Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Link Between Earnings Conservatism and the Price to Book Ratio

We hypothesize and find: (1) Earnings conservatism, the tendency of firms to recognize bad news in earnings on a more timely basis than good news, is substantially greater in portfolios of firms with lower price-to-book ratios than in portfolios of firms with higher price-to-book ratios;(2) The negative association between earnings conservatism and the price-to-book ratio stems primarily from the accrual component of earnings, not the operating cash flow component of earnings. Our results suggest that studies using earnings-returns associations to investigate cross-sectional or time-series differences in earnings conservatism risk drawing erroneous inferences unless the research designs control for cross-sectional or time-series variation in price-to-book ratios.
Thumb Culture. The Meaning of Mobile Phones for Society

Peter Glotz, Stefan Bertschi, Chris Locke (Eds.) -- Mobile communication has an increasing impact on people's lives and society. Ubiquitous media influence the way users relate to their surroundings, and data services like text and pictures lead to a culture shaped by thumbs. Representing several years of research into the social and cultural effects of mobile phone use, this volume assembles the fascinating approaches and new insights of leading scientists and practitioners. The book contains the results of a first international survey on the social consequences of mobile phones. It provides a comprehensive inventory of today's issues and an outlook in mobile media, society and their future study. -- For details see http://thumbculture.loginb. com.
YYÜ TAR BİL DERG

The aim of this study was to reveal the effects of four endophytic bacteria (EB) (Ochrobactrum sp. CB36/1, Pantoea agglomerans CC37/2, Bacillus thuringiensis CA41/1 and Pseudomonas fluorescens CC44) on the plant development of tomato and pepper and the effects against bacterial spot disease caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (Xe) in both hosts. EB applied on tomato and pepper seedlings cultivated in a sterile peat growing medium in a climate chamber in two different periods to the roots. The pathogen inoculated on the leaves by spraying. Disease severity was measured by different scales for tomatoes and peppers, and plant development parameters were determined at the end of the study. The antagonistic effects of EB against Xe and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activities were determined with in vitro studies. The effect of endophytic bacteria on tomato and pepper varied according to the host plant x endophyte x pathogen combination. While no bacteria were effective against the pathogen in vitro, Ochrobactrum sp. CB36/1 inhibited the disease severity by 37% in tomato plants, but this effect was not observed in pepper. Tomato and especially pepper plants under disease stress had root and shoot fresh and dry weight increased by 28% to 128% by EB. The measurable effects of EB under biotic stress were determined to be higher than in stress-free conditions. In conclusion, the endophytic bacteria used in the study have potential for use within sustainable integrated agricultural concept framework, with their effects determined to vary according to the host, pathogen and endophytic bacteria.
Thermodynamic analysis of biomass gasification and torrefaction

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Nucleic Acid Isolation and Downstream Applications

Nucleic acids are not only a source of life but also a means of observing, understanding, and regulating it. Nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, and their characteristics are discussed in other chapters of the book. This chapter describes the fundamental principles of different methods for nucleic acid sample preparation / nucleic acid extraction, such as columnbased methods using silica membranes and traditional ones without a column purifica‐ tion procedure (commercially available or homemade). Other topics discussed here include comparative analysis of the use of these methods in DNA and RNA extraction from a variety of biological and clinical samples, as well as the relationship between the type of sample, the method used and the quality and amount of extracted DNA or RNA. Finally, the chapter outlines the application of nucleic acids in the diagnosis of various diseases, in scientific research, and bird sex determination by downstream applications such as restriction enzyme analysis, polymerase chain reactions (PCR, reverse transcrip‐ tion-PCR, real-time PCR), and different sequencing methods (Sanger, cycling sequencing, and next-generation sequencing).
Divisive Polythetic Classification of Vegetation data by Optimized Division on Ordination Components

Divisive methods have an advantage over agglomerative ones in that they use all available information at the initial stage and are less likely to be irrevocably led astray by chance (Lambert & Dale 1964; Dale 1964; Lambert & Williams 1966; Williams 1971). Polythetic methods use the available information at each step more fully than monothetic ones; the latter often 'misclassify'. Thus methods which are both divisive and polythetic should theoretically be optimal (Williams 1971). However, only few methods of this type have so far been suggested, and these are computationally rather demanding (MacnaughtonSmith et al. 1964; Edwards & Cavalli-Sforza 1965; Wallace & Boulton 1968; Boulton & Wallace 1970). A simple mechanism for obtaining a divisive polythetic classification of vegetation data is through ordination by principal components analysis. This extracts the set of generalized variables which account for most of the variation in the data; each variable is a weighted sum of species (or site) scores, hence an 'optimized polythetic' entity. A division of the elements (sites, species) according to their values (scores, loadings) on these components is thus a divisive polythetic classification. This procedure was considered in principle by Goodall (1954) and by Dale (1964) but was not fully implemented*. In particular the problem of choosing the division point on each component axis was not solved. This paper examines this and some other problems in the application of this approach to the classification of vegetation, based on both theoretical considerations and on experiments with three sets of vegetation data. (a) The semi-arid vegetation of southeastern Australia: 193 sites (Noy-Meir 1970, 1971); presence and cover data. (b) The montane tropical forest of Mt Wilhelm, New Guinea: thirty-three sites (Wade 1968); presence data.
Studying Teacher Education : The Report of the AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Executive Summary: The Report of the AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education. M. Cochran-Smith, K. Fries, The AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education: Context and Goals. M. Cochran-Smith, K. Fries, Researching Teacher Education in Changing Times: Politics and Paradigms. K. Zumwalt, E. Craig, Teachers' Characteristics: Research on the Demographic Profile. K. Zumwalt, E. Craig, Teachers' Characteristics: Research on the Indicators of Quality. R. Floden, M. Meniketti, Research on the Effects of Coursework in the Arts and Sciences and in the Foundations of Education. R.T. Clift, P. Brady, Research on Methods Courses and Field Experiences. P. Grossman, Research on Pedagogical Approaches in Teacher Education. E. Hollins, M.T. Guzman, Research on Preparing Teachers for Diverse Populations. M.C. Pugach, Research on Preparing General Education Teachers to Work With Students With Disabilities. S. Wilson, P. Youngs, Research on Accountability Processes in Teacher Education. K.M. Zeichner, H.G. Conklin, Teacher Education Programs. K.M. Zeichner, A Research Agenda for Teacher Education. The AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education--Biographies of the Panel Members.
Effects of Epichloë festucae fungal endophyte infection on drought and heat stress responses of strong creeping red fescue

A BSTRACT . Strong creeping red fescue ( Festuca rubra ssp. rubra ) is an important cool season turfgrass species. Cultivars are often infected with the fungal endophyte Epichlo € e festucae . Endophyte infection is known to confer insect and disease resistance to the plants. The effect of endophyte infection on drought or heat stress tolerance of strong creeping red fescue is not yet established. The objectives of this controlled-environment study were to determine if endophyte infection had any effect on physiological parameters associated with plant tolerance to drought or heat stress or the combination of the two stresses. In this study, endophyte status had no effect on turf quality (TQ), relative water content (RWC), photochemical efﬁciency, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage (EL), or malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the plants under any of the stress treatments. Our results suggested that E. festucae infection had no physiological effects on improving drought, heat or the combined stress tolerance in strong creeping red fescue.
Healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitude and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic response in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal

Background To control the spread of ongoing COVID-19 infection, extremely important measures need to be adopted. Healthcare workers adherence to prevention and control measures is affected by their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. In this study, we assessed the KAP among healthcare workers towards COVID-19 during the ongoing pandemic. Method A self-developed piloted KAP questionnaire was used among the recruited healthcare workers working for the COVID-19 response in the Universal College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UCMSTH), in Bhairahawa, Nepal. The knowledge questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the clinical characteristics, prevention and management of COVID-19. Assessment on attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 included questions on behaviour and change in practices while working during this response. Knowledge scores were calculated and compared by demographic characteristics and their attitude and practices towards COVID-19. Data were analysed using bivariate statistics. Results A total of 103 healthcare workers participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 28.24(6.11) years (range: 20-56); 60.2% were females; 61.2% were unmarried; 60.2% had medical degree and 39.8% were nursing staff. The mean knowledge score was 10.59(1.12) (range: 7-13) and it did not vary by demographic characteristics. Attitude was positive for 53.4% participants with a mean knowledge score of 10.35(1.19) and negative for 46.6% participants with a mean knowledge score of 10.88(0.98) (p=0.02). Practice was good ([≥]3 score) for 81.5% participants with a mean knowledge score of 10.73(1.12) and practice was poor for 18.5% participants with a mean knowledge score of 10.46(1.13) (p=0.24). The attitude of the participants improved with the increasing age of the participants (29.55(7.17), p=0.02). Conclusion There is comparably better knowledge regarding COVID-19 among healthcare workers along with appropriate practices, however attitude was less optimistic with better knowledge but more optimistic with higher age of the healthcare workers. Hence, protective measures for healthcare workers in order to improve their attitude is necessary during the pandemic response.
The Relative Proper Motion of G 167-29 in the Constellation Boötes

G 167-29 is a high proper motion star in the constellation Bootes. The study of the relative proper motion is pictured over an epoch of 97 years. Different sources will be used for recalculation the proper motion. The result of recalculation shows an improvement of proper motion which is given by μx = 0.100" / year for right ascension and μy = 0.337" / year for declination.
Assessing the Accuracy of Judgments of Originality on Three Divergent Thinking Tests

The componential model of creative thinking includes ideation (divergent thinking), problem finding skills, and evaluative accuracy. This investigation was designed to assess the accuracy of originality judgments across three different kinds of divergent thinking tests, one (Uses) being verbal, one (Pattern Meanings) figural, and one (Consequences) "realistic. " These tasks were compared using three indices of evaluative accuracy. A second objective of this investigation was to examine the discriminant validity of the evaluative accuracy scores. Given that evaluations reflect judgment, it was possible that existing measures of judgment and critical thinking would be strongly related to (and even redundant with) the new measures evaluative accuracy. Results from the present investigation confirmed that there were differences among various divergent thinking tests in terms of the accuracy of judgments. Additionally, the measures of evaluative accuracy used here were largely unrelated to more traditional measures of judgment and convergent thinking, which supports the discriminant validity of the evaluative measures.
Recovery of forest floor diversity after removal of the nonnative, invasive plant Euonymus fortunei1

Abstract The vine Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand. -Mazz. is invading forests of the eastern United States; as a result, removal of E. fortunei has become a priority of resource managers. This study examined the effectiveness of five techniques for eliminating E. fortunei, restoring plant species richness, and enhancing recolonization by woody species. In 2003, the following five treatments were applied: burn with a propane torch, light exclusion by plastic tarp, burn and glyphosate application, cut (simulated grazing) and glyphosate application, mow and glyphosate application, plus an untreated control. Each treatment was replicated four times in a randomized block design located in a heavily E. fortunei–invaded forest remnant in Lexington, KY. Vegetation was surveyed in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2013. Across years, most treatments were associated with reduced E. fortunei cover and increased total species richness. Over time, E. fortunei cover increased across treatments, such that by 2013, no difference in E. fortunei cover was detectible among treatments. Some differences in total and native species richness among treatments were still perceptible by 2013. Increased E. fortunei cover was correlated with decreased ground-layer species richness, native species richness, sapling richness, and sapling density. Light exclusion by plastic tarp, a method absent from many management recommendations, was unique in its long-term reduction of E. fortunei cover and its association with increased total species richness, but use of plastic tarps may have drawbacks. This study quantified the long-term community effects of removing an established invasive species from a mature, urban forest. Removal allowed native plants, notably woody species, to reestablish. Because richness continues to decline as E. fortunei reinhabits plots, land managers seeking to conserve biodiversity under conditions similar to those within our study site should maintain proactive E. fortunei removal plans.
Hierarchical Riesz Bases for H s () , 1 < s < 5

On arbitrary polygonal domains R 2 , we construct C 1 hierarchical Riesz bases for Sobolev spaces H s (). In contrast to an earlier construction by Dahmen, Oswald and Shi ([5]), our bases will be of Lagrange instead of Hermite type, by which we extend the range of stability from s 2 (2; 5 ) to s 2 (1; 5 ). Since the latter range includes s = 2, with respect to the present basis, the stiness matrices of fourth order elliptic problems are uniformly well-conditioned.
HEME OXYGENASE-2 GENE MUTATIONS AND BLOOD BILIRUBIN LEVEL IN IRANIAN PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is a critical antioxidative stress enzyme found in endothelial cells and adventitial nerves. This enzyme in conjunction with other HOs (1 and 3) metabolize heme molecule into ferrous iron, carbon monoxide (CO), and biliverdin which is further converted to bilirubin. Both biliverdin and bilirubin are potent antioxidants, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. HO-2 also induces endothelial relaxation by synthesizing CO. This is the first study to evaluate the association of HO-2 gene mutation in patients affected with atherosclerosis. Blood samples from patients (n=137) and normal controls (n=100) were collected. Three pairs of primers were designed to amplify exons 2 to 4 related to human HO-2 gene. The PCR products were analyzed by SSCP and sequencing to find out mutations. Iron and bilirubins (Total, Direct and Indirect) levels were determined in patients and controls. Two nucleotide substitutions were found among 10% of patients, consisted of a newly reported transversion mutation, C to A substitution in codon A70D (GCC to GAC) (Ala to Asp) and a previously reported transition mutation, A to G substitution in codon K89E (AAG to GAG) (Leu to Glu). Significant associations were obtained between risk of atherosclerosis and A437G substitution in codon K89E of HO-2 gene (P 6.82) and reduced level of total (P 6.01), and indirect (P 5.99) bilirubins with no significant association with serum iron and direct bilirubin. No significant associations were observed among C381A substitution in codon (A70D, P 2.97), level of serum iron, bilirubin and risk of atherosclerosis. These findings indicate the importance of A437G substitution in the development of atherosclerosis. Further studies are required to study the association of HO-2 gene mutations with atherosclerosis in other populations.
Draft genome sequence of Thauera sp. DTG from a denitrifying quinoline degrading microbial consortium

The draft genome sequence of Thauera sp. DTG was reconstructed from a metagenome of a denitrifying quinoline degrading microbial consortium. The organism is most closely related to Thauera aminoaromatic S2 and Thauera sp. MZ1T and is a facultative anaerobe. It is predicted to take the central role for quinoline denitrifying degradation.
The complete chloroplast genome of Korean popular Citrus hybrid Hallabong mandarin [(Citrus unshiu×C. sinensis)×C. reticulate] (Rutaceae)

Abstract A Citrus hybrid, Hallabong mandarin, is a major Citrus tree largely cultivated in Korea. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Hallabong mandarin was characterized by de novo assembly using whole genome next generation sequences. The chloroplast genome was 160 703 bp in length and separated into four distinct regions such as large single copy region (87 922 bp), small single copy region (18 801 bp) and a pair of inverted repeat regions (26 990 bp). The genome contained a total of 114 genes including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic inference using chloroplast genome sequences revealed that Hallabong mandarin was close to Citrus aurantiifolia (Omani lime) and Citrus sinensis (sweet orange).
Using Li-Fi to Improve SCADA Communications: Comparative Simulated Study Using OMNet++

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are vital components of most nation's critical infrastructures. SCADA systems are primarily control systems. They control a wide variety of manufacturing operations. SCADA systems use wireless sensor networks for monitoring, control and inventory to industries and other infrastructures. One of the industrial protocols that is used by the wireless sensors is ZigBee. This standard has advantages such as low power consumption, good coverage area, reliable network structure and easy expansion of the network. But, it has lower data rates, it operates in 2.4GHz band which make it not immune against interference, it is affected by electromagnetic fields. Recently, a new communication technic depends on light communication appears. That new technology is Li-Fi (Light-Fidelity). It uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) for high speed wireless communications, and speeds of over 3 Gb/s. Li-Fi communication has many advantages over RF communications, Li-Fi is faster, interference immune, has wider bandwidth and more secure, these features make the Li-Fi communications the better choice in wireless industrial communications. In this study a suggestion of replacement of the ZigBee protocol as a wireless communication used in industrial field with Li-Fi protocol. The study evaluates the optimum performance of Wireless SCADA that utilizes only IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol (which ZigBee is based on), and evaluates the optimum performance of Wireless SCADA that utilizes only the IEEE 802.15. 17 protocol (Li-Fi). OMNeT++ simulations are used to measure the end-to-end delay and packet loss from the sensors to the controller and from the controller to the actuators.
Lower Limb Exoskeleton Control Using EMG Signal Analysis

The integration of exoskeletons and electronic controls based on bio-signals provides advantages of better controllability. This is achieved by introducing physiological information about Human's movement intention. The main objective of this work is to investigate the sEMG signals acquired from lower limbs mussels, and to extract motion driving information. The proposed features include a combination of statistical features and features based on wavelet transforms. The system is evaluated for two movement setting and three movement settings. The final results showed that the integration of features based on the wavelet transforms compared to features based on the raw data did not always improve the performance of the system.
NOTES ON THE GENUS BROMUS L. (POACEAE) IN IRAN

As a result of our study on the genus Bromus, B. rigidus and B. sewerzowii are reported as new records for the flora of Iran. Bromus diandrus-rigidus complex comprises a group of species ranging from tetrato octaploid levels, which have been treated in different ways. Based on a specimen from Golestan National Park, B. rigidus is reported along with its illustration and a comparison with its closely related taxa. Furthermore, B. sewerzowii is the second record that is based on a specimen from North Khorasan (Sarakhs). In addition, a taxonomic key to two the species and their allies has been presented.
Design of Edge-Coupled Microstrip Patches Filtenna

A microwave structure that combines filtering and radiating functions is presented. The structure consists of three patches, two of which are aperture-fed, printed on stacked substrates. The array can be considered as three-pole edge-coupled filter with radiating resonators. It can also be viewed as a two-port array antenna with frequency domain filtering capability. The array was designed to operate as three-pole band-pass filter with a fractional bandwidth of 5% at a midband frequency of 2.0 GHz. The proposed structure was simulated using CST (Computer Simulation Technology) software package and measured using HP8722D vector network analyzer. The structure exhibits filter-like frequency response with three reflection zeros observed in the return loss result. The measured and simulated 3- dB bandwidths are 117 and 130 MHz respectively. The structure also provides a well-shaped radiation pattern and good gain within the operating band.