Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the currents and transports connected with the atlantic meridional overturning circulation in the subpolar North Atlantic

Results from an interannually forced, 0.08 degrees eddy-resolving simulation based on the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model, in conjunction with a small but well-determined transport database, are used to investigate the currents and transports associated with the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in the subpolar North Atlantic (SPNA). The model results yield a consistent warming in the western SPNA since the early 1990s, along with mean transports similar to those observed for the trans-basin AMOC across the World Ocean Circulation Experiment hydrographic section AR19 (16.4 Sv) and boundary currents at the exit of the Labrador Sea near 53 degrees N (39.0 Sv) and east of the Grand Banks near 43 degrees N (15.9 Sv). Over a 34 year integration, the model-determined AMOC across the AR19 section and the western boundary current near 53 degrees N both exhibit no systematic trend but some long-term (interannual and longer) variabilities, including a decadal transport variation of 3-4 Sv from relatively high in the 1990s to low in the 2000s. The decadal variability of the model boundary current transport near 53 degrees N lags the observed winter time North Atlantic Oscillation index by about 2 years and leads the model AMOC across the AR19 section by about 1 year. The model results also show that the long-term variabilities are low compared to those on shorter time scales. Thus, rapid sampling of the current over long time intervals is required to filter out high-frequency variabilities in order to determine the lower frequency variabilities of interest
Improving Computer Game Bots' behavior using Q-Learning

In modern computer video games, the quality of artificial characters plays a prominent role in the success of the game in the market. The aim of intelligent techniques, termed game AI, used in these games is to provide an interesting and challenging game play to a game player. Being highly sophisticated, these games present game developers with similar kind of requirements and challenges as faced by academic AI community. The game companies claim to use sophisticated game AI to model artificial characters such as computer game bots, intelligent realistic AI agents. However, these bots work via simple routines pre-programmed to suit the game map, game rules, game type, and other parameters unique to each game. Mostly, illusive intelligent behaviors are programmed using simple conditional statements and are hard-coded in the bots' logic. Moreover, a game programmer has to spend considerable time configuring crisp inputs for these conditional statements. Therefore, we realize a need for machine learning techniques to dynamically improve bots' behavior and save precious computer programmers' man-hours. So, we selected Q-learning, a reinforcement learning technique, to evolve dynamic intelligent bots, as it is a simple, efficient, and online learning algorithm. Machine learning techniques such as reinforcement learning are know to be intractable if they use a detailed model of the world, and also requires tuning of various parameters to give satisfactory performance. Therefore, for this research we opt to examine Q-learning for evolving a few basic behaviors viz. learning to fight, and planting the bomb for computer game bots. Furthermore, we experimented on how bots would use knowledge learned from abstract models to evolve its behavior in more detailed model of the world. Bots evolved using these techniques would become more pragmatic, believable and capable of showing human-like behavior. This will provide more realistic feel to the game and provide game programmers with an efficient learning technique for programming these bots.
Hay quality evaluation of summer grass and legume forage monocultures and mixtures grown under irrigated conditions

The introduction of compatible, persistent, high quality grass-legume mixtures could increase forage quality during the summer season in Egypt. This would greatly support the sustainability of a livestock production system. A two-year field trial was carried out during the summer seasons of 2012 and 2013 at the experimental station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt. The main aim of the study was to assess the potential of forage cowpea-sudan grass (Vigna unguiculata L. Sorghum sudanese), and forage cowpea-pearl millet (Vigna unguiculata L. Pennisetum glaucum L.) mixtures to improve hay quality, utilizing three cuts, when compared with cowpea, sudan grass, and pearl millet as individual crops. Investigated forage quality parameters included dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), nitrogen-free extract (NFE), and fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL) as %DM. In addition, the hay quality indices namely, relative feed value (RFV), and relative forage quality (RFQ), derived from the dry matter intake (DMI %BW), digestible dry mater (DDM %DM), and total digestible nutrients (TDN %DM), also were evaluated. Results showed that, in general, the 1 cut was of a higher quality than the 2 and 3 cuts, being characterized by highest significant NFE, and also lowest significant NDF and ADL values. However, the DM content increased significantly with the successive cuts. The forage cowpea (FCP) was characterized by its increased CP content, and thus contributed to increasing the CP content of the grass-legume mixtures compared to the pure grass plots. Moreover, screening of the tested grass-legume mixtures and monocultures with regard to the hay quality indices revealed that mixing grass and legume forage crops was an effective technique in producing hay of a similar quality to that of the forage legume alone, but better than that of the forage grass alone. The highest RFV value was a characteristic of the FCP stands (Prime), followed by the three grass-legume mixtures (Grade 2), and then the three pure grass stands (Grade 3). Similarly, according to the RFQ grading system, the pure FCP and the three mixtures were graded as “Premium” hay quality, and the three pure grass stands were graded as “Good” hay quality.
Optimal Agglomerations in Dynamic Economics

We study rational expectations equilibrium problems and social optimum problems in infinite horizon spatial economies in the context of a Ramsey type capital accumulation problem with geographical spillovers. We identify sufficient local and global conditions for the emergence (or not) of optimal agglomeration, using techniques from monotone operator theory and spectral theory in infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces. We show that agglomerations may emerge, with any type of returns to scale (increasing or decreasing) and with the marginal productivity of private capital increasing or decreasing with respect to the spatial externality. This is a fairly general result indicating the importance of the network structure of the spatial externality relative to the properties of the aggregate production function. Our analytical methods can be used to systematically study optimal potential agglomeration and clustering in dynamic economics.
An Enhanced Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Person Re-Identification

Traditional hand-crafted feature and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) feature are two different types of image descriptors in person re-identification task. In this work, we propose a novel network called Enhanced CNN. We take advantage of the complementarity between hand-crafted features and CNN features by making hand-crafted features participate in the construction of our CNN model and the generation of the final features. A feature reconstruction block (FRB) is designed to jointly map hand-crafted features and CNN features to a unitary feature space and fuse them together in a learned way. We adopt identification loss and verification loss simultaneously to supervise the training process of our model, in order to make fully usage of the information in re-id labels. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of our model over a wide range of state-of-the-art methods on four re-id datasets (Market-1501, CUHK03, CUHKOI, VIPeR).
Developmental Coordination Disorder: The Importance of Grounded Assessments and Interventions

This focused review is based on earlier studies which have shown that both children and adults diagnosed as having developmental coordination disorder (DCD), benefited from sensorimotor therapy according to the method Retraining for Balance (RB). Different approaches and assessments for children and adults in regard to DCD are scrutinized and discussed in comparison to RB which mainly includes (a) vestibular assessment and stimulation (b) assessment and integration of aberrant primary reflexes and (c) assessment and stimulation of auditory and visual perception. Earlier results indicate that the process of Sensorimotor therapy using RB techniques could be described according to a conceptual Kinesthetic-Vestibular Developmental Model (KVDM) whereby the training elicited temporary physical and psychological regressions followed by transformations i.e., positive physical and psychological development. We have also seen that this recurring pattern is similar for children and adults. In our conceptual model vestibular stimulation (perceptual priming) stimulates the nervous system, which might enhance object-related priming. This perceptual priming will also assist the suppression of persistent aberrant primary reflexes. In order to develop effective methods for assessment and intervention of DCD over the life span the importance of primary reflex inhibition and vestibular stimulation as well as a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches have to be considered.
Ethnic group differences regarding choice factor importance in public higher education institution selection

The main goal of the study was to investigate the relevant importance of choice factors as considered by students from different ethnic groups when selecting higher education institutions in South Africa. A non-probability convenience sample of 1,241 respondents from six South African universities was drawn. A self-administrated questionnaire was used based on a 5-point Likert scale and included 23 choice factors which students had to rank accordingly. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were used to identify the most important choice factors and uncover differences between ethnic groups. Overall the quality of teaching and employment prospects seem to play a very important role in students’ decisions to choose an institution. The findings indicated that some choice factors were more important to certain ethnic groups than others such as the multi-cultural nature of the institution and social factors. A proper understanding of the relative importance of choice factors students consider when selecting a higher education institution will enable institutions to allocate funds, time and resources more efficiently and effectively. The results can aid South African higher education institutions in developing effective marketing and recruitment strategies to attract students from different ethnic groups.
Dynamic stability of carbon nanotubes

The dynamical stability of carbon nanotubes embedded in an elastic matrix under timedependent axial loading is studied in this paper. Efiects of van der Waals interaction forces between the inner and outer walls of nanotubes are taken into account. Using continuum mechanics an elastic beam model is applied to solve the transverse parametric vibrations of two co-axial carbon nanotubes. The physically realizable forces with known probability distributions and uniformly distributed on the both beam edges are assumed as the tube axial loadings. The energy-like functionals are used in the stability analysis. The emphasis is placed on a qualitative analysis of dynamic stability problem. In∞uence of constant component of axial forces on stability regions is shown. Boundaries of dynamic stability regions are determined using the three models and techniques with difierent degree of accuracy.
Dust properties from GALEX observations of a UV halo around Spica

GALEX has detected ultraviolet halos extending as far as 5° around four bright stars (Murthy and Henry, 2011). These halos are produced by scattering of starlight by dust grains in thin foreground clouds that are not physically associated with the star. Assuming a simple model consisting of a single layer of dust in front of the star, Murthy and Henry (2011) have been able to model these halo intensities and constrain the value of the phase function asymmetry factor g of the scattering grains in the FUV and NUV. However due to the uncertainty in the dust geometry they could not constrain the albedo. In this work we have tried to constrain the optical constants and dust geometry by modeling the UV halo of Spica. Since the halo emission is not symmetric, we have modeled the Northern and Southern parts of the halo separately. To the North of Spica, the best-fit albedo is 0.26±0.1 and g is 0.58 ± 0.11 in the FUV at the 90% confidence level. The corresponding limits on the distance and optical depth (τ) of the dust sheet is 3.65 ± 1.05 pc and 0.047 ± 0.006 respectively. However, owing to a complicated dust distribution to the South of Spica, we were unable to uniquely constrain the dust parameters in that region. Nevertheless, by assuming the optical constants of the Northern region and assuming a denser medium, we were able to constrain the distance of the dust to 9.5 ± 1.5 pc and the corresponding τ to 0.04 ± 0.01.
Local anthropogenic contamination affects the fecundity and reproductive success of an Arctic amphipod

This study investigates whether adaptation to life in contaminated Arctic areas carries a cost for the populations in terms of reduced fecundity and reproductive success. The benthic amphipod, Orchomenella pinguis occurs in huge densities in both clean and contaminated sites. O. pinguis was collected at contaminated sites in an open fjord adjacent to Sisimiut, West Greenland, and at clean sites outside the fjord exposed to open waters. The broods of gravid females were analyzed for number of embryos, embryonic developmental stage and number of embryo abnormalities. Further, a sample from 3 of the sites was sexed and analyzed for intersex occurrence. The individuals collected at the most contaminated site had significantly higher fecundity (i.e. reproductive potential), but also higher frequency of embryo aberrations resulting in lower fertility (i.e. actual reproductive success) compared to clean site individuals. These results indicated a cost of living in highly contaminated environments in terms of reduced reproductive success. This study confirms the potential of the benthic amphipod O. pinguis as a bioindicator for assessments of reproductive effects of contaminants in the Arctic marine environment.
Woodland Caribou Extirpation and Anthropogenic Landscape Disturbance in Ontario

Abstract The decline of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) has been attributed to anthropogenic landscape disturbances, but critical distance thresholds and time lags between disturbance and extirpation are unknown. Using a database of caribou presence and extirpation for northern Ontario, Canada, geo-coded to 10 × 10-km cells, we constructed logistic regression models to predict caribou extirpation based on distance to the nearest of each of 9 disturbance types: forest cutovers, fires, roads, utility corridors, mines, pits and quarries, lakes, trails, and rail lines. We used Akaike's Information Criterion to select parsimonious models and Receiver-Operating Characteristic curves to derive optimal thresholds. To deal with the effects of spatial autocorrelation on estimates of model significance, we used subsampling and restricted randomizations. Forest cutovers were the best predictor of caribou occupancy, with a tolerance threshold of 13 km to nearest cutover and a time lag of 2 decades between disturbance by cutting and caribou extirpation. Management of woodland caribou should incorporate buffers around habitat and requires long-term monitoring of range occupancy.
Fuzzy Semiactive Vibration Control of Structures Using Magnetorheological Elastomer

In this research, a novel variable stiffness vibration isolator that uses magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) accompanied with a fuzzy semiactive vibration control was developed. Firstly, the viscoelastic characteristics of MREs in shear mode were clarified systematically in order to achieve a mathematical basis for the controller development. Secondly, the fuzzy semiactive vibration control with a strategy based on the Lyapunov theory and dynamic characteristic of MREs was proposed for minimizing the movement of the isolator. In the conventional semiactive algorithm, the command applied current of MRE-based isolator is set at either minimum or maximum value which causes high acceleration and jerk peaks periodically, thus leading to the degeneration of the overall system quality. However, the fuzzy semiactive algorithm presented here is able to produce the sufficient applied current and thus viscoelastic force is desirably produced. The effectiveness of the developed isolator was evaluated numerically by MATLAB simulation and experimentally in comparison with the performances of a passive system and a system with on-off type semiactive controller. The results showed that the developed controller was successful in overcoming the disadvantages of conventional on-off semiactive control.
Global financial crisis and agrarian households" income, remittance and prices in rural Nigeria amid policy responses

The recent global financial crisis affected almost all aspect of human life. This paper explored effects of the global financial crisis on farmers' income, remittance and prices of food staples and highlighted certain government policy responses. The study was conducted in Nigeria. Secondary data were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, equivalent variation and Shannon index analysis. Results showed the global financial crisis affected the agrarian households/sector in Nigeria. The increase in prices meant more nominal income to farmers but grossly reduced their welfare due to decrease in real income as result of high inflation trend. Recommendations include that government should continue to sustain agrarian programs aimed at helping poor farmers to increase their capacity in production to meet the growing demand and changes.
Writing Anxiety and Language Learning Motivation: Examining Causes, Indicators, and Relationship

The affective domain has already received great attention from researchers as evidenced by a large body of literature made since its conception. This paper aims to draw a connection between writing anxiety and motivation, which are both affective variables associated to language learning. Using mixed-methods design, data were collected from 60 students who finished a one-semester English class in the Pre-University Center, Mindanao State University-Marawi, Philippines. Data revealed that students had low writing anxiety. They reported during the interviews that, despite their low anxiety level, there are still reasons for their writing anxiety such as grammar, evaluation, and topical knowledge. They also had a high level of instrumental and integrative motivation. They appreciated the instrumental function and contributions of the English subject, the communicative activities, and the instructor teaching the subject. The correlation and regression analyses revealed that as language learning motivation increases, writing anxiety level decreases. It led to the conclusion that writing anxiety can be lessened through motivating students to learn English. Based on the findings, English teachers should put premium on motivation in their classrooms by being effective role models to students, inspiring students to write in order to learn and to learn in order to write, appreciating their writing outputs, and exposing them to real life applications of the English macroskills.
The Seasonal Snow Cover Dynamics: Review on Wind-Driven Coupling Processes

The temporal evolution of seasonal snow cover and its spatial variability in environments such as mountains, prairies or polar regions is strongly influenced by the interactions between the atmospheric boundary layer and the snow cover. Wind-driven coupling processes affect both mass and energy fluxes at the snow surface with consequences on snow hydrology, avalanche hazard and ecosystem development. This paper proposes a review on these processes and combines the more recent findings obtained from observations and modelling. The spatial variability of snow accumulation across multiple scales can be associated to wind-driven processes ranging from orographic precipitation at large scale to preferential-deposition of snowfall and wind-induced transport of snow on the ground at smaller scales. An overview of models of varying complexity developed to simulate these processes is proposed in this paper. Snow ablation is also affected by wind-driven processes. Over continuous snow covers, turbulent fluxes of latent and sensible heat, as well as blowing snow sublimation, modify the mass and energy balance of the snowpack and their representation in numerical models is associated with many uncertainties. As soon as the snow cover becomes patchy in spring local heat advection induces the developement of stable internal boundary layers changing heat exchange towards the snow. Overall, wind-driven processes play a key role in all the different stages of the evolution of seasonal snow. Improvements in process understanding particularly at the mountain-ridge and the slope scale, and processes representations in models at scales up to the mountain range scale, will be the basis for improved short-term forecast and climate projections in snow-covered regions.
On the Equilibrium and Welfare Consequences of 'Keeping Up with the Joneses'

This paper provides an analysis of the social consequences of people seeking to keep up with the Joneses. All individuals attempt to reach a higher rank than the Joneses, including the Joneses themselves. This attitude gives rise to an equilibrium in which all individuals have equal utilities but unequal (gross) incomes. Due to a rat-race effect, individuals devote too much energy to climbing the social scale in this equilibrium. However, laissez-faire equilibrium is an equal-utility constrained social optimum. Unexpectedly, numerical simulations show that this theory could account for the observed distribution of intermediate wages.
Resiliency against stress among athletes

participants and procedure The research concerned 192 competitors who actively train in one of the Olympic disciplines – individual or team. We used the following instruments: Resiliency Assessment Scale (SPP-25); Stress Appraisal Questionnaire A/B; Reactions to Competition Questionnaire; Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS); Sport Stress Coping Strategies Questionnaire (SR3S, self-constructed).
Just take a deep breath... A review to compare the effects of spontaneous versus directed Valsalva pushing in the second stage of labour on maternal and fetal wellbeing

Bosomworth, A. and Bettany-Saltikov, J. A. (2006) 'Just take a deep breath. A review to compare the effects of spontaneous versus directed Valsalva pushing in the second stage of labour on maternal and fetal wellbeing', Midwifery Digest, 16 (2), pp.157-166. For details regarding the final published version please click on the following link: http://www.midirs. org/ When citing this source, please use the final published version as above.