Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome editing with targetable nucleases makes large animals catch up with mice

Genetic modifications in mammalian species provide valuable tools for basic research as well as biomedical and agricultural applications. Over the last 35 years, great efforts have been made by academics as well as industry to develop and improve technologies for modifying animal genomes. Transgenesis by microinjection of foreign DNA into pronuclei of fertilized zygotes, so-called pronuclear injection, was first established in mice in early 1980s [1]. This technique provided the first platform for genetic modification in mammals and enabled generation of transgenic farm animals in the early days [2]. Due to its very low efficiency, pronuclear injection has been largely discarded in livestock transgenics since the emergence of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology in late 1990s. However, this method still remains the main choice in production of transgenic rodents. Different from transgenesis that is generally characterized by random DNA insertion into genomes, gene targeting is the way of precisely modifying the genome at defined loci, such as knocking out a specific endogenous gene or knocking in an exogenous sequence to a specific site. Conventional gene targeting technology depends on homologous recombination (HR) between the introduced foreign DNA sequences and their homologous targets in cells. However, due to the extremely low HR efficiency in mammalian cells, it is not practicable to directly perform gene targeting in an embryo to create genetically modified animals. Instead, HR in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells has provided an effective approach for routinely generating gene-targeted mice since its initial success in late 1980s [3]. However,
Real-space Time-domain Approach to Time Dependent Current Density Functional Theory

Real-space Time-domain Approach to Time Dependent Current Density Functional Theory Daniel Spencer Jensen Department of Physics and Astronomy Master of Science A real-space time-domain calculation of the frequency-dependent dielectric constant of nonmetallic crystals is outlined and the integrals required for this calculation are computed. The outline is based on time dependent current density functional theory and is partially implemented in the ab initio density functional theory fireball program. The addition of a vector potential to the Hamiltonian of the system is discussed as well as the need to include the current density in addition to the particle density. The derivation of gradient integrals within a localized atomic-like orbital basis is presented for use in constructing the current density. Due to the generality of the derivation we also give the derivation of the kinetic energy, dipole, and overlap interactions.
Active Anticorrosion Coatings with Halloysite Nanocontainers

This work contributes to the development of a new generation of active corrosion protection coatings composed of hybrid sol−gel films doped with halloysite nanotubes able to release entrapped corrosion inhibitors in a controllable way. A silica-zirconia-based hybrid film was used in this work as an anticorrosion coating deposited on 2024 aluminum alloy. Halloysite nanotubes with inner voids loaded by corrosion inhibitors (2-mercaptobenzothiazole) and outer surfaces layer-by-layer covered with polyelectrolyte multilayers were introduced into the hybrid films. The sol−gel film with the nanocontainers reveals enhanced long-term corrosion protection in comparison with the undoped sol−gel film. This effect is obtained because of the self-controlled release of the corrosion inhibitor triggered by the corrosion processes. Utilization of the inner halloysite nanotube lumen as a storage medium for the corrosion inhibitor offers a novel way of fabricating composite core−shell type nanomaterials with their further a.
THE IMPACT OF PETROLEUM TAXES ON RESIDENTIAL OIL DEMAND IN DENMARK

Using annual time series data for the Danish economy the price elasticity of residential oil demand is estimated in order to analyse the impact of taxes on oil consumption and fiscal revenue. The collapse of world market oil prices in 1985-86 was not passed on to Danish consumers in form of lower energy prices as a considerable increase in oil taxes neutralized the falling prices. The analysis shows that residential oil demand is relatively price inelastic - as expected - with a long run price elasticity estimated to be around -0.50, but as the oil taxes represent a considerable part of final consumer prices the consequences of no such taxes would be much lower consumer prices. Using an error-correction model the impact on residential oil consumption from lower oil prices is estimated to be modest, whereas the fiscal revenue consequences will be much more dramatic.
Vector Sparse Representation of Color Image Using Quaternion Matrix Analysis based on Genetic Algorithm

Abstract - Vector sparse image models use color image pixel as a scalar vector, that represents color channels independently or concatenate color channels as an indefinite image. In this paper, we recommend a vector sparse representation model for color images using quaternion matrix scrutiny and Genetic algorithm for reduce distortion. The proposed system represents the color image as a quaternion matrix, where a quaternion-based dictionary learning algorithm is existing using the K-quaternion singular value decomposition system based on Genetic Algorithm. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are adaptive heuristic search algorithm based on the evolutionary ideas of natural selection and genetics. Sparse representations have been extended to deal with color images composed of three channels. It conducts the sparse origin selection in quaternion space, which uniformly transforms the channel image to an orthogonal color space. In this new color space, it is important that the inherent color structures can be entirely preserved during vector reconstruction. Additionally, the proposed sparse model is more efficient compare with the current sparse models for image restoration tasks due to poorer redundancy between the atoms of different color channels. In this model, spatial morphologies of color images are encoded by atoms, and colors are encoded by color filters. By the use of Genetic algorithm, we remove the distortion from image.
Anaerobic codigestion of urban solid waste fresh leachate and domestic wastewaters: Biogas production potential and kinetic

The Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) of fresh leachate and domestic wastewaters codigestion was determined by laboratory Bach Tests at 35oC over a period of 90 d using a wide range of leachates volumetric ratios from 0% to 100%. To simulate wastewaters plant treatment step, all the ratios were first air stripped for 48 h before anaerobic incubation. The kinetic of biogas production was assessed using modified Gompertz model and exponential equation. The results obtained showed that cumulative biogas production was insignificant in the case of wastewaters monodigestion while the codigestion significantly improves the BMP. Air stripping pretreatment had positive effect on both ammonium concentration and volatiles fatty acids with reduction up to 75% and 42%, respectively. According to the Modified Gompertz model, the optimal anaerobic co-digestion conditions both in terms of maximal biogas potential, start-up period and maximum daily biogas production rate, could be achieved within large leachate volumetric ratios from 25% to 75% with a maximum BMP value of 438.42 mL/g volatile solid at 50% leachate ratio. The positive effect of codigestion was attributed to a dilution effect of chemical oxygen demand and volatile fatty acid concentrations to optimal range that was between 11.7 to 32.3 gO2/L and 2.1 to 7.4 g/L, respectively. These results suggested that the treatment of fresh leachate by their dilution and co digestion at wastewaters treatment plants could be a promising alternative for both energetic and treatment purposes.
Employee Engagement, Organisational Commitment and Performance of Selected State Corporations in Kenya

The influence of employee engagement on organisational performance has been widely acknowledged and confirmed. However, there are scanty empirical investigations on the mediating role of organisational commitment on the relationship between employee engagement and organisational performance. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the mediating influence of organisational commitment on the relationship between employee engagement and performance of selected state corporations in Kenya. The study adopted a positivistic approach to investigate the relationships among and between the variables. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were used to describe the variables and establish the nature of the relationships among them. The study is based on employees of state corporations in research and training in the republic of Kenya. A sample of 378 respondents was selected using a multi stage sampling strategy. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result indicates that employee engagement influences organisational performance and that the relationship is partially moderated by organisational commitment.
A Study on the Leadership of Team Leaders and the Organizational Commitment of the Followers in an Employment Service Agencies

The roles of public and private employment service agencies have been considered crucially important due to the increasing interest of employment services and policies since the Korean Currency Crisis. Eventually, the roles of a manager and a follower of employment service agencies have been of greater importance. In this study, several means concerning the improvement in organizational performances are suggested by studying the leadership`s influence of a team leader in employment service agency over the organizational commitment of the followers. In addition to this, influential factors exerted to the organizational performances in an employment service agency have been analysed by the justice awareness between the two groups - team leaders and followers. The analytic results have shown that the transactional leadership has nothing to do with the organizational commitment whereas the transformational leadership has the positive influence over the organizational commitment. However, the leadership of a leader surely influences both distributional and procedural justice. With these facts, it has been proven that these justice have also influenced on the organizational committment. Throughout the process, it has been identified that the distributional justice has more impact on the organizational commitment rather than on the procedural justice.
Analyzing Evidence of Environmental Justice

A new and powerful movement has swept through environmental and land use law, challenging many of its basic tenets and forcing it to confront the difficult issues of who gets what kind of environmental quality, where environmentally undesirable land uses get put, and why.1 The movement, known as environmental justice, focuses on the distributional implications of the way in which our society seeks to manage environmental threats and improve and protect environmental quality.2 _____________________________________________________________
Developmental threshold model challenged by temperature

Question: Does the L-shape of the reaction norm for age and size at ontogenetic transitions arise irrespective of temperature? The developmental threshold model suggests that this shape arises due to a threshold in body size to undertake the transition. Data studied: Ages and sizes at metamorphosis measured in a common garden experiment in Rana temporaria originating from six populations along a latitudinal gradient. Individuals were exposed to three temperature treatments and two levels of food. Search method: Population-specific age and size at metamorphosis were plotted against each other, and the shape of the reaction norm across populations was further illustrated by an exponential decay function. The observed patterns were further explored via linear mixed-effect models. Conclusion: The L-shape of the reaction norm depends on temperature, suggesting that at low temperature a developmental threshold in age rather than in size regulates the process of metamorphosis.
Estimating value at risk using extreme value theory : is the two dimensional inhomogeneous Poisson model better than the others

This research presents an application of extreme value theory to estimate the value at risk of a market position particularly of the OMX Hex Index. There are many approaches to computing value at risk alongside the extreme value method. One fundamental problem the manager of risk face is “what is the optimal choice of value at risk estimator that will best predict the risk? ” This implies that choosing an approach to best predict value at risk is challenging. This study proposed a method of estimating value at risk using the two-dimensional inhomogeneous Poisson model. An extreme value theory method that is based on the Peak Over Threshold (POT). The method takes into consideration time varying parameters through some explanatory variables. The study also shows how well theoretical model fit real financial data. The data used is the daily log return of the OMX Hex Index from the period 1990 to 2014. From the data we show empirically that the OMX Hex Index obeys a Fréchet distribution. The explanatory variables for the study are GARCH volatilities, annual trend and quarter dummies. The explanatory variables are all available at time t-1. With the help of the fitted models we adopt the two-dimensional inhomogeneous Poisson model approach to estimating value at risk over the two-dimensional homogeneous Poisson model and other classical or traditional methods, and find that this better predict value at risk estimates.
EFFICIENCY DYNAMICS OF WIRELESS MOUSE ANTENNA INFLUENCED BY POSITION OF USER'S INDEX FINGER

In this paper, Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) and the Method of Moments (MoM) are used to analyze the effect of a human hand index finger on a wireless mouse antenna. The important parameters of the wireless mouse that are affected by a human hand index finger such as input resistance, reflection coefficient, bandwidth (resonance frequency) and efficiency, have been evaluated. It is established that the index finger decreases the input resistance of the mouse. The results show that the finger also reduces the efficiency of the mouse antenna. This can be explained by the fact that the human hand absorbs energy. It was further established that the wireless mouse antenna's efficiency depends on the position of the index finger. When the finger is at the middle of the mouse antenna, the efficiency is relatively low. Moving the finger along the wireless mouse antenna, to either the right or to the left of the feed point, increases the efficiency rapidly. Beyond a certain distance on either side, there is rapid deterioration of the wireless mouse antenna's efficiency.
OFDM Chirp Waveform Design Based on Subchirp Bandwidth Overlap and Segmented Transmitting for Low Correlation Interference in MIMO Radar

There are some special merits for the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) chirp waveform as multiple input multiple output (MIMO) signals. This signal has high range resolution, good Doppler tolerance, and constant modulus superiority since it exploits a full bandwidth and is based on chirp signals. The correlation sidelobe peaks level are critical for the detection requirement of MIMO radar signals, however conventional OFDM chirp signals produce high autocorrelation sidelobe peaks (ASP) and cross-correlation peaks (CP), which reduces detection performance. In this paper, we explore the structure of OFDM chirp signals’ autocorrelation function and proposed a scheme to reduce the designed signal’s ASP by a designing suitable range of subchirp bandwidth and a segmented transmit-receive mode. Next, we explore a suitable range of interval between the chirp rates of each two signals to reduce the CP. The simulation of designed signals verifies the effectiveness of the proposed methods in the reduction of ASP and CP, with the correlation performance being compared with recent relate studies. In addition, the multiple signals detection and one-dimensional range image simulation show the good detection performance of a designed signal in MIMO radar detection.
Improving the Efficiency of Computing Electromagnetic Fields from a Lossy Dielectric Cylinder due to a Line Source

─ This paper describes analysis of electromagnetic fields from a lossy dielectric cylinder due to a line source. Series solutions for the electromagnetic fields internal and external to the cylinder are derived. Convergence is accelerated using the Watson transformation and the “fast_callable” function in the SageMath open source software. The series convergence is increased by a factor of nearly 80 using these techniques. Implementation of the Watson transform is also discussed. Applications include propagation analysis for simulating wireless body area networks and communications with wireless biosensors. Index Terms ─ Bioelectromagnetics, creeping waves, SageMath, Watson transform, WBAN.
FORCE SENSOR FOR CONSTRUCTION MACHINES BY THEY

The paper considers force sensor based on the hydraulic cylinders used to powered the arms of construction machines from dynamics point of view, to the aim to sense interaction between the tool of machine and operating environment, in particular between soil and excavator robot. The regression matrix method is used to identify static dynamic and frictional parameters of machine, which will be used to estimate the force necessary to move machine, while the difference between measured and estimated forces will be the expected result or interaction force. Moreover, the method shows as to consider machine dynamics using position an tilt sensors only. The force sensor can be used also as on-board weighting system.
Analysis of South Hemisphere Temperature Anomalies over the Last Millennium up to the Beginning of the Contemporary Age: A Comparison between a Statistical Model and a Global Dynamic Model

We analyze the consistency of the coupled atmosphere-ocean GISS-ER climate model in reproducing South American temperature anomalies over the last millennium. For that purpose, we compare the model results with the Neukom’s temperature anomaly reconstruction provided by a statistical model that uses multiproxy data and climatological temperature anomalies. Specifically, we examine temperature anomalies for summer and winter of a 6-member ensemble of the GISS-ER model with 1× solar forcing and 2× solar forcing, calculated for the period 1000-1899. Using the Neukom’s reconstructions and the model outputs, we calculate the summer mean anomalies of the period 1001-1700 (a period that includes Medieval Climate Anomaly -MCA- and Little Ice Age -LIA-), and winter mean anomalies of the period 1706-1800 (a period that includes the pre-industrial period). These mean anomalies are subtracted from Neukom’s reconstructions defining the reconstructions wrt 1001-1700 (summer) and wrt 1706-1800 (summer and winter). In general, the model is not very consistent with the reconstructions, since the model’s mean and spread show very small interannual variability in contrast to what the reconstructions exhibit, and often with anomalies of opposite sign. In the period 1001-1700, the model presents, on average, negative temperature anomalies for the 1× and 2× forcing. In the period 1706-1800, the model displays positive anomalies for summer and negative anomalies for winter for the 1× and 2× forcing. In particular, the anomaly that better reproduces the sign of the reconstructions is that wrt 1001-1700 with 1× forcing and for summer. The model has an error of only 33% in reproducing the sign of the anomalies, in comparison to the Neukom’s reconstruction for the same reference period. The model’s anomaly wrt 1001-1700 with 1× forcing for summer also reproduces the MCA and LIA’s sign of the reconstruction. The MCA’s sign is reproduced in almost 75% of the comparisons, and the LIA’s sign in more than 73% of the comparisons with the reconstruction, indicating that the model can represent this important anomalies.
Food type and temperature constraints on the fitness of a dominant freshwater shredder

Freshwaters receive a large amount of materials and biologically available energy from their surrounding catchments. In particular, small forested streams are dependent on allochthonous organic matter inputs. However, since the middle 20th century large areas of forests in the Iberian Peninsula have been converted to eucalypt plantations, impairing invertebrate communities and stream energy fluxes. In addition, the dependence of organismal metabolic rates on temperature may influence invertebrate life cycles and development, and ultimately the riparian-stream system. We tested the effects of two food resources (alder and eucalypt) under two different temperatures (9 vs. 14°C) on the life history parameters and elemental composition of Brillia bifida (Chironomidae), a numerically dominant shredder in forested streams of NW Spain. Our results showed: (i) warmer temperature accelerated the development of B. bifida larvae (i.e. , three times faster at warm than at cold temperature), (ii) Brillia 's growth rate when fed on eucalypt leaves was only 30% of what it was on alder leaves, and (iii) both factors together modified larvae stoichiometry and nutrient fluxes (i.e. , through fine particulate organic matter production). The observed elemental imbalances suggest, to some extent, a deviation from the “strict homeostasis” assumption for heterotrophs. Differential effects observed on larval development, growth and elemental composition point out that food type and temperature are influencing B. bifida performance, and this fact may reach other trophic compartments through detritivore-mediated nutrient cycling.
Genetic variability of cultivated cowpea in Benin assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA

Characterization of genetic diversity among cultivated cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ] varieties is important to optimize the use of available genetic resources by farmers, local communities, researchers and breeders. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity in 70 cowpea accessions collected throughout Benin. Nine random primers were screened on 24 accessions to assess their ability to reveal polymorphisms in cowpea and four of them were selected for use in characterizing the total sample. A total of 32 amplified bands were generated by the four primers. The number of loci detected varied from 5 to 11. RAPD profiles were analysed and amplified polymorphic DNA fragments were used to construct a dendrogram, clustering the accessions into nine groups at a similarity index of 71% based on the Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic Averages. The genetic diversity among the cowpea cultivars investigated was large and the RAPD proved to be a useful technique to characterise it. Based on the molecular variance, the fixation index suggests a large differentiation of cowpea cultivars in Benin.