Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
, Interaction , Improvisation , and Interplay in Jazz

In Interaction, Improvisation, and Interplay in Jazz, Robert Hodson joins a growing list of scholars who insist upon the centrality of interaction in jazz improvisation. Dissatisfied with analyses of improvised solo lines extracted from the context of their accompaniments, Hodson offers a corrective that explains improvisational decisions in terms of ensemble interaction. Instead of the narrow focus on syntactical structure found in much analysis of jazz, Hodson seeks to ‘explore the ways that improvising jazz musicians balance the constraining factors of the structural, syntactical aspects of the composition they are performing with the dynamic, interactive processes that take place between the members of the ensemble’ (21). Hodson’s focus is primarily on post-World War II small-group jazz performance, though he does claim that the interactive processes he describes also apply to earlier styles. He begins by reformulating JeanJacques Nattiez’s three-dimensional model of the musical work to describe jazz performance (Nattiez 1990). For Nattiez, the musical work consists of some ‘poietic’ process (e.g., composition), a ‘trace’ (e.g., a score or some resultant sound product), and an ‘esthetic’ process (i.e., reception). In jazz, Hodson explains, the poietic process and the trace are essentially coterminous:
Equatorial plasma bubbles and L-band scintillations in Africa during solar minimum

Abstract. We report on the longitudinal, local time and seasonal occurrence of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) and L band (GPS) scintillations over equatorial Africa. The measurements were made in 2010, as a first step toward establishing the climatology of ionospheric irregularities over Africa. The scintillation intensity is obtained by measuring the standard deviation of normalized GPS signal power. The EPBs are detected using an automated technique, where spectral analysis is used to extract and identify EPB events from the GPS TEC measurements. Overall, the observed seasonal climatology of the EPBs as well as GPS scintillations in equatorial Africa is adequately explained by geometric arguments, i.e., by the alignment of the solar terminator and local geomagnetic field, or STBA hypothesis (Tsunoda, 1985, 2010a). While plasma bubbles and scintillations are primarily observed during equinoctial periods, there are longitudinal differences in their seasonal occurrence statistics. The Atlantic sector has the most intense, longest lasting, and highest scintillation occurrence rate in-season. There is also a pronounced increase in the EPB occurrence rate during the June solstice moving west to east. In Africa, the seasonal occurrence shifts towards boreal summer solstice, with fewer occurrences and shorter durations in equinox seasons. Our results also suggest that the occurrence of plasma bubbles and GPS scintillations over Africa are well correlated, with scintillation intensity depending on depletion depth. A question remains about the possible physical mechanisms responsible for the difference in the occurrence phenomenology of EPBs and GPS scintillations between different regions in equatorial Africa.
Environmental Motivation in Organic Preferences and Purchases

Economic analyses generally incorporate environmental motivations in examining the factors that determine whether consumers will buy organic and ecolabeled foods, but have not typically considered health and wellness motivations. Market research studies, using both focus groups and surveys, have found that many consumers believe that organic foods are healthier to eat, and have segmented consumers using health and wellness concerns as a factor associated with organic buying behavior. These findings have been widely interpreted in the press as indicating that health and wellness concerns are a primary motivator for buying organic. This study compares the impact of these motivators, as well as demographic and economic factors, in determining how dedicated a consumer is to organic buying as measured by whether more than 50 percent of the consumer’s produce purchases are organic. The buying level results are compared to a model of stated preferences.
Orbital characterization of the β Pictoris b giant planet

In June 2010, we confirmed the existence of a giant planet in the disk of the young star Beta Pictoris, located between 8 AU and 15 AU from the star. This young planet offers the rare opportunity to monitor a large fraction of the orbit using the imaging technique over a reasonably short timescale. Using the NAOS-CONICA adaptive-optics instrument (NACO) at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), we obtained repeated follow-up images of the Bpic system in the Ks and L' filters at four new epochs in 2010 and 2011. Complementing these data with previous measurements, we conduct a homogeneous analysis, which covers more than eight yrs, to accurately monitor the Bpic b position relative to the star. On the basis of the evolution of the planet's relative position with time, we derive the best-fit orbital solutions for our measurements. More reliable results are found with a Markov-chain Monte Carlo approach. The solutions favor a low-eccentricity orbit e < 0.17, with semi-major axis in the range 8--9 AU corresponding to orbital periods of 17--21 yrs. Our solutions favor a highly inclined solution with a peak around i=88.5+-1.7 deg, and a longitude of ascending node tightly constrained at Omega = -147.5+-1.5 deg. These results indicate that the orbital plane of the planet is likely to be above the midplane of the main disk, and compatible with the warp component of the disk being tilted between 3.5 deg and 4.0 deg. This suggests that the planet plays a key role in the origin of the inner warped-disk morphology of the Bpic disk. Finally, these orbital parameters are consistent with the hypothesis that the planet is responsible for the transit-like event observed in November 1981, and also linked to the cometary activity observed in the Bpic system.
Interactive comment on “ Why hydrological forecasts should be evaluated using information theory ” by S . V . Weijs et al

The paper discusses some topics on the application of information theory to forecast evaluation in hydrology. Based on a statistical measure of forecast quality developed and presented in detail by the authors in a previous paper, the Kullback-Leibler divergence score (Weijs et al., 2010; Mon. Weather Rev.), the authors develop their arguments on how the information-theory point of view can throw light on some current topics discussed in hydrological forecasting, namely, the transition from deterministic to probabilistic forecasts and the calibration of forecasting systems. The topic is of great interest to the hydrometeorological community, particularly because of the increasing use of probabilistic forecasts in operational hydrology and the common agreement that
Antinutritional Factors of some Wild Edible Fruits from Kolhapur District

Total 8 wild edible fruits were studied for their antinutrional factors viz. Ficus racemosa L. , Elaeagnus conferta Roxb. Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. , Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) DC. , Ziziphus rugosa Lamk. , Meyna laxiflora Robyns. , Cordia dichotoma Linn. , Grewia tiliifolia Vahl. etc. The highest level of phytate were present in Ficus racemosa . , Â Glycosmis pentaphylla shows the highest level of oxalic acid and tannin is higher in Flacourtia indica where as saponin is rich in Meyna laxiflora.
EARTHQUAKE PERFORMANCE OF STEEL FRAMES WITH NITINOL BRACES

In this paper, the seismic performance of a three- and a six-storey steel frame equipped with different bracing configurations is assessed. The bracing systems consist of traditional buckling-restrained steel braces and superelastic Nitinol shape-memory alloy (SMA) braces. Background on the behaviour of SMAs is provided and a state-of-the-art review of the applications of such new materials in earthquake engineering is presented. A uniaxial constitutive model for superelastic SMAs is then implemented into the finite element platform OpenSees and nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed. Finally, the seismic performance of the structures under investigation is judged through the evaluation of several response quantities, to determine the efficacy of the new bracing system in reducing earthquake-induced vibrations.
Rank Metric Convolutional Codes with Applications in Network Streaming

Rank Metric Convolutional Codes with Applications in Network Streaming Rafid Mahmood Master of Applied Science Graduate Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto 2015 We consider end-to-end error correction codes for real-time streaming over a network, where the source and destination are nodes in a graph. Links between nodes are erasure channels and the sourcedestination relationship a rank-deficient channel matrix. In an isolated rank loss model, the channel matrix arbitrarily decreases to a minimum rank within each sliding window of network uses. We prove the column sum rank metric determines the effectiveness of a code and construct a family of codes that achieve the maximum column sum rank. In a burst rank loss model, a fraction of links are simultaneously erased for consecutive network uses. We derive the capacity and prove achievability with a layered construction using the previously introduced codes. Simulations over statistical models reveal our construction to be superior over baseline codes.
Leading indicators of fiscal distress: evidence from extreme bounds analysis

ABSTRACT Early warning systems (EWSs) are widely used to assess a country’s vulnerability to fiscal distress. A fiscal distress episode is identified as a period when government experiences extreme funding difficulties. Most EWSs employ a specific set of only fiscal leading indicators predetermined by the researchers, which casts doubt on their robustness. We revisit this issue using extreme bounds analysis, which allows identifying robust leading indicators of fiscal distress from a large set. A robust leading indicator’s effect does not strongly depend on the model specification. Consistent with the theoretical predictions of latest generation crisis models, we find that both fiscal and non-fiscal leading indicators are robust. In addition, we find that a fiscal vulnerability indicator based on fiscal and non-fiscal leading indicators offers a 29% gain in predictive power compared to a traditional one based only on fiscal leading indicators. This suggests that both fiscal and non-fiscal leading indicators should be taken into account when assessing country’s vulnerability to fiscal distress.
Properties of the ionised plasma in the vicinity of the neutron-star X-ray binary EXO 0748-676

Aims. We present the spectral analysis of a large set of XMM-Newton observations of EXO 0748-676, a bright dipping low-mass X-ray binary. In particular, we focus on the dipping phenomenon as a result of changes in the properties of the ionised gas close to the source. Methods. We analysed the high-resolution spectra collected with the reflection grating spectrometer on board XMM-Newton. We studied dipping and persistent spectra separately. We used the Epic data to constrain the broad-band continuum. We explored two simple geometrical scenarios for which we derived physical quantities of the absorbing material like the density, size, and mass. Results. We find that the continuum is absorbed by a neutral gas, and by both a collisionally (temperature T similar to 70 eV) and photoionised (ionisation parameter log xi similar to 2.5) absorbers. Emission lines from OVII and OVIII are also detected. This is the first time that evidence of a collisionally ionised absorber has been found in a low-mass X-ray binary. The collisionally ionised absorber may be in the form of dense (n > 10(14) cm(-3)) filaments, located at a distance r greater than or similar to 10(11) cm. During dips, the photoionised absorber significantly increases its column density (factor 2-4) while becoming less ionised. This strengthens the idea that the colder material of the accretion stream impinging the disc is passing on our line of sight during dips. In this scenario, we find that the distance from the neutron star to the impact region (similar to 5 x 10(10) cm) is similar to the size of the neutron star's Roche lobe. The gas observed during the persistent state may have a flattened geometry. Finally, we explore the possibility of the existence of material forming an initial, hotter portion of a circumbinary disc.
Characterisation of within-tree and within-ring resin-pocket density in Pinus radiata across an environmental range in New Zealand

Resin pockets are found in the xylem of conifers belonging to four main genera and can generally be classified into two types. Type 1 are radially narrow discontinuities in the wood while type 2 are radially flattened, contain less callus tissue, and are open to the external environment at early stages in their development. Although resin pockets are a major cause of degrade for appearance grade timber little is known about how the frequency of type-1 and type-2 resin pockets varies within trees and within rings. In this study, we collected data from 15- to 18-year-old Pinus radiata D.Don stands at four sites covering a wide environmental gradient. Resin pocket frequency was determined by cutting the lower 5 m of six trees at each site into 50-mm sections. Each of these sections was then imaged. Resin pockets were identified as type 1 or type 2 and the location of the resin pockets in three dimensions was recorded. Using these detailed measurements, the objectives of this study were to characterise: (i) three-dimensional variation in type-1 and type-2 resin pocket frequency within trees; and (ii) the position of type-1 and type-2 resin pockets within rings. The frequency of type-2 resin pockets was double that of type-1 resin pockets, and this ratio did not vary significantly between sites. Within trees, resin pocket density varied markedly in the radial but not the longitudinal or circumferential dimensions. At all four sites, variation in the radial dimension was characterised by an absence of resin pockets in the inner rings and fluctuating resin pocket densities in the outer rings. The age at which substantial resin pocket formation began ranged from 4 years on the fastest growing site to 8 years on the slowest growing site. On the driest sites, resin pocket incidence consistently peaked in the latter part of the growth ring in all trees, but on the windiest and wettest site the distribution was more irregular and varied between trees. The distribution of type-1 and type-2 resin pockets was highly segregated within the growth ring with mean positions occurring respectively at ca. the 30th and 80th percentile of the growth ring width.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN RELATION TO SELECTED WOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF BLACK SPRUCE

The relation between ring width, ring density, microfibril angle, and bending properties was analyzed at 2.4-m height on twelve 80-year-old black spruce trees. The moduli of elasticity and rupture were measured in the southernmost radial direction on extracted specimens of size 10 x 10 x 150 mm 3 from pith to bark. Ring density and ring width were measured by X-ray densitometry, and microfibril angle was measured by the Silviscan technology. The impact of these three traits on the moduli of elasticity and rupture was evaluated by explicitly separating the radial variation from the variation among trees using a mixed model analysis. The results obtained show first that the modulus of elasticity is negatively correlated to microfibril angle. This result supports the assumption that the relation between modulus of elasticity and microfibril angle is not dependent on radial growth rate. Secondly, ring density has a lower contribution in predicting the modulus of elasticity than the modulus of rupture. In both cases, ring width was not a significant factor of variation of the moduli of elasticity and rupture.
Data mining to detect clinical mastitis with automatic milking

Our objective was to use data mining to develop and validate a detection model for clinical mastitis (CM) using sensor data collected at nine Dutch dairy herds milking automatically. Sensor data was available for almost 3.5 million quarter milkings (QM) from 1,109 cows; 348 QM with CM were observed by the participating farmers. Data was divided into a training and a test set, stratified at the cow level. For model building, QM with CM (n = 243) from the training set were taken together with 24,987 QM with a somatic cell count less than 200,000 cells/ml on a milk production test day from cows that never exceeded this threshold during all test days within parity and that were never visually checked by the farmers for CM. The model used decision tree (DT) induction as base classifier, with and without bagging and boosting techniques. Both bagging and boosting techniques work by building models using the base classifier on various samples of the training data. For validation two test sets were created. The first included 105 QM with CM and 13,313 QM without CM, using the same selection as for the training. This test set (Test_GreyOut) excluded the large pool of QM that have a less clear mastitis status. The second test set included the same 105 QM with CM but this dataset included QM with a less clear mastitis status (Test_GreyIn): for negative examples, those QM that were not scored as having CM by the farmers were labeled as negative for CM. From this large sample (n = 1,146,544), a random sample of 50,000 QM was selected. Sensitivity levels were computed at fixed SP levels, and the transformed partial area under the curve (pAUC) was calculated for specificity values of 97% or more to evaluate performance. To visualize performance of the detection models for specificity values of 97% or more, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. When using the Test_GreyOut set, the transformed pAUC increased from 0.713 when using the base classifier alone, to 0.787 when combined with boosting, to 0.800 when combined with bagging. At a specificity of 99%, sensitivity was 43.5% for the base classifier, 60.0% when combined with boosting and 61% when combined with bagging. When testing on the TestInGrey set, pAUC values were lower, but still increased when bagging and boosting techniques were used: values increased from 0.643 when using the base classifier alone, to 0.677 when combined with boosting, to 0.702 when combined with bagging. At a specificity of 99%, sensitivity was 24.7% for the base classifier, 30.5% when combined with boosting and 35.2% when combined with bagging. These results were obtained using very narrow time-windows. It is therefore concluded that models developed by DT induction are promising for future implementation
YIELD LOSS ASSESSMENT IN MUNGBEAN (VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK) CAUSED BY ANTHRACNOSE (COLLETOTRICHUM TRUNCATUM (SCHW.) ANDRUS AND MOORE)

Mungbean anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum truncatum (Schw.) Andrus and Moore is the most important seed-borne fungal disease which also infects seedlings, stems, petioles, leaves and pods. Investigation on yield loss assessment in mungbean due to anthracnose was conducted under field condition at NDUAT, Faizabad (U.P.) during Kharif 2012-13 using a susceptible variety NDM-1, a moderate susceptible variety (Pusa Vishal) and a resistant variety (UPM-98). Field experiment revealed that maximum disease in terms of incidence and severity (70.11 %) occurs on highly susceptible cultivar NDM-1. It causes considerable damage by reducing seed quality and yield. The observations revealed that comparatively lower disease index (8.74 %) with increase in grain (10.9 q/ha) and stalk yield (14.7 q/ha) and also maximum number of pods/plant (20.5) and test weight (37.5 g) of grain was recorded in plots receiving two sprays of carbendazim (0.1%) than untreated plots of resistant cultivars. The losses in yield due to anthracnose have been estimated up to 24-67 per cent. The yield losses are proportional to disease severity and very remarkably depending on the stage of infection, genotype and environmental conditions.
Nutritional aspects and seasonal influence on fatty acid composition of carp (Labeo rohita) from the Indus River, Pakistan.

Seasonal deviations in proximate composition and intramuscular profile of fatty acid of one of the prolific specie of fish Labeo rohita in Indus River, Pakistan, were studied. The lipid content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in spring (1.95%) followed by winter (1.36%), autumn (0.98%) and summer (0.95%). Protein fluctuates directly with lipids, highest percentage was observed in spring 23% while lowest in summer 20%. As compared to other seasons, higher contents of moisture (75.65%) were found in summer, whereas more plentiful nutrients were available in the spring, which cause an increase in the amount of parched material therefore decrease in the moisture content (72.91%) was observed. In all sampling seasons, in fish oil the most abundant fatty acids were palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1), n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA 20:5) and n-3 docosahexanoic acid (DHA 22:6). The sum of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was 42% in spring. 37% in winter, 36% in autumn and 32.02% in summer. In the total fatty acids the levels of DHA in spring, winter, autumn and summer were 16.63%, 15.71%, 15.12%. 13.05% and while those of EPA were 4.35%. 5.52%, 4.59% and 5% respectively. During all seasons the total n-3 fatty acid was found higher in contrast to n-6 fatty acid. The highest ratio of n-3/n-6 was recorded during winter 1.84, while PUFA/SFA ratio was found higher in spring 2.33.
Co‐occurrence of ectoparasites of marine fishes: a null model analysis

We used null model analysis to test for nonrandomness in the structure of metazoan ectoparasite communities of 45 species of marine fish. Host species consistently supported fewer parasite species combinations than expected by chance, even in analyses that incorporated empty sites. However, for most analyses, the null hypothesis was not rejected, and co-occurrence patterns could not be distinguished from those that might arise by random colonization and extinction. We compared our results to analyses of presence‐absence matrices for vertebrate taxa, and found support for the hypothesis that there is an ecological continuum of community organization. Presence‐absence matrices for small-bodied taxa with low vagility and/or small populations (marine ectoparasites, herps) were mostly random, whereas presence‐absence matrices for largebodied taxa with high vagility and/or large populations (birds, mammals) were highly structured. Metazoan ectoparasites of marine fishes fall near the low end of this continuum, with little evidence for nonrandom species co-occurrence patterns.
Enhancing English Language Planning Strategy Using a WebQuest Model.

The present study aimed at developing English language planning strategy of second year distinguished governmental language preparatory school pupils using the a WebQuest model. Fifty participants from second year at Hassan Abu- Bakr Distinguished Governmental Language School at Al-Qanater Al-Khairia (Qalubia Governorate) were randomly assigned into two groups: experimental group (N=25) and control group (N=25). Two main instruments were used: writing strategies questionnaire and think-aloud protocol. The instruments were administered before and after the experiment. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were conducted. T-test was used to compare the mean scores of the control group and the experimental one in the pre-post applications. Results showed that the experimental group pupils have developed their English language planning strategy. It was concluded that the WebQuest model was effective in developing English language planning strategy of the participants. It was also recommended that the WebQuest model should be integrated into writing instruction programmes.