Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of geometric morphometrics to analyse allometry in two species of the genus Myrmica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Allometric changes in shape were analyzed in two species of the genus Myrmica using geometric morphometics. The pattern of allometry was visualized by thin plate splines (TPS) analysis. In 291 worker ants, 41 landmarks and 252 semilandmarks were fixed in images from four aspects: dorsal head, frontodorsal clypeus, dorsal mesosoma and lateral petiole. To explore how shape varies with size, a multivariate regression on centroid size was performed using the scores of all partial warps (PWs) from all four aspects. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to compare the pattern of allometry between species, using all PWs from pooled coordinates of the two species as varieties, centroid size as the covariate and species as the grouping factor. For all four aspects in each species, the null hypothesis of isometry was rejected (i.e., allometry was present) since the multivariate regressions were statistically significant. The amount of shape variation accounted for by the regressions differed considerably between the species studied and among the four aspects, ranging from 2.62 % for the petiole of M. vandeli to 13.95 % for the mesosoma of M. scabrinodis. There were no significant differences between the two species in the allometric patterns of head and clypeus aspects (MANCOVA test). In a multivariate ordination, removing the allometric effects reduced overlap between species only a little or not at all. Geometric morphometrics allows the visualization of the allometries of particular shape components that would probably remain undetected by a conventional morphometric analysis.
Reappraising the Legacy of Colonialism: The Value of an Island Sample A Response to Bertram

In this brief article, we respond to Geoff Bertram’s overview of the current state of research into the legacy of colonial institutions. We make the general case for islands as a useful unit of observation in thinking about cross country income differences. The nature of island exploration and settlement provides a unique natural experiment that is not available in a mainland sample of countries. However, we feel that the results provide useful insights to the general literature about the relationship between colonialism and income. We also respond to Bertram’s criticisms of our data and sample selection. In many cases, problems he identifies have been addressed in the most recent version of our work.
STRESS TRAINING ENHANCES NOVICE PILOT PERFORMANCE IN A STRESSFUL OPERATIONAL

Objective : This study investigated whether stress training introduced during the acquisition of simulator- based flight skills enhances pilot performance during subsequent stressful flight operations in an actual aircraft. Background : Despite knowledge that preconditions to aircraft accidents can be strongly influenced by pilot stress, little is known about the effectiveness of stress training and how it transfers to operational flight settings. Method : For this study, 30 participants with no flying experience were assigned at random to a stress-trained treatment group or a control group. Stress training consisted of systematic pairing of skill acquisition in a flight simulator with stress coping mechanisms in the presence of a cold pressor. Control participants received identical flight skill acquisition training but without stress training. Participants then performed a stressful flying task in a Piper Archer aircraft. Results : Stress-trained research participants flew the aircraft more smoothly, as recorded by aircraft telemetry data, and generally better, as recorded by flight instructor evaluations, than did control participants. Conclusions : Introducing stress coping mechanisms during flight training improved performance in a stressful flying task. Application : The results of this study indicate that stress training during the acquisition of flight skills may serve to enhance pilot performance in stressful operational flight and, therefore, might mitigate the contribution of pilot stress to aircraft mishaps.
Relating Xylem Cavitation to Gas Exchange in Cotton

Acoustic emissions (AEs) from xylem cavitation events are characteristic of transpiration processes. Though a body of work exists describing AEs and limited stem hydraulic conductivity under water stress, there is limited information about the effects of AEs on stomatal aperture and limitation on carbon assimilation. The objective of this work was to relate AEs to drought stress in cotton. Cotton was grown in mini-lysimeters in the greenhouse and instrumented with a portable photosynthesis system and ultrasonic transducers connected to a digital signal-processing unit. Whole plant transpiration, leaf level gas exchange and ultrasonic AEs were measured. Xylem cavitation events temporally associated with the onset of drought stress. The results are consistent with stomatal closure in response to reduced hydraulic conductance from xylem cavitation events. Clear direct empirical evidence of a reduction in carbon assimilation associated with xylem cavitation resulting from water stress is presented.
Femtosecond laser induced density changes in GeO_2 and SiO_2 glasses: fictive temperature effect [Invited]

Density changes of GeO2 and SiO2 glasses subjected to irradiation by tightly focused femtosecond pulses are observed by Raman scattering. It is shown that densification caused by the void formation in GeO2 glass is very similar to the changes under hydrostatic pressure. In contrast, the experimental observations in SiO2 glass could be explained by pressure effect or by the fictive temperature anomaly, i. e. , a resultant smaller specific volume of the glass (a denser phase) at a high thermal quenching rate. Density changes of GeO2 and SiO2 glasses are opposite upon close-to-equilibrium heating; this gives new insights into the mechanisms of densification under highly non-equilibrium conditions: fs-laser induced micro-explosions, heating and void formation. The pressure and temperature effects of glass modification by ultra-short laser pulses are discussed considering applications in optical memory, waveguiding, and formation of micro-optical elements.
Nonparametric predictive inference with parametric copulas for combining bivariate diagnostic tests

Measuring the accuracy of diagnostic tests is crucial in many application areas including medicine, machine learning and credit scoring. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is a useful tool to assess the ability of a diagnostic test to discriminate among two classes or groups. In practice, multiple diagnostic tests or biomarkers may be combined to improve diagnostic accuracy, e.g. by maximizing the area under the ROC curve. In this paper we present Nonparametric Predictive Inference (NPI) for best linear combination of two biomarkers, where the dependence of the two biomarkers is modelled using parametric copulas. NPI is a frequentist statistical method that is explicitly aimed at using few modelling assumptions, enabled through the use of lower and upper probabilities to quantify uncertainty. The combination of NPI for the individual biomarkers, combined with a basic parametric copula to take dependence into account, has good robustness properties and leads to quite straightforward computation. We briefly comment on the results of a simulation study to investigate the performance of the proposed method in comparison to the empirical method. An example with data from the literature is provided to illustrate the proposed method, and related research problems are briefly discussed.
RELATIONS OF PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS AND TEAM SITATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN YOUTH FEMALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

For the purpose of determining the differences in basic personality dimensions between female players of different team situational efficiency, 151 young female volleyball players, aged averagely 13.89±1.17years, filled out the Eysenck junior personality questionnaire (EPQ-J), designed by Eysenck & Eysenck (1975, 1994). It was established that the relation between the measured personality dimensions was not completely orthogonal because there was significant correlation between the dimensions of psychoticism and introversion-extraversion. Statistically significant differences were found by One-way ANOVA between the groups of players of different team situational efficiency in dimensions of neuroticism (F=8.57, p=0.00) and introversion-extraversion (F=3.70, p=0.03). This finding was also confirmed by multivariate discriminant analysis (Rc=0.40, p=0.00). A group of players with the highest team efficiency is characterized by the lowest degree of the neuroticism dimension, and a group of players with moderate team efficiency is characterized by the lowest degree of the introversion-extraversion dimension. The obtained results partially confirm the findings in literature about the influence of personality dimensions on efficiency in sports competitions.
Deescalation Strategies: A Comparison of Techniques for Reducing Commitment to Losing Courses of Action

Previous research suggests that decision makers have a tendency to become locked into courses of action—to throw good money after bad in dealing with losing projects. The present study directly compared the effectiveness of several deescalation strategies designed to make decision makers more responsive to the available evidence. Three deescalation procedures were found to be most effective: (a) making negative outcomes less threatening; (b) setting minimum target levels that, if not achieved, would lead to a change in policy; and (c) evaluating decision makers on the basis of their decision process rather than outcome. The theoretical and practical implications of each of these strategies are discussed. A long stream of empirical research has investigated the commitment of decision makers to losing courses of action. Under the rubrics of sunk cost effects (Arkes & Blumer, 1985; Garland & Newport, in press), entrapment (Brockner & Rubin, 1985), too much invested to quit (Tegar, 1980), and the escalation of commitment (Staw, 1976,1981), numerous studies have shown how individuals can become locked into failing courses of action. To date, this literature has isolated a wide variety of determinants of behavior in escalation situations, ranging from psychological to social, organizational, and project concerns not typically dealt with in the economics of investment (Staw & Ross, 1987). Much of the research in this area has focused on the determinants of escalation, and little attention has yet been given to procedures that might help people avoid the escalation trap. This is unfortunate because, just as debiasing research has helped behavioral decision theory provide policy recommendations (e.g., Fischhoff, 1982), deescalation research could potentially aid managers in avoiding the overcommitment of resources. So far, however, only the rudiments of a deescalation literature are in place. In such a stream of research, one might place Tegar's (1980) and Brockner, Shaw, and Rubin's (1979) studies showing that limit-setting can reduce escalation. Also in this group would be Nathanson et al.'s (1982) experiment showing that information about the problem of entrapment can deter individuals from initially engaging in an escalation situation. McCain's (1986) experiment showing the reduction of investment when losses are repeated and clear-cut, as well as Staw and Ross's (1987) more general discussion of possible techniques for reducing escalation are also relevant. Nonetheless,
Comparison of EUROSEM, WEPP, and MEDRUSH model calculations with measured runoff and soil‐loss data from rainfall simulations in Hungary

A useful method to evaluate the effectiveness of soil-erosion models is to compare the models' soil-loss and runoff calculations with measured data from experimental plots subjected to artificial rainfall. This study was conducted to develop a set of statistics to compare the performance of the soil-erosion models EUROSEM, WEPP, and MEDRUSH. Rainfall (six rainfall intensities, two replicates), runoff, and soil-loss data from artificial plots at two locations in Hungary were used to assess the accuracy of the different models. The soil types within the plots represented a wide range of soil properties and are soil types that are commonly used for agriculture. The results showed that the three soil-erosion models performed with varying effectiveness dependent on basic soil properties. However, statistical analysis showed the EUROSEM model to be the best for estimating soil loss in Hungary.
Endoscopic percutaneous lumbar discectomy

Background. The article introduces a new surgical approach to lumbar discopathy treatment, i.e. endoscopic percutaneus lumbar discectomy. It depicts the treatment technique, indications and clinic material. Material and methods. The general idea of endoscopic lumbar discectomy has been described, as well as the indications for the treatment and own clinic material consisting of 142 cases. The patients were treated at Orthopedic Ward in Praski Hospital in Warsaw between November 2003 – December 2005. Results. The results of the treatment were very positive and satisfactory. Our patients were able to go back to every day’s activity after total or significant reduction of back pain. Conclusions. Described technique is especially useful in the lumbar discopathy treatment. Its main advantages are: minimal invasion, short hospital treatment (2-3 days), fast recovery, low ratio of complications and low costs.
Comparing of Hydrogen On-Board Storage by the Largest Car Companies, Relevance to Prospects for More Efficient Technologies

It presented a comparative consideration of General Motors long-term activities on the current subject of fuel-cell-powered electric vehicles vs Toyota Mirai recent results, relevant to prospects on more efficient and safe technologies of the hydrogen on-board storage. It also presented a call on the project International cooperation. The main aim of this paper is to attract attention of General Motors, Toyota and/or other large car companies to a real possibility of developing and using, in the nearest future, of the break-through hydrogen on-board storage technology based on the solid H2 intercalation into graphite nanostructures.
Experimental Research on Upslope Fire and Jump Fire

This paper presents an elementary analysis on the difference and similarity between upslope fire and jump fire, by a series of experiments performed in laboratory. The rate of spread (ROS), fire line angle (separation angle of the two fire lines), angular velocity of fire line, flame residence time and nondimensional radiant heat transfer for the two kinds of phenomena are investigated. For upslope fire, it is found that ROS remains almost steady for line ignition, while it increases with time for point ignition. For upslope fires with line ignition, the fire line angle decreases with time from the initial 180 o to a steady small value, while for point ignition, the initially generated fire line angle remains steady. The angular velocity of fire line does not depend on slope angle in an upslope fire with line ignition. For jump fire, the ROS first increases sharply and then decreases gradually, and it depends on slope angle more significantly than the initial fire line angle. The fire line angle increases with time, and the angular velocity of fire line varies with slope angle. For upslope fires with line ignition, the flame residence time increases with slope angle, while it remains almost constant for upslope tests with point ignition. For jump fire, under one specific initial fire line angle, the overall mean residence time increases with increasing slope angle. Nondimensional heat radiation for fuel preheating is calculated which effectively explains the ROS development in upslope fire with line ignition and jump fire.
Classical and Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) modeling of extreme rainfall (1979-2014) in Makurdi, Nigeria

This study presents a probabilistic model for daily extreme rainfall. The Annual Maximum Series (AMS) data of daily rainfall in Makurdi was fitted to Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution using Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (Bayesian MCMC) simulations. MLE is a reliable principle to derive an efficient estimator for a model as sample size approaches infinity. Results in this study show that despite the asymptotic requirement of the MLE, its performance can be improved when adopting Bayesian MCMC. The comparison between the performance of MLE and Bayesian MCMC methods using Percent Bias (PBIAS), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) proved Bayesian MCMC is the better method to estimate the distribution parameters of extreme daily rainfall amount in Makurdi. Based on the 36-year record of rainfall (1979-2014) in Makurdi, return levels for the next 10, 100, 500, 1000 and 10000 years were derived. Key words: Extreme daily rainfall, generalized extreme value distribution, parameter estimation, t-year return level, Makurdi.
Tensor-Product Discretization for the Spatially Inhomogeneous and Transient Boltzmann Equation in Two Dimensions

We consider the spatially inhomogeneous and nonlinear Boltzmann equation for the variable hard spheres model. The distribution function is discretized by a tensor-product ansatz by combining Maxwellian modulated Laguerre polynomials in velocity with continuous, linear finite elements in the spatial domain. The advection problem in phase space is discretized through a Galerkin least squares technique and yields an implicit formulation in time. The discrete collision operator can be evaluated with an asymptotic effort of O(K5), where K is the number of velocity degrees of freedom in a single direction. Numerical results in 2D are presented for rarefied gases with different Mach and Knudsen numbers. Math. classification. 76J20, 76H05, 76P05, 82C40, 82D05, 65Y05, 65M60.
Feedback: focusing attention on engagement

Within many higher education systems there is a search for means to increase levels of student satisfaction with assessment feedback. This article suggests that the search is under way in the wrong place by concentrating on feedback as a product rather than looking more widely to feedback as a long-term dialogic process in which all parties are engaged. A three-year study, focusing on engaging students with assessment feedback, is presented and analysed using an analytical model of stages of engagement. The analysis suggests that a more holistic, socially-embedded conceptualisation of feedback and engagement is needed. This conceptualisation is likely to encourage tutors to support students in more productive ways, which enable students to use feedback to develop their learning, rather than respond mechanistically to the tutors’ ‘instruction’.
3D gravity data-space inversion with sparseness and bound constraints

One of the most remarkable basis of the gravity data inversion is the recognition of sharp boundaries between an ore body and its host rocks during the interpretation step. Therefore, in this work, it is attempted to develop an inversion approach to determine a 3D density distribution that produces a given gravity anomaly. The subsurface model consists of a 3D rectangular prisms of known sizes and positions and unknown density contrasts that are required to be estimated. The proposed inversion scheme incorporates the Cauchy norm as a model norm that imposes sparseness and the depth weighting of the solution. A physicalbound constraint is enforced using a generic transformation of the model parameters. The inverse problem is posed in the data space, leading to a smaller dimensional linear system of equations to be solved and a reduction in the computation time. For more efficiency, the low-dimensional linear system of equations is solved using a fast iterative method such as Lanczos Bidiagonalization. The tests carried out on the synthetic data show that the sparse data-space inversion produces blocky and focused solutions. The results obtained for the 3D inversion of the field gravity data (Mobrun gravity data) indicate that the sparse data-space inversion could produce the density models consistent with the true structures.
Theories on fertility intentions: a demographer’s perspective

The objections raised by Morgan and Bachrach (MB) with respect to the application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) for studying fertility intentions are not new to the participants in the REPRO project 1 who have had extensive discussions on these issues. Apparently MB put forward their topics without being familiar with the REPRO discussions; this concurrence supports the necessity of better clarifying the TPB and its application for demographic studies of fertility intentions. In my note I base myself on information received during the REPRO discussions. The purpose of the note is not to take a side in the debate. The Theory of Conjunctural Action (TCA) is not as well known to demographers as the TPB, and its exposition in the contribution by Morgan and Bachrach (MB) is too short. Rather, I use the objections to the TPB raised by MB to discuss several key issues that are of interest to demographers. This debate can raise interest from two different scientific perspectives: social psychology and demography. Social psychologists are interested in the rigorous definition of concepts and statements, their compatibility and operationalisation. Under this perspective reproductive behaviour is a case study for testing the theory. Demographers, on their side, are mostly interested in whether a theory can help to better understand fertility intentions with the purpose to explain and predict better actual fertility behaviour. This note centres on the second view and notes by other participants in this debate highlight the socio-psychological perspective. I start my note with a topic which is not discussed by MB: the necessity of a theory on fertility intentions. Next follows a discussion on rationality which is slightly brought up by MB, continued with discussions on the four main objections raised by MB. In the summary I append a few additional notes.