Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis Prediction:

: This paper demonstrates how the boosting approach can support the financial analysis functions in two ways: (1) As a predictive tool to forecast corporate performance, and rank accounting and corporate variables according to their impact on performance, and (2) As an interpretative tool to generate alternating decision trees that capture the non-linear relationship among accounting and corporate governance variables that determine performance. We compare our results using Adaboost with logistic regression, bagging, and random forests. We conduct 10-fold cross-validation experiments on one sample each of S&P 500 companies, American Depository Receipts (ADRs) of Latin American companies and Latin American banks. Adaboost results indicate that large companies perform better than small companies, especially when these companies have a limited long-term assets to sales ratio. Performance improves for large LAADR companies when the country of residence is characterized by a weak rule of law. In the case of S&P 500 companies, performance increases when the compensation for top officers is mostly variable. Abstract This paper demonstrates how the boosting approach can support the ﬁnancial analysis functions in two ways: (1) As a predictive tool to forecast corporate performance, and rank accounting and corporate variables according to their impact on performance, and (2) As an interpretative tool to generate alternating decision trees that capture the non-linear relationship among accounting and corporate governance variables that determine performance. We compare our results using Adaboost with logistic regression, bagging, and random forests. We conduct 10-fold cross-valida-tion experiments on one sample each of S&P 500 companies, American Depository Receipts (ADRs) of Latin American companies and Latin American banks. Adaboost results indicate that large companies perform better than small companies, especially when these companies have a limited long-term assets to sales ratio. Performance improves for large LAADR companies when the country of residence is characterized by a weak rule of law. In the case of S&P 500 companies, performance increases when the compensation for top ofﬁcers is mostly variable.
Evaluation of the use of açaí seed residue as reinforcement in polymeric composite

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is an important economic source in the north region of Brazil for agro-industry. However, it generates a huge amount of seed residue as agro-waste. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of this residue as reinforcement in particleboards. The medium-density particleboards were manufactured according to the experimental design (22 + 1), considering the parameters with two factors: “Granulometry”, for different açaí seed sizes (2.38, 1.19, 0.29, 0.15 and 0.07 mm) and “%Resin”, for different resin weight fractions (10%, 12.5% and 15%), both applied in the manufacturing of the composites. Measurements for the Apparent Density Thickness Swelling and Water Absorption (WA) of the particleboards were performed. Mechanical properties of particleboards were analyzed through top and surface Screw Withdrawal and Internal Bonding test. In addition, the morphology of surface from particleboards was evaluated through Scanning Electron Microscopy The results of TS for 24 h, WA for 2 and 24 h, and IB showed that the particle size was a significant factor (p < .05). These results established that the highest particle sizes provided lower percentages of absorption. The results of Screw Withdrawal did not achieve the requirements established by NBR 14810–2:2018 standard. Besides that, the results presented statistical difference, considering the particle size and the interaction between parameters (“%Resin” and “Granulometry”), which resulted in a p-value < . 05. For the Internal Bonding test, the composite with highest particle size exhibited the best performance compared to the other ones.
Ice‐sheet deglaciation and Loch Lomond Readvance in the eastern Cairngorms: implications of a Lateglacial sediment record from Glen Builg

We present new lithostratigraphic, pollen‐stratigraphic and tephrochronological data obtained from a sediment sequence in a small lake basin in Glen Builg, eastern Cairngorms, with mapping of the surrounding glacial geomorphological features. The collective evidence indicates that basin organic sediment accumulation started during the Windermere Interstadial at ~14.3 ka. The new results reaffirm the conclusions of Clapperton et al. (1975), that any occupation of the eastern Cairngorms by Loch Lomond (‘Younger Dryas’) Stadial glacier ice was spatially restricted. The record also suggests that harsh climatic conditions prevailed throughout the Windermere Interstadial, probably due to the relatively high altitude of the site (~460 m) and its proximity to major Cairngorm peaks. Our new, more comprehensive study provides a robust chronology, and reveals several palaeoenvironmental signals congruent with other recently reported Scottish Highlands records. Key similarities with regional records are: (i) a short climatic reversal corresponding to GI‐1d in the Greenland stratotype sequence; (ii) a two‐phased Loch Lomond Stadial, with a transition around the Vedde Ash, dating to ~12.1 ka; and (iii) a delayed response to Early Holocene climatic warming of ~250 years, before soils were sufficiently stabilised to permit shrub vegetation establishment.
Database as an Experiment: Parataxonomy of Medicinal Plants as Intellectual Property in India

Abstract Bioprospecting refers to the scientific investigation of plants and folk medicines in the hope of developing new drugs. Its 1980s revival raised concerns about the intellectual property of indigenous people, requiring bioprospecting scientists to make legitimate benefit-sharing agreements with resource owners and communities. Despite the “ethical” look of such a movement, it has been criticized as a new form of “biocapitalism. ” This is especially true in India, where the government has initiated databases of “valuable” traditional medicine, such as Ayurveda, and criticism has been directed at the way the complex composition of Ayurveda was disentangled and reorganized into elementary botanical units commensurate with the global pharmaceutical industry. This paper explores the politics embedded in the material-semiotic process of databasing Ayurveda and herbal plants. Focusing on a state government project in Uttarakhand, India, the study reveals how the project relies on colonial herbal relations while generating new and unexpected relations among particular medicinal plants (jadi buti), folk Ayurvedic healers (vaidyas), and local plant taxonomists. This study highlights the necessity of grasping the emergent biodiversity databasing initiatives in India as “experiments,” open-ended, uncertain, and indeterminate projects rather than part of a universal process of pharmaceuticalization.
Basalt fiber reinforced foam concrete with marble waste and calcium aluminate cement

As a typical cellular lightweight material, foam concrete is produced by mixing cement, water, aggregate and a suitable foaming agent and has a density usually below 1600 kg/m3. The large number of air spaces present in foam concrete ensures that the concrete has advantages such as lightweight, high fluidity during pouring, excellent thermal and sound insulation, superior fire resistance, and outstanding energy absorption capacity. Its high porosity and the connectivity of the pores, which can allow the entry of negative substances into the concrete environment, cause foam concrete to have a very low physico‐mechanical and durability performance. To eliminate or reduce these disadvantages, this study adopted the use of basalt fibers (BF) as eco‐friendly fiber type and calcium aluminate cement (CAC) as aluminous cement with waste marble powder (WMP) as aggregates in foam concrete. In that respect, 9 mixes with varying content of foaming agent (FC) and basalt fiber have been prepared. Assessment of mechanical performance was based on compressive and flexural strength after 6 h, 1, 7, and 28 days. Dry bulk density, thermal conductivity, porosity, water absorption, and sorptivity of the concretes were determined. Durability characteristics of the concretes were examined by dry shrinkage, high temperature, magnesium sulfate, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids. The obtained results showed that the content of BF affected the compressive strength of the mixtures slightly negatively or positively depending on the FC. The lowest value in thermal conductivity was gained as 0.645 (W/m K) for the mixture incorporating 1% BF and 50 kg/m3 foam quantity. In addition, the foam concrete incorporating foam of 30 kg/m3 and 1% BF showed the best resistance against MgSO4. The mixture with 2% BF and 30 kg/m3 FC exhibited the lowest mass loss after HCI exposure.
An improved nonlinear path following method with on-line transition trajectory generation for fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles

To enhance the path following ability for fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, and solve the stability and high-accuracy tracking problems due to inappropriate route switchover time during intense maneuvers, an improved nonlinear path following method with on-line transition trajectory generation was proposed in the article. Firstly, the influence of the guidance distance to the nonlinear path following method was verified through a flight experiment, and the importance of the critical time for route switchover was deduced. The on-line transition trajectory generation was expected to realize the automation of the switchover process, including the computation of the critical switchover time and desired paths. Secondly, to generate the on-line transition trajectory, the computation method was derived for typical intense maneuvers, such as the turning maneuver for square trajectory, or the converging maneuver to the expected trajectory under initial numerous errors (such as modifying the waypoint during a flight mission). Finally, to solve the situations in which the transition trajectory does not exist, an adaptive guidance distance algorithm was proposed to improve the flight stability and accuracy. From the simulation and flight experiment results, stability and high accuracy can be guaranteed for different situations with the proposed methods. The path following error is smaller than 1.0 m when it is converged (in downwind or upwind situations), which is important for the method to be used widely.
Constraining the Intergalactic Magnetic Field Through its Imprint on Gamma Ray Data from Distant Sources

Author(s): Arlen, Timothy | Advisor(s): Vassiliev, Vladimir V | Abstract: Gamma ray photons, with energies gTeV propagating cosmological distances will be attenuated by pair production with diffuse extragalactic background photon fields-both the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation and the UV - far-IR extragalactic background light (EBL). The produced electron/positron pairs will subsequently inverse Compton scatter background photons up to GeV - TeV energies, and some of these upscattered photons may also initiate pair production in the formation of an electromagnetic cascade. If an intergalactic magnetic field (IGMF) exists on cosmological length scales of relevance to the cascade, it will deflect the electrons and positrons and will leave an imprint on the resulting spectral, angular, and temporal properties of the cascade radiation. The primary goal of this study was to constrain the properties of the IGMF using data from known sources of TeV gamma-rays.This thesis describes the construction of a high precision, 3-dimensional, particle-tracking Monte Carlo simulation code to model the intergalactic electromagnetic cascade, and uses it to systematically explore the effects of the IGMF on the cascades in multiple observational domains. We then compare the simulations with gamma-ray data from current generation ground-based gamma-ray instruments such as VERITAS, HESS, and MAGIC, sensitive to TeV-scale energies, as well as the Fermi satellite, sensitive to the GeV-scale.This novel technique of constraining the IGMF has rapidly emerged over the last decade as gamma-ray instruments have become more sensitive and as theoretical understanding of the cascade process has progressed. This emerging field has proven to be richly complex and we find that the data from current generation gamma-ray instruments do not allow for an unambiguous upper or lower limit to be placed on the IGMF at present. We do find it likely that the next generation ground based gamma-ray observatory, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be able to detect unambiguous signatures of gamma-ray cascading if the IGMF magnitude is within a certain range, and thus provide a robust constraint on IGMF properties.
A spectroscopic and photometric study of stellar populations in a sample of clusters in the Magellanic Clouds

This Ph.D. Thesis has been carried out in the framework of a long-term and large project devoted to describe the main photometric, chemical, evolutionary and integrated properties of a representative sample of Large and Small Magellanic Cloud (LMC and SMC respectively) clusters. The globular clusters system of these two Irregular galaxies provides a rich resource for investigating stellar and chemical evolution and to obtain a detailed view of the star formation history and chemical enrichment of the Clouds. The results discussed here are based on the analysis of high-resolution photometric and spectroscopic datasets obtained by using the last generation of imagers and spectrographs. The principal aims of this project are summarized as follows: • The study of the AGB and RGB sequences in a sample of MC clusters, through the analysis of a wide near-infrared photometric database, including 33 Magellanic globulars obtained in three observing runs with the near-infrared camera SOFI@NTT (ESO, La Silla). • The study of the chemical properties of a sample of MCs clusters, by using optical and near-infrared high-resolution spectra. 3 observing runs have been secured to our group to observe 9 LMC clusters (with ages between 100 Myr and 13 Gyr) with the optical high-resolution spectrograph FLAMES@VLT (ESO, Paranal) and 4 very young (<30 Myr) clusters (3 in the LMC and 1 in the SMC) with the near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph CRIRES@VLT. • The study of the photometric properties of the main evolutive sequences in optical Color- Magnitude Diagrams (CMD) obtained by using HST archive data, with the final aim of dating several clusters via the comparison between the observed CMDs and theoretical isochrones. The determination of the age of a stellar population requires an accurate measure of the Main Sequence (MS) Turn-Off (TO) luminosity and the knowledge of the distance modulus, reddening and overall metallicity. For this purpose, we limited the study of the age just to the clusters already observed with high-resolution spectroscopy, in order to date only clusters with accurate estimates of the overall metallicity.
Advanced Partial Discharge Testing of 540V Aeronautic Motors Fed by SiC Inverter under Altitude Conditions

The present paper reports non-electrically intrusive partial discharge investigations on an aeronautic motor fed by SiC inverter drive under variable environmental conditions. A representative test procedure and experimental set-up based on operating aeronautic conditions are essential to ensure the accuracy and reliability of partial discharge test on aircraft systems to make informed decisions on insulation system design choice. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of partial discharge test of the insulation system on a typical aeronautic motor under such conditions, both electrically and environmentally. To do so, the paper will start by detailing the innovative experimental set-up to be used in the study. It mainly consists in a high-voltage (1000V) inverter drive using SiC components to provide fast rise time surges and associated with phase-by-phase surge filtering. A vacuum chamber is used to simulate altitude while the association of non-intrusive sensors and wavelet based signal processing provided partial discharge detection. Optical detection is also used to reinforce partial discharge inception level accuracy. Then, an analysis is carried out on a 540V motor to find out which combination of switching frequency, harness length, rise time by phase and voltage magnitude is the worst case scenario. The study helps to realize the benefits of using an inverter based test method to find the limits of the insulation system under various pressure and electrical conditions. It is shown that a representative insulation system performance diagram could be built experimentally and used to enhance insulation design and manufacturing choices. This paper will also review the ability of the non-intrusive test method and the associated numerical signal processing to detect partial discharge in a motor fed by fast-rise time surge and under different pressures. The paper concludes with an analysis of results and thoughts about future work regarding advanced test procedure.
Moving towards fairer regional minimum income schemes in Spain

Minimum income schemes aim at providing citizens with a minimum living standard. In some EU countries, their regulation and provision takes place at the subnational level. This is the case in Spain, where minimum income schemes are a heterogeneous and complex collection of regional benefits designed and implemented at the regional level, by the Autonomous Communities. In June 2020, a complementary nationwide minimum income scheme was implemented. In this context, we use the European microsimulation model EUROMOD, together with microdata from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions, to comprehensively assess the performance of the whole minimum income system. We simulate a sequence of theoretical scenarios, considering different degrees of coverage and adequacy of these benefits and show that extending the coverage of the regional schemes would significantly alleviate poverty. However, it would not be sufficient to eliminate it and further increases in the benefit amounts would also be required. Furthermore, the new nationwide minimum income can potentially reduce the shortfall in income from the poverty line, if cost-shifting practices from the regional to the national budgetary level are limited. We discuss the importance of this case study in light of the decentralization of minimum income policies and derive some general policy implications. JEL classification: H53, H75, I38.
Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Groundwater Quality Index and Multivariate Statistical Methods and Human Health Risk Assessment in 
a Coastal Region of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes and assess the associated human health risks for different age groups in a coastal province of Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Twenty groundwater samples were collected in Soc Trang Province, and various water quality parameters were analyzed. The data were employed to calculate entropy-weighted groundwater quality index (EWQI), principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for adult and children health. The results revealed that groundwater in some locations, especially in GW19, was polluted by hardness, total dissolved solids, NH4+, Cl-, Fe, total coliform, and E. coli. In addition, 5 principal components from the PCA results could explain 84.5% of the total variation of groundwater quality, which also suggested that the potential groundwater pollution sources were geochemical processes, agricultural activities, domestic and industrial wastewater, seawater intrusion, and excessive nitrogen fertilizer application. The CA results showed that monitoring locations can be divided into 4 clusters based on their similarities in groundwater quality, and the most polluted group was found at cluster IV (GW19). The computed EWQI values ranged from 20.05 to 738.52, with approximately 45% of total samples classifying good to excellent water quality. The sampling points with undrinkable quality are mainly located in the northeast and center of the province. The ratio of children and adults under the threat of adverse health effects due to drinking groundwater contained non-carcinogenic substances (NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, Cd, Cu, F-, Mn, and As) ranged from 5 to 40%, and children had higher risks compared to adults. Additionally, the consumption of As-contaminated groundwater also poses carcinogenic risks for children, female and male adults ranging from 4.80×10-6 to 1.33×10-4. The findings of this study can provide helpful information for policymakers in the development of long-term water management strategies to protect community health.
First study of in vitro protective effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on frozen–thawed bovine spermatozoa

Background and Aim: Lepidium meyenii Walp (Maca) is an herbaceous plant that grows in the Peruvian Andes and it has been widely used as a nutritional supplement and fertility enhancer and has been used in the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as rheumatism, respiratory disorders, and anemia. The most notable feature of Maca is its potent antioxidant capacity, which helps in the scavenging of free radicals and protection of cells from oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of Maca extract on thawed sperm cells from bulls. Materials and Methods: Three dilutions of 1, 10, and 100 mg/mL of Maca extract were incubated with frozen–thawed bovine semen and analyzed at 1, 3, and 24 h of exposure time, evaluating the activity of the extract on the DNA, motility, morphology, viability, integrity of the membrane and acrosome of spermatozoa. Results: The Maca extract improved the studied sperm parameters of motility, acrosome integrity, vitality, and DNA integrity of sperm cells at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, and at 1 mg/mL, an improvement was observed in the morphology and integrity of the membrane. However, the best activity of the Maca extract was observed on the DNA integrity of the sperm, which was effective at the three concentrations evaluated after 24 h of incubation. Conclusion: The results indicate that L. meyenii can help in maintaining spermatozoa cellular integrity after the frozen–thaw process, especially in the protection against DNA fragmentation. Therefore, Maca would be a feasible supplementation to protect sperm to maintain their fertile ability after thawing.
Student’s Mathematical Literacy in Solving Asesmen Kompetensi Minimum Question in terms of Gender

Mathematical literacy is the human ability to formulate, use, and interpret mathematical knowledge and skills in various real-life contexts. This descriptive qualitative study aims to describe the mathematical literacy of 4 grade XII students in solving the Asesmen Kompetensi Minimum (AKM) questions, in one of the Muhammadiyah Gresik High Schools based on gender. AKM is a basic assessment of students' abilities as a medium for developing self-competence so that they can think critically in everyday life. Collecting data using the AKM mathematical literacy test and interviews, test and interview data were analyzed based on indicators of mathematical literacy. The results showed that the literacy skills of female students met the indicators in the process of formulating, implementing, and interpreting problems with appropriate solutions. Meanwhile, male students met the indicators in the process of formulating and implementing. Teachers need to familiarize students with solving problems related to mathematical literacy.