Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A computational investigation of the optimal Halton sequence in QMC applications

Abstract We propose the use of randomized (scrambled) quasirandom sequences for the purpose of providing practical error estimates for quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) applications. One popular quasirandom sequence among practitioners is the Halton sequence. However, Halton subsequences have correlation problems in their highest dimensions, and so using this sequence for high-dimensional integrals dramatically affects the accuracy of QMC. Consequently, QMC studies have previously proposed several scrambling methods; however, to varying degrees, scrambled versions of Halton sequences still suffer from the correlation problem as manifested in two-dimensional projections. This paper proposes a modified Halton sequence (MHalton), created using a linear digital scrambling method, which finds the optimal multiplier for the Halton sequence in the linear scrambling space. In order to generate better uniformity of distributed sequences, we have chosen strong MHalton multipliers up to 360 dimensions. The proposed multipliers have been tested and proved to be stronger than several sets of multipliers used in other known scrambling methods. To compare the quality of our proposed scrambled MHalton sequences with others, we have performed several extensive computational tests that use L 2 {L_{2}} -discrepancy and high-dimensional integration tests. Moreover, we have tested MHalton sequences on Mortgage-backed security (MBS), which is one of the most widely used applications in finance. We have tested our proposed MHalton sequence numerically and empirically, and they show optimal results in QMC applications. These confirm the efficiency and safety of our proposed MHalton over scrambling sequences previously used in QMC applications.
Isokinetic Strength of Rotators, Flexors and Hip Extensors is Strongly Related to Front Kick Dynamics in Military Professionals

Abstract Achieving the maximum possible impact force of the front kick can be related to the isokinetic lower limb muscle strength. Therefore, we aimed to determine the regression model between kicking performance and the isokinetic peak net moment of hip rotators, flexors, and hip extensors and flexors at various speeds of contraction. Twenty-five male soldiers (27.7 ± 7.2 yrs, 83.8 ± 6.1 kg, 180.5 ± 6.5 cm) performed six barefoot front kicks, where impact forces (N) and kick velocity (m∙s-1) were measured. The 3D kinematics and isokinetic dynamometry were used to estimate the kick velocity, isokinetic moment of kicking lower limb hip flexors and extensors (60, 120, 240, 300°∙s-1), and stance lower limb hip internal and external rotators (30, 90°∙s-1). Multiple regression showed that a separate component of the peak moment concentric hip flexion and extension of the kicking lower limb at 90°∙s-1 can explain 54% of the peak kicking impact force variance (R2 = 0.54; p < 0.001). When adding the other 3 components of eccentric and concentric hip internal and external rotations at 30°∙s-1, the internal and external hip rotation ratios at 30°∙s-1 on the stance limb and the concentric ratio of kicking limb flexion and extension at 300°∙s-1 that explained the variance of impact force were 75% (p = 0.003). The explosive strength of kicking limb hip flexors and extensors is the main condition constraint for kicking performance. The maximum strength of stance limb internal and external rotators and speed strength of kicking limb hip flexors and extensors are important constraints of kicking performance that should be considered to improve the front kick efficiency.
Voter Preferences and State Regulation of Smoking

Voters' preferences for smoking restrictions in restaurants, bars, malls, indoor sporting events, and hospitals are consistent with state-level restrictions on smoking in each of these public areas. This analysis is based on constructed measures of political pressure that take into account both individual preferences and voting behavior. Although smokers are less likely to vote than nonsmokers, their lower voting rate does not substantially influence the probability that a state has a restriction. Other factors, such as tobacco's role in the state economy and state income, are rarely influential.
Title Effect of degree-of-symmetry on kinetostatic characteristics of flexure mechanisms : a comparative case study

The current research of kinetostatic characteristics in flexure mechanisms mainly focus on the improvement of accuracy. To reduce or eliminate the parasitic motion is considered as an approach by using the common knowledge of symmetry. However, there is no study on designing the flexure mechanisms with symmetrical features as many as possible for better kinetostatic performance, when considering the resulting cost by the symmetry. In this paper, the concept of degree of symmetry (DoS) is proposed for the first time, which is committed to symmetry design in the phase of conceptual design. A class of flexure mechanisms with 0‐DoS, 1‐DoS, 2‐DoS and 3‐DoS are synthesized respectively based on the Freedom and Constraint Topology method. Their overall compliance matrices in an analyti‐ cal form formulated within the framework of the screw theory are used to analyze and compare the effect of different number of DoS on the kinetostatic characteristics for flexure mechanisms. The finite element analysis (FEA) simula‐ tions are implemented to verify the analytical results. These results show that the higher the DoS is, the smaller the parasitic motion error will be. The flexure model with 3‐DoS is optimized according to the overall compliance matrix and then tested by using the FEA simulation. The testing result shows that with the best combination parameters, the parasitic motion error for 3‐DoS mechanism is almost eliminated. This research introduces a design principle which can alleviate the unwanted parasitic motion for better accuracy.
Using the humanoid robot Kaspar in a Greek school environment to support children with Autism Spectrum Condition

Abstract Previous studies conducted with the humanoid robot Kaspar in the UK have yielded many encouraging results. This paper examines the influence of conducting play sessions with Kaspar on the social and communication skills of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and suggests possible ways for using the robot as a (therapeutic) tool in a Greek school for children with special needs. Over a period of 10 weeks 7 children took part in a total of 111 individual play sessions with the Kaspar robot. Each child participated in between 12 and 18 sessions with the robot. The results from this study indicate that the play sessions with Kaspar appear to have positively influenced the behaviours of some of the children in specific domains such as communication and interaction, prompted speech, unprompted imitation and focus/attention. Furthermore, the children’s teachers expressed positive views regarding the impact of the play sessions on the children and offered interesting suggestions about the ways in which the robot could potentially be used in everyday teaching tasks and were eager to obtain a Kaspar for their classroom activities.
The ties that bind: The impact of leader-member exchange, transformational and transactional leadership, and distance on predicting follower performance.

The authors examined the linkages between leader-member exchange (LMX), transformational and transactional leadership, and physical distance in predicting performance of 317 followers over a 1-year period. Results from a partial least squares analysis revealed that LMX was related positively to transformatio nal and contingent reward leadership and negatively to management-by -exception. LMX and active management-by-exception positively predicted follower performance, and physical distance moderated leadership-performance relationships. Transformational leadership produced significantly higher follower performance in close versus distant situations, whereas LMX produced high follower performance irrespective of physical distance between leaders and followers. Interest in leadership in complex organizations is characterized by the parallel development of two different perspectives. One viewpoint is leader-focused. This stream of research attempts to explain individual, group, or organizational performance outcomes by analyzing specific leader behaviors and linking them directly to those outcomes. Examples of such perspectives include transformational, charismatic, and value-based theories of leadership, as developed by Bass (1985), House (1977), and House, Delbecq, and Taris (1996), respectively. In contrast, the second perspective focuses on the explicit one-on-one relationships that develop between leader and follower. Adherents of this perspective propose a link between follower performance and the quality and level of mutual trust, respect, and influence within those individual leader-follower relationships. The best example of this perspective is the leadermember exchange (LMX) theory of leadership originated
Nanowires on a Film for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Nanowires-on-a-film structure (NFS) consisting of a dense array of semiconductor nano‐ wires on a conductive film has recently attracted much interest due to their wide range of applications in electronic, optoelectronic, electromechanic and electrochemical devices [15, 5, 25]. Thanks to their 3D geometry, NFSs provide various morphology-induced advantages resulting in improved devices performances. In addition, as the array of semiconductor NFSs can be grown on a conductive film, which realizes electrical connection between the nanowires, the integration of this nanostructured layer into devices is greatly facilitated.
Body weight prediction using body size measurements in Fleckvieh, Holstein, and Brown Swiss dairy cows in lactation and dry periods

Abstract The objective of this study was to predict cows' body weight from body size measurements and other animal data in the lactation and dry periods. During the whole year 2014, 6306 cows (on 167 commercial Austrian dairy farms) were weighed at each routine performance recording and body size measurements like heart girth (HG), belly girth (BG), and body condition score (BCS) were recorded. Data on linear traits like hip width (HW), stature, and body depth were collected three times a year. Cows belonged to the genotypes Fleckvieh (and Red Holstein crosses), Holstein, and Brown Swiss. Body measurements were tested as single predictors and in multiple regressions according to their prediction accuracy and their correlations with body weight. For validation, data sets were split randomly into independent subsets for estimation and validation. Within the prediction models with a single body measurement, heart girth influenced relationship with body weight most, with a lowest root mean square error (RMSE) of 39.0 kg, followed by belly girth (39.3 kg) and hip width (49.9 kg). All other body measurements and BCS resulted in a RMSE of higher than 50.0 kg. The model with heart and belly girth (ModelHGBG) reduced RMSE to 32.5 kg, and adding HW reduced it further to 30.4 kg (ModelHGBGHW). As RMSE and the coefficient of determination improved, genotype-specific regression coefficients for body measurements were introduced in addition to the pooled ones. The most accurate equations, ModelHGBG and ModelHGBGHW, were validated separately for the lactation and dry periods. Root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) ranged between 36.5 and 37.0 kg (ModelHGBGHW, ModelHGBG, lactation) and 39.9 and 41.3 kg (ModelHGBGHW, ModelHGBG, dry period). Accuracy of the predictions was evaluated by decomposing the mean square prediction error (MSPE) into error due to central tendency, error due to regression, and error due to disturbance. On average, 99.6 % of the variance between estimated and observed values was caused by disturbance, meaning that predictions were valid and without systematic estimation error. On the one hand, this indicates that the chosen traits sufficiently depicted factors influencing body weight. On the other hand, the data set was very heterogeneous and large. To ensure high prediction accuracy, it was necessary to include body girth traits for body weight estimation.
The curve cone of almost complex 4‐manifolds

In this paper, we study the curve cone of an almost complex 4‐manifold which is tamed by a symplectic form. In particular, we prove the cone theorem as in Mori theory for all such manifolds using the Seiberg–Witten theory. For small rational surfaces and minimal ruled surfaces, we study the configuration of negative curves. We define abstract configuration of negative curves, which records the homological and intersection information of curves. Combinatorial blowdown is the main tool to study these configurations. As an application of our investigation of the curve cone, we prove the Nakai–Moishezon type duality for all almost Kähler structures on CP2#kCP2¯ with k⩽9 and minimal ruled surfaces with a negative curve. This is proved using a version of Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization process for the J ‐tamed symplectic inflation.
Assessing the effect of dissolution on planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios: Evidence from Caribbean core tops

In order to assess the dissolution effect on foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios, we analyzed Mg/Ca of seven planktonic foraminiferal species and four of their varieties from Caribbean core tops from ∼900–4700 m water depth. Depending on the foraminiferal species and variety, Mg/Ca start to decline linearly below Δ[CO32−] levels of ∼18–26 μmol/kg by ∼0.04–0.11 mmol/mol per 1 μmol/kg Δ[CO32−], similar to decreases of ∼0.5–0.8 mmol/mol per kilometer below ∼2500–3000 m water depth. Above these species‐specific critical levels, Mg/Ca remains stable with higher intraspecific Mg/Ca variability than below. We developed routines to correct Mg/Ca from below these critical thresholds for dissolution effects, which reduce the overall intraspecific variability by ∼24–64%, and provide dissolution‐corrected Mg/Ca appropriate to calculate Holocene paleotemperatures. When taking into account only dissolution‐unaffected Mg/Ca from <2000 m, the systematic succession of foraminiferal species according to their Mg/Ca reflects expected calcification depths.
The Abundance, Condition Factor and Length-weight Relationship of Cynoglossus senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) from Nkoro River Niger Delta, Nigeria

The abundance, condition factor and length-w eight relationship of C. senegalensis from Nkoro River in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria was studied from January-December 2008. The fishery of the flat fish tonguefish is highly commercial and marketed fresh, smoked or dried. Apart from being a cheap source of highly nutritive protein, it also contains other essential nutrients required by the body. No work has been done on the length-weight relationship of Cynoglossus senegalensis from the Nkoro River. A study of the abundance, condition factor and length-weight relationship of C. senegalensis from the Nkoro River adds more information on the family, Cynoglosidae to compliment the existing data in the management and culture of the species in the Nkoro River, Niger Delta. This is essential for formulation of development plan in the fishing industry. Nkoro River is economically important and rich in biodiversity. Numerous activities such as oil exploration and production and agricultural activities go on in the region. Most of Nigeria's oil and gas reserves and production, which account for over 80% federal government's revenue, are located within the Niger Delta region. The highest catch was recorded in December (2.45), followed by January (1.60), June and July (1.10), April (0.92), February (0.81), March (0.64) and August (0.12). May, September, October and November recorded no catch during the study. The highest catch per unit effort (2.79) was recorded in station 2, followed by station 1 (2.78) and station 3 and 4 (1.01 each). From a sample size of 1800 specimens, K value was 1.00 and the exponential equation was Wt=0.0326 (TL)^(3.066), indicating an isometric growth pattern. The highest monthly condition factor value (1.5) was recorded in May and the lowest (0.5) in September. C. senegalensis in Nkoro river is in a stable environment and was more abuntant in the dry season months of December and January.
Acculturation in Mergers and Acquisitions

A model focusing on the process of adaptation and acculturation in mergers and acquisitions is presented. It is proposed that the degree of congruence between the acquirer and the acquired organizations' preferred modes of acculturation will affect the level of acculturative stress. The latter will in turn either facilitate or hinder the implementa
Quantum Computing for Molecular Energy Simulations

methods for the exact simulation of quantum systems on classical computers presents a limitation of current computational approaches. We report, in detail, how a set of pre-computed molecular integrals can be used to explicitly create a quantum circuit, i.e. a sequence of elementary quantum operations, that, when run on a quantum computer, to obtain the energy of a molecular system with xed nuclear geometry using the quantum phase estimation algorithm. We extend several known results related to this idea and discuss the adia- batic state preparation procedure for preparing the input states used in the algorithm. With current and near future quantum devices in mind, we provide a complete example using the hydrogen molecule, of how a chemical Hamiltonian can be simulated using a quantum computer.
Reproductive and Productive Performance of Indigenous Dairy Cows under Smallholder Farmers Management System in North

Evaluations of the productive and reproductive performances of indigenous dairy cows were carried out in Alefa and Quara districts under smallholder farmers management system. To collect data from 376 households, a crosssectional study were employed via structured questionnaires. To assess the reproductive performance of the dairy cows, age at first services (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO) and number of service per conception (NSPC) were utilized as an indicator traits. In addition, milk yield per day (MY/D), lactation milk yield (LMY) and lactation length (LL) were considered as an indicator of the performance productive traits. To study the variation on the measured traits the collected data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. As reported by the respondents, the overall mean of AFS, AFC, CI, DO and NSPC were (43.4 ± 0.47 and 32.8 ± 0.46 months), (52.4 ± 0.81 and 41.8 ± 0.50 months), (26.64 ± 0.60 and 18.72 ± 0.50 months), (17.64 ± 0.70 and 9.72 ± 0.40 months), (1.54 ± 0.55 and 1.82 ± 0.65 times), respectively in Alefa and Quara districts. All of the considered traits for reproductive performances were significantly (p<0.001) differ between the districts. The over mean of MY/D, LMY and LL were reported as (1.30 ± 0.05 and 1.50 ± 0.04 litres), (329.6 and 348.8 litters) and (8.45 ± 0.18 and 7.75 ± 0.15 months), respectively in Alefa and Quara districts. Thus, it could be concluded that the results reported for AFS, AFC, CI, LL and LMY in both districts were below optimum value of dairy cattle production. By and large, management differences (proper feeding, housing, selection of local breeds, adequate health care) are the major limitations for the declining of the reproductive and productive performance of indigenous dairy cattle under smallholder farmer’s management system in the sample areas.
Parental Help-Seeking and the Moral Order. Notes for Policy-Makers and Parenting Practitioners on ‘the First Port of Call’ and ‘No One to Turn To’

The topic ‘help-seeking’ is of international interest. However, there is only a very limited literature concerning help-seeking in child welfare and a distinct dearth of studies that have examined the social organisation of parents’ decisions to seek help. Recent developments in child welfare services in England and Wales have seen the introduction of a raft of initiatives that aim to deliver parenting support to a broader range of parents; however, these initiatives are not well grounded in an evidence base concerning parental help-seeking. Focusing on the organisation of talk-in-interaction in interviews and focus groups, this study examined parents’ normative and inter-subjective understandings about help-seeking. The study found that when considering the welfare problems of parenting (variously described as ‘domestic’, ‘normal’ or ‘on the home front’), participants routinely made relevant the binary ‘inside/outside’ the family, indicating the central (normative) relevance of the category ‘family’ for this kind of support. Outside (professional) help was very much a residual option, only to be considered on the basis of ‘no-one to turn to’. The findings are discussed in relation to national strategies that seek to normalise support for parenting and issues of international relevance to do with professional identification and diagnosis of need.
IN SEARCH OF INDEPENDENT VARIABLES BEYOND SPEED: FIVE FACTORS OF AFFECTING NETWORK USER SATISFACTION

The number of people who connect to the network like the Internet has tremendously increased since the early 1990s. This research is intended to find the factors that could affect the user satisfaction of the network system connecting people. The results from a survey suggest that even though speed is still the most important factor in determining the quality of a network system, network managers consider four other factors such as connectivity, compatibility, security, and technical support.
Development of a Student Mentoring Program

Background. Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) developed a mentoring program between students enrolled in the Freshmen Health Sciences Seminar (PX100) and student-pharmacists in the first through third professional years, with the goal of better preparing the preprofessionals for the college's curriculum. Methods. Mentees were randomly assigned to mentors. The course required 3 contacts, with formal documentation of each, and a reflective assessment of the experience. Upon completing the semester, we evaluated the program by considering the types and methods of contacts, positive or negative reactions, and recommendations for future improvement. Results. The majority of students gave the program high ratings, with 74% of the mentees and 64% of the mentors reporting a positive experience. Conclusion. We expect the mentoring experience will continue as a means of informing future preprofessional students about the pharmacy program's requirements and of fostering professional g.
The Importance of a Value System in Science

A value system refers to all implicit qualitative characteristics within man and society, which include faith, morals, culture, thought and psychology.This system has influenced science for so long.This article discusses the importance of a value system in science. This study adopts a content analysis and hermeneutic approach. Study findings show four points forthe importance of a value system in science. First, science needs a value system because science and religion are harmoniously interrelated.Second, a value system is needed in science to overcome problems of humanity, nature and society.Third, it is necessary to have a value system in science to lead towards a better life.Fourth, a value system in science ensures the growth and development of science in line with the development of man and nature.