Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applications of nonlinear system identification to protein structural prediction

The prediction of structural properties of proteins based on their amino acid sequence has been a very active area of biology research for the past three decades. In this thesis nonlinear system identification techniques are applied to three problems concerning the prediction of aspects of protein structure: classification into families, 1-dimensional structure prediction, and identification of ATP binding sites. The amino acid sequence is treated as a time series input to a nonlinear system, with the structural property of interest as the output. Published hydrophobicity values are frequently employed for numerical representation of the residues. Parallel cascade identification (PCI) and Fast Orthogonal Algorithm (FOA) are used to model the systems. Earlier results showing accurate classification by PCI of sequences into two or three families are confirmed on large test sets. Extensions to the algorithm are implemented and it is combined with an existing hidden Markov model for improved results. Preliminary tests are carried out using PCI for prediction of the radial distance of a residue from the protein center, and the secondary structure. Various simple methods and FOA are compared with the performance, in earlier work, of a neural network and a statistical method for identifying ATP binding sites. More accurate predictors are obtained. Thesis Supervisor: Ian W. Hunter Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of BioEngineering
FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS OF STOCK RETURNS OF NON FINANCIAL FIRMS LISTED AT THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE

The study sought to examine the relevance of firm fundamentals in explaining stock returns of non-financial firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study employed a descriptive research design. A census targeting the 44 non-financial firms listed between the years 2004 and 2013 was conducted. The study used secondary data obtained from Nairobi Securities Exchange. The relationship between stock returns and three fundamentals was measured using the Karl Pearson moment correlation coefficient while regression analysis was used to determine the effect of change in total assets, change in revenue and change in financial leverage on stock returns. The overall significance of the model was tested using F test while the significance of the individual independent variable was tested using t-test. The study found a weak positive correlation between stock returns and change in total assets, while change in revenue and change in financial leverage exhibited a negative relationship with stock returns. However, the relationship between stock returns, change in total assets, change in revenue and change in financial leverage was found not to be significant. The study concluded that change in total assets, change in revenue and change in financial leverage cannot be used to meaningfully estimate stock returns for non-financial firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Further studies may explore the fundamental factors that significantly influences stock returns at the Nairobi Securities Exchange by further analyzing the information reported in financial statements.
How Does Increasing the Early Retirement Age for Women Affect the Labour Supply of Women and Their Husbands?

In 1995, the UK government legislated to increase the earliest age at which women could claim a state pension from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and March 2020. This paper uses data from the first two years of this change coming into effect to estimate the impact of increasing the state pension age from 60 to 61 on the employment of women and their partners using a difference-in-differences methodology. Our methodology controls in a flexible way for underlying differences between cohorts born at different times. We find that women’s employment rates at age 60 increased by 7.3 percentage points when the state pension age was increased to 61. This implies the early retirement age explained almost all excess retirements at age 60 before 2010. Their probability of unemployment increased by 1.3 percentage points. The employment rates of the male partners also increased by 4.2 percentage points. The magnitude of these effects, and the results from subgroup analysis, suggest they are more likely explained by the increase in the state pension age being a shock or through it having a signalling effect rather than them being due to either credit constraints or the effect of individuals responding to changes in their financial incentives to work. Taken together, our results suggest that the fiscal strengthening arising from a one-year increase in the female state pension age is 10% higher than a costing based on no behavioural change, due to additional direct and indirect tax revenues arising from increased earnings.
The DRS–AIMP2–EPRS subcomplex acts as a pivot in the multi-tRNA synthetase complex

The ternary complex structure of human aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (DRS) and two glutathione S-transferase domains from aminoacyl-tRNA synthase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 2 and glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (AIMP2GST and EPRSGST, respectively) was determined at 3.6 Å resolution, providing insight into the pivotal role of the ternary complex within the multi-tRNA synthetase complex.
Transport model for homogenized uniaxial wire media: Three-dimensional scattering problems and homogenized model limits

A transport-based formulation is used to model three-dimensional objects made of a uniaxial wire medium. The resulting drift-diffusion equation is used to calculate the extinction/scattering cross section of various uniaxial wire medium objects. A comparison is made with measurement and full wave simulation results. This method is faster than full wave simulation and provides physical insight into electrodynamic processes within the homogenized medium. The effect of wire period and thickness on the homogenized model is investigated, and a Debye length parameter is used to access the effect of wire length.
Mathematical Model of Three-Layer Plate Interaction with Viscous Incompressible Liquid Layer under Foundation Vibration

The mathematical model for three-layer plate sagging oscillations, forming the wall of slit channel is worked out. The mathematical model presents non-linear connected system, consisting of: Navier-Stocks equations and continuity equation for liquid; the dynamics equations of three-layer plate with incompressible filler. The boundary conditions are presented by: the conditions of liquid adhesion to channel walls; the condition of free leakage of liquid at channel butt ends; the conditions of simply supported edge for three-layer plate. The mathematical linearization is made by means of perturbation method. The resulting problem was solved by means of the plate displacements assigned forms method for the stationary harmonic oscillations.
Daily Crude Oil Price Forecasting Using Hybridizing Wavelet and Artificial Neural Network Model

A new method based on integrating discrete wavelet transform and artificial neural networks (WANN) model for daily crude oil price forecasting is proposed. The discrete Mallat wavelet transform is used to decompose the crude price series into one approximation series and some details series (DS). The new series obtained by adding the effective one approximation series and DS component is then used as input into the ANN model to forecast crude oil price. The relative performance of WANN model was compared to regular ANN model for crude oil forecasting at lead times of 1 day for two main crude oil price series, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil spot prices. In both cases, WANN model was found to provide more accurate crude oil prices forecasts than individual ANN model.
Comparison of Antioxidant and Antihyaluronidase Activities in Extract of Basil Leaves (Ocimum americanum L.) with Eugenol Compound

Aging is a slow progressive loss of the ability of tissue to repair or regenerate and maintain its normal structure and function. Free radicals has been one of the aging factor, because free radicals can damage molecule in the body like lipid and protein. Antioxidant can help protect the body from free radicals. Has been known from many studies that there is many fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidant and antiaging (antihyaluronidase). One of that is basil leaves (Ocimum americanum L.). And one of the compound which can be found quite much in basil leaves is eugenol. This study aims to reveal comparison of the antioxidant and antihyaluronidase potential possessed in etanol extract of basil leaves compare to Eugenol compound. The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals scavanging antioxidant activity was measured based on the reaction method of ferrous ammonium sulphate and phenanthroline with little modification. The antihyaluronidase activity was detected by measuring the amount of Hyaluronic Acid based on method that has been told by Sigma Aldrich and Tu & Tawata (2015) with little modification. Eugenol had an IC50 value for H2O2 radicals scavenging activity as of 100,82 ± 8.60 µg/mL and basil leaves extract was 171,68 ± 2.21 µg/mL. While hyaluronidase inhibition activity from eugenol was 26,69 ± 2.89 µg/mL and basil leaves extract was 65,37 ± 3.96 µg/mL. In summary, eugenol compound which can be found in extract of basil leaves (Ocimum americanum L.) has better H2O2 radicals scavanging activity and hyaluronidase enzyme inhibitory activity than the extract of basil leaves (Ocimum americanum L.). Thus, present study described maybe eugenol is the main antioxidant and antiaging potential compound in basil leaves extract.
Phase Transition in the 3 d Random Field Ising Model

We show that the three-dimensional Ising model coupled to a small random magnetic field is ordered at low temperatures. This means that the lower critical dimension, dz for the theory is dz < 2, settling a long controversy on the subject. Our proof is based on an exact Renormalization Group (RG) analysis of the system. This analysis is carried out in the domain wall representation of the system and it is inspired by the scaling arguments of Imry and Ma. The RG acts in the space of Ising models and in the space of random field distributions, driving the former to zero temperature and the latter to zero variance.
PERFORMANCE OF STEEL SLAG AS FINE AGGREGATE IN STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

Suitability of using steel slag (SS) as substitute for sand in concrete was investigated. SS was collected from a dump site, crushed manually and sieved through between sieves No. 4 and 200. SS was characterized using XRF and XRD techniques. Concrete of mix ratio 1:2:4 was batched by weight with slag replacement levels of 0 to 100% of sand at 25% interval and the concrete specimens (cubes and beams) produced were cured in water for 7, 14, 28 and 56 days. Water demand, compressive strength as well as flexural strength of the concrete were determined. Results indicated that SS contained high amorphous silica (42.40%) and ferric oxides (31.90%) with traces of crystalline particles. The water-cement ratio reduced from 0.62 to 0.50 as slag proportion increased from 0% to 100% at slump range of 6010 mm. The strength of SS concrete increased with increase in proportion of SS. The study suggested that up to 50% of weight of sand could be replaced with slag to produce structural concrete. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v34i3. 4
Advanced process control for power plants Improving overall performance through control of internal process variables

The European power market has changed substantially over the past twenty years. Increased competition, increasing use of renewables and environmental regulations contributed to a power market in which the power supply and demand fluctuates more frequently than ever. By nature, most power plants are sensitive to these fluctuations. The main reason for this is coupling between throughput (i.e. power output) and quality (e.g. pressure, temperature) and coupling amongst the quality parameters itself. As a consequence, when throughput fluctuates the quality is disturbed and oscillations occur in many of the process loops. Since these oscillations reduce power plant efficiency, increase wear and reduce plant lifetime it is desired to investigate solutions. In this study the effect of multivariable advanced process control (MIMO APC) on internal process loop oscillation and performance is investigated. Furthermore, the effect of improved process loop control on overall power plant performance is studied. To this end, a conventional drum-boiler power plant simulator (PID-controlled) is equipped with an H∞-controller. A safe shutdown master-slave control structure is proposed to enable practical implementation. To accentuate the influence of improved internal process loop control on overall performance, the H∞-controller will be responsible for four boiler process loops (the boiler has a central role in determining the overall behavior of power plants). This study shows that MIMO APC is a viable method for reducing oscillations and improving performance of internal process loops. It has become clear that better internal control also improves overall power plant performance. As a result, the effective maximum power production rate can be increased, which was found to have a surprisingly small effect on the achieved performance increase. These results indicate that it is possible to increase the economic potential of power plants using MIMO APC. Master of Science Thesis J. Marcus Blaazer
Pengaruh Metode Pengeringan terhadap Aktivitas Antioksidan Daun Alpukat

Daun alpukat mengandung komponen bioaktif yang tinggi sehingga dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber antioksidan alami. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mendapatkan metode pengeringan yang tepat sehingga menghasilkan ekstrak daun alpukat dengan aktivitas antioksidan yang tinggi. Daun alpukat baik yang muda maupun yang tua dikeringkan dengan tiga metode pengeringan yaitu dijemur dibawah sinar matahari, dikeringanginkan dalam ruangan, dan dikeringkan dengan oven. Kualitas daun kering kemudian dianalisis aktivitas antioksidan, kadar air, total fenol, total flavonoid, dan total tanin. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa daun tua yang dikeringkan dengan menggunakan oven pada suhu 40˚C selama 24 jam menghasilkan aktivitas penghambatan radikal bebas tertinggi yaitu 19,83% dengan kadar air 7,54%, total fenol 6,42 mg/100 g ekstrak, total flavonoid 12,07 mg/100 g ekstrak, dan total tanin 2,48 mg/100 g ekstrak. Kesimpulannya, metode pengeringan dapat memberikan dampak terhadap kadar senyawa bioaktif ekstrak daun alpukat dan aktivitas antioksidannya.Effect of Drying Methods on the Antioxidant Activity of Avocado LeavesAbstractAvocado leaves contain high bioactive components that may be used as a source of natural antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to obtain proper drying method to produce avocado leaf extract with high antioxidant activity. Avocado leaves, both young and old, were dried with three drying methods, which were dried in the sun, room, and oven. Quality of leaves was then measured for antioxidant activity, moisture, total phenol, total flavonoid, total tannins. The results showed that old leaves dried using an oven at 40˚C for 24 hours resulted in the highest radical scavenging activity of 19.83% with 7.54% moisture content, 6.42 mg/100 g extract of total phenol, 12.07 mg/100 g extract of total flavonoid, and 2.48 mg/100 g extract of total tannins. In conclusion, the drying methods might produced specific antioxidant activities.
Asymmetries in Speech Errors and their Implications for Underspecification

In speech production research, speech errors have long been appealed to in evaluating the psychological reality of linguistic units. The systematic nature of errors with respect to their occurrence and distribution (cf. for instance Fromkin, 1971; Shattuck-Hufnagel & Klatt, 1979; Dell, 1986; Stemberger, 1991a) allows us to assume that those units that appear to behave independently in speech errors are presumably at least at some point units of processing. More specifically, it has been proposed that the asymmetric distribution of single segment errors involving coronals provides evidence for their underspecification (Stemberger, 1991a; Stemberger & Stoel-Gammon, 1991).
IN VITRO ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITIES OF INDONESIAN MARINE SPONGE AAPTOS AAPTOS AND CALLYSPONGIA PSEUDORETICULATA EXTRACTS AND THEIR TOXICITY AGAINST Vibrio spp.

Vibriosis is one of diseases which often results in mass mortality of Penaeus monodon larval rearing systems. It attacks shrimp of all stages in zoea, mysis and shrimp postlarva stage. This disease is caused by Vibrio spp, particularly Vibrio harveyi (a luminescent bacterium). Several kinds of antibiotics and chemical material have been used to overcome the disease but they have side effects to environment and human. The searching of bioactive compounds as an alternative treatment has been done for multi purposes. In this study diethyl eter, butanol and aqueous extract of Indonesian sponges Aaptos aaptos and Callyspongia pseudoreticulata were tested for in vitro activity against Vibrio spp. and Vibrio harveyi by using disc diffusion method. The result showed that all extracts of Aaptos aaptos gave a positive antibacterial activity towards those pathogenic bacteria. Meanwhile, only butanol extract of Callyspongia pseudoreticulata obtained to exhibit an antibacterial activity on those pathogenic bacteria. The strong anti-vibrio activity were shown by butanol and aqueous extract of Aaptos aaptos with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.313 and 0.625 mg/mL, respectively. Whilst, the butanol extract of Callyspongia pseudoreticulata indicated a low antibacterial activity with the MIC value of 10 mg/mL. Toxicity of those active extracts was evaluated by Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BST). Interestingly, butanol and aqueous extracts of Aaptos aaptos did not show any toxic effect in Artemia salina larvae up to 8 x MIC (2.504 mg/mL and 5.000 mg/mL). It is the first report for the anti-vibr io activity of both Aaptos aaptos and Callyspongia pseudoreticulata . This results suggest that Aaptos aaptos has a potential to be used as a source of alternative compound to vibriosis prevention for mariculture.
The Martin Gardner Polytopes

Abstract In the chapter “Magic with a Matrix” in Hexaflexagons and Other Mathematical Diversions (1988); Martin Gardner describes a delightful “party trick” to fill the squares of a d-by-d chessboard with nonnegative integers such that the sum of the numbers covered by any placement of d nonthreatening rooks is a given number N. We consider such chessboards from a geometric perspective which gives rise to a family of lattice polytopes. The polyhedral structure of these Gardner polytopes explains the underlying trick and enables us to count such chessboards for given N in three different ways. We also observe a curious duality that relates Gardner polytopes to Birkhoff polytopes
Effects of early-inundation and water depth on weed competition and grain yield of rice in the Central Plains of Thailand

Rice production is often limited by weed competition. The use of herbicides has aggravated this effect due to the occurrence of herbicide resistance in weeds. This study was conducted to determine the effect of depth of early- inundation and weeding at a critical competitive stage (i.e. between maximum tillering and panicle initiation) on rice-weed competition and grain yield. Factorial combinations of five depths of water (viz. 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm) and two weeding regimes (unweeded and weeded at a critical competitive stage) were tested together with herbicide based weeding in a randomized complete block design. The population of rice did not differ between herbicide-based and submerged treatments. The population of grass and sedge weeds decreased significantly with increasing water depth, while broadleaf weeds declined at 6 cm depth. In the submerged treatments, dry matter of broadleaf weeds decreased from 1.4 kg/m 2 at zero cm to 0.01 kg/m 2 at 8 cm depth. The number of effective tillers per plant was higher with submergence between 2 and 6 cm, but decreased outside this range. The grain yields were 4.1 t/ha in herbicide treated plots. In submerged plots, weeding had little effect (4.1 - 4.4 t/ha), while grain yields were 0 -4.4 t/ha when unweeded and with increasing depth of water.
Saline water on the leaf mineral composition of noni under organic fertilization

ABSTRACT Salinity is one of the main agricultural problems faced, and may negatively influence plant development. However, studies have shown that in protected environments and under the application of organic fertilizers, deleterious effects are mitigated. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of irrigation water salinity on mineral nutrition in noni plants grown in two environments and bovine manure application. The statistical design was a randomized block design arranged in split-split plot scheme, with five repetitions. The plots consisted of the cultivation environments (greenhouse and open field), the subplots formed by salinity levels of irrigation water (ECw: 0.3, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1), and the subsubplots were represented by the absence and presence of organic matter, with experimental unit consisting of three pots totaling 300 pots. The nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and chloride concentrations were determined in plant leaves. It was verified that the foliar concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and Cl- and the ratio Na/K was increased with increasing salinity of the irrigation water, being the largest increments observed in the open field. Organic matter is not much relevant in attenuating the deleterious effects of irrigation water on the concentration of leaf nutrient in noni plants. The maintenance of lower values of Na/K ratio in the treatment with organic matter is a positive factor that can attenuate the effects of salt stress on cell metabolism.
The Use of Red Rules in Patient Safety Culture

This article examines the use of Red Rules in hospital patient safety culture. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of Red Rules on hospital staff perceptions of safety, frequency of events reported, number of events reported, and staff perceptions of non-punitive response by management. A survey was conducted among hospitals that completed the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture during the years 2007 to 2011. A sample of hospitals who implemented Red Rules were compared with a similar group who did not. Contrary to expectations, this study did not find statistically significant differences between the study group (Red Rules) and the comparison group (Non-Red Rules). In the absence of evidence on the use of Red Rules, some hospital leaders have elected not to use them, assuming that they are inconsistent with a just culture and with improving patient safety. The results do not provide support for this belief. Used within a commitment-based management style as a communication tool to support staff in following safety rules rather than as a disciplinary tool in a control-based environment, Red Rules can be part of a comprehensive strategy to improve patient safety.