Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Actin Purified from Maize Pollen Functions in Living Plant Cells

A vast array of actin binding proteins (ABPs), together with intracellular signaling molecules, modulates the spatiotemporal distribution of actin filaments in eukaryotic cells. To investigate the complex regulation of actin organization in plant cells, we designed experiments to reconstitute actin-ABP interactions in vitro with purified components. Because vertebrate skeletal a-actin has distinct and unpredictable binding affinity for nonvertebrate ABPs, it is essential that these in vitro studies be performed with purified plant actin. Here, we report the development of a new method for isolating functional actin from maize pollen. The addition of large amounts of recombinant profilin to pollen extracts facilitated the depolymerization of actin filaments and the formation of a profilin-actin complex. The profilin-actin complex was then isolated by affinity chromatography on poly-L-proline-Sepharose, and actin was selectively eluted with a salt wash. Pollen actin was further purified by one cycle of polymerization and depolymerization. The recovery of functional actin by this rapid and convenient procedure was substantial; the average yield was 6 mg of actin from 10 g of pollen. We undertook an initial physicochemical characterization of this native pollen actin. Under physiological conditions, pollen actin polymerized with kinetics similar in quality to those for vertebrate a-actin and had a critical concentration for assembly of 0.6 pM. Moreover, pollen actin interacted specifically and in a characteristic fashion with several ABPs. Tradescantia cells were microinjected and used as an experimental system to study the behavior of pollen actin in vivo. We demonstrated that purified pollen actin ameliorated the effects of injecting excess profilin into live stamen hair cells.
The role of personality and self-efficacy in music students’ health-promoting behaviours

Evidence of the high prevalence of physical and psychological problems among professional and student classical musicians has led to investigations of music students’ health-promoting behaviours. These have indicated lower levels of engagement in health-promoting behaviours among music students compared to non-music students and resulted in the recent introduction of health education courses in a number of tertiary music education institutions. Investigations of health-promoting behaviours in a wide range of contexts have shown that personality and general self-efficacy are significantly associated with health-promoting behaviours. Although previous studies of music students’ health-promoting behaviours provide evidence of positive associations between general self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviours, the contribution of personality to health-promoting behaviours and the influence of general self-efficacy on the associations between personality and music students’ health-promoting behaviours have not yet been investigated. The current study examined associations between the personality, general self-efficacy, and health-promoting behaviours of 154 undergraduate music students. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that Conscientiousness was the most consistent significant predictor of health-promoting behaviours. Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism were found to predict general self-efficacy. Mediation analyses were carried out and showed that general self-efficacy mediated the associations between both Conscientiousness and Neuroticism, and health-promoting behaviours. The implications of the findings for future health education courses are discussed.
Effects of Asset Allocation on Financial Performance of Unit Trust Schemes in Kenya

Abstract Unit Trust Schemes provide diversification, liquidity, professional management among other benefits. In order to diversify the funds raised from various unit holders, fund managers adopt a criterion with which funds are allocated optimally. A descriptive research design was adopted, and the study period was 5-years. The ratio of the composition of different asset classes to the fund value was used as the independent variables. Fund age was used as the control variable. Sharpe ratio was used to measure investment returns and that represented the dependent variable of the study. Data was collected from secondary sources and a multiple linear regression model was adopted to assess the association of the variables. Collected data showed normality traits, positive autocorrelation when measured using Pearson correlation coefficients. The data also showed mixed results for multicollinearity tests. The weight of money market instruments, corporate bonds, treasury bonds and equity significantly affected performance of Unit Trust Scheme funds. They all had probability values in the interval of 0 and 0.05. Therefore, the study concluded that asset allocation significantly affects how a fund will perform. Other factors such as timing, manager experience and prevailing economic conditions have to be considered when evaluating performance of a fund. Keywords: Asset allocation, Financial performance, Unit trust schemes, Kenya.
Influence of textural layering on field capacity of coarse soils

Zettl, J. D. , Barbour, S. L. , Huang, M. , Si, B. C. and Leskiw, L. A. 2011. Influence of textural layering on field capacity of coarse soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 133-147. The current method of designing reclamation covers for land disturbed by oil sands mining in northern Alberta, Canada, relies on an estimate of the field capacity (FC) of both natural soils and reclamation soil prescriptions. The objective of this research was to examine the influence of layered, textural heterogeneity on FC. Field testing was performed on seven natural sites with coarse-textured soils that support a range of ecosite classes. Double-ring infiltration and drainage tests with real time monitoring of water content were undertaken along with test pit excavation and detailed profile sampling. The measured water storage at FC following drainage demonstrated that higher water storage at FC values are associated with increased textural heterogeneity, and these sites reflected more productive ecosite class. Rigorous, physically based modeling illustrated that a texturally heterogeneous site can have water storage at FC within 1 m profile that is between 110 to 330 mm higher than a homogeneous profile with the same average texture. These higher values of water storage at FC in texturally heterogeneous sites could account for the differences in observed ecosite productivity. This work highlights the importance of textural layering in designing reclamation covers in coarse-textured soils to maximize FC.
Effect of Social Capital on Firm Performance: An Empirical Study of Small Enterprises in Sri Lanka

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of social capital on the performance of Small Enterprises (SEs) in an emerging economy, Sri Lanka. The study adopts a survey design and cross-sectional data collected by administering 200 questionnaires conducting face to face interviews. The social capital was measured by three dimensions namely, structural, relational, and conative social capital. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling. The results show that structural and cognitive social capital had a positive significant impact on the performance of SEs while relational social capital had demonstrated a negative statistically significant impact on the performance of SEs. This implies that the managers of SEs emphasize the social capital as a means to a source of finance and resources and access to business and market information by maintaining close ties with the stakeholders to achieve a competitive advantage. The findings will be useful for the owners/managers of SEs who should share their knowledge, opportunities, and resources with their suppliers, customers as well as employees of the organization such that they should try to share their goals and achieve success together with parties who are related and interested in the business.
Crystal Structure of Bis(diethyldithiocarbamato)palladium(II) Benzene Solvate, [Pd(Et_2dtc)_2]•(C_6H_6)

Since palladium(II) belongs to a class b or a soft metal ion, it forms relatively stable complexes with sulfurand phosphorous-containing ligands.l Many Pd(II) complexes with dithiolate ligands have already been prepared and characterized.1 Although Pd(II) complexes with dithiocarbamate have been prepared and systematically characterized based on the IR and electronic spectral, the crystal structure has not been reported. In this study we have characterized bis(diethyldithiocarbamato)palladium(II) crystallographically. Yellow single crystals of [Pd(Et2dtc)2]. C6H6 (Et2dtc= diethyldithiocarbamate) (1) were obtained from a mixture solution of [Pd(PhCN)2C12] (46 mg, 1.2X10-4 mol), sodium diethylthiocarbamate (28 mg, 1.2X104 mol), triphenylphosphine (32 mg, 1.2X 10-4 mol), NaBH4 (27 mg, 7.2X104 mol) and trichloroethylene (1.1 ml, 1.2X102 mol) in benzene/methanol (16 ml, v/v=3/5) after two weeks. Data collection was performed on a Rigaku AFC-5R diffractometer under the conditions given in Table 1. The structure was solved by a direct method (MITHRIL)3 and an empirical, spherical, absorption correction was performed using a program called DIFABS4 after an isotropic refinement for all of the nonhydrogen atoms. The scattering factors and anomalous dispersion corrections for non-hydrogen atoms were taken from ref. 5. A refinement of the non-hydrogen atomic positional and thermal anisotropic parameters was performed by a full-matrix least-squares calculation. The positions of the hydrogen atoms were obtained from a difference Fourier synthesis. All of the calculations were performed using a TEXSAN6 crystallographic software package. The atomic positional parameters are given in Table 2. The molecular structure of 1 is shown in Fig. 1, together with the solvated benzene molecule. Selected bond distances and angles are listed in Table 3. Complex 1 has symmetry center on a Pd(1) atom. The Pd atom is coordinated by four S atoms of two Et2dtc ligands in a square-planar geometry. The average Pd-S distance of 2.3277(7) A is within those (2.312.35 A) of the Pd(II) complexes with the dithiolate ligand. ' The S(1)-Pd(1)S(2) angle of 75.09(2)° is also close to those (73.6-75.4°) of the Pd(II) complexes with the dithiolate ligand. ' The Table 1 Crystal and experimental data
Mediating effect of perceived organisational support on authentic leadership and work engagement

Orientation: High levels of employee engagement are critical in the current globally competitive landscape. Scholarly research suggests that authentic leadership (AL) increases trust and ultimately work engagement. Several recent studies called for more research into the moderating and mediating variables influencing this relationship.Research purpose: Employee perceptions about the support offered by their organisations have been associated with engagement. This study explores the mediating effect of this variable on the relationship between AL and work engagement.Motivation for the study: This study focuses on the interaction between perceptions of support from the organisation, AL and engagement of employees.Research approach/design and method: The data was collected from 202 employees from an international information technology organisation. Regression analysis was employed to test for mediation impact. The model fit was analysed to know whether the suggested model was a good fit.Main findings: The study established that the mediated model was partially significant, which indicates that the relationship between AL and engagement is, in part, contextually dependent on whether employees perceive organisational support.Practical/managerial implications: The presence of perceived organisational support (POS) provides space for an interaction between organisational processes and employee engagement, or, in the absence of an existing POS, an authentic leader transforms organisational resources into positive POS.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the literature through specifically examinating the interaction between the variables of employee engagement, POS and AL. Engagement does not rely on the ‘right’ leadership theory or model to address problems with performance or motivation, but rather on developing an organisational climate that could enable individuals and organisations to thrive.
An Assessment of Bank Customers’ intention to use internet banking: The Role of Service Quality

This study was aimed at assessing the behavioural intention to use internet banking among bank customers. The study adopted the survey research design based on quantitative approach. Data was collected from 406 bank customers in Bauchi and Gombe states, North-east Nigeria using the convenience sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection and 403 responses were retrieved back and found fit for the analysis. The collected questionnaire was analysed using multiple regression. The result of the analysis revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and reliability have significant positive effect on the behavioural intention to use internet banking service. The study therefore concluded that, banks that intend to increase the adoption rate of their internet banking platforms should focus more on making it easy for users/customers to use and the internet banking service should focused more on providing benefits to customers. In addition, marketing communications should not overlook the important role of role models and peers that influence intention decisions of customers.
Microbiological assessment of street foods at the point of sale in Maputo (Mozambique)

The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological quality and safety of street food sold in the main streets and informal markets of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. From 83 different vendors selling different types of foods, 83 samples of ready-to-eat (RTE) street food were analyzed. Mesophiles, Escherichia coli and total coliforms were used as quality and hygiene indicators. Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) Salmonella and coagulase-positive staphylococci were used as food safety indicators. High proportions of unsatisfactory food samples were found in both traditional hot (76.7%) and cold (75%) foods. L. monocytogenes and Salmonella were tested negative in this survey. However, when coagulase-positive staphylococci was used as a food safety indicator, approximately 25% (23/83) of the food samples analyzed were classified as unsatisfactory/potentially hazardous. These results, showing that street food sold in Maputo clearly requires adequate sanitary conditions for its preparation and sale, contribute to the development of good manufacturing practices (GMP) for street food in Maputo, Mozambique. This is the first report on the microbiological quality and safety of street food in Mozambique.
Synthesis of Spinel LiMn2O4 by the Sol−Gel Method for a Cathode-Active Material in Lithium Secondary Batteries

Spinel LiMn2O4 powders were synthesized by a sol−gel method using an aqueous solution of metal acetates containing poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a chelating agent. The dependence of the physicochemical properties of the spinel LiMn2O4 powders, such as crystallinity, lattice constant, and specific surface area, on the calcination temperature and the PAA quantity was investigated. It was found that a pure crystalline phase of spinel LiMn2O4 without impurities could be formed at 250 °C in air from the gel precursors. Polycrystalline LiMn2O4 powders calcined at 300−800 °C for 10 h were found to be composed of very uniformly-sized particulates with an average particle size of 30−600 nm and a specific surface area of 3.3−65 m2/g, depending on the processing conditions. Therefore, the sol−gel method required much lower calcination temperature and shorter calcination time than the conventional solid-state reaction. Electrochemical studies on the charge/discharge characteristics of the Li/LiMn2O4 cells show that LiM.
A new species of the genus Microcleonus Faust, 1904 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Tuva

A new species, Microcleonus meregallii Legalov, sp. nov. from Tuva is described and illustrated. It is similar to M. panderi from which it differs in the coarsely punctuate pronotum, without distinct tubercles, and slightly curved aedeagus. Key and distribution map for all species of this genus are given.
Choice bracketing and experience‐based choice

We examine the effect of choice bracketing on expected value maximization in experiencebased choice. Experience-based choices are a series of individual choices made sequentially, for which feedback follows each choice, and are thus naturally bracketed narrowly. Previous research broadly bracketed multiple experience-based choices for decision makers by aggregating choices (such that each choice pertained to multiple individual choices) or by reducing feedback frequency. We find that decision makers prompted to actively broadbracket experience-based choices in the presence of immediate feedback on individual choices (which prompts narrow bracketing) are more likely to choose expected value maximizing options than decision makers prompted to narrow-bracket these choices. This pattern replicated across four studies, using different manipulations of choice bracketing, forms of feedback (partial or full), payoffs (hypothetical or incentive-compatible payoff), subject populations, and when the choices and outcome distribution involved prices or time. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
Sustaining Business: A Psychological Perspective of Donation Behavior

The modern-day corporate sector implements various forms of socially responsible programs, perhaps with different motives. Nevertheless, harnessing potential support towards such initiatives from stakeholders is vital. In this regard, researchers previously uncovered that the processes of psychological reaction to the request of time and money donations are different, yet the influence of psychological distance on time and money donation behavior has not been explicitly explored. Hence, this research investigates how temporal distance and value accessibility lead to different types and sizes of donation. The findings reveal that when individuals jointly evaluate donation options, temporal distance evokes dissimilar mental processes, subsequently leading them to provide time donations (near future) or money donations (distance future). With respect to the size of the donation, temporal distance has an impact on donating money, but not on time. Notably, the self-construal level interacted with temporal distance more so than that of personality traits to bring about strong donation behavior. This interaction is more pronounced and visible in relation to money donation than to time donation. In addition, implications of this research are also considered and discussed.
Identification of Sea Breeze Recirculation and Its Effects on Ozone in Houston, TX, During DISCOVER‐AQ 2013

In coastal environments, sea breeze recirculation has been found to be an important mesoscale meteorological phenomenon that causes high ozone episodes, yet the identification of this small‐scale circulation pattern remains difficult. In this study, a new method was developed to automatically identify sea breeze recirculation in Houston, TX, by applying K‐Means clustering algorithm to surface winds measurements at near‐coast sites during the DISCOVER‐AQ (Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) field campaign period from August to October 2013. The key to the clustering algorithm is seven features derived from site‐based surface winds on each day, including zonal (U) and meridional (V) winds in the morning and afternoon, 24‐hr transport direction (θ) and the recirculation factor, which is the ratio of net transport distance (L) to wind run distance (S). For comparison, the same clustering was applied to San Antonio, TX, a noncoastal city yet within the synoptic‐scale distance from Houston. Four clusters were obtained for each region, including three synoptic patterns common to both regions and one mesoscale pattern that differs by region, classified as Stagnation and Sea Breeze Cluster for San Antonio and Houston, respectively. The clustering outputs were verified by wind profiler data in Houston. By linking the wind clusters with surface and aircraft ozone measurements, we revealed a clear connection between circulation patterns and daily ozone variability showing that maximum daily average 8‐hr (MDA8) ozone levels and spatial distributions differed by cluster type (e.g., the highest ozone found in the Stagnation/Sea Breeze Cluster and the lowest ozone in the Southerly Cluster). This automatable method of sea breeze identification we developed can be potentially applied to other coastal cities because it has low data requirement and no ad hoc location‐specific adjustments.
A Multireference Density Functional Approach to the Calculation of the Excited States of Uranium Ions

Abstract : An accurate and efficient hybrid Density Functional Theory (DFT)/Multireference Configuration Interaction (MRCI) model for computing electronic excitation energies in heavy element atoms and molecules was developed. This model incorporated relativistic effects essential for accurate qualitative and quantitative spectroscopic predictions on heavy elements, while simultaneously removing spin-multiplicity limitations inherent in the original model on which it is based. This model was used to successfully compute ground and low-lying electronic states for atoms in the first two rows of the period table, which were used for calibration. Once calibrated, calculations on carbon monoxide, bromine fluoride, the bromine atom, uranium +4 and +5 ions and the uranyl (UO2 2+) ion showed the model achieved reductions in relative error with respect to Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) of 11-42%, with a corresponding reduction in computational effort in terms of MRCI expansion sizes of a factor of 25-64.
Factors Affecting Corporate Investment Decision: Evidence from Vietnamese Economic Groups

This paper analyzes factors affecting corporate investment decisions in economic groups listed on the Vietnam stock market. The panel data of the research sample includes 39 economic groups listed on the Vietnam stock market from 2009 to 2019. The Generalized Least Square (GLS) is employed to address econometric issues and to improve the accuracy of the regression coefficients. In this research, the investment rate is a dependent variable. Cash-flow (CF), Investment opportunities (ROA), Fixed capital intensity (FCI), Leverage (LEV), Sales growth (GR), Size (SZ), Business risk (RISK) are independent variables in the study. The model results show that cash flow and sales growth have the same impact on investment decisions of economic groups in Vietnam. In addition, investment opportunities have a negative impact on the capital investment decisions of economic groups. The remaining factors include fixed capital intensity, leverage, firm size, and business risks that have a weak and insignificant impact on capital investment decisions of economic groups in Vietnam. The findings of this article are useful for business administrators, and helping business managers make the right financial decisions. Besides, the research results are also meaningful to money management agencies. The authors recommend that the State Bank of Vietnam should maintain a sustainable monetary policy.