Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using imperfect advance demand information in lost-sales inventory systems with the option of returning inventory

ABSTRACT Motivated by real-life applications, we consider an inventory system where it is possible to collect information about the quantity and timing of future demand in advance. However, this Advance Demand Information (ADI) is imperfect as (i) it may turn out to be false; (ii) a time interval is provided for the demand occurrences rather than its exact time; and (iii) there are still customer demand occurrences for which ADI cannot be provided. To make best use of imperfect information and integrate it with inventory supply decisions, we allow for returning excess stock built up due to imperfections to the upstream supplier and we propose a lost-sales inventory model with a general representation of imperfect ADI. A partial characterization of the optimal ordering and return policy is provided. Through an extensive numerical study, we investigate the value of ADI and factors that affect that value. We show that using imperfect ADI can yield substantial savings, the amount of savings being sensitive to the quality of information; the benefit of the ADI increases considerably if the excess stock can be returned. We apply our model to a spare parts case. The value of imperfect ADI turns out to be significant.
Does the rider influence the horse's movement in hippotherapy?

Background: In hippotherapy, in comparison to equitation, it is assumed that the rider is a passive element, only stimulated by mechanical impulses produced by the moving horse's back. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the rider on the horse's movement in hippotherapy. Methods: Two sound thoroughbreds with a similar body shape and size (age: 19 and 14 years, withers height: 1.65 m both, weight: 548 and 500 kg) participated in the study. The test group of riders consisted of twelve healthy young women (age: 23.3 ± 2.8, weight: 59.2 ± 5.3, height: 167.3 ± 4.2) without any previous horse riding experience. For each rider 36 trials in total (6 strides in 6 hippotherapy sessions held during the course of five weeks) were evaluated. The movement was recorded by 4 videocameras (frequency 50 Hz). Spatiotemporal variables, the vertical displacement of selected points on the horse's limbs and the back and angle displacement of tarsus joint were analyzed by the APAS programme. Statistical processing was performed by the Statistica programme (one way ANOVA). Results: In our study, we didn't find any statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) for stride duration, stride length and a horse's walking velocity. Upon the walking of Horse No. 1 with various riders, statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in the vertical and angle displacement of points on the hind limb and on the horse's back were found. For Horse No. 2, a statistically significant influence of the rider on the movement of the horse was found only in the vertical displacement of the fore hoof. Conclusions: In hippotherapy, basic spatiotemporal variables of a horse's natural walking aren't influenced by the rider. As for the vertical displacement of points on the limbs and the horse's back, the results are not explicit. A larger number of horses is necessary for future study. The patient and the horse in hippotherapy are to be rather considered as interactive elements than as passive and active elements.
Towards accurate modelling of galaxy clustering on small scales: testing the standard ΛCDM + halo model

Interpreting the small-scale clustering of galaxies with halo models can elucidate the connection between galaxies and dark matter halos. Unfortunately, the modelling is typically not sufficiently accurate for ruling out models statistically. It is thus difficult to use the information encoded in small scales to test cosmological models or probe subtle features of the galaxy-halo connection. In this paper, we attempt to push halo modelling into the "accurate" regime with a fully numerical mock-based methodology and careful treatment of statistical and systematic errors. With our forward-modelling approach, we can incorporate clustering statistics beyond the traditional two-point statistics. We use this modelling methodology to test the standard $\Lambda\mathrm{CDM}$ + halo model against the clustering of SDSS DR7 galaxies. Specifically, we use the projected correlation function, group multiplicity function and galaxy number density as constraints. We find that while the model fits each statistic separately, it struggles to fit them simultaneously. Adding group statistics leads to a more stringent test of the model and significantly tighter constraints on model parameters. We explore the impact of varying the adopted halo definition and cosmological model and find that changing the cosmology makes a significant difference. The most successful model we tried (Planck cosmology with Mvir halos) matches the clustering of low luminosity galaxies, but exhibits a 2.3$\sigma$ tension with the clustering of luminous galaxies, thus providing evidence that the "standard" halo model needs to be extended. This work opens the door to adding interesting freedom to the halo model and including additional clustering statistics as constraints.
Income Distribution and Development: Some Stylized Facts

In recent years, the relationship between income distribution and the process of development has come under increasing scrutiny. Much of the debate has focused on the hypothesis, originally advanced by Simon Kuznets, that the secular behavior of inequality follows an inverted U-shaped pattern with inequality first increasing and then decreasing with development. This hypothesis has become so much a part of the conventional wisdom on this subject that it has generated considerable skepticism about the welfare implications of the development process. Indeed, on some interpretations, developing countries face the grim prospect not just of increasing relative inequality, but also of declining absolute incomes for the lower income groups.
From quantum to classical modeling of radiation reaction: a focus on the radiation spectrum

Soon available multi-petawatt ultra-high-intensity (UHI) lasers will allow us to probe high-amplitude electromagnetic fields interacting with either ultra-relativistic electron beams or hot plasmas in the moderately quantum regime. The correct modeling of the back-reaction of high-energy photon emission on the radiating electron dynamics, henceforth referred to as radiation reaction (RR), is a key point for UHI physics. This will lead to both validation of theoretical predictions on the photon spectrum emitted during the laser-particle interaction and to the generation of high-energy photon sources. In this paper we analyze in detail such emission using recently developed models to account for RR. We show how the predictions on the spectrum can be linked to a reduced description of the electron distribution function in terms of the first energy moments. The temporal evolution of the spectrum is discussed, as well as the parameters for which quantum effects induce hardening of the spectrum.
Examination of Fingernail Contents and Stool for Ova, Cyst and Larva of Intestinal Parasites from Food Handlers Working in Student Cafeterias in three Higher Institutions in Jimma

Background: A prerequisite for the most practical and economic control and prevention measures of intestinal parasites is to have a clear understanding of their mode of transmission and epidemiology. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene working in food serving establishments could be potential sources of infections by many of the intestinal helminths and protozoa. The objective of this study was to determine the level of fingernail contamination with stages of parasites as a contribution of the hand-tomouth route in the transmission of intestinal parasites. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of food-handlers working in student cafeteria in three higher educational institutions in Jimma town i.e., Jimma University (the former Jimma Institute of Health Sciences and Jimma College of Agriculture), and Jimma Teachers’ Training College, was conducted to determine the level of finger nail contamination with ova, larvae and cysts of parasites and stool from November 1 to December 1, 1997. One hundred and one food-handlers working in the three cafeterias during the study period were included in the study. From the study subjects finger nail contents of both hands and stool specimens were examined by direct microscopic examination using normal saline and iodine solution. Results: Out of the 101 finger nail content specimens, 11 (10.9%) were positive for one or more parasites. The parasites identified were Ascaris lumbericoides, Taenia species, Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. Of the 101 of the stool specimens examined 59(58.4%) were positive for any one parasite and multiple infections were identified in 17.8% of the positive cases. A. lumbricoides 24(23.8%) was found to be the most prevalent parasite followed by Trichuris trichuria 17(16.8%), E. histolytica,10 (9.9%), Hookworm species, 3 (2.9%), Taenia species, 3 (2.9%), and G. lamblia, 2 (1.9%). Further analysis showed that there was no statistically significance difference between the findings in the three institutions (P>0.05). Conclusion: Results from such studies may contribute in identifying the factors involved in the hand-to-moth transmission of parasites and in breaking the chain of transmission by recommending the implementation of such simple preventive and control measures including proper personal hygiene, regular medical check up of food handlers, regular trimming of fingernails and health education. Ethiop J Health Sci Vol. 11, No. 2 July 2001
Multi-Class Poisson Disk Sampling

Sampling has been a core process for a variety of graphics applications including rendering, imaging, and geometry processing. Among the plethora of sampling patterns, Poisson disk distribution remains one of the most popular thanks to its spatial uniformity and blue noise spectrum. However, research so far has been mainly focused on Poisson disk distribution with one class of samples. This could be insufficient for common natural as well as man-made phenomenon requiring multiple classes of samples, such as object placement, imaging sensors, and stippling patterns. We extend Poisson disk sampling to multiple classes of samples where each individual class as well as their union exhibit Poisson disk properties. We propose algorithms to generate such multi-class Poisson disk samples, study their statistical characteristics, and demonstrate applications in object placement, sensor layout, and color stippling.
Psychological factors related to Buruli ulcer and tuberculosis in Sub-Saharan Africa

Delay in seeking treatment at the hospital is an important problem in Tuberculosis (TB) control. It affects the prognosis of the patient as well as the transmission within the community. Previous studies showed different individual and health systems factors to be related to delay, however, these studies did not quantitatively assess patients’ beliefs and perceptions related to delay when experiencing symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to gain more insight into the relationship between illness perceptions and patient delay in a TB population by adopting a quantitative approach in which factors previously related to patient delay were taken into account. 128 newly diagnosed TB patients from the Kano region in Nigeria, who were visiting the hospital for the first time were included in this cross-sectional interview. Patients were included when they had a confirmed diagnosis of TB, aged between 16 and 65 years and able to speak English or Hausa. Measures included delay, treatment choice, illness perceptions (IPQ-R), and basic characteristics. 25% of patients delayed less than four weeks, 37% delayed four to 12 weeks and 38% delayed more than 12 weeks. TB patients perceived their disease to be acute, and felt highly in control over their disease and treatment. Patients did not fully understand their disease, and associated it with many negative emotions. TB patients believed in causes such as ‘from God’, ‘taking cold drinks’ and ‘air pollution’. The majority of patients used two to three other types of treatment before presenting at the hospital; mostly the Patent Medicine Vendor, self-treatment, herbalist or mosque. Patient delay was related to unemployment and negative emotional representations. Our findings add to the literature the relationship between delay, employment status and emotional representations in TB. This novel information provides tools for program managers and health care providers to reduce delay among TB patients.
Signatures of primordial black holes as seeds of supermassive black holes

It is broadly accepted that Supermassive Black Holes (SMBHs) are located in the centers of most massive galaxies, although there is still no convincing scenario for the origin of their massive seeds. It has been suggested that primordial black holes (PBHs) of masses ≳ 102 M⊙ may provide such seeds, which would grow to become SMBHs. We suggest an observational test to constrain this hypothesis: gas accretion around PBHs during the cosmic dark ages powers the emission of high energy photons which would modify the spin temperature as measured by 21cm Intensity Mapping (IM) observations. We model and compute their contribution to the standard sky-averaged signal and power spectrum of 21cm IM, accounting for its substructure and angular dependence for the first time. If PBHs exist, the sky-averaged 21cm IM signal in absorption would be higher, while we expect an increase in the power spectrum for ℓ ≳ 102−103. We also forecast PBH detectability and measurement errors in the abundance and Eddington ratios for different fiducial parameter configurations for various future experiments, ranging from SKA to a futuristic radio array on the dark side of the Moon. While the SKA could provide a detection, only a more ambitious experiment would provide accurate measurements.
Will Population Ageing Necessarily Lead to an Increase in the Number of Persons with Disabilities

There is a widespread expectation that the combination of significant population ageing in Europe over the coming decades, along with the fact that the elderly are more likely to have disabilities, will result in a large increase in the total prevalence of disability and the need for significantly expanded care facilities for the elderly. Recent evidence from the U.S., however, suggests that disability rates of the elderly are declining and that further declines could be expected in the future. In this paper we present alternative demographic scenarios for the European Union (EU-15) that distinguish between people with and without disabilities by age and sex. The results show that under the assumption of a constant age-specific disability profile, we indeed expect a significant increase in the total number of people with disabilities due to population ageing. However, if the age profile of disability is shifted to the right (i.e., to higher ages) by one, two, or three years per decade, the scenarios show a much lower or no increase in the number of persons with disabilities in Europe over the coming decades.
CEO Turnover in LBOs: The Role of Boards

We examine the CEO turnover in LBOs backed by private equity funds. When a company is taken private, we find that the CEO turnover decreases and is less contingent on performance. We also find that a higher involvement of the LBO sponsors, who replace the outside directors on the board after transition to private, reduces the CEO turnover and its sensitivity to performance, but improves the operating performance. These findings suggest that more inside information and effective monitoring allow private equity funds to assess CEOs' performance over a longer horizon relative to their publicly-traded counterparts.
Scale-free Networks in the Presence of Constraints: An Empirical Investigation of the Airline Route Network

Classifying the types of networks has been a focus of analysis in the recent, small-world research. A unifying theory has been introduced to provide an integrative perspective on the statistical properties of a variety of real-world networks. This theory postulates that the existence of constraints deters the emergence of a scale-free network. For example, the theory argues that the constraints of airport capacity limit the growth of air traffic, blocking the emergence of a scale-free network. We challenge this argument by reexamining the context of the airline industry. We empirically show that the U. S. airline route network is a scale-free network despite the presence of capacity constraints. We propose a new avenue for future research.
Maximizing Fiber Utilization of Silage in Ruminants

This chapter highlights the importance of fiber digestibility and utilization in ruminants and to summarize the main factors that influence fiber digestibility in silages. Forage provides at least half of the diet of lactating cattle and greatly affects energy and carbohydrate intake. It is important to maximize the intake of digestible carbohydrate from forages, because energy requirements for maintenance and milk production often exceed the amount of energy high-producing cows can consume, particularly in early lactation. There are many approaches used for enhancing fiber utilization in silage and subsequent maximizing energy intake and productivity of dairy cattle. Out of these approaches are: selecting appropriate forages with high fiber digestibility, applying the appropriate agronomic practices such as harvesting at the proper stage of maturity, fertilization, and cutting height at harvest, along with using of esterase-producing inoculants or fibrolytic enzymes have been proposed as approaches to improving the productivity of dairy cattle.
Radionuclides in the Kongsfjorden area, Svalbard

The archipelago of Svalbard is located at the junction of Arctic Ocean, the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea. During a field campaign in May 2000, seawater, sea ice and seaweed, were collected in Kongsfjorden at the western coast of Spitsbergen. Possible sources for artificial radionuclides in the marine Svalbard environment are long-distance transported discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants, dumped radioactive waste, accidents with ships, submarines and power plants containing radioactive material, and global fallout from nuclear test explosions. Samples were taken to measure the radioisotopes technetium ("Tc, sea water and seaweed), plutonium (sea water) and caesium ('"Cs, sea water and melted sea ice). Certain processes are unique for the high-arctic environment such as formation of sea ice. The fast ice in Kongsfjorden provides an opportunity to investigate to what degree radionuclides accumulate in sea ice compared with the seawater below. Another important question relates to how radionuclides accumulate in the Arctic in different types of seaweed. First results from laboratory analyses of the samples taken in May 2000 show "Tc concentrations in seawater similar to levels measured in the western Barents Sea in 1999-2000. Corresponding measurements along the Norwegian coast are one order of magnitude higher. Enhanced values measured at Hilles0y (Northern Norway), in the Barents Sea and off Svalbard and can be explained with increased discharges of "Tc-contamina ted wastewater at the Sellafield reprocessing plant since 1994.
How Do I Regret Thee? Let Me Count My Alternatives: Regret and Decision Making in Intimate Relationships

It is unsurprising when dissatisfied couples separate, but happy couples also dissolve their relationship. A hypothesized precursor to such outcomes is the availability of a better alternative partner. The current study examined regret over one’s current partner selection as the possible mechanism by which better alternatives leads to partner switching in otherwise happy unions. An undergraduate sample (N = 94) was administered several questionnaires; which included measures of partner regret, relationship satisfaction, the availability of more attractive alternative partners, and the probability of switching to an alternative in the future. For relatively satisfied individuals, the presence of a better alternative elicited regrets about their currently selected partner that, in turn, predicted greater hypothetical intentions to partner switch. Less satisfied individuals also endorsed partner regret, but irrespective of whether a current alternative was actually available. Only relatively satisfied individuals without more attractive alternatives endorsed low partner regret and, subsequently, greater intentions to remain in their current relationship.
Growth of Sugar Cane Under Cultivation Flooded at Different Speeds Lowering of the Water Table

In order to study the effect of downgrade rate of water table in the growth of sugar cane (Saccharum spp, cultivate 867515), an experiment in was carried under randomized block design with factorial arrangement (3 × 5 + 1) and 4 replications, applying the flood irrigation system in 3 stages of development (67, 210 and 300 days after planting - DAP) with 5 downgrade rate of water table (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days) and the control (no flood). The plants were grown in soil columns of 240 liters, filled with Yellow Oxisol by 300 days after planting and monitored as the height of the stem, number of leaves, stem diameter, number of internodes, number of tillers, leaf area, growth increment, rate relative growth, leaf area index, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area. The stages of development that the flooding was applied at a rate of lowering of the groundwater level variables influenced the growth of cane sugar. The plants drenched at 210 days after planting for 12 days had higher growth of stem, leaf number, leaf area and leaf area index. Plants exposed to water logging after 67 and 210 days after planting obtain better physiological indices that the witness and those who received the 305 DAP waterlogging. It is recommended that the spacing between drains is estimated to be able to lower the water table, after a reloading project to 30 cm deep in 15 days.
A 350 ka record of climate change from Lake El'gygytgyn, Far East Russian Arctic: refining the pattern of climate modes by means of cluster analysis

Abstract. Rock magnetic, biochemical and inorganic records of the sediment cores PG1351 and Lz1024 from Lake El'gygytgyn, Chukotka peninsula, Far East Russian Arctic, were subject to a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis in order to refine and extend the pattern of climate modes as defined by Melles et al. (2007). Cluster analysis of the data obtained from both cores yielded similar results, differentiating clearly between the four climate modes warm, peak warm, cold and dry, and cold and moist. In addition, two transitional phases were identified, representing the early stages of a cold phase and slightly colder conditions during a warm phase. The statistical approach can thus be used to resolve gradual changes in the sedimentary units as an indicator of available oxygen in the hypolimnion in greater detail. Based upon cluster analyses on core Lz1024, the published succession of climate modes in core PG1351, covering the last 250 ka, was modified and extended back to 350 ka. Comparison to the marine oxygen isotope (δ18O) stack LR04 (Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005) and the summer insolation at 67.5° N, with the extended Lake El'gygytgyn parameter records of magnetic susceptibility (κLF), total organic carbon content (TOC) and the chemical index of alteration (CIA; Minyuk et al., 2007), revealed that all stages back to marine isotope stage (MIS) 10 and most of the substages are clearly reflected in the pattern derived from the cluster analysis.