure Against Aggregate Shocks to Happiness? The Case of Transition Countries

This paper examines the effects of reforms and religion on happiness in transition economies. Earlier literature suggests that religiosity insures happiness against various individual stressful life events. This phenomenon is well-explored in developed countries but rarely studied in post-communist countries, where religion was officially suppressed for a long period. These countries have undergone considerable economic transformations over the past two decades. Using cross-sectional Life in Transition Survey data and historical data on religions, I examine if religion insures against economic reforms. The endogeneity of religion is taken into account. The findings suggest that economic reforms may have both positive and negative effects on happiness. Religiosity indeed insures happiness and perceptions of economic and political situations against economic reforms.
Costs and Effectiveness of Online Courses in Distance Education

This paper discusses cost-effectiveness as it applies to education, focusing particularly on the delivery of online courses in open and distance learning. The general concept of cost-effectiveness is discussed, and issues concerning the costs and effectiveness associated with using online technology in distance education are then addressed. Finally, a pilot project on an online course at the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) is used as an illustrative example. The key features of the pilot project relating to costs and effectiveness are outlined, and ways to improve its cost-effectiveness in implementing its second stage are suggested.
Effects of Ramadan fasting on inflammatory biomarkers and body composition in healthy subjects

Introduction: During Ramadan, adult Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from sunrise to sunset. This religious practice influences individuals’ lifestyle factors such as eating behavior, meal schedule, and sleep pattern. These changes may affect endocrine and neuroendocrine circadian patterns, and consequently, cardiovascular indices. This study was performed to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and homocysteine as the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and body composition in the Iranian population. Methods: Healthy volunteers who fasted at least during 20 days of Ramadan were included in the study. Body composition and biochemical markers were measured pre- and post-Ramadan fasting. For normally distributed parameters, paired samples t-test was performed for analyzing the differences between the results, and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was run for non-normally distributed parameters. All the data was analyzed by SPSS, version 11.5. Results: Fifty-one healthy participants with the mean age of 36±10 years were enrolled in this study. Our analyses showed a reduction in body mass index (BMI) and fat mass pre- and post-Ramadan fasting. However, lean body mass and total body water remained unchanged by fasting. Variation in the serum Hs-CRP and homocysteine were not statistically significant. The results were the same across genders. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that Ramadan fasting may lower fat mass in fasting volunteers with no adverse effects on inflammatory biomarkers of cardiovascular disease.
Phenotypic Identification and Phylogenetic Characterization of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Symptomatic Pregnant Women With Urinary Tract Infections in South-Western Nigeria

The study reports the characterization of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) in urine samples of pregnant women with confirmed urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Ondo and Ekiti States, Nigeria. Voided mid-stream urine samples were cultured on eosin methylene blue agar plates at 37 o C and identified by conventional biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolates was by Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion technique. Phylogenetic typing of the isolates was by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The occurrence of UPEC in pregnant women in age group 25-35 years (66.0%) was high. Two hundred and sixty four uropathogenic E. coli comprising 133 (50.38%) in Ondo and 131 (49.62%) in Ekiti States were recovered from 400 samlpes analyzed. In all, prevalence of UTIs with positive cultures was 66.0%. Escherichia coli only was 56.5%, mixed-infection (9.5%), non- E. coli infection (12.5%) and no growth (21.5%). Resistance to antibiotics was high with diverse multiple antibiotic resistance patterns. Greater percentage of the screened representative UPEC isolates belonged to phylogenetic group D (65.0%), group A (28.0%), group B1 (6.7%) and none to group B2. Escherichia coli belonging to phylogenetic group D appears to be a predominant uropathogen in this study area. Presence of chuA gene in most of the isolates shows the significance of iron acquisition in the pathogenesis and urovirulence of UPEC.
Small area estimation in R with application to Mexican income data

In the last decades policy decisions are often based on statistical measures. The more detailed this information is, the better is the basis for targeting policies and evaluating policy programs. For instance, the United Nations suggest more disaggregation of statistical indicators for monitoring their Sustainable Development Goals and also the number of National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) that notice the need of more disaggregated statistics is increasing. Dimensions for disaggregation can be characteristics of the individuals or households like sex, age or ethnicity, economic activity or spatial dimensions like metropolitan areas or districts. Primary data sources for variables that are used to estimate statistical indicators are national household surveys. However, sample sizes are usually small or even zero at disaggregated levels. Therefore, direct estimators based only on survey data can be unreliable or not available for small domains. While the option of more specific surveys is costly, model-based methodologies for dealing with small sample sizes can help to obtain reliable estimates for small domains. The so-called Small Area Estimation (SAE) methods [1,2] link survey data that is only available for a proportion of households with administrative or census data available for all households in the area of interest. Even though a wide range of SAE methods is proposed by academic researchers, these are, so far, applied only by a small number of NSIs or other practitioners like the World Bank. This gap between theoretical possibilities and practical application can have several reasons. One reason can be the lack of suitable statistical software. The free software environment R helps to counteract this issue since researchers can make their codes available to the public via packages. Thus, new methods can reach the practitioner faster than with non-free software. The next two sections summarize which packages are already available and what could be improved in the future.
The Same . . . But Different: Examining Background Characteristics among Black Males in Public Two-Year Colleges

Abstract:This study examined background characteristics among Black males in public two-year and four-year institutions. This study sought to uncover whether significant differences existed among this sub-group by institutional type. Data were derived from 533 Black male students participating in the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study. The analysis was conducted using two stages of logit analysis. In the first stage, individual logistic regressions were conducted with eighteen variables. In the second stage, significant variables from the first stage were analyzed using appropriate controls. Findings from this study illustrated that Black males at two year colleges are markedly different from those attending four year institutions. Even when statistical controls were set in place, findings illustrated that while Black males share the same racial/ethnic and gender identity there are numerous distinctions between institutional types on background variables. Implications for future research are delineated.
Examining the relationship between witnessing inter-parental conflict as a child and aggressive behaviour in adulthood

Objective: Much research that looks at the effects of witnessing conflict between parents focuses around children, but, can witnessing inter-parental conflict as a child influence a person’s behaviour in adulthood? The current study investigates weather witnessing inter-parental conflict can cause a person display more aggressive behaviour as an adult. Furthermore, the study looks at the differences between aggression and gender, age and parents’ current relationship status. Method: 54 males and 119 females (N=173) took part in a questionnaire which was administered online. The questionnaire included a background demographic questionnaire, a revised version of the Grych, Seid & Fincham’s Children’s perception of Inter-parental conflict scale and the Buss-Perry aggression scale. Results: There was a weak negative correlation found between inter-parental conflict and aggressive behaviour. A Mann-Whitney U test found that males display more aggression than females, and a one-way between groups ANOVA found aggressive behaviour decreased with age. A Kruskal- Wallis test showed no difference between aggressive behaviour and parents current relationship status. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that witnessing higher levels of inter-parental conflict as a child is not associated with higher levels of aggression in adulthood. However, Further research should be conducted with regards to the effects of witnessing inter-parental conflict can have on an adult.
Selective versus non Selective Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors in High Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of interrelated abnormalities namely obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Chronic inflammation with release of inflammatory mediators including cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes represents an important pathogenic factor in the development of MS. The present study investigated the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, versus non selective, diclofenac, in prevention of high fructose-induced MS in rats. Rats were divided into 6 groups: normal control (received normal diet); high fructose fed (HF) (received 20% fructose plus saline to serve as control MS group; celecoxib-treated ( received HF plus either celecoxib 10 or 50 mg/kg/day); diclofenac-treated (received HF plus either diclofenac 6 or 30 mg/kg/day). visceral fat index (visceral fat weight /body weight ratio), insulin resistance , serum levels of triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase, uric acid, C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα) were measured. The results showed that celecoxib, but not diclofenac, prevented the development of high fructose-induced MS as indicated by significant attenuation in visceral fat index, insulin resistance, and lipid profile. The protective effect of celecoxib was associated with significant improvement in serum levels of oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, and catalase), and inflammatory markers (uric acid, CRP, and TNF-α). These results indicate that selective COX-2 inhibitors protect against high fructose-induced MS possibly via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
THE ROLE OF 'ETHICAL BRAND' AND ITS EFFECT ON INDUSTRIAL BUYERS' RESPONSES IN MALAYSIA

This paper reports the initial finding on examination of the effect of ‘ethical brand’on company’s reputation, which in turn may influence a brand loyalty among industrial buyers that use electronic office equipment. The study is based upon the responses of industrial buyers’ from experienced customers in buying electronic office equipment in Malaysia. Previous literature stresses that a good brand provides a positive impact on its owner and user and no negative impact on the general public. In general, this study adds to the existing literature on branding and reputation by introducing the concept of the ‘ethical brand’ (the EB) in the model. The present study enhances this understanding by providing empirical evidence in the context of industrial buyers’ responses. The ethical brand is hypothesized to have a direct effect on brand loyalty behaviour of industrial buyers toward electronic office’s equipments. The mediating effects are also investigated via company’s reputation. The current study is informed by 50 experienced industrial buyers using electronic office equipment in Malaysia. Data analysis (screening test) consisted of outliers; normality; homoskedasticity; and multicollinearity had been conducted to fulfil the basic assumption in regression analysis. The initial result does show that there is a direct relationship and significant between variable “ethical brand”, “company reputation” and “brand loyalty”. An indirect relationship indicates that role of mediating variable “company reputation” is as partially mediator for “ethical brand” and “brand loyalty”.
Pragmatic effects of 'more than' and 'at least' in incremental interpretation

We investigate the incremental interpretation of comparative and superlative numeral modifiers by manipulating the speaker’s epistemic state in an eye-tracking reading experiment. The results reveal a different processing profile for two types of numeral modifiers. We take this difference to point to a difference in the source and nature of the attested effects (e.g., Quantity- vs. Manner-based pragmatic reasoning). Our findings inform the existing theoretical landscape, invalidating a number of accounts of speaker ignorance effects with numeral modifiers and giving support to Quantity-based accounts of such effects with superlative modifiers.
Asymptotically safe standard model extensions

We consider theories with a large number NF of charged fermions and compute the renormalization group equations for the gauge, Yukawa and quartic couplings resummed at leading order in 1=NF. We construct extensions of the standard model where SU(2) and/or SU(3) are asymptotically safe. When the same procedure is applied to the Abelian U(1) factor, we find that the Higgs quartic can not be made asymptotically safe and stay perturbative at the same time.
Vegetation recovery patterns following overgrazing by reindeer on St. Matthew Island.

Heavy grazing by extremely high densities of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) on St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea resulted in degradation of the lichen stands. Grasses, sedges, and other vascular plants initially increased in response to the removal of lichens under heavy grazing pressure by the reindeer. Twenty-two years following the crash die-off of the reindeer, mosses had invaded large portions of the ground area denuded of lichens, and lichens had recovered to only 10% of the standing crop of living lichen biomass occurring on adjacent Hall Island where there is no history of grazing. Lichen species dominating the recovering lichen stands on St. Matthew Island were those of relatively low preference as forage by reindeer in contrast to those in climax lichen