Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein and DNA Isolation from Aspergillus Niger as well as Ghost Cells Formation

Recently, a protocol for ghost cells preparations was introduced. It was given the name sponge-like protocol: Procaryotes, eucaryotes and virus were turned to ghost cells using such protocol. In this study, with slight modifications, Aspergillus niger ghost cells were prepared using the same protocol. Both the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the minimum growth concentration (MGC) values for H2O2, NaOH, NaHCO3 and SDS against A. niger were determined. Five different randomization experiments were conducted instead of the full Plackett–Burman design. During the ghost preparation steps, the released Protein and DNA were measured spectrophotometrically at 280nm and 260nm, respectively. The quality of the prepared ghost cells were evaluated during the preparation steps using light microscope. Transmission electron microscope was used for evaluating the final steps. Protein and DNA electrophoresis were conducted to evaluate the quality of the released protein and DNA after each randomization experiment. The data obtained prove correct evacuation of the fungal cells from their cytoplasmic content during the successive steps. The study not only introduces a protocol for preparing ghost cells from Aspergillus niger but also enables the isolation of both of protein and DNA. The idea, the concept and the tools used in this study could establish a more sensitive method for protein and DNA isolation using any of four utilized chemical compounds. This proposes the same concept of enzyme-induced cell lysis which is based on minimizing the effect of used chemicals or enzymes. The study recommended extending the benefit of the sponge-like protocol from being a protocol for ghost cells preparation to DNA and protein isolation technique using the same concept.
Analyst Disagreement, Mispricing and Liquidity

This paper documents a close link between mispricing and liquidity by investigating stocks with high analyst disagreement. Previous research finds that these stocks tend to be overpriced, but that prices correct downwards as uncertainty about earnings is resolved. Our analysis suggests that one reason mispricing has persisted through the years is that analyst disagreement coincides with high trading costs. We also show that in the cross-section, the less liquid stocks tend to be more severely overpriced. Additionally, increases in aggregate market liquidity accelerate the convergence of prices to fundamentals. As a result, returns of the initially overpriced stocks are negatively correlated with the time series of innovations in aggregate market liquidity.
Human Centric Facial Expression Recognition

Facial expression recognition (FER) is an area of active research, both in computer science and in behavioural science. Across these domains there is evidence to suggest that humans and machines find it easier to recognise certain emotions, for example happiness, in comparison to others. Recent behavioural studies have explored human perceptions of emotion further, by evaluating the relative contribution of features in the face when evaluating human sensitivity to emotion. It has been identified that certain facial regions have more salient features for certain expressions of emotion, especially when emotions are subtle in nature. For example, it is easier to detect fearful expressions when the eyes are expressive. Using this observation as a starting point for analysis, we similarly examine the effectiveness with which knowledge of facial feature saliency may be integrated into current approaches to automated FER. Specifically, we compare and evaluate the accuracy of ‘full-face’ versus upper and lower facial area convolutional neural network (CNN) modelling for emotion recognition in static images, and propose a human centric CNN hierarchy which uses regional image inputs to leverage current understanding of how humans recognise emotions across the face. Evaluations using the CK+ dataset demonstrate that our hierarchy can enhance classification accuracy in comparison to individual CNN architectures, achieving overall true positive classification in 93.3% of cases.
Low Noise Amplifier for 2.45 GHz Frequency Band at 0.18 μm CMOS Technology for IEEE Standard 802.11 b/g WLAN

This paper presents the design of low noise amplifier (LNA) at 2.45 GHz and integrated at 0.18 µm RF CMOS process technology. This type of LNA at 2.45 GHz is use in the Bluetooth receiver. The proposed method is useful to optimize noise performance and power gain while maintaining good input and output matching. The amplifier is designed to be used as first stage of a receiver for wireless communication. The main aim of designer is to achieve low noise figure with improved gain with the help of CMOS technology by using single stage n-MOS amplifier. The simulation results show a forward gain of 14.0 dB, a noise-figure of 0.5 dB and stability factor is approximate unity, in which the circuit operates at 14.2 mA drain current with supply voltage of 3.5 V and biasing voltage of 1.5 V.
Audit Tenure: An Assessment of its Effects on Audit Quality in Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the tenure of auditor and audit quality in Nigeria. The Binary Logit Model estimation technique was use to analyze the relationship between the tenure of an auditor and audit quality. Further research should consider other vital variables that affect audit quality such as non-audit services. Findings reveal that there is a negative relationship between auditor tenure and audit quality though the variable was not significant. The recommendation is that there is the need for the financial reporting council and other regulatory bodies in line with best practices to look critically into the issue of auditor tenure and its impact on audit quality in Nigeria.
Effects of Sex and Market Weight on Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Pork Quality of Market Hogs

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of sex and market weight on performance, carcass characteristics and pork quality. A total of 224 crossbred pigs (initially 26.64 kg BW) were allotted in a 2×4 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The variables were sex (gilts and barrows) and different market weights (100, 110, 120 and 130 kg). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were significantly higher (p<0.01) in barrows than gilts, ADFI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased as body weight increased (p<0.05). Gender differences were observed in carcass characteristics. Backfat thickness and drip loss were greater in barrows (p<0.01), while loin eye area (p<0.01), flavor score (p<0.05) and lean content (p<0.001) were higher in gilts. Carcass grade and water holding capacity were the highest in 110 kg market weight pigs. The 100 kg market weight pigs showed lower juiciness, tenderness, shear forces and total palatability than the other market weights (p<0.01). Hunter values (L*, a* and b*) were increased as market weight increased (p<0.05). Hunter a* value was greater in gilts (p<0.01) but L* value and b* value were not affected by sex of pigs. Net profit ((carcass weight×price by carcass grade)-(total feed cost+cost of purchased pig)) was higher in gilts than barrows (p<0.01), and was higher (p<0.05) in the pigs marketed at 110 and 120 kg market weight compared with 100 kg market weight. These results demonstrated that gilts showed higher carcass characteristics, pork quality, feed cost per kg body weight gain and net profit compared with barrows. Moreover, 110 or 120 kg body weight would be the recommended market weight based on pork quality and net profit for swine producers. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 10 : 1452-1458)
Evryscope Science: Exploring the Potential of All-Sky Gigapixel-Scale Telescopes

Low-cost mass-produced sensors and optics have recently made it feasible to build telescope arrays which observe the entire accessible sky simultaneously. In this article, we discuss the scientific motivation for these telescopes, including exoplanets, stellar variability, and extragalactic transients. To provide a concrete example we detail the goals and expectations for the Evryscope, an under-construction 780 MPix telescope which covers 8660 sq. deg. in each 2-minute exposure; each night, 18,400 sq. deg. will be continuously observed for an average of ≈6 hr. Despite its small 61 mm aperture, the system’s large field of view provides an étendue which is ∼10% of LSST. The Evryscope, which places 27 separate individual telescopes into a common mount which tracks the entire accessible sky with only one moving part, will return 1%-precision, many-year-length, high-cadence light curves for every accessible star brighter than ∼16th magnitude. The camera readout times are short enough to provide near-continuous observing, with a 97% survey time efficiency. The array telescope will be capable of detecting transiting exoplanets around every solar-type star brighter than mV = 12, providing at least few-millimagnitude photometric precision in long-term light curves. It will be capable of searching for transiting giant planets around the brightest and most nearby stars, where the planets are much easier to characterize; it will also search for small planets nearby M-dwarfs, for planetary occultations of white dwarfs, and will perform comprehensive nearby microlensing and eclipse-timing searches for exoplanets inaccessible to other planet-finding methods. The Evryscope will also provide comprehensive monitoring of outbursting young stars, white dwarf activity, and stellar activity of all types, along with finding a large sample of very-long-period M-dwarf eclipsing binaries. When relatively rare transients events occur, such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), nearby supernovae, or even gravitational wave detections from the Advanced LIGO/Virgo network, the array will return minute-by-minute light curves without needing pointing toward the event as it occurs. By coadding images, the system will reach V ∼ 19 in 1-hr integrations, enabling the monitoring of faint objects. Finally, by recording all data, the Evryscope will be able to provide pre-event imaging at 2-minute cadence for bright transients and variable objects, enabling the first high-cadence searches for optical variability before, during and after all-sky events.
Investigating the Use of TUIs and GUIs for 6- to 7-Year-Old Programming Learning

There is persistent interest in tangible approaches to supporting young children’s learning of programming, but there has been mixed evidence about its benefits, and few studies have investigated the specific features that offer learning benefits in classroom contexts. This research will involve the use of programming blocks that can be instantiated in two contrasting types of interface: a tangible user interface (TUI) and a graphical user interface (GUI). The system will be designed to minimize extraneous differences between the two interfaces in order to isolate the variables of interest. Using a between-subjects design, the study will investigate the impact of interface type on learning and on attitudinal outcomes for children aged 6 to 7. From an embodied interaction perspective, the study will analyse the cognitive advantages of each interface, including identifying how and why each interface type might affect learning outcomes. The study will also investigate children’s spontaneous gestures as indicators of understanding. Finally, the research will explore the relationships between interface types, attitudes towards computing, engagement and gender.
Variations of Terrestrial Net Primary Productivity in East Asia

Due to the heterogeneity and complexity of terrestrial ecosystems of East Asia, a better understanding of relationships between climate change and net primary productivity (NPP) distribution is important to predict future carbon dynamics. The objective of this study is to analyze the temporal-spatial patterns of NPP in East Asia (10°S - 55°N, 60 - 155°E) from 1982 to 2006 using the process-based Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS) model. Prior to the regional simulation, the annual simulated NPP was validated using field observed NPP demonstrating the ability of BEPS to simulate NPP in different ecosystems of East Asia.Simulated NPP exhibited a southeast-northwest decreasing distribution, above 1000 g C m^(-2) yr^ (-1) in most areas of Southeast Asia and below 50 g C m^(-2) yr^-(1) in northwestern China. The annual total of simulated NPP was 11.27 Pg C yr^(-1) (~18.78% of the global total) averaged over 25 years from 1982 to 2006. Total NPP increased by 7.33%, mainly in the northwestern part of the study area. The change of NPP was determined by precipitation in northern and southwestern regions, vapor pressure deficit and precipitation in North and Northeast Plains of China, radiation in South China, and temperature on the Tibetan Plateau. Climate was the main factor regulating the NPP trends in the interior and northern parts of the study area while the change in leaf area index was the factor dominating the trends of NPP in the eastern part of the study area.
Increasing Entanglement by Separable Operations and New Monotones for W-type Entanglement

The class of local operations and classical communication (LOCC) pertains to an important measurement scenario in many quantum communication schemes. While LOCC belongs to the more general class of separable operations (SEP), the exact difference between the two remains a challenging open problem. In this article, we seek to better understand the structure of LOCC and its relationship to SEP by comparing their respective abilities for distilling EPR entanglement from one copy of an $N$-qubit W-class state (i.e. that of the form $\sqrt{x_0}\ket{00.0}+\sqrt{x_1}\ket{10.0}+.+\sqrt{x_n}\ket{00.1}$). In terms of transformation success probability, we are able to quantify a gap as large as 37% between the two classes. Our work involves constructing new analytic entanglement monotones for W-class states which can increase on average by separable operations. Additionally, we are able to show that the set of LOCC operations, considered as a subset of the most general quantum measurements, is not closed.
Morphology of Human Glioblastoma Model Cultured in Ovo

Abstract The aim of this study was the morphological characterisation of glioblastoma multiforme tumour grown in ovo. Tumour cells (U-87 MG) were implanted on the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken egg. The structural features of cultured tumours resembled the spontaneous glioblastoma multiforme; however, the differences were also indicated. Our results confirm applicability of in ovo culture in tumour genesis studies. The described novel model may be profoundly helpful for the future research on molecular mechanisms of tumour growth inhibition.
Trubs, but no trianas: filled and empty regions of angiosperm stem length-diameter-mechanics space

Discrete plant habit categories such as ‘tree’, ‘shrub’, and ‘liana’ belie continuous variation in nature. To study the evolution of this continuous variation, we gathered data on stem length, diameter and tissue mechanical stiffness across a highly morphologically diverse highland xerophytic scrub on a lava flow in central Mexico. With stem allometric and mechanical data from 1216 segments from 50 species, we examined relationships between stem length–diameter proportions and tissue mechanical stiffness using linear mixed-effects models. Rather than a series of discrete clouds in stem length–diameter–tissue stiffness space, corresponding to traditional habit categories, the plants of this xerophytic scrub formed a single continuous one. Within this cloud, self-supporting plants had stems that became predictably longer and tissues that became stiffer for a given diameter increase, and there was no paucity of intermediates between trees and shrubs (‘trubs’). Non self-supporting plants had a steeper stem length–diameter slope and their tissues did not increase in stiffness with stem size. The area between self- and non self-supporting plants was sparsely occupied as stem size increased. We predict that this ‘empty’ space between lianas and trees is developmentally accessible but of low fitness, meaning that there should be few ‘trianas’ in nature. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179, 361–373.
Influence of Participatory Instructional Method on Pupils Performance in Science in Mbeere South Sub-County

In Kenya, and specifically to primary schools in Mbeere South, Performance in Science has showed persistent stagnation where the KCPE results over staggered years, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 stagnated at around 50% mark. Such a poor trend needs a systematic investigation. Therefore, this research proposed to assess the Influence of Participatory Instructional Method on Pupils Performance in Science in Mbeere South Sub-County. The study was based on the Constructivism and the Pedagogical content theories that both explain learning of science. Mixed research methodologies were used to conduct the study in which both qualitative and quantitative data was collected. The study adopted a concurrent triangulation research design that involved the concurrent, but separate, collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. The target population comprised of 1083 respondents comprised of 1080 Science teachers in primary schools within Mbeere South Sub-County, 2 quality assurance officers and 1 subcounty director of the teachers service commission. The sample size was 219 respondents which was arrived at through two stage geographic clustered sampling, simple random sampling and purposive sampling. To determine the sample size of teachers, 20% was sampled guided by postulations from guided by Gay (1976) while the others were arrived at purposively. The research instruments were a structured questionnaire, an observation schedule and a key informant interview schedule guide. Descriptive and inferential data analysis was done on quantitative data by help of computer software, the Statistics Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 22, and presented in frequency tables and co-efficient correlation respectively while thematic analysis was done on qualitative data and presented in narrative forms. The study revealed Participatory instructional method has the highest influence on pupils’ performance in science. The study recommends that teachers should embrace learning experiences that promote pupils learning skills in science such as analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluation science knowledge. Government should hire more science teachers and increase funding for purchase of materials in order to boost the ability of schools to teach their pupils using participatory method. Implementing recommendations of this study would help teachers’ and education policy makers improve performance in science subjects in the Sub-County.
Effects of tree species, stand age and land-use change on soil carbon and nitrogen stock rates in northwestern Turkey

Abstract: Effects of tree species, stand age and land-use change on soil carbon and nitrogen stock rates were investigated in the northwest of Turkey using 4 common tree species as black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and Uludag fir (Abies nordmanniana ssp. bornmuelleriana). Three tree species (black pine, Scots pine and Oriental beech) were used to investigate the differences in soil C and N among tree species. Old and young Uludag fir stands and adjacent grassland were used to study the differences in soil C and N with stand age and land-use change. Mineral soil samples were taken from 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depths, and analyzed for pH, soil texture, bulk density, total soil carbon and total nitrogen. The total soil carbon and total nitrogen pools were then calculated by multiplying soil volume, soil bulk density, and the total soil carbon or total nitrogen content. Results showed significant differences in soil carbon and nitrogen contents, carbon/nitrogen ratios and stock rates among the three species, and between old and young fir stands and grassland. In general, when 0-20 cm soil depth was considered, mean soil carbon stock rate was the highest under black pine (79 Mg C ha-1) followed by Scots pine (73 Mg C ha-1) and beech (67 Mg C ha-1), whereas mean soil nitrogen stock rate was the highest under beech (9.57 Mg N ha-1) followed by Scots pine (5.77 Mg N ha-1) and black pine (4.20 Mg N ha-1). Young fir stands showed lower soil carbon stock, but higher soil nitrogen stock rates compared to old fir stands and grassland. Our results demonstrated that tree species, stand tree age and land-use change can have significant effects on soil carbon and nitrogen content and stocks rates. These findings can help to enhance forest management activities, such as selection of tree species for carbon sequestration in plantation systems, design of sustainable agroforestry systems, and improvement of biogeochemical models.
Brood sex ratio determination by flow cytometry in ants

Sex ratio variations during brood development have important implications for the study of sex allocation in haplodiploid insects. So far, few studies have addressed this question because of the difficulty to determine the sex of the brood. We used flow cytometry to differentiate haploid males from diploid females in the ant Linepithema humile. Our data show that flow cytometry can be used successfully to distinguish between male and female brood on the basis of their DNA content, from the very first larval stage. Moreover, we show that flow cytometry allows sex brood determination in other ant species, as well as in nonsocial Hymenoptera.
Aiding Decision Making to Reduce the Impacts of Climate Change

Utilizing theory and empirical insights from psychology and behavioural economics, this paper examines individuals’ cognitive and motivational barriers to adopting climate change adaptation and mitigation measures that increase consumer welfare. We explore various strategies that take into account the simplified decision-making processes used by individuals and resulting biases. We make these points by working through two examples: (1) investments in energy efficiency products and new technology and (2) adaptation measures to reduce property damage from future floods and hurricanes. In both cases there is a reluctance to undertake these measures due to high and certain upfront costs, delayed and probabilistic benefits, and behavioural biases related to this asymmetry. The use of choice architecture through framing and the use of default options coupled with short-term incentives and long-term contracts can encourage greater investment in these measures.