Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pricing an Arithmetic Average Reset Option Using the Green Function Method

This study investigates the pricing of the arithmetic average reset option. The option price is formulated as the solution of the Black-Scholes equation. In addition, the valuation is derived from a series of initial value problems based on the Green function through integration. Finally, the reset option price is numerically calculated. Throughout the numerical method, we can derive reset option prices of both arithmetic average and geometric average reset options. This study also presents the numerical examples for comparison.
Touching 3D data: interactive visualization of cosmological simulations

Visualisatie richt zich op het aanvullen van de zintuigen en het voorstellingsvermogen van wetenschappers zodat ze hun gegevens beter kunnen begrijpen. Dit is een interactief en iteratief proces waar informatierepresentatie, interactieve verkenning en het nemen van beslissingen een grote rol spelen. Het doel is om door middel van dit iteratieve proces inzicht te verkrijgen in het probleem en de onderliggende gegevens totdat er voldoende begrip is. Bij deze visuele verkenning is een hoge mate van interactiviteit essentieel voor het op eem efficiente manier behalen van dit doel omdat het de gebruiker dan de mogelijkheid geeft om nieuwe ideeen uit te proberen, terugkoppeling te verkrijgen en de verkenning op basis daarvan bij te sturen. In dit proefschrift rapporteren we over ons onderzoek naar de uitdagingen voor natuurlijke interactie en de verkenning van gegevens die gerepresenteerd worden in drie dimensies. In dit proefschrift hebben we de visualisatie van astronomische gegevens als centraal voorbeeld genomen van een toepassingsdomein waarin de nadruk ligt op op drie-dimensionale puntwolkgegevens van numerieke simulaties, zoals simulaties van galactische dynamica of hoog-dimensionale informatie uit deeltjessystemen. We introduceren twee intuitieve en efficiente interactie-technieken voor de verkenning van gegevens in drie dimensies. De eerste techniek helpt gebruikers te navigeren in drie dimensies en de tweede techniek geeft gebruikers de mogelijkheid om eenvoudig een subset van deeltjes te selecteren. Daarnaast integreren we deze twee technieken in een visueel-analytische computerapplicatie om zo wetenschappers te helpen nuttige informatie te extraheren en inzicht te verkrijgen.
ESTIMATION OF OPTIMAL PROTEIN TO ENERGY RATIO AND PERCENT SOYBEAN MEAL REPLACEMENT OF FISH MEAL IN JUVENILE SCAPHIRHYNCHUS STURGEON DIETS

Research developing artificial propagation, husbandry, and nutrition of sturgeon species has developed greatly since the collapse of the Caspian Sea fisheries in the 1980s. Sturgeon species are commercially prized for their unfertilized roe which is marketed as the delicacy, caviar. Sturgeon production units commonly utilize commercial salmonid feeds, which contain large proportions of fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO). Concerns regarding economics and sustainability have put pressure on aquafeed manufactures to efficiently utilize FM and FO, and to incorporate alternative protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM). Therefore, the present studies estimated the optimal protein:energy ratio of juvenile Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus and evaluated the effects of increasing SBM composition on growth, feed efficiency, body and liver composition, and intestinal morphology of juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorhynchus, two species of Scaphirhynchus sturgeon of regional commercial importance. Protein:energy ratios were investigated using casein and dextrose based, semi-purified diets. Results indicated that Scaphirhynchus sturgeon are able to perform similarly across a wide range of protein:energy ratios (79 - 147 mg protein kcal-1), so long as adequate dietary energy (3,800 kcal kg-1 gross energy) is provided and essential amino acids are not limiting. Soybean meal was evaluated utilizing practical, isocaloric, isolipidic, isoenergetic test diets, designed to replace FM with increasing SBM. Juvenile Scaphirhynchus sturgeon were found to perform similarly on diets with up to 50% of FM replaced with SBM (336 g kg-1 diet). Evaluation of liver composition revealed that juvenile Shovelnose Sturgeon store less glycogen and crude lipid than other fish species, although no dietary differences were observed. Histological evaluation of the distal intestine revealed indications of SBM induced enteritis, though no statistical differences in measures were detected between treatments. This research is the first to describe optimal dietary formulation for the culture of Scaphirhynchus sturgeon.
Shortwave radiative forcing, rapid adjustment, and feedback to the surface by sulfate geoengineering: analysis of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project G4 scenario

Abstract. This study evaluates the forcing, rapid adjustment, and feedback of net shortwave radiation at the surface in the G4 experiment of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project by analysing outputs from six participating models. G4 involves injection of 5 Tg yr−1 of SO2, a sulfate aerosol precursor, into the lower stratosphere from year 2020 to 2069 against a background scenario of RCP4.5. A single-layer atmospheric model for shortwave radiative transfer is used to estimate the direct forcing of solar radiation management (SRM), and rapid adjustment and feedbacks from changes in the water vapour amount, cloud amount, and surface albedo (compared with RCP4.5). The analysis shows that the globally and temporally averaged SRM forcing ranges from −3.6 to −1.6 W m−2, depending on the model. The sum of the rapid adjustments and feedback effects due to changes in the water vapour and cloud amounts increase the downwelling shortwave radiation at the surface by approximately 0.4 to 1.5 W m−2 and hence weaken the effect of SRM by around 50 %. The surface albedo changes decrease the net shortwave radiation at the surface; it is locally strong (∼ −4 W m−2) in snow and sea ice melting regions, but minor for the global average. The analyses show that the results of the G4 experiment, which simulates sulfate geoengineering, include large inter-model variability both in the direct SRM forcing and the shortwave rapid adjustment from change in the cloud amount, and imply a high uncertainty in modelled processes of sulfate aerosols and clouds.
COBALT CATALYZED-MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES FILM SENSOR FOR CARBON MONO-OXIDE GAS

The fabrication of cobalt (Co) catalyzed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) film sensor for the detection of carbon mono-oxide (CO) gas has been reported. Cobalt (Co) catalyzed carbon nanotubes have been synthesized on silicon oxide grown silicon substrate using low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The diameter of these multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) varies from 40-100 nm and the length is on the order of several tens of micrometers. To measure the gas sensing properties of this sensor, a typical pattern of gold electrodes has been thermally evaporated. The typical responses of MWCNTs gas sensor for different concentration (40, 100, 140 & 200 ppm) of sensing gas i.e. carbon mono-oxide (CO) have been studied. It is observed that this MWNTs gas sensor shows a quick response to CO gas with the fast recovery time. Temperature dependence of the resistance of this MWNTs-based film sensor has also been studied for a temperature range of 300-500K. It is found that the resistance decreases with the increase in temperature for all concentration of CO gas. The sensitivity and responsiveness has been estimated with respect to the time as well as temperature. The responsiveness increases whereas the sensitivity of this sensor decreases with the increase in temperature for all concentrations of CO gas. Some electrical parameters such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor have also been estimated to understand the electrical transport properties of this sensor.
Testing for functional convergence of temperate rainforest tree assemblages in Chile and New Zealand

ABSTRACT An important tenet of biogeography and comparative ecology is that disjunct assemblages in similar physical environments are functionally more similar to each other than to assemblages from other environments. Temperate rainforests in South America, New Zealand and Australia share certain physiognomic similarities, but we are not aware of any statistical evidence that these disjunct plant assemblages share a distinctive suite of functional traits, or trait combinations. We compiled height, leaf, wood and reproductive traits from the 25 commonest arborescent species at Chilean and New Zealand sites matched for summer rainfall, summer maximum temperatures, and winter minimum temperatures. We then used multivariate tests of trait convergence. Tropical and subtropical assemblages served as out-groups. PERMANOVA showed convergence of trait centroids at the two temperate sites, where trees on average had denser wood and smaller leaves than trees at the (sub)tropical sites. Principal components analyses carried out separately on each assemblage showed that the Chilean and New Zealand assemblages were also the most similar pair in terms of trait relationships, although New Zealand also shared strong similarities with subtropical Argentina. The main axis of variation in both temperate assemblages ranged from small, short-lived understorey trees with soft leaves, to emergents with sclerophyllous leaves and fairly dense wood. However, the New Zealand assemblage was much richer in small trees with soft leaves than its Chilean counterpart; possible historical influences on this difference include conditions favouring radiation of small trees during the late Neogene in New Zealand, competition from Chusquea bamboos in Chile and the historical absence of browsing mammals from New Zealand. Environmental filtering has produced similar values of individual traits in Chile and New Zealand, but only partial convergence of functional trait combinations. As far as we know, this is the first study to statistically test whether disjunct tree assemblages on climatically matched sites are more functionally similar to each other than to assemblages from other environments.
Appraisal of psychosocial interventions in Liberia

This article presents the methodology and results of a study on the effectiveness of two psychosocial interventions targeting female victims of war-related and sexual violence in Liberia. One intervention provided counselling, the other offered support groups and skill training. Qualitative research suggests that the participants of both interventions were positive with regard to the help provided. Quantitative analyses revealed that counselling was effective in reducing trauma symptoms as compared to the support and skill training and to a waiting list control group. Taking into account the number of women with a high post traumatic stress disorder score, both interventions were effective compared to the control group.
Comparism of Various Staining Techniques in the Diagnosis of Coccidian Parasitosis in HIV Infection

Background: Diarrhoea due to oppourtunistic coccidian parasites is a common clinical presentation in HIV infection. Its management differs from that of diarrhoea due to other protozoa, improvement of immune status being the mainstay while specific drug treatment is available for other aetiologies, hence, the need for its accurate identification when present. This can be achieved via various diagnostic techniques, commonly microscopy in this environment, hence the need to compare the efficacy of the commonly used stains in our locality. Objective: To identify the most effective of the commonly used stains in identifying these parasites. Methods: Diarrhoea stool samples from 250 adult HIV positives and an equal number of age and sex matched HIV negative controls were screened, staining with trichrome, auramine and modified Ziehl–Neelsen stain. Results: A positivity rate of 55% was reported. modified Ziehl–Neelsen , when compared with trichrome staining had 81% sensitivity, 77.3% specificity, positive predictive value of 70.4%, negative predictive value of 85.9% and when compared to auramine staining, had 80% sensitivity, 76.7% specificity, positive predictive value of 69.9%, negative predictive value of 85.2% in test subjects. There was a significant moderate level of agreement between the staining methods though Trichrome showed a stronger agreement than Auramine when compared with Modified ZN in test (κ value 0.569 and 0.553 respectively), and a significant, fair level of agreement between the methods with Auramine showing a stronger agreement than Trichrome when both were compared with Modified ZN (κ value 0.399 and 0.332 respectively) in controls. Conclusion: Auramine and trichrome techniques are preferred for screening and diagnosis based on findings. Of these two techniques, auramine is preferred.
APPLICATION OF A HEURISTIC METHOD FOR THE ESTIMATION OF S-WAVE VELOCITY STRUCTURE

The assessment of local site effects is one of the most important subjects in Engineering Seismology. In order to perform an assessment, it is necessary to determine the S-wave velocity structure of the site. Additionally, in some basins, it is very important to know the deep sedimentary structure, due to the amplification phenomena of low frequency waves. There are several techniques to achieve this purpose; probably the most inexpensive technique is using the vertical component of microtremors measured with an array of seismographs. The phase velocity of Rayleigh waves is inverted to an S-wave velocity (Vs) profile using optimization techniques. Most of the time, least square methods have been applied in the inversion.Recently, heuristic methods have also been used for the estimation of the S-wave velocity structure from microtremor.In this study seven arrays of microtremors in the city of Tsukuba city were performed, located to the NE edge of Kanto Basin, in order to estimate the deep S-wave velocity structure. The spatial autocorrelationmethod SPAC was used to determine phase velocity dispersion curves in the frequency range from 0.3-2.5 Hz. The determination of Vs profiles reached a depth of 750 m. Two methods were used to estimate the Swavevelocity structure: Inversion method and a heuristic method via the combination of Downhill Simplex Algorithm with a Very Fast Simulated Annealing Method. Comparisons with Vs from the existent resultsfrom PS-logging tests at the center of the array showed the reliability of the heuristic method.
Characteristics of chalcone isomerase promoter in crabapple leaves (M.cv. 'royalty') and transient expression assay modified in onion epidermal cell

Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites found in higher plants that contribute to the colors of plants and chalcone isomerase (CHI) is one of the key enzymes in anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. What characteristic is CHI promoter known as the regulation sequence of CHI gene, has been rarely investigated. We isolated A 329 bp 5’-upstream sequence of McCHI promoter sequence from Malus crabapple cultivar ‘royalty’. According to PLACE database, we found all kinds of cis-elements which contained light, hormone, stress, Ca 2+ and MYB responsive factor in McCHI promoter. Transient expression assay showed that the McCHI promoter fragments had the promoter activity and can drive GUS expression. So it is presumed that McCHI promoter had a promising application prospect in the genetic transformation to modify the color of plant and anthocyanins production. We also compared the effect of GUS gene expression in different bombardment distances and in different onion epidermis culture patterns. The results show that 6 cm was the best bombardment distance and sorbitol was better to conduct plasmolysis than mannitol and that 4 to 5 layers onion epidermis was suitable for transient expression assay. As is in the foregoing, the GUS gene expression is sufficient and is the best state to analyze promoter activity.
Non-Conventional Yeasts in Fermentation Processes: Potentialities and Limitations

Traditionally the term ‘yeast’ means Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its close relatives. This yeast is used in traditional fermentation processes, mainly for ethanol formation, baking, winemaking and beer production. The classical carbon substrates for typical yeast processes are glucose or sucrose, however, the successful expansion of industrial biotechnol- ogy drives research toward the utilization of alternative carbon sources. New technologies require very specific challenges and differ from those found in conventional fermentation processes. Most microbial habitats, especially in modern biotechnological processes, do not provide culture media rich in mono- and disaccharides. They include fermentation envi- ronments with various compositions of carbon and energy sources as well as the presence of various cytotoxic compounds which inhibit the growth of industrial yeasts. About 1500 various yeast species have been identified nowadays. Microbiologists and biotechnologists have named all non- S. cerevisiae yeasts as ‘non-conventional’ yeasts. Their features present a potential that can be used for non-conventional processes. Non- Saccharomyces strains provide alternative metabolic routes for substrate utilization and product formation. The diversity of these yeasts includes many species possessing useful, and sometimes uncom-mon, metabolic features potentially interesting for biotechnology. The selected strains of non-conventional yeasts could be used as pure or mixed cultures for improving industrial fermentations.
Vegetation, Floristic Composition and Species Diversity in a Tropical Mountain Nature Reserve in Southern Yunnan, SW China, with Implications for Conservation

Complete floristic and vegetation surveys were done in a newly established nature reserve on a tropical mountain in southern Yunnan. Three vegetation types in three altitudinal zones were recognized: a tropical seasonal rain forest below 1,100 m; a lower montane evergreen broad-leaved forest at 1,100-1,600 m; and a montane rain forest above 1,600 m. A total of 1,657 species of seed plants in 758 genera and 146 families were recorded from the nature reserve. Tropical families (61%) and genera (81%) comprise the majority of the flora, and tropical Asian genera make up the highest percentage, showing the close affinity of the flora with the tropical Asian (Indo-Malaysia) flora, despite the high latitude (22°N). Floristic changes with altitude are conspicuous. The transition from lowland tropical seasonal rain forest dominated by mixed tropical families to lower montane forest dominated by Fagaceae and Lauraceae occurs at 1,100-1,150 m. Although the middle montane forests above 1,600 m have ‘oak-laurel’ assemblage characteristics, the temperate families Magnoliaceae and Cornaceae become dominant. Both the tree species diversities and the numbers of genera and families are higher in the lowlands and middle montane zones than in the lower montane. The lower diversity in the lower montane zone could reflect less precipitation and frequent fires in the historical past. The species compositions of samples within each altitudinal zone show greater horizontal turnover (β diversity) in the lowlands. Conservation efforts should focus on the species-rich lowland and middle montane forests.
Effects of the wasp-spider, Argiope bruennichi, on planthoppers and leafhoppers

The role of spiders as generalist predators of herbivores is an im- portant issue for prey population dynamics and spatial distribution. We con- ducted a field experiment in order to study the effects of the web-building spider Argiope bruennichi on plant- and leafhoppers in a grassland habitat. Spi- der densities were manipulated through repeated removal in open plots that were separated by mown strips, and effects on Auchenorrhyncha were re- corded in two blocks of different plot sizes by suction sampling. We found sig- nificant negative effects of A. bruennichi on the abundance and biomass of their prey in both blocks. The most abundant planthopper Delphacodes venosus was most severely affected. However, this species is strictly epigeic, and there- fore, predation through a web-building spider is unlikely to be the main cause for its decline. We suggest that non-lethal effects of spiders could be an im- portant factor for the dynamics of herbivore communities in grassland food- webs. Zusammenfassung: Als generalistische Pradatoren beeinflussen Spinnen die Populationsdynamik und raumliche Verteilung von Herbivoren. Um die Effek- te der Wespenspinne Argiope bruennichi auf Zikaden zu untersuchen, fuhrten wir auf einer Feuchtwiese einen Versuch in offenen, nur durch gemahte Strei- fen getrennten Parzellen durch. In zwei Blocken mit verschiedenen Parzellen- grosen wurden die Spinnendichten experimentell reduziert und die Herbivo- ren mit dem Saugapparat erfasst. In beiden Blocken fanden wir signifikante negative Effekte von A. bruennichi auf die Abundanz und Biomasse der Zika- den. Die haufigste Zikadenart, Delphacodes venosus, war am starksten betroffen. Da diese Art jedoch strikt epigaisch lebt, ist die Pradation durch eine Radnetz- spinne als Erklarung des Ruckgangs nicht ausreichend, und wir vermuten, dass nicht-lethale Effekte von Spinnen eine wichtige Rolle fur die Dynamik von Herbivoren-Gemeinschaften in Grasland-Nahrungsnetzen spielen konnen.
Environmental assessment of agro-ecosystems. An integrated approach to manage agri-environmental risks.

In the last 50 years, the green revolution made it possible to meet growing needs for agricultural produce, thanks to the advances of genetics and to an increased reliance on agricultural inputs. However, this came at the cost of unprecedented changes to ecosystems worldwide, jeopardizing their capacity to supply their current services in the future, whether regarding food, fibre and energy production, fresh water supply or climate regulations. Agriculture is thus facing a quandary: is it possible to meet the growing needs for its produce while preserving the environment ? Within this general problematic, my research has focused on the environmental balance of arable crops. The balance takes into account the impacts of management practices on the soil, water and atmospheric compartments associated with a given level of biomass production, thereby making it possible to minimize trade-offs between environmental issues. The impacts considered involve the cycles of water, carbon and nitrogen, as well as the fate of pesticides after field application. Environmental losses are estimated based on biogeochemical models, with particular emphasis on gaseous emissions. Most of my past work involved such kind of modelling, in its various aspects: process integration, test against experimental data sets, extrapolation over time and space, and application to environmental assessment in various practical contexts. The latter encompassed bio-energy chains, recycling of urban waste in agriculture, or the introduction of herbicide-tolerant genotypes. The conclusion of these applications is that the margins for progress are either relatively limited when looking at the effects of management practices on a one-at-a-time basis, or potentially larger but restricted to a small number of impact categories. In the latter case, in addition, the other impacts are more difficult to assess because they are highly dependent on local ecosystem context. As a consequence, my future research purports to shift to a more systemic vision of agricultural production, in strong connection with agronomical and socio-economic approaches, and based on a spatially-explicit description of the production territory.