Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation on the Microbial Profile of Frozen Foods: Fish and Meat

Freezing preserves food by stopping the growth and multiplication of microbes or by halting the foods own enzyme activity that would otherwise cause the food to rot. There have been reports of illness involving frozen foods due to contamination post-harvest. This study seeks to investigate the microbial profile of frozen fish and meat. Fifteen samples each of Trachurus trachurus, Scomber scombrus, Urophycis tenuis, Clupea harengus and poultry meatchicken, turkey and gizzard was purchased from different cold rooms and retail stores for microbiological analysis. Coliforms were detected in all the meat samples and with counts ranging from 7.0x103 - 5.0x106. Gizzard and chicken had significantly high (P< 0.05) coliform count. The head and intestinal regions of the fish have significantly high (P< 0.05) TAPC compared to the skin. The skin and the head region have significantly high (P< 0.05) coliform and fungi counts compared to the intestine. The microbial isolates from the fish and meat samples include S. aureus, E. coli and spp of Bacillus, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Flavobacterium, Listeria and Pseudomonas. Fungi isolates include spp of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Alternaria. Trichodina and Isopod spp of parasites were detected in some fish samples. Although freezing retard pathogens multiplication, post harvest contaminants can multiply during thawing to a level that can have a major impact on the quality of the final consumer product. It is advanced that frozen foods must be properly cooked before consumption and effective hazard analysis and critical control point implemented
Improve the Carpooling Applications with Using a Social

projects in terms of carpooling applications and further designs a Social Community based Carpooling (SCC) model with the feature of travel cost reduction for both supply and demand sides. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. In the next section, literatures and works related to carpooling are reviewed through a proposed CRS analysis scheme. Section 3 introduces the SCC model including its Travel Cost Reduction scheme and its operation process. The last section concludes this paper and indicates future works.
LBQS 0103-2753: A BINARY QUASAR IN A MAJOR MERGER

We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and United Kingdom Infrared Telescope spectra and images of the 2 kpc (0.″3) binary quasar LBQS 0103-2753 (z = 0.858). The HST images (V and I bands) show tidal features demonstrating that this system is a major galaxy merger in progress. A two-color composite image brings out knots of star formation along the tidal arc and elsewhere. The infrared spectrum shows that both objects are at the same redshift and that the discrepant redshift of C iv in component A is not representative of the true systemic redshift of this component. LBQS 0103-2753 is one of the most closely spaced binary QSOs known and is one of the relatively few dual active galactic nuclei showing confirmed broad emission lines from both components. While statistical studies of binary QSOs suggest that simultaneous fueling of both black holes during a merger may be relatively rare, LBQS 0103-2753 demonstrates that such fueling can occur at high luminosity at a late stage in the merger at nuclear spacing of only a few kpc, without severe obscuration of the nuclei.
Novice–expert consultations as a vehicle for organizational learning - a field study in engineering product development

Product development is a knowledge intensive activity and organizational learning across projects and functions is vital for its success. This paper explores novice–expert consultations as a vehicle of social learning through a detailed analysis of meetings during an engineering training programme. Although the meetings were initiated for the purpose of information seeking, this amounted to only 8% of the time compared to knowledge creation between novices and experts (43%) and context sharing (49%). This effect became even stronger during later stages of the project. A correspondence analysis of the conversational balance and activities showed differential patterns for the kind of information provided or requested by both actors, such as novices requesting information on previous designs and organizational procedures while experts inserted unsolicited solutions. Both expert and novice were found to contribute equally and interactively to the discussion and analysis of solutions. The findings illustrate the role of consultations as a means of professional development as well as organizational learning. While it is unlikely that this type of social learning could be replace by a knowledge management system, it could be supported by providing access to members’ areas of expertise and by illustrating the rationale of previous designs.
Income Statements Transparency and Firms' Characteristics of Companies Listed on the Bursa Malaysia

Problem statement: This research was intended to contribute to the one of Corporate Governance mechanism on transparency and disclosure on the financial statements. Approach: As in the recent development of findings from Financial Statements Review Committee (FSRC) that company did not disclose of Material expenses and not classified accordingly. Results: This study provides an evidence for the transparency level on income statements with regards of firms’ characteristics of 150 main and second boards companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia. The characteristics were grouped into three groups of variables: structural (firm size, leverage and number of shareholder), market related (listing type and industry type) and performance (profit margin, return on equity and liquidity). The study was started with the development of a Transparency Index based on the percentage of the details of expenses disclosed in annual reports (notes to the accounts) over the total expenses of the company. The findings suggested that this index on the average for the companies in the sample is about 64% with three companies scoring transparency index of 100%. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed on the data. The stepwise regression method indicated that only one variable was significant at 5% which was the Number of Shareholders (LnNOSH). The other factors were not significant. Hence, this study will contributes to the enhancement of knowledge regarding income statements transparency and disclosure practices under new reporting regime in Malaysia. Conclusion/Recommendations: This study also served as a basis for further research in this area. This study also suggested that further research should be done on longitudinal study basis for several years of data with more appropriate or suitable variables to the model.
Integrating genomic conservation data with motif discovery

We formalize a probabilistic model of inter-species sequence conservation for motif discovery, and demonstrate that adding large-scale genomic conservation data to an existing motif discovery procedure improves the quality of that procedure's results. Existing motif discovery algorithms reveal binding motifs that are statistically overrepresented in small sets of promoter regions. To the extent that binding motifs form a reliable part of a cell's regulatory apparatus, and that apparatus is preserved across closely related species, these binding motifs should also be conserved in the corresponding genomes. Previous studies have tried to assess levels of conservation in genomic fragments of several yeast species. Our approach computes the conditional probability of inter-species sequences, and uses this probability measure to maximize the likelihood of the data from different species with a motif model. Thesis Supervisor: David K. Gifford Title: Professor
Estimation des longueurs de branche et artefact sur la datation moléculaire

Molecular phylogeny provides an additional tool complementary to paleontological and geological studies, allowing the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships between species and the estimate of their divergence time. Researchers are mainly focusing on the topology of a phylogenetic tree; i.e. the relative connection between different nodes. Whereas, the branch lengths of this phylogeny are often considered as secondary, i.e. as additional parameters containing little information. However, the branch lengths are the primary information for molecular dating. Importantly, saturation, the presence of multiple substitutions at the same position, is an artifact that leads to an underestimation of the branch length. We are therefore interested in estimating the magnitude of this phenomenon and its impact on divergence time. We chose to study the mammalian mitochondrial genome, which is available for many species and displays a high level of saturation. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships of mammalians are known, thus allowing us to fix the topology, thus eliminating one of the parameters influencing the branch lengths. We used two main approaches to improve the detection of multiple substitutions: (i) an increase in the number of species breaks the longest branches of the tree, (ii) more realistic models of sequence evolution. The results demonstrate that there is a very pronounced underestimation of branch lengths (up to a factor of 3). Furthermore, the use of a large number of species is the factor that influences most the detection of multiple substitutions, not the improvement of the model of sequence evolution. This suggests that even the most complex evolutionary models currently available, like the CAT+ Covarion model, which takes into account the heterogeneity of the substitution process between sites and the rates of evolution over time, are still far from taking the entire complexity of biological processes into account. Despite the important underestimation of branch lengths, the impact on dating appeared to be relatively limited, because the underestimation is more or less homothetic. This is obviously true for the complex evolutionary models. Since multiple substitutions are most effectively detected when breaking the long internal branches via the addition of species. This raises the problem of bias in the taxonomic sampling, due to the impact of extinction on the history of life on earth. Because this kind of bias leads to a nonhomothetic underestimation, we consider it essential to improve models of sequence evolution and suggest that the protocol developed in this work will allow to evaluate their effectiveness towards saturation.
Bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli production and consumption in mid-Chesapeake Bay based on a bioenergetics model and acoustic measures of fish abundance

A growth model of bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli was developed based on weight and temperature-specific physiological data taken from laboratory and field experiments. The model was adjusted for Chesapeake Bay (USA) conditions to estimate bay anchovy population production and consumption as a function of bay anchovy hatch date, annual mortality, and acoustic measures of fish abundance. Spatially explicit models of bay anchovy consumption were developed to demonstrate how changes in spatial patterning and absolute scaling of the biological and physical environment might affect prey consumption in May and July. In model simulations, bay anchovy grew 3 to 6 % d-' during summer and fall, and young-of-the-year ( Y O Y ) bay anchovy biomass peaked in November (16270 kg km-'). Weight-specific consumption rate of juvenile bay anchovy was about 60 % d'' during summer, and population consumption peaked in September (3350 kg km-' d-l). Population production rate of YOY also peaked in September at 290 kg d-', and annual production was 30770 kg km-' If all mortality was due to predation, bay anchovy could provide 133 kg food km-' d-' for piscivores in November, which could support the maximum daily consumption of 13 300 age-2 striped bass Morone saxatilis per km2. The average trophic efficiency of bay anchovy was 10.7 % with a large seasonal variation (0 to 18 %). Sensitivity analyses identified that weight and temperature-specific consumption and respiration parameters were most sensitive in model simulations of fish growth. Compared with the estimated zooplankton production, the average bay anchovy consumption only accounted for a small portion of daily zooplankton production But our spatially-explicit model indicated that local depletions of zooplankton were possible due to spatial patchiness of predator and habitat heterogeneity, particularly in July.
Deepwater marine protected areas of the main Hawaiian Islands: Establishing baselines for commercially valuable bottomfish populations

This study provides the first comprehensive fishery-independent baseline assessment of commercially important deepwater bottomfish populations across the main Hawaiian Islands. Differences in bottomfish relative abundance and size distribution were evaluated for 6 deepwater Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas (BRFAs). While no differences were detected in species relative abundance, evaluation of size-frequency distributions found the 2 most commercially valuable species (Etelis coruscans and Pristipomoides filamentosus) to be significantly larger inside the BRFA at Ni‘ihau, located off the most remote of the main Hawaiian Islands. This BRFA is 1 of 2 ongoing BRFAs offering 10 yr of protection. This result highlighted the time it may take a long-lived and slow-growing species to show a detectable response to protection and that size distribution analyses can detect these more subtle changes. No positive effects of protection were detected for the second ongoing BRFA located off Hawai‘i. Instead, 2 species (P. filamentosus and P. sieboldii) were significantly larger outside the BRFA. In contrast to Ni‘ihau, the second BRFA established in 1998 originally included less preferred habitat and is next to the second largest port in Hawai‘i, offering greater access, higher population pressure and more problematic enforcement. This study demonstrates that biological, sociological and environmental context must also be considered when interpreting the effectiveness of marine protected areas.
The World Heart Federation Roadmap for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through prevention and control of rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a preventable non-communicable condition that disproportionately affects the world's poorest and most vulnerable. The World Heart Federation Roadmap for improved RHD control is a resource designed to help a variety of stakeholders raise the proﬁle of RHD nationally and globally, and provide a framework to guide and support the strengthening of national, regional and global RHD control efforts. The Roadmap identiﬁes the barriers that limit access to and uptake of proven interventions for the prevention and control of RHD. It also highlights a variety of established and promising solutions that may be used to overcome these barriers. As a general guide, the Roadmap is meant to serve as the foundation for the development of tailored plans of action to improve RHD control in speciﬁc contexts.
EFFICIENCY ESTIMATION OF PARALLEL ALGORITHM OF ENHANCED HISTORICAL DATA INTEGRATION ON COMPUTATIONAL GRID

The main feature of neural network using for accuracy improvement of physical quantities (for example, temperature, humidity, pressure etc.) measurement by data acquisition systems is insufficient volume of input data for predicting neural network training at an initial exploitation period of sensors. The authors have proposed the technique of data volume increasing for predicting neural network training using integration of historical data method. In this paper we have proposed enhanced integration historical data method with its simulation results on mathematical models of sensor drift using single-layer and multi-layer perceptrons. We also considered a parallelization technique of enhanced integration historical data method in order to decrease its working time. A modified coarse-grain parallel algorithm with dynamic mapping on processors of parallel computing system using neural network training time as mapping criterion is considered. Fulfilled experiments have showed that modified parallel algorithm is more efficient than basic parallel algorithm with dynamic mapping, which does not use any mapping criterion.
Optimized vascular network by stereolithography for tissue engineered skin

This paper demonstrates the essential and efficient methods to design, and fabricate optimal vascular network for tissue engineering structures based on their physiological conditions. Comprehensive physiological requirements in both micro and macro scales were considered in developing the optimisation design for complex vascular vessels. The optimised design was then manufactured by stereolithography process using materials that are biocompatible, elastic and surface bio-coatable. The materials are self-developed photocurable resin consist of BPA-ethoxylated-diacrylate, lauryl acrylate and isobornylacrylate with Irgacure® 184, the photoinitiator. The optimised vascular vessel offers many advantages: 1) it provides the maximum nutrient supply; 2) it minimises the recirculation areas and 3) it allows the wall shear stress on the vessel in a healthy range. The stereolithography manufactured vascular vessels were then embedded in the hydrogel seeded with cells. The results of in vitro studies show that the optimised vascular network has the lowest cell death rate compared with a pure hydrogel scaffold and a hydrogel scaffold embedded within a single tube in day seven. Consequently, these design and manufacture routes were shown to be viable for exploring and developing a high range complex and specialised artificial vascular networks.
Factors influencing the utilization of the public Internet terminal system in two rural communities

This research investigated the factors that influence the use of the public Internet terminal (PIT) system in the Taung and Ganyesa communities. The PIT system is placed in many post offices in these communities but the service is not adequately used by these rural community members. The overall objective of this study was to investigate, develop and recommend a solution for providing the rural communities of Taung and Gyanesa with a simple and effective way to access and utilize the PIT service and the information on it. A case study approach was used for the purpose of this study which gathered a number of findings, including lack of awareness of PIT services, lack of computer skills and confidence, and fear of technology. Other findings were the overloading of information on the PIT, use of language (not the mother tongue), and the slow response of the PIT system. The findings from this study led to some recommendations and a model for PIT use in rural communities.
How To Interpret, Understand, and Predict Stratal Geometries Using Stratal-Control Spaces and Stratal-Control-Space Trajectories

Interpreting and predicting basin-margin stratal geometries requires understanding of controls such as variations in supply and accommodation, ideally based on independent quantitative evidence. Stratal-control spaces are a new tool to analyze controls on strata. A stratal-control space is an area, volume, or perhaps a higher-dimensional space, defined by a range of values of the controlling processes subsidence, sediment supply, and eustasy. A three-dimensional stratal-control volume with axes of subsidence, sediment supply, and eustatic rates of change can be populated with probabilities derived from analysis of time series of subsidence, supply, and eustasy. These empirical or theoretical probabilities indicate the likelihood of occurrence of any particular combination of control rates defined by any point in the volume. The stratal-control volume can then be analyzed to determine which parts of the volume represent relative sea-level fall and rise, where in the volume particular stacking patterns will occur, and how probable those stacking patterns are. For outcrop and subsurface analysis, using a stratal-control area with eustasy and subsidence combined on a relative sea-level axis allows similar analysis, and may be preferable. A stratal-control trajectory is a history of supply and accommodation rates, interpreted from outcrop or subsurface data, or observed in analogue and numerical experiments, and plotted as a series of linked points forming a trajectory through a stratal-control space. Two theoretical and one actual outcrop example are presented to demonstrate how stratal-control trajectories can be analyzed to determine which controls are dominant. The accommodation supply trajectory range ratio (ASTRR) is a useful metric to characterize trajectory geometry. Trajectories with ASTRR > 1 can be considered accommodation-dominated, and ASTRR < 1 indicates a supply-dominated trajectory. Calculating the range of stratal-control probabilities along the trajectory indicates the probability of the rates of change of subsidence, supply, and eustasy required to form the interpreted stratal geometry. Both types of stratal-control-trajectory analyses can provide important additional understanding and prediction of how, why, and where stratal geometries form.
A Simple Model for Expected Exchange Rate E(s) of Currency - It is About the Present Not the Future!

Existing exchange rate “forecasting” models work well within known data, but, as reported in a number of studies (see the literature review section), not outside of the known data. Among the classic papers, Meese and Rogoff concluded in their 1983 [1] paper (“Empirical Exchange Rate Models of the Seventies: Do They Fit Out of Sample? ’’, (1983) [1] ) that earlier exchange rate models did not work. Meese and Rogoff repeated the same finding in their 1988 [2] paper. In 2009 [3] Rogoff revisited the progress made, and still confirmed support for the hypothesis of 1983.
Coherent X-ray imaging across length scales

Abstract Contemporary X-ray imaging techniques span a uniquely wide range of spatial resolutions, covering five orders of magnitude. The evolution of X-ray sources, from the earliest laboratory sources through to highly brilliant and coherent free-electron lasers, has been key to the development of these imaging techniques. This review surveys the predominant coherent X-ray imaging techniques with fields of view ranging from that of entire biological organs, down to that of biomolecules. We introduce the fundamental principles necessary to understand the image formation for each technique as well as briefly reviewing coherent X-ray source development. We present example images acquired using a selection of techniques, by leaders in the field.
Public Attention Helps Stocks Survive During Circuit-Breaker Period in China

The relationship between public attention and stock has been researching for years in the field of behavioral finance. This paper studied the effect of public attention on excess return under extreme market condition of the 4-day circuit-breaker period of China in 2016. After constructing the sample from Wind dataset, we found that there exists a significant positive relationship between excess return of a stock and incremental proportion of discussion on a particular stock. We conjecture that this effect on stock returns is due to the change in public attention. This characteristic is helpful when investors want to hedge or generate excess return under extreme market condition.