Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Cumulative Distribution Based Performance Analysis to Benchmark Models

When using only reported empirical results, it has become difficult to identify machine learning methods that provide meaningful advancement. One reason is that results are commonly only reported using well-tuned models, and thus represent an optimistic evaluation of performance. In this work, we propose a new framework for evaluating algorithms that presents both the performance when the system is well-tuned, as well as the difficulty of tuning the algorithm. This is achieved by considering the distribution of performances that result when applying the method with different hyper-parameter settings (e.g., different step sizes and network structures). Using common benchmark tasks in supervised and reinforcement learning, we demonstrate how this evaluation framework can both evaluate an algorithm’s robustness to hyper-parameter selection and identify new areas of improvement.
PerceivedSocial Support andAcademicAchievement in ArgentineanCollege Students

Abstract This research aimed at describing perceived social support and its relation to academic achievement in a sample of 760 Argentinean college students. Perception of social support was assessed in terms of four possible sources: parents, teachers, classmates, and boyfriend/girlfriend or best friend. Academic achievement was measured using three different indicators: the rate of passed, failed and dropped classes in the time since the academic career was initiated. The main hypothesis posed was that a higher perception of social support would be related to a better academic achievement (a bigger rate of passed classes, and a smaller rate of failed and dropped classes). Findings showed that women perceived significantly more support than men from all sources, except from teachers. Both males and females perceived more support from best friends or boyfriends/girlfriends, and identified teachers as the less supportive source. A higher perception of social support was associated with better academic achievement but only for females. Limitations of the study and implications for the set in motion of different interventions in the academic field, which could be specific to certain type of students, are discussed.
The Effect of Closed Circuit Television Image Patch Layout on Performance of a Simulated Train-Platform Departure Task

 Abstract — This study investigates the effect of closed circuit television (CCTV) image patch layout on performance of a simulated train-platform departure task. The within-subjects experimental design measures target detection rate and response latency during a CCTV visual search task conducted as part of the procedure for safe train dispatch. Three interface designs were developed by manipulating CCTV image patch layout. Eye movements, perceived workload and system usability were measured across experimental conditions. Task performance was compared to identify significant differences between conditions. The results of this study have not been determined.
Observations, inferences, and mechanisms of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: A review

This is a review about the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), its mean structure, temporal variability, controlling mechanisms, and role in the coupled climate system. The AMOC plays a central role in climate through its heat and freshwater transports. Northward ocean heat transport achieved by the AMOC is responsible for the relative warmth of the Northern Hemisphere compared to the Southern Hemisphere and is thought to play a role in setting the mean position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone north of the equator. The AMOC is a key means by which heat anomalies are sequestered into the ocean's interior and thus modulates the trajectory of climate change. Fluctuations in the AMOC have been linked to low‐frequency variability of Atlantic sea surface temperatures with a host of implications for climate variability over surrounding landmasses. On intra‐annual timescales, variability in AMOC is large and primarily reflects the response to local wind forcing; meridional coherence of anomalies is limited to that of the wind field. On interannual to decadal timescales, AMOC changes are primarily geostrophic and related to buoyancy anomalies on the western boundary. A pacemaker region for decadal AMOC changes is located in a western “transition zone” along the boundary between the subtropical and subpolar gyres. Decadal AMOC anomalies are communicated meridionally from this region. AMOC observations, as well as the expanded ocean observational network provided by the Argo array and satellite altimetry, are inspiring efforts to develop decadal predictability systems using coupled atmosphere‐ocean models initialized by ocean data.
PERSISTENT ORGANOCHLORINE COMPOUNDS (PCBS, DDTS, HCB & HBDE) IN WILD FISH FROM THE LAKE BURGAS AND THE LAKE MANDRA, BULGARIA

This study assessed the presence and concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites in tissues of freshwater fish collected from the Lake Burgas and the Lake Mandra in autumn 2014. Concentrations of organochlorine compounds were determined in three fish species: gibel carp (Carassius gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis). The fish tissues were analyzed also for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), named as priority substances in current European legislation regarding environmental quality standards (EQS) in biota. The aims of the study were to investigate the presence of pollutants in wild fish species from the lakes near Burgas City, Bulgaria and to compare the results to the levels in other aquatic ecosystems. The fifteen congeners of PCBs, HCB, HCBD, DDT and its two main metabolites DDE and DDD were determined by capillary gas chromatography system with mass spectrometry detection. The levels of organochlorine pollutants in the wild fish were found in the order DDTs > PCBs. Among the DDTs, essentially only the metabolites p, p’-DDE and p, p’-DDD were found. The sum of DDT and its metabolites was determined from 1.81 to 3.99 ng/g wet weight (in perch and gibel carp, respectively) and PCBs concentrations were found below 1.60 ng/g ww. The other contaminants HCB and HCBD were found below the analytical detection limit. The levels of persistent organochlorine pollutants investigated were found lower compared to those in fish species from other aquatic ecosystems.
Anti-Unwinding Attitude Control with Fixed-Time Convergence for a Flexible Spacecraft

This paper investigates the fixed-time attitude tracking control problem for flexible spacecraft with unknown bounded disturbances. First, with the knowledge of norm upper bounds of external disturbances and the coupling effect of flexible modes, a novel robust fixed-time controller is designed to deal with this problem. Second, the controller is further enhanced by an adaptive law to avoid the knowledge of norm upper bounds of external disturbances and coupling effect of flexible modes. This control law guarantees the convergence of attitude tracking errors in fixed time where the settling time is bounded by a constant independent of initial conditions. Moreover, the proposed controllers can prevent the unwinding phenomenon. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed control scheme.
Do Small Businesses Still Prefer Community Banks?

We formulate and test hypotheses about the role of bank type – small versus large, single-market versus multimarket, and local versus nonlocal banks – in banking relationships. The conventional paradigm suggests that “community banks” – small, single-market, local institutions – are better able to form strong relationships with informationally opaque small businesses, while “megabanks” – large, multimarket, nonlocal institutions – tend to serve more transparent firms. Using the 2003 Survey of Small Business Finance (SSBF), we conduct two sets of tests. First, we test for the type of bank serving as the “main” relationship bank for small businesses with different firm and owner characteristics. Second, we test for the strength of these main relationships by examining the probability of an exclusive relationship and main bank relationship length as functions of main bank type and financial fragility, as well as firm and owner characteristics. The results are often not consistent with the conventional paradigm, perhaps because of changes in lending technologies and deregulation of the banking industry.
Contributing Factors to Pre-service Mathematics Teachers’ e-readiness for ICT Integration

This study investigated pre-service teachers’ e-readiness to use ICTs for instruction. The primary data source for the study is a set of survey instrument responded by 126 pre-service mathematics teachers at the University of Education Winneba, Ghana. The survey instrument has a reliability scales (Cronbach’s Alpha values) of 0.726. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results revealed that, pre-service teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, TPACK (mean=3.76, SD=0.53), Perception of the effectiveness of ICT in teaching and learning (mean=3.85, SD=0.38), Perception of the Barriers in ICT integration (mean=3.08, SD=0.38) contributes 42.1%, 11.3% and 9.9% to the variances in the e-readiness of pre-service teachers (mean=3.63, SD=0.40). The findings could inform policy makers and teacher training institutions particularly in sub-Saharan Africa about the need to develop pre-service teachers’ TPACK and address the barriers to ICT integration in order to promote the pedagogical use of ICT in mathematics instruction. Research with larger samples is hereby suggested before any major implementation of the recommendations.
Perceptions of Fishermen Households on the Long-Term Impact of Coastal Resources Management in Panguil Bay

Coastal resources management (CRM) has flourished as a management approach for attaining a more sustainable form of economic development in the coastal areas of the Philippines. Its proliferation, coupled with the reasonably long time it has been in implementation, now calls for an evaluation of its long-term impact as a management and development approach. In this study, the long-term impact of CRM is evaluated not from the perspectives of technical people but based on the perception of its intended primary beneficiaries--the fishermen households. It does so not by looking into a specific CRM program or project but by observing the succession of CRM activities conducted in a single coastal area--Panguil Bay, Mindanao--over many years. The objectives were to ascertain if CRM works, identify its major constraints if it does not, and recommend future courses of actions to address the constraints.
The Impact of Environmental Enrichment in Rats Subjected to the Lithium-Pilocarpine Model : Behavioral Assessment and Molecular Changes in the Hippocampus

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by unpredictable recurrent seizures that affects about 50 million people worldwide. In Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE), the most common form of epilepsy in adults, seizures are often resistant to drug treatment. Environmental enrichment (EE) has positive effects on the psychological and physiological well-being of the animals and provides news insights into mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity, including neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Objectives: Evaluate the impact of EE on behavioral changes (latency and frequency of seizures, cognitive process and anxiety) in rats subjected to lesional epilepsy model induced by lithiumpilocarpine (LIP) and changes in BDNF levels in the hippocampus. Methods: Wistar rats were exposed to an EE protocol and to a standard environment since weaning (PND 21) for 5 weeks. After this period, the animals of both groups (EE and standard) were randomized and injected with LIP or lithium saline solution and video-monitored for 60 days to evaluate the latency and the frequency of seizures. After this period we performed behavioral tests: Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), Open Field Test (OFT), Rearing and Novel Object Recognition (NOR) to evaluate memory and anxiety. The BDNF expression was assessed in the hippocampus by ELISA method. Results: EE decreased hyperactivity, preserved short-term memory and increased the latency to the onset of spontaneous seizures of LIP rats compared to LIP rats of conventional environment. However, there were no difference in anxiety level and in the total number of seizures between conventional and EE groups. BDNF expression was increased in the hippocampus of rats LIP exposed to EE compared to LIP of conventional environment. Conclusions: EE is a safe and effective strategy to reduce behavioral changes caused by spontaneous seizures.
Persistence of Intermittent Hypoxia Exposure Acclimation to Simulated High Altitude

This study investigated the persistence of adaptation to intermittent normobaric hypoxic exposures (IHE) of three hours each day for three consecutive days to a sea-level barometric pressure atmosphere with an oxygen fraction simulating the partial pressure of oxygen found at 4,300 m altitude. End-tidal CO2 (PEtCO2), Acute Mountain Sickness scores (AMS-C), Heart Rate (HR), Blood Oxygen Saturation (SaO2) and Mood State were measured before and after all exposures to this simulated 4,300 m altitude. PEtCO2, the hallmark of adaptation to high altitude, was reduced after the three days of acclimation and remained reduced after 24 hours but returned to control values by 48 hours post IHE. The results of this study suggest that decay of IHE acclimation to a simulated altitude of 4,300 m is substantially complete between 24 and 48 hours after the last three hour exposure to a simulated altitude of 4,300 m.
Concept-based text classification

T h e o b jec tiv e o f th is th esis is to do a u to m a tic concep t based d o cu m en t classifica­ tio n . C lassifica tion o r c lu s te rin g is th e process of g roup ing s im ila r o b je c ts to g e th e r so th a t th ey can b e effectively re tr iev ed w hen queried upon . A n ex p e rim e n ta l sy stem th a t does th is co n cep t b ased d o cu m en t c lassification is b u ilt by a series of s tep s such as ind ex in g th e d o cu m en ts , assigning w eights to th e keyw ords, g en e ra tin g th e d o cu ­ m e n t vec to rs , b u ild in g co n cep t lists , g en e ra tin g co n cep t vec to rs, find ing th e s im ila rity b e tw een th e co n cep t a n d d o cu m en t vec to rs and classify ing th e d o cu m en ts u n d e r con­ ce p ts d ep en d in g on th e s im ila r ity value. T h e p erfo rm an ce of th is e x p e rim e n ta l sy stem is ev a lu a ted ag a in s t a m an u a l system by m easu rin g p recision an d recall.
ARE LONG‐DISTANCE DISPERSAL EVENTS IN PLANTS USUALLY CAUSED BY NONSTANDARD MEANS OF DISPERSAL?

It has been argued that nonstandard mechanisms of dispersal are often responsible for long-distance dispersal in plants. For example, plant seeds that appear to be adapted for wind dispersal may occasionally be dispersed long distances by birds, or vice versa. In this paper, we explore whether existing data on dispersal distances, colonization rates, and migration rates support the idea that dispersal processes suggested by the morphology of the dispersal unit are responsible for long distance dispersal. We conclude that the relationship between morphologically defined dispersal syndrome and long-distance dispersal is poor. This relationship is poor because the relationship between the morphology of dispersal units and the multiple processes that move seeds are often complex. We argue that understanding gleaned from the often anecdotal literature on nonstandard and standard means of long distance dispersal is the foundation for both statistical and mechanistic models of long-distance dispersal. Such models hold exciting promise for the development of a quantitative ecology of long-distance dispersal.
Interactive Tutoring in Blended Studies: Hindrances and Solutions

This paper distinguishes between traditional teaching known as lecturing (the teacher centered approach); and tutoring (the contemporary technology-oriented interactive teaching/learning approach). It is based on the implementation of tutoring strategies of ‘blended studies’ at the Arab Open University. It investigates the application of modern interactive teaching/learning strategies, specifying some hindering factors in the AOU-Jordan Branch context. The factors include four variables: tutors, students, course material and assessment. The paper is based on qualitative research in terms of a real teaching/leaning context, using both observation and conversation with learners, besides the use of some quantitative data retrieved from a questionnaire in which learners’ views are sought regarding a number of relevant matters. A number of suggested solutions related to each of the hindering factors are presented, which if applied, may secure shifting the balance of the teaching/learning process to a more interactive technology-based tutoring level, which in turn will enhance learners’ opportunities for the attainment of better academic standards, and secure a higher degree of achievement of the shared educational goals of learners and the educational institution they study in.
Gaia Eclipsing Binary and Multiple Systems. A study of detectability and classification of eclipsing binaries with Gaia

In the new era of large-scale astronomical surveys, automated methods of analysis and classification of bulk data are a fundamental tool for fast and efficient production of deliverables. This becomes ever more imminent as we enter the Gaia era. We investigate the potential detectability of eclipsing binaries with Gaia using a data set of all Kepler eclipsing binaries sampled with Gaia cadence and folded with the Kepler period. The performance of fitting methods is evaluated with comparison to real Kepler data parameters and a classification scheme is proposed for the potentially detectable sources based on the geometry of the light curve fits. The polynomial chain (polyfit) and two-Gaussian models are used for light curve fitting of the data set. Classification is performed with a combination of the t-SNE (t-distrubuted Stochastic Neighbor Embedding) and DBSCAN (Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) algorithms. We find that approximately 68% of Kepler Eclipsing Binary sources are potentially detectable by Gaia when folded with the Kepler period and propose a classification scheme of the detectable sources based on the morphological type indicative of the light curve, with subclasses that reflect the properties of the fitted model (presence and visibility of eclipses, their width, depth, etc.).
Price Dynamics in the North American Wheat Market

Perron's test, Johansen cointegration analysis, and a vector error-correction (VEC) model are used to identify structural change, as well as to examine price dynamics in the U. S. and Canadian hard red spring (HRS) and durum wheat markets. It is found that, due to the U. S. Export Enhancement Program (EEP), price instability experienced in June 1986 has resulted in structural changes for Canadian HRS and durum prices. We also find that Canadian prices have significant effects on the determination of the U. S. prices in the North American wheat market.
How Good are Equity Valuation Models in Predicting Stock Prices?

This paper aims to test the accuracy of three well-known equity valuation models for the period 1990 to 2006. This was done to a sample of German listed firms which diverge from the US market in accounting standards, market maturity and corporate governance culture (bank-based in contrast to the market-based US regime) as well as different market movements and trends which influence main input factors and estimations (e.g. market risk premium, inflation rate and GDP growth rate). To the best of our knowledge this is the first paper to address this issue for a sample of listed firms from the largest bank-based European economy.Using different accuracy measures such as absolute prediction error (average, median and central tendency) as well as multiple regression analysis the results show that dividend discount and abnormal earnings models ten to provide better accuracy than the free cash flow approach. Additionally, we find evidence of the importance in German accounting standards in the less accurate performance of the abnormal earnings model compared to previous studies due to the conservative accounting and the influence of hidden reserves. Finally, we did not find any significant valuation differences regarding the alternative values used for growth and discount rates.
A Geometric Morphometric Study of the Wing Shapes of Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from the Qinling Mountains and Adjacent Regions: An Environmental and Distance-Based Consideration

Abstract Butterflies possess attributes that are sensitive to gradual environmental changes. Recently, the effects of environmental factors on the shapes of organisms, as well as the interactions of these elements, have been extensively examined, i.e., effects of seasonal changes on the colors of butterfly wings, and effects of landscape structure on butterfly distribution and morphology. However, few studies have dealt with variations in butterfly shapes in response to varying environmental conditions. Here we aimed to determine how body size and shape variations in butterflies are correlated to environmental heterogeneity. We used geometric morphometrics to quantify Pieris rapae wing shape variations. Results showed that forewing and hind wing sizes were significantly different among the 15 populations. P. rapae individuals with larger wing sizes were mainly distributed in mountainous areas, whereas those with smaller-sized wings were found on the plains. Canonical variate analysis was employed to examine the patterns of variation in wing shapes among and within the populations. Significant differences in shape were revealed in the forewings and the hind wings of P. rapae populations. All populations were divided into 2 groups on the first canonical variate axis (CV1), which followed the Qinling Mountains as an important boundary between the Palearctic and Oriental Realms in zoogeographical division of the world. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustered the 15 populations into 4 groups by forewing and hind wing shape in response to the 4 environment types in Qinling Mountains. We suggest that wing shapes of P.rapae are sensitive to environmental heterogeneity. The isolating effect of the Qinling Mountains on P. rapae population interactions was apparent.
eROSITA - Nearby Young Stars in X-rays

Abstract X-ray surveys are well suited to detect, identify and study young stars based on their high levels of magnetic activity and thus X-ray brightness. The eROSITA instrument onboard the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) satellite will perform an X-ray all-sky survey that surpasses existing data by a sensitivity increase of more than an order of magnitude. The 4 yr survey is expected to detect more than half a million stars and stellar systems in X-rays.