Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HIGH BASAL METABOLIC RATES OF SHOREBIRDS WHILE IN THE ARCTIC: A CIRCUMPOLAR VIEW

Abstract The basal metabolic rate (BMR) of Old World long-distance-migrant shorebirds has been found to vary along their migration route. On average, BMR is highest in the Arctic at the start of fall migration, intermediate at temperate latitudes, and lowest on the tropical wintering grounds. As a test of the generality of this pattern, we measured the BMR of one adult and 44 juvenile shorebirds of 10 species (1–18 individuals of each species, body-mass range 19–94 g) during the first part of their southward migration in the Canadian Arctic (68–76°N). The interspecific relationship between BMR and body mass was almost identical to that found for juvenile shorebirds in the Eurasian Arctic (5 species), although only one species appeared in both data sets. We conclude that high BMR of shorebirds in the Arctic is a circumpolar phenomenon. The most likely explanation is that the high BMR reflects physiological adaptations to low ambient temperatures. Whether the BMR of New World shorebirds drops during southward migration remains to be investigated. Altas Tasas Metabólicas Basales de Aves Playeras Mientras Se Encuentran en el Ártico: Una Visión Circumpolar Resumen. Se ha encontrado que la tasa metabólica basal (TMB) de las aves playeras migratorias de larga distancia varía a lo largo de sus rutas de migración en el viejo mundo. En promedio, la TMB es máxima al comienzo de la migración otoñal en el ártico, intermedia en latitudes templadas y mínima en las áreas tropicales de invernada. Para poner a prueba la generalidad de este patrón, medimos la TMB de un individuo adulto y 44 juveniles de diez especies de aves playeras (1–18 individuos de cada especie, rango de peso corporal 19–94 g) durante la primera parte de su migración hacia el sur en el ártico canadiense (68–76°N). La relación interespecífica entre la TMB y el peso corporal fue casi idéntica a la que se había encontrado en juveniles de 5 especies de aves playeras en el ártico de Eurasia, aunque sólo una especie fue considerada en ambos estudios. Concluimos que la alta TMB de las aves playeras en el ártico representa un fenómeno circumpolar. La explicación más probable es que las altas TMBs reflejan adaptaciones fisiológicas a ambientes de bajas temperaturas. Aún no se ha investigado si las TMBs de las aves playeras del nuevo mundo disminuyen durante la migración hacia el sur.
Surface Density of Spacetime Degrees of Freedom from Equipartition Law in theories of Gravity

I show that the principle of equipartition, applied to area elements of a surface ∂V which are in equilibrium at the local Davies-Unruh temperature, allows one to determine the surface number density of the microscopic spacetime degrees of freedom in any diffeomorphism invariant theory of gravity. The entropy associated with these degrees of freedom matches with the Wald entropy for the theory. This result also allows one to attribute an entropy density to the spacetime in a natural manner. The field equations of the theory can then be obtained by extremizing this entropy. Moreover, when the microscopic degrees of freedom are in local thermal equilibrium, the spacetime entropy of a bulk region resides on its boundary.
UBC-NLP at IEST 2018: Learning Implicit Emotion With an Ensemble of Language Models

We describe UBC-NLP contribution to IEST-2018, focused at learning implicit emotion in Twitter data. Among the 30 participating teams, our system ranked the 4th (with 69.3% F-score). Post competition, we were able to score slightly higher than the 3rd ranking system (reaching 70.7%). Our system is trained on top of a pre-trained language model (LM), fine-tuned on the data provided by the task organizers. Our best results are acquired by an average of an ensemble of language models. We also offer an analysis of system performance and the impact of training data size on the task. For example, we show that training our best model for only one epoch with < 40% of the data enables better performance than the baseline reported by Klinger et al. (2018) for the task.
The evaluation of scholarship in academic promotion and tenure processes: Past, present, and future

Review, promotion, and tenure (RPT) processes significantly affect how faculty direct their own career and scholarly progression. Although RPT practices vary between and within institutions, and affect various disciplines, ranks, institution types, genders, and ethnicity in different ways, some consistent themes emerge when investigating what faculty would like to change about RPT. For instance, over the last few decades, RPT processes have generally increased the value placed on research, at the expense of teaching and service, which often results in an incongruity between how faculty actually spend their time vs. what is considered in their evaluation. Another issue relates to publication practices: most agree RPT requirements should encourage peer-reviewed works of high quality, but in practice, the value of publications is often assessed using shortcuts such as the prestige of the publication venue, rather than on the quality and rigor of peer review of each individual item. Open access and online publishing have made these issues even murkier due to misconceptions about peer review practices and concerns about predatory online publishers, which leaves traditional publishing formats the most desired despite their restricted circulation. And, efforts to replace journal-level measures such as the impact factor with more precise article-level metrics (e.g., citation counts and altmetrics) have been slow to integrate with the RPT process. Questions remain as to whether, or how, RPT practices should be changed to better reflect faculty work patterns and reduce pressure to publish in only the most prestigious traditional formats. To determine the most useful way to change RPT, we need to assess further the needs and perceptions of faculty and administrators, and gain a better understanding of the level of influence of written RPT guidelines and policy in an often vague process that is meant to allow for flexibility in assessing individuals.
Role of the Region 23-28 in Aβ Fibril Formation: Insights from Simulations of the Monomers and Dimers of Alzheimers Peptides Aβ40 and Aβ42

Self-assembly of the 40/42 amino acid A! peptide is a key player in Alzheimer's disease. A! 40 is the most prevalent species, while A! 42 is the most toxic. It has been suggested that the amino acids 21-30 could nucleate the fold- ing of A! monomer and a bent in this region could be the rate-limiting step in A! fibril formation. In this study, we review our current understanding of the computer-predicted conformations of amino acids 23-28 in the monomer of A! (21-30) and the monomers A! 40 and A! 42. On the basis of new simulations on dimers of full-length A! , we propose that the rate- limiting step involves the formation of a multimeric ! -sheet spanning the central hydrophobic core (residues 17-21).
'Implicit' and 'Explicit' CSR: A Conceptual Framework for a Comparative Understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility

We address the question of how and why corporate social responsibility (CSR) differs among countries and how and why it changes. Applying two schools of thought in institutional theory we conceptualize, first, the differences between CSR in the USA and Europe and, second, the recent rise of CSR in Europe. We also delineate the potential of our framework for application to other parts of the global economy.
Performance and Energy Modeling of Heterogeneous Many-core Architectures

Advances in processor design have recently pushed for the development of heterogeneous processors, in order to tackle the power and memory walls. However, fully exploiting the heterogeneity of many-core processing systems requires efficient scheduling mechanisms, in order to anticipate the performance and energy gains due to the migration of an application from one core to another. Although multiple approaches have been proposed to model such gains, they are generally limited in the supported levels of heterogeneity and can only be applied to a small subset of cores. Hence, a new methodology is herein proposed for performance and energy modeling of highly-heterogeneous many-core processors, which is specifically developed with the purpose of enabling system schedulers to perform near-optimal decisions. The proposed approach relies on a Linear Regression Model and on a set of specifically devised regressors that are highly correlated with several micro-architectural parameters of modern in-order and out-of-order processor architectures, including the cache size, issue-width, re-order buffer size and load/store queues size. To evaluate the proposed methodology, a set of 500 different core-architectures were simulated and their performance and energy consumption was modeled. Experimental results show that all models exhibit a high prediction accuracy, attaining coefficients of determination as high as 0,95. Moreover, when applied to the scheduling of applications on a simulated big.LITTLE system, the devised models allow the scheduler to correctly identify the optimal core-architecture in a large majority of the cases, leading to power-delay product differences of less than 1% compared with an oracle scheduling solution.
The Potential of Demand-Responsive Transport as a Complement to Public Transport: An Assessment Framework and an Empirical Evaluation

Demand-responsive transport (DRT) services (collective on-demand services, such as shared ridesourcing and microtransit) offer a collective flexible travel alternative that can potentially complement fixed transit (FT). The combination of an on-demand and line-based service holds the promise of improved mobility and increased service coverage. However, to date, it remains unknown whether DRT services deliver these much anticipated improvements. This study presents an assessment framework to evaluate the performance of DRT and related changes in accessibility, and performs an empirical analysis for a recently introduced DRT service in the Netherlands. The framework includes a performance benchmark between DRT and FT based on the computation of generalized journey times of the DRT rides and the FT alternatives, and can help identify whether DRT is used as a complement or a substitute for FT. The framework covers the spatial and temporal dimensions, and the explicit consideration of rejected trips is an integral part of the evaluation. Results suggest large accessibility improvements for DRT users, especially for some underserved origin–destination pairs.
Sculpting the disk around T Chamaeleontis: an interferometric view

Context. Circumstellar disks are believed to be the birthplace of planets and are expected to dissipate on a timescale of a few Myr. The processes responsible for the removal of the dust and gas will strongly modify the radial distribution of the circumstellar matter and consequently the spectral energy distribution. In particular, a young planet will open a gap, resulting in an inner disk dominating the near-IR emission and an outer disk emitting mostly in the far-infrared. Aims. We analyze a full set of data involving new near-infrared data obtained with the 4-telescope combiner (VLTI/PIONIER), new mid-infrared interferometric VLTI/MIDI data, literature photometric and archival data from VLT/NaCo/SAM to constrain the structure of the transition disk around T Cha. Methods. After a preliminary analysis with a simple geometric model, we used the MCFOST radiative transfer code to simultaneously model the SED and the interferometric observables from raytraced images in the H-, L 0 -, and N-bands. Results. We find that the dust responsible for the strong emission in excess in the near-IR must have a narrow temperature distribution with a maximum close to the silicate sublimation temperature. This translates into a narrow inner dusty disk (0.07‐0.11 AU), with a significant height (H=r 0:2) to increase the geometric surface illuminated by the central star. We find that the outer disk starts at about 12 AU and is partially resolved by the PIONIER, SAM, and MIDI instruments. We discuss the possibility of a self-shadowed inner disk, which can extend to distances of several AU. Finally, we show that the SAM closure phases, interpreted as the signature of a candidate companion, may actually trace the asymmetry generated by forward scattering by dust grains in the upper layers of the outer disk. These observations help constrain the inclination and position angle of the disk to about +58 and 70 , respectively. Conclusions. The circumstellar environment of T Cha appears to be best described by two disks spatially separated by a large gap. The presence of matter (dust or gas) inside the gap is, however, di cult to assess with present-day observations. Our model suggests the outer disk contaminates the interferometric signature of any potential companion that could be responsible for the gap opening, and such a companion still has to be unambiguously detected. We stress the di culty to observe point sources in bright massive disks, and the consequent need to account for disk asymmetries (e.g. anisotropic scattering) in model-dependent search for companions.
The Hilbert Scheme of Buchsbaum space curves

We consider the Hilbert scheme H(d,g) of space curves C with homogeneous ideal I(C):=H_{*}^0(\sI_C) and Rao module M:=H_{*}^1(\sI_C). By taking suitable generizations (deformations to a more general curve) C' of C, we simplify the minimal free resolution of I(C) by e.g. making consecutive free summands (ghost-terms) disappear in a free resolution of I(C'). Using this for Buchsbaum curves of diameter one (M_v \ne 0 for only one v), we establish a one-to-one correspondence between the set \sS of irreducible components of H(d,g) that contain (C) and a set of minimal 5-tuples that specializes in an explicit manner to a 5-tuple of certain graded Betti numbers of C related to ghost-terms. Moreover we almost completely (resp. completely) determine the graded Betti numbers of all generizations of C (resp. all generic curves of \sS), and we give a specific description of the singular locus of the Hilbert scheme of curves of diameter at most one. We also prove some semi-continuity results for the graded Betti numbers of any space curve under some assumptions.
Three maps and three misunderstandings: A digital mapping of climate diplomacy

This article proposes an original analysis of the international debate on climate change through the use of digital methods. Its originality is twofold. First, it examines a corpus of reports covering 18 years of international climate negotiations, a dataset never explored before through digital techniques. This corpus is particularly interesting because it provides the most consistent and detailed reporting of the negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Second, in this paper we test an original approach to text analysis that combines automatic extractions and manual selection of the key issue-terms. Through this mixed approach, we tried to obtain relevant findings without imposing them on our corpus. The originality of our corpus and of our approach encouraged us to question some of the habits of digital research and confront three common misunderstandings about digital methods that we discuss in the first part of the article (section ‘Three misunderstandings on digital methods in social sciences’). In addition to reflecting on methodology, however, we also wanted to offer some substantial contribution to the understanding of UN-framed climate diplomacy. In the second part of the article (section ‘Three maps on climate negotiations’) we will therefore introduce some of the preliminary results of our analysis. By discussing three visualizations, we will analyze the thematic articulation of the climatic negotiations, the rise and fall of these themes over time and the visibility of different countries in the debate.
Advances in protein and small-molecule charge-density refinement methods using MoPro

With an increasing number of biological macromolecule structures solved at ultra-high resolution and with the advances of supramolecular chemistry, it becomes necessary to extend to large systems experimental charge-density study methods that are usually applied to small molecules. The latest developments in the refinement program MoPro (Molecular Properties), dedicated to the charge-density refinement at (sub)atomic resolution of structures ranging from small molecules to biological macromolecules, are presented. MoPro uses the Hansen & Coppens [Acta Cryst. (1978), A34, 909–921] multipolar pseudo-atom model for the electron-density refinement. Alternative methods are also proposed, such as modelling bonding and lone-pair electron density by virtual spherical atoms. For proteins at atomic resolution, a charge-density database developed in the laboratory enables the transfer of multipolar parameters. The program allows complex refinement strategies to be written and has numerous restraints, constraints and analysis tools for use in the structure and electron-density analysis. New kappa and multipolar parameter restraints/constraints are also implemented and discussed. Furthermore, constraints on the electron density, such as local symmetry and atom equivalence, are easily defined. Some examples of applications, from small molecules to large unit cells (including the enzyme aldose reductase), are given in order to guide the MoPro user and to show the large field of applicability of this code.
Statistical model of variable allometric growth: otolith growth in Micropogonias furnieri(Actinopterygii, Sciaenidae)

The main objective of this study was to develop a statistical model for accurate estimates of relative growth. The method was based on identifying patterns of the residuals obtained from the Huxley's allometric equation. Three different approaches were applied: (1) growth with variable proportionality and constant allometry coefficient, (2) growth with constant proportionality and variable allometry coefficient and (3) distinct growth phases in which proportionality and allometry coefficients remained constant. The proposed statistical models were applied to the relationship of the otolith size and fish size of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri. The best fit was obtained when using approach (3). A change in the growth parameters was associated with the attainment of sexual maturity.
PathfinderTURB: an automatic boundary layer algorithm. Development, validation and application to study the impact on in situ measurements at the Jungfraujoch

Abstract. We present the development of the PathfinderTURB algorithm for the analysis of ceilometer backscatter data and the real-time detection of the vertical structure of the planetary boundary layer. Two aerosol layer heights are retrieved by PathfinderTURB: the convective boundary layer (CBL) and the continuous aerosol layer (CAL). PathfinderTURB combines the strengths of gradient- and variance-based methods and addresses the layer attribution problem by adopting a geodesic approach. The algorithm has been applied to 1 year of data measured by two ceilometers of type CHM15k, one operated at the Aerological Observatory of Payerne (491 m a.s.l.) on the Swiss plateau and one at the Kleine Scheidegg (2061 m a.s.l.) in the Swiss Alps. The retrieval of the CBL has been validated at Payerne using two reference methods: (1) manual detections of the CBL height performed by human experts using the ceilometer backscatter data; (2) values of CBL heights calculated using the Richardson's method from co-located radio sounding data. We found average biases as small as 27 m (53 m) with respect to reference method 1 (method 2). Based on the excellent agreement between the two reference methods, PathfinderTURB has been applied to the ceilometer data at the mountainous site of the Kleine Scheidegg for the period September 2014 to November 2015. At this site, the CHM15k is operated in a tilted configuration at 71° zenith angle to probe the atmosphere next to the Sphinx Observatory (3580 m a.s.l.) on the Jungfraujoch (JFJ). The analysis of the retrieved layers led to the following results: the CAL reaches the JFJ 41 % of the time in summer and 21 % of the time in winter for a total of 97 days during the two seasons. The season-averaged daily cycles show that the CBL height reaches the JFJ only during short periods (4 % of the time), but on 20 individual days in summer and never during winter. During summer in particular, the CBL and the CAL modify the air sampled in situ at JFJ, resulting in an unequivocal dependence of the measured absorption coefficient on the height of both layers. This highlights the relevance of retrieving the height of CAL and CBL automatically at the JFJ.
Gamma-ray radiation and sodium azide (NaN 3 ) mutagenic efficiency in rice

Rice (Oriza sativa L.) cultivar IAC-1246 seeds were treated with 10, 15, 20 and 30 Krads of gamma-rays and sodium azide (SA) concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mM to study their efficiency in inducing chlorophyll mutations. Combined treatments incremented the damages when compared to single treatments, especially for seedling height and M 1 panicles fertility. Treatments with SA showed a higher frequency of chlorophyll mutations than the gamma-ray treatments, both in single and combined treatments. The gamma-ray spectrum was different for the various types of mutations, whether in individual or combined treatments. The SA efficiency was higher than that of gamma - rays at 1.0 and 5.0 mM concentrations and lower at 0.5 mM. On average, the additive effect of the mutagenic combinations was more evident than the frequencies of the mutations.
Sedimentary markers in the Provençal Basin (western Mediterranean): a window into deep geodynamic processes

Deep Earth dynamics impact so strongly on surface geological processes that we can use sediment palaeo‐markers as a window into the deeper Earth. Derived from climatic and tectonic erosive actions on the continents, and related to eustasy, subsidence and isostasy, the sediment in a deep basin is the main recorder of these processes. Nevertheless, defining and quantifying the relative roles of parameters that interact to give the final sedimentary architecture is not a simple task. Using a 3D‐grid of seismic and wide‐angle data, boreholes and numerical stratigraphic modelling, we propose here a quantification of post‐rift vertical movements in the Provençal Basin (West Mediterranean) involving three domains of subsidence: seaward tilting on the platform and the slope and purely vertical subsidence in the deep basin. These domains fit the deeper crustal domains highlighted by previous geophysical data. Post‐break‐up sedimentary markers may therefore be used to identify the initial hinge lines of the rifting phase and the subsidence laws.
Changes in Selected Nutrient Contents and in Protein Quality of Common and Quality-Protein Maize During Rural Tortilla Preparation

Cereal Chem. 67(6):515-518 A total of eleven common maize cultivars and one variety of quality- results showed increases in Ca and Mg from raw maize to tortilla and protein maize (QPM) called "Nutricta" were processed into cooked maize a small decreases in Na and K. Total dietary fiber decreased from raw and tortillas by the method used in rural areas. Samples of raw and maize to masa, and then it increased in tortillas. Fatty acid composition cooked maize and their respective tortillas were analyzed for major nutrient was similar among the maize samples and distribution was not affected components, as well as for total dietary fiber, calcium, magnesium, sodium, by the lime cooking process. Protein quality was significantly higher and potassium. Four of the common maize samples, the QPM, and their (P < 0.03) in tortillas than in raw maize. In this respect QPM as a processing products were analyzed for fatty acid content, and were also raw grain and as tortillas was statistically significantly superior to common evaluated for protein quality. For both common maize and QPM the maize.