Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic medium access control for underwater acoustic sensor networks

of the Dissertation Stochastic Medium Access Control for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks by Yu Han Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering Northeastern University, June 2016 Dr. Yunsi Fei, Advisor Underwater sensor networks (UWSNs), the enabling technology for a broad range of aquatic applications, rely on acoustic communication for long-range transmissions. However, underwater acoustic communication suffers from several adverse features, such as long propagation delay and low bandwidth, making the networking design for UWSNs much more challenging than their terrestrial counterparts. Medium access control (MAC), a crucial component in networking design, coordinates among multiple agents that share the same channel resource and is responsible to schedule packet transmissions efficiently and fairly. However, due to the long propagation delay, the traditional handshaking-based random-access MAC protocols are not channel efficient for UWSNs. In this dissertation, we address the inefficiency issues in random-access MAC for UWSNs, using a stochastic sending probability-based approach. We propose three handshaking-free underwater MAC solutions targeting the same goal: high network throughput, low packet end-to-end delay, and robustness under dynamics and controlled implementation complexity. The three solutions are based on a common utility-based probability optimization framework, but with different design considerations and objective functions. We first leverage the feature of long propagation delay, often taken as negative, to improve the parallelism between multiple senders. Our proposed protocol, the Delay-Aware Probability-based underwater MAC protocol (DAP-MAC), characterizes the group compatibility relation, a proposed indicator for successful concurrent transmissions, and utilizes this relation in the stochastic optimization framework for the best transmission strategy. The drawback of DAP-MAC is it requires long time slots to accommodate concurrent transmissions. We reduce the slot size and explicitly resolve the unique spatial-temporal uncertainty issue in UWSNs in our proposed protocol, the Traffic-Adaptive Receiver-Synchronized underwater MAC protocol (TARS). In TARS, we consider the data queue status and design the throughput-optimal transmission strategy
Hydrological recovery in two large forested watersheds of southeastern China: the importance of watershed properties in determining hydrological responses to reforestation

Abstract. Understanding hydrological responses to reforestation is an important subject in watershed management, particularly in large forested watersheds ( > 1000 km2). In this study, we selected two large forested watersheds (Pingjiang and Xiangshui) located in the upper reach of the Poyang Lake watershed, southeastern China (with an area of 3261.4 and 1458 km2, respectively), along with long-term data on climate and hydrology (1954–2006) to assess the effects of large-scale reforestation on streamflow. Both watersheds have similar climate and experienced comparable and dramatic forest changes during the past decades, but with different watershed properties (e.g., the topography is much steeper in Xiangshui than in Pingjiang), which provides us with a unique opportunity to compare the differences in hydrological recovery in two contrasted watersheds. Streamflow at different percentiles (e.g., 5, 10, 50 and 95 %) were compared using a combination of statistical analysis with a year-wise method for each watershed. The results showed that forest recovery had no significant effects on median flows (Q50 %) in both watersheds. However, reforestation significantly reduced high flows in Pingjiang, but had limited influence in Xiangshui. Similarly, reforestation had significant and positive effects on low flows (Q95 %) in Pingjiang, while it did not significantly change low flows in Xiangshui. Thus, hydrological recovery is limited and slower in the steeper Xiangshui watershed, highlighting that watershed properties are also important for determining hydrological responses to reforestation. This finding has important implications for designing reforestation and watershed management strategies in the context of hydrological recovery.
Individual Differences in Religion and Spirituality: An Issue of Personality Traits and/or Values

Personality, in terms of both strict personality traits (five factors) and their cultural adaptations (e.g., values), has systematically been found to predict religion. This article focuses on three issues that still remain unclear: predictiveness of personality facets versus the five factors; predictiveness of values versus personality; and similarities and differences between religiosity and spirituality in their associations with personality and values. We administered the NEO-PI-R, the Schwartz Value Survey, and religious measures to Spanish students (N = 256). The personality facets provided additional and subtler information than the five factors on individual differences in religion and spirituality. When the overlap between personality and values was controlled for, values were almost unique predictors of these differences. Spirituality shared with religion both a prosocial tendency (with even some intensification) and conscientiousness, but not the emphasis on conservation versus openness to change and to experience.
Electromechanical Measurements Of Gd-Doped Ceria Thin Films By Laser Interferometry

Highly sensitive laser interferometer was built to measure electromechanical coupling in Gd-doped ceria Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 2-x thin films in the frequency range up to 20 kHz. Spurious resonances due to substrate bending were avoided by the special mounting of the film in the center of substrate. Compact design allowed to reach high vertical resolution of about 0.2 pm. Electrostriction coefficient measured in 1 µm thick Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 2-x film was 4.3×10 -21 m 2 /V 2 and slightly decreased with frequency till the extensional resonance of the substrate at about 20 kHz occurred. As expected, the displacement varied as a square of applied voltage without any sign of saturation.
The humpbacked species richness-curve: A contingent rule for community ecology

Functional relationships involving species richness may be unimodal, monotonically increasing, monotonically decreasing, bimodal, multimodal, U-shaped, or with no discernable pattern. The unimodal relationships are the most interesting because they suggest dynamic, nonequilibrium community processes. For that reason, they are also contentious. In this paper, we provide a wide-ranging review of the literature on unimodal (humpbacked) species richness-relationships. Though not as widespread as previously thought, unimodal patterns of species richness are often associated with disturbance, predation and herbivory, productivity, spatial heterogeneity, environmental gradients, time, and latitude. These unimodal patterns are contingent on organism and environment; we examine unimodal species richness-curves involving plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, plankton, and microbes in marine, lacustrine, and terrestrial habitats. A goal of future research is to understand the contingent patterns and the complex, interacting processes that generate them.
Between Purpose and Method: A Review of Educational Research on 3D Virtual Worlds

Normal 0 This study aims to enhance our holistic understanding of 3D virtual worlds by providing a detailed analysis of the research methods and research trends related to the research of 3D virtual worlds for educational environments. Data was collected by searching for the ubiquitous term, "virtual world," from databases. Snowball sampling was also employed. The researchers critically analyzed the literature as data focusing on how virtual worlds were applied in individual studies, what research methods were used, and what disciplines were examined in the studies. The results indicate that virtual worlds are mainly used for the simulation of space, and they are used in different ways depending on discipline and descriptive research methods were most used in research studies on the educational applications of virtual worlds, experimental approaches are increasingly being used by researchers. Based on these results, this study suggests an appropriate research direction for the application of virtual worlds in educational contexts in the future.
Effect of hypoxia, normoxia and hyperoxia conditions on gill histopathology in two weight groups of beluga (Huso huso)

The influence of dissolved oxygen concentration on gill histopathology of great sturgeon (Huso huso) was evaluated in two weight classes (initial weight 280.9±49.2 g and 1217.9±138.1 g respectively). Oxygen treatments included hypoxia (2-3 mg/l), normoxia (5-6 mg/l) and hyperoxia (9-10 mg/l). The fish were acclimated to experimental tanks for one week then randomly distributed into 9 tanks in each of the initial weight classes (3 and 6 fish per tank in higher and lower initial weight classes respectively) for 8 weeks. In order to find the histopathological changes, gill samples were collected, dehydrated through ethanol series, embedded in paraffin , sectioned at 7 µm thickness using a Leitz microtome and stained with H & E. No mortality was observed over the 8 weeks of the experimental period. There were significant differences in weight and feed intake between treatments in the both weight classes (P<0.05). Fork length showed significant differences in lower initial weight class (P<0.05). The main histopathological changes were observed in gills including: Hyperplasia, loss of secondary lamellae, hemorrhage and congestion in primary and secondary lamellae, lamellar fusion, epithelial lifting in secondary lamellae, clubbing of secondary lamellae, telangiectases, increase in melanin pigments and numerous vacuoles in primary and secondary lamellae (in hyperoxia treatment). All these lesions may reduce gill functional surface of gaseous exchange, impairing respiratory function.
Monsoon Dynamics in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin

A recently funded US National Science Foundation project seeks to investigate monsoon variability within the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin as a potential predictor for annual shoreline erosion rates in the lower coastal delta region. Many previous studies have examined the interannual variability of South Asian precipitation either within political boundaries or across large spans of latitudes and longitudes, but few have taken a more hydrologic approach by analyzing the atmospheric-oceanic forcings that lead to precipitation falling only within the GBM basin. The temporal climate patterns would likely be different from previous studies and are hypothesized to have a more direct effect on outlet discharge and erosion rates. In the present study, mean monsoon precipitation (June-July-August-September) for the 2309 0.25° grid boxes of the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR) was extracted using geospatial methods. A Principal Component (PC) analysis was performed over the period 1983 to 2015. The first PC explains 88.7% of the variance and resembles climatology with the center of action over Bangladesh. The eigenvector shows a downward trend consistent with studies reporting a recent decline in monsoon rainfall. The second PC explains 2.9% of the variance and concentrates rainfall in the western portion of the basin. The 2nd component has greater temporal variability than the 1st component and an apparent decadal cycle. An analysis of global precipitation indicates that the rainfall patterns obtained within the GBM are localized. Surface and upper-air atmospheric height fields suggest the 2nd PC pattern is forced by a Rossby wave train stemming from the North Atlantic.
Earnings Management: Do large investors care?

Institutional investors seem to be able to detect the existence and decipher the direction of corporate earnings management efforts before the public release of earnings information. The finding is based on a study of US corporate financial statement reports and quarterly institutional investor ownership information between 1990 and 2000. Corporate efforts to manage earnings are responsible for the corporate meltdown occurring over the last few years. As the investment community seeks answers to what might have been overlooked in firms’ financial statements, little is known about institutional investors’ ability to discern earnings abuses. I. Introduction Until recently, the investment community has traditionally perceived that, once externally audited, a firm’s financial statements provide information that can be relied upon and are thus useful in evaluating the firm’s current and future financial prospects. This belief, along with investor confidence in general, has been steadily diminishing in conjunction with recent high profile accounting failures. WorldCom, Enron, Tyco, and Global Crossing are names that a decade ago symbolized all the wealth, security, and prestige representing corporate America. Today, they conjure up a completely different vision; one of accountants slaving over a hot stove “cooking the books. ” The idea of companies managing/manipulating their reported earnings was counter-intuitive to the average man-on-the-street. After all, an objective third party audited the financial statements, so they could be relied upon to make investment decisions. However, management’s use of “income smoothing” to meet performance expectations is now better understood by the public at large. Interestingly, it appears that these smoothing efforts may have been transparent to institutional investors for some time. Incidentally, pressure on corporate managers to match or exceed expected quarterly earnings especially from institutional investors is widely documented and remains unabated. [See Bushee (1998, 2001), Jiambalvo, Rajgopal, and Venkatachalam (2002), and Balsam, Bartov and Marquardt (2002). ] In a recent survey of corporate executives by Graham, Harvey and Rajgopal (2004), found that the “preference to smooth earnings is so strong that 78% of the surveyed executives would give up economic value in exchange for smooth earnings. ” In spite of this, still on investors’ minds are the past failures of WorldCom (now MCI), Enron, and Tyco reminding them of the need to cautiously peer through firms’ financial statements.
Opportunities and potential integration of irrigation and aquaculture in morocco

A key challenge facing agriculture in the 21st century is how to feed a world with a continuously growing and increasingly affluent population with greater meat demand. Sustainability of food production increasingly require the use of sound and efficient practices in the use of water, in particular the development and management of irrigation. Food security is a high priority in the world; Agriculture must not only feed populations growing membership, but also save water for other purposes. Water will become the main limiting factor for much of the planet over the next century. This resource will be more critical in areas under water stress such as Morocco. Aquatic resources are limited’s, the search for new marins fish sources is constant. In Morocco, irrigation systems cover very large areas and permanent increase. However, the ability to use water for irrigation ponds as fish stocks has never been used for fish production. The challenge is to develop and apply techniques and methods of water management by integrating aquaculture with irrigation. Faced with the growing problem of mobilizing the "water" resource, Many studies are conducted to determine ways to make water savings by optimizing the use or the development of new sources of supply. In this context, reuse of aquaculture waters can be considered one of the solutions for new sources of irrigation water. This technique will help increase the efficiency and productivity of water use by plants on discarding fish which will enable improved agricultural productivity without resorting to the use of fertilizers.
IMPLEMETATION OF MARKER ASSISTED SELECTION INTO BREEDING PROGRAMS

Summary Advances in molecular genetics and in high-throughput technologies for genotyping now enable the incorporation of molecular data in genetic improvement programs for livestock on a more comprehensive basis. In addition, these methods enable a change from using markers on a within-family basis for detection and selection on quantitative trait loci (QTL) to using markers that are in linkage disequilibrium across the population. Methods for including alternate types of markers, based on the structure of their associations with phenotype, will be described and issues related to their incorporation into genetic evaluation and selection programs will be discussed.
Determinants of International Student Migration

This paper considers what factors determine the migration of overseas students, when students cross borders for higher education. We utilise a gravity model for international student mobility and derive estimates for a sample of 18 countries of destination and 38 countries of origin over the period 2005–11. Our results confirm that geographical distance and the presence of a common language are powerful in explaining bilateral student flows. Our most interesting finding is that time zone differences have a statistically significant and economically large effect in determining international student flows.
Exploration of the costs and impact of the Common Assessment Framework: interim report

This report outlines the emerging findings from an exploratory study to examine the costs and impact of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). The study was commissioned by the Department for Education and commenced in December 2010. The research aims to examine the costs and impact of the Common Assessment Framework and will explore four key areas: the costs of CAF; the services provided to children and families; the impact of CAF on professionals; the impact of CAF on families.
Disentangling the Minimum Wage Puzzle: An Analysis of Worker Accessions and Separations

Changes in the legislation in the mid-80s in Portugal provide remarkably good conditions for analysis of the employment effects of mandatory minimum wages, as the minimum wage increased sharply for a very specific group of workers. Relying on a matched employer employee panel data set, we model gross worker flows - accessions and separations - in continuing firms, as well as in new firms and those going out of business, using a count regression model applied to proportions. Employment trends for teenagers, the affected group, are contrasted to those of older workers, before and after the raise in the youth minimum wage. The major effect on teenagers of a rising minimum wage is the reduction of separations from the employer, which compensates for the reduction of accessions to new and continuing firms. In this sense, our results can reconcile some of the previous evidence that has been presented in the empirical literature when analyzing the aggregate impact of the minimum wage on youth employment without decomposing it by type of worker flow.
Pavement-Watering for Cooling the Built Environment: A Review

Pavement-watering is being considered by decision-makers in many cities as a means of cooling the built environment and of adapting to rising extreme heat events due to climate change. In this article we review the existing literature on the topic of pavement-watering. We first focus on the methodological choices made in the literature, including study approach and scale, watering methods used as well as how results are analyzed. We then discuss the cooling effects reported, separating micro-climatic and thermal effects. From the review, we identify common trends in reported results as well as certain common flaws and blindspots. On this basis, recommendations for future work on pavement-watering are made.
Quantum-Assisted Learning of Hardware-Embedded Probabilistic Graphical Models

Mainstream machine-learning techniques such as deep learning and probabilistic programming rely heavily on sampling from generally intractable probability distributions. There is increasing interest in the potential advantages of using quantum computing technologies as sampling engines to speed up these tasks or to make them more effective. However, some pressing challenges in state-of-the-art quantum annealers have to be overcome before we can assess their actual performance. The sparse connectivity, resulting from the local interaction between quantum bits in physical hardware implementations, is considered the most severe limitation to the quality of constructing powerful generative unsupervised machine-learning models. Here we use embedding techniques to add redundancy to data sets, allowing us to increase the modeling capacity of quantum annealers. We illustrate our findings by training hardware-embedded graphical models on a binarized data set of handwritten digits and two synthetic data sets in experiments with up to 940 quantum bits. Our model can be trained in quantum hardware without full knowledge of the effective parameters specifying the corresponding quantum Gibbs-like distribution; therefore, this approach avoids the need to infer the effective temperature at each iteration, speeding up learning; it also mitigates the effect of noise in the control parameters, making it robust to deviations from the reference Gibbs distribution. Our approach demonstrates the feasibility of using quantum annealers for implementing generative models, and it provides a suitable framework for benchmarking these quantum technologies on machine-learning-related tasks.
The Effect of Money Supply on the Volatility of Korean Stock Market

We examined the potential relationships between changes in the money supplies of Korea and the United States and volatility of the Korean stock market using the GARCH, GJR-GARCH, and EGARCH models. We did not identify any such relationships, implying that changes in money supply do not influence the flow of information to the market. However, we found that the asymmetric effect of bad news on volatility was higher when contemporaneous changes in Korean and US money supply variables were included in the models. This indicates that changes in money supply did not affect Korean stock volatility directly. Finally, the results based on a variance model indicated that the money supply of the two countries had no effect on the Korean stock market. This formal study suggests that there is no significant forecasting power of past changes in money supply. Although stock returns and volatility are not directly affected by changes in the money supply, the influence of supply on macroeconomic activity should not be disregarded.
Factors that influence employees' organizational identity after M & A: The acquirer and acquired perspective

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence employees’ organizational identification after M & A from the acquirer and acquired employees’ perspective. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the factors that influence employees’ organizational identification. A total of 261 questionnaires were collected through convenience sampling from four acquirer and acquired bank employees in Taiwan (135 acquirer respondents, and 126 acquired respondents). Results from the multiregression show that pre-merger organization identification, trust in the merger, and procedural justice all have a positive influence on post-merger organizational identification. Trust in the merger had the most significant influence for both acquiring and acquired employees. Only the expected utility in merger failed to have a significant influence on post-merger identification for both groups.