Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A projected primal-dual splitting for solving constrained monotone inclusions

In this paper we provide an algorithm for solving constrained composite primal-dual monotone inclusions, i.e., monotone inclusions in which a priori information on primal-dual solutions is represented via closed convex sets. The proposed algorithm incorporates a projection step onto the a priori information sets and generalizes the method proposed in [V\~u, B.C.: A splitting algorithm for dual monotone inclusions involving cocoercive operators. Adv. Comput. Math. 38, 667-681 (2013)]. Moreover, under the presence of strong monotonicity, we derive an accelerated scheme inspired on [Chambolle, A. ; Pock, T. : A first-order primal-dual algorithm for convex problems with applications to imaging. J. Math. Imaging Vis. 40, 120-145 (2011)] applied to the more general context of constrained monotone inclusions. In the particular case of convex optimization, our algorithm generalizes the methods proposed in [Condat, L. : A primal-dual splitting method for convex optimization involving lipschitzian, proximable and linear composite terms. J. Optim. Theory Appl. 158,460-479 (2013)] allowing a priori information on solutions and we provide an accelerated scheme under strong convexity. An application of our approach with a priori information is constrained convex optimization problems, in which available primal-dual methods impose constraints via Lagrange multiplier updates, usually leading to slow algorithms with unfeasible primal iterates. The proposed modification forces primal iterates to satisfy a selection of constraints onto which we can project, obtaining a faster method as numerical examples exhibit. The obtained results extend and improve several results in the literature.
THE ICE HOCKEY SLAP SHOT, ELITE VERSUS RECREATIONAL

Stationary ice hockey slap shots performed by five elite and five recreational players were compared. Each hockey player performed 5 shots. Three-dimensional kinematics of the stick and upper body were recorded using an electromagnetic tracking device, the Ultratrak®, (Polhemus Inc., Burlington, VT, USA). Joint centers were calculated using the sphere fitting method. Elite players shot significantly faster than recreational players (29.14 ± 1.39 m/s and 26.46 ± 0.66 m/s). Velocity due to translation movement was greater for recreational players compared to novice players (13.14 m/s and 908 m/s). Investigation in maximal angular velocities of the body movement sequences indicated that elite players' maximal velocities moved from the core to the extremities where as recreational players exhibited no such pattern. The results of this study suggested that there are differences in technique when performing the stationary slap shot which may contribute to the increased performance of the ice hockey slap shot.
Conditional CAPM Using Expected Returns of Brazilian Sustainability Companies

In the last decades, CAPM model has been of great interest in the scientific scene. Despite all the criticism, the improvement of the static CAPM, which has generated new dynamic models, provided investors with stronger guarantee through financial transactions. The CAPM and its static version were and are still very important in the financial scene. Nowadays, more sophisticated adaptations of the CAPM are found, which allow us to explain some matters in finance that had remained unqualified for a couple of time. Considering such discussion about the CAPM validity, this study aims to create a basis for reflection upon the conditional model, comparing it with the static one. In order to verify such facts, tests of conditional models are examined (with beta varying throughout the exercise), something uncommonly studied in the literature. Such tests are suitable to incorporate variances and covariance that change at long run. Methodological wise, the study tested the conditional CAPM model borrowing a leaf from Jagannathan and Wang using macroeconomics and financial variables from the Brazilian sustainability Companies. Based on our findings, there is evidence that the conditional CAPM of Jagannathan and Wang for the North American market is perfectly applicable to the Brazilian sustainability Companies.
Design of a monitoring network as a participative management tool: physical and chemical quality of groundwater in three sub-basins in the Central Valley of Costa Rica

espanolEl agua de los acuiferos Barva, Colima Superior y Colima Inferior, ubicados en el sector oeste del Valle Central de Costa Rica, representa la principal fuente de abastecimiento de agua potable en esta region. El proposito de este estudio fue disenar una red de monitoreo o vigilancia para la calidad del agua de estos acuiferos en las subcuencas de los rios Bermudez, Ciruelas y rio Segundo, asi como fomentar la participacion de actores sociales para el funcionamiento de cada red de vigilancia. De los sitios propuestos, cinco sobrepasaron, de dos a cuatro ocasiones, el Valor Alerta de 25 mg/l de nitratos como NO3-. Estos sitios, los cuales captaron agua del acuifero Barva, se encontraban en zonas donde predominaba el uso urbano y cultivos de cafe. Los lugares que captaron agua de este acuifero con las menores concentraciones, por debajo de los 2 mg/l, se encontraban en las zonas altas de las subcuencas, en donde predomina el bosque y los pastos, mientras que los que captaron agua de los Colima mostraron concentraciones por debajo de los 20 mg/l. Se recomienda la vigilancia semestral de al menos conductividad electrica, pH, temperatura, nitratos y cloruros. El funcionamiento de estas redes ofrece una oportunidad para la vigilancia de la calidad del agua subterranea por parte de actores clave en el nivel de cuenca, como uno de los primeros pasos en el desarrollo de un manejo sostenible de este recurso. EnglishThe groundwater of the Barva, Upper Colima, and Lower Colima aquifers, located in the western part of the Central Valley of Costa Rica represents the main source of drinking water in this region. The purpose of this study was to design a monitoring network to evaluate groundwater quality in these aquifers within the sub-basins of the Bermudez, Ciruelas and Rio Segundo rivers, and to encourage the participation of stakeholders. Five proposed sites exceeded, in between two and four occasions, the Alert Value of 25 mg/l nitrate as NO3-. These sites, which capture water from the Barva aquifer, were located in areas where urban use and coffee crops predominated. The sites that collected water from this aquifer with the lowest concentrations, below 2 mg/l, were found in the upper sub-basins, where forest and pastures predominate, while those that collected water from the Colima aquifers showed concentrations below 20 mg/l. At least semi-annual monitoring of electrical conductivity, pH, temperature, nitrates and chlorides is recommended. The operation of these networks provides an opportunity for monitoring groundwater quality by stakeholders at basin level as one of the first steps in developing sustainable management of this resource.
Recent Work Title Why Adopt Transparency ?

Recently, several central banks have abandoned the usual secrecy in monetary policy and become very transparent. This paper provides an explanation for this puzzling fact, focussing on the disclosure of central bank forecasts. It shows that transparency reduces the in ationary bias and gives the central bank greater exibility to respond to shocks in the economy. Furthermore, it makes it easier for a central bank to build reputation. To achieve these bene ts of transparency it is generally necessary to publish the conditional central bank forecasts for both in ation and output.
Teachers' Understanding of the Multi-Dimensions of Communicative Language Teaching: A Case Study of Thai Universities

This study explored teachers’ understanding of the multi-dimensions of communicative language teaching (CLT). A questionnaire was administered to 135 Thai EFL university lecturers; 83 completed questionnaires were returned. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three participants and one Thai expert in English as a foreign language. The findings revealed that the participants appeared to have a good understanding of CLT principles, although several construed the CLT ideology of choice and freedom as far-fetched. Although the participants realized that CLT is the way forward, strict adherence to CLT should be avoided. Moreover, cautious optimism is much needed, for local teaching and learning conditions must be considered. Finally, implications for further research revolving around CLT were provided—namely, an ethnographic study of CLT, students’ beliefs about the efficacy of CLT and critical discourse analysis concerning CLT.
A reference map of the human proinsulin biosynthetic interaction network

The beta-cell secretory protein synthetic machinery is dedicated to insulin production, and recent reports suggest that both proinsulin misfolding and accompanying beta-cell oxidative stress could be common features in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite the critical role of insulin in organismal homeostasis, the precise network of interactions from early proinsulin synthesis and folding in the ER, to its subsequent trafficking through the secretory pathway, remain poorly defined. In the present study we utilized a human proinsulin-specific monoclonal antibody for affinity purification mass spectrometry, to yield unbiased profiling of the proinsulin interactome in human islets. The data reveal that human proinsulin interacts with a network of ER folding factors (including chaperones: e.g. ERDJ5, ERDJ3, GRP94, and BiP; and oxidoreductases: e.g. QSOX1, DUOX2, and PRDX4) that are remarkably conserved across both genders and 3 ethnicities. Knockdown of one of the most prominent hits, peroxiredoxin-4 (PRDX4) in MIN6 beta-cells, rendered proinsulin more susceptible to misfolding. Additionally, oxidant exposure in human islets enhanced proinsulin:BiP interactions with augmented proinsulin misfolding. Finally, oxidant exposure in human islets also led to sulfonylation of PRDX4, a modification known to inactivate peroxiredoxins. Interestingly, we observed significantly higher levels of sulfonylated (inactive) PRDX4 in islets from patients with T2D compared to that of normal islets. Taken together, these data provide a detailed reference map of the human proinsulin interaction network and suggest critical unrecognized areas for study in insulin biosynthesis, beta cell function, and T2D.
Modelling Inflation Uncertainty with Structural Breaks Case of Turkey ( 1994 – 2013 )

In recent years, the importance attached to the concept of volatility has increased and become a phenomenon frequently encountered in every field ranging from financial markets to macroeconomic indicators. In this study, inflation data obtained from CPI index for the period of 1994:01–2013:12 in Turkey was used to determine the best representative of the inflation uncertainty. To realize this, both symmetric and asymmetric GARCH-type models were employed. Since there are many factors that may lead to structural change within the economic course of Turkey, a structural break in the series has first been investigated. By administering Bai-Perron structural break test, two different break points both in mean and variance have been detected to be in February 2002 and in June 2001, respectively. The inclusion of those break points to the related equations, appropriate forecasting models were projected. Moreover it was found that, while in the periods prior to the break in both variance and mean the inflation itself was the reason for inflation uncertainty, following the dates of the break, the relationship changed bidirectionally. In the meantime, when the series was taken as a whole without considering the break, bidirectional causality relationship was also detected in the series.
Muscular Adaptations to Whole Body Blood Flow Restriction Training and Detraining

Resistance training with blood flow restriction is typically performed during single exercises for the lower- or upper-body, which may not replicate real world programming. The present study examined the change in muscle strength and mass in a young healthy population during an 8-week whole body resistance training program, as well as monitoring these adaptations following a 4-week detraining period. Thirty-nine participants (27 males, 12 females) were allocated into four groups: blood flow restriction training (BFR-T); moderate-heavy load training (HL-T), light-load training (LL-T) or a non-exercise control (CON). Testing measurements were taken at Baseline, during mid-point of training (week 4), end of training (week 8) and following four weeks of detraining (week 12) and included anthropometrics, body composition, muscle thickness (MTH) at seven sites, and maximal dynamic strength (1RM) for six resistance exercises. Whole body resistance training with BFR significantly improved lower- and upper-body strength (overall; 11% increase in total tonnage), however, this was similar to LL-T (12%), but both groups were lower in comparison with HL-T (21%) and all groups greater than CON. Some markers of body composition (e.g., lean mass) and MTH significantly increased over the course of the 8-week training period, but these were similar across all groups. Following detraining, whole body strength remained significantly elevated for both BFR-T (6%) and HL-T (14%), but only the HL-T group remained higher than all other groups. Overall, whole body resistance training with blood flow restriction was shown to be an effective training mode to increase muscular strength and mass. However, traditional moderate-heavy load resistance training resulted in greater adaptations in muscle strength and mass as well as higher levels of strength maintenance following detraining.
Evolved differences in cis and trans regulation between the maternal and zygotic mRNA complements in the Drosophila embryo

How gene expression can evolve depends on the mechanisms driving gene expression. Gene expression is controlled in different ways in different developmental stages; here we ask whether different developmental stages show different patterns of regulatory evolution. To explore the mode of regulatory evolution, we used the early stages of embryonic development controlled by two different genomes, that of the mother and that of the zygote. During embryogenesis in all animals, initial developmental processes are driven entirely by maternally provided gene products deposited into the oocyte. The zygotic genome is activated later, when developmental control is handed off from maternal gene products to the zygote during the maternal-to-zygotic transition. Using hybrid crosses between sister species of Drosophila (D. simulans, D. sechellia, and D. mauritiana) and transcriptomics, we find that the regulation of maternal transcript deposition and zygotic transcription evolve through different mechanisms. We find that patterns of transcript level inheritance in hybrids, relative to parental species, differ between maternal and zygotic transcripts, and maternal transcript levels are more likely to be conserved. Changes in transcript levels occur predominantly through differences in trans regulation for maternal genes, while changes in zygotic transcription occur through a combination of both cis and trans regulatory changes. Differences in the underlying regulatory landscape in the mother and the zygote are likely the primary determinants for how maternal and zygotic transcripts evolve.
Poincaré inequalities and dimension free concentration of measure

In this paper, we consider Poincare inequalities for non euclidean metrics on $\mathbb{R}^d$. These inequalities enable us to derive precise dimension free concentration inequalities for product measures. This technique is appropriate for a large scope of concentration rate: between exponential and gaussian and beyond. We give different equivalent functional forms of these Poincare type inequalities in terms of transportation-cost inequalities and infimum convolution inequalities. Workable sufficient conditions are given and a comparison is made with generalized Beckner-Latala-Oleszkiewicz inequalities.
Sampling frequency to estimate cumulative nitrous oxide emissions from the soil

Abstract: The objective of this work was to assess the influence of gas sampling frequency on the cumulative emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the soil. Gas emissions were assessed over a period of two years (2014-2016), in four systems: eucalyptus forestry, crops, pasture, and native forest. The cumulative emissions of N2O were calculated at sampling intervals of 7, 14, and 21 days. The sampling intervals did not influence the final results of cumulative N2O emissions from the soil in the assessed systems.
Interaction of Point Defects with Impurities in the Si-SiO2 System and its Influence on the Interface Properties

The results of an investigation of the point defects (PD) generation, redistribution and interaction with impurities in the Si-SiO2 system during the process of its formation in use of of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra are presented. The type and density of the point defects that are generated in the Si surface layer during thermal oxidation depend on the oxidation conditions: temperature, cooling rate, oxidation time and impurity content. The difference between interface properties of n- and p-type wafers could be related to different Fermi level position at the interface and to different PD densities in volume.
Does partial concealment influence predation attempts on small model snakes in South Africa?

ABSTRACT Predation risk may be high in small snakes and most small snakes are thought to avoid certain behaviours, such as basking in open areas to reduce predation risk. The extent to which this concealment limits predation during basking is not known, but available data suggests that such concealment may significantly reduce predation attempts. Using model snakes placed in the field, predation rates on small model snakes were tested, specifically whether attack rates differ between partially concealed model snakes and model snakes placed in open unconcealed positions. Results from the current study support previous studies that predation pressure was high (average = 22.15%), but was not significantly reduced by semi-sheltered basking. An important new finding of this study was the high number of model snakes that experience trampling by wild ungulates (average = 12.72%.) This suggests that snakes basking in open and sheltered areas are also at risk of being killed or injured through trampling by larger animals. This study makes an important contribution to understanding predation pressure in African snakes and highlights other threats that snakes are exposed to during basking and thermoregulation.
Strengthening Public Financial Management: Exploring Drivers and Effects

This paper explores two relationships, first between country characteristics and the quality of public financial management ('drivers'), and second between the quality of public financial management systems and expected outcomes ('effects'). On the influence of country characteristics, the paper investigates economic factors (income level, growth, and resource dependency), population size, levels and sources of revenue, and three macro-political characteristics -- political stability, regime type, and the presence of programmatic parties. These characteristics jointly explain about 40 percent of the variation in the quality of public financial management across countries. Furthermore, first-difference analysis suggests that countries with lower initial public financial management quality improve at a higher rate over time. This implies that structural factors set the scene for the likelihood of better or worse performance, but also that there is substantial variation among countries sharing certain characteristics and reform opportunities exist even in unfavorable environments. Methodologically, a key limitation is that the direction of causality cannot be fully addressed with the types of data available. On the effects of the performance of public financial management, the paper finds evidence that stronger performance results in better budget credibility, but not in lower deficits. Furthermore, there is no clear evidence regarding operational efficiency. The observed disconnect could be caused by missing complementary state capacities, measurement problems, or other issues, which need to be explored further. Overall, the findings are consistent with the assumption that stakeholder incentives and constellations matter and that reform approaches combining good technical calibration and political economy considerations are likely to influence success in strengthening public financial management.
Survey of Main Mites and Insect Species Associated with Stored Maize in Giza Governorate

Various mite species such as predators, fungivores and parasites associated with insect species inhabiting stored maize grains were surveyed from 14 untreated stores maize located from different sites at Giza governorate during the two successive years 2016 and 2017. These mites feed on stored materials, fungus or being predators or parasites of store maize insects, so that they considered to be one of the most biological control agent for their associated insect and mite pests. Twenty one mite species belong to ten families and 14 genera in four suborders were collected. Suborder Astigmata contains eight different species belonging to four genera in two families, suborder Prostigmata represented by six different species belonging to four genera in four families. In addition, six different species belonging to five genera in three different families in suborder Mesostigmata. Finally, suborder Cryptostigmata had one family Orbatulidae included one species. While the insects were recorded five families with six species in order Coleoptera.
Experimental Economics: Economic and Game Theoretic Principles in Experimental Research in the Social Sciences

Understanding individual and social decisions and how they are affected by the environment andinstitutional constraints is at the heart of the social sciences. With the exception ofpsychology, traditionally in the social sciences empirical evidence is gathered via happenstancedata. Such data are plagued with endogeneity problems and unobserved variables which make itdifficult to draw causal inferences and reliably test theories. In the last thirty yearslaboratory experiments are increasingly adopted, especially in economics. Experimental economicsresearch is often based on formal economic or game theoretical models with clear-cut rules whichallow unambiguous inferences from changes in environmental variables. This model-based approach istightly linked to two principles of experimental economics: the use of task related (monetary)incentives and the proscription of deception. Experimental economics plays an important role intheory and model falsification as well as in digging up behavioral regularities in individual andinteractive decision making. Research in experimental economics was instrumental in thedevelopment of new models of other-regarding preferences, boundedly rational reasoning, adaptivelearning, and â€˜noisyâ€™ equilibrium models. The toolbox of economics experiments informs research indecision neuroscience and is also applied in many other fields of the social sciences.Undoubtedly, experimental economics will continue to challenge newly emerging models and suggestnew theories of human behavior and keep on to significantly contribute to knowledge in the socialsciences.