Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relative Age Effect in Soccer: an Analysis of the U20 Libertadores Cup

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(8): 1157-1164, 2017. The year of birth is used as a criterion for grouping the competitive categories in various sports. Young players that were born in the early months of the calendar can have a benefit during their formative process, since they have higher chronological age and, consequently, are more likely to be in more advanced stages of biological maturation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in the U-20 Libertadores Cup. The sample consisted of 228 young players belonging to 12 clubs (ten different countries) who vied for the championship in the year 2016. The players were distributed according to their playing position: n=24 goalkeepers, n=65 defenders, n=83 midfielders, and n=56 forwards. Data regarding the date of birth were collected and split into quartiles: Q1 (January to March), Q2 (April to June), Q3 (July to September), and Q4 (October to December), and semesters: S1 (January to June), and S2 (July to December). The results showed significant differences corresponding to intra-birth quartiles and playing positions, except for the goalkeeper position. Thus, it is possible to conclude based on the young soccer players participating in an important South American competition that there is a tendency towards the selection of players born in the early months of the relevant year.
Route of delivery influences biodistribution of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells following experimental bone marrow transplantation

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promise as treatment for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT). Mechanisms mediating in vivo effects of MSCs remain largely unknown, including their biodistribution following infusion. To this end, human bone-marrow derived MSCs (hMSCs) were injected via carotid artery (IA) or tail vein (TV) into allogeneic and syngeneic BMT recipient mice. Following xenogeneic transplantation, MSC biodistribution was measured by bioluminescence imaging (BLI) using hMSCs transduced with a reporter gene system containing luciferase and by scintigraphic imaging using hMSCs labeled with [99mTc]-HMPAO. Although hMSCs initially accumulated in the lungs in both transplant groups, more cells migrated to organs in alloBMT recipient as measured by in vivo BLI and scintigraphy and confirmed by ex vivo BLI imaging, immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. IA injection resulted in persistent whole–body hMSC distribution in alloBMT recipients, while hMSCs were rapidly cleared in the syngeneic animals within one week. In contrast, TV-injected hMSCs were mainly seen in the lungs with fewer cells traveling to other organs. Summarily, these results demonstrate the potential use of IA injection to alter hMSC biodistribution in order to more effectively deliver hMSCs to targeted tissues and microenvironments.
Excluding a bipartite circle graph from line graphs

We prove that, for a fixed bipartite circle graph H, all line graphs with sufficiently large rank‐width (or clique‐width) must have a pivot‐minor isomorphic to H. To prove this, we introduce graphic delta‐matroids. Graphic delta‐matroids are minors of delta‐matroids of line graphs and they generalize graphic and cographic matroids. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 60: 183–203, 2009
A Pragmatical Option Pricing Method Combining Black-Scholes Formula, Time Series Analysis and Artificial Neural Network

Although many theoretical methods were developed to price various derivatives, pricing deviation still remains very high. This paper provides a pragmatical option pricing method by combining skew ness and kurtosis adjusted Black-Scholes model of Corrado and Su, time series analysis and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The empirical tests in FTSE 100 Index options show that pricing deviation calculated by adjusted Black-Scholes model is still high. After the model is modified by time series analysis and ANN methods, the pricing deviation is reduced, which is much smaller than the previous models. It is suggested that time series analysis and Artificial Neural Network methods can be used in the pragmatical work to make the pricing more fast and precise.
Warm Molecular Gas Traced with CO J = 7→6 in the Galaxy’s Central 2 Parsecs: Dynamical Heating of the Circumnuclear Disk

We present an 11'' resolution map of the central 2 pc of the Galaxy in the CO J = 7 → 6 rotational transition. The CO emission shows rotation about Sgr A* but also evidence for noncircular turbulent motion and a clumpy morphology. We combine our data set with available CO measurements to model the physical conditions in the disk. We find that the molecular gas in the region is both warm and dense, with T ~ 200-300 K and n ~ (5-7) × 104 cm-3. The mass of warm molecular gas we measure in the central 2 pc is at least 2000 M☉, about 20 times the UV-excited atomic gas mass, ruling out a UV heating scenario for the molecular material. We compare the available spectral tracers with theoretical models and conclude that molecular gas is heated with magnetohydrodynamic shocks with v ~ 10-20 km s-1 and B ~ 0.3-0.5 mG. Using the conditions derived with the CO analysis, we include the other important coolants, neutral oxygen and molecular hydrogen, to estimate the total cooling budget of the molecular material. We derive a mass-to-luminosity ratio of ~2-3 M☉ L, which is consistent with the total power dissipated via turbulent decay in 0.1 pc cells with vrms ~ 15 km s-1. These size and velocity scales are comparable to the observed clumping scale and the velocity dispersion. At this rate, the material near Sgr A* is dissipating its orbital energy on an orbital timescale and cannot last for more than a few orbits. Our conclusions support a scenario in which the features near Sgr A* such as the circumnuclear disk and northern arm are generated by infalling clouds with low specific angular momentum.
Parental Perceptions and Practices toward Childhood Asthma

Introduction. Parental perceptions and practices are important for improving the asthma outcomes in children; indeed, evidence shows that parents of asthmatic children harbor considerable misperceptions of the disease. Objective. To investigate the perceptions and practices of parents toward asthma and its management in Saudi children. Methods. Using a self-administered questionnaire, a two-stage cross-sectional survey of parents of children aged between 3 and 15 years, was conducted from schools located in Riyadh province in central Saudi Arabia. Results. During the study interval, 2000 parents were asked to participate in the study; 1450 parents responded, of whom 600 (41.4%) reported that their children had asthma, dyspnea, or chest allergy (recurrent wheezing or coughing), while 478 (32.9%) of the parents reported that their children were diagnosed earlier with asthma by a physician. Therefore, the final statistical analyses were performed with 600 participants. Furthermore, 321 (53.5%) respondents believed that asthma is solely a hereditary disease. Interestingly, 361 (60.3%) were concerned about side effects of inhaled corticosteroids and 192 (32%) about the development of dependency on asthma medications. Almost 76% of parents had previously visited a pediatric emergency department during an asthma attack. Conclusions. Parents had misperceptions regarding asthma and exhibited ineffective practices in its management. Therefore, improving asthma care and compliance requires added parental education.
A Survey of Blob Detection Algorithms for Biomedical Images

This paper presents a survey of blob detection methods which has been applied on image processing with relation of medical images proposed by literature. “The blob detection is a mathematical method which detects regions or points in digital images”. [1] The regions or points which have noticeable difference with their surroundings is called blob. Given the increased interest in biomedical image processing system, many algorithms and methods have been reported to apply but there is no systematic survey and classification of the blob detection for medical images and how they have been assessed and applied. The findings, which is the most usable methods of blob detectors in biomedical image processing has been presented. It was also investigated how these studies have been surveyed, how they evolved in the main digital libraries over the last decade, and what points deserves further attention, through new research. From this survey, practitioners and researchers can adopt the blob detection methods and analyze to use these methods in their research for further development.
Temperature dependence of injection-locked Fabry-Pérot laser emission in WDM-PON architectures

We investigate the influence of temperature on multimode Fabry-Pérot laser output in a proposed colorless WDM system with self-seeding via modulation averaging reflector and with BLS-seeding. In particular, we investigate the connection between the information about the optical laser output from the laser integrated monitor photodetector and optical power output of the entire system with temperature change of the laser diode.
From static to dynamic protocols: adapting timeouts for improved performance ∗

When network delays are unstable and susceptible to network contention, such as in wireless environments, it becomes important to dynamically adapt timeout values in order to address performance concerns. In this paper we discuss the problem of transforming static timeout-based protocols into protocols that dynamically select timeout values for improved performance. We propose a methodological approach and we present an example that illustrates how the methodology applies in practice.
Language external and language internal factors in the acquisition of gender: the case of Albanian-Greek and English-Greek bilingual children

ABSTRACT The aim of this experimental study is to examine the development of gender assignment and gender agreement in bilingual Albanian-Greek and English-Greek children as well as the exploitation of gender cues on the noun ending in real and pseudo-nouns. Four gender tasks were designed, two targeting gender assignment (determiner + noun production) and two gender agreement (predicate adjective production). Performance is investigated in relation to the role of (positive) L1 transfer (Albanian vs. English), the role of the bilingual’s vocabulary knowledge in Greek as well the role of input factors including the monolingual/bilingual school contexts and the role of parental education as a proxy for socioeconomic status (SES). The results show a strong interaction between the bilinguals’ performance and their Greek vocabulary development and a negative link between gender accuracy and use of the other language.
Life Experiences and Patterns of Distress in Chinese-Canadian Women with a History of Suicidal Behaviour

Recent studies have highlighted higher rates of suicidal ideation and behaviour and associated themes of gender role stress in Chinese women residing in North America (Chung, 2004). Through qualitative interviewing and analysis, this study explores the experiences, stressors and beliefs of Chinese-born women living in Canada with a history of suicidal behaviour. They describe restricted patterns of emotional communication, feelings of lack of agency, experiences of victimization and oppression and stress related to traditional gender expectations and those related to social change. Expectations of immigration often go unmet and stress arises from financial, educational and family pressures. As the women struggle to endure this distress, they experience a negative view of self, worsening depressive symptoms and hopelessness. They come to a "breaking point" leading to suicidal behaviour that can be understood as an escape from pain, a strategy to communicate distress and a consequence of pervasive hopelessness.
A Comparative Study of Branch Predictors

A branch predictor is the part of the processor that determines whether a conditional branch in the instruction flow of a program is likely to be taken or not. Almost all pipelined processors have branch predictors, because they must guess the address of the next instruction to fetch before the current conditional instruction has been executed [1]. Hence, attempts have been made to design accurate branch predictors. This project attempts at modeling different branch predictors and comparing their performances for a set of benchmarks.
Short-Term Dependencies between the Volatility of Currency, Money and Capital Markets: The Case of Poland

The paper presents GARCH models for the Euro-Polish zloty and US dollar-Polish zloty currency rates. It applies the approach within which both the conditional variance function and the mean equation of the ARCH class model are expanded simultaneously. The basic regression equation incorporates causal dependencies between currency prices and the main characteristics of domestic and international currency, money and capital markets. The paper provides an insight into the currency market microstructure as the presented investigation takes into account the intradaily features of the market. Model selection and performance has been evaluated by the use of direction quality measures.
Optimal placement of facts units for minimizing the impact of voltage sags in power networks with high wind energy penetration

This paper presents a methodology for the optimal placement of wind farms and FACTS units in power networks, in order to guarantee the voltage profile and to maximize the loadability of the system under voltage sags conditions. Results shown in the paper indicate that the proposed formulations can be used to determine which the best buses are where the addition of Var sources can enhance the voltage stability of the whole network.
Never Mind the Law: Legal Discourse and Rape Reform in Israel

In 1988, Israel changed its rape laws, inflicting harsher penalties on convicted rapists. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study compared punishment meted out before and after the reform and content analyzed the judicial discourse created in the courts in both periods. The findings revealed little change in the severity of sentencing and in judges' attitudes toward rapists, victims, and the crime. The mechanism of normalization allowed judicial authorities to make concessions to rapists, reducing the severity of the offense, while continuing to ignore the plight of the victims.
Asynchronous games 4: a fully complete model of propositional linear logic

We construct a denotational model of propositional linear logic based on asynchronous games and winning uniform innocent strategies. Every formula A is interpreted as an asynchronous game [A] and every proof /spl pi/ of A is interpreted as a winning uniform innocent strategy [/spl pi/] of the game [A]. We show that the resulting model is fully complete: every winning uniform innocent strategy /spl sigma/ of the asynchronous game [A] is the denotation [/spl pi/] of a proof /spl pi/ of the formula A.
Bayesian Radial Basis Functions of Unknown Dimension

A Bayesian framework for the analysis of radial basis functions (RBF) is proposed which readily accommodates uncertainty in the dimension of the model. A distribution is deened over the space of all RBF models of a given basis function and posteriors are computed using reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers (Green, 1995). This alleviates the need to select one particular architecture during the modeling process. We show that the resulting models are relatively free from user set design parameters and that they exhibit good performance characteristics on a number of benchmark test series .
Visual backward masking: Modeling spatial and temporal aspects

In modeling visual backward masking, the focus has been on temporal effects. More specifically, an explanation has been sought as to why strongest masking can occur when the mask is delayed with respect to the target. Although interesting effects of the spatial layout of the mask have been found, only a few attempts have been made to model these phenomena. Here, we elaborate a structurally simple model which employs lateral excitation and inhibition together with different neural time scales to explain many spatial and temporal aspects of backward masking. We argue that for better understanding of visual masking, it is vitally important to consider the interplay of spatial and temporal factors together in one single model.
Multi-layer Classification: ICDM 2015 Drawbridge Cross-Device Connections Competition

This paper outlines a numerical recipe used to solve the ICDM 2015 competition to associate devices and cookies. The presented model utilizes binomial classification at three stages. The first stage imposed a shared IP address constraint to produce an initial set of candidate matches. The second stage utilized gradient boosted machines with 90 calculated features. This stage was the focal point for solving the problem. The final classification reassessed the probabilities of the prior stage and was customized to fit specific competition dynamics. Our team finished in 10th place in the public and private leaderboard with an F0.5 score of 0.855150.
Renewable energy sources in a transactive energy market

Due to government policies, the declining cost of renewable energy technology and the increased costs of fossil fuels, energy sources such as wind and solar are becoming a larger part of the power producing mix. As renewable generators start to replace conventional sources such as coal, oil, gas and nuclear there is a growing concern by utility operators that the power system reliability may be compromised. Additionally, as more and more customers begin to produce their own energy there is a growing concern of market parity. As consumers become prosumers the utility is left with the role of maintaining the grid despite declining revenues. Those who cannot afford their own renewables sources are also left to foot the bill as rates rise. Therefore the current market mechanisms do not properly distribute the costs as well as ensure grid reliability. This paper seeks to classify the costs and benefits of renewables for all market participants using the Transactive Energy Framework proposed by the GridWise Architecture Council in 2013.
Hierarchical Order of Influence of Mix Variables Affecting Compressive Strength of Sustainable Concrete Containing Fly Ash, Copper Slag, Silica Fume, and Fibres

Experiments have been conducted to study the effect of addition of fly ash, copper slag, and steel and polypropylene fibres on compressive strength of concrete and to determine the hierarchical order of influence of the mix variables in affecting the strength using cluster analysis experimentally. While fly ash and copper slag are used for partial replacement of cement and fine aggregate, respectively, defined quantities of steel and polypropylene fibres were added to the mixes. It is found from the experimental study that, in general, irrespective of the presence or absence of fibres, (i) for a given copper slag-fine aggregate ratio, increase in fly ash-cement ratio the concrete strength decreases and with the increase in copper slag-sand ratio also the rate of strength decrease and (ii) for a given fly ash-cement ratio, increase in copper slag-fine aggregate ratio increases the strength of the concrete. From the cluster analysis, it is found that the quantities of coarse and fine aggregate present have high influence in affecting the strength. It is also observed that the quantities of fly ash and copper slag used as substitutes have equal “influence” in affecting the strength. Marginal effect of addition of fibres in the compression strength of concrete is also revealed by the cluster analysis.
Manipulating target size influences perceptions of success when learning a dart-throwing skill but does not impact retention

Positive feedback or experiences of success during skill acquisition have been shown to benefit motor skill learning. In this study, our aim was to manipulate learners’ success perceptions through a minor adjustment to goal criterion (target size) in a dart-throwing task. Two groups of novice participants practiced throwing at a large (easy) or a small (difficult) target from the same distance. In reference to the origin/center of the target, the practice targets were alike in objective difficulty and indeed participants in both groups were not different in their objective practice performance (i.e., radial error from the center). Although the groups experienced markedly different success rates, with the large target group experiencing more hits and reporting greater confidence (or self-efficacy) than the small target group, these practice effects were not carried into longer-term retention, which was assessed after a 1-week delay. For success perceptions to moderate or benefit motor learning, we argue that unambiguous indicators of positive performance are necessary, especially for tasks where intrinsic feedback about objective error is salient.
Distributed oblivious load balancing using prioritized job replication

Load balancing in large distributed server systems is a complex optimization problem of critical importance in cloud systems and data centers. However, any full (i.e., optimal) solution incurs significant, often prohibitive, overhead due to the need to collect state-dependent information. We propose a novel scheme that incurs no communication overhead between the users and the servers upon job arrivals, thus removing any scheduling overhead from the job execution's critical path. Furthermore, our scheme is oblivious, that is, it does not use any state information. Our approach is based on creating, in addition to the regular job requests that are assigned to randomly chosen servers, also replicas that are sent to different servers; these replicas are served in low priority, such that they do not add any real burden on the servers. Through analysis and simulations we show that the expected system performance improves up to a factor of 2 (even under high load conditions), if job lengths are exponentially distributed, and over a factor of 5, when job lengths adhere to heavy-tailed distributions. We implemented a load balancing system based on our approach and deployed it on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). Realistic load tests on that system indicate that the actual performance is as predicted.