Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Graphene modified electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous membranes for glucose oxidase immobilization

In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/Glucose oxidase (GOx)/graphene biocomposite membranes were pre- pared using an electrospinning technique and used for enzyme immobilization. The PVA/GOx/graphene membrane's mor- phology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while its electrochemical sensitivity was studied by chronoamperometry. Kinetic parameters were determined to clarify the role of graphene in enzyme immobilization, while a spectrophotometric assay was used to quantify the active enzyme. The results indicated that the presence of graphene helps to stabilize the enzyme's conformation, facilitate the catalytic reaction, and increase the survivability of the enzyme.
DETERMINANTS OF EFFECTIVE TAX RATES OF CHINA PUBLICLY

This research studied cash effective income tax rate (cash ETR), GAAP effective income tax rate (GAAP ETR), and sales tax and addition effective tax rate (STA ETR) for China publicly listed companies. The data is from 2007-2011. The mean for cash ETR, GAAP ETR, and STA ETR are 23.07%, 19.98%, and 5.29%, respectively. We do not document any influence of the big four auditors on ETRs in all categories. We also do not document any influence of international ownership on ETRs in all categories. Industry, asset mix, leverage, size, and state ownership are factors that affect ETRs.
Eigenvalues of Differential Operators and Nontrivial Zeros of L-functions

Eigenvalues of Differential Operators and Nontrivial Zeros of L-functions Dongsheng Wu Department of Mathematics, BYU Doctor of Philosophy The Hilbert-Pólya conjecture asserts that the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function ζ(s) correspond (in a certain canonical way) to the eigenvalues of some positive operator. R. Meyer constructed a differential operator D− acting on a function space H and showed that the eigenvalues of the adjoint of D− are exactly the nontrivial zeros of ζ(s) with multiplicity correspondence. We follow Meyer’s construction with a slight modification. Specifically, we define two function spaces H∩ and H− on (0,∞) and characterize them via the Mellin transform. This allows us to show that ZH∩ ⊆ H− where Zf(x) = ∑∞ n=1 f(nx). Also, the differential operator D given by Df(x) = −xf ′(x) induces an operator D− on the quotient space H = H−/ZH∩. We show that the eigenvalues of D− on H are exactly the nontrivial zeros of ζ(s). Moreover, the geometric multiplicity of each eigenvalue is one and the algebraic multiplicity of each eigenvalue is its vanishing order as a nontrivial zero of ζ(s). We generalize our construction on the Riemann zeta function to some L-functions, including the Dirichlet L-functions and L-functions associated with newforms in Sk(Γ0(M)) with M ≥ 1 and k being a positive even integer. We give spectral interpretations for these L-functions in a similar fashion.
Social-Demographic Correlates and Physical Illness among Inpatients with Schizophrenia at Mathari Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

This was a cross sectional descriptive study carried out at Mathari Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. The objective was to describe the social-demographic characteristics and physical illness among inpatients with schizophrenia. A total of two hundred and twenty four patients (137 male and 87 female) were included in the study. Patients who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) were assessed using the Adult Personal Data Inventory. Physical complaints were noted and previous medical history was obtained from the case notes. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square tests. Most of the patients were young (mean age = 34.62, s.d. = 11.5), came from low socio-economic background and previously worked as unskilled labourers or were unemployed. Thirty-four (15.2%) of the patients had a medical diagnosis. Of these 18 (53%) had an infective condition. Respiratory infection especially pulmonary tuberculosis was commonly encountered. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection was also common. The females had a higher percentage of physical morbidity 19.5% compared to the males 12.4%. History of suicide attempt was recorded in 33 (14.7%) of the patients. the patients with schizophrenia seen at Mathari hospital are young and socio-economically disadvantaged. A significant proportion (15.2%) of the patients has medical conditions that are treatable. These factors should be taken into account when planning treatment and rehabilitation services for the patients.
Fuzzy Logic for Measuring Information Retrieval Effectiveness

We present a new fuzzy extension of the classical effectiveness measures of infonnation retrieval by a new way to calculate the relative cardinality of a fuzzy set. Previous approaches using Zadeh's cardinality are compared to our new approach in an experimental stage. The experiments have been carried out with a genetic algorithm where the fitness function to optimize is a combination of the fuzzy recall and fuzzy precision measures, Results included at the end of the paper show the goodness of our proposal.
A Unifying Model of Document Relatedness for Hybrid Search Engines

Previous work on search-engine design has indicated that infannation-seekers may benefit from being given the opportunity to exploit multiple sources of evidence of document relatedness. Few existing systems, however, give users more than minimal control over the selections that may be made among methods of exploitation. By applying the methods of "document network analysis" (DNA), a unifying, graph-theoretic model of content-, collaboration-, and context-based systems (CCe) may be developed in which the nature of the similarities between types of document relatedness and document ranking are clarified. The usefulness of the approach to system design suggested by this model may be tested by constructing and evaluating a prototype system (UeXtra) that allows searchers to maintain control over the multiple ways in which document collections may be ranked and re-ranked, 1. Document Network Analysis, Graph Theory, and Matrix Algebra Within the broad discipline of infonnation studies, it is becoming increasingly useful to delineate and refer to a particular confluence of research questions by applying a new, encompassing label: document network analysis. The subfield denoted by this tenn may be conceived as originating at the intersection of four existing specializations: (a) infonnation retrieval (IR) systems analysis and design, (b) bibliographic (library) classification, a.k. a. knowledge organization, (c) hypertext, and (d) bibliometrics. A central, common assumption made by scholars working in each of these areas is that the primary objects of study documents in which human thought is recorded, and through which representations such thought is communicated are objects that are created, organized, transferred, and used on a mutually dependent basis. No individual document exists independently of all others; every document is related to every other, in various ways, and to extents that vary both with time and with the identity of the observer. The universe of documents may be viewed as a vast, dynamic network in which individual documents are situated with regard to one another through specification of the relationships that are perceived to exist among them at given times. In summary, the identity and unity of document network analysis are derivative of the following shared viewpoints of its practitioners: (a) an epistemological stance that accepts the reality of causal connection between structure and process, and a corresponding conviction that theory about the latter may be tested by examination of the fonner; (b) an ontological perspective that privileges the relational properties of objects; and (c) a methodological preference for mathematical methods of structural analysis. Models of document networks typically make use of concepts drawn from the branch of mathematics known as graph theory (Harary, Nonnan, & Cartwright, 1965), which may be used to model any structure consisting of a set of objects
THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF KNOWN ANTIFOLATE DRUGS AND SELECTED PLANT ISOLATES ON THE PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM DIHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Malaria is a major burden for the most resource-poor nations of the world. The goal of eradicating malaria, once thought to be possible, was abandoned decades ago, and the present goal of malaria control is instead first to retard the accelerating rates of disease and death caused by the world’s most important parasitic disease and then to “roll back malaria”. Resistance to antifolates occurred soon after their deployment as antimalarials. In malaria, this has been shown to be due to the evolutionary changes in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) which resulted into a decrease in binding strengths of the inhibitors. In this study, two groups of compounds were analyzed for their potency against Plasmodium falciparum DHFR. The first group is made up of a set of known antifolate drugs (Cycloguanil, Proguanil and Pyrimethamine) while the second group is made up of compounds isolated from plants with history of antimalaria activities (Gedunin, Lycorine and 1,2-di-O-acetyllycorine). The plant isolates were designed using the MarvinSketch software while the inhibitory effect of each experimental compounds against the Plasmodium falciparum DHFR were measured through a molecular docking approach, where the potency of a drug/compound is determined by their binding energy to the target enzyme. Binding energy predictions from the molecular docking study showed that the 3 plant isolates might be better antimalarial agents than the antifolate drugs when targeted at the Plasmodium falciparum DHFR. The laboratory synthesis and preclinical studies on these compounds are therefore recommended.
Rumen degradability of sago by-products and their potential use in ruminant diets

The objective of this study was to determine the degradability of young sago leaves (YSL), old sago leaves (OSL), young sago petiole (YSP), old sago petiole (OSP), young sago fronds (YSF), old sago fronds (OSF), sago palm pith (SPP), residued sago palm pith (RSPP), sago meal (SM) and ground corn (GC) using in situ technique. Three ruminally fistulated indigenous bulls with an average weight of 200+25 kg were used to determine in situ degradabilities of DM. Nine feed sources were weighted in nylon bags (45-μm pore size) and incubated ruminally for 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. The results showed that effective degradability (ED) of DM of feed sources ranked from the highest to the lowest; SM, SPP, RSPP, GC, OSL and OSP, respectively. (89.6, 62.2, 58.3, 56.3, 45.5 and 39.7, respectively). It was concluded that disappearance characteristic of SM was the highest and it may potentially facilitate the achievement of optimal ruminal availability of energy: protein especially with NPN for microbial protein synthesis.
Relationship between Self-esteem and Students’ Academic Performance based on gender in Secondary Schools in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-esteem and students’ academic performance based on gender in secondary schools in Tharaka -Nithi County, Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. A sample size of 302 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling technique. Purposive sampling was used to select the 12 heads of curriculum, 12 deputy head-teachers and 12 heads of guidance and counseling. Data was collected using questionnaires for students and interview schedules for head of counselling, heads of curriculum and deputy head teachers. Data was analyzed using descriptive (frequencies, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Chi-Square test and t-test). The findings established that there was no significant relationship between self-esteem and students’ academic performance based on gender (chi-square value13.92, df = 8, and Pvalue=0.084>0.05). This indicates that self-esteem does not significantly influence students’ academic performance among boys and girls in secondary schools. In view of the fact that boys’ performance is slightly higher than that of girls, more emphasis should be put towards improving the academic performance of the girls in secondary schools. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will inform policy makers, academician, students, teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders on the strategies that can be put in place to improve learners’ self-esteem which in turn would strengthen desirable academic performance of students in secondary schools in Kenya.
Influence of blanching on antioxidant, nutritional and physical properties of bamboo shoot

Quality of bamboo shoots gets deteriorate rapidly during storage and transportation due to enzymatic browning and microbial attack. Therefore, effect of blanching temperature (75, 85 and 95°C) and time (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min) on different physic-chemical properties of bamboo shoot cubes were assessed. Blanching time and temperature have significantly influenced the nutrients like protein, carbohydrate and reducing sugar contents. The highest changed in values of protein, carbohydrate and reducing sugar were reported from 3.42 to 2.24, 4.08 to 2.25, 1.33 to 0.87 g/ 100 g, respectively. The influence was less on ash and crude fiber. Retention of ascorbic acid, total phenolics and antioxidants were higher in 75°C and/or short time blanching (5- 10 min) which were gradually reduced at 85 and 95°C and/or long time blanching (20-30 min). The higher blanching temperature decreases in lightness value and long time blanching deteriorate the texture of bamboo shoot. Low temperature short time blanching was shown to result in better product quality with respect to physical properties besides nutrient retention. The Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol.10, No 3, September 2015, pp.140-150
Authorial Index Browsing in an XML Digital Library

In this paper, we present the CODEX project which aims at designing a system for ETDs access based on a XML architecture. XML offers a possible delivery fonnat for controlled vocabularies, It can also be used as an alternative to offer a single interface to the different controlled vocabularies and classification systems. We use these XML facilities to implement a system based on the authorial indexes as a browsing tool.
Identification of the Presence and Activity of the JAK-STAT Pathway in Canine Tumors

Academic) Background: The JAK-STAT pathway is a cellular signaling pathway, which acts normally in humans and animals in the control of multiple important functions. Dysregulation of this pathway has been identified in human cancers, as well as a limited number of veterinary cancers. Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify the presence and tentative activity of components of the JAK-STAT pathway in selected canine tumors. Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from mast cell tumors (MCT), hemangiosarcomas (HSA), thyroid carcinomas, and apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinomas (AGASACA) were obtained from the Diagnostic Histopathology Laboratory at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate protein levels of JAK1, phospho-JAK1, JAK2, phospho-JAK2, STAT3, and phospho-STAT3. Signalment, treatment information, and survival information was obtained from the medical record for each case. Results: Tumor samples were scored for percent positive neoplastic cells. Positive staining was seen for all antibodies in all tumor types, with expression of JAK1, STAT3, and pSTAT3 being highest overall for all tumor types. Significant associations were seen between JAK1 and survival time in MCT (p = 0.03), pJAK1 and survival time in HSA (p = 0.009) and MCT (p = 0.04), and pSTAT3 and metastasis in MCT (p = 0.0008). Conclusions: The finding of positive staining for the components of the JAK-STAT pathway in the tumor samples evaluated indicates presence and tentative activity of this pathway in the studied cancers. Further study of JAK1, pJAK1, and pSTAT3 should be pursued to evaluate their potential as therapeutic targets.
Growth and blossoming of Lilium under various organic fertilizers

The present research was conducted to mitigate the environmental contamination and with the aim of evaluating the possible impacts of the application of sugarcane bagasse sewage sludge-based compost (BSC), vermicompost, and fish compost on different aspects of physiology, growth, and development of Lilliumlongiflorum var Ceb-Dazzle. The bulbs were planted in four different prepared soil mixtures with two levels (0% or 10%) of organic fertilizers including vermicompost, BSC, and fish compost. In contrast to vermicompost, the application of fish fertilizer delayed the germination reactions. BSC and particularly vermicompost had desirable promoting effects on leaf and root system, as opposed to fish compost.Increased proline, soluble carbohydrate, K, and Ca contents were observed in vermicompost and BSC treated samples. In contrast to the fish compost, the application of BSC and especially vermicompost had an improving impact on the blossoming time, qualities of flowers, and the postharvest life of cut flowers. In comparison with fish compost and BSC, vermicompost was the most effective fertilizer to promote growth and development of Lilliumlongiflorum. According to the obtained results, it seems that the horticulture utilization of BSC at this level at least does not have detrimental impacts on plant growth,whereas the application of fish compost, especially the one originated from the sea, may result inundesirable inhibiting effects most probably due to the high electrical conductivity (EC) and toxic metals or products.
Modeling Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

The study of stochastic phenomena has increased dramatically and intensified research activity in this area has been stimulated by the need to take into account random effects in complicated dynamical systems. Dynamical systems are ubiquitous and are considered to be stochastic processes. In this study, a nonlinear dynamical system was modeled as a solution to an Ito stochastic differential equation ) ( ) ), ( ( ) ), ( ( ) ( t W t t x g t t t x f t X      . Where ) (t W denotes a Wiener or Brownian motion process while f and g are deterministic functions. The solution of the integral equation is a Lagenvin equation which is an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (O-U) process . Most real life situations involved modeling of physical processes that evolved with time. The understanding of physical processes that evolved with time is limited by the ability to model a dynamical system. The O-U process which is a Gaussian process was related to the world of time series analysis. The model was applied to Nigerian monetary exchange rate and compared with the existing models of monetary exchange rate. R package and the Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) were used to provide the model of best fit for the Nigerian monetary exchange rate as an autoregressive moving average of order one which is given to be . The results obtained revealed that the structural diffusion model approach gives a first-order autoregressive moving average process in continuous time with differentiation in continuous time corresponding to differencing in discrete time. The derived structural diffusion model has the least AIC value of 1482.61 as compared to the AIC value of 2198.86 from the existing diffusion and normal models. © 2016 Elixir All rights reserved. ARTICLE INFO Article h istory: Received: 19 April 2015; Received in revised form: 8 January 2016; Accepted: 13 January 2016;
Graphical Table of Contents (GTOC) for Library Collections: the Aplicaction of UDC Codes for the Subject Maps

: The representation of infonnation contents by graphical maps is an extended ongoing research topic. In this paper we introduce the application of UDC codes for the subject maps development. We use the following graphic representation methodologies: I) Multidimensional scaling (MDS), 2) Cluster analysis, 3) Neural networks (Self Organizing Map -SOM). Finally, we conclude about the application viability of every kind of map.
Challenging Top Level Aircraft Requirements based on operations analysis and data-driven models, ...

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Challenging Top Level Aircraft Requirements based on operations analysis and data-driven models, application to take-off performance design requirements Nicolas Peteilh, Thierry Klein, Thierry Druot, Nathalie Bartoli, Rhea Liem
Government Process Re-engineering of an E-governance Implementation for Motor Vehicle Registration in India

The study analyzes the performance of an e-governance implementation for motor vehicle registration in a state in India. Registration of new vehicles is a process which calls for detailed Government Process Reengineering study as the frequency of this process is very high, to the tune of several lakhs per year, and is increasing day by day. The objective of implementation of the e-governance project is to register a new vehicle in less than five days. However, data collection revealed that there are cases where the process took even more than twenty days, that too after the implementation of the electronic method for the same. Seven hypotheses have been stated and tested to reach a conclusion about the cases studied - whether the average time taken for registration crosses the target of five days, and also to test whether a difference exists between groups such as, transport and non-transport vehicles or between dealers. These are set as the objectives of this Government to Citizen (G2C) services. The study also comes up with a reengineered process, after eliminating non-value adding approvals and steps to minimize the delay in the process, thereby improving the overall productivity.
Role of Brand and Endorser Credibility in Brand Equity of Cell Phone in Pakistan

Ali Razaa, Muhammad Bilalb*, Muhammad Maroof Ajmalc, Saqib Jamild, Naveede, Waseemullahf, aSenior Teacher O Level, LACAS, Gujranwala Campus, Pakistan, b*BBA Faculty Member/Coordinator, Department of Business & Economics, FG Sir Syed College Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Corresponding Author, cAssistant Professor, University Institute of Management Sciences, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan, dAssistant Professor, Department of Management Sciences, University of Okara, Pakistan, eAssociate Professor, Department of Management Sciences, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan, fLecturer, Department of Management Sciences, University of Gujrat, Pakistan. Email: arao.ali. raza09@gmail.com, b*rao.muhammad. bilal@gmail.com, cdr.maroof@uaar.edu. pk, dsaqib.jamil@uo.edu. pk, enaveedtoru97@gmail.com, fwaseem.ullah@uog.edu. pk