Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Metalearning for Bagging Classifiers

Machine Learning (ML) has been successfully applied to a wide range of domains and applications. One of the techniques behind most of these successful applications is Ensemble Learning (EL), the field of ML that gave birth to supervised learning methods such as bagging, Random Forests or boosting. The level of expertise required to successfully apply ML techniques to business problems is often very high. This, together with the market scarcity on ML experts, has increased the need for systems that can accelerate and improve the learning process. In this thesis, we focus on how to use metalearning (MtL), the field of ML that studies how learning can be used to solve learning problems, to automate and improve the performance of bagging, one of the most popular EL algorithms. The scientific contributions of this thesis are split into two parts of this volume: Automated Machine Learning (autoML) in part II and Ensemble Learning in part III. In part II, we extend the state-of-the-art in metalearning and autoML with the following contributions: 1) a MtL framework for systematic generation of metafeatures and 2) an autoML system that combines MtL with a learning to rank approach to automatically generate a bagging ensemble. In part III, we make the following contributions: 1) a method that uses MtL to prune bagging ensembles by analysing the data characteristics of the bootstrap samples that are generated and 2) a MtL method to dynamically combine a subset of predictors from an ensemble according to the characteristics of a given test instance. In both parts, our contributions show that MtL can be an important component of the learning systems of the future. Some of the methods have been published in research papers and therefore, this thesis also serves as a compre-
A Lagrangian Perspective on Parameterizing Deep Convection

The parameterization of deep moist convection as a subgrid-scale process in numerical models of the atmosphere is required at resolutions that extend well into the convective “gray zone,” the range of grid spacings over which such convection is partially resolved. However, as model resolution approaches the gray zone, the assumptions upon which most existing convective parameterizations are based begin to break down. We focus here on one aspect of this problem that emerges as the temporal and spatial scales of the model become similar to those of deep convection itself. The common practice of static tendency application over a prescribed adjustment period leads to logical inconsistencies at resolutions approaching the gray zone, while more frequent refreshment of the convective calculations can lead to undesirable intermittent behavior. A proposed parcel-based treatment of convective initiation introduces memory into the system in a manner that is consistent with the underlying physical principles of convective triggering, thus reducing the prevalence of unrealistic gradients in convective activity in an operational model running with a 10 km grid spacing. The subsequent introduction of a framework that considers convective clouds as persistent objects, each possessing unique attributes that describe physically relevant cloud properties, appears to improve convective precipitation patterns by depicting realistic cloud memory, movement, and decay. Combined, this Lagrangian view of convection addresses one aspect of the convective gray zone problem and lays a foundation for more realistic treatments of the convective life cycle in parameterization schemes.
BOOTSTRAP PERCOLATION AND KINETICALLY CONSTRAINED MODELS IN HOMOGENEOUS AND RANDOM ENVIRONNEMENTS

This thesis concerns with Kinetically Constrained Models and Bootstrap Percolation, two topics in the intersection between probability, combinatorics and statistical mechanics. Kinetically constrained models were introduced by physicists in the 1980's to model the liquid-glass transition [26, 44], whose understanding is still one of the big open questions in condensed matter physics. They have been studied extensively in the physics literature in the hope to shed some light on this problem, and in the last decade they have also received an increasing attention in the probability community. We will see that even though they belong to the well established eld of interacting particle systems with stochastic dynamics, kinetically constrained models pose challenging and interesting problems requiring the development of new mathematical tools. Bootstrap percolation, on the other hand, is a class of monotone cellular automata, namely discrete in time and deterministic dynamics, the rst example being the r-neighbor bootstrap percolation introduced in 1979 [21]. Since then, the study of bootstrap percolation has been an active domain in both the combinatorial and probabilistic communities, with several breakthroughs in the recent years (see [15, 17] and references therein). Though introduced in di erent contexts, kinetically constrained models and the bootstrap percolation, as we will see, are intimately related; and one may think of bootstrap percolation as a deterministic counterpart of kinetically constrained models, and of kinetically constrained models as the natural stochastic version of bootstrap percolation. We will focus on the study of time scales for both models, motivated by the attempt to explain the fact that observed time scales in glassy materials are anomalously long.
Prevalence of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Risk Factors in an Urban Slum of Pune City, India -

Prevalence of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus found in present study was 4.6% with equal prevalence in both the sex. Higher prevalence of diabetes in males was found in the age group of >60 years while in females prevalence has occurred a decade earlier i.e. in 51-60 years. Abdominal obesity , family history of diabetes were found positively associated with diabetes while there was no significant association found between diabetes and physical activity.
Thermal-chemical instability of weakly ionized plasma in a reactive flow

The control of plasma instability of weakly ionized plasma in a reactive flow is of great importance in plasma-assisted combustion, catalysis, fuel reforming and material synthesis. In this work, we propose a new concept of plasma chemical instability and analyze the mechanisms and impact of plasma chemical instability on the transition from a uniform discharge to a contracted state of a self-sustained glow discharge in a reactive H2–O2–N2 mixture. A one-dimensional numerical model for plasma chemical instability was developed which accounted for convective heat loss, Joule heating of plasma, and major non-equilibrium plasma-assisted combustion kinetic pathways including electron-impact ionization, vibrational energy transfer, electron attachment, combustion reactions, and heat release. The results showed that plasma chemical instability significantly modified the onset plasma current of plasma thermal instability. Specifically, the critical condition of the instability transition was strongly influenced by electron-impact reactant ionization, electron attachment to oxygen, endothermic/exothermic chemical reactions, and the formation of reaction products.
Revisiting Sensitivity to Horizontal Grid Spacing in Convection-Allowing Models over the Central and Eastern United States

Hourly accumulated precipitation forecasts from deterministic convection-allowing numerical weather prediction models with 3- and 1-km horizontal grid spacing were evaluated over 497 forecasts between 2010 and 2017 over the central and eastern conterminous United States (CONUS). While precipitation biases varied geographically and seasonally, 1-km model climatologies of precipitation generally aligned better with those observed than 3-km climatologies. Additionally, during the cool season and spring, when large-scale forcing was strong and precipitation entities were large, 1-km forecasts were more skillful than 3-km forecasts, particularly over southern portions of the CONUS where instability was greatest. Conversely, during summertime, when synoptic-scale forcing was weak and precipitation entities were small, 3- and 1-km forecasts had similar skill. These collective results differ substantially from previous work finding 4-km forecasts had comparable springtime precipitation forecast skill as 1- or 2-km forecasts over the central–eastern CONUS. Additional analyses and experiments suggest the greater benefits of 1-km forecasts documented here could be related to higher-quality initial conditions than in prior studies. However, further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Metal-Insulator Transition Property of HF-Doped VO2(M1) Films and its Application for Reconfigurable Silicon Photonic Device

In this work, we report a novel phase change material: Hf-doped VO2(M1) with negligible thermal hysteresis width for low-power silicon photonic reconfigurable device applications. As dopant concentration rises from 0% to 3%, the material maintains the metal-insulator transition (MIT) property of VO2(M1) thin films, and the thermal hysteresis width significantly narrows from 7◦C to < 1◦C, leading to a good control of material electrical and optical constants as a function of temperature. A ring resonator with Hf-doped VO2(M1) material partly deposited on the ring has been fabricated. Temperature dependent transmission spectrum of the device has been tested, which shows resonant peak shift due to the phase transition of Hf doped VO2(M1). Doping Hf makes this material become a promising candidate for a variety of silicon integrated reconfigurable photonic devices.
The Generation and Evolution of a Diffuse Nanosecond Pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Airflow

Atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with airflow participation has been widely used in recent years. In this experimental study, a diffuse DBD excited by repetitive nanosecond pulses is achieved in airflow. Upon the introduction of airflow to the gas gap, the discharge state transforms from a filamentary one into a diffuse one at first, followed by the generation of a thin filamentary discharge (TFD) at a high airflow rate. It is observed that the diffuse discharge (DD) and the TFD are ignited from the electrode boundary, which subsequently move toward the downstream region with a velocity below the corresponding airflow rate. Subsequent to hundreds of pulse cycles, a stationary discharge state is formed with the TFD in the upstream region and the DD in the downstream region. The length of the TFD region is associated with the airflow rate, the pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and the applied voltage. The observations presented above are ascribed to the transverse electric field at the electrode boundary and the redistribution of charges under the action of airflow.
Janus face of the academic profession: between teachers and researchers

Istraživanja akademske profesije (Pedro, 2009 ; Scott, 2009 ; Cummings, 2008 ; Kogan i Teichler, 2007 ; Altbach, 2006 ; 2000a ; Kovac, Ledic, Rafajac, 2002 ; Honan, Teferra, 2001 ; Enders, 1999) ukazuju na prisutnost nekoliko povezanih procesa: porast važnosti znanja, omasovljavanje visokog obrazovanja, promjene u financiranju i nacinu upravljanja te razvoj informacijsko- komunikacijske tehnologije. Spomenuti su procesi utjecali i na percpeciju tradicionalnih uloga akademske profesije - poucavanja i istraživanja te akademske slobode. Rasprave o zajednistvu i/ili odvojenosti poucavanja i istraživanja prisutne su u radovima brojnih autora (Ramsden i Moses, 1992 ; Brew i Boud, 1995 ; Enders i Teichler, 1997 ; Jenkins, 2000 ; Griffiths, 2004 ; Hughes, 2004 ; Bilic, 2009 ; Jakovljevic, 2010). Humboldtov je model uveo nacelo zajednistva poucavanja i istraživanja te na taj nacin ukazao na važnost izvornosti znanstvenog rada i diseminacije znanja koje iz njega proizlazi. Na važnost sinergije poucavanja i istraživanja ukazuje i obrazovna politika Europske unije, kada Berlinskim priopcenjem (2003) uvodi zahtjev za promocijom bolje povezanosti između europskog obrazovnog i istraživackog prostor. Međutim, unutar akademske zajednice vidljivo je postojanje razlicitih struja, one koja podupire zajednistvo ovih dviju djelatnosti (Neumann, 1993 ; Brew i Boud, 1995 ; Jenkins, 2000) te onih koje zagovaraju njihovu međusobnu nezavisnost (Ramsden i Moses, 1992 ; Hattie i Marsh, 1996). Ovo kvalitativno istraživanje fokusiralo se na percepciju akademskih djelatnika o njihovoj dominantnoj ulozi, nastavnickoj i/ili istraživackoj. Cilj je istraživanja bio ispitati percepciju akademskih djelatnika u Hrvatskoj o dihotomiji nastavnik/istraživac te utvrditi postoje li razlike s obzirom na definirane nezavisne varijable (sveuciliste, znanstveno podrucje, znanstveno-nastavno zvanje, spol). Empirijski podaci prikupljeni su intervjuiranjem i primjenom protokola intervjua. Istraživanje se provelo u okviru međunarodnog kolaborativnog projekta "The Academic Profession in Europe: Responses to Societal Challenges (EUROAC)". Rezultati su pokazali da se percepcije ispitanika mogu podijeliti u tri osnovne kategorije: 1) nastavnik, 2) istraživac te 3) podjednako nastavnik i istraživac. Iako je vidljiva neznatna dominacija uloge nastavnika, vise od 50% ispitanika percipira zajednicku ulogu nastavnika i istraživaca. Najmanji broj ispitanika percipira ulogu istraživaca. Kvalitativna analiza ukazala je na neke od razloga zasto se akademski djelatnici dominantno percipiraju kao nastavnici te na taj nacin zapostavljaju zajednicku nastavnu i istraživacku ulogu. Iako je moguce naslutiti pozitivne stavove i preferencije akademskih djelatnika spram zajednistva nastave i istraživanja, ispitanici ukazuju kako pravni, materijalni, kadrovski i administrativni problemi u sustavu visokog obrazovanja omogucavaju blagu dominantnost nastave. Upozoravaju kako bi nastavak ovakvog trenda mogao imati dalekosežne posljedice na akademsku profesiju te na sustav visokog obrazovanja u Hrvatskoj.
Generalized Approximate Message Passing for Massive MIMO mmWave Channel Estimation With Laplacian Prior

This paper tackles the problem of millimeter-wave (mmWave) channel estimation in massive MIMO communication systems. A new Bayes-optimal channel estimator is derived using recent advances in the approximate belief propagation Bayesian inference paradigm. By leveraging the inherent sparsity of the mmWave MIMO channel in the angular domain, we recast the underlying channel estimation problem into that of reconstructing a compressible signal from a set of noisy linear measurements. Then, the generalized approximate message passing (GAMP) algorithm is used to find the entries of the unknown mmWave MIMO channel matrix. Unlike all the existing works on the same topic, we model the angular-domain channel coefficients by Laplacian distributed random variables. Furthermore, we establish the closed-form expressions for the various statistical quantities that need to be updated iteratively by GAMP. To render the proposed algorithm fully automated, we also develop an expectation-maximization (EM) based procedure that can be easily embedded within GAMP’s iteration loop in order to learn all the unknown parameters of the underlying Bayesian inference problem. The computer simulations show that the proposed combined EM-GAMP algorithm under a Laplacian prior exhibits improvements both in terms of channel estimation accuracy, achievable rate, and computational complexity, as compared to the Gaussian mixture prior that has been advocated in the recent literature. In addition, it is found that the Laplacian prior speeds up the convergence time of GAMP over the entire signal-to-noise ratio range.
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential of Aerial Parts of Monotheca buxifolia

In this study, different aerial parts of Monotheca Buxifolia were screened for their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-oxidant activity . Extract of the fruit was most active against P. mirabilis, MSSA and M. morganii strains. Moreover, the methanolic fruit extract demonstrated good antibacterial properties against VRSA, S. aureus and Acinetobacter . Despite having good antibacterial properties, Monotheca buxifolia showed low antifungal activity. The cytotoxic activity was the highest in the pet-ether fruit extract, causing 60% of lethality against Artemia salina larvae with LD 50 at 3.307. The highest scavenging activity was shown by the methanolic leaf extract in a concentration-dependent pattern. The findings of this study suggest that Monotheca Buxifolia has good antibacterial, antioxidant potential but low antifungal properties.
Hadwiger Numbers and Gallai-Ramsey Numbers of Special Graphs

This dissertation explores two separate topics on graphs. We first study a far-reaching generalization of the Four Color Theorem. Given a graph G, we use χ(G) to denote the chromatic number; α(G) the independence number; and h(G) the Hadwiger number, which is the largest integer t such that the complete graph Kt can be obtained from a subgraph of G by contracting edges. Hadwiger’s conjecture from 1943 states that for every graph G, h(G) ≥ χ(G). This is perhaps the most famous conjecture in Graph Theory and remains open even for graphs G with α(G) ≤ 2. Let W5 denote the wheel on six vertices. We establish more evidence for Hadwiger’s conjecture by proving that h(G) ≥ χ(G) for all graphs G such that α(G) ≤ 2 and G does not contain W5 as an induced subgraph. Our second topic is related to Ramsey theory, a field that has intrigued those who study combinatorics for many decades. Computing the classical Ramsey numbers is a notoriously difficult problem, leaving many basic questions unanswered even after more than 80 years. We study Ramsey numbers under Gallai-colorings. A Gallai-coloring of a complete graph is an edge-coloring such that no triangle is colored with three distinct colors. Given a graph H and an integer k ≥ 1, the Gallai-Ramsey number, denoted GRk(H), is the least positive integer n such that every Gallai-coloring of Kn with at most k colors contains a monochromatic copy of H. It turns out that GRk(H) is more well-behaved than the classical Ramsey number Rk(H), though finding exact values of GRk(H) is far from trivial. We show that for all k ≥ 3, GRk(C2n+1) = n · 2 + 1 for n ∈ {4, 5, 6, 7}, and GRk(C2n+1) ≤ (n lnn) · 2 − (k + 1)n+ 1 for all n ≥ 8, where C2n+1 denotes a cycle on 2n+ 1 vertices.
Performance analysis of diffusive molecular timing channels

In this study, the authors consider a diffusive molecular communication channel where the information to be transmitted is the time of release of the information molecules. Using the truncated Levy distribution to model the first passage time of a molecule, the authors develop some general statistics for a random variable described by a truncated Levy distribution. The authors then consider a multi-particle molecular communication system, where the average arrival time of the information particles can be represented by a truncated Levy flight, and the number of molecules required for the cross-over from the Levy regime to the Gaussian regime to occur is calculated. Furthermore, they use these results to analyse single as well as multi-particle molecular communication channels in terms of capacity bounds and symbol error probability.
Knowledge and Attitude of Students regarding HIV/AIDS in PeshawarUniversity. -

Objectives: To determine the knowledge and attitude of medical and non-medical students of Peshawar University regarding HIV/AIDS. Methods: This cross sectional observational study was conducted on students of Khyber Medical College and Peshawar University Departments of English, Urdu, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry and Botany students from January 2005 to October 2005. Students were divided into four groups. They were asked to fulfill a predesigned questionnaire. The variables assessed were their knowledge of disease (etiology, mode of transmission, and prevention) and attitude towards AIDS patients. Results: A total of 500 students participated, with 150 (30%) pre-clinical students, 100 (20%) clinical students and 125 (25%) each science and art students. The male female ratio was 2:1; mean age of respondents was 22±1.5 years. Seventy nine percent students knew the causative agent of the disease and 94.6% agreed that it is a communicable disease. Only 29% of students were willing to share daily use items with these patients with fear that they might get disease. Male students agreed on utilization of sterilized blades for shave (97.2%), and disposable syringe for IV medications (92%). They prefer blood transfusion screened for HIV (93.6%). Conclusion: There is a satisfactory awareness among the medical students entering into the profession. An acceptable difference was recorded among clinical, preclinical and 2 non-clinical students regarding their knowledge and attitude about HIV and AIDS. (Rawal Med J 2008;33:18-20).
THE EFFECT OF ACUTE BEETROOT JUICE SUPPLEMENTATION ON MUSCLE FATIGUE IN KNEE EXTENSOR EXERCISE

OF THESIS THE EFFECT OF ACUTE BEETROOT JUICE SUPPLEMENTATION ON MUSCLE FATIGUE IN KNEE EXTENSOR EXERCISE To examine the effect of acute beetroot juice supplementation on the rate of fatigue as measured by changes in peak torque. Placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study, 35 recreationally active subjects consumed beetroot (BR) juice or black currant juice (PL) 12 and 2.5 hours before the exercise procedure. Peak torque was measured on the BIODEX dynamometer by performing 50, maximal effort, concentric knee extensions at 90°/s. Blood pressure (BP) was recorded before and after exercise. No significant difference between BR and PL in the rate of fatigue measured by change in peak torque. By stage 3, subjects retained 87.6±6.9% of strength with BR and 86.7±6.3% with PL (p= 0.363). Stages 10 was as follows: BR 47.9±12.6 vs. PL 46.9±12.9% (p= 0.419). The rate of work fatigue showed no significant differences. By stage 4, mean percent work fatigue showed 20.6±9% with BR and 21.8±10.1% with PL (p= 0.224). Stage 10 was as follows: BR 52.5±12.6% vs. PL 53.2±13% (p= 0.571). Post-exercise diastolic BP (BR: 67.2±9.8 vs. PL: 64.5±7.9mmHg, p= 0.039) and MAP (BR: 91.6±9.3 vs. PL: 88.8±8.2mmHg, p= 0.011) were higher with BR supplementation. Acute bouts of beetroot juice supplementation had no significant effect on knee extensor muscle fatigue measured during isokinetic contractions.
A Comparative Study on Fast Food Consumption Patterns Classified by Age in Busan

This study was carried out to investigate the fast food consumption patterns classified by age in Busan. The survey was conducted from October 15 to November 15, 2006 by questionnaires and data analyzed by SPSS program. The results are summarized as follows: Forty one point five percent of the elementary group, 40.5% of the high school group, 24.1% of the 30’s, 35.0% of the 40’s and 18.1% of the 50’s took fast foods over once a week. Seventy two point five percent of the elementary group, 61.5% of the high school group, 16.8% of the 30’s group, 10.0% of the 40’s, and 14.6% of the 50’s preferred fast foods. There was a significant difference in the basis for selecting menus among the groups. The most important basis for selecting menus was ‘price’ in the elementary group and the high school group, but was ‘preference’ in the adult groups. As their age increased, they spend more money for fast food. Forty six percent of the elementary group and 49.5% of the high school group, 32.1% of the 30’s, 36.5% of the 40’s, 34.7% of the 50’s thought that fast food can substitute for a meal. The age affected significantly the substitutability for the meal of the fast food (p < 0.001). In the high school group, the ratio of skipping breakfast is higher than in the other age groups. Dietary attitude has direct effects on the preference of the fast foods. Nutrition knowledge, degree of unbalanced diet, and obesity rate have direct and indirect effects which were mediated by dietary attitude. Nutrition knowledge showed the greatest total causal effect in relation to the preference of the fast foods. Therefore, nutrition education for the subjects is needed to encourage them to choose more nutritious food and have healthier dietary pattern. (Korean J Community Nutrition 12(5) : 534~544, 2007)