Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time Series Forecasting for Self-Aware Systems

Modern distributed systems and Internet-of-Things applications are governed by fast living and changing requirements. Moreover, they have to struggle with huge amounts of data that they create or have to process. To improve the self-awareness of such systems and enable proactive and autonomous decisions, reliable time series forecasting methods are required. However, selecting a suitable forecasting method for a given scenario is a challenging task. According to the “No-Free-Lunch Theorem,” there is no general forecasting method that always performs best. Thus, manual feature engineering remains to be a mandatory expert task to avoid trial and error. Furthermore, determining the expected time-to-result of existing forecasting methods is a challenge. In this article, we extensively assess the state-of-the-art in time series forecasting. We compare existing methods and discuss the issues that have to be addressed to enable their use in a self-aware computing context. To address these issues, we present a step-by-step approach to fully automate the feature engineering and forecasting process. Then, following the principles from benchmarking, we establish a level-playing field for evaluating the accuracy and time-to-result of automated forecasting methods for a broad set of application scenarios. We provide results of a benchmarking competition to guide in selecting and appropriately using existing forecasting methods for a given self-aware computing context. Finally, we present a case study in the area of self-aware data-center resource management to exemplify the benefits of fully automated learning and reasoning processes on time series data.
Probiotic Fermentation of Indigenous Food Mixture: Effect on Antinutrients and Digestibility of Starch and Protein

Abstract Indigenously developed BCGT food mixture which contained barley flour, milk coprecipitate, sprouted green gram paste and tomato pulp (2:1:1:1 w/w) was autoclaved (103.4 k Pa, 15 min, 121°C), cooled and inoculated with 2% liquid culture (containing 10 6 cells/mL broth). Two types of fermentations were carried out, i.e., single culture fermentation [ L. casei, L. plantarum (37°C, 24 h)] and sequential culture fermentation [ S. boulardii (25°C, 24 h)+ L. casei (37°C, 24 h); S. boulardii (25°C, 24 h)+ L. plantarum (37°C, 24 h)]. All the fermentations drastically reduced the contents of phytic acid, polyphenols and trypsin inhibitor activity while significantly improving the in vitro digestibilities of starch and protein. Sequential culture fermentations brought about higher changes as compared to single culture fermentations.
The Value of Bad Ratings: An Experiment on the Impact of Distortions in Reputation Systems

We study the robustness of reputation management systems against distortions in rating behavior. In a laboratory trust experiment with reputation management, we mimic a positive bias by exclusively offering the option to rate positively or to give no rating. As predicted by theoretical considerations, this bias leads to significantly less trust than a system that additionally offers a negative rating option. A system relying solely on negative ratings does not have such an adverse effect. This highlights the importance of negative ratings for the effectiveness of reputation systems.
Reevaluation of the optimum dietary protein level for the maximum growth of juvenile Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli (Hilgendorf).

This experiment was conducted to reevaluate the optimum dietary protein level for the maximum growth of juvenile Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli (Hilgendorf). Lyophilized rockfish muscle and casein were used as the major protein sources in the basal diet. After 1 week of the conditioning period, triplicate groups of 20 fish averaging 7.3 ± 0.04 g (mean ± SD) were fed one of five semipurified diets containing the graded levels of 35%, 40%, 45%, 50% or 60% crude protein (CP). After 8 weeks of the feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed 60% CP diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed 45%, 40% and 35% CP diets. There was no significant difference in WG and SGR between fish fed 60% and 50%, and between fish fed 50% and 45%. Fish fed 60%, 50% and 45% CP diets had a higher feed efficiency ratio (FER) than did fish fed 40% and 35% CP diets. There was no significant difference in FER between fish fed 40% and 35% CP diets, and among fish fed 60%, 50% and 45% CP diets. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) was inversely related to the dietary protein level in a linear fashion. Whole-body protein and fat content were negatively correlated, and ash content was not affected by varying dietary protein levels. Broken-line analysis indicated that the optimum dietary protein level could be 48.6% ± 3.45% (mean ± SD) for maximum WG in this study. Therefore, these findings suggest that the optimum dietary protein level for maximum growth could be equal to or greater than 48.6%, but less than 50% CP containing 16.7 kJ g−1 in juvenile Korean rockfish.
Traffic Dynamics at Intersections Subject to Random Misperception

Traffic accidents cause harm to the society. Future technology in autonomous vehicles is expected to eliminate the human factor as one important cause of failure. However, in the near future, autonomous vehicles and human drivers will coexist and downside risk still needs to be tolerated in exchange for mobility. Unsignalized intersections are particularly prone to accidents, as lots of potential conflicts between traffic participants occur. Motorists need to anticipate these on the basis of their perception of the environment and react accordingly. Yet, perceptional errors affect human drivers, and it is important to understand their impact on traffic safety and traffic efficiency. We develop a microscopic model of traffic dynamics at single-lane unsignalized intersections subject to random misperception that may cause accidents. Perceptional errors can be modeled by stochastic processes, e.g., Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes. We present suitable simulation techniques and characterize the behavior of the traffic system in various case studies. We discuss the impact of errors and safety margins on traffic flow, the number of accidents, and the number of collided vehicles. In terms of perception errors, we consider both homogeneous and heterogeneous traffic participants, reflecting the coexistence of human drivers and autonomous vehicles. The model captures the real-world tradeoff between safety and efficiency for potential future traffic systems.
Growth and carbohydrate status of Pyrus communis L plantlets inoculated with Glomus sp

Les effets d'un champignon mycorhizogene a arbuscule (Glomus sp) sur la croissance et sur le metabo-lisme glucidique d'un porte-greffe micropropage de poirier (OH x F 51) ont ete examines pendant les premiers stades et au debut de la deuxieme annee de developpement. La croissance des plantes a ete evaluee, a differentes periodes apres inoculation, par des mesures de hauteur de tige, de nombre de feuilles, de longueur de racines et de poids de matiere fraiche et seche. Le contenu en glucides solubles (fructose, glucose, saccharose et sorbitol) et insolubles (amidon) a ete mesure dans les tiges, les feuilles et les racines par chromatographie gazeuse. L'inoculation avec Glomus sp s'est revelee efficace pour stimuler la croissance des plantes en induisant une forte augmentation de la hauteur des tiges, de la longueur des racines et du taux de matiere seche par rapport aux temoins. La colonisation des racines de porte-greffes par Glomus sp a provoque aussi un changement au niveau du metabolisme des glucides et de leur repartition dans la plante.
Nitrogen Application Increases Yield and Early Dry Matter Accumulation in Late‐Planted Soybean

In double-cropped soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] planting is delayed, with a corresponding decrease in yield associated with photoperiod-induced early flowering and reduced accumulation of dry matter during the vegetative growth period. Application of nitrogen (N) has been shown to improve yield of late-planted soybean. We conducted a field study to determine the optimum economic rate of N that would stimulate early dry matter accumulation, and thus yield, in late-planted soybean. The effects of three planting dates (mid-June, late-June, and mid-July), two MG VIII cultivars (Kuell and Prichard), and five N rates (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha -1 ) were studied for 2 yr at three Alabama locations (Fairhope, Shorter, and Crossville). Nitrogen application of 60 to 70 kg ha -1 maximized yield and R1 dry matter accumulation. However, N reduced nodule number and mass, but had no effect on R1 plant height, mature plant height, or seed quality, protein and oil content. Yield was reduced linearly by later planting, but there was no interaction between N rate and planting date for yield. Kuell was taller at maturity and had more R1 dry matter than Prichard, but Kuell yielded more than Prichard in only one environment and there was no cultivar X N rate interaction for yield. At current prices for N and soybean, we concluded that N can be a viable input for double-cropped soybean at an optimal economic rate of 59 kg ha -1 .
Digestibility and nitrogen balance of lambs fed sugarcane hydrolyzed under different conditions as roughage in the diet

This study aimed to evaluate the digestibility and nitrogen balance (NB) of lambs fed sugarcane hydrolyzed under different conditions. Fifteen Ile de France lambs at, on average, 23.5kg of body weight were evaluated. Treatments were: in natura sugarcane (IN), sugarcane hydrolyzed using 0.6% calcium oxide (CaO) under aerobic condition (AER), and sugarcane hydrolyzed using 0.6% CaO under anaerobic condition (ANA). Therefore, a completely randomized design was constituted with five replicates per treatment. Treatments were supplied to animals along with concentrate. Both hydrolysis conditions aimed to alter the sugarcane fermentation pattern, therefore improving fiber digestibility. Lambs were housed in individual pens and fed with diet allowing 10% of refusals. Refusals, feces and urine were sampled daily during five days. They were collected to determine the digestibility and NB. A higher digestibility of neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (57.05%), organic matter (85.39%), hemicellulose (72.09%), NB (29.46g day-1 and 2.78g kg-0.75 day-1) and rate of nitrogen absorbed (3.00g kg-0.75 day-1) were observed for lambs fed with ANA than for those fed IN (41.17%, 73.76%, 53.80%, 21.39g day-1, 2.00g kg-0.75 day-1 and 2.22g kg-0.75 day-1, respectively). As roughage, ANA in the lamb diet, optimizes the nitrogen balance and is more efficient to improve the digestibility of some nutrients compared to IN. Whereas AER was as efficient as ANA and IN
Bayesian Persuasion, Incentive Contracting, and Performance Manipulation∗

Bayesian Persuasion, Incentive Contracting, and Performance Manipulation We study how the design of an information system about an agent’s productivity implemented by a principal affects the agent’s incentives to create value and manage earnings. We find that, in equilibrium, the principal’s choice of an information system and the incentive contract that she offers to the agent are determined by the severeness of the multi-task problem and the real effects of earnings management. Specifically, we identify conditions for the existence of a unique threshold value for the relative marginal productivities of the agent’s actions above (below) which the principal strictly prefers an uninformative (a perfectly informative) system. Surprisingly, we also find that the principal always strictly prefers a perfectly informative system if inflated earnings fully revert as cash outflows in future periods. In an extension, we examine the interplay between the firm’s information and internal control systems and find that the firm is more inclined to implement a perfectly informative system, if the information it generates is also used to determine the optimal level of internal control.
Simulation of Rotating Black Holes

Considering the analogy between classical thermodynamic parameters and black hole parameters, the four laws of thermodynamics are reinterpreted for Kerr and Kerr-Newman black holes. A simple model for the dynamic relationships was obtained by considering the surface area of the outer horizon of a Kerr and Kerr-Neumann black hole as the area of a perfect black body. Finding the conditions these black holes should satisfy, the equations were numerically solved and simulated for the Hawking temperature, Hawking radiation and entropy variations of Kerr and Kerr-Newman black holes. The Hawking temperature and Hawking radiation of a given rotating black hole drastically increases at the final stage of the black hole evaporation. In the meantime, the entropy of a rotating black hole drastically decreases through the time. The additional angular momentum and the charge effects gain high Hawking temperatures and high Hawking radiation values for the black holes while these effects reduce the entropy of the black holes.
Speeding up Support Vector Machines with Random Fourier Features

This paper describes advantages and disadvantages of using Random Fourier Features with Support Vector Machines (SVMs). SVMs are a widely used example of kernel meth-ods that is known to perform well in practice. Unfortunately, running time of a general nonlinear SVM algorithm increases signiﬁcantly with the size of the training dataset. When an explicit ﬁnite-dimensional mapping corresponding to the kernel function can be constructed, a much faster linear SVM algorithm can be used. Rahimi and Recht proposed a technique called ”Random Fourier Features” that allows to construct a random mapping into a relatively low-dimensional feature space for a large family of kernel functions. In this paper we show, that linear SVM using Random Fourier Features allow to signiﬁcantly increase runtime of nonlinear SVM in a predictable manner. We analyze the trade-oﬀ between computational complexity and the accuracy of the resulting solutions.
Notes on New Zealand mammals 6. Second report on the stomach contents of long‐finned pilot whales, Globicephala melas

Abstract We report data on the stomach contents of the long‐finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, recovered from a group of whales stranded on Ruakaka Beach, northeastern New Zealand, in November 2006. In nine whales for which identifiable stomach contents were recovered (three that stranded on 10 November and six that stranded on 11 November) prey remains comprised exclusively cephalopod beaks attributed to five squid species. The stomachs of a further two whales contained unidentifiable upper beaks only, while the stomachs of five whales were completely empty. No whale appeared to have been satiated immediately before stranding, given that the maximum biomass of prey recently consumed by any one whale was calculated to be <5 kg. All squids ingested represented oceanic species, found from 50 to 1000 m but more common towards the deeper end of this range. These data both complement and contrast with the only other dietary information available for this species in New Zealand waters, reported from stomach contents of whales stranded on Farewell Spit, South Island in December 2005.
Culture beats leadership-first insights of the modul_or

This article contributes to a better understanding of the interplay between organizational culture and leadership. Based on the AGIL model of Parsons (1961), we created a questionnaire to examine if both constructs are connected to organizational performance, if a fit between them is of any importance and to what extent they influence each other. Results show that both are highly correlated with organizational performance. A fit between culture facets and corresponding leadership styles is also significantly related to performance. However, results from multiple regression uncover the outstanding of the role of organizational culture, which outperforms leadership. Finally, we outline our future research plans and welcome suggestions for improvements.
Relative importance of trophic interactions and nutrient enrichment in seagrass ecosystems: A broad‐scale field experiment in the Baltic−Skagerrak area

The interaction of eutrophication and predation in structuring seagrass Zostera marina L. ecosystems was assessed in a field experiment in three regions along an estuarine salinity gradient, from southern Finland to the Skagerrak area of the Swedish west coast. All regions are considered to be affected by eutrophication and overfishing but differ in the abundance of intermediate predators (e.g., small fish, shrimp, and crabs), mesograzers, and the biomass of epiphytic algae. Using transplanted Zostera (eelgrass), nutrient levels and intermediate predator abundance were manipulated in a full‐factorial cage experiment. On the Swedish west coast, where ambient densities of mesograzers are very low, epiphytic algae responded strongly to nutrient enrichment, resulting in significantly reduced growth of eelgrass. At the Baltic sites however, where ambient densities of mesograzers are high, no significant growth of epiphytic algae was detected, and only grazer biomass responded to nutrient enrichment. Predation from small fish, shrimp, and crabs decreased the biomass of mesograzers by > 98% on the Swedish west coast, but natural predators had no significant effect on mesograzers biomass at the Baltic sites. Predation and nutrient enrichment interacted to affect the growth of eelgrass by controlling the biomass of mesograzers and nuisance algae. The differing effect of nutrient enrichment and grazing in the three regions may therefore be a result of the prevailing low and high predation pressure on mesograzers in Zostera. This absence or presence of predation may derive from interregional changes in trophic interactions, possibly caused by a combination of eutrophication and overfishing.
The experience of patients with bipolar disorder from diagnosis disclosure: A qualitative study

Background: Disclosure of the diagnosis is an essential part of the treatment process and an important part of patient rights. However, it can be a very stressful experience, especially in mental health disorders. Patients with bipolar disorder have a unique experience of receiving and managing their diagnosis. The objective of the current study was to explore the experience of patients with bipolar disorder of diagnosis disclosure. Methods: This was a qualitative study. Participants were recruited from patients who knew their disorder’s name using purposive sampling method. The inclusion criteria were being diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having bipolar disorder and the disclosure was conducted by a psychiatrist. Sixteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve patients. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: Patients received their diagnosis name in three steps including Wandering in Unknowns, Limited Brightness and Reaching to a Relative Insight. Patients believed that disclosure of the diagnosis was not accompanied by enough information. Conclusion: The disclosure of diagnosis in patients with bipolar disorder without providing enough information is stressful and is not helpful in empowering these patients. Based on our results, disclosure of diagnosis to patients with bipolar disorder was not conducted with enough information and patients had problems for understanding their symptoms and treatments.
Identification and characterization of genomic regions associated with nitrogen dynamics in rice plants (Oryza sativa L.)

In rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants, accumulation and remobilization of nitrogen (N) are essential physiological processes that determine grain yield and quality. The objectives of the present study were to identify and characterize the genomic regions associated with this N dynamics by quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. In the present study, 191 recombinant inbred lines (F7) derived from a cross between Milyang 23 (Indica-type) and Akihikari (Japonica-type) were repeatedly evaluated for leaf nitrogen (N) concentration throughout four cropping seasons in Joetsu, Japan and Los Banos, Philippines, to perform interval mappings using a 182 RFLP marker-based linkage map. The locations and effects of the QTLs detected showed that the N dynamics was controlled by 15 genomic regions classifed into three groups. Four regions in Group I (chromosomes 1, 2, 7 and 8) affected only the N concentration before heading, i.e., N accumulation during the vegetative phase; whereas eight regions in Group II (chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12) affected the N concentration after heading, i.e., N remobilization during the reproductive phase. Only three regions (chromosomes 1, 2 and 10) in Group III exerted effects on both N concentrations in the vegetative and reproductive phases. In 12 of these 15 regions, expression of the QTLs depended on the cropping seasons and sites. Statistical tests enabled to detect significant genotype × stage and genotype × season interaction effects for nine and eight regions, respectively. Characterization of the 15 regions demonstrated that the genetic control of N dynamics involves a number of genes whose effects were enhanced or suppressed by plant ontogeny and the growth environment.
Effect of Light Quality on Growth and Vegetable Quality in Leaf Lettuce, Spinach and Komatsuna

The effects of light quality on biomass and internal quality of leaf lettuce, spinach and komatsuna were examined. The plants were grown hydroponically in an environmentally controlled room with a 12-h light period and under a light/dark temperature of 20±1°C/18±1°C and a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 300 μmol m-2 s-1 under four light quality treatments, i.e., red light from red fluorescent lamps (R) or blue light from blue fluorescent lamps (B) or a mixture of R and B (RB) or white light from white fluorescent lamps (W). The irradiation of R compared with W increased shoot dry weight in komatsuna and decreased the nitrate content in spinach. Irradiation of B or RB compared with W increased the L-ascorbic acid content in leaf lettuce and komatsuna and decreased the nitrate content in leaf lettuce. Irradiation of B was not suitable for the spinach cultivation due to an extremely decreased shoot dry weight although the carotenoid content was slightly increased. Our data show that controlling light quality is useful to achieve higher productivity or higher nutritional quality of the commercial crops even under limited light intensity in controlled-environment agricultural facilities although the effective light quality treatment differs depending on the plant species.
Immature stages and life history of the predatory mite species Amblyseius barkeri (Hughes, 1948) (Acarina, Gamasida, Phytoseiidae)

The immature stages of the phytoseiid mite Amblyseius barkeri Hughes are described and illustrated. Incubation period averaged 2.0 ± 0.75 days while female and male total immature stages lasted 8.43 ± 0.8 and 6.86 ± 1.07 days, during which they consumed 9.4 ± 2.3 and 8.43 ± 0.97 Tetranychus urticae Koch nymphs, respectively. The female and male life span averaged 34.70 ± 2.0 and 24.8 ± 1.6 days, during which the predator consumed 161.43 ± 13.16 and 106.8 ± 16.42 prey individuals, respectively. During oviposition period, average female attacked 52.92% of the total prey individuals consumed during its longevity, and laid 13.20 ± 0.86 eggs with a daily rate of 1.02 ± 0.26 eggs.