Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating the risk profile of hedge fund returns Fund managers are under increasing pressure to maximise returns and hedging strategies are becoming popular

w w w . ecu ries.ed u au T wo years of bear markets have proved difficult for Australian fund managers. According to Mercer Investment Consulting, the median return for balanced super funds in 2001-02 was a loss of 4.1%. 1 Eager to counteract poor performance, fund managers are reconsidering their weightings in equity and evaluating more sophisticated ways to achieve their investment objectives. Hedge funds in particular have attracted a growing level of interest fuelled by claims of diversification benefits accruing from their focus on absolute returns and low correlation with underlying asset classes—desirable characteristics in mean-variance analysis. Consequently, it is not uncommon to read endorsements to increase the allocation of hedge funds in portfolios from 1-2% to 4-5% in recent academic and practitioner publications. Despite these recommendations there remains a lack of understanding on the appropriate methodology by which to evaluate the risk exposure to investing with hedge funds.
Exploratory plots in the analysis of extremes

Exploratory data analysis is often used to test the goodness-of-fit of sample observations to specific target distributions. A few such graphical tools have been extensively used to detect heavy-tailed behavior or extramal behavior in observed data. In this paper we discuss recent theoretical advancements in the understanding of asymptotic behavior of two such plotting tools: the Quantile-Quantile plot and the Mean Excess plot. As an application we suggest better practices in the use of these plots in practice.
Life history strategies of deepwater fish species and implications for management of the fishery

It has been generally stated that fish exploited by deepwater fisheries cannot sustain high levels of fishing pressure because of their characteristic slow growth, longevity and low reproductive output. Irish surveys (1993-2000) allowed for studies of age, growth, fecundity and maturity of several deepwater teleosts and elasmobranchs. These data show that Coryphaenoides rupestris is slow growing and has low fecundity. Other teleosts displayed rather conservative life-history characteristics. The shark Deania calceus was slower growing than the teleosts and Centrophorus squamosus attained ages of up to 71 years. The implications of the life-history parameters for sustainable exploitation are discussed by way of comparison with continental shelf species from this region. These data allowed for the estimation of the rate of potential population increase that supports the view that deepwater species are more vulnerable to exploitation. Whilst there may be scope for compensatory changes in fecundity such scope is likely to be limited, especially for sharks. Fisheries management plans should consider these differing life-history traits. The very different life history strategies exhibited by shelf and deepwater species suggests that different management systems will be required for deepwater fisheries to those prosecuted on the shelf.
VARIACIÓN GEOGRÁFICA EN LA GERMINACIÓN Y CRECIMIENTO INICIAL DE PLÁNTULAS DE Pseudotsuga menziesii DE MÉXICO GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN GERMINATION AND INITIAL SEEDLING GROWTH OF Pseudotsuga menziesii OF MÉXICO

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) is one of the most valuable conifers in world wood production, whose geographic variation in México for characteristics of germination and seedling vigor is not known. The geographic variation pattern in germination characteristics and initial progeny growth of 11 natural Pseudotsuga menziesii populations in México was evaluated. Seed from 114 trees covering most of the natural distribution of the genus (25 to 17° N) was stratified by seven weeks and sown. Significant variation (p≤0.01) was found among populations and among the trees within them in all the characteristics evaluated. The differences among sites were notable in germination percentage and rate and seedling hypocotyl height, with lesser differences in cotyledon number, total height at nine months and their survival. Among populations, germination varied from 7.7 to 84.0%, germination energy (days to reach 50% of germination) from 5.4 to 12.8 d, hypocotyl height from 20.6 to 24.8 mm. At nine months, plant height was 97 to 104 mm, nine sites reached survival higher than 94%, but Ixtepeji, Oaxaca, and Presa Jaramillo, Hidalgo, had 50% survival. P. menziesii seed of localities from central México has less vigor and germination capacity than that of the north.
AIR TRAFFIC COMPLEXITY METRIC FOR EN-ROUTE AND TERMINAL AREAS

One of the core elements of an ATM system, critical in assurance of ATC and ATFM functions as well as for future concepts such as dynamic airspace configuration and advanced traffic flow management is the ability to measure and predict traffic complexity. The approach of this paper is to adopt a measure of complexity which should balance the qualitative and quantitative variables for a certain portion of airspace (FIR Bucureşti) taking into account a normal traffic situation. Is the first paper which defines a weighted linear air traffic complexity function using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. AHP is perhaps the most widely used decision making approach in the world today. Its validity is based on many thousands of actual applications in which the AHP results were accepted and used by decision makers.
Thanking in Saudi Academic Emails

This paper considers the pragmatic analysis of thanking by testing existing frameworks from interpersonal communication for rapport management (Spencer-Oatey, 2002) against a new dataset that comes from a computer mediated form of communication, namely emails gathered from educational exchanges between students and staff in a Saudi Arabian higher education context. The collected data consists of 140 emails. The thanking in the email were coded against Wong's (2010) framework of thanking. In order to explore their rapport potential, the participants were also interviewed. The key research questions which drive this study are: (1) How does the use of thanking or expressions of gratitiude vary according to the gender and role of the email sender? (2) How is rapport potential of thanking perceived by the participants in this study? The analysis showed that, although thanking in a Saudi context bears some similarity with thanking in other English contexts, there are some differences in the use, choice and form of thanking, but there are thanking phenomena in the data that have thus far not been accounted for. Likewise, while previous frameworks on thanking remain useful, they may need to be extended to cover more possible thanking expressions that may occur. Wong's (2010) framework in particular, when used in coding the Saudi academic email thanking, showed some limitations in accommodating the Saudi thanking expressions. Thus, it was essential to adopt it and do some modification on it, to make the system more flexible and capable of covering all the thanking strategies that occurred in the data. [Nisrin A. Hariri. Thanking in Saudi Academic Emails. Life Sci J 2016;13(5):60-72]. ISSN: 1097-8135 (Print) / ISSN: 2372-613X (Online). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 7. doi:10.7537/marslsj130516.07.
Modelling and prediction of neurodevelopment in preterm infants using structural connectome data

Each year worldwide, millions of babies are born very preterm (before 32 weeks postmenstral age). Very preterm birth puts infants at higher risk for delayed or altered neurodevelopment. While the mechanisms causing these alterations are not fully understood, it has been shown that image-based biomarkers of the fragile connective white matter brain tissue are correlated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a non-invasive imaging modality that allows in-vivo analysis of an infant’s white matter brain network (known as a structural connectome, representing the neuronal wiring of the brain) and can be used to better understand neurodevelopment. The purpose of this thesis is to study how the structural connectome can be used for analysis of development and early prediction of outcomes for better informed care. The thesis begins with a thorough examination of the literature on studies that have applied machine learning to brain network data from MRI. It proceeds with a connectome based analysis of the early neurodevelopment of normative preterm infants. Finally, this thesis tackles the problem of early prediction of cognitive and motor neurodevelopmental outcomes using machine learning on connectome data. Three novel prediction methods are proposed for this task, which are found to be able to accurately predict the 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes of a cohort of preterm infants from the BC Childrens’ Hospital. The thesis concludes with a discussion of how the proposed models may be applicable to a broader set prediction problems and of important future directions for research.
Measurement of Human Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity by 31 P-MRS : A Cross-Validation with in vitro measurements

Purpose—To cross-validate skeletal muscle oxidative capacity measured by 31P-MRS with in vitro measurements of oxidative capacityin mitochondria isolated from muscle biopsies of the same muscle group in 18 healthy adults. Materials and Methods—Oxidative capacity in vivo was determined from PCr recovery kinetics following a 30s maximal isometric knee extension. State 3 respiration was measured in isolated mitochondria using high-resolution respirometry. A second cohort of 10 individuals underwent two 31P-MRS testing sessions to assess the test-retest reproducibility of the method. Results—Overall, the in vivo and in vitro methods were well-correlated (r = 0.66 –0.72) and showed good agreement by Bland Altman plots. Excellent reproducibility was observed for the PCr recovery rate constant (CV = 4.6%, ICC = 0.85) and calculated oxidative capacity (CV = 3.4%, ICC = 0.83). Conclusion—These results indicate that 31P-MRS corresponds well with gold-standard in vitro measurements and is highly reproducible.
Developing a Surrogate-Based Time-Averaged Momentum Source Model from 3 D CFD Simulations of Small Scale Propellers

Many Miniature Aerial Vehicles (MAV) are driven by small scale, fixed blade propellers which can have significant impact on MAV aerodynamics. In the design and analysis process for MAVs, numerous computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the coupled aircraft and propeller are often conducted which require a time averaged, steady-state approximation of the propeller for computational efficiency. Most steady state propeller models apply an actuator disk of momentum sources to model the thrust and swirl imparted to the flowfield by a propeller. The majority of these momentum source models are based on blade element theory. Blade element theory discretizes the blade into airfoil sections and assumes them to behave as two-dimensional (2D) airfoils. Blade element theory neglects 3D flow effects that can greatly affect propeller performance limiting its accuracy and range of application. In this paper, surrogate models for the time averaged thrust and swirl produced by each blade element are trained from a database of time-accurate, high-fidelity 3D CFD propeller simulations. Since the surrogate models are trained from these high-fidelity CFD simulations, various 3D effects on propellers are inherently accounted for such as tip loss, hub loss, post stall effect, and element interaction. These surrogate models are functions of local flow properties at the blade elements and are embedded into 3D CFD simulations as locally adaptive momentum source terms. Results of the thrust profiles for the steady-state surrogate propeller model are compared to the time-dependent, high-fidelity 3D CFD propeller simulations coupled to an aircraft. This surrogate propeller model which is dependent on local flowfield properties simulates the timeaveraged flowfield produced by the propeller and captures the 3D effects and accuracy of time-dependent 3D CFD propeller blade simulations but at a much lower cost.
Bayesian Optimization Under Uncertainty

We consider the problem of robust optimization, where it is sought to design a system such that it sustains a specified measure of performance under uncertainty. This problem is challenging since modeling a complex system under uncertainty can be expensive and for most real-world problems robust optimization will not be computationally viable. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian methodology to efficiently solve a class of robust optimization problems that arise in engineering design under uncertainty. The central idea is to use Gaussian process models of loss functions (or robustness metrics) together with appropriate acquisition functions to guide the search for a robust optimal solution. Numerical studies on a test problem are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
MANAGEMENT OF CUTANEOUS CANINE TRANSMISSIBLE VENEREAL TUMOUR IN A DOG- A CASE REPORT

A 6 year old female Daschund was presented with cutaneous multiple disseminated growth at the neck, flank and dorsum regions which were not responding to conventional line of treatment for a month. Radiological examination of the thorax showed the presence of subcutaneous soft tissue masses without any indication of metastasis. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the cutaneous nodule stained by leishman giemsa confirmed the condition as canine transmissible venereal tumour. Inj. Vincristine sulphate was administered intravenously for four sessions along with hematinics and multivitamins. The animal showed complete regression of lesions within a month.
TheSignalPassingInterfaceand Its Application to Embedded Implementation of Smart Camera Applications A flexible, optimized communications interface suitable for smart camera systems has been demonstrated in systems for matching facial images and for efficient compression of speech.

Embedded smart camera systems comprise computation- and resource-hungry applications implemented on small, complex but resource-hardy platforms. Efficient implementation of such applications can benefit significantly from parallelization. However, communication between differ- ent processing units is a nontrivial task. In addition, new and emerging distributed smart cameras require efficient methods of communication for optimized distributed implementations. In this paper, a novel communication interface, called the signal passing interface (SPI), is presented that attempts to overcome this challenge by integrating relevant properties of two different, yet important, paradigms in this contextVdataflow and message passing interface (MPI). Dataflow is a widely used modeling paradigm for signal processing applications, while MPI is an established communication interface in the general-purpose processor community. SPI is targeted toward computation-intensive signal processing applications, and due to its careful specialization, more performance-efficient for embedded implementation in this domain. SPI is also much easier and more intuitive to use. In this paper, successful application of this communication interface to two smart camera applications has been presented in detail to validate a new methodology for efficient distributed implementation for this domain.
The Effectiveness Of Multimedia In Teaching Writing To Students With Different Learning Styles

This research was to analyze the effectiveness of Interactive Multimedia Instructions (IMIs) in the format of game (GIMI) and in the format of tutorial (TIMI) implemented in Task-Based Learning (TBL) for the students with visual and auditory learning styles in performing writing of a recount text. To obtain the data, the research method of this study was quantitative by using 2x2 factorial experimental research design. The data collection was done by giving the VAK questionnaire and conducting the pre-test and the post-test. The data, then, was analyzed by using t-test and ANOVA. After doing the investigation, it was found that there was significant difference of the students' performance in writing a recount text after learning by using IMIs. It means that the use of IMIs is effective. Then, there was an interaction between the implementation of TBL by using such media and the students’ learning styles in getting their writing performance. Even though, it did not give significant influence. Thus, it can be concluded that although the interaction among those variables did not give significant influence, the use of IMIs exactly made their learning result effective both for the students with visual and auditory learning styles.
10 Gbps-60 GHz RoF Transmission System for 5 G Applications

Abstract This work is focused on transmission of 10 Gbps data and 60 GHz millimeter signal over 60 km optical fiber for 5 G applications. 5 G networks generally use millimeter range of frequencies. Radio over fiber is revolutionary technology to transmit radio signals over optical fiber. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of non-return to zero (NRZ) and return to zero (RZ) encoding schemes is also done. The results are reported in terms of Q-factor, bit error rate and eye diagrams. The reported results show the successful transmission of high speed 10 Gbps data and 60 GHz millimeter signal over 60 km optical fiber.
Combined Effects of Environmental Drivers on Marine Trophic Groups – A Systematic Model Comparison

The responses of food webs to simultaneous changes in several environmental drivers are still poorly understood. As a contribution to filling this knowledge gap, we investigated the major pathways through which two interlinked environmental drivers, eutrophication and climate, affect the biomass and community composition of fish and benthic macrofauna. For this aim, we conducted a systematic sensitivity analysis using two models simulating the dynamics of benthic and pelagic food webs in the Baltic Sea. We varied environmental forcing representing primary productivity, oxygen conditions and water temperature in all possible combinations, over a range representative of expected changes during the 21st century. Both models indicated that increased primary productivity leads to biomass increase in all parts of the system, however counteracted by expanding hypoxia. Effects of temperature were complex, but generally small compared to the other drivers. Similarities across models give confidence in the main results, but we also found differences due to different representations of the food web in the two models. While both models predicted a shift in benthic community composition towards an increased abundance of Limecola (Macoma) balthica with increasing productivity, the effects on deposit-feeding and predatory benthic groups depended on the presence of fish predators in the model. The model results indicate that nutrient loads are a stronger driver of change for ecosystem functions in the Baltic Sea than climate change, but it is important to consider the combined effects of these drivers for proper management of the marine environment.
Acute Effects of Inspiratory Loads and Interfaces on Breathing Pattern and Activity of Respiratory Muscles in Healthy Subjects

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of different inspiratory loads and different interfaces on the breathing pattern and activity of the respiratory muscles. Methods Twenty healthy adults were recruited and assigned to two groups (20 and 40% of the Maximal Inspiratory Pressure) by way of randomized crossover allocation. Subjects were evaluated during quiet breathing, breathing against inspiratory load, and recovery. The measurements were repeated using two different interfaces (nasal and oral). Chest wall volumes and respiratory muscle activity were assessed with optoelectronic plethysmography and surface electromyography, respectively. Results During the application of inspiratory load, significant changes were observed in the respiratory rate (p < 0.04), inspiratory time (p < 0.02), minute ventilation (p < 0.04), tidal volume (p < 0.01), end-inspiratory volume (p < 0.04), end-expiratory volume (p < 0.03), and in the activity of the scalene, sternocleiomastoid, and parasternal portion of the intercostal muscles (RMS values, p < 0.01) when compared to quiet breathing, regardless of the load level or the interface applied. Inspiratory load application yielded significant differences between using nasal and oral interfaces with an increase in the tidal volume (p < 0.01), end-inspiratory volume (p < 0.01), and electrical activity of the scalene and sternocleiomastoid muscles (p < 0.01) seen with using the nasal interface. Conclusion The addition of an inspiratory load has a significant effect on the breathing pattern and respiratory muscle electrical activity, and the effects are greater when the nasal interface is applied.
Recircumscription of Bredia and resurrection of Tashiroea (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) with description of a new species T.villosa

Abstract Bredia (Melastomataceae) is an Asian genus that extends from central and southern mainland China to Taiwan and the Ryukyu islands. Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal that the type of Bredia is nested in a clade of 20 species, while Tashiroea, a genus previously synonymized in Bredia, falls in another distantly related clade of 10 species. Our morphological survey shows that the two clades can be distinguished by several diagnostic features including leaf indumentum, texture, leaf surface sculpture under SEM, presence/absence of yellowish uniseriate trichomes, and capsule morphology. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, Bredia is recircumscribed and Tashiroea is resurrected. Description and a list of species are provided for the two genera with the description of a new species, T.villosa.
Impact of High-Dose Caffeine on the Preterm Ovine Cerebrum and Cerebellum

Caffeine is one of the few treatments available for infants with apnea of prematurity. As the recommended dosing regimen is not always sufficient to prevent apnea, higher doses may be prescribed. However, little is currently known about the impact of high-dose caffeine on the developing brain; thus, our aim was to investigate the consequences of a high-dose regimen on the immature ovine brain. High-dose caffeine (25 mg/kg caffeine base loading dose; 20 mg/kg daily maintenance dose; n = 9) or saline (n = 8) was administered to pregnant sheep from 105 to 118 days of gestation (DG; term = 147 days); this is broadly equivalent to 28–33 weeks of human gestation. At 119DG, the cerebral cortex, striatum, and cerebellum were assessed histologically and by immunohistochemistry. Compared with controls, caffeine-exposed fetuses showed (i) an increase in the density of Ctip2-positive layers V–VI projection neurons (p = 0.02), Tbr1-positive layers V–VI projection neurons (p < 0.0001), astrocytes (p = 0.03), and oligodendrocytes (p = 0.02) in the cerebral cortex, (ii) a decrease in the density of Cux1-positive layers II–IV projection neurons (p = 0.01) in the cerebral cortex, and (iii) a reduction in the area of Purkinje cell bodies in the cerebellum (p = 0.03). Comparing high-dose caffeine-exposed fetuses with controls, there was no difference (p > 0.05) in: (i) the volume of the cerebral cortex or striatum, (ii) the density of neurons (total and output projection neurons) in the striatum, (iii) dendritic spine density of layer V pyramidal cells, (iv) the density of cortical GABAergic interneurons, microglia, mature oligodendrocytes or proliferating cells, (v) total cerebellar area or dimensions of cerebellar layers, or (vi) the density of cerebellar white matter microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, or myelin. Daily exposure of the developing brain to high-dose caffeine affects some aspects of neuronal and glial development in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum in the short-term; the long-term structural and functional consequences of these alterations need to be investigated.