Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of late Pleistocene mammal extinctions on pathogen richness in extant hosts

Many species of large mammals were driven to extinction during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene (approx. 10,000 – 50,000 years ago), with cascading effects on the physical structure of ecosystems and the dispersal of seeds, nutrients, and microbes. However, it remains uncertain whether the parasites associated with these extinct hosts also disappeared or persisted in surviving (extant) mammals. We hypothesize that if some parasites endured, extant mammals sharing their ranges with phylogenetically similar extinct mammals would have a greater pathogen richness than expected based on current levels of host diversity. We find that the inclusion of variables related to these extinctions account for an additional 5% of deviance when modelling per-host viral and bacterial richness, compared to models run without these variables. Partial dependence plots show a positive correlation between the number of extinct mammals lost and per-host viral and bacterial richness (p < 0.001 and p = 0.03, respectively). Additionally, decreasing phylogenetic distance between the extinct and extant species is associated with an increasing viral richness (p < 0.001). We discuss four mechanisms that may be driving these patterns and highlight future research to distinguish between them. Next, we use the models and IUCN range maps to identify geographic regions where viral and bacterial richness differs due to the inclusion of extinction variables. Notably, the richness of both pathogen types is increased in South America (viruses: +6.8%; bacteria: +3.1%) and decreased in Africa (viruses: −2.6%; bacteria: −13.6%), two continents known to have high and low levels of historical mammal extinctions, respectively. Viral richness is also elevated in North America (+8.6%), Europe (+5.1%), Oceania (+3.3%), and Asia (+2.3%). These results support the inclusion of extinction variables in future models of pathogen richness and may allow for improved targeting of future surveillance efforts.
Testing the Quantum-Classical Boundary and Dimensionality of Quantum Systems

Quantum theory introduces a cut between the observer and the observed system [1], but does not provide a definition of what is an observer [2]. Based on an informational definition of the observer, Grinbaum has recently [3] predicted an upper bound on bipartite correlations in the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) Bell scenario equal to 2.82537, which is slightly smaller than the Tsirelson bound [4] of standard quantum theory, but is consistent with all the available experimental results [5–17]. Not being able to exceed Grinbaum’s limit would support that quantum theory is only an effective description of a more fundamental theory and would have a deep impact in physics and quantum information processing. In this thesis, we present a test of the CHSH inequality on photon pairs in maximally entangled states of polarization in which a value 2.8276 ± 0.00082 is observed, violating Grinbaum’s bound by 2.72 standard deviations and providing the smallest distance with respect to Tsirelson’s bound ever reported, namely, 0.0008 ± 0.00082. This sets a new lower experimental bound for Tsirelson’s bound, strengthening the value of principles that predict Tsirelson’s bound [18–20] as possible explanations of all natural limits of correlations, and has important consequences for cryptographic security [21], randomness certification [22], characterization of physical properties in device-independent scenarios [23, 24] and certification of quantum computation [25]. The thesis also reports on our efforts in experimentally demonstrating that it is impossible to simulate quantum bipartite correlations with a deterministic universal Turing machine. Our approach is based on the Normalized Information Distance (NID) [26] that allows the comparison of two pieces of data without detailed knowledge about their origin. Using NID, we derived a completely new Bell type inequality for output of two local deterministic universal Turing machines with correlated inputs that is independent of any statistical considerations usually associated with other Bell’s inequalities. As a proof of concept, this inequality is violated by 6.5 standard deviations from its classical limits with a value of 0.0494 ± 0.0076 by correlations generated by a maximally entangled polarization state of two photons. The violation is shown using a freely available lossless compression program. The presented technique may also complement the common statistical interpretation of quantum physics by an algorithmic one.
Optical and magneto-optical investigations on 3D Dirac- and Weyl-semimetals

Recently a novel class of materials is getting vivid attention of the condensed matter community. This class of materials is comprising, next to graphene, also topological insulators, d-wave superconductors, superfluid He and two very recently discovered families of three dimensional semimetals [1, 2]. At first sight the commonalities of the aforementioned materials are minor. However, they share the essential similarity, that their low energy fermionic quasiparticle spectrum is gapless and can be described by the Dirac Hamiltonian, instead of behaving like Schrödinger fermionic spectrum. Even though all materials are vastly different, by this commonality this collection of matter is dubbed ‘Dirac materials’. Many of the Dirac materials host a topological non-trivial electronic structure, which is interesting from a fundamental point of view and promising for applications, pushing them even more to the fore of condensed matter research [3, 4]. Of particular interest in this work are materials, that posses touching points of valence and conduction bands in their bulk band structure. In the vicinity of these touching points the bands disperse linear, and hence, the low energy excitations can be viewed as relativistic, massless quasiparticles. There are two families that fulfill this prerequisite. The family of Weyl semimetals is characterized by the existence of at least two band touching points, dubbed Weyl nodes (or points), in the Brillouin zone. The electronic structure around these Weyl points is described by the 2 × 2 Weyl Hamiltonian. The Weyl nodes and the bands dispersing linearly from this node are chiral, where chirality refers to the locking of the (pseudo) spin to the momentum. The Weyl type band crossings require either time reversal or inversion symmetry to be broken. In the second family of Dirac semimetals two Weyl points happen to merge at a single point in reciprocal space and at the same energy. Then the bands around the crossing points, dubbed Dirac nodes, are degenerate and described by the 4×4 Dirac Hamiltonian. This situation requires preserved time reversal and inversion symmetry, as well as an additional symmetry that prevents a gapping of the Dirac point.
On the Camassa–Holm system with one mean zero component

In this paper, a generalized two-component Camassa–Holm model, closely connected to the shallow water theory, is discussed. This two-component Camassa–Holm system is investigated on the local well-posedness and blow-up phenomena. The present work is mainly concerned with the detailed blow-up criteria where some special classes of initial data are involved. Moreover, as a by-product, the blow-up rate is established.
Dopaminergic manipulations affect the modulation and meta-modulation of movement speed: evidence from two pharmacological interventions

A body of research implicates dopamine in the average speed of simple movements. However, naturalistic movements span a range of different shaped trajectories and rarely proceed at a single constant speed; instead, speed is reduced when drawing “corners” compared to “straights” (i.e., speed-modulation), and the extent of this slowing down is dependent upon the global shape of the movement trajectory (i.e., speed-meta-modulation) – for example whether the shape is an ellipse or a rounded square. By employing two pharmacological intervention studies – individuals with Parkinson’s both ON and OFF dopaminergic medication (N = 32) and members of the general population on a D2 receptor blocker (haloperidol) versus placebo (N = 43) – we implicate dopamine in speed, speed-modulation and speed-meta-modulation. Our findings move beyond vigour models implicating dopamine in average movement speed, and towards a conceptualisation that involves the modulation of speed as a function of contextual information.
Multi-scale modeling and simulation on buckling and wrinkling phenomena

L'objectif de cette these est de developper des techniques de modelisation et de simulation multi-echelle avancees et efficaces pour etudier les phenomenes d'instabilite dans trois structures d'ingenierie courantes: membrane, film/substrat et structures sandwich, en combinant la technique des coefficients de Fourier lentement variables (TSVFC) et la methode numerique asymptotique (ANM). A cette fin, basee sur les equations de la plaque de Von Karman, la TSVFC ete utilisee pour developper un modele de Fourier a bidimensionnel (2D) qui a egalement ete implemente dans ABAQUS via sa sous-routine UEL. Ensuite, un 2D modele de Fourier est construit pour le film/substrat. En outre, en utilisant leurs caracteristiques de deformation, un 1D modele de Fourier est developpe en utilisant a la fois le TSVFC et le CUF. Par la suite, sur la base d'une cinematique Zig-Zag d'ordre superieur, un 2D modele de Fourier est deduit pour une plaque sandwich. Les equations directrices pour les modeles ci-dessus sont discretisees par la methode des elements finis, et les systemes non lineaires resultants sont resolus par le solveur non lineaire efficace et robuste ANM. Ces modeles sont ensuite adoptes pour etudier les instabilites dans ces structures. Les resultats montrent que les modeles etablis peuvent simuler avec precision et efficacite divers phenomenes d'instabilite. En outre, on constate que l'instabilite membranaire est sensible aux conditions aux limites et qu'il existe un parametre sans dimension presque constant pres du point de bifurcation pour differents cas de charge et parametres geometriques, ce qui peut etre utile pour predire rapidement l'apparition des rides
Kemampuan Penalaran Matematis Siswa Menggunakan Pendekatan Metaphorical Thinking pada Materi Perbandingan Kelas VIII di SMPN 1 Indralaya Utara

This research is a descriptive research that aims to descrcibe students’ mathematical reasoning ability by metaphorical thinking approach in proportion section at grade VIIIA SMPN 1 Indralaya Utara. Data collection technique uses test and interview methods. The test instrument used is included of three reasoning ability problems. Data analysis technique is done by analysing the result of test. The interview is used for supporting the result of students’ test. The result of this research shows that the mathematical reasoning ability of students at grade VIIIA of SMP Negeri 1 Indralaya Utara is medium with this details: percentage of students who have mathematical reasoning ability with category excellent is , have mathematical reasoning ability with category good, have mathematical reasoning ability with category medium, have mathematical reasoning ability with category bad, and 0% for mathematical reasoning ability with category very bad. Indicator of mathematical reasoning ability with the highest percentage is presenting written mathematical statement with 91,41% while indicator with the lowest percentage is finding out the pattern or character of mathematical indication for making generalization with 31,25%.
Consistent Inference in Fixed-Effects Stochastic Frontier Models

The classical stochastic frontier panel data models provide no mechanism for disentangling individual time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity from inefficiency. Greene (2005a, b) proposed the ‘true’ fixed-effects specification, which distinguishes these two latent components while allowing for time-variant inefficiency. However, due to the incidental parameters problem, the maximum likelihood estimator proposed by Greene may lead to biased variance estimates. We propose two alternative estimation procedures that, by relying on a first-difference data transformation, achieve consistency when n goes to infinity with fixed T. Furthermore, we extend the approach of Chen et al. (2014) by providing a computationally feasible solution for estimating models in which inefficiency can be heteroskedastic and may follow a first-order autoregressive process. We investigate the finite sample behavior of the proposed estimators through a set of Monte Carlo experiments. Our results show good finite sample properties, especially in small samples. We illustrate the usefulness of the new approach by applying it to the technical efficiency of hospitals.
Dissipativity of Singularly Perturbed Lur’e Systems

The problem of singularly perturbed Lur’e systems is investigated in this brief. Two new storage functions are constructed to explore the dynamics of both the fast and slow models, as well as their interaction more efficiently. By using the merit of the proposed storage functions, some new <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\varepsilon $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-uniformly strict dissipativity criteria in terms of well-conditioned linear matrix inequalities are derived. Moreover, a differential evolution algorithm is proposed to obtain the upper bound of singular perturbation parameter. The obtained results are theoretically and numerically less conservative than the existing results.
Neuroadaptive quantized PID sliding‐mode control for heterogeneous vehicular platoon with unknown actuator deadzone

This paper focuses on the problem of neuroadaptive quantized control for heterogeneous vehicular platoon when the follower vehicles suffer from external disturbances, mismatch input quantization, and unknown actuator deadzone. The PID‐based sliding‐mode (PIDSM) control technique is used due to its superior capability to reduce spacing errors and to eliminate the steady‐state spacing errors. Then, a neuroadaptive quantized PIDSM control scheme with minimal learning parameters is designed not only to guarantee the string stability of the whole vehicular platoon and ultimate uniform boundedness of all adaptive law signals but also to attenuate the negative effects caused by external disturbance, mismatch input quantization, and unknown actuator deadzone. Furthermore, optimizing the interspacing between consecutive vehicles is very important to reduce traffic congestion on highways, and a new modified constant time headway policy is proposed to not only increase traffic density but also address the negative effect of nonzero initial spacing, velocity, and acceleration errors. Compared with most existing methods, the proposed method does not linearize the system model and neither requires precise knowledge of the system model. Finally, the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed method are demonstrated by comparative simulation studies.
Thalamus drives active dendritic computations in cortex

Perception is linked to a calcium-dependent dendritic spiking mechanism that enables the major output cells of the cerebral cortex – layer 5 pyramidal tract neurons – to combine inputs from different information streams. Which circuits activate this mechanism upon sensory input is unclear. Here we found that thalamocortical axons, which provide sensory input to cortex, target specifically the dendritic domains in pyramidal tract neurons that initiate calcium spikes. Sensory input thereby enables distal dendritic inputs preceding the stimulus to transform the first responses that leave cortex into bursts of action potentials. Thus, thalamus can drive active dendritic coupling of sensory with prestimulus information streams to modulate cortical output. Our findings indicate that thalamocortical coupling is first in a cascade of mechanisms that transform sensory input into perception.
A sharp multiplier inequality with applications to heavy-tailed regression problems

∥ F is determined jointly by the growth rate of the corresponding empirical process, and the size of the maxima of the multipliers. The new inequality sheds light on the long-standing open question concerning the rate behavior of classical empirical risk minimization procedures in the regression setting with heavy-tailed errors. In particular, the convergence rate of the least squares estimator in a general nonparametric regression model, with usual entropy conditions on the function classes, is shown to be no worse than the maximum of the optimal Gaussian regression rate and the noise level of the errors. Furthermore, this rate cannot be improved in general. We also give an application to the sparse linear regression model where both design and errors can be heavy-tailed.
A Modern Course in Statistical Physics

L E Reichl 1980 Austin: University of Texas Press xii + 709 pp price $29.95 I can thoroughly recommend this book and congratulate the author for having brought together so many aspects of statistical physics in a comprehensible manner. The subject matter is modern; all the recent developments such as stochastic theory, theories of quantum fluids and critical phenomena, nonlinear chemical physics and hydrodynamics are included and yet each topic is built up from its foundations.
Asymptotically Optimal Rank Order Tests For Progressive Censoring*

For progressive censoring schemes, Chatterjee and Sen (1973) have considered a general class of time-sequential tests based on suitable rank order statistics and have studied their asymptotic relative efficiency results in the light of the Bahadur-efficiency ,criterion. The object of the present note is to study the power properties of these tests for local (contiguous) alternatives, and, within this framework, to throw some light on their asymptotic optimality. Unlike the case of the Bahadur-efficiency, for our purpose, we confine ourselves to local altsrntatives and also need an additional regularity condition which localizes (to some extent) the scope of the comparisons. Along with the preliminary notions, the rank order tests are briefly presented in Section 2. In Section 3, a general class of contiguous location and scale alternatives is introduced and the asymptotic power properties of the rank order tests for such alternatives are studied. Asymptotic optimality results are then considered in Section 4.
Transmission spectrum alteration of a silica fiber taper while covering lateral surface with heterostructure of ZnTe/Bi2Te3 thin film

Short tapered fiber sections 3–10 mm in length and 12–20 microns in diameter were fabricated through the partial etch removal of the outer silica cladding. ZnTe and Bi2Te3 crystalline films 1–60 nm thick were subsequently applied to the surface of the tapered fiber sections using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Transmission spectra of the taper were recorded within the wavelength region of 1–1.6 μm at regular intervals whilst the deposition. Strong decreases in transmission in relatively narrow spectral bands were observed. The results can be applied to lossy mode resonance fiber sensors and passively mode-locked pulsed fiber laser designs.
Water maser emission in hard X-ray selected AGN

Abstract Water megamaser emission is powerful in tracing the inner region of active nuclei, mapping accretion disks and providing important clues on their absorption properties. From the X-ray spectra of AGN it is possible to estimate the intrinsic power of the central engine and the obscuring column density. The synergy between X-ray and water maser studies allows us to tackle the AGN inner physics from different perspectives. For a complete sample of AGN selected in the 20-40 keV energy range, we have investigated the presence of water maser emission and its connection to the X-ray emission, absorption and accretion rate. The hard X-ray selection of the sample results in a water maser detection rate much higher than those obtained from optically-selected samples.
Properties of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves in Li/sub 2/B/sub 4/O/sub 7/ crystal

Properties of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves (BGW) in Li2B4O7 crystal were determined from the measured parameters of a delay line with double electrode interdigital parameters, and from the measured center frequency and insertion loss at the third harmonic, the BGW free surface velocity and the square of the electromechanical coupling coefficient were determined as 4921 m/s and 0.0027, respectively. The BGW in Li2B4 O7 crystal are very promising for high frequency filters and chemical sensor applications
Comparative Study of Micro and Nano Size WO3/E44 Epoxy Composite as Gamma Radiation Shielding Using MCNP and Experiment

The radiation shielding characteristics of 50 wt% WO3/E44 epoxy composite in various gamma energies from 80 keV to 1.33 MeV are investigated via the MCNP code. Thus two scales are considered for WO3 filler particles: micro and nano with sizes of 1μm and 50 nm, respectively. The simulation results show that WO3 nano particles exhibit a larger increase in linear attenuation coefficient in comparison with micro size particles. Finally, validation of simulation results with the published experimental data shows a good agreement.
Radiative Corrections in Relic Density Calculations

To improve the accuracy of the prediction for the dark matter abundance in the Universe within the “freeze-out” scenario, the annihilation cross section has to be computed beyond the leading order in perturbation theory. In the first part of this thesis we address this problem establishing a consistent framework for relic density at next-to-leading order, based on the closed time-path approach to quantum field theory at finite temperature. In the second part, we study the Sommerfeld enhancement in the general Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, and in particular we present a detailed phenomenological analysis on the relic density of TeV-scale wino-like neutralino dark matter.
Statistical modelling of agrometeorological time series by exponential smoothing

Abstract Meteorological time series are used in modelling agrophysical processes of the soil-plant-atmosphere system which determine plant growth and yield. Additionally, long-term meteorological series are used in climate change scenarios. Such studies often require forecasting or projection of meteorological variables, eg the projection of occurrence of the extreme events. The aim of the article was to determine the most suitable exponential smoothing models to generate forecast using data on air temperature, wind speed, and precipitation time series in Jokioinen (Finland), Dikopshof (Germany), Lleida (Spain), and Lublin (Poland). These series exhibit regular additive seasonality or non-seasonality without any trend, which is confirmed by their autocorrelation functions and partial autocorrelation functions. The most suitable models were indicated by the smallest mean absolute error and the smallest root mean squared error.
Experiment Size and Power Comparisons for Two‐Sample Poisson Tests

SUMMARY The uniformly most powerful test and an approximate test of equality of the failure intensities of two Poisson processes are studied. An approximately normally distributed test statistic is generalized to apply when the experiment is conducted over unequal time intervals (or sample sizes) from the two populations. The significance level and power of this test is compared to the uniformly most powerful exact fixed length test. An approximate formula is provided for determining the experiment length needed to achieve a specified power for both the equal and unequal interval cases. Numerical comparisons show that the approximation is useful over a wide range of specified values for either the exact or the approximate test.