Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Status of Hagenia forest in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda: A review of historical records

Hagenia-shaped habitat is an important element in conservation of world’s only population of mountain gorillas surviving in the wild. In fact, in the Parc National des Volcans (henceforth PNV), gorillas spend most of their life time in the nutritious herbaceous habitats near or within the Hagenia-Hypericum zone. Unfortunately, populations of Hagenia abyssinica in this park have been reported to be ageing. Using information drawn from the statistical analysis of records in herbaria and the cross−examination of the literature, the status of Hagenia forest in PNV is discussed. The results show that H. abyssinica in PNV has an unusual pattern of population structure and distribution, seemingly since many decades. No record of H. abyssinica was collected from PNV, but patterns of collections of H. abyssinica are globally similar to those of a set of five control tree species, such that this absence of records from this park cannot be considered as due to collector or collection site-bound bias. The paper ends by giving insight on possible implications for conservation of the park’s wildlife, chiefly the gorillas. Key words: Tree regeneration, herbarium records, afromontane forest.
Genetics of Alcohol Use in Humans: An Overview

Abstract Alcoholism is an extremely complex disease for which no generally accepted definition exists. There is a complex interaction between the socio-environmental context, the individual at risk, and the availability of alcohol. The result of family, twin and adoption studies suggest a significant genetic predisposition to the disease. Identifying novel genetic risk factors for common diseases is a global challenge in the post genomic era. Recent molecular genetic research into the causes of alcoholism has drawn attention to the potential role of alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolizing enzymes. Functional polymorphisms have been observed at various genes encoding these enzyme proteins that act as one of the biological determinants significantly influencing drinking behavior and the development of alcoholism and alcohol-induced organ damage. Most ethanol elimination occurs by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) systems via oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde and acetic acid. However, the legacy of alcoholism among certain ethnic groups suggests that genetic factors can increase an individual’s vulnerability for this disease. An association study in patient cohorts and controls, from large populations involving whole genome scans, is the preferred approach for complex traits. To understand the molecular epidemiology and role of cofactors in alcoholism the standard phenotype-genotype correlation may be a useful tool. The present paper reviews various aspects of alcoholism including both the behavioural and molecular etiologies.
Gender effects in peer nominations for aggression and social status

Little prior research has examined children’s interpersonal perceptions of peers from a social relations model framework. This study examines the degree of actor and partner variances, as well as generalised and dyadic reciprocities, in a sample of 351 sixth graders’ peer nominations of different forms and functions of aggression and aspects of social status. Gender differences in these nominations are also explored. Results indicate significant actor and partner variances for all measures, and generalised reciprocity in social status perceptions. Clear gender differences were noted in rates of nominations, such that more same-sex than cross-sex nominations were generally given for both positive and negative aspects; however, we found mixed evidence of gender differences in the variance partitioning and reciprocity correlation estimates.
Toward efficient GPU-accelerated N-body simulations

N-body algorithms are applicable to a number of common problems in computational physics including gravitation, electrostatics, and fluid dynamics. Fast algorithms (those with better than O(N 2 ) performance) exist, but have not been successfully implemented on GPU hardware for practical problems. In the present work, we introduce not only best-in-class performance for a multipole-accelerated treecode method, but a series of improvements that support implementation of this solver on highly-data-parallel graphics processing units (GPUs). The greatly reduced computation times suggest that this problem is ideally suited for the current and next generations of single and cluster CPU-GPU architectures. We believe that this is an ideal method for practical computation of largescale turbulent flows on future supercomputing hardware using parallel vortex particle methods.
Moment convergence of Z-estimators and Z-process method for change point problems

The problem to establish not only the asymptotic distribution results for statistical estimators but also the moment convergence of the estimators has been recognized as an important issue in advanced theories of statistics. One of the main goals of this paper is to present a metod to derive the moment convergence of Z-estimators as it has been done for M-estimators. Another goal of this paper is to develop a general, unified approach, based on some partial estimation functions which we call “Z-process”, to the change point problems for ergodic models as well as some models where the Fisher information matrix is random and inhomogeneous in time. Applications to some diffusion process models and Cox’s regression model are also discussed.
Spillovers between oil and stock markets at times of geopolitical unrest and economic turbulence

In this study we examine the dynamic structural relationship between oil price shocks and stock market returns and volatility for a sample of both net oil-exporting and net oil-importing countries between 1995:09 and 2013:07. We accomplish that, by extending the Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) dynamic spillover index using structural forecast error variance decomposition. The results for both stock market returns and volatility suggest that spillover effects vary across different time periods, and that this time{varying character is aligned with certain developments that take place in the global economy. In particular, aggregate demand shocks appear to act as the main transmitters of spillover effects to stock markets during periods characterised by economic-driven events, while supply-side and oil-specific demand shocks during periods of geopolitical unrest. Furthermore, differences regarding the directions and the strength of spillover effects can be reported both between and within the net oil-importing and net oil-exporting countries. These results are of particular importance to investors and portfolio managers, given the recent financialisation of the oil market.
Indexers and Comovement

I introduce a general equilibrium model with active investors and indexers. Indexing causes market segmentation, and the degree of segmentation is a function of the relative wealth of indexers in the economy. Shocks to this relative wealth induce correlated shocks to discount rates of index stocks. The wealthier indexers are, the greater the resulting comovement is. I confirm empirically that S&P 500 stocks comove more with other index stocks and less with non-index stocks, and that changes in passive holdings of S&P 500 stocks predict changes in comovement of index stocks.
Spam Identification on Facebook During Events

Over 800 million users log into the Facebook social network every day. 1 In addition to socializing, people also use Facebook to stay updated about latest events and happenings around the world [2]. This aspect of information consumption from Facebook during events is heavily exploited by spammers. In a recent example, the viral nature of the famous biting incident during the 2014 FIFA World Cup was exploited by spammers to spread phishing links. Multiple Facebook posts prompted users to sign a fake petition in defence of the Uruguayan player, who was banned for biting an opponent. 2 OSM activity rises manifold during events like sports, natural calamities etc. [4], thus making Facebook an even more lucrative breeding ground for spammers. The aforementioned spam activity indicates that existing approaches being used by Facebook [3] do not suffice in countering spam, especially during events, when their spread is maximum. This behavior not only violates Facebook’s terms of service, but also degrades user experience. Facebook has confirmed spam as a serious issue and taken steps to reduce spam content in users’ newsfeed recently. 3 Identifying Facebook spam, however, remains a challenge because of lack of profile and network features, which have previously been heavily used for spam detection on other OSMs. The aim of this work is to develop automated techniques to identify and combat spam on Facebook during events. We define spam as content which is irrelevant / unrelated to the event under consideration, and / or aimed at spreading phishing, malware, advertisements, self promotion etc., including bulk messages, profanity, insults, malicious links, scams, fake information etc. To this end, we collected over 6.4 million public posts on Facebook during 16 events (from April 2013 to Dec. 2013) from Facebook’s Graph API Search. We then identified and manually annotated the top 220 most active users / pages in our dataset (about 15 top users / pages in each event) as spammers and non spammers (Table 1), by looking at the content they posted. Using a set of 21 features (drawn from previous literature on spam) extracted from these posts, we applied machine learning algorithms to identify spam, and achieved an accuracy of over 99% using the Random Forest classifier (Ta-
Modest increase in the C:N ratio of N-limited phytoplankton in the California Current in response to high CO 2

In a fall 2008 cruise off the coast of California, on-deck incubations with surface seawater were conducted to compare the effect of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) on nitrogen (N)limited versus N-replete (+ NO3) phytoplankton. Based on previous laboratory studies, we expected that under N-limitation C:N ratios would be more sensitive to CO2 availability. In particular, we wanted to test whether down-regulation of RuBisCO at high CO2 leads to an increased C:N ratio, since RuBisCO is thought to be a large pool of N in many autotrophs. In 4 out of 5 N limited experiments, the C:N ratio of phytoplankton biomass increased slightly from low to high CO2, and this increase was due chiefly to an increase in particulate organic carbon (POC), with little change in particulate organic nitrogen (PON). In contrast, the N-replete experiments did not show a change in C:N ratio, but some experiments exhibited higher rates of carbon fixation and growth at high CO2. In the one N-limited experiment that did not show a change in C:N ratio with CO2, the ambient population had a higher proportion of cyanobacteria compared with the other experiments. The concentration of RuBisCO decreased at high CO2 in several N-limited experiments, but this reduction only accounted for a minor proportion of the overall change in C:N ratio. An increase in C:N ratios at high CO2 in N-limited phytoplankton could provide negative feedback to increasing atmospheric CO2.
A Compositional Data Approach to the Prediction of Dry Milling Yields

The yield of products in the dry milling industry is largely determined by the physical properties of the corn kernel. The main objective of this paper is to investigate several statistical models of dry milling yield prediction based on physical characteristics of corn. Data consisting of one hundred corn samples representing a range of genetic traits and quality differences are used. For each corn sample, 16 physical and chemical properties plus six dry milling product yields were measured in a controlled laboratory environment. For each corn sample, we consider a vector of dry milling product yields and a vector of physical corn characteristics. Several single product models are investigated, two of which implicitly take into account the simplex sample space of product yields. A multivariate model is considered that consists of mapping the sample space from a simplex to unrestricted Euclidean space. Comparison are performed using a jack-knife-like approach.
ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM EGYPTIAN HENBANE (HYOSCYAMUS MUTICUS L.)

A total of 44 strains of endophytic fungi have been identified from the medicinal plant Hyoscyamus muticus L. Ten of these strains were inoculated into aseptic seedlings of H. muticus. Of the inoculated strains, 9 were reisolated from the plants as endophytes. Using dual culture assay, we investigated whether eight of these strains, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Drechslera hawaiiensis, Fusarium solani, Penicillium citrinum, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Thyrostromella myriana and Ulocladium chartarum have antagonistic activities against two strains of plant pathogenic fungi viz., Gibberella zeae and Thanatephorus cucumeris, as well as 6 strains of non-pathogenic fungi viz., Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladorrhinum foecundissimum, Curvularia clavata, Penicillium janthinellum and Ulocladium chartarum. The endophytic fungi showed antagonistic activities against all the examined fungal strains. Extra- and intracellular fractions of P. citrinum and N. dimidiatum cultures, both of which showed high antagonistic activities, were extracted with ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. The resulting fractions were examined for their antifungal activity by performing bioautography coupled with thin-layer chromatography (TLC-bioautography). Extracellular fluids secreted by the cultures of these organisms showed high antifungal activities against fungi, including the two plant pathogenic fungi; this result indicates that these endophytes secrete antifungal compounds extracellularly.
Teaching reflections about the architectural design of the vocational training centers in Granada

If the specificity of the architectural space is considered as a measuring element in the education scope to value the prominence of teaching throughout history, it is worth mentioning that the configuration of the vocational training center as a first-rate education scenario that arrives half century of delay with respect to schools, has few references of very specific period. At present, they continue excessively contaminated because of the continued struggle for linking them with other education levels. This article is focused on this issue. To that end, by interviewing experienced teachers, we value: a) from the most conceptual aspect, elements and architectural spaces that should have those reference centers; b) the appropriateness of the arranged spaces, not only those that meet the regulatory requirements but those that meet the criteria of the centers; c) to the most specific aspects on the way to optimize the arranged space in order to achieve a larger curricular extent. It concludes with a high positive assessment of the opportunity of having the necessary spaces for teaching, relying more strongly on those favoring the free relationship of students and allowing the permeability among the different disciplines that converge in the center.
Northern Australian Offshore Island Use During The Holocene: The Archaeology of Vanderlin Island, Sir Edward Pellew Group, Gulf of Carpentaria

Abstract This paper presents an overview of archaeological investigations in the Sir Edward Pellew Islands in the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia. It is argued that Vanderlin Island, like the majority of Australia’s offshore islands, attests to a lacuna in human habitation for several thousand years after the marine transgression and consequent insulation c.6700 years ago. With the imminent threat of inundation, people appear to have retreated to higher land, abandoning the peripheral exposed shelf areas; subsequent (re)colonisation of these relict shelf areas in their form as islands took place steadily from c.4200 BP, with increased intensity of occupation after 1300 BP. Possible links between the timing of island occupation, watercraft technology and the role of climate change are investigated, with more recent changes in the archaeological record of Vanderlin Island also examined in light of cultural contact with Macassans.
Abstinence from Premarital Sex: A Precursor to Quality Relationship and Marital Stability in Subsequent Marriage in Nigerian Society

The last half of the 20th century has witnessed substantial changes in the practice of premarital partnershipamong the youths and unmarried adults. The growing trend in premarital behavioural pattern of today exposesteenagers to living in the world of great sexual exploration and indulgence. This could negatively impact futuremarital quality and marital stability. This study examined the influence of premarital sex among 3,824 marriedpeople where 1931 (50.5%) were males and 1893 (49.5%) were female. The study showed that the respondentswho engaged in premarital romantic activities and coitus did not experience the same quality marital relationshipand stability as the married people who abstained from premarital sexual activities. Premarital sexual activitieshave potentially damaging effect on subsequent marriage relationships. Sexual abstinence among the youthbefore marriage could promote healthy marriage relationship in the future.
Enhancing Stochastic Resonance by Adaptive Colored Noise and Particle Swarm Optimization: An Application to Steering Control

In this paper, an intelligent signal processing approach is applied to enhance the detectability of weak signals - i.e., signals which are partially below a theoretical threshold of detection. Mechanical and physiological thresholds limit the capability of humans when manipulating machines via control devices, such as steering wheels. One approach to tackle the shortcomings of lost subthreshold information is stochastic resonance, which consists in adding noise to a signal, to raise its energy content over the threshold of detection. In particular, this paper shows that using adaptive colored can noise improve the detectability of steering control signals recorded from human participants. The approach converts a signal processing task to a machine learning problem; particle swarm optimization is employed to obtain the optimal color (or spectral exponent) of the injected noise, generated through fractional order filters. The results have shown that the proposed method improves the detectability of subthreshold steering control signals, which can be further applicable to many other domains, such as improving tactile sensation or acoustic perception through noise and energy harvesting from vehicle tires.
Experimental and Theoretical Study on Bearing Capacity of Conical Shell Foundations Composed of Reactive Powder Concrete

Many forms of shells are available for use as foundations. Then frustum of a cone in the upright position can serve as footing for columns or raft for structure such as chimneys. Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) is an ultra-high strength, low porosity material with high cement and silica fume contents and steel fibers. The present study aims at studying the RPC as a material used to construct RPC shell foundations. A complete load-frame assembly was designed and fabricated for experimental work. Experimental tests are conducted to study the effect of steel fiber volumetric ratio (Vf), silica fume content (Sf), change eccentricity, and rise of shell to radius of base ratio (f/r2) on the behavior of conical shell foundations. Results of tests conducted on wire – reinforced small – concrete models of conical foundations under loads established substantially high values of load factors involved in the traditional design of the conical foundations by membrane theory. The increased ratio of height to radius (f/r2) for the shell foundation from 0.25 to 0.75 increases the ultimate load of footing by about 15 %. The conical shell footing can admirably resist smaller values of accidental eccentricities of load (due to unanticipated moment) that may occur in practice. ARTICLE INFO
The Prague School and its legacy : in linguistics, literature, semiotics, folklore, and the arts

Many of the fundamental ideas of the classical Prague School have guided or inspired much of the interdisciplinary post World War II research in linguistics, literary theory, semiotics, folklore and the arts. The Prague School promoted a humanistic and functional Leitmotiv of language as an open, flexible, adaptable, and abstract system of systems used by human beings to communicate. This hommage to the Prague School presents papers in five areas of research: - Prague School phonology and its theoretical and methodological implications, The Prague School and functional discourse analysis, The Prague School and aspects of literary criticism, The sociological and ethnographical concerns of the Prague School, The Prague School's semiotic approach to the arts. "
How Chinese Auditors' Relativistic Ethical Orientations Influence Their Love of Money

Love of Money (LMOS) theory is well developed and widely used in studying people’s beliefs about money (Luna-Arocas & Tang 2004). This study examines the views of 612 Chinese auditors and establishes that the ideological positions adopted influence how they regard money and that these positions are related to underlying cultural norms. Forsyth’s (1980) EPQ is used to establish a viable model, which establishes that relativism strongly influences Chinese auditors” attitudes towards money and has important implications in terms of the impact on the accounting profession in that rapidly growing nation.
Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Isobutanol

Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation in isobutanol with sodium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide. The isobutanol played a role of a surfactant in the synthesis. The nanoparticles were calcined for 100 min to 5 hours in the range of 300 to 600°C. The characterization of the samples by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) confirmed the formation of ź-Fe2O3 (maghemite) from Fe3O4 (magnetite) at calcination at 300°C. The morphology and particle size were studied by SEM (scanning electron microscope). Nanoparticles in the range of 11ź22 nm prepared at 0.09 M of ferrous chloride exhibited superparamagnetic properties. Nanoparticles synthesized with ferrous chloride and ammonium hydroxide at 75°C and calcined at 530°C for 2 h were ź-Fe2O3 (hematite).
A Potential Application Of An X-Ray Diffraction Imaging (XDI) Scanner In Diagnostic Radiology

X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles of a selection of body tissues have been measured with an x-ray diffraction imaging (XDI) scanner originally developed for security screening. These, supplemented with published XRD profiles of body tissues, were used as input to a non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF) technique. The twelve measured input profiles can be accurately decomposed, with the aid of NNMF, into six differently-weighted base-tissue profiles. As more healthy and diseased body tissues are measured in vivo with the XDI scanner, it is expected that the number of base-tissue profiles required for accurate decomposition will increase. This extension is proposed as a topic for future work. It is concluded that the XDI scanner may provide, supplementary to morphological structure, significant additional information on tissue health derived from the values of the weighting coefficients with which healthy and diseased tissues are represented as sums of the base-tissue functions.