Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ordered smoothers with exponential weighting

The main goal in this paper is to propose a new approach to deriving oracle inequalities related to the exponential weighting method. The paper focuses on recovering an unknown vector from noisy data with the help of the family of ordered smoothers. The estimators within this family are aggregated using the exponential weighting method and the aim is to control the risk of the aggregated estimate. Based on natural probabilistic properties of the unbiased risk estimate, we derive new oracle inequalities for mean square risk and show that the exponential weighting permits to improve Kneip's oracle inequality.
THE VLT LEGA-C SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY: THE PHYSICS OF GALAXIES AT A LOOKBACK TIME OF 7 Gyr

The Large Early Galaxy Census (LEGA-C) is a Public Spectroscopic Survey of ∼3200 K-band selected galaxies at redshifts z = 0.6 − 1.0 with stellar masses M * > 10 10 M ⊙ , conducted with VIMOS on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The survey is embedded in the COSMOS field (R.A. = 10h00; decl . = + 2 deg ). The 20 hr long integrations produce high-signal-to-noise ratio continuum spectra that reveal ages, metallicities and velocity dispersions of the stellar populations. LEGA-C’s unique combination of sample size and depth will enable us for the first time to map the stellar content at large lookback time, across galaxies of different types and star formation activity. Observations started in 2014 December and are planned to be completed by mid 2018, with early data releases of the spectra and value-added products. In this paper we present the science case, the observing strategy, an overview of the data reduction process and data products, and a first look at the relationship between galaxy structure and spectral properties, as it existed 7 Gyr ago.
Triple-Mode Floating-Point Adder Architectures

This paper presents an architecture of a triple-mode floating-point adder that supports higher precision and parallel lower precision addition. The proposed design can work in three modes: four parallel single precision or two parallel double precision or one quadruple precision addition/subtraction. The proposed triple-mode adder’s parallel computation in lower precision can be applied in SIMD application to accommodate 3D graphics, video conferencing and multimedia fields while its high precision computation can be applied in scientific applications such as supernova simulations, climate modeling and etc. To improve the performance of the triple-mode floating-point adder, the design is implemented with the improved two-path algorithm in combinational and pipeline form. To compare area, power and worst-case latency, single-mode single, double, quadruple and dual-mode quadruple precision floating-point adders are also implemented using the similar techniques. These adders and the triple-mode adder are tested and verified through extensive simulation and then synthesized with 65nm manufacture process. The synthesis results show that the proposed triple-mode floating-point adder requires 10-16% more delay than a single-mode quadruple precision adder and saves 47-52% area compared to the combination of four single, two double and one quadruple precision adders.
The importance of psychological characteristics in potentially talented adolescent long distance runners

Long distance running is a moderate to high-power activity supported by aerobic energy (Ward-Smith, 1999). Apart from the importance of aerobic conditioning, long distance running requires a great deal of mental toughness. The purpose of this study was to compare talented, with less talented distance runners, in order to identify the psychological characteristics exhibited by talented distance runners. A cross-sectional study design was used which consisted of 182 grade 8 pupils: 87 boys and 95 girls. Sport psychological skill levels were measured with the Athletic Copings Skills Inventory (ACSI-28). The Australian Talent Search Protocol was used to identify general sporting talent. The results of the beep test were used to identify the most talented potential distance runners. The top 30% (n=58) of the adolescents were assigned to group 1 (talented group) and the remaining adolescents to group 2 (n=107) (less talented). The results revealed that the talented group obtained significantly better results in 6 of the 8 variables which included adversity, pressure, goal-setting, concentration, coachability and the average coping ability (p (AJPHERD) Vol. 18, No. 2 (June) 2012, pp. 413-422
The Flow of Information from Nucleus to Golgi Is Contingent upon Nuclear Membrane Synthesis and Protraction of the Ceramide-Containing Membrane to Endoplasmic Reticulum

The nucleus-initiated augmentation of ER membrane is reflected in a coordinated synthesis and intercalation of the explicit proteins and lipids required for the replacement, repair and function of the cell and its organelles. The direct connection between nucleus and the membranes containing labeled sphingosine (SphN) and ceramide (Cer) was affirmed by determining synthetic activity of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT). The SPT and the newly synthesized serine-labeled lipid products were identified in the Outer- and Inner-Nuclear Membrane (ONM, INM) and ER. The pulse-chase experiments disclosed that the incorporation of radiolabeled lipids into both nuclear membranes declined upon their simultaneous increase in Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). These results, and prior findings regarding metabolic transfer of nuclear membrane phosphoinositides to the outer leaflet of ER [Slomiany and Slomiany, Health, 2011, 3, 187-199], allowed us to reason that INM and ONM are not distinct entities, but uninterrupted continuum facing nucleosol and then cytosol when protracted into segment known as ER. Consequently, the identification of SPT and its products in the inner leaflet of nuclear and ER microsomes lent credence to the luminal presence of Cer in Golgi, luminal synthesis of glycosphingolipids (GSphLs), sphingomyelin (SM), and their delivery to the outer leaflet of apical and basolateral cell membrane, respectively. The findings presented in this communication provide further support to our concept that the factual intercalation of proteins and lipids into the cell membranes can only take place during their simultaneous synthesis that is guided by the nuclear and cytosolic processes enacted in nuclear-ER membrane continuum. At the nuclear stage, the signal-specific genes expression promotes active synthesis and intercalation of lipids into the organelles’ customized membrane that is protracted and articulated in ER in form of transport vesicles.
nIFTy galaxy cluster simulations – II. Radiative models

We have simulated the formation of a massive galaxy cluster (M$_{200}^{\rm crit}$ = 1.1$\times$10$^{15}h^{-1}M_{\odot}$) in a $\Lambda$CDM universe using 10 different codes (RAMSES, 2 incarnations of AREPO and 7 of GADGET), modeling hydrodynamics with full radiative subgrid physics. These codes include Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), spanning traditional and advanced SPH schemes, adaptive mesh and moving mesh codes. Our goal is to study the consistency between simulated clusters modeled with different radiative physical implementations - such as cooling, star formation and AGN feedback. We compare images of the cluster at $z=0$, global properties such as mass, and radial profiles of various dynamical and thermodynamical quantities. We find that, with respect to non-radiative simulations, dark matter is more centrally concentrated, the extent not simply depending on the presence/absence of AGN feedback. The scatter in global quantities is substantially higher than for non-radiative runs. Intriguingly, adding radiative physics seems to have washed away the marked code-based differences present in the entropy profile seen for non-radiative simulations in Sembolini et al. (2015): radiative physics + classic SPH can produce entropy cores. Furthermore, the inclusion/absence of AGN feedback is not the dividing line -as in the case of describing the stellar content- for whether a code produces an unrealistic temperature inversion and a falling central entropy profile. However, AGN feedback does strongly affect the overall stellar distribution, limiting the effect of overcooling and reducing sensibly the stellar fraction.
Simulating Winter Interactions Among Ungulates, Vegetation, and Fire in Northern Yellowstone Park

The interaction of large-scale fire, vegetation, and ungulates is an important management issue in Yellowstone National Park. A spatially explicit individual-based simulation model was developed to explore the effects of fire scale and pattern on the winter foraging dynamics and survival of free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison) in northern Yellowstone National Park. The Northern Yellowstone Park (NOYELP) model simulates the search, movement, and foraging activities of individuals or small groups of elk and bison. The 77 020-ha landscape is represented as a gridded irregular polygon with a spatial resolution of 1 ha. Forage intake is a function of an animal's initial body mass, the absolute amount of forage available on a site, and the depth and density of snow. When the energy expenditures of an animal exceed the energy gained during a day, the animal's endogenous reserves are reduced to offset the deficits. Simulations are conducted with a 1-d time step for a duration of 180 d, [approximately]1 November through the end of April. Simulated elk survival for three winters (1987-1988; 1988-1989; 1990-1991) agreed with observed data.
An Experimental Study on Expectations and Learning in Overlapping Generations Models

Abstract A plethora of models of learning has been developed and studied in macro-economic models in recent years. In this paper we will try to discriminate between these learning models by running laboratory experiments with incentivized human subjects. Participants predict inflation rates for 50 successive periods in a standard overlapping generations model and are rewarded on the basis of their forecasting accuracy. The information set for each participant contains the past inflation rates and the participant's own past predictions which, in turn, determine the actual inflation rate. We consider two treatments, with a low and a high level of monetary growth, respectively. We find that the level of convergence to the monetary steady state is significantly lower and volatility of inflation rates higher in the second treatment. Constant gain learning algorithms, such as adaptive expectations with a low adjustment parameter, seem to provide a better description of the experimental data than decreasing gain algorithms, such as (ordinary) least squares learning. Moreover, many participants switch between prediction strategies during the experiment on the basis of poor performance of their initial prediction strategy.
HIV/AIDS Prevention: Influence of HIV Knowledge, Self- Efficacy, Parent and Peer influence, Social support, Culture and Government policy in Preventive Health Behavior in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is a relatively recent development challenge and human tragedy that faces global society particularly developing countries. This disease has no effective method for cure or treatment thus, the need to intensify preventive behavior in both scale and size to halt growing infection rate. However, studies show that preventive effort reached only one in ten people especially those at risk. Therefore, UNAIDS called for more effort and commitment toward prevention through promoting preventive behavior and total behavior change. This study examines the influence of selected variables on preventive health behavior in Jigawa state, Nigeria. The study utilized quantitative research approach employing standardized questionnaires. A multistage cluster sampling was used in selecting the respondents. A total of 480 respondents from 12 local
The Empirical Test on the Impact of Climate Volatility on Tourism Demand: A Case of Japanese tourist visiting Korea

As climate is not only a valuable tourism resource but also a factor influencing travel experience, estimating climate change can provide implications to sustainable development of the tourism industry. This study develops Climate Volatility Index (CVI) using GARCH model and estimates the relationship between CVI and Japanese tourism demand for Korea using a tourism demand model, based on data from January 2000 to December 2013. Time lag is applied based on a decision making process regarding travel destinations. The result shows that an increase in volatility of climate change leads to a decrease in tourism demand.
Contribution of land use changes to future flood damage along the river Meuse in the Walloon region

Abstract. Managing flood risk in Europe is a critical issue because climate change is expected to increase flood hazard in many european countries. Beside climate change, land use evolution is also a key factor influencing future flood risk. The core contribution of this paper is a new methodology to model residential land use evolution. Based on two climate scenarios ("dry" and "wet"), the method is applied to study the evolution of flood damage by 2100 along the river Meuse. Nine urbanization scenarios were developed: three of them assume a "current trend" land use evolution, leading to a significant urban sprawl, while six others assume a dense urban development, characterized by a higher density and a higher diversity of urban functions in the urbanized areas. Using damage curves, the damage estimation was performed by combining inundation maps for the present and future 100 yr flood with present and future land use maps and specific prices. According to the dry scenario, the flood discharge is expected not to increase. In this case, land use changes increase flood damages by 1–40%, to €334–462 million in 2100. In the wet scenario, the relative increase in flood damage is 540–630%, corresponding to total damages of €2.1–2.4 billion. In this extreme scenario, the influence of climate on the overall damage is 3–8 times higher than the effect of land use change. However, for seven municipalities along the river Meuse, these two factors have a comparable influence. Consequently, in the "wet" scenario and at the level of the whole Meuse valley in the Walloon region, careful spatial planning would reduce the increase in flood damage by no more than 11–23%; but, at the level of several municipalities, more sustainable spatial planning would reduce future flood damage to a much greater degree.
Biological assessment of the effects of toxic metals on plant biomass production

A significant environmental problem is the disturbance of acid sulfate soils which contain high amounts of sulfuric acid or have the potential to form it, resulting in pollution of the environment due to mobilization of toxic metals into soil and water systems. Reported in this study are two bioassay experiments carried out using wheat plants ( Triticum sp.) to investigate the potential causes of a significant environmental problem experienced in a farmland. The results obtained show that availability of excessive amounts of Fe in the rhizosphere and formation of Fe-complex plagues, either acted as barriers to nutrient uptake or enhanced uptake of potentially toxic metals in excessive amounts; coupled with the presence of toxic levels of Al killed the vegetation on the farmland. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/ije.v3i1. 9942 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 56-67
The Joint Impact of Achievement Goals and Performance Feedback on Information Giving

This research examined how performance feedback moderates the effects of individuals' achievement goals on information exchange when carrying out a novel and complex task. Experiment 1 demonstrated that mastery goal individuals who received positive performance feedback gave less modified information about their task performance to their exchange partner relative to both mastery goal individuals who received negative feedback and performance goal individuals (who received either negative or positive feedback). In Experiment 2, we found that relative to performance goals, mastery goals led to a stronger reciprocity orientation and a weaker exploitation orientation. Also, mastery goal individuals provided information of higher quality than performance goal individuals, thereby explaining the observed findings in Experiment 1.
Nutritional composition of some Piper nigrum (L.) accessions from Nigeria

Proximate, mineral, vitamins and phytochemical compositions of nine accessions of Piper nigrum leaves and fruits were investigated in order to assess their nutritional value. The result showed that all the nutritional traits of the leaves and fruits of these accessions varied significantly (P<0.01). the result of the proximate composition showed that the leaves contained protein (17.46 -20.30%), ash (10.30-12.94%), carbohydrate (42,32-46.17%), fat (3.59-4.04%), fibre (10.64-13.62%) and energy (273.68-295.67 kcal/100g) while the fruits contained protein (8.44 -9.18%), carbohydrate (51.37-53.74%), fate (12.77-15.05%), fibre (5.13.5.50% and energy (361.65 -384.18 kcal/100g). Elemental analysis r e- vealed that the calcium and magnesium content of the accession was high while zinc and iron was moderate. These a c- cessions of Piper nigrum were high in vitamin C but had low levels of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin while it was o b- served that higher phytochemicals occurred in the fruits than in the leaves. The result obtained in this study indicates that the leaves and fruits of Piper nigrum contain nutrients and mineral elements that determine their nutritional value. The presence of bioactive compounds may justify their medicinal value and confirm its nutritive importance for body health .
THE INVASIVE GENUS ASPARAGOPSIS (BONNEMAISONIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA): MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS, MORPHOLOGY, AND ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF FALKENBERGIA ISOLATES 1

The genus Asparagopsis was studied using 25 Falkenbergia tetrasporophyte strains collected worldwide. Plastid (cp) DNA RFLP revealed three groups of isolates, which differed in their small subunit rRNA gene sequences, temperature responses, and tetrasporophytic morphology (cell sizes). Strains from Australia, Chile, San Diego, and Atlantic and Mediterranean Europe were identifiable as A. armata Harvey, the gametophyte of which has distinctive barbed spines. This species is believed to be endemic to cold‐temperate waters of Australia and New Zealand and was introduced into Europe in the 1920s. All isolates showed identical cpDNA RFLPs, consistent with a recent introduction from Australia. Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan, the type and only other recognized species, which lacks spines, is cosmopolitan in warm‐temperate to tropical waters. Two clades differed morphologically and ecophysiologically and in the future could be recognized as sibling species or subspecies. A Pacific/Italian clade had 4–8° C lower survival minima and included a genetically distinct apomictic isolate from Western Australia that corresponded to the form of A. taxiformis originally described as A. sanfordiana Harvey. The second clade, from the Caribbean and the Canaries, is stenothermal (subtropical to tropical) with some ecotypic variation. The genus Asparagopsis consists of two or possibly three species, but a definitive taxonomic treatment of the two A. taxiformis clades requires study of field‐collected gametophytes.
Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles through Wire Explosion Route

In the present study, nanoparticles produced by wire explosion technique are characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Wires having different diameters were fused at different energy levels. It immerged that energy deposited in the conductor and diameter of wire used have major impact on particle size produced by this technique. The parameters of the capacitor energy bank used in this study is much different from current trends of experimental parameters used in other studies.
Structure and Dynamics of Glycosphingolipids in Lipid Bilayers: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Glycolipids are important constituents of biological membranes, and understanding their structure and dynamics in lipid bilayers provides insights into their physiological and pathological roles. Experimental techniques have provided details into their behavior at model and biological membranes; however, computer simulations are needed to gain atomic level insights. This paper summarizes the insights obtained from MD simulations into the conformational and orientational dynamics of glycosphingolipids and their exposure, hydration, and hydrogen-bonding interactions in membrane environment. The organization of glycosphingolipids in raft-like membranes and their modulation of lipid membrane structure are also reviewed.
Vasodilatory Effect of the Dissolved Glycine locally applied on Pial Microvessels

By the method of biomicroscopy it was shown that a single application of a dissolved glycine on the parietal region of the rat brain (“open window” technique) leads to a vasodilatation - an increase in arteriolar diameter about 1.5-2 times. There were no changes in the microcirculation when saline applied under similar conditions.
Effects of accelerated wildfire on future fire regimes and implications for the United States federal fire policy

Wildland fire suppression practices in the western United States are being widely scrutinized by policymakers and scientists as costs escalate and large fires increasingly affect social and ecological values. One potential solution is to change current fire suppression tactics to intentionally increase the area burned under conditions when risks are acceptable to managers and fires can be used to achieve long-term restoration goals in fire adapted forests. We conducted experiments with the Envision landscape model to simulate increased levels of wildfire over a 50-year period on a 1.2 million ha landscape in the eastern Cascades of Oregon, USA. We hypothesized that at some level of burned area fuels would limit the growth of new fires, and fire effects on the composition and structure of forests would eventually reduce future fire intensity and severity. We found that doubling current rates of wildfire resulted in detectable feedbacks in area burned and fire intensity. Area burned in a given simulation year was reduced about 18% per unit area burned in the prior five years averaged across all scenarios. The reduction in area burned was accompanied by substantially lower fire severity, and vegetation shifted to open forest and grass-shrub conditions at the expense of old growth habitat. Negative fire feedbacks were slightly moderated by longer-term positive feedbacks, in which the effect of prior area burned diminished during the simulation. We discuss trade-offs between managing fuels with wildfire versus prescribed fire and mechanical fuel treatments from a social and policy standpoint. The study provides a useful modeling framework to consider the potential value of fire feedbacks as part of overall land management strategies to build fire resilient landscapes and reduce wildfire risk to communities in the western U.S. The results are also relevant to prior climate-wildfire studies that did not consider fire feedbacks in projections of future wildfire activity.