Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Evolution of the Type Ia Supernova Luminosity Function

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) exhibit a wide diversity of peak luminosities and light curve shapes: the faintest SNe Ia are 10 times less luminous and evolve more rapidly than the brightest SNe Ia. Their differing characteristics also extend to their stellar age distributions, with fainter SNe Ia preferentially occurring in old stellar populations and vice versa. In this Letter, we quantify this SN Ia luminosity–stellar age connection using data from the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS). Our binary population synthesis calculations agree qualitatively with the observed trend in the old populations probed by LOSS if the majority of SNe Ia arise from prompt detonations of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs (WDs) in double WD systems. Under appropriate assumptions, we show that double WD systems with less massive primaries, which yield fainter SNe Ia, interact and explode at older ages than those with more massive primaries. We find that prompt detonations in double WD systems are capable of reproducing the observed evolution of the SN Ia luminosity function, a constraint that any SN Ia progenitor scenario must confront.
Internet Latency: Causes, Solutions and Trade-offs

This paper is a digest of [1], an extensive survey discussing the merits of over 300 techniques for reducing Internet latency. It gives a broad overview of the causes, solutions, and trade-offs involved in reducing latency in the Internet. The overview covers key sources of delays and proposed solutions: due to the structural arrangement of the network, how network end-points interact, along the end-to-end path, related to link capacities, within end-hosts, and those that address multiple sources. Trade-offs are discussed in terms of the latency reduction different techniques provide versus their deployability.
Groundwater vulnerability mapping of Witbank coalfield in South Africa using deep learning artificial neural networks

This study highlights the usage of deep learning artificial neural networks in the assessment of groundwater vulnerability of a coalfield. The network uses the DRIST model with parameters (depth to water level, recharge, impact of the vadose zone, soils and topographic slope) as training inputs and borehole sulphate concentration as training output. This technique was applied to Witbank coalfield, where acid mine drainage emanating from coal mining operations is a huge concern for surrounding environment and groundwater resources. The generated groundwater vulnerability model was validated with another sulphate dataset not used during model training. The deep neural network model with dropout and decaying learning rate regularisers correlated very well with sulphate data from another source as compared to the index and overlay DRIST model. The approach, differentiated areas in terms of vulnerability to acid mine drainage, which can aid policy, and decision makers to make scientifically informed decisions on land use planning. The approach developed in this research can be applied to other coalfields in order to evaluate its robustness to different hydrogeological and geological conditions.
Transport pathways of CO in the African upper troposphere during the monsoon season: a study based upon the assimilation of spaceborne observations

The transport pathways of carbon monoxide (CO) in the African Upper Troposphere (UT) during the West African Monsoon (WAM) is investigated through the assimilation of CO observations by the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) in the MOCAGE Chemistry Transport Model (CTM). The assimilation setup, based on a 3-D First Guess at Assimilation Time (3-D-FGAT) variational method is described. Comparisons between the assimilated CO fields and in situ airborne observations from the MOZAIC program between Europe and both Southern Africa and Southeast Asia show an overall good agreement around the lowermost pressure level sampled by MLS (~215 hPa). The 4-D assimilated fields averaged over the month of July 2006 have been used to determine the main dynamical processes responsible for the transport of CO in the African UT. The studied period corresponds to the second AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses) aircraft campaign. At 220 hPa, the CO distribution is characterized by a latitudinal maximum around 5° N mostly driven by convective uplift of air masses impacted by biomass burning from Southern Africa, uplifted within the WAM region and vented predominantly southward by the upper branch of the winter hemisphere Hadley cell. Above 150 hPa, the African CO distribution is characterized by a broad maximum over northern Africa. This maximum is mostly controlled by the large scale UT circulation driven by the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) and characterized by the Asian Monsoon Anticyclone (AMA) centered at 30° N and the Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ) on the southern flank of the anticyclone. Asian pollution uplifted to the UT over large region of Southeast Asia is trapped within the AMA and transported by the anticyclonic circulation over Northeast Africa. South of the AMA, the TEJ is responsible for the tranport of CO-enriched air masses from India and Southeast Asia over Africa. Using the high time resolution provided by the 4-D assimilated fields, we give evidence that the variability of the African CO distribution above 150 hPa and north of the WAM region is mainly driven by the synoptic dynamical variability of both the AMA and the TEJ.
The Dynamical Gaussian Process Latent Variable Model in the Longitudinal Scenario

The Dynamical Gaussian Process Latent Variable Models provide an elegant non-parametric framework for learning the low dimensional representations of the high-dimensional time-series. Real world observational studies, however, are often ill-conditioned: the observations can be noisy, not assuming the luxury of relatively complete and equally spaced like those in time series. Such conditions make it difficult to learn reasonable representations in the high dimensional longitudinal data set by way of Gaussian Process Latent Variable Model as well as other dimensionality reduction procedures. In this study, we approach the inference of Gaussian Process Dynamical Systems in Longitudinal scenario by augmenting the bound in the variational approximation to include systematic samples of the unseen observations. We demonstrate the usefulness of this approach on synthetic as well as the human motion capture data set.
Does Bank Efficiency Matter? A Case of Egypt

This paper offers to measure the efficiency of the Egyptian banks and its determining factors. Using data envelopment analysis in the first stage to find the efficiency level for banks, by comparing the efficiency of large, medium and small banks and the efficiency of foreign and domestic banks through a balanced panel which cover 14 banks operating in Egypt from 1997 to 2013. A detailed analysis per banking group reveals that medium banks are the most efficient ones, followed by foreign banks. In the second stage, potential determinants of technical efficiency are studied using a regression model using method developed by Papke and Wooldridge (1996). The variables logarithm of total assets, loans to deposits, and Net interest margin are all statistically significant with positive affected on the efficiency level for the Egyptian banks, however, number of branches and non-interest expense over total assets all statistically significant with negatively affected on the efficiency level for the Egyptian banks
Utilization of a chicken embryo membrane model for evaluation of embryonic vascular toxicity of Dorema ammoniacum

Objective: Extensive research has been done to assess the efficacy of herbs for treating different disorders. Dorema ammoniacum (D. ammoniacum) is used in folk medicines for various goals. The application of herbs in medicine is accompanied by harmful effects. Chick embryo is considered a suitable model for assessing drugs toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in vasculature in chick’s extra-embryonic membrane following D. ammoniacum treatment. Alterations in molecular pathways associated with early embryonic angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: Fertile chicken (Ross 308) eggs were allocated into three similar groups; sham, control and D. ammoniacum groups; in D. ammoniacum group, eggs were inoculated with plant’s extract at doses of 50 or 100 mg per kg egg-weight. Results: Analysis of the extra-embryonic membrane vasculature revealed that D. ammoniacum extract decreases some vascular parameters such as vessels area, total vessels length, vascular branch and increases lacunarity. This herb’s vascular toxicity was in a dose-dependent manner. Down-regulation of the expression of VEGF-A was also seen in the extract-treated extra-embryonic membrane. Conclusion: Vascular toxicity of D. ammoniacum was confirmed by data presented in this paper. We conclude that alteration of vascular parameters and gene expression might finally lead to embryo malformation due to D. ammoniacum consumption. Therefore, the use of this herb must be limited during the fetal growth period especially at doses higher than 50 mg per kg.
LABVIEW DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF A SMALL SCALE MICROGRID

The operating conditions of the National Power System require new solutions to be undertaken for achieving continuity of power supply. Thus, worldwide, two research directions have been proposed: the microgrid structure and the DC low voltage supplying structure. The paper presents the integration of renewable energy sources into a mixed microgrid in order to ensure the users’ continuous power supply. The microgrid modeling was achieved for a real user. In this location, an extended monitoring campaign of the meteorological parameters and the electric power forecasting, has been pursued.
Characterization of sequence variants in the cardiac ion channel genes KCNH2 and SCN5A

The present thesis describes the identification and characterization of sequence variants in the cardiac ion channel genes KCNH2 and SCN5A. The variants were found in sudden cardiac death victims, in patients with ion channel diseases and in their family members. The results support the growing awareness that carriership of a single mutation often fails to predict the clinical phenotype and that additional genetic modifications may influence the clinical manifestation of the disease.
The one-dimensional fractional quantum operator of momentum

In the case of the quantum generalization of LOvy processes, expressions for the Hermitian operator of momentum and its eigenfunctions are proposed. The normalization constant has been determined and its relation to the translation operator is shown. The interrelation between the momentum and the wave number has been generalized for the processes with a non-integer dimensionalityfi.
Portfolio Selection Based on Bayesian Theory

The traditional portfolio selection model seriously overestimates its theoretic optimal return. Aiming at this problem, two portfolio selection models are proposed to modify the parameters and enhance portfolio performance based on Bayesian theory. Firstly, a Bayesian-GARCH(1,1) model is built. Secondly, Markov Chain is applied to curve the parameters’ state transfer, and a Bayesian Markov regime-Switching-GARCH(1,1) model is constructed. Both the two models can handle the overestimation problem and can obtain self-financing portfolios. In the numerical experiments, both the models are examined with data from China stock market, and their performances are compared and analyzed. The results show that BMS-GARCH(1,1) model is superior to the Bayesian-GARCH(1,1) model.
Reduced North Atlantic Central Water formation in response to early Holocene ice‐sheet melting

Central waters of the North Atlantic are fundamental for ventilation of the upper ocean and are also linked to the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Here, we show based on benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios, that during times of enhanced melting from the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) between 9.0–8.5 thousand years before present (ka) the production of central waters weakened the upper AMOC resulting in a cooling over the Northern Hemisphere. Centered at 8.54 ± 0.2 ka and 8.24 ± 0.1 ka our dataset records two ∼150‐year cooling events in response to the drainage of Lake Agassiz/Ojibway, indicating early slow‐down of the upper AMOC in response to the initial freshwater flux into the subpolar gyre (SPG) followed by a more severe weakening of both the upper and lower branches of the AMOC at 8.2 ka. These results highlight the sensitivity of regional North Atlantic climate change to the strength of central‐water overturning and exemplify the impact of both gradual and abrupt freshwater fluxes on eastern SPG surface water convection. In light of the possible future increase in Greenland Ice Sheet melting due to global warming these findings may help us to better constrain and possibly predict future North Atlantic climate change.
Exploring Normative Leadership: An Egocentric Network Approach to Friends’ Norm-Signaling Relevance

This article examines friends’ norm-signaling relevance, that is, the impact of friends’ risk behaviors on individual normative perceptions (descriptive and injunctive) and indirect, norm-mediated effects on individual risk behavior. Specifically, and inspired by the concept of opinion leadership, I explore whether there are normative leaders: friends who are recognized as advisors and who have a distinct norm-signaling relevance by shaping normative perceptions to a particular extent. Hypotheses are tested based on egocentric networks of 311 young drivers (egos) and three of their friends regarding three road traffic risk behaviors (i.e., speeding, driving after drinking, and texting while driving). The results corroborate the idea of the norm-signaling relevance of friends’ behaviors and the special role of normative leaders in this regard. Friends who are recognized as advisors by the egos have a distinct impact on injunctive normative perceptions, that is, perceptions about the behavior’s social approval among friends. Implications for social norms research, opinion leadership research, and norms-based interventions are discussed.
The Evaluation of Accounting Earnings Components Ability in Predicting Future Operating Cash Flows: Evidence from the Tehran Stock Exchange

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of accounting earnings and accounting earnings components (operating cash flow and accruals) in predicting future operating cash flows in the companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange. According to the theoretical literature and conducted research, four models is considered for predicting operating cash flows with independent variables (1) operating earnings, (2) operating cash flows, (3) operating cash flows and aggregate accruals, and (4) operating cash flows and accruals components. To test the research hypotheses is used from the financial information of 80 companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange during the years 2006 to 2010. The results indicate that statistically there is a significant positive relationship between all the independent variables and future operating cash flows (dependent variable), except changes in payable accounts, which has a negative and significant relationship with the dependent variable. Also, findings indicate that the model is based on the disaggregation of earnings into six components of cash and accrual can predict future operating cash flows better than the other tested models.
PEGylated poly(ethylene imine) as a copolymer for gene delivery from hyaluronic acid hydrogels

The effective delivery of DNA locally could increase the applicability of gene therapy in tissue regeneration and therapeutic angiogenesis. One promising approach is through use of porous hydrogel scaffolds that incorporate and deliver DNA in the form of nanoparticles to the affected sites. Although the Segura group has previous reported the ability to load DNA nanoparticles within porous HA hydrogels at high concentrations, gene delivery and transfection levels remain too low for therapeutic application. In this study, we report two alternative approaches to polyplex presentation that attempt to increase transgene expression levels. The first approach attempts to reduce polyplex aggregation by utilizing polyethylene glycol modification to mitigate charge-charge interactions between polyplexes and the scaffold during gelation. The second approach utilizes surface coated polyplex presentation is increase cell-particle interaction that in not present with encapsulated presentation. sPEG-PEI polymer formed a smaller, less toxic, and more stable polyplex that exhibited little to no aggregation within HA gels when compared to the traditionally used LPEI polymer. Furthermore, sPEG-PEI retained transfection abilities comparable to LPEI in 3D, with no significant difference at 14 days. Surface coated polyplex presentation resulted in transgene expression levels that were three orders of magnitude greater than levels produced by encapsulated presentation. These results demonstrate a significant improvement in the porous HA gel system utilized by the Segura group, and hold promise for successful future studies in tissue engineering therapies.
Edge Weight Power and Frequency Assignment Algorithm

In cellular networks, cells are grouped more densely around highly populated areas to provide more capacity. Antennas are pointed in accordance with local terrain and clutter to reduce signal shadows and interference. Hardware parameters are easily set during installation but difficult to change thereafter. In a dynamic environment of population migration, there is need to continuously tune network parameters to adapt the network performance. Modern mobile equipment logs network usage patterns and statistics over time. This information can be used to tune soft parameters of the network. These parameters may include frequency channel assignment or reuse, and transmitter radiation power assignment to provide more capacity on demand. The paper proposes that by combining the frequency and power assignments, further optimisation in resource allocation can be achieved over a traditional frequency assignment. The solution considers the interference, traffic intensity and use of priority flags to bias some edges. An Edge Weight Power and Frequency Assignment Algorithm is presented to solve the resource allocation problem in cellular networks. The paper also analyses the performance improvements obtained over that of the Edge Weight Frequency Assignment Algorithm. The results show that the proposed algorithm improves the performance of the Edge Weight Frequency Assignment Algorithm depending on the initial structure of the graph.
A Monetary Policy Rule Based on Fuzzy Control in an Inflation Targeting Framework

Today inflation targeting regime is often used to conduct monetary policy in most developed economies. In this regime, a central bank manipulates its key interest rate to steer an economy to the objectives it wants to achieve. To implement its monetary policy, Taylor rule is claimed to be a quantitative tool used as a guide for setting interest rate in response to the state of the economy. Despite its widespread popularity, the Taylor rule is just an orientational guidance at best and cannot be followed strictly since it would be against the common practice of conducting monetary policy of most central banks. Therefore, we propose a new rule for infl ation targeting monetary policy based on fuzzy control technique. This rule seems to be able to quantify those widely accepted qualitative knowledge on monetary policy. Further, the policy derived by this rule also better captures the common behaviour of central banks. We verify this rule on the monetary policy conducted by the Czech National Bank in the period from 2000 to 2011. We also compare the result of this rule with the results obtained by implementing monetary policy by some other alternative rules.
Assessing strategic, tactical and operational alignment factors for SMEs: alignment across the organisation's value chain

Strategic alignment approaches aim to improve organisational performance, enhance efficiency and maintain or gain competitive advantage. The majority of assessment alignment approaches, however, target the strategic level and overlook the tactical and operational levels. Furthermore, most of the approaches have been tested in large organisations and little research has been conducted to investigate their effectiveness in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This paper proposes an assessment instrument that aims to understand alignment at all three levels and which has been piloted through an SME case study. The results suggest that this instrument is useful for (a) sharing the knowledge needed to achieve alignment between participants at all three levels, (b) identifying the areas where alignment strategies are weak and need further improvement, (c) identifying those areas where there is conflict between strategic, tactical and operational levels, and (d) addressing SME needs.
Causes and Effects of Rangeland Degradation in the Lowland Districts of the Bale Eco-Region, Southeastern Ethiopia

This study was carried out in Bale Eco-Region (BER) which is located in Southeastern Ethiopia with the objective of addressing the cause and effect of ecological damage, particularly rangeland degradation. Both purposive and stratified random sampling approaches were used to select HouseHolds (HH). Individual interview, key informants and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were the main sources of data for this study. The livelihood activity in BER lowland area was pastoralism before 1965 and it was based on highly productive, vast and free Rangeland with unlimited movement of the pastoralists. In the low land of BER, migration has a destination, pattern and objective to meet. These destinations are sources of mineral, a breeding site, feed and water. Migration is used as strong seasonal disease, water and feed shortage escaping mechanism. However, this is currently changed to Agro-pastoral or some of them to crop production do different disturbances. The change was mainly aggravated by expansion of agricultural investment, high population growth, illegal settlement and cultivation and banning of migration to Forest. Utilization of grazing land is communal and rangeland around homestead and watering points are overgrazed and resulted in bare land and encroached by unpalatable and thorny species. The vegetation cleaning and cultivation of drought prone area under rain-fed regimes have accelerated bare land expansion and unpalatable vegetation encroachment. The overall rangeland condition has deteriorated and the livelihoods were jeopardized. The people get in trouble, then moving from degraded area to protected and moist source forest land in Bale Mountain National Park and now causing serious deforestation.