Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep Frank-Wolfe For Neural Network Optimization

Learning a deep neural network requires solving a challenging optimization problem: it is a high-dimensional, non-convex and non-smooth minimization problem with a large number of terms. The current practice in neural network optimization is to rely on the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) algorithm or its adaptive variants. However, SGD requires a hand-designed schedule for the learning rate. In addition, its adaptive variants tend to produce solutions that generalize less well on unseen data than SGD with a hand-designed schedule. We present an optimization method that offers empirically the best of both worlds: our algorithm yields good generalization performance while requiring only one hyper-parameter. Our approach is based on a composite proximal framework, which exploits the compositional nature of deep neural networks and can leverage powerful convex optimization algorithms by design. Specifically, we employ the Frank-Wolfe (FW) algorithm for SVM, which computes an optimal step-size in closed-form at each time-step. We further show that the descent direction is given by a simple backward pass in the network, yielding the same computational cost per iteration as SGD. We present experiments on the CIFAR and SNLI data sets, where we demonstrate the significant superiority of our method over Adam, Adagrad, as well as the recently proposed BPGrad and AMSGrad. Furthermore, we compare our algorithm to SGD with a hand-designed learning rate schedule, and show that it provides similar generalization while converging faster. The code is publicly available at this https URL.
The Prompt Gamma-Ray and Afterglow Energies of Short-Duration Gamma-Ray Bursts

I present an analysis of the γ-ray and afterglow energies of a complete sample of 16 short-duration GRBs with prompt X-ray follow-up. I find that 80% of the bursts exhibit a linear correlation between their γ-ray fluence and the afterglow X-ray flux normalized to t = 1 day, a proxy for the kinetic energy of the blast wave (FX,1 ∝ F). An even tighter correlation is evident between the isotropic γ-ray energy, Eγ,iso, and the X-ray luminosity at t = 1 day, LX,1, for the subset of 12 bursts with measured or constrained redshifts. The remaining 20% of the bursts have values of FX,1/Fγ that are suppressed by about 3 orders of magnitude, likely as a result of low circumburst densities; this has been noted based on a smaller sample by Nakar (2007). These results have several important implications: (1) the X-ray luminosity is generally a robust proxy for the blast wave kinetic energy, indicating νX > νc, and hence a circumburst density n ≳ 0.05 cm-3; (2) most short GRBs have a narrow range of γ-ray efficiency, with ⟨ϵγ⟩ ≈ 0.1 and a spread of 0.3 dex; and (3) the isotropic-equivalent energies span 1048-1053 erg. Furthermore, I find tentative evidence for jet collimation (opening angle, θj ≈ 6°) in GRB 061006 leading to Eγ ≈ 4 × 1048 erg, similar to other short bursts with jet breaks. I find no clear evidence for a relation between the overall energy release and host galaxy type, but a positive correlation with duration may be present, albeit with a large scatter. Finally, I note that the low-density hypothesis for the outliers can be explained in the context of neutron star-neutron star (NS-NS) mergers in globular clusters (as opposed to large kick velocities), but present short GRB rate estimates may be an order of magnitude too large for this scenario to work.
Visible-light-induced selective synthesis of sulfoxides from alkenes and thiols using air as the oxidant

A highly selective synthesis of sulfoxides from alkenes and thiols was established by visible-light photoredox catalysis at room temperature. This metal-free transformation protocol, which uses inexpensive Rose Bengal as the photocatalyst and air as the green oxidant, opens a new door toward the facile and practical construction of sulfoxides.
PLATINUM . GROUP MINERALS AS INDICATORS OF SULFUR FUGACITY lN OPHIOLITIC UPPER MANTLE : AN EXAMPLE FROM CHROMITITES OF THE RAY _ IZ ULTRAMAFIC COMPLEX

The Ray-Iz ophiolite complex (Polar Urals, Russia) contains large chromite deposits associated with concordant to discordant bodies of dunite emplaced within harzburgitic mantle tectonite. Primary inclusions (1-25 p.m) of platinum-group-minerals (PGM) occur in the chromite, and consist of laurite, erlichmanite, and Os-Ir alloys, accompanied by cuproiridsite (k2CuSa), kashinite (Ir2S3), rhodian pentlandite, unknown sulfides with stoichiometries varying from (Ni>Fe>Cu)2(Ir>Rh)S3 to (NbF*Cu)2(Ir>Rh)Sa, irarsite, cherepanovite (RhAs), and unknown (Rh,Ni):As. The PGM paragenesis indicates deposition through an unusually wide range offlS2) and T compared with mantle-hosted chromitites from other ophiolite complexes This wide range is ascribed to the crystallization of PGM and chromite down to a relatively low temperature (T), enabling the relative increaseoff52) SuchflS2)-Tconditions,previouslyobservedinchromititesofTiebaghi(NewCaledonia)andKempirsai(southem Urals, Kazakhstan), seem to be peculiar to a chromite-forming system in fluid-metasomatized upper mantle of ophiolite complexes.
Use of combinations of canola meal and distillers dried grains with solubles in broiler starter diets

SUMMARY The development of the fuel ethanol industry has resulted in large quantities of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). This can partially replace corn and soybean meal in broiler diets, but the amino acids in DDGS are not balanced. Canola meal (CM) is a good protein source with a high amino acid content, so the combined use of DDGS and CM may improve the amino acid balance. A study was conducted to evaluate the use of DDGS in combination with CM in broiler diets. In a 6 × 6 factorial arrangement, 1,080 one-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to diets with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% DDGS of known composition; within each level of DDGS, diets contained 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25% CM from 0 to 18 d of age. Each treatment was replicated 6 times. Diets were formulated to meet digestible amino acid requirements and were fed as a 3.17-mm pellet. Body weight and feed consumption were measured at 18 d of age. In addition, feed bulk density and percentage of fines were evaluated. The DDGS and CM levels as well as their interaction significantly affected feed intake and BW (P
Integration processes during frequency graph comprehension: Performance and eye movements while processing tree maps versus pie charts

Appl Cognit Psychol. 2018;1–17. Summary Frequency graph types differ in the way how data are translated into visual representations. We compared 2 visualization methods, a traditional circular representation (pie chart) and a rectangular representation (constant column width tree map), which were hypothesized to differ regarding the cognitive ease of visual comparison processes. Performance was evaluated in tasks involving proportion and comparison judgments under both highly controlled and more realistic circumstances. The results showed performance benefits (in terms of reduced response times or error rates) for rectangular representations. Additional eye movement analyses revealed that this benefit was mainly due to a facilitation of scanning the graph for relevant information. The results suggest that facilitating comparison processes by representing the critical variable in less complex visual dimensions (i.e., straight length with constant orientation instead of surface area or curved length) eventually enhances the efficiency of integration processes during graph comprehension.
Performance evaluation of local features in human classification and detection

Detecting pedestrians accurately is the first fundamental step for many computer vision applications such as video surveillance, smart vehicles, intersection traffic analysis and so on. The authors present an experimental study on pedestrian detection using state-of-the-art local feature extraction and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. The performance of pedestrian detection using region covariance, histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) and local receptive fields (LRF) feature descriptors is experimentally evaluated. The experiments are performed on the DaimlerChrysler benchmarking data set, the MIT CBCL data set and 'Intitut National de Recherche en Informatique et Automatique (INRIA) data set. All can be publicly accessed. The experimental results show that region covariance features with radial basis function kernel SVM and HOG features with quadratic kernel SVM outperform the combination of LRF features with quadratic kernel SVM. Furthermore, the results reveal that both covariance and HOG features perform very well in the context of pedestrian detection.
The Empirical Effectsof Credit Risk on Profitability of Commercial Banks: Evidence from Nigeria

The study investigates the effect of credit risk on profitability of commercial banks in Nigeria. Specifically, this research is to determine the significant effects of credit risk and its measure indicators; and the relationship between the indicators which influence the profitability of banks. A total 8 commercial banks (SIBs) was selected for the study, from the period 2011-2014. A panel data analysis is employed for the study to provide a robustness to the analytical model which passes all validity and reliability test to be a good fit model for hypotheses testing. Diagnostic test is utilized to test for data reliability and validity. The result of the analysis has revealed that there is a negative and significant relationship between non-performing loan ratio and the profitability; negative and insignificant relationship between debts to total assets ratio and profitability, and a positive and insignificant relationship between debts to equity ratio and profitability of banks during the period of study. In general, the results propose that banks needs to refocus on the effective management of their inherent risk which often affects their profitability and financial viability. Therefore, the study concludes that credit risk impact on profitability of commercial banks in Nigeria.
Electrostatic levitation of volcanic ash into the ionosphere and its abrupt effect on climate

Large volcanic eruptions cause short-term climate change owing to the convective rise of fine ash and aerosols into the stratosphere. Volcanic plumes are, however, also associated with large net electrical charges that can also influence the dynamics of their ash particles. Here I show that electrostatic levitation of ash from plumes with a net charge is capable of injecting volcanic particles <500 nm in diameter into the ionosphere in large eruptions lasting more than a few hours. Measured disturbances in the ionosphere during eruptions, and the first discovery of polar mesospheric clouds after the A.D. 1883 Krakatau (Indonesia) eruption, are both consistent with levitation of ash into the mesosphere. Supervolcano eruptions are likely to inject significant quantities of charged ash into the ionosphere, resulting in distur-bance or collapse of the global electrical circuit on time scales of 10 2 s. Because atmospheric electrical potential moderates cloud formation, large eruptions may have abrupt effects on climate through radiative forcing. Average air temperature and precipitation records from the 1883 eruption of Krakatau are consistent with a sudden effect on climate.
WISDOM Project – II. Molecular gas measurement of the supermassive black hole mass in NGC 4697

As part of the mm-Wave Interferometric Survey of Dark Object Masses (WISDOM) project, we present an estimate of the mass of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in the nearby fast-rotating early-type galaxy NGC 4697. This estimate is based on Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) cycle-3 observations of the 12CO(2–1) emission line with a linear resolution of 29 pc (0.53 arcsec). We find that NGC 4697 hosts a small relaxed central molecular gas disc with a mass of 1.6 × 107 M⊙, co-spatial with the obscuring dust disc visible in optical Hubble Space Telescope imaging. We also resolve thermal 1 mm continuum emission from the dust in this disc. NGC 4697 is found to have a very low molecular gas velocity dispersion, σgas = 1.65 +0.68−0.65 −0.65+0.68 km s−1. This seems to be partially because the giant molecular cloud mass function is not fully sampled, but other mechanisms such as chemical differentiation in a hard radiation field or morphological quenching also seem to be required. We detect a Keplerian increase of the rotation of the molecular gas in the very centre of NGC 4697, and use forward modelling of the ALMA data cube in a Bayesian framework with the KINematic Molecular Simulation (KINMS) code to estimate an SMBH mass of (1.3 +0.18−0.17 −0.17+0.18 ) × 108 M⊙ and an i-band mass-to-light ratio of 2.14 +0.04−0.05 −0.05+0.04 M⊙/L⊙ (at the 99 per cent confidence level). Our estimate of the SMBH mass is entirely consistent with previous measurements from stellar kinematics. This increases confidence in the growing number of SMBH mass estimates being obtained in the ALMA era.
Comparative Study of Substrate-Based and Commercial Formulations of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Romaine Lettuce Subjected to Salt Stress

To compare the effect of substrate-based and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in salt stress tolerance of Romaine lettuce a bifactorial analysis was carried out. Under non-saline conditions, only plants inoculated with formulation 1 stimulated shoot weight but not related with greater root AMF colonization. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations in leaves were improved by mycorrhizal association. Irrigation with 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) did not affect leaf relative water content and we observed no osmotic adjustment in leaves from non-mycorrhizal plants. However, root dry biomass and its starch content decreased, while leaf starch and root soluble sugar concentrations were enhanced. Lettuce inoculated with formulation 2 and substrate-based Glomus intraradices showed the highest root colonization percentages. Nevertheless, none of the mycorrhizal treatments induced a significant improvement on growth of lettuce subjected to salt stress. Romaine lettuce seems to be a moderately tolerant variety to salinity and therefore, the contribution of AMF was minimized.
Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Winter Yoghurt Produced from Mixtures of Cow’s and Goat’s Milk

Winter yoghurt is one of the most popular dairy products in Van and Hatay region of Turkey. It is made of different kinds of milk, and known as “cooked yoghurt” or “salted yoghurt” due to its high solids content and long shelf life. In this study, two different concentration methods were used to produce traditional winter yoghurt. Some physical (firmness and cohesiveness, L-, a- and b- values), chemical (total solid, fat, protein, pH, lactic acid, salt) and sensory analyses (color, odor, consistent and flavor) were made to determine the effect of production methods and storage on winter yoghurt samples at the 1st, 30th, 60th and 90th days. Significant differences were found between sensory, rheological properties and color values of winter yoghurts however no significant differences were found between physicochemical properties of the samples. Especially, winter yoghurts produced from 100% goat milk were the more appreciated samples.
Effect of microwave heating on content of cyanogenic glycosides in linseed.

Linseed is a good source of linoleic (LA, 18:2, n-6) and especially α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3, n-3), ω6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are essential because mammals, and therefore humans, cannot endogenously synthesize them and must adopt them exogenously from dietary sources. In spite of its high nutritive value, linseed has not been effectively exploited in animal feeding, due to the fact that it contains antinutritive components, which are cyanogenic glycosides (CG) and antivitamin B6 (linatine). CGs are a major limitation in application of linseed and its meal in animal nutrition. The objective of the study was to investigate effect of microwave heat treatment on the content of hydrogen cyanide, and consequently cyanogenic glycosides in linseed. Operating frequency of microwave oven was 2450 mHz, and working power was 240W, 400W, 560W and 800W. Samples were treated for 0, 3, 6 and 10 minutes for every working power. When microwave power of 560 W and 800 W was used for 6 min and longer, linseed samples were burned and damaged, therefore these treatments should not be used. Minimal time of heating with microwave power of 400W, which would provide reduction of HCN content under allowed limits (250 mg/kg of linseed), was determined graphically using three-dimensional contour plot graph and it was 290 s (4 minutes and 50 s). This regime is recommended for treating linseed before usage as a feed compound.
Illicit Seeds: Epistemic Brokers and the Politics of Property in Genetic Engineering

The global political rift around agricultural biotechnology [“GMOs” in political use] hinges on two inter-related dimensions: bio-property and bio-safety. Genetic engineering in agriculture has enabled new claims of intellectual property in seeds, leading to conflicts over what can be owned, by whom, under what conditions. Firms seek strong intellectual property, relying on claims of novelty and utility parallel to patent claims. Claims of novelty, however, reinforce a second dimension of contention: if novel, might products of genetic engineering raise special risks in comparison to other cultivars? Political framing of “GMOs” as risky products created global soft law for special regulation, in response to transnational advocacy politics. Both property claims and bio-safety regulation increase incentives for emergence of underground seed markets, where evasion of both regimes is possible. Contraband, “gray-market,” “brown-bag,” or “creolized” transgenic seeds diffuse widely beneath the radar of both firms and states in a global pattern about which little systematic is known. Stealth transgenics build on rural grass-roots challenges to formal intellectual property claims, and simultaneously constitute continuous challenges to states’ bio-safety claims of special regulatory authority and capacity. Illicit seeds render problematic conventional wisdom on the extent of diffusion of transgenic technologies, income-distribution effects of intellectual property claims and the effectiveness of bio-safety regimes. Successful demands for stronger regulation of transgenics on grounds of bio-safety ironically strengthen property-like rights of multi-national firms that find it difficult to enforce their property claims in any other way. Bio-safety regulation is a functional substitute for bio-property; the contradiction in oppositional politics is un-noted. This essay relies mostly on field work in India.
Determination of Heavy Metals in Low Value Food Fish from Commercial Landing Centers (India) by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer

A bio-monitoring study was performed to investigate certain metals (cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, aluminium and boron), using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) for the assessment of the present status in the two coastal ecosystems and compiling the baseline data for future monitoring. Tissue samples of fishes have different level of accumulation viz, Cd = 0.07-0.40, Co = 0-0.32, Cu = 0.53–0.39, Fe = 1.42–8.12, Mg = 9.74–33.1, Mn = 0.08–0.84, Ni = 0.01–0.97, Pb = 0.12–2.05, Zn = 0.81–2.11, Al = 1.26-3.98, Cr = 0.25-1.76 and B = 0.17-1.87 µg g -1 dry wt. respectively. The rate of metal accumulation higher in species ( Thalassoma trilobatum and Saurida tumbil) . Concentration of toxic metals such as Cd and Pb were well above the permissible limits proposed by the World Health Organization and Food and Agricultural Organizations.
First attempt to assess the viability of bluefin tuna spawning events in offshore cages located in an a priori favourable larval habitat

Most of the Atlantic bluefin tuna caught by the purse-seine fleet in the Mediterranean Sea are transferred alive into transport cages and towed to coastal facilities where they are fattened. This major fishery is targeting aggregations of reproductive bluefin tuna that continue spawning within the transport cages. Our study is the first attempt to assess the viability of the spawning events within transport cages placed offshore in a priori favourable locations for larval survival. The study was conducted in June 2010 in the Balearic Sea, a main spawning area for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. The location of two transport cages, one with wild and one with captive tuna, coincide with the situation of the chlorophyll front using satellite imagery as a proxy for the salinity front between resident surface waters and those of recent Atlantic origin. The results showed that bluefin tuna eggs were spawned almost every day within the two cages but few or no larvae were found. The expected larval densities estimated after applying mortality curves to the daily egg densities observed in the cages were higher than the sampled larval densities. The trajectories of the eggs after hatching estimated from a particle tracking model based on observed geostrophic currents and a drifter deployed adjacent to the cage suggest that larvae were likely to be caught close to the cages within the sampling dates. Spawning events in captive tuna in transport cages may hatch into larvae though they may experience higher mortality rates than expected in natural populations. The causes of the larval mortality are further discussed in the text. Such studies should be repeated in other spawning areas in the Mediterranean if spawning in cages located offshore in areas favourable a priori for larval survival is likely to be considered a management measurement to minimize the impact of purse-seine fishing on tuna.
PREDATOR COMMUNITY AND RESEARCHER-INDUCED IMPACTS ON NEST SUCCESS OF RIO GRANDE WILD TURKEYS IN TEXAS

Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) populations in Texas appear to be declining, and poor nest success could be contributing to the decline. Techniques to monitor nest success and predator impacts are necessary to make sound conservation decisions. We evaluated nest predator community structure and researcher-induced impacts on success of Rio Grande wild turkey nests and artificial nests at study sites located on the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains ecological regions of Texas. During the 2007 nesting season in the Edwards Plateau, we monitored 22 wild turkey nests with digital cameras and 20 without cameras. The presence of the digital camera did not result in higher nest failure rates. To simulate researcher impacts on nests, we compared predation rates of handled and unhandled artificial nests in 2007 and 2008. Predation rates were higher on handled nests in both years. Cameras placed at random, non-baited points captured photos of potential nest predators. Nest predator communities differed between study areas; avian predators were more frequent in the South Texas plains, whereas mammalian predators were more prevalent in the Edwards Plateau. Our results indicate that the presence of cameras alone did not impact wild turkey nests, but active human activities associated with nest surveillance may influence artificial nest failure. Moreover, nest predation could be, to some degree, a random occurrence depending on the nest predator’s search image and the predator community present. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 10:235–242