Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meta-Regularization by Enforcing Mutual-Exclusiveness

Meta-learning models have two objectives. First, they need to be able to make predictions over a range of task distributions while utilizing only a small amount of training data. Second, they also need to adapt to new novel unseen tasks at meta-test time again by using only a small amount of training data from that task. It is the second objective where meta-learning models fail for non-mutually exclusive tasks due to task overfitting. Given that guaranteeing mutually exclusive tasks is often difficult, there is a significant need for regularization methods that can help reduce the impact of task-memorization in meta-learning. For example, in the case of N-way, K-shot classification problems, tasks becomes non-mutually exclusive when the labels associated with each task is fixed. Under this design, the model will simply memorize the class labels of all the training tasks, and thus will fail to recognize a new task (class) at meta-test time. A direct observable consequence of this memorization is that the meta-learning model simply ignores the task-specific training data in favor of directly classifying based on the test-data input. In our work, we propose a regularization technique for meta-learning models that gives the model designer more control over the information flow during meta-training. Our method consists of a regularization function that is constructed by maximizing the distance between task-summary statistics, in the case of black-box models and task specific network parameters in the case of optimization based models during meta-training. Our proposed regularization function shows an accuracy boost of $\sim$ $36\%$ on the Omniglot dataset for 5-way, 1-shot classification using black-box method and for 20-way, 1-shot classification problem using optimization-based method.
FIELD VALIDATION OF AMMONIUM SULPHATE AS AN ACTIVATOR ADJUVANT ON BROMOXYNIL + MCPA + METRIBUZIN EFFICACY AGAINST MAIZE WEEDS

The use of herbicides is very important for controlling weeds in maize. The efficacy of herbicides can be enhanced with the use of adjuvants. A field experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during autumn 2012 to study the efficacy of bromoxynil + MCPA + metribuzin (Valent-470EW a premixed formulation) with ammonium sulphate as an adjuvant. The experiment comprised of seven treatments namely weedy check, bromoxynil + MCPA + metribuzin @ 1250 mLha -1 (commercial product dose), 937.5 mL ha -1 @ 1250 mL ha -1 + 2% ammonium sulphate, @ 937.5 mLha -1 + 2% ammonium sulphate @ 1250 mL ha -1 + 4% ammonium sulphate and @ 937.5 mL ha -1 + 4% ammonium sulphate. The bromoxynil + MCPA + metribuzin @ 1250 mL ha -1 + 2% ammonium sulphate gave maximum weed control and minimum dry weight of all weeds. Weed control efficacy was 59-89, 59-100 and 88-100 % for sedges, narrow leaved and broad leaved weeds, respectively. All the yield components, except plant population and number of cobs per plant, were affected significantly and maximum increase in grain yield (66.67%) was achieved by bromoxynil + MCPA + metribuzin @ 1250 mL ha -1 + 2 % ammonium sulphate.
SOUR ORANGE SEEDLING RESPONSE TO THE TREATMENT OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND NITROGEN SOURCE

Foliar application of organic sources of Carbon dioxide (Carbolizer) and Nitrogen (Vigamino) could enhance the growth of sour orange seedlings (Citrus aurantium L.). One year old uniform sour orange seedlings were planted in 15 L. pots filled with sandy loam + peat moss (2:1), the experiment designed as RCBD, carried out at the department of Hort. And Landscape Coll. Of Agric. Engine. Sci. – Univ. Of Baghdad, In the 2017-2018 season. Results showed a significant increase in the leaf area, thickness and shoot, root systems and total dry weight, Seedlings leaf content of the chlorophyll (138.59mg.100gm fresh weight) and branches carbohydrates (2.25%) increased significantly, with a higher concentration of carbolizer treatment (CO2 3), while plants treated with CO2 (14.71%) Characterized by high protein content, results indicated a decrease in nitrogen concentration by increasing Carbolizer concentrations as a carbon source, despite the increase of amino acids as a source of nitrogen (Vigamino). Treatments did not affect phosphorus concentration in the seedlings, while there was a significant increase in potassium.
Fine scale measurements in Belgian coastal sediments reveal different mobilization mechanisms for cationic trace metals and oxyanions

Belgian coastal sediment serves as an important sink for trace elements, yet a systematic study covering a wide range of elements including redox-sensitive metals (Fe, Mn, and Co), cationic trace metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn), oxyanions (P, V, As, and Mo), and sulfide has not been performed and the mechanisms controlling their mobilization were not investigated. Here, a passive sampling technique, Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT), was used in situ to obtain high resolution concentration profiles of these elements in the sediment porewater. Our results revealed two mobilization mechanisms of cationic trace metals and oxyanions in Belgian coastal sediments, both strongly linked to the cycling of Fe. Mobilization of Co, Pb, Ni, and Cu is controlled by electrogenic sulfur oxidation, acidification of the porewater and dissolution of FeS, while that of oxyanions (P, V, and As) is controlled by reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides. Constant cationic trace metal to Fe molar ratios were established in FeS, while the oxyanion to Fe ratios in Fe oxyhydroxides differ significantly between sampling stations, which is primarily caused by competing effects. We found no evidence that cationic trace metal mobilization was related to Fe oxyhydroxides, or oxyanion mobilization to FeS. This suggests that particulate organic matter forms the major pathway for cationic trace metal input in coastal sediments and that oxyanions will not be incorporated in FeS but form their own oxyanion-sulfide compound. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the mobilization mechanisms of cationic trace metals and oxyanions in coastal sediments, and of their biogeochemical cycling in coastal ecosystems.
Country Differences in Social Comparison on Social Media

Social comparison is a common focus in discussions of online social media use, and differences in its frequency, causes, and outcomes may arise from country or cultural differences. To understand how these differences play a role in experiences of social comparison on Facebook, a survey of 37,729 people across 18 countries was paired with respondents' activity on Facebook. The findings were augmented with 39 in-person interviews in three countries. Social comparison frequency was more strongly predicted by country than by age, gender, and Facebook activity combined, indicating that country differences are important to consider when studying social comparison. Women's and men's experiences differed greatly between countries. Exposure to high feedback counts on friends' posts was associated with more frequent social comparison, but only in some countries. Design interventions that account for such country differences may be more effective at reducing the negative outcomes of social comparison.
Organised Labour, Labour Market Imperfections, and Employer Wage Premia

This paper examines how collective bargaining through unions and workplace codetermination through works councils shape labour market imperfections and how labour market imperfections matter for employer wage premia. Based on representative German plant data for the years 1999-2016, we document that labour market imperfections are the norm rather than the exception. Wage mark-downs, that is wages below the marginal revenue product of labour rooted in employers' monopsony power, are the most prevalent outcome. We further find that both types of organised labour are accompanied by a smaller prevalence and intensity of wage mark-downs whereas the opposite holds for wage mark-ups, that is wages above the marginal revenue product of labour rooted in workers' monopoly power. Finally, we document a close link between our production-based labour market imperfection measures and employer wage premia. The prevalence and intensity of wage mark-downs are associated with a smaller level and larger dispersion of premia whereas wage mark-ups are only accompanied by a higher premium level.
RL Unplugged: A Suite of Benchmarks for Ofﬂine Reinforcement Learning

Ofﬂine methods for reinforcement learning have a potential to help bridge the gap between reinforcement learning research and real-world applications. They make it possible to learn policies from ofﬂine datasets, thus overcoming concerns associated with online data collection in the real-world, including cost, safety, or ethical concerns. In this paper, we propose a benchmark called RL Unplugged to evaluate and compare ofﬂine RL methods. RL Unplugged includes data from a diverse range of domains including games ( e.g., Atari benchmark) and simulated motor control problems ( e.g., DM Control Suite). The datasets include domains that are partially or fully observable, use continuous or discrete actions, and have stochastic vs. deterministic dynamics. We propose detailed evaluation protocols for each domain in RL Unplugged and provide an extensive analysis of supervised learning and ofﬂine RL methods using these protocols. We will release data for all our tasks and open-source all algorithms presented in this paper. We hope that our suite of benchmarks will increase the reproducibility of experiments and make it possible to study challenging tasks with a limited computational budget, thus making RL research both more systematic and more accessible across the community. Moving forward, we view RL Unplugged as a living benchmark suite that will evolve and grow with datasets contributed by the research community and ourselves. Our project page is available on github.
SEASONAL INFLUENCE ON QUANTITATIVE PROFILING OF PROTEINS IN BUFFALO (BUBALUS BUBALIS) OVARIAN FOLLICULAR FLUID

Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) provide nutrition and livelihood security to rural agricultural community. They are seasonal breeders and its reproductive efficiency varies with season. Breeding activity is negatively related to photoperiod and its fertility increases with decrease in day length. To study its seasonality, buffalo ovaries were collected during its breeding season (monsoon and winter season) and follicular fluid (FF)was aspirated from small (SF), medium (MF) and large sized follicles (LF). FF proteins were separated by SDS PAGE (n=20). The relative quantity (RQ) of each band was analyzed by Gel Documentation System and was compared between season and between different sized follicles. Total number of bands of molecular weight (MW)> 29 kDa were 24 and all the bands were present during monsoon, winter season and in different sized follicles. Among these 24 bands the RQ of only one protein band of MW 37.1kDa significantly decreased (P<0.05) with increase in size of the follicle. Comparison of 37.1 kDa band with bovine FF implies that it may be follistatin. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the RQ of 226.7, 120.9 and 95.9 kDa bands during monsoon compared to winter season. The 120.9 kDa band identified may be a form of IGFBP . Out of 24 protein bands, 21 bands did not vary significantly within its breeding season. Our results imply that within the breeding season buffalo FF contains qualitative and quantitively similar proteins essential for the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles and oocyte.
ALGAL GROWTH AND WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY IN A SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATE

Both irrigation and potable water are in diminutive supply in most of the developing countries particularly those situated in tropical and subtropical regions where, often untreated wastewater is utilized for the purpose of irrigation. Treated wastewater has proved to be a potential asset serving as an alternate source for the expansion of irrigated agriculture. Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) are considered as less costly and effective substitute for the wastewater water treatment in tropics. The principle of wastewater treatment in waste stabilization pond is based on the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and various algal species. In this study, an attempt was made to relate algal growth and different extrinsic factors using multiple regression models. The predominant algal species found in WSP systems were Chlorella, Euglena, Oscillatoria and Scenedesmus. The growth of individual algal species and overall algal growth was principally governed by temperature, total sunshine hours and Total Kjeldhal Nitrogen (TKN). The study suggested that algal bacterial symbiotic relationship works well and the dissolved oxygen production through algal photosynthesis was optimum to decompose heavy organic load resulting in oxygen-rich effluent (liquid fertilizer) which could be successfully exploited for unrestricted irrigation.
VARIATIONS IN CARBON AND NITROGEN CONTENTS DURING DECOMPOSITION OF THREE MACROALGAE INHABITING SANDSPIT BACKWATER, KARACHI

Macroalgae constitute a diverse group of photoautotroph contributing to the primary production in the area. It provides food and habitats (directly or indirectly) to many other inhabitants of the marine and coastal communities and hence forms the foundation for food chain prevailing mangrove environment. Variations in carbon and nitrogen content during decomposition of three macroalgal species, viz. Enteromorpha intestinalis, E. clathrata and Ulva reticulata occurring commonly in mangrove environment, were estimated in laboratory using litter bag technique. Known amount of each macroalgal species was decomposed in separate nylon net bags (1 mm mesh) incubated in well aerated seawater tanks. Significant increases in organic nitrogen and decreases in total organic carbon content were recorded during decomposition (p-value < .001) for all algal species studied. Macroalgae appear to be a key component in mangrove environment taking part in the release of particulate and dissolved nutrients and hence play very important role in nutrient dynamics and food web.
The Impacts of Highly Resourced Vocational Schools on Student Outcomes in China

Policymakers in developing countries have prioritized the mass expansion of vocational education and training (VET). This study examines whether the quality of VET in developing countries increases by investing greater resources per student. To achieve this goal, we examine the impacts of attending model schools (which have far more resources per student) on a range of student cognitive, non‐cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. Using representative data from a survey of approximately 12,000 VET students from China, multivariate regression and propensity score matching analyses show that attending model vocational high schools do not benefit student outcomes, despite their substantially greater resources.
DETECTION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT EFFECT OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF ALHAGI MAURORUM MEDIK ON MICE

The treatment of depression by antidepressants is efficacious to improve the health that they help in reduction the signs of disease. The constant searching for natural safe and effect antidepressant agents is important role especially this effect in the plants extracts. This study was conducted to detect the presence of some active compounds in the extract of Alhagi maurorum Medik plant, which was extracted by soxhlet using methanol (95%) as a solvent. The chemical survey by phytochemical tests showed the presence many active secondary metabolites as glycoside and phenolic compounds. The plants extracts have been studied by knowing its antidepressant activity on albino mice ((24) mice) by two methods, the tail suspension test and open field test. Results showed the effectiveness of the Alhagi maurorum plant extract with compared to standard medicine (Imipramine 10mg) and negative control group (normal saline) in the two methods with increased plant extracts concentration.
Infrared Heating in Food Drying: An Overview

This article aims to review and analyze the aspects and characteristics related to infrared food drying. Indeed, with a review of 100 relevant publications all dealing with infrared food drying, this article notes that infrared drying has several advantages over other common food drying methods. Shorter drying time, a better final dried product quality, and more energy savings in the process are revealed as the most important advantages of infrared drying over convective heat drying. Infrared dryers can also be easily combined with other drying methods such as hot air, microwave, vibration, and vacuum. This article clearly shows that using infrared heating for food drying purposes has become more popular in the last decade and its application in the industrial drying of different foodstuffs has been employed widely.
From QCD to Neutron Stars and Back-Probing the Fundamental Properties of Dense Matter

The first theoretical attempts to study neutron stars — the immensely dense remnants of massive stars — were conducted in the 1930s, but it took nearly 40 years for the first one to be detected. Ever since, these fascinating objects have been the subject of significant interest; both nuclear and particle physicists and astronomers have tried to understand their microand macro-scale properties. Regardless, the composition of neutron-star cores has, to large extent, remained unknown. This is somewhat surprising because the underlying microscopic theory — quantum chromodynamics — has been available for several decades. Because it is impossible to describe the structure of neutron stars using current ab initio techniques, other kinds of approaches need to be exploited. In this thesis, state-of-the-art nuclear and particle theory calculations were utilized to restrict the dense-matter equation of state at low and high densities, respectively. Between these two limits, there exists a region, where the equation of state needs to be approximated by employing various interpolation tools. Our analysis has revealed that both the mass-radius curve of neutron stars and the underlying equation of state can be efficiently constrained by making use of the latest astronomical observations — such as the tidal-deformability measurement from the gravitational-wave event GW170817. We have also shown that there exists convincing evidence that the most massive neutron stars have deconfined quark matter in their cores assuming that the equation of state is not very extreme. In addition, we have taken some first steps towards the realistic implementation of the gauge/gravity duality in neutron-star physics. This method allows one to investigate strongly coupled quantum systems using simpler gravity-based setups. This approach has already led to several promising results in many fields, from condensed matter physics to the study of quarkgluon plasma. It is, therefore, a worthy candidate to become a fruitful framework to examine neutron-star physics, complementing the current nuclear and particle theory methods. It is expected that the improvement of theoretical calculations together with new, more precise observations will likely resolve the equation of state within a decade or two. Moreover, this progress will eventually disclose, whether quark matter resides inside the heaviest neutron stars in existence. The development of holographic tools may also open up new and powerful ways to study matter at its most extreme densities.
Effect of different bio-control agents against stalk rot of maize caused by Fusarium solani and their identification

The present study was investigated to know the efficacy of different biocontrol agents collected from different districts of Karnataka from maize rhizosphere and non rhizosphere soil. Totally ninety antagonists were isolated and screened under in-vitro against Fusarium solani by using dual culture technique. Among forty three fungal and forty seven bacterial antagonists screened against F. solani, the percent inhibition was varied from 21.73 to 91.37, with a mean of 60.48. The results obtained were highly significant between the different Trichoderma, Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains tested and also over control. Maximum percent inhibition of 91.37 was observed in NT10 followed by NT19 (88.83percent) and RT16 (86.11). Least inhibition of 21.73 percent was observed in NB1 followed by RB1 (24.70). Among the ninety strains tested, all most all isolates inhibited the mycelial growth to an extent of 75.00 percent or more.
EFFICACY OF SEAWEED AND SEAWATER ASSOCIATED BACILLUS VELEZENSIS AGAINST SHEATH BLIGHT OF RICE CAUSED BY RHIZOCTONIA SOLANI KUHN

Sheath blight [Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank)] is encountered throughout the moderate and tropical rice growing regions and is caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. Eventhough chemicals control the rice sheath blight disease, the use of continuous, inappropriate and non-discriminative chemicals is an agent to bring undesirable effect such as residual toxicity, development of resistance, ecological degradation, perilous to the well being of humans and animals and increases the expense for plant protection. The fungitoxic effect of 30 isolates of bacterial biocontrol agents from various seaweed, sea water and sediments were evaluated under in vitro conditions on growth of Rhizoctonia solani, which is one of the causal agents of sheath blight. Bacillus velezensis Bs-1 (GenBank Accession numberMK368533) was the most successful, showing 63.60% discretion of colony growth with a minimum mean mycelial dry weight (127.25 mg/50m/broth) of the pathogen. The aim of this research work is to study the use of biocontrol agents as a substitute to fungicide in the control of sheath blight of rice. The present study identified that the usefulness of bacterial biocontrol agents against fungal pathogens is due to larger levels and early accretion of phenolics and phytoalexins, and the field study proved that, R. solani can be controlled by the usage of Bacillus velezensis.
Assessing Policy Effects with Unconditional Quantile Regression

I provide conditions in which unconditional quantile regression “effects” can be interpreted as policy effects. When the policy variables satisfy a conditional independence assumption (unconfoundedness), unconditional quantile regression estimates the policy effect for certain types of counterfactual policies, but not others. In particular, the policy effect can be estimated if the policy change itself satisfies conditional independence. This result complements existing identification results on distributional policy effects. JEL classification: C21
INFLUENCE OF SHADING LEVELS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ANDROGRAPHOLIDE CONTENT OF KALMEGH

We studied the growth, yield and andrographolide content of three local kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees) responses to varying shade levels under green house conditions, from March to July 2018 in Thailand. Our experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Three local kalmegh varieties (Prachinburi, Nakhon Prathom and Saraburi) and four shading levels (0%, 25%, 50% and 75% shading) were applied to the test plots. Stem height, stem, leaf and root dry weight and leaf number per plant, seed and leaf dry weight yield and andrographolide content were recorded. The Prachinburi variety, followed by Nakhon Prathom and Saraburi, showed the strongest growth under all shade conditions. Different shading levels strongly influenced growth and kalmegh yield. The highest growth, stem, leaf, root, total dry weight, seed and leaf dry weight yield and andrographolide content were registered at 25% shading levels followed by 0%, 50% and 75% shading levels. We concluded that 25% shading and the local Prachinburi variety kalmegh should be recommended.