Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Halotolerant strain of Chlorococcum oleofaciens from the Lake Elton Biosphere Reserve

Chlorococcum oleofaciens is one of the most studied representatives of the Chlorococcum genus, both on the ultrastructural and molecular levels. This alga is very interesting due to its ability to hypersynthetize saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and the possibility of using it as a promising object for biofuel production. This research is devoted to the study of the halotolerant strain of Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 extracted from the water of the Khara River (Lake Elton Biosphere Reserve, Russia, a UNESCO World Heritage site), mineralization of 14‰. The strain Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 was studied at the morphological level (light microscopy), as well as using molecular genetics methods (18S rDNA). The objectives of the study included establishing the range of halotolerance of the allocated strain of Ch. oleofaciens as a whole, revealing borders of level of mineralization that are optimum for algae growth, and also tracing features of its morphology and cycle of development in the conditions of various salinity. In the course of the studies performed it was established that the extracted strain of Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 differed from the typical one by greater variability of some morphological features and had a wide ecological valence: the range of its halotolerance was 0–60‰. The maximum values of quantitative development of Ch. oleofaciens Ch-1 were registered at mineralization of 0–14‰. It is shown that with increasing salinity in the development cycle of the strain, the duration of the adaptation phase increases, the exponential phase decreases, small celled forms are replaced by large celled forms and reproduction features are noted. The obtained results can be used for selection of optimal conditions for cultivation of the halotolerant strain of Ch. oleofaciens for biotechnological purposes.
Is the weak definite a generic? An experimental investigation

We discuss the properties of weak definite noun phrases, definite noun phrases (henceforth DP) which do not uniquely refer to an individual referent. Since one of the properties of generic noun phrases is that they do not uniquely refer, we asked whether weak definites might in fact be a form of generic noun phrase.We adopted a quantitative and experimental approach conducting a corpus analysis and four experiments that were designed to assess whether weak definites differ from DPs that are generic, weak and regular definites. A corpus analysis by de Sá et al. (2016) showed that generic DPs and weak definites are not in complementary distribution. A follow-up analysis on verb aktionsart showed that most weak definites appear in telic or activity DPs.The experiments also comparedmatched sentences with weak, regular and generic reading DPs. These studies do not find similarities between weak definites and generics. We conclude that weak definite noun phrases are not generics.
Growth of the crabgrass species Digitaria ciliaris and Digitaria nuda

The aim of this research paper was to compare the growth of D. ciliaris and D. nuda crabgrass species under non-competitive conditions. To this end, two experiments were conducted, one from March July 2010 and the other from February June 2011. The experimental design of both trials was completely randomized making a factorial (2 seasons x 2 species crabgrass x 12 evaluation periods) with four replications. Assessments began at 15 days after sowing (DAS), and repeated weekly until 92 DAS. The variables evaluated were total dry matter (roots+leaves+stems), leaf area, leaf number and tiller. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and the absolute growth rate, relative growth rate and leaf area ratio were calculated using the means, which were adjusted regression models. The crabgrass species were significantly different in leaf area, leaf number, tiller number and dry matter per plant. D. ciliaris for all variables was statistically higher than D. nuda. Regarding the speed at which the growth of the species occurred, the absolute growth rate and relative growth rate of D. ciliaris was also greater than D. nuda. In addition, D. ciliaris also had a lower leaf area ratio indicating greater efficiency in converting light energy into carbohydrates. It can be concluded that D. ciliaris has a higher growth rate in conditions where there is no limitation of nutrients and water availability in relation to D. nuda, mainly due to D. ciliaris have greater leaf area, number of leaves and dry matter accumulation per plant.
Spectral Filters in ERD-based Multiclass BCI

Electroencephalography-based brain computer interface is the most appropriate way to translate human thoughts into commands. Motor imagery activities appear as changes in μ and/or β rhythms which varies extremely from one subject to another. ERD/ERS patterns is the most common feature that represent these rhythmic information which are hidden in time, frequency, and space in the sense of brain's topographic modulations. In this paper we present most recent and powerful techniques of single trial motor imagery classification of optimization the spatial and spectral filters simultaneously, and apply their multiclass extension to a 4class motor imagery data from BCI Competition III. Our results show a significant improvement in comparison with winner results of that competition. These are: Common Spatial Patterns (CSP) and its two extensions to the Common Spatio-Spectral Patterns (CSSP), Common Sparse Spectral Spatial Patterns (CSSSP), and also the frequency tuned version of CSP, i.e. the Sub Band CSP (SBCSP). These methods extract our ERD related features, which are then fed to 6 support vector machine classifiers to classify between 4 different movement imageries. KeywordsMulti Class BCI, Spatio Spectral filters, single trial classification, common spatial patterns
Linguistic Analysis Improves Neural Metaphor Detection

In the field of metaphor detection, deep learning systems are the ubiquitous and achieve strong performance on many tasks. However, due to the complicated procedures for manually identifying metaphors, the datasets available are relatively small and fraught with complications. We show that using syntactic features and lexical resources can automatically provide additional high-quality training data for metaphoric language, and this data can cover gaps and inconsistencies in metaphor annotation, improving state-of-the-art word-level metaphor identification. This novel application of automatically improving training data improves classification across numerous tasks, and reconfirms the necessity of high-quality data for deep learning frameworks.
DAGMapper: Learning to Map by Discovering Lane Topology

One of the fundamental challenges to scale self-driving is being able to create accurate high definition maps (HD maps) with low cost. Current attempts to automate this pro- cess typically focus on simple scenarios, estimate independent maps per frame or do not have the level of precision required by modern self driving vehicles. In contrast, in this paper we focus on drawing the lane boundaries of complex highways with many lanes that contain topology changes due to forks and merges. Towards this goal, we formulate the problem as inference in a directed acyclic graphical model (DAG), where the nodes of the graph encode geo- metric and topological properties of the local regions of the lane boundaries. Since we do not know a priori the topology of the lanes, we also infer the DAG topology (i.e., nodes and edges) for each region. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on two major North American Highways in two different states and show high precision and recall as well as 89% correct topology.
NOTHING TO "SUGARCOAT": EIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' PERSPECTIVES OF PROMOTING DIABETES SELF-CARE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS

School-aged children with diabetes face the need to develop self-care skills while at school and in relation to other educational, parental, and health care agents. This thesis offers a qualitative picture of how eight elementary teachers perceived their caregiving role and corresponding experiences relating to the development of self-care in students with diabetes mellitus (DM) in two provinces: Ontario and New Brunswick. Participants were purposefully recruited from a School District in a mid-sized city in New Brunswick (N = 4) and two Boards of Education in a mid-sized Ontario city (N = 4). Eight teachers who had at least previous experience in caring for a student with diabetes at school participated in a 90-minute, one-on-one, in-depth interview. Employing a Husserlian phenomenological research design and using an iteration of inductive, thematic analysis, the main themes arising from the interviews encompassed: roles and responsibilities, communication, inclusionary practices, and coping with care. Educational, parental, and health care agents in relation with students with diabetes encompass a range of roles and responsibilities at school. With the adoption of official duties of care, these care agents must communicate with each other to circulate health information quickly and effectively and to develop health literacy. However, the movements of health information reflect the implicit motivations of care agents to navigate the school environment according to medical, social, and biopsychosocial notions of disability and forms of inclusive education. As a result, care agents of students with diabetes must choose approaches, steps, and strategies in their practice to help students and themselves cope with diabetes care.
Drug Excipient Compatibility Testing Protocols and Charaterization: A Review

Drug molecule contains various reactive functional groups which are susceptible to react with another reactive functional groups which might be excipients, excipient or drugs impurities formed during manufacturing or storage. The objective of the current review article is to provide a comprehensive review of excipients-drug compatibility study, their degradation product characterization with different analytical methods and further impact of methodologies in pharmaceutical industry for potential stability assessment. The incompatibility of drug excipient was very common due to the reactive functional groups in drugs and excipients. These leads to formation of drug related impurities as well as excipient impurities reaction with active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. Sometimes these impurities found to be mutagenic and genotaxic to human beings. Identification of drug degradation in presence of excipient impurities requires extensive knowledge and adequate analytical characterization data. Systematic literature review and understanding about the drug-excipient chemistry in formulation process is important criteria to select compatible excipient and formulate ideal formulation. The analytical characterization data gives idea about degradation pathway. This paper discusses drug-excipient interactions, compatibility and characterization by different analytical methods with case studies and provides an overview of different excipients compatibility in formulation.
Alignment or gap?

Purpose – Although student-centered learning (SCL) has been encouraged for decades in higher education, to what level instructors are practicing SCL strategies remains in question. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a university faculty’s understanding and perceptions of SCL, along with current instructional practices in Qatar. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed-method research design was employed including quantitative data from a survey of faculty reporting their current instructional practices and qualitative data on how these instructors define SCL and perceive their current practices via interviews with 12 instructors. Participants of the study are mainly from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field. Findings – Study results show that these instructors have rather inclusive definitions of SCL, which range from lectures to student interactions via problem-based teamwork. However, a gap between the instructors’ perceptions and their actual practices was identified. Although student activities are generally perceived as effective teaching strategies, the interactions observed were mainly in the form of student–content or student-teacher, while student–student interactions were limited. Prevailing assessment methods are summative, while formative assessment is rarely practiced. Faculty attributed this lack of alignment between how SCL could and should be practiced and the reality to external factors, including students’ lack of maturity and motivation due to the Middle Eastern culture, and institutional constraints such as class time and size. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited in a few ways. First regarding methodological justification the data methods chosen in this study were mainly focused on the faculty’s self-reporting. Second the limited number of participants restricts this study’s generalizability because the survey was administered in a volunteer-based manner and the limited number of interview participants makes it difficult to establish clear patterns. Third, researching faculty members raises concerns in the given context wherein extensive faculty assessments are regularly conducted. Practical implications – A list of recommendations is provided here as inspiration for institutional support and faculty development activities. First, faculty need deep understanding of SCL through experiences as learners so that they can become true believers and implementers. Second, autonomy is needed for faculty to adopt appropriate assessment methods that are aligned with their pedagogical objectives and delivery methods. Input on how faculty can adapt instructional innovation to tailor it to the local context is very important for its longterm effectiveness (Hora and Ferrare, 2014). Third, an inclusive approach to faculty evaluation by encouraging faculty from STEM backgrounds to be engaged in research on their instructional practice will not only sustain the practice of innovative pedagogy but will also enrich the research profiles of STEM faculty and their institutes. Journal of Applied Research in
The effect of nutrition education on nutritional behaviors and glycemic control indices based on BASNEF model among elderly with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Few diabetes educational programs have been designed specifically for older adults. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of nutrition educational program based on the BASNEF (Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, and Enabling Factors) Model on the elderly subjects (+60 and higher) with type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial 100 diabetic elderly (+60 and higher) patients were selected who were divided into intervention and control groups randomly. Data of control and intervention groups was collected in two stages, before intervention and 12 weeks after intervention. Intervention of nutritional education was performed based on BASNEF model. Finally, data were analyzed using chi-square, t-test and paired t-test. Results: Our findings indicated that mean scores of knowledge and BASNEF Model variables were significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the controls after intervention (p<0.001). Also, behavioral nutrition improved significantly. The number of eating meals contenting the fruit and vegetable has been increased significantly in the intervention group (p<0.001). The intervention group showed a significant decline in body weight (-1.3 kg), body mass index (-.48), Triglycerides (−18.25 mg/dl), Fasting plasma glucose (−19.5mg/dl), HbA1c (-.36%). A decrease in HDL (-1.02mg/dl, P = .9) and LDL (-4.04, P =. 2) was observed in the interventional group, although it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: BASNEF – based nutrition educational intervention led to improve nutritional behaviors in addition to improve knowledge and attitude of diabetic elderly and it led to improve indices of glucose control during 3- month intervention.
School Reform – An exploratory case study of the impact of student centred learning in two primary schools

This paper documents a case study into the effect of the adoption of constructivist pedagogy in two primary schools. The cases were chosen due to their similar geographical and socio-economic location and student demographics. One had undertaken considerable pedagogic and site transformation consistent with a South Australia school reform initiative known as Learning to Learn. The other was about to enter the reform program but had not undertaken systematic change at the time of the study. The aim was to trial several methods for measuring the experience of learners in the reformed context and the degree to which this impacted on social and academic outcomes. In addition to providing information on the effectiveness of the measures trialled, the study provides evidence of a significant difference in academic achievement, engagement and meta-cognition resulting from the reform.
Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Wholegrain Millet Sourdough Breads Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Wholegrain Millet Sourdough Breads

This study enumerates the bacterial and fungal isolates responsible for the fermentation of millet sourdoughs, evaluates the antimicrobial safety of the sourdough starters and the quality of bread produced thereafter. The individual flours were spontaneously fermented in the ratio 1:1 (w/v) for 48 h. At the end of the fermentation, the microbial consortium of the sourdough meals obtained were determined and also screened for antagonistic activity against selected pathogens. All the sourdough starters revealed strong clearance zones against the selected food borne pathogens with values ranging from 5.00 to 16.1 mm. The proximate compositions of the breads were improved by the sourdough fermentation process compared with the raw flour. The moisture content of flour determined ranged from 7.48 to 11.20% while the protein, fat, ash, crude fibre and carbohydrate were 9.53 to 12.4%; 2.13 to 2.78%; 0.82 to 2.87%; 2.10 to 4.67% and 71.83 to 76.33% respectively. The carbohydrate content of the breads reduced with fermentation and ranged from 63.10% to 73.33% while the protein, ash, crude fibre and fat content increased and ranged from 11.57 to 15.31%; 2.39 to 3.08%; 1.76 to 3.62% and 7.15 to 12.32% respectively. The highest value for calcium 48.86 mg/100 g was exhibited by pearl millet bread. Sensory evaluation showed significant difference (P < 0.05) in the appearance, taste, colour, aroma and texture of the bread samples. The findings have suggested that indigenous wholegrain cereals could be employed for bread production, which has the potential to improve the nutritional profile and safety of cereal fermented foods which forms the bulk of the diet of rural dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Repudiable Ring Signatures: Stronger Definitions and Logarithmic-Size

Ring signatures allow a person to generate a signature on behalf of an ad hoc group, and can hide the true identity of the signer among the group. Repudiable ring signatures are the more strongly defined ring signatures, which can allow every non-signer to prove to others that the signature was not generated by himself. This paper has two main areas of focus. First, we propose a new requirement for repudiable ring signatures, which is that no one can forge a valid repudiation for others. Second, as a breakthrough, we present the first logarithmic-size repudiable ring signatures which do not rely on a trusted setup or the random oracle model. Specifically, our scheme can be instantiated from standard assumptions and the size of signatures and repudiations only grows logarithmically in the number of ring members. Besides, our scheme also provides a new construction of logarithmicsize standard ring signatures.
Capability Computing: Achieving Scalability on over 1000 Processors

HPCx is the UK’s largest High Performance Computing Service, consisting of 40 IBM Regatta-H SMP nodes, each containing 32 POWER4 processors. The main objective of the system is to provide a capability computing service for a range of key scientific applications, i.e. a service for applications that can utilise a significant fraction of the resource. To achieve this capability computing objective, applications must be able to scale effectively to around 1000 processors. This presents a considerable challenge, and requires an understanding of the system and its bottlenecks. In this paper we present results from a detailed performance investigation on HPCx, highlighting potential bottlenecks for applications and how these may be avoided. For example, we achieve good scaling on a benchmark code through effective use of environment variables, level 2 cache and less populated logical partitions.
対話型進化的計算によるリズムの生成 Composition of Rhythms with Interactive Evolutionary Computation

Interactive Evolutionary Computation (IEC), i.e. Evolutionary Computation whose fitness function is provided by a user his/herself, has been applied to some esthetic areas of Art and Engineering. Music is one of such application areas. This paper describes a new approach to music composition, especially for composition of rhythms, by means of IEC. Combining Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Genetic Programming (GP) makes it possible to search for musical structures effectively in the vast search space. We show that our proposed method can successfully generate effective musical rhythms.
EXCHANGES RATES, STOCK PRICES AND EARNING MANAGEMENT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE OF BLUE-CHIP COMPANIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Stock price is an important part of fundings in a company. On the other hand, this component is very dependent on the macro situation of the company which will affect the management-decision-making. This reflects that management’s actions manage corporate earnings are not based on internal source but also from the external factors. This study discusses about external factors that can affect management’s action is the exchange rate. This research has a purpose to analyze the impact of exhange rate to earning management by using stock price as intervening variable. This research used secondary data. The population in this study are Top Asean Stars blue-chip companies from various industry sectors contained in Asean Exchanges 2015-2017. The population in this study comes from 3 ASEAN countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The sample are selected using purposive sampling method and there are 161 companies that meet the criteria of the sample. The method used for earning management’s calculation is Modified Jones Model. This study used multiple linear regression methods and path analysis. The results showed that stock prices is not an intervening variable for exchanges rate on earning management.
Learning to Reconstruct Symmetric Shapes using Planar Parameterization of 3D Surface

Shape priors have been a game changer to achieve robust 3D reconstruction. Prior knowledge encoded in trained networks has proven to be effective in generating images. Based on a similar paradigm, various methods were proposed to generate 3D shape from images. To generate a voxel or point cloud representation of 3D shapes these methods required adding an extra dimension to the deep network, to handle 3D data. Unlike these methods, we try to reconstruct 3D shape from images by using a parameterized representation of the shape. For a 3D model, the information is mainly concentrated on the surface. We perform iterative parameterization of the surface to obtain a planar representation. This representation is encoded with surface information to generate 2D geometry images, which can be conveniently learned using traditional deep neural networks without additional overhead. We propose an efficient iterative planar parameterization to represent regions of high Gaussian curvature in geometry images. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed network learns detailed features and is able to reconstruct geometrically accurate shapes from single image. Our code is available at https://github.com/hrdkjain/LearningSymmetricShapes.