Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric growth of the Pyrenees revealed through measurement and modeling of orogenic fluxes

Orogenic asymmetry is ubiquitous in terms of topography, structure and metamorphism, but the relative influences of climate and tectonics in determining such asymmetry remain contentious. This study demonstrates that for the case of the European Pyrenees, orogenic asymmetry is not defined by inherited structural asymmetry, nor by orographic asymmetry of precipitation, but is the simple consequence of the inherent tectonic growth of a doubly-vergent orogen. The Pyrenees record approximately 60 Myr of upper crustal accretion, erosion and sedimentation that developed from Late Cretaceous to early Miocene times. Approximately 165 km of plate convergence was accommodated by four phases of orogenic growth that can be summarized in terms of their generic orogenic development as follows: 1) Early inversion of passive margin extensional faults, initiating the pro-wedge. 2) Growth by a combination of frontal accretion and underplating to the pro-wedge; symmetrical and steady record of erosion and foreland basin sedimentation. 3) Cessation of pro-wedge frontal accretion with propagation of the retro-wedge deformation front. 4) Accelerated growth of pro-wedge antiformal stack induced by underplating; accelerated erosion over antiformal stack and increase in sediment discharge to pro-foreland basin; stabilization of outer pro-wedge by sediment blanketing. Discrete element model experiments are used to explore the natural tendency of the system towards asymmetry. Model output demonstrates that during active frontal accretion to the pro-wedge of an orogen, the maxima in erosional denudation is offset towards the pro-wedge relative to the maximum depths of exhumation. This asymmetry is fundamentally driven by the progressive reduction in advection velocities of material within the orogen from the pro-wedge into the retro-wedge. Hence, for an efficient erosional regime, a dynamic coupling between erosion and structural uplift of the pro-wedge will reduce activity of the retro-wedge and hence drive asymmetry in terms of low temperature thermochronometry, erosion and sedimentation. The models also demonstrate the tendency for pro-wedge growth through frontal accretion to slow. However, the cessation of frontal accretion as recorded by the South Pyrenean Thrust Belt (phases 3 and 4) requires additional forcing; it is proposed that the thick wedge-top sedimentation recorded at this time, increased taper angles and hence stabilized the wedge. Accretionary influx into the orogen at this time was accomplished through underplating. These processes governing asymmetry do not require a spatially variable climate or a laterally heterogeneous underthrust plate.
Factors Explaining the Rating of Microfinance Institutions

The growing relevance of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) has led to the development of specialized MFI rating agencies that perform global risk assessments. In this article, the authors have conjectured different hypotheses pertaining to the relationship between financial and social indicators and the ratings assigned. The authors tested the hypotheses empirically by using MFIs' accounting information and ratings from a leading agency. As expected, the larger, more profitable, more productive, and less risky MFIs achieved better ratings. This proves the usefulness of MFIs' ratings for providers of funds. In contrast, the authors did not observe any relationship between social performance and rating. Given MFIs' important social mission, agencies should develop ratings that accurately reflect the achievement of social goals.
Model Calibration with Neural Networks

A central consideration for the use of any pricing model is the ability to calibrate that model to market or historical prices. Whether the information needed by the model can be effectively implied from the data or not is one part of the calibration problem. However, in many applications, the speed with which that calibration can be performed influences the usability of that model. In the following a method is presented to calibrate models using artificial neural networks, which can perform the calibration significantly faster regardless of the model, hence removing the calibration speed from consideration for a model's usability.
Plastid phylogenetics of Oceania yams (Dioscorea spp., Dioscoreaceae) reveals natural interspecific hybridization of the greater yam (D. alata)

Phylogenetic relationships of Oceanian staple yams (species of Dioscorea section Enantiophyllum) were investigated using plastid trnL-F and rpl32-trnL(UAG) sequences and nine nuclear co-dominant microsatellites. Analysis of herbarium specimens, used as taxonomic references, allowed the comparison with samples collected in the field. It appears that D. alata, D. transversa and D. hastifolia are closely related species. This study does not support a direct ancestry from D. nummularia to D. alata as previously hypothesized. The dichotomy in D. nummularia previously described by farmers in semi-perennial and annual types was reflected by molecular markers, but the genetic structure of D. nummularia appears more complex. Dioscorea nummularia displayed two haplotypes, each corresponding to a different genetic group. One, including a D. nummularia voucher from New Guinea, is closer to D. tranversa, D. alata and D. hastifolia and encompasses only semi-perennial types. The second group is composed of semi-perennial and annual yams. However, some of these annual yams also displayed D. alata haplotypes. Nuclear markers revealed that some annual yams shared alleles with D. alata and semi-perennial D. nummularia, suggesting a hybrid origin, which may explain their intermediate morphotypes and the difficulty met in classifying them. (Resume d'auteur)
Robust Stability of Polynomic Interval Polynomials

Abstract In this paper an algorithm for robust stability analysis of linear systems with parametric uncertainty is presented. The algorithm is based on multivariate interpolation-evaluation methods and fast Fourier transform used for computing determinant of a multivariate polynomial matrix. Positivity of a multivariate polynomial on a hyperrectangle is tested by Bernstein algorithm. The high efficiency of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on automatic steering control of Daimler Benz city bus – an 8-th order closed-loop system with two uncertain parameters.
A Preliminary Study of Shy Males Interacting with a Virtual Female

This paper describes a preliminary experiment that studied the reactions of male participants to an approach by an attractive and friendly virtual woman in a Cave-like system. The experiment is a 2×2 between groups factorial design. The first factor is whether the participant experiences social anxiety in everyday life or is socially confident. The second factor is whether the other virtual characters in the bar sometimes glance at the participant or never do. 24 male participants took part in the experiments. There were 4 categories of data collected based on: questionnaires, physiological recordings of ECG and electro-dermal activity, post experimental interviews, and observations of behaviour during the experiment. Our results show that the participants tended to respond to the situation at the subjective, behavioural and physiological level as if it were real. Moreover, for the anxious group, their anxiety response to the virtual woman was positively associated with their normal level of social anxiety, and independent of whether or not other virtual characters were looking at them; however, for the confident group, there is some evidence to suggest that there was some impact of being observed. This preliminary study has been used in order to generate hypotheses for the next level of experimentation.
The dose‐response effects of the amount of oil in salad dressing on the bioavailability of carotenoids and fat‐soluble vitamins in salad vegetables

The objectives were to define the dose‐response relation of the amount of added oil and: 1) the absorption of carotenoids, phylloquinone and tocopherols in salad vegetables; 2) the absorption of retinyl palmitate formed from the ingested provitamin A carotenoids, α‐ and β‐carotene. Women (n = 12) each consumed 5 salads containing equivalent amounts of carrot, cherry tomato, romaine lettuce and spinach. The salads with salad dressings containing 0, 2, 4, 8 or 32 g tocopherol‐stripped soybean oil were ingested in random order separated by ≥ 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 2, 3.5, 5, 7, and 9.5 h postprandially. Chylomicron fractions were extracted and analyzed by HPLC with coulometric array electrochemical detection. When the salads were ingested with 0 g oil, there was negligible absorption of α‐ and β‐carotenes, lutein, lycopene, phylloquinone, retinyl palmitate, α‐ and γ‐tocopherols. For α‐ and β‐carotenes, lycopene, retinyl palmitate, and α‐ and γ‐tocopherols, absorption was increased with each amount of oil compared with 0 g oil (P < 0.05). The absorption of each carotenoid and fat‐soluble vitamin was highest with 32 g ingested oil (P < 0.002). Supported by Unilever.
Modeling Heterogeneity in Indirect Effects: Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling Strategies

The heterogeneity implicit in much of social science research can be accommodated by using complex modeling procedures such as SEM or MLM. Ignoring heterogeneity, particularly with regard to nested data structures, can have serious consequences for model estimation and lead to incorrect conclusions about tested hypotheses. In mediation models, the consequences of ignoring nesting can have a substantial impact on the indirect effect. Inflated standard errors and bias in the parameter estimates lead to inaccurate estimates of the indirect effect, as well as reduced power to detect the effect. Using multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM), data were generated based on a cross-lagged panel model for mediation. By fitting a single-level model to the data, the consequences for the estimation and detection of the indirect effect when heterogeneity is ignored is examined through measures of relative bias, power, and model fit.
Shock dissipation in magnetically dominated impulsive flows

The idea that cosmic relativistic jets are magnetically driven Poynting-dominated flows has many attractive features but also some problems. One of them is the low efficiency of shock dissipation in highly magnetized plasma. Indeed, the observations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglow emission indicate very high radiative efficiency of relativistic jets associated with these phenomena. We have revisited the issue of shock dissipation and emission and its implications for the internal shock model of the prompt GRB emission and studied it in the context of impulsive Poynting-dominated flows. Our results show that unless the magnetization of GRB jets is extremely high, σ > 100 in the prompt emission zone, the magnetic model may still be compatible with the observations. First, for σ≃ 1 the dissipation efficiency of fast magnetosonic shock is still quite high, ∼30 per cent. Secondly, the main effect of reduced dissipation efficiency is merely an increase in the size of the dissipation zone, and even for highly magnetized GRB jets, this size may remain below the external shock radius, provided the central engine can emit magnetic shells on the time-scale well below the typical observed variability scale of 1 s. Our analytical and numerical results suggest that strong interaction between shells begins not during the coasting phase but well before it. As the result, the impulsive jet in the dissipation zone is best described not as a collection of shells but as a continuous highly magnetized flow with a high amplitude magnetosonic wave component. How exactly the dissipated wave energy is distributed between the radiation and the bulk kinetic energy of radial jets depends on the relative rates of radiative and adiabatic cooling. In the fast radiative cooling regime, the corresponding radiative efficiency can be as high as the wave contribution to their energy budget, independently of the magnetization. Moreover, after leaving the zone of prompt emission, the jet may still remain Poynting dominated, leading to weaker emission from the reverse shock compared to non-magnetic models. Energetically subdominant weakly magnetized ‘clouds’ in otherwise strongly magnetized jets may significantly increase the overall efficiency of the shock dissipation.
Special Theme : proTecTion and reSToraTion — are We having an effecT ? A Levels-of-Evidence Approach for Assessing Cumulative Ecosystem Response to Estuary and River Restoration Programs

Large-scale ecological restoration programs are beginning to supplement isolated projects implemented on rivers and tidal waterways. Nevertheless, the effects of estuary and river restoration often continue to be evaluated at local project scales or by integration in an additive manner. Today, we have sufficient scientific understanding to apply knowledge gained from measuring cumulative impacts of anthropogenic stressors on ecosystems to assessment of ecological restoration. Integration of this knowledge has potential to increase the efficacy of restoration projects that are conducted at several locations but comanaged within the confines of a larger integrative program. We introduce a framework based on a levels-of-evidence approach that facilitates assessment of the cumulative landscape effects of individual restoration actions taken at many different locations. It incorporates data collection at restoration and reference sites, hydrodynamic modeling, geographic information systems, and meta-analyses in a five-stage process: design, data development, analysis, synthesis and evaluation, and application. This framework evolved from the need to evaluate the efficacy of restoration projects that are being implemented in numerous wetlands on the 235 km tidal portion of the Columbia River, USA, which are intended to increase rearing habitat for out-migrating juvenile salmonid fishes.
The effect of a muscle energy stretch on suboccipital tenderness

Background and objective: Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is commonly advocated by authors of manual therapy as a means of treating spinal pain and dysfunction, but there is little evidence of its role in pain modulation. This controlled and single blinded study aimed to investigate the effect of MET on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in the suboccipital musculature in an asymptomatic population. Conclusion: While MET appeared to have some immediate impact on pain threshold, the changes in PPT were not enough to be significantly different form the sham control. Further studies are recommended to explore the impact of MET on pressure pain thresholds and self-reported pain in symptomatic subjects. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.
The Impact of Green Innovation on Organizational Performance, Environmental Management Behavior as a Moderate Variable: An Analytical Study on Nuqul Group in Jordan

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of green innovation (green product innovation, green process innovation) on organizational performance. The study was applied on Jordanian industrial companies, specifically on Nuqul Group in Jordan. Design/Methodology/Approach: The questionnaire was developed and distributed by 143 questionnaires to the higher managerial employees and the middle managerial employees (General Manager, Assistant General Manager, head of department, assistant head of department and supervisors). The researchers used the Simple regression and stepwise analysis to measure the effect of Green Innovation on Organizational Performance, and Environmental Management Behavior as a Moderate Variable. Finding: The most important finding of the study is having impact of moral green innovation in organizational performance, and also there is impact of the environmental management behavior as a moderator variable between green innovation and performance organizational. Implications: This study confirms the presence impact of green innovation in organizational performance, and this confirms that the practices of green economic and green management have significant benefits at the level of the national economy and achieve significant savings at the level of the Industrial sector.
Crop hail damage: insurance loss assessment using remote sensing

The project focussed on designing a remote sensing data acquisitions strategy that will suitably respond to the requirements of broadacre crop hail damage mapping and assessment. Current field based hail damage assessment practices are both time and labour intensive. This new strategy required multi-stage and multi-source data acquisition to be performed within specific time, spatial resolution and cost limitations. Integration with a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database is also essential to interface with an interactive administrative system. Remote sensing and GIS provides an economically viable technique for the recording, correlation, analysis and judicious evaluation of hail damage loss accuracy, consistency and creating a relational database. Value adding is realisable through modelling storm damage and past claims information for risk analysis scenarios to provide planning and crop management information to farmers. Information can also be provided to developers; land use planners; prospective buyers; insurance brokers and financial lending agencies. This technique’s attributes will enable a commercial Internet claims management platform to be established. This paper reports on results that encompass the strategy; spectral signature evaluation from a multiple hail damage simulations; and hail damage assessment using remotely sensed imagery.
Gr upSM Cognitive Bias Modification as Treatment for Schizophrenia

The next chapter focuses on different cognitive therapies and its use as an effective treatment for schizophrenia. While it is necessary the use of pharmacology for its treatment, also the use of psychotherapy is important as a form of maintenance and not relapse by the patient with schizophrenia. In addition, we have emphasis how cognitive biases influence the onset, maintenance and relapse of this mental disorder. Several studies have demonstrated its intimate relationship with schizophrenic disorders, and therefore, a therapy that works in your detection, reduction and avoidance is necessary. At present, we have found various cognitive therapies that work on these biases and have shown beneficial in improving the general functioning of these patients, avoiding relapses. Specifically, we will explain three therapies that have received a lot of attention called Cognitive Bias Modification, Metacognitive training and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Family interventions (FI).
Spurious Inference in the GARCH (1,1) Model When It Is Weakly Identified

This paper shows that the Zero-Information-Limit-Condition (ZILC) formulated by Nelson and Startz (2006) holds in the GARCH (1,1) model. As a result, the GARCH estimate tends to have too small a standard error relative to the true one when the ARCH parameter is small, even when sample size becomes very large. In combination with an upward bias in the GARCH estimate, the small standard error will often lead to the spurious inference that volatility is highly persistent when it is not. We develop an empirical strategy to deal with this issue and show how it applies to real datasets.
Voices of migrant women: The mediating role of resilience on the relationship between acculturation and psychological distress

The Australian Community Psychologist Volume 24 No 2 November 2012 © The Australian Psychological Society Ltd The total number of international migrants has increased from an estimated 150 million ten years ago to an estimated 214 million (United Nations, 2009). With the increase in migrant numbers, the Australian government has established numerous laws, legislations and policies to monitor the labour market outcomes of migrants. However, many of these laws and policies are either inadequate or inadequately utilised. For example, prejudices and discriminations toward asylum seekers, skilled or unskilled workers from overseas and anyone with ‘a Middle Eastern appearance’ demonstrate the perpetual xenophobia among Australians (Poynting & Noble, 2004, Jupp, Nieuwenhuysen, & Dawson, 2007). Likewise, the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) legislation which focuses on the equal employment of women does not have a policy to adequately address the concerns of migrants or migrant women. Thus, many migrant women continued to be employed in low paying and low status gender segregated occupations (Martin 1984; Parr & Guo, 2005). This policy also treats women as a single homogeneous group and fails to consider their multiple and intersecting identities. As a result, issues and challenges faced by ethnic minority women remain largely ignored (Syed & Ali, 2005). This is a considerable issue when you consider that a large proportion of migrants to Australia in recent years are women (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). Previous international migration research has also tended to focus explicitly on men and neglected migrant women’s acculturation experiences (Kofman, 2000; Pedraza, 1991; Zlotnik, 2003). Acculturation Acculturation has been conceptualised as an ongoing process of adjustment in which migrants adapt to the cultural values and life styles of the new society or culture (Bhugra, 2004). According to Bhugra (2004), the adaptation process consists of four stages: Pre-migration, beginning, middle and final Voices of Migrant Women: The Mediating Role of Resilience on the Relationship between Acculturation and Psychological Distress
H IERARCHICAL R EINFORCEMENT L EARNING VIA A DVANTAGE -W EIGHTED I NFORMATION

Real-world tasks are often highly structured. Hierarchical reinforcement learning (HRL) has attracted research interest as an approach for leveraging the hierarchical structure of a given task in reinforcement learning (RL). However, identifying the hierarchical policy structure that enhances the performance of RL in not a trivial task. In this paper, we propose an HRL method that learns a latent variable of a hierarchical policy using mutual information maximization. Our approach can be interpreted as a way to learn a discrete and latent representation of the state-action space in an unsupervised manner. To estimate the density of states and actions induced by the unknown optimal policy, we introduce advantageweighted importance sampling. In our HRL method, the gating policy learns to select option policies based on an option-value function, and these option policies are optimized based on the deterministic policy gradient method. This framework is derived by leveraging the analogy between a monolithic policy in standard RL and a hierarchical policy in HRL by using a deterministic option policy. Experimental results indicate that our HRL approach can learn a diversity of options and that it can enhance the performance of RL in continuous control tasks.
Channel Estimation and Beamforming Techniques in Multiuser MIMO-OFDM Systems

Multiple antenna communication has become one of the major focuses in wireless communication research. Transmit beamforming with receive combining is a simple method for exploiting the significant diversity provided by multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems and the use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) enables low complexity implementation of this scheme over frequency selective MIMO channels. A major challenge to MIMO-OFDM systems is how to obtain the channel state information accurately and promptly for coherent detection of information symbols and channel synchronization. This paper describes three beamforming techniques to MIMO-OFDM system and LSE channel estimation to improve the BER performance of the system.