Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Garch Approach to Measuring Efficiency: A Case Study of Nairobi Securities Exchange

The efficiency of capital markets is important if savers funds are to be channeled to the highest valued stocks. A recent review of markets in Africa categorized the Nairobi Securities Exchange as one which has no tendency towards weak form efficiency. Recent efforts to establish its efficiency have used mainly Ordinary Least Squares regression and have yielded inconclusive results. Ordinary Least Squares method assumes that the variance of the error term obtained is constant over time. However due to economic cycles some time periods are known to be generally riskier than others and the latter assumption fails to hold. There is therefore need to use other models which relax this assumption. The Autoregressive Conditionally Heteroscedastic models have been popular and widely used. They recognize that the value of the variance of errors depends upon previous lagged variances and lagged innovation terms. Kenya has also increasingly embraced ICT which may be attributed to the comparative lower cost of access to internet via computers and mobile phone technology. This is expected to increase the rational buyers in the market none of whom can influence prices in the market which may make the market more efficient. This study first used non parametric methods to check for randomness and independence of stock market returns at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Results show that daily returns are non-random and the GARCH analysis shows that the current returns are dependent on the returns of the previous 3 days. The GARCH (3,1) model shows that returns on a particular day would be determined by the mean returns plus a white noise error term which would vary by 25.3% of return on day t-1, 9.5% of return on day t-2 and 12.05% of returns on day t-3 at 0.05 level of significance. This signifies market inefficiency of the weak form. Keywords: Market Efficiency, Weak-Form Hypothesis, OLS, GARCH
Inference in Models with Nearly Integrated Regressors

This paper examines regression tests of whether x forecasts y when the largest autoregressive root of the regressor is unknown. It is shown that previously proposed two-step procedures, with first stages that consistently classify x as I(1) or I(0), exhibit large size distortions when regressors have local-to-unit roots, because of asymptotic dependence on a nuisance parameter that cannot be estimated consistently. Several alternative procedures, based on Bonferroni and Scheffe methods, are therefore proposed and investigated. For many parameter values, the power loss from using these conservative tests is small.
m6A methylation potentiates cytosolic dsDNA recognition in a sequence-specific manner

Nucleic acid sensing through pattern recognition receptors is critical for immune recognition of microbial infections. Microbial DNA is frequently methylated at the N6 position of adenines (m6A), a modification that is rare in mammalian host DNA. We show that m6A-methylation of 5’-GATC-3’ motifs augments the immunogenicity of double stranded (ds)DNA in macrophages and dendritic cells. Transfection with m6A-methylated DNA increased the expression of the activation markers CD69 and CD86, and of Ifnβ, iNos and Cxcl10 mRNA. Recognition of m6A DNA occurs independently of TLR and RIG-I signaling but requires STING, a key mediator of cytosolic DNA sensing. Intriguingly, the response to m6A DNA is sequence-specific. m6A is immunostimulatory in some motifs, but immunosuppressive in others, a feature that is conserved between mouse and human. In conclusion, epigenetic alterations of bacterial DNA are differentially perceived by innate cells, a feature that could potentially be used for the design of immune-modulating therapeutics.
Title Crowdsourced POI labelling : location-aware result inference andTask Assignment

Identifying the labels of points of interest (POIs), aka POI labelling, provides significant benefits in location-based services. However, the quality of raw labels manually added by users or generated by artificial algorithms cannot be guaranteed. Such low-quality labels decrease the usability and result in bad user experiences. In this paper, by observing that crowdsourcing is a best-fit for computer-hard tasks, we leverage crowdsourcing to improve the quality of POI labelling. To our best knowledge, this is the first work on crowdsourced POI labelling tasks. In particular, there are two sub-problems: (1) how to infer the correct labels for each POI based on workers’ answers, and (2) how to effectively assign proper tasks to workers in order to make more accurate inference for next available workers. To address these two problems, we propose a framework consisting of an inference model and an online task assigner. The inference model measures the quality of a worker on a POI by elaborately exploiting (i) worker’s inherent quality, (ii) the spatial distance between the worker and the POI, and (iii) the POI influence, which can provide reliable inference results once a worker submits an answer. As workers are dynamically coming, the online task assigner judiciously assigns proper tasks to them so as to benefit the inference. The inference model and task assigner work alternately to continuously improve the overall quality. We conduct extensive experiments on a real crowdsourcing platform, and the results on two real datasets show that our method significantly outperforms state-of-the-art approaches.
INTERACTION AND LOCOMOTION TECHNIQUES FOR THE EXPLORATION OF MASSIVE 3D POINT CLOUDS IN VR ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract. Emerging virtual reality (VR) technology allows immersively exploring digital 3D content on standard consumer hardware. Using in-situ or remote sensing technology, such content can be automatically derived from real-world sites. External memory algorithms allow for the non-immersive exploration of the resulting 3D point clouds on a diverse set of devices with vastly different rendering capabilities. Applications for VR environments raise additional challenges for those algorithms as they are highly sensitive towards visual artifacts that are typical for point cloud depictions (i.e., overdraw and underdraw), while simultaneously requiring higher frame rates (i.e., around 90 fps instead of 30–60 fps). We present a rendering system for the immersive exploration and inspection of massive 3D point clouds on state-of-the-art VR devices. Based on a multi-pass rendering pipeline, we combine point-based and image-based rendering techniques to simultaneously improve the rendering performance and the visual quality. A set of interaction and locomotion techniques allows users to inspect a 3D point cloud in detail, for example by measuring distances and areas or by scaling and rotating visualized data sets. All rendering, interaction and locomotion techniques can be selected and configured dynamically, allowing to adapt the rendering system to different use cases. Tests on data sets with up to 2.6 billion points show the feasibility and scalability of our approach.
Comparative Toxicity of Certain Insecticides against Two Species of Fruit Flies

The full grown larvae and pupae of 3-days old of both Bactrocera zonata and Ceratitis capitata were sandy-soil-treated under laboratory conditions with five different insecticides to determine their comparative toxicity. The toxicity of the used compounds differently varied against the 3 larval instar of B. zonata, where Marisol 1.8% EC (abamectin) surpassed the other tested compounds at LC50 (5.343 μl/L), while Opal 5%EC (lufenuron) was the most effective insecticide against the 3 rd larval instar of C. capitata showing the lowest value of LC50 of 11.299 μl/L. Respecting to the three-day old pupae of the two tested species, Marisol 1.8%EC was the most potent compound at LC50 (395.461 μl/L for B. zonata and 151.373 μl/L for C. capitate). The full grown larvae of B. zonata were the most susceptible to Heater 3%SC (lufenuron+emamectin benzoate) and Marisol 1.8%EC at both LC50 and LC90, where those of C. capitata showed tolerance level to the two insecticides by 7.78, 14.16 and 6.02, 8.47 fold at LC50 and LC90, respectively. But, pupae of B. zonata more tolerable than that of C. capitate to Glory 5%EC (lufenuron), Marisol 1.8%EC and Cymax 5%EC (lufenuron) at LC50 and LC90 by 5.54, 2.61, 1.87 and 8.29, 2.32, 3.28 fold, respectively.
The Impact of ABC Costing Systems to Solve Managerial Cost Problems: A Real Improvement, a Fad or a Fashion?

One of the main problems of management profession is that there is not yet a corpus of theories and knowledge that can assist professionals to take adequate choices for solving the problems they actually have. Initially, we can assume that the inherent reasons for the explosion and diffusion of ABC are that these systems improve the efficiency of the selected strategy. However, a significant number of failures reveal a situation that can be attributed to other potential reasons, for instance a bad implementation. The existence of this paradox, lead us to investigate alternatives reasons for the diffusion of ABC. We show that there are alternative reasons for the diffusion of ABC, which may be a “fad logic” rather than a “problem solving logic” that we think should dominate management. We also argue that ABC systems are not introducing a revolutionary improvement in terms of the conceptualization of costs, as ABC is simply a way of using a full cost approach with a different conception of a cost center. Then, it can be useful mainly in cases where the decisions to be made can be better made using a full cost instead of other cost measures.
Optical polarimetry and high-resolution spectroscopy of the Chamaeleon I dark cloud

Magnitudes of linear polarization in the UBVRI bands have been measured for about 30 background stars in the direction of the Chamaeleon I dark cloud. In addition, high-resolution spectroscopic observations in the wavelength ranges of the atomic species Ca II and Ca I and of the molecular species CH and CH + have been performed towards the highly reddened and early-type stars selected from the polarimetry sample. The data have been used to study the magnetic-field structure, the relation between polarization and extinction, and the relation between molecular abundances and polarization properties in the cloud. In this contribution we present some of the results.
Feeding behavior and activity period of three Neotropical bat species (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) on Musa paradisiaca inflorescences (Zingiberales: Musaceae)

ABSTRACT We studied the feeding behavior and the activity period of three phyllostomid bat species on Musa paradisiaca inflorescences in an orchard located in southeastern Brazil. Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1766), Anoura caudifer (É. Geoffroy, 1818), and Phyllostomus discolor (Wagner, 1843) were frequently observed, videotaped, and mist-netted visiting banana inflorescences. Three approaching strategies on banana inflorescences were performed by bats: hovering (glossophagine species), upside landing (G. soricina), and downside landing (P. discolor). A new feeding behavior that consisted in hovering and licking the nectar that dripped from the distal part of a closed bract was observed for glossophagines. Visits occurred throughout the night (from 18:00 h to 05:00 h). However, activity pattern of nectarivorous bat species was significantly different from the omnivorous bat species, with the formers presenting visiting peaks at 21:00 hs and 23:30 hs, and the second at 23:45 hs and 02:30 hs. Dietary specialization, body size, and foraging behavior are important features that are linked to kind of approaching strategies to flowers and activity period of bats. Although bat visits on M. paradisiaca inflorescences are not reproductively important to banana plant, its nectar is a frequent and abundant food source for bats from the family Phyllostomidae, at least in Southeastern Brazil.
Primary Herbivory by Wood‐Boring Insects along an Architectural Gradient of Rhizophora mangle

We investigated the distribution of primary xylovores in Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) first‐order branches, i.e., “twigs”, along an architectural gradient on Belizean mangrove cays. Greater structural diversity in R. mangle architecture, xylovore availability, occurrence of natural enemies, and habitat do not result in variable xylovore species richness. Despite large differences in architectural complexity, tall, fringe, dwarf, and sapling trees host the same set of primary wig borers. However, tall trees support greater diversity and abundance of twig inquilines than other tree forms. Primary twig borers have a key role in structuring these mangrove communities because their galleries and pupal chambers provide habitats for numerous species of secondary xylovores and inquilines. We also measured the amount of leaf area removed from R. mangle's canopy by wood‐ and leaf‐feeding herbivores. Vigorously growing tall and sapling trees sustain greater losses because of twig borers than dwarf trees. However, xylovory in fringe trees was not different from any of the other categories. Cumulative herbivory was greatest in the tall trees. In most cases, leaf‐area loss as an indirect or collateral result of primary xylovory equaled or exceeded leaf‐area loss as a direct result of folivory.
Contextualising UK moorland burning studies: geographical versus potential sponsorship-bias effects on research conclusions

It has recently been claimed that geographical variability resulted in false conclusions from some studies examining the impacts of prescribed moorland burning, including the Effects of Moorland Burning on the Ecohydrology of River basins (EMBER) project. We provide multiple lines of evidence to contradict these claims and show that the EMBER results are reliable. A systematic review of the literature also confirms that EMBER conclusions were not out of line with the majority of other published UK studies on responses to prescribed burning of Sphagnum growth/abundance, soil properties, hydrological change, or peat exposure and erosion. We suggest that sponsorship-bias is associated with some recent research conclusions related to moorland burning. Thus, it is of grave concern when sponsorship or other potential conflicts of interest are not declared on publications related to moorland burning. We show that sponsorship and other conflicts of interest were not declared on a recent publication that criticised the EMBER project, thereby entirely undermining that critical assessment. Policy implications: The EMBER findings are robust. Our study suggests that publications on moorland burning that have been funded by pro-burning groups should be treated with extreme caution by the policy community. Publications that have been shown to have failed to declare conflicts of interest from the outset, when first submitted to a journal, should be disregarded by the policy community because peer reviewers and editors may have been unable to evaluate those pieces of work properly.
Structural Equation Modeling of the Relationship between Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Life Scale among HIV Positive Population

In this work, we propose appropriate models for assessing the relationships among the observed items in quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) instruments using structural equation modeling (SEM). Generalized least square (GLS) method was used as against the most used maximum likelihood (ML) to generate the estimates for real life data with non-normal distribution. A detailed description of the confirmatory factor analysis, path diagram and SE models were recorded. We use an underlying non-normal distribution using generalized least square (GLS) estimation method with the statistical package AMOS version 21. Résumé. Nous proposons des modèles appropriés pour établir des fonctionnelles entre objets observés par rapport à la qualité de vie et aux instruments de mesure d’échelle de satisfaction basées sur la méthode du maximum de vraisemblance en vue d’obtenir des estimations sur des données réelles non gaussiennes. Une description complète d’analyse de conformité factorielle, de diagrammes de parcours et de modèles SE est fournie.
Second Screen and Participation: A Content Analysis on a Full Season Dataset of Tweets

The practice of using a “second screen” while following a television program is quickly becoming a widespread phenomenon. When the secondary device is used for comments about programs, most discussions take place on popular social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Previous research pointed out the value of these conversations in understanding the behavior of “networked publics. ” Building upon this background, this article presents the first study on a complete dataset of tweets (2,489,669) that span an entire season of a TV genre (1,076 episodes of talk shows). A content analysis of the tweets created during the season's most engaging moments indicates a relationship between typology of broadcasted scenes, style of comments, and the way participation (audience and political) is played.
Lachancea thermotolerans Applications in Wine Technology

Lachancea (kluyveromyces) thermotolerans is a ubiquitous yeast that can be naturally found in grapes but also in other habitats as soil, insects and plants, extensively distributed around the world. In a 3-day culture, it shows spherical to ellipsoidal morphology appearing in single, paired cells or short clusters. It is a teleomorph yeast with 1–4 spherical ascospores and it is characterized by a low production of volatile acidity that helps to control global acetic acid levels in mixed or sequential inoculations with either S. cerevisiae or other non-Saccharomyces species. It has a medium fermentative power, so it must be used in sequential or mixed inoculations with S. cerevisiae to get dry wines. It shows a high production of lactic acid able to affect strongly wine pH, sometimes decreasing wine pH by 0.5 units or more during fermentation. Most of the acidification is produced at the beginning of fermentation facilitating the effect in sequential fermentations because it is more competitive at low alcoholic degree. This application is especially useful in warm areas affected by climatic change. pH reduction is produced in a natural way during fermentation and prevents the addition of tartaric acid, that produces tartrate precipitations, or the use of cation exchangers resins highly efficient reducing pH but with undesirable effects on wine quality. Production of lactic acid is done from sugars thus reducing slightly the alcoholic degree, especially in strains with high production of lactic acid. Also, an improvement in the production of 2-phenylethanol and glycerol has been described.
The Predominance of Psychrotrophic Pseudomonads on Aerobically Stored Chilled Red Meat.

Microbial spoilage of meat during chilled aerobic storage causes significant financial losses to the industry. Even with modern day preservation techniques, spoilage remains an unsolved problem. Spoilage of meat is a complex process that involves the activity of endogenous enzymes and microorganisms. Psychrotrophic Pseudomonas species are the key microorganisms that cause spoilage in aerobically stored chilled meat. Spoilage pseudomonads are highly robust and able to withstand stressful environmental conditions that would otherwise inhibit the growth of other spoilage organisms. In order to implement efficient control measures, and to minimize spoilage, a thorough understanding of the characteristics of spoilage pseudomonads is essential. This review focuses on the spoilage process and the key metabolic attributes of the main psychrotrophic spoilage Pseudomonas species to explain their predominance on meat over other psychrotrophic bacteria. This review also highlights less studied, but important, characteristics of psychrotrophic pseudomonads such as biofilm formation and quorum sensing in the context of meat spoilage. The importance of the use of model systems that are closely applicable to the food industry is also discussed in detail.
Identifying Protein Complexes from Dynamic Temporal Interval Protein-Protein Interaction Networks

Identification of protein complex is very important for revealing the underlying mechanism of biological processes. Many computational methods have been developed to identify protein complexes from static protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Recently, researchers are considering the dynamics of protein-protein interactions. Dynamic PPI networks are closer to reality in the cell system. It is expected that more protein complexes can be accurately identified from dynamic PPI networks. In this paper, we use the undulating degree above the base level of gene expression instead of the gene expression level to construct dynamic temporal PPI networks. Further we convert dynamic temporal PPI networks into dynamic Temporal Interval Protein Interaction Networks (TI-PINs) and propose a novel method to accurately identify more protein complexes from the constructed TI-PINs. Owing to preserving continuous interactions within temporal interval, the constructed TI-PINs contain more dynamical information for accurately identifying more protein complexes. Our proposed identification method uses multisource biological data to judge whether the joint colocalization condition, the joint coexpression condition, and the expanding cluster condition are satisfied; this is to ensure that the identified protein complexes have the features of colocalization, coexpression, and functional homogeneity. The experimental results on yeast data sets demonstrated that using the constructed TI-PINs can obtain better identification of protein complexes than five existing dynamic PPI networks, and our proposed identification method can find more protein complexes accurately than four other methods.
Detecting viable Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Ascomycota: Pseudeurotiaceae) from walls

Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) causes the fungal disease white-nose syndrome (WNS), which has led to high mortality in some hibernating bat species in eastern North America. The ability to detect viable Pd in hibernacula is important for understanding the role the environment plays as a reservoir for infectious Pd. Previous studies have generally used the high-sugar medium Sabouraud-dextrose (SAB) and have had low yields of viable Pd from environmental samples of Pd-positive hibernacula. While cultureindependent methods (i.e., molecular genetics) have previously shown much better success in detecting Pd, these methods cannot determine viability. In 2012 and 2015, we swabbed walls in four hibernacula with WNS-positive bats in New Brunswick, Canada, and cultured the samples using dextrose-peptone-yeast extract agar (DPYA), SAB, and Malt extract (MEA) media. Samples cultured on DPYA produced viable Pd 43.7 to 50.0 % more frequently than SAB, with a maximum overall return for DPYA among sites of 62.5 % Pd-positive samples over both years. During the initial outbreak of WNS in our study region, Pd-positive swabs were produced from 40.0 to 83.3 % of samples on DPYA, whereas SAB produced a maximum of 40.0 %. At one site we detected Pd from 83.3% of swabs cultured on DPYA and 0 % on SAB. MEA produced no viable Pd. Our figures for Pd detection are as high as or higher than previously published culture-independent methods, while also confirming the viability of the Pd present. We found that the yield of viable Pd from hibernacula walls decreased from 2012 to 2015 as the hibernating bat population decreased due to WNS mortality, but patterns varied amongst hibernacula, and overall, were not statistically different. It is possible that environmental growth of Pd contributes to its persistence within hibernacula. We suggest that future studies on the environmental persistence of viable Pd discontinue the use of high-sugar media that lack inhibitory fungal growth ingredients, such as SAB and MEA, as they favor fast-growing fungal species that overgrow and mask slowergrowing fungi such as Pd.