Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Do Companies Issue Convertible Bond Loans? An Empirical Analysis for the Canadian Market

We examine the wealth effects associated with the announcements of convertible debt offerings in the Canadian market for the period between 1991 and 2004.The average wealth effect for the three day event window is a significantly negative -2.7%. This result is in line with previous studies on other Anglo-Saxon markets, but it is different from other markets where generally no effect or even a positive effect is found.In addition, support is found for the negative effect of both debt- and equity-related agency costs.
Relationships between basin architecture, basin closure, and occurrence of sulphide-bearing schists: an example from Tampere Schist Belt, Finland

We present field observations from the Palaeoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary Tampere palaeobasin, where the primary structures have been exceptionally well preserved. We use the observations to construct a new tectonic model for the southeastern margin of the Tampere basin during its inversion and subsequent closure. The observed volcano-sedimentary and structural features suggest a change in the local structural style from thick-skinned inversion to thin-skinned thrusting, to accommodate the crustal shortening during basin closure. Furthermore, it is suggested that there is a genetic relationship between the interpreted palaeothrust and the sulphide-bearing schist horizons in the study area. On a more general note, the results imply that currently subvertical mineralized shear zones may have originally been gently dipping, further suggesting that the mineralized fluids may not necessarily have been sourced from great depths (i.e. from deep within the basement).
Effect of Item Response Theory (IRT) Model Selection on Testlet‐Based Test Equating

The local item independence assumption underlying traditional item response theory (IRT) models is often not met for tests composed of testlets. There are 3 major approaches to addressing this issue: (a) ignore the violation and use a dichotomous IRT model (e.g., the 2-parameter logistic [2PL] model), (b) combine the interdependent items to form a polytomous item and apply a polytomous IRT model (e.g., the graded response model [GRM]), and (c) apply a model that explicitly takes into account the dependence at the item level (e.g., the testlet response theory [TRT] model). In this study, a simulation was conducted to compare the performance of these 3 approaches on number-correct score equating when degrees of testlet effect were manipulated. The traditional equipercentile method was used as an evaluation baseline. The results show that the 2PL and the TRT approaches produce comparable results that more closely agree with the results of the equipercentile method than the GRM does. And the number-correct equating using the 2PL is robust to the violation of local item independence.
Translated Poisson approximation using exchangeable pair couplings

It is shown that the method of exchangeable pairs introduced by Stein [ Approximate Computation of Expectations (1986) IMS, Hay-ward, CA] for normal approximation can eﬀectively be used for translated Poisson approximation. Introducing an additional smoothness condition, one can obtain approximation results in total variation and also in a local limit metric. The result is applied, in particular, to the anti-voter model on ﬁnite graphs as analyzed by Rinott and Rotar [ Ann. Appl. Probab. 7 (1997) 1080–1105], obtaining the same rate of convergence, but now for a stronger metric.
Effect of Anhydride Modification on the Thermal Stability of Cultivated Acacia mangium

Abstract This paper tests the hypothesis that propionic and succinic anhydride modification will improve the thermal stability of cultivated Acacia mangium wood. The thermal stability of modified wood was characterized with thermogravimetric analysis. Evidence of modification was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. Our results show that chemical modification with anhydrides improves the thermal stability of the Acacia wood. The higher thermal stability of anhydride-modified Acacia wood compared with unmodified wood is attributed to the reduction in hydrophilic nature of the wood due to esterification. Succinylated wood has better thermal stability than propionylated wood based on the values of on-set degradation temperatures, the temperatures at which 30, 50, and 70% degradation occurred, and the activation energy. The improved thermal stability of modified wood compared with the unmodified wood will offer potential for better utilization of Acacia mangium.
Analysis of the Cutting Parameters in Front Milling for Medium Density Fiberboard

Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is an industrial product manufactured from lignocellulosic fibers. It has homogeneity, dimensional stability, and mechanical strength compared with solid wood. Milling is a machining method widely used in the furniture industry; despite the relevance of the subject, there are few works dealing with the specific MDF milling process using computerized numerical control (CNC) machines. This study evaluated MDF milling in CNC machining centers by analyzing roughness. The MDF panels were front direction with the machined cut depth of 3 mm with six replicates, four cutting speeds of 804 m/min, 603 m/min, 402 m/min, and 201 m/min, and one forward speed of 4 m/min. The parameter of roughness average (Ra) was analyzed. The results showed that the surface roughness showed lower values for the cutting speeds of 603 m/min and 804 m/min, and cutting depths of 3 mm exhibited satisfactory results for the front surface. In conclusion, the parameters studied here significantly influence the finish, resulting in uneven surfaces that can reduce the quality of products.
Satellite evidence for signi fi cant biophysical consequences of the “ Grain for Green ” Program on the Loess Plateau in China

Afforestation has been implemented worldwide as regional and national policies to address environmental problems and to improve ecosystem services. China’s central government launched the “Grain for Green” Program (GGP) in 1999 to increase forest cover and to control soil erosion by converting agricultural lands on steep slopes to forests and grasslands. Here a variety of satellite data products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer were used to assess the biophysical consequences of the GGP for the Loess Plateau, the pilot region of the program. The average tree cover of the plateau substantially increased because of the GGP, with a relative increase of 41.0%. The GGP led to significant increases in enhanced vegetation index (EVI), leaf area index, and the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by canopies. The increase in forest productivity as approximated by EVI was not driven by elevated air temperature, changing precipitation, or rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Moreover, the afforestation significantly reduced surface albedo, leading to a positive radiative forcing and a warming effect on the climate. The GGP also led to a significant decline in daytime land surface temperature and exerted a cooling effect on the climate. The GGP therefore has significant biophysical consequences by altering carbon cycling, hydrologic processes, and surface energy exchange and has significant feedbacks to the regional climate. The net radiative forcing on the climate depends on the offsetting of the negative forcing from carbon sequestration and higher evapotranspiration and the positive forcing from lower albedo.
Upper bounds for the number of true null hypotheses and novel estimates for error rates in multiple testing

When testing multiple hypotheses simultaneously, a quantity of interest is the number m0 of true null hypotheses. We present a general framework for finding upper probabilistic bounds for m0, that is estimates b m0 with the property P [b m0 ≥ m0] ≥ 1−α for any chosen level α. A conservative, one-sided (1−α) confidence interval for m0 is then given by [0, b m0]. Moreover, b m0 can be used for novel estimates of type I errors in multiple testing such as the false discovery rate. Control of the family-wise error rate emerges as a special case in our framework but suffers from vanishing power for a large number of tested hypotheses. We present a different estimate such that the ability to detect true non-null hypotheses increases with the number of tested hypotheses. A detailed algorithm is provided. The method is valid under general and unknown dependence between the test statistics. We develop the method primarily for multiple testing of associations between random variables. The method is illustrated with simulation studies and applications to microarray data.
Early Neogene history of the Central American arc from Bocas del Toro, western Panama

A newly discovered sequence of lower to middle Miocene rocks from the eastern Bocas del Toro archipelago, western Panama, reveals the timing and environment of the earliest stages in the rise of the Isthmus of Panama in this region. Two new formations, the Punta Alegre Formation (lower Miocene, Aquitanian to Burdigalian) and the Valiente Formation (middle Miocene, Langhian to Serravallian), are here named and formally described. The Punta Alegre Formation contains a diagnostic microfauna of benthic and planktic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils that indicate deposition in a 2000-m-deep pre-isthmian neotropical ocean from as old as 21.5-18.3 Ma. Its lithology varies from silty mudstone to muddy foraminiferal ooze with rare thin microturbidite layers near the top. The Valiente Formation, which ranges in age from 16.4 to ca. 12.0 Ma, lies with slight angular unconformity on the Punta Alegre Formation and consists of five lithofacies: (1) columnar basalt and flow breccia, (2) pyroclastic deposits, (3) coarse-grained volcaniclastic deposits, (4) coral-reef limestone with diverse large coral colonies, and (5) marine debris-flow deposits and microturbidites. These lithofacies are interpreted to indicate that after ca. 16 Ma a volcanic arc developed in the region of Bocas del Toro and that by ca. 12 Ma an extensively emergent archipelago of volcanic islands had formed. 3 9 Ar/ 4 0 Ar dating of basalt flows associated with the fossiliferous sedimentary rocks in the upper part of the Valiente Formation strongly confirms the ages derived from planktic foraminifera and nannofossils. Paleobathymetric analysis of the two new formations in the Valiente Peninsula and Popa Island, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, shows a general shallowing from lower- through upper-bathyal to upper-neritic and emergent laharic and fluviatile deposits from ca. 19 to 12 Ma. The overlying nonconformable Bocas del Toro Group contains a lower transgressive sequence ranging from basal nearshore sandstone to upper-bathyal mudstone (ca. 8.1-5.3 Ma) and an upper regressive sequence (5.3-3.5 Ma). A similar paleobathymetric pattern is observed from the Gatun to Chagres Formations (12-6 Ma) in the Panama Canal Basin area and in the Uscari, Rio Banana, Quebrada Chocolate, and Moin Formations (8-1.7 Ma) in the southern LimOn Basin of Costa Rica.
Does player specialization predict player actions? Evidence from penalty kicks at FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup

Penalty kicks are analysed in the literature as ‘real life experiments’ for assessing the use of rational mixed strategies by professional players. However, each penalty kick cannot be considered a repetition of the same event because of the varying background conditions, in particular the heterogeneous ability of different players. Consequently, aggregate statistics over data sets composed of a large number of penalty kicks mediate the behaviour of the players in different games, and the properties of optimal mixed strategies cannot be tested directly because of aggregation bias. In this article, we model the heterogeneous ability of players. We then test the hypothesis that differently talented players randomize over different actions. To achieve this aim, we study a data set that collects penalties kicked during shoot-out series in the last editions of FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup (1994–2012) where kickers are categorized as specialists and non-specialists. The results support our theoretical predictions.
Wheat yield and physical properties of a brown latosol under no-tillage in south-central Paraná

Soil management influences the chemical and physical properties of soil. Chemical conditions have been thoroughly studied, while the role of soil physical conditions regarding crop yield has been neglected. This study aimed to analyze the wheat yield and its relationship with physical properties of an Oxisol under no-tillage (NT). The study was carried out between 2010 and 2011, in Reserva do Iguacu, State of Parana, Brazil, on the Campo Bonito farm, after 25 years of NT management. Based on harvest maps of barley (2006), wheat (2007) and maize (2009) of a plot (150 ha), zones with higher and lower yield potential (Z1 and Z2, respectively) were identified. Sampling grids with 16 units (50 x 50 m) and three sampling points per unit were established. The wheat grain yield (GY) and water infiltration capacity (WIC) were evaluated in 2010. Soil samples with disturbed and undisturbed structure were collected from the 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers. The former were used to determine soil organic carbon (Corg) levels and the latter to determine soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), macroporosity (Mac), and microporosity (Mic). Soil penetration resistance (PR) and water content (SWC) were also evaluated. The wheat GY of the whole plot was close to the regional average and the yield between the zones differed significantly, i.e. 22 % higher in Z1 than in Z2. No significant variation in Mic was observed between zones, but Z1 had higher Corg levels, SWC, TP and Mac and lower BD than Z2 in both soil layers, as well as a lower PR than Z2 in the 0.00-0.10 m layer. Therefore, soil physical conditions were more restrictive in Z2, in agreement with wheat yield and zone yield potential defined a priori, based on the harvest maps. Soil WIC in Z1 was significantly higher (30 %) than in Z2, in agreement with the results of TP and Mac which were also higher in Z1 in both soil layers. The correlation analysis of data of the two layers showed a positive relationship between wheat GY and the soil properties TP, SWC and WIC.
The early stage of morphological maturation of cortical GABAergic interneurons

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・8 Introduction・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・9-10 Materials and Methods・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・11-15 Results・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・16-25 Discussion・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・26-31 References・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・32-35 General discussion (~references) ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・36-41 Acknowledgements・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・42 Bibliography・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・43
Dynamic on-board mass used for monitoring road condition and truck suspensions: big data from a widely distributed fleet of trucks

The last decade has seen a rapid expansion of on-board mass (OBM) measurement systems installed on heavy vehicles (HVs). This expansion has been for maximization of efficiency (i.e. loading to the legal limits but no more) and reducing the chance of being prosecuted for overloading. With the increasing numbers of OBM systems within the HV fleet, the potential exists for their dynamic data to be gathered and used for monitoring both suspension and road degradation as a second emerging wave of functionality. This paper sets out early work in this variable-space and describes some ‘proof-of-concept’ details of dynamic signals from an OBM-system-equipped HV (and data analysis of same) gathered as it drove on its normal routes. It is proposed that: a) road degradation rates can be monitored with reporting back to road authorities for purposes of early road remediation after certain OBM signal thresholds of detected road damage are reached, and b) HV suspension monitoring and analysis of wear trends (e.g. shock absorber) can be made available to HV operators using OBM systems reporting and monitoring.
A Hurewicz Model Structure for Directed Topology

This paper constructs an h-model structure for diagrams of streams, locally preordered spaces. Along the way, the paper extends some classical characterizations of Hurewicz fibrations and closed Hurewicz cofibrations. The usual characterization of classical closed Hurewicz cofibrations as inclusions of neighborhood deformation retracts extends. A characterization of classical Hurewicz fibrations as algebras over a pointed Moore cocylinder endofunctor also extends. Monoids fully and faithfully embed into the homotopy category of based streams.
Traditional sheep production and breeding practice in Gamogofa Zone , Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Gamogofa zone of Southern, Nations, Nationalities and People Regional State with the objectives to describe its production systems, breeding practice and identify major constraints of sheep productivity. Purposive sampling techniques were employed to select target farmers. Structured questionnaire, focused group discussions, secondary data sources and field observations were used to generate the required data. A total of 184 households were selected from four woredas (8 rural kebele) in both weyna-dega and dega agro-ecologies. The survey results revealed that the overall total family size and land holding were 6.59 and 1.5ha, respectively and the overall mean sheep holding was 18.7sheep per households. The purpose of keeping sheep was as source of income followed by meat production and manure. The key feed resources in both agro-ecologies were communal grazing and private pastures. Most important causes of sheep mortality in the study were disease and parasite, feed shortage, lack of veterinary service and animal health professionals. The overall mean value of age at first lambing, lambing interval and litter size are 12.4, 7.34 months and 1.33heads, respectively. The constraints that delay sheep production in the study area was disease and parasite, shortage of grazing land (feed) and water, lack of extension support, predators and labor shortage were ranked as first, second, third, fourth and fifth with an index value of 0.260, 0.255, 0.240, 0.150 and 0.09, respectively. It was concluded that, indigenous sheep had a potential for multipurpose role to generate income for smallholders. Therefore, genetic improvement program should aim at farmers need to cope with trait preference and existing traditional herding and breeding practice. Copyright © acascipub.com, all rights reserved.
Observations and modeling of a clumpy galaxy at z = 1.6

We investigate the properties of a clump-cluster galaxy at redshift 1.57. In optical observations, the morphology of this galaxy is dominated by eight star-forming clumps, and its photometric properties are typical of most clump-cluster and chain galaxies. Its complex asymmetrical morphology has led to the suggestion that this system is a group merger of several initially separate protogalaxies. We performed Hα integral field spectroscopy of this system using SINFONI on VLT UT4. These observations reveal a large-scale velocity gradient throughout the system, but with large local kinematic disturbances. Using a numerical model of gas-rich disk fragmentation, we find that clump interactions and migration can explain the observed disturbed rotation. On the other hand, the global rotation would not be expected for a multiply merging system. We also find that this system follows the relations of stellar mass versus metallicity, star formation rate, and size that are expected for a disk at this redshift. Furthermore, the galaxy exhibits a disk-like radial metallicity gradient. A formation scenario of internal disk fragmentation is therefore the most likely one. A red and metallic central concentration appears to be a bulge in this proto-spiral clumpy galaxy. A chain galaxy at redshift 2.07 in the same field also shows disk-like rotation. Such systems are likely progenitors of present-day bright spiral galaxies, which shape their exponential disks through clump migration and disruption, a process that in turn fuels their bulges. Our results show that disturbed morphologies and kinematics are not necessarily signs of galaxy mergers and interactions, but may instead be produced by the internal evolution of primordial disks.
Plankton: Scalable network configuration verification through model checking

Network configuration verification enables operators to ensure that the network will behave as intended, prior to deployment of their configurations. Although techniques ranging from graph algorithms to SMT solvers have been proposed, scalable configuration verification with sufficient protocol support continues to be a challenge. In this paper, we show that by combining equivalence partitioning with explicit-state model checking, network configuration verification can be scaled significantly better than the state of the art, while still supporting a rich set of protocol features. We propose Plankton, which uses symbolic partitioning to manage large header spaces and efficient model checking to exhaustively explore protocol behavior. Thanks to a highly effective suite of optimizations including state hashing, partial order reduction, and policy-based pruning, Plankton successfully verifies policies in industrial-scale networks quickly and compactly, at times reaching a 10000$\times$ speedup compared to the state of the art.
Optimizing the Factual Correctness of a Summary: A Study of Summarizing Radiology Reports

Neural abstractive summarization models are able to generate summaries which have high overlap with human references. However, existing models are not optimized for factual correctness, a critical metric in real-world applications. In this work, we develop a general framework where we evaluate the factual correctness of a generated summary by fact-checking it automatically against its reference using an information extraction module. We further propose a training strategy which optimizes a neural summarization model with a factual correctness reward via reinforcement learning. We apply the proposed method to the summarization of radiology reports, where factual correctness is a key requirement. On two separate datasets collected from hospitals, we show via both automatic and human evaluation that the proposed approach substantially improves the factual correctness and overall quality of outputs over a competitive neural summarization system, producing radiology summaries that approach the quality of human-authored ones.
Studies on the Seasonal Fluctuations in the Proximate Body Composition of Paratelphusa masoniana (Henderson) (Female), a Local Freshwater Crab of Jammu Region

The freshwater crab, Paratelphusa masoniana was collected for a period of one year to investigate the seasonal fluctuation in the proximate composition. Marked seasonal variation in protein, lipid and moisture were observed during a period of one year to determine their viability in the course of the reproductive cycle. Both protein and lipid content are inversely related to moisture content. Maximum protein (62.15±0.30%; 55.85±0.48) and lipid (5.85±0.46%; 5.49±0.38%) were observed during non-spawning period and minimum during spawning months. The relationship between protein and lipid is however a direct one. On the basis of the investigation, it has been recorded that the local freshwater crab, P. masoniana, is a biannual breeder.