Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In silico identification of BIM-1 (2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl) as a potential therapeutic agent against elevated protein kinase C beta associated diseases

Protein kinase C beta is involved in apoptosis, transcription regulation, B-cell activation, regulation of the B-cell receptor signalosome and B-cell survival by regulating BCR-induced NF-kappa-B activation. Increased activation of PKC-βI along with overproduction of diacylglycerol (DAG) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) participate in pathogenesis of various aliments like asthma, cancer propagation, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, tumor formation, AIDS and neurological disturbances. Inhibiting elevated activation of PKC-βI, after identification of most appropriate inhibitor, could serve as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of several diseases. Its computational modeling is important to study interactions with various other signaling proteins. The aim of study was to investigate computational model of protein kinase C- βI and inhibitory potential of BIM-1 (2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl), balanol-1 and staurosporine-1 to protein kinase C- βI. Model of protein kinase C - βI was built with the assistance of Modeller software. Known structure of PKC-βII was compared with modeled protein. Template (PDB ID: 2I0E) was searched from PSI Blast and structural analysis was performed by using 3D Coffee. Quality of model was dependent on template and sequence alignment. Amidst the five generated models, quality factor of best selected model via ERRAT was obtained as 88.923. Using Auto Dock Tools, selected values were docked individually. After analysis of results in PyMOL 1.3 and SPDBV v4.02 viewer; on the basis of highest value of affinity (-8.6 kcal/mol), lower distance from root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) l.b (1.379) along-with four polar contacts with PKC-bI that is, [Glu101 (O-H=2.1 A), Val103 (O-N=2.9 A, O-O=3.3 A) and Thr84 (O-O=3.1 A)], BIM-1 was selected to the best inhibitor. This approach holds a great promise for understanding of PKC- βI inhibitors and consequently its role in therapeutics. Key words: Protein kinase C, protein kinase C beta, in silico, therapeutic agent, PRKCB1, PRKCB2, BIM-1 (2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl), balanol-1 and staurosporine-1.
Duration models with time-varying coefficients

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Risk and reliability evaluation of gas connector systems using fuzzy theory and expert elicitation

Abstract Gas connectors are installed in almost every home in the United States and around the world. The reliability of these connectors is quintessential in protecting people, property and the environment. The critical heuristic analysis model presented in this study assessed the reliability of fuel gas connectors (FGC), the likelihood of FGC failure, potential hazards, causes and consequences in a common perspective. The “Bow-tie” method was introduced to integrate the fault tree analysis (FTA) and the event tree analysis (ETA). 31 minimal cut sets and 33 basic events (BEs) of the FTA were determined from qualitative analysis, while the important measures analyses of BEs and the failure probability of the top event were analyzed quantitatively. Traditional risk assessment techniques (RAT) considered the probabilities of basic events (BEs) as accurate values without accounting for uncertainty and impression with some BEs. This study improved on the traditional RAT by integrating expert elicitation technique and fuzzy set theories (FST) for the evaluation of these events. FST minimized the uncertainty and fuzziness of the events, the and flexible gas connectors were determined to be safer for use and have the lowest failure risk compared to black iron pipe. The approach used in this study considered multi-dimensional approach for effectively analyzing fuzzy events and the outcomes are helpful to professionals in making decisions on the preventive, protective and corrective actions necessary in the risk management process.
Hemispheric and Large-Scale Surface Air Temperature Variations: An Extensive Revision and an Update to 2001.

This study is an extensive revision of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) land station temperature database that is used to produce a gridbox dataset of 58 latitude 3 58 longitude temperature anomalies. The new database comprises 5159 station records, of which 4167 have enough data for the 1961‐90 period to calculate or estimate the necessary averages. Apart from the increase in station numbers compared to the earlier study in 1994, many station records have had their data replaced by newly homogenized series that have been produced by several recent studies. New versions of all the gridded datasets currently available on the CRU Web site (http:// www.cru.uea.ac.uk) have been developed. This includes combinations with marine (sea surface temperature anomalies) data over the oceans and versions with adjustment of the variance of individual gridbox series to remove the effects of changing station numbers through time. Hemispheric and global temperature averages for land areas developed with the new dataset differ slightly from those developed in 1994. Possible reasons for the differences between the new and the earlier analysis and those from the National Climatic Data Center and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies are discussed. Differences are greatest over the Southern Hemisphere and at the beginnings and ends of each time series and relate to gridbox sizes and data availability. The rate of annual warming for global land areas over the 1901‐ 2000 period is estimated by least squares to be 0.078C decade21 (significant at better than the 99.9% level). Warming is not continuous but occurs principally over two periods (about 1920‐45 and since 1975). Annual temperature series for the seven continents and the Arctic all show significant warming over the twentieth century, with significant (95%) warming for 1920‐44 for North America, the Arctic, Africa, and South America, and all continents except Australia and the Antarctic since 1977. Cooling is significant during the intervening period (1945‐76) for North America, the Arctic, and Africa.
Entrepreneurial university: A study on the differences between Brazil and the model done in the United States

The history of universities is marked by transitions in the direction of education and increasing its responsibility to society. Some revolutions caused by social problems provided the emergence of so-called entrepreneurial universities, where in addition to the educational role, universities now have mission is to improve the economy and social development. The incentives the creation of small businesses as the spinoff emerged and today transformed business research with high earning potential, adding value to institutions, which in turn also profit because they are the basis of these developments. In Brazil, although there is great universities, incentives, investments and resources are still limited in relation to developed countries. Knowing the great need to implement an entrepreneurial and innovative policy in this country capable of promoting a capacity to give effective support in the areas of teaching, research and extension, as well as progress and encourage entrepreneurship, empower students to transform technological research in business, this study aims to analyze the differences between the RESUMO: A história das universidades é marcada por transições na direção da educação e aumentando sua responsabilidade para com a sociedade. Algumas revoluções causadas por problemas sociais proporcionaram o surgimento das chamadas universidades empresariais, onde, além do papel educacional, as universidades agora têm missão de melhorar a economia e o desenvolvimento social. Os incentivos à criação de pequenas empresas à medida que o spin-off surgiu e transformaram a pesquisa de negócios hoje em dia com alto potencial de ganho, agregando valor às instituições, o que, por sua vez, também é lucrativo porque são a base desses desenvolvimentos. No Brasil, embora existam grandes universidades, incentivos, investimentos e recursos ainda são limitados em relação aos países desenvolvidos. Conhecer a grande necessidade de implementar uma política empresarial e inovadora neste país capaz de promover uma capacidade de dar apoio efetivo nas áreas de ensino, pesquisa e extensão, bem como o progresso e incentivar o empreendedorismo, entrepreneurial university in Brazil and practiced in the United States, while pointing out solutions to reduce the gap between the models. As a methodological approach, research has descriptive character and makes use of qualitative data obtained through a literature review.
EFFECTS OF PRACTICING MATHEMATICAL CREATIVITY ENHANCING LEARNING/TEACHING STRATEGY DURING INSTRUCTION ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT BY GENDER IN KENYA'S NAKURU MUNICIPALITY

Learners’ mathematics achievement worldwide and Kenya in particular has been unsatisfactory. Mathematics examination results at the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) for instance have been consistently dismal over the last decade. Findings of most studies globally and in Kenya attribute this unfavorable state of affairs to ineffective teaching methods employed by mathematics teachers among other factors. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the effects of using mathematical creativity enhancing learning/teaching strategy on learners’ mathematics achievement by gender. The study used the Solomon Four nonEquivalent Group Research Design. The target population comprised of form 2 students aged 16 years in sampled secondary schools of Nakuru Municipality. The students were randomly assigned in their intact classes to the four groups, namely experimental group one (E 1), experimental group two (E 2), control group one (C1) and control group two (C2). All the four groups were taught the topic: ‘Quadratic Expressions and Equations’ in Kenya’s form 2 secondary school mathematics syllabus. Teaching was conducted with an emphasis on enhancement of the four dimensions of mathematical creativity namely; fluency, flexibility, elaboration and originality in the experimental groups while the control groups were taught using conventional teaching methods. A mathematics achievement test (MAT) validated by experts had reliability coefficient of 0.84. Data was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) by use of both descriptive and inferential (t-test and ANOVA) statistics to assist in the interpretation. A significance level of α=0.05 was used to test the null hypotheses. The results indicated that students taught using mathematical creativity enhancing teaching strategy had significantly higher scores in MAT than students taught in the conventional teaching strategy. The results were inconclusive on whether there is or no statistically significant gender difference in the learning of mathematics among secondary school students who were exposed to mathematical creativity enhancing teaching strategy (MCETS). The researchers concluded that MCETS is an effective teaching/learning strategy which mathematics teachers need to incorporate in their teaching.
Financial Liberalization on Broad Money: Short Run Analysis from Sri Lankan Experiences

The research aims to study the impact of financial liberalization on broad money in Sri Lanka during the period 1977-2011.Financial liberalization index was calculated for evaluation the complex process of financial liberalization in Sri Lanka by focusing on important changes in the financial sector. The study has used ten major policy components of financial liberalization to construct financial liberalization index at a particular time. In order to derive the index, Principle Component Method is employed. Impact of financial liberalization on broad money is examined by using computed index and other related variables for money demand in economics literature. The study reveals that there is a positive relationship between broad money and financial liberalization in Sri Lanka in the short run. Therefore, this study opens the door to examine whether financial liberalization positively impacts on broad money in Sri Lanka in the long run as short run. Keywords : Financial liberalization, broad money, Principal Component analysis.
Diode-pumped, 6.8 GHz, solid-state waveguide laser mode-locked at 1.5 μm by a quantum-dot SESAM

In this paper, we present a diode-pumped, solid-state waveguide laser operating near 1550 nm that is passively mode-locked using a quantum-dot SESAM. A fundamental repetition rate of up to 6.8 GHz with an output power of 30 mW was achieved during mode-locked operation. Pulse durations as short as 2.5 ps were measured at a repetition rate of 4.8 GHz. Fine control of the of the repetition rate was demonstrated by varying the pump power and a tuning range of up to 1 MHz was demonstrated.
Environmental Auditing and Sustainable Development in Nigeria

This study seeks to examine the issues of environmental auditing on sustainable development. The quest for industrialization and sustained development in Nigeria and the attendant improvement in the quality of life of the populace has taken its toll on the environment. The domineering influence of economic sophistication on every aspect of living had negative climatic impacts which sustainability sets out to correct. As sustainability pursues equitable distribution of opportunities between present and future generations through conservative use of resources, economic development promotes uncontrolled consumption of resources to increase material wealth. Primary data was collected with the use of questionnaire and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics method, correlation matrix and binary logit. The study hypothesis was also validated. It was revealed that this result is quite distorting, which implies that the more environmental audit carried out the less the effect on sustainable development, environmental engagement and impact assessment. Thus it was concluded that while companies subscribe to the policy of being environmentally friendly, only few engage environmental audit services. This might be a fall out from the voluntary nature of environmental audit. KEYWORDS : Environmental Audit, Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Local Infrastructures and Externalities: Does the Size Matter?

We setup a model in which the residents of two neighboring municipalities can use the services provided by public infrastructures located in both jurisdictions. If services are either complements or substitutes in use, the municipalities strategically interact when investing in infrastructures; moreover, when they differ in population size, the small municipality reacts more to the expenditure of its neighbor than the big one. The theoretical predictions are then tested by estimating the determinants of the stock of public infrastructures of the municipalities belonging to the Autonomous Province of Trento, in Italy.
Automatic Signature Verification in the Mobile Cloud Scenario: Survey and Way Ahead

On-line signature verification is typically carried out with the use of digitizing tablets specifically designed for the aim. So far, stand-alone systems have been mainly inspected, but the current distributed/cloud scenario and the amount of mobile devices in everyday life is calling for a new challenge. Within this scenario, signatures are acquired around the world with different kinds of devices and processed on multiple platforms in order to be verified. Through the paper, the different phases of the signature verification process in the new scenario are presented and the most valuable results are discussed considering the following aspects: accessibility and usability, interoperability, security and performance. Achievements as well as weakness are focused to highlight promising directions for further research and technology development.
A Study of the Strategy and Operation of Japanese Agriculture Cloud Computing

Amid declining Japanese agriculture solutions, agriculture cloud attracts much attention and expectations. However, the strategy and the operation of the agriculture cloud have not been investigated adequately. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the strategy and the operation in the agriculture cloud. In this study, we performed a case study regarding agriculture cloud. Based on our consideration, the strategy and the operation of the agriculture cloud are a reinforcement of conventional competitive advantages.
L'allongement compensatoire dans les représentations phonologiques : nature, contraintes et typologie

Cette these est consacree a l’allongement compensatoire et a son expression formelle dans les representations phonologiques. L’allongement compensatoire est un processus relativement repandu a travers lequel un segment s’allonge pour compenser l’effacement ou la migration d’un segment adjacent. Dans sa forme classique, l’allongement compensatoire consiste en l’effacement d’une consonne en coda de syllabe et a l’allongement de la voyelle precedente. Ce type d’allongement compensatoire, que j’ai appele "orthodoxe", est evoque dans le premier chapitre de cette these. Si ce type d’allongement compensatoire est relativement repandu, les allongements compensatoires provoques par l’effacement d’une consonne en attaque de syllabe sont supposes impossibles. Dans le chapitre 2, je demontre l’existence de tels allongements compensatoires, que j’ai appeles "exotiques". Le chapitre 3 introduit differentes theories de la syllabe et montre que la theorie moraique developpee par Hayes (1989), contrairement aux approches segmentales de la syllabe, n’est pas en mesure de rendre compte des allongements compensatoires exotiques. Le chapitre 4 constitue une introduction a la Theorie de l’Optimalite et le chapitre 5 examine differentes representations de l’allongement compensatoire dans un tel cadre theorique. La, certains problemes souleves par l’implementation de la theorie moraique dans un cadre optimaliste sont mis en evidence (opacite). Le chapitre 6, qui tente de resoudre ces problemes, renferme trois analyses optimalistes de l’allongement compensatoire. L’une d’entre elles, particulierement interessante, reintroduit l’hypothese d’une pleine moraicite des representations sous-jacentes (Hyman 1985) et possede l’avantage de deriver tous les types d’allongements compensatoires.
Experimentally investigating the effectiveness and effort of modeling conventions for the UML

Modelers tend to exploit the various degrees of freedom provided by the UML. The lack of uniformity and the large amount of defects contained in UML models result in miscommunication between different readers. To prevent for these problems we propose modeling conventions, analogue to coding conventions for programming. This work reports on a controlled experiment to explore the effect of modeling conventions on defect density and modeling effort. 106 masters’ students participated over a six-weeks-period. Our results indicate that decreased defect density is attainable at the cost of increased effort when using modeling conventions, and moreover, that this trade-off is stressed if tool-support is provided. Additionally we report observations on the subjects’ adherence to and attitude towards modeling conventions. Our observations indicate that efficient integration of convention support in the modeling process, e.g. through training and seamless tool integration, forms a promising direction towards preventing defects.
Human tau-dependent toxicity in APP transgenic cultures requires calcium influx through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

The β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and tau are key molecules in Alzheimer’s disease causing neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Evidence exists that tau mediates the pathology downstream of Aβ. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are supposed to play an essential role in the pathophysiology of Aβ and tau. However, the exact mechanisms deciphering how Aβ could induce tau-dependent neuronal dysfunctions are still unclear. Here we show that virus-mediated expression of human tau causes neuronal degeneration in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures from APP transgenic mice but not in non-transgenic cultures. Treatment with therapeutically concentrations of NMDAR open channel blocker memantine completely abolished tau-dependent cell death in APP transgenic cultures. Removing extracellular calcium with calcium chelator BAPTA also prevented tau toxicity. Our data indicate that human tau-dependent neuronal cell death in APP transgenic slice cultures is mediated by calcium influx through NMDARs.
CYBER-ATTACKS ON THE DATA COMMUNICATION OF DRONES MONITORING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

With the exponential growth in the digitalization of critical infrastructures such as nuclear plants and transmission and distribution grids, these systems have become more prone to coordinated cyber-physical attacks. One of the ways used to harden the security of these infrastructures is by utilizing UAVs for monitoring, surveillance and data collection. UAVs use data communication links to send the data collected to ground control stations (GCSs). The literature [1] suggests that there is a lack of research in the area of the cybersecurity of data communication from drones to GCSs. Therefore, this paper addresses this research gap and analyzes the vulnerabilities and attacks on the collected sensor data, mainly on: data availability, data integrity and data confidentiality, and will propose solutions for securing the drone’s data communication systems.
EVIDENCE FOR EDGE EFFECTS ON MULTIPLE LEVELS IN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE

Abstract We tested how edges affect nest survival and predator distribution in a native tallgrass prairie system in southwestern Missouri using artificial nests, natural nests of Dickcissels (Spiza americana) and Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii), and mammal track stations. Survival of artificial nests was lower within 30 m of forest edge. Nesting success of Dickcissels and Henslow's Sparrows was lower within 50 m to a shrubby edge than at greater distances, whereas fates of nests were not related to distances to roads, agricultural fields, or forests. Evidence from clay eggs placed in artificial nests indicated that mid-sized carnivores were the major predators within 30 m of forest edges. Furthermore, mid-sized carnivores visited track stations most frequently within 50 m of forest edges. Because proximity of woody habitat explained more variation in nest survival and mammal activity than did fragment size, it appears that edge effects were more pronounced than area effects. Edge effects appeared to be caused mainly by greater exposure of nests to mid-sized carnivores. We argue that, based on edge avoidance behavior, “grassland-interior” species such as the Henslow's Sparrow respond to edge effects mainly by a decrease in density, whereas habitat generalists such as the Dickcissel are affected mainly by a decrease in nesting success.