Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Multiplexing of Assays for the Measurement of Early Stages of Apoptosis by Polychromatic Flow Cytometry

The detection of apoptosis has been a stalwart application for flow cytometric analysis for decades and this review of flow cytometric methods to detect early stages of apoptosis includes the use of the pivotal assay to detect early and late apoptosis, the Annexin V assay which when multiplexed with biologically functional fluorescent dyes to measure mitochondrial function and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation allows further identification of functionally different subsets within apoptotic populations. Here we show how this polychromatic approach can be used to demonstrate which subset of cells show changes in mitochondrial function and when ROS is generated in a time dependent manner. This polychromatic approach to flow cytometry leads to the identification of over ten sub-populations of cells during classic apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD).
Monitoring Response of a Few bZip Transcription Factors in Response to Osmotic Stress in Sunflower

Background Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the important vegetable oil supplies in the world and in Iran, as well. It is classified as a drought semi-tolerant crop; however, its yield is adversely affected by drought stress. Understanding the initial events in sensing stress and the related physiologic and biochemical events thereafter, is crucial in designing drought stress breeding programs. Transcription factors are master molecules directly involved in the plant responses under drought stress, from signal perception and transduction to the regulation of physiologic processes. Objective The expression pattern of some bZip transcription factors in response to osmotic stress was investigated in sunflower. Material and Methods Employing real-time PCR to monitor, the response of 10 bZIP transcription factors was performed under different osmotic stress conditions including -0.3, 0.9, and 1.2 MPa. Whole seedling was sampled at 6, 12, and 24 h after the osmotic condition application. Results Exposure to osmotic potential of 0.9 MPa for 24 h caused a reduction in the fresh weight of the seedling. Among the evaluated genes, eight genes, bz-497, bz-502, bz-485, bz-499, bz-492, bz-504, bz-505, and bz-509 appeared as the osmotic stress responsive transcription factor. Changes in the expression of the genes under 0.3 MPa was observed for four genes. Most of the osmotic responsive genes appeared to be up-regulated. Most of responsiveness in the gene expression was happened under 0.9 MPa of the osmotic stress which is corresponding to fresh weight reduction in the seedlings. Among the investigated genes, two genes was identified to have possible roles in sensitive response of sunflower against drought stress. Conclusions It was a focus to have systemic view on the complex response of the plant to abiotic stress, and avoidance of the single gene analysis. Also, the importance of molecular data in molecular breeding procedures toward achievement of the stress tolerant lines was highlighted.
Understanding inter-industry wage structures in the euro area

This article focuses on the euro area wage structure and its potential determinants from a sectoral viewpoint. Merging information from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Structural Analysis database with data from the EU Labour Force Survey, we construct a cross-country panel of 22 industries in eight euro area countries for 1991–2002. Data inspection confirms the existence of a fairly stable inter-industry wage structure that is similar across countries. We then apply panel data techniques to identify factors explaining inter-industry wage differentials in the euro area. Both workforce characteristics (e.g. human capital variables) and firm-related characteristics (e.g. capital intensity, productivity) contribute significantly. However, considerable wage heterogeneity across sectors remains. Idiosyncratic sector and country specifics, reflecting different socio-cultural and institutional backgrounds, appear to bear a major role. While our empirical analysis only uses direct evidence from workforce and firm-related characteristics, we also relate the remaining heterogeneity to institutional characteristics, based on related literature.
Non-invasive stress monitoring in brown hyaenas 1 Non-invasive monitoring of glucocorticoid metabolites in brown hyaena ( Hyaena brunnea ) faeces

The brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) is the least known of the large predators of southern Africa. The current IUCN status of the brown hyaena is “Near Threatened”, and there are conservation concerns related to a general lack of biological knowledge of the species. For instance, a better knowledge of the responses to environmental and social stressors would improve our abilities to sustainably manage brown hyaena populations in both captive and free-ranging environments. We conducted adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenges in one female and one male adult brown hyaena at Lion Park Zoo, South Africa, to validate measurements of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) in brown hyaena faeces via an enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA). We also measured gastrointestinal transit times (GIT times) and the GCM degradation in faeces left in ambient temperature for up to 32 hours to more reliably assess the use of this assay as a tool for non-invasive glucocorticoid measurements. Intramuscular injections of synthetic ACTH yielded GCM levels of 388% (female) and 2682% (male) above baseline with peak increases occurring 2540 hours post injection. The time delay of faecal GCM excretion approximately corresponded with food transit time in the brown hyaenas. Faecal GCM levels declined significantly over time since defecation. Our results provided a good validation that faecal GCM's accurately reflects circulating glucocorticoid stress hormones in brown hyaenas, but we highlight that samples have to be frozen immediately after defecation to avoid bias in the measurements due to bacterial degredation.
Numerical Study of Thermophoresis on Aerosol Particle Deposition from Hiemenz Flow through Porous Medium onto a Stretching Surface

A theoretical study of aerosol particles responding to thermophoresis, involving the particle deposition rate onto a stretching permeable surface with internal heat source is proposed. The effects on particle transport mechanisms include Brownian diffusion, thermophoresis, porosity, stretching surface, heat source, and suction/injection velocity. The governing equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and particle concentration are transformed using similarity analysis, and the solutions are obtained through appropriate numerical schemes. The predicted results show that if the thermophoretic and stretching parameters increase, the deposition velocity increases for a cold surface. However, the deposition velocity decreases rapidly for a hot surface as the thermophoretic parameter increases. By way of the modeling analysis, the particle deposition velocities are calculated to control the particle mobility from the air.
Should Intangibles Be Measured: What are the Economic Trade-Offs?

We investigate whether a firm's intangible investments should be measured and separated from operating expenses. We find that the information extracted from accounting reports of investments and earnings is different when intangibles are measured and identified separately from operating expenses than when intangibles are left commingled with operating expenses. This difference in the market's information causes a change in the behavior of market prices, inducing changes in the firm's investments and cash flows. Thus, from a "real effects" perspective, measuring intangibles is not unambiguously desirable. We identify the conditions under which providing information on intangibles may be desirable. This study also shows the inadequacy of statistical associations between accounting numbers and prices as a basis for evaluating the desirability of measuring intangible investments. We show that the measurement of intangibles alters the very distribution of cash flows about which the measurement regime is seeking to provide information. Copyright University of Chicago on behalf of the Institute of Professional Accounting, 2004.
of Research in Duck Nutrient Utilization

The duck has a great potential in helping to meet the growing demand for high quality protein in human diets. In order for ducks to meet their potential, more research is needed to establish their dietary requirements. Feeding and excreta collection techniques developed at Purdue University that minimize loss of excreta during collection, the first step towards precise dietary requirement quantification, are described. Using the techniques that were developed, energy and amino acid utilization of White Pekin ducks were evaluated in several studies. Diets supplying 3, 000 kcal ME/kg, 0.6% Methionine, and 1.2% Lysine are adequate to meet duck’s requirement for optimum growth in the first week of life. Predicted ME of diets based on utilization values of individual ingredients was compared with the measured ME in the diets, the result showed that the energy in the feedstuffs had additive when compounded into a diet for ducks. In the case of amino acids, some essential amino acid showed significant associative effect. Enzymes likes xylanase and phytase improved performance and bone mineralization when used in ducks diet. The effect was demonstrated to be due to reduction in digesta viscosity and increased P availability as a result of the use of xylanase and phytase, respectively, the effects being more pronounced in younger ducks. There is need for more research to be done in the areas of amino acid nutrition in ducks and the evaluation of nontraditional feedstuffs.
Curbing the unemployment problem in Nigeria through entrepreneurial development

This study is on curbing the Unemployment problem in Nigeria through entrepreneurial development. The study is motivated by the fact that unemployment problem like corrupt practices in Nigeria is a hydra headed problem and thus require the collective effort of all. The study made use of primary data sourced from 220 respondents in Kogi State through administering of questionnaire. Their responses were tested using appropriate statistical tools like the simple percentage and the Chi-square research techniques; our study revealed that the unemployment problem in Nigeria can be solved through entrepreneurial development and that government effort in this regard is not sufficient given the magnitude of the unemployed in Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommended that solving the unemployment problem should not be left in the hands of the government alone rather we should employed the public private partnership approach so as to allow the involvement of private individuals in helping to establish entrepreneurial development centres as well.
Introduction to psychometrics

LogLin Foometrics “If Foo is a science then Foo often has both an area Foometrics and an area Mathematical Foo. Mathematical Foo applies mathematical modeling to the Foo subject area, while Foometrics develops and studies data analysis techniques for empirical data collected in Foo. Each of the social and behavioural sciences has a form of Foometrics, although they may not all use a name in this family. ” (de Leeuw, 2006)
Evaluating the accuracy of clinical prediction models for binary and survival outcomes

Clinical prediction models employ regression-based methods to elucidate potential predictors of outcomes. For a binary outcome, the LOGISTIC and HPLOGISTIC procedures offer options for model development, testing and validation. Several fit statistics can be used to gauge the predictive accuracy of a model as well as for comparisons between competing models. In the appropriate context these statistics include sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and concordance indices. A similar development for survival models faces many challenges, including the feature of time-dependent outcome and censoring in accrued survival data. New options in the PHREG procedure permit calculation of some of the aforementioned fit statistics. We discuss their interpretation and illustrate their application with empirical data sets.
Biogenic H2 production from mixed microalgae biomass: impact of pH control and methanogenic inhibitor (BESA) addition

Hydrogen production from mixed microalgae biomass, predominantly containing Scendesmus and chlorella species, was investigated with a focus on enhancement strategies, in particular (i) pH control (at 5.5) and (ii) methanogenic inhibitor (BESA) addition along with pH control at 5.5. The results obtained showed that the later condition remarkably increased the performances. This was mainly ascribed to the occurrence of a suitable environment for the hydrogen producers to perform actively. Hydrogen production under these conditions (i.e., both pH 5.5 and pH5.5+BESA) was significantly higher than that of the control experiment. Using the pH control at 5.5 and BESA addition, peak hydrogen production rate (HPR) and hydrogen yield (HY) were attained as 210 mL/L/d and 29.5 mL/g VSadded, respectively. This improvement was nearly 3-folds higher compared with the control experiment with an HPR of 62 mL/L/d and an HY of 9.5 mL/g VSadded.
The Lp-Busemann–Petty Centroid Inequality

Abstract The ratio between the volume of the p-centroid body of a convex body K in R n and the volume of K attains its minimum value if and only if K is an origin symmetric ellipsoid. This result, the Lp-Busemann–Petty centroid inequality, was recently proved by Lutwak, Yang, and Zhang. In this paper we show that all the intrinsic volumes of the p-centroid body of K are convex functions of a time-like parameter when K is moved by shifting all the chords parallel to a fixed direction. The Lp-Busemann–Petty centroid inequality is a consequence of this general fact.
After Janjaweed? Socioeconomic impacts of the conflict in Darfur.

This article uses a unique database on 542 villages in southwestern Darfur to analyze patterns of land reallocation and population change that have emerged as a consequence of the recent conflict. The analysis demonstrates that a displacement from this region alone of more than 300,000 people from three targeted African groups has occurred and that villages have been repopulated by Arab and other African groups. Almost a fourth of all villages have been squatted by newly settled populations. The probability of squatting is shown to be largest in peripheral areas with good access to surface water, where soils are of good quality, and where many households from targeted tribes previously lived. A key challenge for post-conflict reconstruction will therefore be the restoration of rights to land.
A Scalable, Open Source Platform for Data Processing, Archiving and Dissemination

Abstract : Building on the Object Oriented Data Technology (OODT) big data toolkit developed by NASA and the Work-flow INstance Generation and Selection (WINGS) scientific work-flow system developed by the Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California, we focused analytics and work-flows appropriate to several challenge big data problems and demonstrated the utility of OODT-WINGS in addressing them. Specific demonstrated analyses address i) crawling and indexing the XNET contents in a quick-reaction demonstration in January 2013, ii) a data triage characterization of the Kiva loan system, iii) contributory work done on 5 of 6 XDATA summer 2013 workshop challenge problems, and iv) demonstration of end-to-end processing work-flow in conjunction with the USC Institute for Creative Technologies end-user interface at the September 2013 DARPA open house. Two papers published during this time addressed i) the overall data triage use case, and II) work flow characterization during time-bounded operations.
NEUROEVOLUTION AND AN APPLICATION OF AN AGENT BASED MODEL FOR FINANCIAL MARKET

Market prediction is one of the most difficult problems for the machine learning community. Even though, successful trading strategies can be found for the training data using various optimization methods, these strategies usually do not perform well on the test data as expected. Therefore, selection of the correct strategy becomes problematic. In this study, we propose an evolutionary algorithm that produces a variation of trader agents ensuring that the trading strategies they use are different. We discuss that because the selection of the correct strategy is difficult, a variety of agents can be used simultaneously in order to reduce risk. We simulate trader agents on real market data and attempt to optimize their actions. Agent decisions are based on Echo State Networks. The agents take various market indicators as inputs and produce an action such as: buy or sell. We optimize the parameters of the echo state networks using evolutionary algorithms. Acknowledgement I would like to express my gratitude to my thesis advisor, Assoc. Prof. Stephen Lucci, for his support and guidance. He has been a great inspiration to me in his class and during this thesis. Without his supervision, this thesis would not have been possible. Special thanks to Prof. Izidor Gertner for encouraging me achieve my academic goals. I am deeply grateful for his valuable advices. I would also like to thank all faculty and staff members in Computer Science Department. It has been a privilege studying at the City College of New York. Finally, I thank my family for constantly supporting me throughout my studies.
AUDIO FINGERPRINTING USING TEMPLATE MATCHING

Audio or music fingerprints can be utilize to implement an economical music identification system on a million-song library, however the system needs great deal of memory to carry the fingerprints and indexes. Therefore, for a large-scale audio library, memory imposes a restriction on the speed of music identifications. So, we propose an efficient music identification system which used a kind of space-saving audio fingerprints. For saving space, original finger representations are sub-sample and only one quarters of the original data is reserved. In this approach, memory demand is far reduced and therefore the search speed is criticalincreasing whereas the lustiness and dependability ar well preserved. Mapping audio information to time and frequency domain for the classification, retrieval or identification tasks presents four principal challenges. The dimension of the input should be considerably reduced; the ensuing options should be strong to possible distortions of the input; the feature should be informative for the task at hand simple. We propose distortion free system which fulfils all four of these requirements. Extensive study has been done to compare our system with the already existing ones, and the results show that our system requires less memory, provides fast results and achieves comparable accuracy for a largescale database.
Opaque Eyes Developed in Transgenic Mice With T-Cell Receptor 8 Gene

Results. Histologically, edema of the corneal epithelium and adhesion of the iris to the cornea were observed in adult TGs. In the developmental analysis, the authors first observed relative hypoplasia of the ciliary body on day 18 of gestation and dysgenesis of the anterior chamber angle from postnatal day 2. Corneal opacity was observed from postnatal day 8, coinciding with the histologic vesicular change of the epithelium. No inflammation was observed through its life. In the sublines that have different copy numbers of the transgene, the occurrence of the opacity depended on the copy number of the transgene. Expression of the transgene in the thymus was consistent with the number of the introduced transgene.
LRG-BEASTS III: ground-based transmission spectrum of the gas giant orbiting the cool dwarf WASP-80

We have performed ground-based transmission spectroscopy of the hot Jupiter orbiting the cool dwarf WASP-80 using the ACAM instrument on the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) as part of the Low Resolution Ground-Based Exoplanet Atmosphere Survey using Transmission Spectroscopy programme. This is the third paper of a ground-based transmission spectroscopy survey of hot Jupiters using low-resolution grism spectrographs. We observed two transits of the planet and have constructed transmission spectra spanning a wavelength range of 4640 -- 8840\,\AA. Our transmission spectrum is inconsistent with a previously claimed detection of potassium in WASP-80b's atmosphere, and is instead most consistent with a haze. We also do not see evidence for sodium absorption at a resolution of 100\,\AA.
GAS TURBINES HEALTH PROGNOSTICS: A SHORT REVIEW

Gas turbines are used in oil platforms, floating liquid natural gas (FLNG) plants, and land based distributed power plants to generate power. In Malaysia, as much as 40% of the total electricity (e.g. an estimated 783 MW in Peninsular Malaysia, 289 MW in Sarawak, and 42 MW in Sabah) comes from gas turbine driven power plants. Some of the challenges in gas turbine operations are stringent safety and emission control requirements, urgent need to reduce life cycle cost, and the need to sustain high efficiency regardless of operating conditions, changing fuel cost, electricity tariff and electricity demand. The idea that got attention and intended to address these issues is the concept of integrated approach to remaining useful life prediction and operation scheduling. The purpose of the present paper is to review the literatures specific to gas turbine prognostics. The reviewed methods include regression methods, physics based models, computational intelligence (artificial neural network and fuzzy systems, evolutionary-based method), and hybrid approaches. As it turned out, (i) there is no readily available method that can be used to integrate reliability information into a prognostics model, (ii) the benchmark data from NASA is the only available information that can be used to test new algorithms, (iii) commercial softwares like Gate Cycle, PROSIS, and GSP have been used to generate data for diagnostics and prognostics studies, (iv) thermoeconomic or exergetic approach seems to be less applied to prognostics.
Dust in the Reionization Era: ALMA Observations of a z = 8.38 Gravitationally Lensed Galaxy

We report on the detailed analysis of a gravitationally lensed Y-band dropout, A2744_YD4, selected from deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging in the Frontier Field cluster Abell 2744. Band 7 observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) indicate the proximate detection of a significant 1 mm continuum flux suggesting the presence of dust for a star-forming galaxy with a photometric redshift of . Deep X-SHOOTER spectra confirms the high-redshift identity of A2744_YD4 via the detection of Lyα emission at a redshift z = 8.38. The association with the ALMA detection is confirmed by the presence of [O iii] 88 μm emission at the same redshift. Although both emission features are only significant at the 4σ level, we argue their joint detection and the positional coincidence with a high-redshift dropout in the Hubble Space Telescope images confirms the physical association. Analysis of the available photometric data and the modest gravitational magnification ( ) indicates A2744_YD4 has a stellar mass of ∼2 × 109 , a star formation rate of ∼20 yr−1 and a dust mass of ∼6 × 106 . We discuss the implications of the formation of such a dust mass only after the onset of cosmic reionization.