Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revealing Brain Tumor Using Cross-Validated NGBoost Classifier

Brain is the most complicated and delicate anatomical structure in human body. Statistics proves that, among various brain ailments, brain tumor is most fatal and in many cases they become carcinogenic. Brain tumor is characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled growth of brain cells, and takes up space within the cranial cavity and varies in shape, size, position and characteristics viz., can be benign or malignant, which makes the detection of brain tumor very critical and challenging. The vital information a neurologist or neurosurgeon needs to have is the precise size and location of tumor in the brain and whether it is causing any swelling or compression of the brain that may need urgent attention. This paper exploits ensemble strategy based Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for reveling brain tumors. NGBoost algorithm along with 5-fold stratified cross-validation scheme is proposed as classifier model that automatically detects patients with brain tumors. The proposed method is implemented with necessary fine-tuning of parameters which is compared against ensemble based baseline classifiers such as AdaBoost, Gradient Boost, Random Forest and Extra Trees Classifier. Experimental study implies that proposed method outperforms baseline models with significantly improved efficiency. The interfering features those have impact on brain tumor classification are ranked and this ranking is retrieved from the best classifier model.
Sorghum biomass production in the continental United States and its potential impacts on soil organic carbon and nitrous oxide emissions

National scale projections of bioenergy crop yields and their environmental impacts are essential to identify appropriate locations to place bioenergy crops and ensure sustainable land use strategies. In this study, we used the process‐based Daily Century (DAYCENT) model with site‐specific environmental data to simulate sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) biomass yield, soil organic carbon (SOC) change, and nitrous oxide emissions across cultivated lands in the continental United States. The simulated rainfed dry biomass productivity ranged from 0.8 to 19.2 Mg ha−1 year−1, with a spatiotemporal average of 9.7‐2.4+2.1 Mg ha−1 year−1, and a coefficient of variation of 35%. The average SOC sequestration and direct nitrous oxide emission rates were simulated as 0.79‐0.45+0.38 Mg CO2e ha−1 year−1 and 0.38‐0.06+0.04 Mg CO2e ha−1 year−1, respectively. Compared to field‐observed biomass yield data at multiple locations, model predictions of biomass productivity showed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.6 Mg ha−1 year−1. In comparison to the multi State (n = 21) NASS database, our results showed RMSE of 5.5 Mg ha−1 year−1. Model projections of baseline SOC showed RMSE of 1.9 kg/m2 in comparison to a recently available continental SOC stock dataset. The model‐predicted N2O emissions are close to 1.25% of N input. Our results suggest 10.2 million ha of cultivated lands in the Southern and Lower Midwestern United States will produce >10 Mg ha−1 year−1 with net carbon sequestration under rainfed conditions. Cultivated lands in Upper Midwestern states including Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, and North Dakota showed lower sorghum biomass productivity (average: 6.9 Mg ha−1 year−1) with net sequestration (average: 0.13 Mg CO2e ha−1 year−1). Our national‐scale spatially explicit results are critical inputs for robust life cycle assessment of bioenergy production systems and land use‐based climate change mitigation strategies.
The Impact of Stock Market Development on Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria: An Application of Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model

Stock market development is essential for economic growth and prosperity in developing economies like Nigeria. Foreign Direct net flow plays a vital role in promoting economic growth through boosting the stock market development of both emerging economies, as well as developed nations. The largest numbers of the emerging economies are integrated and pursuing their international operations due to foreign direct investment. This paper investigates the impact of the stock market variables on foreign direct investment using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) in the presence of structural breaks (dummies) in Nigeria. The study utilized annual time series data from 1970 to 2013. The data were generated from World Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The result suggests that the foreign direct investment (FDI) has a significant positive long-run impact on the value of the total stock transaction, but has a negative and significant effect on the rate of stock returns. However, the relationship between FDI and market capitalization ratio is not statistically significant. Based on these findings the stock market value of the total transaction promotes FDI and thus boosts economic growth and development in Nigeria.
A Simpler Approach to Accelerated Stochastic Optimization: Iterative Averaging Meets Optimism

Recently there have been several attempts to extend Nesterov’s accelerated algorithm to smooth stochastic and variance-reduced optimization. In this paper, we show that there is a simpler approach to acceleration: applying optimistic online learning algorithms and querying the gradient oracle at the online average of the intermediate optimization iterates. In particular, we tighten a recent result of Cutkosky (2019) to demonstrate theoretically that online iterate averaging results in a reduced optimization gap, independently of the al-gorithm involved. We show that carefully combining this technique with existing generic optimistic online learning algorithms yields the optimal accelerated rates for optimizing strongly-convex and non-strongly-convex, possibly composite objectives, with deterministic as well as stochastic ﬁrst-order oracles. We further extend this idea to variance-reduced optimization. Finally, we also provide “universal” algorithms that achieve the optimal rate for smooth and non-smooth composite objectives simultaneously without further tuning, generalizing the results of Kavis et al. (2019) and solving a number of their open problems.
Effects of ectoparasites on seasonal variation in quality of nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

Reproductive success often declines with breeding date in diverse taxa, including temperate-nesting bird species. The date hypothesis predicts that seasonally deteriorating environmental quality drives this pattern. While mechanisms are not fully understood, a seasonal increase in parasitism may contribute to the declining quality of nestlings hatched later in the season. We examined the effect of ectoparasites on seasonal variation in indices of nestling quality and survival in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) at breeding sites in British Columbia (PG) and Saskatchewan (SDNRA). In a parasite removal experiment, we detected no seasonal trend in flea abundance and, contrary to expectation, there were fewer blow flies in nests of late breeders. Negative effects of parasites on nestlings were documented at PG, where lengths of primary feather and head–bill were affected. Parental, rather than environmental, quality had the greatest effect on reproductive success at PG, as nestling survival declined seasonally regardless of treatment and despite seasonally increasing food biomass. Nestlings in control (i.e., parasitized) nests at SDNRA had elevated feather corticosterone levels, but no other effects of parasites were detected possibly because parent birds were of higher quality or parents and offspring had greater access to food such that nestlings were capable of coping with parasite-related challenges.
Supplement for Invariant Risk Minimization Games

• Linear classifiers: The sum of linear functions (polynomial) leads to a linear function (polynomial), and so does scalar multiplication. Therefore, linear classifiers satisfy affine closure. • Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS): RKHS is a Hilbert space, which is a vector spaces of functions. Therefore, kernel based classifiers (Hofmann et al., 2008) satisfy affine closure. • Ensemble models: Consider binary classification and boosting models (Freund et al., 1999). Let Hweak be the set of weak learners ω : X → R. The final function that is input to a sigmoid is w = ∑k m=1 θmωm, where each θm ∈ R. The set of functions spanned by the weak learners is defined as Span(Hweak) = { ∑k m=1 θmωm|∀m ∈ {1, . , k}, θm ∈ R, k ∈ N}. Span(Hweak) forms a vector space. Therefore, ensemble models that may use arbitrary number of weak learners satisfy affine closure. • L spaces. The set of functions f : X → R for which ‖f‖p = [ ∫ X |f(x)| dx] 1 p < ∞ is defined as L(X ). L(X ) is a vector space (Ash & Doléans-Dade, 2000).
Predicting the Persistence of Amphibian Populations with the Help of a Spatial Model

We have used a stochastic population model with immigration to calculate extinction rates for two amphibian species: the common toad, Bufo bufo, and the crested newt, Triturus cristatus. Population models for amphibians are difficult to parameterize. It was not possible to measure all the relevant parameters for the model. The other parameters were obtained from other studies or estimated on the basis of similar species. Contour maps for persistence were generated using the model. The persistence of populations associated with a pond is affected both by the pond's internal dynamics and its proximity to a source pond. On a 20-generation time scale, toad ponds that were initially occupied were relatively unaffected by the proximity of a source. Persistence was almost certain ( > 95%) when the average carrying capacity of a pond was greater than 30 adult females. Initially unoccupied toad-ponds were equally likely to persist if they lay within 4 km of a source and could support more than 50 adult females. Initially occupied newt ponds were likely to persist if they supported more than 40 females or lay within 0.5 km of a typical source pond. Initially unoccupied newt ponds were mainly dependent upon immigration rates. Very small ponds (N k > 10) only needed to be within 1.5 km of a source pond. This model allows us to use the data available, to make predictions about the criteria which must be met by a landscape to ensure the survival of amphibian populations. It offers the possibility of better predictions when the data is refined. The model also suggests directions for further research such as the statistical study of environmental variation, the nature of minimum viable populations for toads and the statistics of long-range dispersal.
More on the Uniform Allocation Rule: Equality and Consistency

We study the distributive and consistency properties of the Uniform Allocation Rule for solving the division problem with single-peaked preferences studied by Sprumont (1991). We show that under e±ciency, strategy-proofness and anonymity can be replaced by Lorenz dominance. We also characterize the Uniform Allocation Rule as the unique solution satisfying e±ciency, consistency and the Upper-Bound Rationing property for two agents. Resumen En este trabajo estudiamos las propiedades distributivas y de consistencia de la Regla de Asignaci¶on Uniforme caracterizada por Sprumont (1991) como soluci¶on a los problemas de divisi¶ on con preferencias unimodales. Demostramos que bajo el supuesto de e ̄ciencia, los axiomas de anonimidad y de no manipulabilidad pueden ser reemplazados por el axioma de dominaci¶on en el sentido de Lorenz. Tambi¶en demostramos que dicha regla es la ¶ unica soluci¶ on que satisface e ̄ciencia, consistencia y una cierta propiedad de acotaci¶on en el racionamiento para dos agentes.
Protozoa in Photobiological Research

LTHOUGH the photolethal effect of A ultraviolet light (UV) was discovered by Downes and Blunt in 1877 when they found that sunlight sterilized a culture of bacteria, the first reports on protozoa were made by Dreyer in 19032 and 1904. Since that time a large number of investigations on the effects of UV upon protozoa have appeared, and many interesting effects have been observed. Some of the effects of these radiations cannot be seen easily with cells other than protozoa, e.g., effects (a) on motility (ciliary, flagellate, ameboid), (b) on regeneration of parts of a cell, (c) on behavior, (d) on excystment, (e) on contractile vacuole function (and consequently on the osmoregulative function), and (f) on visible structural changes in the cell. The protozoa, therefore, provide unique material for such studies; yet these advantages have been only sparingly exploited. Disadvantages of the protozoa for these experiments must also be cited: (a) Because in most cases the number of protozoans used in an experiment is relatively small compared to the number of bacteria, the studies are statistically somewhat inadequate. (b) The metabolism of protozoans, like that of many animal cells, is largely independent of added nutrients; therefore, the physiological state of the culture is largely determined by the past history and is not easily controlled. (c) One cannot, without injuring the protozoans, test the effects of large changes in pH, temperature, or other environmental factors such as can be tolerated by yeast or some bacteria. (d) Protozoans divide relatively slowly; therefore, a long time often intervenes between the beginning and the end of an experiment, during which environmental changes may affect them. (e) Mutations are difficult to differentiate and study in the protozoa; therefore, investigations on mutation are not likely to be so effectively carried out with these forms as with bacteria or higher organisms. It is the purpose of this account to show to what degree some of the photobiological problems have been explored, using protozoa as materials, with a view to stimulating further investigations for a more complete analysis. Second, with 1 SMuch of the work reported by the author and his collaborators has been supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. The author is indebted to Mr.
Behavioural variation among strains of Trichogramma spp.: host‐species selection

The host‐selection behaviour of nine strains of Trichogramma spp. , towards eggs of Mamestra brassicae, Pieris brassicae and P. rapae, was investigated in laboratory experiments in order to select candidate strains for inundative releases against these species. Experiments were carried out by continuously observing the behaviour of individual females, which were offered equal numbers of eggs of two host species arranged in a grid. M. brassicae was a highly acceptable host species for all strains, whereas the acceptability of the two Pieris species was similar within strains, but varied between strains. Considering the variation in acceptance of Pieris eggs, strains either showed: (1) no preference between Mamestra and Pieris (High Pieris Acceptance = HPA strains), (2) a preference for Mamestra (Variable Pieris Acceptance = VPA strains), or (3) an aversion for Pieris Le comportement de sélection de l'hôte par neuf souches de Trichogrammes, vis‐à‐vis d'œufs de Mamestra brassicae, Pieris brassicae et P. rapae a été étudié au laboratoire afin de sélectioner des souches candidates pour des lâchers inondatifs contre ses espèces. Des expériences ont été menées par observations en continu du comportement de femelles auxquelles était offert un nombre égal d'œufs de deux espèces d'hôtes, disposés selon un grille. M. brassicae est un espèce‐hôte fortement acceptée par toutes les souches. Au contraire, l'acceptabilité des deux espèces de Pieris, semblable pour chaque souche, varie entre les souches. En tenant compte de la variation d'acceptance des œufs de Pieris les souches (1) ne montrent aucune préférence entre Mamestra et Pieris, (2) montrent une préférence pour Mamestra, ou (3) une aversion pour Pieris. Des femelles des souches du second groupe acceptent fortement les œufs de Pieris si les œufs de Mamestra, préférés, sont absents. Comparativement, elles rentrent en contact avec moins d'œufs de Pieris en présence d'œufs de Mamestra. Ceci indique une sélection des hôtes à distance. Les souches du premier groupe sont probablement les meilleures candidates pour des lâchers inondatifs.
Detection of Porphyry Intrusions Using Analytic Signal (AS), Euler Deconvolution, and Center for Exploration Targeting (CET) Technique Porphyry Analysis at Wadi Allaqi Area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

The present study is based on the enhancement of the Reduced to the pole Total magnetic intensity map of Wadi Allaqi area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt to delineate porphyry intrusions. Hydrothermal alteration associated with dyke-like structure comprises concentric near-circular alteration zones surrounding a roughly circular central intrusion. Aeromagnetic data of Wadi Allaqi area were processed using Analytic Signal (AS), Euler Deconvolution, and Center for Exploration Targeting (CET) Plug-In Porphyry Analysis. From the AS and Euler Deconvolution maps it can clearly notice that the major contact trends are WNW-ESE, NW-SE, and NE-SW directions with minor traces of N-S trend direction. It deserves mention to note that many of the causative sources in the study area appear as circular bodies. Also, they generally assume definite trends which means that they are structurally controlled. CET porphyry analysis map highlights the regions that can contain numerous occurrences of porphyry-style mineralization in Wadi Allaqi area. The predicated locations of CET porphyry intrusion closely match the locations of the known deposits in the area. Keywords-Reduced To The Pole Total Magnetic Intensity, Analytic Signal (AS), Euler Deconvolution, and Center for Exploration Targeting (CET). ——————————  ——————————
L-MOMENTS OF A FINITE MIXTURE OF PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS

In the statistical analysis, the finite mixtures of probability distributions are frequently used to model distributions of random variables in non-homogenous populations. L-moments are supposed to be more robust than classical moments. In the case of the heavy-tailed distributions or the presence of outliers the moment method of parameter estimation based on robust L-moments can be superior to the maximum likelihood estimation. For the evaluation of the theoretical L-moments, the quantile function is usually used. Unfortunately, there does not exist a simple closed formula for the quantile function of finite mixtures. The weighted average of component quantiles is only a suitable approximation to the quantile. In the contribution, two possible methods for evaluation of the quantile function are used in a simulation study (both based on numerical methods). The problem of the mixture of two component distributions is analysed for the components with disjoint supports and the more complicated general case. All calculations were accomplished in the program R.
Global Windmapping Service (GWS)

In order to obtain a general understanding of the wind potential for planning wind energy projects, ALPRO GmbH & Co. KG provides highresolution wind maps. The accuracy of the GWS Meso Maps is verified by comparing the calculated wind speed and wind rose with weather stations worldwide. This paper summarizes the result of the validation.
Geology and Geochemistry of Iroko-Granites Southwestern Nigeria: implication on provenance

Article history Received: 30 July 2020 Accepted: 13 August 2020 Published Online: 19 August 2020 The geology, geochemistry of Iroko-granites have been studied and reported in this paper. The study area has been described as of Archaean-Early Proterozoic terrain underlain by migmatite-gneiss-quartzite complex with supracustal rocks. Large number of granites which outcrops in Iroko-Ekiti represent a typical occurrence of granitoids sporadically distributed in the basement and are known to belong to the Older Granite suites, which are attributable to the Pan-African Orogeny (750± 150Ma). The rocks occur, mostly as flat and low lying within sparse vegetation. Structures common on and around the outcrops include quartz vein, veinlets, pegmatite dykes which trend North-south, discrete exfoliated surfaces and xenoliths of older rocks. This study reveals that the granites belong to calc-alkalic suites, demonstrate metaluminous nature, and exhibit characteristics of I-type granites. The granite is a distinctive type in that it is relatively highly potassic, has high FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratio, and high average Zr (299.75ppm) concentration with other high field strength elements. The trace elements study implicates pronounced fractional crystallization during evolution of the granites and thus petrogenetically discriminates as Syn-collision provenance.
Mathematical Model of Novel COVID-19 and Its Transmission Dynamics

In this paper, we formulated a dynamical model of COVID-19 to describe the transmission dynamics of the disease. The well possedness of the formulated model equations was proved. Both local and global stability of the disease free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium point of the model equation was established using basic reproduction number. The results show that, if the basic reproduction number is less than one then the solution converges to the disease free steady state i.e. the disease free equilibrium is asymptotically stable. The endemic states are considered to exist when the basic reproduction number for each disease is greater than one. Numerical simulation carried out on the model revealed that an increase in level of contact rate among individuals has an effect on reducing the prevalence of COVID-19 and COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis of the model equation was performed on the key parameters to find out their relative significance and potential impact on the transmission dynamics of COVID-19. Received: 05 March 2020, Revised: 20 May 2020, Accepted: 10 June 2020.
Semi-submersible Offshore Coupled Motion in Irregular Waves

Article history Received: 21 April 2020 Accepted: 1 June 2020 Published Online: 30 June 2020 In order to predict the hydrodynamic performance of semi-submersible offshore platform accurately, based on CFD theory, continuous equation and N-S equation as the control equation, RNG type k-ε model as turbulence model, using the finite difference method to discretize the control equation, using the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equation (SIMPLE) algorithm to solve the control equation, using the VOF method to capture the free surface. The numerical wave tank of irregular wave is established, and the wave force and motion response of the semi-submersible platform under irregular wave are studied. Based on the Jonswap spectrum density function, for a certain area of two irregular waves (South China sea, a-ten-year return period, a-hundred-year return period) sea condition, five wave direction Angle (0 °, 30 °, 45 °, 60 °, 90 °), a total of 10 kinds of conditions of the motion response of semi-submersible platform are simulated, through analysis and comparison of simulation results, the influence law of wave angle, wave period and wave height on platform motion is obtained. Compared with the experimental values, the results of heave and pitch are close to the experimental data under the sea condition of 2, 0 degree wave angles. The research results in this paper can provide reference for the design and motion response prediction of practical semi-submersible offshore platforms.