Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Governance and Islamic Behavioural Finance: A Review from Malaysia and GCC Countries

This study examines the mediating effect of investors’ sentiment on the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and herding and risk-averse behaviour in the Shariah-compliant stocks in Malaysia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Panel data and quantile regressions are adopted, and the research timeframe is 2017 to 2021. The result shows that remuneration. Audit Committee, risk management and internal control and engagement with stakeholders significantly and positively correlate to Malaysia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi and the UAE stock returns. Board responsibility is the only variable significant in Malaysia, Saudi and the UAE. The result implies a full mediation as the CG has caused the changes in investors’ sentiment and subsequently triggered the investors to herd and become risk-averse. The impact of CG is more pronounced in the upper and lower quantiles of the returns of Malaysia, Saudi and the UAE, as well as the median quantile of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. The result of this study contributes to policymakers, regulators and practitioners in identifying the best CG practices that assist the Shariah-compliant stocks in Malaysia and GCC countries to gain a better stock return, investors’ sentiment and behaviour. The results assist the governments in the impact and benefits of adopting CG in different Islamic countries.
Graph Analytics using the Vertica Relational Database

Graph analytics is becoming increasingly popular, with a deluge of new systems for graph analytics having been proposed in the past few years. These systems often start from the assumption that a new storage or query processing system is needed, in spite of graph data being often collected and stored in a relational database in the first place. In this paper, we study Vertica relational database as a platform for graph analytics. We show that vertex-centric graph analysis can be translated to SQL queries, typically involving table scans and joins, and that modern column-oriented databases are very well suited to running such queries. Specifically, we present an experimental evaluation of the Vertica relational database system on a variety of graph analytics, including iterative analysis, a combination of graph and relational analyses, and more complex 1- hop neighborhood graph analytics, showing that it is competitive to two popular vertex-centric graph analytics systems, namely Giraph and GraphLab.
ASCENT : Adaptive Self-Configuring sEnsor Networks Topologies .

will enable small but smart sensors to be deployed for a wide range of environmental monitoring applications. The low per-node cost will allow these wireless networks of sensors and actuators to be densely distributed. The nodes in these dense networks will coordinate to perform the distributed sensing tasks. Moreover, as described in this paper, the nodes can also coordinate to exploit the redundancy provided by high density, so as to extend overall system lifetime. The large number of nodes deployed in these systems will preclude manual configuration, and the environmental dynamics will preclude design-time pre-configuration. Therefore, nodes will have to self-configure to establish a topology that provides communication and sensing coverage under stringent energy constraints. In ASCENT, each node assesses its connectivity and adapts its participation in the multi-hop network topology based on the measured operating region. This paper motivates and describes the ASCENT algorithm and presents simulation and experimental measurements.
association of genetic polymorphisms with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the hainan population: a case-control study

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to become the third most common cause of death and the fifth most common cause of disability in the world by 2020. Recently, variants in the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α ( HIF1A) , cholinergic receptor, neuronal nicotinic, alpha polypeptide-5, and iron-responsive element-binding protein 2 gene ( IREB2 ) genes were found to be associated with COPD. This study aims to identify whether the variations in these genes are related to COPD in the Hainan population of the People’s Republic of China. Patients and methods: We genotyped 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms in a case-control study with 200 COPD cases and 401 controls from Hainan, People’s Republic of China. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the chi-squared ( χ 2 ) test, genetic model analysis, haplotype analysis, and stratification analysis. Results: In the genetic model analysis, we found that the genotype T/T of rs13180 of IREB2 decreased the COPD risk by 0.52-fold ( P = 0.025). But in the further stratification analysis, we failed to find the association between the selected single nucleotide polymorphisms with COPD risk in Han population. In addition, the haplotype analysis of HIF1A gene also was not found to be the possible haplotype associated with COPD risk. Conclusion: Our results support that IREB2 rs13180 is associated with COPD in Hainan population. And this is the first time the HIF1A polymorphisms in COPD in a Chinese population has been reported, although we failed to find any significant result.
Topological stress triggers difficult-to-repair DNA lesions in ribosomal DNA with ensuing formation of PML-nucleolar compartment

PML, a multifunctional protein, plays a crucial role in forming PML nuclear bodies, which are involved in various cellular processes, including stress responses. Under specific conditions, PML associates with nucleoli, forming PML nucleolar associations (PNAs). However, the stimuli leading to PNAs formation are unknown. Here we investigated these stimuli by exposure of cells to various genotoxic stresses. We reveal that the most potent inducers of PNAs share the ability to inhibit topoisomerases and RNA polymerase I. The inhibition of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair augmented the occurrence of PNAs linking the stimulus for PNAs formation to unresolved DNA damage. The most potent treatment, doxorubicin, introduced DSBs into the rDNA locus. PNAs co-localized with damaged rDNA, sequestering it from active nucleoli. Using rDNA locus cleavage by I-PpoI, we proved that rDNA damage is a potent PNAs-inducing stimulus. Blocking homology-directed DSB repair (HDR), but not non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) enhanced PNAs formation, identifying HDR as a PNAs modulator. Our findings have implications for genome stability and diverse diseases and indicate that PNAs form when difficult-to-repair rDNA DSBs occur in nucleoli, highlighting the interplay between the PML/PNAs and rDNA alteration caused by deficiencies in topoisomerases, inhibition of RNAPI, and rDNA DSBs destined for HDR.
PEX1 is essential for the glycosome biogenesis and trypanosomatid parasite survival

Trypanosomatid parasites are kinetoplastid protists that compartmentalize glycolytic enzymes in unique peroxisome-related organelles called glycosomes. The heterohexameric AAA-ATPase complex of PEX1-PEX6 is anchored to the peroxisomal membrane and functions in the export of matrix protein import receptor PEX5 from the peroxisomal membrane. Defects in PEX1, PEX6 or their membrane anchor causes dysfunction of peroxisomal matrix protein import cycle. In this study, we identified the Trypanosoma PEX1 orthologue using sequence and structural similarities. Using yeast two-hybrid analysis, we demonstrate that TbPEX1 can bind to TbPEX6. Endogenously tagged TbPEX1 localizes to glycosomes in the T. brucei parasites. Depletion of PEX1 gene expression by RNA interference causes lethality to bloodstream form trypanosomes, due to a partial mislocalization of glycosomal enzymes to the cytosol and ATP depletion. TbPEX1 RNAi leads to a selective proteasomal degradation of both matrix protein import receptors TbPEX5 and TbPEX7. Unlike in yeast, PEX1 depletion did not result in an accumulation of ubiquitinated TbPEX5 in trypanosomes. As PEX1 turned out to be essential for trypanosomatid parasites, it could provide a suitable drug target for parasitic diseases. The results also suggests that these parasites possess a highly efficient quality control mechanisms that export the import receptors from glycosomes to the cytosol, in the absence of a functional TbPEX1-TbPEX6 complex.
Heterogeneous presynaptic receptive fields contribute to directional tuning in starburst amacrine cells

The processing of visual information by retinal starburst amacrine cells (SACs) involves transforming excitatory input from bipolar cells (BCs) into directional calcium output. While previous studies have suggested that an asymmetry in the kinetic properties of bipolar cells along the soma-dendritic axes of the postsynaptic cell could enhance directional tuning at the level of individual branches, it remains unclear whether biologically relevant presynaptic kinetics contribute to direction selectivity when visual stimulation engages the entire dendritic tree. To address this question, we built multicompartmental models of the bipolar–SAC circuit and trained them to boost directional tuning. We report that despite significant dendritic crosstalk and dissimilar directional preferences along the dendrites that occur during whole-cell stimulation, the rules that guide BC kinetics leading to optimal directional selectivity are similar to the single-dendrite condition. To correlate model predictions to empirical findings, we utilized two-photon glutamate imaging to study the dynamics of bipolar release onto ON- and OFF- starburst dendrites in the murine retina. We reveal diverse presynaptic dynamics in response to motion in both BC populations; algorithms trained on the experimental data suggested that the differences in the temporal release kinetics are likely to correspond to heterogeneous receptive field (RF) properties among the different BC types, including the spatial extent of the center and surround components. In addition, we demonstrate that circuit architecture composed of presynaptic units with experimentally recorded dynamics could enhance directional drive but not to levels that replicate empirical findings, suggesting other DS mechanisms are required to explain SAC function. Our study provides new insights into the complex mechanisms underlying direction selectivity in retinal processing and highlights the potential contribution of presynaptic kinetics to the computation of visual information by starburst amacrine cells.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding differentiates between micro-habitats within the rocky intertidal

While the utility of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding surveys for biodiversity monitoring continues to be demonstrated, the spatial and temporal variability of eDNA, and thus the limits of the differentiability of an eDNA signal, remains under-characterized. In this study, we collected eDNA samples from distinct micro-habitats (∼40 m apart) in a rocky intertidal ecosystem over their exposure period in a tidal cycle. During this period, the micro-habitats transitioned from being interconnected, to physically isolated, to interconnected again. Using a well-established eukaryotic (cytochrome oxidase subunit I) metabarcoding assay, we detected 415 species across 28 phyla. Across a variety of univariate and multivariate analyses, using just taxonomically-assigned data as well as all detected amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), we identified unique eDNA signals from the different micro-habitats sampled. This differentiability paralleled ecological expectations and increased as the sites became more physically disconnected. Our results demonstrate that eDNA biomonitoring can differentiate micro-habitats in the rocky intertidal only 40 m apart, that these differences are ecologically meaningful, and that physical connectivity informs the degree of differentiation possible. These findings showcase the potential power of eDNA biomonitoring to increase the spatial and temporal resolution of marine biodiversity data, aiding research, conservation, and management efforts.
Exploiting Activation and Inactivation Mechanisms in Type I-C CRISPR-Cas3 for Genome Editing Applications

Type I CRISPR-Cas systems utilize the RNA-guided Cascade complex to identify matching DNA targets, and the nuclease-helicase Cas3 to degrade them. Among seven subtypes, Type I-C is compact in size and highly active in creating large-sized genome deletions in human cells. Here we use four cryo-electron microscopy snapshots to define its RNA-guided DNA binding and cleavage mechanisms in high resolution. The non-target DNA strand (NTS) is accommodated by I-C Cascade in a continuous binding groove along the juxtaposed Cas11 subunits. Binding of Cas3 further traps a flexible bulge in NTS, enabling efficient NTS nicking. We identified two anti-CRISPR proteins AcrIC8 and AcrIC9, that strongly inhibit N. lactamica I-C function. Structural analysis showed that AcrIC8 inhibits PAM recognition through direct competition, whereas AcrIC9 achieves so through allosteric inhibition. Both Acrs potently inhibit I-C-mediated genome editing and transcriptional modulation in human cells, providing the first off-switches for controllable Type I CRISPR genome engineering.
Comparative study of thermal tolerance and other physiological characteristics in C. briggsae and C. elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae (C. briggsae) is routinely used in genetic and evolutionary studies involving its well-known cousin, C. elegans. The two species are morphologically almost identical but exhibit significant developmental, genetic, and genomic differences. The AF16 isolate of C. briggsae is an established reference strain. We used additional wild isolates from tropical and temperate regions to perform a comparative study of phenotypic characters. The analysis revealed both intra (between C. briggsae isolates) and inter (compared to C. elegans N2) species variability in dimensions and opacity. Our data also showed that C. briggsae isolates prefer higher temperatures for growth, reproduction, and survival than C. elegans N2. The preference for higher temperatures further translated into a higher tolerance for heat stress, as evidenced by its survival at temperatures lethal to N2. Interestingly, we found that while C. briggsae is more resistant to heat and shows greater sensitivity to other forms of stress, namely oxidative and osmotic, compared to C. elegans. The heat resistance of C. briggsae was correlated with efficient upregulation of the cytosolic chaperon hsp-16.2. Overall, this work has revealed significant differences in stress sensitivities between the two nematodes and forms the basis to investigate changes in underlying mechanisms that affect their stress responses.
Molecular layer disinhibition unlocks climbing-fiber-instructed motor learning in the cerebellum

Climbing fibers supervise cerebellar learning by providing signals to Purkinje cells (PCs) that instruct adaptive changes to mistakenly performed movements. Yet, climbing fibers are regularly active, even during well performed movements, suggesting that a mechanism dynamically regulates the ability of climbing fibers to induce corrective plasticity in response to motor errors. We found that molecular layer interneurons (MLIs), whose inhibition of PCs powerfully opposes climbing-fiber-mediated excitation, serve this function. Optogenetically suppressing the activity of floccular MLIs in mice during the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) induces a learned increase in gain despite the absence of performance errors. Suppressing MLIs when the VOR is mistakenly underperformed reveled that their inhibitory output is necessary to orchestrate gain-increase learning by conditionally permitting climbing fibers to instruct plasticity induction during ipsiversive head turns. Ablation of an MLI circuit for PC disinhibition prevents gain-increase learning during VOR performance errors which was rescued by re-imposing PC disinhibition through MLI activity suppression. Our findings point to a decisive role for MLIs in gating climbing-fiber-mediated learning through their context-dependent inhibition of PCs.
A genome-wide cytotoxicity screen of Cluster F1 mycobacteriophage Girr reveals novel inhibitors of Mycobacterium smegmatis growth

Over the past decade, thousands of bacteriophage genomes have been sequenced and annotated. A striking observation from this work is that known structural features and functions cannot be assigned for >65% of the encoded proteins. One approach to begin experimentally elucidating the function of these uncharacterized gene products is genome-wide screening to identify phage genes that confer phenotypes of interest like inhibition of host growth. This study describes the results of a screen evaluating the effects of overexpressing each gene encoded by the temperate Cluster F1 mycobacteriophage Girr on the growth of the host bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis. Overexpression of 29 of the 102 Girr genes (∼28% of the genome) resulted in mild to severe cytotoxicity. Of the 29 toxic genes described, 12 have no known function (NKF) and are predominately small proteins of <125 amino acids. Overexpression of the majority of these 12 cytotoxic NKF proteins resulted in moderate to severe growth reduction and represent novel antimicrobial products. The remaining 17 toxic genes have predicted functions, encoding products involved in phage structure, DNA replication/modification, DNA binding/gene regulation, or other enzymatic activity. Comparison of this dataset with prior genome-wide cytotoxicity screens of mycobacteriophages Waterfoul and Hammy reveals some common functional themes, though several of the predicted Girr functions associated with cytotoxicity in our report, including genes involved in lysogeny, have not been described previously. This study, completed as part of the HHMI-supported SEA-GENES project, highlights the power of parallel, genome-wide overexpression screens to identify novel interactions between phages and their hosts.
Analysis and Synthesis of Facial Expressions by Feature-Points Tracking and Deformable Model

Face expression recognition is useful for designing new interactive devices offering the possibility of new ways for human to interact with computer systems. In this paper we develop a facial expressions analysis and synthesis system. The analysis part of the system is based on the facial features extracted from facial feature points (FFP) in frontal image sequences. Selected facial feature points were automatically tracked using an improved cross-correlation based motion tracking algorithm, and extracted feature vectors from the position of FFPs in the first and the last frames, were used to classify expressions and Action Units (AU), using Probabilistic Neural Networks (PNN). Comparing with similar analysis works, we improved analysis system recognition rate by using improved motion tracking system and some new facial features. The synthesis part of the system uses a deformable patch object model that models facial features (eyes, eyebrows and mouth) by small polygons. The coordinates of the vertices of these polygons can be changed based on the FFP positions in the original image. The synthesis part of the system can be used as an on-line personalized facial animator by tracking some FFPs in the original image, or as a generic facial expressions animator by applying some parameters for each AU code (off-line animation). The proposed deformable model has a simple structure and uses a few set of control points comparing to the similar face models.
Bulletin of the Technical Committee on Data Engineering March 2017

Global-scale data management (GSDM) empowers systems by providing higher levels of fault-tolerance, read availability, and efficiency in utilizing cloud resources. This has led to the emergence of globalscale data management and event processing. However, the Wide-Area Network (WAN) latency separating datacenters is orders of magnitude larger than typical network latencies, and this requires a reevaluation of many of the traditional design trade-offs of data management systems. Therefore, data management problems must be revisited to account for the new design space. In this paper, we revisit the problem of supporting strongly-consistent transaction processing for GSDM. This includes providing an understanding of the limits imposed by the WAN latency on transaction latency in addition to a design of a system framework that aims to reduce response time and increase scalability. This infrastructure includes a transaction processing component, a fault-tolerance component, a communication component, and a placement component. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions of transaction processing in GSDM.
Poison Arrows: North American Indian Hunting and Warfare

Biological warfare is a menacing twenty-first-century issue, but its origins extend to antiquity. While the recorded use of toxins in warfare in some ancient populations is rarely disputed (the use of arsenical smoke in China, which dates to at least 1000 BC, for example) the use of 'poison arrows' and other deadly substances by Native American groups has been fraught with contradiction. At last revealing clear documentation to support these theories, anthropologist David Jones transforms the realm of ethnobotany in Poison Arrows.Examining evidence within the few extant descriptive accounts of Native American warfare, along with grooved arrowheads and clues from botanical knowledge, Jones builds a solid case to indicate widespread and very effective use of many types of toxins. He argues that various groups applied them to not only warfare but also to hunting, and even as an early form of insect extermination. Culling extensive ethnological, historical, and archaeological data, Jones provides a thoroughly comprehensive survey of the use of ethnobotanical and entomological compounds applied in wide-ranging ways, including homicide and suicide. Although many narratives from the contact period in North America deny such uses, Jones now offers conclusive documentation to prove otherwise. A groundbreaking study of a subject that has been long overlooked, "Poison Arrows" imparts an extraordinary new perspective to the history of warfare, weaponry, and deadly human ingenuity.
Investigation of the degradation mechanisms of a variety of organic photovoltaic devices by combination of imaging techniques—the ISOS-3 inter-laboratory collaboration

The investigation of degradation of seven distinct sets (with a number of individual cells of n ≥ 12) of state of the art organic photovoltaic devices prepared by leading research laboratories with a combination of imaging methods is reported. All devices have been shipped to and degraded at Riso DTU up to 1830 hours in accordance with established ISOS-3 protocols under defined illumination conditions. Imaging of device function at different stages of degradation was performed by laser-beam induced current (LBIC) scanning; luminescence imaging, specifically photoluminescence (PLI) and electroluminescence (ELI); as well as by lock-in thermography (LIT). Each of the imaging techniques exhibits its specific advantages with respect to sensing certain degradation features, which will be compared and discussed here in detail. As a consequence, a combination of several imaging techniques yields very conclusive information about the degradation processes controlling device function. The large variety of device architectures in turn enables valuable progress in the proper interpretation of imaging results—hence revealing the benefits of this large scale cooperation in making a step forward in the understanding of organic solar cell aging and its interpretation by state-of-the-art imaging methods.