Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exchange Traded Fund Clustering via Metric Learning

Asset allocation is one of the key elements in financial market. The rationale is to invest on various assets that are different from each other. Lots of methods have been proposed to classify assets into different sub groups. But most of the ideas are either too macroscopic or too mathematical. These methods use lots of financial ideas that may contain human biases such as Merrill Lynch investment clock, or use some close-formed mathematical measurement that cannot easily incorporate financial insights. In this paper, we create diversified portfolios using clustering analysis. We use a nonlinear metric learning algorithm called ITML, which combines financial knowledge with mathematical metrics. It controls the amount of prior information used in the model and can be customized based on different scenarios. Back-testing results show that portfolios generated by our algorithm significantly outperform portfolios from random-selected ETF. ETF is Exchange Traded Fund, which can be traded easily like stocks. The indicators we used to evaluate the portfolios include return, correlation, volatility, Sharpe Ratio and maximum drawdown. The tests are based on Monte Carlo simulations and we allocate the assets based on risk parity. We use 149 most typical ETFs from global market including high/low risk bond ETFs, stock ETFs on Chinese, HK, Germany and US markets in different industry sectors, silver/gold ETFs and energy commodity ETFs. Moreover, features observation gives satisfying explanation for clustering results and shows our model offers good interpretability.
The future we want

4. We recognize that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development. We also reaffirm the need to achieve sustainable development by: promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living; fostering equitable social development and inclusion; and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems that supports inter alia economic, social and human development while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges.
Quantification of framing effect using ANP

When it comes to decision making the most influential components are the quality of the information and the size of the framing effect. In the decision-making process the framing effect arises as a set of opinions and expectations of involved subjects. Everyone making a decision has his own preferences and expectations that create his own unique view (frame). These unique views or frames may negatively influence the information sharing in the decision-making processes and therefore the analysis of the framing effect is important. This paper shows how to use Analytic Network Process to do the determination and quantification of the framing effect and it shows the advantages of using this method. The result of this approach will be the set of weights of all viewpoints included into the frames. Values of these weights can serve to analyse the framing effect, because all subjects in the decision-making process will receive the information about the importance of different viewpoints and then they can rearrange their opinions and expectations. It will have positive impact on the overall outcome of the decision-making process too.
Low concentrations of near-surface ozone in Siberia

Abstract Siberia with its large area covered with boreal forests, wetlands and tundra is believed to be an important sink for ozone via dry deposition and reactions with biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by the forests. To study the importance of deposition of ozone in Siberia, we analyse measurements of ozone mixing ratios taken along the Trans-Siberian railway by train, air-borne measurements and point measurements at the Zotino station. For all data, we ran the Lagrangian particle dispersion model FLEXPART in backward mode for 20 d, which yields the so-called potential emission sensitivity (PES) fields. These fields give a quantitative measure of where and how strongly the sampled air masses have been in contact with the surface and hence possible influenced by surface fluxes. These fields are further statistically analysed to identify source and sink regions that are influencing the observed ozone. Results show that the source regions for the surface ozone in Siberia are located at lower latitudes: the regions around the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East, Kazakhstan and China. Low ozone mixing ratios are associated to transport from North West Russia, the Arctic region, and the Pacific Ocean. By calculating PES values for both a passive tracer without consideration of removal processes and for an ozone-like tracer where dry deposition processes are included, we are able to quantify the ozone loss occurring en route to the receptor. Strong correlations between low ozone concentrations and the spatially integrated footprints from FLEXPART, especially during the period summer to autumn, indicate the importance of the Siberian forests as a sink for tropospheric ozone.
Widely tunable 1.55 mm lasers for wavelength division multiplexed optical fibre communications

Using criteria defined to compare the performances of several widely tunable laser structures reported in the literature, we point out a structure which presents a good trade-off between high performances and technological processing simplicity. We designed and realised this component, the Sampled-Grating Distributed Bragg Reflector laser. The tuning mechanism and the main characteristics of the component are then presented. A short review is made to compare these results to those measured on different widely tunable structures, and to propose the improvements needed for practical implementation of these lasers for Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical fibre communications.
Curvature-Based Methods for Designing Optimally Informative Experiments in Multiresponse Nonlinear Dynamic Situations

It is common practice in nonlinear regression situations to use asymptotic linear approximations of the model functions to construct parameter inference regions; such approximations may turn out to be a poor representation of the true underlying surfaces, especially for highly nonlinear situations and small sample sizes. For this reason, experimental designs based on these approximations could well be moderately noninformative. We present a new method for optimal experimental design for improving parametric precision while taking account of curvature in multiresponse nonlinear structured dynamic models. We base the curvature measures in the multiresponse case on the Box-Draper estimation criterion through use of the generalized least-squares model conditioned on the maximum likelihood estimate of the variance-covariance matrix for the responses. Curvature measures commensurate with those found in the literature are used for the generalized least-squares model in the neighborhood of the parameter point estimates. The problem of designing dynamic experiments is cast as an optimal control problem that enables the calculation of a fixed number of optimal sampling points, experiment duration, fixed and variable external control profiles, and initial conditions of a dynamic experiment subject to general constraints on inputs and outputs. We illustrate the experimental design concepts with a relatively simple but pedagogical example of the dynamic modeling of the fermentation of baker's yeast.
Adopting Keyword-driven Testing Framework into Jenkins Continuous Integration Tool: iProperty Group Case Study

: - Many organisations resort to using Agile Scrum development to shorten their time to deliver their products rapidly. In less mature Agile organisations like our case study (iProperty Group), testing is typically done by less-technical persons who possess little to no programming knowledge that contribute in specifying test cases. To our knowledge, using natural language is more descriptive and understandable to the less-technical stakeholders rather than programming oriented language. To support this situation, we propose to our case study to adopt the Robot Framework (RF) which is a native Keyword-Driven Testing (KDT) framework. The framework is integrated with existing Jenkins Continuous Integration tool in the case study. Based on our experience in the integration, the selected KDT native framework which is RF supports maintainable, reusable, understandable test assets that can be run automatically every time a new build of the product is deployed to multiple target environments. This integrated automated infrastructure allows regression testing to be executed rapidly, without sacrificing test coverage.
FORMATION OF PYRENE EXCIMERS IN MESOPOROUS ORGANICALLY MODIFIED SILICA THIN FILMS FOR VISUAL DETECTION OF NITROAROMATIC EXPLOSIVES

FORMATION OF PYRENE EXCIMERS IN MESOPOROUS ORGANICALLY MODIFIED SILICA THIN FILMS FOR VISUAL DETECTION OF NITROAROMATIC EXPLOSIVES Pınar Beyazkılıç M.S. in Materials Science and Nanotechnology Program Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bayındır August, 2013 Pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound. Pyrene has been extensively applied as probing and sensing molecule because of excimer fluorescence which is formed upon interaction of two pyrene molecules in close proximity. In this thesis, we prepared porous thin films with bright pyrene excimer fluorescence and demonstrated their application in visual and rapid detection of nitroaromatic explosive vapors. The fluorescent films were obtained by physically encapsulating the pyrene molecules in the mesoporous organically modified silica (ormosil) networks which were synthesized via a facile template-free sol-gel method. Formation and stability of pyrene excimers were investigated in both porous and nonporous ormosil thin films. Excimer emission was found to be significantly brighter and more stable in porous films compared to nonporous films. The excellent stability of the pyrene excimers in the porous films is due to the nanoscale confinement of pyrene molecules in the porous ormosil network. We studied the nitroaromatic explosive sensing performances of the pyrene doped porous films. Films exhibited a rapid and visible fluorescence quenching when they were exposed to TNT vapor. Fluorescence quenching efficiency of an approximately 100 nm thick porous film was calculated to be 55.6% after exposure to TNT vapor for 30 seconds revealing a rapid sensing behavior. Fluorescence quenching of the films can be easily observed under UV light enabling naked-eye detection of nitroaromatic explosives. A selective quenching was observed in the excimer emission against vapors of nitroaromatic molecules; trinitrotoluene (TNT), dinitrotoluene (DNT) and nitrobenzene (NB) among various aromatic and nonaromatic compounds. Furthermore, quenched excimer emission of the films can be recovered by simply washing the films with water. It is shown that the films can be reused iii
Hiatus Resolution in Hiroshima Japanese

The segmental phonology of non-standard dialects of Japanese has been relatively understudied in the Generative literature. In this paper, we wish to fill this gap by studying the properties of Hiroshima Japanese. First, we aim to document the patterns of hiatus resolution in Hiroshima Japanese. We show that hiatuses are resolved by a variety of strategies (i.e. a case of a conspiracy: Kisseberth 1970). Second, we analyze the patterns within the framework of Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 2004) and discuss some theoretical consequences, which include: (i) palatalization should be represented as [-back], rather than [-back, +high]; (ii) MAX(F), but not IDENT(F), can account for the hiatus resolution pattern; (iii) various kinds of positional faithfulness constraints interact to yield complex patterns of hiatus resolution.
Journal of Georgian Geophysical Society,

Last years appear controversial publications both on revealing attractors in seismic time series (which means that they can be represented by deterministic chaos model) as well as on theabsence of such ordered structures. So, it seems interesting to study, what methodology should be applied to earthquake time series (ETS) in order to reveal possible attractor structures. There are two main approaches to the problem: i. events in ETSare considered individually; ii. the number of events in ETS in some time window (a seismic rate) is calculated, which is widely used as a proxy of the strain rate in the Earth crust. The study considers how the spatio-temporal parameters of seismic rate calculations affects the nonlinear structures (phase space plots) in low seismicity areas (Batumi region) as well as before, during main event aftershocks and after strongest Caucasian earthquakes Spitak (1988) and (Racha, 1991). The seismic phase portraits and recurrence plots are constructed for several time windows, different epicentral distances and different magnitude thresholds. The nonlinear structure of laboratory natural and synchronized stick-slip sequences are also considered. The phase space plots' analysis can reveal some fine details of seismic process dynamics.
High quality interpoly-oxynitride grown by NH/sub 3/ nitridation and N/sub 2/O RTA treatment

In this letter, a method to grow high quality interpolysilicon-oxynitride (interpoly-oxynitride) film is proposed. Samples, nitridized by NH/sub 3/ with additional N/sub 2/O annealing and CVD TEOS deposited on poly-oxynitride (poly-I) with RTA N/sub 2/O oxidation, show excellent electrical properties in terms of very high electric breakdown field, low leakage current, high charge to breakdown, and low electron trapping rate. This novel film is a good candidate for an interpoly dielectric of future high density EEPROM and flash memory devices.
The reproductive biology of Waanders’s hard-lipped barb, Osteochilus waandersii in the Landak River, Indonesia

This study refers to the general reproductive biology of Osteochillus waandersii, and provides information about the sex ratio, gonad development stages, gonado-somatic index (GSI), length at maturity, fecundity, and growth pattern. The fish samples were collected monthly, between March and August 2018, from the Landak River, Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. A total of 234 specimens were collected using gillnets and dipnets, 136 males and 98 females, resulting in a 1.39:1 sex ratio, which is significantly different from the expected ratio of 1:1 (P<0.05). Males reached sexual maturity at a lower size than females, with a length at first maturity estimated at 137.9 mm for males and 140.3 mm for females. Analysis of the macroscopic and histological observations showed that testicles could be classified into four stages: immature, maturing, mature and spent. The GSI ranged between 1% and 9.54% and 1% and 11.67% for males and females, respectively. The ovaries were classified into five stages: immature or resting, maturing, mature, ripe, and spawned-recovering. The absolute fecundity varied from a minimum of 2130 to a maximum of 13640 eggs and a mean of 7165 eggs, corresponding to fish with total length between 145 to 177 mm and a weight between 30 to 67 g.
Design and Optimization of a TEM Coaxial Horn for Wideband Operation in Millimeter Waves

This work explores a framework of numerical techniques to design a wideband TEM coaxial horn for millimeter waves operation. Firstly, aperture dimensions and flare angle were determined to avoid nulls in vertical radiation pattern at θF < 55. Then, a transition to a 2.92mm connector and a dielectric support for the central conductor are proposed. To enhance electromagnetic performance, Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to optimize the transition and support dimensions. To address the antenna performance, full-wave electromagnetic analysis based on Finite Element Method was employed. The designed model presented frequency bandwidth larger than 45% (25-40 GHz) with return loss greater than 20dB. Keywords— Millimeter Waves, Coaxial Horn, Wideband Antennas
Fungal Diversity Ceratocystis fimbriatomima, a new species in the C. fimbriata sensu lato complex isolated from Eucalyptus trees in Venezuela

Species of Ceratocystis represent a group of important plant pathogens as well as saprobes that occur, primarily on woody substrates. The number of species in Ceratocystis has increased substantially in recent years, particularly as DNA-based methods have allowed for the recognition of cryptic taxa. The aim of this study was to identify isolates of a Ceratocystis sp. collected from freshly cut stumps of Eucalyptus trees in Venezuela. This was carried out using morphological comparisons with similar fungi as well as DNA sequence comparisons for the Internal Transcribed Spacer regions 1 and 2 including the 5.8S rDNA operon, part of the Beta-tubulin gene and part of the Transcription Elongation Factor 1-alpha gene region. Characteristics of the fungus in culture and its morphology resembled most species in the C. fimbriata sensu lato species complex. Microscopically, the fungus was most similar to C. fimbriata sensu stricto. Based on phylogenetic analyses, it was distinct from other species of Ceratocystis sensu lato having C. manginecans as its closest relative. The Ceratocystis sp. from Eucalyptus in Venezuela clearly represents a distinct taxon for which the name C. fimbriatomima sp. nov. is provided.
Economic Implications of Fully-Protected Marine Reserves for Coral Reef Fisheries

Overexploitation of coral reefs causes species loss, stock collapses and habitat degradation and remains a major challenge for fisheries scientists and managers alike. To counter these, fully-protected marine reserves, areas closed to fishing and other harmful human activities represent an essential component of coral reef fisheries management. They overcome many of the management complexities of coral reefs, such as lack of data and enforcement, and provide vital opportunities for unhindered growth of fish stocks and protection of coral communities. Their role in conserving biodiversity and protecting habitat is undisputed. The degree to which fullyprotected marine reserves can benefit fisheries, however, remains uncertain. A number of bioeconomic studies have attempted to assess the contribution of these marine reserves to fish biomass, catch levels and the present value of the fishery. They suggest that fishery enhancement by reserves will be significant. Habitat protection by reserves makes a vital, but as yet poorly appreciated contribution to fishery enhancement. We argue that this protection has many positive effects on habitat that will lead to increased standing stocks and productivity of reef fishes. Such effects are rarely considered in economic models but could have overriding importance for long-term fishery production. Fully-protected reserves have many benefits beyond fisheries that can also help compensate for the costs of establishment. We conclude that fishery sustainability for coral reef fisheries cannot be attained without the contribution of fully-protected marine reserves.
A Dual-Mode V-Band 2/4-Way Non-Uniform Power-Combining PA with +17.9-dBm P<inf>sat</inf> and 26.5-% PAE in 16-nm FinFET CMOS

This paper presents the design of a dual-mode Vband PA with efficiency enhancement at power back-off via load modulation. The design utilizes a reconfigurable 2/4-way nonuniform power combiner to enable two discrete modes of operation – full power and back-off power. The 2-stage PA achieves a peak gain of 21.4dB with a fractional BW of 22.6% (5164GHz). At 65GHz, the PA has a Psat of +17.9dBm with an OP1dB of +13.5dBm and a peak PAE of 26.5% in full-power mode. In back-off power mode, the measured Psat, OP1dB, and peak PAE are +13.8dBm, +9.6dBm, and 18.4%, respectively. The PAE is enhanced by 6-% points at 4.5-dB back-off. The PA is capable of amplifying a 6-Gb/s 16-QAM modulated signal with an EVMrms of -20.7dB at an average Pout/PAE of +13dBm/13.6%, respectively. This PA is implemented in 16-nm FinFET, occupies a core area of 0.107mm2, and operates under a 0.95-V supply. Keywords—power amplifiers, millimeter wave circuits, power combining, load modulation, FinFET.
Psychometric Assessment and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Grit-S Scale among Omani and American Universities’ Students

The current study aimed to adopt and assess the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of Grit-S among Omani and American students (N = 487) using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The scale’s construct validity was estimated by investigating its associations with achievement goal orientations (AGOs). EFA results suggested that a two-factor solution (i.e., perseverance of effort [G_PE] and consistency of interest [G_CI]) was the best factorial structure, explaining 47.74% and 51.02% of the variance in the Omani and American samples, respectively. The factors had good reliability coefficients in the two samples. Related to the intercultural differences, G_PE explained more variance among Omanis (31.02%) relative to American sample, whereas G_CI explained a larger proportion of variance among Americans (36.86%) compared with Omani sample. The first level of measurement invariance, configural invariance, was not supported, necessitating the investigation of the other levels of measurement invariance using a new sample. Grit correlated positively with mastery and performance-approach goals (r = .29 and .12, respectively) and negatively with avoidance goals (r = -.25), supporting the scale’s construct validity. These findings showed that Grit-S scale can be used as valid and reliable assessment tool to assess student interest and perseverance in the academic context in Arabic/Omani and American cultures.
Development of Low Sugar Vegetable Jam from Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.): Studies on Physicochemical Sensory and Nutritional Properties

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is a vegetable with high amount of biologically active substances and inorganic nitrogen. It is an ideal vegetable in making jam due to its natural deep reddish purple colour. However, utilization of beetroot for the development of value added products is still to be revealed. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to develop a low sugar jam using beetroot as a way of popularizing the vegetable jam in Sri Lanka, and to evaluate its sensory, nutritional, antioxidant and storage properties. Product optimization was done by developing beetroot jam either with mild or cooked methods and using different concentration of beetroot pulp as 50, 55, and 60% (w/w). Following the sensory analysis, the jam prepared by the mild method with 60% of raw beetroot pulp and added strawberry flavor (0.5% w/w) was selected as the best. The TSS content of the final product was found to be 46.1%, and the pH was 3.8. The results of the storage properties revealed that the developed jam can be stored under refrigerated conditions for a period of six months without addition of any artificial preservative. Therefore, it can be concluded that beetroot can be effectively used in development a low sugar extra vegetable jam successfully.